News in brief
Julien Touati (left), Sonny Johns and Daniel Greeff in the field of sunflowers at Wakefield. Photo: Anne Hardie.
Wakefield sunflowers
The sunny faces of sunflowers in a field near Wakefield have been putting smiles on faces and become a popular photo backdrop for locals. Waimea Nurseries planted the 1ha block as a cover crop between crops of young trees and assistant manager of field services, Julien Touati, says they have captured plenty of attention. He says the sunflower crop is used to regenerate the soil, so will be mulched and worked into the ground to boost nutrients before another crop of trees is planted.
Scholarship success
Nayland College has received 22 NCEA scholarships for 2023, of which seven were ‘outstanding’ - a result that acting principal Hannah Banks said is their best they’ve had since 2005. From drama, design, photography, painting, Spanish, English, statistics, calculus, history and geography to chemistry, biology, and physics - the list of scholarships the students have achieved is impressive. Ashley Welsh, Isla Swanney, Amy Wilson, Lani Kalapu and Molly Clarke all received an ‘outstanding scholarship’ - Amy receiving two, and Isla receiving six scholarships, two of which were outstanding.
Motueka Repair Cafe returns
The Motueka Repair Cafe kicks off its regular monthly schedule this weekend, with two electricians, a sewer, a woodworker and a tech specialist among the line-up of helpful volunteers. The cafe is held at Te Noninga Kumu - Motueka Library on Saturday, 17 February, from 10am-1pm and people are encouraged to bring along their broken items to be stitched, glued, screwed, sharpened or otherwise mended, for free, while they enjoy a chat and a cuppa. A member is also offering to take empty tetrapak containers for recycling.
Open day at and Waahi Taakaro
To celebrate the opening of the new bridge across the Maitai River, Nelson City Council and Waahi Taakaro Golf Club are holding a public open day to promote both the golf course and the network of biking and walking trails surrounding it. On Sunday, 18 February, from 8am-7pm adults will be able to play 9 holes of golf on our beautiful parkland course for half price – just $10.50 – while it will be free for anyone 18 and under. Please book your round in advance so they can manage course usage and make sure everyone has a good time.