Civil Defence: Just a quick reminder about the Civil Defence meeting this Wednesday at 7 pm.
Message from Jenny of houghton Bay Rd: Emergency Torches will be for sale at the Civil Defence Meeting. These are dynamo torches (no batteries required). They also have a radio, a siren and 5 adapters for charging cell phones. They are great for the home, work, the car and as presents. They are $40 each, please pay by cash or cheque. (This is a fundraiser for my singing group.) Please see attached picture (although the torches are yellow not black).
Reminder of the follow-up local Civil Defence planning meeting: Houghton Bay School Hall 7 pm Wednesday July 20, 2011. It will finish at 8.45 pm followed by supper (you may have also received a leaflet in your letterbox). Further information contact Norman.
Houghton Valley Community Garden: It now has new top soil, a garden shed, a worm farm in an old bath, and Dave has started constructing a lizard shelter next the garden. A small lawn and seating area is also being built for locals to come and relax in.
Electric lawn mower: if anyone has one that can be used to cut the lawn of an elderly couple who live in Cave Rd, please let me know.
Crime in View Rd: approximately 4 – 6 break-ins have occurred in recent weeks. Pat from View Rd has been reporting anything suspicious to police. If you know of anything let police know asap.
More people joined this week, so welcome to them (the total is now 92).
Celebrate the opening of the Hornsey Rd footpath: Monday, 4 July. Due to be finished at the end of this week. Parents are organising a “Walk Home from School Day” to celebrate. Meet in the playground next to the bus queue after school on Monday and walk up the hill together. There will be cake when you get to Hornsey Rd. Any questions, call Emma.
HV school Art Exhibition and Enterprise and Auction: Friday, 8 July (8.30 am – 4.30 pm) and Saturday 9 July (2 – 4 pm):
Art exhibition of children’s work;
Sales of ‘enterprise items’’ made by children;
Auction of large class artworks, starting at 5 pm: available for viewing on website beforehand.
The Second Civil Defence Meeting: Wednesday, 20 July from 7 – 9 pm in the school hall. Mark and Jo (from Houghton Bay Rd), who will be facilitating the meeting, work for the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and have a wealth of experience in planning and responding to many emergency events of many sizes. The aim of the evening is to begin developing a community response plan.
Bush tracks: Here is a message from Dave (from Houghton Bay Rd): “The weather on Sunday (19 June) was cool with showers. However this did not deter a dozen American students and their NZ guides from travelling to Houghton Valley and volunteering their morning to clearing a new section of track linking the PlayCentre with ‘The Forest’, the community garden and our school. As the Track Workers photos show, they stripped right down and got stuck into clearing the wall of blackberry and scarfing out a new track for our little ones. (one photo missing).
Roundabout on the corner of Houghton Bay Rd and The Esplanade: a couple of locals have been told by council workers and contractors that a roundabout is going to be installed on the corner of Houghton Bay Rd and The Esplanade, but there has been no mention of a pedestrian crossing. Has anyone else heard anything?
Piebe’s seat opening on Te Raekaihau Pt: the celebration took place last Saturday in fine, calm weather.
Motorbikes on Bush Tracks: I’m pleased to report that one was caught and giving a ‘good talking to’ by Janine and her partner (from Houghton Bay Rd).
Another message from Dave (from Houghton Bay Rd): Many of you may have seen the article in the Cook Strait News this week entitled Shedding Locks. It features Nick and Jamie. They have been working towards Hilary Awards and over the last several months they have volunteered many of hours helping clear the community garden and improving the Haunted Hut Track and the Fantail Guide Track through ‘The Forest’ by the School. We wish you well Nick.
A message from Janine (from Houghton Bay Rd): For all those interested in the future of our city see the attached Symposium on Wellington’s Future.
Piebe’s Seat: the celebration will take place at the seat this Saturday, at 3 pm to honour the work Piebe has done in View Rd Park since 1973 and to thank the HV Progressive Association for providing the funds for the seat. The quickest way to get there is drive to Princess Bay and walk up the track from the bay that’s got an orange step with ‘Peters (Piebe) track’ on it. When you get to the top (overlooking Waitaha Cove), turn right and walk until you get to the point above Te Raekaihau beach. If you prefer a good walk, start from View Rd south and follow the green line on the map.
Here is a message from Dave:“Join us this Sunday when about 15 Australearn students from America will be visiting Houghton Valley and donating their time to helping with the Coastal Forest Regeneration Project at Houghton Valley School. The working bee is from 9 – 11.30 am and, weather permitting, we plan to improve the track through ‘The Forest’ from the PlayCentre to the Community Garden. Tools required: spades, shovels and grubbers. It’s a great chance to enjoy our bush and our visitors. Many thanks.” – Dave
Civil Defence: After the CD meeting that was held in the school hall in March, Mark and Jo offered to run a follow-up CD community planning meeting. This is going to happen in July and I will let everyone know as soon as the date is decided.
Native Birds: Kate from HV School saw 6 kakariki (native green parrots) near the gutbuster (opposite the school) last Monday. If anyone sees any native birds, please let me know. I saw a Ruru (native owl) last week in the bush tracks beside the community garden.
Trail bikes on bush tracks: trail bikes (the small variety) have been seen and heard on the bush tracks, on the western side of Houghton bay Rd. If you hear one close to you, take a photo with your cell phone and email it to me. I will send them the WCC Parks and Reserves Department.
Piebe’s Seat: A celebration will take place at the seat on Saturday, 11 June at 3 pm to honour the work Piebe has done in View Rd park since 1973. I will send out a reminder towards the end of next week.
Community Garden: The working bee was very successful. Many thanks to all those who turned up to help and those who bought the wonderful cakes and scones for afternoon tea. We have cleared the whole section now so there are more garden plots available. Also a big thank you to the school for their ongoing support – this has been an important factor in the success of the garden.
Facebook: Check out our Facebook Page for more photos showing what has been going on.
Enjoy Queens birthday weekend and keep warm everyone!
The email group continues to grow. Welcome to those who have recently joined.
Here’s an urgent message from Sophie (who lives in Houghton Bay Rd, near Hungerford Rd): I have found a chicken, and I would like to find its owner. She is a small brown-flecked chook, with a tiny comb.
Here’s a message from Geoff: Kia ora to all on the list (and those to whom a version is passed on to!) I’ve been on the list since the Community Garden near the school was instigated, but been too ‘occupied’ before to post/contribute anything (media work, partner-support and child-care, mainly). I was glad when the email list of everyone’s e-addresses got tucked away from inadvertent spam. I am concerned about identity theft and digital scams, so when Grant and I were talking the other day I said that I thought the Houghton Valley Community was ripe for it’s own web-site. He told me about the Facebook (FB) page, but I’m a little hesitant about its security/privacy issues.
I am proposing that we have a site that allows for additional interaction and sharing between interested people from the valley (discussion lists, photo sharing, links etc.) using some alternative to FB. I’d like to test run a version with a few folk who are happy to spend a little time over the next few weeks, fleshing out a set of pages and maybe some tentative protocols, for the use of such a site. I don’t see it as replacing the e-newsletter. There are many people for whom the simplicity of a text-based sharing of news/views will always be enough. I’d like to explore how the range of other types of communication can be facilitated via a group site.
Please reply to Grant in the first instance to volunteer your email, and check my credentials, and I’ll be in contact ASAP. Geoff.
The Commemorative Seat for Piebe (Peter Koositra of Hungerford Rd): has been installed on the point above Te Raekaihau Point. If you would like to have glass of wine and join Piebe to celebrate his local community work over the past 28 years, a get together is planned at the seat on the 24 May at 3pm (a good excuse for some exercise).
How to get to Piebe’s Seat on Te Raekaihau
Community Garden working bee: this is planned for Sunday 29 May at 2 pm. Help is needed to clear weeds, rubbish and branches, so more plots can be made. Bring spades, forks, gloves, axes, saws, wheelbarrows and join the gardeners for a cup of tea and biscuits.
(I will send out a reminder about both these events next week).
Planning for Archaeological Dig: has been finally achieved. As we have been granted permission to dig on the site for the next 5 years, we have decided to plan the dig for the middle of next summer, so will keep everyone posted.
Welcome to all the locals who have recently joined the email group. A short email for a change….
A message from Norman: Houghton Bay – Local resources available in the case of a civil emergency . A number of people have completed the community resource form developed and distributed by Norman Smith last month. If yours got buried in the in-box and you plan to respond see the HV Civil Defence attachment. Please return to Norman.
Seat for Piebe (Peter): The council has informed me that the commemorative seat will be installed tomorrow (weather permitting). If you walk over the View Rd park, along the last ridge (with the railings), it be there above Te Raekaihau Point.
Alice Krebs Lodge: A couple of working bees are planned in the near future to clear rubbish and weeds around the Alice Kreb Cottage and also at the Community Garden. I will let you know the dates in the next newsletter (2 weeks from now).
In order to improve security, this email has been Bcc’d. Let me know if there any problems.
Welcome to all the locals who have recently joined the email group.
Linda from Houghton Bay Road wants to know what everyone thinks of these ideas: I’ve been thinking … to reduce valley residents’ contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, save petrol dollars, strengthen community bonds + possibly provide extra income or barter points; to save people going to or sourcing out of the area, services such a barber, hairdresser, plumber, gardeners, lawnmowers, photographers, producers of produce or preserves etc; would it be a good idea for anyone with services to offer to be listed some where like the newsletter?
Louis and Finn: are looking for work, see poster above.
Yoga classes: these will start again on 3 May at the school at 6.45 pm.
Community Garden: Photo of locals taking a break in the garden.
Celebrate the Taputeranga Marine Reserve and Snorkel Trail: Sun 1 May. Come and celebrate the Taputeranga Marine Reserve with Green Party Co leader Russel Norman by trying out the new snorkel trail and hearing about the rich marine life the reserve inhabits. Trustee Steve Journee, marine biologist Dr Sea Rotmann and Dr Malcolm Francis from NIWA and will speak from 1 pm.
When: 12.30 – 2.30 pm Sunday 1 May;.
Where: The Esplanade Car Park, opposite 192 The Esplanade, Island Bay.
What to Bring: A full wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, warm and dry clothes to wear afterwards, lunch to share. To hire snorkelling gear or for more information contact Malcolm.
Welcome to all the locals who have recently joined the email group.
A message from Katie (teacher at HV school): The kids at Houghton Valley School have been doing a lot of work in the rainforest over the past few years. Last year they worked with the Wellington Zoo Bush Builders and designed some signs to go in the forest. This Friday at 12 midday we will be reopening the forest with the new signs in it. The community is invited to come to the opening which will take place near the community garden. If you can’t make that, take a wander through the forest after next Friday and see what they have been up to. 🙂
CD community response planning meeting: Mark and Jo’s invitation to hold a community response plan was received with a lot of interest, so a meeting is being planned. Here is their message:
“Jo and I have been kicking some ideas around about what such a meeting would involve, and we’ve not come to a final idea just yet, however we think that we could start by:
Gauging the interest of the group as to whether we think we need to make such a plan;
Giving some examples of the sorts of things that could be done within a community response plan;
Determining/explaining where a community response plan fits in the scheme of other activities (i,e. government/council response);
Answering any questions about hazards/or general emergency management;
Determining a way forward (assuming the interest);
So that’s pretty high level thinking but would probably be more than enough for a 2 hour meeting I think.”
Jo and Mark are tied up with response efforts in Christchurch and an overseas trip so the meeting will take place in late May/early June (they will let everyone know date and time shortly). Please let Mark and Jo (or me) what (if any issues) you may like to see addressed in the meeting.
Memorial bench/seat vandalism: Occurred in the past 10 – 14 days on the seat opposite No 88 The Esplanade. This is very distressing to the family who paid for the seat so if anyone heard or saw anything, please let me know.
Archaeological dig: Mary, an Archaeologist from View Rd and I have been working getting permission to carry out an archaeological dig on the site of Restieaux’s farmhouse (one of the original farms in the valley). The site is near the Wind Gardens. I will keep you posted about this.
Message from Jenny of houghton Bay Rd: Emergency Torches will be for sale at the Civil Defence Meeting. These are dynamo torches (no batteries required). They also have a radio, a siren and 5 adapters for charging cell phones. They are great for the home, work, the car and as presents. They are $40 each, please pay by cash or cheque. (This is a fundraiser for my singing group.) Please see attached picture (although the torches are yellow not black).
