September 5, 2019
Koha Coffee
By popular demand, Koha Coffee this month will be on a Sunday (8 September). So if Saturday commitments have kept you away up until now, come along from 10 am – 12 midday. Bring some nibbles if you wish, or help consume what the others bring! This event will be hosted by Katy.
Earthquake preparedness
On September 3, Houghton Valley School hosted Ana Faatoia from WREMO for a session on community earthquake preparedness at a household level. If you missed it, there is a follow up evening on September 24 from 6.00 – 7.30 pm where you can find out how your community can work together during and after a major disaster.
The Community Emergency Hub at Houghton Valley School will host this interactive session for all residents and visitors of the area. Any questions, contact Ana.
Fools and Dreamers
Dave McArthur comments below on an inspiring, recently made NZ film:
“Upwards of a dozen Haewai folk attended the Wellington film premiere of Fools and Dreamers with a panel discussion at the Penthouse Cinema on July 5.
This half hour documentary has a universal message: it is the inspiring and humbling story of how a caring, observant, patient individual (and a bicycle) can play a pivotal role in regenerating the vital forests, soils, water and air needed to sustain our children.
The film also has considerable local relevance to us residents in the valley of Haewai: our school and many of our homes are sited near a major city dump, which is a time-bomb. Much of the valley’s rainwater is funneled into the dump, contaminated with leachate and pumped to Happy Valley dump. An earthquake, intensive rainfall, electrical grid collapse or other similar extreme event could disrupt this whole system. Fools and Dreamers has valuable lessons in how we can ameliorate these risks, both locally and globally.
For instance, I grew up on a Wairarapa farm. I was inculcated in the belief that gorse is evil, to be burned, bulldozed and poisoned even if this eradicated all else too. I then moved to Christchurch where I first encountered the two stars of the movie, Hugh Wilson and his trusty bicycle. One day, on the side of a busy street, Hugh gave me a brief and revelatory lecture on the botany of gorse. In five minutes he so liberated me from my ignorant mind-set that ever since I too have championed gorse as an invaluable, native forest nursery. That was over 50 years ago, yet still Wellington people demonize and poison this wonderful ally.
[The newsletter header photo shows how much gorse there was on the western hills in 1989. Karo and other pioneer natives are now shading it out.] Ed.
The generous, young film-makers at Happen Films have made Fools and Dreamers freely available on the internet, so have a look.”
If you aren’t so ruggedly fit there’s always an e-bike!
Dave continues his interviews with local e-bike users.
“Any record of the arrival of e-bikes in the valley of Haewai would be very incomplete if it omitted the impact of Dan Mikkelsen. Many of us were startled, is not stunned when we first saw him pedaling a bike laden with two children and cargo up our steepest roads with such speed and ease. Who was this super athlete? And what’s with all his weird and wonderful shaped machines?
Well, the first two words to come to Dan’s mind when he thinks of e-bikes are Bicycle Junction, which is his shop in Newtown. Freedom and liberating are his next two words. And what does his daughter Helena associate riding on e-bikes with? Singing, singing.”
WCC Council community meetings
Saturday 7 September: drop-in session for bus consultations at the Island Bay Presbyterian Church (88 The Parade) between 11am and 5 pm.
Throughout September: there are several meetings organised for communities to meet the election candidates. If you want to find a place and time go to Community Candidate Events (link not current)
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