Haratua / May 1, 2025
Koha Coffee
Sunday, 4 May, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Come along to the Community Hall at 80 Houghton Bay Road this Sunday for another catch up with locals and find out what’s happening. There is still plenty going on or about to happen in Houghton Bay, this year seems to have been non-stop!
Bring along some kai or a koha. Leone is hosting.
Recording our dawn chorus
Sunday, 4 May, 5.30 – 7.30 am
There is an interesting local research project afoot to take part on International Dawn Chorus Day early on Sunday morning, as part of Reveil, a 24-hour planetary broadcast of live bird sounds at dawn. Hungerford Road locals Kate Genevieve and Lucas Putnam will stream live from the spring near the Buckley Road Reserve playground, affectionally known by some as The Teapot Creek, between 5.30 and 7.30 am. If you see people with microphones in the morning twilight down by the stream, that’s what they’re up to.
As part of Aotearoa’s contribution to Reveil, collaborators are also testing off-grid, disaster-ready communication tools, including FM transmission and the Meshtastic mesh network, to support growing local response efforts. If you are interested to learn more, Meshes of the Ata Hāpara has more details and welcomes contributions, with the hope of making creative research into communication networks an ongoing community practice.
You can listen to Reveil 2025 from 4pm NZDT on Saturday 3 May to 5pm NZDT on Sunday 4 May at ecologies.fm. The livestream will be recorded and available for later listening.
Haewai Harvest Dinner photos
We have made a slideshow of the Seeds-to-Feeds dinner, using photos by taken by Paddy Flanagan and using Timebank credits. Watch it here
Haewai Houghton Valley Community Association AGM
Sunday, 25 May, 2.45 – 4.30 pm
This AGM marks the beginning of several Centenary milestones. In 1925 the South Melrose Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, the first name for our community organisation, was formed. As well as the meeting, we are having a special afternoon tea to mark the occasion, and you are warmly invited to come along.
We will have some archival material on display. If you have some community memorabilia of your own, or something about the history of your house, please bring it along to share.
If you would like to get more involved with community activities, we are looking for people to join our committee (and yes it is fun!) In particular we are looking for someone to take on the role of Secretary, but you could also take on a general role or do a small role such as looking after the membership. Please contact admin@houghtonvalley.org.nz if you are interested. Otherwise, you could start by becoming a member of the HHVCA and support us to support the community. Only $10 per person per year. Sign-up form
Our next Ceilidh is coming!
Saturday 7 June, 7 – 10.30 pm
The Ceilidh we had last August at our community hall was so successful that everyone clamoured for another. And here we are: it’s time to book your tickets to make sure you get a spot. A ceilidh (kay-lee) is a fun family Scottish dance evening. We will have a live band – Schiehallion – who will call the dances, and supper to keep you going strong.
Tickets are $25 per person + $2 booking fee, children under 10 free. Book your tickets now!
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