Local Happenings

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

28 May, 2011

Just reminding everyone that the working bee will happen tomorrow, starting at 2 pm. Bring gloves, spades, shovels, hammers, wheelbarrow and axes.

See you there. Regards, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

19 May, 2011

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).

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.

Have a great weekend! Regards, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

5 May, 2011

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.

Regards, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

20 April, 2011

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.

Taputeranga Marine Reserve website: www.taputeranga.org.nz;

“Stick your head underwater and be amazed at the life – I even saw a pair of cuttlefish the other day!” – Russel Norman MP.

That’s all for now, Grant.

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

7 April, 2011

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. 

All the best, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

22 March, 2011

Civil Defence: Just a reminder about the meeting on Wednesday 23 at 7 pm in the HV school hall to discuss how we can prepare for an emergency. Suggested discussion topics are:

• How to prepare;
• What steps to take when an emergency happens;
• A register (a list of local resources, people with skills).

Locals will be encouraged to input their knowledge and experience. Bring a plate for nibbles after the meeting. Please tell your neighbours.

Here is the link for the  brochure from Civil Defence (link not current): http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Emergencies–Hazards/Emergency-Planning/Its-easy-get-prepared-FINAL-DEC-2010WEB-With-award.pdf

See you on Wednesday, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

16 March, 2011

Civil Defence: due to the considerable response the HV School hall has been booked for a public meeting on Wednesday March 23 at 7 pm (the school is very kindly letting us use the hall free of charge). John and/or Sandy from Cave Rd will facilitate the meeting. Ricky from Civil Defence has been invited to talk and answer questions. Locals have also suggested others such as a geologist, a fireman and someone who has been helping out in Christchurch. If you know someone you think should be invited, let me know. Early next week an email will be sent out confirming the program for the night. Please tell your neighbours.

Barry Schon (principal of HV School) clarified the schools position in the 24 February newsletter, titled:

“Our School is a Civil defence Centre. What does this Mean?

It’s my understanding that the fact that our school is a ‘Civil Defence Post’ means that there is a radio here that local Civil Defence people will come and use to help monitor any disaster – in the event of a disaster they will have local volunteers who will head to the school, if they are able to. The school itself is therefore not set up to look after big groups of people, although if people had nowhere to go we would of course do our best to look after them. After an emergency we aim to get children back to their families asap, so that we can go to our own families, and we have a system set up for this, based on the emergency contact details we have for each child.”

Christine from Cave Rd provided this emergency checklist:

• Assume you’ll need 2 week’s supply to be comfortable;
• Assume you’ll need a toilet in the garden, so a drum with a toilet seat is good;
• Drinking water: 2 x 35 gallon header tanks would be good. 40 – 50 gallons of safe water for general use; 10 litres just drinking water;
• For a shower you can get battery operated camping showers, or Jerry up a solar shower on a hook in the shower. Wet wipes would be better than nothing. Antibacterial wet wipes are great and for hands. Big problem is food hygiene with no water to wash hands and unclean water in the tap;
• Insist on work premises that meet the code;
• Extra SIM cards – different cell towers get knocked down;
• Real nice to have: a generator, 70 gallons drinkable water, temporary shower, perhaps a tent, a bike/motorbike;
• Store nothing above shoulder height unless the doors lock closed. Don’t have any cabinets that can fall across doorways;
• Have a decent torch, jacket, boots, belt for trousers because you lose weight!
• Baking soda is an excellent deodorant;
• Camera to photograph stuff before cleaning up or throwing away;
• Important documents scanned and stored out of town or online;
• All important numbers recorded and backed up. Squeegee that will scrape into a dust shovel for cleaning up smashed food, Plastic shovel and brush;
• Flattened cardboard boxes to initially collect stuff up;
• Bleach for disinfectant;
• Soap, towels;
• 4 or 5 rolls paper towels;
• Flatbreads – last better than normal bread;
• Tins enough for 5 days;
• Pencil and paper;
• Transistor and batteries;
• Dolphin torch with good battery;
• Garden gloves to pick up glass;
• Really good quality duct tape;
• Insulation tape;
• Felt pen to leave instructions;
• Hand sanitiser 500 – 1000 mls;
• Pets go missing – train them beforehand by blowing a whistle or ringing a bell once a day. Microchip them and register them;
• Some heavy clear plastic to put over broken windows;
• Store emergency kit where it will be accessible if the house collapses. Powdered milk and easy to make jug;
• Tarpaulin.

Alice Kreb Lodge: Yesterday  a meeting was held at the lodge between the WCC and lodge trustees to sort out the lease. The WCC has agreed to survey the footprint of the building and create a lease agreement that will secure its future. In the photo below are Amber, Steve and Dejan from WCC with Brenda.

Houghton valley Community garden: Locals relaxing in the garden on Sunday.

By the way, check out Houghton Bay Community on our Facebook Page for more photos.

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

7 March, 2011

Sam is very preoccupied with the events in Christchurch, so I’m going to be doing the newsletter for a while.

Civil Defence: Many locals are talking about how a Civil Defence system could be organised for Houghton Bay. The feeling is that if an earthquake strikes, Houghton Bay will be on its own for several days. Do we want to organise a meeting to talk about this in the community hall? Yes or no? If enough people want it, let me know and I’ll book the hall. Apparently there is a fireman who lives in or near Houghton Bay, who knows the area well, and would be good to get as a speaker.

Jenny’s Notice: How is your emergency kit? Get yourself a self charging (dynamo) torch with radio, siren and cell phone charger. No batteries required. The price will be $40 or possibly a bit more, depending on the exchange rate, and we will be getting some more in to NZ in 6 weeks, but can take orders anytime!

Alice Krebs Lodge: See photo of John, Clare and Brenda preparing the Alice Krebs Lodge for refugees from Christchurch.

Sonia’s notice: On March 19 Sonia will be available for healing massage at the Alice Krebs Lodge. Sonia works with subtle healing energies to realign and stretch the body. The first session is one and a half hours. Cost $65.00. A fee is being paid to the Kae Miller Trust for each massage.

Houghton valley Community garden:  This photo  shows the veggies harvested from the garden yesterday.

There is a lot of silver beet at the moment, so please take some.

Piebe’s (Peter’s) Track: Has anyone noticed the orange step opposite the bathing sheds? See photo.

Best wishes to everyone, Grant

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

28 February, 2011

Houghton Valley Email Newsletter

17 February, 2011

Trail bikes: A trail bike has twice been seen going up the track from the playground to Buckley Rd and then along the track above the school. We need to find away of stopping this before it gets worse.

Community Garden: The HV PlayCentre is about to start a plot. Having both the PlayCentre and the School involved is going to benefit the kids. If anyone is out walking in the evening, the garden needs lots more watering now.

Also if you email Brian he  will send you news from the South Coast Historical Society.

Cheers, Grant