Upcoming Council meetings –June /July 2024

Photo: Westland District Council

Marie Island Music Student Concert

Creative Communities

Supported by the October 2023 Creative Communities funding round, the Marie Island Music Students hosted a student showcase for their family and friends last December in the old Renton’s Hardware Building in Hokitika.

Local music teacher and owner of Marie Island Music, Marie Dobson envisioned an evening for her students with a supportive and intimate audience that would nurture a desire to perform at more public opportunities. The evening showcased the musical talents of her singing and piano students, whom have a variety of performance experience. For some members it was their first time performing in front of anyone, other students were experienced performers who perform in school musical theatre, school events, church singing and choirs.

Marie Island Music caters to all ages, from 6 years old to senior community members, and is a culturally diverse group of students. This special event brought the student and close community together to learn and express themselves amongst like minded folk. Maire Dobson says, “Although I applied as an individual, I would like to say that I have created a real collective within our community, Marie Island Music is expanding every day!”.

The event also supported local businesses Te Rere Organics and Logan’s Lemonade who provided catering services.

Text: Marie Dobson and Westland District Council

Images supplied by: Marie Dobson

Whiria te tangata – weaving the people together

National Volunteer Week 2024

National Volunteer Week celebrates the collective contribution of the millions of volunteers who enrich Aotearoa New Zealand.

National Volunteer Week 2024 runs from June 16-22. This year’s theme is ‘Whiria te tangata – weaving the people together’. Volunteering weaves us together, strengthening the fabric of our community.

Volunteering is a powerful movement. When we volunteer our time, skills and energy, we show we care for our communities. This National Volunteer Week we celebrate the diversity of volunteers and volunteering, mahi aroha and social action in Aotearoa.

Volunteers are our companions, firefighters, sports team coaches, fierce advocates, environmental stewards, and so much more. In marae, mosques, churches, and communities across Aotearoa.

Volunteers are first responders in emergencies, clean-up our beaches and restore wild places, provide baking and meals for those in need, and support people who are having a hard time.

Now more than ever, as a volunteering community we commit to manaakitanga and whakawhanaungatanga. We commit to caring, and to building meaningful, enduring and inclusive relationships across our differences and to make space for diverse voices.

We can create a diverse, inclusive, and connected future. Join us this National Volunteer Week as we celebrate our collective impact.

Text and image: National Volunteer Week

More ‘R’s of managing waste

In last month’s Westland Matters, we talked about the 5 ‘R’s’ of managing waste, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse and Repurpose, but there are many more that we can consider. Here are some of the more common ones:

• Rethink: take time to consider what you’re buying and if there’s an eco-friendly choice available.
• Regift: Not every present we receive suits us and our lifestyle, but if you’ve received something that’s brand new and too good to throw out there might be someone else in your life that it’s perfect for. If not, take it along to the Op shop and let it find a new home and help the charity make some money. In fact, you might know people who would be very happy to receive a gift from you that isn’t brand-new and would otherwise go to the Op shop, so the next time you have a clear out consider (re-)gifting what you don’t want.

• Rot: Food waste makes up a significant amount of the waste that goes to landfill. Turning your kitchen scraps into compost saves a huge tonnage of food ending up in landfill, releasing methane for no reason and costing ratepayers in Carbon Credits. It’s a good fertiliser for the garden, too. Nowhere to compost or not enough to compost? Join Share Waste and find people to share your compostable scraps with.

• Repair: In many instances, this might be easier said than done. We live in a throw-away society and many things are not built to last. But sometimes repairing an item is more cost-effective and easier than you think. Often, if you think you can repair it, there’s a YouTube video with instructions on how to do it. And if there’s not, try asking people who might have the skills to teach you. You’ll get a greater sense of satisfaction repairing things like a torn item of clothing than throwing it in the bin.
• Research: There are a multitude of bargains available in Op Shops, online marketplaces and second-hand shops. Before you make a purchase, research other options in the second-hand market. They might be cheaper and better quality, even if they sometimes need a bit of TLC.

Image: Ryan Forsythe on Flickr

Seniors Lunch for Elder Abuse Awareness Month

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month and the West Coast Te Rito Network are offering seniors in our community the opportunity to come together to socialise while they enjoy a simple hot lunch and hear about elder safety awareness, and services available to them locally.  Local organisations who work with the senior community are also invited to come along and share information about their services, and we have some entertainment and spot prizes available too.

Thank you to the local businesses who have donated items for spot prizes, to the Soroptimists who are helping make soup and serve and to the Beachfront Hotel for providing some yummy desserts.  We are holding two lunches, one in Hokitika at the RSA on Tuesday 18th June, from 11.45am to 1.45pm and one on Thursday 20th June at the Baptist Church in Greymouth.

Please contact wcterito@outlook.com  or 0210544650 if you would like more information or just come along on the day.

Text and image: West Coast Te Rito Network

Completion of Cass Square playground getting closer

The countdown to the completion of the Cass Square playground is on, with most of the equipment ready, the surfacing down and the fencing underway. Creo contractors are spending the beginning of June laying the coloured surfaces on the ground, which requires dry weather, and will start the turf over the weekend. The swings will soon be hung, and gates put up at the entrances.

A planting plan is being finalised by the working group for the landscaping project. The working group is also planning a grand opening event on Sunday 23 June, featuring a bouncy castle and a sausage sizzle.

Council and Let’s Play Hokitika look forward to welcoming the community to the new playground!

Text and images: Westland District Council

Midwinter food drive

Te Hono o Nga Waka, WestREAP and the West Coast Te Rito Network are holding a Mid-Winter Food Drive to Feed the Tamariki!

The mid-winter food drive will take place throughout Hokitika Town on Sunday 23rd June starting at 4pm.  We are collecting food to fill the Te Hono and WestREAP Pataka Kai to FEED the TAMARIKI and we would love your help!  If you hear emergency sirens on the afternoon of 23rd June please don’t be alarmed – we have St John, NZ Police and FENZ helping with our collection and they will let you know they are in your street by sounding their sirens.  You can leave donations on or next to your mailbox or gate on the afternoon of the 23rd June for the volunteers to collect, or bring them out when you hear us in your street.

Westland District Library (20 Sewell Street) and WestREAP (72 Tudor Street) are taking donations throughout June so please drop your non-perishable items into them if you live out of town or will be out on our collection day.

Text and image: West Coast Te Rito Network