PAGE 4 Wednesday <strong>December</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2020</strong> BAY HARBOUR Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz You’d better get a skate on... LAST MINUTE BOOK IDEAS 1005 Ferry rd Ph 384 2063 while stocks last (see instore for terms and conditions) Barry & kerry
Wednesday <strong>December</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2020</strong> Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz BAY HARBOUR PAGE 5 ‘As you get older you’re inclined to break easier’ • From page 1 But with his regular route from Governors <strong>Bay</strong> to the Sign of the Kiwi not getting any easier these days, Hunter has embraced the ebike as his preferred mode of transport thanks to sponsor Scotty Brown. “It’s a hard ride up to the Kiwi, it’s quite steep. As you get older it becomes harder, as you can imagine,” he said. So the Liverpudlian, who emigrated in 1964 to work in the hotel industry, is now comfortable on a bike with a top (assisted) speed of 32km/h. “This’ll prolong my riding, I don’t know how many (years) I’ve got left,” said Hunter, who started biking competitively in 1950. He represented England at regular intervals, including the Tour of Ireland and the Isle of Man International Road Race, which he rode for the Manx Trophy nine times before moving to New Zealand. The Coast to Coast endurance test appealed when it launched in 1983, Hunter was in the inaugural race and did the bike leg 11 times. He was the oldest competitor to complete the 243km trek when he set off as a 79-year-old. Hunter was a founder member of the ‘Magpies’ casual riding group around Cashmere and its ‘Elegant Eightys’ offshoot, though he now rides in more compact groups of two or three for safety reasons. “Unfortunately some people FITNESS: English-born Governors <strong>Bay</strong>-based cyclist Eric Hunter, 87, was a nine-time starter in the Isle of Man International Road Race before emigrating. as they get older they become a little bit hard of hearing and they don’t really know which way they’re going, and there’s a few accidents,” he said. “As you get older you’re inclined to break easier and you take longer to recover.” Naturally Hunter has had to get back on his bike more than once, with a broken collarbone via a Coast to Coast pile up nominated as his worst injury. He has also needed two knee replacements, a hip pin, a heart stent and a titanium ankle. “That was just wear and tear,” Hunter said of his new left ankle. “It’s actually harder to walk than it is to ride a bike. Walking down my driveway and along the beach every day with my little doggie . . . it’s harder walking than riding a bike.” So Hunter is at ease riding up to 200km a week, he even managed 21km – at <strong>23</strong>.2km/h – when he turned 87 on <strong>December</strong> 5. “I go out on the bike four times a week, I play golf and I go out on the canoe depending on the weather,” he said. Hunter tees off at Rawhiti, in New Brighton, about <strong>23</strong>km from home, so understandably he takes the car before driving. PRECIOUS: A 3ha block in Okains <strong>Bay</strong> is set to become protected, allowing a number of plant species to thrive. Covenant will protect native plants on farmland ABOUT THREE hectares of land on a beef farm in Okains <strong>Bay</strong> will be protected by a Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust covenant. The Thelning covenant project has been “thought about for a long time,” landowners Peter and Cynthia Thelning said. It was one of four projects recommended for Immediate Steps biodiversity funding by Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee and will receive about $16,000 of funding. The funding will be used alongside more than $20,000 from the city council’s Biodiversity Fund, to fence and covenant a 2.8ha forested section of Okains <strong>Bay</strong>. The project connects to several other covenants along Okains <strong>Bay</strong> Stream. The Thelnings, who are farmers, have been keen to protect the stream and its values such as mahinga kai and biodiversity for a long time, and were happy to be able to work with Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and Environment Canterbury staff to progress plans. “Marie from BPCT has guided us throughout the process. “Stock will be kept out by the fencing constructed around the reserve, which will really preserve the flora in the area,” Peter Thelning said. To allow native species to flourish, the Thelnings will also undertake pest and weed control, with some sycamore control already being completed. Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee chairwoman Benita Wakefield is proud local landowners are taking action to protect and enhance biodiversity and water quality in the zone. “Projects like this highlight the collective effort that’s going on to improve the waterways and biodiversity values in our zone and contribute to the vision of ‘ki uta ki tai’ (mountains to the sea),’ she said. There are a variety of native species including adultmataī (black pine), kahikatea (white pine) and andtōtaraare present in the reserve, with seedlings coming through in the undergrowth. The trees make good homes for tūī, korimako (bellbirds) and andkererū New Zealand wood pigeons. These have all been seen in the area by the Thelnings. The project will help to protect a diverse range of native plant species, including the only native climbing daisy with yellow flowers -climbing groundsel (Brachyglottis sciadophila), which is at risk of declining according to the Department of Conservation. The site also contains other native plant species such astitoki (New Zealand ash) porokaiwhiri (pigeonwood) and a variety of ferns. This indicates natural regeneration of the site has begun, and good ecosystem health exists – a recipe for success when it comes to protection projects. Winnie Bagoes is still serving the pizzas you know and love, and is your go to for catch ups, family dinners or functions in the heart of Welles Street or further north in Rangiora. Whether you’re after a table in our outdoor area or one of the comfortable booths inside, Winnie Bagoes has something for everyone with their wide range of menu options & dietary requirements. We have been serving our unique pizzas loved by the young, old & peckish for over 20 years now, & would love to see you in either our City location at 40 Welles Street or our Rangiora restaurant at 88 Victoria Street soon. MENTION THIS AD FOR 10% OFF!
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