Nor'West News: July 29, 2021

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6 Thursday July 29 2021 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz NOR’WEST NEWS PHOTO CREDIT: KAREn MOfFATT-MCLEOd VOTE nOw! Vashti Johnstone Little River Gallery 31 July – 24 August Vashti Johnstone is a contemporary New Zealand painter, new to Little River Gallery, but not new to exhibiting. Living and working on the South Island’s West Coast she has been a student of visual language forever, formalising her innate need to express and articulate with a Diploma in Painting, Aoraki Polytechnic (2001) Johnstones’s oeuvre applauds the vitality and importance of making art. Respectful of and roused by the lineage of creators who have gone before her and create alongside her, she pushes her practice in energizing and innovative ways, layering her charcoal and her paints into a colourful language that transcends beyond words. Echoing men and women known to Vashti, people who are present and others who have gone before her, Authentic Whisperings explores the tranquillity of people as they expose their flaws and vulnerabilities to the light, attaining wisdom, legitimacy and peace within the authenticity of their own skin. PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD 2021 YOUR VOTE MATTERS MOST! For the first time, the Kiwi Gardener Bird Photo Competition includes a People’s Choice Award, where your vote matters the most. The winner will have their bird pride of place in a stunning 2022 calendar. 31 July – 24 August 2021 littlerivergallery.com Main Rd, Little River | 03 325 1944 art@littlerivergallery.com Vashti Johnstone Authentic Whisperings 31 July – 24 August 2021 littlerivergallery.com Main Rd, Little River | 03 325 1944 art@littlerivergallery.com ? SELECT UP TO THREE FAVOURITES! VOTE OnLInE AT KiwIgARDEnERMAgAzinE.CO.nz *Terms and conditions apply, voting ends August 11, 2021. Authentic Whisperings Elmwood Trading Co makes awards shortlist • By Fiona Ellis With about 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Marty Fuller had seen plenty of change take place for the better. It is the quality of the competition that makes him pleased his pub, the Elmwood Trading Company, is a finalist in the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence 2021. He and wife Naomi were elated to make the shortlist in both the Best Local and Excellence in Gaming categories. “There’s strong competition. They’re all good pubs, I’m familiar with most of them,” Fuller said. They were also in the running for the People’s Choice award, which people could vote for on facebook. Good food and drink options, catering capability, staff and customers were all to credit with coming so far in the three years • By Fiona Ellis Five years after being destroyed in an arson attack, St Margaret’s Presbyterian Church is rising from the ashes. A new church building is under construction in Farrington Ave, due to be completed by next winter. Church minister Reverend Andrew Nicol said the new church would be a multi-purpose space for use by the congregation and the community. “It’ll be quite different from the old one, open GREAT LOCAL: Elmwood Trading Company owners Marty and Naomi Fuller are pleased their pub has made the shortlist in the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence 2021. the couple had owned the Elmwood. “I think we just epitomise the great New Zealand local.” Ever more venues meant more competition in the industry, lifting the standard across the board. “It’s unrecognisable, for the better. The days of booze bars and a pie warmer has gone.” and light,” said Nicol. The congregation was currently using another building onsite that was just big enough for them, Winners will be announced at awards dinner in Auckland in September. The Fullers would attend with three of their top staff. “We would love to win for our staff and locals.” Also in the Nor’West News area, the Bealey Quarter is nominated for the award for Best New/ Redeveloped Business- Accommodation. Church rebuild under way multi-purpose: St Margaret’s church rebuild site on Farrington Ave, Photo: Geoff Sloan but which was left unscathed in the 2016 fire. “Everybody’s really excited now they can see it under way.” Move over dots. Here come the yellow squares. Queen. King. Super King. Same price. Sleepyhead Limited Edition Bed $2499 Up to 68% off Love every detail. Especially the price. In-store and online now. LG 48” 4K Smart OLED TV 48OLEDA1 9070152 $2199 100 ONLY Offers valid from Wednesday 28 July 2021, end dates may vary, while stocks last or unless otherwise stated. Some products on display in selected stores only
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday July 29 2021 7 Willowbank a constantly moving feast Nick Ackroyd has been looking after keas and other native species at Willowbank for the past 12 years. He talks to reporter Fiona Ellis Loki, Blofeld, Moriarty – these are just some of the names of Willowbank Wildlife Reserve’s 15 keas. While the birds may not have the villainous personalities of their namesakes, their mischievousness makes them popular animals with native species keeper Nick Ackroyd. “Probably my favourite, that I look after every day, is the group of kea that we have here at Willowbank,” the St Albans resident said. “They . . . are a bit crazy, so that’s great fun.” In spite of working in the role for 12 years, the birds had never managed to snatch any items from him, but had been known to pilfer pompoms, cash and even credit cards from unwary visitors. Kea were as intelligent as great apes and could solve puzzles that stumped chimpanzees, he said. His aim was not to domesticate animals, but rather to keep them as wild as possible. “I think people assume there’s a lot of cuddling of animals and patting of things and playing with stuff. When you’re a zookeeper, you’re kind of doing the opposite thing. “I don’t want them to be playing with me, I want them to be going and socialising with the other animals.” Not interacting with other animals could also make them direct their aggression towards humans, he said. This was the case with a paradise shelduck who had been hand raised. “He doesn’t like us and tries to chase us away whenever we go into his enclosure.” Other animals were also in his charge, from birds such as takahe, kaka, and whio, to tuatara and more threatening species. “We also have a ferret and a pig and a possum so that people can see those animals that are present in New Zealand as well, and they’re the ones that are causing issues for our native animals.” Conservation efforts were an important part of Willowbank’s role, and it was rewarding for him to play his part in working towards the Department of Conservation’s Predator Free 2050 plan, he said. Although he was concerned about the future of New Zealand’s wildlife, there were also bright points to focus on. Takahe were doing well and their numbers increasing, he said. Willowbank received two new takehe from Te Anau earlier this month as part of a recovery programme by DOC and Fulton Hogan. “Those birds are really important, they’re genetically quite unique and we’re hoping to breed some young from them this year.” Signs they would hit it off come breeding season were promising, as the pair were “hanging out” rather than fighting, he said. The programme aimed to breed and release takahe, as Willowbank had done with other birds, such as the kaka in Abel Tasman National Park. It was always exciting to work with DOC to do releases, Ackroyd said. People’s interest in Willowbank and learning about native wildlife was also encouraging, from strangers to his own children. “I’ve got two kids who have both come through here heaps of times and they love it too.” However, his favourite aspect SKILFUL: Moriarty looking for something to get his beak into. of the job was working with likeminded people. “We all love working with animals and want to really make a difference in that conservation/ native animal area.” This made up for the less appealing aspects of the job, such as working through wicked early morning frosts, chopping up chicken to feed the ferret. People would be surprised at how much of his role involved preparing food for the animals and cleaning their dishes, he said. “There are lots more cleaning and tidying jobs than you might expect.” As a child, he would not have FEATHERED FRIENDS: Willowbank Wildlife Reserve native species keeper Nick Ackroyd is careful not to have any potentially pinchable items on him as he drops in on his favourite charges, the keas. Photos: Geoff Sloan expected to find himself in this job, in spite of his interest in animals, he said. “My zoo keeping career started a little bit sideways. I trained to be a teacher and I did a zooology degree, but I didn’t really want to work as a teacher.” Instead, he took on a job tour guiding at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, which proved to be a foot in the door of an animal keeping career. He was pleased to work mostly with birds now. “Mammals are a bit smelly and difficult, whereas birds are lovely. “It’s like a constantly moving feast, Willowbank. There’s always something new here.” Like finding money down the back of the sofa. Show your dishes who’s Bosch. yellow square deals Emory 2 Seater Sofa & 3 Seater Sofa 9065545 / 9065547 Over 40% off Limited stock at this price Bosch Series 4 14 Place Setting Dishwasher SMS46GI01A 9040211 $999 130 ONLY — please call 0800 764 847 to check availability. Personal shoppers only. Trade not supplied. Limits and other exclusions may apply, ask in-store for details. Discount is off our full retail price. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
Page 1 and 2: THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021 Connecting
Page 3 and 4: NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury n
Page 5: NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury n

Nor'West News: July 29, 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?