North Canterbury News: September 07, 2023

NEWS
14 The North Canterbury News, September 7, 2023
Avery light-hearted review
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Apopular autobiography written
by ‘‘Rangiora kid’’, Tom McLaren,
hasbeen given alight­hearted
reviewbyhis middle son, Bruce,
duringahilarious fundraiser for
theRangiora Museum.
Theevent was advertised as an
opportunityfor Brucetooutline
‘‘The Life And Times of aRangiora
Kid’s Kid’’, with the assumption
made by many attending the
function that it would be atalk
about abook he hadwrittenasa
follow up to TheLife and Times of
ARangioraKid, written by Tom.
However,this was not the case.
‘‘Ihave not written abook,’’
Bruce told the audience.
‘‘ThereisnoTheLife and Times
of aRangiora Kid’s Kid book, just in
case you all go out and try to buy a
copy of it.’’
Instead he wanted to talk about
hisfather’s book, plus an earlier
memoirwritten by his mother,
Norma McLaren,and the fun he
hadgrowing up in Rangiora as
their kid, withtwo male siblings
including ‘‘naughtybrother’’ Russ.
‘‘It all started with Mum’sbook
Scorpio Years,’’ Brucesaid.
‘‘It was abeautifully written
book and was apleasure to read.’’
Butthen his father decided to
write his story in ‘‘TheLife and
Times of aRangiora Kid’’, which
waspublished in 2021 andquickly
sold out.But it was ‘‘a terrible
book’’, Bruce joked.
‘‘It is the kind of bookthat makes
youwant to suck air throughyour
teeth.’’
HiscuttingassessmentofTom’s
book was all in good fun, and afar
cryfrom the enthusiastic
Kidding around ... Norma and Tom McLaren, of Rangiora, with their
books, Scorpio Years and The Life and Times of aRangiora Kid, and their
middle son, Bruce, during afunction at the Rangiora Museum. PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP
encouragement Bruce and his
brothersgave theirDad beforehis
bookwas published. Backthen
Norma had fretted that Tom’s book
contained ‘‘somewhat rude
language that should be removed’’,
but their sons advised Tom that he
mustleavethe manuscript ‘‘as it
was.’’
And so in the end Tom ignored
Norma, the woman he calls ‘‘the
starofmylife’’and did what his
sonstold him to do.
Tom and Norma, who are both
Rangiora Museum volunteers are
big believers that everyone should
record their own stories.
‘‘For many years Norma and I,
on hearing people talking of
memorable eventsintheir
lifetime, haveadvised them to get
it written down.
Unfortunately this advice in
mostcasesisjust not heeded, or
theylose their memory, or drop off
the perch,’’ Tom said.
Their middle son has not written
his storyyet,but his museum talk,
which alsoincluded asection
about his extensive travelsaround
the world,showshehas inherited
Tom andNorma’stalentfor storytelling
and has some interesting
tales to tell.
Volunteers wanted
for planting day
By SHELLEY TOPP
Volunteersare being
calledtohelp plant more
than 1000 native plants at
Huria Reserve,inKaiapoi,
this Saturday, September
9.
The plantingday is part
of the Huria Mahinga Kai
project which is funded by
the Waimakariri District
Council and managed by
Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara
Trust.
The day is a
collaboration between the
council, the trust and Te
Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga
which forms the Joint
Working Group.
The generalmanager of
the trust, Nick Chapman,
says the projectaims to
recognise the significant
cultural valuesfor Te Ngāi
Tūāhuriri Rūnanga.
‘‘Mahinga Kai describes
the foodand natural
resources that mana
whenuagather in their
takiwā (area), as well as the
practices they use,’’ he
says.
‘‘The areawill provide
for social and cultural
activities, and include
walking trails and native
forestplantingwhen we
eventually plantout the
close to 15,000 sqm.’’
The plants, including
harakeke (New Zealand
flax), hoheriaand kanuka,
havebeen purchased from
Riverside Horticulture, in
Rangiora, and Wai­ora
Nursery,inChristchurch,
because bothnurseries
eco­sourcetheirplants
which meansthey come
fromthe samelocal
geneticsand can be
reintroduced back into
their local natural
environment.This
increases survival rates
and is in keepingwith the
unique character of the
region.
The council’s
Intermediate Landscape
Architect­District
Regeneration, Hannah­
RoseBelworthy, says three
planting dayshave already
beenheld at the Huria
Reserve,sinceMay last
yearwhen the first
community planting day
tookplace to get planting
underway.
‘‘There have been two
public community planting
daysand one planting day
organised with Tuahiwi
School with 9000 plants
planted so far,’’ she says.
ThisSaturday’splanting
day is at the reserve, in
CourtenayDrive, with
parking off Bowler Street.
It will start at 10amand
finish at 12 noon.There will
be free coffee and sausage
sizzle for volunteers.
WINaSkills and Drills
Session foryourschool
with Canterbury Rugby!
Book anappraisal with me during September, and you’re
in thedraw to WIN a1hourCanterbury RugbySkills
and Drills experiencefor aSchoolofyourchoice in
the WaimakaririDistrict.
Time and location of Skills and Drills experience to
be agreed betweenCanterburyRugby and winning
school.Must beused during the 2023Season.
Photocredit: Photosport
Ray White –Principal Partner of
Canterbury Rugby
Ryan Williams
Licensee Salesperson
027 918 0009
ryan.williams@raywhite.com
Ryan at Ray White
@ryan_atraywhite
raywhitemorrisandco.co.nz
Morrisand Co Real Estate LimitedLicensed(REAA 2008)