Western News: October 16, 2025

FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Alana Powell
Ph: 027 535 6583
alana@alliedmedia.co.nz
Native species
get boost from
harbour pest
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Alana Powell
Ph: 027 535 6583
alana@alliedmedia.co.nz
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Annabel Judd
Ph: 021 457 469
annabel.judd@alliedmedia.co.nz
control project
A successful pest control
programme taking place
around Whakaraupō Lyttelton
Harbour has removed nearly
4700 predators, thanks to a
network of volunteers, support
from landowners and city
council funding.
The Whaka Ora Pest Project
(WOPP), run in partnership
with Conservation Volunteers
New Zealand (CVNZ), targets
invasive
The Star,
predators
January 23,
such
2025
as possums,
rats and stoats.
It also tackles invasive weeds
including spur valerian, old
man’s beard, banana passionfruit,
boneseed, wilding pines
and sycamore.
The project’s overall goal is to
restore The Star, the January harbour’s 23, 2025 natural
biodiversity while building a
resilient, engaged community,
said CVNZ Canterbury regional
manager Hamish Fairbairn.
With more than 90 trained
volunteer trappers, a network of
800 traps and 31 traplines, WOPP
currently protects more than
440ha of public and private land.
Reducing pest numbers creates
space for native populations to
recover and thrive, Fairbairn
said.
“As pest numbers drop, we
see increased nesting success in
native birds, more sightings of
invertebrates, and the regeneration
of native vegetation.
“In the harbour, people are seeing
larger flocks for kererū, the
return of tomtit miromiro and
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Jenny Wright
The success of the Whaka Ora Pest Project in targeting invasive species around Whakaraupō
Ph:
Lyttelton
021 220
Harbour
3484
has created
jenny@alliedmedia.co.nz
space for native species like kererū to recover and thrive.
PHOTOS: CCC
increased sightings
of tūī.”
WOPP covers
council parks
and reserves,
Department of
Conservation
land, and private
land, recognising
that ecological
threats can move
freely across
​Hamish
Fairbairn
property lines, Fairbairn said.
“We rely on the commitment
of our volunteers, and the funding
we receive from council
helps cover the costs of essential
equipment like traps, bait and
monitoring tools as well as training,
co-ordination and safety
support.”
The city council has two funds
to support community environmental
initiatives like WOPP,
both now open for applications.
The biodiversity fund is
aimed at landowners wanting
to protect and enhance areas
of ecological significance on
private land within council
boundaries.
Parks programmes and partnerships
manager Roslyn Kerr
said this could be through
initiatives like fencing, native
planting or pest control.
“Working in partnership with
private landowners, we can
achieve outcomes that benefit
the whole city.”
The city council also offers
the environmental partnerships
fund, Kerr said.
“This is targeted at community
organisations, charities and
non-profit groups looking
starnews.co.nz
to
partner with our parks rangers
on projects of shared interest to
the community and the city as a
whole.”
WOPP has received a combined
$70,000 in city council funding
from both the biodiversity and
environmental partnership starnews.co.nz funds.
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The Star, October 16, 2025
starnews.co.nz
Rehoming requests soar as financial
​BY GEOFF SLOAN
The rising cost of living is
forcing some pet owners to give
up animals they can no longer
afford to care for.
One animal rescue charity,
already at full capacity, recently
received five rehoming requests
in a single day.
Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust
general manager Bridget Paterson
said there has been a steady
increase in the number of
requests to surrender dogs.
“On average, at least one a
day,” she said.
Many of the reasons people
gave were linked to financial
hardship.
“We had some dogs who
required medical treatment
which owners couldn’t afford,
elderly people moving into care
where they can’t take their dog
or elderly passing away and
family not wanting to care for
their dog.
“Also, people moving rentals
and unable to keep their dogs
or people who rescue a dog in a
poor situation but cannot keep
it themselves,” Paterson said.
One such person was Papanui
resident Dana Bennett, who was
driving home when she spotted
a man walking down the street
pushing a shopping trolley with
four chihuahuas in a dog crate.
“I had to stop. I felt it wasn’t
right,” she said.
When she pulled over to talk
to him, the man told her he was
Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust general manager Bridget Paterson with Snow, an eight-month-old shar pei–bull terrier cross currently
available for adoption.
homeless and had been given
the dogs by his niece to look
after, but she never came back
for them.
“I offered to take them and
let them run around in my back
yard.”
A few days later, the man
visited Bennett at home and said
he was happy to leave the dogs
with her, as he couldn’t give
them the life they deserved.
“We want to do more,
save more dogs, offer
more education, more
support, more desexing
to prevent unwanted
litters and more
vaccinations to prevent
the spread of lifethreatening
diseases.”
Bridget Paterson
“He said I’d given them more
in four days than he had in six
months."
Bennett surrendered the
chihuahuas to Dogwatch, but
with no space available, she
agreed to foster them until
homes could be found.
One found a home straight
away, and Bennett decided to
adopt one herself.
Paterson said the trust’s Dyers
Rd site is always at its 14-dog
capacity.
The organisation also has
13 dogs in foster care and 18
recently adopted dogs currently
settling into new homes, with
support and guidance to help
both owners and pets adjust.
She said it was not
uncommon to hear stories of
people facing hardship who still
put their dogs’ needs before
their own.
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Aaron Johnstone

starnews.co.nz The Star, October 16, 2025
hardship takes its toll
Dogwatch offers food
assistance for dog owners, but
demand for that service has also
increased this year.
The trust adopts out about
100 dogs each year, but rising
demand means “it’s looking
more like 120 dogs this year,”
Paterson said.
Data from Companion Animals
NZ shows New Zealand
has about 4.35m companion
animals – proportionately the
second-highest rate in the world
after the United States.
About two-thirds of New
Zealand households share their
home with a pet (63%), with
cats the most popular at 40% of
households, followed by dogs at
31%.
Dogwatch is now in its 43rd
year of operation.
“It all started with a group of
ladies protesting outside local
pounds, objecting to the number
of unclaimed dogs being
euthanised,” Paterson said.
The group persuaded local
pounds to allow them to set up
fostering networks to care for
animals until permanent homes
could be found.
“Back in those days, dogs were
held in a pound for five days
and if not claimed they were
euthanised. That practice has
significantly changed now.”
Dogwatch does not receive
any council or government
funding and relies heavily on
grants and public support.
The registered charity has
Dana Bennett with five-year-old chihuahua-crosses Mama and Ghosty, which she
rescued from a homeless man late last month. Both dogs are available for adoption
and have attracted strong interest.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
about 130 volunteers and 13
part-time staff at its Dyers Rd
headquarters, plus three parttime
staff at its variety shop in
New Brighton, which provides
some regular income.
Paterson said their goal is
simple – to save more dogs.
“We want to do more,
save more dogs, offer more
education, more support, more
desexing to prevent unwanted
litters and more vaccinations
to prevent the spread of lifethreatening
diseases.”
She said the ultimate goal is
to have every dog in a loving
home.
“So effectively, we won’t need
to exist.”
‘Huge win for city’ as
national events secured
With the doors of New Zealand’s
largest indoor sport and
recreation venue set to open
before the end of the year, the
2026 calendar is already filling up
with national competitions and
events.
Swimming New Zealand and
Basketball New Zealand have
signed on with the city council
to make use of the brand-new
spaces at Parakiore Recreation
and Sport Centre.
City council head of recreation,
sport and events Nigel Cox said
bringing the events to Christchurch
and Parakiore is “a huge
win for the city”.
“Having these exciting events
in our own backyard is not only
a boost to our local athletes and
sports fans but will also have positive
impacts for the whole city.”
Swimming NZ will hold its 2026
short course championships at
Parakiore from September 27 to
October 1.
“Our swimming community
can’t wait to be competing at
Parakiore in the brand-new
facility,” said Swimming NZ head
of participation, competitions
and engagement Dale Johnson.
Swimming NZ estimates about
1350 athletes, coaches and supporters
will travel to the city for
the event, with 150 local athletes
also set to compete.
Basketball New Zealand is
also bringing the Foot Locker
U16 national championships to
Christchurch in July.
Swimming NZ estimates about 1350
athletes, coaches and supporters will
travel to Christchurch for the 2026
national short course championships, to
be held at Parakiore.
“For many of these young
athletes, it will be their first experience
competing on a stage of
this scale, and we know it’ll be
a memorable one,” said Basketball
NZ tournaments lead Jay
Macdonald.
More than 400 competitors and
2000 spectators are expected to
attend the four-day event.
The city council is also working
with other sporting organisations
to secure hosting rights for further
events.
“We’re aiming to secure
around 12 national or international
events and 15-20 regional
events each year for Parakiore,”
Cox said.
Parakiore will open to the
public before the end of the year,
once the operational fit-out, load
testing and site-specific staff
training has taken place.
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The Star, October 16, 2025
starnews.co.nz
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Open Weekend
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We know that moving to a retirement village is a big decision. So why not come along to our Open
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Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
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578 Springs Road, Prebbleton
03 353 6312 | summerset.co.nz/prebbleton
*Flexible pricing arrangements are subject to a bespoke deferred management fee. Price and stock levels correct as at 15 September 2025, only cottage 70 and 89 left at this price.
All Summerset homes are sold under a licence to occupy and are subject to availability. Summerset does not offer rental accommodation. Images are indicative.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, October 16, 2025
The Way
We Were
Jumpy contestants in 1971, including Stephen Woods
with winning frog Hercules (right, below right).
Below – National Wigram candidate David Cox proved he was
no blowhard when he won the competition in 1972.
1971 – FROG JUMPING CHAMPS
It was an un-frog-gettable
opportunity. New Zealand’s
first national frog jumping
competition leapt into action
at Bishopdale Mall on October
20, 1971.
Contestants scoured rivers
and marshes in the lead-up in
search of frogs.
The competition ran for
seven days, with a testing
and weigh-in station set up at
Bishopdale Pharmacy.
An estimated 10,000 frogs
were expected to take part,
contest secretary-organiser
Mr D. Grady told The Press.
“I expect at least 500
entrants on the first day and
I expect the number to rise
at each of the 10 jumping
sessions over the next seven
shopping days,” he said.
Frogs from other parts of
the country, including 25
from the West Coast, arrived
after preliminary rounds
conducted by Lions clubs
in regional towns.
Rodney Prescott’s frog, Mr
Muldoon, made the biggest
leap on day one – 6ft (1.8m).
But the competition was won
by Stephen Woods, aged 9,
with his frog, Hercules.
Hercules leapt 7ft 41/2in (2.2m)
to pick up $700 in prizes and
cash – and the right to fly on
a specially moisturised velvet
cushion on a BOAC V10 to the
United States.
The following May, Hercules
was cleared to participate
in the world frog jumping
championships in California.
He was thought to be the first
NZ frog to leave the country
for such a competition.
However, Hercules would
not be allowed to return
home because of Department
of Agriculture regulations;
he would be adopted by an
American boy.
The national competition
was held again in 1972.
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The Star, October 16, 2025
starnews.co.nz
Fresh ideas, full flavours
Fresh focaccia, a zesty dip and
bright pea salad makes a vibrant
spring lunch, writes Nigel Slater
HERB FOCACCIA WITH GREEN
OLIVE, BURNT LEMON AND
THYME DIP
If you happen to have a
jar of sourdough starter in
the fridge, add a couple of
tablespoons when you add the
yeast. Grilling the lemon gives
the juice a more mellow, lightly
toasted flavour.
Ingredients
Serves 2-4
For the focaccia
400ml warm water
2 tsp easy-baked dried yeast
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp caster sugar
500g strong white bread flour
6 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp thyme leaves
sea salt flakes
You will also need a high-sided
baking tin, about 24x24cm
For the dip
1 large lemon
250g stoned green olives
1 Tbsp thyme leaves
6 Tbsp olive oil
​
Method
• Put the water and yeast into
a large mixing bowl and add the
salt and sugar. If you are adding
sourdough starter, do so now.
• Mix in the flour by hand or
with a spatula. Add 2 Tbsp of
the olive oil and mix into the
dough. Cover the bowl with
a tea towel and refrigerate
overnight (I like to give the
dough a good eight hours).
• Next day, when the dough
has risen to about twice its
original size, chop the thyme
leaves and add them into the
dough along with another
2Tbsp of the oil.
• Lightly oil the baking tin
and turn the dough out into
it. Push the dough to fit the tin
with your fist, gently pushing it
almost into the corners.
• Wrap the tin in a cloth and
place in a warm spot for about
an hour until it has risen to
twice its size. Set the oven to
220degC. When the oven is
ready, push 12 or so hollows
into the dough with your finger,
scatter the surface with sea salt
and bake for 30 minutes until
golden. Remove from the oven
and pour the remaining oil
over.
• For the dip: Get a small
griddle pan hot. Cut the lemon
in half and place cut side down
on the griddle. Leave until the
underside is toasted, even a
little blackened, then remove
and squeeze the juice.
• Put the olives in a food
processor with the thyme
leaves, and process until finely
chopped.
• Pour in the olive oil then,
finally, 4 Tbsp of lemon juice.
Check the seasoning — you may
need a little black pepper. Serve
with the warm focaccia.
PEA SALAD WITH RICOTTA
AND LEMON
A soft, sharp and creamy salad
with the crunch of peas and
crisp, raw radishes.
Ingredients
Serves 3 as a light salad
For the ricotta
2 cloves young garlic
250g ricotta
4 Tbsp natural yoghurt
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
For the salad
200g peas, podded weight
2 handfuls (about 150g) peas in
their pod (or mangetout)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 large handfuls pea shoots
2 Tbsp pine kernels
6 radishes, halved
For the mint oil
12-15 mint leaves
75ml olive oil
Method
• Peel the garlic and crush to a
paste with a tiny pinch of salt. I
use a small pestle and mortar for
this, but the flat blade of a knife
or the back of a spoon will do.
• Mix together the ricotta and
yoghurt to give a loose paste,
then stir in the garlic and the
finely grated lemon zest. Add
a little coarsely ground black
pepper.
• Have a bowl of iced water to
hand. Bring a deep pan of water
to the boil, salt it lightly, add
both lots of peas and cook for 3-4
minutes, then drain and plunge
into iced water. This stops them
cooking and keeps their colour
bright.
• Drain and shake them dry
(you could use a salad spinner).
Toss the peas in the olive oil.
• In a dry pan, toast the pine
kernels until pale gold in colour.
Keep them moving round the
pan so they colour evenly, and
keep an eye on them, as they are
easy to burn.
• Blitz the mint leaves and
olive oil in a food processor or
blender, adjusting to a pouring
consistency with a little water.
Season lightly with salt.
• Put the ricotta dip on a
serving dish, add the peas, pea
shoots and radishes. Scatter with
the toasted pine kernels and
trickle the mint oil over.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, October 16, 2025

The Star, October 16, 2025
starnews.co.nz
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
10 11
12 13
14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21
422
SUDOKU
Every row, column and box should
contain the digits 1 to 9.
WordBuilder
WORDBUILDER
T
H W
O Y R
6
322 322
O Y R
words of three or more letters,
How
including
many
plurals,
words
can you
of
make
three
from
or
the
more
six
letters, using each letter only once? No foreign
How words or beginning with a capital are
from many the words six letters, of three using or more each letters, only
allowed. There's at least one six-letter word.
including once? plurals, can you make from the six
TODAY
letters,
No Good words
using 14 each
beginning Very letter Good only 17 with
once? Excellent a capital
No 20 foreign
are
words
allowed. Solution or words 321: There’s desk, beginning desks, at die, with
least dies, a dike, capital
one dikes, are
allowed. six-letter
disk, disks, There's diss, ides, at least ids, kid, one kids, six-letter kiss, KISSED, word. side,
word. sides, sis, ski, skid, skids, TODAY skied, skies, skis.
Good 14 Very Good 17 Excellent 20
letters, including plurals, can you make
Solution 321: desk, desks, die, dies, dike, dikes,
disk, disks, diss, ides, ids, kid, kids, kiss, KISSED, side,
sides, sis, ski, skid, skids, skied, skies, skis.
22 23 24 25 26
27 28
29
Across
1. Anything advantageous used during
negotiations (10,4)
10. Additional (5)
11. Too early (9)
12. Person in charge of a museum (7)
13. Nonsense (7)
14. Evidence (5)
16. Uncomfortable (3,2,4)
19. Lowest female singing voice (9)
20. Donate funds (5)
22. Relating to water (7)
25. Morally correct (7)
27. “__ is the sincerest form of
flattery”: Oscar Wilde (9)
28. Elk (5)
29. Mischief, underhand behaviour
(6,8)
Decoder
Down
2. Post meridiem (9)
3. Hard work (colloq) (5)
4. Unbiased (9)
5. Incompetent (5)
6. Warranty (9)
7. Dog (5)
8. Go before (7)
9. Distinctive mushroom (3,3)
15. Top class (5-4)
17. Unfinished business (5,4)
18. Daring (9)
19. Skull (7)
21. Money holder (6)
23. Employees’ organisation (5)
24. Ascend (5)
26. Homo sapien (5)
Crossword
Across: 1. Bargaining chip, 10. Extra, 11. Premature, 12. Curator, 13.
Twaddle, 14. Proof, 16. Ill at ease, 19. Contralto, 20. Endow, 22. Aquatic,
25. Ethical, 27. Imitation, 28. Moose, 29. Monkey business.
Down: 2. Afternoon, 3. Graft, 4. Impartial, 5. Inept, 6. Guarantee, 7. Hound,
8. Precede, 9. Red cap, 15. First-rate, 17. Loose ends, 18. Audacious, 19.
Cranium, 21. Wallet, 23. Union, 24. Climb, 26. Human.
WordBuilder
Hot, how, hoy, rho, rot, row, throw, thy, tor, tow, toy, trow, troy, try, two, tyro,
who, why, wort, worth, WORTHY, wot, wroth, wry.
DECODER
Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the
given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out
which letters are represented by the other numbers.
All puzzles copyright
T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Sudoku