Nor'West News: February 19, 2026

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Civil Defence Emergency
Management has sent out the
call for budding response team
members around the city.
An information evening
tomorrow will highlight the
work response teams and
their support teams conduct in
emergency The Star, January situations. 23, 2025
After attending the
information evening, prospective
recruits will be invited to attend
a selection day. This will involve
a basic physical assessment for
those joining response teams.
There are a range of roles
in emergency The Star, January management 23, 2025
however, and not all require
physical assessments.
“Selection day entails a mix of
team activities and learning basic
responder skills,” said response
team 10 team leader Matthew
Crook.
“For The us Star, as January team leaders, 23, 2025 we
want to put people under a bit
of pressure, see how they work
with others and see how well
they can learn and apply new
skills.”
Recruits will then be invited
to join a team, where they will
join as a probationary member.
After gaining experience through
courses and training exercises,
they will become a fully-fledged
member.
“Training is a mixture of
organised team training and
formal courses. Team trainings
encompass a wide variety of
skills including first aid, ropes,
lowering stretchers, Civil
Defence centres and more.
“The formal courses provide
opportunities to learn skills such
as working in floodwaters, rope
access systems for repairs, the
CIMS structure, and more,” said
Crook.
During emergencies, response
teams carry out a wide variety of
starnews.co.nz
Civil Defence Emergency Management has issued a call for potential new recruits to attend an information session in
Wigram tomorrow evening.
PHOTO: CCC​
roles, including welfare checks,
reconnaissance, evacuations, and
cordon management.
Said Crook: “It’s commonly said
people enjoy it as a way to give
back to their community, but I
think of it slightly differently. I
see it as a chance to feel a part of
the city, not another person who
just lives here.
“I love Christchurch and want
to do my part to keep it such a
cool place to live.
“Joining the teams is a great
way to learn heaps of new skills,
including skills people might
not get the chance to learn in
their regular jobs. Leadership,
decision making, teamwork,
operating with other emergency
services, working at starnews.co.nz
heights – just
loads of interesting things.”
Tomorrow’s information
evening is at the response base
25 Kilronan Pl, Wigram. It starts
at 7pm.
To register, email recruitment.
nzrt.chch@gmail.com
People can also turn starnews.co.nz up if they
have not registered.
The Star, January 23, 2025
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The Star, February 19, 2026
starnews.co.nz
Decades of camaraderie, rescue
John Atkins has been a
volunteer at Coastguard
Sumner for the past 30 years
and has no plans of stopping.
The 77-year-old Mt Pleasant
resident tells Kees Chalmers
about his most memorable
rescue, how to stay safe
on the water and what has
kept him going
​What is it about being
part of the coastguard that
has kept you there for so
many years?
I think probably the
camaraderie and the
friendships you make along
the way, we’re a great group
and always looking after each
other’s backs. I’m also a keen
boatie so it’s always nice to get
out on the water.
How did you get involved
with Coastguard Sumner?
I had a friend whose
father was in it for many
years, Peter Bradley, and he
said to me 30-odd years ago
‘you’re a boatie, why don’t you
come down and try joining?’ It
was the Sumner Lifeboat back
then, so I went down and of
course in those days there was
not much training, they just
throw you on a boat and away
you went. You gradually pick up
everything.
John Atkins next to Coastguard Sumner’s Hamilton Jet rescue boat. The jet can be used in breaking surf, river mouth bars,
and along rocky shorelines.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
What is it about being on the
water that you love?
I don’t know really. I just love
being out on the water, fishing or
cruising around. I did sail competitively
many years ago. I was just
crew on trailer sailers (keelboats
designed for easy towing) on a
Saturday in Lyttelton.
When did you start sailing?
I was in the sixth form
(Linwood High School). I
remember going out with a
mate when we were supposed
to be studying for a university
entrance exam. We didn’t pass
but we still turned out alright.
In my mid 30s I had a sailing
boat which I actually built, an
18 foot trailer sailer. The first
time I took it out I forgot to
seal the keel and it half sunk in
Lyttelton Harbour which was
a bit of a joke. I sold it not long
after that. I had a young family
who didn’t take much to sailing
so I decided I would rather have
a boat with a motor on it. You
push a button and away you
go. I've had jet boats, I've had
everything. You name it, I've
done it.
Tell me about your family
life?
Me and my first wife, we were
together for 27 years and split
up 16 years ago. I had a couple
of step daughters and one of my
own. I have a partner now, Terri
Somerville, and we’ve been
together for 15 years and live
in Mt Pleasant. We met through
work, she was a flower grower
and I ran the auctions. She’s
got two girls as well so it’s quite
an extended family. They’re all
great kids and we still keep in
touch.
What different roles have
you had with coastguard?
I started out as a crew
member, then I got my
coastguard skipper’s ticket
which I did for 10 years, that
expired about four years ago.
Then I became qualified crew.
That means I can go on our
boats and do things I used to do
as skipper, but I’m not in charge
of the boat anymore.
There was a celebration in
October, recognising your 30
years in Coastguard Sumner.
What was that like?
I don’t know where the years
have gone to be honest. I still
love it, I still enjoy teaching
people the skills I’ve learnt
over the years. But it was great,
I enjoyed going out with St John
frontline staff in Christchurch last week
around Christchurch.
A big thanks to the team that I visited for
showing me a glimpse into their work
and the things they deal with on a daily
basis.
We are very fortunate to have such
dedicated and knowledgeable
paramedic teams servicing the city, and
it is reassuring to know that they are on
hand when and where we need them in
times of medical crisis.
It was disappointing to read the news
that Christchurch ratepayers are facing
an almost 8 per cent increase this year.
This is in addition to the news of the
failed council ‘on-stop-shop’ app, at a
cost of more than $6 million.
It’s this type of irresponsible local
council spending that has led to this
Government announcing a 2-4 per cent
rates cap, to ensure councils keep rates
increases under control and reduce
pressure on household budgets.
It is just not good enough that families are
doing it tough while local councils are
forging ahead with nice-to-have projects –
some of which are not even fit for
purpose.
We are now into the first term of the new
school year, and I am sure parents across
Canterbury will be relieved to see their
children back into a structured routine
after a long summer break.
When we came into Government, more
than half of students were not attending
school regularly, around 80 per cent of 13-
year-olds were behind in maths, and
around half were below where they
needed to be in reading.
Parents deserve to know how their kids
are progressing at school, which is why we
are rolling out a nationally consistent
approach to reporting student progress,
with regular assessments and clearer
more detailed reporting in reading, writing
and maths for primary and intermediate
students.
We are also expanding support for
students who need extra help. This year,
more than 100,000 Year 1-8 students
across 474 schools will benefit from
learning support coordinators ready to
help students who need it.
Our focus on teaching the basics brilliantly
has seen 56 per cent of new entrants now
meeting or exceeding expectations in
phonics, up from 36 per cent.
Lastly, as we recognise the 15-year
anniversary of the devastating
Christchurch Earthquakes, I would like to
take this opportunity to remember the
185 people who lost their lives, as well as
thinking of their family and loved ones at
this difficult time.

starnews.co.nz The Star, February 19, 2026
callouts with the coastguard
there’s not too many of us that
get to 30 years, so it was good.
But it’s done now, so I’ll just
carry on. Maybe I might get
another five years if I’m lucky;
if I’m still fit I’ll keep going.
Do you plan to retire
anytime soon?
No, not really, there’s always
something for me to do. I’ve
been spending a lot of time
on the radios in the comms
room, also launching boats and
retrieving them, there’s always
a lot of work there.
What rescue stands out the
most over the years?
There was one incident when
they were doing the pipeline
for the sewage ponds. I’m going
back maybe 20 years when
they did that. Their boat, a
big aluminium boat capsized
coming into the slipway at
Sumner in the late morning.
The crew were tipped out
and they managed to make
it to shore. The alarm went
and I was skippering Caroline
Nicholson (a rigid inflatable
boat). There was a little bit of
breaking from the shore that I
seem to remember, but it wasn’t
too bad. We threw a tow rope
on it as it was getting washed
on to the rocks, it was almost
right up against them. We
managed to hold it off before a
crane managed to drag it off. If
they hadn’t before the next tide
it would’ve gotten smashed on
to the rocks, but it worked out.
What tips do you have for
beach-goers and boaties
looking to stay safe on the
water?
If you’re on a boat, you must
wear a life jacket – that could
save your life. Obviously learn
to swim, make sure you’re a
good strong swimmer if you’re
going out on the water and
swim between the flags. If
you’re surfing just watch that
rip at Scarborough when there’s
an outgoing tide.
​Do you feel rewarded by
the work you do? Does it feel
good to be appreciated by the
people you are helping?
It does I suppose in some
ways, but you get used to it.
You do your job and that’s
about it. But it is a good feeling,
especially if we’ve rescued or
saved somebody.
What did you do for
work? How did you juggle
it with volunteering at the
coastguard?
All my life I’ve been in sales
and marketing, my last position
was South Island manager of
FloMax, where I was for 20-odd
years. If we got a call out and
the pager went off, I used to
drop everything and rush down
to Sumner and the company
understood that. I retired nine
years ago when I was 68.
How do you spend your time
when you are not on duty now
you are retired?
I’m busy doing renovations
to the house. I do a bit of
walking, we have a group
called the Sumner Youth
Group. (Naming) it was a bit
of a joke to be honest, the
average age of the group
would be in the 70s. There’s
about 20 of us and we walk
every day of the week, so that
keeps me fit.
Coastguard
Sumner
teams up
with the
Taylors
Mistake and
Sumner surf
life saving
clubs for
rescue
drills.
What skills do you need
to possess and learn to be
an effective member of the
coastguard team?
Obviously you need to
be serious about it, be a
people’s person, be
willing to learn and follow
instructions. I would encourage
any young person that’s
interested in boating to do
a boating course and decide
whether they want to join
coastguard.
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The Star, February 19, 2026
starnews.co.nz
Historic club meets to reshape
BY KEES CHALMERS
The 154-year-old Lyttelton Club
will decide whether to remain a
member of Clubs NZ at a special
general meeting on Sunday.
Members will also review a
proposed draft constitution,
possibly vote on a new committee
and decide whether to
continue its membership as a
club without a premises.
Clubs NZ chief executive
officer Lucy Waterreus said she
was aware of discussions at the
Lyttelton Club about leaving the
association, but did not know a
meeting had been
set.
The cost of
being a member
of Clubs NZ is
$4.50 plus GST per
financial member
of the club. As of
the 2025 financial
year, Lyttelton
Club had about Lucy Waterreus
650 members.
Waterreus said the association
provides advocacy for its
members at a local and central
government level, as well
as connecting clubs across the
country and allows members to
visit other member clubs while
travelling.
The club leased its building
on Dublin St to the Armadillos
restaurant chain in August following
financial troubles. The
meeting will be held there at
1pm.
The Lyttelton Club leased its building on Dublin St to the Armadillos restaurant chain in August following financial troubles.
Lyttelton Club governance
group member Steve Gallop
said at the time, a “declining
and ageing membership” meant
leasing the building to the South
Island hospitality chain was the
best financial option.
Armadillos Lyttelton venue
manager Zac Adams said the
club does not use the premises
and does not have a club night.
Gallop, Mark Hughes and
Dwayne Pool make up the current
governance group. An
email sent to members said
they are happy to
continue in their
current roles,
looking after
building maintenance
for the
tenant and ensuring
it is brought
up to code.
Gallop declined Steve Gallop
to comment
about the meeting or what its
membership is now.
A meeting was held in March
last year to discuss future
options for the club after the
governance group said it lacked
enough support from members
and could not remain open.
After it was revealed in February
the club’s plans to close,
governance group member
Dwayne Pool said the original
email “said nothing about the
club closing or being in financial
difficulty” and claimed
the media misrepresented the
situation.
However, the email clearly
stated the club would be weighing
up options, but “either way,
the Lyttelton Club will close”.
Leasing was a proposed
option in the March meeting
along with a full sale or turning
the building into a community
centre.
It is not the first time the
club has experienced financial
woes. It came close to shutting
in December 2022 due to
pandemic-related pressures
and insurance issues.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, February 19, 2026
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The Star, February 19, 2026
starnews.co.nz
Chocolate for
every day
​Chocolate comes with goodness
baked in, writes Penelope Maguire
​I’m a huge fan of chocolate.
I love it for both its nutritional
benefits (particularly its mineral
content, flavonoids and antioxidants)
and its therapeutic
effects, both physiological and
emotional.
As a chef, I’m equally devoted
to chocolate for its flavour,
versatility, and the sheer joy it
brings to the person eating it.
The recipes below are by no
means "health foods", but they
are reliable, comforting staples,
that you can return to again
and again when the need for a
chocolate treat arises.
​
THE PERFECT EVERY DAY BROWNIE
This brownie is the brownie.
It’s carried me through nearly a
decade of cafes. It’s gluten free,
easily made vegan (see adaptations
below), endlessly adaptable,
and always dependable.
Ingredients
250g butter
250g chocolate
660g white sugar
225g gluten-free flour
70g cocoa
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
6 eggs
Optional additions (see below)
Method
• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Butter and line a 34 x 24 cm baking
tray.
• Very gently melt the butter
and chocolate together in a
saucepan, stirring to prevent the
chocolate catching on the bottom.
Once melted, remove from the
heat and allow to cool for about
10 minutes.
• In a large bowl or electric
mixer, combine all the dry ingredients
and whisk well. Add the
melted butter and chocolate
mixture, followed by the eggs
and vanilla, and beat until very
smooth. The batter will be very
runny, that’s exactly what you
want.
• Pour into the prepared tray,
dot with any additions if using,
and bake for 35 minutes (30
minutes for the half-size batch).
Remove from the oven and allow
to set as it cools.
• This brownie is best left overnight
before cutting, but a few
hours in the fridge is also fine.
• Cut into desired sizes and
store in an airtight container in
the fridge or on the bench. For
freezing, place portions in a ziplock
bag and freeze.
Additions
Once the base is poured into
the tin, you can add almost
anything to change the flavour:
Caramel, white chocolate, chocolate
chips, berries (add an extra
5-10 minutes baking time if using
frozen berries), plums, nuts, pretzels,
peanut butter, Biscoff, cookie
dough – go wild!
​Variations
• Vegan: Replace butter with a
dairy-free alternative or 250 ml
oil. Use dairy-free chocolate and
substitute the eggs with 6 flax
eggs.
• Peppermint: Replace vanilla
with 2 tsp peppermint extract
and add chopped peppermint
chocolate.
• Orange: Replace vanilla with
2 tsp orange extract and add
finely grated orange zest.
• Rose: Replace vanilla with 3
tsp rosewater and add chopped
Turkish delight.
• Coffee: Dissolve 1 Tbsp
instant coffee granules in 1 Tbsp
hot water and use in place of the
vanilla.
​
THE PERFECT EVERY DAY
CHOCOLATE CAKE
This is my go-to chocolate cake:
super moist, long-lasting, and
ideal for lunchboxes or dressing
up for a celebration. I like adding
a little ginger and cinnamon,
something I learned from my
grandma, but if that’s not your
thing, just leave them out.
Ingredients
2½ cups plain flour
2 cups caster sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1½ cups cocoa powder
4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup light olive oil
4 eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups hot (not boiling) water
1 Tbsp white vinegar (don’t forget
it!)
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
Method
• Preheat the oven to 170°C.
Butter and line two springform
cake tins.
• Sift all the dry ingredients
into a large bowl and whisk until
evenly combined. In a separate
bowl, whisk together the eggs
and oil. In another bowl, mix
the milk, hot water, vinegar and
vanilla.
• Add both wet mixtures to the
dry ingredients and mix very
well. Pour into the prepared tins
and bake for approximately 40
minutes, or until a skewer comes
out clean.
• Allow to cool completely
before icing with this simple
chocolate icing for lunch boxes,
or I suggest a rich chocolate
cream cheese icing for special
occasions.
SIMPLE CHOCOLATE ICING
Ingredients
100g butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
¼ cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tsp boiling water
Method
• Add the softened butter to
the bowl of a stand mixer fitted
with the paddle attachment.
Beat on medium speed until
pale and creamy.
• Add the icing sugar and
cocoa powder and mix on low
speed until just combined.
Once incorporated, increase
the speed to medium and beat
until smooth.
• Add the vanilla and 1 tsp hot
water then beat until silky and
spreadable. Add a little more
liquid ( a tiny bit at a time) if
needed until you reach a thick
but glossy consistency.
• Spread over a completely
cooled cake and decorate with
edible flowers, sprinkles or
chocolate chips.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, February 19, 2026
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Two separate living areas provide flexibility for
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Sunlight is a standout here. Morning light
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Auction
Thursday 26th February 2026
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Gold Auction Rooms,
471 Papanui Road
Rebecca Duncan
Licensed Sales Consultant REAA 2008
Harcourts gold Redwood
021 711 813
rebecca.duncan@harcourtsgold.co.nz
Life in a Lucky Country
I’ve lived in many houses but
only two cities and although I’ve
visited many countries, New
Zealand has been my only home.
I say this because there are so many things that are
particularly precious about this beautiful country of ours
and – more particularly – our fair city.
In a country shaped by distance and geography, we’ve
learnt that how we treat each other is important. When
help is needed, it often arrives quietly in that genuine
Kiwi DIY manner. Neighbours look out for each other,
pleasantries are readily exchanged with absolute
strangers, and there’s a sense of personal and civic pride
in our many suburbs.
If I spend time following any media forums, I’m deeply
saddened by what’s occurring in the rest of the world.
It’s louder, harsher and more combative, and that’s
the countries that aren’t involved in wars, famines and
serious social unrest.
So, it’s no revelation that I give regular thanks for our
distance from the constant mayhem. I’m never surprised
by the fact that in every county I’ve ever visited, the first
opinions shared with me when discussing New Zealand
are that it’s ‘beautiful, green and friendly’. That’s why
people come here and that’s why Christchurch, especially,
presents itself as a positive choice.
If I shine a light on what many homeowners, both firsttime
buyers and those that are making transitional moves
to larger homes for growing families or smaller homes as
those same families fly the nest, what is often requested is
‘a safe neighbourhood with good people and somewhere
I can feel happy’.
This is a very genuine request here in New Zealand and
yet, for reasons that most of us can’t fully fathom, this is
just not the case in many countries.
I do my best to preserve the culture that sits beneath
our society’s norms. I was brought up in a family
where if it rained and your neighbour’s washing was
on the line, you went ahead and brought it in, and
you knew all the locals by name. There was no drama
to it, no big deal – just small acts that somehow
meant everything.
Granted, that’s not always possible today, but I believe the
sentiment remains. We are lucky, take a moment to think
that through. There’s respect for doing the right thing and
values like these survive when they are practiced. I recently
presented at an event and, as part of my presentation, I
said to ‘leave the cynicism at home’. What I meant was
to look forward – don’t default to the negative – and find
wonder and value in the good that surrounds us.
I agonized about how that request would be received
but, as it turns out, it was accepted as a reminder to do
those very things. So, being amongst good people, in safe
neighbourhoods, and calling New Zealand home really
does put us amongst the world’s luckiest. And there’s
something very special and very precious in that!
Lynette McFadden
Harcourts gold Business Owner
027 432 0447
lynette.mcfadden@harcourtsgold.co.nz
PAPANUI 352 6166 | INTERNATIONAL DIVISION (+64) 3 662 9811 | REDWOOD 352 0352 | PARKLANDS 383 0406 |
SPITFIRE SQUARE 662 9222 | STROWAN 351 0585 | GOLD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 352 6454 |
SPITFIRE SQUARE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 027 772 1188
GOLD REAL ESTATE GROUP LTD LICENSED AGENT REAA 2008 A MEMBER OF THE HARCOURTS GROUP
harcourtsgold.co.nz

The Star, February 19, 2026
starnews.co.nz
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10
11 12
13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20
438
SUDOKU
Every row, column and box should
contain the digits 1 to 9.
WordBuilder
WORDBUILDER
R W A
E M R
6
338 338
E M R
words of three or more letters,
How many words of three or more
including plurals, can you make from the 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 13 each beginning Very letter Good only 17 with once? Excellent a capital No 22 foreign are
words Solution or words 337: art, beginning arty, awry, dart, with daw, a capital day, drat, are
allowed. draw, dray, dry, There’s rad, rat, raw, at least ray, rya, one tad, tar, six-letter
allowed. There's at least one six-letter word. tardy,
word. taw, TAWDRY, trad, tray, try, wad, war, ward, wart,
warty, wary, way, wry, TODAY yard, yaw.
Good 13 Very Good 17 Excellent 22
Solution 337: art, arty, awry, dart, daw, day, drat,
draw, dray, dry, rad, rat, raw, ray, rya, tad, tar, tardy,
taw, TAWDRY, trad, tray, try, wad, war, ward, wart,
warty, wary, way, wry, yard, yaw.
letters, including plurals, can you make
21 22 23 24
25 26
27 28
Across
1. Phone surveillance (7)
5. Mail satchel (7)
9. Proportion (5)
10. Loneliness (9)
11. Irrational (9)
12. Surmise (5)
13. Curtain (5)
15. Serving no useful purpose (9)
18. Unfaithfulness (9)
19. Right-hand page (5)
21. Brownish-yellow colour (5)
23. Too early (9)
25. Ocean-going (9)
26. Group of eight (5)
27. Unrelated line of thought (7)
28. Advanced in years (7)
Decoder
Down
1. Concerned (7)
2. Strike back (9)
3. A jandal, in Oz (5)
4. Rule or law (9)
5. Stalk (5)
6. Massacre (9)
7. Illegal inducement (5)
8. Origin, beginning (7)
14. Severely criticise (9)
16. Group of US universities (3,6)
17. Meet (9)
18. Journey, crossing (7)
20. In full view (7)
22. Cerebrum (5)
23. Indicate (5)
24. Audibly (5)
Crossword
Across: 1. Wiretap, 5. Postbag, 9. Ratio, 10. Isolation, 11. Illogical, 12.
Guess, 13. Drape, 15. Pointless, 18. Treachery, 19. Recto, 21. Amber, 23.
Premature, 25. Seafaring, 26. Octet, 27. Tangent, 28. Elderly.
Down: 1. Worried, 2. Retaliate, 3. Thong, 4. Principle, 5. Prowl, 6.
Slaughter, 7. Bribe, 8. Genesis, 14. Excoriate, 16. Ivy League, 17.
Encounter, 18. Transit, 20. Overtly, 22. Brain, 23. Point, 24. Aloud.
WordBuilder
are, arm, awe, ear, era, err, mar, mare, maw, mew, ram, rare, raw, rawer,
ream, rear, rearm, REWARM, war, ware, warm, WARMER, wear.
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.
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T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Sudoku