Plimmerton Residents’ Association Newsletter

What’s new in Plimmerton?

February 2011
www.plimmerton.org.nz
Our web site manager needs an assistant. Would you like to learn about
Silverstripe and build some content management experience? Would you like to
make community connections and add valuable web design and html skills to your
resume? You might already be a hot shot or just someone keen to learn. This is a
volunteer position for a couple of hours a week. Contact Sandy and let her know
what skills you have, what you’d like to learn and why you’d like to be involved.
plimmertonra@gmail.com

Internet dating? … events calendar on the home page!

For everything you need to know about what’s on when
All clubs, groups, and organisations of every stripe are invited to send news about
upcoming events … for this newsletter and for free inclusion on the web site
calendar. These calendar entries link to the What to do in Plimmerton section so
interested punters can get more detail about what you do and why they should join
in the fun. Send info to plimmertonra@gmail.com

Check out these new features on the site

• Plimmerton’s precious pets
Piglets, pooches, parrots … share your pets with photos on our web site.

• Then and now and Today in Plimmerton

Two new features by Allan Dodson bringing our history to new life … you’re
invited to contribute your favourites too.

Taking care of business …

The new 12 month cycle for businesses starts in April 2011. It’s just $120 to be
included for a whole year … and we will even write your copy and take photos to
promote your business. We are getting great feedback about high response being
generated by the site. Lyndon Underhill says, “We have a team lined up ready to
come and visit business owners to ensure that you and your business benefit from
exposure on this fast growing site.” Talk to Lyndon 233 8005

Laptop stolen from car at 24 The Track

In the early hours of Friday 14 January an Acer laptop was stolen from a black
Honda Civic parked outside this address. The hard drive (WD 1TB) has all the
information essential to a local business and its loss is devastating. There were
five similar thefts reported in Plimmerton around the same time. Anyone who was
walking the dog, going to work or out for a jog who can recall seeing any people or
vehicles not usually in the area please call Porirua Police 238 1400. Keen Trade Me
users could keep an eagle eye out as well.
Motuhara Road working bee Saturday 5 February 10.30-12.30
Motuhara Mountaineers are invited to work on the bank at the next working bee.
You are also welcome to help Kevin who is working there over the next week or so
at any time he’s on the job. Linda Kerkmeester who coordinates this project would
be thrilled if a garden lover could finish weeding the top part of the bank
uncovering the little ground cover plants amongst the weeds. She will organise
mulching of the bank next week.

Bioblitz goes live 10am 5 February 2011

In the month following the Bioblitz opening every plant and animal on the land and
sea will be catalogued. Scientists and volunteers will work to celebrate the huge
number of plants in our region and hopefully to find some new ones … last year
new weta and sea slug species were identified for the first time.
Details of the programme and how you can be involved are on our web site
www.plimmerton.org.nz

EE oop love put on a brew, the Brits are coming!

During the British Lions Tour, 180 visiting Brits were accommodated around the
Plimmerton area. Visitors loved the opportunity to be welcomed into Kiwi homes
and your hospitality was greatly appreciated. Can we do the same for visitors
during the Rugby World Cup?
Accommodation in this area for September and October 2011 is already very tight,
especially on the weekends when games are being played in Wellington. If you
would like to host visitors to NZ during this time please send your name, email
address, what you can offer and what you’d charge to moanalodge@xtra.co.nz
Helen and John say, “We’ll compile a list of offers and forward your info to people
wanting to stay here. From that point interested visitors will deal directly with you
to make arrangements.”
If you need more info call 233 2010 during 2-3pm weekdays.

Turning streets into neighbourhoods

Hurihia nga ara hei tui i tea ta noho e te tangata
Neighbours Day Aotearoa is about encouraging you to get to know your neighbours.
Start with a wave or a smile, a first chat over the fence. Share a cuppa … or
organise a street barbecue.
Celebrate the great neighbourhoods we have on 26 March. It’s about building
caring communities for all New Zealanders starting with those we live nearest to.
Lots of ideas www.neighboursday.org.nz

Arty starty to 2011

Plimmerton residents are invited to join in Mana Art Society’s activities. Morning
painting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10-12, Thursday evening life drawing at
6.30, Friday sketching for landscape enthusiasts, Artful kids on Tuesday afternoons
and lots of specialised tuition days. It’s all in detail on our web site
www.plimmerton.org.nz where you can also see work by many accomplished
painters from Mana Arts. You can contact Stuart Nicol for more info about their
programme stunicol@paradise.net.nz
Killer cats stalking Plimmerton wildlife!
Birds and reptiles in our gardens don’t stand a chance against hungry moggies.
DOC has some excellent ideas to help us make our cats conservation friendly.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/home-and -garden/make-your-cat-
conservation-friendly/
For a start: desex all cats, feed the beasts regularly so they don’t hunt; put puss in
a cattery when you go away (seem to have been lots of lonely, hungry cats about
lately with people on holiday); feed cats before birds’ active time at dusk and early
morning; keep them inside at night; fit furbabies with collars and bells to warn
birds; put bird baths and feeders out of cat-reach.

Bowling club bounces into the new year

Plimmerton Bowling Club members have kicked off with a number of successful fun
events. Rachel Wybourne Curtin tells us, “We have new members including two
college students. And remember, in bowls, as a new member, you are classified as
a junior for your first five years of playing! Twilight bowls starts on Tuesday 25
January at 6.15pm. Come along and take a look and enjoy a drink from our bar.
All players are casual and many are beginners. Club champs start soon for
members. And if you have a special function coming up, don’t forget that our
facilities are available for hire.”
It’s all on our web site and you can talk to Rachel 233 9600 rachelcon@xtra.co.nz

Croquet club cock-a-hoop over great start to 2011

Upcoming highlights are the John Burke sponsored tournament on 12 February,
with a capacity entry expected from across the region; and The Castle Cup on 26
February contested between Waikanae and Plimmerton players. Spectators are
welcome at both events.
Ken Rae says, “Our weekly programme is in full swing until late April. Contact me
for details; visitors are welcome at any of our daily sessions.” Call Ken 233 9614
Full details of the action packed programme are on our web site
www.plimmerton.org.nz from the home page calendar.

Found
Gold pendant on 15 January Steyne Ave
Child’s silver bracelet on 16 January on South Beach
Phone Lyn 233 1045

Adopt a spot and keep Porirua beautiful!

Do you have one spare hour a month?
Keep Porirua Beautiful is looking for 1000 people to become Friends who will each
be responsible for keeping one small area tidy. Organiser John Poppleton explains,
“We will give you enough gloves and bags for a year. If you keep a largish area tidy
we will take the weeds and rubbish away on a trailer.” (Friends are invited to
Keep Porirua Beautiful events and receive a certificate of membership.)
0275 30 3316, 238 1641, keepporiruabeautiful@xtra.co.nz
Celebration and picnic on the domain
Salvation Army Mana Corps are celebrating ten years in this community. They are
inviting everyone to share the fun on Sunday 27 February. At 10.30am they are
holding a thanksgiving service and from 12.30 there will be a picnic in Plimmerton
Domain with fun things for kids and a free sausage sizzle. Corps officer Nicola
Rogers says, “Bring your picnic basket, bring your sunhat and bring yourselves.
Everyone is welcome to help us celebrate.” 233 9790
nicola_rogers@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Puppy socialisation classes

Titahi Bay Canine Obedience Club Sundays 11am to midday have started.
Bring your pup along for some socialisation and obedience training. (Meet two of
Plimmerton’s newest little canine people Bertie the rough coated Jack Russell and
Bruno the British Cocker Spaniel … both 18 weeks and raring to go.)
Registration for evening obedience classes for all dogs is 6pm on 25 January at the
clubrooms on Ngati Toa Domain. Just $65 a term.
Lots more info on www.plimmerton.org.nz

Website black holes

Can you give us info, Plimmerton-related, on any the following subjects for the
website? Our writers are poised, pens over pads, ready to collect your pearls. We
will need around 20 -30 minutes of your time to glean enough info. If you can talk
to us about any these activities or topics we’d love to hear from you today!
windsurfing, steam train restoration, quilting and similar activities, sailing, dog
training, archery, bird watching, ecology and natural history, music and live and
appreciation, harbour studies, sciences like geology, camera clubs, astronomy,
Probus, U3A, Zumba, Karate, etc.
If you can share your know how in these areas or have other ideas for content
contact Sandy plimmertonra@gmail.com

Wellington’s best fish and chips

Plimmerton Fish Supply scores 10 out of 10 in Dom Post survey!
On Thursday 20 January the Dom Post said, “Beautiful fresh fish in delicious, crispy
batter, golden chips fried in canola oil, served by your friendly hosts … rating
10/10. The daily crowds and queues are testament to their popularity.”
Well done to our extremely hardworking Athena and Peter.

Awards on display
Porirua City’s awards that recognise it as one of the world’s most liveable cities - is
attracting attention at North City shopping centre. Check out the awards, and the
dvd of the winning presentation at the food court. The UN International Liveable
Communities Awards recognise excellence in the sustainable development of cities.
Last year Porirua won three gold awards, the only one of 43 city finalists to do so.
More info and the award winning presentation in full on our web site
www.plimmerton.org.nz
Festival of the Elements great line up for Waitangi day
Ex-Fur Patrol singer Julia Deans, local band Wai (recent performers at Aussie World
Expo and very choice), Battle of Bands winners Poppy Dust, opera star Ben Makisi
and local singer Ainsley Allen are some of the big names performing at this FREE
concert. Kids stuff includes treasure hunts, pirate challenges, horizontal bungee
jumping (a big hit) and story telling. There’s also singing workshops and Tai Chi
demos, Te Waka Ama racing on the harbour and Whitirea students performing
Moana around the wave pool in the aquatic centre. Brilliant family day 12-7pm
Waitangi Day at Te Rauparaha Park

Explore the real Cannons Creek

Belmont Regional Park (Cannon’s Creek entrance) Saturday 29 January 9.30am
FREE!
Bring the kids to have fun in the creek and bush while guides (Friends of Maara
Roa) show the history of human impact. Enjoy the new Nature Walk together.
Booking essential bookings@govt.nz 04 830 4041

Zoo fun
Here’s something different with the ankle biters. Join the quest to find the Golden
Gibbon at Wellington Zoo. Pick up a free Zooventure journal at the zoo. Make
three trips before 30 April and go in the draw to win great prizes. Info
wellingonzoo.com

Is the next Stieg Larsson or JK Rowling amongst us?

Irene of Airlie Road asks, “Are you a writer? I’m keen to hear from anyone
interested in starting a regular writes group to support, challenge and inspire each
others writing. I have no pre-conceived ideas or rules around how it would work.
But the meetings must include cake!”
Interested scribes email irene@marchingcubes.com
Sounds very sensible, (especially the cake bit). We will be happy for the group to
write material for the web site. Irene please contact us when you are up and
running.

Plimmerton Residents’ Association meetings

February 21 at the Plimmerton Fire Station 7.30pm
If you wish to attend to discuss any particular issue please contact us
plimmertonra@gmail.com so we can include you on the agenda.
We remind you that meeting minutes are published on the web site.

Have your say! Community consultation next month

Since the village plan was drawn up from street meetings in 2004 so many of the
things you said needed to be done have been addressed. Plimmerton … into the
future is a consultation process that starts with a questionnaire about where to
from here. It will be included in our March newsletter (in the last week of
February).
Complete the survey, give us your ideas and you’ll go into the draw for some really
great prizes. The survey will be delivered in print form and you will also be able to
complete it on line.
Get your thinking caps on…

Jenny Brash honoured at New Year … congratulations!

Congratulations to Jenny Brash for her recognition in the New Year honours for
services to Porirua as mayor and councillor. After nearly 30 years in local
government, Jenny has been honoured as a Companion of the Queen’s Service
Order. She was elected on to Porirua City Council in 1983 and became mayor in
1998. Jenny has worked for years to see Transmission Gully become a reality,
opened Pataka Museum, backed building Te Rauparaha Arena and helped bring the
community together through Maori and Pacific festivals and arts. She has also
established community groups and employment opportunities to help young people
which was her first love – counselling and advocating for struggling families.
Now elected to Greater Wellington regional council, Jenny will continue a decade-
long battle to clean up Porirua Harbour.

Bay Gallery open Saturday afternoons

Take your visitors to enjoy work by local artists. Call Daphne if you’d like to visit
at other times. Daphne 233 9776

Beat your feet to the nearest seat

Everyone involved in the years of work to get Plimmerton’s waterfront seating in
place is delighted with the way they fit into our landscape and enhance the
Plimmerton experience for locals and visitors. The sponsors’ plaques will be put on
to the seats this month. We say thank you to the many families who made huge
efforts to organise sponsorship to remember their loved ones and their family
history in Plimmerton. And, an enormous thank you from everyone involved and
those of you enjoying the seats, to Helen Chipper who saw the project through to
fruition over many years. She is a star!

Story time at the library (in the pavilion)

Saturday 29 January at 11am.
Bring the kids – relax with a coffee.

YOU need to be on our email database!

It’s FREE and it’s EASY … just email us right now with YES in the subject line
and tell us who you are and where you live.
This guarantees that you get all the latest information as things happen in our
community … including Police and civil defence information which could be vital
to the safety of you and your family.
Don’t delay … email today plimmertonra@gmail.com

www.plimmerton.org.nz
Support your community – it’s the best!