The Bay Walkers - Christmas 2013

5 years, or 260 Mondays ago I went on my first Oriental Bay Monday Morning Walk. That friend who opened this door for me has since moved up to Hawkes Bay. I miss her company and appreciate this legacy. It did not take long to realize how lucky I was to have landed an address on Oriental Parade in Oriental Bay. More than a parade of shops and flats, it is a close, vibrant (neighbourly) neighbourhood. Unlike other neighbourhoods, everyone here lives on the same side of the street and shares the same view, though not always the same viewpoint. The Monday Morning Walkers, a diverse and energetic group of women total approximately 21. Men are discouraged. Walks are vigorous, fast paced and hilly. Every walk is a good one and starts the week off with resolve. Wind direction and a cafe are serious things to consider when deciding the route. Coffee plays an essential role. A long black had better be hot, a decent cremora must be apparent, and cappuccino w/chocolate, whether trim or regular should not be forgotten.

I could never miss a Monday Walk, or I would never have known which restaurant to try, or what part of New Zealand I should visit next, or who was in and out in politics. More books, films, art exhibitions (in and out of the country), ballets and trips abroad have been discussed. Many global & health problems were solved while heaving ourselves up through the bush to Mt Vic. or careening along the fox line in Brooklyn’s Central Park.

This group had been walking many years before I stumbled onto them and their established traditions. The annual Christmas Walk held each December unites this group and is the only walk where everyone comes on the day. It is more of an amble where all catch up with each other en masse. Each Christmas Walk is memorable, probably most memorable for the three women slated each year having the task of planning the route and organizing the lunch. Where we go, how we go and where we eat are closely guarded secrets until THE DAY. No spoilers allowed. December 2013’s IT GIRLS, Viv Callendar, Cathy Kennedy-Good, and Annabel Leask orchestrated an exceptional Team Christmas Walk. One Monday, in early December, we trooped to Central Station commandeered the rail car to Silver Stream and continued on our way. Crossing the bridge we cut across fields in the sun onto the St Patrick’s College campus. Ahead, in the shade of trees an impromptu outdoor café was assembled, complete with tablecloth, steaming coffee in blue and white cups, juice, platters of strawberries, cherries and cheese biscuits (All wanted the recipe) Julie O’Connor stationed here with Faith Taylor, efficient baristas provided morning tea. On we walked, past the golf course, through Barton’s Bush, down garden alleyways and paths opening up into a private back garden. No lunch in sight, another red herring. This was the champagne stop. Just a few minutes on, the trail ended at the Fig Café in Lower Hutt. This former church fellowship hall sat prepped, ready for us and for Christmas. A long banquet table lined one wall set for our lunch. A ninjas appeared with generous bowls and platters of well-dressed salads, tasty savoury quiches and breads. Good food, good wine and especially good company marked the day. Back onto the train and into Wellington this group of long time and comfortable friends enjoyed a day they will continue to share. I will leave New Zealand in June and return to the United States. Fortunately, they have Mondays there also. The Vermont branch of the Monday Morning Oriental Bay Walkers will be in full swing by September. All are welcome (no men).

Susan Wagenhofer, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

From the Past

It is 50 years on 2 May since the last tram ran through the streets of Wellington – this para is from the Evening Post 2 May 1964:

Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

Interesting Tidbits about Waitangi Park

Photographer: Heather Hapeta

While surfing the net one day, I came across some interesting information about our wonderful Waitangi Park on Wellington Waterfront’s website, www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz.

It all started from a Google search when I was wondering how come Waitangi Park was still beautifully green when Wellington City Council had stopped watering other parks in the city. You may remember the summer we were all urged to conserve water. I know this is something we rain-rich Wellingtonians don’t normally have as front-of-mind, despite the fact that we should always be conscious of our use of such a precious resource, but this time – we were warned – we were at a crisis point as we only had one emergency reservoir in Upper Hutt (the other one was getting an upgrade).

What I found is that Waitangi Park isn’t just useful and attractive; its design is also very practical – which meant that all Oriental Bay Residents continued to enjoy beautiful green grass and happy trees when all other council parks were getting very very brown.

It all starts with the Waitangi Stream – an important fresh water resource once used by the local Māori for catching eel (tuna) as they were heading out to sea. The designers “daylighted” the Waitangi Stream, bringing it above ground and channelling it through both artificial and natural treatment systems, treatment that includes the wetlands within the Park.

Those lovely and full rain clouds we can get here in Wellington add to the stream’s generosity. In urban areas, often the first lot of rainwater runoff holds a lot of oils, hard material (such as rubbish people haven’t disposed of well) and other pollutants. Normally this flows directly into the sea via the stormwater systems all cities have. However, around Waitangi Park, the stormwaters are diverted to go through the same filtering systems as the stream goes through.

This collected and cleaned water is then either used for irrigating Waitangi Park or it’s discharged in its much cleaner form into the harbour. And it doesn’t have to be immediately used or discarded. The wetlands operate as a storage lagoon for holding the water before it’s used to irrigate the park and the neighbouring plants.

So 100% of Waitangi Park’s irrigation comes from renewable water sources, rather than the town supply. The next time you’re up early in the morning and see the sprinklers doing their stuff you can remember that, thanks to clever and sustainable design by the Wellington Waterfront, Waitangi Park and its environs isn’t just pretty; it’s good for the environment too. Love it!

RCS, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

Holocaust Centre of New Zealand

Why teach New Zealand children about the Holocaust? What relevance does the Holocaust have for New Zealanders? How did something like this happen? What can we do about it?

These and other questions are addressed at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand located in the Wellington Jewish Community Centre at 80 Webb Street. It aims to collect and share stories of New Zealand survivors, helpers and witnesses and works to promote individual responsibility and respect for diversity and human rights. It is open daily Sunday to Friday (except for Jewish and other holidays) from 10 am to 1 pm. Telephone 801 9480.

There is a time-line showing events in Europe and events at the same time in New Zealand, folders indicating what the government knew about what was happening in Europe, what the New Zealand people knew, and what the Jewish community knew. Stories are told of New Zealand survivors of the Holocaust, their and their families’ lives before World War II, the war years, how they came to New Zealand, and their lives here post war. A letter from a New Zealand soldier details his horror at the conditions at one of the camps. Another display tells of the Deckstons, a childless Jewish couple who, seeing what was happening, travelled to Europe in the 1930s and brought 20 Jewish orphans to New Zealand.

A number of thought provoking quotations, e.g., “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.” (Edmund Burke) are depicted on the walls of the Centre. DVDs of survivor stories can be played. The Centre’s website www.holocaustcentre.org.nz gives links to other Holocaust centres all over the world.

School groups are frequent visitors to the centre. The consequences of discrimination and bullying are readily discussed with them. Other community groups such as Probus, church groups, or Rotary clubs, as well as individual visitors are always welcome.

Jackie Pope, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

Marking a Landing Site on the Bay

At the city-end of Oriental Bay is Te Waka Pou, the pole marking what was once a waka landing site. By Ra Vincent, it was installed six years ago and has become a distinctive feature of Oriental Bay in that time. It combines stylised waka prows made with two totara beams. These are linked by ornate bronze koru patterns which suggest water effects. It sits on a base of volcanic rock (andesite) from Taranaki. It certainly makes a striking statement by Chaffers Marina — a symbolic beacon for those sailing into the harbour.

The sculpture's artist, Ra Vincent, is also responsible for two other sculptures on the waterfront.

One — on the south side of the boardwalk at the corner of Lambton Quay and Molesworth Street — also represents a waka. This one, of white cement and marble, depicts a waka that has been upended at the end of the day's use.

His third waterfront sculpture is an anchor stone. Positioned in Civic Square, it is carved from Taranaki andesite. To suggest age and frequent use it is polished around the hole where the rope goes. It commemorates the location's earlier function as a fishing spot.

Ra Vincent is one of three men (with Simon Bright and Dan Hennah) from the Hobbit production design team who were nominated for the 2014 Academy Awards for their work on the set of the first Hobbit movie. They missed out on that elusive Oscar but being nominated is no small feat in itself. Ra is set decorator on the Hobbit Trilogy, so there'll probably be a next time!

JD, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014