News in brief
Fresh FM news
Fresh Reggae is produced and hosted by DJ Galanjah, and is the latest on offer from Fresh FM’s Takaka Studio. DJ Galanjah is well known to Fresh listeners. He has been playing reggae music for more than seven years. Galanjah has a new sponsor for his Friday 7-8pm slot – The Roots Bar Takaka - and he has a new feel to his music.
The aim of ”Fresh Reggae” is to source newly released songs and some well-preserved reggae sounds - as fresh today as when they were first released. Galanjah has recently moved to Golden Bay, which he likes to call Red Golden Green Bay, the three colours often associated with reggae music. Galanjah is a DJ and musician playing the djembe, rhythm guitar and backing vocals and is starting a reggae band based here. As a vegan, Galanjah especially enjoys the prolific organic produce the Bay has to offer and the thriving momentum of the HANDS non-dollar system.
So tune into Fresh Reggae (sponsored by the Roots Bar Takaka) every Friday night 7-8pm only on Fresh FM 104.8 or 95.0 FM. For more details on Galanjah and his music go to our website www.freshfm.net <http://www.freshfm.net/> and select programme makers.
Now is a great time to join Club Fresh - because we have some giveaways for you. Club Fresh is a one-off $30-per-year tax deductible donation that really helps keep your local community radio station Fresh FM alive.
Tune into The Jam youth programme with host George Machin, Wed 2 March 6-7pm, or Fresh Start with hosts Mik Symmons and Paddy Brennan, 7-9 am Friday 4 March for two great chances to win a double pass to the Salmonella Dub concert at The Travellers’ Rest, Appleby. Supported by awesome youth band “Peasants of Eden”, DJ Rudeboy and The Mighty Asterix Friday 4 March. PLUS - Salmonella Dub’s album, ‘Freak Controller’ (tickets and CD value $65. Join online at freshfm.net and tune into 104.8 FM or 95.0 Eastern Golden Bay.
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Bike riding on national park track results in $900 in fines
Mountain biking on Kahurangi National Park’s Wangapeka Track has resulted in a Wakefield man being fined $900.
Rowan John Pearce, 31, was fined $300 on each of three charges that arose from being found by a Department of Conservation ranger riding his bike on the Wangapeka Track, on which cycling is not allowed, on 7 May last year. He was also ordered to pay court costs of $132.89.
Pearce pleaded guilty to charges of riding and using a mountain bike in the national park and failing to comply with the directions of the DOC ranger.
The court was told Pearce had carried on riding his bike on the track in spite of being told by the ranger that he could not ride his bike there.
DOC Motueka area manager Martin Rodd said it was important people played by the rules.
“There are plenty of tracks in the Nelson-Tasman region where mountain biking can take place and where it’s prohibited there are generally good reasons.”
“As a keen mountain biker myself, I urge bike riders to comply with mountain biking restrictions. This ensures the activity is not having an adverse impact on tracks, on other visitors or on privately owned land. It’s not playing fair to ride bikes where it is not permitted.”
The New Zealand Conservation Authority in December approved mountain biking trials on three Kahurangi National Park tracks. Year-round trials are running on the Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and Kill Devil tracks and a five-month winter-season trial will take place on the Heaphy Track. The trials run until the end of 2013.
Mr Rodd said mountain biking on the three national park tracks was subject to a number of requirements to minimise its impacts.
“These rides provide outstanding cycling opportunities but mountain bikers need to check out and abide by the rules for riding these tracks. Riders and walkers sharing the track also should show consideration for each other.
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Fire-fighting water scheme
Work has begun on the installation of the Takaka fire-fighting scheme in line with last year’s agreement with local business owners.
Construction started in Motupipi Street last week. This week it will continue from outside number 28 to the intersection with Willow Street and Commercial Street. During this work Motupipi Street will become a single-lane road controlled by STOP/GO personnel.
The source well at the fire station has been installed.
Work in Willow Street and Commercial Street area is still programmed to begin on 1 March 2011 and the work in Buxton Lane will begin soon after.
“We really appreciate people’s patience during this time of inconvenience,” says TDC assets engineer, Kim Arnold.
Fire Sprinklers
The construction of the fire main provides an ideal opportunity for property owners in the construction area to connect fire sprinklers in their building cost-effectively. A letter has been sent to all property owners encouraging them to take up this option.
If property owners are interested in this option they should inform the council before 28 February. They should then contact an approved fire systems designer to ensure the appropriate size of connection can be specified.
Approved designers’ contact numbers: 03 548 2640, 03 544 2809 or 0800 4967 6253.
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Businesses awards give rural women entrepreneurs a boost
With the 18 March entry deadline looming, women running small rural businesses are being encouraged to enter the Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Award.
“This is an opportunity for rural women entrepreneurs to boost their business profile,” says RWNZ national president, Liz Evans.
A feature of past awards has been the variety of entries. Past winners have included a farm animal homeopathic business, a three-day farm walk, and a paddock-to-catwalk wool business.
Last year’s South Island winner, Tracey Robinson, says “Winning has had a positive spin-off, especially increasing my local sales.”
This year’s award (sponsored by Telecom and Access Homehealth) has prizes of $1,000 for each of the North and South Island winners, and a further $1,000 for the supreme winner. It will be presented at the RWNZ national conference in Auckland in May.
The award is open to businesses employing 10 or fewer that have been operating for at least two years. Women may be in business with a male partner but they must be actively involved in most of the business.
Entry forms and further information are on the Rural Women New Zealand website www.ruralwomen.org.nz
