YUMMY CHRISTMAS GOODIES

Given the uncertainty of events due to Covid, this year the Wharekaka Auxiliary has gone slightly “high-tech” and is running their Annual Christmas Baking Stall online rather than at the T.K Market.

In order that you don’t miss out on all their wonderful Christmas goodies, and to allow the Auxiliary to continue to fundraise for the amazing Wharekaka Rest Home, they are offering a pre-ordering system with a click and collect option (details below) or, if needed, a local home delivery service.

As usual, the perennial best-selling Christmas Cakes, Meringues, Shortbread, Spice Cookies, Cheese Biscuits and Ginger Loaves will be available, and this year the Auxiliary is also adding Mince Pies and delicious Ricciarelli which are Italian almond Christmas biscuits. … Continue Reading

Did You Know

THE AVERAGE cost of a hospital stay for a Covid patient is between $68,000 and $77, 000. The average cost of a Covid vaccination is $15. Non vaccinated give far more money to Big Pharma by allowing infectious disease that by vaccinating. 

1897 THE BEST selling car in the US was an electric vehicle: the Pope Manufacturing Company’s Columbia Motor Carriage. Electric models were outselling steam- and petrol-powered ones. By 1900, sales of steam vehicles had taken a narrow lead: that year, 1,681 steam vehicles, 1,575 electric vehicles and 936 petrol-powered vehicles were sold. Only with the launch of the Olds Motor Works’ Curved Dash Oldsmobile in 1903 did petrol-powered vehicles take the lead for the first time.

THE GOVERNMENT’S  communications spend has jumped more than 50 per cent in four years, and is now costing the taxpayer close to $90 million a year. The number of full-time communications  staff increased from 564 to 845. The biggest spender was the New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi at $8.2m over 2020/21, up from $2.6m in 2016/17. The number of staff there in communications roles has increased from 32 to 68. … Continue Reading

Community kōrero 

Siv Fjærestad, Community Development Coordinator, South Wairarapa District Council 

Ehāra taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. 

(My strength is not as an individual but as a collective.)

Pack the Bus

South Wairarapa towns are getting ready to welcome “Pack the Bus 2021”- and as always it promises to pack a few surprises! A heartwarming, generous and fun Christmas gift and food drive, this event pulls all of the Wairarapa community together in kotahitanga (solidarity), and the South Wairarapa District Council is excited to be involved. 

The Council encourages local businesses and individuals to come along and donate Christmas gifts and non-perishable food items, for distribution by the region’s food banks to those in need. … Continue Reading

A Dilemma for Age Concern

Age Concern’s purpose is for older people / kaumātua to live a valued life in an inclusive society. “He pāpori e whai whakaarohia ana, e whakanuitia ana, e tautokona ana, e whai mana anahoki te hunga kaumātua.” 

Some of our community services continued through the levels of COVID-19 lockdown. Our team working with older people who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect did that by phone in Levels 3 & 4. Likewise, our accredited visitors phoned people they normally visit, to maintain connections with those who want regular company.

But our health and wellbeing promotion and social connection activities stopped at Lockdown Levels 3 and 4, as required. In our spring quarterly magazine we said we would only re-start our exercise classes, trips and coffee mornings when we got back to Level One. … Continue Reading