How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

Chloe Bing

Chloe Bing and her husband Michael moved to Martinborough 3 years ago, escaping from Auckland where house prices were climbing and the time to commute to work was increasing.

On leaving school Chloe opted to take Health Science at Auckland University. The first year of study provided a pathway to Psychology, Pharmacy or Medical School. Pharmacy was Chloe’s choice with 3 more years of study following.

After completing her internship Chloe moved to Otorohanga where she worked with six or seven staff members, two of whom were trained pharmacists.

After Chloe had been a year in Otorohanga, Michael was granted an opportunity to play for a Manchester Cricket team, so they took a 6 month break overseas. While Michael concentrated on Cricket, Chloe extended her skills by becoming the tea lady for the Cricket Club.

They returned to Auckland, staying with Chloe’s parents on a lifestyle block in Waitākere. Their three goals were to buy a house, arrange a wedding, and buy a car.

Meanwhile Chloe was commuting from Waitākere to Stanmore Bay on the Whangaparoa Peninsular a round trip of 100km a day. Even driving against the traffic, she would be leaving at 6.45 am starting work at 8.30am, finishing at 7.00pm. Saturday was 9.00am to 5.00pm. And on her day off she was often called in to help. … Continue Reading

Hidden planets

Scientists using the world’s most powerful radio antenna have found stars unexpectedly blasting out radio waves. Planets in our solar system emit powerful radio waves as their magnetic fields interact with the solar wind.

However radio signals from outside our solar system had not been previously detected. This breakthrough in radio astronomy  could lead to  the discovery of more planets in our galaxy. 

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT 

It has been a very busy couple of weeks for the Brigade, it has started to dry out and it is not taking much to start a vegetation fire or when the wind gets up reignite old burn piles. Please be super vigilant as these fires can spread very quickly. The up side is our new recruits are experiencing firefighting first hand and adding to their learnings and knowledge in preparation for recruit courses.

You can check the current fire season status and whether you can light outdoor fires at www.checkitsalright.nz, and don’t forget to check the forecast too !

Our team of Medical First Responders have just successfully completed their NZCEC program and are recognised as First Responders by our response partner Wellington Free Ambulance. You may have specially trained firefighters turning up to medical emergencies, in addition to our current medical responses to critical incidents. … Continue Reading

Esther Bunning’s first solo exhibition opens at Aratoi  

PHOSPHENE 1: a portrait of a landscape.*

The exhibition is an exploration and organic unravelling of an abstract landscape, from origination through to images being printed on silk and linen, and textile stitching on images.

Greytown’s Bunning describes how the images came about. She packed a picnic lunch despite the wintery conditions and traipsed over the hill to the Kaitoke Regional Park: “…We came across a lake area that had an overhanging tree with the remains of autumn leaves, and the water was dotted with these. What happened next was truly extraordinary – and I still have to pinch myself when I recall this. In front of my eyes and camera lens, the scene continuously morphed and changed as the breeze flurried across the water and then became still. I stood there transfixed, unable to believe what I was capturing as the patterns continuously changed and re-arranged themselves into abstracts, geometrics and mosaics while I ‘clicked’ the camera. Hence the title ‘Phosphenes’. It sums up the experience succinctly.

I’d never seen anything like this before, ever – and perhaps won’t witness again – and while I consider I was in the right place at the right time, the resulting images are extraordinary. Unlike anything I’ve ever done. The collection is created with no photoshop, they’re as shot in camera…” … Continue Reading