Issue #8

4 August 2020

Inspiring stories, real news and the hard questions

In this issue of Coaster’s Weekly we celebrate the opening of the new Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre, in Greymouth. What a facility for the Coast!

And we introduce you to some young Coasters who have their future on the Coast at heart and are taking a proactive stand to promote the land of their dreams!

The Coaster’s Club is of course the vehicle by which we can all stay connected so I would encourage you to join up. I know we can’t always agree on all things, but we can agree that we all want the best for the Coast and the people whose lives and history are intrinsically tied to this wonderful place.

Here’s how you can be part of the Coaster’s Club:

 

Have a listen here as I outline a little more about this week’s happenings:

This week our Coaster’s Pass takes you to the Ashley Hotel in Greymouth.

You can check out the deal in this edition of Coaster’s Weekly and you can purchase your Coaster’s Pass here: www.thecoastersclub.co.nz If you are not already a subscriber to Coaster’s Weekly, you can do so here too: www.thecoastersclub.co.nz

Thanks again for your on-going support. If you have story you think should be told in Coaster’s Weekly, or you know of a couple of characters we really ought to talk to, please let us know – you can submit an article here.

Bruce Smith

Inspiring stories, real news and the hard questions

Mining: the life blood of the West Coast’s economy

Meeting Coast Miner, Henry Adams

A story told in video

Meet Henry Adams, a Coaster and alluvial gold miner.

 

Henry Adams mining at the Arahura Valley on the West Coast.

Mining: the life blood of the West Coast’s economy

Henry Adams

Mining – it’s a lifestyle thing

A man and his machine form a partnership that is not easily broken! Here’s Henry Adams with his pet D10.

 

Bruce Smith catches up with one of Henry Adam’s team, miner Caleb Provis.

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre

A brand new healthcare facility for the Coast!

It is state-of-the-art all the way!

Coaster’s Weekly was delighted to be shown around the new hospital and here we share the experience with Coasters near and far.

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre is designed to be a one stop shop for health care on the West Coast. From the most urgent and seriously unwell people who require emergency or specialist care, to those with planned appointments to see their general practice team, there is time and space at Te Nikau for everyone who needs health care.

This $121 million build is said to be the most expensive hospital build per capita in New Zealand history and Coasters, it’s just brilliant.

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre is designed to be a one stop shop for health care on the West Coast. I had the privilege of talking with Dr Pradudayaram who has been a surgeon for many years on the Coast and is now the Clinical Manager of Facilities at the new Centre.  He explains the years of planning that has gone into Te Nikau, here:

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre

A one stop shop for health care

Look at these features!

Much of the achievement in establishing Te Nikau rests with the vision and energy of  Dr Pradudayaram.

The new integrated hospital and health centre has a building footprint of 8,500m2 and has been designed to support flexible ways of working.

Some of the features include: • 56 inpatient beds • two negative pressure rooms • three operating theatres • Whanau/Family room • Whare Karakia/Multi-faith room • four transitional care units • fit for purpose technology including wifi, nurse call, security systems and a central courtyard.

Continue our tour of the new facility here:-

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre

New hospital offers a full range of healthcare services

Te Nikau houses a 24/7 emergency department, a critical care unit, an acute and planned medical and surgical services unit.

Urgent care, maternity services and outpatient care are also provided for. Allied health services are catered for with radiology, a medical laboratory, kitchen and a children’s ward.

Continue our tour of the new facility here:-

Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre

Access to new facility made easy

For entry and parking you come into the hospital and health centre site off High Street, up over the bridge and turn right.

Access to all services is via the main entrance on the ground floor. There are more than 100 parks available with mobility parks close to the main entrance.

Continue our tour of the new facility here:-

Stay at the Ashley Hotel Greymouth

This week The Coaster’s Pass offers you the opportunity to stay at the fabulous Ashley Hotel in Greymouth. The hotel is part of the Williams Hotels Group.

Your Coaster’s Pass consists of:-

  • Two nights accommodation for two at Ashley Hotel.
  • Breakfast and the evening meal for two on both days of your stay.

The cost of this week’s Coaster’s Pass for the Ashley Hotel is $390 – this covers two people.

Come and spend a couple of days exploring Greymouth and the surrounding area.

Buy you Coaster’s Pass here. Or you can book direct with Williams Hotels on Free Phone: 0800 706 707

Have a look at the accommodation that awaits you:-

  • The Coaster’s Pass is only available over a 24 hour period between 5.00pm each Tuesday through to 5.00pm on Wednesday.
  • There are a limited number of passes on offer each week so it is first come, first served.
  • The Coaster’s Pass can be used at any time within 90 days of purchase. It’s an individual transferable pass.
  • Once the booking dates for accommodation, attractions and restaurants are confirmed they can’t be changed
Stay at the Ashley Hotel Greymouth

Young Coasters

Kaia Beal – a young Coaster out there doing it

Coasters, we catch up with Kaia Beal.

He is organising a ‘meet the candidates’ meeting in Greymouth for any political candidate standing for the West Coast-Tasman Electorate in this year’s general election. We say, very impressive Kaia, you are a credit to your school and the Coast.

The meeting is on Thursday 3 September 2020, 7.00pm to 9.00pm.

Greymouth High School, Coxon Hall. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.

Bruce Smith catches up with Kaia:-

Kaia Beal Greymouth

Coasters we catch up with Kaia Beal at Greymain as he is organising a meet the candidates meeting for any political candiate sitting in this years general elections.VERY IMPRESSIVE KAIA !You are a credit to your school and the Coast.THURSDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2020 FROM 19:00-21:002020 West Coast-Tasman MP Candidates Q&AGreymouth High School, Coxon Hall

Posted by The Coasters Club on Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Young Coasters

Willie McBride – another young Coaster flying high

At just 15 years of age, young Coaster, Willie McBride, has a goal of joining the ranks of New Zealand’s rescue helicopter pilots.

Catch his story in this Seven Sharp clip:-

Meet the teen determined to become a rescue helicopter pilot

At just 15-years-old Willie McBride has his eyes firmly set on the skies.The determined teen wants to join the ranks of New Zealand’s rescue helicopter pilots.

Posted by Seven Sharp on Friday, July 31, 2020

FEATURE: Aratuna Freight Ltd

Aratuna Freighters Ltd

– our weekly truckers catch up

We chat with Managing Director Andrew Havill at the Blaketown Lagoon on a grey Coast day.

Aratuna advert

Coast Characters

Bill Hende – a Coaster from the wild blue yonder

A man with aviation in his blood and what a story he has to tell.

Meet him here:-

Coast characters

Michael Keenan – a coaster

Our club patron since day one back in 2014, Michael is a Coaster from a pioneer Coast family.

One of the real people we cherish in this part of the world.

FEATURE: Williams Hotel

It’s still snowing in Wanaka!

The snow is falling in Wanaka so head for the ski fields and take advantage of the special Coaster’s rate on offer at The Oakridge Resort in the town (a Williams Group Resort).

 

Take a preview here of the super facilities that are yours when you book your place at The Oakridge Resort:-

Williams Hotels

Of words, pictures and the arts

Delivering the Thursday Poem

with Mark Raffills

Tomorrow is her birthday. Have a listen to his weekly poem here:

The Thursday Poem30 July 2020Tomorrow is her birthdayOccasions to celebrate should not be left to pass unmarked or unspoken. This one is for Jeanie. Video by Dr Jeff Obadiah Simmonds. Words below.Tomorrow is her birthdayHe sits at the kitchen tableStabbing the keyboardof the old typewriter,hammering out wordsof love, carving his hearton hers.In the deep poolof her brown eyeshe looks for the night stars and finds them dancing still, slowly, in waltz time.Tomorrow is her birthdayand he wonders what joyshe will find therein the red sunrise,on the long, unfoldingroad of the day.For now, she sleeps behindthe glass door, above the harbour; the wind in the treesbecomes the wave on the shoreand he watches as she gives aninvoluntary shiver and pulls the bed covers closer.Mark Raffills

Posted by Mark Raffills on Tuesday, July 28, 2020

 

Delivering the Thursday Poem

Chat around the Fire

“Politics is a contest of ideas”

Introducing Maureen Pugh, National Party list MP for West Coast Tasman

I talk to Maureen here and ask her some direct questions of concern to the Coast. I will be asking the same questions of every candidate prepared to be interviewed by the Coaster’s Weekly. For now though, it is Maureen’s turn:-

Listen to Maureen addressing Parliament on the issue of the Regional Development Fund, something that is very relevant to the Coast:-

“Politics is a contest of ideas”

What’s happening on the Coast

Greymouth Motorcycle Street Race
Sunday 25 October 2020
Click here for all information and registrations.

Agfest 2020
Friday 13 November 2020
Click here for all information and registrations.

Ride the Wilderness
Saturday 14 November 2020
Click here for all information and registrations.

Buller Marathon, Half Marathon and Walk
Saturday 13 February 2021
Click here for all information and registrations.

Hokitika Wild Foods Festival
Saturday 13 March 2021
Click here for all information and tickets

 

For inclusion on these pages please submit your information here: https://coastersweekly.buzzit.co.nz/

What’s happening on the Coast