Issue #10

18 August 2020

Inspiring stories, real news and the hard questions

We all know it is coming up election time soon and the outcome for the Coast will be important – one way or the other.

So, get out to the candidate meetings, get a feel for what the different political parties are offering in their policies and ask the questions of the candidates you want answers for.

In this issue too, we begin to look at another of the Coast’s major industries, fishing, and we introduce you to Gaylene Donaldson whose fundraising work on behalf of the Cancer Foundation is absolutely amazing. These stories and a whole lot more beside, make for an interesting and informative read in this edition of Coaster’s Weekly.

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:

  • Follow us on Facebook: The Coaster’s Club
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  • Subscribe to our You Tube channel and see dozens of videos that don’t get published anywhere else.
  • Go to our website and purchase a Coaster’s Pass for a real good deal on a Coast experience – www.thecoastersclub.co.nz
  • Receive our newsletter, The Coaster’s Weekly like 33,500 others do and keep connected! Go to www.thecoastersclub.co.nz and enter your email address in the panel on the home page. It’s as easy as that.

 

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 Punakaki Resort in Punakaki. $139 for two per night! You can’t beat a deal like that. All the details in this edition of Coaster’s Weekly and you can book direct by calling the Punakaki Resort on 0800-706-707 and ask for the Coaster’s Pass deal.

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.

Bruce Smith



Inspiring stories, real news and the hard questions

West Coast Fishing – An industry of opportunity


Exciting times for iconic industry

The fishing industry on the Coast is currently going through a period of real opportunity.

A number of projects are spearheading the growth of the industry and promise exciting times for one of the Coast’s iconic industries.  The decision to upgrade the Blaketown Lagoon slipway to cater for 200-ton vessels is a major plus for Greymouth. To compliment the slipway, a covered-in facility will be built so that repairs and maintenance of the vessels can be carried out indoors. The commissioning of a dedicated dredge to keep the lagoon at the correct depth also adds to the expansion of facilities and the construction and installation of extra mooring pontoons will create a boom in the fishing sector which is so important to Greymouth, the Coast and New Zealand.

Bruce Smith talks to Franco Horrigge about these majors improvements being undertaken around the Blaketown Lagoon.



Exciting times for iconic industry

West Coast Fishing – An industry of opportunity


Fishing out of Greymouth and loving it

We talk fishing industry with Coast fisherman Larry Johnston.

The West Coast fishery extends some 350 nautical miles from the Cascade Coast in the South, to the Kahurangi Coast in the North.

The headquarters for the West Coast fishery is the Port of Greymouth. Fishing is an important economic activity for the town of approximately 10,000 residents. We catch up with Larry Johnston to see what it is like fishing out of this Coast port.



 

Part one:

Larry Johnston fishing out of Greymouth and loving it:PART ONE

Larry Johnston fishing out of Greymouth and loving it: PART ONEThe fishing industry on the Coast is going through a period of real opportunity and the decision to upgrade the Blaketown lagoon slipway to cater for 200 ton vessels and inside a built in shed ,the commissioning of a dedicated dredge to keep the lagoon at the correct depth and the construction and installation of extra mooring pontoons will create a boom in this sector which is so important to the Coast and New Zealand.The West Coast fishery extends some 350 nautical miles from the Cascade Coast in the South, to the Kahurangi Coast to the North. Today’s fisherman fishes from the Port of Greymouth, the most populous town on the ‘coast’ (approximately 10,000 residents).The waters off the South Island’s West Coast provide everything from shallow coastal margins to deep offshore trenches, from sandy long-drift beaches to coarse gravel sea-beds, with an array of desirable species in abundance year round.Due to its proximity to turbulent weather, the West Coast fishery preserves itself by only allowing access to its harvest when the weather dictates. Combine this with the heavy rainfall from moisture-laden clouds that batter the coastline, and you have an extreme, but commanding fishery that requires knowledge, skill and determination to fish successfully. Located in the area known to mariners as ‘The Roaring Forties’ due to the severe ocean gales that occur at a latitude of 40 degrees, our fishery serves up weather that demands respect. With water temperatures that remain consistently cool, the West Coast provides a rich environment, where many species thrive, feeding on the smorgasbord bought up by the Southern Antarctic currents.

Posted by The Coasters Club on Tuesday, August 11, 2020

 

Part two:

Larry Johnston fishing out of Greymouth and loving it. Part Two

LARRY JOHNSTON FISHING OUT OF GREYMOUTH: PART TWO.The fishing industry on the Coast is going through a period of real opportunity and the decision to upgrade the Blaketown lagoon slipway to cater for 200 ton vessels and inside a built in shed ,the commissioning of a dedicated dredge to keep the lagoon at the correct depth and the construction and installation of extra mooring pontoons will create a boom in this sector which is so important to the Coast and New Zealand.The West Coast fishery extends some 350 nautical miles from the Cascade Coast in the South, to the Kahurangi Coast to the North. Today’s fisherman fishes from the Port of Greymouth, the most populous town on the ‘coast’ (approximately 10,000 residents).The waters off the South Island’s West Coast provide everything from shallow coastal margins to deep offshore trenches, from sandy long-drift beaches to coarse gravel sea-beds, with an array of desirable species in abundance year round.Due to its proximity to turbulent weather, the West Coast fishery preserves itself by only allowing access to its harvest when the weather dictates. Combine this with the heavy rainfall from moisture-laden clouds that batter the coastline, and you have an extreme, but commanding fishery that requires knowledge, skill and determination to fish successfully. Located in the area known to mariners as ‘The Roaring Forties’ due to the severe ocean gales that occur at a latitude of 40 degrees, our fishery serves up weather that demands respect. With water temperatures that remain consistently cool, the West Coast provides a rich environment, where many species thrive, feeding on the smorgasbord bought up by the Southern Antarctic currents.

Posted by The Coasters Club on Tuesday, August 11, 2020

 

Part three:

Larry Johnston fishing out of Greymouth and loving it: PART THREE

Larry Johnston fishing out of Greymouth and loving it: PART THREEThe fishing industry on the Coast is going through a period of real opportunity and the decision to upgrade the Blaketown lagoon slipway to cater for 200 ton vessels and inside a built in shed ,the commissioning of a dedicated dredge to keep the lagoon at the correct depth and the construction and installation of extra mooring pontoons will create a boom in this sector which is so important to the Coast and New Zealand.The West Coast fishery extends some 350 nautical miles from the Cascade Coast in the South, to the Kahurangi Coast to the North. Today’s fisherman fishes from the Port of Greymouth, the most populous town on the ‘coast’ (approximately 10,000 residents).The waters off the South Island’s West Coast provide everything from shallow coastal margins to deep offshore trenches, from sandy long-drift beaches to coarse gravel sea-beds, with an array of desirable species in abundance year round.Due to its proximity to turbulent weather, the West Coast fishery preserves itself by only allowing access to its harvest when the weather dictates. Combine this with the heavy rainfall from moisture-laden clouds that batter the coastline, and you have an extreme, but commanding fishery that requires knowledge, skill and determination to fish successfully. Located in the area known to mariners as ‘The Roaring Forties’ due to the severe ocean gales that occur at a latitude of 40 degrees, our fishery serves up weather that demands respect. With water temperatures that remain consistently cool, the West Coast provides a rich environment, where many species thrive, feeding on the smorgasbord bought up by the Southern Antarctic currents.

Posted by The Coasters Club on Tuesday, August 11, 2020



Gaylene Donaldson – from Botswana to the Regent Theatre

In 2016, Gaylene’s brother Gary passed away with cancer. She is honouring his memory and raising funds for the Cancer Society, West Coast, with a series of illustrated talks on her recent experiences in Botswana.

Listen here as Gaylene talks about the events and the motivation behind them:

 

Coaster’s Weekly would love to invite you to join Gaylene for an evening of story-telling and stunning images from Botswana. There are four opportunities to join her:

Wednesday 19 August, 6.30pm, The Regent Theatre, Greymouth
Thursday 20 August, 6.30pm, The Regent Theatre, Greymouth
Saturday 5 September, 2.00pm, The Regent Theatre, Greymouth
Saturday 5 September, 6.30pm, The Regent Theatre, Greymouth

Tickets $10. Door sales or book at the Regent.



Botswana photography by Gaylene Donaldson



The Punakaki Resort

This week it’s a smashing $139 per room (2 people) at The Punakaiki Resort.

To book call direct on 0800-706-707 and ask for the Coaster’s Pass deal.

Have a look here at The Punakaiki Resort. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to stay at this very popular Coast destination. And the plus of course is the fact that it is owned and operated by the West Coast’s own Williams Hotels Group.



Punakaki – 800,000 visitors can’t be wrong!

Mark Williams, of the Williams Hotels Group, talks about the range of activities on offer around Punakaiki.

Over 800,000 people visited the area last year and took in everything from the Pancake Rocks to the Papamoa National Park.



Aratuna Freighter’s Update


Farmers – time to book meal cartage

Our weekly truckers catch up

This week we talk with Aratuna Freighters Bulk Cartage & Livestock Manager, Bill Millar. He has a clear message farmers: get you meal cartage booked in now!

Have a listen to Bill here:



Coast Characters


Glen Surgenor – shooting from the hip

Glen Surgenor comes from a pioneer Coast family of stage coach drivers so it’s no surprise that he is also one of the country’s leading cowboy shooting competitors, having competed in New Zealand, Australia and America.

He started carving Pounamu at Westland Greenstone in the early nineties and continues to this day at his studio 484 Hau Hau Road in Hokitika where he works with daughter Brittany.

I called in to have a close up look at his gallery and to ask Glen if he would share some of his life experiences with Coaster’s weekly. He agreed.

Many thanks Glen, it was great to catch up:



Coast Characters


Bill Henderson – a quiet gentleman

Bill is a young 86-year-old who has had the most amazing life so far. He still lives at Arahura on the West Coast in the family home.

A miner, greenstone hunter, deer hunter and a whitebaiting legend, Bill joined the Navy in his younger days and served in both Korea and Malaysia. Later, he left the Navy and went back mining, got bored and joined the Army.

He married Miriam, the love of his life and ran the Greyhound Hotel. His pounamu and gold chasing days are largely over now and Bill is content with his life in Arahura surrounded by family. But you can still find him on a Friday at the RSA in Hokitika.

Bill Henderson has friendships that go back decades and lots of them; they are the mark of this quiet gentleman:



Of words, pictures and the arts


Delivering the Thursday Poem

with Mark Raffills

Twenty Years On

Philip died 20 years ago. He had leukaemia. I was his bone marrow donor. He was 54. “…He was my brother, four years older than I…” Every year on the 8th of the 8th I have written some words as a memorial, as a token of life and a retriever of his memory. Some words below on the 20th anniversary of his departure. Thoughts always.

Video by Dr Jeff Obadiah Simmonds.

The Thursday Poem13 August 2020TWENTY YEARS ONPhilip died 20 years ago. He had leukaemia. I was his bone marrow…

Posted by Mark Raffills on Wednesday, August 12, 2020



Delivering the Thursday Poem

Chat around the Fire


Tony Roach talks fishing

Join us for this week’s Chat Around The Fire as we catch up with Tony Roach and get his views on the Coast fishing industry:

Tony Roach fishing out of Greymouth talking about fishing on the Coast

Tony Roach fishing out of Greymouth talking about fishing on the Coast.People working on the coast have a reputation for being hard-working, straight up and down, knowledgeable and possessing the ability to get a job done.One of the many who have gained such a ‘can-do’ reputation is skipper of the Cosair TONY ROACH, who shares some of his experiences with you.The fishing industry on the Coast is going through a period of real opportunity and the decision to upgrade the Blaketown lagoon slipway to cater for 200 ton vessels and inside a built in shed ,the commissioning of a dedicated dredge to keep the lagoon at the correct depth and the construction and installation of extra mooring pontoons will create a boom in this sector which is so important to the Coast and New Zealand.The West Coast fishery extends some 350 nautical miles from the Cascade Coast in the South, to the Kahurangi Coast to the North. Today’s fisherman fishes from the Port of Greymouth, the most populous town on the ‘coast’ (approximately 10,000 residents).The waters off the South Island’s West Coast provide everything from shallow coastal margins to deep offshore trenches, from sandy long-drift beaches to coarse gravel sea-beds, with an array of desirable species in abundance year round.Due to its proximity to turbulent weather, the West Coast fishery preserves itself by only allowing access to its harvest when the weather dictates. Combine this with the heavy rainfall from moisture-laden clouds that batter the coastline, and you have an extreme, but commanding fishery that requires knowledge, skill and determination to fish successfully. Located in the area known to mariners as ‘The Roaring Forties’ due to the severe ocean gales that occur at a latitude of 40 degrees, our fishery serves up weather that demands respect. With water temperatures that remain consistently cool, the West Coast provides a rich environment, where many species thrive, feeding on the smorgasbord bought up by the Southern Antarctic currents.

Posted by The Coasters Club on Sunday, August 9, 2020



Tony Roach talks fishing

What’s happening on the Coast

Join Gaylene Donaldson for an evening of story-telling and stunning images from Botswana
Wednesday 19 August, 6.30pm, Thursday 20 August, 6.30pm, Saturday 5 September, 2.00pm, Saturday 5 September, 6.30pm, The Regent Theatre, Greymouth
Tickets $10. Door sales or book at the Regent.

WAI presents From Scratch
Wednesday 9 September 2020
Click here for all information and registrations.

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