Dressage dress up
A pre-season training day for Nelson Dressage has provided a bit of extra fun with a fancy dress competition. Nelson Dressage’s Suzanne Inglis says the day was about running through the ‘how to’ of dressage competing at lower levels. “We are a small group that caters for all ages and abilities. The afternoon is a lowkey competition, where riders can practice the tests they may be doing for any upcoming competition, or for our winter series which starts at the end of April.” Suzanne says they run 10 competitions a year, and three of them are lowkey training days which are great for everyone to come and have a go and see what it is all about.
Stadium lighting overhaul for Saxton
Saxton Stadium has new LED sports lighting and solar panels. The project, which was a joint council upgrade, started on 1 April with the stadium due to reopen on Friday, 17 April. The lighting upgrade is expected to significantly improve visibility and energy efficiency at the facility. The old lights were prone to failure and did not provide sufficient lighting for the wide range of sports codes that use the stadium. Solar panels and battery systems have also been installed, funded through a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. The addition of on-site power generation and storage will improve the stadium’s resilience and provide backup power in the event of a natural disaster.
Makers sought for Māpua Market
Applications are being sought for the Mother’s Day Māpua Makers Market in May. Nearly half of available spots are already filled, but if you are a crafter, artisan or maker, whose products will complement the market, get in touch for information or to register. Email mapuamakersmarket@gmail.com
Closer co-operation on climate and consenting
Nelson City and Tasman District Councils are establishing joint advisory groups on climate change and building authority services. With the environmental impacts of climate change having no regard for the districts’ Champion Rd border, and the likelihood of the region having one spatial plan under the Government’s reform of the Resource Management Act, two advisory bodies will provide advice and recommendations to the two councils on those subjects in the hopes of standardising approaches across the region.
SPCA offers half price adoptions
SPCA has launched its nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign, making it easier than ever for families to welcome a new animal into their home. For a three-week period from 13 April to 3 May, adoption fees are reduced by 50%, giving more animals the chance to find loving homes in time for winter. Almost 4,000 animals are currently in SPCA care, and more than 1,000 are ready for adoption. SPCA is also asking the public to give special focus to its long stay residents, such as Jenga, a long-stay puppy in Nelson.
Standing for National in West Coast-Tasman
A fifth‑generation farmer with a history of breaking glass ceilings is seeking to represent one of New Zealand’s largest electorates in Parliament. Katie Milne has been selected as the National Party candidate for West Coast–Tasman in the 2026 general election, replacing incumbent MP Maureen Pugh who retires this year. Katie currently dairy farms near Lake Brunner and brings extensive sector advocacy. She was Federated Farmers’ first female national president from 2017 to 2020, later serving as World Farmers’ Organisation vice‑president and a Predator Free 2050 director. She is also a volunteer firefighter and first responder and is a keen hunter and fisher. Katie acknowledged Maureen’s service and said she was “honoured” to campaign to keep the West Coast-Tasman seat blue. “The hard work starts now to re-elect a National Government that is fixing the basics and building the future,” she said. “As a lifelong advocate for farmers, I can see firsthand how National backs our primary sector. The National‑led Government has reduced red tape to get farmers back to farming, signed new trade deals that have helped increase trade by $17 billion, and introduced investment boosts to encourage businesses to invest, expand, and hire more Kiwis.”
Standing for Labour in West Coast-Tasman
West Coast-Tasman’s fresh face for the Labour Party is Rory Paterson, a Greymouth-born teacher, cricketer, and father of four who is currently based in Christchurch. He’ll be contesting the seat previously held for decades by Labour’s Damien O’Connor, who was dethroned in 2023 and announced earlier this year he wouldn’t stand for the electorate again. Rory was selected as the party’s West Coast-Tasman candidate for the 2026 general election at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Murchison, where dozens of Labour supporters from Golden Bay, Motueka, Upper Moutere, Reefton, Greymouth, Buller and Westland waited outside for the final vote. Despite living on the opposite coast, where he works at the Catholic Education Office, Rory has “been building connections to all parts of the electorate” in “the past few years”. He says he’s “ready” to return and serve the communities that raised him. “There is no doubt in my mind that communities in all parts of our electorate are ready for change. I feel humbled to have such strong support, and I am excited to build on that and return West Coast-Tasman to Labour,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind that communities in all parts of our electorate are ready for change. I feel humbled to have such strong support, and I am excited to build on that and return West Coast–Tasman to Labour,” he says. “People want equitable access to healthcare, education and other government services, and that’s what I will fight for. We have incredible industries within this part of New Zealand, but no part of the electorate has escaped job losses in the past few years. There is no question that this is one of the most pressing priorities.“We are not an electorate where one size fits all. I’m firm on listening first, and advocating across all communities to ensure that policy affecting us takes that into account.”
