Baby boomers turn 80s
The first of the baby boomers celebrate their 80th birthday this year, and at Arvida Waimea Plains there are 17 who were post-war babies, reaching the milestone. The group celebrated their shared milestone with a meal and dance at the Richmond retirement village.
Godwits welcomed home by cathedral bells
Nelson Cathedral’s bells rang out on Monday morning to welcome the return of the bar-tailed godwits after their epic 12,000km migration from Alaska to New Zealand. The annual tradition recognises what is considered the longest non-stop flight in the natural world, with about 90,000 godwits crossing the Pacific each spring. Unable to land on water or feed at sea, the birds flap continuously for the entire journey. Cathedral precentor Rev Steve Jordan says the bell-ringing is a way to celebrate the birds’ remarkable feat and encourage people to reflect on protecting the environment. A male godwit tracked in 2020 flew more than 12,000km in 224 hours, reaching speeds close to 100kmh with favourable winds. The birds will remain in New Zealand until March before returning north.
Skinning the Tiger book launch
Golden Bay journalist Gerard Hindmarsh launches his tenth book, Skinning the Tiger, at the Richmond Library on 22 September. The book covers his time as a roving reporter in Asia from the early 1990s, covering subjects as diverse as hotel investment, trade, business and aviation. It tells the untold stories collected from his time on the roads, rivers and airspaces of Asia, from chasing smugglers over Hong Kong, to gate crashing a clandestine monk party in Laos, river journeys through Cambodia and Myanmar, and tracking down an eccentric German building conservator in Old Lhasa. He will be at the library between 1pm and 2pm to talk about his latest book.
Young achiever scholarship
Applications are open for this year’s McGlashen Pharmacy Young Achiever Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship recognises a young person aged 16 years or under who is showing a promising future in their chosen field. Entry forms are available at the pharmacy in Richmond and entries close on 25 September.
Council eyes action on recycling offenders
Contamination in Tasman recycling bins has fallen over the past year, but a small number of households continue to cause problems. Contamination levels dropped from 17.5% to a low of 14.5% in May, before rising slightly to 15.4% in July 2026. July audits also found non-compliant bins remained at low levels across the district. A total of 405 contamination audits were completed, with 399 passing and six failing, giving an overall pass rate of 98.5%. The failed audits were recorded in Motueka, Richmond, Appleby and Redwood Valley. The council is considering options to address persistent offenders, including the possibility of removing recycling bins from properties that fail three audits.
GP sector improving but still under pressure
General practice is showing signs of recovery after years of financial and workforce strain, according to new survey data from the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro). GenPro’s annual survey found improvements across most measures, with GP vacancies falling from 54% to 47% and nurse vacancies dropping from 23% to 18%. Financial concerns also eased, with practices operating at a loss declining from 19% to 12%. Patient access improved, with more practices accepting new enrolments and fewer reducing services. However, GenPro chair Dr Angus Chambers says the sector remains fragile, with almost half of practices still reporting GP vacancies and many continuing to face financial pressure. “We need to consolidate these gains and address the underlying pressures before they begin to erode the progress that has been made.”
Age Concern marks 50 years of service
Age Concern Nelson Tasman will celebrate 50 years of supporting older people on 1 October, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons. The organisation, which began in 1976, has spent five decades providing advocacy, community support and services aimed at reducing social isolation, promoting independence and responding to elder abuse. Manager Nicola Woodward says the milestone reflects the contribution of generations of volunteers, staff, board members and supporters. The free celebration at Founders Heritage Park will feature entertainment, guest speakers and the opening of the fifth annual Beyond the Face Exhibition.
Blast from Rabbit Island
A deep thump hit homes across a wide area on Friday when explosive material was detonated on Rabbit Island. A police spokesperson says police received a call on Thursday morning about explosive gel/power gel located in a storage facility that was being cleared out on the mainland. As a precaution given the potential volatility, the storage facility itself was cordoned overnight and the New Zealand Defence Force notified. On Friday morning, the material was transported to Rabbit Island for disposal in a bush area by the New Zealand Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
Freeman workplace nod
Freeman Roofing’s Nelson branch is celebrating after the company was named a finalist in the Medium Workplace category of the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards for the second year running. The recognition includes the Nelson team, one of 11 manufacturing branches nationwide. Nelson branch manager Kadie Pettigrew says the award reflects the culture built by the local team. “We’ve got a great team here in Nelson. Everyone looks out for each other, gets stuck in and has a bit of fun along the way. It’s great to see that recognised.” Freeman Roofing has operated in New Zealand for nearly 70 years. Winners of the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards will be announced on 22 October.
Traffic light upgrade
Nelson City Council is upgrading the traffic lights at the Bridge St/Rutherford St intersection as part of the Bridge to Better project. The work began on Monday, 14 September. To allow contractors to carry out the work, the existing lights will be disconnected and switched off for two weeks. With Bridge St currently closed, vehicles can only travel straight through this intersection. The pedestrian signals will be inactive during this time, so the council is asking people to be mindful when crossing and take extra care around the intersection.
