Nelson Weekly

06/03/2025

It’s 9am on a Thursday and Ngāti Rārua is preparing 569 school lunches at the Nelson Rugby Club rooms for the Ka Ora Ka Ako healthy school lunch programme.

Despite a 30 per cent decrease in funding, they are still managing to provide nutritious and tasty lunches for just $4 per child.

Auckland Point School students Cleo Costelloe-Baptisa, Aurora Creed and Zoe Murphy, all nine-years-old, enjoy their school lunches last week. Photo: Kate Russell.

04/03/2025

Nelsust’s “corny” adverts, funded by a council grant, now adorn the backs of six of the region’s 19 eBuses and are expected to remain in place until at least the end of April.

Nelsust convenor Peter Olorenshaw hopes the adverts encourage commuters to give the bus a try. Photo: Max Frethey.

25/02/2025

Nelson Airport has confirmed its notice of requirement which will enable its future runway extension.

The notice of requirement designates the land required for an extension of the runway, updates the airport’s noise contours, and imposes height restrictions on obstacles near the airport.

The notice of requirement designates the land required for an extension of the runway, updates the airport’s noise contours, and imposes height restrictions on obstacles near the airport.

20/02/2025

Owen Perry might just be the coolest school bus driver in Nelson.

When Nelson Christian Academy students step onto his Nelson Coachlines vehicle every morning they are greeted with games, prizes, decorations, giveaways, maybe some Bob Marley – and of course, a big smile.

When Nelson Christian Academy students step onto his Nelson Coachlines vehicle every morning they are greeted with games, prizes, decorations, giveaways, maybe some Bob Marley – and of course, a big smile.

20/02/2025

For Dan and Hannah Sangster, life as they knew it changed overnight when Dan was diagnosed with bowel cancer and two brain lesions at the age of 34.

Tōtara Kids 'Move your Butt' campaign members Maho Fukuzaki, left, Kim Loftus, Elise Walton, James Walton, Erin Rush and Alesia Van Maanen will each walk 100kms this month. Photo: Supplied.

18/02/2025

The region’s councils want yearly waste to landfill to reduce by 106kg per person. To assist with the target, tours of the York Valley Landfill have been offered to nearby residents.

The region’s councils want yearly waste to landfill to reduce by 106kg per person. To assist with the target, tours of the York Valley Landfill have been offered to nearby residents. Photo: Max Frethey.

18/02/2025

“It’s just languishing, and people are wishing they could use it.”

It’s been almost five years since the Stoke Memorial Hall closed, and with another two until council funding is allocated for the building, the local RSA is urging action.

Nelson RSA member Ian Barker and president Barry Pont are urging action from Nelson City Council on the shuttered building. Photo: Max Frethey.

13/02/2025

“We are concerned these changes put the health and safety of residents at risk, as our members will have less time to spend with them. This will also affect the quality of care they are able to provide.”

Labelled a premium option for aged care and retirement living, Bridge Street’s Green Gables is in for a proposed workplace shake-up by its owner Oceania Healthcare.

Green Gables nurse and healthcare assistants’ hours could be cut back under its owner Oceania Healthcare’s restructure. Photo: Gordon Preece.

13/02/2025

“We see the Kawenata as a living document that all those that engage with the agency and are working with the community also sign as a sign of their commitment to intergenerational well-being.”

TeTauihu Community Development Agency chair Megan Courtney, left, and Kiriwai Spooner of Ngāti Rārua (one of the eight iwi who signed the Kawenata). Photo: Gordon Preece

11/02/2025

A new director has taken over at the Nelson Centre for Musical Arts and he’s ready to oversee a new era for the iconic institution.

Myles Payne helped achieved “record-setting” growth for the Nelson Centre for Musical Arts’s adult classes as education manager and now he leads the entire organisation. Photo: Max Frethey.

06/02/2025

"NCG is a place that young women can thrive, we have a really good school spirit, and I’ve loved being in that environment and seeing a lot of female empowerment."

A multicultural advocate who’s a Burmese migrant and a football prodigy who can ‘Bend It Like Beuker’ have grand plans up their blazer sleeves to help young wāhine to blossom.

Sui Len Par Thang and Katie Beuker will spearhead the Nelson College for Girls student body in 2025. Photo: Gordon Preece.

06/02/2025

Enhancing phosphorus removal from wastewater using microalgae was the crux of a former Nayland College student’s 10-week research programme at Cawthron Institute.

Former Nayland College student Annabelle McQuillan says although algae is unattractive to water users, microalgae is something special. Photo: Gordon Preece.

06/02/2025

Stoke New World owner Brendon Rae reckons that “short-term pains for long-term gains” is a good way to sum up the current redevelopment of his supermarket.

Work officially started on 20 January to turn the “no longer fit for purpose” store into a modern shopping hub for the suburb.

Stoke New World owner Brendon Rae, front, with staff members at the back, from left: Charlene Waring, Joe Robertson, Kath Simpson, Mo Taylor, Ella Robertson, Jenny Smith, Corina Baigent, Mandi Mitchell, Gary Tasker, Jamie Wardle and Neil Tomlinson. Photo: Kate Russell.

04/02/2025

A new residents’ group has formed in Nelson and one of their top priorities is figuring out what the plan was for the deforested hills in the Barnicoat Ranges.

Friends of Marsden Valley members Kathryn Richards, Mike Brien, Stella van Gelder, Jane Gass, Maurice Horgan, Craig Gass, Peter de Jong, Crispin Rule, and Craig Richards have concerns about the deforested hills. Photo: Max Frethey.

30/01/2025

“Mum bought the house because she dreamed of living by the sea. In summer, we used to get up in the morning and put our togs on to go swimming and leave our togs on all day. We’d just go over the road and dive into the water.”

Beryl Sharp remembers singing around the piano and days at the beach during the 1950s when her family lived in what is now the little red house on Rocks Rd.

28/01/2025

A new 29 one-bedroom apartment social housing development in Nelson is complete and tenants will move in early next month.

28/01/2025

Jon Toogood acknowledges that some of the haircuts along the way have been bad, and some of the musical takes were straight-up terrible.

Despite the misses, three decades gives a lot to celebrate. The frontman for nationally-renowned rock band Shihad spoke to Top South Media recently about their humble beginnings as “inner-city bogans from Wellington”, as well as their upcoming ‘Loud Forever’ farewell tour.

Jon Toogood and Shihad will perform at Trafalgar Centre next month as part of their farewell tour. Photo: Ray Tiddy.

28/01/2025

Mike Ford isn’t usually one to blow his own trumpet – or in his case, horn. But being named in one of the most prestigious brass bands in the world is certainly something to be proud of, the tenor horn champion reckons.

Mike Ford from the NBS Nelson City Brass has been named in the 4barsrest 2024 band of the year. Photo: Kate Russell.