SOMEBODY STOP THE CLOCK

I seem to constantly on the back foot lately and it's nothing to do with my inappropiately healed shoes.

This time of year seems to go very fast and we will soon be heralding a new year.

Every year my plan to be organised by the festive season is thwarted by my inability to be organised by the festive season.

I blame the clock, (I am sure 'global warming'is affecting the rate at which the seconds fly by). Well global warming is blamed for a lot of things, so why not the movement of time.

I love the New Year because no matter what has happened during the past 12 months, psychologically I feel I get another opportunity to make the ensuing year better.


The new year is also an opportunity for commercial trials for the mussel farm, and Whakatohea Aquaculture is also hoping to commence pond farm trials of sea cucumber in 2010. If there is market acceptance of locally 'grown' sea cucumber, there will be strong interest from Bay of Plenty iwi and a Chinese sea food company to invest in research and commercial trials.

So I'm thinking it's going to be a good year for us here in Opotiki and of course there will be benefit for the whole region.

The following excerpt was taken from ODC (Opotiki District Council) Newsletter November 2009.

A Time for Celebration

Whaia te pai tawhiti, whaia kia tata, whaia te pai tata, kia mau kia tina, whakatina.

We aim for the distant horizon, we persevere and go beyond the boundaries, reach and grasp what is before you, hold fast, hold firm and cherish. This is a time for Opotiki to celebrate, as Robert Edwards, Chair of Whakatohea Trust Board says. “Our area and our people used to have a vibrant economy,based on our capability to farm, and to trade with others. We dearly wish to restore that tradition and to regenerate a viable economy for Opotiki. The people of Whakatohea have been determined to re-create hope and jobs. We have not yet settled with the Crown, but we have invested a decade of effort and resources into this aquaculture potential.”

Vaughan Payne, ODC Chief Executive concurs. “The Opotiki community, along with Council and Whakatohea, have worked hard to get to this point. Thankyou! We are delighted to now have the support of a regional aquaculture strategy and wider Bay of Plenty networks. We are also pleased at the growing awareness across Government of the potential of aquaculture for “NZ Inc”.

So you can see there are good things ahead for us here.

Join us, stop the clock regarding lifestyle (only) and enjoy things as they are, and as they will be.

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

What are you doing for your summer holidays?

Here in Opotiki we like to have a little fun.

Natural fun, fun so natural we call it unplugged.

One of the major attractions is the mega mudslide, you can't get more natural than that.

I am not sure about the beauty qualities of the moist soil, but I believe the theraputic qualities are of great benefit. All that stuff oozing through your fingers.

Have a look at a little bit of the action from a couple of years ago, but still all relevant this summer. Clip by Alextronics of Opotiki.

When playing the clip ensure you have your sound on.
The music is very appropriate for the content.




While it's great to have a summer break, when you live in a place like Opotiki with holiday type attractions at your doorstep, every day is like being on holiday.

Join us now, bookings wont last forever.

OOPS

And a big OOPS from me.

Sorry have not updated blog.

Watch this space as will be filled asap

OPOTIKI'S STRIKES GOLD

We have always considered that Opotiki has a wealth greater than what is translated in financial terms, predominately because of it's location.

Now it is confirmed in financial terms. The Opotiki News 3/11/2009 has reported GOLD kiwifruit growers in the district are to benefit more than most from Zespri's October record forecast. Thanks to Opotiki's higher production (approx 20% of the little gold fruit), they have exceeded the industry average and that means more money for the growers. Not bad considering the depressed world fruit market.

While we can thank the strong Japanese yen, and them buying 3rd of the NZ grown gold crop, I think location and soil play their part in a successful orchard as well, and for that...Opotiki can take a well deserved bow. Here they are planting more and more gold.

Coastal climates are good for a lot of things.

Health being one.

Gold kiwifruit offer a healthy store of vitamins C and E, potassium and fibre.

Coastal living can provide good doses of the sun's vitamin D (if taken in sensible doses), potassium from your home grown potatoes and bananas, and fibre from the same source, or the bush.

Or get it all from one of our orchards.

We have struck GOLD, lay your claim now before the stakes get too high.