PIE IN SKY

MEANING: A promise of heaven, while continuing to suffer in this life.

Of American origin and coined by Joe Hill 1911. He was a leading light of the radical labour organisation The Industrial Workers of the World - known as the Wobblies, writing many radical songs for them. The phrase appeared first in Hill's The Preacher and the Slave, which parodied the Salvation Army hymn In the Sweet Bye and Bye. The song, which criticized the Army's theology and philosophy, specifically their concentration on the salvation of souls rather than the feeding of the hungry, was popular when first recorded and remained so for some years.

The phrase wasn't taken up until the Second World War, when it began to be used figuratively to refer to any prospect of future happiness which was unlikely ever to be realized.

Now that you are reasonably informed as to the origin and use of the phrase,(many thanks to Google) I can say we in Opotiki daily experience varying degrees of heaven through landscape, location, affordability etc, etc, etc on an ongoing basis.

And for pie lovers like myself, AWARD WINNING PIES!




Just this week a local cafe won a gold medal for their steak and cheese pie.



Not bad for a first attempt at the coveted Bakels prize.




In Opotiki it's not a pi(p)e dream, you can realise future happiness, you can look at the sky, and as a bonus, have a darn good pie.

LETTING OFF STEAM

For those who are looking for little fire in their lives, 48kms out of Opotiki (seaward) is the majestic White Island (Whakaari). It's an active volcano that is constantly erupting, mainly steam although there has been ash and the odd rock chucked about.

The volcanic structure is thought to be 2 million years old while the volcano itself is a mere youngster at 100,000 - 200,000 years old.

In 1899 a sulphur phosphate factory was built and men risked life and limb operating the industry. Unfortunately, in 1914 ten lives were lost when a landslip went into the main crater and erupted with large mud flows. Not to be put off but the grumblings of mother nature at her warmest, another factory was built in 1928. By the 30's the island was becoming fairly active so the business was then closed down for good. Phew, imagine what it was doing to the lungs!



Even though it may be a fierce competitor, White Island is a sanctuary for gannet colonies and a very popular tourist spot.

Whether you are a budding vulcanologist, thrilled by the sight of something so dramatic in the ocean, down right curious or just want to let off steam, here it is.

TALKING RUBBISH

I may at times talk it, I may at times feel it, but here in Opotiki we treat it with the respect it deserves.

For some time now Opotiki has worked hard to minimise the amount of rubbish taken to the landfill (formerly known as 'the dump'). And, due to the introduction of the Waste Minisation Act 2008, Opotiki has now been rewarded for the reduction of waste going to the landfill.

The government has given us cash to get even better at it.

For some good while the district has tried to promote a zero waste policy. The Opotiki Resource Recovery Centre has sorted our trash into appropriate genre's of waste since 1998, and (she says with a tinge of pride) we were the first New Zealand council to take up the challenge of zero waste.






Not only does our council encourage us to think about our waste disposal, we have a group of people who have formed a Transition Town collective to address the depletion of the earth's natural resources. Their weekly column in the local newspaper offers all sorts of helpful informaton including how to become part of the TimeBank. Nothing to do with Dr Who and Timelords.

No matter what the degree of your rubbish, here in Opotiki we can sort it for you, our motto Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

DESIGN PARADIGM

Possibly more commonly known as Russian Nesting Dolls, Matryoshka are a set of dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside the other.
The Matryoshka principle is the metaphoric description of a design paradigm, meaning a single object that changes configuration.

I suppose therefore I could,very loosely,use the design paradigm term when describing the area in which I live. Whilst not an object, Opotiki can meet the definition of configuration inasmuchas there are shapes and aspects that are produced by the relative positioning of their parts.

I know that is definitely pushing the boundaries, but a little literary license is allowed.

We have buildings that are historic,with exteriors that belie interiors.

We have a harbour that appears and disappears.

We have an ocean that can be calm and quiet,and then as fierce and loud as thunder.

We have rivers that spawn whitebait that then become golden fritters.

We have soil that produce bountiful gardens.

Etc, etc, etc.

As we all know, nothing is exactly what it seems at first glance.

I believe Opotiki is a design paradigm of significant proportions, in all shapes and aspects, and metaphorically speaking.

HARBOURING WEALTH

The local wharf where many enjoy spending time dangling their lines, and catching kaimoana.



The Opotiki Harbour is in the local limelight this week.

It has been subject to a resource consent hearing lodged by the council for an all-weather harbour entrance at the mouth of the Waioeka River.

If consent is granted it is hoped that an aquaculture venture, the largest in New Zealand, will be one of the beneficiaries. Eastern Sea Farms,the mussel farm licence-holder, intended to begin a 2 -3 year commercial mussel trial later this year. If the trial is successful, commercial development, subject to having suitable harbour access improvements, will commence.

When anything as major as this anticipated project is planned, all affected parties and/or groups get to have a say on the effects of such a project.

Whilst there is the potential for the harbour development to transform our economy here in Opotiki, and that of the Eastern Bay, and perhaps even the wider Bay of Plenty, lots of other factors are to be considered. The plight of the endangered northern New Zealand Dotterels, is one of those factors. These birds nest on the sand spit and two other areas in Opotiki, and Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society is deeply concerned that a threatened species breeding site may be destroyed in the name of economic progress for a project with uncertain outcomes.

The aforementioned are only 2 of many factors being considered. And as is often the case it is about progress versus ecology.

What we are grateful for is the democratic system that allows for all parties to be heard, and knowing a decision will be based on all the information presented.

We know, whatever the outcome of this resource consent, there is a wealth associated with our harbour and district that is priceless.

Be it mussels or Dotterels, we are in a win, win situation.