The region’s favourite community rag since 1990
Historic Bridge to be Replaced
by the Rag Investigation Unit
Last month, the Rag received an email
from a resident in Waianakarua asking
us to find out more about a new bridge
proposed for Breakneck Road. A
letter sent from the council in April
was attached. The letter said that the
historic wooden bridge built in 1926 on
Breakneck Road over the Waianakarua
River is “beyond practicable repair” and
will soon be replaced by a new one. The
reader wondered if the new bridge would
have a pedestrian lane. It is one of the
popular swimming
holes “during the
summer among the
school kids.”
The Rag sent a
team to have a look
at the bridge as well
as asking questions
of the council. We
dis covere d t hat
consent was given
b y t h e Hi s t o r i c
Places Trust (HPT) in November 2009
for the 84 year old bridge to be replaced.
(Technically, the council did not need to
seek a consent from the HPT because the
bridge is not old enough to be of historic
value, but the council decided to ask for
consent anyway.) The last time the bridge
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 1
August 2010
was repaired was in 1980 when steel
supports were added and the decking
replaced.
The single lane wooden bridge
overlo oks a sig nif icant her it age
construction, Graves Dam. The dam
was constructed in c.1870 to harness the
power of the river to run a water wheel for
the Millhouse. The water wheel has long
gone, the Millhouse is now a hotel and
the dam wall has been altered to let the
water flow through. We wandered around
the bridge and the
dam. All we could
hear was the sound
of the river until a
huge logging truck
from the nearby
plantation forest
c ame dow n t he
road with its engine
roaring. It dwarfed
the bridge.
The new bridge
will be 4.75 metres wide, about 1.5
metres wider than the existing bridge,
according to Geoff Young from Waitaki
District Council, who is responsible for
the project. It will be a single lane like
the existing bridge, but will be made
of concrete with a flat deck. The design
continues on page 14
 Future of the Church to Be Discussed
Do we need the Hampden Presbyterian Church in our
community? Do you have any ideas for its future?
The whole community is invited for be kept in the community. We
a meeting to discuss need to pay attention
the future of to their on-going
the Historic survival.
Places listed C o m mu n i ty
Presbyterian members
Church as it are all invited
is no longer regardless of
required as a faith (if any).
worship centre The meeting
for the Maheno- will be held at the
Otepopo Parish. church on August 11 at
Some repair and 7.30pm.
maintenance is For any further
required for information
both church p l e a s e
and hall p h o n e
buildings Margaret
( s o m e on 4394180
money is or Joan on
available for 4394844.
this) if they are to
hamraki rag
The Hamraki Rag is a community paper published on the first Wednesday of every month
by the Hamraki Media for the area between Shag Point to Herbert including Hampden and
Moeraki, Te Waka o Aoraki of New Zealand. 415 copies are home delivered in the area while
extra copies are available from the library, Hampden Motors, Hilltop store, Toby’s Fresh Fish
in Hampden, Moeraki Tavern, Herbert Service Station, and Oamaru public library.
The Rag welcomes submissions. Write to us at 70 Norwich St, Hampden, 9410. Electronic
copy can be forwarded to hamrakirag@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit the submission
for clarity and for style. Please keep the format of your submission as plain as possible. The
cut off date is the 20th of each month.
All the pictures are taken by our staff photographer, Bent Jansen, unless otherwise stated.

Hamraki Rag is published and printed by Hamraki Rag, Hampden.

2 Hamraki Rag August 2010
Putting the Boat to Bed
by Rachel Welton
Coming home each night to our own bed
The last few months of life aboard ‘Carpe
and cosy wood-burning fire was quite
Diem’, our English narrowboat, have
surreal in the middle of London, but
swirled away down the canal and we
extremely pleasant.
have had to say our sad goodbyes until
The next part of the trip was perhaps
the next trip. She is safely moored at her
the most exciting so far – onto the
berth in the small marina at Hoo Mill in
mighty Thames itself from Brentford up
the Midlands, being well looked after by
to Oxford. The first part is tidal, and we
friends while we attend to the neglected
had prepared conscientiously with tide
garden and our ‘real’ life in Hampden.
tables, life-jackets and friendly chats to
Our last big trip, in March and April,
the river master. It can be a bit tricky
was down the Grand Union canal past
at times but we had a day of glorious
Birmingham, Coventry and Milton
spring weather and shared the river with
Keynes to the big smoke of London. Once
boats large and small, all ‘mucking about’
the wide canal was a frantic highway
and enjoying themselves. The hardest
of huge economic importance to the
part was avoiding all the rowers. It was
industrialists of 18th century England,
fantastic to arrive at Hampton Court
loud with jostling boatmen; now it is a
Palace by boat and moor up in the same
secret, almost forgotten, green corridor
spot as Henry the Eighth and Anne would
which passes through huge towns as if in
have done in the 16th century. Again, we
a parallel universe. Instead of the madness
stayed the night right outside the palace,
of the motorway there are old parks and
gratis. Some other places along the river
green woods, disused gravel pits full of
did charge, though, as most of the bank
wildlife, derelict mills, black and white
is private land. The rent at Eton was
locks and humpbacked bridges. I kept
collected by a very gentlemanly bursar
looking for signs of the approaching
as the sun went down one night.
mega city, but we cruised right into
The river was beautiful in the early
the heart of London cocooned in this
spring, with lots of flowers out in the
unreal world. After two weeks of daily
gardens of the rich and
travel we tied up in
famous and kingfishers,
Little Venice, near the
coots, swans, grebes
entrance to Paddington
and moor hens busily
station. This is a terrific
nesting. I think I
mooring – you can stay
even saw an otter one
for three weeks free of
morning. There were
charge and pop out
many boats moored,
daily to see the sights.
continues on page 12
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 3
pr a c t i c a l l o c a l a c t i o n s ( 3 ) :
l i f e w i t h a w o o d bu r n e r
by Bruce Parker coal or diesel. And while these burners
You would really have to wonder why are the top of the range they were way
it is that the Australians make better outside the price we wished to spend and
woodburning multi purpose ovens than are very large units, more useful to heat
the New Zealanders do. Multi purpose large family homes.
being the ability to achieve as many So after much looking around at
functions as possible from a single energy available burners we found the Nectre
source. Bakers Oven at a cost of $2000 in 2007.
We had a small 50 square metre They are now about $4000 including
relocatable house which was to be used wetback but without the flue kit which
as a temporary home on a rural site you can get through a plumber.
until we had time to build something We installed it on a raised tile hearth
more suitable. The house and site had over a timber floor and had a plumber
no electricity, so the burner had to have fit the water connections to a hot water
many functions, be able to heat our water, cylinder that was also dual purpose as it
have a cook top surface, have an oven and had solar thermal heating connections.
be able to heat the house all effectively Practical experience and three years
from the one piece of wood, be of solid of use have shown the following points
steel or cast iron construction and at a of interest. It will easily heat a space of up
reasonable price. to 100 sq. metres or
We had already more in a straw bale
decided it had to house. It will keep
be carbon neutral you in hot water. You
so wood was the can do all of your
obvious choice and it cooking, it’s great for
was possible to ‘grow slow food, and you
your own’ giving can dry your clothes
a degree of energy or food on racks
independence. positioned above.
Typically Best of all there’s no
European homes power bill, although
have been using it uses about 12 cubic
burners such as the metres of wood per
Aga achieving these year.
requirements for Because we were
years, however they using it as our sole
were often fueled by source of energy it
Photo reprinted from Nectre’s website
continues on page 15
4 Hamraki Rag August 2010
 community info
Hampden Library
Hours: 2 to 4pm (Thursdays)
2 to 4pm (Fridays)
10am to12 noon (Saturdays)
Landfill Transfer Station
Hours: 8.30am to 12.30pm
(Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
Medical Services
(Dr. McKirdy)
Thursday between 2.30pm
and 4.30pm at the hall
Phone: 4394 625 (for appointment)
Emergency and after
hours: 4651 444
Hampden Motors
Hours: 7.30am to 5.30pm weekdays
8am to 12 (Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays
Phone: 4394 086
Toby’s Fish
Hours: 11am-6pm,
Wednesday through Monday
(closed on Tuesdays)
Thought about advertising locally?
Please contact us to book advertising
space in the Rag. Our rates are:
• $20 A5 page
• $10 1/2 A5 or business card
Discount or waiver of the above
fees may be available for non-
commercial community events.
All classified ads are free.
Deadline: 20th of the month.
hamrakirag@gmail.com or 4394 511
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 5
Hampden Super Store
second-hand shop
H o u r s : 12.30pm to 5pm ( Most
Fridays)
10.30am to 5pm (Satur day and
Sunday)
Phone: 4394 802
Lockies Takeaways
Hours: 11am to 7pm (Monday
to Thursday, maybe closed
between 2 and 4pm)
11am to 7.30pm (Friday to Sunday)
Phone: 4394 744
Hampden Mechanical
Hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm (except
on Wednesdays and Sundays)
Closed for lunch between
noon and 1pm
Phone: 4394 646
85 Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin.
Eight minutes drive from the Octagon.
Studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom
units from $95/night.
Self contained apartment unit
available for long term rental.
Group bookings for sports
clubs & fans (sleeps up to nine
people) with discount rates.
Handy to Dunedin, Edgar Centre,
Carisbrook and Forbury Park.
Website: http://www.dunedinmotel.co.nz/
Email: arcadian@ihug.co.nz
Freephone: 0508 272 234
Phone: 03 455 0922
FAX: 03 455 0237
Social Soup Evening
The second social soup evening was
well attended with several visitors from
Herbert as well as locals. Once again a
wide variety of soups were on offer and
there were wide ranging conversations
held. To date the soups have been really
tasty with samples of tomato, variations
of pumpkin, leek and potato, vegetable,
turnip, blue cheese and broccoli and the
surprisingly named sunshine soup.
Another session is planned on Friday
August 6 at 6pm at the hall’s souper
room. Hopefully more of the newer
residents will be able to come along.
Look forward to meeting you there.
Bring some soup and bread (or $3/
head ) and your best mood. Bring the kids
along too if babysitters are a problem.
Any queries ring Elizabeth Norton on
4394 887or Annette Selwood on 4393 160.
Recipe for
"Sunshine Soup"
(courtesy of Annette Selwood.)
1 pint of chicken stock
1 potato
1 onion
1 apple
1 heart of celery or a leek
1 ripe banana (not too ripe)
1 tsp butter
1 tsp curry powder
1 cup of top milk or evaporated milk
Cook vegetables and fruit in the
chicken stock (or in a pint of water
flavoured with 1 ½ or 2 chicken
stock cubes). Blend or sieve the
cooked vegies. Add the milk,
butter and curry powder. Serve hot
sprinkled with chopped parsley.

M i ni b a l e s of hay lag e
Meadow grass wrapped in convenient 30-
40kg bales.
Ideal for lifestyle farmer.
Horses, cattle, sheep and alpacas love it.
Quality guaranteed.
$16/bale.
Available from Hampden Motors and CRT
Oamaru.
Ring 4395211 for further information.
6 Hamraki Rag August 2010
Mayoral Musings for August
by Alex Familton, Waitaki District Mayor
Greetings to you all. Trust you are
comfortable in the middle of winter.
• Climate Change
The threat of climate change has
been examined by the Dunedin City
Council – particularly with respect
to low lands near the coast. They
have identified areas where flooding
and erosion are possible and have
produced a booklet on possible
threats, particularly with rising sea
levels. Peter Chin has been happy
to share the information with Waitaki
District Council which shares similar
problems. Depending on the number
of requests I may be able to get you
a copy. Coastal erosion, flooding and
weather extremes are realities of the
future.
• Graves Bridge
I have alerted staff at Waitaki
District Council to the local interest
in the replacement of Graves Bridge,
Waianakarua. The safety of the old
bridge and its state of disrepair mean
that it will need to be replaced. I
understand the Rag is publishing the
intended plan in this edition. A local
group from the Lions have taken an
interest in retrieving the bridge parts
for reuse or preservation.
• Big Seas
The beach from Moeraki to
Hampden lost a depth of sand about
two weeks ago. I have never seen the
beach so bare and rocky. Cliffs all the
way are freshly scoured and eroded.
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 7
The Hampden end has particularly
eroded and will need protection if we
are to retain trees and road. The old
dump site is not yet stable and has
proved to be difficult to rehabilitate.
• Haven Street in Moeraki
The Haven Street area has moved
more recently. In fact the whole
hillside has shown that it has areas
which continue to move. We should
not be surprised, as it has moved
since records have existed in the
area. Potential costs to fix Haven
Street have increased. We will need
to bring back more information to
the community before taking further
steps.
• Rates
We were pleased to note that we
achieved the smallest rate rise (2.6%)
of any Otago local authority. However
there is still a lot we can do to be
more efficient. I acknowledge the
contribution made by the Waihemo
Community Board, chaired by Rod
Philip and supported by Councillor
Kathy Dennison and Board members
Diane Curtis, Ken Brown, Rick
Haaima and Ken Wheeler. They have
supported moves to reduce costs. I
recognise and thank them for their
work. A great team!
Want to ask questions of
Alex and other mayoral
hopefuls? See page 15.
 Students show off wearable art

Hampden school wearable art presentation was held on

Thursday July 1 in the Hampden Hall
students spoke well
Ben, Omni, Kate and Nikita represented Hampden
School well in the rural schools' public speaking
competition. The competition was strong as they
were competing against the best speakers from
the other rural schools and speaking in a formal
setting in front of a large audience of adults and
children. Kate won her section of the evening with
an entertaining speech on the merits or otherwise
of homework. Well done Ben, Omni and Nikita.
You all were worthy school representatives.
Congratulations Kate.
(Photos on this page supplied by the school.)

Everything printed here appears on our website as it arrives,

in full colour, with clickable links and in searchable form at
Hamrakirag.blogspot.com.

8 Hamraki Rag August 2010

Midwinter Celtic Service
by Jennifer Black
On Sunday 20 June an ecumenical
candlelight service was held at St Stephens
to celebrate midwinter. The church
looked beautiful in the warm glow of
the candles and appropriate greenery,
and the service highlighted the reflective
nature of the winter season. Gifts for the
Foodbank in Oamaru were donated and
the retiring collection also went to that
very good cause. Bernard Wilkinson
was there to receive these gifts and spoke
glowingly of the generosity of the area.
After the service, those present gathered
in the adjoining hall to socialise over
mulled wine and nibbles. An excellent
way to spend a chilly winter evening.
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 9
eco house tour
The trip outlined last month to visit
the properties of Andy and Sue
Barratt, and Murray Grimwood and
Jennie Upton (both a bit south of
Waikouaiti) is all go. You will see all
manner of cunning ways to make
your life simpler and less exposed to
the whims of the economy and big
monopolies like power companies.
Murray estimates that if all the
households in New Zealand ran on
the amount of electricity he uses,
we'd only need one penstock of
Benmore Dam. We are still exploring
the possibility of visiting one other
property down that way on the same
trip.
Treat yourself to a fun social day
out with your community and learn
heaps at the same time.
The trip takes place on Saturday
August 14. The bus departs from the
Hampden Hall at 9.15am and returns
there about 4.30pm. It costs $15 per
head to cover the bus hire. You need
to bring your own lunch, drink, warm
clothing and weatherproof footwear,
camera and notebook. Reserve your
place with the Nortons on 439 4887 or
the MacTavishes on 439 4824.
FA G
This month's FAG night
will appreciate the noted
Brazilian film from 1959,
Black Orpheus, on August 5.
Ring 439 4887 to be invited.
Moeraki Bayview Ltd
For a great electrician - prompt, profes-
sional, local service, competitive pricing

Registered accredited supplier and in-

staller of

Fujitsu heat pumps

New Zealand’s favourite air

For all your electrical services

Contact Peter
104 Haven Street
Moeraki
Ph:439 4550
Mobile:021 20 69053
Email:pe.ia@clear.net.nz

10 Hamraki Rag August 2010

 tribute to our proud volunteer

Nestle periodically invites suggestions from residents as to who should

be honoured as a volunteer worker within the community. Mrs Colleen
Dooley was nominated by the Hampden community, and although she
did not win one of the hampers Nestle had on offer, she received a
voucher for some of the company’s products.
Well done Colleen, and don’t work too flamin’ hard.

MOERAKI SERVICES LTD

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Freeview Satellite Receivers for Sale
Dish Model 7010 ….$145
Strong Model 4300…$185.
This unit is a PVR (Personal Video
Recorder) model. By adding a USB memory stick or
computer hard drive this box becomes a video recorder.

Full Freeview TV Installation from dish to receiver

and connected to your TV…. from $475
And don’t forget I stock Philips energy efficient bulbs.
Moeraki Services Limited
Phone Dave on 4394259
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 11
Putting the Boat to Bed
continued from page 3
but you could count on the fingers of one
hand the boats actually moving each day, so
apart from the rowers we mostly had the river
to ourselves, hard though that is to believe.
Once past Oxford we were off the
river and onto the Oxford canal, which
meanders through typically pretty
English countryside and cute villages
until it meets up with the Grand Union
again near Coventry, and we were nearing
home - another two weeks of travel.
Once we were back we took Carpe
Diem up to Stone, a small town about
seven miles from our mooring, which in
the early days of canal building was a hive
of activity. It still has the original 250-year
old dry docks in daily use, and here we
stayed for a week, scraping and ‘blacking’
the hull and painting the sides and front
a shiny dark blue. When she was back
in the water we hardly recognised our
previously battered and travel worn
home; she looked like a new boat. We
cruised back to Hoo Mill using all our
skill to avoid scratches!
So now she will sit, through the
rest of the hot summer, then autumn
and winter until we return for another
meander along the quiet water roads
of Britain. We owe a great debt to those
original navigators or ‘navvies’, who built
the canals and the later enthusiasts who
saved them from dereliction when others
would have filled them in, thinking them
outmoded and useless. Fortunately most
canals are still there today, providing the
perfect way to explore a unique part of
England’s history.
12 Hamraki Rag August 2010
From the Library Shelves
So many new things are happening
this month at your library.
We have started a CD collection.
There are new curtains. We have
some beautiful new children’s picture
books. My favourite is The Gruffalo.
We’ve got the latest issue of Organics
NZ magazine and new books on
beekeeping, making compost,
different uses of native plants,
pottery and Hilary Mantel’s Booker
Prize-winning Wolf Hall. There are
new novels, including a great new
selection from Oamaru library.
Do you remember Penny Huber,
the wife of the teacher at Waianakarua
school about 15 years ago? Since
then, as Penelope Todd, she’s written
several books for young adults,
and two for adults. We have her
autobiographical account Digging for
Spain in the library at the moment,
and I’m thoroughly enjoying its gentle,
self-deprecating humour and probing
honesty. Highly recommended.
Preschool Group
Anyone?
The Board of Trustees (BOT) at
Hampden school have decided to
investigate at its June meeting whether
there is enough interest in setting up
a preschool group based at school.
Parents with preschoolers are
encouraged to register their interest
by contacting BOT member
Liz Stevenson on 4394646 or
Hampden School on 4394603.

Soup and Saveloy
by Lyn Clearwater
There was a good attendance on June
24 for the Soup and Saveloy Luncheon
held at the Bowling Club, at the June
get together of the Hampden Senior
Citizens.
With the addition of bread, butter and
lots of Watties tomato sauce, tummies
were filled. When the time came for dishes
to be dried plenty of members put their
hands up to relieve those already in the
kitchen. The luncheon was followed by
an excellent speaker. Diane Curtis spoke
of her involvement with Civil Defence in
the Waihemo area. She enlightened us
about some of the problems that had
occurred during the recent flooding. She
also spoke to us about the importance of
having a getaway emergency kit handy
and ready in case of evacuation. As
well as the usual items such as food,
water, a change of clothes, torch and
important papers, as senior citizens we
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 13
must be aware of and have ready any
medications that are of importance to
us. The afternoon ended pleasantly with
afternoon tea.
Women’s Meeting
The Waianakarua Women's Institute
will meet at the Waianakarua Hall
on August 17. We will begin at
10.30 am with morning tea, then a
meeting followed by a shared lunch
and a speaker in the afternoon. New
members welcome. Contact Joy
Larkins 4394 377.
AGM on Sept 13
Hampden Community Energy Inc. will
hold its annual general meeting on
September 13 at the hall. The meeting
will start at 7pm and there will be a
guest speaker. A light supper will be
served. Further details will be in the
next edition of the Rag. Please note
this date on your calendar now.
 Dance like
Historic bridge
continued from page 1

Zumba!
shows no pedestrian or bicycle lane.
Construction was due to begin in
June or July, but it has been delayed. This
is because a portion of the road and the
bridge may be on private property and
this needs to be surveyed and clarified
to fit into the specifications of resource
consent. This is expected to be all cleared
and construction should begin during
“this calendar year.”
Some residents have expressed anxiety
about the changes and they have not
been informed about the nature of the
delay. Their anxiety is partly because they
have to use alternative roads during the
construction period, which the WDC
Exercise dance expects to take 16 weeks.
classes starting The April letter offered the residents
the use of a temporary bridge and an
Thursday 19th August alternative route via Reid Road and
the Road Metals Ltd gravel pit. If that
at the Hampden Hall should be flooded they would be directed
at 6.45pm. to the highway via Middle Ridge and
Mount Misery Roads. Some residents
we spoke to are concerned about the
condition of the roads, especially when
$30 for 10 classes wet. Those roads may not look drivable
or $5 per person per now, but residents are assured that, by
the time construction begins they will
night. be “sufficiently trafficable.” Geoff Young
wants to reassure residents who may find
No partner needed. opening and closing gates on the forestry
roads difficult that they will not need to
deal with any closed gates.
If you have any further questions, please
Phone 439 4761 or forward them to the Council or the Rag. If
there are any public issues you would like us to
439 4440. investigate, do not hesitate to contact the Rag.
14 Hamraki Rag August 2010
what do you want to life with a wood burner
continued from page 4
ask them? was used mornings and evenings and on cold
We are going to elect a new mayor on October
9. The incumbent mayor Alex Familton has
announced already that he is going to stand
again, and other candidates have also come
forward.
Mainstream media will quiz those
candidates about where they stand on the
economy, tourism, roading, Laura Norder
and all the other usual questions. The Rag
wants to ask them what you, the local voters,
really want to know. It could be education,
childcare, bikeways, public transport, climate
change and peak oil, how keen they are to
support the skate park, or anything.
Write to us, send us emails, send us your
pigeons, and let us know what you really want
to ask those mayoral hopefuls. We will put the
questions to them on your behalf.
JACQUI DEAN
MP for Waitaki
Please phone or e-mail my office for an
appointment with me or talk to my staff.
42 Thames St, Oamaru.
Phone 03 434 7325 or 0800 6792 48254.
E-mail: waitaki.mp@parliament.govt.nz,
www.jacquidean.co.nz
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 15
days all day. It has good air control allowing
heat control to the oven and cook top. We
used a range of trivets made from bent wire
of differing thicknesses to sit pots on the
cook top. This is effectively fine tuning your
heat control.
Radiated and conducted heat is a pleasant
form of heat.
It’s worth using energy dense wood such
as blue gum which lasts so much longer. We
make sure it is stored a year in advance so
that it is really dry.
It also helps if you have someone in the
household who gets up at 5am, like myself, to
make the fire up and have everything warm
by the time more normal people arise. So if
you’re really looking for energy efficiency the
Nectre Bakers Oven is as good as it gets.
If you want to talk about it or see it in
action then ring me on 4395 602.
Garden Notes from
Exquisite Blooms
Vegetable gardens can benefit
immeasurably from the addition of
organic matter. This cannot be stressed
enough and leads to the free friable
soil that is required for good vegetable
production. Humus is derived from
decaying vegetable matter, rotting
animal manure and green crops.
Humus can be incorporated any time
of the year and should be dug in to
a depth of about 30cm. It produces
helpful bacteria which in turn aid the
release of nutrients to the plants.
Large quantities of humus produce
a fibrous texture which helps retain
moisture.
The Rag in transition
It has been twelve months since the Rag
went through a significant makeover. As
you may have noticed we have introduced
a fresh look, more professional editing
and production process and at the same
time relaunched our online edition. These
efforts were undertaken as a result of a
business analysis we did on the Rag.
The Rag has been almost single
handedly produced by Graeme Youngman
since he took it over from the founding
publisher Sue Sheet during Christmas
2006. It has been taxing work for Graeme
and has also cost him a considerable
amount of money.
When the current team became
involved we decided it would be best to
phase out the printed edition. We could
not afford to continue publishing it in
its current format. We needed to boost
advertising revenue and find other
revenue sources to pay for the printing
(which is the biggest cost) in the short
term while we encouraged readers to
shift to the online version. We tentatively
agreed to aim at publishing online only
and to phase out the printed edition
within three years.
Twelve months on, even though the
printed Rag is attracting some more
advertisers (thank you), the revenue is
nowhere near enough to cover expenses.
16 Hamraki Rag August 2010
We have discussed various fund raising
ventures, but none so far would bring in
enough to cover the ongoing costs.
The online edition is meanwhile
steadily increasing its readership since
being launched July last year. Even
though it does not look very flash, we
decided to use the blog platform for the
ease of updating. We have had more than
1000 visits with 3000 page views since
the visit count metre was installed in
November.
We are entering the second year of
transition. If the Rag’s finances do not
improve, we will have to stop producing
the print version sooner than we
anticipated and publish solely online. Or
we might have to introduce a subscription
for those who still want a print edition.
We will keep the community informed
about what is happening to the Rag. We
assure you that in whatever form it takes,
the Rag will remain your local media.
In the meantime, we will happily accept
advertising, donations, contributions and
support. For those who have not had a
chance to read the Rag online, please have
a look and familiarise yourselves with it.
For those who do not have an internet
connection, drop in at the Hampden
library and use the computer there.
More immediately, the submission
deadline for the September printed issue
is August 15, as Graeme and Carolyn are
going on a well deserved holiday later in
the month. We would like to deliver the
edition around August 25. There is no
deadline for the online edition, so write
to us anytime.
 Hampden Market
The fourth Saturday of each month is the regular
market, with stalls inside and outside the hall. Reports
say that this is one of the best markets around.
Local stall holders have a great array of goods, and
you will see your friends and neighbours while looking
out for that interesting, just what you wanted bargain.

The market is on August 28 from 9.30 am to 12.30pm.

Plan to be there for a cuppa, with the funds
going to local community groups. See you there.

Small Bytes Computing

Software and hardware including computers,
printers and faxes for sale at competitive prices.

Service and repair by experienced local

and mobile expert serviceman.

3 Otepopo St, Herbert

ph: 03 4395197/ 0274358983
email: jwing@sbytes.co.nz
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 17
18 Hamraki Rag August 2010
Hamraki Tr a d i n g
Work wanted Part time or casual,
please ring Aiden on 4394434.
LEARN to play piano Experienced
teacher. Reasonable rates, all levels,
any age, but must be keen learners.
439 4599
Desk lamp for sale On pivot
arms, 1 on a base, 1 on a clamp. $10
each Phone 4394259
Stockfood for sale Mini bales
of haylage. Meadow grass wrapped
in convenient 30-40kg bales. Ideal for
lifestyle farmer. Horses, cattle, sheep and
alpacas love it. Quality guaranteed. $16/
bale. Available from Hampden Motors
and CRT Oamaru. Ring 4395211 for
further information.
Extractor fan for sale
250mm ceiling mount domestic extractor
fan, new, $25 Phone 4394259
Everything is free Metal oil
drums, metal display stands, plastic
seeding trays, computer monitors,
computer hard drives, metal light fittings,
road markers, wooden racks, small
plastic trays and many more. All items
are free, which means you don’t have
to pay a cent. See complete listing at
www.resourcewaitaki.co.nz. Contact
Maxine on 0210 223 1115/03434 0999
or maxine@resourcewaitaki.co.nz.
Fluoro lights Single and double
fluorescent lights, some without tubes.
Free to take away. 4394259
August 2010 Hamraki Rag 19
post
housebus craft Locally crafted
gifts for all occasions including wooden
toys, native timber pens, stained glass
suncatchers, saffron and lavender herbal
creams, herb and lavender plants. See
us at the Hampden market or call 021
702916 to visit us at home.
Knapsack spray Brass high
pressure Fynspray knapsack sprayer.
Quality. $50.00. 4395 137
gentle annie Washing machine,
older model, needs repair as it has
stopped working $20. 4394259
project band saw I have a motor,
and an old base for a band saw but no
saw blade band. Suit cutting thinner
timber, i.e. for toys $15 Ph 4394259
YOUR AD HERE FOR FREE Contact
us for free ‘Classifieds’ in this page and
Hamrakitrading.blogspot.com.
String trimmer Virtually new
McCulloch 100 HRD string trimmer,
complete with all accessories. Excellent
order. $60.00 Ph 4395 137
Aluminium windows In “Rivergum”
colour with 32mm wood grain surround
in very good order. Rebated for gib
board, 2 to choose from. 1210mm deep
by 1880mm wide with openings and
1050mm by 630mm bathroom window
with obscure glass and opening. Ph
4394259
isolation transformer 2000
watt, $50 Phone 4394259
 community calendar for August
Monthly FAG gathering
What: Black Orpheus
When: Thursday August 5 at 7.30pm
Contact: 4394 887
Social Soup
When: August 6 at 6pm
Where: The Hall, souper room
Contact: 4394160 or 4394 887
(see page 6 for more details)
Sunday Service at St John’s
When: August 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 10am
Where: St John’s at Herbert
Gathering at St Stephens
When: Sundays on August 8, 15, 22 and
29 at 4pm
Where: St Stephens on Ipswich
Taichi Classes
What: Exercise for mind and body
When: Mondays on August 9, 16, 23 and
30 at 11.30am
Where: The Hall
Cost: $30 for the term or $5 casual
Future of Presbyterian Church
What: Public meeting
When: August 11, 7.30pm
Where: Presbyterian Church
(see page 2 for more details)
Eco House Bus Tour
When: August 14, 9.15am - 4.30pm
If you have any events, classes, workshops,
garage sales, parties, anything,
inform the Rag so that the whole community knows.
20 Hamraki Rag August 2010
Departs and returns at the Hall
Cost: $15
Contact: the Nortons on 439 4887 or the
MacTavishes on 439 4824.
(see page 9 for more details)
Patchwork Group
When: August 16, 10am-3pm
Where: Waihemo Tavern
Contact: 4394 616 or 4394625
Waianakarua Women’s Institute
When: August 17 at 10.30am
Where: Waianakarua Memorial Hall
Contact: Joy Larkins on 4394 377
Dance like Zumba
What: Exercise dance classes
When: August 19 and 26 at 6.45pm
Where: The Hall
Contact: 4394 440 or 4394 761
(see page 14 for more details)
Seniors Go Tenpin Bowling
When: August 26, 11am - 3pm
Where: Galleon, Oamaru
Contact: Jack Lyford 4394 042
Hampden Market
When: August 28, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Where: The Hall
It is time for the regular fourth Saturday of
the month super community market full of
bargains. Stroll over and see your friends
and neighbours, have a cuppa and soak up
the community atmosphere.