We braved the rain and wind on Saturday 20 June to plant native trees and shrubs behind the Playcentre on Silverstream Road .

We still have more plants to get in.

The Bell’s Track Working Group needs volunteers to help plant native trees up Bell’s Track during the winter.

Can you can spare a morning or afternoon on a Saturday, or possibly a weekday?  If so, come and help beautify the area.

Since 2001, volunteers and Wellington City Council have been planting trees, weeding and upgrading Bell’s Track, which is a short track to the Skyline Walkway.

If you would like to be involved, the group would love to hear from you.

Please phone Margaret Foden: 479 2487

People who have just had a heart attack in Ngaio Village are now a lot safer,  thanks to a defibrillator kindly donated to the Medical Centre by Wellington North Rotary.

A defibrillator greatly increases the chances of survival if used within the first few minutes of a heart attack - and is much more effective than CPR alone. It is easy and fast to operate and can be used while waiting for the ambulance to come.

Wellington North Rotary Club President Jeremy presents a defibrillator to Ngaio Medical Centre. President Jeremy and Dr Joelon Hayes are holding the defibrillator. Jeremy is standing between Richard Allan of Ngaio Pharmacy and Dr Denis Delaney.

The defibrillator will be housed and maintained by the Ngaio Medical Centre.

Doctors at the medical centre have sent notices to local businesses asking if their staff would like training on how to use the defibrillator. St. John’s Ambulance trainers will conduct these free sessions.

For further information and/or donations please contact:

Ngaio Medical Centre, telephone: 939 9393

Ngaio Progressive Association members planned to weed the the area behind the Playcentre on Silverstream Road  on 6 June from 10:00 am.  However, the event was cancelled.

We will plant shrubs there during July or August.

Nairnville Park’s new $900,000 artificial sports surface opened on 4 April.  It will mainly be used for rugby and football, though it can be used for other sports.

“The new turf will put an end to years of poor drainage and muddy conditions,” said Wellington City Councillor John Morrison.  ” People were understandably frustrated at the impact last winter’s weather had on outdoor sports but now we can use this pitch 365 days a year which provides certainty for sports codes.”

Read more: Wellington City Council news, 31 March 2009

There are over 8,000 registered dogs in Wellington, according to the Wellington City Council.  And they need places to run around off the leash.

The Council is reviewing its  Dog Control Policy.  A draft paper of suggested  changes will go out for public consultation in June.

One proposal is for five new dog exercise areas - including Chelmsford Reserve in Ngaio. Another is for dog owners  to have to carry a dog poo receptacle when they are walking their dogs.

Read more: Wellington City Council news, 1 May 2009

Local chemist Alan Fraser has now retired after 49 years at the pharmacy.  Ngaio Progressive Association joined him for a farewell morning tea at  at Cafe Villa.

Alan has always supported community meetings and proposals which have helped to make Ngaio the thriving community that it is.

He has also taken a personal interest in the maintenance of the village shops, and created the car park to help shoppers.

Retiring Ngaio chemist Alan Fraser's farewell morning tea at Cafe Villa.

Despite the rain, thousands of people grabbed their raincoats on 4 February and walked along  the railway line between Crofton Downs and Wadestown.

On Track organised the walk for the general public before reopening the Johnsonville line. The major work on the line is finished.  The tunnels are lower, the platforms longer and the embankments stronger.

Read more about the walk on Greater Wellington’s website.

Photographs by Hilary Troup:

Working on the line

Walking in the rain

Walking the line

In the tunnel

On Sunday July 13 2008 an enthusiastic team of about 20 local residents planted over 200 Council-provided trees and shrubs either side of the Silver Stream at the back of the Play Centre in Silverstream Road. The area is adjacent to the Dog Exercise area so it was appropriate that a few local dogs also joined in the fun. Now we can all enjoy watching the plants grow and seeing the beautiful bush extend right down to the stream.

A photo gallery is below.

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Rainbow coloured dolphins on the railway underpass near the Ngaio town hall are a surprise for passers by. The mural is part of an OnTrack, Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Resene anti-tagging project.

Alan and Gill Curtiss put the finishing touches to the dolphins on Collingwood Street underpass.