This year we have already had some fun programmes under way, and one of them is working with Wellington City Council to encourage less use of cars around Ngaio and Crofton Downs. This programme promoted public transport or active modes such as walking or cycling.

The social bike tours to build confidence and skills to travel safely and efficiently by paihikara (bike), while getting to know the bike improvements in Ngaio were part of this programme.

We are also aiming to get as much input from our locals to make a map that shows interesting places to visit when walking and cycling around Ngaio and Crofton Downs. There is now a ‘new rider’ flyer available – follow this link to add your suggestions and ideas: Climate Action Info Hub. 

Ealry in this project we asked residents to fill in a survey, and had around 200 replies – so clearly a topic that many ewre prepared to get involved in.

Now its time for a final evaluation survey for this project, which will show us if there has been any change in habits. So again we are asking everyone to please jump onto a quick survey, to give the project team good evaluation data. Ngaio and Crofton Downs Post-Project Survey

Remember too, a responsive and enthusiastic community makes it easier for us to gain support to help make future projects happen.

This year we have some exciting programmes under way (more to come), and one of them is working with Wellington City Council to encourage less use of cars around Ngaio and Crofton Downs, and getting into public transport or active modes such as walking or cycling.

Have you seen our post a couple down, (Ngaio guided bike rides) about the social bike tours to build confidence and skills to travel safely and efficiently by paihikara (bike) while getting to know the bike improvements in Ngaio.

Part of this work aims to find as many of our best places to visit when walking and cycling around Ngaio and Crofton Downs. We may be using these spots for future activities.

So, we would love you to follow this link – Walking and cycling map, which takes you to a local map on WCC’s website where you can pin a location with a brief note about why it is one of your best places. Its worth visiting – just to see what other people think!

The Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association in conjunction with the Onslow Historical Society are celebrating 100 years since the opening of the Ngaio Town Hall in August 1925. We are hosting an Afternoon Tea on Sunday 3 August at 2pm. All Welcome.

The Council of the day didn’t have the money to fund the building of a public hall in Ngaio, so under pressure from the newly established Ngaio Progressive Association (the forerunner of today’s residents association) agreement was reached for a £5000 loan over 10 years to be repaid by an additional rates charge on Ngaio ratepayers.

The grand opening was on Saturday 1 August 1925 with a vaudeville concert and speeches from dignitaries including the Mayor, Charles Norwood.
Then the social and cultural life of Ngaio inhabitants and others really got underway and hasn’t stopped: fetes, fundraisers, dances, parties, weddings, films, lectures, sporting activities,musical events, concerts and shows.

Viv Chapple of the Joint Centenary Committee says “ The hall has formed a back note to people’s lives for a very long time. We’ve thought long and hard about how we can celebrate this achievement and so as well as the Afternoon Tea we are now fundraising to buy a Blue Plaque for the Hall. Blue Plaques are organised by Historic Places Aotearoa, and identify something special about the “place”.  Ngaio Town Hall is an ideal candidate to have the third plaque in Wellington after Randell Cottage in Thorndon and St Peter’s in Willis Street.  

We’re asking the hall’s community will get in behind the blue plaque, to recognise the Halls contribution to our community, by making a donation towards the cost of around $2500.

Donations should be made to the Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association account, number 12-3223-0086781-00. Please use Blue Plaque as the reference, and you can put your name in particulars.

See you at the Afternoon Tea, 3 August!”

Earlier this year, with Wellington City Council, we organised three guided bike rides – the last of which met up with our community ride and finished at the Ngaio Community picnic. Everyone I saw on the rides seemed to be enjoying themselves!! It appears that we had quite a few novice riders who appreciated the opportunity to grow their skill.

There is now a ‘new rider’ flyer available – which can be downloaded from the Climate Action InfoHub here: Climate Action Info Hub. There are some suggestions for local bike rides – but best of all there is the opportunity to put your local features or favourite spots on an interactive map.

We would love to have this map full of residents ideas and spots – so please follow the link above, and contribute to the map.

Help the Crofton Downs community plant 1000 native trees this Month.  With the Council purchase of the Girl Guide land next to Huntleigh Park in Crofton Downs, there is a fantastic chance to rehabilitate the old Girl Guide building site and nearby grassed area.

No previous experience required.  Bring gardening gloves, sturdy footwear and a small spade or grubber/mattock if you have one.

Instructions on how best to plant native seedlings will be provided. Thanks to WCC and adjoining landowners for supporting this effort to kick-start restoration of this area. 

When: 10am Sunday 18 and 25 May

Where: old Girl Guides Huntleigh Centre site, walk down the shared driveway next to the Ngaio Playcentre.

Looking for family-friendly activities in March in Ngaio / Crofton Downs area? Come down and join us at our open streets Community Picnic!- here’s the event page, with all the information that you will want: Ngaio Community Picnic Event

This year, it’s about getting around in our community – finding the secret gems only known to those who walk, run or bike around our beautiful places. 

The theme this year: Choose your own adventure

Travel to the picnic in sustainable transport fun

• 1.     Guided bike ride. Want to try out cycling on our beautiful Ngaio hills and new cycling infrastructure, but could use a little help? Join our guided bike ride with a hired e-bike and expert guides to teach you how. Starting from Switched-on Bikes at 9:30am, on the waterfront you will get e-bike hire for the whole day and ride up to Ngaio together, and end at the community picnic for some fun together. Register here – Welly on wheels Ngaio confidence skills for biking.

• 2.     Walking Scavenger Hunt. Our local artists at Sam’s Art House are putting together a special scavenger hunt for us all to learn more about the special hidden treasures we might only find walking and running around our beautiful neighbourhood. Start at Cummings Park anytime from 11:30 – 1:00 to pick up your free scavenger hunt pack and wander to the picnic the fun way – collecting treasures on the way and contributing to the community art activity at the picnic, all welcome and no registration needed. Event page here Scavenger Hunt Event
• 3.     Community fun bike ride. Kids and whānau all welcome to join us for a celebration of biking in Ngaio! Decorate your bike or dress up and join the kid-friendly bike ride from Cummings Park to Huntleigh. Meeting at 11:30 at Cummings park and all heading together for a half hour bike ride around Ngaio and to the picnic for fun and music. Event page here Community Bike Ride Event

All of these end up at our picnic – or you can just join us straight there!

• Flamingo bikes and scooters with giveaways and chances to try them out
• 🔧 Bring your broken bike down and Mobile Bikespace will help you get it back in action
• 👁️ Mountains to Sea running a kid friendly stream health monitoring workshop
• 🚉 Metlink and Council staff helping answer pātai/questions about sustainable transport options
• Community stalls, games 🏆prizes, live music, fire engine, BYO picnic!
• Scouts sausage sizzle and Ngaio playcentre open house and face painting.

Want to join the community group working to reduce emissions in Ngaio Crofton Downs? Join the Climate Crew today!

Before the March recycling day, I sent out messages saying that at the Ngaio Recycling Days, we are moving to only accepting tetrapaks which have been cut, opened flat and washed clean. Thank you to everyone who received the message and brought in flat contributions.

To transition to these tighter rules – I did accept cartons that not been cut open, and added those to the collection, after a quick slice to meet the recycling programme’s request. However this week when I dropped off at Earthlink, the tetrapaks were being inspected, and unfortunately the first box that I selected contained boxes that had old contents that were crusty or moldy, or still wet. My whole consignment of 28KG was therefore rejected and had to be brought home. The contamination reduces the quality of the end product, and adds unnecessary weight to transporting to the processing factory.

At home I went through all of the collection to sort out those which did not meet the recycling grade (see the recycling instructions in my next post above). Unfortunately around 4kg went to landfill – much because it was contaminated by other packs in the collection.

Can you tell which of the two packs above went to rubbish and which went back to Earthlink?

From the next collection therefore – we will only accept for recycling, those tetrapaks which come to us cut flat, clean, and dry.

And yes – the pack on the left is the model example of what we are looking for.