Nelson news in brief: Nelson bands rock judges, tourism projects get ...

Joseph Harrison

The winners of the Nelson Rockshop Bandquest competition, Tempo, from Waimea Intermediate.

Tempo’s time

Waimea Intermediate band Tempo won the Nelson edition of the Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide live music competition for intermediate and primary students. In second place was Ahurei from Broadgreen Intermediate with Obsidian from St Joseph's School third. Princess from Ngatimoti School won the best original song, and Tiahomairangi Manawa-Pounamu Tawha from Ahurei won best vocalist. A total of 15 bands performed at the Theatre Royal on Monday night. Judge Reece Milton said there were so many talented bands that made it challenging as a judge. “It's great to see so many young people still passionate and performing music. Everyone that performed last night has a bright future in New Zealand music.” Almost 300 bands took part in events around the country, with the results of the online final to be announced on September 21.

Three Nelson City Council projects have received a combined $1.6 million in the most recent round of grants from the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The fund recognised the impact extreme weather events, such as in August 2022, had on local infrastructure and visitor numbers, and prioritised funding to help support communities to restore and upgrade tourism infrastructure to assist in their recovery. The three council projects that received funding are the Marina Promenade, receiving $1,130,066, the Montgomery Square Toilet Renewal, receiving $295,412 and Marsden Valley Trailhead Facilities, receiving $235,370. Mayor Nick Smith said the Marina Promenade fitted well with planned developments for additional boat berths and a new sea sports facility in Akersten St, and Nelson gaining port of entry status for international recreational vessels. “The visitor industry is vital to Nelson’s economy and has taken a huge hit through Covid. These investments in tourism infrastructure help in the recovery,” he said.

Twenty-four businesses have entered this year’s Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Chamber chief executive, Ali Boswijk said the number of award submissions was heartening. “I’d like to think we can see this as somewhat of a business barometer. Reflecting that despite ongoing challenges that are squeezing New Zealand businesses, locally there are still plenty who are navigating their way around and through these things, and are finding strength and confidence in the process.” The entries are: Apex Accounting, Boost Your Learning, Dancing Sands Distillery, Digitella Marketing, Esolar, Harvest Kitchen, Hybrid Bikes, Golden Bay Solar Farm/JB Hills, Keetrax, Kimer Med, Milestone Homes, Move Good Now, NZAW Ltd, OneFortyOne, Pete’s Natural, School Strike4 Climate Whakatu, Smart Business Centre, TBI Health, The Barden Party, The Cooper Group, The Food Factory Charitable Trust, Tim’s Garden, Transform Your Life Within, Under the Hood BBQ. The black-tie awards dinner will be held on Friday March 1 next year.

Supplied/Nelson Mail

A massive project to repair the badly damaged highway between Nelson and Blenheim after the August 2022 rain event has won a national award.

Two civil construction projects in Nelson have won national recognition. At the 44th Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards in Auckland, Fulton Hogan’s repair and upgrade of State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim won the national award for projects with a value of between $5m and $20m. The highway was damaged by intense rainfall in August 2022. A 120-strong labour force completed the project in record time,- just ahead of the Christmas holiday period. Judges congratulated Fulton Hogan, noting the meticulous planning and rapid completion of a project that would normally take 18 months. Water and pipeline business Interflow were highly commended in the category for projects with a value up to $2m for their project to reline an abandoned 1.1km sewage pipe through the Waimea Estuary. The project ensured the obsolete pipe could be reused and increasing Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit’s (NRSBU) sewerage handling capacity. Judges praised Interflow for their smart thinking and innovative approach, which they said saved NRSBU over $4m.