At the time of the Arts Trail, Shirley Petkau of the Kokopelli Art Studio told us to come back at Christmas time to get a picture of this succulent, which is endemic to eastern Brazil, in bloom; so we did, and this is it.

— according to wikipedia:

“This large terrestrial bromeliad was once classified as Vriesea imperialis but is now recognized as part of the genus Alcantarea. It can be found growing on rocky slopes in the Serra dos Órgãos in Rio de Janeiro. It can tolerate dry conditions and enjoys basking in the sunlight. Considered one of the giants of the genus, “its leathery leaves measuring 6 inches in width and 5 feet in length.”^[ It will take decades before flowering an imposing red inflorescence that reaches 6 feet in height. ”

full article

At least we think it’s Kotare. That street that leads west into the bush in the centre left could be Kapanui and the (at that time) cul-de-sac leading off it to the centre of the view may be Belevedere, which later turned west to be parallel to Kapanui.

A few years ago a certain local property businessman claimed that all the flat area in the centre of the view was bare pasture before the 1980s, but that clearly isn’t true. Some of it consisted of stands of native trees that survived the creation of agricultural land in the 19th and early 20th centuries. (Ray Russell pic)

In the Russell Reserve at the west end of Ngaio Road. Click the full view to see the murals.

A pohutukawa tree with seasonal blooms in the Mahara Place carpark and Kate Hartmann’s Christmas pyramid in the Beach Domain.

Lastly, three words from Mayor Guru:

And thanks to our contributors and many well-wishers. 

Apart from the huge rates increase for Waikanae people this year, general opposition to the intended changes to the Main Road has been the dominant local news; but on a positive note, the long awaited beginnings of improvements to the Town Centre have been welcome. 

Although frustration with the council (along with keeping an eye on what property developers do) was the reason we began this and remains the main raison d’etre, we prefer being positive rather than negative and fortunately there are plenty of good things about life in Waikanae to present.

The highlight of 2018 for us was overseas, though: our trip to Hawaii and Alaska during the middle of the year to look at conservation issues and local government.  We completed the Pacific coast theme with a drive from Washington state through Oregon to California. One place we stayed at in California was ravaged by a wildfire about 2 weeks after we left.

Next year sees the 3-yearly local elections in October which hopefully in Kapiti will result in several better new councilors and a new mayor!  There will be plenty of comment from us.

Have enjoyable, relaxing and safe holidays.

— your editors