Hataitai Market - 3rd November - Repeat of Grow a Sunflower!

We are repeating the GROW a SUNFLOWER event along with the 3rd Nov Hataitai Market and we have a special guest!

When: Saturday 3rd November
Where: Hataitai Bowling Club, 157 Hataitai Road
Time: 10-1pm

Come and collect your free sunflower seeds, pot, soil and stakes. Growing instructions will be provided. We'll love to see your photos of your flowering sunflowers in February 2019. Register and we'll be in touch.

The Hataitai Market offers a wide range of items for sale. This month we are featuring Kirsty White. She is a Lyall Bay Artist... Sketched her way around the Wellington coastline and turning it all into beautiful framed works of art via the Printing Press.

We have some very talented stall holders who make our market so friendly.

Pop over and relax over a cuppa and buy some great Xmas presents. The green is now open for everyone to use and play on. The Community garden folk will be around. Plant your sunflower in the plots once they form seedlings if you wish. My September planted sunflowers have already grown 1 inch high!

For a stall contact Angela 021 491 106. Stall fees are really reasonable

Lyall Bay artist Kirsty White will be joining the Hataitai Market this month.

Some of Kelly’s amazing work.

Halloween at Hataitai Bowling Club

Come down to the Hataitai Bowling Club on Wednesday for some spooky fun!

Council Fronts to Hataitai Residents' Questions

An impressive number of Hataitai residents turned out in for the “Mayor in the Chair” gathering at the Hataitai Bowling Club last night (Tuesday, 16th October) which provided residents the opportunity to have their say, ask questions, voice concerns and engage with Wellington City Council about issues affecting their suburb.

Mayor Justin Lester made quite an impression, answering questions about the proposed Hataitai Village traffic lights, a second tunnel through Mt Vic, cycle routes around Evans Bay to Oriental Bay, parking in the suburb, funding of Community Centres and sports activities.

Vigorous audience clapping followed Lester’s statement that he personally didn’t want traffic lights at the Village Centre explaining that no decision had been made and that further engagement with the community would be necessary. Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman provided more information about NZTA’s role in the process.

The Mayor fully explained the processes involved in large city projects such as the second tunnel through Mt Vic, which he believes will be a five year process. His knowledge and ease of explanation hit a chord with the audience.

Accompanied by Councillors Sarah Free, Chris Calvi-Freeman, Simon Marsh, Diane Calvert, Peter Gilberd, Jill Day and Michael Romanos, the Mayor talked about Shelly Bay, runway extension plans, building within the suburb and civil defence. Chatting with members of the audience afterward, there was a general impression of respect and acknowledgement of the depth of Council work.

Justin Lester advised residents to get in touch with one of their ward Councillors if there were issues he should know about.  Our Councillors also have specific responsibilities on the WCC as follows:

Chris Calvi-Freeman               Transport

Sarah Day                               Footpaths

Simon Marsh                          New business

Predator Free Workshop

Thank you to the 40-50 local residents that turned up on Sunday 30th September for the Predator Free Mt Vic information session.

For more information check on how to get involved click here

Local resident with his brand new trapping box

Trapping boxes ready to go!

Hataitai Community Market - Grow a sunflower

Grow a Sunflower

Collect your free sunflower seeds and pot on Saturday 6th Oct 10am to 1pm.

157 Hataitai Rd- Old Bowling Club

Register your sunflower and grow it in your garden or at the bowling club community garden.
Watch it grow and take a photo of you and your flower in Feb 2019 when it could be taller than you.

We have giant and dwarf varieties to suit all gardens

Sunflowers provide food for the birds, bees and butterflies.

For more details check out the www.hataitai.org.nz or call 021491106

Varieties and growing information

Dwarf Sunsation
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus

This dwarf variety will grow well in the garden or in pots.

Plant Height: 45cm

Lots of sun and shelter from wind are best. Soil should be well prepared with compost dug in prior to sowing. Good drainage is essential. Plant 6mm direct where they are to grow, in front of a wall or at the back of the garden. Cover and press down firmly.

When To Plant: North Island: Oct, Nov, Dec
Flowering:   12 weeks

Dwarf Eos

Extra compact plants to 25cm (10”). Very quick to flower. Produces multiple flower heads. Pollen free bright yellow blooms.

Plant Height: 25cm

How To Grow: Sow 25mm (1”) deep in full sun, either direct in pots or in the garden. Can be grown in a range of pot sizes but will produce more secondary blooms if grown in larger pots or the garden. Water regularly in dry weather. 

Yellow Empress

Position:   Full sun.

Sow: Can be sown directly into garden position, which must be in full sun and sheltered from wind. Otherwise raise in trays of Yates Seed Raising Mix. Keep moist until seedlings emerge.

Care:Plant height and flower size are much enhanced by planting in a fertile soil rich with organic matter.

Sunflower Giant King Kong

Very strong, thick stems. Majestic plant growing to 5m. Feed and water generously to maximise the height. Watch out for overhead power lines!

Tallest of them all – up to 5m
Very large main flower up to 40cm across}
Great for growing competitions

Plant Height: 5m

How To Grow: Sow Spring to early Summer, 10mm (½”) deep and about 50cm (20”) apart, direct where they are to flower. Keep well-watered and mulched in hot and dry weather. Choose a site that is protected from wind and receives lots of sunlight. Staking recommended at early stage of growth.

Flowering:      12 weeks