Newsletter - 30th August 2026

Photo of the Week

Each week we will post an image taken by one of our walkers of a scene they spotted on a walk. Generally these images should not include photos of any walkers. Please send any images to info@cpcw.co.nz noting photo of the week in the subject line.

Thanks to Clint Davis for this week’s banner image taken on Friday’s walk near the top of Mt Victoria. Clint commented that the photo does not give any indication of the strength of the gales! If the house at the right of the image appeals to you – it is currently on the market for offers over $5,495,000. It might make a very comfortable pied-à-terre for those nights when the trek home to Churton Park after a night in town is just a bit much!!

A Word from...

“Walk: Your Life Depends on it*” is a recently released book by Courtney Conley & Milica McDowell (Allen Lane: 2026). You may have heard Jim Mora’s interview with Courtney on his RNZ Sunday Morning programme last week. Courtney does not view walking as exercise – she considers it to be a physiological necessity like breathing and sleeping! Did you know that toe strength is an indicator of longevity? Maintaining toe strength – which you do through walking – will help prevent falls and, indirectly, prolong life. Can you move your big toe independently of the other toes? Apparently, toe dexterity is good for the brain! Lots of interesting stuff that for us, as regular walkers, probably comes naturally. If you are interested in learning more here is the link to the interview and if you want to read the book, then you can get in behind me on the reserves list at the library.

Do we need more reasons for getting out walking? Probably not, but it is good to know that what we are doing – for whatever reasons – is good for us on so very many levels. Make sure you keep coming along to CPCW walks – they are very, very good for you.

A reminder: Friday Drinks this week at the Johnsonville Club – Friday September 4th @ 5.00pm

Another reminder: Don’t forget to log in and check your details if you have not already done so. You should have received an email from Keith at the start of the week.

Bill Gaudie, Deputy Convenor

*The book is titled “Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity–One Step at a Time.” in the US.

Kāpiti Island Trip

Brian Alderson has very kindly offered to organise a trip for CPCW members to Kāpiti Island. He has provided the following information. Please contact Brian directly:

We have an opportunity to visit Kāpiti Island and I’m happy to coordinate a CPCW group of people who would like to go. We have a half price deal of $84.50pp (normally $169pp) with Kāpiti Island Nature Tours and payment is direct to them.

There is a choice of two dates with different sailing times.

Sunday 6 Dec 9.30am

Monday 7 Dec 8.45am

Reporting time to their office is 20-30 minutes prior to the sailing time. Bring your own food and drink.

The boat trip is about 20 minutes and the landing point is Rangatira Point which leads to good tracks and views. Return trip boarding time is around 2.30pm.

Kāpiti Island Nature Tours website. Please have a look through, including their FAQ, bad weather, and cancellation conditions.

https://www.kapitiisland.com/day-trips/

Responses please to: briannz567@gmail.com including which date you prefer, or if either date is suitable.

Regards

Brian Alderson

Our Sponsors

CPCW are very grateful for the support of a number of generous sponsors. They are listed at the end of the newsletter and, periodically, we will highlight them through a profile in the newsletter.

This week we have chosen Daisy Jake as our featured sponsor:

Daisy Jake are our local hairdressing salon with staff who are focussed on achieving results and dedicated to delivering a personalised service.

“Unique. Edgy. Playful. Take time out from your busy life and let us care for you and your hair!”

Daisy Jake are generous supporters of CPCW and we are most grateful for their support.

Daisy Jake Hairdressing, 105 Westchester Drive, Churton Park

Hours:

Sunday/Monday Closed

Tuesday 9.00am to 8.00pm

Wednesday 9.00am to 5.30pm

Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm

Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm

Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm

Website: www.daisyjake.co.nz

Email: daisyjakehairdressing@gmail.com

Phone: 04 477 2213

Walk Details for Wednesday September 2nd:

This Week’s Walks:

Plimmerton walks are popular and this is the location for all three of our walks this coming Wednesday. These walks were scheduled, but cancelled, three weeks ago. The walks start from the car parking area adjacent to Palmers Garden Centre, Plimmerton, at 9:20am.

PP Walk: A 4.01km, generally flat, walk taking in some of the coastline. You can see the walk here.

SS Walk: A 5.77km walk that does take in a bit of the coast and then some quite undulating residential streets. You can see the walk here.

FF Walk: A 7.84km walk which includes a rural roadway with a return using a rural right of way. Definitely a bit of hill work is included. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and on Plotaroute here.

Parking: Parking for all three groups is in the open space that is alongside the Palmers carpark (off Ulric Street, Plimmerton). Please DO NOT park in the actual Palmers carpark.

Coffee: Palmers has “Backyard Café” and there are a couple of other cafés in Steyn Avenue, Plimmerton. We will tell “Backyard Café” that a group of us will be coming

Happy walking.

Russell Paterson

Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for September 2026 here.

Reminder: Please ensure that you inform your group’s leader if you leave a walk partway through.

Cancellations: If the walks are cancelled an email will be sent out as early as possible but definitely before 8:00am.

Calendar of Events


Wednesday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th September	Wednesday Walks Click here for details.
Friday September 4th at 5.00pm	Friday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club
November	CPCW “Away Walks” Whangārei

CPCW Photos

Walking for the Week of August 24th 2026:

Wednesday was a bit chilly which probably explains why numbers were a bit lower than normal. Thank you, Russell, for going above and beyond with this week’s routes – a) to accommodate members of the SS group who wanted a longer walk; and b) to redraw the routes to avoid the tree that had fallen and obstructed the path. Wednesday’s walks were around Wilton and Northland and took some of us along paths/streets into which we had not previously ventured.

On Thursday the group of six walkers and Red walked 5.8km from Churton Park to Johnsonville return on what Christine described as a pleasant, calm evening.

Friday’s walkers were led by Keith on “Alison’s Walk” which traversed streets and paths of Hataitai, Roseneath, Oriental Bay and Evans Bay over 15km and, of course, a metre or two of ascent. The nor’wester gales made for interesting walking – into the wind on the way out (sometimes brought to a complete halt on rounding a bend!) and providing jet propulsion behind on the return journey. It made for an exhilarating walk – all cobwebs were well and truly dispatched!

Please try and remember to take a group photo and send it to info@cpcw.co.nz. Don’t worry about the size of the image – a good quality image at the outset will still look good when reduced in size for the newsletter, but a lower quality image may end up blurry in the newsletter.