Newsletter - 9th November 2025

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.

This week’s photo was taken by Rowena Rowe and it was taken on one of the Methven walks.  The photo shows Te Puna-a-Taka (Lake Clearwater).  Rowena advised that Te Puna-a-Taka is one of the high-country lakes forming part of the Ashburton Lakes Basin.  “A few sturdy SS walkers ventured out into what was a stunningly beautiful and wind-swept walk. Priceless.” 

From the Editor

Apologies, again, for the email-only “newsletter” last weekend.  This is the real deal!  Most walkers have returned from the south.  I have copied below David’s message which was emailed last weekend.  I can attest to how much the Away Walkers enjoyed their Methven trip.  As always, it ran exceedingly smoothly – grateful thanks to David who is an organiser without peer.  One minor hiccup relating to the distribution of the native kākāriki which, it seems, are to be found in places other than Methven!  But, no big dramas…

Please read the notice below about the Christmas lunch and click on the link to check your status for travel on the bus.

Photos of last week’s walks have now been added – and there is a selection from the (very) many photos taken on the Away Walk.  Perhaps they will whet the appetites of those who didn’t make it to Methven and cause them to consider the 2026 Away Walk.  Details yet to be confirmed! Apologies, but the photos, when viewed on a phone, are not quite in a logical order – more about this website programme to be learnt by your editor!

Bill Gaudie

A word from...

David’s message – previously sent by email:

Greetings from a very sunny, and sometimes not too windy, Methven.

During the week I’ve managed to keep in touch with the walking activities in Wellington and am pleased to hear that, once again, the sun has shone on all the scheduled walks. Thank you to those who have been keeping the CPCW machinery running while we have been away – a particular ‘thank you’ to Peter Nalder who so willingly took over responsibility for the main walks on Wednesday.

The Away Wakers are having a few adventures down south, the most remarkable being what was meant to be a one hour easy stroll through a private woodland for the PPs turning into a four hour obstacle course. Fortunately there were no (serious) injuries. Fine weather, good walking, stunning scenery, snowy mountains, comfortable accommodation, nearby hot pools and, above all, great companionship have combined to make another memorable trip. My sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the planning and the running of this trip. Here’s to the next one!

David Pegram, Convenor

The bus is now filled and a waiting list has been set up.
Please click HERE and scroll down the page to check the status of your booking which will include whether or not you are on the bus.

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 Gillian Cross as our featured sponsor:

“I have been in Real Estate since 1993 when I started at the Johnsonville office of Guardian First National. I have been based at Churton Park since 1995 when we opened our ‘temporary’office at 180 Westchester Drive, and we have been based in the Churton Park Shopping Centre since moving in June 2013.

I consider myself a ‘true local’ having grown up in Johnsonville. We have lived in Churton Park since 1980, and I have a deep interest in our local community.

I have experienced first hand the Churton Park lifestyle, first as a parent and now as a grandparent through involvement as a Committee Member of the Churton Park Kindergarten; sponsor of various projects at Churton Park Primary School; Junior and Midweek convener and President of the Churton Park Tennis Club; and as Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the Churton Park Community Association.

I am committed to providing both buyer and seller with a professional service based on a strong work ethic, local knowledge and a genuine interest in the real estate marketplace.”

Phone:  021 457782

Email:  gillian.cross@collectivefn.co.nz

101C Westchester Drive, Churton Park

CPCW Photos

Wednesday Walkers – November 5th

 Wednesday’s walks had smaller numbers than usual as many members were away in Methven on the Away Trip.  However, there was still a good representation flying the CPCW flag as they walked around our home suburb.

SSs:  Thanks to Alison Hannah and Hue Ng for these photos of the SSs.

FFs:   Hue also captured the FFs in full flight.  Well done, Hue, for your action photos.  Anita Williams provided the photo of the whole group and commented “warning against selfies…” .

Thursday Walkers - November 6th.

Hue has been exceedingly busy with her camera this week and has kindly provided these photos of the Thursday group.  According to Hue, the walkers were on a walking track that has yet to be opened – so no photos of that part of the walk!  Hue titled her photo essay: “Thursday: the Secret Seven on the Trail of Mystery Adventure”.  Enid Blyton would be proud!

Friday Walkers

Friday saw a group of 8 walkers head out and about on Colonial Knob for a walk of 14km.  Thanks to Keith Thomas for the photo who said that it was misty.  I think that is a modest way of saying that they ascended into the clouds!

2025 Away Walk in Methven

Brian Alderson provided this great class photo - Form 2 CPCW with head teacher, David Pegram, second from right in front row. We await the updated image with Brian added.
These first three photos were taken by David Pegram and Clint Davis. Prior to the official Away Walk, they completed a two day tramp in the Arthur's Pass region in the company of Wayne Jackson and Gary Dick. Their tramp included snow covered territory, something CPCW walkers do not normally encounter. You will see further photos later of Gary, Clint and David who have now been christened the UFFs (Ultra-Fast-Footers)!!
Contrary to rumours, the Away Walks are not all about walking. There is quite a lot of eating, drinking and socialising. These two photos, taken by Gay Hoffman and Annie Van Herck, show one group at The Blue Pub on our first night.
Also caught on Night One was this group at Craft @ Arabica. Rowena provided this photo kindly taken by an obliging staff member.
Pat Vincent provided this photo, presumably taken by Brian, of a group setting off on a farm walk. They look very fresh, but were less so after four hours when they escaped their one hour walk! There were many downed trees impeding their journey.
Mike Drain provided this photo taken on one of Day One's farm walks to the Washpen Falls.
And another photo on the Washpen Falls walk taken by Clint Davis.
Day One saw a group of FFs climb a decent hill - Peak Hill - which overlooks Lake Coleridge, the deepest lake in Canterbury. Bill Gaudie caught the group on part of the ascent, before the next ascent and then the one after that...
And having conquered Peak Hill, Susan Veldhuizen caught the group eating their lunch while dining well upon the views.
A very happy group at Sharplin Falls were caught by Janet Tyson - was it the exercise, the company or the mountain air?
Bill caught this group of miners at the entrance to the old Blackburn Coal Mine on the way up to the Woolshed Hut on Mt Somerset.
Further up the walk to the Woolshed Hut the group were photographed by Gay.
Mt Somers summit diary.
Janet Tyson captured the group in these two photos as everyone listens attentively to David as he provides the briefing of the day.
Annies Photo.
Pat Vincent's photo caught a group trying out the local Indian restaurant on Night Two.
Night Three saw this group dining well at The Green Parrot whose food and service was exemplary.
Janet Tyson provided graphic evidence of the challenges faced by walkers on their four hour obstacle course.
Alison Lavin provided this photo of the lunch stop for her group out on the walk up the Rakaia Gorge on Day Two.
And Ross Tyson provided the selfie of the group to show that they had climbed some distance above the Rakaia and had merited their lunch break!
Gay caught this group at the start of their walk along the Rakaia Gorge walkway. There was always a magnificent background to be captured.
Gay photographed the walkers at the top of Peak Hill, wrapped up against the chilly wind - well, most of them!
The view at the top of Peak Hill, in all directions, made the climb worthwhile. Another photo from Bill.
Two groups ventured out to Lake Clearwater. Rowena provided this photo and the next shot came from Pat. Both seem to have sweet-talked a passer-by to hold the camera!
While the FFs headed to the Woolshed Hut, the UFFs climbed to the summit of Mt Somers. Take a look at Gary Dick's entry in the diary at the summit - fair call, I'd say!
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