Boy drags up whopper cray

This is a tale of a (cray)fish that didn't get away.

Eight-year-old William MacKenzie, from Blenheim, was in a boat with family in Queen Charlotte Sound fishing for blue cod when he pulled up a 4.4 kilogram (9.8 pound) crayfish on his fishing line.

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Have you caught a bigger crayfish? What about other holiday fishing whoppers? Send your photos, video or tips to newstips@stuff.co.nz

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The colossal crustacean even stunned a man with 30 years of experience in the lobster industry, who said it was the biggest he had heard of.

William's dad said the family were on their 5.5-metre boat on December 23 fishing for blue cod and sea perch when William got his hook caught on what they thought was the sea floor.

But it came up and he thought it might have been seaweed, but once the group realised what it was they scrambled to get a landing net, he said.

William landed the beast, aka a spiny red rock lobster, on his own, his dad said.

The crayfish was weighed back at shore.

The family were in an area where they fish regularly and was not renowned for lobsters or as a spot for diving.

Cramac 5 executive officer Larnce Wichman said the lobster was the biggest he had heard of and was stunned when shown the photos.

"I don't know if there are any records kept [for crayfish sizes], but it'd be damn close to it."

It was "near impossible" to tell the age of a lobster once it grew to more than 800 grams because its size depended on where it lived and the food sources available to it.

"The problem with ageing anything over 2kg is that it doesn't necessarily moult every year, but [this lobster] could easily be 50 years old."

It was not uncommon to snag a lobster on a fishing line, but the more popular methods were diving or bobbing.

Bobbing involved lowering a stocking filled with bait and weighed down by a sinker which catches the spiny legs of the lobsters as they feed.

Wichman said if he had known about the lobster he would have offered to swap it for several others so it could be stuffed.

However, the family had already eaten the lobster on Christmas Day. They said it tasted delicious.

* Correction: This story originally said the crayfish was 9.8 kilograms. It was in fact 9.8 pounds (4.4 kilograms).

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:30 09/01/2012

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The crayfish becomes dinner.

Right price is the answer to sales

Buyers are dictating the market when it comes to boats and holiday homes, according to real estate agents and marine brokers in Picton.

Sales in both industries have been steady and sellers outnumber buyers, they say.

Ted Church of Picton Marine Brokers said price was governing boat sales. "What people are doing is looking at boats above their budget and hoping to get them for their budget."

The tactic was frustrating for some sellers who were refusing the offers, but some were more open to negotiation, he said.

"It's still a case where you have to pay reasonably good money to buy a reasonably good boat."

Most sales had been in the mid-range of $200,000 rather than the more pricey boats for sale at about half a million, he said.

A cool $500,000 would buy a 17.3-metre (57-foot) cruising launch which needed no work done and the owner had "looked after it like a baby", he said.

People with a lower budget could still buy a "very good" boat which would last for years and was well serviced for about $150,000.

He believed the market had bottomed out and prices would not dip further.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures showed six homes sold in the Marlborough Sounds in the past three months, including a $1.5 million house in Onahau Bay.

Century 21 sales and marketing manager Rebecca Houghton said properties slightly off the beaten track such as near Queen Charlotte Sound which had road and boat access were more popular than more difficult to get to places such as Cape Jackson.

She had been busy appraising properties in the Sounds which were about to come on to the market and there were some which had been awaiting a buyer for some time.

"That's the nature of the beast."

Picton Harcourts agent Faye Doig said interest in properties on the waterside were overtaken by those near a road.

Some houses were taking longer to sell, but the issue was about sellers not putting their homes on the market for the right price, she said.

"Sellers have to get their head around the fact the price of their property has gone down."

Good and well-priced homes were still selling, she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:00 06/01/2012

Exports focus for ambassador

Growing the relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, especially for exporters, will be the aim of former Blenheim man and ambassador designate to the Philippines Reuben Levermore.

Mr Levermore will take up a three-year post in Manila as the ambassador to the Philippines from the end of this month.

At 35, he is one of the youngest ambassadors of the New Zealand government.

The role of the embassy was more than issuing passports for stranded Kiwis, the career diplomat says.

"An important part of the job is to get the best terms of access for exporters and the best value out of the aid programme and assist with economic development."

The job also involves talking with government representatives and members of the business community and maintaining the country's reputation in the Philippines.

The Philippines and the Southeast Asia region were becoming more important to New Zealand, Mr Levermore said.

"There's 100 million people there, they're not too far away and it's growing economically."

It was also an important source of immigrants to New Zealand, with about 35,000 Filipinos in the country, the largest Southeast Asian expat community.

Filipinos were the fifth largest source of skilled migrants to New Zealand, he said.

"As that community grows there will be an increased familiarity with the country [the Philippines]."

Exporters, including those in the wine industry, had a lot of room to grow business, which the embassy could help with, he said.

"There's a lot more we can do and will be looking into opportunities to develop exports.

"For the wine industry, exports to the Philippines are less than $1 million a year, which is a drop in the bucket globally."

"As people become more wealthy and their tastes evolve there will be more opportunities for New Zealand," he said.

This is not the first overseas diplomatic posting for the Blenheim-raised man, who went to St Mary's School and who studied law and arts with politics, international relations and history at Canterbury University.

Since he began working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1999 in Wellington he was also posted in Brussels for three years.

Before taking up his new role he was the private secretary for trade minister Tim Groser.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:00 06/01/2012

Post holder: Former Blenheim man Reuben Levermore will become the New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines for three years from the end of January.

Zach, 16, eager for university

Zachary Lomax will most likely be a statistical anomaly when he starts his university studies this year.

The 16-year-old former Marlborough Boys' College student will probably be the youngest in his class when he starts a Bachelor of Science with mathematics and computer science at Auckland University next month.

His mum Debbie will also be moving from Rarangi to Auckland next week to help her son's transition into tertiary education.

Zachary, who finished year 13 last year, was excited about starting university and meeting like-minded people.

"I'm looking forward to going further with my studies. I do like having something to think about."

He was still in the process of sorting out his text books and other gear for university, but was getting used to the public transport system.

He had only been to Auckland a few times and chose it over Wellington because Auckland had better weather.

University was a natural progression from secondary school, but he was not sure if he would continue his study after getting his degree, he said. He did not know what he wanted to do when he graduated.

At last year's senior prizegiving, Zachary won a year 13 subject award for media studies and also the Te Rangatahi o Wairau Award for assistance with tertiary education.

Mum Debbie, originally from Auckland, is moving back there to support her son, packing up the family home in Rarangi after moving from Rotorua about two years ago.

She was working at boys' college as a long-term reliever covering another teacher's maternity leave and said moving back to Auckland was a good opportunity to find a permanent job.

"We just weren't sick of each other, I guess. If he was 18 I may have considered going somewhere else," she said.

The past few weeks had been hectic with finishing work, trying to find a new house, travelling to Auckland and trying to sell the family home, she said.

Zachary began talking in sentences as a baby before he was walking and once he knew what a mathematician was he knew what he wanted to be when he grew up, she said.

That view may have changed several years ago, but she was not worried about what he would decide to do as a career.

"Because he's so interested in science, computers and maths that tells me he will do fine. There's a lot of work in those areas."

A spokesman for Auckland University said it was "less common, but not unheard of" for 16-year-olds to be in their first year at the university.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:25 05/01/2012

Ruby and Liam out on top

Picton teachers Jack and Kirsty Saxon discussed names for their first child for some time before settling on the name Ruby.

The name came up after the couple talked about their pupils and their experiences with those children.

"We wanted to choose a name which did not evoke memories or characteristics of students we had taught in the past," Mrs Saxon said.

Neither had taught children with the names they considered for their own baby.

They were not the only ones last year to name their newborn Ruby, according to the Internal Affairs Department.

It was the most popular for girls and Liam was the most popular boys' name.

Ruby overtook Sophie as the most popular name after jumping from third spot last year.

Olivia remained in second place.

The name Liam was bestowed upon 315 baby boys, making it the most popular for the second year running,

Joshua made the leap from sixth to second.

Mrs Saxon said the couple had a shortlist of names when she went for her 18-week scan and once the couple found out they were having a girl the name Ruby was the clear winner. Despite learning of the popularity of the name closer to the birth, the couple still liked the name, she said.

Ruby had connotations of something precious and special, she said.

Ruby's middle name Gwenyth was inspired by Kirsty's maternal grandmother and her other middle name Aislin is Gaelic for dream or vision, which commemorated her birth on St Patrick's Day.

Blenheim couple Michaela and Andrew Barnes named their son Liam and said they experienced deja-vu when they found out the name was on the top of the list.

"The same thing happened to our daughter Sophie when she was born four years ago. The next year it was the most popular name so we've been hit twice now."

Liam, now 9 months old, shares his dad's middle name, Mark.

The couple, who moved from Alexandra about six months ago, chose the names because they suited their children, not because they were popular.

Mrs Barnes said they shortlisted the names Liam and Blake and she was put off by the name when she saw Liam was ranked at the top of the list last year.

"But once he was born it suited him and we still liked it."

A look through last year's birth notices in the Marlborough Express did not reflect the top 20 names and showed some less traditional names such as Lachie, Ada, Alena and Emmeline.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

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Top 10 girls' names (2010 placing in brackets):
1. Ruby (3)
2. Olivia (2)
3. Sophie (1)
4. Isabella (5)
5. Charlotte (4)
6. Grace (15)
7. Ella (7)
8. Lily (6)
9. Emily (9)
10. Amelia (13)

Top 10 boys' names (2010 placing in brackets):
1. Liam (1)
2. Joshua (6)
3. Oliver (3)
4. Lucas (10)
5. William (5)
6. Noah (13)
7. Samuel (9)
8. James (2)
9. Benjamin (7)
10. Jack (4)

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:27 05/01/2012

Popular: Nine-month-old Ruby Gwenyth Aislin Saxon is among 335 other girls named Ruby born in New Zealand last year. Ruby was the most popular name for girls and Liam for boys, the Internal Affairs Department says

Express burger with that, sir?

t's not often the Marlborough Express is delivered to the United States, but a restaurant owner in San Diego wants to cover the walls of his new restaurant with our newsprint and have copies for patrons to read.

PJ Lamont plans to open his third restaurant, Raglan Public House, in about three weeks in the Ocean Beach area.

Mr Lamont said he planned to use the newspaper as wallpaper in the restaurant, behind the bar and on the toilet walls and also have some copies for people to read in the dining restaurant.

The Express would be the main newspaper in the restaurant because the wines on the menu were mostly from Marlborough, he said.

It would also feature a few papers from Auckland and Central Otago because its wine list also included some wine from those regions.

He contacted the Express wanting 10 to 20 editions of the paper sent to the restaurant and additional copies sent each week.

The Raglan Public House would have a relaxed beach theme, with the outside clad in weathered wood and a big garage door as the entrance.

It would also feature a shuffleboard, darts and wooden tables.

The other two restaurants, both called The Bare Back Grill, were designed in a similar way, he said. The first restaurant was set up in 2005 after Mr Lamont had a month-long holiday to New Zealand in 2004. His inspiration included the menu at the well-known Ferg Burger takeaway joint in Queenstown.

"Being an American, where we do the hamburger, I didn't see how it could be any better or different, but then I saw a line out the door. It was awesome."

He and his business partner spent about a week in their kitchen and also worked on recipes from Queenstown.

Both his restaurants (the second was established in 2008) had done well and had won several awards for their hamburgers, he said.

Aside from burgers, the restaurants also did Kiwi favourite fish and chips as well as using produce from farmers markets and organic grass-fed beef.

The restaurants had become an attraction for Kiwis on the US west coast, where they sometimes got special treatment, he said.

"Usually we do end up buying Kiwis beers and we've got a couple who work for us."

The New Zealand and Australian navies also rented out the restaurants on Anzac Day and they became an unofficial home for expat Kiwis during the Rugby World Cup last year, he said.

"We're the only two bars that cater to the rugby crew. The [Rugby World Cup] final was out of control. We had Kiwis from Los Angeles, which is three hours away."

Plans for another restaurant, Queenstown Public House, were also in the making, he said.

Editor Steve Mason said the Express was only too happy to send papers to the US to the new restaurant.

News from the Marlborough region was always available globally on the Express website at marlexpress.co.nz, but sending papers was an idea he hoped would lead to a long relationship.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 04/01/2012

Bare Back Grill in San Deigo

Wall (news)paper: Marlborough Express editor Steve Mason is delighted that copies of the paper will adorn the walls of a new restaurant in San Diego

Wafering over gluten-free host

Blenheim Anglicans are saying amen to gluten-free wafers during communion, but the idea has left a bad taste with one Christmas churchgoer.

Waihopai Valley man Patrick Rattray went to communion at the Nativity Church on Alfred St on Christmas morning and was surprised to be given the option of a gluten-free wafer and non-alcoholic grape juice.

He only went to church at Christmas and Easter and said the idea of having the options were too politically correct.

Mr Rattray wrote a letter to the editor asking if he should "go over to Rome, or am I already too late?"

"It's just a sadness that all these things are taken so seriously. We don't laugh at ourselves any more," he told the Express.

He opted for the more traditional wafer and wine.

Nativity Church's Rev Derek Harding, who is gluten intolerant, said the gluten-free wafers had been offered since at least 2004. Other Anglican churches in Marlborough also offered the choice and non-alcoholic grape juice as an alternative to wine.

The church in Spring Creek and the Nativity Church both had at least two people each communion who chose gluten-free, he said.

"It's very much appreciated. It stops people from being excluded or being surreptitious, which is a problem."

"If people don't want to make it obvious they're gluten-free, they tend to take a wafer and, because it's consecrated, it must be consumed, so they either have to palm it off or give it to someone else."

The same applied for people if they did not want to drink wine.

Rev Harding and Nativity Church priest John Neal both responded to Mr Rattray's letter.

"The offer of gluten-free is a much newer practice, but in a day and age in which people's allergies are recognised and accepted, there are those who take the gluten-free option for the sake of their physical health," Mr Neal's letter says.

"In biblical theology ... neither is regarded as injurious to spiritual health."

St Mary's Catholic Church on Maxwell Rd and the Elim Church on Burleigh Rd do not offer the option but Elim Church pastor Tom Hatch said it was a "jolly good idea".

The church holds communion almost every Sunday and uses bread cut into cubes instead of wafers, and also offers grape juice.

He knew of three gluten-intolerant members of his congregation.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 30/12/2011

Choices, choices: Members of the congregation at Anglican churches in Blenheim have the option of gluten-free wafers and grape juice for communion.