Waimea Weekly
PH 544 4400
Locally Owned and Operated
24 Champion Road, Richmond wrfs.co.nz
Wednesday 28 December 2022
HOLIDAY SUMMER
ISSUE
Classic bikes on display JUDENE EDGAR Bikes from all over the world will be on display in Richmond as part of the Nelson Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Club’s annual show. First held in a paddock in Appleby in 1991 as a way of “showing people in the community what we do, what we own, and what we ride”, it’s now a firm favourite on the summer events calendar, says club captain Mark Roden. Established over 40 years ago, Mark says that the club was created for people with an interest in motorcycles (over 25 years of age) to enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of owning a classic or vintage bike. In addition to the annual show held on
Mark Roden will have his Velocette motorcycles on display. Photo: Sara Hollyman.
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Selling up after $600k scam JO KENT A local couple, who were scammed out of $600k when their Richmond builder ran off with their life savings, have been unable to secure further funding to complete the build and are selling at a massive loss. Chris Fitzgerald says he’s been left with little choice but to sell his land and 300sqm shipping
container home as he doesn’t have the finances to continue the project. “We really thought we could get it finished, but we’ve lived on site in a freezing caravan for two years trying to get funding, and enough is enough. So we’re selling up and moving to Australia to start a new life.” Chris and wife Mellinda approached Richmond’s SmartWay
Homes, which specialises in container homes manufactured in China, in 2019. “We couldn’t afford a conventional home, so it was a great alternative.” SmartWay quoted them $424,000 for the 10-container home, which was to be installed to code compliance standard. But the company’s owner, Bernd Mager, disappeared halfway through the project, stealing their money and
leaving them with huge unpaid invoices to pay. “We’d already given Bernd the money for those invoices, but he stole that too. And some of the outstanding invoices were coming from local family businesses, so how could I not pay them?” Bernd disappeared without a trace at the start of 2021 and has only recently resurfaced in Malaysia.
“Someone reached out to me after reading my story online to say Bernd been trying to scam them too. Apparently, he’s got other ventures he’s attempting to con people with now.” The couple had been haemorrhaging money from the start of the project and it never stopped, as Chris hadn’t realised he was
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the
Lemongrass Richmond
Asian-fusion style cuisine - the very best of Thai and Vietnamese cooking adapted for the Kiwi palate.
294 Queen St, Richmond 03-544 4838 www.thelemongrass.co.nz OPEN 7 DAYS: Lunch: Mon-Sun 11.30am - 2.30pm Dinner: 4.30 - 9pm
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
THE FLAVOURS OF THE EAST
Traditional favourites alongside new and unique dishes that are sure to please when everyone wants something different!
294 Queen St, Richmond Phone 541 0665 Lunch: Wed-Sun 11.30am to 2.30pm | Dinner: Tues-Sun 4.30pm to 9pm
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