Kia Ora Dabblers!

Tried anything new this week? Let us know, so we can celebrate with you!​
It's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, so we'll be popping in some new kupu (word(s)) for us to try out, too.
If you're looking for a few more, this page has a Māori 'word a day' (365) to brush up on. Or if you’d like to flex your te reo skills, please do!

Tēnā koutou (greetings to many)
​Ko Ingarangi te whakapaparanga mai (England/English is my ancestry)
(engari - however)
Ko Ōtepoti (Taieri) te whenua tupu (Dunedin (Taieri plains) is where I grew up)​
Ko Ōtautahi te kāinga (Ōtautahi Christchurch is my home (now))​
Ko Cassie au (I am Cassie)​
Tēnā tātou katoa (Greetings to one and all, including me)

C.x ✨
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​NB: This is quite different to the mihi/pepeha I learned at school- however, I acknowledge and agree with the sentiment here that I, as a non-Māori person, don't have the same sacred connection to the land, and so I chose to borrow this (basic) pepeha template. Please feel free to pull me up on any inaccuracies, I'm always wanting to learn. Ngā mihi 💛

Rāapa, te 17 o Mahuru

🏘 Cohousing in CHC? Let's Make it Happen​
While not strictly hobby-related (more interest-based), we're big fans of intentional community living- learning from and supporting one another. And hey, you and your neighbour might try new hobbies together! 💚
​Where: XCHC (376 Wilsons Rd)
​When: 5:30pm-6:30pm (1hr)
​Entry: FREE (register for numbers)
​Info: https://events.humanitix.com/cohousing-in-christchurch-let-s-make-it-happen​

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Rāpare, te 18 o Mahuru

📖 How to Bake a Book (Workshop with Nod Ghosh)​
Learn how to write and get your book published in an evening (the learning, not the writing/publishing bits)! Bonus points if you want to write a cookbook though, I guess?​
​Where: Toi Auaha (5 Worcester St)
​When: 5:30pm-7pm (1hr30min)
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1359204335338877​

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Rāmere, te 19 o Mahuru

🗣 Boaters Toastmasters Open day​
Everyone's favourite pastime, public speaking, gets a whole lot easier when you have a bunch of friendly humans cheering you on! Head along to see what it's all about, and you might even learn to enjoy it!
​Where: Imagitech Theatre (Ara on Madras St)
​When: From 7am
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1660692871265584​

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Rāhoroi, te 20 o Mahuru

📚 Deadly Deals book sale​
Nab a killer deal on a spine-tingling mystery, or any other literary accomplice your heart desires. Plus, it supports the Ngaio Marsh House & Heritage Trust. Love!
​Where: Avebury House
​When: 10am-2pm (4hrs)
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/deadly-deals-book-sale/christchurch-district​

💎 Gem Show​
I won't blame you if you retreat to Gollum-like form with this one. Something about a whole room of shiny crystals and heckin' old minerals does something to even the most respected rockhound. Catch you there!
​Where: 110 Waltham Rd
​When: 9am-4pm Sat and 10am-4pm Sun
​Entry: Gold coin (slightly ironic), bring cash
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/762276533330472​

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Rātapu, te 21 o Mahuru

✍️ Shamanic Writing Class - Develop Your Intuition​
This workshop helps you ditch the outward hunt and tune into your own inner know-it-all (hint: you've been carrying the answers with you all along).
​Where: Union Chapel, Lyttelton
​When: 5pm-6:30pm (1hr30min)
​Entry: $27
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/shamanic-writing-class-develop-your-intuition​

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Rāhina, te 22 o Mahuru

💚 Pounamu Carving Wānanga​
Spend the day exploring the history of pounamu, the tikanga around working with it, and its value to Māori, while creating a taonga (treasure) to keep or gift.
​Where: Climate Action Campus (180 Avonside Dr)
​When: 9:30am-3pm (5hr30min)
​Entry: $169.76
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/pounamu-cariving-wananga​

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Rātū, te 23 o Mahuru

🍎 Graft Your Own Apple Tree!​
Right on time for Kōanga (Spring), create a Frankenfruit tree (like a mixed breed dog, it's more resilient and more fun) and make apple pies for years to come!
​Where: The Kiosk (Botanic Gardens)
​When: 7pm-9pm (2hrs)
​Entry: $25 for non-members (incl a tree to take home!)
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/graft-your-own-apple-tree-gsbqfgt7​

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​Fire through your upcoming events here!
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🧵 Tinker Zone Inductions - Sewing Suite and Cricut Craft Cutter​
Claim your amateur sewing or Cricut badge (stamp) and then be let loose on each of the machines as often as you like!
​Where: Rangiora Library
​When: Various time slots for 45min
​Entry: FREE
​Info (Sewing): https://events.humanitix.com/tinker-zone-induction-sewing-suite-yklp49xj​
​Info (Cricut): https://events.humanitix.com/tinker-zone-induction-cricut-craft-cutter-fcqxe82q​

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👀 Look at the size of this thing! 🍋 Forgot to weigh the haul of course, but there was another (bigger) container FULL... and this was only from straggler branches cut off 😳 Reckon about 5kg+ all up?! I've been tasked with dessert for a dinner party tonight, so I'm thinkin' lemon curd (and cream or custard...or BOTH)-filled donuts (which might need to be store-brought due to time, hush). Apparently the curd only takes 10min to make (so it'll definitely take 25+), and future-me will appreciate doubling the recipe to put on toast later 😋 ​ Thought you might like the zesty recipe 🍋

Word Jumble: (hint: Māori words found above)

GAONTA

EŌTTPIO

AUHMRU

(Answers for both at the bottom of the newsletter)

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🚘 This might be the coolest car in the world?! 7.8L, V8, 1975 convertible Cadillac (bonus points if you know what movie it's been in?!)

🧢 If you've been considering starting a hat store, this takes the cap (had to)

🍫 Or maybe being a chocolatier is more your jam (ooh, black forest) with these moulds and tools​

🌲 Get a load of this monstrous wood (Kauri, you silly goose). Apparently there's a forklift available to help load, good luck offloading it, though...

☎️ Been looking for a Morse code field telephone to add to your militaria collection? Neither, but maybe it's time to start one?

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The ✨Canterbury Mineral & Lapidary Club✨ was founded in Whiringa-ā-rangi (November) 1964, with the shared love of geology, mineralogy and lapidary work.

Bonus: They were featured this week on Breakfast - watch the quick vid here (you may need to log in) talking about the Gem Show this weekend!

There’s some fun facts about meteorites in this month’s newsletter, including the fact that there have only been 9 discovered in NZ (and that they have to be verified by the Meteoritical Society in the US)!

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🚨 “My flatmate ✨Chris✨ bought a recorder because he was “really good at it at school”. Instant flashbacks to Mrs James’s music class, playing Three Blind Mice, and not in a good way. It might get “lost” this week…” - ✨Sam✨ (and everyone backs you up, Sam 💛)

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OK, so we said we'd have more info about a competition, but we're plotting something bigger... Since we didn't have a "proper" launch, we wanna have some fun with this! So hang tight for now, we'll reveal more in due time - WOO!

Here are your quick links:​
Got a community pureitanga (event)/fun thing to share? That's this one [free]​
Classifieds, paid events or newsletter kaitautoko (sponsor)? Intro offers active​
​​Got a vacancy to share or need a tūao (volunteer)? Chuck it here, too [free]​
Keen to share your deepest hobby-love? Brag away here [free]​
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Now go and practice your morse code and/or Te Reo

Nāku noa, nā C.x​
​Kaituhituhi, The Dabbling​
​Ōtautahi’s Unofficial Hobby-Hypewoman

Fun answers:

TAONGA (treasure), ŌTEPOTI (Dunedin), MAHURU (September)

🍎 Āporo is Māori word for apple