`Boring bay' bites back

Big-city dweller, British journalist Peter Foster may have found life in Golden Bay "as boring as hell" but that's not a view shared by many Takaka residents.

Employed by Britain's The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Foster was granted a one-year sabbatical in December 2007, which he spent in a secluded beachside home in Golden Bay with his wife, Clare, and three young children.

In a feature article he wrote for the Telegraph Group, which was also published in Wellington's Dominion Post, on Tuesday, Foster, who had previously lived in London and New Delhi, concluded that "life in paradise" was not for him.

"Bliss is, well I'll say it straight out boring as hell. Or should that be boring as heaven?" he wrote in the article.

"After a year in the pristine seclusion of Golden Bay tending the vege plot, I crave the infernal stink of the big city and the juice-inducing competition of the rat race."

Golden Bay residents beg to differ.

Golden Bay Community Board chairman Joe Bell says if people are bored in Golden Bay "it's their own fault".

"With modern communications, we can be the centre of the universe and if we had high-speed broadband it would be even better.

"We not only have a wonderful environment but there are so many organisations here which cater for every interest," he said, pointing out the existence of creative groups, community groups and many sports groups.

Recently, the board had intended to organise an afternoon tea for all the voluntary groups in the bay but they were forced to give up on the idea because the event would have been ``too big''.

Onekaka's Mussel Inn proprietor Jane Dixon said ``boring'' was definitely not the word she would use to describe life in Golden Bay.

``We have a very busy life with  Leg 1lots of world-class entertainment.''

``But if you like living in big cities, then country life is not your cup of tea anyway,'' she said.

Golden Bay's recreation coordinator Dave Myall said there was such a ``phenomenal'' amount of events happening in the bay that he sometimes wanted to ``hide and have a rest''.

``After I spent two months travelling in the US in cities such as Minneapolis and Milwaukee I was  Leg 2really glad to come back to Golden Bay.''

``I certainly don't find life here boring,'' Mr Myall said.

Pohara motelier Steve du Feu said he'd like to ``guide Mr Foster in learning how to chill out''.

``I guess most active people would find a year-long holiday becomes a bore,'' he said. ``Living and working in paradise, I find there is still plenty of stimulation but I've learned not to crave it.''