Lizard News February 2019

Lizard News FEBRUARY 2019

FREE LOCAL NEWS... IN THE COMMUNITY

AONGATETE • ŌMOKOROA • PAHOIA • TE PUNA • WHAKAMĀRAMA

New year, new courts

By Jeff Warren irstly on behalf of the tennis club, I would like to apologise for the cancellation of our tennis club nativity play before Christmas. This was because we were unable to find three wise men among our members, but we will try harder next year.

The opening of Courts 3 and 4 on Saturday 15th December went very well. The weather forecast was awful, but we were blessed with bright sunshine and plenty of food. Our mayor, Garry Webber, cut the ribbon to open the courts, and the first hit on the new court was between Garry and longtime supporter Cllr Margaret Murray-Benge, long-serving club member Sue Bigham and junior player Ryan Monk.

Other guests in attendance included Cllr John Palmer, and Council staff Scott Parker and Peter Watson. Special

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thanks to our sponsors TECT, NZCT, Bay Turf, NZ Racing Board, Tall Poppy and Fresh Choice for your continued support.

On Saturday 5th January, Sharon Parker and Chantal Ling won the 3rd Division ladies doubles tournament at Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club. Our Friday night interclub men's doubles team finished a very creditable fourth in their league on their first foray into the competition. Well done all.

The OCTC/Fresh Choice Junior coaching programme resumes on Saturday 9th February. Sessions for different age groups and abilities will run from 9 am through to noon. This is a very popular programme with more than 40 students signed up, but we do have room to take a few more. The cost for this term is very reasonable, thanks to our sponsors Fresh Choice Ōmokoroa.

OMOKOROA SHOWHOME NOW OPEN SUNDAYS

Additionally, we will have a junior team entering the inter-club competition this term, so the very best of luck to them.

If you have a son or daughter interested in playing tennis, please call Steve Wall 548 2037 or email omokoroactc@gmail.com for further details.

For those of you now considering joining and running off all that alcohol, chocolate and pudding that was consumed over the holiday period we are now offering adult membership through to September for $85. For family and couple pricing, please also contact Steve Wall.

Happy 2019 everyone.

Picture: Mayor Garry Webber and Club Captain Jeff Warren opening Courts 3 and 4. MAIN PHOTO: Scott Parker. INSET: Matthew Farrell.

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Community Food Drive

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Let’s hear it t’s been a beautiful summer with plenty of sun, and just enough rain to keep the horticulturalists and dairy farmers almost happy.

There has certainly been an abundance of swimmers at the beaches and watercraft in the harbour - let’s keep an eye out for one another and hope the weather stays fine for a while yet, so we can all enjoy the great outdoors here in paradise.

If it isn’t all going swimmingly for you, do let us know. Next time you are in front of your screen, tap us out an email, and we’ll gladly publish your letter subject to our usual terms and see if we can find an answer for any of your thorny questions.

Matthew.

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By Janine Birch ’m sure many of our community will have noticed that our Lizard's right forelimb has been broken off. It was vandalised in early December. It is now being recarved by the sculptor and will be invisibility reattached when finished. Another small area of rot on the left forelimb is being treated at present.

We of the Public Art Group ask that the

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| Lizard News | February 2019

Volunteers at the Community Church sorting donated goods. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

of the community groups that helped out in the collection: Fire and First Responders; Lions group; Activ8; The Church Group; All of the individual volunteers (too many to name in case I miss one) who drove, collected and helped sort the food at the other end.

Thank you also to the Omelette for printing and advertising and the Lizard News for advertising and leaflet dropping. You both rock.

Thank you to Rachel and team from Tall Poppy for making it possible to print and deliver all of the flyers.

Finally, but not least, thank you to our community who gave up so much food it overflowed the storage cupboard and filled the hallway of the Church. Truly an outstanding effort and it couldn't have been done without your generosity.

I am very pleased with the result.

Cheers!

Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade

By CFO Ian Blunt

t was a wonderfully quiet time call wise for the Ōmokoroa Volunteer Firefighters over the Christmas period, with no callouts to respond to.

The first two calls of 2019 were both scrub fires, followed by a diesel spill at Challenge on Tuesday 15th January.

Thankfully this was not a major. The next day, the Brigade responded to a car versus a tree in Clarke Road. On Saturday 19th January at around 10.30 pm, the Brigade was alerted to a fence fire in Ōmokoroa Road. The fire was extinguished and the fire truck was then sent to a vehicle which had rolled on State Highway 2. No per-

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sons were trapped. The Katikati Brigade diverted traffic at Esdaile Road corner until the road was cleared.

The First Responders have not been overly busy this year so far, responding to six emergencies. There were two calls on Wednesday 2nd January, firstly to a patient suffering from chest pains and then to a cardiac arrest on Old Highway. Two weeks later, four calls were responded to in quick succession. Two were in Kayelene Place; the first to chest pains and the second to convulsions. The team also responded to the MVA and again the next morning to a patient suffering from chest pains in Lynley Park.

Ōmokoroa’s Lizard damaged

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Jetski jokers itting on my deck having late lunch ten days before Christmas, I know that the holiday season has started. Why? I look out over the Esplanade at Ōmokoroa, on the water is a yellow jet ski with the driver speeding along about 50 metres from the sea edge.

People are swimming in the sea, and it does not matter that people are yelling at the jet skier, he just goes about causing mayhem in the sea.

This happened so often last summer, when the harbour master comes down this end of the harbour, the jet skiers all do the legal limit in the sea and then when the patrol boat has gone the faster they go. Does someone have to get killed before these idiots slow down?

Wendy Galloway, Ōmokoroa.

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By Rick Peers of Cyberlink ow, Wow, Wow, what an amazing response from the community with the food drive on Tuesday 4th December. I'd really like to say a big thank you to all

the L et t er s t o

07 548 1200 027 549 5410 matthew@lizardnews.net www.lizardnews.net

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residents of Ōmokoroa keep an eye on our Lizard and strongly dissuade anyone from climbing on the sculpture. There is a CCTV camera monitoring the corner which will be useful in catching any misbehaviour.

We do encourage everyone to respect the creative efforts of our artists. Please report any threat to our Lizard's welfare to me Janine Birch 548 1193, or Chris Wright 548 0088.

A new leg is coming for The Lizard.

PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

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Matahui School thrilled to Council buys land for welcome new principal Katikati’s future growth

By Sharlene Reay ith much aroha, our community farewelled Max Muller as principal in December 2018.

While we will miss his huge heart and great humour, we are delighted to welcome Mary Woods as the new principal in 2019. Mary brings a fantastic skill set and vast experience in science, Future Problem Solving, IT and mindfulness.

Her substantial knowledge of student diversity, curriculum experience and inquiry will add value to a very successful learning environment for children ranging from years 1 to 8.

Mary is married to Jim, and they have two daughters - Patricia and Catherine, and three grandchildren - Phoebe, Arley and Zoe. Mary and Jim have recently moved from Tauranga to Pahoia and are

looking forward to settling into the community.

Our Matahui students have a diverse range of backgrounds, strengths and learning styles. Matahui provides an exceptional learning environment that allows all children to foster creativity, critical thinking and leadership. It is this philosophy that initially drew Mary to the school. The children are encouraged and supported to collaborate with each other during a range of activities during class time while enjoying ‘education outside of the classroom’.

Education outside of the classroom is one of the driving characters of Matahui School, where students can work collaboratively while being challenged to reach their personal potential. Classes enjoy frequent camps and field trips, and involvement in various community activities.

Learning through play, especially in the nature areas makes learning fun.

Matahui School has a beautiful native bush area, fondly known as “The Huts” where children's natural instinct to investigate and explore can flourish.

Feel free to pop in and meet Mary anytime and New Matahui School principal Mary Woods with her husband Jim, her two daughters Patricia and Catherine and granddaugh- look around. We love to ters Zoe, Arley and Phoebe. PHOTO: Supplied. have visitors!

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estern Bay of Plenty District Council has extended its ownership of Moore Park in Katikati with a view to creating more recreational and sporting facilities, plus some housing.

Council considers the 1.657 hectares on the eastern border of Moore Park as a wise investment for future demand for sports fields, reserves and possibly housing to cater for Katikati’s growing population.

Council’s Property Manager Blaise Williams says Council considers this to be a strategic land purchase with potential for housing development and recreational amenity.

“Katikati is a sought-after town for people moving to the Bay of Plenty and demand for its green space and for more housing options will increase. The lack of available land for housing has slowed growth in the area over the past year.

“There is already a demand for more

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sports facilities at Moore Park, so this extension to the existing park will be used for a full-size cricket pitch and oval, plus sports fields. Part of the land also has the potential for housing development which could front the park.”

Construction of the sports fields extension is programmed for autumn 2019.

The Katikati Cricket Club will undertake the cricket pitch construction once the earthworks for the new sports fields have been completed.

In the last five years Council has issued 263 dwelling consents in Katikati, with 124 of those issued between 2015 and 2017. But lack of land has seen consents decline to just 34 in the past 2017/18 year.

Katikati’s population was expected to reach 5042 this year – compared to 4056 in the 2013 Census. The latest 2018 Census figures will not be released until Article supplied.

April.

Fashion exhibition in Katikati

By Jacqui Knight he Christmas Fashion exhibition which was organised by Downtown Tauranga has come to the Arts Junction for an exhibition. Twenty designs are on display, and the artists were commissioned to create Christmas themed wearable art pieces that were displayed throughout Tauranga City centre in

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November and December 2018. This exhibition is a true showcase of the local creative sector in this visually dynamic exhibition, and we hope you will come and marvel at the creations. The diversity of the artwork will inspire and wow you!

Mannequins will be on display until late February at the Junction Theatre, Arts Junction, 36 Main Road, Katikati.

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February 2019 | Lizard News |

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Walking the Camino de Santiago

By Colin Kurth

ive years ago, my daughter, Robyn, a very experienced and adventurous world traveller, had walked a little over 100km of the 800km trail from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She resolved to one day return to walk it in full. After seeing her itinerary, literature and maps of the Pilgrim’s Trail, I, too, became fascinated. The rest, as they say, is history.

We shopped for suitable equipment, and my doctor gave me a clean bill of health and his best wishes. Not all were so supportive - one cheerful chap told me “I hope you don’t come home in a body bag”. How uplifting!

There are nine such historic pilgrim trails that terminate in Santiago, where St James is said to be entombed. All trails have deeply religious connotations that were fervently observed by many of the walkers we encountered, but not all. I admit to being of no particular faith but enjoyed the opportunity to walk the St James Pilgrimage Path.

We started at the French town of SaintJean-Pied-de-Pont where we obtained our ‘credencial de peregrino’, a sort of passport we had stamped at our places of accommodation and places we visited, as a means of authenticating our travels along the Camino.

On Friday 31st August we set out on our epic journey. Our first day was a long and arduous 32 kilometres through the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles in Spain. There were some very steep climbs and equally

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steep descents repeated through the mountainous terrain — a scenic route that included bush walks and pastoral lands where livestock all wore big bells around their necks - a rather pleasant tinkling sound emanating from the hills.

There was cultivated land on the valley floors and heather and scrub on the high ridges. Walking poles were a great help on the many steep paths we encountered. I had brought my late wife’s walking pole with me.

Overall the trail took a toll on hips and thigh muscles - especially carrying a backpack.

Many other walkers set out that day, and consequently, accommodation was at a premium. We queued for over an hour and were lucky to secure bunks in a hostel-like complex. It was not a good night’s sleep but part of the experience and the beginning of becoming acquainted with fellow walkers. That evening we ate with Americans, Fins, Brazilians and Australians. We met many interesting people along the way, and the friendliness and comradeship makes the walk very special.

There were often no villages or habitation for many kilometres, and more climbing in temperatures rising into the 30s. After Pamplona, we had a much easier walk with only one climb of 400 metres to a ridgetop among the wind turbines. Thousands of them dominated the skyline across Spain. Through fields of sunflowers and vast areas of recently harvested grain crops. Not a fence, an animal, a bird or bee to be seen.

We endeavoured to reach our daily destinations somewhere around lunchtime and get sorted before siesta time when almost every shop and business closes from 2pm until 5pm (or

thereabouts - it's all very casual!) From 7pm the streets are bustling. Everyone seems to eat out, and tables and chairs dominate the streets.

To be continued next month.

Glass bins to stay Matakana homicide T probe continues

By Matthew Farrell auranga Police continue to investigate as a homicide the death of a 22-year-old man on Matakana Island on New Year’s Day. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rawlinson tells Lizard News the family of Freedom James Te Patu Taikato have requested privacy as they go through a traumatic time.

Media have been asked to respect this request and not contact them, although some national media reporters had speculatively travelled to the island.

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| Lizard News | February 2019

Two men aged 23 and 59 were arrested and charged with common assault concerning the investigation and were due before Tauranga District Court.

Craig Rawlinson says the homicide investigation is ongoing with teams continuing to work in Tauranga and periodically on Matakana Island.

Anyone who was at the temporary camping ground on Matakana Point Road on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day can contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

By Matthew Farrell he glass recycling bins at FreshChoice Ōmokoroa and Challenge Ōmokoroa will remain, according to supermarket owner/operator Steve Ling.

Last month he met Waste Management's general manager for the lower North Island, David Howie.

Waste Management had been proposing to charge the owners of Fresh Choice more than $2,000 per week and the owners of Challenge around $1,200 per week for the collection and disposal of the glass from February - putting the bin locations in jeopardy.

This proposal has now been withdrawn, so the drop-off points will remain as they are.

The bins were installed last year as a replacement for household-funded kerb-

side glass recycling which was phased out because of contamination and staff safety.

Steve Ling says he thanks everyone who worked behind the scenes to achieve this positive outcome and he feels it's a magnificent achievement for the local community, which was facing the possibility of having to throw recyclable glass into general waste for landfill.

As a side note, please be careful to avoid mixing glass colours, and use the small Lions drum at Fresh Choice for wine bottle tops only. Both Fresh Choice and Challenge provide these bins and also facilities for clean, flat cardboard as a goodwill gesture to the community.

Please do not dump general household rubbish such as plastic, nappies, and kitchen waste.

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Tavern showdown arrives

By Matthew Farrell s we went to press, the District Licencing Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing into a contested liquor licence application in Ōmokoroa.

More than 100 residents submitted written opposition to the proposed pokie-tavern, including a community petition. Of the original objectors, about 20 had requested to speak to their submissions at the District Council’s Barkes Corner head office on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th January.

A lawyer acting for the applicant KLM Enterprises subsequently advised the name of the planned establishment would no longer include the word “tavern” and stated there are no plans for a TAB, or pokies within the first

12 months.

However, TAB screens and pokie machines were clearly shown on construction plans approved by the District Council. A lawyer acting for the objectors has highlighted that the lease included in the liquor licence application stated the business use would be “Bar, TAB Agency, Pokies and Tavern.”

The landlord is the Lachhani Family Trust, and the trustee is Lachhani Trustee. The tenant is the applicant company, KLM Enterprises. The sole director of the tenant is also a director and shareholder of the landlord trustee company.

Four family members are directors or shareholders in 13 registered companies, four of them in the liquor industry.

The family-owned businesses appear

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to operate several further liquor premises in Kawakawa, Paihia, Pukekohe, and Papatoetoe.

A Police report has not objected to the

Ōmokoroa application but says it raises a high risk of noise, nuisance and vandalism in a remote location with a 30minute Police response time.

The construction of the proposed licensed premises is almost complete. PHOTO: Liz Farrell.

Stray dogs wipe out chickens

By Matthew Farrell ore than 60 chickens have been killed by a pack or packs of roaming stray dogs in Te Puna in the past couple of months.

The District Council is appealing for any sightings to be urgently reported on 0800 926 732 and welcomes photographs.

Between four and seven dogs have been seen loose in an area including SH2 and Snodgrass, Quarry, Newnham, Borell, Armstrong, and Wallace roads.

A Council spokesperson says Animal Control staff have been out to set traps

for the dogs and have been patrolling the surrounding area daily with property visits.

“We are not advising people to try to catch them themselves, as we don’t know if they would be aggressive if cornered. If possible people need to keep their chooks locked up, but in some cases, the dogs have also managed to get into coops,” says the spokesperson.

More than 25 chickens were killed on one night in mid-January, wiping out the free range egg supply for Parklands Produce. Owner, Arlene Barbeau, says the carnage was terrible to wake up to, and

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the dogs must be put down or secured at night.

“The animal rangers from Western Bay need to be informed every time chickens are killed. If you know it is your animals, please come forward,” she says.

Sean and Lara Lett estimate they lost up to 40 chickens and Sean says any loose dogs on his property will be shot.

Mike Ryland feels the same way after burying chickens following a 3 am raid by a pack of at least three tan-coloured dogs. He now has trail cameras running 24 hours.

Sarah Rice lost 21 hand-reared chick-

ens to loose dogs about three months ago. She told Facebook her daughter was devastated to find the bodies. She echoes the calls for sightings to be reported immediately and urges dog owners to keep animals contained.

Te Puna Rugby egistration takes place on Sunday 17th February, from 3-5 pm. All girls and boys are welcome to join, with teams starting at U6 right through to U14’s. Weight-graded.

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Crime concerns amid summer fun

By Matthew Farrell

he District Council is being urged to consider installing CCTV as part of the upgrade of the road at Western Avenue when an interim library is built as part of the new pavilion.

There has been either a perceived or actual increase in low-level crime in Ōmokoroa in recent months. This includes residential thefts, bus shelter graffiti, vandalism of vehicles and the Lizard carving, out of control vehicle damage to road signs and anti-social behaviour at the skate path and playground.

Over the summer, we have been monitoring social media posts in various community groups, and it doesn’t feel as if it’s a trend we can responsibly ignore.

With that in mind, Lizard News has proposed hosting a public meeting to bring people together to discuss how best to preserve this unique but growing community. After all, more homes and people logically means more possible crime and more victims; more families means more significant potential for family violence. As we went to press the idea of a public meeting was due to be discussed by the Ōmokoroa Community Policing Group, the umbrella trust which includes Community Patrol and Neighbourhood Support.

Community Constable Paul Wrigley says Tauranga Police would like to con-

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tinue support for Ōmokoroa Community Patrol around increasing public awareness of the work they do in the community and enhancing their profile.

“I cannot overstate the value of the patrols in preventing crime and increasing residents' sense of safety and reassurance. I’m happy to assist in any way,” he says.

“I have already approached District Council staff developing the skate park about a road management camera on the intersection that will have the added benefit of managing pedestrian movement, disorderly offending and ensuring child safety.

“CCTV could be part of future planning to manage the increased population growth. The benefits to Police around crime prevention and offender identification with the new and improved Tauranga City CCTV set up in serving the Community are very much appreciated and a good example of the part good camera placement can make on serving the community as a whole,” says Constable Wrigley.

Fences were taken down around the new community playground on Friday 21st December, but not before vandals climbed over and used a rock to damage the paint on one of the Talk Tubes, and scratched the metal pipes of the Cavatina musical instrument.

Broken glass has since been cleaned up by responsible adults after bottles were smashed in the rock and slide area.

There’s something for all ages and stages at the new play- These families were among the first to test out the impressive dual flying fox. ground.

Jasmine Kerr with Levi (2) and Eden (4) says a lot of thought and imagination has gone into the playground.

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| Lizard News | February 2019

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Fleetwood Omok Regional Council crabby Dreams a reality about Christmas find

By Matthew Farrell

he Fleetwood Mac Experience will be bringing the Dreams tour to Ōmokoroa as a fundraiser for the new pavilion at Western Avenue.

With two thousand tickets available, the Sports and Recreation Society hope the acclaimed tribute concert will be a significant earner towards the $1.6 million project costs.

Gates open at 3 pm on Saturday 2nd March at the Reserve, with tickets priced at $50 for adults and $10 for children. The event will end by 8.30 pm. Everyone is required to leave the venue by 9 pm with courtesy to neighbouring residents.

Awarded Top Group at the 2016 Variety Artists of New Zealand Benny Awards, the act is credited with mastering the look and sound of Fleetwood Mac's smooth rock hits of the 70s and 80s.

Chair of the Society Rick Gerrish says he and organising committee Pete Presland, Vicki Knell and Dennis Cresswell are hoping to raise a good chunk of money.

“It’ll be a family-orientated event for the Ōmokoroa community. It allows residents to con-

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tribute to the pavilion as a lasting facility locals can say they helped to build.

“Our portion of costs is unchanged including fees, consents and contingencies, but there will be some additional expenses after construction such as landscaping and other exceptions.

“If it goes well and makes a major contribution to the project, we could look to hold a fundraising concert every year. For example, the site works around the building will come from a different budget and there will be ongoing maintenance.”

Food and drink including alcohol will be available for purchase on the night, with no “Bring Your Own” allowed. Tickets are available from Fresh Choice, Running Bird Cafe, the Boat Club - and Harcourts Bethlehem thanks to event sponsors Ron and Pat Shanks, who came up with the idea after becoming involved with pavilion fundraising efforts last year.

It’s hoped construction will begin by April with completion in late October. The District Council funded library component is effectively a separate project on the same site.

iosecurity surveillance in Tauranga Harbour shortly before Christmas discovered four Asian paddle crabs. This is the second discovery of the invasive pest in the Bay of Plenty region after two were caught near Matapihi Bridge during a pest surveillance survey conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) earlier in 2018.

Since the initial discovery, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has been leading a surveillance programme with the University of Waikato as well, to determine the extent of the incursion.

Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Andy Wills explained that they’ve laid over 400 crab traps from Bowentown to Maketū, as well as in Ōhiwa harbour, and had not found any more of the invasive pest.

“We were optimistic that they had not established as aggressively as they have in other parts of New Zealand,” said Mr Wills.

The four crabs were caught in MPI’s summer marine high-risk survey in two locations. Three near the Mataphi Bridge and also one in Ōmokoroa. Asian paddle crabs (Charybdis Japonica) have already established in Northland and the Hauraki Gulf and are an extremely invasive pest.

“These crabs are nasty pieces of work. They compete with our own native crabs and also feed on shellfish such as pipi, tua tua and cockles” explained Mr Wills.

The Regional Council will continue their surveillance work to further understand the extent of the incursion before reassessing the sit-

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It is not known how the pest spread to the region, but it’s likely they floated here or hitched a ride on a fouled hull or in ballast water from another part of the country, said Mr Wills.

The Regional Council asks people to keep an eye out for Asian paddle crabs and encourages people to kill them on site and report the find via 0800 STOP PESTS (0800 786 773). Moving living pest crabs is illegal.

Facts about Asian paddle crabs: • They can grow up to 12cm.

• They have six distinct spikes on each side of the carapace (body).

• They have five spines on each claw.

• In New Zealand, they prefer to hide in estuaries (where there is firm sand or fine muddy sand) in depths of up to 15m.

A FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR THE NEW OMOKOROA SPORTS PAVILION.

Ron & Pat are working with the local community to help make the new sports pavilion a reality.

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News in brief...

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Fatal crash in Bethlehem Police were called to a crash on Bethlehem Road on Monday 17th December just before 6 pm.

Two motorbikes were riding through the town centre, one with pillion passenger 39-year-old Emma Claire Meredith of Te Aroha, who came off the back of one of the bikes and suffered a fatal head injury.

The other riders suffered moderate injuries.

One dead in Te Puna crash 21-year-old Tauranga man Tarandeep Deol died following a crash on Te Puna Station Road on Saturday 22nd December.

Police say the single-vehicle crash happened just before 4.30 am. Another person in the car was critically injured.

Anyone who saw anything or has any relevant information is urged to contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300.

Whose avocados?

Western Bay of Plenty Police were left seeking the rightful owners of more than 500 avocados recovered at a Bethlehem business address on Christmas Eve. An off-duty officer spotted two men with a car boot full of avos and Police were satisfied the fruit was stolen.

A 39-year-old Waharoa man has been charged.

High school campaign restarts More than 2,000 people ended up signing a petition to Parliament, requesting a new secondary school north-west of the Wairoa River. Organisers say there has been massive positive support from the Lizard community, with the bonus that fewer high school buses and cars would be travelling on SH2.

Comments are being sought on a Facebook page “@newschoolforlocalkids”.

Written evidence is being prepared for the Education and Workforce Committee to consider as early as March.

Police disappointed with drink driving Over 21st and 22nd December, Police ran their annual Tri-Cities road policing checkpoint in Western Bay of Plenty.

Approximately 7,400 drivers were checked. Of those, 83 were processed for excess breath alcohol. This equates to one excess reading per 90 vehicles.

"This is about saving lives. The last thing my staff want to be doing is knocking on someone's door to deliver terrible news of a completely avoidable fatality. I urge people to intervene if they see a friend who has been drinking about to drive.” says Senior Sergeant Mark Pakes.

Tauriko a go-go?

T

he Local Government Commission says it will consider an application to alter the boundary between Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City at Tauriko West.

The proposal is to extend the city boundary, to include 189 hectares of rural land currently in Western Bay. It's been identified as suitable for the future growth of the Tauranga urban area.

The District Council says it sought

feedback from landowners, the community, hapū with an interest in Tauriko West and Tauranga Moana iwi authorities during July and August, with the majority supporting the proposal. Tauranga City Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have also supported the proposal.

The Commission is to formally publicly notify the application and invite alternative applications for the affected area.

OPS zone shrinks T

he enrolment zone for Ōmokoroa Point School has been tightened to north of the ECMT railway line. This was formally notified as effective from the start of this year.

The school says students who live within the home zone boundary described below, and as shown on the supplied map are entitled to enrol.

“Starting from the railway overbridge that crosses Mangawhai Bay on the eastern side of the Ōmokoroa Peninsula, travel north-west along the railway to reach the western coastline of the Ōmokoroa Peninsula.

Begin travelling in a northerly direction, all the way around the coastline of the Ōmokoroa Peninsula, to eventually reach the starting point - the railway overbridge crossing Mangawhai Bay.”

The full enrolment scheme can be viewed at: www.omokoroapoint.school.nz

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Community papers still the leading way for Kiwis to catch up on local news D espite fierce competition from digital and social media, community papers and magazines remain the leading source of local news for Kiwis, according to a nationwide survey by 2degrees.

Commissioned as part of 2degrees’ #GoodChat research project, the survey asked more than 2,000 New Zealanders how they are communicating in their communities, and the role technology plays in the way they connect.

The results revealed that around a third of Kiwis rate local papers and magazines the best source of local news, while online sources like community so-

cial media pages/chat groups (23 per cent) and Neighbourly (12 per cent) trail behind.

Your local Colleen Smart or Mrs Mangel also gets a look-in: nine per cent of Kiwis say they get their local intel from a neighbour who knows everything that’s going on in their ‘hood.

The survey’s findings around community newspapers struck a chord with former Waitakere Mayor Sir Bob Harvey who, after more than 27 years in local government, has witnessed first-hand the important role of community press in setting the local agenda.

“These findings are really heartening,

Council roundup

Western Bay waste management Changes to rubbish collection and recycling in the Western Bay are coming.

Council has approved proposals for a Council-contracted kerbside rubbish and recycling collection service for urban and rural communities. It will be part of the 2019/20 annual plan consultation in March/April.

The proposal is a $3.50 per pick-up District wide scheme for rubbish with fixed rateable charges for recycling glass, cardboard/paper, cans and plastics 1 and 2.

Urban homes face a fixed cost of $105 per year for recycling plus a food waste collection. Rural households are looking at $53 for recycling only with no food waste collection.

Connect with Council Connect: People’s Panel is a quick and easy way for residents, ratepayers, businesses and community stakeholders to have a say by taking part in short surveys and giving feedback on the District Council’s current engagement projects.

Council shares what’s happening in the district and the results of every sur-

especially right now as the commercial viability of print media is increasingly being calling into question. I can’t overstate the importance of community papers and community journalism in ensuring the health and wellbeing of communities in Aotearoa,” says Sir Bob. “Community papers provide channelled advocacy of important local issues in a way that isn’t mirrored simply by residents chatting on a community Facebook page. They also champion issues and stories that would escape the attention of the mainstream media. A dangerous walkway in Wainuiomata might not

be important to the 6 pm news but it’s incredibly important to the people who use it every day, and community newspapers get that.”

2degrees CEO Stewart Sherriff says the research has provided interesting reading.

“As a telco, we’re deeply interested in how Kiwis communicate, and where they get their information from. The role of the community paper in informing, supporting and championing our communities is obviously something many Kiwis still hold dear.”

vey. Being a panel member is also a way of getting involved, having your say and feeling more connected to the decisions Council makes.

the family? Council has some beautiful dogs waiting for new forever homes.

Adoption costs $250 for a male dog and $280 for a female dog (including vet checks, vaccinations, microchipping, desexing, and flea/worm treatment). If you're interested, call Animal Services on 0800 926 732.

New horse riding rules at Tuapiro Signage is now up at Tuapiro Point informing horse riders where they can ride as well as the code of conduct for horse riders to follow. Council says it thanks everyone from Ngati Te Wai hapū and the equestrian community for helping find a great compromise that enables horse riding to continue, while protecting ecologically and culturally significant areas.

Adopt a dog Are you thinking of a new addition to

Article supplied.

Walk the Western Bay Check out Council’s updated "Walking tracks and trails of the Western Bay" pamphlet online, or grab a hard copy for $5 from one of the service and information centres. The guide will take you to some beautiful places around the Western Bay including DOC tracks, Council reserves, and parks.

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Serious fun with eels, insects and effluent ore than 180 students from 18 Bay of Plenty schools enjoyed one of two days out discovering how to monitor and care for their local waterways last term.

The 8 to 12-year-olds were participants in an annual Hands-on Water Expo, hosted at Redwood Valley Farm in Paengaroa by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

“Looking after waterways is everyone’s business. The kids that joined us have had fun while learning how aquatic insects, eels and pest fish look. Discovering what the main causes of flooding, water pollution and how to control them are, and gaining the skills to measure things like stream flow, clarity, and rainfall,” said event coordinator and Bay of Plenty regional community engagement

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advisor, Natalie Ridler.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council co-ordinated the Hands-on Water Expo which was delivered in partnership with NZ Landcare Trust, Department of Conservation, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Tauranga City Council, Emergency Management Bay of Plenty, Maketū Ongatoro Wetland Society, and Hēmi O’Callaghan. They each ran one of eleven activity stations that the children rotated through during the day.

“We’re grateful to our event partners as well as the teachers and parent helpers that make the Expo possible.

Students had a great time, and we know they’ll be fabulous water ambassadors as a result. We’re looking forward to doing it again in years to come,” said Ms Ridler.

Article supplied.

Children from Whakamārama School listening to Bay of Plenty Regional Council environmental scientist Rochelle Carter during the “How healthy are our streams?” activity. PHOTO: Supplied.

Super shearers support Lucy

By Maree Morton nother year has come and gone for Te Puna Speed Shear. We were raising money for Lucy Drake to make memories with her family and we were lucky enough that Lucy was well enough to come to our event for a short visit where we raised $4500. We are happy to be passing this on to her Givealittle website, "Let's Help Lucy". If you were not able to make it on the night and would like to donate to Lucy feel free to do so on her page.

Jack Fagan won the Open Shearer with a time of 16.49secs. Senior Shearer was Mike Vanveen with a time of 21.36 secs, and the best Local Shearer was Andy Deverall, his time 18.83 secs. The number of the shearers that came and competed was down on the last few years, but the quality was amazing. Despite the scorching weather, we had a great crowd turn out who all got into the spirit of the event.

I want to say a huge thank you to our major sponsor JMC Civil Construction, and other sponsors are Ray White Te Puna, RWR Fleet Maintenance, Agrisea, Stihl Shop Tauranga/Waihī, Silver Fern Shearing Gear, Lifestyle Transport, Workwear and Safety, Gallagher, Farmlands Te Puna, Elco Wool Buys, Boonies, Big Hill Hunting, Simon Rose Shearing, Tauranga Vets, Boehringer Ingelheim, and all the volunteers that donated their

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Katikati kicks off plans to be the Avocado Capital of New Zealand atikati has proclaimed itself the Avocado Capital of New Zealand and wants to hear from locals how it can capitalise on that status. Jacqui Knight of Katch Katikati says they need to know they’ve got the community behind them and to see what some of their ideas and thoughts

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are. An action group will be put together to see if they can drive the concept to fruition and investigate ways to leverage it.

Jacqui says the idea has been kicking around for a couple of years, but momentum to make the most of it has been building in recent months.

“… about four or five months ago some local orchardists came and saw me and said why don’t we do this? So they motivated me to take the lead on it,” she says.

Signs on the main roads leading into Katikati proclaiming the town’s status of Avocado Capital of New Zealand are the

first steps in the process. “Business promotions around the avocado theme are nothing new in the area, so this is an opportunity to pull them together under the Avocado Capital umbrella,” says Jacqui.

Article supplied.

New year, new venue for Folk Club

By Christine Donehue

atikati Folk Club moves to a new venue in 2019, to The Arts Junction Theatre at 36 Main Road, Katikati. Don’t miss the first concert of the year, The Frank Burkitt Band on Friday 1st March at 7.30pm.

Frank Burkitt was brought up in the highlands of Scotland before moving to the ‘big smoke’ of Edinburgh at the tender age of 18.

As well as his own original brand of folk music, Burkitt began to take a large amount of inspiration from American artists such as Tim O’Brien and James Taylor. He developed a real love for many American genres such as bluegrass, western swing and country, and along with his original love of jazz and blues, his songs began to move away from the traditional Scottish folk music that had shaped his early days.

Always a keen traveller and with feet growing ever itchier, Burkitt moved to New Zealand in 2014. He’d fallen in love with the people, the natural and musical scenery and above all - the fly fishing!

After settling in Wellington, Frank was quick to form The Frank Burkitt Band,

K

which gives his songs vibrancy, and their virtuosic solos beautifully accompany his original vocals.

Frank is a storyteller, songwriter, singer and guitarist. In that order. His rambling anecdotes aim to give the audience more of a connection with his songs. Inspired by artists such as Pokey Lafarge, Van Morrison, Billy Joel and The Wood Brothers, the band play high energy, original music.

The Frank Burkitt Band are embarking on the longest tour of their lives. From January to June 2019, they are taking their ‘Unhinged Tour’ all around New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Yes, they are quite ambitious and slightly unhinged.

This will be one of the band’s last gigs in New Zealand in 2019, before they head off across the ditch and beyond, so don't miss out. We’re lucky to have them performing at Katikati Folk Club.

In a show packed full of new songs and stories, as well as some old favourites, the band will be joined by the insane talents of Oscar Laven on horns.

The Frank Burkitt Band will be supported by perfectly brewed tea and coffee, and perfectly baked biscuits at

half-time.

Doors open at 7, tickets at the door.

Adults $20, members $15, school-aged

children, free. See www.katikatifolkclub.co.nz for more information and future events.

(L-R) Oscar Laven, James Geluk, Kara Filbey, Frank Burkitt (front) and Cameron Dusty Burnell.

PHOTO: Supplied.

Yamaha invests $12 million into Robotics Plus e Puna-based agritech start-up business, Robotics Plus, has announced Yamaha is making a US$8m (NZ$12m) investment into the company. Robotics Plus has developed a range of hardware for automatically picking and sorting fruit, and the new funds will be used to develop its UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) and other projects, as well as pushing its applepacker, which is already in the market.

T

Yamaha has put a total of US$10m into the company and now has a 15% shareholding.

The balance of shares are held by Robotics Plus cofounders Alistair Scarfe (its CTO) and agritech entrepreneur Steve Saunders, who is chair of the board.

The Japanese investment follows the award of a growth grant from Callaghan Innovation last July, worth up to $5m a

year in matching R&D funds.

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley CEO, Hiro Saijo, says: “We’ve invested in Robotics Plus to help us reach our goal to make agriculture more sustainable, healthy, and secure. To meet the significant and increasing agriculture demands, including agricultural labour shortage globally, we need to create sophisticated and precision robotics and automation technologies.”

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A new year of growth I’Anson Reserve tidy up in The Garden A

By Kate Loman-Smith

ee you later 2018. You were fun, busy and full of exciting new adventures, but now we say hello to 2019! We finished off the year by celebrating our first birthday here at The Garden and want to thank all our teachers, parents, children, whānau and the wider community as without all your support our little dream would never have become a reality. We had a wonderful celebration disco with most of our families dancing the evening away.

We have lots of growing, learning and playing to do and can’t wait to see what this year will bring and who we get to meet along the way.

Everything that happens at The Garden is in some way led or initiated by the children. I have seen ‘tents’ erected, sails hoisted on our boat, beautiful art pieces made with ‘loose parts’, challenging obstacle courses and of course with the warmer weather lots of interesting water experiments.

Mornay has been busy in our vegetable garden and always has a few little helpers, well they pull the carrots out or the snow peas off and eat them, so that’s helping isn’t it?

We also went on our first whole centre excursion to Bullswool Farm at the end of last year. Thank you to our parent help as without you trips like this wouldn’t happen. I’m pretty confident all the children and parents had a great time, al-

S

though I’m sure we all slept pretty well that night.

Every year we will plan excursions that link to different areas of learning and interests from that year. So after all our furry little visitors last year, Bullswool seemed like a perfect fit.

The Christmas elves delivered a very cool mud kitchen to The Garden over the holiday period, it did start off as a dust kitchen but thankfully we had a few rainy days in amongst this beautiful weather to transform it into glorious mud. So we won’t be expecting to send shiny clean children home at the end of the day anymore.

We have recently welcomed another teacher to our team. Amy is a qualified ECE teacher who will be working in the infant’s room full time. We now have our three permanent teachers in the infants and only a very few spots left for enrolments, so if you have been thinking about a homely settling for your baby or toddler please come see us very soon.

Enrolments for our older children have been increasing too, but we do still have space for new faces so come say hello, we can’t wait to meet you.

Until next time, have fun, explore, go on adventures, laugh, get out in nature and find some cool water to splash around in.

Arohanui, Mornay, Rachel and all of The Garden team.

great start was made on weed removal at I'Anson Reserve on Saturday the 8th December; after a quick intro and health and safety briefing from Rob Fraser of QEII Trust, we got stuck in. Eleven people arrived for the 10am start; some stayed sentinel at the gate while others clambered through the regenerating undergrowth, hand pulling smaller plants. They were closely followed by saw-wielding workers who dealt swiftly with the larger culprits. The target weeds were privet and taiwan cherry (I can't bring myself to spell them with a capital, they deserve as little notoriety as possible). We also removed hundreds of exotic palm seedlings, both Phoenix and Trachycarpus were abundant, and with many mature garden

specimens nearby, we can expect that this will be an ongoing issue.

Having said that, the regeneration of natives is also happening beautifully with many Kawakawa, Māhoe, Pigeonwood and Hangehange, even young Kauri and Tānekaha were spotted.

The plan is to establish a partnership between the community, the QEII Trust (to whom Keith and Takiko I’Anson gifted the land), and the Tauranga branch of the Forest and Bird Society who planted the whole area way back in 1990.

Thanks to everyone who made it along that Saturday. If you would like to stay informed of further working bee dates or know anyone who is interested in helping set up a trap-line in the Reserve, please get in touch on 021 657 344 or katelomansmith@gmail.com

L-R: Kate Loman-Smith, Tracy Livingston, (receiving a t-shirt prize as “weed addict of the day) and Richard James, chair of Tauranga Forest and Bird. PHOTO: Supplied.

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lizardnews.net

Creating the best opportunities

By Tamati Coffey MP for Waiariki 019 started with a bang in the Waiariki, especially for rangatahi who recently received their NCEA re-

2

sults.

I want to acknowledge their hard work; your future is now closer, go out and grab it with both hands.

Jacinda’s aim, to make Aotearoa the best country in the world to be a child, means we have to ensure every kid - no matter where they live, their background, ethnicity, ability or disability has the best education possible.

Our first Budget launched with the biggest funding boost to education in a decade, including a fundamental rethink of NCEA, to ensure real learning – not constant testing – is at the heart of every learning interaction in our schools.

Locally, we saw $47m for new modern classrooms at Ōtūmoetai College, $6m to Tauranga Girls’ College for similar upgrades, three teaching spaces at Tau-

ranga Boys' College and four at Ōropi School.

We backed kids with additional learning needs, by helping an extra 1,000 children, and gave better support to a further 4,400 deaf, hard-of-hearing and low-vision students too.

Over 7,000 Māori students applied for our ‘fees free’ initiative and $50pw boosts to both student allowances, and living costs are helping whānau reach their potential.

In 2019, we will raise the minimum wage to $17.70 from April 1st and use the recommendations from the recent Mental Health and Addiction inquiry to help us overhaul how Aotearoa responds to depression, suicide and more - leading into New Zealand’s first ‘Wellbeing Budget’.

A Budget that won’t just measure our country’s success on money in the bank, but focus on five fresh priorities around improving your wellbeing, the health of our environment and the strength of our

communities.

Lifting opportunities for our people and supporting mental health, especially

in our next generation.

Let’s keep doing this, kia ū ki te kaupapa!

Tamati Coffey (left), Jacinda Ardern (centre) and Angie Warren-Clark (right) at Ōtūmoetai College last year. PHOTO: Supplied.

Working with the community in 2019

By Todd Muller MP for Bay of Plenty here have the summer holidays gone? It’s almost as if you blink and miss it. While our community is generally blessed with above average weather all year long – compared to those further south at least – I personally could have done with a few more weeks. But alas, it’s time to get back to work.

Over the break, you may have seen we had a billboard campaign on SH2 to remind all those using the road that it is dangerous. National was going to upgrade it to a four-lane highway, and Labour cancelled it. Thanks to all of those who gave me a supportive toot as we put the signs up in the rain on Christmas Eve – I think we got the message across.

The support from this community has been overwhelming since I was first elected as your

W

Member of Parliament in 2014, particularly so in the past 12 months as we really began to put the pressure on the Government to build a new secondary school northwest of the Wairoa River and to get on with an upgrade of SH2 – including the Tauranga Northern Link.

When I look back on 2018 two of my proudest moments were presenting this community's petitions on both of the above issues to the House of Representatives. While Select Committee has already heard submissions on our road (with Andrew Hollis from Fix the Bloody Road presenting on behalf of the community), I do hope you will all take the time to write a submission on our communities need for a new secondary school. This is the best way to make sure politicians, of all stripes and sizes, hear the views of both you and your family loud and clear.

I’ll continue to work hard with, and for, this community. 2019 is going to be a big year.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – WEEKLY EVENTS

lizardnews.net

Here are some of the groups and activities which happen regularly in the area. If you have a regular group you’d like to add to the list, please email liz@lizardnews.net or call 548 1200.

MONDAYS

Indoor Bowls Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall at 6.45pm. All equipment is provided. Call Anne on 548 1636 or Jill on 548 2799.

Aqua-aerobics 9am Ōmokoroa Hot Pools. Sessions are $6 Darts, Serious Singles Register names by 6.50pm for a 7pm per person. Contact Kim on 027 246 8635. start. Oche fees apply. Contact Top Shot Bar, Te Puna on 552 Ōmokoroa Tennis Club Mondays 9-11am. Contact Club Cap- 6405. tain Jeff Warren on 021 109 9668.

WEDNESDAYS

Ōmokoroa Playcentre is open from 9am-noon. The first Taekwondo Self Defence Tai Chi and Qigong various three visits are free. Contact omokoroa@playcentre.org.nz classes. Sports Pavilion, Western Ave Sports Grounds. Call ‘Move It’ Fitness at Whakamārama Hall. 9.30am. $4 or $20 027 548 1960 to check times and availability. per term. Class runs for approximately 45 minutes. Phone Aqua-aerobics 9am Ōmokoroa Hot Pools. Sessions are $6 Caryn 021 133 5390. per person. Contact Kim on 027 246 8635.

Fitness League Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 9.30-10.30am. ConMainly Music at Ōmokoroa Community Church from 9.15am tact Gloria on 021 139 2448. ready to start at 9.30am. Email office@theocc.org.nz or call Pilates Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Mon 9.30-10.30am. Contact 548 2515.

Claudia 021 192 7706.

Te Puna Playcentre 9.15am-noon. 225 Te Puna Road. Email Indoor Bowls Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Mondays at 1.15pm. tepuna@playcentre.org.nz or call 552 5253.

All equipment is provided. Call Anne on 548 1636 or Jill on Zumba Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 9.30-10.30am. Contact Carla 548 2799.

578 8780.

Bridge Club Ōmokoroa Community Church Hall on Monday Social Pool Night register names by 6.15pm for 6.30pm afternoons. Call David Luxton on 548 0521. start. $5 entry fee. Contact Top Shot Bar, Te Puna on 552 Yoga Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 6.15-7.45pm. Contact Mollie 6405.

021 177 8018.

Te Puna Scouts 7-9pm at Māramatanga Park in Te Puna. ConTable Tennis at Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 7-9pm. $3 per single tact Leaders Simon Penness: simon@coolstore.co.nz or and $5 per couple. Includes supper. Soft shoes preferred. Con- 0212233800, Warwick Catto wcatto@ballance.co.nz or tact Bruce Lauchlan on 548 1741.

0274338421, or Josie Hinkley on josiehinkley@hotmail.com Cards 500 7.15pm at Ōmokoroa Bowling Club. Contact Andy Yoga Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 7-8pm. Contact Sarah 021 022 Smith on 570 6035.

19892.

Taekwondo Self Defence Tai Chi and Qigong various Casual Soccer at 7.15pm at Western Ave Sports Grounds botclasses. Sports Pavilion, Western Ave Sports Grounds. Call tom field. Open to everyone over 12 years old. Call Hamish on 552 6427.

027 548 1960 to check times and availability.

TUESDAYS

THURSDAYS

Te Puna Quarry Park clearing, planting and weed control Ōmokoroa Tennis Club Thursdays 9-11am. Contact Club mornings from 8am and afternoons from 1.30pm. Contact Captain Jeff Warren on 021 109 9668.

Shirley on 552 2707. Ōmokoroa Playcentre is open from 9am-noon. The first Pahoia Creative Fibre group Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. 1st, three visits are free. Contact omokoroa@playcentre.org.nz 3rd and 5th Tuesdays at 9.30am. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at Whakamārama Community Library opens 9am-noon. Visit 7pm. Learn to spin, weave, felt, knit, crochet and more. New whakalibrary.com or drop in to see our eclectic mix of domembers welcome. Call Barbara on 544 0920 or 021 144 nated books.

6329.

Whakamārama Playgroup Whakamārama Hall at 9.30amTai Chi 9.30-10.30am Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Contact noon. Contact Alison on 021 873 057.

Trevor on 022 322 3410 or Anne 548 0763. Ōmokoroa Artists Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 9am-noon. ReMahjong Circle 1pm at Sports Pavilion, Western Avenue. Call freshments provided. Contact Jackie on 548 1518 or Karen Denise on 548 1385. on 548 1454 or see Facebook page: Ōmokoroa Artists.

Yoga/Qi Gong Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 4pm-5.30pm. Contact Te Puna Playcentre 9.15am-noon. 225 Te Puna Road. Email Karin 548 1787. tepuna@playcentre.org.nz or call 552 5253. Ōmokoroa Tennis Club Tuesdays 5-7pm. Contact Club Cap- Tai Chi 9.30-10.30am Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Contact tain Jeff Warren on 021 109 9668.

Trevor on 022 322 3410 or Anne 548 0763.

Pilates Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Tue 6-7pm. Contact Claudia Pilates Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Thu 11.30am-12.30pm. Con021 192 7706. tact Claudia 021 192 7706.

Line Dancing Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Beginners 1.30-3pm.

Call Jean on 548 2808.

Ōmokoroa Pahoia Sea Scouts slipway (north end of Ōmokoroa Domain) 6-8pm. For more information contact Jane on 022 351 5696.

Social Club Darts Top Shot Bar, Te Puna. Register by 6 pm for 6.15pm start. Oche fees apply. Contact 552 6405.

‘Move It’ Fitness at Whakamārama Hall. 7-7.45pm. $4 or $20 per term. Class runs for approximately 45 minutes. Phone Caryn 021 133 5390.

Ōmokoroa Songsters Ōmokoroa Settlers' Hall during school terms from 7-8:30pm. Contact Richard Francis 548 0046, Jean Taylor 548 2808, Heather Reynolds 548 1620.

Bridge Club Ōmokoroa Community Church Hall in the evening. Call David Luxton on 548 0521.

FRIDAYS

Taekwondo Self Defence Tai Chi and Qigong various classes. Sports Pavilion, Western Ave Sports Grounds. Call 027 548 1960 to check times and availability.

Friends of the Blade contact Colin Hewens on 552 6771 or via a direct message on the Facebook page: Friends of the Blade.

Aqua-aerobics 9am Ōmokoroa Hot Pools. Sessions are $6 per person. Contact Kim on 027 246 8635. Ōmokoroa Playcentre is open from 9am-noon. The first three visits are free. Contact omokoroa@playcentre.org.nz

Line Dancing Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. General session 9amnoon. Call Shirley on 548 1633.

Preschool Storytime ‘Read Sing Move’ at 10am at Ōmokoroa Library. Caregivers, please stay to accompany your children.

Free to attend.

Ōmokoroa Friendship Club Ōmokoroa Community Church Hall 10am-12.15pm for $4. Morning tea and lunch provided.

Drop in or call Barbara Walls on 548 2899.

Mingles Over 50s Singles Club Running Bird Cafe at 11am.

Email omokoroa.mingles@xtra.co.nz or just turn up for a coffee.

Bolivia Cards Ōmokoroa Bowling Club at 12.45pm. All enquires to Linley on 07 218 7003.

Ōmokoroa Baptist Youth age 11+ at Ōmokoroa Settlers' Hall 7-9pm during term time. Contact Sara 552 6005. Find out more at facebook.com/OBYGROUP

SATURDAYS

Ōmokoroa Toy Library 9.30-11am behind the Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall.

Taekwondo Self Defence Tai Chi and Qigong various classes. Sports Pavilion, Western Ave Sports Grounds. Call 027 548 1960 to check times and availability. Ōmokoroa Tennis Club Saturdays 2-5pm. Contact Club Captain Jeff Warren on 021 109 9668.

TODD MULLER

MP FOR BAY OF PLENTY Omokoroa Constituent Clinics: Meet with Todd or his team 3rd Monday of the month Feb - Nov 10.00am — 12.00pm Settlers Hall, 334 Omokoroa Road No appointment necessary.

Next clinics: February 18th | March 18th | April 18th

Quality Handcrafted Kitchens Designer service available 14yrs Omokoroa 30+ yrs experience in kitchen manufacture & joinery

All enquiries E P

Todd.MullerMP@parliament.govt.nz (07) 542 0505

Authorised by Todd Muller MP, 3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa.

16

| Lizard News | February 2019

Scotty Maule Craftsman Cabinetmaker 027 250 3005 • 07 548 0344 thewoodbarn@outlook.co.nz • 1311 SH2 Omokoroa

lizardnews.net

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – FEBRUARY Monthly meetings and one-off events

Wearable Arts exhibition will be on display until late February at the Junction Theatre, Arts Junction, 36 Main Road, Katikati.

Mon 4th Bethlehem/Te Puna Lions Club at Te Puna Community Centre Hall, Tangitū Road, Te Puna (behind the tennis courts). 1st and 3rd Monday evenings from 6.00pm.

Contact Colin 576 9110. Also Monday 4th March.

Tue 5th Women’s Textile Shed 1st Tuesday at Tauranga Arts & Craft Centre, Elizabeth Street, Tauranga. 9.30-2pm. $15 per person.

Contact Kim Cutting at cuttingkim@gmail.com or 021 513 093.

Tue 5th Peggy Purl Knitting Group knitting for vulnerable local kids. The Centre, Hamurana Road at 10.30am first and third Tuesday of each month. Contact The Centre on 548 2331.

Wed 6th Aongatete Forest Project working bee. Top of Wright Road. 9am-12.30pm. First and third Wednesday morning of the month.

Visit aongateteforest.org/join Also Wednesday 6th March.

Thu 7th Ōmokoroa Peninsula Club 9.30am.

First Thursday of the month at the Ōmokoroa Community Church (excl Dec/Jan). Contact Dave on 548 1093 or Margaret on 548 2737.

Also Thursday 7th March.

Fri 8th Whakamārama Kids@Play 2.30pm4.30pm on the first Friday each month. After school community gathering. Bring some

afternoon tea to share. Tea and coffee are available for a gold coin donation. Also Friday 1st March.

Sat 9th 12.30pm-3pm Wellbeing for Women at Waipuna Hospice Atrium. $10.

Contact: newzealand@esotericwomenshealth.com Sun 10th The Ōmokoroa & Districts Lions Market 9am-noon Western Ave carpark second Sunday of the month. Contact Barbara Haseltine on 548 2255.

Sun 10th Muso Jam Session at Black Sheep Bar & Grill. 2nd Sunday each month, 3-6pm.

Mon 11th Friends of Cooney Reserve working bee the 2nd Monday of the month 9.30am-noon. Contact Jan on 548 2299 for more information.

Wed 13th Ōmokoroa & Districts Lions Club 6pm at Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Contact Keith and Rosemary Searle on 548 2117.

Wed 13th Alchemy Poetry at the Black Sheep Bar & Grill, Whakamārama from 6pm8pm or thereabouts. Read your own work or that of a published poet. Every 2nd Wednesday. Call 07 571 8722 or 021 145 5810.

Thu 14th Friends of Puketoki trapping/checking every 2nd Thursday. Meet at Leyland Road carpark. Contact John Budden on 548 1180 or Terry Edwards on 552 6222.

Thu 14th Ōmokoroa Business Network meeting. 9am at Beached On Blue cafe. 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.

Sat 16th Doggywood Doggy Day Out, see advert below.

Sun 17th Te Puna Rugby Registration 35pm. All girls and boys welcome to join. Teams starting at U6 right through to U14s. Weight graded.

Sun 17th Friendship Force meets in the evening of the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Phone Jonathan on 572 2091.

Mon 18th National Party Constituent Clinic every 3rd Monday 10am-noon at Ōmokoroa Setters’ Hall. Enquiries to 542 0505.

Mon 18th Bethlehem/Te Puna Lions Club at Te Puna Community Centre Hall, Tangitū Road, Te Puna (behind the tennis courts). 1st and 3rd Monday evenings from 6.00pm.

Contact Colin 576 9110.

Wed 20th Ōmokoroa Music at Ōmokoroa Boat Club 7pm. Play, sing, enjoy. Gold coin donation. Refreshments available. Every 3rd Wednesday. Contact Heather 548 1620, Richard 548 0046 or Keith 548 0660.

Sun 24th Affordable Art & Artisan Fair 11am-3pm last Sunday monthly. Black Sheep Bar & Grill on Plummers Point Road. To book, contact Birgitt on aaafair17@gmail.com Sun 24th Pahoia School Triathlon. Open to all 5-13-year-olds.

For information, registration and course maps, go to www.pahoia.wixsite.com/pahoiatriathlon and see advert on page 18.

Mon 25th Ōmokoroa Business Women’s Network Ōmokoroa Preschool on Margaret Drive at 7pm. Contact obwn@fastmail.com Thu 28th Ōmokoroa Business Network meeting at 9am at Beached On Blue cafe. 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.

Thu 28th Probus Club of Ōmokoroa 9.30am-noon at Ōmokoroa Setters’ Hall every 4th Thursday of the month. Contact Jean 548 2239 or Carol on 863 7292.

Tue 19th Peggy Purl Knitting Group knitting for vulnerable local kids. The Centre, Hamurana Road at 10.30am first and third Tuesday of each month. Contact The Centre on 548 2331.

Sun 3rd March Kids’ Fishing Competition details and tickets available from Ōmokoroa Boat Club bar.

Wed 20th Aongatete Forest Project working bee. Top of Wright Road. 9am12.30pm. First and third Wednesday morning of the month. Visit aongateteforest.org/join Also Wednesday 6th March.

Thu 7th March Ōmokoroa Peninsula Club 9.30am. First Thursday of the month at the Ōmokoroa Community Church (excl Dec/Jan).

Contact Dave on 548 1093 or Margaret on 548 2737.

Doggywood Saturday, 16 February 2019 10am - 2pm

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Omokoroa Sports Grounds, Western Avenue, Omokoroa

See you there!!

Bring your pooch for a tonne of family fun!

Come and join us for lots of fun and be in to win some cool prizes: Dog star of the day competition

Pooch photo booth

Performances by local Agility Clubs

Bouncy castles for the kids

Market stalls

Yummy food - hot and cold!

For more information, go to: www.westernbay.govt.nz/summer-dog-walks www.westernbay.govt.nz | Te Kaunihera a rohe mai i nga Kuri-a-Wharei ki Otamarakau ki te Uru February 2019 | Lizard News |

17

lizardnews.net

What’s going on at the OBC?

By Tim Raeburn, Commodore t has been a busy start to the year at the Ōmokoroa Boat Club. The New Year’s Eve party was a huge success with the band ‘Ignite’ providing fantastic entertainment. Club Captain, Steve Willoughby, organised a great series of bands throughout January playing for the ‘Sunday Sessions’ which proved very popular.

Plans for the enclosing of the northern deck of the club have been submitted to Council, and we hope to start the project over the coming months. This will increase the useable space in the restaurant and create a much lighter and brighter area.

This will be followed by re-carpeting and painting of the club, so lots to look forward to.

Dates to put in your diary: we have the second annual Waitangi Day adult dinghy sailing event for members, on Wednesday 6th February. On Sunday 24th February the club will hold a darts competition for members. Entry is $10, and all proceeds will go the Ōmokoroa-Pahoia Sea Scouts. Look out for details at the club for what should be a fun event. The ever-popular fishing completion occurs in March. The kids’ competition will take place on Sunday 3rd March, followed by the adults’ competition on the 15/16th March. This event couldn’t run if it weren’t for the amazing support of

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local businesses who sponsor or donate spot prizes for the event. This year’s lead sponsor will be Tall Poppy Real Estate, owned by Rachel Millard. There will be over $8000 worth of prizes, so if you haven’t entered before, have a go this year – you never know, you may win a prize!

Junior Sailing continues throughout the first part of the year and is now in its 20th year. It is run by our sailing convenor John Budden and his trusty band of volunteer helpers.

Sailing is FREE for all members, so if your son or daughter would like to have a go, please come down. Timings and dates are on the Club website under 'sailing' and also on the Club's notice board.

Later in the year the annual duck race and rowing races will take place. If you haven’t been before, 200 bright yellow ducks are released into the water in front of the boat club, and the first three ducks across the line win a cash prize. This event is again raising money for the Ōmokoroa-Pahoia Sea Scouts. This is preceded by the rowing races, which are a spectacle in themselves.

We will be looking for men, women and children to take part, and as has happened in previous years the ability to row is optional but recommended!

Favourable winds if you are sailing, tight lines if you are fishing.

Team building for Ōmokoroa-Pahoia Sea Scouts. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

Tim Raeburn. PHOTO: Supplied.

OBC junior sailors making the most of high tide. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

GIVE IT A TRY

TRIATHLON

2019 OBC Fishing Competition The Children's Competition (ages 0-7 yrs & ages 8-14 yrs) Will be held on NZ Children's Day,

Every entrant will receive a Triathlon t-shirt.

Register online by 10th February to guarantee your t-shirt size.

Every entrant gets an amazing goody bag Race wristband

Sunday 3rd March from 6am to 4pm

First 5 of each race receives medals

All kids will receive a goody bag.

Heaps of spot prizes including a

$5 Members $15 Non-members

CHILDREN’S BIKE FROM KOOPS CYCLES

The Adults' Competition

Check in: 10.45-11.40am Race briefing: 11.50am First race: 1pm

6pm Friday 15th March to 4pm Saturday 16th March

Spot prize giving: 2.30pm after the last race

$10 for OBC members and $25 for non-members

Entries close: Thursday 21st February

Tauranga Harbour ONLY. Tickets and rules available from the OBC bar mid-February.

Register now at http://pahoia.wixsite.com/pahoiatriathlon

$8000 worth of prizes!

Lead Sponsor Tall Poppy Real Estate

18

Omokoroa Domain Sunday 24th February 2019

| Lizard News | February 2019

Cost: $25 per child ($30 on the day)

lizardnews.net

Brooke Stinson: Hybrid Blues Vocalist

By Rosemary Balu of ARTbop lassically trained Whakamārama resident Brooke Stinson is the vocalist with Tauranga-based band Hybrid Blues. Like many of our creative community Brooke has a “day job” so you’ve probably met her at the Black Sheep Bar & Grill and seen her wide smile and infectious laughter. Brooke features in the recently released video of the band with its original song “Sunshine”.

Founded by Whakatāne-born composer and musician Roy Hudson, Hybrid Blues describes itself as playing “blues/rock/pop originals”. Roy is a professional musician with years of international performance experience. Guitarist Dean Cronin (he of the luminous orange sneakers and cowboy hat) is also a classically trained musician. Bassist Darrel Hartley and drummer Mark Schaumann epitomise musical cool.

ARTbop saw Hybrid Blues when they participated in the first Sunday Jam Session at the Black Sheep. Obvious talent and style is happening with this band.

Brooke, who can really sing, exudes charm and Roy Hudson is what he says he is: “a singer-songwriter” – he’s good!

And these two are well supported by their colleagues. It’s wonderful to hear original music and performance. And, they’re already getting Australian airplay for their music.

ARTbop went down to The Funky Lizard at Paengaroa to watch the initial stages of the “Sunshine” promotional video being produced. Repetitive

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painstaking work and effort by the band and the production team to create what you finally see. I’ve heard “Sunshine” many times now and think it’s another New Zealand summer anthem.

There’s a Hybrid Blues website, and you can see and hear “Sunshine” and more of the band’s original work

www.hybridblues.com ARTbop has an article “Café Culture: Hybrid Blues at The Funky Lizard, Paengaroa which features images of the unique, now closed art café. There’ll be a follow-up article on Hybrid Blues at the Black Sheep Jam Session coming up on ARTbop www.artbop.co.nz

Black Sheep muso jam hosted

by Brendan McCarthy of Apollo Steam Train, second Sunday each month 3-6 pm, next 10th February.

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February 2019 | Lizard News |

19

lizardnews.net

By Shirley Sparks

Wonder weeder warriors

fter the outrageous theft last year of our tools and equipment (now, thankfully, replaced), I couldn’t help thinking of the small, humble Wonder Weeder that has, when wielded by the team who have named themselves after this tool, made such a difference to the Quarry Park. It is so very useful and is perhaps not as well known as it deserves.

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When we first started work in the Quarry, we were in need of funds, and these Wonder Weeders became a source of a little extra income. I was given the name and address of a gentleman in Christchurch who made them – and I bought a number of them at $3 each.

Every time we had a stall to promote the existence and development of the Quarry Park, we sold the Wonder Weeders for $5 apiece.

With each tool supplied came a small note from the maker, Mr Jameson.

Unusually for most advertisements, every one of Mr Jameson’s statements is correct. I have several Wonder Weeders

at strategic points around my house and garden and always have one in my garden pouch. I have given many away, to Quarry volunteers, friends and acquaintances over the years. I don’t know if they are still available, but they are certainly wonderfully useful. They never seem to wear out although I have accidentally straightened one or two when attacking a particularly deep-seated weed root.

For a time I was in friendly communication with Mr Jameson, but I no longer know if he is still producing his neat, simple and handy tool. Now I thank him, in my head, for his contribution to us at the Quarry – and especially, for giving us a name for the team who keep the weeds away!

If you want to join the Wonder Weeders, or you have more information about Mr Jameson’s invention, do call me on 552 5874.

Editor’s note: We were intrigued by Shirley’s story and are pleased to report the Wonder Weeder and Mr Jameson’s story in delightful poetic form have gone global. See wonderweeder.co.nz

Mr Jameson’s letter and Wonder Weeder. PHOTOS: Supplied.

ADVERTORIAL

Sales tipped to bounce back here were no dramatic changes to property values in recent weeks.

QV says it’s likely the result of a generally less buoyant market in the holiday season. QV consultants generally anticipate activity to bounce back in coming weeks as the holidays end.

It’s now easier for first-home buyers to get a mortgage. From 1st January, loanto-value restrictions were eased. Banks may now lend 20% of new loans to

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owner-occupiers with less than a 20% deposit.

QV’s House Price Index shows Tauranga home values increased by 3.9% in 2018 and by 1.6% in the three months to December. The average city value is $720,645.

The Western BoP market rose 4.9% year on year and by 3.8% in the last quarter. The average district value is now $654,083.

SHOW HOME

Did you know…?

Gum disease is preventable ight in ten people have gum disease*, yet many aren’t even aware of it because it is often painless. At an early stage, when it is called gingivitis, it is easily treated. The symptoms: gums become red and swollen and tend to bleed. As the condition progresses to the next stage, then called periodontal disease, the bone and tissues around the teeth become damaged, and pockets form around the teeth. Periodontal disease is still treatable although this becomes more difficult. It is nevertheless important because if nothing is done, the pockets become infected, teeth get loose, and eventually either fall out or have to be extracted.

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One reason why regular dental hygiene appointments are so important is because they serve to detect gum disease at an early stage. Dental hygienists also assess the overall gum health and give personalised advice how to prevent a recurring problem at home.

At Omokoroa Dental Surgery our two friendly dental hygienists, Laurie Evans and Lianne Bateman, look forward to providing not only gentle yet thorough dental cleaning. Seeing them regularly can also prevent problems that a dentist would otherwise have to treat. It can save teeth and also money in the long term. * Survey of Auckland Dental Association

This column is brought to you by Omokoroa Dental Surgery.

20 | Lizard News | February 2019

ADVANCED HOUSING SYSTEMS

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lizardnews.net

Picking up the pace on Puketoki Reserve the war on pests inland ecological island?

By Margot McCool fter a well-deserved break over the Christmas and New Year period, the Friends of The Blade / PÄ KererĹŤ pest control group resumed duties in the middle of January. Not all the volunteers have been on holiday however – 5 new lines have been cut in over recent months, each of which needs to be GPS marked, cut through the bush for access on foot, and then have possum and rat traps installed at appropriate spacings, and marking tape to clearly show where the line goes. The final one of these has just been completed, and co-ordinator Colin Hewens is looking for new volunteers who may be happy to take on either an existing line or one of the new ones. “We will team you up with an experienced trapper for the first couple of times, until you are ready to take on your own line, then it’s up to you when you go in to clear and re-bait the traps,â€? says Colin. “Most volunteers go in on a Friday morning, but others prefer to do the weekend, or wait to go in with a family member or friend when it suits them. We just ask that you let us know when you are going in, and check in once you are out again.â€?

Each trap line takes approximately 2 hours to do, once a fortnight, and the bait used is non-toxic. “If you can spare that sort of time, we would love you to join our team. It really is very rewarding to

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By Francis Orr s this something we could create? Not an island surrounded by water, but an area of land, isolated from the surrounding farmland and where a more natural micro-habitat exists. A special place where non-native predator species have been removed or dramatically controlled to low levels, native species are nurtured and perhaps even reintroduced, the natural border with surrounding farmland is maintained to prevent reintroduction of non-native species - particularly bird predators and foreign plants.

The ultimate goal would be to recreate an ecological example of the country as it was before human intervention, but with provision for public access to the Reserve to view nature (plants, animals and birds) as it reverts to its original form following many years of local volunteer work.

It is not practical or affordable to create a physical barrier (a pest-free fence) around the Reserve, but with substantial help from the local community and Councils, it is viable to control animal and plant pests to enable the natural ecosystem to recover and flourish.

A volunteer group called the “Friends of Puketoki� maintains the ecology within the Reserve, particularly relating to pest control - possums, rats, mice, stoats, ferrets, hedgehogs and cats. Although the pest control has been in op-

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Friends of The Blade co-ordinator Colin Hewens prepares to re-stock volunteer supplies. PHOTO: Supplied.

hear the birdlife coming back, but the rats and possums will just keep marching back in if we don’t keep the pressure on.�

To date, the Friends of The Blade group can account for 909 dead possums and 1456 rats – and most likely hundreds if not thousands of native birds alive as a result.

If you would like to volunteer, sponsor traps, or help in any way, give Colin Hewens a call on 552 6771 or 022 315 5646.

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eration for more than ten years, we still find a low level of redevelopment and reinvasion.

Around fifteen members meet every second Thursday to walk the trap lines to remove dead animals from traps, reset and rebait traps and to top up any poison baits in the bait stations. This is a great way to meet new friends with common interests in pest control and who also enjoy outdoor activity within the reserve environment.

If anyone would like to join the Friends of Puketoki group, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Terry Edwards (552 6222) and John Budden (548 1180).

There are many large trees of undeterminable ages - Rimu, PĹŤriri and Tawa being some of the attractions to view. PHOTO: Supplied.

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Settlement supported by

By Simon Fowler moved to Ōmokoroa just over two months ago with my wife Jane and our children Heidi (6) and Jonty (3). We came from near the Lake District in the North of England. We loved New Zealand, having visited three times before, and did not want to live with the regret of not giving it a go over here. We found Ōmokoroa when we were visiting my cousin, Catherine, and her family and it instantly became our first choice to make our new home.

When we arrived Catherine put Playcentre on the list of activities to try with Jonty. As he is not yet at school or kindy, I was attracted by the chance of letting him meet and mix with other children his age. After our first visit, I realised Playcentre is very different to anything we had in the UK. Personally, it has helped me to meet people and feel settled in the area much more quickly than I would ever have been able to do otherwise. I think it is also helping me to learn a lot more about Kiwi culture than I would have done by just sending him to childcare. It has really made me think about how Jonty can learn and develop from different situations and really helped the family settle by seeing how his confidence has grown through a big period of change.

Jonty absolutely loves Playcentre and often talks about the children and other

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Christmas party

parents at home. I think the thing he enjoys the most is the variety of activities, whether it be the playground and outside toys, musical instruments, carpentry or seeing how fire extinguishers work!

I was working full time in the UK and not spending nearly as much time looking after the children, so if I am honest spending all this new time with Jonty and going to a group of mainly mums was a little daunting. Yet I couldn't recommend Playcentre any more highly to any dads or mums moving to Ōmokoroa.

You could not hope to meet a more welcoming group of people who all want the very best for their children. I occasionally find myself involved in conversations that can still make a grown man blush.... but being married to a midwife, I am used to it now!

By Cushla Moriarty-Rae hat a way to wrap up an amazing Playcentre year, with a big end end-of-year Christmas party. Thank you to Steve and Chantal Ling of Fresh Choice for your generosity; the sausages you donated went down a treat with Chef Dom on the BBQ. We had kids in face paint - an array of unicorns, flower fairies and sharks running around with great anticipation as Santa was on his way in Ōmokoroa’s original 1937 fire truck. Many thanks Ōmokoroa Fire Brigade, nothing says Christmas in NZ till you see Santa on a bright red fire engine.

Fun was had by not only our children but the whole family. Thank you to Melanie Mills and Kat Adams for organ-

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ising such a great evening.

We have had some absolute cracker days with water play being the main event. Seeing the children grow more confident in themselves and trying new things is just what we want to see here at Playcentre.

What's in store for 2019? More water play, process cooking more delicious goodies for everyone to enjoy, day trips out and about exploring our greater community, carpentry - kids love to hammer and drill - loads of science experiments, messy play, colourful art, picnics and more Te Reo for our tamariki.

If this sounds like a place your child could flourish in, come and check us out.

Jonty enjoying outside play. PHOTO: Supplied.

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Fun and freedom to explore

By Candice Hodson he gardener does not make a plant grow. The job of a gardener is to create optimal conditions for growth.” - Ken Robinson.

Childhood is a time to foster wonder, creativity and discovery through play and exploration. At Te Puna Playcentre there are endless possibilities to foster these key areas which help grow thriving, happy children. During a session, the children are free to engage in hands-on messy play and much more. They simply need a towel and a change of clothes.

Messy play is especially important as most younger children explore their world as kinaesthetic (hands-on) learn-

“T

Body @ Ease

ers. This is especially true for my little one who loves to learn through touch and taste. Te Puna Playcentre offers an outdoor area where children are free to run, jump, and climb and engage in unstructured play without the interference of set rules by adults. This allows the children to use their imaginations and engage in a deeper level of play with their peers. The younger children watch and learn from the older children who engage in more complex play and the older children have the opportunity to learn to be role models and nurturing towards the younger children.

In a world where our children are spending increased amounts of their time on electronic devices and in structured extra-curricular activities, time for unstructured play can be scarce, hindering a child’s innate creativity and the physical development of strong muscles and bones. Playcentre allows you to slow down and observe your child. It gives you the opportunity to follow your child’s lead and explore their own interests at their own pace through play. After all, children learn best when they want to, not because they’re forced to. Another special quality of Playcentre is the warmth and support the other parents offer. As a new mum finding my feet in a new city, I felt very welcomed. Joining Te Puna Playcentre was one of my best decisions as a new parent. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is something I truly believe. If you are interested, please do come along and visit the centre. You won’t regret it!

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Kindy Christmas celebration t the Te Puna Kindergarten Christmas celebration, the children made aprons and mirrors and sang beautiful waiata to their whānau.

We see this as a time for giving as opposed to buying and receiving, and our whānau donated a big box of presents for children at the “Women’s Refuge”. Santa’s helper came, and the

children told him what they wanted for Christmas. Exciting! We finished with a shared luncheon. We would like to wish everyone a happy new year and hope you created some lovely memories together over the holidays.

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Singing waiata to whānau at Christmas, wearing our printed aprons. PHOTO: Supplied.

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The wonderland of broadband

By Rosemary Balu of ARTbop

adore books. I was brought up to respect books and to treat them as objects of worth and significance. I often wonder if these were the values of people who had less access, or less easy access, to them than I have had. I don’t have a large collection of books in my home, but the small foyer of my house always has a pile of joy, delight and diversion from one of the libraries around Tauranga and the Western Bay. I’ve reached the age where if I were to get lost in the Puketoki Reserve, media would describe me as “an elderly local woman….” Despite that, and through the

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ongoing help and support of younger people (including Carolyne Taylor formerly of the Tauranga City Libraries but now based at the new Katikati Library), I’m now the Managing Editor of an online creative arts magazine 'ARTbop', and the Administrator of several social media sites. I did confess to the wonderful Emily (who has just sorted out my phone plans and house wifi) that at the time I uploaded my first article to the ARTbop website I was drenched with cold sweat – no pain, no gain!

It’s comparatively recently that I’ve moved from my working life “ihug” dialup connection to broadband. For me, it’s been like going from crawling to run-

ning, and it’s expanded my world in ways I would never have imagined. I read international newspapers online now, as well as our locally-focused productions, I check out Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye. Every day I look in on The Young Turks – this generation’s Claud Cockburn and “The Week”. I’ve taken a tour of Gaza.

I’m sharing the home and décor projects of young people in the United States and England. Mr Carrington and his vlog have taken me shopping in pre-Christmas London, on holiday to Ibiza and for a walk around Lake Como. I see what’s happening at The Arts Junction in Katikati, the Tauranga Art Gallery and The Incubator. I check out what divine

New bus network ready to roll t’s claimed more direct routes, more frequent services and more reliable buses are part of the new Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty bus network.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport Committee Chairman Lyall Thurston says December marked the first time the network had been changed since 2008.

“In the last ten years, the region has seen unprecedented growth.

The new network is designed to improve reliability and on-time performance,” Cllr Thurston says.

“It has been redesigned to provide more direct routes and stronger connections between areas outside of the Tauranga city centre.”

New routes have been introduced to address urban growth issues including the new CBD and hospital routes that leave every 15 minutes, and the Golden Sands Express.

Cllr Thurston says at least 30 per cent of passengers will have shorter journey times because of

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more direct routes.

"More frequent buses will enable people to travel closer to their desired travel times, so there will be savings in their journey times as well.”

New features on buses include bike racks and internal and external CCTV cameras.

Regional Council is committed to low carbon transport, with five

electric buses rolling out across the network from mid-2019.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council pays for one-third of the public transport network, fares cover one-third, and the New Zealand Transport Authority pays onethird. There is also a SuperGold fare subsidy administered by the Ministry of Social Development to fund free bus travel for seniors.

Refinements include changes to the Ōmokoroa and Katikati services. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

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Safety work at Panepane art of Panepane Wharf on Matakana Island has been removed from use for safety work, due to the failure of two piles causing a section of the wharf to slump.

It happened just before Christmas. Temporary measures have been put in place to protect wharf users. The District Council arranged for contractors to securely fence the damaged part of the wharf last month.

Boat passengers will still be able to use the wharf, which Council says is being regularly monitored to ensure public safety. Wharf users are asked to avoid the danger area, and vehicles are prohibited from driving on the wharf.

Council says it will carry out a detailed condition inspection of the structure to gain a better understanding about its remaining life so that decisions can be made about repair or replacement of the wharf.

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Panepane Wharf pictured slumping prior to safety works. PHOTO: Supplied.

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styles Juliette Hogan thinks we should be wearing; the towns and villages where so many people with the same name as me still live. I can read the comments, political opinions and suggestions of many of the local creative community. I can find out what’s going on in the district – I never knew so many dogs, and cats were trying to escape from their owners.

And the books? While you can obviously teach an old dog new tricks, some habits die hard, well, don’t die. For me that late night or wet day read, snuggled in a clean, warm bed, propped up by a bank of soft, fresh smelling pillows will never be replaced by a date with my laptop.

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Bay Conservation Alliance launches with big aspirations for project development ay Conservation Alliance received the support of Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage when it was launched in Tauranga as part of National Conservation Week. Founded by four Western Bay community conservation groups – Maketū Ongatoro Wetland Society, Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, Aongatete Forest Project and the Uretara Estuary Managers – the alliance has

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been set up to support and grow community-led environmental restoration and nature conservation.

Newer members include Te Whakakaha Trust and Friends of the Blade.

Alliance chair, Julian Fitter, says they harness the power and enthusiasm of small community groups, agencies and the wider community to develop bigger

landscape-scale conservation projects.

It’s about joining the dots across both community groups and landscapes by taking a smart regional approach to restoring nature and lightening the load by providing groups with shared support services.”

A launch event last September marked the alliance’s first year of operation, and they are keen to get others involved. Bay

Alliance offers support services to community conservation groups in areas such as administration, communication and marketing, nature education, fundraising and project management.

There is also a ‘Friends of Bay Conservation’ programme that anyone can sign up to.

For more information, visit www.bayArticle: Priority One. conservation.nz.

Arts Junction adds wow factor to Katikati atikati’s new Arts Junction has staked its claim on the old library by transforming the building into a stunning creative space.

The `wow factor’ starts at the door with a quirky wooden walkway artwork

by Marc and Debbie Spijkerbosh that leads into the Junction where the magic starts.

The previous gloom of the old building has been refreshed with interior decorating, fewer walls and floodlight space.

The Arts Junction leases the building from Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the spaces within have been sub-leased to the Katikati Arts Collective and the Information Centre.

Katch Katikati manager Jacqui Knight is excited about the future of the centre for the town.

Gathering more of the arts into one building will increase the town’s point of

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difference as a destination for visitors wanting to explore Katikati’s reputation as a mural and arts town.

Next door to the Junction is the Western Bay Museum, across the road is the new Katikati Library and Community Hub and within walking distance is the Haiku Pathway and Bird Walk and three other art galleries within the Village retail centre.

A boutique theatre is being established in the largest space within the Junction where the Theatre Group is building a multi-use stage for its productions, the performing arts and community exhibitions.

Having a home base for its theatre productions is a milestone for the group which until now has been nomadic within the town.

Treasurer Bob Baunton says the new theatre replaces 15 local venues previ-

ASL

ously used by the group.

The different spaces within the Junction lend the centre to film-making, movies, themed events, meeting rooms and corporate event hire.

Katikati Open-Air Art also has its own gallery space with artworks on display and for sale.

Operating costs for the Junction will be recouped from space hireage, art exhibitions, film festivals, information centre sales, meeting room hire and artisan art commissions.

A building fund has been growing over the past eight years as money has been squirrelled away in anticipation of the Junction being established. This money has covered the renovation costs. In addition to self-funding through these avenues, the Junction is applying for external funding.

Jacqui says it is now up to the public to

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For more information or enquiries about use of the Arts Junction, call 549 5250 or email: jacqui@katchkatikati.org.nz.

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Katch Katikati manager Jacqui Knight (left) with events coordinator Vicky Austin in the new Arts Junction. PHOTO: Supplied.

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Myrtle rust

By Matthew Farrell fter another confirmed case of myrtle rust in Ōmokoroa, the Ministry for Primary Industries tells Lizard News it has given up trying to stop the spread of the windborne disease.

There have been now been more than 150 confirmed infected properties in the Bay of Plenty region since 2017. Biosecurity NZ says this includes Aongatete 3, Bethlehem 28, Katikati 1, Ōmokoroa 11, Plummers Point 1, and Whakamārama 1. Te Puke 43 and Tauranga 17 are also hot spots. The advice remains not to touch suspected infections but to take photos and call the MPI Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline immediately on 0800 80 99 66.

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Police advise motorists to guard against vehicle break-ins olice are urging people to take extra care following an increase in car break-ins in Tauranga. Over the past few months, thieves have been targeting vehicles with items left inside them, including radar detectors. “We encourage owners to keep vehicles safe by taking some very basic precautionary measures,” says Senior Sergeant Eddie Lyttle, Area Manager Response, Tauranga.

“The easiest way to protect your valuables is to remove them from your vehicle. If you do need to leave items unattended, make sure they’re out of sight, and your vehicle is locked. Also, park in busy, open and well-lit areas whenever possible.

“Items like radar detectors or GPS units, which are often left on dashboards, are especially appealing to opportunistic thieves, so take these with you or leave them out of sight.

“Anyone with information about thefts from vehicles, or anyone who has had property stolen, is urged to contact their local Police immediately — the sooner we know about this, the better chance we have of catching the offenders and preventing further crime.”

Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Council distributes wildlife children’s tales to libraries ostering kindness and respect for wildlife is the message behind a donation of children’s books to Western Bay libraries by Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The 10-book sets have been produced by the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Wildlife Trust (ARRC) in Tauranga and will be distributed to Council’s libraries, some schools and environmental groups.

The stories, based on true bird life experiences, are written by ARRC founder and Tauranga Holistic Vet Dr Liza Schneider and illustrated by five local artists.

The books feature the individual adventures of 10 commonly known New Zealand birds (Frankie, Wiremu, Daphne, Tilly, Sal, Pipi, Kingi, Hemi, Sheldon, Manu) as they get into trouble at the hands of humans and are rescued and returned to the wild by the heroes who come to their rescue.

Liza says she wrote the stories in the hope of edu-

cating communities on the importance of looking after our natural heritage and taking responsibility for the wellbeing of our wildlife.

“Most birds come to harm by the hand of humans.

The stories are all based on true cases and tell how wildlife can be impacted by humans and how that can be avoided. All the stories have a happy ending,” says Liza.

The birds featured in the stories are developed into endearing characters and represent those species rescued and brought to Liza at the ARRC refuge. ARRC has been rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife in the Bay of Plenty since 2003 and receives more than 800 rescued birds a year.

Council’s Community Relationships advisers Ben Wilson and Glenn Ayo have spearheaded Council’s plan to use the ARRC series as a way to promote wildlife education. ”Council wants to help educate our children about respecting wildlife and having a caring attitude to our animals and the environment,” says Glenn.

“We work with some amazing groups such as Wild About New Zealand and Maketū Ongatoro Wetland Society (MOWS) to promote and support the conservation message in our communities. These great stories from ARRC, presented so beautifully for children, are an excellent way to help with this message – and our libraries are a great start.”

Liza hopes the ARRC Wildlife Trust book series will attract sponsors to enable the Trust to fund distribution of the books to all schools in the Bay of Plenty – and further afield if possible.

For more information on ARRC visit their Facebook page: ARRC Wildlife Trust.

ARRC founder, Liza Schneider, with the ten book set of children's wildlife stories.

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Get tennis fit

Job hunting teens hit the net

By Josh Callander here are 43 local teenagers looking for employment in the Bethlehem to Katikati area. How do I know this? I feel it is an interesting story that would benefit the community.

I am 14 years old. While looking for some part time work, I discovered that there was no easy way to find the jobs that were out there for young people. Established job websites were for older people and there was nothing for school students looking for part time work.

While pondering this situation, the Young Innovators Awards came up. I decided that a website would be a good idea for the competition.

After further research on this issue, I discovered that the youth unemployment rates in New Zealand are very high, with 11.2% of 15 – 19 year olds unemployed, which costs the government $345 million dollars a year. I felt that young people had a lot to offer and they just needed an easier way to connect to employers.

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I entered the Young Innovators Awards for my website idea, Teen Jobs, and was fortunate enough to come in 3rd place in the junior category. My idea was innovative because it flips the traditional job finding experience over – rather than the employer listing a job, which can be impractical, expensive and time consuming for smaller and part time positions, the teenagers register and then employers can simply select a teenager using the search criteria (job type/ location/ days). The site is designed to be extremely user friendly and free to use.

After my success at YiA, I was encouraged to develop the idea, as it would make a real difference to teenagers and the way they find work. This website can help teenagers find employment and gain valuable employment related skills.

Teen Jobs went live on Saturday 1st December and now has more than 300 keen teenagers registered all across the Western Bay Of Plenty and Tauranga and is growing every day.

So why use teenagers?

• Pay it forward - share your experience.

• We are very flexible with our hours.

• We are beneficial if your target market significantly overlaps our age group.

• When saving for a goal, teenagers are very motivated.

• We generally accept lower wages.

Visit our website www.teenjob.co.nz to see how easy it is to employ a teenager!

pose,” he says.

Community Ambassador for Coastguard, Sue Tucker, has been travelling the country over many summers with Old4New and said that during the course of a season they usually trade in around 3,000 personal lifejackets nationwide.

Two weeks into this season, that figure already stood at around 700.

“New Zealanders are great hoarders, and old lifejackets seem to be top of the list, but a lifejacket won’t last a lifetime,” Sue says. “They need to be maintained and managed. When you find yourself in a situation where it needs inflating, it needs to work.

“Many people do not know how their lifejackets work, or that they contain a gas canister inside, with near 75% of

people having never opened them up.”

In addition to the lifejacket trade in, Bay of Plenty Regional Council maritime summer students handed out information on how to stay safe in our waterways.

Coastguard operates the Old4New scheme and is supported by regional councils and Boating and Outdoors across the country.

The Old4New van travelled the length of the country, from the Far North to the Deep South.

Have you missed out? Don’t worry you don’t have to wait a whole year to trade in your old lifejackets, just bring them into Mastertec Marine in Tauranga and you’ll receive the same great deals.

Article supplied.

By Trish Rae e Puna Tennis Club is providing the perfect opportunity to get tennis fit and burn off those excess kilos that have might have crept on after the festive season. Under the direction of professional tennis coach Peter O’Dea, the club are offering a six week ‘Tennis Fit’ program commencing on 19th February.

Peter, a professional tennis coach for 25 years, is registered with Tennis New Zealand to deliver Cardio Tennis programs. However, he prefers to refer to his program as ‘Tennis Fit’ as the word ‘cardio’ can seem a little scary to some people. Irrespective of whether you are a novice or an experienced player, Peter has developed a tennis fit program that caters for all ages, abilities and fitness levels.

Incorporating the latest drills, real life games, and teaching techniques, you get to hit literally hundreds of tennis balls at each 75 minute session. Improving your fitness level is beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing as you exercise muscles, develop flexibility and improve your skills. Implementing strategies and tactical thinking keeps your mind sharp, increases your confidence, and helps you manage mental, emotional and physical stress.

Peter is the current Tennis New Zealand National Coach Educator and holds a number of coaching and educator positions at regional and local level.

With a wealth of experience, Peter’s sessions are active and fun, and he encourages you to “have a go”.

The six-week block starts on 19th February at Te Puna Tennis Club, Māramatanga Park, Tangitū Road. $60 for members, $90 for non-members, covers all six sessions. Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6.30pm – 7.45pm. Male, female or mixed sessions depending on demand. Text Jenni on 021 051 6299 to register, stating your preferred evening.

Follow the news updates online at

footcare@home

Gerard Quilty

Willing teenage worker Josh Callander.

PHOTO: Supplied.

Trading old for new lifejackets As summer winds down, so too does the ‘Old4New’ tour, which hit the road reminding people to think hard and fast about the safety of friends and whānau, making sure their lifejackets are fit for purpose.

The Old4New van visited various locations in the Bay of Plenty, gathering old lifejackets in exchange for new. Bay of Plenty Regional Council Harbourmaster, Peter Buell, said it was encouraging to see people putting their family’s safety first.

“It is great to have conversations with people; many came with stories of why it’s important they take responsibility for the safety of their families. Most were women, who seemed to be more aware that old lifejackets are not fit for pur-

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An introduction to Pirirākau

By Julie Shepherd Pirirākau Incorporated Society Environment Manager Tēnā koutou katoa.

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to our community while many of you will have formed a relationship with us. This is the first of what is set to become a regular contribution to the Lizard News.

You may have seen this emblem; it is located within the Cairn at the Gerald Crapp Reserve, Ōmokoroa. The emblem represents the Pirirākau hapū four marae, the Whakamārama bush and our people. Pirirākau are a hapū of Ngāti Ranginui Iwi. Pirirākau are the mana whenua hapū (tribal authority) of their rohe (tribal area). Our mana whenua position remains firmly in place despite challenges by others and court disputes* which are denied by Pirirākau, who do not acknowledge any other tribal interest in our rohe.

The Pirirākau rohe I sit on the crest of Mauao Where I look toward Waianuanu, Whakamārama, Te Aroaro a Paretapu, and Ngatamahinerua To the Wairere the ancient pathway of my ancestors I look toward Te Rere, Ngakautuakina, Ōmokoroa, Huharua, Parewhataroa, Raropua, Epeha, Poutūterangi.

Specifically, the Pirirākau rohe is contained within the Kaimai ridge to the inner harbour and from the Wairoa River to the Waipapa River with interests to the Aongatete River and further to Athenree.

Established in 1993 to replace the Pirirākau Tribal Committee formed in the 1980s, the Pirirākau Incorporated Society is the mandated authority which is representative of four marae.

Tutereinga, Poutūterangi, Paparoa and Tawhitinui Marae. We are responsible for the management of hapū affairs. Our organisation has established the Pirirākau Hauora (health provider), Te Puna Mātauranga (full immersion te reo

Māori classes at Te Puna School), two kōhanga reo and the Pirirākau Treaty Settlement Trust. We are the author of the Pirirākau Hapū Management Plan 2017 and co-authors of the Te Puna Community Plan 2017. We work closely with our community entities, Te Puna Heartlands, Te Puna School and look to bridge gaps with the Ōmokoroa community and schools.

We are often involved in local planning projects which support collaboration and the wider community such as the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, Huharua Park in Plummers Point and the newly forming reserve at Tahataharoa at the entrance of the Wairoa

River. We deal with resource management as kaitiaki (guardians) under legislative requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991 and Local Government Act 2002 underpinned by the Treaty of Waitangi. We form membership of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Tauranga Moana Partnership Forum.

We look forward to sharing our stories and initiatives with you in the future.

Feel free to contact me on pirirakau.hapu@gmail.com. *New Zealand Supreme Court and Court of Appeal affirmations SC 62/2015.

[2015] NZSC 128, CA88/2017 [2017] NZCA 437.

No. 1 school cleans up

By Fiona Jackson

oom 5 from Ōmokoroa No.1 school wanted to improve the beach environment that they often use alongside many other families. They came up with the idea to do a beach clean up before the summer. Unfortunately, this was cancelled due to the weather. Instead, they cleaned up around the roadside near their school.

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In small groups the students collected rubbish, noting each item and sorting it into recycling or non-recycling piles, stating its potential risk or harm to the environment and recording where they found the rubbish by taking a photo.

There were bonus points for certain items such as finding gumboots, jandals, straws or bottle tops. The kids were very excited when they saw several. They were also surprised at how much rubbish

there was.

At the end, they weighed their bags and found that collectively they had picked up a total of 35 kg of rubbish in about an hour.

They were really proud of their efforts and got so much joy out of finding the rubbish and tidying up their environment.

Picture: Room 5 students finding, sorting and weighing rubbish from the roadside.

PHOTO: Supplied.

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Cash is king

By Mark Lynch of Excelins

y first job was as a milk boy when I was 12. My boss paid me in cash each week. When I joined the workforce, the bank gave me a cheque book. A few years later, they gave me a credit card. I still had to sign the card, but then the bank took away that option, just using a pin code. Now you can just wave your card at a machine. What’s next, a retina scan? Blink twice, and it’s yours?

The problem with this is that banks have gradually removed your thinking process from your spending action. When I think about it, the last time that I had full control of my spending was when I was paid in cash. So, here’s a suggestion; put the cards away and just use cash. Try it for a few months and monitor what you spend. It is a lot more painful when you had over a few twenties than when

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you wave your card.

But what about the rewards points, or Airpoints, that the banks give you? They’re a con.

You’ll save a lot more by using cash than you’ll ever earn through these schemes. Besides, the only way you can get points is to spend money.

Going fully cash-only might be scary at first.

What if you have to put things back at the check-out? What about emergencies? I’m not saying you should cut up the cards (yet), but at least try it for the non-essential spending.

You’ll be surprised how your thinking changes when your fixed supply of cash starts to dwindle. You’ll become more aware of what you’re buying and of your choices.

Mark Lynch is a Registered Financial Adviser.

His Disclosure Statement is available free upon request. Any comments in this column are the opinion of the writer and should not be construed as financial advice.

Hall site blessed site blessing has taken place on the land where the new Te Puna Memorial Hall is to be built later this year.

Members of the Hall Committee, Pirirākau Hapū, Te Puna Heartlands, District Council and NZ Transport Agency gathered for the blessing

by Pirirākau Kaumātua Tame Kuka. The occasion marked the erection of the fence around the site. A larger blessing is anticipated when construction begins in May. The new hall is located on Te Puna Road, behind the BP Service Station. The former Te Puna Memorial Hall was built in 1922 in memory of the 14 Te Puna men who died on active service in the First World War. The old hall was

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demolished in 2016, because of the new Te Puna Road/SH2 roundabout.

Get off that screen

By Karla Bremner of Activ8

y main focus and passion for running my first ‘teen boot camp’ is to reduce the time our kids are spending on screens and get them outdoors with their peers. We are always telling our kids “In my day we were told to get outside and don’t come home till the street lights come on.” The world isn’t the same place as when we were kids, so this isn’t really as simple or safe these days, but I’m sure you get the gist.

The chemical that excessive screen/gaming time causes in our kid's brain is the same that causes drug additions – dopamine. It doesn’t take long to see the effects of letting our kids spend a couple of hours gaming or stuck on devices. Mood swings, tiredness, lethargy, withdrawn: these are all serious warning signs that are being neglected in our kids and can lead to serious health issues in our teenagers. It’s becoming an identified problem worldwide, and child phycologists are now seeing children as young as six years old in therapy for “addiction” behaviours. This isn’t ok and it sure as hell isn’t how I want my kids to grow up.

The chemicals that our bodies create naturally when we exercise,

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or kiss, hug, laugh or interact with others, are called endorphins. Our kids need to get back into the real world to feel these feelings. They are faced with the pressure of popularity through how many likes they get on their Instagram or Facebook posts, the pressure of having an online presence because “all my friends have an account”.

We as parents have a responsibility to our children. If we are on a screen, they’ll be on a screen. If we are outdoors cycling as a family, taking bush walks, or swimming at the river, then they will also start to love the outside world too.

My mission in doing the ‘teen boot camp’ is to encourage our kids to build and nurture friendships in the real world. To be active and fit; go for bike rides again; work together and feel like a team, not just an individual behind a screen; feel the real bond of a face to face friendship; write a letter to someone and put it in the mail (have any of your kids even licked a stamp and posted a letter before?)

If we want our kids to have more interaction, more real conversations, more listening and being heard, more living in the real world, then let’s practice what we preach. As our kids learn from our behaviours, let’s teach them how to live without devices even just for one day.

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Nectar, 16. Adhere, 19. Haggle, 21. Scold, 24. Evade, 25. Imagine, 26. Omelette, 27. Meet. Down: 1. Opposing, 2. Stall, 4. Schism, 5. Eager, 6. Stubble, 7. Rota, 8.

Nausea, 13. Dead heat, 15. Charade, 17. Dismay, 18. Depict, 20. Geese, 22. Olive, 23. Veto.

Omokoroa Tide Chart February 2019 Omokoroa Tides

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

Omokoroa Tides

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

1 Fri 6:14 1.8 12:15 0.5 18:27 1.8 F

R 3:04 S 17:49 17 Sun 6:21 1.8 12:32 0.4 18:42 1.8 G

S 3:21 R 18:20

*Not for navigational purposes

2 Sat 0:39 7:08 13:10 19:20

3 Sun 0.4 1.8 0.5 1.8

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0.4 1.8 0.5 1.8

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R 3:49 S 18:39 18 Mon 1:00 7:24 13:35 19:46

1:31 7:58 14:01 20:10

4 Mon

0.2 1.9 0.3 1.9

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0.2 2.0 0.2 2.0

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S 4:27 R 19:15

0.3 1.8 0.4 1.8

3:05 9:31 15:35 21:42

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R 4:39 S 19:25 19 Tue 1:59 8:24 14:34 20:47

2:19 8:46 14:50 20:57

5 Tue

S 5:40 R 20:03

0.3 1.9 0.4 1.8

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R 5:32 S 20:07 20 Wed 2:56 9:21 15:30 21:44

6 Wed

0.1 2.1 0.2 2.0

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S 6:54 R 20:45

0.3 1.9 0.4 1.8

4:27 10:51 16:58 23:02

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R 6:27 S 20:44 21 Thu 3:50 10:15 16:24 22:39

3:47 10:12 16:17 22:23

7 Thu

0.0 2.1 0.1 2.0

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5:05 11:28 17:37 23:39

0.0 2.1 0.1 2.1

5:34 0.0 11:58 2.1 18:07 0.1

Tide chart supplied by OceanFun Publishing, Ltd.

0.3 1.9 0.4 1.8

0:23 6:25 12:48 18:57

S 10:31 R 22:32

2.0 0.1 2.1 0.1

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S 11:39 R 23:07

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Open 7am – 9pm, 7 days.

Phone 281 1577.

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| Lizard News | February 2019

Owned and operated by locals

10 Sun

5:43 0.3 12:04 1.9 18:15 0.4 G

R 9:15 S 22:17 24 Sun

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S 9:21 R 21:58

9 Sat

G

R 8:19 S 21:48 23 Sat

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S 8:08 R 21:23

0.3 1.9 0.4 1.8

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R 7:22 S 21:18 22 Fri 4:43 11:07 17:16 23:32

8 Fri

1.8 0.4 1.8 0.4

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R 10:11 S 22:45 25 Mon 1:15 7:16 13:37 19:46

0:17 6:22 12:40 18:54

11 Mon

2.0 0.2 2.0 0.1

B

S 12:44 R 23:42

1.8 0.4 1.8 0.4

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R 11:08 S 23:13 26 Tue 2:06 8:07 14:27 20:36

0:56 7:03 13:19 19:36

12 Tue

1.9 0.2 1.9 0.2

G

S 13:47

1.8 0.4 1.8 0.4

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R 12:06 S 23:42 27 Wed 2:58 8:59 15:17 21:27

1:37 7:46 14:01 20:20

13 Wed

1.9 0.3 1.9 0.3

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R 0:20 S 14:47

1.7 0.4 1.8 0.4

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R 13:06 28 Thu 3:52 9:53 16:08 22:19

2:23 8:34 14:46 21:08

14 Thu

S 0:14 R 14:08

3:15 9:27 15:37 22:01

15 Fri 1.7 0.4 1.8 0.3

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S 0:50 R 15:12

4:12 10:25 16:34 22:59

16 Sat 1.8 0.5 1.8 0.3

F

S 1:32 R 16:17

5:15 11:28 17:37 23:59

1.8 0.4 1.8 0.3

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S 2:22 R 17:20

1.8 0.4 1.8 0.4

F

R 1:01 S 15:44

NOTE: Tauranga tides subtract 50 mins, and Katikati tides subtract 20 mins from the times shown.

Lizard Classifieds

Having fun in the summer sun hh ouch ohh ouch that’s hot! Where've my jandals gone? Oh probably in the back of the car where I left them!”

Summer has hit the bay, and the roads and paths are heating up.

My poor feet have no chance without footwear on I tell ya.

But lucky for us, we live where we are spoilt with beaches, wharves, streams, pools and even sprinkler fun right in our backyards. How awesome is that?!

I’ve been checking out the hot/cool spots and heard from many locals of some of the family fun they have been up to.

I’ve seen wharf jumpers (that’s high ya know, I think I’m too chicken to try); I watched afternoon water sports with kids being towed behind boats and jet skis (man you kids are clever!). I’ve heard ‘can we go for a swim at the school pool dad?’; ‘Is the tide right and high to go swimming at the beach yet?’; and ‘today we went up Whakamārama bushwalking and playing in the stream’ amongst a few. I’ve also passed water fights in the backyard and sprinkler action that reminds me summer is in full force here. It’s all go in the Bay I tell ya, and I love it.

Summer is so awesome - when you’re on school holidays having oodles of family and friends time. Staying up late because it’s too hot to sleep, swimming most of the day and eating ice blocks and ice creams of all flavours to cool off. It doesn’t get much better than this!

I’ve certainly been making the most of it and joining the summer fun.

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But I’m not too sure on the wharf jumping yet. Maybe one day one of your guys or girls can teach me and hold my hand, so I feel brave enough to go?!

Watch this space...maybe.

Until next month - slip slop slap and wrap in this crazy summer sun.

Be safe in the water, and I’ll be sure to look out for you too on my adventures.

Happy summer days to you rad people.

Talia E PS watch out for a competition coming your way soon!

ucchini season is upon us, but what to do with all the excess?

A refreshing zucchini pesto is great to use as a dip or a pasta condiment.

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Whakamārama Hall regular events

• •

LIBRARY Thurs 9am – noon (during term), and every third Friday 6-8.30pm www.whakalibrary.com

• •

•

Keeping kids road safe s parents and children prepare for the new school year, Police wants to encourage conversations about road safety.

“The summer holidays are long.

That means children are out of practice at getting to and from school,” says Inspector Peter McKennie, operations manager for the national road policing centre.

“They may have forgotten the basics of road safety. Some may be starting school for the first time.

“It’s a good idea for parents to talk about road safety rules, especially if children will go to school on their own. Help them choose the safest route. Do a few practice walks or bikes, so they know the safest places

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to cross.

“Remind them that any time they’re crossing the road, they must stop, look, and listen for cars, motorbikes, or cyclists before stepping out.”

Police also urge all older children and adults to be good role models. Remember kids are watching you and will copy you.

“Make sure everybody is buckled up. Watch your speed and be extra alert in case a child runs out in front of you. Children make mistakes but don't deserve to pay with their life,” says Inspector McKennie.

Police also reminds drivers the speed limit for passing school buses stopped to let children on or off is 20km/h.

Article supplied.

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Ingredients: • 200g zucchini • 50g walnuts • 60g parmesan cheese (or any other tasty cheese like feta cheese) • 125g extra virgin olive oil • 20 basil leaves • Salt to taste Method: Wash and grate the zucchini.

Put in a colander and add salt. Let it rest for 20 minutes, then squeeze so the water is released.

Put in a food processor with the walnuts, basil and the cheese and some of the extra virgin olive oil.

Blend until smooth and then put it in a bowl and cover with the rest of the olive oil. It can be used straight away or kept refrigerated for 2/3 days.

It can be used as a dip or as a pasta condiment (add some spoons of the pasta water to soften it up).

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PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP Thursday 9.30am-noon (during term). A friendly free group. A fantastic range of toys and the outdoor playground. Phone Alison 021 873 057.

TWIF Thank Whaka It’s Friday, every 3rd Friday of the month from 6-8.30pm. All welcome. Bring your dinner, your family and a bottle or two. Meet the locals and get to know what’s happening in Whakamārama.

KIDS@PLAY 1st Friday 2.30-4.30pm. For families with schoolaged kids and younger, a chance to socialise and meet locals. Bring some afternoon tea to share.

Coffee and tea for a gold coin donation.

‘MOVE IT’ FITNESS Mondays 9.30am and Thursdays 7pm. An informal 45 minute exercise class for anyone. Go at your own pace. $4 per session or $20 a term for 1 of the sessions ($40 for both days). Phone Caryn 021 133 5390.

WHAKA EMAILS Community news including police reports, lost and found animals, items for sale, excess fruit and vegetables, and rentals wanted. To receive these email: col.hewens@orcon.net.nz HALL BOOKINGS Call Debbie Allan, the booking officer, on 552 5141 or email whakahallbookings@outlook.com to hire the hall, chairs and tables at very reasonable rates.

Andrea Van Klei (Registered Massage Therapist)

Casual Football Every Wednesday at 7.15pm, a very casual kick around is held at the floodlit bottom soccer pitch of Western Ave, Ōmokoroa. Anyone over 12 years is welcome, year round.

Call Hamish on 552 6427.

021 0818 4170 omokoroamassage.co.nz

DIANE’S DÉCOR not just curtains!

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Personal notices $5 per 20 words, Business classifieds $10 per 20 words.

Maximum of 40 words per advert.

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Call 548 1200.

February 2019 | Lizard News |

31

lizardnews.net

Iconic coastal walkway restored

By Matthew Farrell

he re-opening of the slip-damaged Ruamoana Place section of the Ōmokoroa coastal walkway was marked on Friday 7th December.

The reserve between Bramley Drive and Ruamoana Place had been closed since the slips that happened around Cyclones Debbie and Cook in March and April 2017.

The ribbon-cutting was attended by residents whose properties were impacted by the 2017 slip, along with

T

Mayor Garry Webber, elected members, Council staff and contractors.

The slip-damaged section was stabilised using a trial method of drilling eight-metre vertical chimney drains down the damaged cliff faces, linked with directional drilling, to channel groundwater out to sea from the multiple layers of the cliff.

Council commissioned specialist engineering consultants Tonkin and Taylor who created the innovative method as the best potential solution.

The work was funded on a cost-share

basis between the District Council and the Troon, Roper and Mackay/Cridge households at 23, 24 and 25 Ruamoana Place. Each property owner contributed $100,000 toward the $600,000 cost and Council funded the 50% balance.

The driver of the initiative was resident John Roper, who began looking for a way forward with Council in September 2017.

“It’s been an experiment, and we absolutely hope for the best. We want the place to be enjoyed, and we hope this technology can prevent a lot of pain.

Council representatives joined residents and project leaders for a ribbon-cutting, reopening the Ruamoana section of Ōmokoroa’s coastal walkway just before Christmas. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.

“We have set up a givealittle page so others who use the walkway can contribute to this beautiful area and help fund the neighbourhood’s $8,000 half share of the steps down to the beach, with $8,000 coming from Council,” John tells Lizard News.

Mayor Garry Webber says the success of the project justifies Council’s faith in attempting what was an unproven method of reinstatement.

“There were are no guarantees of success, but we understood the risks we were taking. I commend the property owners for taking this step of faith with Council, and we are very grateful to Tonkin and Taylor for coming up with such an innovative solution – and to the residents for their generous contribution.

“This could be a method we may be able to consider in other parts of the District where coastal erosion leading to cliff-edge failure is becoming an increasing challenge,” says Garry.

Project Manager Peter Clark is delighted with the outcome.

“The contractors have performed both individually and as a team to produce an excellent outcome, in particularly difficult conditions. I have to thank Colin Amrein for putting excavators in there. The shape of the slope is great, and the vegetation is now showing. It has been a rewarding project to lead,” Peter says.

If you would like to support the community funded steps to the beach, go to www.givealittle.co.nz and type ‘Ruamoana’ in the search bar.

New Year, New

Small on fees. Big on service. Let’s talk.

- Aongatete, Pahoia, Whakamarama, Omokoroa, Te Puna and Bethlehem RACHEL MILLARD M 021 513 189 | E rachel.millard@tallpoppy.co.nz

BERNIE LIMBRICK M 021 289 7049 | E bernie.limbrick@tallpoppy.co.nz

LINDA MCLEAN

M 027 422 1040 | E linda.mclean@tallpoppy.co.nz

Linley Ward

Jane Cross

M 0272445488 | E jane.cross@tallpoppy.co.nz

W tallpoppy.co.nz/omokoroa

32

| Lizard News | February 2019

M 02102604819 | E linley.ward@tallpoppy.co.nz

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