Lizard News July 2017

Lizard News JULY 2017

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AONGATETE • ŌMOKOROA • PAHOIA • TE PUNA • WHAKAMĀRAMA

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Te Puna Plan talks

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| Lizard News | July 2017

t Letters to

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he

Editor

an I say how much we enjoyed reading your first edition of the Lizard News - a great community asset. It is great to have someone attending meetings and reporting on issues that directly relate to us.

In particular, we appreciated your article ‘Mud, Sweat and Tears’ and the reporting of the meeting on the inner harbour coastal erosion policy. As a submitter, we were told that there would be a decision by mid-June. A common theme from submitters was that something needs to be done and soon. A recent enquiry of Council by a neighbour received the following response, “We are expecting Council to make their decisions on July the 27th. Once these decisions have been confirmed, we will then email you all of the details from this.”

Nature will not wait for Council to prevaricate. People directly affected by the slips on Council land are living with uncertainty. At the very least we would have expected the Council to have nominated a communications person to keep us informed of any progress and for people to contact directly - even to report further slipping! The Ruamoana walkway remains shut, and no one any longer seems to be taking any interest. It would be great if your newspaper followed this up and acted as an alternative communication channel.

The article emphasised that places other than Edgecumbe were also affected by the excessive rainfall. District Councils such as Western Bay and Thames Coromandel may also need some proactive support from the

T

Editor: Thank you for your kind words.

I am endeavouring to do as much reporting as I can, as a one-man band. I have certainly been in contact with the District Council and the Community Board to request updates and I will publish the information I am given, as well as continuing to ask questions as an advocate and watchdog for uncertain residents.

I share your curiosity about the possible roles of perhaps both the Regional Council and central Government in funding preventative or restorative works in Ōmokoroa, as local authorities have more limited budgets.

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he WBoPDC review of the 2008 Concept Plan suggested a roadway through the Precious Family Reserve to the foreshore.

A petition was raised in opposition and this, with more than one thousand signatures, was presented to Council. At the Council’s subsequent “Have your Say” day in July 2016 numerous submissions were made, the bulk of which opposed a roadway and asked that this Reserve should remain ‘passive’.

The outcome has been that Council agreed not to put a road through the Reserve and, also, the existing walking track be re-named ‘The Mabs Kelly Walkway’ (following a request from Precious Family members).

Since then we have worked vigorously to ensure that both people who desire quiet places, and wildlife, should be considered by preserving one of our last peaceful locations in an ever-growing Ōmokoroa.

We have made several other requests including more seating, cleaning and en-

hancing the pond, shade trees, wetlands plants and bollards to block cars at the entrances, all of which are still being considered by Council.

We aim to keep the Reserve car-free so that young families and wildlife can enjoy its beauty undisturbed by vehicles other than golf and disability carts and strollers, albeit with some smoothing of the access from the Anderley Avenue direction. We are not in favour of sealing the walkway, but maybe improving the surface for ease of access.

Shirley Dunford (for Friends of The Precious Family Reserve)

I

n response to Shirley Dunford, (see Lizard News, June Edition) I would say that keeping Precious Reserve car-free will, in fact, be limiting access to only those of us fortunate to be mobile enough to transverse the rutted, metal driveway to access the beach.

I would like the Council to make the access way tar sealed and free for cars, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and the like.

There are many elderly people who, at present, are unable to access the beach front at the other end of the Precious Reserve.

Anne Sandel

W

hen the WBoP District Council included proposed vehicle access to Precious Reserve in their Annual Plan Review, I made a submission to support this proposal.

With the ongoing development of the Ōmokoroa peninsula and a significant increase in family and retirement type housing, I saw a need not only to preserve existing reserves but to ensure Precious Reserve could be enjoyed by a wider representation of the community.

Families, our youth, older people, those with limited mobility and those who did not live within walking distance.

Two injured in street race crash

By Matthew Farrell here have been accusations of the smell of alcohol, boy racer burnouts and an illegal street race following a crash in Ōmokoroa last month.

Two people were reportedly injured in the three-car crash at the intersection of Ōmokoroa Road and Margaret Drive, shortly before 9 pm on Thursday the 1st of June.

Facebook commenters suggested cars had been performing burnouts on Plummers Point Road and at the gravel pit a little earlier in the evening, and that the drivers of a Subaru and a Skyline had been racing one another along State

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Government, rather than Council waiting for enough destruction for EQC to be involved and stop it being Council’s problem. It is a shame there is Government money for new walkways and no money to maintain the ones already formed.

Rosemary Roper

Letters continued on page 4

Highway 2 from Bethlehem.

One woman stated that two of her family members were parked in a ute on Ōmokoroa Road waiting to reverse into a driveway when they were shunted from behind.

Chief Fire Officer Ian Blunt says the Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade attended with a hose reel, breathing apparatus and a fire extinguisher - and managed traffic as a precautionary measure - but no one was trapped in their vehicle, so the incident was controlled by the police.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Debris on the roadside, the morning after the crash.

motorists just had to wait until the road was cleared.

An electrical fire in an old packhouse in Jess Road on the 10th of June was extinguished extremely quickly, saving the building. On Thursday the 15th of June, another motor vehicle accident was attended to by the Brigade. Two vehicles collided at the corner of SH2 and Barratt Road. No one was trapped, but a few minor injuries were sustained.

The Ōmokoroa First Responders attended the motor vehicle accident on the 1st of June and were busy on the 6th of June with three callouts. At 7.40 am there was a call to an allergic reaction in Holyoake Drive, followed by a fainting patient at a different address on the same road - and then to a cardiac arrest on the Esplanade. The team also responded to the crash at SH2/Barratt Road.

Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade

By Ian Blunt

he Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade received three callouts in June. A motor vehicle accident outside number 240 Ōmokoroa Road between Margaret Drive and Western Avenue on Thursday the 1st of June closed the road for an hour or so, leaving motorists stranded either side of the scene. As there is no alternative access,

Pest control back on track after firearms incident

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By Matthew Farrell he Department of Conservation says it has been unable to identify the perpetrators to take further action, following reports firearms were discharged near pest control volunteers in Whakamārama.

The Friends of the Blade have been trapping possums and mustelids, and baiting rats in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park since early 2016.

In March they took a break for a couple of months after five or six gunshots sounded close to their trapping lines, despite a sign which warned hunters not to fire weapons within 500 metres of the car park.

The volunteers, wearing high-visibility jackets, called out for the shooting to stop and were met with two or three further shots before they chose to leave, on finishing their tasks.

They photographed a car containing a visible empty gun scabbard and reported their experience to DoC. On their return in May, the warning sign had been destroyed and removed, and several tree ribbon track markers appeared to have been taken down. DoC describes the removal of line markers as inane. The Department says vandalism and removal of vehicle barriers are ongoing issues in managing more remote public conservation land.

The news of apparent hostility was met with disappointment by local MP, Todd Muller.

“The Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park is an extraordinary asset for our community that brings together a beautiful mix of nature and our region’s history. The

lizardnews.net

walkways built by Paul Mason’s Mahi team are fantastic. They deserve our respect, not abuse or stray bullets,“ he says.

The walkway has been in development for several years by Whakamārama Community Inc. who have had much community support, including from the Mackersey family - and the DHB’s group the Mahi Boys, run by Paul Mason - who have brought the boardwalks and track to its current stage. It is hoped to complete the last bridges this year and officially open the track late this year.

The Department of Conservation acknowledges WCI is a dedicated group with individuals who regularly clock up numerous hours of conservation work for the Kaimai environment.

Friends of the Blade leader Colin Hewens says they have a good relationship with local leg trappers who collect possum fur. DoC says any trappers applying for a permit would be informed of the WCI operation - and that hunters requesting to use dogs would be made aware of DoC’s pesticide summary detailing the permitted use of registered rat toxin. Baiting began again in earnest on the 30th of June, for six weeks, before birds lay their eggs in August and September.

Peter Fogden, and John and Jennifer Rowlandson were three new recruits to begin volunteering in May. “We really enjoyed it. We’re looking forward to coming back in a week or two and seeing some dead pests. It was great to see some robins out there,” says Jennifer.

In 2015, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council received and funded an application to its Community Matching

Fund from Whakamārama Community Inc for a project looking to support the establishment of a pest-free area at the Blade, at the end of Whakamārama Road.

Paul and the Mahi Boys put in eight trapping tracks through the bush that year.

WCI also thanks the Bay of Plenty Regional Council for its support for the access, the 40-minute loop walk and the pest control operation via its Environmental Enhancement Fund - while funds

for the automatic traps came from BayTrust.

Colin Hewens says it’s a pain for users of the single lane paper road that neither DoC nor the District Council takes responsibility for its upkeep and leaves this to volunteers.

The old blade which gave its name to the area, a remnant of past logging days, was stolen when the steel price was high.

Colin Hewens carefully resets a spring loaded possum trap, baited with aniseed paste.

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Letters continued However, I did not wish to see day-long parking right on the beach front restricting the use of the grass frontage and sandy beach - but would prefer to see the creation of a drop-off area near the beach and daytime vehicle parking behind the current bollards - leaving the waterfront free for groups to enjoy.

Additionally, some redevelopment of the Reserve to improve drainage and provide a dry grassed area for activities such as throw a frisbee; bowl, hit or kick a ball; swim, fish or launch a kayak or paddle board from the beach.

I am aware that others made submissions on a similar theme of access especially for those with reduced mobility and at the Community Conversations on May 6th, several people made comments wishing to see better access enabling more use of Precious Reserve.

Recreational use of the reserve, gifted by the Precious Family, could enhance the protection of this precious resource for the enjoyment of many in the future.

Beverley Rudd

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he Precious Bros Reserve is a sanctuary from the bustle of humans and a haven for birds. The sensory experience that happens because of the quiet from human noise, the space from vehicle congestion, the stillness of the view and the place to walk a dog makes this Reserve the most idyllic environment for well-being.

The meandering stroll through the paddocks’ grass relaxes and clears the thoughts. When you sit at the covered bench, there are no other noises but

lizardnews.net what’s in front of you. The only sounds on the incoming tide are the birds, the jumping fish and the lapping of the water. Your mood lifts.

When you are this peaceful, you solve problems, plan the future, get excited, relax from life’s stress and gain mental strength. It is this stillness that makes the Precious Bros Reserve indeed a sanctuary.

Please, No to vehicle access or a concrete pathway for the Mabs Kelly Walkway. Kayakers enter elsewhere. Keep the Precious Bros Reserve for the majority needs. Keep it as a wellness sanctuary it is. Keep it the same, and keep it green and pure. It is far too precious to change.

Anderley Middleton.

(Editor’s note: a Precious Family member)

Editor: It is clear the decision makers at the District Council currently face a mountain of paperwork from across the Western Bay, as a result of the initial consultations having taken place as part of the Long Term Plan - and also the inner harbour coastal erosion policy review submissions. However, the Precious Reserve seems a little more complicated than some issues, because of the opposing views on what might be best for everyone.

What do you think are the top priorities for the Council in your part of the district?

Write us a letter. Please include your full name. While it will not be customary for us to publish poems, we have made an exception in this case to round off this month’s letters page.

Thank you all for your thoughtful contributions.

Matthew

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By Pippa Coulston Ōmokoroa Long lizard basking in the sun Your edges frilled by Softly creaming waves.

The song of birds mingling With the music of the sea.

Butterflies drifting In the gentle air.

There are days When gales lash the shore, Rain sheeting down.

The yachts Like restless horses, Tug at their chains,

While the sea breaks And crashes on the shore.

After the storm come rainbows Arcing in vivid colour across the bay, Reflecting in the sea, Rainbow upon rainbow.

They say the crock of gold Lies at the rainbow’s foot.

They are wrong, For it lies here with me. Ōmokoroa Long lizard basking in the sun You speak of home to me.

Precious Reserve and pōhutukawa hot topics

Ō

mokoroa residents have had a second bite at the cherry of community consultation, according to Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber.

The Ōmokoroa Community Church on Hamurana Road hosted the area’s Community Conversation follow-up on Tuesday the 6th of June, a month to the day after a similar event at the Boat Club.

“People who couldn’t make it there may have been able to make it here. It’s a different group on this weekday evening, so we’ve achieved what hoped,” says Garry.

Katikati, Ōmokoroa, Te Puke, and Waihī Beach have each had two events, while Maketū, Paengaroa and Te Puna have had one.

The mayor says Facebook and the District Council website have also been available for comments on public spending priorities.

Deputy Chief Executive Gary Allis who was also there in his role as Group Manager, Infrastructure Services - says the community has provided substantial feedback on a mixture of operational, strategic matters and Long Term Plan considerations.

“We’ll consolidate this feedback into themes. Each community often has its particular range of questions, which is why we have been going around to listen to these discrete differences.”

Residents Mike, Jos and Mark told me they attended for a range of reasons.

“I’m interested in all of these issues on display, including roading infrastructure and Precious Reserve,” says Mike. “The Council needs to remove fallen pōhutukawa trees from the beaches and stop more of them falling into the sea. My foremost concern is protecting the land from slips and the upkeep of trees on reserve land,” says Jos. Mark agreed, “It’s about all trees on all reserves. Some maintenance is needed; otherwise, they get overgrown. You have to look at the situation, not just let it go.”

Campaigner Shirley Dunford helped organise a 1,000 signature petition outside Fresh Choice against the construction of a sealed road to the sea off Precious Reserve.

“Some of the councillors are on our side,” says Shirley. “I attended Council meetings and did a Powerpoint presentation. We want no car access and a passive reserve. I contacted two members of the Precious family about this, and we are all now waiting for the Council to come to a conclusion on their concept plan.”

Norah McDaniel agrees and says it’s the last quiet pocket of tranquility left in Ōmokoroa.

You can read more on the subject of Precious Reserve in Letters to the Editor, Pages 2 & 4.

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| Lizard News | July 2017

The Community Conversation event at the Ōmokoroa Community Church.

Subdivisions and traffic concerns for Te Puna

lizardnews.net

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By Matthew Farrell

he writer Tommy Wilson was among Te Puna locals keen to engage with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council at its recent Community Conversation event.

He says he wanted to make sure local authority planning for Te Puna had the area’s unique cultural footprint all over it.

“We are the only French Māori community in New Zealand. I’m here representing Pirirākau as a board member of the four marae for 18 years.”

Tommy says he wants to make sure Māramatanga Park stays as it is and doesn’t become a skate path or car park or be developed in any other way. He was also keen to see some lighting installed where there is currently none near Poutūterangi Marae on Pitua Road.

Traffic concerns were shared by Joseph James “Billy Boy” Borell. His main reason to attend was for the welfare of family members on Tangitū Road.

“I see tragedy if something is not done about the speed of vehicles - and who will take the blame for this tragedy? We need humps on the road as a deterrent to speedsters,” he says.

Billy Borell says he is keen to start a petition for traffic-calming measures and he will make people sign it because of the children of Tutereinga Kōhanga Reo. After moving to the South Island in 1964, Tawhitinui man Keith Nicholas is back home and building a house out of classrooms from Te Puna Station Road.

He says he’s just starting to get back into community life and already finds himself on the Old Highway marae committee.

Denise Derrick has lived in Te Puna for three years, after 23 years on Youngson

Road. She wanted to know where the cycleway and new hall would be developed.

“I’m also worried about the subdivisions, the encroaching of the city into the green belt through Te Puna. I’m concerned what is happening in Ōmokoroa might happen here.”

Alison Cowley, who has lived on Te Puna Road for the past 18 months, also had questions.

“I’m interested in subdivisions and traffic. I do want to know; who is driving this? What is wanted by the community and by the Council? The Tauriko Lakes growth has been phenomenal. It’s been exponential.”

Howard Zingel says he’s concerned about transport infrastructure and also about people living next door to orchards spraying.

“Capitalism is all very well, but you

have to act within the community. You wouldn’t take all of the fish out of the sea, to give another example. There are long-term environmental issues here.”

The chair of Te Puna Heartlands, Richard Comyn, believes everyone has been struggling with the growth of the rural area and says interest in the consultation event was lower than he would have liked.

“People make towns. We need people living two or three floors up in the CBD. Young people don’t necessarily want a huge section. Look at the Fraser Cove, Pāpāmoa and Bethlehem town centre developments. All they have done is create disinterest in the CBD.” Consultant Karen Summerhays says information collected from past engagements will be put with the latest feedback to produce an initial draft of Te Puna's new community plan.

The recent WBoPDC Community Conversation, held at Te Puna School.

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Whakamārama hosts beautiful sunshine run

lizardnews.net

he Small Schools and Tall Poppies Cross Country was held at Whakamārama School on Thursday the 8th of June in beautiful sunshine.

The top seven placings in each age group went through to either the North Cluster event at the same venue or the Bay of Plenty event at Waipuna in Welcome Bay. Well done to all the children who took part, whatever their personal goals for the day and congratulations to those who placed where they hoped. A big thank you to all the organisers, teachers, parents, marshals, recorders and other helpers who made it happen for everybody.

The pupils involved travelled from across the Lizard News area including ACG, Kaimai, Matahui Road, Ōmokoroa No. 1, Ōmokoroa Point, Oropi, Pyes Pa, Tauriko, Te Puna and Whakamārama.

Results, 1st to 3rd. Boys Year 4: Vlad, Baxter, Jacob. Girls Year 4: Starra, Holly, Emily. Boys Year 5: Stephen, Ethan, Leo. Girls Year 5: Sarah, Millie, Lillia. Boys Year 6: Michael, Kegan, Jacob. Girls Year 6: Catherine, Nicole, Mia. Boys Year 7: Elias, Luca, Thomas. Girls Year 7: Bridget, Sophina, Anja. Boys Year 8: Alex, Toby, Tory. Girls Year 8: Mikayla, Ella, Emily.

Results supplied.

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Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway stages lizardnews.net

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By Murray Grainger ection 1: Ōmokoroa boat ramp to Tinopai Reserve. Although vegetation pruning and tree felling/chipping along this route have been completed, further boardwalk & trail surfacing is required. Due to the planned opening of Section 2 in July, Section 1 improvements will be undertaken at a later date subject to contractor commitments. The trail to Tinopai will be safe to use in the meantime. A landslip is currently blocking the track between The Esplanade and Beach Grove, which will be cleared as soon as

the slope stability has been assessed safe to do so.

Section 2: Between Tinopai Reserve and Lynley Park Subdivision.

The boardwalk and the timber bridges have been completed. Final changes before the formal opening include vegetation plantings & maintenance and fencing off private property frontages.

This section of the track will be formally opened by the Minister of Transport and Mayor. No date has yet been set.

Glow-discs have been installed on the first 60m boardwalk section as a trial.

The discs absorb sunlight and then glow

provide bridge construction machinery access to the very end of the railway land spit. Crushed recycled concrete has been applied to this section to enable all weather access and as a base prep for cycle trail surfacing once the bridge (Section 5) has been built.

Section 5: Bridge across Mangawhai inlet.

A tendering process to select the bridge builder (for three bridges) is underway, which should be concluded by early July and construction commencing as soon as possible before Christmas.

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One of the new bridges.

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throughout the night to provide non-intrusive pathway lighting. Council is interested in public feedback on these.

Section 3: Lynley Park to the railway.

The Archaeological Authority application to Heritage NZ for the construction of a small section of the cycleway over the Mangawhai Pa is being finalised before lodgement. Once the Authority is granted then construction will be programmed for completion between mid to late 2017 Section 4: Tāmihana Park to Kiwirail Bridge. A causeway trail has been established from Tāmihana Park to

| Lizard News | July 2017

Open 7 days 11 am to 8.30 pm or later

ite clearing, fence removal, tree removal and earthworks are underway with new pavement to follow. The carriageway will be constructed to 6.5m wide to support expected traffic growth and walking and cycling use. Suitable surplus earth fill will be used on the Wairoa Road

under-slip repair. As with other local projects, the recent wet weather has adversely affected the earthworks progress. The pavement subbase will be placed and then left until the spring conditions allow the placement and compaction of the pavement base-course and surfacing.

he physical works contract for the construction of the Te Puna West wastewater scheme was awarded to Loveridge Ltd. Loveridge began construction of the scheme in early May. The scheme has been broken into three zones for Construction.

Zone 1 includes Snodgrass Rd (up to 380) and Lindoch Ave and was expected to be completed in June. All construction is expected to be completed

by December.

Stormwater upgrades are complete at the end of Snodgrass Road. Wallace Road upgrades commenced in mid-May.

arly stage planning has begun for three play space projects for children in the area, including two in Ōmokoroa. It’s intended there will be one playground by the skate path at the Ōmokoroa Sports Ground, a second updated playground at the Ōmokoroa Domain and a third at the TECT Park.

An Ōmokoroa project team, expected to be formed by the end of the school term, will seek proposals from consul-

tancy and design teams before the end of July. In early August initial meetings will take place, including a possible workshop with children, before the selected designer develops draft plans. The project team will then help finalise the concepts before being published for public feedback. Ōmokoroa Point School principal Vicki Knell says it’s a chance to create something very special.

Te Puna West water works

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Planning for playground spaces

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Some updates on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s improvement work in the Lizard News area have been provided by Ōmokoroa Community Board chair, Murray Grainger, based on the Council’s agenda documentation.

Thank you, Murray!

Ōmokoroa ferry to Opureora/Matakana Island

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erry Facilities: Design and consenting process for the ferry ramp upgrades have been completed.

Pricing for the upgrade works is now being finalised which involves widening of both ferry ramps, relocation of some of the fender piles and some dredging at Opureora. This work has priority over the jetty renewal project.

Jetty Renewal: Subject to funding, construction timing is anticipated to be over the 2017/18 summer construction period. Ōmokoroa Jetty and Panepane Wharf Repairs: Piling repairs to both assets are being programmed to coordinate with other contractor piling barge operations. The timing is not yet confirmed but is being programmed in with other large harbour development projects (such as the Tauranga waterfront tidal stairs and the marine precinct) as well as ferry facilities upgrade works. Both structures will need to be closed

Construction works underway at the Ōmokoroa jetty.

he project includes upgrading nearly 2km of Ōmokoroa Road with new and widened pavement and safety improvements to the Prole Road intersection as well as two new intersections for three larger scale housing developments. A new cycleway, undergrounding overhead power lines, relocating a section of the sewer transfer main, installing a new bulk water main to service the Ōmokoroa peninsula and new rider-mains running from the bulk main to service all the properties along the project length are also part of this scheme.

The project has been split and will mostly be delivered in two phases; the first, being Prole Road to the Railway, is currently under construction and is required to accommodate the land development with two new intersections. The second phase from SH2 to Prole Road will be delivered during the 2017/18 earthworks season.

The bulk earthworks and the new water main installations are well underway. Surplus earthworks material has been transported into the Special Housing Area for a future road embankment and stormwater pond construction. Co-ordination between Westlink, Council, Council’s designers, adjoining landowners, Seeka, three sets of developers, their technical service providers, utility providers and sub-contractors is an essential component of the project. Recent wet weather systems have affected the earthworks progress.

The relocation of a length of the existing sewer transfer main and telecommunications cables is underway.

The new bulk water main is being installed followed by its connections to the existing properties. The undergrounding of overhead power lines plus some overhead power line relocation works along with fibre optic telecommunications cable installations are also progressing.

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for a few days while the work is carried out. Public notification of closure will be advertised.

Ōmokoroa Road upgrades continue

lizardnews.net

Weed of the month: pampas grass

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By Jan Mayston ur aim is to rid our environment of pest plants in a year. It’s time to clean up our patch of the weed, pampas grass. Please cut and burn seed heads and spray the large clumps with Round-up or spade off small plants just below the ground level.

Pampas seeds travel in the wind and infect kiwifruit export crop and neighbouring gardens, so please make it your priority to remove these pest plants this month.

If it has erect seed heads as shown in the picture, either white or pink, then it is a weed. The native toetoe has a small fist like head that droops down. Thank you, to all who eradicated any moth plant, over the past month.

All hands are needed and welcomed for our next working bee clearing weeds in the Cooney Reserve.

Come with some tools, bring some enthusiasm, and enjoy the camaraderie from 9 am to 12 pm, Wednesday, July 5th and let all enjoy our environment. For more information phone 548 2299.

Erect seed heads point to the weed, pampas grass.

Harcourts Bethlehem Welcomes Ron & Pat Shanks When it comes to buying and selling real estate it is very important that you have the utmost faith and belief in the agent you choose to work with. Truth, integrity, and enthusiasm together with a desire to do the very best for all their clients are attributes that spring to mind with Ron and Pat. Ron came to real estate 17 years ago from an engineering and construction background working his way up to management level. During his time in real estate he has been a consistent high achiever which started in his first year in the industry being awarded Rook$ of the Year.

His wife Pat worked for 35 years as a midwife before coming to join Ron in real estate. She worked one on one with clients listening to their needs and exercising her problem solving skills when required. Her client satisfaction was second to none with a very large proportion of her clients coming back again and again to use her services or recommending her to family and friends.

Together they have refurbished and built new houses and been involved in many different renovation projects which have given them experiences in life that set them up well for real estate.

Living and working in Omokoroa gives Ron and Pat the local knowledge required to be your local Harcourts experts in Omokoroa, Te Puna, Bethlehem as well as all other areas of Tauranga.

Giving back to the local community gives a sense of belonging and this is the reason Ron joined the local Volunteer Fire Service not long after he moved to Omokoroa. This service is something that is invaluable to the whole community and the surrounding area.

If knowledge and experience are the power Ron and Pat are the team to talk to.

Call us today for a free, no-obligation market appraisal

Ron & Pat Shanks Marketing Consultants M 021 956 270 (Ron) M 021 804 463 (Pat) F 0800 766 728 ron.patshanks@harcourts.co.nz www.ronandpatshanks.harcourts.co.nz Advantage Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

July 2017 | Lizard News |

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Ultra fast broadband for Ōmokoroa and Katikati lizardnews.net

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mokoroa, Katikati and Te Puke are among the 12 latest communities across New Zealand to be joining the ultra-fast fibre broadband internet upgrade. You may have recently noticed the billboard signs in the area.

Fibre optic cables are the replacement for the current copper network in a major initiative funded by infrastructure providers such as Ultrafast Fibre and the Crown. Ultrafast Fibre is a community owned company based in Hamilton.

The new fibre technology can carry much more information with more reliable connectivity, which will mean quicker uploads and downloads, and smoother

streaming. Rapid data transfer should not only mean crisper and sharper video calls among other benefits to home users but should also transform the capability of local schools and businesses.

The chief executive of Ultrafast Fibre, William Hamilton, says there will be an improved difference for people accessing high-definition TV, video and gaming content from multiple devices at the same time.

“This will also unleash the full capability of businesses and schools as they take advantage of practically unlimited data and cloud computing, equal to that you would find in the most developed cities of the world,” he says.

To take advantage of the new broadband, customers will need to sign up with an internet service provider that sells fibre broadband services on the Ultrafast Fibre network.

The other nine areas joining the expansion rollout are Ngāruawāhia, Huntly, Kihikihi, Raglan, Eltham, Inglewood, Stratford, Waitara, and Pūtāruru.

An update from Te Puna Heartland Inc

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By Beth Bowden

he last meeting of Te Puna Heartland gave quite a lot of time to the consideration of advice and information from Naomi Luckett, Emergency Management Advisor. Along with some bright yellow grab bags (to be filled with those important things that you’ll need if you have to leave your house suddenly) was a follow-up from the demands created by the storm events over April. Naomi had information about the availability of training in using radios, refreshing first aid, and helping with the psychological and social needs that followed on from a natural disaster. Some of this, Naomi agreed, depended on local doorknocking, notices and telephone trees, but she also asked us to be aware of the Regional Council’s readiness (with a group of 17 staff) to deliver specific advice and training to meet Te Puna’s particular needs.

After that, attention turned to the efforts being made to improve the areas on the road reserve and alongside the railway line on Borell Road, which will involve a

peppercorn rental of railway land. Who might take on the lease? Chairman Richard agreed to attend a meeting of all concerned on Monday the 19th of June.

Another effort, to continue with the review of the Te Puna Community Plan, went forward with advice that Karen Summerhays had been hired by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council for the task. Karen has been asked to produce a refreshed draft of the 2007 Plan that could go out for consultation with everyone in the area.

After talks with representatives from Pirirākau, Heartland, the school and others, the new document will be circulated to everyone to have a say on the shape and form of Te Puna’s development over the next decade or so.

Heartland’s next meeting will be in August. For more details on this and the activities outlined above, contact Richard Comyn, 027 552 0917. Find the original Te Puna Community Plan at http://www.westernbay. govt.nz/our-council/policies-plans-bylaws/Documents/Te%20Puna%20Comprehensive%20Development%20Plan%202008.pdf

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Skate path user says locals love track

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By Matthew Farrell t has been a mixed few weeks for the skate path, enjoyed by so many Ōmokoroa locals and visitors alike. On the one hand, users have been benefiting from a new table, and bench seats crafted and installed by MenzShed Katikati - using timber milled from the Gellibrand statue tree at the Crapp Reserve on the peninsula, salvaged years ago.

There’s also a new Skaters' Code installed at the drop-in; the track's

highest point. It’s been written by the children of Ōmokoroa Point School, to show how local people would like all users of the facility to behave.

Sadly not everyone has the same respect for the efforts of others.

The first to discover tagging at the track’s half pipe on the morning of Sunday the 4th of June was local lad Cole Jennings Ruscoe, a keen scooter aficionado.

“The people who did this are idiots. I checked it was real paint, then I went

home and told my mum. I took a photo of it on the way to a mate’s house, and my mum put that on Facebook. Later, I heard about more damage at the toilet block,” says Cole.

Contractors acted quickly to repaint the gents toilets at Western Avenue after a large amount of graffiti was found inside. There was also a door smashed off the frame to the room containing the cisterns.

The Facebook post has attracted comments such as “angry, disheartening,

disappointing” and there are calls for security cameras and lighting to be installed.

While some suspect local teenagers might be to blame, others have pointed out it was the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend and “visitors or outsiders” may have been responsible.

Cole is a regular user and says most people love the skate path, “I reckon it was teenagers from town. The kind who race their cars up and down the street here.”

Respect, safety and fun. Simple, and hopefully effective.

“SAS Crew” South Auckland? Scandinavian Airlines?

Something too Awkward to print?

Cole is a regular user and says most people love the skate path.

Friday Night End in sight for delayed State Highway works

Historical timber from the tip of the peninsula, crafted by MenzShed Katikati.

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By Matthew Farrell he State Highway 2 roundabout at Te Puna is now expected to be finished next month, but it’s a matter of time until the road will need resurfacing, and possibly earlier than people would like.

As a rule, the NZ Transport Agency does not continue major infrastructure projects through winter but decided to press on because of the delays endured in this case. Bay of Plenty Highways Manager, Niclas Johansson, says the work was reviewed from a technical perspective.

“We understand the frustration this work has caused and the impact it’s been having on the community, but it’s important that we took the time to get this decision right. When we work over winter, there are extra costs and a risk the road will need to be resealed again months after it is finished. We needed to weigh up all of these risks before committing to do this. We are aware of the community

and commuter’s views, and we took these into account when deciding."

There is less evaporation and more condensation in winter than summer.

The additional water pulls fine construction materials out of the road, which means that under traffic the surface can heave and drop. It’s also possible for moisture to be trapped under the tarmac seal, leading to delamination in summer’s higher temperatures.

The NZTA says it was beset by unprecedented rainfall in March and two cyclones in April. There have also been what are diplomatically described by the Agency as "challenges" with the relocation of power and telecommunications cables, but Chorus says its work on the project has been on schedule and going to plan, and it isn’t aware of any complaints from NZTA. The Agency's Parekawhia McLean says working overnight was reconsidered and some night sealing happened in early June, for example.

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Plans progressing for permanent memorial

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By Liz Farrell fter three months of advertising the plans, then six weeks of a display at the Unexpected Heroes Exhibition, details of the permanent memorial intended for the Crapp Reserve are coming together.

While plans have been modified slightly to ensure the memorial will indeed be permanent, the overall size, shape and materials remain unchanged.

Approval has been sought, and approved, from Department of Conservation, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and local iwi. The structure will have a concrete foundation and a circular layout, representative of the cairn that has inspired the project.

One side will be a semi-circle of locally quarried stone rising to a height of one

metre. It is anticipated the top of this area will hold a plaque to commemorate the installation. The other side will be made up of two smaller arcs with a height of 50cm which will form seating.

The open space in the Crapp Reserve where the dawn services have been held since 2015 is a quiet place with beautiful views over the harbour. The memorial will have a daily function as well as being an occasional focal point for services and events such as Anzac Day when it can be used as a lectern.

Following feedback from the community, additional features such as planting, flag pole, power and ‘Rest on Arms Reversed’ are being worked into the design where possible. Also, the initial suggestion of gabion baskets is being changed to negate the risks of rats nests An artist’s impression of the planned memorial.

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and people tucking rubbish into the gaps. Residents of Ōmokoroa Country Estate have crafted ceramic poppies though concerns for their strength and protection are being considered as part of the design review.

The cost to complete this project may range from $10,000 - $15,000. To date, $6425 has been raised by community fundraising. Applications to grant funders are now underway to make up the balance.

For further information about the permanent memorial, contact Heather Reynolds on 548 1620.

The cairn: Found in various forms throughout the world as a marker point for travellers, graves or lost warriors. Each person placed a stone on a pile as they left on

their journey to battle. Upon their return, each retrieved a rock. The remaining collection became a reminder to honour the dead who had not returned.

Feedback received included: “Looks solid and lasting; lest we forget”, “A lasting memorial in the Crapp Reserve is an excellent idea”, “Will make a great focal point for the dawn service; congratulations”, “Yes, the permanent memorial is a great idea. Having a local Anzac venue and on such a beautiful site is appropriate”, “It looks good. It’s nice that poppies are planned to be part of the cairn, so it is immediately recognised as having links to Anzac Day”, “Poppies on the Point. A splendid idea. What better setting?”, “A very appropriate design”.

rousing skirl by Pipe Major Damien Hodgetts of Bay of Plenty Pipes and Drums opened the Officers’ Mess fundraising dinner and dance. The lone piper entered the Settlers’ Hall in darkness to an upstanding gathering who then spontaneously joined in singing Amazing Grace.

It was a moving start to a splendid evening of old-fashioned fun and laughter, to raise funds for the permanent memorial planned for the Crapp Reserve, which is due to be completed in time for the April 2018 Anzac Day Centenary of the end of World War I. Step Up Dance group, led by Kylie King, introduced our community’s youngest dancers who displayed their gorgeous tutus and pre-school dance steps. They were followed by 13-year-old Kia Zoing, Bay of Plenty Performing Arts’ Elite soloist dancer, and the Ōmokoroa Line Dancers led by Shirley Richardson.

Peter Couch provided a musical accompaniment to the meal, prepared and served by numerous local volunteers.

During dessert and coffee the Ōmokoroa Songsters sang a varied selection led

by Keith Edwards and Paul Uttinger on guitar and Grant Willis on double bass, then Dave Woodhouse provided some light relief with a comedy turn.

After supper, the Famous Ukulele Boys entertained with some foot-tapping numbers and the evening was rounded out with dancing to the music of Max Cleaver.

The Ōmokoroa Community Anzac Group would like to thank all involved for making the evening a success. Ticket sales and funds raised on the night totalled $3150. When added to collections taken at the Unexpected Heroes Exhibition and private donations, the memorial fund now stands at $6425.

Musical feast boosts memorial funds

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Christine and Murray Grainger arriving at the event.

The Officers’ Mess.

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By Katie Rogers

The life and times of hydatids

or decades, hydatids (Echinococcus granulosa) was a killer disease that affected humans and animals of all ages. It took the best part of fifty years to eradicate. Hydatids was caused by the tapeworm, which can live in the gut of dogs. Its life-cycle also involves an intermediate host, which in the case of New Zealand is mainly sheep and, to a lesser extent, cattle. Humans are also a host.

Dogs were infected by eating fertile hydatid cysts in raw offal of sheep. Sheep became infected by grazing on pasture contaminated with tapeworm eggs passed in dog faeces. There were no clinical signs following infection, so the diagnosis was difficult. Humans could become infected by contact with infected dogs.

The effect on people varied from no symptoms to severe illness and death, depending on the number of cysts formed and their site and size. Surgery was problematic as there was the possibility that the cyst could rupture and spread the disease throughout the body.

In the 1950s farmers established local voluntary hydatids control committees.

The passing of the Hydatids Act in 1959 and the setting up of the National Hydatids Council marked the start of the national control programme. Funding was largely through a tax on dogs that

was added to the dog registration fee.

At the beginning of the programme, up to 80 percent of adult sheep carried hydatid cysts, and approximately 10 percent of dogs were infected with the tapeworm. Initial control efforts were an inspection at slaughter, regular testing of dogs at dog dosing strips and educating dog owners about the hydatids.

As in every small district around the country, Whakamārama had a dosing strip, on the road verge just up from Leyland Road by the Reserve. A long wire tied to posts was set up to tether dogs for dosing. Initially every six weeks, this became quite a social gathering for the district’s farmers and their dogs. Most farmers waited, hoping that the dose worked quickly and a sample of faeces could be collected to be sent off for testing.

The mass dog dosing with anthelmintics that started in the 1970s caused a very dramatic decline in incidence. By the mid-1990s the finding of any cysts was considered an unusual event that warranted property investigation.

From 2001 onward no cysts have been found in any animals at slaughter. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry declared New Zealand provisionally free of hydatids in 2002.

Article supplied by the history group of Whakamārama Community Inc.

Flood repairs will take time

Sheep and dogs infect one another with hydatids.

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By Matthew Farrell looding repairs will take time and work is moving as quickly as possible, according to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Two major flooding events in April, particularly the high rainfall and river flows of ex-cyclone Debbie, pushed the region’s flood protection network beyond its design limits.

The Council says most river systems have been affected and its staff have been assessing the damage at more than

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600 sites to prioritise millions of dollars of repair works.

Rivers and Drainage Manager, Bruce Crabbe, says it can be difficult to get a window for construction work in the wet weather months.

“We have around 250km of stopbanks across the region. Some works may have to wait until ground conditions improve to get access for machinery. For urgent repairs, we may work during whitebait spawning season or eel migration when we’d usually prefer to keep out.”

Road reopens following fears of slip

section of Harbour View Road in Ōmokoroa has reopened after being closed for safety reasons.

The District Council has been monitoring the risk posed by a slip between two homes on a hill. The Council says it has been working with landowners, the EQC, and independent geo-tech engineers because of what was described as a sizeable tension crack.

A spokesperson says due to the risk the crack might have worsened, a cordoned-off section of Harbour View Road was not safe to be used by vehicles or pedestrians until a report was finalised. Coastal walkways remain boarded up and off-limits following the torrential rains of March and April,

which lead to slips around the peninsula.

The Council’s draft Inner Harbour and Coastal Erosion Management Policy was initially open for feedback from February the 20th to March the 20th, but this was extended after community members approached Council wanting to have a say on the subject following Cyclones Debbie and Cook.

This involved both submissions being made to Council as well as dialogue during the first of two Community Conversations held in Ōmokoroa. Councillors have been meeting to discuss the feedback and submissions received, and have said they will be notifying submitters by letter. For more information see haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/erosion

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Backing one another in the community

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f local news and current affairs matter to you, consider supporting the Lizard News. This might take the form of a letter for us to publish on a topic close to your heart, or a classified advert costing just a few dollars if you have something to sell or a small business to publicise.

As a new start-up, we are expecting to take several months to establish ourselves.

In the meantime, 100% of the money we receipt is going back into this newspaper - helping pay the wages of an 85strong family run printing company in Christchurch, as the city economy recovers from the February 2011 earthquake.

Inkwise in Rolleston runs a heatset press with a 99% clean air rating and recycled aluminium printing plates. They

use recyclable, biodegradable paper from sustainably managed forests.

Our advertising and page design team of three are based over the Kaimai Range in Matamata. We use Shotbro of Ōmokoroa for our website design and the drivers of eight postal delivery routes from Te Puna through to Aongatete.

We’d like to thank everyone who has written an article or letter, submitted a report, taken a photo or been interviewed or quoted in a news story. Ultimately we are supremely grateful to the advertisers in our first two editions, without whom we couldn’t report your community news.

In turn, we ask you to consider supporting these local businesses and employers.

By Anne Sandel t is great to see new members joining our friendly league of indoor bowlers, and we welcome anyone who would like to come along to try their hand at this very social sport.

Members enjoyed a social evening sponsored by Andy Goodall of Comfort Airconditioning Ltd with both Bethlehem and Te Puna Bowling Clubs back in May. The first of our two tournaments for the season held at the end of May was sponsored by Ōmokoroa Country Estate.

With 18 teams competing (three local)

some travelled from as far as Whangamatā and Pāpāmoa. There was a fantastic turnout and a beautiful day was enjoyed by all.

Results: 1st H Levy, G Ferris, E Parry, V Watt. 2nd G Caie, N Cloud, W Davy, B Chisholm. 3rd L Roberts, R Gribble, M Gribble, D Coombs. The photo is of the best performing local team.

Our next event on Tuesday the 25th of July is the Club Championship Triples.

If you are interested in joining us, drop into the Settlers’ Hall on Monday afternoons at 1 pm or Tuesday evenings at 7 pm, or contact me on 548 1636.

Ōmokoroa Beach Indoor Bowling Club

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lizardnews.net

Why we are Lizard News

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By Liz Farrell izard News - it seems like a sensible name for a newspaper. After all, one of the accepted translations of ‘Ōmokoroa’ is ‘long lizard’. The Warwick Lilly wooden sculpture graces the roadside as you enter the peninsula and our friends the Lizard Market launched in the Settlers’ Hall earlier this year.

Our Lizard logo, in fact, came into being in 1998 when I spent a year working on the islands of Guadeloupe in the West Indies. This stunning archipelago, an overseas "département" of France, is home to lizards of all shapes and sizes. Tiny skinks dart between rocks and lazy iguanas lounge on trees and walls soaking up the sun. Occasionally they also climb five storeys and wait in your apartment to give you a moderately rude awakening when you rouse yourself from your afternoon siesta!

As a memento of my time, I decided

the best thing to do would be to get a tattoo. It’s entirely logical when you’re 21 years old, single and living thousands of miles from your family.

Fast forward six years. I’ve been married for three years, we’ve arrived in New Zealand, and we’re touring the country. In the self-styled Birthplace of Pounamu, Hokitika, we walk into a carver's shop to discover the owner from the Solomon Islands has a penchant for lizards. One look at my tattoo sends him to his best stock of jade. I won’t claim to have carved all of it - I certainly had plenty of help - but by and large, it is my work.

Roll on 2011, and a job vacancy appears in a small library and council service centre. It isn’t until some time later that we learn of the lizard connection. Ōmokoroa has become our home, and our lizard has come full circle.

Born in Hokitika, this little fella has been tattooed on Liz’s shoulder for almost 20 years.

News in brief...

L The best local team. (L-R) Kevin Searle from Ōmokoroa Country Estate with D Pirani, M Rosenberg (skip), J Tortelli and M Hamilton.

TEXT, CALL OR EMAIL Get in touch with your news Discuss your business needs

Matthew Farrell

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| Lizard News | July 2017

izard News has gone global! At least 463 people read our first edition online. Readers spent a combined 14 hours, 53 minutes reading on our launch day, the 1st of June. On some days, the average time spent reading was more than 14 minutes. 47% of readers used desktop PCs, 25% tablet and 28% mobile phones. NZ accounted for 385 readers, the UK 44, Australia 20, Spain 6, USA 3, Sweden 2, Netherlands 2, and Japan 1, says ISSUU.com

Tenders for the construction of tennis courts 3 and 4 at Ōmokoroa Sports Ground closed in mid-June. Construction timing will be subject to contractor availability and price within budget.

The principal of Ōmokoroa Point School says no timeframes have been set regarding the planning process for three new classrooms at the Hamurana Road site. Vicki Knell says they are currently considering all the options, to make the best possible decision for the school community.

After many months of planning and hard work, the beautiful hand-carved sign for Whakamārama Community Hall will be unveiled during a special ceremony involving local iwi and community groups on Sunday the 30th of July at 2 pm. Come and hear about the history of the area and the hall, and share afternoon tea. A plate to share would be appreciated.

Kauri Point Jetty: re-decking the unfinished jetty walkway was placed on hold until the restoration of road access, following the Cyclone Cook landslide event.

Happy Birthday Pahoia School - 90 years young on the 4th of July. The first class was taught in 1927 by Miss Connie Hunter at the home of Mrs & Mrs Jack Barnett with a roll of nine students. Mr Robert Francis, who had campaigned to the Auckland Education Board for the school’s creation, transferred his two daughters from Ōmokoroa School. With Colin Barnett attending before his 5th birthday, numbers were swelled to sufficient levels for teaching to commence.

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Cougar Biking Mum’s X-Factor

Pahoia mum, who figured she may as well join her children in racing BMX bikes, has been acknowledged for her boots and all approach with an award for the most improved rider.

Michele Pointon took up the sport last August, a couple of months after her daughter Eden because she felt she was at the track near Bethlehem all the time.

Her son Nixon was the first to start with the Tauranga BMX Club, about two and a half years ago.

“I joined a ladies only Cougar Camp training session to learn how to ride. It was the first time I had ever been on a BMX. Last November I took part in my first race in Taupō.”

Michele says she had a massive crash but got back on and didn’t finish last in the field of six competitors, perhaps in fourth or fifth place.

“The 40-plus female cruiser section is pretty limited, but it is competitive,”

she says.

Another big moment for Michele was the Nationals in Te Awamutu in March.

“There I finished fifth out of eight. I had gone from not being able to ride very well, to being able to ride. One of my motivations was seeing a trophy sitting there all year,” says Michele.

That trophy was for most improved female cruiser, which Michele was duly awarded at Tauranga BMX Club’s prizegiving in late May. Michele says the trophy was awarded to Maree McGarva in 2009/10, who went on to place second in the Worlds.

“There was an excellent new Honours Board and Wall of Honour. Nixon was second in his division, the under-8 Sprockets, and Eden was first in the 12year-old girls.”

There is racing every Sunday at the Cambridge Road track. School age riders are looking forward to involvement in the AIMS games in September.

West of Tauriko set for Ōmokoroa style development

By Matthew Farrell

The land west of Tauriko looks set to join Ōmokoroa and Katikati as one of seven urban projects, intended to deliver thousands more Western Bay homes in the next ten years.

Other areas include Keenan Road south of The Lakes in Pyes Pā, Te Tumu in Pāpāmoa East, Te Puke and a higherdensity Tauranga CBD. The number of developments and the infrastructure catch-up has been a recurring issue for residents I have spoken to at recent community consultation events in Ōmokoroa and Te Puna.

Open days in Tauriko a few weeks ago drew more than 700 attendees and an event called “Smart Talk, Future Thinking” is due to take place on Tuesday the 11th of July.

The umbrella planning organisation, SmartGrowth, says extra housing capacity is going to be required across the Bay of Plenty in the next decade. For example, its Housing Affordability Forum recently asked for developers, builders and

DIANE’S DÉCOR not just curtains!

financiers to register interest in another affordable housing pilot project - possibly the next stage of development in Ōmokoroa.

The Tauriko for Tomorrow concept for 3,000 new dwellings would require state highway realignment, boundary changes, schools, parks, cycle and walkways, shopping and community facilities - not to mention water, stormwater, sewerage and additional transport infrastructure.

To build a community in Tauriko West would require changes to the City Plan and Regional Policy Statement and would have to comply with the Resource Management Act. SmartGrowth says the project is in its early phases and the priority now is to listen to input from iwi and the wider community about what first needs to be protected or improved.

Meanwhile, Tauranga City Council has been considering requests to fast track planning and consent for two Special Housing Area developments in Greerton and Pāpāmoa.

Michele Pointon with her trophy. PHOTO: Sharon McManus / McManus Pix

The central region winter series began at Tauranga BMX Club on Sunday the 11th of June.

Dates for your diary

July 1st

The dog registration year has started. It’s cheaper in July.

Otherwise, the standard fee applies. Tags are available at District Council Offices at Barkes Corner, Ōmokoroa and Katikati.

July 7th

The Shades concert hosted by Waipuna Hospice. Holy Trinity Church on Devonport Road, Tauranga. Tickets are available online or at Hospice shops.

July 9th

The Ōmokoroa & Districts Pakeke Lions Market 9 am-12 pm at Western Ave.

July 9th July 15th July 18th July 30th August 5th

Indian buffet fundraiser for missionaries at Ōmokoroa Community Church at 5 pm. Tickets $25 from Barbara Walls on 548 2899.

The Lizard Market 10 am-2 pm at the Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Rain or shine.

The Ōmokoroa Community Board next meets at 7 pm at the Community Church.

Whakamārama Hall Sign Unveiling at 2 pm. All welcome.

Bring a plate for shared afternoon tea.

Bingo Night fundraiser by Ōmokoroa Sport & Rec. Entry by koha with cards for sale at the door. All proceeds are for the new Western Ave sports pavilion.

Aongatete, Ōmokoroa, Pahoia, Te Puna, Whakamārama - we’d love to share your events. Email your details to matthew@lizardnews.net and they’ll appear here and on our website.

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July 2017 | Lizard News |

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Skating opportunities for local kids

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By Liz Farrell early two years after launching Skatescool Tauranga, founder Kazna Bedford says the recent incorporation of Bay of Plenty Roller Sports is the next step in pursuing her dream of creating a dedicated venue for roller sports in the Western Bay. The family-friendly organisation teaches about 50 students every week and, as well as kids and adult classes, of-

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By Jo Farmer

fers in-line hockey, family discos, and artistic skating.

The focus on competitive disciplines has seen four local skaters achieve high placings in the recent Upper North Island event, held in Rotorua. Skatescool Coach and Ex-NZ Representative skater Michelle Webb took out second place in the Masters Figures.

Jaydene De Roles, aged nine, placed second in Elementary Free-skating. In the Novice Free-skating category, Catalina Morosini-Lorenzo, aged 10, came in seventh and Tamara Bedford, aged 9, placed third in her first competition. These three girls have been skating for less than two years, and Kazna notes they are already making waves with the judges. Later this month, Michelle and Jaydene will attend Nationals after placing first in their respective categories in a recent Auckland competition.

Skatescool Tauranga offers public

skate sessions as well as birthday parties and would like to grow their capacity to host speed skating, slalom and jam skating but currently lack a suitable venue.

This is one of the reasons Kazna is determined to create a big enough space to host the entire range of roller sports on a purpose-built rink.

In the meantime, families are encouraged to have a go. “We believe in making awesome memories in a safe and fun environment while building self-confidence and a love of skating,” says Kazna.

The winter holiday public skating sessions take place at the QEII Centre from 1 pm-3 pm on July the 10th, 13th, 17th and 20th. The next family disco is at the Katikati Memorial Hall on July the 22nd from 4 pm to 6 pm. The cost for each event is $10 per person or $35 for a family group. For more information, check out skatescooltauranga.co.nz or call Kazna on 021 118 0513.

without my mum too! One of the most exciting things I’ve learned this month though is how to drive the digger in the sandpit and pull on the levers to make the scoop swing around and go up and down. This takes great coordination and balance too – but I did it!”

Key learning: Children experience an environment where their play is valued as meaningful learning, and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised.

senses – taste and touch! Painting can be a bit of mess though! Lucky I’ve got a great mum to help clean me up afterwards.

I am also gaining confidence to use the obstacle course by myself, and I had fun crawling back and forwards along the planks. I am getting better at coordination, agility and balance which allows me to explore my abilities and limitations. I learned some independence too as Mum wasn’t there and I found I was still happy to do this with other familiar adults. Let’s do this again!”

Key learning: Children experience an environment where they gain confidence in and control of their bodies, as well as to explore their surroundings freely.

Playcentre kiddies join reporting team

his month, we thought we’d let some of our Playcentre kiddies tell the story about what a few of them have been up to. Here are some moments from Caleb Farmer, Luca Miller Desset and Henry Gregg.

Caleb (20 months): “Friday mornings are a busy time of play, fun and learning for me. When I’m painting, I like to hold the paint pot in one hand and brush in the other direction. It takes lots of concentration as I’m not even two years old yet. In the sandpit, each time I put a spadeful of sand into my bucket, I give myself a big clap. Trying things out, exploring my environment, and curiosity are important ways I learn. I’m gaining independence and confidence to explore

Luca (17 months old): “I like to explore with the paints. Sometimes the brush goes into my mouth and sometimes it goes onto the paper. I also like to feel the texture of the finger paint, creating patterns and mixing colours. As I am gaining control over my body, I am actively exploring the world through my

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Henry (2 years old): “I like playing in the sandpit. I like to pick things up and

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Catalina (above) and Tamara (left) at the Rotorua Area Championships on Mother’s Day. PHOTOS: Belinda Jayne Gifford.

throw them down and watch how they fall. I am learning through exploration.

Olivia opened up the shed, and I followed her and got out the hula hoops. Then my dad and I started playing with them. At first, my dad would throw them to me, and then we rolled them along the grass.

We tried rolling them down from the top of the hill. We had lots of fun, and at the same time, I learned about cause and effect – what happens when I let something go from up a hill. I squealed with delight to communicate to everyone around me that I thought it was pretty neat. Later I put the hoops on the trolley.

Dad asked if I wanted to go in the trolley and once I was on, I reached out for mum and said ‘Mama’ so she would hold my hand. I am learning to communicate what I want with words.”

Key learning: cause and effect, communication, exploration. Ōmokoroa Playcentre is located behind Settlers Hall, 334 Ōmokoroa Rd, and is open from 9.00am – 12.00pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri (during school terms). For more information, pop in during our open hours, phone 07 548 1343 or email: Ōmokoroaplaycentre@hotmail.com.

We’d love to see you sometime soon!

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Real community at Te Puna Kindergarten

By the team hen you witness ako; a binding together to create a wonderful synergy. Past whānau came in today with their four baby guinea pigs to show the tamariki after they had been treated at Te Puna Vets.

They clipped the guinea pig’s nails and checked them over. The children enjoyed a cuddle and catch up with Ellie, who is at school now. When Alexia, Ellie’s mum,

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was leaving she was pleasantly surprised to see the residents of Elmswood arrive.

Two years ago, Alexia had come to the teaching team in sadness to ask if we could arrange a small group excursion to Elmswood retirement village where her father had been homed for dementia. We collaborated with Elmswood and visited with Tama and Alexia and other whānau.

Tama was Alexia’s youngest attending Te Puna Community Kindergarten at the

time, and it was Tama’s Koro in Elmswood. When Tama went to school, Alexia’s father sadly died a year later.

It gave Alexia great joy, coming back to see we had continued the relationship with Elmswood. Alexia exclaimed “Oh! How amazing you have maintained your contact with the Elmswood residents”.

Alexia stopped at the gate before departing to talk to the carer, Shelly. We have continued the relationship with Elmswood, with not only small group excursions to the residents, but have added another dimension with some of the residents coming and visiting Te Puna Kindergarten.

The residents arrived with the tamariki out to greet them, bringing them into the arranged area. The tamariki sat in the middle eating the muffins they had made, while Milo and muffins were given to the residents.

There was Lilian, alert and ready to read to the tamariki, lots of buzzy dialogue

Tennis club set for new courts after awards night

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By Matthew Farrell xcitement is again becoming the baseline feeling at the Ōmokoroa Community Tennis Club at Western Avenue. The tender process for the construction of Courts 3 and 4 has now closed. The earthworks could start in the next few weeks if the price is within budget and the chosen contractor is available to begin the project.

Funding from the District Council will help to cover the cost of building of the two new courts, with grants from TECT and the NZ Community Trust contributing towards the surfacing and floodlights.

The club held its first awards evening with its AGM on Wednesday the 14th of June at the Ōmokoroa Boat Club.

The prize sponsors included Bay Turf, Claridges, Fresh Choice, Ōmokoroa Superette & Indian Takeaways, and Rachel Millard of First National.

The club is hoping to become affiliated with Tennis Western Bay of Plenty, a not-for-profit organisation incorporating nine other clubs.

Manager Jody Kendall tells Lizard News Tennis WBoP has responsibility for the promotion, development and administration of the sport in the sub-region.

“We are partners with Tennis BOP in support of the BayTrust Coachforce program for junior development in schools and clubs. Our coaches Luis Luna and Peter Blow look after the elite junior players in the development squad and representative squad programmes,” says Jody.

Treasurer and Grants Manager, Warwick Brew, says Tennis WBoP holds its AGM on Monday the 14th of August and Ōtūmoetai Tennis Club has nominated Ōmokoroa Community Tennis Club to become affiliated.

“That motion will be seconded by another club; I do not see any issues. Certainly, it will benefit Ōmokoroa’s juniors to have support from Tennis New Zealand and cooperation from other clubs, sharing their best practice to further the future growth of the Community Tennis Club,” he says.

Our thanks to Jeff Warren for supplying these photographs.

Juniors (front, L-R) Ryza Flett, Leah Jenkins, Philipp Klochko, Fergus Thamme, (and rear, L-R) Aston Monk, Ryan Monk, Ivan Harding of sponsors Bay Turf, coach Jackson Currie, George Marshall, and Ryan Jenkins.

(L-R) Steve, Mokoia and Chantal Ling of sponsors Fresh Choice with adult prize winners including Andrew Easton, Chris A’Court of sponsors Claridges, Simone Jenkins, Jeff Warren, Jacqui Pittendreigh, and Steve Wall.

New Arrivals

going between the tamariki and the visitors. In between this buzz, Annie, a past Kindergarten child now at school, arrived with her mum. Annie and Erin, Annie’s mum, instantly recognised Lillian, walking over to say hello. Erin and Annie had been on Elmswood trips with the Kindergarten at least three times and bonded with Lillian each time.

Why was this significant? It was a synergy of all our beliefs that we hold dear about ‘community of learners’ coming together in collaboration, and to share different understandings about the world in which we live. The tamariki at the Kindergarten had provided the manaakitanga by baking muffins and inviting the Elmswood residents to visit.

Coincidently, Ellie’s mum also visited and showed kaitiaki by bringing in the guinea-pigs, explaining they had been at the vet getting their toenails clipped and having a health check. This beautiful example of that whanaungatanga was present from the past to the future, with our on-going relationship with Elmswood residents, and our families returning for a visit or families picking up their tamariki being present to witness intergenerational ages at play.

Lillian, one of the residents, was being a rangatira by reading to the tamariki.

The common thread weaving this all together was the presence of ako. Te Puna Community Kindergarten embraces the principle of ako, enabling teachers to build a caring and inclusive learning community. A community where each person feels that their contribution is valued and that they can participate to their full potential. This is not only about people getting along socially; it is something deeper, about building productive relationships, between teachers and learners, where everyone feels empowered to learn with and from each other.

Please feel free to visit us at 45 Minden Road, Te Puna or call us with any enquiries on 552 5736.

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Baby Leo arrived for Vanessa and Paul Jones and big sisters Xanthe and Zoë, on Saturday the 10th of June at Bethlehem Birthing Centre, weighing 8 lbs 5 oz.

Isla Mae Torbet was born weighing 8lb 13oz on Wednesday 3rd May at Bethlehem Birthing Centre, thanks to the Te Puna roadworks - a daughter for Andy and Vanessa, and a sister for Angus (5) and Finn (2). PHOTO: oliviadesset.wixsite.com

July 2017 | Lizard News |

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Making A Mindful Choice

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reg Hopkinson and Sally Lewis are a local couple who have produced a full feature documentary called ‘A Mindful Choice’ which follows the stories of a variety of people around the world facing challenges including terminal cancer, prison, grief, and the pressures of creative performance. Each of the individuals in these stories practices a form of meditation called Ascension which has a profound impact on their ability to find happiness and peace, despite the challenges they face.

Greg and Sally both have successful backgrounds in business and found Ascension meditation at different times, when they realised their professional success was not making them happy - instead, their lives were controlled by stress, anxiety and unfulfilling relationships. For Greg, the realisation that there must be another way to find peace came when he had a near-death experience in an avalanche in the Southern Alps. This lead him on a journey to find a better way to have more happiness and peace in his life. He eventually found the answer when he saw a flyer in a café advertising an introduction to Ascension meditation.

Greg had tried many other types of ‘interventions’, but it was not until he began practising Ascension that his anxiety and stress levels were significantly reduced, and once that happened he was able to experience his life in a more meaningful way. Both Sally and Greg found that meditation helped them to function better in their personal and professional relation-

Greg Hopkinson and Sally Lewis find happiness through meditation.

ships and that they began to experience more joy in their lives – something that had previously been elusive. Greg went on to write a book about his life and experiences called ‘Boundless – A Wayward Entrepreneur’s Search For Peace’, which was a finalist in the Ashton Wylie Trust Book Awards in 2015.

The happiness and fulfilment that Sally and Greg found through meditation inspired them to train to become teachers of Ascension meditation so they could share their experience with others. They have taught hundreds of people from all walks of life - including two courses in Ōmokoroa. They have another Ōmokoroa course on the weekend of 4-6th August. For more information about Ascension meditation, and to register, visit www.thebrightpath.com Article supplied.

Maggie’s love of detail and miniatures lizardnews.net

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By Liz Farrell e Puna artist Maggie Savage remembers at age nine or ten winning a school-wide competition to create a poster of a famous New Zealander. She chose to draw Captain Cook with the Endeavour behind him. She credits seeing her winning colouring-in competition entry being displayed in the Te Puna store as the starting point of her passion for drawing. But it wasn’t until she worked at the Historic Village, making signs and creating miniatures, did art become part of her daily life.

A motorcycle accident, involving both Maggie and her brother, meant the physical demands of working on the family farm were too much. The six-month assignment at the Historic Village served to be extremely beneficial, creating some very happy memories.

As her family grew, Maggie illustrated newsletters and planned a recipe book for Te Puna Playcentre and later drew designs for a new uniform for Ōtūmoetai Primary School as her children progressed through the education system.

While she has studied with other artists, such as Nick Eggleston and Erica Cowdell, and has created some beautiful work during these sessions, Maggie knows the types of art she wants to build, and she says, “I like doing what I like doing. I have to be passionate about what I’m drawing. I love doing the detailed work.”

Maggie joined the Ōmokoroa Artists around three years ago. Part of the members’ Thursday morning gatherings is for an artist to speak about their artistic career and share some of their favourite pieces, or describe their techniques. It came as a pleasant surprise to fellow members to discover that Maggie also

Maggie Savage.

creates miniatures. Using her experience from her time at the Historic Village, Maggie started building items to complement her niece’s Sylvanian Families collection, creating water-wells, campfires and many other pieces not available in the collection.

The Ōmokoroa Artists, now comprising more than 40 members, offer Wednesday morning sessions for beginners and those wishing to participate in the ‘taught’ session. Thursdays are members’ days and include a trip once a month to a gallery, museum or a member’s house for sketching. The group also hosts an art sale typically twice a year, with proceeds from each event being donated to a worthy local cause.

For further information about the Ōmokoroa Artists, please contact Jackie 548 1518 or Karen 548 1454.

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Tinopai to Lynley Park walkway opens

Maggie enjoys fine detail work, such as these crustaceans.

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By Murray Grainger afety fences have been removed, and the track is now available to use. Please note, fences and gates along the walkway mean the same as they do everywhere else - the other side is private property, please respect that.

The WBoPDC Dog Bylaw has made the entire Ōmokoroa to Tauranga walkway and cycleway an “on-leash” area.

One reason is to prevent disturbance of the bird roosting area between Cooney Reserve and Lynley Park. Another reason is the safety issue with dogs and cyclists sharing the path. For this reason, it is preferable that dogs are on short leads, rather than long extendable

Miniature models are another of Maggie’s hobbies.

leads on the boardwalk portions.

Cyclists will need to be aware there are a couple of muddy sections and around 40m of sand to negotiate between Tinopai and Cooney. This section is scheduled to be brought up to the proper standard. The alternative is to carry your bike up the stairs to Tinopai Drive.

For those who don’t know the area well the access points along the walkway are - Lynley Park: the end of Lakeside Terrace, Tinopai Drive: down the stairs at the back of the reserve, and Cooney Reserve car park.

The track from The Esplanade to Beach Grove is officially closed at present, due to a slip.

our Ōmokoroa school friends who produced a concept plan for a waterto-oxygen scuba mask, have been praised for their entrepreneurial problem-solving.

Alexander and Oliver Annan, Isaac Miller and technical ideas man Cesar

Oliver studies the responses to the group’s Facebook survey.

Vargas-Tuerlings decided to take part in Tauranga Venture Centre’s Mashup just two days before the event.

The former Ōmokoroa Point School pupils then came up with a hypothetical business plan for their wildly imaginative SeaBreathe project in a matter of hours.

In their words: “The ocean is your tank! Seabreathe splits the water into oxygen and hydrogen, leaving the diver with the oxygen and letting the hydrogen bubble to the surface.”

Despite being the youngest of the 40odd students participating in the Mashup weekend, they were named runners-up and won a prize for the best revenue model for all teams.

That means of all the entries; they had the clearest idea of who would buy their product, what its benefits would be and how much the units would cost to manufacture.

Cesar says he first helped out at Mashup a couple of years ago. “Two weeks before this year’s event, in March, I had a lightbulb moment. I knew electrolysis could be used to split the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water. I saw the opportunity of using that knowledge to make a product.” Cesar says they elaborated on the idea the day before Mashup and they got quite far down the track with the project during the event.

Alexander says he was the numbers guy, keeping an eye on finances. “I was looking at market viability; to see if it was possible to make money from this as a business. We surveyed people across the country on our alternative to current scuba diving gear - and we adjusted the questionnaire as we fixed things up.”

Alexander says Mashup helped him learn a lot through doing.

His brother, Oliver, helped Isaac with research. “We put out a survey on Facebook. We had 18 responses. We were

Write and Win

(Sitting L-R) Cesar, Alexander and Isaac with their mentor, Joel.

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By Liz Farrell he imaginations and creative ability of students are well known to those who teach, but few become adults to write creatively as a career. The School of Young Writers Te Kura Kaituhi Rangatahi works to build on the burgeoning talent of our young people to develop confidence and style, to broaden their written form and to introduce writers to the joys of publication.

Each year the non-for-profit organisation holds a competition for writers aged 13-19 to submit their original works in This ad space is yours from

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the hopes of winning publication in the Re-Draft book, now in its seventeenth year.

The judges, author Tessa Duder and author/poet James Norcliffe, select from poetry, short stories, creative non-fiction, cartoons and graphic fiction to create an anthology of New Zealand teenagers’ written works.

The deadline for submissions to the 2017 competition is the 1st of September. Information is available at http://www.schoolforyoungwriters.org /redraft/ or the Ōmokoroa Library.

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asking people if they would use our product and how it would affect their diving. They told us it would help a lot and they’d buy it to use it,” says Oliver.

Isaac says his role was partly financial, partly market research and development. “I was finding materials to use, looking at the costs of licensing the product. I was also interested in combating the issues of decompression and oxygen poisoning underwater.” Isaac says as the only 13-year-olds they were the beginners, and they were proud to win an award for their efforts.

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A Venture Centre spokeswoman says while the concept isn’t proven and would need a lot of scientific testing, the team identified a real problem, a product and a realistic market. They were also praised for their estimated costs, anticipated revenues and a well-branded presentation.

Elsewhere, a share of $10,000 is on offer for all school age inventors in science, engineering, environment, software and business. The deadline for submissions at brightsparks.org.nz is Wednesday the 27th of September.

OPS Run

mokoroa Point School held its junior cross country on Wednesday the 31st of May. The junior classes from Rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4 were joined by the Year 3 pupils from Rooms 5 and 5L. Parents, grandparents and caregivers cheered as the 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds ran one lap of the school, followed by the 7-yearolds and 8-year-olds running two laps of the school.

Dallas Townsend gets the 5-year-old girls underway.

The start of the 6-year-old boys’ race.

The 7-year-old girls begin the first of their two laps.

WEB | PRINT | DIGITAL

By Matthew Farrell

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A breath of fresh air, under the sea

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July 2017 | Lizard News |

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New to Ōmokoroa Library this month

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It’s free and easy to join the library.

Go to www.westernbay.govt.nz and type “join the library” in the search bar!

A thousand un-named pets

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HISTORICAL FICTION

CRIME

Mark Billingham: Love Like Blood

t seems the early bird catches the worm composting workshop, as Western Bay locals are finding the popular education sessions to be fully subscribed.

The goal of the seminars is to reduce the volume of food scraps needlessly going to landfill. There was a one hundred percent turnout for a workshop at the Ōmokoroa Community Church in late May. It was provided by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and delivered

by Waste Education presenter Kathy Broadhead.

Her colleague Kim Edwards says the session was well-received by participants who asked incisive questions and shared enthusiastic conversations.

“We had a couple of school age children here with their parents, some retirees, and some passionate gardeners.”

An audited sample of kerbside rubbish collected in the Western Bay has shown more than 40 percent of waste going to landfill is organic kitchen scraps, along with six percent green waste, which is all compostable. (Incidentally, almost ten percent is recyclable paper, and nearly ten percent is recyclable glass, which

Conn Iggulden: Dunstan

The worm turns kitchen scraps away from landfill sites.

naturally worms do not eat.)

This was the sixth worm composting workshop in the Western Bay since November. Others have taken place in Katikati, Te Puke and Waihī Beach. The next in Ōmokoroa later this month is nearly fully booked. Costing $34.50 for $150 worth of materials, it isn’t hard to see why.

Kim says the start-up kit includes a vermihut, compost, worms, seeds, lime and an information pack thanks to the support of Revital Fertilisers and Kings Seeds of Katikati.

“There are many benefits to worm composting. Apart from diverting waste away from landfill, your household rubbish no longer smells, and you are producing great garden compost.”

Kim says the sessions will continue to cycle through the District Council’s main centres, as long as there is a demand.

4,500 copies printed for:

Aongatete • Ōmokoroa • Pahoia Te Puna • Whakamārama

Send your message to more people for less money Contact us about growing your business

omokoroa@lizardnews.net

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| Lizard News | July 2017

CHICK LIT

WWII

Stella Rimington: Breaking Cover

Rachel Seiffert: A Boy in Winter

Ruth Hogan: The Keeper of Lost Things

Ōmokoroa Library and Service Centre

What can we do for you?

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Lizard News

The tiger worm is an introduced surface-dwelling species.

THRILLER

e have more than nine thousand items for you to borrow.

These include fiction and nonfiction books for adults, children and teens; graphic novels; reference; early readers; picture books; board books; books for learning English as a second language; large print books; road codes; jigsaws; magazines; DVDs and audio books on CD. Storytime for preschool children is held every Friday at 10 am.

We can help you with Council queries.

You can register your dog; pay for your rates or water; request a LIM, PIM or Digital Property File; read Community Board and Council meeting minutes or place a service request.

We’re full of information including a list of JPs in the area; local maps and

walkways; community event information and ticket sales; local history; sports and social club information; local project and development details. We hold Bay of Plenty Times and Katikati Advertiser for three months; we archive Ōmokoroa Omelette editions; we are now archiving Lizard News! We have free WiFi and a public access computer; we do photocopying and scanning.

We’re open Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9.30 am to noon. We also host the Police Information Centre. Volunteers operate the PIC on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 11 am and will help you with your issues which may involve the police. If you have a critical incident to report, dial 111.

Matching Fund opportunity for community groups

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he 2017 round of the Community Matching Fund opened on Tuesday the 20th of June. The initiative was established to support projects led by not-for-profit community groups, working for the benefit of their communities in Western Bay of Plenty.

The District Council makes up to $100,000 available for community and environmental projects that make a positive difference in the district. Funding comprises two components - a General fund for social, recreational and cultural initiatives ($60,000) and an Environmental fund for projects associated with the natural environment ($40,000). Applications may have components that apply to both funds.

Council recognises that these groups contribute numerous resources to projects and seeks to “match”, on a 50/50 basis, the dollar value of this community effort with a cash grant.

The Nature Trail at Aongatete Forest, which opened in September 2016, is one such endeavour. The successful application to the Community Matching Fund has led to the creation of an informative walkway with 29 interactive signs show-

casing the diversity of the forest: the flora, fauna, geology and ecology, traditional bush medicines and current pest control. The group submitted in 2015 and were able to, at least, equal the grant amount with funds from other sources.

However, the ‘matched’ part of the funding does not have to be cash. The community group contribution can be made up of any combination of volunteer labour, donated professional services, funds raised through other means and/or donations of materials.

The maximum application amount is the full $100,000, although this has never been granted. Grants between $2,000 to $10,000 are more commonly successful.

In 2016, Council received 27 applications for the Community Matching Fund allocation, compared to 42 applications in 2015. However, the total dollar figure requested in 2016 was almost $264,000 - more than double the 2015 total of $122,000.The Community Matching Fund closes on Thursday the 20th of July.

Application forms and guidelines can be found at www.westernbay.govt.nz/ourcouncil/grants-and-funding

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Our thanks for half a century of service

By Matthew Farrell t’s not very often a news story contains an extensive list of names, as below, but it’s only once that the Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade will turn 50 years old.

The Brigade began life on the 24th of May, 1967. Chief Fire Officer Ian Blunt says they tried to invite every living former member to the celebrations held at the station. Founder members John Luckman and Don Leek were there to raise a glass, along with John’s brother Barry who joined up within three months of the brigade’s establishment.

It was a who’s who of three current or serving Chiefs, all six Deputies, all five Gold Stars (for completing 25 years service) and all eight life members. John shared some remarkable stories with me about those early days. We’ll bring you more details in the next Lizard News.

Ian Blunt says the nature of people’s work commitments tends to dictate their career span, with John Leek on 37 years, Ian on 33 years himself and Simon Priest on 27 years. At the other end of the scale, Kevin Weller is in his second year.

“We ask new recruits to come for an interview first, and they must live on the peninsula. Otherwise, they could go through all the months of training and routinely not make it on the truck,” says Ian. After six months with the brigade, new recruits go to the National Training Centre near Rotorua Airport. On-station refresher training is ongoing for all

The roll of honour.

Bay of Plenty MP, Todd Muller.

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Chiefs, Deputies, Gold Star holders and 1967 members gathered for photographs at the 50th anniversary celebrations. (L-R) John Leek, Barry Luckman, Barry Moss, John Luckman, Ian Blunt, Don Leek, Simon Priest, Harry Allen - inset, Peter Adams.

volunteers, and five of Ōmokoroa’s FireFighters will go on a course in November aiming to become Qualified Fire-Fighters.

Those at the celebrations were able to check out the visiting Hazmat Command Unit. Greerton Station Officer Bill Rackham explained how it is used to coordinate the multi-agency response to significant incidents such as Edgecumbe’s flooding, where Defence Force and Search & Rescue teams were involved alongside Police, Fire, Community Patrol, Māori Wardens and animal rescuers.

The unit stores pods containing long

I

duration breathing apparatus, decontamination showers, and clothing to protect against biochemical hazards. It then converts into a briefing room with whiteboards and monitor screens. Also, there on show was the Incident Support Vehicle from Tauranga which contains extra lights, ladders, and breathing apparatus for such major events.

Now here’s that list I mentioned; the everyday heroes of Ōmokoroa: Chief Fire Officer Ian Blunt, Deputy CFO Simon Priest, Senior Station Officer John Leek, SOs Trevor Goldstone and Fergus Keith, Qualified Fire-Fighter Warren Glover, Senior Fire-Fighters Michael Kingston, Dan

Todd Talk

And the roll of duty.

By Todd Muller MP

t’s been a fantastic month out and about in our community discussing Budget 2017 and how it will benefit our local families. The feedback I have been getting when I knock on people’s doors is that our Families Income Package is significant, appreciated, and will make a real difference in people’s lives.

The $2 billion per year package adjusts income tax thresholds, increases Working for Families and provide additional support to people with low incomes who are facing high accommodation costs.

To paint a picture for you - an average local family with three kids and one parent in work, earning $70,000, will see their weekly tax reduce by $20.37. Their

Working for Families will increase by $40.20 per week, and if they are renting a home for $520, they could see up to $100 per week as an Accommodation Supplement.

A single parent with two kids earning $55,000 a year will see their weekly tax reduce by $20.38. Their Working for Families increase by $20.60 per week, and if they are renting a home for $520, they could earn a total of $163 per week (an increase of $124 per week) as an Accommodation Supplement.

Our pensioners also see an increase in their weekly incomes with an additional $13 per week per couple from April next year, with many also qualifying for an increase to their Accommodation Supplement.

Blok and Gavin Roberts, and Fire-Fighters Averil D’Alton, Mornay Jacobs, Elina Arnese, Kevin Weller, Ross Leek, Warwick Francis, Jason McKie, Mat Kirk, Josh Goldstone, Ron Shanks and Steve Roberts - and mentions for recent resignations Scott Kirk and Rick Peers. These are joined by First Responders Jennifer Bleier, Violet Black, Hannelore Kemme, Michelle Kirk, Nikki DeVreede, Linda D’Alton, Bridget Lancaster, Danielle Broad, Megan Thorne, Mike Wade and Operational Support Helen Hof. We thank all of you on behalf of the community and congratulate you for your part in local history.

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Pahoia Hoedown

he Pahoia School quiz night took place on Friday the 16th of June. Everyone had a lot of fun with the ‘Hoedown’ theme. Thanks to loads of great sponsors, the event raised about $10,000 for the school.

lizardnews.net

Back to nature is great for the skin

effie Botha’s love for her goats and their milk has transformed her passion into a flourishing little business.

Udderly Pure launched in February, combining four years of experience in making goat milk soap, lotions, cheese and sauces with a lot of energy and determination.

As consumers are becoming more aware of what is in their day-to-day products, goat milk products have become more popular.

Goat milk naturally contains alpha hydroxyl acids, which remove dead skin cells, leaving skin smoother and younger looking. Many water-based soaps contain chemicals to mimic this process, which can cause dry skin. It is also particularly high in Vitamin A, which helps repair skin tissue, reduces wrinkles and controls pimples. The high fat content boosts the moisturising effects, which prevent the soap from drying out skin.

Jeffie considers her 12 goats as part of the family. Each has its personality, ranging from the shy Emily to hotheaded Plummer.

“Spending time with them feeds my

J

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soul, lifts my spirit and leaves me with a sense of happiness. Seven does are currently in kid, so this spring we will have lots of new babies to look after and cuddle!” says Jeffie.

Not only does Jeffie make her skincare products by hand, but she also infuses them with her own oils like rosemary and lavender, to name just two - which she grows or ‘goes bush’ to find among our New Zealand natives.

Once the oils have been infused, it’s time to start the soap making process. It takes three hours to make a batch of soap. The un-moulding, cutting and edging take much longer. Once cut, the soap needs to cure for four to six weeks.

Jeffie loves what she does. “Growing this business and having the opportunity to create products that add value is very important to me.”

Jeffie has a range of soap available on her website udderlypure.co.nz or at selected stockists around Tauranga. Coming soon will be lotions and moisturising facial scrubs, made with the same loving care as her successful range of soaps.

Article supplied.

FreshChoice Ōmokoroa is a Top Shop!

Jeffie considers her 12 goats as part of the family.

ur very own FreshChoice Ōmokoroa has successfully been shortlisted for the 2017 Retail NZ Top Shop Awards. They are competing with other retailers in a highly-competitive region which covers Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Taranaki.

The competition is judged by mystery shoppers who complete a detailed report, having entered the store between March the 27th and May the 1st.

FreshChoice owner Steve Ling says, “I was so excited when I received the phone call to say we were shortlisted; it’s an amazing achievement. Full credit to the team at FreshChoice Ōmokoroa for making it happen. We try our best to have very high standards across the

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board, which at times can be challenging - so it’s great to receive recognition for hard work”.

Steve and Chantal were a Top Shop finalist in their previous supermarket in Methven. Chantal says she and Steve have been invited to attend a VIP evening in Hamilton early next month to hear who will go onto the National Finals.

“It was a great feeling to have beaten hundreds of other retailers back then, so hopefully we can do it again!” she says.

FreshChoice Ōmokoroa was the winner of the Tauranga Business Awards for Customer Service last year, so winning the Top Shop Awards would be another great achievement for the store.

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The whole enchilada with a pumpkin latte

By Joanne Wiggett hakamārama residents got together a few weeks ago for an evening to learn about fun, tasty and healthy Mexican cooking from Kathrin of Lavish Foods. Kathrin recently catered for a group of locals, and they were so impressed with her inventive, spicy, delicious food and her use of local ingredients that they asked her to run a cooking class at Whakamārama Hall.

There was no sitting back and watching as 14 hungry locals turned up. Participants donned aprons and got stuck in

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- rolling burritos, sizzling steak and frying tortillas. Chicken Enchiladas Verde, grilled flat iron steak, one pot cilantro lime rice with black beans and chunky fresh salsa were all whipped up, along with a delicious pumpkin latte to start.

Huh, pumpkin latte? - yes, a thick pumpkin soup flavoured with lime and secret seasonings - delicious and often served with a whipped coconut yoghurt or nondairy whip on top - hence the name pumpkin latte.

Participants got to taste everything did you know you can eat and enjoy Mex-

ican food even if you are gluten and dairy free? A Mexican pineapple cake, glutenfree and flavoured with cumin and cinnamon and served with a whipped coconut yoghurt rounded off the evening. Yum! If it sounds like participants ate all night - they did and loved it.

There will be plenty of Mexican cooking going on around Whakamārama. There

were some lovely spot prizes at the end of the night.

Participants left with feelings of contentment that come with eating good food in good company, satisfaction at having helped create this feast and excitement about trying the recipes at home. As Kathrin says, “Food is only limited by your imagination”.

Pasta risottata al pomodoro

By Alessandra Zuccheri

Pasta with tomato sauce, cooked like a risotto.

For four people.

400 gr short pasta.

600 gr canned chopped tomatoes.

One small red onion.

Extra virgin olive oil, salt, herbs of your choice.

Optional - grated parmesan cheese, or any other tasty cheese of your choice, feta is a good option too.

Boiling water; from the jug is perfect.

Sautee the finely chopped onion with a dash of olive oil, salt and a bit of water on a low flame for a few minutes. Add the tomato and let it cook for approximately 5 minutes, crushing it with the back of a wooden spoon and stirring it occasionally.

Then add the pasta and stir it for about 3 minutes.

Then start adding a little of boiling water at the time, stirring continuously on a medium heat, until the pasta is cooked but firm “al dente”.

Remove it from the heat, add a dash or two of olive oil, salt if preferred, the herbs of your choice and the cheese if you want to use it. Stir and serve immediately.

This pasta cooking method can be used for every sauce of your choice. The result will be a very creamy pasta without using any cream.

Buon appetito! Genuine Italian cuisine is available as pre-cooked meals and takeaways. Cooking classes our speciality. Have a special event? Alessandra can be your chef. Facebook: Amore Ōmokoroa. Phone 548 2453 or 021 183 5591.

Intrepid Whaka locals Silvia and Steve mastering the stoves.

Above and below: Mexicano meets the Spanish Mediterranean on the ingredients list.

Left: Kathrin uses whipped coconut yoghurt to top off her pineapple cake.

Pasta risottata al pomodoro by Alessandra.

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July 2017 | Lizard News |

23

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By Shirley Sparks

Te Puna Quarry Park News

y request for a handyman to repair, maintain and create the percussion area on the West Track, (nicknamed by some as ‘mountain music’) brought a long-standing acquaintance back into our midst. Mike used to live in Te Puna and has exhibited various sculptures from recycled materials over the years. The New Zealand flag alongside the train and the large sculpture man on the west track are two of his creations in the Quarry Park. Now he has made and continues to make, a huge difference to the percussion instruments. Mike has also joined the volunteers working in the Quarry on Tuesday mornings. He’s a bit more than another handyman!

Now, can I make an appeal for a brave man to assist us to clean up and perhaps dredge the ponds? They look pretty awful. So far, appealing to Western Bay of Plenty District Council to help us has not proved successful! You’ll need to enjoy getting wet and muddy.

The heritage rose terrace is undergoing a makeover thanks to the perseverance of Wendy, Lorraine, Bev and Ray. Topsoil is to be extensively used on the plants as well as to grass the paths and improve the access. More roses were planted, and perennials are being carefully chosen for inter- and under-planting. Timber trellises are being made to support the shrubs, and the shelter is being made more attractive and useful.

Compost bins are also planned.

It might seem early to be making a request for folk to pot up plants and cuttings from your gardens to contribute for sale at our Quarry Fest Great Garden Sale. But it’s not. The Bethlehem/Te Puna Lions will be organising the Quarry Fest on our behalf for Sunday the 12th of November. We’d love to have lots of

sturdy, well-established plants and potted seedlings to sell from our stall. Make this your effort for our community development in the environmental arts. This is our only annual fundraising event for the Te Puna Quarry Park, and your contribution and participation is greatly valued.

It’s funny how things turn out. After the brazen, criminal theft of our lovely ponytail palm from the cacti and succulent area last year a most attractive ponytail garden has been made by Jo and our volunteers just beyond the junction on the east track. All of the palms have been gifted to us as a response to publicity about this sad event in the Quarry’s story. We thank Conrad who replaced the stolen one in its original place, and all the many people who gifted their ponytail palms so others could create the new garden to give pleasure to all.

Many people ask me what I mean by the area I refer to as the junction. It’s the place where the east and west tracks branch out, alongside the mosaic china family, the frog pond, the iris bank and the Otumatua bush garden. If you head up the main track and turn left at the junction, you’ll find yourself at the butterfly terrace so popular with many visitors. Now it is likely to have even more; Mary, Shona and Norm have now built a new bug hotel on this site. Human visitors can observe and enjoy the residence of slugs and snails and spiders, and also the arrival of wetas, skinks - maybe even a tuatara. Wouldn’t that be nice? I hope people will take an interest but treat it with respect.

Discussions are taking place regarding developing more comfortable seating on the amphitheatre slopes. Boffa Miskell, landscape architects who helped us in our early planning of the Te Puna Quarry Park way back in 1994, have been asked for their suggestions and planning, in

communication with the Te Puna Quarry Summer Trust as well as the Quarry committee. We are well aware of how uncomfortable the slopes can be for audiences attending performances. Our idea is that terraced seating - in keeping with the informal atmosphere of the Quarry, yet allowing for accessible maintenance - could be attractively designed and constructed. Now that the green room on the gathering lawn is completed and ready for use, further development of the amphitheatre is being carefully considered.

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Our Tuesday work mornings continue to attract volunteers, often many on a fine day - sometimes, if wet - only a few.

All come to enjoy a creative, happy, friendly time. Surplus fruit and vegetables are frequently shared. Feijoas, avocados, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, apples, rhubarb, free range eggs and citrus, plants and magazines are shared and swapped. So is my usual “morning talk” at the tea break. An exchange of ideas is often part of the fun. Come and join us.

Call me on 552 5874. It’s a great way to get involved.

Jack, Georgie and Patrick enjoying a mid-winter walk with Lobo at the Quarry Park.

Almost three quarters of waste is wasted

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he second SWAP (Solid Waste Analysis Protocol) for the WBoPDC, to analyse the content of rubbish bags and wheelie bins, was undertaken during the 22nd to the 28th of February. The key outcomes from the survey are as follows.

The waste composition of a typical

urban kerbside refuse bag was 5% textiles, 7% nappies & sanitary, 15% nonrecyclables, 25% recyclables and 48% organic waste.

Seventy-three percent of the audited kerbside waste could have been recycled or composted.

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Friendship Club seeks backgammon guru

The Quarry Park is so large, a peaceful spot can be found on even the busiest days.

Ō

By Barbara Walls

mokoroa Friendship Club continues to offer a warm welcome on Friday mornings at 10 am.

Anyone who wants to meet friends is welcome. Newcomers who have not played Rummikub or Up Words before will soon learn. Five hundred is also popular. We have a couple of sets of backgammon up in the cupboard and if anyone knows how to play it, do come along and teach us.

Edith Mitchell has now joined the committee. Edith spent a month on holiday

in Australia and a month in Auckland, looking after a grandson. We are glad she is back. Others of us have events in our lives that make us absent for a while. The lunches are as yummy as ever, so do come along to The Community Church Hall from 10 am – 12.30 pm every Friday.

I am learning to take photos on my iPhone and tried snapping the catering team relaxing before everyone arrived last Friday. Gordon Gravatt who sets up the tables was there plus Joan Noah, Jenny Robertson and Joan Tortelli. The technology to include and send it beat me though!

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Rumors & Lies

he third album from Bay of Plenty band Swamp Thing is an eclectic mix showcasing Grant Haua’s gritty voice and Michael Barker’s prowess on percussion.

The opening track is a high-energy interpretation of Mississippi Blues singersongwriter Robert Johnson’s 1936 “Last Fair Deal Gone Down”. With a serious drum solo for Barker part-way through, it sets a high pace for the rest of the album.

The duo’s self-styled ‘swamp pop’ is their signature style, with more punky “Boom Town” and slower piece

“Mother’s Work” offering occasional divergence from their usual blues roots sounds.

Swamp Thing tour regularly and have twice played at the Ōmokoroa Boat Club in the past six months.

The pair plays a dynamic live set, and the tireless beats get many up on the dance floor. They have a loyal following who will be pleased to see this latest offering.

Rumors & Lies is available from Swamp Thing’s online shop: www.facebook.com/swampthingnz or by emailing swampthingmusic@xtra.co.nz

Kererū in gradual decline

Bay City Ramblers at Katikati Folk Club

lizardnews.net

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By Christine Donehue ook forward to a lively evening when Katikati Folk Club hosts Tauranga band, the Bay City Ramblers, on Friday the 21st of July.

It all started in 2015 when Mike Garner and Derek Jacombs from Kokomo got together. Two of New Zealand’s most respected blues musicians and songwriters, they decided to join forces for an informal journey down the backroads of old blues, folk and country, exploring the sounds now called Americana.

They soon decided to expand and brought on board the Bay of Plenty’s first-call upright bass player Nigel Masters and the extraordinary talents of multi-instrumentalist Robbie Laven, who added his love of early gypsy jazz to the music.

Now the band break out a host of acoustic instruments - resonator guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, washboard and more - for an eclectic musical trip that stretches from late 1800’s America through the music of Elizabeth Cotton, Charlie Patton, Django Reinhardt and Woody Guthrie to Derek and Mike’s contemporary songs.

Mike, Derek and Nigel have featured together overseas at the New Caledonia Jazz & Blues Festival, and The Bay City Ramblers travelled to appear at the Norfolk Island Jazz Festival.

Mike Garner is a well-known NZ blues singer and songwriter. He has a wealth of blues experience over nearly 40 years, having played in Europe, Australia, New

Zealand and the Pacific, Japan and Kathmandu in Nepal.

For the past two decades guitarist, Derek Jacombs has been the singer and songwriter with blues and roots favourite, Kokomo. The band has released ten studio albums and a live CD and DVD. He has also written music for theatre and television and served as director of the National Jazz Festival.

Since emerging from the Auckland folk scene, Robbie Laven has become one of New Zealand’s most respected musicians, playing a host of instruments in styles ranging from folk to rock, Latin to jazz.

Nigel Masters is the Bay of Plenty’s busiest bass player, both with his main band Kokomo and as a session musician.

He also operates the Bay’s longest-running recording studio, The Boatshed.

Specialising in 1920s and 1930s acoustic blues, Americana and jazz, the Bay City Ramblers all sing, and play a range of instruments - including some unusual ones - to capture the essence of American improvised music, as it evolved from the Southern plantations to the New Orleans mix of ragtime, blues and carnival music, to the hot sophistication and excitement of Chicago.

Come along on July the 21st for a good time with tea, coffee and biscuits at the interval. Doors open at 7 pm at the Katikati Bowling Club in Park Road and the concert starts at 7.30 pm. Adults $20, members $15 and school-aged children are free.

Swamp Thing mid-rehearsal.

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his kererū was recently snapped in Plummer Road, Whakamārama.

Also known as kūkū or kūkupa in Northland, the Department of Conservation says the large birds can measure up to 51 cm from tail to beak, and weigh about 650g.

While kererū are not threatened, the Chatham Islands species, the parea which is about 20% heavier - is considered nationally vulnerable.

DoC says since the moa became ex-

tinct, the native wood pigeon is the only seed disperser with a bill big enough to swallow large fruit such as karaka, miro, tawa and taraire.

Their disappearance could be a disaster for the regeneration of native forests, because of their unique ability to disperse these seeds.

DoC says kererū numbers are in gradual decline from illegal poaching in Northland and predation from rats, stoats, cats and possums across NZ. The Bay City Ramblers capture the essence of American improvised music.

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For a Free Quote Call Paul 021 977 346 or 07 549 0342 www.pkspainting.co.nz The kererū is found in forested areas, especially when there is pest control. PHOTO: Neil Badger.

July 2017 | Lizard News |

25

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Omokoroa Tide Chart July 2017 1 Sat Omokoroa Tides

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

1:25 7:36 13:51 19:52

2 Sun 1.9 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 12:17

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

1:24 7:48 13:50 20:05

1.8 0.3 1.7 0.4

G

17 Mon Omokoroa Tides

2:16 8:27 14:45 20:44

3 Mon

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 0:11 S 12:03

1.8 0.3 1.7 0.4

F

S 0:48 R 12:48 18 Tue 2:15 8:41 14:46 21:01

3:07 9:18 15:39 21:38

4 Tue

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 1:17 S 12:40

*Not for navigational purposes

1.7 0.3 1.7 0.5

4:48 11:01 17:27 23:27

F

S 1:44 R 13:19 19 Wed 3:10 9:37 15:46 22:01

3:58 10:10 16:34 22:33

5 Wed

R 2:24 S 13:22

1.7 0.3 1.7 0.5

F

S 2:40 R 13:51 20 Thu 4:10 10:35 16:51 23:04

6 Thu

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

R 3:33 S 14:09

5:38 1.7 11:51 0.3 18:18 1.7

0:19 6:27 12:39 19:06

F

S 3:35 R 14:26 21 Fri 5:13 1.8 11:35 0.1 17:55 1.9

G

7 Fri

G

1:08 7:14 13:25 19:51

0.3 1.9 0.1 1.9

1:07 7:17 13:31 19:54

Tide chart supplied by OceanFun Publishing, Ltd.

0.4 1.7 0.3 1.8

0.2 1.9 0.0 2.0

2:05 8:15 14:26 20:49

R 6:46 S 17:09

0.2 1.9 0.0 2.0

B

R 7:39 S 18:16

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Owned and operated by locals

1:54 7:59 14:09 20:34

10 Mon 0.4 1.7 0.3 1.8

S 7:04 R 17:19 25 Tue 2:59 9:10 15:18 21:41

2:38 8:42 14:51 21:14

11 Tue 0.4 1.7 0.2 1.8

G

F

S 6:15 R 16:30 24 Mon

B

R 5:46 S 16:03

9 Sun

F

S 5:23 R 15:45 23 Sun

B

R 4:41 S 15:03

0.4 1.7 0.3 1.7

F

S 4:30 R 15:03 22 Sat 0:07 6:16 12:34 18:56

8 Sat

0.1 1.9 0.0 2.0

B

R 8:26 S 19:24

0.3 1.7 0.2 1.8

G

S 7:49 R 18:12 26 Wed 3:52 10:03 16:09 22:32

3:21 9:24 15:33 21:53

12 Wed

0.1 1.9 0.0 2.0

B

R 9:06 S 20:30

0.3 1.8 0.2 1.8

G

S 8:32 R 19:08 27 Thu 4:42 10:54 16:58 23:21

4:03 10:04 16:14 22:32

13 Thu

0.1 1.9 0.1 2.0

B

R 9:43 S 21:34

S 9:11 R 20:06 28 Fri 5:31 0.1 11:44 1.9 17:46 0.1

B

R 10:16 S 22:36

4:46 10:45 16:56 23:12

14 Fri 0.3 1.8 0.2 1.8

G

0.3 1.8 0.2 1.8

G

S 9:47 R 21:05 29 Sat 0:08 6:19 12:32 18:34

5:29 11:28 17:39 23:53

15 Sat

1.9 0.2 1.8 0.2

G

R 10:48 S 23:34

6:13 0.2 12:12 1.8 18:25 0.2 G

S 10:21 R 22:06 30 Sun 0:55 7:06 13:21 19:22

16 Sun

1.9 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 11:20

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

S 10:55 R 23:08 31 Mon 1:42 7:53 14:10 20:11

0:37 6:59 12:59 19:13

S 11:28

1.8 0.3 1.7 0.4

F

S 0:33 R 11:52

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

lizardnews.net

Grant applications deadline passes at The Centre

T

For Sale

PUBLIC NOTICES

FOR SALE

Amore Omokoroa

McCado Mowing business. Local mowing round with variety of reliable customers, call Noel on 027 525 3380.

WORK WANTED

Painter

Our morning tea “Thank You” for volunteers.

is often the only time we get to meet each other and enjoy a moment together.

We have had some superb new fittings and shelves installed in the shop over the past months. This helps us to have more stock on display while keeping the shop smart and safe to traverse; lovely for the customers and volunteers alike.

Do step in out of the winter cold, we look forward to meeting you.

For all your painting/paper hanging requirements, phone Gerard Quilty on 027 447 5493 or 548 1337 after hours.

PUBLIC NOTICES Wanting more happiness?

Less stress and anxiety?

Better relationships?

Learn Ascension Meditation Weekend course in Ōmokoroa 4th-6th August See our article on page 18

These green leaves are turning pink, as this tree prepares for winter’s chill.

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Dama wallabies were released near Lake Okāreka in 1912 and have now become well established in some Rotorua forests.

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It is not too late to have your say on pest management, however.

There will be another opportunity for the public to have an input through the formal submission process later in the year.

For more information, you can email pestplan@boprc.govt.nz while the current discussion document can be found online at boprc.govt.nz/haveyoursay It describes the pest management problems facing the region and the Regional Council’s proposed approach to managing these issues.

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he public will get another chance to give feedback to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on its pest management proposals.

Written submissions on the Regional Pest Management Plan closed in May. The Regional Council says controlling pests is vital in helping protect the health of individuals, our native ecosystems, businesses and livelihoods.

The RPMP directs what pests will be the focus in the Bay of Plenty region and how they will be managed.

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colours were masked by the green of the chlorophyll. When it is taken away, the carotene and anthocyanins remain and colour the leaves red or yellow or gold.

But what about the leaves of native evergreen trees? Depending on species and circumstances, their leaves may last for months or even for several years, and that is why our native forest is always green.

Pest management submissions close

Ginko leaves turning yellow, as the tree withdraws the green chlorophyll.

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07 548 1200

A lovely display of fresh stock.

countries where snow covers the ground all winter.

Leaves make food for the tree by photosynthesis. This is a chemical reaction involving the green pigment called chlorophyll, and it works best in warm weather. When it gets cold, photosynthesis slows down, and when it gets frigid, the process stops altogether, and the leaf may die. Leaves become a liability, particularly if snow falls and breaks heavy, leafy branches.

So cold climate trees like the oak, maple and ash shed their leaves as winter approaches.

But the trees are thrifty. Before they discard their leaves, they withdraw the green chlorophyll and save its nutrients into their branches.

There are other pigments in the leaf which help in photosynthesis.

Carotene is yellow, and anthocyanins are red. In the working leaf, these

Sunday 30th July, 2 pm After many months of planning and hard work, a beautiful hand-carved sign for Whakamārama Community Hall will be unveiled during a special ceremony involving local iwi and community groups.

Come and hear about the history of the area and the hall, and share afternoon tea. A plate to share would be appreciated.

Please call to enquire about our free professional ad design.

We can support your business with photos, logos or ideas.

Rebus 2 - Half Baked

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By Ann Graeme s winter arrives the Kaimai Forest is green, but the leaves of the deciduous trees in urban areas have turned red, yellow, and gold. Native forest retains its hues of green and bronze all year round.

New Zealand native forest trees are nearly all evergreen. Our climate is not so severe that the trees need to shed their leaves. But many of the town trees are deciduous, coming from

Whakamārama Hall Sign Unveiling Ceremony

Lizard News

A leaf out of the science book

New shelving has been installed in recent months.

Genuine Italian cuisine available as pre-cooked meals and takeaways.

Cooking classes our specialty.

Have a special event?

Alessandra can be your personal chef.

FB: Amore Omokoroa Ph: 548 2453 or 021 183 5591

Rebus I - Dr Doolittle

By Marlene Mackenzie he Centre has now passed its deadline for acceptance of Grant Applications. We hope you got yours in on time! Good luck. At present, our trustees are sorting through all the paperwork and will soon make their decision on recipients.

We will publish the results in the next issue of this paper.

Thank you to The Lizard for including our articles, we like to keep our community and customers informed.

Our opening hours remain the same throughout the winter months, 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am until early afternoon Saturdays. It is hard to believe we are halfway through the year already. Do bring your family and visitors to look at our wonderful, ever changing shop. We are an excellent way to chase away those winter blues. You can have a coffee or a cuppa if you wish and enjoy our lovely warm shop and friendly chatter while browsing; you never know what you need until you spot it.

The Centre put on a lovely morning tea for our volunteers as a thank you for their continued hard work. About half managed to pop in and enjoyed the catch up of news before our informal chat and get together. With so many shifts, it

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Sponsors help young footballers reach their goals lizardnews.net

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raving the cold, crisp winter mornings to play soccer with your friends means getting goals and training your lungs according to Miles Bell, who plays for the Ōmokoroa FC Hurricanes.

Like many other children from Ōmokoroa and surrounding areas, Miles thinks travelling between Katikati and Te Puke to play against other teams on Saturday mornings is the perfect way

to start the weekend.

With a roster of more than 130 children, the parent-run Ōmokoroa Football Club continues to thrive - thanks to both the organisation provided by WaiBOP Football, who run the local competition - and the sponsors that donate time and resources to the club.

“In the past three years we’ve had sponsorship to replace club shirts, goal netting, and a new gazebo for our minis

The changing face of the Western Bay

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By Matthew Farrell

ou may be surprised to learn how recently many of your neighbours have moved, either to the Western Bay of Plenty or within the district.

Fewer than a third of people (31%) have owned their homes in this part of the country for more than nine years.

The residential valuers QV have a range of Statistics New Zealand information on their website which includes data such as age groups, ethnicity, time property has been held, number of residents and approximate incomes per household. Local areas with demographics listed include Aongatete, Katikati, Ōmokoroa, Te Puna, and Whakamārama.

The one to nine year ownership period is highest in Katikati at 80%, then

Ōmokoroa at 76%. 65% of Katikati and 58% of Ōmokoroa have owned properties for fewer than five years. In contrast, only one in 100 Ōmokoroa locals has owned land for more than 30 years, while the number is four in 100 for Te Puna just five minutes away in the car.

The largest age group for the Western Bay is those aged 60+ at 22%. In Aongatete there are slightly more people in their 50s, and in Whakamārama the largest group is those in their 40s, followed by teenagers, then the 50s. Unusually, the number of 60+ residents is down in fourth place in Whakamārama. Interestingly, Te Puna has the same number of people in their 40s as those aged 60+.

Across the whole district and in every one of the areas named above, those in their 20s are the least represented.

programme and recently our teams have been lucky enough to have new gear bags provided to us by Ōmokoroa Dental Surgery,” says Ben Bell, coach of the Ōmokoroa Wizards.

“While we are not the biggest club in the region, the support our sponsors provide mean when we step on the pitch our children have just as much pride representing our club as players do from other clubs in the region - if not more, ” says Ben. Local businesses First National, Watts & Hughes, Ōmokoroa Physiotherapy and Seeka were the first to jump on board

with shirt sponsorship. Meikle Electrical, CT Engineering, Beca, Fresh Choice and Just Sheds have also come to the party allowing all squads to have new playing shirts, after a previous supplier stopped offering the club colours.

“It’s a massive relief to know local businesses support what we’re doing and we’re very appreciative of them!” says Ben. For information on how you can assist Ōmokoroa Football Club, contact the secretary, Brett Turnwald, on 021 202 3109 or omokoroafootball@gmail.com Article supplied.

L-R: Footballing friends Reuben Bullock, Miles Bell, and George Pardy.

07 548 2550

WELCOME TO OUR BRAND NEW OFFICE

We have now moved to Shop 4, Corner of Omokoroa & Tralee Roads, Fresh Choice Shopping Centre JUST LISTED

JUST SOLD

FOR A FREE APPRAISAL ON YOUR PROPERTY PLEASE CALL US TODAY Rachel Millard

Sales Consultant

m: 021 513 189 e: rachel@omokoroafirstnational.co.nz

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| Lizard News | July 2017

Bernie Limbrick

Sales Consultant

m: 021 289 7049 e: bernie@omokoroafirstnational.co.nz

Tauranga First National Realty 2009 Limited trading as Omokoroa First National Licensed under REAA 2008.

Shonagh Harris Property Management m: 021 211 8141 e: rentals@omokoroafirstnational.co.nz