Mahurangi Matters_Issue 447_30 January 2023

Wrecked roads P3

$10 million landfill backflip Fury over

After two-and-a-half years of opposing the tip, the Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust is now supporting Waste Management plans.

The promise of $10 million was the key factor behind Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust’s (NMST) shock U-turn to now back Waste Management NZ’s (WM) plans for a massive regional rubbish tip between the Dome and Wayby Valleys.

In a joint memorandum between the trust and WM to the Environment Court, NMST counsel Jason Pou listed a number of reasons for the backflip, including “most significantly”, the promise of “an additional mechanism to the value of $10 million to be utilised should the integrity of the Hoteo Awa be threatened throughout the consent”.

Other commitments by WM include allowing NMST input into final consent conditions and management plans, working together on onsite monitoring systems and cultural training of the dump workforce.

“As a result, Ngati Manuhiri is now confident that the Hoteo Awa, their tupuna toka, and therefore their relationship to Kaipara Moana will be protected,” the memorandum said.

The new agreement with WM superseded any previous evidence from settlement trust chair Mook Hohneck and trustee Ringi Brown, the document added.

The sudden switch from anti- to pro- has prompted an outpouring of bitterness, scorn and fury from locals and others opposing the dump, with dozens lambasting the decision on social media, calling it nauseating, disgusting, greedy and corrupt, among other things.

Omaha Marae chair Annie Baines said the trust did not speak for the iwi, and branded the decision as heartbreaking and a disgrace.

“Our marae is the only Ngati Manuhiri marae and I can tell you 100% that we are dead against this dump. What these guys [the settlement trust] are doing, I have no

idea. It’s a disgrace,” she said. “A lot of the whanau are in shock. Why? Why would you ever agree to it? We have never had any part of their decision. It’s heartbreaking.”

Wayne Greenwood is chair of Pakiri G Block Ahu Whenua Trust, which represents 217 Maori freehold landowners. He said no authority was given to the NMST to represent them.

“The settlement trust is making decisions without consulting the people, the mana whenua. They are only speaking for continued page 2

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Fury over $10 million trust landfill backflip

from page 1

themselves,” he said. “We’re a Maori Land Court appointed trust, yet we’re just being worked over by the settlement trust. They have just gone ahead.

“The whole of Pakiri is up in arms about it because we haven’t been consulted.”

Fight the Tip executive member Michelle Carmichael said it was obvious that the environment was far from the leading motivation in the trust’s U-turn.

“With this clear un-environmental decision, Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust took a treacherous sledgehammer to years of united support between iwi and community over this proposal. Not just treachery between people, but with an environment and kaitiaki reputation of an entire culture,” she said.

“The system is wrong, because how is it morally right that a company and one mana whenua entity, without regard

for others, can decide that $10 million makes it okay to pollute the very same environment (Kaipara Harbour) that is being restored with at least $300 million of public money?”

She added that there was still a “mighty and united force” remaining who would stand together to continue the fight against the landfill.

Jason Pou said on January 20 that NMST was not yet ready to make a statement. “They have been meeting with their kaumatua and kuia over past few months to discuss matters,” he said. “These meetings are ongoing and (they) would rather continue to do this in their own way prior to making a public statement.”

He added that a brief of evidence explaining the decision was being put together for the Environment Court. The case is due to resume on January 31.

Input wanted to improve freshwater

Northlanders are being encouraged to have their say on what’s needed to improve the poor state of local lakes, streams and rivers as part of a new regional Freshwater Plan. At the moment, around 95% of Northland rivers are graded poor or very poor for E. coli (faecal contamination) and 70% of rivers and streams have low levels of freshwater insects. Sediment is also a major contributor to poor water quality throughout the region. Northland Regional Council Chair Tui Shortland said there was a huge task ahead to meet new national minimum standards for freshwater quality and Council had been working with a range of groups to help develop the new plan. However, she said more input from the public was wanted before a draft was released later this year. “We’ve been set a challenge by government to improve the health of our freshwater systems and the Freshwater Plan will be our new ‘rule book’ for how we treat freshwater in the future,” Shortland said. “We want to know what people want to see improved.” The survey can be found at www.nrc.govt.nz/your-council/have-your-say/freshwater-valuesand-impacts

Pool sale warms up

The sale of the derelict Waiwera hot pools complex may be close. A spokesperson for owners Urban Partners says due diligence is in progress. However, she says Urban Partners is still some weeks away from making an announcement. The property, which includes the thermal pools and the aquifer that feeds the pools, and the adjacent bottling plant, campground and hotel site, went on the market in May last year. In total, the properties cover 45,680sqm. At the time, Urban Partners said they were looking to either sell or find a joint venture partner. The pools closed in February 2018.

Plume Café closes

Plume Café & Patisserie in Matakana is the latest casualty of the covid pandemic. After 10 years, owners Farida and Clyde Cooper have announced the doors will close on March 31. They say it has been a tough few years with covid, lockdowns and the overall economic impacts. Ongoing issues with finding kitchen staff, rising costs and the retirement of baker Heiko and resignation of manager PJ have added to the pressures of keeping the doors open. The kitchen has been closed since last year following the loss of two chefs. “We have decided it is time for a fresh new management to take over the facility with new ideas and new dreams,” they say. “We have had 10 wonderful years with the support of the community at large.” Cooper says the decision does not affect Plume Restaurant and Villas, in Sharp Road, which will continue as normal.

Bus patronage up

Mangawhai’s free bus has proven popular again this summer. Passenger numbers are up 19 per cent compared to the same time last year, and up by 136 per cent on the first summer (2019/2020). The bus service was initially trialled to help reduce traffic congestion and take pressure off carparking hot spots during the peak summer weeks. Additional stops were added this year at Mangawhai Central. Kaipara Council says passengers have been across the spectrum – young and old, visitors and locals. The bus will continue to run on weekends until February 6, with an extra service over Easter, April 7 to 10.

The settlement trust has made its opposition clear since July 2020, when chair Mook Hohneck told a Wellsford hui: “There’s no mitigation – it’s just in the wrong location.”

Road art

It may look like a new form of road art, but the residents of Quintal Road, Matakana, are not amused. The road has been almost impassable since before Christmas and repeated calls to Auckland Council have been ignored. The NZ Herald delivery service has already ceased, as the driver says he won’t negotiate the road in its current state, and residents fear NZ Post will be next. Resident Sally Greenwood is worried how she will get her haymaking crews and cattle trucks in. Residents believe the state of the road is a reflection of poor maintenance of both the road and the culverts. “Essentially it’s a drainage problem,” Greenwood says. When AT was asked for comment on Quintal Road, a spokesperson said “the team hasn’t heard anything about Quintal Road”. Pictured, from left, Morris Hodges, Peter Carter, Sally Greenwood and Sydney Carter.

Rain leaves wrecked roads in its wake

There is growing anger over the deteriorating state of unsealed roads in the region and the lack of response from Auckland Transport.

It is expected to be one of the main issues raised with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown when he visits the district this week.

Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk and Auckland Councillor Greg Sayers say they have been fielding regular emails and calls from residents fed-up with driving over unsafe roads and sustaining damage to their vehicles.

Penk says he was appalled at what he saw on a recent visit to several locations.

“Deep potholes, ruts and gouges requiring drivers to swerve to the other side of the road to avoid damaging their vehicles, sometimes on blind corners and very narrow roads; slips that have made roads dangerously narrow; bare clay, including on hilly roads used by school buses and logging trucks; and little or no evidence of adequate water maintenance – no water tables and non-existent or blocked culverts,” he says.

“One road was so badly damaged with deep slumps and cracks that it was closed for costly repairs.”

In a letter to the Minister of Transport, Penk said a common theme was that complaints and requests for adequate and effective maintenance of rural roads were falling on deaf ears.

“When they [residents] reach out to

I’ve raised two complaints with AT but their system doesn’t seem to be giving tracking numbers anymore and I haven’t had an email response either.

Komokoriki Road resident Auckland Transport, they are either ‘fobbed off’ or ignored. Where maintenance is carried out, it is usually ineffective, short term and inadequate with no thought to fixing the underlying issues, such as water management.

“My constituents are asking, where is the money from their rates being spent? Why is no one being held accountable for the state of their roads?

“They are tired of hearing the same responses and receiving Band-Aid solutions. They want meaningful action and investment into their roads so that they can travel to and from their homes on roads that are safe, adequately maintained, and fit for purpose.”

However, Auckland Transport (AT) says the current state of the roads is a result of several extreme weather events, as well as record levels of rainfall over the last six months or so.

“This is what has caused much damage to the network,” a spokesperson says. “More funding for preventative maintenance would help, but we can only utilise the

funding provided to us.

“Considerable effort is going into catching up with our maintenance grading and repairing the damage caused and discussions are underway with Waka Kotahi regarding additional funding.”

Penk says the priority going forward should be the effective and timely management of the maintenance and repair of the roads, culverts, potholes and ruts, instead of pouring money into the cracks like so much “hot mix” that lasts just days or weeks.

“We need to invest properly,” he says.

“We also need to move past the culture of excuse-making that points to the fact that it rains lots in Auckland, that more funding would be helpful, there are still issues related to covid19 and the prioritisation of other projects.

“The big debate in relation to central and local government shouldn’t be in the nitty gritty of funding percentages. We must be honest about what we expect council agencies to do: Get the basics right and leave the fluffy stuff well alone.”

See also We Say page 8

Cr Greg Sayers recently inspected Run Road at Tapora where he says he was shocked by how many sections of the unsealed portion of the road were past the point of being potholed. “Some sections had no metal, only exposed clay,” he says. “The road has been worn right back to the original sub-base. This is totally unacceptable. The roads should never be allowed to be get into such a state of disrepair.”

AT excuses cloak road repair failure

Makarau resident Nicky Berger says the damage that closed Komokoriki Road was not caused by the rain this month. Or by the rain in November. Or by the rain over winter. “It was the result of a systemic failure of Auckland Transport to ensure that our roads are maintained to more than a bloody goat track,” Berger said in a fiery letter to councillors and others. “Despite numerous warnings from residents over several years that the road was in danger of slipping away without proper water table and culvert maintenance, no meaningful repair or maintenance occurred.”

This month, a large subsidence occurred, which closed the road. Berger believes that if water table maintenance and culvert maintenance had been done, the road would have remained intact.

“The quality of maintenance on our road has steadily deteriorated over the last six or seven years, with seemingly no accountability. Residents complain, we get a ‘Band-Aid’ of gravel dumped – sometimes so badly residents have had to spread it themselves so that smaller cars can drive over it – occasionally a roller or grader, and then meaningless platitudes when we advise that the repair is substandard.”

Berger says AT closed one of her case numbers earlier this year saying a culvert had been fixed, when it was still completely blocked. She says someone needs to be held accountable for the lack of response to residents’ requests for road repairs.

Although the road has reopened, residents say the repair job does not fix the underlying drainage issues.

Komokoriki Road became impassable after the slip.

Investigation work starts on Hill Street

The traffic disruptions at the Hill Street intersection during February and early March will be a harbinger of what will be in store when Auckland Transport (AT) eventually does the full intersection upgrade.

At this stage, the work is for investigation purposes only and involves geotechnical work on pavements, drainage and utilities. The traffic management measures that are in place include Stop/Go signs and lower speed limits.

Meanwhile, the final design of the intersection is still a bone of contention between local transport advocates and AT. The design that was agreed to several years ago went through a surprisingly quiet redesign last year. The outcome, labelled a “value engineering design”, reduced

the number of lanes around the two new roundabouts from two to one, removed slips lanes, the entrance to Kowhai Park was moved from the roundabout to further along State Highway 1 and a cycleway/ pedestrian path on Sandspit Road disappeared.

When One Mahurangi co-chair Dave Stott and transport advocate Roger Williams saw the redesign, they said that if it were to go ahead, it would not solve any of Hill Street’s long-standing congestion and safety issues, and would be a “total waste of time and money”.

Auckland Transport has refused so far to meet and discuss the redesign.

“What is puzzling is that the two lane design is still being displayed on AT’s own website, under Hill Street improvements,”

Stott says. “We’ve asked Cr Greg Sayers for some clarification.”

Stott says they have evidence that Williams’ original design would be less costly and more efficient than the value engineered design. “We could live with this latest design providing the two lanes are reinstated. Without two lanes, it will be a total waste of money.”

An AT spokesperson says a community consultation process will be held in the coming months and then the designs, as well as the construction timelines, will be finalised.

Stott feared the consultation will present a design which is already a fait accompli.

The project has a funding allocation of $18.8 million in the Regional Land Transport Plan.

Supermarket machinations

Snells Beach looks unlikely to get a supermarket anytime soon.

Woolworths confirmed this month that it has abandoned plans to build a FreshChoice at the southern end of the Snells Beach Shopping Centre, near the roundabout.

A spokesperson says the business case did not support the build as “the community is not large enough to support two supermarkets”.

The company believes Foodstuffs intends to open a supermarket in the store currently occupied by The Warehouse, which is due to close in mid-March.

Last year, Woolworths announced it was looking at building a store with a 1200 square metre footprint and 103 carparks, creating 50 new jobs.

Foodstuffs has declined to comment on any plans for Snells Beach, but it has been confirmed that Warkworth New World owner/operator Anna Carmichael will shift her allegiances to the new Pak’nSave supermarket in Warkworth in May, ahead of a mid-year opening. Both New World and Pak’nSave are owned by Foodstuffs.

Carmichael has run the Warkworth supermarket with husband Ben and brother Jeremy Ross since 2013. Meanwhile, Noel Leeming will close its store in Queen Street, Warkworth on February 19.

The new store in the Warehouse complex, off Woodcocks Road, will open in June.

Noel Leeming regional store lead Shilpa Kothari says the new store will be three times the size of the current store and will stock a wider range of products and services.

“Our team members will be offered roles in other The Warehouse Group stores nearby while the new store is being built,” she says.

Motorists can expect delays at Hill Street intersection while the investigation work is underway.

The estuary has become a congested space, particularly over summer.

Congestion compromises safety

The Northland Regional Council is taking a closer look at the Mangawhai Estuary with the idea of committing additional resources to the area, particularly during summer.

Social media sites have been alive with chatter about the number of people with boats and water toys who don’t appear to have any understanding of basic water safety rules.

Regional harbourmaster Jim Lyle says there were six patrols scheduled over the Christmas and New Year period up until the end of January.

“Poor weather over the past three weeks has meant a number of patrols – not just at Mangawhai – were cancelled,” he says. “Council had a vessel patrolling in Mangawhai on December 24 and 26, and again on December 31.

“We also have two harbour wardens who respond to incidents locally.”

Lyle says the patrols found that many people were not complying with the fiveknot rules, as well as ‘on water’ rules in general.

“The vast majority of people were wearing personal flotation devices, but the number and mix of craft and water users concentrated into a small area is a problem.”

Lyle says at present, patrols are managed

over the summer period by the Whangareibased harbourmaster’s team of three, who also cover Whangarei, Tutukaka, Ngunguru, the Whangaruru east coast area and Kai Iwi Lakes. The team also has to deal with incidents like boats dragging and sinking.

“Mangawhai has grown significantly in recent years and with this development has come increased activity and competing interests on the water. We recognise Mangawhai is a congested space and are constantly looking at ways we can maintain a safe environment for all users within the existing budget we operate under.”

Lyle says video evidence that can identity anyone committing an offence will be followed through by Council. Associated personal water craft registration numbers or vehicle /trailer registration numbers are required if possible.

Walk this way for Mangawhai weekend

Bookings are open for the first Mangawhai Walking Weekend since 2021, following the annual event’s covid curtailment last year. New walks over March 18 and 19 include the Daring Venture, a short walk that shares some of the secrets of the 160-year-old schooner at Mangawhai Museum, and the Jurassic Walk, which explores an ancient limestone karst landscape inland from Waipu. Other walks focus on foraging, farming, food, history, native bush, the harbour area and Mangawhai’s distinctive distal sandspit. There are 14 walks altogether, with terrain ranging from easy to difficult, all focusing on the sharing of local knowledge. Organisers promise something for everyone and say bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Full details and bookings can be found at www.mangawhaiwalking.co.nz

On the road to completion – What’s coming up

You may recall in our last update we said the team would be back in the new year to complete the final layer of road surfacing at both ends of the project. First up is the Southern Connection which means there will be extended road closures at the Johnstone Hill Tunnels after Waitangi weekend, as well as the likelihood of additional road layout changes.

Overnight closures are planned in both directions during February and March 2023 to complete the final road surfacing, chip sealing, barrier installation, line marking and signage.

Northbound SH1 closures between Silverdale to Johnstones Hill Tunnels (JHT). Detours will be in place via Hibiscus Coast Highway, from 9pm to 5am.

• Sunday 12 to Thursday 16 February

• Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 February

• Sunday 26 February to Thursday 2 March

• Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 March

While the northbound closure is in place, traffic will detour along Hibiscus Coast Highway (HCH). A stop/go operation will be in place on HCH to manage traffic safely.

Southbound SH1 closure between Pūhoi to the JHT. Detours will be in place via Hibiscus Coast Highway, from 9pm to 5am.

• Wednesday 15 February and Thursday 16 February

• Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 February

• Sunday 26 February to Thursday 2 March

• Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 March

• Sunday 12 to Thursday 16 March

Over Dimension vehicles will be assisted through the site via our traffic management team. Heavy vehicles are advised to take State Highway 16. These works are coordinated alongside closures at Dome Valley for maintenance as both teams are once again working together to ensure that we capitalise on these closures and get as much work done as possible with the least possible disruption.

Additional to these night-time road closures, there may be additional road layout changes needed in the south to complete the final tie-in works around the JHT. We will update you once we have more information.

While all efforts have been made to limit disruption to traffic flows, we encourage you to plan your journey over this time and check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/

We appreciate your patience as we work to complete the new motorway. These construction works connecting with the Northern Gateway and SH1 are part of the final stages before the new motorway can be opened. While this will no doubt impact travel, completion of these works takes us closer to opening the new motorway as soon as possible and we are all looking forward to enjoying a safer, more robust and reliable road with more consistent travel times.

For more information and regular updates, please visit our website info@ nx2group.com or follow our Facebook page @aratuhonopuhoitowarkworth.

Nga mihi

Robert Jones – Project Director

For more information, call the NX2 team on: 24/7 Freephone: 0508 P2WK INFO (0508 7295 4636)

Email: info@nx2group.com

Facebook: Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth Web: nx2group.com

Harbourmaster Jim Lyle.

Solar panel farm planned for west coast land at Glorit

A major solar panel farm that could supply enough energy for 33,000 homes is being proposed for land west of SH16 in Glorit. Global solar developer Lightsource bp and Contact Energy want to build a 150 megawatt facility on a 220-hectare site off Omaumau Road. They say construction could create 200 jobs.

A spokesperson for Lightsource bp said the site on the Kaipara coast was being pursued because it would allow easy connection to Transpower’s existing 220kV powerlines, which pass through the area, and there was good sunlight and irradiance in the area. If it goes ahead, the Glorit project will be one of several being planned by Lightsource bp and Contact Energy following their announcement of a joint venture last April, with the initial aim of creating enough clean and affordable energy to power 50,000 homes by 2026.

Neighbouring landowners and residents living next to the project site are currently being contacted and consulted and a community drop-in information session is being planned.

As well as the 150 megawatt photovoltaic solar panel farm itself, associated infrastructure and equipment to enable connection to the Transpower network would be required. There is also potential for co-located battery storage on site.

Lightsource bp said it would be looking to utilise local companies and services in the first instance throughout the construction of the solar farm, which would have an operational life of at least 35 years.

The spokesperson stressed that it was very early days for the proposed project, as did a spokesperson for Auckland Council.

“As this is currently in the pre-application stage, there are no details that we can share at this time,” she said.

Former dairy farmer Malcolm Webster knows the region well, having owned and run a 700-cow unit just north of Glorit for more than 30 years.

He said it would make sense to put a solar farm in the area, but he added that any developer would need to take a couple of potential hazards into account.

“On a big king tide with a strong westerly blowing, the water nearly goes over stock banks, so it can be pretty vulnerable,” he said. “It would be pretty serious if you’d got millions of dollars of solar panels and they got flooded.” Webster added that corrosive salt air blowing in off the Kaipara could also be an issue.

Resource consent is currently being sought for a separate 100-hectare solar farm further down the coast at Helensville by another company, HES Aotearoa, an NZowned joint venture.

create

perfect way to remember the life of a loved one

Lily Watson, Manager Funeral Director

Right, Transpower’s national grid powerlines pass directly through the Glorit area.

Keeping an eye on freedom campers and much more

Making sure locals and visitors are up to speed with changes to freedom camping rules has been the dominant issue for Rodney Local Board’s recently appointed compliance wardens in recent weeks.

The wardens, Michael Murray and Sam Phoenixia, spent much of their time in the run-up to Christmas identifying and visiting likely summer camping hot spots, not least because the rules have changed since a new bylaw came in last September. This requires freedom campers to use a certified self-contained vehicle, stay for no more than two nights, leave by 9am on the third day and not return to stay in the same spot for at least two weeks.

However, in addition to freedom camping, the compliance team is dealing with a wide range of other issues. In a report to the last Rodney Local Board meeting of year, Council said they had carried out more than 1100 visits or patrols in one three-month

period, including dotterel patrols, rubbish dumping, kauri dieback, sediment control, dogs on beaches and obstructed signs. Other matters within their remit include cars on beaches, biosecurity and environmental management, set netting, water quality, boat ramp access and parking, parking on reserves and stormwater issues.

The wardens were appointed by the Local Board on a 12-month $140,000 fulltime contract at the end of June last year after a successful six-month trial.

Council said their role was to provide education and direction to the public to encourage compliance with Council policy and statutory requirements, to protect public safety, increase public awareness and accountability, and promote enhanced environmental outcomes.

Reports of any of the above issues should be phoned in to the Council call centre on 09 301 0101.

Sam Phoenixia, left, and Michael Murray pictured after their appointment last year.

WeSay YouSay

We welcome your feedback but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at www.localmatters.co.nz/ opinion. Letters can be sent to editor@localmatters.co.nz or 17

Neville Street, Warkworth 0910

Seat safety questioned

Driving through the new Matakana link road roundabout, a new expensive concrete, steel and wood set of park benches have been installed.

Number 1, who do they think is going to sit and relax two metres from the very busy roundabout traffic; and number 2, anybody with absolutely any motor racing knowledge would say straight away, the seats are at the apex of the corner, right where if ever there is a crash, this is where it’s going to occur.

A fundamental safety issue, all paid for by taxpayers money! I suppose next, they’ll correct the safety issue by installing an even more expensive “Armco” between the seats and the road!

Vernon Pryde, Point Wells

therecord Off

Sign of the times

We’ve heard of endangered wood pigeons, but Leigh has gone one better with an endangered wood seagull. The colourful ‘welcome’ sign on Leigh Road, near Frost Road, is normally adorned with two seagulls, but one has flown (or more, accurately, been forcibly removed from) the coop. Residents are understandably keen to see its return, particularly as they say it was the work of “local legend Neil the Wood Butcher”.

Does Auckland’s most liveable city have the worst roads in NZ?

In the whole of Auckland, there are few residents who ask for less for their rate dollar than the people who live on unsealed roads. They don’t want bike lanes and fancy artwork, they look after their own water and wastewater needs, and they have limited use for sport and recreational centres and reserves. The one task they do rely entirely on Council for, however, is the maintenance of their roads. So why do they continue to get such a raw deal?

There are an estimated 800 kilometres of gravel roads in Auckland, 80 per cent them in Rodney. In terms of capital investment, Auckland Transport takes the lion’s share of Auckland Council’s budget. In the 2022/23 year, it expects to spend $994 million on transport related projects, which does not include the city rail link. It has set aside $444 million for public transport and $64 million for urban cycleways. Roads and footpaths will get $160 million, of which unsealed road improvements will receive just $6 million. Road sealing costs around $500,000 per kilometre, so even if AT spent $6 million every year for the next 50 years, it still wouldn’t finish the job. But, unfortunately, the news gets worse. For the last six years of the current 10-year plan, the budget for unsealed roads is halved to $3 million. A pittance!

In our story on Page 3, MP Chris Penk says the time for excuses is over. We agree. Someone at the top needs to be driven over the roads they expect us to use every day. The discussion about culverts, water tables and drainage needs to go beyond a customer service response and meaningless tracking numbers. It is hard not to use the word ‘incompetence’ when looking at how the gravel roads are being maintained. Road cones sit beside dangerous slips and gaping pot holes for weeks, and sometimes months, before any attempt is made to repair them. And then, the repairs often last only until the next weather event. Mayor Wayne Brown is in town this week and we feel sure roading will be one of the main issues on the table for discussion with community representatives. At one of the last Governing Body meetings last year, Brown told AT he wants a fundamental change of approach. He wants the organisation to “deeply understand and respond to what matters most to Aucklanders in transport”. Specifically, he called on AT to ensure that the road maintenance and renewal programme is adequate and supports the whole region, including rural roads. This includes improvements to the rural road maintenance and sealing programmes, and targets to ensure prompt completion of simple road repairs. This sounds like a good starting point; so watch this space.

Warkworth A&P Show builds momentum

Plans are well advanced for the Warkworth A&P and Lifestyle Show, which will be held at the Warkworth Showgrounds on Saturday, March 18.

Organisers say there have been some challenges picking up momentum from 2021 after last year’s show was cancelled due to covid, but they are confident this year’s event will have something for the whole family to enjoy.

The programme will include regular show attractions such as the woodchopping, shearing, inside exhibits, minihorses and free entertainment for children. But there will also be some surprises. A country market is planned for the indoor exhibits tent, the Donkey & Mule Society will be attending and Billy Black and his Kiwi Culture Show will take audiences on a journey from the bush to the back paddock.

Attempts are also being made to reintroduce cattle classes, after that section was cancelled due to the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak several years ago.

This year’s organising committee is a mix of old and new. It is chaired by Carl King, who is enthusiastic to keep one of the longest running A&P shows in NZ going for many years to come. The president is Warren Churches who has been very involved in the miniature horses for many years, but is well-versed in all aspects of running the show.

Before moving to Warkworth about seven years ago, secretary Karen Black was the secretary of the Kumeu Show for 22 years. Other committee members are Genette Churches, Marjorie Blythen, Jenny Ferguson, Louise Graham, Lorna Sanson, Richard Pointon and Tim Holdgate.

Black says interest in the more commercial trade sites seems to be getting harder to secure and she would welcome enquiries from anyone interested in a trade exhibit site.

“We have sites available that would ideally suit local service providers who are selling a service rather than a product and don’t require a large site. An example could be a lawn mowing contractor or an accountant. They just need a table, chair and somewhere to display some brochures maybe, or just the opportunity to talk to people about their service.”

The show relies almost entirely on the contribution of volunteers.

“We have a great team, but there is always room for more. Some good young blood would be great to have coming through.”

The show’s principal sponsor is Wharehine. It is also supported by Auckland Council, Mason Contractors, Northland Waste and Carters Tyre Service.

The miniature ponies will be back at this year’s show.

Viewpoint

Learning the ropes

Kia ora and happy new year everyone. As this is the first Viewpoint I write as a Rodney Local Board member, I wanted to share an insight into what goes on here behind the scenes. Scratch the surface of this machine and you find a team of staff who handle many queries, juggle deadlines and support us every day.

The local board staff work particularly hard when there are newbies such as myself, and there are five of us this term. The induction training they provided was comprehensive, professional and intense to bring us up to speed. Even so, there is much more to continually learn in this ever-changing world of local government. We are kept busy with continual emails and documents that relate to projects, department services, reports, budgets, applications, deputations and more. It’s important I feel prepared and informed, so I head into each meeting with my laptop full of pre-read material, including notations and highlights, so I can accurately query things on your behalf. As newbies, we are eager to contribute and make changes based on what we felt with you from the outside. We quickly learn there are limits to what the Board has input into, particularly with budget constraints arriving at our door, but that doesn’t mean we are powerless. Our most important contribution is as your advocate, to assist you wonderful community members who are keen to make a difference, or provide another voice in issues you may have. Please invite us along to any meeting or

event, to share what you may need help with. Due to our limitations, our help may be given in collaboration with others who can be of more help, and that’s okay, too. For everyday things you want improved that cause us all regular issues, there are tools to use. Keep lodging any issues you see, as the more people who report it, the higher up the priority list it goes.

• Report a road or footpath issue online at https://at.govt.nz/about-us/streetmaintenance/road-footpath-maintenance/ or phone 09 355 3553.

• Report a water, wastewater or stormwater fault online via https://www. watercare.co.nz/Faults-outages/Report-afault (up to 4 hour response) or phone 09 442 2222 for an immediate response. Of course, please contact us if you don’t feel your reports are being dealt with.

We are reviewing our Rodney-wide local plan, which is your local plan, so please take this opportunity to have your say about what is important to you. You can do this online or pop in to see us at our engagement events in March (details to be confirmed).

To register for local plan feedback and more information about the Local Board (contact details, plans, news, events, meetings, reports) go to: https://www. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-aucklandcouncil/how-auckland-council-works/ local-boards/all-local-boards/rodney-localboard/Pages/default.aspx

Kaipara educates campers

Kaipara communities will soon see officers regularly patrolling freedom camping hot spots, offering education and increasing awareness of proposed new national freedom camping rules.

These fulltime, fixed-term roles have been established by Kaipara District Council with a $135,000 funding boost from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s (MBIE) Freedom Camping Transition Fund.

The funding received is part of a $10 million nationwide package from the Government for local Council transition initiatives

to the proposed new freedom camping rules. The proposed Self-Contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill amends the Freedom Camping Act 2011 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 to reduce the negative impacts of freedom camping.

Council’s monitoring and compliance manager ,Dean Nuralli, says the new officers are much needed given Kaipara’s proximity to Auckland, driving up freedom camping numbers in the district.

Auckland Council has no plans to institute similar patrols, as it did not access the funds.

Michelle Carmichael, Rodney Local Board michelle.carmichael@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Rose Loaf Cake

This delicately flavoured cake has a delightful, light scent of rose petals, thanks to the addition of rose water. It lends a wonderful, floral flavour to this beautiful Wildflower loaf design. Enjoy with a dollop of rose whipped cream, pistachios, and dried edible rose petals for an exceptional dessert. I used the Wildflower pan.

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1/2 cup almond flour

1/3 cup plus 3 tbsp bread flour

1/2 cup finely ground pistachios

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

10 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp light brown sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 tsp finely grated fresh lemon zest

11/2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp rose water

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Rose water whipped cream:

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, well-chilled

1/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp rose water

You could use the Kayser Cream Whipper and add a couple of drops of Rosewater to it.

Rose water glaze:

1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

3 tbsp rose water

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp butter

For serving:

2 tbsp chopped pistachios dried edible rose petals (if desired)

Do not use regular cooking spray. Use a pastry brush to spread out any excess oil. Combine the first 7 dry ingredients for cake in a medium bowl, and set aside.

Cream butter and sugars. Scrape down sides, then add eggs and mix to combine. Fold in dry ingredients with a spatula. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, rose water and vanilla extract, stirring to combine. Pour mixture into pan, taking care to fill only 3/4 to the top edge. Using a cutting board or dish towel as protection, firmly tap the pan a dozen or so times on the counter to ensure batter gets into every nook and cranny of the pan’s design. Bake on a middle oven shelf, 40-50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

For rose water whipped cream: Using rotary beaters, whip cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold in crème fraiche, vanilla, rose water and sugar. Refrigerate until needed.

For rose water glaze: Heat all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until butter is melted and sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat. The consistency will be runny, which is ideal.

Once cake is finished baking, cool cake in pan 5 minutes. While cake is cooling, use a wooden skewer or fork to gently poke several dozen holes into the back side of the cake, then brush with rose water glaze, which will soak into cake. Remove from pan onto a cooling rack; while cake is still warm, brush top side with glaze repeatedly until all glaze is used up. It will soak into the cake and give added flavour and moisture.

To serve, slice cooled cake into 1” thick slices, top with a spoonful of rose water whipped cream, and sprinkled with pistachios and rose petals

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Fishery officers had a quiet time over summer, which they say was largely due to the weather.

They say overall, recreational fishing compliance was good, aside from mainly minor infringements.

Some of these included reports of undersize snapper at the Mangawhai boat ramp and an illegal set net at Leigh, which led to one person receiving an infringement notice. Fisheries NZ regional manager for fisheries compliance Phillip Tasker says officers also responded to a report of a person fishing at the Goat Island Marine Reserve and those inquiries are continuing.

“MPI takes a practical approach to compliance with the fishing rules,” he says. “A lot of our work includes educating people on the rules, which is aimed at changing behaviour.

“Sometimes this work includes issuing infringement notices when we find rules are being broken deliberately, or in more serious cases, the matter is placed before the court.” Tasker says fishery officers have been doing regular patrols in the Mahurangi and Kaipara areas, including vessel patrols when the weather has allowed.

“Poor weather in these areas has meant there’s been less recreational fishing during the holidays and the easterly weather pattern has seen more people going to the west coast to fish.”

Fisheries New Zealand continues to encourage recreational fishers to adopt a ‘take only what you need for a feed’ approach and to follow the fishing rules this summer.  Fishers can also download the free for regionspecific information on fishing rules to help protect our kai moana for future generations.

Info: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishingaquaculture/recreational-fishing/nzfishing-rules-app/

Suspicious behaviour can be reported on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or email ncc@mpi.govt.nz

A draft fisheries plan for the Hauraki Gulf that still allows bottom trawling and Danish seine fishing is out for public consultation.

The plan also addresses the management of scallops and a review of the management of intertidal harvesting, and supports greater mana whenua and regional participation in fisheries management.

It has already been criticised by fishing lobby group LegaSea. The group says implementing more no-fishing zones is meaningless if destructive damage goes on unabated. It says the government is not being ambitious enough with its Revitalising the Gulf strategy.

“This plan does not take meaningful steps to address the root causes of environmental damage and reduced biodiversity in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

The most effective response is 100% seafloor protection.

This starts with removing mobile bottom-contact fishing methods from the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – bottom trawling, scallop dredging and Danish seining.

“More protection in the Government’s eyes amounts to 17.6% of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park becoming ‘protected’, up from the current 6.6% protection from marine reserves and cable zones.”

Director fisheries management Emma Taylor says the plan reflects a commitment to an ecosystems-based fisheries management approach.

“We recognise that all species in the fishery are connected and interdependent and this is reflected in the draft plan,” Taylor says.

“The draft plan will be supported by the development of fisheries indicators and a monitoring framework to measure progress over time. If approved, it will be New Zealand’s first area-based fisheries plan.

Fisheries New Zealand is inviting people to provide feedback on the plan before March 3. More information, including how to submit feedback, is available at: mpi.govt.nz/draft-hauraki-gulf-fisheriesplan

Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm

Saturday - Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm

Public Holidays 9:00am to 4:00pm

183 Sandspit Road, Warkworth.

Community Recycling News:

Soft Plastics Recycling!

After inviting public feedback from the Warkworth community on what recycling initiatives they would like to see offered in their community, Northland Waste is proud to bring Soft Plastic Recycling to Warkworth Re:Sort Resouce Recovery Park.

It is completely FREE to recycle your soft plastics at Re:Sort Warkworth, along with any other household commodity recycling such as glass, plastic bottles, tin and aluminium cans, and cardboard.

Re:Fuel Your Woodwaste!

Our new Re:Fuel scheme is working to divert wood waste from Landfills and repurpose it as a source of biofuel.

In partnerships with local businesses, we have implemented wood waste bins/bags to separate wood waste from the general waste stream. Once separated, the wood is chipped at our Whangarei site before being transferred and used as a biofuel product.

If you're a local business that would like to get behind this awesome initiative give us a call on 09 425 8567 or email us at sales@northlandwaste.co.nz

Education In The Community

Educating the next generation on all things waste and recycling can play a vital role in creating a sustainable future for our community. That’s why Northland Waste have set out an education day for local schools who wish to visit the Warkworth Resource Recovery Park to further their sustainability modules in the classroom.

Northland Waste project manager April Peter said that instead of a standard educational tour of the site, staff decided to make things more fun and hands-on, with a range of practical activities including a plastics recycling race, building a mini-landfill and deconstructing scrap metal objects.

For further information or to arrange a time for your school to visit, please contact Rob Lambert by email: rob.lambert@northlandwaste.co.nz

Information centre calls for volunteers

As international and domestic travel returns to normal, the Matakana Coast Information Centre is looking for volunteers to help respond to the increasing number of requests for information from visitors.

In pre-covid times, the centre was fielding around 3500 requests annually. This fell to 1700 last year, but volunteer Phillippa Greer says this is expected to bounce back now that borders are opening.

The centre, which is located in the foyer of Matakana Cinemas, opened in 2004. There are currently 21 volunteers on the roster, who commit to two three-hour sessions a month.

Greer says enquiries are both in person and via email and phone.

“Typically, people ask what they can do in the area after the market, where they can stay and where they can eat,” she says. “Many are here for events such as festivals, family reunions, anniversaries and birthdays, or a girls weekend away.

“There are many enquiries about local walks, boat trips, school holiday and wet weather activities, and always lots of enquiries about which vineyards to visit.”

Greer says volunteers provide advice to visitors by providing brochures and current events information, guiding visitors to the website, and answering telephone and email enquiries. She says volunteers need to have good communication skills and basic computer skills.

“Familiarisation days are regularly held to help them understand and appreciate the variety and quality of local tourism organisations.

“We are a group of people who like meeting and contributing to the tourism economy and community activities within the region.” The centre is open daily from 10am until 1pm.

Anyone interested in learning more is asked to contact Phillippa on 021 304 949 or email matakanainfo@xtra.co.nz

Art exhibition funds hospice care

The annual Martakana Exhibition held in the Matakana School hall earlier this month raised $20,000, which will be used to provide hospice services for terminally ill patients in the Warkworth/Wellsford area. The exhibition included more than 300 artworks made up of paintings, sculpture, craft, photography, copper work, weaving and ceramics.

An organiser, Lesley Ingham, says the exhibition benefited from the inclusion of work from a number of new exhibitors and emerging artists including Liz Sharek, Jane Puckey, Joy Bell and Julie Beaumont.

“Visitor numbers and spending were slightly down on previous years, but we are still very pleased with the result,” she says. Ingham says the fundraising total possibly reflects the current economic times, as well as perhaps a reluctance by locals to negotiate Matakana traffic on a weekend and the need for better signage.

Organisers thanked major sponsor Coresteel North Harbour, as well as Matakana School, participating artists including many who

Long-standing volunteer, Eileen O’Loan (left) helps new recruit Catherine Shipton learn the ropes.

donated artworks, auctioneer Keiran Barakat from Harcourts, St Pierre’s Sushi, Mahurangi

East Tennis Club, Signs for Two Brothers and particularly, hospice volunteers.

Dedicated hospice fundraisers, from left, Shona Pickup, Lesley Ingham and Mary-Anne Ellett at this year’s show. Inset, the eye-catching work of artist Joy Bell sold well.

Phillippa Greer is looking forward to introducing new volunteers to centre resources.

THE GARDENS APARTMENTS

Lifestyle Features Include:

• On-site cafe

• Well-equipped gymnasium

• Heated indoor pool

• Sauna

• 10 acres of well established, mature, landscaped gardens with seating, petanque courts, picnic tables and ambient night lighting

• Children’s playground

• Putting green

• Stream, lake and native reserve

• Resident’s vegetable gardens

Plan Your Next Move - 2023 Is Your Year!

Designed by leading architectural firm Shanahan Architects and nestled in the established resort-like community of Kensington Park Orewa, The Gardens Apartments are nearing completion in time for you to enjoy the late summer sunshine on the golden sands of Orewa beach. Pre-sales have been strong however premium options are still available in one, two and three-bedroom configurations, with views over the lake or garden reserve.

Regardless of your age, stage in life, and lifestyle there are freehold, luxury options available to suit every discerning buyer. Secure entry is through the elegant lobby spaces, basement garaging with elevator access provides single-level-living to the private, elevated homes.

The premium specification offers light interiors and open plan layouts with generous bedrooms and storage spaces, luxury appointed kitchens, elegant dining areas and inviting living spaces that extend onto spacious and covered balconies. Meticulously planned kitchens are complimented by Miele appliances, Grohe tapware, and premium materials such as quartz benchtops, timber flooring and oak veneer cabinetry. Contemporary bathrooms are finished with floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiles, mirrored cabinets, under tile heating, composite StoneCast basins, and walk-in showers.

Visit our vibrant development today to view The Gardens Apartment showhome apartment, tour the manicured gardens and amenities and enjoy brunch at our on-site garden café.

Pricing From:

Single bedroom from $1,003,750

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Contact us today on 0800 725 775 or sales@kensingtonpark.co.nz to speak to one of our Kensington Park Sales Specialists: Jaimee, Paul or Nadine. Sales Suite - 1 Parkside Drive, Orewa | Open 7 Days: 10am - 4pm

History

Rose Reid, Albertland Museum

www.albertland.co.nz

Shepherd’s folly

Port Albert storekeeper John Shepherd served on the Provincial Council for two terms before representing the Albert riding on the newly formed Rodney Council in 1877. Following in his footsteps, his son John Alfred Shepherd first represented the Albert riding in 1911. He saw firsthand the struggles early settlers had with travelling on muddy, clay roads that were easily destroyed by horses and wagons, and described by locals as ‘three feet wide and two feet deep’.

In the 1880s to 1890s, New Zealand experienced a long depression, which had a profound effect on council spending, leaving little money to make significant improvements to roads and bridges in the area. Alternately, roads were closed and bylaws introduced that only allowed two horses or four bullocks to be used when carrying a load, or to make it an offence to go faster than walking pace when crossing a bridge.

The Wellsford Railway Station was completed in 1909 and all roads leading to the station came under scrutiny, with a large part of the Council Roading Budget allocated to their development and maintenance. Then came the onset of World War I in 1914, which took many young men overseas to fight. When John Alfred was elected Chairman of Rodney Council in 1917, changes were afoot, with a transition from horse and buggy to the motor age adding even more stress to the local roads. Shepherd’s vision was for council to have its own motor transport and more machinery to repair the roads, so he persuaded his fellow councillors to purchase an AEC lorry and a 10-ton Austin steam roller. These purchases were followed

Roading issues are not something new for the people of the Wellsford district.

closely by a tractor, a portable stone crusher and a pile-driving plant, which came at a huge cost with a significant increase in council expenditure and loans raised to cover their cost.

This did not sit well with the more conservative members, who feared that this was not a good thing in an expanding postwar economy. While not entirely the fault of Shepherd, he was made a convenient scapegoat and defeated at the next election in November 1920 by his own brotherin-law, George E. Thompson. This was a rather sad demise for someone who had dedicated much of his life to local politics for the betterment of his district.

In the museum’s own history book, ‘Albertland’, we read that the 10-ton Austin steam roller purchased by Shepherd and his councillors became known locally as ‘Shepherd’s Folly’. When we search for the meaning of ‘folly’ we find it to be a ‘foolish action, mistake or idea’. It would appear that the fault did not lie with the roller itself but with the fact the bridges in the district could not carry its weight. Perhaps an important detail that should not have been overlooked when considering such a large purchase!

Sweetappreciation with chocolatebrown

Congratulations to Paul Stephenson, who is this week’s recipient of a gift box of chocolates from Chocolate Brown. Paul was nominated by Tania Hamilton, who wrote…

“

Paul, who is the caretaker at Wellsford School, goes above and beyond his usual duties making sure that all our children are safe and playing happily in the school grounds. Paul is dedicated to ensuring all our students are given the best facilities he can so that they can learn, develop and grow in themselves. The students even help him by telling him if something doesn’t seem right on a building or in the grounds, or when balls are lost on the roof of buildings. Paul, in eyes of all the parents, you are simply the best!

Send your nominations to editor@localmatters.co.nz

Know someone who deserves a big “thank you” for their community spirit? Tell us and they will receive acknowledgement in Mahurangi Matters and an amazing hamper from Chocolate Brown, 6 Mill Lane, Warkworth. Send your nominations to editor@ localmatters.co.nz (subject line: Sweet Appreciation) or post to: Sweet Appreciation, Mahurangi Matters, PO Box 701, Warkworth. Kindly refrain from nominating members of your own family.

Bluff or bust

– Little Goats set out on adventure cycle

When Julia Blennerhassett suggested to her friends in Warkworth, Angela Thomas and Nicola Paterson, that they go on an adventure, little did they know that what she had in mind was a 3000km cycle ride. But on February 15, the three women, aged in their 40s and 50s, will set off from Cape Reinga with the goal of pedalling into Bluff 30 days later.

Their ride, under the team name Little Goats (Greatest of All Time), will take them along isolated beaches, through mountain passes, down city streets, over gravel roads and on mountain bike tracks. For the most part, they will sleep under the stars, prepare their own food, manage their laundry and cycle for around eight to 10 hours a day. They will ride every day and need to average 100kms a day to hit their target.

“It sounded like a great idea when Julia suggested it a year ago, but it’s way bigger than I imagined and the reality that the start is now just days away is starting to sink in,” admits Angela, who is the administration manager at Mahurangi Matters. Nicola says she is also feeling a little nervous about what’s ahead.

The women are taking part in a Tour Aotearoa brevet, which follows a set course via 30 compulsory photo checkpoints that must be completed in 10 to 45 days.

Every team is required to raise money for a charity, so the Little Goats have chosen the Matakana Coast Trails Trust. A lot of their training has been on the local trail, so they say it was a good fit.

In preparing their bikes and equipment, they have taken advice from people who

have already cycled the Tour Aotearoa including former Point Wells cyclist Bevan Woodward, who now lives in Nelson and has done the trail several times.

“Bevan gave us lots of good tips on what to take and what not to take, and even recommended an anti-chafing cream that you can use on both your face and your bum!” Angela says.

Julia, Angela and Nicola met when their children attended Warkworth Primary School. They maintained their friendship through a shared interest in fitness and participated in a number of Spirited Women adventure races, prior to disruptions caused by covid.

While Julia and Angela have been able to mostly train together, Nicola, who now lives in Invercargill, has had to share her training schedule via an app.

Angela says she started with small 12km rides on the Mahurangi East Peninsula twice a week. This has gradually increased to around 60kms two or three times

a week, and she has done a couple of more intense rides in Northland and Taupo with fully loaded bikes to test her readiness for the main event.

Julia and Angela’s training schedule has also involved spin classes and core fitness, and Angela has used the tour to introduce a healthier eating regime, losing more than 20kgs in the process.

But the training hasn’t been all plain sailing.

All the women have sustained multiple bruises from falls and crashes, and Angela broke a bone in her hand after one fall, requiring ongoing physiotherapy. There have also been bike repair issues.

“That’s my biggest fear – that something will break on the bike,” Angela says.

“I’m fitter than I’ve ever been so I feel my body is ready and it is just a mental game from now on.”

She is feeling a little anxious about how she will cope with being separated from her family for such a long period of time, as well as the disruption to her normal routine.

“I think the thing to look forward to is that every day we will be seeing something new and at the end of every day, we will be 100kms closer to our destination. I think it will be amazing.”

To support the Little Goats’ fundraising efforts go to: https://givealittle.co.nz/ cause/angela-julia-and-nicola-teamlittle-goats-ride

Every dollar raised will be spent on developing cycle trails in the Mahurangi region. You can also track the team’s progress down the country at: touraotearoa2023.maprogress.com

Out on a training run in Matakana, from left, Julia Blennerhassett, Angela Thomas and Nicola Paterson.

Nutrition

Nicole Wilson, Registered nutritionist www.nutritionkitchen.co.nz

Staying hydrated

Since it is summer, I thought that talking about hydration was a good article to start the year. I mean, usually, it’s hotter, drier weather. Even though we have been getting what seems like more rain than sunshine this summer, the weather is still warm, which means you will still be sweating, so need to stay hydrated.

Why is staying hydrated so important?

The human body is about 50-80% water. Water not only fills the spaces within and between all our cells, it also plays a vital role in many bodily functions, such as:

• the digestion, absorption and transportation of nutrients

• removing waste products through urination, perspiration and bowel movements

• temperature regulation

• joint lubrication and tissue cushioning. Maintaining water balance is essential for survival. You can go without for food for about a month, but without water you’ll only last a few days. For this reason, your body has a fancy mechanism for regulating when and how much you need to drink –thirst. When your total water content gets below a certain level, your thirst kicks in and, for most people, it is very reliable. However, in older age your thirst signal decreases and some medications may affect thirst, so you need to use other tools to check if you are drinking enough.

A couple of simple ways to check that you are adequately hydrated is noting whether you are going to the toilet regularly and when you do go, what colour your urine is.

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• pale yellow = hydrated

• dark yellow = dehydrated

• looks like water = over-hydrated

You are constantly losing water from your body, in your pee, poo and sweat. To prevent dehydration (and constipation), you need adequate amounts of fluid. But what exactly is “adequate amounts?”

You’ve probably heard that you need to drink six to eight glasses of water a day. However, as with many things, there is no simple, single formula to suit everyone. What this advice doesn’t quite explain is that it doesn’t have to be water, and it also doesn’t have to be only from drinks. Many foods, especially fruits and vegetables, contain fluid that count towards that volume. Also, as with most things, the amount also depends on you as an individual. The amount of fluid needed varies according to your age, body size, the climate and how active you are, and also if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you want to keep things simple, then these three guidelines will apply to most people:

1. When you’re thirsty, drink something.

2. When you’re not thirsty any more, stop.

3. Increase your fluid intake if you’re exercising or living in a hotter region. That’s it!

And remember, other beverages including tea and coffee, can contribute to fluid balance, and most foods also contain water. So if you don’t have any water to hand, you can easily find something else to quench your thirst.

2023 TERM 1 - WARKWORTH PROGRAMME

New Year, new initiatives which we are excited to share with you alongside your favourite courses/workshops. We look forward to seeing you soon! Make sure you like us on Facebook - womenscentrerodney and Instagram womenscentre_ rodney and check out our posts for all the latest news and happenings.

Intro to Art Therapy

Monday 20 February - 27 March, 10am - 12.30pm $70

An experiential course offering a taster of Art Therapy techniques for your own process. You don’t need to have any art experience to attend this 6-week course. Facilitator: Heidi Downey

WOW Move Up Programme

Tuesday 14 February - 4 April, 9.30am - 12.30pm

$30 people receiving a benefit, $60 waged Discover your unique worth and strengths and how to use them and explore ways to make the changes you want that will last. We will help you develop a realistic plan – a way forward to keep building a better life for you and your family. Have fun and celebrate with other women in a supportive group setting. Facilitators: Jo Nicholson and Bridget Farmiloe

Young Mum’s Educational Programme

Every Thursday from 2 February 10am - 12.30pm FREE

For mothers up to 24 yrs. Make friends and explore strategies for raising healthy, happy children. Some childminding & morning tea provided. Facilitator: Sarah Woolford

SuperGrans - The Sharing of Generational Knowledge

Info session Tuesday 21 February, 2pm FREE

Launching this year SuperGrans Rodney is a free service supporting women to develop life skills through one-on-one mentoring and workshops. The programme aims to empower women to gain knowledge and skills to improve their daily living personally and within their family and whanau. Mentors are women of all ages who walk alongside and mentor other women, supporting them to develop a range of different skills including cooking healthy meals on a budget, gardening, growing food, CV writing, applying for jobs, budgeting, sewing and more. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or want to know more about the service come along to our info session.

Thursday Evening Seminar Sessions

Third Thursday of each month 5.30-7pm

Thursday 16 February – Romina Shahram –Webster Malcolm – Relationship Property

Thursday 16 March – TBC

Thriving through Art & Creativity

Series: Crafty Conversations

Every Friday from 3 February 10am - 12pm FREE

Crafty Conversations is a peer support group where you can unleash your creative side while enjoying the company of others. Whatever your craft is, this is an opportunity to meet in a safe environment and connect with others to enhance wellbeing. Host: Jo Nicholson (and special guests)

Clay Workshop

Saturday 25 February, 10am - 2.30pm at Kowhai Arts Centre $70

A one-day workshop at artist’s studio. The class will start with an introduction to clay, making pinch pots, joining them. Followed by creating, decorating and texturing another sculpture using your new skills. Make something beautiful to take home. Facilitator: Emma Zhang

There’s a class near you!!

Mon 10-11am Matakana Hall

Tues 10-11am Warkworth Town Hall

Wed 10.30-11.30am Wellsford Community Centre

Thurs 10-11am Warkworth Scout Hall

Contact MaryAnne 021 041 5235 or 09 425 4634

flexercise.rodney@gmail.com

Harakeke/ Flax Weaving workshop

Saturday 18 March,

10am - 2pm at Anglican Parish Hall $65 Learn basic flax weaving skills from an experienced local weaver and create a waikawa basket. Students are also introduced to the customs (tikanga) around working with flax.

Facilitator: Britta Conrad

Women’s Naturopath, Herbalist & Massage

Tuesday from 14 Febuary, 10am - 2pm $20 per 15 min. Bookings essential

Tired of feeling sick and tired? Mini consults to support your individual health requirements with a focus on liver support, immune boosting & stress alleviation. Massage, Herbal Prescriptions, Practitioner only supplements. Facilitator: Tania Burrows

Holistic Pulsing Massage

Every Monday from 20 February $65 per hour. Bookings essential

A gentle, non-intrusive bodywork that activates your body’s natural healing mechanism. Benefits: deep lasting relaxation, ease of movement & heightened awareness. Practitioner: Heidi Downey FREE* and Subsidised Counselling for Women

Six sessions available. Please call the Centre to discuss an appointment. (* free for women with dependents under 18) Phone 09 425 7261.

Drop In

Mon-Fri – 9.30am - 2.30pm

We know there are unique challenges for everyone and we are here to help you navigate them. The Centre is open 9.30-2.30pm and you are welcome to drop in for a chat, coffee, or to just take a moment in a safe space.

Volunteers

We are keen for volunteers to help us at the centre. We have a variety of roles available from Centre Hosts to Mentors on basic life skills. Why not see if you can be involved.

AA Group Meetings

Every Wednesday, 7.30 pm at the Women’s Centre FREE Women’s AA Meeting - Held every week at the Women’s Centre. We welcome you. No booking required. Facilitator: Janene

FREE Legal Clinic

9.30 am– 10.30 am every third Friday. Bookings essential. 10 February, 10 March, 31 March. Phone and in person appointments are available. Call or book via our website.

FREE Cervical Screening

Date to be confirmed

Call or register via our website. For women aged between 20 and 69 who are due for a smear test. Appointments are at the Women’s Centre with a specialist female smear taker. Also support with contraception. Part of the national cervical screening programme and run in conjunction with the Well Women and Family Trust.

Bookings essential: Contact us on 09 425 7261 or 0800 2DROPIN (0800 237 674) Email: info@womenscentrerodney.org.nz

• Book online at: www.womenscentrerodney.org.nz

• Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/womenscentrerodney

ADVISED, ALL COURSE/WORKSHOPS ARE AT HELD THE WOMEN’S CENTRE

diet and lifestyle guidance and information

• High quality, evidence-based, practitioneronly herbal medicine and nutritional supplements to support your body’s ability to thrive

• Achieve healthy detoxification and optimise gut health and function

New course shines light on permaculture practices

Permaculture enthusiasts in the Mahurangi area have the opportunity to learn from two internationally recognised permaculture exponents this year.

Trish Allen and Guenther Andraschko are running a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course based at the Matakana Hall and Community Garden, from April to November.

“Permaculture is not only about looking after water, soil and ecosystems, but also growing food and other flora in a sustainable way,” Allen says. “Recently, we’ve seen the cost of fertilisers and food go through the roof. It’s a great reason for people to create their own healthy soil and compost to grow nutritious food for their families and communities.”

Allen and her husband, the late Joe Polaischer, ran permaculture courses at their Rainbow Valley Farm on Matakana Valley Road for many years. She has been a local leading light in environmental practices and is one of the driving forces behind Mahurangi Wastebusters.

Guenther Andraschko is an earth builder and landscaper with more than 25 years’ experience creating unique outdoor environments. He is passionate about supporting others to realise their own permaculture projects and aspiration.

“What makes this permaculture course unique is that participants can choose from a range of different practical workshops,” Andraschko says.

These include hands-on experience with earth building, pruning and grafting, mushroom growing, fermentation and plant propagation and composting.

Allen and Andraschko have run successful PDC courses for a number of years. They say for this upcoming course they will be introducing some new tools and ideas.

“Healthy soil and compost are key elements of a thriving ecosystem, and we’ve purchased a new microscope that can show

us just how healthy it is,” Allen says. “We’re also emphasising a te ao Māori perspective, which will be a wonderful addition to the course.”

The full PDC consists of nine theory days and three practical workshops, held over seven months. The theory days cover topics such as ecology and climate, water management, composting, forest gardens and economics.

There are eight practical workshops to choose from, and once the course students have made their choice, the remaining spots will be open to the public.

The cost of the full PDC is $1495 and the Earthskin Trust has provided scholarships up to $500 for people who need financial support. For more information on the scholarships, go to the Earthskin website. For further information, including enrolment forms, visit www.resilientliving. nz or email pdcmatakana@gmail.com

Students will learn a range of practical skills from earth building to mushroom growing.

Trish Allen

Guenther Andraschko

Learning to breathe easier

The last few years have been, at the very least, stressful for everyone. The global pandemic plunged us all without warning into new ways of living, working and interacting, and the after-effects are still being widely felt. So how do we cope with this new world, not to mention everyday stresses and strains? How do we slow down, decompress and lighten the load on our frazzled nervous systems?

The answer, according to Scott Townsend of Matakana, is literally under our noses – it’s through our breathing. Townsend is passionate about effective breathing and its largely untapped power to alter not only our mental condition, but physical and physiological states via simple routines and practices.

He has studied countless techniques and studies on how different ways of breathing can affect minds and bodies, and has trained with some of the best known practitioners in the world, not least Wim Hof, a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete whose breathing method has attained a huge following in recent years.

But there is far more to optimal breathing than Hof, as Townsend stresses.

“Breath is an untapped resource right under your nose – you’re always breathing, it’s always there,” he says. “It’s the most powerful tool we have. It’s something people can use to develop their own awareness, and curb or manage their anxiety or stress.

“It can control your autonomic nervous system, your cardiovascular system and immune system, it can increase or decrease your energy, be a pain reliever, enhance your performance, and make you more aware of your thoughts and feelings.”

Townsend himself was just eight when his father taught him to breathe deeply through his diaphragm as a way of calming down. Then, when he was 18, he was taught more breathing techniques and he was bitten by the bug.

“Any book, course, podcast, article, I’d be into it, thinking what can I learn here, from the very scientific and medical right through to the more “woo” stuff, like nonordinary states of consciousness.”

Having used breathwork to help himself through a number of life challenges such as anxiety, stress, depression and traumas, he started teaching others in his mid20s. He now offers a range of different techniques and methods, working with everyone from individuals with medical issues through community workshops and classes to sessions with major corporates and government departments. Townsend’s approach is calm, straightforward and down to earth, with the odd joke thrown in.

“I teach people about their nervous system and how to regulate it. I like to equip people with a toolbox – how do they deal with a panic attack, how do they get more energy, how do they deal with unresolved emotional issues, or the need to sleep,” he says. “And the feedback I get all the time is that it changed their life.

“I love seeing the look in people’s eyes afterwards, and hearing them say that they’ve never felt so calm.”

One of Townsend’s main motivations is that the world is currently what he calls an “attention economy”.

“Where are people’s eyeballs, what are they focused on? People’s awareness has been hijacked,” he says. “Our brains aren’t designed to be connected to everything all the time.”

He maintains breathwork can provide at least some of the answers.

“If the pharmaceutical companies could capture it, it would be the number one selling drug because there are so many benefits to it,” he says.

Townsend currently runs various breathing workshops, including Wim Hof Method and one-to-one sessions, in Matakana.

Info: Visit https://o2coach.nz/

Scott Townsend, who has taught thousands of people better breathing techniques, moved to Matakana last year.

sports injuries, muscle tension, pain management, drawing out toxins

Kids’ Waitangi adventure day

Snorkelling, swimming, games and discoveries will be on the cards when a special children’s adventure day is held at the Leigh marine reserve on Waitangi Day next month.

The Goat Island Kiwi Guardians day will run from 10am to 4pm on Monday, February 6 and is being organised by Warkworth Toyota, in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). A map will be given to all participants showing where different activities are taking place, lunch and equipment will be provided and there will be Kiwi Guardian medals and other giveaways for all those taking part.

Warkworth Toyota’s customer service manager, Cherryll Thompson, said Toyota had been the national supporter of DOC’s Kiwi Guardians kids’ nature activity rewards programme since 2015, and all branches had local sites they could support. The programme encourages children and families to go on self-guided adventures, undertake backyard conservation action and earn rewards, such as Kiwi Guardians

In brief

Artists set to open doors

medals.

“Warkworth Toyota assists with Goat Island and Kawau Island and we decided this year it would be good to run our first event at Leigh,” Thompson said.

“We will be hosting snorkelling, swimming, mini-games, access to the Discovery Centre and lots of other fun things to do.

“Goat Island is a great place to have in our community and for us to be part of. We want children to know how we can maintain our environment and how we look after it for the next generation.”

She added that she hoped this would be the first of several such activities.

“I want Warkworth Toyota to be part of more community events and there is scope and opportunity to look at other sites and activities in the future.”

The Goat Island Kiwi Guardians day is free, but reservations would be appreciated for catering and activity purposes –info and registration here: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/warkworth-toyotas-goatisland-kiwi-guardians-adventure-daytickets-516353275547

Artists and makers in and around Mangawhai will again be throwing open their doors to the public for the annual Mangawhai Art Trail next month. This year’s event takes place over the weekend of February 25 and 26 and, as ever, will showcase the diverse range of artistic activity that takes place throughout the community, from painting and drawing through photography and pottery to sculpture and jewellery making. Venues also cover all bases, from galleries and shops to studios and garden sheds, with visitors able to see many artists at work creating new pieces. Maps and guides will be available in the coming weeks – follow Mangawhai Artists on Facebook or visit www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz for details.

Leigh Sawmill talk at museum

Everything from logging to live music will be on the menu when a talk on the Life and Times of the Leigh Sawmill takes place at Warkworth Museum next month. The talk will be presented by Carolyn Cooper, a descendant of the early Leigh settlers with a keen interest in the history of the coastal community. She will tell the history of the old mill, which was first established by the Wyatt family at the head of the harbour in the 1800s before it moved to its present location in Pakiri Road in the 1930s, where it stayed until it was converted into a bar, café and live music venue 40 years ago. The Tea & Talk session will take place at 10am on Friday, February 10 at Warkworth Museum. Bookings essential – email warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz

IMMUNE SYSTEM REINFORCING

The Kiwi Guardians programme is designed to foster interest in conservation.

Vineyards move into village for wine and pizza

Matakana winemakers are swapping their vineyards for the village farmers’ market on three Fridays in February, with special wine and pizza evenings.

Up to half a dozen producers will be setting up shop in the market from 4.30pm to 7.30pm on February 3, 10 and 17, with a wide range of wine styles to try, or buy by the glass and bottle at special cellar door prices.

Authentic latino pizza will also be available from Bernardo Nina’s Italian in the Village mobile wood-fired oven.

Matakana Winegrowers secretary Ann Cook says the Vineyards in the Village evenings are being staged to allow more locals and visitors to taste the region’s boutique wines, meet their makers and learn more about the region and its distinctive and diverse range of grape

varieties and wines.

“Matakana wines constantly evolve, and reflect with distinction their sense of place, climate and community,” Cook says.

“Vineyards in the Village is a great way to celebrate summer with the Matakana Winegrowers at the Matakana Village Farmers Market.”

Info: Matakana Wine Trail on Facebook

Leech to lead Kowhai Singers through 2023

Kowhai Singers’ search for a new musical director has at last been successful, with the recent appointment of Ken Leech to lead the group in 2023.

The choral group has been looking for a new leader since previous director Amy Cottingham returned to the US during covid and Susan Hayday took over for the interim last year.

Leech has extensive experience over many years with choral ensembles, as a singer, conductor and composer of choral music, and he recently moved north from Auckland city to Waitoki.

He has sung with a number of respected groups, including the Auckland Dorian Choir, Harbour Voices and the Castorways chamber choir, and has conducted for choral groups and church choirs for many years.

Leech is also an active member of the Association of Choral Directors and regularly attends conferences and conducting workshops.

His debut with the Kowhai Singers will take place at the first rehearsal of the year,

which takes place on Monday, February 13 at the Warkworth Methodist Hall, on the corner of Church Hill and Hexham Street, at 7.15pm.

Leech says anyone is more than welcome to attend and there are no auditions required to join.

“We’re very happy for people to come along and just try it out with no obligation whatsoever,” he says. “Everyone is welcome, so we’re more than happy for people to come along to a couple of rehearsals to see whether it’s for them.”

With a self-confessed eclectic taste in music, Leech promises a varied repertoire of songs for the coming season.

“I like to do a very wide range of music. The first concert we’re doing is quite classical – it’s the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, so we’ll do some pieces by him, as well as some nice works by Bach, Faure and Mendelssohn,” he says.

“But the next concert might be jazz, it might be popular music, or songs from the shows –we’ll do a really wide range of music.”

Winegrowers will be selling their wares in the village farmers’ market on Friday evenings.

Ken Leech believes music should interest the singers, as well as entertain the audience.

Leech says he’s looking for hard work from his choristers, but not at the expense of fun.

“My philosophy is very much that rehearsals have to be the right balance between feeling that you’ve worked hard, but you’ve really enjoyed yourself as well. The process needs to be enjoyable and fun, otherwise what’s the point, while at the same time you’ve got to work,” he says.

“I’m really looking forward to presenting the people of this area with a wonderful experience of choral music.”

Kowhai Singers chair Roger Mackay says he’s delighted at Leech’s appointment and is confident the group will benefit from his extensive experience of choral singing, conducting and his belief in the need for music that entertains the audience and provides interest for the singers, as well.

Kowhai Singers’ first concert is planned for Sunday, May 21 at 4pm at Warkworth Town Hall.

Info: https://kowhaisingers.yolasite.com/

Leigh for solo show blues artistAussie

A blues singer whose voice has been called one of finest in Australia is bringing his one-man show to the Leigh Sawmill next month.

Melbourne songwriter and Byron Bay Bluesfest stalwart Shaun Kirk last came to Aotearoa in 2019, before the global pandemic slammed the country’s doors shut for touring. Now he’s back with his Holding Onto Hope tour, named after the single of the same name that was dropped last July. The winter release date was chosen to mark the 12 month anniversary of the start of Melbourne’s 112-day lockdown, a period Kirk describes as “one of the most confronting and challenging times of my life”.

Inspired by the tumultuous events of covid, 2020 and beyond, Holding Onto Hope carries a message of aspiration and optimism that Kirk says has felt lacking throughout

the world in recent times.

The dozen NZ shows in February follow an epic eightmonth tour across Australia, with Kirk on guitar, drums, percussion and harmonica as well as his trademark gritty blues/soul vocals.

His entertaining style and vintage guitar tones have been described by Grammy award-winning singer Fantastic Negrito has one of the best one-man shows he’s ever seen, while Buzz Magazine said Kirk had one of the finest blues voices Australia had ever heard.

Kirk said he couldn’t wait to being able to revisit New Zealand again and connect again with Kiwi fans.

Shaun Kirk plays Leigh Sawmill on Thursday, February 2 at 7pm.

Info and tickets: www.undertheradar.co.nz

Support and Love Local!

Matakana Hall fundraising sale

The Matakana Hall Committee held a successful Christmas Community Gathering last month, which was well attended.

Families were entertained with live music, singing, Santa, craft and entertainment.

A silent auction and raffles raised just over $4000, which will go towards the refurbishment of the hall kitchen. The next fundraiser is a Mega Garage Sale, which will be held in the hall on Saturday, February 4, from 10am to midday. Among the many items that will be for sale will be a set of retro chairs circa 1953.

Sales will be cash only and organisers welcome donations for the sale. Items can be left at the hall on Friday, February 3, between 4pm and 6.30pm.

“We welcome donations of good quality, secondhand items that others will want to reuse,” an organiser said. For instance, books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, toys, clothes, shoes, kitchenware, housewares, garden/workshop tools, sports and camping equipment, and small furniture. Conscious Kids was thanked for donating its time to entertain the children in the garden during the Christmas Community Gathering.

www.onemahurangi.co.nz

Shaun Kirk is back for the first time since 2019.

Money raised from last month’s community gathering will help with a project to rebuild the hall kitchen.

Opera picnic returns to Matakana after covid break

Music lovers should head to Matakana next month for the return of Auckland Opera Studio’s annual summer picnic concert. After a break caused by covid restrictions last year, singers are looking forward to returning to the picturesque gardens of Simon and Robin Barclay’s home on the corner of Ward and Matakana Valley Roads.

The programme will again feature a diverse selection of operatic classics and popular musical favourites curated by musical director Frances Wilson, all performed on a stage set on the side of a lake and surrounded by a naturally banked seating area.

This year’s line-up includes opera picnic favourites such as sopranos Amelia Berry and Tayla Alexander, and three members of popular Pasifika quartet The Shades, Samson Setu, Manase Latu and Ipu Laga’aia.

Making their Matakana debut will be Maltese-born soprano Carla Camillari,

Norwegian baritone Thomas Roshol, young tenor Sid Chand and Hawkes Bay baritone Alfred Fonoti-Fuimoano.

Accompanying them all will be renowned pianist Somi Kim, who plays with NZ Trio, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, among many others.

Auckland Opera Studio is a charity that provides personalised coaching, professional support and performance opportunities for young opera singers.

The Matakana Opera Picnic takes place on Saturday, February 18 at 5.30pm and runs until around 8.30pm. Free parking is available from 4.30pm and concertgoers should bring their own food, drink and picnic seating.

Tickets cost $60 for adults and can be booked via the Auckland Opera Studio website at www.aucklandoperastudio. co.nz. There is no charge for children aged under 16.

Classic arias and popular songs will again ring out over the Ward Road garden venue.

Young farmers pit their national comp skills in

The winner of the 55th Young Farmer of the Year will emerge from among the winners of 11 district and seven regional competitions when the Grand Final is held in Timaru over three days in July.

In a departure from the traditional format, which has district competitions starting in October, this year the organisers have decided to trial a shortened programme in the Northern and Waikato Bay of Plenty regions. The objective remains to find New Zealand’s best Young Farmer while reducing the large amount of pressure on regional member volunteers to deliver events.

The Northern district and regional finals will be held on February 17 and 18 at Kaikohe. The following four contestants will represent Kaipara Young Farmers. They will be hoping to make it through Day 1 to qualify for the Regional Final and, ultimately, to represent the Northern Region in Timaru.

Zarnie Fergusson

Fergusson is chair of Kaipara Young Farmers and secretary for Northern Region YF. She finished fourth in the Northern Region final last year, so hopes to go at least one better this year. She lives at Kaukapakapa on her grandfather’s dairy farm, which is run by 50/50 sharemilkers while she acts as farm owner on his behalf, looking after compliance, capital maintenance and staff management.

Her main job is beef farming. She leases land in Waitoki and Kaukapakapa, where she finishes whiteface steers and breeds registered pedigree Hereford bulls, after selling her registered Angus herd last year and switching teams.

Her goals for the year are to produce sound, high finishing weight, low birth weight Hereford bulls for dairy beef production. She has been putting a lot of energy into the genetic recording and background of her cattle to achieve this. She is also experimenting with more obscure beef breeds for finishing stock, including Friesian crossed with Fleckvieh, Normande and Viking Red. All three of these breeds produce excellent herd replacements, so if their male offspring finish well as beef steers, it will give dairy farmers another viable beef option other than the standard Angus or Hereford.

Hawkings is a Warkworth-based digger driver and is proud of finishing first in the digger driving module in the 2020 district finals, which gave her a great opportunity to expand her knowledge and skills across the 10 competition modules. She is looking forward to this year’s competition, as she now has an appreciation of the skills needed to compete and hopefully win. She is currently secretary and publicity officer for Kaipara YF and events coordinator on the Northern region executive committee. Last year, she was on the Grand Final committee, which she found a fantastic experience, enabling her to take part in designing the competition for the finalists, as well as organising a digger driving challenge on the AM show.

Daniel Richards

Richards is vice-chair of Kaipara Young Farmers and currently manages the family dairy farm at Tomarata, milking 300 cows on a split calving rotation. His ambition is to become a contract milker or 50/50 sharemilker when the right opportunity arises. He has previously entered the Young Farmer of the Year competition, reaching the regional final. He has also competed in the Northern Region dairy industry

At 20, Hodges is the youngest of the local entrants and he is looking forward to learning new skills from other young farmers. He also says it’s a good event to be involved in and heaps of fun. His farming aspirations started at college when he attended the Taratahi Training centre in Masterton one day a week, where he gained credits in level two agriculture. He subsequently completed levels 3 and 4 agriculture NZQA certificate through the Whangarei A&P internship, which was an on-farm two year course. He is now working on a bull beef farm in Wellsford. During this period, he has gained experience in livestock and dog work, as well as fencing, driving tractors and calf rearing, but he knows he still has much more to learn.

awards, finishing second in 2021. Richards is enthusiastic about the Young Farmers awards, believing firmly in their role in raising the profile of agriculture among the general public, as well as providing a great opportunity for young farmers to test their skills and gain knowledge about other parts of the agricultural sector.

Best of luck to each of our Kaipara Young Farmers competitors!

WARKWORTH SHOWROOM OPEN

37 Glenmore Drive, Warkworth (09) 777 4004 chesters.co.nz

SHOWROOM TRADING HOURS:

Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.00pm Saturday 8.00am-12 noon

Kate Hawkings

By Allan Barber

Proud Supplier of Bathroomware for New Zealand

Animals

Celine Lye, Wellsford Vet Clinic https://wellsfordvet.com/

Fleas and their habits

We often have clients come in and tell us, I’ve already fleaed kitty or pup, but it’s still got fleas and itching! As vets, we have driven the point across many times: ensure you are treating all your pets in the house; ensure you are using a trusted product and at the right dosages for your pets’ weights; ensure you are redosing regularly when needed; and ensure that you are treating all year round.

If someone has done all of the above and still finding fleas, this doesn’t mean that the product is not working. Flea treatment does not prevent fleas from jumping on your pet, it kills them when the fleas are exposed to the treatment on them. If you notice fleas that are moving slower and are easy to catch on your pet, they likely are already in the process of dying after being exposed to treatment, but are relatively new critters that have jumped on them. Healthy fleas are way too fast to be caught. It is also a good idea to check all your pets for flea dirt – just because live fleas are not seen, doesn’t mean they are not around. The best way to check for flea exposure is the paper towel test: use a flea comb to comb through the fur around your pet’s neck and rump, tap the combings onto a paper towel and wet it – if there are dark bits of dirt that turn red with water, that is flea dirt (it is actually digested blood) and is a sign of exposure to fleas.

The likely reason for treatment ‘failure’ is because there is a flea infestation in the environment. Fleas lay their eggs on the host pet and the eggs fall off into the environment, which can include carpets,

under the house, between floorboards, cushions, pet bedding, the list goes on. They hatch and grow until the adult flea stage where they then jump back onto a host pet, completing the cycle. The environment must be treated to clear an infestation. This includes vacuuming every few days, washing or replacing pet beddings, flea-bombing the house, treating carpets and rooms with an insect growth regulator flea fogger/target spray, targeting any suspected areas including the garage and even the car, as well as keeping the garden tidy (removing leaf litter, keeping grass short). Anywhere your pet hangs out around the home is a place where fleas may be.

It is a long battle if a flea infestation has taken hold in your home and may take months to get on top of. If you are patient, follow all the right steps and the only fleas you see on your pets are slow moving dying fleas, you know you’re on the road to success. If you need advice on what flea products to use and an in depth discussion on what measures you need to control fleas, contact your local vets.

We provide:

• Care for all your veterinary needs.

• Four dedicated Vets and friendly office staff, who deliver a comprehensive service.

• A Saturday morning clinic.

• An after hours emergency service in Wellsford.

Sports funding open

Applications opened on January 30 for the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund, with more than $2.3 million available for community-based initiatives and projects engaging tamariki and rangatahi most at risk of missing out or being less active. More than 825 organisations have received investment totalling $13,159,304 since Tū Manawa Aotearoa funding started in September 2020. Online forums to explain the application process will be held on February 14 at 10am and February 15 at 6.30pm. Info: https://aktive.org.nz/tu-manawa-active-aotearoa/

Junior tennis

AceEm Tennis will continue its junior tennis coaching programme in Term 1 at the Matakana Tennis Club. Sign up to secure a spot in a junior hot shots tennis session available on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. To book coaching sessions, visit https://aceem.helloclub.com. Info: Hayden on 021 747 839 or email tennis@aceem.co.nz. Meanwhile, social tennis has resumed at the club on Thursdays, starting at 6pm. All welcome.

Netball

Netball Rodney Centre will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Netball Rodney Centre office in Centennial Park, Wellsford, on Thursday, February 16, starting at 7pm. For more information, email netballrodneycenter@xtra.co.nz

Kids golf

Chipper Nippers for children aged 3-6 years held on Saturdays from 10-11am, starting on February 4; Younger Kids: aged 7-9 years, held on Wednesdays from 3.30-4.30pm, starting February 15; Older Kids: aged 10+ with some golf experience, held on Wednesdays from 4.30-5.30pm, starting on February 15. Classes are free to Omaha Beach Golf Club members. Info: emmafairniegolf@ gmail.com. Golf membership enquiries, email Christine at support@omahagolf.co.nz

Hockey

Summer social hockey 9s restarts on Thursday, February 2. New players and teams welcome. If you are keen to play but don’t have a team, get in contact and you will be allocated a team. For more info: warkworthhockey@gmail.com

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the Warkworth area:

Warkworth Fellowship Monday

7.30pm, Catholic Church Hall, 6 Alnwick Street, Warkworth Snells Beach Big Book Meeting Thursday 7:30pm, Mahurangi Christian School, 410 Mahurangi East Rd, Snells Beach; Open to Visitors.

If you want to drink, that is your business, if you want to stop, we can help. Phone/text 0275 773 689 www.aa.org.nz | www.12steps.nz

Supported by Mahurangi Matters

SINGERS WANTED

MATAKANTATA CHOIR IS WELCOMING NEW SINGERS!

If you love to sing and would like to be part of a vibrant, fun and committed group of singers from all walks of life we would love to hear from you. We are looking to expand our ranks for our mid year concert which is a varied selection of works written for film. If you can sing in tune, hold a beat and can invest some time in the process we’d love to hear from you. Contact Jenny at musicaldirector@ matakantata.org.nz

Rehearsals start on Thursday 9th February, so get in quick!

SITUATIONS VACANT

We are a family owned and operated holiday park located in Sandspit, the gateway to Kawau Bay & Kawau Island. SHP is a small but busy camp that is looking for a few people to join the team in a variety of roles.

October to May is busy with customers and May to October is busy with repairs, maintenance and development. The applicants must be versatile and able to adapt when required. Hours vary depending on the day of the week and the role as listed below.

FRONT OF HOUSE

Duties include, Checkingin of people, stock control, monitoring of cleaners and quality control. Making bookings, answering emails and other general office duties. Some cleaning is required on occasion

Must be well presented, friendly and have computer skills

CLEANERS

Must have attention to detail, work fast and have pride in their work.

Hours are a minimum 9am

to 12pm and depending on workload till 2 or 4 pm on any rostered day. All equipment supplied.

NIGHT WATCH PERSON

Security for the park, its buildings, people and peoples behaviour.

This person must be able to be friendly but firm if required. Hours are normally 9pm till 11pm but could be slightly later if required.

Every Friday & Saturday as set nights. Additional nights as required.

Send your CV to jared@sandspitholidaypark.co.nz

HOUSEKEEPERS WANTED

PLUME VILLAS at 37 Sharp Road, Warkworth, are looking for HOUSEKEEPING STAFF

Flexible hours with a minimum of 10-12 hours a week.

We are looking for reliable, punctual, meticulous, hygieneconscious staff to work week days, as well as weekends and school holidays. Hourly rate of up to $25ph on offer. Apply with full details to Denise at 021 422 313 or manager@plumevillas.co.nz

WANTED TO BUY

DELIVERERS WANTED

11 YEARS +

TO DELIVER THE MAHURANGI MATTERS NEWSPAPERS Mahurangi Matters is a fortnightly paper. Deliverers needed for runs in the Snells Beach, Warkworth, Wellsford and Mangawhai areas. Contact phone Tanya Milford by txt or email 021 066 0838, tanyamilford@hotmail.com www.reach.nz/walker-signup

Young step back in time

Among those who participated in a heritage walk around the Warkworth township recently were sisters Harriette (left) and Amelia Sandlant. They are pictured in the grounds of the Warkworth RSA with the Bofors anti-aircraft gun, which once operated from a frigate, and part of a fighter aircraft propeller. The walk was led by Heritage Mahurangi chair Dave Parker and followed the route of the recently-launched Heritage Trail brochure. The walk also marked the start of Warkworth’s 170th anniversary celebrations and was organised by the Warkworth Library.

Seen a seal? Let DOC know

A citizen science project encouraging people to report sightings of kekeno/NZ fur seals around the upper North Island has been extended.

In the second half of last year, the Department of Conservation (DOC) conducted a public awareness campaign urging people to report sightings of kekeno around Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf. This followed a high number of dead kekeno observed in the region during winter 2021. DOC scientists hoped to use the sightings data to be able to learn more about the species and understand if the previous winter’s mortalities indicated a trend.

Marine science advisor Laura Boren says DOC received 102 reports of kekeno sightings between July and November. Of the sightings, 81 were for live animals and 21 were dead. Boren says this was a positive result, as there were significantly fewer dead seals reported than over the previous winter and spring (more than 50 animals).

Collecting data on the seals – dead and alive – will help scientists learn more about the species.

“The decision to extend the project into summer will deliver more valuable data on one of our most visible and interesting marine mammal species,” Boren says. In reporting kekeno sightings, and providing photographs, people should take photos of the whole animal from several angles. For dead animals, at least one photo should be taken looking straight down from above and with something for scale. People are asked to note the date and location, and if the animals are tagged, before sending to: kekeno@doc.govt.nz

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The one that didn’t get away

Catching a feed for dinner from a backyard jetty has been a regular occurrence for Warkworth resident Mark Vulinovich, but he wasn’t expecting what he hauled in earlier this month.

Vulinovich has been fishing from a jetty at the foot of his property in Rivendell Place, on the Mahurangi River, for a number of years.

He says he regularly catches pan-sized snapper, sometimes taking nine over the course of a day.

However, he says since the river was dredged, he has noticed a change.

“We’re getting more fish and the fish are bigger,” he says. “We’re also seeing other varieties, such as parore, and you can fish across all tides.”

On January 14, Vulinovich caught a 10.8kg snapper, measuring 875cm.

“I think he may have been going up the river to die. We’ve put him in the freezer and I’m thinking of getting him mounted and then perhaps I could donate him somewhere.”

The Mahurangi River dredging project, aimed at making the river more navigable, wound-up last year. It targeted just over eight kilometres of the waterway, from the town basin towards the mouth, removing more than 800,000 tonnes of silt.

Snells teen makes Samoan youth squad

A talented Snells Beach teen has just spent a month in the tropics taking part in the Oceania Football Confederation U-17 Championships, after being selected to play for Samoa in mid-December.

Cayden Steffener is 16 and a Kiwi, but qualifies for Samoa as he has close family ties there, including the fact that his father was born in the capital, Apia.

He was spotted by Samoan scouts as he played for Auckland City FC’s U-15 squad last season and flew to a training camp on December 28 as one of the youngest players in the team. He travelled to Fiji with the squad on January 9, closely followed by his parents and other family supporters from NZ, before the tournament kicked off on January 12.

After losing 3-0 to Fiji in the opening match, Samoa trounced Tonga 6-0 in the next game and made it through to the quarter finals on Saturday, January 21, but were unfortunately knocked out by New Caledonia, who won 4-0.

While gutted at the loss, Steffener said he was excited to have been chosen for the Samoan squad and to have had the bonus opportunity to learn a bit more about his family’s heritage and culture.

“Playing other international teams was an amazing experience for me and a great challenge for my personal development as a football player,” he said.

The Oceania Championships are not the first international tournament Steffener has played in – he was also selected for an under-12 world club competition in South Korea a few years ago, after a scout for the Wynton Rufer Academy (WYNRS) spotted him playing for Warkworth 12th grade.

He started playing for the WYNRS Academy team, Metro United, then moved to Auckland FC U-14 and U-15 squads before being picked for Samoa U-17.

His dad, Shaun Steffener, is well known locally as a former Warkworth player and junior coach. He coached Cayden from

Auckland Area Sea Watch

grade 6 to 12 and says he showed promise from an early age, and now playing professionally is his dream.

“He certainly wants to pursue it and I’ve got lots of contacts,” he says. “He was selected two years in a row for a national travelling team that was due to go to Melbourne and Thailand, but they were cancelled because of covid, and the team ended up playing a national tournament instead, with matches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.”

He says the Oceania tournament was a difficult in some ways for Cayden, but good experience.

“This tournament has been mentally tough,” he says. “The Australian and Kiwi players are coming into a very basic set-up there. It’s a long way from what we do in NZ and Australia.”

Now that the championship is over for Steffener, his next focus is on trials to get into the Auckland FC U-17 team next month.

Mark Vulinovich with the monster he hauled in from the Mahurangi River.

Steffener, right, during the quarter-final match against New Caledonia. Photos, Kirk Corrie, Phototek

1 Warkworth Liaison Group meeting, Warkworth RSA downstairs meeting room, 7.30pm

2 Mahurangi Artist Network Art Trail, Opening Exhibition, Warkworth Town Hall, 6-8pm

2 Shaun Kirk, Leigh Sawmill, 7pm (see story p22)

3 Vineyards in the Village, Matakana Farmers’ Market, 4.30-7.30pm (see story p21)

3-6 Mahurangi Artist Network Art Trail Various artist studio and gallery locations Trail guide and info: https://www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com/art-trail-23

4 The 146th Paparoa A&P Show, Paparoa Valley Road, 9am. Woodchopping, equestrian, team roping, trade stalls, water slide, fun , dog sports, and more

4 Mega Matakana Garage Sale, Community Hall, Matakana Valley Rd, 10am12pm. Donations of items for sale to be delivered to the hall on Friday, February 3, between 4pm and 6.30pm (see story p22)

4 Summer Classic 2023, Ascension Wine Estate, 4pm

5 Waipu car and bike show, Caledonian Park, 10am-2pm

6 Waitangi Day Celebration, Te Hana Te Ao Marama Marae, 10am-2pm. Live music, market stalls, food and hangi. All welcome. Info: 423 8701

6 Kiwi Guardians Day, Goat Island, 10am-4pm. Info: www.eventbrite.com (see story p20)

8 Warkworth’s 170th Anniversary coordination meeting, Bridgehouse Lodge, 5.30pm. Representatives of any community organisation/group who are planning an event this year are welcome. Come join the celebration.

10 Life & Times of the Leigh Sawmill, Warkworth Museum, 10-11am Talk by Carolyn Cooper. Entry $5; bookings essential. Info: warkworthmuseum@xtra. co.nz (see brief p20)

10 Vineyards in the Village, Matakana Farmers’ Market, 4.30-7.30pm (see story p21)

11 Warkworth & Districts RSA Market, 8am-1pm

11-12 Mahurangi Arts Network Trail. Info: https://www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com/ art-trail-23

15 The Frank Burkitt Band, Whangateau Hall, 7.30pm

17 Vineyards in the Village, Matakana Farmers’ Market, 4.30-7.30pm (see story p21)

18 Youth Clubs and Groups day presented by Warkworth Library, Old Masonic Hall, Warkworth, 10am-2pm

18 Matakana Opera Picnic, Ward Road, Matakana, 5.30pm (see story p23)

19 Andy Buchinger, The Tahi Bar, Warkworth, 4-6pm

20

Men’s Rebus meeting, Shoesmith Hall, Warkworth, 10am. Missing your mates, why not visit us? Info: Ron 422 3111

25 Ahuroa Hall & School fundraiser trek 2023, Ahuroa Road, 9am. Info: christine_a_bullock@hotmail.com or phone 027 514 9696

25 -26 Mangawhai Art Trail, Info: www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz (see brief p20)

25 International Flamenco Concert, Warkworth Town Hall, 7pm

25 Diane Ponzio, accompanied by by musicians Helene Piper and Hank Trenton, Mahurangi West Hall, 7pm. Entry by donation

26 Puhoi Village Market, Riverside Park, 9am-1pm. Live music, stalls, treasures, food and the Community Table produce and plants. To book a $20 stall space, phone Jenny on 020 4020 6154

28 Warkworth Music AGM, Mezzanine room, Warkworth Town Hall. 7pm

March

4 Warkworth annual Cosplay Picnic, Cement Works, Warkworth, 10.30am 4 Warkworth RSA fishing competition 9 Operatunity Daytime Concerts - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Warkworth Town Hall, 11am

11 Warkworth & District RSA market. 8am-1pm

12 The Barfoot and Thompson Annual Raft Race

18 Warkworth A&P Show, Warkworth Showgrounds (see story p8)

18&19 Mangawhai Walking Weekend, Info and bookings www.mangawhaiwalking. co.nz (see brief p5)

In

The club's primary purpose is to prevent drowning and injury through lifeguard

and education. The club is comprised of highly trained volunteers and supporters who are passionate about water safety, the beach environment and are willing to contribute their time and skills to the local community.

Saturday

Results:

Underhand open – Jack Jordan 1, John Gower 2, Nathan McDonald 3, Peter Eyles 4. Jack & Jill saw – G&L Trow 1, M Elworthy & M. Gower 2, D. Apelu & W. McDonal 3, J&D Thomas 4. Championship underhand – Jack Jordan

1, Morgan Bolstad 2, Nathan McDonald 3, Richard Morton

4. Championship standing – Jack Jordan 1, Nathan McDonald 2, Lance Trow 3, Matt Gower 4. Springboard

A – Will McDonald 1, Harry Hardie 2, Nathan McDonald

3, Rhys Guscott 4. Standing open – Matt Gower 1, Jack Jordan 2, Nathan McDonald 3, Rhys Guscott 4. Standing Div. A – Peter Eyles 1, Willy McDonald 2, Jack Jordan 3, Lance Trow 4. Springboard B – Matt Gower 1, Mark Parker

2, Morgan Bolstad 3, Jordon Thomas 4. Double sawing – Jordon Thomas & Morgan Bolstad 1, Rhys Guscott & Lance Trow 2, Callum Cradock & Jamie McDonnell 3, John & Matt Gower 4. Standing Div. D – Mark Parker 1, Jared McDonnell 2, Jamie McDonnell 3, Mark Bayz 4. Standing Div. C – Kaleb McDonnell 1, Jordon Thomas 2, Morgan Bolstad 3, Johnston Semenoff 4. Standing Div. B – Matt Gower 1, Rhys Guscott 2, Matt Robinson 3, Pine Bracewell

4. Underhand Div. B – Kaleb McDonnell 1, John Gower 2, Harry Hardie 3, Jordon Thomas 4. Underhand Div. A –Willy McDonald 1, Jack Jordan 2, Richard Morton 3, Matt Gower 4. Single sawing – Lance Trow 1, Harry Hardie 2, Pine Bracewell 3, Nathan McDonald 4. Underhand Div E – Tai Wynward 1, Nicholas Johnston 2, RJ Brown 3, Mark Parker 4. Underhand Div D – Sewyn Semenoff 1, Jared McDonnell 2, Callum Cradock 3, Jamie McDonnell 4. Underhand Div C – Johnston Semenoff 1, Matthew Robinson 2, Rhys Guscott 3, Brook Van Heaven 4.

Sun shines on woodchopping carnival

World champion axeman Jack Jordan was in impressive form when he competed in the Puhoi Woodchopping Carnival in the grounds of the Puhoi Hotel on January 14. Starting with a 48-second handicap in the underhand event, he came home first to claim the coveted Puhoi Trophy. But he didn’t have everything his own way. Whangamomona’s up and coming junior Matt Gower went head-to-head with Jordan in the Standing Open event to snatch a win.

Puhoi Axemen Club president Mike Paddison said the carnival, which celebrated the club’s 60th anniversary, was a huge success, with great weather and a massive crowd. Special events to mark the anniversary were run at midday. These included an Old Boys Chop, featuring club veterans Dave Karam, Alan Harrier, Wayne Bolger, John Sanderson and Mark Parker, and two teams’ races pitting the veterans against the juniors. While the juniors won the first race, the veterans proved they still had what it takes by winning the second race.

Jordan’s next major outing will be at the Stihl Timbersports in Palmerston North in March, where he will be hoping to qualify for the World Championships.

Jack Jordan shows why he is one of the best axemen in the world.

Richard Morton

Matt Gower

Drue and Jordon Thomas.

Keanu McDonnell, RJ and Cole Brown and Sam Story.