Mahurangi Matters_Issue 244_5 March 2014

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Puhoi • Warkworth • Snells • Matakana • Omaha • Leigh • Pakiri • Wellsford • Port Albert • Kaiwaka • Mangawhai

Trolley derby to be a real doozy Mahurangi College’s entry in the Warkworth Trolley Derby looks set to be a serious competitor on Sunday March 9. The group has taken the trolley for a test run where speeds are estimated to have reached 60kph and the vehicle was up on two wheels on the corners. Metalwork teacher Grant Waugh and woodwork teacher Pat Henchie have been helping a group of Year 7 to Year 10 students during lunchtimes, after school, and weekends to get their entry up and running. And the students have been learning the secret to making a winning trolley. “It needs to be light and low to the ground. Having good teachers helps too,” says Year 10 student Louis Tailby. “It’s amazing what you can make with a few bicycle wheels, a metal frame and an old school chair,” says Year 9 student Oliver Johnson. The group went along to one of the workshops held in the build-up to the derby, which will be run along Morrison Drive, and learned a few tips from competitors. The steering is now changing from the rear to the front. continued page 2

Mahurangi College students say a light frame and a low centre of gravity should make their trolley a winner.

Rodney ‘most expensive’ place to live

Forget Herne Bay and Remuera — if you need to commute, then Wellsford, Warkworth and Matakana are Auckland’s most expensive places to live, according to two academics at the University of Otago. The pair have published a research paper in the journal Cities which argues that transport costs need to be taken into account when considering where to live.

The paper uses data from the 2006 Census to map people’s journeys, and suggests that Wellsford, Warkworth, Orewa, Matakana and Helensville are Auckland’s most pricey areas if the cost of commuting to work is factored in. The study comes as real estate agents report growing interest in property in the Mahurangi region, as central city house prices rocket.

The authors note that housing affordability is usually measured solely in terms of people’s income as a proportion of house prices. By this measure, Auckland houses are among the most expensive in the world. But by adding transport costs, “a very different pattern of affordability emerges”, they say.

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March 5, 2014

contacts General enquiries: Call 425 9068 PO Box 701, Warkworth 0941 17 Neville St, Warkworth 0941 Editor: Karyn Scherer 021 622 550 editor@localmatters.co.nz Reporter: George Driver 425 9068 news@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Cathy Busbridge 022 029 1899 advertising@localmatters.co.nz Shona Mackinnon 022 029 1897 local@localmatters.co.nz General Manager: Jannette Thompson 021 263 4423 gm@localmatters.co.nz

Mahurangi Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated twice a month to more than 13,000 homes and businesses. Views expressed in Mahurangi Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission of the editor is prohibited.

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Poppies wanted for centenary Trolley derby A century ago, the women left behind by soldiers fighting in World War I were encouraged to knit for the troops. Now knitters in the Mahurangi region are being encouraged to follow their example, to commemorate the anniversary of the beginning of the war. Karen Caulfield, who owns Warkworth wool shop Robyn Egge Yarns, says there has been a vigorous discussion online about the role that knitting played in the war, including the way the War Office used silent movies as a “propaganda tool” to involve women in the war effort. “I don’t really want to think about that too much,” she says. A TV programme being made about the subject in the UK got inundated with garments when it put out a call for donations. It got Karen thinking, and she came up with the idea of encouraging locals to make knitted poppies. The poppies will be displayed in her shop window during April, and afterwards they will be given to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which hopes to display 5000 poppies for next year’s centenary of Gallipoli. So far, Karen has had just seven poppies donated, but she would love to reach 100. Patterns are available in her store, or on Pinterest, through the store’s website. “I’m delighted that people are donating their time and their yarn to

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Karen Caulfield is aiming to get 100 poppies to display in her shop window, and at Auckland Museum.

knit us some rather beautiful poppies,” she says. “But we’re going to need a lot more.” Info: for information on the UK TV programme, see http:// orkneytoomaha.wordpress.com/

“We are both canoeists. That’s how you steer in a canoe,” Pat explains. The tricycle bike is built from donated bike parts and a welded steel frame. Skinny wheels from an old 10-speed bike give low drag, while a child’s BMX wheel is used at the front. “We’ve now got enough material to build another one. I want to race one myself,” Pat says. A driver has yet to be decided, but the teachers will reluctantly let the students have a go. “I’m worried that if they crash we’ll have to start again,” Pat jokes. The next step is to build a roll cage and get some seatbelts installed. It is the first time the derby has been held in Warkworth and event manager Craig Powell has been busy ironing out the details, ensuring the race will be as fun and as safe as possible. “It’s almost turning into a full-time unpaid job,” Craig says. There’s been interest Aucklandwide, and with hundreds of dollars up for grabs in prize money, the incentives are there to get out and give it a go, Craig says. Info: Entries will be accepted right up to the day of the event or visit warkworthtrolleyclub.co.nz

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Hill Street intersection delayed yet again Motorists travelling through Warkworth will have to wait nearly a decade until the Hill Street intersection is revamped. The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed it will not be upgrading the intersection until after the new motorway is built from Puhoi to Warkworth. It says it is important that it has a reliable alternative route in place first before it begins work. Cr Penny Webster had raised the possibility of the Matakana Link Rd being built first, to give local traffic an alternative route. But it is understood NZTA did not believe the link road could be built in time, due to a lack of funding and the time needed to acquire the necessary land. NZTA’s state highway manager, Tommy Parker, says the upgrade of Hill Street will not provide substantial relief from congestion, whether it is done

now or after the motorway is built. “It makes sense to construct the highway first to help us manage the disruption from that work and divert traffic away from the intersection.” The new motorway is not expected to be completed until at least 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency will begin public hearings in April, but a decision is not expected until about August. Construction is not expected to start until at least 2015, and it is estimated it will take at least five years to build. Mr Parker has confirmed that Hill Street could take another two summers to complete “and that will mean considerable disruption for everyone – children from the nearby school, residents, local businesses and road users.” There is not a lot of room at the intersection “and

Rodney ‘most expensive’ In areas such as Warkworth and Matakana, costs would increase by more than 70 per cent as a proportion of income — five times higher than in the central city. The study does not include the cost of parking, or road tolls. But it notes that many people underestimate the true costs of running a private vehicle. It argues that the cost of roading also needs to be considered, along with damage to the environment, and uncertainty about the future cost of petrol. The authors want Government organisations to use their data to identify areas needing greater housing assistance and improved public transport. They also suggest it should be used to identify areas where urban development should be avoided. “These areas would be shown to be considerably less affordable if the wider societal costs associated with housing and vehicle travel were fully borne by consumers,” they say. The study comes as Auckland Council is finalising its 30-year plan for the region, which includes a proposal to more than quadruple the population of Warkworth. It also comes as the Government prepares to fast-track a $780 million motorway extension between Puhoi and Warkworth.

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The authors say Council has come under “intense pressure” to release even more land for development, but is right to reject urban sprawl. It is “imperative”, they say, that policy makers come up with more creative and sustainable solutions to housing problems “than simply releasing swathes of land on the urban fringe”. They warn that “short-sighted development decisions” which ignore investment in public transport and cycleways may have “severe and irreversible” economic consequences. Public transport campaigner Bevan Woodward, who successfully fought for a bus service in Mahurangi, says he is not getting his hopes up that the study will be heeded any time soon. Officials from NZTA told him at a public meeting they would not be including a park-and-ride facility in their plans for the new motorway. Because of poor planning, a bus service to Orewa and Puhoi via the new motorway would also not be possible. But Bevan says he will be arguing for a regular bus service to Warkworth, to cater for both tourists and commuters. “It’s in their plans to do it, but it just takes a long time before they do anything.”

we will need to keep all those roads open during the upgrade”, he says. He says NZTA will continue to work with Auckland Council to progress other options, including the Matakana Link Road, the Western Collector and the SH1/McKinney Road intersection. Meanwhile, NZTA has decided to close Wayby Station Road south of Wellsford for nearly a month while it completes a major upgrade of the intersection. The closure has upset residents and businesses located along the road. The only way of accessing the road for the next few weeks will be a 15-minute detour up to Wellsford and along Prictor Road. NZTA says the existing road is narrow and undulating with limited visibility. The new road will be wider, better-graded, and have better lines of sight to and from the junction with SH1.

Grant Clifton is enjoying growing his own vegetables.

No regrets over Matakana move Like most people who have moved to Matakana, Grant Clifton cites “lifestyle” as the main reason for relocating. In Auckland, he and his family lived in the seaside suburb of Kohimarama. However, their house occupied almost all of their 400sqm section. In Matakana, they were able to buy a 20,000sqm property. “It was the perfect spot,” Grant enthuses. “It’s a much better lifestyle for the kids. And you want a bit of space and a bit of tranquillity, and not have the neighbours on top of you.” Initially, he continued to commute to Howick each day. “It was okay for a

little while because they provided a car and paid for the fuel,” he says. “But it started getting crazy. I was commuting for three-and-a-half hours each day.” He decided to quit his job, and work from home. Grant says he has met many people in Matakana who are in a similar situation. But he doesn’t believe the long commutes are putting people off, and points to the rapid expansion of Matakana School as evidence that the area is still highly sought after. He believes employers are becoming more flexible. “I think there are more and more people working from home, and if you’re working for a corporate they don’t seem to mind so much.”

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March 5, 2014

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OFF THE RECORD Council on hold According to the Whangateau R&R Committee, Auckland Council is having a few problems with its phones. While trying to contact an officer, the committee kept getting his answerphone message which said he was on leave until April. Apparently it was last year’s message but no-one knew how to remove it. The minutes concluded: “The Super City at its best!”

Wesay

Viewpoint

Karyn Scherer, Editor, Mahurangi Matters

Tracey Martin, NZ First MP

editor@localmatters.co.nz

traceymartinmp@parliament.govt.nz

Jobs, not roads

Testing times

Why do people choose to live in small towns such as Warkworth, Wellsford, and Matakana? Invariably, the answer is “lifestyle”. Or something to do with “community”. But achieving the perfect lifestyle in Mahurangi is not always easy. As the region’s population swells, so do the number of commuters who clog the highway. While some enjoy the best of both worlds, living here and working elsewhere many would prefer to work locally. As the authors of a new study on the costs of commuting quite rightly point out, earmarking Warkworth for massive residential growth makes no economic sense if it means having to spend nearly a billion dollars on a new motorway that will simply add to Auckland’s congestion. Better public transport is one obvious solution. Providing decent broadband so people can work from home is another. But more jobs also need to be created locally. It is true that you can’t force businesses to move to small towns. But you can certainly ensure there is commercial land available for those who want it. And that the rules encourage new businesses. It is absolutely crazy that at least one local firm has been threatening to leave town because it can’t find the right type of industrial land on which to expand. Council also appears to be lukewarm about the prospect of a Pak’NSave, and possibly other retail, at Hudson Rd. Cr Penny Webster says there are concerns that Warkworth will end up with ad hoc growth and that the town will be “split in three”. Ironically, Council also opposed a major retirement village for central Warkworth that has since been approved. Without more local jobs, Mahurangi could become one giant retirement village. Some might not see that as a bad thing, but we owe it to the young people now growing up in the region to at least try to offer them a future here.

Everything that goes on in Parliament affects people in Rodney in some way. An example would be the changes made to the driver’s licence. The extended timeframe to gain a full licence, coupled with higher fees, means that many of our young people are being shut out of the job market. While the Kowhai Connection has definitely been a help, after-hours transport is still an issue. So what am I doing about it? In partnership with the local BLIS co-ordinator, a local driving instructor, the local Bluelight co-ordinator, and a local business, we are bringing together a low-cost programme to support our young people from theory to the practical licence. I am lobbying NZTA to allow our young people to sit their on-road test in this area instead of having to travel to Orewa. I have also alerted the Minister responsible to the fact that there is a three-month waiting list to sit the practical test locally. I am also looking closely at the cost. Another example would be being able to question the Tertiary Education Commission about Youth Guarantee courses. These are the fees-free courses where 16- to 19-year-olds can access certain vocational training, from childcare to building and all in between. While city kids have a multitude of options, this isn’t the case in Rodney, and because most have NCEA level one they can even be shut out altogether. This is not good enough. Our young people leave this area before they should because they can›t train to get local employment. We need to demand these opportunities are given to our kids just like their city peers. On another note altogether, this time last year I hosted the NZ Representative of Taiwan. I was able to show him around our magic region and local businesses. Mahurangi College provided him with his first taste of a traditional welcome with a powhiri before we crossed the road to check out Mahurangi Tech’s eelbreeding programme. NZ and Taiwan have since signed a Free Trade Agreement and the Taiwanese Government has now invited me to spend a week in their country discussing local trade and school relationships, education in general, and to look at health initiatives. What a shame I can only fit three bottles of Matakana wine in my suitcase. But you can rest assured that I will take every opportunity to showcase our region on my travels.

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March 5, 2014

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Email letters to editor@localmatters.co.nz

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We welcome your letters but letters under 300 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them. Unabridged versions can be read under Opinion at localmatters. co.nz. Letters can be sent to editor@localmatters.co.nz or PO Box 701, Warkworth

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Still waiting It is indeed welcome news that Geoff Ward has announced his confidence and experience in the ratepayerfunded Araparera Forestry joint venture (MM, Feb 19). Given his long involvement and knowledge of the investment, the Landowners and Contractors Protection Association Inc (LCPA) formally invites Mr Ward to attend a public meeting to openly answer many unanswered questions and provide some transparency and accountability. The meeting will also present Mr Ward and Auckland Council with a further opportunity to show investors both their skill and expertise in forestry management, along with the due diligence surrounding pre-harvest procedure. Mr Ward also categorically states that the Local Board has been kept “fully informed” and has made “key decisions”, so we would also like to invite the Local Board, Cr Penny Webster, Auckland Council Property Ltd, and any other interested parties, to attend the meeting on March 20 at the Wellsford Community Centre (see ad in the public notices). It is also heartening that Mr Ward recognises that “good things come to those who wait”. Yes, after nearly 27 years the Northern Rodney ratepayers have most certainly done that. Julie Cotton, Landowners and Contractors Protection Association Inc

Fruitloop feminists The mention of Fruitloop mayhem on the page opposite the letter from John Patrick (MM, Feb 19) struck me as so apt. A generation ago, abortion was anathema in our community, sodomy was abhorrent, prostitution was

shameful; all were illegal. Now, after relentless propaganda from feminist media and suppression of contrary viewpoints, abortion and sodomy are not only legal but are claimed as human rights, and prostitution is an employment option for non-academic school-leavers. Likewise, a generation or even less ago, the spanking of misbehaving children to encourage good behaviour was accepted as a necessary tool of good parenting. Now that’s illegal, and the young run wild. And, remarkably, it’s those same feminists who have brought about the legalisation of abortion, sodomy and prostitution and the illegality of spanking children. No-one will listen to the Catholics in our community, so I guess it’ll have to be the Muslim occupation that takes us back to those commonsense precepts of a generation ago. Leo Leitch, Snells Beach

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Take a bow The Starship Foundation would like to thank the Matakana community for its generosity and kindness to Starship. Monique Jansen, the organising committee and all those who attended the Grand Matakana Ball in August 2013 should take a bow. With their help, and the help of Mahurangi Matters, an impressive $19,500 was raised for Starship Children’s Hospital. It is only with the help from people like this that we can keep our national children’s hospital at the forefront of paediatric care to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and their families. Many thanks. Sarah Woodhams, Community Fundraising Executive, Starship Foundation

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Millions needed to fix leaky college

Briefs Riverbank on web The Warkworth Riverbank Enhancement Group has launched an information website to elevate the group’s profile and goal, and provide updates on the projects it’s involved in. The site can be found at www.warkworthriverbank.wix.com/ enhancementgroup

Tiritiri celebration Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi are celebrating their 25th anniversary, which starts with a concert involving 20 musicians on March 8. Guided walks are being held over five consecutive Sundays, starting on March 16, and the lighthouse open day will be held on March 29. Bookings are essential for both the walks and the lighthouse open day. Info: www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Book now available Snells Beach resident Vivienne Callard, who featured in “Local Folk” in Mahurangi Matters in January, finally has copies available of her autobiography. Titled No Time for Crying, it is now available at The Village Bookshop in Matakana, and the Unicorn Bookshop in Warkworth.

NRC rejects proposal The Northland Regional Council has told the Local Government Commission it can’t support its draft proposal for a major revamp of local government in the region in its current form – and has asked it to do more work, then issue a fresh draft. Submissions on the proposal closed on February 21.

Kaipara rates Kaipara District Council is proposing an average rates increase of around 2.3% for the next year, beginning in July. Submissions on its Draft Annual Plan for 2014/2015 close on April 8.

Wasp attack The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to Warkworth on February 25 to rush an elderly woman to Auckland Hospital. The woman suffered an anaphylactic attack after being stung by a wasp.

Over $4.5 million of repairs are needed to five buildings at Mahurangi College after it was discovered the buildings are leaking. The buildings are all less than 20 years old. Principal David Macleod says the buildings were poorly designed and built using untreated timber. Each building needed to be completely reroofed and the cladding replaced, he says. “It’s a real shame. It’s such a big cost to the taxpayer,” David says. The science building is currently under repair and head of science Gerald Walker says the building has had problems from the beginning. When he moved into the new classrooms the concrete layer on the first floor was not level and the building leaked in heavy rain. “There’s been problems all the way along, so it wasn’t a surprise. They are lucky not to get sued. We knew when they were being built that there was a low quality of workmanship.” Those responsible for the design and construction of the buildings will not be prosecuted as the buildings are all more than 10 years old, David says. The Ministry of Education has a policy to only pursue prosecution for faulty buildings constructed less than

Mahurangi College principal David Macleod says hundreds of students will be taught in prefabricated classrooms while repairs are carried out.

10 years ago, he says. The buildings will be repaired one building at a time over the next two years. The five buildings affected are the science block, the library, the student centre, the arts block and the junior block. Twelve prefabricated classrooms are at the school to provide temporary classrooms, transformed to house science classes and art classes. David says it’s just lucky a new building, which has 13 classrooms, was completed last year. However as the roll at the school

continued to grow, classroom space was tight and even without the repair work the school was short of classrooms and prefab rooms were required. The Ministry of Education has settled around 40 legal claims to date in relation to poor workmanship, design or building materials. Work has been completed on 127 priority buildings, but there are 1600 school buildings in its Building Improvement Programme. There are a further 500 buildings which have been identified as needing further investigation. The total cost of the repairs is estimated at around $1.5 billion.

Adult learning classes resume in Warkworth What do you want to learn? That is what adult learning coordinator Adva Webber is asking the community in order to boost the number of courses available for adult learning classes at Mahurangi College. “I really want to encourage the community to express what they want to learn. If you don’t like the selection of courses available then please tell me what you want,” Adva says. Five classes are now up and running at Mahurangi College, with courses available in Te Reo Maori, ESL (English as a Second language), interior design, photography and Cashflow, a game that teaches financial management skills.

But hopefully these courses are just the beginning, Adva says. “I’m hoping it will grow and evolve and become a real community hub.” A safe driving course is due to start shortly and 20 people are already enrolled, she says. In the second half of the year, a free course will be offered to help people pass their learner’s licence, she says. Adva also wants to hear from talented members of the community who might want to teach a class and share their skills and passion. Currently she is looking for computing tutors to teach the basics of Word and Excel. The course has got up and running

thanks to a $10,000 grant from Rodney Local Board, and receives no Government funding. The programme is based on successful Wellington adult learning programme Chalkle, and is the first Chalkle programme in the Auckland region. People can enrol in a course at any time on the website and prices range from a koha donation, through to $30 per lesson. Info: Visit the Adult Community Lifelong Learning Facebook page to suggest ideas. Enrolment can be done online at mcll.chalkle.com For more information call Adva on 021 130 6363 or mcll@mahurangi.school.nz

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Anger over 10-year plan for road sealing and strategic importance are also taken into account. Local Board members Steven Garner and Greg Sayers have both expressed disappointment that there is not more money available. Cr Penny Webster says she persuaded Council to increase the original amount — a move Greg believes was a response to criticism from groups such as the Northern Action Group and the Landowners and Contractors Protection Association. “It’s just so unfair and unhealthy and unsafe and unsatisfactory,” says Greg. “It’s going to be about 20km, so it’s really a token amount. We just have to continue the fight to have local rates spent locally. I’m very angry about it and disappointed.” Steve says he will be lobbying for central Government to help pick up the tab for local roads. “I’m not sure how we’re going to do it but we have to try, because $1.4 million a year is just not enough,” he says. He also wants Auckland Council to rethink its population-based funding formula for projects such as local roads, given that Rodney has 80 percent of the region’s unsealed roads. To see the full priority list of all the region’s roads, visit: http://bit.ly/ MymWTX

Call for scow volunteers NZ’s only remaining sailing scow, the Jane Gifford, based in Warkworth, is inviting “locals” to sign-up as volunteers for the coming year. Sailing organiser Dave Parker says it’s an opportunity for people with an interest in the sea to enjoy a unique sailing and boating experience. Ideally, volunteers should be fit, agile and committed, and be comfortable talking to visitors. Applicable training is provided. “We regularly carry a huge cross-section of passengers, from preschoolers to the elderly,” he says. “In the last 12 months, we’ve had in excess of 350 students aboard. Volunteers get to mix with passengers from all walks of life and are always asked lots of questions so some local knowledge is a definite advantage.” Dave says he’d particularly welcome interest from younger members of the community, including senior students. Info: Phone Dave on 027 484 9935 or 425 5006; or Arnold Nicholls on 021 425 849. www.janegifford.org.nz

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Just five gravel roads in the Rodney region are expected to be sealed over the next decade, according to the latest priority list from Auckland Transport. The Council-controlled organisation has finalised how it will spend its $14 million budget for the next 10 years for unsealed roads. Work is expected to begin on the 2.4km Matakana Valley Road later this year, in a project that will cost just over $2 million and will eat up the budget for the next two years. The next highest priority is Takatu Road, which at 4.5km will cost approximately $4 million. The other three roads that have made the top of the list are Monowai Road (3.9km, costing $2.7 million), Silver Hill Road South West (1.8km, costing just under $1 million), Silver Hill Road North East (5.6km, costing $2.3 million), and Wellsford Valley Road (0.8km, costing $320,000). Roads that have just missed out include Govan Wilson Road and Goatley Rd. Auckland Transport officials have briefed the Rodney Local Board on the process in a private meeting. The list was developed according to a set of guidelines that place significant emphasis on traffic volume, particularly heavy vehicles, and problems with dust. Accidents within the past five years, gradient,

Applications now open for heritage protection funding Are you looking for funding towards a heritage protection project? Auckland Council invites applications under the following funding schemes: • Rodney Heritage Item Assistance • Auckland City Cultural Heritage • Waitākere Heritage Fund • Manukau Heritage Assistance The funds support the conservation, restoration and protection of valuable heritage items, such as residential houses, churches and other heritage sites. Examples of projects previously supported by the council: • Repair and weatherproofing of historic church exterior • Re-piling and repainting an early railway cottage • Art Deco house roof restoration. If you, your local community group or organisation are keen to deliver positive outcomes to help make Auckland the world’s most liveable city, then contact us today to find out more. Applications close 28 March 2014. Application forms are available at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/funding or by request from environmentalfunding@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Find out more: phone 09 301 0101 or visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/funding


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localmatters.co.nz

March 5, 2014

localfolk Ailsa Claire

Mahurangi Matters

9

Auckland District Health Board CEO

Warkworth resident Ailsa Claire used to help run the National Health Service in the UK. She now runs an organisation with a budget of a mere $2 billion. She talks to Karyn Scherer about what brought her home.

I

was born in Dunedin and lived there till I was about 13, when we moved to Rangiora. Dad worked in a shop and my mother was a dressmaker. I was brought up in the generation where tertiary education for girls was thought to be a waste of time. I’m dyslexic and up until nearly high school, they basically thought I was not very clever. I had a teacher who worked out my problem, and at high school I worked like stink. I then selffinanced my way through university, by working full-time as well. I’m not quite sure where it came from but I made a decision to be a social worker when I was at school. I got a job with Child Services during the holidays — it’s ridiculous when you think about it now, how old I was — and I continued working when I was at uni. It was easier then because you could do lectures in the evenings and things like that. I was a social worker at Templeton Hospital, which housed children with learning difficulties, and my job was to talk to the parents of newly diagnosed children about placing their child in hospital. A lot of families didn’t want that, but there weren’t many alternatives. It was pretty horrible. I was also involved in the women’s movement and I got pretty stressed, so I decided to go to the UK, because that’s where my grandparents were from, for time out. I went to do a master’s degree, but I ran out of money, got a job, and ended up staying. I was working for Social Services, and there were large numbers of institutions like Templeton and they were starting to close them. I was asked to come into the health service to close three large hospitals for people with learning disabilities. That was one of the best things I ever did, because people were living in quite appalling circumstances and we got the majority into residential homes in the community and into different lives. I just had a real passion for supporting people who were powerless gain some control over their lives. It’s something I still feel very, very strongly about. In health systems we disempower people, so I have a real passion for how we support individuals to

get the outcomes they want, not the outcomes we think should be available. I don’t really know where it comes from, other than I did grow up frustrated by not being able to do what I wanted to do. fter I had my three children, I worked in Barnsley in South Yorkshire, which is an area of high deprivation. I was asked to go there for six months and ended up staying 12 years. Three or four years ago I got an OBE for services to healthcare in Barnsley, and I got to shake hands with the Queen. I ended up on national committees and the last job I had in the UK was with the NHS Commissioning Board, which is the organisation that ran the NHS. I was

A

for work “atI leave 4.45am. I go to

the gym and I’m at work at 7am.

acting national director. But I felt it was just too far removed from people, and I was dealing a lot with politicians and stuff like that. My son James decided to do a gap year in NZ and we decided if the right job came up we’d move back — and the right job did come up. My image of the NHS is grey. It’s full of people who really want to do the right thing but it was a real grind for many years. We had 10 years of real financial austerity, but even before the big crunch they were taking money out, and every time there was a change of government there was a reorganisation. But the UK was good to me. I arrived with hardly a penny to my name and ended up a national director. We moved here in September 2012. I didn’t know anybody in Auckland and we wanted to live somewhere with the feeling of a community. We found Warkworth on the second day. It just had a really nice feel about it. My daughter Kate is still at school so we went into Mahurangi College

and really liked it. We then looked at 32 houses in a week. The house we had in the UK was built in 1640, so it wasn’t easy finding a replacement, but Warkworth is definitely the place I want to be and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I leave for work at 4.45am. I go to the gym and I›m at work at 7am. I work a lot during the week but I’ve always been very protective of my weekends, which is family time. uckland DHB has an international reputation. When I was talking to people in the UK, they knew about Auckland Hospital whereas they couldn’t have named an Australian hospital. It clearly has some stonkingly good specialist services, particularly children’s services and things like that. But the sorts of services I would have expected in the community just don’t exist and that’s why I was recruited. There’s not a lot that supports an individual to control their own healthcare, and there’s also not a lot of accountability to the public. NZ has very, very high placements for older people in residential care, and very little alternative care. People could have a different life. We need homecare services, and rapid response services so if you start to fail in the community you get assessed in your own home, and rehab in your own

A

home, or rehab in a residential unit near your own home. We tend to provide rehab in hospital and you lose all that community contact. There’s a lot of evidence that when you’re elderly, the longer you stay in hospital the more likely you are to end up in residential care. Auckland is perceived to be a wealthy place, but in the past 10 years there’s been no significant difference in the gap in life expectancy between Europeans, and Maori and Pacific Islanders. Everyone is living longer, but the gap has remained the same. Right now something like 17% of Auckland’s population do not speak English at all. I can’t see how we’re changing our services to accommodate that. But I feel quite optimistic because Auckland DHB is absolutely stuffed full of people with incredible skill and ability. We’re doing a lot of things together with Waitemata DHB but there are no plans to merge. I think if organisations get too big they get very disconnected from their communities. The provider organsations got very big in the UK, because politicians believed in economies of scale and things like that, but I think the bigger you get the further away you get from the people you serve.


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Mahurangi Matters

March 5, 2014

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Neighbourhood Watch reduces crime in Ahuroa Crime has taken a dive in Ahuroa following the establishment of a Neighbourhood Watch programme, and a community website has helped bring locals together. A second Neighbourhood Watch meeting was held last month after the programme was established in December following a series of burglaries and suspicious behaviour in the area. Over 50 people attended the meetings, run in conjunction with the police. Membership of the community website ahuroa.co.nz has since climbed to over 200. Cellphones have also been used to record videos of illegal street racing, and to photograph suspicious people in the area. Ahuroa resident Mike Jensen says locals had become concerned with the level of crime in the area. “In the past year the fire station has been broken into on three separate occasions and there were a few burglaries in December.” Vehicles, alcohol and televisions were stolen and a there were reports of people visiting properties claiming to

be looking for work, wanting to use the phone, or asking for a glass of water, Mike says. Constable Stephen Hunt says there has been a lot of crime in the area, but progress is being made. Lying between Warkworth, Wellsford and Helensville, the area had fallen between the cracks for the police. But an increase in patrols and the establishment of Neighbourhood Watch appears to have made a difference, he says. Police have conducted search warrants in the area in relation to the burglaries and fires, and stolen property has been recovered. Arrests have been made, Constable Hunt says. However, on the night of Waitangi Day two bikes were stolen from a carport, highlighting the need for an ongoing focus on crime in the area, he says. He has advised the group to make sure motorbikes are locked up overnight, and to write down or photograph numberplates of suspicious vehicles. Crime tends to spike on stormy nights, so he has urged the group to be extra-vigilant when the weather is bad. Another meeting is planned for later in the year.

Seven organisations will receive grants totalling $111,500 from the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account to further their projects. The Mangawhai Endowment Lands Accounts Committee, comprising of Kaipara District Council Commissioners John Robertson and Colin Dale, plus Mangawhai residents Joanna Roberts and Alan Russek, considered 11 applications seeking a total of $392,592. The successful applicants are: yy $5500 to the New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust for signage, tables, displays and stationery to be used when visiting schools and setting up stalls. yy $30,000 to the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society for ongoing restoration of the distal spit, plus maintenance dredging of the main

channel, planting native species and mangrove removal. yy $4500 to the Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust towards resource consent, design and costings for a Harbour edge boardwalk. yy $18,000 to the Mangawhai Community Park Steering Committee for a topographical survey so areas can be assigned for future buildings and natural areas preserved. yy $7500 to Mangawhai Library Hall Inc for two heatpumps to replace their old gas heaters. yy $40,000 to the Mangawhai Historical Society to help towards the completion of the foyer at the new museum building. yy $6000 to the Mangawhai Domain Society for repairs and improvements to the Domain’s playgrounds.

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An anonymous Leigh resident has donated eight laptops to Leigh School worth around $4000. The laptops have helped the school adopt the NZmade software Hapara, which helps parents and teachers to see the progress of students’ work online. Principal Julie Turner says it is an easy way for parents to be kept in the loop with how their child is performing at school.


localmatters.co.nz

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

11

Bill proposed to stop Local Board ‘double dipping’

The Puhoi Volunteer Rural Fire Force are happy to have a new ute and fire fogger after having their busiest season yet.

Fire brigade has busiest season ever

The Puhoi Volunteer Rural Fire Force has just received the first “fire fogger” in New Zealand, which it has installed in its new 4WD. And it couldn’t have come too soon, as the brigade has had its busiest season yet while volunteer numbers are at an all-time low. Fire chief Russell Green says the new ute and fire fogger, which is a mobile water blaster, greatly increases the brigade’s capacity as the old ute had no firefighting capabilities. The fogger is particularly adept at putting out scrub fires and car fires, and with thousands of vehicles travelling within the brigade’s zone every day, it’s a great tool to have, he says.

The new equipment, which was funded by Auckland Council, was sorely needed as the Puhoi brigade was the busiest rural brigade in the Auckland region in January, Russell says. “We’ve had 13 calls in January, which is the most we’ve ever had. But they’ve all been minor fires which has been lucky and we’ve had hardly any motor vehicle accidents which is good.” However, the brigade is desperate for an injection of new volunteers as numbers have fallen to an all-time low of just 10. Two of the Puhoi brigade have volunteered to fight bush fires in

Victoria, Australia, but Russell says the brigade hasn’t missed a callout yet. Meanwhile, Puhoi’s population is growing. “It’s really satisfying helping other people out. It’s part of living in a community. That’s what makes a community — people getting involved,” says Russell. Plans for a new fire station at Puhoi are being finalised and it is hoped building will begin by the end of the year. The proposed station will cost around $750,000, and will replace the temporary structure the brigade currently uses which is made out of two shipping containers.

Parliament will be considering legislation that would prohibit Local Board members from sitting on more than one board. If passed into law, North Shore MP Maggie Barry’s Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 3) would close a loophole that Ms Barry says is being exploited by some Local Board members. She says currently the law allows Local Board power in Auckland to be concentrated in the hands of a few people, many of whom don’t even live in the area they represent. Her main concern is potential conflicts of interest that could arise. “When a person serves on more than one board, there is also real potential for conflicts of interest. My Bill will help prevent that. It is about fairness, and it reflects how important local boards are in the democratic process, representing the day-to-day needs of the community they live in.” She says while the Bill would not affect current Local Board members, it is aimed at stopping “double-dipping” in the future. Two members of the Rodney Local Board, Warren Flaunty and Greg Sayers, also sit on other local boards.

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Mahurangi Matters

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March 5, 2014

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Lions present cheque to St John St John Warkworth plans to arrange more training for its young cadets, and supply them with uniforms, with money raised by the Kowhai Coast Lions last year. For the second year in a row, the Lions held a “Treemendous” display of Christmas trees and decorations in the Old Masonic Hall in Warkworth for four days in December. The event raised around $3000. St John Warkworth chairman Alan

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Boniface says the organisation is very grateful for the money, and is keen to encourage more young people to join its cadet programme, which is aimed at 7- to 18-year-olds. They meet on Monday nights at the St John building in Brown Road. The organisation will also be holding a CPR course on March 11, from 7-9pm. Bookings are essential and the cost is $20 for two hours, including supper. Info: Alan 425 6696.

McKinney Hall turns 100 McKinney Hall in Kaipara Flats is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Saturday

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Community Heritage Society Inc, fundraised and purchased the property at a discounted price of $25,000. The group leases the property to the playgroup and it has been going strong ever since.The Kaipara Flats Community Heritage Society will be cutting a cake to celebrate the birthday on March 15 at the hall, and it will be open to the public from 9am until 1pm.

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localmatters.co.nz

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

13

Clock tower nearly finished

Pic Picot and his assistant Amy parked outside Chocolate Brown in Warkworth.

Nutty idea comes to town Customers at Warkworth café Chocolate Brown went a little bit nutty last month. They queued for free samples of New Zealand’s favourite peanut butter, served from a shiny silver caravan that looks like a giant toaster. The stunt was part of a promotional tour of Northland being undertaken by Nelson man Pic Picot, whose rags to riches story about how he founded an international peanut butter empire is fast becoming a genuine Kiwi legend. The former sailor starting selling his home-made peanut butter at the Nelson market, and now employs 16 people in a business that is still expanding.

Over the years he has gradually lost his sight due to a condition known as macular degeneration, and he now travels everywhere with a guide dog. While in Warkworth, Pic caught up with an old sailing buddy, and recounted for the millionth time how he had managed to establish such a popular brand. His only serious rival has been 100% Nutz, which at one stage was based near Wellsford, but has since sold to a company based in Hamilton. “People like a story, and it’s really nice to buy something that you feel connected to, he says. “It’s wonderful. I now have a PA. It’s like being a rock star.”

After three weeks of dusty, dirty, noisy work – sometimes carried out in the dead of night – the Warkworth clock tower has been stripped back to its original concrete structure and a start has been made on installing a new mosaic artwork. Kaipara Flats artist Joy Bell and contractor Clyde Connell spent three days grinding the white paint from the surface, only to discover that the plaster underneath was hollow in some places. “Although we didn’t have a budget for the work, we really didn’t have much choice but to remove all the plaster or risk chunks coming off at some later date,” she says. “A week later, the tower was returned to its svelte elegance and once we’ve finished, the artwork will probably last for 100 years or more.” Joy is now concentrating on placing thousands of tiles on the tower, while Clyde is restoring the clock face. She says there is an air of excitement and anticipation, with an expected completion date of March 20. “While all this work has been going on, the neighbours have been amazing. The cafes have been supplying food and coffee, and everyone has been very understanding. “Local firms Mitre 10 and Guthrie Bowron have both helped out with

The massive job of preparing the tower has been completed.

equipment and materials, and we have had lots of offers of help.” Joy says it’s her intention to “maintain the drama” of the unveiling by keeping the work under wraps until it’s complete. The project is being funded with a $26,760 grant from the now-defunct Auckland Regional Services Trust (ARST) Fund. The clock tower, beside the Auckland Council offices and iSite, was designed by architect Neville Price and built by Warkworth Jaycees 45 years ago.

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14

Mahurangi Matters

March 5, 2014

localmatters.co.nz

Sweetappreciation with Chocolate Brown Send your nominations to editor@localmatters.co.nz

This issue’s recipients of a gift basket of chocolates from Chocolate Brown are Martin and Sandy Hooper of Wellsford. They were nominated by Beryl Taylor, who wrote:

I would like to nominate Martin and Sandy Hooper, who I think deserve a big thank you for all that they do for me and others in Wellsford. They both work but nothing is too big or too small for them to offer their time, whether it’s during the day or in the middle of the night. 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.

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Monday 10th March, 7 Tamariki Ave, Orewa Friday 28th March, Warkworth Council Offices, Baxter St, Warkworth www.national.org.nz

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Warkworth: 09 425 8603 Email: mp.rodney@parliament.govt.nz Website: www.markmitchell.co.nz


Feature

March 5, 2014

rodney realestate

Mahurangi Matters

15

Land owners keen to see farm turned into housing The owners of a large farm up for sale on the edge of Warkworth are enthusiastic about the possibility of it being snapped up by property developers. Elizabeth and Darran Price have put most of their 48ha farm just south of Warkworth on the market, and say it is “about time” the area was covered in houses. The land, at 96 Thompson Rd, on the east of SH1, has spectacular coastal views. Under Auckland Council’s proposed Unitary Plan, 40ha of the land is zoned future urban, meaning it has been earmarked for residential development as part of the Council’s plan to “supersize” Warkworth over the next three decades. Darran says the couple are “perfectly happy” to see that happen. “Warkworth’s growth has been totally stunted for 20 or 30 or 40 years and it needs something done to open it up a bit to make it a proper town,” he says. He says the land is well suited for residential development as it faces the north and north-east, and is sheltered and warm. “There’s been a lot of interest, but who knows what will come out of it all.” The couple bought the property 20

Interest has been strong in a 48ha block of land that is up for sale south of Warkworth.

years ago, hoping for a slower pace of life after years of farming and owning businesses. Now aged in their 70s, they believe the easiest way to pass it on to their four children is to keep 2ha surrounding their house, where they plan to stay, and sell the rest. “It’s one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and it’s been absolutely marvelous,” says Darran. “But we’re a little bit too old to deal with all the stuff that’s coming. So we’re moving sideways to let whatever’s going to happen here.” At least one local resident fears the land could be developed almost

overnight, under temporary rules the Government has put in place to try and alleviate Auckland’s housing shortage. For the next two years, developers will be allowed to fast-track their plans if their proposals fit the criteria for a Special Housing Area (SHA). Developments at Kumeu and Silverdale have already been fast-tracked under the scheme. However, Cr Penny Webster says the Council has yet to receive any proposals for Warkworth. Real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle,

which is marketing the property, says it doubts any development will happen that fast. “People can always see there’s money to be made, so yes, there’s been good enquiry,” says agent John Binning. “But to be realistic, these things always take longer than you think.” Although there’s water available to the top of the property, it does not yet have sewerage. It also needs to be rezoned, and is more likely to gain in value once the new motorway is confirmed. It’s more likely that someone will buy the land, hoping to sell it again in a few years’ time for a healthy profit, Mr Binning says. “You’d have to give it a 90 per cent chance of that happening,” he says. Meanwhile, there has also been strong interest from investors in the Wellsford Caltex building, says Mr Binning. The building, which he is also marketing, is currently owned by two passive investors, one of whom is in poor health and wants to cash up. It is rare for commercial properties in North Rodney to come up for sale, as investors tend to hold on to them, he says.

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Mahurangi Matters

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The Plunket Rooms renovation has been completed and the new family room will be available during normal Plunket nurses’ hours.

Warkworth Plunket re-opens Families in Warkworth will have new bathroom facilities and a purposebuilt lounge at their disposal when Warkworth Plunket reopens in Mill Lane this month. Auckland Council closed the building 10 months ago after concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the building. Immediate past president Angela Brangwynne says the dampness and drainage issues have been addressed, renovations have been completed and the building is set to go. “Operating from temporary premises in Lilburn Street has been a challenge for the nurses, but I’m really pleased with the outcome of the renovations,” she says. “It’s very satisfying to know that Warkworth families have a building that will serve them well for

the next 15 to 20 years.” Two Plunket nurses and the community Karitane nurse will be based at the rooms, which are expected to re-open around March 10. The parent room will offer toilet facilities, as well as a place for families to rest and feed children. Angela says the work was funded by numerous fundraising projects and donations over the past five years, including the annual baby photo competitions and appeals. The renovations included recarpeting and repainting the premises, as well as new electrical and plumbing work. The Mill Lane building is on land donated by Mr AJS Warin and was originally built by the community for £250.

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March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

17

> FEATURE

Post-quake home insurance changes prompt warning A major change to the way houses are insured in New Zealand has prompted a surge in business for local surveyors and valuers. But local firms believe many homeowners do not yet fully understand the new system, and could be in trouble if they ever need to make a claim. House insurance premiums used to be based on the size of a house, and insurance companies would rebuild no matter what the cost. However, following the Christchurch earthquake, changes now being rolled out mean customers agree on the maximum price an insurance company will pay in the event of a rebuild. Warkworth-based Hollis and Scholefield director Steve Jack says business has increased four-fold as a result of the changes. “Our valuers are probably doing three or four insurance valuations each per week, whereas we used to do about one a month. But we are not getting the standard stuff, it’s more the old villa, quality architectural homes, or dwellings on difficult sites,” Steve says. Online calculators are available to calculate the cost of rebuilding, but many of those who are not internet savvy, or have a highly valuable or

Warkworth valuer Scott Morison says unqualified valuers have been setting up shop trying to make a quick dollar.

unusual house, are forking out for quantity surveyors, Steve says. Sheldon’s registered valuer Scott Morison says online calculators are okay for valuing standard brick and tile houses built on flat land, but for anything else the valuations are often inaccurate. “Almost without exception the calculators are to low in their estimations,” Scott says. “We are finding that people who are not confident with the calculations, or their house is not of standard construction or is on a steeper site, they are using us.” It is important to get the valuation

correct, as if the estimate is too low and the house is destroyed, they will have to opt for something smaller, or lower in quality. However, many are still unaware of the consequences, Scott says. “It might just take someone getting caught out, where their house has been destroyed and the amount they have insured their home for hasn’t been enough to rebuild their home.” Insurance brokers are also concerned that home owners are not taking the changes seriously. A local insurance broker says around 80 per cent of clients are staying on the default rate of $2000 per square metre, and there

If you’re self employed and need time off work through injury, you may not necessarily receive ACC payments - even though you’re paying levies.

Richard Gerard | Adviser 09 425 7400 | 027 291 1621 richard_gerard@amp.co.nz Level 1 17-19 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth

ACC CoverPlus Extra, on the other hand, allows you to agree upfront on a level of cover that you choose - ensuring you won’t pay unnecessary levies, and you can be certain of your ACC benefit when you need it.

Contact Richard Gerard for advice on ACC and other insurance matters

A disclosure statement is available from Richard Gerard on request and free of charge.

TAX RETURNS

    

is concern that older people might not be aware of the changes. Insurance Council communications manager Samson Samasoni says he is confident the public is aware of the change, and insists help is available for the elderly. “We believe these estimates are exaggerated as there has been a lot of publicity and information provided by insurers, banks and brokers to assist people to understand the need to carefully calculate what they might require to rebuild their homes,” Samson says. The council has also worked with various branches of Age Concern and Grey Power to get the message out, he says. There have been reports of unqualified valuers and surveyors starting companies to cash in on the changes. Property Institute chief executive David Clark says home owners need to make sure they hire a qualified quantity surveyor or a registered valuer. As well as getting an accurate appraisal, registered surveyors have indemnity insurance, which means if they value your house incorrectly and you’re left out of pocket, you can get the money back through the courts, David says.

Cash flow – Planning / Improvement Forecasting / Budgeting – To make money Profit Improvement – Managing what drives your business Taxation – Payment plans, planning, IRD negotiation Bookkeeping systems – Are you wasting time unnecessarily Lynn & Stephen Hailes

Reasonably priced Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

Cnr Baxter & Neville Streets, Warkworth Phone 09 422 2423 | Fax 09 422 2426 Email: hailesca@xtra.co.nz


18

Mahurangi Matters

March 5, 2014

financeFeature feature


Featurefeature finance

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

19

Early advice could save you big bucks Accounting changes A surge in property development in Mahurangi has led to warnings about the importance of getting professional advice early in the process. Warkworth accountant Darren Knight says he has noticed a huge increase in building and subdivision in the Warkworth area, as developers rush to take advantage of low interest rates and pent-up demand. But he is also concerned that inexperienced developers, such as farmers, are not doing their homework first. “A lot of stuff that was stalled because of the GFC [global financial crisis] is going ahead now,” he says. “But it’s a double-edged sword because people like farmers have started chopping up land without getting accounting advice with regard to GST.” The way the Income Tax Act is structured means that developers can save a huge amount of money if they arrange their affairs correctly, says Darren. “But a lot of them don’t. They just go gung-ho into it, and by then it’s already too late — they’ve done the damage.” He recently discovered one client had gone ahead and got resource consent for a subdivision without informing him. “They didn’t realise some of the rules regarding minor versus major expenditure and all this type of thing, and it’s had a huge tax effect — we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. The moral — if you’re looking at it from an accounting point of view — is ‘talk to your accountant first’.” Another issue Darren has noticed with the recent increase in activity is businesses expanding too fast. “A lot of people who were previously waged people or small businesses have gotten big quite quickly, so their accounting requirements have become a lot greater. They need to get their structures right and make sure they don’t buy too much equipment, for example, that they’re paying huge HP payments on.” A business downturn can hit quite rapidly, he warns.

shouldn’t be ignored

“It could go bang. I’ve seen it happen before — you get these guys who are left with all this equipment that they financed, and they go under.” It is also vital to make sure you’re doing everything by the book, such as having proper employment contracts, he says. “You wouldn’t believe how many people think people should be taxed in a certain way because that’s what their mate tells them down at the pub.” Before you jump in and do the wrong thing, it’s sensible to talk to your lawyer, engineer and accountant, and just let them know what you’re thinking, he says. “It’s good to sit down and have a plan of what you’re wanting to achieve and then let the professionals help you out.”

Accountants are urging businesses in the Mahurangi region to get up to speed with a new law that comes into effect on April 1. The new law means that small and medium-sized businesses will no longer have to produce detailed financial accounts — a move that is likely to save them time and money. However, many businesses appear to be unaware of the changes. The new accounting requirements will affect 95% of NZ businesses, yet research shows that over half of small- to medium-sized businesses do not know about the changes. And an overwhelming majority (83%) do not know what they will mean for their business. The new law, passed by Parliament in November last year, means most small and medium-sized businesses will still have to produce accounts for the IRD and the bank. However, they won’t have to produce the same type of detailed accounts as larger companies. “It’s quite natural that many businesses will be unaware of the changes,” says Graeme Mitchell, incoming chairman of the External Reporting Board (XRB), which has overall responsibility for setting accounting standards. “They typically only focus on reporting when they need to, but it is time for them to get professional advice to understand how the changes will impact them.” Mr Mitchell says the new law and accounting standards give businesses a greater choice to do what’s best for them, and for many this will help reduce time and compliance costs. “While it is difficult to quantify the extent of the savings, in a competitive business environment, we think this will be welcome news to any company director looking to streamline processes and make efficiencies where they can,” he says. Info: xrb.govt.nz

EMPLOYERS ... with business growth opportunities now knocking at your door are you considering adding employees? The impact of just one new employee joining a small to medium business can be significant. With no room for error, you need to ensure you make the right hiring decision and choose someone who can hit the ground running. • Prioritize the skills and experience - don’t deviate once you get to the interview stage. • Ensure the employee will fit the team - watch for the person who puts their needs ahead of yours. • Take it slowly. Follow a trusted proven hiring plan. • Check references meticulously. Don’t hire until you have all the information.

Ground Floor 51 Morrison Drive, Warkworth Phone 09 425 9833 Email info@darrenknight.co.nz www.darrenknight.co.nz

Do you need employment services or human resource advice? • • • •

Hiring & termination processes? Health & Safety programs and audits? Growing or downsizing your business? Training and development?

• • • •

Restructures and Redundancies? Employment conflict or issues? HR Policies and Documentation? Managing Change?

Contact Joy Paxton on 422-2290 or 0274 815 155 joy@peoplepluspeople.co.nz • www.peoplepluspeople.co.nz


20

Mahurangi Matters

LET U

S DO Y O

financeFeature feature

March 5, 2014

UR W

ON R I & G A SHIN

ING

• Linen • Picnic rugs • Sleeping bags • Beach towels

Kowhai Laundry

Dry Cleaning Agents Hours - Mon-Fri 8am-5pm • Sat 9am-1pm 13 Neville St, Warkworth Phone 09 425 9775

Is that legal??

Not sure how to

deal with a dispute? Citizens Advice Bureau Wellsford Ask Us A hive of information Dispute Tribunals Seminar Open for General Public on

Consumers Rights?

Tuesday, 25th March 2014 at 10.00am - 12.30pm Interested? Please contact us at:

I need someone to talk to

Email: Cab.wells@xtra.co.nz www.cab.org.nz Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-3pm

Wellsford Community Centre 1 Matheson Rd, Wellsford | Ph 09 423 7333 | 0800 FOR CAB

Warkworth BPW - WOW! Warkworth Business and Professional Women’s Club

invites all Women Of Warkworth

to join our dinner meetings and enjoy great company and fascinating speakers. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:00pm, from April onwards at the

Salty Dog Inn, Snells Beach $25 per head Call or Text Sally 021 425 407 or email sally.smith@clear.net.nz to book

MoneyMatters Grant Clifton, Countrywise Financial www.countrywise.co.nz

Sorting out your bills

At the start of a new year it always seems like the expenses are never-ending. Those with school-age children will know the bills come in thick and fast: stationery, uniforms and school fees, and then there is always the credit card bill timed to arrive right at the end of January to remind you of the indulgences of Christmas. I met with some clients last week who really needed some good old-fashioned advice. They had recently gone back to work after a good long summer break. The bills had all arrived at once and they were feeling quite overwhelmed. Sitting down and working through a simple budget with a good financial advisor can uncover lots of areas where savings can be made and costs reduced. With the husband being self-employed and relying on irregular income, it always pays to have a Plan “B” to get you through the lean times. By looking at what current loans and payments they had, we were able to determine where some savings could be made. They were paying a number of high-interest loans and credit cards which are designed to be paid off over relatively short terms. They had been paying a credit card with an $8000 balance for nearly three years and not really making any headway into clearing it. They had last year taken out a hire purchase for a new fridge and washing machine and the interest-free terms were nearly expiring and about to be charged at 22.95%. The payments of these two loans alone were nearly $500 per month. After living expenses and paying the mortgage and other loans, they had no money left each month and so when the extra expenses like school uniforms and stationery arrived, they weren’t sure how to cope. By looking at their overall situation and arranging a consolidation loan, repaying the hire purchase, and reducing the credit card to a manageable level of $1,000 we were able to reduce their monthly outgoings considerably which left them with a cash surplus of over $600 per month. We did this by increasing and re-negotiating their home loan, getting a really good fixed rate and repaying some short term debt, thereby improving their monthly cashflow. So if you are feeling a little overwhelmed financially seek out some good advice. It really does pay to regularly review your finances — there are savings to be made.

Withers & Co Ltd CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Practising in Warkworth since 1969

Specialists in Accounting & Taxation for all Businesses

That’s what we do!

Our long established firm has three partners and nine staff, all of whom are experienced and ready to take on new clients immediately. Come in for a free interview and see how we can take the workload and worry off you while minimizing your tax. Pictured (L-R): Grant Dixon, Simon Withers & Grant Blackbourn

23 Neville Street, PO Box 113, Warkworth Phone: (09) 425 8599 Fax: (09) 425 7565 admin@withersco.co.nz www.withersco.co.nz

~ Serving the community for over 40 years ~

SeniorNet Warkworth

the place where you acquire computer skills We offer courses for PCs, Apple Mac, IPads and Tablets from absolute beginners to advanced users.

Come to our Open Day

Tuesday 11th March 2014 at 2.30pm 3 Matakana Road, Warkworth and learn more about us

If you cannot attend but wish to get further information contact our course co-ordinator on 422 3728 www.seniornetwarkworth.org.nz


Your handy pull-out guide

Get the right person for the job with our handy service directory, which ensures you can find a local professional or tradesperson, quickly and easily.

Advertise Your Business Here ONLY $48 PER INSERTION (+GST)* *for a three insertion contract Phone 425 9068 for more information or email your advertisement to localmatters@xtra.co.nz

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

Glaziers & Joiners....................................... 1 Automotive Services................................ 1 Auto Wreckers............................................. 1 Panel and Paint........................................... 1 Trellis, Fencing & Supplies...................... 2 Carpenters, Builders & Roofers............. 2 Scaffolding................................................... 2 Engineering................................................. 2 Construction & Earthworks.................... 2 Tiling, Brick & Block Layers..................... 2 Flooring......................................................... 2 Electrical....................................................... 3

Concrete Specialists................................. 3 Design, Survey & Property Valuers......... 3 Arborists....................................................... 3 Lawn mowing & Landscaping ............... 3 Health Professionals................................. 3 Property & Handyman Services......3-4 Furniture....................................................... 4 Painters/Decorators & Plasterers......... 4 Window Cleaners...................................... 4 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners............... 4 Water Pump Specialists............................... 4 Marine/Small Engines.............................. 4 Plumbing & Suppliers.............................. 5

1

TV Aerial & Satellite Servicing............... 5 Printers/Design/Website......................... 5 Picture Framing.......................................... 5 Water Supplies .......................................... 5 Water Tank Cleaning & Purification......... 5 Storage.......................................................... 5 Mobility Scooters....................................... 5 Locksmiths & Security.............................. 5 Furniture Removal..................................... 5 Specialty Foods.......................................... 6 Cafes / Restaurants................................... 6 Beauty Therapy & Nail Creations.......... 6 Classifieds & Church Notices....... 6-7

Glaziers & Joiners | Auto Wreckers | Panel & Paint | Automotive Services

Wellsford

GLASS & ALUMINIUM

For all your glass, glazing, and aluminium needs

53 Station Road, Wellsford • Phone (09) 423 7358 Email: wellsfordglass@xtra.co.nz

WG

Domestic and

Glazing arkworth Commercial Glass Showers Splash Backs lass & Mirrors • Cat Doors lazing WindscreenandReplacement Chip Repair

20 Glenmore Drive, Warkworth 09 425 8678 • 021 952 077 wwglassandglazing@xtra.co.nz

027 490 4564

425 7340 24hr CALLOUT email: brettatapexglass@yahoo.co.nz

Frameless Shower Installations Bevelled Mirrors - ALL GLASS REPAIRS PROMPT QUALITY WORK NOW CENTRALLY LOCATED IN WARKWORTH

COMPOSITE JOINERY Ltd Composite Joinery Ltd 7 Glenmore Drive Warkworth 0941

Phone: 09 425 7510 Fax: 09 422 2011

We specialise in: • Vantage Aluminium Joinery • APL | Architectural Series • Metro Series • Internal and External Timber Joinery

0800 70 40 10

info@northglass.co.nz • www.northglass.co.nz

Say No to Leaky Homes

THE ULTIMATE ALUMINIUM

WINDOW AND DOOR FLASHING SYSTEM

• Robust, Good Looking and Durable • Specify Best Practice, Specify Flashman • The only Flashing System Guaranteed

Northland 0800 55 66 00

sales@compositejoinery.co.nz www.compositejoinery.co.nz

Ian

WINDSCREEN REPAIR OR REPLACE GLAzING SERVICES MIRRORS • SPLASH BACKS • SHOWERS

www.flashman.co.nz

Wayne

EDMONDS & MASON PANEL & PAINT Private & All Insurance Work

Ph 425 8723 • Fax 425 9526 Wayne 021 765 706 or Ian 021 977 729 47 Woodcocks Road, Warkworth

Email: autoglassww@xtra.co.nz

Snells Beach

MOTORS – 2008 LIMITED –

 425 5355

1 Hamatana Road - Snells Beach

WARKWORTH

AUTO WRECKERS FOR ALL NEW & USED PARTS

WE NEED CARS FOR WRECKING – $$$ PAID 2 Glenmore Drive, Warkworth Ph (09) 425 7835 or (09) 425 7730


2

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

Trellis, Fencing & Supplies | Builders, Roofers & Suppliers, Carpenters | Scaffolding | Construction & Earthworks | Brick, Block Layers & Tiling | Flooring | Engineering

Snells Beach Panel and Paint

MATAKANA

Trellis & Fencing Fences - Gates - Screens - Pergola

all insurance work, crash repair, rust repair • courtesy cars available

Phone Bob Moir 422 9550 or 0274 820 336 Email: hurstmere@ihug.co.nz

ph 09 425 6755

Trellis - Panels - Fencing Installations - all shapes and sizes Specialities: Framed Archways – Superior Trellis Pedestrian Gate Frames (mortised) Trellis spray painting / oiling Gazebo's ~ dove cotes ~ pergolas

• Complete homes • Quality construction of small projects

115

872 Kaipara Flats Road Ph: 425 7627 • Fax 422 4976

ROOFING NZ New • ReRoofs • Cladding Specialists

Mob: 021 220 5000

470 KAiPArA FlATS rOAd, WArKWOrTH126

Snells Beach • Warkworth • Orewa

• Custom made • Quality material • Quality workmanship

Also see Lance for your supply of Native and Landscaping plants

Fax 09 422 5800

RODNEY TRELLIS

Ph: 09 422 2131

Trellis Guy Ph 09 422 5737 • 027 272 7561

snellspanelandpaint@vodafone.co.nz

NATHAN HOUSTON

The

Covering Rodney in Long-Run Iron Local Quality Guaranteed

Matt Tickle Licensed LBP Mobile: 021356965 Home: 09 425 6311 Email: iron.man@xtra.co.nz

AWARD WINNING BUILDER

RICHARD WILCOCK

Auckland region house of the year 2008 For the construction of:

• Architecturally designed homes • New houses • Decks • Alterations • Fences

Phone: 027 4771 583 email: rwb@xtra.co.nz www.rwbuilder.co.nz 152M

CARPENTER-JOINER • Terraces • Alterations • New Housing

• Renovations • Maintenance • Small jobs a specialty

NEIL KOSE

Phone 09 425 5491 • Mobile 027 275 1172

Servicing Auckland - Rodney - Kaipara

Metroscaff Limited

For your safety we have: • Experienced Qualified Scaffolders • Full range of Equipment • Including Alloy Mobile & Builder’s Props

PHONE 0800 622 7929

OMAHA - SNELLS BEACH - WARKWORTH - MANGAWHAI Member of Scaffolding and Rigging New Zealand

MICK BERGER CONTRACTORS Phone: 09 422 0688 • Mobile: 0274 930 806

43 years experience

- Residential & Light Commercial - Quick Stage - OSH Standards - Tube & Clip - Qualified Scaffolders - Reliable Service P 09 425 0300 M 027 4930468 F 09 423 0017

FLOOR SANDING - FLOOR PREPARATION FLOOR SANDING - FLOOR PREPARATION Polyurethaning:- Wooden Floors, Particle Board & Cork Cork Tiles:- Natural & Coloured Enviro Friendly Products available

KAE JAE CONTRACTORS (LTD) PHONE KEN (0274) 866-923 A/Hrs (09) 422-7328 • Fax (09) 422-7329

Footings Hole Boring Landscaping

3.5T Digger 5T Truck

sales@metroscaff.co.nz www.metroscaff.co.nz

Bob Waata Mobile 021 634 484

R.K. PADDISON CONTRACTING LTD

Tiling & Waterproofing

• Truck Hire • Metal Supplies • Bulk Cartage

Owner/Driver: Ray Dams ● Winching ● Bulldozing ● Driveways House Sites ● Landscaping ● Earthmoving ● Sub Divisions

CONTRACTORS

38 Coquette Street, Warkworth Ph 422 3450 or 0274 955 566 • Fax 09 422 3451

Bricks • Blocks • Paving

WARKWORTH BRICKLAYING SERVICES LTD Phone Alan Berthelsen 021 780 170 • A/hrs 425 8252


Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

3

Electrical | Design, Architects & Surveyors | Concrete | Lawn Mowing & Landscaping | Aborists | Hydroponics | Handyman Services

COASTAL CONCEPTS • Electrician • Gates & Automation t. 09 422 2175 m. 027 497 0464 e. cc2004@xtra.co.nz

www.coastalconceptsltd.co.nz

A SMART REPAIR Specialist Repair of:

F&P Smart Drive & Intuitive Washers Simpson and F&P Dryers

SAME DAY SERVICE

Covering the Rodney Region LATE MODEL & RECONDITIONED WASHERS AVAILABLE QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED

Phone Kevin 09 423 9660 or 021 168 7349 Registered Electrical Service Technician

T.T.E. DESIGNS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS

Over 25 years experience in all aspects of residential design THOMAS ERRINGTON Dip.Arch. P: 09 425 0512 M: 027 453 2495 E: ttedesigns@ruralinzone.net W: www.ttedesigns.co.nz

Denis 021 945 498 Joel 021 422 592

dens@xtra.co.nz PO Box 193, Warkworth

Foundations • Floors • Drives • Paths • Digger & Truck Hire Concrete Specialists backed by over 30 years experience Established since 1984 MATAKANA

DRIVEWAYS • FLOORS PATHS • ASHPHALT

Sub-divisions • R.O.W’s • Excavations Phone George 021 2800 233 nzconcrete@gmail.com • www.nzconcrete.co.nz BASED IN MATAKANA

Arcadia

Tree Care

Specialising in:  STUMP GRINDING  Fine Pruning  Tree Removal  Hedge Trimming Ph Kevin on 021 725 757

• Mowing – Residential & Lifestyle Blocks – We can mow anything • Gardening & Design • Hedge & Tree Maintenance FOR ALL YOUR GROUNDCARE NEEDS

0800 276 7726

The Tree

Bears Tree Trimmers

Hedge TRIMMING • tree removal insured - 300mm chipper • free quotes General Tree Work Phone mark 021 492 939 AH 09 425 0252

• Landscape Construction & Garden Design • Specialists in Lifestyle Property Development & Maintenance

• Lawns - contouring & seeding • Top soil • Retaining Walls • Driveways • Paths

Kurt Salmond

• Digger • Truck • Tractor

JB's No 1 LANDSCAPING SERVICES

• PLANTING • FENCES

• PAVING • DECKS

• RETAINING WALLS • GARDEN MAKEOVERS

SERVICING HIBISCUS COAST TO MANGAWHAI JOHN BETTRIDGE (JB) Phone: 09 425 4086 Mobile: 021 665 558 E-mail: john.bettridge@jbsno1.co.nz

EARTH &

TREE WORKS • Earth Excavation • Tree Felling & complete removal

09 431 5344 • 021 159 7147

TOTAL LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION for complete quality projects

09 422 9514 021 831 938 www.junglefix.co.nz

Digital Freeview Satellite Installation & Repairs

TV • Video • DVD Tuning Additional TV Outlets Phone David Redding 09 422 7227 or 0274 585 457

Phone Bruce 425 7766 a/h I take the hard work out of Landscaping

HOME MAINTENANCE HANDYMAN Phillip Keesing Decks Ph. (09) 422 6036 Fences Mob. 021 045 0132 General repairs pjkeesing@gmail.com Clean ups All things considered General repairs covering a wide range of jobs around the house including decks and fences

WE CAN •Sand•Metal•Shell•Pebble•Scoria •Mulch•Garden Mix•Topsoil•Compost

DELIVER! •Tirau Gold•Pine Chip•Cambian Bark

183 SANDSPIT RD, WARKWORTH • OPEN 7 DAYS! Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm Sat: 7am-4pm Sun: 9am-3pm

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR ONLY +GST* PER INSERTION

$48

Phone Cathy or Shona 425 9068 or email your advert to advertising@localmatters.co.nz *for a three insertion contract


4

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

Property & Handyman Services | Furniture & Furniture Restoration | Painters & Decorators | Window Cleaners | Carpets | Water Pumps | Marine & Small Engines

For all your property maintenance and small building projects

Do you need a reliable, honest local tradesperson?

LTD.

LOCAL TRADES

We’ll find the right tradesperson for those jobs around your home and property. We’re local like you – from Puhoi to Mangawhai.

PROPERTY SERVICES & MAINTENANCE

Phone to discuss YOUR requirements 021 423 860 - 423 8619 a/h

Contact Linda Robinson p e

09 422 9860 linda@localtrades.co.nz

m w

027 526 1146 www.localtrades.co.nz

YOU ONLY PAY FOR WORK DONE

handyman@bruno.co.nz • www.bruno.co.nz

‘Just one call and we’ll arrange it all’

FROG POOL FARM

Maungaturoto 2nd Hand

Gifts Furniture Homeware amps Leadlight L ilt Bu Custom en Kitch s

We buy and sell quality 2nd hand goods. Drop in to find your treasure! We have books, kitchenware, furniture, collectables, toys, clothes, tools and more.

DON’T WASTE YOUR WEEKEND ON A

GARAGE SALE

1576 CALL US NOW! 09 4318440 / 021 125

Dome Valley 5 min past Warkworth • 425 9030

145 Hurndall Street (turn left at Brynderwyns)

We also buy Houselots and Deceased Estates Your Painter/Decorator with over 25 years experience serving all surrounding areas

Leigh Decorators Painting • Paperhanging • Roofs • Airless Spraying • Stopping (small jobs) • Repaints • New Homes For your Free Quote and/or Consultation phone Gary HOME: 09-422-6695 • MOBILE: 021-024-44941 EMAIL: leighdecorators@clear.net.nz

Welch Painting & Decorating Mark Welch

• Painting • Paper Hanging • Spray Painting • Water Blasting

Mob: 027 240 8330 A/h : 422 2678 • Fax: 422 2676

Mobile 021 456 429 Email: brocks@xtra.co.nz

Certified Member of the Carpet Cleaning Association of NZ

Spraypainters of quality kitchens Lacquers, enamels, 2 pacs, clearcoats Resprays and Recolours

Phone / Fax Gary 425 7669 Unit 21/30 Hudson Road, Warkworth115

A BRUSH WITH ART

EXPERT PAINTING AND DECORATING

Interior/Exterior n Waterblasting n Roof Painting Airless Spraying n Plastering n Wallpapering Colour Consulting n Decorative Effects Qualified Tradesmen - Honest/Reliable Ph Mandy 09 423 0005 or 021 507 463

Window Cleaning

Sparkling windows is our business Ruth Murray • ruth.murray@clear.net.nz

021 106 5717 or 021 230 2626 (2007) Ltd

Water - Filters - Underbench - UV - Whole House • Water Coolers • Water Pumps • Sales & Service

0800 787 392

“If you don’t have a filter you are the filter” Call Steve today 027 478 7427 he’s your local

• Water treatment & Filtration • Pumps • Pool & Spas • Waterblasters 7days / 24hours Paul Harris

www.purewaterservices.co.nz

M: 021 425 887 T: 09 425 0075 E: pumps4u@live.com

H2O PUMPS

water pumps

steve@purewaterservices.co.nz

Water Treatment

31 WOODCOCKS RD WARKWORTH - 425 9100

23b Foundry Rd, Silverdale • 426 2979 www.silverdalefurniturerestorations.co.nz

Pump & Filtration Services

Pumping Systems

AUTHORISED AGENT

Pumps / Water Tanks / Filtration / Treatment Spa & Pool Shop / Pool Valet Service Water Blasters / Sprayers Hose & Fittings / Mobile & Workshop Service

Furniture polishing & respraying • Repairs • Touch ups Upholstery • Colour matching • Insurance quotes We also manufacture one-off furniture items from recycled or new timber. Guaranteed quality workmanship by ‘Old school’ tradesmen Phone Grant or Lesley

itchen Colours and Wood Finishes

CARPET CLEANING

Call FREE 0800 022 101

25 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale (next to BP) Ph: 09 426 9660 • em: clipper.furniture@xtra.co.nz www.clipperfurniture.co.nz

Bright Outlook

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL

Emergency Flood Service Technical Experience 12 years Fully qualified and certified

OUTDOOR FURNITURE Tables to order Chairs • Swingseats Benches • Umbrellas NZ made – quality built to last

• Filtration • UV Sterilizers • Softeners and Neutralizers • Iron Removal

Owen Ward

Phone 021 771 878 • 24hrs 09 425 6002 Email: h2opumps@xtra.co.nz MoBILe eFTPos AVAILABLe

New Pump Sales   Service     Installation

Phone/Fax 425-5619 Mobile 0800 733 765

K & R PUMP SERVICES ltd


Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

5

Water Pumps & Tanks | Plumbing | TV Aerial & Satellite | Graphic Design & Printers | Picture Framing | Water Suppliers | Mobility Scooters | Storage | Locksmiths & Security | Furniture Removal

ABSOLUTE CONCRETE clean. care. repair.

WATER TANKS

WATER TANK & WATER APPLICATION CLEANING AGENCY

09 4312211

Warkworth: Phone John or Annette Carr

p: 09 425 7477 | m: 027 240 7791 | f: 09 425 7483 email: mobikair@xtra.co.nz

sales@absoluteconcrete.co.nz

Mangawhai: Phil Lathrope 431 4608 | 021 642 668

www.mobi-kair.co.nz

& DRAINLAYING

Mark Sim 021 102 4561 tplumber@xtra.co.nz

TV AERIAL & SATELLITE SERVICES

office & Internet services

Freeview Sales & Installation TV & FM Aerials

• Plan Printing, Colour & B/W Photocopying • Laminating, Binding, Fax and Scanning Service • Internet and Email Service

GAVIN BROUGH Ph 09 425 5495 Mob 0274 766 115

TTT Plumbing & Drainlaying Limited

Phone 425 7257 | chris@copyworks.co.nz Argyll Angle, 58-60 Queen Street, Warkworth

TRIED – TESTED – TRUSTED

GOING DIGITAL NOW

LOCAL SECURITY COMPANY

Warkworth FURNITURE REMOVALS

0800 66 24 24 www.insitesecurity.co.nz

• Alarm & CCTV Installation and Servicing • Local Alarm Monitoring • Patrols/alarm Response • Free Design and Quotation

PO Box 487 Warkworth

DRINNAN CONTRACTORS

Household Drinking

WATER

0800 GET H20 4 3 8 4 2 6

• Specialist Furniture Truck • Packing & Storage • Caring Owner/ Operator • Carriers Liability Insurance Phone 0274 889 216 • Ah 09 422 7495 y dsa Lin ylor Ta

WARKWORTH PICTURE FRAMERS COMPLETE CUSTOM FRAMING SERVICE David and Pat Little P. 09 425 8143 E. the_littles@xtra.co.nz 15 Coquette Street,Warkworth 0910 DAVID LITTLE GCF

water

Household Water Deliveries 0800 747 928 mobile: 027 556 6111

& ESIAN SOLWA T Y AR fILTEREd

WATER

0800 638 254 OR 09 422 3700

MOBILITY SCOOTERS

Quality workmanship is the KEY aspect of our business. We are locally based and customer friendly.

Rodney - North Shore

• SALES • SERVICE • HIRE 09 422 2615

0800 022 884

SNELLS BEACH

PHONE 09 425 5597

146M

Martin Greenleaf

D.Ac., Bac.Ac., Acupuncturist Member of NZ Register of Acupuncturists

Registered ACC Referral Provider

Specialising in all painful conditions, sinus/hayfever, asthma, fertility issues Over 30 years experience

Lavender House

27 Lilburn Street, Warkworth 09 422 3729 or 09 480 2255 martingreenleaf@xtra.co.nz

Our services include but not limited to: Locks rekeyed • Lost keys made and cut on site • Locks repaired • Home security appraisals • Locks installed • Garage remotes programmed

Beauty Therapy & Nail Creations for head to toe pampering

Alison Wech

C.I.D.E.S.C.O, C.I.B.T.A.C, dip Beauty Therapy, dip Electrolysis, dip Body Therapy, dip Nail Technician

46 McKinney Road, Warkworth Mob 021 051 3661 • Ph 09 425 7776 tlcbeautytherapynails@yahoo.co.nz

• Facials • Waxing • Tinting • Gel Nails • Acrylic Nails • Manicures • Pedicures • Electrolysis • Make-up • Body Wraps • Massage • Spray Tans

0800 SHORELOCK (746 735)

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR ONLY +GST* PER INSERTION

$48

Phone Cathy or Shona 425 9068 or email your advert to advertising@localmatters.co.nz *for a three insertion contract


6

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PUBLIC NOTICES

Advertise your classifieds and church notices here for only

$2.95+GST per line or $8.85 per/cm+GST for boxed adverts. TV SERVICES & SALES

FOR SALE

AERIAL & SATELLITE DISH INSTALLATIONS

HAY - NEW SEASONS Top quality, no kakuia, $10-$12 a bale. Phone 09 4257479 or 0274970980.

Professional Installation of Satellite Dishes and Freeview UHF Aerials. Wall mount TV Installations, Multi-room Solutions. Audio and Home Theatre. TV Tuning Services. Phone 425 5431.

Candidate 2014 General Election New Zealand First Party Nominations for the selection of New Zealand First Candidates for the 2014 General Election will be open from Saturday the 1st March 2014 and will be received from New Zealand First members by New Zealand First Headquarters up to the Monday 31st March 2014. Nomination forms for specific electorates and details regarding procedures may be obtained from:

www.nzfirstparty.org.nz

ALL FREEVIEW INSTALLATIONS Dish, Aerial, Additional Outlet .. THE TV MAN IS THE ONE! FREE QUOTE Call Jim THE MAINTENANCE MAN 021 254 2048 or visit www. themaintencemanjim.co.nz FREEVIEW TV, Audio, Installation, Faults & Supply. Andrew 021 466 394 or 422 2221. TV Services Freeview, dishes, aerials, boxes. Sales, installation and repairs. Phone Gavin 027 476 6115.

FOR LEASE

SMALL UPSTAIRS OFFICE TO LET

Authorised by A.R. Martin, 13a Brown Rd, Warkworth, Auckland 0910 09 422 2370

Central Warkworth location. Phone 027 430 8440.

Public Meeting Araparera Forestry JV

2 DOUBLE BRM FLAT, Close to College, Warkworth. Very comfortable, maximum 2 people. No dogs, non smokers. $340 per week incls gas, water, lawns. Off street parking. Phone 021 1770 943

Thursday 20th March 2014 at 7pm Wellsford Community Centre After 26 years of targeted rates the Northern Rodney Ratepayers seek accountability for the disastrous investment. We respectfully and publicly invite the following key administrators: Mayor Mr Len Brown Councilor Penny Webster Mr Geoff Ward (First Line Management) Mr Anthony Hobbs (Auckland Property Ltd) MP Mr Mark Mitchell Rodney Local Board Members

Convened by The Landowners and Contractors Protection Association Inc

FOR RENT

WARMER THAN RENT ME! A CARAVAN!

MAUNGATUROTO 2ND HAND SHOP maybe interested in buying

your garage sale goods. Phone 09 431 8440 or 021 125 1576.

Market

Ideal asIdeal an extra or office.or Three as anbedroom extra bedroom ofce. Three convenient sizes:- $65pw, convenient sizes: standard 3.6m x 2.4m standard x 2.4m - $65pw, 4.8m x large 4.2m x 2.4m3.6m - $79pw & xtra-large x 2.4m - $79pw 2.4m - large $95pw.4.2mFully insulated with &lockable xtra-large x 2.4m - $95pw. ranchslider, large 4.8m window, power, security lights, with &lockable curtains,Fully carpet,insulated smoke alarm even a small ranchslider, largerental window, power, deck. Minimum 6 month period. security lights, curtains, carpet, Call to find alarm a Display Cabin in your smoke & even a small deck.area or for6 amonth free brochure. Minimum rental period.

Rawleigh Products. Ph Pat 425 8851

Unique Spectacular Beautiful Stylish Life block. Higher than the Sky Tower 140km views, superb bush, two ponds and 1ha of pasture and home orchard. A comfortable home between Warkworth and Puhoi. Prompt sale wanted. Offers over $580,000 invited this month. Ph 021 849 564 or 425 7098 WANTED SECOND HAND GOODS - Glenfield Trading wants to buy second hand goods. Servicing surrounding Warkworth area. Ph Graham on 09 443 6013.

PHOTOGRAPHIC & DIGITAL PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES

Videos, slides & old 8mm films all on to DVD. Ph TeTotara Video (09) 422 5710.

SCENIC FLIGHTS 30 mins $59; 20 mins $49; Min. 3 passengers. Trial flights $79. Gift vouchers available. GREAT BARRIER FLIGHTS. Special stopover up to 4 hours. Return $110. Min. 3 passengers. One way flights $115 each. Min 2 passengers.

Opportunities

Matakana Country Park Family Markets offering Free Stalls for Vendors and Car Boot sellers for the Saturday Markets, 9am-2pm, for all of March. Contact mcpmarkets@gmail.com or 027 351 3700 to book.

Open since 1989, this Warkworth bookshop is well known for it’s great prices, and HUGE range of pre-loved and new books. With great atmosphere and comfy chairs this bookshop is loved by all who visit. Do you love books & want a change? Phone Martin 0222 762 333

Flights

Enquiries: Julie Cotton 09 422 1970 GARAGE SALES

Iconic Bookshop for Sale

HOUSIE,

HOUSIE,

HOUSIE

Warkworth RSA downstairs meeting room, 1.30pm start March 19, April 2&16, 2014

NORTH CAPE FLIGHTS $430 each. Min 3 passengers. Rodney Aero Club 425 8735 or Rod Miller 425 5612


Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SITUATIONS VACANT

BAR STAFF WARKWORTH RSA Casual, with potential to increase hours. Bar Manager Certificate or experience preferred. Should be able to work weekends and be outgoing, friendly and efficient. Contact Sherryl 09 425 8568 or call in to 28 Neville St. Warkworth to make an appointment BAR STAFF & WAIT STAFF The Matakana Village Pub is looking for hard working hospitality staff to join our team. We have a number of full time and part time positions for the right candidates. If you have industry experience or a love for people and service, then we want to hear from you. If you think this is you then please forward your CV to jonnydykes@gmail.com or contact Jonny direct on 021 1415 196. DUTY MANAGERS WANTED The Matakana Village Pub is looking for Duty Managers with experience in managing teams of staff. The successful applicants will be reliable with a strong work ethic and wating to further their hospitality career. You will have the opportunity to learn from a motivated and experienced management team and you will be involved in the planning and execution of all aspects of the business. If this sounds like you then please forward your CV to jonnydykes@gmail.com or contact Jonny directly on 021 1415 196.

Career Planning Tutor The Women’s Centre Rodney is looking for a qualified Career Planning Tutor to run parttime courses for the centre, involving career planning, creating a CV and job search, with the aim to assist local women who are looking to up-skill and re-enter the workforce. Please phone or email for further information: info@ womenscentrerodney.org. nz Phone 425 7261. If applying by email, please include your CV.

HANDYMAN – THE MAINTENANCE MAN Your one stop fix-it-man. Phone Jim 422 3725 or 021 254 2048 or visit www.themaintenancemanjim.co.nz

retaining walls Wooden retaining walls and fencing. Owner/ operator 25+ years experience. For complete quality projects phone Bruce (09) 425 7766. LAWNS - Contouring, prepping and laying. Owner/operator 25+yrs experience. For complete quality projects phone Bruce (09) 425 7766.

Water Filters Underbench filters & whole house Ultra violet filters – Kill and remove ecoli/bacteria. FREE site visits. Ph Steve 09 945 2282 or visit www.purewaterservices.co.nz

Advertise your classifieds and church notices here for only

$2.95+GST per line or $8.85 per/cm+GST for boxed adverts. TUITION

LINE DANCING

Starts February 2014. Learners and all levels welcome. Classes in Warkworth (evenings) and Wellsford (day). Phone Jan 422 5191.

Nanny & More! Quality full-time local courses for nanny & childcare careers Call Amanda now for free info! 424 3055 nannyacademy.ac.nz

500 CARDS Can you play 500? Would

you like to learn? Come along to the Mahurangi Community Hall, Betty Paxton Room. Every Wed at 6.45pm. Cost $4 includes supper & prizes. Ph Dave 425 6351.

A Chef de Partie

GUITAR LESSONS Patient & flexible to suit your needs. Ph Martin 422 3037.

Ascension Osteria, Matakana is looking for a chef de partie with a wide knowledge of European and International cuisine. Full-time. Minimum 3 years chef de partie experience in a professional kitchen. Needs to be flexible with hours, comfortable in a high pressure environment; clean, tidy and well presented; highly motivated; good written and spoken English; must be able to work in New Zealand. Please apply to Ben Dugdale, General Manager, Ascension Wine Estate phone 0274 724 428 info@ascensionwine.co.nz

LEARN SHAOLIN KEMPO Self Defence, Self Discipline, Self Confidence & build your fitness - for kids and adults. Tues & Thurs 5.30-7.30pm, Matakana Primary School Hall. Phone Shane 021 959 073.

HOME MAINTENANCE STEVE’S MAINTENANCE lawns, hedges, waterblasting, rubbish removal, section clearing, property maintenance. No job too big or small. Phone Steve 029 770 7101 or 09 425 9966. Serving Warkworth, Snells, Matakana, Sandspit. Water pumps Low water pressure? Get it sorted. Sales, service and installation. Work guaranteed. Steve 09 945 2282 ww.purewaterservices.co.nz LAWNMOWING & SECTION MAINTENANCE SERVICE Rubbish removal, weed control, water blasting, decks, drives, paths, fence painting & repairs. Warkworth - Matakana & Beaches. Jeff is reliable and punctual. Phone 027 425 7357 or 425 7357.

7

PIANO TUITION including practical & theory, all grades. Warkworth based. John Wilkins 09 425 9669 (evenings preferred)

Buskers welcome at the Matakana Country park Family Markets evey Saturday form 9am2pm. Contact: mcpmarkets@gmail. com or 027 351 3700

CHURCH NOTICES

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Phone 425 8545

www.holyname.org.nz

Holy Mass Timetable: WARKWORTH

Holy Name Church, 6 Alnwick Street Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm Sunday: 10.30am

PUHOI

SS. Peter & Paul Church Sunday: 8.30am

5 Pulham Road, Warkworth Phone 425 8861 Sunday, February 16th Mahurangi College Auditorium One service only at 10am Sunday Services 9am & 10.30am

Mahurangi Methodist Parish Warkworth Methodist

1 Hexham Street, Warkworth Parish Office: Ph 425 8660 Sunday Service 10.30am Hall Bookings PH 425 8053

snell’s Beach Community Church 325 Mahurangi East Rd Sunday Service 9am Hall Bookings PH 425 5707

Phone 425 8660 for information

Enthusiastic & confident kids and teenagers wanted

for Saturday Market work. Good arithmetic and people skills essential. Contact mcpmarkets@gmail.com or 027 351 3700

HEALTH & WELLBEING PHOBIAS? STRESS? ANXIETY?

Hypnotherapy with Scope Hypnosis. Phone 0508 SCOPE ME (726 736) or email: lisa@scopehypnosis.com

APPLIANCE REPAIRS A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P

smartdrive washers, F&P/Simpson dryers. Same day service 09 423 9660 or 021 168 7349.

Warkworth Anglican Parish Church Services Christ Church, Church Hill, Warkworth

DRIVEWAYS

Every Sunday 8am and 9.30am

Maintenance Grading, Rolling & Metalling for rural Driveways. No job to BIG or small. Ph Bruce 425 7766.

1st and 3rd Sundays at 9.30am

St. Leonard's, Matakana

Snells Beach Community Church

2nd Sunday at 9am

St.Alban's, Kaipara Flats

If you have a news story or a community event you want to promote email editor@ localmatters.co.nz

1st Sunday at 11.15am

St.Michael and All Angels, Leigh

3rd Sunday at 11.00am

Phone 425 8054 or www.anglican-warkworth.org


8

Mahurangi Matters - 5 March 2014

History

Judy Waters, Warkworth & District Museum www.wwmuseum.orconhosting.net.nz

Gum-digging at Snells Beach In 1904 Messrs J Clayden and J Parkinson discovered a substantial deposit of kauri gum on the low tide mark at Snells Beach. For three weeks they managed to keep it to themselves, enabling them to extract some seven tons of gum. Once the word was out another 40 diggers descended on the beach, working furiously between tides and achieving good results. Three years later in August 1907, a section of the beach was thrown open to diggers and a rush of 250 of them took place. Most were new immigrants and it was reported that about 300 pounds of gum was harvested each week. During the 1930s when unemployment was high and every means of earning needed to be explored, the area was dug over again and sacks of gum were removed. All this activity must have been somewhat distracting for the Snell descendants who were quietly farming the land the family had owned since 1854. The Snells were Cornish folk who came to New Zealand from the mines of South Australia to work at Great Barrier and Kawau Island before settling on the mainland.

The Snell homestead stood on land adjacent to the present reserve for more than a century. The kitchen was paved with stone slabs and was separated from the yard by a stable door that was handy to keep children inside while the cows were milked. There was no running water in the house but nearby a spring had been tapped and water flowed down through clay pipes and was discharged into a concrete trough. A step up from the kitchen was a large room where church services were held. The minister read from the family bible placed on a lectern on top of a table. A door opened on to the verandah, which faced the sea, and paths divided flower beds that were always full of colour. The last of the family to live in the cottage was Miss Lucy Phillips, a granddaughter of James and Mary Snell. Her sister Florence (Mrs Harold

Parkes) lived along the beach and another sister, Jane (Mrs Goodall), also lived nearby. Harold Parkes took the cream on a horse-drawn sledge to Dawson’s Landing where it was transferred to a launch and taken to the dairy factory at Pukapuka. Later when a factory opened in Warkworth it was taken there. Even before the days of motor transport, picnic parties and summer campers enjoyed Snells Beach. At the

Wellsford dust complaints ignored Wellsford representative on the Rodney Local Board James Colville is fuming at Auckland Transport’s response to his complaint about the dust problem on Underwood Road, west of Wellsford. Mr Colville told a recent board meeting that a sign asking motorists to slow down to reduce the dust hazard had been shot at and thrown in a resident’s driveway. “The AT representative’s first response was to ask me if the resident had a permit for the sign!” he said. “That’s the sort of bureaucratic nonsense that’s going on.” The sign was one of two erected by Underwood Road resident Pat Curtis. “The dust problem just seems to be getting worse,” she says. “There’s more cars and trucks on the road, and they’re travelling faster. As well as the welldocumented health issues, the clouds of dust just make life in the house really uncomfortable. We can’t eat the veges in the garden, the washing on the clothesline gets filthy and dust on the roof is washed into our water tanks.” The family tried putting up a scrim fence to reduce the dust hazard, but it had little effect. They have also offered to contribute towards the cost of installing gravel lock – a dust suppressant polymer – on the road outside their house, but Pat says Council hasn’t responded to the suggestion. “Gravel lock is used successfully in other places, but

An Underwood Road resident is at a loss to understand why someone would try to destroy her sign.

apparently Auckland’s not interested in it.” In an effort to demonstrate to Council the extent of the problem, Pat’s been keeping a dust diary since last October and has started a petition in the road. “I feel like I’m bashing my head up against brick wall! We’ve been paying the Araparera rate for all these years, but we’re yet to see any benefit. We don’t need all the fancy kerb and channelling — just a stretch of sealed road in front of our homes would be wonderful.” Meanwhile, Auckland Councillor Penny Webster is calling for a study to be conducted in Rodney, into the health effects of living on an unsealed road. She is seeking support for the study from MPs Mark Mitchell and Mike Sabin, and the Prime Minister John Key.

southern end, the bush-clad slopes were used by several Warkworth families each summer and some even erected small baches which had to be removed when the land was sold and the first subdivisions took place. It is still possible to find tiny golden fragments of kauri gum among the sand and shell on the beach — a reminder of the gum-digging days and an indication of ancient forests buried deep beneath the surface of the bay.

Rotary morning forums popular with business The fortnightly Warkworth Rotary Business Forums resumed on February 21, at the Black Dog in Matakana. There was a good turnout of 25 business representatives, including several new members. The forum, which runs for roughly an hour from 7.30am, meets a key Rotary objective of helping to build a network of local businesses, where they understand each other’s businesses and know that the owners are of good standing. The subject for discussion at the first forum was creative thinking and included a video presentation of an interview with Edward de Bono, the father of lateral thinking. The organisers are now looking for a permanent venue. New members welcome. Info: Nick on 021 517320 or Robin on 021 305413

Power out Arcing powerlines caused a power outage on the Mahurangi East Peninsula on Friday night, February 28. The incident happened around midnight ad power companies were quickly on the scene. It’s understood the outage affected most of Snells Beach.


Local Life

> locallife

March 5, 2014

New members wanted for walks

catered for. They would also be interested in starting an early morning group for people who work, if there is enough demand. “The first question we ask each week is ‘where should we go to today?’” says Pat Angel. They have been known to jump in a car to travel to places such as Orewa. But one thing is constant: “Somehow it always ends in coffee,” he says. Info: Alison Lindsay 425 76779.

Get on yer bike for Tryathlon Organisers of the annual Mighty Mahu Fun Tryathlon & Family Bike Day are hoping to be in a sunny mood on Sunday March 23. Last year’s event was a washout, raining all morning for the first time in ages, so they are hoping to be a bit more lucky this year. The aim of the event, which is organised by the Mahurangi Community Sport & Recreation Collective and Warkworth Primary School, is to offer a lowcost fun event to families, with no expectation for sporting excellence. The event is for anyone who would like to have a go at a triathlon but thought it might be hard, and you can even enter a team. This year staff from Auckland Transport will be on hand to check over your bike and helmet and give cycling tips. There will also be a Big Foot Adventures obstacle course to test participants’ skills. Funds raised from the $10 entry fee and sausage sizzle will go towards keeping community sport coach Tony Mordaunt in his position as skills coach in local primary schools and clubs. Registrations open at 10am at Snells Beach Reserve, and races are scheduled

Rodney MP Mark Mitchell took part in last year’s Tryathlon event.

from 10.30am. First up will be children under 5, followed by 6- to 10-year-olds from 10.45am. Kids aged 11 to 14 will set off at 11.45am, while everyone else will set off at 12.30pm. In the unlucky event of bad weather, the event will be postponed to Sunday April 6. Info: Ruth Mills 422 9762 or Mark Illingworth 425 9183 or visit facebook.com/mahusport.

Plume, the vineyard restaurant, a ‘must visit’ destination on any Matakana wine and food journey and the perfect setting for that special day!

Cellar door tastings & delicious fusion themed cusine.

29

HEALTH • BEAUT Y • FA M ILY • LEI S URE

From left: Pat Angel, Shanne Dawson, Alison Lindsay, Margaret Wright, Beth Chapman, Mary Bosher and (front) Anette Goetter.

A Warkworth walking group founded 12 months ago is looking for more members. At one stage it had as many as 15 members, but numbers have since dwindled. The group meets each Wednesday at 9.15am outside Stirling Sports. “The idea is that parents can drop their children at school and then come walking,” says spokeswoman Alison Lindsay. However, there are no age restrictions, and people of all fitness levels are

Mahurangi Matters

Plume, proudly the house of Runner Duck Wines.

For current opening hours please call or visit www.plumerestaurant.co.nz 49a Sharp Road | Ph: 09 422 7915 | email: reservations@plumerestaurant.co.nz

Plume Restaurant, a 2013 Cuisine Good Food Guide ‘Local Fave’


30

Mahurangi Matters

Local Life

March 5, 2014

Health

David Hassan, Coast to Coast Health Care

How to tell a good story

NEW YEAR - NEW START - NO VEINS!

Varicose Vein Clinic ALL Treatment Options Available Laser - Injections - Surgery + Ultrasound

with Experience and Care

Warkworth Medical Centre (09) 410 0990 or 0800 085 555 www.veinandlaser.co.nz

L S AL ICE EE RV FR E S RE A

To medical folk, a good historian is a patient who is able to tell their story well. Being a good historian greatly increases the chances of your doctor getting the diagnosis correct and organising the appropriate treatment. So how do you give a good history? It’s really the same as being a good conversationalist — explaining clearly, listening, and being polite. The opening minute is key. This is when your doctor is paying the most attention, so mention the important stuff: the chest pain, the suicidal thoughts, the bleeding guts. Don’t leave this stuff till the end as a “by the way” as you walk out. Talk about your symptoms in as much detail as possible. My old medical school mnemonic for pain is SOCRATES. You can tell me about the Site of the pain, it’s Onset, Character, where it Radiates (spreads) to, Associated symptoms, Timing, Exacerbating (worsening) factors, and Severity. All have potential to guide to a particular diagnosis. In the next part of the consultation, the doctor will ask questions to narrow down the diagnosis. Listening and answering concisely is best here. Try not to go off on a tangent or mention something new or obtuse. Your doctor probably has three or so possibilities in his head and if he loses concentration one may go missing! After this your doctor may FIFE you (another mnemonic): How does this problem affect your Function, what is your Idea of what is happening, what are your Fears, and what Expectations do you have for the consultation? Your particular worries are important and if these are not “heard” you and your doctor will finish the consultation unsatisfied. Having respect for the consultation is important too. Time is the bane of all GPs and their patients. Fifteen minutes is far too short a time to deal with more than a couple of problems at most. A hard-to-differentiate problem such as dizziness will probably take the whole time. If you have a list because you only visit the doctor once in a blue moon, then kindly book a double appointment. If your cellphone rings, tell them that you are busy seeing the doctor and cannot talk. I often thank people for telling their story so beautifully; the consultation works like a beautiful dance. They practically do everything save for signing the prescription and make my job a pleasure. Telling your story well may save your bacon one day, not to mention endearing you to your doctor.

Warkworth Birth Centre

quality maternity care

Breast Feeding Support Group

Soduku

Wednesday 5th March @ 10am ALL Mothers WeLCoMe

FREE pregnancy tests Prenatal classes, birth venue & post-natal stay Own room in peaceful rural surroundings Excellent equipment and atmosphere Water birth a speciality Our friendly helpful postnatal staff at the birthing centre Midwives on call at all times, and as backup for your caregiver (LMC) For further information talk to your  Full post-natal hospital stay LMC/Midwife or Warkworth Birth Centre  24 hour Registered Nurses / Midwives to care for you and your baby  You can transfer from your birth hospital within Phone 09 425 8201 12 hours of normal birth or 24 hours following a Caesarian      

Available to all women and their caregivers

56 View Road, Warkworth www.warkworthbirthcentre.co.nz

WARKWORTH

MOTORHOMES Motorhome and Caravan repairs and maintenance Phone Graeme 422 9339 or 027 358 0167


Local Life

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

31

Cuisine

Andrea Hinchco, Taste The Kitchen Shop www.tastethekitchenshop.co.nz

Counting the beet There seems to have been an abundance of gorgeous beetroot around this summer which I have been enjoying as it is one of my favourite vegetables. Having grown up eating those limp slices of beetroot which swam in a bath of vinegar (which I loved as a child), it was a revelation to me when in the late ’70s I acquired Digby Law’s A Vegetable Cookbook. It had these amazing ideas to glaze, roast and have raw beetroot in salad. There was even a recipe using the leaves instead of relegating them to the compost bin. Nowadays I tend roast them which intensifies the sweetness and retains most of the nutritional goodness. I just scrub them, keeping the skin on, and roast small ones whole or large ones cut into chunks. Toss with salt and pepper, a little olive oil, add a couple of squashed garlic cloves and a few sprigs of fresh thyme and bake in at about 180C for at least an hour until tender. Before serving I stir through a little more olive oil and a tiny amount of balsamic vinegar. Back in the ’70s Digby warned that the medical authorities of the day were worried about the high sugar content of beetroot, but today’s nutritional experts have a slightly different outlook. Being high in vitamin C, folates and antioxidants — to name but a few of the benefits — this seems to outweigh the fact that a large percentage of beetroot’s calorific value comes from sugar. Three baby beetroots will make up one of your five daily vegetables. As with any vegetable, eating it raw is the best way to retain all the nutrients and this salad recipe is a wonderful accompaniment to any meal. Four Two Hour Lessons

Serves Grated Carrot and Beetroot Salad Wednesday evenings 5.30pm-7.30pm 19th March-9th April 4 or Thursday mornings 9.30am-11.30am 20th March-10th April

2 cups grated carrots (about 3 carrots) 1 cup of grated fresh beetroot (about 1 medium sized peeled beet) 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 teaspoon paprika (sweet, not hot) 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Small pinch of salt Small pinch of cayenne 2 Tbsp lemon juice 2 teaspoons honey 2 Tbsp sliced fresh mint leaves

Place the grated carrots in a medium-sized serving bowl. Place the grated beets into a sieve and briefly rinse with cold water. This will rinse away a little of the excess beet juice that may otherwise colour the whole salad beet red; then pat dry with a paper towel. Put into the bowl with the carrots and add the raisins. Stir to gently combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne. Then add the lemon juice and honey and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the carrots and beets and gently fold until they are lightly coated. Let it sit for an hour before serving, at room temperature, to allow the dressing to seep into the carrots and beets. Just before serving, stir in a couple of tablespoons of sliced fresh mint leaves and garnish with fresh mint.

Gill Warren Smith & Warren Ltd Call Gill now if you need design ideas for kitchens or bathrooms, house styling, garden help or colour schemes. Hourly rates for assistance with decision making only or full design service.

FREE QUOTES ON SITE +64 21 431 098 • gill@smithandwarren.co.nz facebook/smithandwarrendesign

Landscape & Interior Design

Q Under New Management

New Menu • New Hours

Friday-Sunday 11am to Late Monday-Thursday 4pm to Late

Q 2 Port Albert Road, Wellsford

Bookings phone 09 423 7222/021 859 098

Wi l t o n M e t h o d

Cake Decorating G u m Pa s t e a n d Fo n d a n t In this course you will develop new skills working with fondant and gum paste and apply them to create shapes, borders, flowers, and much more. - Prepare and color gum paste and fondant - Cover a cake with fondant - Create more than 10 different types of bows and flowers, including the calla lily, rose, and carnation - Design and complete a cake with the shapes and flowers from the course - And more exciting skills and techniques.

Four Two Hour Lessons Wednesday evenings 5.30pm-7.30pm 19th March-9th April or Thursday mornings 9.30am-11.30am 20th March-10th April Both courses are

$190

If there is enough interest we would also run this course as a weekend intensive

March 29th-30th from 10am-3pm (both days). D e c o r at i n g B a s i c s An entry level class which provides the foundation techniques for all the Wilton Method Courses. You will learn how to bake a great cake, the tricks for perfect butter cream icing, how to level, tort and ice a cake. The use of icing bags and couplers, using a star tip, making drop flowers and rosettes plus pompom flowers, shells and leaves, elementary cake design, printing, writing, piping gel, ribbon roses and guidelines for decorating your cake.

This includes a comprehensive tool kit (over $170 value), 4 x 2 hour tuition sessions in a very small class and an easy to follow instruction manual. Four Two Hour Lessons Tuesday evenings 5.30pm-7.30pm 18th March-8th April or Wednesday mornings 9.30am-11.30am 19th March-9th April

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Mahurangi Matters

Local Life

March 5, 2014

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Open 7 Days Mon-Sat 9am-5pm • Sun & Public Holidays 10am-4pm The Village - 2 Matakana Valley Road • Matakana P: (09) 423 0315 • E: villagebookshop@paradise.net.nz www.villagebookshop.co.nz

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The Mouseproof Kitchen by Saira Shah Anna and Tobias have a plan. Anna is due to give birth to their first child, and they then want to move to Provence where she can teach in a cooking school, and Tobias can write music whilst looking after the baby. However, after their daughter Freya is born profoundly disabled, Tobias struggles to accept her and is convinced that the best thing for everybody would be to leave Freya at the hospital and let the system take care of her. Anna is determined to persuade her husband that keeping and loving Freya and moving to France is still the right thing to do. They end up in a run-down farmhouse in the Languedoc and befriend some of the local eccentrics. As they struggle to make the house a home, Freya’s hospital stays become more frequent and it seems to Anna that she is the only one holding it all together. At times humorous, at times heartbreaking, this is a beautiful story.

Infinite Air by Fiona Kidman I found this novel fascinating in that I knew next to nothing about Jean Batten and this book gave me a small insight into her life and remarkable achievements. While her grit and passion for flying form the platform for the story, it is predominantly about her somewhat dysfunctional family and her friends and lovers. How amazing that this Kiwi woman broke so many flight records, was feted by the rich and famous, and yet disappeared to the Caribbean to live with her constant companion, her mother, and then died alone in Majorca and was buried in a pauper’s grave.

Warkworth & District Museum Warkworth & District Museum has created a display at the museum to help celebrate the 160 years of Warkworth. We have attempted to give recognition to the early families who donated generously to the museum and to show how fashion has changed down through the years.

Open 7 Days, Monday to Sunday 10am – 4pm Parry Kauri Park, Tudor Collins Drive (Off Wilson Road, Warkworth) Phone: 09 425 7093 | Email: warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz | www.wwmuseum.orconhosting.net.nz

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Local Entertainment

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

localentertainment

33

Plenty to do at Twilight Fiesta With more food and more games than ever before, the Warkworth School Twilight Fiesta is set to be bigger and better than ever this year. The Fiesta will be held between 3pm and 7pm on Friday March 14, and will help fund some much-needed additions to the school, PTA president Nikki Illingworth says. The school hopes to raise $20,000 for more shade cover to help keep the kids safe in the sun, and give parents and pupils seating to rest their legs during pick-up time after school. Hopefully enough is raised to upgrade the sandpit as well, Nikki says. Sponsors have been particularly generous this year, with New World coming on board to donate much of the food ingredients, Nikki says. The Fiesta will have food for every taste, with burgers, vegetarian nachos, sausage sizzle and sushi on sale. And while you eat you can watch entertainment including the school dance group and kapahaka group. “We try and make it affordable so people can come along with a few dollars, play a game, have some dinner and have a great evening for a good cause,” she says.

Entries sought for Art N Tartan

The Year 4 and 5 dance class will be just one element of a day packed full of entertainment and games and food.

Local musician Andy Richards is donating his time for the cause and will be playing from 5pm until 6pm. Raffles will be drawn throughout the evening and there will be a silent auction featuring goods donated from local businesses, including a pampering pack, a voucher for a

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course at Auckland Seafood School and a day out at Leigh Marine Reserve with dinner at Plume restaurant. A garage sale will also be running, and for those who miss out, the garage sale will continue on Saturday morning from 8am.

More than $6500 in prizemoney will be up for grabs in this year’s Waipu Museum Art N Tartan show. The museum is encouraging artists and creative people to begin preparing their works for the June show, which always sells out. The event has become so popular that this year an extra evening show has been included. There is also a new category this year, The Engine Room, for entries in wood or metal, which is aimed at people who enjoy DIY. As always, each design must include at least 30 percent tartan, to reflect the town’s heritage with the Highland Scots. Entries close on May 2. Info: waipumuseum.com or contact Tracy Chapman on 4320896 or artntartan@gmail.com.

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Mahurangi Matters

Local Entertainment

March 5, 2014

Trio to play in Warkworth

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BBQ Brunch with old friends and new Flare Demonstration with SYC members We hope you can join us

Please RSVP to our Treasurer Barbara Hastie on 09 425 4628, or email positive1@clear.net.nz by Monday 27 October 2008

Amalia Hall (violin), Callum Hall (cello) and John-Paul Muir (piano).

The youthful and extremely accomplished Rangitoto Trio — a piano trio of John-Paul Muir, Amalia Hall (violin), and her brother Callum Hall (cello) — comes to Warkworth on March 22. They will play at Mahurangi College at 7.30pm in the first concert of Warkworth Music’s 2014 season. The combination was first formed at Rangitoto College in 2001. Warkworth concertgoers will doubtless remember Amalia’s stunning solo performance in Sarasate’s Gypsy Airs with Auckland Youth Orchestra in 2007. More recently, in 2009, Amalia and John-Paul played at Ascension Winery during their Chamber Music NZ duo tour. This season’s programme includes Saint-Saens’ Piano trio No 2, Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor and a piece by American composer Jennifer

Higdon, which the trio describes as “an exploration of the relationship between sound and colour, light and shade”. Saint-Saens was a prolific composer and his work is extremely accessible. His serious and subtle work, Piano Trio No 2, has often been called the greatest French piano trio of the nineteenth century. Ravel’s Trio in A Minor was composed in 1914, being finished in a rush as Ravel wanted to enlist in the army. He said himself that he worked on it with “the sureness and lucidity of a madman”. It requires a high level of virtuosity for all instruments — something these young players are certainly able to provide. Tickets are available at the door at $30 with students being free. Info: Phone 425 7313 or 425 7015.

Warkworth Music presents Rangitoto Trio Saturday March 22nd, 7.30pm at Mahurangi College Hall

Amalia Hall - violin, Callum Hall - cello John-Paul Muir - piano perform works by Saint-Saens, Higdon and Ravel Tickets at door | Adults $30 | Students Free | Info: 425 7313

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Warkworth Primary School Friday 14th March, 3-7pm Your LOCAL Community Newspaper


Feature

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

35

ecofest Festival will showcase Mahurangi’s natural talent > FEATURE

If you’ve never heard a real kiwi calling out to its mates in the bush, then a special event being organised next month might be your only chance. The Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society (Tossi) is holding a kiwi listening night on April 4 and 5 at Tawharanui regional park, as part of a month-long Ecofest in the region. Numbers are strictly limited for the two evenings, and bookings are essential. But if you miss out, there will be plenty of other chances to celebrate environmentally themed events as part of Ecofest. The festival, which runs from the middle of March to the middle of April, will showcase environmental projects and events from the Harbour Bridge north to Matakana. It started on the North Shore last year, and has been extended further north this year with the help of Matakana permaculturalist Trish Allen. “It’s been quite a big job, but a lot of fun though,” says Trish. “I got to find out about places I didn’t really know were there.” The festival kicks off on March 15 and 16 with guided tours of the Sculptural Habitat, which is a tranquil garden in Warkworth where natural sculptures

For those who are not feeling overly energetic, the Music in the Garden event on March 29 might be just the ticket.

and artworks demonstrate the ongoing process of change. The garden began its life when hurricane-force winds tore down trees in 2007, which prompted its owners to give them a new identity as artworks. Bookings are essential. On March 19 and April 2, there will be a weed working bee at Kowhai Park, and on March 23 is the annual Mighty Mahu Tryathlon (see p29). Local country blues band Blind

Willie will be playing at the Matakana Community Garden on March 29, and afterwards a community clothes swap will be held in the Matakana Community Hall. The idea is to bring along clothes that no longer fit or are no longer used, and perhaps leave with someone else’s pre-loved threads. On April 5, local resident Janet Rogers will guide a three-hour walk to the summit of Mt Tamahunga, near Matakana. Members of the Tamahunga Trappers, a local pest-eradication group,

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will also be on hand to tell their stories. Far less energy will be required for “Eco-readings in the Vines”, which will be held on April 12 at Heron’s Flight vineyard. Internationally acclaimed novelist Cath Koa Dunsford will give readings amongst the vineyard’s vines, olives and vegetable gardens. Wine and grape juice will be available for sale, and a wood-fired pizza oven will be turning out pizzas. But the public is also welcome to bring their own picnics. Several environmentally themed films will also screen at Matakana Cinemas, including an extraordinary time-lapse documentary about the people who work in Antarctica, which was one of the highlights of last year’s International Film Festival. The final event will be “Walk, Cycle, Plant”, which will encourage people to discover the Matakana to Omaha walkway/cycleway, and plant a tree along the route at the same time. Trees will be provided, or you can bring your own. Booklets outlining the full programme of events are available at the Warkworth and Matakana information centres, as well as Warkworth library. A full list of events is also available at ecofest.org.nz, and in Mahurangi Matters’ “What’s On” guide.

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Mahurangi Matters

Feature

March 5, 2014

Community oven will feed hundreds A giant clay oven that will be able to bake over 200 loaves of bread is being constructed on a farm in Whangateau. The community oven is over 3m high inside, and is made of clay found on site. It is being constructed on Caretaker Farm, and owner Audrey Sharp hopes the oven will be able to feed the community during events, or in an emergency. “If it’s going to be a community oven it has to be that big,” Audrey says. “If there’s a power cut, we can still feed the whole community.” The project has been a truly organic process, with the oven slowly taking form over the past four months, she says. “We’ve been using everything that’s found right here.” The oven has been constructed by French baker Fabrice Gendron. In France, community ovens are common, Fabrice says. “It’s a place for the community to come together and share stories. The idea is to recreate that here,” he says. Fabrice owned his own bakery for 30 years in an isolated village in the alps of south-eastern France. He made his own oven, but had never made clay from scratch. A smaller oven is being constructed, which will be used as a kiln, to test the materials and methods. “This has to be permanent. I want it to be here after I’m gone,” Fabrice says.

It will be at least another year before the structure is finished. The project almost got stuck when Fabrice’s visa ran out last year. It has been an ongoing struggle to get permission for him to stay, but he has now had his visa extended. In the meantime Fabrice’s son, Bryan, has been unable to attend school. “We’ve had to pay for a private teacher to come up and give him lessons,” Audrey says. Nearly 100 people have already worked on the oven, with Wwoofers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) staying at the farm helping out. An estimated $50,000 in labour hours and materials has been spent to get it to this stage. “I hate to think what it’s going to cost to finish it. I don’t want to know,” Audrey says. She has funded the project herself, using a good chunk of her income from her work as a lecturer in tax law at Auckland University. It is hoped the oven will also be used as a commercial baking oven. “It has to be able to fund itself. It has to be financially sustainable.” Audrey would welcome any help or feedback locals can provide and suggests they get in touch with her through the Facebook page CommunityEarthOven. If anyone can donate time or resources it would be much appreciated, she says.

View more photos online localmatters.co.nz

Audrey Sharp, Fabrice Gendron and his son Bryan are halfway through building a giant clay oven which they hope will feed the whole community.

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Feature

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

37

Kauri snails find new home Over 20 kauri snails rescued from a Ti Point pine plantation are settling into their new home at Auckland Zoo and are about to become a part of a new exhibit. Twenty-two eggs were also found when zoo staff rescued the snails, and one has already hatched. The snails are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity, and it has been the first instance of a successful hatching. The giant carnivorous snails have a shell up to 8cm in diameter and can live for up to 20 years. Their eggs are the size of a small bird’s egg at around 12mm in diameter, and weigh one gram. The snails were discovered last year in 14.5ha of Auckland Council-owned forest, on the corner of Ti Point and Leigh Roads. The forest was due to be harvested in April but was halted while a plan was devised about how to best protect the snails. Consultation with DoC resulted in a plan to temporarily house the snails at Auckland Zoo. Auckland Zoo’s ectotherms team manager, Don McFarlane, spent hours with colleagues trying to rescue the nocturnal snails during four trips to the forest. However, they were limited by the number they could house at the zoo, Don says. “We did what we could with the time we had. We were pretty limited. Imagine four men searching through the dark on hands and knees for four

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hours, sometimes till as late as 12am.” Don previously worked at London Zoo, where he managed snails for 12 years and helped to breed endangered snails in captivity. It is hoped the kauri snails will be on display at the zoo soon, but the aim is to eventually release them back into the wild, Don says. The forest is not set to be harvested until June, so plans for another trip to relocate the remaining snails are underway, he says. Auckland Council commercial property manager Antony Hobbs says the harvest has again been delayed as work is being done to plant a buffer around nearby streams. The forest was planted on a former landfill and is likely to be replanted in pine to further stabilise the area, Antony says.

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Feature

March 5, 2014

Urgency underpins new Hauraki Gulf plan Finding a better way to balance the way Aucklanders use and enjoy the rich resources of the Hauraki Gulf will require a collaborative approach, according to the man chosen to lead NZ’s first attempt at marine spatial planning, Nick Main. Nick says that Sea Change, a two-year inter-agency project, has come along at a time when people are recognising that traditional planning models are failing. “Monitoring in the gulf shows that by and large, things are getting worse not better,” he says. “There’s a sense that noone’s getting what they want and we need to urgently take a different approach.” The 2011 State of Our Gulf report, which will be updated this year, shows snapper and crayfish are being taken at unsustainable levels, fish diversity is diminishing, shellfish populations are under stress, high loads of nitrogen are entering the gulf and sedimentation is fuelling the spread of mangroves. Despite these dire indicators, Nick is optimistic that opportunities and possibilities will emerge through the spatial planning process. “I think most people agree on the broad principles around protecting the gulf, but when you starting talking specifically about things like marine farms and marine reserves that’s when things get stuck. “My job will be to shepherd the working group towards answers, not to pre-empt what those answers might be. “It’s also a bottom-up collaborative process on a pretty tight timeframe

What you can do Log on to seachange.org.nz, where you can sign on for updates on the project. n Complete the SeaSketch survey, where informal opinions are being sought on current usage. Respondents who show an interest in particular issues will be fed information on those topics and could become involved in issuespecific working groups. n Feedback on draft solutions – these groups will be asked to input local knowledge, highlight gaps in existing information and capture other views. It will also give communities a chance to see how these solutions were drafted and the information they were based on. n Mid-project, when options are being generated, individuals will be able to log into SeaSketch, a mapping and ‘sketch’ tool, to develop and test different options. n If people belong to a local or interest group they can request a speaker to discuss the project. n Listening posts – conversations in coastal communities with small groups of local people. Listening Posts can be added to the programme between now and June, on request. These conversations (10-12 people per group) tap into local knowledge and experience. n

but if we get it right, I believe it could become ‘best practice’ internationally.” Nick, a former chair of Deloitte NZ and the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development, and current NZ Chartered Accountant of the Year, is no stranger to debates around sustainability and the challenges of finding common ground with disparate interest groups. He spent three years as the head of Deloitte’s global sustainability practice, based in London, and has attended some of the world’s most important talks on climate change including three Conference of the Parties (COP). Since retiring to Coatesville in 2012, he’s devoted time to projects that meet the test of being “interesting and capable of making a difference”. One of these is the Middlemore Foundation, which he

chairs. Although he grew up in England, he’s called NZ home for the past 30 years. “My father was a dairy farmer in Devon, when it was possible to still make a living from 30 cows on 100 acres. Those were the days when you built the milking parlour on a stream so you could sweep everything from the shed into the stream and the stream took it away.” Nick hopes that Sea Change will provide an environment where information and opinions can be widely shared and understood, which in turn will result in more buy-in to the recommendations that are eventually put forward. Consultation will happen around the middle of this year, with the final marine spatial plan expected to be available by September next year.

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Feature

March 5, 2014

‘Dramatic’ decline in crayfish A reduction in crayfish numbers due to overfishing is significantly affecting the health of the Hauraki Gulf, academics say. Jan Hesse is in the final year of his PhD at Leigh Marine Laboratory and is investigating the causes of a dramatic decline in crayfish numbers in the area. His research is indicating that overfishing is a major factor, and he fears that unless action is taken, the species could be threatened. One of the key problems is that large crayfish have been effectively removed from the environment and this has led to an increase in kina, or sea urchin, numbers. They, in turn, have destroyed kelp forests, removing a key marine environment, Jan says. Jan’s PhD supervisor, Professor Andrew Jeffs, says the good news is that crayfish numbers can be revived. “What we saw when Leigh Marine Reserve was established, and what we’ve found at other marine reserves, is an immediate increase in crayfish numbers. And we’ve seen some pretty marked changes in habitat,” Andrew says. “The contrast is like that of a healthy forest, compared to that of a desert,” he says. Having large tracts of deserted sea floor has a broader impact. “The evidence suggests that we have reduced the population of crayfish to levels that are having an impact on the habitat and we are reducing the productivity

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of the Hauraki Gulf by taking that population.” Jan and Andrew believe that an upper size limit needs to be introduced to the quota management system to allow large, mature crayfish to develop. Crayfish have to live around five or six years before they are strong enough to break into a kina, and mature crayfish also reproduce more successfully, with a lot more offspring. Australia has successfully implemented a similar programme, they say. A small reduction on the daily maximum limit for recreational fishing, and reduced quota on commercial fishing, may also work to boost numbers, but only in combination with other factors such us an upper size limit.

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Mahurangi Matters

Feature

March 5, 2014

Solar power policy premature, says expert A local solar power expert is less than glowing about a potential Government policy intended to encourage more installation of solar power in people’s homes. Environmental engineer Eric Jansseune believes New Zealand needs to focus on reducing its electricity usage before it considers widespread solar installation. Eric worked in the solar industry in Europe for 15 years before emigrating from Belgium eight years ago. His comments follow the Green Party’s announcement that it will be pushing for low interest loans for households to install home solar systems if it becomes part of the next Government. The loans would be paid back through rates, meaning they would remain with the house, rather than the homeowner. Eric believes the Green Party’s policy is skipping crucial steps. Solar power is a viable alternative, but it is important to run an energy efficient household before making the switch, he says. “New Zealand is one of the least energy efficient countries in the world. It just doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to switch to solar now. We need to reduce usage first, and then switch to solar after,” he says. New Zealand’s average household uses 25kW of electricity per day compared with 18kW in Australia and only 11kW in Britain.

Eric Janseunne says New Zealand is one of the least energy efficient countries.

Much of this is wasted in inefficient hot water cylinder systems, which lose 30 per cent of their energy in heat loss trying to maintain water temperature all day. Eric recommends households make a transition to gas systems which heat the water on demand, and which can give a boost to solar water heating if you choose to install solar down the track. Heating costs, including water heating, account for 60 per cent of the average power usage in New Zealand, he says,

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so transferring to gas and solar can lead to significant savings. Electric radiator heaters and poor insulation also waste energy. As your overall power use reduces, solar becomes more affordable, as a 1.5kW system may suffice, saving thousands on a 3kW system, he says. He would also like to see regulation of the price that power companies pay for the extra power produced by a home solar system. As solar panels produce electricity during the day when not a

lot of power is used, they can make money when excess electricity is sold back to the grid. In Europe, the price is set at the same price you buy electricity for, he says. But that is not the case here. Eric has been selling the power he produces from his solar panels at home to Contact Energy and the price he receives has gone from 30 cents to 10 cents. “Currently they could pay you [nothing] if they wanted to.” Cheap and inefficient solar systems are also a cause for concern, he says. Chinese systems have flooded the local market and some are guilty of providing customers with dodgy energy ratings, he says. Some systems have been found to be producing 20 to 30 per cent less than what is stated. Eric recommends paying the extra money to be sure you’re getting a state of-the-art system which is likely to save you in the long run. Some of the cheaper Chinese systems could also be dangerous, with faulty components, he says. “I would never buy them myself. Some of them have been creating sparks.” Eric will be running a seminar at Ecofest in Matakana to give people facts about solar power and to dispel some of the myths. He will be speaking at Matakana Hall at 7.30pm on March 29. Entry is a gold coin donation.

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Feature

March 5, 2014

Environment

Mahurangi Matters

Tree removal aT Home & BacHes • Tree felling • Pruning • Hedge Trims • Chipping • Bamboo removal • Driveway Clearing

Christine Rose

christine.rose25@gmail.com

Castles in the sand Despite credible international science proving that climate change is humaninduced, Governments and the public have been slow to acknowledge the scale of the threats we face. Not only are we collectively failing to anticipate or respond to climate change, but we’re doing little to address its causes. Increased climate variability and extreme weather events, bizarre temperatures, and damage to land and property are the new reality. But we continue to develop and occupy marginal land. We drain swamps, bulldoze sand dunes, build on lowlying land and remove all buffers to the weather. Deregulated land development and building means that almost anything goes, anywhere. When councils do attempt to apply precautionary notations on property titles, land owners are appalled. But when storm events do damage property, costs are socialised through the Earthquake Commission (for landslides etc) or increasing insurance premiums. As insurance companies come to reject climate claims, costs will increasingly fall on homeowners and ratepayers. Given the long life of residential and commercial buildings and infrastructure, and the clear prospect

of worsening extreme weather conditions, planners would be right to advise development caution. We should also be concerned at the loss of other values such as intertidal ecosystems, salt marshes and beaches, as well as culturally and historically significant sites which are often overlooked or understated. The natural character of the coast is also at risk as we seek to engineer hard solutions to worse weather. Some recommendations for mitigating climate change impacts include “managed retreat” as development is withdrawn over time; adaptation, where buildings and infrastructure are retrofitted (ie lifted or moved) to avoid storm pressures; or defence – hard structures like sea walls. But much development is fixed already. Councils seem reluctant or powerless to stop new development in marginal areas. But they’ll be liable for costs for failing to prevent it. Councils and communities will pay for others’ views, access and ultimately their vulnerability to the rising sea. The Christchurch earthquake recovery provides opportunities for a managed adaptation to climate change. For most other areas, the problems will be with us for a long time to come.

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p. 425 9535


42 Mahurangi Matters | Mahurangimatters

March 5, 2014

localmatters.co.nz

NEWSLETTER

MAHURANGI COLLEGE ISSUE 1: March 2014

from the

Principal David Macleod

Bronze at the Secondary School Nationals. He now has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and works in Adolescent Mental Health. Our Head Prefects for this year are Daniel Collings and Alana Hathaway, and our Deputy Head Prefects are Findlay Buchannan and Rose Gannaway.

Dear Parents and Guardians Tena Koutou Katoa Welcome back to the new school year and a very special welcome to all our new students and parents. The starting school roll this year was 1315 Domestic students plus 52 International students. The confirmed NCEA results from 2013, along with National and Decile 8 averages, will be released by NZQA in April or May. The initial results look very pleasing and I am confident we will be above the average for Decile 8 schools at all three levels of NCEA. There were 56 students who gained their NCEA endorsed with Excellence (50 or more credits at Excellence level). These students were all awarded an Academic Blue at our Academic Blues Awards Evening on Thursday 13 February. Several other students were very close and may also be awarded Excellence when the confirmed results (after appeals and recounts) come out, in which case they will be awarded their Blue at a school assembly.

Academic Blues Students

ts Academic Blues Studen

The guest speaker at the Academic Blues was Dr. Chris Dowling. As well as being a top academic student, Chris was lead singer in our school rock band, which won North Harbour Rockquest, and he was captain of our school sailing team for two years which won a Silver and a

Rose Alana Hathaway (Head Girl), Daniel Collings (Head Boy), an (Deputy Head Boy) han Buc lay Find ), Girl d Hea Gannaway (Deputy

Each of these students have each achieved well academically and been well involved in many extra-curricular activities within the school, and I am sure they, along with the rest of our Prefect team and our Student Executive, will give very effective leadership to our student body. Another very successful Year 13 camp was held at Great Barrier Island. The students were all divided into teams of about 20 students and spent five days hiking across the island, during which time they also did their peer support training. Special thanks to Mr Stirling who led the camp and to all the other staff and parents who assisted. We have five new teaching staff starting this year: Louise Cloustin in Food Technology, Nicola Bain in English, Jonathan Dutton in Drama, Pat Henchie in Technology and Paul Kelly in Science. We welcome each of these new teachers to our school.

important dates Monday March 3 - 7 • Year 8 Camp Thursday March 6 • L3 Geography - Muriwai Trip • Yr 7-8 Girls Cricket Zone Day Friday March 7 • Interhouse Athletics Monday March 10 • Peer Support Session #3 • Yr 7-8 Triathlon Zone Day Tuesday March 11 • Yr 8 Wai Care River Visit Wednesday March 12 - 14 • L2 Geography Tongariro Trip Thursday March 13 • Yr 8 Wai Care River Visit • Yr 7-8 Swimming Zone Day Thursday March 13 - 14 • L3 History - Bay of Islands Saturday March 15 • PTA Bake-off Tuesday March 18 - 20 • Yr 9 Community Project Wednesday March 19 • Yr 7-8 Boys Cricket Zone Day Friday March 21 • Mid Term Break Thursday March 27 • Yr 8 Girls - Immunisation Friday March 28 • Yr 8 Shell Fish Monitoring Day Friday April 4 • Interim Reports Issued Monday April 7 - 8 • L1 & 2 Group Music Performances • L3 Solo Music Performances Wednesday April 9 • Yr 11 Market Day

with some seeding funding from the Rodney Local Board of the Auckland Council, but after this it will need to be fully self-funded. Details of courses available can be seen on the website http://mcll.chalkle.com, by collecting a booklet from the main school office or by contacting our coordinator, Adva Webber, via email at: mcll@mahurangi.school.nz. Louise Clouston, Paul Kell y, Johnathon Dutton, Ham ish Coo Patrick Henchie, Christin e Meek, Sue O’Reilly per,

We are very pleased this year to be starting up our evening classes again. The Government removed the funding for tutors in 2009 so most evening classes closed down. We are now looking to re-start these,

We are looking forward to another very successful and enjoyable year of learning at Mahurangi College.

David Macleod, Principal


localmatters.co.nz

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

43

Mahurangimatters |

Year 13 Great Barrier Island Camp 2014 During the last week of January, 90 year 13 students accompanied by 21 parents and staff, enjoyed the Annual Camp on Great Barrier Island. On arrival at Port Fitzroy the party split into 5 groups. Each group went to a different track and camped at different campsites each night e.g. Okiwi School, Haratoanga Beach, Whangaparapara Harbour, Kaiarara Hut and at Akapoua. The tramps vary in difficulty from a 4-5 hour level coastal walk to a challenging 7-8 hour hike across the middle of the island. Invariably with a group this size there were the usual assortment of bumps and scrapes. However we have to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Department of Conservation and the Westpac Trust Helicopter for attending to one of our students who needed to be evacuated off the track and transported to

Club Nights at Kowhai Swimming Club

mp ier Island Ca - Great Barr ts en ud St Year 13

Claris for medical attention, following a severe asthma attack. Despite this, everyone seemed to have a great time and rose enthusiastically, to the physical and mental challenges associated with a strenuous multi day hike. All completed their Peer Support training, and are looking forward to being our Seniors. R.Stirling, T/c Yr 13 Camp

Maori Stude

Te

a

tud . S i r e Mao Centrtudent ! y S s Stud very aven

A

What a Beautiful Sight...

Pouta a m r ent

CLUB NIGHT: • Is a fun, casual start to competitive swimming, where all competitors are encouraged. • Is for swimmers competently able to swim 1 lap (25m) of the Mahurangi College Pool preferably in at least 2 of the 4 strokes. • Involves races over a variety of distances and strokes. Times are recorded, and points collected over the season. • May also include a variety of other activities such as dolphin leagues, relays and distance certification. • Costs $20.00 per child per term. • Is from 5.30-6.15pm Tuesdays. • Is at Mahurangi College Pool, Woodcocks Rd, Warkworth. Any queries email: kowhai.amateur.swimming@ hotmail.co.nz or call Ruth 422 9349 Or come along on Tuesday evenings with your togs, goggles and swim cap and see what it’s all about.

nt

E e eH very ping Hel h for th n basis e in c -i Rea drop -5.30pm ly, a n .30 no end Ope rsday 3 rary. Fri ent. Thu ol Lib vironm o Sch rmal en us! info Join

Warkworth Lions Club Annual Event Sunday March 23rd 2014, 10am - 4pm • For kids 12 years old and under • Kids must be accompanied by an adult • From Sandspit Wharf, Warkworth

A NOTE FROM

• Limited numbers • Registration forms available from March 1st at takeakidfishingwarkworth@gmail.com

Kowhai Physio & Handy Therapy Thank you Lion Foundation for the kind donation that enabled Mahurangi College Sailing Team to purchase our new yacht.

Kowhai Physio and Hand Therapy continue to run a free clinic at school for students and have changed to Tuesday mornings to accommodate the large number of students wanting to see them. Appointments can be made through Mrs Wood. Please phone 4258039 ext 732

• Rules and information are on Registration forms. • Registrations are compulsory and close Thursday March 20th at 5pm. NO LATE ENTRIES accepted. Prizes, Raffles, Sausage Sizzles!

Achiever o f the Month: Ella Hauser Presented by Tom Bethune - Retail Manager, Mega Mitre 10 Warkworth

Proudly Supporting Mahurangi College

• Achieved NCEA Level 1 in 2013 ~ Endorsed with Excellence. • Member of the Senior A Netball Team. • Member of North Harbour High Performance Development Squad for Netball. • Member of the Senior Girls’ Touch Team which qualified for 2013 Nationals. • Member of Mahurangi College Sports Academy

WARKWORTH

Corner Woodcocks Road & Mansel Drive, Phone 425 8119


44

Mahurangi Matters

Local Sport

March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Rugby reunites

Sport

Former players, officials and supporters of the Mahurangi Rugby Club are invited to register for the club’s 25 Year Celebration, which will be held in April. The Silver Jubilee will be marked over three days, starting with junior games on Friday, April 11, and finishing with a golf tournament on Sunday, April 13. The main day on Saturday, April 12, will include more junior games, a Golden Oldies match and the main game against Glenfield – the first club Mahurangi played when it entered the competition in 1989. The Silver Jubilee dinner will be held at the Warkworth RSA on Saturday night. Foundation member and current club chairman, Ian Bradnam, says the dinner will include speakers representing the past three decades. Mahurangi Rugby, which is based at the Warkworth Showgrounds on

Chris Milicich, Harbour Sport www.harboursport.co.nz

Feedback wanted One of the many roles Harbour Sport has in the region is to ensure that the relationship between the sporting community and the decision makers is strong. Like it or not, Councils and politicians wield enormous influence over sport and recreation through the rules and regulations that they put in place. Recently public submissions closed for Auckland Council’s proposed Unitary Plan. But the good news is there is still time for sports organisations to have their say at Local Board level until March 10. At Harbour Sport, we think it’s vital that if you are involved in sport and recreation at any level or capacity, that you take the time to read what’s proposed in the Rodney Local Board Plan and then supply constructive feedback. It doesn’t matter whether you are involved in a club or school sporting environment; this is your opportunity to help shape the future of sport and recreation in the Rodney area. You might be interested to know that 26 sports from around the Harbour region recently gathered at a Harbour Sport summit to discuss the issues concerning sport. Issues that emerged from this summit included the ability for clubs to operate as commercial entities on their grounds, and the need for sport organisations to develop a facilities strategy plan to ensure the Council makes appropriate decisions on infrastructure. With a fast-growing population, changing demographics and the need for housing and development, there are massive challenges ahead in the sporting sector. It is vital sport and recreation’s needs are not ignored or left behind, especially with budgets limited and other sectors of society fighting for a slice of the financial pie. It may also interest you to know that according to Sport New Zealand, the sector generates a financial return to the Auckland region of $1.2 billion per year. Around half a million Aucklanders participate in sport and recreation, with 100,000 of those from the Harbour region. Sport and recreation therefore is a massive and integral part of the wider Auckland community, bringing with it tremendous social and health benefits. So if you are concerned about issues like open space rules, lighting or building restrictions, submit some feedback. It’s important to speak up. Feedback on Auckland’s local board plans can be made at: http://bit.ly/1edd1yC

Auckland Council has served an ultimatum to the Leigh Tennis Club – use the courts or surrender the lease. Club spokesperson Ian Bradnam says several attempts have been made over recent years to encourage members of the community to volunteer their time to run the club, without success. “If we fail to find anyone prepared to take over then we will be forced to surrender the lease to Council, for

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Auckland Area Sea Watch Matakana Marine Seawatch Sun

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If anyone is interested in saving the club, they can contact Ian on 422 6038 or 021 423 144.

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them to use the land as they wish,” he says. There’s been a tennis club on and off in Leigh for as long as most people can remember. The community built the current concrete courts, in Albert Street, next to the bowling club, about 30 years ago.

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For information about the reunion, contact Ian on 021 423 144.

Leigh tennis club faces closure

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SH1, formed from the amalgamation of the Warkworth, Omaha and Kaipara Flats clubs. Tickets for the Silver Jubilee dinner are available from Warkworth Motorcycles, in Whitaker Road, or by contacting Lee on 021 913129 or lee@nikau-consulting.com.sg.

Fri

Mar 14

Sat

Mar 15

Sun

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4:56am 0.4 5:44am 0.5 12:34am 3.3 1:22am 3.1 2:13am 3.0 3:08am 2.9 4:05am 2.8 5:03am 2.8 5:56am 2.8 12:22am 1.0 1:08am 0.9 1:50am 0.8 2:29am 0.7 3:08am 0.7 3:48am 0.6 4:28am 0.6 5:11am 0.6 11:24am 3.5 12:12pm 3.4 6:33am 0.7 7:24am 0.8 8:18am 1.0 9:15am 1.1 10:14am 1.1 11:10am 1.1 12:02pm 1.1 6:45am 2.9 7:29am 3.0 8:11am 3.0 8:50am 3.1 9:30am 3.2 10:10am 3.2 10:51am 3.2 11:33am 3.2

Tide 5:23pm 0.3 6:10pm 0.5 1:00pm 3.2 1:49pm 3.1 2:39pm 2.9 3:32pm 2.8 4:28pm 2.7 5:26pm 2.7 6:21pm 2.8 12:49pm 1.0 1:32pm 0.9 2:13pm 0.8 2:53pm 0.7 3:32pm 0.7 4:11pm 0.6 4:52pm 0.6 5:34pm 0.6 Times 11:46pm 3.4 6:57pm 0.6 7:46pm 0.8 8:38pm 0.9 9:34pm 1.0 10:34pm 1.0 11:31pm 1.0 7:11pm 2.8 7:56pm 2.9 8:38pm 3.0 9:18pm 3.1 9:57pm 3.2 10:36pm 3.2 11:17pm 3.2 7:10am 7:54pm

Sun Fishing Guide Moon

7:10am 7:53pm

Best At

B

4:14am 4:40pm

7:11am 7:52pm

Best At

B

5:05am 5:31pm

7:12am 7:50pm

Best At

G

5:56am 6:21pm

7:13am 7:49pm

Best At

G

6:46am 7:10pm

7:14am 7:47pm

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F

7:35am 7:59pm

7:15am 7:46pm

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B

8:23am 8:47pm

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Best At

B

9:11am 9:34pm

7:17am 7:43pm

Best At

B

9:57am 10:19pm

7:18am 7:42pm

Best At

B

10:42am 11:04pm

7:19am 7:40pm

Best At

F

11:26am 11:48pm

7:20am 7:39pm

Best At

F

12:10pm

7:21am 7:37pm

Best At

G

12:32am 12:54pm

7:21am 7:36pm

Best At

G

1:16am 1:38pm

7:22am 7:34pm

Best At

G

2:01am 2:24pm

7:23am 7:33pm

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G

2:47am 3:11pm

7:24am 7:31pm

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G

3:36am 4:01pm

Best At

G

4:26am 4:53pm

First Full Quarter Moon Rise 11:05am Rise 12:06pm Rise 1:05pm Rise 1:59pm Set 12:21am Set 1:10am Set 2:01am Set 2:53am Set 3:47am Set 4:42am Set 5:37am Set 6:33am Set 7:30am Set 8:29am Set 9:28am Set 10:29am Set 11:30am Set 10:10pm Set 10:51pm Set 11:35pm Rise 2:49pm Rise 3:35pm Rise 4:17pm Rise 4:56pm Rise 5:31pm Rise 6:04pm Rise 6:37pm Rise 7:08pm Rise 7:40pm Rise 8:14pm Rise 8:49pm Rise 9:29pm Rise 10:13pm *Not for navigational purposes.

G

Good Fishing

F

Fair Fishing

B

Not So Good

www.tidewiz.com

www.tidespy.com

www.ofu.co.nz

Graphic supplied by OceanFun Publishing Ltd.

For the latest wind and swell information for the Auckland area, go to: www.tidespy.com/?place=3005

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Local Sport

March 5, 2014

Golden touch for waka ama

Mahurangi Matters

45

ScoreBoard Sponsored by

TOTALSPAN RODNEY A roundup of sports activities and events in the district Netball coaching courses

Hosted by Warkworth Netball Club on March 10, 17 and 24, 6.309.30pm at Warkworth Primary School Hall, $15 per person per session. Suitable for all coaches, especially new coaches, parents, and those interested in becoming a coach. Info: Tui McCaughey 022 628 3238 or email netballrodneycenter@xtra.co.nz Indoor bowls

Indoor bowls will be staring Thursday March 6 at the Mahurangi East Hall at 7pm. Come along for fun night. Phone Peter or Grace 09 422 9903. Waka Ama

Lesley Holmes’ team won silver and bronze at the national sprints last year. This year, it won gold in three events.

When Lesley Holmes moved from Whangarei to Omaha, she feared she might have to give up her waka ama. Although Omaha has two waka ama clubs, and a thriving younger membership, it doesn’t have too many women over 60 such as herself. So for the past couple of years Lesley has been travelling back to Whangarei twice a week for two-hour training sessions with other women of a similar age. She also gets out on the water regularly at Omaha, and has daily sessions in the gym. All the training has paid off, with her team scooping three gold medals in their age group at the national sprints at Lake Karapiro earlier this year. “You do all that training for a race that

lasts about three minutes,” she laughs. A keen sportswoman who has previously competed in squash, netball and basketball, Lesley was persuaded to try waka ama following a knee injury. “I just loved it,” she recalls. “It’s like a big family. It’s got a lot of camaraderie, and we train hard.” Her local team, Tapara L, is holding a regatta on April 5, racing 18km out to Cape Rodney and back from Omaha. “People get the idea that it’s all arm action, but it’s not,” she says. “It’s core and big back muscles. That’s why I also do land-based training.” One day, she keeps telling herself, she’ll become a social paddler. “But for now, I just like competing.”

Wellsford rugby aiming for top four The Wharehine Wellsford Premier and Premier Reserve rugby teams are aiming to make the top four of both the Premier and Premier Reserve competitions this year. With local contracting and concrete company Wharehine coming on board as the new jersey sponsor, Wellsford want to go further than last year when both sides finished fifth in the Northland Southern Districts competition. Most players have returned from last year and the squad has been training since early January to get in shape. The only major loss from last year is coach Paul Humfrey who has headed off to Australia with his family. All Black Rene Ranger also left the club at the end of last season to take up a contract in France. Mick Sweetman is now co-ordinating the coaching effort, with the Premier

team being run by senior players Ross Neal, back from a year playing in Scotland, Stu Oldfield, and Northland ITM Cup players Ross and Matty Wright, with Daniel Heywood returning as manager. The Premier Reserves will once again have Kirk Sullivan and Peter Hugo as coaches. “It’s a young squad, but with a few experienced players amongst them to make for the right mix,” says Mick. “With two current ITM Cup players, two Northland Development and our five Northland Under-20 reps all returning from last year, we have the potential to make the playoffs, and once there, we would back ourselves to go all the way.” Any players interested in joining the club can come along to training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm held at Centennial Park, Wellsford.

Tapara L Waka Ama club are holding an 18km Mixed Ocean Race on April 5 at the Whangateau Boatramp, all welcome. Waka rigging and briefing 9.30am, race starts 10am. Entry fee $20 per paddler, meal included. Info: Lesley Holmes brholmes@xtra.co.nz or Skin Atkins 021 169 7950 Futsal

Come along and try this 5-a-side football for 5th-8th grade on Mondays until April 7 at Warkworth Women’s Bowling Green in Shoesmith St, 3.30-4.15pm. Refreshments available for purchase. Info: Sarah Payne 021 795045 or nff.org.nz Junior hockey

Begins in Term 2 on Saturday mornings but forms available now. Year 1-2 Uni Hockey, Year 3-6 Hockey at Shoesmith or Mahurangi College turf. Info: Nikki 425 9183. List sports news FREE by emailing editor@localmatters.co.nz

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Mahurangi Matters

46

Local Sport

March 5, 2014

Kowhai Connection Local bus timetable

Bright future for young runner

Adults

$3

Stude n $1.50 ts

per tri

p

Warkworth • Snells Beach • Matakana

Plus on-request pick-ups and drop-offs to:

Algies Bay • Sandspit • Point Wells • Omaha Weekdays Leaving Warkworth Warkworth

(excluding public holidays)

AM

Weekends (and public holidays)

PM

AM

PM

7.00 8.30 10.00 12.00 2.00 3.40 5.10

9.00

10.30

12.00

2.00

3.30

7.10 8.40 10.10 12.10 2.10 3.50 5.20

9.10

10.40

12.40

2.10

3.50

R

R

R

R

R

9.30

11.00

1.00

2.30

4.10

R

R

R

R

Snells Beach ▼

Sandspit & Algies

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

7.30 9.00 10.30 12.30 2.30 4.10 5.40

Matakana ▼

Omaha/Pt Wells Whangateau

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

AM R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

PM R

R

9.50

11.20

1.20

2.50

4.30

R

R

R

R

R

8.10 9.40 11.10 1.10 3.10 4.50 6.20

10.10

11.40

1.40

3.10

4.50

8.20 9.50 11.20 1.20 3.20 5.00 6.30

10.20

11.50

1.50

3.20

5.00

Return to Warkworth Omaha/Pt Wells Whangateau

AM

PM

7.50 9.20 10.50 12.50 2.50 4.30 6.00

Matakana ▼

Sandspit & Algies

R

R

R

R

R

R

R

Snells Beach ▼

Warkworth

R = Request a pick-up or drop-off

Freephone 0508 KOWHAI (569 424)

3 ways to catch the KowhaiConnection 1. From a bus stop 2. Hail a ride 3. Request an off-route ride 5 6 9 4 24

0508 KOWHAI • www.kowhai.org.nz

Georgia Brierly has won 24 medals and 90 ribbons at running events.

Twelve-year-old Georgia Brierly has been leaving adult competitors in her dust, winning the women’s Top of the Rock race last month and taking out “fastest woman” at the Omaha Classic two years straight. The Year 8 Wellsford School pupil has won 24 medals and 90 ribbons for first and second place at running events throughout Auckland and Northland. She came seventh overall in the field of 300 at the Top of the Rock this year and is looking to be the fastest woman in the Omaha Classic three years running. But her long-term goal is to climb to the top of the podium at the Olympics. Her mother, Rachel Brierly, says the biggest challenge Georgia faces is finding someone who can keep up with her in training. “Sometimes her brother goes along with her and bikes beside

her, or we might drive around beside her, but we can’t keep up,” Rachel says. “She just loves to run. She is very, very driven for a girl of her age. She will set her sights on something and doesn’t stop until she gets it,” she says. She runs about 9km before school a couple of days a week. And she is making her mark in national competitions. In January she won gold in the relay event and bronze in the 1500m for her age group at the trans-Tasman athletics, and she won silver in the 800m at the North Island Colgate Games in Whangarei. Her talent isn’t restricted to running — she also plays representative netball and touch and is a competitive swimmer. Wellsford Athletics Club member Caroline Marshall says Georgia has a lot of talent for someone so young. “She’s doing extremely well.”

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localmatters.co.nz

what’s on March

For links to more information about some of these events, as well as listings through to the end of the year, visit the What’s On calendar online at www.localmatters.co.nz

4

Rodney Local Board information evening on a potential swimming pool for North Rodney, Wellsford Library, 6.30-8pm. 7 Tapora Bird Day at Tapora School, 9am to 12.30pm. Learn about native birds and conservation. All welcome. 7 World Day of Prayer Service, 10am, Warkworth Presbyterian Church, Pulham Rd. This year’s ecumenical service has been prepared by the women of Egypt. All welcome. Info: Annette 422 7766. 8 Warkworth Business and Professional Women’s breakfast meeting, speaker Diane Vivian from Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, 8.30am at the Bridgehouse. All welcome but please book by March 1. Info: Sally Smith 021 425 407. 8 Northland Axemen Grading Day, Kaipara Flats Sports Club, from 11am. All the best axemen from the north will be competing, as well as guest axemen from Auckland. 8 Leigh family fishing contest, entertainment and fish auction from 3pm at Leigh Hall, tickets $50 adults and $5 for under15s. Info: leighfamilyfishing.co.nz (see story p 23) 8 McKinney Hall’s 100th Birthday Celebration. The Kaipara Flats Community Heritage Society Inc invites all past & present Kaipara Flats Community & Kaipara Flats Playgroup members to the cutting of the cake at 10am at McKinney, which will be open 9am-1pm. Info: sommai.hudson@yahoo.co.nz 9 Warkworth Trolley Derby, Morrison Drive. Info: warkworthtrolleyclub.co.nz or Craig on 422 5877. 9 Mahurangi Coastal Trail high-tide walk. Meet at the southern abutment of the old Waiwera Bridge, at 12.40pm. 10 Warkworth Genealogy Society monthly meeting 10am-noon, Shoesmith Hall, Shoesmith Street. Shared lunch. 11 CPR course at St John Warkworth, 7-9pm, $20 including supper. Limited numbers so please register. Info: Alan 425 6696. 12 Photography Group, 7pm, Kowhai Art and Craft clubrooms, Warkworth Showgrounds. All welcome. Info: Mary Moore 09 425 6910 or mayree@xtra.co.nz 14 Warkworth Primary School Twilight Fiesta, 3.30pm-7.30pm. 15 Car Boot Sale, Warkworth Methodist Church car park, 8amnoon. Sites available, phone Val Shepherd 09 425 6336. 15 Guided tour of the Sculptural Habitat, Warkworth. Meet 10am at the Protea Patch carpark. Cost $5 per person, bookings essential. Info: Txt 021 623 242 or ph 425 8277. 15/16 Tapora Golf Club Westpac Fundraiser. 16 Annual market day, Hoteo North School, 9am-midday. Info: Tony Oldfield 423 7181. 19 Kowhai Park Project weeding bee, 9.30-midday, meet at the footbridge over the Mill Stream to the lime kilns. Bring gardening gloves, morning tea and a big smile. 19 The Last Ocean screening at Matakana Cinemas, 8.15pm. Cost $12. 20 Hospitality Day for ladies, Warkworth Anglican Church, 11am. Church service and banner parade. Please bring flag or banner. Speaker is Heather Free, followed by finger food lunch. Info: Vivian Pollock 425 514. 22 Free children’s drawing workshop with cartoonist Andy Griffiths at Wellsford Library, for ages 7-plus. Register with Rochelle on 423 7022 or wellslib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 23 Mighty Mahu Fun Tryathlon & Bike Day, Snells Beach Reserve, $10 entry, registrations from 10am, races start 10.30am. Info: Ruth Mills 422 9762 or Mark Illingworth 425 9183 or facebook. com/mahusport. – Ecofest event

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March 5, 2014

Mahurangi Matters

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“SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICING”

The Green Machine COMING SOON

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Honda Marine is proud to announce two new HP models, the BF80 and BF100 outboard engines which coincides with Honda’s 50th anniversary of being a major supplier of quality outboard engines. The lightweight and compact design of the new BF80’s and BF100’s feature a 1.5L, SOHC, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder engine with all of the standard feature such as BLAST, ECOmo, and VTEC (on the BF100). Both engines are NMEA2000 compatible and feature a refined high-performance gear case which enhances hydrodynamic efficiency, while engine exhaust is even further reduced - inline with Honda’s unwavering commitment to the environment. An optional Trolling control function is also available.

330 Mahurangi East Rd Snells Beach Phone 425 5806


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Mahurangi Matters

March 5, 2014

localmatters.co.nz

Vintage swap meet a good day, rain or shine

Ted Spain found this Model T Ford wheel at the swap meet which he says he will restore to new condition. Ted has designed a breaking system for T-Model Fords, Roger Dilley replaced just about everything on his 1973 Lotus Elan + II after it arrived “rough as guts” from the UK over 20 years ago. which is used internationally.

Rain didn’t deter dedicated car enthusiasts who got along to the vintage car swap meet on February 22 to share expertise and hard-to-find parts. Over 350 people went to the event which featured about 100 vintage cars. Club president Leon Salt says people came from as far as Whangarei and Rotorua, with one enthusiast leaving home at 3am to make the most of the event.

“They want to get here first to get parts before anyone else,” Leon says. Although numbers were a bit down due to the rain, it was still a good turnout, with a steady stream of cars from 6am to 10am. Roger Dilley brought his 1973 Lotus Elan + II along, which he has restored since buying it from England for £2,900. He had it shipped over and got to work.

“It was rough as guts. I’ve replaced absolutely everything on it. The paintwork alone cost as much as the car, and getting the upholstery done cost more,” Roger says. “But I get more pleasure out of restoring them than I do out of driving them.” Ted Spain found a wheel for a Model T Ford which he says he will restore to new condition.

Ted transformed his hobby into a business, starting Flathead Ted’s, which focuses on modern upgrades for vintage Fords. He has designed a breaking system for T-Model Fords which is used internationally. Leon has the brake system installed in his Ford and says it’s fantastic. “It made a huge difference.”

If you’re buying, selling, hiring, firing, signing, suing, investing, saving, merging, marrying, moving, splitting, staying, leasing, renting ... we can help. Call one of our team on

09 422 2190

27 Percy Street, Warkworth www.wynyardwood.co.nz Business & Personal Lawyers


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