Mahurangi Matters_Issue 456_5 June 2023

Community rallies after quad bike crash

The community has been rallying round to support the McLean family of Whangateau after their quad bike plunged 50 metres down a steep bank in Ashton Road on the morning of Saturday, May 28.

Paula McLean suffered a serious head injury in the fall and was taken by rescue helicopter to Auckland Hospital, while her husband John and twin daughters Jasmine and Delilah sustained moderate injuries.

Sadly, Bruce, the family dog, did not survive.

Since the accident, there has been an outpouring of love, support and generosity to help the family, with hundreds of people donating money, meals, groceries and more via Givealittle, Meal Train and Gull Matakana.

Family friends who are coordinating

support for the McLeans said it was incredible to see the community come together to help a much-loved family on what could be a long road to recovery.

In a statement to supporters released last Thursday, June 1, they said Paula could be in hospital for a significant time to come.

“With these sorts of injuries, it is very difficult to predict definite outcomes or

understand exactly what the future might hold.

“However, Paula’s progress since the accident has been good, and in fact surprised and pleased the medical team.

“We all know the tenacious, capable and wonderful person she is, and her deep love for her family, and if anyone can recover

continued page 2

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The steep terrain of Ashton Road meant that Paula MacLean had to be winched aboard the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

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Next issue: June 19

Community rallies after quad bike crash

faster, it’s Paula.”

They said John was doing an amazing job of caring for his girls, with a huge amount of help and support from many close friends.

Also speaking on June 1, John himself said he was grateful to local emergency services – fire, police and ambulance – as well as the digger driver who heard the crash and raised the alarm, and the Westpac rescue helicopter, who were all so quick to respond and help rescue the family.

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“I am blown away by the support we’ve received,” he said. “The road ahead is uncertain, but the number of people in our local community who have dropped everything to support us during this traumatic time has been incredible.”

And he wanted to add a particularly heartfelt thank you to one local family who had gone “above and beyond” to wrap themselves around the family since the accident and whose love, generosity and support meant the world to him and the girls.

He added he was now 100 per cent focused on the recovery and healing of his daughters and Paula.

The accident happened when the McLeans drove their quad bike down from their home at the top of Ashton Road to their car parked at the bottom, as there was no access for cars due to a long-standing slip and recent works to realign the road.

Ashton Road residents said the original underslip happened last July, then was made worse by the Auckland Anniversary floods, which caused a section of the road to be impassable for cars.

Since then, a number of residents have been leaving their cars at the bottom of the road and using quad bikes to get to and from their homes nearly a kilometre up the hill.

Auckland Transport said works to cut into and realign the road began on May 12 and would continue this week with the installation of soil nails to stabilise the bank below the affected section of road. Donations to help the McLeans can be made at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ mclean-family-assistance-followingquad-bike, https://www.mealtrain.com/ trains/e3l9k1 and for petrol only, to Gull Matakana, account number 03-04810045903-00, reference mclean, code 472.

The accident happened further down Ashton Road from where contractors have been cutting into the bank to realign a section damaged by an underslip.

The road remains closed except for access by residents.

Bid to stop inshore sand mining

Residents and community groups have asked Auckland Council to stop continued inshore sand mining of Pakiri and Mangawhai Beaches, following serious damage to the beach and sand dunes from recent storms and cyclones.

They say the repeated onslaught from wind and water, coupled with almost daily dredging by Auckland aggregate firm McCallum Bros, is leaving the beaches stripped of sand and unable to recover.

At Pakiri, landowner Wendy Brown says she has seen eight to 10 metres of sand get eaten away from the dunes since 2020. Most recently, erosion has exposed a number of broad, flat rocks at the top of the beach that were previously buried deep under a dune and have never been seen by anyone before.

“I’m down on the beach every day and saw them last Monday (May 22),” she said. “I looked down the beach and thought they were logs come ashore, but it was these rocks. It shouldn’t be like that.”

Brown said the dredging meant the eroded sand never had a chance to come back to the beach.

“You can’t stop the wind blowing, but you can stop them taking the sand. It’s not right.”

Brown is one of a group of descendants of Rāhui Te Kiri who own the coastal land at Pakiri and who will be facing McCallum Bros in the Environment Court next month, trying to get the sand mining stopped once and for all.

“Them coming here and taking the sand is like us going down to their place in Auckland and digging up their lawn. This is our land and our inheritance. It’s our life,” she said. “It hurts like hell.”

after severe storm damage

Another Pakiri landowner, Wayne Greenwood, said the beach was in a terrible state and locals could close the beach to the public if at least the inshore dredging wasn’t stopped.

“We’re sick of it. They haven’t stopped. We’ve got to make some noise and I’ll lead the way if necessary,” he said.

The storms have also wiped out fairy tern nesting sites at Pakiri and created huge sand ‘cliffs’ up to six metres high all the way along the beach to Te Arai and Mangawhai.

Save Our Sands spokesperson Ken Rayward said the storms had been relentless since September, but so had the sand mining, with the dredger coming inshore to take fresh sand pulled into the sea by bad weather, meaning there was nothing left to replenish the beach.

“It’s appalling what’s been allowed to go on,” he said. “They’re taking the lifeblood of the beach.”

He said he hoped council would reconsider the continuance of near-shore mining, the consent for which expired in 2020 and an application to continue was turned down by commissioners last year. McCallums are allowed to continue mining, however, until all applications and appeals have been heard and decided.

An eight-week Environment Court hearing is due to begin online on June 19, with Judge Jeff Smith presiding. McCallum Bros is appealing against decisions to decline consent for it to continue sand extraction inshore and far-shore, while a number of opposing groups are appealing against the granting of consent for mid-shore mining north of Te Arai.

Auckland Council principal specialist Alan Moore said that while McCallum Bros could continue to dredge inshore until all legal appeals had been determined, the consent did have a review condition and council was currently investigating whether to exercise that review.

“If we were to exercise this review, we would be able to change the conditions of consent,” he said. “However, it is important to note that a review does not enable a cancellation of consent.”

McCallum Bros said it would not be commenting until after the Environment Court decision was released.

Stormy seas wreck Snells reserve repairs

Temporary repairs to a reserve and coast path took a pounding last month, when high seas and stormy weather ripped out sand, soil and turf near the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp in Snells Beach.

Auckland Council spent $60,000 on cleaning up and repairing the reserve in April, after Cyclone Gabrielle smashed more than 100 metres of seawall and sections of the concrete footpath. Workers removed wooden piles and planks from the broken seawall, repaired the reserve edge and laid a temporary path to restore pedestrian access to the popular waterfront walkway south of the ramp. However, stormy weather on the night of May 18 undid much of their work, dumping soil and grass on the seaward side of the new pathway onto the beach, prompting several local residents to complain that it had been a waste of time and money.

However, council’s resilient land and coasts general manager, Paul Klinac, said that as the works were only temporary, the damage wasn’t a complete surprise – it had

just happened sooner than expected.

“The stormy easterly conditions over the past weeks have resulted in erosion that, while not unexpected, has occurred more rapidly than anticipated,” he conceded.

“We will continue to maintain pedestrian access along the reserve and will be undertaking measures to stabilise the reserve bank in the coming week. We are also considering other measures, like placing temporary sandbags against the most eroded sections.”

Klinac said the damage highlighted the need to make sure public recreation areas were set outside hazard zones, which in this case would mean moving the reserve edge and footpath further back from the beach. And in a change from what he indicated in April (MM, Apr 24), he said the long-term repairs would probably include a seawall, at least in part.

“The current erosion does not alter the council’s objective of maintaining longterm pedestrian access along the reserve and improving the beach space, with

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Storms have exposed rocks on Pakiri Beach for the first time. Inset, Wendy Brown.

minimal reliance on hard coastal protection structures,” he said.

“It is likely that the long-term solution will include a seawall to retain the reserve edge, but that it will be set back mostly landward of the high-water mark to reduce interference with coastal processes or the impact on beach users.”

The permanent solution is currently going through the process of design and consenting, and will also include improving beach access and increasing the width of the footpath along that section.

“We want to assure the community that the process is being fast-tracked where possible,” he added.

The project is being funded from the regional coastal renewals budget and work programme, but Klinac said he didn’t yet have an accurate cost estimate.

He added that timbers removed from Snells Beach had been reused at Buckleton Beach, where the cyclone had damaged another seawall, meaning very little wood had been wasted.

Surf’s up at

The construction of New Zealand’s first surf park at Dairy Flat is a step closer.

The project has been referred to an expert consenting panel for consideration under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Act 2020.

Former All Black, mental health advocate and lifelong surfer Sir John Kirwan is working with the developers, Aventuur, to deliver the surf park.

Kirwan says he is delighted with the Minister for the Environment’s decision to refer the project.

“This is a big step for the Auckland Surf Park, and we hope to secure the full consent by the end of this year,” he says. “This will be a tremendous boost for Auckland and Aotearoa in terms of community, sporting, tourism and economic benefits.”

Kirwan says that while he has surfed at Wavegarden facilities in Melbourne and Switzerland, he believed Auckland would set new benchmarks for surf park design, experiences and sustainability.

“Our goal is to deliver a truly unique surf park that is reflective of Aotearoa culture and contributes significantly to both individual health and community wellbeing. We’re planning to be responsible in how we design, build and naturescape the site, including regenerating an existing stream on the property and ensuring the community maintains its rural aesthetic.”

Adventuur spokesperson Trevor McKewen says that at the heart of the community will be a 2.2-hectare Wavegarden Cove surfing lagoon, offering perfect waves, tailored coaching, and unique experiences for all

Dairy Flat

Riding a Wavegarden wave is Aventuur’s director of surf and sustainability Adrian “Ace”

abilities in a safe and controlled environment.

He says the project will feature highperformance sports facilities, eco-cabins and lodging accommodation, community amenities and restaurants, as a data centre and solar farm.

“By incorporating complementary infrastructure within a single master planned site, Aventuur aims to create a sustainable

ecosystem of land uses,” McKewen says. “In a world-first, Aventuur is seeking to capture the heat generated by the data centre to warm the water of the park’s surfing lagoon. The seven-hectare solar farm is intended to provide renewable energy for the data centre.”

The development has a significant focus on sustainability, with the project targeting

Sandspit Road subdivision gets green light from panel

Plans to build 49 houses on land between Sandspit Road and the Mahurangi River in Warkworth have been given the go-ahead by a panel of independent commissioners, following a public hearing in March.

Commissioners Karyn Sinclair, Nicki Williams and Cherie Lane granted resource consent to Denis Horner’s The Kilns mixed housing development at 34 & 36 Sandspit Road, which is a non-complying activity under the site’s current Future Urban zoning.

They concluded that any adverse effects from the proposal would be minor and acceptable, and could be satisfactorily dealt with by detailed conditions, more than 80 pages of which were attached to their decision report.

“There are significant positive effects of the project that need to be considered when considering the effects of the project,” the report said.

These included the developer’s intentions to provide walking and cycling access to the historic Combes and Daldy lime kilns,

as well as into Warkworth town centre via Millstream Place.

“The proposal responds to the unique features of the site including the heritage features, and landscape and visual values of the site,” the report added.

“The medium density development and subdivision will not unduly detract from the surrounding setting, given the limited visibility of the site (and) there will be negligible adverse effects on the Outstanding Natural Landscape.

“There are no other adverse effects that cannot be satisfactorily addressed by conditions, including heritage, cultural, construction and earthworks effects.”

The two-day hearing included appearances by three people in favour of the plans, including Gary Heaven for the Mahurangi Trail Society, who said that without this development “we are never going to get public access to the lime kilns”.

“Two people spoke against, including Jim Visser, who had concerns about the number of truck movements needed to develop the

site, land stability and stormwater, and Forest & Bird Warkworth member Roger Williams, who said the proposed public walking and cycling access to the lime kilns and Puhinui Reserve could be improved. The commissioners accepted evidence that the site had a “peri-urban character” (ie, it was adjacent to an urban area), which suggested that the Future Urban zoning objective to retain rural character was “essentially impossible”. However, they found that simply being “at odds with the expectations of the FUZ” was not sufficient to refuse consent.

The Kilns development will include two and three-storey terraced houses, one and two-storey duplexes and two-storey houses, surrounded by a new vested reserve and an access road.

Consultant planner Burnette O’Connor told the March hearing that groundworks were planned for the 2023-24 earthworks season, with the construction to follow as connections to wastewater became available and demand allowed.

a New Zealand Green Buildings Council Green Star rating.

Other sustainability initiatives include using ‘zero embedded carbon’ concrete for structures, harvesting rainwater from the park’s roofs, composting organic waste on site, eliminating single use plastics, and procuring local materials and products wherever possible.

Aventuur is currently developing a surf park in Perth, which recently received development approval and the company is also progressing projects in the APAC region and North America.

The NZ park will be built on land on Dairy Flat Highway, just south of Horseshoe Bush Road. All going well, the developers hope to open the complex sometime in 2026.

Small is smart

Consumer NZ’s latest power company satisfaction survey has found, once again, that the smaller retailers lead the power pack when it comes to keeping customers satisfied. “Across the board, the customer satisfaction rating is a measly 54%,” Consumer campaign manager Jessica Walker says. “The power providers doing a better job of keeping their customers happy tend to have a smaller market share.” Powershop has come out on top of the annual survey. It’s the third year in a row the retailer has been awarded Consumer’s People’s Choice status, and the sixth time it has achieved the accolade since 2015.

Sir John Kirwan

Buchan.

To date, planning has cost just over $4.5 million

Ramping up to Road Opening

The moment we have all been waiting for is soon upon us.

The Ara-Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will open before the end of June. The project started over six years ago, with the sod turning on 3 November 2016. It has been a long road with many unprecedented hurdles, but what a road it is. This new piece of infrastructure is magnificent, resilient and safe. I can’t wait for the community and travelling public to enjoy the benefits of the new road.

Warkworth roading plan moves to land acquisition

Notices of Requirement for a future transport network in Warkworth have been lodged with Auckland Council following approval of the Detailed Business Case by the Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi boards.

The lodgements are described as a major step towards protecting the land needed to build new transport projects over the next 10 to 30 years as development occurs.

The lodgements cover eight new designations:

• Northern public transport hub and western link north

• Woodcocks Road – west upgrade

• State Highway 1 – south upgrade

• Matakana Road upgrade

• Sandspit Road upgrade

• Western link – south

• Sandspit link

• Wider western link – north

An estimated 19 full properties and part of a further 217 properties will be needed for the recommended network.

The project is being coordinated by the Supporting Growth Alliance, which estimates it will cost $38 million for early property purchases.

The work is fuelled by predictions that over the next 30 years there will be 8200 new houses, 4600 new jobs and 17,100 additional people in Warkworth. This is a four-fold increase in the current population.

The proposed network includes the western link, which will link State Highway 1 near McKinney Road to the Matakana link on SH1; a Matakana Road to Sandspit Road link; and a wider western link, which will traverse the development to the south of Warkworth, in the vicinity of Valerie Close.

The majority of these projects are yet to be funded. They are likely to be considered for funding in line with the long-term timeframes for the rezoning and release of land by Auckland Council over the next 10 to 30 years.

The overall estimate for capital costs to implement the Warkworth programme, excluding property acquisition, is $1 billion. To date, it has cost just over $4.5 million which has been spent on the indicative business case (2019), the detailed business case (2023) and the Notice of Requirement documentation (2023).

These costs have been incurred through the provision of professional services such as mana whenua engagement, public and stakeholder engagement, transport network modelling, economic analysis, planning services, legal advice and urban design.

There have also been engineering, ecological, noise and vibration, landscape, archaeological, stormwater and flooding assessments.

Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth is a collaboration between Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The alliance also includes consultancies AECOM, (infrastructure consultants), Beca (engineers and consultants) and Bell Gully and Buddle Findlay (legal).

A supporting Growth spokesperson says the new transport network will provide current and future communities with better access to safe, accessible and lowcarbon transport choices.

“Our focus is on planning for future growth now by protecting the land required for the new transport corridors before homes and communities are built,” they said.

MENZIES/ ENDRES DUO

Violin & Piano

Ahead of the road opening there are a few important things I would like to share around post opening construction works, motorway operation, and my departure from the project. After the new motorway opens to traffic, there will be ongoing work for a number of months to fully complete the project. This includes work on the Pūhoi on and off-ramps, slip repairs, seasonal planting/landscaping, and final clean up of works areas; including removal of machinery and equipment, and tidying up the land no longer required for the motorway operation and returning it to its original condition. The remaining work will largely take place away from the main motorway and have minimal or no impact on the road users. The most significant work that needs to take place is the Pūhoi on and off-ramp closures. These works can’t be completed until the motorway opens and are necessary to complete the construction of the ramps, which were opened in 2021 for temporary use so that the team could construct the new motorway and connect it to the existing Johnstones Hill Tunnels.

Pūhoi southbound on-ramp

The Pūhoi southbound on-ramp will close immediately after the new road opens, 24/7, for approximately four weeks.

Pūhoi residents, residents south of Moir Hill Road, and southbound traffic from ‘old SH1’ will not be able to access the southbound on-ramp during the construction period and motorists travelling south from Pūhoi will be detoured via the free route on Hibiscus Coast Highway while we complete this work.

Pūhoi northbound off-ramp

The Pūhoi northbound off-ramp will close at night immediately after the new road opens, from 9pm to 5am daily, for approximately two weeks.

Pūhoi residents and travelling public will not be able to exit at the northbound off-ramp during this time and will need to take the free route via Hibiscus Coast Highway, exiting SH1 from Grand Drive, Orewa.

Some of the work on both ramps is highly weather dependent and can’t be done in the rain or if the ground temperature is too cold, which affects the laying of asphalt. As we are now approaching the winter months it is likely there will be nights where we can’t work. The team have allowed for some contingency, however if there is significant rain or cold weather during these dates, the work will need to be pushed out to the next fine night. To keep up to date with the closures, please check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/

We fully appreciate this will be inconvenient especially for those living in these areas. We would like to thank the community for their patience, while we complete the last major step required to provide access to the new motorway and smoother ride for journeys to and from Pūhoi.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and adios. I joined the project back in April 2018 and at that time it was anticipated that I would be around for a couple of years, however, along came COVID-19. It is now time for me to hand over the reins to a successor – Mike Elliot, who will take over as Project Director to close out these final stages. I wish him all the best.

So, please enjoy this new piece of infrastructure that has been a labour of love for me and the project team. We are proud of what has been achieved.

Thank you all for your patience and interactions with us over the years.

Nga mihi Robert Jones – Project Director

TICKETS

• Members $25

• Non-Members $35

• Tertiary Students $10

Purchase Tickets Online at www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

These renowned soloists come together to present cornerstone works of the violin and piano repertoire featuring Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata and Schubert’s Rondo Brillant and Schnittke Violin Sonata No. 2.

Saturday, 1 July 2023 at 4pm Warkworth Town Hall

For more information, call the NX2 team on: 24/7 Freephone: 0508 P2WK INFO (0508 7295 4636) Email: info@nx2group.com

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

The designation for the proposed link between Matakana and Sandspit roads will require nearly 20 hectares, covering 19 land parcels.

Kaipara cautioned over waste to

energy idea

Small New Zealand rural councils such as Kaipara are being targeted by overseas companies involved in waste incineration for power generation because doors are closing in other countries.

This was the message delivered by Zero Waste Network director of external affairs, Sue Coutts, to a Kaipara District Council meeting last week.

She said as well as Kaipara, councils in Waimate, Feilding and Te Awamutu had been approached.

“The idea of creating jobs and local economic development is attractive to councillors and mayors, and they then tend to become ‘salespeople’ for the proposals,” Coutts said.

Zero Waste is critical of Kaipara’s decision to investigate a waste-to-energy incinerator, in conjunction with Auckland Council, Whangārei District Council, Far North District Council, Northland Inc and Te Uri o Hau.

“It is based on the false choice between a landfill and an incinerator. Incinerators still need landfills for the toxic ash and wastewater they create. They don’t eliminate waste – they just transform it into new, more toxic waste including air, land and water pollution containing deadly dioxins.”

Coutts said council resources would be better spent on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and it would be better to invest in resource recovery strategies and changing people’s behaviour.

“Landfills and incineration plants are basically the same thing because they depend on a continual stream of waste materials to make the economics work,” she said.

Sue Coutts, from Zero Waste, addressed a Kaipara District Council meeting last week, encouraging them not to pursue any waste to energy project.

“Burning rubbish and burying rubbish are both disposal strategies that take us in the wrong direction.

“Council and Government are heading towards a low waste/low emissions future, and Kaipara’s Climate Action Plan is a good example of how you are doing that locally.

“Globally, the two big sources of emissions from the waste sector are methane from organics in landfill and C02 emissions from burning plastics, and it doesn’t make sense for Kaipara to create a big new source of emissions just when other parts of the world are stepping back from incineration.”

are an easy target because we don’t have the regulatory framework to deal with incinerator applications.

“Small councils are faced with doing all the due diligence around the risks and cost/benefits of these proposals. Plus, the evidence that is being brought to the table isn’t being critically examined.”

Landfills and incineration plants are basically the same thing because they depend on a continual stream of waste materials to make the economics work

Coutts suggested that councils work together, pointing to Waikato as an example, where a network of councils has commissioned a report on waste-toenergy efficiencies.

downturns and covid, Coutts said this was because councils were continuing to spend the bulk of their budgets on disposal strategies.

“We’re not choosing to invest in the things up the hierarchy that would make a difference.

“But the Auditor General has said that unless government and councils start to invest in reduction strategies they will face increasing costs for waste disposal.

Coutts talked about the risks involved in incineration, which burns a mixed rubbish feedstock.

“This doesn’t magically disappear, so you get emissions to air and emissions to water.

“The incinerator companies are looking for markets across New Zealand. We

She says if an incinerator was set up in Kaipara, it would become a magnet for all the rubbish in the region because they depend on bulk flow. This would be regardless of whether or not it was recyclable, compostable or reusable.

Questioned on the fact that since around 2000, waste volumes to landfills have only ever increased, except during economic

“Where we’ve seen it working is where government has said that instead of blowing $350 million on an incinerator or landfill, let’s commit to resource recovery infrastructure, composting infrastructure and behaviour change programmes to change the game. We know it’s pretty easy to get 70 per cent out of the waste stream if you choose to invest in that work.”

Asked why councils were reluctant to invest in waste reduction rather than endof-life strategies, Coutts said that in order to reduce waste, councils had to spend money up front and that was a barrier.

“We are seeing the game change with more investment from government through the waste levy.” (see also Viewpoint page 9)

Malcolm

Les Miller & Jackie Woolerton - Webster Malcolm Law

Board to consider urban design plan for Warkworth

The draft Puhinui Warkworth Town Centre Plan will go to a Rodney Local Board meeting this month, before being released for public feedback.

The plan, costing just over $100,000, has been prepared in two stages – Community Think ran an extensive community engagement exercise over about nine months last year and the results have been used by urban design specialists Motu Design who are writing the plan.

The project team said in a statement last year that the Warkworth Town Centre Plan would set the direction for the development of the area and would guide future decisions on place-making projects, public spaces, accessibility and connectivity projects, land use and community projects in and around the town centre and riverfront.

“The goal is a Warkworth town centre that meets the needs of the whole community, nurtures and protects the river, and provides a well-designed, vibrant and attractive place for everybody.”

A local board spokesperson said some of the community feedback received was outside the scope of the centre plan, but was included.

“The report called Community Voices takes a broader look so that anyone in the community can pick it up and use it to support funding applications, community activities, advocacy, and as a reminder of what has been said for any future work.”

The report essentially formed a community wish list. People had asked for things like a community stage, community composting, a cinema, food court, youth spaces, an education centre and a swimming pool. There were also calls for night markets, e-scooter hire, art classes and free rides on the Jane Gifford.

The need for a town centre plan was outlined in Rodney Local Board’s 2020 three-year plan and it was also a priority for One Mahurangi Business Association.

The Puhinui Warkworth Community report can be read with this story online.

...and for the kids

The seasons are changing. Children are inside, keep them busy with . . .

Perfect Roast Beef

1.5 kg topside of beef

2 medium onions

2 carrots

2 sticks celery

1 bulb of garlic

1 bunch of mixed fresh herbs , such as thyme, rosemary, bay, sage olive oil

Remove the beef from the fridge 30 minutes before you want to cook it, to let it come up to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 240°C. Wash and roughly chop the vegetables – there’s no need to peel them. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled. Pile all the veg, garlic and herbs into the middle of a large roasting tray and drizzle with oil.

Drizzle the beef with oil and season well with sea salt and black pepper, then rub all over the meat. Place the beef on top of the vegetables.

Place the tray in the oven, then turn the heat down immediately to 200°C/400°F/gas 6 and cook for 1 hour for medium beef. If you prefer it medium-rare, take it out 5 to 10 minutes earlier. For well done, leave it in for another 10 to 15 minutes.

If you’re doing roast potatoes and veggies, get them into the oven for the last 45 minutes of cooking. Baste the beef halfway through cooking and if the veg look dry, add a splash of water to the tray to stop them from burning.

When the beef is cooked to your liking, take the tray out of the oven and transfer the beef to a board to rest for 15 minutes or so. Cover it with a layer of tin foil and a tea towel and leave aside while you make your gravy.

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Themes were discussed alongside ideas at a Meaning Making session where the community came up with considerations for the urban design team Puhinui Warkworth Community Voices

The 38-page Puhinui Warkworth Community Voices report captures the aspirations of groups and individuals who participated in last year’s community engagement programme.

In brief

Blowing our own biro Wild rice spread

Mangawhai residents are being asked to keep an eye out for new patches of Manchurian wild rice grass amid fears the invasive pest plant could have been spread during recent flooding. The Northland Regional Council says in Northland, the core rice grass infestation occurs in the Kaipara District on the banks of the Wairoa River and its tributaries, and on adjacent farmland. There are also small infestations in Mangawhai on pasture and cropping land, roadsides, and in and around creeks and farm drains. Due to the scale of the infestation, total eradication is not possible with current technologies, but the goal is to progressively contain it and reduce its distribution. Manchurian wild rice is a giant grass that grows up to four metres high. Native to Asia, it arrived unintentionally in ship’s ballast near Dargaville more than 100 years ago. It has harsh, dull green leaves that are one to two centimetres wide and grow in fans.

Marine pest spotted

Biosecurity New Zealand is reminding boaties and fishers to clean their anchors and fishing gear and reduce the risk of introducing or spreading any exotic seaweeds after a small clump of suspected Caulerpa brachypus was spotted on a Bay of Islands beach. Biosecurity’s director of readiness and response John Walsh said a local resident, who had been at a beach at Te Rāwhiti, near Russell, took a photograph of the 20cm seaweed clump they found and sent it in for visual identification. “We did provisionally identify the seaweed as Caulerpa brachypus based on the photograph, but unfortunately the seaweed was no longer there when the person returned so we have been unable, at this stage, to collect a sample for confirmation testing. We do have a small team up there doing beach-based surveillance. We know that exotic Caulerpa can be spread through breaking into little pieces and can potentially spread over large distances by rafting on floating debris. This can happen by wave action, or when anchors and fishing gear are moved into or through weed beds, which is why keeping your boat and equipment clean is the best thing you can do to avoid spreading marine pests and diseases, including the exotic Caulerpa.”

Book winner

On May 27, several staff from Mahurangi Matters put on their glad rags and beat a path to the annual Voyager Media Awards in Auckland. These national awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand journalism and this year was an extra special occasion because it marked the event’s 50th anniversary. It was also a special occasion for this newspaper, as we were one of the finalists in the Community Newspaper of the Year category.

We were up against a strong field from across NZ and sadly, we did not win. That well-deserved honour went to the Ashburton Guardian, a tri-weekly newspaper that has been printing since the late 1800s. But we were named runners-up, and we think being singled out as the second-best community newspaper in NZ isn’t a bad achievement.

While the major stories captured the limelight – reports from the war in the Ukraine, the Wellington protests and the Black Ferns win at the Rugby World Cup – there was a recurring acknowledgement

of the importance of hyper-local reporting, the stories that tell us what is happening on the ground in our communities.

The appetite for news that can be trusted has never been stronger, but unfortunately, when people think “media” they often don’t differentiate between the news stories produced by trained and experienced journalists, and opinion pieces that populate many of the larger news sites, the posts they see on social media or advertorial written to please an advertiser. It was good to be in the company of fellow professionals who are dedicated to their craft, showing innovation in delivering stories through multimedia platforms. The Ashburton Guardian, like Mahurangi Matters, has started to encourage its readers to support its journalism through an online membership programme. We are grateful to the people who have already signed up to our Premium subscription package. Thank you for your support, which means we can continue to bring the Mahurangi district the sort of news service it deserves.

One of life’s little mysteries

The Warehouse’s move from Snells Beach to Warkworth delivered an unexpected and touching story that may never have been uncovered had the Snells store not closed. Warkworth resident Stephen Becket takes up the story …

In February, a friend was looking at the local Facebook page and suddenly exclaimed, “Isn’t that your Mum and Dad?”

She was looking at a photo that someone had put up enquiring who these two people were and did anyone recognise them? I did.

It was a photo I remember seeing many years ago, as a boy, of my mother and father taken during World War II. My father, who was a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, was in uniform and my mother was in civilian dress. She was wearing a brooch that she later gave to me after my father died.

My father’s rank and uniform suggest that the photo was taken in 1944 just before he was sent to India, after surviving D-Day and the invasion of Western Europe. He was sent to India in preparation for the invasion of Malaya, which never eventuated because the war ended owing to the atomic bombs dropped on Japan and Japan’s subsequent surrender. He returned from Malaya a Captain.

The other clue was that my mother was in civilian dress. During the war, she was a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, after being bombed out of her home by the Germans. She was the first person demobbed from the WRNS because her husband was going to India so that would have been why she wasn’t in uniform. All her other war-time photos had her in uniform.

that this photo could be reunited with the family. Pictured are Deirdre and George Becket.

A lady who worked at the Snell’s Beach Warehouse Store, Jenny Walsh, found the photo in the company safe when she clearing the office prior to the move to Warkworth.

Instead of just throwing it into the bin, she made an effort to trace the owner – which I’m truly grateful for. Apparently, the photo had been found among the photo frames back in 2018 and someone had put it in the safe in case anyone claimed it. And there it lay until February.

After much toing and froing, I managed to contact Jenny and showed her the brooch my mother had been wearing, and she very kindly gave me the photo.

The Warkworth Photo Store did a marvellous job of tidying it up, as it was

fairly scrunched up, and they reworked the old photo and we had it framed. This I then sent to my mother in the UK as a present for her 100th birthday in April. She really appreciated receiving the photo and has it displayed at her home – despite her age, she lives independently and needs no medication or assistance.

Where the photo came from and how it ended up in the Snells Beach Warehouse, we have no idea. I do have other family here but no one claims to know anything about it. One of life’s little mysteries! So, thank you, Warehouse, and a big thank you to Jenny who could have just as easily consigned the photo to the bin. You made one very old lady very happy.

UV Filtration Systems, Water Pumps & Plumbing

Jenny Walsh’s thoughtfulness meant

Congratulations to Claire Kronfeld, who was the winner of a copy of the book Head of the Calf.

Viewpoint

Craig Jepson, Mayor of Kaipara mayor@kaipara.govt.nz

Exploring waste options

Northland Regional Council, and Kaipara, Whangarei and Far North District Councils have committed to investigate the feasibility of introducing waste to energy (WtE) for dealing with our solid waste streams. It is not possible to have this discussion without examining the comparative emissions from a landfill such as proposed at the headwaters of the Hoteo, which discharges to our unique Kaipara Harbour.

In terms of landfill emission to air, soil, and water, you cannot readily manage what you cannot measure. It is a committal to hundreds of years of discharge to our environment. There is no ‘off’ switch on a landfill.

The 2022 NZ Ministry for the Environment – New Zealand Dioxin Inventory lists landfill and their associated fires as contributing more than 55 per cent of our country’s yearly dioxin emissions. These landfill emissions have steadily increased since 2012.

WtE plants require continuous emission monitoring systems to ensure they are optimally operating. Comparing earlier WtE versions to modern operations is like comparing a Tiger Moth to a 747. Since the introduction of maximum available control technology (MACT) in 1987 dioxin levels internationally have fallen by 99.9%. In France, over the same period emissions fell from 435 TEQ to just 1.2g TEQ. By comparison, residential wood combustion (household fireplace) annually produces 320g TEQ compared to Frances 100 WTE plants producing just 1.2g TEQ. Records show that more than 800 WtE plants

Changes to Auckland’s water and wastewater charges

operate in 40 countries and currently treat around 261 million tonnes annually. Our Australian counterparts are constructing WtE facilities. The energy recovered from modern WtE plants has the potential to power thousands of homes by providing electrical energy. Unlike landfill, WtE plants does not emit the powerful greenhouse gas methane and has the capability to capture food grade CO2.The recovery of ferrous and nonferrous metals, and the use of bottom ash and plasma treated fly ash suitable for roading and industrial use, is an additional economic benefit.

In an integrated approach, WtE complements recycling programmes. Wales has the highest recycling rates in the world at 67% (NZ is 28%) yet still has four WtE plants. In 1995, New Zealand embraced the ethos of zero waste. Since that time, as a nation, we have dumped well over 200 million tonnes of resource into landfills. Our solid waste production has steadily increased despite heroic efforts by many councils and organisations to reduce the tonnages. As evidenced in other countries, New Zealand could improve our efforts by engaging in an integrated waste management system, which after maximising our recycling efforts secures benefits from the remaining waste via WtE. I look forward to a forthright discussion based on up-to-date evaluation of the economic, socio and environmental benefits of modern WtE technology now embraced in so many of our trading nations.

Please note: The views expressed in this column are my own and do not necessarily represent a consensus position of Kaipara District Council.

Oruawharo Road complaint

Retired roading contractor George Batistich last week called on Kaipara District Council to make good a promise from “generations ago” to fix Oruawharo Road.

Batistich, 73, said residents were given assurances that royalties from forestry would be spent on the road.

“We’re still waiting,” he said. “The road is in a helluva mess. There are seven to nine sets of culverts on the road, but only three are working so you can imagine what happens when we get all this rain. “Sometimes we have to turn around and go home. I’ve put on two new tyres and had

two punctures already. It’s not cheap.

“We’re being told ‘watch this space … something is going to be done’, but we’re still waiting.”

Batistich was particularly critical of council contractors.

Deputy Mayor Jason Larsen says it was a message that they [council] was hearing about a lot of contractors.

“Some major changes need to be made,” he said.

Oruawharo Road is a 6.56 kilometre road that runs between Topuni and the Kaipara Harbour.

We’d like to let you know that the amount you pay for water and wastewater services will change from 1 July 2023.

The price rises are necessary to ensure you continue to receive safe and reliable water and wastewater services.

All of the money we receive from our customers goes into operating, maintaining and expanding our infrastructure. We do not set out to make a profit or to pay a dividend to our shareholder, Auckland Council.

New charges

Domestic customers

Water

Volumetric charge:

Increases from $1.825 to $1.998 per 1,000 litres

Wastewater

If you have a water meter:

• The fixed charge per meter will increase from $264 to $289 per year.

• The volumetric charge will increase from $3.174 to $3.476 per 1,000 litres of wastewater discharged.

If you do not have a metered water supply but are connected to the wastewater network:

• The fixed charge will increase from $811 to $888 per year.

Commercial customers

Water

Volumetric charge:

Increases from $1.825 to $1.998 ($1.587 to $1.737 excluding GST) per 1,000 litres.

Wastewater

Fixed and volumetric wastewater charges will increase by an average of 9.5 per cent. The actual price changes will depend on your selected pricing plan.

You can view the pricing plans at www.watercare.co.nz and search for ‘pricing plans’.

The infrastructure growth charge is a one-off fee paid by any customer requiring a new connection or by commercial customers increasing a property’s demand for water or wastewater services. This will increase from $14,903 to $16,095 excluding GST for metropolitan customers. For information on changes to our range of non-metropolitan IGCs, visit www.watercare.co.nz and search for ‘IGC’.

The cost for a paper copy bill will change from $1.20 to $1.50 to cover the increase in postage charges.

New water meter charges have been adjusted to reflect the change from mechanical meters to smart meters.

All prices are inclusive of GST, unless otherwise stated, and are effective from 1 July 2023

Our charges are part of our customer contract, which will be updated with the new pricing plan on 1 July 2023. To find out more about these charges, visit our website www.watercare.co.nz (Manage account > Our charges).

www.watercare.co.nz

The new Firearms Registry is coming

Register your firearms and help make New Zealand safer.

Registry goes live on 24 June 2023

New Zealand will have a firearms registry from 24 June 2023. If you’re a firearms licence holder, you’ll be required to provide information about your firearms or arms items from this date.

The Registry will help us make New Zealand safer. It will give licence holders more confidence when buying or selling firearms, as the Registry will let you know if you’re dealing

with a current licence holder and if the firearm has been reported stolen.

The Registry is one of the ways we’re strengthening how we manage firearms in New Zealand. With responsible firearms licence holders doing the right thing and filling in the Registry, it will help keep track of legally owned firearms and help prevent their transfer to those who use them for criminal purposes.

You have 5 years until 24 June 2028 to register your firearms. However there are some circumstances where you are required to provide information for the Registry in a shorter time frame. These are referred to in the Arms Amendment Regulations as ‘activating circumstances’. It’s up to you to keep your information up to date. You can find information on these timeframes at: firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/registry

Examples of activating circumstances

What needs to be registered

Non-prohibited firearms including Specially Dangerous Airguns (PCPs)

Restricted weapons

Pistols

Major parts

Prohibited firearms and magazines

Pistol carbine conversion kits

You can register your firearms or arms items on our website at any time. Just click on MyFirearms, the private and secure portal that houses the Registry. Otherwise our Registry and Services team will be available by phone to help during business hours.

If you’re subject to any compliance or enforcement action under the Arms Act

There will be no charge for registering your firearms.

Details needed to register your firearms

• Type (rifle, shotgun etc)

• Make

• Model

• Action

• Calibre/gauge

• If it has a non-detachable magazine (and, if so, its capacity)

• Identifying marking (serial number)

• A photograph of the firearm (if requested)

Council to consult on flood resilience strategy

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council

Mahurangi residents will have the opportunity to comment on Auckland Council’s strategy for flood resilience and management next month.

The Making Space for Water strategy has nine initiatives covering issues such as stream rehabilitation, community led flood resilience, culvert upgrades and overland flow path management.

At a Governing Body meeting on May 23, Healthy Waters head of planning Nick Vigar said the strategy needed to have a strong community focus.

“There have been calls for better preparedness for these events so what we are proposing is a criticality-based approach where we go to at-risk flood catchments and have an increased maintenance regime,” Vigar said He said some of the work would involve

private property owners and council would need to balance “lowering risk for communities and intervening where needed”.

Mayor Wayne Brown said part of the strategy would be “preventing dumb stuff from happening”.

“Lots of people didn’t realise that the solid fences they put in were actually threatening their own houses. The number of solid fences directly across or altering the overland flow paths was quite horrendous,” Brown said.

He said the indicative cost of implementing the strategy was likely to be in excess of $1 billion over six years, which council was unable to bear alone.

Cr Chris Darby said a lot of the strategy appeared to be basic work that council should already be doing.

“Stream rehabilitation focusing on high risk streams, daylighting, community engagement, they are all pretty basic,”

Darby said.

Darby asked Healthy Waters general manager Craig McIlroy why catchment management planning had been stopped under his management.

McIlroy said that the “risk appetite” for flooding had changed after recent events.

“We live in a real world where we have all been subject to financial constraints. I have advocated as eloquently as I can – arguing for larger budgets to do the work,” McIlroy said.

“We probably underestimated the risk [of flooding], which is why we are going through what I call a reprioritisation programme.”

The strategy is expected to give more detailed information on flood risks in specific areas, which McIlroy said would be available in the consultation material.

The consultation material will go back to the Governing Body for approval this month, with consultation expected to run for a month from mid-July.

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

A total of 143,000 Auckland households are paying rates just to cover the interest on Auckland Council’s debt.

Mayor Wayne Brown told councillors recently that council spends $503 million a year on interest, $1.4 million every day. “It’s why having debt is not a good thing,” he said.

At the Governing Body meeting on May 23, staff reported that net debt had increased by $760 million bringing council’s debt up to $11.9 billion.

Council’s current financial strategy has been to cap debt at 290 per cent of council’s operating revenue.

If Brown is able to convince the majority of councillors to sell council’s 18 per cent share in Auckland Airport, the debt ratio is projected to track below 220 per cent by 2030/31.

Financial strategy and planning general manager Ross Tucker said that council funded long term infrastructure projects through debt. He said if council tried to directly fund these projects through rates, it would cause a significant increase [in rates].

“You are talking a massive amount, a huge number, broadly in the order of a 50 per cent rate increase,” Tucker said. He said council’s options to fund large infrastructure projects were either to fund projects through debt, raise the rates or not do the projects at all.

Recent feedback on Mayor Wayne Brown’s budget proposal indicates some Aucklanders would prefer to borrow rather than make cuts.

A total of 39 per cent of submitters said they would prefer rate increases or borrowing over proposed cuts.

We have an awesome agent (Chelsey) who gives us the well needed peace of mind. She is onto it and nothing is ever a problem.

reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

$1.4 million spent every day on Auckland’s debt

The strategy will look at ways to prevent a repeat of this type of flooding in Puhoi.

Online grocery option as supermarket moves north

Shoppers in Warkworth, Omaha, Matakana and Snells Beach now have an extra option for buying groceries, with online supermarket Supie extending its delivery area north of Auckland. The door-to-door delivery service was launched in 2021 with the aim of breaking the supermarket duopoly, and it claims to have some of the lowest prices in New Zealand, as well as access to the freshest fruit and vegetables.

On a sample selection of nine grocery items last month, which included bananas, butter, mince, cheese, eggs and bread, the total Supie price of just under $49 was between $8 and $12 cheaper than Warkworth New World and Countdown respectively, the company claimed. However, Supie does charge delivery fees on top, although it has a membership option where customers can receive free delivery and extra discounts on all purchases.

Founder Sarah Balle said the vision for Supie was to provide a supplier-friendly and customer-focused approach to food retailing, with a long-term goal of ensuring that all Kiwis have access to healthy, affordable food, no matter where they live.

Balle said she was aware of the problems being caused by inflation and the increasing cost of living, and Supie passed on savings generated by the efficiencies of its online-

Unsealed roads set to get budget boost

Significant and long-awaited improvements in unsealed road maintenance might finally be on the cards from July, despite sweeping spending cuts elsewhere to plug Auckland Council’s $325 million budget deficit.

The revised budget package being voted on this week includes a proposal to more than double the amount Auckland Transport (AT) is spending in maintaining unsealed roads, from $2.4 million to $5.1 million per year.

The proposed increase is the result of sustained lobbying by Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers, Rodney Local Board members and many local residents, all of whom are fed up with the state of rural roads.

for far too long,” Sayers said.

However, he was concerned that the $4 million annual budget to seal more Rodney roads would not be increased, despite what he said was a need for $12 million a year just to cope with the region’s increased traffic levels.

But he said the Mayor’s interest in seeing rural regions being treated fairly was a big improvement on the past, with significant progress on roading in particular, and he praised his leadership in recognising the poor state of Auckland’s unsealed roads.

“It is just the beginning; the more Kiwis that shop with Supie, the lower our prices will be,” she said.

Supie’s currently supplies more than 7000 supermarket products, as well a range of gift boxes, special bundle deals and no waste items.

The arrival of Supie coincides with the imminent opening of another contender for cut price groceries, with Pak’nSave Warkworth due to begin trading on June 20.

To find out where Supie delivers, visit https://supie.co.nz/, press the ‘Join Supie for free’ button and type in your address.

Sayers said road maintenance was a core council function and Mayor Wayne Brown wanted to see better standards in the way the unsealed roads were physically worked on. “By working collaboratively, we have been able to achieve this substantial increase, when in many other areas, Council spending is being reduced,” said Sayers.  He said if approved, the spending package would allow for the number of grading crews to be increased from three to five, which would mean more roads being graded more often.

Extra money would also be available to buy more metal to use on the roads, as well as to ensure culverts were properly maintained and kept clear.

“This is extremely good news for rural ratepayers, who have been short changed

“For the first time since the formation of the Supercity, the Mayor has given a statutory letter of expectation to the board of AT with specific wording mandating improvements to unsealed roads,” he said. That directive states: “Ensure the road maintenance and renewal program is adequate and supports the whole region, including rural roads. This includes improvements to the rural road maintenance and sealing program, and targets to ensure prompt completion of simple road repairs.”

Sayers said he had been working closely with the Mayor since the beginning of the year to achieve a fairer allocation of the general rates collected from rural ratepayers to be spent for rural ratepayers.

“Even though this is a difficult financial time for Auckland Council, I will continue to push for a fair share of spending back into Rodney,” he said.

Supie founder Sarah Balle.

only business model.

Cr Greg Sayers has been working with residents, Rodney Local Board and the Mayor to push for better rural roads.

Warkworth station open day

The Warkworth Fire Station, on Church Hill, will open its doors to the community on Saturday, June 10, from midday to 4pm. There will be a live kitchen fire display, fire truck demonstrations, a virtual reality fire experience, car cutting and breathing apparatus demonstrations, an obstacle course and a Wendy smoke house demonstration. There will also be online quizzes with prizes.

Recruitment officer Stefan Kaldesic says the station regularly held open days prior to covid so it is good to be able to open the doors and invite the community back to the station again.

Firefighters will also take the opportunity to talk to anyone interested in volunteering in Warkworth.

As one of the busiest stations in the district –attending around 380 callouts a year – they are always keen to recruit new members.

Kaldesic says Warkworth has about 30 volunteer firefighters, but ideally could do

with at least six more and another three or four support officers.

The brigade trains on Tuesday nights and if anyone is interested, and can’t make the open day, they are welcome to turn-up on a training night at 7pm.

There will be coffee and food, as well as Mr Whippy at the open day.

Day for women’s wellness and relief from grief at Mangawhai

A foundation started to help women suffering after bereavement is organising a special pamper day in Mangawhai later this month.

The Feeling Fab event will include free hair styling, make-up, manicures, food and refreshments on Monday, June 26 in the lounge room at the Anglican Church in Molesworth Drive.

Regional organiser Carol Collett says women who have lost a loved one or experienced something traumatic can sometimes feel reluctant or nervous coming along to a Feeling Fab day, but always leave feeling better than when they arrived.

“People are a little bit apprehensive, because when they’re suffering from grief, loss or trauma, they’re afraid they might be coming

to counselling or to a sombre event, whereas it’s not like that at all,” she says.

“It’s a day of pampering, grazing platters, companionship and fun – it’s a safe haven for women to relax and enjoy themselves. They can choose what they want to do or not do – it’s just about them.”

She added that Feeling Fab tried to run at least three such events in Mangawhai each year, none of which would be possible without the generous help of volunteers providing gifts and services and principal sponsor, the Mangawhai Opportunity Factory.

Anyone who would like to attend on June 26, or knows of someone who could benefit, can contact Carol on 022 600 9545 or email carolcollett@xtra.co.nz

Info: https://www.feelingfab.org.nz/

Fuel station upgraded

The Mobil service station on Whitaker Road, in Warkworth, will close its doors for nearly four months from June 12.

Agent Wilbert Vissers says the closure is part of a major underground replacement project at the garage, which will involve replacing all pipes, tanks and pumps. “The building will stay, but everything else will be replaced,” he says. “This sort of project only happens every 30 to 40 years so it’s a big commitment for the future of Warkworth.” The eight staff employed at the station will undergo training opportunities during the closure. Vissers says he is looking forward to the work being done. “Whitaker Road is a consistent and solid location for the station, giving locals a handy and fast place to fuel up.” The station has set a tentative re-opening date of October 3.

Takatu planting

What a borer!

The Warkworth to Snells Beach wastewater pipeline project is entering its Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) phase and to celebrate, Watercare is hosting an open day at Dawson Road Reserve, next to Snells Beach Primary School, on Wednesday, June 14, from 10am to 2pm. A Watercare spokesperson says the open day will be an opportunity for the community to see Piper, the TBM, before she dives headfirst underground. The machine will reach depths varying between five and 61 metres to construct the five kilometre wastewater pipeline between the Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant and Lucy Moore Park wastewater

pump station.

The pipeline and the construction of the Lucy Moore Park pump station are core projects in Watercare’s $300-plus million infrastructure upgrade for the Snells Beach and Warkworth area.

Watercare senior project manager Dirk du Plessis says the pump station and treatment plant will play a key role in sustaining regional development, population growth and safeguarding the environment.

“Apart from meeting Piper, and perhaps getting a selfie, the open day will give people the opportunity to learn more about the work Watercare has going on in

the area,” Du Plessis says. He adds that Piper – named Starlight Piper by pupils at Snells Beach School in 2020 –has been steadily drilling tunnels from Snells Beach to Algies Bay for the last three years supervised by contractor McConnell Dowell. The pipeline between Warkworth and Snells Beach is expected to take about 16 months to complete, and involves drilling and pulling the pipeline’s 423 steel pipes, weighing around 7.5 tonnes each, into place.

“Overall, the project is on track to be completed in early 2025.”

The open day will include free baristamade coffee and a sausage sizzle.

The Takatu LandCare group is inviting people to join their planting day on Sunday June 11. The group is restoring a riparian strip on the Tāwharanui Peninsula. The site will be an important waypoint for native birds travelling the peninsula, and will help reduce silt and nutrient runoff. Landowners have fenced the stream, cleared the weeds and prepared the ground, and Auckland Council has funded the plants. “We now need help to plant more than 6000 natives over two weekends,” a spokesperson said. The first planting is on June 11, on the corner of Takatu and Whitmore Roads, will start at 9am. Volunteers are being asked to bring a spade, friends and snacks. A BBQ lunch will be provided. Plants are being laid out on Saturday June 10 and any help with that job would also be greatly appreciated. RSVP to: pestcontrol@takatulandcare.com or call 022 364 7063

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Open Day visitors will be able to get up close to Piper’s cutting face before she goes underground for the next 16 months.

Council issues reminder on septic system responsibilities

Property owners in the Mahurangi area are being urged to send proof to Auckland Council that their onsite wastewater system is in good working order or risk a fine.

As part of Auckland Council’s Safe Septic programme, funded by the water quality targeted rate, council sends letters to about 1000 property owners every month requesting the information.

Healthy Waters senior specialist Elizabeth Johnson says this is being rolled out across the whole Auckland region to identify and fix systems that are not working well. There are around 45,000 onsite wastewater systems in Auckland.

“Although we don’t have exact numbers for the Mahurangi area, anyone who appears in our system as being overdue for a service will be contacted,” Johnson says. “Property owners are encouraged to proactively send their records to us whenever they get a service.

“A faulty septic system creates health risks for people and the environment.”

Property owners are required by the Auckland Unitary Plan to get regular

servicing done by a professional and provide those records to council. Some service companies use a digital form which is sent directly to council on the property owner’s behalf.

An advanced system with aeration, pumps, dripper lines and so on needs to be serviced every six months. A basic septic tank system needs to be serviced every three years.

For a service to be accepted, council needs proof that all the parts have been checked and are in good working order.

“If there are problems we need to know they are being resolved and this includes the disposal field. An invoice or similar for a pump-out of the tank is not sufficient.

“We have done significant work previously to attempt to make property owners aware of their requirements, including sending direct mailouts in 2019, offering subsidised servicing for Rodney residents during 2020/21 and having staff at markets around Rodney in 2021.”

For more information on the requirements, visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/septictanks

Former Watercare CEO joins AT board

Ex-Watercare chief executive Raveen

Jaduram has returned to the Auckland Council fold as one of two new directors of Auckland Transport (AT).

Jaduram resigned from Watercare in 2020 as the Auckland region was dealing with its worst drought in decades. At the time, he was council’s highest paid executive, with a salary of $775,000.

Jaduram has worked extensively in the water industry and is currently on the boards of the NZ Infrastructure Commission, Hynds Limited and the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia.

The second new AT director is Henare

Clarke, who has worked in roading and rail construction, maintenance and infrastructure management for more than 40 years, including roles with Higgins, KiwiRail and Downer.

Clarke has also held board roles on the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance after the Kaikoura earthquake, as well as several not-for-profit organisations.

Selection panel chair Councillor Chris Fletcher said the appointments brought “commercial nous, a customer-first ethos, and first-hand understanding of the delivery and management of our transport assets”.

Authorised by Marja Lubeck MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Marja Lubeck Labour List MP based in Kaipara ki Mahurangi marja.lubeck@parliament.govt.nz

Kaipara withdraws LGNZ membership

Kaipara District Council has become the second council in NZ to withdraw its membership from the Local Government NZ (LGNZ).

It agreed at a meeting last week to follow Auckland Council’s lead and the move will save Kaipara about $50,000 a year.

Council “savings” questioned

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland

Auckland Council’s latest performance report shows savings of $95.7 million, exceeding the annual $90 million target. Of the total, $61.5 million was from ongoing cost reductions, while $34.2 million was from one-off expenditure reductions such as project delays. The performance report said the target “was exceeded due to a strong focus on cost reduction in the current financial circumstances”, but Councillor Christine Fletcher wasn’t buying it.

“I realise that it is a difficult time, a transitional time and the way council staff presented today is quite clear, except on one point – the way that we characterise project delays as somehow contributing to our savings targets,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher raised the same issue last year and said that while it may seem pedantic, she was concerned that the way savings were presented, distorted council’s financial position to the public.

She asked why delays were used to meet the saving’s target.

Financial and business performance general manager Nicola Mills said project delays resulted in one-off savings.

Parking fees set to rise

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism

On Air.

Parking in Auckland will be more expensive from July 1 if an Auckland Transport budget plan goes ahead.

At the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on May 18, members gave feedback on Auckland Transport’s (AT) draft statement of intent.

Mayor Wayne Brown said parking fees needed to rise to match the market price.

“I don’t know why we are subsidising people to park in the city centre,” Brown said. He said there was also an issue with parking fines, which required government intervention in order to change.

“At present, the parking fines are less than the parking charge in some places.”

Cr Julie Fairey wanted to know what the

“When we prepare our budgets, we make assumptions around when any particular project will be completed – if a project is delayed by six months, those running costs won’t start to be incurred,” Mills said.

“It does give us savings compared to what we budgeted for.”

Fletcher said the choice to use delays could confuse the public.

“Does it genuinely represent a saving? I know what you are trying to present but is that the best way to express it?”

Mills said the finance team would take on the feedback and see if they could be more clear on how savings were presented.

increased revenue would be spent on.

AT’s finance executive general manager Mark Laing said that AT currently had a $30 million hole in parking revenue.

“The increase is effectively plugging a hole in the budget. That is necessary to help us deliver on the $375 million hole in the council budget,” Laing said.

“We are reliant on that increase to actually help us deliver on our budget.”

Mayor Jepson said he was very disappointed in LGNZ, particularly over the Three Waters debate where council had to wait for Communities for Local Democracy to pick up the baton.

“As I see it, they have become more of a mouthpiece for government than for local councils,” he said.

“Councillors have made a commitment to carry out their roles and they don’t need LGNZ sitting there telling them what to think. Sometimes to make change you have to break out.”

Opposing the decision, Cr Eryn WilsonCollins said there were many facets to LGNZ’s role.

“We’ve dismissed their inward role –Kaipara is one of the smallest councils in the country and if we withdraw from LGNZ, it will disadvantage the district, elected members, staff and our resourcing,” she said. “The savings would have a very small impact on our rates but could cost us more money in services and products.

“It is short-sighted and will be isolating for us as elected members.”

Cr Rachael Williams said $48,000 was a lot of money and could be better spent somewhere in the community.

The decision was passed six votes to two. Auckland Council withdrew from LGNZ earlier this year and several other councils are currently considering their membership.

funded through NZ

Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Former Matakana Four Square owner Damian Langley has been getting a warm welcome from former customers in his new role as the owner/operator of New World Warkworth.

“It’s good to be back,” he says. “We’ve got friends in the area and I know a lot of the local suppliers, so it does feel a bit like a homecoming.”

After leaving Matakana in 2017, Damian owned and operated a Four Square in the Coromandel township for four years and then a New World in Kawerau for 18 months.

Since taking over the Warkworth store on April 24, he has lost no time in making some subtle changes. His focus initially has been on the fresh fruit and vegetable section and giving the store some breathing space, so it is easier to shop.

“I’m keen to make sure we have the freshest and best quality produce available, and that it is appealingly displayed. Changes have to be gradual though, so customers don’t feel disorientated.”

As a seven day a week operation, New

World employs between 140 and 150 staff and getting to know the team has also been a priority. This has involved working on the floor every day including doing some early shifts in the bakery.

“It means that if needed, I will be able to jump in and help. But it also puts me in front of the customers, which is great and something that I really enjoy doing.”

Damian says while supply issues have improved, there are still gaps because of the January storms and the devastation of crops in the Hawkes Bay.

“If we don’t have it, there is a genuine reason and we will be working hard to get it.”

Damian says the next 12 months will be about improving some of the behind-the-scenes operations. He is introducing electronic ticketing so there are no pricing errors at the checkout and he will be upgrading the back-of-house refrigeration units to more environmentally friendly standards.

“But customers can rest assured that the things New World is recognised for –customer service, inspiration and a wide range of products – won’t change.”

Gus Crawford

New World Warkworth

Damian Langley

Pets Vets Corner

Pet of the Month

Hammer the pig dog

Please don’t be too judgemental about Hammer and what he does for a livelihood. He’s a pig dog, and usually resides in South Auckland but was up north with his Dad for the weekend on the frontline of the battle against the feral pig epidemic. But today didn’t go quite as planned. He sustained a deep tusk wound to his neck which lacerated his jugular vein. Had his Dad not been well prepared with a canine first aid kit on hand, Hammer would definitely have died before getting out of the bush, let alone getting to the vet clinic. His Dad had a very well stocked kit, including a tube of Celox, a blood clotting product developed in the UK and used by the American military in gunshot and stab wounds in warfare. He dispensed the tube into the neck wound and applied a very efficient pressure bandage. When examined at the clinic it was very apparent that his preparedness and calm head under pressure saved his precious pig dog’s life. We’ll expect him to be back in the bush within a month or two and wish him all the best and better luck in the future.

Jon Makin BVSc, Danny Cash BVSc and Associates

Books

There’s A Cure For This

by Dr Emma Espiner

Emma Espiner grew up in two worlds, that of her Pakeha lesbian mother living in a state house and her Maori father living alone in a series of rentals. Espiner went to Otago University and fully embraced the student lifestyle – parties and alcohol to the max. Life back in Wellington with a degree in Art History and Classics meant very little job opportunities and she bounced through some temp jobs before working in recruitment. She then got a job working at Parliament, which is where she met her husband Guyon. Moving to Auckland, Espiner returned working in recruitment before falling pregnant. Around this time she realised that her hopes and desires were rooted in helping people who might look like her or have a background like hers, and medicine was that pathway. Dr Emma Espiner qualified in time to work at Middlemore Hospital as New Zealand went into Covid lockdown and hospitals were being over-run and under-staffed. Her story is raw and honest, and at times confronting. Highly recommended.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Who is Sally Diamond and what is her story? The story starts with Sally putting her dead father’s body in a rubbish bag and trying to burn him in the incinerator. He had jokingly told her to put him out with the rubbish when he died, and Sally followed his instructions. There’s a lot that’s different about Sally but when you learn where Sally came from and what happened to her mother, things begin to make sense. With help from family friends and neighbours, after sorting out the dead father situation, Sally learns what is appropriate and how to engage with others. This delightful and sometimes quite funny side of Sally’s story is juxtaposed against the dark and horrific story of her mother who was kidnapped at the age of 11 and held captive and abused for 14 years. There’s an unexpected New Zealand connection, which made the reading even more fascinating. This story is dark and twisted with moments of levity and humanity.

Tracey Lawton

Vets:

Little bar up for big award

A tiny Warkworth live music venue has made it through to the national finals of Hospitality New Zealand’s 2023 annual Awards for Excellence.

The Tahi Bar + Kitchen in Neville Street is one of just five finalists in the Best Late Night /Live Entertainment Venue section, which is one of more than 25 awards categories for the hotel, restaurant, café and bar industry that will be announced on June 28.

Rachel Cooney, who owns the Tahi Bar with partner Gareth Hedges, says they were blown away when they heard they were in the finals.

“There are only five finalists from all over New Zealand and we’re one of them!” she says. “We’re up against some

real big boys with huge capacity, like Danny Doolan’s in Auckland. We can only fit 100 people. It’s amazing; I’ve hardly slept since we got the news.”

Live music has been at the heart of the Tahi’s offering since Cooney and Hedges took over in 2019, not least since Hedges is a keen musician himself – he’s currently the front man for house band The Tahi Brothers.

“We have anything and everything – we’ve had punk, classical, jazz, the Warkworth Big Band, a rockabilly showband, ska, blues, you name it,” Cooney says. “There’s live music on most Saturdays and Sundays.”

The Tahi Bar + Kitchen is also up for a People’s Choice award, votes for which can be cast online at www.hospitality.org.nz/s/ awards

The Red Barn

The Tahi Bar + Kitchen is up against finalists from Auckland, Tauranga and Queenstown.

History

Lyn Wade, Warkworth & District Museum www.warkworthmuseum.co.nz

An inside peep

Did you know that your local Warkworth Museum was not only started by volunteers in the 1970’s but is staffed by an army of some 70 volunteers today? These volunteers manage all sorts of jobs under the leadership of their part-time paid manager/curator. They bring with them skills from their lives, learning new skills where and when needed. As the president of the Museum Committee said recently, “Amateurs run the museum to a professional standard.”

You will find builders and farmers doing maintenance and restoration work, retired store owners and business people managing the front desk and welcoming visitors to the museum or mastering digital and technical skills – cataloguing, researching. There are retired teachers working with visiting school groups to bring our history alive for them. Some volunteers bring history with them, being descendants of local pioneering families and early settlers. Unexpected talents emerge; perhaps hidden artistic skills show up in setting up displays or marketing skills previously untapped or who knows what?

As the museum is self-funded, many of the volunteers are involved in fundraising –whether it is helping to manage the Museum Op Shop, run bingo sessions or supplying and helping with the plant shop at the museum. The volunteers in the textile area, for instance, assess each item that comes in, record the relevant history of the item and go about preserving it according to methods used for years by other museums. Items are

embroidery or handmade baby garments made in an era before we had TV and computers to distract us.

Out in the shed, volunteers get ancient engines such as an old Anderson or Lister running sweetly, preserve old farm machinery, maintain the many buildings and signs around the museum, and build items to help with displays. On those open, working days at the museum, their reward is seeing their well-tended machines operating as they did more than a century ago.

Skills and knowledge for preservation and cataloguing are shared. Some volunteers have had professional training for the areas they choose to work in. Others bring skills

Axe falls on council’s frontline staff

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Auckland Council’s staff cuts are more likely to fall on frontline workers than higher salary earners, according to chief executive Jim Stabback.

At the Governing Body meeting on May 23, Stabback said council’s latest reduction of 160 fulltime employees would have long-term savings.

“We have been diligent in our recruiting practices, not filling roles that have become vacant, especially non-customer facing roles,” Stabback said.

Cr Angela Dalton asked if it was higher or lower paid workers losing their jobs. Stabback said the cuts were mixed.

He said council was not filling vacancies for positions such as team leaders, managers and more senior roles.

When asked whether those senior roles were above the $200,000 salary band, Stabback said there were fewer roles in that salary band so it was less likely.

for new volunteers.

Many of the volunteers enjoy the flexibility and the camaraderie in whatever role they find themselves. Some enjoy the fun or challenge of learning new skills, and surprising themselves with unknown talents. For others it is an opportunity to learn more about the area that they live in and meet new people.

For the museum, each one of this army of volunteers is essential to the running and success of our amazing local history hub. If you would like to join us, please pop in to the museum to learn more.

If you would like to join us, please pop

He said that the next round of job cuts, if the Mayor’s annual budget 2023/24 proposal was approved, would more likely be employees on lower salaries.

Dalton asked whether those cuts could impact Māori and Pasifika workers at council more significantly, but Stabback said it was still too early to gauge the impacts on different groups.

Cr Julie Fairey said the details would be important for councillors when making their decisions on the budget.

“We do have certain obligations in terms of being a rainbow tick employer and things like joining Age Friendly Cities,” Fairey said. She was also interested in knowing how many women and part-time employees could be impacted in the budget proposal.

The textiles room

The workshop

Warehouse opening celebrated

The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery and Noel Leeming stores in Warkworth were officially opened on May 25.

The opening events included four days of community sausage sizzles hosted by Kawau Coastguard, Warkworth Lions Club, Springboard and Warkworth Scouts. They raised $4210 in total across the four days. The Warehouse will match the

Central’s Tips

June 2023

The fruit and vegetable garden

• Gather up fallen leaves or old fruit from beneath feijoas and pip and stone fruit trees to avoid overwintering pest and diseases. Add a layer of mulch around them to limit weed growth

• Don’t forget to harvest! Bok choy, broccoli and spinach and even leeks can run to seed quickly. If there’s plenty ready at once, distribute them round the neighbourhood, or make lots of soup

• Jack Frost can damage passionfruit vines, citrus and tamarillo trees if they’re in an exposed area. Try using liquid frost spray over their foliage or, newspaper or frost cloth are cheap and easy options on still, cold nights

• Order new season’s fruit trees such as apples, pears, plums, and peaches. If space is limited in the garden, check that your desired tree is self-fertile or source one that is grafted with two varieties to ensure it produces fruit

• Garlic is traditionally planted on the shortest day of the year –check that each clove is free of disease and intact before planting

The ornamental garden

• Order oriental or Asiatic lily bulbs – they’re an easy-to-grow investment for the garden. Smaller forms are excellent in pots and will re-flower around Christmas time for years and years.

fundraising bringing the final total to $8420. Other groups interested in fundraising are invited to contact the store for more information. The Warehouse will provide the BBQ and the gas bottles, as well as a few of its own Market Kitchen sauces.

Matakana School also benefitted from the opening celebration with a $1000 shopping spree for its school fundraising auction.

• Plants with blackened leaves – ferns, coastal astelias, pukas and renga renga lilies will have been burnt by frost. It’s best to leave damaged top leaves on the plant until spring, to protect the fresh foliage beneath

• Increasingly NZ gardeners are planting leucadendons and proteas from South Africa. Showy in winter, these plants can resist summer heat and seem to cope in wet clay over winter. They’re available from now on, just don’t fertilise, as they don’t like it

• Winter pruning of deciduous trees is best done once the leaves have fallen. Remove lower branches on the trunks if a formal specimen is required, and take out crowded, crossing branches in the centre of the tree.

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Sir Stephen Tindall and Grant Dobbyn at the opening. Sir Stephen has owned a bach at Baddleys Beach for the past 33 years so is looking forward to shopping at the new store.

The ribbon was cut, from left, by long-serving employees Bruce Sheppard and Jen Walsh, One Mahurangi manager Murray Chapman and Ngāti Manuhiri kuia Coral Dennis.

The Warehouse Kiwi was a big hit with younger shoppers.

Lyn Hamilton-Hunter www.tossi.org.nz

Planting, planting and more planting!

It’s the time of year when community groups, parks and reserves are organising their planting days. The winter months are traditionally the preferred time of year because the ground is moist and the trees get a good start. Ironically, this year we could have been planting since the end of last planting season. However, the bountiful rainfall has meant that the Tāwharanui planting in swede paddock last year is looking amazing. Since its inception over 20 years ago, Tossi has been planting all manner of native of species. In our first year, seeds were collected from the park, propagated, raised, and then subsequently planted in 2003, and so it began. There is a vast array of natives that were raised from eco-sourced seeds. Large numbers of flax, cordylines, manuka and kanuka are easily seen. Then, in smaller pockets, on dunes or in wetlands you can find mahoe, five finger, karamu, puriri, pingao grasses, kahikatea and pohutukawa. Public planting days have been organised over the last 16 years – over 70 planting days with hundreds of volunteers. This probably conservatively represents the

equivalent of 7000 planter days! The main species used are manuka, kanuka and flax, as these lend themselves very well as nursery crops. They encourage wildlife to come to the land, drop seeds from other species that then naturally germinate under cover of the nursery canopy. It also brings in the beneficial bugs to the soil that go on to create a permeable forest floor for sustaining life.

On asking a long-standing volunteer to comment on the number of trees planted in this time, the estimate is over 300,000, equivalent to 35 hectares or six per cent of the park. Quite something! In essence then, the more native species we can get in the ground and allow to bloom and grow, the more native wildlife we can support and attract. This year we are heading to the West End, and our public planting season is underway, with one down and two to go. If you, a group of you or your family feel like doing your part, check out who’s holding planting days in your area, or join us at Tāwharanui on July 2 or August 6. If you wish to find out more about being part of Tossi, contact news@tossi.org.nz

Last year’s plantings in the swede paddock are looking good.

Dancing is a great way to socialise and keep fit at the same time.

Scottish dancers

Members of the Warkworth Silver Oaks Scottish Country Dancing Club welcomed dancers from Kaiwaka, Ranfurly and Hibiscus Coast dancing clubs to their first birthday celebration recently.

The dancers danced a selection of jigs, reels and strathspeys together before sharing lunch.

Teacher Elaine Goldthorpe says Scottish country dancing is a fun way of getting and staying fit without knowing it.

“The dancing is very sociable and you don’t need a partner,” she says. “We all swap around partners to get to know each other.”

celebrate

Elaine added that the safety of dancers was a priority.

“All ages are welcome and it is an ideal form of exercise for relaxing and keeping fit during retirement.

“Do come and try it out. We have heaps of patience with beginner dancers.”

From June 9, Warkworth Silver Oaks Club will meet in the Shoesmith Hall every Friday, from 10am to midday. Weekly fee is $5 (or $10 annually), which includes coffee and biscuit. Dancers need to wear soft soled flat shoes.

Info: elainegold@xtra.co.nz or phone 027

432 0032

Choir conjures movie magic

The Matakantata Choir will present a high energy, fun show at the Matakana Hall on June 30 and the Warkworth Town Hall on July 2. The programme will be made up of music and songs from the movies. It will be a mix of styles with a strong collection of well-known modern favourites, including two Bond movie themes. The choir, directed by Jenny Eirena, will be accompanied by John Wells. Local teacher Charlotte Eyre will give a solo performance of the powerful song Stand Up, from the movie Harriet.

The choir is always keen to welcome new members, especially basses and tenors.

Matakantata Choir in rehearsal for their upcoming concerts.

It practice on Thursday evenings at the Matakana Hall, from 7pm. For more information phone Jenni on 423 0094.

The Matakana concert will start at 7.30pm and the Warkworth concert will start at 2.30pm. Tickets $20, gold coin for children.

ageing with attitude feature

Systems are doing it for themselves

The unstoppable development of artificial intelligence (AI) is as big a change as the invention of writing or the printing press, and it is up to society to ensure it is used for good, not harm, a global expert told a Warkworth meeting last month.

Auckland University’s Professor Michael Witbrock told the University of the Third Age science and climate group that the world – and people’s roles within it – were going to become dramatically different, as everything in life became more automated and AI continued to gain pace.

“People used to think AI was what we programme machines to do, but now machines can programme themselves some of the time, and computers can now do things humans can’t do,” he said. “The new definition of AI is everything we can train a computer to do, which happens to include things like painting, making photographs without a camera, writing talks, correcting grammar, and the next stage of AI will be everything that a computer will be able to teach itself to do, whether from interacting with people or with other machines.”

Witbrock gave the example of an image that recently won a major photographic competition without the judges realising it was AI-generated.

“That was a bit of a surprise, the ability computers have gained to manipulate images in a very subtle way. Ten years ago,

we thought AI would be doing boring tasks, but it’s actually really good at being creative.”

He said the capacity, speed and power of computers these days was exposing the human brain’s limitations.

“At a rough calculation, by around 2050 at the current rate of progress, the single fastest computer in the world will have more aggregate computational capacity than the brains of all the humans,” he said.

“I’m talking to you at about the same speed as a modem from 1978 – 100 bits a second. In 1986, modems were up to 4800 bits per second, so that’s the same as 48 of us speaking all at once.

“Now, a single optical fibre can carry more traffic than if every single human being was speaking at once.”

He said human brains simply couldn’t network fast enough to understand complicated things such as molecular biology, but because modern computers could, AI had the potential to do great things in the field of problem solving.

“I think we’re at the point with AI and biology that we were in 1984 with electronics – there is going to be very, very rapid progress and I would be surprised if in 30 years’ time, there were any diseases that threatened humans. Diseases are not going to win,” Witbrock claimed.

“If people are afraid of AI, that’s one thing

to remember. There are things that it doesn’t look like we can do without AI and that will be vastly aided by it, and biology is an important one.”

He said we were not far from the point where teaching and medical practice could be improved, legal contracts could be checked and entire corporations administered using AI.

“It will be surprising if it doesn’t happen by the end of the century and it’s looking like it will happen sooner than that,” he said. However, he conceded that a degree of caution and rigour was needed, at least until systems could be developed that could perform effective moral reasoning.

“We are working on solving those problems, and they will help us to make sure these systems are working in ways that are good for humans,” he said.

“Things with AI can be the best they’ve ever been, but only if we face what’s coming and push it in that direction.

“All parts of society have a very powerful role to play in addressing times of great change and, I hope, take full advantage of this change and work out how to handle the quite significant disruption that major change bring about.”

Members of the audience voiced concerns over a number of aspects of AI, not least its role in wars and electoral manipulation. However, Witbrock was reluctant to lay

full blame with AI.

“I don’t think there’s any evidence whatsoever that AI has accelerated the cause of war or made them more dangerous,” he said. “There’s a community of concern around killer robots, making robots that can execute military decisions. It’s a serious question, but I’m not sure how much difference AI really makes. We’re in a world with nuclear weapons; it’s already too dangerous, we shouldn’t be doing it.” He claimed Donald Trump became popular without AI and Cambridge Analytica’s personal data misuse had not been determinative, but did concede it was an area for concern.

“There are dangers,” he said. “This is a very powerful technology and it can be used to produce materials that are very convincing.”

The Botanic Silverdale is hosting an Open Weekend on June 10 and 11 to show off their brand new, big, light-filled apartments priced from $995k.

Step inside our stunning new two-bedroom, two-bathroom villas too!

Come and have a chat to Jan and Michelle.

Enjoy a free coffee and sweet treat from the refreshment vans.

Michael Witbrock urged people to try ChatGPT – ‘You can endlessly entertain yourself and it doesn’t mind that you’re taunting it … yet.’

Seniors minister set to visit second expo

Ginny Andersen, the Minister for Seniors, will be among the people visiting the second Wellsford Seniors Expo when it is held in August.

Labour list MP Marja Lubeck invited the minister when she and her Parliamentary community engagement and communications advisor, Tania Hamilton, decided to organise the event at Wellsford Community Centre on Saturday, August 19. Hamilton said it was great to have Andersen, who is also Minister for Police, Small Business and Digital Economy & Communications, visiting the expo to catch up with local residents and stallholders. The expo will feature a wide range of services and organisations of interest to older people, from central and local government representatives to health and leisure providers.

Hamilton said the aim was to provide a one-stop shop for seniors to find out what assistance, advice and facilities are available locally.

Stallholders will include Work & Income

NZ, Auckland Transport, Citizens Advice Bureau, local Justices of the Peace, Women’s Centre Rodney, Harbour Sport, Age Concern Rodney, St John ambulance and alarms, Senior Net, a natural health store, Albertland Museum, a reflexologist, a chiropractor, a funeral

director, Warkworth Men’s Shed, Driving Miss Daisy, Wellsford Horticultural Club, Rodney Neighbourhood Support and a mobility equipment supplier.

There will be tea and refreshments provided, plus giveaways and entertainment throughout the expo, which runs from 10am to 2pm. Hamilton said the first seniors expo held a year ago had been a great success, with many visitors finding it useful, so a second event was always on the cards.

She added that Minister Andersen would be visiting other venues in Wellsford and the surrounding area, details of which will be available nearer the time.

Seniors Minister Ginny Andersen.

Wellsford Horticultural Club had a popular stall at last year’s expo.

Join our Real Estate Panel at Summerset Falls

If you’ve ever been curious about village life, now’s the time to get in touch to see the lifestyle that our wonderful village, Summerset Falls in Warkworth has to offer.

Join us for an informative Q&A session with local real estate agents, to find out what’s been happening in the housing market. We will be asking all the burning questions that you want to know, so that you can have a plan for when the time is right for you to make the move.

We will also have our show homes open until 2pm on the day, so we’d love to show you around.

RSVP by Friday 9 June, to Leanne Gabriel on 09 425 1202.

Real Estate Panel

Monday 12 June, 10.30am - 12pm

Summerset Falls

31 Mansel Drive, Warkworth 09 425 1202 | warkworth.sales@summerset.co.nz

2019-2023 AgedCare & RetirementVillages AgedCare & RetirementVillages

End of an era as Red Barn prepares to close its doors

They say all good things must come to an end, but it will still be a very sad day for local antique lovers when The Red Barn in Warkworth closes its doors after more than 40 years.

The Matakana Road landmark’s redoubtable owner, Margie Hetherington, is now in her eighties and has decided, albeit somewhat reluctantly, that now is the time to finally step back, slow down and retire from the business.

Fans of antiques, collectables and vintage items still have time to explore the store and find a bargain or two, however, as she will be open most days until the end of August.

It’s not just the eclectic selection of china, glass, furniture, tools, kitchenalia and vintage clothing that will be missed – it’s Margie herself and the stylish way she displays her finds.

She has a designer’s eye for dressing a room and customers often come away with as much inspiration as they do artefacts for their home décor.

Don’t let that give you the idea that she is simply some kind of stylist selling pretty things, though. As many long-time locals

will remember, Margie spent most of her time for many years stripping and polishing furniture in the workshop at the back of the barn, and making, mending and restoring items has always been an important part of the business.

She and her husband Rob bought the property in 1976 and opened the Red Barn up in 1981. At the time, it was a run down 30-hectare farm with a house from 1865 that needed a lot of work, and they lived in a caravan at the start.

“I’m a farmer’s daughter, so when we moved in, I said to Rob, you’ve got to get out and do your fence lines,” she says. “So, I used to make a flask of hot water and take some tea bags and we’d go out for the day on the Massey Ferguson and we both worked putting fences in until we were ready to run stock.”

The couple discovered they had an old hay barn right at the back of the farm and decided to move it closer to the house for use as an implement shed. However, it wasn’t long before Margie had other ideas.

“I’d had a few people come and say ‘do you do restoration work?’, as I used to do a bit when we lived in Mairangi Bay,” she recalls.

“We started to buy old furniture and do it up and then it just grew like a mushroom. We had amazing support from local people and it all went from there.”

She and Rob a trained coach builder and a natural at construction, made a formidable team for many years, making furniture from scratch or fixing up customers’ items. Margie used to trawl farm clearance sales for old unwanted items and she became known far and wide as a first class fixerupper.

“Often I used to get up in the morning and find an old chest sitting outside, or a couple of old ladders, people just used to drop them here for me,” she says. “Sometimes I never knew who the donor was – there’d just be a note saying, For Margie – enjoy!”

In the 1990s, Rob and Margie ran a series of successful antiques fairs at Mahurangi College.

“We’d have 14 stallholders, they all came in at 4pm on Friday and worked their butts off to get ready, then we’d get them fish and chips, beers and a cask of white wine,” she says. “They’d work all day Saturday, come to dinner at our place, party for hours, then do it all again the next day, until we

John has been a local solicitor and identity for nearly 40 years. He has overseen the legal aspects of many land developments within every council district north of Auckland. He has had many dealings with all of the councils and continues to do so.

He values relationships with clients which can require a special insight into the future needs of growing families. Out of all these relationships comes vital information that he utilises to assist clients on their way.

Sandy has been working with John for the last 8 years and she will be full time in the Warkworth office, except Tuesdays. Sandy can be contacted by calling our Warkworth office, 09 973 3665.

packed up at 4pm on Sunday. It was a great weekend.”

Following Rob’s death in 2000, Margie picked herself up and carried on with outside help for the literal heavy lifting and repair work, while continuing her restoration work and adapting to changing trends, such as shabby chic and Frenchpainting.

Over time, the barn and sheds filled with a diverse and often quirky collection of antique and collectable items for sale along with the furniture, including a number of specialist lines, such as oil lamps, glassware and Margie’s treasured Royal Winton floral patterned china.

Sadly, much of that will need to be sold now, as she winds down the business and prepares to down-size and retire. She says she has loved every minute in the Red Barn and treasures the many friendships she has made over the years.

“People have come from the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth, Wellsford and Whangarei. I just want to thank all the local people and all my customers,” Margie says. “I hope they come and visit before we close.”

The Red Barn’s eclectic selection of items will be missed by many locals and visitors.

Artists impression

The median age of New Zealanders increased from 35.9 years in 2006 to 38 years in 2013 and 37.4 years in 2018. Older adults will make up an increasingly larger proportion of the population over the next 20 to 30 years. Stats NZ estimates that by 2028, the number of New Zealanders aged 65 years or older is likely to hit one million. While reaching the magic 65 means retirement for many, one in four people aged 65-plus is still in paid employment and an estimated 40 per cent of people aged 65 and over have virtually no other income besides NZ Super. Another 20 per cent have only a little more. For those who have left the workforce entirely, the novelty of finding time on their hands can be a challenge. We asked two retirees for their views on retirement and how they made the transition …

Wendy Hawking ONZM

Former head of the Rodney Health

Charitable Trust Wendy Hawking says it would have been too much of a shock to have gone from working 60 hours a week to nothing, so she chose to retire gradually. In fact, at 80, she still does 20 hours a week for the health trust helping to manage its rental properties, which fund its charitable work.

Retirement is about having time

When she first retired, she got involved with the fundraising campaign for hospice’s Tui House in Warkworth and other charitable causes.

“When you’re working fulltime, you have to fit community work and family life around your working life,” she says.

“When you retire, you have the time to choose what you spend your time doing. I was especially looking forward to having more time with grandchildren and I’m now able to spend time with the people I want to be with.”

Wendy says the luxury of having time is what she loves most about retirement.

“My advice for retirement is to make sure you have goals and things to fill your day. If you’re not busy, you’ll become a boring old fart that no one wants to visit. You need to be able to discuss more than your

bowel movements with your children and grandchildren!”

She says that providing you have your health, retirement is fun.

“I’ve also learned how to live very simply. I’m currently living in a one-roomed cottage on a farm, with the kitchen, living room and bedroom all in one room. I have a very good veggie garden, a lovely German Shepherd pup called Bella and a simple wardrobe. And next week I’m off on a road trip, with Bella, to Coromandel.

“Enjoying retirement is all about your attitude.”

Dave Johnson

Dave was a professional photographer on the North Shore before retiring about 12 years ago. He and his wife Anne moved north to Snells Beach “to escape the busy city life”.

“We were looking for somewhere quieter where we could relax and slow down,” Dave says. “Snells Beach was perfect because we were still close enough to visit family in Auckland, but away from hustle and bustle.

“When I thought about retirement before I retired, I did worry a little about getting bored. But by the time it came time to retire, I was ready.

“Anne and I spent the first five years catching up on all the things we’d never had time for before. We bought a caravan and I don’t think there are many places in NZ we didn’t visit. We also did some overseas trips including our first cruise.

“We were actually pretty busy.”

As time went by, Dave says he started to find things to do. He had put his cameras away when he retired, but then he started taking photos again “for fun”. He says joining the Men’s Shed in Warkworth was a good decision.

“It put me in touch with a group of guys who had compatible interests. I think this is particularly important for men because often our social life is closely intertwined with our working life so when work stops, it is easy to become isolated. The Men’s Shed does a great job of filling that social gap.”

Dave encourages people coming up to retirement not to look at it with trepidation. “See it as an opportunity to do things you’ve not had time for before. Find things to do that you enjoy and be open to trying new things.”

It’s easy to become isolated

Tui Na & Chinese Massage Acupuncture Traditional

Rebus offers fellowship path

A friendship and fellowship club for retired men is keen to let other retirees know that its doors are open.

The Warkworth Men’s Rebus Club offers older men a place to meet, make friends and have a bit of social interaction beyond their homes.

“After a lifetime’s work, retirement is looked forward to either with anxiety or enthusiasm, usually the latter,” club president Stephen Becket says.

“However, nowadays with people living longer, we can expect to live about a quarter of our lives in retirement – that’s a long time.”

Becket says that Dr Riley Moynes, in a TED Talk on YouTube, categorises the evolution of retirement into four phases. “Sadly, often people don’t get beyond phase two.”

Phase 1 is the vacation stage and is about the sudden freedom of not being chained to a job. “It’s like a permanent holiday, but after a while it takes on a boredom of its own.”

Phase 2 is when the loss of routine, identity and relationships (the old office social circle, as well as friends or partners passing), and the loss of purpose and power start to kick in, with a resultant feeling of isolation.

“How long Phase 2 lasts is up to the individual.

“Phase 3 is when you make the effort to engage with others and this is where Rebus Club can benefit men.

“Finally, Phase 4 is reaching new goals and having meaning back in your life.”

Becket says the club doesn’t fundraise or run activities other than for members.

“The only commitment we ask is that you attend our meetings, which include speakers on interesting topics, and join in. We are a secular, non-political group and our members range from retired ship’s captains and airline pilots to farmers and tradesmen. They all have one thing in common – they are all interesting people who are happy to welcome others into our fellowship group.”

The club meets on the third Monday of the month at Shoesmith Hall, between 10am and noon, as well as hosting monthly coffee mornings at local cafes. Visitors are always welcome.

Annual membership is $20 which covers the cost of hall hire and incidentals. Becket says that there is also a Warkworth Ladies Rebus Club.

“While some Rebus clubs have amalgamated, here we have unanimously decided not to, although we very occasionally combine social events.” For more information, text Stephen Becket on 021 153 6721.

Reception Volunteers Needed

A recent Rebus meeting included a talk by 17-year-old beekeeper Anthony Partridge, pictured with club president Stephen Becket and his mother.

Tumbleweed owners keen to start next adventure

When the Matakana business Tumbleweed closes later this year, business owners Wendy Schick and John Davies will say goodbye to Matakana and a lifetime of nursery work.

Their lease is up and although they were given the option to renew, they have decided it is time to step away from the pressure of a seven day a week business.

At 65 and 70 years of age respectively, they say they are ready to start enjoying their retirement.

“The last couple of years have been particularly hard,” Wendy says. “The covid lockdowns took their toll and then we’ve had the weather. We make our money in the spring, but last year there was no spring and no summer. People don’t want to plant gardens in the rain. It really hurt us.”

Wendy said although they had considered selling Tumbleweed, they didn’t believe that many people would be interested in a seven day a week business.

“Even on Christmas Day, you have to come in and water!”

When the doors close, the couple will head for their property at Whakapirau, which they have owned for nearly 20 years, and then they will move to a family farm, near Dargaville. John has already lined himself up a job as a tractor driver on a kumara farm, which he is keenly looking forward to. The closure of Tumbleweed will be the end of era for him. He is the fourth generation horticulturist of the New Plymouth based family business Duncan & Davies – one of the largest nurseries in the southern hemisphere.

After an apprenticeship at George Rainey’s Nursery in Auckland, he set up the Avondale Garden Centre. He ran this for seven years before buying the disused Model Nurseries in New Lynn, which grew to be the major supplier of plants to garden

centres and landscapers throughout the North Island.

In 1996, the nursery relocated to the former Smith homestead in Matakana, now occupied by Goose Bakery. A few years later, they shifted to their present site on Matakana Road.

For Wendy, relocating to Matakana was a return to home. She grew up on a farm in Wayby Valley Road and attended schools in Wellsford before moving to Auckland where she worked as a hairdresser. She took a part-time job at John’s Avondale nursery on weekends and, as they say, “the rest is history”. She eventually became the sales manager for Model Nurseries, training in plant propagation and nursery work.

“When we opened the retail nursery in Matakana, my mum Margaret (nee Cruickshank) worked alongside me, and John ran the wholesale side of the business,” Wendy says.

“Eventually we saw the potential for a professional landscaping service, which prompted us to move to the larger site.” At one point, the business was maintaining 36 properties, and employing eight to 10 staff.

Wendy says the landscaping team Nature Vision has invited her to continue to be involved in garden design, which she thinks she might accept.

“Our move north is to be closer to family and to wind-down,” she says. “John’s not interested in travelling but I have a sister and niece in Australia who are, and I am looking forward to some great holidays.

“We won’t miss the work, but we will miss the customers, many of whom have become friends, and our staff. We’ve always been so lucky to have had such great staff.”

Wendy expects the business to close around October.

Wendy and John have enjoyed their time in Matakana, but are looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.

creative catwalk costumes

Hynds Pipes has already laid down a challenge for other businesses to try and beat them this year.

It is that time of year again when the Mahurangi community is invited to stir their creative juices and enter the annual Catwalk Arts wearable arts awards, raising money for Harbour Hospice. The event will be held at the Mahurangi College on Saturday August 26, with both a matinee and an evening performance.

This year’s categories are youth, families, open, wearable advertising, bizarre bras, what a drag and pimp my jacket.

Hospice community and event fundraiser

Emily Thomas says the long-running wearable arts competition is a highly entertaining show and a fantastic opportunity for creative minds.

“Catwalk Arts features fantastic creations by adults, children, families, businesses and community groups with a focus on recycling, re-using and re-purposing,” she says.

“By entering Catwalk Arts you can play a vital role in helping Harbour Hospice provide free palliative care services in our Warkworth/Wellsford community.”

Designers are encouraged to find creative ways to use materials found around the house. Previous entries have incorporated papier mache, plastic milk bottles, wood veneer, cassette tapes, chook netting and baling twine.

Entries will be judged by a panel of fashion, art and design experts and each category winner will receive a cash prize and a handmade Catwalk Arts tile from Morris & James.

Two of last year’s stand out entries were created by Wellsford School student Sophia Gilmour. Her costumes were Sluginker and Pukana.

Sophia says each costume cost around $50, which mostly went on hot glue sticks.

“I used lots of things which I found around home like old curtains, pool noodles, milk bottles and papier mache,” she says.

“The creative process – from drawing your first pictures, creating it and then performing – is so exciting. I love seeing my ideas come to life and there are great prizes, too!

“You need to be really motivated as a costume takes a lot of time. I usually start making mine at least three months before, but it’s heaps of fun … trust me! The whole experience is pretty amazing.”

Hynds Pipes entry All Pipes was also one of the eye-catching costumes in the wearable advertising category last year.

Warkworth branch manager Bruce Peden said the event was good fun, raised money for a great cause and had a good theme –recycling. He says the Hynds costume only cost about $10 and took about seven hours to construct.

Hospice is hoping more businesses will enter this year.

“It’s a good excuse to take the team or friends and family out for a night and a couple drinks,” Peden says. “Don’t take it too seriously, and look out because Hynds is going to win it this year.”

Warming up for family fun day

Plans are well underway for next month’s Festival of Lights, re-named the Gull Family Fun Day, which will be held on Warkworth’s riverfront and in Baxter Street, on Saturday, July 15.

Organiser Murray Chapman says the day will include something very special.

“I’m not at liberty to disclose too much just yet, but it will be a permanent light installation and I am over the moon that Warkworth has been chosen for its display,” he says.

The day will include entertainment, headlined by the Recliner Rockers, from 11am onwards.

As well as live music, there will be food trucks, amusement rides, face painting, the Northwood Developments ice skating rink and much more.

The ITM Parade of Lights will start in the Paper Plus carpark at 6pm.

“We’re inviting people to light up and join the parade,” Chapman says. “The more the merrier.”

for most of the day.

For a full range of family medical care, including A&M services in an integrated system 24 hours a day, across our region, including public holidays

Sluginker was created by Wellsford School student Sophia Gilmour, who says that entering the show was a lot of fun.

Baxter Street, between Neville and Percy Streets, will be closed

The festival provides a way to shake off the winter blues and enjoy a family day out.

Photo, Aidan Burridge.

Sweetappreciation with chocolatebrown

Congratulations to Grace Presland-White, who is this week’s recipient of a gift box of chocolates from Chocolate Brown. Grace was nominated by Shanna Olivier who wrote:

Grace is a remarkable woman who never shies away from raising her hand wherever there is a need. She teaches at Horizon School and most people would think that was enough of a giving act in and of itself. Grace goes above and beyond by still volunteering and faithfully doing Mainly Music every Wednesday, teaching Sunday school, volunteering to coach hockey etc. She spends every day giving back and will actively seek ways to help her community.

Send your nominations to editor@localmatters.co.nz

Know someone who deserves a big “thank you” for their community spirit? Tell us and they will receive acknowledgement in Mahurangi Matters and an amazing hamper from Chocolate Brown, 6 Mill Lane, Warkworth. Send your nominations to editor@ localmatters.co.nz (subject line: Sweet Appreciation) or post to: Sweet Appreciation, Mahurangi Matters, 17 Neville Street, Warkworth. Kindly refrain from nominating members of your own family.

Cafe, Gifts, Chocolaterie

Ph 422 2677

6 Mill Lane, Warkworth

a good

Kowhai Surgery takes great pride in welcoming its newest doctor –Dr Daniela Fernandes.

Born and raised in Portugal, Daniela obtained her Master’s degree in medicine from the University of Minho in 2015. She is skilled in both general practice and urgent care and has experience in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, work related injuries, maternal and child health, elderly care and women’s health issues.

Daniela achieved specialist credentials in 2021 while working at a primary care unit in Portugal prior to arriving in New Zealand together with her partner last month.

In her spare time she finds joy in travel and sightseeing, has a keen appetite for the latest movies and TV shows and can always find room for one more plant in her ever growing collection.

Needless-to-say she is eager to become part of our local Warkworth community and explore everything New Zealand has to offer!

Town hall turns pink for a day

Warkworth police officer Katie Burton and Warkworth Lions member Carol Henderson were the guest speakers at a sellout Pink Ribbon Brunch held at the Warkworth Town Hall on May 18. The event was organised jointly by Warkworth Library’s Katie Mitchell and town hall manager Alex Hayward. MC was Wendy Douglas and entertainment was provided by the Jade River Ukes and Aysha.

A total of $3200 was raised, which will go towards breast cancer education, research and patient support.

Hayward says next year’s event will be held on May 7.

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

WARKWORTH

SNELLS BEACH

WE PROVIDE

Covid and Flu vaccinations available

• Wide range of doctor and nurse led services including accident and medical services, immunisation, minor surgery, vasectomies, immigration, dive and insurance medicals.

• Wide range of visiting specialists.

• Warkworth is open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 8am-12 noon.

• Snells Beach is open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm.

• Low Cost access for enrolled patients under 14 free, young people $13, adults $19.50 (ACC costs differ).

• Pharmacy, Labtest, Physio on site.

• Free Covid-19 testing available.

Doctors • Kate Baddock • Stephen Barker • Bruce Sutherland • Amy MacBeth • Clinton Anderson • Andrew Duffin • Jing He • Mette Johannesen • Simon Tricker • Montserrat Figols • Kara Stones • Matt Couchman

Unit 2/347 Mahurangi East Road

Surgery at 11 Alnwick Street

The event was organised by Katie Mitchell (left) and Alex Hayward.

Constable Katie Burton wearing her specially-dyed shirt for the day.

Even the food was pink!

Homebuilders

Colleen Julian, Family Support Worker www.homebuildersfs.org

Addiction and connection

Addiction can broadly be defined as any behaviour that gives you temporary relief, temporary pleasure but in the longterm causes harm, has some negative consequences and you can’t give it up despite these consequences. From this perspective, you can understand there are many addictions, some of these are consumerism, internet, substance, shopping, sex and food. Addiction, rather than being a disease or a human choice, is an attempt to escape suffering temporarily. As seen through the compassionate lens of addiction specialist Dr Gabor Mate, “Addiction is not a choice anybody makes, it is not an ethical lapse. It is not a weakness of character, it is not a failure of will which is how our society depicts addiction. Nor is it an inherited brain disease, which is how the medical profession tends to see it … what it actually is, is a response to human suffering, which often stems from childhood trauma. The real question in addiction is not why the addiction, but why the pain?”

Many children experience abuse and neglect when growing up. These experiences can have a lasting impact on a person’s health and well-being. Therefore, it’s essential to consider how their upbringing can affect them throughout their lifespan. The kind of environment that a child has will actually shape the development of their brain. Children can experience physical and emotional health issues from abuse or neglect. In addition, they can experience these same issues from growing up in a dysfunctional household. These are Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACE’s. ACEs are traumatic experiences that

happen before the age of 18 but last through adulthood. They can cause lasting mental and physical issues. Research shows that these experiences can be predictive to outcomes throughout life. ACE’s can include physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, caregiver mental distress, poverty, homelessness, incarcerated relative, substance abuse, witnessing violence against your primary caregiver and divorce. Adults who don’t properly cope with ACEs are at greater risk for chronic health problems like diabetes and heart disease. They are also at an increased risk for depression, anxiety and impaired memory.

Toxic stress can lead to difficulty regulating emotions, including experiencing joy. It also can leave a person unable to understand how to respond to situations and an increased likelihood that they will use substances including alcohol, drugs and nicotine. However, with therapeutic help, people can overcome these adversities and lead full, happy and healthy lives. The understanding is that addiction treated with connection, support and kindness can bring better outcomes than isolation and judgement. Support locally can be found with organisations such as CADS, Community Drug and Health Services, and Te Ha Oranga in Wellsford offer mental health and addiction services from a Kaupapa Māori perspective. There are various websites that offer support such as The Salvation Army Oasis reducing gambling harm and Health Point, Living Sober for alcohol abuse and The Mental Health Foundation NZ’s five ways to Wellbeing Toolkit, AA and Al Anon, NA and Alcohol and drug Helplines.

Call for tighter vaping control

More needs to be some to reduce young people’s access to vapes, according to the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.

Paediatrician Dr Colette Muir says the society is extremely worried by the level of youth vaping in New Zealand.

An ASH Year 10 Snapshot survey showed that 10 per cent of Year 10’s are vaping daily.

“While the health policy intention regarding vaping was to reduce smoking, it is now clear that vaping is causing significant harm to Aotearoa’s tamariki and rangitahi,” Dr Muir says. “More needs to be done to prevent youth who do not smoke from taking up vaping in the first place.

“The data shows the importance of trying to find a better balance between supporting people who smoke to move to less harmful options, while protecting young people who have never smoked from taking up vaping.”

Dr Muir says there is particular concern about the impacts of vaping, and its symptoms such as nicotine withdrawal, on learning and behaviour.

“An alarming number of high school students are trying vaping because their friends do it and they’ve heard it’s safe and are curious. But lungs are designed to breathe air, not smoke or vape. There is no safety data for e-cigarettes and there is evidence of harm.”

Artists

gaining strength in numbers

Local artists are being encouraged to emerge from their studios and join forces with other creative types by joining the Mahurangi Artist Network (MAN).

The group was formed five years ago and is best known for running its annual Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail, a self-guided tour held over two weekends in February where artists open their doors to show off their methods and masterpieces to the public. However, MAN members also get together regularly to network, inspire, support and learn from each other, with a range of activities and events including workshops, mentorship programmes, exhibitions and funding opportunities.

They also have a year-round trail directory, which gives members the chance to list their artworks and welcome visitors to their studios or galleries at selected times or by appointment.

The group covers a wide area from Puhoi in the south up to Wellsford in the north and all points in between.

Members range from artists and craftspeople just starting out to experienced professionals, and they work in a wide mix of media, including paint, glass, fabrics, print, photography, wood, jewellery, mixed media, textiles, ceramics and more.

Membership costs $60 a year, which includes free entry into the annual open studio art trail, public profile on the group’s website, entry into members group exhibitions, promotion on MAN social media channels, free entry into the year-round art trail directory, invitations to all opening nights, regular artist get-togethers and networking, and volunteering opportunities.

Mahurangi West painter and mural artist Noila Souza recently joined MAN and says she has enjoyed learning new techniques from experienced artists and working together with an artistic community. Souza also appreciates being able to show her work and participating in the artist trail. Other artists such as Warkworth textile artist and weaver Sharlene Hasler and Whangaripo painter and ceramicist

Caroline Bell find MAN great for building confidence, providing support and inspiration, and countering the isolation that solo artists can sometimes experience.

“Being a member of the Mahurangi Artist Network is a great way to expand your creative network and make friends with people who share the same passion as you,” they say.

Info and membership:

www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com

Acrylic art courses in Mangawhai

Art with acrylic paint is the focus for two new courses being run in Mangawhai that start next month.

Creative Acrylics is being run by Russianborn artist and Mangawhai Artists stalwart Elena Nikolaeva, and is aimed at students with any level of artistic experience, from beginner to pro.

Throughout the five-week course, participants will explore various acrylic painting techniques to develop their own artistic style.

The classes run on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays, starting July 6 and 7, from 9am to 12.30pm in Mangawhai, and the

cost is $175 per person.

Nikolaeva attended the Urals State University of Fine Arts, Design & Architecture, where she later taught and gained an associate professorship in painting. She moved to Mangawhai in 2000, since then she has been a full-time artist and tutor. She works with acrylics, watercolour, mixed media and sculpture and likes to encourage all students to widen their skills and techniques.

Info and registration: Elena Nikolaeva on 021 157 1730 or email enikonzealand@ gmail.com

THE SMOKO ROOM. OPEN THURSDAY TO MONDAY

Beer workshop by Dave Moynagh

Beer legend Dave Moynagh is coming back for a dark beer workshop on Thursday 15 June! Enjoy excellent beers, a bit of banter, and learn about beer from the extremely knowledgeable Dave. For tickets and more details see our website.

Happiest of Hours

Weekdays from 3pm to 6pm. Sawmill beer $8 / $35 jugs + fried chicken

Te Kano wine $8 / $40 bottle

BYO Wine Monday

Every Monday from 5.30pm. No corkage fee.

Live Music - every 3rd Friday of the month

Friday 16 June from 4.30pm - Jaz Paterson

We are now open 5 days a week - Thursday to Monday from 12pm until late.

Noila Souza is a recent recruit to the artists’ network.

Sharlene Hasler working on a korowai.

A pot by Whangaripo’s Caroline Bell.

Freaky fun in college production

An upcoming drama production at Mahurangi College will strike a note with a lot of parents who have teenagers in the house.

Freaky Friday is the story of a mother and daughter who have one thing in common: they don’t agree on anything. Then, one Friday night a bit of mystic magic happens and they wake up trapped in each other’s bodies.

Forced to walk in each other’s shoes, they gain a respect and understanding for one another’s points of view.

In the Mahurangi production, the two lead roles will be played by Isabel Free as daughter Ellie and Lily Ward will plays her mother Katherine.

The stage show is modern and relatable for teens and their parents, exploring themes such as perseverance, empathy and believing in yourself.

The director is Jonathan Dutton. Dutton

is a seasoned drama teacher and this will be the second senior production he has directed.

He hopes to repeat the success of the school’s last production, The Wizard of Oz, which he directed in 2021. Isabel Free returns as a lead character, having played Dorothy in Oz production.

“I wanted to do a show that was modern and appealed to students and their peers,” Dutton says. “It was also important to me that the show had a good message.”

The play is based on the novel Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers.

There will be four shows from June 22 to 24. Evening performances start at 6.30pm and there will be a matinee on Saturday June 24 at 2.30pm.

Tickets are $22 or $15 for students and seniors.

To book go to: https://www.iticket.co.nz/ events/2023/jun/freaky-friday

The lead roles will be played by Isabel Free as daughter Ellie and Lily Ward, who plays her mother Katherine.

Continuing to support our farmers through the generations

Dr Shoesmith, I presume

By Bryan Jackson

One of Warkworth’s founding fathers, John Valentine Shoesmith, arrived on New Zealand’s shores in rather clandestine circumstances. Born in Burnley, Lancashire, in 1854, he was 33 when he married 22-yearold Mary Lowrey in 1887. It was stated at the time that he was a medical student, but by 1890 he was working as an innkeeper. It appears the couple left London in a hurry, travelling under the assumed names of Mr and Mrs Mayo. When they arrived in Warkworth, they stayed at Brooklands with Thomas Walker. When Walker enquired about their assumed names, Shoesmith replied that he had done a slope [sneaked off] and had just got away by the skin of his teeth. The rest remains a mystery.

In Warkworth, Shoesmith, who had never qualified as a doctor, took on the role of a doctor and was referred to as Dr Shoesmith. Many residents were treated by “Dr Shoesmith” and once, when he was recovering from a broken leg, his wife carried out his duties. However, the qualified doctors who practiced in Warkworth over the years were opposed to his activities as a pseudo-doctor and Dr Ick wrote to the Minister of Justice, complaining of the situation which had caused him to lose income. When Shoesmith was in charge of the Warkworth Cottage Hospital the local doctor refused

to police that she had stolen £7.10s from him. However, when the matter went to court, Alice was discharged on the basis that Shoesmith’s evidence was unreliable.

On May 18, 1921, John Shoesmith died of cardiac arrest, aged 73 years. He was interred at the Anglican cemetery and in 1945, Warkworth residents raised funds to install a proper headstone on his grave. Under the terms of Shoesmith’s will, upon the death of his wife, the Warkworth Town Board came in to possession of his £1300 property, which now bears his name. The property saw school sports and picnics, cricket, hockey and football played on it. For many years some of the paddocks were leased for grazing. In 1938, twoand-a-half acres was sold to the Auckland Education Board for £350 with a right to use a further two-and-a-half acres during school hours. The new school opened in June 1945. Today, the Shoesmith property consists of part of Warkworth Primary School, Shoesmith Domain and the former Women’s Bowling Club. The house was demolished in the 1940’s.

Doctor and Mrs Shoesmith, Hill Street, early 1900s.

A roadside stop on the Warkworth to Wellsford route – Dr Shoesmith’s car, 1926. Behind the wheel is either Dr Shoesmith or Walter Ramsbottom. On hood is Tommy Ramsbottom and Elsley Cook. On mudguard is Herbert Stubbs.

Wellsford Saleyards 1909

Andrew Steens

Good goss of greenhouses

The coming-of-age of a truly passionate gardener is the day their greenhouse is constructed in the garden. Lots of people are happy to potter along growing crops with the seasons, but fanatical gardeners like to push the boundaries, growing crops that would otherwise struggle to grow in their environment or to get a jump start on the season. Of course, a not inconsequential side-benefit is being able to sit in neartropical warmth and enjoy your plants while the outside world is chilly and wet. You can gain an advantage of at least a month at the start of the season by using an unheated greenhouse. Another month or more can be tacked on to the end of the season for cold sensitive crops like beans and tomatoes. So, instead of tomatoes from December to April, you may be eating tomatoes from November to June. A capable gardener, with good disease control and the right varieties, can even have tomatoes all year round, although woe betide if you take your eye off the crop for more than a few days!

Each style of house, type of framing and covering material has its advantages and disadvantages. You can make a greenhouse from glass, polythene or twinwall polycarbonate sheeting (this latter option is increasingly preferred by home gardeners). For those on a tight budget, old wooden windows with their sashes still attached can often be picked up for free or very cheap from house demolitions or renovations. I’ve seen some very stylish and effective greenhouses made this way.

Glass has the best light transmission but can be a safety issue particularly with children. Plants can also scorch more easily under glass on sunny days. If buying new, glass is also the most expensive option, but does last the longest. Polythene has less light transmission than glass, but also less chance of scorching. It is the least durable of the

covering materials but also by far the least expensive. Twin-wall polycarbonate has the best insulation properties and although it doesn’t have the light transmission quality of glass, its high diffusion rating means less shading is needed in summer to avoid scorching. It is midway between the other two for cost, but has good longevity if a quality, UV protected brand is used.

A double-glazed greenhouse is much more efficient at holding heat than single layers, which is where the twin-wall polycarbonate excels. This effect can also be achieved by using two separate skins of polythene, two layers of glass or even a layer of polythene inside the glass. If possible, get a larger greenhouse rather than a smaller one, as the more air volume in a greenhouse, the more stable the environment; and this is better for your plants.

One critical aspect of greenhouse design is sufficient ventilation. Poor ventilation dramatically increases the amount of leaf diseases and stresses the plants by letting temperatures climb too high. A good rule of thumb for working out the amount of windows and vents you need is that if you take the dimensions of all of the openings at their widest point, they should add up to at least 30% of the floor space. Most summer greenhouse vegetables can take up to 32°C without too much stress so this amount of ventilation should be enough to prevent your greenhouse getting too hot until the middle of summer, when some shading might be needed.

If you are a truly fanatical gardener, you could also look at heating your greenhouse. My tropical greenhouse is currently running five heatpads and, as a completely addicted gardener, I even monitor these via wi-fi while on holiday. Well, that’s assuming the power and internet haven’t gone down in yet another storm!

Junior rugby launches new tournament

The inaugural Mike Cooper Invitational J3 (U11) tournament will be played at the Mahurangi Rugby Club grounds on June 11. A total of 15 teams have registered, from Whangarei to Auckland, and the tournament will be played in a round robin and finals format. Former Mahurangi College teacher and rugby coach, Mike Cooper, has been a long-time supporter of junior rugby at the club. Meanwhile, the Mahurangi junior rugby programme is six weeks into its 15 week season.

There are 243 kids registered over 22 teams, which is on par with last year. Junior rugby chairperson Patrick Sullivan says the club is lucky this year to have an

extra Under 13 girls quick rip team.

“We also have quite a few girls scattered through our tackle grades and I am sure we will see a few Mahu girls as Black Ferns in the future,” Sullivan says.

“We also have 25 kids in our ‘Mahu 4s’ programme. This is just a club run programme for the under five kids to introduce then to rugby and have a bit of fun. It is run on a Thursday after school and is great for parents who have older kids training at the club already.”

Sullivan says although registrations have closed for this year, the club encourages any parents to come along to the club on a Saturday morning to see what the club is about and find out why Mahurangi is the best club to play for, at and against.

All roads lead to Wellsford netball

Junior netball continues to thrive at the Netball Rodney Centre in Wellsford, with a mind-boggling 56 teams from throughout the region turning up to play on the Centennial Park courts every Saturday. This season, teams from Years 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, are having to play on the old tennis courts, while Years 1 and 2, and 7 and 8, are on netball courts that are still playable, centre president Kelly Ayres said. As with several other sports and clubs, the netball centre has been waiting for facilities to be updated and improved by Auckland Council and Rodney Local Board for many years, and some courts are not playable this season. Ayres said it was good to have the Centennial Park Masterplan finally signed off and a timeline for improvements to be carried out over the next four to five years.

In the meantime, she said having spectators confined to outside the tennis court’s high fencing was not necessarily a bad thing, since it meant the young players had plenty of space and were not being crowded by passionate parents.

Ayres said she was grateful to all the centre’s many clubs and members for their continued support.

“It has been a really uncertain time for everybody, so having their support is awesome,” she said.

Netball Rodney Centre has more than 700 players including its senior teams, with players coming from as far north as Maungaturoto and Waipu, as far south as Warkworth and Kaipara Flats, and right out to both east and west coasts.

Info: Netball Centre Rodney on Facebook

Lucy Clark has her eye on the ball.

Record breaker heads to Paris

Para athlete Mitch Joynt is off to Paris to compete in the World Champs next month.

The former Warkworth resident, who now lives on the Hibiscus Coast, currently holds the Oceania records in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events.

He says he was not particularly competitive before he had his right leg amputated below the knee following a wood chipper accident. He was 18 at the time and working as an arborist.

He says having such a major accident as a teenager gave him time to rehabilitate and recover.

It wasn’t long before he began thinking about proving himself in competitive sport. After initially trying rowing, and representing NZ in a World Cup as a snowboarder, he discovered a talent for sprinting six years ago and hasn’t looked back.

When not working as a full time truck driver, he trains hard, wearing a state of the art running blade, and works out in his home gym.

Mitch says he mainly competes against himself because sprinting is all about times. He still has around $5000 to raise to make the Paris trip possible.

Donations can be made here: https:// givealittle.co.nz/.../mitch-joynt-to-worldchamps

09 423 8871

Badminton–SnellsBeach

A warm invitation to new players to join us where the emphasis is on fun. We meet at the Snells Beach Community Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday with a 9am start. Welcome to those who are keen to learn or improve. Spare racquets are available. Phone Barry 027 425 5612 or Lynne 021 735 767

Indoorbowls

Tomarata Indoor Bowls meet at the Tomarata Hall, Mangawhai Rd,Tomarata on Wednesdays at 7pm. New members welcome. Info: Eryl 09 431 4965

Snells Beach Indoor Bowls meet at the Mahurangi East Community Centre, Hamatana Rd, on Mondays at 12.30pm, beginners welcome. Info: Pam 425 6405

Juniorrugby

The inaugural Mike Cooper Invitational J3 (U11) tournament will be played at the Mahurangi Rugby Club grounds on Sunday June 11. Come along and support junior rugby.

Karateclasses

Mangawhai Kyokushin Karate classes are held on Tuesday evenings in the Mangawhai Senior Citizens Community Hall, in Fagan Place, from 5pm to 6pm. All welcome. Enquiries, phone Garry Clarke on 021 0333 999

Wakaamainvitation

Students aged between 13 and 17 are invited to join a Saturday waka ama gettogether at the Mangawhai estuary, off Sellars Drive near the campground, from 8.30am. Details, contact Nicole on 021 662 943

Mitch Joynt was out in front in the 100m and 200m finals at this year’s National Track and Field Championships, held in Wellington. He broke his own NZ record in the 200m. Photos, Alisha Lovrich.

Classifieds

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/ Simpson dryers. Prompt service 021 168 7349.

DRIVEWAYS

MAINTENANCE Grading, rolling & metalling for rural Driveways. No job too BIG or small. Ph Trevor 021 0225 5606

DVDS & VIDEOS

WINDOW CLEANING/ HOUSEWASH/GUTTER CLEANING Local professional service. Ph Pat 022-646-5849.

PUBLIC NOTICES

DVD

VIDEOS TRANSFERRED to DVD/hard drive. Phone or txt Tetotara Video 021 777 385

SITUATIONS VACANT DELIVERERS

WANTED

HAIR & NAILS

MOBILE HAIR & NAILS

Working around the greater Warkworth Region. Offering hairdressing, manicure and pedicure services, in your home. Call Rebecca 021 0825 8242

HOME & MAINTENANCE

Blue Skies Cleaning

Window Cleaning, Soft Bio House Wash, Gutter Clean, All Exterior Cleaning, Water Blasting, Roof Treatment, Local Professional service.

Ph Pat 022-646-5849

COLLINS ELECTRONICS HAVE YOU LOST PRIME?

Or need your Freeview box tuned for the new channels? TV repairs, microwave oven repairs, Freeview installations.

Ph Paul 09 422 0500 or 027 29 222 04

11 YEARS + TO DELIVER THE MAHURANGI MATTERS NEWSPAPERS

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

CHURCH NOTICES

CATHOLIC CHURCH

www.holyname.org.nz

Holy Mass Timetable:

WARKWORTH

Holy Name Church, 6 Alnwick Street

Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm

Sunday: 10.30am

Phone 425 8545 PUHOI

SS. Peter & Paul Church Sunday: 8.30am

5 Pulham Road, Warkworth Phone 425 8861 www.mahu.org.nz

Sunday Services 9am & 10.35am

The deadline for classified advertising for our June 19, 2023 paper is June 14. Send classified advertising enquiries to design@localmatters.co.nz

www.localmatters.co.nz

The annual masters tennis tournament drew players from as far south as the Waikato.

Women dominate Masters Tennis

By Rob Denton

The 38th annual Lower Northland Masters Tennis Tournament was held at Warkworth on May 13.

A total of 14 women’s pairs and just seven men’s pairs competed in the top division together with the ladies’ C grade at the Warkworth courts. While at the Mahurangi East courts, the men’s B and C grade and the ladies B grade competed. Players came from as far away as Whangarei and the Waikato. This year there was only one pair from last year who were defending their titles, Jane Ioaba and Hana Ruzickova.

In the top grade ladies, we saw some excellent matches with many going down to the wire. Top seeds Lyn Duncan and Helen Litt survived a big scare in the semis, winning in a nail biting tie breaker of 7/5. They then faced Craigie McCulloch and Fiona Wikaira in a tough encounter which had all the hallmarks of a great final. As the other matches finished, the crowd gathered round the court to witness an absorbing

doubles match unfold. It was anyone’s match to win, and after some excellent tennis from both sides, McCulloch and Wikaira proved worthy winners.

Local performances to finish well were Rachel Iverson and Annabelle Armstrong, and Katie Searle and Maayke Reidsma.

In the men’s A grade, the title went to Jeff Crichton and Craig McPhail and our best performers from Warkworth were Michael Campbell and Jono Boundy.

In the C grade men’s, the local players of Jacques Oliver and Jonny St George won a very closely fought last two matches 11/10,11/10 to take the title.

Ken Taylor and son Andy won the B grade consolation championship. Shaun Kingi and Jeremy Saunders were plate winners, while Lew Hood and Rick Notley won the consolation plate in the C grade.

The tournament was once again very fortunate to have the major sponsorship from Pascoes together with Warkworth businesses Hart’s Pharmacy, New World Warkworth, Warkworth Glass and Pizza Hut.

2-10 Starting from Scratch art exhibition, Takatu Studio, 201a Takatu Road, Matakana, 9am-3pm. New ceramics and paintings by Helene Carpenter.

7 Warkworth Liaison Group meeting, downstairs meeting room at Warkworth RSA, Mill Lane, 7pm

10 Kitten adoption day, Pets North, Neville Street Warkworth, 10am. There will also be a sausage sizzle and a raffle that will be drawn on the day.

10 Quiz Night, Ahuroa Fire Station, 383 West Coast Road, 7pm. Prizes and raffles, cash bar, bring a plate or snacks to share. Tables of 6 or individual tickets, $10 per person. No Eftpos. RSVP and info: ahuroa.quiz@gmail.com

10 Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade Open Day, at the station in Church Hill, midday to 4pm. Everyone welcome (see story p13)

11 Leys Orchestra Family Concert, Warkworth Town Hall, 3pm. Free

11 Takatu Landcare Planting Day, meet at the corner of Takatu and Whitmore Roads, 9am. BBQ lunch provided. To RSVP or for more info: pestcontrol@takatulandcare.com or 022 364 7063

14 Warkworth to Snells Beach wastewater project Open Day, Dawson Road Reserve, 10am-2pm. All welcome (see story p14)

15 Forest & Bird Warkworth Area Branch, a talk by Dr Robert Howell, entitled ‘The Challenge of Rachel Carson’. How would the writer advise us today? Meeting room RSA, Warkworth, 7.30pm. All welcome.

15-28 French Film Festival, Matakana Cinemas

17 Improv Comedy Night, Warkworth Squash Club, Shoesmith Street, 7.30pm. Tickets $25 per person. Contact Kaye Jackson on 021 135 7574 or squashykaye@icloud.com

19 Low Vision Support Group, Summerset Falls Village, Warkworth, 1.30pm. All welcome. Info: enquiries@mcdonaldadams.co.nz

22-24 Freaky Friday, Mahurangi College production, 6.30pm and a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm (see story p37)

24 Volunteer Open Day, Matakana Hall, 10am-1pm. A Forest Bridge Trust event to celebrate National Volunteer Week. All welcome to come along and see how you can be involved in your community.

25 Leigh Mid-Winter Swim, Matheson Bay, 10.30am start. Hot soup and coffee available.

26 Feeling Fab pamper day, Anglican Church lounge room, Mangawhai (see story p13)

30 Movie Magic, a Matakantata Choir concert at Matakana Hall, 7.30pm; tickets $20 adults, gold coin children (see story p23)

29–July 2 Puhoi 160th celebrations, includes a lunch, dance and church service. Info and tickets puhoibohemianmuseum@gmail.com or ph 027 211 0316.

CHARITY SAUSAGE SIZZLE

IF

HARBOUR HOSPICE

Harbour Hospice provides specialist, palliative care for families and whānau living in the Hibiscus Coast, North Shore and Warkworth/Wellsford communities.

They provide compassionate care, free of charge, working with patients, families, whānau and carers in their homes, and within their three hospice sites. Harbour Hospice care for 1 in 3 people who die in our community.

From nursing and medical care, counselling, social work, cultural and spiritual support, physiotherapy, day groups, training programmes and more, their goal is to help people live every moment in whatever way is important to them.

It doesn't matter who they are, what they believe in or where they live. Hospice care is free for them.

Saturday 24th June, 10am-2pm next to Warkworth Butchery

OVER $25,000 RAISED

for these local causes

Snells Beach Fire Service

The Animal Sanctuary

NZ Coastguard

1 Menzies/Endres Duo presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm

1 Wellsford Community Dinner, Wellsford RSA, from 6pm. Spot prices, auction and two course dinner; raising money for Wellsford School. Albertland Museum and Support Your Local Wellsford. Tickets $50. Book at: yourlocalwellsford2022@ gmail.com or phone 021 022 2762

2 Movie Magic, a Matakantata Choir concert, Warkworth Town Hall, 2.30pm; tickets $20 adults, gold coin children

2 Tawharanui Planting Day, 9am-1pm. Meet at the Woolshed; tools, gloves and lunch provided

5 Warkworth Liaison Group meeting, downstairs meeting room at Warkworth RSA, Mill Lane, 7pm start

15 Mahurangi Festival of Lights, along the Wharf and Baxter Street, 11am to 9pm (see story p32)

17 Low Vision Support Group, Summerset Falls Village, Warkworth, 1.30pm. All welcome. Info: enquiries@mcdonaldadams.co.nz

28 Mahurangi College Open Day (see ad p37)

29 Ben Wilcock Quartet presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm

Adults in Motion

St John Ambulance

Jane Gifford Society

The Rotary Foundation

Women's Centre Rodney

Auckland City Mission 2021

Tonga Tsunami Appeal

SPCA

Warkworth Town Hall

Pinc & Steel Foundation

Dementia Auckland

Hestia Women's Refuge

The Salvation Army

Trees for Survival

Warkworth & Wellsford

Pipe Band

Warkworth Fire Service

Auckland City Mission 2022

Springboard

Omaha Beach Surf

Lifesaving Club

Cyclone Flood Relief x2

Inkersole Trophy stays with Raiders

The Rodney Rams Masters came up against a slightly younger Hibiscus Coast Raiders team on Sunday May 28 when the two sides met in the Ray Inkersole Memorial Trophy clash.

The Raiders, who took the trophy last year, proved too strong on the day.

Spokesperson Roger Reid said overall, the game was pretty even.

“The Raiders have a few younger players this year and I think that may have been the difference. They just had a bit more stamina.”

Scores aren’t kept in Masters games, but

for the sake of deciding who would win the trophy, tries were counted, with the Raiders finishing three tries to one. Inkersole was a former Rodney Rams chair and the trophy recognises the fact that when Masters first started, Rams and Raiders played as a combined team under the name Ram Raiders.

Later this year, Masters of Rugby League New Zealand will celebrate its 30th Anniversary International Tournament for both womens and mens masters grades. The tournament will be held at Cornwall Park from October 14 to 21, with local teams expected to take part.

Photos, Roger Reid.