Mahurangi Matters_Issue 458_3 July 2023

Sand company fights for dredging rights

Three separate bids by an Auckland aggregate business to continue dredging hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sand from the Pakiri and Mangawhai coastline looked set to be cut to just one appeal case in the Environment Court last week.

McCallum Bros Ltd (MBL) lodged appeals against Auckland Council’s refusal to renew its consent to mine sand from the inshore and offshore zones, while Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust (Ngāti Manuhiri), Friends of Pakiri Beach, the Department of Conservation, and a

number of environmental, community and residents groups appealed council’s decision to grant MBL consent to dredge from a new mid-shore area between the two.

However, in a surprise move, the hearing opened with the news that MBL was dropping its mid-shore application completely and wanted to adjourn the inshore appeal.

Anti-sand mining parties opposed the adjournment, saying it was purely so MBL could continue to dredge sand there by

continuing its ‘rollover rights’– its consent expired in 2020, but all the while the case remains in the courts, the company can and does continue to dredge in the embayment. This is despite vehement opposition from local residents and environmental groups, who say the beach and rare fairy tern nesting sites have been severely damaged and denuded over the years.

Opponents’ lawyers said the adjournment bid was an abuse of process by MBL and two of them, Ngāti Manuhiri and Friends of Pakiri Beach, formally applied to have

the inshore appeal struck out on those grounds.

Judge Jeff Smith, heading a panel also comprising Judge Aidan Warren and Commissioners Russell Howie, Shona Myers and Kevin Prime, said a strike-out would be “a high bar”, and encouraged all parties to work on an alternative suggestion made by lawyers for MBL and the Fairy Tern Charitable Trust. This was for a temporary consent for the duration of the remaining offshore appeal that would

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Bid to halt inshore dredging as mid-shore dropped

allow MBL to transfer its rollover rights from the inshore to offshore zone.

Trust counsel Chris Patterson told the court that this suggestion was because his clear instructions were to achieve an end to inshore sand extraction at the earliest opportunity.

At least one lawyer voiced concern that all the machinations seemed to revolve around MBL’s commercial interests and how to let them continue sand mining, as opposed to deciding whether they should be allowed to take any more sand at all.

Lawyers for several parties, including Te Whanau o Pakiri, Friends of Pakiri Beach, Ngati Manuhiri, Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society and Forest & Bird, said the proposal left them in something of a bind.

“My clients’ ultimate objective is to bring sand mining to an end,” Te Whanau o Pakiri’s Vicki Morrison-Shaw said. “It’s a bit of a Clayton’s choice. While there’s some evidence about the effects being lower offshore, it doesn’t mean that they’re not still significant.”

After two days of lengthy debate and discussion, Judge Smith said the agreement for a temporary consent shift from inshore to offshore would mean the immediate cessation of inshore dredging, but it needed

the agreement of all 15-plus interested parties.

The hearing was adjourned for lawyers from all sides to hammer out the details and conditions of a temporary consent, including the distance from the shore from which sand could be mined, and the establishment of a multi-party supervisory panel to keep an eye on the situation and make recommendations to MBL and

council, if necessary.

Judge Smith urged all parties to find common ground.

“Get together a memorandum that can be put to the court and we can issue as a determinational decision,” he said. Smith said if that could be achieved by last Friday, June 30, the remaining case – the offshore appeal – would begin on July 17.

Karakia a precious gift, Kaipara council told

Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson’s decision to discontinue the use of a Māori karakia to open and close meetings was akin to the council flogging off “a precious family gift”, a community member told councillors last Wednesday.

“And I do believe that no matter which culture you’re from, that’s pretty rude,” Caren Davis told the meeting in Mangawhai. Jepson stoked controversy last November by banning the karakia, a tradition for the previous 25 years, arguing that meetings should be secular and multicultural. The move prompted a hikoi through Dargaville and a petition calling for his resignation. The council subsequently voted to allow elected members, in rotation, to offer a short reflection – but before the formal start of the meeting.

Davis began her presentation by offering a

karakia, accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter, Huia.

“Karakia is one of our taonga, a treasure,” she told the meeting. “When we use karakia in various spaces, we are reviving our reo – our language, that holds the key to our wellbeing, our identity, our sense of place, our histories, insights into the environment.

“This is all on offer to you, too – through karakia. It was given to this council as a taonga. Saying no to it is like giving away a precious family gift on TradeMe.” Davis said karakia were increasingly being used across the country, and “Kaipara has been placed behind the times by this council”.

After the presentation she was thanked, though no councillor commented and the meeting continued with its agenda.

“The Mayor offered question time, but pretty quickly closed it before any questions were asked,” Davis said afterwards. “However I feel my presentation was clear enough that it did not warrant any questions.”

Invited to comment on the points raised, Mayor Jepson provided a brief statement saying that “the presentations and petitions section is the part in council meetings where the public have an opportunity to speak to council at the beginning of a meeting, and I respect that.”

“Council made an agreement as to premeeting karakia or statement of choice at the end of last year,” he said. “We also conducted a vote which was a democratic decision of council establishing our current meeting arrangements.”

A video of this presentation is available with this story online.

Shifting sands – the Environment Court hearing was preoccupied with finding a way to stop inshore dredging last week.

Grange businesses knocked by new motorway

The opening of the new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway has had a significant, if predictable, impact on businesses in The Grange on Auckland Road/Old SH1, if early indications are anything to go by. The state of the parking lot said it all: while finding a car park near the strip of shops can often be a chore, three days after the motorway bypassing the town was opened to traffic on Monday, June 19, The Grange was nearly empty.

Grange Bakery owner Samrach Say estimated that business had dropped by “about 65 per cent” since Monday. While the bakery typically sells more than 200 pies a day, that number had dropped to fewer than 50.

Say said he might have to reduce staffing and the situation was affecting his orders from suppliers, too.

“The world has changed. What’s plan B?” he asked, before adding that it was probably too soon to panic.

An assistant manager at St Pierre’s Sushi said takings were around 30 per cent down since Monday. Staff were making less sushi than usual to minimise waste, she said. Business was quiet at the My Blitz vape store, but the hope was that once the novelty of the new motorway wore off, it would pick up again. Staff at the nearlyempty Coffee Club said they were doing extra cleaning and discussing ways to bring in more customers.

“The usual buzz is not here,” observed Bharesh Bhikha at the Bottle-O liquor store, saying it was strange not to feel the rumble of trucks making their way along the old SH1.

Custom at two of the bigger players at The Grange, McDonald’s and the BP Connect petrol station, also appeared to have

been affected.

“Like most local businesses, our McDonald’s Warkworth franchisee has noticed an initial impact from the highway changes, which is something we’d anticipated and planned for,” McDonald’s spokesperson Simon Kenny said in response to queries.

A BP spokesperson said the Warkworth business “remains a popular convenience retail site within the Warkworth community and an employer of many local team members”.

“We know our customers have a choice when it comes to fuel retailers, and that bypasses do bring change, so we will work hard to give our customers as many reasons as possible to choose BP and keep supporting our vibrant community,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Z petrol station, north of town, was busy on Wednesday, boosted according to its manager not only by the new motorway and Matakana link road, but also by the newly-opened Pak ’n Save next door.

Cafes in Warkworth town centre did not appear to have been affected negatively by the motorway opening – in fact, some said it had been “quite busy”, with some reporting customers commenting that they’d come up from Auckland specifically to try out the new road.

A few business operators recalled the effect the motorway bypass had on Ōrewa, and the time taken for that town’s revival, helped by the growth of Millwater and surrounding areas.

One Mahurangi Business Association manager Murray Chapman said the fact the new motorway did not include a southern interchange servicing Warkworth South made no sense, especially since its designation as Auckland’s northern satellite town. He said

it would no doubt happen, in time.

“A southern interchange is desperately needed,” he said. “We’re going to be the biggest town in the area, and effectively we’re being bypassed.”

Chapman said signage was needed north of the Johnstones Hill tunnels informing motorists that the Puhoi turnoff was the last entrance to Warkworth south and Mahurangi West.

By the time northbound travellers reached the Pukerito roundabout, north of Warkworth, the chances of them turning back towards Warkworth were slim, he said.

“I don’t believe that we’re genetically wired to turn backwards. If you’re in a car full of family and you’re heading north, and someone says ‘let’s go for a coffee’, unless someone really strongly wants to come into Warkworth, they’re going to turn left and carry on north.”

Signage at the Pukerito roundabout promoting Warkworth town centre could also help, he said.

“We know the river is special and this town has this lovely iconic character, but trying to convey that to people heading north is pretty difficult.”

Chapman said his personal view was that after two or three weeks the situation would “bottom out and then find its own level, once the excitement [about the new motorway] dies away a little bit.”

The fact it happened in midwinter, already a quiet time, was a “double whammy”. But, he said, businesses needed to get the message out that Warkworth was worthwhile coming into, and “just because you can drive on the new motorway doesn’t stop the fact that you should always shop local.”

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Motorway run in

An average of 20,500 to 21,000 vehicles a day are using the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway extension. Waka Kotahi says this includes about 2200 heavy vehicles, which is the same as historic volumes from the existing State Highway 1 route, indicating the majority of traffic has switched to the new motorway. “We are also seeing less congestion on SH1, particularly through Warkworth.”

Praise for new roads

Rodney Local Board officially welcomed the opening of Te Honohono ki Tai, the Matakana link road, and Ara Tūhono, the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway extension, at its monthly meeting on June 21. Chair Brent Bailey acknowledged “the extremely valuable and greatly appreciated efforts” of Wharehine, Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Auckland Transport, Waka Kotahi and NX2 in the design, construction and delivery of both projects. “And also the Warkworth community for their support and patience during the construction phase of this very important roading network,” he added.

Māori seats consultation

Auckland Council’s Governing Body has adopted the consultation document for Māori seats, with public feedback open from August 21 until September 24. This will be an opportunity for Aucklanders to say whether or not they support the introduction of Māori seats onto the Governing Body of council. Council’s manager of governance services, Rose Leonard, says this is a significant decision for council and feedback is sought from mana whenua iwi, Māori living in Tāmaki Makaurau and the wider community. “A decision on Māori seats on the Governing Body is about how Māori are represented in Tāmaki Makaurau, and how Aucklanders are represented by the Governing Body,” he says.

Transport discounts

Auckland’s public transport customers aged under 25 who use a registered HOP card can now travel for free or half price. Although the government’s half price discount on public transport fares ended on June 30, new concessions for passengers under 25 were introduced on July 1. The concessions provide for free fares for those aged five to 12 years old and half price fares continue for those aged 13 to 24 years. Children under five years old continue to travel free when accompanied by a fare paying passenger. Community Connect passengers continue to get 50% off adult fares with a Community Services Card. Further info: at.govt.nz/farechanges

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Professional, cost effective, creative solutions to all aspects of resource management planning.

• Plan changes

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The Grange was unusually quiet in the days after the new motorway opened to traffic.

Grange Bakery owner Samrach Say.

Rodney Local Board finally opens doors on closed workshops

Rodney Local Board has voted to open up previously confidential workshops to the public and media for a six-month trial starting from July 21.

Up to now, while local board meetings have been open to the public, workshops where Auckland Council staff brief members on upcoming reports and agenda items have always been held behind closed doors.

Although done in the spirit of saving time, this practice has led to some matters being effectively ‘rubber-stamped’ by the time they reach the monthly board meetings, with little or no discussion or debate on sometimes important or controversial issues. However, at the monthly meeting on June 21, Warkworth member Michelle Carmichael put forward a Notice of Motion calling for workshops to be made public “to ensure greater transparency and understanding about the undertaking of council business”.

She said that during and since last year’s local election, members of the community had raised concerns about the need for open workshops to increase the transparency of local board decision-making.

Carmichael said it would help people to build trust in council staff and would help members be more open with the community.

“Often we hear things in the community but we can’t comment, because we need to keep items confidential,” she said. “It’s incredibly difficult. It looks like we’re trying to keep things secret, but we’re bound by a confidentiality agreement.”

She said there might be circumstances where closed workshops would still be required, such as if Notices of Requirement were being discussed before letters to those affected had gone out, or for staff employment matters, but most topics could be discussed openly.

“This will clearly demonstrate our commitment to careful transparent and accountable decision-making, which is undertaken with the best interests of our communities in mind.”

Board deputy chair Louise Johnston said workshops sometimes included very sensitive issues and it should be left to staff to decide whether an item should be confidential or not.

Wellsford member Colin Smith said all

council meetings should be open to the public, as council was funded by ratepayers, and if there was anything confidential, the public should be excluded for that item only, rather than the entire workshop.

Ivan Wagstaff, who seconded Carmichael’s original Notice of Motion, called for checks and balances on the process to prevent staff from being able to deem everything confidential.

Guy Wishart commented that opening up workshops to the public may result in staff

not being as frank as they normally would when addressing only board members, with Johnston agreeing that they currently provided an opportunity for “free and frank discussion”.

Board chair Brent Bailey then suggested opening workshops for a trial period so that any such issues could be addressed.

“Let’s make it a trial and then review it after six months,” he said. “Then we can look at what we like and take out what we don’t like.”

Members voted unanimously to open all

local board workshops to the public for a six-month trial period, from July 21 until January 26. During that time, individual workshop agenda items “may be proposed to be closed to the public at the request of council staff and be confirmed by the chair and deputy chair”. They also agreed to publish upcoming workshop information on the Auckland Council website and social media, and hold workshops alternately in Warkworth and Kumeu. Members will also be able to query any proposed non-public or confidential items. See We Say page 8.

Signage causes confusion on Woodcocks Rd

Motorists using Woodcocks Road in Warkworth are complaining that the irregular speed restrictions on the road are causing confusion.

The road is 50kph when it starts at State Highway 1 and then increases to 60kph just before Falls Road. It then jumps to 100kph just after Old Kaipara Road. However, just recently, an advisory sign of 65kph was placed on a bend in the road, near Southern Paprika, which has since been removed.

Auckland Transport road safety engineering manager Michael Brown says a new 60 km/ hr speed limit on Woodcocks Road, between Old Kaipara Road to a point 150m west of Falls Road, was introduced in March.

He says the new speed limit was determined using the Waka Kotahi Speed Management Guide. One element that is considered is the infrastructure risk rating, a standard way of determining how much risk there is on sections of road.

“The infrastructure risk rating for this section of Woodcock Road is ‘mediumhigh’ due to the narrow shoulder width, the curved nature of the road and high number of roadside hazards,” Brown says.

“This section of Woodcocks Road has had 11 recorded crashes between 2016 and 2020 – one fatal, four serious, two minor and four non-injury crashes. Overall, the assessed collective risk and personal risk for this road section are both ‘high’.

“After considering all the above factors, the existing speed limit of 100 km/hr on Woodcocks Road was not considered to be a safe and appropriate speed limit.

The reduced speed limits will reduce the potential crash risk (and severity) for all road users.”

A permanent speed limit review for the remaining 100 km/hr section of Woodcocks Road has been planned by AT and will form part of the next phase of the Safe Speeds programme. A link to the programme can be found with this story online.

Brown says all incorrect signs along the road have been removed, and AT will investigate suitable locations to install more repeater speed limit signs on this section of Woodcocks Road to help highlight the new speed limit.

FallsRoad

Responding to the question of whether police should be ticketing motorists in that area, given the recent road works and sign confusion, Waitemata road policing manager Inspector Mike Rickards said that drivers could dispute any infringement issued by writing or emailing to the Police Infringement Bureau who will consider circumstances of the alleged speeding and surrounding circumstances.

“The community has already experienced one speed related death on Woodcocks Road this year and police will continue to conduct road safety enforcement in this area,” Inspector Rickards said.

Kourawhero

Three-year board strategy out for comment this month

feedback you can provide us with so we can support and deliver what you need to get the most out of the next three years.”

Chair Brent Bailey said this new plan had been put together during a particularly trying time for everyone and the region was facing many issues.

While local boards could now make more decisions about services and facilities in their area, the cost of living and providing services had risen and spending priorities were under intense scrutiny.

“From the beginning of this term, we have faced difficult challenges as extreme weather events wreaked havoc on the area, the financial pressures in council have increased and now the looming economic recession. We know that communities are struggling,” he said in the plan’s introduction.

Bailey said as a result, the draft plan was focusing more on keeping things local, from improving disaster preparedness and building community resilience to greater local procurement, as well as looking at different ways to deliver services.

He urged people to look at and have their say on the plan, so the local board could deliver what communities wanted and needed.

“We know that you are time poor, life seems to be getting busier and challenges more complex. We therefore appreciate all

A new permanent public artwork on the Mahurangi River has cost the cashstrapped Auckland Council $518,034. The light installation was funded from council’s Public Art Regional budget and will be officially turned on during the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights on July 15.

It will illuminate a stand of totara opposite the town wharf and will run for three hours a night during winter and two hours during summer.

It uses 35 programmable LED lights and eight speakers to tell the story of Mahurangi through the eyes of manu whenua Ngāti Manuhiri. The artist was Hokimai-anahera Rosieur (Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāpuhi and Te Aupōuri).

The new artwork is the first to be delivered in the Rodney region under the Auckland Council public artwork programme.

Council’s public art manager Hayley Wolters says it is expected to be in place for 10 years.

The draft Rodney Local Board Plan 2023 has been developed considering previous community feedback, including on council’s Annual Budget 2023/2024, as well as advice from various council departments. It focuses on five key areas –people, environment, community, places and the economy.

The plan can be read and feedback submitted online, and there will be two public Have Your Say events – one at the local board’s Kumeū meeting room, next to the library, on Wednesday, July 26 from 4pm to 6pm, and the other at the Rodney Local Board office at 3 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth on Wednesday, August 9 between 4pm and 6pm.

There will be other community engagement opportunities at five local libraries, including Warkworth, Wellsford and Mahurangi East, and local board members will be able to provide information and advice. Feedback can also be submitted via email, letter or by phone.

The resulting information will be analysed and collated for local board members to consider when the final local board plan is decided in October.

To read the Local Board Plan and comment online, visit https://akhaveyoursay. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rodney-localboard-plan-2023

“The project outcomes for this artwork aligns with our regional programme, which includes celebrating Te Ao Māori, supporting arts and culture, stimulating community activity and contributing to a vibrant and economically strong town centre.”

The artwork was installed by Davco Electrical and the ongoing costs will be funded from council’s Public Art Regional budget.

(Festival fun on its way, see story page 26)

Category Expenditure Artist fee/Design 103,769 Lights 123,878 Light and sound controllers 30,000 Sound 40,092 Physical works 172,813 Consultancy  25,534 Consenting and other expenses (enabling works)  21,948 TOTAL: 518,034

$899

off

Headboards,

Ti Point group seeks Local Board help to create new reserve

A community group that wants to transform a weed-infested patch of derelict land into a native forest reserve is asking Rodney Local Board for help, having struggled to get answers from Auckland Council up to now.

Ti Point Forest Project and Whangateau HarbourCare member Linus Wood told last month’s board meeting that it had been difficult to get any engagement from council on the future of the former forestry site on the corner of Ti Point and Leigh Roads, which is owned by council.

“Currently, it’s a sprayed-out wasteland,” he said. “There’s an old tip that’s not been used for 30 years and there were pine trees harvested about seven or eight years ago.”

He said since the trees were harvested, there had been no communicated plans from council, other than managing the weed species outbreak with an aerial spraying programme, the first phase of which had “pretty much killed everything”.

Wood said the project group had submitted a proposal to council two years ago to make the land a reserve and plant it with native trees to provide a wildlife corridor and a place for the community to enjoy.

“I’ve had one reply saying ‘thank you very much, we’ve got this under control’. Other than that, I’ve heard nothing,” he said. Wood said there was thought to be an old pa site on another part of the land, as well as a flat grassy area that was currently leased to Ngāti Manuhiri as a field office. He said there were plenty of local volunteer groups ready to plant the cleared land and carry out pest control, and in future there could be walking tracks.

“As a community, the best thing would be to plant it with natives and let it be a reserve. It could be a real asset to the area.”

Members thanked Wood for his presentation and seemed generally supportive of the plans.

He said after the meeting it was good to

get the board’s encouragement and he would be asking them for direction as to how to proceed with trying to get the land transferred from council’s property arm, Eke Panuku, to its parks and reserves department.

“It’s progress,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction – that’s a positive.”

Warkworth local board member Tim Holdgate said he and other members would be following the matter up with staff to find the best process to follow.

Ivan Wagstaff agreed, saying it seemed “somewhat unbelievable” that it had all gone on so long.

“I will be supporting the transfer of this

land into a council reserve ASAP,” he said. “I’m hoping we can get some budget transferred as well.”

Eke Panuku reiterated last week that council would work with Rodney Local Board to identify how the community could be involved with the regeneration of the site going forward.

“We are aware of the deputation to the Rodney Local Board meeting. Any decision to vest the forest as a reserve would rest with Auckland Council, not with Eke Panuku,” a spokesperson said.

“Longer-term plans for the site are yet to be considered and we have advised the local board that we are investigating native

plantings and removal of the trees.” The spokesperson said Eke Panuku’s primary focus had been its pest management plan, which would continue with a second aerial spray in November or December and a six-month ground control spray next June, with maintenance into 2025.

“We have started looking into the options for replanting with native vegetation as part of the land restoration works. The team is also currently working with specialist contractors regarding the felling of the remaining (pine) trees, which are being removed due to their age and condition,” the spokesperson added.

Les Miller & Jackie Woolerton - Webster Malcolm Law

Council carried out the first tranche of aerial weed spraying in January.

Emergency services welcome new Ara Tūhono motorway

The newly opened Puhoi to Warkworth motorway Ara Tūhono features one of the longest uninterrupted stretches without an exit on any motorway in New Zealand – 18km between the Puhoi northbound offramp and the Pukerito roundabout, just north of Warkworth.

Users of the SH1 between Silverdale and Albany may know the frustration of having forgotten something at home on the Coast, and having to travel all the way to the Oteha Valley Road exit before being able to head back north.

The new motorway – a four-lane dual carriageway, separated by a central median with a wire rope safety barrier – is more than five kilometres longer than that. When it comes to accidents, breakdowns and access to emergency vehicles, however, Waka Kotahi and emergency services are confident the motorway will cope well with any potential challenges that the distance may pose.

“There are emergency access facilities –vehicle turn-around areas and gates – to allow swift response to any incidents along the new motorway,” a Waka Kotahi spokesperson says. “Considerable effort has gone into emergency management during the planning and construction of the project.”

Hato Hone St John Rodney area operations manager Casey Stark-Allen does not believe the characteristics of the new motorway will pose particular difficulties.

On the contrary, he said its opening will significantly reduce response times of northern-based ambulance teams to incidents south of Warkworth, and vice versa.

“The new section of motorway is also anticipated to significantly reduce transport time to Auckland hospitals, and reduce the time taken for ambulance crews to return to station upon completion of an incident.”

Stark-Allen acknowledged that ambulances responding in either direction may in rare cases be redirected to respond to a higher priority incident.

“In this case, the response time may be marginally increased should the ambulance need to travel some distance to exit the motorway and re-enter in the opposite

direction,” he said. “We have plans in place to minimise this from occurring.

“Noting the availability of ambulance resources from other locations, for example from Wellsford, Maungaturoto or Silverdale, we do not expect this to have a significant or meaningful impact on overall response times in the area.”

Puhoi fire chief Russell Green said the brigade had not undertaken any special additional training relating to the motorway, although an operational manager had taken the crew on a familiarisation tour, highlighting key crossover and access points.

“I agree it’s a long stretch of motorway, but we’ll just respond as best we can with our normal training,” he said.

Green said some additional access points along the route could be used for emergency callouts, “but our preferred action would be to get on the motorway as quickly as possible”.

“People sometimes struggle to locate where they are, and so we would prefer to get on as soon as we can. There’s an underpass underneath the Puhoi viaduct that we can use to access the motorway and we’d probably jump on there, no matter where the [incident].”

Warkworth chief fire officer Nick McLean agreed the motorway will both be safer for users, and enable faster response from his station to calls in the direction of Silverdale. Several emergency off-ramps along the new stretch will allow its vehicles to “hop off the motorway and then go underneath and come back on the other side.”

McLean also pointed to stormwater runoff ponds along the way that “we could use for firefighting if need be,” if a vehicle was on fire.

In total, the Ara Tūhono motorway is about 18.5km long, measured from the Johnstones Hill Tunnels to the Pukerito roundabout.

Other lengthy stretches of uninterrupted motorway in New Zealand include sections of around 14 to 15km between interchanges, among them parts of the new Transmission Gully (SH1) north of Wellington, and the Tauranga Expressway (SH2).

custom sized rugs available

Road testing

While the motorway extension from Puhoi to Warkworth might be new, not all the vehicles travelling along it are in the same condition. In its first week, nine cars broke down on the new stretch of road and five required towing.

Say

New parks at risk

Back to the future

The new Puhinui Warkworth Draft Town Centre Plan going out for public feedback next month is an impressive looking 65page document full of forward-looking ideas for the community over the next 10 years. It also includes a significant look back, though not just in its summary of the settlement’s history. In a possible nod to residents who’ve been here a few years, a full-page colour photo of Queen Street at the beginning of the plan clearly shows Roberts Bakery, Flight Centre, Franklins Amcal, the National Bank and Retravision with their doors wide open and back in business once again.

Cutting remark

We’re not sure it was wise to give Prime Minister Chris Hipkins a sharp object when he visited Warkworth to officially open the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway extension last month. On being handed a smart pair of gold-handled scissors, the beleaguered PM appeared to have the antics of some of his more troublesome ministers in mind when, with a glint in his eye, he commented that he’d quite like to keep them. “I think I might take these back with me to the Cabinet Room,” he said. “Chippity-chop!”

Red light district

A new flashing speed warning sign in Leigh has not gone down well with one local resident. Writing on a community Facebook page, the householder lamented its appearance with a decidedly colourful complaint. “I didn’t sign up for this form of visual pollution on my street,” they wrote. “The 30km sign is flashing red like a hooker on heat!”

Mahurangi residents will likely be unaware that the effect of Auckland Council’s recently announced Future Development Strategy (MM June 19) is to put a 20year hold on the development of over 25 hectares of new parks and public open space in Warkworth.

The Waimanawa Private Plan Change in Warkworth south, lodged with council in January, has provision for this unprecedented provision of parks. This includes 3.6 hectares of new sportsfields plus other recreation areas, covenanted native bush and more than 1.5 kilometres of picturesque walking and cycling tracks along two tributaries of the Mahurangi River.

This will not only serve a rapidly growing Warkworth population, but also residents of existing urban areas suffering the effects of intensification.

Council gives as a reason for deferring

WeSay

development in Warkworth south that “25% of the area is within 1% AEP flood plain”. Careful planning has ensured that such land is not used for development, but for parkland.

Besides, in the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods, which devastated large

Open workshops, open democracy

After years of running Rodney Local Board workshops behind closed doors, the current board is to be congratulated for finally tossing this policy in the bin (see story page 4). Several boards in Auckland including neighbouring Hibiscus and Bays hold open workshops, so it is not exactly a step into the unknown.

The old chestnut against open workshops, which aren’t decision-making meetings, has always been that staff won’t be as forthright about providing advice. The question has to be asked: “Why not?” It is not a staff member’s job to curate what the board, and the public, get to hear. They are not the decision-makers; their only requirement is

to provide board members with frank and factual information and advice, without opinion. The fact that this advice will now be available to the rest of us, including this newspaper which covers all board meetings, means the public will have a better understanding of the background behind board decisions, and why and how they have been reached. The winner here is democracy.

If some board members feel that public scrutiny will make their discussions less robust, then again, we ask: “Why?” As elected representatives, paid from the public purse, ratepayers have a right to know how their elected members perform,

swathes of Auckland, there was no flooding or damage in the Waimanawa Valley. Is this a case of unintended consequences or a case of Council’s left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?

Bill Endean, Warkworth

where they stand on important issues and how constructively they fulfil their public duties.

Open workshops should deliver better accountability. When people have confidence that decisions are being made in an open and fair manner, they are more likely to trust their local government and its institutions. This trust is crucial for effective governance and the successful implementation of policies and initiatives. Too much of the nitty-gritty of board affairs has been held behind closed doors, so it is to be hoped that this “trial” for six months is the start of a new style of local body politics in Rodney.

Viewpoint

Infrastructure investment underlined

I was very pleased to attend the opening of that new Puhoi to Warkworth stretch of motorway recently. It’s a safe and efficient way for our area to connect with the north, in particular. While derided by the thenOpposition parties as a “holiday highway”, the reality was always that it would enhance safety, improve productivity (with less time stuck in traffic) and allow locals to get home more quickly to their families at the end of the day. It’s been a long journey, so to speak, but this public-private partnership seems to have worked well. Equally impressive is the Matakana link road, an important connection delivered by local firm Wharehine Contractors. Among other benefits, these arterial links will take some pressure off Warkworth’s notorious Hill Street intersection, allowing long-overdue works to take place there. All this is to highlight the crucial importance of infrastructure to the local area.

As it’s election year, I’d be remiss not to point out that parties should be putting forward policies in this space as midOctober draws nearer. National has been on the side of arguing for more motorway

RMS

Niagara

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded

connections for many years now, for all the reasons I’ve described above. As a bonus, we recognise that having vehicles move efficiently at a reasonable speed will result in less pollution, with fewer stop-start movements needed than in congestion and less time spent emitting fumes.

On a less positive note, the power outage last month hit many households and retail commerce very hard. I’ve been asking for answers as to how this happened and what steps can be taken to ensure more resilience into the future.

More excitingly, the One Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights is just a few weeks away. We’re so fortunate that publicspirited community heroes step up to organise these types of events. It’ll be great to see many readers of Mahurangi Matters supporting this occasion come mid-July. Hope to see you there!

It’ll also be great to see you at the public meeting at which I’ll shortly be hosting Christopher Luxon, the leader of National. He’d love to meet as many locals as possible, so please join us on Thursday, July 13 at 10.30am at Warkworth Town Hall.

– a ticking time bomb

though not all of that would go at once.”

The Hauraki Gulf Forum has warned that oil leaking from the wreck of the RMS Niagara, off Bream Head, is a ticking time bomb.

The Royal Mail Ship was sunk by a mine in 1940 and now rests at a depth of around 100-120 metres, near the Mokohinau Islands, off Whangarei.

Forum executive officer Alex Rogers said the wreck, like many sunken World War II ships, was hitting its “peak leak period”. “Ruptures will occur as a natural result of the impact of corrosion and pressure on the wreck,” Rogers said.

“We know the Niagara still holds oil, because small leaks occur frequently, but we don’t know how much or when precisely the tanks holding the remaining oil will rupture.

“In the worst case scenario, the wreck may hold up to 1600 tonnes of heavy fuel oil –

Rogers compared the amount of oil in the RMS Niagara to the Rena wreck that discharged around 300 tonnes of oil, off the coast of Tauranga in 2011.

The Environment Minister at the time, Nick Smith, called it New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster.

Rogers said in 2018, Maritime New Zealand had sought funding to investigate the wreck, but had been turned down by the cabinet.

He said it was “unconscionable that we would let it keep ticking”.

Rogers’ recently hosted a meeting of all interested parties to discuss how the forum could best influence a more proactive approach to help prevent the worst case scenario.

The forum will write to the Associate Minister for Transport, calling for a full cost-benefit and risk assessment on the wreck, including looking at the options for removing the remaining fuel.

Chris Penk, MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi chris.penkmp@parliament.govt.nz

through NZ On Air.

Draft town centre development plan out for feedback

A 65-page draft plan for Warkworth town centre that cost nearly $103,000 to develop is going out for public consultation and feedback this month.

The draft Puhinui Warkworth Town Centre Plan 2023-33 includes a range of ideas aimed at re-orientating the town around the Mahurangi River, providing accessible paths and transport options, more public spaces, community facilities, nightlife and a sustainable and circular economy.

Rodney Local Board contracted community engagement group Community Think and urban designers Motu Design in June 2021 to work with residents, mana whenua, businesses, community groups, property owners and developers to create a plan for the town centre and river.

The board allocated a budget of $102,795 for the plan, with the aim of setting the direction for development of the area, guiding future decisions on place-making projects, public spaces, accessibility and connectivity, land use and community projects in and around the town centre and riverfront.

It was also intended to demonstrate more sustainable and collaborative ways of designing and developing the town centre

The community can have its say on the draft plan until mid-August.

that would meet the needs of the whole community, nurture and protect the river and provide a well-designed, vibrant and attractive place for everybody.

Community Think organised and oversaw a range of events and opportunities for public feedback and incorporated ideas into the resulting draft plan, which includes a look at Warkworth’s trends and issues, future growth, regional infrastructure, key town centre streets, walkways, and the riverfront.

The Puhinui Warkworth Town Centre Plan 2023-33 consultation period runs for six weeks, from Tuesday, July 4 to Tuesday, August 15.

However details of where and how to view the draft plan had yet to be finalised as Mahurangi Matters went to print.

Draft goals of the Puhinui Warkworth Town Centre Plan:

• illustrate a commitment to actions that improve the health and wellbeing of the river

• identify opportunities and projects for council and private landowners to improve the appearance and functioning of the town centre

• identify opportunities to improve the relationships between community facilities, the town centre and residential areas, including shared outcomes for further development

• provide for high quality public spaces

that will become social and community hubs with attractive and safe pedestrian connections

• reflect Ngāti Manuhiri aspirations, culture and identity

• improve accessibility of the town centre for all modes of transport – walking, cycling, public transport, parking

• create a sense of place that reflects the diversity of the culture, history, people and their connections to the area

• demonstrate best practice community engagement and urban design

Central’s Tips

July 2023

The fruit and vegetable garden

• Prepare the soil for potato crops – dig compost into the soil to aid drainage and condition it. Set aside seed potatoes for sprouting. Potato crops are great for breaking up heavy clay soil

• A clean up copper and oil spray over pip and stone fruit trees should be done now. Prune older trees, concentrating on removing congestion in their centres. New season’s fruit tree varieties are coming into the garden centres now

• Snow peas are a cost-effective crop if you have the space. They like to grow up to 1.8m, and they’re delicious in stir-fries and salads

• Berry canes - raspberries, currants, gooseberries, boysenberries, and blackberries can be planted from now on. Check for suitable heat tolerant varieties if you’re in the north

• Rocket, cos, head, and mesclun lettuces can withstand lower temperatures, so plant these to get the salad bed underway

The ornamental garden

• Plant winter-flowering shrubs that can be picked for colour and/or scent and brought indoors: camellias, daphne, wintersweet and winter-flowering hellebores are all good for the vase

• Lift dahlia tubers for storing in a cool dry area of the garage or shed. This avoids them rotting in the ground in winter and they can be replanted when the threat of frost has passed

• Sharpen secateurs and loppers ahead of the pruning season. This goes for loppers, pruning saws and hedge clippers also

• For colour in pots and garden borders, polyanthus and primulas will take you right through to spring. Regular deadheading, plus a side dressing of dried blood around flowering polyanthus brings out the best in them

• It’s tree planting time for deciduous trees. In clay soils, place a handful of gypsum into the planting hole, then use a mix of existing soil and Garden Mix to fill in. Heel around the tree firmly

Leigh author draws threads across time

Kaipara Harbour, 2016. Sidney King is preparing to mark his 100th birthday in his garden overlooking the water when, on the other side of world, volunteers disinterring the skeletons of victims of the Spanish Civil War discover a locket, unearthing long-held secrets …

So begins The Spanish Garden, the fourth novel by Leigh-based author and journalist Cliff Taylor.

Set on a single day, it features both real time developments and flashbacks to episodes in a lifetime going back nine decades. And the secrets are buried not only in Spain, where a young Sidney fought as a volunteer, but also back home, in his Kaipara garden. The predominant theme, Taylor says, is “the legacy of war and intergenerational trauma of war”.

“It could be any war – the Musket Wars between the northern tribes in the 1820s, or the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, or what’s happening in Ukraine today. Those things don’t go away, and they’re often buried just beneath the surface, and that’s part of the secret of the land where the main character, Sidney King, lives.”

Beyond the 12000 miles separating them, Spain and Kaipara seem worlds apart, yet these two locations provide a compelling setting for the story.

Taylor, who for a time owned an olive grove in Catalonia, says he has had a strong interest in Spain for many years.

“I wanted to tell a story about the Spanish Civil War because it was a part of history that fascinated me. But I also wanted to try to connect it to New Zealand in some way, and particularly the Kaipara, which I find an incredibly evocative place.

“The idea of a young man going from a rural backwater in New Zealand, which Kaipara is, and becoming involved in huge international events such as the Spanish Civil War – which is what a lot of New Zealand men have done during wartime.

“I was drawing those two locations and two ideas together into one story and basing it on one man’s life.”

Taylor, who attended Mahurangi College, spent part of his childhood on a farm in Makarau in the Kaipara, “the sort of place you can really fall in love with”.

“It’s a huge harbour and has these massive tides which come in and out. It empties the harbour and fills it every day and it became a part of the rhythm of life. That becomes quite a strong structural element in the book – it almost becomes the beating heart or pulse. Things happen with the outgoing and incoming tides.”

Book giveaway

Mahurangi Matters has a copy of The Spanish Garden to give away. Simply email editor@localmatters. co.nz with Spanish Garden in the subject line, before midday on July 14. Don’t forget to include a daytime phone number.

Feedback on the book so far has been strongly positive, with many readers reporting finishing it in two or three sittings. Taylor hopes readers will find the novel “a work of art, something beautiful”. “Even though I describe some horrific images I think it’s important also to acknowledge the beauty of places like Kaipara, and Spain,” he says. “It’s also an anti-war book, and I think that comes across.”

Taylor, whose travels have taken him from working for an NGO in Uganda to crisscrossing India on a classic Royal Enfield motorcycle, has worked for news outlets including Britain’s The Independent and the BBC World Service’s Africa department. He is now working on a new novel, set in contemporary New Zealand, though also with flashbacks, and “it’s got a gardening theme as well. I can’t get away from gardening”. Indeed, when not writing, Taylor works as a gardener, since “it’s hard to make a living as a writer”. He also enjoys trail running and his “beautiful” Moto Guzzi motorcycle, “which I rarely ride because it’s always bloody raining”.

Living in the fishing village of Leigh appeals, because he likes places that feel like they’re out of time, or in a different time.

“Kaipara is like that to me,” he says, “It’s like stepping back in time when you drive out there on Highway 12 and get out to all those small areas. Leigh is a little bit like that as well.”

Cliff Taylor’s The Spanish Garden (Quentin Wilson Publishing) is available via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2p962rh6

Leigh author Cliff Taylor. Photo, Tracey Stevens.

Supply issues stymie paprika carbon reduction project

A $5 million government grant to help Southern Paprika reduce its carbon footprint has been withdrawn. The grant was announced by the Minister for Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods when she visited the Warkworth greenhouses, on Woodcocks Road, in April.

However, the company has confirmed that the funding has been withdrawn due to equipment supply complications.

A spokesperson for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which administers the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund, said the company supplying the equipment was purchased by another company that stopped supplying the CO2 equipment.

“A replacement supplier could not be found in the timeframe required,” they said. All up, the project was expected to cost $14 million and involved installing an integrated 10 megawatt biomass boiler and CO2 capture unit. The boiler, fuelled by wood chips from forestry waste, would replace the natural gas currently used to heat the greenhouses.

The aim was to reduce emissions by 70 per cent.

The EECA spokesperson said that CO2 capture technology was relatively new internationally, so there were limited suppliers.

“Where innovative technologies are used, there tends to be fewer potential suppliers so supply issues can mean projects cannot feasibly be delivered in accordance with agreed criteria.

“A project is withdrawn only after various options have been looked at by the business and EECA.”

It was confirmed that Southern Paprika, which was recently sold by founder Hamish Alexander to Market Gardeners, had not received any co-funding for the project prior to it being withdrawn. Co-funding for projects was paid in instalments on proven completion of project milestones. Southern Paprika still had one ongoing GIDI project to retrofit high efficiency energy thermal screens into its five hectares of glasshouses to reduce evening heat loss. The spokesperson said the EECA would continue to work with Southern Paprika on alternative decarbonisation projects.

WARKWORTH INN

RELOCATION

The Little Locals pub is on the move. One hundred & thirteen metres around the corner to 18 Neville Street. Under the Big Kauri, formerly Blues BBQ and the Jeweller.

Featuring the same hanging beer taps, gaming and TAB. Sean Holt and Levi Langsford on the Bar. Friday night raffles and nibbles. Large screen TVs for Sports & Racing.

Opening Early August!

Southern Paprika is one of the largest capsicum growers in the country, with 27 hectares of glasshouses producing around 40 million capsicums each season.

Cockle beds remain closed

While the cockle beds in the Whangateau Harbour are showing positive signs of recovery, Fisheries NZ has no plans to reopen them anytime soon. The cockle and pipi beds were closed in 2010 after taking a massive hit from disease and parasites between January and May 2009.

Fisheries Management director Emma Taylor says the beds won’t reopen while they are still in a recovery phase. Since 2001, Fisheries has undertaken 11 cockle surveys, the most recent was done early last year.

“The most recent estimates of abundance and average density of cockles indicate a stable cockle population, which has been increasing, particularly since 2013-14,

revealed regular recruitment events –meaning more juvenile cockles were appearing in the area, which is encouraging for the recovery. We note there are also some larger cockles of over 30mm in shell size.”

Taylor says its uncertain how much of a role climate change is playing in the overall health of cockles in the harbour, but Fisheries NZ scientists say that cockles in general would likely be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including ocean temperatures warming and acidification, along with increased sedimentation because of more frequent storms.

“Fisheries New Zealand fishery officers patrol the harbour and report that compliance with the 2010 closure is high and there is not a poaching problem.” For a fuller NIWA assessment on cockles and the threats to their growth, see this story online at

The cockle beds at Whangateau are still

Sweetappreciation with chocolatebrown

An appreciative and grateful mother has nominated Sarah Crocombe, Rebekah Sheppard and Lara Armstrong for a Sweet Appreciation award. She writes ....

These three women are amazing! They have taken my daughter under their amazing, comforting, funny and strong wings in a year that has seen her reach rock bottom. Each woman has supported her, picked her up at her lowest and been there every day in person and by phone. They show her how to be a strong, independent and loving member of our community. They run the local youth group and give their time to ensure our children receive love, laughter and opportunities that may not necessarily be in their reach otherwise.

Send

(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,

Invitation to Ladies Rebus

There are many reasons to join the Ladies Rebus Club of Warkworth, but perhaps top of the list is their morning teas and, especially, the curried egg sandwiches. The club celebrated it 25th year last year (originally called Probus) and currently has close to 60 members.

President Beryl Good-Penn says although the club is not a service club, individually, club members are contributing across a whole range of community organisations, from the Warkworth Brass Band to the food bank and hospice.

Hospice honours long-serving volunteers

A few jars of jam and pickle every week add up after a while.

Since taking over the role of chief jam maker for the Warkworth Hospice Shop in 2005, it’s estimated that Mavis Russell, of Tomarata, has probably produced nearly 11,000 jars of delicious preserves.

Last week, Mavis and Sybil Patrick were both recognised for 30 years of voluntary service to hospice in Warkworth. Mavis started when garage sales were still held at a residence in Hauiti Drive. She then did a six-week training course, which qualified her to visit patients at home. She did this for many years, alongside helping at the weekly garage sales, which by then had moved to the hospice headquarters in Woodcocks Road.

Then, in 2005, when Fran Hawkin moved to Australia, Mavis took on the job of turning donated seasonal fruit and vegetables into delicious jams, pickles and chutneys, which are then returned to the shop for sale.

“They never know quite what I am going to turn up with,” she says with a chuckle.

Some of the jams are fairly predictable –plum and apricot, and marmalade is always a good seller. But if shoppers are lucky, they might be able to grab a jar of lime and brandy, pumpkin and apricot, or rhubarb and plum jam.

Mavis says her most popular pickles are mustard (a combination of vegetables), cucumber pickle, and bread and butter pickle.

“What I make all depends on what’s donated.”

Mavis joined hospice after being made redundant from the home aid section of the then North Shore Hospital Board. She says her years as a hospice volunteer have been very rewarding.

“The work comes with a lot of satisfaction and camaraderie – you get to make some lovely friends.”

Mavis also got to see hospice’s work first hand when her husband Rodney passed

away in 2018.

Sybil Patrick says she can’t believe it has really been 30 years since she and her late husband John started as family support volunteers. “We’d just moved here from Hamilton and were keen to meet people,” she says. John eventually wound down his involvement, but Sybil is still actively doing a shift at the Warkworth Hospice Shop every Friday afternoon and family support when required. She has also been involved in hospice’s day group and open doors programmes.

She will turn 90 early next year, but shows no sign of slowing down.

“While I’m able, I will keep volunteering. I’ve always felt it was important to be involved in your community and there’s a real need for volunteers.”

Like Mavis, Sybil says that her reward has been the people she has met, many of whom have become friends.

“It’s the people you work with, but also the patients and their families.”

“We just want to let women in the Warkworth area know that we are here and they are welcome to join us,” she says. The club meets at Besoul in Gumfield Drive on the fourth Tuesday of the month, starting at 10am.

The programme includes two guest speakers – one before and one after the magnificent morning teas arranged by Val Aston and her team. Recent speakers have covered topics as diverse as the founding of Sculptureum to acupuncture, Africa and what it is like to skipper a super yacht.

On July 25, the guest speakers will be Helen and Gavin Cook, from the television show The Dog House.

Good-Penn says the club also arranges occasional bus trips to places of interest such as the Auckland Art Gallery and the Auckland Museum.

“Our motto is: Fun, friendship and fellowship.”

She says membership is free, so anyone interested is welcome to attend a meeting to see if it’s for them.

“No one is under any obligation to return.”

Visit us on Facebook for daily notices • MahurangiMatters

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

Sybil Patrick and Mavis Russell.

Harbour Hospice honoured its Warkworth and Wellsford volunteers last week.

Kawau gardeners celebrate decade of volunteering

Once a month, a group of at least a dozen keen gardeners make the trip across Kawau Bay to spend the day mowing, pruning, weeding, digging and planting the heritage grounds surrounding Mansion House. The green-fingered visitors are all volunteers and at last month’s working bee, which coincided with National Volunteer Week, DOC staff and rangers joined 30 of them on Kawau Island to celebrate a decade of their caring for the gardens and to officially recognise their contribution to conserving the popular heritage site.

Gardening group founder member and coordinator Jenny Hunter, who was presented with an engraved jewellery box from DOC, said the core of the volunteer group were members of the Coatesville Country Garden Club, but others came from Mahurangi, the North Shore and from corporate volunteer programmes. She said it was rewarding to work in gardens that contained a wealth of exotic plants, many of which were first brought

Rotarian recognised

Warkworth real estate principal Mehran Zareian is the latest recipient of a Rotary Paul Harris Award. Zareian was presented with his award by Warkworth Rotary president Valda Kerekes at last month’s meeting. The award recognises individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Since moving to Warkworth two-and-a-half years ago, Zareian and the Barfoot & Thompson team have raised more than $25,000 for local causes, mainly through a monthly Saturday morning sausage sizzle. Zareian, who joined Rotary four years ago when still resident in Browns Bay, also sponsors the Rotary Speakers Series. The next series will be held at the Warkworth Hotel on October 3.

to Mansion House in the 1800s by former owner Governor George Grey, and there was always plenty to keep the group busy.

“The grass can get pretty long in a month, but by the time we’ve finished, it’s looking pretty good again,” she said.

“We can see that the site has benefited from ongoing care and attention.”

DOC operations manager Kat Lane said volunteers played a vital role in protecting natural and heritage sites across the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, and she was very thankful for the gardening group’s support and expertise.

In addition to the gardening group, volunteers visit Kawau Island to engage with the public at weekends and on public holidays, and clean and catalogue the historic interior and chattels of Mansion House.

New volunteers are always welcome.

Info: Go to www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/ volunteer/in-your-region/auckland/kawauisland/

10 years of digging deep – volunteer Jenny Hunter received a gift from DOC’s Robynne Vis.

Tea and talk warms winter afternoons at Snells Beach

Hot sausage rolls, yummy cakes and freshly made biscuits were shared when the first Gold Connect afternoon tea was held in the Snells Beach Baptist Church Hall, on Mahurangi East Road, last month. The event, which will be held fortnightly, is an opportunity for residents to get together over a cup of tea and coffee, socialise and meet new people. There was also live entertainment and games available.

One of the organisers, Susie BurtonThompson, said the closure of many of the local cafes had prompted members of the church to think of a way to provide a cafélike experience. Members of the Vineyard and Presbyterians churches had supported the idea, and Gold Connect was born.

“There appears to be a real need for a group like this,” Burton-Thompson said.

“Loneliness can be a very real thing as

you get older, especially if you lose your partner.”

A lot of the food for the first afternoon tea was donated, supported by a small budget from the Baptist Church.

Pastor John Di Cicco said there was an epidemic of loneliness in NZ and Snells Beach was no exception. He said the regular afternoon teas would provide a place for people to connect.

“Hopefully, the connections that people make will continue outside the afternoon teas,” he said. “We’re excited to do this, to open the doors and welcome people in.” The next Gold Connect afternoon teas will be held on July 4 and 18 (the same day that the yellow bins go out). Everyone is welcome, and transport to and from the event is available by contacting Susie on 027 4767 484.

Winter swimmers take the plunge

There have been days when the Leigh Midwinter Swim has been held under balmy, cloudless skies, when the sea has been clear, calm and inviting. Sunday, June 25 was not one of those days. While the rain did hold off, Matheson Bay was like an angry cauldron where the muddy water churned and roiled. Not that that bothered the 80 or so hardy souls who abandoned scarves and woolly jumpers for skimpy togs and board shorts, and ploughed into the waves with screams of delight … or shock. The swimmers were aged from three years to octogenarians. For some, it was just a quick dip to say they’d done it, while others made a bigger effort to look like they were enjoying themselves and swam out to one of the nearby buoys. Due to the weather, the community displays, which would normally have been held at the beach, were transferred to the Leigh Hall.

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

Surgery at Unit 2/347 Mahurangi East Road

Surgery at 11 Alnwick Street

Leo Hume, from Algies Bay, and Brian Raney, Snells Beach.

Organisers Owen Thompson and Susie Burton-Thompson (foreground) with, from left, Brian and Heather Thompson, and Shona Dimock.

Enjoying a chat are, from left, Lynne Armishaw, of Whangaparaoa, Julie Calvert, from Warkworth, and Jeanette Van Barneveld, from Omaha.

Getting to the edge was one thing; getting into the water was another.

As one of the Pest Free Leigh volunteers, Gary Simpson had a good excuse for keeping warm clothes on.

It was all smiles before they hit the water.

Homebuilders

Gareth Pring, Family Support Worker www.homebuildersfs.org

Addressing family expectations

Being part of a cohesive, loving family is something many people would like. Many want that sense of responsibility that comes with raising and protecting their own children, while having a partner to share it all. When we consider these wants and responsibilities, it doesn’t take long to recognise how achieving and maintaining them can contribute to significant stress levels which, if not managed, can soon become overwhelming, and manifest as anxiety and depression.

People experiencing great pressure are at a greater risk of committing suicide. In New Zealand, men are three or four times more likely than women to take their own lives. With that in mind, encouraging and supporting fathers and partners to communicate their issues is very important but unfortunately, it’s not something they are often very good at.

Being the best version of yourself and attaining consistency as a good father and partner is tested daily due to multiple factors ranging from parenting, financial pressures, work stresses, maintaining friend groups, reduced physical health, and parents getting old. The list goes on.

It is important to acknowledge that while generations of fathers have faced the same challenges, there are some that are unique to this generation due to drastic shifts in social norms over the last 25 years. For instance, attempting to effectively parent challenging behaviour can often make fathers feel helpless, especially if they have not experienced positive parenting themselves. What was thought to be acceptable and appropriate ‘discipline’

a generation ago, in hindsight, is not acceptable now. To further complicate the dynamic, the prevalence in society among our children of neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD and autism can often compound the situation leading to painful trial and error parenting.

Challenging behaviour can often present itself around the use of devices, especially when trying to prise your child away from them. Managing screen time and the content they are exposed to are significant worries. But if it keeps them busy for an hour while you need a breather after work, is it so bad? It’s a vicious cycle that often leads to frustration and anger. While many of these challenges are part and parcel of being a father and partner, it doesn’t mean that everyone has the tools to deal with them all the time. Coping strategies among men vary but often, bottling it up and not sharing how they feel is the most common reaction, and the least healthy. Positive coping strategies for men’s mental health can include building social groups, engaging in a hobby, and getting regular exercise. Another strategy is engaging in talking things through. At Homebuilders, we can provide that support if you wish to address such issues. Additionally, we provide a variety of courses including the Bag of Tricks parenting course, Teen Behaviour and the Influence of Devices Upon Them, and a Mindfulness course, which can all contribute to a more positive parenting experience. For more information, go to www.homebuildersfs.org or call 425 7048.

College Gateway programme

needs business support

Mahurangi College is struggling to find work experience placements for senior students and is reaching out to local businesses.

The school’s Gateway programme, which helps prepare Year 13 students for the work place, is normally full at this time of year. However, this year, there are still two students without a placement.

Gateway coordinator Lori Yau believes this is a reflection of the economic climate and perhaps a reluctance by businesses to take on young students for work experience.

“Local businesses don’t always have the capacity to help supervise unskilled workers, also staffing issues with some companies makes it really difficult,” she says.

“But realistically, it is the only way they will learn about the day-to-day world of work.”

Mahurangi Year 13 dean and careers advisor Catherine Johnston says the programme normally caters for about 20 students, who spend time in a business learning the realities of work.

Prior to covid, the school, with the assistance of the One Mahurangi Business Association, tried to set up a database of businesses who were prepared to offer students work experience.

“Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful,” Johnston says. “And then covid happened and now many businesses are struggling.”

The opportunity to see first-hand what fulltime employment is like is invaluable and Johnston says that, in an ideal world, students would be introduced to work experience options from Year 10 onwards. However, she is encouraged by the good response the school has had to its annual careers evening, which will be held on August 3, from 7pm.

“We still have display spaces available though, so if any business is interested in showcasing the career opportunities it can offer, I would welcome their enquiries.”

(See contact details at the end of this story).

“We recently had last year’s Farmer of the Year, Tim Dangen, talk to the students and he blew them away with what’s available in the rural sector.

“Igniting that spark of interest in the students, and helping them to find their passion, is so important.”

Mahurangi College’s work to prepare students for fulltime employment comes against a backdrop of growing concern among employers about the literacy and numeracy skills of school leavers.

Young people who experience just four or more interactions with employers are five times less likely to be unemployed.

Education and Employers Taskforce, United Kingdom

A research report published by The Education Hub early last year revealed that by the age of 15, almost 40 per cent of teenagers were struggling to read and write.

The report went on to say that research had demonstrated a significant relationship between literacy and the ability to reason efficiently and critically, particularly in the context of solving novel problems.

The report suggested that improving literacy levels would also improve the development of so-called soft skills and higher order thinking skills.

But it goes beyond just literacy and numeracy. Employers say that many young people have poor communication skills and don’t understand normal workplace expectations such as being punctual and reliable.

Johnston says that while there is no doubt that covid has impacted student outlooks and aspirations, there is a generation

I’mforlooking work experience

Basic skills missing

• 83% of job applicants are lacking communication skills and 73% are lacking initiative.

• The lack of literacy and numeracy skills has increased significantly since the 2022 Survey (from 19-22% to 43-44%).

Employers and Manufacturers Association Skills Shortage Survey, March 2023

mechanic refusing to sweep the workshop floor because he said it was beneath him, Johnston said she could quite believe it.

“I can see many of the Year 13 students having that mindset. They have lost the understanding that you have to work your way up.”

While Johnston says schools have a role to play in preparing students for work, so do parents and extended whanau.

“We assume that everyone knows how to parent, but they don’t. You do have to learn and if you haven’t got role models in your life, then how are parents expected to know how to prepare their children?

“The concept of parenting has changed considerably. Many parents shy away from making hard decision because they want to be their child’s best friend. The idea of tough love seems to have gone.

“We used to have a staff member who ran a Parenting Toolkit programme through the school, but this hasn’t been available for quite some time.”

coming through that wants to find “the easy way”.

“They don’t particularly like to challenge themselves and they don’t like to be challenged by others. They like to be given things on a platter.

“This isn’t all students – some students work really hard – but there are a significant number of students who think that what they want will just happen without considering what is involved in making it happen.”

Given the scenario of a first-year apprentice

Johnston says students following a vocational pathway possibly benefit more than the more academic students, who are looking at a tertiary pathway, because the vocational programme covers interview techniques, filling out forms and other basic employment skills.

If a business would like to know more about joining the Gateway programme, they should contact either Lori Yau at l.yau@mahurangi.school.nz or Catherine Johnston at hoy13@mahurangi.school.nz Or phone the school on 425 8039.

Explore, learn and grow to find a fulfilling career

Taking your first step out of school and into the world is one of life’s great adventures, but it can be daunting and, for most people, it is anything but straightforward. It can take time to find a career that suits a person’s individual personality and passions. With that in mind, we asked some local business people and employees for their views on their own career journeys, and we thank them for their generosity in sharing their experiences and what they have learned along the way.

it’s a really dynamic market and you never get bored, and after a few years doing the marketing for Bayleys I decided to buy a Bayleys franchise, with the first one being Bayleys in Warkworth in April 2007. It was only then, in my early 30’s, that I found what I wanted to really do. Do you ever wish you had done something different?

2023 TERM 3 - WARKWORTH PROGRAMME

#Nurture is this term’s theme and we have a range of activities/ workshops on offer. We look forward to seeing you soon! Make sure you like us on Facebook - womenscentrerodney and Instagram womenscentre_rodney and check out our posts for all the latest news and happenings. Scan our QR code to go to our What’s On page.

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

Intro to Art Therapy

Monday 24 July - 28 August, 10am - 12.30pm $30

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

WOW Move Up Programme

Thursday 20 July - 7 Sept, 10am-12.30pm at Betty Paxton Room, Snells Beach $30

Mark Macky runs the northern based real estate business Bayleys, which has 12 offices from Silverdale to the top of the North Island. This involves just over 100 agents and just under 200 staff in total. Bayleys sells houses, farms, commercial buildings, lifestyle and waterfront property, and also has a large property management book. “I own and run the business, have a couple of great business partners and an awesome team of people who I really love working with,” Mark says. “I’m also on the board of directors for Bayley Corporation, the holding company for Bayleys in New Zealand.”

I went to a school called Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga in Auckland. I was a boarder and loved boarding school. My first job was milking cows, scrubbing thistles and as a bottom-of-the-rung labourer on the family dairy farm in the Waikato. I love farming, but didn’t love being in the shed and decided it wasn’t for me.

I went to Waikato University and got a BMS management degree and then got a job with the Dairy Board (now Fonterra) in Wellington. After a year there, I was posted to Singapore, essentially marketing milk powder to Asian housewives. I worked there for two years and had some great experiences, but wasn’t passionate about the product. My next job was in the UK for the sporting goods company Dunlop Slazenger. I was in the racquet sports division and loved it. Two years there and then I moved to the US with Dunlop to be the marketing director for the Americas. After two years I got approached to be the marketing director for Bayleys Real Estate in NZ, and returned for that role. I loved the real estate thing,

I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do. I took an opportunity in front of me, put my head down and worked hard and tried to get ahead. I committed to every role for a couple of years, and then reflected and reviewed what I was doing and if I wanted to keep doing it. If not, then I found the next opportunity. I’m now in a role that I really enjoy, in a business that I love, so I’m really happy doing what I’m doing. I never get bored in real estate, so that works for me and my personality – I need challenges and a dynamic environment or else I get bored.

What do you wish you had known (or been told) when you were about to leave school?

A few things.

• Work hard and do good work. If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Don’t just do the minimum, the people who can help you build your career will notice.

• Put your hand up for opportunities, have a go and back yourself. Build good relationships with people at work and they will help you.

• Make sure you enjoy what you do – not every part of it every day, we all have boring tasks to do, but basically make sure you enjoy what you do. You won’t be successful at it if you don’t.

• Write down your goals and work at them. We overestimate what we can achieve in a year, and underestimate what we can achieve in 10 years.

• Be clear on who you are, what your values are and why you’re doing something. You’ll waste a lot of time if you don’t know what you are trying to achieve.

• Don’t be scared to ask for help or advice, there are lots of older people who will be keen to help if you have good manners and ask with integrity. Find a mentor early. continued next page

Build a better you

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

Young Mum’s Educational Group

Thursdays from 20 July, 10am-12.30pm FREE

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

Intro to Group Facilitation

Saturday 19 August, 9.30am-4.30pm $80

A one day experiential workshop with our very own Heidi Downey who is a much sought after group work trainer and personal development facilitator. Perfect for those who wish to understand how to facilitate engaging workshops for small groups of adults. Facilitator: Heidi Downey

Women’s Circles

Tuesdays from 25 July

Song Circle 6.30pm - 7.30pm - FREE

Registration essential. Sharing simple circle songs to support and uplift. No musical talent necessary. Facilitator: Stephanie Frost, www.sacredcircleinfo.com

SuperGrans - Kaitiaki MentoringInfo and Volunteers Mentor Sessions

Tuesdays 25 July, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sept, 1.30pm-2.30pm FREE

SuperGrans Rodney is a free service supporting women to develop life skills through one-on-one mentoring and workshops. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or want to know more about the service come along to our info session.

Co-ordinator: Elaine Donaldson

Sharing Sessions

Every 2nd Wednesday 10am-12.30pm

Co-ordinator: Elaine Donaldson

COOK AND CHAT FREE

26 July Chinese Dumplings with Desiree

9 Aug Social Open Morning – Scones and Tea with the SuperGrans

23 Aug A Family Meal your Toddler can enjoy too – with Deirdre

GARDENING AND HOUSEHOLD HINTS FREE

6 Sept Household hints and tips with Glenda

20 Sept Working bee in the Centre Garden with all the SuperGrans

ConnectME Events

Local professionals volunteering their time to share their skill/talent/ knowledge with you FREE

Co-ordinators: Philippa Potaka and Ann Williamson

3 Aug Recipe and Reels with Megan Muldowney – Omaha – 10.30am

8 Aug Women’s Health Pelvic Floor with Jess Collective Care – Women’s Centre 11.30am

15 Aug Give Squash a Go – Warkworth Squash Club – 10.00am

Not sure if we offer a service for you?

Thriving through Art & Creativity

Series: Crafty Conversations

Friday 21 July - 18 Aug, 10am - 12pm FREE

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

Host: Elaine Donaldson and Special guests. 4 Aug Picture Making Tricks with Jill TBC Henna Art with Silsa

Upcycling Sculpture Fun

Friday 21 July, 10am - 2.30pm FREE

Discover the joy of repurposing objects and preloved or scrap materials. Create small sculptures which can be taken away or create small sculptures to photograph or film and enjoy as temporary arrangements. Suitable all ages and abilities.

Facilitators: Desiree Alexandre & Shelly Gray

Clay Workshop

Saturday 22 July, 10am - 2.30pm at Kowhai Arts Centre $70

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

Harakeke/ Flax Weaving workshop

Sept TBC, 10am - 2pm $65

Learn basic flax weaving skills from an experienced local weaver and create a waikawa basket. Students are also introduced to the customs (tikanga) around working with flax. Facilitator: Britta Conrad

Women’s Naturopath, Herbalist & Massage

Tuesdays by appointment, 10am - 2pm $20 per 15 min. Bookings essential

Practitioner: Tania Burrows

Holistic Pulsing Massage

Mondays by appointment

$65 per hour. Bookings essential Practitioner: Heidi Downey

FREE* and Subsidised Counselling for Women

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

Drop In Mon-Fri 9.30am - 2.30pm

We know there are unique challenges for everyone and we are here to help you navigate them. The Centre is open 9:30-2:30pm and you are welcome to drop in for a chat, coffee, or to just take a moment in a safe space.

Volunteers

We are keen for volunteers to help us at the centre.

AA Group Meetings

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

FREE Legal Clinic

9.30am– 10.30am monthly on a Friday. Bookings essential. When: 30 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 8 Sept. Phone and in person appointments are available. Call or book via our website.

FREE Cervical Screening

Thursday 27 July. Call or register via our website.

Senior Constable Katie Hawkins is a police youth aid officer in the Waitemata North District, based at the Warkworth Police Station. She deals specifically with any crime where the offender is apprehended and is under the age of 18. In conjunction with other organisations, she engages with the kids to try and prevent further offending, while still holding them accountable for what they have done. “Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s enormously challenging,” Katie says. “It requires thinking outside the box because with people, one size definitely does not fit all.”

I went to primary school in Pakuranga, attended Pakuranga College then went on to Auckland Girls Grammar. My first job out of school was in the office at Mainfreight. The job was a clerical one, working in company administration. I guess that I applied for that job because I was young and straight out of school. My focus was to get into work, earn some money and gain some workplace experience. From Mainfreight I went to another clerical role, working for The Yellow Pages and this was where I discovered that I was very comfortable talking to

people. I did my OE and after returning to NZ, I became a sales rep for Horley’s, a sports nutrition company. I loved this job, travelling between NZ and Australia, getting to know my clients, forming new client relationships and selling. Although they were a great company and I enjoyed the work, after a while I started thinking about becoming a police officer.

I had done a ‘ride along’ with the police in South Auckland when I was 18. The work was varied, exciting and all about the people. Everything I love! At the time, the cops I was riding along with told me to go and get a bit of life experience first and come to the police later. With hindsight, this was great advice. I joined the police when I was 26 years old. I had a background in computer and office skills, and I liked talking to people. My work experience in sales meant I was pretty verbally confident and persuasive. Police work came naturally to me and has been my passion for over 20 years now.

Do you ever wish you had taken another career path?

Not really. All my choices have led to where I am now. I have a rewarding, varied and challenging job, and I still look forward to going to work every day. It doesn’t even feel like work!

What do you wish you had known (or been told) when you were about to leave school?

I wish someone had told me to try and work at something you love. It’s more than just ‘having a good job’. I’m sure everyone works harder and is more fulfilled by doing something they really want to do. If you don’t want to get out of bed and do the best in your job, you’re probably not in the right job for you.

Fifteen years ago, Sawmill Brewery owner Mike Sutherland and his partner Kirsty talked about starting a brewery. “I could see the growth potential within the industry and I’ve always loved factories and I don’t mind a beer,” Mike says. “We approached Peter and Decima Freckleton, who owned the Leigh Sawmill Brewery. Our timing was great and a month later we owned it. For the first couple of years it was just Kirsty and I. I did the brewing, we both packaged the beer and both worked on growing our sales.” Today, Sawmill Brewery is an award winning business, employing more than 50 people.

I attended Waitaki Boys High School in Oamaru and got my first paying job when I was 11. In the school holidays I worked for my grandfather, who had a barber shop and tobacconist. I mostly worked behind the counter selling cigarettes. When I was 13, I spent a few summers working for a Chinese family who had a large produce farm. That taught me about hard physical work; it was a valuable experience. I worked there because my dad was friends with them. He used to work for the same family when he was at high school. Over the years I’ve had heaps of jobs. At high school I mainly worked in hands-on jobs – horticulture, in a meat processing factory and on a sheep farm. Following this, I went to Lincoln University and studied commerce. In my summers I would work as a builder’s labourer, or on vineyards or other horticulture farms. I had to complete 40 weeks practical assignments as part of my degree. When I finished at Lincoln I worked in the export sector, firstly with fresh produce, then aquaculture and then trading seafood and meat.

continued next page

from previous page

Do you ever wish you had done something different?

Looking back at my career, my only regret was not taking a few years out when I was younger and working and travelling overseas. Visiting other countries gives perspective of how good we have it in NZ. I’m also inspired when I visit other great breweries overseas. It helps me dream bigger. What do you wish you had known (or been told) when you were about to leave school?

I was a little lost [after leaving school] and

went to university not knowing what I would do when I left or why I was even going. Mostly it sounded fun, and it certainly was. Without knowing it then, I had an entrepreneurial outlook, was good with numbers and analytical. I wish I had reached out and connected with people with experience so I could understand what it actually looked like in different jobs. This would have helped me understand what my skills were and what I was passionate about. What I’ve learnt since is that if you are driven and prepared to take some risks, just back yourself and go for it.

Shane Gould is the community youth coordinator for Blue Light North Rodney, a charity that works in partnership with police to deliver an extensive range of youth programmes and activities. He says that although he has been coordinating youth and community activities, fundraising and instructing on outdoor activities for 28 years, he is still learning.

After leaving Tamworth High School, in north western New South Wales, Australia, I joined the Rural Bank as a loans manager. This was on the advice of the school careers advisor and based on a guidance test. I worked for the bank for seven years, before joining the Australian Federal Police, based

in Canberra, ACT. I was in the prime minister and diplomatic protection services for many years. I took long service leave after marrying a Kiwi girl and then we moved to New Zealand. I took a few smaller jobs initially, before working at New Zealand Steel as a supply manager for six years. I was then asked to work fulltime for a new youth intervention community and Justice Department programme/initiative, and I was with them for four years. Eventually, this led to my current position with North Rodney Blue Light.

Do you ever wish you had done something different?

Not really, other than the bank which was poorly paid and transferred you every two years. The previous employments all contributed to my current role.

What do you wish you had known (or been told) when you were about to leave school?

Due to a family issue, I left school earlier than my teachers had wanted. I left with the NSW School Certificate. If I’d stayed a further two years at high school, and completed the Higher School Certificate, I would have had some further opportunities, not to mention better pay!

of time, ranging from about four years to 15 years.

Do you ever wish you had done something different?

When I was at college, I wanted to be a vet. I did some work experience at a clinic, which I really enjoyed until we had to euthanise a litter of very young puppies who had distemper. I quit wanting to be a vet after that.

Rodney Local Board member Michelle Carmichael has two part-time roles – one as a teacher at Tapora School, where she has been for the last 10 years, and the other on the Local Board after being elected in October last year. “Both roles are very people orientated, which I absolutely love,” Michelle says. In a voluntary capacity, Michelle is also a driving force behind the Fight the Tip, Save the Dome campaign.

I went to Orakei Primary, Henderson Intermediate and Waitakere College. My first job, when I was 12 years old, was working part-time at the Rathgar Road Dairy. As a customer I was offered the job by the owners and I accepted so I could buy better clothes than the ones my parents were supplying. I’m not so precious about clothes now! This also eventually helped me save for my first car. I’ve had six jobs since then. I’ve nearly always worked and I stayed at my jobs for varied lengths

What do you wish you had known (or been told) when you were about to leave school?

That’s a hard question as I am very happy with the varied careers I’ve had and especially, the people I have met through them. I guess, in hindsight, if had I known that I was going to want to teach and get into local politics, and even get involved in the environmental battle we’ve had over the Dome Valley landfill, then I may have chosen to follow those paths sooner. I completed my teaching degree in my early 40’s while also working, so that was a late career change, and since then I’ve battled for the environment and now work for the community.

We can’t change history, so what I wish to say to anyone reading this is … don’t hesitate to make a change if you know what you want. It doesn’t matter what you have been doing, or for how long, if you want something bad enough, put the work in, believe in yourself, surround yourself with people who also believe in you, and just do it.

What advice would you give to a young woman setting up her own business?

Be very clear why you want to go into business and what your objectives are. Spend time on a business plan. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and surround yourself with experienced and successful people who have set up their own business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – find a mentor who you relate to and trust, someone who will ask you the hard questions. Many people who have been successful are happy to pass on the wisdom they have gained from their experience. Join a chapter of BNI (Business Networking International) or another local networking group and be prepared to make the effort to get to know everyone so you maximise your investment and opportunities.,

Do you think, being a woman, there are advantages in business and if so what are they?

business contacts. Be prepared to self audit, continually looking at what you have done well and what you could change.

What do you wish to achieve most in your business?

As a human resource consultant I provide advice and support to small to medium businesses. 80% of the people who contact me are in a stressful workplace situation and are not sure what to do. They know if they get it wrong it could be very expensive. From the wisdom and knowledge I have gained, through both my work and life experience, I help reduce that stress and provide solutions which effectively address the problem. This frequently results in me becoming their trusted HR Manager as and when required.

There may be an advantage if your product or service is particularly directed towards women. Regardless of that, your success will come from your focus, confidence and positive approach, showing professionalism and respect for your 021 81 33 82 | thelma@thelmafrench.com | www.thelmafrench.com

When did you realise you wanted to be your own boss?

We are both client focused and want the very best service and outcomes for our clients. When we realised the business was for sale, we wanted to be the ones impacting the experience our client’s would have going forward, which prompted us to consider purchasing the business together.

What gave you the confidence to go into business together?

After working together we realised that our skills, qualifications and values aligned, and we knew we could make business ownership a success. We also knew that there was an exceptional team at KGA who would support us through the transition process.

What would you say are some of the struggles you’ve faced being women in business?

The juggle of being parents as well as employees has been a reality for us, especially when returning to the workforce. Flexible working hours and the ability to work from home has been life changing, and we are excited to provide a workplace where this is the norm.

What does being a woman in these times mean to you?

We are very grateful to be living in times where there are many opportunities for women to decide their own paths. We owe a great debt to previous generations of both men and women who have pushed to make gender equality a reality in the workplace. We hope to encourage others to have the confidence to go after their dreams, especially when it comes to business.

What advice would you give to young woman setting up her own business.

First and foremost, back yourself. You have already taken the first step to be looking at your options and if you know your product and brand there is no stopping you. Trust your people, the ones you choose to be a part of your journey. Whether they are inside your business or friends or family they will be your biggest supporter, advocate and listener. Do you think being a woman there are advantages in business and if so, what are they.

Absolutely. Being in the building industry I believe some of my key assets are being an organised, punctual, honest, multitasking, caring and honest WOMAN. Something that is generally part of our makeup. I am extremely proud of these traits and know they definitely add to the day to day of business life.

23 Neville Street, Warkworth

What advice would you give to young woman setting up her own business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many people who have done this before you and if you are willing to ask for advice you will find that people are more than happy to help, not only with what to do, but also what not to do.

Trust yourself and be confident that you can do it.

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own.

Being a third generation optometrist and watching my grandfather and father

run their own successful practice made optometry and business ownership very familiar to me. I did underestimate how hard it would be, especially when first starting out, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

What do you wish to achieve most in your business.

To continue to run an honest business that I can be proud of. I want to look after my patients in the way they deserve, to not compromise on service and quality, and to continue to create a point of difference from corporate optometry.

What advice would you give to young woman setting up her own business?

Have a business mentor that is experienced in business management and juggling family The juggling family part is huge The mentor is your sounding board and will keep you on track. Invest in your professional development- especially in business management- the most complicated areas are finance and HR and these are key to understand when growing a business The numbers don’t lie!

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own.

For information about our windows and doors talk to us.

For me it was all about timing. This was very much key and had a huge part in making the decision on going out on our own. The stars and time had aligned. After turning 40 I asked myself where I was

What do you wish to achieve most in your business? Tanya

Being a good role model for my kids, teaching them about working hard and what a good work ethic looks like, having a work environment where the team can have fun, be passionate about what they do and grow while providing amazing service to our clients

Thelma French

P 09 425 8536

E Lize van Schalkwyk lize@kgaww.co.nz

E Jennifer Smith jennifer@kgaww.co.nz 54 Whitaker Road, Warkworth 0941 www.kgaww.co.nz

Lize van Schalkwyk & Jennifer Smith (Directors, KGA Chartered Accountants Limited)

09 425 7002 admin@mahurangivision.co.nz

Sarah Denny

When did you realise you wanted to be your own boss?

My business owner journey was a process of being thrown in the deep end but I am forever grateful for the things l learned and for where it has taken me in my life.

I have also been very involved in church life for a number of years and quickly jumped into leadership roles from my late teens.

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own?

My husband and I going out on our own happened because of a previous experience with my other business and business partner. I knew what he needed to do with his Podiatry business and I knew I had the skills to help him do it so I quit my physiotherapy job and jumped in full time with him and we haven’t looked back!

What are some of the struggles you’ve faced being a woman in business?

Not being taken seriously is a struggle - people that know me well will know about my ‘power dressing’ that was born out of my role as a conference manager (a church role) and my experience with people not taking me seriously on face value or at first glance, I soon realised that when I power dressed, I didn’t encounter these issues and I have taken that through my career.

What does being a woman in these times mean to you?

Hannah Edwards

09

283 3901

When did you realize you wanted to be your own boss?

I went on maternity leave and realized that I highly valued the flexibility to work when it’s convenient for me. I was also working hard to achieve somebody else’s goals and realized that my energy would be better spent focusing on my own despite the difficulties of running a business, raising babies and studying.

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own?

I’ve been surrounded by supportive people and excellent mentors who have given me the confidence to fail, and use the failures as learning opportunities to improve my business and the service I give. I had also become competent in my clinical abilities and was ready for the next challenge.

What are some of the struggles you’ve faced being a woman in business?

I’m fortunate that my profession is female dominated, so my struggles don’t seem specific to my gender. Only to the complexities of trying to juggle home life and work life as I’m sure everyone struggles with.

What does being a woman in these times mean to you?

I am proud to be a woman, and this makes me passionate about the success of other women too. I love the strength and power that comes with being a woman. We are capable of so many incredible things and often our only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves.

021 215 8967 | info@mahupelvicphysio.co.nz

Mahupelvicphysio.co.nz

When did you realise you wanted to be your own boss?

I’d always worked part time jobs whilst raising children and decided I wanted a change of direction in my life…doing something for myself rather than being an employee. I became bored with the same situation. Being a social person I really wanted to make a difference .

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own?

Deciding to complete a NZ Cert qualification in Business gave me the boost to be able to achieve what I put my mind too. I enjoy competition and a challenge, have always been confident and independent from a young age. My motto - ‘you only live once (after being

in a traffic fatal car accident). Besides, with the right attitude you don’t know until you try.

What are some of the struggles you’ve faced being a woman in business?

I haven’t found any struggles being a woman in business, especially small business, which I’ve found many women to own and manage. There are more and more women on the ‘front line’ and we have a different way of thinking and attitude towards business.

What does being a woman in these times mean to you?

Being a woman in these times is very rewarding. I acknowledge the support and respect when I mention I own a rather successful small business, which I am very proud of.

What advice would you give to young woman setting up her own business.

Be willing to learn & grow, it not as easy as you think, 6 years on I’m still learning something new. Remember that you can’t do it all, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t give up when times get tough, ride it out and the rewards will follow.

What gave you the confidence to go out on your own.

One was Maria (who orginally owned this business when it was “Maria’s Florist”) She wanted to travel and wanting to sell up, she convinced me I could do it, along with my husband (now ex) who was a great support at the time, running the financial side of the business while I concentrated on the side of the business I knew how to do – being a florist and making bouquets.

What do you wish to achieve most in your

To be able to run a successful business so that it’s sustainable enough to be able to sell one day, to make a living, to have fun and enjoy myself.

09 425 9016

florist@briarroseflowers.co.nz

www.BriarRoseFlowers.co.nz

When did you realise you wanted to be your own boss?

Previously our ideas and enthusiasm would be put forward and left on a corporate desk to die! In an industry that can be quite traditional, conservative and stagnant, myself and Steffan try to be unique and innovative. Being my own boss has allowed a wonderful freedom to pursue my own path to success and create a professional environment that is collaborative, supportive and focused. What gave you the confidence to go out on your own?

After working with several large national agencies I knew we had the skills and experience to create something truly special. Our entrepreneurial spirits were sparked when we recognised a gap in the market with an objective to create a highly polished, agile agency that could adapt quicklyespecially during a pandemic!

What are some of the struggles you’ve faced being a woman in business?

Being a mother to three beautiful but busy boys while also running a business is a constant juggling act. Balancing the needs of my family, my team and myself can be overwhelming at times, but these challenges have taught me self-motivation and discipline. While the path may not always be easy, the rewards are great.

What does being a woman in these times mean to you?

Being a woman in these times means being a trailblazer, a risk taker and a leader to create positive workplaces and communities. It has been incredible to connect with and be inspired by other fierce, clever, loyal and impressive women who are making their mark in a range of industries and professions.

09 422 9790

info@artmatakana.com www.artmatakana.com

Laura Irvine

Jane Philpott

Rebekah Davidson

Briony Finlayson

CELEBRATING OUR BUSINESS LEADERS

Festival of lights offers cheerful respite from midwinter blues

Organisers of the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights are optimistic that this year’s event will reach new heights, attracting thousands to the town basin and providing a helpful midwinter tonic to local venues after a period of grim weather. A highlight of the July 15 festival will be the launch of what will be a permanent artwork of colourful lights running along the riverbank, One Mahurangi business association manager Murray Chapman says.

The day will also feature food trucks, amusement rides, a bouncy castle, glow-inthe-dark face painting, an ice skating rink, a snow pit, and a flashing-light disco floor in the Masonic Hall, “which the kids just adore”.

Local musicians will offer live entertainment, with offerings ranging from kapa haka to rock and roll. Headliners will be the Recliner Rockers, a ‘blues-

rockabilly-roots-rock’ band.

Many of the attractions are sponsored by companies in the area, Chapman says.

“That’s the lovely thing about this – local businesses just get in behind it.”

Events run from 11am to 9pm, with a break in the music programme at 6pm for the after-dark Parade of Lights, a crowd favourite featuring illuminated floats, fire trucks, a brass band, as well as lightbedecked walkers.

Baxter, Kapanui and Wharf streets will be closed to traffic for most of the day, and Queen Street during the evening parade.

After the parade, a short ceremony at 7.30pm will launch the riverside light installation, which will run for about 130 metres among the trees, along the bank opposite the town.

Chapman said it was the only live art sculpture of its kind that the Auckland

Council arts division had done outside the CBD – “so little old Warkworth has got this amazing art installation.”

The festival has been going since 2018. “It started because I was walking down the main street in the middle of winter in 2017 and noticed how grim everybody looked. It was a miserable day,” Chapman recalled. And I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to do something that poured a little bit of joy? So I spoke to Lions and Rotary and a few mates and we kicked it off from there.”

About 3000 people were estimated to have taken part in the first year, a number that doubled by the following year. Covid killed off the 2020 event and the 2021 and 2022 festivals were held “between lockdowns.”

Despite the lingering impact of the pandemic, over the last two years the business association had recorded an 18 per cent increase in turnover by hospitality

venues in the town centre on festival night, Chapman said.

Last year “Neville Street was pumping,” and the hotel reported that its kitchen was swamped from 4pm until it closed at 10pm.

Taking into account the large number of food trucks that had also set up for the event, he said, that was an impressive boost for eateries in the town centre.

Murray Chapman

Celebration of the voice

The joy of singing will bring the NZ Male Choir and the Hibiscus Coast Singers together for an afternoon of music in Orewa next month.

The two choirs – around 80 singers in total – will perform both separately and together, presenting music from modern shows to opera, from African American spirituals to Guys & Dolls, from Lerner & Loewe to Beethoven.

The NZ Male Choir has more than 50 members who come from all parts of the country. Conducted by Hawkes Bay’s Joe Christensen, the choir sings a range of music including classical, folk, waiata, gospel, operatic, popular, jazz and contemporary.

It has entertained audiences both nationally and internationally for the past 23 years including a number of tours throughout Europe, Australia and Canada.

Christensen, who has been with the choir for almost seven years, says he is looking forward to the Orewa show.

“I have really enjoyed the challenge of working with the men and melding the four voice parts to produce a quality sound,” he says. “They have been rehearsing hard for this concert. Added to this, we will have Fiona McCabe from Hastings as our accompanist, who brings a dynamism to her playing which in turn lifts the choir.”

The Hibiscus Coast Singers, a four-part mixed voice choir, led by director of music Robyn Allen Goudge, and accompanied by

Hibiscus Coast Singers’ last performance was in July 2021.

Michael Bell, will perform a water-themed repertoire, including arrangements by John Rutter.

The highlight of the concert will be the combined choirs’ performance of The Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and featuring soprano soloist Sue Elliot.

This will be the Hibiscus Coast Singers’ first concert since December 2021, and they are excited at the prospect of performing in front of a live audience again.

The New Zealand Male Choir and the Hibiscus Coast Singers will perform at the Orewa Arts & Events Centre, 80 Riverside Road, Orewa, on Saturday, July 8, at 2.30pm.

Tickets from iTICKET or coastsingers@gmail.com and also at the door.

Adults: $30; Seniors/Students $25; children under 12 free.

The NZ Male Choir

• Barista coffee

• Barista coffee

• Fresh sandwiches, muffins and scones

• Fresh sandwiches, muffins and scones

• Hot pies and savouries

• Toasted sandwiches and hot meals

• Hot pies and savouries

phone: 09 422 7551 | email: cafe@omahagolf.co.nz

• Toasted sandwiches and hot meals

• Barista coffee

• Fresh sandwiches, muffins and scones

• Open from 7am every day

• Hot pies and savouries

• Toasted sandwiches and hot meals

phone: 09 422 7551 | email: cafe@omahagolf.co.nz

1 North West Anchorage, Omaha Beach

phone: 09 422 7551 | email: cafe@omahagolf.co.nz

Women invited to give-it-a-go and connect with others

Then look no further than Pakiri Beach Holiday Park. One of New Zealand’s best beaches right in your backyard. Superbly located, overlooking the stunning white dunes of Pakiri Beach, there are plenty of activities to keep you and children occupied or you can just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of our location only 15 minutes from Matakana or 90 minutes from the heart of Auckland.

You will find accommodation to suit everyone’s style and budget. If you want stunning views and the ultimate relaxation, book the lodge or a beachfront cottage and watch the sunrise over Hauturu (Little Barrier Island) from the comfort of your bed.

If you’re looking for a fun adventure, book the riverside glamping tent, life long memories will be created in this beautifully appointed safari tent, complete with a wood fire, ensuite, and kitchen, the kids will love it.

If you want a cheap and cheerful option there are basic cabins with enough beds for a family of five or you can bring your tent, caravan or motorhome for a relaxing stay.

It’s the perfect time to reconnect with nature, and our family-friendly park has many great activities to enjoy. The jumping pillow, playground, outdoor chess set, petanque pitch and outdoor ping pong table will keep the kids entertained. If the weather turns the indoor games and theatre rooms provide a lovely space for more family fun.

escape · delight · relax · unite

09 422 6199 | 261 Pakiri River Road, Pakiri info@pakiriholidaypark.co.nz | www.pakiriholidaypark.co.nz

The Women’s Centre Rodney is running a new series of free events aimed at getting women in the wider Warkworth area networking and learning from each other Connect Me events include sports lessons, cooking, life coaching and women’s health and are being organised by Philippa Potaka, who runs her own Village Picnic business and recently began helping out at the Women’s Centre in Morpeth Street. Philippa says the centre is trying to steer away from being seen as purely a “place of crisis” and somewhere any woman can come to meet others and learn something new. One of the first Connect Me events was due to be held on Thursday last week at the Omaha Beach Golf Club, with a 90-minute mini-group lesson run by golf professional and director of coaching Emma Fairnie.

Potaka said Emma was volunteering her time and expertise for the Women’s Centre have-a-go lesson, which was mostly aimed at those who had never picked up a club before. Fairnie said she was extremely passionate about providing opportunities for junior and female golfers and focused on creating safe and fun environments for players to develop their skills.

Next up on the ‘Connect Me’ calendar is Recipes & Reels, a session focusing on baking and making social media reels on August 3, a women’s health event on August 8 and a squash have-a-go day with Warkworth squash supremo Kaye Jackson on August 15.

Info: Visit https://www. womenscentrerodney.org.nz/whats-on or call 425 7261

BEN WILCOCK QUARTET

Jazz Ensemble

TICKETS

• Members $25

• Non-Members $35

• Tertiary Students $10

Purchase Tickets Online at www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

Piano, Violin, Double Bass & Percussion

From this ensemble, audiences can expect impressive improvisations and refreshing new arrangements of familiar classics in true jazz style.

Saturday, 29 July 2023 at 4pm

Warkworth Town Hall

When you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, not far from home

Connect Me activities include golf at Omaha Beach.

Reach for the stars this school holidays

Stargazing, yoga and drawing donkeys are among the many activities being offered to keep the kids amused at local libraries this school holidays.

The general event theme is Matariki, the winter appearance of the nine-star cluster also known as Pleiades, which will be officially celebrated with a public holiday on Friday, July 14.

Would-be young astronomers will have the chance to see Matariki and other wonders of the universe when Warkworth Library hosts the Auckland Astronomical Society for an astronomy evening on Wednesday, July 12. After an interactive presentation on the wonders of time and space, there will be a chance to spot stars and enjoy hot chocolate (weather permitting). Also at Warkworth, a special yoga session for youngsters is being held on Monday, July 3. Instructor Rebecca Leaker will guide participants through a mixture of gentle movement, breathing, stillness and play, ably assisted by her own children, Amira, aged 7, and four-year-old Eli. A mass of musical instruments will be able to be handled and played at Warkworth and Wellsford Libraries, when Jenny and Tanya from specialist Auckland music store KBB Music present fun have-a-go sessions. And the donkeys of Highfield Garden Reserve at Algies Bay are being celebrated in a new book being put together by Mahurangi East Library, with children being invited to contribute their artwork and ideas on two days during the holidays. In addition, there is the usual chance to win prizes by joining in with Auckland Libraries’ Beanstack reading challenge for students aged from 5-18. Participants will be invited to explore the themes of the nine stars of Matariki via reading lists and activities, then log what they’ve done on the Beanstack Tracker app. There is also a school holiday activity booklet available at local libraries.

What’s happening

WARKWORTH

Monday, July 3, 10.30am

Matariki Yoga for Kids

and where ...

Join instructor Rebecca Leaker for a mixture of movement, breathing, stillness and play

Tuesday, July 4, 10.30am

Puppet Making

A fun craft session learning about tuna (eels) and making a tuna puppet

Wednesday, July 5, 10.30am

LEGO Time

Challenges, games and heaps of fun with piles of everyone’s favourite building bricks

Thursday, July 6, 1.30pm

Working with Wool

Join the Warkworth Library knitting group to learn to knit and make a pompom mobile

Friday, July 7, 10.30am

Kiribati Independence Celebration

Enjoy stories, dance and music from this central Pacific island

Monday, July 10, 10.30am

Matariki Family Fun with Whaea Claire

Family fun activities, crafts and korero celebrating Māori culture and Matariki

Tuesday, July 11, 11am

Have a Go Music Experience

Join Jenny and Tanya from KBB Music to hear and play a huge number of different musical instruments

Wednesday, July 12, 5.30pm

Astronomy Night with Auckland Astronomical Society

An out-of-this-world interactive presentation that will take participants on a journey from Earth to the beginning of time and space, followed by star-gazing and hot chocolate

Sudoku the numbers game

WELLSFORD

Saturday, July 1, 10am-2pm

Wellsford Library’s 10th Birthday Party! Bring the family along to the library and help to celebrate 10 years of the new library building with games, crafts, food and music

Monday, July 3, 2pm

Badge Making

Create your very own badge for Matariki

Wednesday, July 5, 10.30am

Matariki Music

Join Whaea Marie for some musical fun with Māori waiata, poi and rakau

Thursday, July 6, 10.30am

Matariki Community Kākahu

Colour and decorate beautiful feathers and help to create a community Matariki cloak

Friday, July 7, 2-4.30pm

LEGO Club

Come along and create something new from a massive LEGO collection

Monday, July 10, 2pm

Matariki Manu Tukutuku – Make a Kite! Use recycled materials to create a Matariki Kite

Tuesday, July 11, 1.30pm

Have a go Matariki Music with KBB Meet Jenny and Tanya from KBB Music to learn about and play the huge range of musical instruments they will bring

Wednesday, July 12, 2pm

Games Unplugged

A fun assortment of drama and party games

MAHURANGI EAST

The library team at Snells Beach were still finalising details of their holiday activities line-up as Mahurangi Matters went to print, but a couple of special highlights are listed below.

For more information on other activities and events, visit the Mahurangi East Library Facebook page, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/ school-holidays-events.aspx or just call in and ask staff what’s going on.

Monday, July 3 to Wednesday, July 5 10am-4pm

Let’s Paint Our Native Birds!

Join local artists Desiree Alexandre and Shelly Gray to choose and paint a native bird cut-out in the community centre next to the library. The finished birds will be displayed on a giant panoramic forest mural. Children are welcome at any time and can stay for as long as they like.

Thursday, July 6 & Thursday, July 13 10.30am-12 noon

Donkey Book Time

Come along and contribute to a new book being put together to celebrate the donkeys of Highfield Garden Reserve at Algies Bay. Make a donkey drawing, write a story or poem, or doodle a design for the project.

Info: www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/ Pages/school-holidays.aspx

SOLUTION page 39

Satya 021 184 9688

Nectar Café at Morris & James Pottery

Ngāti Manuhiri

Mānawatia a Matariki

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki

Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi

Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau

Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future.

Matariki Hunga Nui – Remembrance

Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki.

Matariki Ahunga Nui – Celebrating the Present

Gathering together to give thanks for what we have.

Matariki Manako Nui – Looking to the Future

Looking forward to the promise of a new year. Each iwi, hapū, whānau and individual may acknowledge Matariki in their own way and for the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, we began celebrations in June with community planting days,

project planning and the well-being of our whānau whānui.

Matariki is now acknowledged nationwide with a public holiday which this year is on Friday, July 14. We will gather in Puhinui Warkworth to launch a new project we have been working on with Auckland Council, which will express some of the history of Ngāti Manuhiri using light and sound along the Mahurangi River. This will be available for the public to view for the first time at the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights Saturday, July 15, at 7pm.

Looking ahead, we would love to work with our community to create more interactive events celebrating Matariki. If this is something you are interested, in, please contact our office team via info@ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

Titoro Whaka muri

Kōkiri Whakamua

Look back and reflect so you can move forward.

One-stop shop for volunteers

National Volunteer Week was marked in Matakana last month by a special open day for community groups and organisations hosted by The Forest Bridge Trust (TFBT). Well over 15 different not-for-profits took a stand in the community hall on Saturday, June 24 to explain what they do and to encourage new members to sign up.

TFBT senior community liaison Tris Bondsfield said it was the first such event the trust had organised and everyone who had come along was pleased with how it had gone.

“We estimated there were about 80 people and everyone had people signing up or adding their names to a list,” she said.

“And with it being market day, it wasn’t necessarily just locals. We had several people from Auckland sign up, because they visit here regularly.”

There was a wide range of groups

represented, which was a deliberate move, she added.

“We didn’t just want it to be conservation. There are so many organisations in this area, we just wanted to give them a chance to come together and tell people about their volunteering opportunities,” Bondsfield said.

“It was a bit of a departure for us, but everyone was happy and we’re looking to do it again next year.”

Groups represented included Kawau Coastguard, Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade, Springboard, Citizens Advice Bureau, Forest & Bird, Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Incorporated, Cat Owners Education NZ, Matakana Community Garden, Takatu LandCare, Friends of Awa Matakanakana, University of Auckland School of Environment, Leigh Harbour Valley Society, Fabric Rescue and Restore Rodney East.

MEET JAN AND MICHELLE

The Botanic Show Home

1 Pukanui Place

The Botanic Silverdale, Auckland

Open 11am-3pm, Monday to Saturday 0508 268 264 (0508 BOTANIC) hello@thebotanic.co.nz | thebotanic.co.nz

The Botanic is the Hibiscus Coast’s newest, resort-style retirement village, designed to offer a great lifestyle surrounded by nature and world class facilities.

Matakana Fire Brigade volunteers, from left, Lisa Donaldson, Rochelle Paice and Chris Jensen.

Ringi Brown, Kaumatua www.ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

History

Bev Ross, Mangawhai Museum www.mangawhai-museum.org.nz

Medical at Mangawhai

One of the earliest challenges that faced new settlers in Mangawhai was accessing medical care when they needed it, whether it be for illness, after an accident or with childbirth. Medical officers tended to turnover on a regular basis and the medical fraternity nationwide was limited.

In 1862, surgeon Dr Clarence Hooper arrived in Mangawhai. It was a real benefit to have a surgeon available for settlers who were prone to accidents involving axes and heavy equipment needed to break in the land. But by 1864, Dr Bell was doing the rounds, covering not only Mangawhai but Oruawharo, Kaiwaka and Te Arai as well. Then there is a five-year gap where there is no record of any medical officer being in the district, with settlers presumably looking after themselves.

In 1870, Dr F.G. Dalton had arrived but was gone by 1874 when Dr Alder Fisher, physician and surgeon, took his place. The community had hoped to retain his services in the district by creating a Medical Club, but this doesn’t appear to have survived for long. The fee for a family was £1 per annum, with five shillings additional for every visit, which included medicines. The fee for a single person was 10 shillings per annum and three shillings per visit, including medicines.

In April 1875, Dr Agassi agreed to visit a specified part of the settlement, once a month, weather permitting. But by August, Dr Damon had replaced Dr Agassi. Dr Dalton returned in 1876 and was chief vaccinator for the Mangawhai District and Albertland. In 1887, Dr Murray Moore was here followed by Doctor Girdler and then Dr Mountain was the resident doctor by 1894.

So, it seems that medical attention was spasmodic at best and sometimes not available at all. People just had to do the best they could and there is one newspaper account of a boy stitching up his brother’s foot after an accident with an axe. Such was the life of those who came to live in ‘the bush’. Some common illnesses suffered by children in the days of early settlement, and before penicillin arrived, included earache, whooping cough, measles, scarlet fever, chicken pox, diphtheria, mumps, colic and stomach upsets.

Midwifery was practiced mainly by women, whether qualified or not. At other times, pregnant women had to ‘go it alone’ simply because there was just no-one there to help. From the 1880s, Mrs Elizabeth Hogan attended many local births and was truly loved by all she served. It was said she only ever needed her scissors, string and a cake of soap, and knew no loss of life.

Pet of the Month

&

Pets Vets Corner

Boss the Happy Huntaway

Boss is a 3 year old Huntaway that has recently undergone a fracture repair surgery. Boss, being a hard working Huntaway, loves to chase anything that moves. Unfortunately, on one fateful Saturday morning the moving target had 4 wheels and weighed about 3 Tonnes.

Boss was rushed to Warkworth Vets where he was stabilized with pain relief, oxygen and fluid therapy. At the time Boss had suffered a severe concussion, a fair amount of road rash and a complete fracture to his Radius and Ulna.

Fortunately, we were able to stabilize Boss over the next three days. The type of surgery required had the same purpose as adding a scaffold to a collapsing building. We provided the frame work and scaffold that allowed Boss to heal his fracture. Since his surgery Boss has had weekly bandage changes. During the changes he will lie on his back waiting for scratches. He has been a very patient patient, nearing the time he can have the surgical structure removed. Animals that have been hit by a car make up the majority of Warkworth vets emergency cases, so next time you travel through rural areas just remember that there are animals like Boss hanging around!

Vets: Jon Makin BVSc, Danny Cash BVSc and Associates

Midwife Elizabeth Hogan.

The Forest Bridge Trust

Long-tailed bats in Rodney

For the past few months, The Forest Bridge Trust’s ecologist and biodiversity advisor Virginia Moreno has been putting bat detectors up across the rohe and is happy to report that the long-tailed wattled bat, or pekapeka-tou-roa, a nationally critical species, has been detected in the Rodney area. One of our most intriguing residents, long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) are endemic to Aotearoa. These remarkable mammals have evolved in isolation for millions of years, resulting in unique characteristics that distinguish them from other bats around the world. As their name implies, they have elongated tails that can be as long as their bodies, yet they are only the size of an AA battery, weighing between eight and 14 grams and with the wingspan of a hand. Long-tailed bats are active at dusk and into the night, playing an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds including kiekie, dactylanthus and pōhutukawa. Bats can also greatly reduce the population of mosquitoes – it is claimed that a single bat can consume around 1000 mosquito-sized insects a night.

With impressive aerial agility, long-tailed bars can fly at 60kmph navigating by producing ultrasonic sounds. It has been through their high frequency echo-location calls that we have been able to detect and monitor them with electronic bat recorders. Long-tailed bat’s echo-location calls include a relatively low frequency component, which can be heard by some people, though most calls are at a frequency of 40kHz which is higher than the human

ear can detect. We have detected long-tails on Govan Wilson Road and are confident that there is a sizeable population in Rata Bush. This is positive news as pekapekatou-roa is on the nationally critical list (most severely threatened, facing an immediate high risk of extinction). Long-tails like to roost and raise their young in the cavities of older trees, making them easy prey. Predation by introduced mammalian predators such as mustelids (stoats and weasels), as well as rats and possums, have had a devastating impact on their numbers since the early 20th century. During winter, bats go into a state of torpor, taking very long naps of up to 10 days to conserve energy. With a drop in temperature and food scarcity, their winter activity is estimated to be only five per cent of their summer activity. This is when they are at their most vulnerable. Ship rats and stoats are also working hard to survive the winter. Ship rats use their acute sense of smell and incredible climbing skills to search every nook and cranny for food. There is no doubt that predator control will play a vital role in protecting this precious taonga. That’s why we are calling on landowners and the community to help to keep predator numbers down through trapping. Now is a great time to set and check traps so that we can give invisible treasures like bats a chance to make it through winter.

Contact The Forest Bridge Trust to find out how you can get involved with backyard trapping or volunteering to help maintain a trapline: admin@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz

Nikki Morgan, Marketing and Comms www.theforestbridgetrust.org.nz

Photos, Ben Paris.

Gardening

Andrew Steens

Seed sowing made simple

With the horrendous cost of fruit and vegetables these days, it is more important than ever to grow your own and, even better, to grow from seed. Given the right conditions, any seed can be sown directly into the garden, but some are more suited to direct sowing than others. In fact, left to their own devices, many plants such as lettuce, bok choi and parsley will happily flower, go to seed and produce hundreds of little seedlings in your garden.

In general, larger seed such as beans, peas, sweetcorn and beetroot are more suited to direct sowing, as they can be buried deeper and have more food reserves to support the emerging seedling. However, some smaller seeds such as carrots are nearly always direct sown as they are difficult to transplant successfully. Fast crops such as lettuce, radish and courgettes are also good candidates for direct sowing.

Before sowing, rake over and level the soil, taking out any large clumps and debris and break up the soil into fine crumbly pieces. Don’t try to sow into sodden soil –if you squeeze a handful of soil and water runs out, it is too wet. You’re best to wait until some good weather has dried it out a little. Mark the rows using string stretched between two stakes for a straight line and either cut a shallow trench for crops like radish that are sown closely together or make holes using your finger or a stick.

Sowing seed in punnets, trays or pots has the advantage of being able to grow them under protection such as on your windowsill, which can jump start your plants by several weeks. A useful technique is to cover the seed trays with a layer of glass or Clingfilm and a single layer of newspaper to stop the

soil getting too hot. It’s important to use good quality seed raising mix (not potting mix). Don’t skimp on the quality and try several types before settling on the one that gives you the best results.

Sowing in the right soil temperature is very important to achieve a good germination rate. Cool soil crops include onions, broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, leeks, lettuce, peas, radish, silverbeet and spinach. These crops can all be sown now.

As a rough rule of thumb, cover seed to two to three times the diameter of the seed. Some of the finest seed, such as lettuce, need no cover at all and, indeed, need light to germinate. In any case, lightly firm the surface of the soil after sowing with a piece of wood or similar. This makes sure that the seed has good contact with the moist soil at all times. Keeping the soil moist is essential; water with a fine spray to settle the soil without dislodging the seeds. If growing in punnets or trays, briefly submerge the trays in a bucket of water. Don’t overwater, as saturated soil prevents vital oxygen getting to the seeds, making them prone to damping off diseases.

Damping off diseases cause seeds or young seedlings to rot. Clean your seed trays, benches, tools and punnets before each sowing, use fresh, good quality seed raising mix with a fungicide or beneficial Trichoderma added, and make sure the seed is sown in the best conditions possible to give the seeds the best chance of avoiding this disease.

Once you start sowing from seed you will become hooked. It is just so lovely seeing the little seedlings you’ve grown poke their heads above the soil!

Dome closure causes delays

Motorists travelling on State Highway 1 between Warkworth and Wellsford last week were detoured to State Highway 16 after a major rock fall in the Dome. The road was closed on Tuesday morning until midday and then again on Wednesday and overnight on Thursday. While Waka Kotahi directed traffic to the detour on State Highway 16, many chose to use the Matakana/Whangaripo Hill, including a lot of heavy vehicles. There was also congestion around the Falls Road ford when a truck and trailer became stuck. Waka Kotahi said 30 truckloads of material had spilled onto the highway in the Dome and material from the top of the slip was removed using water from a helicopter. This technique, called sluicing, washed the material off the top to break it up and was aimed at preventing further slips.

Killer seaweed spreads while bureaucrats procrastinate

By Laura Kvigstad,

The northern North Island could face a 30 to 50 per cent decline in kai moana and fish stocks if the eradication of the invasive seaweed caulerpa isn’t given more urgency.

Hauraki Gulf Forum executive director Alex Rogers says that caulerpa can rapidly mat the sea floor and this had reduced marine biodiversity by up to 50 per cent in places overseas.

The seaweed was first found at Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2021 and a further 16 hectares was identified in the Bay of Islands in May.

The forum was told last month that the current management approach, led by Biosecurity NZ in coordination with regional councils and NIWA, was to try and slow the seaweed’s spread through a mix of containment, education and research.

Forum executive officer Alex Rogers said that the confirmation of its presence in Northland suggested that a step change in approach was now required.

“In recent weeks, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Rēhua Ngātiwai ki Aotea have written to the Minister for Biosecurity, Damian O’Connor, urging a switch to an eradication strategy,” Rogers said. “Similar sentiments have been expressed by Revive our Gulf and Legasea.

“The forum has, over the past year, repeatedly expressed its concerns to Biosecurity NZ. As a result of this discussion today, it is proposed that the forum joins with the Northland and Auckland Conservation Boards, and regional councils, to jointly call for a change in approach.

“The present strategy, with a seaweed that can spread at just two millimetres in size, essentially leaves mana whenua, regions and communities in an endless game of marine whack-a-mole. Eventually, it will

result in caulerpa everywhere from Cape Reinga to East Cape, including in the inner gulf around Waiheke, Motutapu, and the eastern and north shore beaches.”

Biosecurity NZ’s readiness and response director John Walsh said several methods were being used to kill caulerpa, including dredge spoil, UVC lights, bio controls like kina, suction dredging and coarse salt.

Coarse salt was the preferred option so far, but to treat the 16 hectares of infestation in the Bay of Islands would take 8000 tonnes of salt.

Northland Regional Council councillor

Jack Craw said MPI had been slow off the mark, no one was joined up and none of the council’s biosecurity responses looked particularly good.

“We are repeating all the mistakes of the past with kauri dieback. It took us seven years to get that funding,” Craw said.  He said MPI handed pest problems back to regional councils and that there was a failing nationally.

Fellow councillor Geoff Crawford said they needed support and surveillance, but MPI had been slow to respond.

“Northland’s stance is always going to be eradication – there is no other option for us,” Crawford said.

Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust representative Kate Waterhouse said eradication would be good, but there was no resourcing to prevent the current spread at Aotea.

“Seabirds are already starving,” Waterhouse said. “There is no regular MPI surveillance of the waters of Aotea; we get an Auckland Council dive team once a year.”

Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust representative Barry Scott said residents already felt abandoned.

“We need to be better prepared for the inevitability of this thing spreading,” Scott said.

Waiheke Marine Project representative Miranda Cassidy O’Connell said while Waiheke was lucky not to have caulerpa in its waters, local communities needed to be enabled to prevent the spread.

“We have been asking what happens when we see caulerpa. We don’t have legal permission to do anything if we see it,” O’Connell said.

Forum co-chair Nicola MacDonald recently visited California where divers in Newport Bay were removing caulerpa by hand.

“They recognised that the local community needed to be trained,” she said.

The team in the US were awaiting final surveys to confirm whether their approach had been successful.

Protection of rural land comes into play

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter.

A proposed additional dwelling in Omaha Valley Road and a 32-hectare subdivision in Waiuku are among the first plan change requests in Auckland to be rejected under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL. The policy, which came into force late last year, looks to restrict urbanisation and development on fertile land.

Auckland Council senior policy planner Ryan Bradley told a Rural Advisory Panel meeting on June 23 that about 75 per cent of Auckland’s highly productive land had not been urbanised or rezoned.

“The whole point is that we don’t want to see our best farm land used for houses –the burden of proof is now high [to rezone] highly productive land,” Bradley said. Currently, council is using transitional maps of highly productive land but is required to update maps of the land over the next three years.

Bradley said that at Waiuku, developers wanted to rezone 32 hectares of the O’Hara Farm for 700 houses, but because 91 per cent was highly productive land, the rezoning was rejected.

He said the developer had not taken the NPS-HPL into account and rezoning was

declined solely on the basis of the policy. Member Alan Cole asked if zoning for countryside living on highly productive land could be rolled back.

Bradley said that it was possible but that council’s current direction under the policy was not to take a retrospective approach.

“Around 25 per cent of land has already been rezoned and it would be very difficult to roll it back. That is not to say it could not happen, but that sort of decision would have to come from council.”

Member Andrew McKenzie said farmers needed to intensify their farms in order to make a profit.

“Who is going to be able to farm this prime land? It’s too expensive,” McKenzie said. He said sheep and beef farming was surviving through subdividing the land and this policy put a stop to that.

“It is becoming harder and harder to make a living.”

He said the policy also restricted the countryside living zone, which acted as a buffer between farmers and urban areas. Member Geoff Smith had similar concerns, asking whether he would be able to subdivide a piece of land for his son to build a house, if he retained the productivity of the land.

Bradley said that it would be unlikely under the policy.

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

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Books

Tracey Lawton

The Impossible Story Of Hannah Kemp by Leonie Agnew

Winner of the Tessa Duder Award 2022, this is a brilliant young adult novel. Teenage life is hard enough at times, but Hannah Kemp is dealing with the trauma of an accident, which her whole town seems to blame her for, while navigating the cliques of school, stressed parents and a best friend who seems to invite trouble into their lives. And then Hannah stumbles across a mobile library bus that has books that seem to weirdly tell true stories about everyone she knows. Of course a boy is involved, but there is also an orphaned duckling, a gloriously astute librarian, a book quoting father and that best friend who really should know better. This is a story of memory, love and, ultimately, forgiveness. Billy

Bush: A Front Row View On Life

by Kingita

Ngahere (Bush) Te Pohe

In this memoir, co-written with Phil Gifford, Billy Bush focuses mainly on his rugby career and his insights into Maori rugby. It was never his goal to be a rugby player, let alone an All Black. He was more interested in swimming and fishing, and only started playing at 11 after being enticed by a Fanta and a pie as a reward. We learn about his family life in Whakatane, his various jobs and then his growth and ascendency in rugby. He fondly recalls his days playing club rugby for Belfast, his time with Canterbury and then, of course, the All Blacks and the Maori All Blacks. There are lots of anecdotes from international tours and Billy Bush is very upfront about his memories of playing in apartheid South Africa. He played with and was coached by some of the biggest names in NZ rugby and Tane Norton, Grizz Wyllie, Waka Nathan and Buck Shelford are just a few mentioned. But what shines through as the most important thing to Bush is his Maori heritage and his support of Maori rugby. If you’re a rugby fan, I think you’ll enjoy this totally honest account of Billy Bush’s rugby life and times.

RODNEY SEPTIC TANK

RODNEY TRELLIS

CARS WANTED

VEHICLES WANTED

Dead or Alive. Cash Paid. 0800 333 398

Expressions of interest for a community lease

PUBLIC NOTICES

PORT ALBERT CEMETERY

AGM

Wednesday 12th July, 7pm at Port Albert Hall. All Welcome.

Sec: S Treadwell

PORT ALBERT HALL

AGM

Monday 10th July, 7.30pm at Port Albert Hall. All Welcome.

Sec: S Treadwell

WARKWORTH & DISTRICT MUSEUM SOCIETY INC

SHED 4 SALE

3600 X 2400 size, 2 x 1200 x 2400 doors, Painted treated plywood, Iron & Skylite roof. Great workshop or storage. Built in kitset form. Sell for material cost $3,000 ono. Phone 022 646 5849

TOOLS & CABINET

Stihl FS 350 Brush Cutter with handles and harness $200, Husqvarna 122 L with blade $10, Mantis Cultivator $200, Wooden Cabinet with 4 drawers and drop down working surface, overall size H 1500mm x W 900mm x D 460mm $40

Phone 02 11 33 66 59

AGM

Will be held at 1pm on Sunday 23rd July at the Warkworth Museum. Tea and biscuits to follow.

SITUATIONS VACANT

DIVE INSTRUCTOR

New Zealand Diving is looking for a scuba diving instructor to join us for the coming summer season. In house training will take place over the winter months to familiarise yourself with our services. This is a great opportunity for working in the Hauraki Gulf teaching students to dive or guiding experienced divers. You will need to be prepared work long days and often teaching evenings and weekends. Minimum of 40 hours per week at $27/hr.

Fit, healthy and non-smoker. You will be required to have the following certifications: SSI OW

Instructor • SDI OW Instructor

• First Aid Instructor • Air Filler certification • Equipment servicing certification

Various instructor specialities including: Deep, Navigation, Wreck, Performance Buoyancy plus more. Minimum of 5 years’ experience working professionally in the dive industry. Driving licence required. Technical dive certifications would be an advantage. Would suit somebody within easy travel distance to our dive centre.

Please send your cv to dive@nzdiving.co.nz

land at Glenmore Dr Reserve, Warkworth

for

Auckland Council invites expressions of interest from community groups and organisations interested in applying for an agreement to lease for open space land at Glenmore Dr Reserve, Warkworth on which to develop a community facility. On completion of any development and issue of code compliance certificate a community lease would be issued.

The land available for development at Glenmore Dr Reserve is approximately 12,000m2 in area, it is legally described as Part Lot 1 Deposited Plan 77687 and is subject to the provisions of the Reserves Act 1977. The land is classified as a recreation reserve.

Groups applying must be:

• an incorporated society or a charitable trust and meet the criteria prescribed in the Auckland Council Community Occupancy Guidelines 2012

• financially stable (the group must be in a position to fund any development)

• able to identify positive community outcomes that will occur as a result of the proposed development and tenancy under a community lease

• on completion of any development, able to share the facility with other community groups.

Auckland Council reserves the right to seek proposals and applications from other parties in addition to those who respond to this invitation, and at its sole discretion to accept or reject any applications.

Any information provided to council will become subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and may be released by council under that Act unless a withholding ground under that Act applies. Any applicant should state in their application if the whole or any part of the application is to be kept confidential.

For more information, or to request an application form and a copy of the Community Occupancy Guidelines, please contact Karen Walby, Community Lease Specialist, Auckland Council, 021 242 9704 or by email: Karen.Walby@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Applications close on Friday 4 August 2023, 5pm.

Find out more: phone 09 301 0101 or visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

PUBLIC NOTICE

MAHURANGI COLLEGE CLOSING DATE for 2024 ENROLMENTS

The deadline for receipt of all in-zone and out-of-zone enrolments is Friday 22 September 2023. Applications can be submitted online via our school website www.mahurangi.school.nz/ enrolment or visit the school office for an enrolment pack.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Phone 425 8545

www.holyname.org.nz

Holy Mass Timetable:

WARKWORTH Holy Name Church, 6 Alnwick Street

Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm

Sunday: 10.30am

PUHOI

SS. Peter & Paul Church

Sunday: 8.30am

$

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

Sunday Services 9am & 10.35am

Simply Organized

Our school production, held over three evenings and four matinees, once again received rave reviews. Under the direction of Jonathan Dutton, a talented crew of students brought the Disney classic Freaky Friday to life. The leading roles were played by Isabel Free and Lily Ward, who created a wonderful mother/ daughter dynamic, and were ably supported by Tor Hadfield as ‘Fletcher’, Alex Craig as ‘Mike’ and Henry Mohr as the dreamboat love interest ‘Adam’! The lead actors were well supported by an ensemble of dancers, minor characters and bit-part players, including a scene stealing appearance from Mahurangi English teacher Mr Lazola Matshobongwana. Our thanks and congratulations to everyone involved.

The winter sports season is in full swing, with most teams achieving good results. Our Underwater Hockey teams had successful weekends at Regionals with both Senior and Junior Girls A teams going undefeated and coming home with gold, and both Senior and Junior Open teams winning bronze. All our senior players received nominations to trial for the Northern U18

teams, and all four teams will now compete at the National competition in September. Congratulations also to the team of nine swimmers who excelled at the swimming Nationals. Each one of them made a final, with personal best times, with four students qualifying for the prestigious NZ Short Course Championships in August. In general, the last two years have seen a huge increase in participation in sport at Mahurangi College, especially in Football (both girls and boys teams) and Basketball. Our thanks go to the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) who wanted to support and help us to nurture that exciting increase by funding $12,000 in new sports uniforms for various codes. This will make a big difference for our sports teams!

The senior ball was another successful evening, hosted this year at the Grand Millennium Hotel. Despite a few weather induced delays, including the closure of the Harbour Bridge, the ball was a huge success. Special thanks to our Head Prefects, Tobey, Grace, Charlotte and Cameron, and to Mrs Johnston for organising this very special evening. For more photos see our Facebook page.

Two students represented us with distinction at the recent Te Tai Tokerau Ngā Manu Kōrero competition. Marino Te Oneroa Wiapo (Ngāti Whātua, Rereahu, Te Uri-o-Hau) took part in the impromptu section, while Aliya Allen (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa) competed in the prepared speech. Congratulations to both students for representing us with such pride and passion, and to Matua Winiana and Mahurangi students who travelled in support.

Nationally, this week is ‘Support Staff Week’ so we have been taking the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our wonderful support staff. Visitors to the College frequently comment on how attractive our grounds and buildings are, a tribute to our wonderful team of passionate and hard-working ground staff. Our lovely office ladies provide high quality support as the interface between staff and the community, ably supported by our student

services team, technicians, librarians, cleaners, health team, financial team and others. Together they make everything flow so efficiently - thanks so much everyone! As the holidays begin, and the wet weather continues, now is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Encourage your teenagers to do so, enjoy some well-deserved relaxation, and we look forward to seeing everyone back next term, refreshed and raring to go.

- Tony Giles, Principal

MITRE 10 ACHIEVER OF THE MONTH

Deputy Head Girl

Academic Blue NCEA L1 & L2

NZ Womens Open UWH Team

Senior Girls UWH Team

Premier 1 Netball Team

Sport Blue 2022

Pictured with Charlie Humphries Operations Standards Manager

Charlotte O’Connor

Pool

Rodney Rams Pool Club, Rodney Rams Club Room, Leigh Road, Whangateau, last Sunday of every month, 2pm. $10 Pool Club membership fee, Thursday Club Night games $2, Sunday competition games free. Bar, food and EFTPOS available.

Craftwork

A macrame workshop will be held at the Mahurangi Community Centre, Hamatana Rd, Snells Beach, on Sunday July 9, from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. The class is suitable for beginners who will learn basic knots and take home their own wall hanging, all materials included. Cost $60.

Danceclasses

Dance Time Warkworth will run a school holiday programme for young wannabe dancers on Thursday July 6, from midday to 3pm, and on Thursday July 13, from 9am to midday. Learn cool dance moves and enjoy loads of games and activities. Check out Dance Time Warkworth on FB or email dancetimewarkworth@gamil.com

Rollerskating

Roller skate at the Wellsford Community Centre every Friday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Bring your own skates, all ages welcome. Gold coin entry.

WarkworthAikido(KyuShinDo)

Warkworth Aikido welcomes new members with an introductory offer of two free classes where you will be taken through some of the basic concepts of aikido, working with a senior member of the club. Classes are held at in the Methodist Hall on Church Hill Road, on Thursdays, starting at 7pm. Suitable for anyone aged 12 and over, both men and women. Info: https://www.aikido1.org.nz/contact-1

Matakanatennis

The Matakana Tennis Club, on Matakana Valley Road, plays social tennis on Wednesday evenings, starting at 6pm. All welcome.

Bernie beats own NZ record and aims for world again

Kaiwaka powerlifter Bernie Hall has smashed another record at his latest comp last month in Hamilton, when he beat his own national All Time NZ Masters 2 deadlift record with a lift of 276kg. The mega-lift was 8.5kg more than he managed in October, when he beat the NZ M2 U100kg record by successfully lifting 267.5kg at the Day of the Deadlift in Browns Bay.

Hall’s latest feat took place at the Metal Militia Oceania powerlifting competition, NZ Unleashed, at the Kiwi-Strength gym at Te Rapa in Hamilton on June 3. He said it took him three attempts to successfully lift 276kg, which until November last year would have been a world record for his age – 48 – and category.

Hall said while it was a bit disappointing to miss out on the world record he’s been chasing for some years, he was still determined to keep improving and chase that goal. He even made an attempt to lift 280kg straight after breaking the record in

Hamilton, but it was not to be at the time. “It was a bit too heavy on the day,” he said. “But I have two years left to try to top that and go for the world record.”

For now, he’s happy to have the all-time NZ record for his age and weight, and another goal under his belt.

Hall trains several days a week at the Kaiwaka Fitness Centre with a group of keen strength athletes and has adapted his technique in the past year, which he said was helping him to achieve heavier deadlifts more effectively.

“I changed my starting technique and am using a slower, but more proper method,” he said.

Deadlifts at this level require technical precision, not only to meet the requirements of the sport but to prevent powerlifters injuring themselves. They have to lift a barbell from the ground in a clean vertical line, until their knees and back are straight without jerking the bar, otherwise the lift does not count.

Hall’s latest record-breaking deadlift. Photo credit, Kiwi-Strength.

What’s on

3-5 Let’s Paint Our Native Birds community art project, Mahurangi East Community Centre, 10am-4pm.

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

8 Combined choirs concert, Orewa Arts & Entertainment Centre, Riverside Drive, Orewa, 2.30pm (see story p27)

8&9 Bream Bay Classic, Waipu Golf Club. Info: https://www.waipugolfclub.org.nz/ upcoming-events?ComeFromCat=2128

9 Planting morning, 70 Kokihi Lane, Snells Beach, 9.30am. Wear gumboots and bring a spade if possible. Hot soup served afterwards. Info: www.snellsconservation.org/what-s-on

9 Forest & Bird planting Shoesmith Reserve Warkworth, behind tennis courts, 10am-1pm Good footwear required

12 How to make risotto and other rice dishes with Mischelle, Snells Beach Baptist Church, 410 Mahurangi East Road, 1pm-3pm, cost $5. Info: admin@sbbchurch.nz or 027 279 7206 for a booking

13 Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon, Warkworth Town Hall, 10.30am. All welcome

14 Matariki Celebration, Whangateau Hall, 10am. Kids activities, Leigh School kapa haka, sausage sizzle, bucket raffle draw at 1pm. Fundraiser for hall chairs revamp.

14 Matariki Hāngī, Te Hana Te Ao Marama, SH1, Te Hana, 1pm until sold out. Hāngī meal and fry bread, eat in or take away, $15 per pack. Bookings and info: Phone 09 423 8701 (see ad p27)

15 Mahurangi Festival of Lights, along the Wharf and Baxter Street, 11am-9pm (see story p 26)

16 Kaukapakapa Village Market, Helensville A&P Showgrounds, 8.30am to 1pm

16 Takatu LandCare planting day, corner of Takatu and Whitmore roads, from 9am to midday. BBQ lunch included. Come along help restore an ecologically important site to its original state.

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

22 Workshop Series, Sculptureum; Macrame Essentials, 10.30am-12.30pm, suitable for 13-years and over.

23 Warkworth RSA planting day, Atiu Regional Park

28 Mahurangi College Open Day, 9.30am-11.30am. Parents and caregivers welcome.

28&29 Warkworth Embroiderers Guild ‘Eye of the Needle’ showcase, Rodney Masonic Lodge, Baxter Street. Info: Contact Jennifer Kirker on 425 6636, 021 214 8735 or jenbaskirker@gmail.com

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

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

2 Who killed Robert Calvi talk, Rodney Freemasons Lodge, 12 Baxter Street, 8pm. All welcome, registration encouraged as seating is limited: rodney.lodge@freemasons.org.nz

Bowlers plan celebration

Preparations marking Bowls Warkworth’s 100th centennial celebration, which will be held over Labour Weekend, are well underway and organisers are keen to involve past members.

An open fours bowls tournament, over two greens, will be held on Saturday October 21. Centennial organiser John Hurdley says that as Warkworth only has one operational green at present, the Omaha Club has kindly agreed to host one of the greens.

“Therefore, each club will run its own tournament with prize money of $1000 to be won at each tournament,” he says.

“Warkworth Oaks are our very generous sponsor for this weekend.”

Invitations will be sent to clubs that have supported previous Warkworth tournaments over the years and the entry fee will be $60 per team, which will include afternoon tea and a special centennial cake cutting ceremony.

A Centennial Dinner for current and past club members will be held on Sunday October 22, from 5.30pm.

The caterer will be Emmanuel`s Café, owned by the former head chef at the Plume Restaurant in Matakana, Daniel Atesh Emmanuel.

Tickets are $40 and are available from Mandy at sheep-n-show@xtra.co.nz or Jan at vic.jan621@gmail.com.

Mahurangi in a row makes it three

Teams from Mahu won six out of seven matches in the two-day multisport tournament for senior students, which takes place at each school in alternate years.

The most convincing wins came from the rugby XV, who thrashed the Hauraki Plains by 61 points to 12, and the 99-64 win for the basketball team. In netball, Mahu won by 28 goals to 17, while the boys and girls football teams won 6-0 and 3-1 respectively. The Mahu girls hockey team won 5-0, while in the boys match, Hauraki Plains took their only win, beating Mahu 4-0.

The exchange also includes a dance component, with each school creating a dance that is showcased at the exchange dinner and then a joint dance for both schools is also choreographed and performed.

Sports coordinator Adele Hall said it was

good to almost get a clean sweep and it had been a great exchange overall, with well over 250 students and staff taking part from both schools.

“It was the first time in a very long time that we’ve won three years in a row,” she said.

Ball thanked the Mahu sports department, parents, coaches, managers and host families for making the exchange such a success, and said everyone was already looking forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Hauraki Exchange next year.

Most valuable players – netball, Paige Brown; rugby, Tommy D’Urban-Burgees; basketball, Kaitati Robertson; hockey girls, Dakota Corringham; hockey boys, Volaki Meafou; football girls, Cleo Carmichael; football boys, James Elder; dance, Chailise Tolhopf.