Mahurangi Matters_Issue 459_17 July 2023

Bayside reopens as Montessori school

The former Bayside Bistro in Snells Beach was due to open its doors as a Montessori and outdoor education primary school on Monday, July 17, after being given the go ahead by the Ministry of Education and Auckland Council less than two weeks before the start of term.

Founder Joy Leigh and her team have been working flat out to move furniture, books and educational materials into the former café premises on the seafront at the bottom of Kokihi Lane.

Although unsure how many new students might show up on the first day, Leigh said last week her team of four was ready and looking forward to welcoming young learners and their families to the Nikāu School.

She was also looking forward to meeting local residents, some of whom had criticised the conversion from café to school.

“We totally empathise with people who are disappointed in it no longer being a cafe, all of us have enjoyed a coffee here,” she said.

“We are really sorry that this has upset a lot of people more than we expected it would. “We are a very friendly bunch and would love the Snells Beach community to be involved in enriching the learning

experience for the children.”

She urged anyone who still had concerns to contact the school directly and meet the team, rather than taking to social media,

where misinformation and ‘opinion pingpong’ was rife.

“A big part of the Montessori curriculum is teaching our children to show grace,

courtesy and respect when dealing with each other,” she added. “We would love to connect with the community and are more than happy to speak to people.”

Leigh has been planning to establish a primary school for three years. She said she and the Nikāu Education Trust had considered more than 20 different venues before approaching Bayside owners Jim and Deanna Dehlsen.

“We’ve known them for 13 years and they have had a keen interest in our dream right from the start,” Leigh said.

“The building has been empty for a while now and when we first went to visit, we just fell in love with it. How can you not?

It tugs at your heartstrings to imagine the possibility of offering this view and space as the environment for children to come

continued page 2

At the bar-area-turned-bookshelves, from left, outdoor leader Marguerite Vanderkolk, Montessori leader Jane Watson and school founder and acting head, Joy Leigh.

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Bayside reopens as Montessori school

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to and enjoy and learn in on a daily basis.” The new school’s capacity will be 25 students aged five to 11. In the longer term, Leigh would like to expand into larger premises and offer learning environments for zero to 18-year-olds, and to provide opportunities at independent retirement accommodation to encourage interaction between old and young.

Leigh said the school trust was grateful for the support and donations already received to get things going, and said they were keen to find ways to make Nikāu accessible to all.

“We understand the fees are a huge obstacle for many, especially in the current climate,” she said. “We would love to hear from anyone that has any creative ideas about how we can raise money to reduce the fees as soon as possible and provide scholarships.”

Once the school roll reaches 100, the trust can apply for state-integrated status, meaning some government funding would become available.

Leigh hopes the school at Snells Beach could start serving coffees again at some stage, perhaps with a food truck outside.

The building first opened as a restaurant in March 2019, but closed a year later just as covid started to hit. It was taken over in February 2021 by Susan and Desmond Vize, former owners of Warkworth’s Chocolate Brown, and stayed open until their business went into voluntary administration in December.

‘Devastating news’

Rapidly-spreading invasive seaweed makes unwelcome arrival near Kawau

Boaties in the Mahurangi region are being urged to be on the alert and take precautions after small patches of caulerpa, the fast-growing invasive seaweed whose discovery in waters further north has been alarming marine experts for two years, were found near Kawau Island

Biosecurity New Zealand readiness and response director John Walsh said on July 7 the agency would be meeting with Auckland Council and the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust within days to discuss the development and an urgent response.

“With their agreement, we plan to begin some control work as soon as possible, as well as further surveillance in the area.”

Walsh urged boaties and others to play their part in preventing the spread.

“We’re asking people to be vigilant by keeping boats and other aquatic equipment clean to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading any exotic seaweeds,” he said. “Check your gear, especially anchors and chains. If you see any seaweed on your equipment, chuck it straight back in the waters it came from.”

Biosecurity NZ says anyone who thinks they’ve seen caulerpa should note the location, take a photo, and report it to the pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966 or at report.mpi.govt.nz

overseas, caulerpa has matted the seafloor and reduced marine biodiversity by up to 50 per cent.

“It’s devastating news that caulerpa has been found off Kawau,” Rogers said. “The forum strongly supports Biosecurity NZ and Ngāti Manuhiri taking immediate action to stamp it out.

“Time is very much of the essence here: caulerpa is incredibly fast-growing and smothers the seafloor, suffocating our native marine life. It also impacts the shoreline.”

Rogers recalled that during Cyclone Gabrielle, an estimated 100 tonnes washed up on Blind Bay, at Aotea Great Barrier Island, “coating the beach”.

“Imagine that at Omaha. While efforts to eradicate it kick into high gear, our message to boaties and fishers is to please be careful off the north-west of Kawau to avoid any further spread. Fragments of caulerpa as little as 2mm can re-establish off a hook or an anchor at another location.”

“The forum has been consistent and clear on caulerpa for over a year now – this invasive pest is a serious threat to the gulf, and to our way of life, and must be eradicated.”

2-4 Morrison Drive, Warkworth www.farmandlifestyle.co.nz info@farmandlifestyle.co.nz

Small patches of the pest, 20 to 30 centimetres in size, were found by divers in the channel north-west of Kawau. The find was “disappointing but not unexpected, given the nature of the seaweed,” Walsh said. “Caulerpa can easily be spread to new locations as it’s commonly caught up as tiny pieces of seaweed on vessel anchors and fishing gear.”

According to Hauraki Gulf Forum executive director Alex Rogers, in locations

Caulerpa – the name comes from the ancient Greek and literally means ‘stem that creeps’ – was first found in New Zealand waters at Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2021. It has also appeared at Great Mercury Island and, earlier this year, in the Bay of Islands.

“Internationally, caulerpa has not been successfully eradicated from areas the size of the finds in New Zealand, and climate change and warming oceans also present a tough biosecurity challenge for everyone.” Walsh said.

The school is hoping to build a relationship with local residents, many of whom walk past the building every day.

Court ends inshore sand mining with new temporary consent

After decades of sand being taken from just off the beach at Pakiri and Mangawhai, the Environment Court has formally ended McCallum Brothers Ltd’s (MBL) right to dredge so close to the shoreline.

MBL’s inshore consent to mine 76,000 cubic metres of sand a year expired in 2020, but the company had continued to dredge there ever since, due to ‘rollover rights’ in the Resource Management Act that allowed it to carry on while appeals were before the courts.

However, on July 4, the Environment Court granted a temporary or interim consent for MBL to continue dredging in the offshore area, providing it abandoned its appeal to continue mining inshore, meaning an immediate end to inshore dredging.

This temporary shift of consent came about after more than a week of horsetrading between MBL, Auckland Council, Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust (Ngāti Manuhiri), Friends of Pakiri Beach, the Department of Conservation, and a number of environmental, community and local residents’ groups.

Judge Jeff Smith said the consent could only be granted with the agreement of all parties and for the duration of the remaining appeal before the court – that of MBL against a refusal of its application for a new offshore consent.

He acknowledged that the decision was

still a difficult one for many sand mining opponents, who wanted to see an end to all dredging in the Pakiri-Mangawhai embayment, but he thanked everyone involved for doing what was necessary for the environment

“It has to be said that, given that some of this temporary agreement is a bitter pill to swallow, we’ve kept focused on those key issues of potential impacts on the inshore areas and the tara iti (fairy tern) in particular,” he said.

“We don’t see this as giving way by any party, but simply recognising the overwhelming environmental preferences. I must say my natural cynicism has been mellowed somewhat by this; I’m not sure where that’s going to leave me.

“It does show that if the parties can focus on the big issues, they can reach agreement from very different positions.”

MBL had originally wanted to adjourn its inshore appeal, so it could continue using its rollover rights, and had withdrawn its midshore application as a goodwill gesture, but opposition parties objected strongly to any adjournment. This prompted the start of the negotiation process to stop inshore mining, while still allowing MBL to take sand from further offshore as the offshore appeal was being heard. While many parties were unhappy with the proposal, they eventually accepted that stopping the inshore dredging was the most important thing, and better than nothing.

Lawyer for Te Whanau o Pakiri Vicki

Morrison-Shaw said there were no good choices for her clients, who had endured 80 years of sand mining off their beach. “They’re picking the best of the worst choices,” she said. “They have worked with the other parties and while they’re not happy with the agreement, they recognise it’s as far as they can go.”

The main offshore appeal was due to get underway on Monday, July 17 before Judge Smith, Judge Aidan Warren, Commissioners Shona Myers and Kevin Prime and special advisor Russell Howie. Smith flagged to all parties that there was a huge amount of evidence about alleged breaches of consent and dredging outside the consent area that would need to be considered.

Quad bike crash victim back at Whangateau home with family

Six weeks after a quad bike crash that left her with a life-threatening head injury, Paula McLean is back at her Whangateau home to continue her recovery with husband John and twin daughters Jasmine and Delilah.

Paula had to be winched out by rescue helicopter after the family quad bike plunged 50 metres down a steep bank near the bottom of Ashton Road on May 28. They had been using the bike to negotiate a part of the road that was impassable by cars due to floods and slips.

Speaking last week, John said that while she still has a long road ahead of her, Paula was an amazing 100 days ahead of her predicted recovery schedule and making great progress.

“Physically, she is very capable, but because of her brain injury, there are balance issues, speech issues, tiredness – she’s still in active recovery and will be for a long time,” he said. “Because her brain is healing, it uses up so much energy, so there can be tiredness and confusion, but we’re in a really good place now.

“There’s a long road still ahead of us, but we’re getting there.”

The decision to bring Paula home from the brain injury rehabilitation unit at Ranui was made when she came back to Ashton

Road for the first time on July 8.

“Paula came home last weekend for a visit and we decided that her best place for recovery was here at home, because you could see the smile and the life coming back into her eyes,” John said.

“Ranui is an amazing place, but coming from a rural area, looking out at all those houses isn’t what she’s used to, and we made the decision to bring her home.”

Paula will still need significant occupational therapy over the coming weeks and months, though with therapists unable to visit while Ashton Road remains closed for repairs, John is having to add that to his burgeoning list of new skills.

“I’m still flabbergasted at being a full-time Dad and loving every minute of that,” he said.

He’s also getting to know a new member of the family – Trevor, a five-year-old tricolour heading dog.

John’s last much-loved dog and farm buddy, Bruce, sadly died from injuries sustained in the quad crash. However, the King Country Dog Trial Association heard about the accident and decided he needed a new canine companion. Members spread the word round local farms, found Trevor and gifted him to John.

“He’s my healing,” John said. “Trevor’s my

therapist, and he’s always right!”

John said the generous gift was just one example of an overwhelming tide of love, help and support that had been showered on him and his family since the accident on May 28.

Family, friends and the wider community have helped John and the girls in many ways since the accident, including contributing to a Givealittle page, a Meal Train service and a fuel fund at Gull Matakana. John said the support they had all received

had been “totally humbling”.

“I want to say a big thank you to the whole community and all the special people who have helped,” he said. “I’m humbled by this community. I’ve gone from being a very proud and arrogant person to being very humbled by what this community has done for me and my family.”

Auckland Transport said last week it was still working to repair slips on Ashton Road but, weather permitting, hoped to have it fully reopened by July 28.

Council clamps down on vehicles on beach

An historic vehicle access way on to Forestry Beach at Te Arai is being permanently closed.

Although illegal, the access has been much used by local surfers, fishermen and picnickers for decades.

Auckland Council is undertaking carpark maintenance in the area and plans to use sand removed from the carpark to block the access path.

Council’s northern principal ranger Jason Maguiness says the Te Arai Regional Park continues to be impacted by regular acts of vandalism on the beach access gate. This includes cutting of padlocks, destruction of the gate itself and removal of the post to provide unauthorised vehicle access

to the beach.

Vehicle use on the beach is prohibited under the Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 and the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013.

The access to Forestry Beach, via Western Boundary Road, will be temporarily closed to vehicles during the maintenance work, which will include removing blown sand from the car park areas and the removal of about 10 dead and dangerous trees. Planting will take place this winter to support re-establishment of the sand dune. Maguiness says there will be no changes to the current permitted public vehicle access to the car parks at the park. Public pedestrian access will continue.

With inshore dredging at an end and a midshore application dropped, McCallum Brothers’ remaining hope to keep taking sand rests with a single offshore appeal being heard over the coming weeks.

Road notices a ‘blunt instrument’, Warkworth meeting hears

Supporting Growth’s recent mass mail-out of Notices of Requirement for land for future roading infrastructure came under fire at the July meeting of the Warkworth Area Liaison Group.

Retired roading engineer Roger Williams said the notices showing what land would be needed to build the roads deemed necessary over the next few decades had been prepared and lodged without community consultation.

Some 300 properties had received the notices without any warning, which had upset a lot of people, and all for projects that could take 20 or 30 years to happen.

“The Notice of Requirement is a blunt instrument and has a high impact on the individual,” he said. “And its implementation and construction has a high impact on the community.”

Williams said the growth of Warkworth did require serious infrastructure upgrades and establishing an efficient roading network had to be a priority.

However, he was critical of the methods used by council to let affected people know about the plans while encouraging them not to ‘go public’ about them.

“There are 300 properties seriously affected by this – that’s a heck of a lot of people,” he said. “If you’ve got a line drawn across your title, it stops you selling that property and it implies you can’t develop it.”

Williams was also critical of the limited amount of time allowed for feedback and the fact that each of the eight different route notifications required individual submissions. However, he had studied and drawn up responses to each of them, including several new or realigned proposals that he felt would be cheaper, more efficient or work better for local traffic conditions, which he submitted this month on behalf of the liaison group.

These included moving a proposed transport hub and park and ride from next

to the motorway maintenance buildings opposite Te Honohono ki Tai Road to behind Pak’nSave, and straightening an upgrade to Woodcocks Road to make it connect directly with the future southern

motorway interchange.

Williams also proposed using a suspended deck for a proposed cycle/footpath along Matakana Road north of Melwood Drive, as it would be far less disruptive than the proposed

road-widening and hard-sealed track. Other suggestions sought to avoid the loss of residential, commercial and industrial land and properties, with what Williams said would be minimal adjustments.

Council urged for closer consultation on future growth

Auckland Council needs to work much more closely with the Warkworth community on its new Future Development Strategy if it stands a chance of succeeding for the town.

That was the view of the Warkworth Community Strategy Group, made up of One Mahurangi Business Association and Warkworth Area Liaison Group members, plus local engineers and planners, in its submission on the draft strategy this month.

One Mahurangi co-chair Dave Stott told July’s liaison group meeting that council’s rationale for putting the brakes on greenfield growth until infrastructure was in place was understandable.

However, the trouble was that many of the major projects council wanted to stall in Warkworth until 2035-45 were already in place, underway or the subject of private plan change applications.

“Developments in the north and south are proceeding anyway and are now completely out of kilter with council’s new timetable,” he said.

Stott added that developers were providing much of the infrastructure themselves and paying for facilities like wastewater lines. He said the way forward was for council planners and agencies to have meaningful engagement with the Warkworth community, so that the town ended up with the right balance of housing, infrastructure and job opportunities.

“We need an early release of land for commercial and industrial development, because the last thing we want is for everyone to have to drive to Auckland for work.”

And Stott warned that unless council, government and others began consulting more closely with the community,

Warkworth would suffer as it expanded. “The Ministry of Education did not talk to a single teacher in this area before buying land in Woodcocks Road next to the single lane bridge,” he said.

“We’re going to have total dysfunction and dislocation if we don’t look at ways we can raise these issues with council.”

In its formal submission, the Warkworth Community Strategy Group said it wanted the entire Warkworth district reviewed with more detailed investigation and planning “to produce a pattern of development that would provide the best outcomes for the community, in line with the overall objectives of the strategy”.

“Our current preference would be (that) council planners lead the development processes in close collaboration with the local community, developers, landowners and local professionals to create a rational strategy supported by detailed implementation plans,” the submission said.

The group also suggested:

• modifying the route of the Western Collector to enable the industrial zone to be fully developed and allow a hospital to be built

• freeing up industrial-zoned land in west Warkworth and next to Goatley Road

• completing the Western Collector Road

• constructing the Sandspit Link Road as a priority

• prioritising infrastructure to Warkworth North, including Paddisons Farm, and North West Warkworth (Stubbs Farm) to service developments already underway

• releasing land south west of Warkworth for development, including the construction of a Southern Interchange to the new motorway

• releasing land north east of Warkworth, to enable upgrades for Matakana and Sandspit Roads

Leigh zebra crossing anger

Leigh residents are fuming that Auckland Transport (AT) has ignored local feedback over plans to install a raised zebra crossing on Hauraki Road outside the general store. More than 70 people responded when AT asked for views on the proposal in May, with the majority saying the crossing should be closer to Leigh School and level with the road surface, instead of incorporating a 100mm hump.

However, in an email on June 30, AT said it would be carrying on with its original plans.

“After reviewing all of the feedback we received, this project will proceed without changes to the next stage of detailed planning,” the email said.

AT maintained that placing the crossing nearer the school would be dangerous, as then it would be on the brow of a hill, making it difficult for approaching motorists to see. To those who said placing the crossing at the four-way intersection between Hauraki Road and Cumberland Street was also dangerous, AT said it would make the crossroads safer by slowing traffic down.

Suggestions that a crossing be placed at each school entrance, in Hauraki Road and Seatoun Avenue, were also dismissed by AT.

“Currently, we are not looking at installing a second crossing or move (sic) the proposed one away from both the school and businesses.”

AT’s response prompted a wave of anger from Leigh residents, many of whom accused them of arrogance and only seeking public feedback as a box-ticking exercise. Tony Enderby said the crossing, which would also result in the loss of parking

spaces outside Leigh General Store, would be a waste of money, sited 80 metres down from the main school entrance.

“People will park over it to get to the shop, or just cross the road nearer the school,” he said. “People will do what they will here. It’s not an urban environment.

“It’s just a complete and utter waste of money. We only ever wanted a crossing for the school kids.”

Bill Foster has written to Rodney Local Board, which is funding the crossing from its transport targeted rate, urging it to reconsider.

“The local board should tell AT that unless they start listening to the local community, they will withdraw funding,” he said.

“If AT wants to force its policies and ideology on us, they can pay for it themselves out of our normal rates.”

He said Leigh would be better off with no crossing at all than what was being proposed.

“We’d much rather they put money into something the community wants, like filling in potholes.”

Rodney Local Board member Geoff Upson was also unhappy. A long-time campaigner for road safety, maintenance and what he sees as unnecessary speed limit reductions, he said the 100mm height of the crossing was higher than the standard 75mm used, and would be dangerous for many vehicles and those towing boats to Leigh Wharf.

Upson, together with other local board members including Michelle Carmichael and Ivan Wagstaff, was hoping to have the matter raised at the next monthly meeting, which will be held on Wednesday July 19 at 3 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth, at 10am.

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Bacon soup

25g butter

2 green shallots, thinly sliced, pale and dark sections kept separate 800gm Broccoli and or cauliflower, cut into florets

750ml (3 cups) Chicken Liquid Stock 250ml (1 cup) thickened cream, plus extra, to drizzle 180g bacon, thinly sliced Extra virgin olive oil, to

Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Add the shallot slices. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until softened. Add the Broccoli and Cauliflower and stir to coat. Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Stir

Meanwhile,

in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until crisp. Remove from heat.

Use a stick blender to blend the soup in the pan until smooth. Bring soup to a simmer over high heat. Season with salt and white pepper. Divide the soup among serving bowls. Drizzle over the extra cream and olive oil. Season and serve sprinkled with bacon, parmesan and dark shallot slices.

Serve with crunchy cheesy garlic bread.

Baby Flannelette sheet from $29.99

The design will take out three parking spaces and include a 100mm hump.

From left, Sandra and Colin Ashby, Marie Fitt and Margaret Stoddard dressed up for the day. Photo, Colin Anderson

Undeterred by wet weather and plenty of potholes, nearly 40 classic vehicles took to local roads on July 1 for the annual Wellsford Warkworth Vintage Car Club Winter Woollies Wander.

Departing from Warkworth, the rally had to take a last minute detour due to the Dome being closed, so headed out west to SH16 and up to Port Albert, before meandering through the back roads to Tapora Hall, where soup, rolls,

sandwiches and souvenirs were provided as a fundraiser for Tapora School. The drivers then returned to Warkworth via Wellsford, Whangaripo and Matakana for a Saturday night dinner and a barbecue on Sunday. Tapora School principal Keryl Lee said the lunch raised more than $1200, which will go towards providing an extra teacher for the school. She thanked Penny Hinchelwood, parents, staff and Tapora community members for organising the lunch.

Hana Aickin has nominated the three women who until very recently were the public face of Auckland Council in Warkworth, for a Sweet Appreciation award. She writes ...

I’d like to nominate Judith Downer, Joy Jackson and Jane Pashley – the lovely customer service staff at the Warkworth Service Centre. Their roles have been disestablished and I would like to acknowledge the great service they have given to the Warkworth community over the years (decades!). They have been a great source of knowledge for customers and have taken every request in their stride. Thank you Judith, Joy and Jane!

” “

Cafe,

422 2677 6

Unsealed roads took their toll on cars, drivers and passengers. Photo, Michelle Carmichael

Vintage vehicles brave the mud

Viewpoint

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

Open to view

Kia ora and happy Matariki everyone. In keeping with the current lights and stars theme, it’s appropriate to share that very soon we will be shedding more light on how we make our decisions. At the June business meeting, I was very proud to propose a change to our processes and be part of the Rodney Local Board team who supported a six month trial to open our workshops to the public.

Being open and transparent with our decision-making is incredibly important, particularly at a time when many are wary of governance decisions made behind closed doors. So, from July 21, you will be able to observe our workshops, apart from any sensitive items which may need to be confidential. This is common in any governance role; even School Board of Trustees at times have closed committee items when necessary.

A key role for the local board is to represent community views, and I am hopeful that open workshops will make this part of our role more robust. I have seen in my fellow board members that we are each trying our best to make decisions in the best interests of the communities we serve. We, of course, have differing views on things, and that is fine, so do our community members. Robust discussion and questioning is a key part in nutting out any decision. This usually happens during our workshops, which are for information gathering purposes, where staff provide us with advice and reports and are available for our questions. With these no longer

confidential, we will be also able to discuss these items with the public, further informing our decisions.

Another way you can inform our decisionmaking is through our local board objectives. On top of business as usual, the last few months have been incredibly hectic with budgets, consultations, local board plans, work programmes and extra communications caused by weather events. So, we understand how hard it is to add something to your ‘to do’ list. However, this consultation is very important for setting our future direction as a local board. Our threeyear local board plan has been prepared strongly bearing in mind the feedback you have already given. This is your opportunity to review that draft plan and provide further feedback before it is finalised.

Feedback is open now and closes on August 14. You can read our draft local board plan and fill in an online form at the website akhaveyoursay.nz. You can also give feedback to local board members at the following events: Wednesday, July 26, 4-6pm at the Kumeū meeting room, Kumeū Library and Council Services, 296 Main Road, Huapai or Wednesday, August 9, 4-6pm at the Rodney Local Board Office, 3 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth. You can have up to 10 minutes to present, and board members may ask questions for clarification. If you wish, you can support a presentation with a PowerPoint or written information. To book your slot, please email rodneylocalboard@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz

AT business plan questioned

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

An Auckland Transport (AT) board member has raised concerns over a plan by AT to give preferential treatment to Māori businesses.

At a board meeting last month, a draft Statement of Intent was presented, which sets a procurement spend of two per cent with Māori-owned businesses over the next three financial years.

Board member Abbie Reynolds commended the move to increase procurement to Māori businesses.

Market matters

buy and sell in winter?

Selling a house in winter may not be the conventional choice for many homeowners, but it can offer several unique benefits that make it a smart option.

Motivated buyers are often more prevalent in the winter. Those actively searching for a home during this season do so for many reasons; they don’t want to rent anymore, financially things have improved and they can afford to move up the ladder, they may be changing areas or jobs or they might be extending the family and need a larger home. As a result, you often encounter more committed and decisive buyers, leading to smoother negotiations and a shorter time on the market.

The winter setting can create a cosy and inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. With the right staging, your house can exude warmth and charm, making it easier for buyers to envision themselves living there. Be generous with the heating, have the fire or heat pump on, pull open all the curtains to let the light pour in. Fresh flowers or lush green plants throughout your home add warmth and help your home smell fresh and inviting.

“Māori are not receiving the same transport outcomes as others – we need to show some leadership on what Māori transport outcomes look like,” Reynolds said. However, liaison councillor Mike Lee said the move went “a little bit far in a multicultural city”. He said AT was right to respect tangata whenua, but the “market has rules and everyone should be equal players”. Staff said this was a policy direction set by Auckland Council for AT, but Lee questioned when that had been decided.

“I do not recall councillors or the mayor discussing that,” Lee said.

AT’s final Statement of Intent must be submitted by the end of this month.

Success in selling during this season relies on proper preparation, pricing, and marketing, so it's essential to collaborate with a knowledgeable real estate agent to navigate the winter market successfully. We'd love a chance to help with your next move.

As we get closer to spring and summer, the number of properties on the market always increases. The length of time to sell can too, with more choice for buyers.

Opposition leader Luxon fills town hall

National Party leader Christopher Luxon encapsulated his party’s priorities for the October election under three headings when he spoke at the Warkworth Town Hall this morning –economy, law and order, and health and education.

Addressing a packed house, Luxon said NZ had all the fundamentals in place and there was no excuse why the country could not do well over the years to come. Predictably, he criticised the government over its handling of the economy, which he said had seen debt soar from $5 billion in 2019 to $73 billion this year, and was expected to rise to $95 billion over the next two years.

“This means that interest on the debt will be the fourth biggest spending item after welfare, health and education,” he said. “Spending is up 80% but have you seen a corresponding 80% increase in infrastructure, education, health and crime prevention? The answer is ‘no’.”

Luxon said also criticised the government for what he described as its agenda of centralisation and control with the associated increase in bureaucracy, and its identity politics, pitting one group of New Zealanders against another. If elected in October, he said National’s first priority would be to fix the economy, reduce the cost of living and get the economy moving and growing again. This would be done with less government spending and more money in taxpayers’ pockets.

There was quiet cheering and clapping in the audience when Luxon said the second priority was to restore law and order, and personal responsibility.

“People feel scared, and they don’t feel safe in their own

homes and communities. Labour has gone soft on crime with its only goal being to reduce the prison population by 30 per cent. Having just visited a prison this week, I think we would all want a 30% reduction in the prison population, if we had a 30 per cent reduction in crime. But the reality is the opposite.”

Luxon said National would go hard on gangs and take a different approach to youth crime.

“Gang patches in public places will be banned, and we will give the police special powers to break up planned criminal activity and deal with intimidating behaviour, give them warrant and search powers so they can go after illegal guns which is driving a lot of the violent crime, and make sure there is an aggerating sentence for gang membership.”

Serious young offenders would spend a year at a military academy and face stronger sentences. He said judges would be limited in the discounts they could apply at sentencing. The “third bucket” was health and education. Luzon promised better investment, and a stronger emphasis on literacy and numeracy including mandatory study periods on these subjects every day.

Questions from the floor ranged from the influence international bodies such as the United Nations had on NZ domestic policy to the need for a complete review of Auckland Council. Oddly, Luxon was also asked to define a woman, to which he responded, “An adult human female.”

Luxon was in town at the invitation of Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk.

NZ will go to the polls on October 14.

Wellsford Library marks 10th anniversary

It takes more than bad weather and worse traffic to put the people of Wellsford off and Saturday, July 1 was no exception, when more than 500 people flocked to the town’s Memorial Library to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Despite SH1 through the Dome being closed, and continued wild winds and squally showers, the library was busy all morning as birthday celebrations and a range of entertainment took place.

Events got underway with a formal welcoming ceremony, with kaumatua Joseph Kapea of Te Uri O Hau and Richard Nahi representing Auckland Council as kaikōrero, followed by a number of different speakers and musicians, including the Assorted Biscuits choir.

One of the highlights came from local kaumatua Herby Skipper, of Te Uri o Hau and Ngāti Manuhiri, who gave a talk on the new statues at the Pukerito roundabout, at the northern end of Ara Tūhono, the new Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway. He shared the story of two princesses, Reipae and Reitū, who followed a hawk, Te Hau Atawhiowhio, on their journey from Waikato to Whāngarei, resting in Tohitohi O Te Rei, or the Dome Valley, on the way. There were also games and puzzles for children, food, stalls and refreshments.

Library manager Jamie Robertson said the celebrations had gone off with a real bang, with the building full of people all morning

“It was great day for the community I think, especially after all the struggles and hardships this year,” he said. “They came out in force.”

He said it was a real privilege to welcome Richard Nahi back, as he had been present for the library’s inaugural blessing when it opened in 2013, and he expressed his thanks to the community and Wellsford library staff, especially Gene Nicolson and Elizabeth Dowling, who oversaw organisation of the celebrations.

Senior library assistant Gene Nicolson welcomed everyone to the celebrations, including Auckland Council kaikōrero Richard Nahi, right.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon was generous with his time after the meeting, answering a myriad of questions ranging from when the new motorway north of Warkworth would be built [he said National was committed to the project] to what he would do for small to medium business owners.

OneMahurangi

Murray Chapman, Manager https://onemahurangi.co.nz

The business bounce

I think everyone in Warkworth has now seen first-hand the impacts of the new motorway, both good and bad; two sides of the coin.

The good, of course, is that there are not as many vehicles on our roads and locals feel that, to some extent, we have our town back. We are no longer held hostage in our homes over the weekends while traffic backs up. This was evident on the first Friday of the July school holidays, when traffic flowed through the traffic lights with relative ease.

The new motorway has also made the trip south easier, safer and slightly quicker. Another bonus is Hill Street being very quiet and easier to get through. One of the concerns that One Mahurangi has is that with Hill Street having less traffic, will Auckland Transport decide that it doesn’t need to be fixed?

We would prefer that work continues on Hill Street with both design and build because in the near future, when some of the big developments are finished in the area, we will need a Hill Street that works for those increased traffic volumes. Now the other side of the coin: the hard part of the new motorway opening is the obvious dip in business from less traffic in the area. Being truly off the main highway now, some businesses in the Grange have seen a significant decrease in foot traffic and, consequently, a significant drop in business. While not unexpected, this reality

is still challenging to overcome.

One Mahurangi is committed to looking for solutions and ways to redirect customers back into the area. I have been working for some time on requesting from Waka Kotahi an additional exit sign that identifies Puhoi as the last turnoff to Warkworth south. This would indicate that Warkworth south is easily accessible via the Discovery Coast Highway and invite travellers along the scenic route back to Warkworth through the old southern entrance again. I will keep you posted as to what progress we make in this request to Waka Kotahi.

The decline in both traffic and business will, I believe, level out and will then climb back as development continues to grow. However, the question remains, how do we support local businesses in the meantime? Going forward, we need to market Warkworth as a destination, a place worth visiting and spending time and money in.

We are working on new signage for both ends of town that will tell people Warkworth is a great place to visit with cafes, shops, take-aways, accommodation and we will be working on a plan to get that message out beyond our borders.

One Mahurangi will be doing all that we can, so let’s work together and bring those visitors back to our beautiful town. Meanwhile, let’s all show the Grange and the rest of our local businesses some love and support them, because in that way business will bounce back.

Greg

Rodney COUNCILLOR

Environment

Christine Rose christine.rose25@gmail.com

Peach Cove and the kākā

While it seems that many New Zealanders are heading to tropical beaches or a summery Europe this winter, I decided to walk in the wet Te Whara forest.

When you come over the Brynderwyn Hills and lay your eyes on the emerald greens of Waipu, the golden curve of Ruakaka and the blue of Bream Bay, Te Whara/Bream Head is an anchor stone at the top of the view. The andesite plug rock form, the silhouette of Manaia, completes the prettiest picture, a rough and rugged profile with a demanding and marvellous track along its ridge.

The road to Whangarei Heads hugs the coast; as we approached, the water was still, the port quiet. Signs reminded us we were in kiwi country. We got to the track and headed into the rain that worsened as soon as we started climbing. But it’s only 1.5 hours of steep up and down through big old trees and weather is part of the fun.

Peach Cove hut sleeps eight, but that night it slept just us three. It’s a little black hut with a bright yellow door and was cosy as could be – like a gingerbread cottage. Peach Cove itself, further down the track, glowed with phosphorescence. The rain, mist and sea were one. We came for the kiwi, but the kākā stole the show. Wheeling through the forest, they chortled, whistled and squawked all night and day. It was a long night, dark by 5pm, buried in the trees, but those kiwi and kākā made it worthwhile. The Te Whara/Bream Head Conservation

Trust works with others to expand the predator-free zone working back from Whangarei Heads. They protect existing species like the kiwi, oi – grey petrel –and kākā, and reintroduce new species, like whiteheads – the little mohoua that can sometimes be seen flitting in flocks through this, Northland’s largest and highest quality coastal broadleaf forest. Old timers report that back in the 1970s, the sound of kākā and korimako – bellbirds – were deafening in Te Whara reserve. But as rats and stoats spread, kākā numbers declined. Kākā roost in tree cavities, so they’re sitting targets for climbing predators. But the Te Whara Trust shows, with other ecological restoration efforts, that biodiversity loss isn’t a one-way street; as forests were, they might be again. Kākā are an indicator species. Raucous kākā are a cause for celebration. Indeed, in the old pine trees up the hill from my house, it sometimes sounds like they’re having a party. When I see them fly overhead, I want to dance. Northland is a narrow isthmus to a bird like the kākā, and across the island’s flyways there are many reported sightings, including sometimes injuries or deaths from car and window strike. In Wellington, their successful recovery has impacts on local trees and people’s roofs. The kākā in my valley forage on a neighbour’s home-grown mandarins. They’re welcome to come and dine on mine.

Join the seal squad to help curious kekeno

It’s seal haul-out season, the time of year when fur seals – kekeno – tend to venture further afield and appear in unusual places, well inland from their coastal breeding colonies.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is looking for volunteers this winter to monitor and respond to callouts of apparently stranded or distressed seals in unexpected places.

DOC marine science advisor Laura Boren says kekeno are keen explorers and populations are increasing.

“Kekeno are exploratory by nature and exhibit some strange behaviours when hauled-up on land,” she says.

“People may feel concerned seeing young pups alone, or seals regurgitating, sneezing, coughing or crying – but this is all part of their normal behaviour.”

DOC is looking for volunteers to join its Seal Observation Squad, to respond to callouts from concerned members of the public between Mahurangi and Te Arai, from now until spring.

Volunteers will record and report on seal behaviour to DOC, and help manage public interest and concerns at a site where a seal is spotted. They are not expected to handle or relocate seals, just take pictures, put up signs, keep a log of seal activity in their area and provide DOC’s seal

management information to the public. Full training will be given to volunteers, but good communication skills, a NZ driver’s licence and the ability to respond to a callout at short notice are essential.

Seals are often spotted at Mangawhai, Maungaturoto and, on occasion, inland.

DOC says no one should be surprised to see kekeno these days, even a long way from the beach – in 2021, a seal spent several days in Hobbiton, in the Waikato, more than 90 km from the nearest shoreline. To find out more about volunteering for the Seal Observation Squad, visit www. doc.govt.nz/get-involved/volunteer/inyour-region/auckland/seal-observationsquad-volunteers/

Seals often venture inland at this time of the year.

Firefighter in winning form

For the second year in a row, Wellsford volunteer firefighter Trent Jones has proved to be a champion behind the wheel of a fire appliance.

Jones won the Emergency Response Driver Competition held in Ruakākā earlier this month, ahead of Kohukohu fire chief Neil Matheson. He will now compete in the Auckland provisional competition in Rotorua next month and the national finals in Fielding.

The Ruakākā competition attracted a field of 26 participants, from Wellsford to Kaitaia. Altogether, five firefighters from Wellsford competed and Wellsford finished third in the teams category, which was won by Ruakākā. Using operational vehicles, the competitors were tested in a range of challenges from reversing and parallel parking to corning, judging distances and speed control.

Jones, who is the senior station officer in Wellsford, has been in the fire service for 21 years. He has been competing at different levels of the competition since 2007 and

Trent Jones (left) brought home the trophy for the second year in a row. won the national title in 2012.

He says he enjoys driving and during the week, works as a truck and trailer driver for Wharehine Contractors.

He says the competition is about speed control and driving safely at speed. Commenting on his win, he said his years in the competition had taught him where to avoid penalties.

Public alert over invasive vine

Auckland Council is urging the public to be on the lookout for an invasive vine that can smother and strangle native vegetation and has been found in Omaha and Tāwharanui.

The fast-growing bat-wing passion flower (passiflora apetala), native to Central America, was introduced here as an ornamental variety, but was later designated as an invasive species.

The Ministry for Primary Industries describes it as “a shade-tolerant vine that has distinctive bat wing shaped leaves that may have a pale green strip along the midrib. It has small yellow or light green flowers and produces prolific berries the size of small grapes, which are highly attractive to birds, thus dispersing the seeds widely in their droppings.

“Bat-wing passion flower is very invasive, with the ability to smother, shade and strangle the vegetation it grows on.”

According to council pest plant advisor

Warkworth students study streams

Visitors to Warkworth during the school holidays may have noticed colourful handmade posters on display in a number of local businesses, all encouraging people to look after the Kowhai Stream and keep it clean. The environmental artworks were all the handiwork of Warkworth School’s Year 2 students, who recently completed a term-long project on freshwater ecology run by specialist education group Whitebait Connection.

Lydia Starr, the weed first found in 2017 “keeps cropping up” at Tāwharanui in particular.

“We don’t want it moving and smothering other vegetation,” she said. “The faster we can locate and manage this pest plant, the more likely we can prevent it from spreading to offshore islands and establishing in parks and private land.”

Starr said council was managing the weed with the hope of containing it and eventually eradicating it. Bat-wing passion flower is listed in the National Pest Plant Accord and its sale, propagation or distribution is banned under the Biosecurity Act.

Anyone coming across the plant is encouraged to report it to: pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

The group’s north Auckland programme coordinator, Sarah Dimitrijevic, said the children had loved the interactive lessons and field trips to Kowhai Park, where they had a close-up look at eels, took a habitat walk, found freshwater insects and tested water samples for clarity.

“They’ve had a fantastic programme,” she said. “The whole focus was on freshwater and what we can do to look after it. As well as the posters, they made other art displays and dioramas.”

Warkworth School Year 2 leader Krystal

Inglis said the programme had been amazing for the children and a valuable addition to the curriculum.

“The children embraced the project and remained actively engaged throughout the entire term,” she said.

Colourful posters have been displayed in Warkworth shops and businesses.

“Every activity incorporated a handson element – they explored freshwater ecosystems and gained valuable insights into the quality of water at Kowhai Park. We completed the learning by creating posters as part of our ‘Community Action’, with the aim of conveying a vital message about preserving our local freshwater environment.” Inglis said the programme provided a high quality and comprehensive environmental experience and it was something she would be keen to repeat.

“Sarah and her team exhibited exceptional skill in delivering the programme, supporting teachers, and ensuring that each student had a rich and valuable experience,” she said.

Students visited Kowhai Park to take a closer look at the stream and its inhabitants.

Think 70 is the new 50.

Just because your hair might be grey, doesn’t mean your life needs to be.

Today’s 70-year olds are the healthiest, strongest, and most mentally agile history has ever known. So Summerset Retirement Villages are designed for the active lifestyles of the youngest “oldies” there’s ever been. Join us at our upcoming Open Day at Summerset Falls and take a look for yourself.

Love the life you choose

Open Day

Thursday 27 July, 10am - 2pm

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

2019-2023

AgedCare & RetirementVillages & RetirementVillages

Kaipara Flats rail bridge bears brunt during Dome Valley closure

During the weather-induced closures of State Highway 1 between Warkworth and Wellsford late last month, several truck drivers in search of alternative routes collided with a low railway overpass in Kaipara Flats.

According to longstanding Kaipara Flats resident Sam Ryburn, at least four trucks hit the bridge near his home over three nights, in one case two of them within 30 minutes of each other.

During the Dome Valley closure, Waka Kotahi’s official detour for northbound traffic using the new SH1 was for them to turn right at the Pukerito roundabout, proceed southward along the Old SH1 then right onto Woodcocks Road, West Coast Road, and finally onto SH16. (Alternatively, motorists were urged to use SH16 between Auckland and Wellsford from the outset.)

However, some northbound drivers turned left at the Pukerito roundabout, then left onto Kaipara Flats Road, in search of an alternative route to SH16. Some of this traffic then turned left onto Carran Road, cutting back to Woodcocks Road and joining the official detour. Others, however, stayed on Kaipara Flats Road,

then onto Tauhoa Rd, eventually meeting up with SH16 in Tauhoa. It was at the railway overpass at Kaipara Flats village that the trucks collided with the bridge. Even for those that navigated the bridge safely, Ryburn said, “they ended up on Tauhoa Road which, at best, could be described as a goat track”.

“Google on the other hand, has other ideas on where it sends traffic.”

According to Google Maps, the distance from the Pukerito roundabout to Wellsford via the official Waka Kotahi detour is 60km; the distance from the roundabout to Wellsford via Kaipara Flats village and Tauhoa Road, by contrast, is just 36km.

“The official detour was mentioned in all of our traffic bulletins, social media posts and communications,” a Waka Kotahi spokesperson said in response to queries. “It was also highlighted in our communications that online map providers may recommend the shortest route; however this may not be suitable for all vehicle types.

“Online map providers don’t necessarily take into consideration the suitability of the road itself,” the spokesperson said.

“Shorter routes can often be narrower, have low bridges, take longer to drive and, in some cases, it maybe an unsealed road. Because of this, the detour may not be suitable for all types of vehicles.”

When it became evident that “some motorists were not following the posted detours and deciding to use shorter routes”, Waka Kotahi said that additional signage was deployed, especially in Warkworth, “to reinforce the official detours”.

“Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport worked closely to further mitigate high vehicles from using Kaipara Flats Road. This included enhanced warning signage at the rail over-bridge to highlight the height restriction to unfamiliar road users and signage to return them to the official detour. We also worked closely with the freight group associations to promote the use of detours and the risks of unfamiliar roads.”

Recalling the night when two trucks hit the bridge in quick succession, Ryburn said that shortly after the first collision he had been driving towards Warkworth and passed another oncoming truck that appeared unlikely to fit under the bridge.

“I frantically tried to call one of the neighbours that lives near the bridge to try and stop the truck, and while I was on the phone I heard the crunch noise as it ploughed into the bridge. Immediately after this, I drove to the end of Kaipara Flats Road to talk to the team that was diverting traffic, and they were pretty quick to muster another truck, and position them at the end of Carran Road.”

Ryburn suggested that, in future such cases, northbound trucks should not be allowed to get onto Kaipara Flats Road at all. If SH1 was closed at the roundabout, they would be compelled to go back to Woodcocks Road.

“The rail over-bridge at Kaipara Flats suffered some damage to its walkways as the result of a vehicle striking it, but this has since been repaired,” Kiwirail executive general manager, operations Paul Ashton said.

The North Auckland Line itself has been closed for months, following extensive damage including a massive slip near Tahekeroa caused by the flooding events in late January and February. Ashton said it would likely remain closed until at least the end of this year.

The aftermath of a truck colliding with the railway bridge at Kaipara Flats. Photos, Fiona Rouse

Councillors wary as Gull prepares to swoop into Mangawhai

The prospect of a potentially noisy, busy unstaffed 24-hour petrol station on Mangawhai’s main thoroughfare prompted significant discussion at a recent Kaipara District Council meeting, with some elected members voicing concerns about the proposal.

Gull’s application for resource consent (RC), lodged last spring, was not on the table at the June 28 meeting. Rather, the agenda included a narrow request that the council grant easement of right of way to improve access to the corner site, opposite the Mangawhai Museum on Molesworth Drive.

Still, the broader proposal for a petrol station – and the fact that the access being sought would have an impact on the new shared pedestrian and cycle pathway – had some councillors wary.

Gull, meanwhile, says the company looks forward to being able to discuss the issues raised with councillors at future monthly meetings.

“We understand that people do have concerns regarding service station activities and they will be addressed in terms of assessment of effects,” Gull retail development manager Karl Mischewski told Mahurangi Matters last week.

“The key reason we’re looking at Mangawhai is because of the significant growth that’s predicted to occur over time and a lack of competition in terms of what you’re currently paying for fuel,” he said. “We welcome the opportunity to bring

much-needed competition to the residents of Mangawhai as it continues to grow.”

At the council meeting, Councillor Mike Howard wondered why Gull was seeking “this relatively small element” – the right of way easement – rather than combining everything into its RC application.

For the sake of “transparency”, he said, “I’d rather we were able to deal with the whole picture upfront, and then we know all the elements that we’re dealing with”.

Councillor Pera Paniora expressed concern that if the council was to green-light the easement, it might be perceived as agreeing in principle to the service station going ahead.

“We may have a lot of unhappy ratepayers that actually do kick up a stink and don’t want it to occur,” she told the meeting.

Council staff explained that Gull was seeking the right of way easement now because if the resource consent was granted but the easement – which falls under the Reserves Act, not the Resource Management Act – was not, then the company would be left with a RC they could not implement.

Gull’s application for resource consent for the petrol station was currently “on hold” as the council sought further information regarding noise and traffic impact, they said.

Under the Reserves Act, public notification is not required if the council is satisfied that

the grant of the proposed easement will not result in the reserve being materially altered or damaged, and the right of the public will not be permanently affected.

Council staff recommended that the elected members agree to waive notification and grant easement of right of way in favour of Gull.

Councillor Gordon Lambeth pushed back, arguing that the shared pathway would be “materially” damaged as a result of traffic crossing it to access the petrol station. He listed other factors that troubled him, such as the site’s proximity to the museum and nearby residential area, and the view that non-staffed service stations could pose “a danger”.

Data submitted to council by the Northland Transportation Alliance included an assessment that the proposed six-pump petrol station would account for 900 vehicle movements a day, including 90 at weekday peak hour.

Meanwhile, traffic generated by an envisaged retail, office and light industrial complex next door – a separate project that is seeking its own RC – was estimated at a further 950 vehicle movements a day, including 130 at weekday peak hour.

Councillor Howard said there were questions about the capacity of Molesworth Drive and “whether we can handle” the volume of additional traffic.

Council senior asset manager Andy Brown

said the issue of future capacity would be discussed during a briefing on the LongTerm Plan, scheduled for July 19.

Brown noted that the Mangawhai Spatial Plan projects that the current population of 4500 residents – almost double that number at peak holiday periods – could climb to around 17,000 by 2043.

The discussion ended with council voting to allow the easement application to lie on the table until its next monthly meeting on July 26.

Gull’s Mischewski last week responded to some of the points raised by councillors. Regarding increased traffic, he said the reality was there would be increased traffic on Molesworth as the population developed.

As for safety concerns, he said, “these service stations today are completely different from those historical ones. Our sites have double-skinned fibreglass tanks” – not steel tanks, as is often the case with older petrol stations.

“We’re more than happy to speak to councillors about how our service stations operate. It’s no different from the ones we have at Wellsford and Kaiwaka.”

Mischewski said that access across the pedestrian and cycle path “can be managed safely, just like any other vehicle crossing for any other commercial development. Vehicle crossings across footpaths are an integral part of development”.

landmark up for auction Historic Warkworth

One of Warkworth’s oldest churches and most prominent landmarks is on the market after nearly 150 years.

Mahurangi Presbyterian Church was built in 1876 at the top of Bertram Street, where it now occupies a 3000 square metre site across two titles that also border Pulham Road and Church Hill.

The historic church, with its distinctive red roof and spire, together with the Wilson Memorial Hall, Church House, a commercial kitchen and a range of sheds and outbuildings, is being sold as the church and its community trust have outgrown the old site and are moving to a brand new building in September.

The massive new Mahurangi Hope Centre is next to the Mahurangi River on land between Woodcocks Road and Mansel Drive, behind the Warehouse and Noel Leeming stores. The 3000 square metre church and community centre will include a 450-seat auditorium, a full-size international basketball court, a large function centre, a café, commercial kitchen, chapel, foodbank facility and playground downstairs, as well as a conference centre and numerous offices and workspaces upstairs.

Senior pastor Nick McLennan says the church and Mahu Vision Community Trust have many community-facing ministries that need extra space, including the Warkworth Foodbank, youth programmes, social workers and a support service for migrant families.

“We have so many activities in the church during the week now – we have 15 or 16 people working for us at the moment – so having space to fit everything in will be great,” he

said. “We can let out whatever we want, or whatever we don’t need.”

And while he admitted it might be a bit of a wrench for some of the 250-strong congregation to leave the old church and see it sold, after long years of planning and building Mahurangi Hope, the time seemed right to move on.

“There’s a real sense of everybody being ready to get going now,” he said.

McLennan said it would be nice to see the church site bought and used for continued community use, such as an art gallery or function space, but there was no way of knowing what might happen when it went to auction on August 10.

Selling agent Bayleys Warkworth said it was a high profile site that offered a diverse range of opportunities to prospective purchasers, from continued use as a church or community facility to housing development, which could see the loss of the historic church itself.

“The property includes a Category B Heritage Overlay, allowing discretionary removal or alteration of the church improvements,” Bayleys said.

Until last year, the church site was zoned single house residential, but under the new medium density residential standards, up to three houses of up to three storeys could be permitted per title.

The Presbyterian church site, formally listed as 1 and 5 Pulham Road, will go to auction at Bayleys’ offices in Queen Street at 10am on Thursday, August 10, unless sold prior.

1854

First congregational gathering, held in a Warkworth shed

1856

First full-time minister appointed, Rev. Robert McKinney

1863

1876

Current Presbyterian church built on the corner of Bertram Street and Pulham Road New church and community centre built off Woodcocks Road

2023

The Presbyterian Church was built in 1876 and now faces an uncertain future, as the current congregation and community trust prepare to move on.

Historical snapshot of Mahurangi Presbyterians

First church built where the McKinney Road cemetery is now (a building which is now the Anglican Church hall)

Economic slump causes drop in consents

Driving around the district, it’s clear that significant development is taking place, especially in and around Warkworth. However, according to new data from Stats NZ, the number of new homes being consented has dropped over the past year, both nationally and in Rodney and Kaipara.

Across New Zealand as a whole, the number of new dwelling consents in the year ending May was 45,159, down from 51,015 for the previous year, a drop of 11.5 per cent.

Per 1000 people, the number of new dwelling consents for the same period was 8.8 per 1000 residents, compared with 10 in the year ended May 2022.

Stats NZ construction and property statistics manager Michael Heslop noted that the figure of 51,015 new homes consented in the year ending May 2022 had been a record, and numbers were now at a similar level to the same period in 2021. The biggest number of new dwellings ever consented per 1000 residents countrywide was 13.4, way back in 1973.

The Stats NZ figures relate to consents for all types of new homes – houses, apartments, retirement village units, townhouses, flats and units.

Auckland and Rodney

Auckland was among the regions with the highest number of new homes consented in the year to the end of May, with 19,539 consents issued, though this was down 9.9 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Closer to home, the number of new dwellings consented in Rodney over the same period was 1192, compared with 1512 in the year to the end of May 2022 and 1203 in 2021. (That in itself was a huge leap from the 874, 845 and 833 homes consented in the year to the end of May in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.)

Digging down deeper still, the figures show sharp drops on a month-by-month basis –in May this year, 49 new home consents

Kaipara District

New dwelling consents in the Kaipara district for the year ending May 2023 dropped to their lowest level in at least six years – to just 148 dwelling consents, compared to 254 for the same period the previous year. That’s a decrease of 41.7 per cent.

Although the number of dwelling consents has dropped across the country – the New Zealand average was minus 11.5 percent –Kaipara’s drop was the fifth biggest in the country. The only districts recording larger decreases were the Chatham Islands -66.7 per cent, Porirua -62.8 per cent, Waitomo -46.2 per cent and Matamata-Piako district -42.9 per cent.

Over the last six years, the numbers of new dwelling consents in Kaipara for the year ending May have been 148 in 2023, 254 in 2022, 229 in 2021, 163 in 2020, 192 in 2019 and 231 in 2018.

For the number of new dwellings consented

were issued, compared with 107 in May last year, and in April there were 39, as opposed to 112 in April 2022.

Auckland Council’s general manager for building consents, Ian McCormick, said the falls were largely down to economic factors, with many developers and builders opting to reduce their work programmes more than a year ago while they waited for a better economic environment in which to sell houses.

However, he said many developers council had spoken with expected things to start to pick up again by the fourth quarter of the current financial year and construction levels remained high.

“We continue to experience record levels of

demand for building inspections, reflecting the current high levels of construction activity,” he said.

“We expect demand for inspections to decline by the end of the calendar year, as work in the construction phase starts to reflect the decline in consents being lodged over the past 12 months.”

McCormick added that although there had been a decline in new consents, council’s building consent processing work volumes remained high.

“This is because many of the consents currently being processed were initially lodged during earlier periods, but put on hold while the council sought additional information from the applicants,” he said.

per 1000 residents, Kaipara’s figure for the year ending May is, tied with 2013, the district’s lowest in the last 20 years – 5.4 new consents for every 1000 residents. The highest number of new dwelling consents per 1000 residents in Kaipara over the past 20 years was 12, in 2017.

Figures provided by the Kaipara District Council for the first six months of the 2023 calendar year show that the overall number of building consents – consents for work covering a range of projects, including additions and alterations to existing buildings – is also down since the same period a year earlier.

January to June this year saw 317 building consents issued, compared to 395 for January to June 2022.

A KDC spokesperson said that the number of building consent applications (including new dwellings) received by council has also been lower than in previous years.

In the fiscal year 2022-2023, Kaipara received 657 building consent applications, compared to 834 in FY2021-2022 and 839 in FY2020-2021. In the three years before that, 671 building consent applications were lodged in FY2019-2020, 770 in FY2018-2019 and 730 in FY2017-2018.

“It is fair to say we have experienced two years of unprecedented high numbers (FYs2020-2022), with the numbers in building consent applications consisting more of building alterations, as opposed to new builds, which could be a result of decisions made during and around Covid-19 – people improving their properties,” the spokesperson said.

“We have received a number of building consent withdrawals over the past six months as a result of applicants choosing not to proceed due to increased building costs and/or lack of building materials.”

Historic lodge given new

lease of life

A grand old lady of Warkworth accommodation has been brought out of retirement and given a new lease of life, thanks to new owners Ali and Kent Dalziell.

Willow Lodge in Woodcocks Road started life in 1940 as a humble farm cottage, but over the years was developed and extended into a large country house and landscaped gardens that became a popular bed and breakfast and wedding venue.

Its gentrification process was started by lawyer Vernon Dyson, one of the founders of Warkworth firm Dyson Smythe & Gladwell, who brought in a European architect to add an extra floor and line many of its rooms with mahogany wood panelling.

In its 1990s heyday, when Willow Lodge was owned by John and Paddy Evans, TV celebrities and politicians regularly stayed there, including former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, and the property was featured in home and garden magazines. Although it continued to welcome guests for many years after that, in recent times Willow Lodge became a private home and, since covid, has been largely unoccupied. When it came on the market late last year, Ali and Kent had been living in Warkworth for a couple of years and were ready to snap up their perfect property.

They sealed the deal against all odds, in the middle of Cyclone Gabrielle when power and phone coverage was out, and began extensive renovation work straight away. “The day we went unconditional, remedial work started and we moved in four weeks later,” Ali said.

The purchase has been something of a homecoming for Ali. Although brought up in Auckland, the rest of her family – which includes seven siblings and 21 cousins – are locals through and through. Her grandma, Beatrice Titford, was born in the Puhoi

Pub, which was owned by the family at the time, and she has close relatives throughout the Warkworth and Matakana area.

“I remember this place as a little girl,” she said. “It’s really nostalgic for me; my aunty and uncle’s farm is just 1km down the road. We’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to buy here and it’s so nice to be back.”

Their aim with Willow Lodge is to keep the best of the old while bringing facilities sympathetically up to date. As an example, there are brand new bathrooms throughout and much of the wood panelling has been painted white, while Mr Dyson’s office, desk and chair have been kept in their original vintage state.

Outside in the extensive gardens, overgrown beds and paths have been opened up and cleared, while established trees and many of the traditional roses and shrubs remain.

The Dalziells have revitalised the property in a matter of months, and it recently

reopened to guests, with the lodge sleeping up to eight people, or 14 if the main house is rented as well.

Ali has a collection of cuttings, correspondence and design plans from previous owners of Willow Lodge, and she is keen to find out more about its history from anyone who remembers visiting or working there in the past. She has already hosted senior Warkworth resident Colin Copestake and former owner Paddy Evans, and hopes to hold an open day this coming spring or summer.

If anyone has memories of Willow Lodge to share, Ali can be contacted on 021 491122 or via www.willowlodge.co.nz

The grounds include lawns, walks and even a fairy garden.

Kent, Ali and daughter Stassi with souvenirs and garden plans from the past. Ali plans to collate a history of Willow Lodge and wants to hear from anyone with memories of the place.

Willow Lodge has been modernised while making the most of traditional features.

Mangawhai Heads plan

change application given “vet check”

Kaipara District Council has accepted an application for a private plan change to rezone almost 60 hectares of rural land north-west of Mangawhai Heads, for residential development.

Council district planner Paul Waanders told last month’s monthly meeting in Mangawhai that the 56.9 hectare site, east of Cove Road and north of Mangawhai Heads Road, would account for around 380 sections, with an average lot size of 600 square metres.

The plan change is being sought by landowners The Rise Limited (TRL). It said in its application that it “envisages that the proposed plan change will provide viable and sustainable residential development which integrates with surrounding residential uses and provides residential capacity and growth opportunities

within Mangawhai”.

Mayor Craig Jepson declared a conflict of interest and stood aside for consideration of the agenda item. The mayor, a Mangawhai businessman for the past two decades, was listed as an inactive director of TRL from November 2018 until October 25, 2022 (shortly after his election), and as a shareholder from November 2018 until January 31 this year.

Councillor Mark Vincent likened the council accepting the plan change application to a vet examining a horse before a race to see if it’s fit to run.

He stressed that the council was not being asked to “adopt” the plan change – which, in keeping with his allegory, would amount to the council putting money on the horse.

“All we’re doing is the vet check,” Vincent said. “I have no particular opinion about

the merits of this application other than that we observe the process correctly at this point.”

The council accepted the plan change request, instructing the chief executive to publicly notify the change, and for a public consultation process to begin on July 25 and run until August 23.

Councillor Ash Nayyar voted against the motion, after expressing the view that the process was overly hasty. He also said he was concerned about the Mayor’s conflict of interest, although he did not elaborate. Invited to do so after the meeting, Nayyar voiced broad concerns about decisions impacting infrastructure.

“As a new councillor and a ratepayer, I am carrying the burden of bad decisions on infrastructure issues in the past and do not want any repeats,” he said, citing

as an example the contentious Mangawhai wastewater scheme.

“The Kaipara council has not much room left for developments unless we can promise the infrastructure to cope with it,” he said. “This decision worries me more as the mayor is an experienced developer and is currently in the process of rezoning from rural to residential 60 odd hectares in a development not far away from Mangawhai Central. In this he has clearly got a conflict of interest in a development, which seems to be happening at rocket speed.” Jepson told the paper after the meeting that he has no current involvement in the company.

“I am a beneficiary in a trust which owns shares in TRL,” he said. “Consequently, I remove myself from any decision-making that relates to TRL.”

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The District Plan map for the site for the prospective development, outlined in red. Light green areas are rural, areas in yellow are zoned for residential use.

600 more homes proposed

Kaipara District Council has heard a preliminary presentation from prospective developers of a 27-hectare block of land on the south-eastern side of the Mangawhai estuary, on the corner of Black Swamp Road and Raymond Bull Road.

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Cabra Developments general manager Duncan Unsworth said the company hoped ultimately to subdivide the land for medium and low intensity residential, and some commercial and retail development, possibly in conjunction with a piece of separately-owned adjacent land, of around 30 hectares.

“We see it as an opportunity to grow Mangawhai on the other side of the estuary, with a couple of reasonably-sized pieces of land,” Unsworth told the council. “What we don’t want to see happen is adhoc development around Mangawhai. So we see this as a good opportunity to plan for the future.”

“We want to work with council to achieve good outcomes in terms of infrastructure, some amenities, cycleways [and] walkways.”

Asked about the higher-density residential proposals, Unsworth said what was envisaged were sites of around 500plus square metres – “not apartments or anything like that”. The likely number of homes across the two sites would be around 600.

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Councillor Rachael Williams asked about roading infrastructure, and the potential effect of an extra 600 homes on traffic, especially given congestion entering Mangawhai along Insley Street in peak season and holiday time.

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Mangawhai is one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

LINDA OTTER FRANCHISE OWNER

Unsworth said the land in question was strategically located, with the potential for taking some of the pressure off Mangawhai, as well as allowing for more estuary and coastal access from the south.

“We don’t want people to be scared by seeing this big 60-hectare or whatever it is piece of land out here and it’s all going to be developed today,” he said, adding that the envisaged project would run over 10 or 15 years. “It’s not something that’s just suddenly going to be hundreds of houses that pop up.

Warkworth planner Burnette O’Connor, who was also involved in the presentation, said that any rezoning, whether through a private plan change application or via a submission through the District Plan process, would need to be “supported by an integrated traffic assessment that looks at the wider area – how everything’s functioning, from [the] State Highway, where traffic flows go, what the impact of this are on the local and wider roading network. We’d need to work out exactly what upgrades would be required.”

O’Connor was also asked about the site’s moisture levels.

QUINOVIC WARKWORTH

“We’ve had ecologists walking all over,” she said. “There’s nothing on the site that classifies as a natural inland wetland. There were no particular ecological features that are of significance.”

Shop 1, 20 Neville Street Warkworth

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Enquire about renting your property and you will be eligible for 12 months free inspections.

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Whether you are just starting out, or an experienced investor, Quinovic’s proven Care and Return systems can give you the edge to make renting your property a real success.

Whether you’re an experienced investor, or if you’re just starting out, Quinovic’s proven Care and Return systems can give you the edge to make it a real

Leave it to the experts, leave it with us.

Leave it to the experts, leave it with us.

Whether you’re an experienced investor, or if you’re just starting out, Quinovic’s proven Care and Return systems can give you the edge to make it a real success.

LINDA OTTER FRANCHISE OWNER

Linda Otter FRANCHISE OWNER

QUINOVIC WARKWORTH Shop 1, 20 Neville Street, Warkworth. PO Box 330, Warkworth 0941

Leave it to the experts, leave it with us.

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LINDA OTTER

QUINOVIC WARKWORTH

FRANCHISE OWNER

Shop 1, 20 Neville Street Warkworth

330 Warkworth 0941

Waiwera Spa Apartments

Pure paradise in Puhoi on market after 30 years

A 116 hectare piece of paradise is for sale in rural Puhoi, featuring native flora and fauna, freshwater streams, and three potential building sites, with options for a home with of breathtaking views, or perhaps nestling in the heart of a tree-lined valley.

There’s little sign of human presence on the property known as Komokoriki, bar tracks, gravel roads and an old solar-powered scout cabin boasting a classic potbelly stove and a couple of bunk beds.

Despite the remote feel, the extensive block of land is located just 13 kilometres from Silverdale, and about 46 km from the Auckland CBD.

“It offers the future owners a rare opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds – whether that is city work and rural play, a completely off-grid lifestyle or a retreat style development,” Barfoot & Thompson agent Kathy Walker said.

It is the first time in 30 years that the property has been on the market.

The block’s flora and fauna includes established kauri and pūriri trees, and tūī, pīwakawaka (fantail) and kererū (New Zealand pigeon).

“There is always some member of the local wildlife ready to greet you, and

it’s something the vendors have really cherished over their years here.”

Those vendors (who’ve asked not to be named) recalled their first encounter with the property, on a sunny June day in 1990:

“We sat on the grassy slope and just stared in amazement over the vista of all the bush, that seemed to sparkle back to us. We could not believe just how fortunate we were to have become the custodians of such a beautiful corner of New Zealand.

“When we finally stopped pinching ourselves and laughing in joy, we started exploring.  As we walked we were obviously stirring up insects and the fantails flitted around our legs darting in for their feast, and obviously pleased for us to be there,” they said. “What a welcome.”

Over the years the owners have relished the spectacular views, the majestic kauri, and the freshwater streams laden with eels, kōura (crayfish) and banded kōkopu (a member of the whitebait family).

“We had a member of the Department of Conservation do a study on the life in the stream, where they found the kōura and banded kōkopu not only present, but in such numbers and size. Prior to this [DOC] were beginning to believe they had disappeared from north of Auckland.”

Native birdlife is abundant, too.

“DOC told us of the department’s work in rescuing the black robin [karure] from extinction,” the owners said. “They had successfully built up the numbers of the black robin on Tiritiri Matangi Island, and were in the process of establishing them on the mainland at Wenderholm. These smart little birds swiftly chose to relocate from there, to our property.”

The owners said they have frequently heard – but not seen – kiwi, during their mating period which runs from June. Wrapped up at dusk and perched on that same grassy slope of their first visit, they would watch and wait.

“Just as it is getting almost too dark, we think perhaps they are not there, we are getting cold and almost ready to call it a night, then we hear the distinctive kiwi call,” they said.

“We have never been disappointed, right up until last year.”

Walker said the property was “the sort of place the likes of David Attenborough or Bear Grylls wouldn’t be out of place” in.

“And now there is a rare opportunity for someone new to call it their own and steward it into the future.”

“We say this property is ‘without compare’ not only because of its natural beauty and

unique ecology, but it’s scale and proximity to the city. When we began to look at comparable properties and sales – put simply there were simply none quite like this one.

“There are so many options here for individuals looking for a private escape or a family destination,” she said, suggesting the likes of camping, filming, and environmental education or tourism.

“Equally, this is an unmatched chance for organisations who are looking for the perfect place to retreat and immerse their members or clients in nature.”

The vendors see the sale as an opportunity to hand over the guardianship of a precious treasure.

“This magical land we pass to new custodians knowing they too will fall in love with its surprises and charm,” they said. “It has been a huge chunk of our life we are parting with, but we know it is time for others to be the lucky ones to have this land delight and thrill them.”

Komokoriki is listed for sale by tender, closing at 2pm on July 20.

Info: https://www.barfoot.co.nz/property/ residential/rodney-district/puhoi/ section/848624

The only structure on the property is a scout cabin.

The near-pristine property in rural Puhoi. Photos, Barfoot & Thompson, Coatesville.

Cuisine

Lauraine Jacobs www.laurainejacobs.co.nz/blog/

Soup time

Who doesn’t love a tasty soup? One of life’s true comforts, especially at this time of the year, it may be one of the easiest dishes to perk up tired or cold, hungry people.

It is also a nourishing inexpensive way to feed a crowd. Seasonal, market-fresh vegetables can be cooked up quickly, and by judicious buying you can certainly beat the cost of those tempting but pricey pouches of soup that fill supermarket refrigerated shelves right now. Root vegetables – potato, carrot, parsnip and kumara – at are their best in winter, as they’re hearty and filling, and can be peeled and chopped, thrown in a saucepan with water to simmer away until they’re mushy enough to mash.

Those who make their own chicken stock from leftover chicken bones will take their soups to a higher level of flavour. A good vegetable stock made with all leftover veggies lurking in the fridge will satisfy vegetarians and all of us who are keen on avoiding any waste food. Just chuck all those end pieces and tired looking greens and root veggies in a large pot, adding herbs, a chopped onion and a bay leaf, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so it is just bubbling and leave for an hour or two, before straining into little pottles. It’s a great investment of your time and can be refrigerated or frozen until it’s needed.

Soup can range from chunky and chewy, made with addition of a ham hock or meatbones for extra flavour, to silky smooth, and puréed

to a sophisticated texture. One of the handiest kitchen tools is the stick blender. In no time, your soup can be whizzed up smoothly and there’s no need to try to have all the vegetables chopped into neat, even dice. And there’s nowhere near the chore of cleaning that is presented with a food processor!

My mother’s homemade tomato soup was always one of my favourite meals when I was young. She usually made us toasted cheese sandwiches as an accompaniment, and often sent us to school with our own thermos of tomato soup on chilly days. I have adapted her simple recipe to make use of canned tomatoes, which may be the most singularly useful cheap item on supermarket shelves. I have also jazzed it up with even more flavour: a red pepper, orange zest and juice, and a touch of simple spice, ground coriander. Ground coriander (not the fresh herb) has a slightly warm orange aroma and is perfect with tomatoes.

Cooking Tips:

An essential in cooking tomatoes is a pinch of sugar. I have no idea just why it reacts to bring more flavour to cooked tomatoes, but without sugar, the tomato flavour fades a little. As I try to explain to my grandkids, flavour is all about balance, and almost all food needs acid balanced with salt and sugar.

It’s nice to garnish your soup with any of the following: a little dollop of cream, some sour cream, a slick of olive oil, freshly ground black pepper or fresh herbs.

Tomato, Red Pepper and Orange Soup

1 onion

2 red peppers

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tsp ground coriander

1 orange, zest finely grated (juice reserved)

2 cans chopped tomatoes (in tomato juice)

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

A dash of red pepper sauce (Tabasco or Kaitaia Fire)

Pinch of sugar

1 tsp salt

To finish: black pepper, cream or sour cream and a few basil leaves or other fresh herbs

Chop the onion coarsely and de-seed the peppers and chop coarsely. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the onion and peppers. Cook gently until soft, then add the coriander and orange rind and cook for a further minute. Add the tomatoes, stock, pepper sauce, salt and sugar, and bring to a simmer. Keep over very low heat, stirring occasionally and allow the soup to simmer for about 30 minutes until the flavours are well blended.

Remove the pan from the heat and blend the soup with a stick blender until it is smooth. Stir in the orange juice and season the soup to taste with more salt if needed. This can be prepared ahead and refrigerated.

To serve, reheat until piping hot, and add a spoonful of whipped cream to each bowl with a little basil or chopped parsley.

Serving idea: Accompany with toasted cheese sandwiches or hot buttery toast. Serves 6.

Taste of Brick Bay

TICKETS

• Members $25

• Non-Members $35

• Tertiary Students $10

Purchase Tickets Online at www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

BEN WILCOCK QUARTET

Jazz Ensemble

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

Jazz maestros in Warkworth

Jazz fans are in for a treat this month when Wellington-based ensemble the Ben Wilcock Quartet plays Warkworth Town Hall as part of a national tour, on Saturday, July 29.

Renowned pianist Ben Wilcock will be joined by Tristan Carter on violin, Daniel Yeabsley on double bass and awardwinning drummer John Rae keeping the beat on percussion.

The playlist will be made up of improvised arrangements and contemporary takes on jazz standards, such as 1940s show tune Star Eyes and Dizzy Gillespie’s Groovin’ High, along with original pieces from Wilcock’s latest album, The River Tethys.

The album, which Melbourne radio station PBSFM hailed as “bold and stylistically varied”, takes its name and inspiration from a series of science fiction

novels, The Hyperion Cantos, where the River Tethys is an interplanetary waterway that flows between worlds. Wilcock has written a diverse spectrum of different pieces inspired by these various worlds, with much of the music improvised as it was recorded.

London Jazz News said he was an engaging pianist and composer, with his playing bringing Thelonious Monk to mind, “particularly in the faster bop tracks”.

As an ensemble, the Ben Wilcock Quartet is said to deliver dynamic vocal and melodic clarity and music that ebbs and flows, from up-tempo standards to melodic ballads.

The concert is being staged as part of Warkworth Music’s annual series and it runs from 4pm to 6pm. Tickets cost $35, or $25 for members, and are available on the door or from www.trybooking.com/nz/ events/landing/8190

T R A I N T H E G H O S T

Ben Wilcock will play jazz standards as well as material from his recent album, The River Tethys.

Bespoke quilt gifted to Hospice

Leading novelist at local library

Literary lovers are in for a major treat this month, when renowned New Zealand writer Dame Fiona Kidman will be in Snells Beach for an author’s talk.

An Intimate Evening with Dame Fiona Kidman is being held at Mahurangi East Library on Wednesday, July 26 as part of the library’s Winter Words season.

Interviewed by former BBC journalist Juliet Robieson, Dame Fiona will discuss her lengthy and prolific literary life, which has ranged from working as a librarian and freelance journalist to writing numerous novels, short stories, scripts, plays, poems and non-fiction.

She has also won many major book awards, presided over NZ’s leading literary organisations and established several national events to celebrate and encourage writing, including Women’s Book Week, Writers in Schools and Words on Wheels. Although she has lived in Wellington for more than 50 years, Dame Fiona was born and brought up in Northland and lived for several years on a farm in Waipu. Her

writing is described as exploring feminist self-discovery and social validation, often featuring rebellious women who resist being trapped by traditional social values. Her novels include This Mortal Boy, All the Way to Summer, The Captive Wife and The Book of Secrets.

Mahurangi East library manager Fleur Coleman says the evening follows on from the success of a previous literary talk run by the library in 2021, with writer Paula Morris, plus a bit of good old-fashioned networking – Dame Fiona has a cousin who lives locally, who was able to help ‘oil the wheels’.

The talk, which was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Friends of Mahurangi East Library, runs from 6.45pm to 9.30pm and will include drinks and refreshments. Tickets cost $10, or $8 for students (R13) from www.eventfinda. co.nz/2023/an-intimate-evening-withdame-fiona-kidman/auckland/snellsbeach/tickets

A bespoke quilt hand-stitched with love, meaning and symbolism was presented by Warkworth Quilters Guild to Warkworth Wellsford Hospice in a special ceremony at Tui House on Wednesday, July 5.

Rather than being purely decorative or made for patients’ use, as many quilts donated to Hospice are, this particular quilt is being used by the education and learning team as a tangible and symbolic example of what integrated palliative care provides for patients and families.

The design features a tui at its centre – for Tui House – surrounded by the hands of its seven makers, plus branches of vines, oak leaves, kowhai and pohutukawa flowers, with birds in each corner – tui, kereru, ruru and Warkworth’s famous ducks crossing.

The quilt’s edges are embroidered with the four key tenets of what Hospice provides: Taha Hinengaro – mental and emotional wellbeing; Taha Tinana – physical wellbeing; Taha Whanau – family and social wellbeing; Taha Wairua – spiritual wellbeing.

More than a dozen quilters guild members, Hospice staff and volunteers attended the presentation, including kaiāwhina Māori Barb O’Loughlin, who blessed the quilt with a karakia.

With everyone present holding a part of the quilt, Hospice education and learning

team leader Claire Turnham said the quilt would be used to teach staff and volunteers about the holistic nature of palliative care.

“It’s a physical representation of what hospice is all about. We all come together, holding each other, imagining our patients and putting them in the centre of all these points with the quilt wrapped around them,” she said.

“It’s all part of the integrated care we provide – it’s about us all holding and focusing and keeping the patients and their families at the centre of all we do. It gives another dimension to the information we can provide.”

She acknowledged the hard work that had gone into the piece by Warkworth Quilters and said everyone was very grateful for such an “amazing and very precious” gift. The quilt was presented by Warkworth Quilters member Jenny Howlett, who is no stranger to the Tui House team – she has been volunteering for Hospice herself for more than 25 years.

She said that while the quilt itself, together with a quilted carry-bag, took a while to produce, it had been a pleasure making something so meaningful for Tui House. As well as Howlett, the quilt was stitched by Joan Willis, Jean Gardner, Jan Blamey, Christine Thompson, Pat Vaissiere and Margaret Clayton.

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The Warkworth guild’s stunning stitchwork was gratefully received by Hospice.

Dame Fiona Kidman will discuss her long literary life.

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

Going with the grain

I am often surprised that carbohydrates still have a bad reputation and low-carb diets are still popular. The reason I am surprised is because carbohydrates can be eaten as part of a healthy diet. Unfortunately, as is often the case with nutrition, it isn’t a simple ‘this is good and this is bad’ for your health.

Yes, some carbohydrates have more nutrients than others, but that doesn’t mean that you need to cut all carbs from your diet. It is more beneficial for our health to choose whole grains over highly processed carbohydrates on a regular basis. However, having the odd bit of baking made with refined white flour it isn’t going to cause irreparable damage to your health. So let’s talk about why you need whole grains in your life.

Well, first off – they are tasty. They tend to have more flavour than refined grains, simply because there is more to them. Think about the difference between brown and white rice – brown rice has a nutty flavour and a chewier texture. Though white rice is great if you have a tasty sauce that needs soaking up and you simply want to savour the sauce flavours.

Then, of course, there are all the nutrients that are found in whole grains. Whole grain kernels are made up of three parts: Bran – the fibre-rich outer layer that contains B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals (natural plant chemicals that promote good health).

Germ – the core, which is where a new plant grows from if you plant it;

it contains healthy fats, vitamin E, B vitamins and phytochemicals.

Endosperm – the main part of the grain, made up mostly of starchy carbohydrate with a little bit of protein, and some vitamins and minerals.

Whole grain foods contain all three layers, while refined grains have had the bran and germ removed during processing, so have a lot less nutrients.

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for our body and brain, and there are two main types:

Complex carbohydrates are nutrient dense and are slow to digest and turn into energy, so provide a slow and steady supply of energy. Found in whole grain breads, brown rice, pasta, vegetables and legumes. We are recommended to eat several servings daily.

Simple carbohydrates don’t have many nutrients beyond the carbohydrate. They are easily digested and the energy used quickly. They are found mostly in sweet tasty treats. It is recommended that we only eat these occasionally and in small quantities, but that doesn’t mean excluding them completely.

There is no scientific evidence that recommends cutting out all carbohydrates from your diet. There is no single food that has the power to improve or ruin our health – it is our overall diet. So as long as you are choosing mostly whole grains, then the odd piece of cake or biscuits with your cuppa will likely cause little more than a smile of contentment.

Hair today, gone tomorrow … Izzy before and after losing her locks, with stylist Amber Shirley in the background.

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Hair raising fundraising venture

Three years of having lovely long hair came to an abrupt end for Isabel Wagstaff during the school holidays, but it was all in a good cause.

Thirteen-year-old Izzy, a Year 8 student at Horizon School, decided to grow and donate her 40cm-long locks to Freedom Wigs, a Dunedin company that makes replacement hair pieces for those who have lost their own hair to alopecia, cancer treatment and other conditions.

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At the same time, she’s been raising funds for the Starship Foundation to help children in hospital with cancer and other illnesses, and has raised nearly $700 so far. Izzy says she was inspired to grow and donate her hair three years ago, when one of

the girls who starred in a series she enjoyed watching was diagnosed with cancer. The big snip was performed by stylist Amber Shirley at Smith Hairdressing in Leigh, who put Izzy’s hair into four ponytails before cutting them off and presenting them to Izzy and her Mum, Amy, for dispatch to Dunedin.

Business owner Shanelle Smith says her team has cut hair for wigs several times before and that similar contributions are always welcomed by Freedom, as it can take between 15 and 25 ponytails to make just one wig.

Anyone who would like to support Izzy’s fundraising efforts for Starship can make a donation at: https://givealittle.co.nz/ fundraiser/cutting-my-hair-for-starship

Wellsford Saleyards 1909

Rainbow rendezvous for students

It’s not always easy for school-aged LGBTQI+ people to find safe and welcoming spaces to be themselves and meet others.

That’s why Homebuilders Family Services in Warkworth is organising Out Here, a new meeting group for young people who are part of the rainbow community and who would like to meet others.

The first meeting is on Monday, July 31 at Homebuilders HQ at 5 Hexham Street, and will run from 3.30pm to 5pm.

Family support worker Penelope Arthur said Homebuilders was very aware that the nearest Rainbow Youth group was in Orewa, which was difficult to get to for many young people living in the

Mahurangi area.

“We just thought it was important to have something locally where kids up to 18 can meet other people with things in common and talk about any issues they face,” she said.

“We are getting great input from Rainbow Youth for the events, and a few of their support workers will be there on July 31.  Also, both local high schools are supportive, which is great.”

There will be a follow-up gathering on Monday, August 14 and, if the demand is there, Out Here will become a regular fixture, either at Homebuilders or another local venue.

Info: Call 0800 100037 or 425 7048, or visit www.homebuildersfs.org

Free Hepatitis C tests this month

The Wellsford Pharmacy and Unichem Warkworth will provide free Hepatitis C (Hep C) tests from July 17 to 31.

Hep C is an infection that affects the liver and is spread via blood-to-blood contact, for example, during a sports game. Infections can also occur when unsterilised needles are used for piercings, tattoos or injecting drugs.

If left untreated, it can be fatal and the symptoms are often very mild such as fatigue or brain fog.

More than 30,000 people are thought to be living with Hep C in New Zealand and over 200 people die as a result of it each year.

The good news is that it is easy to get tested and treated.

Auckland City Hospital hepatologist

Professor Ed Gane says there is a fullyfunded and effective oral treatment with few side-effects that cures most people after only eight weeks. “Getting a test is a great way to avoid long-term liver damage,” he says. “People report feeling less fatigued and healthier after treatment.

“We now have the means to eliminate Hepatitis C from Aotearoa but to do so, we need to find everyone who is living with Hepatitis C. A simple finger-prick test could save your life.”

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

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

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

Out Here will be a regular event if the demand is there.

History

A writer from the Port

Jane Mander was encouraged by her mother at an early age to become a storyteller. She was the daughter of Francis (Frank) Mander, who was born in Onehunga in 1849. He began working at age 10 and bought a dairy farm when he was 26, before his marriage to the shy Janet Kerr in 1876. After the birth of their daughter in 1877, followed by four more children, Jane’s father, an entrepreneur, sold his small dairy farm in 1881 to purchase a sawmill at Awhitu. Frank set his sights firmly on the giant kauri, perfect for building houses for the early settlers. Many years later, he became known as the ‘King of Sawmillers’, but what may be ironic was that while he explored the country for more timber to mill, he expected his own family to live in the most impossible of places, like an abandoned store or mud hut. Janet made sure her children were well educated and, when the family moved north to Wellsford, Jane was enrolled at the school built by the Albertland settlers and run by Mrs Rushbrook. Jane and her siblings attended schools in Port Albert, Kaiwaka and Onehunga, as the family moved 29 times in just a few years, sometimes having to be schooled at home by their mother when no schools were available. The family returned to Port Albert when Jane was 15, after her father and business partner, Samuel Bradley, built the Raekau Mill across the river from Port Albert. This mill employed many local men from the district. Jane felt daunted at the prospect of becoming a homemaker and took up the position of pupil teacher at Port Albert School

Storytellers share tales at school

Wellsford School had two special guests recently, when NZ author Ben Brown and comic artist and pro wrestler Michel Mulipola called in to share their stories and experiences of

The visit was part of the National Story Tour organised by Storylines, a charitable trust that aims to inspire children, young people and their whanau to enjoy the magic of Brown was making his final appearance as New Zealand Reading Ambassador, a position he’s held for the past two years, and he spoke about the importance of using imagination, which could be inspired by reading. He told students how knowledge has been shared throughout human history, something that resonated with his audience, who had plenty of questions about hunting Mulipola, who is also known as the ‘Bloody Samoan’, kept students enthralled with his story of how his childhood love of comics led him to exciting employment opportunities around the world, such as designing Marvel Trading Cards, Disney Animation, WWE and writing Samoan comics.  He stressed to the children the importance of following their dreams and staying true to themselves. School librarian Sarah Lindsay said afterwards the visit was enjoyed by both students and staff.

“It was a fantastic experience, with many laughs had,” she said. Lindsay said she and principal Melanie Bell were grateful to Storylines for organising such an inspiring and entertaining experience for a wide range of ages.

Keep

•Grocery

•Scenic

•Take

Wheelchair

Ph:

Rose Reid, Albertland Museum

From left, Michel Mulipola, school librarian Sarah Lindsay and Ben Brown.

Animals

Rachel Blackie, Wellsford Vet Clinic https://wellsfordvet.com/

Lifestyle in the spring

If you have any farm animals due to give birth in the spring, you will know that magnesium is a very important macromineral for cows around calving time, to help their internal machinery to work properly at and after calving. Among lots of other jobs, magnesium primes their parathyroid gland to release a particular hormone, at the correct time, in the correct amount, to mobilise calcium from the bones into the blood when their milk comes in. Calcium levels in the bloodstream are tightly controlled by the body, and for good reason. If this whole system doesn’t work properly, problems occur like weak “downer” cows (milk fever and grass staggers), trouble with delivering their calves and infections including mastitis.

Magnesium really needs to be taken in daily, from two to three weeks before calving, as it is not stored in the body, and should be continued until after the grass growths have slowed (generally in November/ December). Causmag (magnesium oxide) mixed with molasses as a slurry, spread over hay to be fed, was the age-old tradition for this shortfall, pre-calving. Another way is via the Crystalyx Pre-Calver lick mix that is left with the cow(s). Research carried out in New Zealand showed that giving access of

Dinner helps museum

Crystalyx Pre-Calver to dairy cows pre-calving and early lactation significantly reduced the incidences of milk fever, mastitis and the need for assisted calving. Crystalyx Pre-Calver has also been shown to substantially increase the levels of selenium and zinc found in the cow’s bloodstream. These days, there are many options for magnesium supplementation, but ANY is better than none for the sake of a smooth running calving period. At the same time, it is very important to never supplement calcium pre-calving, as doing this really upsets the magnesium priming of the parathyroid, also causing problems with the calcium magnesium balance when their milk comes in.

Consider using a “starter drench” like Calstart for high risk cows at the point of calving. These are cows that are greater than seven years old, or very fat, or have a history of problems at previous calving times. The DairyNZ website holds a lot of free information to help set your block up for a trouble free spring, including some great tick lists for calf rearing. Check out “DairyNZ Spring Survival Guide” and a word to the wise … try to avoid buying calves from saleyards, as their paediatric immune systems are the target for the milieu of pathogens there.

The recent Wellsford Community Dinner fundraiser has given a much-needed boost to the Albertland Heritage Museum. Organised by Support Your Local Wellsford, the event raised more than $10,500 and the museum will receive at least $3500. Secretary Rose Reid said it was an amazing result that would help in so many ways. “Our museum has struggled like most others with not much funding and so it will help with the costs of staying open and being able to tell the story of the Albertlanders for generations to come,” she said. “We are so grateful for this support.” The rest of the funds will go towards sending Wellsford School to the AIMS Games and Support Your Local community funding.

Givesquashago

Rodney Women’s Centre is running a series of Connect Me events aimed at getting women in the wider Warkworth area to network and learn from each other. Join local squash coach Kaye Jackson at Give Squash a Go on Tuesday, August 15 and participate in a mini group squash session. Any women who are interested in squash are invited to come along, have some fun and meet others in the community. Open to all ages. Free. RSVP by visiting https://www. womenscentrerodney.org.nz/events/connectme-give-squash-a-go

Tomaratarugby

Tomarata Rugby Football Club’s Junior Rally Day will be held on Saturday, July 22 from 9am onwards. Under 7s play at 9am, under 9s at 9.45am, under 11s at 10.40am, and under 13s at 11.40am. Following the rally day, the club is hosting a Town vs Country Senior Social Game at 1.30pm. Dust off the boots, rock the Dad bod and get out there and show the kids how it’s done. Three 20-minute halves and non-contested scrums. To get involved, message Tomarata Rugby Football Club on Facebook or email tomaratarugby@gmail.com

BunningsRugbyAssist

Applications are open now for the 2023 Bunnings Rugby Assist. This season, Bunnings Rugby Assist is focusing on helping clubs upgrade facilities to make them feel even more welcoming for the whole community. Nominate your club today and you could be one of 10 clubs to receive $30,000 worth of products, materials and trade services. For more info & to apply visit https:// www.bunnings.co.nz/campaign/bunningsrugbyassist

Juniortennis

Bookings for junior tennis coaching are open now for Term 3 at Matakana Tennis Club and Warkworth Tennis and Squash Club. Classes run all year round. For info contact Hayden at AceEm Tennis 021 747 839, or email tennis@aceem.co.nz. To register visit https://aceem.helloclub.com

Footballbootswanted

Warkworth Football Club wants your boots! If you have boots that no longer fit but are still in good condition, please consider dropping them off at the football club to be used by someone else.

A lifetime of creativity celebrated

The Warkworth Embroiderers Guild’s biannual showcase on July 28 and 29 will celebrate the work of longstanding member Pat Vaissiere, whose love for creating beautiful things began as a little girl in England almost eight decades ago. “I always had a needle and cotton in my hand, even as a small child,” Pat said last week in her Sandspit home. “I’d make dollies’ dresses and things like that.”

After leaving school she worked as a dress hand for several years for Sir Norman Hartnell, dressmaker to the Queen. After running a hotel in Devon with husband Malcom, Pat came to New Zealand 20 years ago. She designed her own home in Sandspit, and then a second about 10 years ago, with stunning views over the harbour.

Pat said about 30 of her embroidery works, dating back more than 40 years, were being included in the guild’s showcase. “It makes you feel calm,” she said of her love for embroidery. “It feels good when you achieve something.”

Since developing Parkinson’s disease, however, sewing has become more difficult. “My embroidery life is probably at an end.

Pat Vaissiere with one of her creations.

“But I’m fortunate I’ve had a really, really good life. I can’t complain.”

Pat is the guest exhibitor at the guild’s Eye of the Needle showcase, which will also feature decorated and framed items and sculptural 3D creations. It’s on at the New Masonic Lodge in Warkworth on July 28 and 29, with entry by gold coin donation.

McGlashan crossing

bridge to play Matakana

One of New Zealand’s best known singer-songwriters will be appearing in Matakana in September as part of a new national tour called Take It To The Bridge.

Don McGlashan will be on stage at the Matakana Hall on Friday, September 1, accompanied by Anita Clark on violin, keyboard and backing vocals. Clark will also be opening the show in her solo artist guise, Motte (pronounced ‘motter’, from the German word for moth).

Matakana Hall is one of 18 intimate venues hand-picked by McGlashan for the tour, which will feature plenty of old favourites as well as numbers from his latest album, Bright November Morning. He says there are two reasons for calling the tour Take It To The Bridge – firstly, he really likes bridges, literally and metaphorically, and second, he recalls James Brown repeatedly shouting the phrase at his band during a memorable gig in New York.

“I love bridges. Making it possible to get, physically, across major obstacles: rivers, ravines, swamps – seems to me one of the most remarkable things humans can do,” he says.

“Anita Clark and I will be intrepidly crossing bridges and culverts all over the country to get to some of my favourite venues, and some that are new to me.”

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost $47.50 from https://www. undertheradar.co.nz/ticket/20572/Don-McGlashan-Spring-Tour.utr

Marine B50 should be our goal

We often highlight the social and environmental value that would be created for all New Zealanders from having a healthy fishery. Of equal importance is the long-term economic opportunities that arise from a well-managed fishery. Unfortunately, our Quota Management System is designed for short term wealth generation.

A perfect example of this is scallops. Twenty years ago, there were 24 scallop boats fishing out of Whitianga. Today, there are none. The scallop fishery has collapsed. How did we get here? A decade ago, the commercial scallop industry convinced Fisheries New Zealand to increase their harvest limits. The fishers claimed there were so many scallops that they should be entitled to catch more. Fisheries NZ successfully convinced the Minister to comply with those demands. In the 2012/13 season, the commercial scallopers harvested 332% of their allowable quota! In just a few years, they had decimated the scallop populations.

Fast forward to last year, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries David Parker announced the emergency closure of the north-east coast scallop fishery. With that announcement, the last businesses that relied on that fishery were bereft. It’s simple. No scallops = no business. It is impossible to profit if there are no fish in the water. However, if a conservative approach had been applied, a scallop industry may still exist. Conservative harvest limits and a timely transition from the destructive scallop dredging to diving would have made all the difference.

We are not crying over spilt milk because the

same logic applies to all fisheries. Particularly when destructive fishing techniques, such as bottom trawling and scallop dredging, are used. Destroying the environment to catch shrinking fish populations will not generate long-term profitability.

For too long, officials have attempted to justify bottom trawling and scallop dredging because they are ‘economically viable’. In reality, these techniques coupled with overallocation are cannibalising the industry. It’s short-term greed at long-term cost.

This is especially true for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. After a century of exploitation, the marine environment is not as productive as it once was. Gurnard, hāpuku, and John Dory are rare these days. This starts with the government implementing a policy to rebuild fish populations to a minimum of 50% of their natural, un-fished levels. This is known as B50 and is internationally recognised as best practice. To achieve B50, we need to ban industrial bulk-harvest fishing such as bottom trawling and apply conservative harvest limits to allow the populations to rebuild.

A conservative approach now will mean greater economic opportunities in the future. We need to begin by focusing on rebuilding our fisheries. More fish in the water means reduced overheads, smaller fuel bills, less effort and, therefore, fishing becomes more profitable and selective fishing techniques increasingly viable. Incredibly, because it is about money, consumers can drive change. Simply ask for local, line-caught fish. Even better, buy directly from your local commercial longline fisher.

Sam Woolford, LegaSea Project Lead sam@legasea.co.nz

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

21 U3A Science and Climate Meeting, BeSoul Meeting Room, 12 Gumfield Drive, Warkworth, 2-4pm. A report on Antarctic drilling programme by Professor Richard Levy (VUW, GNS)

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

22 Wellsford Drama Club directors workshop, Wellsford Community Centre, Matheson Rd, 10.30am-4pm. Workshop led by John Goudge of John Goudge Drama Studio, West Auckland. $60. Info: wellsforddrama@gmail.com

22&23 Kauri Museum free weekend, celebrating the redevelopment, which includes new forest walkway entrance, refurbished café, research centre and display areas, 9am-5pm. Info: www.kaurimuseum.com

23 Warkworth RSA planting day, Atiu Regional Park

23 Warkworth Museum annual general meeting with guest speaker Tina Earl, from the Cement Works Trust, 1pm. All welcome

26 An Intimate Evening With Dame Fiona Kidman, Mahurangi East Library, 6.45pm (see story p28)

27 Landowners & Contractors Assn AGM, Wellsford RSA, 7pm. All welcome

28 Mahurangi College Open Day, 9.30am11.30am. 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 (see story p37)

29 Ben Wilcock Quartet presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm (see story p27)

31 Out Here meeting, Homebuilders, Hexham Street, Warkworth, 3.30pm (see story p31)

Early Learn ing Centre

1 Highfield Garden Reserve & Donkey Society annual general meeting, Betty Paxton Room, Mahurangi East Community Centre, 4pm. All welcome.

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

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

4-6 Art in August, Warkworth Hotel, 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 10am-2pm. Exhibition featuring local artists and Mahurangi College students.

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

9 Learn how to crochet peggy squares with Dianne Cost, Snells Beach Baptist Church, 1-3pm. $5 per person. Bookings essential. Info: admin@sbbchurch.nz or ph 027 279 7206

18 Seniors Expo, Wellsford Community Centre, 10am-2pm. Services and organisations of interest to older people.

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

26 Akarana Piano Quartet presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm

1 Don McGlashan, plus Anita Clark/Motte, Matakana Hall, 7.30pm (see story p37)

Warkworth Hockey Club:

make it all possible volunteers

For the last eight years, volunteers have been helping the Warkworth Hockey Club provide a facility for thousands of locals to give their sticks a workout and, as the club gears up for its summer season, it is extending its thanks to them. Hundreds of players turn out at the Warkworth Showgrounds weekly, ranging in age from four to 65-70 year olds, Warkworth Hockey Turf Charitable Trust chair Brett Illingworth says.

“Saturday morning games are a sight to see, with kids everywhere and parents in tow. School games give parents the ability to see their children play locally and match against local schools,” he says.

“On Thursday evenings, social competition sees mixed teams from around Rodney battle it out, with lots of laughs and a drink later.”

It’s not all social, though. The club has five teams playing in the North Harbour competition, with games at home every fourth weekend.

As this edition went to print, the Premier 3 Men and Division 2 Men were preparing to face North Shore United teams over the Matariki weekend at home, while the Division 1 Men, Division 1 Women and Division 3 Women were getting ready to take on Auckland Bays Club. Meanwhile, the summer social season is due to start in October, with registration taking place the previous month. The social games involve seven and nine-a-side mixed teams.

“Build a team or just watch,” Illingworth says. “We all need good support. Come along and support our locals.”

Illingworth says everything the club is able to achieve has been made possible by “heaps of volunteers and generous donations from locals, which got the turf built” in 2015. Volunteers are involved in organising the schedules, and in cleaning, repairs and maintenance of the turf.

“We have no paid employees whatsoever. That enables us to keep our fees down and make it affordable for locals to play.

“Composite Joinery is a major sponsor along with some generous individuals who help keep the turf operating.”

Illingworth said Warkworth Hockey Club was the first LEDlit turf in New Zealand, and now boasts “third generation” lighting, made possible by Davco Electrical Service’s “commitment, professionalism and community spirit”.

Warkworth’s D1 Men’s team in action. Photos, Warkworth Hockey Club.

Warkworth’s D1 Women’s team on the turf.