Mahurangi Matters_Issue 460_31 July 2023

Council fees exceed cost of tiny house

Rural ratepayers are being stung with exorbitant development contributions, most of which are being used by Auckland Council to fund infrastructure city-wide. This has emerged after a Whangaripo family received a $12,628 bill from council for development contributions for the construction of a tiny home on their farm. This was on top of the $9000 they had already paid for building and resource consent. As a result, council’s fees for the 28.8 square metre cabin, which is completely off the grid, exceed the cost of building the cabin. In email correspondence, a council official said development contributions are collected to fund upgrading and new infrastructure where there is additional demand place[d] on council’s infrastructure. By adding an additional dwelling this is deemed to be adding additional demand. The actual dollar amount charged is determined by the number of projects council has in its Long Term Plan for the funding area the site falls under.

“When an area has fewer developers, there are fewer anticipated growth units, therefore a higher development contribution price is required to recover the development contribution infrastructure charge.”  Effectively, this means that rural households, in areas where there is little development, will pay higher development fees.

The biggest single sum in the Whangaripo family’s assessment was allocated for transport projects ($4044), but of that amount, only $393 was designated for transport in their ‘rural north upper’ funding area. By comparison, $2280 was earmarked for transport projects Auckland-wide.

The $2265 levied for reserve development also fell under the Auckland-wide funding area, which means the family may be contributing towards the development of reserves as far away as Papatoetoe or the Wynyard Quarter.

Whangaripo development

Melany and Anton Parker decided to build their tiny home on their Whangaripo property to accommodate Melany’s parents. The cabin is a unique structure first created by Melany’s father, Coll Bell.

Known as The Ark, it features a living area, kitchenette, bathroom and mezzanine bedroom, and is built on pontoons that double as water storage tanks.

Currently, Coll and his wife Caroline live in a newly-built house on the property, and Melany, Anton and their two girls live

temporarily in an older home on the site. The plan was for Coll and Caroline to move into the Ark once completed, so their daughter and family could move into the house.

Seated at a dining room table strewn with copies of council documents and correspondence, Coll said, “All you’re trying to do is provide a home for your parents, on your property, and you’re lumbered with this sort of bullsh*t.

“If you were building a subdivision, and 20 people were going to move in, then that would put extra strain on the parks

and the libraries and the rest of it,” he said. “We’re not putting any extra load on [infrastructure] because we’ve already lived here for so many years.”

When council’s invoice for the development contribution arrived in March (following an original notification last August), Melany asked in writing for the calculation to be reassessed. She drew attention to the size of the cabin and the fact it would not be connected to any services.

with 50 years’ experience, designing homes in coastal, rural and urban environments around NZ.

“Now specialising in bespoke one off concept designs”, for your new house, whether you are building new, or restyling your existing home.

It defies belief that Auckland Council planners can charge a Whangaripo family more than $20,000 in fees for the construction of a cabin that is just 28.8 square metres. Pictured going through reams of council paperwork, and outside the half-built cabin, are Coll Bell and his daughter Melany Parker.

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Council fees exceed cost of Whangaripo build

“Can you please explain how it is possible that a cabin of this size and value is able to incur these kinds of costs to the council?” she asked. “We are not developers, we are not bringing new people into the area. It is simply a basic cabin for private use, for a family that has lived in the area and paid rates for the area for the past 20-plus years.”

In response, a council official indicated that the issue of connection to services was irrelevant, as the Parkers were not being assessed for that.

“Development contributions are collected to upgrade infrastructure throughout the Auckland region,” he wrote. “The cost of a project has no bearing on the development contributions assessment, it is purely assessed on what is proposed.”

Council provided a breakdown of the development assessment:

• $3986 for reserve acquisitions

• $2265 for reserve development

• $684 for community infrastructure

• $4044 for transport

This amounted to just over $12,620 including GST.

The amounts were broken down further into sums for distinct funding areas – rural north upper, Auckland-wide, rural north, or north. More digging by Melany established that most of these amounts were for areas,

services or proposed developments far from the ‘rural north upper’ region.

Writing again to the same council official, she shared her findings, asked again why her cabin should incur such costs, and said she wanted to lodge a formal objection.

But in response, the official told her she had failed to lodge her objection within the specified time period – 15 working days from the day she received the notice of the assessment (in August). Therefore, “council’s file is now closed”.

Melany said the 15-day requirement was not spelled out clearly before. (Previous communications from council did make reference to an official document, which in turn explained the objection procedure.)

“They keep saying in their policy that everything’s transparent and it’s easy to find,” she said. “But it’s not, because they just put up walls. If you don’t fit within their timeframe they’re not going to talk to you – that’s their ‘out’ card.”

“Fairly applied”

Auckland Council plans to deliver hundreds of projects citywide between 2021 and 2051, at an estimated cost of $11.22 billion, of which it expects to raise $3.83 billion from development contributions.

Council financial policy manager

Andrew Duncan said council budgeted to maintain assets providing services, to improve services to existing residents, and “to accommodate the growth we’re experiencing in the region”.

It had to prioritise, “because, like anybody, we’ve got to work within financial restraints”. Some of the investments would provide benefits to the entire region, so costs were shared across all developments anywhere in the region, he said, citing the city rail link as an example.

Other investments, for instance a park in Wellsford, may benefit much smaller local funding areas, and those costs are shared across developing properties in that particular area.

Duncan said the regional weighted average development contribution was $23,895.51. Tiny homes incurred a smaller cost, given their smaller footprint.

Council policy has been “fairly applied” to the property in question, “reflecting the assessment, and applying a fair share of the costs of the investments the council is making to support growth across the city”.

“The purpose of development contributions is to recover a fair, equitable and proportionate share of the total cost of capital expenditure necessary to service growth over the long term,” Duncan said.

Local board says no to Tomarata park plan

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Plans to make three popular freshwater lakes part of Te Ārai Regional Park have been rejected by the Rodney Local Board. Auckland Council recommended that the Ngāroto Lakes reserves – Tomarata, Slipper and Spectacle Lakes – be moved out of local board management to council’s by adding them to its regional park network. However, despite Rodney initiating the original investigation process last May and council staff finding that the lakes would be ideal for the switch, members voted to keep the reserves as local parks under their governance, at their monthly meeting in Warkworth on July 19.

The potential about-turn first arose at a closed workshop in June, when several members raised concerns from local residents over whether boating, jet skiing and dog walking would be allowed to

continue under regional park rules. At the meeting, council staff said that under regional park legislation, such activities wouldn’t necessarily be banned and if there were any proposed changes, they would need to be publicly consulted on.

Several members were also concerned that council’s governing body and regional parks department wouldn’t have a grasp of the history of the lakes and their place in the local community.

“They don’t have the regional knowledge,” Tim Holdgate said. “Maybe regional parks would be a little more restrictive.”

Ivan Wagstaff pointed out that in the draft regional parks management plan, there was a stated desire to remove dog access and boats in future, something which Michelle Carmichael suggested may be better handled by the local board than council.

“We need to look at a better managed approach, rather than a banning approach,” she said. “We can probably achieve both.” Wellsford member Colin Smith said this was a good example of allowing the local community to retain more control of its assets and facilities.

However, Te Ārai resident Mike Harris was bemused by the move when he spoke during the public forum, prior to the meeting.

“It doesn’t make sense. I thought it was a fait accompli,” he said. “Tomarata Lakes should be included in the regional park, it shares a common boundary with these reserves. Regional parks do a good job. They’re maintained to a very high standard and it would be a better use of maintenance resources. I don’t know if local authorities are able to input to same standard and offer the same oversight.”

Community groups vie to share vacant cottage space

A vacant cottage owned by Auckland Council on Sandspit Wharf could find a new role as a base for environmental and community activities, if a proposal by Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust is approved.

The trust wants to lease the former manager’s residence next to the wharf carpark, which has been empty since the role was made redundant and house vacated several years ago.

Trust spokesperson Delma O’Kane said Ngāti Manuhiri planned to use the singlestorey property as a base for its marine operations in and around the Hauraki Gulf, including protecting and monitoring ecosystems and educational activities. There is also a possibility that other Sandspit or Kawau community groups could share the facility, she added. “We’ve been in discussions for quite some time, not only with Auckland Council, but also community groups such as the Coastguard and Restore Rodney East, as others who also want to use the space,” she said. “We don’t have a problem with sharing the space. However, as it will have a lot of potentially expensive gear, such as gadgets, laptops and computers, it could make it a

bit challenging, security-wise.”

That should be music to the ears of the Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association, whose chair Peter Deane made a deputation to last month’s Rodney Local Board meeting on July 19.

He said he had heard on the grapevine that Ngāti Manuhiri might be taking a lease on the house and, while he had no problem with the trust, he wanted to find a way of opening it up for wider community use.

“We’re very aware the facility could be of huge importance to the community,” he said. “It could be a very valuable community asset and there are a number of groups who could use it and need the space.”

As well as Kawau Coastguard, which moors its boat just outside, other groups that could benefit from using the house included community resilience and conservation groups.

“There are a number of rooms there, so it shouldn’t just be for one group, that’s the model we’d want to see working,” Deane said. “There are a lot of collaborative interests. It would be great for workshops, meetings and storage.”

However, whatever lease or usage arrangements may eventuate, nothing is likely to happen in a hurry. Auckland Council’s parks and community facilities property leasing manager, Yusuf Khan, said a recent

Pakiri/Mangawhai sand battle continues in court

A decisive battle over whether an Auckland dredging company can keep taking thousands of tonnes of sand from the Pakiri and Mangawhai shoreline began in the Environment Court on July 17.

The six-week case is an appeal by McCallum Brothers Ltd (MBL) against the refusal by Auckland Council commissioners last year to allow it to continue to extract sand in the offshore coastal marine area in the Mangawhai-Pakiri embayment.

The appeal is opposed by 16 groups and individuals, including the Environmental Defence Society, Pakiri and Te Arai residents’ groups, Kaipara District Council, Forest & Bird, the Department of Conservation, the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society, the NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust.

The court had already granted MBL a temporary consent to continue dredging offshore while the case was being heard, providing the company stopped mining inshore, close to Pakiri beach (MM, July 17). Judge Jeff Smith, who is heading the hearing panel with Judge Aidan Warren, Commissioners Shona Myers and Kevin Prime and special advisor Russell Howie, expressed his hope that the cooperation and collaboration exhibited by all parties in reaching agreement on that temporary consent might continue into the offshore appeal.

However, over the following days, he also voiced frustration at aspects of the case. Several

parties opposing the appeal had their lines of questioning for MBL and its expert witnesses cut short, when the judge questioned their necessity or relevance to the case.

But it was MBL itself that came in for the harshest questioning, particularly over the consent conditions it had drawn up.

“How robust are these conditions? Looking at the latest, these are well away from anything the court would consent,” Smith said. “There have been a lot of cases in this area. The sort of consent you’re talking about here is probably 10 years outof-date, they are much, much tighter than this (now). Some of these conditions, I don’t even know where they’ve come from.

“Every single page has got problems. It’s completely unacceptable.”

Smith also questioned whether major concerns raised by opposing parties over alleged breaches of consent and dredging outside permitted areas would be addressed by MBL and its witnesses.

For its part, MBL claimed that AIS, the automatic identification system that uses transceivers on ships to track marine traffic, was not a reliable method of pinpointing vessel location.

This was in response to evidence from a number of parties showing AIS tracking of MBL’s ship, the William Fraser, apparently dredging outside its permitted areas.

MBL owner and director Callum McCallum told the court AIS could not be relied upon and produced an image from a marine traffic app showing two MBL

ships some distance beyond, and facing the opposite direction from, their actual location at the time.

Judge Smith said if that was the case, it could pose a huge danger to marine traffic. He also admonished McCallum over the way he answered questions during crossexamination.

“I find a lot of your answers to questions have been concerning because they seem to take what is a clear question and turn it into something else,” he said. “I’m interested in questions, not what you want to talk about.”

Counsel for MBL John MacRae told the court that Pakiri sand provided a major contribution to the economic health and wellbeing of Auckland, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the sand used in concrete in the region.

He said major infrastructure projects would be in jeopardy or at an end if companies couldn’t get Pakiri sand for their concrete, something vouched for by witnesses from a number of concrete manufacturing and construction companies.

Smith said although there were a number of major projects requiring vast quantities of concrete, the extraction of sand was a complex matter that affected diverse populations and environments.

“The difficulty is the externalities become huge,” he said. “Although the economy is part of the jigsaw, it can’t give us the complete picture.”

The case continues.

building condition report found it needed maintenance work to bring it up to standard.

During the local board meeting, members approved a $120,000 refurbishment budget for the Sandspit house as part of its customer and community services capital expenditure work programme for 2023/24, with $20,000 earmarked for investigation and scoping in 2024/25 and $100,000 to deliver the actual works in 2025/26.

The estimated finish date is not until June 2026, though as a risk adjusted project, Khan said there was a chance it could be brought forward. The new proposed lease for Ngāti Manuhiri was listed on the board’s 2023/24 community leases work programme also approved at the July meeting.

Khan said when it came to vacant buildings, council could ask for expressions of interest or notify groups who had registered an interest. All applications were assessed on a case-bycase basis and local boards could nominate a community group for occupancy.

“The grant of a lease for community buildings provides exclusive use to the respective lessee,” he said. “The lessee may choose to invite other groups to use the premises when not in use by the lessee, this is by way of room hire, permitted under a community lease agreement.”

Puhoi cat reunion

A Puhoi family whose lives were thrown into chaos when their home was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle finally had good news last week, when two of their beloved cats, missing for nearly five months, were found. In the aftermath of the cyclone, the Robinson family were provided with emergency housing by an Ōrewa. Not long after the move, two of their three rescue cats, Coco and Oreo, escaped from the Ōrewa house. Dee Robinson says it was traumatic, especially for the couple’s three teenagers, and they searched for the cats everywhere. Then, on July 8, almost five months after the cats went missing, a picture was posted on social media of a cat found in upper Waiwera. There was no doubt it was Coco. The person who found her managed to get her into a cat cage, and Coco was reunited with the Robinsons a short time later. The same eagle-eyed rescuers had spotted a post about another cat, also found in Waiwera, that proved to be Oreo.

“When you’ve lost everything, animals are a familiar security blanket and we can’t believe we have them both back after all this time.”

The Sandspit cottage is currently vacant.

From left, Dee and Charlotte Robinson with Coco and Oreo.

YouSay

Enrolment counts

With the October election not far away, I am concerned that there will be some people who want to vote but who are no longer enrolled. I would like to push voters in a particular direction but …

So, all I can do is to push people to be sure that they are enrolled and then to vote, preferably early. One of the factors affecting voters who live in a rented house is that they move house often. Thus, when the Electoral Commission sends out its voter roll check papers, many letters will go to their old address, will be binned by the new occupier and the displaced voter will not get a chance to add their new address. This means that when they go along to their local polling station their name will not appear at the correct address. This is one unfortunate aspect of why voting numbers are lower in poorer areas in my opinion. In the more stable communities, this ‘missed roll’ check works, the paper tells you to check the address (and, of course, if the occupier has not moved) to do nothing, recycle the paper, hopefully.

So I am urging us all to check our Electoral Roll status.

Here is the link to the Electoral Commission. You can enrol, check or update your details online here: www.vote.nz

Michael Dymond, Warkworth

How to enrol and vote

You are eligible to enrol and vote if you are 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and you have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life. You can enrol, check or update your details online anytime at www.vote.nz using a New Zealand driver’s licence, New Zealand passport, or a RealMe verified identity. You can also enrol or update your details

AI image

When the Leader of the Opposition spoke at the Warkworth Town Hall recently he assured his audience that he was the real thing, not an Artificial Intelligence (AI) creation. “If I was, I’d be taller with more hair,” he lamented.

So long Elvis

We welcome your feedback but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can

by filling in an enrolment form. Call 0800 367 656 or text your name and address to 3676 to have a form sent to you.

Voting starts in New Zealand on Monday October 2 and polls close at 7pm on election day, Saturday October 14. When voting starts, you can also enrol and vote at the same time at any voting place, including on election day.

Source, NZ Electoral Commission

Do as I say …

It was interesting to read in the latest Mahurangi Matters (July 17), a report on the public meeting by the National Party and its leader Christopher Luxon, with an emphasis placed on restoring law and order.

Seems strange then, that more than a week after that meeting, the local National Party MP Chris Penk has failed to follow that advice by not removing the advertising hoardings for the meeting, contrary to the Electoral Act guidelines for the October 14 election and the Auckland Council bylaws relating to hoardings on council land. While we all abhor ram raids and other such crime, Mr Luxon also talked about ensuring law and order is maintained, including removing gang patches and signage. Perhaps National Party signage is exempt from that rhetoric?

Neil Anderson, Algies Bay

MP Kaipara ki Mahurangi Chris Penk responds:

I’m disappointed that local Labour Party supporters have resorted to making spurious allegations.

Following a very well attended public meeting that I held recently in Warkworth, hosting National’s leader, Christopher Luxon, I followed the rules scrupulously in having signs removed within the timeframe required by law.

The rules say that a grace period of three working days is allowed to remove signs following a public meeting. After that meeting

took place on Thursday August 10, there were three non-working days (the public holiday of Matariki followed by the weekend) and then three working days (Monday to Wednesday) at which point the signs were removed. Any remaining supporters of the Labour government in this area would be well advised to consider actual instances of law breaking, rather than making ill-informed allegations against other MPs.

The Electoral Commission advises that election signs can be erected from Saturday, August 12 onwards.

On-ramp disgrace

It beggars belief that red tape is purportedly holding up the opening of the Puhoi southbound on-ramp. Surely someone could have seen this coming and booked the appropriate authorising entity ahead of time? Surely there should be a penalty for the delay in opening?

What price to the health system and a patient’s long term health or even mortality is there to delaying a stroke victim’s arrival at hospital, because the ambulance has had to travel via Orewa to get to hospital?

This is bureaucracy at its finest. A complete disgrace.

It follows the arrogance of not revealing the opening date for the excellent new stretch of motorway under the auspices of preventing traffic jams from sightseers –how stupid do you really think we are? I’m not buying that at all.

You have done a great job with building the motorway and, in a couple of own goals, have completely destroyed all the kudos you should be enjoying.

Good luck to the recipients of your next project.

Diana Schnauer, Mahurangi West Statement from NX2:

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the change to the expected opening date for the new Pūhoi southbound on-ramp.

The Warkworth RSA recently surveyed members on the club’s regular entertainment programme. Of the recent shows presented, the most popular were the Ultimate 80’s, Dire Straits and Neil Diamond. The organisers concluded that “interestingly, it seems that Elvis has definitely left the house ... he trailed the rest of the pack by a very big margin!”

Some people had their own way of objecting to Christopher Luxon’s public meeting signage.

Book winner

We have been grateful for the patience and understanding of our local community and road users throughout the development of the new motorway and all that entailed. We do appreciate that this added delay has been frustrating for many.

Following the opening of the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, the onramp was closed to complete the final construction of the ramps. These works could not be completed until the motorway had opened and were necessary to complete the construction of the ramps, which were opened in 2021 for temporary use.

Unlike the northbound Pūhoi off-ramp, the southbound on-ramp represents a change in the road layout so is subject to a detailed signoff process. The opening date will be confirmed once this process is completed.

Congratulations to Steve Bass, who was the winner of the book Spanish Garden by Cliff Taylor.

Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland wayne.brown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

No more woolly language

The recent opening of the new AraTūhono Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway is a welcome development for Rodney, making the drive north quicker and smoother. But it does highlight the pitfalls of undertaking a major infrastructure project. This motorway could have been done much cheaper and the savings would have paid to go all the way to Wellsford.

As an engineer, I know all too well that these big projects often run over time and over budget. When you’re planning something on that scale, even small mistakes can have big consequences. Reports of unstable gullies and damage caused by landslides mean that the new road is already in need of a major patch-up job.

That is why my priority is to fix the infrastructure we’ve got before starting anything new. Unfortunately, the politicians in Wellington are obsessed with making big headline-grabbing announcements about multi-billion dollar bridges and tunnels that might possibly happen but for which there isn’t any money. Local communities get ignored and much needed work is neglected. Instead, money is sucked up by consultants who are paid to investigate dubious business cases and write reports nobody will ever read. The rest of it appears to be spent on speed bumps and pedestrian crossings in all the wrong places! Decisionmakers need to rethink what is important.

Take, for example, the terrible Hill Street

intersection that I know is the bane of every motorist in Warkworth. It’s a problem that should have been fixed years ago, but there is still no sign of work starting. Then there are the 730 kilometres of unsealed roads throughout the region, not to mention all the potholes. These are easy fixes that shouldn’t cost much.

In the coming months, I’ll be leading the development of Auckland Council’s long-term plan or 10-year budget. It’s more than just a financial document. It is an opportunity for elected members to set a new direction and finally get some things done. The feedback I’ve heard from ratepayers and councillors alike is that they are used to feeling like passive bystanders, rather than active participants, when it comes to council decision-making.

Auckland Council should be more than a rubber stamp at the end of a long bureaucratic process. As mayor, my job is to lead for Auckland, not be led by Wellington. That means getting a fair deal for Aucklanders. Unlike my predecessors, I have no party allegiance or loyalties and it doesn’t bother me who the prime minister is. But with the election coming up in October, I won’t be sitting quietly on the side-lines. I’ll be reminding the parties that they can’t take Auckland for granted anymore. We’ve had enough of woolly language and blue-sky thinking. It’s time for practical solutions. I was elected to get results and that remains my focus.

Fun fundraisers for Daffodil Day

Bingo, a quiz night and a vintage car rally are some of the events being planned to mark Daffodil Day in the Mahurangi/ Kaipara area this year.

Daffodil Day is about showing support for cancer research and awareness, and cancer societies who are doing their best with volunteers to raise funds. While the day officially falls on August 31, fundraising events are being held throughout the month.

Charlene Morrison, from the Warkworth ANZ branch, is organising a bingo night at the Warkworth Bowling Club on August 16 starting at 5.30pm for nibbles, bingo from 6pm. Tickets are $25 per person, which includes nibbles, dinner and entertainment. She says $10 from every ticket goes to the Cancer Society.

Mazon Sierra 2   Spring Mattress & NZ Made Base

Call into the bank to reserve a table or call Charlene on 021 831488.

The Daffodil Rally & Car Show, organised by the Waitemata, North Shore and Wellsford/Warkworth branches of the Vintage Car Club of NZ will be held on August 20.

The rally will start at the North Shore Airfield and the cars will make their way to Matakana for lunch and a public display next to the school from midday onwards. Each vehicle will pay a $10 entry fee which will be donated to the Cancer Society.

The Mangawhai Tavern will host a special Daffodil Day Quiz Night on Tuesday August 29. The night will start at 7pm and bookings are essential. Phone John on 09 431 4505.

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs

800 gram chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, at room temperature

Olive oil, for cooking

2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced into 1cm-thick rounds

1 cup chicken stock

1 1/2 tablespoon wholegrain mustard (like Lusty Mustard from Windfall Foods)

2 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1/2 cup crème fraiche

Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with salt. Add a drizzle of oil to a large, non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat (choose a pan with a lid as it will be needed later). In two batches, sear chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden (thighs do not need to be cooked through at this point).

Set aside , I use a Concave Cutting Board to save all the juices.

Return pan to heat with meat juices, add a drizzle of oil and reduce heat to medium. Add leeks and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden.

Try to keep the leeks intact as this will prevent them from drying out.

Mix stock, mustard and honey in a bowl then add to leeks in the pan, along with thyme and seared chicken (plus its juices). Allow to bubble for a minute, then cover with a lid and cook for 8 minutes

Remove lid and reduce heat to lowmedium. Carefully transfer about ¼ cup of cooking liquid to a bowl. Add crème fraiche to bowl, whisk until smooth, then return to the pan. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Serve with mashed potato and steamed beans or broccoli.

Repairs delay

The railway line between Auckland and Northland, badly damaged during the flooding events in late January and February, will probably be closed until at least the end of the year, KiwiRail has confirmed.

The freight service between Whangārei and Auckland has been a major route for southbound cement, clay and dairy products. Severe flooding at the end of January brought down a massive slip near Tahekeroa, between Makarau and Puhoi, involving an estimated 35,000 cubic metres of debris. That was followed by dozens more slips elsewhere along the North Auckland Line (NAL) during Cyclone Gabrielle.

“There were more than 200 damage sites along the entire length of the NAL, including slips onto and beneath the rail line, slumps and washouts,” KiwiRail executive general manager, operations Paul Ashton said. “Ongoing weather has made the state of some sites worse.

“Where it’s practical, we are looking to do temporary fixes so that the line can reopen, with permanent fixes coming later. However, at least 10 sites will require a significant engineering response – which will take time – and a temporary fix may not be possible.”

With infrastructure also badly damaged in Auckland, East Coast and Hawkes Bay, there’s a high demand for specialist geotechnical and engineering design resources, Ashton said.

“This is slowing down procurement and delivery of the assessments and designs needed to repair and reopen the NAL. “We are preparing a work programme so that as soon those detailed engineering designs are done, repairs can begin immediately.”

Ashton said in the meantime, KiwiRail was advancing work on upgrading the line between Whangārei and Kauri, north of Whangārei, laying 7.8km of new rail

northern rail line reopening

and replacing expired timber sleepers with 11,700 new concrete sleepers so far. That work, funded through the NZ Upgrade Programme, was designed to allow the track to accommodate heavier trains, with 18 tonne axle loads – the load standard

for rail elsewhere on the North Island.

“The aim is to complete as much renewal work as possible before the NAL reopens and avoid further disruption for customers.”

... in state of flux, plus port uncertainty

A 2021 report for the Ministry of Transport concluded that rail provides between $1.70 billion and $2.14 billion in unseen benefits to New Zealand each year, through reducing congestion by taking cars and trucks off the roads, fuel savings, lowering road maintenance costs, improving road safety, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Not unlike other parts of the national rail network, the NAL has long been in a state of flux, as planners and decision makers consider ways for rail to move a greater proportion of the 30,000 containers that travel southward from Northland every year.

Under the Northland Rail Rejuvenation project, recent years saw an upgrading of the line between Swanson in West Auckland and Whangārei, to enable it to carry high-cube (2.6 metre high) containers for the first time. This required

the replacement of five old bridges, the lowering of track through 13 tunnels, and the laying of 150,000 new sleepers and nearly 63,000m3 of ballast on the track bed. After upgrade closures the line reopened in early 2021.

Other major projects planned or under consideration include upgrading and reopening the line from Kauri to Otiria (about 60km north of Whangārei, near Moerewa) and the building of a rail-road transfer site at Otiria; and the building of a long-proposed 19km rail spur linking the NAL at Oakleigh south of Whangārei to Northport at Marsden Point, one of the few New Zealand ports not currently railconnected.

The Oakleigh to Northport spur has been designated for rail use since 2012. Progress has been held up amid tussles over funding and the future of the port, including whether the Ports of Auckland should be

Info: 2002 KiwiRail integrated report: https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/ assets/Uploads/documents/Annualreports/2022/KiwiRail-IntegratedReport-2022.pdf

2021 Ministry of Transport report: https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/assets/ Uploads/documents/2021-Value-ofRail-report.pdf

relocated there, as advocated by Wayne Brown long before he became mayor of Auckland.

(Moving the Auckland port to Manukau harbour instead was the favoured option in a 2020 government report, although decisions were deferred. Budget 2022 included funding for studies on several proposals relating to freight in the upper North Island, including developing a new dry dock at Northport and a large-scale port in Manukau Harbour.)

In last year’s integrated report, KiwiRail chair David McLean said KiwiRail was continuing to develop the business case for the new line from Oakleigh to Northport . The report said the acquisition of land needed for the project was progressing.

“The project is subject to Joint Ministers’ approval of the business case and is expected to take up to five years from initiation to completion.”

Les Miller & Jackie Woolerton - Webster Malcolm Law

The line between Auckland and Northland is unlikely to reopen before the end of the year.

New mobile library hits the road

Love reading but live rurally and struggle to get to a library? Auckland Mobile Libraries could have the solution, with a new regular service to three rural communities in north Rodney.

The Tamariki Mobile Library will be visiting Tomarata, Port Albert and Tauhoa once a month for between 45 minutes and two hours, bringing a selection of books for children, teens and adults.

The new service is part of Auckland Libraries, so as well as borrowing and returning books directly at the mobile library van itself, people can borrow from the van and return to any branch, or borrow from a branch and return to the mobile library.

Anyone wanting to request books online can do that as well – simply select ‘Mobile Tamariki’ from the alphabetical list of libraries on the Auckland Libraries website and the item will be sent to the mobile

Pioneering families invited

library for collection.

Library staff on board will also be able to help with signing up for a library card or answer any questions about library services.

The Tamariki Mobile Library will be at the following venues in the coming weeks –Forest Reserve Hall, 619 School Road, Tomarata: Thursday, August 3 and Thursday, August 31, 11.30am to 12.15pm

Port Albert Community Hall, 980 Port Albert Road: Thursday, August 17 and Thursday, September 14, 10.15am to 11.45am

Tauhoa School, Naumai Road: Thursday, August 17 and Thursday, September 14, 1pm to 3pm

Anyone needing a free library card can apply online here:   https://bit.ly/30zn2Hj

Info: Auckland Mobile Libraries on Facebook.

The descendants of pioneering families are being invited to register for a Founders Day event on November 18, which is being held as part of the Warkworth Heritage Festival. The festival is being held to mark the founding of Warkworth by European settlers 170 years ago. Coordinator Dave Parker says a special invitation is being sent to all those citizens who are descendants of pioneering families in the district. “We are keen to entertain them and to thank them for building the foundations of our district and for their contributions to our society,” Parker says. “Heritage Mahurangi is keen to provide a full day of activity, which will include a river pageant and a special function in the Warkworth Town Hall.” Registration forms are available by emailing Lyn Wade ddlc.wade@gmail.com

Tell us what’s important,

Rodney

Our local board has come up with a three-year plan outlining the key initiatives we want to focus on.

Now we need your help to check if we’ve got it right.

Submissions must be received by 4pm Monday 14 August.

For more information go to:

akhaveyoursay.co.nz/localboardplans

The Tamariki Mobile Library is making monthly visits to three communities.

I t ’s your place. Your voice.

Fundingroundcloses APPLY1September NOW

He hōnore, he korōria, he maungārongo ki te whenua, he whakāro pai ki ngātangata katoa. Paimārire.

Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust and Auckland Council have partnered to deliver the MLRP - a $5 million, five-year p programme funded by the Ministry for the Environment's (MfE) 'Jobs for Nature' programme The Mahurangi catchment c covers about 13,500ha including 206.6km of rivers and streams that discharge into the Mahurangi Harbour. MLRP aims to i increase the health of the harbour and its waterways by reducing human induced sediment from private and public land a activities Sediment is the third-highest threat to marine habitats in New Zealand

up to 60% funding

Mahurangi Land Restoration Programme (MLRP) towards fencing and planting for rural landowners in the Mahurangi catchment

Funding covers:

buying native plants & planting labour fencing materials & fencing labour site preparation & maintenance alternative water supply removal or remediation of fish passage barriers

www.ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz/melr

Funding does not cover:

activities to meet subdivision or title requirements extensive weed control

Find out more about applying. Contact MLRP Land Advisor, Holly Fleming. Mobile: 021 548 818

Email: hollyfleming@terrapura.co.nz

mahurangilandrestoration@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Mahurangi Harbour

Ahuroa firefighters

It was a night of firsts at the Ahuroa Volunteer Fire Brigade on July 18.

Former chief fire officer Alastair Todd became the brigade’s first Gold Star recipient and along with former chief fire officer Mike Bridge, was honoured with the brigade’s first Life Honorary Memberships.

Both Todd and Bridge were foundation members of the brigade, which formed in 1996. It started as a rural fire force before coming under the umbrella of Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) in 2017.

Todd received his award from long-serving Warkworth fire officer Gary Aitken, now retired, who made the presentation on behalf of the Gold Star Association. Aitken said that over Todd’s 25 years with the brigade, there were 1136 musters. His attendance equated to 98.33 per cent. Underlining the significance of the award, he said that there were 14,000 professional and volunteer firefighters in New Zealand, but less than five per cent would ever receive a Gold Star.

FENZ group manager Katie Pocock thanked Todd for his perseverance and commitment in helping to set up the Ahuroa brigade.

“You have left a legacy,” she said.

Todd, who has since retired from the brigade, said it had been a pleasure to serve the community.

“There’s a lot of things that firefighters see that they wish they hadn’t seen, but in the end the good outweighs the bad,” he said. “It’s amazing how the time flies.”

Bridge’s Life Membership recognised his contribution to the brigade especially during its early years, when he had volunteered a huge amount of time to fixing and modifying hand-me-down equipment. Both the initial fire station and the current one were built on his land.

Other awards presented on the night included a 21year service award for Alan Davie-Martin, who joined the brigade soon after its formation, and the brigade value awards which went to James Brady (commitment), Chris Taylor (teamwork), Judy Brady (dignity), Anthony Dunman (positivity) and Poppy Woods (courage).

Joel Amery won the Most Improved Firefighter and Best Attendance awards, and Judy Brady was named Medical Responder of the Year. The appointment of deputy chief fire officer Chris Taylor was also formalised on the night. The partners and families of the recipients were thanked for the huge part they played in the brigade.

Foundation member Mike Bridge, now retired, played an integral role in the brigade over many years.

Alan Davie-Martin, pictured with his wife Beth, joined the brigade not long after it was formed.

Chris Taylor is the brigade’s new deputy chief fire officer.

Chief fire officer James Brady, Alison and Alastair Todd, and FENZ representative Katie Pocock.

KGA Chartered Accountants

When economic times are challenging, businesses can benefit from accountancy advice that does more than crunch the numbers.

That’s according to the new owners of KGA Chartered Accountants in Warkworth, Jen Smith and Lize Van Schalkwyk.

“It’s tough for businesses at the moment and people are definitely looking for ways to cut costs,” Lize says. “Margins are being squeezed, and businesses have to be careful they are not making a loss without realising it.”

Jen says this is where a good relationship with your accountant can be invaluable.

“We work alongside our clients, help them set goals and achieve them,” she says.

“It can take away some of the worry and stress when you understand your accounts and what’s happening in your business on a month-by-month basis.”

KGA, which employs seven accountants and three administration staff, has been in Warkworth for nearly 50 years.

Jen and Lize have both been with the company for nearly two years, although they have come to Warkworth on quite different pathways.

Jen grew up on the Hibiscus Coast, worked for BDO in Auckland for three years after graduating from Auckland University and then spent four years overseas – a year in Brisbane working on fraud investigations and three years in London auditing charitable organisations. Prior to joining KGA, she worked for Skywork. She is passionate about “walking alongside business leaders to ensure they are making decisions on sound financial advice”.

Lize, on the other hand, immigrated to NZ with her family from South Africa four years ago, after spending 10 years working in small business lending. She says the experience gave her a wealth of experience across all facets of running a business, from risk to human resources. Her speciality is problem solving, whether that is a tax issue or improving operating systems.

Looking for an Approachable Accountant

www.kgaww.co.nz

Alittle café come art gallery has opened in Alnwick Street, Warkworth, promising visitors a place to feast their eyes, as well as quench their thirst.

Elemento owners Andrew Stubbing and partner Andrea O’Shea hope the art on the café walls will encourage customers to linger a little longer and start a conversation.

They plan to feature a variety of art exhibitions, starting in August with contemporary abstract painter Mandy Rodger, of Grey Lynn. Andrew describes Rodger’s style as dynamic flow using bold, colourful and fluid brush strokes.

“My grandfather was a professional artist in the Philippines, so that might be where my interest in art originates,” Andrew says.

“We’ll be featuring local artists, as well as

artists from further afield.”

The couple moved to Warkworth late last year, and already run Elemento in Gumfield Drive, in Warkworth’s industrial area. Prior to covid, they had cafes in central Auckland and at Mt Ruapehu. Andrew also worked for Turners and Growers for more than 10 years, importing fruit and vegetables.

Andrew says the move from Auckland to Warkworth was prompted by a desire to put down some roots and raise a family in a great community.

“We’re very proud of the fact that our first child, seven-week-old Alex James, was born in Warkworth.”

Andrew says Elemento is about keeping things simple with a small selection of slices, baps and toasties, and great Allpress coffee.

We’re all about giving you the best possible professional support to help you achieve the results you need - whoever you are, and whatever you do.

Are you looking for an approachable Accountant?

As your personal business coach and support team we’ve got your back and can offer ongoing support, wherever you are. From Farming to Forestry, whether you’re a Truckie or a Tradie, a Business Continuity Plan and Cashflow Forecasting could save your business. Funding is available through Regional Business Partners.

We’re all about giving you the best possible support to help your achieve the results you need.

We’re professional, embrace technology, value communication, and are committed to our clients.

We offer a range of business mentoring and accounting services, and we’ll happily tailor our services to meet your specific requirements.

Get in touch!

Find out more about business planning and advice, or book your complimentary 1 hour business review. Get in touch!

Andrew Stubbing

Elemento

Directors Lize (pron: Leeza) Van Schalkwyk and Jen Smith.

Motorway signage lacks traction

The One Mahurangi Business Association is calling on Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency to put up signs on the new motorway, alerting people to the option of turning off at Puhoi to take the scenic route to Warkworth and Mahurangi West. But the call is falling on deaf ears.

Association manager Murray Chapman says it is a relatively simple fix, and the association has already designed a sign and even offered to put it in place.

“While we are all enjoying the benefits of the new motorway, it does bypass Warkworth and that is not helping our local businesses, especially those in the Grange, at the southern entrance to Warkworth, where they have suffered a 30 to 40 per cent drop in turnover,” Chapman said in an email to NZTA.

However, NZTA replied that state highway

road guidance and advisory signs were designed for route continuity and use by long distance travellers, strangers to an area and tourists.

“They are not intended to provide detailed local road use information,” NZTA says.

“This approach helps to reduce the overall number of signs and, therefore, potential distraction and misunderstanding on the road network.

“From a Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth project perspective, the current signage delivered per the signage strategy is sufficient for the area and compliant with existing strategies and guidelines.”

Meanwhile, a new artwork at the southern end of the new motorway, where two concrete plinths now stand, is expected to be installed “in coming months”.

Power outages could be avoided

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

Vector is calling for more flexibility around trimming and removing trees that pose a threat to power lines.

At an Auckland Council Transport and Infrastructure Committee on July 20, Vector chief operating officer Peter Ryan said preventable power outages were “hampered” by regulations.

During Cyclone Gabrielle, Ryan said 65 per cent of power outages were caused by vegetation and 80 per cent of those outages were specifically trees.

“Vegetation is probably our biggest contributor to outages around the network,” he said.

“We are seeing a higher frequency of high velocity wind across the network, which impacts us particularly in the north and in parts of Auckland’s west.”

Ryan said Vector was allowed to cut back

vegetation up to three metres around a power line, depending on the voltage.

“Anything beyond that we can’t cut. A lot of the trees that impact our lines are beyond that cut zone, so we can’t proactively cut those trees to reduce the risk.”

He said Vector had been lobbying for eight years to increase the cut zone and shift to a more risk-based approach.

Cr Chris Darby asked about Vector’s policy on undergrounding infrastructure, as [power] assets contributed to deaths and serious injuries on Auckland’s roads.

Ryan said that undergrounding infrastructure would write off the remaining life of assets.

“It’s not unique to Vector; it’s an issue right across the world where there are poles in road corridors that people hit, unfortunately,” Ryan said.

“When assets need upgrading, which could be because of increasing loads in certain areas, we are looking at whether or not it’s going to be viable to underground the lines.”

Motorway remedial

Remedial work on unstable land adjacent to the northern end of the new $880 million Pūhoi-to-Warkworth motorway is expected to run until October, but will not push up the price tag, according to Waka Kotahi.

“[The road building contractor] NX2 is responsible for ensuring the project meets necessary quality and safety standards, including the required maintenance standards, during the 25-year operation period at no additional cost to Waka Kotahi,” general manager of transport services Brett Gliddon said.

A Waka Kotahi spokesperson confirmed that that included the work now underway at the slip site.

An external engineers’ report released by Waka Kotahi in response to an Official Information Act (OIA) request by Radio NZ revealed that severe rainfalls in January appeared to have reactivated “a pre-historical and deepseated landslide” just south of the Pukerito roundabout at the Warkworth end of the route.

The report authored by GHD and Jacobs was dated April 4, about 10 weeks before Prime Minister Chris Hipkins officially opened the 18.5-kilometre stretch of motorway. It said “catastrophic failure” of the cut slope was unlikely during typical rainfall events. However, if not stabilised, there was a risk of landslide movement accelerating, especially if more extreme rainfall events were experienced. The authors added that stabilisation was required in the short term to minimise the risk of accelerated movements and exposure to extreme climatic, storm events and strong earthquakes.

“While works at this location are ongoing, concrete barriers are in place and a temporary traffic management plan has been instituted,” Waka Kotahi said. “These measures ensure the landslide poses no risk to the public travelling on the motorway.”

Gliddon said the motorway was built through an area with challenging geology, and with a history of slips and land movements.

“The road has been designed and constructed with these issues taken into account, in order to provide a safe and resilient route,” he said.

Highlighting the “challenging geology”, a second document released under the OIA stated that multiple landslides had occurred at various locations along the entire route of the road under construction since late 2019, continuing into late last year.

work underway

Kauri Museum celebrates redevelopment

A $3 million upgrade at The Kauri Museum, in Matakohe, was celebrated on July 22 and 23 with an official opening and open weekend. Nearly 1000 people visited over the two days, which included free entry to the museum. The project, which has been underway for nearly two years, included upgrades to the museum’s Gumdiggers Cafe, the creation of a new Research and Collections Centre, and a new entrance and forest walkway. The redevelopment was funded by a grant from the Provincial Development Unit, plus contributions

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

Waka Kotahi: “Work on slip near PūhoiWarkworth motorway won’t add to price tag.”

from Lotteries Environment and Development and Lotteries Communities.

Sweetappreciation with chocolatebrown

Congratulations to Bill Townson, who is this week’s recipient of a gift basket from Chocolate Brown. Bill was nominated by Kawau Bay Health practice nurse Katherine Piper, who wrote ...

I would like to nominate Bill in appreciation of his contribution to our medical centre and local community. Bill heard that one of our good old finger bandage applicators had gone missing and that they no longer make the best quality ones (made from steel). He quietly took note and in his workshop created us two! One for each of the Kawau Bay Health medical units. A great gift to our nurses and the community as they are used for ease, and more painless dressing applications. I have since heard that he recently noticed one of our commercial pedal rubbish bins was broken and he whipped it away and repaired it overnight. What a generous man!

Send

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

40th

Celebration Anniversary

10% off storewide until August 12th

Spend over $40 in August to go into our anniversary draw for a $250 voucher

Central’s Tips

August 2023

The fruit and vegetable garden

• Plant alyssum at the base of fruit trees to ensure the bees will visit. Specific seed blends for aiding pollination are also available

• Use snail bait or organic snail and slug control amongst maturing cabbages and cauliflowers and around new seedlings of lettuces and herbs

• Raised beds tend to sink over the time, so add fresh Garden Mix and dig it in. If the existing soil hasn’t been conditioned in a while add compost and Dave’s Growth Booster Sheep Pellets

• Harvest time for all the winter vegetables – carrots, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, beetroot, and silver beet

• Plant new seedlings of fennel – they will take the baked vegetables to the next level. Put in globe artichokes, but pick off snails regularly – they live in the big, pleated leaves

• Hardier herbs such as thymes, oregano, coriander sage and parsley can be planted. Cos and head lettuce varieties will start the salad patch

• In frost free areas, sprouted potatoes can be planted. Dig a trench and plant them 40cm apart covering lightly with soil as they grow

The ornamental garden

• Prune hydrangeas and hibiscus, taking out dead or old branches at the base. Thin out congestion in the centre of the bush and cut back branches to a double set of leaves

Cafe, Gifts, Chocolaterie

Ph 422 2677

6 Mill Lane, Warkworth

• For blue hydrangea flowers, apply ‘blueing tonic’ (Aluminium Sulphate). For pink flowers, apply lime. White flowers remain the same in any soil

• Plant hedges in soil that has been enriched with compost. To encourage good, thick growth in a new hedge, it’s best to cut the bushes back by a quarter at planting

• Look for dormant perennial plants beginning to shoot through the ground and place a marker stick beside them, so you don’t pull them out by mistake

• Repetition planting: add groups of the same plant around the garden to give it a sense of continuity. Reliable shrubs or tidy strap-leaf plants for this look include loropetalums, and coprosmas, dietes and lomandras

• Make lavender a big thing for summer: if you’re brave enough, cut back lavenders that are beginning to show bud or flower – this will increase their bushiness and overall size for a wow summer flowering

• It’s too early to fertilise roses and other showy summer plants, but adding sheep pellets around the garden releases nitrogen slowly into the garden soil

Lingerie Specialists

Rain respite for

festival lights

The annual Festival of Lights provided a welcome boost to food and hospitality outlets in Warkworth on July 15. Organiser Murray Chapman says although it is always hard to estimate crowd numbers at events like the festival, he thought there were around 8000 to 9000 in the town and on the riverfront for the evening events.

“I was blown away by the day,” he says. “We had wonderful winter weather and the town looked amazing with a large number of businesses lit up.

“One of my favourite parts of the festival is always seeing families and children with huge smiles on their faces enjoying the Gull Family Fun Day and the ITM Parade of Lights, and the effort that some people go to to make their vehicles/floats look amazing.”

Chapman said the lighting of the art installation in the trees across the river was undoubtedly the highlight of this year’s event.

“It is an artwork that will be there for years to come.” The sound performance takes 20 minutes and starts on the hour at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.

“We also had massive support from our local businesses to help us run the event and this is an event run by locals, supported by local businesses for locals and also to attract people from outside of town to visit and spend money.

“One local hospo place told me that on Saturday night they had their biggest day ever.

“All the food trucks sold out and I have been told that a lot of the food places in town either sold out or had long waiting times, the cafes were busy all day.

“So, for us, that is a perfect result – lots of happy families and, hopefully, happy hospitality places.”

Midwinter blues get the boot

Locals keen for a midwinter lift featuring exercise, healthy snacks and a dance soundtrack from the 1990s and early 2000s should look no further than an early bird morning rave being organised in Warkworth on Sunday, August 6.

From 9am to 11am, the Warkworth Masonic Hall will be transformed for a rave – for the uninitiated, a dance party showcasing DJs or live performers – offering “as much of a nightclub feel as we can generate,” according to organiser Gareth Pring.

“I fully appreciate that at nine o’clock on a Sunday morning people might have inhibitions and not feel comfortable dancing in front of others,” Gareth says. “We’ll do our very best to make it dark, to make it loud, and to make it a nightclub feel.”

Gareth said the event, inspired by similar ones in London, New York and Auckland, would be family friendly, with all ages welcome. It would appeal to people in the area reluctant to go clubbing in the city, which often entails having to organise accommodation in town and arranging childcare at home.

“It can also involve being accosted by drunken people, which some people don’t like on a night out. This will all be done and dusted by 11, so they get all the plus points without some of the negative things that can come with a night out.”

Gareth said there were no expectations around dress.

“If they feel comfortable wearing gym gear and trainers, they’re more than welcome to do that. If they want to dress up they can absolutely do that as well.”

Wellness is at the core of the event. Complimentary fruit will be available, Elemento will provide coffee and smoothies, and 10-minute massages will be available from Halwyn Massage Therapy.

Music will be delivered by DJ Not That Guy – “think Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada and Daft Punk” – and talented local vocalists will also sing over the top of some of the house tracks.

House fire risk rises

“It will be a nostalgia trip for those who used to go out back in the day,” Gareth said. “People can use the event however they like. Either bring the kids to give them a taste of the best era for dance music, or leave them in bed. Use it as a morning gym session and get the 10,000 steps in for the day, or grab a coffee and smoothie and hang with friends while getting a massage.”

Gareth hopes to develop a community of attendees who can share ideas for future events.

“Winter is a bit of a slog and can have a significant impact upon people’s wellbeing, especially if they don’t get to socialise as much as they would during the summer,” he said. “This is just one event that hopefully will enable people to get out of the house, be among a like-minded crowd and feel better about the day and following week.”

Tickets for the event ($15 for adults, $10 for kids 16 and under) are available at Eventbrite.

Home owners are being urged to take extra care around open fires and electric appliances this winter. Over the last three years, there has been a 16 per cent increase in the number of fire claims between summer and winter with a nearly 20 per cent increase in the cost of those claims. The leading cause of fires in the home starts in the kitchen, mainly from kitchen appliances or unattended stove tops and ovens. However, the number of fireplace related fire claims in winter increased by 80 per cent along with a 70 per cent increase in fire claims resulting from heating sources such as heaters and electric blankets.

The early bird morning rave will be held at the Warkworth Masonic Hall on Sunday morning. Photo, unsplash.com

DJ Not That Guy will be on the decks at the morning rave.

WARKWORTH

SNELLS BEACH

WE PROVIDE

Homebuilders

Quentin Jukes, Coordinator www.homebuildersfs.org

Clear communication

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw Communicating openly, clearly and with respect is a learned skill and something we can all practice and improve. A key element of constructive communication is the desire to understand each other, rather than defeat each other.

Practical approaches that can help improve communication include setting aside time to talk and turning off screens, so we can focus on the other person. Expecting others to read our mind and to just know how we see what is happening and how it affects us, is generally not a winner. We need to talk about how we feel, what we want and what we need, as clearly as possible. How well we listen to the other person is also critical, but can be tricky. We need to consciously put our own thoughts to the side while the other person is speaking and really listen to them. Focus on what they are saying about how they feel, what they want and what their intentions are. If we are busy in our heads with our own thoughts and judgements, we won’t have been listening to what the other person is trying to communicate for the last sentence or two.

Our body language also matters. If you can recall a time when you have been trying to share something important with someone and you noticed them rolling their eyes, staring at their screen or out the window, you will understand how important this non-verbal communication is. The tone and volume of our voice is

our responsibility, not the other person’s. Is our tone signalling that we don’t care what the other person is saying, or don’t believe them? We are responsible for how we behave.

Perhaps the hardest skill to develop is being brave. Brave enough to put our own desire to be right to the side and, instead, to open up and share how we feel and really listen to what the other person is trying to say to us. A key component of any healthy relationship is respect and equality. This means both people have equal power to make decisions together. Not one person believing they have the right to “be in charge” of the other person and decide for them. Likewise, being threatening or abusive isn’t okay. Like all learnt skills, conscious practice is how we improve. If you feel like you would like some assistance to improve your communication, please feel free to contact Homebuilders Family Services on 425 7048 or visit www.homebuildersfs.org. We have a range of services people can access to improve couples’ communication, parenting approaches and so on, and all of our services are free of charge.

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

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

• Wide range of visiting specialists.

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

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

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

• Pharmacy, Labtest, Physio on site.

• Free Covid-19 testing available.

Surgery at Unit 2/347 Mahurangi East Road

Surgery at 11 Alnwick Street

Lack of affordable housing strains family budgets

There was a raft of support measures aimed primarily at families in the 2023 budget. These included extending 20 hours of early childhood education to cover two-year-olds and expanding the eligibility criteria for childcare assistance, introducing free public transport for children under 13 and permanent half-price fares for under 25s, and introducing Kiwisaver contributions for paid parental leave.

But is this enough and is it what families, struggling with cost of living pressures, need?

Mahurangi Matters spoke to some of the area’s social service providers about what they see as some of the priorities going into this year’s election ...

Women’s Centre Rodney manager Jo Nicholson says families are struggling with higher food prices and she would like to see more discussion around making healthy food cheaper and more accessible, particularly fruit and vegetables.

“Rental housing is another challenging area. It’s very difficult to find good rentals and housing stock hasn’t kept up with the population growth,” Nicholson says.

“More affordable housing is needed. It is really difficult for vulnerable families to find good quality housing and remain in the area with their support network.

“Some housing is also hard to access if it is off the public transport routes.”

Nicholson says the rapid growth in the area – now and in the future – is stretching resources and things such as healthcare, education, transport and electricity costs need to be continually reviewed for accessibility and equity.

“The district has been perceived as a small affluent country town but is now a growing part of Auckland with a diverse community and ranging needs, often without the funded services to support those needs.

“We would hope any government keeps pace with our changing community and recognises that the answers lie within the community and give them a voice in defining services.

“Demand for our service seems to be steadily increasing and we are constantly adapting to meet the needs and to effectively allocate stretched resources. Families who have not previously experienced hardship are now struggling and having to reach out for the first time.”

Mangawhai’s rapidly expanding population is bringing with it an increase in social problems, according to Te Whai Community Trust general manager Kiri Eriwata. She says top of her election wish list would be a high school for the town, as well as increased funding for youth workers and counsellors.

“We have an interesting social ecosystem here, in that all the youth have to go out of town to go to school, so they don’t have a very good sense of place for them here,” she says.

“What’s desperately needed is a high school, but the Ministry of Education has said there’ll be nothing until other schools are full.

“Most of our youth go to Otamatea High School and three massively full bus-loads go every day, but we know they don’t feel a huge sense of place here or at school.

“There are not a lot of activities in Mangawhai if you don’t skate or surf; there are little pockets here and there, but we really need a good working group where the community gets together to organise a programme for youth activity.” Eriwata says she’d like to see a community centre that includes a youth centre, with a youth coordinator and youth workers, to give young people a sense of place in the community and where they could co-design what they wanted.

Te Whai has put together a survey asking local youth what

continued page 18

they would like to see for them in the town, which will be distributed in early September.

Eriwata says the trust is currently overwhelmed by the high demand for counselling, with only limited funds available throughout Kaipara.

“We haven’t been able to get government funding for youth work or counselling, but I’m hoping that when Stats NZ figures from the census come out, the government will be able to see how much of an explosion in population there has been here, and there’s more to come from Mangawhai Central.”

On the plus side, Te Whai Trust has recently received funding to become a Heartland Services site, a national programme to provide easier connection for rural communities and whanau to government departments, agencies and services.

Eriwata says this means that instead of having to get to Whangarei, people will be able to make appointments in Mangawhai, whether it’s to see IRD, WINZ or any other government department to tax and budgeting advice or help with filling out forms.

She says it’s a big thing for the trust, which is constantly having to look for new funding to cover an ever-increasing range of services now being requested.

“We’re trying not to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff,” she says. “But the population explosion is happening now and we are building the plane while we’re flying it.”

The issues that Homebuilders Family Support would most like political candidates and parties to focus on, often interconnected, are the obvious ones –housing, education, the cost of living and climate change.

Affordable and healthy homes tops the list, says coordinator Quentin Jukes, adding that for many people approaching Homebuilders, whether they’re paying rent or a mortgage, “it just gets worse and worse”.

“People will pretty much always pay their accommodation costs first, so what gets cut back? Food, healthcare, clothing, activities for the kids – all stuff that really shouldn’t be cut.”

Every week the organisation deals with families needing emergency or transitional housing, yet there are no known plans in the coming years to build any new social housing between Albany and Whangārei, he says. As a result, people in that position must often relocate to transitional housing in west or south Auckland, with all the

disruption that entails for the family, including children who have to leave their schools, friends and sport teams. Jukes says it can be totally devastating.

“The only trend we’ve seen is things are getting worse, and no real solutions are being offered by decision-makers.”

Homebuilders has for years worked to push for more social housing in the area, and has met with senior people in both major parties when in government.

“I think both major parties are aware of the issues,” Quentin says. “I don’t think it’s about a lack of awareness. I think it’s about priorities, how things are framed up, how they see what matters in society.

“If housing is seen primarily as about an investment, that’s how it’s dealt with. If housing is seen primarily as ensuring that people have warm, healthy homes, it’s a different plan.”

Education is another pressing issue Homebuilders would like to see parties tackle, and Quentin says that with the surge in anxiety and depression levels in recent years, increasing funding for school counsellors would be a real start.

“Like so many structures, they are stretched. Identifying problems early, being able to respond early just gets harder and harder, and so the problems don’t get dealt with.” Meanwhile there is no end in sight when it comes to the broader cost of living crisis.

“It’s not like people are giving us the message ‘just hang in there because in three months it will all come right’. If anything, things just look more bleak and dire.”

And on the “blunt reality of climate change”, Quentin says concerns relate to how we deal with the underlying issue but also to how we become more resilient as communities, and how that’s resourced.

Requests for assistance from the Warkworth Christian Foodlink have soared, and team members would like to see political parties taking active steps to address the deepening cost of living, housing and other interrelated crises.

Compared to an average of 10 food parcels distributed a week precovid, the weekly average is now 29, and 18 parcels a day is not unheard of, staff say.

The service distributed 147 parcels in June (serving 585 people) compared to 115 parcels (386 people) in June last year and 46 parcels (148 people) in June 2021.

Rosanna Ball, a counsellor with the Mahu Vision Community Trust, which manages the foodbank service, says housing – lack of affordability for first-home buyers, rising rents and lack of social housing – is one of the greatest needs.

“If the food bank wasn’t here, it would be a massive disaster.”

She and trust colleagues Arney Bingham and Moevasa Taboru offer other suggestions, including more support for schools to feed needy students, and changes to migration policies to make them easier to understand and navigate. Adding a personal view, Rosanna also calls for an amnesty for overstayers, saying their children especially were being penalised by being denied schooling, setting them up for a life of failure.

With the number of clients growing, team members feel the pressure of juggling, says Moevasa. Asked if the situation was approaching a crisis point, Rosanna agrees.

“For us we’re so busy doing the work we haven’t stopped to think how much it has worsened.”

Dance champs stepping out with new adult classes

Anyone who’s watched Dancing With the Stars and dreamt of floating round the dance floor has the chance to have a go themselves next month, when two champion dancers bring their expertise to Warkworth.

Peter and Rachell van der Veek are eighttime national NZ Latin and ballroom champions who have travelled the world as pro-dancers, competition judges and expert instructors for more than 30 years. Now living in Orewa, they are starting a series of novice adult dance classes at Warkworth Performing Arts (WPA) in the Grange, beginning on August 3. As well as traditional ballroom and Latin sessions, Peter and Rachell will also run adult street dance and fitness classes.

Having run their own successful dance studio in The Netherlands for nearly 25

years, they’re keen pass on their lifelong passion for the joy of dance to a new Kiwi audience and say all ages and abilities are welcome

Following successful trial workshops at WPA recently, the couple has scheduled two five-week ‘seasons’ on consecutive Thursday evenings in August and November.

Adult street dance with Rachell and adult fitness with Peter will run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, followed by ballroom and Latin with both of them from 7.45pm to 8.45pm. Each five-week season costs $80 per person, which works out at $14 per lesson plus a $10 administration fee.

Rachell and Peter can also provide private lessons by arrangement.

Info: Go to www.wpa.co.nz/recharge-nonperformance or email admin@wpa.co.nz

Cha-cha-challenging, but great fun –

For many years, I’ve watched, fascinated, as non-dancers transform from shambling amateurs to polished pros on TV dance shows. It’s not just the steps and skills they acquire, it’s the change in their souls – they fall in love with dance.

So, while the immersion training that those dancing stars experience might be unattainable, I still wanted to give it a go.

Enter Peter and Rachell van der Veek, international champions, who have settled locally and are now keen to share their skills with novice hoofers like me. With husband in tow, we attended two workshops at Warkworth Performing Arts’ new studio in the Grange for an introduction to ballroom and Latin.

First thing to report – it’s not easy! Persuading feet that merely walk to remember complex new patterns and steps (and while travelling backwards) is quite a challenge to mind and body. But it’s also great fun, rewarding and incredibly satisfying when you get it right.

We stumbled, tripped and trod on each other’s toes, but we also laughed, connected and enjoyed a good workout. Oh, and we somehow acquired the basics of waltz, quickstep, rumba and cha-cha-cha in the process!

Peter and Rachell are great teachers – they explain things simply and clearly, and most importantly, overflow with tolerance and humour. Give it a go.

Explorer Kids

Looking for a Sunday morning kids program? Explorer Kids runs on alternate weeks at the Warkworth Anglican Church and the Matakana Anglican Church during our service time of 9.30am to 10.30am. In Term 3 Explorer Kids will be running in Warkworth on Sundays August 6th, 20th & September 3rd,17th. In Matakana the program will be running on Sundays August 13th, 27th & 10th September.

Whether you’re new to church or just haven’t been for a while, you’re very welcome to come for a visit and check us out. Email children@warkworthanglican.nz for more info or check us out: www.warkworthanglican.nz

Mahurangi Matters journalist Sally Marden takes to the floor

Champion couple Peter and Rachell van der Veek, pictured now and back in their competitive days, will be sharing their skills in Warkworth.

Ultra-filter brought in to deal with over-full dam

Watercare is having to take extreme measures to stop a large storage dam at the Omaha wastewater treatment plant from bursting its banks after more than a year of exceptionally heavy rains.

To save the 38,000 cubic metre dam, there have already been three emergency discharges of partially treated water into the wastewater system and, ultimately, Whangateau Harbour – the first a year ago, then two more after the January floods and cyclone in February.

Watercare is now saying that, even if the weather improves, the dam will still be at significant risk of overflowing over the next 18 months.

“A breach of the dam crest could damage the dam’s integrity, with a risk of catastrophic failure,” environmental scientist Laurent Daghdevirenian and environmental care manager Nathaniel Wilson said in a letter to the treatment plant’s community liaison group, Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust and Rodney Local Board.

“There is limited storage. Watercare has been running the treatment plant at full capacity since July 2022, but even at this rate, dam levels have not significantly dropped.”

In a bid to prevent the dam’s failure, Watercare has brought in a temporary ultra-filtration plant to treat the stored water further, so more of it can be released safely into the wastewater system, and

thereby lower water levels. Normally, any wastewater in the dam has been filtered and had nutrients removed, but not had “final polishing steps” that would be applied before being used to irrigate gum tree plantations off Jones Road and parts of Omaha Golf Course.

Watercare said it took regular water quality samples during the emergency discharges, and clarity and bacteria levels had been more than acceptable. However, bringing in the ultra-filtration plant from now until October would ensure the wastewater was even cleaner.

Daghdevirenian and Wilson said although the works may trigger a short-term breach of its resource consent for permitted volumes discharged to the Jones Road plantations, they believed any environmental effects would be “very small, if not negligible”.

They said Watercare would increase its monitoring, sampling and analysis from quarterly to monthly until six months after the discharge volumes returned to below the consented volume limits.

“In the unlikely event a meaningful change in groundwater quality is evident in the data, Watercare will contact Auckland Council immediately to discuss potential mitigation options,” they said.

“Watercare considers this approach the best means to mitigate the unprecedented rainfall experienced over the last year.

“The potential breach of the rolling

12-month average on the Jones Road forestry blocks is justified against the possible uncontrolled overtopping of the storage dam, which could led to the failure of the dam itself.”

Levels have remained dangerously high in the Omaha dam, which is next to the cycleway between Takatu and Jones Roads.

The wastewater treatment plant community liaison group’s annual meeting with Watercare is due to take place on August 8 at Point Wells Bowling Club, 4 Kowhai Avenue, starting at 5pm.

Choir invitation

The Matakantata Choir is inviting new singers to join its ranks. The choir, which formed 14 years ago, is a friendly and social team of choristers. It performs locally several times a year, presenting programmes with a wide range of musical styles. It has a new programme under rehearsal, so new singers need to sign up by August 17. The choir is directed by Jenny Eirena and rehearses in the Matakana Hall on Thursday evenings at 7pm. Enquiries: join@matakantata.org.nz or phone 027 436 4363.

Inspiring student art displayed

Around 200 artworks by Mahurangi College students and professional artists will be displayed at the Warkworth Hotel from August 4 to 6.

The annual Art In August exhibition will showcase an eclectic range of work from paintings and photography to pieces modelled in clay.

Visual art teacher Nyree Norrington says the exhibition promises to be a true celebration of artistic expression, passion and dedication.

“Our students’ unique vision and creativity will undoubtedly leave visitors awe-inspired,” she says. “It is also an opportunity for people to engage with established artists and art enthusiasts from the local community, and to network and foster connections in the art world.”

Norrington says the exhibition provides students with the opportunity to participate in a real world exhibition with a variety of exhibiting artists, including Arlin Sukarlin, Carolyn Costly, Fiona Ehn, Kim Boyd, Nikki Robertson, Pauline Gough and Talia Russell.

She says Year 9 students chose birds for their subject and have created beautiful watercolour images with real personality.

“Some of our Year 10 students have worked with the ceramic business Clay Friends and created stunning pieces, and

Chess movie fundraiser

our seniors have work from their NCEA, including work by Year 13 photography students based on their experiences at local businesses Middle Earth Tile company, Southern Paprika and the Puhoi Pub. Entry to the exhibition, which is upstairs at the hotel, is free.

Chess enthusiasts and others are invited to the screening of a New Zealand film with a chess theme on August 11, a fundraiser for the Mangawhai Chess Club. Released in 2014, The Dark Horse is described as “an inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, brilliant but little-known New Zealand hero and chess champion Genesis Potini. Despite having to face challenges on his own, he finds purpose teaching chess to the children in his community in the hope of helping them avoid a life of crime and violence.” Potini is played by Cliff Curtis (Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider, Boy). The 5.30pm event at Mangawhai Movies aims to raise funds to help the club team take part in the Chess Power NZ Nationals in October. The club meets at the Mangawhai Tavern on Tuesday afternoons. All levels and ages are welcome, although under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Contact Tina on 021 689 988.

Piano, Violin, Viola & Cello

Saturday, 26 August 2023 at 4pm

Four award-winning, world-class musicians come together to perform works by Mozart, Dvorak, Frank Bridge and Janet Jennings.

An untitled work by Mahurangi College student Indiana Schollum.

All aboard for ghostly thriller

Six train passengers, stranded at a haunted railway station in Cornwall 100 years ago, is the setting for the Warkworth Theatre Group’s latest production, The Ghost Train. The action starts at 10pm on a very rainy evening when the stationmaster proceeds to tell the passengers a local yarn about a ghost train, in the hope of scaring them to leave. During the night, a disturbed woman arrives, trying to escape the clutches of her sister and a doctor, and the suspense builds as the arrival of the ghost train nears, along

with a pending tragedy.

The play was written by Arnold Ridley, who is better known as Private Godfrey in the classic TV comedy Dad’s Army.

Director Richard Hutchinson says The Ghost Train is a classic comedy thriller with a mix of thrills, chills, laughter, surprises and ghostly goings-on.

This is Hutchinson’s second directing role with the Warkworth company, having directed Don’t Dress for Dinner last year.

“The Ghost Train has some exciting

technical challenges for our backstage crew, with the old-fashioned set, moody lighting and many sound effects,” he says.

“There will be doors that open and close by themselves, a breaking window and a steam train, among other things.

“It’s been a real team effort to bring this one together with a cast of 11. Special thanks to Pat Habrle, as production manager, for coordinating the numerous backstage and front of house crew.”

The Ghost Train will play at the Warkworth

Cement works photo competition launched

The Warkworth Museum is inviting keen photographers to take a closer look at the Wilson Cement Works in Warkworth. The museum, supported by The Camera Store, is running a competition titled: Capturing Heritage in Action, Wilson Cement Works.

Museum manager Victoria Joule says the idea is to continue the museum’s photographic record of the works and their connection with the town.

“We have photographs in our archives dating back to when the cement works were operating, through to when the home guard was packing explosives there during the war, and some from the 1960s and 1980s.

“The competition will allow us to capture how it is used by the town today and some

of the entries will become a permanent part of our archives, as well as being displayed at an exhibition opening in November sponsored by Golden Bay Cement.”

Although much of the site is out of bounds due to safety concerns, Photo Store owner Colin Staples says this should not be a barrier to getting good photos.

“A lot of the ruins are not within the fence, but even walking around the perimeter of the fence and taking photos through the fence will provide opportunities for some great shots,” he says.

He suggests photographers think about using a selfie stick, photographing from a distance and perhaps using a drone.

“The museum is also interested in seeing how people use and enjoy the site today, so

that’s another angle to think about.”

Old photographs can also be entered into the competition.

Staples says that from a technical point-ofview, make sure the lens is clean and use the zoom function.

Entries will be judged in three categories –juniors (aged 5 to 10 years), intermediate (aged 11-16 years) and open. Both printed and digital photos will be accepted and can be left at The Photo Store in Queen Street or the Warkworth Museum.

Winners will receive free framing of their photo, as well as cash prizes or a book, in the case of the junior winner.

Entries will be accepted from September 11 to October 22, and conditions of entry can be read with this story online.

Town Hall from August 11 to 19. Evening shows start at 7pm and there are matinees on August 13 and 19, starting at 2pm. A gala night will be held on August 11, where the audience is being encouraged to dress in 1920s style and meet the cast. The play also marks the theatre group’s 50th anniversary.

Tickets are available from the Mahurangi Matters office, or online at www.wwtheatre. co.nz or www.trybooking.com. There will also be door sales, cash only.

Members of the cast of The Ghost Train.

There are cash prizes and framed photographs to be won in the Wilson cement works photo competition.

Tracey Lawton

Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin

This book proved to be one in the unputdownable genre. Our protagonist is Vivvy Bouchet who, as a young child, shows a strong fascination with the crime photos her mother takes for the morgue. However, there’s much more to Vivvy than her desire to see photos of dead people. Vivvy is both an astronomer who is being funded to find a light at the edge of the universe and a psychic who has come home to clean out her recently deceased mother’s house. While home, Vivvy is asked to help with the cold case of a missing girl that is still in the media headlines. So much is happening – Detective Jesse Sharp, who seems to have a hidden agenda, Vivvy’s history with the police officer who asks for her help, a podcaster who seems set on getting Vivvy lynched, and the memories of growing up with a solo mother who didn’t always provide a stable home life. This is an excellent book to curl up with while the rain keeps coming down.

What About Men? by Caitlin Moran

I loved Moran’s first book How To Be A Woman and her brutal honesty and irreverence had me laughing out loud. Moran started her career as a music journalist and as a staunch feminist and mother of daughters, had never considered what it is to be a young man in today’s world. Media is finally reflecting the changes that women have been working hard to progress for decades and that, it sometimes seems, is a world that is pro-women to the detriment of men. Perhaps this is why toxic males such as Andrew Tate are being glorified by young men looking for role models. This look at how men interact with each other, what seems to be missing in their lives, and how they feel about themselves is intriguing and, of course, still irreverent. I just loved this and certainly it is a book for all women who have a son/husband/ nephew they’d like to understand just that little bit more.

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It will be up to cat owners to keep their pet cats safe.

Feral vs pets – traps won’t know the difference

By Tim Armitage Chair, Restore Rodney East

There has been a lot of publicity around feral cats lately and the harm they do to the environment. It’s estimated there are more than 2.5 million of them across NZ, decimating our wildlife. They can also carry disease, which they can pass onto domestic cats, native wildlife and humans. As a result, there has been a rapid shift in attitudes towards the management of these cats, with the SPCA now stating they support them being controlled. The government is reviewing bringing feral cats within the Predator Free 2050 (PF2050) programme, with all major political parties supporting this change. New legislation may also lead to cats not being allowed to roam and, in time, society will see roaming cats as unacceptable as roaming dogs. Once there is national legislation, Auckland Council may then bring in stronger controls on cats, such as limiting the numbers per house, creating a cat registry, or penalising

owners for bad cat behaviour. So what does this mean for NZ pet cat owners?

New rules around responsible cat ownership will be required to ensure pet cats are kept happy and healthy, while protecting native wildlife from feral cats. Such rules and legislation have been commonplace in Australia for some time.

Once the rules are in place, and feral cats are brought into the predator free initiative, active trapping of feral cats can start. Live capture traps will be needed to prevent pets from being harmed and traps will be set and inspected every day to ensure that if an animal is caught, it is handled humanely. The first step will be to establish whether the cat is feral by looking for a collar or scanning for a microchip. If it doesn’t have a collar or chip, then it may be at risk of being identified as unowned/feral and possibly destroyed.

Although it is not yet a legal requirement to have cats microchipped, it is going to be in everyone’s interest to have them done. In anticipation of the new rules, on behalf of our members, Restore Rodney East is

Funding boost for Big Sand Island recovery

The Tapora Land and Coast Care Group is one of 38 groups that will receive a grant from the Department of Conservation’s $9.2 million Community Fund announced last week.

This year, $7.2 million has been awarded to biodiversity projects that will protect rare species from extinction, and safeguard critically endangered rare ecosystems. A further $2 million will protect significant cultural heritage sites and maintain visitor infrastructure in the backcountry.

The Tapora group will receive $271,640 for weed removal and planting in wetlands and dunelands on Manukapua. This work will support critically endangered ecosystems and threatened bird species, including the tara iti/fairy tern.

investigating whether or not more help could be provided, such as subsidies or grants, so pet owners can potentially get help meeting costs of microchipping and desexing. With spring around the corner and the nesting season coming up, native birds (many of them in serious decline) are at particular risk from cats until they fly. Shorebirds such as dotterels, oystercatchers and terns are especially vulnerable. As a local example, in the last season, video camera footage was collected at Omaha and Snells Beach showing pet cats eating the eggs and chicks, and even a number of adult birds being taken by cats. Ideally, cats need to be kept indoors overnight (cats hunt mainly from evenings until dawn) and should be kept fed and pampered to encourage them not to roam. We’re encouraging cat owners to microchip their pets, keep them indoors at night, and take a look into the great range of cat containment options, such as catios and fence rollers, to keep your cat safe, happy and healthy.

Info: biodiversity@rre.org.nz

Manukapua, also known as the Big Sand Island, is on the western side of the Tapora Peninsula. Manukapua, and the Okahukura reserve opposite on the mainland, holds spiritual, historical and cultural significance to Ngāti Whātua.

A key objective of Kia Puawai ai ngā taonga o Manukapua Project is to eradicate pest animals such as stoats, rats, pigs and cats, and to remove weed infestations.

DOC national operations and regulatory services deputy director-general Marie Long says priority was given to the most critically endangered species and sites, ensuring the greatest possible impact from the funding available.

“Nationally critical species on the brink of extinction such as kākā beak, swamp maire, tūtūruatu/shore plover, kupe skink, and pekapeka tou roa/long-tailed bat will benefit from these grants, alongside critically endangered ecosystems and habitats such as chenier plains and ephemeral wetlands,” she said. “With a focus on important sites for threatened species and ecosystems, collective community efforts will assist in meeting these challenges.”

TOSSI

Lyn Hamilton-Hunter www.tossi.org.nz

The cat conversation

National media coverage on the topic of feral cats has recently ballooned, including Paddy Gower’s powerful head-on reporting on the subject. Next year, the government will review its Predator Free 2050 strategy by opening public consultation on including feral cats in the strategy. In addition, there is a petition for a National Cat Control Act, similar to that for dogs. Why should all this be considered?

Cats are apex predators – they kill between 10 and 20 animals a day. They are as problematic and destructive as stoats, targeting chicks, birds, eggs, skinks, geckos, bats, wētā, frogs and fish. The number of native animals they kill is in the millions. The latest Stats NZ findings state that 75 per cent all of native species are now classed as threatened to extinction or close to being threatened to extinction.

All cats play a major role in this massive decline. On top of all that, they are carriers of toxoplasmosis, a confirmed cause of death in Hector’s and Māui dolphins (DOC) as well as having a detrimental effect on pregnant women and ewes. This is also a local issue. Rangers and volunteers are working tirelessly at Tāwharanui dealing with feral cat incursions. Despite being a designated sanctuary for the natives listed above, there is an uphill battle to capture the feral and stray cats that roam in and out, or live and breed in the park. Efforts have been ramped up recently by the rangers and volunteers, and with use of new technology

and clever trapping, a lot of success has been achieved. There has been a whole month of no sightings on cameras. But constant surveillance is necessary, as they will be back! There are also plans to begin capturing the feral cats before they reach the park. Adjacent land is a major source of the incursions, the native species are being eradicated on that land too. The amount of time, resources and finance needed to deal with these predators, as well as eradicating mustelids and rats, is huge.

This conversation is highly emotive and divisive, in part because there are 1.4 million pet cat owners. Pet cats are an important part of a human’s life, providing companionship and regarded as a family member. No argument there but … yes, there is a but … domestic cats are the source of stray and feral cats. They are estimated to kill 1.12 million natives a year. Wandering cats are at a great risk of car strike and fighting, keeping them home 24/7 keeps them safe and, by default, this helps save our beautiful native taonga. One thing we can all do is to be responsible companion cat owners. Auckland Council and SPCA have guidelines for this. Keep your cat safe at home 24/7, de-sexed, microchipped and well-loved. And let’s support the action to have feral cats as part of Predator Free NZ 2050.

Info: news@tossi.org.nz

Police urge keep stock fenced

Police in Waitematā North are urging landowners to ensure their fences are secure after a number of complaints about wandering stock.

In the past four weeks, police have received 36 complaints of wandering stock on the roads, ranging from a couple of miniature ponies to more than 30 cows on the loose. Areas of concern include Wellsford, Dairy Flat, Stillwater and Helensville.

Waitematā North area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Roger Small says one of the main causes for stock getting onto the roads is inadequate fencing.

“This time of the year sees the slowest grass growth and I suspect some farmers are getting short on grass, which will be contributing to animals pushing through fences to the long grass on roadsides,” he says.

“We are reminding farmers to keep road

boundary fences in good condition and for landowners to be extra vigilant around stock management and supervision.”

Senior Sgt Small says with each incident there is the potential for serious injury if a motorist is involved.

“Police are very appreciative of motorists taking the time to notify authorities of potential risks and, in many cases, making efforts to usher stock back into paddocks before accidents occur.”

He says wandering stock pose a danger for road users, particularly at night when animals are hard to see.

“If a vehicle hits a large animal at speed, it could end in tragedy.

“To avoid this, it is important for land owners to ensure the integrity of their fences and farm gates, particularly in areas where stock are grazing paddocks next to roadside.”

History

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

Riverina and the Wilson story

In 1858, William Wilson and his 22-year-old son, Nathaniel, bought land in the newly opened up Mahurangi area on what is now known as Wilson Road. This was once the main north road, linking the Mahurangi River to Kaipara in the west. Here they each built a simple two-room cottage with adjoining businesses – William, a blacksmith shop, and Nathaniel, a shoemaker’s shop. Nathaniel’s brothers, James and John, would have been young teens at that stage and still living with their parents. By 1863, Nathaniel had married Florence Snell. They lived in the cottage through the birthing and rearing of their 10 children, extending the house to eight rooms to make room for the growing family. Thomas, one of Nathaniel’s five sons, writes in his story of the Wilsons’ Cement Works, of growing up in a large family and the ‘rollicking times’ they had. There were jobs, of course – hens to feed, usually a pig or two and three or four cows to milk, morning and evening, in the large, unfenced acreage. As the seasons allowed, the children would pick fruit to send to market, too.

By 1900, most of the 10 children were married and only Ebenezer, Decem and Nathaniel Jnr remained at home. Nathaniel Jnr had a heart condition and my aunt described him as a ‘blue baby’. The double concrete cottage opposite on Wilson Road, known as Little Riverina, was built as a source of income for him.

In 1901, Nathaniel and Florence started the process of building a home for their retirement on the ridge above the Cement Works, with a view over the surrounding countryside, Mahurangi River and Hauraki Gulf. The light from Tiritiri Matangi was visible on clear nights, as was Hauturu/Little Barrier on clear days.

Robert de Montalk, an Auckland architect, was commissioned to design the house. Interestingly, Riverina is not constructed from concrete but fired clay and lime. Heated local clay was mixed with lime and then rammed into formers to make 225mm thick walls, with the exterior surface reinforced with steel tiles. The interior decoration of ceiling mouldings and turned woodwork fitted the Italianate design of the exterior and the social position of the Wilson family. The internal staircase was built with

Riverina, C1913

a shallow rise especially to accommodate Nathaniel Jnr’s defective heart.

By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the remaining three children had married and, in 1913, Nathaniel and Florence celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all their family. Florence died later that same year.

Nathaniel lived on in Riverina until his death in 1919. The property stayed in the Wilson family until it was sold in 1938. During World War II, the United States Army used both Riverina and Little Riverina as headquarters for various infantry divisions, with camps nearby along Wilson Road. After the war, road makers were accommodated in the house, including Keith Baker and his wife. This was during the upgrading of the highway from Dairy Flat to Wellsford. Postal and telegraph workers then used it as a hostel. By 1969, when Beverley and Ronald Simmons bought it, the heritage report described it as a ruin. The Simmons embarked on significant restoration of Riverina, not only restoring the structure, but also lovingly refurbishing it with antiques, even returning a painting done by Nathaniel’s daughter Mary to its original site on the wall above the staircase. The house now has a Category 2 rating with Heritage NZ and stands above the town, some 120 years on, as a reminder of an important part of Warkworth’s early development.

Upcoming Warkworth Museum events:

• In September a photo competition based on the Wilson Cement Works (see story p22)

• In November, a major display about the cement works.

Top tree tips at farm workshop

Trees and how best to incorporate them into farmland is the topic of a workshop being organised by Beef + Lamb NZ next month.

Trees within Farms: Opportunities with Carbon will be held at the A&P Showgrounds in Railway Street, Helensville on Monday, August 21 at 10am.

Those attending will learn about different ways of integrating trees into a farm system, especially hill or high-country properties with marginal land, as well as essential information on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and climate change.

“The workshop focuses on opportunities to integrate trees on farms and, in doing so, generate a return from the ETS, and/or localised tree-planting, or landretirement funding programmes,” a Beef + Lamb NZ spokesperson said.

“Farmers will leave the four-hour workshop, which includes a case study, with a clear idea of which options they wish to explore further.”

The workshop will cover:

• An overview of climate change and policy issues.

• The Zero Carbon Bill and ETS.

• The ETS definition of ‘forest land’, opportunities and trade-offs.

• On-farm carbon sequestration – the role of trees and soil.

• Carbon units – how they work.

• Greenhouse gas emissions in the context of NZ farming.

• Funding options.

• Which tree species – exotic and indigenous –where, and why.

• Riparian planting and shelter belts.

• Understanding farms’ natural capital and opportunities to build resilience into business. The free workshop includes lunch, but attendees should consider taking a drink bottle.

Registration is essential – visit https://beeflambnz.com/ events

Science

Waste to Energy needs rethink

The proposal for a Waste to Energy (WTE) incineration plant being considered for the Kaipara District has been the subject of recent articles by various local experts in the Mahurangi Matters. The international trend is now strongly towards recycling (The Circular Economy) and away from WTE processes, as I have described in a science column a couple of years ago. This ongoing coverage has elevated local community awareness and concern about emissions from WTE processes. Waste to Energy plants that do not have high-quality scrubbing of output gases are particularly dangerous, as international reviews of WTE plants have shown (Environmental Research Letters, 2020). Perfect scrubbing of incineration gases is difficult and expensive, and makes the capital intensive WTE process financially less viable. The gases emitted by incineration of waste include climate changing carbon emissions, but also carcinogenic organic incineration products, dioxins and furans (www. zerowaste.co.nz). Dioxins and furans are not manufactured for any industrial purpose but are the products of incineration and related processes. While dioxin and furan contamination has been found in the air, soil and food, they are mainly distributed across landscapes through the air. Eating food contaminated by dioxins and furans is the primary source of exposure of these carcinogens to humans and animals. A leading source of exposure to these incineration toxins is if you work near or live close to a WTE plant. These dangerous gases have serious health impacts for the human body and are especially dangerous for unborn children. When they are ingested by farm animals, they contaminate dairy foods and meat. And when washed off the land into streams, they pollute the fresh and marine waterways and the species

that exist in them. Contamination of the soil and plants by these airborne gases is a serious problem for other plant-based foods and perhaps even our wines. Dioxins and furans and their effects on human health have been reviewed by the World Health Organisation (www. who.int) and by the USA Environmental Protection Agency (https://archive.epa. gov). Dioxins are a group of chemically related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs). Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment, and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly in the fatty tissue of animals. More than 90 per cent of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy products, fish and shellfish. Many national authorities have programmes in place to monitor levels in the food supply. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system and interfere with hormones, and can cause cancer. While all humans are already exposed to background levels of dioxins and furans, these are not high enough at this stage to cause extensive health impacts. However, it is essential that these background levels are not increased to a level that would become a problem to broader community health.

The World Health Organization (2016) recommends strict control of industrial processes, including Waste to Energy processes, that would add to the existing threshold level.

The way forward for waste management in NZ is via The Circular Economy and the NZ Sustainable Business Council, which I urge readers to consult at the link https://sustainable.org.nz/circular-economydirectory/

Controversial crossing on August agenda

A controversial decision to install a raised zebra crossing outside Leigh General Store will be re-examined by the Rodney Local Board at its next monthly meeting, on August 16 in Kumeu. More than 70 residents wrote to Auckland Transport about the planned crossing, with most saying it should be placed nearer the school, 80 metres further back along Hauraki Road. However, AT decided to proceed with its original plan, infuriating many people in the process (MM, Jul 17). At the July local board meeting, Kumeu member Geoff Upson said due to the huge opposition to the plans, including from the school, he would like to see the issue on next month’s agenda. Chair Brent Bailey agreed, and said relevant AT staff would be present to discuss the proposed crossing, funding for which comes from the board’s transport targeted rated.

Emeritus Professor Ralph Cooney ONZM, FRSNZ r.cooney@auckland.ac.nz

Drainage districts take back management from council

A long-running saga of who is responsible for funding, fixing and maintaining stormwater drains in two rural areas appears to be reaching resolution, with the formal transfer of responsibility from Auckland Council to the community.

Farmers and landowners in Tapora and Te Arai are setting up two incorporated societies, or drainage boards, that will set their own management plans and be funded by a combination of a targeted rate, general rates and grants from council.

Healthy Waters’ commercial and property team manager Shaun McAuley, who has been working on the issue for more than four years, said the development was exciting and unprecedented.

“This will empower them to make decisions based on asset management plans, allowing them to self-manage the council’s drainage district assets,” he said. “We see this collaborative model as a ground-breaking approach, where local decisions are funded primarily through targeted rates.

“We believe that this model could serve as a blueprint to resolve similar stormwater or flooding issues in other regions.”

Rodney Local Board member Colin Smith, who has been battling to find a satisfactory

solution to the problem of years of underinvestment in keeping the drains fixed and maintained, said it was great that local landowners were now in control.

“We need to move forward and this has to work,” he said. “People are happy to have a rate, but not happy to pay a rate and not get things done.

“The thing now is to get this up and operating, get some meetings happening and minutes on the table.”

McAuley said over the past two years, council had invested around $146,000 in maintenance and renewals, including around $57,000 in grants to landowners, and staff would continue to provide guidance and support to the communities.

“Additionally, we have funded the development of draft asset management plans for each district and will continue to engage with the community about these draft plans in the lead-up to the next longterm plan,” he said.

“The first funding grants will be in place before spring, enabling local landowners to request necessary funding.”

The formation of the societies is the latest stage in a long and complex history of management of the drainage districts at

Te Arai and Tapora, which were originally established by Rodney County Council in the 1950s. After Rodney became part of Auckland Council in 2010, responsibility for the districts was delegated to the Rodney Local Board, with an annual maintenance budget of $26,500, but this sum was never increased. This resulted in drains falling into serious disrepair, excessive weed growth and a good deal of frustration from landowners.

Rodney Local Board and Healthy Waters agreed on a $260,000 repair and

remediation package for drainage districts in 2018, funded by Healthy Waters, then in 2021, responsibility switched back to council and a targeted rate was introduced. A third drainage district, Glorit, is not part of the new framework. Landowners there have chosen to manage the assets on their own properties.

These are the only drainage districts in Auckland – in all other rural areas, private landowners are responsible for maintaining drains on their land.

Getting neighbourly

Police, fire and emergency and local board representatives are among guest speakers planned for Rodney Neighbourhood Support’s annual general meeting on August 17.

Members of the public and Rodney Neighbourhood Support members and friends are invited to hear from police Sgt Brett Hanly and two community constables, FENZ community advisor Leah Hide, Sandra Sweetman from NZ Community Patrols Ōrewa, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chair Gary Brown

09 423 8871

and Rodney Local Board member Ivan Wagstaff.

Attendees at the “informative evening, a great social connection time and supper” will also have the opportunity to talk to police from the neighbourhood support area, which stretches from Albany to Mangawhai, and Bethells Beach to Kaiwaka. The meeting will be held at the St Chad’s Anglican Church in Centreway Rd, Ōrewa, starting at 7pm. RSVP to Rodney coordinator Margaret Faed on 021 258 3737 or at rns.coordinator@gmail.com

Drains in Tapora and Te Arai were neglected for many years until local landowners began the long process of addressing funding and maintenance issues with council and Healthy Waters.

TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI WHĀTUA TRUST BOARD NOTICE OF ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Sec 46 of the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955, an election will be held on Tuesday 7 November 2023 for eleven (11) Board Members for the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua Trust Board, for a three (3) year term. Where the number of valid nominations received for a Takiwā exceeds the number of positions to be filled, an election will be held under the First Past the Post electoral system, by postal and online voting.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations are called for, from the five (5) Takiwā, being Northern Wairoa, Otamatea, Whangārei, South Kaipara and Ōrākei to fill the eleven (11) positions on the Trust Board. The number of positions available for each Takiwā to fill include:

• Northern Wairoa Takiwā - four (4) positions; Otamatea Takiwā - three (3) positions;

• Whangārei Takiwā - one (1) position; South Kaipara Takiwā - two (2) positions;

• Ōrākei Takiwā - one (1) position.

Nominations for the eleven (11) positions open on Tuesday 25 July 2023 and closes at 5pm on Friday 25 August 2023. Nominations must be made on an official nomination paper available from Tuesday 25 July 2023: by accessing www.ngatiwhatua.iwi.nz by accessing www.electionservices.co.nz/tronw23 by emailing info@electionservices.co.nz or by phoning the Returning Office on 0800 922 822

Subject to Sec 14(3) of the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955, an Adult Registered Beneficiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua shall not be eligible for nomination as a candidate for election as a Board Member if he or she is;

(a) a person who is subject to a personal order or a property order made under the Protection of Personal Property Rights Act 1988 or for whom a trustee corporation is acting as manager under section 32 or 33 of that Act; or

(b) a bankrupt who has not obtained his order of discharge, or whose order of discharge is suspended for a term not yet expired, or is subject to conditions not yet fulfilled; or

(c) a person convicted of any offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months or longer, unless he has received a free pardon or has served his sentence or otherwise suffered the penalty imposed upon him.

All candidates must be Adult Registered Beneficiaries (18 years of age or over) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, and must also be nominated by five (5) Adult Registered

Beneficiaries recorded on the Register of beneficiaries for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and affiliated to the Takiwā the candidate is standing for.

Nomination materials must be in writing and received by the Secretary of the Board no later than 5pm, Friday 25 August 2023.

All signatures (candidate and nominators) must be witnessed by 1 or more other adult persons.

A candidate may at any time withdraw their nomination by written notice to the Board. Retiring board members are eligible for re-election.

REGISTER TO VOTE

To vote you must be recorded as an Adult Registered Beneficiary on the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua Beneficiaries Register by 5pm, Friday 25 August 2023, when the roll will close for electoral purposes.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua invites qualified persons aged 18 years or over, who have not already registered, to apply for inclusion in the Register. Those persons who are unsure if they are currently registered, or who wish to check their own details are encouraged to contact Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua office on (09) 470 0720 or uri.registrations@ngatiwhatua.iwi.nz

Registration forms can be accessed online from www.ngatiwhatua.iwi.nz/registration.

Dated at Whangārei, 25 July 2023

Dale Ofsoske, Returning Officer Independent Election Services Ltd for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua

AERIALS

REDDING ELECTRONICS

Freeview Installs, Satellite Dish, UHF Aerial. Installation & Repairs. Ph Dave 09 422 7227 or 027 458 5457

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

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

CARS WANTED

VEHICLES WANTED

Dead or Alive. Cash Paid. 0800 333 398

DRIVEWAYS

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

Notice of intention to undertake vegetation control

From August 2023 to August 2024 Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will be carrying out vegetation control activities using approved herbicides and mechanical/noxious weed control measures along the motorway network from Te Kauwhata to Puhoi.

Locations will include SH1, SH2, SH16, SH18, SH20, SH20A, SH20B & SH22.

Operational areas are inclusive of medians, shoulders and structures.

Please note that this work is weather permitting.

For more information, please contact us at info@asm.nzta.govt.nz

DVD

DVDS & VIDEOS

VIDEOS

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

FLAT MATE

ACCOMMODATION ALGIES BAY

Male to share 2 bedroom house with lady. Preferred semi retired or working. Must be clean and tidy, 50-70's. Info phone or txt 021 456 944

FOR SALE

SWING MOORING PARUA BAY

Suitable 12 meter boat, price by negotiation. Phone Warren 021 927 462

HAIR & NAILS

MOBILE HAIR & NAILS

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

HOME & MAINTENANCE

Blue Skies Cleaning

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

Ph Pat 022-646-5849

COLLINS ELECTRONICS HAVE YOU LOST PRIME?

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

Ph Paul 09 422 0500 or 027 29 222 04

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

CREATIVE MATAKANA (INC)

Thursday August 10, 5pm, Matakana Hall, Matakana Valley Road. Contact: creativematakana@gmail.com www.creativematakana.nz

PAKIRI TENNIS CLUB

Sunday 13 August, 3pm Pakiri Hall. Nau mai, haere mai All Welcome

PUBLIC NOTICES

TĀWHARANUI OPEN SANCTUARY SOCIETY INC (TOSSI)

AGM

Sunday 3 September 2023 at 1pm, The Woolshed, Tāwharanui Regional Park. All members welcome. www.tossi.org.nz

WARKWORTH SCOUTING TRUST 2023

AGM

4pm - Sunday 13th August 2023, Warkworth Scout HallShoesmith Domain. All users of the Scout Hall and interested parties welcome to attend. Enquiries - David Hay (Chair). Phone 027 425 0234

WARKWORTH AND WELLSFORD

PIPE BAND INC

AGM

To be held on Monday 14th August 7pm at Shoesmith Hall, Shoesmith Street, Warkworth

WELLSFORD DISTRICT

VETERINARY CLUB INC

AGM

Tuesday 15th August 7pm, RSA, 1 Olympus Rd, Wellsford Sec: Jacqueline Ironside Inquires 09 423 8008

SITUATIONS VACANT

SOLE CHARGE POSITION Kiwi Clean Launderette Staff Wanted for part time position in Warkworth Town precinct.

Must be reliable, have a good comprehension of English. Must be flexible to work Saturday or Sunday and relieve when required.

Ph Jennifer - 027 451 7773

www.localmatters.co.nz

ASM0822

CHURCH NOTICES

CATHOLIC CHURCH

www.holyname.org.nz

Holy Mass Timetable:

WARKWORTH

Holy Name Church, 6 Alnwick Street

Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm

Sunday: 10.30am

Phone 425 8545 PUHOI SS. Peter & Paul Church Sunday: 8.30am

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

Sunday Services 9am & 10.35am

Sudoku Solution

If it’s local, let us know!

Mahurangi Matters 425 9068

Gardening

Andrew Steens

When size matters

As I write this it is raining, yet again. Rainy winter days are a pain in the proverbial, but they are good for planning for the coming seasons. A well-planned vegetable garden can provide enough to make a family selfsufficient in veggies for most of the year, so important in these high-cost times.

It is relatively simple to work out the quantities you will need for each crop. For example, if your family eat about four beetroot a month, then planting half a dozen each month should meet the demand and account for some losses. Many other crops such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, leeks and lettuce also produce one harvest per plant.

Crops such as spinach, silverbeet, some lettuces and celery are sometimes called ‘cut and come again’, as they can have a few leaves harvested each week until the plants go to seed. Half a dozen plants are usually enough for each of these crops, but make sure you replant regularly to replace the older ones.

Most gardens will only need half a dozen or so of each of tomatoes, capsicums and eggplant, with probably only two cucumbers and two courgettes. Even though they are fairly long lived, be ready to replant these during the season, as they can come to a grinding halt quite quickly with various diseases, or adverse weather.

In small gardens, it’s best to concentrate on crops that produce a high yield per square metre – carrots or yams rather than kumara, for example. Kumara produce many tubers per plant, but on average, for a family that eats a couple of kumara

each week, you will need to use about two square metres of garden per person. Larger gardens can go for broke, with whole beds devoted to space-devouring crops like melons and pumpkins. Three of these plants can easily take up an area of six square metres or more, and only produce 10 or so melons or pumpkins. One way to save valuable bed space is to plant these away from the veggie garden, along a fence line or under trees.

Potatoes typically produce about 2.5kg per square metre, though good growing conditions might double this production and poor conditions might halve it. Using tyre stacks or planter bags, a good gardener can produce up to four times this amount from the same area, assuming three crops a year are grown.

To completely supply all your vegetable needs, plus some excess to ensure there is enough to take account of crop failures and to bottle, freeze or preserve for the off seasons, about 10 square metres per person is needed for annual crops, plus an extra bed for perennial crops such as rhubarb and asparagus. Therefore, to feed a family of four, about 40 to 50 square metres of garden beds will be needed. As a rough rule of thumb, every 10 square metres of garden will need about one hour a week to keep it well tended and harvested.

If you can’t commit that amount of time, then scale your garden back accordingly. Even a few square metres, replanted each season with new crops, will provide a nice top up of fresh, healthy veggies to the weekly groceries.

EVs charging ahead

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

The challenges of charging a fleet of electric vehicles were brought to the attention of Auckland Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee on July 20. The Government has made a target to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 and wants half of all light vehicle registrations to be EVs by 2029.

Vector chief executive officer Simon Mackenzie told the committee that this would place a huge demand on the power network.

“It’s a very complex issue,” Mackenzie said. He said that it would involve scheduling charging times “just like you would with air traffic control”.

“What you don’t want is for everyone to start charging their cars at the same time.”

Cr Ken Turner asked how scheduled charging would work.

“Are you basically going to put the people’s chargers on a ripple switch, like we used to have with hot water cylinders, so that you guys can go ‘not tonight Charlie’?” Turner asked.

Mackenzie said that it was a lot more sophisticated than “the old hot water

cylinder”, but essentially it was the same principle.

“We have had a trial with 200 customers across Auckland where they connected their EV charges to a system,” Mackenzie said.

The smart chargers communicate with the electricity network, as well as the vehicles being charged, and other smart chargers. Through the transfer and analysis of data, the best charging times can be chosen, times that put less pressure on the network and are most cost-effective for the owner.

“We are seeing the dependence on electricity as critical, whether it’s for the home consumer, businesses and now transport,” Mackenzie added.

TOTALSPAN RODNEY PROUD SPONSORS OF

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of THE scor E B oA r D

SUPPORTING LOCAL SPORT FOR FIVE YEARS AND RUNNING

a Roundup of spoRTs acTiviTies in THe disTRicT

WinterMuster Kaipara Flats Sports Club will host a Winter Muster on Saturday, August 12 to raise funds for an extension of the sports club facilities. There will be live music with Andy and Vaughan, raffles, and a few auctions. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door. Doors open at 6pm and the music begins at 7pm. Some nibbles will be provided.

SheLovesGolf Calling all female golfers! She Loves Golf is a women’s golf programme run by PGA professional coach Mike at Mangawhai Golf Club. Sessions run for four weeks, beginning Friday, August 4 and will teach basic golf skills to build confidence and enjoy the benefits of playing golf. Groups are limited to eight players and spaces are limited. $80 per person.

Quiznight Get your thinking cap on and head along to Mahurangi East Tennis Club on Saturday, August 19 for a trivia night. Doors open 6.30pm and the quiz begins at 7pm. Enter by yourself or as a team of up to six people. $5pp. BYO drinks and nibbles for your team. Sign up at the clubrooms or email clubcaptain@mahutennis.co.nz. Guests are welcome.

Golftournament Mangawhai Golf Club is hosting a 9-Hole Mixed Open golf tournament on Thursday, August 17. Two ladies divisions and two men’s divisions, Nett and Stableford competitions. The entry fee is $20 per person, lunch is available for an additional $20 per person. Assemble at 9am for registration, followed by a shotgun start at 9.30am. Entries close Friday, August 11. For more information, contact Chrissy on 027 227 4297, email cl.burrows@xtra.co.nz, or visit the Mangawhai Golf Club website: https://www.mangawhaigolf.co.nz/

Women’s football coaching Northern Region Football (NRF) is running a girls’ and women’s advanced coaching qualification programme to support female coaches who want to achieve their qualifications. This is an exclusive programme for women coaches who have already attended an advanced course, C Licence or a JL3 course, in the NRF region within the last five years. The programme runs in August and consists of a number of online connects, plus a two-day workshop over August 19-20.

ToTalspan Rodney 229 sTaTe HigHway 1 waRkwoRTH pHone 09 422 3149

Info: Email Scott Lewis at scott.lewis@nrf.org.nz

Registrations open now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7PDX3B

List

PHONE 09 422 3149 0800 TOTALSPAN (0800 868 257) WWW.TOTALSPAN.CO.NZ

Sudoku the numbers game

3 2 9 7 3 1 3 5 9 2 6 4 9 2 6 1 7 9 2 1 8 7 3 8 3 6 4 2 5 SOLUTION page 32

If it’s local, let us know!

Mahurangi Matters 425 9068

Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

MEDIUM FILL IN THIS GRID SO THAT EVERY COLUMN, EVERY ROW AND EVERY 3X3 BOX CONTAINS THE DIGITS 1 TO 9.

Out of this world holiday challenge

While most school students were off to the movies or the mall during the recent school holidays, three Rodney College senior students visited Mars.

At least that was the challenge they faced as participants in Grapple 23, held in Christchurch.

Bhavya Sharma, Jeremiah Guevara and Reef Brown

were among about 20 students from around NZ chosen to compete in the annual event, designed to test the creativity, imagination and technological knowledge of the participants.

The students faced the challenge of being the first humans to settle Mars, where they met a variety of space-specific challenges including sustainable water supplies, soil quality and the health impacts of lessened gravity. Their challenge was to identify an issue and spend a week working on an innovative solution.

“We were told to let our imaginations run wild while trying to think of the backstory for a specific product that would help make human life easier on the planet.,”

Sharma says.

“We had a wide range of tools available to use to aid our design, such as multiple 3D printers, CNC

router, laser cutter, vinyl cutter, iPads, MacBooks, Apple pencils and multiple other techy things.

“If we were ever in need of something that wasn’t already available in the workshop, we just had to ask and it would be organised for us ASAP.”

Sharma says it was an opportunity to use tools that they would not normally have access to.

“We also learned how to work with people we didn’t know and come together as a team. We all learned a lot of new and different skills.

“I loved hanging out with new people and making new friends, as well as the late night walks, the delicious food, bonding with the other contestants and especially the E scooter, which I managed to travel 70km on over the five-day period!”

Sharma said he would definitely recommend the event to other Year 12 and 13 students who had the opportunity to attend.

“It opens up new opportunities for your future, as well as providing new experiences and memories. The participants are given access to equipment which their school may or may not be able to provide, and it allows your imagination to run free.”

Grapple 23 was organised by the YMCA and the event’s main sponsor was Architectus.

At the challenge, from left, Rodney College students Jeremiah Guevara, Reef Brown and Bhavya Sharma, with teammates from other schools.

August

1 Highfield Garden Reserve & Donkey Society AGM, 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. Email rodney. lodge@freemasons.org.nz

3 Demystifying dementia talk, with Paddy Sullivan from Age Concern Rodney, Wellsford RSA, 11am.

4-6 Art in August, Warkworth Hotel, 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 10am-2pm. Exhibition featuring local artists and Mahurangi College students. (see story p21)

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

6 Morning Rave, Old Masonic Hall, Baxter Street, Warkworth, 9-11am. Dance music, Elemento coffee, massage. Info: Gareth Pring on 022 621 1496 (see story p15)

8 Omaha Wastewater Treatment Plant annual community liaison group meeting, Point Wells Bowling Club, 5pm (see story p20)

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

10 Forest & Bird Warkworth Area Branch Winter Talk, Warkworth RSA downstairs meeting room, 7.30pm. Speaker Colin Harvey is passionate about renewable energy and will present background and current evidence for climate change from a geological/geochemical perspective. All welcome.

11-19 The Ghost Train, Warkworth Town Hall, 7pm (2pm, 13 and 19). Comedy thriller from Warkworth Theatre Group. Info and bookings: www.wwtheatre.co.nz (see story p22)

12 Wellness Hub Warkworth Area Connections Open Day, Matakana Hall, 1-4pm. Meet your local wellbeing therapists and try free mini-sessions. All welcome. Info: www.wellnesshub.nz

13 Matakana Junior Artisans Market, Matakana Hall, 10am-3pm. All stalls run and managed by kids. Face painting, plants, white elephant, food, hand made products and more. Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary bringing dogs for adoption. Info: JuniorArtisansMarket@gmail.com

16 Daffodil Day Bingo Night, Bowls Warkworth, 6pm, tickets $25. Reservations: Contact Charlene on 021 831488 (see story p5)

17 Rodney Neighbourhood Support AGM, St Chad’s Anglican Church, Centreway Road, Orewa, 7pm. Info: Margaret Faed on 021 258 3737 or email rns.coordinator@gmail.com (see story p28)

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

18 Climate change and extreme weather: a New Zealand perspective, BeSoul Magnolia Room, 12 Gumfield Drive, Warkworth, 2pm-4pm. Speaker Dr Kevin E. Trenberth is a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with other members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). RSVP: ralphpcooney1@ gmail.com

18 Rodney College Open Evening, from 5.30pm (see ad p17)

20 Wellsford Warkworth Vintage Car Club Daffodil Day Rally for Cancer, 10.30am start from North Shore Aero Club, Dairy Flat, arriving in Matakana from around 11.30am. Vehicles on display at car park next to Matakana School. Info: Leon Salt on 027 423 8122 (see story p5)

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

21 Beef + Lamb NZ Tree on Farms workshop, A&P Showgrounds, Helensville, 10am. Registration essential at https://beeflambnz.com/events (see story p26)

26 Book launch, Mahurangi East Library, 2pm. Author Eleanor Neil will introduce her debut children’s book Shoe Trouble.

26 Akarana Piano Quartet presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm (see ad p21)

26 Catwalk Arts, Mahurangi College, 2pm and 7pm shows. Major fundraiser for Harbour Hospice

29 Daffodil Day Quiz Night, Mangawhai Tavern, 7pm. Bookings essential; phone John on 09 431 4505 (see story p5)

Friday 11th August

Friday 18th August

Friday 25th August

&

Pets Vets Corner

Pet of the Month

Luna the Rock Star

Luna was brought into the clinic for a skipping lameness of her back right leg. Unable to examine her properly while awake because of her bright and bubbly nature Luna was sedated and xrays were taken of her sore leg. While asleep, we were able to test her full range of motion of her legs and found she had a partial tear of her cranial cruciate ligament, otherwise known as an ACL in humans. But this is where the story gets rocky! Closer examination of Luna’s x-rays revealed she had multiple large bladder stones which had been rocking and rolling in her bladder for the last few month to years completely unnoticed!

What a tough wee cookie. A surgery was booked in for the following day and approximately 200 stones were removed ranging in size from a sand particle to the size of a large grape. As these stones form as a consequence of a urinary tract infection Luna was also treated with a course of antibiotics and pain relief. Luna is making an excellent recovery and it’s safe to say she’s feeling a few stone lighter these days!

Vets: Jon Makin BVSc, Danny Cash BVSc and Associates WARKWORTH

Golden

moment for Wellsford boxer

A young Rodney boxer brought home a gold medal from the National Junior and Cadet Championships, held in Tauranga earlier this month.

Dominic Pratt, 13, fought in the cadet bantam 56kg division, winning the three round final in a split decision. While this was Pratt’s first appearance at the nationals, he has already made his mark as the Auckland champion in his division for two years in a row. He says he hopes to make it three next year.

The Rodney College Year 9 student says he started boxing three years ago, after being bullied at school while living in Whangarei. “Dad joined me up to the Whangarei

Left, Dominic Pratt showed that he had what it takes to win when he competed against some of NZ’s top young boxers at in the national championships in Tauranga.

Kowhai win in Wellington

Warkworth-based Kowhai Swimming was the best performing Auckland club at the recent Apollo Projects Div II Swimming Nationals in Wellington. The nine Kowhai members were among nearly 500 swimmers from all over New Zealand who competed at the Wellington Aquatic Centre, finishing in 20th place out of 73 clubs.

Club secretary Carol Christy said the competition standard was extremely high at all levels, with Kowhai winning the men’s 18/u 4 x 50m medley relay and the 4 x 100m men’s medley relay, where they were almost five seconds ahead of the runners-up.

The most successful swimmer was 14-yearold Ryan Hewertson, who won the 100m back in 1.04.73, came 2nd in 200m back (2.19.08) and 50m Back (30.56) and 3rd in 50m butterfly (28.95). He achieved personal bests in 200m free, 200m I/M, 100m free and first places in two relays, and also qualified for 100m free, 50/100 & 200m back, 50m Fly & 200m I/M for the NZ Short Course Swimming Champs

(NZ s/c) in August in Hastings.

Other results:

Aaron Skipper, 18, 1st 50m breast, 3rd 50m free. Personal bests: 50m fly, 100m

I/M, 100m breast and 2 x relay 1st places.

Qualified 50m Free, 50m breast for NZ s/c.

Toby Hewertson, 15, 3rd 50m back. Personal bests: 50m fly, 200m back, 100m I/M, 200m I/M, 100m fly, 50m Free, 100m

free and 2 x relay 1st places. Qualified 50m back for NZ s/c.

Fergus Charlton,15, 9th 50m breast, 9th 50m fly, 10th 200m back, 7th 50m back and 1 relay 1st place. Personal bests: 100m fly, 200m I/M, 100m breast, 100m I/M and 200m free.

Joe Kuwano, 16 yrs, personal bests: 50m breast, 100m breast, 200m breast, 50m Fly

Boxing Club and I really enjoyed the training and hard work that goes in to being a good boxer,” he says.

Since moving to Wellsford, Pratt has been training with Fili Maka, father of Olympian Magan Maka.

He trains for about an hour a day, six days a week. As well as sparring practice, which focuses on improving his technique, the sessions are also about fitness and strength training.

Pratt has set his sights on one day winning a NZ Boxing Golden Gloves title, as well as representing NZ at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

“I like the discipline of having to do stuff, even if you don’t want to, but knowing that you have to do it if you want to do good. You see champions doing the same hard training and that keeps me motivated.”

and 1 x relay 1st place.

Grace Richards, 17, 10th 50m breast, 8th 200m breaststroke.

Sienna Morrison, 13, 5th 100m breast, qualified NZ s/c.  Personal bests: 100m back, 100m I/M, 50m back, 200m breast.

Annika Bayer, 15, 7th 50m freestyle. Personal bests: 50m breast, 50m fly.

Mia Morrison,14, Personal bests: 50m back.

From left, Toby and Ryan Hewertson, Aaron Skipper and Joe Kuwano in Wellington.