Mahurangi Matters_Issue 463_11 September 2023

Nursery time at Ti Point

The Ti Point Reptile Park is celebrating the arrival of four baby leopard tortoises. The mother is the only female at the park and this was her first clutch of eggs. Although she laid six eggs, only four hatched successfully. The new arrivals will remain in an incubated enclosure for the next few months before going on public display in summer. Leopard tortoises are widespread through eastern and southern Africa, and can live up to 100 years. They are the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world. Pictured with one of the new arrivals is Jake Borich, the great grandson of Myfanwy and the late Ivan Borich, who started the park.

Kawau predator plan sparks opposition

An ambitious government-backed plan to rid Kawau Island of wallabies, rats, possums and stoats may fail if persistent community division over elements of the proposal can’t be resolved.

If successful, the initiative would make Kawau the largest permanently inhabited island in the Hauraki Gulf to be pest free. However, the authors of a new feasibility report warn that unless all residents get onboard, the project is unlikely to proceed.

Its advocates say it will boost the island’s biodiversity, help the recovery of threatened species and potentially enhance tourism. Effort in this area has already been underway for decades. Since its formation in 1992, the Pohutukawa Trust has helped to reduce wallaby numbers across large parts of the island through hunting and bait stations.

After incorporating the eradication proposal into its 2020-2030 regional

pest management plan, Auckland Council commissioned the NGO Island Conservation to assess its feasibility, given the importance of high-level community buy in – both to ensure access to properties, and to support ongoing biosecurity measures to prevent re-invasion.

According to council biosecurity team manager Lisa Tolich, the NGO was paid $90,000 to interview island residents and other key stakeholders, and produce the

report. The funding came from council’s programme partner, Predator Free 2050, and Island Conservation subsidised the cost of preparing the document. The report, now under consideration, says direct consultations with 347 of the 365 landowners on Kawau over the last 18 months found that 12 per cent oppose killing off the island’s wallabies, and four

per cent don’t support eradicating rats, stoats and possums.

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Although large majorities (82 and 93 per cent, respectively) are in favour of the plan, the authors contend that without universal support, the project will likely fail.

In targeting rats, bait will need to be applied on every property on Kawau, but 18 landowners said they would oppose access to their properties for bait laying. Although the 18 properties together make up less than 2.5 per cent of the island, “even the smallest property on Kawau could provide a refuge for rats and lead to eradication failure”.

Authorities may “as a last resort” have to rely on the 1993 Biosecurity Act to compel landowners to allow access to their properties, the report says, but adds that it would be preferable to get consent, rather than exercise legal powers of access. The legislation provides for authorities to enter a property, with a warrant, for the purpose of eradicating or managing any pest, pest agent, or unwanted organism, or for the purpose of determining whether or not any person is complying with biosecurity law. It also provides for fines for people convicted of an offence under the act.

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Forty-two landowners, with properties making up about 60 ha (three per cent of the island) oppose access to their properties for the purpose of eliminating wallabies. These marsupials were introduced by Govenor George Grey around 1870, and the report says some landowners view the prospect of their eradication as the loss of New Zealand’s colonial history, along with changing the identity of the island.

The Kawau pest eradication plan faces hurdles as some landowners signal resistance

Poultry and other livestock may also need to be temporarily removed from the island or housed in rodent-proof facilities, so that rats do not eat their food instead of the bait. The report identifies two native bird species with a high risk of individual mortality as a result of the pest-eradication programme – the brown teal (pāteke) and the North Island weka. Mitigation measures such as captive management or temporary translocation will be necessary. Overall, the authors argue that any impact on fauna will be more than offset by the advantages.

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It hints that opposition could take the form of active resistance, as the 42 landowners have strongly held views.

Once wallabies have been reduced to the point where solitary individuals are being encountered, hunters will mop up the remnants, possibly using helicopters or drones equipped with thermal cameras.

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“If a decision is made to proceed, it is expected that some individuals will try to influence the decision by targeting politicians or senior staff.”

The report does not elaborate on the “targeting” claim. Elsewhere it says that deliberate obstruction of the operation or the illegal release of caught wallabies cannot be discounted.

In response to suggestions that rats, stoats

Risk to pets, native birds?

Some landowners expressed opposition to the use of toxins and the aerial spreading of rodent bait (containing brodifacoum), and raised concerns about the impact on domestic animals, the report says. Pets would be at potential risk during the operation and may need to be walked on a lead, muzzled, contained, kept indoors or temporarily removed from the island.

nz). The second of two drop-in days is planned for September 14, from 10am–3pm, at the Sandspit wharf café. Auckland Council and Island Conservation staff will be on hand to discuss the feasibility report.

More on page 9 Experts field questions on eradication risks Counting the costs of being predator free

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Warkworth route protection proposals: Hearings planned

Eight days in November have been set down for hearings on controversial Notices of Requirement (NOR), aimed at safeguarding routes for prospective new transport corridors around Warkworth, and potentially impacting hundreds of properties.

The lodging of the NORs with Auckland Council is a key step in a scheme to secure land needed for eight separate transport projects, envisaged over the next 10-30 years to cater for Warkworth’s projected expansion.

Coordinated by Supporting Growth, an initiative of Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi, the proposals will affect an estimated 19 properties in their entirety, and portions of more than 200 others. Property owners have been formally notified by Auckland Council ahead of a public hearing and appeals process. Most of the projects are yet to be funded, and much of the designated land may not be required for decades.

A total of 115 submissions are set down to be heard from November 13 to 16 and 20 to 23 at the Warkworth Town Hall. Parties making submissions include private

landowners, representatives of companies, utility providers and government entities, and advocacy groups. One Mahurangi Business Association, Watercare and Heritage NZ are among those making multiple submissions.

While some submissions are firmly opposed to the designations, others are supportive of the proposals, or in favour but on condition amendments are made. Suggested modifications include minor variations to boundary designations, recommendations for changes to the locations of walkways and cycleways, and the complete rethinking of the placement of envisaged new transport routes.

After the hearings, Auckland Council will make recommendations on whether each designation should be confirmed in the Auckland Unitary Plan (with or without modifications) or be withdrawn. Submitters may appeal council’s decision, and appeals will be lodged with the Environment Court.

Supporting Growth says community feedback has already played a role in the process of identifying route options.

An indicative business case prepared in 2019 resulted in a transport network proposal that “took account of the views of the community, which included having greater transport choices with good walking and cycling facilities and frequent, reliable public transport”.

Route proposals were then further refined, and after more community feedback in 2022 and additional environmental and technical assessments, some shifts were made to the alignment of the proposed corridors, “to better respond to existing and future land use and avoid environmental features”.

The eight proposals are:

NOR1: A public transport hub in north Warkworth and the northern end of the Western Link, including a proposed bridge crossing

NOR2: Upgrading of a western section of Woodcocks Road, from Evelyn Street to the new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway

NOR 3: Upgrading the southern portion of Old SH1, roughly from The Grange to just south of Valerie Close

NOR4: Upgrading of Matakana Road,

from the Hill Street intersection to the rural-urban boundary, a short way past the new roundabout at the end of Te Honohono

ki Tai Road

NOR5: Upgrading of Sandspit Road, from the Hill Street intersection to the eastern rural-urban boundary

NOR6: The southern portion of a Western Link, from Evelyn Street, skirting the light industrial area and meeting up with the Old SH1 where it intersects McKinney Road

NOR7: A new road linking Matakana Road (at the roundabout where Matakana Road meets Te Honohono ki Tai Road) and Sandspit Road, with separated cycle lanes and footpaths

NOR8: The northern portion of an envisaged wider Western Link, running south of Woodcocks Road (near the new ‘Supporting Growth’ route protection plans: Warkworth hearings planned motorway) to the Mahurangi River

Matariki holiday delivers spending boom in Warkworth

The latest Marketview data on consumer spending in Warkworth shows there was an 18.7% jump in growth in July, compared to 0.4% across the Auckland region.

The data is based on electronic card spending and gives comparisons with other Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) across Auckland.

There were just under 400,000 card transactions in Warkworth in July, amounting to a spend of $23.7 million. This compares to July last year when there were 333,000 transactions valued at $19.5 million.

In the last 12 months, there were 4.5 million local transactions, worth $267.5 million (an increase of 12% over the previous 12 months). This compares to growth over the whole Auckland BID region of just over 17% during the same period.

The biggest spending day in Warkworth was July 13, the Thursday before the Matariki holiday weekend, when spending was up 44.5%. The average transaction was just over $61. Spending over the whole Matariki weekend was up 48.2%.

The data also shows that the number of card transactions on the Winter Festival of Lights day (July 15) was up 22% and the value of that spend was 12.6% above normal.

Almost all the growth in Warkworth in July was in the groceries and liquor category (57.5%). The second biggest growth was recorded in ‘other’, which incorporates tourism-related activities, and spending on things such as entertainment, health and fitness, gambling and transport. The lowest growth categories were

fuel and automotive (down 17.4%), accommodation (down 16.6%) and home, hardware and electrical (down 5.7%).

One Mahurangi Business Association manager Murray Chapman says having a new supermarket in town will account for some of the increase. He believes the opening of the Pak’nSave will have brought more shoppers to Warkworth from outside the area.

“It’s also possible that people who work in the city and were in the habit of stopping at Silverdale to do a big grocery shop are now also shopping locally,” he said. He says the drop in spending on accommodation and fuel/automotive is not surprising.

“Accommodation fluctuates with the seasons and the drop in fuel and automotive probably reflects the rise in petrol. People are possibly using public transport more and ride sharing.

“There is probably a combination of factors in play – it’s winter and it’s an election year. Plus, the opening of the new motorway in June possibly means that more people are commuting from Auckland to work on local building projects, whereas once they may have stayed here for the week.”

The data also shows that there has been a significant shift in customer origins. In July last year, the biggest growth in spend was from people from south Auckland (mainly Papakura) followed by international tourists.

In July this year, the biggest growth was in visitors from the North Shore.

Domestic tourism (consumers from outside

It is hard to tell yet what difference, if any, the opening of the Warehouse and Noel Leeming (May 25), the new motorway (June 16) and Pak’nSave Warkworth (June 20) may have had on consumer spending.

Auckland) grew from minus 15% in 2022 to just below 10% this year. Growth in international consumer spending was a healthy 35% last year, but fell to almost

zero this year.

Chapman says it will be interesting to see how things transpire over summer, with the new shops and motorway.

Plan change bid by senior living firm

More than 100 hectares of Warkworth land north of the town centre could be rezoned to allow mixed housing development if a proposed private plan change goes ahead.

Retirement village operator Arvida wants to live-zone not only the 55-hectare Paddison Farm it bought in February, but a large chunk of land to the south, taking in Matakana Road below Te Honohono ki Tai Road roundabout and part of Sandspit Road, west of Warkworth Re:Sort, down to the Mahurangi River.

Just over half Paddison Farm’s zoning is currently mixed rural on the northern side, where it borders Warkworth Golf Club, with the rest at the southern edge zoned future urban.

In a letter seeking feedback from householders whose properties would be rezoned, Arvida’s planning consultant Burnette O’Connor says live zoning the wider area would lead to better and more cohesive development in future.

“Arvida considers there are significant benefits from an urban development and plan coherency perspective to live-zone both the site and the wider future urban zone area,” she says.

“This more comprehensive approach will enable the area to be considered as a whole, rather than through separate private plan change requests to live-zone individual sites on an ad hoc basis.”

She says potential benefits include integrated delivery of necessary infrastructure, provision of cycle and walkways to Warkworth town centre, identification of significant ecological areas and a “high quality landscaped entrance to Warkworth” from the east, along Matakana Road.

Arvida plans to develop a “modern and vibrant” retirement community at Paddison Farm and says it intends to make sure views from Matakana Road south to Warkworth are protected.

The development will be carried out by a new subsidiary company of Arvida, Warkworth RV Limited, and a draft structure plan has been drawn up “to identify the opportunities provided by the location and extent of the plan change area”.

O’Connor says the private plan change application is expected to be submitted to Auckland Council late this year or early in 2024, and the process will be publicly notified, with submissions encouraged and a council hearing.

Leaky pipe problems put residents under pressure

Residents of a shared driveway in Warkworth are calling for action after years of delays in fixing recurrent leaks in the mains water pipe supplying their homes.

Ray and Gail Eder and Rob and Heather Barnes live on a drive shared by four houses off Victoria Street. Four years ago, the mains pipe supplying them all started springing regular leaks, sending substantial amounts of water into neighbours’ gardens and soaking the soil. They said as soon as Watercare sent contractors to fix a leak, another one would appear somewhere else in the pipe, and the process would start again.

“Watercare have turned up several times and have dug holes and filled them up again. This has been going on for years,” Heather said. “The issue is that the water pipes are old and cracked, and actually need to be replaced with a new line.”

Watercare contractors appeared again in February, but instead of permanently replacing the line, laid a temporary overland pipe with supply pipes to each house across the shared driveway, and covered those with asphalt. When these started cracking with all the traffic movements, the residents tried to contact Watercare

to find out when a more permanent solution might happen, but were only told that the asphalt over the pipes would be replaced – though not all at once.

“A team came and resealed one of the asphalt-covered pipes and we haven’t seen them since. Nor can we raise them by phone or email. It’s like dropping pennies down a well and waiting for a splash,” Ray said. They added that the judder bar pipes were a health and safety hazard, with an elderly neighbour tripping over one in the dark recently.

Watercare water operations controller Rex Chou apologised for any inconvenience caused by the temporary pipes and said the matter should be dealt with soon. “Unfortunately, the summer storms created a considerable backlog of work for our maintenance crews, and the temporary solution has been in place longer than we’d normally expect,” he said.

“We hope to start work on the permanent solution later this month, installing a new polyethylene pipe under the driveway to connect to all four properties. We’d like to thank these customers for their patience.”

Zoning map, showing Paddison Farm outlined in blue and the proposed total plan change area outlined in red.

From left, Heather and Rob Barnes and Ray and Gail Eder with one of the judder bar pipes.

Last minute sand mining claim causes confusion in court

The final stages of a lengthy Environment Court hearing into whether sand dredging can continue off Pakiri and Mangawhai were thrown into confusion last week, when mining firm McCallum Brothers Ltd (MBL) applied to dismiss Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust’s (NMST) opposition case. The court started on Wednesday, September 6 by debating exactly when and how the hearing should be concluded, but then MBL barrister John MacRae said he had an extra matter he wished to raise.

“I have received instructions this morning from the applicant to make an application to strike out Ngati Manuhiri as a party on the grounds that they were, until Mr Hohneck gave his evidence, an undisclosed trade competitor of the applicant,” he said, to the obvious surprise of many.

He was referring to NMST chair Mook Hohneck, who revealed under cross examination on August 24 that the trust’s land at Te Arai South included a joint venture to mine sand on at least 45 hectares.

MBL lawyer Nadine Hopkins showed that the trust land was leased to Te Arai South Partners for 50 years and that NMST as landlord was entitled to royalties from any sand extracted.

Hohneck said that while, to the best of his knowledge, the quarry wasn’t currently operating, there had been a trial extraction two years ago, where 65,000 to 70,000 cubic metres had been removed and subsequent royalties paid.

Last week, MacRae said this made NMST a trade competitor to MBL and, he alleged, the non-disclosure of this fact was an abuse of process and a breach of the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Judge Jeff Smith said the matter raised a number of questions.

“Are they in competition as a landowner? If

McCallum barrister John MacRae. that’s the case, is your client saying he owns the seabed?” Smith asked.

“And the RMA is now being repealed, there’s another act coming in and I have absolutely no idea whether the relevant section still exists.”

There was also the issue of when, how and by whom the strike out application could and should be heard, plus a number of technical issues, the judge added.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen an application so late in the case. This is a novel issue and it’s likely to take some time to resolve,” he said.

“A lot of decisions need to be made, availability is only one, and it’s a fairly technical issue. I don’t think I can take it any further at this stage. We need to see the formal application.”

MacRae said it would be submitted by Friday, September 8 at the latest.

NMST is one of more than a dozen environmental, community and resident groups opposing MBL’s appeal against a refusal by commissioners last year to renew its consent to dredge sand offshore from Pakiri and Mangawhai.

The case was adjourned for MBL to file its closing submissions.

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Roading woes

At the moment roading contractors are working at the end of Fidelis Avenue, in Snells Beach.

They have also sealed the cul-de-sac at the end of Merehai Place and others in Snells Beach.

In the meantime, Mahurangi East Road is a disgrace, as badly fixed potholes spill out and cars have to swerve to miss them. What is wrong with Auckland Transport and their priorities? They will say this is planned work, but that should change as the need changes.

This paper reported that the slip by James Street will take four months to fix. Maybe if the usual four to five people standing around looking were actually doing something it could be done quicker.

Something needs to change.

Penny Webster, Snells Beach

Rural representation

I would like to comment on the NAG proposal to a Rodney ward boundary change (MM Aug 28).

Mr Foster has researched this extensively with all supporting evidence to stack up in its favour.

Rural disparity is such that it’s an almost

See story page 1

untenable situation for our Rodney Local Board to govern fairly. We see both Warkworth and Kumeu ever-growing into urbanisation while Wellsford and Helensville remain geographically huge rural land masses somewhat starved of representation and return on rates. A fairer system must remove doubt and discontent from the actions of our Rodney board members, enhance maintenance and development of our outlying rural production areas, along with our muchadmired tourism routes.

Our urban areas would then have the undivided attention of their representatives, likewise rural would be returned to rural representatives grounded in the specifics necessary.

Mr Foster’s proposal through NAG would

put us a few steps closer to becoming the “Our Auckland” we have had sold to us since the inception of the Supercity.

The Landowners and Contractors Assn fully endorses this proposal and encourages participation of the online survey currently running. To access the survey, go to: https://www.nag.org.nz/

Brian Mason, Chairman, Landowners and Contractors Assn

Changing the rules

Regarding your article State of the Gulf still grim (MM Aug 28), can the fishing companies trawling the gulf not have their quota bought by the Government?

Rules can be changed, in the same way that fashion dictated a change in the way houses

Families say “thanks” to awesome Dads

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Mahurangi Matters Father’s Day promotion and especially the four lucky winners who took away a swag of prizes, kindly donated by local businesses (listed right).

Judging by the entries, there are some really awesome Dads in our communities, who may not know it, but they are truly appreciated by their spouses, children, grandchildren and extended families.

There were so many heartwarming stories of Dads who were playing such an important role in their children’s lives –whether that was by taking them to sport, making them pancakes, telling them jokes and making them laugh, or being there for someone at a critical time in their life.

Several people noted that they had come to appreciate how much their Dad had done for them (and just how awful they had been as teenagers!), only when they had children of their own.

It made choosing the winners extremely difficult. Eventually, the prizes went to Steve Stewart, Andrew Wood, Danny Cash and Shane Hemana.

Our dad is special because ..

He really likes to fish

He always eats the spiciest dish

Running is his favourite thing

He is the best fire-place king.

We always love a big Dad cuddle

He helps us if we are in a muddle.

At night he eats the chocolate

Then spends too long on the toilet!

He tells us jokes that are sometimes funny

He makes our days joyful and sunny.

were built.

The change in the building code led to the national leaky homes crisis, so building houses on a level concrete platform has hugely increased the volume of earthworks needed. Because of our rainfall, that means more sediment into the sea, smothering shellfish. In addition, most topsoil is stripped off initially. Although some may be replaced, less vegetation means less soakage and water holding, and more runoff. Let’s put buildings on piles, which will also be better in floods, too!

I encourage readers to make a submission on commercial fishing in the gulf, open until November 6 (https://www.mpi.govt.nz/)

Bruce Martin, Sandspit

GIVEAWAY

The Mahurangi Matters Fathers Day promotion is generously supported by the following businesses:

Evie and Pax, with the dad Steve and his Father’s Day presents. Evie and Pax wrote this poem as their entry:

Viewpoint

Greg Sayers, Rodney Councillor greg.sayers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Devoted volunteers

Not all of us may realise just how blessed our community is, as we have many passionate local people who dedicate hours of time and energy to ensuring we all enjoy a safe and beautiful place to live in. Organised within community groups, their devotion helps to positively shape how we experience living where we do.

For example, one of these groups are the resident and ratepayer groups. Across the Rodney ward there are over 50 of these, each with a democratically elected committee structure and voluntary memberships. They aspire to actively improve local wellbeing, as well as acting as diligent watch dogs over Auckland Council-related issues. Many of us are busy with our day-to-day lives but it is good to be reminded of the work others do which benefits us all. Frequently, there are times when these groups need to interact with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport. They have found and established working relationships with council staff and steadily work towards achieving the outcomes that their local communities want. We are fortuitous to have such people in our neighbourhoods.

They also do an excellent job in holding myself and the elected Rodney Local Board members to account. I find this important and deeply respect this additional level of answer-ability. Helping these groups to get things done is essential. Remaining accountable to the community who elected

you is important.

It is not always smooth sailing and there are times when these groups run into road blocks and cannot penetrate Auckland Council to find the right person or information they need. This is when myself and the Local Board can often help by using our elected position to find the right person and connect people together.

This is a large and rewarding part of being your elected representative. I am regularly contacted by constituents who have become so frustrated dealing with the council they need my help. My monthly clinics, where members of the public can sit down with me face-to-face with their issues, remain extremely popular. These are held in Warkworth, Kumeu and Wellsford and, of course, I can easily be contacted directly at any time.

Part of proactively supporting our resident and ratepayer groups was organising the opportunity for them to meet the Mayor of Auckland earlier this year. This established a direct relationship with the Mayor and these relationships have continued to be fostered, which the Mayor values deeply. There are many other social, environmental and charitable groups within our community all quietly working hard to help provide us with the safe and enjoyable society we have. We are indeed fortunate to have such neighbours and it is something to appreciatively reflect upon.

Leigh named as top town finalist

Long-time environmental efforts in Leigh have seen the township recognised as a finalist in the Most Beautiful Tiny Town section of this year’s Keep NZ Beautiful awards. Keep NZ Beautiful chief executive Heather Saunderson says the awards provide a benchmark for environmental excellence, celebrating the sustainability achievements of the many individuals, schools, communities, towns and cities, who have put in the mahi over time to keep New Zealand beautiful.

There are 13 official awards across five categories – individuals, communities, places, and towns and cities.

Leigh’s nomination recognises that it is actively involved in a host of environmental initiatives to protect its unique natural surroundings.

“The small coastal community is home to NZ’s first marine reserve, which plays a vital role in marine conservation and research,” its citation says. “The town promotes sustainable tourism practices at Goat Island, while residents are engaged with various conservation programmes including the Leigh Penguin Project, which helps to create a safe habitat for endangered little blue penguins.

“The community of Leigh is also involved in regular beach clean-ups, tree planting, and pest eradication to maintain the ecological balance of this seaside town.”

The other finalist in the Tiny Town section is Awanui, in the Far North.

Final judging will happen later this month, with the winners announced at the Beautiful Ball at Parliament House on Thursday, November 9.

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One plan to manage all of Rodney’s parks

A plan that guides the management of all local parks in Rodney for the next decade has been adopted by Rodney Local Board.

The Rodney Local Parks Management Plan provides the policy framework to manage use, protect and develop parks in the local board area.

Chair Brent Bailey says the board has a decision-making role over 338 parks which are included in the plan.

“The plan is the culmination of years of extensive work by council staff, feedback from hundreds of submitters and that local knowledge has contributed to the plan.

“It’s an important tool to protect the values of parks and allow appropriate activities.

“It provides a framework for consistent and transparent decision-making in parks that guides the board, council group, other organisations and the wider community.” Public submissions were open for two months and 326 submissions were received with 23 submitters speaking at the hearings held last November. Bailey thanks everyone who made suggestions and provided comments to help improve the draft plan.

Board members resolved that the reserves at Ngāroto Lakes, which border Te Ārai Regional Park, will continue to be managed as local parks so that community access and activities don’t change.

Bailey says the plan is an important document that will guide decisions on local parks for a long time.

The Rodney Local Parks Management Plan will soon be published on the council website.

Dog rule protects Snells Beach shorebirds

A temporary change to the dog walking rules at the northern end of Snells Beach will help endangered shorebirds roost and breed in safety.

Snells Beach is a hotspot for threatened and at-risk shorebirds and to protect them, Auckland Council’s dog walking rules change from 1 September 2023 to 25 March 2024.

During this time dogs are:

• prohibited from all beach and intertidal areas, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp

• permitted on leash on all reserves, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp.

The beach’s northern area is an important habitat for many native shorebird species which include tūturiwhatu/ NZ dotterel, tōrea/variable oystercatchers and kuaka/ bar tailed godwits. New Zealand’s most endangered bird, tara iti or New Zealand fairy tern has also visited over the past five years.

Auckland Council’s Natural Environment Team Manager Andrew Nelson says that local volunteers with support from council staff are working hard to manage threats to these special shorebirds.

“Our beaches are busy over summer and kuaka are wary and easily spooked by people and dogs. If the birds are disturbed, they fly away but often they don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s that constant interruption which affects their health and ability to rest and feed.”

Signs reminding people of the temporary rule change will be installed along the beach and on adjacent reserves.

Rodney Local Board Chair Brent Bailey says that for the most part, the need for this temporary change to the dog rules is respected by the community. “When people walk their dogs elsewhere, they don’t disturb the shorebirds, and they support our local volunteers’ conservation efforts.”

Nearby places for dog walking are:

• South of the Sunburst Reserve boat ramp until 30 November, and from 1 December to 1 March before 10am or after 5 pm

• Goodall Reserve (behind Mahurangi East Library)

• Te Whau Esplanade Reserve (Dawson Road end)

• Dawson Road Reserve.

Dog access rules can be found on the council website at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Any enquiries regarding the temporary change to dog access rules, should be emailed to biodiversity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Rodney Local Board members. First row: Michelle Carmichael, Mark Dennis, Geoff Upson, Louise Johnston (Deputy Chair). Second row: Tim Holdgate, Colin Smith, Brent Bailey (Chair), Ivan Wagstaff and Guy Wishart.

The northern end of Snells Beach is an important habitat for many shorebirds

Shoesmith Domain is one of 338 parks in the Rodney Local Board area.

Experts field questions on eradication risks

Experts convened by Auckland Council for a webinar on the Kawau pest eradication plan sought to allay landowners’ concerns, ranging from what the project will cost them to potential risks to pets and native birds.

Richard Griffiths, an island restoration specialist with the NGO Island Conservation and co-author of a Kawau feasibility report for council, acknowledged at the August 30 event that some landowners were worried about the impact of the project on their way of life. Since success depended on having access to every property, it would “impose a short-term impact on people’s privacy”. He said this could be mitigated by having neighbours or other community members on the project team, implying this may be more acceptable to some than having outsiders seeking access.

Asked if the Biosecurity Act would be wielded to obtain access to properties whose owners were not cooperative, council’s head of natural environment delivery, Phil Brown, said that would not be council’s preference. He said council wanted to minimise the impact on people and come up with an agreement that would work for both the project and for them.

The feasibility report noted that the toxins proposed for use in the eradication programme – primarily rodent bait containing brodifacoum – would have a negative impact on the North Island weka.

The Department of Conservation’s Northland conservancy advisory scientist Tony Beecham said in response to a question that weka would typically be affected by eating poisoned rats, not the bait itself.

“As a consequence, we generally take at least 100 birds off an island as a backstop.”

Beecham added that none of these types of pest eradication programmes had eliminated weka from islands and their populations rebound quickly.

On concerns about potential impacts on pets, Brown said no changes to controls on dogs or cats were envisaged.

“If you have a dog, you’ll be able to keep your dog on the island. You just need to follow the [existing] dog rules for Auckland, same as everyone else.”

Asked if islanders would get written guarantees that they would not be burdened with future new costs related to post-eradication biosecurity requirements, biosecurity team manager Lisa Tolich said there was no expectation that there would be additional costs.

Ongoing biosecurity measures would be funded through the natural environment target rate, she said.

John MacKenzie, a resident and custodian of Rakino Island, shared his perspective on the outcome of the project to make that island pest-free two decades ago. Regarding concerns about restrictions of movement, he said that both during the Rakino operation and post-eradication, it was business-as-usual when it came to access for boaties, visitors and weekenders.

MacKenzie believed Kawau would see benefits in very little time. Native flora and fauna would change substantially very quickly, he predicted, as had been the case on Rakino, within a year or two of the removal of rats.

While a few people on Rakino weren’t supportive in the beginning, he said, “there wouldn’t be a single person that wouldn’t support it now. Once it’s all done and dusted, it’s just a no-brainer. No-one would want to go back.”

Council says that, if approved, the wallaby eradication phase of the operation could start as early as the middle of next year. Excerpts from some posts on a Kawau community group page days before the webinar provide a glimpse into the strong views held by some:

“I am terrified by a well-intended project that is run by bureaucrats with no accountability and an open cheque book from ratepayers.”

“If they kill our weka that would be devastating, and ironic given native birds are given as the reason for poisoning them.”

“The threat of the Biodiversity Act to impose a potentially dangerous solution is also highly concerning when people have valid health and animal welfare concerns.”

“We do not want to be seeking redress if a pet, or worse a child, were to be affected, surely a proposal should not even be considered that could pose a danger.”

“All I can say is, ‘goodbye Kawau as we know it’.”

“The removal of the wallabies will be a tragedy that will be deeply painful to quite a few residents, but every day I see the damage done by these marauders and I see the greater ongoing tragedy to the native ecosystem.”

“This is a big deal and we cannot waste the opportunity being offered.”

Counting the costs of being predator free on Kawau Island

Among many uncertainties about the proposed eradication of wallabies, rats, possums and stoats on Kawau Island is how it will be funded.

A feasibility report commissioned by Auckland Council estimates costs of $6.59 million for the operation itself, $237,000 to establish surveillance and response systems, and then $375,000 a year in ongoing biosecurity costs.

Larger line items in the breakdown include $800,000 for the wallaby eradication team, $480,000 for the rat, possum and stoat eradication team, $400,000 for wallaby team

dog handlers and $320,000 for rodent bait.

“Securing the necessary funding for the project is believed to be feasible,” the report states. “Significant funding has already been committed, to the value of $2.7 million, and additional funding sources have been identified that could address the funding gap. Council has committed to funding the ongoing costs of biosecurity.”

The $2.7m already committed is $1.3m from the government’s Jobs for Nature fund through Predator Free 2050, and $1.4m from council. The council money is to come from the natural environment

target rate, which has been included in residential property rates since 2018, to fund among other things, “keep[ing] pests off the Hauraki Gulf islands using prevention and eradication activities”. Local and national government funding priorities have since shifted, however. In this year’s Budget, the government signalled the end to the Jobs for Nature fund, a Covid 19 response initiative initially valued at $1.19 billion. In June, Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime said a transition plan was being developed to encourage projects financed by the

soon-to-end fund to develop sustainable funding models.

Another concern relating to funding is the significant council belt-tightening push, as Mayor Wayne Brown seeks ways to reduce a $325 million gap between council’s revenue and operating expenses. Although council says in its 2023-2034 annual budget it will “continue surveillance and responses to maintain pest-free Hauraki Gulf Islands”, among cuts and rates re-juggling contained in the budget is a 66 per cent reduction in the natural environment target rate, for one year.

September 2023 Update

One Mahurangi Business Association AGM

It’s been another challenging year for local businesses, as we’ve grappled with high inflation, interest rates, and a lingering hesitancy within our community, likely stemming from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these hurdles, we’re encouraged by some positive trends, notably the July Marketview report, which paints a promising picture of regional growth. Expenditure in our area surged by 18.7% compared to the same period last year, with a 12% increase for the full year through July. It’s worth noting that these figures vary across different business sectors, with accommodations and automotive industries facing tougher times, while groceries, liquor, and general consumer spending have seen significant upticks. We’re cautiously optimistic that these trends signal better times ahead.

Throughout the year, the Association has organized a range of events. We’ll hear more about these from OMBA Manager Murray Chapman, but we must highlight the resounding success of the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights and the permanent installation of beautiful lights on the far bank of the river, enhancing our community’s charm.

We owe immense gratitude to our dedicated team, including General Manager Murray Chapman, Communications and Marketing Manager Lauren Kumerich, and Information Centre Manager Alison Hitchcock, along with the numerous volunteers whose invaluable contributions make these events successful. We also extend our thanks to our BID members, Associate members, and sponsors, both longstanding and new. Your unwavering support sustains our ability to provide essential services to our community, given that BID member payments alone are insufficient to cover all our activities.

Our collaborative relationship with the Council’s BID Team remains strong, yielding positive feedback on our management of the BID process and the success of our activities. For the next 12 months, our BID targeted rate is set at $148,500, constituting a portion of our total budget of $259,000.

We are optimistic that as Warkworth continues to grow, we will witness an increase in businesses, ensuring steady income growth. Notably, One Mahurangi uniquely relies on new business growth rather than percentagebased BID fees, unlike other Auckland BIDs. The forthcoming year’s budget is tight, prompting us to explore additional income sources, aiming to broaden the spectrum of services we offer to our community.

Advocacy remains at the core of our work. With our town’s rapid expansion, we believe that a robust local community voice must influence key decisions, shaping new infrastructure, sustainable development in line with our town’s character, and a thriving business environment. Here are some key advocacy efforts and successes:

• Hill St: Despite decreased traffic on Hill St since the motorway’s opening, we still contend that the current configuration won’t support Warkworth’s projected growth. We’re nearing an agreement with Auckland Transport Design Team on a final design but securing construction funding in the next RLTP round will require lobbying due to Council budget constraints.

• Watercare: Our efforts to influence the route of the new wastewater line have borne fruit, as we’ve persuaded Watercare to reconsider running the line down Queen St, a positive development for the retail sector.

• Notices of Requirement: We’ve been advocating for landowners

27th September 2023

regarding the width, routes, and communication around Notices of Requirement by Supporting Growth Alliance (SGA) for proposed roading networks. We’re collaborating with Councillor Greg Sayers and the Local Community Board to delay Notices of Requirements where land may not be needed for decades.

• Auckland Future Development Strategy: We’re actively engaging with Auckland Council to refine a strategy that delays Greenfields development in Warkworth. Recent revelations concerning flood-prone areas have further complicated the situation, but we’re determined to push for a rational and sensible future strategy.

• Centre Plan: We’ve contributed to a comprehensive Centre Plan for Warkworth, brimming with innovative ideas. Now, our focus turns to securing funding for its implementation.

• Parking Plan: Working closely with Auckland Transport, we’re developing a parking strategy for the CBD, particularly anticipating increased demand as new developments come online.

Our advocacy successes stem from positive relationships cultivated with local MPs, the Local Community Board, and fellow community groups. These relationships were acknowledged by the Mayor during a recent meeting, where he recommended that we present our approach to the Board of Auckland Transport as a model for successful collaboration between Council Agencies and local communities.

In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone comprising One Mahurangi – sponsors, members, volunteers – your collective support fuels our mission. We remain committed to assisting you to the best of our abilities throughout 2023 and into 2024.

Stay connected: Visit www.onemahurangi.co.nz | Follow @onemahurangi on Facebook & Instagram

Bevan Morrison & Dave Stott Co-Chairs of One Mahurangi Business Association.

OMBA Co-Chairs’ Report – Dave Stott and Bevan Morrison

put to Auckland Transport board

Three groups representing rural Rodney joined forces last month to take local roading issues to Auckland Transport’s (AT) board of directors.

Landowners and Contractors Association chair Brian Mason, Northern Action Group’s Bill Foster and Rodney Community Voices’ Glen Ashton, together with Rodney Local Board member Colin Smith, put forward proposals they claim would see Rodney getting far more roading bang for its buck.

They told the board that rural roads were not being maintained and management needed to change to bring in a more effective back-to-basics approach.

“We have horror stories of roads, drains, culverts and overland flow paths, along with obviously wasted resources in attempts to respond to complaints and remedy problems,” Mason said.

“Clearly the present maintenance arrangement isn’t providing ‘bang for buck’, leaving affected ratepayers deeply aggrieved.”

He put forward three proposals to improve the situation – using local contractors to carry out maintenance, bringing back a ‘clerk of works’ to oversee jobs, and increasing seal extensions to metal roads.

“Really, what we are advocating here is a return to basics: competent, trained workers and operators; cost effective maintenance; job quality and standards oversight; full accountability; and effective local liaison,” Mason told the board. He added that AT’s Unsealed Road Improvement Programme (URIP) should not include roads that had deteriorated due to lack of proper maintenance, as was currently the case, but should just be used for sealing metal roads.

“If unsealed roads are maintained properly, the URIP can be only for seal extensions,” he said.

Mason said that the current three-year URIP had 25 projects that were not costed and had no project timings, so proposed formalising, assessing and prioritising the programme in much more detail as part of the 10-year Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP).

AT board chair Wayne Donnelly, a former chief executive of Rodney District Council and a civil engineer, said he understood rural Rodney had been treated badly, and said the presentation was timely, as the RLTP was currently being ‘refreshed’. After the meeting, Ashton said the groups intended to keep communicating with AT, council and the Mayor, as well as Councillor Greg Sayers and the Rodney Local Board, to get fair rural road maintenance and sealing outcomes for ratepayers.

“Rural Rodney has been neglected for 13 years under the Supercity, yet makes up 40 per cent of the land area, contributes $50 million in rates per annum and produces extensive agriculture and horticulture product for local and export markets,” he said. “Our most important requirement is decent roads to connect our production and communities.”

Candidates find common ground in Wellsford

Candidates for the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate laid out their credentials to voters at a meeting held at the Wellsford Memorial RSA on September 6.

There was a collegial atmosphere and candidates found a lot of common ground when identifying the challenges facing the next government. But, of course, they differed when it came to presenting the solutions. At the top table were National Party candidate and sitting MP Chris Penk, Green Party candidate for Te Tai Tokerau Hūhana Lyndon, NZ First’s Jenny Marcroft, NZ Loyal’s Brenton Faithfull, Labour’s Guy Wishart, Democracy NZ’s Sarah Brewer and ACT Party candidate Brent Bailey.

The candidates agreed that cost of living increases, deteriorating health care, housing and compliance costs, particularly resource management costs for farmers, were among the most pressing issues confronting NZ today. Both Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi were criticised for the deplorable state of many rural roads and the lack of spending on roading infrastructure in general.

NZ Loyal’s answer to most of these issues was to “put more money into people’s pockets”. They plan to do this by abolishing the current tax system including GST and charge a flat one per cent transaction

tax. They also plan to remove excessive government spending.

Faithfull felt NZ was going down a rabbit hole believing that climate change was causing global warming. His party is also in favour of re-opening the Marsden Point oil refinery, and believes the country should be mining all its oil and gas reserves.

It was a tough crowd for Labour’s Guy Wishart, whose party was criticised for its handling of the pandemic and mandates, and its initiatives to address climate change.

He agreed to disagree with members of the audience on several occasions and said it was a misconception that Labour was antiroads. He said the Warkworth to Wellsford motorway would be a more difficult build than the Puhoi to Warkworth section, but it was essential.

He said National policies were encouraging urban sprawl, leaving communities bereft of the infrastructure to support it.

Bailey, who is also chair of the Rodney Local Board, got kudos from the audience for admitting he didn’t have answers to many of the questions. He felt the current government had gone to war with farmers citing the ute tax, “massive compliance costs” and the difficulties in getting seasonal workers. He wants elite soils protected and

he supports agricultural tourism. Democracy NZ candidate Sarah Brewer said she was standing on a platform of freedom and rights, and a better deal for families and farmers.

NZ First said they would do all they could to stop a mega landfill being built in the Dome, and promised to shift the waste to Northland where it would be disposed of in a waste-to-energy plant. Marcroft said NZ First was committed to rebuilding the main trunk line to Northport to get trucks off the highways.

Penk said National was committed to improving the highway network north to Whangarei.

He said Labour was taking power away from local government, citing Three Waters as an example. He wants less red tape and when addressing the housing

Jenny Marcroft

New Zealand First Candidate for Kaipara ki Mahurangi

jenny.marcroft@nzfirst.nz

shortage, he said National was focused on outcomes rather than ideology.

The Greens also opposed the proposed Dome landfill, wanted warmer homes for everyone and free dental care for all. Questions from the audience touched on roads and potholes, Marsden Point, Section 5 of the Bill of Rights, the impact of the Emissions Trading Scheme on farming, state housing and the fuel tax.

About 140 people attended the meeting, which was organised by the Landowners and Contractors Association, and chaired by Wellsford Plus chair Mitch Martin. There will be another Meet the Candidates meeting at the Warkworth Town Hall this Wednesday, September 13, starting at 5.30pm.

Mahurangi Matters’ special election feature will appear in the September 25 issue.

Authorised by H. Howard, 3/33 Pahiatua St, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North.

National’s Chris Penk.

Labour’s Guy Wishart.

Pere Huriwai-Seger Mayor Craig Jepson

Impassioned exchanges over treaty

Kaipara District Council’s monthly meeting on August 30 featured some heated exchanges, as outside presenters on either side of debates over sovereignty and the Treaty of Waitangi took part to share views that some councillors strongly opposed.

The episode, during the presentations and petitions part of the meeting, was a sequel to the council’s previous monthly meeting, where Pere Huriwai-Seger of the Aotearoa Liberation League and Stop Co-Governance advocate Julian Batchelor squared off over the contentious issue of co-governance.

Huriwai-Seger was back on August 30 – according to the agenda – to speak about Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

What he actually wanted to do, he quickly made clear, was to accuse Mayor Craig Jepson of lying earlier when he said that Batchelor had requested to speak at the July meeting.

Huriwai-Seger charged that Jepson had personally invited Batchelor – “a Te Tiriti o Waitangi conspiracy theorist” – to take part, in effect to provide a rebuttal to Huriwai-Seger’s own presentation. He invited the mayor to apologise.

“I did not lie,” retorted Jepson, and advised Huriwai-Seger to stick to his agreed topic.

“You’re here to talk about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. So get on with it, your time is running out. I’m asking you to stop, or get on with what you came here to talk about.”

Huriwai-Seger urged councillors not to use their positions to elevate voices, which he said spread “hate speech and lies”, but to seek information on the treaty from qualified professionals.

Councillors and staff should attend workshops run by groups like Network Waitangi Whangārei, he said. “And I recommend that you, Mr Mayor, attend as many of those as possible and I suggest that you sit up front.”

When the presentation was over, Cr Mark Vincent reminded the mayor that council’s standing orders gave him the power, as chair, to terminate a speaker who criticised elected members or staff. Jepson said he was aware of that, and would be doing so in future.

Clive Burnham, a lawyer, then gave a presentation on what he called the sovereignty conundrum, asking how demands for co-governance could be reconciled with the Crown’s sovereignty over New Zealand, declared in two proclamations by the Queen’s representative, William Hobson, in May 1840, several months after the signing of the treaty, and taking effect in law later that year.

“It is a blunt fact of law that the Crown acquired full sovereignty in 1840, established a government over the whole country, and all the subsequent rights of New Zealanders rise from the exercise of that sovereignty and not from the treaty,” he concluded.

Tempers were raised again during and after Burnham’s talk. Jepson told Cr Ihapera Paniora to stop interrupting.

“I’ve had enough of it … if you interject again I’ll be asking you to leave and I’ll adjourn the meeting,” he said.

When Cr Jonathan Larsen asked Burnham if he would be available for workshops to help councillors better understand the issues he raised, Paniora erupted.

“You’re kidding!” she said. “He’s not an expert.”

Lifestyle property and farm sales again down in Northland

Northland accounted for the biggest drop in lifestyle property sales of any region in the country in the three months ending July 2023, compared to the equivalent period last year.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) data show that Northland was down 67 lifestyle property sales in the May-July 2023 period compared to the May-July 2022 period. The second-largest decrease in the number of lifestyle properties sold was in Canterbury, down 57 sales. Countrywide, 1374 lifestyle property sales took place in the three months ended July 2023, compared to 1608 lifestyle properties sold for the three months ended July 2022 – a drop of 14.6 per cent.

“Although sales volumes were down, the median sale price for lifestyle properties across New Zealand was steady with the same time in 2022, being just five per cent down for both lifestyle properties with homes and bare land lifestyle blocks,” REINZ rural spokesman Shane O’Brien said. “The strong connection between the lifestyle and residential markets in most regions was influencing sales activity, as many buyers were grappling with increased interest rates, cost of living increases and some uncertainty from the upcoming general election.”

Northland also recorded the second biggest drop in farm sales nationwide in the three months ending July 2023, compared to the three months ended July 2022. Northland recorded 14 fewer farm sales. Only Southland, with 20 fewer sales, fared worse.

Three regions recorded an increase in the number of farm sales for the May-July 2023 period compared to the MayJuly 2022 period, with the most notable being West Coast, up 11 sales.

“Recent weather events across a lot of New Zealand, a lower number of listings on the market and a drop in inquiry for carbon farming and forestry will have impacted this sector,” O’Brien said. “On a more positive and important note, while sales volumes are well down, sale values are holding steady with the previous 12 months, with the median price paid across all sectors actually being up by five per cent, This shows that buyers, although being cautious, will pay a good price for the right property that meets their needs.”

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Confronting climate realities

Life’s a beach when you live in New Zealand. With our long skinny islands, you’re never really far from the sea. The town furthest inland is Garston, south of Lake Wakatipu, past Kingston, and even from there in a few hours you can get to the ocean. Here in the north, with our balmy climate, sheltered waters on the East Coast and wilderness black sand surf breaks on the west, I feel part of a strong ocean culture.

So after a dismal Auckland summer and an even more dismal winter, it was a great joy to finally have a fine day, and get out in our kayak. The sea was flat even though the air reminded us that spring was yet to arrive. We launched from Ōtanerua/Hatfield’s Beach. We drag-carried the kayak down a jumbled pile of boulders that was keeping the sea from the road.

While the west coast beaches of Muriwai, Piha and Karekare have been especially devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, the East Coast wasn’t unscathed. So we kayaked past both small slips and big landslides, areas where erosion and instability have chewed away huge areas of land, exposing clay, causing cliff sides to fall and killing trees. Gullies have collapsed, spilling soil into the ocean. Along the scenic coast, clifftop houses now perch precariously over space which was once sound footings. Beach morphology has changed, with some beaches shallower, others steeper, from the soil and sand picked up, churned about

and laid back down.

Many beaches in New Zealand are now highly modified – natural environments constantly in flux – and built upon. Roads run over them officially, unofficially, vehicles hoon up and down them, like that day at Hatfield’s. Beaches and their infrastructure, are inherently vulnerable to climate change, with its worsening storms, larger waves. But the efforts to protect these places with huge dumped boulders, also erode natural character and public access to the coast.

For the moment, the temporary, emergency rock wall at Hatfield’s protects a valuable infrastructural asset – the road. But Hatfield’s Beach is just a sand spit with a road built on top and on through the estuary. The latest emergency works cost $180,000, and were in addition to a series of previous attempts to ‘shore’ up Hatfield’s to protect the boat ramp, the trees and the road – all precarious. But we can’t sandbag our way out of the climate crisis or build rock walls to hold up every bit of eroded coast or collapsing hillside and its infrastructure. Communities around New Zealand are confronting the reality that whole towns and their roads, too, may have to move.

In the meantime, the sea will come in, the coast will erode, short term fixes will continue. We’ll keep drag-carrying our kayak over rock walls and sitting in our kayak staring back at the changing land.

Volunteer divers needed: help stop the spread of invasive seaweed

Volunteer divers needed: help stop the spread of invasive seaweed

Volunteer divers needed: help stop the spread of invasive seaweed

The invasive seaweed, exotic Caulerpa, was recently discovered in Te Moana Nui ā Toi|Hauraki Gulf and we need your help to stop it spreading further and damaging our marine ecosystem

The invasive seaweed, exotic Caulerpa, was recently discovered in Te Moana Nui ā Toi|Hauraki Gulf and we need your help to stop it spreading further and damaging our marine ecosystem.

The invasive seaweed, exotic Caulerpa, was recently discovered in Te Moana Nui ā Toi|Hauraki Gulf and we need your help to stop it spreading further and damaging our marine ecosystem.

Exotic caulerpa spreads quickly, smothering native aquatic plants that feed our snapper and crayfish. Left unchecked it puts our taiao, fishing and tourism at risk

Exotic caulerpa spreads quickly, smothering native aquatic plants that feed our snapper and crayfish Left unchecked it puts our taiao, fishing and tourism at risk.

Exotic caulerpa spreads quickly, smothering native aquatic plants that feed our snapper and crayfish Left unchecked it puts our taiao, fishing and tourism at risk.

We're looking for volunteers willing to train in caulerpa removal to help us rid our waters of this pest.

We're looking for volunteers willing to train in caulerpa removal to help us rid our waters of this pest.

We're looking for volunteers willing to train in caulerpa removal to help us rid our waters of this pest.

Scan the QR code below to join our volunteer diving and boating team, or get in touch for more information:

Scan the QR code below to join our volunteer diving and boating team, or get in touch for more information:

Scan the QR code below to join our volunteer diving and boating team, or get in touch for more information:

Scan to volunteer

Scan to volunteer

Scan to volunteer

Contact the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust

Contact the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust

Contact the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust

ngatimanuhiri iwi nz

ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

caulerpa@ngatimanuhiri iwi nz

caulerpa@ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

caulerpa@ngatimanuhiri iwi nz

0508 MANUHIRI 0508 626 84474

0508 MANUHIRI 0508 626 84474

Wastewater upgrade in Warkworth

Watercare has started a $3.6m project that will help to reduce wastewater overflows and improve water quality in Warkworth.

The Warkworth Wastewater Rehabilitation Project, which Watercare and construction partner March Cato started last month, will see more than 75 manholes rehabilitated and 3.5km of wastewater pipelines relined.

Work will take place on public reserves, roadways, berms and some residential properties on and to the north of Hill Street, including Victoria Street, Belmont Place, Wainoni Place, Lyttle Lane and Albert Road.

Watercare hopes to have these works completed by early December and it follows on from the wastewater rehabilitation works carried out over the past year on Woodcock Road and its surrounding streets.

Watercare project manager Johan Gerritsen says the wastewater rehabilitation project will play a significant role in helping to reduce the risk of overflows, contamination of local waterways and network failures.

Create your

“The project will ensure that the existing wastewater pipes can continue to transfer wastewater safely and consistently through our network to our treatment plants for many more years.,” he says.

Gerritsen says to help meet the end-of-year deadline and minimise disruptions, the project team conducted investigations earlier this year to determine what work was needed.

“The pipeline relining work will be carried out using trench-less technology.

“This means we can complete the relining work and rehabilitate the manholes and pipeline with minimal impact on the community and without taking the pipe out of service.

“Relining the pipeline instead of replacing it is not only less costly and more time efficient but it is also a lot better for the environment and is much less carbon intensive.

“Plus, it will allow us to get the job done much faster than if we had to dig a trench and install a replacement pipeline.”

Residents in Mangawhai, Kaiwaka, Paparoa and Maungaturoto are being asked for feedback on Kaipara District Council’s draft Waste Minimisation and Management Plan.

The plan includes actions and goals for improving how waste is managed to reduce the recyclable and compostable material ending up in landfill.

A snapshot from a recent waste assessment shows that in the 12 months to July, Kaipara sent just over 4578 tonnes of waste to landfill. That equates to 298kg for each rateable property in the district. Organic material, most of which could be composted, made up 41 per cent of this waste. A further 40 per cent of the waste could have been recycled or reused.

A council spokesperson says that together, these figures show that about 81 per cent of Kaipara’s household kerbside collection could be recycled or composted, and diverted from landfills.

Council says public feedback will be important in shaping a plan that works for Kaipara communities. The deadline for feedback is 5pm on Friday October 6.

Kaipara consults on waste plan HAVE YOUR SAY

More information, including the consultation document and the full draft Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, can be found at www.kaipara.govt.nz/have-your-say

Election forum invite

Accessibility issues will be discussed during an online Election Forum on September 20, starting at 4pm. The forum is being organised by Access Matters, the IHC and other organisations. They say the forum will be an opportunity to question political parties and candidates about their commitment to robust accessibility legislation. The panelists will include the Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan, as well as National, Act and Green Party representatives. Guiding the discussion will be Radio NZ commentator Susie Ferguson and Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. Questions for the panelists can be sent to advocacy@ihc.org.nz. To register for the forum, go to: www.ihc.org.nz/election-event

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The map shows the areas that will be targeted in this latest wastewater rehabilitation project.

McDonald’s Warkworth & Wellsford

Adynamic couple with a handson approach to management are breathing new life and vigour into McDonald’s stores in Warkworth and Wellsford.

Tammy and Terry Milani come from successful careers in marketing and fitness, but during covid decided to change direction and invest in their own business. With Tammy running a city advertising and events agency and Terry managing a gym, they decided to transfer their organisational and customer-service skills to something that was pretty much pandemic-proof and based in a rapidly growing area.

“We want stores that we can be proud of and places the community can come to and have those special McDonald’s meal moments,” Tammy says. “We’re in here every day, cleaning with the staff, serving

the customers – we’re part of the team. This is our livelihood and we want to support our staff and the local community.”

While the opening of the new motorway extension has seen a drop in traffic in Warkworth, Tammy and Terry are seeing more locals coming through as regular customers and they are committed to building relationships, service and quality levels in both stores.

They recently sponsored the disco floor at the recent Winter Festival of Lights and are keen to do more as and when they can.

“Warkworth and Wellsford are great places and we’re loving getting to know everyone,” Tammy says. “We are looking forward to growing the stores with the community and building a supportive and inclusive culture for our staff to feel valued and build a future with us, too.”

Tammy and Terry Milani

Mahu band wins Auckland Bandquest

Out & About

Sausages fund sanctuary

Rotary Warkworth presented the Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary with just over $500 recently, which represented money raised at a Barfoot & Thompson/Rotary sausage sizzle held in Warkworth on July 29. Accepting the donation from Rotary president Kay Flower (right) is Country Retreat owner Helen Cook.

Coin toss warm-up for Great Debate

A young Mahurangi College rock band that was only formed at the start of the year has beaten 16 other groups to win the Greater Auckland Rockshop Bandquest competition.

Sunday Rain took home the top prize of $400 to spend at Rockshop, plus another $100 prize for writing the best original song, Crazy Weather.

In addition, Ari Bronkhorst, drummer with a second Mahu band, Squealing Cymbals, took out the Best Rocking Drummer award at the regional contest on August 24.

Year 7 & 8 performing arts teacher Anna Logue said she was incredibly proud of both Sunday Rain and Squealing Cymbals, not least since they had only been playing together since Term 1.

“I made a call out to anyone who wanted to be in a Year 7&8 rock band. There were many who auditioned and from those, two

rock bands were formed,” she said. Once the bands were together and rehearsing regularly, they decided to aim high and enter Bandquest. Sunday Rain singer Jess Matthews said they felt great performing, but didn’t expect to win.

“Winning first place was the last thing we thought we’d do, due to the amazing performances we had just watched, but we still won!” she said.

Logue said it had been a privilege working with all the students and watching them grow as musicians and performers.

“I was very proud of what both bands accomplished on the night and was blown away by our success – all of the hard work definitely paid off,” she said.

Sunday Rain will now be submitting a video of their winning performance to the national Bandquest competition, which will be judged later this month.

THE GARDENS APARTMENTS

Duckling tips

An experienced bird handler is asking anyone who finds abandoned ducklings to be careful with their care. Isabel Harris, of Mahurangi West, says that too often, people think they are doing the right thing by putting a hot water bottle underneath the ducklings to keep them warm. “Unfortunately, that’s a mistake that can be fatal,” she says. Isabel recommends angling a lamp with an incandescent bulb on the duckling, about 30cm above the bird. “They need to be warmed from the top, not the bottom.” She says ducklings can be fed a soft Weetbix and water mixture, although plain baby Farex is their favourite. “Mixing the Farex with a little Jellymeat cat food ensures the ducklings or baby birds get some protein. It’s best to put the food in a little dish in a wider dish of water, as they like to drink as they eat.”

The annual Great Debate will be held in the Warkworth Town Hall on October 14, with Warkworth Toastmasters taking on teams from Warkworth Lions/Rotary and Warkworth Police. Toastmasters will take the affirmative in the first moot, The World is Not PC Enough, against Lions and Rotary, and again in the second moot, when they debate Manners Are Not Sexy Anymore with police. Tickets are $35 and are available from Mahurangi Matters, Harts Pharmacy, Warkworth Information Centre and Tui House. The Great Debate is sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson Warkworth and is a fundraiser for Warkworth/Wellsford Hospice. Pictured are Sergeant Mark Stallworthy and debate organiser Murray Chapman at the toss to decide which side of the moot each team would argue.

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Top rocking drummer Ari Bronkhorst, of Squealing Cymbals.

From left, Sunday Rain’s Jessica Matthews, Ruby Whitaker, Matilda Lees, Ruben Pow, Hunter Hansen, Rose Wildermoth and Ryan Ramachandran, with teacher Anna Logue behind.

OneMahurangi

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

Behind the scenes

Lately, I’ve received several comments along the lines of, “With the new motorway in place, there’s no urgent need to address Hill Street.” While it is true that traffic has considerably improved, our efforts persist in resolving various transportation issues within our town.

A collaborative team involving One Mahurangi co-chair Dave Stott, Roger Williams from the Warkworth Area Liaison Group and myself has been engaging in frequent meetings with the Auckland Transport (AT) Hill Street Design Team. Our aim has been to refine and exert influence on the design proposed by the AT designers. To be frank, the initial design they presented didn’t gain much favour within our group, leading to heated discussions spanning some time. However, in our recent meeting last week, we were on the brink of finalising a design. Did we manage to secure all the changes we recommended? Not entirely. Nevertheless, both sides made concessions. While Hill Street might not demand immediate attention, it is worth contemplating the state of Warkworth in five, 10 or 15 years. As significant developments in the area wrap up and our population grows, it is important that all local roads function well to facilitate smooth movement. We do not want recurring traffic jams in our future. Considerable attention has also been directed towards the potential location of a new school. In this regard, Dave Stott, Patrick Steuart (a committee member of One Mahurangi) and I engaged in an open and productive conversation with the Ministry of Education. An encouraging outcome of these interactions with key

stakeholders is the acknowledgment that we are the go-to entity for pre-decision consultations concerning our town’s wellbeing. Such consultative dialogues prove mutually beneficial for all parties involved. Recently, Dave Stott and I met with the Auckland Transport board, prompted by Mayor Wayne Brown. Mayor Brown sought to underscore how impactful collaborative efforts with local entities, like ours, can be in advancing progress and benefiting from local expertise. A significant portion of this effort stems from insights derived from the One Mahurangi Transport and Infrastructure Forum, co-chaired by Dave Stott and Chris Penk, our local MP. During these forums, we convene with our Local Board, Councillor, MPs, developers, planners, Waka Kotahi, and representatives from various local community groups. The intent behind these forums isn’t to criticise Auckland Transport or Waka Kotahi, but rather to collectively find solutions and address challenges.

We stand as key stakeholders collaborating with Auckland Transport on Hill Street matters, and with optimism, we’re nearing a resolution. The subsequent step will involve collaborating to secure the necessary funding. The ongoing work persists behind the scenes.

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A helping hand for healing hearts

The Heartbeats Charitable Trust is at the forefront of a new programme designed to reduce readmission and mortality rates for heart attack survivors.

Initially, the group was focused on supporting locals who had had a heart attack, cardiac surgery or a pacemaker implant.

In June, it partnered with the University of Auckland’s Health and Rehabilitation Research Centre to launch Heartbeats Cardio, which founder Trent Lash says is a game-changing programme.

“There are cardiac exercise-based programmes delivered by the public healthcare system, but this takes it further and longer, and has wrap-around services, based on overseas programmes,” he says. The Heartbeats Cardio programmes reduce readmission rates by up to 28 per cent within the first 12 months, post discharge, Trent says.

At this stage, it is offered only at the

University of Auckland’s Newmarket campus, and 70 per cent of those going through the programme are Heartbeats members from the Hibiscus Coast or Warkworth.

However, Trent says the aim is to scale it up as funding allows.

Heartbeats Cardio is a gym and communitybased programme, delivered through qualified clinical exercise physiologists over a 12-week period.

It features ongoing clinical monitoring and assessments, personalised programmes tailored to each individual’s heart condition, combined with professional diet advice and mind-body counselling with peer-to-peer support from Heartbeats’ network.

Dr Paul Marshall, from the Rehabilitation Research Centre, says the programme can greatly improve the quality of life for cardiac patients.

“Harnessing the expertise of clinical exercise

physiologists to design personalised exercise programmes puts Heartbeats Cardio at the forefront of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention in Aotearoa,” he says. “The programme is a testament to the power of compassion, science, and collaboration in crafting tailored care plans.

“Together with Heartbeats, we want to make a profound difference in the lives of those living with heart conditions, empower our communities to embrace proactive cardiac care, and foster a path to lasting wellbeing.”

Funding so far has come through donations and private support, and the Trust is now seeking sustainable funding to scale up the programme throughout Auckland.

Heartbeats Cardio info: https://www. heartbeats.org.nz/cardio/

Heartbeats’ support programmes include meetings, talks, and a Heart Buddy matching platform. Info: https://www. heartbeats.org.nz/atrial-fibrillation-guideheartbeats/

Community van for elderly investigated

Investigations are underway into the feasibility of buying a community van to provide transport for the elderly living in care facilities in the Mahurangi area. The idea has been put forward by Moana Hehepoto and Mark Elley, who recently organised a fundraising movie night to kick start the appeal. Although the night was billed as a fundraiser to buy a van for the Amberlea Care Home at Algies Bay, Elley says it has been recognised that the need for the van might be more widely spread.

“The van would be an opportunity to take residents shopping or to special events, which is not always possible at present,” Elley says.

“We’re approaching Lions and Rotary to see if they might like to own the van on behalf of the community.”

Amberlea unit administrator Mary-Ellen Kearney says residents’ outings normally involve hiring a taxi van, which can become expensive.

The taxi van is also limiting because it does not have the ability to take those in wheelchairs.

“If we were lucky enough to have the use of a van, this would be one of the modifications we would like to see included,” she said. “Last week the residents were taken to the Warkworth Museum where they also had a coffee. They enjoy getting out to places such as Brick Bay or cafes in town.” If anyone is interested in supporting this initiative, they should contact Mark Elley at mark@elley.net.nz

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

Boosting iron intake

Did you know that recently it was Iron Awareness week? An ‘awareness week’ is a way to highlight an issue. For Iron Awareness week it is time to look at one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, to see who is at risk, the implications of low iron and the dietary choices to boost iron intake.

Iron deficiency affects 30 per cent of the world population, mostly women and children. In New Zealand, one in 14 women over 15 years old has an iron deficiency, and 14 per cent of children under the age of two are iron deficient. Iron is an important mineral for our bodies, vital for physical and mental health and wellbeing. It enables blood to carry oxygen around the body, maintains a healthy immune system and helps in energy production.

The symptoms of iron deficiency are commonly attributed to a ‘busy lifestyle’ or ‘a bug’; just feeling off or flat. Because iron is essential for providing energy, low iron levels mean you could be feeling tired and grumpy, lacking energy or more susceptible to illness. Important symptoms of low iron to look out for are feeling tired and weak, feeling the cold easily, being irritable or grumpy, poor concentration, short of breath when exercising, getting sick often, headaches, pale skin and gums.

If you can tick off any symptoms in the list above, you may be short of iron – but don’t just rush out and grab an iron supplement ‘just in case.’ The only way to be sure of an

iron deficiency is to go to your doctor for a simple blood test. While iron is essential it is also toxic if you have too much. It is rare to intake too much iron from food but supplements should be taken under advisement from your doctor. Although most of the iron we eat is from non-haem sources (vegetables), we actually obtain most of our iron from haem (meat and seafood) sources because the body absorbs it more efficiently. These days, with more of a focus on plantbased diets, there has been an increase in the prevalence of iron deficiency. It is all well and good to increase vegetables and decrease meat intake, however there is the risk of reduced iron intake. Once you are aware of the risk there are some simple dietary tweaks to compensate. Here are four simple ways to help improve iron intake:

1. Include plenty of vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables with your meals as vitamin C can increase the absorption of non-haem iron by two to three times.

2. The tannins in tea, coffee, cocoa and red wine inhibit non-haem iron absorption, so best to enjoy these between meals rather than with a meal.

3. Choose fermented soy foods such as tempeh and miso.

4 Avoid low calorie or restrictive diets as these often lead to missing out on daily iron requirements.

Course offers family support

Families that have been bereaved by suicide are invited to join a free eight-week course starting next month.

The grief support and education programme, developed by Skylight, is being delivered by two trained counsellors from Yellow Brick Road, a national organisation that specialises in providing support for families and whanau who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges. It is the first time the course has been offered in the north and it will be held in Silverdale on Thursday evenings, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, starting on October 5. Counsellor Marina Ngaha, who has been

FOOD RESCUE

24 Baxter Street, Warkworth 0910 warkworthfoodrescue@gmail.com

Every week you, our local community provides us with good food, rescued from a possible trip to a landfill. That good food is instead supplied to our local food bank to meet our community needs for food from Puhoi to Te Hana, coast to coast. These donations not only feed the hungry, but they reduce the adverse impacts to our environment of food waste going to landfill. We, at food rescue, continue that environmental concern by keeping the process local, with local food being rescued, local volunteers donating their time to collect, sort and distribute, and our local foodbanks benefiting.

Over the last few months, in addition to the general collection and sorting of food, the committee has been involved in the setup and relocation of our new food sorting area. Thanks go to both our prior and new landlords in providing us with space to run this activity.

We also have a new supporter with the Warkworth Pak n Save having now joined in providing rescued food and we thank them for coming on board and also a huge thank you to New World and Countdown for their continued support.

involved with Yellow Brick Road for the past seven years, says very little has changed for families over that time.

“Family members still feel excluded from information that would help them in their role as carers and there is little support to help them face the challenges that come with caring for a member of their family with mental health issues,” she says.

Participants at the course must be 16 or older.

The programme is backed up by monthly support group meetings, which are held alternatively in Northcote and online.

To register: referrals@yellowbrickroad.org.nz of call 0800 732 825.

How you can help?

• You might volunteer to become involved.

• Do you have an orchard or back yard with fruit or vegetables going spare? We have on occasions received trailer loads of pumpkins shipped up from a Hawkes Bay producer.

• Perhaps a farm or lifestyle block owner could provide an animal for slaughter with meat going to the food banks.

• Donations are always gratefully received as well and enable us to meet the occasional desperate need.

Our sponsors

Open 7am for breakfast and games, for the 4 All Black World Cup Pool A matches, and the good quarterfinals, all semifinals and the finals.

Congratulations to Dave Adams, who is this week’s recipient of a gift box from Chocolate Brown. Dave was nominated by a member of the Warkworth St John Ambulance, Michelle Stevenson, who wrote …

Dave took it upon himself a number of years ago to voluntarily look after our station road frontage and front entrance. He mows and weed trims on a regular basis to keep our station looking presentable and even left a note the other day apologising that he’d been away for a few weeks. He’s one of those contributors behind-the-scenes that no one really sees. Thanks Dave.

, 17 Neville Street, Warkworth.

refrain

Plenty of holiday treasure hidden at local libraries

Pirates, dragons and a team from Auckland Zoo will all feature at local libraries this school holidays, with two weeks of Treasure Hunter-themed activities and events lined up.

At Warkworth, staff will be setting up a special treasure hunters’ escape room, where those who dare have to solve puzzles, find the hidden treasure and get out of there in the space of an hour.

The escape room will be open over two days, but bookings are required, so see the panel or go into the library to find out more and reserve a spot.

Warkworth Lions Club are seeking artistic treasures on September 25, by sponsoring a special art competition encouraging young artists to express their vision for peace. There are two age categories – a colouring competition for those aged from five to seven, and a broader art contest for 8 to 11-year-olds, with prizes for both.

Both Warkworth and Wellsford Libraries will be getting a visit from Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team on October 4. The zoo crew will tell stories, play games and set up art and craft activities to help young wildlife lovers discover more about the natural taonga, or treasures, in our backyards.

Wellsford Library is looking for help to find a Book Dragon that’s been stealing books to create its own literary hoard, plus you can make your own dragon puppet, or treasure hoard with LEGO, modelling clay or melty beads.

There is a Treasure Jar competition and a scavenger hunt that involves cracking a series of comedy codes, as well as a range of scheduled events and activities that include computer coding, robot workshops and Dungeons & Dragons.

What’s happening and where ...

WARKWORTH

Monday, September 25, 10.30am

Vision for Peace art competition

Express your vision for peace at this special art session sponsored by Warkworth Lions

Tuesday, September 26, 10.30am

LEGO Time

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

Wednesday, September 27, 10.30am

Salt Dough Fossils

Learn about fossils, make salt dough and create your own fossil imprints

Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29, 11am-3pm

Treasure Hunters Escape Room

Solve the puzzles, find the treasure and escape from the room! One hour per session, bookings essential – email warkworth.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Monday, October 2, 10.30am Pirates in the Library!

Avast ye, mateys – make yourself a treasure map, listen to pirate tales, even dress the part

Tuesday, October 3, 10.30am

Geocache Treasure Hunt Find out about geocaching, then go on a special geocache treasure hunt in the library

Wednesday, October 4, 10am

Auckland Zoo Crafty Conservation

Join the Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team to hear stories, play games and enjoy art and craft activities while learning about local wildlife and backyard taonga/treasures

Whangateau Holiday Park

Thursday, October 5, 10.30am

Magnetic Metal Detectors

Calling all treasure hunters – have fun with magnets and make your own magnetic metal detector

WELLSFORD

Monday, September 25 and Tuesday, September 26, 2-3.30pm

Codey Rocky Robot Workshops

Creative coding adventure with Codey Rocky robot. Bookings required – email wellsfordlibrary@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or ask at the library

Tuesday, September 26, 10.30am

Dragon Puppets

Get fired up at the library and make your own dragon puppet

Thursday, September 28, 10.30am

Treasure Sculpting Workshop

Create a mini-treasure hoard with colourful soft modelling clay

Friday, September 29, 2-4.30pm

LEGO Club - Treasure Hoard

Treasure building session for the Wellsford Library’s own LEGO treasure hoard.

Monday, October 2, 2pm

Salt Dough Fossil

Mix up some salt dough then make your own fossil look-a-likes

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

Go local for a fun family break!

Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.

Holiday Park

Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.

Whangateau Holiday Park

Go local for a fun family break!

Whangateau Holiday Park

Go local for a fun family break!

Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz

Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.

0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305

Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.

As well as activities at individual libraries, there is the usual chance to win prizes that include visits to MOTAT and Auckland Zoo by joining in with Auckland Libraries’ Beanstack reading challenge for students aged from 5-18. Participants will be invited to explore the Treasure Hunters theme via reading lists and activities, then log what they’ve done on the Beanstack Tracker app. There is also a school holiday activity booklet available at local libraries.

Tuesday, October 3, 2pm

Melty Mini-Treasures!

Melty bead workshop to create your own melty mini-treasure to take home

Wednesday, October 4, 1-2pm

Auckland Zoo Backyard Treasures

Join the Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team to hear stories, play games and enjoy art and craft activities while learning about local wildlife and backyard taonga/treasures

Thursday, October 5, 10.30am

Dungeons & Dragons

Role-playing adventure game to defend your group from scary monsters, take back your treasure and maybe save the dragon

Friday, October 6, 2-4.30pm

LEGO Club - Loot Bag Challenge

Special edition of the regular LEGO club, building treasures from mystery loot bags

MAHURANGI EAST

Activities at Mahurangi East Library are still being finalised, but there will be a series of art workshops as part of the continuing community project to produce a book on the donkeys of Highfield Garden Reserve at Algies Bay. For more information on other activities and events, visit the Mahurangi East Library Facebook page, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/ school-holidays-events.aspx or just call in and ask staff what’s going on.

Go local for a fun family break!

Absolute coastal paradise!

Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.

whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.

Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz

Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.

0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.

Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz

0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

whangateauholidaypark.co.nz

Book an Auckland Council holiday park today: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz

0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

0800 947 275 or 09 427 3305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

What’s on expo for area’s youth

A diverse range of clubs and activities, aimed specifically at young people aged 16 years and under, will be on show at Warkworth’s first Junior Group and Clubs Day Expo at the old Masonic Hall on Saturday, September 23.

The event is being organised by the Warkworth Library. Librarian Katie Mitchell says the library gets a lot of enquiries from parents interested in knowing what is available locally for their children.

Mangawhai chess champs plan next move

Inspired by the Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit, Mangawhai resident Tina Smith launched a chess club for junior players in 2021.

Two years later, a handful of its members are preparing to take part in regional and national competitions next month.

“My Dad taught all of us kids chess when we were young, but at a very basic level,” Smith says. “And being a typical girl, I wasn’t that interested. Plus, I wasn’t that smart either!”

After becoming a mum, she decided to teach her three sons to play the game. Smith initially ran the club from her home, although during the covid pandemic the group would meet in the open-air courtyard behind Wood Street, using the public seating available there. It now meets at the Mangawhai Tavern on Tuesday afternoons.

As the club grew in numbers and popularity, Smith opened up a satellite

group in Maungaturoto.

Currently, there are about 15 members in the two locations, with children coming from Mangawhai, Maungaturoto, Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Hakaru and Waipu. Tournaments are held at during the holidays, with winners receiving engraved trophies and medals.

Among the members are a young brother and sister whose parents manage a takeaway store in Mangawhai. After seeing them at the shop, looking idle and bored, Smith asked their parents if they would like to learn to play chess.

“We taught them from scratch, and now they are really good,” she says.

The girl, Victoria Dai, is the club’s top junior.

In a recent regional school teams competition, members of the club were among the first-placed intermediate division winners (Otamatea High School) and first-placed junior division winners

(Mangawhai Beach School). Members also took top placings in individual categories. Smith says no fewer than nine of the members of the little club have qualified for the national competition in Auckland on October 21 and 22. Among them is her youngest son, nine year-old Ryan.

The club is holding events including film screenings and raffles to raise funds to take part in that event, as well as a regional championship in Kerikeri a week later. It’s also appealing for donations of any size from area businesses to help cover costs, which include transport and entry fees.

Smith says chess is a great way of bringing together regardless of age, skill level or economic status. It can engage young people in something positive, and even help lower high rates of youth crime, she says.

“It’s a game that involves skill, tactics and strategy, a bit like our own lives. Every decision has consequences, just as it does in our lives.”

She says the expo will be both a way of promoting local groups, but also identifying where there might be gaps.

“If someone can’t find what they are looking for, then we might be able to facilitate setting something up or linking some groups together,” she says.

“We will have 14 tables available inside the hall and space for further stallholders outside, although they will need to supply their own tables and gazebos.”

The library, which already runs weekly Lego and chess afternoons for juniors, is inviting sports clubs, scouting and guiding organisations, music and art groups to participate.

Katie says if anyone runs a club specifically for young people, but hasn’t received an invitation, then they are still very welcome to participate and can contact her on the email below or visit the library.

The expo will be run from 10am to 2pm, and the Lions have been invited to put on a sausage sizzle.

Info: Katherine.mitchell@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz

Matthew Laurence-Goss, from Otamatea High School (left), plays Moana WyrschCopplestone, of Whangarei Heads School.

Ben Wyrsch-Copplestone, from Whangarei Heads School (left), plays Mangawhai Chess Club member Ryan Smith, of Otamatea Christian School.

If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a flying trapeze artist, rodeo rider or Ninja Warrior, this is the place for you.

Choir traverses human emotion

Songs of love and loss will be the theme of two concerts by the Kowhai Singers this month.

This will be the second concert series under musical director Ken Leech, who has chosen a very different musical format and style for these performances.

The programme will feature timeless classics from the Gershwin brothers and the celebrated duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as songs made famous by singers such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, the Bee Gees and Carole King.

“From the moment the first note reverberates through the hall, attendees will be transported to a world where music becomes a conduit for raw emotions and

shared experiences,” Leech says. “The programme promises to evoke deepseated feelings with a medley of beloved tunes that traverse the spectrum of human sentiment.”

In keeping with the more up-beat tempo of some of the items, the choir will be joined by a three-piece band and special guest artists The Castorways.

The two concerts will be held at the Leigh Hall on Sunday, September 17, starting at 4pm, and the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, September 23, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are $25, available from Briar Rose Flowers, choir members or at the door (cash only). Students free.

Hall’s record haul continues

Kaiwaka powerlifter Bernie Hall has done it again – just three months after beating his own national deadlift record, he’s smashed that record once more with a new winning weight of 281kg.

Hall’s lift was not only another new alltime NZ deadlift record for the Masters 2 Under 100kg division for men aged 45 to 49, it was the heaviest deadlift of all at the Global Powerlifting Committee NZ Ragnarok deadlift competition in Christchurch on September 2.

The 281kg lift puts him up to 115th in the world in his category, up from the 160th place for his 276kg lift at the Metal Militia Oceania powerlifting competition in June.

The lift was also 8kg heavier than the International Powerlifting League (IPL) drug-tested deadlift world record for the same category, but that particular record is unable to be contested in New Zealand at present due to licensing and judging issues. Hall trains at the Kaiwaka

The Kowhai Singers have been in rehearsals since June for their spring concerts.

Fitness Centre

Bernie Hall during his record lift.

with a group of other strength athletes and has been adapting his technique to achieve heavier deadlifts, with a more effective start method.

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

A very good fruit cake

Baking is one of the skills that New Zealanders are very good at. Lots of us grew up with cake tins filled with goodies that our Mums and Grandmas lovingly baked for us every week. I have fond memories of lovely crunchy biscuits, delicious gooey slices and all manner of cakes that we could munch on in our lunch box or fill those hollow tummies when we returned from school each day. These days, with the rush to drop off the kids before heading to work and then coming home in the evening dog-tired, there’s not quite the same enthusiasm for weekly baking. Conveniently packaged nut and muesli bars and all manner of baked treats line the shelves of the supermarket to tempt us and fill the breach. But we shouldn’t lose those skills, and the good old Edmonds cookbook remains a constant on the best-selling book lists today. Weekends are for baking and it’s important that we seek recipes that produce cakes, slices and biscuits that are good “keepers” to take us through the week. Everyone should try to master one or two cakes for their own baking repertoire, as there’s nothing that brings as much joy as a delicious moist cake. Cakes make great gifts for neighbours and friends in times of stress, and a lovely celebratory cake is essential for birthdays and special occasions. This week’s cake recipe is an oldie but a goodie. Like many foodie families, we are rich in traditions in our household, and the fragile treasured baking books of my mother and grandmother still occupy their place on my shelves. But of all the cakes, including my Mum’s chocolate cake, this sultana cake is probably the most cherished. Dulcie was my mother-in-law, and she would visit us every Friday, arriving by train laden with flowers from her garden, some new knitting or sewing for our kids, and always an apple pie or this flavoursome sultana cake for the family.

It’s a great recipe and after she passed away my own mother rose to the occasion, copied the recipe and continued to bake Dulcie’s Sultana Cake for us. We were spoiled. It’s a buttery cake that will keep in an airtight tin for up to a week, and is filled with the aroma and flavours of orange, lemon and almond. It needs no icing or fancying up as it’s just perfect on its own.

I acquired a silicone cake tin many years ago (I have silicone muffin pans, too) and absolutely love them as they do away with the need to butter and line with baking paper and the cakes and muffins turn out cleanly and easily every single time. Most good kitchenware stores carry them or you can find them for purchase online. I cannot recommend this equipment highly enough. It might even change your reluctance to bake!

400g sultanas

180g butter

180g sugar

2 eggs

1 lemon, finely grated zest only

1 orange, finely grated zest only

1tsp pure vanilla essence

1 tsp almond essence

240g flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup warm water

Preheat the oven to 150°C.

Prepare a square or round 20cm cake tin by lining with two layers of baking paper in the bottom and the sides, or use a 20cm silicone cake tin (more information in the accompanying story).

Put the sultanas in a saucepan, adding just enough water to cover them well, bring to the boil and simmer the sultanas for 10 minutes. Allow the fruit to cool then drain well in a sieve. Most of the liquid should have been absorbed.

Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time and continue beating.

Fold in the grated zest of the orange and lemon with the vanilla and almond essences. Add the sifted flour and baking powder with the warm water and the drained sultanas and mix with a metal spoon until combined.

Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for one hour. Test with a skewer, ensuring it is cooked in the centre by seeing that it comes out clean, then remove from the oven. Allow the cake to cool in the tin before turning out. This cake will keep for a week or two in an airtight tin. To serve, cut into small squares.

Taste of Brick Bay

Nana Dulcie’s Sultana Cake

James Graham, Matakana Winegrowers james@takatuwine.co.nz

Extending the wine experience

Many of the Matakana wine growers focus on selling their wines directly to the public or through local restaurants and venues. As one of New Zealand’s smallest wine regions, the volumes that we produce make it difficult to supply large retail outlets –instead, the focus is on building direct relationships with customers.

Cellar doors and winery restaurants are a key component of this. They are access points for wineries to interact with their customers, sell their wines, tell their stories and, likewise, for customers to discover and enjoy some of our region’s best wines, dining and unique experiences such as the art/sculpture trails.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (cellar door tasting) Amendment Bill, which reached Royal Assent on August 30, will remove a lot of legislative red tape around the ability of wine growers to operate cellar doors, recognising that cellar doors are in the lowest risk category for alcohol sales, respecting that the requirements of host responsibility still hold, and supporting small wineries as valued contributors to the growth of wine tourism in New Zealand. It is heartening to see that this bill attracted broad support across the political divide in Parliament.

The practical outcome of this bill will likely be to encourage more winegrowers to open cellar door facilities and improve the tasting experience that visitors enjoy at existing ones. This is a win-win situation for wineries across the country, and for the visitors – local and tourists alike – who visit them.

While that is positive news, many of our winegrowers are too small to justify their own cellar door facilities. To help provide opportunities for these growers to show and sell their wines, the Matakana Winegrowers Association has been collaborating with several supportive local businesses to create a series of events.

On Sunday, October 29, we will continue our series of wine and film nights at the Matakana Cinemas with the French wine film ‘La Degustation’ (The Tasting). Tickets include tastings of a wide range of Matakana wines and a glass of wine to take into the movie.

At The Vintry in Matakana, a series of themed degustation dinners are being held, pairing four local wines and four international wines of a similar style with delicious small plates from the MMK kitchen. Upcoming tastings will look at Matakana wines from Italian and Spanish varieties against those from their homelands.

From November through to March, we will be running Friday evening wine and pizza nights at the Matakana Farmers Market, an enjoyable way to unwind and converse over local wines in a relaxed environment. Visiting our winery cellar doors/restaurants or attending these events are great opportunities to meet and talk to local winegrowers, try their wines, hear their stories and become a part of our wine community. Your local wine growers would love to meet you and share their passion for our region’s distinctive wines.

Out of Zone

activities

keep you and children occupied or you can just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of our location only 15 minutes from Matakana or 90 minutes from the heart of Auckland.

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

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

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

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

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Talk to us today to take advantage of this rare offering.

A sunny August morning and incoming tide met the official opening of the Mangawhai shared pathway boardwalk. Photo, Elevated Media NZ

“Ka choice,pai,primo.”

Mangawhai boardwalk opening

The second stage of Mangawhai’s shared pathway project – the boardwalk across the estuary on Molesworth Drive – was officially opened on August 22, adding another link in a route popular with walkers, runners and cyclists.

Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson joined mana whenua and community representatives for the early morning ceremony, which included a ribbon-cutting, a blessing by Te Uri o Hau, karakia performed by kaumātua, and a blessing by Causeway Church pastor Colin Chitty.

Completion of the new boardwalk marks another significant milestone in the shared path project, Jepson said, describing the structure as “cool, ka pai, choice, primo, awesome, the bees knees”.

“This important connecting link between the village and the Heads is more than just safe biking and walking,” he said.

“From the art design Te Uri o Hau has contributed, to the restful seating provided to take in magical Mangawhai estuary views, to the fishing platform in the centre where kids will be seen dangling a fishing line, it will provide immense enjoyment for our community,” he said.

“Our older citizens will find the boardwalk a gentle stroll. Residents and visitors will use it to walk safely to work, to the

museum, MAZ [Mangawhai Activity Zone], supermarket, shops and cafes, and the Saturday markets.”

Te Uri o Hau has gifted a name for the new section of the shared path, incorporating both the new boardwalk and the nearby Backbay boardwalk, built earlier by the Mangawhai Trackies. The name, Te Ara o Te Whai, has three reference points –pathway of the stingray, pathway of the chief and pathway of pursuit.

Phase One of the shared path network, completed in 2022, included a section on the Heads side of the causeway, from the ITM opposite the MAZ to Estuary Drive, as well as features in the village including street-scaping and roundabouts.

Phase Two included the boardwalk as well as the shared path sections on either side of the causeway. Phase Three, expected to start in summer, will include the shared path section from the ITM to Wood Street on the Heads side, and from Mangawhai Central to the village.

The budget for the first two phases was $12.8 million, funded by Waka Kotahi ($7.954m), Kaipara District Council development and financial contributions ($2.475m), and the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund Infrastructure Reference Group ($2.4m).

Tram replacement wins house award

A house that replaced the last old tramcarturned-bach that gave Whangateau’s Tramcar Bay its name has won a major building award.

The single-storey waterfront home in Leigh Road was the Auckland/Northland/ Coromandel winner in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2023 awards last month, winning the Carters New Home $1 million-$1.5 million category.

The three-bedroom, cedar-clad property was built by The House Company, which is based in Silverdale and has a show home on the corner of Woodcocks Road and old SH1 in Warkworth, opposite Mahurangi College. Clearance of the site and demolition of the old pale pink tramcar caused controversy in late 2019, with some neighbours expressing surprise and dismay that more had not been done to try to save the local landmark, which was in an advanced dilapidated state by then.

The tram was one of three former Auckland tramcars that had been barged to the bay around the late 1950s, where they were used as holiday baches for many years.

The new home sits on the water’s edge.

History

Rose Reid, Albertland Museum

Gumfields lured hardy souls

Gumdiggers were a hardy breed of men who worked long hours in the gumfields around Albertland. Typically, these men were young and single, and would earn between 25 to 30 shillings a week, much more than other labouring jobs at that time. The men would dream of making enough money to buy their own land when they were too old to continue with this gruelling work.

There were many gum fields in the district – Fern Hill Gully, Hargreaves, Oneriri, Fitzgeralds, Okahukura and Mt Brame –providing much-needed income for the district in the early years of settlement. The Opou Block, between Wharehine and the Tapora peninsula, was a favourite of Jack Riley and his gang of gumdiggers, which included brothers, Robert, and Henry Sefton. The Opou was a vast area of wilderness and scrub where large kauri trees had once flourished and giant moa once roamed.

Kauri trees produce a resin from their bark, leaves and cones. From the 1840s, this resin was used to manufacture furniture varnish and linoleum. The Albertlanders seemed unaware of its value, at first, using it as a missile to throw at loitering or trespassing cattle or as a torch to light fires.

Jack Riley, a well-spoken Englishman, was popular with settlers and fellow gumdiggers alike. His friendship with the Marsh family, who lived at Opou, meant that his gumdiggers’ ‘swags’ or personal belongings would be taken on their cart to the campsite and a ready supply of eggs, milk and bacon could be purchased from the Marsh family farm. They would set

off each morning with their kit, a Skelton spade, gum spear, pikau (or backpack), a bucket and, of course, the billy to make a good strong brew. At lunchtime, the men made camp bread, before continuing to dig in swampy, muddy conditions. They returned to their camp heavily laden with gum in their backpacks to prepare their dinner, which was often a jacket potato and tinned meat or wild pork. Their evenings were then spent scraping kauri gum by candlelight. Their huts were made of two

low sod walls with a framework of ti-tree poles, and a thatched roof made from nikau leaves. The men would normally sleep two to a hut. Sadly, for some of the gum diggers loneliness and depression marred their hard work, and on February 13, 1903, with heavy hearts, Jack Riley and his gang carried the coffin of the young Robert

Sefton to Minniesdale after he took his own life at the Opou camp, aged 21 years. On October 23, 1917, his brother Henry died while serving overseas in World War I. For Jack Riley, his dream of owning his own house and land did come true, and he lived in a small cottage near the Tauhoa Creek, at Te Wheau, not far from the Opou gumfields, until his death in 1937.

A gumdiggers camp at Opou Creek, 1906. Albertland Museum.

Not all the gumdiggers found their fortune on the Albertland fields.

The hall was originally built to house the school. Historic photos courtesy Albertland Museum.

Locals reclaim historic hall

New life is being breathed back in to the 140-year-old Hoteo North Hall on State Highway 16, south-west of Wellsford. The historic building has been closed for several years, ever since the demise of the incorporated society that ran it. Concern that the building might be unsalvageable if it remained in its current state prompted enthusiastic residents to call a public meeting last month to talk about its future.

About 30 people attended and a committee, headed by president Anthony Tharme and vice-president Natalie Croul, was elected.

Croul says she is very excited by the level of support demonstrated at the meeting.

“We know we have a long haul ahead of us, but there were a lot of willing hands and people with lots of skillsets, which we can draw on,” she says.

“At this stage we are just canvassing for ideas on how people would like to see the hall used and how repairs could be funded.

“The hall is a bit of a diamond in the rough at the moment – the roof and piles seem to be in good condition, but there is a lot of rot and some of the windows are being held in by nothing more than love. She’s definitely showing her age.”

Croul says the extensive grounds around the

hall provide opportunities for rural based activities such as dog trials and children’s days with old fashioned games. There was also talk of vintage car rallies, mud runs, cross-country days, and Christmas and Easter events.

According to documents held at the Albertland Museum, Hoteo North once boasted a store, blacksmith shop, boarding house, church and post office/library.

The hall started life as a school, which was built by George Totterdell Hartnell for £290. It was converted to a hall, and its grounds leased for grazing, when the school closed in 1940.

During World War I it was the venue for dances and flag euchre evenings to raise money for the Patriotic Fund. (In flag euchre, each table of players had a small flagstaff on which miniature flags were hoisted for every win; the table with the most flags at the end of the night was the victor for the evening).

During World War II, the hall was used for several farewell functions for Hoteo North men leaving to fight overseas.

“The hall is an authentic link to our district’s history and we think that is really something to celebrate,” Croul says.

Info: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/2390046627833675/ permalink/2398645126973825/

The quaint old hall sits on a prime 16-hectare site.

Wellsford CLINIC VET

We provide:

• Care for all your veterinary needs.

• Four dedicated Vets and friendly office staff, who deliver a comprehensive service.

• An after hours emergency service in Wellsford.

Animals

Ingrid Spitze, Wellsford Vet Clinic https://wellsfordvet.com/

Senior pet care

As our pets “get on a bit” they may show signs of slow or difficulty in getting up, sitting or grunting when lying down. Dogs may no longer crouch down to poo, but walk while passing stools. Cats (and goats) no longer jump up onto chairs and tables. The hind limbs may look and feel thinner. Very often this is due to arthritis. Arthro means joint and itis means inflammation, so arthritis means joint inflammation. Inflammation results in thinning of the usually thick joint fluid and, hence, less cushioning. Consequently, the cartilages, which line the surfaces of the adjoining bones, take more pressure, become harder and pain is experienced. Pain results in tensing up and the muscle contraction pulls the joint surfaces together establishing a vicious cycle. Messages are sent to the brain which result in an increased sensitivity to pain (known as ‘wind-up’). Increased pain makes the animal reluctant to move which then results in loss of muscle mass that weakens them even further.

Arthritis cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed to improve quality of life. Dietary joint supplements such as chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM (often derived from marine sources) nourish the cartilages and joint fluid, making them more resilient. Their relative amounts vary between humans and animals, so it is best use species-specific products. There are

complete dog and cat foods on the market like ‘joint care/diet’, which contain the supplements. When treating ruminants, it is best to avoid animal-based products, and rather use plant-based products. Many herbs and spices such as boswellia and turmeric nourish the joints and relieve pain, but need to be used correctly, matching the action of the herb with the disease process in the animal, otherwise they can result in further problems. It is best to consult an animal herbalist before using herbs to ensure they are given in the correct formulation and dosage.

Veterinary pain killers are only available on prescription. Most anti-inflammatory tablets are given daily with food. After resolving the symptoms with a standard dose, the dose is decreased to the lowest effective dose in order to minimise the side effects. It can be increased again if needed. Injectable pain medications usually involve a course of weekly injections for four weeks and then monthly injections or as needed. A newer medication, which also addresses the ‘wind up’ described above, is injected monthly.

Acupuncture also addresses the wind-up process and local inflammation, as well as mitigating underlying causes. Warmth and magnetic beds and blankets help nourishment of tired muscles.

Awards celebrate sustainable farming

Entries are open for the annual Ballance Farm Environment Awards, which celebrate and showcase good practice by farmers and growers, from now until October 15.

The awards aim to assess and highlight positive farming and rural stories and provide entrants with positive feedback about their businesses.

The programme is run by the NZ Farm Environment Trust, which aims to take a holistic view of agriculture, horticulture and viticulture operations, from their biodiversity and business health to water use and waste management.

General manager Sarah Harris says the biggest misconception around the awards

is that farmers and growers often don’t feel they are ‘ready’ to open up their business to scrutiny.

“The reality is that they may never feel ready, but they just need to take a leap of faith and mark down a year they are prepared to commit,” she says.

“I see our awards a little like targeting an Olympic medal – you should aim to enter more than once: the first time to see the level of competition, and the second time to win a medal.”

Farmers and growers can enter their own business, or people can nominate entrants, and there are at least 11 awards for either the Auckland or Northland region. Info and entries: https://nzfeawards.org.nz/

116 Rodney Street, Wellsford (opposite McDonalds)

Hockeyumpiresneeded

Umpires are needed for the upcoming summer hockey season at Warkworth Showgrounds. Games are played on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6-9pm. If interested, contact warkworthhockey@gmail.com

Seniormixedtouch

Time to get your teams sorted because senior mixed touch registrations are open for the 2023 season at Mahurangi Rugby Club. The season starts on Thursday, October 12. Games are played every Thursday night at the Mahurangi Rugby Club grounds. Three grades – social, competitive and over 40. Contact Bernie at bernie@bkdesign.co.nz or phone 021 118 3462.

Summerhockey

Registrations are open for summer hockey at Warkworth Showgrounds. Adult seven-a-side games start on Tuesday, October 10 and will be played every Tuesday evening from 6-9pm. These will be half field games with no goalie and are suitable for ages 12+. Adult nine-a-side games start on Thursday, October 12 with a start-of-season fun night. Nine-a-side games will be played every Thursday evening from 6-9pm. Games will be full field and are suitable for ages 14+. Registrations close on September 22. Register your team here: https://sites.google.com/site/ warkworthsocialhockey/

MangawhainetballAGM

The Mangawhai Netball Club AGM will be held on Saturday, September 16, at Mangawhai Domain Hall, from 1-2pm. AGM will take place prior to the prizegiving that starts at 2pm. An online option will be available for those who would like. Nominations for Executive Committee positions are open from today via email mangawhainetballclub@gmail.com

Learntosail

Enrolments are open for the 2023 Learn To Sail season at Sandspit Yacht Club. Categories are Learn to Sail (LTS1) Optimist class – Beginner, Learn to Sail (LTS2) Optimist class – Sailing Faster, and Learn to Sail (LTS3) – Bics. Classes are held at Algies Bay and begin on Sunday, October 15. Ages 9 to 15. To register or for more information visit www.sandspityachtclub.nz/learn-to-sail or email office@sandspityachtclub.nz

Day gets young girls activated

Year 5 and 6 girls from eight Rodney schools attended a Girls Activation Day at the Warkworth Showgrounds recently. The day was organised by Harbour Sport with the idea of giving the girls the opportunity to try six different sport and recreation activities.

Community Sport connector Ant Hyde says the day was specifically aimed at girls who don’t do a lot of regular activity.

“It was an opportunity for them to try some different things that they might enjoy and, hopefully, continue on with one,” he said.

“The drop off rate of girls participating in regular sport or active recreation in their early teens is very significant, so we want to give them more opportunity.

“We have also found girls are more willing to give things a go in an all-girls environment, where boys don’t take over. Especially the girls we are trying to get along to our activation day who may

always step back a bit during school sport.

“The day was about the girls having fun in a non-judgmental way where they could try activities that they might like to continue doing.”

The six activities were hip hop, touch, hockey, volleyball, hungerball (a type of football in a blow up arena) and cricket.

This was the first activation day held in Rodney, and organisers and parents were pleased with the results.

One parent said the leaders were all positive, friendly and outstanding.

“Each activity was received hesitantly to start with and to watch the confidence grow in our girls was a gift to watch. I hope [Harbour Sport] continues to provide such activities for our girls, as the day was a resounding success,” she said.

Students from Helensville, Warkworth Primary, Wellsford Primary, Parakai, Pakiri, Tomarata, Horizon and Leigh attended.

The day took the competitiveness out of the activities so the girls were free to “just have fun”.

The Girls Activation Day showed the students that exercising can be fun.

Classifieds

WALKERS WANTED!

SNELLS BEACH & WELLSFORD

EARN EXTRA CASH, GET YOUR DAILY EXERCISE & EXPLORE THE NEIGHBOURHOOD!

• Reliable walkers wanted for part-time workdelivering mailers/ newspapers into household letterboxes

• No experience necessary

• Materials delivered right to your door

Regular workcommunity newspaper and mailers

• We would prefer if you had a smartphone

Contact phone Tanya Milford by txt or email 021 066 0838, tanyamilford@hotmail.com

www.reach.nz/walker-signup

Mahurangi Matters can be picked up from the following businesses:

WARKWORTH: Mahurangi Matters, Paper Plus, Warkworth Information Centre, Countdown, New World, Z • PUHOI: Puhoi Pub, Puhoi Store • SNELLS BEACH: Snells Beach Dairy, The Food Market, Gull • MATAKANA: Matakana Four Square, Gull, Matakana Information Centre • Point Wells Store • OMAHA: Omaha Superette

• LEIGH General Store • WELLSFORD: Caltex, Top Shop 4 Square, Port Albert Store • KAIWAKA: Jacques 4 Square, Caltex • MANGAWHAI: Mangawhai Village Supervalue, Mangawhai Club

www.localmatters.co.nz

Rainfall figures for August

Financial success series for farmers

A six-week motivational webinar series aimed at demystifying the financial landscape for farmers and growers starts tonight, Monday, September 11. The Beef + Lamb NZ series features farmers, bankers, accountants and others discussing how to bounce back from tough times, coping during a recession and mastering cycles with financial insight. Speakers will cover the art of re-forecasting, securing refinancing, mastering budgeting, planning ahead and controlling the things that can be controlled to ensure agricultural enterprises thrive.  Sow, Grow, Thrive runs online every Monday evening from 7.30pm to 8.30pm until October 16.

Info and registration: https://beeflambnz.com/events/sow-grow-thrive-blnz-webinarseries-empower-farmers-financial-success

Pākiri paddler scores silver in Samoa

Veteran waka ama paddler Laurie (Skin) Atkins brought home a silver medal after competing in a world distance championship event in Samoa last month. Competing in the Masters 70 Men’s single waka (V1) 12-kilometre race, the 72 year-old from Pākiri bested contestants representing American Samoa, Canada, Brazil, Hawai’i and the United States to take second place, behind Australia’s Tony Compton.

“I was very happy with my placing and how I raced, but was disappointed that our race course was changed at the last minute,” Atkins says. “We were meant to race out in the open ocean but it got changed to the harbour, where it was flat and calm.”

Atkins says that was a shame because he usually excels in conditions of wind and swells, where a paddler’s skill is needed to control the rudderless single waka.

Rescue helicopter lottery a boatie’s dream

One chance in 12,000 – that’s the odds for anyone taking a $100 ticket in the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust raffle, which went on sale last Thursday, September 7. The lucky winner will take home an Extreme 745 Game King, powered by a Yamaha F250 outboard and towed by a 2023 Ford Wildtrack V6 on a Hosking trailer.

The boat has been fully fitted out by Warkworth-based Rodney Marine with all the bells and whistles, including Garmin electronics, Century batteries, Shimano fishing gear and a GME VHF marine radio.

Altogether, the prize is worth more than $300,000 and will raise around $1.2 million for the trust.

Rodney Marine owner Murray Rowe says he was only too pleased to be involved in putting the package together for the lottery.

“The rescue helicopter provides a really good service and it benefits everyone to see that they are properly funded,” he says.

“We will be adding to the fundraising by donating $1000 from every Extreme sold between now and Christmas.”

The rescue helicopter relies on the community’s goodwill and support to

remain operational 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Trust communications manager Lincoln Davies says 2023 is likely to be the 10th consecutive year that the service will exceed 1000 missions, so fundraising is as important as ever.

Numerous missions are marine-related, medical-related and search and rescues. The raffle will close on November 30, or when the limited number of tickets are sold. It will be drawn at the Westpac Helicopter’s base at Ardmore on December 6. Tickets can be bought online at www.extremelottery.org.nz

“On the flat and calm it’s just a drag race!”

With 27 countries taking part, the third IVF Va’a World Distance Championships, hosted by the Samoa Outrigger Canoe Club, was a triumph for New Zealand paddlers, who topped the medal tally with eight gold, 13 silver and three bronze medals.

Atkins, a member of the Tapara L Trust Waka Club, trains at Omaha and Pākiri beaches.

Highlights of a 25-year paddling career include holding the national long-distance title for eight years, and taking the gold in the Masters singles division of the Queen Liliuokalani, the world’s biggest outrigger canoe race, in Hawai’i in 2004.

All yours … maybe? Auckland Rescue Helicopter deputy flight operations manager/aircrew officer Mark Cannell (left) and Rodney Marine owner Murray Rowe with this year’s raffle prize package – boat, V6 ute and trailer.

Laurie (Skin) Atkins in action.

12 Gold Connect, Snells Beach Baptist Church, 2.30-4pm. Every second Tuesday (the day you collect your super!). Creating opportunities to meet more locals. Afternoon tea, music, games, and lots of chat and introductions. Free. Info: Susanna 027 476 7484.

13 Meet the Candidates meeting, organised by One Mahurangi, Warkworth Town Hall, 5.30pm.

14   Kawau pest eradication plans: Drop-in day, Sandspit Wharf Café, 10am–3pm.  Auckland Council and Island Conservation staff will be on hand to discuss proposal and feasibility report. (see stories p1&9)

15 Rotary Fashion Show, Warkworth Town Hall, 5.30pm

15 Tea & Talk: Stories of the Mahurangi River,  Warkworth Museum, 10-11am. Join us to hear a collection of Mahurangi River stories, inspired by photographs in our 2024 calendar. $5.  Bookings essential. Info: warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz

15 Gibbs Farm tour, supporting Ahuroa Volunteer Fire Brigade, 10am-2pm. Tickets $85.

16 Point Wells Village Literary Festival, Point Wells Hall, 9am-7pm. Author presentations (children’s in the morning, adults in the afternoon), book signings, live music, raffles, wine and cheese, etc. Day tickets $50, $25 for music and drinks, from https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/9636

16 Pakiri School Pet Day & Gala, 10am. “World famous” silent auction, raffles, kids activities, games and more. Everyone welcome

17 Kowhai Singers present Songs of Love and Loss, Leigh Hall, 4pm (see story p25)

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

21 Meet the Candidates meeting, Makarau Hall, doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm start

23 Junior Group and Clubs Day Expo, old Masonic Hall, Baxter Street, Warkworth, 10am-2pm (see story p24)

23 Oktoberfest, Smoko Room, Sawmill Brewery Leigh Road, from 4.30pm. The Little Oompah band, special brewed fest beers and German food. For tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/oktoberfest-wkq6gfnx Tickets include complimentary beer and branded stein

23 Kowhai Singers present Songs of Love and Loss, Warkworth Town Hall, 7.30pm (see story p25)

23 Abba Heaven! tribute show, Wellsford Community Centre, 8-11pm. Wear disco glam from the 70s and 80s, prizes for best dressed. BYO snacks. Tickets $40 for adults, $20 for under 18s. Tickets from Woody’s Winners or www.eventfinda.co.nz

23&24 Couldrey House Weddings: Past and Present Exhibition, Wenderholm Regional Park, 1-4pm. Display of pictures and artefacts from weddings of past occupants and owners to celebrations held in the present day. Open every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday until October 8. Tickets $5. Under 16s free.

24 Jade River Ukes play Puhoi Market, Puhoi Domain, 9-11am

24 Puhoi Market, Puhoi Sports ground, 9am-1pm

24 Albertland Museum annual general meeting, with guest speaker Ivan Pivac, who will talk about gum digging in the Albertland district. 1pm start, all welcome.

25 Kaipara Flats Sports Club annual general meeting, 7.30pm. All welcome.

26 Gold Connect, Snells Beach Baptist Church, 2.30-4pm. Every second Tuesday (the day you collect your super!). Creating opportunities to meet more locals. Afternoon tea, music, games, and lots of chat and introductions. Free. Info Susanna 027 476 7484.

28 Combined local museums talk, Warkworth Old Masonic Hall, 10.30am-midday. Three speakers from the Warkworth, Puhoi,and Albertland museums will talk about past events in their communities, reflecting the themes of love, peace, and protest. Free. All welcome.

29 Omaha Golf/Matakana Fire Brigade fundraiser, Omaha Golf Club. Nine hole Ambrose tournament, with team entry costing $500, which includes a buffet dinner. Info: support@omahagolf.co.nz

30 Calathea Quartet presented by Warkworth Music in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand, Warkworth Town Hall, 4-6pm

30 Spring Fiesta for Blue September, Wellsford District Community Centre, 5-11pm. Supporting Wellsford Volunteer Fire Brigade, Prostate Cancer Awareness & Wellsford Plus Santa Parade. Family event from 5-7pm. $5 entry, free burger, magician and games. Adult event from 7.30-11pm. $20 entry. Two bands and cash bar. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/spring-fiesta-forblue-septemb/997688524703512

Coastguard commendation and fundraising challenge

A dramatic rescue of five fishermen off Kawau Island in the summer of 2022 has earned the Kawau Volunteer Coastguard a commendation from the New Zealand Search and Rescue Council.

The council acknowledged the challenging sea conditions during the operation and the teamwork the service collectively displayed to complete the rescue safely.

“The dedication to helping others that you have shown is rare,” NZSAR chair Audrey Sonerson wrote in a letter of commendation.

“We know that it takes an extraordinary kind of person to give so much, in the face of real dangers, to help those people who need it the most.”

In the incident off Kawau’s south-east in February last year, five fishermen were thrown into the sea after their six-metre boat took on water and capsized.

As his four mates were swept away, the skipper managed to swim under the upturned vessel to reach his SOS device and raise the alarm. The Kawau volunteers were tasked to respond, rescued the skipper and then set out to search for the others, braving rough conditions and 25 knot winds.

Three of the men were recovered from the water, and the fourth from a rocky outcrop. Suffering from suspected hypothermia, the men were taken back to Sandspit to meet waiting ambulance, and three were taken to hospital for assessment.

The spectacularly successful rescue was all in a day’s work for the Sandspit-based volunteer group, which carries out an average of 100 callouts a year, and last year saved 221 people, according to Kawau Volunteer Coastguard president Paul Steinkamp.

“We aim to be available 24/7, 365 days a year, including Christmas,” he said. “Currently, we have some 25 trained volunteers who provide this service and we have just recruited seven new trainees.” The Coastguard, a registered charity,

operates out of Sandspit and covers the area from Bream Tail, north of Mangawhai, to south of the Mahurangi River, attending callouts as far as beyond Aotea Great Barrier and the Mokohinau Islands.

The average callout lasts about four hours in the boat, although some have stretched to 10 or more hours, and back-to-back rescues occur at times. Eight rescues on one New Year’s Day is the record for a single day.

The boat carries first aid equipment including burn treatment kits, oxygen and a defibrillator, and all volunteers have first aid qualifications. The key mission is “saving lives at sea,” so operations can include responding to medical issues or boating breakdowns or difficulties which, if unresolved, could lead to a bigger problem.

“For example, when a family with two

young children went out for a day’s fishing towards Little Barrier and their new boat broke down towards dusk, we returned them safely to Omaha. If we had not been there for them, it could have led to a much more serious situation,” Steinkamp said. Their missions vary from rescuing boaties in trouble and recovering mildly hypothermic jet-skiers whose craft have broken down to responding to injuries involving yacht race participants and transporting St John personnel to an island or offshore boat. The group is now fundraising for a new boat – the current one is 15 years old –and will need around $1.5 million, half of which Coastguard New Zealand is expected to provide.

“While we have built a war chest over the years to provide for a new boat, we still need

The Kawau Volunteer Coastguard is fundraising to purchase a new vessel. “Our current boat is some 15 years old and, while well maintained, maintenance is becoming more and more problematic,” president Paul Steinkamp says. Photo, KVCG

to raise in the order of $500,000 by the end of next year, and would be very grateful for any contributions,” Steinkamp said.

Those wishing to support the Kawau Volunteer Coastguard can contact the group directly, or go to its Givealittle page at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/kawauvolunteer-coastguard Sponsorship opportunities and naming rights could be considered for significant contributors.

Volunteer crew members, from left, are Rod Gill, Greg Barnett, Paul Steinkamp, Ewan Briggs, Thelma Wilson, Craig Smith, Andrew Stanley, Russell Kennedy and Luke McCarthy. Andrew and Luke were involved in the February 2022 rescue, with Luke the skipper that day. Photo, KVCG