Mahurangi Matters_Issue 491_28 October 2024

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Motorway landowners feel short-changed

Property owners along the proposed Warkworth to Te Hana motorway route feel aggrieved at the way the purchase of their land is being managed by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). Previously NZTA said there were 143 affected properties along the 26km route, 74 had been purchased with a further 69 still under negotiation (MM, Aug 5). However, NZTA now says there are 89 properties required for the project. To date,

only 29 have been purchased at a cost of $36.24m.

Warkworth licensed agent Greg AllenBaines says landowners are feeling shortchanged by The Property Group, one of three consultancy firms purchasing on behalf of the Crown (the other two firms involved are Align and WSP).

Typically, the Crown valuation will be closer to the capital value (CV) price and lower than the landowner’s registered

valuation, which is more in line with the market value, he says. What the Crown is not doing is erring on the side of the seller.

“Either split the difference between the two valuations, or in favour of the seller –pay at the high end, not at the low end,” he says.

“At the end of the day, the seller is going to be losing and, in some cases, it’s a property that has been in the family for 100 years or more.”

Allen-Baines says people he has spoken to say the company they are dealing with has been “quite mercenary and not playing the game at all”.

He says it is usually a collaborative process.

“I’m not sure what happened to the consultancy company used for the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway property purchases, but it seems to me that those guys had way

17 Neville Street, Warkworth, 0941 ph 09 425 9068 mahurangimatters localmattersnz

Motorway landowners feel shortchanged by acquisition offers

better outcomes,” he says.

The Property Group was approached for comment but did not respond and referred our queries to NZTA.

we work through these with each property owner on a case-by-case basis.

News:

Jannette Thompson ph 021 263 4423 gm@localmatters.co.nz

Sally Marden ph 022 478 1619 reporter@localmatters.co.nz

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An NZTA spokesperson says the Public Works Act (PWA) process for acquiring land for public works can be an unsettling and stressful time for affected landowners.

“It is always our preference to reach agreement with affected landowners whose property we require for our projects.

“Both the Crown and landowners obtain valuation advice. Where there is a difference of opinion, it is a matter for the respective valuers to come to a joint recommendation. If they are unable to do so, the PWA provides a mechanism to resolve valuation differences.

“There are different considerations to be taken into account in each situation, and

“The firm we used to negotiate property purchases for Pūhoi to Warkworth (The Property Group) is one of the three engaged to negotiate property purchases for Warkworth to Te Hana.”

Exploratory drilling work started for the motorway earlier this month. The fourlane road will include an 850-metrelong twin tunnel in the Dome Valley, a viaduct and three interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana.

Construction of the Warkworth to Te Hana motorway is expected to commence by the end of 2026, the NZTA says. Mahurangi Matters would welcome hearing from any property owners along the route about the property purchase process. Email Tristan Ogden at editor@ localmatters.co.nz or phone 425 9068.

Wellsford North approved

A private plan change that would allow the development of around 800 new homes on 75 hectares of land north-east of Wellsford has been been given the green light by independent commissioners.

A panel chaired by resource management consultant Greg Hill, together with planners Lisa Mein and Trevor Mackie, approved Wellsford Welding Club Ltd’s application to rezone land bounded by SH1 to the west, the railway line to the east and Bosher Road in

the north for a mixed housing development and neighbourhood retail zone.

The Wellsford North land is currently zoned predominantly as future urban, with some countryside living, rural production and single house. The plan change will rezone the area to predominantly single and mixed house residential, with some large lot housing and a neighbourhood centre. The hearing into the proposal was held in August.

Power supply down again

Power supply issues in the Hauiti Drive area of Warkworth continue.

Residents found themselves without power for about a week earlier this month. This follows a major power surge in July, which damaged home appliances, water cylinders and electrical gear in the adjoining David Williams Place.

This time, it was a fault in an underground cable causing the problem.

A Vector spokesperson said crews were replacing around 180m of underground power cable, which would improve the reliability of power supply to the area.

Temporary power generation was supplied to the affected households and barriers were placed around the generators to minimise the noise.

However, Vector did not respond to the paper’s queries about whether Hauiti Drive residents might expect further outages and why these supply issues kept recurring.

One resident said he was fed-up with the “patch-up” jobs that Vector had been doing.

However, he said that after talking to the contractors, he felt a lot more confident that the job was being done properly this time.

Car park plan for reserve

A council reserve off Glenmore Drive in Warkworth could be used for car parking to ease traffic congestion if a proposal by One Mahurangi Business Association is supported.

Members told a Rodney Local Board meeting on October 16 there was an acute shortage of parking in and around the industrial area, with vehicles parked on both sides of Glenmore Drive and sometimes on the berm outside businesses.

Manager Murray Chapman said the situation was dangerous and a safety hazard, and if something wasn’t done, some businesses might be forced to move away. He said now that Bowls Warkworth had decided the club would not relocate to Campbell Reserve, a two-hectare green space between 29 and 33 Glenmore Drive, One Mahurangi thought it was worth seeing if it could be used as a carpark to ease some of the parking stresses.

Board members heard that while it would need to be a decent size, the carpark only needed to be gravel and there would still be green space where people could walk. They voted to investigate the cost of constructing a gravel carpark at the reserve in Glenmore Drive.

Chapman said after the meeting he was pleased at the board’s positive response to the idea.

“It’s dangerous, there’s no doubt about it, and some of those businesses, their staff must really struggle to find a place to park. It’s very narrow there, it’s a real safety hazard,” he said.

“The reserve is never used, so it might as well have some use and there’ll still be a green space where people can walk their dogs.”

Bid to limit dog numbers to six per walker opposed by board

Dog owners and walkers could be banned from walking more than six dogs at a time if proposed changes to Auckland Council’s dog policy and management bylaw come into force next year.

A council working group also wants to limit the number of dogs that can be offleash at any one time to a maximum of three per walker.

However, after hearing from two dog walking professionals at their October 16 meeting, Rodney Local Board members voted to oppose the idea in their feedback on the bylaw and policy review.

Ben Spick from the recently formed Professional Dog Walkers Association and dog trainer and walker Caleb Henry told members the proposals were premature and not backed up by data.

“Council’s evidence to you was that just 0.7 per cent of complaints relate to multiple dog walkers,” Spick said. “The largest issue was roaming dogs, which account for 35 per cent of complaints, and that’s a 50 per cent increase on what it was 12 months ago.

“The key issue is not people walking multiple dogs, it’s roaming dogs – or people who don’t care about their dogs, not the people who are sending their dogs out with trained professional walkers.”

He added that making new rules wouldn’t change anything.

“Existing bylaws and rules already cover this issue. Dog owners are already required to keep their dogs under effective control – whether you walk one dog, three dogs, six dogs or are a professional, the same rule applies.”

Spick said it wasn’t that the rules weren’t in place, it was that they weren’t being enforced.

“The key issue is that when complaints are laid, council staff can’t respond. There are not enough council staff in the right places to manage this issue.”

He suggested board members should ask officials to look at cost effective, educational solutions to the problem using existing tools, and to work with the dog walking trade “so we can all be part of the solution”.

Henry said SPCA research from 2018 showed that fewer than 30 per cent of dog owners were giving their pets enough exercise, a situation that inevitably led to bad behaviour by dogs.

He said council seemed to have picked an arbitrary limit and the actual number of complaints could be viewed as statistically insignificant.

“It’s really important to try to not hurt a thing that is helping us. We’re happy to talk to council. Let’s just pause this, because there hasn’t been due diligence,” he said.

Members voted to oppose the proposed

changes to limit off-leash dog walking, saying the need for the change was not backed by evidence and the negative outcomes or reduced recreation and exercise outweighed potential benefits.

They also requested that council focused on compliance with existing bylaws in areas where they were being breached, and asked that public consultation allowed submitters to provide detailed feedback on each of the proposed changes.

Local board views and the proposed changes will be presented to council’s regulatory and safety committee on December 3, before going out for public consultation early next year.

Seniors question dog walking limits

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

Auckland Council’s Senior Advisory Panel took the opposite view to Rodney Local Board when it was presented with dog management review proposals on October 7, with some members saying even a sixdog limit was too high.

“If a number of the dogs are large dogs, there’s no way in the world one person could control six large dogs,” panel cochair Claire Dale said.

Another member, Janis McArdle, said the idea of what was “under control” was up to interpretation and based on who you spoke with.

“We have had some really horrific incidents here on [Waiheke] Island. There’s one chap

who was regularly, until about a year ago, walking up to 10 dogs off lead and that was very, very scary,” she said.

However, another member, Lindsay Waugh, said the proposal was overly prescriptive, as the current bylaw already required dogs to be under control at all times.

“Big dogs, small dogs, there is a vast difference in how many you can or should control, but the current bylaw states that dogs must be under control at all times,” Waugh said.

And Susanne Tapsell said she lived near a park and had never seen a dog control officer.

“It’s an on-leash park but all of the dogs are off leash all the time. No one is ever being stopped,” Tapsell said.

She questioned whether the council had the capacity to support a new rule.

Remaining targeted rate money reallocated to new projects

A late night loop bus at weekends in Warkworth and a zebra crossing at Snells Beach are two of several new potential projects that could be funded from the Rodney Local Board transport targeted rate (TTR).

The Warkworth subdivision had been set to overspend its TTR allocation by $458,000, due to a cost blowout for a planned footpath in McKinney Road, but members voted this month to defer the project.

The original budget for the path was $1.19 million, but Auckland Transport (AT) told the board’s meeting on October 16 that estimate had now almost doubled to just over $2 million.

Staff said as well as construction inflation, this was due to the project requiring a rebuild of a section of path built recently as part of the adjoining John Andrew Drive development to connect various stormwater systems.

Members voted to defer building the path until alternative funding could be found and to reallocate the money saved to investigate and/or carry out the following projects:

• extend the 999 Warkworth Loop bus service to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays at an estimated cost of $20,000 per year;

• investigate options and costs for changes to the 999 loop service, including the possibility of bus stops closer to Warkworth Primary School, at the Warkworth RSA and nearer the medical centre on Alnwick Street; and extending the route to add John Andrew Drive and McKinney Road to Woodcocks Road, including up to three associated stops;

• upgrade the existing pedestrian refuge in Mahurangi East Road, near Dalton Road, Snells Beach to a zebra crossing; and

• investigate the cost to construct a gravel carpark at Campbell Reserve, Glenmore Drive, Warkworth (see story previous page)

Members also voted to allocate any remaining TTR funding for the Wellsford subdivision to replacing the muchcriticised clay pavers in Rodney Street with concrete, and ask AT to come back with options for the proposed work.

AT estimated there would be around $330,000 in surplus TTR funding for the project, which was down considerably from the $1.3 million quoted in its August report.

An AT spokesperson said after the meeting that the difference in figures was because the earlier report didn’t reflect the full cost

ECO MIX LOW CARBON CONCRETE ®

of the new footpath and rail overbridge from Rodney Street to Centennial Park Road, which was still being carried out. “Now, being much closer to the project’s

completion, this month we were able to provide a full estimate of its total cost to the Rodney Local Board TTR – currently estimated at $3.5 million,” he said.

Frustration as netball court upgrades put on hold again

The committee running the region’s largest netball centre is frustrated and “heartbroken” after long-promised repairs to the Wellsford courts were again delayed by Auckland Council.

More than 15 representatives from Netball Rodney Centre, Netball Northern and several local teams packed into this month’s Rodney Local Board meeting to ask for help to ensure their 700-plus members have courts to play on next season.

Members heard that despite working closely with council on plans to convert the old tennis courts for netball and being promised that would happen, initially in 2023 and then again this spring, Netball Rodney had been told last month there was no money available.

Centre president Kelly Ayres was close to tears as she voiced their frustration

at having to watch first their original six courts deteriorate beyond use and now the repurposed tennis courts as well.

“Council originally confirmed that full redevelopment of the old tennis courts was planned for the summer of 2023. This was delayed, as the scope of works was larger than anticipated and was due to take place in spring this year, to be ready for the next year’s season,” she said.

“We have unfortunately just been advised that this has been delayed again due to funding restraints.”

She said the centre appreciated that council had cleaned up and line-marked the four old tennis courts for netball, but that was only ever a temporary measure and the surface was now hazardous.

“They’ve become a health and safety issue.

We’ve used them for two years, but they have caused significant injuries,” she said. “We’d like some temporary surface work to make it safe to play.”

The meeting heard that of the six original netball courts at Centennial Park, only two were now playable, due to years of damage from water draining under the surface, causing cracks and ground movement.

“Netball Rodney has spent significant time and dollars over the years to maintain the courts, it is unfortunately a losing battle for us because we can’t change the ground underneath the courts.”

With the tennis courts now also deteriorating and their redevelopment being pulled, the committee was urgently seeking a solution so teams could keep playing next year.

“It’s disheartening, really disheartening. We have over 700 players and really good support, but we will lose members if we can’t play here,” Ayres said. “I have a lady behind me who has been on our committee for 40 years … it has broken our hearts.

“We just need the reassurance from council that next year we will get our courts.”

Wellsford board member Colin Smith asked if they had considered surrendering their lease, which potentially could make funding improvements more straightforward.

“My concern is what control would we have if we relinquish – there’s some mistrust of council,” Ayres said. “We want to make sure it benefits all of us, not just the council. We want to make sure that we actually get some benefit out of relinquishing that lease. We’ve spent a lot of money there.”

Les Miller & Jackie Woolerton - Webster Malcolm Law

Netball Rodney president Kelly Ayres, holding blue file, with supporters at the Rodney Local Board offices in Warkworth. … and the temporary courts are deteriorating fast.

Only two of the original courts are now playable …

Board gets extra $8 million

Rodney Local Board is grappling with what to do with $8 million of extra money that it will receive next year as a result of a new ‘fairer funding’ model adopted by Auckland Council as part of its Long-term Plan.

Previously, local board funding was based on council assets in each area. The new method is based on population, which now accounts for 80 per cent, deprivation (15 per cent) and land area (five per cent).

Local Board senior advisor Helgard Wagener said Rodney had done particularly well under the new system, but the unexpected windfall wasn’t without its challenges.

“This local board is by far the single board with the most increase in budget. Up to now, you’ve been living on a shoestring, comparatively speaking,” he told members at a workshop last month.

“You’re in a very good position indeed and have a good opportunity, but it has its own challenges.”

The main hurdle is that the money can only be spent on operating costs, not capital expenditure. For example, it could be used to fix a building, not construct a new one.

In addition, the money must be spent and all necessary work finished within the next financial year, 2025/26.

“It takes time to develop projects and get them implemented. And with op-ex there’s no rollover. It’s how to expedite it so that it really gets going as soon as the financial year starts.

“That’s where you’re really going to have to apply your minds,” Wagener said.

Chair Brent Bailey reiterated that any new projects had to be in the work programme and achievable.

“The trick when you work on your work programme is to not start things that staff are going to have trouble resourcing and to not make wholesale changes to things that require large amounts of reorganisation,” he said. “Gentle changes and redirection, gentle increases and decreases in scope and scale are the trick.”

Board members made a start on deciding where and how to spend their extra funding at an all-day confidential workshop on October 23.

As well as the extra $8 million for next year, there will be $7.5 million in the following two financial years, 2026/27 and 2027/28.

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Board members are in the process of deciding where the money should go.

AT hole needs plugging

Auckland Transport’s (AT) annual report for 2023-24 reminds us again of the loss on public transport (PT) operations that ratepayers pay for, even if they don’t use PT. It’s substantial: $492m ($491m in 2023). More even than the $431m Auckland Council has squirrelled away in unused Regional Fuel Tax funds so it could spend the money elsewhere in the meantime. PT boardings were up during this past year, to 87 million, but AT still loses $5.70 for every person that boards public transport (the average revenue per boarding is $2.15). The $492m loss is more than council (that is, us ratepayers) gives AT as an operating grant ($439m, or $425m in 2023). The loss is 2.6 times AT’s revenue from fares ($187m ).

McKinney’s Tree

Perhaps I dreamed that day, perhaps I dozed; perhaps my humdrum mind was indisposed, or maybe leafy whisperings educed those apparitions that arise to roost among the crowns of giant kauri trees.

At any rate, I felt – with vague unease –a surge, as if I’d been anesthetised. I floated up and saw myself, downsized, through kauri eyes that spanned the genus gap. A thousand years of sense infused my sap.

At this level of loss, AT has no incentive to run PT services efficiently. If they all lose money and AC pays the bills, what does it matter to them if many off-peak services run largely empty?

They don’t even price efficiently. Demand for the northern NX services is largely inelastic – people who use the buses either don’t have an alternative or find it cheaper than petrol, time lost in queues and car parking in town, which can cost up to $50 a day. So AT could triple prices on peak routes at peak times and earn more revenue to help out ratepayers. Instead, our political mayor (who says he wants to save our money) limits fares to $50 a week! Put your policy where your mouth is, Wayne! It is all just another example of Lawrence Reed’s sound public policy principle number

My human eyes, constrained by human time, could scarcely make the 30-metre climb. But kauri eyesight reached the distant ground with ease, and raked my dwarfish self, earthbound on shallow roots. My human limbs looked frail.

five: “Nobody spends somebody else’s money as carefully as he spends his own.”

Bill Foster, Leigh Kiwifruit tip

Just a tip regarding kiwifruit. I have found that they will ripen faster if the stalk end is removed. A sharp knife will do the job.

John Warman, Matakana

Positive role models

I’ve just read the article in your latest edition, October 14, and the story on the back page regarding the young up-andcoming basketball player Keidis Watts and his manager/mum Penny.

This shows the power of a loving parent who’s prepared to devote herself to her

That fragile self seemed singled out to fail. But kauri sense knew death’s a shared birthright. It knew the gap – colossus to a dwarf – was slight; the seeming gulf was merely one of scale, and not the fiction of a fairytale.

It knew, when seeds do not proceed to birth, when they lie stillborn on the fecund Earth, slow errors, forced by time into their code, have strewn them lifeless on a stony road where kauri trees and humans fall and die.

My kauri senses whispered reasons why all lifeforms on the Earth run out of breath. Their truth was this: ‘Life moves from birth to death because the threads within its seeds untwine. To replicate is life’s essential sign.’

Alan Wagstaff

Subliminal soft soap?

Idly leafing through Auckland Council’s 150-page Long-term Plan 2024-34 consultation document recently, we were struck by some interesting photo placements. In the midst of all the unpalatable messages about rate increases and the need to reduce already stretched budgets was a heartwarming image of a mum and her little girl sitting in a public library. The title of the book they were reading together? Everything Will be OK.

Competition winners

Congratulations to Val Robb, of Warkworth, who was the winner of our book competition, taking home The Twisted Chain by Jason Gurney.

kids, not only basketball but no doubt other sports. By the sounds of it, they’ve been brought up in a positive home, also learning to play and love their music.

Ngā mihi nui Penny, you are what this world needs – loving parents to guide our kids through life, and teach them the basic, simple values and the aroha that too many of kids are not given at home.

Thanks Mahurangi Matters for publishing such a positive story regarding one of our young whanau and his mum. I know there are lots of other parents doing this also, which we need to hear more about. Positivity in our community is contagious.

Maurice Purdy, Kaipara Flats

Viewpoint

Ivan Wagstaff, Rodney Local Board ivan.wagstaff@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Appreciating all things local

As a member of the Rodney Local Board, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and share how we’ve been supporting our local communities, in Warkworth and the wider Rodney area. It’s been a year full of challenges and achievements, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

Traveling across Rodney is a great way to experience all the things that make our communities great and when I travel around Rodney, I see things with an eye for what the local board does and has or still needs to accomplish.

Rodney is home to a variety of community spaces that have been revitalised and activated over the past year. From the refurbishment of reserves and buildings to various upgrades in our parks and playgrounds, these projects have created many environments for social gatherings and recreational activities.

Our libraries, despite some temporary closures, continue to be hubs of activity. They offer a range of programmes that cater to all ages, providing a space for learning, connection and cultural enrichment. Community centres across Rodney host events and activities that bring people together, fostering a sense of belonging and community spirit.

The upgrades to parks and playgrounds, such as the Shelly Beach Reserve, offer fantastic opportunities for families to spend quality time outdoors. These spaces are perfect for picnics, playdates and casual meet-ups with friends. Engaging with friends and community members, as well as spending time outdoors, has significant mental health benefits. Social interactions can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, boost mood, and provide emotional support. Participating in community activities helps build a sense of purpose and belonging, which are crucial for mental wellbeing.

library programme, a community fair or a sports game, offers a chance to connect with others and enjoy shared experiences. These events are not only fun but also help strengthen community bonds and create lasting memories.

Exploring Rodney also means supporting our businesses, which are the backbone of

of these opportunities, engage with your community, and enjoy the natural beauty of our region. Together, we can build a vibrant, connected and resilient Rodney.

Attending local events, whether it’s a

Kindy fundraiser

So, pack a picnic, gather your friends, and set out to explore all that Rodney has to offer. Your mental wellbeing, community spirit and local economy will thank you. Have a great summer.

A monster garage sale in the Snells Beach School hall on Saturday, November 9 will be raising money for the not-for-profit Snells Beach Kindy. Specifically, the funds will be used to buy new lockers for the children to keep their bags in and pay for a mobile farm to visit the kindergarten. The kindy caters for around 50 children across the week with four dedicated teachers. There is also a Parent Whānau Group, which helps with social events, fundraising and supports the programme. One of the organisers, Jen Saunders, says the kindy office is filling up fast with a great range of garage sale items. “There will be lots to choose from with lots of bargains, as well as coffee and food,” she says. The kindy would also welcome hearing from anyone who would like to take a table to sell their own second-hand goods or craft. Info: snellsbeach.kindyparents@yahoo.com

then add the oil, vinegar, milk, vanilla essence, and coffee and whisk together well.

Make a well in the centre of the bowl of dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Combine well until no flour or lumps remain. Pour an even amount of mixture into each of the prepared baking tins.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and cakes spring back to the touch.

Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 15 minutes, remove to cool completely on wire racks. Once cold, cake can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months wrapped well in an airtight container.

TO PREPARE THE CHERRY FILLING strain the cherries from the juice, reserving both the cherries and the juice in separate bowls. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl add 1/3 cup of the reserved cherry juice and cornflour. Mix well and set aside.

In a medium saucepan add a further ½ cup of the cherry juice, the sugar and lemon juice and slowly simmer over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Scoop out 3 Tbsp of this mixture and set aside to use as a simple syrup for brushing on the cakes later.

Add the cornflour mixture (mixing again before adding) to the saucepan and stir well. Add half the cherries and mash lightly to crush them. Then add the remainder of the cherries, uncrushed. Bring this mixture slowly to the boil, stirring often. Boil until the mixture thickens & coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat.

Allow to cool completely before using (can cool in the refrigerator if desired). Filling will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up

to 5 days.

When the cake is ready to decorate, THE WHIPPED CREAM and store in the fridge until time to apply. In a large, cold glass or metal bowl pour in the cream, icing sugar and vanilla essence.

Whip the cream for 3-4 minutes until you achieve medium peaks.

TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE, place one layer of cooled cake on a cake stand or serving plate. You may wish to thinly slice off the domed top to create a flat surface. Brush the cake with half the reserved syrup then spread with a thick layer of whipped cream, leaving 1 cm clear around the edge.

Use a slotted spoon to add half of the cherries on top of the cream in a single layer, not quite to the edge of the cream. Gently place the second layer of cake on top of the first and brush with the cherry syrup. Spread with a generous layer of whipped cream. Add the remainder of the drained cherries in a pile in the middle of the cake.

Grate dark chocolate into shards and decorate the outside edge of the cake to finish. You can pop some fresh mint leaves on the top for added colour. Allow to cool in the fridge before serving to allow the flavours to soak into the cake.

Chocolate Cake

Sandwich Cake Pan $19.99

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Firefighter’s gold star built on solid foundation

When firefighter Richard Wilcock was honoured with a Gold Star for 25 years of service recently, he became part of an exclusive club at the Mahurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade.

He joined his colleagues and previous Gold Star recipients Jason Connolly (chief fire officer) and Kevin Jones (deputy chief) who, like Wilcock, are founding members of the station.

But what makes Wilcock’s Gold Star unique is that he did his full 25 years at Mahurangi East.

“I’m the first one to go through from start to finish, or start to 25 years, in the Mahurangi Brigade,” station officer Wilcock says.

To say he got in on the ground floor at Mahurangi East is an understatement – he actually helped build the ground floor, as well as the roof, and the rest of the station, which was funded by the Mahurangi Community Trust and its sponsors.

A builder by trade, Wilcock put his skills to good use.

“We only did it in the weekends and at nights. I just came in with the boys and went like hell on it. I was in the foundations down here, in the mud,” he says.

Subsequently, the station was opened by the then Mayor of Rodney, John Law, on May 18, 2002, which is engraved on a bronze plaque mounted by the roller doors. Wilcock says 25 years is a long time [as a volunteer firefighter] but “it’s gone by really quick”.

“I get a lot out of it. I’m giving back to the community, and there’s the camaraderie –I’ve made a few friends over the years.”

He’s also seen plenty of people come and go during his tenure at the station.

“Getting volunteers is really difficult, because it’s a big commitment. It attracts people who want to give back, who want to help in the community,” he says.

Of all the people who Wilcock has helped

over the years, one memory stands out.

“At a house fire on Rangimaarie Crescent, the lady had her family jewellery in her bedroom and was absolutely distraught that she had lost it – her grandmother’s rings, her mother’s rings, everything that had been handed down.

“We went in and did our clean. The master bedroom was just full of smoke but everything was still okay. So I took the jewellery box out to her and she burst into tears. That was a special moment.”

Wilcock says he’s mentoring the “young crew coming through and it’s been great to see them achieve and step up”.

“Because we’re just one big extended family. They’re all my kids basically. And it’s really nice to see them grow up and become the men and the women who they are,” he says.

Unsurprisingly, Wilcock says he’ll be hanging around for a while yet.

“A couple more years, if they’ll have me.”

Highfield loss

Members of the Highfield Donkeys Society are mourning the death of Titan (pictured), the foal born to Truffles in December last year. Society president Jane Kelsey said society members were heartbroken by Titan’s passing. The society newsletter noted that while Titan was being prepared for an operation, he had an allergic reaction to the anesthetic and suddenly stopped breathing. “In his short time, Titan had become a special ambassador and draw card for the reserve, and there are still many visitors coming to see him,” the newsletter said. “In order to commemorate Titan, it has been decided that the new tool shed will be named Titan’s Shed.” A signpost Remembering Past Donkeys will also be erected in the totara grove, in the roadside paddock, to commemorate all the donkeys.

Meanwhile, the annual Santa Donkey Day will be held on December 7, where members of the public can meet the donkeys and enjoy donkey rides, traditional children’s games and races, a free barbecue and a visit from Santa.

25-year Gold Star recipient

Richard Wilcock at the Mahurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Front right, Richard helping lay the foundations of the fire station.

Richard on the roof of the fire station during construction.

Pets Vets Corner

Pet of the Month

Tom

Tom the duck came in late September with a problem: a prolapsed phallus. Unlike a penis, which is used for both mating and urination, the phallus’ sole function is reproduction.

In overly boisterous ducks, particularly Pekin ducks, the excitement of the mating season can sometimes cause a permanent prolapsed phallus. Unfortunately, in Tom’s case, the end of the phallus had died.

Luckily for Tom, he was put under anesthesia, and the phallus was amputated. He is now the John Bobbitt of the duck world. Post-op, Tom is doing well — he’s eating and ready to rule the roost with his new and improved phallus.

Vets: Jon Makin BVSc, Danny Cash BVSc and Associates

WARKWORTH VETS

VETERINARY HOSPITAL COAST 2 COAST VETS

Springboard looking to boost regular support for youth

For more than 20 years, Springboard in Warkworth has been offering opportunities and support for some of Rodney’s most vulnerable young people.

As the name suggests, Springboard has made it possible for its students to get a start in life by creating a sense of belonging, and offering programmes that wrap around those who walk through its doors.

It’s an invaluable service, which is why, as a not-for-profit organisation, fundraising is so important.

Springboard’s ‘1000@10 Club’ funding initiative aims to have 1000 people giving $10 per month by signing up for either a weekly or monthly donation.

Springboard general manager Dan Gray says at its peak the club had around 750 people giving $10 a month, but covid had a massive impact on that funding stream, and it’s now down to around 350 subscriptions.

“So we’re trying to lift that regular support. It’s $10 a month, you know. For the cost of two coffees a month you can support a young person. I call it a small way to make a big difference,” he says.

There’s also a social media campaign for the ‘1000@10’ called ‘What concerns you?’ which empowers people who want to make a difference but are maybe unsure of what to do – the club lets them ‘do something about it’.

“Hopefully, at $10 a month, that’s giving people an easy in to supporting us.”

Another important initiative is

Springboard’s annual fundraiser, which is on November 9.

“It’s basically a family dinner where people can come together. Our goal is to raise $100,000 in an evening, and that gets matched up to $100,000 by Kennards Hire and Northwood [Developments Ltd].

“Our young people get up and share their stories. Our two speakers this year have had long-term connections with Springboard,” Gray says.

“They haven’t necessarily been with us the whole time. But the beauty of Springboard is we can meet a kid at five and then we might work with them again when they’re 25 through our work placement programme.

“Our job is to build independence and to help prop kids up so they can stand on their own two feet. That’s the heart of it.”

The theme of this year’s dinner couldn’t be more appropriate then – Great Things Grow Here.

Springboard general manager Dan Gray has a big heart.

A Christmas miracle for Wellsford foodbank parcel treats

Christmas has come early for the Loaves and Fishes Foodbank Wellsford Charitable Trust.

At one stage, the trust was looking at cancelling this year’s Christmas Treat food parcels due to a lack of funding, but at the 11th hour a generous donation from the Wellsford Co-Operating Parish means they can still be given out to struggling families.

Trust chairperson Karen Lennon says “it’s just amazing”.

“We were at crunch time deciding if we could do the parcels. We had contacted our biggest referring organisations to tell them we couldn’t do it this year,” she says.

“Now we can help over 100 families get through Christmas with those extra things you just can’t buy when you’re on a tight budget – your tarts, chippies, shortbread, and Christmas pudding.

“It’s quite involved working with supermarkets to get the food, and all the organisations and schools to get the referrals, so the donation has been in the nick of time. It seems miracles do happen.”

It’s not just at Christmas the foodbank helps those in need, though.

Lennon says it distributes up to 20 food parcels to people from across Rodney on a weekly basis.

“We help all sorts of clients. A family with two incomes might have just been surviving and then a partner either gets sick or they’ve been made redundant, which has been happening a lot more recently,” she says.

“And especially people on their own, someone who’s retired and their pension just won’t stretch.”

Lennon says the foodbank relies on donations from the community and other charities, but it hasn’t been able to get funding on a regular basis.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the amount of donated food the foodbank receives via KiwiHarvest Food Rescue is significantly less than last year.

“We were getting up to 250kg a week of

perishables and non-perishables, and we’re down to 200kg. There’s been a shortfall, and we’ve needed to make that up, so that’s eating into the funds we have in reserve,”

Lennon says.

“We used to buy extras [for our parcels] such as toiletries, toothbrushes and toothpaste, but we’ve had to stop that now and just concentrate on the food.”

To make a donation, call Karen at the foodbank on 021 0908 9333.

Or you can donate here:

Loaves & Fishes Foodbank Wellsford ASB 12-3094-0284123-50

Charity Number CC61511

First youth festival planned for Rodney

The recently launched Rodney Youth Project is planning a pre-Christmas summer festival for 12 to 18 year olds that it hopes will become an annual event.

The Youth Festival will be the first of its kind in Rodney and organisers are looking for ideas, energy and support to help make it happen.

Youth development coordinator Priscilla McClintock says the idea is to pack Warkworth’s Shoesmith Hall and grounds with live music, artworks and demonstrations, food and drink and market stalls.

“We want to hear from student bands, DJs and performers for our sound stage, young artists to display their work or do live art demos, and anyone interested in having a stall at our youth market,” she says.

The youth project team is also keen to hear from parents or other adult volunteer helpers, anyone who could sponsor or provide prizes or giveaways, people who can help with the stage, sound and lighting, and food providers.

The festival is scheduled for Friday, December 20 from 3pm onwards.

Info: Email  priscilla@rodneyyouth.co.nz or visit www.rodneyyouth.co.nz

Design | Manufacture | Installation

Karen Lennon says a miracle saved the Christmas Treat food parcels.

From left, youth programme coordinator Jade Fussell with youth development coordinators Priscilla McClintock and James Nicholls at Shoesmith Hall.

Ticket giveaway

We have two VIP tickets to give away, which include a meet-andgreet with the band and two Hello Sailor T shirts. To enter, simply email reporter@localmatters.co.nz with Hello Sailor in the subject line, plus your name and contact number, by November 20.

Hello Sailor back on course for Leigh Sawmill

Hello Sailor lead singer and guitarist Harry Lyon won’t have far to travel when the band plays Leigh Sawmill Café on Saturday, November 30.

For the past two years, he and his wife Maggie have called Matakana home, after moving down from Russell to a classic old villa in the heart of the village.

The main reason was to shorten the commute to see their five grandchildren in Auckland, but his new home also gives Lyon plenty of opportunity to catch up and collaborate with a clutch of fellow Kiwi musos living locally.

They include Exponents guitarist Brian Jones, ex-Pop Mechanix and Coconut Rough front man Andrew McLennan, and father and son musicians Bruce and Andy Lynch.

But it’s Hello Sailor that still takes up much of Lyon’s time and energy, with a full schedule of shows and festivals over

the coming months, including the Sawmill date, where the band will be playing as a “full sail” plugged-in five-piece and promise a set packed with hits.

“We had a great night at the Mill last May and we’re super-excited to be invited back for a bit of pre-Christmas rock’n’roll,” he said. “We have a fun time at our gigs these days and it’s great to see audiences enjoying the songs we love to play.”

The Leigh show is part of a three-date ‘Whirled Tour’ of up-close-and-personal gigs that also includes dates in Whangarei and Waihi Beach. Lyon says it will give the band a chance to “stretch their legs” before Hello Sailor hits the summer festival circuit with shows in Hawkes Bay, Twizel and even as far away as the Chatham Islands.

The band will be chalking up its 50th anniversary next year and Lyon promises that the milestone will be celebrated in suitably rocking fashion, dedicated to the

music and memory of founding members Dave McArtney and Graham Brazier, who died in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Lyon says the band’s current line-up is as close as fans will get to the band’s original classic sound, with Rick Ball on drums, Paul Woolright on bass, Jimmy Taylor on guitar and Stephen Small on keyboards and saxophone.

He says the Sawmill show will feature favourites from Hello Sailor, Pink Flamingos and Graham Brazier, as well as hits from Lyon’s own back catalogue and his 2018 critically acclaimed solo album, To the Sea.

Hello Sailor will play Leigh Sawmill Café on Saturday, November 30. Doors open 7.30pm for an 8.30pm start.

Tickets cost $50 plus booking fee from https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/hellosailor/auckland/leigh/tickets

Donkeys’ champion to star in new film

After nearly 30 years of caring for the Highfield Donkeys and Garden Reserve at Algies Bay, Peter Caccia-Birch is to star in a new documentary film.

Sound in Wind and Limb tells the story of how Peter first got involved with the donkeys in 1995 and his constant devotion to the herd and also for the reserve where they have lived ever since.

The film was shot over three days by two final year AUT screen production students, producer Katie Bilbrough and director Tiana Marsh, and it will premiere at the Salty Dog Inn this Sunday, November 3 at 4pm.

The students said they wanted to tell the story of how Peter went from a newlyretired farm worker who was at a loss as to how to fill his day, to his chance discovery of the Highfield donkeys that changed his life.

“It was love at first sight and Peter never looked back, becoming not only a primary caregiver for the donkeys but also the reserve itself,” they said.

The screening will take place in the Salty Dog’s upstairs function room with entry by gold coin koha. The proceeds will go to the Highfield Garden Reserve and Donkeys. Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by emailing katieembilbrough@gmail.com

Recent local shows include A Summer’s Day Live at Matakana Country Park in January.

Photo, Leoni Moreland.

Peter Caccia-Birch has devoted his life to Highfield since retiring in 1995.

TOSSI

Lyn Hamilton-Hunter www.tossi.org.nz

An invitation to volunteer

Have you ever wondered why, when you go out for a walk somewhere, there is little birdsong or wildlife activity, and yet when you go for a walk in the Ecology Bush at Tāwharanui, the air is full of chatter and song? The success of regional parks and open sanctuaries such as Tāwharanui, in the Auckland region and around Aotearoa, rely heavily on hard working rangers and volunteers. The support that volunteers provide to councils covers a wide range of activities that can often be underestimated and can go unseen by the public. One of these areas of activity is predator control – the work being done to suppress animal predators and protect the native flora and fauna, providing a safe haven for birds to chatter and sing.

When we picture the notion of predator control in the wilderness, we could be forgiven for thinking that it is just about dealing with dead invasive animals. But there is way more to it than that and there are lots of other tasks to be done around the suppression of animal predators. For instance:

• Maintenance and servicing of trail cameras

• Maintenance of tracks to traplines

• Reviewing camera cards for footage of pests and natives

• Catch data entry

• Repairing traps and equipment

• Servicing a trapline

Newly-appointed Tossi volunteer animal pest controller Jon Monk is actively seeking volunteers to help in any way they can. All

volunteers are provided with full training, and supported by Auckland Council rangers and experienced volunteers. Use the email below to contact us if you want to know more.

Scott a’Beckett 021 027 95745 scott@dynamicpipeworks.co.nz www.dynamicpipeworks.co.nz ainlaying + Earthworks

Scott a’Beckett 021 027 95745 scott@dynamicpipeworks.co.nz www.dynamicpipeworks.co.nz

There are, of course, lots of other ways you can help if this is not your thing. For instance:

• Education: working with visiting groups, teaching others about the environment and how we can protect it,

• Communications: helping with social media, website development and articles,

• Monitoring wildlife: both regular slots and annual events,

• Park maintenance: join a small team that regularly builds and fixes fixtures,

• Nursery: nurturing the plants for our planting days,

• Regular workdays: every first Sunday in the month.

The demand for more volunteers in every sector is growing but the pool of willing and able people is, on the whole not, so demand is out stripping supply, as it were. It is important to recognise that volunteering should enhance life, not be a drag or an annoyance, but something to relish. It is worth considering the benefits of getting out in nature, being outdoors, having a purposeful walk, being part of creating a healthy space for future generations and supporting conservation efforts, whether at Tāwharanui or in your own backyard. For more information, contact Lyn at news@tossi.org.nz

022 011 0244 | andy@greenwash.co.nz | www.greenwash.co.nz

Drainlaying + Earthworks

Scott a’Beckett 021 027 95745 scott@dynamicpipeworks.co.nz www.dynamicpipeworks.co.nz

Scott a’Beckett 021 027 95745

scott@dynamicpipeworks.co.nz www.dynamicpipeworks.co.nz

Scott a’Beckett 021 027 95745 scott@dynamicpipeworks.co.nz www.dynamicpipeworks.co.nz Drainlaying + Earthworks

History

Seeds of change

Gardening today is more of a hobby than a necessity, with food readily available from supermarkets, but this was not always the case. Our first settlers arrived in the 13th century, bringing plants like kumara, taro and yams, though not all these thrived in the cooler climate. Māori soon discovered that planting crops on warm, north-facing slopes gave better yields.

From 1769, Captain Cook and other European explorers introduced crops like potatoes, peas, cabbages and strawberries, planting experimental gardens around the country. The potato had the greatest impact due to its adaptability and ability to produce two crops annually. As missionaries arrived, they found many familiar plants already in well-organised Māori gardens, and were able to trade while establishing their own kitchen gardens.

By the 1820s, Kerikeri Mission Station had a thriving garden, cultivating a wide variety of vegetables. Mary Bumby, sister of Rev. John Bumby, introduced European honey bees to Mangungu Mission Station, as the native bees were unable to pollinate some of the introduced plants. In 1884, 282 bumble bees were shipped to Lyttelton. Although only 48 survived the journey, they quickly spread and improved pollination within 10 years.

In the 1840s, Edwin Gibbon Wakefield promoted immigration to New Zealand, especially to those affected by England’s industrial and agricultural revolutions. His campaign led to many new settlements, including the Albertland Special Settlement in 1862. Though settler life was often difficult, many quickly established businesses, built houses and grew food. The settlers transported seeds to NZ in creative ways, tucking them into teapots, jugs, or

even using them to pack fragile dinner sets in crates. Others preserved seeds in beeswax, and transported cuttings in ‘Wardian’ cases – early terrariums that protected plants from salt spray during long sea voyages. Settlers commonly shared seeds and cuttings, and many continued to request seeds from relatives back home, which would arrive inside a letter or a package. Nurserymen like William Yates established nurseries to meet the demand for seeds.

Although few settlers were experienced gardeners, they quickly learned how to cultivate the land. Fire was used to clear fern and bracken, but this proved detrimental to our magnificent trees. For those lucky enough to own sheep, these were herded into gardens and fields at night, successfully weeding and fertilising the land in the process. Other challenges were weather related and pests. Often the settlers would soak maize and pumpkin seeds in water, before coating them in tar to deter rats, mice and birds. Wild pigs, however, remained a significant challenge, often raiding orchards and gardens.

Six months after their arrival, on February 4, 1863, the Port Albert settlers held their first monthly market. Among the 150 in attendance were many of their Te Uri o Hau neighbours who, just months earlier, had helped the settlers through their toughest times by assisting them to build basic shelter. They also provided the settlers with pork and vegetables to ward off hunger while they established themselves along the edges of the Oruawharo River. This profound act of kindness would forever be remembered by the settlers with deep and lasting gratitude for generations to come.

Thomas Inger working in his garden

The Marsh children in their vegetable garden.

The Port Albert Show Day.

Rose Reid, Albertland Museum

Family history buffs invited

Tracing family histories is an increasingly popular pastime, which often starts with collecting personal records, photographs and oral histories from relatives.

Online databases, genealogical websites and historical archives are valuable tools to help track down birth, marriage and death certificates, census records, and immigration documents, but it can be daunting knowing where to start and what sources are reliable.

With that in mind, the Wellsford branch of the NZ Society of Genealogists and Wellsford Library is holding a free Family History Day on Saturday, November 16, from 10am to 4pm.

It will be an opportunity for budding family historians to learn from some experts in genealogical research.

The day will start with a talk by Auckland Libraries senior research librarian for family

history Seonaid Harvey, who will discuss how to begin a family history search.

Senior library assistant Marie Hickey will then take a brief look at how to access family history material for countries other than New Zealand.

In the afternoon, Harvey and Hickey will offer some ideas on what to do when researchers hit a brick wall, as well as conducting a Q&A session.

There will also be opportunities throughout the day for people to do some one-on-one research sessions with genealogists and knowledgeable library staff.

The event will be held at the Wellsford Library, 13 Port Albert Road, with the first talk starting at 10am.

Intending participants are asked to register. More information is available at local libraries or by emailing Wellsford. library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or warklib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

CATARACT SPECIALIST

Whether it’s muscular strain, sore joints, hip, back or neck pain or headaches, pop into see Tim at Mahurangi Health Collective and get your first session ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Tim has almost 30 years experience treating all ages, specialising in pregnancy and cranial osteopathy for newborns, but you will have to be quick – limited appointment times are expected to fill up fast!

BOOK ONLINE NOW at timjudd-osteopath.co.nz

Mahurangi Health Collective, 18

Warkworth.

09 834 5191

bodyworksosteo@gmail.com

Edvart Tobias Omundsen and family in Dannevirke in 1916.

Take your real estate career to new heights with Bayleys in the North.

real estate

Join us for an informative evening and find out why Bayleys is different and how our unique and proven support systems help you achieve uncapped earning potential.

new heights Bayleys in the North.

Whether you’re an experienced real estate professional or considering a career change, this event is for you. Discover what sets Bayleys apart and learn about our unique management structures and support systems designed to ensure your success from day one and foster ongoing growth in the industry.

Sweetappreciation with chocolate brown

Congratulations to Snells Beach’s Cath Hodder for her community spirit. She is this week’s recipient of a gift box from Chocolate Brown and was nominated by Pamela Oldfield, who wrote ... “ ”

Cath has given up her time to teach many people line dancing both at the RSA, where they have received the donation of $6000 funds to date, plus other venues where she has encouraged people of all walks of life to participate – everyone leaves with a huge smile on their faces. She is very enthusiastic and always willing to help anyone needing a few extra moments to learn the steps. She has also given up her time to assist Snells Beach Community Market, raise funds for young Leigh basketball players, and assisted with the school holiday programme just to name a few extras. She is amazing!

Friday the 1st November 2024

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

Working With Our Waterways Workshop

Calling all farmers, horticulturalists, viticulturists, lifestyle block owners and residents who are interested in flood resilient land and improving the water quality within the river catchments from Matakana to Warkworth.

Danny Klimetz – Auckland Council’s fluvial geomorphologist, and stream restoration and environmental research scientist presents a practical workshop about:

• The Matakana catchment and our storm frequency.

• Natural waterway processes.

• How rivers and streams respond to flooding and long-term changes in flows.

• Waterway channel formation and what to consider on your property.

• Strategies to reducing flood and channel instability.

• Clearing debris dams and what landowners should consider.

Includes a hands-on river assessment of a local river and tools to assess waterways on your own land.

Light lunch provided.

WHEN: 9am-2.30pm, Saturday 9 November 2024

WHERE: The Meeting Room, Matakana Hall, 43 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana

Book your spot now!

Limited spaces and registration essential at events.humanitix. com/working-with-ourwaterways-matakana

For more information email foamfacilitator@gmail.com.

Chocolaterie, Baking supplies, Rubs & Sauces Ph 415 8777 6 Mill Lane, Warkworth www.chocolatebrown.co.nz

Wishing for healthy freshwater that you can swim in and is full of native critters won’t make it happen.

Take action now to make a real difference with Friends of Awa Matakanakana Catchment (FOAM).

Help us:

• Reduce sediment in rivers that flow into Kawau Bay

• Make our rivers swimmable

• Discover more about our unique freshwater critters and plants

• Reduce erosion and improve the flood resilience

• Enhance and enjoy our beautiful rivers FOAM is looking for motivated people to help monitor water quality, plant the catchment, promote the importance of our waterways now and into the future, help with vital communication tasks, crunch the numbers, help with organisation and more. Support and training are provided, where needed. Contact us now if this interests you. matakanakana2@gmail.com 021 273 7913 www.awamatakanakana.home.blog

Tomarata Fireworks birthday banger

When Tomarata Fireworks celebrates its 21st birthday at Tomarata Domain on Saturday, November 9, it’s sure to go off with a bang.

With live music, market vendors, food trucks and kids’ entertainment to mark the occasion, it’ll be more like a mini-festival than a fireworks display, Tomarata School principal Chris King says it’ll be a “hugely scaled-up version” of how it began”.

“It started off with some parents meeting in the local domain with a boombox they’d bought from The Warehouse, and they had a bonfire instead of fireworks,” King says.

“It just grew from there, and more and more people from the community started to come. Then it reached a point where it was decided they should look at putting on a professional fireworks display, which was about 10 years ago.”

The popularity of the event has continued to grow year-on-year with almost 5000 people attending last year. Now people travel to the display from all over Rodney and beyond.

King says with rising costs, the fireworks wouldn’t have been possible without New World Mangawhai coming to the party as the main sponsor.

“We are incredibly grateful to Scott and the team at New World Mangawhai for helping us bring the event to life this year. Their contribution will have a direct

impact on all the students at our school,” King says.

That’s because Tomarata Fireworks is an important fundraiser with all profits going to the school.

“Thanks to past events, we were able to purchase a 12-seater school van, computers and iPads, implement literacy programmes, and so much more. It has truly made a world of difference.

“This year we’ve got a playground that needs updating, and we want to make it more accessible for our young kids at school.”

King says the display also wouldn’t have been possible without the many volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and on the ground – Mangawhai Rotary, Coastguard Kawau, Surf Life Saving NZ, parents, teachers and the wider community.

“We’re hoping to get a great crowd in. It’s an incredible family outing, a great family event,” he says.

A family event – that’s how it all began.

When & Where: 4pm to 9pm, Saturday, November 9. Tomarata Domain, 112 Pakiri Block Road, Tomarata.

Get your tickets here: events.humanitix. com/tomarata-fireworks-2024

Family passes available: Two adults, two children, $55. Or two adults, four children, $70. Buses will be running from Mangawhai Beach School, Wellsford Community Centre, and the Maungaturoto Hotel.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

WHAI LAUNDRY rth

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its National Oral Health Day (NOHD) initiative on November 6, the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) will issue a new challenge to raise awareness about how important water is for healthy teeth.

It’s called ‘All Rizz, No Fizz’ and aims to engage more with Gen Z (12 to 27 year olds) by blowing last year’s campaign, well, out of the water.

New NOHD ambassador Dr Christian Lio-Willie, who is a Crusader and an All Blacks XV rep, as well as a qualified dentist, will kick off the campaign by posting his own challenge video on social media. What is the challenge exactly? Film yourself doing an activity with open bottles of water taped to your hands and post the video on NZDA’s Tik Tok and Instagram pages using the hashtag #allrizznofizz.

The message is simple – pick up water, put down sugary drinks.

Warkworth dentist Dr Mahitha Veereepalli says even if you give up sugary drinks for one or two months, that can result in substantial changes.

“When someone has a drink that contains a lot of sugar, such as a Coke which has around 30 grams, the mouth becomes acidic, and it’s easy for the organisms that cause decay to grow,” she says.

“Also teeth become softer in an acidic environment. So if we can avoid sugary drinks, we can reduce the number of times teeth become slightly softer and the number of times decay can progress further.

“If a tooth isn’t cavitated and it’s only the enamel that has gone soft, a person can remineralise their teeth, but if it’s a cavity

it won’t regrow, but at least it would stop there if they switched to water.”

Veereepalli says drinking water over sugary drinks is great for oral health, and health in general.

“That is something we promote all the time, definitely.”

Dental hygienist Lisa Lazenby, who coowns The Hygienists & Co in Warkworth, is getting behind National Oral Health Day by giving away a toothbrush to every new customer.

She says switching to water from sugary drinks can make a huge difference to your teeth but what many people don’t realise, is that diet drinks, like sugary drinks, still have a low pH.

“Now if people have a low pH in their mouth for a prolonged period of time, that’s

what causes tooth decay,” she says.

“With energy drinks, what people do is sip on it and they’re constantly grazing on it throughout the day, which keeps the pH in the mouth at a low level.”

To help keep pH levels in the mouth balanced, Lazenby recommends chewing sugar-free gum. This increases saliva production, which helps neutralise acidity. Lazenby also recommends tooth mousse, a sugar-free topical cream which helps strengthen and repair enamel through the process of remineralisation.

And, of course, drink water instead of sugary drinks, she says.

To take on the“All Rizz, No Fizz” challenge, use the hashtage #allrizznofixzz, or simply raise a glass of bubbles for the 10th anniversary of National Oral Health Day on November 6. Just make sure it’s sparkling water.

Dental hygienist Lisa Lazenby is supporting National Oral Health Day

Maintaining good oral health is essential not only for a bright, beautiful smile but also for overall health and wellbeing. We all know that brushing and flossing are vital, but the foods and drinks we consume play a significant role in supporting healthy teeth and gums, too. Good nutrition provides the building blocks that strengthen enamel, fight bad bacteria, and keep gums strong and disease-free. Here’s how your diet can promote good oral health and what foods are best for a healthy mouth.

Enamel, the protective outer layer of your teeth, is the hardest substance in your body, but it’s not invincible. It can weaken over time, especially if exposed to acidic foods or sugary substances that promote decay. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial minerals that help repair and strengthen tooth enamel, to maintain strong teeth resistant to cavities. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese, as well as green vegetables such as kale and broccoli. Phosphorus can be found in foods such as fish, poultry, eggs and nuts.

Calcium needs vitamin D to be properly absorbed and utilised by the body. Without enough vitamin D, even a calcium-rich diet won’t be fully effective for your teeth. Sunshine is a natural source of vitamin D, but dietary sources include fortified dairy products, fatty fish such as salmon, and egg yolks.

Gum health is just as important as tooth health when it comes to maintaining good

oral hygiene. Vitamin C plays a key role in supporting the health of your gums by promoting collagen production, which helps to keep gum tissues firm and resilient. It also acts as an antioxidant, fighting the bad bacteria that can lead to gum disease.

Fruits such as oranges, strawberries and capsicums are excellent sources of vitamin C. Regular intake can help prevent bleeding gums and inflammation, both symptoms of early-stage gum disease.

Water is an often-overlooked component of good oral health. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and bacteria that can lead to cavities. Water also dilutes acids produced by harmful bacteria in the mouth and keeps your saliva levels high. Saliva is essential for neutralising acids and re-mineralising enamel. While the above food examples are beneficial for oral health, others can be detrimental. Sugary foods, including lollies, pastries and sugary drinks, are major culprits in causing tooth decay. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars, producing acids that erode tooth enamel. Acidic foods such as citrus fruits, vinegar and soda can also weaken enamel if consumed in excess. Limiting these foods or rinsing your mouth with water after consuming them can help mitigate their harmful effects.

By including a wide variety of nutrient-rich wholefoods in your diet, you can promote good oral health and ensure a radiant, healthy smile for years to come.

Travel agencies rebounding after covid

To book your holiday online or use a travel agent, that is the question. But these days the answer isn’t so simple.

A couple of decades ago, many predicted the popularity of planning and booking trips via the internet would sound the death knell of the brick-and-mortar travel agency, but the industry continued to flourish.

Then in 2020, covid hit. Border restrictions in New Zealand over the next couple of years meant ongoing disruptions to flights and cancellations, and often there was little to no recourse for people who had booked online. Cut to 2024 and the borders have fully reopened, while lockdowns are fading in the nation’s collective memory, but there’s still some lingering anxiety around travel. These days, some people are more tentative

than intrepid travellers, and are looking for reassurance.

Perhaps this is why business for Warkworth’s two premier travel agencies has taken off over the past 18 months or so.

The town might not be big enough for rivals Warkworth Travel owner Susie CasselsBrown and YOU Travel owner Michelle Macfarlane, but there are certainly enough customers who are choosing in-store over online.

“If you book online, it can be difficult trying to change something. Or getting assistance. We offer a safety net which people appreciate – I’ve got an empty box of chocolates sitting under my desk as proof,” Cassels-Brown says.

“The problems we solve could be anything, from flight delays and cancellations to medical emergencies.

“About a year ago, some clients were on a cruise around the Mediterranean that ended in Haifa in Israel. They were in their hotel with missiles flying overhead, so we got them out of there,” she says.

“We’re on call 24 hours a day, you’ve got back-up basically.”

Macfarlane agrees – travel agents provide support that isn’t available when you go it alone.

“When our clients are on holiday, their travels continue 24/7, so they have to be able to get hold of us 24/7. If you book by yourself and anything goes wrong, you’re standing in queues at a service desk with a whole bunch of other people,” she says.

“Or you call the customer service line and can be on the phone for three hours.

“If there’s any kind of crisis, we’re on to that very quickly. During the 2005 Bali

bombings, for example, we were able to locate two Warkworth boys who were in Indonesia and make sure they were safe.”

Taking care of clients during the planning stage is just as important – it’s this personal touch that also makes travel agents an attractive option.

They’re able to share their knowledge and expertise to tailor itineraries for their clients, as well as look after the leg-work.

“We have years of experience and can offer deals that people can’t get themselves through our association with the likes of Virtuoso, a leading network of the world’s top travel advisors,” Cassels-Brown says.

“We listen to what they need. If they have kids, we find options that are child-friendly whether that’s hotels, cruises or resorts. In Fiji, the resorts have very comprehensive continued next page

Warkworth Travel’s Susie Cassels-Brown is creating memories.

childcare facilities, from toddlers and little kids, right up to teenagers.

“They might need visas or a car to pick them up from the airport, we take care of everything, from the time they leave their front door to when they’re back at home. It’s all personalised – I want people to have the best experience possible.”

Macfarlane says the itinerary should come first.

“We encourage people not to choose a cruise line, we tell them to cruise the itinerary, because that’s what they want to go and do. Then we’ll find the ship that matches as closely as possible to what they want.”

Like Warkworth Travel, YOU Travel has ‘educationals’, which are working holidays for its staff – while away, they acquire knowledge that can’t be taught, and it gets passed on to clients.

exceed expectations.

“I encourage the girls to visit places we haven’t been. While they’re on holiday, they’re learning.

“They get first-hand experience, come back and do a report so they really know that place. Meg is a new team member and she’s off to Samoa. So if a client comes in and says ‘I want to go to Samoa’, she’ll be able to advise them with confidence,”

Macfarlane says.

As travel agents, Cassels-Brown and Macfarlane have much in common. Both are knowledgeable and passionate about what they offer, and they’ve both won awards for the service they provide their clients, giving them a genuine edge over the internet.

No wonder their respective travel agencies are thriving.

•

•

For family holidays or luxury escapes

We have the very best local and global connections, offering exceptional value and a personal service that is second to none.

• We offer a 24/7 personally operated service to ensure we are there for you every step of your holiday.

• Inspirational journeys – we love creating these!

• Help to organise extraordinary experiences for you

• We are luxury travel and cruise specialists

• VIP benefits (through Virtuoso – including complimentary breakfast daily, room upgrades, hotel credits of USD100 and more)

• Exclusive offers

• All-inclusive itineraries and pricing

At Warkworth Travel we constantly strive to provide both value for money and truly memorable experiences when you entrust us with your private travel plans.

42 Queen Street, Warkworth | 09 425 8009 | susie@warkworthtravel.co.nz Hours: 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Saturday by appointment.

Beach huts in Samoa –your home away from home.

from previous page

Fiordland

A PLACE WHERE KIWIS CAN SOAR

While waiting in Queenstown for the transit van that would take us to Te Anau, one of our guides remarked that, “the risk of visiting Fiordland is that you will never want to leave.” It sounded like a travel brochure cliché, but Local Matters journalist Jannette Thompson soon learned it was far from an exaggeration as she spent seven days as a guest of Heritage Expeditions on its Southern Fiords Discovery tour earlier this year …

“Kiwis aren’t supposed to fly” I told myself as the small pod we were strapped in lifted off the helipad and headed out across Lake Te Anau. I wondered if anyone would notice if I kept my eyes closed for the entire 45-minute flight to Te Awaroa/Long Sound, one of the remotest places in New Zealand. As well as the pilot, aptly named Snow, there were four other passengers, but it seemed I was the only one who was aware that there was just a thin wall of plexiglass between us and certain death.

But when the helicopter swept out over the lake, turned towards the south and started to climb above the snow-dusted Southern Alps, apprehension suddenly gave way to excitement. Finally, I was visiting Fiordland. Here, I hoped, I might experience a small slice of pre-human New Zealand, perhaps as it was when moa still roamed free and Haast eagles soared in the sky.

and orb rainbows took my breath away.

The only sign of life was the occasional red deer track snaking across brown, barren hill sides. Our bird’s eye view of the alps gave us a sense of both their size and grandeur.

As we neared our destination, the helicopter descended into a thick bank of cloud flanked on either side by forested mountainsides. We emerged from the mist into the tranquil scene of Long Sound, bathed in sunlight with Heritage Explorer our home for the next seven days, lying quietly at anchor.

The other guests had already landed and together, we made a party of 14 – a mixed bag of academics, a boat builder, marine engineer, nurse, teacher, retirees from Australia and other professionals – plus six crew. Luggage and passengers were efficiently loaded onto the waiting zodiacs and ferried across to the Explorer. The journey had begun.

After welcomes, introductions and safety briefings, we were free to acquaint ourselves with our cabins and the vessel.

were a much-appreciated bonus.

As the Explorer made her way down the fiord to Rakituma/Preservation Inlet where we would spend our first night, we were captivated by the steep-sided fiords carpeted in an ever-changing palette of green, changing in shadow and sunlight, with the occasional glimpse of white mountain tops. It was mesmerising. It was a landscape that formed over two millions years, and we learned that what we call sounds are actually fiords – troughs dug by glacial ice, which later filled with water. The exposed sides were eventually colonised by beech, rimu, miro, kahikatea, supplejack and rata, and of course, later still came an array of iconic New Zealand birdlife including kiwi, kakapo, tui, bellbirds and kereru.

As the bow waves rippled across the mirrorlike surface, it felt like we had entered a different time zone where days were measured not by digital devices, but by sunrises and sunsets, with everything governed by the weather. Fiordland has around 200 rain days a year with an average annual rainfall of seven metres. No wonder we’d been told to pack a good raincoat!

The following morning we rose to find the boat buffeted by a cold and wet southwesterly. Early risers were treated to the site of blue penguins bobbing around in the water like free range corks. But the patchwork of green on the hillsides that had been so evident in yesterday’s sunshine had disappeared into a uniform cloak of ominous green, worn with a ponderous blanket of grey above. The day

As the helicopter maintained its steady course south we flew over the Manapouri hydro dam, and the glimpses of waterfalls, mountain lakes or tarns, continued next page

The 30-metre, four-deck wooden yacht was built in Picton 20 years ago and was powered by dual Scania 653 horsepower engines, with a cruising speed of 10 knots. Fitted out with its wood interior and royal blue décor, there was certainly a feeling that this “expedition” was going to be done in style. The dining room provided 180-degree panoramas and the covered decks were the perfect viewing platforms for what lay ahead. A 24-hour coffee machine, plus snacks and fruit, a wellstocked library, open bar and French chef

Kiwis aren’t supposed to

demanded thermals and wet weather gear. Thermally-insulated Muck Boots, supplied by the Explorer, were donned and it was down to the zodiacs for a less than graceful boarding procedure. The solid easterly created a rhythmical rolling swell as we landed on the beach where the Puysegur lighthouse oil store was located, opposite Coal Island/ Te PukaHereka (The Tied Anchor). The landing proved tricky and, after mistiming a wave, a few of us found ourselves squelching up the beach with boots full of seawater. A tiny cemetery located beside the building was a stark reminder that the landing we had just accomplished had, in earlier times, claimed the lives of at least six people.

The tramp to the lighthouse provided us with our first opportunity to experience Fiordland on the ground and we were accompanied by bellbirds and tui, and some very rowdy seabirds. Under a canopy of beech, we found pathways of moss, bracken trampled by deer, tree trunks dressed in lacy ferns and sandstone sculptured by fierce Tasman winds, sea spray and rain. Puysegur lighthouse was first illuminated in 1879 in one of the windiest places in New Zealand, and was staffed until 1989 when it was automated. The crumbling foundations of the lighthouse keepers’ houses – there were three families stationed there at one time – brought back memories of the late Clive Nicholls, a Matakana local, who had once been a lighthouse keeper here.

After a delicious lunch back on the boat there was just enough time to cheerfully don our now very wet wet weather gear and visit the abandoned Tarawera silver mine and smelter. A lone seal pup greeted us on landing, showing no sign of being afraid of the interlopers visiting his nursery. After a short hill climb over gnarly tree roots, we came across an unusual brick chimney which followed the incline of the hillside

rather than a normal vertical stack. Two attempts were made to mine the lode here, one in 1897 and the second in 1907, but despite initial promise, both ventures failed. One of the surprising discoveries on this trip was just how much human activity had occurred in Fiordland since Māori arrived more than 900 years ago. Although recreation, conservation and cray fishing are now the main occupations, during our after dinner talks each evening, we learned of pa sites, mining towns, forestry ventures, whaling stations and sealing operations.

As we left the sheltered waters of Preservation Inlet for Chalky Inlet and Great Island the following day, we had our first of several encounters with bottlenose dolphins racing beneath the bow of the Explorer. Their speed, agility and playfulness was enchanting, and several phones (and even some people) were nearly lost overboard trying to snap the perfect shot. We visited North Port, the final resting place of the rusting hulk of the GSS Stella a schoonerrigged steamship that was bought by the New Zealand government in 1876. It was used to transport supplies to the keepers stationed at lighthouses around the coast and the hull is remarkably well-preserved, although a satellite dish tied to a railing looked like a more recent addition. We saw a few of these satellite dishes in odd places throughout our journey and were told they belonged to the lobster or cray fishermen who work in these waters. Although the sounds are off limits to commercial fishing of any kind, they provide a safe haven for the storage of cray pots and live catches, which end up in restaurants mainly in China and South East Asia.

As we left the sheltered waters of Preservation Inlet and headed north to Tamatea/ Dusky Sound, the largest body of water in Fiordland, we witnessed massive waves hurling themselves against the rocks and cliff

faces, sending explosive plumes of water into the air. As I’ve always been a good sailor, I smugly declined the sea sickness tablets that were made freely available. However, the Great Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea conjured up a monotonous ocean swell, which proved too much for my tummy. I retreated to my cabin to sleep away the three-hour voyage, trying to avoid any thought of food that might inadvertently lead me to the bathroom. Although we all made it to dinner that night, there were more than a few pasty faces.

It was dark by the time we dropped anchor in the sheltered waters of Cascade Cove, where we were to become more familiar with Captain Cook’s 1773 voyage on the Resolution. Showing limited imagination, Cook named many of the islands in the sound – Resolution, Crayfish, Indian (where he first encountered Māori), Cormorant and Pigeon, to name just a few. My fellow passengers and I were by now getting more adept at embarking and disembarking from the zodiacs, and we set off to visit the site where Cook and his crew set up camp after their gruelling voyage searching for the Great South Continent. When Resolution arrived in Dusky Sound, a reconnaissance led by Lieutenant Pickersgill identified sheltered waters in what is now called Pickersgill Harbour. It was hard to imagine the three-masted sloop in this small waterway, tied securely to trees on either side. But here they spent five weeks resting and making repairs to the ship. A forge was set up for iron work, tents for

continued next page

One of the surprising discoveries on this trip was just how much human activity had occurred in Fiordland since Māori arrived more than 900 years ago.

sail makers and a workshop for the cooper (barrel maker). Cook also arranged for beer to be brewed using rimu and manuka leaves. Rum rations were postponed so the crew would drink the beer, as it was hoped it would aid in the prevention of scurvy. A source of freshwater was close at hand, with plenty of fresh fish and crayfish to dine on. After the deprivations of the Antarctic voyage, the shelter and availability of fresh food and water must have seemed like manna from heaven. Although nothing remains of the camp, there was still a sense that we were walking in Cook’s footsteps.

WIN!

Before departing, we made the short trek to nearby Astronomer’s Point, the site of a temporary observatory set up by William Wales, of the Board of Longitude, who was travelling with Cook to test the accuracy of a copy of John Harrison’s chronometer H4. As a consequence of the observations made by Wales at this point, New Zealand became the most accurately located place in the world at that time.

The Department of Conservation is involved in an ambitious restoration plan in Dusky Sound with the goal of eradicating pests, reintroducing missing species and

Undiscovered Dusky Sound, Trip. 26-30 January 2025. Twin share, 1 x Salvin’s twin Cabin: Value: $10,790

Mahurangi Matters is excited to offer our readers the chance to win a 5-day voyage for two on Heritage Expeditions Undiscovered Dusky Sound voyage.

Set sail on the voyage a lifetime with New Zealand’s pioneering expedition cruise company, Heritage Expeditions, and benefit from our 40 years of exploring the New Zealand coastline. Discover the primordial majesty of Fiordland on an unforgettable 5-day voyage cruising Acheron Passage, Breaksea and Dusky Sounds. Starting and concluding with a thrilling, scenic helicopter flight between Te Anau and Supper Cove, you will explore the sheltered waters, hidden coves, islands and astounding scenery of World Heritage Area Dusky Sound, one of Fiordland’s largest fiords, some 40-kilometres long and studded with more than 350 islands. Only accessible by sea, Dusky Sound is among the most isolated areas on New Zealand’s mainland. We’ll also explore Acheron Passage and Breaksea Sound with opportunities to explore on foot, by Zodiac and kayak. Bask in the towering fiords, abundant birdlife and rich history of one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets. Travel is aboard our 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer where luxurious en-suite staterooms meet meticulously crafted itineraries led by expert guides and all-inclusive gourmet dining with house wine, beer and soft drinks, all inclusive excursions and use of on board kayaks and fishing equipment.

filling biodiversity information gaps in the area. The project area includes Te Puaitaha/ Breaksea Sound, Acheron Passage, Wet Jacket Arm and Dusky Sound itself, which has more than 700 islands including Resolution Island – New Zealand’s seventh largest island. The vision is for Dusky Sound to be one of the most intact ecosystems on Earth, as well as New Zealand’s largest ‘bio-bank’ – a source of endangered native species that can be sent to pest free locations throughout the country.

We awoke the next morning to an iconic Fiordland scene – Jamie, our skipper, had manoeuvered the Explorer into a narrow branch of the fiord where we were sandwiched between mountainsides rising from the dark depths of the fiords to the sky, with waterfalls weeping from rock crevices and forests woven together by mist and imagination. Our boat, our travels and even our very existence seemed insignificant compared to the timeless grandeur we found ourselves observing. It felt as if the mountains themselves had granted us the privilege of sharing the dawn with them.

leucistic/white tomtit/miromiro, which we were told had been at the site on and off for about a year. He was a friendly little fellow, darting from ground to branch around us, and chirping his greetings.

To enter: scan the QR code, visit www.heritage-expeditions.com/matters/ or drop or post your entry to Mahurangi Matters, 17 Neville Street, Warkworth, 0941, and tell us in 25 words or less why you want to join Heritage Expeditions Undiscovered Dusky Sound voyage. T&Cs apply, please visit www.heritage-expeditions.com/ matters/ to read the full terms and conditions before entering.

The walk to Moose Lake later in the morning took us through a wonderland that would not have been out of place on the set of Lord of the Rings. I would not have been surprised in the least if we had stumbled across Gandalf smoking a pipe under one of the many ancient trees, festooned with moss and ferns. We meandered through this fairyland accompanied by the music of a nearby creek, stopping to identify bird calls which became more plentiful as we neared the lake. The ground underfoot was spongy in many places, boggy in others, and several walkers found their boots trapped in the mud. But the effort was worth the prize of reaching the tarn and viewing the serenity of a landscape just as nature had intended it to be. The slender body of water was home to ducks but, sadly, we did not lay eyes on the hoped-for whio. Nor did we see any of the phantom moose, which some people believe still wander through the forests of Fiordland, after being brought here from Canada in the early 1900s. We were rewarded, however, with a visit from a

Heritage Expeditions have been sharing the wilds of New Zealand with like-minded guests for more than 40 years and invite you on the voyage of a lifetime. Explore Fiordland’s world famous Acheron Passage and Breaksea, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds; the tranquil waterways of historic Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, French Pass and d’Urville Island; and Stewart and Ulva Islands, Paterson Inlet, Kaipipi Bay, Port Pegasus and Lords River – all only accessible by sea. Join us for an unforgettable, intimate exploration of some of Aotearoa’s most remote, and iconic, locations aboard our 18-guest expedition yacht and by Zodiac, kayak and on foot with New Zealand’s own expedition cruise pioneers.

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After another ocean stretch, we reached Patea/Doubtful Sound and the next morning we did a short walk on Secretary Island, one of the few islands never to have been infested with rats and mice. An inquisitive weka joined us as we beachcombed along the stony shoreline, but a wine bottle of a recent vintage was about all that we discovered. Thankfully, we came across next to no litter on any of the beaches we visited. Next there was a chance to kayak or do a zodiac tour, and we got to see Fiordland’s version of Queenstown’s Blanket Bay luxury lodge. By afternoon we were anchored off the Camelot River, which had been timed to catch the tide. Again we boarded the zodiacs to meander up the river that has its headwaters on a saddle between the sound and Te Anau, a reminder that our tour was coming to an end. The zodiac skimmed over crystal clear water where we could identify the mix of freshwater and salt water. This part of the sound is a receiving environment for discharge from the tailrace of the mighty Manapouri hydroelectric power station.

All too soon, we were making our way to the wharf at Deep Cove where a bus would take us over Wilmot Pass to the West Arm visitors centre, beside the power station. From there it was a short boat and bus trip back to Te Anau. Although we hadn’t seen moa or Haast eagles, or a kakapo or kiwi for that matter, we did sense their presence. Majestic Fiordland reminds us of just how magnificent Aotearoa must have been in a time not so long ago – every two-legged kiwi should make the pilgrimage at least once in their life.

A massive thank you to Heritage Expeditions, the Heritage Explorer crew and my fellow expeditioners for the trip of a lifetime.

FIORDLAND | 5-10 days

From $5,145 $4,115 per person

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS | 5-9 days

From $4,490 $3,590 per person

STEWART ISLAND | 8 Days

From $7,695 $6,155 per person

ALL-INCLUSIVE CRUISING

• Scenic helicopter transfer^

• All on board accommodation & meals

• House wine, beer & soft drinks

• All shore excursions

• Experienced expedition team

• Kayaks & fishing equipment available

• Transfers to and from Heritage Explorer

Jazz trio ending national tour at Matakana Country Park

Jazz fans should head to The Stables at Matakana Country Park next month for a high-energy show from the Nairobi Trio. Formed more than 30 years ago, the group has toured extensively throughout Europe, the UK, Asia and Australasia and is finishing its current 14-date national tour at The Stables on Saturday, November 9.

Nairobi Trio was formed in 1989 by guitarist and singer-songwriter John Quigley, who also runs the annual Waiheke Jazz Festival in his spare time, together

Salty Dog has its day

with Richard Adams on vocals and violin and bass player Aaron Coddell. They have produced 10 albums and are known for lively, expressive playing performed with passion and a sense of fun, whether it’s old favourites, reimagined standards or original material.

The Stables show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost $40. Info and booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/

Snells Beach pub The Salty Dog Inn is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Family Fun Day this coming Saturday, November 2. There will be a bouncy castle, games and lucky dips for kids from 2pm to 6pm, spot prizes all day and a live band playing from late afternoon. There will also be happy hour prices on drinks and meal specials all day. Salty Dog general manager Moses Chong and the pub’s social club are also staging a display of old photos and memorabilia throughout next month. If anyone has items they could contribute or lend to the mini-exhibition, contact Jez Scull on 027 410 5154.

The Nairobi Trio will be in Matakana next month.

Tickets

Members $30

Non-members $40

Tertiary students $10

School-age students Free

Purchase tickets online at warkworthmusic.org.nz

Door Sales Cash only, no EFTPOS

Dan Costa Quartet

Portuguese, Italian, British-born pianist Dan Costa has assembled an all-star band of New Zealand musicians who will showcase his original compositions and Latin influenced jazz piano style. Bringing his cutting-edge music to NZ, Dan will perform alongside some of the finest jazz musicians in the country – Bill Martin on tenor saxophone, Umar Zakaria on double bass, and Carl Woodward on drums.

Sat 9 November, 4pm Warkworth Town Hall

Presents A Community Spice of Life Variety Show

Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th 7pm Sunday 10th 2pm November 4 shows only Warkworth Town Hall

A MerryChristmasKowhai

Traditional and non-traditional carols, selections from the Messiah, and of course plenty of John Rutter and Bob Chilcott

WARKWORTH TOWN HALL

SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 7.30PM

LEIGH COMMUNITY HALL

Open day for future first aiders

Warkworth St John Ambulance station is opening its doors next month for a fun day aimed at attracting new recruits to its youth programme.

The station had a thriving cadet section until covid restrictions caused its closure.

St John staff are keen to get the group up and running again, starting in Term 1 next year.

Divisional manager Josh Collinson says the youth open day on Saturday, November 16 is designed to show young people what St John Youth has to offer five to 18-yearolds.

“There will be live CPR demonstrations, a sausage sizzle, games and the chance to explore an ambulance up close,” he says. “It’s a great afternoon for the whole family.” There’s also the chance to meet cadets from around the region and see them in action.

Collinson says the St John youth programme aims to provide young people

with the chance to develop practical skills, confidence and leadership in a fun and supportive environment.

“Our cadets learn vital first aid skills, along with other important life skills,” he says. “We also have fun camps and competitions at different times of the year and they also get badges for community service, whether that is helping out at a community event or doing their neighbour’s garden.”

He says it’s a great way for young people to make friends while gaining a sense of responsibility and discovering their potential.

St John is also keen to attract Youth Leaders aged over 18 to mentor and guide the cadets.

The open day runs from 1pm to 3pm at St John Warkworth, 19 Brown Road, with entry via the back gate and driveway.

Info: Email Josh Collinson at josh.collinson@stjohn.org.nz or visit https://youth.stjohn.org.nz/

Bowling underway at Leigh

The 2024/25 season is underway at the Leigh Bowling Club. As is tradition, Patron Ron Perry rolled up the kitty and first bowl on opening day.

The first tournament was the Cameron/ Penney Triples on September 28. It was a great day, though no Leigh teams featured in the top three. Mahurangi East ran out winners, with Warkworth second and Waipu third.

The club season kicked off with the Drawn Pairs on September 7. Sixteen players competed on a fast green prepared by greenkeeper Lance Michell. Peter (Pedro) Manuell and Symon Morrice took out the title; the runners-up were Geoff Cavanough and Steve Mantle.

The club open single champs were held on October 5 and 6 with George Brooks beating Matt Lennan in the final.

On October 12 the club farewelled club stalwart Ron Perry. Ron is heading to Whangarei to live with his son Gavin.

Club president Keith Greenwood spoke about Ron and his family’s history in the area, and his massive contribution to the Leigh Bowling Club. He joined in 1993 and was the greenkeeper for more than 20 years. When the present greenkeeper, Lance Michell, took over, Ron helped him become familiar with the job. Ron was president in the 2003/04 season and made a Life Member in 2005. With the passing of Bernie Gravatt, Ron has also taken over the role of Patron.

Ron also made significant contributions to

the fishing industry in Leigh. He was on the original Wharf Committee to build the wharf on Leigh Harbour. At various times, he was also in charge of the fuel pump on the wharf, in charge of the grid to pull boats up and involved with Leigh Radio. He will be missed and we thank him for his significant contributions to the club and wish him all the best for the future. Upcoming events include Club Leads and Twos on Saturday, November 9. Business House Bowls began on Wednesday, October 16 and will continue every Wednesday until Christmas. The bar opens at 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with wellpriced drinks. Everyone is welcome.

Contributed by Ian Bradnam

Cadets will demonstrate CPR.

Singles champ George Brooks.

Eclectic music mix at town hall

The Dan Costa Quartet will perform at the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday November 9, starting at 4pm.

UK-born Costa trained as a classical pianist in France, studied jazz and contemporary piano styles at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and Latin music at the Escola Superior de Música e Artesdo Espectáculo in Portugal.

He will share the stage with Dunedin Jazz Club director Bill Martin on tenor saxophone, backed by Tūī Award winner Umar Zakaria on double bass and Carl Woodward on drums.

Together, the quartet will present Costa’s original compositions accompanied by his Latin-inflected jazz piano style.

Costa released his first album, Suite Três Rios, in 2016, considered one of the best albums of the year by DownBeat Magazine. His latest album, Beams, (2022) was recorded in New York with Dave Liebman and John Patitucci.

The concert is presented by Warkworth Music, in partnership with Chamber Music New Zealand.

Country Fair

Day

Kaipara Flats School is gearing up for its annual Country Show Day, which will be held on Saturday, November 2.

Principal Jason Irvine says the day will start with animal judging at 8.30am, followed by prize giving.

Classrooms will also be open for the Show Day exhibits.

Stalls, rides and activities start at 10.30am, and there will be woodchopping demonstrations, quick-fire raffles, silent and live auctions, and games for the kids throughout the day.

Live auctions will start at 1.15pm, and silent auction winners will be announced at 2.20pm. Irvine says that Kaipara Flats School has faced some adversity over the

in Kaipara Flats

past couple of years, so the proceeds will go towards ensuring students have access to quality education programmes and resources.

“We are in the process of upgrading our kitchen area, which will be the hub for our Garden to Table programme,” he says.

“This will be where our tamariki will learn to grow, harvest and prepare fresh and nutritious food, fostering lifelong healthy eating habits and a deeper appreciation for where their food comes from.

“It’s important that our students learn to engage with the surrounding environment as an integral part of the whole learning experience.”

COME JOIN US AT THE

Bridgehouse

A HUGE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL A SUCCESS

2024 Festival Committee:

Steve Popham, Jess and Jason Paul, Vickie Torres, Natasha Butler, Dave Parker, Charlie Montgomery, Justin and Cynthia Oliver, Murray Chapman & Volunteers

All the bands, groups, performers & stallholders

Our MC, Brent Harbour

Paint & Sip

Wednesday 13th November OR

Wednesday 4th December

$39pp

(Drinks available separately from the Bridgehouse) 7pm to 9pm at the Bridgehouse. 16 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth FOR OUR

Together let’s relax, enjoy & paint!

No experience necessary! Includes use of all art materials and your own canvas to walk away with!

To book go to: www.creativemoments.co.nz

Buckton Surveyors, Hire Works, Warkworth Stihl Shop, Warkworth Toyota, Rhodes for Roads, J & J Catering, Plume Vineyard Restaurant, Kowhai Coast Dental, Warkworth ITM, Fairview Windows, The Photo Store, Hush Hair, Stonewood Homes, Warkworth Men Shed, Carlton Party Hire, Combined Warkworth Service Clubs, Mahurangi Combined Church Service, Davco, Northland Waste, One Mahurangi, Shuttle Van Drivers, Warkworth Information Centre, Warkworth Lions, Warkworth Police, Warkworth RSA, Warkworth Toastmasters, Warkworth Towing, Colouring Competition Jury, Wellsford Warkworth Vintage Car Club, Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Bar Team: Bohemian Cider and the Matakana Wine Growers

Congratulations to the Raffle Prize Winners.

4th Prize value $150 Rhodes for Roads Hamper Bag: Winning Ticket number 1845 (Jeanie Sutherland)

3rd Prize value $200 Toyota Valet Car Wash & Gift Pack: Winning Ticket number 1297 (Janine)

2nd Prize value $320 ITM Stoney Creek Tradesman Pack: Winning Ticket number 1890 (Trudy Morrison)

1st Prize value $600 Mitre 10 BBQ: Winning Ticket number 1923 (Zen Rasmussen)

WWW.KOWHAIFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

Warkworth music fans won’t want to miss Dan Costa in concert on November 9.

•

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

service.

• An after hours emergency service in Wellsford.

Animals

Stephen McAulay, CEO and head vet, Wellsford Vet Clinic https://wellsfordvet.com/

Dentistry for pets

A friend of mine is an intensivist at a hospital and he was lamenting the other day how young people want to be dentists, not doctors anymore. When I asked why this was, he replied that there was no after hours in dentistry. This is pretty much how the veterinary profession is heading these days as well – people are happy to be vets but don’t want to do after hours.

Dentistry in pets is a little bit like the “dark ages” in human dentistry, cavities in teeth are treated by removal not fillings. Overcrowded teeth in mouths are not treated with braces or plates, but by judicious removals.

There are vets performing root canal therapy, with a famous tiger at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo given a tooth replacement. I have witnessed one of the Wellington tigers being intubated during anesthesia when I was training at Massey University. I was very glad it was one of our professors whose hand was inside the tiger’s mouth and not mine! Because cats and dogs will not politely hold their mouths open when requested, most dental procedures in animals require a general anesthetic, as only the fully unconscious animal is compliant.

For this same reason, most clients struggle to brush their pet’s teeth every day and, hence, tartar and calculus (calcium deposits) frequently build up on pets’ teeth as they

Haunted fire station

age. Therefore, the most common dental procedure is a routine clean and polish. The simple advice is that a little bit of tartar or calculus is not a major problem until the gum starts becoming inflamed or reddened (gingivitis). When this occurs, and as it progresses, the bone holding the teeth in place can weaken, the gum recedes and the tooth root becomes exposed. Teeth roots are not covered by strong dentine, so once the roots are exposed, the teeth retaining mechanisms rapidly decline. The tooth roots become pockets for food to become stuck in and the tooth decay rapidly increases. There are several “special” foods aimed at cleaning the tartar off the teeth as your pet eats them, which is fine if your pet politely chews their food. As many pets “hoover” the food up like a vacuum cleaner, the special kibble spends little time in contact with their teeth. Some treats are specifically designed to clean teeth as they are chewed. My general advice is to have a good examination of your pet’s teeth (even take photos with your phone) and feed the treat or diet for a few weeks. Reassess the teeth, repeat the process and if their teeth haven’t improved after two months, then they won’t work for your pet.

Get your local vet or vet nurse to check your pet’s teeth if you are concerned about their teeth, breath or apparent pain when eating.

Ghosts, spooks and spectres will take over Warkworth Fire Station this Halloween, Thursday, October 31. Anyone venturing across the haunted station threshold between 5pm and 8pm will find volunteer firefighters transformed into creepy characters and scary monsters, with all sorts of spooky games and activities going on, plus a few terrifying treats for young visitors. All welcome.

Hibiscus Tiling

Accredited internal waterproofer • Wall & floor tiling • Underfloor heating • Free consultations & quotations • Over 30 years experience

Phone Darcy 021 482 308

REDDING ELECTRONICS

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

CARPET ADVICE

Free Quote for Steam Cleans, Carpet Repairs, 35 years experience https://carpetadvice.co.nz/ Dwyane 027 499 7929 CARPETS

DRIVEWAYS

• Events - golf, fishing and more

• Other options on request

• Discount for group bookings

0800 99 55 11 | 09 420 5366 or 021 447 455 libertyshuttles@gmail.com | libertyshuttles.co.nz

Classifieds

COLLINS ELECTRONICS

MAINTENANCE Grading, rolling & metalling for rural Driveways. No job too BIG or small. Contact Trevor tlc.trev@hotmail.com PEST CONTROL Eradication of rats & mice. Competitive Rates. Ph 426 2253 Ph 027 286 7321, www.noratsandmice.nz

drive. Phone or txt

Tetotara Video 021 777 385

ENTERTAINMENT

MAGIC SHOWS

For Children's Birthday Party's, Xmas Party's, George The Magician, Lots Of Fun & References

ELVIS SHOWS

For Surprise Party's & All Events, 30 m, 45m 60 Minute Shows. Fun & Raunchy 021 954 875 ghwinchservices@xtra.co.nz

HOME & MAINTENANCE

HAVE YOU LOST CHANNELS?

Or need your Freeview box tuned for the new channels? Freeview installations & new Freeview boxes for sale. TV repairs & installation, microwave oven repairs. Ph Paul 027 29 222 04

HOUSE WASHING - Soft Wash / Low Pressure / Chemical Wash Also Window Cleaning / Gutter Clearing / Decks / Concrete. Careful service, reasonable rates. qualitywash.co.nz 021 057 9743

SECTION SERVICES

Trees: BIG, small, difficult. Pruned. Removed. One off section tidy-ups. Hedge reductions. Insured. Experienced. Ph or text for a quote. Dom 027 222 1223

Neale Stevens (owner operator) TRIM & PROPER SOLUTIONS

Hedge trimming • Fruit & orchard pruning • Trees: Formative prunes, View restoration • Free Quotes 020 4027 6200 trimandproper@outlook.co.nz

MAHURANGI

RUGBY CLUB

AGM

Tuesday, 19th November, 6pm, at the Clubrooms, Warkworth Showgrounds. Tammy 027 247 1736

WARKWORTH

HOCKEY TURF CHARITABLE TRUST

AGM

Monday 18th November, 7pm start, Rugby Club Rooms. All welcome to attend.

WALKERS

URGENTLY NEEDED TO DELIVER THE MAHURANGI MATTERS in Warkworth and Wellsford Contact Tanya 021 066 0838

WELL-BEING

MEDITATION COACH

Ph Mark 021 632 240

Dog kennels made to measure.

work. Ph Ron 423 9666

MOVING

FURNITURE REMOVAL

Experienced Owner Operator 30 years. Single items Flat/ House lots. Silverdale based. Ph Gavin 0274 973 867

www.localmatters.co.nz

Mahurangi Matters has a vacancy for a suitably qualified Digital Coordinator to manage our web content and social media channels. The position is based in Orewa or Warkworth with a starting date in January. Some flexibility in working hours is an option.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Website management

• Managing Premium subscribers

• Content curation

• Managing website submissions

• Help desk & troubleshooting

• Liaising with web developers for website fixes and improvements

• Social media management

• Responding to messages and inquiries

• Marketing

• Content creation

• Running competitions and promotions

• Email marketing

• Data management

• Google Ad Manager

• Google News Showcase

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills:

• Strong attention to detail

• Organised and an effective multi-tasker

• Tech-savvy

• Able to problem-solve

• An eye for good content

• Ability to work quickly when required

• Competent writing and grammar skills

• Familiarity with WordPress is a bonus

To apply, send your CV to Jannette Thompson at gm@localmatters.co.nz.

Applications close November 22.

Prize-giving season is upon us, with three big events held in the last fortnight. We kicked off proceedings with our Sporting Blues, closely followed by Cultural Blues and our Māori & Pacific Showcase. These events are a wonderful opportunity to recognise student excellence at the highest level. As always, parents and caregivers are blown away by the scope and range of achievements.

Sporting Blues was a wonderful event, with sports as diverse as shearing and sur fing recognised. Team of the Year went to our Junior Underwater Hockey Boys, who took out the national title this year. Other teams recognised included our Junior Equestrian Team and our U16 Rugby Boys.

Sportsman of the Year went to James Elder. James has had a stellar year in Football, representing NZ at several events. Sportswoman of the Year was shared with MJ Ball and Charlie Blampied. MJ has represented NZ at Tag, while Charlie achieved NZ representation in Underwater Hockey. Their practical skills were complimented by all the certification they need to thrive in the workforce.

Our Construction Academy Award Ceremony was another highlight, with representatives from BITCO and Tai Tokerau, as well as major sponsors and parents. Students are fully ‘work ready’ with all the skills and knowledge they need to transition straight into jobs and apprenticeships.

Our Cultural Blues evening was a riot of movement and sound, with a showcase of the top performers and events from the year. Congratulations to our major prize winners; Performing Arts Person of the Year (Dancemakers Trophy): Amelia Martin and Cultural Person of the Year, for best performing artist: Samuel Meyer.

Our Māori and Pacific Showcase rocked the auditorium, with laughter and vibrancy. Congratulations to our top award recipients; Outstanding Senior Māori Student: Miriama Iverson, Outstanding Senior Pasifika Student: Akoia Teakin and Tu Mana for Outstanding Māori Role Model: Calum Boyd.

Other news hot off the press, our Mahurangi College EVolocity teams have once again swept the Auckland regional finals, with all four of our teams winning their categories including Engineering Design, Vehicle Performance (Bike and Go-Cart), Drag Race and Gymkhana. It was also special to see some of our 2023 Year 13 Design Technology students continuing to be involved in EVolocity and driving innovation in their own projects. Congratulations to our teams and to Mr Paul Lenihan who has built an amazing program.

Our Junior Art Club has been working hard all year to enter their work into the Coastal Heritage Art Competition, chART. The competition’s goal is to

foster young artists’ creativity, particularly through engagement with the unique maritime environment that is the Mahurangi. This year six of our local schools are involved. Mahurangi College has submitted ten artworks from nine students. The exhibition will be on display in the Warkworth Town Hall from the 30 October to the 2nd November.

Finally, our property team has been busy this term with all manner of projects. New carpet has gone into a number of classrooms, as well as the library, where two checkerboards have been included, allowing giant games of chess and checkers to take place. A-block is about to be reroofed - you’ll see it wrapped in the next couple of weeks - and upgrades for the gym changing rooms are being tendered. Our pool is currently closed as we wait on new filters and equipment for a much needed refresh. Hopefully by the start of next year we

will have these legacy projects fully completed.

This week is our senior students last few days for the year, as they leave to prepare for their exams. We are looking forward to recognising their academic achievements at our Senior Prize-giving on Wednesday evening. All the very best for your exams whānau.

Tony Giles

Proudly Supporting Mahurangi College

Cnr Woodcocks

& Mansel

Pictured with Dylan James Trade Manager

SCOREBOARD

RugbyCoaches

Mahurangi College Rugby is seeking expressions of interest from current or prospective coaches for next year’s season across all teenage grades entered in the North Harbour competition –1st XV (1A), premier girls and youth teams. Info: Mahurangi College Rugby on Facebook or visit https://tinyurl.com/jj2aen58

Chessclub

The Mangawhai Chess Club meets at the Mangawhai Tavern every Wednesday evening from 4.307pm. Training and challenges from 4.30-5pm, friendly chess games from 5-7pm. Open to all ages and abilities, $10pp. Info: Tina 021 689 988

Summersoccer

Registration is open for the 2024/25 summer soccer season at Warkworth Football Club. The season starts on Tuesday, November 5, and will run until Tuesday, December 10, when it breaks for the Christmas holidays. The season will recommence on Tuesday, January 7, and run until February 11. Senior grade games, for players aged 14+, will be played from 6-7.45pm. Junior games, for kids aged up to 14 years, will be played on a casual basis between 4.30-5.30pm. Registration closes at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 31. For more info & to register visit https://warkworthfc.org/summer-football

Freekickboxing

Connect Striking, in partnership with Rodney Local Board, is offering free Muay Thai Kickboxing lessons to youth under 18. Classes take place at Connect Striking, 10/280 Mahurangi East Road Snells Beach, every Friday afternoon in Term 4 between 4.30-6pm. Register by contacting Dan on 021 142 9323 or email info@connectstriking.com

Croquet

Warkworth & Districts Croquet Club will host three ‘Have A Go Days’ on Sunday, November 3 and Tuesday, November 5, both from 10am-1 noon, and on Thursday, November 7, from 1-3pm. Bring flatsoled shoes, all other gear is supplied. Located opposite the Point Wells Store. Info: Mike 021 971 317 HockeyAGM

The Warkworth Hockey Turf Charitable Trust AGM will be held on Monday, November 18 at the Mahurangi Rugby Club clubrooms, 7pm start. All welcome to attend.

Marine Shocking

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

LegaSea is appalled that government officials have decided that some commercial fishers will have exclusive access to fish in the proposed High Protected Areas of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. If they press ahead, this means commercial and Māori customary fishers will be permitted to fish within Kawau Bay and the Noises while your boat gathers dust in the shed.

The name ‘High Protection Areas’ (HPAs) seems quite ironic, given that these new proposals offer hardly any protection to depleted populations of schooling fish. They will, however, restrict where local families can go fishing to catch dinner.

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill creates 19 new marine protected areas around the gulf. What wasn’t a part of the initial discussions in 2023 is the recent proposal to allow gill netting within the HPAs in Kawau Bay, around the Noises and Motutapu, while restricting public fishing.

This last minute change is shocking. The process of developing a plan to restore the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park has been in the works for more than a decade. During this time it was never discussed that commercial netting would be allowed in any protected areas. Officials are doing everything to avoid making the necessary changes to restore marine life in the Park. To rebuild fish abundance and biodiversity, commercial catch limits must be reduced to more sustainable levels.

Keep calm and carry on, it’ll only be “ring netting” in the HPAs, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones assures us. Ring

netting is gill netting. It may not be as destructive as trawling, but it is still an indiscriminate fishing method, a virtual small scale version of purse seining; likely targeting baitfish, kahawai, grey mullet and other surface schooling fish.

According to Seafood NZ, the fish caught in these HPAs will still end up on Kiwi families’ dinner plates. To fit in with his chums, Minister Jones claims that the proposals will “provide essential protein for Māori and Pacific Island communities in South Auckland”.

The truth says otherwise, as more than 80% of all commercially harvested fish is exported. Another truth is that families who are already doing it tough can’t afford to pay a mere fortune for high quality protein. It’s appalling that our marine park is being manipulated to deny us access to our very own food basket, especially during a costof-living crisis. It seems the government’s priorities aren’t to increase the abundance in our coastal waters, but to risk it all by putting commercial interests above everything else.

Why is it such a big ask to just leave more fish in the water, and maintain Kiwi’s access to catching a feed?

Officials have indicated that there will be some public consultation before the Bill is enacted, but don’t wait until then to make your voice heard. Tell the Prime Minister how you feel about the proposal at https:// legasea.co.nz/action/campaigns/write-amessage-to-the-pm. Join us as we fight to put Kiwis first.

30-Nov 2 CHArt – Coastal Heritage Schools Art Exhibition, Warkworth Town Hall, 10am-4.30pm (10am-12.30pm on Saturday, November 2)

30 Estate planning, Warkworth Masonic Hall, 10.30am. Wendy Hampton, a lawyer with over 30 years experience, shares tips for making estate administration efficient and cost-effective. Info: wendy@wendyhampton.com or wwlib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

31 Halloween Haunted Fire Station, Church Hill, Warkworth, 5-8pm. Meet firefighters in fearsome costumes, play spooky games and get terrifying treats in the haunted fire station. (see brief p28)

31 Halloween Magic Show for children, 4 Square Corner, Matakana, 4pm

1 Hoedown at the Ranch with Going Bananas, Warkworth RSA, 6.30-9.30pm. Free.

2 Kaipara Flats School Country Show Day, 9am-2.30pm. Food & drink, animals, fire engine rides, games, auctions, raffles & more (see story p27)

2 Family Fun Day, Salty Dog Inn, Snells Beach, 2-6pm. 30th anniversary celebration with bouncy castle, games, lucky dips, live music and all-day food and drink specials (see story p25)

2 Roskill South supported by Jake Preston, The Tahi Bar, 7-10pm

2 Kiwi avoidance training for your dog, Streamland Suffolks, 903 West Coast Road, 9am-3.30pm. 15-minute e-collar session to teach kiwi scent avoidance. Bookings essential. Email KAT@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz or visit https://outlook.office365. com/book/KiwiAvoidanceTraining@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz

2 Snells Beach Craft Group annual exhibition of work and sale of crafts, Snells Beach Community Church, 9am-2pm. Raffles and tea & coffee. Cash only.

2&3 Art Sale, Studio 22, 22 Muncaster Road Snells Beach, 10am-4pm. Work from five local artists. Paintings, watercolours, photography, jewellery, and ceramics. Ample parking up driveway.

3 Sound in Wind and Limb screening, Salty Dog Inn, Snells Beach, 4pm. New documentary by AUT students about Peter Caccia-Birch and the Highfield donkeys. Entry by gold coin koha. RSVP: katieembilbrough@gmail.com (see story p12)

3 Kiwi avoidance training for your dog, Matakana Country Park, 9am-3.30pm. 15-minute e-collar session to teach kiwi scent avoidance. Bookings essential. Email KAT@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz or visit https://outlook.office365.com/book/ KiwiAvoidanceTraining@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz/

4 Warkworth Library Garden Group, Warkworth Library, 6.30-7.30pm. Develop your garden knowledge and share advice over tea and cake. Guest speaker, plant sharing table. First Wednesday of every month. Info: Speak to a librarian or email warklib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

4 Whangateau Folk Club, Whangateau Hall, 7pm

6 Wellsford Knitting Group, 1 Worker Road, 10am-12pm. First Wednesday of every month. Tea & coffee available. Info: Anne 021 252 1819

6 Retired Men’s Chips and Chat with Rebus, Bridgehouse Warkworth, 11am. Join us for our end-of-year meet-up. Camaraderie and chat, you don’t have to be a member. Info: Ron 422 3111

6 Warkworth Area Liaison Group Meeting, Warkworth RSA downstairs meeting room, 7.30pm. All welcome.

6 How to create a pre-loved, capsule wardrobe for busy women, Waipu RSA, 3-5pm. Tickets $35pp including high tea & bubbles. Tickets: https://www. trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/13711

7 Back Bar Jazz, The Bridgehouse, Warkworth, 6.30-9pm. Last session of the yearnext show will be on Waitangi Day, Feb 6. Free, all welcome

8 Nutrition Essentials, eating for better health, Warkworth Masonic Hall, 1.302.30pm. With certified holistic nutritionist, Jacqui Kraft. Free event. All welcome.

9 Dan Costa Quartet (Jazz), Warkworth Town Hall, 4pm; presented by Warkworth Music. Members $30, non-members $40. Info: www.warkworthmusic.org.nz (see story p27)

9 Monster garage sale, Snells Beach School hall, 9am-1pm. Face painting, sausage sizzle, bake sale and second-hand goods; raising funds for Snells Beach Kindy (see filler p7)

9 Tomarata Fireworks, Tomarata Domain, 112 Pakiri Block Road, Tomarata, 4pm to 9pm (see story p17)

10 Hospice Homes & Gardens Tour Hub, Point Wells Hall, 9am. The Homes Tour is sold out, but everyone is welcome to visit the hall for stalls, cakes, plants, coffee, food, raffles, silent auctions and more in aid of Hospice.

Whether you’re planning a Christmas gathering, anniversary,

or end-of-year party Plume has it all but you’ll have to be quick!

Warkworth’s premier festival regains its mojo

The return of the Kōwhai Festival took a big step forward on October 19 with a programme that more closely reflected traditional festivals of the past.

The event has struggled to recover from disruptions caused by covid, but this year’s event saw a return to a full day’s programme, street stalls, large crowds and a festive atmosphere.

Kōwhai Festival committee chair Melanie Marnet says she has only had good feedback.

“Stallholders were pleased with their sales and the entertainment programme was well received,” she says.

“From set-up to pack-up, the day ran really smoothly. Bar another pandemic, things look very promising for next year.”

While there are always many to thank for a community festival of this size, Marnet said she particularly wanted to thank her committee, the volunteers on the day and sponsors.

She welcomed any feedback from the public, which could be discussed at a debrief next month. Comments can be emailed to: kowhaifestival@gmail.com.

Organisers of the photo exhibition in the Southgate Room at The Oaks thanked Real Living for kindly allowing them the use of the room over the three days of the exhibition.

An estimated 8000 to 9000 visited the festival during the day, which started at 9am and wound up at 8pm.