Mahurangi Matters_Issue 470_18 December 2023 by Localmatters

Snells supermarket deal P4 December 18, 2023

Leigh Sawmill reopens P14

Mahurangi scholarship success P8&9

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The old Masonic Hall in Warkworth was transformed into a Christmas wonderland

earlier this month when the Lions Club of Kowhai Coast held its annual Treemendous fundraiser. Little folk like Wade Ashton (above) were enthralled by the baubles, lights and tinsel festooned around the room. Coverage and more photos page 18.

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www.localmatters.co.nz Next issue: January 22 Book your advertising by Dec 22 News: Jannette Thompson ph 021 263 4423 editor@localmatters.co.nz Sally Marden ph 022 478 1619 reporter@localmatters.co.nz Patrick Goodenough ph 022 549 8271 news@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Ken Lawson ph 022 029 1899 advertising@localmatters.co.nz Marc Milford ph 022 029 1897 local@localmatters.co.nz Online: Alysha Paul ph 022 544 0249 online@localmatters.co.nz Accounts: Angela Thomas ph 425 9068 admin@localmatters.co.nz Graphic designer: Heather Arnold design@localmatters.co.nz A division of Local Matters. Mahurangi Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated to more than 14,200 homes and businesses fortnightly from Puhoi to Waipu. Views expressed in Mahurangi Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. Reproduction without editor’s permission is prohibited.

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Hopes to attract new hotel on hold since election The change in government has stalled proposals to attract a major chain to build a new hotel and conference centre in Warkworth, a Rodney Local Board workshop heard on December 6. Members were told that the development of a branded hotel with up to 160 rooms and a conference and function centre was a priority in the Matakana Coast Destination Management Plan, a project spearheaded by Auckland Council’s economic development arm, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Destination and sustainability manager Karen Thompson-Smith, who is a former manager of Matakana Coast Tourism, said international visitors to the area were increasing and alternative accommodation offerings were needed. “We’re looking for a 100-160 room hotel in Warkworth, such as Sudima, which has just opened in Kaikoura,” she said. “That’s the kind of style we’d love to see in Warkworth, with a conference centre, and no restaurant attached. It would benefit businesses in the area and would assist with the seasonality issue – conferences would come in the shoulder season.” Thompson-Smith said she had been hoping to get $50,000 funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, to draw up a business plan for potential investors. “But that funding is stalled at the moment and we just don’t know, with the new government, if we can unlock it. We’re working to see if we can do that,” she said. “Investors are now looking for new areas and the numbers stack up. With the growth in air travel, New Zealand is still very high on the destination map, but we need $50,000 to support a business case.” Thompson-Smith added that there was currently huge interest from the US, led by Te Arai golf links, and also increasing enquiries from the east coast of Australia from people wanting to come out of Auckland city and up into the region. The Destination Management Plan was drawn up as a strategy to market the wider Mahurangi area to tourists, while balancing this with the aspirations of the people

The board heard that something like Sudima’s new Kaikoura hotel would be ideal.

who live in the area. Board member Ivan Wagstaff said the growth in local population combined with severe weather events presented an issue that the plan needed to address. “By attracting that many people, there are significant pinch points up here,” he said. “Lots of people were stuck during the floods, and water and food will become an issue if the main road to Auckland or the Dome Valley is blocked. “The existing transport infrastructure is not up to taking that. There’s a significant risk to people.”

Thompson-Smith said that while roading was covered in the plan, that particular aspect had not been addressed, though she stressed that the plan was a living document that was constantly being revisited. “Destination Management Plans are driven by residents, making sure communities are on board,” she said. “One of the reasons Matakana Coast Tourism pushed to have this was because they didn’t want to see what happened in Waiheke happening here.” The plan features a long list of recommendations, though many are long term prospects dependent on funding capability and prioritisation.

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‘Noisy north’ wins board support

The new cameras will be on trial and will not be enforcing drivers’ speed until the middle of next year.

Matakana speed cameras about prevention, not persecution, Waka Kotahi tells board speed that were the concern – put simply, the faster a vehicle was travelling, the worse the injuries people sustained during a collision. “We need to stop talking about just death – death is horrible, we all have family members or friends who have died on our roads. Let’s also talk about injuries – the numbers are really high and speed is a factor in a lot of those,” he said. “It’s the degree of severity, the need to bring down impact speeds and increase your chance of survival.” He said average speed cameras could reduce deaths and serious injuries by 48 per cent – a 28 per cent better result than fixed spot cameras. Strong said the camera rollout coincided with Waka Kotahi taking over speed camera enforcement from police next July, though police would continue to issue roadside speed fines, and penalties would not change. He said the big difference would be that, whereas police focused on roads where accidents had already occurred, Waka Kotahi looked more at prevention. “We consider not what’s happened, but say

New speed cameras have been installed at two sites along Matakana Road purely to slow traffic down and prevent deaths and serious injuries, not because of previous crashes or to raise revenue, according to Waka Kotahi. Project sponsor David Strong told a Rodney Local Board workshop that the point-to-point cameras that will capture drivers’ average speed between 297 and 789 Matakana Road were among the first to be installed as part of a national safety camera expansion programme. He said New Zealand was in the bottom third of OECD countries on a road deaths per capita basis and had among the lowest demerit points and penalties for speeding. “We have a sense of entitlement about driving on our roads,” he said. “And Rodney does have the highest number of deaths and serious injuries in the Auckland region.” Member Geoff Upson, who campaigned on keeping speed limits at 100km/h, said very few deaths were caused by speeding alone. Strong agreed, but said it was the effects of

let’s try to prevent it happening in the first place,” he said. “These safety cameras are very much a preventative measure.” When asked by board member Ivan Wagstaff why the particular stretch of Matakana Road, between Clayden and Smith Roads, was chosen for the new cameras, Strong said there were a number of factors, including how badly injured people were likely to be if they went off the road there. According to Waka Kotahi’s safety cameras assessment report, the road also met a list of physical site requirements for siting such cameras, including line of sight, road geometry and site accessibility. Waka Kotahi turned down an information request for the cost of installing the cameras, including concrete pads, barriers, a retaining wall and traffic management, saying that as the safety camera project was still in progress, with many more to be installed, releasing costs was likely to “prejudice commercial negotiations between Waka Kotahi and its contractors, as well as reduce the competitiveness of future tenders”.

Moves by three rural community groups to get the Rodney Local Board electoral subdivisions reviewed by Auckland Council next year received support from board members last month. A motion to acknowledge a request by the Northern Action Group, Rodney Community Voices and the Landowners and Contractors Association for a boundary review, and to support the Joint Governance Working Party review process was narrowly passed by five votes to three, with one abstention. Michelle Carmichael raised the matter as an extraordinary item at the board’s November 29 meeting, saying the groups were asking members to acknowledge their proposal to alter subdivision boundaries to what they see as fairer representation for rural residents. “We’re not voting on what the outcomes are, just saying there are community concerns out there and we support the proposal to look at potential changes,” she said. “As a resident in the past I could see that there was difficulty sometimes with fair representation between the rural and urban requirements.” Ivan Wagstaff stressed that the motion was not supporting the actual proposed changes, just the process itself. “The goal of the review is to look at whether it’s unfair. We’re just supporting what the governance working party is doing and engaging with the process,” he said. Chair Brent Bailey didn’t mince his words when voicing his concerns that it might be seen as predetermination. “It sort of says we’d be siding with a bunch of noisy people from north Rodney who have a track record for fighting City Hall, so I can’t and I won’t,” he said. Carmichael said she was happy to represent the ‘noisy north’. “We need to be able to look at things. The process does include consultation. This is democracy and we need to represent the people who’ve elected us,” she said.

New, but familiar, Warkworth sergeant starts A welcome return to frontline policing is how the officer-in-charge at Warkworth Police describes his new role. Sgt Dan McDermott replaces Sgt Mark Stallworthy, who moved to the North Shore last month. While it might be a new position for Sgt McDermott, he is on very familiar turf. He grew up on a lifestyle block in the Dome, and attended Warkworth Primary and Mahurangi College. He worked for ITSS Engineering (then called MS Engineering) after leaving school, and then travelled for a while, before joining the force when he was 20.

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“I remember coming into the station when Bede (Haughey) was in charge,” McDermott says. “I said I was interested in joining the police and they let me ride in the car a couple of times. It feels a little strange to think Bede’s old office is now my office.” McDermott started his career in Orewa before working for a number of years as a detective in Auckland. “Although it was interesting, I missed the frontline police work – interacting with people and working in a community. I’m looking forward to building on the strong relationships police already have in this

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area with groups such as Springboard and the business association. “It will be particularly important to maintain these relationships as the area grows.” Warkworth is the base for 15 frontline officers, community constable Hamish Buick, youth aid officer Katie Burton and watchhouse officer Celia Sowman. “I hope when people see me on the street they say ‘g’day’. As I settle into the role, I want to be visible and I want to listen to local groups and residents so Mahurangi remains the great place that we all know it is.”

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December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

on the beat Sustained loss

An architect’s impression of the new Four Square. Photo, Wingates.

Four Square slated for Snells Beach The wait for a supermarket in Snells Beach may soon be over. Foodstuffs was due to sign the final paperwork for the lease of a section of the former Warehouse building on Mahurangi East Road last Friday (December 15). All being well, building owner Denis Horner hopes to see a Four Square supermarket operating from the site around this time next year. The building housed The Warehouse until earlier this year, when the retail giant relocated to Warkworth. Built in the early 2000s, the two-storey building covers just over 4600 square metres. The site includes around 90 undercover carparks, accessed by a ramp wide enough for shopping trolleys, and a further 60

carparks shared with other businesses in the shopping centre. It is envisaged the new supermarket’s retail section will take up 800sqm plus additional space for back of house facilities. Horner says the future of the balance of the downstairs area, about 2500sqm metres, is under discussion. He has had interest from “two or three” speciality shops and says the area lends itself to becoming an indoor shopping complex. “I’d be happy to divide the space up to suit what people want and these discussions will happen next year,” he says. In the meantime, he hopes to apply for a building consent for the Four Square area before Christmas and see the redevelopment start in the first quarter of

Building owner Denis Horner says he’s glad he can now finall y give people a positive an swer to their queries ab out a supermarket.

the new year. He says it has been a long and convoluted process to get to this point. “It feels great to be at this stage. The Four Square will revitalise the shopping centre and will bring the retail section of Snells Beach alive again. “Almost every day I get asked, ‘when are we getting a supermarket?’ so I’m now able to finally give a positive answer. “The supermarket will have a catchment of about 7000 people and is desperately needed here.” Speculation about the opening of a supermarket in Snells Beach has been rife since a small Four Square, at the Hamatana Road end of the shopping centre, closed around three years ago.

Warkworth Police are seeking information regarding a vehicle doing burnouts at the intersection of Neville and Alnwick Streets in Warkworth on Sunday December 10, around 1.45pm. Given the time of day the driving put pedestrians and other road users at risk of serious injury. Police have identified the vehicle, and it has been impounded pursuant to the Land Transport Act. Enquiries to identify the driver are ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact 105 or Crimestoppers and quote file 231212/2207. Police say they take this offending seriously, particularly when it puts members of the community at risk. Driving in this manner will not be tolerated and police encourage members of the public to report it via 111.

Digger bucket theft

Warkworth Police are investigating the theft of five digger buckets from a worksite on West Coast Road, Kaipara Flats. This took place on the weekend of December 9 and 10. The missing equipment includes a 14 tonne tilt bucket, dig bucket, a ripper and a spade bucket. Anyone with information in relation to the theft, or the whereabouts of the buckets, is encouraged to call 105 or Crimestoppers and quote file 231211/7103. Police are reminding trades people to secure their sites and to lock and secure keys for machinery left on site.

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Further submission period closing soon Kaipara District Council this month opened a second submission period for the private plan change application for Mangawhai Hills, a proposed large residential development on 2.2 square kilometres of rural land west of the town. Submitters have until December 19 to lodge further submissions relating to matters already raised during the initial submission period, in August-September. No new matters may be raised. The developers are proposing up to 600 large-lot residential sites on the 218.3 hectare property, which lies between Tara Road, Cove Road, Old Waipu Road and Moir Street. The plan would incorporate streams, wetlands, native bush, and around 15kms of walking and bike trails (MM August 14). The plan change application says about 500 of the sites would be serviced by an on-site wastewater treatment plant, and the rest, those located nearer the village, would eventually be serviced by the Mangawhai wastewater scheme.

More than 75 submissions supporting, partially supporting or opposing Private Plan Change 84 were received during the earlier submission period. Most were from individuals, although Northland Regional Council and several local trusts and bodies also had their say. Factors cited in submissions supporting the plan change included the developers’ proposals to protect ecological features, provide open space and connectivity, create recreation opportunities, and conserve the environment while providing housing, paths, open public spaces and green areas. Submissions opposing PPC84 cited concerns about an adverse impact on ecology including native plants and birdlife, a worsening of existing traffic problems, loss of productive farmland, potential flooding and inadequate amenities and infrastructure – particularly wastewater services. More info and online submission forms: https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/ mangawhaihills

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December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

WeSay

Appreciating the here and now

Christmas Glory On the ends of leafy branches, At this special time of year, Nestled in the glossy greenness, Tiny silver fists appear. Bearing gifts of crimson glory, Bursting forth on Christmas Day, Pure delight for weary workers, Red flowers over a sparkling bay. Nestled in a humble manger, Tiny fists clutch Mary’s hair, As she bends to kiss her baby – It’s her Saviour lying there. One day those hands in love unfurled, Blood poured out in crimson glory, His life He gave to save the world – Beginning with the Christmas story!

For many years, this paper has written about the tide of urban development creeping north from Auckland. First forecast in the draft Auckland Unitary Plan a decade ago, Warkworth is looking at a five-fold increase in its population over the next 30 years. Around 1100 hectares of formerly rural land will be bulldozed and reconfigured for residential and business use. Numerous housing plans are on the drawing board in Wellsford and Mangawhai’s expansion is well out of the gate. Additionally, new housing density rules, which came into effect last year, allow for the average section to accommodate up to three homes of up to three storeys high. Growth will be both outwards and upwards. The reality of what this means for

existing residents started to sink in this year. New roading projects, mooted by Supporting Growth, mean that more than 200 property owners on the periphery of Warkworth could lose some or all of their properties. The drone of traffic will replace birdsong and property values will likely drop. Construction might happen in a few years or not at all, but the spectre of the plan will hang over affected families for at least the next 15 to 20 years. Lives will be uprooted or left in limbo. Not that moving people aside to make way for development is anything new in our district. Around 50 properties were affected by the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, and 143 are on the indicative route for the Warkworth to Te Hana road. Lines drawn on a map do not differentiate

between a property that has been in a family for generations or a garden and orchard that may have taken decades to develop. Growth, for some of us, will mean it’s time to move on. Urbanisation will also bring urban problems so it will take a concerted effort to retain and maintain the things we value most about living in the Mahurangi and Kaipara region – a closeness to nature, our sense of community and a relative feeling of safety. So, as 2023 draws to a close, and we exchange our daily routines for a few weeks of relaxation and repose, let’s enjoy, while we can, this wonderful corner of NZ. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and happy New Year from the Mahurangi Matters team

By Christina Buxton

In brief

Give us a sign

A plea for direction was made at Rodney Local Board last month, when Mahurangi East Bowling Club asked members for a road sign to show people the way to their greens. Club captain Gary Gibson said the club had around 250 members and also shared the premises with a petanque group and fishing club, but visitors had trouble finding them. “We recently hosted a ladies Lions Club session and 61 per cent of them didn’t know we were down Hamatana Road,” he said. “Could we put a sign up on the main road or by the police station to indicate where the bowling club is?” Gibson added that the Mahurangi East Library and Community Centre had a similar issue and were willing to share signage with the club. Rodney community broker Sue Dodds said she had already had conversations with all three groups and was keen to solve the problem. “There’s no reason we can’t do what you’re after. It just might take a little while,” she said.

YouSay Rodeo outdated

We welcome your feedback but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at www.localmatters.co.nz/opinion. Letters can be sent to editor@localmatters.co.nz or 17 Neville Street, Warkworth 0910

It is extraordinary that our government, which banned the use of animals in circuses years ago, continues to allow the cruel activities incorporated in rodeos. These sadistic forms of “entertainment” are a hangover from the revolting practices of the Romans who delighted in watching people and animals being tortured and butchered. One would have thought we had grown past this. There is absolutely no resemblance to modern farming practices and “cowboys”

have no place on our farms. To promote terrifying and torturing animals as entertainment is unconscionable and I would have hoped our local board would have banned this awful practice in Warkworth. One can only imagine what happens back on the farms where these so called cowboys practice sight unseen. Elizabeth Foster, Whangateau

Stop Hill Street

For over 50 years, the Hill Street intersection has caused massive congestion problems. The new Northern Corridor

and link road have drastically reduced traffic through this intersection. When the new link road is finished, linking Sandspit Road with Matakana Road, traffic will further reduce through Hill Street. For over 50 years we were told by Waka Kotahi, in their wisdom, that a roundabout was not possible and would not solve the problem. Unbelievably, Waka Kotahi now plans to build a multi-million dollar roundabout at Hill Street. In fact, two of them. I hope the new government puts a stop to the wasteful spending of Waka Kotahi. Neil Hatfull, Warkworth

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Council improvements made Season’s greetings and wishing you a very happy holiday while enjoying all the wonderful amenities Warkworth and the wider Mahurangi area has to offer. It has been a pleasure working with all the ratepayer groups again this year. Particularly rewarding has been the ability to help the individuals who have contacted me when they have hit a stumbling block with council. Working with them to find a way through the council bureaucracy has been appreciated. Our large number of communityorientated volunteer groups continue to do an outstanding job, ensuring we all have a wonderful place to live and work in. My working relationship with the Mayor and the Rodney Local Board has been very strong, which is important for achieving positive results for local ratepayers. During the year I have facilitated a number of visits to our area by council’s senior leaders. This included the Mayor’s visit after the extreme flooding in January, as well as another meeting with all the local ratepayer groups in March. After listening to consistent concerns repeated from those groups, he organised the budget for maintaining the unsealed roads to be doubled. That has meant there are now five grading crews operating instead of just two. Slowly but surely residents should be seeing the standard of the unsealed roads improving. The Mayor has also followed up with over

a dozen of our other local groups helping them with their concerns. Other visitors to the area have included the chief executive of Auckland Council and the chief executive of Auckland Transport. They have seen first-hand the growth challenges our area faces and why we need a fair share of our rates spent back in our area. After Cyclone Gabrielle, the request was made for Auckland Council to give 100 per cent rates relief to the “red stickered’ properties that had become uninhabitable for families due to severe damage. Many of these homes were in the Puhoi area. This was supported by the Mayor and the other 20 councillors. In the New Year, the Mayor will be asking for your feedback on what he believes to be Auckland’s spending priorities for the next 10 years. This is part of his plan about how to “fix Auckland”. Despite there being a number of budget cuts across Auckland, Mayor Brown is proposing for more money to be spent back into Rodney due to the years of underinvestment. The details will be available on the council website, or from the libraries, between February 28 and 28 March 28 for public feedback. Please take a few minutes to support our efforts. In closing, I would again like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a safe and enjoyable summer holiday.

Thank you!

Homebuilders Warkworth, Womens Centre Rodney and the Warkworth Foodbank have once again been overwhelmed by the generosity of Mahurangi Matters readers. Car-loads of toys, groceries, vouchers and other gifts are now being distributed to families across the district, following our annual Christmas Appeal. All three services acknowledge that it has been a pretty tough year for many families and individuals, and the donated presents will be the difference between some families having and not having a celebration. On behalf of the paper and the services, we say thank you. Pictured are Mahurangi Matters digital coordinator Alysha Paul helping Homebuilders coordinator Quentin Jukes load some of the presents.

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December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

John’s family has been with him every step of the way. From left, George, Craig, Carla, John, Lisa and Anna.

Hope after

cancer for top

scholarship

winner

John Taylor has been declared six months cancer-free, a huge development for the Mahurangi College graduate whose battle with a rare form of melanoma sparked significant community support for his close-knit Warkworth family. The scan results confirming the news on December 4 came at the end of a whirlwind few days for the 18-year-old – the previous Wednesday marked a farewell to the kapa haka group he’d belonged to since arriving

at college; Thursday was Year 13 graduation; and on Friday, John visited Government House, where Governor General Cynthia Kiro presented him with a top scholarship for tertiary study next year. The Sir George Elliot Charitable Trust awards annual scholarships, worth $25,000 each, to three students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership in the face of adverse life experiences. A large number of applicants are endorsed by their schools, with six shortlisted for rigorous interviews. “I was grilled for 45 minutes by six trustees,” John says. “It was tough, but I made them laugh, and obviously made a good impression, because – well, it’s hanging in the lounge!” A citation accompanying the award recognises John’s academic, leadership and sporting accomplishments, including twice being appointed Māori prefect. The panel found his ambition to qualify as a mechanical engineer “is alive and strong, despite challenges that many would have

I feel like things are starting to happen for me. found difficult to surmount”. John’s fight, shared every step of the way by his mum Carla, her wife Lisa, and siblings George, Craig and Anna, has not been without setbacks. The urgent surgery he underwent early last year to remove the melanoma from his lower leg also involved removal of lymph nodes draining the area. Since then, he has been hospitalised several times with sepsis and cellulitis – in one case facing the stark possibility that he could lose his leg. Yet recent months have also brought high points. With a port inserted into his carotid artery, John had had to abandon underwater hockey, which he had been playing at national level. After having the port removed, however, he was able to play the

second half of the 2023 season. “It was like turning a mental corner,” says Carla of the moment he returned to the pool. “It was a big step forward towards normality.” Another highlight was being part of a team whose electric go-kart decisively won the national finals of the EVolocity challenge, a competition in which students design, make and race electric bikes or karts (see back page). Wanting to “give back”, John has been virtually mentoring a 16-year-old girl with cancer in Taranaki, and volunteering for Canteen. The charity’s headquarters sits across the road from the Auckland University hall of residence he hopes to get into next year, and he looks forward to deepening his involvement there. Carla says the family will always be grateful to the community that supported them so generously. When the life-altering diagnosis came continued next page

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John, who received his reward from Governor General Cynthia Kiro, was praised by the selection panel for achievements in the face of significant challenges.

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early last year, a specialist wanted to operate within days, but advised that covid backlogs meant a five to six week wait in the public system. John’s uncle then loaned a little over $17,000 for urgent private surgery and subsequent scans. With his 17th birthday looming that July, there were concerns that crucial, costly immunotherapy treatment would no longer be covered by Starship. That’s when the community stepped in. Fellow students organised fundraising events, and a Givealittle page set up by a friend raised a little over $36,000. “We were blown away by how quickly everybody got on board and helped out,” Carla says, adding praise for the school’s “wraparound support” for the whole family.

In the end, a specialist intervened on John’s behalf at Starship, and it was agreed that the ongoing treatment would be covered. Carla says some of the donated money was used to repay the loans. The rest has been put into an account where it will remain until John has been cancer-free for a few years. Once he has and “we feel just a little bit safer”, they plan to donate it to other young cancer patients who have just missed the age threshold for Starship coverage. Upbeat after his scan results, John is looking ahead with expectation. “I feel like things are starting to happen for me. It’s important to see how far I’ve come since going through all of this, and how I’ve changed as a person.”

Summer Gardening • Water saving tip – washing the car, boat, golf clubs? Tip the bucket of soapy water around pots and the garden to keep the plants happy • More water saving – hose early in the morning or in the evening for best water absorption by plants • Use an organic pesticide such as Bugtrol to control whitefly and aphids on ripening vegetables. Spray early in the day before bees are active • Vegetable and fruiting plants enjoy a dose of liquid fertiliser during their production season. Aquaticus organic Garden Booster is our fav • Beans are good producers during the summer season – pick them regularly and hose over the flowers as well as at the roots, to promote bean development • Stake vine type vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumber and courgettes to ensure exposure to the sun for maximum production • Mulch newly planted trees, clematis, and other shrubs to help them get through their first summer with a cool root run • Hanging baskets should always look their best – if some flowers have died off, then cut them back or replant new colour to get through the season. Water regularly and give them a boost with liquid fertiliser • Convert difficult, dry spaces by planting drought hardy succulents and layering river pebbles or decoratively hued pebbles amongst them • Cut back spent lavenders and daisies to encourage another flowering by early autumn • Summer prune wisteria and rambling roses to avoid having to deal with tangled thickets in the middle of winter

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Community rallies round stranded yacht Mayor drafts plan to steer The Auckland harbourmaster’s office signalled that it may intervene after Auckland through next decade hasmultiple efforts to dislodge a stranded A fiery meeting of the Budget Committee on December 6 saw Auckland Council’s draft 10-year budget (Long Term Plan) approved for public consultation. A number of councillors called the proposed $300 million asset sales target over 10 years ‘ill-advised asset stripping’. The assets discussed at the meeting were big ticket items such as the remaining Auckland Airport shares and privatisation of the Ports of Auckland operations. However, the Mayor also intimated that “small regional assets” would also be in line for sale. No specifics were given or available. Under transport, the Mayor’s proposal promotes fully funding council’s share of road renewals ($5.5 million) if cofunding is available and the unsealed road improvements programme ($124 million). Raised pedestrian crossings and “expensive gold-plated cycleways” will be gone. “I thank rural residents for [their] tireless advocacy bringing the poor condition of unsealed roads, across the rural areas of Auckland, to my attention,” the Mayor wrote in the plan. “It is important to recognise that more than 70 per cent of Auckland’s land area is rural and I am proposing to fully fund the unsealed road improvement programme with $124 million over the next decade.” The draft also reflects a desire to make public transport faster, more reliable, and easier to use, including the option to use Pay Wave, as well as HOP cards, and a $50 per week cap on charges for bus, rail and inner harbour ferry services. The mayor wants Auckland Transport to improve temporary traffic management, including reducing the number of road cones and length of time of works. The plan proposes accelerating fairer funding for local boards to address legacy imbalances, with a combination of new funding and reallocation. Rate increases will be limited to no more

Wayne Brown

than 1.5 per cent above inflation, although the mayor acknowledges that this new limit will not be met in years one and three of the plan. He is proposing a 7.5% increase in 2024/25, 3.5% in 2025/26 and 8% in 2026/27. After this, he says rate increases will reduce to 3.5% or lower. “These increases are largely the result of previous decision and events beyond our control,” he says. The Natural Environment, Water Quality and Climate Action targeted rates are all set to stay, albeit with some modification. “We need to continue to reduce overhead costs,” Brown writes. “I have asked staff to develop sensible benchmarks so we know how we compare with high-performing organisations in the public and private sectors in terms of our costs and approaches to organisation, including management, consultants, legal and communications.” Public consultation for the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 will open for one month from February 28 and the budget will be finalised and adopted in June. The draft is at www. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ plans-projects-policiesreports-bylaws/our-plansstrategies/budget-plans/longterm-plan-2024-2034/Pages/ mayoral-proposal-long-termplan-2024-2034.aspx

AK HAVE YOUR SAY

yacht from a sandbank in Whangateau Harbour have proved fruitless. In a race against time, owner Boyd Gunn and a crew of local good samaritans were hoping for success this past weekend, coinciding with a reasonably high tide. Gunn’s newly-acquired 76-foot aluminium yacht, Chieftain, broke free from a swing mooring at Ti Point during stormy weather and high winds and tides at the end of October, blew down the estuary and ended up stuck in the sand opposite the Omaha boat ramp (see MM, November 20). Gunn has declined to comment, but in social media posts says he has made more than a dozen attempts to dislodge the vessel from the sandbank, including digging around the keel “for days”. Gunn, who is living on the yacht, says he removed fuel immediately, for safety reasons, is working on taking out items to lighten the boat, and has acquired pontoon floats to help lift it. However, one of the apparent salvage techniques set off alarm bells. At the end of November, the Omaha Beach Community committee alerted boaties in a social media post that a rope stretching from the shore to the Chieftain posed “a significant marine hazard just to the south of the boat ramp”. As the efforts continued, Auckland harbourmaster Andrew Hayton confirmed his office was continuing to monitor the situation, and had instructed Gunn not to run unmarked and untended lines deployed across a navigable channel. “We are currently also planning how best to refloat her and dispose of her in the increasingly likely scenario that we will have to take over the salvage,” Hayton said. If his office does end up carrying out the salvage, all costs associated with the salvage and disposal of the vessel will be recovered from the vessel owner as per the provisions

Stormy weather at the end of October left the yacht stricken on the sandbar. Photo, Vernon Pryde

in the Maritime Transport Act. On social media, local boaties and other members of the community have been offering advice and help – including the use of power boats to try to drag Chieftain off the sand – and were looking ahead to a 2.9 metre mid-morning high tide last Saturday, December 16. “It’s a 35-tonne, 75-foot boat, and getting it off the bank without heavy-duty resources is going to be difficult,” said one local late last week. “We’re getting volunteers together to give Boyd a hand, and we’ll see what we can do this weekend.” “The amount of support from the community is a credit to Omaha,” Gunn wrote in an earlier post. “Houses make up the town, but people create the atmosphere, the feeling and from where I’m sitting (120m offshore) I couldn’t have asked for a better place to get stuck on a sandbar.” Mahurangi Matters went to press before the weekend effort, but will provide an update online this week at www.localmatters.co.nz.

Let them choose their own adventure this Christmas. Shop, dine, catch a movie, and more. Available at Matakana Cinemas, Matakana Four Square and online at matakanavillage.co.nz/giftcard www.localmatters.co.nz

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In brief

Kids performing? Here’s an idea

Parents in the Warkworth area who may be hankering for a quiet day off around midJanuary could consider booking their kids in for a one-day performing arts holiday programme. The Pform programme at the Warkworth Masonic Hall from 9am to 3pm on January 18 will offer kids and teens the chance to explore dance, drama and singing, with a promise of loads of fun. Pform says the children will be safe and well entertained for the day, with activities run by its talented team. It offers performing arts classes through the year at the same venue, and says the holiday programme is the perfect opportunity for families who want to see what they are all about. Info: https://www.pform.nz/auckland/ holiday-programme/january-18-warkworth

Lifestyle sales down

This truck was caught on cam era reversing back up the Puhoi off-ramp .

been spotted Several cars have ong way. wr the ing go deliberately

Motorway ramps confusing some drivers This week marks six months since the opening of Ara Tūhono, the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway and it seems some drivers are still having problems negotiating the on/off ramps. NX2 chief executive Vicente Valencia says a small but significant number of drivers are entering or exiting the motorway incorrectly at both the northern (Pukerito/Warkworth) and southern (Pūhoi) on/off ramps. The activity has been captured on the motorway safety cameras. “Most seem to be genuine errors but there have been a few motorists, especially at the Puhoi ramps, that are intentionally putting other road users’

and closing out of soil remediation, and works off the main alignment, including fencing, finalisation of works on local roads and landscaping. The resealing and line marking for the Hibiscus Coast Highway connection was expected to be finished before Christmas. The only accidents since the road opened have been five cars striking the median barrier. However, crews have also responded to other motoring issues such as breakdowns, running out of fuel and flat tyres. Construction of the 18.5km road started in late 2016. The original construction cost was $709.5m, with the actual cost to date being $877 million.

lives at risk,” Valencia says. “This is extremely concerning and cameras have been installed and these cases have been reported to police. “As with other motorways, it is also an offence to stop on the motorway. The road shoulders are to be used for emergencies such as breakdowns, and are not to be used to take a phone call or as a rest stop.” An average of more than 20,000 vehicles a day are using the motorway. While construction is substantively finished, some final completion works have been taking place such as earthworks, including existing slip repairs

Northland and Auckland accounted for the biggest drops in lifestyle property sales of any regions in the three months ending November 2023, compared to the equivalent period last year. Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) data show that Auckland was down 29 and Northland down 22 lifestyle property sales in the September-November 2023 period, compared to the September-November 2022 period. Across the country, there were 1266 lifestyle property sales in the three months ended November 2023, down 4.8 per cent from the 1330 lifestyle property sales for the equivalent period a year earlier. The median price for all lifestyle properties sold in the three months to November 2023 was $980,000 – $55,000 less (down 5.3 per cent) than the median price recorded during the three months ended November 2022. “The month of November saw mixed results across New Zealand, as some areas traded similarly to the same period in 2022 and several areas showed an increase in sales activity as the year closes out,” REINZ rural spokesman Shane O’Brien said.

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The Sawmill in happier times.

Leigh Sawmill back from the brink Sawmill summer sounds After weeks of uncertainty and closures, Leigh Sawmill is back in the hands of the Guinness family and set to reopen for summer on Friday, December 28. Business owner Craig Anderson, an Auckland businessman who owns a number of restaurants, had leased the iconic bar and music venue since November 2018. However, since covid, the business appeared to be struggling, as band bookings dwindled, menus changed and opening hours became more and more sporadic. In recent weeks, staff were frequently apologising on social media for being unable to open for diverse reasons, including phones not working and not having enough food for lunches, and they admitted they were scrambling to keep things going. Saffron Guinness, granddaughter of the late Grattan Guinness, who opened the Sawmill in 1996, said last week the business had been run “into the ground” before the lease ran out. “The old operator handed his keys in a couple of weeks ago, which was crazy timing for the Sawmill to be shutting down, at the start of summer,” she said. Guinness said that trading difficulties in

recent weeks had led to uncertainty among customers, staff and suppliers. “It was really a mess, it needed a big scrubup and clean out and a whole new vibe,” she said. Since Anderson departed, brothers Ed and Ben Guinness had come back in to the business to bring it back to life in time for the key summer season, she added. “They never thought this would be happening. They had no choice but to jump in and spruce up all the systems to go. It’s quite scary, but everyone’s getting quite excited now we’re having to embrace it and get to it,” Guinness said. She said at present it was just family, friends and “old amazing supporters” pulling together to make it happen. “We really appreciate all the support and we’re going to do our best to pull something together. What we can promise is there will be vibes, it will be fun and there will be great music. “We’ve got some really great gigs coming in, everyone is so keen to come back and support the Sawmill.” A new menu concept is being drawn up, incorporating a new wood and coal-fired barbecue outside. As well as the Sawmill

opening from Thursday to Sunday from 12 till late, the accommodation side will also be running. However, Guinness said the longer term future for the Sawmill was uncertain at this stage. “Once we’ve got it back up again, we could be offering it to a great operator or it could shut down, we really don’t know what the future will be. It could be the last hurrah for the Guinness family,” she said. “It’s not the kind of place where it can be run externally with no heart. It was started by a family of six and it took everyone to get it going. It needs to be family run, or at least owner-operated. “For now, we’re totally focused on trading for the summer and then we’ll slowly try to unveil a longer term plan, whether that will

Gigs coming up include Connected, a New Year’s Eve-fest of jungle, drum and bass with DJ Mac Summer, Carlie Starr, Riley Alj and others. On January 4, hip hop and reggae band Summer Thieves will play, indie-reggae group Coterie on January 11, “pychediscofunkilicious” five-piece No Cigar on January 13 and, on January 21, My Baby, who play a mix of blues, funk and country.

involve selling it, closing it or finding the right people to run it.” Staff are currently being sought – anyone seeking work can email saffron.guinness@ gmail.com Craig Anderson was approached for comment, but had not responded to questions we went to press.

Community lunch in Leigh

There’s no need for anyone to be lonely or hungry in Leigh this December 25, thanks to the Leigh Bar opening its doors for a free community Christmas meal. Owners Anne and Peter Scott and the team will be providing turkey, ham and potatoes, and plates of sides to share are welcome. Drinks will be BYO, as the bar is not licensed for alcohol sales on Christmas Day. Lunch will be served at 2pm, followed by a friendly hit of cricket, drinks and socialising. All welcome, though anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact the bar on 021 041 9242 so they know how much food to prepare.

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with chocolatebrown Congratulations to the team at Leigh Motors, who are this week’s recipients of a box of treats from Chocolate Brown. They were nominated by Kelly Tepania, who wrote …

I’d like to nominate the wonderful, friendly team at Leigh Motors – Azar, “Jackie, Paul and Sam. They offer their busy local business as a drop-off point for NZ Courier parcels that belong to the whole community in/around Leigh throughout the year. I’m sure every local who has parcels dropped off there appreciates their help.

Conditions: Buy Resene Premium Paints, Wood Stains, Primers, Sealers, Wallpaper, Decorating Accessories and Cleaning Products and get the GST value (15% off the full retail price) off at Resene ColorShops and participating resellers. The discount reduction will be calculated on the normal retail price OR if you have a Resene DIY card you can get the Save the GST value sale discount and an extra 5% off. Excludes WallPrint, decals, Crown, trade and industrial products, PaintWise levy and account sales. Paint offer also available at participating Mitre 10 MEGA, Mitre 10 and Hammer Hardware stores. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Offer available 14 December 2023 - 30 January 2024.

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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.

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Santa arrives despite the rain It was a damp Santa Parade in Warkworth earlier this month, but that didn’t stop thousands of people from lining Baxter and Queen Streets to enjoy the spectacle. A record number of floats participated, with everything from vintage cars to moving spines on display. Organiser One Mahurangi thanked sponsors, participants and the crowd for making it such a success. A downpour forced the cancellation of the prizegiving ceremony, so winners were announced on social media after the parade. The coveted People’s Choice Award went down to the wire, with only two votes separating the first and second choices. The eventual winner was Trinity Chiropractic just pipping Muddy Toes at the post. Category winners were:

Community winner – Mahurangi Under 5 Rippa Rugby; special mention, Warkworth Lions and the Warkworth Scout Group. Business category winner – Placemakers Warkworth; special mentions, Mitre10 and Trinity Chiropractic. Education – Muddy Toes Warkworth; special mentions, Natures Nest and Kindercare.

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Wellsford foodbank says thanks for Christmas donations Christmas will be a little brighter for nearly 500 people in and around Wellsford this year, thanks to gifts of festive food boxes from the town’s Loaves & Fishes foodbank. Chairperson Karen Lennon says demand has skyrocketed this year, with more than 150 Christmas treat boxes being distributed this year, compared to 103 last December. Referrals come from a range of organisations, including local schools, budgeting groups and Plunket, who let the foodbank know of any families they believe might need a little extra help at Christmas time. “We do parcels every week for families and then at Christmas, we do a special box full of treats that they might not be able to buy themselves,” she says. “They include things like Christmas puddings, mince pies, meringues, Milo, candy canes, crackers, chips and long-life cream.”

Lennon says none of it would have been possible without the generous support of local businesses, community groups, families and individuals donating time, money and ingredients for not only the Christmas boxes, but also for the weekly food parcels throughout the year. Although there were too many to name individually, she did want to mention the Wellsford Four Square Top Shop for ordering, delivering, donating items and providing a generous discount on all the goodies for the Christmas boxes – “they made my job so much easier” – and local woman Tricia Cox for completing the gargantuan task of making 1500 meringues to put inside the gift boxes. “And I’d also like to say a big thank you to our volunteers who help us, and those who donate, throughout the whole year – without them, we couldn’t run the foodbank,” she said. “They’re wonderful.”

Little Op Shop big on charity A range of organisations across the Mahurangi district will receive a portion of the $68,500 raised by the Matakana Op Shop this year. The annual “giveaway” meeting was held earlier this month, when it was decided the main recipients would be the Warkworth Birthing Unit, Springboard and Seasons for Growth. Smaller donations will be distributed to the Leigh Community Patrol, the volunteer fire services at Leigh, Matakana and Warkworth, the Neurological Foundation, St John Warkworth, Warkworth Wellsford Foodlink, Homebuilders, Women’s Refuge, the Anglican vestry fund for local schools, Westpac Helicopter, Country Animal Retreat and the Fred Hollows Foundation. This year’s proceeds are about $20,000 up

on last year, as business returns to normal after the disruptions of covid. The shop is run by 21 volunteers who accept clean, good quality secondhand household goods and clothing for resale. Spokesperson Sally Greenwood thanked the volunteers for their support this year. “We would also like to thank everyone who has donated goods and our customers,” she said.

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Decorating for good

Photos, Anna Thoroughgood.

More than 1200 visitors attended an annual exhibition of decorated Christmas trees in Warkworth’s old Masonic Hall this month, getting into the spirit of the season while contributing to a worthy cause. The Treemendous event, hosted by the Lions Club of Kowhai Coast from December 2 to 10, featured about 70 spruced-up trees and a wide range of Christmas-themed decorations, toys and trinkets. Organiser Liz Price says Santa made regular appearances, and a toy train making its way around the room was a popular attraction, as were mechanised toys, including a dancing penguin and break-dancing Santa. “It was a great success,” she says. “The highlight of the whole thing is the children.” Aside from a covid-imposed break in 2021, the Lions Club of Kowhai Coast has held the event every year since 2012, and it’s become its biggest fundraiser of the year. Liz says this year’s event raised around $6000, which will be presented to the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service early next year. The money was raised from entry fees, raffle tickets and a busy trading table, where visitors could buy Christmassy knickknacks, mince pies and other goodies. Liz, who baked 500 pieces of shortbread for the table over the course of the week, says a group of around a dozen ladies worked hard at making the event a success. It took two days to set up the hall, and a couple of hours to pack it all down, with husbands helping to dismantle and pack away items in an attic until next year. Liz says the club would love to sign up new members, to help plan, run, take part in and enjoy its events and programmes. Info: 09 425 0969

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| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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Christmas community lunch back at Snells Beach The annual Mahurangi Community Christmas Lunch is once again being held at Snells Beach this Monday, December 25 for anyone looking for a some company or festive fun. What started out as a one-off breakfast in the Mahurangi East Community Centre in 2018 has grown into an annual lunch that regularly attracts up to 70 people to the beach by Sunrise Boulevard. The event is the brainchild of Snells Beach woman Moana Hehepoto, who decided to start the event with her three daughters after facing tough times herself in the past. “I can’t believe it’s been six years and looking through the photos just fills my heart with joy and reminds me of the day my children and I decided we would step out and do this, because this is what Christmas means to us,” she said. “Sharing, giving and including everyone around us, coming together to celebrate as one family, one community. It’s been fun, we love it.” She said moving the lunch from the community centre to the beach was a happy accident brought about by the pandemic. “When covid happened, we went to the beach and everyone preferred it. It’s more

family friendly, more relaxed and everyone stays longer. We have activities, games, presents, a lolly scramble and the whole community just gets involved.” Food and drink is provided free, but if anyone is able to bring along a drink, salad or dessert to share, that is always welcome. Moana said it was the community and local businesses that made the lunch happen, and she expressed her gratitude to Warkworth Butchery, Sarah at The Warehouse, Community Shop, Savans Bakery, TTT Plumbing & Drainlaying, Homestyle Catering, Jin Jin, Ravish, Liquorland and the local police for their support. “I would really like to acknowledge them and thank all the individuals that have donated and helped on the day, they are all part of making this community Christmas lunch possible,” she said. “Everyone joins in, it’s a real family.”

Donations of gifts can be left at Warkworth Police Station until Friday, December 22 and Moana also needs help with getting some chilly bins, gazebos and trestle tables. Anyone who can help can contact Moana on 0210 246 1732.

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Omaha hosts ‘bucket list’ half-marathon

More than 2400 runners descended on Omaha on December 3 for a series of events including what the world’s leading running magazine has described as one of the world’s top “bucket list half marathons”. The fast and flat half-marathon course took in a full circumnavigation of the Omaha Peninsula, including two kilometres along the beach, before an out-and-back section across the causeway and around Point Wells. The route featured running on sand, boardwalk, track and road. There were also 10 and five kilometre options and a two kilometre kids’ dash. Dylan Logan took out the half marathon honours with a 1:16:53 time, while the first woman home was Ella Appleby, in 1:27:07. A 2021 Runner’s World article listed the Omaha half-marathon, first held in 2015, as one of 10 “bucket list half marathons” around the world, citing “peaceful country roads” and “sweeping sea views”.

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Alan Clark, now and then – he was one of six Dire Straits members inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dire Straits piano man heading south for legacy show When most of us will be relaxing and recovering on Boxing Day, Alan Clark and the other members of Dire Straits Legacy (DSL) will be catching a very long flight from Europe to play four NZ dates for A Summer’s Day Live shows, including Matakana Country Park on January 2. Clark joined Dire Straits in 1980 as their first keyboard player and stayed with them until they split in the mid-1990s. During that era, the band came to New Zealand three times and he says he’s looking forward to returning after 30 years away. “Yeah, I really like it, I did a lot of windsurfing there when I was there with Dire Straits,” he says, speaking from Italy on the latest leg of DSL’s ongoing world tour. The band, which includes four musicians who played or toured with Dire Straits back in the day, has been on the road since May, playing Dire Straits classics at 40 shows in Brazil, the United States, China, France, Spain, Kosovo, Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Italy, before heading south to NZ next week.

Clark says the schedule is tough – he tends to focus just on the week ahead at any one time – but fun, and he is hoping they’ll all have a few days to unwind here before heading home for a couple of months off. He’s been involved with DSL for more than a decade, since founder and front man Marco Caviglia suggested bringing former band members together. “I wouldn’t say Dire Straits Legacy is my baby, but I’m certainly part of its childhood,” Clark says. “It belongs to the Dire Straits members who are in the band really, and Marco Caviglia, who was the founder. He invited John Illsley, who was the bass player in Dire Straits, and I to play with him and his band in Italy, so we went and played with him in the Italian Alps, on top of a ski ramp – it was great. “Gradually more and more Dire Straits people became interested and here we are, 10 or 12 years later, on our world tour.” Clark’s distinctive piano and keyboard style added an extra dimension to Dire Straits’ sound, and he was a major influence on the

band throughout their time together, coproducing their final album. “From 1980, when I joined I played in every gig and on every recording thereafter,” he says. “When we split up, I’d just had twins, and they hadn’t seen a lot of Dad, so I spent time at home for a while, then I started doing music for TV series. “I did a few shows for the BBC, and a bit of TV advertising music, so I kept myself busy, and I was recording with other people at the same time and doing other bits and bobs.” Those “bits and bobs” turn out to be an understatement of the first order – over the years, Clark has worked with literally dozens of the world’s best known musicians, playing, arranging and touring with a string of stars, not least Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, Elton John, Bo Diddley, Al Green, Phil Collins, Buddy Guy, Van Morrison, George Harrison and Tina Turner. He is joined in DSL by Mel Collins, who played sax on Love Over Gold, Twisting

by the Pool and on many tours, plus guitarist Phil Palmer and percussionist Danny Cummings, who both toured and recorded On Every Street. Other Dire Straits Legacy members in the eight-man line-up include legendary music producer and Buggles bassist Trevor Horn and Marco Caviglia, who has spent his career performing and perfecting Mark Knopfler’s distinctive guitar-playing style. Drawing from the band’s six platinum albums, Dire Straits Legacy will play all the classic hits, including Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Walk of Life, Brothers in Arms, Tunnel of Love and Skateaway. Info and tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz or https://trademark.flicket.co.nz/

Competition winner Congratulations to Pat Curtis of Te Arai, who won a VIP double pass to A Summer’s Day Live in our draw.

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas for 2023 and a fabulous 2024. Enjoy this special time of year.

Donna Wyllie

I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank everyone who has worked with me this year, either selling or buying their home.

NZ Diploma of Real Estate Licensed Agent REAA 2008 donna.wyllie@independentagent.co.nz

I am available over the Christmas and New Year period so please do not hesitate to give me a call.

021 827 932

Independent Agent Limited Licensed REAA 2008

| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

Donna

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A Summer’s Day - L I V E -

On the trail of Mahurangi’s artists The talents of 39 local artists will be showcased at 23 venues during the annual Mahurangi Artists’ Studio Trail, which will be held at the start of February. Excitingly, this year’s event includes nine artists who are new to the trail. Organisers say the trail brings together artists from many disciplines whose work represents a range of styles and techniques. “There will be something for everyone – ceramics, mixed media, painting, textiles, jewellery, wood sculpture, glass work, garden art, contemporary Māori weaving, photography, printmaking and even some World of Wearable Art garments.” The trail also gives visitors an opportunity to criss-cross through the picturesque Mahurangi countryside and visit the artists in their work spaces.

“They can talk to artists about their ideas and techniques and have insight into the creative processes that drive them. “At some venues, there will be the opportunity to participate in a workshop of pottery, mural making or creative stitching, and to make and create on site with the artist.” An Opening Night preview will be held at the Warkworth Town Hall on February 1, and artworks will be displayed at studios, workspaces and galleries around the Mahurangi region, from February 2 to 11.

All information for the trail is on the free trail brochure, available at the Warkworth Information Centre, local libraries, cafes and galleries and at the members’ art showcase in the Warkworth Town Hall. Alternatively, visit www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com/ art-trail-24

Santa photos

Children will have the opportunity to chat with Mr and Mrs Claus, and have a photo taken with Santa, at the Warkworth Information Centre on Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23, from 11am to 3pm. Santa will be accepting gold coin donations, which will, in turn, be donated to the Child Cancer Foundation. You will need your own camera or phone to take the photo.

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PUHOI PUB & AXEMEN’S ANNUAL WOOD CHOPPING CARNIVAL PUB LAWN - SATURDAY 13 JANUARY 9am to 5pm (band from 6.30pm!) Join us for this iconic day as some of the country’s top axemen converge and go head-to-head at this major annual event! Grab a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy the show! Plenty of merchandise to buy on the day and amazing raffles to be won!

Thanks to our awesome sponsors: Puhoi Valley Cheese, Mike Pero, KH Painting, Exvaro Contracting, Absolute Scaffolding Ltd, Hallett Enterprises, Drumex, Warren Jones Construction, Brightline Construction, ITM Warkworth, Puhoi Beer, JB Earthworks, Eric Wynyard, Sammy Kelly.

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| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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World champ Jack Jordan showing his skills at the last festival.

Hundred’s of people are expected to pack into the pub grounds to witness the annual axe spectacular.

World’s best woodchoppers return for Puhoi challenge Some of the world’s best axemen will be making their way to Puhoi next month for the annual woodchopping carnival at the Puhoi Pub on Saturday, January 13. Leading the pack is Jack Jordan, whose many titles include winning the Stihl Timbersports World Trophy for the second year running in the Netherlands in June, and smashing the world record time in the process. The Taumaranui sheep and beef farmer will be joined by a raft of other world champion choppers, including his elder brother Shane Jordan, as well as local brothers Willy and Nathan McDonald, from Waiuku. The New Zealand teams and individuals will be joined by two leading axemen from Italy, as well as a good crop of under-21 entrants. The Puhoi Axemen’s festival is the largest woodchopping event in northern NZ and regularly attracts competitors from around the country, not to mention hundreds of spectators who pack the pub grounds to watch them compete in a carnival atmosphere. This year’s event will be tinged with sadness, however, as it will be the first festival since the death of woodchopping legend Jason Wynyard, who died aged 49 in October

after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer just five months prior. Members of the nine-times world champion’s family will be making their way to Puhoi to pay tribute to Jason and catch up with his many friends and colleagues keen to pay their respects. The competition itself will start at 9am and, as ever, will feature a range of classes, from the classic speed events of standing and underhand through to the always impressive springboard tree chop, pairs’ Jack and Jill sawing and the ever-popular axe throwing. As well as the woodchopping there will be raffles, stalls, plenty of food and drink, and a live band in the evening. Puhoi pub owner Bernie McCallion said she was looking forward to another hectic day, which this year will include new seating for improved viewing. “We’re bringing in terraced scaffold seating that will be installed around the grounds,” she said. “We have VIP and sponsors seats and tables along the front and usually everyone else just fits in around, but it gets very congested, so we thought we’d bring in raised seats.” Plastic cups will be used outside, so glasses won’t be dropped from a height, and the

scaffolding will be wrapped, just in case anyone is tempted to try to get underneath it. As well as the pub’s full food and drink menu, Silverdale’s Local Farmer butchery will be parked outside the pub near The Stables shops, with two huge grills for cooking sliders and specialist sausages. There will also be an ice cream truck for the kids and Hancocks Wines will have not only a beverage stand, but a barber on hand providing haircuts all day. Once the contest is over and dinner has been served to entrants and VIP guests,

pub rockers Curbside Crawl will take to the stage for live music into the night. This will be McCallion’s third woodchopping carnival since buying the historic pub from long-time owner Gillian Seymour in 2020, and she’s looking forward to it. “We’ve done plenty of events in the past, but this is different because it’s more local and done with a lot of heart,” she said. “The amount of people who just come in for the woodchopping, it’s quite touching. Everyone is so supportive, the people are lovely.”

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Resolution NYE is billed as ‘the ultimate wellness party’ and attracts thousands of people of all ages to Ariki Estate, which overlooks Kaipara Harbour, off SH16.

Four-day festival focused on wellness, workshops and music Anyone feeling like a mental and physical reset after end-of-year seasonal excesses should head west to Glorit after Christmas for a four-day music and lifestyle festival to welcome in the New Year. Resolution NYE runs from Friday, December 29 to Tuesday, January 2 and bills itself as the ultimate wellness party and celebration of fun, art and inclusivity. The event is family friendly and alcoholfree, with wellness workshops, artisan market stalls, a healing sanctuary, art exhibitions, a kids and teens zone, fitness classes, sacred ceremonies and a wide range of plant-based food and drink. There are

also several music stages and a diverse selection of DJs, live musicians, drummers and entertainers who will be performing well into the night. This year’s extensive line-up includes Bridey Rose, Warren Duncan, Anirvan Derva, Facettes, King Kapisi, The Ora Vida Life Collective, Karina Kalilah, Blasé, Lance Roberts, Hello Dawn, Shovaav, Hanwho, Coda Muso, Temple Step Project, Mantra Band, Nur Peach, Taylor Sol, Matiu te Huki, The Feel Good Service, Sarah Marlow Spence, LoveRay, David Zenco, Mufasa & Bass Chakra, Atmarama, Dylan Wade, Mudwood, Ruach, Kimi Kara, Matua Mixer, Matthew Frear & Chloe

Palmer, Jack Burns, Franko Heke, Leah Luna, Sunny Ray, Afirky & Kra Koto Kra, Morpho, Sid and Benediction Moon. Workshop topics include breathwork, yoga, astrology, conscious elevation, native wildlife, mahi raranga (flax weaving), cacao, crystals, drumming, dance, fasting, meditation, mental wellness, menopause, plant medicine, self-defence, hypnosis, foraging and relationship intimacy. Festivalgoers can attend the full four days and bring their own tent, camper or buy a glamping package, or individual day passes are also available. Ticket prices include entry to all workshops, music and DJ sets

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and start at $100 for an early bird single day pass, or $239 for early bird full festival admittance, including a camp site. The full festival price for teenagers, students and seniors is $150, or $20 for five to 12-yearolds. Under-fives are free. Family passes for two adults and two teens start at $699 and vehicle passes are $30 to $50. Resolution NYE will take place at Ariki Estate & Tumanako Hope, overlooking the Kaipara Harbour at 4127 Kaipara Coast Highway.

Info and tickets: https://www.nzspirit.com/ resolutionfestival-home

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| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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The annual NYE festival brings a bit of life back to Ascension Wine Estate, which has been largely closed since 2019 and for sale for nearly two years.

DJ David Penn

Overseas house DJs headlining at Highlife NYE Two veteran international house music DJs and producers, Spain’s David Penn and Ron Carroll from the United States, will headline the annual Highlife NYE Festival at Ascension Wine Estate on New Year’s Eve. Penn is one of Spain’s best known DJs and remixers, and has worked throughout Europe for more than 15 years, while Carroll, who also sings, has been producing tracks and working on collaborations in the US and Europe since the early 1990s. Other DJs and artists at the all-day event include Tim Phin, Hamish + Rangi, Karn Hall, Paris Is Burning, Brydie Tong, Jordan Lee, Reminise, Kidku, Mamba, Jeremy Kingi, Rob Martyn, Junior Mach, Venetia, Funky T, Gabriella Gonzalez, Brotherhoodjz and sax player Kareem Brown. The festival will also feature a range of gourmet food providers, several bars, dancers and other entertainers, plus a fireworks display at midnight. Organisers say the aim is to bring a boutique, Ibiza-style experience to Matakana, which is aimed at a slightly

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older crowd than similar events, with an R22 restriction. Tickets cost $165, or $265 for a VIP pass, which includes access to the wine estate buildings, private bathrooms, seating, finger food and a free drink on arrival. Doors open at 3pm and the festival runs until 1am. As well as a bus service from Auckland city, there will be shuttles running from Warkworth, Snells Beach, Matakana, Omaha, Leigh and Mangawhai costing between $25 and $55 return. Info and tickets: https://highlifenye.co.nz/

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Celebrate those we still have,

Retailing milestone celebrated One of Mahurangi’s longest-serving retailers celebrated 36 years in business this month. Clothes designer Tracey Paton (pictured) started Shadze of Lace while a stallholder at the Victoria Park market in Auckland. A move to Leigh brought the business north and for the past 24 years she has had a shop in Warkworth – first in Neville Street and now in Elizabeth Street. At one time, Shadze of Lace was supplying 73 shops around NZ, as well as exporting to the United States. Tracey continues to design her range

herself and she personally chooses all the fabric she uses. She puts her longevity in the rag trade down to the timelessness of her styles and the quality of the finished garments. “I’ve been designing clothes my whole life and I still love it,” she says. “It’s a lifestyle, not just a business. This little shop is my absolute happy place – I love interacting with customers.” Tracey thanked her partner Grant Sneddon for handling the administrative side of the business, and Pauline Saunders and Clare Ellison for their help in the shop.

Free picnic concert at Snells A free Music in the Parks concert will be held in the Sunburst Reserve, in Snells Beach, on Sunday, January 21. On stage during the afternoon will be Chet and Mel (pictured), the Thomas Coffey Duo and Ant Tarrant, a line-up that covers reggae, funk, pop and soul. Billed as one of Aotearoa’s finest performers, Chet will be joined onstage by vocalist Melissa to form a truly dynamic entertainment act. Thomas Coffey and the-Swiss-Army-knife of instrumentalists, Jono Annandale, will serve up a segment of catchy acoustic folkrock. The duo have performed on stages and festivals across Aotearoa for more than 20 years. The third act, Ant Tarrant, is promising “a cocktail of mainstream pop and funk-jam with a dash of dodgy Berlin nightclub”. The three hour concert starts at 1pm. The summer Music in the Parks concert series is an Auckland Council initiative. Sunburst Reserve, at the end of Sunburst Avenue, has limited mobility, and the concert is a smoke-free and alcohol-free event.

and treasure the memory of the ones we hold in our hearts

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Phone 24/7: 09 422 2534 | 12 Gumfield Drive, Warkworth hello@besoul.co.nz | www.besoul.co.nz

| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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CRIMSON COAST CAFÉ Open 7 days a week over Summer except public holidays. Thank you for your amazing support since opening and we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 7/280 Mahurangi East Road,Snells Beach 021 0908 3926

Operatunity shows feature everything from classic arias and showtunes to Irish music, big band and pop.

Concert tour returns with greatest hits show Operatunity is set to banish any New Year blues when they visit Warkworth next month for a greatest hits show. The daytime concert specialists will be bringing six singers to the town hall on January 18 to sing favourite arias, show tunes and songs from their 23-year history of touring New Zealand with specially themed shows aimed at seniors. Operatunity’s Greatest Hits will star the company’s core artists, tenor Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, star of musicals Karl Perigo and multi-talented singer and actress Kelly

Lim Harris. They will be joined by special guests tenor Benjamin Makisi, known as the ‘Pavarotti of the Pacific’; Vanessa Kelly, one half of NZ pop duo Deep Obsession; and musical theatre star Rutene Spooner. They will all be accompanied by resident pianist Paul Carnegie-Jones. Doors open at 10am for a complimentary morning tea and a chance to meet and mingle with the artists before the concert starts at 11am.

Tickets cost $39, with discounts for groups. Info and bookings: Visit www.operatunity. co.nz or call toll-free on 0508 266 237

Free online storytime

A Snells Beach couple, who wish to be known only as Nana and Gramps, have gifted an e-version of their storybook Capers at Corny to young readers of the Mahurangi Matters. They say it is a true story from their not-so-distant past, about Cornwallis Beach in the 1950s. “We understand it’s tough right now so to cheer things up, we are sharing a link to the book for free,” they say. The book is written and illustrated by Nana and Gramps. It can be found here: https://app. aiflipbook.co.in/flip.php?id=1296

Merry Christmas from 14 Hudson Road, Warkworth

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Age no barrier for hospice artist By Karyn Henger Hospice communications specialist

At age 95, Norman Nelson from Warkworth is one of Harbour Hospice’s oldest patients. He has a chronic heart condition and associated health problems, and benefits from regular visits by hospice community nurses, as well as a day’s respite care once a week at Tui House. He doesn’t have the puff he used to, but that hasn’t stopped the former businessman, boxing champion and small-town hero – he once sent gang members packing when they tried to rob him – from actively supporting hospice’s fundraising efforts. Norman will exhibit his art at hospice’s annual fundraiser, the 2024 Martakana Fine Art Exhibition in Matakana next month. He won’t sell his work because he wants to give it to his children. “But to be able to showcase the art of one of our patients is very special, and this adds a new and very beautiful dimension to the exhibition,” Harbour Hospice community and events fundraiser Emily Thomas says. “As far as we know, this is the first time a patient has exhibited.” Norman was late to the game as an artist, taking up painting at age 60. He credits his wife of 40 years, Lorraine, for sparking his passion after she signed him up for a beginners art course when he had surgery and couldn’t play golf for six weeks. Lorraine explains, “I knew he could draw because I’d seen his doodles on his blotter pad. After his first class he came home and said he was disappointed that the class was full of ladies, but some of those ladies were from his golf club, so he stayed.” Norman enjoys painting landscapes of the local area as well as places he and Lorraine have visited. Acrylic or oil on canvas is his medium, although he also paints in water colours. Norman and Lorraine joined the Harbour Hospice whānau a year ago and Norman says the support has had a very positive

impact on their lives. He and Lorraine both enjoy the break when Norman goes in for day respite, and Norman loves being able to get out of the house and socialise with the Tui House nurses and volunteers. Earlier this year, Norman had his life story written by a hospice volunteer life story writer and was overcome with emotion. Being able to share his story with his children and grandchildren meant more to him than he could have imagined, he says.

Artist Norman Nelson.

The family has some interesting reading ahead. Norman left school at age 14 intending to be a chemist but didn’t have the right qualifications and instead studied business management. Starting out as a ‘grease monkey’, he went on to manage several motoring-related businesses and became renowned for having the ability to turn failing businesses into thriving ones. He and Lorraine, who met at work, bought a motoring business/petrol station in Kaitaia. It was there that Norman stood his ground with gang members after they filled their car with petrol then refused to pay. “They said ‘we can’t afford this petrol’ so I said ‘well, you can’t take what’s not yours’ and I got the syphon hose out and

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Lorraine’s lives. How does a man fit so much into a lifetime? “Well, I am 95,” he says with a chuckle. The Martakana Fine Art Exhibition 2024 will be held at Matakana Primary School, Matakana from January 18 to 21. Entry by donation. Funds raised will go towards the care of hospice patients and their families and whānau in the Warkworth/Wellsford community. Info: harbourhospice.org.nz/event/ martakana/

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syphoned it back. They were all pushing and nudging me and then they said, ‘some of that petrol you took was ours’. I said, ‘if you can tell the difference you’re better than me’ and I told them to clear off.” Over his lifetime Norman has chaired many community and business organisations, raced yachts, played lots of golf, held the title of Auckland’s 1949 featherweight boxing champion and developed a love of painting. He’s a father of four, grandfather of 15 and great grandfather of 27; family plays an important role in Norman and

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Goldie, bottom left, heads a stellar DnB line-up.

Northern Bass goes for Goldie UK drum, bass and jungle music legend Goldie heads up a huge international lineup of DJs, producers and musicians at this year’s Northern Bass festival, which runs from Friday, December 29 to Sunday, December 31, near Kaiwaka. The dance music pioneer made his name in the mid-90s, where he was influential in bringing hardcore drum and bass into the mainstream music scene with his first album, Timeless. Now 58, he’s since continued to influence the dance music and art scene, while also making frequent TV appearances and appearing in several movies, including the James Bond film The World is Not Enough.

Goldie is just one of a raft of top-line acts flying south from the UK and Europe for the three-day festival, with others including IAMDBB, Hedex, Netsky, Metrik, Talisman, Calibre, Conducta, SubFocus and Sigma, plus a long list of local talent. As well as several music stages, Northern Bass has a range of campsites, including no-waste and glamping options, plus bars, food trucks and a store at the Settlement Road site. Ticket prices start at $140 for a December 29 one-day pass up to $370 for the full three days, with camping passes priced at $80.

Info and tickets: https://northernbass.co.nz/

100

vintage cars expected

The 2024 National Citroën Car Rally is coming to Warkworth 5-7 March 2024. If you would like to be involved or know more about the events planned, please contact Pete Sinton 021 637 772 | petesinton@townplanner.co.nz

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Artist Wyn Thomas in his Algies Bay studio.

Artists line up for summer show

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If Algies Bay resident Wyn Thomas hadn’t heard the chime of that immortal phrase, “get yourself a proper job, lad”, then painting may have been his life. But, the phrase hit the mark and he gave up his art studies in favour of a “proper job” in engineering. “I got myself an engineering apprenticeship, but never stopped drawing,” he says. Next month, Wyn will be one of 80 artists exhibiting more than 250 artworks as part of the annual Great Summer Art Exhibition in Snells Beach. The exhibition, which is in its 30th year, is a major fundraiser for the Mahurangi East Tennis Club, and Wyn is no stranger to the show. Although he wasn’t one of the first artists to join, he was one of the early supporters and has had some success over the years, winning once and coming second on another occasion. “The exhibition gets better every year and is professionally run. I will be exhibiting four paintings this year,” he says. Born in the Anglesey area of northern Wales, Wyn spoke only Welsh until he was nine. He started drawing when he was young and won the BBC Sketch Club twice, a competition also won by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. His painting style is photo realism, with a wide canvas of subjects from portraits, animals, landscapes and seascapes to very detailed paintings of sailing ships, engines and aircraft. “I love details, perhaps because I’m an engineer,” he says. “I also like hard subjects just to prove to myself that I can do it.

“Each painting takes an average of 40 to 50 hours, but you also spend a lot of time thinking about a painting before and while you are painting it. “I love it. As a retiree, it’s what gets me out of bed every morning and I feel lucky that I’ve got a hobby that I love so much.” Wyn’s paintings are in private collections across NZ, as well as in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the United States. Entries in this year’s exhibition will be judged by painter and former gallery owner Bill Harris, and Bayleys Warkworth is again the major sponsor. Winning artists will share a total prize pool of just under $4500, all sponsored by local businesses. All artworks will be for sale, with 20 per cent of proceeds and all entry fees going to community tennis initiatives such as the Love Tennis free family event, and the maintenance and upgrading of club facilities. The exhibition also features a Cash & Carry section and organisers are expecting around 25 tables with a diverse range of items for sale, including large and small ceramics, ceramic/wood mixed media, resin and silver jewellery, wood and resin tableware, wooden platters and bowls, prints, original paintings, cards and leather wallets.

The Great Summer Art Exhibition will be held at the Maharani East Community Centre, from December 29 to January 1. The preview night on December 29 opens at 7pm and entry is $20. On the remaining three days, the exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm, with a gold coin donation appreciated.

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Cartoons

What’s happening and where ...

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WARKWORTH

WELLSFORD

Kiwiana

Wednesday, January 10, 10.30am DIY Cookies in a Jar Learn how to make cookies in a jar with the Wastewise team. Ingredients and jars provided, ideal for seven to 12-year-olds. Bookings required – email warkworth. library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Thursday, January 4, 2pm Kiwiana Stickers Design and colour cool Kiwiana stickers.

this summer

Thursday, January 11, 10.30am Mini-Paddleboats Calling all young engineers – here’s a chance find out how to make your own paddleboat. Be prepared to get at least your hands wet!

at libraries

School’s out for summer, so it might be handy for parents to know what’s going on at local libraries over the holidays to keep the kids amused as the weeks roll by. While most of the main activities kick off in the New Year, Wellsford Library still has some pre-Christmas fun going on – this Tuesday and Wednesday, December 19 and 20, drop in for quick Christmas crafts from 2pm to 4pm and at LEGO club on Fridays, there are festive challenges from 2pm to 4.30pm, plus there are scavenger hunts and other Christmas fun available any time. The Raumati Reads Summer Reading Challenge theme for this summer is Kiwiana. Young people aged five to 18 can win prizes by logging their reading and other activities via the Auckland Libraries Beanstack Tracker app, or a school holiday activity booklet available at local libraries. Prizes this year include visits to Auckland Zoo and the Sky Tower, a Lenovo tablet, gift hampers and books. Holiday highlights at Warkworth Library include visits from two children’s authors. On Monday, January 15, renowned illustrator and writer Stu Duvall will be at the library to run a workshop on how to draw cartoons. Using easy to draw, step-bystep techniques, he will demonstrate how to create convincing characters and have

fun with figures. Bookings are essential for the hour-long session, which is aimed at eight to 12-year-olds – email warkworth. library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Then, on Thursday, January 18, Snells Beach author Eleanor Neil will be at the Warkworth Library for a special storytime session based around her book Shoe Trouble. As well as a reading, there will be games and activities, and Neil will have books available for cash sales and signing. At Mahurangi East Library, there’s a summer colouring competition to enter, a library scavenger hunt and plenty of dropin art and craft sessions for DIY creative fun. There is also a regular Books and Basketball sessions every Friday afternoon. To take part, kids simply need to choose a book to read for the week, before heading next door to the Mahurangi East Community Centre at 3.30pm to shoot some hoops and work on ball skills with coach Dylan. Meanwhile, Wellsford Library has a raft of different Kiwiana-themed crafts and activities going on from January 4 to 24, including making ‘puff ’ paint, stickers and toy boats, as well as a special Hairy Maclary-themed storytime on January 22, which features games and activities involving NZ’s favourite dog.

Monday, January 15, 10.30am Cartoon workshop with Stu Duval Learn to draw cartoons with author and illustrator Stu Duval using step-by-step techniques. Bookings required – email warkworth. library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Tuesday, January 16 & 23, 10.30am LEGO Time If it’s Tuesday, it’s Lego – stacks of challenges, piles of bricks and heaps of fun provided, just bring your imagination.

Friday, January 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2pm LEGO Club Drop in to create, make and play with the library’s huge LEGO collection and complete Kiwiana challenges. Tuesday, January 9 & 16, 10.30am New Zealand Birds Craft Pick’n’ Mix Try one or more of a range of fun native bird paper craft activities. Thursday 11 January 10.30am Kiwiana Puff Paint Learn how to mix up paint that ‘puffs’ and create a puffy Kiwiana masterpiece to take home. Bookings required – email wellsford.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or call in at the library. Wednesday, January 17, 2pm Hovering Tui Create and decorate an amazing hovering tui toy.

Wednesday, January 17, 10.30am Nature Weaving Nature-themed craft session using natural materials to make a piece of weaving.

Thursday, January 18, 10.30am Buzzy Bee Workshop Chance to make an iconic Buzzy Bee toy using recycled materials.

Thursday, January 18, 10.30am Shoe Trouble with Eleanor Neil A special storytime with local author Eleanor Neil, followed by games and activities. Book signings and cash purchases available.

Friday, January 19, 10.30am Hairy Maclary Storytime Fun Special Hairy Maclary-themed event, with stories, crafts and fun with kiwi party games.

Monday, January 22 Kiwiana Storytime NZ-themed session of stories, games and activities.

Tuesday, January 23, 10.30am Dragon Craft Get ready for the Year of the Dragon with this fun dragon craft.

Wednesday, January 24, 10.30am Kiwiana Crafts A craft-filled morning with a variety of Kiwi-themed activities to choose from.

Wednesday 24 January 2pm Build a Boat Design, create and launch your own toy boat made from recycled materials.

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Truffle with her latest delivery.

Highfield Reserve was bathed in sunshine.

Donkey rides were popular.

The donkeys enjoyed plenty of pats.

Races weren’t just for the kids – Mums had a go, too.

Donkey day blessed with blue skies and a baby The sun finally shone on the Highfield donkeys for their Santa Fun Day at Algies Bay on Saturday, December 9, with a perfect summer’s day. Last year’s event had to be cancelled due to wet weather and covid had intervened before that, so this was the first Santa fun day at Highfield Reserve since 2020. The day started with a parade of tinselbedecked donkeys and Santa’s arrival in a

vintage Ford Model A, driven by owner Jack Algie. There were plenty of good old-fashioned games and races for kids (and some adults), including an egg and spoon race, sack race and tug of war. The Roberts Challenge Race was won this year by Snells Beach local Haarlem Caine. Other activities included donkey rides, pin the tail on the donkey drawing, a barbecue

and a lolly scramble. Organisers thanked Rodney Local Board member Tim Holdgate, who opened the day, Auckland Council for supplying the barbecue and food, Hire Works Snells Beach, New World Warkworth and all the volunteers who supported the event.

Info and photos: www.facebook.com/donkeyshighfield

The foal was quick to make himself at home in the reserve and certainly wasn’t camera shy.

Truffle delivers in time for Santa

There was extra cause for celebration at the Highfield Reserve on December 5, when volunteers welcomed an eighth donkey to the Highfield donkey family. Truffles gave birth to her third foal, a healthy little jack who has been named Titan. Beaming with pride, long-time volunteer Peter CacciaBirch said the little guy was very alert and being well protected and cared for by his mother in a nearby holding paddock.

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Mahurangi A garden in Australia inspired Martin Payne’s painting.

Artwork goes international A Matakana artist who paints using his mouth to hold a brush has had one of his paintings selected for this year’s range of Christmas cards and gifts by international group Mouth and Foot Paintings Artists (MFPA). Martin Payne’s painting ‘Garden’ is featured on a wall calendar and a jigsaw puzzle currently being sold by MFPA throughout New Zealand and Australia. Payne said inspiration for the artwork came from his love of all things horticultural, and he was delighted to see the design being used on more than one item. “I really enjoy gardens and once had a garden that I was quite proud of. This one is a garden I enjoyed visiting in Australia and it won’t be my last painting of this type,” he said. “I love the fact it’s been made into a jigsaw

puzzle as well. That’s something that hasn’t happened to any of my paintings before.” Payne started painting after he suffered a spinal injury in a car accident in 1980 while working as a contract shearer. He learnt to paint holding a brush in his mouth and became a member of the MFPA. He has also been active in sport for many years, including playing wheelchair rugby. Founded in 1956 by a group of European artists, MFPA is a self-help organisation that gives people with disabilities the opportunity to fulfil creative ambitions while maintaining financial independence by selectively selling their artworks. The MFPA was established in New Zealand in 1961 and currently has 25 members around the country.

Info and sales: https://www.mfpa.co.nz

Church

Christmas Services Family Services – Sun 24 December 9:00am – 5 Pulham Rd, Warkworth 10:35am – 5 Pulham Rd, Warkworth Christmas Eve Carols – Sun 24 December 6:00pm – St. Andrews, Matakana Country Park 7:00pm – 5 Pulham Rd, Warkworth Christmas Day – Mon 25 December 9:30am – 5 Pulham Rd, Warkworth (Formerly Mahurangi Presbyterian Church)

Got a story to tell? Let us know. Phone 425 9068 Email editor@localmatters.co.nz

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December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Candlelight event returns

More photos online at www.localmatters.co.nz

Photos, Anna Thoroughgood.

Warkworth Rotary helped the town get into the spirit of Christmas with its annual Carols by Candlelight evening on December 1. Thankfully, the weather stayed fine and several hundred people attended the outdoor event at the end of Baxter Street. Organisers felt it was a very successful evening. “The transformation of the Warkworth Brass Band into the WBB Big Band meant a change in music and a pointer towards further development in future years,” they said. “The choir Matakantata was also a great addition to the programme. “Rotarian Mick Saunders, the organiser for many years, sadly died last year, but had left notes about the things that needed to be done. This year it was a case of dusting off that information and learning for future years.” This will mean making the annual event bigger and better. “We would like to involve more schools and have a longer programme so that we get back to finishing in dark with the lights and glow sticks giving atmosphere.” Rotary thanked Tom Ryan Cartage for supplying a truck for the stage and Absolute Scaffolding for the scaffolding for the stage backdrop, potentially expensive items that were supplied free of charge. Northland Waste and Hireworks Warkworth were also thanked for their support.

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DOG LIFE JACKETS With chest panel & handle Drying Coats . Cooling Vests Collars . Leads . Harnesses Biosecurity will be tight at Kai Iwi Lakes over summer.

Security upgraded over clams Local government and tangata whenua kaitiaki are gearing up to prevent an invasive freshwater clam from reaching and potentially devastating the internationally significant Kai Iwi Lakes. The Northland Regional Council and Kaipara District Council are working with Te Roroa iwi and Te Kuihi hapū to keep gold clam out of the lakes, including popular Lake Taharoa. The clam was found in the Waikato River in May and has already spread down the river between Lake Maraetai, near Mangakino, and Hamilton City. A single clam can produce 400 juveniles a day under favourable conditions and has never been eradicated from an invaded location before. The clams are already being reported at a density of hundreds of individuals per square metre in the Waikato, and at highlyinfested sites overseas, that density can reach up to 20,000 clams per square metre. Regional council chair Geoff Crawford, who also chairs the council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says normal ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ methods don’t work for gold clam, which can survive for up to 10 days out of water. He says kayaks and boats, especially wake boats with their internal ballast tanks, are the highest risk of spreading the clam. Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson says widespread education is needed to prevent the clam reaching Kai Iwi Lakes, in particular Lake Taharoa, which is much loved by locals and popular with campers and as a summer playground for powered craft.

“The invasive freshwater clam could have significant ecological and economic impacts if it becomes established in the lakes,” Jepson says. Biosecurity New Zealand’s newlyannounced gold clam measures mean that legally, wake boats that have been used on the stretch of Waikato River from the Whakamaru Dam to the river mouth at Port Waikato cannot be used in any other waterways outside that controlled area, including Northland. Up to 2000 people a day visit the Kai Iwi Lakes during summer. Visitors now need to follow new ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ procedures before they leave home. Councils and tangata whenua will carry out biosecurity checks of boats and gear at the Kai Iwi Lakes between December 22 and February 6. The lakes are home to the nationally critical lake plant Trithuria inconspicua that is at high risk of extinction, and the at-risk fish, dune lakes galaxias. Under Kaipara’s Taharoa Domain Bylaw 2018, the owner or master of a vessel or power-driven vessel can be denied access to the lakes if they refuse to undertake a biosecurity check if requested. The NRC has allocated $300,000 towards the summer initiative and its staff, as well as Kaipara council and tangata whenua representatives, will be on site to answer any questions people have about gold clam.

Further information about gold clams is available from: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ freshwaterclams

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Pet of the Month Kali

There’s no-one who embodies the Christmas spirit quite like a lovable Labrador. Kali came in for her pre-Christmas vaccinations last week and charmed everyone with her Joie de vivre and general excitement about being in the clinic. She barely blinked when the intra-nasal vaccine was administered and was too busy hoovering treats to even notice the injection (the advice to lose a little weight clearly falling on deaf ears.) Even sitting still to be examined was a big ask as she rolled on her back for tummy scratches every time the vet came close. It’s the time of year when holidays are near and pet vaccinations need to be up to date for the boarding kennels and catteries. If your animal is booked in for a stay, it might pay to check when vaccinations are due to avoid them being declined when you go to drop them off. The core vaccine we have available for dogs protects them against Parvovirus, distemper, viral respiratory disease and infectious hepatitis. Also recommended are leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines. Most boarding places need them to be given at least 7 days prior to the stay.

Along with vaccination appointments, we will be open through the Summer to provide you with top quality vet care with emergency cover over the public holidays. We’ve loved seeing all our clients and patients throughout the year and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas with your beloved furry family members. PS: Remember to keep the chocolates out of reach of dogs – especially the ones who are prone to over indulge (we’re looking at you Labradors!).

Vets: Jon Makin BVSc, Danny Cash BVSc and Associates

Antony 021 926 380 | AandJpainting@xtra.co.nz www.localmatters.co.nz

WARKWORTH VETS VETERINARY HOSPITAL COAST 2 COAST VETS

Phone 09 425 8244 (Warkworth) 09 423 7048 (Wellsford) 24 hour 7 day a week emergency cover Now open 8 am until 2pm Saturdays

December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Blood in high demand

Nurse Emma Moore (left) and Dr Abbey Wrigley at the Rodney Surgical Centre where a dedicated cancer treatment room has been set up.

Cancer treatment brought close to home Cancer patients requiring oncology treatment now have the option of receiving that treatment in Warkworth. On December 1, the Rodney Surgical Centre, in conjunction with Canopy Cancer Care, introduced private oncology treatment and consultations at the centre in Glenmore Drive. The service will offer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibody therapy, hormone therapy and more targeted therapies for a range of cancers from breast and upper gastro-intestinal cancer to leukaemia, skin/ melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer. Surgical centre chief executive Zaneta Schumann says the new service is in response to requests from the Mahurangi community for locally based cancer treatment. “We have equipped a room at the centre

for cancer therapy, so that our local patients don’t have to travel every day to Auckland or Whangarei, and they will be looked after by two experienced and specialised nurses from Canopy,” Schumann says. Starting in January, Dr Abbey Wrigley, an oncologist who specialises in breast, lung, gastro-intestinal and colorectal cancers, will also be available for weekly consultations on Tuesdays. Dr Wright sees the service being beneficial for a range of patients, but particularly anyone receiving long-term palliative care. “The cancer journey can be complex and, at times, overwhelming for both patients and their families,” she says. “The convenience of local treatment options, with less travel, will be really helpful for them. “It will mean that some patients can, if they wish, drive themselves to an

appointment, giving them back some of their independence.” Dr Wrigley says the treatment of cancers has changed enormously over the past decade, particularly since the introduction of a new class of the immunotherapy drugs that help a person’s own immune system to fight the cancer. “For instance, chemotherapy was not greatly effective in the treatment of melanoma, but with immunotherapy, the prognosis is a lot less dismal.” As a private provider, Canopy has access to all classes of drugs – Pharmac funded drugs, unfunded drugs, Medsafe approved drugs and drugs that do not have Medsafe approval, but have proven results overseas. Schumann says that to take advantage of the local service, patients need a referral from their GP or specialist.

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) has more than 13,000 appointments across the Auckland and Northland regions to be filled between now and the end of January to meet demand over the holiday season. Last year 55,323 units of blood, plasma and platelets were issued to patients between December and end of January. Spokesperson Asuka Burge says the service is forecasting a four per cent increase over that same period this holiday season. “As people enjoy a well-earned break over summer, we tend to experience a dip in the number of people donating,” she says. “However, the reality is the need for blood and plasma does not stop for those who get sick, have accidents or require ongoing treatment. “That’s why we’re asking everyone to consider their plans for the next few weeks, and please find time to donate. An hour spent giving blood or plasma can mean the difference between life and death for someone else just a few days later. “All blood types are needed – but right now, we’re making a special call for those who are A positive. As one of the most common blood types in New Zealand, we always experience high demand for A positive blood.” There are 10 donor centres across New Zealand, and the service will host more than 170 mobile drives across the country before the end of January. With people likely to be visiting different parts of Aotearoa during the holiday break, Ms Burge suggests downloading the NZ Blood Service Donor App so they can check their eligibility, find their nearest location to donate and book an appointment.

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME Doctors • Kate Baddock • Stephen Barker • Bruce Sutherland • Amy MacBeth • Clinton Anderson • Andrew Duffin • Jing He • Mette Johannesen • Simon Tricker • Montserrat Figols • Kara Stones • Matt Couchman

Warkworth

Medical Centre 11 Alnwick Street Warkworth Phone: 09 425 1199

Snells Beach Medical Centre Unit 2, 347 Mahurangi East Road Snells Beach Phone: 09 425 5055

WARKWORTH

Surgery at 11 Alnwick Street

SNELLS BEACH

Surgery at Unit 2/347 Mahurangi East Road

WE PROVIDE

• Wide range of doctor and nurse led services including accident and medical services, immunisation, minor surgery, vasectomies, immigration, dive and insurance medicals. • Wide range of visiting specialists. • Warkworth is open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 8am-12 noon. • Snells Beach is open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm. • Low Cost access for enrolled patients under 14 free, young people $13, adults $19.50 (ACC costs differ).

PHONE 24HRS Warkworth 09 425 1199 or Snells Beach 09 425 5055

for direct connection to the surgery or our after hours service.

• Pharmacy, Labtest, Physio on site. • Flu and Covid -19 vaccinations available.

| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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H mebuilders F A M I L Y

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We provide home based and community support services for any family under stress or in crisis, to enable them to remain intact, empowering them to function independently or with a small amount of appropriate support. Family Support | Youth Counselling | Chrysalis children’s Programme | Help Desk | Courses 09 425 7048 | 5 Hexham Street, Warkworth office@homebuildersfs.org | www.homebuildersfs.org

“ Wa l k i n g t o g e t h e r t h r o u g h t h e h a r d t i m e s” Supported by Mahurangi Matters

Let’s talk about death – Lily Watson, left, and Karen Williamson are starting regular café sessions.

Normalising end of life journey Nothing in life is certain, except death and taxes, but most people are still reluctant to talk or even think about one of them. Death and all it entails remains one of the last social taboos, but two local women want to change that with the launch of regular death café sessions. Lily Watson and Karen Williamson say the aim of death cafes is to provide a comfortable space with tea and cake to ask questions, share experiences and muse on life and how it ends. “It’s not for profit and it’s not about leading people towards an agenda, place, product or anything,” Watson says. “It’s very much about making death less mysterious. Society has a fear of mortality. Anything we can do to acknowledge that death is part of life, and help people accept that will be good.” Williamson adds that the emphasis is on open discussion, rather than grief support or counselling, to encourage people to consider their own mortality, make it part of everyday life and even enjoy a little gallows humour. “Some people want facts and practical information, with others, it’s more of an organic conversation,” she says.

R VE SIL

I LE

W NO

Both women work in the profession, Watson as a funeral director at Besoul in Warkworth and Williamson is a former hospice nurse who makes funeral shrouds in Kaiwaka, but they stress that the death café is not about the industry side of things. “We leave our business at the door and just bring our experience in talking to families. We want to facilitate discussion around death and give people a space to share their thoughts and ask questions in a positive and compassionate environment,” they say. “As death café founder Jon Underwood said, talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about death won’t make you dead. And it’s good to talk about death when it’s not a live issue.” Both women say they have received plenty of encouraging feedback from local people since announcing the Warkworth death café on social media. Williamson is also planning to set up a second death café in Mangawhai early next year. The first Warkworth death café event will be held at the Sheepworld café just north of Warkworth on Sunday, January 21 from 1pm to 3pm. All welcome, just turn up. Info: https://www.facebook.com/ warkworthdeathcafe

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December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Vehicle safety ratings updated

Food scraps: 20,000kg collected in Rodney An estimated 20,000 kilograms of food waste from Rodney households has been diverted from landfill each week since Auckland Council’s kerbside food scrap collection service was extended to the area almost two months ago. The total collected for Rodney, which includes Warkworth, Hibiscus Coast, Riverhead, Huapai, Kumeu and Warkworth, for the October 30 to November 26 period was around 85,000kg. Council says some areas have seen reductions in the weight of total refuse in kerbside rubbish bins by up to 20 per cent. Wellsford, Matakana, Leigh and other non-urban areas in Rodney have not been included in the programme. “At this stage, the service will be limited to urban Auckland, largely based upon

the rural-urban boundary, as this will provide a cost-effective service for most Aucklanders,” a spokesperson said. Across Auckland, over the past seven months, nine million kilograms (9000 tonnes) of food scraps have been collected as a result of the rollout of more than 440,000 food scrap bins. The service is funded by a targeted rate on all Auckland households that have a bin. The scraps are trucked to a plant in the Waikato where a process called anaerobic digestion technology breaks them down into bio-gas and nutrient liquid fertiliser. The material travels to the facility in trucks that have delivered gravel from Taupo to Auckland. Rather than return empty, they now carry the scraps, so no extra vehicles are being added to the roads.

Health Hub Warkworth Urgent Accident + Medical Care

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| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

Council says that the participation rate of Auckland households is around 45-50 per cent so far. Council is working through a list of residents yet to receive bins. Multi-unit developments, such as apartments and retirement villages, will be assessed to ascertain whether the service can be delivered, either as normal or as a nonstandard service. Property managers or body corporates can register with council for an assessment to design a food scraps service that works for the residents and the property. The initiative is part of a broader approach to reduce food waste going to landfill. Other elements support the redistribution of food through food rescue initiatives and encourage home and community composting.

Wellsford Medical Urgent Accident + Medical Care

OPEN 25, 26 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

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Info: https://rightcar.govt.nz/

Dog attacks increase

Dog owners are being urged to keep their animals contained and under control following an increase in the number of dog attacks in Kaipara over the last year. The number of attacks rose from 39 to 69, while complaints of wandering dogs more than doubled. Kaipara District Council’s Annual Animal Management Report also reveals that 34 dogs were impounded in 2022-23, of which 17 were returned to owners, nine were euthanised and six rehomed.

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

Mangawhai Closed 25, 26 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

Matakana Closed 25-29 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

Maungaturoto Closed 25, 26 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

Paparoa Closed 28 Dec + 4 Jan

Snells Beach Closed 25, 26 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

Waipu

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Closed 25, 26, 28-29 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

8pm - 8am • 7 days

Closed 25 Dec OPEN 1, 2 Jan

Call 09 423 8086

Updated safety ratings for most cars and other light vehicles in New Zealand have been published on the Rightcar website to help Kiwis make safer choices when purchasing vehicles. The updated one to five star safety ratings, which indicate how much protection a vehicle provides people in a crash, apply to the vast majority of used cars, SUVs, utes and other light vehicles on our roads. Based on the latest independent analysis of real-world crash data from New Zealand and Australia, the safety ratings of around 900,000 light vehicles in the New Zealand fleet have changed compared to their 2022 star-safety ratings. “No one expects to crash, but everyone makes mistakes – and when this happens safe vehicles play a major role in preventing deaths and serious injuries,” NZ Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi senior manager road safety Fabian Marsh says. “Many people are unaware that the safety of different vehicles – both used and new – can vary greatly, or that in a crash they are twice as safe in a five-star safety rated car than in one- star safety rated car. “So, as we look ahead to Christmas and summer holiday journeys, we urge Kiwis to visit Rightcar – to check the latest safety rating of vehicles they own or are thinking of buying,” Marsh says.

Warkworth Wellsford OPEN 25, 26 Dec - 1, 2 Jan

4 Fagan Place 09 431 4128 Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday 74 Matakana Valley Road 09 422 7737 Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday 138 Hurndall Street 09 431 8576 Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday 1978 Paparoa Valley Road 09 431 7222 Open 8am-5pm, Tuesday & Thursday 145 Mahurangi East Road 09 425 6666 Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday 11/7 Nova Scotia Drive 09 432 1190 Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday 77 Morrison Drive 09 425 8585 Open 8am-8pm, Daily 220 Rodney Street (Cnr. SH1 & Matheson Rd) 09 423 8086 Open 8am-8pm, Daily

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The Mangawhai summer bus service is on its way back, providing free local rides in the area for the fifth consecutive summer. Starting on December 27, the bus will run a regular service between 10am and 5.30pm from the Domain in Mangawhai village to the Heads surf beach, with stops at key points along the route, including the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, Mangawhai Central, the museum, MAZ and Wood Street shops. Kaipara District Council says the service, operated by Wellsford-based Leabourn Passenger Services, will run every day until January 14, then on weekends only until February 6. It will return one final time this season, over the Easter long weekend (March 19-April 1). Take-up of the service, which helps reduce traffic, stress and carbon emissions at the busiest time of the year, has grown steadily, with last summer recording a 136 per cent increase from the first time the free service was offered, over the summer of 2019-2020.

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Mangawhai’s free bus is back

Ph: 09 425 9016

Email: florist@briarroseflowers.co.nz Facebook: @BRFlowersWarkworth Website: BriarRoseFlowers.co.nz Address: 5 Queen Street, Warkworth

you will be contributing to a good cause. Family stresses If family relations are strained under normal circumstances, then Christmas will likely intensify them, especially among extended family who you may ordinarily not have to be in the company of. Power dynamics, subtle or otherwise, can often be in play, which contribute to unpleasant environments and unhealthy exchanges. Sharing your thoughts and concerns with those closest to you (which is not always easy, especially if commenting on parents, siblings, etc.) as delicately as possible, will potentially allow you to make plans and reach compromises that are tolerable for all. It is important to recognise each other’s feelings and tolerance levels at this time. Be conscious of your own triggers and when you may need to remove yourself for some time alone. Consider going for a walk, listening to music or reading a book. Being alone at Christmas Celebrating Christmas away from loved ones can be a lonely experience, especially if they are overseas and in different time zones. Things to consider to help alleviate those sad emotions include hanging out with friends who are also away from their family, putting together a playlist of favourite Christmas movies to watch, or planning a special Christmas menu with your favourite food. Homebuilders Family Support office will be closed from December 23 until January 15, but we will be checking emails and phone messages daily. The whole team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas for many is recognised as a time of celebration. It provides the opportunity for some rest and relaxation after a year’s hard work, as well sharing some quality time with family in the summer sun. However, Christmas also often brings with it significant stresses that can very quickly become overwhelming and make for an unenjoyable experience. Factors that can contribute to stresses include: • Worries about the financial cost • Getting the shopping done in time, whether it be for food or gifts • Feeling isolated while watching others having a fun time with family • Managing family dynamics Preparation for all these potential stressors will help ease the angst when they come around. An effective way of doing that is communicating worries or concerns early with those involved and making plans. Financial strain Establishing a spending budget will go a long way to preventing worries associated with money. Agreed amounts to spend on gifts for all family members, including partners and children, will help prevent blowouts. If money is tight, don’t be afraid to address long standing arrangements such as buying for extended family members. You may find that if you discuss it with them, they may be feeling similar financial pressures and be relieved to not have to do it as well. Don’t feel obliged to spend if it’s going to put significant strain on you. For more cost-effective gifts, consider visiting the many op shops we have in the region. As well as being much more affordable,

WARKWORTH DENTAL HE

December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Mayor appeals to boaties over fast-spreading seaweed invader Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is appealing to boat users and beachgoers to be on the alert this summer for sightings of the fast-growing invasive seaweed caulerpa, and to know what to do if they spot it. Two species of the exotic seaweed have been found in several locations in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park locations, including in the Iris Shoal north-west of Kawau Island, Aotea Great Barrier Island, Great Mercury Island and Waiheke waters around Onetangi and Thompsons Point. The pest can spread rapidly, forming vast underwater matting, competing with other species for space and potentially upsetting the balance of ecosystems, presenting a risk to recreational, cultural and commercial marine activities. Caulerpa’s name comes from ancient Greek, and literally means “stem that creeps”. “Boatie to boatie, we need to do our bit to stop the spread of this pest,” Brown said. “While we learn more about this

Caulerpa campaign slogan gets into the weeds By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Biosecurity New Zealand’s summer slogan to “see weed, bag it, bin it” is raising some eyebrows. Meteorologists are forecasting a long hot summer ahead, perfect conditions for the invasive caulerpa seaweed to spread. At the Hauraki Gulf Forum on December 4, Biosecurity New Zealand’s readiness and response services director John Walsh presented the ad campaign – only to have forum co-chair Nicola MacDonald point out the double meaning in the slogan. “I have had lots of young people ring me and tell me about the ‘see weed, bag it’ [wording],” MacDonald said. “We are all from island communities,” she told a dumbstruck Walsh.We “Youare putpleased up ‘see weed’, to announce the opening of there’s another meaning.”

seaweed, I ask the boating community to please be vigilant. Take every care not to spread it when you move your vessel.” Caulerpa’s spread is facilitated when small pieces are caught in anchors and fishing gear. Brown said boaties should use moorings rather than anchoring whenever possible. He warned though that if a controlled area notice or a rāhui was is in place it was unlikely that boat users would be allowed to anchor there. Some fishing restrictions may also apply. Brown said the incursion of the seaweed was a wake-up call to boat owners, who should be “extra careful about checking and cleaning anything that goes in the water, and making sure you’re not taking hitchhiking pests along with you as you move about”. “By being vigilant, we can slow down its spread while we learn more about how it behaves in New Zealand, and how we can potentially suppress it.” More info: biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa

Advice for boaties: • When at sea, before moving between locations, check your vessel’s anchor and anchor chain, as well as any other gear, like fishing lines or dive equipment. • If you bring up any seaweed on your anchor or hook, securely bag or contain it and take it ashore for safe disposal, for example in a rubbish bin or compost. • If this can’t be done, boaties should return the seaweed to the waters it came from. There will already be caulerpa below and leaving it in that area will not pose a significant risk of spread.

Cataract Specialist Warkworth Advice for beachgoers:

Cataract Specialist

Anyone who finds what they think is caulerpa on a beach or coastline should note the location, take a photo and report it to 0800 809966 or report.mpi.govt.nz

Cataract Specialist

Cataract Specialist Warkworth MAHURANGI

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Books Tracey Lawton

Dark Ride by Lou Berney Dark Ride is a book that grabbed me from the opening line. Hardy “Hardly” Reed is in his early twenties, working for minimum wage as a ‘scare actor’ at an amusement park. His main entertainment is getting stoned with friends and playing computer games. While at the local court to pay for a parking ticket, he notices two young children waiting on a bench by themselves. Hardly would normally not get involved, but he feels that something isn’t quite right and this is the beginning of a rollercoaster of action. Hardly Reed is an unlikely hero, but as the story progressed, I couldn’t help but care about the outcome and I devoured this book in a day.

The Tw*t Files by Dawn French This is a quick and entertaining read – perfect for light summer entertainment. Dawn French is unequivocally honest about all the times she was a tw*t and the anecdotes are sure to bring a smile to your face as she recounts the horrors big and small. She gives us a peek into showbusiness, family life, her friendships and her partnership with Jennifer Saunders (affectionately referred to as Fatty). French is currently touring The Tw*t Files as a show, and I imagine her self-deprecating humour as she recounts some of these stories makes her even more endearing.

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Water by John Boyne

S T O Rby Kayleen I E SM. Hazlehurst, F O R NewEZealand V E author RYONE A Caramel Sky The dreams of Grace Freeman and Charlie Harrison are URST . HA ZLEH shattered when a small nation, at the ripple-edge ofKthe AYLEEN M world, is plunged into World War II. Set in New Zealand and the Pacific, historical events are interwoven t with intimate portrayals of family and military life. Charlie joins the NZ Air Force and works in intelligence operations throughout the islands. Facing dangers from sea and air, only Grace’s letters sustain him. Readers who enjoy sagas of love and war, will enjoy this story. an anthology

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For more information about the campaign, visit nzva.org.nz/emergencycare.

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emergencies only means very sick animals can receive the treatment they need quickly, and vet teams are not overwhelmed. “There are currently too many animals being seen by emergency service providers that do not require emergency care,” she says. Animal owners are also being asked to help prevent emergencies from happening by keeping routine vaccinations up-to-date; booking daytime appointments wherever possible; providing plenty of shade and shelter for their animals; and ensuring pets are safe and secure while at home and out in the community. Owners who are travelling with their pets during the holidays are encouraged to find out where their closest vet will be, and pack any animal medication.

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The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) is urging animal owners to remember PET to improve the way people use veterinary emergency services. The campaign asks owners to follow three simple steps if their pet is sick or hurt, and their vet clinic is closed. Pause: Think for a moment about whether your pet needs emergency care or could be seen by their vet during business hours. Emergency call: Phone your vet if you think your pet needs emergency care or you’re unsure. Take: Follow the advice you receive to either take your pet to an emergency service provider, or book an appointment during normal business hours. NZVA spokesperson Sally Cory says keeping veterinary emergency services for

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If you haven’t already, now is a good time to break out the fertilisers. Plants can struggle on for weeks, months or even years without fertiliser, but just like water stress, poor nutrition leads to reduced growth and increased susceptibility to disease. It is important to understand the properties of each fertiliser, its nutrient content and how it works. I use a wide variety of fertilisers in my garden, with the choice of what type of fertiliser, timing of application and amount to apply being dependent on the particular crop being fertilised. I’ll give you a few examples to highlight some of the principles of plant nutrition. I feed my bromeliads in early summer by dropping a few pellets of sheep manure into each cup. Coupled with the occasional spray with foliar seaweed, this is enough to keep these plants growing well and showing off their best colour. Too much fertiliser will result in bromeliads that are too green, while strong chemical fertilisers may cause burning of the central leaves. At the other end of the feeding spectrum, bananas need lots of fertiliser to produce well. If left to their own devices, they will produce skimpy bunches of a dozen or two small bananas, but if well fed, a good bunch can have up to 200 fat bananas! I give them plentiful leaf litter, compost, sheep pellets, sulphate of potash and handfuls of balanced fertiliser like Nitrophoska throughout the growing season, from early summer to midautumn, about once per month. Tomatoes are another heavy feeder. They get a base dressing of my favourite combination of four handfuls of blood and bone, two handfuls of granular sulphate of potash, one handful each of dolomite and gypsum on a five square metre bed. Then, as the plants grow, they get a big handful of sheep pellets around the base of each plant, with a tablespoon of Nitrophoska each once the fifth truss has formed, as

this is when the plants nutrient needs are at their greatest. Other big feeders such as eggplants, capsicum, pumpkin and melons get similar treatment, with quantities and timing adjusted to suit their growth habits. I often follow up heavy feeders such as these with a less hungry crop such as carrots, radishes, beetroot. If overfed, these will produce lots of top growth and gnarled, twisted and cracked roots, so I rely on the residual fertiliser from the last crop and only feed a little if they are looking a bit peaky. On the other hand, leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce and silverbeet need plentiful nitrogen to produce big, succulent leaves and grown too lean will produce bitter, smaller leaves. Some plants need a more acid soil environment, including blueberries, gardenias, rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas. Of course no lime or dolomite should be applied around these plants, but gypsum can be useful to provide some calcium without raising the pH. Special acidic fertilisers can be purchased for these crops, and this is the solution I use, rather than making my own. Other crops have a high need for a specific nutrient, such as magnesium. Citrus are a good example of this, which is why I’ll sprinkle a little Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) or dolomite (which has magnesium carbonate as well as calcium carbonate) around the drip line in late spring or early summer. Root crops such as carrots, potatoes and kumara need lots of phosphorus, as do peas and beans, so look for fertilisers that are high in this element for these crops. This is just a brief introduction to the nutrient requirements of plants. It is a subject that has many layers and it’s well worth digging into (excuse the pun), for each crop you grow to make sure you are getting the best results.

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Science Emeritus Professor Ralph Cooney ONZM, FRSNZ

r.cooney@auckland.ac.nz

The climate legacy What will be the cost to our children if we do nothing about climate change? Firstly, over the next 100 years there will be four or five generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry the burden of our reluctance to reduce the growing impacts of climate change. How should grandparents respond to this anxiety about their future? My advice to grandparents is to point out to the kids the exceptional opportunities for hi-tech jobs in the international renewables jobs market over the next 20 years. In this way, your grandkids can be a vital part of reversing the climate crisis. If you feel anxious about climate change but are unsure how we know for certain that climate change is real, then I urge you to read the following link: https://climate. nasa.gov/evidence/. Here you will find a clear explanation of climate warming, which caused the sharp rise in carbon dioxide since the start of industrial revolution about 1850. This increase in carbon dioxide is due to the combustion of fossil fuels over the last 170 years. Atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbs incident infrared (heat) radiation very efficiently, which in turn warms the atmosphere and the oceans. Global warming is causing floods, storms, droughts and famine, which have been increasing over decades. It is estimated there will over two million deaths and $4.3 trillion in economic losses attributable to climate warming by the end of 2023. That is the impact of a half-century of extreme weather events turbo-charged by man-made global warming, the World Meteorological Organisation said recently. A Canadian university study predicts that there will be one billion climate-caused

deaths over the next century. On this basis, climate deaths are likely to be more than six times greater per annum than Covid 19 deaths. But deaths from climate warming, unlike Covid 19, will persist and increase for centuries. That is, unless we can reduce greenhouse gases soon. Three technologies – solar, wind and electric vehicles – are largely behind the improved global warming estimates since 2015. The OECD now estimates that solar PV is projected to reduce emissions by around three Gt in 2030, roughly equivalent to the emissions from all the world’s cars on the road today. Solar is leading the field, followed by wind and then electric vehicles. The investment in solar is set to overtake investment in oil production for the first time. Worldwide jobs in renewable energy reached 13.7 million in 2022 up from a total of 7.3 million in 2012. Global new investment in renewable energy has skyrocketed to US$358 billion in the first six months of 2023, a 22% rise compared to the start of last year and an all-time high for any six-month period. The private sector provides the lion’s share of global investments in renewable energy, committing around 75% of the total in the period 2013-2020. Renewable energy jobs have almost doubled in 10 years to 13.7 million jobs. China leads the world, with more than five million renewable energy jobs, and the US expects to invest $2.8 trillion in renewables by the end of 2023. We have a choice: support the development of renewables, which will provide our young people with many hi-tech jobs for years to come, or support the expansion of fossil fuels, which will lead inevitably to an ongoing climate disaster.

A drone image of Mangawhai Community Park. Photo, Andy Bruce, Elevated Media.

Mangawhai volunteers roll up their sleeves to fight pests Community volunteers will join contractors in knocking back pest plants in the Mangawhai Community Park. The volunteers, including Friends of Mangawhai Community Park, will be supported by the Piroa Conservation Trust – Weed Action Group and Northland Regional Council. With their combined efforts, rampant weeds such as wild ginger, woolly nightshade, wattle, pampas grass and more, will soon be a thing of the past. A Kaipara District Council spokesperson says this is a huge job and they will be tackling it in sections. “After each section is finished they will settle into a maintenance programme. They’ve started by weeding around the entrances to the park.”

The volunteers will also tackle the asparagus weed in the outer areas, not covered by the council maintenance contract. “We have contractors filling in to maintain the tracks within the Mangawhai Community Park and along Thelma Road, and working on a plan for the wetland area. “We love the volunteers who support our public spaces across our district. Pest plants and animals are a big issue in our district and the more people who can pitch in, the easier it will be to get on top of them.” The working bees are likely to be held after the Christmas and New Year break, as many volunteers will be spending time with their family and whānau during this time.

Anyone interested in being involved should contact Martina on 027 449 0464 or weedaction@piroaconservation.org.nz

Become part of our crew. Help keep our people and community safe at incidents. We’re currently recruiting for Operational Support members to be a key part of our response! In this role you’ll respond to emergencies by supporting firefighters at incidents, which ranges from people or traffic control, assisting with medicals or transporting equipment.

To find out more, contact us today

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The competition is growing each year. Last year’s prize for the longest kahawai went to Graham Whittaker.

Reel fun ahead with Salty Dog fishing competition next month The Salty Dog Social Club in Snells Beach will hold its fourth annual fishing competition on January 20, providing enthusiasts of all ages with the opportunity to snag prizes and bragging rights, and have a lot of fun in the process. The competition continues to grow, with 140 anglers taking part last year, Salty Dog manager Moses Chong said. Contest divisions are for the longest snapper, the longest snapper caught by a woman, the longest fish caught by a junior (aged 14 or younger), the longest kingfish, the longest kahawai, and a snapper of mystery length. A prize will also be awarded for “the best hard luck story,” which must be emailed in to organisers to be eligible. Spot prizes will be on offer, and those registering by January 6 will go into a draw for additional early bird prizes. As was the case last year, a donation will be made from the proceeds to Kawau Volunteer Coastguard.

Alongside the competition, the club is running a family fun event, open to the community, from 4-6 pm at the Salty Dog Inn, featuring a bouncy castle, games, a lucky dip, Mr Whippy, face painting, sausage sizzle and entertainment. A barbecue for anglers will be held at 6pm, followed by the prizegiving. Moses said the club was grateful to sponsors, in particular Mason Contractors, Snells Beach Motors and the Salty Dog Inn. Without them, the competition would not be possible. With a membership of 90, the club organises fundraising and social functions throughout the year, including an annual progressive dinner to local venues. New members are welcome, and receive a Salty Dog polo-shirt in the first year. For further information, and registration forms for the fishing competition or club, contact Bazz on 021 451001 or email officetsdsc@yahoo.com

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Fuel Tax rort continues By Bill Foster Northern Action Group (NAG) chair The Auckland Council Annual Report is out, and Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) receipts for Auckland were up 10% for the 2023 year to $152 million (2022: $138m), despite the impacts of higher fuel prices and more electric vehicles. However, council spending of the RFT monies only increased 6.7% to $111m (2022: $104m). This continues the persistent trend since 2018, when the RFT was introduced, for council and Auckland Transport (AT) to accumulate RFT funds, which help its own cashflow needs, rather than spend the money on the projects identified in the approved scheme. This is basically robbing road users by taxing them and not spending it. The RFT Reserve is now at $328m – accumulated over five years. Road users who pay this tax are right to feel aggrieved that council has used this money to support its finance needs while approved transport projects get delayed. Road users don’t even get interest on these funds to compensate for project delays, while inflation ensures they will get progressively less for their money than it was worth when they filled up at the pump. Most galling is the state of council’s roads and the lack of attention and priority given to them when RFT funding was available. The approved scheme proposal for Project #12, with a $37m contribution from the RFT, was: • capital expenditure on Lincoln Road and Matakana link road • capital expenditure on Glenvar Road/ East Coast Road intersection upgrade, Smales Road/Allens Road intersection upgrade, and Lake Road improvements • capital expenditure on seal extensions The contribution was increased to $106m this year, but so far council and AT have spent a paltry $3 million on Project #12.

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Last year it was $7 million (across all three categories of work). Seal extension work has been a “shovel ready” project since before that term was coined, with local contractors available to carry out the work. Surely some of the idle RFT funds could have been directed early to project #12 for seal extensions, rather than trickling out the allocated monies annually? The benefits of the work are clear. Sealing unsealed roads addresses the health and safety and drainage problems caused by dusty, rutted unsealed roads – most of which (76%) are in Rodney. Doubtless council and AT will continue to excuse itself by citing outside factors such as covid, resource shortages, unexpected weather and long project lead times for the spending delays on major projects. But whether the internal problem has been poor planning, lack of foresight, prioritisation mistakes, inadequate project and commitment management, or institutional and funding rigidity, surely someone could have said: “We’ve got all this money available for our defined transport projects but expenditure is lagging commitments on many so why don’t we sensibly spend it now on advancing other projects like fixing our broken roads ASAP - rather than waiting until we reach the end of the RFT period and try (and fail) to spend those project budgets all in a hurry.” As council strives for a culture of building resilience in Auckland’s networks to cope with and respond to future “black swans”, what greater demonstration of inflexibility and lack of responsiveness is it to be sitting on $328 million of unspent RFT after having had five years to improve performance on those projects. I bet if we had recall elections, some representatives would be demanding changes. AT was given the opportunity to respond to this column but declined.

Pest free warrants will be compulsory for all commercial operators landing on, or venturing one nautical mile from, any Hauraki Gulf island.

Pest free warrant deadline looms January 1 marks the deadline for all commercial transport operators working close to Hauraki Gulf islands to have a pest free warrant, and Auckland Council is urging businesses to get the compulsory accreditation well in advance. The warrant will be required for all commercial boats transporting people or goods, including barges, fishing charters, charter vessels – even kayak and jet ski tourist operators – who want to land, or come within one nautical mile of, any island in the Gulf. The Hauraki Gulf is a nationally significant marine park, and since many of the islands are pest-free, or partially pest-free, they are home to some of the country’s rarest and most endangered species. Pest free warrants, which certify that required biosecurity behaviour and standards for visiting a pest free island are being followed, are designed to reduce the risk of pest invasion. The focus is on species that are able to stow away on boats and in gear, including rats, skinks, mice, Argentine ants and the pathogen that causes kauri dieback. As of last week, 125 commercial boat operators had already received the certification including one who was not

required to, but chose to do so anyway. “It’s great to have so many jump onboard early, and voluntarily, but we are concerned about the boat operators we haven’t heard from yet,” council’s pest free warrants advisor, Karen Thode said. “This includes boats coming into Auckland from Northland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.” Cr Richard Hills agreed, saying, “We’re invested in keeping the Gulf islands pest free and need to keep them this way as many of our endangered and threatened species have made them home. “Being pest free warranted means everyone is on the alert for these biosecurity threats and are playing their part in protecting our environment.” Under council’s regional pest management plan for 2020-2030, the warrants will be compulsory from 5pm on January 1. There is no fee for accreditation, and council and the Department of Conservation can provide free training and support to help businesses achieve their warrants.

Boat operators can apply online here: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ environment/what-you-can-do-forenvironment/Pages/apply-pest-freewarrant.aspx

December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Noise rules relaxed

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

A Mangawhai sawmiller

Gun safety reminder

DUMPERS

The Firearms Safety Authority is urging firearm owners to ensure their guns and ammunition are transported, stored and/or used safely over the holiday period. There are 230,000 firearms licence holders in NZ. Authority director Mike McIlraith says whether the gun owner is travelling with firearms or leaving them at home, now is a good time to start thinking about logistics. Owners are reminded that firearms must never be left in a vehicle overnight. “So, if you pack the vehicle the night before, for an early start in the morning, make sure you leave time and space, and pack your firearm just before you travel,” McIlraith says. “Firearms must also be transported out of sight and ammunition must be transported separately to the firearm, and in a locked container if practical.” The Firearms Safety Code was recently overhauled and republished, and can be downloaded for free here: firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz

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LOADERS BULLDOZERS

the proximity of where the mill workings had been. The sight left us envisaging days when the air was filled with screams of the saw and the rumble of large timbers being cut to size. The site is high above Hakaru and the surrounding farm lands, which made me wonder at the ability of man to haul huge logs up and down the hills to be processed. Of course, it was done by the strength of bullock teams, and local ‘bullockies’ who were able to direct the animals into pulling the huge logs to the mill. The silent beauty of lush green paddocks with totara-framed creeks running along and down the valleys, left me with wonder, as the works of man and nature show a different form from what was here 140 years ago. Birdsong is now replaced with the occasional bleating of lambs and their mothers, as they graze around Penman’s Bush, surrounded by the breathtaking views of farmland below.

ROLLERS

off its guide and hit him. His 13-year-old son, who was with him at the time, ran to Te Arai village for help. The return journey took 40 minutes and his father had died by the time he and the others returned. The mill was the largest of several sited in the Mill Bush area, on Ryan and Pritchard Roads, of the Oruawharo and Mangawai (sic) Parishes. During those times, that part of the Oruawharo parish was also known as North Albertland. The reason for so many mills was the demand for the timber of the mighty kauri tree, which grew prolifically over and along those hills and valleys. On a beautiful Wednesday morning recently, I accompanied a group of descendants of the famous sawmiller as they attempted to locate the exact place where his mill was situated. The land we were seeking was on a farm now owned by Mike Sainsbury, who offered to show us the location. After 140 years, there was little or no evidence left of the Bushside Mill, also referred to as Woodside Mill. However, there was an old boiler still lying where it had been abandoned 140 years earlier, in

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John Hunter Penman, born at Oxnam, Scotland, in 1826, arrived at Auckland on Friday, 16 March, 1860, on the sailing ship Blue Jacket with his wife Margaret and his father, Robert. They moved north after acquiring land on an area now serviced by Ryan and Pritchard Roads, and built a sawmill among the forest of kauri. Hunter invented machinery for his sawmill, which was worked by water power. Family stories tell of him having learned skills while attending an engineering school of Stephenson, the noted steam engine family of Scotland. John and Margaret had one surviving son, James Arthur, who attended Te Arai School and went on to become a leading builder of many important buildings in the Auckland district, including schools, churches, halls and so on. John Hunter was a Presbyterian preacher, who took his turn delivering sermons at Te Arai church, which was built in 1863, with timbers he himself provided. A community man, he was sadly missed when he was accidentally killed in 1879 by a length of timber that he was sawing, which flicked

Kaipara District Council will relax rules around noise on the two biggest nights of the festive season, while urging the community to be responsible and thoughtful over the holiday period. The usual policy on noise will be relaxed from 6pm on Christmas Day until 1am the following morning, and again from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until 1am on New Year’s Day. If residents have a “significant concern” about noise levels during those hours, however, they can call 0800 727 059 to let council know. Its noise control team will assess whether the noise is excessive and should be attended directly. Otherwise, council’s noise control team will try to respond to any complaints received after 1am on those two nights. “Be a good neighbour. Think about how your noise might affect your neighbours. If noise from your neighbour is impacting you, try asking them to reduce their noise. Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 727059 to make a complaint.” Council adds that its team can only attend and investigate while noise is occurring; complaints cannot be made once the noise has stopped.

. . . PLUS MORE ON 0800 776 686

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A round-up sports activities and events the district a Roundup ofof spoRTs acTiviTies ininTHe disTRicT

Hall’s record haul continues.

Kaiwaka’s Bernie smashes another record weight Kaiwaka’s Bernie Hall has achieved his dream of breaking the world deadlift record for his age and weight, though unfortunately it won’t be officially recognised as such. The 48-year-old lifted 283kg at the IPLNZ New Zealand Powerlifting League Tombstone event in Papakura last month, which was 7kg heavier than his previous best lift in June and a new official national record. Hall said the winning lift would have been an IPL drug tested world record, as the existing world record stands at 275kg, but as there was no world referee present or drug testing facilities on site, and drug

testing was prohibitively expensive anyway, it could never be an official record. “But I’m still really stoked and it was a great way to end the year,” he said. “It was still a new IPLNZ national record – the existing one was 270kg – and a new all-time NZ Deadlift Record.” Hall added that it was “a grinder” of a lift, which took him three attempts to crack the winning weight, but he’s already aiming at his next competition in March, TA Slay in Te Awamutu, where he’s aiming to lift 286kg. Hall’s world ranking is now 107th in his Masters category.

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Social tennis Social tennis is played at Matakana Tennis Club every Wednesday evening from 6pm. Free for members or $5 for non-members. Show jumping Warkworth Branch Pony Club is hosting a Twilight Show Jumping Series on three days: Wednesday, December 20, February 14 and March 6. See Warkworth Branch Pony Club on Facebook for more info. Volunteers needed Mangawhai Football Club needs volunteers to help run the Mangawhai Gala on Tuesday, January 2. The gala is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Mangawhai Domain. Funds raised go towards maintaining the domain’s facilities. Volunteers are needed for an hour or two at any time of the day that suits. Jobs include line painting and set up on January 1, set up and pack down on the day, entry ticketing and monitoring, rubbish bin monitoring and emptying, toilet monitoring and refreshing, and more. To register, email mangawhaidomainbookings@gmail.com Sports support Applications to Auckland Council’s Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund are open now. The money is earmarked for building or infrastructure work. The fund is contestable and open to non-council organisations for significant facility development. Applications close on January 29. Info: sportandrecreation@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Cycling instructors wanted Harbour Sport is searching for people who want to be part of its cycling team and become cycling instructors. Harbour Sport provides quality training following the National BikeReady Programme and staff are upskilled in BikeReady Delivery and Te Mahi Ako Qualifications for Cycle Instructing, Training and Assessing. Info: Contact Tayla on taylaf@harboursport.co.nz Mahurangi Regatta The 2024 Mahurangi Regatta will be held on Saturday, January 27. Sailing starts from 1pm onwards ToTalspan Rodney and finishes at 6pm. Prizegiving will be held at Scotts Landing at 7.30pm. Entries open on January 1 and close at midnight on January125. There will be no yearbook for sale this year 229 sTaTe HigHway due to the cancellation of the 2023 Regatta. For more information & entry details, waRkwoRTH visit www.mahurangicruisingclub.org

pHone 09 422 3149

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| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

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BROKEN WINDOW HANDLE? Farm & Lifestyle Centre 2-4 Morrison Drive Warkworth

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OUTDOOR FURNITURE Tables to order Chairs • Swingseats Benches • Umbrellas New Zealand made quality built to last 25 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale (next to BP) Ph 09 426 9660 • em clipper.furniture@xtra.co.nz www.clipperfurniture.co.nz

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Classifieds AERIALS

HOME & MAINTENANCE

REDDING ELECTRONICS

COLLINS ELECTRONICS HAVE YOU LOST PRIME?

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

A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/ Simpson dryers. Prompt service 021 168 7349. DRIVEWAYS MAINTENANCE Grading, rolling & metalling for rural Driveways. No job too BIG or small. Ph Trevor 021 0225 5606 DVDS & VIDEOS

I D E O S DVD VTRANSFERRED to DVD/hard drive. Phone or txt Tetotara Video 021 777 385. HAIR & NAILS

MOBILE HAIR & NAILS

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

Blue Skies Cleaning Window Cleaning, Soft Bio House Wash, Gutter Clean, All Exterior Cleaning, Water Blasting, Roof Treatment, Local Professional service. Ph Pat 022-646-5849 GROUND CARE SERVICE Tree-work, Hedges, Mulch Application, Garden & Section Tidy ups, & Greenwaste removal. Call Mahurangi Groundcare 021 133 8884

Or need your Freeview box tuned for the new channels? TV repairs, microwave oven repairs, Freeview installations. Ph Paul 09 422 0500 or 027 29 222 04 WINDOW CLEANING/ HOUSEWASH/GUTTER CLEANING Local professional service. Ph Pat 022-646-5849. PUBLIC NOTICES JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SERVICE DESKS Warkworth, at the Council Offices Monday 10am – 2pm Matakana, Cinema Complex Tuesday 11am-1pm Snells Beach, at the Library Friday 10am – noon Warkworth RSA Fridays 3.30pm to 5pm No appointment is needed. There is no cost. Supported by Mahurangi Matters

AGM

NETBALL RODNEY CENTRE 2024 will be held Thursday 15th February 2024, 7pm at the Netball Rodney Centre office in Centennial Park, Wellsford. For more information please email netballrodneycenter@ xtra.co.nz. WANTED TO BUY TOOLS, paintings, ornaments, old cookware. Before you donate, call 09 422 6075

Not getting your paper? Come and pick up our sticker for your mailbox to ensure delivery.

Mahurangi Matters can be picked up from the following businesses:

WARKWORTH: Mahurangi Matters, Paper Plus, Warkworth Information Centre, Woolworths, New World, Z • PUHOI: Puhoi Pub, Puhoi Store • SNELLS BEACH: Snells Beach Dairy, The Food Market, Gull, Snells Beach Library • MATAKANA: Matakana 4 Square, Gull, Matakana Information Centre • Point Wells Store • OMAHA: Omaha Superette • LEIGH General Store • WELLSFORD: Top Shop 4 Square, Woody’s Winners, Port Albert Store • KAIWAKA: 4 Square, Caltex • MANGAWHAI: Mangawhai Village Superette, Mangawhai Club, Mangawhai New World • MAUNGATUROTO: 4 Square RD1 • WAIPU: Waipu service station

Christmas Church Notices CATHOLIC CHURCH

Holy Name Catholic Church 6 Alnwick Street, Warkworth Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Puhoi 83 Puhoi Road, Puhoi 425 8545 • www.holyname.org.nz Saturday 23rd Dec – Saturday Vigil Mass Warkworth 6pm Sunday 24th Dec – Sunday Morning Masses Puhoi 8.30am – Warkworth 10.30am

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2023 Sunday 24th Dec – Christmas Eve Warkworth 6.30pm – Puhoi 9pm Monday 25th Dec – Christmas Day Warkworth 10.30am There is NO MASS at Puhoi on Christmas Day. CHRISTMAS CAROLS 2023 Saturday 24th December Warkworth 6pm – Puhoi 8.30pm

THE MAHURANGI METHODIST PARISH COMMUNITY Wish you a joyful, peace-filled Christmas in 2023 and New Year in 2024.

Check Mahurangi Hope facebook (www.facebook.com/ MahurangiHopeChurch) for details of church services or phone 425 8861 for more information. See advert page 33. previously known as

Mahurangi Presbyterian Church

Christmas in the Warkworth Anglican Parish Come, let us adore Him

Christ Church Warkworth 43 Percy Street

Christingle Service A simple service for kids and young families 5pm, 24 December, Christmas Eve Candlelight Christmas 9.30pm, 24 December, Christmas Eve Christmas Day Service 9.30am, 25 December, Christmas Day

St Leonard's Matakana 24 Matakana Valley Road

We invite you to join us at any of our Christmas services of Celebration and Reflection. There is no Christmas Eve service but the regular Sunday services.

Christmas Eve Service 9.30pm, 24 December, Christmas Eve Christmas Day Service 9.30am, 25 December, Christmas Day

24 December:

St Alban's Kaipara Flats

9am Snells Beach Community Church 10.30am Warkworth Methodist Church

25 December: Christmas Day service

9am Snells Beach Community Church

Christmas Eve Service 7pm, 24 December, Christmas Eve

St Michael's Leigh 12 Hauraki Road

Christmas Day Service 9.30am, 25 December, Christmas Day

Sunday services will continue as normal at Snells Beach (9am) and Warkworth (10.30am) after 1 January For further information contact

www.warkworthanglican.nz

Parish Office - 425 8660 or Minister - 021 103 7150

Sudoku Solution

19 Old Woodcocks Road

31 December:

10.30am Warkworth Methodist Church

Christmas Eve Morning Service with Morning Tea 9.30am Christmas Eve Carol Service 7pm 31st December Because of Morning Service with m ... Morning Tea 9.30am Bethlehe SUMMER Schedule Weekly Service at 9.30am with a community meal on the 1st Sunday of each month No Christmas Day service Normal Sunday services throughout January at 9.30am 410 Mahurangi East Rd, Snells Beach

The deadline for classified advertising for our January 22, 2024 paper is January 17. Send classified advertising enquiries to design@localmatters.co.nz

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Rodney Rams revving up for wider sports coverage The Rodney Rams Sports Club at Whangateau is gearing up for next season when it hopes to field both junior and senior league teams, and enter a netball team in an Auckland competition. The club has only been able to muster a masters team since covid disruptions, but committee member Symon Bourne says there is renewed interest in getting more sports organised at the club. He says a successful pool competition was held this year and the club is looking at starting a darts club next year “We’re also talking to council about getting lights for the court, so it can be utilised for evening netball training,” he says. “There’s a good team of volunteers supporting the club and they are keen to build it into a

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family-friendly venue.” He says the Thursday night dinners from 5pm are also proving popular, drawing new people to the club. The junior league competition starts in April, with the seniors kicking off in May. “To field teams, we will need players, coaches and managers. The junior competition is aimed at players aged five and over, and we will need about seven players per team.” To field a senior team, the club needs to be about 20 players. An Auckland 9s senior oneday competition will be held at the club early next year.

The club is running a holiday tag programme for juniors in the new year, which is open to anyone. Info: 027 260 6874

December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

We are so proud of you. To our students, staff, school families and community, a heart-felt thank you for your support and for what you have been able to accomplish this year. This is especially to acknowledge the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ you may have shed in the effort to improve, reach your goals or to help others; the really hard work that no one else saw. Ngā mihi whānau. The school year has ended on a high with our EVolocity teams crowned national champions. The NZ EVolocity competition is designed to foster the next generation of engineers, technology innovators and entrepreneurs to accelerate NZ’s transition to electric vehicles. National awards are difficult to come by and our teams worked incredibly hard amongst tough competition, especially from high schools from the Waikato and Canterbury. All our teams showcased incredible innovation and dedication. A big thank you to all of our community sponsors, without you we could not achieve these outstanding results. Final placing’s can be viewed on our Facebook page.

| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

Our Year 8 students celebrated their year camping in the beautiful Karangahake Gorge. This has become a Mahurangi tradition, enjoyed by many students over the years. Activities this year have included kayaking, high-ropes and swimming. Thankfully the forecast rain held off. Year 7 students celebrated their year with activity week. Activities included going to the movies, swimming in the pool, art, cooking, acting and dancing. They also had a lovely day out at Wenderholm, swimming, playing on the beach and enjoying barbecued sausages and ice blocks. Enjoy your holiday’s. To our student leavers: work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen. Good luck for whatever your future holds. We look forward to hearing all about your adventures. For those visiting whānau over the summer break, travel safely. See you all back here for an exciting 2024! Tony Giles, Principal

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Marine

FOR ALL YOUR RAINWATER NEEDS }

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

Integrated fisheries management needed Crayfish are considered functionally extinct in the Hauraki Gulf, our scallop fishery is closed and kina barrens are more common. These are all signs that Fisheries New Zealand’s quota management system is not working. We need to restore marine biodiversity. However, increased abundance and diversity of sea life doesn’t happen overnight and it surely doesn’t happen just by turning our oceans into marine protected areas. Restoration requires an integrated, thoughtful approach. Integrated management requires a combination of tools. If we are to create marine protected areas, we must also reduce catch limits for fish caught in those areas. It also involves embracing community led initiatives such as Ahu Moana. Already, mana whenua and community groups around the Hauraki Gulf have taken the lead in applying local solutions, providing protection in the absence of officials’ action. It may sound appealing to follow the mantra of 30% marine protection by 2030 but what will this realistically achieve? Locking up more areas in the Hauraki Gulf without reducing catch limits will just shift fishing pressure into Bream Bay, Mahurangi and Coromandel waters. Kina barrens are present in a number of marine protected areas in the upper North Island. Why? Because there is still a lack of large snapper and crayfish that can prey on kina. Overfishing of these predator species is not solved alone by marine protected areas. Not only are we taking out the top predators in our oceans, but also the baitfish that sustain our precious whales,

MICO WARKWORTH 9 Morrison Dr | 09 422 2430

Rainfall figures for November 70mm Mangawhai 62mm

77.5mm Whangateau

67.8mm Leigh

Wellsford

Matakana Dome Valley

97.5mm

57.8mm

Warkworth

69.6mm

Kaipara Flats

61mm

Takatu

63mm

Sandspit

Snells Beach

92.7mm

69mm

Algies Bay

Spotlight on Warkworth November was drier than average in most places and there were less wet days than average. The wettest day in Warkworth was November 3 with 22mm. * All figures collected by Mahurangi Matters. Do not reproduce without the permission of Local Matters Inc.

www.mico.co.nz | 0800 101 999

birds and fish. Baitfish are an integral part of our marine ecosystem, despite their small size. They also seem to be well sought after commercially, with blue and jack mackerel being two of the top fish species caught in the Gulf. A whopping 7.6 million kilos of these bait fish were removed by purse seiners from the Hauraki Gulf over the last three years. If you’re an avid fisher, you’ll be familiar with the workups of baitfish and how they attract flocks of seabirds diving into the water, often accompanied by bigger fish, dolphins or whales rounding up the baitfish. Without baitfish there are no workups, and our seabirds have to travel further to feed their young. Without workups we can expect the birds, fish, whales and dolphins to go elsewhere. Our ecosystem is interconnected, therefore, the quota management system needs to be more responsive, so we can reduce the amount of baitfish taken from our waters. We are already witnessing widespread depletion of sea life within our lifetimes. So, if we don’t account for how our actions impact the wider marine ecosystem, then we won’t have a healthy and abundant ocean to pass onto future generations. For meaningful improvement we need real change. The quota system must be reformed to enable fish populations to rebuild to more natural levels; eliminate bulk harvesting fishing methods that destroy the seafloor; and, encourage community-based solutions to restoring fish abundance and marine protection.

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Sun Sun Fishing Fishing Guide Guide

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New Full First Last Moon Moon Quarter Quarter Set Rise 2:18am 3:42am Set Rise 2:46am 4:39am Set Rise 3:18am 5:33am Set Rise 3:55am 6:23am Set Rise 4:39am 7:07am Set Rise 5:30am 7:47am Set Rise 6:28am 8:21am Set Rise 7:29am 8:52am Set Rise 8:32am 9:21am Set Rise 9:33am 9:50am Set Rise10:33am 10:20am Rise Rise12:06am 10:52am Rise Set 12:29am 12:54am Rise Set 12:50am 2:05am Rise Set 1:13am 3:16am Rise Set 1:37am 4:22am Rise Set 2:04am 5:22am 1:28pm Rise 2:13pm Rise 3:05pm Rise 4:03pm Rise 5:05pm Rise 6:10pm Rise 7:16pm Rise 8:23pm Rise 9:29pm Rise 10:36pm Set 11:44pm Set 11:30am Set 11:28am Set 1:24pm Set 1:01pm Set 2:00pm Set 3:06pm Set 3:47pm Set 4:56pm Set 6:05pm Set 7:13pm Set 8:17pm Set 9:13pm Set 10:02pm Set 10:41pm Set 11:14pm Set 11:42pm Rise12:27pm Rise 12:11pm Rise 2:22pm Rise 3:24pm Rise 4:28pm Moon Moon Rise *Not *Not for for navigational navigational purposes. purposes.

Good Good Fishing Fishing

Fair Fair Fishing Fishing

Not Not So So Good Good

www.tidewiz.com www.tidewiz.com

www.tidespy.com www.tidespy.com

www.ofu.co.nz www.ofu.co.nz

Graphic Graphic supplied supplied by by OceanFun OceanFun Publishing Publishing Ltd. Ltd.

0800 969 694 | 19 Goatley Road, Warkworth | sales@rodneymarine.co.nz | www.rodneymarine.co.nz 54

| Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

Support the advertisers who support Mahurangi Matters

What’s on See www.localmatters.co.nz/whats-on/ for a full list of upcoming events

Celebrating

December 21

Coastguard’s Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade, Mangawhai Boating & Fishing Club, 8-11am. Trade in old, damaged, or ill-fitting lifejackets for newer, discounted Hutchwilco ones.

22&23 Photos with Santa, Warkworth Information Centre, 11am-3pm. Gold coin donations for Child Cancer Foundation. BYO camera (see brief p21) 24

Waipu Santa Parade, The Centre, 7pm

Mahurangi Community Christmas Lunch, Sunrise Boulevard, Snells Beach, 1pm. Free Christmas lunch. If able to, please bring a salad, drink, or dessert to share. BYO picnic blanket, beach gear, and chairs. Info: Moana 021 0246 1732 (see story p19)

Community Christmas Lunch, Leigh Bar, 2pm. Turkey, ham and potatoes provided, BYO sides and drinks. Please register attendance for numbers on 021 041 9242 (see brief p14)

Hidden Valley, Matakana Country Park, 3-11pm. Drum and bass festival. Tickets: www.hiddenvalleyfestival.com

Great Summer Art Exhibition preview and prizegiving, Mahurangi East Community Centre, 7pm. Tickets $20 at door (see story p30)

29-31

Northern Bass, Settlement Road, Kaiwaka. Three-day music festival. Info and tickets: https://northernbass.co.nz (see story p29)

29-Jan2 Resolution NYE, Ariki Estate, Kaipara Coast Highway. Wellness festival with music, workshops, etc. (see story p24) 30-Jan 1 Great Summer Art Exhibition, Mahurangi East Community Centre, 10am-4pm. Mahurangi East Tennis Club fundraiser, all works for sale. Gold coin donation. (see story p30) 31

Highlife NYE, Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Road, 3pm-1am. House music festival. Info and tickets: https://highlifenye.co.nz (see story p25)

Connected NYE jungle, drum and bass party, Leigh Sawmill, 9pm-late. Tickets $50

January 2024 1

Warkworth Rodeo, Warkworth Showgrounds, 10am (see ad p30)

A Summer’s Day Live, Matakana Country Park, 4.30pm. Dire Straits Legacy, Nazareth, Hello Sailor and Uncommon State. Tickets from $129. Info and bookings: www.trademarklive.co.nz/asdl (see story p20)

Back Bar Jazz, The Bridgehouse, Warkworth, 6.30pm. Free, all welcome

Matakana Vineyards in the Village, Matakana Farmers Market, 4.30-8pm. Wine from local vineyards, Italian in the Village pizza, live music, cellar door sales

Surfing for Farmers, Waipu Cove, 5.30pm. Weekly surf sessions. Info: Katrina Stead on 027 489 7343 or Sophia Wood on 021 227 4379

Puhoi Annual Woodchopping Carnival, Puhoi Pub, 9am-5.30pm (see story p23)

Operatunity, Warkworth Town Hall, doors open 10am (see story p27)

18-21

mARTakana, Matakana School Hall, 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Exhibition and sale of artwork. Free entry (see story p28)

Matakana Vineyards in the Village, Matakana Farmers Market, 4.30-8pm. Wine from local vineyards, Italian in the Village pizza, live music, cellar door sales.

Salty Dog Fishing Competition & Family Fun Day, Salty Dog Inn, Snells Beach. Info and registration: Contact Bazz on 021 451001 or email officestsdsc@yahoo.com (see story p44 and ad p19)

Music in Parks, Sunburst Reserve, Snells Beach, 1-4pm. Free picnic concert with reggae, funk, pop and soul. (see story p26)

Death Cafe, Sheepworld cafe, 324 SH1, Warkworth, 1-3pm. Open discussion of death and all it entails. Free. All welcome. Info: https://www.facebook.com/warkworthdeathcafe (see story p37)

Brave the Shave fundraiser, Leigh Fire Station, 3pm. Sausage sizzle and bar will be operating. Cash only. Donations can be made online at ‘Brave the Shave LVFB’ on Givealittle page

Mahurangi Regatta, Mahurangi Harbour, 1pm onwards. Info & entry: www.mahurangicruisingclub.org

February 1

Back Bar Jazz, The Bridgehouse, Warkworth, 6.30pm. Free, all welcome

Mahurangi Artists’ Studio Trail opening night preview, Warkworth Town Hall. Info: www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com/art-trail-24 (see story p21)

2-11

Mahurangi Artists’ Studio Trail. Info: www.mahurangiartistnetwork.com/art-trail-24 (see story p21)

Matakana Opera Picnic, cnr Ward and Matakana Valley Roads, 5.30pm. Tickets $60, under 16s free. Book: aucklandoperastudio.co.nz (see ad p21)

List your event by emailing the details to online@localmatters.co.nz

www.localmatters.co.nz

of the

SUMMER ART EXhibition 30 Dec 2023 - 1 Jan 2024 10am - 4pm Admission by donation Get your tickets at the door or from

WARKWORTH

kim.clementson@bayleys.co.nz

Opening/Preview Fri 29 Dec, 7pm $20 per person LOCATION: Mahurangi East Hall Hamatama Rd (next to library) December 18, 2023 | Mahurangimatters |

Winning smiles from the Braking Bad team who were sponsored by Davco, Stihl Warkworth and Jaycar.

The Coco Asiana team with their St Pierres Sushi sponsored car.

Chopped was sponsored by Blender.

Driver Jack Leaning broke the track record in Braking Bad.

Innovation sparks historic Mahurangi win An unparalleled performance by senior students from Mahurangi College saw them finish first and second in the 2023 EVolocity Challenge held at Mount Smart Stadium earlier this month. Their success, against schools from around New Zealand, was described by design technology teacher Paul Lenihan as “incredible”. “There was tough competition, especially from high schools from the Waikato and Canterbury,” Lenihan said. “Our teams showcased incredible innovation and dedication to their project.” The regional and national finals were the culmination of a year’s worth of work designing, getting local sponsorship,

budgeting, manufacturing, testing and racing, done in school time, as well as at lunchtimes and after school. Lenihan said the results were a reflection of all the hard work put in by the teams. The annual EVolocity Challenge involves students building a vehicle powered by a standard 350W electric motor, controller and two 12V gel cells. Innovation is encouraged as students strive to make their vehicle the fastest with the least drag, and able to cope with the demands of a tight street circuit. Lenihan said a careful reading of the rules around what could be done with the kart’s limiters and their cut-off point might have given Mahurangi the edge.

56 | Mahurangimatters | December 18, 2023

“The teams showcased innovation and a ‘tweaking’ of the rules that no other team was able to replicate in this competition.” First over the line was Braking Bad (Hannah Bremner, Matte Perrin, Kenzie Jackson, John Taylor, Jack Leaning and Jack Bremner), who won the high powered go-kart category, as well as the drag race, the street circuit, and two University of Auckland awards for innovation and engineering. Braking Bad driver Jack Leaning also broke the track speed record by 13kph, getting up to 64kph. Runners up were Chopped (Seb Pearce, Cameron Davey, George Miles, Thomas Vegar and Quinn Collins) in the high powered go-cart category. As well, Coco Asiana (Otetika Baukie,

Brody Ludolph, Volaki Meafou, Kaitati Robertson, Bwaroko Tebutokai and Dan Wnzlick) came 14th; and Lemon (Jacob Furniss, Joe Kuwano, Jack Peel, Lucas Daum, Benny Hertzer and Aran Niccolls) finished fourth in the low-powered category. Race day consisted of drag racing, gymkhana/slalom, efficiency and endurance challenges, alongside ‘just for fun’ racing experiences. As well as the racing awards, special awards were given out for data innovation, engineering excellence, sustainability and show factors. Lenihan thanked the Mahurangi businesses who had sponsorsed the teams. “Without them we could not have achieved these outstanding results.”