Hibiscus Matters_Issue 341_20 February 2023

Local Board determined to improve Coast Civil Defence preparedness

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Gary Brown describes the recent floods and cyclone as “an eye opener for this area”. He says the two severe weather events in quick succession showed up major gaps in local preparedness that now need to be fixed.

As a first step, Brown has organised a debrief next week, on February 28, with representatives of Auckland Emergency Management, Ward Councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson, local board members, Whangaparāoa MP Mark Mitchell, the Salvation Army, Sue Deuchar (who was involved with the Christchurch earthquakes recovery), and the Whangaparāoa Community Resilience Group.

Up for discussion will be communication during the emergencies, action plans, venues that can be used for Civil Defence locally and obtaining the resources necessary to stock those centres.

When a disaster strikes, those centres are largely run by volunteers. Brown says he hopes further discussions in the coming weeks may include the potential to mobilise community volunteers such as Rotary and Lions.

At very short notice, Auckland Council made its Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre available as a local Civil Defence hub. The centre manager was alerted to this by Council just after 1pm on Sunday, February 12 and it was all up and running by 5.30pm with resources, food and places for people to sleep.

In the end, just a handful of locals whose homes had lost power, who were alone and feeling vulnerable, or just needed support, availed themselves of this. Around five stayed overnight at the Centre on Monday and some slept in their cars nearby so they could use the Centre’s showers and toilets. However, it highlighted the need to have at least one local Civil Defence centre located on the Coast.

Brown says when the cyclone was on its way, the Anniversary Weekend floods had already made it clear that having the nearest centre in Albany was not good enough.

He had been looking at other facilities on higher ground – the Salvation Army hall in Red Beach and St Stephen’s church were available as refuges.

He says he was only told about the Leisure Centre option once it was already being set up, by the Ward councillors.

“We need the Council to have more confidence in local boards to take charge and organise things like that themselves –all of that needs to change, with a lot more local responsibility,” Brown says. “It is absolutely essential and urgent that we reinstate a local Civil Defence facility and its volunteers, so people can be assured that systems are in place when further events like this occur.

We are in for a lot more of it.”

Brown says any local community groups that would like to take part in the debrief can contact him via email, gary.brown@ aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

During the cyclone, Tara Holland of Arkles Bay found a nest blown out of a tree in her garden. One baby bird was dead, but the other showed signs of life. Tara and her husband Greg popped the dove, in a box, and when a warm wheat bag was added, it began to revive, fluffing up its feathers, stretching its wings and chirping. Tara then made contact with Victoria Smith of Red Beach, who has experience in looking after injured or abandoned birds, and she took in the bird, named Stormy. Stormy is thriving, has found a new home, and became a symbol of resilience and caring for others in a crisis. Both Tara and Victoria encourage anyone who finds injured birds to care for them as best they can. “These winds have been ferocious. There are bound to be countless fledglings who have lost their nests and haven’t much chance of survival – so keep an eye out for them,” Tara says.

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Rate rise proposed to fix stormwater

Locals took charge when it came to unblocking stormwater drains, which quickly filled with sand blown in by the cyclonic winds.

In Arkles Bay, the pontoon blew into a position where it blocked the drain. Residents used shovels and even their bare hands to keep it clear.

On Manly Beach, Phil Martell cleared a drain which was covered by sand himself, then kept a close watch on it during the next high tide.

Alongside Manly Sailing Club, a group of young people worked hard to clear the boat ramp of debris, until Ben Hickmer from Coastscapes volunteered to complete the task.

Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters division looks after stormwater infrastructure and Council is proposing to allocate more money for storm response activities, to increase preparedness for severe weather events.

Announcing the proposed extra funding, on February 15, Mayor Wayne Brown said the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, on top of unprecedented rainfall and flooding, has strengthened his resolve “to fix Auckland’s infrastructure and stop wasteful spending”. The final addition to the budget proposal notes that Council “may need to make additional provision in operating budgets for proactive and reactive storm response activity. This could include more regular clearing of drains as well as increased provision for things such as emergency management, waste disposal, building inspections and support for affected people”.

The proposal suggests budgeting $20 million each year, equivalent to 1 percent of rates.

“To be sustainable, this could mean a higher rates increase, as it would not be appropriate to continually borrow to pay for cleaning the drains on a regular basis,” the proposal reads.

The budget goes out for consultation this month (see story p3).

all the comforts of home.

What is happening on Ōrewa Beach?

Shoreline erosion was felt everywhere on the Coast – perhaps at its most dramatic on Ōrewa Beach where trees along Ōrewa Reserve had their roots exposed. There was also severe damage at the northern end of the beach where a seawall is to be built. As an interim fix, Auckland Council contractors shifted sand from the estuary end to shore up damaged areas, starting on February 15, unleashing a flood of comments from the community who do not agree with the sand-shifting. Area operations manager, Kris Bird says Council’s arborists assessed the trees and believe that they are not at risk of imminent failure. He says the sand shifting, which will take two weeks, provides a buffer and will make the beach usable again. Gary Brown says the local board will be discussing the Ōrewa Beach erosion issues with Council staff.

Community urged to have say on budget

Last week Auckland Council voted to put its proposed 2023/24 budget out for public consultation.

The budget is designed to plug a $295m shortfall and therefore includes a lot of proposed cuts in areas such as grant funding, along with the possibility that some Council funded services such as Kauri Kids childcare and Citizens Advice Bureau, could close. Both the local Kauri Kids and Ōrewa Citizens Advice are strongly contesting the proposed funding cuts.

If it goes ahead, a proposed 5 percent cut to local board operational budgets will reduce spending on local projects.

At its business meeting on February 7, members of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board said it is imperative that the community look closely at what is proposed and that their voices be heard through making submissions.

Members said they were disappointed that the financial information the board was seeking on things such as Kauri Kids in Stanmore Bay, was not yet received.

Deputy chair Julia Parfitt said such information is vital if the board is to make informed decisions that benefit local communities.

Albany Ward Cr Wayne Walker says councillors have also been seeking this level of financial detail.

“It should not be a one-size-fits-all approach,” Cr Walker says. “If, for instance, Stanmore Bay Kauri Kids is profitable, why close it? But we don’t have those figures in front of us.”

At the February 15 meeting, Cr Mike Lee registered this issue in strong terms.

“I want to launch a strong protest at the failure of management [Council staff] to

CAB value for money

provide councillors with spreadsheets of opex and capex to enable us to make a decision,” he said. “Months have gone by and management has stubbornly refused to disclose that information.”

Both Crs Walker and Watson say they don’t want to see cuts to Citizen’s Advice or other community-based funding.

“Through their volunteer base and services to the community they return way more than the money they receive. I hope there will be strong and plentiful public

feedback to that effect in the consultation,” Cr Watson says.

In a press release issued in the wake of the floods the Mayor said the damage to the city and the need to improve its resilience and adapt to climate change may have implications for the Council’s 2023/24 and future budgets.

So far additional funding is proposed (see story p1), however other changes that could impact climate change effects, such as funding for environmental initiatives, have not been altered. There is the opportunity to make further changes after public consultation, before the final budget is adopted.

The local board is urging the community to have its say. Adopting a budget is a formal process, so feedback on social media, or in meetings does not count.

“We need collective action,” deputy chair Parfitt said. “The numbers submitting on issues of concern will be critical.”

The 2023/24 budget is out for public consultation from February 28 to March 28. Info: akhaveyoursay.nz/budget

There is also a Have Your Say session with local board members at Whangaparāoa Library on Monday, March 6, 1pm-3.30pm. Feedback will be collated and considered by the Governing Body before final budget decisions are made on 29 June.

Flood has downstream effect on Council budget

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

Auckland Council’s investigation into the Anniversary Weekend floods, which the Mayor called for, but which is not in the budget, has raised questions amongst councillors.

The issues were discussed at the Planning, Environment and Parks committee on February 9.

Council’s proposed scope of investigation covers the impacts of the flooding, the implications of plan changes to the Auckland Unitary plan and infrastructure.

Cr Daniel Newman said the flooding would have significant budget implications and the scope of council’s investigation was very broad.

“We are just about to go up for consultation on a budget which appears entirely theoretical to me at the moment,” Cr Newman said.

He said, while he agreed with the work, the

budget would need to change as council manages scarce resources in order to aid flood recovery.

Cr Shane Henderson had similar concerns and asked what the budget was for the investigation.

“Do we have the capacity to do this and do we have an indication of budget?” Cr Henderson asked. He later added that the results of the investigation could help Council plan the city better in the future.

Response review

Mayor Wayne Brown said a “large lump” of the cost of the investigation would come from central government and other agencies.

“Just like we have done with all the bins [collecting flood debris] on the berms, you just have to do that, and I will sort out the finances later on,” Mayor Brown said. Council staff will prepare a clearer scope of work for the investigation to come back to the committee on March 2.

A separate, independent review into the response over the first 24 to 48 hours of the Anniversary Weekend floods has begun, led by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush. Mayor Wayne Brown announced the terms of reference and members of the review team on February 5. As well as assessing the effectiveness of the response, this review will identify any actions that need to be implemented immediately to ensure better preparation for the next event. The team has been asked to complete its work so that it can be made available to other reviewers, policy makers and the public by no later than Monday, March 6. The initial budget for the review is $100,000, to be paid out of the Mayor’s Office budget. Should additional funds be required, these will be negotiated with Auckland Council’s chief executive. The Mayor anticipates there will be further reviews, including those commissioned by central government, but says this initial review is important to ensure immediate lessons are learned.

Citizens Advice (CAB) in Auckland are 100 percent funded by Auckland Council. Ōrewa’s CAB comes under the North Shore umbrella. CAB North Shore chair, Rob Mackenzie, says that funding, of just $2m annually, makes the service at 30 CABs possible because it relies almost totally on trained volunteers. In a single year, the Ōrewa branch had 3124 clients, 1957 with a complex problem to solve. CAB has a vast amount of information at its fingertips and Mackenzie says without the service, helping all those people would fall to Council staff. “Council is getting a cheap service,” he says. Mackenzie says the funding cut would not necessarily mean immediate closure.

“We could keep going in the short term, with some shrinkage,” he says. “We would have to look for other funding, but it would be extraordinarily difficult to find.” Currently the Ōrewa CAB team is working from home as the building it leases from Council had a major leak in the roof. “We have been on at Council for ages to get the roof fixed but nothing happened and the recent storm made the building uninhabitable,” Mackenzie says.

Assessment continues

Following the Anniversary Weekend floods, Auckland Council teams have been out assessing damaged buildings, placing stickers on them to show whether access is permitted from a safety perspective. Red means entry is prohibited (moderate to heavy damage, significant risk); yellow –restricted access and white – building can be used but there could be unseen damage. Stickers expire after 21 days or further assessment. Currently, as at February 13, these are the local assessments, with the biggest toll on homes shown in Upper Waiwera. Assessment is ongoing and there could be more stickers issued following the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle: Puhoi: Red x1, Yellow x7; Wade Heads: Yellow 1; Upper Waiwera: Red x 4 Yellow x 4; Ōrewa: Yellow x 3; Stanmore Bay: Red x 1, Yellow x 3.

If, for instance, Stanmore Bay Kauri Kids is profitable, why close it? But we don’t have those figures in front of us.

Puhoi bears brunt of storm with worst floods in living memory

The name Puhoi translates as ‘slow water’. However, there was nothing remotely slow about how quickly the river rose and inundated the heart of the historic community that bore the brunt of the floods on Friday, January 27. Heavy rain throughout the day meant that locals were keeping a close eye on the river, as it does tend to breach its banks ever few years, but the pace and extent of the floodwater this time took everyone by surprise.

When Ivan King of Saleyards Road left town for Ōrewa at around 4pm, the waters were approaching the road through town. By the time he came back 45 minutes later, he was stranded near the Centennial Hall by a lagoon of muddy water too deep to drive through and still rising fast. For more than 350 metres, from the hall through to beyond the rotunda, silty water swamped the main road, the town library, the general store and Puhoi River Motors, and filled the Puhoi Pub garden almost up to the doors.

At its peak, the waters were over the library door and halfway up the windows and doors of the shop, ruining everything in its path, not least the home and livelihood of Puhoi General Store owners Nic Lodewyks and Jo Lloyd.

Across the river, the carpark, tennis courts and playing fields resembled an inland sea, with coffee-coloured water submerging the sports and community club halfway up to the veranda, and ruining everything on the ground floor.

And right up the Puhoi Valley, the river became a torrent, with trees, garden furniture and even show jumps getting swept up, snagged in trees or carried way out to sea at Wenderholm.

Local fire chief Russell Green pretty much lost his whole business, as Puhoi River Motors went underwater for the first time in its history.

“I’ve been here 25 years and seen plenty of floods, but this was the worst,” he said. “I had an engineer tell me when we put the building in it was high enough to cope with a 100-year flood, but it went over that.

“It’s a total loss. The building’s still okay, but everything inside is damaged and probably written off.”

It was a similar story at the General Store, where thigh-high water wrecked stock, equipment, fixtures and fittings in the shop,

as well as the adjoining family home. The flood filled mailboxes with mud and uprooted a large shipping container used for storage –only the metal railings on a pedestrian bridge opposite Krippner Road stopped it from disappearing entirely down-river. In the library, everything was destroyed except for items on the very top shelf – the worst flood by far since a similar onslaught almost a century earlier, which caused it to close its doors in 2024. However, the community has rallied magnificently since, with local residents and contractors rescuing people and vehicles, clearing slips and hauling away debris from deluged buildings.

“We were extremely lucky, I don’t think I’ve seen the community rally round like they did on the Saturday morning after,” Green said afterwards. “Every community has it, people get together to help, but I’d have to say it was pretty impressive here.” The community was also quick to help those worst affected, Nic and Jo at the General Store, who lost virtually everything. Friend Sarita McLean set up a Givealittle page that, as Hibiscus Matters went to press last week had raised more than $23,500. Anyone wishing to donate should go to https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ help-puhoi-store

Building consents in flood zones questioned by councillors

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council

Public

The Auckland anniversary floods renewed calls from councillors to look at building consents in potentially hazardous areas, including flood plains, flood prone areas, inundation and erosion zones.

At the Planning, Environment and Parks committee on February 9, Cr Chris Darby noticed a new section in council’s latest monthly housing update which showed in the past year, 10 percent of new dwelling consents were in hazard zones. The latest February report showed 214

dwellings consented in December were within hazard zones – 16 percent of the dwelling consents for the month.

Cr Darby said this was a wake-up call.

“We have got to act on this information,” he said.

He said tens of thousands of people had moved into hazard zones and may not understand the risks of where they are living.

Darby said he had heard the Anniversary Weekend floods described as ‘unprecedented’, implying that nothing could have been done to prevent what occurred.

He said it seemed like that was an excuse.

Chief of strategy Megan Tyler admitted

that the policy settings that allow building consents in hazard zones may need to change.

“We are looking at those policy settings in the Unitary Plan because maybe they, or our design standards, are not good enough anymore,” Tyler said.

Cr Sharon Stewart said she had been ‘a broken record’ with her concerns around flooding.

“I said that allowing development to go onto flood plains would one day come home to bite us, and it has happened,” Cr Stewart said.

Cr Stewart was among several councillors who suggested Auckland needs a moratorium on building consents in flood prone areas.

Mayor Wayne Brown expressed concerns about Aucklanders “lawyering up” to transfer blame to council for flood damage to their properties.

“There are a number of places where we have seen inappropriate forms of construction and inappropriate intensification efforts in valleys.”

He said there were developments that had been turned down by council but developers can try to override that by challenging the decision in the Environment Court. Council staff will report back to committee on March 2 with the scope of the Auckland Anniversary floods investigation and its next steps.

reporter.

Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

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View from Puhoi Hotel veranda, Photo Isla Lodewyks.

Viewpoint

Sam Mills, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board sam.mills@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Tough decisions ahead

First and foremost, I would like to say a huge thank you to the tireless emergency service workers and volunteers who were out doing their very best to ensure safety of person and property on the coast during recent floods. As a community we are grateful both to those on the frontline and those serving behind the scenes.

For those of you following our Hibiscus & Bays Local Board meetings, and those who take a passing interest in local politics, you will have seen news of how council is trying to deal with a budget gap approaching $300 million dollars. As part of the response to this challenge, local boards across Auckland have been asked to make significant cuts from our locally driven initiatives budgets which is going to force us to make hard decisions which will be felt throughout the coast. Further, it is yet to be seen the effects of the recent flooding will have on our bottom line. Across Auckland, comment is being made on suggested cuts, be it the proposal to close the council operated Kauri Kids early childhood centres or the closure of the Auckland Citizens Advice Bureaux in pursuit of plugging the aforementioned budgetary gap.

Personally, my position prior to serving on your local board was that Auckland Council should stick to its knitting, inclusive of the provision of local infrastructure, waste management, building control through the

likes of zoning and consent, and enforcement of local regulations. Allocation of your ratepayers’ funds is sacrosanct. Just as we, as ratepayers, have to prioritise and balance our budgets so should the council that serves us. Having spent some time on the local board now, I am starting to see the likely effects our decisions will have on valued local groups and organisations that depend on your funding to continue their hard work within the community. This work involves much time donated by volunteers that only want the best for the Coast, its residents, and its environment – volunteer time that when calculated as a whole is invaluable to the Coast and our way of life. Going one step further regarding sticking to our knitting, is the provision of a library service seven days a week within our knitting as a local board? To say this is locally controversial would be an understatement. This is all going out for consultation with you as our community and the local board will have time set aside to hear your views in public. I strongly encourage you as community members to engage in this process. The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board exists to serve you, and your voice needs to be heard prior to us making these hard decisions. Your important feedback will determine how we proceed on your behalf.

Government gives 3 Waters more thought

In light of various changes made in Government policies by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, he has also been under pressure to reconsider the 3 Waters reforms. Recently he announced that Cabinet has considered the 3 Waters programme. “The need for reform is unquestionable. The [weather] events in Auckland have once again demonstrated the limits of our existing infrastructure and the need for change. But careful consideration is required.” On February 9, Prime Minister Hipkins stated that the consideration process is likely to take a few more weeks. “The status quo isn’t viable. We need to find a new way of funding the billions required for infrastructure upgrades without the huge increases in household rates bills that were projected without further action being undertaken,” the Prime Minister said. “This is fundamentally about infrastructure, the cost of living, and the quality of life for New Zealanders. The Government will work through those options carefully, and that process is likely to take a few more weeks.” Cabinet has asked Minister for local government, Kieran McAnulty, to report back on options for refocusing the reforms, including seeking further feedback from local government and Maori. “The Government is aware that there is concern around co-governance; there’s also concern from local authorities,” Prime Minister Hipkins said. “In the coming weeks we want to work with local authorities on these issues. However, there are no options on the table yet. There is no overnight fix to the problems that we’ve got with our water infrastructure in NZ, but it is important we reassess the options to make sure that we’ve got the mix right.”

OurOpinion Floods refocus priorities

The destruction caused by the two recent weather events seems to have re-focused the minds of Auckland Councillors and the Mayor on how to improve the city’s resilience in future.

Any changes should start with the budget, which is out soon for public consultation. As Hibiscus Matters went to print, the governing body of Council was meeting to take a last look at the document before it goes out for public consultation.

Forest & Bird has called the budget “not fit for purpose in a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis”, bearing in mind aspects such as “cuts to stormwater management, funding cuts for environmental initiatives and reducing the funding available for activities funded by the Natural Environment and Water Quality targeted rates in future years, by using up the current reserves”.

However, it seems that the stormwater issue mentioned there could have been more a process of ‘creative accounting’, rather than actual cuts – the line on this in the budget proposal says: “Reduction to the budget of stormwater reactive maintenance through improved budgeting and minor capital expenditure.”

The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, and our Ward councillors John Watson and Wayne Walker, are asking the community to take a close look at what is proposed in this budget and make submissions, as enough voices raised may bring about changes when the budget is finalised.

The weather events have also encouraged Council to take another look at its Auckland Unitary Plan provisions that currently enable construction in areas that are flood prone or otherwise vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our democracy reporter Laura Kvigstad covered this discussion in the story on p4. And the Mayor has signalled a new focus on de-centralising Civil Defence operations (HM February 6).

The floods and cyclone have impacted large areas of the Hibiscus Coast and put us all in survival mode. It is timely that, while all that is still fresh, there is the opportunity to have our voices heard about what ratepayers’ money should be spent on.

Editor, Terry Moore

YourOpinion

Sprawl spoils Coast

We are gobsmacked by the lack of intelligence displayed regarding development and infrastructure. Take Penlink (please!). Here we are on a peninsula with access to buses, ferries, and a well organised road in and out, for our current Peninsula population anyway. Climate change is bringing us a taste of the future with heavy rain creating havoc with our poorly built roads and flooding in areas where houses and factories should not have been built. Such comprehensive flooding should be a wake-up call for what we are asking of the Earth as we cut down forests to build roads, and allow infill housing with no plans for stormwater, sewage or even a decent space for human living. Even before the rivers of rain, many roads were riddled with potholes some so big that small cars got stuck in them. Apparently, there is not enough money for road maintenance and yet here we are demanding another costly roading structure such as Penlink. Like every other roading project, we can be sure that its current estimated cost of $830m will balloon out to well over a billion, and all for probably half of the Peninsula’s current population of 31,000 to (apparently) cut off about 22 minutes travel time to the city. Have the planners not travelled down the motorway during

Contributions to this page are welcome but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at www.localmatters.co.nz/opinion Letters should be sent to terry@localmatters.co.nz or 21 Florence Ave, Ōrewa 0931. Note: We do not publish abusive or unsigned letters.

rush hour? Wouldn’t this money be better spent where it is really needed, maintaining better roads for more people? Penlink will no doubt make the peninsula more attractive for development. The road from Army Bay is already overloaded with our current population, to say nothing about all of the other overloaded infrastructure such as drainage, sewage, water and power. I’m sure that, like us, many people came to live on the peninsula because of the wonderful environment it offers, and to get away from the Auckland suburban sprawl. Once Penlink is completed, the suburban sprawl will quickly fill the Peninsula and destroy the wonderful environment that we and visitors are currently enjoying.

Dee and Mike Pignéguy, Manly (abridged)

Long wait for care

In December, my husband had a nasty accident, took a chunk out of his arm and collapsed on the bathroom floor in shock. It was beyond my capabilities so he lay there for half an hour while I rang 111 for assistance. Eventually he managed to crawl into the bedroom and waited two hours till the paramedics arrived. They were very helpful and after doing a thorough check suggested that I drive him to Shore Care at Smales Farm to get stitches, as medical facilities in our location close after 8pm

(why?). After waiting for our turn at Shore Care amongst a throng of other sick and injured people until 3am (from 9pm), he still hadn’t seen a doctor and there were apparently eight more patients still in front of him. We gave up – it was too much! We are 80 years old. What in the world happened to our medical system? it is totally inadequate.

Sue Norwood, Ōrewa (abridged)

Editor’s note: The ongoing issue of healthcare provision locally was raised at this month’s Hibiscus & Bays Local Board meeting by an Ōrewa resident. The local board is seeking an update on the newly implemented Te Whata Ora/Health NZ structure – specifically how that could support better services locally.

Correction

We apologise that somehow the final sentence of the Environment column by Jenny Hanwell of Forest & Bird in our February 6 edition, got missed off. That final sentence should have read: “Write to Council, our local board, and this paper and express your appreciation and support for conservation efforts, tree plantings, pest control and shorebird protection.” Hibiscus Matters hopes readers take up Jenny’s suggestion!

Recent severe weather events turned parks into ponds, roads into rivers and the sea reclaimed more of the shore. Power was out, trees down and homes made uninhabitable by flooding. Although there was significant damage to property and the environment, this area was by no means the worst hit. As this paper goes to print, the cleanup and recovery process is underway. Here are some images of Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact.

Sunflowers a winner with Coast community

Anyone passing Rod Dennis’ home in Milton Road, Ōrewa will have admired his row of giant sunflowers this summer. The 92-year-old has been growing them in the same place ever since he retired – but this year, for the first time, they were prizewinners.

Twenty years ago, Rod had a stroke and now has Aphasia, so finds communication difficult.

His son, John, says Rod purposely grows the sunflowers where they can be seen by people walking past.

“He enjoys pottering in the garden, taking it slowly. In 2021 we had to move my mum Elaine into a care home, so now seeing people stop to admire the sunflowers, and have a chat, is even more special for him,” John says. “Learning to live on your own at 90 has been a real challenge. He finds gardening very therapeutic, especially through all the lockdowns when he was not allowed to visit Elaine.”

Although John helps in the garden, Rod did nearly all of the nurturing of his beloved sunflowers again this year.

“Dad even turned over most of the sod using a spade. He mixed his fertiliser brew and planted the seeds himself. Over the months since the seeds were planted, Dad has regularly cared for his sunflowers. Most days he could be seen weeding the plot, watering the plants and tying them up to stakes while he could still reach them from the ground.”

Around 12 of them were in full flower just before Christmas.

In Spring, Matt Gilmore of Harcourts Ōrewa ran his sunflower competition, for

the second time. It offers a prize for the tallest sunflower grown by February 1. As it happens, Rod grows a super tall variety, called Sunflower Ginormous FlowerZilla, so John entered him in the competition.

Rod’s tallest sunflower, at 2.7m, left the rest for dust and Matt also loved the story about the effort involved in keeping the display of sunflowers going.

Rod won a ‘celebration box’ full of treats John says Rod was chuffed to win but the main thing is that it makes his day to see people enjoying what he has grown.

Rod Dennis, 92, with his prize winning sunflowers.

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Double trouble – neighbours oppose plan for twice as many houses

A group of Ōrewa residents is preparing for a fight as a neighbouring development plans to increase the number of houses it can build there by 132 percent.

The property, at 250 and 256 West Hoe Heights, is being developed by Shildon Ltd (sole director Andrew Fawcet of Auckland), and will be called Strathmill.

Rob Matthews lives alongside the site, in Boocock Crescent and received notification on December 22 that the developers wanted to increase the number of houses to be built from 201 to 467. Neighbours were given until January 9 to get their feedback in

“We always knew that the land would be developed and had no issues with the proposed 201 houses, but the traffic increase and density of what is proposed is a major concern,” Matthews says.

He says what is proposed is not in character with the area and neighbours also fear an impact on their property values.

“This area is already packed – with Ara Hills and Pacific Heights developments,” he says. “Infrastructure, such as schools, shops, public transport and sewage will not be able to cope.”

The government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS), introduced last year, enable this level of density (up to three storeys, including terraced housing and apartments).

The original resource consent for the site was granted by Auckland Council in 2018. To speed things up, the developer had the altered plan accepted into the government’s Covid-19 Recovery (Fast- track Consenting) process at the end of last year, although the application has not yet been lodged. Last

year, the developer of 20 Melia Place, Whangaparāoa (by the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA) used the same method to gain consent.

It is a process that allows for written feedback from Council and close neighbours.

Council’s Resource Consents general manager, Ian Smallburn, says while Council does not yet have a stated position, it has noted that the proposal lacks information relating to transport and infrastructure.

Shildon Ltd development manager Andrew Allsopp-Smith says the proposal is intended to align with the MDRS and help meet housing demand.

“From the developer’s perspective, it is an appropriate number, given the 24ha size of the site,” Allsopp-Smith says. “Developing the site in this way avoids under-utilisation, which helps to prevent urban sprawl. It will bring significant economic value to the area, including employment.”

He says the developer is working closely with technical experts to make sure that there is the necessary infrastructure to support the development, that the design is in keeping with the surrounding area, and that effects are appropriately managed.

“The reports prepared by these experts will form part of the resource consent application which will be assessed by an expert consenting panel under the fast-track consent process.”

Residents who are opposed to the plan held a meeting on February 18.

“We will do everything we can to fight this,” Matthews says.

Development site not sold yet

The property at 20 Melia Place and 43A Vipond Road, Whangaparāoa, where there is consent to build 59 dwellings, has so far not sold. The site, next to the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, was put on the market by Melia Development just before Christmas, with “all offers considered”. Tenders closed on February 8. Ray White real estate agent Lei Li told the paper last week that there are no confirmed sales as yet. She says that work is underway to level the site. Last year Precise Homes was selling the homes off the plans, with several already sold.

Plans for Whangaparāoa Rd sites in early stages

After purchasing 20 sites along Whangaparāoa Road –472-502 Whangaparāoa Road and 4 Brightside Road – last July, Hopper Developments is still working on its plans for the site. The company’s chief executive, Tim Brooks says the idea was always to take time with the design process to ensure the right outcome. “We have done some initial enabling consultancy and will look to develop our ideas over the next six months,” he says. “Despite the current economic recession and real estate market slowdown, we are optimistic that some normality will return by the end of the year.”

Red Beach site ‘paused’

The development site at 33 Red Beach Road and 4 Albatross Road in Red Beach (formerly the location of Faithfull Funeral Services) was put up for sale last November but has not sold. Together, the sites have consent for 29 residential dwellings. The asking price is $9m. In light of the lack of a sale, the owner of the site, Red Beach 1, is pausing the project. Co-director Tom Anderson says the company will monitor the market for the next year. “Factors including interest rates, a lack of sales activity and high build costs mean we won’t be advancing the project in any meaningful way in the immediate future,” Anderson says. “Whilst we did test the market in trying to sell the site, the reality is that there is a lack of demand for development sites. We are fortunate in that we don’t need to undertake a forced sale, and can pause and take stock. The site will remain vacant until we see improvement in the market.” He says the company still has Bayleys engaged as agents to pursue all avenues of marketing the property. “However, we are considering all commercial options in what is an incredibly difficult climate.”

Rob Matthews, right, is spreading the word among neighbours about the plan to double the size of this adjacent housing development –including handing out flyers.

Businesses within this area will soon have their say on the formation of a Business Improvement District.

Airify

Keeping everyone’s indoor air clean and healthy is the main aim of a new mobile heat pump cleaning business, that covers from Whangaparaoa to Mangawhai.

Airify Rodney owner Tom Watson says most people don’t realise that their heat pump units need to be cleaned and serviced once a year, not only to keep them running efficiently, but to prevent people breathing in contaminated air in their home or business.

“A lot of people don’t realise that mould can grow in heat pumps, and it could be making them sick,” he says. “Heat pump filters are designed to protect the machines, not people.”

Watson says an unmaintained heat pump can cause respiratory and other health issues, as well as causing the unit to work

harder to maintain its temperature, using more electricity and pushing up power bills. Airify will inspect, clean and sanitise every part of indoor and outdoor heat pump units, using a flush system to get rid of dust, dirt, mould and any other contaminants.

Tom has lived in the Wellsford, Warkworth and Kaipara area all his life and, after 15 years as a builder, was looking for a career change. He says making sure heat pumps are kept clean and healthy, as well as compliant with the latest healthy homes standards, fitted the bill.

“I wanted to do something that would still help the community, but that maybe wasn’t quite so labour intensive as building,” he says. “A lot of people still don’t seem to know how important it is to keep their heat pumps clean and serviced, and the air they’re breathing healthy.”

CONTAMINATED HEAT

BID put to the vote in Silverdale

Starting next week, businesses in and around Silverdale will have a chance to vote in a ballot issued by their local business association, Silverdale Business.

The outcome will determine whether or not a Business Improvement District (BID) will be formed in Silverdale.

BIDs are a partnership between a business association and Auckland Council and aim to facilitate improvements and support business growth, funded by a targeted rate.

There are around 50 BIDs in Auckland – at present the only one locally is Destination Ōrewa Beach.

Silverdale Business is suggesting that its proposed BID would encompass Silverdale Village, the industrial area, Silverdale Centre, the businesses at the entrance to Silverdale (including Kings Plant Barn, Snowplanet, The Botanic and Pak ‘n Save) as well as Highgate and Millwater.

Voting process

Forming a BID is a strictly regulated process: a successful ballot requires at least 25 percent of all ballot papers to be returned, and of those, a minimum of 51 percent of votes must be in favour of a Silverdale BID and the associated targeted rate.

If the proposal passes that threshold, a BID will be formed and all businesses within the area defined by the final map must become members and pay a targeted rate to Council, which funds BID projects. The base targeted rate is $400 (plus GST) plus a small percentage of a property’s capital value. Forming a BID would increase paid membership of Silverdale Business from around 160 businesses currently, to around 600.

Business association chair Theo Simeonidis says becoming a BID will give the association a lot more resources to support and market its business community.

• The ballot runs from March 1-28. • It is being conducted by an independent ballot company, and will be done online, via email voting pack, or in some instances a postal voting pack. • Opportunities to vote include a Business After Five networking event at Silverdale Rugby Club on Thursday, March 16 from 5.30pm, which includes secure lodging of votes. • Results are expected to be announced on March 31. Info: https:// silverdalebusiness.co.nz/bid-project/

Tom Watson

Youth Voice

Caitlin Watson, caitewatson@gmail.com

More fun in town

Let’s face it, as a young person there isn’t much to do around the Coast on a weekend night. Generally speaking, youth are either at home playing video games, out at a party, isolated in their room or some might even be causing mischief on the streets. It can be hard to get out and find some good fun around town!

The stereotypical weekend night youth culture isn’t one that is thriving on the Coast, and we think we can do better. Coast Community Trust has established two programmes, the Ballers Night Club and the Footy Night Club, to try and make for a more positive, fun and active weekend night. The game plan is simple. The majority of the night is spent participating in a social basketball scrimmage or football game. Youth are also supported by a team of volunteer leaders who provide informal mentoring.

For the Ballers Night Club, each Friday night session involves pizza (thanks Dominos Whangaparāoa) and a pep talk where positive role models from the community give a short talk to encourage youth in life/ sport. It is all with the purpose of using sport as a vehicle to develop a sense of belonging, build community and prevent harm.

Since starting in 2022, the Ballers Night Club is used to having up to 50 youth join in on a Friday night. Coast Community Trust, in partnership with Harbour Sport and supported by CYC Trust, is running the

Ballers Night Club at both Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa venues on a Friday night this year.

On the other hand, the Footy Night Club is starting as a trial in Term One, running on Saturday nights. Coast Community Trust is teaming up with the Hibiscus Hockey Trust to bring some more fun for those who are keen on a bit of football. A big thanks to the generous support of the Red Beach Four Square for helping to get this programme up and running.

The bottom line is you don’t have to be Michael Jordan or Cristiano Ronaldo–anyone can give a bit of ball or footy a go, or just come to hang out. So, if you or a young person you know, are looking for a bit of fun around town on a Friday or a Saturday night, head down to the Ballers or Footy Night Club! The Ballers Night Club is on Friday nights at Whangaparāoa College and KingsWay School, 7.30pm-10pm and the Footy Night Club is on Saturday nights at the Millwater Hockey Turf in Millwater Parkway, 7pm-9pm. For more info visit www. coastcommunity.org.nz

Since starting in 2022, the Ballers Night Club is used to having up to 50 youth join in on a Friday night.

Summerset Milldale coming soon.

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Once complete, it will offer over 220 independent homes to choose from including villas and apartments. Plus, we will have a wide range of care options, including serviced apartments, a care centre and our industry-leading memory care centre. All safe and secure within a fully gated village community.

Summerset Milldale is located close to Silverdale and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in one of Auckland’s newest and most affordable suburbs. It will offer the perfect retirement lifestyle, close to beaches, cafes and shopping, everything the Hibiscus Coast has to offer.

Only 25 minutes from downtown Auckland, this stunning village will give you easy access to everything a busy retirement life demands.

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2022 AgedCare & RetirementVillages AgedCare RetirementVillages

Village celebrates milestone

Gulf Rise, the Metlifecare retirement village on the former Peninsula golf course land in Red Beach, opened in 2019 and currently has around 130 residents.

Those residents have been living around a work in progress, as the village continues to take shape – three apartment buildings are expected to be completed in 2026 and a care centre will open in the coming months.

Recently, a new milestone was marked as a building featuring several new communal amenities, called the Tiritiri building, was officially opened.

It includes a café and bar, function room, library and a flexible space for things such as table tennis, fitness classes, and crafts. There is also a pool and spa.

Residents, staff and representatives of Metlifecare attended the opening of the building on Friday, February 10.

The plaque was unveiled by the first residents to move into the village, Sharon and Graham Andrews.

Metlifecare chief executive Earl Gasparich described the village as a jewel in the crown, saying it is “setting the standard in Metlifecare premium villages”.

He pointed in particular to the NZ Green Building Council’s 6 Green Star sustainability rating of the care centre, which will be opened later this year. “Metlifecare is serious about sustainability,” he said.

Once complete, Gulf Rise will have a mix of around 235 independent living apartments and villas, a care centre with rest home and hospital, plus a secure dementia unit. The village was designed to include links with the surrounding neighbourhood, including a plan to open the café and bar to the public in due course.

Council opposes lowering voting age to 16 years

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

Auckland Council will express its opposition to lowering the voting age in its submission to central Government – a position supported by both Albany Ward Councillors.

At the Planning, Environment and Parks committee on February 9, a divisive chair’s recommendation that Council’s submission should support lowering the voting age, ended up being reversed.

Central Government began drafting legislation to lower the voting age after a Supreme Court judgement deemed NZ’s

current voting age was discriminatory.

Cr Wayne Walker said it was important to note that there is an absence of civics education in NZ schools.

“Contrast that with what occurs in other areas, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom,” Cr Walker said.

The type of things covered by this type of education are knowledge of NZ citizens’ rights and duties, civic processes (such as how laws are made), how voting works and dealing with government agencies.

Cr Walker said civics education was important to consider first and foremost when it came to lowering the voting age.

On the other hand, Cr Shane Henderson

said he has not yet heard any good arguments against lowering the voting age.

“We do not test voters on their knowledge of the council, or the candidates, or how anything works around here,” Cr Henderson said. “We do not give people ‘worthy voter tests’ – we just allow them to vote.”

He said 16-year-olds have “the most skin in the game” of anyone with the impacts of climate change and that council should lead in supporting the issue.

Six committee members voted in favour of supporting lowering the voting age and nine voted against it. Albany Ward Councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson were among those in opposition.

The first residents to move into Gulf Rise, Sharon and Graham Andrews, unveiled a plaque at the opening of the village’s new Tiritiri centre, assisted by Metlifecare chief executive Earl Gasparich. When Gulf Rise was built, a large number of round concretion rock formations were uncovered from underneath the former golf course land. Some of these have been placed around the village.

(9)

58 Unfold (4)

59 Quantity of money (3)

60 Needle, incite (4)

61 Black-and-white bird (6)

62 Garland (3)

63 Tried out for a role (10)

66 Yearly book (6)

67 Financial plan (6)

69 Spreader of sleeping sickness (6,3)

72 Illuminates (6)

73 Boat users (anag)(9)

75 Fine glassware (7)

77 Mined rock (3)

80 Leg bone (5)

81 Fully investigate and

find out the truth about (3,2,3,6,2)

82 Rot (5)

83 Official language of Israel (6)

84 Quirks (8)

85 Very strange (5)

DOWN

2 Dock worker (9)

3 Gag (5)

5 Wild sex party (4)

6 Anguish (7)

7 Climbers (12)

8 Claw (5)

9 Spendthrift (7)

10 Identify (4)

11 Rectangular (6)

12 Hired helpers (5)

13 Planet (7)

14 Go before (7)

16 Not workable, unrealistic (11)

22 Frugality (6)

23 Daunt, disconcert (7)

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Hoodoo Gurus rock Parāoa

Green scene

John Stewart, SOSSI info@sossi.org.nz

Deluge impacts park

The severe rainfall events of late January certainly had some impacts on Shakespear Regional Park.

The pest-proof fence has a ‘blow-out’ zone at the rear of the Waterfall Gully dam, where the bottom of the fence lifted off the ground to allow excess water to escape. The fence is designed to allow this to happen and once the flow subsided the Park Rangers quickly restored the mesh to prevent any pest incursions.

of the Open Sanctuary seem to have come through the deluge relatively unharmed. The biggest risk to birds is to those that nest in burrows dug into the ground, as these can flood in severe rain events, possibly flushing eggs or chicks out of the burrows. Fortunately, our breeding seabirds had mostly fledged their chicks before the rain came. Little spotted kiwi could have eggs or chicks at this time and so they might have reduced breeding success this year.

When Australian rock band Hoodoo Gurus play at Paraoa Brewing, in Whangaparāoa on March 1, it will be the band’s first appearance in NZ for more than 20 years.

They toured the country regularly in the 1980s and 90s.

Fans will be able to hear all the hits including What’s my Scene, Like Wow - Wipe Out, Bittersweet and 1000 Miles Away

Hoodoo Gurus frontman Dave Faulkner says the band is thrilled to be coming back

to NZ. “We’ll be hitting Paraoa Brewing with a spring in our step and a fire in our bellies,” he says. “We’re coming to shake it down on The Shaky Isles!”

Since their formation in 1981, Hoodoo Gurus have produced a number of hit albums such as Stoneage Romeos, Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool and Magnum Cum Louder

Fast-rising Auckland indie band Silk Cut will open the show. Tickets from Eventfinda.

Kiwi classics MiSex and Stellar - one night only

Two of NZ’s most popular guitar/electronic rock bands, Mi-Sex and Stellar, combine forces for a gig at Paraoa in Whangaparāoa, on Thursday, March 9. The hits from both bands span several generations, from the late 1970s to mid-2000s. Mi-Sex will perform hits like Computer Games, People, Blue Day, But You Don’t Care, and Graffiti Crimes

Stellar, fronted by powerhouse vocalist Boh Runga will also get the venue rocking with songs like Violent, All It Takes, Part Of Me, Every Girl, What You Do and many more. Tickets from Eventfinda

The Okoromai wetland area filled up, and access to the amenity area was under water, as was the campground and the access road. Some of the pest monitoring and trapping equipment was washed away or tipped over and staff and volunteers worked hard to reinstate the hardware.

Post-downpour, the Auckland Council biosecurity team issued advice on the increased risk of pest incursions to islands and sanctuaries. They noted that: ‘There have been several reports of pest animals such as possums, rodents and stoats on the move, displaced in flood-affected areas as they seek higher ground and dry places. In one report, many live rats were observed being washed into the sea from a creek on the North Shore.’

As might be expected, one or two rats were detected inside the Open Sanctuary fence, but systems are in place to deal with them. Thankfully, apart from the impacts on infrastructure and increased risk of pest incursions, the landscape, plants and animals

Okoromai wetland area filled up, and the amenity area was under water

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Bird feathers are designed to shed rain and, even in heavy downpours, our forest birds can maintain their body temperature and sit out the weather. Survival becomes more difficult if their access to food is restricted by severe wet and windy conditions over extended periods. Of course, there are lots of juvenile birds around at this time of year and they may be less able to survive in tough conditions. Climate scientists are telling us that we may expect both more dry days and more days with heavy rainfall events. Our birds can probably cope with heavy rainfall events provided they don’t extend over many consecutive days. And once some of those drier days arrive we can take the opportunity to get back into the park and enjoy the precious wildlife.

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Health

Learning from elite athletes

As a country we are obsessed with sport. From the All Blacks to our Silver Ferns, Blackcaps, basketball, League and Olympic sports. We love to watch the nation’s best athletes compete on a global scale. It is easy to assume that they have some superhuman ability to train, perform and compete that is beyond us mere mortals. How do they hone such incredible skillsets – is it simply by doing hours of training? Is it the technology that’s available to them? What other factors could possibly result in a talented youth becoming an Olympic medallist?

Recently I have been reading The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle – a deep dive into how the unique talents of this world have come to grace us with their presence. Is it purely genetic, or aspects of their upbringing that are more influential? It is no coincidence that there are ‘hotbeds’ of talent around the world – for example, South Korean female golfers, Russian female tennis players, football players from the streets of Brazil. The term ‘deep practice’ has been investigated where some individuals can perform a task then rapidly develop a blueprint and then hone and refine it repeatedly. Football coach Tom Martinez is quoted in the book: “It’s not how fast you can do it, it’s how slow you can do it correctly”. Perhaps all we need to do is slow down?

against the best distance runners from around the world. The teams from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda will no doubt feature. When looking around at the start line of an event like this, there is one final factor in play – what is known as ‘the upper 10cm’. These days with the internet, training methods and a global coaching network; there are very few secrets to success. It is instead, the ability of the athlete to focus, concentrate and endure. Mental strength so often determines the position on a podium. This too is a free skill set that we can all learn from. The field of sports psychology is fast growing, given that coaches and athletes continue to realise how important their mental state is on a performance outcome. Not all of us will become world champions. There are however learnings that we can take to help us excel in any walk of life…and some of these are free! They include:

• Rest/recovery: Athletes at a high level don’t just train hard, they recover hard too. Ensuring you get a full 8 hours of sleep is a good start to ensuring your body can function at an optimal level.

• Hydration: It is crucial to take on enough water, especially if you are losing fluids from exercise. A simple urine colour chart can help tell if you are dehydrated!

But Don’t Take Our Word For It!

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Called him on Good Friday and queried about getting my hot water cylinder looked at, wasn’t sure what the problem was but had no hot water. He turned up within half an hour of calling, sorted the problem out and was on his way. Thank you for prompt

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Soon I will be heading away with the NZ team to the World Cross Country Championships. Our team of 26 athletes will be competing

Mental resilience: This isn’t simply endowed on some and not others – just like any other trait, it can be worked on and improved. Deliberately challenging yourself and working through those challenges, selfreflection, goal setting and more can also help to build the ‘mental muscle’.

As we start a new year, use the blueprint of the elite athlete and let some of those habits and ideas trickle down into your life. If nothing else, go to the local library and borrow The Talent Code…it’s a great read!

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Maygrove Village Social Committee’s barbecue held on February 3, raised $700 towards Ōrewa Surf Club’s new building. The weather meant that the barbecue was brought inside, but organisers say this didn’t dampen spirits. Forty prizes donated by local businesses were eagerly bid for in the raffle. Surf club chair John Chapman and members Andrea May and Gwenda Holster-Dowler were there to give residents a presentation about the plans for the Surf Club building. Pictured, from left, serving up sausages, are social committee members Liz Goulding, Margaret Benfell and Marlene Russell.

“Totally Dependable”

David Cooper, physiotherapist david@kineticsrehab.co.nz

Spectacular sections. Selling now!

An enviable location to live, perched elegantly above the northern edge of Warkworth and just 45 minutes from the Auckland CBD, you’ll find Warkworth Ridge.

These 53 hectares of rolling hills and stunning views will be home to a collection of carefully considered sections that combine the things that matter most — connection, nature, and wellbeing.

Warkworth Ridge is created with harmony in mind, expect greenery and open spaces, attractive street appeal and house sites positioned for sunshine and rural views. Leading edge urban design will complete the picture of a neighbourhood with its own parks, cycleways, footpaths, community centre, café, and playground.

Sandspit 7 Creek Street

Coastal haven location!

Looking for privacy, views and unique location? Sandspit Marina just down the road, this freehold property is the gateway to Auckland's newest coastal hot spot. Stunning westerly sunsets from expansive decking, easy outdoor flow. fresh refurb in and out. Open plan entertainers' kitchen. Sandspit Yacht Club and marina just down the road, and the magic of Matakana Coast! Flexible settlement available, owners off closer to family and early offers invited.

Vendors relocate, flexi settlement-be in for summer! bayleys.co.nz/1203319

NEW LISTING

8,001sqm 3 1

Auction (unless sold prior) 10am, Thu 9 Mar 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth View Sun 12-12.30pm

Avalon Sanders 021 230 9515 avalon.sanders@bayleys.co.nz

James Sanders 021 135 0740 james.sanders@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS

NEW LISTING

Warkworth 19 Oliver Street

Easy, breezy family classic

Set in popular Woodcocks Estate, this single level near-new family home is cleverly designed with four generous bedrooms, easy open living with a bright, sunny vibe. Sleek kitchen leads to open plan dining and lounge with ducted heat pump and indooroutdoor flow to private North facing outdoor living. Bonus second lounge highlighted with on-trend barn door feature. Lux features, and additional storage in attic both tucked away in double garage.

Current owners are relocating. Flexi settlement. bayleys.co.nz/1203359

581sqm 4 2 2

Auction (unless sold prior) 10am, Thu 23 Feb 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth View Sun 11-11.30am

Avalon Sanders 021 230 9515

avalon.sanders@bayleys.co.nz

James Sanders 021 135 0740 james.sanders@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED REAA 2008

Warkworth 27 Northwood Close

Stunning Home

This stunning sun drenched executive three bedroom home has been designed and built with the discerning in mind. With a masterchef kitchen including scullery and quality Bosch appliances through to the beautifully tiled bathrooms, separate laundry and easy care landscaped grounds. Outside, the manicured grounds and established plantings will give you shelter to entertain. The owners are moving closer to family and require their home sold. bayleys.co.nz/1203375

3 2 2 2

Auction (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 2 Mar 2023

14 Florence Avenue, Orewa View Sun 11.30am-12pm

Fin Higgins 021 660 558

fin.higgins@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED REAA 2008

bayleys.co.nz

Lifestyle living with harbour views

In an elevated position with a north facing aspect, this stylish coastal home on 2.549 hectares (more or less) offers magnificent views. The single level home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious open plan kitchen and dining/family area and separate living room. An expansive deck wraps around to provide a fabulous outdoor entertaining area to be enjoyed all day and night. There is a cabin that provides a separate office or guest room, with plenty of parking available. This property offers a large shed with an existing kitchen and bathroom, this is the perfect space for hobbies and/or storage. Mahurangi West is an area of outstanding natural beauty with beautiful beaches and walks nearby and the boat ramp at Opahi Bay just a few minutes’ drive. Our vendors are moving north, and they are motivated to sell.

That (carbon) sinking feeling

When the going gets tough, the tough get growing ...

Dee Pignéguy says a combination of Covid-19 lockdowns, the cost of living and recent floods has turned gardening from being seen as a ‘nice to have’, into a practical way to survive when times are tough.

The term coined for this is ‘survival gardening’. It is focused on growing edible plants, preserving the harvest and sharing produce with others to provide a secure food supply.

Should supply lines to supermarkets be severely disrupted, a climate or other emergency affect the community, or the costs of fresh food become unaffordable, growing your own can be a lifeline, Dee says.

The gardener, author (and Hibiscus Matters columnist) had to put on more of her Survival Gardening workshops recently after the first ones quickly filled up.

“Here, and around the world, many people are waking up to the need to be more responsible for their own safety, health and ability to feed themselves,” she says.

Dee takes the workshops in her own gardens in Manly, showing people practical skills and also discussing the soil improvement, planning and planting required to provide a steady supply of seasonal produce.

“This is what my grandparents and parents did – it’s not new,” Dee says. “But uncertain

times have drawn people back to those old skills. When I started out, I didn’t call it ‘survival gardening’ – I just used to grow as much as I could and hardly ever had to go to the shops.”

She says you don’t need a large backyard to grow your own food, and that preserving produce, sharing, bartering and community gardens are all part of the picture. “It’s about setting up a green infrastructure,” she says.

For more information about Dee’s Survival Gardening courses, or to book, email gardenerdee@gmail.com or visit www. feedmeright.co.nz

Climate change is very much on people’s minds after the recent floods, with many wondering what they can do at home to mitigate its effects. Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste says one thing we can do is improve our soil, creating a ‘carbon sink’. Carbon sinking is basically about good gardening – when you create deep topsoil and grow plants on it, carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere and turned into living biomass. This can be done by composting, the use of worm farms, bokashi bins and biochar. Hibiscus Zero Waste’s Betsy Kettle says some forms of carbon, like biochar, can remain in the soil for hundreds of years, drawing down and sequestering carbon almost permanently, with mighty benefits. “Soil with more carbon in it is high in organic matter, which helps soak water in, hold it in dry spells, hold onto nutrients and grow healthier plants,” she says. “This lessens erosion, drought-proofs, and eliminates the need for fertilisers.” And the process is being taken to local schools. Recently, Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste received a grant for a Carbon Sinker to work with local intermediate schools to create vegetable gardens. Locally, Wainui and Waitoki Schools and Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa Colleges, are already participating in the Zero Waste Zero Carbon Programme which diverts school food scraps to a farm for carbon-sinking. Now the Carbon Sinker will show them how to transform clay soil into topsoil for school vegetable gardens. The programme is primarily funded by Foundation North. Future Post has agreed to help the project by providing discounted garden edging made from recycled soft plastics for use in building raised garden beds. If you want to learn to transform topsoil using food scraps and biochar, sign up for local workshops through the Compost Collective at https:// compostcollective.org.nz/events-calendar/

Dee

Pignéguy says the recent floods and the rising cost of living have increased people’s interest in creating their own food supply at home.

Repair café off to strong start

A queue was at the door when Ōrewa’s first Repair Café opened in Ōrewa on February 4.

Repair cafés aim to keep items out of landfill by repairing them wherever possible. Anyone can bring items in to be looked at by a team of volunteer repairers. The repair cafés are now being held monthly in Ōrewa, thanks to Auckland not-for-profit organisation Doughnut Economics Advocates NZ (DEANZ), supported by Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste and the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board. People brought a total of 51 items into the Ōrewa Community Centre for the repairers to look at, from toys and radios to ceramics, laptops and coffee machines. Just over half were able to be fully or partially repaired. Where repair was not possible on the day, good advice was given. Sometimes repairs were redirected to local repair shops. Top of the list brought in for repair were electrical items, and registered electrician Eric Mills was kept very busy.

Toys, including some battery-driven ones, were another product brought in that had caused frustration for people when they simply stopped working, despite fresh batteries. Often getting such items open was a challenge in itself, as they are not designed for repair.

Calls are growing louder for products of all kinds to be repairable, to reverse the ‘throw away’ culture that sees so many things end up in landfill.

DEANZ repair café coordinator, Jaya Muddaiah, says feedback was very encouraging.

A total of 10 people signed up as volunteer repairers for future events. However, more are needed, particularly registered electricians. If you can help, email Sarah Williams, coordinator@ hibiscuscoastzerowaste.co.nz

The Ōrewa Repair Café will be held on the first Saturday of the month (the next one is March 4) at Ōrewa Community Centre, 11am-2pm.

Food Scrap Collection for Climate Action

info@citytofarm.co.nz www.citytofarm.co.nz

Betsy

Clockwise from top left, The DIY repair desk had plenty to do. Robert Vruink takes a look at a stereo brought in for repair. Eric Mills’ skills as a registered electrician were in demand. Kristin Bracken of Ōrewa says the DIY team showed her how to repair her clock herself, once she sources a part online. Left, Jobs put before Ngaire Galloway of Ōrewa and her sewing machine included seams, pockets, a torn bag and re-stringing a necklace.

Green Thumbs

Dr Lynsey Ellis, Ōrewa Community Garden lynseymellis@gmail.com

New gardens – from the ground up

There are many benefits to gardening. Whether want to grow flowers for the bees or salad for your lunch, it’s all possible in our climate. Here on the Coast, we have fabulous conditions for gardening.

If you are new to gardening, then it’s a good idea to start small. One of the keys to a successful garden is creating and maintaining good soil health. Most plants prefer free draining soil with a neutral pH (around 7). Here on the Coast most of us have clay, which is on the acidic side (lower pH) so it will need some help. You can tell it is clay by the colour (ours is a light yellow). If you are not sure, squeeze some in your hand and if it sticks together, it has a high clay content. Clay is not bad, as it holds moisture and nutrients, but for the plants to be able to access the nutrients and not get waterlogged you need to improve the drainage. Garden lime powder (to increase the pH and make it less acidic), organic matter (dig in some vegie scraps), compost and gypsum (from garden/landscape stores) will help. I usually use a mixture of these depending on what I have at home.

Don’t expect an instant fix – nature doesn’t work that way. But over time, these things will improve your soil.

If you’re nearer the beach you may have sandy soil which means it doesn’t hold water, so the nutrients wash away quickly.

Sandy soil benefits from good compost mixed in to help the structure and hold the nutrients. There is a lot of science behind soil structure and health but for the purposes of a home garden most things can be fixed with a bit of lime, a bag of compost, a good water and layer of mulch.

To save money, and help the environment, even if you have quite a small space, consider starting a compost heap or worm farm to provide your own soil-improving materials. More on this in a later column.

Think of soil as a living thing that needs feeding, nurturing and protecting if it is to survive and produce healthy plants. A key thing to remember when working on your soil is to keep it covered, don’t expose it to the sun and rain which will kill off the top layer of soil microbes. Cover it with an organic mulch. This can be wood chips, hay, straw, newspaper, shredded cardboard, plant cuttings, anything that will break down and feed the soil and allow water and air to flow through to the microbes below. Another option is growing in raised beds. These can be any structure raised above ground that allows you to bring in new soil for better drainage and easier soil management. At our Ōrewa Community Garden, we use raised beds so we can grow a wider range of crops on a sandy soil site.

Dr Lynsey Ellis is a co-founder of Sustainable Ōrewa which is part of a local group of volunteers who set up the Ōrewa Community Garden to support the community to grow food and other sustainable projects on the Coast. She has a PhD in social sustainability, a permaculture design certificate and teaches at Massey University. Lynsey has lived in Ōrewa since 2016 with her husband and two children. Her column is designed to help new gardeners.

ABOUT US

ABOUT US

Alexander Scrap Metals is a long established, N.Z owned, family business located in Silverdale. We service the greater Rodney area, but also Auckland city and surrounds.

Alexander Scrap Metals is a long established, N.Z owned, family business located in Silverdale. We service the greater Rodney area, but also Auckland city and surrounds.

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Alexander Scrap Metals is a long established, N.Z owned, family business located in Silverdale. We service the greater Rodney area, but also Auckland city and surrounds. We service all industries, but also specialise in commercial, farm clean ups, factory cleanouts, deceased estates or one-off household jobs.

We’ll pay you for copper, brass, lead, cable, batteries, steel, cars, machinery, aluminium, electric motors, stainless steel, roofing iron etc. “Free drop off ” for whiteware etc.

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Ōrewa cricketer captains first Pasifika girls team

Cricketer, and university student Gisele Naidu, 18, says as a young girl, playing cricket on the Hibiscus Coast had its challenges.

The bowling all-rounder has played since Primary school days, when she was always put in boys’ teams. She says this meant criticism from some of her fellow team members, and also being sidelined often. When she played for Whangaparāoa College, she had to get special dispensation to play in the boys’ team on cricket zone days. She persevered and says things improved when she was around 14 years old and able to join district teams (North Harbour and then Western Districts), and then Kumeu Women’s Reserve team.

She now plays for Suburbs New Lynn’s premier women’s team.

At the end of last month, she was selected to captain the first Pasifika School Girls’ team. The team was formed to play a T20 series versus the already established NZ Maori Girls team.

“We didn’t win, but they were our first games together as a team,” Gisele says. She says creating a Pasifika team was a great initiative.

One thing that made the matches stand out was the strong turnout and support from the players’ families.

“There are not many Pasifika girls players, so it was a chance to show what we can do and grow stronger from here. We hope there will be another tournament next year, and we will play a fun game to finish off the season.”

She says local girls who want to play cricket should definitely give it a go.

“In a lot of sports girls have the same obstacles, but once you find a good team you will be fine,” she says.

Hibiscus Coast Cricket Club manager Gair McSkimming says things are improving for local girls who love cricket.

Currently there are five girls in boys’ teams playing at the club, but next season they hope that a full girls team will be possible.

Gair says the club offers a very supportive environment and encourages girls to play at every opportunity.

“At last November’s Primary School zone day, which the club hosted, there were seven girls’ teams, so having one at Hibiscus is something the club is working hard on,” he says.

Fisheries plan – does it go far enough?

A draft fisheries plan for the Hauraki Gulf which still allows bottom trawling and Danish seine fishing is out for public consultation.

The plan also addresses the management of scallops and a review of the management of intertidal harvesting, and supports greater mana whenua and regional participation in fisheries management. It has already been criticised by fishing lobby group LegaSea. The group says implementing more nofishing zones is meaningless if destructive damage goes on unabated. It says the Government is not being ambitious enough with its Revitalising the Gulf strategy.

“This plan does not take meaningful steps to address the root causes of environmental damage and reduced biodiversity in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The most effective response is 100% seafloor protection. This starts with removing mobile bottom-contact fishing methods from the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – bottom trawling, scallop dredging and Danish seining.

“More protection in the Government’s eyes amounts to 17.6% of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park becoming ‘protected’, up from the current 6.6% protection from marine reserves and cable zones.”

Director fisheries management Emma Taylor says the plan reflects a commitment to an ecosystemsbased fisheries management approach.

“We recognise that all species in the fishery are connected and interdependent and this is reflected in the draft plan,” Taylor says.

“The draft plan will be supported by the development of fisheries indicators and a monitoring framework to measure progress over time. If approved, it will be New Zealand’s first area-based fisheries plan.

Fisheries New Zealand is inviting people to provide feedback on the plan before March 3. More information, including how to submit feedback, is available at: mpi.govt.nz/drafthauraki-gulf-fisheries-plan

Red Beach open water swim

Red Beach Surf Club’s annual Open Water Swim, to take place on Sunday, February 26, is a welcome return for the event, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 restrictions. It will be the 34th year that the event has been held. Organised by the surf club in conjunction with the Roskill Masters Swim Club, it offers entrants the choice of either a 1.5km or 3km distance, with the course starting and finishing in front of the club. The minimum age for swimmers is 14 years, and the wearing of wetsuits is optional. Up for grabs will be the Deyal Cosgrove trophies, to be awarded to the first man and first woman to complete the 3km course without wetsuits. The swim starts at 2.30pm, with registrations at the surf club from 1pm to 2pm. Spot prizes are on offer to all swimmers, with the draw taking place in the Red Beach Surf clubrooms after the swim. This event goes ahead only if there is a green Swimsafe reading. The entry form is available at www.redbeachslsc.com

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Gisele Naidu of Ōrewa says captaining the first Pasifika School Girls team was an enjoyable challenge.

The Open Water Swim at Red Beach this weekend is open to the public. Photo, Ross Malyon

DO you like being out and about and driving?

If you want to be part of a business that is making a difference in your community? Then we want to hear from you! We are looking for school van drivers for runs on the Hibiscus Coast and surrounding areas. What you need is to enjoy being around young people and having their safety and welfare at heart.

If you have a Clean Full Class 1 NZ driver’s license we can help you obtain

If this sounds like you or you have any questions please contact Louise. Phone or txt: 027 497 5842

Aimee Bright beat her mother, Olympic boardsailer Barbara Kendall, (inset) to first place in the Women’s division –something Kendall says was ‘no surprise’. Photos, Tom Squires

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OPEN WATER SWIM

The Open Water Swim at Red Beach is on Sunday, February 26, 2.30pm. Choice of 1.5km or 3km distance, with the course starting and finishing in front of the club. Registrations at the surf club from 1pm to 2pm. Goes ahead provided Safeswim reading is green. Entry form www.redbeachslsc.com

JUNIOR RUGBY

Registration at Silverdale United Rugby Club is now open. New players need to complete a registration form at www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/210657. Junior players will have to attend a registration night where they will be weighed for tackle rugby. Those are on February 28, March 1 & 2, 6pm-8pm at the club.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Hibiscus Coast Raiders Rugby League presents the Pretty Tough Sheila Challenge, for teams of 4 women. Stanmore Bay Reserve, Saturday, March 18. $120 per team. Register by email at raiderssheilacomp@gmail.com

TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis at Whangaparāoa Community Hall. Games on Mondays, 9am12noon. Emphasis on fun and social play with tea and coffee included in the entrance charge of $2. All welcome. Info: phone Steve Chong, 027 442 1653.

ToTalspan Rodney

Manly sailors top Oceania leaderboard

When a Kiwi team headed to the wingfoil Oceanic Championships in Rose Bay, Sydney early this month, the results proved the strength of the sport at the local Manly Sailing Club.

Club members (and Whangaparāoa College students) Aimee Bright and Kosta Gladiadis, each won their divisions.

Gladiadis, aged 14, won the U19 title after sailing consistently well in very tricky conditions, while Bright was crowned Oceania Women’s Champion. Her mother, Barbara Kendall, placed second in the women’s division.

List your sports here FREE email: terry@localmatters.co.nz

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It was the first time that Olympic boardsailing gold medallist Kendall had sailed at Rose Bay since she won a medal at the Sydney Olympics and also the first time she and her daughter have officially raced, other than the many times they take part in club racing at Manly Beach. Kendall says her daughter beating her was “no surprise”.

“I decided to jump on a board at the last minute because it’s so much better than supporting from the beach,” Kendall says.

“I wingfoil for fun and I don’t think Aimee even sees me as a threat – it’s clear I’m not even close to being in her league.”

Sam Thom, also of Manly Sailing Club,

placed sixth overall.

Bright has now qualified for the ANOC World Beach Games to be held in Bali in August.

The Oceania event was combined with the Australian Wing Class Nationals, so the win also makes Bright the Australian women’s champion. Whether she can add the NZ title to this will be revealed when the NZ Wingfoil Nationals are hosted by Manly Sailing Club in May.

Kosta Gladiadis won the U19 title. Photo, Salty Shot Photography

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Across: 1. Users, 4. Contempt, 9. Window, 14. Plane, 15. Teething troubles, 17. Molar, 18. Dot, 19. Perhaps, 20. Centenary, 21. Snacks, 24. Spaghetti, 25. Feline, 26. Adhere, 29. Regretting, 31. Era, 32. Seemed, 33. Spin, 35. Urn, 37. Flat, 39. Catamaran, 40. Vaccinate, 41. Twice, 42. Bachelor, 47. Entrance, 51. Smash, 55. Impromptu, 56. Abundance, 58. Open, 59. Sum, 60. Goad, 61. Magpie, 62. Lei, 63. Auditioned, 66. Annual, 67. Budget, 69. Tsetse fly, 72. Lights, 73. Saboteurs, 75. Crystal, 77. Ore, 80. Tibia, 81. Get to the bottom of, 82. Decay, 83. Hebrew, 84. Oddities, 85. Weird.

Down: 2. Stevedore, 3. Retch, 5. Orgy, 6. Torment, 7. Mountaineers, 8. Talon, 9. Wastrel,

10. Name, 11. Oblong, 12. Hands, 13. Neptune, 14. Precede, 16. Impractical, 22. Thrift, 23. Unnerve, 24. Stretch, 25. Flaunt, 27. Explain, 28. Deacon, 30. Game, 32. Snail, 34. Niece, 36. Pier, 38. Lea, 42. Bring, 43. Captain, 44. Eros, 45. Orphan, 46. Cause, 48. Twenty-first, 49. Apology, 50. Cue, 51. Surplus, 52. Hamlet, 53. Out in the cold, 54. Idea, 57. Nudism, 64. Endeavour, 65. Naughty, 66. Almonds, 68. Glasgow, 70. Earshot,

COMMUNITY

A CLUB FOR RETIRED PEOPLECombined Friendship Club meets 4th Wednesday of month, 10am, Manly Bridge Club, Edith Hopper Park. Guest speakers, bus trips, lunches, movies. Ph Glenda Dykes 021 25 444 26.

HIBISCUS COAST GARDEN CLUB

Welcomes new members. If you love the beauty of a garden, come along every third Monday of the month, 9.30am. Manly Bridge Club, Edith Hopper Park, Ladies Mile, Manly. Ph Zelma 424 4112.

HIBISCUS COAST ORCHID SOCIETY

Meet 2nd Sunday of the month at the Ōrewa Community Hall, 1.30pm.

Ph Jeff 0274 218 672.

DVDS & VIDEOS

welcome for morning tea & friendship. Raewyn 09 424 1414.

ŌREWA GARDEN CLUB meet 2nd Thursday of month, Feb-Nov, 12.30pm3pm. St Johns Catholic Church Hall, 180 Centreway Rd, Ōrewa. Visitors welcome. Email: Ōrewagardenclub@outlook.co.nz ph Valma (Sec) 021 063 4852.

ŌREWA LADIES CLUB 1st Thursday of month, 9.30am, St Johns Catholic Church Hall. Friendship, speakers and outings. New members welcome.

ŌREWA SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB (55+) - New Members welcome. Indoor Bowls: 12.40pm every Tuesday and Thursdayfree tuition Cards: (500) 12.15pm every Tuesday. Scrabble: 12.15pm every Thursday. $2 (includes afternoon tea),

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Ōrewa Community Centre, Ōrewa Square. Ph Mike 426 2028 or 021 258 9808. WHANGAPARĀOA LADIES FRIENDSHIP GROUP meets 2nd Tuesday of month, Manly Bridge Club, 10am-12pm. All welcome for morning tea & friendship. Raewyn 09 424 1414.

Played 1pm Every Friday, Clubrooms Bowls Ōrewa, Ph 09 426 5937

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What’s on ...

February 2023

To list events, email: online@localmatters.co.nz

24 Hibiscus Coast Grey Power opening meeting of the year, St John’s Catholic Church hall, 180 Centreway Rd, Ōrewa, 1.30pm. All seniors welcome. Talk by Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club president John Chapman. Afternoon tea follows.

25 Good as New Pre-Loved Fashion & Thrift Market, Ōrewa Community Centre, Ōrewa, starts 9.30am.

25 The Local Coastie Market, 733 Whangaparāoa Rd, 10am-2pm. Food and craft stalls. Hosted by Coast Youth Community Trust.

March

1 Hoodoo Gurus play Paraoa Brewing Co, Whangaparāoa, 8pm. Tickets from Eventfinda. (see story p15)

4 Beach & Bites Longest Dinner, Ōrewa Boulevard. (Rain Date March 5). Ten Ōrewa restaurants to choose from. Table for 400! Tickets from www. beachnbitesorewa.co.nz

4 Summer Serenade – Jazz in the Garden, Couldrey House in Wenderholm Regional Park. Gates open 4pm, concert starts 6pm.

9 MiSex and Stellar play Paraoa Brewing Co, Whangaparāoa. Tickets from Plus1.co.nz (see story p15)

10 Rud Stewart (Rod Stewart tribute) International Touring show plays Paraoa Brewing Co, Whangaparāoa. Tickets from Eventfinda.

10-12 Women on Water Weekend, hosted by Gulf Harbour Yacht Club. Registrations close February 23. Info and registration: www.ghyc. co.nz/woww-2023/woww-2023

13-April 2 Magical Aotearoa exhibition. Works by students of Red Beach Studio and artists Susannah Law, Heather Owens and Kim Boyd. Opening preview Friday, March 17, 5pm-7pm.

17 Red Beach School Twilight Fun Fair, Red Beach School, 20 Albert Hall Drive, Red Beach, 3.45pm-7pm. Free fun and games plus an all ages Magic Show.

18 Whangaparāoa School Gala, at the school in Ladies Mile, Manly. Stalls, games, fun for the whole family.

25 Ōrewa’s first Beach Bike Cruise, a relaxed ride on a 11.5km route, starting and ending in Western Reserve. Three pit stops for free snacks. Carnival activities to follow. Registration essential. More details to come. Visit https://orewabeach.co.nz/ for updates.

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

Help for online Census

A full 80 percent of households are expected to complete the Census online this year so Whangaparāoa Library is providing support in a variety of ways. Census Information Sessions have already begun. The next ones are on February 23, at 1.30pm and March 1, at 11.30am. There are also bring your own device Census Completion Workshops to be held on March 4, 10am-2pm and March 5, 12.30pm-2pm, as well as other opportunities to get support as you fill out the form. Info: talk to the Whangaparāoa Library team. The census date this year is March 7.

REGULAR EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY WHANGAPARĀOA – MONDAY: Rhythm & Beats (3-5yrs) 10.30am-11.00am. TUESDAY: Peninsula Weavers (every 4th Tuesday), 11am-2pm

WEDNESDAY: Stories and Songs (0-5yrs) 11am-11:30am, Minecraft Club (all ages) 3.30pm4.30pm, Embroidery Group 9am-12pm, Book Club (every 1st Wednesday) 9.30am-11.30am, Low-Sensory Quiet Hour 1.30pm-2.30pm. THURSDAY: Brightside Spinners (fortnightly) 10am-2pm. FRIDAY: Wriggle & Rhyme (0-2 yrs) 10.30am-11am. SATURDAY: Weekend craft (all ages) 9.30am-3.30pm, Zine Club and Workshop (for teens) (every 1st Saturday) from 1pm, Hibiscus Coast Writers (every 2nd Saturday) 11am-3.30pm SUNDAY: Mandarin Classes for Children (beginners) 9.45am-10.15am, Mandarin Classes for Children (advanced) 10.30am-11.30am, Mandarin Mat Time (0-5yrs) 10.30am-11am, Weekend craft (all ages) 9.30am-3.30pm, Rainbow Youth Group (every 1st & 3rd Sunday) 1pm. JP SERVICES: Mon,

Thu, Fri 2pm-4pm and Sat 10am-12pm. GENEALOGY RESEARCH: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 10am-12pm. 9 Main Street, Whangaparāoa.

Pharmacy Talk

with Tania Adams

Latest Sleep Update

According to the author of “The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to” Evidently one quarter of New Zealanders would have to agree! Getting to sleep and/or staying asleep is a huge problem for many of us. And as sleep is so important for your health, affecting your blood pressure, immunity, your mental health and much more, lack of sleep is a major concern. There are many factors that might contribute to sleep problems that when recognised and changed can lead to a better night’s sleep. Caffeine, alcohol intake, exercise and what you do before you go to bed will be contributing.

Keeping a record of your diet and exercise as well as bedtime habits is a good start to solving a sleep issue. Using this information as a guide, a health professional can help determine why you are suffering from a sleep problem and find a solution for you. You may discover a pattern yourself. Many solutions are simple like winding down before bedtime, avoiding certain foods and drinks, wearing an eye mask or ear plugs, even a bedtime routine can help.

If you snore or have been told you take pauses in breathing at night, and are waking unrefreshed, you might need to seek medical attention. These are symptoms of sleep disorder called sleep apnoea. So what are the latest in nutritional supplements that may help you get a better night’s sleep? Advanced, multi-ingredient products or “sleep complexes” are the latest in nutritional support for sleep. Choosing the right combination of the best ingredients to suit your sleep problems is key.

Formulations for sleep might include traditional Chinese medicine such as zizyphus which is thought may calm the mind or honokiol, the active ingredient in magnolia bark which research shows may have a sedative effect and alleviate symptoms of stress. Hops may also help with sleep. Research shows hops extract may have a sedative effect and this is used in some of our sleep and calming formulations. Another ingredient that has proven popular in recent times is L-theanine. This is an amino acid which research indicates might promote a good quality of sleep through relaxation rather than sedation as such.

Our pharmacists are now able to prescribe melatonin to people who meet certain criteria. Melatonin is a natural hormone that promotes our sleep-wake cycle as well as consistent quality rest.

Then there are some oldies but goodies in our ingredient list. Magnesium may be helpful in providing a better night’s sleep. However not all magnesium was created equal. Magnesium oxide, for example, will not help with sleep and can actually give you diarrhoea. Studies suggest that the using the scent of lavender oil could improve quality of daytime wakefulness and a more sustained sleep at night.

To find out how you can get a better night’s sleep and/or what product might suit you, come and see our sleep experts. You can book an appointment on www.unichemmanly.co.nz or call us on (09) 424-7708. Individual appointments are $30 and you’ll receive a personalised sleep plan.

Pharmacist at Unichem Manly

Hot rods rev up in Ōrewa

The flash paint jobs, leather seats, growling motors and air horns of around 350 hot rods made a welcome splash of movement, noise and colour in Ōrewa.

The Hibiscus Rodders Beach Festival in Ōrewa, postponed from Anniversary Weekend by the floods, managed to slot in safely on February 10 and 11, between major weather events.

Co-organiser Sharon Morris says Hibiscus Rodders were “over the moon” with how it went, and got great feedback from participants and the public.

A jam-packed programme included plenty of opportunities

Clockwise from top, This 1981 Mini 1275 GT is just one of several that retired mechanic Ted Perry of Ōrewa has owned. He and his wife bought their first Mini when they emigrated from the UK to NZ in 1965 and they have had six or seven since. Known as ‘the King of Chrome’, this 1958 Buick Special Ltd 7000, which is nearly 6m long, requires many hours of polishing. The 1923 replica Ford T Bucket owned by Shane and Melody Cowell of Gulf Harbour, is called Bubba, which is Shane’s nickname. It was lovingly rebuilt during Covid-19 lockdowns. Steve Hoskin of Gulf Harbour takes his 1950s replica Teardrop, complete with retro kitchen items, away on holidays. It is pulled by a truck that was originally used for airport rescue in California.

to see the beautifully crafted and cared for cars up close, and talk to their owners.

There was also entertainment on a stage, and an auction.

All proceeds from the event go to the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. How much was raised in total is not yet known, as numbers were still being crunched as the paper went to print – but more than $19,500 was raised in the auction alone.

Sharon says the Rodders are very grateful to all their supporters and sponsors who helped make the event possible.