Hibiscus Matters_Issue 345_17 April 2023

Local veterans commemorated

in Ōrewa.

At last year’s Anzac service, they set out 36 crosses, made by Hibiscus Men’s Shed members, at the entrance to the reserve. It was always Frank’s plan to put names to every cross to commemorate the wartime service of local people.

With Laurie’s help, Frank spent more than eight months researching local cenotaphs, obtaining service numbers and dates of birth for the servicemen, who all came from the area from Puhoi to Silverdale.

Frank says many were bushmen, farmers or engineers and there were also teachers, a cashier, a hairdresser and the manager of a dairy factory.

They were all men, and mainly in the army and air force. The service records included details such as whether the person was killed in action, died of wounds, disease or an accident. Most were killed in action.

Once they had the details, Signpost Signs in Silverdale produced sheets of the information which was transferred onto the crosses.

At this month’s Anzac Day service, Ōrewa Sea Scouts will read out the names of all the people on the crosses.

Waitoki artist paints war veterans

A collection of paintings of war veterans by Waitoki artist Liz Sutherland was discovered recently, gathering dust, and has been brought out into the light for Anzac Day. Until recently, Liz, 83, has been teaching art and painting a wide range of subject matter.

Commander Frank Rands and his wife Laurie are both keen genealogists, as well as being involved in holding the Anzac Day service at Remembrance Reserve

Crosses like these now bear the names of local men who served in World War I and II thanks to careful research by Frank Rands.

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Artist Liz Sutherland of Waitoki with one of her works. Her father, Acland Withiel Thomas, is pictured top row, centre.

Her depictions of veterans began when she painted her father, Acland Withiel Thomas, who served in the army in World War I. He was wounded five times and awarded the Military Cross.

As well as being a decorated veteran, he was Liz’s hero – “an amazing man,” she says.

After painting her father, Liz asked around the community whether she could paint other servicemen and women. She created dozens of works from the black and white photographs that people brought to her.

She has kept the oil paintings for years in her home, with the aim of one day giving them to the RSA.

Carolyn Howden saw one of the paintings at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA when she was in the early stages of organising the annual Anzac display at Coast Plaza. She met Liz and obtained her permission to include her works in the display.

Many of the veterans in the paintings are named, and Carolyn has produced a list as a Roll of Honour.

The RSA’s Anzac display at Coast Plaza is up now, until April 30.

caring is in our nature .

48 Waiora Rd Stanmore Bay (09) 424 2675 www.dils.co.nz

Museum open for Anzac Day

The Hibiscus Coast Community RSA’s little museum has a new home and a fresh look. The museum used to be in a building on the land which was sold by the RSA to developers. Its contents are now displayed in an area of the clubrooms. The new displays are lighter and brighter, which is in part due to the care of RSA member Dave Dryden. It is largely made up of World War I and II and Korean War memorabilia donated by local families. As well as medals, uniforms and armaments such as rifles, bayonets, shells, swords, grenades and daggers, there are models of aircraft and ships. One wall features images of holders of the Victoria Cross. The museum will be open on Anzac Day so that anyone attending the services can take a look.

DilsHM 2.11

Batchelor seeks compensation from protestors

Stop Co-Governance activist Julian Batchelor has weighed in with his views on the community meeting to be held at Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa community marae in Silverdale next month.

The marae meeting on May 6 is to share information and discuss co-governance in a local context. It has been organised by Julian Joy and his wife Lynette of Dairy Flat, who attended Batchelor’s meeting; Stephanie Muller-Pollares – who is on the marae committee but offered to help organise the meeting as a community member; and marae supporter Jake Law. The meeting is for Hibiscus Coast residents only.

Last week, Batchelor issued a statement that seeks an apology and just over $3000 compensation from the protest organisers “and other local tribal groups” for the

disruption to his March 18 meeting in Ōrewa Community Hall.

He says this is needed “before locals can have confidence in a mature and sensible discussion and debate [at the marae] about this vitally important constitutional issue”.

“They’re demanding respectful behaviour on the marae, whereas they aggressively trampled on our rights to free speech and the freedom to impart and receive information …intimidating those who came to hear what I had to say in a community venue,”

Batchelor’s statement says.

He says the protestors could have had their say outside the venue but should have behaved respectfully inside.

Batchelor says that until he receives an apology and compensation, “how can

anyone believe that the protestors have changed and will now suddenly allow a free and open discussion?”

Co-organiser of the marae hui, Julian Joy, says what Batchelor says is correct and that an apology is due.

“The protest was frustrating, but it ended with me and one of the protestors agreeing that we need to get together again and that’s my aim with this meeting,” Joy says.

“Our hopes in doing it at the marae, is that it will be run by marae protocols as much as we can. That’s been my point and what I emphasised. We need to talk about these things, and it was an important principle for the marae to do it.”

The May 6 meeting will include a panel for a question and answer session, and also an

open audience discussion “with moderation and timing”. So far one panellist has been confirmed – Rodney Local Board member Guy Wishart who is Kumeū Community Action chair, Huapai-Kumeū Lions president, a business association committee member and involved in a co-governance structure for Kaipatiki.

Whangaparāoa MP Mark Mitchell was invited but is unable to attend.

More details are still being confirmed and will be in the next issue of Hibiscus Matters. Registration for the meeting is essential, as space is limited. Visit www. teherengawakaoorewa.co.nz/ for a link to register.

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz April 3, 2023

Call for action as frustrating ferry cancellations continue

Commuters using the Gulf Harbour ferry are calling for people to lodge formal complaints with Auckland Transport every time a ferry is cancelled.

The Gulf Harbour Ferry Users group, which has 1200 members, is also considering following Waiheke’s lead and taking the issue to the Commerce Commission.

AT figures show that across Auckland, in January, 9.9 percent of ferries were cancelled or replaced with alternative

transport, such as Ubers. In February that figure rose to 18 percent.

By comparison, the Gulf Harbour group’s figures show that, in January, 38 percent of their sailings were lost, and in February 34 percent, placing question marks over whether the service is fit for purpose and fulfilling its obligations to passengers.

The reasons given by ferry operator Fullers include ageing vessels and lack of staff. But ferry users are fed up and say those

excuses don’t wash any more.

A spokesperson for the group says Gulf Harbour misses out even more because the inner harbour routes are prioritised.

An additional frustration is that trips replaced by bus to and from the city take 1.5-2 hours compared with 50 minutes by ferry.

Fullers have a monopoly on the service and the users group says competition is needed.

“We are paying for a service that is not

working,” the spokesperson says. “It is costing our sanity.”

Recently, frustrations boiled over and the call went out on the group’s Facebook page to hammer those complaints even more.

“We are a team of nearly 1200 commuters. We need to be the squeaky wheel.”

w Backstories, www.localmatters.co.nz

August 22 and October 17, 2022; March 6, 2023

This banner was hung up near the venue of Batchelor’s meeting.

Audience and protestors at Julian Batchelor’s Stop Co-Governance meeting in Ōrewa last month.

Development lodged under fast-track rules

A large proposed housing development at 250 and 256 West Hoe Heights has now been lodged under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track consenting) process.

Developer Shildon Ltd wants to build 467 homes on the 24.3ha site, and a number of residents in the surrounding area are worried and angry.

Under the fast-track legislation, residents in the immediate vicinity of a proposed development can have input into the resource consent process, and it is up to the expert panel whether they choose to invite other residents to have a say too.

Rob Matthews, who lives alongside the site in Boocock Crescent, has requested that the panel seek comments from residents in all affected areas, as he says the level of intensification proposed will affect the entire neighbourhood.

“There are a number of concerns that go to the transport network, including public transport, stormwater provisions and pressure on local schools,” he says. “To draw a distinction between those

immediately adjacent and others in this location is therefore arbitrary.”

The Government’s Medium Density Residential standards (MDRS) enable this level of density on the site.

Shildon Ltd director Andrew Fawcett says the proposed development will make it easier for first home buyers to get a foothold in Ōrewa.

“The demand for Strathmill has been unprecedented with sales subject to receiving resource consent now exceeding 180 sections to local builders who are keen to deliver the finished homes,” he says. The legislation enabling fast-track consenting came into effect on July 9, 2020. It includes a ‘sunset clause’ that will see the legislation repealed on July 8. Any applications that have been commenced by that date will continue to be determined under the Act.

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz

February 20, 2023

Residents near this site in Ōrewa say building 467 homes here will have a big impact on local infrastructure.

Councillor seeks fast track consents review

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

Centreway development on market again

Ray White Real Estate agent Dylan Turner says the residential development of 188 Centreway Road in Ōrewa is back on solid ground, after it was fully pre-sold, then shut down a little over a year ago, waiting for a change in market conditions.

Second time around, the offering is the same, with a total of 34 apartments and townhouses, as well as a small number of retail spaces, to be built on the 0.5ha site. Turner says they were offered first to those who had bought off the plans last time, and some of those buyers came back in.

He says pre-sales this time around are again doing well, with seven already sold.

The site is currently still owned by Brian Fitzgerald of Ōrewa Property Investments, but Turner says a sale is imminent to Australian Peter Waters of Aqua North West, a NZ registered residential development company.

Turner says with infrastructure, resource and building consents already in place, there are tenders out for construction and there will soon be an on-site sales office. The project will be sold and built in two stages. Turner expects that Stage 1 could be complete in 18 months to two years.

The Act that created the Covid-19 fast-track resource consenting process will be repealed on July 8 and recently Council sought an extension of its authority to cover until that happens. The fast tracked process allows an expert consenting panel to make decisions on resource consent applications and set conditions on projects before they go ahead. Council staff’s role is largely limited to flagging when an application has issues such as significant infrastructure impacts or being inconsistent with Council plans. The extension of time, a technicality, was made by the Regulatory and Safety Committee at its April 14 meeting. During the ensuing discussion, Albany Ward Cr Wayne Walker voiced his opposition to fast tracking consents.

“Various developers are using this extension to get through developments that are not desirable,” he said. He said the impacts of Covid-19 finished “some time ago” and that he knew of an application in his ward that was going through under the legislation.

“We need to have an evaluation of this process,” he said. Walker said his comments were irrespective of political parties and that fast-tracking legislation had all been bad.

Macrocarpa | Kitset Raised Gardens | Kitset Compost Bins | Landscape Sleepers | Pergolas & Beams | Dry Macrocarpa for Furniture & Joinery | Laminated Timber Benchtops | Live edge one piece Macrocarps slabs | Firewood, Mulch & Sawdust | Treated Pine | Posts and rails | Retaining walls | Tree Stakes | Decking timber | H5 treated | Posts & Beams.

The development of the former bus depot in Centreway Road is back on track.

Viewpoint

Leanne Willis, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board leanne.willis@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Speaking freely a precious right

As some may be aware, I am personally against co-governance, and confirmed my position prior to the 2022 local elections. I unequivocally stand for one person, one vote, and believe that co-governance is antidemocratic.

I have been saddened by what has happened at recent events, one of which was Julian Batchelor’s ‘Stop Co-governance’ meeting in Ōrewa.

Firstly confirming, as a local board, our purpose was to ensure the health and safety of all that attended (hence the Police).

Although unable to attend the event, I watched live feeds, and heard protestors name calling and yelling “misinformation”, “racist”, “liar” etc., at the speaker, and intimidating the attendees. An attendee retaliated by namecalling a protestor (which I do not condone).

However, the original footage was cropped, which changed the context.

In one live feed, a protestor stated that the local board stood with the protestors – this is untrue. Two local board members attended the meeting, one was there to observe, the other there supporting the protestors. As elected local board members, we represent all constituents in our community and we must always remember to remain unbiased.

The protester also stated Julian hadn’t paid hall hire, also untrue – I can confirm he in fact, paid in full.

Freedom of speech encompasses the right

to speak on facts and/or opinions without being arrested or silenced, yet the protestors went to this meeting, many intent on causing major disruption, silencing the speaker, and/or, closing down the meeting.

Don’t get me wrong, the protesters had the absolute right to protest – but how they chose to, I believe, was not okay on many levels.

Both sides of the co-governance debate should be given equal voice and robustly challenged.

Regarding the Posie Parker event – I heard a quote recently (not from Posie) which resonated with me: “I am pro-trans rights but I’m also pro-women’s rights. I believe that one shouldn’t come at the expense of the other. But I can’t say that easily, if I do the abuse rolls in and I’m called a bigot, a transphobic, and a Nazi.”

We may not all agree with the Julians and Posies of this world, but in a democracy, people have the right to speak, unimpeded, without being negatively and unfairly “labelled” or bullied, and without being assaulted. If we are not careful, and people continue to be “cancelled”, freedom of speech may very well become a thing of the past.

In closing, “I may not always agree with what you say, but I will always defend your right to say it.”

Footnote: These views are supported by fellow local board member, Sam Mills.

Editor’s note: Two local board members, Jake Law and Gregg Walden, say they were at Batchelor’s meeting to support the marae. They say they do not condone the actions of all protestors.

Community asked about social housing

Community groups on the Hibiscus Coast and in the Bays area will start the ball rolling as Kāinga Ora begins seeking input about community housing in the region. A collective that specialises in community engagement, called Community Think, is working with Kāinga Ora on the process. Regional director for north and west Auckland, Taina Jones, says Kainga Ora wants to have a wide-ranging conversation about how to increase the supply of public housing. “The engagement work we’re doing in the Hibiscus and Bays area is broader than we usually undertake and involves several different suburbs,” Jones says. Feedback will be used by Kāinga Ora to help guide the creation of a public housing development plan for the Hibiscus and Bays area. A Kāinga Ora spokesperson says Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the Bonair Action Group are among the local organisations that will have input. The Bonair group was formed in opposition to plans to build 37 Kainga Ora homes in Bonair Crescent, Millwater. Any community group interested in having input can contact cissy@communitythink.nz

Marja Lube ck

Where

Hibiscus Coast Community RSA Dawn Service: Assemble 5.45am at Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Rd, Stanmore Bay, Silverdale.

Contact: David Dryden, ddas@xtra.co.nz or Vini Rangihaeata-Stockman, vini@hbcrsa.org.nz

Hibiscus Coast Community RSA Civic Service: Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Rd, Stanmore Bay, Silverdale.

Contact: David Dryden, ddas@xtra.co.nz or Vini Rangihaeata-Stockman, vini@hbcrsa.org.nz

Upper Waiwera: Upper Waiwera Cenotaph, 711 Weranui Rd.

Contact: Grant Allen 0275439888

Service 6am

Service 11am

Service 2.30pm

Updates are possible so for a full list of services, parking and road closure information please visit ourauckland.nz/anzacday or phone 09 301 0101.

YourOpinion

Ōrewa alternative

There is a very vocal group in support of keeping those big old pines on Ōrewa Beach. I am not one of them. I’d like to present an alternative view, which may somewhat align with council’s thinking. Imagine a green grassed area with playgrounds and other amenities, pathways – even a garden or two. Thinking along the lines of the foreshore in Napier, which is where I lived for several years. This could slope down to a dune and then the beach. It’s beautiful, multi-functional and accessible. Lines of pines are a look that has had its day, in my view. They are also brittle and prone to falling as they age. Pohutukawas, on the other hand, grouped together, provide shade and look amazing when in flower along the shore. When I have expressed this view among people I know, I am often shouted down. Don’t shoot the messenger – everyone, new residents and longer-standing ones, should be free to have their say about how they would like to see Ōrewa in the future.

Susan Cooper, Ōrewa

Protest restrained

As someone who went along to hear what Julian Batchelor had to say, I was already well aware of how controversial his views are. What he said was designed to be divisive and fuel anger and fear. When you tell people New Zealand is “at war” with things like the media and “elite Maori”, you are of course going to cause offence. The reaction from some of the audience, and the protestors was, therefore, no surprise. In fact I thought the protestors, though rowdy, were remarkably restrained. If you throw a grenade into a crowd as Julian Batchelor did with his ill-informed ideas of racial division, you are doing it to get a reaction and must expect an explosion.

Cheryl Cook, Red Beach

Praise for Police

I would like to congratulate the police who were at the Stop Co-governance meeting in Ōrewa (HM April 3). I thought they did a great job of keeping the protestors at bay, while allowing them to lawfully protest at a public gathering. By separating the two groups, they also protected those who had come along to hear what Mr Batchelor had to say. It was much appreciated.

Anthony Wright, Manly

Listening to all

“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. When you listen, you may learn something new.” This quotation is attributed to the Dalai Lama and it seems to be ever more applicable in this age of democratic erosion. If we cannot listen to the views of those whom we oppose, we cannot learn their perspective. It is equally incumbent upon them to apply the same courtesies –which should lead to intelligent dialogue, the foundation of civilisation. If people shut down those who are courageous enough to express their views in public via the crude application of squads of anti-cheer leaders, then we must accept we no longer live in a democratic nation – despite this behaviour seeming to be a global trend. A chilling phrase stuck out in a letter last week (HM April 3) – “an event that should never have been allowed in the first place.” We will never have freedom of speech with those attitudes. If this is the evolution of homo sapiens in action, I suggest it is now going backwards.

Crispin Caldicott, Warkworth

Sharing the journey

Julian Batchelor’s views ignore the fact that Maori are not simply “a race” alongside the very many other cultural groups who now make New Zealand their home. Maori are tangata whenua – which is why a treaty was signed in the first place with the colonisers, to acknowledge that special status. The treaty itself, and our attempts since to put its principles into action, may be flawed but the fact remains this country is built on that partnership. Therefore cogovernance is only right and proper. How that is enacted is still playing out and will of course not please everyone. My hope is we can work on it together without being distracted by people like Batchelor who are intent on driving a wedge between us. Our country struggles with its race relations but it is streets ahead of many others, including Australia and the United States.

Francis Johnson, Tindalls Bay

Rocks economical

I agree with your correspondents who support the use of rocks to protect the land along Orewa Beach. The Council has a lot of demands on its money, and using rocks is an economical fix, saving the Norfolk pines and playground space near the Surf Lifesaving Club, as well as houses and

reserve areas all along the beach. Some of your correspondents talk about restoring sand dunes and are concerned with the way nature has been modified by human beings. If we let nature reclaim what we have modified, wouldn’t that mean that we remove our hydro-electric dams, our main source of renewable energy? And what about food production? Should all farms be allowed to go back to how they were before humans modified nature by using the land to produce food? Another correspondent had the idea of bulldozing homes along the beachfront. I do not own one of those homes as my pockets are far too shallow. But as the Council has given folk permission to build those houses it cannot now have them removed, without appropriate compensation at the very least, and probably not without very expensive legal battles. Protecting the beachfront land with rocks is a far cheaper option! And it benefits all of us.

Neville Martin, Orewa.

Dune support

Thank you Geoff Hansen and Stuart Flexman for your thoughts re ‘Dunes needed’ and ‘No permit needed’ (HM April 3). I have thought all along that the money spent on trying to change something that will not be changed is a wicked waste when the funds could be used in a way that enhances the environmental feelings of this area. The sense in returning the dunes to doing what sand dunes do is the obvious choice to me.

Marie LeBlanc, Manly

Sand in your sandwich

This recent photo from Ōrewa Beach shows how the root systems of the mature Norfolk Island pines penetrate the sand, helping limit erosion. This tree was not shielded by a rock breakwater whereas the one to its right was, suggesting the combination of pines and rocks protects the dunes. Trees also reduce wind speed. Removing them would result in more sand being blown across the road and into adjacent properties, including the cafes, thus marring Ōrewa’s tourism economy. I don’t think you need an MSc or PhD to understand this. Just try dining al

fresco in a sandstorm. Also, Geoff Hansen of Hatfields Beach would like to see Ōrewa housing bulldozed and the town returned to ‘nature’ (HM April 3). Presumably the residents would relocate to Hatfields Beach where he would then be plagued by intensive housing and nose-to-tail street parking. I wonder how he would feel about a proposal to bulldoze Hatfields Beach and return it to native forest? Many of us feel that some of the destruction of native forest and wetlands needs to be reversed, but we are unlikely to agree on who should make the sacrifice. Perhaps ‘nature’ will decide? If the Kermadec fault generates a tsunami on the scale of Fukushima (which it likely has done numerous times over the aeons) Ōrewa will disappear from Google Maps in an hour, along with the sand dunes, the Norfolk Island pines and the supermarkets, cafes, doctor, dentist, barber, library, schools, mechanic, gas station and Thai Massage parlour. Be careful what you wish for.

Andrew Westaway, Ōrewa (abridged)

Buy local please

Looking forward to all that voted for the Silverdale BID to support local businesses.

Ian Harrison, Hatfields Beach

This wee pine tree seedling was recently planted, not by Auckland Council, in a usually unloved garden space in Ōrewa. Perhaps it’s a comment on the Norfolk pines on Ōrewa Reserve – or maybe someone just thought a large pine would work there. Let’s see what happens.

Short back and sides

Mayor Wayne Brown’s description of proposed cuts to local board budgets as “a little haircut” (HM March 20) is vehemently rejected by Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt. At a recent board meeting, she described the funding cut of around 46 percent as –“not a haircut – more of a scalping”.

There were several exciting wildlife sightings around the Coast in recent weeks. This young male leopard seal was an unusual visitor to Shakespear Bay on April 4. He was spotted chilling on the beach for a couple of hours before heading out to sea again. And on April 6 a small pod of Orca were chasing stingray around Whangaparāoa Peninsula including at Stanmore Bay, Swann Cove, Manly and Tindalls. All photos were taken by Chris Torckler, who notes they were taken with a telephoto lens and the few beach walkers at Shakespear were all respectfully keeping their distance. Leopard seal NZ were notified and Chris sent photos to help with ID.

Congratulations to Melissa James of West Harbour and Sabina Moody of Stanmore Bay, who both won a copy of Natalie Tolhopf’s book Become Unstoppable. Thanks to all who entered.

The Rotary Club of Whangaparaoa would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2023 Rotary Charity Golf Tournament:

Maygrove Village

Chenery Memorial Trust

June Grey Charitable Trust

APECT

Pak ‘n Save Silverdale

Clarkson Electrical

Bunnings Silverdale

Harcourts Cooper & Co

Hopper Developments

House of Travel

Forrest Funeral Services

Westpac Bank

Brin Wilson Boat Builders

Airey Consultants

Cato Bolam Consultants

Cabra Developments

Whangaparaoa Golf Club

North Harbour Law

Silverdale Asset Management

Peak Physio

Albany Toyota

Hickeys Pharmacy

Manly Unichem

Pharmacy

White Architectural Ltd

Hibiscus Coast Village

Dan Healey

Repco Whangaparaoa

Stihl Shop Silverdale

Golf HQ

Forsyth Barr

The Owles Family

Ferntinental Café

Fruit World Silverdale

The major recipients of funds are Gulf Harbour, Stanmore Bay and Whangaparaoa Primary Schools

2181 East Coast Rd, Silverdale

Kate Allen Aesthetics

Kate Allen got into the cosmetic industry because of her keen interest in helping people become more confident.

She has been a registered nurse for 18 years, and for more than 10 of those she has been working and teaching in the area of cosmetic procedures and injectables.

“I thought I’d just try it for a while, but I’m a bit of a geek and loved the ongoing learning in this huge, evolving industry,” Kate says. Her passion for anatomy and physiology is key, she says, to being a safe and highquality professional in her line of work. You have to know the body inside out.

Last November she opened her clinic, Kate Allen Aesthetics in Silverdale, specialising in anti-wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers, skin boosters and bio-stimulants. Her growing client list meant that working from home

Katsubi Silverdale

in Red Beach had become difficult and the clinic enabled her to take on staff and invest in top-of-the-line technology.

These devices include a BTL Emsella chair, for pelvic floor strengthening and a HydraFacial Device, which provides non-invasive treatment using patented technology and proprietary solutions, that cleanses, extracts, hydrates and infuses, and is customised to any skin type.

Kate says that laser treatment (for things such as hair removal, pigmentation and vein treatment) using the GentleMax Pro is also very popular.

The clinic’s focus is always on whichever treatment will be the most beneficial for every individual.

“The aim is for every client to walk out of here as the most confident version of themselves,” Kate says.

Life has been busy for Millwater couple Radhika and Bipendra Ram since they opened Katsubi in Silverdale in February.

For Radhika, who runs the business, it has been a 9am-9pm commitment, seven days a week taking care of customers who often queue up for the franchise’s well-loved fried chicken, salad, noodles and other options.

Radhika previously worked in travel but took time off to be with the couple’s three children after Covid-19.

“I wanted to get back into doing something for myself, and when this came up it seemed a great fit,” she says.

The couple employ 12 staff, and a head chef. Bipendra, who also runs a transport business, prioritises quality control. One reason they bought the business was his love of Katsubi’s food, and Bipendra

checks everything daily to make sure it’s at the very highest standard.

Currently the oil used for frying the chicken is 50 percent Canola, and 50 percent vegetable, for a healthier result, but Bipendra is trialing another oil which he says could be even better for its health and taste qualities. One of their speciality dishes is ‘chicken dak’ (delicious authentic Katsubi), but Bipendra says the vegetarian/vegan option of tofu is also very popular.

“People enjoy being able to make their own selections, getting exactly what they want,” he says.

Radhika says their children also get involved, the oldest ones coming in to serve customers whenever they can.

“We are very family-orientated and take good care of all the kids who come here to eat,” she says.

Kate Allen Radhika and Bipendra Ram

Working with amazing people, helping them to be the most confident version of themselves

Major makeover for library

Options for totally refurbishing Ōrewa Library were put before the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board at its workshop on April 11.

Council staff have been considering the upgrade because the 27-year-old building needs a roof replacement, and has leaks, which provided the opportunity for a wider look at whether it could be future proofed to meet the needs of a growing community.

The library is the seventh busiest (in terms of visitor numbers) of Auckland’s 56 libraries and fourth in terms of the number of items checked out.

Council staff told local board members the outdated spaces are no longer fit for purpose and that from June this year, Auckland Council’s customer support services (currently at Ōrewa Service Centre in Centreway Road) will move to the library. The local board already has just over $1.5m allocated for work on the building and Option 1 for the refurbishment comes in within that figure.

However, staff are more supportive of Option 2, which is expected to cost roughly double (around $3 million) and includes a new mezzanine floor.

The new floor will add around 250sqm to the building, but all within the same footprint as the current library.

Staff say that a budget ‘shuffle’ could accommodate the extra $1.5m cost, without any massive trade-offs of other projects.

In response to a question from member Leanne Willis, the staff member said that Option 2 includes space where the local board could hold its public meetings. Its lease on the Service Centre in Centreway Road expires in July.

It is unclear at this stage where the local board will hold its meetings between July and the end of next year – the proposed timeline for the library refurbishment shows that consenting could be in place by November and that work could take place from March to September next year. A temporary closure and relocation of library services would be needed during that time.

Ōrewa Library could get a significant upgrade if the local board can find the money.

Impressive urban coastal apartment living on the Hibiscus Coast

Did someone say brand new apartments? If you’re looking for a new home located just a kilometre from the beach at Stanmore Bay, Peninsula Pavilion Apartments is the high-quality development for you.

As an extension of Arvida Peninsula Club community, these 12 modern and spacious apartments are a mix of one and two-bedrooms, offering an urban coastal lifestyle surrounded by beautiful gardens. Independent living apartments for the over-65s at Peninsula Pavilion. If these apartments don’t suit your needs, we have a few beautiful villas that won’t last long.

Call Norma on 021 246 2047 or 0800 774 635 or email

norma.vaz@arvida.co.nz to find out more.

441 Whangaparāoa Road, Stanmore Bay Visit peninsulaclub.co.nz

EasyBuild Auckland North

Providing quality warm, dry homes that are good value for money is something that instantly appealed to Rachel and William Namoa of Ōrewa. It’s the key reason that they purchased the Auckland North franchise of EasyBuild, together with their business partner and experienced builder Tim Stewart. Setting up the business was a change of direction for former teacher aide and full time mum, Rachel and electrician William; but they haven’t looked back and recently opened a show home in Waitoki. The company has a range of designs, from one bedroom builds ideal for a second dwelling for extended family (or Airbnb accommodation), to four bedroom, twostorey, duplex and multi-unit homes.

EasyBuild’s unique modular building system keeps prices down – everything is flat-packed

Silverdale plans move forward

and delivered to site, including pre-insulated wall panels, with double-glazed windows already fitted, that slot into the structure.

It’s a system that the company says reduces construction waste and is also fast – although each build is different, Rachel says once the foundations are done, building generally takes 9-12 weeks.

“The result is a robust, weather-tight and warm home,” Rachel says. “And we take care of everything for you.”

She says the interior is about keeping things simple, with a range of colour options to choose from.

Rachel says the EasyBuild system works not only for individuals building their own home, but for community projects and investors.

“We are excited to show people around the show home – it is an example of what this

Silverdale Business is moving forward with two of its ‘aspirational plans’ – an off road route for cyclists and pedestrians around Silverdale, and a community ‘village green’ and market hall within the Pioneer Village.

The market hall idea first emerged into public view in June 2021, when it was presented to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board.

It includes moving one of the historic buildings and constructing a substantial new building to provide cover for a 7-day a week market. It would also be a flexible space for community use, including entertainment.

Silverdale Business committee member Gary Browne is leading both projects. He told the local board at its March 28 meeting that the off-road route is needed because the local roads are hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists.

The market, he said, is to draw people into Silverdale, much the way Matakana market does. He said the Silverdale & Districts Historical Society, which runs the Pioneer Village is supportive of the plans, which could include a regular antiques fair to tie in with the historic village.

Browne said the plans are moving forward, which includes talking with Senior Net, which operates from a building in the Pioneer Village, because that building would need to be moved.

Surveys are underway in preparation for a resource consent application. The organisation wants a community-led approach to the development, with only limited Auckland Council involvement and funding.

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz July 1, 2021

From left, Rachel and William Namoa and Tim Stewart with dog Pip.

Manuhiri’s landfill land deal

All the land for the proposed mega-dump in the Dome Valley will eventually be gifted to the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust by Waste Management NZ (WM), if the landfill goes ahead.

The Environment Court heard last week that this formed part of the agreement reached between WM and the trust recently. As a result, Ngāti Manuhiri’s previous position as a vocal opponent to the tip, and appellant against the resource consent, switched to support.

The trust’s lawyer Jason Pou said during the cultural evidence sessions at Te Hana Te Ao Marama Māori cultural centre last week that one of the issues Ngāti Manuhiri wanted to achieve was “to have the land for their people to live in, in their rohe”, or territory.

“One of the things Ngāti Manuhiri agreed with Waste Management is that Ngāti Manuhiri would receive all the land, the buffer land, including land with exotic forest,” Pou said.

The WM land totals just more than 1000 hectares, comprising two properties – the Springhill Estate site, previously owned by Richard Izard and then Tony Lentino, and land largely planted with pines that was owned by Matariki Forests.

The gift of the landholding comes in addition to WM’s agreement to pay $10 million in the event of the planned landfill ever “threatening the integrity” of the Hoteo River, which runs through Springhill and

out to the Kaipara Harbour.

The revelation came as Pou was questioning Te Rūnanaga o Ngāti Whātua co-chair Dame Naida Glavish, who had just spoken at length about the damage she feared the proposed tip would do to the mauri, or life force, of the Hoteo River and Kaipara.

Pou asked her if she could see Ngāti Manuhiri owning the land as being “something worse than the current pakeha ownership?”

She said definitely not, as Ngāti Whātua could always sit down with Ngāti Manuhiri and have a good conversation.

“We can agree to disagree, but the relationship is still strong,” she said. However, when Pou suggested the fact that the land would be going to Ngāti Manuhiri was not necessarily a bad thing for Ngāti Whātua, she demurred, saying she hadn’t seen the land, so she couldn’t agree outright. She added that she would still like to be involved so that, in the event of consent being granted, anything “didn’t come back to bite us in the proverbial”.

And when Ngāti Whātua counsel Rob Enwright mentioned later that the proposition was that Ngāti Manuhiri would become the ultimate landowners of the land and engage in its revitalisation, Dame Naida reiterated her position that, as far as Ngāti Whātua were concerned, the landfill shouldn’t go ahead.

Indoor domestic fire bylaw smoked out

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

Auckland Council voted this month to let its bylaw on indoor domestic fires expire. The decision was made by members of the Regulatory and Safety committee at the committee’s April 4, meeting. Council’s air quality bylaw for Indoor Domestic Fires was introduced in 2017 to address issues like public nuisance caused by indoor fire smoke, prohibited fuels, and suitable design of indoor fireplaces. Wet wood, painted wood, fuel with a high sulphur content and green waste that could cause an increase in smoke production were all banned under the bylaw.

Last term, policy advisor Chelsea Majoor said prohibited fuels regulations under the bylaw were impossible to enforce as compliance staff would need to be invited into Aucklanders homes. Majoor also said only half the bylaw was working at the time, but after investigation her advice has changed. Now she says the bylaw’s impact is negligible.

“The bylaw is not needed to address public nuisance – this is because the Auckland Unitary Plan is used instead and it has more effective enforcement powers,” Majoor told the committee. For a property owner to install a solid fuel heating system like a fireplace they need building consent. To get consent, the appliance must comply with design standards under the Resource Management Act’s National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ). Since September 2005, the NESAQ has prohibited discharge of particles to air from a wood burner on a property less than 2ha and any older installations must discharge less than 1.5g of particles for each kilogram of dry wood burnt.

Open fires, pellet burners, multi-fuel burners, wood-burning cooking stoves and coal-burning heaters are missed under the NESAQ which is where the bylaw came in to cover the gap. However, council reports that out of 22 domestic fires regulated solely under the bylaw, 20 already met the design standard in the NESAQ. Over 99 percent of council’s consents for indoor domestic fires are regulated by ‘stricter’ requirements in the national legislation which has better enforcement powers, Majoor said.

Councillors unanimously agreed to let the bylaw expire, which it will do on May 25 next year.

w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz August 22, 2022, March 2017

Environment Court judges Melinda Dickey and Jeff Smith

Changes at the top for Ōrewa Primary

Ōrewa Primary School has been fondly farewelling its principal of 16 years, Diane Lambert, while preparing to welcome Claire Janes, who takes over the role at the beginning of Term 2. Claire is originally from the UK, where she taught for the first five years of her career. She arrived in NZ in 2004 and taught at a number of schools on the North Shore, where she lives with her family.

During her time at Campbells Bay School she took maternity leave twice – her children are now aged 18 and 13. Husband, Nathan, is principal at Mairangi Bay School.

The couple also spent two years working in senior roles in a start-up international school on an island in South Korea.

Recently Ōrewa Primary School principal, Diane Lambert was farewelled after dedicating approximately 36 years to the school, 16 of those as principal.

A special assembly, dinner and morning teas have been held over the past few weeks to allow colleagues and families past and present to farewell Diane. Students, staff and colleagues paid tribute with song, dance, kapa haka performances, poetry and speeches for the principal.

Diane started her career at Wellsford Primary School in the 1970s, then moved to Ōrewa Primary School. After taking time off to have her family in the 1980s, Diane taught exclusively at Ōrewa Primary School. She has fond memories of teaching all levels but feels her time as a new entrant teacher was the most rewarding.

During her tenure as principal, Diane oversaw the school’s relocation and

Claire has a Masters degree in Education and Leadership and comes to Ōrewa Primary from Belmont Intermediate, where she was deputy principal.

She says she felt an immediate connection when she took her first look around Ōrewa Primary, and is excited at taking on the new role.

“I’ve already made connections with other local principals and everyone’s very welcoming and supportive,” she says. She has visited Ōrewa regularly and walks the family dog, Toffee, on the beach. Not only is she looking forward to working with Ōrewa’s school community, teachers, staff and students, but also hopes to introduce them to Toffee.

development on its new site on Maire Road after it was decided the college needed more space than it had at its previous Riverside Road campus. The school has grown from less than 200 students on the first day at the new site, to its current 454. Deputy Principal Anne Heath says that, for Diane, students have always been at the heart of the matter and her ability to build

positive relationships has been her strength.

“She has capably led the school through significant changes in education and has always stood by the school motto, ‘where everybody is somebody’,” Anne says. “Diane has worked tirelessly to provide the resources and encouragement for all students to achieve personal excellence and she will be missed by all of us.”

Coastguard

holds 80s Refit party

Coastguard Hibiscus is a charity, so with the rescue boat Hibiscus Rescue One due for an ‘end of life’ refit, the service is asking for help from the community. The boat is approaching 12 years old. During this refit both outboards and GPS equipment will be replaced. The fuel tank will be removed, inspected and refitted and the wiring for navigation systems, VHF and UHF radios, phone and navigation lights will also be replaced to remain in survey. This is critical for everyone’s safety, says crew chief Zane Bryhn. In addition, The pontoons on the sides need to be replaced. The hull integrity must be inspected and certified and cosmetic work is also needed. All this should provide another five years of operational use for this vessel, however it will cost $200,000 - $350,000. How can you help? Purchase tickets to Coastguard Hibiscus’ 80’s party at The Archer, Whangaparāoa on April 27, from 7pm. Dance the night away to your favourite 80s hits. Tickets from 80s@ coastguardhibiscus.org.nz Donations are also needed for silent auction prizes, email crewchief@coastguardhibiscus.org.nz

BID ballot figures released

Silverdale Business has released the voting figures that show a majority in favour of forming a Business Improvement District (BID) for Silverdale. A total of 345 of 1094 potential voters had returned their vote – this is 31.5 percent return. Of those, 187 voted yes to the proposition that Silverdale Business establish a BID, 157 voted no and one vote was invalid, informal or blank. The next stage in the process is for the BID to get the official nod from the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board – expected to be at its May 23 meeting.

The Botanic is the Hibiscus Coast’s newest, resort-style retirement village, designed to offer a great lifestyle surrounded by nature and world class facilities.

New Ōrewa Primary principal Claire Janes and dog Toffee.

Diane Lambert farewelled

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feature. Winterwarmers

Wearable warmers

Hot pink, lime green, bold blues and colourful prints – winter fashion is going to be bright. Charisma manager, Debbie Lyttle, says all shades of green and pink feature, including in shoes, boots and other accessories. We will wrap up in scarves, ponchos and tailored jackets. Beanies and knit headbands are also in bold colours. Wider leg trousers are the way to go, along with chunky or classic knits. Long boots are back. Debbie says along with Merino wool, she is seeing a lot of cotton and cashmere blends that are light as well as warm. Quilted fabrics and faux fur are in the mix too. Tiered skirts in fairly lightweight fabrics suit the boho look, when combined with boots and knits. Overall, Debbie says this winter almost anything goes. “Every label has its own take on winter style, so there is something to suit absolutely everyone’s taste and body type,” she says.

Coast gets own choir

Katerina Armstrong is on the hunt for women who love to sing. The Red Beach singer-songwriter and music teacher believes that it is time that the Hibiscus Coast had its own women’s choir. She says eventually, she would like to help start a men’s choir too. Katerina moved to the Coast four years ago with her young family but her musical connection to the wider Rodney area goes back to her late teens when she was mentored by the late New Zealand entertainer Ray Columbus, who was from Snells Beach. Now she is a musical mentor for other aspiring vocalists, teaching at her performing arts school, Muse & Co Academy. Katerina’s vision for a women’s choir has been brewing for many years but she says now the timing seems right. Any local women who love to sing are welcome. Choir practice for the new group will begin in the second week of Term Two – they will meet at Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa on Tuesday nights, 7.30pm. A koha is welcome to cover the cost of renting the facility, but there is no charge to be in the group. The members of the choir will head up to the top floor of the arts centre where Katerina says “the acoustics are amazing”. “There are already a number of women who have signed up, but the beauty with a choir is there is always room for more if you love to sing.” She hopes to have a choir that enjoys performing a range of traditional and contemporary songs. If you would like more information or want to register for the Women’s Choir, phone 0800 MUSE CO.

Designers include: Curate, Verge, Loobie’s Story, Madly Sweetly, Lania the Label, Vassalli, Jump, Blackstone, Ping Pong, Lemon Tree Design, Zaket & Plover, Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman & Et’Alia.

Katerina Armstrong, right, mentors singer/ songwriters on the Hibiscus Coast, including Francesca Kubala of Red Beach, left. She is currently setting up a local women’s choir.

Writer takes on Kiwi history

To Distant Shores, the latest book in Puhoi author William (Bill) Hammond’s Cutler Family Chronicles series of historical novels, is significantly different from its predecessors – it is largely set in 1840s New Zealand.

Bill is an American, who moved here in 2016 with his New Zealand-born wife, Sheree. Having only lived here for seven years, colonial NZ was a meaty topic to take on, but Bill says his love of history, and “as much research as humanly possible” was up to the task.

“Writers of historical fiction have an obligation to get the history right, which means significant research,” Bill says. “I have always loved history and I dug into the challenge. The history of New Zealand is so rich.”

That research took a year or more and included consulting Ngati Kawa Taituha,

who works at Waitangi Treaty grounds, the Auckland Museum and Ngapuhi iwi.

All the Maori chiefs in the novel are real people, but Bill says the story is primarily about the Americans, not the Maori characters.

“Nonetheless, I did a lot of research into the interaction between Pakeha and Maori, and from that formed opinions. You have to have a view to write a historical novel. You can’t waffle – you take it on. I think what I’ve done is fair and accurate.”

As well as being a keen historian, Bill was, until recent years, also a sailor who grew up close to the ocean. His love of words has also been lifelong – his career included publishing, ghost writing and working as a literary agent and writing coach.

To Distant Shores focuses on the adventures of Bill’s protagonist, the fictional American Captain Richard Cutler, who

40 years of nursing penned

That nursing has been a recurring theme in Christine (Chris) Curtis’ 15 books should surprise no one, bearing in mind she was a nurse for 40 years.

Now in her eighties and living in the Peninsula Club in Stanmore Bay, Chris is still enthusiastically writing and selfpublishing – her latest book, So You Want to be a Nurse, will debut at Whangaparāoa Library this weekend.

She says this one was fairly straightforward, but emotional, to write. She has re-written parts of her previous books, with more detail and focusing on nursing, and also included some very personal parts of her private life including the loss of the love of her life. Her career as a nurse began in the UK, where she trained in the 1950s and

included time as a district nurse in London, and nursing in rural and remote locations including the Island of Sark in the Channel Islands, where she was the sole nurse, and Rodney.

In the rural communities, she says the nurse did everything – “if you arrived to see a patient and they hadn’t had breakfast, you lit the fire and made them breakfast, before anything else,” she says.

She says nursing has changed a lot over the years, and it’s important that the key remains a focus on the patient.

Nursing featured in many of her previous books, including a “romance” series that was fictional but based on her own experiences.

In lockdown, she wrote a fantasy book called The Healing Hands about a nurse

Bill Hammond

sails to New Zealand.

Although it is the seventh novel in the Cutler Family Chronicles series, it can be read as a standalone book.

“I hope that the plot and characters keep people turning the pages,” Bill says.

Win this book

Hibiscus Matters has one copy of To Distant Shores, published by McBooks Press, to give away. To go in the draw, ‘like’ Hibiscus Matters on Facebook and message us your name and phone number with To Distant Shores in the message. Or, write your name, address, daytime phone number and the name of the book on the back of an envelope and post or drop into Hibiscus Matters, 21 Florence Avenue, Ōrewa 0931. Entries close on Friday, May 5. • The book is available from April 23 in retail stores, online from Mighty Ape.

Win this book

who has the power of healing. So You Want to be a Nurse will be launched at Whangaparāoa Library on Saturday, April 22, 12 noon to 2pm.

Hibiscus Matters has one signed copy of So You Want to be a Nurse to give away. To go in the draw, ‘like’ Hibiscus Matters on Facebook and message us your name and phone number with So you want to be a Nurse in the message. Or, write your name, address, daytime phone number and the name of the book on the back of an envelope and post or drop into Hibiscus Matters, 21 Florence Avenue, Ōrewa 0931. Entries close on Friday, May 5. • The book is available direct from Chris – email cedcurtis@gmail.com

Chris Curtis

Thumbs

Raising the garden

Autumn is the time to clear the garden of spent summer crops and plan next season’s garden. Successful gardening needs good soil, the right plants for your climate and sunshine. We are lucky here as our temperatures rarely freeze, so we can grow most things year-round.

To combat some of the challenges with our coastal clay or sandy soils, it’s a good idea to grow plants in raised beds. These are easy to make and great if you have limited space or challenges bending down.

First choose a spot that has 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. If you are building the bed on lawn, put a layer of thick wet cardboard down first to avoid the grass growing through. You can buy kitset raised beds from garden suppliers, or make your own. Wood is a common material to use – if it is treated, staple plastic to the inside to prevent leaching of the chemicals into the soil. If untreated, the soil can touch the sides but that means it may rot after a few years. You can also use bricks, stones or recycled plastic – whatever works with your budget and creativity.

Ensure you can reach the middle of the bed from each side. Our community garden raised beds are 2m x 1m which seems to work well. The depth will depend on how high you want it – 60cm works well for us. Building it higher will help your back, but filling it can be expensive.

If you totally fill your bed with soil from the garden centre, not only will it be expensive, but your plants will only grow for a year before the soil is depleted and you will have to start again. To keep costs down it’s

a good idea to fill the bed using the lasagne technique. This involves putting logs and sticks in the bottom to help drainage, hold water and, when they rot, they will release nutrients to the plants. Then layer up with green (kitchen waste, coffee grounds, weeds, etc) and brown material (leaves, cardboard, newspaper, etc). This way you have ongoing nutrients available to plants. Finally, about 10cm from the top, add compost and potting mix from the garden centre or landscape supplier. This layer will be ready to plant in. Choose your plants according to the season and your taste and keep moist.

In our garden this season we are planting broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, coriander, carrots, beetroot, silver beet spinach and radish, as well as flowers for the bees. Every change of season, add some compost. Feed with an organic fertiliser once a month in autumn, but reduce that as winter comes. You can make your own organic fertiliser (more on that in future columns).

One way of keeping heat in the soil as winter approaches is to give your plants a ‘blanket’ of mulch (pea straw, shredded newspaper, woodchips, any organic material) spread on top of soil. This will help crops to produce flowers or fruit for a little longer and feed the soil as it breaks down, while keeping in moisture and suppressing weeds.

To see some examples of raised bed growing, visit Ōrewa Community Garden, 216 Hibiscus Coast Highway on any Wednesday or Saturday 9am-11am and we can talk you though the process. Happy autumn gardening!

Ōrewa community garden

David Cooper, physiotherapist david@kineticsrehab.co.nz

Warming to the warmup

The term ‘warm-up’ usually refers to a variety of changes that the body undergoes during exercise, including changes in heart rate, breathing rate, blood flow, body temperature, flexibility –the list goes on.

Many readers will remember a lap of the field followed by a few quick stretches. Ready to go? Sure why not! In fact, on any given weekend even now if you pitch up to a field, turf or court there is a chance you may see exactly this approach in action. However, it does beg the question – with all the other changes, advances and improvements in sport, surely the ageless warmup has also evolved? Well, turns out it has.

When we think of the purpose of a warmup, top of the list is usually an attempt to reduce the risk of injury. That being said, in youth sport perhaps it is simply a strategy to burn some nervous energy in a group of active, bouncy children before they sit down to discuss strategy for the game!

If the goal truly is to reduce the risk of injury, how does a warmup achieve this? We now know that the age-old warmup of a simple jog followed by static stretches has almost no decreasing effect on injury risk.

A systematic review from 2008 concluded that “there is moderate to strong evidence that routine application of static stretching does not reduce overall injury rates”. Concession is made that perhaps there may be a slight reduction in muscle or tendon injuries – but these only make up a portion of the injuries sustained in sport. Recent research, however, has been able

to demonstrate that a more thorough and tailored warmup actually does reduce injury risk. The now well-established “FIFA11+” warmup originally developed in football has been shown to reduce lower limb injury rates by up to 50 percent, while simultaneously reducing the severity of any injuries that are sustained.

This concept has been adopted by the ACC Sport Smart campaign which has developed warmup drills for use across a variety of sports including rugby, football and netball. These exercises typically involve dynamic movements such as squats, lunges, running, jumping and changes of direction; while also incorporating static exercises like a plank. Each of the 15 exercises has a beginner, intermediate and advanced version that can be adapted to suit all levels. There is even a FIFA 11 warmup routine for youth sport that can easily be downloaded and adopted at your local clubs. As the seasons change and winter sports kick off, check out the warm-up routines and more information at www. sportsphysiotherapy.org.nz or www. accsportsmart.co.nz

Wentworth College winning stroke

Wentworth College Rowing Team finished their season on a high note after competing in the NZ Secondary Schools Rowing Champs/Maadi Regatta at Lake Karapiro. They faced fierce competition and a tough elimination system that saw many crews unable to progress to finals by the tiniest of margins, some less than 0.5 seconds. Head Coach, Kevin Herbison was impressed with the results achieved, saying that the small team of mostly novices performed beyond expectations. They made it into an A Final, two B Finals and a D Final. “It’s encouraging to see the smaller schools amongst the top rankings with the traditional powerhouse schools,” Kevin says.

We know that the age-old warmup of a simple jog followed by static stretches has almost no decreasing effect on injury risk.

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

Autumn apples

Delicious food has been my life. But as food prices soar, feeding the family well and providing regular healthy meals has become a major concern for most households. ‘The land of milk and honey’ is not quite the dream we all grew up with. Nasty weather events have kicked this year off to a faltering start, impacting almost everyone.

As a food writer who has been intricately involved with the food our nation consumes for many years, I am very worried. There’s never been a time when prolonged supply has been a threat to so many of the basic foods we buy, and the sky high pricing has made so much out of reach for so many. I am worried about the future of our food and we all should be as, fresh food, not industrially produced, is at the heart of our nation’s economy.

Following the floods in our region and the disastrous Cyclone Gabrielle experience, we hear pleas and cries from our farmers and growers to support local producers where we can. That is something that we can all do. Whether we shop in the supermarket or local store, go to a farmers market, or buy from the farm stands dotted around the countryside in our region we should make a conscious effort to choose New Zealand grown food whenever we can, if it’s affordable. If everyone put more thought and consideration into purchasing local, seasonal food our producers will survive.

Having been so bold to state that, there’s no need for guilt when buying cheaper alternative imports if that’s what suits the budget. There has to be a trade balance and

an export nation like ours shouldn’t scoff at all imports, unless there’s no nutritional value in the shopping basket. But any house hold should feel guilty if food is consistently wasted. Luckily there’s much discussion and some great information on how to avoid or deal with waste in our communities. Websites giving advice on this are plentiful and some good folks are investing much of their lives to help repurpose unwanted food.

We all deserve a treat occasionally and fruit and vegetables all have a prime season.

Feijoas, guavas, kiwifruit and tamarillos are ripening. Right now the late summer fruits like apples and pears are plentiful and it’s good to see that despite the havoc experienced in our closest major fruit producing area, Hawke’s Bay, is still supplying us and exporting wonderfully juicy crisp apples.

Homemade puddings are a great way to fill hungry bellies. Apples any way at all are perfect for this. Choose Braeburn apples if you can as they cook up to a lovely texture. An old fashioned apple pie is easy to whip up, and apple crumble is probably one of the easiest and most popular puddings as the weather takes on a chilly air.

Despite the alarming price of eggs (if you can find them) this stewed apple pudding is a rare and rich easy dish to make for the family. Adding the yolks to the apple and rhubarb mixture makes a lovely, almost custardy, texture and the egg whites are whipped into a meringue to top the dish. Serve it warm and if there are any left overs, serve them up with the breakfast muesli for a real treat.

Serves 4-6

4 large cooking apples, peeled and sliced thickly

2 sticks rhubarb, washed and sliced

2 tbsp water

50g butter

grated zest of 1 lemon

1 tbsp soft brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3 egg yolks

For the meringue:

3 egg whites

120g caster sugar

½ tsp vanilla essence

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Prepare the apples and rhubarb and place in a heavy saucepan with the water, butter, lemon zest and brown sugar. Heat the pan and allow the apples to cook very gently until almost soft, stirring gently occasionally. When the apples are soft and beginning to collapse, after about 25 minutes, remove from the heat, and cool slightly before stirring in the cinnamon and well beaten egg yolks. Tip this mixture into a buttered pie dish. Beat the egg whites until they hold firm peaks, add the sugar gradually with the vanilla, continuing to beat after each addition. Pile onto the stewed apples and rhubarb, covering completely and bake in the preheated oven until the meringue looks crisp and golden, for roughly 25 minutes.

Serve warm, accompanied by yogurt or whipped cream.

Golden apple and rhubarb pudding

College opens door on community day

Ōrewa College has not held a community day before, and Principal Greg Pierce says it’s something he’s wanted to introduce ever since he came to the school at the start of 2021. It’s inaugural event, held on Saturday, April 1, and called Te Ahu a Rea/Fostering Cultural Growth was, he says, all he had hoped for.

The aim was to bring the community in, and give a snapshot of where the college is at and its future.

It included food stalls and performances by cultural groups.

A highlight was the hangi, a collaborative exercise between the college and the community – in particular Richard Nahi from Auckland Council and the Schreurs whanau.

One hundred tickets for hangi food were pre-sold. The pit was dug at 4.30am on the college’s back field and a lot of work went into preparing the food – the piping hot hangi was served in flax trays handmade by students.

There was entertainment from the Ōrewa College kapa haka group, as well as other musical performances and dance routines. The ‘big reveal’ of the day was the design of a 12 classroom double storied block which is in the final design and business case phase.

Pierce says the block is needed to future proof the college against ongoing roll growth. It also contains a specialist technology work space as well as flexible learning classrooms. The building is going to be on the main front field opposite the Arts and Events Centre.

The current administration block will be converted into classrooms and the reception, administration area will be transferred to the front of the new building. The build is Stage 1 of a three-stage Master Property Plan which Pierce says the college and the Ministry of Education are collaboratively working on.

Construction of the block is due to start in Term 4, and expected to be completed for the start of the 2025 school year.

Hangi for 100 people was a standout feature of the day.

Members of the Students against Dangerous Driving group had a stall.

Youth Voice

Caitlin Watson, caitewatson@gmail.com

Piece of pavlova out of sight

The phrase ‘quarter acre pavlova paradise’ takes me back to the stories my dad tells me of the 1970s; a time where New Zealand was the land of milk and honey for housing affordability.

There is no doubt, the Coast is its own piece of pavlova paradise. With an abundance of beaches, the desire to settle in this cruisy coastal town is strong. However, in today’s climate with the increased cost of living and exorbitant house prices, home ownership anywhere in Auckland can seem like a distant dream to the younger generation. The proportion of young adults aged 25-34 years who are homeowners has declined nationally, from almost two-thirds in 1988 to just over a third in 2018 (this is without zooming in on the Auckland context). Furthermore, houses cost about two times the median household income in the 1970s. They now cost roughly seven times the median income across the country and in Auckland, it is times 10!

To capture the mindset of Generation Zers, I asked a few friends based on the Coast to share their experience of renting and accessibility to home ownership. For all, the Coast lifestyle is a major drawcard. The beaches, the shops and public amenities get a big tick – to the extent that they are willing to make sacrifices, such as sitting in traffic, to enjoy the coastal life.

For some, it’s not so positive and the cost of renting takes its toll. One friend says “it isn’t feasible to stay long term as the availability of affordable accommodation for couples or young families is just not there. Stand-alone properties are far too expensive.” Ohers have made the decision to live with their parents and save for a house of their own.

Two community groups that are long term users of Orewa Community Hall are concerned that local board belttightening could see their hall hire subsidy cut.

Both the Hibiscus Coast Senior Citizens Association and the Hibiscus Coast Country Music Club receive a 50 percent subsidy from Auckland Council on hall hire. Since 2014 the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board has given them an additional subsidy. The issue was discussed at a local board workshop on March 21.

Staff told local board members that last year’s subsidy of $5000 was spent and next financial year, that amount could be halved or cut completely.

“The groups have used the hall for decades and are attached to the space,” the staff member said. “We don’t want to take that away but with cost of living rises we have to try and recoup costs and do what the Mayor wants.”

The Country Music Club hires the hall

Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast

Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast

Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast freedom with

On the other hand, a small minority of the younger population have successfully made it onto the property ladder. One friend shared a few hacks to make it a bit more achievable. They teamed up with their brother to go halves, found a private seller which was easier to negotiate with, avoided real estate fees and found a good mortgage broker!

To be in this position in today’s climate, undoubtedly requires significant sacrifice and delayed gratification. There is also the increasing popularity of friends teaming up to get on the property ladder which shows a bit of creative thinking! For some, the goal just feels too distant so they have shifted priorities to overseas travel and parked the idea of owning a home in Auckland.

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While house prices are predicted to continue to fall, it seems like it won’t be nearly enough to alter the trajectory of Gen Zers who have been dubbed ‘the generation of renters’. A small slither of pavlova paradise is not out of sight, but it is definitely not the quarter acre paradise of old, and is likely to take many years of saving, support, sacrifice and strategising. It is a privilege to call the Coast home and one can hope that this home becomes more accessible to the younger generation.

Hall hire subsidy on the line

monthly for line dancing, live music and refreshments. It has been going there for at least 30 years. Secretary Alan Powell says the subsidy has been the difference between the club breaking even and losing money and wants it retained.

The Senior Citizens Association also wants to keep the subsidy. Patron Des Adams has written to local board members saying the club raised substantial money to build the hall. He says a peppercorn rental would be fair recognition for that.

A further report will come back to the local board, and any changes in the hire fee will take effect in July.

For some, the goal just feels too distant so they have shifted priorities to overseas travel and parked the idea of owning a home in Auckland.

Keen walker ‘at it again’

Fundraising walks are something that Ōrewa massage therapist Roger White clearly enjoys. Recently, on April 1, he completed his fourth such walk, which has to date raised just over $2000 for Friends of Regional Parks. This charity formed in 2010 to advocate for and expand Auckland’s regional parks. Roger says the money he has raised will specifically be used by the charity to increase the number of native trees planted at Te Muri.

“Te Muri is one of the lesser-known parks and is in need of more tree-planting to stabilise hillsides and attract more birdlife,”

Roger says. “Planting the wetlands has been the focus the past few years, but it’s now time to establish areas with slower-

growing natives.”

It was also a personal challenge, he says. “I decided to aim for 65km instead of the usual 50km, as I turned 65 earlier this year,” he says. “The route was all local and included two regional parks and the Ōrewa Estuary walkway.”

He began the walk in Red Beach at 5.20am and headed out to Shakespear Regional Park, then back to Ōrewa Estuary walkway. The walk ended at Wenderholm Regional Park. Along the way he was joined by a number of other walkers.

Contributions can still be made – details on the Friends of Regional Parks Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FORparks Info: www.forparks.org.nz

From left, walkers Tupu, Azariah and Kylah Meafua, Roger, Chrissy Henley and Tori Christie. Roger White is making a habit of fundraising walks, recently completing his fourth.

Gulf snapper in dire straits

The Warkworth Gamefish Club is calling on Fisheries NZ to take a serious look at the condition of snapper in the Hauraki Gulf and Bream Bay.

Club delegate Terry Creagh of Ōrewa says the fish are starving.

“Snapper with white mushy flesh have been a hot topic over BBQs, bait boards and beers for some time,” Creagh says.

“In search of answers, LegaSea lodged an Official Information Act request last December and Fisheries New Zealand responded last month.

“Their analysis showed that the fish are safe for human consumption but, alarmingly, the main cause points to chronic starvation.”

Creagh maintains that destructive commercial fishing techniques and environmental degradation are compounding the problem. This is resulting in the large-scale depletion of important food sources that have historically sustained snapper and other finfish populations.

“Fishers are used to seeing ‘spent’ fish after the snapper spawning in spring. The fish normally take a few months to recover. What is unusual now is that people have been catching mushy fleshed snapper since before the spawning season. Now, coming into winter when the fish should be in good condition, there are still lots of mushy fish about.

Fishy photos wanted

“It’s shocking that the evidence points to the fact our snapper are literally starving. If we want snapper populations to increase we need to start by protecting the food sources. And, we must start paying attention to the signals that our marine ecosystems are collapsing.

“The results are particularly concerning because snapper are an incredibly hardy species that eat almost anything. The Hauraki Gulf used to be one of the most productive marine environments but years of dredging, bottom trawling, and land based runoff have destroyed shellfish beds, crab and seabed populations. These are vital species which are important food sources for a variety of fish, sea birds, and marine mammals.”

LegaSea lead Sam Woolford says the first step starts with the removal of bottom trawling, scallop dredging and Danish seining fishing methods that cause damage to habitats and marine species.

“In the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, people currently have the opportunity to remove these damaging fishing methods,” Woolford says. “If we show the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries that we’re a united front on this issue, we’re confident we can get them out once and for all.”

A petition that calls for the end of all bottom trawling and dredging in the gulf can be found here - haurakigulfalliance.nz/ petition/

Gulf Harbour Marina is running a competition looking for the best photos of kids fishing. But you’ll need to get in quick –the winner is to be drawn at noon on April 24. Entries are accepted right up to that time. Tag the marina – https://www.facebook.com/ gulfharbourmarinanz in your best (or funniest) photos to be in with a chance to win a tackle bag and flasher rigs worth $100. It is hoped that the winning images, and maybe some of the others, will be published in Hibiscus Matters’ May 1 edition.

Win for Peninsula bowlers

The annual Poynton Classic Fours was held at Sunnybrae Bowls Club on March 27 and the Peninsula Club team finished first and second. Thirty-six teams from all the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast villages enjoyed a great day of competition, the results confirming that Peninsula Club bowlers are number one! The winning team was Bill Trotter, Joan Carter, Brian Carter and Ken Mueller. In second place Warren Marks, Bob Graham, Denham Furnell and Trish O’Malley. The same winning team also won the Ōrewa Club Village Triples held before and after Christmas.

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

THE scor EBoArD

T HE scorEB oArD

aRoundup of spoRTs acTiviTies in THe disTRicT

HIBISCUS PETANQUE

Welcomes new members – come along and try this fun social sport. Club days are Tuesday and Wednesday 9am to midday and Sunday 1pm to 4pm at our terrains alongside Bowls Ōrewa, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Ōrewa. Phone John 027 489 4955 www.sporty.co.nz/ hibiscuspetanque.

RUGBY REFS WANTED

Harbour Rugby is looking for referees. Give back to the game, keep fit, meet new people and have fun! People of all ages and abilities are required, and will be supported with full training and coaching. Info, contact Ryan Nixon ryan@harbourrugby.co.nz

TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis at Whangaparāoa Community Hall. Games on Mondays, 9am-12noon. 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.

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

ToTalspan Rodney 229 sTaTe HigHway 1 waRkwoRTH pHone 09 422 3149

ToTalspan Rodney 229 sTaTe HigHway 1 waRkwoRTH pHone 09 422 3149

Do you have spare leisure time? How to fill the hours? Rebus may have the answer

Please accept this invitation to retired men of good character living in the Rodney District who would enjoy the conviviality of new friends and activities. The Rebus Club of Hibiscus Coast meets monthly on the first Tuesday from 9.30am until noon in the Bridge Club rooms at Edith Hopper Park, Ladies Mile, Manly. Guest speakers, trips, dine-outs, and many interest groups. Rebus has its origins in Rotary and Probus. No community service – just the enjoyment of each other’s company.

Call Phil: 027 497 0024

or email: hibiscusrebus@gmail.com

www.rebus-hibiscuscoast.co.nz

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

Starvation has been identified as the cause of mushy fleshed snapper in Hauraki Gulf.

Photo, Rikki Taylor, NIWA

“Totally Dependable”

But Don’t Take Our Word For It!

The service was so quick and easy and the guys were really friendly.

Laser were really professional. Communicated well, turned up on time, were friendly and tidy. Work quality was also great. They rewired about half of our house and changed out the switchboard.

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

They installed and have serviced our heat pump for over a year now.

Daniel Hay Quick to respond to inquiry. These guys were upfront and honest. They did a neat and tidy job and I would definitely use them again.

Green scene

John Stewart, SOSSI info@sossi.org.nz

Feather formation

Those of you with a keen eye may have noticed recently that some of the forest birds in Shakespear Regional Park are looking rather scruffy.

The reason is that many of them are undergoing their annual feather moult. What you are seeing is old, worn and discoloured feathers being lost and replaced with new ones. Feathers grow from skin organs called follicles. The newly growing feathers push out the old ones which then fall off.

Feather moult is one of three energetically demanding parts of a bird’s annual cycle along with breeding and migration. While not all birds migrate, most breed and nearly all moult their feathers. The reason they need to moult is that feathers are made from bird-keratin, a similar material to our finger and toe nails, which is not living tissue. As soon as they have grown, they start to wear out under the effects of sunlight, rain, abrasion, dirt and the stresses of flight. By the time they are a year old they are often in poor condition.

Good quality feathers are vitally important for birds. They are used to maintain body temperature, cooling when it’s hot and insulating when it’s cold, their colours can provide camouflage or can be signals to other birds warning them to keep away or attracting potential partners. They keep out the rain and, of course, they enable flight. To do all this, birds have different kinds of feathers for different purposes. The flight feathers are the larger ones in the wings

and tail while the body feathers cover and protect the skin.

Birds have different strategies for moulting their flight feathers. Ducks tend to replace all their flight feathers at once and so cannot fly until their new feathers are almost fully

... as soon as the moult

grown. Forest birds cannot afford to be flightless as they depend on flight to reach their food and to avoid predators. Instead, they moult their feathers in sequence, usually starting in the centre of the wing. They drop one or two feathers at a time and regrow new ones before dropping the next in line. Although there will be small gaps in the wings and tail during moult, the birds can still fly reasonably well.

Reduced flight ability means the birds tend not to sing as much and spend more time quietly feeding and resting so they can be more difficult to see at this time of year. But, as soon as the moult is complete, they will be looking their best and have the protection they need to survive the colder winter months.

For the photographers among you, this is a great time to head into the park and try for that perfect image.

10% discount available to gold card holders (proof to be shown to the electrician while on site)

Morrison

is complete, they will be looking their best and have the protection they need ...

• Located at 1669 Dairy Flat Highway, under 1 km from the Silverdale on-off ramps.

• Set in a rural lifestyle setting, nestled between farmland, it provides one of the largest landscaped outdoor spaces at a NZ Early Learning Centre.

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Welding / Repairs for W.O.F & C.O.F, Rust Repairs, Accident Repairs, Insurance Repairs, Cars, Vans, Buses, Campers, Trucks, Trailers, Old/New - All Welcome. Affordable

12 Tangy, 13 Message, 14 Lectern, 18 Compromise, 23 Anvil, 24 Unarmed, 26 Amateur, 27 Soprano, 29 Proviso, 30 Manage, 31 Aloof, 32 Bakery, 34 Mead, 36 Stump, 38 Tense, 40 Saga, 45 Rider, 46 Purloin, 47 Inch, 48 Violet, 49 Build, 50 Gastric, 52 Candelabra, 53 Missile, 54 Reared, 55 Symptom, 56 Booty, 57 Stag, 62 Rinse, 67 Caprice, 68 Blemish, 70 Allegro, 72 Gymslip, 73 Fourth, 74 Boxers, 75 Caries, 76 Spoil, 78 Boost, 80 Write, 82 News, 83 Inca.

Classifieds

DELIVERERS WANTED TO DELIVER HIBISCUS MATTERS

11 YEARS+ TO DELIVER THE HIBISCUS MATTERS NEWSPAPERS

Hibiscus Matters is a fortnightly paper, pays good rates and you have 4 days to deliver. If you are fit, like walking and wanting to get paid for it ...

Contact Rosemary 021 0300 263 or email name, contact details & age to: hmdelivery@localmatters.co.nz

DVDS & VIDEOS

VIDEOS TRANSFERRED to DVD/hard drive. Ph/txt Te Totara Video 021 777 385.

WANTED TO BUY TO BUY, RECORDS/LP’S 09 428 1587 txt 0210 258 3437

HOME & MAINTENANCE

ALARMS SECURITY AND FIRE, MONITORING, CCTV, servicing & installation, all brands 027 553 3032 www.tdssecurity.co.nz

CARPET LAYING, CARPET RE-STRETCH, VINYL LAYING, CARPET REPAIRS

Over 30 years’ experience.

Contact Dexter 027 4956 436

Deliveries available

GARMENT PRESSING & LIGHT FACTORY DUTIES

Seabreeze Apparel is a wellestablished clothing manufacturer and printer, based in Manga Rd Silverdale. We are seeking someone to assist in our sewing and printing operations. Tasks include garment pressing; quality checking; counting; folding and packing. No experience is needed. Applicants need to have an eye for detail, good with numbers and be reasonably fit – occasional lifting is required. The role can be full time or part-time with hours to suit. If you are interested, please contact Sharon or Vicki at Seabreeze Apparel on 09 426 6586 or send us an email at admin@seabreezeapparel.co.nz

0274 890 851 email jeff@ardnz.com

HANDYMAN

Odd jobs, gardening, painting & water blasting. Phone Nev 021 399 226.

HOUSE WASHING - SOFT WASH / LOW PRESSURE / CHEMICAL WASH Also Window Cleaning / Gutter Clearing Careful service, reasonable rates. Phone 021 057 9743

PUMP DOCTOR

WATER PUMP & FILTER SERVICES. New installs for all your water pump requirements. Ph 0274 430 654.

Hiring?

Advertise online with Hibiscus Matters

COMMUNITY NOTICES

HOUSIE AT BOWLS ŌREWA every Friday, 1pm-4pm. Lots of fun and great prizes. Ph 09 426 5937. All welcome.

HIBISCUS COAST COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB, Sunday, February 5, 1pm, at the Ōrewa Community Centre, $5 entry, all welcome.

HIBISCUS COAST HIGHLAND PIPES & DRUMS teaching piping and drumming to those interested in joining our band. Practices, Wednesday 7pm, St Johns Ambulance Hall 36 Silverdale Rd Silverdale. Drop in to check us out. Ph Leslee 0274 426 7170 or Bob Logan 424 1838.

HIBISCUS SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB meets each Wednesday 7pm Silverdale Village Hall. Social dancing, great music, friendly group. Contact Gail 0274 242 792.

PIONEER DANCE CLUB Every Thursday, 1.30pm-3.30pm, for seniors, meet, dance and make friends. Silverdale Hall, ph 427 5542.

SUNDAY SOCIAL DANCE Silverdale, ballroom, Latin American etc. all welcome. Every 4th Sunday, 5-8pm. Silverdale Hall, ph 427 5542.

COMMUNITY MARKET AT ST CHAD’S (cnr Florence Ave & Centreway Rd, Ōrewa) 1st Saturday of each month 8am to 12 noon. $15 per site. To book phone 027 244 2832. Artisans & crafters welcome.

SILVERDALE STREET MARKET, every Saturday, 8am-1pm. New stallholders welcome, phone Margaret, 027 663 2010.

SILVERDALE PIONEER VILLAGE Open every Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Group visits Monday-Friday by arrangement Email: Pioneervillage1968@Gmail.com

BIBLE STUDY GROUP every Saturday morning, Ōrewa SDA Church at 123 -125 Centreway Rd, 10am.

HIBISCUS COAST ART CLUB Come along and enjoy a friendly group who share art knowledge. Every Monday 9.30am-12pm, Stanmore Bay Community Hall, Waiora Road. Info Shana 021 650 184. All welcome.

HIBISCUS COAST WRITERS Regular workshops led by successful writers, followed by optional interclub competitions. Second Saturday of month, Pohutukawa Room, Whangaparāoa Library. 1pm-3pm, Ph Marilyn 021 936 860 or Chris 021 231 8318.

NZ SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS meet 3rd Tuesday of the month, St Chad’s Church, Ōrewa, 2pm. Entry gold coin donation for the public. Guest speakers present on a range of topics. All welcome. ŌREWA COMMUNITY CHURCH ART CLASS 9am-12pm, Amateur artists who support and inspire each other.. Gold coin. Alan 021 039 7155.

SPIRITUAL CENTRE IN ŌREWA Meet fortnightly, Wednesday 7.30pm. All welcome. 9e Annalise Place (off Forest Glen Rd) Ōrewa. $5 donation. Ph Lynda 424 1998.

WORK WANTED

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER New Builds, Additions & Renovations. Concept Design & Building Consents. Clinton 0800 642425

Hibiscus Matters can

I can come to you. Qualified Hairstylist providing cutting and blow wave services.

Please phone Julie 021 112 8015

What’s on ...

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

22 Laughs in the ‘Burbs’, Ōrewa Community Centre, 368 Ōrewa, 7.30pm-10.30pm. Top comedy line up, headlined by David Correos. Tickets from Eventfinda.

22 Gerry Lee, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, Whangaparāoa, 7pm-10.30pm. $5 for non-RSA members.

22 Food Truck Collective comes to Manly Park, Laurence St, Manly, 5pm-9pm. Street food, music and entertainment, craft beer pop-up bar.

22 Earth Day Eco-friendly Electronic Party, Parāoa Brewing Co., Whangaparāoa, 8pm. Electronica. Tickets from Eventfinda.

23 Gulf Harbour Yacht Club Boat Bits & Car Boot all-sorts sale, Gulf Harbour Marina, 9am. Bring ‘n’ Buy, sell your unwanted belongings, $10 p/car boot. Info/bookings, ph 424 2118 or email admin@ghyc.co.nz

23 Anzac Remembrance Screening, Whangaparāoa Library, 1pm. A special documentary in commemoration of Anzac Day. Rated PG, this screening will allow our community to reflect on our national day of remembrance together. All welcome.

25 Anzac Day – see list of local services below.

30 Orange Bike Ride for Dutch Week, 10am-1pm, meet at Estuary Arts Centre, Western Reserve, Ōrewa. 8km fun ride around Ōrewa Estuary. Dress to impress! Info: https://orewabeach.co.nz/event/ orange-bike-ride-to-celebrate-dutch-week/

6 Co-governance public meeting, Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa marae, 2A Blue Gum Ave, Silverdale (near Wade Hotel), 9.30am start. Registration essential www.teherengawakaoorewa.co.nz/ (see story p3)

6 White Chapel Jak Endless Summer Tour, Parāoa Brewing Co.,719A Whangaparāoa Road, 7pm–11pm. Tickets from Eventfinda.

6 Keavin Greaves Family Trio, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, Whangaparāoa,7pm-10.30pm. Pre-sales $12 (non-RSA members), $10 (RSA members). Door sales $15.

8 What is a Naturopath and how can they help you? A talk with four naturopaths at Whangaparāoa Library, Main Street, Whangaparāoa, 10.30am-11.30am.

14 Mother’s Day Special – Always Elvis with Mike Cole, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Vipond Rd, Whangaparāoa, 4pm-7pm. $30pp including buffet meal, $15 without meal.

20-21 NZ Wingfoil Championships, hosted by Manly Sailing Club at Manly Beach. Spectators welcome.

20 Wedding dresses through the decades, Whangaparāoa College Auditorium, Delshaw Road, Manly, 3pm. Fundraiser for hospice. Showcasing over 30 dresses from the 1950s to present day –an afternoon of glamour on the “catwalk”. Tickets $39 from https:// harbourhospice.org.nz/our-events/

22 Nathan Wallis, neuroscience educator, presents Understanding your Brain, Building Resilience and Maximising Learning, Silverdale School, Longmore Lane, Silverdale, 7.30pm-9pm. Tickets from Eventfinda.

See

Pharmacy Talk

with Tania Adams

Pharmacist at Unichem Manly

Futuristic Health Service

Community pharmacy represents a wonderful service where you can come and ask us about minor ailments, get prescription advice, get your vaccinations and more. Every now and then a new service comes along that we are able to provide and the latest one is big, some would say a paradigm shift in health.

Let me try to explain...Imagine a world where you knew exactly what diet, lifestyle and nutritional supplement your body needed to function at it’s best by profiling your genes.

Sounds like something out of a science fiction movie? At Unichem Manly Pharmacy we have been chosen to partner with the Ingeneous programme whereby we use your genetic blue-print to provide you with an individualised plan for better health. We get to use the science of epigenetics, nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics to create personalised recommendations for decreasing inflammation, helping with sleep, cognitive function and energy levels. Given that inflammation is the root cause of most disease, using these recommendations to decrease inflammation in your body means alleviating many medical issues from gut health issues to migraines, arthritis to eczema to name but a few.

Unlike blood test results, your genes don’t change day to day. They are with you for life. There is, however, the age old question of nature versus nurture. Can you really change your medical trajectory or are you destined to get what is programmed by your genes? Research now shows that nurture plays a much larger role than previously imagined. Knowing your genes means you can influence how they are expressed by changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Is a Mediterranean diet best for your body or some other? Is resistance exercise your optimum option or would a jog or walk be better? Do you need vitamin B6 or Vitamin B12 or actually neither? The programme answers these questions for your body based on your actual genes.

The Ingeneous programme provides recommendations to each person that are designed to be actionable. They are all evidence based with strong science behind each plan. Further programmes are also in available for example, a weight management programme. The programme pricing starts at $399 with special deals exclusive to Unichem Manly Pharmacy available til 28th April 2023. We have several team members trained at the pharmacy to provide the programme in a personal consultation to make sure you get the best out of the programme and to date we have had some great results. So why not take charge of your health right now and make a booking by calling us on 09-424-7708 or www.unichemmanly.co.nz

Don’t believe it could be so amazing? Check out personal testimonials for the programme on www.ingeneous.co.nz

Welcome to the future of health right here on the Hibiscus Coast!

Everyone dug Easter Sand Day

The 9th annual Ōrewa Beach sandcastle competition, held on Easter Saturday, April 8, saw 28 individual sand sculptors and teams turn cordoned off sections of sand into artistic sand creations.

Marine themes such as boats and sea creatures

were popular as always, along with various dragons, a snail, the North Island, and castles both simple (of the upturned bucket kind) and complex (created with plastering tools). Easter festivities were an obvious theme used by many – mainly bunnies and eggs.

This theme was also used by In Good Form, who spent a week turning 15 tonnes of sand into a giant sculpture that included a pile of eggs, a rabbit and an Easter Island head, on Moana Reserve. Taking out the experienced category and

$500 cash was Mike Graham with Gorilla Face. Novice category winners were Tiff and the McLeod family with the Easter Bunny car ($250). The SB Team’s Lizard Bath won a set of Ōrewa tee shirts for being Highly Commended.

Standard Price $285 (+ gas used)

From left, Father and daughter team Kelsey and Richard Chapman of Gulf Harbour with the sculpture they called ‘Alien dog’. Easter themes included this bunny in a car, which won the novice category for Tiff and the McLeod family. ‘Gorilla face’ was a winner for Mike Graham. Photo, Douglas Hannay. In Good Form sculptors from Christchurch, Asheley Elizabeth, right, and Annette Griffiths stuck with the Easter theme.