Mahurangi Matters_Issue 267_4 March 2015 by Localmatters

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March 4, 2015

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Puhoi • Warkworth • Snells • Matakana • Omaha • Leigh • Pakiri • Wellsford • Port Albert • Kaiwaka • Mangawhai

Council support sought for coastal trail A campaign is underway to develop a trail connecting Matakana to Pakiri Beach, which could feature work by internationally renowned Kiwi artist Billy Apple. The proposed 20km Big Omaha Trail will traverse unformed and rural roads, providing walkers with panoramic views south over Omaha and Point Wells to Auckland City and north to Bream Bay and Whangarei Heads. Whangateau resident Ian Macdonald is spearheading the group behind the project. He presented to Rodney Local Board last month seeking endorsement for the trail and formal discussions with Auckland Transport on creating footpaths along parts of the route. “This could be a major tourist attraction,” he told the Board. “It could do for the area what the Rail Trail has done for Central Otago.” Internationally renowned artist Billy Apple has expressed interest in designing parts of the track, including a staircase and milestones. Billy has collaborated with artists such as Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, and is the subject of a retrospective at Auckland Art Gallery which opens this month. His recent public works include a basalt staircase in Kingsland and a redeveloped the area around Eden Park stadium including a checkerboard walkway that opened last year. “Everything he does is put on the map internationally,” Mr Macdonald says. Billy is planning to hold an exhibition continued page 2

Artist Billy Apple is right behind the trail project.

what’s inside

Getting hitched

Wedding feature pages 25-31

Downhill dash

Trolley derby feature pages 37-41

off the drawing board this month . . .

New Home - Takatu

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Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

contacts Issue 267

General enquiries: Call 425 9068 PO Box 701, Warkworth 0941 17 Neville St, Warkworth 0941 Editor: Jannette Thompson 021 263 4423 editor@localmatters.co.nz Reporter: George Driver 425 9068 news@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Cathy Busbridge 022 029 1899 advertising@localmatters.co.nz Monica Mead 022 029 1897 local@localmatters.co.nz Graphic Design: Clare Woods localmatters@xtra.co.nz Digital Editor: Cathy Aronson 425 9068 online@localmatters.co.nz

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Omaha trail based on the trail at The Vivian art gallery, on Omaha Valley Road. The track also has the support of Crown entity, the Walking Access Commission. Northland advisor John Gardiner has walked sections of the track and says it is “really exciting”. “It’s got everything from stunning views to good sections of bush,” Mr Gardiner says. “It will require minimal work to open. If the community gets behind it, it will happen.”

The route The proposed trail starts at Matakana and follows Leigh Road to Quintal Road, continuing across farmland, with small patches of established native bush. From Upper Whangateau Road it goes to Schollum Road and up a ridge of native bush to the highest part of the trail on Rodney Road. It then descends on to Pakiri Road to M Greenwood Road, where it enters Pakiri Regional Park. The paper roads run through

from page 1 the properties of about 10 landowners, including through the middle of a grazing paddock on the unformed section of Quintal Road. In total, it traverses 11.5km of rural roads, 3km of unformed paper roads and 3.5km on Leigh Road, and would link to the national Te Araroa trail, which crosses Mount Tamahunga. The most significant work proposed is a three-kilometre footpath from Matakana to Quintal Road, but Mr Macdonald is open to collaborating with the Matakana Trust to use a trail planned between Omaha and Matakana. Quintal road also requires about 150 metres of track, 25 metres of stairs and a 10-metre boardwalk. The next step is for the group to form an incorporated society and get funding and support from government, Council and commercial sponsorship. “People also need to let Council know if this is something they support,” Mr Macdonald says.

Road works coincidence Road works on Leigh Road at the site of last month’s fatal car crash are just a coincidence, Auckland Transport says. Resurfacing of the road near Matakana started two weeks after the crash, but acting media manager Dai Bindoff says the work was already scheduled for February/March and has no relationship to the crash on February 4, which killed two people. The work is to repair sections of road before a full resurfacing of the road between Tongue Farm and Takatu Roads. It is scheduled to be completed early this month.

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March 4, 2015

Algies seawall soaks up extra $210,000 The cost of building a sea wall at Algies Bay has blown out by $210,000, after a number of unexpected changes delayed completion by nearly eight months. Local sports parks north manager Martin Van Jaarsveld says costs went from $690,000 to $900,000 due to months of delays as the project became increasingly complex. The project involves replacing a 140-metre section of an old, rock sea wall and constructing several timber retaining walls and installing drainage. It was initially planned to take six weeks, but is now in its ninth month. The majority of the wall was completed before Christmas, but landscaping work is continuing to create a more attractive and us able high tide beach area and is expected to finish this month. Costs climbed by $68,000 last year after wet weather made it difficult to work in the narrow site. The area also had poorer soils than anticipated and manholes and storm-water pipes, not shown on plans for the area, were discovered during construction. Mr Van Jaarsveld says additional resource consent conditions were also required due to the need for a sea wall with higher specifications than anticipated, which pushed up costs. The consent delays meant the project started six months later than planned, which pushed up the spoil removal costs as winter rates are higher than

Mahurangi Matters

Consent timeline 4-6 weeks: Initial general consultation discussion with community, local board reps and coastal scientists

6 weeks: Preparation of documentation for Consents, including engineering drawings

3 months:

Sea walls at Snells Beach (above) and Algies Bay are receiving much-needed attention.

summer rates. The workload increased further due to a historical landfill at the site. Meanwhile, construction of a timber sea wall at Snells Beach is finally underway after 10 months of planning and resource consent applications. The 80-metre seawall is estimated to cost $100,000 and take four to six weeks to complete. Part of the seawall was removed following a storm in 2013. The wall did not have a resource consent so could not be repaired. However, after storms last year caused

significant erosion, Snells Beach residents demanded that the sea wall be replaced. Snells Beach Residents and Ratepayers chair Bryan Jackson says residents have been trying to get the seawall extended along the beach for about three years. Construction was originally planned to start in October, but delays with the resource consent meant this stretched another four months. At a Rodney Local Board business meeting in December parks advisor Don Lawson said the consent process had been short for this kind of project.

Resource and Building Consent applications Pre-lodge discussion with planners Alterations to engineering drawings Submission and processing of Consents Iwi consultation

1 month: Section 92 questions (the public can submit queries about a Resource Consent application)

1 month: Tender/procurement

1 month: Tender evaluation, acceptance Health and safety plan, checks, management procedures relevant to the project Pre commencement meeting Construction

Warkworth Town Hall fundraising effort gathers momentum A fashion parade of upcoming autumn and winter styles will be held on Wednesday March 18 to help raise funds for the Warkworth Town Hall upgrade. The parade is one of a number of events being organised over coming months, which the fundraising committee hopes the community will support. The fashion parade will be held at Caroline Eve in Queen Street, Warkworth, starting at 5.30pm. Tickets are $15 and are available from the store. On Sunday, April 19, there will be a special screening

of the movie Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren, at Matakana Cinemas. The film is based on the true story of the late Maria Altmann, an elderly Holocaust survivor living in Los Angeles who fought the government of Austria for almost a decade to reclaim an iconic portrait of her aunt, which was painted by Gustav Klimt. The painting confiscated by the Nazis in Vienna, just prior to World War II. Altmann took her legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.

A Short Film Festival is being organised for June. The committee also hopes to hear by late May if it has been successful in its application for a Lottery Community Facilities grant of $1 million. The next fundraising committee meeting will be held at Tracey Martin’s office, Shop 5, Riverside Arcade, Warkworth, on Friday March 20, at 5.30pm. New members are welcome to attend.

backgroundonline

Warkworth Town Hall project online at localmatters.co.nz/Features/TownHall

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Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

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OFF THE RECORD

YOU SAY

We welcome your feedback but letters under 300 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at localmatters.co.nz/opinion. Letters can be sent to editor@localmatters.co.nz or PO Box 701, Warkworth

Beach business I was interested to read the recent letter and answers regarding a commercial operator on the beach at Goat Island (MM Feb 18). What was most surprising was the Auckland Council’s incorrect response that the beach equipment hire operator on Goat Island Beach has been there for 15 years. Having been a regular user of the beach since before marine reserve

status I’m sure I would have noticed the intrusion. Until recently, the only gear hire operation was a kayak hire run by a different operator who was granted a permit by the Rodney District Council about 10 years ago. That lasted less than a season. The previous glass bottom boat operator also operated from the beach using a non-intrusive table and chairs. Several other gear hire operators have

in the past used the grass area by the five-minute carpark but the beach was left to beachgoers. There are four businesses between Leigh and Goat Island offering hire gear. Some of these operate a service all year so why the does the council see the need for another one on the beach?

Shifting sands

Tony Enderby, Leigh

Northern Action Group’s day in court looms An appeal by the Northern Action Group (NAG) against the decision by the Local Government Commission to decline to assess its application for local government reorganisation in north Rodney will go before the High Court on March 30. The group is fighting to have north Rodney’s inclusion in the Auckland supercity reviewed. NAG’s submissions argue that the decision was wrong in several respects including that the Commission should not have accepted Auckland Council’s submissions that it needed more time to settle in. NAG chair Bill Townson says Parliament passed a law which placed a three year moratorium on reorganisation applications in

Auckland and decided three years was long enough for the new supercity arrangements to settle in. “We say the Commission had no right to effectively extend that moratorium by refusing to assess our application,” he says. “The Commission also said we had to show community support right across the Auckland region. We say this was also wrong as the Act only requires support from the affected area. We have already done this with a survey that indicates 94 per cent of north Rodney wants to secede. Among other examples, we cite the recent Scottish referendum where only residents of Scotland were allowed to take part.” Mr Townson says if these issues go unchallenged, the Commission could

use the same reasoning to refuse to assess other applications from rural areas dissatisfied with the way they are being treated by Auckland Council. “Waiheke Island is also looking at separating from the supercity and will be watching the outcome of our appeal with keen interest. “We hope for a positive outcome and a subsequent opportunity to properly make the case for local government in North Rodney. We are hearing of many cases of reduced local services, sale of local assets to fund Council expenditure and deferred local development. “We would welcome hearing from anyone who has other examples that we can add to the list.” Info: nag.org.nz

A reader was amused by this sight when she recently attended a meeting at the Warkworth RSA. We think that perhaps what’s really needed is a sign that says ‘do not place any signs on these doors’. Around 20 tonnes of sand was taken from Pakiri last month and dumped on Orewa Beach for a sandcastle competition. No offence to Orewa, but if you don’t have enough of your own sand on your own beach that’s no excuse to start pinching it from ours!

Plum job This sounds like the perfect job. Health Link North recently announced that it “was pleased to announce the appointment of xxxx to the vacant manager position. The email went on to say that the successful candidate’s “background and experience is highly suited to the requirements of the position”. We’re guessing that all you have to do is not show up to work! Off the record contributions welcome. Email to editor@localmatters.co.nz

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Viewpoint

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

Gates | Balustrade | Awnings | Showers | Wardrobes

Penny Webster, Rodney Councillor, Auckland Council penny.webster@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Exploring funding alternatives The last few months I have been chairing a working group put together by Local Government New Zealand to investigate alternative funding of local government and the shortfall councils face as the need for infrastructure improvements grows. While we need to be smarter and more efficient with what we do, the need for Government to understand the essentials is paramount. Auckland Council’s special housing accord to open up more land for houses is all very well but who funds the infrastructure? Nowhere is this more evident than in Rodney where the amount of growth has seen increased pressure on our roads, water and wastewater, stormwater. This growth also brings with it a need for leisure facilities such as parks, playgrounds and sports grounds. Added to this is the need for some councils to deal with the influx of large numbers of visitors at certain times of the year. The working group included Nick Clark from Federated Farmers, Michael Barnett from Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Stephan Selwood from NZCID, and Claudia Scott from Victoria University. The sustainability of local government funding has become an increasingly important policy issue in the face of demographic and economic change. The review recognises that NZ councils have a high reliance on property taxes, which is unusual by international standards. The review’s consultation paper was released at the beginning of February 2015 and the final report will follow in June 2015. As part of the solution, Local Government NZ proposes a principles-based partnership model with central government fully considering the costs and benefits of decisions for local communities and co-funding costs where policy proposals have significant national and local benefits. At the same time, the Minister of Local Government has set up a working group to look at legislation that impacts on local government. So often legislation is passed that then expects councils to carry out the work at the ratepayers expense. Water and environmental qualities, building requirements and resource management to just name a few. There is no easy answer. Of course we need to look at what we do and become increasingly more efficient. It’s a slow process when we are trying to change a culture. We did it in Rodney, but the size and complexity of Auckland Council makes it difficult. However, we also need a fresh discussion instead of the same old arguments. This paper will hopefully open up that discussion. Check it out on the LGNZ website.

Puhoi Club secures lease After a year of uncertainty, the Puhoi Sports Club has renewed its lease for 10 years for part of the Puhoi Pioneers Memorial Park. The club signed the lease at a peppercorn rental for the land where the pavilion is situated. The lease does not include the tennis courts. That component of the agreement was surrendered just over a year ago because the club felt it could not afford to maintain the courts. However, the club has indicated that it would like to see the courts upgraded to a usable standard and hope to do it jointly with the Rodney Local Board. The board has allocated $25,000 to complete design and planning for the courts, and the club raised $25,000 for construction costs, but there is still a shortfall of $64,000. Member Sharon Hallet says it’s been a long and frustrating process. “Hopefully, work will start next year but nothing has been promised,” Ms Hallet says. “I’ve been lobbying to get this done for 12 years now.”

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Mahurangi Matters

environment

March 4, 2015

thinkglobal The Beyond Organic Tour is part of EcoFest North, which runs from March 14 to April 12. Mahurangi Matters will run a special feature on the festival in our March 18 issue, but in the meantime, events can be viewed at ecofest.org.nz

Orchardist brings global perspective to Matakana Global trends in local food production will be one of the themes discussed at a Beyond Organic Tour event in Matakana on Sunday March 15. Guest presenter will be Canadianbased commercial orchardist Stefan Sobkowiak whose Miracle Farms featured in the documentary The Permaculture Orchard last year. Fresh from his European tour, Stefan will show segments of the documentary and will talk about the logic, the methods and the economics behind his diverse and highly productive orchard system. Stefan is one of the leaders in his particular field of applying permaculture to commercial orcharding. He says that what he has learnt in the last 20 years applies equally to large-scale horticulture and those few fruit trees in someone’s backyard. His permaculture journey started when he bought a commercial apple orchard outside Quebec and spent the next few years converting it to organics. Seven years ago, he re-designed the orchard using permaculture principles while maintaining and building on the commercial focus. He is considered to be one of only a few people in the world who is earning his living from a commercial permaculture-inspired orchard. The workshop in Matakana will be an opportunity to hear how these

Stefan Sobkowiak

productive, profitable, permacultureinspired practices work. Also speaking will be James Samuel, Mike Francis, James Andrews, Trish Allen, Benji Woodman and Daniel Tohill who will offer insights and news about a range of local food projects and enterprises. James Samuel is co-founder of ooooby. org, a NZ food distribution model that is expanding into North America. He will show how food distribution has been changing dramatically over the last few years and will talk about the opportunities that are opening up. The workshop will be held in the Matakana Hall, from 10am to 4pm, and the cost is $50 ($30 half day). Info: beyondorganicnztour.com



Rough season for fairy terns New Zealand’s rarest bird, the fairy tern, has had a rough breeding season with stormy weather in December claiming half of this year’s clutch. Department of Conservation ranger David Wilson says four chicks were lost in December, as a week of wind and rain prevented the parents from feeding and nests were abandoned. There are currently six chicks at nests in Mangawhai, Waipu, Pakiri and the Papakanui Spit in South Kaipara. “When it’s rough they can’t see fish in the surf or dive in to get them so the parents can’t catch enough to feed their chicks,” Mr Wilson says. The pair at Pakiri abandoned their two eggs during the storm but they were rescued and artificially incubated at Auckland Zoo until they could be placed into the nest of another pair at Mangawhai. The eggs later hatched and the chicks were raised to fledglings by their foster parents. Another egg was taken from a nest at South Kaipara after it was inundated by a high tide and the egg was relocated to a nest at Mangawhai. The New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust convener Heather Rogan says it has been a disappointing season after a promising start. “The birds nested early this year so we thought there was a good chance they would fledge before summer and before people head to the beach for the holidays. “But then the storm came.” A record 12 chicks were reared last year, taking the total number of adults to 39. “They are just holding their own.” In 2005, DOC created the Fairy Tern Recovery Plan to try to increase the breeding population by 25 per cent by 2015. However numbers have remained stagnant.

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Fairy terns can be identified by their ‘black cap’ markings, which come down over their eyes.

Mr Wilson says the number of breeding pairs has hovered around eight to 12 and the total population has been between 35 and 40 adults. “In an average year we might lose perhaps four to six breeding-age adults, while the average number of chicks fledged each season since 2004 has been 6.6. “Unfortunately, not all chicks which fledge survive long enough to become breeding adults, so we’ve only been able to maintain, rather than grow the population. We also currently have too many males in the population because we’ve lost a few adult females to predators and there are more males than females fledging. “We’re not quite sure why. The populations are so small it’s hard to tell if it’s just an anomaly.” But there has been progress in pest eradication and the Fairy Tern Trust received a $35,000 grant from the ASB Community Trust in November to continue fulltime trapping at Mangawhai Sandspit until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the NZ dotterel at the Omaha Shorebird Sanctuary have had one of the best seasons ever. Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust chair David Stone says breeding pairs have been successfully raising broods of three chicks, whereas often one or two are lost to predators. “It shows our predator control programme is working,” Mr Stone says.

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environment

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

Environment Christine Rose

christine.rose25@gmail.com

If ‘you are what you eat’, based on current food and product labelling, what that is, is unclear. Knowing the content and composition of food is important to New Zealanders so they can avoid food that has been genetically engineered, contains palm oil, has been tested on animals, treated with irraditation, grown using slave labour or will impact upon their health. But New Zealand food and goods labelling laws are weak and unclear, and often obscure the origins, ingredients or methods of production. Labels on food produced overseas for the international market will often list ingredients separately for different countries. That allows comparison between our food labelling laws and those from overseas. Biscuits we received in a Christmas hamper, made in the Ukraine for example, included different ingredient labels for European markets, the US, Australia and New Zealand. The lists for the former countries all specified palm oil as an ingredient, but New Zealand’s just said ‘vegetable oil’. Kiwi consumers seeking to make an ethical choice by avoiding palm oil because of its impacts on orang-utan, are denied the same clarity and opportunity to make an informed choice offered to consumers overseas. It’s bad enough that palm oil (and related products) saturate the market and are contained in everything from dairy products to soap. There are few soaps that don’t contain palm oil (not even Ecostore soaps are palm oil free), and it’s a ‘cheap’ base for most food. Not that you’d know easily, even if you take a magnifying glass to read all the ingredients and contents lists, because mostly it’s labelled as vegetable oil, sodium palmitate or other obscure descriptions. A lot of food contains health warning labels about potential contamination with nuts or eggs for those with severe allergies, but little food contains warnings about the moral or environmental impacts of its content, despite a clear desire – and need- for greater transparency so shoppers can make informed choices and send appropriate signals to the market. It’s also appalling that most of our consumer goods are implicated in animal cruelty in the form of testing on animals. Testing consumer products on animals is widespread, despite being ethically and scientifically questionable. If animals are enough like us to make test results relevant to humans, and we wouldn’t condone the tests on humans, then we shouldn’t test them on animals either. If animals are so different from us that we can condone tests on them, then how are the tests even relevant? If companies were made to disclose the contents of their products, and the tests carried out on animals, consumers would surely baulk at their purchase. The free market is supposed to work most effectively when consumers can make choices informed by clear information. Obscuring the truth about food and consumer products does a disservice to us, animals, the environment, and the competitive market.

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March 4, 2015

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heavymetal

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

Have your say on Facebook and on the website forum at localmatters.co.nz/Features/RodneyRoads

heavy metal Expert says seal maintenance costs too high for ratepayers Rodney residents have to accept that sealing rural roads is too expensive and concentrate their efforts on getting higher quality unsealed roads, a leading academic on road sealing says. Dr Theuns Henning is a senior lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Auckland and director of the University’s Transport Research Centre. He has written the road surfacing guidelines which the World Bank uses for developing countries and has recently completed an unsealed roads guideline for NZ Councils. He says New Zealand has a high number of sealed roads for its population and GDP. “There should be a lot more gravel roads in New Zealand when you compare it to other countries,” he says. The biggest cost of sealing a road is not the upfront construction costs, but the ongoing maintenance. “The construction cost is only about 20 per cent of the total cost of a road over its lifetime. “If a road costs $1 million to seal, the maintenance cost could be as high as

$5 million over the life of the road. If NZ sealed just 10 per cent of its unsealed roads, the country would go bankrupt in five years with mounting maintenance costs. “By comparison, maintaining an unsealed road is relatively cheap and is actually quite cost effective. “You need to have sufficient traffic numbers to warrant sealing, and I would say most unsealed roads in NZ don’t meet that threshold.” In Rodney, maintenance costs for sealed roads is nearly four times as expensive as unsealed maintenance. In 2013/14 sealed road maintenance averaged $18,700 a kilometre, totalling $15.5 million, while unsealed maintenance averaged $4400 a kilometre, totalling $2.7 million. Dr Henning says Southland has faced the consequences of an unsustainable seal extension programme and is struggling to meet the mounting maintenance costs. “They are now in a situation where they are unable to maintain sealed roads which don’t have high traffic volumes. Believe me, it’s better to

Dr Theuns Henning says the high ongoing maintenance costs of sealing roads means most unsealed roads will never be sealed.

live on an unsealed road than an unmaintained sealed road.” Southland roading manager Ian Marshall says the district has 2000km of sealed roads out of a total network of 5000km, costing millions to maintain.

“We are struggling to maintain the roads we sealed during the 1960s and 1970s. “The way we were maintaining the roads was unsustainable. We now focus on high-use roads. The half of our network which is most used is maintained to a high standard, but for the other half we use cheaper, shortterm solutions. “Low volume roads now get a patchwork quilt type of repair, where we just do small patches rather than full re-seals.” Dr Henning says public-private sealing schemes are a dangerous path to go down as ratepayers are still lumped with the bulk of the costs in maintenance. He says the health effects of dust from unsealed roads is a big issue, but there is no silver bullet. Dust suppressants are an option, but they can make maintenance more difficult and wash away in wet weather, causing environmental issues. The best option for most people living on unsealed roads is to advocate for greater maintenance to reduce the number of potholes and corrugations.

Mahurangi Matters

heavymetal

March 4, 2015

Private developers concur on roading costs Maintenance in Local developers, contractors and academics all say Rodney is getting value for money from road sealing projects. Mason Contractors managing director Lance O’Callaghan says the costs of sealing roads has risen over the past decade, but believes Council costs are reasonable. “I don’t think Council is getting ripped off - $400,000 per kilometre is not out of the park,” he says. “The costs of everything from metal and asphalt to diesel have increased, but that’s no different from inflation in any industry. “For larger projects there are higher costs associated with design and engineering, but that means they cost less in the long run because you get a quality result. “I do think there are a lot of roads in Rodney that need to be sealed, but the reality is there is a high cost in doing that.” Civil engineer and developer Noel Chandler agrees. Noel has constructed roads through developments at Jade River and other subdivisions in Browns Bay and Mt Roskill. He says the high standards set by Auckland Transport are justified as it saves ratepayers money in the long run, but it can add significant costs to the price of a section. He doesn’t believe privately sealed roads are cheaper than Council roads.

decline in Rodney

The standard of roading required of developers is often higher than Councildeveloped roads.

“There are a lot of fixed costs in building roads and we put the job out to tender just like Council.” University of Auckland Civil Engineering senior lecturer Dr Theuns Henning says Auckland Transport heavily scrutinise their spending. “I’ve worked with Auckland Transport and they do stretch every dollar and have a very sophisticated method of prioritising spending.” Developer Steven Postlewaight

has been involved with about 15 subdivisions from Warkworth to Mangawhai and says often developers spend more on sealing a road than Council does. “For some roads you are required to seal it with hot-mix, which gives a smoother surface, but costs a lot more,” Mr Postlewaight says. “But Council seems to seal similar roads using chip-seal, which is rougher and cheaper.”

The maintenance budget for Rodney roads has dropped $2 million with further cuts forecast. The budget for sealed roads in Rodney dropped by 13 per cent between 2013/14 and 2014/15, from $15.5 million to $13.4 million as part of wider maintenance cuts. This was part of a 24 per cent drop in Auckland’s transport maintenance budget, which was outlined in Auckland Transport’s (AT) 2012-2015 Asset Management Plan update last year. The road maintenance budget was 29 per cent lower than that forecast in the 2012 plan, and the report acknowledged that this would have a “negative impact on existing assets” and result in lower customer satisfaction and maintenance that is at a lower level and less frequent. This risked lowering the lifespan of roads and increasing renewal costs. Drainage maintenance was also cut by 55 per cent, which would also lower the lifespan of roads and increase flooding association accidents. The outlook doesn’t get any brighter in AT’s Regional Land Transport Plan, which is currently out for consultation. Council is proposing to cut AT’s operating expenditure by $1.9 billion, unless alternative funding from a fuel tax or motorway tolls is implemented. If alternative funding isn’t approved, road renewals face an $89 million cut, which would result in increased road failures, maintenance demands, decreased public satisfaction and a $1 billion backlog in 10 years time.

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localmatters.co.nz

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

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1.3L and 1.5L, auto and manual and colours. Garage sale helpers Henk (left) and Frank joke around while packing clothing for recycling.

Hopsice utilises volunteer skills Hospice’s garage sale fundraiser is growing, and so is the need for willing and able volunteers. Garage sale manager John McEwing oversees about 40 volunteers, and is looking for more to cope with an increase in donations and sales. The money raised in the weekly garage helps meet the costs of Warkworth Wellsford Hospice’s nursing and family support service for people who are living with a life-threatening illness. Some volunteers are regular helpers at the garage sale each Wednesday morning, while others work on other days, in roles as varied as sorting clothing and household goods, cutting rags and accompanying the hospice van for furniture collections and deliveries. John would like to hear from anyone interested in joining the team, whether they can give a few hours a month or a day or two each week. Volunteers need to be physically able but don’t need any special skills and there are plenty of rewards, even if they don’t include a pay packet.

David is a former garage sale customer who started volunteering after noticing the hospice was missing out on funds because some of the computer items were worth a lot more than the asking price. He has found his niche in the electrical shed. When he is not imposing order on boxes of mismatched cords, chargers, adapters and remotes, David checks devices for safety and performs minor repairs on computers, radios and other desktop devices. He gains satisfaction from making things useful again, raising money for a good cause and helping fill a need for affordable goods. The friendships and camaraderie are a bonus. “We get dirty and we have fun. What more can a little boy want?” David says the team could do with another helper ‘who knows the difference between a kettle and a toaster’. Volunteers are also needed to help with furniture pick-ups and deliveries. To volunteer or to find out more, contact John McEwing on 425 9535 or 021 217 8014.

YOU can help to get

our Roads Sealed www.sealrodneyroads.co.nz Your support is being called upon to have the road sealing budget set at the fair level of $10 million a year by Auckland Council. Visit our website above to find out more. Fill out the prepared Submission Form. We need your voice. Rodney ratepayers pay $62 million a year while deplorable unsafe roads remain unsealed. Stop Auckland Council’s rate siphoning. Help to put an end to this unfairness. Positively support Rodney rates being spent back on road sealing and better road maintenance.

Support this community-led initiative. Between now and 16 March you can “Have Your Say”. Please support this campaign.

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localmatters.co.nz

Sweetappreciation with Chocolate Brown Send your nominations to editor@localmatters.co.nz

Congratulations to Heather Reid, of Point Wells, who is the recipient of a gift basket from Chocolate Brown. Heather was nominated by Gera Verheul who wrote:

We have just come back from the Point Wells Fete which Heather and her committee have organised for the second year. This year’s fete was even bigger and better than last year. Heather spends months organising over 50 stall holders, musicians, the stage, bunting, kids games, the list goes on. She works tirelessly and is always full of energy and laughs. I think she deserves a big thank you on behalf of the community of Point Wells as all the proceeds from the fete go towards the community. Know someone who deserves a big “thank you” for their community spirit? Tell us and they will receive acknowledgement in Mahurangi Matters and an amazing hamper from Chocolate Brown, 6 Mill Lane, Warkworth. Send your nominations to editor@localmatters.co.nz (subject line: Sweet Appreciation) or post to: Sweet Appreciation, Mahurangi Matters, PO Box 701, Warkworth. Kindly refrain from nominating members of your own family.

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Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

localmatters.co.nz

Harbourside fete backs village youth Rugby posts and netball hoops are on the shopping list after another successful fete at Point Wells. Head of the organising committee Heather Reid says the money raised has been earmarked for youth projects, as well as support for groups in the area run by volunteers. The inaugural fete was held last year, with this year’s event almost doubling the number of stalls and visitors. “The village was packed,” Heather says. “Thanks to a self-contained entertainment stage, we were able to feature music almost throughout the day which added a lot of atmosphere. Everyone I’ve spoken to has said how much they enjoyed the day.” It’s estimated that $6000 was raised.

Supermarket owners deliver Probus talk The owners of Warkworth’s NewWorld supermarket, Tim and Anna Carmichael, were the guest speakers at last month’s Warkworth Mens Probus Club. The couple talked about their careers in marketing and their family connections in the area. They support 52 clubs and schools around the area and their latest challenge is to re-arrange the present store to meet new liquor laws, which require alcohol to be displayed completely separate from food items. Probus enquiries: Bill Speed on 4258414.

Retired postal worker comes knocking A former Warkworth Post Office worker, Colin Carr, 90, took a walk down memory lane last month when he visited what is now the Mahurangi Matters office in Neville Street. Mr Carr worked at the post office in 1942 when Frank Otway was the postmaster. He was employed at an assistant telegraphist after graduating from a Morse code course in Symonds Street. “It was wartime and there were Yanks everywhere,” he said. Telegrams were an important means of communicating news quickly. “We’d regularly be sending cables all over America from Texas to New York.” Mr Carr played the trombone in the Warkworth Band, as well as playing rugby for Warkworth. “The only team we couldn’t beat was Port Albert!” He left Warkworth when he joined the NZ Air Force, aged 18. After the war, he continued to work for the post office as a reliving officer. He now lives in Manurewa.

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localmatters.co.nz

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

BPW head visits Warkworth

Zonta garage sales raise funds

The Mangawhai Zonta Club garage sale last month was a huge success and raised just over $2000 for local projects. Based on the results, a second sale was held later in the month with some of the proceeds donated to the Sophie Elliot Foundation for the purchase of the Love-Me-Not books. The books are used on the healthy relationship courses run in schools for teenage boys and girls. On March 8, the club will make its annual award to two Waipu women who have made a significant contribution to the Waipu community as part of International Women’s Day. The club president, Jan Barnett will present the Yellow Rose Award to Jill Mutch and Juanita McGoldrick. It will be held at The Cove Café, at Waipu Cove, at 9am. Visitors are welcome to attend.

Mangawhai SeniorNet moves SeniorNet Mangawhai has returned to Mangawhai after five years at Kaiwaka. Committee member Val Cleaver says the move reflects the changing nature of technology. “There is a big move to mobile devices such as laptops, ipads, tablets and smartphones which don’t require a venue where desktops computers need to be set-up permanently,” she says. The move will also mean savings in rent. “We endeavour to keep our fees for both membership and courses/ workshops as affordable as possible for seniors. All our tutors are voluntary and, therefore, another cost to the tutors was the travel to Kaiwaka.” The group will now offer courses in the

conference room at Milestone Cottages, Moir Point Road. Val says the group is very grateful to Gael McConachy for making the room available. Courses this year will include Skype, making calendars, Photobooks and Google. Due to popular demand, there will also be monthly ‘help’ clinics. The following officers were elected at last month’s annual meeting: Helen Littlejohn and Gordon Vick (new); Tony Cox, Annette Dark, Jean Creighton, Maxine McDonald and Val Cleaver (returning). The annual membership fee remains at $20 per person ($35 for couple) and courses fees are $30 (2 hours x 4) and workshops are $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Business and Professional Women’s Federation national president, Vicky Mee, was the guest speaker at the Warkworth BPW Club’s first meeting of the year last month. Publicity officer Mona Townson said Vicky spoke on the topic of Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP). The Human Rights Commission, the Equal Rights Trust, United Nations Women and BPW have joined together to encourage companies who employ 10 or more people to sign up to a set of seven principles aimed at fostering gender equality. As companies sign up their names go on a global list. There are 41 businesses in NZ who have made the list and 600 companies world-wide. Mona says that Vicky explained that the aim of WEP was to change the culture of business into a woman-friendly place. BPWNZ will send two delegates to New York this year to a Commission on Status of Women meeting, where BPW Nigeria is presenting a paper on Child Marriage and Forced Marriage. The Nigerian club has asked for support from NZ because of Warkworth club member Sally Smith’s effort in helping to second the remit at the International BPW Conference last year.

Vicky Mee

“This illustrates that right from club level, we have the ability to make some impact on future actions that hopefully will make our world a better place for women to live in,” Mona says. “We congratulate Sally for her efforts.” Warkworth Business and Professional Women’s Club is hosting a breakfast at the Bridgehouse for International Women’s Day on Saturday March 7, from 8.30am-10am. The speaker will be Matakana-based children’s author Jenni Francis. Wear a purple item of clothing. RSVP to Gill on 021 431 098.

Mahurangi trust funds emergency services The people of the Mahurangi Peninsula who donated just under $11,000 towards the Mahurangi East Fire Brigade annual appeal have been thanked by the Mahurangi Community Trust. The money will be spent on fitting out a new water tanker. Trust secretary Gloria Lawrie says the trust remains committed to assisting voluntary emergency and rescue services as much as it can. “Over the past few years we have held a book fair and raised $3000 for Civil Defence to buy a generator, contributed $1000 to assist the Kawau Bay Coastguard with gear replacement and $1000 to St John Warkworth for CPR courses. “Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so at the Give A Little website: givealittle.co.nz/cause/tanksalot.

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localmatters.co.nz

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

There will be plenty to amuse children, as well as parents, at the Fiesta.

School stages Twilight Fiesta There will be a range of new games and food stalls at the fourth annual Warkworth School Twilight Fiesta on March 20, from 3pm to 7pm. There will be quick fire raffles with wine from Ransom and Lothlorien wineries, a Puhoi Cheese pack, a meat pack from Warkworth Butcher and goods and vouchers from a range of other businesses. A silent auction will feature a mystery weekend away, a stand-up paddleboard family tour and tickets for the glass-bottom boat at Goat Island. There will be a range of exciting games, including an obstacle course, a fishing game in the school pool, a pool of slime, crockery smash and a

safe cracking game with cash prizes. Second-hand children’s toys, clothes and books will be for sale and a variety of food stalls for dinner, including nachos, burgers, ice cream and a sausage sizzle. There will be live music from 5pm to 6pm and performances by the school kapa haka and Pasifika groups. The fair raised $20,000 last year to plant an orchard in the junior area, renew a sandpit in the senior area and upgrade the junior playground. This year the money will be used to create outdoor learning spaces, with areas for sand and water play, tiered outdoor seating and a terraced garden for flowers and vegetables.

See a video of the baby donkeys at localmatters.co.nz

Highfield babies steal limelight Highfield Reserve volunteers at Algies Bay had reason to celebrate last month with the arrival of three baby donkeys. It has been nearly four years since the patter of little hooves was heard in the park. Advisory Committee chair Peter Caccia-Birch says that while Tara was a little premature, the other two – Turvy and Toby – were delivered on time. All were doing well. The births bring to eight the number of donkeys in the park. “We don’t plan on there being any more,” Peter says. “We are able to graze the donkeys over about two hectares so that imposes a limitation.” Peter says the donkeys are a big attraction, particularly for families, and even more so since the arrival of the babies. The donkeys are a mixture of breeds including the Jerusalem Donkey, which bears a distinctive cross on its back.

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Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

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A Hive of Information

Volunteers Wanted

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June Watson presented Warkworth International Relations Group deputy chair Russell Cullen with photos of Northumberland’s history, including the house of Warkworth founder John Anderson Brown.

Sister town ambassador visits A representative of Warkworth’s Sister Town in England visited Mahurangi last month to strengthen ties between the towns and investigate links between World War veterans. June Watson was a Parish Councillor in Warkworth, Northumberland, where Warkworth NZ’s founder John Anderson Brown grew up. She became interested in WWI veterans and held an exhibition last year featuring the biographies of 120 Northumberland men who served and found some had immigrated to New Zealand after the war. While in Warkworth she visited the Warkworth and Districts Museum and Warkworth RSA to gather the names of Mahurangi veterans and see

if any Northumbrians were amongst them. “I just love history and research. It’s been fascinating,” Mrs Watson says. She was able to find a few names in common, and she will coordinate with Warkworth RSA to try and confirm any links. She was welcomed to Warkworth at a reception at Warkworth Museum, attended by Rodney Councillor Penny Webster, Local Board member Greg Sayers, Mahurangi College principal David Macleod and museum staff. Mrs Watson presented the museum with photos of Warkworth Castle and the house where John Anderson Brown was raised. “It was built in 1736 and is one of the oldest houses in Warkworth. It was the schoolhouse, as his father was the local headmaster.” To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, Mrs Watson also presented the museum with a copy of the document, which was signed by a Warkworth baron. The museum staff presented Mrs Watson with a painting of a kowhai and Warkworth RSA presented her with an honorary membership. Warkworth has a population of 1500 and lies 64km south of the Scottish border and 17,800km from the Warkworth and Districts Museum. Twin Town coordinator David Parker says sister cities were created following WWII to increase international communication and understanding to foster peace. Warkworth has other sister towns in Australia, Canada and Japan. “According to Sister Cities NZ we have more international connections than any other town in the country. This latest visit has been a fantastic way to strengthen those links,” Mr Parker says.

health&family

March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

Health

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Don’t blame age I have said it before and I will say it again, the aging process is unfairly blamed too often for all sorts of ailments. This is classically seen in cases of neck pain and osteoarthritis. Sure, the longer your neck has been on the planet, the more chance it has of showing signs of wear. But when you do have neck pain it does not mean that it is the end of the road just because you own a Gold Card! Also, the pain resulting from wear and tear can often be helped with some simple self care. As a sufferer of osteoarthritis at the age of 18, I realised that old age was not always the cause. It took me the next seven years to figure out the cause and to eventually stop the problems. This process and 20 years of clinical experience has lead me to understand that poor alignment and muscle imbalance is frequently to blame but, more importantly, that correcting these issues can result in huge improvements. This understanding is what motivated me to write the book How I Achieved Freedom From Arthritis. For more info on this you can visit FreedomFromArthritis.com Specifically with the neck, it is alarming how many people have been told that their neck problems are because of arthritis and just to ‘live with it’. To clarify, I am not stating that there is or isn’t arthritis in these cases. What I am saying is that more often than not there is a lot that can be done to help and that just ‘living with it’ is seldom the best course of action. As with all problems, before any recommendations can be made there needs to be a full assessment performed. This begins with a careful interview process, which alone can easily take up to 30 minutes. Full joint and muscle assessment follows this. Last but not least, other investigations may be necessary such as x-ray, ultrasound and in some cases blood tests/MRI scans, which your doctor would need to order. The final part of the assessment is actually part of the treatment process. How well you respond to the treatment helps with a deeper understanding of the problems. It also helps to form a more accurate prognosis so that we have a better understanding of how much benefit may result from a treatment programme. So please don’t just blame your neck pain and stiffness on the advancing years. If it was all due to age, then every single part of your body would feel the same wouldn’t it? Assuming that every part of your body is the same age! So take an hour out of your life and get your neck fully examined.

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Mahurangi Matters

localbusiness

March 4, 2015

INTR ODUCING n

Crystal Waters

Teresa Gibson

A new energy is flowing in Baxter Street Warkworth following the opening of Crystal Waters, in the shop formerly occupied by Coast & Country. As the name suggests, the shop specialises in healing crystals, all hand chosen by the owner Aileen Thomas. “Having all these crystals from around the world in one room produces an amazing energy,” Aileen says. “You can feel it as you walk through the door.” Local market-goers will already be familiar with Aileen’s crystals, clinics and handmade soaps, which are parabin and sodium laurel sulphate free. The shop is also stocked with a variety of gifts. Aileen has done hands on healing for years and is also an aura soma practitioner, but since 2004 has worked with a quantum biofeedback device which works with frequencies. “I’ve lived at Leigh for about 30 years and ran a swim school there until I became very sick. I was unable to find what was causing this illness but I eventually found the quantum biofeedback device and within threeand-a-half minutes it recognised high levels of paraquat in my system. It virtually saved my life.” A feature of the new shop will be a clinic, which will be utilised by a range of alternative practitioners offering services such as biofeedback therapy,

A three-week holiday in New Zealand has turned into a 23-year love affair for newly-qualified real estate salesperson Teresa Gibson. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Teresa jokes that she came 14,000kms to meet and marry fellow American Marshall Lefferts. Marshall had a farm in Rodney Road, where the couple settled and raised two sons, while also building and running Tera del Mar – Luxury B&B for 12 years. “The building phase took seven years and was a labour of love,” Teresa says. “It was a wonderful lifestyle, a fabulous place to raise the boys, and a delightful way to share our piece of paradise with others.” The family decided to down-size in a big way last year. They shifted to Warkworth and with only one son still at Mahurangi College, Teresa felt it was time to start the next chapter in her life. “I was offered the opportunity to join Premium and thought it would be a great way to use my local knowledge while being of service. Real estate is all about building relationships and trust, and I know my enthusiasm, integrity plus professionalism are helping me to achieve quality results for my clients.” Teresa has a background in communications, event management and administration. She enjoys

Aileen Thomas with one her most impressive crystals – lavender quartz and quartz encased in agate.

spiritual readings, massage, first light flower essences of NZ and innerwise energy therapy. Meanwhile, Aileen is still getting used to the idea that she now runs a shop. “I saw the notice that Coast & Country was closing down and came in to what was going on. While we were talking a thought passed through my mind, ‘this is the perfect space to put everything I do into one place’. It just snowballed from there.” Aileen has also created a ‘resting space’ with a 330kg lavender rose quartz she has named The Healing Throne.

Teresa Gibson

working with people from all walks of life and receives great satisfaction matching up people and properties.” She will bring to six the number of salespeople at the Premium office in Matakana, which opened four years ago. “The boutique firm has focused primarily on quality properties in the greater Matakana and Omaha markets, and we are now expanding into the Warkworth, Mahurangi East and Mahurangi West regions. “We live in one of the best places in all of NZ, so it is easy for me to share my passion for this region while helping people to achieve a premium price for their greatest asset.”

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localbusiness

March 4, 2015

MoneyMatters Grant Clifton, Countrywise Financial www.countrywise.co.nz

Mahurangi Matters

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TAKE-OF F

Time to fix the mortgage? I am often asked ‘when is a good time to fix my mortgage rate?’ My answer is usually it depends on your own personal situation. Fixed rates offer certainty in these fast changing economic times, but fixed rates are inflexible and you could find yourself paying early repayment penalties if you want to pay your mortgage off or pay a lump sum off. I always encourage clients to sit down and think about what their financial situation might look like in one year, two years, three years and beyond. What major changes do they envisage to their lives (new house, job change, more children, overseas trips, business start ups) all these things can affect our finances and consideration as to how these might affect your cash flow (income vs expenses) need to be considered. Sometimes a combination of fixed and floating rates is a good option. Sometimes your entire mortgage fixed makes sense; it depends on your own situation. There is a lot of talk around about the new 10-year rate that has been issued by NZ owned bank TSB. A 10-year fixed rate is on offer at 5.89% and I read with interest (excuse the pun) at what the other banks reactions have been and what various media have had to say about it. It’s a great rate for investors who plan to buy and hold rental property for a long time, but it might not be a good idea if you have a changing financial situation and you want to pay off the mortgage as fast as you can. I reiterate that you should seek advice from a mortgage specialist and work through a solution to suit your own needs. There is no doubt, however, that the mortgage rates on offer at present are fantastic and there are some very good deals to be had out there. I have managed to secure some very good rates for clients in the past few weeks and I expect the competition among banks to heat up in the coming months as rates ease further. Right now you can get rates fixed one through five years all under 5.5% and a 10-year rate for 5.89%. I thought I would have a look at what rates have done over the past 25 years. The graph below from RBNZ shows the floating rate and fixed rate for two years since 1990. It has only been since 2009 that rates have been below 6%, and the average rate we have paid the last 25 years has been around 8.5%. Who’s old enough to remember in 1988 when mortgage rates were 22%? I do. It’s when I first started my banking career.

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Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

localmatters.co.nz

Old Wellsford Library saved

NEW LAWYER IN TOWN Terry McDell a lawyer and Consultant with Wynyard Wood Lawyers & Notaries, in both Warkworth and the City is now a permanent resident in Mangawhai. Terry has owned an olive grove in Mangawhai for some years but has finally seen the light and decided to live there with his family permanently. Having been born and schooled initially in Waipu, Terry is returning closer to his roots. Terry has represented NZ in yachting on many occasions having started his sailing days in the Waipu River and at the Onerahi Yacht Club. Windsurfing and sailing in Mangawhai Estuary keeps him active when he is not pruning his olive trees. Terry has previously managed a law office in Orewa for an Auckland City firm. Terry will be working principally out of Wynyard Wood’s Warkworth office but is keen to assist and service new clients in Mangawhai and the surrounds. He has over 30 years legal experience and specialises in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing, Sales and Purchases of Businesses, Company Matters, Estate Planning, Trusts and Wills. Wynyard Wood is a mid sized law firm with offices at Warkworth, Highbrook and Shortland Street in the city. Founded in 1894, it has strong historical connections with Warkworth and the lower North Auckland regions. Wynyard Wood provides legal advice across the spectrum and if need be the Warkworth office has specialist back up in areas such as civil litigation, family, employment and taxation.

021 850 540 Warkworth office: 422 5190 Email: Terry@wynyardwood.co.nz

The Old Wellsford Library has been retained for community use and the hunt for permanent tenants has started. Auckland Council last month approved a business case which would see the building used as an exhibition space, information centre and community hub. At the Finance and Performance Committee meeting, senior community projects leader Sue Dodds said the community was keen to use the old library to showcase and highlight things such as local artisan produce, crafts and arts, and share information about the surrounding countryside. She said the retention of the building could turn around perceptions that Wellsford was just a fast food outlet and toilet stop. The business case also said the building had been a major sore-point in the community’s relationship with Council. “Distrust of Council intentions has made it difficult for the Rodney Local Board to engage with the Wellsford community on any issue until the situation with the old library is

resolved,” the report said. During the committee meeting, senior advisor Letitia McColl said it was unusual that the building be retained for the community, but in this case an exception should be made. “Generally, the expectation is that when one community facility is replaced with a new one, the previous facility is disposed of to offset costs, but in this particular instance, there was an alternative use provided,” Ms McColl said. The report noted that if the initiative did not succeed, the building could still be sold at a later date. Operating and maintenance costs were expected to cost the Board $75,000 over three years and the community was expected to fund the project after that. The next step would be to develop a process to find tenants for the building Ms Dodds said there would be close consultation with the community, but it could take a couple of months before permanent tenants were chosen. In the meantime, the current arrangement of temporary use would continue.

Bargains galore at Rotary auction Items large and small will go under the hammer at the annual Maungaturoto and Districts Rotary Club monster auction on Saturday March 28. Club member Eric Parsons says the auction has been running for around 40 years and raises money for local and international Rotary projects with a particular focus on youth. This includes the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and Duffy Books in School. “It’s hard to predict the range of items that will be donated for the sale,” he says. “In previous years, we’ve had everything from books and household items to tools, plants and lawnmowers and small machinery. The auction will be held at the Maungaturoto Primary School, starting at 10am. To donate an item to the auction contact Eric on 431 4874.

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March 4, 2015

Mahurangi Matters

Native bat population surveyed Long-tailed bat surveys are being conducted at 20 sites in Rodney this month to help concentrate conservation work to protect bat habitats. The automatic bat detectors listen for the echolocation sounds that bats make which are above the human hearing range. The bat detectors indicate whether bats are present within 80 metres of the detector, but can’t identify how many bats there are in an area. Leigh and Helensville are focus areas of the current survey. Previous surveys have found bat activity in Riverhead, Puhoi and Pakiri. The results will contribute to Auckland Council’s ‘bat map’. It will assist ecologists to know where bat sensitive areas are and community groups so they can continue restoration to protect and connect bat habitat. Rodney Local Board contributed $5000 towards the survey. Long-tailed bats are a threatened species and are ranked as nationally vulnerable by the Department of Conservation. Bats are the only native land mammals found in New Zealand. There were three endemic species, of which the greater short-tailed bat (Mystacina robusta) is thought to be extinct. Auckland is one of the only cities in New Zealand that still has resident populations of long-tailed bats. In Auckland, short-tailed bats are only found on Little Barrier Island. Council welcomes reports of bat

Time is running out to have your say Bats are New Zealand’s only native land animals and Auckland is one of the few places where they are found in urban areas.

Auckland is the country’s fastest growing region. So we’re facing big opportunities and equally big challenges. We need to balance investment in our region and improving transport with keeping rates affordable. To get this mix right, we need you to have your say on Auckland’s 10-year budget. All feedback must be received by 4pm on Monday 16 March. Visit shapeauckland.co.nz

sightings. If you think you may have long-tailed bats on your property, a hand-held bat detector can be borrowed from Auckland Council to help you search.

SeniorNet Warkworth

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Tuesday 10th March 2015 at 2.30pm at 3 Matakana Road, Warkworth and learn more about us If you cannot attend but wish to get further information contact our course co-ordinator on 422 3728 www.seniornetwarkworth.org.nz

Have your say on the 10-year budget by 4pm on Monday 16 March 2015 For more information or to provide feedback visit shapeauckland.co.nz, phone 09 301 0101 or visit your local board office, service centre or library.

BC4136_MM_040315

localmatters.co.nz

Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

localmatters.co.nz

Vale John Leonard (Len) Wyatt

More than 200 people gathered at the Mahurangi Presbyterian Church last month to celebrate the life of John Leonard (Len) Wyatt, who passed away peacefully on January 29, aged 95. Len was born in Leigh on March 7, 1919 to Eddie and Ivy Wyatt. He was the eldest of five children – Norris, Kelvyn, Ivan and Avis – and went to school at Omaha Little Primary School at Ti Point. He left school when he was 12 years old to join the workforce in 1932, during the Great Depression. His first work involved digging drains on the family farm, farming and working at the family’s sawmill, which has since become the Leigh Sawmill Cafe. At the outbreak of World War II, he joined the New Zealand Scottish Auckland Territorials, serving in New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands with the 1st Battalion New Zealand Scottish Regiment and the 36th Battalion, from December 1942 to June 1944. During his military service Len rose through the ranks to Lieutenant in 1942 and was posted to the Reserve of Officers in 1945. Following the war he returned to the family farm and sawmill, and married Joyce Kathleen Smith. They had three children – John, Rosalyn and David. In 1947 he formed JC Wyatt & Sons with his father and brothers, Norris and Kelvyn, and worked on the farm and at the sawmill until his retirement in 1986. The dangerous work lead to several close calls over the years, the most serious being a broken leg sustained by a rolling log. Len was once described by a journalist as the best cricketer never to make the New Zealand team

and played until he was 59. When he retired from the sport in 1978, he had scored a total of 42,175 runs, including 128 centuries, and had taken 1165 wickets. In 1956, he played in the first Northern Districts team and was Northland captain in 1948 and from 1951 to 1954. He also played for Omaha and Rodney.

1919-2015 During the winter, his focus shifted to hockey. Len was a reserve for New Zealand in 1938 and went on to captain the Auckland team in 1952 and 1953 and represented the North Island in 1953. He later umpired hockey for more than 20 years and was president of the Rodney Hockey Umpires Association for 10 years. In 1980, Len was appointed as a Justice of the Peace and served until last year. A highlight of his service was, as an 84-year-old, attending a course at the Auckland District Court to become an advocate for youth without a supporting parent when youth were confronted with a court appearance. Len was a strongly spiritual man and the church featured large in his life. He was ordained an Elder of the Mahurangi Parish of the Presbyterian Church and was on the Board of Managers from 1947 to 1999. He was Session Clerk from 1962 to 1989 and Sunday School teacher in Leigh from 1934 to 1982. He also served extensively on community boards and councils in Mahurangi, including the Leigh County Town and Community Council and was a foundation member and chairman of the Leigh Domain Board, Leigh Residents Progressive Association, Leigh Social Club, Whangateau Domain Board and the Omaha Hall and Library. In 1992, Len and Joyce moved into a house Len helped build in Warkworth. Joyce died in November, 2002, and Len moved into Summerset Falls Retirement Village in 2013. He is survived by his brother Norris and sister Avis, his three children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Photo mystery solved

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The owner of an old black and white photo that fell out of a second-hand book has been found. The photo is of Snells Beach resident Toni Betts’ parents, Kevin and Barbara Rudd, and was taken in Western Australia. Toni saw the photo in last month’s Mahurangi Matters and immediately got in touch. “I looked in the paper and thought ‘that’s my parents!’.” Toni moved to NZ about 20 years ago and brought the memento with her. But last year she took a stack of books to the Matakana Opportunity Shop and didn’t realise the photo was missing. Her father, Kevin, was a Wing Commander in the Royal Australian Air Force for 46 years. The couple have since passed away. “They would likely have been going to an Air Force function when the photo was taken.” Laura Lynch brought the photo into Mahurangi Matters and is pleased that it has been reunited with its owner.

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

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Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

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3.5T Digger 5T Truck

Bob Waata Mobile 021 634 484

FLOOR SANDING - FLOOR PREPARATION FLOOR SANDING - FLOOR PREPARATION Polyurethaning:- Wooden Floors, Particle Board & Cork Cork Tiles:- Natural & Coloured Enviro Friendly Products available

KAE JAE CONTRACTORS (LTD) PHONE KEN (0274) 866-923 A/Hrs (09) 422-7328 • Fax (09) 422-7329

Carpet, Vinyl, Cork, Ceramic Tiles, Wood & Laminate

09 422 2275 21 Glenmore Drive www.flooringxtra.co.nz 146M

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

Housing, Units

TTE DES TTE D Thomas F. Errington

UnitsUnits, & Landscaping NewHousing, Houses, Light Commercial

TTE DESIGNS TTE DESIGNS TTE DEsigns Architectural Desig Thomas F. Thomas F. Errington Dip. Arch. ARIBA Thomas F. Errington Dip. Arch. ARIBA PO Box 83 Thomas F. Errington Subdivision • Boundary Pegs Architectural Designer W arkworth Architectural Designer Architectur Architectural Designer PO Box 83 Site0512 Surveys • Council Consents PhPO 09 425 PO Box 83 Box 83 Warkworth P 09 425 0512 Fax 09 425 0514 Building Setout & Checks Warkworth Ph 09 425 0512 Mob 0274 532 495 M 0274 532 495 W arkworth Contact us for a free consultation Ph 09 425Fax 0512 09 425 0514 Dip. Arch. ARIBA

E ttedesigns@xtra.co.nz

Mob 0274 532 495 Fax 09 425 0514 W www.ttedesigns.co.nz Mob 0274 532 495 New structures,Supervision, Restorations, Alterations, Surveys etc... Renovations, Landscaping

New structures, Restorations, Alterations, Surveys etc...

Ph 09 425 0 Fax 09 425 TTE DES Mob 0274 5 Thomas F. Errington ArchitecturalMATAKANA Desig PO Box 83 RODNEY TRELLIS New structures Trellis & Fencing Warkworth Ph 09 425 0512

www.boundary.co.nz Housing, Units & Landsc New structures, Restorati Email: survey@boundary.co.nz Ph 09 426 7109 or 021 838 365

• Rural & Urban Subdivision • Boundary Locations • Site Contour Plans • Construction Set-out

Trellis - Panels - Fencing Installations - all shapes and sizes Fences - Gates - Screens - Pergola Specialities: Framed Archways – Superior Trellis Pedestrian Gate Phone Bob Moir 422 9550 or 0274 820 336 Frames (mortised) Email:Restorati hurstmere@ihug.co.nz Trellis structures, spray painting / oiling New Gazebo's ~ dove cotes ~ pergolas

Fax 09 425 0514 Mob 0274 532 495

Rupert Mather 021 425 837 Graeme Smith 021 422 983 23 Bertram Street, Warkworth

09 425 7393 admin@wwsurveyors.co.nz

JB's No 1 LANDSCAPING SERVICES

• PLANTING • FENCES

• PAVING • DECKS

115

872 Kaipara Flats Road Ph: 425 7627 • Fax 422 4976

LANDSCAPING Specialists in ... • Landscape Construction • Decks • Paving • Retaining • Planting • Garden Design • 1.7ton Digger Work

• RETAINING WALLS • GARDEN MAKEOVERS

SERVICING HIBISCUS COAST TO MANGAWHAI JOHN BETTRIDGE (JB) Phone: 09 425 4086 Mobile: 021 665 558 E-mail: john.bettridge@jbsno1.co.nz

09 422 9514 021 831 938 www.junglefix.co.nz

www.centrallandscapes.co.nz

FREE LOAN TRAILERS HOME DELIVERIES 7 DAYS A WEEK email: warkworth@centrallandscapes.co.nz 25-31 Morrison Dr WARKWORTH 09 425 9780

0800 TOPSOIL

Mark - Phone 022 639 4726 Lysa - Phone 021 122 7895

 Registered CHIMNEY & FLUE SWEEPING Certified SAFETY INSPECTIONS  Authorized SERVICE & REPAIR AGENTS  Licenced FIRE INSTALLERS & HEATING TECHNICIANS  SALES OF WOODBURNERS, COOKERS, FIREPLACES

Phone 09 423 8945 – service all areas

for complete quality projects • Lawns - contouring & seeding • Top Soil • Retaining Walls • Driveways • Paths • Digger • Truck • Tractor

Phone Bruce 425 7766 I take the hard work out of Landscaping116

GROUND CARE

• Mowing - Residential & Lifestyle Blocks • Decks • Fencing • Retaining Walls • Drive Ways 0800 276 7726 or Don 425 8501 - 021 527 017

Arcadia House & Section Maintenance & Improvements Gardening, Decks, Fencing Painting, aCleaning & more.

TOTAL LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION

Tree Care

Specialising in:  STUMP GRINDING  Fine Pruning  Tree Removal  Hedge Trimming Ph Kevin on 021 725 757

For all your property maintenance and small building projects Phone to discuss YOUR requirements 021 423 860 - 423 8619 a/h handyman@bruno.co.nz • www.bruno.co.nz

WE CAN •Sand•Metal•Shell•Pebble•Scoria •Mulch•Garden Mix•Topsoil•Compost

DELIVER! •Tirau Gold•Pine Chip•Cambian Bark

183 SANDSPIT RD, WARKWORTH • OPEN 7 DAYS! Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm Sat: 7am-4pm Sun: 9am-3pm

Parker Tree Care.com Tree and Hedge Work Pruning and Thinning Removals Free Quotations Fully Insured 26 Years Experience Call Roland 021 102 2594 • 09 422 5109 parkertreecare@yahoo.co.nz

HOME MAINTENANCE HANDYMAN

Phillip Keesing

Decks Fences pjkeesing@gmail.com General repairs 09 422 6036 Clean ups 021 045 0132 All things considered

General repairs covering a wide range of jobs around the house including decks and fences

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

Callaghan Appliance Servicing Ltd

camrathe@windowslive.com ruralpestcontrol.co.nz

Phone: 09 425 0563 • Mobile: 021 987 616

Terms & Conditions apply

Cam Rathé 021 206 3136

Pest Control • Trapping • Shooting • Bait Stations

Now servicing Warkworth and Snells Beach Areas Most makes and models 35 yrs experience

Specialists in: • Electrical work • Commercial & residential • Gate automation & repairs • Electrical fencing • Garage door automation & repairs

10% ! oFF

No job too Small 24 hr operation

Electrical practicing licence for NZ

Ph 022 352 7405 • dudleysimeon@gmail.com dudleyselectrical • www.dudleys.co.nz

FROG POOL FARM OUTDOOR FURNITURE Tables to order Chairs • Swingseats Benches • Umbrellas NZ made – quality built to last

Bradwood

Bespoke Furniture and Kitchens in NZ recycled Matai.

25 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale (next to BP) Ph: 09 426 9660 • em: clipper.furniture@xtra.co.nz www.clipperfurniture.co.nz COUNTRY CHARM

FURNITURE 2008

Timber Furniture Specialists with quality workmanship guaranteed Specialising in antique, new furniture & all other timber surfaces. Furniture Restoration • Re-spraying • Special Finishing • Colour Matching Insurance quotes • Furniture repairs • Custom made – Recycled or new timber • Modifications • Upholstery

Phone Grant or Lesley 23b Foundry Rd, Silverdale | 09 426 2979 www.silverdalefurniturerestorations.co.nz 09 426 8412 | www.countrycharm.co.nz

Ph 425 9030 • Dome Valley 5 minutes past Warkworth

Warkworth FURNITURE REMOVALS • Specialist Furniture Truck • Packing & Storage • Caring Owner/ Operator • Carriers Liability Insurance Phone 0274 889 216 • Ah 09 422 7495 y dsa Lin ylor Ta

Welch Painting & Decorating A BRUSH WITH ART

EXPERT PAINTING AND DECORATING

Interior/Exterior n Waterblasting n Roof Painting Airless Spraying n Plastering n Wallpapering Colour Consulting n Decorative Effects Qualified Tradesmen - Honest/Reliable Ph Mandy 09 423 0005 or 021 507 463

Your Painter/Decorator with over 25 years experience serving all surrounding areas

Leigh Decorators Painting • Paperhanging • Roofs • Airless Spraying • Stopping (small jobs) • Repaints • New Homes For your Free Quote and/or Consultation phone Gary HOME: 09-422-6695 • MOBILE: 021-024-44941 EMAIL: leighdecorators@clear.net.nz

ABSOLUTE CONCRETE

WATER TANKS 09 4312211

sales@absoluteconcrete.co.nz

NZ Made Solid Wood

Mark Welch

• Painting • Paper Hanging • Spray Painting • Water Blasting

Mob: 027 240 8330 A/h : 422 2678 • Fax: 422 2676

Household Water Deliveries 0800 747 928 mobile: 027 556 6111

& DRAINLAYING

Helping you with plumbing, drainlaying, jet machine & drain camera tplumber@xtra.co.nz

021 102 4561

TRIED – TESTED – TRUSTED

SNELLS BEACH

PHONE 09 425 5597 DH PAINTING HUSE DZUBUR INTERIOR / EXTERIOR PAINTING / WALLPAPER PLASTERING 09 425 5204 / 021 060 3355

water

& ESIAN SOLWA T Y AR fILTEREd

WATER

0800 638 254 OR 09 422 3700 Septic Tank/Grease Trap Cleaning Septic/Sewerage Treatment Systems

MacJimray Septic Cleaning Services are your septic tank cleaning specialists in your district. Residential to commercial, fast, reliable, professional service at competitive rates.

Call now for a free no obligation quote! Phone: 09 423 7014 www.macjimray.co.nz

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

Pump & Filtration Services (2007) Ltd

• Water treatment & Filtration • Pumps • Pool & Spas • Waterblasters 7days / 24hours Paul Harris M: 021 425 887 T: 09 425 0075 E: pumps4u@live.com

water pumps

New Pump Sales Service Installation

Phone/Fax 425-5619 Mobile 0800 733 765

K & R PUMP SERVICES ltd

H2O PUMPS Water Treatment

Pumping Systems

AUTHORISED AGENT

• Filtration • UV Sterilizers • Softeners and Neutralizers • Iron Removal

Pumps / Water Tanks / Filtration / Treatment Spa & Pool Shop / Pool Valet Service Water Blasters / Sprayers Hose & Fittings / Mobile & Workshop Service

Email: h2opumps@xtra.co.nz MoBILe eFTPos AVAILABLe

31 WOODCOCKS RD WARKWORTH - 425 9100

Selco Enterprises

clean. care. repair. WATER TANK & WATER APPLICATION CLEANING AGENCY Warkworth: Phone John or Annette Carr

p: 09 425 7477 | m: 027 240 7791 | f: 09 425 7483 email: mobikair@xtra.co.nz

Mangawhai: Phil Lathrope 431 4608 | 021 642 668

www.mobi-kair.co.nz

Carpet Overlocking Services

39 Worker Road • Wellsford Ph 09 423 8322 / 021 403 072

email: selcoenterprises@vodafone.co.nz

TV AERIAL & SATELLITE SERVICES Freeview Sales & Installation TV & FM Aerials GAVIN BROUGH Ph 09 425 5495 Mob 0274 766 115

PICTURE PERFECT TV

Beauty Therapy & Nail Creations for head to toe pampering

Alison Wech

C.I.D.E.S.C.O, C.I.B.T.A.C, dip Beauty Therapy, dip Electrolysis, dip Body Therapy, dip Nail Technician

46 McKinney Road, Warkworth Mob 021 051 3661 • Ph 09 425 7776 tlcbeautytherapynails@yahoo.co.nz

• Facials • Waxing • Tinting • Gel Nails • Acrylic Nails • Manicures • Pedicures • Electrolysis • Make-up • Body Wraps • Massage • Spray Tans

A range of care options available to suit your needs and budget Many years experience in the care of horses and domestic pets Available 24x7 | Proudly local | Insured and Police Checked Competitive prices inclusive of travel to local residents

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL

CARpET

CLEAnIng Call FREE

0800 022 101

Emergency Flood Service 12 Years Technical Experience Fully Qualified & Certified

Certified Member of the M: 021 456 429 Carpet Cleaning Association of NZ E: sbrocks@vodafone.co.nz

Digital Freeview Satellite Installation & Repairs

TV • Video • DVD Tuning Additional TV Outlets Phone David Redding 09 422 7227 or 0274 585 457

Michelle Boler

Free New Zealand Consumer Web Design Guide Caring for your animals at your plaCe while you are away

Owen Ward

Phone 021 771 878 • 24hrs 09 425 6002

Avoid costly mistakes and make an informed and intelligent decision, get it now at www.geekfree.co.nz

www.furandfetlocks.co.nz | info@furandfetlocks.co.nz

WARKWORTH PICTURE FRAMERS COMPLETE CUSTOM FRAMING SERVICE David and Pat Little P. 09 425 8143 E. the_littles@xtra.co.nz 15 Coquette Street,Warkworth 0910 DAVID LITTLE GCF

021 106 0617

ON WHITE ON RED

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Advertise your classifieds and church notices here for only

$4.40 per line or $11.20 per/cm inc GST for boxed adverts.

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

FREE

PUBLIC NOTICES

A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/Simpson dryers. Same day service 09 423 9660 or 021 168 7349.

FREE SPENT GRAIN from Warkworth brewery. Great as feed supplement for livestock. 1-2 ton p/wk. Re-usable bins and forklift provided. We need reliable weekly pick-ups. Contact Jason at 022-657-6028 or jason@8wired.co.nz

NORTHLAND ELECTORATE BY-ELECTION MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT

CARS WANTED CARS WANTED dead or alive. Top dollar paid. $100 to $700 for any small car. $500 to $5000 for vans, utes, 4WD & trucks. Free removal 0800 33 33 98

DRIVEWAYS MAINTENANCE Grading, Rolling & Metalling for rural Driveways. No job to BIG or small. Ph Bruce 425 7766.

FLIGHTS

GARAGE SALES MAUNGATUROTO 2ND HAND SHOP maybe interested in buying your garage sale goods. Buying tools and furniture now. Phone 09 431 8440 or 021 125 1576

HEALTH SERVICES

Ages & Stages Ltd

TUITION

Come along and hear what each candidate has to offer to us in the lower end of the Northland Electorate. Thursday 12th March Wellsford Community Centre 7pm Hosted by the “Landowners and Contractors Protection Assoc. Inc.” For enquiries Ph. Brian Mason 09 423 7187

Occupational Therapy Services for children & adolescents - 18 yrs exp in physical & mental health. WW based. Ph Sarah 09 425 8291 - 027 861 802

SITUATIONS VACANT

HOME MAINTENANCE

BACHCARE IS EXPANDING IN THE AREA!

Post-Graduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy Practice, NZROT.

SCENIC FLIGHTS 30 mins $65; 20 mins $55; Min. 3 passengers. Trial flights $85. Gift vouchers available. GREAT BARRIER FLIGHTS. Special stopover up to 4 hours. Return $120. Min. 3 passengers. One way flights $120 each. Min 2 passengers. NORTH CAPE FLIGHTS $450 each. Min 3 passengers. Rodney Aero Club 425 8735 or Rod Miller 425 5612 FOR HIRE BOUNCY CASTLES : Kids events Warkworth Area Ph 021 665 800

FOR LEASE SMALL UPSTAIRS OFFICE TO LET

Central Warkworth location. Phone 027 430 8440.

FOR SALE RAWLEIGH Products. Ph Pat 423 8851 Please note new phone number. HAY - NEW SEASON $10 - $12 a bale. Phone 09 425 7479 or 027 497 0980 FIREWOOD Dry, ti tree, gum, macro, pine. Free delivery Warkworth area. From $70m2. Ph 425 7942 CUB CADET RIDE ON MOWER, 60” Cutting Deck, 400 hrs, Excellent Cond, $4450. Ph 422 9031. ADJUSTABLE BEDS - for your wellbeing ADJUSTABLE BEDS - for a better lifestyle ADJUSTABLE BEDS at Drummers Home Store Wellsford 09 423 9077

PLUMBER Semi retired for small jobs. Point Wells 09 423 0193 or 027 490 2054 PAINTING/INTERIOR/EXTERIOR/ROOF & HOUSEWASHING Husband & wife team. Quality Workmanship. Competitive quotes. Ph 021 022 08727 WATER BLASTING Only small jobs @ small hourly rate, $20, just Paths, Decks & Fences, experienced. Ph. Noel Crawford 955 7111, 027 459 6061 LAWN MOWING rubbish removal, hedges, small tree removal. WW & beach areas. Ph Jeff Hatfull 027 425 7357, 425 7357 LAWNS - Contouring, prepping and laying. Owner/operator 25+yrs experience. For complete quality projects phone Bruce (09) 425 7766. WATER FILTERS Underbench filters & whole house Ultra violet filters – Kill and remove ecoli/bacteria. FREE site visits. Ph Steve 09 945 2282 or visit www.purewaterservices.co.nz WATER PUMPS Low water pressure? Get it sorted. Sales, service and installation. Work guaranteed. Steve 09 945 2282 ww.purewaterservices.co.nz. GARDENER Knowledgeable & experienced (30 yrs). for a high quality efficient job Ph. Rebecca - 021 879 819 422 6532

HOME SERVICES HOUSE SITTER avail. Exp. 022 380 9807

PUBLIC NOTICES

KAIPARA FLATS NETBALL CLUB

Senior & Junior Trials Thursday 12th & Thursday 19th March 6.30pm at the Kaipara Flats Sports Club. Queries to: Jeanette 094224971.

LOCAL THEATRE

Interested in reviving Amateur Theatre in Warkworth / Wellsford/ Mangawhai area? Contact: admix@gmail.com

Become a Bachcare Holiday Manager and join NZ’s leading holiday home management company. Receive excellent training / support. If you enjoy meeting people, have great attention to detail, and are a cleaning extraordinaire, contact gemma@ bachcare.co.nz

CHEF

Snells Beach Conference and Retreat Centre is looking for a chef or proficient cook to join our catering team. We pride ourselves on producing great food and hospitality to our guests and residents. We need someone with experience of working in a commercial kitchen who isable to work independently without supervision. The successful applicant must be a hardworking, reliable, outgoing person with a can do attitude. Hours vary each week but minimum of 8 hours currently available predominately during the weekends. For further information please contact the Catering Manager on 425 4054 x259. Please enclose your CV and two references with your application before 9 March. Please send to: Catering Manager P.O. Box 303 Warkworth Auckland 0941 or email accommodation@lifenz.org LAURA MORLEY OPERATIONS MANAGER LIFE WARKWORTH CAMPUS

FIND A LOCAL TRADESMAN, SERVICE OR BUSINESS easily with the online Business Directory A-Z at

www.localmatters.co.nz

REMEDIAL TUTOR Established programmes for general underachievement and ASD symptoms. 1 to 1 support for all ages. Before school checks. Affordable prices. listeningforlearning.yolasite.com

Art, Craft & Jewellery Full & part time courses

Puhoi & Albany Campus

www.hungrycreek.ac.nz 09 422 0752

NZQA Reg

Nanny & More! Quality full-time local courses for nanny & childcare careers Call Amanda now for free info! 424 3055 nannyacademy.ac.nz

TV SERVICES & SALES FREEVIEW TV, Audio, Installation, Faults & Supply. Andrew 021 466 394 or 422 2221. TV SERVICES Aerials, Dishes, Freeview sales, installation and service. Extra outlets. Serving the area for 18 years. Phone Gavin 027 476 6115.

AERIAL & SATELLITE DISH INSTALLATIONS

Professional Installation of Satellite Dishes and Freeview UHF Aerials. Wall mount TV Installations, Multi-room Solutions. Audio and Home Theatre. TV Tuning Services. Phone 425 5431.

WANTED TO BUY CASH PAID TOOLS & MACHINERY Shed & Garage Clearouts. Call/txt 021 161 5139

Your handy pull-out guide

Mahurangi Matters - March 4,2015 CHURCH NOTICES

SITUATIONS VACANT

Warkworth Anglican Parish Church Services

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Phone 425 8545

www.holyname.org.nz

Holy Mass Timetable:

Christ Church, Church Hill, Warkworth

WARKWORTH

Holy Name Church, 6 Alnwick Street Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm Sunday: 10.30am

MP Support to Tracey Martin

PUHOI

Mahurangi Methodist Parish Warkworth Methodist

Phone 425 8660 for information

Come and pick up our sticker for your mailbox to ensure delivery.

the numbers game

7 5

5 HARD

8 8

... or with these?

localmatters.co.nz/businessdirectory

SOLUTION PAGE 19

FILL IN THIS GRID SO THAT EVERY COLUMN, EVERY ROW AND EVERY 3X3 BOX CONTAINS THE DIGITS 1 TO 9.

www.sudokupuzz.com

Sunday Services 9am & 10.30am

Being seen online isn’t a luxury – it’s essential for anyone who is serious about growing their business.

With these?

6 1

5 Pulham Road, Warkworth Phone 425 8861 www.mahu.org.nz

Yes please 

3rd Sunday at 11.00am

Phone 425 8054 or www.anglican-warkworth.org

How are your customers looking for you?

Not getting your paper?

St.Michael and All Angels, Leigh

1 Hexham Street, Warkworth Parish Office: Ph 425 8660 Sunday Service 10.30am Hall Bookings PH 425 8053

www.parliament.nz

Every Sunday at 9.30am

Snells Beach Community Church

1st Sunday at 11.15am

325 Mahurangi East Rd Sunday Service 9am Hall Bookings PH 425 5707

St. Leonard's, Matakana

St.Alban's, Kaipara Flats

snell’s Beach Community Church

S3 ud9oku

Every Sunday 8am and 9.30am

2nd Sunday at 9am

SS. Peter & Paul Church Sunday: 8.30am

We are looking for a part-time person to work in the newly established office for Tracey Martin, MP for New Zealand First based in Warkworth. This position offers real variety and provides an insight into New Zealand’s political process. Think you could be interested and want to know more? If so, visit our careers site: www.careers.parliament.govt.nz and quote reference: 4843.

paper mmunity News Your LOCAL Co

An online business directory built by locals for locals. Interested or want to know more? Contact Cathy on 09 425 9068 or visit: localmatters.co.nz/businessdirectory

Mahurangi Matters -March March 4, 2015 Mahurangi Matters 4, 2015

localmatters.co.nz

stories of

History

World War I

Judy Waters, Warkworth & District Museum www.wwmuseum.orconhosting.net.nz

Origins of The Grange Rev. McKinney told a strange story from the past regarding Captain Grange at a soiree held at the Mahurangi Heads schoolroom on 2 January 1882. He explained to his audience that 25 years previously, when he first came to Mahurangi and before there were roads or horses, he had walked to Auckland nine times using for the most part old Maori tracks. The alternative was to take passage on one of the small cutters used to transport firewood. On one occasion, he sailed on as wild a night as he ever remembered in New Zealand. In the pitch darkness, the vessel was about to strike Rangitoto reef when, The Grange from the treetops. according to the master of the cutter, a man stood on the prow pointing for him to go in another direction and calling “Come this way”. The man, whose instructions Captain Grange obeyed, was the man he had seen drown 20 years earlier in the St Lawrence River. As his listeners all knew, said Rev. McKinney, Captain Grange was a man of strong intelligence yet he affirmed until his dying day that had he not changed direction as the figure advised, the ship would have foundered and lives would have been lost. The three Grange brothers – Alexander, Hugh and William – were originally from Ayr, Scotland. All were sea captains trading out of the port of Auckland making so it is difficult to be sure as to which brother the story referred. Captain Hugh Grange bought 200 acres of land on the east bank of the Mahurangi River, next door to Michael Munro’s Craigeburn property, in 1854. His house named Harbour View had a clear view down the river. A neighbour, Joseph Rowe Gard, mentioned in his diary his frequent visits to the Grange home. He married Jane Stuart (Jeanie), the only daughter of Captain H. Grange on 31 March 1858, with Rev. McKinney officiating. Another house was built for Jeanie but when Joseph Gard was appointed Postmaster and Collector of Customs at Picton in 1861 other family members used the house. A third house was nearing completion when the Hamilton family bought the property in 1893. By request of Mrs Grange, it was named The Grange. The Hamilton family and their descendants have now owned the house for more than 120 years. The original Harbour View house was dismantled and rebuilt in Lilburn Street Warkworth. Mrs Grange lived there as a widow. Captain Hugh Grange was at one time master of the mission schooner Southern Cross. He brought stone from Rangitoto to build the Melanesian Mission Hall at Mission Bay. Norfolk Island was a regular port of call and he is said to have brought back Norfolk pine seedlings and distributed them to friends including John Southgate, at the Warkworth Hotel. A Norfolk pine planted by Mrs Grange in the 1850’s can still be found at the Hamilton Landing Scenic Reserve. It is listed on the New Zealand Register of Notable Trees. Sometime in the 1940’s, a housemaid employed by Mrs Hamilton was dared to climb to the top of the tree. To prove she had indeed reached the top, she broke off the growing tip causing the tree to die back and lose some eight metres in height. For that reason, it is not the tallest Norfolk pine in the country but it has the largest girth of any that have been measured. In Warkworth’s McKinney Road cemetery, there was once an imposing tombstone commemorating the lives of all three of the Grange brothers. The ravages of time has taken its toll and it now lies broken and moss covered within a rusty iron fence, its lettering indecipherable. It seems regrettable that these three brave sea captains are all but forgotten. If their name endures in a new commercial development on State Highway 1, perhaps Norfolk pine trees could be included in the landscape. Sources – Down Memory Lane 100 years of Hamilton residence at the Grange Warkworth, Joseph Gard Diaries and Papers Past.

A monthly series compiled by Mahurangi Matters & Warkworth RSA following World War I events.

Ashton family’s service Captain Sidney Charles Ashton, of Big Omaha, enlisted in 1916 and served for nearly two years with the Auckland Mounted Rifles Brigade. He fought in the third battle of Gaza, led by General Edmund Allenby, as part of the British Egyptian Expeditionary force. The first two battles in Palestine in March and April ended in failure as the British sought to gain ascendancy in Ottoman held Palestine, but the Allenby-led October campaign seized the city of Beersheba, an Ottoman stronghold. Sidney was killed in action on October 31, possibly in the battle for the strongly held redoubt of Saba where the New Zealanders fought. He was 44. Sidney’s nephews, Rifleman G B (Brucey) Ashton and Private H J (Huru) Ashton, also served in World War I. Brucey saw action in France and met his future wife Beatrice Ross after sending letters to London in the brass shells, which were sent back to be reloaded. After the war, he returned to his parents’ home in Palmerston North and Beatrice followed. The couple were married and moved to Whangateau where Brucey was gifted land on a 99-year lease as part of the returning servicemen resettlement programme. In WWII he served in the Home Guard. He purchased land in Birdsall Road and died in his 80s.

Captain Sidney Charles Ashton

While serving in the Dardanelles, cousin Horace (Huru) Ashton was courtmarshalled in the field for blowing his own trigger finger off. This decision was later rescinded when it was proved to be accidental. He suffered a second gunshot while serving in Malta and was invalided back to NZ. After the war, he married Mary Parata, from Thames, learned fluent Maori, and became the first English Ratana Church Minister. Huru moved to Birdsall Road in Whangateau and died in his 80s. Numerous Ashton descendents still live in the Mahurangi area.

March 1915

be detained. 1 British blockade of German East Africa commences. Swedish SS Hanna torpedoed without warning. First neutral ship actually sunk by 4 French Government decides to send German submarine. Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles First case of ‘indicator’ nets aiding in 14 Light cruiser Dresden, the last German the destruction of a German submarine cruiser left at sea, sunk by British warships (U-8 in Straits of Dover). These were first in Chilean waters off Juan Fernandez. experimented with in January 1915. 15 First merchant ship SS Blonde attacked Russian Government sends circular telegram by aircraft. to Entente Governments laying claim to 18 Allied Naval attack on the Dardanelles Constantinople. forts repulsed. French battleship Bouvet and Greek Government requests explanation of British battleships Irresistible and Ocean sunk. British occupation of Lemnos. British Government concludes agreement 9 British bombardment of Smyrna ends. with American cotton interests that cotton 10 The Battle of Neuve Chapelle (March should be contraband. 10-13) was launched with the aim of 21 First German airship raid on Paris. capturing the high ground of the Aubers 23 First kite-balloon ship HMS Manica Ridge to create a threat to the German commissioned. Army occupating the city of Lille. Although the British broke through the German Front Chinese and Japanese Governments conclude secret agreement as to future policy Line and captured the village of Neuve in Manchuria. Chapelle, the German Sixth Army carried 26 The Third Reinforcements arrive in out counter-attacks and the British attack Zeitoun. The (NZ) AMR receives 115 was halted from advancing any further. horses, some of poor quality. Dutch Government issues warning that foreign merchant ships using Dutch flag will We acknowledge the following sources: New Zealand History Online, Auckland War Museum Cenotaph Database and Papers Past websites. Your loCal Community newspaper

weddingfeature

March 4, 2015

gettinghitched



Mahurangi Matters

FEATURE

Modern twists update tried and true wedding traditions

Signage is a cool way to add some pep to the celebrations.

While many wedding traditions are perennial, there is always scope to add personal touches that reflect the bride and groom’s individual tastes and values. Most brides follow the custom of donning ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’, the garter has become a reception show stopper and tossing the bouquet remains part of the fun. But when it comes to the wedding dress and the outfits for the bridal party, the flowers, the cake and the reception theme, the rules go out the window. Technology has also been harnessed in a big way by brides and wedding planners, from websites like

nzweddingplanner.co.nz to the use of drones and GoPro cameras by photographers to add something special to the wedding day album.

Laser cut invitations are a popular trend.

Ascension Wine Estate functions and marketing manager Carlie Blanchett Burton shares her Top 10 wedding trends for 2015: Bling – from diamante dress embellishments and headpieces to diamond placecard holders, bling is one of the hottest trends for weddings this season. Blooms and greenery – large billowing blooms such as tea roses, hydrangeas and peonies are in style this year with an abundance of fresh greenery. Art deco – art deco design elements are still a strong wedding trend for cakes, dress and invitations. Bridal gowns have adapted the silhouettes of the 1930s with cap sleeves, collars and off-the-shoulder designs hitting the runways. Strong colour accents – moving on from the pastels that have been in for the last couple of years, colour accents have become a bit brighter with colours like coral, turquoise, teal and navy taking centre stage. Metallics – metallics also have an old world feel this summer with copper, bronze and brass playing a starring role. Laser cut designs – intricate

laser cut designs are the biggest thing in wedding invitations at the moment. Laser cut designs are also being used for custom bunting, placecards and favour boxes and can be custom-made to match your theme. Signature drinks – Signature drinks have become very popular for the canapés hour with brides choosing custom mocktails, sangria and punch over the traditional glass of bubbles. Relaxed food options – the approach is more relaxed for wedding food as well with platters and buffets proving more popular than canapés and a set menu. Food trucks are also a popular option for canapés time. Fingerprint art – couples are choosing to have images such as trees or hot air balloons where everyone can add their fingerprint instead of the traditional guest book. Custom-made signage – from glittery Mr and Mrs signs to large illuminated text saying ‘love’ or ‘this is how forever begins’, custommade cut-out signage with lighting is giving fairy lights a run for their money this year.

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Wedding speeches can be nervewracking, not only for speakers, but also for bridal couples and their guests, as a single wayward speaker can quickly turn the most carefully planned event into an embarrassing sideshow. Appointing a confident Master of Ceremonies is one way to keep speakers and timetables on track. Warkworth Toastmasters president Steve Reynolds has MC’d numerous weddings and says it pays for couples to clearly state how they want speeches handled, whether restricting them to a few pre-selected individuals, or offering the opportunity to anyone who has something to say. “If you’re going to be giving a speech there’s no need to feel nervous because no-one knows what you’re going to say so you can’t get it wrong,” Steve says. “But, the major no-no is not knowing when to stop.” Steve suggests that a reasonable speech length is around three minutes or up to five, depending how many will be delivered. “Practise is always good. As long as you’ve got an opening and closing worked out, you can usually fill in the middle successfully.” Either a joke, or “something from the heart” to the bride and groom, are both good options for an effective ending. It’s easier and more interesting to talk about what you know of the couple

yourself, rather than relaying hearsay, and it’s important to keep it seemly and not harp on about either of the couple’s previous relationships, he says. “There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of innuendo as long as it’s appropriate. If you think you can tell it to your mother, it’s probably okay.” Steve suggests cue cards with headers are generally better than screeds of notes, which are off-putting to audiences and can make you look down too much as you speak. If using a microphone, hold it close to your mouth rather than at chest level and if not, address people at the back of the room. Letting your eyes rest on individuals for a few moments is an effective way to include the audience, but glancing around too rapidly can be a distraction, sending too many messages to your brain. If you don’t have a relative that’s keen or capable to take on the MC role, check with friends for recommendations, or contact any toastmaster for advice.

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Property issues overlooked By Stephanie Paxton-Penman Paxton-Penman et al

Your wedding day should be the best day of your life; it is a public declaration of your commitment and love for one another and marks the beginning of a new journey and (for many) the end of hours of organisation and planning. The big day has finally arrived! However, there is one area of organisation and planning which is often ignored by the blushing bride and gorgeous groom and that is the implications of marriage in terms of their property rights and (in the case of second relationships) their children. Most people think they know what the Property (Relationships) Act (“the Act”) says, but many fail to understand the extent of the obligations conferred upon them under the legislation. For example, many don’t realise that the Act

applies on death as well as separation. Others don’t realise that estates can sue the survivor so that the children of the deceased can inherit the half that their parent would have inherited had they not passed away. Some don’t think that they now have to consider making provision for stepchildren. A few don’t realise that the home they live in will be divided 50:50 regardless of who owns it, pays for it, does the maintenance on it etcetera. Finally, a number of people don’t realise that a wedding revokes your existing Will. So, as part of the organisation and planning for the wedding, add to your list a phone call to your lawyer so that they can make sure all those niggly legal matters are sorted and you can live happily ever after.

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Marriage in decline Just under 20,000 marriages were registered to NZ residents in 2013 and of these, 209 were same-sex marriages. There were 13,312 first marriages, 5825 remarriages, and 100 couples (both same-sex and opposite-sex) who transferred their civil union to a marriage. Around two in five same-sex marriages involved overseas couples, compared with one in nine for oppositesex marriages. A total of 187 civil unions were registered to NZ residents – of these, 121 were same-sex unions – 46 civil unions were registered to overseas residents and 40 couples dissolved their civil union.

Achy breaky heart rise Analysis of divorce statistics by year of marriage shows that just over one-third (35 per cent) of New Zealanders who married in 1988 had divorced before their silver wedding anniversary (25 years). This compares with 32 per cent for those who married in 1978, and 26 per cent for those who married in 1968. Source, Statistics NZ

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Plume, the vineyard restaurant, Matakana is a must visit destination on any Matakana wine or food journey. Plume also provides a spectacular setting for all couples taking that next step in their journey together or even a special event. Your day will benefit from the special atmosphere we have created. Plume, proudly the house of Runner Duck Wines.

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March 4, 2015

Smoothly run receptions need careful planning Entertaining guests after a wedding ceremony is traditional in most societies and can last anywhere from half-anhour to many hours or even days. But whether a couple is planning a banquet or a barbecue for their guests, there are some common elements to consider such as budget and numbers attending, food preferences and dietary requirements, and whether or not children are included amongst the guests. Experience has taught Plume Restaurant head chef Paul van der Molen to expect the unexpected when it comes to catering for a wedding. Good communication between the couple and the kitchen is crucial if things are to run smoothly on the big day. “One of the biggest challenges in recent years has been the increasing number of guests with food allergies,” he says. “These can range from common wheat and nut allergies to an intolerance for dairy, seeds and eggs. We even had a guest recently who couldn’t eat onions. “If we know ahead of time, then it’s not a problem. But finding out at the last minute that a guest couldn’t eat onions, which are in so many dishes, was difficult.” Event catering is nothing new for Paul. He has worked on major events for up to 2500, as well as on cruise ships where the kitchens would serve 54,000 meals a week. But he says he enjoys weddings because they are happy occasions, where people come along to have fun and enjoy themselves. “The hospitality industry, by definition,

A new trend in wedding cakes is to forego the sweet option and replace it with tiers of cheese wheels.

Tip

Plume Restaurant head chef Paul van der Molen says there’s a lot to consider when planning a wedding reception so it’s important to set-up good lines of communication between the reception venue and the couple.

implies a desire to look after people and it’s nice for an occasion as special as a wedding to spend a little more time on the meals and presentation.” It’s one of the reasons he prefers an a la carte menu to a buffet. “Buffets can look stunning at the start, but the presentation is not usually so good towards the end.” It is normal on wedding invitations to ask guests if they have a special food requirement but unfortunately, not all

Don’t assume plated dinners are pricier. Often they aren’t because the caterer knows exactly how much food to order and prepare, whereas buffets have to accommodate multiple trippers.

guests remember to note it down in their acceptance. “We do our best to meet everyone’s expectations but unusual last-minute requests can hold up proceedings for everyone.” There is a lot to think about when deciding what to serve at a wedding and while price is a factor, there can be other considerations such whether or not children will be at the reception, ethnic preferences and the timing of when courses should be served around

speeches. It is also important to make sure there is a wet weather option if it is an outside reception. While the number of courses is an individual decision, Paul tries to ensure that guests are well-satisfied, particularly if they are drinking. He says the style of food should match the venue. “If you want home style food, then perhaps a fine dining restaurant is not the appropriate venue. It’s really important that the couple feel completely confident that the venue they choose can meet their expectations.”

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introducing

Revision

BRIDAL

Classic roses are still number one with brides, but old-fashioned blooms are making a comeback.

Don’t penny-pinch on blooms Although the bridal bouquet takes centre stage in many a wedding photo, there are other ways in which flowers dress up a wedding and provide a touch of romance. These include arrangements at the reception and decorations at the venue, whether this is a church or under a canopy at the beach. Many florists hire vases for reception tables – perhaps glass cylinders filled with tall calla lilies or fishbowl vases with tulips wound around inside. A grand arrangement can provide a sense of occasion at the entrance to a reception or church lobby. Decorating a church generally involves placing flowers along altar rails and garlands on the ends of each pew. A simple canopy erected for a service at the

beach might have flowers wound up a central pole or hung from each corner. Roses never go out of fashion, but several old-fashioned blooms such as hydrangeas and dahlias are also popular for weddings. As a change from the traditional ivory or white, there are calla lilies or gerberas in hot colours and casual style bouquets for outdoor weddings may feature ferns and grasses. Beautifully made silk flowers never go out of fashion and can be used in combination with fresh blooms. There are flowers for every budget, but couples should bear in mind that flowers appear in their photos and should not be a last-minute, hasty choice. Better to buy the flowers you truly love than be sorry afterwards.

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Toting up the cost The average Kiwi wedding costs around $30,000, which may seem high until you consider the cost in other countries. For instance, in Australia most couples shell out around $56,000 and in the UK it’s only marginally less at $50,600. In Japan and Hong Kong, couples expect to pay between $40,000 and $45,000 for their big day, while in the United States the average wedding costs $33,500.

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Body shape best guide for choosing right bridal gown Keeping up with wedding gown trends can be a challenging task, as a myriad of commentators offer sometimes conflicting views, but by making yourself the top selection criteria you can soon identify the features that will be best for you. Trawling the many wedding websites reveals a few key elements on which most pundits agree, including illusion necklines, a preference for tulle and organza, and plenty of texture through fabric, layering and adornment. Illusion necklines give a strapless look, while sheer fabric or lace subtly veils skin that would otherwise be exposed. Boleros or “wedding jackets”, in varying styles and fabrics depending on your dress and the climate, are also part of an increasing cover up, playing both a practical and aesthetic role. Detailed and textured corsets are another notable trend, while the

Vintage gowns are the ideal choice for any bride who is in to boho-chic.

A pretty beaded bolero is ideal for a wedding in cooler months.

colour palette has extended from white to encompass ivory, blush, apricot, lavender and a few bolder tones. Alternatively, you can try splashes of colour on a traditional white wedding

dress through trims, belts, sashes, floral embellishments and bows, considering your own skin tones first and of course, coordinating with your bridesmaids’ colours. Pick and choose

what you like to inspire your vision, but don’t let trends entirely dictate your style, focus on your body shape to accentuate the positive and wear a gown that looks and feels great. A contour-hugging sheath or mermaid style (that flares at or below the knee) is not for everyone, but there are plenty of kinder cuts to choose from like the traditional A-Line gown that fits the torso and flares at the waist. The full-skirted ballgown style emphasises a waist while masking hips and thighs, while an Empire line traditionally drops from below the bust line in a long loose skirt that helps disguise the stomach area. Take time to try different styles in the presence of a friend whose feedback you trust and consider taking your ideas to a dressmaker to get a unique and tailored look.

Hitting the right note Music is ‘the food of love’, so what you choose should get everyone relaxed and enjoying the romantic flavour of the day. That is not to say your favourite hip hop, techno or punk tunes cannot be used on the dance floor, but this approach will keep elderly relatives firmly in their seats. At the other extreme, too much Barry Manilow or piano accordion music sends all the young ones home. A broad selection of music put together on an ipod is a popular option, allowing couples to make up their own play list. Bands that specialise in functions will generally offer input on the song list, which is likely to be cover

versions. It is worth asking whether the band will learn a particular song just for you, if you have a romantic favourite. DJs cater to the couple’s taste, offering selections of different genres, or eras such as 70s or 80s. They can also read the mood and adjust songs to keep guests happy. If the bride or groom has a strong singing voice, but is shy of singing in public, it is even possible to record a song to a backing track at a studio to be played as a surprise on the day. According to Spotify, which looked at thousands of wedding-themed playlists, the 10 most popular first dance songs are:

At Last by Etta James I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne All of Me by John Legend Better Together by Jack Johnson A Thousand Years by Christina Perri Everything by Michael Bublé First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes Then by Brad Paisley Make You Feel My Love by Adele

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www.amandaeve.co.nz 09 422 5877 021 269 4270 amanda@amandaeve.co.nz

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Every season holds its own inspiration including winter, which is for sparkly gold, ivory and decadent desserts.

Capturing warm winter glow Before you battle the crowds to find a venue and suppliers for your summer wedding, why not spare a thought for winter when wily wedding planners can stretch your dollar further, while still maximising the romance of the day. There are big savings to be made and more choice to be had by targeting venues and suppliers, from caterers to photographers, in their off season – and you may be able to book them at much shorter notice than you think. Some popular local venues offer themselves for winter weddings (between April 1 and October 31) at as little as half the regular rate, with a range of added incentives. Travelling guests will find their accommodation is cheaper and less crowded too. Fireside ceremonies have their own magic and fur throws and shawls add a dramatic layer to bridal couture that’s equally fitting in a horse-drawn carriage, vintage car or stretch limo. Meanwhile, men will feel more comfortable suiting up for the occasion. Consider the pleasure of mulled wine,

hot chocolate shots, liqueurs or special coffees as warming welcomes for wedding guests. Add soup or other traditional winter fare to the menu. Be liberal with floating or scented candles, which can be readily colourmatched to any décor. Embrace rich autumn colours and umbrellas as great photo props (remember, even summer weddings can’t be assured of a dry day), but have some glamourous inside locations in mind as well, a grand staircase, ballroom, covered verandah or stone or timber fireside all have their charm. If you have your ceremony and reception at the same venue, you and your guests won’t have to worry about braving the weather. Ice sculptures, crystal and even snow globes, all make perfect sense at a winter event. Perhaps put your savings towards a tropical getaway for your honeymoon, or follow through with a winter escape that will demand plenty of cuddling up and romantic fireside moments.

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Diversity marks Warkworth monthly music programme Warkworth Music will open its annual concert series this month with a performance by NZ pianist Stephen De Pledge along with two of the leading figures in chamber music, violinist Leo Phillips and cellist Edith Salzmann. It will be held at Mahurangi College on Sunday March 22. Publicity officer Gillian Fairhurst says this year’s programme will cater for a wide range of musical tastes and will utilise a number of different venues. “Top class performers have been engaged, often through Chamber Music NZ,” she says. Among them will be Jason Bae. “Those who heard his exhilarating performance a couple of years back will be delighted to learn of his return.” There will also be performances by pianist Sarah Watkins and violinist Andrew Beer next month, Trio

A new set of regional funds and the ability for community groups to apply for multi-board grants are among changes included in Auckland Council’s new community grants policy. The new policy comes in to effect on July 1. The policy promotes a programme that supports local activities including option for local boards to work together to allocate grants for activities that cross several local board areas. There will also be a regional grants programme to support regionally significant projects and organisations. In Rodney, the Local Board will be looking for community groups whose work aligns with the priorities outlined in the local board plan. At the regional level, the governing body will look for projects and organisations that align with the outcomes set out in the Auckland Plan and sector-specific plans.

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Amistad, Viva Voce under the direction of John Rosser, and the stunning Baroque group, Affetto. The NZ Guitar Quartet will perform at Matakana Village Hall in September. “We’ve got something very special planned for our final concert, which will be held in Warkworth’s Old Masonic Hall. It will be a programme of poetry, keyboard, vocal, clarinet and saxophone presented by Buddhist Rain, combining the expertise of the poet Bill Manhire with jazz music.” A subscription ticket for the season of seven concerts costs $125. Door sales for individual concerts will remain at $30 with student entry being free. The 2015 brochure, outlining the full concert series, is available at Matakana Cinemas and the i-Site Warkworth.

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Plenty of little cover ups to add a layer to your lighter weight outﬁt. Perfect for that early autumn occasion. Slacks, skirts and tops in so many styles and colours patterns and plains. Includes 100% wool merino skivvies in a range of colours and several necklines. Travelling during our winter we have plenty of summer stock to ﬁll in your travel needs. Send $10 and stamped addressed envelope for our Travel Light Pack Right booklet to help you with you packing and wardrobe management.

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March 4, 2015

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Leading Kiwi composer leads choir workshop in Wellsford A one-day community singing workshop, lead by composer and choral leader Carol Shortis, will be held in Wellsford this month. Carol is based in Wellington and has sung with or directed many NZ choirs. She will be in Wellsford at the invitation of the Local Vocals Choir. The workshop will cover an eclectic mix of songs from gospel and Celtic to world music, and will be suitable for all levels of singers, from beginners to the more experienced. “We are very excited to have been able to book a workshop with Carol this year before she heads overseas to teach,” Local Vocals chairperson Sally Randall says. “Carol is a talented and highly respected musician, composer, choral director and song-leader. She skillfully makes community singing accessible and fun.” Local Vocals is a community choir based in Wellsford, which meets to sing with guest conductors and songleaders. A large part of its focus this year will be to increase the singers’ experience of different music styles and to develop emergent song-leadership. The choir has been assisted with funding from Creative Communities

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Picking table grapes daily throughout March-April Carol Shortis will run a workshop in Wellsford.

Scheme Auckland and is applying for more funding for a community singing project later this year. The Carol Shortis workshop will be held on Saturday March 21, from 9.30am to 5pm, and is open to everyone at an affordable price. Info: Sally on 423 9393 or singlvc@ gmail.com

Ahuroa school fundraiser returns The Ahuroa School’s Feast and Fireworks fair is back for a second year after raising $11,000 last year. The event, on March 21, is the biggest annual fundraiser for the school. There will be live music, quick fire raffles, silent auctions, a bouncy castle, an inflatable obstacle course, and lots of games. For the more daring, there will also be off road adventure rides. The fireworks are the main event on the night, with the lamb spit-roast coming in a close second. “The feast of homemade desserts is also a much anticipated tradition,” PTA

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member Rachelle Rolfe-Vyson says. The goal this year is to raise $15,000 to fit-out the school’s technology room with workbenches for cooking and textile classes. The school also hopes to finish terraced seating beside the court to make a mini pavilion and landscape parts of the school to create natural play spaces. The fair runs from 4pm until 8.30pm. Feast and dessert, $12 for adults, $6 for children. The school is still looking for donations for the raffle and auctions. Info: Rachelle rachelle@clear.net.nz or 422 4009.

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hello@handyfood.co.nz Brick Bay arts manager Jonathan Organ says some visitors have a double-take before realising the road sign is an artwork.

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Brick Bay trail gets direction The humble road sign has taken on new meaning at the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The 5.5m by 3.5m sculpture Works End by one of New Zealand’s top contemporary artists John Reynolds was installed in the Brick Bay carpark in January. It is the first time the larger-than-life work has been installed outside, after originally showing at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth in 2009. The words on the sign, engineered to highway specifications, are replaced with the names of works by important NZ artists Colin McCahon, Rita Angus, Ralph Hotere and Gordon Walters. Installing Works End outside at the trail has become a passion project for Brick Bay arts manager Jonathan Organ, who has followed the work of John Reynolds after being taught by him during his art school days. Jonathan says working with the artist

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and farm manager, they carefully installed the work so it was secure and could be seen as visitors arrive, which has also extended the art trail into the carpark. “After travelling past road signs to get here, when people come into the carpark and see this sign they have a double-take. Which is one of the things John is interested in, a lot of contemporary art is about reinterpreting signs and signifiers.” The work also looks at art as a commodity, as each named painting set a record price on the secondary market between 1988 and 2007. Jonathan says it is a departure from the artist’s normal practise of using paint on canvas, oil stick on paper or mark making. John Reynolds will talk more about the work at an artist talk at Brick Bay in Snells Beach. To attend email Jonathan jonathan@brickbay.co.nz

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Cuisine

Andrea Hinchco, Taste The Kitchen Shop www.tastethekitchenshop.co.nz

Extending the harvest My favourite time of the year is here. I love autumn and have generally chosen to make my trips overseas to coincide with this wonderful season of Indian Summer days, cool evenings and vegetables full of late summer flavour. March signals the beginning of the harvest as the produce in our gardens ripens in abundance and we all reach for our preserving pans. Apples, figs and grapes are just a few of the fruits to enjoy while the vegetable patch spoils us with the variety on offer. The long, hot, sunny days this year have meant an abundance of tomatoes and once the joy of eating them with every meal starts to wane, it is time to make them into sauce, paste and pulp to bring the sun back into winter dishes. For a change, why not try slow roasting them. Unlike sun dried, these won’t completely dry out but will have incredibly concentrated flavours. They have a thick, sweet, rich tomato flavour and the texture will be moist but not juicy. Because you aren’t drying them, they can’t be stored in oil or in jars on the pantry shelf as you might do with fully dried tomatoes but if you make more than you can use just freeze them, using a vacuum seal if you have one, otherwise in an air-tight a bag.

Slow oven roasted tomatoes

Slice tomatoes thickly (at least 2 cm) as they shrink a lot. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil to catch the drippings and place a drying rack on top of it. Lay the sliced tomatoes out on the rack closely together. Brush both sides of the tomatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and a little sugar. Don’t be tempted to leave the sugar out, as they do need it. Cook for several hours until they are quite dried out, are half their original size, darkened in color, and smell richly of tomato. There is no exact baking time. It should take at least 3 hours. Use on sandwiches, add to pasta and salads, sprinkle on top of pizzas or just eat as they are.

Ancient instruments on tour Music lovers will be treated to a rare sound of early music at Leigh Sawmill as part of the Auckland Arts Festival on March 8. Specialist early music ensemble, Age of Discovery, is bringing to life the madrigals by Monteverdi played on period instruments for the special performance called Songs of Love & War. Originating from Italy in the 16th century, madrigals were an essential form of secular songs. Drawing from Monteverdi’s eighth book of madrigals, set love songs next to the stirring rhythms of war. “Monteverdi’s music has often been regarded as revolutionary,” artistic director James Tibbles says. “His work represents the bridge between Renaissance and Baroque periods, but is sadly not heard anywhere near often enough.” The concert will also feature guest tenor from Melbourne, Jacob Lawrence as the narrator in Combattimento, solos by Renaissance flutist Sally Tibbles, Kevin Kim on Baroque recorder, and

KAWAU BOATING CLUB INC

Join us at the iconic Kawau Boating Club for a unique seaside experience. Breakfast, lunch and dinner plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Bring your boat into Bon Accord Harbour or catch a ferry from Sandspit.

Petrol • Diesel • 2 Stroke Oil • Ice • Bait • General Store

Thursday Night - Curry Night Book now for a fun night Open 7 days - Fully Licensed Private Functions and New Members Welcome Hosts: Robyn & David Lee 09 422 8845 www.kawauboatingclub.nz Like us on Facebook at Kawau Boating Club

Mixer or food processor? Kneads • Beats • Whips • Grates • Slices • Minces Blends • Emulsifies • Mashes • Purees

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Age of Discovery artistic director James Tibbles is one of New Zealand’s leading players of historic keyboards and a senior lecturer in early music.

James Tibbles on harpsichord. James is one of New Zealand’s leading players of historic keyboards including the harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano and organ. He is also a senior lecturer in early music and head of the Early Music Department in the School of Music, the University of Auckland.

16 Mill Lane, Warkworth

09 425 0302

info@tastethekitchenshop.co.nz

www.tastethekitchenshop.co.nz

Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm. Sat & Sun 10am to 3pm.

Mahurangi Matters

March 4, 2015

localmatters.co.nz/whatson

BOOKREVIEWS

By The Village Bookshop, Matakana

A Good Place To Hide by Peter Grose

Art Gallery 39 Omaha Valley Road, Matakana, RD5, Warkworth 0985, New Zealand Phone +64 9 422 9995 Email: thevivian@thevivian.co.nz

www.thevivian.co.nz

OPEN: Daily 11.00am - 5.00pm or by appointment

Susie Lever

Senior 1 Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Matakana

New 6 week Beginners Course starts

Wednesday 22nd April - 6-7.30pm

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021 039 4483 • suelever@gmail.com • www.yogabody.co.nz

THE DOG BOX . licenced restaurant & bar

END YOUR WEEKEND WITH THE DOG BOX SUNDAY ROAST Start with either a bowl of soup or a shrimp cocktail THEN Eat all you can roast of the day with all the trimmings TOP IT OFF With a delicious chocolate mousse or ice cream sundae

ALL FOR $16.50/ HEAD • BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Walton Park Motor Lodge

2 Walton Ave, Warkworth • 09 425 8149 info@waltonpark.co.nz www. waltonpark.co.nz

This is the story of an isolated community in the upper reaches of the Loire Valley that conspired to save the lives of over 3000 Jews from under the noses of the Germans and the soldiers of Vichy France. It is the story of a pacifist Protestant pastor who broke laws and defied orders to protect the lives of total strangers. It is the story of an 18-yearold Jewish boy from Nice who forged 5000 sets of false identity papers to save other Jews and French Resistance fighters from the Nazi concentration camps. And it is the story of a community of good men and women who offered sanctuary, kindness, solidarity and hospitality to people in desperate need, knowing full well the consequences for themselves. Powerful and richly told, A Good Place to Hide speaks to the goodness and courage of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. * In conjunction with The Village Bookshop, Peter Grose will speak at the Matakana Cinemas on Tuesday March 3, at 7pm.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr What an enthralling story this is! We are introduced to two young people who live their young lives in the grip of World War II. Marie-Laure LeBlanc is blind and lives with her father in Paris. Her father works as Master of Locks at the Museum of National History and she spends many happy hours at the museum, fascinated by the rooms of specimens. For her birthday, Marie-Laure’s father builds her elaborate miniature models that help her learn her way around the streets of Paris. Life is good until the Nazis invade, and Marie-Laure and her father are forced to flee to the coast, carrying a dangerous secret. Werner Pfennig and his younger sister, Jutta, are orphans who live in a children’s home 300 miles north-east of Paris, in a mining area just outside of Essen, Germany. At eight years old, Werner becomes obsessed with radios after piecing together an old abandoned radio set. This radio connects the children with a world they didn’t know existed outside of their harsh environment, and as the war looms ever closer, it becomes Werner’s ticket out.

Open 7 Days Mon-Sat 9am-5pm • Sun & Public Holidays 10am-4pm The Village - 2 Matakana Valley Road • Matakana P: (09) 423 0315 • E: villagebookshop@paradise.net.nz www.villagebookshop.co.nz

The bookshop adventure for booklovers

Quality Used & New Book Orders Welcome Contemporary & Classic Fiction Children’s & Teen Gift Vouchers 15 Neville St, Warkworth • Phone 09 425 8521 admin@unicornbooks.co.nz • Find & like us on Facebook

trolley derby Sunday March 8

downhilldash

March 4, 2015



Mahurangi Matters

FEATURE

Backyard engineers countdown to Warkworth derby day The race is on for the creative and mechanically minded to finish their designs for this year’s Warkworth Trolley Derby on March 8. After last year’s event featured trolleys made out of everything including the kitchen sink, even more wacky creations are expected this year. Organiser Craig Powell says the derby is a chance to have fun. “It’s not just about getting to the finishing line, it’s about doing it in style.” The derby has quickly become a highlight on the local calendar, after the first event last year attracted about 30 entrants from throughout Auckland. “Everyone wanted to know straight after last year’s event if we were doing it again as they already had ideas for their new trolleys, so we had to keep going.” Craig says many people work on their entries all year, and others pull something together at the last minute, which is fine as long as they meet the race rules and design guides (see p41). He has been building a trolley for his nine-year-old son Ben, after last year’s attempt made with bike wheels buckled at the end of the race. Craig was perfecting this year’s design in his head, but two weeks out from the derby was only just starting to build it. He says he’s carrying on a tradition

Derby organiser Craig Powell (right) with son Ben, along with derby committee member and Repco manager Galvin Milich.

after his father made a trolley for him, and even their own racetrack, when he was a child. “Every kid should experience going down a hill with no motor and only gravity.” As a grown-up trolley enthusiast, Craig has spent most of his time organising the event, which he says is easier after the first one went off without a hitch last year. They based their rules on the Nelson Derby which has been running for 12 years, and

includes safety precautions such as a maximum weight of 50kg, no rope steering, effective breaks and proper helmets. Craig says it would not be possible without the backing of local businesses, who have contributed financially and with favours, and the Warkworth Area Business Association. Association secretary and derby committee member Nicola Jones says the event helps bring attention to

businesses in the industrial area but is also a chance to have fun. She says now the public just need to support it by coming along on the day to Morrison Drive. The derby includes three race categories – 6-10 year olds (rippers), 11-17 year olds (blazers) and an open limos category. There are placing awards for each category and prizes for creative, decorated, style and people’s choice. Info: wwtrolleyderby.co.nz

Proud key sponsor of Warkworth Trolley Derby • Hiab hire • Excavators & Bobcat • Truck & trailers • Transporter hire • Pole hole drilling • Retaining walls

8th March 2015 see details at www.wwtrolleyderby.co.nz

p See you inMthaerchlin8ethu