Kaipara Lifestyler, October 18th, 2022

Emissions scheme ‘gut wrenching’ say farmers

The government’s emissions trading scheme has emerged in fuller detail this week, with groups once allied to the concept reacting in horror and anger to its current form.

“This is an important step forward in New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions future and delivers on our promise to price agriculture emissions from 2025,” said prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

“The proposal aims to give New Zealand farmers control over their farming system, providing the ability to reduce costs through revenue raised from the system being recycled back to farmers, which will fund further research, tools and technology and incentives to reduce emissions.”

However, opposition to the emissions plan and its associated levy is strong, with Federated Farmers (FF) strident in its criticism, despite being a contributor in trying to formulate a bilateral climate change response strategy. President of FF, Andrew Hoggard, called the news ‘gut wrenching’, and a move that ‘rips the heart out of the work we did.’

Local Northland FF leader Colin Hannah is equally adamant that the impact of the scheme will be devastating.

“Our executive said no to He Waka Eke Noa a long time back, based on the fact that so many local farmers would go out of business. Three out of five Northland beef farmers closing up was the estimate

before this information came down from the government. The reality may be worse. I will not, and can not, stand up in front of Northland’s farmers and say this is a good deal.

“From 2016 through to the present day, we have already seen a 30% reduction in farms in our area, and now Fonterra is of the opinion that dairy alone will see a further 16% drop in the next year. Nine thousand hectares of Northland are already sold to forestry interests.

That’s cattle and sheep out of the system which may never return.”

The figures back up Colin Hannah’s statement. Records show that in 2016 there were 1,135 livestock farms in Northland, but now there are less than 800. By 2020, there were just 32,000 sheep left in the region, a 50% reduction from the heyday of sheep farming in the north.

Colin says the knock-on effect for the economy of every small town in Northland is chilling, and worse, poorly structured modelling means that the desired climate outcomes may not be forthcoming either.

Fellow FF analyst Bronwyn Wilson equates the national economic loss of the proposed emissions scheme to the entire New Zealand wine industry and half of the nation’s seafood fisheries being wiped out.

With farms lost, and farming-related support jobs such as freezing workers, engineers and milk factories gone too, acute poverty and unemployment are forecast. Another core concern involves farmers not being recompensed for carbon sequestration on their farms but incentivised economically to sell up to off-shore carbon forest investors.

continued on page 18 …

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Tangiteroria top shots

Firefighters in action

Spreading the aroha

p Cameron Dackers and Mike Sommerville have competed with distinction at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Clay Target Championships at MacLeans Island in Christchurch. Cameron saw off

field of

competitors to win the

division, while Mike took the

p Volunteer firefighters swung into action when a dramatic scene unfolded in Dargaville last Thursday. Black smoke began billowing from under the hood of a parked ute at Dargaville’s Caltex service station, mere metres from the pumps. The swift intervention of members of the public wielding fire extinguishers and the firefighters themselves averted disaster.

fire was

p Raffle winner Aileen Still won Dargaville Sewing and Curtain Centre’s quilt named Aroha. The quilt was designed by Marion McEwing’s daughter Jessica McEwing from an online template and made

embroidery machine by the Janome Embroidery Club.

Milestones for racecourse

u by Andy Bryenton

Submissions are in on the plan change to

development of Dargaville’s

one possible answer to

Kaipara

“We have engaged neighbours to put in submissions as part of the democratic process,” says development proponent Richard Alspach.

“Seventeen of these have been received, with points for and against, and with some, like that from the roading agency Waka Kotahi, simply addressing practical considerations. We have to speak to all of these concerns to affect the very best outcome in a transparent way.”

The land currently under the racecourse, closed by the edict of horse racing’s governing body, has been designated as a zone for heavy industry in the Kaipara District Council’s most recent exposure planning.

An alternative is proposed by the racecourse development triumvirate of the Dargaville Community Development Board, Ngāti Whātua and the Dargaville Racing Club. This plan change, processing through to hearing before a panel of commissioners now, seeks to instead use the land for retirement and residential housing and light industry.

“The position we have taken is that Dargaville needs more dwellings before industry can thrive, as industry requires workers, who need somewhere to live,” says Richard.

Consecutively, an extensive report to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has been submitted, covering all the potential environmental risks development could bring and accounting for their mitigation. In an illustration of prudent moment management, the people behind the development have brought this report in under budget and on time, with a refund going back to the government.

With just one submission from the public requesting a live hearing before commissioners, it’s possible that the plan change to develop Dargaville’s racecourse may be early on the agenda of the newly elected council. ¢

New council set for swearing in

u by Andy Bryenton

New councillors are preparing to take up their roles in civic leadership this week, ahead of their first official engagement, the swearing-in of the 2022 Kaipara District Council.

A voter turnout five per cent higher than last local body election has returned a new and varied council across the four Kaipara wards, with some major changes. These include the leadership of the first Mangawhai resident elected mayor of Kaipara, the first councillor to take the Moananui o te Kaipara Māori Ward, and the first time the council has numbered nine in total, with the mayor now serving as the possible tiebreaker on split decisions.

Jonathan Larsen returns in the east as a Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward councillor alongside Rachael Williams and Mike Howard. Voter turnout was a respectable 48% before special votes and hand-posted ballots were counted.

In the Otamatea Ward, Mark Vincent and Ron Manderson were elected on a turnout of 40% of eligible voters. The Wairoa General Ward, comprising Dargaville and the west coast, saw 48% of voters elect Eryn Wilson-Collins, Ash Nayyar and Gordon Lambeth.

The inaugural contest for the newly formed Moananui o te Kaipara Ward saw only 25% of voters respond via postal ballot. However, in a very

close race, Pera Paniora was chosen to represent this constituency.

Councillors who have not previously served in this capacity will receive advice from KDC staff to support them ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, set for October 26. It will also be a first as the new mayor and council members make their oath before the image of the new Commonwealth monarch King Charles III.  ¢

p An artist’s impression of the racecourse development shows retirement living, affordable homes for families and room for small businesses to grow

p Local architect Gordon Lambeth is one of the council candidates, provisionally chosen to represent their neighbours in the local government

Government not listening

Dear Sir/Madam, OK, so the government doesn’t want to listen to farmer groups about the impracticality/fairness of the proposals around farm emissions; and they don’t want to heed warnings from economists about the potential for food prices to rise because of this. But is it too much to ask them to say where they expect the closure of meat works?

Because that is the inevitable consequence of the mass displacement of meat and wool farms with carbon

forestry. Hundreds of thousands of stock units have already been lost, more soon to follow. Job losses in the meat works will be significant — into the thousands.

So come on, ‘powers that be’, tell us where so that workers and managers can prepare. The impact is not far away. Surely, dealing with this is part of your planning?

Regards, Richard Alspach Dargaville

Community party time

u by Amy Fifita

Dargaville Music and Events is organising the free 1980s-themed Halloween Ball on October 29 from 6pm at the Te Kōpuru Boat Shed.

“It is a free community event and will be an evening of great Halloween and 80s music. The venue will be transformed into a Halloween-themed party with professional visual projections on the building exterior to complete the overall experience,” says event organiser Kirsty Hargreaves.

Tim Sulusi and Kirsty have organised the event. It is suitable for all ages, and children need to be accompanied by an adult. Some images displayed at the Halloween party may frighten younger event-goers.

There are spot prizes and a competition for best costume and jack-o-lantern. Smoke n Daggers will be attending the event to satisfy people’s hunger, and guests are welcome to bring their own food.

“There will be performances by Dargaville Music & Events DJs Kirsty ‘Chainsaw’ Hargreaves and Dr Big Stuff with special guest Smoke n DJ. Fireshow and circus performances by Circus Kumarani.

“We are really looking forward to this event. We expect the decorations, visuals and music to be amazing, and we look forward to bringing the community together for an outing of fun.”

The team organising the Halloween Ball has more than 20 years of experience collectively. They have been involved in other events, such as the AUM Music Festival and Splore. ¢

p Event organiser Kirsty Hargreaves says she is looking forward to bringing the community together

Support for the arts

u by Andy Bryenton

Local member of parliament Willow-Jean Prime has visited Dargaville as part of her support for arts and culture, stopping in at the town’s Muddy Waters Gallery last week to reaffirm governmental support for creativity.

“Both of my parents are artists,” said Ms Prime. “My father is a musician and painter, and my mother also paints. I think that fostering creativity in all people of all ages is very important.”

While visiting the Muddy Waters Gallery, Willow-Jean took a look at the many classes and courses offered this year to the Dargaville community, including weaving tukutuku panels and feather cloaks, art for young people, ceramic works and acrylic paintings and watercolours.

Governmental support has gone a long way toward staging special events such as this year’s inaugural Waitangi Day arts celebration. The MP says that she sees this, as well as the arts and culture aspect of Matariki, as positive experiences promoting cross-cultural understanding.

“One of the things I saw around Matariki was how people wanted to experience more. Often it’s in the field of arts, in mahi toi, which we find that. You get a lot of artists who share their creativity and create those relationships.

Things they are willing to share openly with their communities.”

Willow-Jean confirmed that governmental funding and encouragement for the arts continued to be strong, with placemaking and local arts funds available to bring art into public spaces and everyday life.

“It takes bold leadership from our creative people to create vibrant communities,” she said. The experiment in arts outreach at Muddy Waters is a very positive example.

Welcome for world travellers

u by Andy Bryenton

After a long absence due to two years of Covid lockdowns ruining international travel plans, tour buses made a welcome return to Dargaville’s main street last week.

The spring weather and the town’s reputation for friendly locals and excellent coffee put Dargaville on the itinerary of a Grand Pacific Tours bus carrying international guests from Germany and Switzerland.

“This is an area which is becoming more popular, and there are more tourists from Germany and Europe coming through,” said bus driver Chris Patelsio. He has been in the business of escorting travellers around New Zealand’s natural wonders for the past decade. Tour guide Wilhelm Lehmberg agreed and says that this stop-off before

the tour headed north into the Waipoua Forest was a welcome one. His guests could take a break, visit local cafes, and then go ahead refreshed for the next leg of their tour.

With international tourism back in availability, many foreign visitors are checking New Zealand off their bucket lists. Dargaville stands to capitalise on travellers keen to see things outside the ordinary, especially in ecotourism and heritage tourism.

Buses like Grand Pacific’s may be a more common sight during the summer and into the future. ¢

p Bringing art into the everyday, and fostering creativity in everyone, are the aims of government support for arts and culture says Willow-Jean Prime

p Chris Patelsio and Wilhelm Lehmberg stopped in with a busload of guests from overseas to enjoy a break in Dargaville

Historic church sails through time

u by Andy Bryenton

Parishioners of the All Saints Anglican Church in Mititai have reason to celebrate, as their house of worship commemorates 100 years on its riverside hill, following a move by barge.

“The church was the pride and joy of the timbermen of Aratapu,” says All Saints supporter Harold Robinson.

“It was built by Mr WA Spiers of the best heart Kauri. The joists, studs and floor timber exceeded the usual requirements for a building of this size, and the whole framework was heavier than any other building in the district at that time.”

That meant a big job for the men tasked with moving the building to its current site back in 1922. Brown and Sons fixed on moving the church by barge to a plot of land donated by Robert Montgomery. The Fransen and Subritzky families brought the power of their motor launches, the Oline and Vesper. Even so, it took divine intervention to get the job done.

“One of the helpers on the job was Max Dasler. He described how a winch snapped as they were rolling the church up the incline,” recounts Mr Robinson. “The

church started to roll backwards. They all held their breath in horror. All eyes turned to Mr Brown, the contractor, to see his reaction; he knelt and prayed. The movement stopped, and luckily, no damage had been done.”

For 100 years, the dedication and voluntary help from the residents of the district have maintained this taonga.

There will be a celebration on Sunday, October 30, at All Saints Mititai to mark the centenary on the site.

An uplifting production

u by Paul Campbell

A tragedy in a Welsh coal mining community might be an unlikely catalyst for local entertainment, but the Otamatea Repertory’s first production since May last year is an example of the genre.

Local identity Sheri O’Neill is directing the play, The Revlon Girl, which promises to be a definite ‘must-see’.

Eight months after the Aberfan Disaster of 1966, in which 144 people were killed, 116 of them children, a group of bereaved mothers meet weekly above a local hotel to talk, cry and even laugh without feeling guilty.

Afraid that people will think them frivolous, they’ve secretly arranged for a representative from Revlon to come and give them a talk on beauty tips. Grieving mothers, coping with the fallout of the tragic, tell a story that has moments of tenderness and loss, but it is also packed with humour and the interplay between the characters.

Sheri says The Revlon Girl, written by Welsh playwright Neil Anthony Docking

and a nominee of the prestigious Olivier Award in 2018, has at its heart the Welsh disaster.

“Still, although sorrowful and harrowing at times, the play is also humorous and uplifting.

“Despite the Welsh setting, it contains universal themes of corporate greed, small-town resilience and the strength to be found in community.

“I’m a firm believer in the cathartic role of theatre, and I’m relishing the opportunity to direct a drama as powerful as The Revlon Girl — the first production by ORT in more than a year. To sit with others in the dark and share emotion is healing and empowering, and along with the five actors, I’m greatly looking forward to sharing this brilliantly written play with a live audience.”

p A scene from The Revlon Girl production

p Mr Burgess and company, working for Brown and Sons, moved the entire kauri-built All Saints Church by barge in 1922

Council

on climate

u by Paul Campbell

“The

“Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, intense weather systems, flash floods, drought and other impacts are changing the way we live,” said the outgoing NRC CEO Malcolm Nicolson in the recently adopted annual report.

“Over the past year, the NRC, along with the three district councils, developed the Te Taitokerau Climate Adaptation Strategy, which lays out a path toward effective and aligned adaptation in the region. We are enthusiastic about the implementation of this strategy and the resiliency it will help foster as we face future challenges.”

The council is also launching a new online Natural Hazards Portal, focussing on projections and data around natural hazards and the risks they pose. Property owners, prospective property buyers, and interested members of the public now have the ability to see the hazards, and how they affect specific locations throughout the region.

NRC climate change manager Tom FitzGerald says, “we all know about climate change. Heat waves, drought,

wildfires, flooding, water shortage and sea level rise; we see it all around us, and the data tells us it’s becoming more severe and more frequent. Our world is warming, and it’s disrupting the ‘business as usual’ way we’re used to living. I’m also keen to help our coastal and riverside communities choose their own adaptation actions — sooner rather than later.

“One place this response is being piloted is the low-lying Ruawai-Raupō area in Kaipara. The area, built on former swampland, is already susceptible to flooding and will become more vulnerable as climate change bites.” ¢

Regional council’s Kaipara voice

u by Andy Bryenton

Ahead by some 200 votes as preliminary results were released, the former Federated Farmers representative says that contesting the single available Kaipara seat against his long-term friend made for a unique campaign.

“It was quite a thing to go up against Penny Smart,” says Mr Blackwell. “I have great respect for her. Having been provisionally elected, I’m meeting with the council’s chief executive soon, and I have spoken to the other members of the NRC. Things are starting to happen.”

The new councillors must meet ahead of their first meeting in the last week of October, at which they will select from among their number a chairperson. Ms Smart fulfilled that role in the outgoing NRC leadership, but Mr Blackwell says he will not put himself forward as ‘first among equals’ during his first term. Nevertheless, he believes his skills are well suited to a regional council environment.

“Working with committees and governance groups, particularly Federated Farmers, which are the second-largest policy group in New Zealand, has given me a Northland-

wide perspective,” he says. “That will be valuable, as this role requires working across the entire region.”

The first order of business for Kaipara’s voice at the NRC table will be a frank assessment of spending. He says that while the NRC has performed well in the past six years, there is still a need to go over the organisation’s finances to identify areas where rates affordability could be optimised. ¢

p NRC Climate Change manager, Tom FiztGerald backs solar power

p John Blackwell, a veteran of Federated Farmers and the Northland Field Days among many other positions of leadership, has been elected to the Northland Regional Council

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Tracking Kaipara’s seabirds History on display

u by Andy Bryenton

A new Department of Conservation initiative is tracking migratory seabirds on their way from overseas wintering grounds to local climes, identifying risks along the way.

The Kaipara Harbour supports 16 species of threatened seabirds and many more considered at risk. Many of these are seasonal visitors, returning to play a major role in the local ecosystem and food chain.

One of the biggest threats to these migratory species finding their way back to Kaipara comes from shipping and deep-ocean fisheries. Bycatch, light disorientation, overfishing of prey species and plastic pollution are all factors.

“The vastness of the open ocean means that it’s very difficult to understand this threat at sea,” says Johannes Fischer, DOC technical adviser. “Most of our knowledge comes from terrestrial studies.”

More than a third of fairy prions, fleshfooted shearwaters and sooty shearwaters encountered light pollution throughout the Pacific. Scientists found out about the issue by attaching transmitters and light detectors to a tiny harness, which

was fitted to 173 birds across seven species. The lights represent fishing fleets, container ships, and other hazards, which can put birds off course or lure them in to be accidentally killed.

“Our seabirds connect the oceans and connect Aotearoa to the rest of the world. It’s our job to protect them on their spectacular migrations,” says DOC’s chief science adviser Graham Taylor. ¢

u by Andy Bryenton

Gordon Walker has been collecting antiques since his early years, and with a recent return to west Kaipara he has taken the opportunity to open a shop specialising in the historic and beautiful.

“The amount of history we have here is so massive, and it needs to be celebrated,” says Gordon. Gordon recollects staying with family friends in Tatarariki, whose home was furnished in an ‘untouched’ completion of Victoriana and colonial furniture. When these friends sold their farm, they offered his family their choice of items to adorn their own home. It began a collecting passion that has lasted until the present day.

“Most of the things you see here come from my own collection, but there are others coming in all the time. I am pleasantly surprised with how busy I have been since opening, not just in terms of sales and people bringing me their own antique treasures, but in meeting people and talking to them about history,” says Gordon.

p Gordon Walker is the proprietor of Dargaville’s ‘oldest, newest’ shop; a treasure trove of antiques from colonial to art deco times

One future plan is to adapt another room of the store into a gallery space.

Eschewing 1950s and 1960s retro chic, this is an antique collection containing many items from a century ago and more.

Furniture, glassware and sculpture are complemented by older and contemporary artworks on the walls.

Gordon believes that the time is right for an antique shop to capitalise on a tourism renaissance and cites projects such as the Kaihu Valley cycle trail as future drivers of visitor appeal.

He’s opened his store on Victoria Street in Dargaville to be central to the action. ¢

Renovated home, large section

Dargaville

p Kaipara Refuse and Northland Waste are working together to process unwanted wood into sustainable fuel for the concrete industry

Firefighters honoured for service

u by Andy Bryenton

Dargaville’s volunteer firefighters have received a total of 15 awards between them in the annual United Fire Brigades Association honours, with at least two for families fighting fires side by side.

“There was a great turnout and large attendance for our annual awards evening,” says fire brigade spokesperson Jason Campbell.

“It’s a long-standing tradition which has been part of firefighting in New Zealand for many years. We use it as an opportunity to congratulate brigade members for their dedication.”

The UFBA has been awarding bars, pins and medals to firefighters since the dawn of the service in 1878. A representative from the association came to Dargaville last Saturday to meet with award recipients and assist in the presentation. However, two of the awards were presented differently, befitting their unique nature.

Firefighters gain a medal for their fifth year of service. This year, mother and son firefighting team Donna Powell and Baden Curel awarded their five-year accolades to each other. Similarly, Joe Searle was there to pin a five-year medal on for his daughter Aliesha. Another standout award

was a rare 40-year service medal for Brian Clune.

The awards come at the start of a busy time for firefighters when Kaipara brigades are still seeking new members. With yard work ramping up, local firefighters remind residents that a Northland Regional Council ruling means it’s no longer legal to burn rubbish within town boundaries, even in an incinerator. They ask everyone to stay safe as the dry season gets going. ¢

School reunion plan underway

u by Paul Campbell

School supporters have set out to canvass interest and intent to attend the 150th school celebrations in 2024

full planning,

response to the proposal will contribute to

events to be decided upon.

“The fact is that so many similar events elsewhere have been fully planned and prepped for but have not drawn enough interest or attendees to go ahead,” said former teacher and 150th Jubilee Committee member, Daniel Alcock

“We intend to look for expressions of interest in attending via notices on Facebook, word of mouth and getting the word out via the media. In 2024, the school turns 150 years old, and we want to celebrate with a jubilee milestone — a one-off event.”

It’s hoped to equal the 125th jubilee of 1999 and tell some of the associated histories of Maungatūroto, Maungatūroto District High, Brynderwyn, Huarau, Bickerstaffe, Tanoa, Batley, Lindum Grange, Marohemo, Te Pahi, Whakapirau and Mareretu schools.

“If enough interest is expressed then we will plan for a one-day event. Anyone who would like to contribute or assist can email jubilee@maungaturoto.school.nz, phone 09 431 8106 or text only: to 021 0238 4061,” Daniel said. ¢

p Daniel Alcock, 150th Jubilee Committee member (left) with past Maungatūroto Primary School pupil Bryce Thomas

p Firefighters Owen Cleary (left) and Lyss Mackie (right) receive honours from United Fire Brigades dignitary Mike Chubb

Weekend Weekend

Sweet treats and nostalgia

u by Andy Bryenton

Dargaville’s history

The Empire Theatre was once a huge drawcard for Dargaville. Next door to this old-fashioned picture house was a confectioner’s store that provided all of the sweet snacks a moviegoer could desire. In the heyday of the movies as prime-time entertainment, nothing could beat a double feature and a sundae or banana split in downtown Dargaville.

Now a slice of that nostalgia is coming back with a fresh look for 2022. Just in time for the summer weather, the current incarnation of the Empire name, a popular cafe, will debut an ice cream parlour and a sundae bar.

“We’ve used the original furniture and seating from the old Empire Luncheonette and given the whole space a retro, classic look,” says Kama Gilmour, who is behind this tasty new enterprise. “We plan to offer traditional ice creams, scoops and cones, sundaes and banana splits in the old-fashioned glass bowls.”

The neighbouring Empire Cafe and Eatery boasts a laid-back retro cool look, with ‘45 records as table markers and images of hot rods, classic bikes and rock ‘n’ roll era celebrities on the walls. The same vintage was the golden era of the ice cream parlour and milk bar.

As well as fitting in with the aesthetics, the colourful pastel palette of the new Empire ice cream bar is matched by its menu.

When the doors open on Labour Weekend Saturday, patrons can choose a classic cone or sundae or even a

Belgian-style crisp waffle loaded with ice cream, whipped cream and toppings. Kama says she’s on the hunt for those iconic glace cherries with a long stem to add the finishing touch.

A full freezer of Streets ice cream flavours will allow for some creative combinations.

For the first time since 1980, thanks to this new ice cream destination and the Anzac Theatre just up the road, it will be possible once again to enjoy a ‘picture show’ and a banana split in Dargaville.

To make things even more convivial, there will be a live band on-site from 10am Saturday, welcoming in this sweet new era of deliciousness. ¢

Kamas

p Kama Gilmour has worked hard to match the classic look of a 1950s ice cream parlour, making for a tasty backdrop

SHOP, EAT, PLAY LOCAL FORLabour Weekend Weekend

Sharper new look for arcade

u by Andy Bryenton

Trained as both a hairdresser and a barber, Tina Maxwell knows her way around tresses, trimming and tonsorial elegance.

Now, after a career that has seen her travel to ply her trade as far away as Western Australia the Dargaville-raised professional is back in the town of her birth, with a new shop and the offer of some old-fashioned barbering services for both men and women.

“I grew up here and went to school here, with my mum working as a nurse in the local hospital,” says Tina. “So when the opportunity arose to return, I thought I’d give this a try. I’ve had success as a barber over in Australia, and there is a growing trend for it here too.”

Distinctive from hairdressing, the art of the barber is drawn from two popular traditions; the elegant gentleman’s barbershop of old England and the progressive and soulful barbershop tradition of the east coast US. Places such as Harlem in New York gave the world trends in barbering, such as fades and precisely cut-in beards and moustaches, popularised by famous musicians and sportspeople.

One tradition from the vintage barbershop culture of yesteryear is the hottowel shave. Performed with a straight razor and accompanied by a luxurious lather, this form of shaving was popularised in the longago days of powdered wigs and ornate facial hair.

Tina has mastered this art, which she says is somewhat equivalent to a spa treatment; it’s very relaxing and good for the skin, as well as providing a contemplative bit of ‘me time’ to ease stress.

Her skills don’t end with the scissors, comb and shaving razor either. The vintage decor of her new store is handmade, with some items being crafted entirely by the proprietor to add a unique atmosphere.

“I’m what some could call a ‘have a go’ artist,” says Tina, indicating the two large

copper, brass and upcycled wood mirror frames dominating her McKay Arcade store. “I have more plans along those lines as an expansion in the future, but more will be revealed when I’ve settled in as a local barber.” ¢

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p Tina Maxwell brings 25 years of experience in the arts of the traditional and modern barber to her new enterprise in Dargaville

Awa blues by the muddy river

u by Andy Bryenton

Grant Haua is coming to Dargaville

The ex-member of blues-roots band Swamp Thing is a proponent of a soulful kind of music tracing its lineage to the Mississippi delta and the bluesmen of the golden era, as well as the great ‘guitar preachers’ of the mid-20th century. Taking those influences and blending them with a large infusion of Kiwi sensibilities and Māori heritage, Grant is out on tour, and he’s bringing his brand of the blues to Dargaville.

“Grant wants the audiences at his show to feel like they’re guests in his home and like the songs, his home is pretty simple but it’s warm, cosy and friendly. So welcome. This is his place. Kia ora koutou,” says concert promoter, Simon Vare.

Graham Reid of Elsewhere Magazine made the comparison to classic artists like Taj Mahal, JJ Cale and Stevie Ray, but

there are many more layers to this man’s sound, and seasoned blues fans will note all kinds of influences. Grant is taking his Awa Blues tour to 35 locations around the country. Many of them, like Dargaville, are small towns where entertaining friends and family with an old acoustic guitar is a way of life.

“I picked up guitar when I was 13. My younger brother had got one for Christmas the year before, and I noticed he was already starting to pull chicks at our school,” says Grant in a biographic flashback.

“I said to myself, ‘damn, I need to get me some of that’, but unfortunately for me, my brother was a better looker and player than me, so it didn’t work out as well as I had planned. Nevertheless, I’ve been playing ever since. I’ve been the primary singer, songwriter and guitarist on

river to the Northern Wairoa.

seven studio albums over the years, five of them over the last nine years.”

In 2016 Grant and percussionist Michael Barker, together as Swamp Thing, went to the heartland of the blues in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as guests of the local arts society.

He says that the challenge of playing among ‘killer’ musicians steeped in the heritage of the blues helped him flex

his musical muscles, and by the end of the tour, Swamp Thing was the talk of the town.

That energy and virtuosity are a big part of Grant’s solo performance. Crowds will enjoy a unique and soulful musical experience this Thursday, October 20, when he takes the stage in Dargaville. Tickets are on sale now at Matich’s seafood restaurant in Dargaville. ¢

p Grant Haua is coming to Dargaville for a one-night live performance at the Anzac Theatre photo by Sally Garner

The wild season

u by Liz Clark

Despite the term, they aren’t really wild as such. Still, the dense display of colour and the sound of bees buzzing from flower to flower on a warm, sunny day is rather enjoyable. Wildflower plantings provide a temporary but stunning display. They’re there for just a season, then will need replacing.

Most wildflowers are sun lovers and need at least four to five hours of sunshine each day to thrive. Choose a site where the plants will benefit the most from the light. At the same time, ensure it’s not going to be where a lawn mower will turn your emerging

seedlings into fertiliser for the grass.

Wildflowers are temporary, so a garden can be made in one part of the lawn. The shape of the space depends on taste. It can be a simple square in the middle of a grassed area or even serpentine in form. It’s also a great way to start a new garden and plant with other species later.

First, mark out the space chosen for the wildflower garden using string and pegs for a formal bed or the garden hose to create curves for a less traditional look. To save all that digging, put down several layers

of thick cardboard, followed by a few layers of wet newspaper. These will prevent unwanted weeds from popping up between the other plants. It will also encourage earthworm activity. Cardboard and newspaper break down into the soil without leaving any toxic residue.

Next, put down a generous amount of compost and good-quality topsoil, then use a rake to distribute evenly. Mix your wildflower seeds with flour or coloured play sand so you know where they’ve been placed on the seed bed. The seeds need to be in

contact with the soil to germinate. Ensure the planting bed is moist before planting. Gently water the seeds each day to prevent drying out. Slugs and snails love seedlings, no matter the species. Lay some bait down to save waking up the following day to your wildflower garden looking like the mower has been through it.

Your wildflower garden will still need regular watering and weeding, regardless of the label. After flowering, trim back lightly to encourage another flush of growth and more flowers.

A weekend of possibilities

by Amy Fifita

With Labour Weekend coming soon,

an adventure.

There are various spots to visit in New Zealand to enjoy, with the click of a mouse or swipe of a finger. The preference lies with you. Jump districts and enjoy the beauty of the Hokianga or for a more fastpaced experience, go to Paihia.

You could travel south towards the big cities and all the opportunities for fun or relaxation they hold. See what events or competitions are happening that alert your interest and make it happen. Book a flight and travel to New Zealand’s many

a

make it pay off

places of interest. Hit one of the various wine trails dotted across the country. If you plan it for Saturday, you’ll have two days to recover. It is a benefit not always on offer for earlier Labour Day celebrators when it was on the second Wednesday of October.

The options are boundless if you fly to your chosen destination. Try something new that has always intrigued you — skydiving, bungee jumping, renting a supercar or anything that gets your heart

p Do something you find exciting this Labour Weekend and take advantage of what New Zealand has to offer

racing. See what events are happening during the weekend or go on a tour, view a gallery, learn at a museum or party at a concert. Attend popular attractions like the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and discover some of our nation’s history or explore the Auckland Zoo.

For outdoor lovers, take the boat out or convince your friend who owns one to have a fishing weekend. Maybe, buddy up for a trek through native bushland or go on a hunting exhibition. For people keen

on some mess, get some mud on your wheels and go four-wheel-driving or take the quad or dirt bike for a drive on a track.

Create memories with family or friends and check in to a hotel or visit other relatives or people around the country. They might be able to give you hints at what to buy them for the oncoming Christmas season.

Once suggestions are acquired, take advantage of the Labour Day deals and have an excuse to shop. ¢

Get away this Labour dayGet away this Labour day

Labour of art

u by Amy Fifita

“It has recently been refreshed with lovely new artwork. The gallery has a wide range of quality arts and crafts for sale, all created by talented Kaipara artists and crafters,” says secretary Lorraine Littler.

The gallery has an eclectic range of items, such as sewn goods, candles, jewellery, masks, croquet, photography and mosaics. The artistry on display is made by Kaipara artists.

“It’s a great place for finding something different for yourself or a gift, and worth a visit with Christmas just around the corner.

“There are various styles and different things that appeal to different people. It is uplifting when someone buys your art and inspires you to create more.”

Janice Booth and Stu Robertson started the gallery in Paparoa in 2015.

Their goal was to make a space available for local creatives to showcase their work and make a profit.

Following its initial venue undergoing alterations, White Rock moved to Matakohe next to the Kauri Museum,

where it had much tourist attention. It relocated to its current venue in 2021.

“Moving to Ruawai has been good for the gallery. Our members are a friendly bunch of people, and we support and encourage each other to build on our arts and crafts.”

Members adding to the collection of items work two shifts a month. The gallery is volunteer-run and takes 20 per cent to help cover operation costs. Once every two or three months, they get together to catch up.

The gallery has various people in the community who help with some finances. When they moved to Ruawai, one friend of the gallery, who would like to remain anonymous, paid its year’s rent.

“Many of our members have been with us for the whole six and a half years, and we are always looking for new members. We have 22 artists and crafters who put their paintings and crafts forward to be sold.”

Opening hours are between 10am and 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday and

We make sure our tree dwellers live the high life.

Orangutans and siamangs are arboreal animals so the High Canopy habitat (up to 25m above the ground!) enables them to behave and move as they would in the wild.

Part of our new South East Asia Jungle Track

your ticket today at aucklandzoo.co.nz

p Mosaic artist Jan McLeod (left) and flax weaver Geraldine Jenkins

11am to 3pm on Sunday at 8 Freyberg Road, Ruawai. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram under White Rock Gallery NZ.

People interested in joining can enquire at the gallery, phone 021 2508 613 or email whiterockgallerynz@gmail.

com. There is an annual subscription of $25 and a monthly membership fee of $12.

“If you are not an artist or crafter and would like to be involved with the gallery in other ways, please get in touch as we welcome gallery friends.” ¢

Take the opportunity this long weekend to explore your artistic insight at Ruawai’s White Rock Gallery.

Emissions scheme ‘gut wrenching’ say farmers

Such investors have already turned swathes of arable land into unproductive forestry, with the profits going overseas.

“We know we have a role to play in addressing climate change, and our farmers are among the first to feel the effects of it,” says Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair Andrew Morrison. “However, if farmers are to face a price for their agricultural emissions from 2025, it is vital they get proper recognition for the genuine sequestration happening on their farms.”

Critics of the scheme opine that if all on-farm carbon-sequestering life was counted, including orchards, shelter belts, wetlands, riparian planting, pasture, crops and areas of bush, then carbon neutrality may already have been reached on many farms.

Dairy New Zealand chair Jim Van Der Poel emphasises the positives, while his organisation says there is still work to do to reach a consensus and an emissions scheme that works for all.

“The government has accepted a lot of what farmers told us was important to them during our sector consultation earlier this year,” said Mr van der Poel.

“This includes a farm-level levy and a split-gas approach that prices biogenic methane separately. Recognising that its warming impact differs from that of long-lived gases, such as carbon dioxide. It is still proposed that any revenue generated through emissions pricing will be reinvested back into the sector to support research and development and incentivise action on-farm, that will reduce emissions; this is significant for farmers too.”

The rhetoric is far more firey on social media, with farming advocacy campaigners calling this the final betrayal of the Kiwi farmer and a manual on ‘how to destroy New Zealand food production’. Protests involving civil disobedience and direct action, like those often experienced in France and the Netherlands, are already being discussed by more radical groups.

National Party leader Chris Luxon has fronted a press conference in which he said that a National-majority government would look at repealing any

legislation introduced in line with the emissions scheme draft now out for public consultation.

p Prime minister Jacinda Ardern and her ministers for climate change and the environment have received sharp criticism on the proposed carbon emissions scheme for farms, set for 2025

Hydrogen hybrid power

u by Andy Bryenton

Electrical hybrid systems for road cars

partnership

However, what about those scenarios where electricity isn’t the answer? The government found to its detriment last year that electric utes are not on the horizon for some time, and the cost to get into them could top the $100,000 mark. Hydrogen offers an alternative and may prove better than batteries for heavy machinery and tractors, but the infrastructure is growing slowly, despite heroic efforts by major players in the field.

“I’ve always been told that I look outside the square,” says Leigh Bason, a member of the Tūaropaki Trust. The trust has partnered with Japan’s Obayashi corporation to produce hydrogen in the Waikato.

“For the country to change everything from diesel to an alternative fuel quickly would be unaffordable. We’re developing hydrogen, but our CEO reckons it may take another decade to have full coverage all around New Zealand. I have been thinking about the intervening time and about rural New Zealand.”

With this in mind, Leigh has teamed up with a new venture known as Hydrogenago. Engineer Mike Scott is also on board, and his design for a unit which allows a conventional engine to be ‘hydrogen hybridised’ could be a steppings stone

allowing for greater fuel economy and slashed emissions in the Kiwi heartland, where diesel is still king.

Some readers will be familiar with under-the-hood mild hydrogen systems, which appeared many years ago in mechanical and automotive magazines. This is not simply another of those. Using a chemical catalyst and electrical current to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen, the small, stainless steel unit delivers hot-burning hydrogen gas into the air and fuel mix, making diesels run cleaner and more efficiently.

Mike has fitted Hydrogenago systems to utes, tractors, and cars, achieving an average 25% fuel saving and cutting back emissions at the exhaust.

The biggest truck fitted with a double unit was a 16-litre engined rig, and there are plans afoot to fit Hydrogenago systems to big construction and earthmoving machines as well. This is hydrogen hybridisation without the need for hydrogen at the pump, and best of all, it’s both WOF legal for the road and affordable. Mike and Leigh can supply a system for approximately $2,000 depending on its application, which sits well under the cost of a new hydrogen or even hybrid road car, let alone a tractor or truck. Early adopters and testers insist

the fuel savings are substantial. The fact that Leigh, a prime mover in hydrogen fuel supply, is an enthusiastic partner makes this a serious proposition for fleet operators and diesel drivers. The

next phase for this Kiwi-made product is to ramp up production as more people switch on to a solution that hits high diesel prices hard, with no waiting for technology to progress. ¢

p Mike Scott and Leigh Bason have fitted a hydrogen hybrid system to this workaday Holden ute, which can now cover the distance between Hamilton and Dargaville, with a trailer, on $45 of fuel

Warning on cultivation rules

u by Paul Campbell

Northland Regional Council

Council regulatory services manager

Colin Dall says rules cover the disturbance of earth by machinery for planting, replanting, tending or harvesting pasture or crops. It includes blading, contour ploughing, ripping, mounding, stepping, contouring, bunding and sediment control measures associated with the activity. It does not include direct drilling, which can be done closer to water bodies without resource consent.

Mr Dall says anyone preparing the land to plant pasture or grow crops like maize should be aware of the rules in the Proposed Regional Plan.

These include a requirement for resource consent for land preparation on erosion-prone land or in the catchment of any of Northland’s 20 outstanding lakes or dune lakes with outstanding or high ecological value.

Rules can be found on the council’s website. Mr Dall says these are in place to protect water bodies from the adverse effects of sedimentation that can occur when soil is eroded from ploughed or tilled

land after rain and before it’s established with pasture or crops.

Regional council staff had encountered, and in some cases, members of the public had reported, a number of alleged breaches of the setback rule in many parts of the region in the last cultivation season.

In most cases, the council suspected people were trying to maximise the use of highly-fertile alluvial land and may be unaware of the setback rules; however, ignorance was not an excuse.

The council says, where possible, it preferred to educate rather than prosecute.

However, given the rules had been in place for about 15 years, those breaching them in future were likely to find the council would take a dimmer view, opting for enforcement over education, particularly with those who had already been advised of the rules.

Penalties for breaching the rules include an abatement or infringement notices of up to $750 or, if the circumstances warrant, possible prosecution action. ¢

p Colin Dall — NRC regulatory services manager

A dog’s tail … Boss has werds on politicks

“Hear we go again, Dog — hammer the blimmin’ farmer again.” Me ana Boss was doing a last lambin’ beat in case of some stragglers ina back paddicks, an’ we took time out fer a wee sit down ona Big Red Quod before headin’ down fer smoko.

I give Boss a ‘wot’ look, an’ he give me a pat. “Yassee Dog, that blimmin’ govmint thinks it’s a big player ona werld stage, an’ we gonna be the first place ina werld to have a tax on cow farts.”

Well readas, I hada think about that, an’ decided his gerlfren’ Sharlene mite have a better ansa why Boss was so wurried. So, after we headed back downa cattle race to the woolshed an’ cuppatees, Boss tole her the same thing, an’ Sharlene was reel quick ona uptake.

“Yep Deah, this govmint gonna be into political suicide I reckin. She hada papa, she musta got atta kattil stop atta road gate herself, an’ she red in her skoolteacha voice:

“Government-proposed taxing the greenhouse gases that farm animals make from burping and peeing as part of a plan to tackle climate change. The levy will be a world-first, and farmers should be able to recoup the cost by charging more for climate-friendly products. But Federated Farmers said farmers will be selling up so fast you won’t even hear the dogs barking on the back of the ute as they drive off. The plan would ‘rip the guts out of small-town New Zealand’, and see farms replaced with trees.”

“Yep,” seda Boss. “I reckin this lot in Wullington just smokin’ up the issues. Health system is busted, there’s not houses they reckined they’d build, roads are a mess, they want to take over the

water. Mine you, that Winnie and Shane having a big meetin’ about comin’ back nek ‘lections to try and stick us back ona evin keel.”

Sharlene was doin’ sumthing wiv her phone an’ she lookt at it an’ sed: “It’s estimated that the global energy sector puts around 135 million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere — mainly from Russia, China and the US. Our cows? I wonda wot elephants do in Afrika? C’mon!”

The Boss was lookin’ ata papa, an’ he give a big snort. Fer a minnit I thort maybe a kattil beest hada fart behind tha woolshed, but Boss said, “it just goes on,” and gived the papa to Sharlene. An’ she red some more.

“Transport Minister Michael Wood says that over the last three years, almost $45 million has been spent on speed management plans, investigating and making changes to speed limits. The money also helped pay for extensive stakeholder engagement, iwi and community consultation.”

“There ya go agen,” seda Boss. “Time for a change. Roll on the ‘lections nek year, and it’ll be good to see Winston and Shane back in action. They call a spade a spade.”

I was wonderin’ what spades hada do with all this, but also about speedin offa farm ona back ofa ute. Teller yer wot

readas, bark? You will here me loud and clear if it that ever happens. Wotch this space, eh. See ya.

Billy

FARMING

Farm, camera — action

u by Amy Fifita

Many experiences have become virtual in the past few challenging years for tourism, including authentic farm experiences that have starred as a popular pick worldwide.

The online world brings an opportunity for farmers to make a sideline by inviting the world in comfort and showing them your normality. Children, adults and corporations have flocked to their screens to see what farm life is about, although some might be there to marvel at the cute factor of the animals.

One person leading by example is Airbnb Host Award winner Arthur Chin who recently won in the Most Magical Experience category. He runs New Zealand Nature Highlights in Palmerston North, which started in June 2020. Following his online success, he started Curation to guide others into the technological space.

“In 2019, we had 3.8 million visitors to New Zealand. We generated about $40 billion, which is incredible, but, it is less than 0.01 per cent of the world population. The demand on traffic and roading is not sustainable,” says Arthur.

“Why not make use of online experiences?

More than 80 per cent of the world population owns a mobile phone and has internet access. If just one per cent of the population signs up for an online experience, that equates to 77.5 million opportunities. If everyone pays $20 for one experience in their lifetime, it equates to $1.5 billion to tourism

p Arthur Chin started his online farm tours in 2020 and, from that, started his business Curation promoting the virtual experience operators. You can make extra money; you don’t have to deal with visitors going places they physically shouldn’t be. No one should moan that it is not good for the environment either. In fact, it has little to no carbon footprint.

“It is a cool concept, and using technology helps reconceptualise farm tours, which is one of the oldest products New Zealand has. It is regenerative, and we don’t generate any carbon footprint.”

Operators get to design their content, and being online means time is unbounded, and you can host any time of the day. Hopefully, it will give farmers another way to showcase their hard work, good practices, animals and New Zealand’s scenery. Make some extra income or educate people about what happens on a farm. It is not super technical and can be done with an internet connection, a mobile phone and perhaps some accessories to make it easier. ¢

Crowning the king of tractors

u by Andy Bryenton

The competition is hot, and the rivalry fierce,

judges in Milan, Italy.

Milan is more famous for judging the cutting-edge of fashion. Still, since 1998, an international panel of agricultural implement specialists and critics has met in Europe to decide which of the next model year’s tractors is a cut above the rest. This year, the announcement of finalists was made back in July, as manufacturers debuted their future tech for the next season and judges put them through their paces.

On November 9, at the huge EIMA International trade show and expo, the top machines will receive their awards, setting up a year of excellent publicity and sales for the front runners. New Zealand tractor dealerships eagerly await the news, as a top award in Europe translates to serious bragging rights across all of the national field days and rural show events.

The contenders are lining up with a variety of core points, which they hope will gain the gold. There are five tractors in the race for the best overall machine. JCB is a surprise entry with the Fastrac 4220 iCON. The famous manufacturer of construction machinery has stepped up with a speedy tractor boasting impressive horsepower. John Deere’s 8RX 410 weighs in as a giant of the plains, able to handle the biggest implements with

ease, and the option of geometric treads aids floatation over the soil to cut back on compaction.

Valtra is represented by the advanced Q305, offering driver comfort and cuttingedge digital technology as well as power.

Fendt is also very active in this space, with its Vario DP Gen 7 flying the flag for a model range, which has already won tractor of the year in previous iterations.

New Holland’s T7 300 also comes from an award-winning range. It boasts upgrades in power, comfort and efficiency, presenting as an all-around heavy-duty tractor suitable for multiple roles.

Three utility tractors compete for the title in the ‘lighter weight’ division, which is always keenly observed by Kiwi farmers. These mid-size machines are the backbone of local farming.

While the monsters of the open fields will sell well in places like Australia and the US, it’s these three which typify the local experience.

McCormick’s X6 414 P6-Drive goes head-to-head with the New Holland T5 100 S in the utility category, and both excel as all-rounders. The third name in the utility face-off is the Basak Traktor 5120, a Turkish-made offering from a company going back as far as 1914. Its

p John Deere’s 8RX is up for the top award in farming machinery, the title of Tractor of the Year — but the competition is tough indeed utility tractor has already placed well at the German IF Industrial Design Awards, which recognises clever engineering.

Add to this a selection of specialist tractors for tasks as varied as steep hillside mowing, orchard spraying, olive

grove tending and vineyard operations, and the competition for the title of Tractor of the Year is going to be fierce. All of the contenders are well worth a closer look just for the prestige of reaching the final cut.

Things to check before reporting a FAULT

• Have the fuses or circuit breakers on your switchboard tripped?

• Does your neighbour have power?

If they don’t then there may be a network fault.

If they do, the fault may be in your internal wiring or service line.

• Check the Northpower website for any current outages.

To report a fault, call Northpower on 0800 10 40 40. They will also be able to inform you if there is a fault in your area.

Some outages will last longer than others

Outages may last longer if it is dark or the weather is causing danger, access to the fault is limited, a storm has caused damage in multiple areas, the damage is severe, or if fault responders are busy.

Safety first!

Latest

&

Our priority is safety and we will be working as hard as we can to get the power back on as soon as possible.

Remember to treat all power lines as live at all times and stay clear!

Who pays

You will be liable for the repair costs if;

• The fault is on your service line.

• You caused the damage to the Northpower network.

What to do in an outage

Keep your fridge and freezer closed to help them stay cold.

• Turn off sensitive electronic equipment and unplug from the power sockets.

• If you or a family member, friend or neighbour is medically dependent on power, arrange to get to a hospital or other place that is safe.

Find out about Power Outages

If you are experiencing a power cut go to northpower.com (on your mobile device) to check the latest information and updates on outages. If your outage is not showing on the website, please call 0800 10 40 40

Been advised of an upcoming planned outage?

Charge all devices before the estimated start time of the outage.

• Be aware that your internet is likely to also be disconnected without power.

• If your water supply requires a pump, fill the bath with water and fill drinking water bottles and flasks for hot drinks.

• Check you have gas for your BBQ.

If you have an automatic garage door opener please park your car outside prior to the outage.

If you have a planned outage notification, you can check if this is still going ahead by clicking on the Planned Outages tab here. For large outages we also post the information and updates on our Northpower facebook page.

Fibre outperforms

The recent Measuring Broadband Performance New Zealand (MBNZ) report from the Commerce Commission spotlights broadband performance, with fibre broadband plans testing significantly faster than fixed wireless broadband, ADSL and VDSL. The fibre optic connection showed consistent performance for both 24/7 and peak time speeds.

‘By providing greater transparency around the performance of different plans and providers, MBNZ helps ensure New Zealanders have the right information to make informed decisions about their broadband needs.” says Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson

MBNZ is a report produced by SamKnows, a leader in global internet performance measurement. The data in the Winter 22 report was collected between 1 May – 31 May this year, and provides independent information across different providers, plans and technologies. The report is an independent resource for consumers, helping them to make the best broadband choice for their needs.

“We are thrilled to see that independent research has confirmed fibre broadband is number one in terms of performance. We are proud to be enabling connectivity through fibre technology in the region.” says Darren Mason, COO Northpower Fibre.

Northpower Fibre supporting digital education

Northpower Fibre is a proud sponsor of the Taitokerau Education Trust, who are actively transforming the futures of children and young people in Tai Tokerau. They provide digital devices and internet connectivity to support education at home and beyond the classroom, to create digital equality for students Northland.

The Trust provides an interest-free option for whanau to purchase a learning device for tamariki, and provides additional support for the whanau to ensure scholars are safe online, and know how to use and care for their devices. For families without an internet connection, the Trust supports them a get a connection at home.

Northpower Firbe’s Darren Mason commented

“We are so pleased to partner with Taitoekrau Education Trust and see our investment impacting on the lives of tamariki across Northland”.

The ImpactLab good measure report (May 2022), which measures social impact in dollar terms to help understand how the programme is helping to change lives for the better, confirmed that for every $1 invested in the programme there is a social return of $3.70.

A 60th celebration success

u by Paul Campbell

“It was simply phenomenal. At one stage, I had a dozen people wanting attention,” was the comment from one stallholder at The Kauri Museum’s 60th birthday open day last Saturday.

There was an official estimate of 1,200 visitors taking advantage of free entry and a myriad of activities and displays, ranging from painting rocks, polishing gum, quilting lessons, kite flying displays, as well as special museum exhibits and competitions and much more.

Museum director Barbara Hilden said the officially dubbed Kauri Heritage Festival “was an outstanding success.

“Large crowds attended the day in and around the museum. From around 11.30am until 1pm, we were pretty full,

and it was really satisfying to see so many locals and visitors enjoying the hard work of the staff, volunteers and exhibitors and coming together to celebrate the museum’s birthday.”

The museum was opened in 1962 as a one-room display of local family-collected pioneer bric-a-brac and furniture when local produce was also sold to visitors to help with funds. Today it has created a worldwide reputation as a memorial to the kauri history of New Zealand as it continues to grow in size and stature. ¢ p A splash of colour at a plant stall

p Kites soared above the museum skies

p The packed museum Volunteers Hall with stalls and displays became standing room only

MATAKOHE

Two

the Price of

hectares of rolling pasture with a well presented three bedroom family home with a large covered deck,

two bedroom cottage, large workshop, plus woolshed and yards - all in good order. The homes are set back

the road, giving you privacy and uninterrupted rural outlook. Centrally situated rural location. The land is

for sheep, beef, horses or alpacas and includes a large dam for summer water. A fabulous place for extended family. Call us to view this sweet little block.

Big Shed - Big Vision

DARGAVILLE

barn

old

this don't come onto the market often, with land that would suit cropping, grazing, or just

Blocks

October

Twilight Bowls at Dargaville Bowling Club — 19 October and 2, 16 and 30 November. Starts 5.45pm $10 pp (includes light meal), full bar available. Teams of Three. Great for family, business house, workplace groups or individuals to be drawn into a team. Casual dress, flat soled shoes and bowls available for use. Contact Ray King 021 337 072 or Ron Bishop 027 535 7214.

Tangiteroria Trail Bike Ride — 23rd October 7.30am start at 544 Pukehuia Road. See Facebook page for more information.

Halloween Ball — 29th October 6pm start at The Boat Shed, Te Kopuru, with DJs Dr Bigstuff and Kirsty “Chainsaw” Hargreaves. 80s’ theme, spot prizes, Best Costume, Best Jack-O-Lantern. R18 Event.

All Saints church Mititai 100 yr celebration since church barged across NW River 1922 — Sunday 30th October service 10.30am followed by catered lunch $30 pp at Arapohue A&P hall. Bookings essential to Pauline 09 439 0006 or email allsaintschurchmititai@ gmail.com by 20th October.

EMA Spring Briefing — 31st October 1pm to 3.30pm at Sportsville, Memorial Park, Logan Street, Dargaville — Free event. Economic outlook, changes in Employment Law and more. All Welcome. Reserve your seat by emailing michael.turner@ema.co.nz.

November

Dargaville Bowling Club Quiz Night — 5th November 6.30pm for 7pm. $10 per person, teams are drawn. Limited to 12 tables of six. Mystery prizes, raffles, light supper, bar facilities. Call or text Ron Bishop 027 535 7214 or Lyn Curac 09 439 8954 or Terry Beazley 021 115 4640.

Family Funday at Kai Iwi Lakes — 6th November — book the day — more details to follow.

Dargaville Dalmatian Cultural Club Horse Trek 12th November $40 per adult $20 for under 16 year olds. 10am sharp start. Contact Tamara (via Messenger) at 021 134 4416 or email pixiehorton4@ gmail.com.

Tane Wahine Tu Kaha — 12 November 2022 at Rangitane Hall, Pouto. Fundraiser for Pouto School. Contact Josephine Nathan.

Pouto School Annual Horse Trek — 26 & 27 November — 2 day trek. $250 per rider, $100 per spectator includes meals and entertainment. All inquiries email admin@pouto.school.nz, phone 09 439 5251 or txt inquiries to 027 439 5253.

December

2022 Dargaville Lions Christmas Parade — 3rd December at noon in Victoria Street CBD. Get your float design organised NOW. Registration forms at Dargaville Library and Dargavile PostShop. Great prizes for $25 entry fee. Theme Storybook Christmas.

Silver Fern Farms Whanau Day — 3rd December at Selwyn Park, Dargaville after the Christmas Parade. Free entry to the Pool and free kai. Lots of fund activities for all the whanau.

The Almighty Wild West Fest — New years Eve. West Coast Road, Kaipara.

Markets

Dargaville Twilight Market — Last Friday of each month, 5.30pm–7pm. Northern Wairoa Boating Club, Totara Street.

Kaihu Hall Market — 3rd Saturday each month 10am–noon. Phone Robin 09 439 4878.

Monthly Market — 1st Saturday of each month — 8am–noon — at the Kaipara Community Centre, Hokianga Road (opposite the Town Hall).

Paparoa Artisan Market — 4th Sunday monthly 12–4pm. Paparoa Memorial Hall.

Paparoa Farmers’ Market — Every Saturday 9am –12pm. Genuine local produce, vegetables, seafood, olive oils, meats, patisserie, plants and more. Village Green, Paparoa.

Te Kopuru Market — Every Saturday 12.30pm–3.30pm at Te Kopuru Community Hall.

Club/Organisation

57 Squadron (Dargaville) Air Training Corps — Mondays 6pm–8pm at the Dargaville Aero Club. For boys and girls aged 13–18 years Phone Gordon 021 262 0547.

Arapohue Tennis Club — Starts Monday 24th October 6.15pm onwards at A&P Showgrounds. Contact Raewyn 09 439 2152 or Sue 09 439 2154.

Alcoholics Anonymous — Dargaville AA meetings held at The Lighthouse Church, cnr Normanby & Parore Sts. Use Parore St entrance. Monday 4.30pm & Thursday 7.30pm Contact Bernie 027 212 2148, Ladies 020 4082 1373, Murray 09 439 5248.

Alzheimer’s ‘Carer’ Support Group — Contact Maxine on 021 153 5674.

Baylys & Beyond Gardeners — All welcome, 2nd Monday of each month, Garden ramble, shared lunch, trading table phone 021 063 3444.

Dargaville Aero Club — Learn to fly, free of tuition charges, Gyrocopter, Texan, Stork. Contact Peter 09 439 1628 for further info.

Dargaville Bowling Club Tuesday Bowls — Names by 9.30am, start 10am, finish 2.30pm. Contact Ray King 09 439 5509.

Dargaville Contract Bridge Club — Tuesdays 12.45pm and Thursday 6.45pm at the Kiosk, Memorial Park, Logan St, Dargaville. dargavillebridge@gmail.com or phone Peter 09 439 2437 or 022 405 6439.

Dargaville Embroidery Group — 3rd Tuesday of the month 10am–2pm. Phone Rosemary 09 439 0656.

Dargaville Floral Art Club — Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1pm at The Lighthouse Church, Cnr Normanby & Parore Sts, Dargaville. Enquiries to Dawn Donald 09 439 5413.

Dargaville Friendship Club — meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10am at the NW Boating Club. For info phone Phyllis 09 439 6681.

Dargaville Games Club — 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at the Dargaville Scout Hall, Onslow St, 6pm–9pm.

Dargaville Girls Brigade — For girls 5–15 years. Thursdays after school — 3.30–5pm held at The Lighthouse Church. Contact Pauline Taylor 021 263 7446 or 09 439 7505.

Dargaville Mainly Music — Interactive music and movement for preschoolers and their carers. Wednesdays 10am Baptist church, Victoria St, during term time. Contact Rebecca 021 969 626.

Dargaville Menz Shed — is open Tuesday and Thursday each week from 10am to 3pm and Saturday mornings from 10am to noon. New members are welcome. For more info phone Paul 027 459 3098 or Brian 09 439 6175.

Dargaville Museum — Open every day except Christmas Day and Anzac morning 9–4 until Labour Day then 9–5 until Easter. Volunteers, visitor hosts and members welcome. Phone 09 439 7555.

Dargaville Scout Group — For boys and girls aged 5–99 years at 23 Onslow St. All info on door or phone Johnnita 027 296 5889.

Grandparents raising grandchildren — First Tuesday of every month except during school holidays. Noon at Whanau focus, Victoria St, Dargaville (next to bakehouse). Contact Sandy dargaville@grg.org.nz or 021 044 6214.

Hikuwai O Kaipara Waka Ama Club — Meet at the NW Boating Club 5pm Mondays and Thursdays from 5pm for Awa training.

Kaipara Heritage Machinery Club — Open and operating Wednesday and Saturday. New members and volunteers welcome. Something to interest both men and women, come and get involved. Phone 09 439 7108 or 09 439 4614.

Kumarani Productions, Circus Jam — Wednesdays 5.30–7.30pm at Circus Kumarani, 15 Onslow St through school terms only. Gold coin donation.

Lions Club of Ruawai — Meets 3rd Thursday of the month (social night) at the Sports Club and 1st Thursday of the month (business meeting). For more info contact 09 439 2029 or 09 439 2557.

Lions Dargaville — Meeting 2nd Wednesday of the month in Lions Den, Hokianga Road. Contact John for more information 09 439 5937.

Mt Wesley Angels — Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at Old Mt Wesley Cemetery to preserve, record and care for this historic cemetery. Wear suitable footwear, bring water, gardening gloves and a friend.

Northern Wairoa Country Music Club — 1st Sunday of the month at the Scout Hall, 23 Onslow Street 1–4pm. Enquiries to Bruce 09 439 5513.

Northern Wairoa Genealogy Society — Learn how to trace your family history or DNA at the Research Rooms, Dargaville Museum, 4th Sunday of each months 12.30–2pm OR attend our monthly meetings on the 4th Sunday of the month from 2pm–4pm. Phone Sue 021 608 606.

Northern Wairoa Indoor Bowls Assn — Starts at 7pm Mondays at Anglican Church Hall, Tuesdays at Ruawai-Tokatoka Hall, Wednesdays at Dalmatian Hall. For more info contact Warren Younger 027 478 5102 or evenings 09 439 6155.

NZ 60s Up Movement — Dargaville Social Meetings held at the Lighthouse Function Centre on 1st Tuesday of the month. Contact President Margaret Pinny 09 439 4560.

Peggy Purls in our Community — Every 3rd Wednesday 10.30am at Dargaville Sewing and Curtain Centre, 59 Normanby St. Ring Charlene 09 439 6120.

Pono Lodge Yoga — Pono Lodge, 41 Hokianga Road, Dargaville. Mondays: Hatha Flow 5.30pm, Yin 7pm. Tuesdays: Body Focus 9.30am. For more info contact Anisha 021 301 860 or see our Facebook page Dargaville Yoga.

RSA Women’s Section — Social meeting held at the Clubrooms, 4th Monday of the month. Contact Secretary/Treasurer Betty Bruce 09 439 4344.

SeniorNet Dargaville — Drop-in every Tuesday 10am–2pm (except school holidays) for help with technology and internet banking. KCC 38 Hokianga Rd.

Stepping Out Leisure Marching Team — Tuesday 4pm–5pm at the Dargaville Town Hall. Contact Sharon 027 439 5634 or 09 439 5634 for more details. Vaccine Passport required.

Stitches and Craft — 5 Cranley St, Dargaville. 10am–4pm Tuesday and Friday Contact Lois 027 473 0598 for further details.

Strength & Conditioning — Baylys Beach Community Centre — Mondays and Fridays. Small class groups. 10am–11am $10 per session. If you’re 50+ and want to improve your movement as you age — this is the class for you. With some commitment you can gain strength as you condition your body for aging. Call Tony 022 311 8447.

Wednesday Crafts — Every Wednesday 10am. Morning tea and lunch will be served. Variety of crafts. The Kiosk at Memorial Park. All welcome. $7 per session Contact Judy 027 316 3940.

POUTO POINT

DAY HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

WED 19 5:42am (2.5m) 11:53am (1.2m) 6:28pm (2.6m)

THU 20 12:49am (1.2m) 7:02am (2.5m) 1:10pm (1.2m) 7:40pm (2.7m)

FRI 21 1:56am (1.1m) 8:11am (2.6m) 2:16pm (1.0m) 8:37pm (2.8m)

SAT 22 2:49am (0.9m) 9:04am (2.8m) 3:09pm (0.9m) 9:23pm (3.0m)

SUN 23 3:35am (0.7m) 9:49am (3.0m) 3:53pm (0.7m) 10:06pm (3.2m)

MON 24 4:17am (0.5m) 10:31am (3.2m) 4:35pm (0.5m) 10:46pm (3.3m)

25 4:57am (0.4m) 11:11am (3.3m) 5:16pm (0.4m) 11:26pm (3.4m)

MANGAWHAI HEADS

(1.0m) 5:16pm (2.2m) 11:25pm (1.0m)

SAT 22 5:45am (2.1m) 11:48am (0.9m) 6:05pm (2.2m)

SUN 23 12:14am (0.8m) 6:37am (2.2m) 12:36pm (0.8m) 6:51pm (2.3m)

MON 24 12:59am (0.7m) 7:25am (2.3m) 1:20pm (0.7m) 7:35pm (2.4m)

TUE 25 1:43am (0.6m) 8:09am (2.5m) 2:03pm (0.5m) 8:19pm (2.5m)

Dargaville

PUZZLE

Sudoku

ACROSS: 1 Put up or shut up, 8 Ambush, 14 Deter, 15 Bulletin, 16 Amorous, 17 Crime, 18 Ego, 19 Clothes, 21 Acetylene, 22 Devour, 25 Pythagoras, 27 Uncle Sam, 28 Devoid, 31 Apollo, 33 Crooked, 34 Acquit, 35 Stow, 37 Doc, 39 Bout, 40 Squeeze, 41 Economise, 42 Prevent, 43 Porridge, 48 Fragment, 52 Foresee, 56 Retriever, 57 Funnier, 58 Lewd, 59 Nib, 60 Sink, 61 Bruise, 62 Student, 63 Nearly, 65 Prefer, 66 Showcase, 68 Settle down, 71 Slices, 72 Condiment, 74 Anomaly, 76 Hit, 79 Aside, 80 Perturb, 81 Long shot, 83 Plain, 84 Jester, 85 Under the knife.

DOWN: 2 Usually, 3 Unlit, 4 Opt, 5 Song, 6 Unaccustomed, 7 U-boat, 8 Absence, 9 Back, 10 Spinet, 11 Utter, 12 Drooped, 13 Mollycoddle, 14 Devoted, 20 Engrossed, 23 Brochure, 24 Banquet,

Vigour,

Parts,

Prone,

Newel,

that

every row

every 3x3

Holster,

Photo,

Retinue,

Frittata,

Freight,

Unreasonable,

Whopper,

Mourn,

Upkeep,

Ached,

Ibis,

Adrenalin,

Well-off,

Outside,

Wheat,

Govern,

Substandard,

Pelican,

Demise,

Deft,

Gong,

Mallard,

Effuse,

Perhaps,

Straw,

Née.

FOR SALE

CARAVAN EWOF (and marine). Call your local inspector today at A+ Electrical Inspections and Security on 021 240 6764.

CARPET, VINYL and hard flooring. Full supply and installation service. Mobile showroom. Free measure and quote. Phone Christine — Kaipara Flooring Co 021 515 415.

SUZUKI ESCUDO Vitara/Grand Vitara — car parts, WOF parts, 4x4 parts etc. Good parts, good prices. Phone Derek 09 439 7573.

TOP SOIL, top quality, $75 per m³ onto your trailer, or truck deliveries available for larger orders. Phone 021 132 4107 or 09 439 5141.

FLATMATE WANTED

AWAKINO ROAD, must be working, pets & smokers ok. $220

SECURE YOUR Home

SECURITY

Phone 027 275

Bolts, Stays,

my website: www.windowanddoors.co.nz

Door Services

Sowter

STORAGE

CONTAINER SPACE available. Good rates,

TRADE & SERVICES

CARPET CLEANING, repairs, re-stretching, and patching. Flood drying and small carpet laying work and upholstery cleaning. Very fussy and reasonable prices. Phone Darren, Alltrades Carpet Services 0800 425 587 or 027 286 8584.

week, includes

Phone Kevin 021

FENCING

FENCING, ALL types of fencing, pool, stockyards, post & rail, boundary plus… call Jeff 027 476 5458.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

1 STOP Window & Door Repairs — Seals, Latches, Stays, Wheels, Hinges, Locks, Glass & Glazing. Phone 027 275 0918 or 09 439 6458 — Kevin Sowter or visit my website: www.windowanddoors.co.nz — Window & Door Services Ltd.

BD LAWNS & MORE • LAWNS • HEDGES • TREES • WATERBLASTING • GARDENING. Call Now: 027 286 0336.

LAWN MOWING, local available

WATCH BATTERIES Replacement @ 97 Victoria Street, Tuesday–Friday 10am–1.30pm. Clocks also repaired, Phone 022 342 8183.

WATER TANK Cleaning. Phone Pete 027 444 3053 or 09 405 9510.

TREE REMOVAL

TREE REMOVAL, pruning, chipping & stump grinding. Qualified & Insured. Phone Scott 0800 468 9663 Arborcare Tree Maintenance.

TREE TRIMMING Truck using Grapple/Saw – 26m reach — Pruning, Removal, Chipping, Qualified Arborists SIMPLE – FAST – SAFE – QUALIFIED – EXPERIENCED – VALUE FOR MONEY. Servicing KAIPARA CALL Team Vegetation on 09 439 0050.

WANTED TO BUY

SUZUKI 4X4 Wanted to buy — parked, damaged or unwanted, Escudo Vitara/Grand Vitara. Phone Derek 09 439 7573.

WANTED TO RENT

LOOKING FOR a nice house to rent, in or around Dargaville area. Phone Richard 027 8566 411.

NURSERIES & PLANTS

LANDSCAPING SHELTER,

trees

ready now at wholesale prices. Got2Go Plants 55 West Coast Road Te Kopuru, 09 439 5556. Open 10am - 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

PUBLIC NOTICES

ACOUSTIC MUSIC Blackboard Concert — First Thursday of the month — 7–9.30pm, next is 3rd November, Kaipara Community Centre, Hokianga Road, Dargaville. $2 entry, $2 raffle. Performers and audience welcome. Phone Allan 09 439 6933 or 021 439 697. An enjoyable night to be part of, sit back and be entertained by some great local talent.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS both Dargaville AA Meetings are held at the church, crn Parore and Normanby Sts. Use Parore St entrance. Monday 4.30pm & Thursday 7.30pm. Phone Bernie 027 212 2148, Ladies 020 4082 1373, Murray 09 439 5248.

DARGAVILLE HEALING rooms 7pm Tuesdays. No charge & no appointment necessary. Lion of Judah Building, River Road. All Welcome. Check us out on Facebook.

ERUERA AHU WHENUA TRUST AGM 2022 Date: 22nd October 2022 Time: 11am Location: 23 Oruawharo School RD, ORUAWHARO : 1: Karakia & Mihi 2: Apologies 3: Trust Reports 4: General information & general questions 5: Re-election 6: Closing karakia 7: Kai Hakari. If you can not attend or need help with attending please contact Patariki Eruera, Temporary Secretary, PTCVINYLZ@gmail.com or 021 0805 7053.

AWA WHANUI

River FM

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

JAMES,

Passed away peacefully on 13 October 2022 with family by her side; aged 63 years.

Dearly loved wife of Bim James, and much loved mum, Nana and friend.

In accordance with her wishes a private farewell was held.

will never

DARGAVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Otamatea Repertory

Dargaville High School wishes to invite Whanau to the Senior Prizegiving on Thursday 27th October, at 6pm. Whanau and students to be seated by 5.45pm. As a reminder, Dargaville High School will be closed for instruction from 12.40pm on Thursday 27th October to enable organisation for the Senior Prizegiving.

Public notice

(Section 127, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012)

Gringas Limited of Mangawhai Heads, has made application to the Kaipara District Licensing Committee for the issue of a renewal and variation of conditions of an On-License in respect of the premises situated at Shop 15 & 16 7a Wood Street Mangawhai Heads Northland, known as Gringas NZ

The general nature of the business conducted under the licence is restaurant

The current conditions of the licence are Class 2 restaurant: Monday to Sunday 8am to 1am the following day. Proposed variation - Class 1 restaurant: Monday to Sunday 11am to 1am the following day.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the Kaipara District Licensing Committee at 42 Hokianga Road, Dargaville or Unit 13, 6 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai. Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 15 working days after the first publication of this public notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee, Private Bag 1001, Dargaville 0340.

No objection to the issue of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 105(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the first publication of this notice.

THELMA AND CHARLIE PARKER EDUCATION TRUST

The above education trust was established at the direction of the late Mr Charlie Parker, a wellknown and respected local businessman. The purpose of the trust is to establish and maintain scholarships which will be known as the THELMA AND CHARLIE PARKER SCHOLARSHIPS. Each scholarship is designed to assist any current pupil or pupils of Dargaville High School, who, in the opinion of the trustees, would benefit from further education or study of either tertiary or other nature, or of any recognised course of education or study and who would otherwise be unable to undergo such education or study having regard to the financial resources of that student and/or that student’s immediate family.

The trustees of the trust therefore invite applications for assistance from students of Dargaville High School or from any person on a student’s behalf. Application forms are available from the school office or Hammonds Law, Solicitors.

To enable consideration by the trustees, completed applications must be delivered to Alistair Hammond of Hammonds Law by 5pm on Friday the 4th November 2022.

Any enquiries should be directed to the High School office or to Alistair Hammond of Hammonds Law, Solicitors.

ELLIOTT, Brenda Elizabeth (nee Ball)

Passed away peacefully on 13 October 2022, aged 83 years.

Dearly loved mother of Mark, Suzanne and Craig, David and Anne, Nicola and Chris, Jeremy and Megan. Loved Nana of Claudia, Lily; Amanda, Kirk; Jake; Tony, Ryan, Drew; Marcus, Grace, Addison, and Isla. Great-grandmother of Thomas, Kaiden, Evie; Gabrielle, Taj, and Marley. Loved sister.

A service will be held at the Wesley Methodist Church Dargaville, Cnr Awakino/Normanby Street, Dargaville on Friday 21 October 2022, at 1 pm.

correspondence to c/o

Box 306, Dargaville 0340

Friedrich, Athol Edwin

LIVESTOCK

X2 BLACK white face yearling steers for sale, phone 021 0832 1139.