Summer Lifestyler, December 20th 2022

from the Mayor

Greetings to everyone and a warm and hearty welcome to all our Kaipara District summer visitors.

It’s certainly been a rainy run-up to Christmas, and while the water tanks might be full we’re all hoping for a holiday period brimming with that legendary Northland sun.

There’s been a lot happening here in Kaipara. For some time now, we have been one of the fastest growing districts in New Zealand. Council has been supporting this growth through many of its infrastructure projects. Down in Poutō, check out the construction progress for the new wharf (complete in 2023), part of a reinvigorated water transport network around the harbour.

Enjoy the Kaiwaka footbridges completed earlier this year, and in Mangawhai, walk or ride, the start of the shared path connecting the Heads and the Village. There’s plenty more. With a particular focus on economic development, the new council is carrying Kaipara forward to a prosperous and bright future.

Summer and the festive season is a special time to spend time with the ones you love, to live, work, play and reconnect with each other. So welcome, relax and

p Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson enjoy the many gems our beautiful district has to offer. One of my favourite things to do in summer is fishing, and we have some truly fantastic spots for that here in the Kaipara.

That’s where you’ll find me.

Mayor Craig Jepson, Kaipara District ¢

Mario Williams: Dargaville Manager/Scaffolder

Mario Williams

scaffolding expert!

Front page photos:  Top: Dargaville by night; the lights of the town reflect on the Northern Wairoa River, as seen from Pou To O Te Rangi — Harding Park

Bottom: Mangawhai by day; visitors to the town’s famous market day enjoy cuisine, crafts and sunshine

“Events during the past months have highlighted the vital importance that local news increasingly plays in connecting our community,” said managing director of Integrity Community Media and Lifestyler publisher, Allan Mortensen and editor Deb Wright.

“The so-called information superhighway has altered how many people get their news, but your local newspaper is a powerful voice connecting, involving and informing readers about the news that matters, keeping you reliably informed in print, and entertained as well.”

Editor Deb Wright credits her vibrant team for covering events and developments that would usually escape metropolitan media obsessed with urban headlines.

“Our team has broken stories that matter in our district, from coverage of local politics to the industries that drive our economy. Local journalism encompasses the stuff of daily lives and the many activities in our growing region.

“Among those that stand out are coverage of the local body elections, introducing a new regime to govern at the Kaipara District Council.

“On the farming and agricultural front, news of exciting developments on the irrigation scene and new cropping ideas have made a significant mark in

the developing Kaipara story. We are in our third year of successful trials on establishing peanuts as a Kaipara crop, which could cut pricey overseas imports for a truly local product, with the prospect that manufacturing may get a boost in the future to process the product. Trials are also underway on a number of fruit and process plantings.

“Infrastructure development is of vital importance, with major growth in Mangawhai and planned developments in Dargaville are attracting attention and investment. On top of that, we have major Kaipara Harbour remediation underway, to further enhance the quality of Kaipara life,” she said.

“Our shrinking world in terms of communication needs a special place to update the currents that drive local communities — local news from politics, sports entertainment, culture and myriad other facets of life that impact residents’ everyday lives,” said Allan Mortensen.

Deb Wight adds: “Through our pages, local business has a clear and important voice to connect with community members. This, in turn, provides an economic stimulus that flows on to benefit the local area.

“Today, our company employs a 26-strong team, and it is through their skills and dedication we produce 12 publications a month. That means

delivery of 1,767,060 papers to homes and businesses throughout the North Island each year, which includes 10,450 each week to Kaipara.

“In this end-of-year edition, you will find a wealth of information and entertainment, with a particular focus on the appeal and attractions of Kaipara. As

we welcome an influx of holiday visitors, it’s a good time to appreciate the special place where we live. Within these pages, visitors and locals alike will find future opportunities, alongside anecdotes of our vibrant history — explaining who we are along with a warm welcome and sincere holiday greetings.” ¢

p Allan and Patricia Mortensen, Managing Directors of Integrity Community Media, publishers of the Kaipara Lifestyler

Our oldest ‘citizen’ is Te Matua Ngahere, the 2,000-year-old kauri in Waipoua Forest, along with Tāne Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest.

In the mists of time, Kaipara was a land of giant kauri trees, patrolled by giant moa and myriad lesser birds, with her seas and rivers abundant in fish.

Then, in circa 1300 AD, from out of the Pacific, over the wide ocean tides, currents, clouds and winds came the Māori to Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud.

rich in history

A long time later, in the early 18th century, came the European seal hunters, whalers and traders before, in the mid-1860s, a wave of settlement by people seeking freedom from Europe’s regimented class system and established social regimes. They were known as the Albertlanders.

The Auckland Provincial Government offered assisted passages to immigrants from England and wider Europe. The northern Kaipara Harbour was selected for settlement with a man offered 40 acres of land with a further 40 for his

wife and 20 acres for each member of his family between the ages of 5 and 18.

In May 1862, the first party of Albertlanders set sail from the East India Docks in London, England. After some 100 days at sea, the immigrants were sent off to their place of settlement on the Kaipara.

Maps dished out in London showed wide roads from Auckland to Kaipara clearly marked, but were, in fact, non-existent. Wagon wheels many immigrants had strapped to the ship

rails were sold before they left the fledgling city. They went by smaller craft up the east coast to the then harbour hamlet of Mangawhai, today a bustling town and seaside holiday destination.

They made a journey over bushcovered land to Kaiwaka and on by tidal waterway to Port Albert. In the ensuing years, more migrants spread out to settle land in and around the emerging settlements of Maungatūroto, Whakapirau, Pahi, Paparoa, Matakohe, and on to Ruawai and Dargaville.

An area of 70,000 acres of land was settled by the Albertlanders, and Kaipara is today home to these towns, with many surrounding farms still in the hands of those original families.

Port Albert, once seen as a provincial capital city to rival Auckland, still stands as a sleepy backwater off State Highway 16, with the town of Wellsford long replacing it, to then grow exponentially with the advent of railway and arterial roads traced by engines rather than cart wheels.

The other main route to the Kaipara for the early settlers was by way of the west coast via Helensville, then a timber milling town. It was the route, by ship’s longboat, of the Smith family, still resident in the Matakohe area today and with founding connections to the iconic Kauri Museum.

Land grants were made as surveyors completed their tasks, and many settlers lived in makeshift camps when they first landed ashore. As they moved on to their blocks, men supplemented their income until the land provided by digging

for kauri gum while the timber was harvested. Gum, along with fine timber, was a valuable export, used in the manufacture of varnish and linoleum. They worked mainly in wetlands and swamps where once there were ancient kauri forests, and around 450,000 tons, worth £25 million, were sent to England or North America between 1850 and 1950.

Wise heads did not prevail until as late as 1970 when legislation halted the indiscriminate milling. A forest of more than a million hectares in the mid1800s had by then been reduced by 90 per cent.

p

Over the years, agriculture came to the fore as bush blocks were progressively cleared and pasture emerged to graze

sheep and cattle, as well as grow produce, establishing an industry that boosts the Kaipara economy today. ¢

A prospect of growing wealth

u by Paul Campbell

Kaipara has become a ‘go to’ destination with new residents arriving northwards to take advantage of a rapidly expanding economy and a lifestyle to be envied, all centred on our jewel in the crown, the huge Kaipara Harbour, where a globally significant environmental programme worth $300 million is underway.

In addition to the new wharves and pontoons, adding public access to this aquatic playground, is the Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme. It is one of the most intensive afforestation efforts globally to plant 20 million trees in the catchment over 10 years,

investing $4.67 million last year in projects to reduce sediment flowing into the Kaipara Harbour. Landowners have committed to 380,000 plants and 238 kilometres of fencing — more than the distance from here to Auckland.

Such as troublesome bleeding; menopause concerns; abnormal smears; pelvic pain; pain or irritation ‘down there’; fertility issues; non–surgery options for prolapse and bladder problems. Many of the common problems can be treated with simple minor procedures done either at the clinic or at Kensington Hospital.

The emphasis at the clinic is on making sure women have as much information as possible about their own health on which to base their decisions as to the type of treatment that is best for them.

Dr. Rachel Moss, the specialist gynaecologist, can see you to make a thorough gynaecological assessment and discuss options for treatment. A GP referral can be helpful but is not essential.

Like the rest of New Zealand, recent years have been burdened by the pandemic. Still, in typical fashion, the Kaipara community has stepped up to the challenge. As an example, the Kaipara District Council became one of the first in the country to use technology to overcome lockdown provisions under the Covid-19 level four restriction to hold its meetings on a digital platform. With high-speed broadband, we are in touch with the world, and many new arrivals are finding working from home is now the way of the future.

On Kaipara’s east coast, Mangawhai has more than a billion dollars of investment in urbanisation creating a town of the future with a current population of 7,000 people in town and surrounding areas projected to grow to more than 17,000 within 20 years. The

$750 million-plus Mangawhai Central development is creating a main street retail and food and beverage hub, plus an industrial park, retirement village and residential housing.

Westward in our two oceans, two harbours twin coast district, Dargaville

p Modern wharf facilities add to Kaipara Harbour attractions

has 5000-plus people with an urban development project on the former racecourse providing impetus for major growth.

Between the twin coasts lie welcoming towns and communities with attractions of their own, with a must-see at the iconic Kauri Museum at Matakohe, just off State Highway 12, with its rich history of the kauri industry that first put the region on the map. Today, that timber industry has been well and truly replaced by farming which is the backbone of our economy, with particular reference to food crops.

As a matter of fact, 95% of the kūmara you find in your supermarket comes from the Kaipara — often referred to as the Kūmara Capital. On the flat and fertile plains along the Northern Wairoa River between Ruawai and Dargaville are a plethora of packing sheds where produce is gathered for shipment.

Along with this vegetable staple has come a variety of produce with peanuts now under extensive second-stage field trials as an extended crop, with visions of success to reduce imported nuts for processing into peanut butter. There are eight sites across the region, notably at Te Kōpuru, with the first trials on par with what is produced and imported from overseas. The peanut trial continues to generate conversation and interest from various parties across the country who are following the project with keen interest.

Added to this exotic trial are sunflowers, squash, corn varieties, as well as berries, bananas and other fruits. Large-scale water reticulation projects add to the future agricultural bounty in Kaipara to feed the wider Kiwi population. ¢

p Mangawhai’s Central Zone development from the air

p Peanut entrepreneurs Stuart Macintosh and Pic Picot check the Kaipara crop

From harbour to harbour

u by Andy Bryenton

Entering the Kaipara District via State Highway One gives you the option to explore the east coast and the heartland of the harbour, with plenty of historic and recreational points of interest.

Head out to Mangawhai after stopping for a refreshing break in Kaiwaka, and take in the scenery as you descend toward the coast. The Hen and Chickens Islands are visible where the Brynderwyn Ranges sink into Bream Bay. Approaching Mangawhai, you’ll see the harbour and surf beach, which make this a popular spot for fishing and wave-catching.

Mangawhai presents a wealth of gourmet options for holidaymakers looking to sample la dolce vita, the good life. From handcrafted chocolates to local wines, craft beers and well-aged whisky, fresh seafood and one of the country’s most award-winning butchers, there are mix-and-match meal options to enjoy al fresco at your leisure. Alternatively, there are many great restaurants and cafes to try.

Stop in at the Mangawhai Activity Zone to let the youngsters run wild. Keen skaters can give New Zealand’s only Olympic-level skate park a try and tell their mates they’ve hit the same deep bowls and rails as the best in the sport. Of course, there’s much more to this community-built park for all comers.

History buffs will love the Mangawhai Museum and delight in its excellent display of local heritage and an irreplaceable taonga recently returned. Lucky patrons may catch sight of conservators working on the salvaged sailing ship Daring, a shipwreck from colonial times recovered from its resting place as one of the best preserved sailage shipwrecks in the world.

The natural world is a big drawcard on the east coast, and a network of tracks spans the coastline and the hillsides, many hand-cut by award-winning local volunteers. From cliff-top views counted as some of the world’s best to a bush walk to a local waterfall and, of course, the dramatic beachfronts at Mangawhai and Te Ărai, there’s plenty of work for your camera, and many spots to enjoy a

picnic lunch. A hidden gem on this coast is the Tomarata Lakes, a mirror image of the dune lakes at Kai Iwi lying far to the west.

After exploring Mangawhai, head back to the junction at Kaiwaka and then on to Brynderwyn, where State Highway 12 begins. It is the heartland highway of the harbour’s north edge, following a chain of settlements established

p Mangawhai’s MAZ skatepark is a summer hot spot, the only Olympic-level bowl complex in the north

by the Albertlanders in the 1860s. This picturesque road passes through Maungatūroto, Paparoa and Matakohe before cresting the hill to reveal the wide Ruawai plain and the Northern Wairoa River. However, it’s worth taking your time to get there, as along the way, there are ample places to stop and enjoy some local hospitality and views.

Maungatūroto is a famously friendly little town renowned for its quirky, unique shops and fantastic food. Some say the best pies in New Zealand come from here, while others opine that the biggest scoop ice cream cones come from the local service station. All agree that the Maungaturoto Historic Inn is one of the most storied, interesting old hotels in New Zealand, as it is a

building which was almost shipwrecked twice. Paparoa lies just over the hill, and is famed for its weekend artisan’s markets and numerous spots for antique hunters to delve into history and take home treasures. During the holiday period, the township is also home to the biggest circus performer’s festival in the north, and it’s the gateway to the seaside settlements of Pahi and Tinopai.

Due to the nature of the harbour, which branches and forks like the boughs of a gnarled old pōhutukawa tree, there are many small towns which were built up, in the olden days, around the best place to put a wharf. Whakapirau, Tinopai and Pahi are examples and well worth the extra drive to visit. Many have recently enjoyed upgrades to those old

historic wharves, making for a great lazy afternoon of fishing in a proper oldfashioned Kiwi seaside village.

Finally, as the highway rises out of Paparoa’s green valley and into the hills before Ruawai, you’ll find the town of Matakohe. Once home to a prime minister and the hub of the local kauri timber trade, this village is now a place of art and history. The Kauri Museum provides an award-winning glimpse into the pioneering days of Kaipara, with displays that preserve the spirit of the kauri bushmen and their world. This must-see institution is accompanied by two historic churches, heritage rose garden and a chance to enjoy a refreshing coffee before heading on into the west, and more adventures. ¢

Summer

Outdoor jobs: Look out for overhead lines when working with objects like ladders, aerials or scaffolding.

Gardening:

Don’t plant trees directly under powerlines – they grow quickly and require trimming which can be costly if it’s a safety risk.

Boating: Know the height of your mast and aerial before towing and look out for overhead lines when sailing.

Camping: To protect family and friends from electric shock, remember to use an RCD (Residual Current Device).

Be safewith kites and drones

Find out about Unplanned 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

For large outages we also post the information and updates on our Northpower facebook page.

THE STORY BEHIND

IS CLEAR. PEOPLE TRUST PRINT JOURNALISM

We are here to help

p The Kauri Museum is an icon of Kaipara heritage, presenting the saga of the timber trade which defined colonial times in this part of the nation

Have a safe-as summer

If you plan on travelling

• Plan for if you test positive for COVID, and need to isolate or change your plans at short notice.

• Get up to date with your vaccinations and boosters.

• Make sure you have a full supply of all your regular medications.

•

•

Look out for yourself and others

• Drink plenty of water; especially important for older people, children and pets.

• Slip, slop, slap and wrap to protect your skin and eyes from sun damage.

• Take your prescribed medication to stop flare ups and keep well.

• Check in on those who live alone, especially older or disabled people.

• For mental health support, call/text 1737, call 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.

If you feel unwell

• If you feel unwell, take a RAT test

• If you test positive, you must self-isolate for 7 days.

• Get antiviral medication if you’re eligible.

Getting help over the summer

• Call the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for free COVID health advice anytime, even on public holidays.

• For any other non-urgent health concerns, call the general Healthline number on 0800 611 116 for free.

• Go to Northlanddhb.org.nz for local information.

Wearable arts make triumphant return

u by Andy Bryenton

Dargaville will play host to a wearable arts spectacular once again in 2023, the fourth such event to showcase the skill and imagination of Kaipara art visionaries in this field.

“The event is not a fashion show — it is a celebration of artistic endeavour,” says co-organiser John Pickworth, who has helped to assemble a stellar team to make the show a reality. This year’s theme is Down the Rabbit Hole, a reference to Lewis Carrol’s weird and wonderful classic masterpiece, Alice in Wonderland. This theme spans a whole feast of visual and audio entertainment in itself and frames the show-within-a-show that is the wearable arts competition.

“Contestants, designers and participants invest many hours of collaboration and teamwork to be ready for the stage, the audience and the judges. For months, our entrants develop costumes across three categories: Our Natural Environment, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Avant-Garde,” says John.

These give a whole lot of scope for creativity and are not at all constrained by the overarching theme of the event.

Patrons can expect to see creations of wild imagination and ambitious design, fusing novel materials, colours and shapes into a parade of the extraordinary.

Above and beyond the spectacle on stage, the Dargaville Wearable Arts

event is a chance to experience the gala atmosphere of a West End premiere combined with the visual impact of a gallery opening or a fashion show.

Patrons will witness a show featuring cutting-edge visual effects, threedimensional projection mapping turning surfaces into virtual spaces, performance art and full surround audio as the Dargaville Town Hall is transformed with a 30-metre catwalk.

Culturally and artistically, this event has become a showcase for the best of the best in local creativity, with previous winners pushing the boundaries of what wearable art can mean and what it can be. Socially and economically, the event has been described by former mayor Jason Smith as second only to the Northland Field Days in terms of bringing vibrant engagement to Dargaville.

After a break due to Covid, the resurgence of the Dargaville Wearable Arts has galvanised all participants. The inspiration is there, and the work has been put in to ensure an allaround stunning experience when the spotlight hits the stage on May 19 and 20, 2023. ¢

p Inspiration from nature, literature and the imagination fuels the visual feast that is Dargaville’s wearable arts extravaganza

Where travel can take a break

u by Paul Campbell

A town rich in Kaipara and Northland history, Kawaka is a gateway into the region, lying astride the highway to the north of Wellsford, which was also a springboard for Kaipara settlement for the Albertland pioneers of the mid-1800s.

Today, it is the catchment of a farming area after the government Lands and Survey Department took over large blocks of unproductive land and developed them to ballot in the 1950s to soldiers returning from the second world war.

With a population of more than 600 Kaiwaka is a handy break in road trips with a hotel and truck stop, a service station, dairy, cafes and eateries, and a supermarket as well as public facilities and parking space.

There’s also an invitation to stretch your legs as two footbridges link the two sides of the town and have improved safe connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists between shops, parks and cafes.

Kaiwaka Can is investigating the possibility of developing an activity park on donated land with plans for further paths and wayfinding signs. The more strenuous activity takes place at the

local sports club, with facilities to rival those metropolitan areas can offer.

The area was the scene of inter-tribal fighting in the Musket Wars. By the 1830s, conflicts had become too costly and economic rivalry became the new norm, resulting in land sales and trade with the incoming settlers. A memorial to an early Kaiwaka battle stands near the town today, and dominating the surrounding countryside is Bald Rock, a stone mountain which featured in the fighting. Nowadays, the Kaiwaka Sports Association holds an annual top of the Rock 5–10km walk/run/bike event.

The town also boasts a standout feature attraction. It is known as the ‘little town of lights.’ After dark, homes and businesses light up, with Christmas time, providing an exceptional display.

Wellsford, where the roads north from Auckland, SH1 and SH16, connect, is a busy country town serving the local farming and horticultural community.

It’s a popular place for travellers to fill up with fuel, call into the supermarket for supplies and take advantage of the quick-service restaurants that line the main street.

The Kaipara Harbour lies to the west of the town, and is only a short trip to the surf beaches of the east coast. There are local walkways too, and if there’s no hurry or you take advantage of great local accommodation options, there’s the opportunity for a round of golf. There’s something to keep everyone entertained.

Wellsford has an outstanding variety of places to eat, whether it’s a sit-down meal or grabbing something on the go.

A must-see is the Albertland Heritage Museum, where the stories of the region’s early settlers are told in graphic detail, along with displays of the sailing ships that brought them across the world. They earlier chose the nearby Port Albert as a town to rival Auckland but later colonised Wellsford, where the railway linking Auckland and the north was a magnet for growth. ¢

p Kaiwaka’s iconic Eutopia Cafe is well worth a local stop

Mangawhai’s place in history

u by Andy Bryenton

The symbol of the stingray has long been associated with Mangawhai, thanks to the traditional interpretation of the harbourside town’s name in te reo Māori.

At the narrowest point between Kaiwaka on the Kaipara Harbour and Mangawhai’s lagoon, Ngāti Whātua navigators would portage their waka overland, accessing both east and west coasts for trade and fishing. In 1825 this strategic location became the focus of a fierce battle, as a Ngāpuhi taua (force of warriors) engaged Ngāti Whātua in one of the first such clashes to involve muskets, a deadly import from Europe.

Today, Te Uri o Hau is recognised as having mana whenua in this picturesque coastal land. Their ties to Mangawhai stretch back to well before the strife of the musket wars and span the era of European settlement, which began with William Mayhew’s purchase in 1841. European settlement made Mangawhai a port of trade. Once again, the proximity of this sheltered harbour to the headwaters of the Kaipara just a few kilometres to the west proved strategic.

Settlers came for the booming timber trade and established farms and

businesses where the ships came in from the Bay of Islands and the fledgling settlement of Auckland. Mangawhai’s historic old tavern, by the waterside, has seen many decades of travellers stop in for a cold drink. A wealth of local heritage is preserved by the town’s appropriately stingray-themed museum, with a selection of authentic colonial-era buildings situated just next door.

The last century was one of slow but steady change for Mangawhai as the timber trade ebbed and the town became

a favourite summer spot for holidays, fishing and fun. Bach-goers added to the surf and beach culture with holiday homes epitomising midcentury Kiwiana, and the community swelled with year-round residents proud of their slice of paradise. That community spirit galvanised the town to mass action in one of the country’s biggest examples of environmentally positive civil disobedience. In 1991, the Big Dig saw locals with earthmovers, excavators and shovels save the harbour from stagnation after storms altered the channels to the sea. Against bureaucratic opposition, Mangawhai stood firm and restored the harbour, establishing a community focus on nature that endures today.

A recent addition to Mangawhai’s historical treasures is the well-preserved wreck of the sailing ship Daring, which was built locally in the early 1860s,

but ran aground on Muriwai Beach. Rescued from the sands, the grand old ship is considered one of the best examples of its kind. A team of experts and volunteers are working hard to prepare it for permanent display next to the Mangawhai Museum. ¢

p The remarkable, recovered vessel Daring is just one aspect of Mangawhai’s colourful history you can explore when visiting the town and its museum

Summertime sailing on the Kaipara

u by Piper Robson

Boating in the Kaipara harbour during summer is a prime opportunity to take in the local scenery and get some fishing done.

While the harbour is amazing to explore, boaties new to the area should stay up to date with the potential dangers of these beautiful waters. Summer is here. As boaties, new and old, flock to the Kaipara for summer fun, it’s important to note the dangers of the area. For those unfamiliar with the area stay in the loop about the tidal conditions and any weather warnings before you launch.

Nicknamed The Graveyard, the sandbar at the harbour’s entrance stretches a whopping 126 square kilometres. The bar has seen more than 110 shipwrecks in its time — low waters make this area particularly unforgiving. crossing the bar is considered especially dangerous, if you aren’t confident on the water. The waves can be steep, unpredictable and break in odd patterns. Good boating practice and safety equipment is a must for those crossing the bar this summer.

The largest harbour in the southern hemisphere, this is a great spot for fishing. It’s common to catch snapper, kahawai, gurnard and trevally. Octopus, mullet, over-the-counter-squid and kahawai bait are recommended for fishing in the harbour. When fishing, leger rigs and long traces tend to be the easiest to manage in the harbour,

producing more fish. Check bite times and tidal currents before heading out, and you should be rewarded.

The Kaipara Harbour coastguard is located in Helensville and Tinopai, and are on call 24/7. The North Kaipara Coastguard VHF channels are 66 and 61, and the South Kaipara VHF channels are 07 and 61.

Launching into the harbour is simple, with ramps located along SH16. The township of Ruawai has a public access

ramp located in the centre of the township. Although the tidal flow can be strong there, even confident boaties should have adequate safety measures in difficult conditions.

The Tinopai boat ramp is great for exploring the western side of the peninsula, but take care as the tide runs strong, with the mud and sand banks changing regularly. Tokatoka has a stony mud ramp that can be used at all levels, mainly used by commercial fishermen

TOP TEN WATER SAVING TIPS

and 4WDs. Take care launching at low tide, as there is a risk of getting stuck in the mud.

The Kaipara Harbour is a great body of water to explore in the summertime. With ample fish and many opportunities to launch, boating here can provide hours of fun. Take care of the sand bar and strong currents, check all weather warnings and water conditions before launching, and if in doubt, don’t go out.  ¢

Kia ora Kaipara visitors, welcome to our beautiful district Northland and Kaipara can suffer from pretty severe droughts, particularly in these summer months. Check out these water-saving tips to help our households conserve water. Before your visitors arrive it’s a good idea to:

• Check for leaks and dripping taps. This could also be in your outside areas – check for patches of green grass on your lawn, or sinks that are wet first thing in the morning.

• Mulch your garden. Mulching can prevent up to 70% of water loss through evaporation.

• Put a 4min timer in the shower to help your guests time their showers. Buy a kitchen timer or ask your guests to set a stopwatch on their phone.

• If you’re on a water tank – check your tanks are full and you have a water delivery booked ahead of time.

• Use the half-flush system on your toilet, or reduce the flush-water quantity by displacing water in the cistern with a part-filled bottle or a brick.

Tips for visitors:

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or shaving.

• Take fewer, shorter showers. Get yourself wet then turn off the tap to soap up, and turn it back on to rinse off.

• Put a bucket in your shower to catch water. You can use this for your gardens, indoor plants, and to clean your car or boat (depending on restriction levels, hoses, sprinklers and waterblasters etc are banned during summer).

• Flush the toilet less often.

• Store a bottle of drinking water in the fridge to help avoid running more water than you need if you like drinking cold water.

p Boats await a fine day’s fishing at Tinopai marina; there are many places to launch into the Kaipara, but safety is paramount on this changeable body of water

Food for the heart

u by Amy Fifita

Ban Aldin has always had a passion

“I have always loved food and people, and I am always happy in the kitchen,” Ban says.

She originally moved to New Zealand in 1995 from Iraq. After leading a civil engineering career in Auckland, she finished in mid-2021 and started her cafe.

“I started Ollies Cafe and Grocer in Maungatūroto about a year ago because I wanted a change of lifestyle. It isn’t a traditional cafe, and I set it up to attract

They know there is always something here for them, and I can make them something if there is nothing in the cabinet or on the menu.

is a place to come to relax and talk”

family, friends and people to come together and enjoy food.

“Most of my cooking is Middle Eastern. I get inspiration from my home country, Iraq and Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iran and Turkey. It is healthy home cooking and baking.

“People get to try different kinds of food, and the locals and tourists enjoy it. It is a surprise for them to find a place like this in a small rural town. It is popular with vegans and vegetarians.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy. If someone has allergies, I can help them because I know what is in the food, or I can cook them a meal.

Ban also enjoys brewing Turkish coffee and Iraqi tea to pair with her meals.

“I don’t have an espresso machine because I want people to explore new flavours. My coffees and teas are paired with the flavours of my cooking. I frequently suggest what beverages will work with their choice of food so they can enjoy it. Now they trust me

and ask me what food tastes best with certain beverages.

“It is a place to come to relax and talk. This is what I wanted, and I was able to do it in a small town, and I don’t think I could do it anywhere else.

“Their satisfaction means more to me than making a profit. You have to believe in what you are doing and be passionate.

If you get disheartened by what others say, then it moves you away from what you are trying to achieve.

“Every morning, I get up and cook something new. I like being different, and people need to push a bit and creating a change is great. I create what I enjoy and have always had a passion for food — Ollies is my kingdom.” ¢

MAUNGATUROTO

p Ban and her friends, visiting from Auckland, celebrating Ollies’ opening

“It

Enviroschools

Creating sustainable communities and sustainable schooling

If you’ve been out and about lately, enjoying Northland’s natural environment, chances are you’ve witnessed the benefits of mahi done by Enviroschools students.

Enviroschools is a nationwide programme where young people design and lead sustainability projects in their schools and neighbourhoods, learning real-life skills to address realworld problems. They fence off waterways, grow native plants and food, create sustainabilitybased businesses and more –usually in collaboration with their communities.

Enviroschools operates in early childhood centres, primary, intermediate and secondary schools that are committed to a long-term sustainability journey. It’s supported nationally by Toimata Foundation and founding partner Te Mauri Tau; the programme launched in Northland in 2004, and Northland Regional Council (NRC) has been the Northland funder and organiser from the beginning.

Te Taitokerau is home to 148 Enviroschools – that’s 70% of Northland schools, 32% of early childhood centres, and more

than 26,000 tamariki and ākonga (students).

Even when Covid-19 made it too difficult to run Enviroschools events, the NRC education team set up a Northland Education for Sustainability Facebook group and invented hands-on kits called Kete Aronui to help teachers create climate-action experiences.

“The next generation is learning that looking after the environment is ‘normal’ and something that should be a priority at all times,” says Northland Regional Council

education manager and Enviroschools regional co-ordinator Susan Karels.

“Caring for te taiao (the environment) is at the heart of what NRC does, so we love helping young people learn how rewarding it can be.”

“Kerikeri Kindergarten is a great example of how embracing Māori perspectives enriches the Enviroschools journey, from developing a kindergarten pepeha to being the country’s first kindergarten with a māra hūpara (traditional Māori playground),” says NRC education manager and Enviroschools regional co-ordinator Susan Karels. “They also encourage the protection of Papatūānuku through pest monitoring and trapping in a ngahere (bush) programme, and even became carbon negative in 2020 through reducing electricity use, waste management, tree planting and other efforts.”

© Dawn Dutton

KEEPING IT LOCAL

Each centre and school uses Enviroschools’ flexible framework to create a path that suits their local ecology, history, culture and community. It’s sustainability through learning and action, student design and empowerment.

At BestStart Pipiwai Kindy, on the outskirts of Whangārei, teachers and students used the WaiRestoration programme – created in Northland and now used nationwide – to tackle a biodiversity issue on their doorstep. Andrea Chittock, Enviroschools key teacher for the kindy, had noticed tuna (eels) and ducks had disappeared from the awa (river) behind the centre over time. This meant the water was not healthy.

With guidance from Judy Crooks, Northland Enviroschools early childhood facilitator, BestStart Pipiwai began exploring the awa and how to rejuvenate it. They connected with local iwi to understand Waitaua Awa’s story, and worked with NRC to test the water

quality and identify weeds growing on the banks. Receiving an NRC Environmental Leaders Fund grant helped them buy native plants for their first whānau planting day.

Judy says Enviroschools isn’t a quick fix but a long-term journey, and she loves the pride students take in their environment. “It gives tamariki a sense of empathy for plants, animals and insects, a sense of wonder and joy in their learning, and a range of cultural experiences and celebrations. They become leaders, and the older children start to teach the younger children.”

GUIDING LIGHTS

Celebrating successes, learning from challenges and setting goals is part of the Enviroschools Reflection process. The stages – Bronze, Silver and GreenGold – describe the depth and breadth of each school’s mahi.

Up near Mangonui, Oruaiti School went Green-Gold in July 2021. Like other GreenGold Enviroschools, they have a wholeschool approach to sustainability, and every class works on different projects – from extensive planting around the school wetland to harvesting honey from their beehives and fruit from their orchard.

The school is working with local hapū and NRC via CoastCare to help strengthen the dunes at nearby Taupō Bay, which were badly affected by weather events. Gracie, 10, and Levi, 11, explain, “We learned how to find the area of an irregular shape, and used our times-table knowledge to find the square metres of the dunes. Then we did a load of reading about sand dunes and wildlife, and calculated how many plants we had to buy.”

The class also designed and wrote signs to inform the public about the dune work, and will grow pīngao plants for more planting.

ENVIROSCHOOLS IS CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION AND ACTION

The cumulative effect of Enviroschools conserving water, improving biodiversity, processing waste on site and growing kai to reduce food miles, makes a big difference.

For more info www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools

As part of their agriculture and horticulture classes, Ruawai College and Dargaville High School students helped at a waterway planting day for a local farm involved with the Kaipara Moana Remediation (KMR) programme, New Zealand’s largest landscape-scale remediation project.

EYE ON THE FUTURE

This mahi isn’t just something to do at school: the experience and connections students gain can create career opportunities.

Enviroschools’ Project Pest Control and WaiFencing courses provide NCEA qualifications, and NRC employs several former Enviroschools students in biosecurity, biodiversity, land management and coastal management.

Dargaville Intermediate is a shining example of the value of Enviroschools: they run what is likely Aotearoa’s largest school-based nursery, growing up to 10,000 plants annually.

Even if students don’t go on to work in environmental fields, an Enviroschools education means they’re learning powerful lessons about kaitiakitanga, collaboration and problem-solving.

Protecting our natural world is second nature for a generation of tamariki and rangatahi, and Northland is reaping the benefits.

© Dawn Dutton

Circus festival a work of art

u by Andy Bryenton

Those who have always wanted to amaze the crowd with acrobatics, juggling

dreams a reality in Paparoa this summer, at the Northland Circus Festival.

Lisa Lü, Tania Whetū and Ann Harris are three of the organisers behind the big weekend of performance arts, learning and challenges, which will, for the fourth time, be hosted in the village of Paparoa. The placement of Northland’s biggest circus festival at the A&P showgrounds in a small town gives the event a classical atmosphere, encouraging visitors to ‘run away with the circus’.

“People from all over New Zealand are coming to learn, to play and to watch,” says Tania. “It’s been a lot to organise, but it will be great fun. Lisa has been sourcing top-notch circus talent from around the country and worldwide.”

“I’m very much involved as a workshop coordinator for the teachers and performers,” confirms Lisa. “We’ve been building a great community with connections all over New Zealand, and a festival like this is a time for us all to come together.”

Those workshops are not just for seasoned professionals in the spotlight. Anyone can buy a day pass to learn some circus skills, including juggling, unicycling, wire walking and many more.

Then there’s a big show to enjoy as night falls, with youth performers on Saturday and their mentors on Friday night.

Ann ‘Anntix’ Harris is the festival coordinator, using her skills as an event manager to liaise with volunteers and stallholders, participants and guests.

“I appreciate the chance that Tania and Circus Kumarani have given me to bring such a large event to life,” says Anntix. “My father got me into the circus. He would take me to all the festivals as a top juggler and a long-term supporter of the juggling community around New Zealand.”

“I remember my first Northland Circus Festival, at Kai Iwi Lakes when the giant pine trees were still standing. The slackline (a balance arts fixture) was stretched between the trees, and there were people practising all sorts of things. Now, we’re about to launch the 16th year of the festival, and I’m part of making it happen in Paparoa.”

“There are some skills you have to learn by just doing them,” says Tania. They could apply to event management and to the circus arts themselves. Giving

p Lisa Lü, Tania Whetū and Ann Harris are the triumvirate planning a massive circus festival for Paparoa this summer holiday break people a chance to try, and exceed their expectations, is what this festival is all about.

“We work with groups all over New Zealand. I got started in community circus in the South Island, and events like this one are a great place to meet up with people from there and reconnect. It’s not just for performers — it’s for the public. It’s for people who want to give it a go.”

Between all those workshops to try, music, a kids zone, food, art, nightly shows and the Sunday ‘circolympic’ games, this year’s Northland Circus Festival is shaping up bigger than any single big top could contain.

Tania, Ann and Lisa, along with all of the talented and friendly team making it possible, invite you to come and ‘run away to the circus’ this summer holidays. ¢

The villages in between

u by Paul Campbell

Paparoa is ‘the village in the valley’,

The Cliff family from Staffordshire,

Back then, the only access was by waterway from Pahi, some seven kilometres southwards. In later years, the main road through town cut off the landing area to form a green riverside park in the village centre, lined on the roadside with shops and a cafe.

The Progressive Paparoa Society administers an attractive town facility and the adjacent playground and picnic facilities. The town also features a walkway to an ancient Māori pā site, shaded by kauri and other native trees. The origins of the pā are lost in the mists of time, but the remains of defences and food pits are still apparent.

At Pahi the original hotel building is now a private dwelling after the hotel licence was transferred to Paparoa, where it was recently closed as a pub to provide workers’ accommodation. The settlement of permanent residents and holiday homes is a vantage point for the Pahi Regatta, run since 1886

with the recent exception of pandemic closure. Anniversary Weekend next month will see a village of tents, caravans, camper vans and house trucks for three days of harbourside fun and games.

A must-see on any visit to Kaipara is the world-renowned Kauri Museum at Matakohe, just eight kilometres westwards along State Highway 12.

The museum covers thousands of square metres of space and houses the world’s greatest display of all things to do with the colonial kauri milling industry.

The area is home to many lifestyle blocks, and the well-attended primary school is evidence of many young families now making their homes here. Adjacent to the museum is the cemetery

and the Coates Memorial Church, built in honour of New Zealand’s second native-born prime minister and war hero, Joseph Gordon Coates, whose family farmed at Hukatere, en route to our next stop — Tinopai, a seaside enclave just 20 minutes south from Matakohe. The original settlement was called Te Komiti, which was a regular stopping point for Māori travellers on the Kaipara. A large raupō church, capable of holding several hundred people, was built here under missionary auspices in 1852; of course, now long gone.

Extensive apple orchards were originally established in the surrounding countryside and covered some 3,000plus acres around 1915. However, the enterprise foundered in the 1930s as the Great Depression took hold, as well as an import ban in Australia over a blight concern. The orchards gave way to farming and have never been re-established. ¢

lying between rolling hills and was settled by the Albertland influx to Kaipara in the late 1800s.

England, were the original settlers and ran the general store that still operates to this day.

p Pahi circa 1900 and when the harbour was the ‘highway’

The A&P Show must go on

u by Andy Bryenton

The year 2023 will mark the 130th Northern Wairoa A&P Show, an event which has been a summer

That venerable figure might seem daunting to some. Still, for the committee that makes the show happen each year, it’s a case of carrying on a fine tradition that the whole community supports. One of those stalwart organisers is show president Richard Alspach, who says that a break during the Covid era has not diminished local goodwill or determination.

“After a year when we didn’t have a show because of Covid, we are determined to make this one a cracker,” says Richard. “It promises to be a great day out for the family. Thanks to a grant from Foundation North, we can carry on our tradition of offering the sideshow entertainment for a gold coin donation. It will be affordable for everyone.”

There are few events as quintessentially Kiwi as a proper A&P show. The show at Arapohue, held on February 11 next year, promises all the traditional rural events, from sheep shearing and equestrian competition to a hotly contested arena for baking, crafts and preserves. However, Richard and the team like to keep things fresh as well.

“Each year, we try to introduce something new,” he says. “This year, the array of sideshows on offer will be

different, and we have brought the water slide back, which is always a kid-pleaser! We have introduced a few new modules in the young farmers competitions, which should be challenging for competitors and entertaining for spectators. Find out what is involved with a module called Domestic Bliss — it’s sure to be a crowd favourite.”

The cattle rings will be well and truly active again, and dairy goats will be there, of course, alongside the spectacle of the sheep shearing. Local shearers are considered some of the best in the business, and the show hosts the official ANZ Northland contest. This year the horse section will be run over two days, Friday and Saturday. It’s always worth watching these beautiful animals in action.

It’s not just prize livestock and the masters of the flashing shears who can be champs on the day. The public is challenged to join in with country sports such as tossing the sheaf or teaming up to battle it out for the title of toughest tug-o-war crew. There are even prizes for the winners, as well as bragging rights, good for a whole year.

“We are always looking for ideas to improve our show, and we would welcome any suggestions you may

have. Likewise, if you would like to help out before the show or on the day, just let either myself or our secretary know,” says Richard.

The longevity of the Northern Wairoa A&P Show is down to support from the public and a generous list of sponsors.

“They are crucial to the show’s success, and they have stuck with us through some pretty difficult times over the last few years,” says Richard. “Give them your support because in supporting us — they are supporting the whole district.” ¢

Mayor’s Message

Greetings,

It’s been a busy month as the new Council gets its feet under the table. In November we agreed on the committee structures for the next three years, many of which remain the same from the previous triennium. To enhance economic growth throughout our district we have introduced an Economic Development Committee.

Now that we have higher temperatures it is a busy time for roading construction. Check the roading team progress via the monthly report, available on the KDC website. Roading is one of the key issues that comes up time and time again as part of my conversations with communities. I am committed to progressively reviewing and improving the quality and value we receive from our roading contractors.

Kaipara District has a huge rural roading network and a comparatively small ratings base. We maintain around 1,570km of formed roads (456km sealed and 1,114km unsealed), as well 353 bridges and 88km of footpaths and walkways. Council relies heavily on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to subsidise maintenance, renewal and capital projects for our roading assets. With increasing labour and supply costs, sealing a road these days can sit anywhere in the region of $800,000$1,000,000 plus GST per kilometre. That’s the equivalent of a 2 percent rates rise for every household per km.

Council does not receive a subsidy to seal new roads and as a consequence we do not undertake new seals, unless they are either sealed by developers as part of their development or privately funded by local ratepayers and/

or residents, or if external funding is sourced. This was the case of Pouto¯ Road for example, where the project to seal approx. 10km of the road was largely paid for by PGF funding from Ka¯noa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.

We are also battling cost increases of around 13.5 percent. Staff are working hard to complete our agreed work programme while keeping a lid on the rising costs. It is a difficult situation. We want the best for our district. KDC is always looking for innovative ways to fund roading, as seen when Council sourced PGF funding from Ka¯noa –Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit to improve our unsealed roads, and invest in research and technology for future work. I, along with the rest of the Council, continue to fiercely advocate for external funders like central government to improve our roads at every given opportunity.

Council meetings reconvene in February. Until then, to all of Kaipara’s residents and visitors, have a very safe and joyful holiday period.

Craig Jepson Mayor of Kaipara District

fixture in Arapohue for generations.

p Northern Wairoa A&P Show president Richard Alspach presents the New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society medal to fellow show convenor Terry North

Built

the trade

Grant Tregidga has spent 44 years in the building industry, from a 16-year-old apprentice at C&A

own company.

“We always had

full of timber

amuse ourselves with and my brother Darryl and I would build trollies as children,” says Grant.

“I was born and bred in Dargaville. My grandfather, Reg, was a builder and coowner at Witten and Tregidga and my father was a fitter and welder. By the age of 15, I wanted to leave school. I turned 16 during the summer holidays, and my

dad took me down to C&A Morse, where I completed my apprenticeship.

“Dargaville fell on hard times, and I left C&A Morse. I was employed by Hobson Builders for 12 months before working for two years with Brian Rope, who I met while playing rugby for Te Kōpuru. After that, I went on an overseas experience in the UK.

“Before going, I sent my toolbox of unaccompanied luggage to my friends who were originally from Dargaville, in Melbourne, Australia. I went to the UK, where my sister was, and did a tour with her and her friends.

“I ran out of money, so I flew to Australia, where my tools were, and I stayed with my friends there. Within the first week, I had two job offers for building. I chose the one within walking distance of my accommodation and did commercial work for two years.

Grant missed his kiwi lifestyle of hunting and fishing and returned to Dargaville. His father and Darryl were working in Paihia.

“I joined them, doing commercial building, and then I got the idea to work in Auckland for more money for a year.”

Eventually, Grant started his own business in Dargaville and hired his father. He has fully trained seven

apprentices and helped others finish their qualifications.

“You get someone three years down the track who is capable of looking after jobs. It is awesome when they take on board what they have learnt, and it is a trade that can benefit them for a lifetime.”

Grant is a big advocate for people understanding their rights and responsibilities when hiring a builder.

“Builders have the responsibility to give their customers a checklist, so they are informed about their building

project before it takes place. People should be aware that they have a right to a disclosure too — it covers topics like references, qualifications, experience and so on.

“The daily physical challenge is lighter from when I started. As a young man, I could spend two days battening a house ceiling manually. Technology and health and safety standards have improved the industry and made the job easier.

“A good aspect about my job is that every day I get a sense of achievement and you can see that materially.” ¢

Morse to owning and running his

p Grant Tregidga started his career as an apprentice at C&A Morse, and now has his own building business

A

u by Andy Bryenton

life for grey water

Most of the water used in your household

a limited resource last longer in summer?

Some, like that used to flush your toilet, must, by necessity, end up in the septic system or sewer. However, what about the many litres used to wash dirt off vegetables before a meal, poured out from boiling pots of pasta, or used to wash your hands or take a shower? This grey water may not be pure and crystal clean, and it’s not good to drink. Still, there are many other uses for a water source which, according to studies done in the Kapiti region, makes up 68 per cent of total household water use.

Kiwi health and building rules define greywater as ‘the domestic wastes from a bath, shower, basin, laundry and kitchen, but excluding toilet and urinal wastes.’ However, there are limits on what comes out of sinks and washing machines, too. That’s because the number one use for grey water is irrigation, especially the irrigation of gardens and kitchen crops.

Many greywater systems come with internal filtration to remove nasties from the water before it reaches the roots of

green and growing produce. It’s still risky to use water from a washing machine that’s often topped up with harsh chemical soaps, softeners and bleaches.

Similarly, in-sink waste disposals are not always the best fit for a greywater reclamation system, as the ground-up organic matter which can pass through them may clog up the system. Normal hand soaps in small amounts, a bit of dirt or peeling or two are easily trapped, however. A greywater tank can quickly

fill up with the usual cycle of washes, cooking and ablutions during the day.

Some greywater systems, as noted, use filters to purify their content further, and these will add maintenance to the home’s entire water reticulation operation. However, the payoff comes from having an ample supply of irrigation water when the summer gets hot. While it’s not recommended to spray greywater onto plants in the style of a sprinkler irrigation set-up, under-the-soil trickle pipes can effectively send this water down to the roots of flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables, making gardens greener even when tanks run low and hosepipe bans are in effect from local councils.

The best place to start, if you are now looking at your shower and bath water as a precious resource second time around, is with your local plumber. They can advise you on how safe your grey water is for reuse and discuss options for the correct siting of a tank, filter

and irrigation system. In these times of food inflation, a home garden is a great blessing, and keeping it growing strong, even in the summer, using something that was once a waste? That’s pure green gold. ¢

p Grey water systems can help irrigate your garden in the heat of summer — all from otherwise wasted water resources

Discovering what lies beneath

u by Andy Bryenton

With only a tiny percentage of the surface of the Earth suitable for farming without irrigation, the search for water has been part of agriculture since the very first days of civilisation.

In ancient times, priests were tasked with finding water sources; in places such as Egypt and Sumeria, water was considered a sacred gift, and wells were ordained by a ceremony. It’s very likely that the success of these divinations was more to do with religious leaders knowing how to read the signs of underground water, such as spots where wild palm trees grew or areas that remained green in summer.

Through the Middle Ages and into the present day, many people have sworn by the power of water dowsers, who claim to find underground water with the help of a pendulum, forked stick or pair of l-shaped wires. Some water-finders produce consistently good results,

confounding sceptical thinkers, but the US National Groundwater Association opines that ‘controlled experimental evidence clearly indicates that the method is without scientific basis’. Its theory is that water dowsers, like those priests of old, have a knack for reading the lay of the land and that their forked sticks and other tools are props.

Hydrogeologists use science alone to find water underground, relying on knowledge of how aquifers form in porous rock. Sedimentary rocks like sandstone and porous rocks like limestone are apt to hold water reserves, and the shape of hills and valleys will often suggest where underwater reservoirs can be found.

Aerial maps proved a game-changer for the field when they arrived with the era of flight. Hydrogeologists could trace linear features in the landscape that could indicate fractures in the rock, the edge of different zones of minerals, and even underground streams.

While the specialist skills of such an expert are often needed to drill a successful well in uncharted territory, local well drillers will often have a good knowledge of the underground strata in the area where they work, helping them get the job done through experience more than experiment.

The ultimate tool for finding underground water is thoroughly modern. Still, it’s unlikely to be deployed to help construct a new bore or well for your farm. Ground penetrating tomography that fires waves of energy into the earth, and records the signals which bounce back can detect water from far above. Some satellites are even

p Well drillers can tap into hidden resources and install a bore that will last the distance, but first, they need to pinpoint the best place to drill

sensitive enough to minor shifts in the planet’s gravity field that they can detect the movement of underground water from space. ¢

Turning the screw on outdoor chores

u by Andy Bryenton

If you’re laying the groundwork for a big build, or even a small one, a new innovation could make the first stage, and a solid underpinning, even easier.

In building and engineering, first came the nail, then came the threaded bolt and screw. These innovations changed the way materials were joined together and enabled quicker, easier assembly of materials. Now that simple principle has been applied to affixing posts and foundations into the ground, it’s a potential game-changer. Developed in Sweden, a nation with one of the harshest and unforgiving climates on Earth, the Stop Digging system replaces the work of spades, post hole borers, concrete mixers and shovels to create a base that’s not just rock steady but is founded on solid steel. Galvanised and with a wide bore, their large 1,200mm earth screws attach whole buildings to the ground as easily as screwing a picture frame to the wall of a house. In many ways, they outperform more traditional foundation and in-ground installation methods.

Clever screw piles are suitable for a host of applications, including timber buildings, decking, fences, balconies, pergolas, flagpoles, play equipment and sign furniture. Why so adaptable? The tops of the screws used to drill deep into the ground

Stop Digging system

what

shovel are available in a variety of specialised shapes. Want to erect a building? There is a flat, stable top end ready to take the weight and accept fastening bolts. Need a fence? Use a screw, which can accommodate a robust pole above ground. There are

the ground

says — a way to anchor nearly anything

117345

021 276 7389 Office: 25 Lupis Way,

Mob:

p The

delivers

it

to

without the use of a

The future shape of Dargaville development

u by Andy Bryenton

With Dargaville in hot demand and homes and businesses for sale snapped up quickly, the development of the town has been a topic of major interest in recent years.

One forward-thinking plan involves a three-way partnership between the Dargaville Community Development Board, Ngāti Whātua and the Dargaville Racing Club. It’s their plan to turn the now-closed Dargaville racecourse into a new development, providing affordable homes, light industry space, retirement living and a small commercial hub.

“Once we realised that there would never be racing here again, we were determined that this community asset should be used for something that Dargaville desperately needs and that we should do it in a way that continues to provide benefits for the community in perpetuity,” said Dargaville Racing Club president Tim Antonio.

He and his club members saw the potential of a new development on the site to attract new residents. Dargaville currently has many jobs on offer, but

prospective professionals find it hard to secure a place to live with housing in short supply. Fixing all that is part of the reasoning behind the racecourse project.

“The impact of this development on the local township will be $3 million in employment for the next 30 years, on-site alone,” says fellow racing club member and spokesperson Richard Alspach.

“Our development partner Ngāti Whātua already has a relationship with Dargaville High School’s building academy, for example, and jobs will be created as well as qualifications. It’s a game-changer for Dargaville.”

Plans have proceeded to the point where a private plan change is before councillors. It’s one of two for major developments seeking to boost Dargaville’s housing stock as the west Kaipara becomes a hot option for those leaving the big city. All indications are

that the civic powers are right behind this push for progress.

A recent change of administration in local government has delivered a mayor and council with a focus on growth. One of their first orders of business, for example, has been to establish an economic development committee. Mayor Craig Jepson is of the opinion that making it easy to build in Dargaville will unlock the potential of the town and its surrounds.

“We need to attract businesses and new residents to come here and boost our economy,” said Mr Jepson. “New people who move here, and those who cyber-commute for work, spend in the local economy at local shops and businesses. Every time a new business moves into the district, it provides similar benefits, along with permanent employment.” ¢

LOT 10/On GOLDEN STAIRS ROAD, MARERETU $475,000

LOT 11/On GOLDEN STAIRS ROAD, MARERETU $395,000

Secret Corner

Check out this 3.8ha (approx. 9 acres) on Golden Stairs Road. Good pasture and North facing, with the owners planting plan to include 45 new trees and a host of natives to give this corner block a special and private aspect. Geotech done for your house site, subject to KDC approval. 10 min drive to Maungaturoto.

GARY MORRIS 021 902 087 WEB ID MRE2734

Super

Lifestyle

A fabulous block of 1.8ha (approx. 4.5 acres) sitting proudly on Golden Stairs Road. Good pasture and North facing out to the boundary. Geotech done for your house site, subject to Kaipara District Council approval. Only 45 mins drive from Whangarei and 10 mins to Maungaturoto

GARY MORRIS 021 902 087 WEB ID MRE2735

All the space you need!

A fabulous 10 acre (4.0726ha) ex-dairy block with newly formed council-compliant private driveway access off Ford Road, Maungaturoto. Flat to gentle rolling contour with a stand of trees lining the front of the property. Fully fenced with new fencing. Power at the boundary. 5 minute’s drive to Maungaturoto township.

GARY MORRIS 021 902 087 WEB ID MRE2666

Luxury lifestyle!

Built by Weber Bros in 2018. The home has a bespoke kitchen with quality appliances. There are double glazed windows throughout, ceiling, underfloor and wall insulation, and a good size heat pump. A large back deck overlooks your block of 8.4251ha (just under 21 acres). With 4 paddocks, dams, troughs and cattle yards.

Contained Delight Beautiful bush block on a 4.0900ha section. Two container cabins connected with a solid A frame roof, and a third storage container adjacent. Fully operational solar power system with backup generator. Water supply tank and septic tank system on site and ready for connection. 10 min drive to Maungaturoto.

Spectacular dairy farm with options!

Award-winning premier 184-ha dairy farm. Buildings include a 33 ASHB dairy shed, 300 cow feed pad, 2 x 3-bedroom homes plus a large range of quality sheds and 3 x deep water bores. The farm has the benefit of a substantial 296ha run-off property just 8 minutes from the main farm with two extra homes on a very reasonably priced long-term lease. New dam infrastructure close by provides a great horticulture opportunity.

GARY

Shar Schultz has taken a new step in her profession, forging a new path with well known real estate group The Professionals. As your local agent in the picturesque and desirable Kaipara heartland, Shar is pleased to announce that while her premises and signage may be brand new, she’s back to represent the same ideals and values which saw her achieve award-winning status in real estate.

“I aim to deliver the same strong results for all my clients, buying or selling, with the same down to earth service,” she says. “I chose The professionals due to the way their values as a company aligned with my own as an individual. The core of those values is that people come before anything else, and this means that transparency, honesty and diligence are their watchword. That’s what I’m all about.”

Shar also values the camaraderie and culture of the long-established Professionals brand. “They are very supportive of their agents, and in addition they are quick to embrace the latest in marketing ideas and technology for their clients.”

A seventeen-year resident of Maungaturoto, Shar knows the town and its rural environs, including the beauty of the hills, forests and harbour. For the past eight years, she has been engaged in the real estate profession, helping others find their place in this magnificent corner of New Zealand.

Now, with a new phase of her career well on track, it’s Shar’s plan to open new premises in the town of Maungaturoto for January of 2023. Ahead of the ribbon cutting, she’ll be at your service all summer long, so please feel free to call and have a chat about your property goals and aspirations. This local professional can help you make them a reality.

TE KOPURU Redhill Cemetery Road

Blocks With Options

Well-presented properties that consist of 18 hectares, 17 hectares and a 16 hectare block, these properties are being sold as separate lots, or as a bundle, so buy one or buy all three. Whether you’re looking for grazing, growing crops or lifestyle enjoyment, these north-facing properties have a lot of options. The properties have very desirable soils as for their potential for horticultural. The development of the new irrigation dam close by is the next evolutionary phase of this area and the ability to access and secure water supply is going to change the land usage in the Te Kopuru area, new owners will be able to take full advantage of access to the irrigation water and develop their property with their specific vision for the land.

Lot 18 is going to Auction on the 19th of January 2023 (Unless Sold Prior) Lot 2 and Lot 3 are being sold By Negotiation

Vendors are serious in selling these properties and have instructed me to present all offers, don’t miss out on this great opportunity, take advantage to purchase and invest into these great properties. Don’t hesitate and miss out call Ron today to book a viewing. E rgrbin@pggwrightson.co.nz M 027 471 6388 Ron Grbin

MATAKOHE

Is This The One?

24.5571 ha with a great location being close to Matakohe, currently runs bulls with up to 40 Weaners and 40 rising 2-year-olds between September and through to May and then wintering 40 rising yearlings. A combination of contours with mainly flat to easy rolling contour with good area of land that can be used for hay and silage. The property has good access with a metal race that runs down the eastern side of the property. There are 20 paddocks with very good fencing and a trough in each paddock. Call me today for further information or to book in an appointment to view.

pggwre.co.nz/DAG37112

Better

u by Andy Bryenton

There’s clear evidence that a wellinsulated home is cooler in summer and warmer in winter, helping banish dampness, mould and the conditions that create illness. Realising that every dollar spent helping the community with insulation for healthier homes is recouped many times over in hospital and medical savings, the government is right on board, and with assistance from Mahi Tahi and Foundation North. It means that many homeowners can receive insulation free of charge.

“We’re driven by the whānau situation and what we can do for people in our community,” says Haka Bristow. Haka is a Healthy Homes operation manager, team leader and experienced insulation installation technician.

“If the house needs to be healthy, we focus on that, and not the money.”

Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau has helped bring this programme to the whole of Northland. Projects manager Sean White says there are still many homeowners who feel they may not qualify or will have to pay some form of surcharge. That is not the case, he emphasises.

“If you are a homeowner, living in Northland, and especially in our smaller towns, and your home was built before 2008, the chances are you do indeed qualify,” he says. “Some homes from this era have insulation which has degraded over the years. So even if you think you are covered, getting the complete package of polythene sheeting on the ground, underfloor insulation and ceiling insulation is still recommended.”

The process is quick and simple for any home with an accessible undercroft and ceiling space, at least 30 to 40 centimetres tall. That’s Just bigger than a standard school ruler.

“It’s all eco-friendly and kid-friendly,” says Haka. “When we visit homes full of tamariki, we don’t have to kick them out of their space while we work, and people can be sure that all of our insulation is safe.”

As well as benefitting the public with better health, Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau has another pro-social aspect. It employs whole teams of locals, training them and upskilling them to become insulation experts.

“We’ve built a very strong team, and we’re proud to say that they’re locals,” says Sean. “Our big emphasis is on giving people opportunities, and as we’re in Northland, that includes many young Māori people who have a positive role with Healthy Homes in helping their communities.”

For those who wish to access this offer of a warmer, healthier home, visit healthyhomesnorth.co.nz. Make an online application, and an assessor will visit you to discuss what can be done at your place. It’s likely to be entirely free, and it could give the gift of good health to you and your family. ¢

p Installing underfloor insulation can help make homes warm, dry and healthy for winter, and you may be eligible to have it done free of charge if you’re a Northland homeowner

One big flush of progress

u by Andy Bryenton

Since the Sumerians discovered that a city works best with sanitation, in the days before

innovating ways to deal with the problem of waste.

From the humble long drop privy to the industrial-scale sewerage treatment plants that enable modern cities to be free of disease and smell, things have come a long way. However, for many rural residents, things have also come full circle, with a new appreciation for the hard work of bacteria in the breakdown of ordure.

The advent of the flush toilet may have been an accident when John Harrington, godson of Queen Elizabeth I, compared the sanitation of Roman times with a need to ‘flush away’ bad practices of government. His pamphlet led to the invention of the flushing toilet, which was perfected by later plumbing innovator Thomas Crapper, who gave his monicker to a slang name for the convenience. Still, this move to centralised, reticulated waste disposal sidestepped a huge proportion of non-urban toilets. In recent years, innovations to rival those of Harrington and Crapper have been afoot under the surface on off-the-grid

p Modern treatment systems are as big an advance as the work of flush toilet inventor John Harrington (pictured), and revolutionise the way non-reticulated homes deal with wastewater

properties and farms, taking the old concept of the septic tank and making it as obsolete as the long drop itself.

Composting toilets have received a big boost, with a growing realisation that these conveniences are effective, safe, healthy and free of odious smells. As people seek a tiny-home, bach-based, sustainable living solution, the idea of

the composting toilet has taken off. Several very effective kitsets and pre-made examples can be installed easily without a lengthy consenting process.

Modern bio-based waste treatment units take the septic concept of sludge settlement and bacterial interaction even further. Adding one or more extra bio-chambers, these systems make use of the amazing power of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, or even worms, to turn so-called night soil into just plain soil. Another byproduct is water which can irrigate a run-off field, sequestering carbon and growing plants. Many now avoid the need for mechanical pumps, and those that still pump water and waste often do using solar power.

As municipalities nationwide wrestle with the issue of wastewater reticulation, Three Waters reforms and the need for large investments in complex infrastructure to expand sewerage networks, these off-the-grid answers to the problem of waste are looking

increasingly attractive. There’s also the possibility of such systems replacing old and ailing septic tanks in some towns where a large number of underground concrete units are reaching the end of their usable lives at once. ¢

From a smaller dwelling to an expansive home, there’s a Sunshine solution to fit your budget, your site and your personal preferences. Our plans are simple starting points for finding the perfect Sunshine solution for your building project.

Cultivating a tasty crop

by Andy Bryenton

If you’re moving to the countryside for the ‘good life’ a garden is an absolute must.

Forget the perfect images from magazines, however. Take advice from your green-thumbed neighbours, and find out about your local soils before checking out what to plant throughout the procession of the seasons. Here are some top tips for those seeking a big

harvest for the table. Make the best use of your space.

The idea of a formal garden for looks, and a separate one for the kitchen, is a concept invented by the nobility of the 1600s. Plant your edible crops where they will do best, and if that means that cauli shares the space with roses, that’s nobody’s business but yours and the bees. You can layer in some veggies under orchard trees, and even plant edible crops for a decorative effect. If gardening on the ground is bad for your back, build raised beds from old bricks, wood or recycled building materials. Remember, your land is not for others to look at — it’s there to keep you happy and well-fed.

Herbs are as versatile as veggies. The traditional kitchen garden was heavy on herbs as well as seasonal veg, as herbs can spice up any meal and are often tastier and healthier fresh. Basil, thyme, coriander, rosemary and garlic are easy to grow, and can be planted among other crops. Basil, a perfect accompaniment to many tomato dishes helps tomato plants grow when planted side by side.

Compost is key. Rather than disposing of organic waste like peelings and

trimmings in the rubbish, start a compost heap. All kinds of green waste and table scraps can go into the bin to turn into nature’s perfect growing fuel — plans for enclosed compost bins that can deter rodents and other nasties are available online. Alternatively, take things a step further and turn a drum or old tub into a worm farm.

Easy irrigation. Country gardens often don’t have the luxury of a mains supply, and even municipal water systems in rural towns often emplace hose pipe bans in summer. Add in extra containers to store rainwater, and install drip and trickle pipes for your crops, making watering as simple as setting a timer.

Planting combinations for success. Some vegetable crops work together to cut down on chores for you and ensure a bountiful harvest. For example, sweet corn thrives when planted with potatoes under the surface, and runner beans and squash down low. The threelevel effect triples the output in a small garden space. Similarly, chives, onions,

asparagus and carrots help tomatoes along and vice versa. Carrots and leeks planted together drive away each others’ pests, while celery creates a small undetectable to humans but intolerable to the white cabbage butterfly. ¢

p You don’t need a huge space to make a garden that will contribute fresh, free food to your table

Every piece tells a story

u by Andy Bryenton

The art and history of Dargaville are on display this summer in a new local shop which, its proprietor says, is simply an extension of his collection of treasures.

Gordon Walker has returned to the west Kaipara this year after pursuing his career in Auckland. Like many who choose to make a sea change when leaving the city behind, he’s chosen to make his passion for beautiful historical objects his new job.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how many people have visited since we opened, not just to come and browse or to buy something unique, but also to talk about the history and the heritage of this part of the world,” says Gordon.

“Meeting people, hearing their stories, finding out what memories are brought up by certain antiques, is part of the fun of this job. It’s a very social place to be.”

There’s a story behind every piece. Some have come down through many generations, some have been miracle finds in dusty cardboard boxes. Yet, others have been brought in by folks curious as to their origins and value.

Gordon himself has been collecting antiques since a childhood stay at a home filled with original colonial art and

furniture made him fully appreciate the aesthetic of times past.

Even the store itself is situated in a building with a story. During early times, when many working men flocked to the gumfields, shipwrights, sawmills and logging camps of Dargaville, Henderson’s Boarding House and Dining Rooms offered a simple and respectable alternative to staying at one of the town’s taverns. Gentlemen, and it usually was only men who stayed long-term in such places, could expect a clean and tidy room and simple but filling meals after a day’s work. The building later fell into disrepair, but the new owner’s renovations preserved the vintage sign.

Now the interior is packed with antiques and art which may have been too ‘upmarket’ for the old boarding house clientele. Top hats, fur coats, hand-painted ceramic steins, carved wooden chests and stained-glass lamps are just some of the things on display, spanning the eras from the reign of Queen Victoria through to the neoclassicism of the 1930s and 1940s.

Gordon says that, like many collectors, his trove of antiques has outgrown his home and demanded a shop.

Art is also a passion, and right now a collection of works by talented local painter Marama Ingle are on display in Gordon’s gallery space, depicting scenes

of old Dargaville and its surrounding rural towns in finely realised colour. While a visit to one of Kaipara’s famous museums will open up a window of the past, for the true collector, taking home a piece of art or history can help preserve memories of a holiday for a lifetime. ¢

p Gordon Walker and Christo Deeprose, who ably assists him with running his antique store, have curated a collection of curiosities

A west coast wander

Fifita and

from the king of the forest to the Poutō Lighthouse and all the marvels in between.

Newcomers may not know the hidden realms within the west Kaipara landscape. The first stop on the journey is the towering Tokatoka peak. At its base is a significant former pā site and the historic Tokatoka cemetery — the first burial was in 1869. There’s also the 1920s-era Tokatoka Tavern, where you can rest and have a bite to eat.

Follow Tokatoka Road to the walking track up to the summit where you can take in spectacular 360-degree views of the Northern Wairoa’s stunning landscape. Maungaraho, five kilometres further on, offers a more challenging climb, so the right gear is required. Alternatively, take the walking track that winds around the base through regenerating native bush.

Next, head into Dargaville township, with lots of opportunities to take in history by taking an interesting heritage walk. Spend some time in botanical paradise at the Taha Awa Riverside Gardens located on the banks of the river.

Head on up to Hokianga Road and enjoy the latest movies at the Anzac Theatre Dargaville in a state-of-the-art cinema. You can grab an ice cream, your favourite popcorn and a refreshing beverage before the opening credits.

Dargaville Museum at Te Whare Taonga o Tunatahi has a collection of local treasures and knowledge about the surrounding areas. It holds plenty of the district’s memories, such as the town’s gum-digging days. There you will find

some curious histories to be amazed by, including an authentic gum digger’s hut found in the Kai Iwi Lakes area.

Elements

There is a growing belief among different generations that a funeral is a waste of time in their busy lives. Why put themselves through the pain that a funeral can cause if you can just avoid it? But when we look deeper, we can see the importance of a meaningful farewell big or small, a chance for everyone to say goodbye.

Grief is the natural reaction when we loose someone we love and care for. We cannot avoid it, no matter how hard we try. When someone attempts to avoid their grief it tends to make them hide their pain and emotions. This can cause them to have emotional well-being issues further down the track.

The best way to deal with grief is to embrace it, to expose ourselves to the pain and emotions that death can bring to us. A meaningful farewell is the point in time where we bring together all the elements that allow us to say goodbye in a positive way.

A meaningful farewell for a loved one will help in the following ways.

Located nearby is the Kaipara Heritage Machinery Museum. If you fancy a bike ride, follow the signs to the

p Trek up to the summit of Tokatoka and take in the spectacular views of the Northern Wairoa River

Pou Tu o Te Rangi Harding Park bike track. You can also visit the old Mount Wesley Cemetery.

After your visit, heading south on Poutō Road, you will arrive in the former milling town of Te Kōpuru. Head west on Redhill Road and follow it before turning off at Glinks Road to Glinks Gully and take a stroll along Ripiro Beach — don’t forget the surfcaster.

Alternatively, you can head towards and stop for a rest at Kellys Bay or book into the campsite and have an overnight

Kai Iwi Lakes hold deep significance for native and rare fish

stay before heading off to spectacular Poutō. After you’ve rested, continue on and gaze across the expanse towards South Head.

Beyond the Poutō settlement is the historic Kaipara North Head Lighthouse, built in 1884. It is only one of two surviving timber lighthouses in New Zealand.

If you are eager to travel the roads least travelled, veer off onto Baylys Basin Road and on to Basin Road towards the

Baylys Beach to Babylon Coast Road and have a peak to see how the Kauri Coast Mountain Park is developing.

Once on State Highway 12, travel further north, and you’ll find the Baylys Beach turn-off. Enjoy a refreshing splash of summer fun, but remember to stay safe and supervise your children. The currents can be difficult to spot.

If you have a 4WD, you could trek the sands along Baylys Beach or you could stop in at the Northern Wairoa Golf

Club to hire a cart and tee off for some leisurely time on the green.

Kai Iwi Lakes hold deep significance for native and rare fish, including aquatic life exclusive to its waters. As beautiful as they are, pay respect to the water, supervise the vulnerable members of your group and be safe.

If your timing is right, you could stop at the Kaihū Tavern for some refreshments and a bite of tasty morsels. The pub has its own myths and history about how it

came to be and stands as a monument to the emerging Kaihū. Remember, it is a long way from public transport, so drive safely and make it to the end of your trip in one piece.

Walk in the footprints of time to Donnellys Crossing, once part of the Kaihu Valley Railway and feel the tranquillity of the historic settlement once burgeoning with activity. Nearby you will discover Trounson Kauri Park. Stroll around the loop trap and take in the beauty of the rare trees that once covered the district. ¢

p Poutō Lighthouse is one of two surviving timber lighthouses in New Zealand

And here's why...

Outstanding Natural Beauty

The WILD west coast of Kaipara has some of the most stunning places to visit - long sandy beaches, cool native bush, towering peaks, natural dune lakes and an incredible harbour. Whether you are into adventure sport like hang gliding or blow carts, or something more leisurely it is within easy access of Dargaville and the Kauri Coast. Baylys Beach, Glinks Gully, Maunganui Bluff, Omamari, Pouto, Kellys Bay, Trounson Kauri Park, Waipoua Forest, Kai Iwi Lakes, Tokatoka, Maungaraho, Tutamoe, and the Kaipara Harbour.

Adventures and Experiences

Experiences are in abundance from rail cart tours, horseriding, lighthouse expeditions, museums, kiwi night walks, theatrics, or golf. While you are here, discover the rich history of the area and enjoy a slice of the Wild West Side. Dargaville Rail Carts, Kahuparere Adventures, Dargaville Museum, Kaipara Heritage Machinery Museum, Kewpie Two Boat Cruises, ANZAC Theatre, Dargaville Little Theatre, Circus Kumarani, Bona Dea Fishing Charters, Dargaville Stockcars, Dargaville Skateboard Park, Historic River Walking Trail, Northern Wairoa Golf Club, Kauri Coast Community Pool, and the Riverside Gardens.

Bring Your Bike

Cycling is the "in" sport for everyone these days and on the Kauri Coast we are growing our cycle ways and tracks for your enjoyment. We have a pump track at Selwyn Park in Dargaville, a BMX Track at Harding Park and the Ruawai Stopbank Walk and Cycle Trail. The new Kauri Coast Mountain Bike Park (about 5kms up Babylon Coast Road) has several tracks open with others under construction. The Kaihu Valley Trail is due for completion in June 2023, which is an exciting cycleway project for your diary.

Time To... in Normanby St, Dargaville, can provide you will all the information and gear you need including e-bikes for hire. They also operate the Kauri Coast Shuttle to move you and your trusty steed around the area.

Artisan Paradise

The Kauri Coast is home to many artisans and professional artists. Take a treasure home, such as a beautiful flax bouquet or painting, that will also remind you of the magical time you had in the Kauri Coast. You may even find some treasures at one of our many op shops.

Backwater Arts Collective, Big River Gallery, Flax & Fibre, Funky CreatioNZ, Good Life Store, Muddy Waters Art Gallery, Nelson’s Kaihu Kauri, Sean McDonnell Studio, Valley Art & Plants, White Rock Gallery, Woodturners Studio.

Events Things to Do Where to

Getting Here

While You're Here

A

Ripiro Beach

Kai Iwi Lakes

Waipoua Forest & Trounson Kauri Park

Kaipara Harbour

Our Our

About The DCDB

The Dargaville Community Development Board - the DCDB for short - was established in 2015 to create an empowered, vibrant and successful Dargaville. Our 8 board members, all members of our local community, are diligent in their mission to support, facilitate and enable business and community aspirations. Our purpose is to inspire community engagement, revitalisation and growth across all sectors so that Dargaville is a great place to live, work, play, visit and thrive! We have three staff members who are based at the SEED Co-Working Office during business hours and you are welcome to talk to them about your ideas and aspirations.

SEED Co-Working Office

If you are ever looking for a work space away from home, a meeting room out of the office, or somewhere to meet a consultant from Whangarei, the SEED Co-Working Office is here for you. There are two meetings rooms, and 4 hot desks to hire for reasonable rates. The office is centrally located in the Fosters Arcade, has air conditioning and kitchen facilities for your use. Not sure that our space will meet your needs? You are welcome to visit to check the place out before booking a space. Our friendly staff will give you a guided tour and answer any questions you may have.

Dargavillenz.com

Our website, DargavilleNZ.com, has been developed by the DCDB to inspire community engagement, display information for residents and promote the area to potential visitors. It includes a directory of local businesses and organisations, a list of upcoming events, and our new Community Events Calendar. We endeavour to check information on the website regularly, but if you notice something incorrect or omitted, we are happy to make your amendments.

Facebook Pages

There are five Facebook platforms which we manage, each with a different audience.

Visit Dargaville - We Dare You! is to attract visitors to Dargaville and the Kauri Coast. Posts on this page focus on our geographical icons, such as the Kai Iwi Lakes and Ripiro Beach, and attractions and experiences that entice a visit.

The SEED Co-Working Office page promotes the use of the Co-working Office and events hosted from time to time within the space.

We have hijacked the Dargaville Business Forum page and made it our own. The audience for this page is local businesses and organisations with tips, tricks and events with a business focus.

If you are wanting to know what is happening in our awesome little town or the wider Kauri Coast area, this is the page for you. Dargaville - What's On is for news, views and events promotion within the area, including the Dargaville Daycations.

The last Facebook page is to promote our Destination Dargaville Makeover Magic to dress up the town and provide inspiration to revitalise Dargaville.

Projects Past

Over the past seven years the DCDB has been working conscientiously to make Dargaville a great place to live, work, play, visit and thrive. We have hosted events such as New Resident Welcome Events, funding workshops, the Education and Employment Expo, and instigated the Dargaville Community CCTV Project to promote safety in the CBD area. The DCDB has taken a lead role in organising Tourism Famils for Northland information centre staff showing the highlights of the area. The launch of the website and the Visit Dargaville - We Dare You Facebook page in 2017 saw Northland wide exposure with a competition promoting a visit to Dargaville, and, together with Circus Kumarani, we co-hosted the River Festival in 2019. We have worked closely with several local businesses and organisations to support their endeavours and have worked with our Regional Partners to promote and support the local community.

Projects Future

The DCDB continues to work towards establishing a retirement village for Dargaville residents and while this is a long term project we are committed to seeing it through to the end. The Dargaville Community CCTV Project is also an ongoing one with future stages potentially including smaller outlying townships within the Kauri Coast. The DCDB is also dedicated to making Dargaville and surrounding areas vibrant and successful and are working with the Kauri Coast Promotion Society to ensure that visitors and tourists are attracted to the area. Digital capability workshops available for small businesses have recently commenced and we are collaborating with Creative Northland to hold a Creative Festival in Dargaville in 2024.

Carving the third generation

u by Amy FIfita

Jacob Webster has the drive to learn and an interest in furthering his expertise

Family Butchery.

“Growing up in a butchery was great. My dad has always been a hard worker and taught me about work ethic,” says Jacob.

“Ever since I was 12, I had something to do with dad’s butchery and when I

was a teenager, my after-school job was cleaning equipment at the Maungatūroto Butchery.”

Jacob worked in various Whangārei supermarkets doing various tasks before returning to Kaipara to pursue a career as a butcher.

“A year ago, my parents offered me a job as an apprentice. They missed Kaipara and wanted to be closer to family so they came back here to start a butcher shop in Dargaville. I am excited to learn something new.

“I’ve been helping set up the shop and have been focussing on preparing, packaging and service.”

A standard butchery apprenticeship can be completed in 36 months, with a further six months focussing on specialised areas like smoked meats and deli meats.

“I am interested in the artisan side of things like flavoured sausages, biltong and smoked meats.

“I enjoyed beef jerky, but when I tried biltong, it was 100 times better and straightforward to make — you season

and marinate the meat before you dehydrate it.

“Dargaville didn’t have a biltong place. I spoke to dad, and he was interested in it, too and started making his own. Since then, we have been working on it together for the store, and I want to start making my own next year.

“I am still polishing some ideas and want to try other biltong flavours before I try anything else. There is a South

African store in Wellsford that I want to taste.

“I have recently received my coursework and will begin early next year after we get through the busy holiday period.

“It will be a team effort between dad and Stuart Paterson. My dad showed me how to break down a chicken in 10 minutes, and it is quick and straightforward because there are fewer parts to use.

“Stuart Paterson is someone who I would love to learn from, he has a lot of experience, and he used to run one of the supermarket’s butchery departments.

“They both ask my opinion to gauge a response from someone newly tasting an idea. I have learnt that there is always something to do at a butcher, whether it be something to prepare, clean or organise for the next day.

“I bought a house and relocated to the Dargaville area, and that has taken up most of my free time making improvements to make it my own. I have always enjoyed living in Kaipara now and as a child.” ¢

in biltong as an apprentice butcher at Webster’s

p After being brought up in a butchery, apprentice Jacob Webster is continuing in his father’s and grandfather’s footprints

In a world where so many images we see and consume are generic and forgettable, good design is a breath of fresh air, helping to set the mood for events, shape the perception of businesses, and make information more engaging.

Jessica Keesing knows this well, with 16 years of experience in design, much of this in the busy and varied world of print media. She is also the person responsible for the media aesthetics of Dargaville’s Wearable Arts events from 2018 onward. Now she’s venturing into a new phase of her career, founding a new business called Luna Media to assist people with the aesthetics of presentation. While based in Dargaville, the digital era of business makes Luna’s reach effectively limitless.

“I did some web design work while on a four-year sojourn in Australia, but my passion is for pure graphic design work,” says Jessica. “That means logos, cards and brochures, flyers and event invites, even the composition of entire books. The applications for good, balanced and professional design are endless.”

The difference Jessica and Luna offer is a bespoke experience. Compare branding your small company or theming

your forthcoming wedding to buying a suit. The tawdry world of cut-andpaste online ‘design’ apps produces a generic, off-the-peg image a savvy public can readily see through. Luna is the equivalent, by comparison, of a couture artisan, tailoring a graphic impression that stands out as unique.

“You also get a full personal service, where I can share ideas with a client, discuss what they want and their vision, and turn that feedback into meaningful changes,” says Jessica. “It’s an investment, and good design makes a good impression.”

The move to found Luna came recently, and it’s all about family. In a perfect example of how graphic design can be both professional and personal, the three stars in Jessica’s business logo represent herself, partner Matt, who operates the Muddy Thumbs garden maintenance business in Dargaville, and one-year-old daughter, Letty.

With a very established track record of designing advertising, logos and the layout of whole publications in the fast-paced print media world, Jessica has also developed other skills she hopes to incorporate in the Luna Media portfolio as the company grows.

“I would love to get into photography as well — simple things like capturing people’s family milestones and events. There is a lot of cross-over with graphic design in photography these days, such as ordering and presenting those images in a way that goes beyond the old family photo album.”

Jessica invites anyone who needs to make a lasting, positive visual impression, be it in business or for a special occasion, to get in touch and discuss their needs. Luna Media can be reached via jessicakeesing@gmail.com. ¢

p Matt and Jessica Keesing, with their young daughter Letty, are a family creating new opportunities in Dargaville

A town built on kauri

u by Paul Campbell

A trading post and a prosperous kauri industry formed the foundation basis for Kaipara’s ‘capital’ of Dargaville, seat of administration by the Kaipara District Council, and a business, retail, cultural and sporting centre for the wider Kaipara District catchment.

The town’s name is the legacy of Joseph McMullen Dargaville, who arrived in 1871 and leased land from Māori leader Parore to set up a trading post and built up a prosperous timber industry. Later, he purchased 171 acres at the junction of the Wairoa and Kaihū rivers from which sprang an incorporated town in 1908 and continued to prosper as the main centre of the district.

It is home to Kaipara local government, as well as the district hospital with associated medical centre, banks, major supermarket and commercial businesses, with plans underway for a major housing development on the now retired racecourse facility. For the visitor, there is a warm welcome in motel and hotel

Machinery site are well worth a visit. Dargaville is also the gateway to the 100km Ripiro Beach stretching from the 500-metre Maunganui Bluff in the north to low-lying North Head at the entrance to Kaipara Harbour in the south. It is a gazetted highway, longer than the better-

known Ninety Mile Beach and can be reached via the beach settlements along the coast — Aranga Beach, Baylys Beach and Glinks Gully.

Today, Dargaville is the commercial hub of the northern Kaipara area and the gateway to the Waipoua kauri forest, with its giant Tāne Mahuta kauri, and Trounson Park, with its kauri stands and the holiday playground of Kai Iwi lakes. The lakes and surrounding district have important associations with Māori history. Early maps of the area record the remains of a pā on the main ridge south of Lake Kai Iwi and former burial grounds at Promenade Point and Pine Beach.

A gumdigger’s hut from the Kai Iwi Lake shore is now re-erected at the Dargaville Maritime Museum, a great place to spend time and soak up atmosphere and information. ¢

accommodation, and a wide selection of restaurants and shopping experiences.

The Dargaville Museum and the extensive vintage machinery displays at the adjacent Kaipara Heritage

Take a cruise through the Kaipara

u by Andy Bryenton

When it comes to driving through

picturesque scenery, hopping between cafes in harbourside towns, or even taking an adventurous trip along the coast, Kaipara has it all.

Some of the most acclaimed driving roads for scenery and sights are part of this area. Try the trip from Kaiwaka to Mangawhai, past dramatic Baldrock mountain, and down a long green valley under the shadow of the Brynderwyns to the sea. Then, after a break for al fresco brunch, make the traverse along the coast road to Langs Beach and Bream Bay.

Alternatively, try the Paparoa to Oakleigh road. It’s a 40-kilometre meander, rated as a top motorcycle and roadster tour route, with all the charm of England’s rural B-roads, but nicer weather. Then there’s the unforgettable drive from Kai Iwi Lakes to Opononi. Start with a dip in the dune lakes, then travel through the green, serene Waipoua Forest, followed by the pass up and over to the vista of giant sand dunes and sea as the Hokianga welcomes you. Do this in a convertible, and you’ll even smell the crisp, fresh forest air.

To be fair, even the main arterial of the district, State Highway 12, runs through some beautiful country. The appeal of this road, however, is equally the number of places to stop and explore. Turning left at Brynderwyn, you’ll find several towns along your route, each with its own antique shops, cafes and eateries to entice.

The most interesting road in Kaipara runs along the Ripiro coast in an unbroken stretch of sand 100 kilometres long. It’s classified as a highway, but there are things to know before you take a trip, entering at Glinks Gully or Baylys Beach.

Firstly, the speed limit near these settlements is a hard 30km/h, which is enforced very seriously. So, too, is the rule to keep off the dunes, even if you have come equipped with off-road bikes and trucks. Anglers love this coast, as do horse riders and beachcombers. The correct etiquette is to never pass

between a fisher and the sea to avoid their lines, and to slow down around horses, dogs and children. Two-wheel drive and especially front-wheel drive cars can get stuck on this beach. So take extreme care, and watch out for the tides, which expose drivable hard sand for only some hours of the day.

Unlike metropolitan centres, Kaipara’s petrol stations are not universally open 24 hours. Plan your gas-up stops to take long distances into account. For the drivers of European cars, remember that not all small-town stations deliver 95 or 98 octane. Country roads are sometimes

unpredictable, and gravel surfaces are common when trying to reach some beautiful camping spots, so take extra care and drive to the conditions. If you’re towing a caravan or trailer, be aware of other motorists on these routes with very few passing lanes; pull over often to let lighter vehicles pass.

Enjoy your drive through this stunning and welcoming part of New Zealand. Be assured that if you do break down or have difficulties, the locals will be happy to help you, as will a local towing service. Take your time, enjoy the views, and cruise on. ¢

p From coast to coast, Kaipara provides a wealth of driving destinations and thousands of delightful distractions to stop and enjoy, including places to swim, dine, shop or just grab a picture

Off-road adventure on two wheels

u by Andy Bryenton

Kaipara is a great place to explore by motorcycle, whether you’re taking a lazy summer tour on the roads on a big cruiser or enjoying the breathtaking scenery as you ride an off-roader down the beach.

There’s a whole lot to appreciate on two wheels in this part of the country. Still, one of the biggest attractions for many is the ability to ride some scenic back roads on adventure bikes and to take to the sand of the long, driveable Ripiro coast on off-road machines. Both can provide great holiday memories, but the surfaces and conditions are very different from either tarmac or dirt.

Those taking their first foray into adventure bike touring will find the gravel roads of Kaipara to be a varied experience. They give access to some wild and fantastic places, but with

washboarding, sometimes steep camber and unpredictable gravel sizes and ruts can prove a challenge. Knowing your shocks and tyres are serviced and up to the challenge before heading out will boost confidence. Look out for wandering stock, and even wildlife, out on remote country roads.

For those bringing an off-road bike up to the driveable west coast beaches, remember that respect for other beach users and the ecology is paramount. You’ll want to stay out of the soft and fragile dunes and stick to the beach, which means keeping an eye on the tides. Local riders know the sand and have some tips on how to best enjoy riding on this surface.

First, adopt a position a bit further back than usual when running in a straight line. Keep a bit more weight on the back wheel and run a slightly lower tyre pressure to increase your contact patch and put that power down. Power

is what’s going to save you from a washout if you feel the front wheel start to get unruly, too. The natural urge is to button off, but by leaning back a little and giving it some twist, you’ll rise out of the roughness.

For tight turns on sand, do the opposite. Steer with grip from your legs and get your weight forward, lightening up the rear wheel to drift in an arc over the sand surface. Your legs can help control the bike as much as your arms on sand, as you use nudges and weight shifts to avoid tracking into ruts and grooves.

Finally, it’s worth noting that sand can be a machine killer if it’s not removed. Take special care with washdown and maintenance after riding on the beach, and keep your chain lubed with a light spray instead of a heavy oil in these conditions. With a little practice, you’ll be able to handle the sand like a pro and enjoy the wide-open wild spaces; this is one of the few spots in the world where such a scenic coast is bike accessible. ¢

p Look out for children and anglers near beach entrances, and be respectful; there’s room for everyone on the 100km Ripiro coast

The car that defines summer

u by Andy Bryenton

It was commissioned by the most

and was a favourite of everyone from counterculture musicians

The Volkswagen Beetle was conceived of as a ‘people’s car’ by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. In time it became the icon of peace, love and freedom — ideals he would have loathed. The beetle’s designer was Ferdinand Porsche, and his work on the small bubbleshaped car led to further musing on rear-engined speed that led to the iconic 911.

An affordable little car that was easy to work on, the Beetle became a favourite of free-spirited young Americans in the 1960s. The stereotype of the hippie and his VW was founded in fact, and many young surfers chopped the top of their Beetle to make a summerfriendly convertible. The light little cars handled sand well. Their original design had called for this, as they were also able to be kitted out as a kind of jeep during wartime.

Bruce Meyers was a boat and surfboard maker in California during this era, and he saw some of the wild chops and changes surfers made to

their Beetles. Some took them right down to a chassis, motor and wheels with a frame made from metal tubing and just enough seats and stowage for a chilly bin and surfboards. Meyers used his fibreglass know-how to build a cool-looking lightweight body that replaced the Beetle’s metal shell, and the beach buggy was born.

The Manx, as Meyers called his creation, took the world by storm. In the USA, the VW-powered buggy became a surf and music icon, while in the desert, racers took the formula to even greater extremes, using Beetle-engined machines to tackle desert endurance races. In England, The Orange amplifiers company bought three promotional Manx buggies in (of course) bright orange and loaned them out to bands like Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin. Eccentric aristocrat Screaming Lord Mutch, a friend of rock stars and movie actors, traded in his Union Jack-

emblazoned Rolls for one during his campaign for parliament.

New Zealand embraced the Beetle as a summer car, too. Who can forget the classic original advert for Tip Top’s trumpet ice cream, featuring a red droptop VW alongside Rachel Hunter? We’ve also seen our fair share of converted, VW engined beach machines through the years, and of course that other

Volkswagen vehicle that’s synonymous with summertime, the Kombi van.

While the early 2000s reboot of the Beetle didn’t quite capture the imagination, in the same way. The original Beetle, and its variants, is still the car that most sums up summertime motoring. Perhaps the only thing that comes close, here in New Zealand at least, is a convertible Morris Minor. ¢

p Volkswagen didn’t design the original Beetle to be a car associated with music festivals, surfing and summertime, but that’s just how the little flat-four is remembered

Grow your mind

u by Amy Fifita

Expand your knowledge in 2023 and sign up for a course in your chosen fields and interests to further grow yourself and your career.

Education doesn’t stop when you leave high school. People continue to learn through experience or tertiary education.

You can sit there and wish upon a career, or take the first step and grab the opportunity you want. Dargaville has many opportunities available to individuals allowing them to step into their potential and learn in different ways.

Within the township, there are tertiary education providers such as NorthTec, which offers a supportive learning environment focussed on helping you succeed. It provides an introductory Māori and a Level 3 Construction course on-site at its Dargaville branch. Many other courses are available to be completed online at your leisure at home or in your office space.

options are yours to choose. If you are more of a hands-on learner, talk to the locals in your desired industry and see if they would be willing to take you on as an apprentice. Keep an eye out on the local pages and job sites for an opportunity to behold so you can get involved and achieve your goals.

Dargaville High School offers the Te Tai Tokerau Trades Academy for eager learners to study carpentry through

Education doesn’t stop when you leave high school

Building, Construction, and Allied Trades Skills programmes. The course includes valid topics for the trades such as health and safety units, ramset training and first aid courses.

The options are vast, and you can pursue topics such as business, computing, tertiary teaching or writing. You can even study for the future and take advantage of the opportunity to learn electric vehicle engineering. The

Create a fixed point for the rest of your life at People Potential’s Dargaville campus. It is due to begin at the start of next year, and you can achieve NCEA foundational courses and expand your knowledge from there.

If you want to brush up on your maths and literacy skills at no cost, Literacy Aotearoa has a location in the area.

The tutors will work alongside you and discuss what you want to learn, giving you the freedom to take learning into your own hands.

Also walking beside its students is Sarah’s Solutions. This educational provider will assist you in increasing your knowledge and gaining higher literacy and numeracy skills. The service also

offers you the skills to navigate your sometimes daunting financial goals. There is always a chance to learn. Whether you are rediscovering what you learnt in school or if you are expanding your horizons and finding your way. Take advantage of the local resources that are on offer and go forth and create a prosperous life for yourself. ¢

p Work towards your future and begin opening the opportunities that life has to offer

Educating and engaging

u by Andy Bryenton

Schools are more than just halls of learning, and growing great Kiwis for tomorrow often also includes community outreach as well as study, sports and fun.

Kaipara schools and educators, from early childhood through to secondary level, have a strong focus on working with the community on wider issues outside the textbooks, and this past year has shown some sterling examples of that spirit.

Culturally, Kaipara schools have embraced toi Māori and the art of kapa haka in a major way, hosting and participating in celebrations of this powerful form of expression alongside other traditions from our pacific neighbours. Dargaville High School’s Polynesian culture evening and a week of Tongan cultural learning at Saint Joseph’s school are just two examples of this. Of course, the first official Matariki holiday was a chance for learning and celebration at schools across Kaipara too.

International social issues motivated students to learn more about geopolitics, as many schools ran student-led fundraisers for civilians caught up in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Others helped craft, sew or paint squares for an international art project quilt, which

has been sent to the war-torn nation as a message of peace and solidarity. Others set out to raise funds for causes close to home such as the Northland Rescue Helicopter, leukaemia research, and anti-bullying initiatives.

Ōtamatea High School’s massive push to raise funds for the New Zealand Cancer Society turned into a day of challenges, colour, music and public outreach, as students took the lead in inviting the wider community to pay their respects to those who had passed due to cancer. Their efforts also raised a sizable sum, as other schools pitched in for the Daffodil Day appeal, Pink Ribbon and Men’s Health Movember drives, among many others.

Ruawai College invited the entire town on to its campus for Mental Health Awareness Week, hosting a day in which all could have a frank and honest discussion about looking after each other through tough times. With games, challenges and food on offer, the awkward topic was made relatable to all, and many community groups got involved. A similar focus on wellbeing

is at the heart of all Kaipara schools. The environment is another major topic of education in which students have gone above and beyond this year. From tiny Tangiteroria School’s victor in the Northland Regional Council Environment Awards to hundreds of students from Paparoa, Tinopai, Matakohe and more planting out thousands of native trees, youngsters from Mangawhai’s shores to Aranga’s forested hills have shone out as young kaitiaki. In Ruawai earlier this year, the kindergarten, primary and secondary schools even worked together to plant an entirely new forest park. Other schools have built sustainable gardens and helped with riparian planting.

In art, music, culture, science, sports and academia, Kaipara students keep finding new ways to bring their good influence outside the classroom and engage with the community. At the same time, businesses, emergency services, charities, iwi and cultural groups and more are finding strong allies and future leaders in our youth. ¢

Term 1 Wednesday the 1st of February to Thursday the 6th of April.

Term 2 Monday the 24th of April to Friday the 30th of June.

Term 3 Monday the 17th of July to Friday the 22nd of September.

Term 4 Monday the 9th of October to Thursday the 14th of December.

Teacher Only Days Thursday the 6th of April and Tuesday the 6th of June.

•

•

• Parents have the flexibility to enrol students as on site or distance learners.

• Distance learners enrolled in the school learn from home, wherever that may be with the school carrying the load of administration, teaching, and encouragement.

• International student enrolments welcome as on site learners or as distance learners. Successful applicants can be enrolled at any time of the year when places are available, due to our individualised programme. Learning is the constant and time is the variable.

Curriculum features

• Diagnostic testing at enrolment, individual work programs and one on one teaching, we meet students at their level and accelerate the learning of students who are gifted or with special needs alike.

• Paper based mastery learning, enhanced with IT, and framed in traditional standards and expectations.

• We strive for excellence in all areas.

• Small class sizes

• Students graduate when they have mastered the work required and are not locked into the school year or year groups.

• We strive for each student to reach their full potential and to be the best they can be.

• Mornings focus on academics while afternoons are packed with an extensive range of creative activities.

• There are a range of certificates available to meet students’ individual employment or educational requirements including certificates recognised as university entrance by New Zealand Universities. Contact the school to arrange a viewing or for more information otamateachristianscool@gmail.com | 09 431 8487 | Maungaturoto, 98 Hurdnall Street. Established 1987.

Otamatea Christian School is a private school with a very safe family environment Now accepting enrolment applications for 2023 and 2024. To avoid waiting lists apply now.

Have a happy and safe new year with your family

Looking after life

u by Paul Campbell

Access to quality health services are a paramount consideration in modern living and a number one concern in most decisions involving travel and relocation prospects.

Kaipara can lay claim to a comprehensive suite of top medical services from full general and acute needs hospital care to general practitioner care and everything in between.

The recent government decision to increase funding for the new northern district hospital at Whangārei to $800 million ensures a regional future with construction set to get underway towards the end of the coming year.

The redevelopment plans include an acute services building with a new emergency department with three times more space, a coronary care unit, 10 operating theatres in Stage 1, and modernised intensive care facilities. A new 158-bed tower is planned in Stage 2, with four medical and surgical wards and an acute assessment unit.

Meanwhile, Kaipara hosts full hospital facilities with the Dargaville Hospital and the associated medical centre catering to all medical emergency needs and follow-up care.

Services include a 12-bed general ward, antenatal and postnatal maternity care, allied health provision,

including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work diagnostic services, radiology and laboratory.

There are also medical clinics operating in Paparoa and Maungatūroto. In a huge demonstration of Kaipara ‘cando’, Maungatūroto’s multimilliondollar dementia unit opened this year with 14 units, financed in large part by community fundraising, topped off with a Community Growth fund grant.

Maungaturoto Community Charitable Trust co-chair Graeme Slatter says the unit is the first in a staged plan involving continued fundraising in the town and surrounding districts to have 24/7 hospital care in the town.

The Northland hospital already has a linear accelerator bunker and equipment to provide radiation treatment for people with cancer. Buses to provide mobile surgical and medical services are also underway.

Health shuttles from Kaipara towns offer easy links when required.

Keeping a watchful eye on facilities and health service in the district is the Kaipara Community Health Trust. This organisation stepped in when government decisions threatened to close the Dargaville Hospital in 1993. Its mission is to oversee and ensure that quality medical services remain as an inalienable right in the district.

Overall ‘Kaipara caring’ amounts to an extensive network of services, and these range from elderly care in quality retirement facilities with plans for more as the population grows old gracefully. Scattered across the district are support professionals, including physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, counselling and other health assistance. ¢

p An artist’s rendition of the new Northland hospital

The call of the Kaipara life

u by Andy Bryenton

Kaipara is an attractive proposition as a destination

There’s a combination of factors driving the ongoing and well-documented exodus of people above the age of 65 from New Zealand’s bigger cities to the provinces. Kaipara, only a short drive from cosmopolitan Auckland, seems a popular choice due to its relative proximity to the city and its amenities, with a new motorway soon to open which will slash drive times further.

Then there’s the weather. Dargaville is level with the Nelson Bays for sunshine hours in many years, and both the east coast, the west coast and the Kaipara Harbour are excellent spots for anglers. For these reasons, Mangawhai in the east has been the fastest growing town in New Zealand for the majority of the past five years, while Dargaville is in demand, with one of the lowest ‘vacant occupancy’ rates in the country for residential houses. Both are set to expand, with bold new developments in process in the west, and under construction in the east.

Despite having such easy access to the harbour, beaches, and the great outdoors, even the smaller towns nestled around the Kaipara Harbour are close to the convenience of medical care and professional services. While Auckland is still only a short drive away, there’s often no need to venture so far for shopping or to experience a thriving art and culture scene.

Another factor driving the demographic change we’re seeing

Housing is still very affordable in Kaipara compared to the city suburbs

across the region is the cost of living. Pensions and the savings augmenting them go further in the provinces.

Housing is still very affordable in Kaipara compared to the city suburbs. Many come north to embrace the dream of a lifestyle property and the good life, which offers its own challenges and victories.

Still, it can be a great source of fresh vegetables, fruit and free-range eggs. These and farmer’s markets can make sourcing healthy fare more interesting than a trip to the supermarket.

With the baby boom bulge in the nation’s demographic graph easing into retirement, it’s predicted that by the end of the decade one in five Kiwis will be seeking a perfect retirement lifestyle. There are two ways to achieve this. A big injection of cash to fund

MAUNGATUROTO

The Riverview Rest Home and Village

globetrotting holidays, or a move to a more idyllic part of the country. Those who choose the latter are finding out, in increasing numbers, that one of the best kept secrets in terms of an active but slower-paced lifestyle is just up the road. ¢

Open 8am-5pm. Mon-Fri

Open 8am-5pm. Mon-Fri

Open 8am-5pm. Mon-Fri

Open 8am-5pm. Tues-Thurs

Open 8am-5pm. Mon-Fri

Open 8am-5pm. Mon-Fri

Open 8am-8pm. 7

Open 8am-8pm.

p Close to the city but a world away from noise, traffic and crowds, the ‘best-kept secret’ in Kiwi retirement options is secret no more

Keeping the community strong

u by Amy Fifita

at the start.

Poutō Lighthouse Challenge

The challenge is on Saturday, January 14, beginning at 8am in Poutō, with participants expected to register on the day between 6am–7am.

A fundraiser for Cancer Society Northland, it sees contestants embark on a 17-kilometre bike, walk or run. People can compete in a duathlon or the Warrior event, which is a bike ride to the lighthouse and return before completing the run that includes a dune climb.

Competitors begin and finish at Poutō Point and continue to the base of the lighthouse before returning to the start.

“The tides dictate when the event will run each year as cyclists need the low tide to unveil their awesomeness.”

“Most of us have lost or know a whānau member or a friend going through cancer. All the registration money goes straight to the charity,” Joesephine says.

“I am also embarking on the Smear your Mea campaign, cycling from Wellington to Auckland for the late Talei Morrison in February 2023. Awareness is key whānau, so please get your cervical and prostate check-ups.”

Visit the Pouto Lighthouse Challenge Facebook page to find out more about the event. Registrations are open from

6am-7am on the day only. Please bring cash as there is no eftpos machine available.

Wāhine Tāne Tū Kaha

The event is returning for its second year on Saturday, January 28, starting at 9am at the Rangitane Hall in Poutō, with cash prizes up for grabs.

“Tū kaha means to stand strong in Māori. It is about bringing the community together and encouraging whānau to try something different. The idea came from the need for our whānau to become more active and focus on their hauora,” says Joesephine.

“I am sponsoring two whānau, Te Wira Gray and Jasmine Tana Henry, who are both training hard for this event.”

The day consists of the Dumbbell Hammer Gauntlet, deadlift, farmer’s walk and an optional bench.

“The current bench record of 150kg is held by Logan Poclington for the tāne, he is coming back for his title. The current wāhine bench record is 60 kilograms.”

It costs $40 to register, with half of the proceeds going to Poutō School. The

event is sponsored by Census NZ, and there will be food and drink available.

“Big mihi to all of our local cash sponsors for the events. Community counts and our data and wellbeing are pivotal for our whānau in Kaipara.

Census is coming whānau — March 7, 2023.” Go to the Wāhine Tāne Tū Kaha Facebook page to express interest in the event or contact Joesephine Nathan at 027 302 9836 or email tiakisolutions@ gmail.com. ¢

Joesephine Nathan, founder of the Poutō Lighthouse Challenge and the Wāhine Tāne Tū Kaha event, is inviting whānau to come and join the activities

p The 2022 Poutō Lighthouse Challenge Warrior winner Denise Limby at the top of the dune climb, an optional activity on the day

KAIPARA MERRY CHRISTMAS

SOLD SOLD SOLD

407ha beef and sheep property with over 70 paddocks. 55ha fertile flats in five titles, extensive road frontage, capable of carrying in excess of 4000su. $10k marketing campaign, covering professional photography and videography, solid print media and premium websites.

Sold by Auction

219.15 ha dairy farm, productive pasture and size offers a myriad of options. Past two seasons have been operating on a OAD system, milking 520 cows / 167,396kgMS. Three dwellings and solid infrastructure. $13k marketing campaign, leading with Tier 1 Country Magazine. Intense bidding with 38 bids.

Sold by Auction

TODD SKUDDER GLRK (GOTTA LOVE RURAL KAIPARA)

Living and working in the Kaipara gives me so much pleasure, hence GLRK. This district has hugely productive farmland, be it dairy, beef, sheep or horticulture. The diversity of the Kaipara is a real asset - early coastal country and fertile flats with strong hill country makes up her mantra. Astute buyers are discovering our West coast and what she has to offer.

For a confidential straight-up chat, feel free to call me anytime.

193.44ha dairy and beef unit, in eight titles. 400sqm Hinuera brick homestead overlooking Northern Wairoa River. Producing up to 68,000 kgMS from 240 cows, with 185 Autumn and 180 Spring calves reared. Well supported by infrastructure. $10,000 marketing campaign, leading with Tier 1 Country Magazine.

Sold by Negotiation

Dargaville State Highway

sand hills. $10,000 marketing investment across all digital, social and print mediums.

Sold by Auction

Paradise Road

Neville Road

Pouto Road

Kaipara Kōrero

News from Kaipara District Council

www.kaipara.govt.nz

Council services

during

Christmas and New Year break

Summer holidays are fast approaching! During this time critical Council services continue, with some changes due to staff availability.

Customer service desk

Council offices are closed from noon Friday 23 December 2022 and reopen on Monday 09 January 2023. Our 0800 727 059 telephone number is monitored 24/7. We will still respond to urgent service requests. You can also complete some services on our website.

Rubbish collection and recycling services

Kerbside collections

The following changes will run from Monday 19 December 2022 through to Thursday 02 February.

West:

• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - no change

• Friday - extra run out to Kai Iwi Lakes and Omamari Beach

• Sunday - extra run to Kai Iwi Lakes and Omamari Beach

East:

• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday - no change

• Thursday - extra collection in Mangawhai

• Friday - extra collection for Tinopai and Pahi

Where a statutory holiday falls on a collection day, normal rubbish collection will occur, except for Christmas Day. Christmas Day collections will occur on Boxing Day.

Libraries

• Dargaville Library closes at 5pm Friday 23 December 2022 and reopens at 9.30am Monday 09 January 2023.

• Maungaturoto Library closes at 1pm Saturday 24 December 2022 and reopens 10.30am Saturday 7 January 2023.

• Mangawhai Library is closed 25-27 December 2022 and 01-03 January 2023.

• Kaiwaka Library closes at 2pm Friday 23 December 2022 and reopens 4pm Monday 09 January 2023.

• Paparoa Library closes at 1pm Friday 23 December 2022 reopens 2pm Monday 09 January 2023.

Finish line in sight for Maungaturoto toilets

Progress continues on the final phase of construction for toilets on Hurndall Street in Maungaturoto.

Still to do are the wastewater connection and install of a stainless-steel handrail to aid access to the facilities, as well as the artwork wrap and garden re-planting. We will provide an update once the toilets are ready for public use.

You can still use the public portaloos outside the St John building and between the Maungaturoto Library and Ray White on Hurndall Street until the new facilities open. A big thank you to the Maungaturoto community and visitors for your patience.

Security improved at Taharoa Domain

Security improvements at Taharoa Domain are now complete, enhancing the safety of campers, day trippers and Domain staff. The improvements were prompted by an independent review of security at Taharoa Domain

The security changes include installation of a new CCTV system and new automated gates at the Domain entrance that can be controlled remotely, in case of an emergency. We will also increase contractors on site through the busy holiday season.

Taking care of Kaipara this summer

Kaipara’s population is expected to explode during the summer break, with people enjoying the district’s beaches, lakes, and vibrant communities. Please take care of yourselves, your family and whānau, and others who are enjoying a Kaipara summer.

Be aware of alcohol-free areas

Kaipara’s Alcohol Control Bylaw prohibits drinking and possessing alcohol in control areas, except for approved events and special occasions. A map of alcohol-free areas is available on our website.

Dispose of rubbish responsibly

Check the kerbside collection schedule and put your refuse and recycling out on the correct day. This reduces the chance of animals getting into your blue bag and spreading it across the roadside. If you’re out and about, take your rubbish home with you or put it in a nearby bin to dispose of responsibly.

Exercise your dog responsibly

All dogs need and love to exercise, so it is important that dog owners know about the areas available for on and off-leash dog walking. Our website has some general rules and tips for exercising your dog in Kaipara, as well as an interactive map showing on and off-leash dog walking areas. It also shows you where dogs are prohibited. Thank you for taking the lead.

Don’t be a noisy neighbour

Be a good neighbour. Think about how your noise might affect your neighbours. If noise from your neighbour is impacting you, try asking them to reduce their noise. Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 105 890 to make a complaint. Our team will assess the situation and take appropriate action.

Check before lighting a fire

Want to light a fire? Check whether it’s safe to light a fire, and if you need a fire permit at checkitsalright.nz

Slip near 661 Bickerstaffe Road

Temporary traffic control is in place on Bickerstaffe Road in Maungaturoto due to a slip affecting the pavement width of the road. Our contractor, Ventia, is monitoring the slip for movement. Temporary traffic control will remain in place until our contractors are sure there is no further movement, and a permanent fix can be completed.

If you notice further movement of the slip in between Ventia’s monitored visits, please contact us on 0800 727 059

New shade sails for Paparoa

Paparoa Village Green users can now picnic and play under brightly coloured shade sails thanks to a collaborative effort between the Paparoa community and Kaipara District Council.

New eye-catching shade sails for the picnic table area were jointly purchased by the community and Council, and existing shade sails over the playground have been cleaned and refreshed by Council contractors.

Kaipara Kōrero

News from Kaipara District Council

www.kaipara.govt.nz

Kaipara Libraries update

Join our summer reading challenge, 2022 Raumati: wero pānui me mahi, on Beanstack. Grocery, fuel vouchers and more are up for grabs. Stock up to 40 items on an adult card and 10 on a junior card to last you though the Christmas break. Download eBooks and eAudiobooks from our digital collection to take offline reading wherever you go.

Head to our website kaipara.kotui.org.nz and click on eResources for more info. Follow Kaipara Libraries Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.

Each month, Dargaville Library encourages visitors to try a new phrase in te reo Māori.

Word for Hakihea December: Raumati - Summer

Give it a go next time you’re chatting with one of our librarians.

Update on Baylys Beach remedial works

Remedial work on Seaview Road in Baylys Beach is almost complete. The footpath leading up Chases Gorge to Sunset Terrace was more damaged than expected. The work needed to re-open this footpath will be completed before Christmas, however the concrete may not be finished until the after the Christmas / New Year’s break.

Pick up your what not to flush sticker

Look after your loo and Kaipara’s wastewater network this summer by reminding your household members and visitors what not to flush. Stick our ‘what not to flush’ sticker up in your bathroom and save your toilet from a summer of clogged pipes and costly repairs.

Toilets are designed to flush pee, poo and toilet paper, but you’d be surprised at the other things that are flushed down the toilet. Wet wipes, nappies, rags, and sanitary products are all common discoveries for staff repairing blocked systems. We’ve also come across jeans, chemicals and toys. These all clog up the system, blocking or damaging our grinder-pumps and septic systems. Even products labelled as ‘flushable’ do not break down enough for the wastewater system to process. Grab your free sticker from our Dargaville or Mangawhai office this summer!

Making Te Tai Tokerau accessible

What does an accessible Te Tai Tokerau look like? The four Northland councils are working together to make our communities more accessible to live, work, play and visit.

We’re asking the public to provide feedback on how councils can improve the lives of people with access needs. Find out more and give your feedback at kaipara.govt.nz/access

Taking care of Taharoa Domain

Summer is here and so are all our visitors. It’s the busiest time of the year for Taharoa Domain, and we need you to help us look after this beautiful gem. Kaipara District Council jointly manages the Domain with Te Kuihi and Te Roroa, and together we have worked hard to ensure the area is protected while still being enjoyed by the many holidaymakers who visit.

• No dogs are permitted in the Domain.

• No fires or fireworks are permitted in the Domain.

• Practice safe swimming. If you’re swimming with others, make sure you always keep an eye on your buddies. Remind your visitors there is no buoyancy in freshwater, and to be aware for the temperature drops that can occur with the sudden depth changes.

• No motorised craft on Lake Waikare or Lake Kai Iwi.

• Stay within the five knot speed limit on Lake Taharoa – please steer clear of swimming areas, particularly places like Pine Beach which can get crowded.

• If you or your visitors are using a jet ski, make sure it’s registered and the registration clearly displayed. Check out the NRC website for further information.

• Keep to the walking tracks and take your rubbish home with you. See our website kaipara.govt.nz/kai-iwi-lakes-taharoa-domain-2 for more information on the area.

Poutō wharf takes shape

The construction of Poutō wharf has really been trucking along recently, with another dozen piles driven in the ground. STF contractors are now more than halfway through the piling. Work has started to install double timber bearers and joists, as well as some sections of the timber decking, bringing to life the frame of the wharf.

Next steps are to complete the piling for the wharf head and continue with sections of the timber decking and hand railing.

A reminder that works will shut down on the 22/23 December and start again in the week beginning 09 January – keeping the busiest period clear of any active construction work. During that time, the site will be left so that it is safe and secure and people can easily use the entrance to the beach safely. People can still access Fisherman’s Rock and beyond while the wharf is a worksite.

Pahi pruning – playground closed

Our parks team have had to temporarily close the Pahi playground. Arborists recently went on site to carry out maintenance and trimming work on both the legendary Pahi fig tree and the Norfolk Pines adjacent to the playground. While the team completed the minor pruning works on the fig tree they discovered nesting inhabitants in the branches of the Norfolk Pines! Herons and their chicks of various ages have taken up residence there for the nesting season.

Unfortunately, this means the playground must remain closed over the holiday period until the baby birds have left their nests and the remaining work can be safely carried out. We plan to have the arborists back in February 2023 and will let you know as soon as the playground is back open.

Fun day for a community cause

u by Andy Bryenton

What better way to begin the new year than by taking the family to a summer celebration, right in the heart of Mangawhai?

When the seaside town’s population swells by thousands as the call of surf, sun and sand entice the adventurous to spend some time under canvas or in the caravan. However, the attraction on January 2 is situated in the Mangawhai Domain.

The Mangawhai Gala is a true Kiwi classic, combining food, music, a carnival atmosphere and lots of

music jams in the background, thanks to talented musicians like Totally Uked and DNA.

The event is a big fundraiser for the local domain, which is run by a volunteer committee of dedicated locals. All year round, this space is host to many local sports fixtures, such as tennis, cricket and football. There’s also an events hub in the main hall, which has been host to

entertainment for all ages. It’s as if your favourite memories of school fairs and summer fetes were all transported to the east coast and combined just in time for the holidays.

At 9am the gates will open, inviting families to a wonderland of more than 100 market stalls, with crafts, artwork, coffee, delicious street foods and local cuisine, plants and flowers, produce and funky retro chic. There’s something for everyone set to go on display, while live

some memorable get-togethers. All this is made possible by those volunteers and a supportive community, so by visiting the gala, you’ll be helping to make Mangawhai a better place to live.

With the aim of the day being family fun, there’s plenty to amuse small visitors too. The gala day will feature carnival-style rides, face painting, pony rides and all those delicious fairground treats that make a day special. To make things easier for mums and dads, there’s

parking on site. Of course, for those not living or holidaying right in Mangawhai itself, the town is only a short drive from Bream Bay, the west Kaipara or even Auckland’s CBD.

The whole Mangawhai Domain committee and many other creative

locals have worked hard to prepare for this festive day, seeing in the new year for celebration and style. They warmly invite one and all to join them on the domain for the 2023 Mangawhai Gala to get the year off to a suitably merry start. ¢

MangawhaiGala

p Visitors to the Mangawhai Gala can expect lots to see and do, to taste, and enjoy as more than 100 stalls, live bands and carnival attractions take over the town’s sporting and social hub

u by Andy Bryenton

One of the best parts about living in Kaipara is the inspiration from nature

artists who wish to express themselves in a new medium.

As well as being a local gallery and art space, the Muddy Waters Gallery in Dargaville provides a hub for art classes taught by prominent local artists, and is open to all for a minimal fee, covering the cost of materials. It’s been a popular initiative for the Dargaville Arts Association, which has brought together the know-how, the skills and the space to enable locals to discover their hidden talents.

One such new artist is Betty Willetts, who began attending classes in the evenings halfway through 2022, initially out of curiosity.

“To be honest, I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body,” she says. “It was, at first, a bit of a worry that I would not be able to paint, but I surprised myself. When you have a good teacher and the support of people around you also learning, it’s easier than you think.”

That initial foray into painting on canvas delivered some memorable

built on the skills and techniques imparted

lesson after lesson. Then came a new opportunity,

as the group gained the use of a new pottery kiln, and the ability to explore ceramic art unfolded.

“I think the painting gave me the confidence to try pottery, and to be honest, it has become something of an obsession,” says Betty. “Now, when I look around town, I see all kinds of things which could be used as tools to shape and pattern clay. It’s very hands-on as an art, and the process of making something which is real and useful is very appealing. You can’t wait to see what comes out of the kiln after a firing.”

These are just two examples of ways the local arts scene is supported by programmes at Muddy Waters. The gallery space hosts exhibits of local members’ works and a book club for

prose, poetry and novels. Upstairs, there are classes for young people and a dedicated group exploring toi Māori. The traditional arts of weaving cloaks and decorative panels have attracted lots of positive feedback.

Plans are afoot for even more classes in 2023, with the success of this year’s programme encouraging more locals to give it a go. The arts association see it as part of its mission to help all comers embrace their creative side, and it is very pleased to see new artists getting inspired by its example. ¢

works,

by her tutors,

p Local artist Betty Willetts has discovered a talent for painting and pottery thanks to easily accessible art classes in Dargaville

December

2023 Wai Worri Country Muster — Thursday 29th December Pre-Muster Hoedown at Kaihu Tavern 6.30ish — Friday 30th December Music Night, Woolshed, 7.00ish — Saturday 31st December, New Year’s Eve, Woolshed with Carleen & Ted, 7.00ish — Saturday 31st December and Sunday 1st December, Festival Artists 10am start. Proceeds to North Haven Hospice. For more info phone Carleen 021 148 9804 or Ted 027 319 5106.

Bring Balance Afternoon Retreat — Friday 30 December, 12.30–4.30pm, Baylys Beach Community Centre. Time to be present and set intention for the new year. Includes meditation and more. Exchange: $60. Contact: Maureen 021 0231 8008, maureen. bringbalance@yahoo.com, www.bringbalance.co.nz.

The Almighty Wild West Fest — 31st December to 1st January — Local live music, car & bike show, bouncy castle & entertainment for the kids PLUS a whole lot more. West Coast Road, Kaipara. Want to get involved? Call 020 4088 6907.

January

Northland Circus Festival — 13th–15th January 2023 at the Paparoa A&P Showgrounds. Summer fun for all ages and abilities. Buy tickets at www. circuskumarani.co.nz.

Pouto Lighthouse Challenge — 14 January, 2023 at Pouto Point, Pouto WALK, RUN, BIKE for Cancer Society Northland. Contact Joesephine Nathan 027 302 986.

Tane Wahine Tu Kaha — 28 January 2023 at Rangitane Hall, Pouto. Fundraiser for Pouto School. Contact Josephine Nathan.

Markets

Dargaville Twilight Market — Last Friday of each month, 4.30pm–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 Wednesday 6.45pm at the Kiosk, Memorial Park, Logan St, Dargaville. dargavillebridge@gmail.com or phone Peter 09 439 2437 or 022 405 6439.

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.

Justices of the Peace — available every Thursday from 12–1pm at the Whanau Focus offices, 61 Victoria Street, Dargaville.

Kaihu Valley Music Club — 3rd Sunday of the Month at Kaihu Hall on Woods Road. 1pm–4pm. Enquires to John or May 09 439 0827.

Kaipara Cycling — Calendar of Rides — Thursdays 3.15pm–5.15pm Junior Rides 10 years and older; 5.30pm–7pm Women’s Rides; 5.30pm–7pm Adult Rides. Meet at Time To, Normanby Street. If you are riding the Kauri Coast Mountain Bike Park or you want to join the Kaipara Cycling Club go to join. hivepass.co.nz or email kaiparacycling@gmail.com.

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 Creative Centre – Creative Dance! — 5pm Thursdays, 15 Onslow Street. For all ages and abilities, fun and inclusive. Koha.

Kumarani Productions — Tuesdays Circus Kids 5–10 years at 3.45pm–4.45pm, Youth Circus 10–18 years at 5pm–6.30pm and Dargaville Fire and Circus Jam 6.30pm–8pm. 15 Onslow St. Through school terms only. Koha.

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 month 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.

Rotary Club of Dargaville — meet weekly at 11.30–1pm at the Lions Centre in Hokianga Road. New members always welcome, men and women. If you want to join a Service Club with nearly 85 years to Dargaville. Phone Brian 09 439 6175.

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. 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.

TIDE CHART

POUTO POINT

Dargaville High +1:50 Low +3:10 Ruawai High +1:16 Low +0:57 Kellys Bay High +0:10 Low +0:06 Tinopai High +0:17 Low +0:21 Pahi High +0:44 Low +0:30

DAY HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

WED 21 3:04am (0.7m) 9:24am (3.0m) 3:33pm (0.7m) 9:44pm (3.1m)

THU 22 3:59am (0.5m) 10:19am (3.2m) 4:28pm (0.6m) 10:39pm (3.2m)

FRI 23 4:52am (0.4m) 11:10am (3.3m) 5:20pm (0.5m) 11:31pm (3.3m)

SAT 24 5:43am (0.4m) 12:00pm (3.4m) 6:12pm (0.4m)

SUN 25 12:23am (3.3m) 6:32am (0.3m) 12:49pm (3.5m) 7:02pm (0.4m)

MON 26 1:14am (3.3m) 7:21am (0.3m) 1:38pm (3.5m) 7:53pm (0.4m)

TUE 27 2:04am (3.2m) 8:11am (0.4m) 2:28pm (3.4m) 8:44pm (0.5m)

WED 28 2:55am (3.1m) 9:01am (0.5m) 3:19pm (3.3m) 9:36pm (0.6m)

THU 29 3:48am (3.0m) 9:53am (0.7m) 4:13pm (3.2m) 10:30pm (0.7m)

FRI 30 4:44am (2.9m) 10:49am (0.8m) 5:09pm (3.0m) 11:27pm (0.8m)

SAT 31 5:43am (2.8m) 11:50am (0.9m) 6:09pm (2.9m)

SUN 01 12:26am (0.8m) 6:46am (2.8m) 12:54pm (0.9m) 7:11pm (2.9m)

MON 02 1:27am (0.9m) 7:49am (2.8m) 1:58pm (1.0m) 8:11pm (2.9m)

TUE 03 2:25am (0.8m) 8:49am (2.8m) 2:57pm (0.9m) 9:07pm (2.9m)

WED 04 3:20am (0.8m) 9:42am (2.9m) 3:50pm (0.9m) 9:58pm (2.9m)

THU 05 4:09am (0.8m) 10:30am (3.0m) 4:37pm (0.8m) 10:44pm (2.9m)

FRI 06 4:53am (0.7m) 11:12am (3.1m) 5:20pm (0.8m) 11:26pm (2.9m)

SAT 07 5:33am (0.7m) 11:51am (3.1m) 5:59pm (0.7m)

SUN 08 12:05am (3.0m) 6:10am (0.7m) 12:27pm (3.1m) 6:35pm (0.7m)

MON 09 12:41am (3.0m) 6:45am (0.6m) 1:01pm (3.1m) 7:11pm (0.7m)

TUE 10 1:16am (3.0m) 7:20am (0.7m) 1:34pm (3.1m) 7:46pm (0.7m)

MANGAWHAI HEADS

DAY HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

WED 21 6:11am (2.3m) 12:09pm (0.8m) 6:20pm (2.4m)

THU 22 12:35am (0.6m) 7:08am (2.5m) 1:03pm (0.6m) 7:17pm (2.5m)

FRI 23 1:30am (0.4m) 8:01am (2.6m) 1:56pm (0.5m) 8:14pm (2.6m)

SAT 24 2:23am (0.3m) 8:53am (2.7m) 2:50pm (0.4m) 9:10pm (2.6m)

SUN 25 3:15am (0.3m) 9:45am (2.8m) 3:43pm (0.4m) 10:05pm (2.6m)

MON 26 4:06am (0.3m) 10:36am (2.8m) 4:37pm (0.3m) 10:58pm (2.6m)

TUE 27 4:57am (0.3m) 11:29am (2.8m) 5:32pm (0.3m) 11:51pm (2.6m)

WED 28 5:48am (0.3m) 12:22pm (2.8m) 6:26pm (0.4m)

THU 29 12:44am (2.6m) 6:42am (0.4m) 1:15pm (2.7m) 7:21pm (0.4m)

FRI 30 1:38am (2.5m) 7:38am (0.6m) 2:10pm (2.6m) 8:16pm (0.5m)

SAT 31 2:34am (2.4m) 8:38am (0.7m) 3:05pm (2.6m) 9:12pm (0.6m)

SUN 01 3:33am (2.4m) 9:40am (0.8m) 4:00pm (2.4m) 10:08pm (0.7m)

MON 02 4:33am (2.3m) 10:41am (0.9m) 4:56pm (2.4m) 11:04pm (0.7m)

TUE 03 5:33am (2.3m) 11:38am (0.9m) 5:51pm (2.3m) 11:59pm (0.7m)

WED 04 6:30am (2.3m) 12:31pm (0.9m) 6:44pm (2.3m)

THU 05 12:51am (0.7m) 7:21am (2.4m) 1:20pm (0.9m) 7:36pm (2.3m) FRI 06 1:39am (0.7m) 8:08am (2.4m) 2:06pm (0.9m) 8:24pm (2.3m)

SAT 07 2:23am (0.7m) 8:51am (2.4m) 2:49pm (0.9m) 9:09pm (2.3m)

SUN 08 3:04am (0.6m) 9:31am (2.5m) 3:30pm (0.8m) 9:51pm (2.3m) MON 09 3:42am (0.6m) 10:09am (2.5m) 4:10pm (0.8m) 10:30pm (2.3m) TUE

4:19am (0.6m) 10:46am (2.5m) 4:49pm (0.8m) 11:08pm (2.3m)

PUZZLE TIME

Join line (4)

Puzzle (7)

Split (6)

stake (4)

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

ACROSS: 1 Moist, 4 Bed and breakfast, 14 Power, 15 Odour, 16 Starvation, 17 Solve, 19 Fun, 20 Naughty, 21 Make sense, 22 Nougat, 25 Altimeter, 27 Rhythm, 28 Tissue, 33 Deliberate, 35 Rug, 36 Eulogy, 37 Drum, 39 All, 41 Jugular, 42 Bisect, 43 Coalition, 44 Theme, 45 Streaker, 50 Ra, 51 Etcetera, 55 Agile, 58 Ingenious, 59 Cherry, 60 Clarify, 61 Too, 63 Took, 64 Sicily, 65 Vat, 66 Proficient, 68 Gossip, 69 Pilfer, 71 Biography, 76 Mosaic, 77 Pragmatic, 79 Bandage, 81 Cue, 84 In-law, 85 Sabbatical, 86 Prank, 87 Strap, 88 Bronze medallist, 89 Pedal.

DOWN: 2 Ordeal, 3 Swung, 5 Eats, 6 Airfare, 7 Draper, 8 Raise, 9 Amnesty, 10 Fist, 11 Seldom, 12 Swift, 13 Granite, 14 Penguin, 18 Strike back, 23 Delay, 24 Chalice, 26 Leisure, 27 Regatta, 29 Service, 30 Result, 31 Creel, 32 Aghast, 34 Evil, 36 Elver, 38 Mania, 40 Rife, 45 Shift, 46 Regions, 47 Aunt, 48 Exotic, 49 Dirty, 50 Recover, 52 Call it a day, 53 Tarnish, 54 Refund, 55 Aspirin, 56 Jetty, 57 Drop, 62 Dodge, 67 Kinship, 68 Glucose, 70 Foresee, 72 Initial, 73 Pillar, 74 Banana, 75 Agenda, 76 Metre, 78 Gable, 80 Dirge, 82 Swan, 83 Pass.

CONNECT THE DOTS

PUZZLE TIME

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

ACROSS: 1 Aspic, 4 Gruesome, 9 Pestle, 14 Muted, 15 Generous to a fault, 17 Annoy, 18 Nap, 19 Stylish, 20 Dixieland, 21 Elated, 24 Obedience, 25 Oxygen, 26 Friend, 29 Profession, 31 Sap, 32 Foiled, 33 Numb, 35 Oil, 37 Plan, 39 Executors, 40 Threshing, 41 Elite, 42 Levelled, 47 Clippers, 51 Gouda, 55 Penetrate, 56 Crackling, 58 Lots, 59 Ski, 60 Lull, 61 Gently, 62 Doh, 63 Dispatched, 66 Drapes, 67 Arabic, 69 Obsession, 72 Settle, 73 Consumers, 75 Rubella, 77 Met, 80 U-turn, 81 Sell down the river, 82 Novel, 83 Stream, 84 Holidays, 85 Petty.

DOWN: 2 Spectator, 3 Ideal, 5 Ruse, 6 Emotion, 7 Off like a shot, 8 Equal, 9 Potency, 10 Seam, 11 Lonely, 12 Stand, 13 Adapted, 14 Mystery, 16 Oyster shell, 22 Divide, 23 Mediate, 24 Offence, 25 Oppose, 27 Elusive, 28 Petrol, 30 Nous, 32 Fluid, 34 Bogus, 36 RSVP, 38 Lie, 42 Lapel, 43 Vanilla, 44 Late, 45 Enamel, 46 Fussy, 48 Ingratitude, 49 Pelican, 50 Rot, 51 Gesture, 52 Acidic, 53 Fashion model, 54 Skid, 57 Insist, 64 Excellent, 65 Restful, 66 Dormant, 68 Blossom, 70 Screwed, 71 Flaunt, 72 Stove, 74 Sylph, 76 Exile, 78 Ante, 79 Stay.

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE

19MM TREATED Plywood $120. Scooters Plywood 09 438 6565.

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.

FIREWOOD CHRISTMAS Special from $50 per metre. Delivery included in Dargaville & close vicinity. Phone Adrian 020 4091 8732.

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, $85 per m³ onto your trailer, or truck deliveries available for larger orders. Phone 021 132 4107 or 09 439 5141.

FENCING

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

PET SUPPLIES

PET DOORS — Cat Doors, Dog Doors for Glass or Timber — supplied and installed. Phone 027 275 0918 or 09 439 6458 Kevin Sowter or visit my website: windowanddoors.co.nz — Window & Door Services Ltd.

DARGAVILLE

RAFFLE RESULTS

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.

LAWN MOWING, local available to take on more lawns. Phone Jackson 022 543 2792.

TRADE & SERVICES

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.

WINDOW & Door Repairs & Glazing, Insect Screens, Security and more — call me today. Phone 027 275 0918 or 09 439 6458. Kevin Sowter or visit my website: windowanddoors.co.nz — Window and Door Services Ltd.

TREE SERVICES

KAIPARA STUMP grinding. All stumps, any size, free no-obligation quote. Phone 020 4029 2263. Based in Dargaville. Keep it local.

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.

PUBLIC NOTICES

ACOUSTIC MUSIC Blackboard Concert — First Thursday of the month — 7–9.30pm, next is 2nd February 2023, 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.

SECURITY

SECURE YOUR Home — Security Doors, Grills, Locks, Bolts, Stays, Latches — Supplied and installed. Phone 027 275 0918 or 09 439 6458 — Kevin Sowter or visit my website: www.windowanddoors.co.nz — Window & Door Services Ltd.

SITUATIONS VACANT

WAITER STAFF/KITCHEN Hand wanted for customer service, till operation, dishwashing and home food delivery. Contact Jas Singh Phone 021 438 311 or email jas_shiraz@yahoo.co.nz — Shiraz Restaurant Dargaville.

DEATH NOTICES

Evans, Alba Nance

Passed away peacefully on the 16th December 2022 in her 96th year. Dearly loves adopted mother of Mina. Loved Nana of Janelle, Kristy and Sharni, loved Nan nan of Kruz, Emerson, Kayla, Scarlett and Keira. Will be sadly missed by everyone that knew and loved her.

All communications forwarded to PO Box 24, Te Kopuru, 0391.

GOT2GO PLANTS will be closed Sunday 25th and Monday 26th Dec. Then open again Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st Dec. Open again Tuesday 03/01/23. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. TODAY FM 106.7 Wish our Dargaville Listeners a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Thank you for your support 439 7798.

lovely memories of Patrick with us that we will treasure, and will be a comfort to us always.

many of

ROTARY Club Xmas Cash Raffle. No 527 Liz. Thanks for your support.