The Weekend Lifestyler, April 14th, 2023

Museum needs volunteers

u by Ann van Engelen

The Mangawhai Museum is inviting community members to join the team of volunteers and help keep the much-loved premises, run smoothly under the guidance of manager Tom Long.

“We are particularly looking for a few more front of house volunteers,” says Tom.

“My wife Barbara Hilden and I arrived from Canada in June 2022 as Barbara took up the position of director at The Kauri Museum in Matakohe, and she is loving it. I spent a few lovely months as a house husband, and just when my work visa arrived, this job became available.

“We had tried to move to New Zealand in 2019 when we came as tourists, but the pandemic stopped our plan. I have felt very welcome at the Mangawhai Museum since arriving. There is an amazing amount of history, and the greatness of the community is very clear with the volunteers working

Educators help set up and take down education programmes and lead our visiting school groups.

“They tell me they enjoy it because the work is purposeful. Each month we get together for afternoon tea. It is very clear that the museum is a wonderful focal point of the community, preserving and curating the heritage and tangata whenua of Mangawhai.

“Barbara and I are loving it here. Whenever anyone asks why New Zealand, I generally respond with have you seen New Zealand? I drive 45 minutes from Matakohe to work, which is a shorter commute than I had in Vancouver, and my drive goes through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.

here. They are very positive — there’s no politics as they all want the best for the museum.”

Tom is the only full-time employee, with more than 80 volunteers donating 3,500 hours of service a year to help the museum run successfully.

“The volunteers help it run, and run it does. Most of them are seniors who look for ways to give back, but we always need more as they need time for their grandkids and holidays.”

Volunteers are organised into working groups such as collections, education, fundraising and history.

“We are currently needing people for front-of-house to welcome guests, do gift shop sales and educate volunteers.

“I have been a tourist in most countries in the world, and New Zealand takes the cake for scenery. Barbara and I have such fun with our different museums. Mine is small and newish, and hers is very big and very old. We have some of the same challenges, yet they are very different.

“We are looking for people to donate two hours every week or two to help the museum host the community and welcome the world. Our systems are easy to learn, and there is plenty of support. We’d love for new volunteers to join our little community.”

For more information, go to mangawhai-museum.org.nz/volunteer or call 09 431 4645. ¢

p Tom Long is the recently appointed manager at the Mangawhai Museum

“I have been a tourist in most countries in the world, and New Zealand takes the cake for scenery”

A season of surf enjoyed

u by Ann van Engelen

Mangawhai Christian Surfers Groms group enjoyed a summer season and

“Groms is the name for a young upand-coming surfer, and our group is open to any kids in Northland,” says organiser Daniel Harrington. “My wife Emma and I live in Waipū and we wanted to create a safe space for young people to come and enjoy activities like surfing and skating. I saw a group at Mt Maunganui on social media and thought that was cool, so we do similar. We always look for where we can get the best surf, but if there is no surf we go to the skate parks in Ruakākā, Waipū or Mangawhai.”

The @CSGroms instagram page has 400 people following the group.

“We announce where we will be and what we are doing, and they turn up. I

got into surfing with friends when I was younger, and then my own kids got into surfing and skateboarding. Emma and I wanted to build a positive community and a safe space for youth to do fun activities. Our group started with four to five kids, and last Tuesday, we had 40 turn up. It is all word of mouth and social media.

“We recently built a skateboard ramp at our house, thanks to Waipū ITM donating the plywood and Macsway Scaffolding for donating the pipes for the ramp. With the economy being really hard at present, their help was very appreciated because we wanted somewhere safe for kids to come

looking forward

events throughout the year.

anytime and stay occupied. There is no charge for the children to attend the events, but they bring a gold coin, and we get hot chips to share. We have also done stuff like a surf movie night. They love it, and all have fun.

“We surf in terms one and four because a lot do winter sport. Over the school holidays there are activities going on, but we will be doing events if the weather is good. During the second week, there is a camp in Mt Maunganui called Sea Salt. Young people who train in surfing and skateboarding leadership also run a camp at Langs Beach, which sold out in one day. We are excited to have professional surfers from the USA

come to do the course. They will be surfing, skateboarding and fishing.

“Christian Surfers NZ is the overarching organisation, but groups throughout New Zealand and the world get kids active. Emma and I love it. We have surfer and skateboarder Zach Taylor from Whangārei come along. He is good at what he does, he is really hip, and the kids love it. As a school teacher, I enjoy seeing the youth being active and connecting as they improve their skills. When they drop into a wave or a ramp, it really boosts their self-esteem. Once they can catch a wave or ride a skateboard — they can do anything.” ¢

p Daniel and Emma Harrington and their children Ruby-Rose, Asher and Rhyder p The CS Groms enjoy a variety of surfing and skateboard events together across Northland

All about the dress

u by Ann van Engelen

Attending car shows such as the Mainstream Mangawhai Easter Hop dressed as Lady Sugarbelle in her 50s pin-up dresses is a hobby Janelle Reynish began nearly seven years ago.

Lady Sugarbelle took first place at the Miss Easter Hop competition, with Miss Sandy Dee taking runner-up and third place going to Leanne McKinnon.

“My husband Gordon and I really enjoy travelling to car shows with our daughters Sofia and Izabella,” says Janelle.

“My infatuation with dressing in the 50s retro style began as a way to bring my Lady Sugarbelle character to life. Gordon is my photographer and photographed cars as well. Mangawhai was buzzing with classic cars on the weekend, and even though it rained for a bit, that didn’t stop the show. Everywhere you looked, there were classic cars rolling down the road. It was a great turnout considering there was threatened rain.

“When it rained, everyone hid under the deck, and the band kept playing. Once the rain stopped, all the kids were jumping in the puddles — it was a fun

environment. You could hear the engines rumbling, the live music and laughter of the children. It was beautiful.

“Attending these shows gives our girls experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise get. They love to dress up now, too and recently became brand ambassadors alongside me for Australian company Poison Arrow Retro.

“The company loves how our photos are really natural, and you can see the girls enjoying themselves. It’s something they want to do — they are not forced to do it.

“The other ladies did really well as well. Miss Sandy Dee and I wore similar colours, which was nice. Her dress had Peter Rabbit on it. We often catch up together at events and get together.”

Leanne McKinnon is a line dancer and travels a lot with her husband. They are often seen in their Corvette convertible.

“Dressing up isn’t huge up here in Northland yet, but the public enjoys seeing the fashion. You don’t expect to see mums and kids with hair done and make-up on. Event organisers love that they have no idea what the pin-up girls will be wearing, what colours we are going to have on or if we will go crazy on accessories or not. It all adds to the car shows.

“Whenever we step into pin-up, the cheeky flirty side comes out, and it is

also a confidence booster. We can step out of full mum mode and be not mum for a little bit while the kids can let loose, have fun and not be prim and proper. They always help pick their outfits and accessories too.

“The Easter Hop really was a successful event, and we are all looking forward to next year. The organisers did a great job, and we all appreciate the effort they put into the show.”

p Lady Sugarbelle (centre) took first place at the Miss Easter Hop and Best Retro Dress Up competition, with Miss Sandy Dee (left) taking runner-up and third place going to Leanne McKinnon

Photo courtesy of Mirror View Photography

Carnival fun supports school

u by Ann van Engelen

The annual Waipū Easter Carnival was a great success, with people coming from near and far to enjoy the festivities of the day.

“The carnival has been going for around 15 years and is put together by the Waipū Primary School PTA,” says carnival coordinator Dee Field.

“As a major fundraising event for the year, we have a dedicated carnival crew who help pull it together, organise sponsorship and ensure it runs smoothly. This year, our main sponsor is Ray White, and we have a lot of our products sponsored by the Waipū and Bream Bay communities.

“It is amazing how locals really buy into it and help us put the event on. The

funds from the last carnival were used to buy a portable stage for productions and seating for the hall. We also invested in a structured literacy programme throughout the school, which is going very well.

This year, the organisers hope to upgrade the school playground.

“The current playground is quite tired, and we need to replace equipment and refresh the bark. Past carnivals have paid for the scooter track and other things for the children. It is such a great event, and we appreciate everyone who makes it the success it is.”

Art & Tartan+ to be biennial

u by Ann van Engelen

The organisers of the Waipū Art & Tartan+ have made the decision to hold the event every two years rather than annually, with this year’s event postponed until 2024.

“In October 2022, we held a very successful Art & Tartan+ after an absence of three years due to Covid,” said organising committee chair Art & Tartan+ Claire Drake.

“We believed it would be possible to return to our annual schedule of events, with entries opening in December with several very good ones being received. However, a number of issues, including research among previous entrants, have caused us to reflect on the totality of Art & Tartan+.

“Many people are still catching up on their lives following Covid, and this has meant they do not have the time to focus on an annual event.

“They are very keen to be involved, but every two years is preferable. Following discussions with the board of the Waipū Scottish Migration Museum, it has been agreed that Art & Tartan+ will now be a biennial event held in September.”

The shows, originally scheduled for September 15 and 16 2023, will now be held in September 2024.

“Art & Tartan+ rebranded last year, and it is vital that the event maintains its very high standard and remains an iconic Waipū event. Later this year, Art & Tartan+ will launch its own website, with year-round opportunities for sponsors, and there will be a significant outreach to schools in Bream Bay and beyond.” ¢

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¢ p The weather provided a beautiful day for visitors from near and far to enjoy the Easter carnival

p A previous entry at Waipū Art & Tartan+

Survivors beyond the Jurassic

u by Liz Clark

For more than 280 million years, cycads have been a part of the Earth’s natural history; now, these ancient plants are part of Kiwi gardens.

Often mistaken as members of the palm family, cycads have a distinct group of ancient plants more closely related to members of the conifer and ginkgo families, despite having a palm-like appearance. The plants are distributed globally in varying climates, with many classified as threatened or critically endangered in the wild.

The majority of cycads have nonbranching trunks growing in a similar way to palms in many respects. They grow well in pots with the right soil conditions or as part of a tropical

garden setting ranging in height from one metre up to 21 metres, depending on the species. While palms bear flowers, then fruit and go to seed, their similar counterparts form male and female cones called strobili. These rely on wind pollination to produce viable seeds for the next generation. The fronds are shorter and stiffer than those of palms.

Unlike many species of palms, cycads are slow-growing and can live for hundreds of years. They’re ideal for smaller garden settings either as a stand-alone specimen as a centrepiece

or in pots to match an outdoor setting. Choose a warm, sunny spot with partial shade to place your cycad. Shelter from harsh winds is essential to provide optimum growing conditions.

Cycads need a slightly acidic environment, preferably pH six–seven, lots of organic matter and good drainage to thrive. If growing in pots, ensure a high-quality potting mix is used. After planting, allow the soil to dry between waterings. In winter, watering should be done less frequently to prevent root rot.

Provide a slow-release fertiliser tablet formulated for trees and shrubs for the

plants each spring. These will provide the right nutrient balance your cycad requires. There are several species of cycad available in New Zealand for home gardeners, including Cycas revoluta or more commonly known as the sago palm. This particular species is the most well known.

However, more recent introductions of similar faster-growing species, Cycas taitungensis and the tropical Cycas thouarsii, are now available at local nurseries. Visit your local garden centre or specialist grower for more options and information. ¢

Art connects trio

u by Ann van Engelen

Waipū’s Deb Hunter-Whitlock and Whakapirau’s Edie Chappell and Geoff Ruthe are presenting their most recent works in the Connection, Vision and Perception, an exhibition opening on Thursday evening at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery.

“The trio share a connection as members of Mangawhai Artists Incorporated,” says Mangawhai Artists chair Belinda Vernon.

“Each artist has worked separately towards their vision, an individual pursuit along an unknown pathway, of the artworks they will create for the exhibition. The work is now in the gallery, and it is time for the viewer to take part. Perception is in the eyes of the viewer.”

Since graduating with a Diploma in Visual Arts (Painting) from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Art School in Nelson, Deb Hunter-Whitlock has pursued a career in the arts sector, painting, exhibiting and working in art galleries.

“The process of painting begins long before the paint hits the canvas,” says Deb. “I start with sketches and then scale up to the final size in charcoal or pencil drawings. I use drawings and photographs for reference, then I begin painting, with music being an important part, to get the flow.”

Deb won the painting category of the 2021 Kaipara Art Awards with Sandspit Sanctuary. Edie Chappell is predominantly a self-taught mixed medium artist who does both black and white art and coloured works on a variety of substrates.

“Most of my artwork and style come from taking these learnings and then experimenting and stretching what I have learned to add this information into my own work,” says Edie.

“This gives me the scope to produce the piece that I am feeling at the time. My art often shows a more abstract perception and is intuitively layered, where I have no preconceived idea of how the piece is meant to turn out. It is finished when I stop playing with it.”

Geoff Ruthe came to art later in life, taking up painting at age 65 and commencing four years of study at the Browne School of Art. A clinical psychologist by profession, he combined clinical practice with hill country farming in Raglan for some years. In his early life, he skippered canal barges on the English canals.

“Life on the canals, travelling at four miles an hour, standing outside in all weathers while tiller-steering, and shepherding during my farming days have given me a perspective and love of the landscape, which underpin my painting,” says Geoff.

Geoff won the painting award in the 2022 Kaipara Art Awards with Paradisus Terrestris, following on from winning the

judge’s award in 2021 with Nightfall over Pahi.

Connection, Vision and Perception opens at 6pm Thursday, April 13, at

the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, and is then open daily, 10am to 3pm until midday Wednesday, April 26.  ¢

p Geoff Ruthe with some of his works of art

WE

Hakaru

The parade starts from the Old Hakaru Hall, starting with a fall-in at 10am to march at 10.30am, followed by a wreath-laying, Last Post and Reveille. Service begins at 11am at the Hakaru RSA. The event will be followed by refreshments.

Wellsford

Dawn Parade and Service — parade assembly at 5.45am, 13 Port Albert Road.

Parade commences at 6am to the Memorial Gates, followed by a service at 6.05am in Wellsford Memorial Library.

Whangārei and Districts

Dawn services (6.45am) at Ngunguru Sports Complex, Kopipi Crescent; (6am) WWI Cenotaph, Bank/Rose Street. Citizens services (10am) at service section, Maunu Lawn Cemetery, Cemetery Rd, Maunu; (10am) Pehiaweri Marae, Ngunguru Road, Glenbernie; (10am) St Paul’s Church Memorial Hall, Boswell Street, Kamo.

Waipū

Citizens service (11am) at the Presbyterian Church, The Centre.

Maungatūroto

Dawn service at the Centennial Hall opposite the RSA cemetery, View Street, at 6am, This will be followed by breakfast at the RSA clubrooms in Hurndall Street.

Matakohe

A combined service of the Paparoa RSA and The Kauri Museum will be held on Tuesday, April 25 at 10.30am, with a fall-in at the hall. Wreaths will be laid at the WWI monument and at the hall. A service will then be held in the Volunteers Hall. All are welcome to attend.

LEST WE FORGET

A wartime threat remains

u by Paul Campbell

Lying just off the coast of Northland out from Bream Bay, a relic of the second world war, still poses a threat.

The ship Niagara was bound from Auckland to Fiji and onwards in 1940 when it was struck by a German mine and sank. Northland locals helped rescue 349 passengers and crew with no loss of life.

The ship was loaded with oil for the voyage and has leaked from her bunker tanks ever since, causing some environmental damage and public consternation. However, how to counter the threat is still debated today.

Shortly after her departure from Auckland on the morning of June 19 1940, at 3.40am, when the ship was between Bream Head and Mokohinau Island, a violent explosion shook the vessel. Within a few minutes, the order to abandon ship was given.

In the Niagara’s strongroom was a shipment of 590 gold bars being sent to the USA. A salvage company established headquarters at Whangārei, and nine months of dangerous work saw much of the bullion recovered by helmeted divers.

In 1953, another salvage operation saw a further 30 bars recovered. The five remaining gold bars weigh a total of 2,000 ounces and have increased in value with time. The oil threat remains.

p RMS Niagara still lies off the coast

Maritime NZ says that the remaining oil is in a semi-solid state because of the pressure and low temperature at that depth. Still, the wreck is deteriorating and climate change is blamed for rising sea temperatures. A new contingency plan was allegedly made in 2016 in case a large amount of oil suddenly escaped.

Environmentalists and salvage experts, councils and political figures have called for the oil to be extracted from the wreck. It has been estimated that with modern technology, this could cost about $6 million. In 2018, an art exhibition was held at Mangawhai to raise public awareness of the environmental threat from the wreck. ¢

WE

The horsemen of the north

u by Paul Campbell

Within a few days of the declaration of the first world war, New Zealand offered Britain its services and army recruiters had an initial problem — too many applicants to fight arrived at their doors all at once.

In the enthusiasm for young Kiwis to seek service overseas, ‘for the mother country’, saw the formation of the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment. Territorial units of mounted rifles in the Auckland Military District included the 11th North Auckland Mounted Rifles, which joined in the overall mobilisation of August 1914.

A history of the regiment tells how ‘the physique of the men was splendid, and from the colonial mode of life they inherited the initiative and resource which make for high military talent’. They were drawn from Rodney north, from Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Mangawhai and the wider Kaipara and Northland.

There were bushmen and farmers and stockmen; there were tradesmen and labourers and clerks. One single tent in the Epsom military training camp included a schoolmaster, a barber, a coach driver, an accountant, a carpenter, a farm labourer, a commercial traveller, a farmer and a lawyer.

In keeping with the times, almost all were well used to horses as partners in transport and sport, a definite advantage in the profession of arms. They went on to serve from Gallipoli and the Middle East; some not to return home.

The 11th saw service at Gallipoli as part of the Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment and also in Sinai and Palestine 1916–1919 with the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade of the Anzac Mounted Division.

This part-time Territorial Force and a tiny regular force of professional soldiers formed the basis of New Zealand’s army at the outbreak of the first world war.

Instead of mobilising the territorial force as such, the government decided to raise the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in 1914. The new mounted regiments were given provincial names corresponding to the military district in which they were raised to give the men a sense of regional identity throughout service in the Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine campaigns. ¢

New Zealand Mounted rifles saw desert service in the first world war

Courage in the skies

u by Andy Bryenton

In civilian life, he sold farming machinery and equipment in the rural areas around Whangārei, but when duty called, Lloyd Trigg stepped up to become a pilot and take the fight to the Axis in North Africa.

On August 11 1943, 80 years ago, Lloyd Trigg and his crew chanced upon the German U-Boat U-468 under the command of Oberleutnant Klemens Schamong. The German submarine had surfaced to recharge its batteries by using diesel power, and the captain had deployed anti-aircraft guns. Despite this, Trigg and his men elected to fly in for a low-altitude bombing run, and an attempt to sink the U-Boat before it could head out into the Atlantic and potentially sink undefended ships. The following words come directly from his citation for the Victoria Cross.

‘Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine’s anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical.

‘Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind.

‘He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat, where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on, the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew.’

By committing to the attack, Trigg and his men must have known the danger of flying into the teeth of a powerful naval AA gun. None of them survived the plunge into the Atlantic, but they completed their mission, and the U-Boat was destroyed. That is when the story takes a turn for the legendary.

A patrol aircraft later found U-Boat Captain Schamong and some of his men afloat on an allied inflatable raft. When they were picked up and captured, they all insisted that Trigg should be commended for extreme bravery. Despite being sunk by his actions, the German sailors had immense respect for his fighting spirit and daring. Some aboard the raft even attested that the inflatable that had saved their lives had fallen from Trigg’s plane just before it

hit the sea. Lloyd Trigg became the only Kiwi ever to receive the Victoria Cross based entirely on the testimony of his defeated foes. While they were enemies in war, the German sailors insisted that Trigg should be posthumously decorated for his courage, and the Allied high command agreed. He was also the last New Zealander to win the British VC. Since then, a Kiwi version of the ultimate battle honour has been founded. ¢

p Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg remains the only New Zealand serviceman ever to receive the Victoria Cross based on the recommendation of enemy officers he defeated

Muscle machines and more

u by Ann van Engelen

The Mainstream Mangawhai Easter Hop saw enthusiastic crowds enjoy Easter Sunday inspecting a distinctive and collectable collection of vehicles at the Mangawhai Domain.

“Jaguars, Mustangs, Corvettes, VWs, Buicks, Holdens and Cobras were just some vehicles on display at the Mangawhai hop,” says organiser Bryan May.

“The Mangawhai Muscle and Classic Car Club hosted the event, and the show suited everybody who came along. There were stalls with people selling merchandise, and the entertainment and food outlets were enjoyed by all. We had the Scarlet Girls entertaining along with local band DNA, and Miss Easter Hop were crowd pleasers again this year, and there were eight sections of prizes for cars.

“The pin-up girls danced in the rain and brought another element of surprise to the day. It was spectacular. Over all, the photographers made a tremendous effort, and Mainstream Freight brought their old American bus along, and the kids loved playing with the steering wheel and beeping the horn.”

The classic and customised vehicles drew the crowd with rows of gleaming chrome and polished paint on display. A hard-earned patina graced a classic Chevrolet alongside modern muscle cars and a Dodge Hellcat boasting immense horsepower direct from the factory. Bonnets were open for engines to be admired, Ford’s Cobra sealed

“Musclecars.Universe created a video of the show, which can be viewed on YouTube. We were donated a set of auto magazines from the 70s and 80s that raised $500. We gave all the fashion show entrants a prize because we really appreciate them turning up to be a part of the fun. The guys and girls who brought along their vehicles were amazing and

“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my wife Kerry, our son Ricky and his wife, Heidi. Ricky owns Maycon Homes and helped financially, and Heidi did the poster designs and helped with prizes and certificates, while Kerry used her business and organising skills alongside my background in project management.

“We are very fortunate to have Mainstream Freight as a main sponsor along with FD Smith Contractors, Tara Iti and Maycon Homes. We already have two more large sponsors for next year and are making it a two-day show.

the reputation of legendary designer and racer Carroll Shelby, and a host of variants delighted fans of racing history.

The Ford Mustang lineage spanning many generations, including a fine example of a turn-of-the-millennium era V8, was also exhibited.

were all respectful of the wet ground. A good time was had by all, right down to the car parking team. We are so grateful to our sponsors because, without them, the show wouldn’t have gone on. We had local businesses providing prizes, with cars from around Northland and beyond joining us for the day.

“The hop is a community event that supports the Mangawhai Domain Society, which had a tough time over Covid. We have groups such as cricket, rugby, soccer and tennis using the grounds. The surf club needs us more than ever this year, with it being red stickered after the storm. These are the reasons we keep hosting the hop.”

“Musclecars.Universe created a video of the show, which can be viewed on YouTube”

p The Holden Premier brought back memories for many

p A row of Cobras delighted the crowd

p The Calrod was a show stopper on the day

Photos courtesy of Brian Came — Wheels in Motion Photography NZ

p Lou ensuring his car is sparkling for observers

p Event goers of all ages enjoyed the puddles left by the downpour

p During the rain, the band played on

p There were many discussions about the various cars on display

p The Mustangs never cease to amaze

p A classic look was on display with customised cars

p With matt black paint, the Chrysler held its ground

p After many years the Austin is still a delight

No quick fix for Northland’s roads Chopper pilot hits milestone

Northland Transportation Alliance says despite the best efforts of the councils’ staff and roading crews, there is no quick fix for many of Northland’s roads damaged in recent extreme weather events.

“Some repairs are likely to take around two years to complete, and that timeframe could be extended if Northland is hit by more adverse weather,” says NTA maintenance and operations manager Bernard Petersen.

Compounding damage to some sites, means more cost and time involved to complete repairs.

“There is also a need to meet funding requirements, including in-depth geotechnical investigation and design aspects. Intense rainfall resulting in Northland’s wettest winter in 2022, followed by the region’s wettest summer on record, has caused significant damage to the local council roading network NTA is responsible for maintaining.

“While efforts to repair roads have been hampered by constant soil movement, the settled weather of late is helpful. Now the weather has stabilised somewhat, our crews are working on permanent repairs after the initial focus on just getting roads open and functioning well enough to allow traffic through.

“Our crews are focussing on the hundreds of smaller repairs needed on our roads in Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North Districts. Provided the weather remains settled, most of this work will be tackled by the end of June, and this work includes low-risk slip repairs that don’t require geotechnical assessments.

“It has been really frustrating because we want to sort out our roads, but with geotechnical monitoring showing ongoing movement of under slips and over slips in some cases, we simply can’t start, or fully complete, repairs while the

land is unstable, and that’s why seven rural roads remain closed.

“Northland’s roads are clearly fragile, and the safety of staff remains a priority as road works are carried out. Before Cyclone Gabrielle, there were 1,126 recorded and monitored underslips across 1,110km or a quarter of our network.

“Identification, recording and monitoring of the balance of the network is a slow ongoing process — based upon funding availability. That is an average of one slip per kilometre.

Cyclone Gabrielle and the extreme Mangawhai storm resulted in 302 overslips and 343 under slips — 84 new under-slip sites not previously recorded in our database.

“The estimated repair cost for 116 of these slip sites alone is over $36 million. The other issue we are contending with is the hammering our Mangamuka and Brynderwyns detour roads are taking with the increased traffic volumes. That makes roading repairs extra challenging and is also cause for concern due to increased safety risk for road users and our roading crews.” ¢

u by Ann van Engelen

“I am so grateful for my career in helicopters so far. It has taken me on adventures all over the earth,” says Sue.

Sue says it has been a privilege to see the world from a unique perspective and experience extraordinary things.

“I’ve touched the clouds — literally. One of my favourite aspects is the people I’ve met through flying helicopters, who I have worked with and still do. Flying the Northland Rescue Helicopter is satisfying work. I get to exercise all the varied skills I’ve picked up over the years.

“I enjoy the spontaneity of rescue flying, never knowing when, or in what direction, the next flight will be, nor what might be required. It could be a boat winch, a night landing in the hills or a transfer between hospitals in stormy weather. I feel very privileged to be part of such an incredibly professional team whose purpose is to help those in need.”

Sue was captivated by the helicopter’s sensitive controls and absolute manoeuvrability from her first flight in a chopper.

“I simply loved trying to hover, which is such a balancing act, and to swoop forward or back, up or down freely in all three dimensions. The feeling of being one with the helicopter, where it seems to fly in response to your thoughts alone, is such a wonderful feeling, but tantalisingly illusive. It intrigued me, and I became hooked.

“Going solo wasn’t nearly enough, and getting a full licence just highlighted how much I still had to learn. I thought perhaps flying a bit more would allow me to finally master it. I soon realised I either must fly for a living or give it up completely and here I am, 10,000

hours later, still wanting to fly just a little bit more.”

Sue reached her 10,000th hour on helicopters on a rainy day after dropping a patient off on the Whangārei Hospital helipad. Her co-pilot kindly took a snapshot, which she posted on social media, thinking nothing of it, but the response was amazing.

“For some reason, as I know at least a dozen pilots who have lots more hours than me, the post went viral. It got more than 29,000 ‘likes’ and over 1,100 comments. That amounts to about a thousand strangers that thought enough about my personal milestone to write something congratulatory. I just thought wow.”

Sue’s two favourite comments from the post are: ‘That’s a whole lot of shaking going on’ and ‘She needs to thank all her past and present mechanics for keeping her in the air.’ “True words indeed.”

You can read more about Sue’s career at nest.org.nz/susan-dinkelacker. ¢

Northland Rescue Helicopter pilot Sue Dinkelacker says she is humbled by her achievement of flying more than 10,000 helicopter hours as she reflects on her career in the air.

p Northland Rescue Helicopter pilot Sue Dinkelacker at the chopper base in Whangārei reflecting on achieving more than 10,000 flight hours

p Bernard Petersen, Northern Transport Alliance maintenance and operations manager

PUZZLE TIME

Sudoku

Last week

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

ACROSS: 1 Muggy, 4 Thin on the ground, 14 Rough, 15 Genie, 16 Brightness, 17 Unite, 19 Cur, 20 Lengthy, 21 Stressful, 22 Hearth, 25 Wrongdoer, 27 Steady, 28 Gantry, 33 Falsehoods, 35 Hoe, 36 Poetic, 37 Emit, 39 Car, 41 Pep talk, 42 Alkali, 43 Desperado, 44 Flora, 45 Lacerate, 50 By, 51 Thirties, 55 Gorge, 58 Sanctuary, 59 Droops, 60 Schemes, 61 Nod, 63 Rout, 64 Carafe, 65 Inn, 66 Copenhagen, 68 Checks, 69 Seeing, 71 Irascible, 76 Author, 77 Teardrops, 79 Archaic, 81 Imp, 84 Nicer, 85 Accustomed, 86 Elate, 87 Aping, 88 Get away scot-free, 89 Deeds. DOWN: 2 Uneven, 3 Going, 5 Hurl, 6 Nightie, 7 Nutmeg, 8 Heeds, 9 Gesture, 10 Opus, 11 Noises, 12 Bunch, 13 Therapy, 14 Retreat, 18 Chinchilla, 23 Idiot, 24 Addenda, 26 Rosette, 27 Specify, 29 Timpani, 30 Camera, 31 Phial, 32 Kitsch, 34 Silk, 36 Proof, 38 Tools, 40 Seer, 45 Laser, 46 Consume, 47 Rate, 48 Teabag, 49 Prone, 50 Bedding, 52 Incendiary, 53 Toenail, 54 Eyelet, 55 Gyrated, 56 Joins, 57 Epic, 62 Spasm, 67 Skating, 68 Cynical, 70 Ikebana, 72 Reproof, 73 Touché, 74 Fresco, 75 Tilted, 76 April, 78 Rocks, 80 Halve, 82 Aria, 83 Fête.

Last week’s crossword solution 5x5

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.

Jumbo crossword