The Weekend Lifestyler, March 12th 2021

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March 12 2021

Rhythm of the seasons The Kaipara’s shores will host this year’s Earth Beat festival, a celebration of the autumn equinox with music, art, symposia on wellness and personal growth, and, importantly, a zero footprint on the natural environment. It’s a fresh concept in outdoor festival organisation and could herald a new continued on page 10 … way of thinking.

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March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY INTEGRITY COMMUNITY MEDIA, A PRIVATELY OWNED KAIPARA COMPANY. Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Deb Wright | 021 639 696 Journalists: 0800 466 793 | Andy Bryenton | Liz Clark | Ann van Engelen Marketing: Betty Willetts 027 525 8197 | John Pickworth 027 525 8189 | Andy Bryenton 021 439 947 Creative Director: Jessica Keesing Design Team: Sacha Freeman | Gavin Bainbridge | Kelsey Hansen Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Printed by: NZME

Fees and charges reviewed u by Andy Bryenton

The advent of the Kaipara District Council’s Long Term Plan has also seen a revised schedule of fees, charges, fines and licensing costs put forward by the Kaipara’s civic authority.

Print run 9,658. Distributed on Friday to every residential and rural home throughout the district including Mangawhai, Dargaville, Ruawai, Paparoa, Matakohe, Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka and Wellsford.

Honouring a life well lived. At Morris & Morris our focus has always been at providing a funeral that honours the life of the loved one that has passed away. It is important to us that we keep providing our community with the ability to say goodbye in a manner that is representative of the loved one that has passed away.

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KEEP TRACK OF WHERE YOU’VE BEEN p Rufus the dog keeps up to date with fresh registration tags each year; one of the KDC fees which has not increased under new proposals

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The proposed list comes with good news for many sectors of the public, as fees for commonplace expenses such as dog registration, liquor licensing for special events and health inspection costs remain static. So, too, do fees and fines for noise control, illegal parking and having livestock loose on public roads. Changes are prevalent across the resource management and building consent areas of the KDC’s operations, with inflationary changes and some streamlining to put our local council in line with other Northland authorities and increases to professional fees involved with the RMA process. This set of changes and price tweaks will last only until the repeal of the RMA and its replacement with minister David Parker’s proposed three new land use-laws in December of this year. Costs for each week for those living in council-owned pensioner housing are rising, but only by a small increment, still sitting well below market rents, as these facilities were intended. For example, the KDC’s Fagan Place pensioner housing will see a rent increase to $155 a week after two years of no increase. Other sites across the district will see rents raised to $135 a week.

Two mobile service industries have been targeted for new fees and licences in this round of reviews, with both water carriers and waste removal companies looking at extra costs to operate. Waste management firms will now need to pay for a licence to move waste, and will also have to comply with a comprehensive reporting programme to track where it goes. It falls into line with other councils nationwide, and the local cost is lower than that imposed elsewhere. Water carriers, however, will face an additional cost of $21 a fill, plus a water metre charge under the proposed schedule of fees. Concerns have been raised by some rural Kaipara residents, in a region prone to droughts, that these additional costs may make filling the tank too expensive for the economically disadvantaged should we see a repeat of 2019/2020’s extreme summer drought, when water carriers were stretched to near breaking point in terms of supply and scheduling. Residents have until the end of the month to comment on the new proposed schedule of fees and charges as well as the greater Long Term Plan. Read them both at kaipara.govt.nz and make a submission at kaipara.govt. nz/ltp. ¢


THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

The future of wastewater

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u by Andy Bryenton

A large chapter of the recently released Kaipara District Long Term Plan goes into detail about how sustainable wastewater systems will be built and paid for in Mangawhai without impacting unduly on rates.

p A comprehensive plan for wastewater improvements is projected to be funded by developers’ contributions under new KDC plans

Wastewater sits at the core of debates on housing developments, ratings, progress and the environment in Mangawhai and wider Kaipara. Many residents still recall the

Construction will commence in the 2024/2025 financial year events that led to the installation of commissioners to replace the Tiller administration council. This year will see a new balance tank constructed, handling peak flows

during storms. There will also be a period of study regarding reticulation strategy. Wastewater engineers retained by the KDC say that there is plenty of capacity yet to be explored for the expansion necessary out to midcentury, even accounting for triple the current population of Mangawhai. The KDC is currently planning an irrigation system for the adjacent golf course, and $1.5 million has been allowed for in year one of the LTP 2021/2031 for construction. With current water quality, this can be used to irrigate at night. A further $300,000 has been set aside in the LTP for the design of wastewater system expansions to meet environmental and engineering standards for the

future. Construction will commence in the 2024/2025 financial year, with a total of $10 million budgeted to be spent between 2025 and 2031. It is planned to spend a further $10 million in the following 20 years, which will be accounted for in LTPs yet to be drafted at the time. The LTP indicates that the expansion of the wastewater system will be primarily funded through development contributions and not rates. A total of $20.4 million is included in the current financial forecasts for 2021–2031, solely for treatment plant expansion. If development contributions are set at $24,766 for each property, as proposed in recent changes

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to the development contributions policy published in this newspaper last week, this could be easily recouped with just 840 connections during a 10-year span. In fact, there would be a small surplus based on these calculations. The proposed homogenisation of wastewater charges would benefit Mangawhai as well, according to LTP figures which suggest a roughly $200 to $300 drop in wastewater costs if homogenisation occurred. The council advised that with 840 new connections, the rating base would be even wider, and hence, further wastewater operational capital would be actualised. ¢

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March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

No paltry matter End of financial u by Liz Clark

Around Kaipara’s playgrounds, parks, rest areas and wharves, now and then, the crowing of roosters and the cluck of hens can be heard.

While they’re an attractive piece of colourful scenery for visitors and residents to feed and admire the sight of strutting poultry, the birds are, unfortunately, victims of dumping. More often than not, the abandonment of chickens from lifestyle blocks and back yards has been caused by indiscriminate breeding. The result is overpopulation and a large feed bill to match. Housing and containment also become a problem; before long, a decision will be made to reduce the burgeoning flock. It seems an easy solution to take the hens and roosters off to a

secluded rural location and liberate them. However, abandoning poultry to fend for themselves is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act. Chicken rescue organisations around New Zealand have warned that the birds never have happy lives after being left on the roadside to fend for themselves. Most either starve or end up with severe injuries from fighting or being attacked by other birds. The rescue groups recommend alternatives such as humane euthanasia, rehoming or contacting one of their organisations for advice. The groups can be found on Facebook or search online. ¢

year preparation u by Corinne Smith, Altitude Advisors Ltd, director and chartered accountant

I thought it was a timely reminder, as the end of the financial year is nearly upon us, to touch on a few reminders around this time. Gather these things up to pass on to your accountant in preparation for your year-end financial accounts and tax returns. There are also some tips to consider and discuss that are new and a result of the Covid year. 1. If you carry stock in your business, do a stocktake as at March 31 2021. Record your items and costs in detail. 2. Review your fixed asset registers, has there been any changes to record? You can write off assets up to $5,000 due to a new incentive as a result of Covid. Identify any assets (valued up to $5,000) that you need and buy them before March 17 2021. This way, you’ll be able to claim an immediate deduction for these assets under the low-value asset write-off as the threshold drops from $5,000 to $1,000 on March 17 2021. 3. New rules to keep cash flowing. Here are four tax measures focussed on providing and enabling cash flow that you might like to consider: • The tax loss carry-back rule, which means if you’re expecting a tax loss for the year ended March 31 2021, you might be eligible for a refund of provisional tax previously paid for the 2020 year • If your cash flow has been significantly impacted by Covid-19, you may be able to apply for relief from use of money interest and penalties or enter into an instalment arrangement for payments due to Inland Revenue

• Keeping an eye on tax losses, as the government has announced plans to introduce a same or similar business test that allows tax losses to be carried forward. It will become useful if you want to raise capital for your business in the future • Consider the Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme being offered by the government through Inland Revenue, where certain conditions are met. It provides loans of up to $10,000 (dependent on the number of employees) with an added amount of $1,800 for each employee 4. Earn more than $180,000 a year? If you are earning above this amount, you will be required to pay 39% tax in the new financial year on earnings above $180,000. You may want to review your business and investment structure before April 1 2021. 5. Keeping subsidy records crucial. While Covid-19 related wage and leave subsidies are nontaxable, keep accurate records of any subsidy you received and which staff member it was paid to in case of an audit. 6. Staff reimbursements and allowances. Keep a good record of any reimbursements and allowances paid to employees for expenses related to Working from Home (WFM). There are certain payments that are tax-exempt for those receiving them. ¢

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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

Education, religion and Hollywood movies

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u by Liz Clark

Within the Mangawhai Historic Village complex is an unassuming building that has seen use as a school, church and more recently, a movie theatre. Built to the standard government design of the period, the Mangawhai Beach School saw its first pupils in 1886. Several other schools were around the district; however, one was needed closer to the village and became known as the Beach School. Starting as a half-time school, 17 pupils were listed in the examination sheet for March 1886. In April 1887, a porch was added to the building after a grant application was made to the Auckland Education Board. The schoolhouse saw its first public political meeting when Irish-born Jackson Palmer, a liberal independent candidate, stood for the Rodney electorate. Jackson later failed in his bid to win the electorate seat and went on to represent the Waitemata electorate in parliament. In mid-1888, Miss Slator was appointed by the education board as the sole-charge teacher. A few months later, the board reported: ‘The lady teacher of the Mangawhai Beach school wrote calling attention to the fact that the school was very draughty, and therefore the children attending it incurred some danger. The letter was referred to the school committee.’ The children attending the school during 1889 were without a teacher for some time. The school committee had

p From an education facility to a place of worship and now a movie theatre — the former schoolhouse has seen many generations come and go

written to the education board asking when a new educator would arrive. The reply back from the board was a brief ‘the teacher will proceed at the earliest opportunity.’ The school remained in use until the 1950s, when its days of being a place of education for the local children came to an end. Mangawhai’s population had increased well beyond the building’s capacity, and a new

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school was constructed. The building was moved to Insley Street in February 1956 and left in a derelict state. It was later bought by Anglican parish members, who renovated the building and used it as a church. ‘The building was very untidy with every window broken with air rifles. It was in two rooms, and the partition was removed and used to build the sanctuary. Mr Albert Wood kindly did

this work by using the reverse side of the timber.’ Renamed The Chapel of Christ the King, it was dedicated by Bishop Simpkin. The building served its parishioners until December 2012, when it was replaced by a new venue. The former church was later moved to the Mangawhai Historic Village and converted into a film theatre, where it is now the home for Mangawhai Movies. ¢

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March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

Hold off the herbicide u by Liz Clark

Weeds are usually something you either spray or pull out of your garden and pasture — not eat. With the momentum building towards more sustainable food production, the quest for a more natural diet has been a building trend, and with it, the age of wild food gathering. The first time this writer encountered the idea of a weed being any kind of culinary addition to a meal was rather terrifying. Invited over to the house of a good friend, she served up a dinner that had fennel as one of its main ingredients — a weed I would’ve dispatched if I saw it. I have to admit, it was delicious and paired well with the slow-cooked lamb and white wine. I soon discovered that there are many plants we call weeds that are indeed edible. Some are used for medicinal purposes; however, we’ll be taking a look at some that can be used in culinary dishes. Starting with fennel, there are three types: wild fennel, sweet fennel and bronze fennel. Fennel grows up to two metres tall; it has long feathery leaves that are instantly recognisable from the roadside. Wild food foragers recommend gathering fennel from a clean environment well away from any roadsides. Easier still; grow them in the garden from seed gathered from this month onwards. The leaves can be

used for flavouring in salads and fish dishes, while the bulbous base can be roasted. The plant goes well with lamb, chicken and fish, and has a strong aniseed-like flavour. Another that is regaining favour is Borage. Once a common find in old-fashioned culinary herb gardens, the voracious blue-flowering selfseeder rapidly colonises the garden if allowed. However, gathering the seedlings for use in salads and soups will help reduce competition with other garden plants. The flowers are also edible and can be used to decorate salads and meat dishes. Other edible weeds to consider include chicory; bitter-tasting, however, it’s recommended for use in salads and is high in vitamins. It can be grown from seed in the garden. Others to try are puha or milk thistle, dandelion, elderberry, Japanese wineberry and onion weed. Flowers in the garden are another edible delight used in salads and other culinary creations. They can be candied and used in desserts as an extra colour addition. For flavouring egg dishes or salads, chive flowers are an ideal addition and taste similar to the leaves. Also, take a look at calendula, viola, nasturtium, courgette, lavender and roses.


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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

p Jan Schimanski of Dreams has managed and hand-picked her collection of stock for more than a decade, creating a fascinating store to browse through at your leisure

Dreaming of difference u by Andy Bryenton

For 12 years now, a giant pair of gumboot-clad feet has risen above the Maungaturoto skyline, as if some colossal skydiver has miscalculated and fallen through the roof of Jan Schimanski’s shop, Dreams. This upside-down icon is a perfect emblem of the kind of fun philosophy Jan has brought to her business in the small Kaipara town. First at a smaller location near the Four Square and now for more than a decade in a building that’s just as interesting as its proprietor. The doors, for example, are carved wooden panels taken from a villa in the Indian province of Gujarat, while the entryway steps bubble with fountains full of bromeliads and goldfish. “The fun part is definitely finding all these beautiful things from around the world,” says Jan, standing amid the sweet-smelling visual feast of Dreams’ main room. “We’ve got many things made locally, many things upcycled and

made new, and stock from as far away as France and India. The thing is how to choose.” There’s no one particular theme, except what Jan finds aesthetically pleasing, and would add character and interest to any home. Giant blue

are plenty of gifts to give among her range, spanning soaps and candles to toys and homewares, but that there’s a definite temptation to treat oneself as well. “I choose the thing I like; it’s a personal passion,” says Jan, who has

The fun part is definitely finding all these beautiful things

glass jars filled with yellow flowers are repurposed from a life containing Hungarian pickles. “A new addition fills a rack with vintage lace accents and panels of floral colour; upcycled clothing by a local designer. Jan admits that there

found during the years that many, many people agree with her sense of style. Visiting Dreams, with its antique bird cages full of flowers, cut-crystal chandeliers and high brick-and-rafters interior, is almost more like visiting

someone’s home than visiting a store. A feeling that’s made all the more persistent by the presence of Charlie, the Bichon-Shih Tzu cross, who greets customers and gestures for a scratch behind the ears. Maybe Dreams has become a Maungaturoto icon for 12 years because Jan has never pinned it down to a single line of goods or a onenote theme. Certainly, there’s always change, and always something new to see, whether it’s for yourself, your home or even your garden. The fun is indeed all in the choosing. In this respect, Jan is like an art collector, bringing a gallery of items together to complement each other. ¢


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March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

Pumpkin Soup u by Jessica Keesing

I know it seems ludicrous to think of soups when we are near the end of summer. If you’re anything like me and love a nice warm soup and cooler evenings with the fire roaring and the general chill that winter evenings bring, here’s the recipe for you. Honestly, if you aren’t a massive fan of pumpkin, I’m almost certain you’ll be converted. Who can turn down a bit of bacon in soup after all? In saying that, if you want it to be meat-free, remove the bacon and use vegetable stock instead and it still tastes wonderful.

INGREDIENTS 1 crown pumpkin (or butternut) 2 sticks of celery 2 carrots 1 onion 6 rashes of bacon 1.5 litres chicken stock 1–2 tsp curry powder 2 tsp olive oil Cream

METHOD Cut the pumpkin into small chunks. Then cut carrots, celery and onion finely, add to a large pot and saute until the onion has softened. Add diced bacon and saute for roughly 5 minutes. Add pumpkin to the pot, then the stock and let simmer until you can pierce the pumpkin with a knife with ease, around 45 minutes to an hour depending on your stove. Once the pumpkin is cooked through, blitz the soup to your desired consistency, I tend to go for as smooth as possible. Once blitzed, add your curry powder and gently simmer for another 5–10 minutes (add more curry powder, it’s up to you how much you want). To finish add cream and serve with your favourite bread, toasted or fresh.

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10 March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

p Earth Beat’s organisers say the event is all about people, gathering together to have fun and to learn at the same time

Rhythm of the seasons u by Andy Bryenton

One of New Zealand’s largest outdoor festivals is set to rock the Kaipara coast this month, as Earth Beat 2021 arrives with a line-up of top musicians alongside a selection of other activities promoting not just good fun but good living. Combine the autumnal equinox, long considered a time of spiritual power, with a regional parkland on the edge of the Kaipara Harbour and a line-up of famous bands. You might expect a scene similar to the iconic Woodstock festival. However, for Earth Beat 2021, times have changed. Event organisers say that unlike the famously muddy spectacular in upstate New York, this festival of comedy, poetry, music, art and wellbeing will leave no mark on the environment. From March 17 to March 22, festival patrons will endeavour to camp and celebrate in harmony with the land, adopting a zero-waste approach and wrapping up the music festival experience amid opportunities to learn and de-stress. “Earth Beat came about by a group of friends interested in providing a space where people could share and learn about new ways of living that are sustainable and in greater harmony

with our planet,” says festival cocreator Issac Oron. He says it’s grown into a platform for transformation to inspire and empower new ways of living. That includes a zerowaste message that carries over into everyday life. Oron says the festival will demonstrate harmonious ways of living with its emphasis on wastefree coexistence on public land. The picturesque Kaipara-side Atiu Creek Regional Park will host the festival, with a plan of minimal to no impact on the environment whatsoever. “Earth Beat is an opportunity for people to experience our kaupapa, which is based on a world where life is not only sustainable but regenerative. A world where we focus on potential and where individual contributions are aligned with the greater good. Living in harmony with the natural rhythm of our bodies and the beat of the Earth.” That means scrupulous planning for a completely zero-waste event, where

participants bring their own reusable plates, cutlery, cups and bottles to camp with. Oron says there will be no disposable consumables on-site, and nothing from the many food vendors will be served in any type of singleuse or even compostable consumable.

Earth Beat is an opportunity for people to experience our kaupapa

It’s a philosophy that fits well with the Kaipara setting; this region was the first to ban plastic bags, for example. It’s also no idle gimmick, as the rest of the festival’s line-up proves. Alongside musical performances from the likes of Sola Rosa, Knights


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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

p This is a family-friendly festival event, with plenty for children to see and do built into the schedule

We’ll be using two specific creative writing techniques to help work through a past event

of the Dub Table and Rhian Sheehan, people can participate in activities spanning yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and health, dance, sustainable living, ancient crafts, drumming and more. Art also plays a role with live painting and interactive art installations — all part of the experience. The festival is family-friendly with a full schedule of children’s activities; also a departure from the usual adult-orientated ‘party’ outdoor concerts. One participant who is part of this expanded theme of wellness is creative writer Kat Kalynchuk of Tangowahine. Kat will present a workshop during Earth Beat on working through mental health issues through creativity. “It’s the first year that the festival has incorporated an arts village, so that’s an exciting prospect,” says Kat. “The organiser of the region’s creative thera-play programme, Vik Garriock of Whangaruru, was invited to attend, bringing a new perspective on

mental health and wellness. She was encouraged to bring along five others who complement that message, and I’m one of those five.” Increasingly, the mental health community recognises the importance of art and expression as means of working through depression, posttraumatic ideations and anxiety. Hence, this workshop is a good fit amid a festival that places painting, sand mandala design and comedy alongside yoga, reiki and rongoa (traditional Maori healing and medicine). “We’ll be using two specific creative writing techniques to help work through a past event,” said Kat. “A powerful tool for people to learn and to use.” It’s because of content like this and a wide range of other non-musicbased festival activities that Earth Beat is a departure from the norm and an interesting fit with its environment at Atiu Creek. After all, the original European settlers of this part of

New Zealand were the Albertlanders, spiritual nonconformists who came in search of a new life away from England’s industrial revolution era. The timing is no coincidence either. “The timing of Earth Beat coincides with the March autumn equinox, officially the last day of summer. A revered time in many indigenous cultures for giving thanks and celebrating the warmth and bounty of the summer,” says Oron. It’s a time that has been seen by many people around the world as transformative. Part of the reason harvest festivals like the old Celtic Samhain came to have a spiritual component that eventually overshadowed their seasonal aspect. A good time, then, say festival organisers to practice the concept of ‘Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua: care for the land, care for the people, go forward’. ¢


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March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

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Success for local artists u by Andy Bryenton

A well-attended art trail weekend, a top spot for a fellow artist and a new exhibition are three reasons for Mangawhai artists to be excited this month, finishing summer with positive news.

13

THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

Tsunami warning alert u by Andy Bryenton

Friday morning, March 5, saw all coastal residents in the Kaipara region, and from a swathe of coastline beyond, ordered to evacuate to higher ground due to a tsunami warning. Low-lying areas and coastal towns received the warning at approximately 9am on Friday, prompting concerns after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, our nearby Pacific neighbours. This followed two other powerful magnitude 7 shakes that rocked the isolated island archipelago. Mobile phones across the region rang with the alert from Civil Defence, and breaking news on television reported that all coastal residents from the cape to Tolaga bay should immediately move to higher ground. Civil Defence chief Roger Ball confirmed that this quake, though far away, was still a real threat to

low-lying North Island communities. Another quake off the east coast of New Zealand early Friday morning may have been associated with the Kermadec tremors. Though there was no major natural disaster as a result of the Kermadec quake, the response of many Kaipara businesses and schools in evacuating to higher ground was the right thing to do, according to Civil Defence tsunami warning guidelines. Less intelligent were those who gravitated towards beaches to see if they could get a close-up look of a tsunami; if the wave had struck with greater force, these individuals would likely have been the first victims.

p Art trail patrons enjoyed a weekend of creative inspiration in Mangawhai, where a new exhibition is set to open this week

The end of February saw locals and visitors alike taking in the sights of the annual Mangawhai Art Trail, an invitation ‘behind the easel’ and into the studios, galleries and homes of east coast artists. Mary-Anne Boyd, one of the organisers of this event, says that this opportunity to glimpse behind the curtain of the creative process gives a new perspective on art in our community. Hundreds enjoyed the experience despite Sunday’s Covid-19 scare in Auckland. She and the other members of Mangawhai Artists Inc have had reason to celebrate the success of one of their up and coming colleagues in March, with the selection of a young artist’s work to grace the area’s telephone directory. “Congratulations to Sophie-Leigh Henderson for having her art selected

for the cover of the 2021 edition of the Mangawhai/Kaiwaka Residential and Business Directory,” says MaryAnne. “Sophie-Leigh was an award winner in the Mangawhai Artists Youth Art Showcase presented in December 2020. “Her depiction of Summer Days captures the essence of summer and will be a welcome reminder of summer days, particularly when the directory is used through the winter.” Finally, there’s a new exhibition opening this week at the Moir Street gallery, featuring the work of Elena Nikolaeva and Colin Unkovich. Exotic Creatures and Airbrush Features brings colour and eccentricity along with lavishly hyper-real seascapes and landscapes to the gallery walls and will be open to the public free of charge until March 24. ¢

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14 March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

OPINION

We’re all next door to someone u by R E Spect

When you ask people who have moved north to the Kaipara what they like best about their new home, especially after a few months of settling in, the answers are usually similar. It’s hard not to love the good weather, the beautiful beaches, the great fishing and the lack of gridlock traffic. What’s most commented on, however, is the sense of community. “People actually know each other,” marvel our new arrivals. “We never got to know anyone on our street back in the city.” It’s the difference between having neighbours and having strangers. However, it’s a relationship that some folks have got out of the habit of having. Like dogs tied up on tiny sections, some people think that the correct interaction with those nearby is to bark loudest and establish dominance. In this case, the ‘barking’ is passive-aggressive childishness and complaints to the council, instead of talking like adults. The bond between neighbours was a big deal in years gone by. Go back long enough and these were the folks who had your back when the Vikings came calling. When you might need your nextdoor buddy’s help taking down a mammoth, it’s unlikely you’d complain to the neighbourhood association about the lawn outside his cave. In the 70s and 80s, whole streets looked after each others’ kids, shared power tools, never locked their doors, and rarely, if ever, complained to

the council about each other. Small towns have held on to that sense of community, because psychologically we’re programmed to handle about 100–200 social interactions, remember that many names, and operate in groups of about this size. That means there are certain good things about living in a small town. You will get to know your neighbours, who will be more than just faceless competitors in the consumer game. People will ask you how you are, and care about your answer. But with this comes an unspoken code. Think of your neighbours when you’re planting trees, building extensions, hosting parties, burning rubbish or contemplating mowing the lawn on a Sunday morning. In return, you’ll get similar concessions of civility, which may come to extend to excess smoked fish, a taste of the new batch of homebrew or, who knows, lifelong friendship. Put it this way. A mate of mine had an old fence between his house and his neighbours; a sagging timber hasbeen of a thing. In the city, they would have gone to court to try and make each other tear it down and rebuild it. Here, they helped each other get rid of it and split the bill on the new one. Think like that and we’ll all get on just fine. ¢

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Building dreams from sand u by Andy Bryenton

A group promoting local business and supporting volunteer services has assembled to deliver a fresh event to the calendar. Mangawhai will host its first-ever sand sculpture competition this autumn, in support of the town’s surf lifesavers.

p Fantastical creatures, castles and characters from movies and myths are all popular motifs in sand sculpture

The concept was floated as early as June of last year by the Mangawhai Sand Sculpture Competition Group, represented by an advocate for local progress Dennis Emsley. He and the group have taken a look at the successful and creative sand sculpture competitions that take place on beaches around the world, and determined that such a spectacle would fit well with the town’s seaside aesthetic. “The Mangawhai Sand Sculpture Competition is gaining momentum,” said Mr Emsley to followers online, awaiting the green light for the event. “We have a date: Saturday, March 27. We have a venue — the surf beach at Mangawhai Heads. “We have lots more besides the competition, which has cash and other prizes donated by local businesses. There’s a sausage sizzle, bouncy castle, ice creams, drinks and candy floss. Registration for the competition is from noon on the beach at the Wallace and Stratton marquee.” This tent will be pitched amid a sea of fantastical artworks as the afternoon

progresses, with sand sculptors and teams of artists already preparing their ideas. Entry to the competition is open to all, with no constraints of theme or size except one’s own ambition and imagination. A gold coin donation to enter goes to Mangawhai’s surf lifesavers, who have been very active this summer undertaking rescues and ensuring safe swimming for a record number of holidaymakers. Some words of advice from KingSand, the world-beating sand sculpture team of Dan Glover, Jeroen Meijer and Martijn Rijerse. Using buckets as a mould is counter-productive. Dig a hole in the sand, which will fill with seawater from below, and use this to build a solid base of hard-packed wet sand. Not too dry, not too wet, but damp enough that it sticks and can then be carved into whatever shape you wish. Bring a lightweight spade, a big spatula, a putty knife and a paintbrush; this last tool is to help dust away loose sand from details. Some even use a straw to blow away the excess. ¢

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15

THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 12 2021

PUZZLE TIME

Jumbo crossword ACROSS 1 Near (5) 4 Make an effort to do better (4,4,5,2) 14 Vertical passageway (5) 15 Dark (5) 16 Sudden rainstorm (10) 17 Add up (5) 19 Anger (3) 20 Envious (7) 21 Engaged woman (5-2-2) 22 Made ready (6) 25 Top flat (9) 27 Buccaneer (6) 28 Tranquil (6) 33 Hot-air travelling (10) 35 A shout to frighten (3) 36 Radio crackle and hiss (6) 37 Male deer (4) 39 Pledge (3) 41 Pressured into doing (7) 42 Breakfast fare (6) 43 Amateur (9) 44 Hessian (5) 45 Happy-go-lucky (8) 50 Company (abbr)(2) 51 Troops on foot (8) 55 Fan-shaped river mouth (5) 58 Rule of personal conduct (9) 59 Silver tray (6) 60 Morally depraved (7)

61 Fifth note (3) 63 Watched (4) 64 Sponge-like (6) 65 Kind (3) 66 Entranced (10) 68 Dog breed (6) 69 Film cutter (6) 71 Say sorry (9) 76 Astuteness (6) 77 Divvy up (9) 79 Pursued stealthily (7) 81 Unmatched (3) 84 Gloss (5) 85 Plait, twine together (10) 86 Muggy (5) 87 Skilled (5) 88 Flagrant overcharging (8,7) 89 High temperature (5) DOWN 2 Touched down (6) 3 Wet feed for pigs (5) 5 Grotesque (4) 6 Parallel window slats (7) 7 Person of no importance or influence (6) 8 Bracing bar (5) 9 Month (7) 10 Flying device (4) 11 Improvement (6) 12 Swift (5) 13 Church tower (7) 14 Sleep (7) 18 Bid taker (10) 23 Stitched design (5) 24 Layer (7)

205

26 Magnify (7) 27 Contract condition (7) 29 No longer existing (7) 30 Eastern temple (6) 31 Overly fat (5) 32 Young cat (6) 34 Overabundance (4) 36 Expanse of short grass (5) 38 Dizzy (5) 40 Computer input (4) 45 Small wood (5) 46 Clothing (7) 47 Actuality (4) 48 Use (6) 49 Ecstasy (5) 50 I search (anag)(7) 52 Stage illumination (10) 53 Jittery (7) 54 Sniper (anag) (6) 55 Fan (7) 56 Lucky accident (5) 57 Camera part (4) 62 Retails (5) 67 Ask for (7) 68 Student (7) 70 Young tree (7) 72 Saying (7) 73 Membrane in eye (6) 74 Home soundsystem (6) 75 Swot up (6) 76 Said further (5) 78 Group of eight (5) 80 Parasitic insect (5) 82 Sense (4) 83 In excess of (4)

Sudoku

Previous crossword solution

6 5 7

2 9 8

4 1 2

6

9 5 2

7 9 5

4 8 1

ACROSS: 1 Spade, 4 Horrible, 9 Refuse, 14 Seine, 15 At sixes and sevens, 17 Shape, 18 Ass, 19 Mislays, 20 Platitude, 21 Foetus, 24 Spotlight, 25 Bleach, 26 Insult, 29 Chardonnay, 31 Kid, 32 Slowed, 33 Mill, 35 Get, 37 Stun, 39 Insurance, 40 Anthology, 41 Trout, 42 Expected, 47 Prisoner, 51 Clout, 55 Vice versa, 56 Renovated, 58 Shed, 59 Emu, 60 Yolk, 61 Treaty, 62 Ski, 63 Nosy Parker, 66 Medley, 67 Grumpy, 69 Petulance, 72 Climax, 73 Entertain, 75 Beguile, 77 Air, 80 Unity, 81 Best bib and tucker, 82 Cases, 83 Zephyr, 84 Elements, 85 Broth. 3 DOWN: 2 Patriarch, 3 Drill, 5 Oval, 6 Red flag, 7 Breathtaking, 8 Erect, 9 Residue, 10 Fast, 1 2 5 11 Shadow, 12 Midas, 13 Persist, 14 Sextant, 3 6 8 4 16 Etymologist, 22 Clones, 23 Acrobat, 24 7 6 3 1 7 Strange, 25 Budget, 27 Unicorn, 28 Jester, 30 Yarn, 32 Stool, 34 Layer, 36 Cogs, 38 Tax, 4 8 1 5 6 2 1 42 Envoy, 43 Pickled, 44 Cove, 45 Errors, 46 Honey, 48 Independent, 49 Observe, 50 Ewe, 9 4 3 51 Cavalry, 52 Trusty, 53 Indisputable, 54 5 Previous solution Oven, 57 Tussle, 64 Excellent, 65 Serious, 66 Monarch, 68 Minibar, 70 Thimble, 71 Native, 72 2 5 1 6 8 9 4 7 3 7 9 4 3 1 2 5 8 6 Crust, 74 Ensue, 76 Ulcer, 78 Myth, 79 Knot.

3 1 8 4

EASY

Fill 3 the 6 grid 5 so 1 that 2 9 8 every column, every 2 4 7 3 8 6 5 row and every 3x3 9 contains 8 1 5the7digits 4 6 box 15to 9. 2 4 7 6 8 9

2 8 6

3 2 5

73 648 7 5 4 1 9 2 8 7 5 1 2 6 9 3 4 91 312 9 4 5 8 6 7 9 4 6 8 7 3 2 1 5 346 28293 45 93 17 76 25 81 15 137 2 6 8 3 4 9 7 3solution 8 2 9 1 4 6 5 Previous 6 1 9 4 3 5 7 2 8 4 7 3 9 5 2 1 8 6 8 5 2 6 1 7 3 4 9 Puzzle 1 9 6 All8puzzles 4 ©3The 2 5Company 7 www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz

5x5 O F R

R V

L D N

M N

O G L E R F R A M E F A D E S

R S

F F S Insert the missing letters N I to complete ten words S the U — five across grid I and five down.N E More than one solution S E S may be possible.

S Previous solution

F U S E S

I N A N E

F L U T E

E I D E R

S T I R S


16

March 12 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER

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