March 26 2021
Planting a greener future From taking care of the backdrops to royal pomp and ceremony through to cultivating native plants for Kaipara gardens, Don Lawson from Greenspace Plants is never happier than when he’s working with green and growing things. With Easter weekend knocking on the door, Don and the team share some top tips for a better autumn in the garden and the story of their blooming great business enterprise in Maungaturoto. continued on page 10…
Making your place a green space www.wyatts.net.nz
OPEN 7 DAYS
Growing autumn veg? Let us help
Grandad’s garden mix • Compost • Topsoil • General fertiliser Sheep pellets • Blood & bone and everything in between 107 Mangawhai Heads Road :
09 431 5445
: mangawhai@wyatts.net.nz
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March 26 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
Rates revealed as submissions finalised u by Andy Bryenton
As councillors, the mayor and Kaipara District Council management hit the road to discuss the Long Term Plan and its ramifications with the public, rates and their relation to rising property values have been in the spotlight.
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.
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www.catermarine.co.nz 0800 228 376 p Mayor Jason Smith and council representatives are out in force answering questions about the Long Term Plan; further details about how it will affect you are now online
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Following animated discussions and meetings with the public at Te Kopuru on Thursday and Mangawhai’s market day on Saturday, it’s apparent that the recent rise in property values across the region has delivered a broad spread of rates increases and potential decreases, depending on location and amenities. Council members have fronted up to answer questions about the calculation for the rates take and where it’s going. However, many citizens have made specific queries beyond the
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All citizens need is their address to log on at kaipara.govt.nz/calculator. It will deliver a breakdown of all the targeted rates, costs, general rates and other expenses pertaining to a single property. The calculator accounts for most of the LTP’s proposed ‘preferred option’ scenarios, such as the relocation of the Mangawhai library or wastewater upgrades. It does not account for a possible additional $146 a year to reform recycling, providing plastic bins to replace the current yellow bags and
A big part of the consultation we’re undertaking has an impact on your rates mathematical approximations included for transparency in the LTP document. For this reason, the KDC has pointed out an online service for all Kaipara residents. It’s a tool that can show landowners exactly what their rates will be from mid-2021 onwards. “A big part of the consultation we’re undertaking has an impact on your rates, as do the proposals set out by the Northland Regional Council, and the impacts to recent property revaluation,” says the KDC’s media liaison in an online directive about using the tool, which is more accurate than the LTPcontained modelling estimates.
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allowing for free drop-off of recyclable waste to transfer stations. Meanwhile, consultation on the LTP enters its final week, giving citizens only seven more days to have their say on proposed plans surrounding waste management, climate change, wastewater charges and more. Get a copy of the LTP online from kaipara. govt.nz or your local library, and make a submission. We’re reminded by Mayor Smith that the LTP can and will be changed to fit with public expectations should enough of a united voice be heard on particular issues. ¢
THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
Fresh idea out of lockdown u by Andy Bryenton
Maungaturoto Primary School has a new facility to promote fitness and activity among their students. Its newly constructed bike trail marks the culmination of a project first put on paper during 2020’s Covid lockdown. With fundraising contributions from the local Rotary Club, alongside the assistance of willing parents on the end of shovels, the bike track has been built according to specifications laid out by the imaginations of year five and six students during last year’s educational disruptions. “In 2020, when we were at Covid level three, we ran three separate bubbles at school,” says principal Margaret Hutchinson. “One of the challenges for our staff was to keep the children two metres apart when they were playing outside. “To make things easier for everyone, we invited the children to bring their ‘wheels’. “During this time, the 2020 year five and six children decided we needed a bike track.” What started as a wish became an educational project, as students researched other tracks around the nation, measured, designed, looked into the principles of architecture and building, and finally made a working plan. Expert help was called in; board
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of trustees member Matt Browne, owner and operator of MP and RA Browne Contractors, put his expertise with excavation and machinery at the school’s disposal. The Rotarians organised sausage sizzles and other fundraisers to secure the cash required. When the weather changed for the better, it was time to break ground. March 6 saw the big project begin. “We now have a bike track to be proud of,” says Margaret. “Thank you so much to Matt Browne, who volunteered his time and machinery, and was here for four very long days over two weekends to lead an extremely successful operation. During these four days, we had in excess of 50 volunteers coming and going and working together to complete the bike track.” The school’s sincere thanks go out to every single person who helped: from the many volunteers to Topuni Mills, Atlas Concrete, the Rotary Club, parents, Cowley’s Hire, and of course, the children themselves. ¢
During this time, the 2020 year five and six children decided we needed a bike track.
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p Volunteers pitch in to help make Maungaturoto Primary School’s new bike track a reality; evidence that community spirit gets things done
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HAVE A SAFE and happy Easter
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4 March 26 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER
Strength in numbers
How we’re rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine We have secured enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine for everyone 16 years and over in Aotearoa. Any vaccine’s strength is in numbers. The more of us who get vaccinated, the stronger and safer we’ll all be. It will give us more freedom in our daily lives, and more options for our whānau, our businesses and our country. Because when we roll up our own sleeves, we’re helping to protect all of us. Here are the key facts about the Pfizer vaccine: It’s safe
It’s effective
It’s free
It has been approved by our own Medsafe experts. It’s also already been used successfully all around the world by millions of people, and by thousands here in New Zealand too.
The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective when you receive both doses.
The vaccine will be free for everyone in the country. We have secured over 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. That’s enough for all of New Zealand.
New Zealand’s vaccination rollout plan The rollout plan for the Pfizer vaccine is simple. Everyone in the country aged 16 and over falls into one of four groups. Firstly, we’ll protect those most at risk of picking up the virus in their workplaces – and then those most at risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. NOW
FROM MARCH
FROM MAY
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Group 1 Border and MIQ workers
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Frontline workers and people in high-risk areas
65+ and people with underlying health conditions or disabilities
Everyone else aged 16 and over
More strength. More freedom. More options. We’ll let you know when it’s your turn for the vaccine. Until then, please keep using the NZ COVID Tracer app, and stay home if you’re sick.
Covid19.govt.nz/vaccine
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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
A hive of activity u by Ann van Engelen
Mangawhai Beach School students involved in the Tahi Bee Friends programme had the opportunity to spend a day at the nature sanctuary at Pataua North last week as they wound up their beekeeping experience. “This was the final part of a very educational and fun learning experience for these 10 students who were selected to help look after our bees. Every fortnight since last September, they have had the opportunity to work with beekeeper Nanette Brown from Tahi on our two school hives,” says teacher Lance Coker. “We are thankful to be a part of the programme and have the support for our students and school.” Hives are placed in schools around Northland, including Kaipara, and Nanette teaches the students to look after them. The hives are either kept on the school grounds or nearby. “We remove the hives to winter over from April until September, and then they are returned to the schools in spring. Another 10 students then have the chance to be involved in the
programme at each school,” says Tahi services manager Lesley Vincent. “The children begin with classroom lessons on how the hives are made up, the hierarchy system and how to deal with the bees. They are given bee suits, gloves and the tools to look after the hives, including the smoker. “Our beekeeper supervises the students as they learn to handle the
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They learn to add frames as needed to ensure they fill up with honey. “Beehives and colonies are complex, and it is interesting learning how the queen bee manages the hive. Children enjoy getting to hold the smoker and puff the smoke at the bees to calm them down. Watching the bees and trying to spot the queen is a really rewarding experience and seeing the
We are thankful to be a part of the programme hives and how to manage the bees and keep them calm. They also discover the importance of bees in our environment and how to look for disease. “Placing the frames in the hives to collect the honey as the bees gather nectar is also part of the programme.
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honey they produce and ultimately eating it.” The honey boxes are taken off the hives and extracted at Tahi. The honey and wax that are collected from the hives are given back to the schools. They often sell it as part of their
fundraisers. When the students visit Tahi at the end of the programme, they watch a video of how we extract the honey for commercial use. They also extract some honey by hand to see how the extraction process works. The students learn that rolling the pricker over the honeycomb first frees up the honey, so it comes out more easily. Lots of honey is tasted with this experience. “We have a big focus on conservation first and foremost, and they end the day with a walk on the property to see our wetland replanting. We have a large variety of birdlife here at Tahi, over 70 different species now, and the students get to see the other side of what we do. They love getting out of the classroom and being outside with something that involves nature.” ¢
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Right on the doorstep u by Liz Clark
Now and then, you’ll see the mention of a kitchen garden in home and garden magazines — why not make your own instead? The kitchen garden is something that, in the past, was an essential part of the home set up. Herbs, vegetables and flowers could be harvested within easy reach of the doorstep. In contemporary times, it’s making a comeback with renewed interest in growing one’s own fresh food for use in the kitchen. A kitchen garden can range in size from a few pots with herbs and salad greens to an expansive 60 square metres in contrast to the larger and less-ordered vegetable garden. However, the rules for gardens are constantly evolving as lifestyles
change. First of all, choose a location as close to your entrance as possible with at least six hours of sun or more. A north-facing spot is ideal, even if it may be a little further away from your door. If it’s an exposed location, use brushwood panelling and posts as an option for providing a sheltered area. Next, decide your layout if you’re planning to have a relatively large garden. Look online for inspiration and ideas, as well as plans. Some though, may only want a small area using pots and planters as an alternative on the patio. Whatever your preference
and needs — choose what suits your requirements. Once you have decided what size and layout you want, the next step is to consider what plants are needed for a continuous supply to the kitchen. Firstly, think about what culinary herbs you prefer for flavouring. It goes well beyond parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme for flavouring your meals and salads in the herb range. Basil is one of the most popular, it adds zest to any salad or recipe — try out the compact Aristotle. Another to look at is Lavender angustifolia; one cultivar, Lavance,
grows to 40cm, making it ideal for a pot. The flowers and leaves can be utilised in many dishes and add a unique and sweet flavour. Also, try out dill, fennel, tarragon, coriander, chervil, chives, stevia and lemongrass if you want to be more adventurous. Next, a good supply of salad greens will be top of the list on the vegetable side of things. The choices are many. Try out cutting celery, loose-leaf fancy lettuce, baby spinach, microgreen mixes, baby beets and even carrots. Whatever your preference, there is no limit to the imagination or the range of delicious delights you can grow.
Sand castle extravaganza
THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
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u by Ann van Engelen
The inaugural Mangawhai Sand Sculpture Competition will be held this Saturday, March 27, starting at noon at Mangawhai Heads beach in support of the town’s surf lifesavers. “We were inspired by competitions that take place on beaches around the world, including Orewa,” says competition group representative Dennis Emsley. “We are very excited as the planning has taken a year. I believe the idea fits well in the Mangawhai seascape. The competition has gained momentum with people from as far south as Hamilton and as far north as Kaitaia interested.” It is a charitable, non-profit community event that is modelled on the Orewa Beach and Brighton in Christchurch competitions. “It is designed as a fun-filled free family day out. The very first competition Orewa had around seven years ago saw 1,600 people turn up. Local sculptors Brett Sutherland and Joanna Bagley will be judges on the day and have created a sculpture as an example in the village using sand donated by Wyatt Landscape and Garden Supplies. “Leabourn Passenger Services is providing a free shuttle bus from the Mangawhai Domain to the Mangawhai Heads beach car park via the information centre on the hour commencing at noon on Saturday.
There will be a return service from the heads car park on the half-hour with the final bus leaving at 6.30pm. “We have cash and other prizes donated by local businesses, and there is a sausage sizzle, bouncy castle, ice creams, drinks and candy floss. Registration is from noon on Saturday on the beach at the blue Wallace and Stratton marquee.” Entry is a gold coin donation for each person, and the competition is open to all. Funds raised go to Mangawhai’s surf lifesavers. Upon registration, competitors will be allocated a section of sand and can then proceed making their sand sculpture, with the competition concluding at 3pm and prize-giving at 3.30pm. Sandcastle creating tips include digging a hole in the sand, which will fill with seawater from below. 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, big spatula and putty knife for sculpting and a paintbrush to dust away loose sand from details. The competition has three categories, junior (under 14), senior,
p Local sculptors Brett Sutherland and Joanna Bagley with their sand sculpture example in Mangawhai Village
and team — two or more people. There are first, second and third prizes for the junior and senior competitors and a first and second prize for the team entries. Senior first prize — $300 cash donated by The REAL Team Real Estate. Second Prize of $100 cash donated by Wallace & Stratton Real Estate plus a $100 meal voucher donated by The Mangawhai Tavern. Third Prize is $50 cash donated by Wallace & Stratton Real Estate. Junior under 14
— First prize $200 cash donated by The REAL Team Real Estate, second prize $100 donated by Wallace & Stratton Real Estate plus a $50 meal voucher donated by The Mangawhai Tavern, third Prize $50 donated by Wallace & Stratton Real Estate. Team first prize — $200 cash donated by Wallace & Stratton Real Estate plus a $100 meal voucher donated by The Dune Restaurant, second prize $100 meal voucher donated by The Dune Restaurant. ¢
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March 26 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER
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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
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MENUS AND VENUES Celebrating excellence in art u by Andy Bryenton
The Kaipara Art Awards return again for 2021 after a brief Covid-related hiatus in 2020, once again showcasing the ‘best of the best’ in local creative talent for our region. Submissions from members of any Kaipara artist’s group or organisation are being sought now by the organisers, as the joint initiative between the Dargaville Arts Association and the Mangawhai Artists prepares for a landmark year. “The Kaipara Art Awards is all about excellence; it’s about acknowledging the very best in our region,” says event organiser John Pickworth. “There are many opportunities for artists to host exhibitions in the Kaipara, but this is a competition showcasing the best of the best in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, and as such, it enhances the standard of all artistic endeavour in our region.”
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Judging for this competition will therefore be undertaken by one of the most respected figures in New Zealand Art, Dr Carole Shepheard, who has been the recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contribution to the arts. The last Kaipara Art Awards in 2019 were also judged by Dr Shepheard, who praised the level of skill and technique on display. While submissions from artists are open now and will continue through the autumn. The centrepiece of the Kaipara Art Awards is a gala event to be held on October 1 at Dargaville’s town hall. There, the recipients of major prizes will receive their awards, and the gallery exhibition of entered works will
The Kaipara Art Awards is all about excellence
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p Kaipara Art Awards co-organiser John Pickworth invites artists to enter this year’s search for the ‘best of the best’ in Kaipara’s creative community
debut as the adjoining Muddy Waters Gallery. Both the judge of the awards and local dignitaries will be in attendance. After a month on display, this collection of works will be transported
across the country to the east coast, where it will be installed from November 4 in Mangawhai Artist’s Moir Street Gallery. During both of these spans, the exhibition will be open to the public free of charge. ¢
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10 March 26 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER
p Don enjoys the opportunity to work in the scenic space of his own green Kaipara valley; more than this, he’s helping others create their own personalised gardenscapes, one by one
Planting a greener future u by Andy Bryenton
Just outside of Maungaturoto, where the road winds around the foot of the outlying Brynderwyn hills and the harbour comes in to meet it, you’ll find Greenspace Plants tucked into a valley that perfectly complements the name. The tidy layout, with its central polyhouse and beds of potted plants, is the family business and brainchild of the Lawsons. It’s from here that they supply hundreds of local gardens with colour and variety. It all began 11 years ago, when Don Lawson struck out on his OE to London, already an experienced gardener with the Auckland parks service. Albert Park adjacent to the city’s CBD and university was once his patch of earth, though the Domain, Western Springs and many others benefitted from his attention. It didn’t take long for the British to cotton on to Don’s set of skills. Soon he was working for the City of London, the keepers of the ‘golden square mile’ at the heart of the metropolis, where the guild masters and the Lord
Mayor keep their vintage costumes, and commerce turns its mighty wheels. This historic locale is dotted with parks and green spaces, dating back to the days when Henry VIII scooped up the monasteries and bishop’s palaces. From West Ham Park Nursery, the
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Spring is for the edible garden
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modern-day custodians of the city’s parks propagate flowers, shrubs and trees, and Don became quite senior in their ranks. Then came the chance to move back to New Zealand with his partner Kirstin and establish the Greenspace Plants we know today. Family and friends helped secure the site, and after a late-
night, fingers-crossed online auction came to fruition, it was time to pack up and head for Maungaturoto. “We left with two backpacks and came back with a shipping container,” says Don. “However, this was always our dream, to run a nursery. We started with two trees on the property and a few fences. Now we’ve got quite a variety.” That’s an understatement, looking at the number of saplings, vegetable seedlings, grasses, ferns, shrubs and other plants which pack the polyhouse and line it on three sides. The fourth is taken up by a modern barn filled with the tools and fertilisers used to get gardens growing. With Easter here, it’s time to deploy those tools, along with some tips from Don and Kristin
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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
p Kristin adds a personal touch of irrigation, augmenting the new automated systems recently installed in Greenspace’s polyhouse
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The other time is now. As the summer fades to autumn, the soil is still warm
to keep your own green space healthy and happy during winter. “Spring is for the edible garden,” says Don, indicating the last of the season’s hot peppers and chillies. “So for autumn, the focus is on different plants, such as deciduous trees. When the leaves change colour, that’s the tree pulling in the chlorophyll that makes energy from sunlight. It will store this green chemical in its roots until next spring.” That means it’s a good time to feed your trees, with a dense and hearty mulch packed around the roots like a warming blanket, complete with nutrients. “Feed them like you would feed a bulb at the end of the season, and you’ll ensure strong, vigorous growth in the spring,” says Don.
“There’s no substitute for good organic fertiliser, manure or compost. In fact, there are two times of the year when a good mulch cover is highly recommended. One is at the end of winter when the soil is full of moisture, and you want to keep it in while adding warmth. “The other time is now. As the summer fades to autumn, the soil is still warm, so a covering with good mulch will hold that temperature in, while also adding moisture at the end of the dry.” Moisture is also essential for the other big planting push of the season, native regeneration planting. Trees that thrive in Kiwi conditions will do well if planted out now, but they may need a bit more irrigation than that which comes from the clouds. Don has some
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tips about the perfect placement for these native plants. “The value of the plant should be matched by the value you put into the hole,” he says, pointing to the tightlybound root mass of a seedling in plastic wrap. “For a round root ball, always dig a square hole to provide some space for the roots to expand into. Slow-release fertiliser, that gap for air and space to move, and ample irrigation will encourage strong root growth, which is vital for future health.” The plants awaiting a new home at Greenspace looked healthy and lush, with many enjoying a longer summer thanks to the warmth of the poly house. This structure contains some surprises, including plants allegedly hard to find elsewhere. One is the
fruit salad plant, Monstera deliciosa, which can grow to three metres tall. A new automated irrigation system has been installed recently to help keep the plants happy and hydrated and to stave off frosts as the seasons turn. “We cultivate many of the plants here, but about half are still brought in as seedlings, which we nurture until they’re of a size when they can be planted out,” says Don. He works with quick, precise movements as we talk, pruning a patch of greenery to prepare for autumn. “Helping people choose and talking to them about their plans is one of the most interesting parts of the job. There are few things more personal than planning and planting a garden, so we’re pleased to be involved and be able to help.” ¢
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Kaipara District Council is seeking your feedback now to develop their Long Term Plan 2021 – 2031. To have your say visit kaipara.govt.nz/LTP Submissions close 5pm Thursday 01 April 2021.
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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
Easter Chocolate Brownie u by Jessica Keesing
Here’s a lovely, decadent brownie recipe to sink your spoon into. It’s a crowd-pleaser for a pudding with some beautiful vanilla ice cream or just some thickened cream with. For the photo, I made a quick little berry sauce, which is just a lovely, tasty treat regardless. It’s just one of those recipes that make you go all gooey inside. To me, it’s best served straight out of the oven, or if you’re fortunate enough to have leftovers, reheat that bad boy and enjoy again the next day. In saying that though, it’s still just as good cold. It has a bit of crunch and some chew. However, I MUST insist you have it hot because it’s just delectable — a perfect way to finish a lovely Easter meal. INGREDIENTS 250g milk chocolate (I used a left over block of Cadbury chocolate) 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract ¾ cup flour ¼ cup self raising flour ½ cup cocoa powder 1 cup raspberries 2 packets caramello Easter eggs BERRY SAUCE 1 cup raspberries (I used frozen) 1⁄3 cup sugar 1⁄3 cup water
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 20x30cm dish with baking paper. Combine sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add in the flours and cocoa powder, then add in melted chocolate and combine at high speed to make sure it doesn’t seize. Once combined, pour into a baking dish and scatter berries and caramello eggs into batter. Bake for 50 minutes or less depending on the goo factor you’re looking for. For the berry sauce, pop all the ingredients into a pot and let simmer until all the berries have broken down and the sugar has dissolved. You can use the sugar or not if you want; she’s a pretty sweet dish at any rate, so the tartness the berries bring without sugar really does the trick as well.
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March 26 2021 THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER
OPINION
Why accentuate the negative? u by Jane Gray
As a child of the 60s, I grew up without computers, Playstation, the Internet or Facebook. Somehow we still knew what was going on in the world. It was called good reporting and broadcasting. It wasn’t all roses; discrimination, apartheid and inequality were alive and well. My own family lived with some very Victorian ideas. Mixed relationships were frowned upon; children should be seen but not heard, corporal punishment was adminsiterd with whatever was to hand, and you should look a certain way. Thank goodness as a society, we are working towards improving these attitudes. There is still a long way to go, but it is better than the 60s, in my opinion. However, there is now a movement that wants to erase the past, despite the fact that it can’t be done. It has to be accepted as it happened. It doesn’t make those old attitudes right, but as long as we are learning from it, then it’s just that, the past. Without the mistakes of the past, how do we learn? The past shapes us, makes us who we are today, not all for the better, I agree, but without it, nothing would change. Sometimes, I think the amount of information that is available to everyone is destructive. It is often contradictory or just plain misleading. Keyboard warriors, evangelical
thinkers, conspiracy theorists or radicals having their say with no filters or safeguards. Mainstream media seem to be bent on only telling us what is wrong with the world, leaving us asking, ‘does nothing good happen anywhere on the planet?’ Watching the news is not a lot different from watching one of the worst horror movies. Would you allow your child to watch a movie that shows the same graphic images that appear on the news without context or interpretation? Nevertheless, we do just that, as that’s the real world. Unfortunately, it also gives a platform, and a spotlight, for the maniacs and extremists. We worry about copycat crimes because the information has been given over every network and social media platform. Why give criminals a star status in the public eye? Perhaps instead of editing out valuable lessons from history, we should get rid of the ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ mentality in our media. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss, and the past is just that the past and with proper education hopefully will never be repeated. ¢
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Chess club on the board u by Andy Bryenton
Mangawhai chess players will have a chance to socialise and pit their wits against each other in the ancient game of strategy, as a new club opens its doors to members in April.
As the school term begins, so too will a dedicated Mangawhai chess club, organised by local player Tina Smith, also the mother of three keen enthusiasts of the world’s oldest tabletop wargame. “We aren’t professionals or masters,” she says. “However, in this era of Xbox and Playstation, it’s good to have some social, friendly intellectual competition in real life. We are there to support new players and help boost the skills of those at an intermediate level.” The idea is to meet on Wednesday afternoons for a friendly tournament, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, engaging in battle with matched opponents of similar skill to keep the games fun and challenging. There are even
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video tutorials available for those who have never played before. Chess is well known as a game that’s easy to learn but can take decades to truly master. In fact, even the most famed chess champions admit that they are still learning and can be surprised by the gambits and strategies of their opponents. The venue for the club, which boasts interested players from the ages of six through to seniors, is at 1409 KaiwakaMangawhai Road, and the games begin on April 19. Those who are interested in coming along for friendship and competition should call Tina on 021 689 988 to register and brush up their skills with knights, rooks and pawns before the battle is joined. ¢ Authorised Distributors and Service Agents for Diesel Industrial Motors, Pumps and Generators Designed for Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Rural applications.
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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER March 26 2021
PUZZLE TIME Jumbo crossword ACROSS 1 Green vegetable (7) 4 Job candidates (10) 9 Non-attendance (7) 13 Check and correct (4) 14 Be of importance (6) 15 Parking offence notification (6) 16 As a rule (7) 19 Grow less (7) 20 Thwart or spoil the plans of another (5,8,5) 21 Bypass (6) 22 Kidnapper’s demand (6) 24 Off (9) 29 And so forth (8) 30 Rough (6) 31 Plume (7) 35 Gambling game (8) 36 Refrains from harming (6) 37 Smallest of litter (4) 38 Artificial (5) 39 Chart (3) 41 Rendezvous (5) 43 Curtains (6) 47 Divide (5) 50 Domestic fuel (3) 54 Greenfly (5) 55 Unclad (4) 56 Soak up (6) 57 Arouse the curiosity of (8) 60 Illustration title (7) 61 Move out of (6) 62 Widespread disease outbreak (8) 65 Warship (9) 67 Peckish (6)
68 Bravery in battle (6) 72 Make a tremendous effort (4,3,3,3,5) 75 Go before (7) 77 Obsequious (7) 78 Grating (6) 79 Feed box (6) 80 Equitable (4) 81 In the midst of (7) 82 Genealogical chart (6,4) 83 Scottish emblem (7) DOWN 1 Tempo (5) 2 Cause to begin (8) 3 Warmed up (6) 4 Old-fashioned (10) 5 Pulp of vegetables or fruit (5) 6 Intervening time (7) 7 Weight dropped from boat (6) 8 Topic (5) 10 Popular book (4-6) 11 Study (7) 12 Cotton cloth (6) 17 Alteration (10) 18 Particular skill (5) 21 Drawing (7) 23 Interchanged (7) 25 Ridiculous (6) 26 Lookout (6) 27 Irritating inconvenience (6) 28 Japanese hostess (6) 30 About (5) 32 Defrost (4) 33 Leap (4) 34 Card game (4)
207
40 Attractiveness (6) 42 Make airtight (4) 44 Former US president (6) 45 Thick adhesive liquid (5) 46 Theatre doctor (7) 48 Tarry (6) 49 Main street (anag) (10) 50 Retches (4) 51 Refuge (7) 52 Highlander’s garment (4) 53 Argue (6) 58 Vertical grating at castle gateway (10) 59 Scientific instrument (10) 63 Gemstone (5) 64 Predict (8) 66 Pep up (7) 67 Stockings, socks (7) 69 Relic repository (6) 70 Hot pod (6) 71 Cask tap (6) 73 Grub (5) 74 Exterior (5) 76 Uncanny (5)
Sudoku
Previous crossword solution
4 1 3 6 5
2
ACROSS: 1 Have a heart of stone, 10 Vanishes, 15 Oblong, 16 Alarm clock, 17 Bandanna, 19 Orchard, 21 Meant, 22 Influence, 25 Embroider, 27 Stamina, 29 Stance, 33 Fault, 34 Montreal, 36 Omnivorous, 39 Lip, 41 Retinue, 42 Brainy, 43 Awning, 44 Team, 45 Incense, 48 Golf course, 53 Regatta, 57 Axle, 58 Object, 59 Craven, 60 G-string, 62 Elk, 64 Yesteryear, 65 Palisade, 66 Ashen, 69 Crabby, 70 Hirsute, 71 Bamboozle, 76 Tarpaulin, 77 Waste, 78 Tempted, 83 Sanskrit, 84 Rainforest, 85 Biking, 86 Abetting, 87 Rest on your laurels. DOWN: 2 Auburn, 3 Epoch, 4 Hug, 5 Away, 1 7 9 3 5 6 Trapeze, 7 Famine, 8 Tilt, 9 Nickname, 11 2 9 Abated, 12 Indication, 13 Hand, 14 Startle, 18 Blancmange, 20 Rare, 23 Piton, 24 Insolent, 4 3 8 6 26 Malaise, 28 Tally-ho, 30 Tavern, 31 Belief, 5 5 8 6 4 1 7 32 Winner, 35 Torso, 37 Samba, 38 Sums, 40 Pair, 45 Italy, 46 Coleslaw, 47 Embryo, 48 3 Gregarious, 49 Lute, 50 Cockpit, 51 Unable, 52 9 8 2 4 Sheds, 54 Easy, 55 Aerosol, 56 Tanker, 61 Wet 7 9 blanket, 63 Adobe, 67 Estimate, 68 Code, 69 3 4 9 6 7 Previous solution Canasta, 72 Art Deco, 73 Option, 74 Lagoon, 75 Kernel, 79 Poker, 80 Knee, 81 Knot, 82 Star, 6 1 7 9 4 2 3 8 5 8 2 5 3 6 7 4 1 9 85 Boa.
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