The Weekend Lifestyler, May 26th, 2023

Kapa haka builds relationship

Kapa haka tutors, whaea Ngaroimata Morgan, Taira Phillips and Wiremu Ngatipa at Otamatea High School kapa haka group, spend many hours with their students, teaching them the art of kapa haka and its values. Inviting tamariki from Ruawai College, Dargaville High School and Rodney College to attend the recent Te Ahurea o Te Tai Tokerau Festival secondary school kapa haka competition with their school was something they did without hesitation, ensuring all kapa haka groups from the area had the opportunity to shine.

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THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY INTEGRITY COMMUNITY MEDIA, A PRIVATELY OWNED NORTHLAND COMPANY.

Phone: 09 439 6933 or 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 deb.wright@integrity.nz

Journalists: Ann van Engelen | Liz Clark

Advertising: Olivia Green 027 525 8197

Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Anna Fredericksen | Kelsey Harrison | Liz Clark

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7,780 copies, distributed on Friday to every residential and rural home throughout the district including Whangārei, One Tree Point, Ruakākā, Waipū, Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and Wellsford.

Historic date for Wellsford

u by Paul Campbell

Albertland descendants will gather in Wellsford on the weekend of May 27 and 28 to celebrate their forebears’ arrival in New Zealand 161 years ago aboard the sailing ship Matilda Wattenbach.

The ship left London Docks with 352 nonconformist immigrants from England. Another 315 landed from the ship Hanover sailed later, and six more immigrant ships had arrived by 1865.

The newcomers formed the nucleus of a model community planned by

celebrates some of the talent we have in this community. The second is a one act play written by Jane Wilson, whose husband’s forbears came out to New Zealand on the ship, bringing some of the first Albertlanders to this district. Keep to thy First Wife will be staged on

“Our collection of archival information is extensive thanks to Albertland descendants sharing their photographs, family trees and other documents”

the Albertland Special Settlement Association, named for Queen Victoria’s then-recently deceased husband. The original Port Albert settlers moved to Wellsford with the formation of road and rail links with the rest of the country.

“For our weekend, we are staging a talent show and memorial play, a celebratory dinner and a tour of historic sites,” said Albertland Heritage Museum treasurer Rob Lennon.

“The museum is holding the events along with the Wellsford Drama Club, Wellsford RSA, Port Albert Hall, Druids Hall and the Wharehine Hall for two days of entertainment and things to see and do. The show we have put together

Friday, May 26th, at 7pm, Saturday 27th, at 7pm, and Sunday 28th, at 2pm.

“The museum will be open between 10am and 3pm on the weekend with our great collection, which includes images from our Harold Marsh collection showing life in Albertland from the 1860s, as well as more recent years,” says Rob.

“Our collection of archival information is extensive thanks to Albertland descendants sharing their photographs, family trees and other documents with us. We’re dedicated to updating our records, so if you have any information relating to the Albertlanders that you would like to share — please let us know if you visit.” ¢

p The cast of the Wellsford anniversary play Keep Thy First Wife wife: Kirsty King-turner, (sitting with l/r) Diane Greenwood, Alan Bainbridge, Zachary Skelling and Ella Brunton.

Art changes guard

u by Ann van Engelen

Visitors to the Kaipara District Council Mangawhai office reception area are being treated to a new artwork display thanks to a collaboration between KDC and Mangawhai Artists.

“The artwork brightens the walls of the public-facing areas of the service centre and is a celebration of local artists and the creativity that is in our community,” says display coordinator from Mangawhai Artists Pip Murray-Aynsley.

“Elena Nikolaeva’s work, The Boss, greets visitors from behind the reception desk. The work is a silk painting, an artform, which originated in the ancient South-East Asian traditional craft of batik.”

Elena says through silk painting she has tried to evoke a joyful world of positive emotions.

“I am trying to create for the viewer a moment of wonder, the same wonder and joy which captivate me in New Zealand, in this evergreen paradise

land that also dictates my nautical and terrestrial themes, vibrant colours, unique forms and shapes.”

Janel Colle’s work titled We need your support is a plea from the kauri forest as it fights the plague of kauri dieback disease and is on the right-hand wall as one enters the service centre.

“It is from a collection of work I created in 2022 and is a call to action for the people of New Zealand to be proactive in protecting this giant treasure of our native flora,” she says.

“These legendary trees are like human beings. We need to protect them, so we can continue to grow and thrive together on this sacred land.”

The Golden Glow by Edie Chappell speaks for itself and provides a feeling

of warmth and hope. It also picks up the late afternoon sun that can be seen through the window alongside it. Shirley Emerson’s work, Idol Hours, is in the small office to the left of the reception area. It is an acrylic and collaged piece inspired by lockdowns and lazy days.

“It is exciting to see the new work,” says Kaipara District Council fleet and facilities coordinator Felicity Andrews. “Having artwork on the walls helps create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the service centre.”

A brochure profiling each work and artist is in a stand to the left of the reception desk.

The current display is scheduled to be in place for three months and to be refreshed in August. ¢

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A GP referral can be helpful but is not essential.

p Pip Murray-Aynsley from Mangawhai Artists and Kaipara District Council fleet and facilities coordinator Felicity Andrews with The Golden Glow by Edie Chappell

Community pull together

u by Ann van Engelen

Amy Abernethy and her team at Lil Rippers Landscaping and Concrete went out to help the community by fixing some of the many potholes that were causing nightmares for road users.

“We had the terrible tragedy of two children dying in the community that day, and Kaela Berry, my staff member called me and suggested we take the day off to show respect for the children,” says Amy.

“Peter Snell Road, was closed and people were detoured down the road Kaela lives on.

“It was full of horrendous potholes and was very dangerous. Families were driving on the grass to avoid damaging their vehicles, and Kaela asked if we could fix the potholes to make it safer for the community because you could have ‘lost a tooth’ driving over it from how rough it was.”

Amy agreed, and went to Nigel at Dalton’s Landscape Supplies in Ruakākā for the metal to do the job.

“It was also something we could do while dealing with the sadness that was going on. We told Nigel what we were doing when I went to get the gravel, and he kindly donated it to us free of charge to help as well.

“For us, it was something we could do with taking the day out to respect

those two beautiful children who lost their lives.

“Kaela and my other team member Callie Sykes then filled the holes on the road, and made a huge difference. We have had so many kind comments from people who had driven on it before we fixed it. They couldn’t work out who had made their return trip so much safer and easy.”

Amy says their work is clearly a temporary fix and does not advise members of the public to do such missions themselves due to safety reasons.

“We can’t go and do all the roads because obviously there are safety measures to consider. For that one day, we were the pothole fairies to help the community not have damaged cars as we coped with what had happened.

“We believe it is important to pull together and be there for one another and help each other out when we can to make things better for everyone. In no way was it about us. We wanted everyone to be able to use the road safely, and there was no other option at the time, but do it ourselves. We never charged at all, we are a part of this community, and at the time, the community needed help. It was about showing respect and being there for others because no one else was going to do it, and we could.

“It felt really good to see the people’s comments knowing that they got back over the road without damaging their vehicles, but we are pleased we could show unity, aroha and be a part of helping each other in a tragic time.” ¢

p Amy Abernethy checking the state of the road before beginning the mission of making it more user-friendly last week

Kapa haka builds relationship

u by Ann van Engelen

Students from Otamatea High School, Rodney College, Dargaville High School and Ruawai College joined forces at the recent Te Ahurea o Te Tai Tokerau Festival secondary school kapa haka competition.

“Our Otamatea High School kapa haka group knew that the other schools don’t currently have competing kapa haka groups up and running so we opened our doors for their students to join us,” says whaea Ngaroimata Morgan.

“I run the OHS group with my colleagues Taira Phillips and Wiremu Ngatipa and we have been doing a lot of momentum around Ngāti Whātua to bring the art back into the area. When I attended OHS my grandmother was the Māori teacher and then my sister took over until someone else came along.”

In February 2016, Ngaroimata was invited to manage the group with Wiremu joining her in 2020 alongside Taira.

“My nan used to tutor Wiremu as well and we love teaching the tamariki together. We call ourselves the A team.

The tamariki love that we have a real whānau environment at kapa haka and we see a positive difference as they discover the family foundation within the school.

“We have always been rivals with Rodney College and when we opened our doors to them it created a really strong link. Having Ruawai and Dargaville join too linked the rangatahi of the generations together. The students are getting a lot of our teachings which

is revitalising our youth’s te reo, family background knowledge and discipline.

“Our community feed them really well every week too with the parents and teachers constantly baking and ensuring our team isn’t hungry. It is a beautiful thing and it’s now quite traditional for us to sing for the people who take time out of their family lives to help us.

“Sometimes students don’t have anything to ground them at school, they only come to get credits. Kapa haka relaxes them and connects them with their peers which gives them support that they don’t always have due to life circumstances.

“This time at the festival we placed sixth, last time we came 19th. Our goal is the top four with the mainstream Te Kura Kaupapa schools which are fully immersed in Māori culture. We always do our kapa haka outside school hours and Wiremu, Taira and myself get a lot of pleasure seeing our tamariki succeed. It helps them to connect with career pathways and gain a positive outlook in life.

“For me, kapa haka is about maintaining the knowledge within our tribe and youth so it isn’t lost. We have seen so much growth since the last competition, especially with the

highs and lows with the Covid and we are now seeing our kids come through even better and that is priceless. We love seeing tamariki build connections

with our communities, families and other students and kapa haka is one way they discover their tūpuna connections in the area.” ¢

p The students at Ngāti Kahu Marae before the competition

Bringing autumn glory

u by Liz Clark

Years ago, growing up in Auckland, my family had a Canadian maple tree growing in a tiny square of green, and each year its change in leaf tone brought colour in autumn.

The family Acer encompasses more than 130 species of maple spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Heights range from one-metre up to more than 12 metres.

All are distinguished by the distinctive palm-shaped leaves in various forms, sizes and colours depending on the species. All trees from this botanical family are deciduous.

Planting should be done in autumn and winter while the tree is dormant. Ideally, the soil should be reasonably free-draining and slightly acidic at

around pH five to six. Larger species can withstand some wind. However, the more delicate Asian species are better suited to sheltered gardens with some shade, if available, to prevent leaf burn.

Dig a square hole and fill it halfway with a mix of compost and potting mix to provide the tree with a good foundation for root growth. The planting hole size should be twice the diameter of the container and the same for depth. Set in your support stakes before planting; it will prevent the root ball from being damaged.

Water the soil well but not saturated. The tree should be watered if the soil is dry in the container. Remove it from the planting bag, but do not disturb the roots. Place in the centre of the hole, then fill in with the remaining soil. Firm and then use tree ties to secure the maple to the support stakes. One rule applies when selecting your tree for the garden — size matters. For example, don’t plant a large tree in a small courtyard or where there are close neighbours. While it sounds like a great idea to have a huge maple for shade — it

could cause issues in the future. Check with your local council on rules regarding trees and boundary restrictions.

Larger growing species for farms, lifestyle blocks or lifestyle blocks include Field Maple, ideal for shelter belts due to its wind resistance, Canadian Maple and Norway Maple.

For smaller gardens, the Japanese maple species are a perfect choice. Some of these are Osakazuki, Viridis, a weeping variety, Katsura and Asahi Zuru. Visit your local nursery or search online for options. ¢

Brigades join forces

u by Ann van Engelen

Ruakākā Volunteer Fire Brigade team member Rahul Gupta completed the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge last Saturday alongside many other local and national firefighters raising $1,475,200 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

“The Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, and climbing 51 flights of stairs, being 1,103 steps, and in 25kg of kit was an unbelievable challenge,” says Rahul.

“I loved being part of this amazing cause even though it was brutal and tough. I am so grateful to my community for their support and helping me exceed my goal by raising $7,779 for the event.”

Rahul had fundraised for the three months prior to reach his goal of $7,000.

“I ended up raising $7,779 and was awarded second place for individual fundraising. It was amazing. I arrived in Auckland at midnight on Friday because there was a call-out I needed to attend. I was only able to get four hours’ sleep before getting up and heading to the CBD by 6.30am to pick up my registration pack.

“We had a pōwhiri before we started, which was an experience and an honour to watch. It really set a great vibe for the day.

“Then we got our gear on and prepared for the start of the climb. I was in group seven and started my

climb at 8.45am. I set a steady pace for myself, so I could make it to the top without stopping. It was both physically and mentally tough, and I am proud to make it in 21 minutes and 18 seconds without needing a break.

“Unbeknown to many, my journey towards becoming a firefighter was to give back to the community where I moved, and the community accepted me wholeheartedly.

“Every drop in the ocean counts, and I will never forget those who helped me in sailing through the difficulties of my journey, and they all deserve a portion of this reward.

“My goal is to train even harder for next year and do the challenge in 17 minutes. It was such an amazing experience to be a part of, and I am so grateful to everyone who helped me with their generosity and allowed me to give back.”

Waipū brigade had six firefighters complete the challenge, while Wellsford sent seven team members, Mangawhai had seven people represent the team, and Kaiwaka had three firefighters at the event. ¢

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p Rahul Gupta represented the Ruakākā brigade at the Sky Tower challenge

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A bayside menu

u by Amy Fifita

Bream Bay is filled with a treasure trove of eateries, from restaurants to cafes to indulge in with your loved ones, for work-related meetings or in solitary contemplation.

The options are many and varied depending on your desired setting. You can pick a waterfront cafe with a sea breeze or go further inland for a delectable meal. As you enter the area, along the Port Marsden Highway is the Porthouse Bar and Eatery, where you can enjoy a hot or cold beverage or have a hot meal.

Satiate your hunger at the Ruakākā Town Centre — there is an assortment of cafes, takeaways and restaurants. Just down from the hub is an Asian fusion restaurant, Ainga or go to the Ruakākā Tavern for a bite.

At One Tree Point, the Land & Sea Cafe, Bar and Eatery has an eating space with waterfront views. If fish and chips on the beach are more your style, stop in at the One Tree Point Store and Takeaways to order before enjoying a local scene. Enjoy a delicious seafood meal at MuzzBang, stationed along Barbados Way, or go to the Urban Remedy restaurant also in the area.

Waipū has a range of eateries for your tastebuds. The Macleod’s Pizza Barn & Brewery has been an icon in the town for years. The business caters to various palates and does more than just pizza. Diners can also enjoy one of the refreshing beverages from its craft

options or warm up with a hot drink for the cold weather.

Indulge in a bite to eat from the Waipū Cafe and Deli. It has many dishes to choose from with its freshly made treats and is a great place to bring your friends and family.

Taste the plant-based options at the Logan MacLean Cafe. There is a selection of nutritious organic meals to choose from. Explore the delicacies of the Bream Bay area and try something new for a treat.

There are plenty of flavours from around the world, including from the Waipū-based Madly Indian restaurant. Choose from a meat selection of chicken, goat, lamb, beef or seafood, with vegetarian and vegan options.

Mangawhai is home to various places for people to taste culinary creations.

Enjoy European food at the Frog and Kiwi or go to Gringas for a Mexican delight. For French, Spanish or Italian cuisine, dine at the Corner Bistro and select your desired flavours from the varied menu.

Fill your belly with a wholesome burger from MEAN BRGR packed with New Zealand beef and fresh produce. With a thought to the environment, the packaging is made from renewable and biodegradable material — it serves free-range chicken and sustainably sources its fish. Whether you are travelling through the area or live close by, there are options for everyone to savour.

mix, potting mix, and lime chip. And we have bags of fertilizers such as: slow release, top feed, grass seed, citrus fertilizer, blood and bone, sheep pellets and more. Autumn is a great time to plant! So come and visit us in our little slice of paradise. Email: breambaygreenworld@gmail.com or phone 0274 952 441. 656 One Tree Point Road

We are open from Tuesday - Saturday 8:30am - 4.30pm

p Take in the relaxing scene of the water at the Land & Sea Bar and Eatery or one of the other restaurants or cafes that are throughout the Bream Bay area

Pink for anti-bullying

u by Ann van Engelen

Teachers, students, staff and parents turned up at schools across the country last Friday displaying a sea of pink to support anti-bullying and the importance of being kind, inclusive and having good friendships.

Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. We’ve been celebrating Pink Shirt Day in Aotearoa since 2009, and the campaign grows stronger and larger every year.

“Our PTA got into the spirit of the day by donating prizes for best hair, best dressed and kindness awards. They even provided a free ice block to everyone after our parade,” says Kaiwaka School principal Sharlene McCormick.

Each year, workplaces, schools, organisations and individuals join the

movement to make a stand against bullying, which is a serious issue in New Zealand.

Annually, one in 10 workers report they have been bullied at work, and Aotearoa has the third-highest rate of school bullying out of 36 OECD countries.

Pink Shirt Day is an anti-bullying campaign that celebrates diversity and creates environments where all people can feel safe, valued and respected. Studies show people who are bullied are more likely to experience mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. The day is about working

together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusiveness. It’s about creating a community where all people

feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion or cultural background. ¢

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p Kaiwaka school teacher Katherine Brown and PTA member Sophie Merwood with Heath Lusty, who won best dressed senior student

p Michel Merwood, Conner Roberts, Karley Roberts, Tia Kupa, Porcia Taylor and Ricky Taurua-Fedarb at Kaiwaka School

p Milla Dowson, Holly Knudsen, Molly Grieve, Beija Allport and Azaliyah Smythe had a great day at Kaiwaka School

At the heights of their profession

u by Andy Bryenton

It’s great to be able to call on the professionals to

of ladders and scaffolding.

Roofers, plumbers, electricians, builders, arborists and others in the trades regularly get up off the ground to heights that would make many of us weak at the knees. However, even these heroes of height take their hats off to the legends who were once on call to handle truly tall orders.

Take for example, William Larkins, an English fellow who wrote the book on steeplejacking. This old art originated in the days of the great cathedral builders. Mr Larkins was a legend among his trade and became the go-to steeplejack for the mayor of London. He was the man they called to repair the very top of Nelson’s Column. He was regularly seen cleaning the clock faces of Big Ben, hanging above the houses of parliament on a single-plank seat suspended from hemp ropes.

Later on, it was chimneys instead of monuments that required the skill of brave tradespeople. Joseph Smith was the first famous chimney master from England’s industrial north. He worked in the late Victorian era, attracting crowds of thousands to watch him scale giant

smokestacks, set them right if they were leaning or broken, or bring them down without damaging other buildings. He was known as a hard man who would not quit a job even if the weather turned foul and was once witnessed by a crowd of 5,000 fighting another worker on the very top of a huge brick chimney after they disagreed on the method of demolishing it. Smith won the fight, caught his opponent as he fell, and had him safely winched down to the ground before he finished the job. In more

modern times, this same profession was exemplified by Bolton man Fred Dibnah, who made a television career from his daring demolitions.

Long before ‘Skywalker’ was the surname of a Star Wars hero, it meant something very different. The word was translated from the language of the Mohican Native Americans and referred to members of their nation who helped erect New York’s tallest buildings. In 1886 a band of Mohawk men from Kahnawakee helped build a steel

bridge in Montreal, and the engineers noted that they all possessed no fear of heights and astounding balance. They and their relatives were soon in demand as steelworkers high above Manhattan’s streets. They became so respected that they made up the backbone of the Brooklyn Local 361 Ironworkers’ Union. The people who designed the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and others said their structures would not have been possible if not for the fearless Skywalkers. ¢

p With no fear of heights and a tradition of steelworking spanning generations, the skyscraper builders of the Native American Mohawk nation are the ultimate high-rise professionals

A heart to help

u by Ann van Engelen

Kaiwaka Revival Church’s Tawhiri Littlejohn played drums in many well-known bands around New Zealand, before putting his passion aside to help others in his community improve their lives.

“I am proud to come from here. I was born and raised in Kaiwaka and am of Ngāti Whātua, Te Uri o Hau descent,” says Tawhiri.

“I wasn’t raised in church, and spent 14 years as a session musician playing drums for some top bands around the country. One day I was home from touring and saw a great need in the community to assist struggling families and started focussing on helping others.

“At the time, the late John Dekker was the pastor here and saw my passion to help in a spiritual way and introduced me to serving in his little church. Back then, people had lost their purpose in life, and there was a lot of family dysfunction with things like depression and drugs.

“My wife Katie and I have three boys, and some of the people needing help were people we loved. We decided they were more important than my music career, and in 2015, I gave up touring and became a co-pastor along with Paul

Tautari. I know my community well, and during Covid saw the need for support increase, especially with family living costs and accommodation pressure.

Depression and suicide statistics rose, and some people turned to drugs and alcohol.

“We needed to find something to help people and heard of the ManUp

“I know my community well”

programme being offered around the country to help men with issues such as depression, drugs, anger and alcohol. They also have Legacy Sisterhood, a selfempowering programme designed for women, so we made enquiries.

“I heard his story and knew it’s what this area needs. The community knows we help people, and they said, ‘if ManUp is helping those who are terrorising our communities, let’s try it’. ManUp has seen hundreds of lives changed for people from all walks of life, including businessmen, gang members and farm workers of all ages. Cheyne and Ana Hakaraia are good friends who introduced the programmes to us at the end of last year.

“You don’t have to go to church to come and start life fresh. We are passionate about seeing families restored and living to their full potential, and the programme has been well accepted by our community. Cheyne and Ana are now in Hawke’s Bay, helping with

“What sold ManUp for me is a worker at my native riparian planting business is an ex-gang member who spent 14 years in prison. He became a facilitator for the programme because of the positive impact it had on his life, marriage and children. Even the police call him to help in situations when they don’t have the answers because they know him well.

p Tawhiri Littlejohn loves nothing more than his family and helping people in the community to transform their lives for the better

p The team at Kaiwaka Revival Church host the Legacy Sisterhood Empowerment for women alongside ManUp

p Through hosting the ManUp programme, the team has seen many men make positive changes in their lives

“People are not expected to join the church at all. Week after week, we hear they had no dad, no positive affirmation or role models — they only saw violence”

the Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up. We are amazed at the changes we see in men and women every week. More than 30 guys come from as far away as Ruakākā and Wellsford, along with a good group of ladies to Legacy. ManUp was founded by Brian Tamaki to help families, and we are thankful for his contribution to our community and nation. The vision is to raise fathers to save our children.”

The 10-week course is specifically designed to deal with men’s dysfunctions and what they have been through in childhood, which has led to their bad choices. Tawhiri says one of the most common reasons men are dysfunctional is having no father figure.

“Week after week, we hear they had no dad, no positive affirmation or role models — they only saw violence. The programme addresses issues where anger comes from. The men learn key phrases like ‘the man sets the atmosphere in his home’. If he returns

from work in a bad mood, the whole family environment is disrupted. This is often because he doesn’t know how to talk about his issues and holds it inside, usually taking stress out on his wife, partner and children.

“At ManUp, they learn to keep the home atmosphere positive by dealing with their issues and setting a standard for their children to look up to and to be a place their wives feel safe and comforted. I believe the course is effective because it meets people where they are at, no matter who they are, their age or background. Everyone is accepted and given the space to be themselves.

“They can come in swearing, crying or angry. People are taught to take responsibility for their wrongs and their actions, including showing up on time for work and being a person of integrity. I have seen many amazing transformations with the guys being given the tools to deal with life.

“They get out what they put in. It is up to them if they want to change or not — no one forces them. I have seen men struggling with suicide want to live again because they have renewed their life purpose. Others with depression are making positive changes to break the sadness, while others are dealing with their anger.

“Some are planning to marry their partners to show their commitment, and others are giving up drugs and alcohol. These are not just Māori boys — we have mixed cultures and ages of men wanting to be great role models for their children and loving to their partners. That is what we love seeing. We are giving them somewhere to come for help, to change the way they once lived. Many now want to help others who are struggling.

“I love that once ManUp is in your community, they set up a team of Iron Men that are available 24/7, and I have personally seen the Iron Men step in

to help those wanting to take their own lives. They have an 0800 help centre, and if you ring, they run.

“The Legacy and ManUp programmes are at Kaiwaka Revival Church, opposite Eutopia Cafe every Wednesday at 7pm. Legacy is an awesome women’s programme and runs alongside ManUp, empowering and strengthening women. Church is on Sundays from 10am, and we welcome anyone who is interested in coming along.

“There are more than 300 ManUp groups throughout the country with thousands who have been through the programme and changed their lives. I am proud to be helping our local communities.

“The impact has been greater than we expected, and we will continue to help struggling people and love seeing the positive changes people are making in their lives for themselves and their whānau.” ¢

p Tawhiri and the Kaiwaka team joined more than 1,200 other ManUp Relief Team workers in Hawke’s Bay during the recent Cyclone Gabrielle flood disaster

Establishing healthy waterways

u by Ann van Engelen

Waipū Waters, Whitebait Connection, Patuharakeke and Piroa Conservation Trust are set to host the first catchment group riparian planting day this Friday, May 26, from 12.30pm–4.30pm at 174 Millbrook Road, Waipū.

“This is the first of a number of projects in Bream Bay with local farmers as part of catchment groups,” says Piroa Conservation Trust’s Ann Neill.

“The second planting day is scheduled for Sunday, May 28, from 10am to 4pm or until all the plants are in the ground. People need to bring a spade, a bottle of water and weather-appropriate clothing and join the crew to get the first bundle of native plants in the ground alongside the Millbrook River.

“Our vision is to provide shade and shelter for native fish to thrive again and improve water quality. The project kicked off in April with the first planting by Westpac ambassador Richie McCaw and Westpac staff from Auckland and Whangārei, along with local farmers. We planted 20 kōwhai and tītoki trees along the riverbank on the Goddard farm near Waipū.”

Ann says there are many threats to native fish and water quality in the river,

and the Waipū and Ruakākā project is partly funded by Westpac New Zealand and the NZ Landcare Trust.

“We are fortunate to be working alongside all these partners. An area of riverbank was identified as ideal for riparian planting, and the Goddard whānau fenced this off for the project and did the fencing and ground preparation themselves.

is concern about what to do and how to do it. It comes down to working out a plan that reduces barriers to funding and having enough time within busy working lives. Through this sort of approach, the community groups can work alongside the landowner to help our rivers have water that is swimmable and drinkable again.

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“We are very grateful to the Goddards for their generosity in creating such a buffer. Now the community has an opportunity to get behind the Ahuroa/ Millbrook catchment group to support these early wins.

“Farmers are worried about the environmental regulatory change coming through the system, and there

“We have 2,500 plants for the riverbank this season thanks to the Waipū Community Nursery alongside Mangawhai Natives, and we are grateful for their support. To find out more about planting days or to join a catchment group in the Bream Bay area, contact catchment coordinator Graham Matthews at catchmentcoordinator@ piroaconservation.org.nz.” ¢

p Ann Neill, Katrina Goddard, Richie McCaw, Jon Hampson and Peter Hunt at the recent planting

p Steve Johnson from Patuharakeke discussing the project

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Last week’s crossword solution 5x5 Insert

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