The Weekend Lifestyler, November 11th, 2022

Rookie with a passion

At 13 years old, Ava Pullan has been involved in Nippers at Waipū Cove Surf Life Saving Club since she was a young child and is now a rookie, training to become a qualified surf life saver. Living on the family farm at Waipū Cove, Ava loves helping her

grandfather with the farm chores and says there is no place she would rather be than living the farm life and being involved in surf life saving and encourages other children and adults alike to join the club.

Honouring a life well lived.

An opportunity realised

u by Ann van Engelen

“I have managed the store since I relocated from Auckland six and a half years ago,” says Frances.

“I saw the management job advertised as I was moving here so I applied because I always wanted to work with St John. I managed the Red Cross Shop in Browns Bay for six and a half years, and before that, I worked in the corporate world.

“Prior to the Red Cross, I had always wanted to work with charity and am passionate about St John because they saved my life several times through various incidents, and I am forever grateful.”

The St John Mangawhai Retail Store originated in the hub on Molesworth Drive when a group of community

handle. They have done a fantastic job and we are very proud that the building is freehold thanks to the community support we received. It is a beautiful commercial building.

“Every cent that is raised in the shop stays locally, for our community. Funds don’t go to a big pool elsewhere. They are held by our area committee and used to help different initiatives like first aid courses and assisting other health providers.

“St John is very involved in iwi engagements, as well to help the vulnerable. We are very passionate about assisting them. We are partnering with Linking Hands so they can get further ahead with their work instead of us reinventing the wheel.

members wanted to raise funds for the new ambulance station which was completed in 2015.

“From Molesworth Drive, we relocated to an early 1900s house in Moir Street, but it became unfit for use, so we decided to invest in a new building using funds raised at the shop. It didn’t come easily, but we wanted to prepare for the future because Mangawhai is the fastest-growing coastal region in New Zealand at present.

“It was built by Classic Builders. We are so happy with the finished premises because it was a really difficult project to

“I love everything about my job and have an absolute passion for people, including the vulnerable. I am extremely grateful to the 30 volunteers, giving us their time to keep the shop running and every item donated.

“I love that I have seen how generous our community is. They have supported us right through to today, and with our brand-new build, it has been an unbelievable experience.

“Now that the new shop is trading, we are very excited to be able to look at what new initiatives we will be able to support in the future.”

Frances Kennelly and the team at the St John Mangawhai Retail Store celebrated the opening of the new premises at 42 Moir Street on Sunday and Monday.

p Frances Kennelly, the manager of the St John Mangawhai Retail Store, is proud of her team and the accomplishment of the new store build

u by Ann van Engelen

“I was born and bred up here, and my husband Eric comes from Hikurangi,” says Karen.

“We returned to Northland nine years ago from the Bay of Plenty. We were in Te Puke for 40-something years as Eric was the post office manager. I started doing mosaics there and never expected to do art again due to arthritis. I had packed everything away but needed something to slow me down and found I could do my sculptures, and that keeps me relaxed.

“Every design has a meaning, and that is what I really love, like the pikorua or twist. It represents the joining together of two cultures of people for eternity, either for friendship or relationship, with strong family bonds. It is the never-ending cycle of existence with no beginning or end, and people often buy them as wedding gifts.”

Karen says the whale’s tail is the navigator of the sea. It shows direction and protects travellers from harm, especially travelling over water.

“I get a real buzz watching people read the meanings of my pieces and then trying to pick out which one they love the best.

“Each piece takes approximately three weeks to create. I use plastic moulds, mix the cement and water and then shake the mould to get the

bubbles out. They are left to dry before I smooth off the edges. The worst part is cleaning them because I have to dress in my protective overalls, gumboots, and breathing masks, so I don’t breathe in the vapours of the product that cleans the lime from the cement.

“Each piece is then washed and undercoated before the main colour coats and speckles go on. The speckles I use are hard to find now, but a nice man at Mitre 10 found me five cans in the Cambridge store and kindly brought them up for me.

“I sell my sculptures at the Waipū Boutique Markets on the second Sunday of every month. Sometimes I put my board out at my front gate because when I tidy up my plants, I can’t bear to throw anything out, so they go in a pot, and people buy them too.

“I want everyone to be able to buy my art, so I keep my prices at $40. Eric is a great support and helps me at the markets. He is my ‘gofer’ — he goes for this and goes for that when I need something.

“I was brought up on this harbour as both my grandparents retired at the Whangārei Heads, and I love the water, fishing, beach combing and picking up rubbish when I am out walking. Anything I find that can be made into something, I bring home.” ¢

p It takes Karen three weeks to create each piece of art

p Karen Budd loves watching people deciding which garden sculpture they like best

Parties, presents and tax!

u by Corinne Smith, Director & Chartered Accountant

Are you planning a Christmas event for your clients? Is gift-giving on your to-do list? Take a minute to refresh yourself on how much is deductible as a business-related expense.

Do I contribute to climate change?

u by Jane Gray

How many of us ask this question — or are we just blaming others?

Presents

Are you thinking of gifts for clients, business associates or team members?

If gifts consist of food or drink, you can only claim 50% of the expense as a tax deduction. If gift baskets or hampers contain some food or drink and some other goodies, the food or drink items are 50% deductible, but other gift items are 100% deductible.

Note that when you claim the tax deduction, you need to apportion the expense between the 100% deductible items and the 50% deductible items. Let us know the details.

Parties

The basics: an expense is businessrelated if you spend the money to help your business earn income. Businessrelated expenses are generally fully

deductible. If the expense does not help your business earn gross income, it is a private expense, not claimable as a deduction.

Purely promotional events put your brand out there and are a marketing expense for the business. However, entertainment events such as Christmas parties inhabit a grey area sometimes and may be limited to a 50% deduction.

You will need to make a GST adjustment for any entertainment expenses, which are 50% deductible. It will be required when your income tax return is filed. We can help you with this.

Talk to us about your plans, and we can advise you on the tax implications. We would love to help. ¢

Farmers are the main source of climate change if we are to believe everything we hear and see. However, they are also the primary source of most of our food.

Yes, I have a veggie garden, but I can’t grow meat in my backyard, and shock horror, I am a meat eater. I do not want to eat plant-based substitutes, so apparently, people like me have added to the problem.

I have quite a large section that I would like to run chickens on but won’t because of stray cats and dogs, and really, free-range chooks would run amuck in town, and free-range is the only way.

I have planted lots of trees, both native and exotic. Do they count toward carbon tax credits? I also plant to attract bees, much to my rather allergic partner’s dismay, but we all must make some sacrifices. So that must be a mark in my favour. On the flip side, I spray a little and use some slug bait in the veggie garden. That’s a negative.

I catch water to take care of my gardens during the summer. I also catch my grey water to do the same. Is that a tick in the good column? I do use air conditioning, and I am not very good at recycling, so I guess that puts me on the ‘adding to global warming’ list.

I try to shop and avoid plastic as much as possible. I make a lot of my own clothes. That has to be a plus, although power is required to run the machine, so they probably cancelled each other out.

It would seem to me the best thing a townie like myself can do is support our rural industry. It’s the most efficient in the world, and it’s better if our milk, meat and veg come from here than countries that are more polluting or further off, so food has to travel, costing fuel. Perhaps if all the vegetation on farms was counted honestly, farmers take care of the environment better than most townies.

Support our local economy, which should drive competition and reduce imports. ¢

Your well established local educational childcare centre. Enrolling now.

Passing on experience

u by Ann van Engelen

“I have lived on our small family farm here in Mangawhai my whole life,” says Amy. “My parents are very horsey people, and I attended my first horse show at eight months old, and we still ride together today. I have spent 20 years in the Pony Club system, and I like that it is a way I can give back to the community.

“Pony Club is a great place for children to learn about horsemanship, caring for and looking after ponies. We have a great group of people helping too — some have been involved for many years. You can attend Pony Club up until the age of 25 years old. Some members then move on to teaching the younger or new members, while others

leave and progress with their adult riding and competing.

“I stayed on teaching because I enjoy seeing riders improve in their horsemanship abilities, learning new skills and ensuring they know how to look after their ponies.”

Amy coaches from beginner level through to advanced.

“Being taught the foundations of having a pony, from saddling up through to grooming, is really important as is riding correctly. A horse’s diet is important, and for feeding, I recommend grass and supplements like hay and hard feed that you get from the local feed stores. They shouldn’t gain too

much weight because other health issues can occur.

“Consistency and exercise are important too, and you need to ride regularly. There is a saying: ‘riding makes for a happy rider and a happy horse’.

“Being a teacher gives you a nice sense of satisfaction, and it makes you proud when your students accomplish new things, grow and achieve their goals and gain confidence in their own ability.

“Pony Club welcomes everyone. You don’t have to have a horse to start with as we offer our Riders Without Horses programme. You are taught horse care and the dos and don’ts of riding on the road or farmland, so you have an

understanding of what is involved in owning your own. People can contact us through the Hakaru Pony Club Facebook page.

“I also work at Tara Iti Golf Club, caring for the owners’ animals. I have 14 horses, and they certainly keep me busy. I ride my horses every day and love the freedom riding gives you. I enjoy competing, too, because the hard work you put in between shows pays off, especially if you get a placement.

“Even if you don’t win, it is still a fun day out, and healthy competition makes you want to do better. My favourite place to ride is the beach, it is so peaceful, and the horses love it too.” ¢

Hakaru Pony Club head coach Amy Westlake has been involved with the club since she was four years old.

p Amy encourages riders to ride their horses on a regular basis

p Amy Westlake has been involved with Hakaru Pony Club since she was a small child

Fruit with zing

u by Liz Clark

In recent years, a broader range of citrus trees has been available to gardeners, including the versatile lime.

Limes are more likely associated with tropical island settings and stamping a place in the home garden. They’re also useful for container planting for a ready pick alongside others such as oranges, lemons and mandarins.

They thrive in warm, relatively frostfree regions, mainly coastal areas of the North Island. Choose a warm sunny position sheltered from cold wind. The trees require at least six hours a day of exposure to full sunlight.

Ideally, limes should be planted from March until November in wellprepared, organically rich, slightly acidic soil. However, they can be planted any time of the year as long as adequate water is available. When choosing a site to plant ensure your tree has

plenty of airflow. Avoid planting where tall trees will shade it and cause weak, spindly growth.

Dig a square hole twice the width and depth of the pot. Fill the bottom of the hole with sheep, horse or cattle manure and cover it with a good layer of compost. Continue to fill it with topsoil until halfway. Water your lime first before planting. Remove the tree from the pot while avoiding disturbing the roots, then fill the rest of the hole with soil and firm carefully down — then water. Add a 20cm layer of mulch around the base of the lime without touching the trunk to conserve moisture.

Limes fruit approximately three years after establishment, from March until August. In spring the trees will be

flowering — avoid using insecticides at this time. If your tree is troubled by aphids and scale insects spray after the flowers have all been pollinated and the fruit is forming. Limes are self-fertile, so a pollinator tree isn’t required. It’s advisable in the first year to remove any fruit from the tree to promote strong roots and branch formation.

Feed the tree well with citrus fertiliser, blood and bone and additional organic matter. It will reward you in the second season with a bumper crop of lime fruit that can be utilised for culinary purposes. The juice also makes a refreshing drink, or add a slice of lime to chilled water for added zing. Visit your local garden centre for advice on which lime best fits your lifestyle. ¢

u by Ann van Engelen

Laura Walstra has taken her family hair braiding skills and created a small business thanks to Ash and Megan at Bruce’s Barber and Salon, formerly known as Fire Fades Barbershop in Wellsford.

“My partner Eruena taught me to do braiding because he used to do hairdressing when he was younger,” says Laura.

“Eruena always had long hair, so it was good to practise on, and he likes braids because it keeps his hair tidy. He has a different style every week, and it helps him because he does drain laying and needs his hair out of his face. He doesn’t have to keep tying it up because it’s plaited backwards.

“Eruena was encouraging me to turn my skill into a business and suggested I ask the barbershop owners Ash and Megan if I could join them. I summoned the courage and walked in, and asked Ash. He got me to chat with Megan, and they gave me a go.

practising is the best way to learn. My nieces are very helpful, too. When I want to try new ideas, they will sit there while I experiment.

“I like that anyone can get their hair braided. It is best at shoulder length minimum, and they are so easy with the heat in summer. There are several styles and designs that I do, and it is a great way for people to express themselves.

grew up in Wellsford — it is an awesome little town”

“To begin with, you shape the top first and then split it into four and follow the line that you want. Some people get the Dutch Braids, which are two rows and take about 40 minutes. Others, like the corn rows, take more than an hour, while box braids can take up to five hours.

“They are really happy, and now I rent a space at the shop on weekends. They have given me a huge opportunity to spread my wings, and I am very grateful for that.”

Laura googles ideas, and practises on Eruena and other family members.

“We grew our son’s hair until he was five and he always wanted me to braid his hair as well, so that added to my practice and experimenting. I am a visual learner and enjoy trying new designs and seeing the outcome, so

“They are really easy to take out as well, and you can do that yourself when you are ready. People can check out my Laura’s Braids Facebook page.

“I grew up in Wellsford — it is an awesome little town. We moved here when I was about 13, and I tried to move away, but I always came back, and it is nice to be able to share my hairdressing skills with others.

“I love seeing the happy look on my customers’ faces when I have finished.” ¢

“I

p Laura Walstra’s partner Eruena taught her how to braid his hair, and she has now joined the space at Bruce’s Barber and Salon in Wellsford

Artists join forces

u by Ann van Engelen

“Our mural is one of three painted on ablution blocks around Mangawhai,” says Shann.

“One was at Mangawhai Activity Zone, and another was at the Alamar Street boat ramp. Part of the project was commissioned by the Kaipara District Council. Melinda and I submitted design ideas based on public feedback with themes that the community wanted to see.

“We decided to go with the fairy tern and sand dune design because the building and water tank look right across to where the fairy terns nest. We both designed the ideas, and then I did computer mockups to work from.

It was very satisfying seeing it go from a computerised version to completed.

“We hope that this is the start of more public artworks around Mangawhai and surrounds. Melinda is well known for the murals she has completed for the Whangārei District Council, and she has done murals in Waipū as well. She also travels overseas to paint in places like California.”

Shann is a hotel and public artwork space art designer, mainly working with hotels, commercial spaces and outdoor public spaces.

“Up until a year ago, my family and I were living in Vietnam. When we relocated here, I got involved with

the Mangawhai Artists, and through them, I met people from the Kaipara District Council regarding how they are trying to beautify outdoor spaces and the importance of more artwork in public spaces.

“Mangawhai is a very artistic community, and the idea was to start the process. Hopefully, the new council will continue doing that because I don’t feel we have enough public art on display in our town.

“Melinda does more murals than I do, and she is very good at it. We normally work alone on our projects, and loved working on the collaboration together. It was lovely looking out to the sand dunes

across the estuary as we worked. There was a lot of public interest, but the toilets are not open yet, as they are waiting to be blessed.

“We enjoyed combining both of our styles, and we think the colours and scene suit the area. We had a lot of joy as the project came to life and are pleased we were able to brighten up our community.

“I started art at five years old and did my first mural in London 25 years ago. I have also painted murals in the Greek Islands, a women’s and children’s hospital. I guess it is something I will continue to do because they just happen to come my way.” ¢

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Painting the mural on the ablution block at Lincoln Street Reserve in Mangawhai was a creative collaboration between Waipū artist Melinda Butt and Mangawhai artist Shann Whittaker.

p Mangawhai artist Shann Whittaker joined forces with Waipū artist Melinda Butt to create the latest public space artwork in Mangawhai

p The sand dune and fairy tern mural on the new public toilets at the Lincoln Street Reserve

Sought after treat

u by Ann van Engelen

Trent and Teresa Warren are becoming well known for their Roving Pizza which began as a family treat.

“We are based in Waipū and used to own the Coast Cafe, which we sold to Mike and Lloyd, and it became The Cove,” says Trent.

“Back then, I decided to get out of the hospitality business because we had our three young girls, and we wanted more family time. We moved away for a while, and I got into beekeeping in Taupō, and we ended up back in Whangārei to support my dad, who became ill.”

Trent was then employed in a management position at Tahi Eco Estate.

“When Covid hit, the company downsized, and I ended up getting a job with Beam Bay Barfoot and Thompson as a real estate agent.

“We had travelled to Italy and noted the pizza dough was different. I brought a small wood-fired pizza oven for home and made a pre-fermented Italian-style pizza dough. I used to work at Toto’s fine

dining Italian restaurant in Auckland, and my good friend Serg taught me to make Italian and wood-fired pizza. My dough is an indirect style, which we ferment for 16–28 hours and then a further 16–24 hours.

“I only use five grams of yeast for 10kg of dough. It is very light and nearly like sourdough, and it is proving to be very successful. No one is doing the traditional Neapolitan pizzas around Northland, and we bring the olive oils, flour and some other ingredients in from Italy.

“There is a big difference in the flour because glyphosate is banned in Italy, and the processing of the flour is a lot softer and better for our internal organs. It is a double O, which is a special pizza flour that holds water content.

“We had lots of friends coming around and they’d eat a whole 30cm pizza and not feel full. I ended up building

a wood-fired pizza trailer and pizza became my passion and we wanted to share it with other people so we began attending the Roving Rural Market.

“People follow us on our Roving Pizza Facebook or Instagram pages as well. Once we started at the Roving Market, I thought it would be nice to offer pizza catering for work functions, parties and weddings.

“I have a friend who lives on Hewlett Road, and he had put a 1950s church

on his property. We are now looking to create a boutique wedding venue there and offer wood-fired pizza for bespoke weddings as well.

“Some people go fishing and that sort of thing, but this is what I enjoy doing. There is nothing nicer than serving a really good pizza that lights up people’s faces. Our three girls hang out at the market with us as well. We are totally enjoying what we do and looking after locals with our delightful pizza.” ¢

WE WANT YOU

p Trent Warren is enjoying creating his Italian recipes in his Roving Pizza trailer

Rookie with a passion

u by Ann van Engelen

Waipū Cove Surf Life Saving Club

rookie 13-year-old Ava Pullan has a dream to one day be like her coach, Kath Manning, and help other young people into the surf life saving community.

“My family lives on my poppa’s dairy farm in Waipū Cove, and I attend Bream Bay College,” says Ava.

“I help heaps on the farm with jobs like rounding up the cows, and I enjoy having my friends over and helping pop even though we probably aren’t much help. The country and ocean life is an amazing lifestyle. I would choose this over the city any day. My dad Clark helps

Nippers is the junior surf life saving programme aimed at 5–13-yearolds, and children gain confidence, knowledge and skills in the beach environment.

“I joined a few years ago with my friends because we want to become lifeguards. My best friend Laura Manning’s mum Kath is our coach, and I have watched my mum as well.

stuck by my side the whole time to make sure I was OK.

“Being a rookie means we are learning to become lifeguards. We do roaming patrols with the older guards and interact with people on the beach. We do everything we can to prevent things from going wrong, like telling people to swim between the flags if there’s danger or alerting them if there are things like blue

poppa, and my mum Rowan and I are both involved in surf life saving. Mum used to be a qualified lifeguard and is looking at getting back into it with me, and dad supports us. He loves that I am a part of the club because he used to do it as a child.

“My sister Nyria and brother Baxter both did Nippers too when they were younger, but I am the only one that carried it on.”

“Laura and I are rookies, which means we are in Nippers training to be a lifeguard. Rookies are 12–14 years old, and you sit the lifeguard tests when you turn 14, so I will sit mine next year.

“I loved Nippers. It really helped build my water confidence, and I made lots of friends. I still remember the first time I went into the surf, I was really nervous, but one of the older lifeguards came and

bottle jellyfish in the water. At our recent rookie camp, one of our key phrases was ‘if in doubt, don’t go out’. If you have to save someone, don’t panic, and take a tube with you.

“We are taught how to be safe in the water and help ourselves if we get caught in a rip. A rip looks like where the waves aren’t breaking, and it will be choppy. If you are caught in a rip you float on your back and put your hand up

“As rookies, we don’t do rescues, but we practise rescues on other lifeguards”

p Checking on the family chickens and helping in the milking shed are farm chores Ava loves

p Outside of school and surf life saving, learning the various aspects of farm life also keeps Ava busy

until someone can come and save you, or you ride the wave and go sideways with it until you are able to swim out of it.

“We were also taught that if we fall off a boat to immediately float on our back and never panic, that is the number one rule.

“I am a really social person and enjoy getting to know the older club members and learning from them. I am hoping to be on patrol most weekends and be there with my friends as I get older.

“I always tell other children to join because it is an amazing experience. We have our club as well as Ruakākā and Mangawhai, and there is also a club at Baylys Beach on the west coast.

“As rookies, we don’t do rescues, but we practise rescues on other lifeguards, so we know what we are doing to become fully qualified. If I was on my own and someone needed help, I would check if there were any lifeguards on duty, and if there weren’t, I’d yell to see if anyone could help and get someone to call 111

to ask for police who will contact our call-out squad.

“I would then call to the person to see if they are OK. If they weren’t, then I’d grab a tube and swim out, but you need to put your safety first. The tubes help you float and are now located at Waipū, Langs and Ding Bay and some other unpatrolled beaches up north like Cable Bay and Tauranga Bay. Always check if there are Operation Flotation tubes when you arrive at a beach so you know if you need one.

“One man in our club, Rick, has helped me with first aid and other things. We really look up to those guys. They are amazing and have given up their time for years to keep beachgoers safe.

“Our club organised and hosted the recent rookie surf lifeguard camp. It was a lot of fun, and five clubs were represented, including Waipū Cove, Mangawhai Heads, Ruakākā, Whangārei Heads and Baylys Beach. Teenagers from 13 schools came to develop their surf life saving skills.

“We did things like ocean swell swimming, practised rescues with fins and rescue tubes, teamwork with an eight-person stand-up paddleboard, and rescue board paddling. We also observed our beach wheelchair in use in the water, with a wheelchair user having their first beach visit in 20 years.

“We learned first aid techniques and practised dealing with medical conditions with pretend scenarios. We searched to rescue scattered victims with medical conditions of chest pain/cardiac arrest and a spinal injury from a fall off a bunk bed with the building catching on fire. Other scenarios included a child choking on a swing in the playground, someone breaking their arm while playing football, and someone cutting themselves in the kitchen. We worked together to locate the patients, figure out what was wrong, report back via radio, and treat the condition or injury.”

Ava says an important part of being a surf lifeguard is looking after the beach environment.

“At camp, we learned about protecting the sand dunes and planted spinifex and pingao grasses on the dunes in front of the club rooms under the guidance of our club president and Northland regional councillor Rick Stolwerk.

“We also explored the estuary via rescue board and jumped into the river and Shelley Beach over the hill. These are all areas where we may be called to help people in trouble in the water.

“The camp was sponsored by On Target Drilling for the third season and was run by our instructors. We had kitchen helpers, and members from the Mangawhai club help too. Kath is amazing at her job and puts so much time into the club and us rookies.

“It is great working with people you are really close to because you encourage each other, back each other up and tell each other we can do it if something looks daunting. Surf club really is amazing — it is a family affair.” ¢

“One man in our club, Rick, has helped me with first aid and other things. We really look up to those guys. They are amazing and have given up their time for years to keep beachgoers safe”

p Ava and the other rookies at the recent rookie camp hosted by the Waipū Cove Surf Life Saving Club

p Ava with club captain Kath Manning, Laura and Tim Manning at the Waipū Surf Club midwinter swim

p Ava training with other surf life savers Millie Backhouse, Samantha Trist and Laura Manning

p Ava loves the farm life and is often found helping her grandfather with his chores

u by Ann van Engelen

Students from various schools gathered together, showing with pride how well they care for and train their animals for Ag Day. Also on display were a variety of birds and other creative exhibits. While some schools had on-site events, others

Ag Day on October 20 for a community, fun family event.

Wellsford and Waipū Primary School held their Ag Days events on Saturday, October 29, with students showing their leading skills and great care of animals. A mix of rain, sunshine, face painting and decorated cakes added to a wonderfully successful day, with Waipū Primary School’s Alex Lynch reaching 13 years straight for parading a wellloved animal. ¢

joined the Otamatea Group

p Homemade father/whānau decorated cakes were auctioned, with the top two cakes reaching $280 each at Waipū

p Spencer Dinsdale with his pet lamb, winning ribbons and trophies at Wellsford School’s Ag Day

p Waipū’s Kaea Patia-Tepania and Shannon Dean-Kite showed how well they have trained and cared for their calves

p Olive Townshend with Willow and Breeze Broodkoorn-Ridge showing off their face painting and chickens at the Waipū Primary School Ag Day

p Andre Came, Phoenix McLean and Adisynn McLean all took home ribbons for the lambs they entered in the Wellsford School Ag Day

p Wellsford’s Amy and Kyle Watson-Walker, with their well-cared-for calves and ribbons

p Kacey Barnes, Nalu Dal Bello, Pippa Meagher and Kade Meagher from Mangawhai Beach School had a fantastic time at the Otamatea Group Day. The students took six calves, 16 lambs and 10 chickens, with Georgia Barnes receiving the MBS Overall Champion Calf, with the children and parents keeping the long-standing Ag Day tradition alive while being responsible for the opportunities raising these animals brings

Rubbed out (6)

Celebrity (4)

by stitching (4)

Opts for (7)

Cut drastically (4)

Chides (6)

Resemblance (10)

ACROSS: 1 Pilot, 4 Traction, 9 Lining, 14 Evoke, 15 As red as a beetroot, 17 Moans, 18 Get, 19 Freedom, 20 Courteous, 21 Octane, 24 Off-centre, 25 Feeler, 26 Weapon, 29 Femininity, 31 Eat, 32 Silver, 33 Undo, 35 Inn, 37 Silo, 39 Limericks, 40 Scapegoat, 41 Haunt, 42 Autocrat, 47 Opponent, 51 Mural, 55 Peninsula, 56 Unpopular, 58 Well, 59 SOS, 60 Evil, 61 Detach, 62 Tic, 63 Recompense, 66 Canine, 67 Tissue, 69 Ambulance, 72 Grubby, 73 Candidate, 75 Healthy, 77 Tar, 80 Raise, 81 Put up the shutters, 82 Unity, 83 Deaden, 84 Ring road, 85 Fever.

DOWN: 2 Insurance, 3 Obese, 5 Reap, 6 Cheroot, 7 Interference, 8 Noose, 9 Lettuce, 10 Name, 11 Nuance, 12 Dodge, 13 Western, 14 Escaped, 16 Adolf Hitler, 22 Helium, 23 Cellist, 24 Orinoco, 25 Fetish, 27 Pinhole, 28 Decamp, 30 Yarn, 32 Snout, 34 Octet, 36 Veto, 38 IOU, 42 Apple, 43 Tension, 44 Cone, 45 Abused, 46 Brash, 48 Portmanteau, 49 Nowhere, 50 Nil, 51 Malaria, 52 Lustre, 53 Spick and span, 54 Spar, 57 Locale, 64 Surcharge, 65 Inquiry, 66 Centaur, 68 Sharpen, 70 Butcher, 71 Oblige, 72 Grain, 74 Deter, 76 Lithe, 78 Bend, 79 Asia.