The Weekend Sun - 28 January 2022

28 January 2021, Issue 1094

INSIDE WEEKLY FIND YOUR PERFECT PROPERTY

B AY O F P L E N T Y

Summit to do It’s time to get your hike on and scale Mauao 38 times in 50 days in this year’s epic More FM Mount Everest Challenge.

Now into its eighth year, participants who have previously completed the challenge have also raised more

than $400,000 for local charities.

Climbing Mauao 38 times is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest right here in the beautiful Bay of Plenty.

“The More FM Mount Everest Challenge is back for 2022 and we are so proud to announce this year’s charity – Good

Neighbour,” says More FM promotions manager Kelsey Harrap, pictured with promotion intern Katherine Marr.

Teams and individuals can register for the challenge now, which will run from February 13 to April 3.

Turn to page 7 for the full story. Photo: John Borren.

The Bay’s largest circulating, most read newspaper. 70,500 copies to the homes of 182,700 residents throughout TAURANGA, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, PAPAMOA, WAIHI BEACH, KAIMAI, KATIKATI, TE PUKE, PAENGAROA, OTAMARAKAU and all RDs

Friday 28 January 2022 1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga Phone 07 578 0030 www.theweekendsun.co.nz ads@thesun.co.nz newsroom@thesun.co.nz

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The Weekend Sun

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The Weekend Sun is published every Friday, delivered throughout the Western Bay of Plenty with 70,000 copies circulated from Waihi Beach, through Katikati, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke and available to collect at many stand locations throughout the area.

NEWSPAPER For a full list of stand locations see https://theweekendsun.co.nz/stand-locations Produced by Sun Media Ltd, an independent andAudited locally owned company based at Circulation 1 The Strand, Tauranga. ABC Audited Circulation 31/03/2021.

31/09/2019

Sun Media Ltd Directors: Claire & Brian Rogers General Manager: Jay Burston Editor: Dan Sheridan Editorial: Letitia Atkinson, Alisha Evans, MacKenzie Dyer, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, Mathew Nash, Jordan Boyd. Photography: John Borren. Publications Manager: Kathy Sellars. Advertising: Jo Delicata, Karlene Sherris, Suzy King, Lois Natta, Sharon Eyres, Ian Evans, Sophie Main, Nadia Glover. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, Kerri Wheeler, Kyra Duffy, Caitlin Burns. Office: Angela Speer, Taylor Lehman.

The little things There are plenty of people out there solving all the big problems – vaccines, macro-economics, health system logistics.

There is still a gap for the The Weekend Sunin the market Combined Circulation BOP Times little69,062 thingscirculation though, so that’s whereofI’m NZME 10,162 circulation going to position myself.

My first little idea came when I was standing in the queue at the supermarket Combined BOP Times, Katikati Advertiser casting a critical eye around other and people’s Te Puke Times circulation is p: 07 578 0030 trolleys this week, as you do. less than HALF with only 32,138 in total. e: ads@thesun.co.nz A strange thing was obvious.

Most people had no toilet paper in their trolley, including my own.

Earlier in the week the very mixed messages being pumped out on the airwaves and online was: yes, there are shortages of some things - don’t panic, but don’t leave it until the last minute to Concerning developments buy more or you might miss out.

To be fair, a couple of things have You just can’t talk about toilet paper like happened since the last lockdown that that and not expect mass hysteria. makes this business a little more urgent.

For starters, and this is a personal On a roll tragedy for me, ABC Tissue stopped Nobody likes to miss out, but nobody manufacturing and distributing toilet wants to look like a desperate toilet paper paper in New Zealand in November hoarder, so my family devised a strategy last year. of buying toilet paper whenever we Now, I’m not a particularly flashy had to go to the supermarket for person. I drive a modest car, live in a something else.

1960s wooden house and buy my socks So, when I ran down to the supermarket from Kmart. for coffee and breakfast sausages, I bought The only area of indulgence was ABC’s toilet paper. The next day I bought Quilton toilet paper – the sturdy but soft deodorant and toilet paper, and the day three-ply may have been a few dollars after that I bought batteries, a lemonade more, but it was worth it. popsicle and toilet paper.

Occasionally I would squeeze the other Using this slow-motion panic buying rolls to see how thick they were, method, by the time shopping day rolled but nothing else comes close to my around, we had enough toilet paper to beloved Quilton. build a minor dwelling at the back of And now it’s gone – along with ABC the section.

Tissue – one of only three toilet paper Having always been highly critical of manufacturers in New Zealand. toilet paper stashers, because we grow the raw materials and manufacture the stuff Paper giant pulls out right here in our own country, I felt dirty It turns out they were having to import and ashamed. the pulp to make their paper, and this Clearly I wasn’t the only person to have was proving to be too expensive and overstocked on toilet paper, because there the delivery of raw material had were a lot of full trolleys that didn’t have become unreliable. a dozen rolls perched on top. Everybody That now leaves just Cottonsoft and knows you can’t do a week’s worth of Asaleo - think Purex - as the only two shopping and not buy toilet paper. toilet paper manufacturers in New

Zealand. Only the latter makes its own pulp here, at its factory in Kawerau.

So, we aren’t exactly up the proverbial creek without a paddle, but it does leave a hole in the supply chain.

I do have a back-up plan if things really turn to custard, thanks to a trip to Cambodia a few years ago.

People are encouraged not to use toilet paper over there because the sewerage system is not that great in places. Instead, you have little bidet hoses next to the loo.

We had limited success using these, but were starting to get the hang of it by the time we left, so when we renovated our bathrooms recently, we had bidet hoses installed next to the toilets.

The problem with these things in New Zealand is the water pressure is just too high for them to be popular with the mainstream.

Try squirting yourself in the face with a hose while it’s on the jet setting and you will understand what I mean.

However, it’s reassuring to know that when it really hits the fan, and half the staff at the toilet paper factory are struck down by Omicron, a rescue of sorts is at hand.

As it turns out, toilet paper has been plentiful at my supermarket all week.

Canned fish though...

That’s another story. daniel@thesun.co.nz

IMPORTANT STUFF: All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Sun Media makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information and accepts no liability for errors or omissions or the subsequent use of information published.

In water, toilet paper fibres quickly come untangled and form a thin sludge that’s easily carried by the water flow in the sewage system. By the time it reaches the sewage treatment plant, most of the toilet paper has completely disintegrated.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

3

Funding boost for Rena documentary

The first photo of the Rena grounded on Astrolabe that was published to the world on SunLive.

Local filmmakers working on a documentary about the response to the Rena disaster are thanking the Bay of Plenty community for getting behind a crowdfunding campaign to help make the film.

With the goal of reaching $25,000 by 11pm on Christmas Eve, the six-week campaign hit the funding milestone with a few hours to spare.

Titled The Rena, The Reef and The Residents, the documentary will capture the memories and thoughts of some of the more than 8000 volunteers, local government officials, businesses, wildlife experts and iwi involved.

“It’s been fantastic to have Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana, Holland Beckett Law and Bay Conservation Alliance come on board as match funders during the campaign,” says co-producer Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

“We’re so thankful to all of our 127 donors for helping us not only reach our crowdfunding goal of $25,000, but push us beyond that to $25,560.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana contributed $5000, which was a tremendous boost towards the end of the campaign and attracted a flood of further funding, says Rosalie.

“Holland Beckett Law kicked off the campaign for us with a fantastic contribution of $2000, with Bay Conservation Alliance also joining as a match donor. And special thanks to Western

Bay Wildlife and Bruce Banks from Western Bay Neighbourhood Support for their help and support. Bruce’s email campaign and contribution took us over the line.”

The funds are needed to cover the costs of editing and post-production.

“The campaign also served another purpose we had, which was to find more people that we now plan to interview so we can uncover more of the unique stories that will enrich the documentary.”

Every financial donor will have their name included in the film credits, as well as those contributing in other ways.

“We have had people from all over the country contact us with footage, photos and their own individual accounts of things that happened during the community response.”

Two-minute teaser videos were released each week of the six-week campaign on SunLive, showcasing some of the interviews already completed and covering aspects of the iwi, government, community and wildlife response.

Executive producers and Sun Media directors Claire and Brian Rogers joined forces with Rosalie and director Anton Steel to make the documentary. Sun Media run SunLive - the first media outlet to break the news that the Rena had run aground on Astrolabe Reef in October 2011.

The footage, as well as thousands of photos that Sun Media have archived, are being made available for the documentary which Rosalie and Anton plan to complete in 2022.

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The Weekend Sun

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Remembering Les Marsh:

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A centenarian with sharp wit and an enduring faith has said his last prayer.

Les Marsh would pray for all of his 40 family members by name, every day, right down to his three great-great grandchildren.

The Tauranga man died on December 23, 2021 just three weeks shy of his 101st birthday.

The Weekend Sun met Les aged 99, when he told us he planned to climb Mauao for his 100th.

Unfortunately, fragility meant a trek up the local landmark was unachievable, but we had the pleasure of attending his 100th birthday celebrations.

His sense of humour was still firmly intact. Les quipped: “It’s great to see how all your good friends flock around you,” after opening cards from the Queen and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Leslie Alfred Marsh was born on January 16, 1921 in Auckland. He was the second of four boys and spent his early years playing on farmland south of the city centre or out on the mudflats of the Manukau Harbour.

On completion of primary school, the 15-year-old attended Seddon Memorial Technical College where he studied agriculture.

In 1937 he took a job at a printing press printing Christian literature. It is a career that would serve him well for his future endeavours as a missionary.

The war years

World War II had been edging closer to New Zealand for three years before Les was conscripted at the age of 21. He asked if he could join the medical core because of his faith.

While at a training camp in Te Aroha, he met

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

5

A veteran, missionary and adventurer Left: The Marsh family at Les’ 100th birthday.

Below: Les and his wife Hazel.

his wife-to-be Hazel. He was deployed to New Caledonia and the Pacific for two years - all the while writing to his girl from Te Aroha.

During leave in August 1944, Les and Hazel formalised their relationship with an engagement, before he was deployed to the Middle East before heading to the battlefields in Italy.

Here Les’ compassion came to the fore. He would greet dying enemy soldiers with a German greeting meaning “I’m very pleased to have met you”.

Prior to ANZAC Day last year, the veteran told The Weekend Sun: “I can remember, when we were in Italy, the enemy were really going backwards.

“They left half of their troops behind. We all picked up a little bit of German and this was always my greeting to them. You can imagine their smiles as they finally met an enemy that was a friend.”

John, who would climb Te Aroha with Les every year for his birthday, remembers “his word jokes and quirky quotes - often at his own expense”.

Tim reminisces about his father’s faith and undying love for the late Hazel.

“Dad had pictures over every bit of wall space to remind him of places he had been and of his family,” he says.

Family life

Missionary work

After making it home in early 1946, he promptly married Hazel and they settled in Manawatū.

The pair went on to have three sons - Lew, John and Tim - who each reflect on different elements of their father’s life.

The eldest, Lew, recalls his dad’s devotion to family, as well as his Christian activities and the times spent camping and tramping.

“There were many tramps in the bush, including walking the Milford Track in the pouring rain, and tramping over the Ruahine Ranges,” says Lew. “These were fun times that we spent with dad, who was always one to push the boundaries of his physical endurance as well as ours.”

Les and Hazel spent 1972 visiting Kiwi missionaries around the world, and moved to Papua New Guinea in 1974 to teach at an isolated bush Bible school for 14 years.

He received a British Empire Medal from the Papua New Guinea government for his years of service to the community.

In 1987 the pair retired to Katikati, where Les maintained the town’s flower gardens.

At age 80, Les took to marathon running and ran the Rotorua Marathon five times before he and Hazel spent their later years in Pyes Pa. Les touched countless people’s lives over the last century - a legacy his family holds dear.

Alisha Evans

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The Weekend Sun

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!

D I A R N DAW

Allen Hickson is closing his greeting card store.

22 UARY, 20 N A J H T 0 sunday 3

Photo: John Borren.

The last card for Tauranga retailer Allen Hickson has sold hundreds of farewell cards over the years. On Saturday he will need to sign his own.

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The owner of Piccadilly Greeting Cards in downtown Tauranga is closing down the store for a self-confessed well deserved break.

“I need a good rest,” says Allen. “I haven’t had a holiday in six years.”

The retailer has diligently opened his store at 10am every morning, six days a week, for the past 18 years.

The walls and aisles of Piccadilly Greeting Cards are lined with every type of greeting card available, all lovingly catergorised and neatly arranged.

There are magnets, notebooks, bookmarks, Bibles and even literature thrown in for good measure.

Hidden in the corner of the store is the counter, where you will find Allen, ringing up the next sale on his analogue till and sending another customer on their way laden with stationery.

Although Allen purchased the store 18 years ago,

it has been a mainstay in the Piccadilly Arcade on Devonport Road for more than 50 years.

He has been a retailer for around half-a-century, and previously owned the Sunrise Bookshop in Cherrywood.

Although he’s a keen reader, it was the economics of owning a book store that drew Allen to the trade, because there was “a lot of demand for Christian books”.

He has a loyal customer base of hundreds of regulars that he says he will miss, but he’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife.

On the cards for his retirement is gardening, and he’ll also dabble in stamp collecting and playing the guitar. Surprisingly, the stationer also has penchant for power metal, which he’ll have more time to listen to now.

Monika Schaffner, who also owned a business in the arcade, says she and Allen bonded over a shared love of the sub-genre of heavy metal.

“He’s so kind,” she says. “There’s just no shop like it. He’ll be missed.”

Alisha Evans

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The Weekend Sun

7

Mountainous challenge

More FM promotion intern Katherine Marr and promotions manager Kelsey Harrap. Photo: John Borren.

If you’re feeling mildly mutinous about anything in life, now is the time to turn that feeling into a mountainous experience, and in the words of one of New Zealand’s greatest achievers - Edmund Hillary ‘knock the bastard off’.

It’s time to change your altitude and embark on the epic community dare that is the More FM Mount Everest Challenge, which is back for the eighth year in a row.

Mount your blessings, grab your mates – in a socially distanced kind of way – register as a team and get climbing Mauao. Not once, but 38 times in 50 days and help More FM raise money for this year's chosen charity, Good Neighbour.

Good Neighbour provides practical opportunities for people to support one another so that lives and neighbourhoods are transformed. There are five ways they do this – through food rescue, projects, community gardens, kitchen and whānau care.

You can do the More FM Mount Everest Challenge as an individual or as a team. And by climbing it 38 times, you will have climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest right here in the beautiful Bay of Plenty.

The combination of doing good and raising funds for charity, while also blowing out the valves on a stimulating climbing workout, spins the wheels for many who have been returning year after year to see who can raise the most.

Already 20 teams and ten participants have registered, with more than $1000 already raised, and Claire Baker, who broke her foot last year, is at the top of the leader board on Givealittle.

Over the past eight years, More FM has raised $462,000 for local charities. In 2015, $95,000 was raised for surf clubs, while in 2016, Homes of Hope was the chosen charity with $45,000 raised.

The list goes on: 2017 - Women’s Refuge, $71,000; 2018 - Waipuna Hospice, $120,000; 2019 - Riding for the Disabled, $63,000; 2020 Rescue Helicopter, $32,800.

Last year St Johns received $36,200.

More FM wants to continue to grow this to support various charities in the Bay of Plenty, but they can only do it if people seize hold of this challenge, whether it’s participating in climbing or donating to those who are.

“This year we really wanted to choose a local charity that changes people's lives for the better especially during the current climate,” says More FM promotions manager Kelsey Harrap.

“Good Neighbour is such an important part of our community and we can’t wait to help raise funds to support them through its ongoing projects. I will be doing the challenge myself and can’t wait to see the public up the Mount getting involved.”

Challenge dates this year are Sunday, February 13 to Sunday, April 3.

To register a team or donate, visit: www. givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/more-fm-mountRosalie Liddle Crawford everest-challenge-2022

Friday 28 January 2022

Sprout looking to grow Sprout is full of character and is a curious, playful rabbit.

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Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

9

Container depot the “wrong business” for Te Puna

Alison Cowley, front, is one of many worried Te Puna residents. Photo: John Borren.

Te Puna locals have admitted they are “stressed” about the proposition of a container facility in their backyard and are taking action.

People in the community, who have named their cause Wrong Business, Wrong Place, have formed a petition asking for the consent to be publically notified.

Resource consent for the establishment of “yardbased industrial activities” at 297 Te Puna Station Road has been lodged by Te Puna Industrial Ltd, and was formally received by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council on January 18.

“The petition is a way of saying to council ‘this will affect us’, and making sure that council knows it is a really big deal to the community,” says Wrong Business, Wrong Place spokesperson Alison Cowley.

Alison, whose property overlooks the Te Puna Station Road site, says the community are concerned about potential increased traffic and the safety of cyclists and walkers that use the roads.

“The road is already congested. A lot of people are really stressed and really worried about it.”

Fellow neighbour Paul Winwood says they’re concerned about potential pollution, noise, dust and the environmental impact.

“We’re passionate about the area because we live here,” he says.

The site is one of three properties that make up Te Puna Business Park. They are all zoned industrial under the Western Bay of Plenty District Plan. In 2005 the Environment Court ruled the land could be zoned industrial under the district plan, but with caveats around the type of activity permitted on the site.

According to information provided by council, the proposed development is to give effect to the Te Puna Business Park Structure Plan and the site is proposed to be developed in three stages.

The first stage will consist of seven leases, and proposed activities on the site include a

landscaping contractor’s base, a tiny home manufacturing business, a trailer manufacturing base and an anchor occupation by ContainerCo. The lease for ContainerCo is what has locals worried. The company is an independent container depot with 12 branches around the country, including one in Mount Maunganui.

It provides container refurbishment, modification and storage of empty containers as well as sales and leasing. ContainerCo has a 50 per cent share allocation of Te Puna Industrial Ltd’s shares.

Alison says there are also concerns from nearby orchard owners about the biosecurity impact on their export crops of storing containers nearby.

“The crux of the issue is it’s the wrong business in the wrong place,” she says, “for environmental reasons, for horticultural, agricultural, export and cropping reasons, for traffic reasons, for amenity reasons and for noise reasons.”

Council planning and regulatory services group manager Rachael Davie says under the Resource Management Act 1991, there is no presumption that resource consent applications must be notified.

“Instead, in order to determine whether an application should be publicly notified, a consent authority must carefully follow statutory steps in the RMA,” says Rachael.

“Given the prescriptive nature of the statutory tests, the consent authority does not have a general discretion as to who should be notified of a resource consent application.

“It is not entitled to take into account a person’s desire to be notified, or their stated opposition to a particular proposal.

“It must instead work its way carefully through the statutory tests to determine the outcome.

“Failure to follow those steps carefully could result in judicial review of the consent authority’s decision by the High Court.”

Te Puna Industrial Ltd has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of Alisha Evans going to print.

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The Weekend Sun

Right: Classic Flyers sales and marketing manager Cory Tyler collected dozens of signs for the cancelled air show.

Photo: John Borren.

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Events around the region have been cancelled or are facing uncertainty with the country now at the red traffic light setting.

As a part of the red setting, gatherings can go ahead with different restrictions depending on the requirement of a vaccine pass. Gatherings are limited to 100 people for events that require a vaccine pass, and 25 for those that don’t.

One of the biggest blows is the cancellation of the Classics of the Sky, Tauranga City Air Show, which was due to happen on Sunday.

Organisers were expecting thousands of people to turn out for the aviation event.

Classic Flyers sales and marketing manager Cory Tyler says everyone’s gutted, especially as the show is biennial.

“Our last show was just before the pandemic started in January 2020, but we will be coming back in 2024 in another two years to hopefully do another one.”

Cory says the air show is too big an event to organise to try and postpone.

Elsewhere in the region, the One Love Festival would have filled Tauranga Domain with around 20,000 people this weekend, but has been postponed until April 2-3.

Festival-goers were set to enjoy two days of reggae, hip-hop, soul and R&B from the likes of L.A.B, Kora, Stan Walker and Katchafire.

“The good news is the full line-up of local artists will move to our new date, as well as one of our internationals, Fiji,” says organiser Glenn Meikle.

There is a silver lining to the cancellation of the National Bridge Congress, as it will now move online enabling players from Australia to take part, says congress organiser Richard Solomon.

The 2021 congress was postponed last September until February due to level four lockdown. Up to 650 people were expected at the event at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Park from February 10-17.

“It’s not just the competitive side, it’s the social side of the congress as well,” says Richard.

“Obviously we lose some of that online.”

The congress will return to Bay Park in October for the 2022 nationals.

Other events are waiting for more advice from government before firming up plans.

Armageddon Expo will likely postpone the Tauranga pop culture exhibition that was planned for February 26-27.

“We’ll be making an official announcement, but it looks like we’ll have to postpone the Tauranga Armageddon Expo to later in the year,” says founder William Geradts. “We’re gutted, but we support the government’s decision.”

The cancellation and postponement of events has a wide reaching economic impact in the Bay. Accommodation providers are facing cancellations, and hospitality businesses are required seat guests with a 100 person limit.

“Hotels are negatively affected by the red setting and Tauranga hotels have seen high levels of cancellations, consistent with other destinations around New Zealand,” says Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan.

“Leisure travellers are understandably worried about the risk of being forced to self-isolate away from home if they are caught in a cluster.”

Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois says: “Large summer events which are now being cancelled bring people into the area who spend money on dining out and other tourism activities, so the loss of these is another blow.”

Alisha Evans

The Weekend Sun

11

r: e ff o l ia c e p s is h t To take us up on

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Friday 28 January 2022

Friday 28 January 2022

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Omanu Neighbourhood Support coordinator Linda Thompson.

Photo: John Borren.

Be a buddy Creating your own buddy system to help people near you prepare for an outbreak of Omicron is made all the more easier by joining a local support group.

Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support already has 16,000 members living throughout the Tauranga area, including Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa and Pukehina.

Omanu Neighbourhood Support coordinator Linda Thompson has some helpful tips for caring for each other.

“Check on your neighbours by knocking on the door if you already know them,” says Linda, “but put your mask on first. Drop them a phone call or email them - their details will be on your Neighbourhood Support street list. Now is the time to dig it out and make it work.”

Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support is helping to make sure our communities are looking after each other as people prepare to isolate at home, manage while they’re unwell or support others in their whānau.

Fabulous Rita

“Elderly neighbours or family members may be especially nervous about what they’re hearing or reading in the news,” says Linda. “They’re also the most vulnerable if they get sick, so see if you can run some errands or get groceries for them.

“Have a family plan so you all know what will happen if one or all of you get sick. Who can help you, especially if you live alone? Have a chat with your neighbours so they know they can call on each other if necessary - especially if they don’t have family close by.

“You may need to put a sign on your door to say you are isolating - there are signs to print on the Unite Against Covid-19 website.”

Linda encourages everyone to put a wellness kit together now: masks, hand sanitiser, gloves, tissues, cleaning products and items to manage symptoms if you have them too - pain relief, throat lozenges, cough medicine.

To join Neighbourhood Support visit: www.wbopns.org.nz/joinus To prepare go to: www.covid19.govt.nz/prepareand-stay-safe/be-prepared-for-covid-19

Meet Rita. She’s a four-month-old Greyhound cross. Rita has come such a long way from the scared puppy she once was.

She sleeps all night in her crate, toilets outside and has taken all strains and stresses in her stride.

Rita is affectionate and her favourite game is hide and seek.

She also loves sitting in the sun; she's an old soul who spends hours in the garden. She has also brought a carrot in for her fosters.

Rita is up-to-date with all of her shots, is microchipped and house and crate trained.

To find out more, message the RRR Facebook page via: www.facebook.com/RRRCanine/

The Weekend Sun

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Good Neighbour Trust Supreme Winner 2014 Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards

Friday 28 January 2022

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Carmel Country Estate is an award winning retirement village, privately owned and operated by Jason & Sharlene Rowling providing their residents with a unique and personal service.

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Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

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Readying your at-home Covid kit

An example of what to include in your at-home kit. Photo: Jason Dorday.

The arrival of Omicron on our shores is yet to flare into a full-blown outbreak, but we should be prepared for the likelihood of contracting the super transmissible strain of Covid-19.

An at-home Covid management kit is about getting back to basics.

Provided we are at least double vaccinated and don’t have any underlying conditions, the preparation that most of us can do is to have things to help us manage symptoms, minimise risk to others, and aid rest and recovery at home.

The Ministry of Health suggests having a ‘wellness kit’ at home, which can include nasal sprays, lozenges, paracetamol, ibuprofen and cough mixtures, as well as any prescription medicines.

Other products to keep on hand include extra masks, gloves, tissues, hand sanitiser, rubbish bags and other cleaning products.

With Omicron, doctors are seeing less of the loss of smell that we had with Delta and symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, headaches and muscle aches, which can be eased with over-thecounter medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Unless you have liver disease or severe asthma, these can be taken together and as per the dosage.

Stock up on over the counter medications for sore throats and common cold and flu symptoms like headaches and muscle pain. Include a thermometer and a sachet of hydralyte to aid with hydration.

Having salt gargles, honey, or perhaps a local anaesthetic lozenge or spray could be useful.

Stock up on prescribed medications and fill some repeats for medications you take regularly ahead of time.

It’s recommended that asthmatics review their treatment plans with their doctors because Covid may cause more severe asthma flare-ups.

If you do contract Covid and don’t have the supplies you need at home, most GPs can send a script to your pharmacy.

Have a friend on stand-by to pick it up and leave it on your doorstep.

Have surgical face masks and cleaning products on hand in case one member of the household falls ill and can’t isolate themselves from the rest of the house.

If you’re sharing a space with other people, do your very best to minimise the spread within your home.

Also stock up on soups and fluids. This will help you get some calories into your body, and give you the best chance of recovery when you need to focus on healing and hydration.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

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Council lay out vax pass requirements Vaccine passes are now required to enter Western Bay libraries, service centres and swimming pools after the country moved to the red setting of the Covid-19 Protection Framework.

Council CEO John Holyoake says with the risk of Omicron in the community, it is vital to limit the spread of the virus.

“We will require vaccine passes from people aged 12 years and over before entry at all council facilities,” says John. “We appreciate this is a shift from our previous system of not requiring vaccine passes, but we believe this is the safest option.

“We are constantly reviewing our processes to ensure we make careful decisions that have minimal impact on council’s services and operations, and balance continuity of these services with the safety of our people and the public.”

Facilities requiring vaccine passes at red will be council library and service centres at Waihī Beach, Katikati, Ōmokoroa, Barkes Corner and Te Puke; at the swimming pools: Dave Hume,

Alongside this decision, anyone wishing to attend or speak in a public forum at a council or community board meeting must present their vaccine pass. This takes effect from the first meeting of 2022 – the Katikati Community Board on February 2.

Zoom options are available for members of the public who wish to speak in a public forum or attend remotely, and meetings will continue to be live-streamed.

“We’re continuing to look for innovative ways to provide our district with access to our services in a safe way,” says John.

“Where we can, we will adapt the way we do things.

“We thank the community for their patience and for working with us as we all navigate Covid-19 together.”

For more information and specific Covid-19 requirements, visit: www.westernbay.govt.nz/covid-19

Katikati and Te Puke Memorial Pool, and at the TECT Park arrival centre.

Council previously did not require the use of My Vaccine Pass as a condition of entry at the above facilities for people aged 12 and over.

At all council facilities the appropriate health, hygiene and safety measures remain in place including QR scanning upon entry, using the Covid-19 tracer app, wearing a face mask and ensuring physical distancing of one metre.

If you have cold and flu symptoms, isolate immediately and call Healthline for advice.

Omicron and the community

Well folks, the time has finally come. Covid now lives within our community.

We know we won’t stop the Omicron variant, so we’ll now work hard to minimise case numbers to give our health system the space it needs to manage and provide the care people need.

Our exceptional vaccination rates and the hard work of our amazing public health teams puts us in one of the best positions in the world to fight Omicron.

Here in the Bay of Plenty we are sitting at 94 per cent fully vaccinated and 92 per cent at first doses. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board, in partnership with iwi, have worked tirelessly to manage Delta cases to date, and delivered an extremely successful tracing and control response.

The Tauranga Hospital Covid Ward, ICU and oxygen upgrading works are complete and ready. Boosters are available and vaccinations for five-to-11 year olds are now safety approved and available. Collectively, we are as ready as we can be for Omicron.

As individuals we can have a plan ready in case you or a household member test positive for Covid-19. Talk to our employers and educators about plans to work and learn from home.

Figure out your support network, to help with dropping off supplies and groceries, and what would happen if you did fall very ill and needed to head to hospital. You might want to consider writing down easy to follow household instructions

around caring for pets, plants and paying bills.

I think it’s a good idea to get together as a household to prepare a kit of medicines and food at home, alongside a list of whānau information including names, ages, NHI numbers, medical conditions, emergency contact information – such as your GP clinic or support agencies – and medications normally taken.

This way we all know who to contact if someone gets sick and needs to isolate, and we can support each other, stay connected and keep safe.

This is how we look ahead now: by adapting accordingly with logic, kindness and compassion, preparing with caution, not fear, putting the important things first and looking out for each other.

Hon Jan Tinetti Labour List MP

For appointments and assistance please phone: 07 571 2492 jan.tinetti@parliament.govt.nz @jantinetti

Apply now

Authorised by Hon Jan Tinetti MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Learn by doing

0800 86 46 46 • toiohomai.ac.nz

Friday 28 January 2022

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Friday 28 January 2022

17

As we kick off 2022, there will be a number of issues on the minds of businesses here in the Bay of Plenty.

While the disruption that Omicron will inevitably cause is front of mind, businesses will also need to look past this to matters that will impact the economy in the longer term. Here are some things they need to watch out for:

Shortage of staff

Omicron will dominate the first half of this year.

We know that the red traffic light setting will affect events and hospitality businesses through additional restrictions. This will perhaps knock off a couple of per cent of economic activity.

The larger effect of this variant will be for staffing, as we have seen in the Australian economy recently.

Because of the vast spread of the virus we can expect 10-25 per cent of staff off at any one time, either through sickness or needing to isolate. The effect will be disproportionate between sectors and absenteeism will cause the most disruption to businesses that need staff onsite – think distribution, grocery and manufacturing businesses. This shortage of staff will make the supply chain shortages experienced over the past year even worse.

An equal worry is productivity for time-sensitive businesses, with kiwifruit in particular a concern for our region. This industry will have a labour shortage already due to our closed borders and

strong domestic employment – the economic and community consequences of a shortage at harvest time in a couple of months will be significant.

Reopening borders

The status of our border will be closely watched.

With the current closure and limited MIQ availability, it is close to impossible for exporting businesses to get to market and visit customers and suppliers, which becomes very difficult to sustain in the longer term.

Businesses will also be keen for the border to reopen for labour availability – be it backpackers, RSE workers or skilled migrants.

Inflation is another topic of interest for 2022. It hasn’t been top of mind for several years now, but will come back with a hiss and a roar this year.

Supply chain shortages, material price increases, fuel prices and labour shortages will all contribute to rapidly rising prices this year.

If left unchecked it will cause major economic problems, so look for swift action. The antidote to high inflation is to increase interest rates, and the Reserve Bank of NZ has plenty of scope to do that. In turn, this will affect access to credit for businesses and consumers alike.

While there are certainly some challenges on the horizon, we can take some comfort in the resilience that our economy, particularly locally, has shown over the past couple of years.

Our economy has generally performed above expectations and our fundamentals remain strong.

24/7 free fares for all school students on Bayhopper buses!

Travel to school, and after school, to visit friends and whanau or get to your sports and other activities for free.

It’s easy, just register your Bee Card and be sure to tag on and off the bus so you don’t get charged.

This trial is from 31 January - 31 December 2022.

Call 0800 4 BAYBUS (0800 4 229 287) or visit www.baybus.co.nz

Applying for the Accommodation Supplement?

If you are already receiving payments from Work and Income, you can apply online for the Accommodation Supplement or download an application form.

If you are not already receiving payments from Work and Income, you will need to download the Extra Help application form.

You will also need proof of your accommodation costs to apply.

Tauranga CAB can assist if you have difficulty with completing the application form.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to make an appointment to talk to a Work and Income case manager. You’ll need to bring a number of documents with you, which are listed on the application form.

They will go over your

application and documents and tell you about your obligations if you receive the Accommodation Supplement.

More information about the application

process is on the Work and Income website.

For more, visit:

www.cab.org.nz email: tauranga@ cab.org.nz or call: 07 578 1592.

Please leave a message, including an email address and phone number, and we will get back to you.

Goodbye, Willow Street.

Hello, He Puna Manawa.

Our Customer Service Centre in the central city is now open at He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road.

For more information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz

Friday 28 January 2022

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The Weekend Sun

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Friday 28 January 2022

Need support?

Get free help. www.heretohelpu.nz | 0800 568 273

Hi! Hi! I’m I’m your your neighbour neighbour Hi! I’m your neighbour My/our My/our namename is…. is….

My/our name is….

My/our My/our phone phone number number is… is…

I/we live I/weat… live at…

My/our phone number is…

I/we would I/we would like tolike to

I/we live at…

OtherOther thingsthings I/we can I/wehelp canyou help with… you with…

I/we would like to

Other things I/we can help you with…

Welcome Welcome you toyou the to neighbourhood the neighbourhood

you to the neighbourhood Just say Just hiWelcome say hi Just say Say thanks Say thanks for being forhiabeing goodaneighbour good neighbour Say thanks for aself-isolate good neighbour Offer my/our Offer my/our help ifhelp you need ifbeing youto need to self-isolate Let you Let know you I’m know a trained I’m a help trained firstifaider firstneed aiderto self-isolate Offer my/our you

I/we may I/weneed may help needwith… help with…

I/we may need help with…

Let you Let know you know I/we here are you need if youanything needaider anything e.g. e.g.

LetI/we youare know I’mifhere a trained first Grocery Grocery shopping Let youshopping know I/we are here if you need anything e.g.

PickingPicking up supplies up supplies Grocery HavingHaving a chata chat shopping Picking up supplies Mowing Mowing lawns/gardening lawns/gardening Having aa meal chata meal Providing/cooking Providing/cooking Mowing lawns/gardening Collecting Collecting mail when mail you’re when you’re away away Providing/cooking a meal Walking/looking Walking/looking after pets after pets

I/we would I/we would also like also tolike say… to say…

I/we would also like to say…

Collecting mail when you’re away Walking/looking after pets

Vaccination: Head to BookMyVaccine.nz to make an Vaccination: appointment

Bay of Plenty District Health Board

Head to BookMyVaccine.NZ to make an appointment

COVID-19 testing: Check Healthpoint online forCOVID-19 your testing: nearest site

community to navigate COVID-19, including welfare for whānau: If it is an emergency, please dial 111.

0800 798 729

Check Healthpoint online for your nearest site

For general COVID-19 health advice please call 0800 358 5453 anytime

If you are eligible to get your Continue to scan in using the NZ COVID-19 vaccine, or booster COVID Tracer App, practice good Formake general COVID-19 health advice please calland 0800 358 5453 anytime shot, a booking online. hygiene, wear a face covering.

Supporting the community to navigate COVID-19 including welfare for whānau: Supporting the 0800 798 729

Make a plan for if someone in your household becomes unwell with COVID-19. it is anonemergency, Find aIfchecklist covid19.govt.nzplease dial 111.

If you are eligible to get your COVID-19 vaccine, or booster shot, make a booking online.

Continue to scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer App, practice good hygiene, and wear a face covering.

Make a plan for if someone in your household becomes unwell with COVID-19. Find a checklist on covid19.govt.nz

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

18

The Weekend Sun

19

Friday 28 January 2022

Need support?

Get free help. www.heretohelpu.nz | 0800 568 273

Hi! Hi! I’m I’m your your neighbour neighbour Hi! I’m your neighbour My/our My/our namename is…. is….

My/our name is….

My/our My/our phone phone number number is… is…

I/we live I/weat… live at…

My/our phone number is…

I/we would I/we would like tolike to

I/we live at…

OtherOther thingsthings I/we can I/wehelp canyou help with… you with…

I/we would like to

Other things I/we can help you with…

Welcome Welcome you toyou the to neighbourhood the neighbourhood

you to the neighbourhood Just say Just hiWelcome say hi Just say Say thanks Say thanks for being forhiabeing goodaneighbour good neighbour Say thanks for aself-isolate good neighbour Offer my/our Offer my/our help ifhelp you need ifbeing youto need to self-isolate Let you Let know you I’m know a trained I’m a help trained firstifaider firstneed aiderto self-isolate Offer my/our you

I/we may I/weneed may help needwith… help with…

I/we may need help with…

Let you Let know you know I/we here are you need if youanything needaider anything e.g. e.g.

LetI/we youare know I’mifhere a trained first Grocery Grocery shopping Let youshopping know I/we are here if you need anything e.g.

PickingPicking up supplies up supplies Grocery HavingHaving a chata chat shopping Picking up supplies Mowing Mowing lawns/gardening lawns/gardening Having aa meal chata meal Providing/cooking Providing/cooking Mowing lawns/gardening Collecting Collecting mail when mail you’re when you’re away away Providing/cooking a meal Walking/looking Walking/looking after pets after pets

I/we would I/we would also like also tolike say… to say…

I/we would also like to say…

Collecting mail when you’re away Walking/looking after pets

Vaccination: Head to BookMyVaccine.nz to make an Vaccination: appointment

Bay of Plenty District Health Board

Head to BookMyVaccine.NZ to make an appointment

COVID-19 testing: Check Healthpoint online forCOVID-19 your testing: nearest site

community to navigate COVID-19, including welfare for whānau: If it is an emergency, please dial 111.

0800 798 729

Check Healthpoint online for your nearest site

For general COVID-19 health advice please call 0800 358 5453 anytime

If you are eligible to get your Continue to scan in using the NZ COVID-19 vaccine, or booster COVID Tracer App, practice good Formake general COVID-19 health advice please calland 0800 358 5453 anytime shot, a booking online. hygiene, wear a face covering.

Supporting the community to navigate COVID-19 including welfare for whānau: Supporting the 0800 798 729

Make a plan for if someone in your household becomes unwell with COVID-19. it is anonemergency, Find aIfchecklist covid19.govt.nzplease dial 111.

If you are eligible to get your COVID-19 vaccine, or booster shot, make a booking online.

Continue to scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer App, practice good hygiene, and wear a face covering.

Make a plan for if someone in your household becomes unwell with COVID-19. Find a checklist on covid19.govt.nz

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

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Re: “Museum issue about priorities” It is ridiculous and little short of disgraceful that the city of Tauranga has no museum. Bill Capamagian’s letter (The Weekend Sun, January 14) identifies the main reason – too many other pressing needs in a fastgrowing community.

The commissioners seek to remedy this default by including provision for a museum in the medieval fortress/wind tunnel they propose for Willow Street.

Mr Capamagian questions this site on the grounds of a tsunami threat and suggests other places.

Just a few years ago, the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust Board identified a site on Cliff Road as

the most suitable.

Close to other historic sites (The Elms and the Durham Redoubt), and with an outlook over the harbour and to Mauao, it had the support of the then council and of Tauranga iwi.

There is room there to build a museum worthy of Tauranga’s historical, cultural, commercial and social background.

A hole in the wall of some other municipal building will not do!

Michael Batchelor, Matua.

Stolen purse

A note to the person who thought they needed my lovely black purse/wallet more than I do. I am sorry there was no money in it. I had coin in my hand and this was at the Flying Mullet (in Pāpāmoa) on a Thursday lunch time.

The wallet was an 85th

birthday present from my daughter. I have spent the time since walking around malls, cancelling cards and visiting the police station. It’s just as well I’m fit enough to do that.

If you have any kind thoughts, please just hand it in to some reliable place who may try and

Water restrictions the tip of the iceberg

Climate change extremities will be affecting our water supply in the future. This part of the country will be hotter and drier on average, and therefore water shortages will be a part of life if we don’t do something about it now - especially with the forecasted massive increase in population.

Mandating all new builds to have water tanks might be a good thing, so that we can still water the garden, waterblast, fill the swimming pool and wash the car in summer without affecting our essential drinking water.

I’m no plumber, but rainwater could probably be plumbed to the washing machine and toilets.

I’m a gardener by trade, and can say that lawn clippings do an incredible job in keeping water in the ground. It also improves your soil no end.

Weed seeds in the clippings have never been an issue for me because I lay at least five cm of it.

I've been doing this for more than 20 years now.

Josh Cole, Poike.

Christmas barking dogs

supported by

It’s wonderful for grandparents to have the new baby present for the holidays, but when the family visiting also brings along a large barking dog that barks loudly in the neighbourhood on a constant basis, that is not a fair go.

Kennels are there to house this type of animal especially when the professionals involved could more than afford the fee needed.

You cannot own a dog then give it no exercise like you park a car; especially a large animal.

Council needs to be aware that people who own a dog need to look after it. This problem could get bigger in time, and in some countries it is an offence not to exercise man’s best friend.

Ron Chamberlain, Tauranga (abridged).

contact me to retrieve it from somewhere. I also spent some hours listening to dreadful music while waiting on the phone to cancel those cards. I can think of better, nicer things to do.

Would love a happy outcome.

Mrs P.G. Wilson, Pāpāmoa (abridged).

Climate change

For the Earth to survive there are two characters we need to emulate, and that is Adam and Eve. They walked about the Earth naked and ate fruit from the trees.

Nudity is not acceptable nowadays, but we all must learn to keep our needs to a minimum.

Every piece of manufactured goods has taken vegetables and minerals from the Earth and caused huge amounts of smoke and pollution to enter our atmosphere. We don’t really need a house of rarely-used gadgets.

What people need for their health and sanity is the company of other people. Humans are tribal animals and need good interaction with other humans, face-to-face.

Cell phones allow folk to live alone to the detriment of their health. People belong with other people. Something we must try to stop is “gouging” poor mother Earth to make junk to put into landfills.

Okay, I’m off my soap box now.

Ken Jones, Katikati.

Political integrity

I would like someone to prove me wrong in my claim that in the past 50 years there have been few members of any political party, occupying the seats of parliament, who have put their constituents’ needs above the political aspirations of their parties.

A single one.

Most have supported the gross distortions of our nation’s history for political expediency.

Bryan Johnson, Ōmokoroa.

Churches Active In Our Community Good Samaritan in today’s context

being a secular university which, sadly, tends to It happened a long time ago when I was anti-faith, anti-spirituality. studying economics at Canterbury University. mean But read from the Bible he did, and then he

BETH - EL la tyb

Messianic Messianic Family Family

ALL ALL WELCOME WELCOME SHALOM SHALOM AM SABBATH SABBATH 10 10AM OTUMOETAI PRIMARY OTUMOETAI PRIMARY

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info@bethel.org.nz info@bethel.org.nz bethel.org.nz bethel.org.nz

One of New Zealand’s more interesting economists, Brian Easton, read the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It was probably a shocking moment for some,

be good neighbours, that we should care for the most vulnerable.

Perhaps this parable is meant to help us find ‘true made an interesting observation. New Zealand has north’ in what is a very confusing time. This next been shaped by this parable. period of time could see us all behaving badly; The parable of Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) intolerant to those who are, or aren’t, vaccinated; is a story of a person who sees a need and crosses storing food (and toilet paper!) in the fear of the road and pays a price to rescue someone, even shortages; pursuing our rights and freedoms. though he is a cultural outsider. It is a story, Easton The teaching of Jesus is fairly clear – we are to argued, that has shaped our nation, our welfare look after each other, rather than merely tolerate state and the neighbourly values we seek to live by. each other and look after ourselves. We seem We are a nation that utterly believes we should to have imported the American obsession with freedom and lost a Kiwi value – neighbourliness.

Loving our neighbour as ourselves. Being whānau. A crisis can, and should, bring out the best in us (not the worst). And while anger seems to be on the rise, perhaps this next season could be a time when we cross the road (with our masks on!) and see if we can be part of the answer.

Nigel Dixon, Holy Trinity Church.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

21 news and views for the over 55s

Is it time to get your booster jab?

If it’s been more than four months since your second Covid-19 vaccination dose, you can either book an appointment or visit a walk-in clinic for your booster vaccine today.

Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, says the Ministry of Health recently reduced the interval between the second and booster dose from six months to four months, to help accelerate the rollout and provide greater protection against the Omicron variant.

“We are urging everyone to receive their booster dose as soon as four months has passed following their second dose,” says Dr Bloomfield.

“Even if it’s been less than four months since your second dose, you can still book ahead to ensure you get the date and time you prefer, once you’re eligible.

“Covid-19 vaccines will continue to be available at

“The Pfizer booster vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy at least four months after the second dose, and we encourage pregnant people to discuss the timing with their midwife, obstetrician or general practitioner.

“A third primary dose was made available in October last year for people who are severely

Check to see if you can book your booster now.

mobile and pop-up vaccination clinics, particularly in rural Māori communities as well as marae vaccinations, where a number of kaumatua received their initial doses.”

You can check when you are due for a booster by visiting: www.mycovidrecord.nz or, if you have one, referring to your purple Covid-19 vaccine appointment card.

The Ministry of Health has also updated its booster advice for pregnant people and those who are severely immunocompromised.

“Pregnant people are at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid-19 infection, and those who are unvaccinated are more likely to have complications during pregnancy if they contract Covid-19.

Roland is Bob’s ray of sunshine Staying social is vital as we age, and social interaction can bring fantastic new experiences.

join in and explore together.

“As a volunteer for Age Concern’s visiting service, my focus is to provide company and enjoyment for Bob, which in turn is very “I have been visiting rewarding for me.”

Bob Hudson for nearly Bob and his wife Norma three months,” says Age have both enjoyed Roland’s Concern volunteer visitor visits. “I am certainly Roland Edwards. benefiting from Roland’s Raised and educated in visits,” says Bob, “especially England, Bob has worked in the bus trip around the port.” many countries throughout Volunteer visitor Roland Edwards Norma says she is Europe and Asia. and Bob Hudson. extremely grateful for the “Each Wednesday visits from Roland “to chat afternoon we spend an hour with my husband Bob each week”. or so sharing conversation,” says Roland.

“It is comforting to know that Bob is in good “He has a large photo album of Hong Kong, and although I only visited Hong Kong briefly, we hands while it gives me time off to concentrate on other activities,” she says. “I also think it is were able to share some experiences. important for him to have a person, other than “Last week the Port of Tauranga were providing me, to talk to one-on-one.” tours in and around the port, so we decided to

immunocompromised. Anyone aged 18 and older who received a third primary dose, can now have a booster dose four months later.”

More than 82 per cent of vaccinated New Zealanders will be eligible for a booster by the end of February. To make a booking call: 0800 28 29 26.

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

22 news and views for the over 55s

Senior Hangouts offer lifeline A new online offering has proved invaluable for isolated seniors.

So much so that many Senior Hangouts members would now give digitally savvy teens a run for their

money, says project manager Dr Vinay Karanam.

Senior Hangouts is a new online initiative from SeniorNet NZ, which teaches digital skills to older adults.

Insurance company AMI currently offer customers aged 50-plus free

SeniorNet membership for 12 months, to help them build confidence to do more online.

New Zealand has 56 SeniorNet Learning Centres, but lockdowns meant face-to-face learning with its treasured social opportunities gave way to online classes. Seniors are now hanging out, virtually on Zoom, thanks to Senior Hangouts, which was launched in 2020. Group members are upskilling from the comfort of their home, via the very technology they learn about.

Never too old to learn

A year on and Senior Hangouts is living proof that you are never too old to learn, says Vinay, who is both a tutor (they call them buddies at Senior Hangouts) as well as project manager.

Vinay has a PhD in science and technology and says he absolutely loves what is being achieved.

“We have people who are all 50-plus - the eldest is 94,” says Vinay. “They don’t attend just passively. No, it is proactive, and you should see their enthusiasm. Their knowledge could put some teenagers to shame.”

It was SeniorNet’s new executive officer Heather Newell who wondered whether an online version of SeniorNet could work. The answer is a resounding yes - around 3640 seniors have tapped into this new opportunity.

300 seniors at a time on Zoom

“We had no idea it would be so fabulous,” says Vinay. “There is much enthusiasm and great spirit. We have people who don’t have a computer

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Project manager Dr Vinay Karanam.

at home joining in from public libraries, and we even had someone on a smartphone from a hospital bed.”

The Zoom sessions cater for 300 people at a time. They are held at 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday, and run for 30 minutes, which incorporates 20 minutes learning time and 10 minutes chat.

As you would expect, Vinay says, there are regulars - about 40 people who are on every day, and about 60 who attend weekly.

For those who can’t make it to the live sessions, they are recorded and available on ...continued Google classroom.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

23 news and views for the over 55s

Not all texts can be trusted There’s been a flurry of SMS scams floating around the text-sphere for the past few weeks – and it’s something the government and telecommunications companies are working to fight.

continued...

As of November, more than 800 recorded sessions had been clocked up and 10,000 hours of live sessions.

Socialisation a key benefit

As the chatter shows, friendships are being forged and Senior Hangouts was of great value during lockdown.

“The feedback includes statements like ‘Senior Hangouts is my lifeline’," says Vinay. “Another person said “I listen regardless of what is being discussed as I live in a retirement village and I can’t get out and can’t see family and friends, so it gives me an opportunity to socialise and make new friends’.”

Included is how technology can be used for entertainment, social media, online government services, online banking and shopping, connecting with

family and friends, how to download apps and put things like loyalty cards on apps, and how to use gadgets and devices like Chromecast, Apple TV, smartphones and smart watches.

Seniors can also learn about cyber security, health and wellbeing. There are also special interest groups covering topics like genealogy, holiday planning, electric cars, power generation, drones, cooking, photography and saving money.

The general consensus is that Senior Hangouts has a permanent role, postCovid, as a learning tool and a way of connecting socially isolated people.

“I think it is absolutely a thing for the future,” Vinay says. “There are many advantages to this system in conjunction with face-to-face SeniorNet gatherings.”

AMI Insurance

Department of Internal Affairs digital messaging manager Joe Teo says during September and October 2021, they received more than 114,000 reports to its 7726 reporting service, the highest in the department’s history.

“This scam is having a significant effect,” says Joe. “It is continuing to have far reaching impacts on New Zealanders with an estimated 400,000 Flubot scam messages being sent each day across all mobile network providers.”

CERT NZ, the government’s cyber security watchdog, was also inundated with support calls.

“We were working collaboratively with New Zealand ISPs to protect as many people as possible,” says CERT NZ director Rob Pope.

“We sent out take down requests to 1200 malicious websites hosting the Flubot malware.

“Doing this means that there were fewer places for the software to hide.”

CERT NZ were contacted by one individual who fell victim to the scam in early October.

“I was waiting on a parcel delivery for

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my daughter’s birthday when I got the message and clicked on the link. Next thing I knew I was getting dozens of phone calls and texts from individuals who thought I was a scammer.”

Their number was unknowingly used to forward the scam message to over 548 individuals over the next three days.

There are currently approximately 200 infected devices across all mobile networks that are still infected with the Flubot scam.

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

24

Racecourse worries I’ve made my views on the Tauranga Racecourse and Golf Club clear before.

Everyone accepts there are housing problems, but getting rid of our city’s green spaces is definitely not the solution.

The answer is converting the old state houses we have into higher density, higher quality housing,

and getting on with the supporting infrastructure and processes so that developers can get on with housing in the likes of Pāpāmoa East and Tauriko.

In other words, use the land already in housing better and free up Tauranga’s surrounding land as well.

If we do this there’s no land shortage.

We could build many thousands more homes and protect our city’s green space.

Late last year, central and local government put out ‘The Greerton Maarawaewae Study – Securing a future for the racecourse and golf club reserve land in Greerton’.

Amongst the options the document presents, keeping the green space with the racecourse and golf club is still present, but it is pretty clear, to me at least, that this isn’t where the writers want this to go.

They want to take the land, otherwise why would they waste all this time and effort and create so much uncertainty for users?

The document mentions “relocation” of the racecourse and golf club, but without putting up where to. This is entirely disingenuous and actually suggests the answer. There is nowhere else suitable.

Out in the back blocks would be the death of both longstanding associations, as they’d cease to meaningfully be in “Tauranga” and no one would go.

The document also raises the red herrings of a new school and new health facilities on the current greenspace. This seems to me very cynical. There are many local schools close by now that both myself and other local National MPs have fought for. Taumata is a new primary school in the Lakes I opened.

Regarding health land, National secured the old RSA land next to the hospital for future healthcare growth, and I understand Labour even now still isn’t sure what to do with it. In addition, within the main hospital buildings, wings that National built still aren’t fully utilised.

Both myself and folks from the racing

and golf clubs are totally open to opening up use of the land as a green space with more, better activities. But keeping these associations here in Tauranga is a bottom line, as is this land actually being what we need it to be: a green space.

Tauranga can’t become one big housing development, as important as housing is.

Formally, the government’s commissioners will make a decision in April. But I’m worried this is a foregone conclusion.

It may be people power is all that can stop this, and with others I am considering whether we need to gather on the green space to make our voice heard sooner than later. I will keep you posted.

Property price hike breaks record The national average asking price jumped by 25 per cent year-on-year to reach a new high of $956,150, according to the latest Trade Me Property Price Index.

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Trade Me Property sales director Gavin Lloyd says last month’s national average asking price increase was the largest on record.

“After entering the $900,000 bracket for the first time in November, the national average asking price continued to break records and show unprecedented growth last month,” says Gavin.

“December marked the third month in a row where we saw property prices increase by more than 20 per cent year-on-year.”

Looking around the country, Gavin says the

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average asking prices reached an all-time high in every region last month, except for Southland.

“Every region’s average asking price increased by at least 15 per cent year-on-year in December.”

Nationwide, Gavin says the number of houses for sale increased by six per cent year-onyear last month, marking the first time supply has increased since April 2021.

He says if supply increases continue, we might see prices slow this year.

“Looking at our December data it is certainly hard to imagine prices cooling off, especially following the relentless increases we saw throughout the past couple of years.

“However, going into 2022, we will be watching listing numbers closely to see whether that gap between supply and demand narrows and some pressure is taken off the market as a result.”

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

25

New CE for Infrastructure NZ Claire Edmondson has been named as the new chief executive of Infrastructure New Zealand.

scale infrastructure projects.”

The new CE held several postquake roles in Christchurch, including chief advisor to the chief executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Board chair Margaret Devlin Authority, and was later says the decision was made acting chief of staff to in December. Claire Christchurch Mayor had held the position Lianne Dalziel. of general manager She was also with the member strategic advisor association since July. to the crown “Claire’s background manager of and experience in Christchurch City policy, government Council following and big infrastructure their loss of projects in post-quake accreditation to Christchurch brings a issue building Claire lot to Infrastructure New Edmondson. consents, and Zealand,” says Margaret. establishment lead “Claire has more than for communications and 20 years’ consulting experience governance in the crown company specialising in central and local Otākaro, responsible for delivery government public policy, and of major infrastructure projects in working on several matters of national importance, including large- central Christchurch.

Household saving on the rise New Zealand households saved more than $3.8 billion this quarter, driven by a 6.3 per cent drop in household spending.

The fall in household spending reflects the impact of higher Covid19 alert level restrictions in place during the September 2021 quarter.

“In quarters where New Zealand has been in alert level four lockdown we have seen large falls in household spending, as parts of the economy have been unable to operate as usual,” says national accounts institutional sector insights senior manager Paul Pascoe.

“Despite this fall, household spending was $6.4 billion higher than during the June 2020 quarter, which included approximately four weeks of the first nationwide level four lockdown.”

Households spent approximately $3 billion less this quarter compared to

the March and June 2021 quarters.

Spending dropped particularly on services and durable items, including restaurant meals, accommodation, clothing, motor vehicles and furniture during the September 2021 quarter.

Lower spending led to an increase in the ratio of household saving to net disposable income, to 7.5 per cent in the September 2021 quarter, up from one per cent in the June 2021 quarter.

Total income received by households fell by 0.3 per cent, driven by a $245 million decrease in income received by self-employed business owners.

Household compensation of employees grew $429 million, reaching $38.6 billion this quarter.

This rise in compensation of employees reflects the increase in employment and wage rates observed in Labour market statistics.

“Claire was also a senior advisor to the Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes, and the senior ministerial advisor to the Minister of Education on the post-quake Christchurch Schools Renewal Programme and Novapay.”

Claire, who hails from the UK, has a legal background and is

currently completing a PhD in law and criminology.

“The quality of our infrastructure plays a massive part in our quality of life every day,” she says.

“When we asked members what the most important issues were at our Building Nations conference in November, they unfailingly zeroed in on our infrastructure deficit, climate

change, and the skills shortage affecting the sector.

“These are all things we need to address urgently and will form part of Infrastructure New Zealand’s future strategy.

“I’m looking forward to advocating on the sector’s behalf on those and other important issues, including diversity within our sector.”

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

26

Property market ‘closes on a high after strong year’ REINZ December sales data rounds off a strong year in the New Zealand property market, with prices and activity holding strong and steady.

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However, commentary from agents across the country suggest market headwinds are gathering strength, according to the latest data and insight from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, home of the most complete and accurate real estate data in New Zealand.

Median prices for residential property across New Zealand increased annually by 21.5 per cent, from $745,000 in December 2020 to $905,000 in December 2021. Though year-on-year growth continues, this was a 1.6 per cent decrease compared to a strong November 2021.

The median residential property price for New Zealand, excluding Auckland, increased annually by 20.6 per cent from $630,000 to $760,000 - a 1.3 per cent decrease from November 2021.

WIDE

P

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IN TIN

Redecorating Renovating or building?

Record medians

Seven regions achieved record medians and there was one equal record in December: Northland increased 13 per cent annually from $672,500 to $760,000 - a new record median high.

The Bay of Plenty increased 27.8 per cent annually from $720,000 to $920,000 - a new record median high. Gisborne increased 17.8 per cent annually from $590,000 to $695,000 - a new record median high. Manawatu/Whanganui increased 23.2 per cent annually from $525,000 to $647,000 - a new record median high.

Tasman increased 25.2 per cent annually from $735,000 to $920,000 - a new record median high. Nelson increased 23.0 per cent annually from $675,000 to $830,000 - a new record median high. Southland increased 21.3 per cent annually from $375,000 to $455,000 - a new record median high. Wellington increased 24.2 per cent annually from $805,035 to $1,000,000 - an equal record median to that previously reached in October 2021.

Some 19 territorial authorities had median price records in December. This was the lowest number since July 2021.

“December was a solid close to a strong year for the New Zealand property market,” says REINZ chief executive Jen Baird.

“House prices were considerably higher than December 2020, demand and sales activity remained firm, and there was a welcome increase in new listings through November and into December.

“Across New Zealand, there was an annual increase of 21.5 per cent in the median price, reaching $905,000 - down 1.6 per cent compared to November 2021.

“New Zealand excluding Auckland saw a yearly increase of 20.6 per cent to $760,000 - a 1.3 per cent decrease compared to the month prior.

“When we consider the seasonally adjusted median prices, which assesses a month’s performance outside of predictable seasonal patterns, December price movements were as expected.

“However, we are noting signs of deceleration in annual price growth compared to previous months. While the market remains confident, the impact of rising interest rates, tighter lending criteria and changes to investor taxation restrictions are starting to shift dynamics.

“In particular, the amendment to the Credit Contract and Consumer Finance Act on December 1, 2021 - which requires stricter scrutiny of borrowers’ financial health - seems to have had an

immediate effect. Feedback from several regions notes a falloff in buyer numbers - particularly firsttime buyers - as a result.

“Over 2022, the impact of these changes and anticipation of further interest rate increases are likely to play out in the market, leading to a gradual slowdown in the pace of price growth.”

Property sales down in December

The number of residential property sales across New Zealand decreased by 29.4 per cent annually, from 9573 in December 2020 to 6755 in December 2021. The number of properties sold was also down 21.4 per cent month-on-month.

For New Zealand excluding Auckland, the number of properties sold in December 2021 decreased 26.6 per cent annually from 6048 to 4442. While in Auckland, the number of properties sold decreased 34.4 per cent annually - from 3525 in December 2020 to 2313 in December 2021. Month-on-month, there was a 26.6 per cent decrease.

Marlborough was the only region to see an annual uplift in sales count with an increase of 5.1 per cent. The number of properties sold in the region increased from 78 in December 2020 to 82 in December 2021.

“Nationwide sales decreased annually by 29.4 per cent in December 2021 and - following a strong November - there was a 21.4 per cent monthly decrease. However, the usual holiday slowdown was less evident and there were reports of sales activity right up until Christmas.

“This may in part be due to New Zealand - and Auckland in particular - having fewer Covid-19 restrictions in terms of movement and business operations and the surge of listings in November lending to a flurry of activity in December.

“However, when we look at the seasonally adjusted numbers from November to December, we see an 11.3 per cent drop. Adjusting for the usual seasonal trends, we do note that this result is weaker than would be typically expected."

Annual increase

The REINZ House Price Index for New Zealand, which measures the changing value of all residential property in the country, showed an annual increase of 23.3 per cent from 3435 in December 2020 to 4235. This was a one per cent decrease from November 2021.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

27

A winning team Build with confidence with Signature Homes Tauranga and Bay of Plenty.

Needless to say, 2021 was a big year for all.

The Signature Homes Tauranga/Bay of Plenty team were proud to round the year off as the recipients of the National Client Satisfaction Award - a true testament to the professionalism and commitment of every staff member, supplier, subcontractor and client who worked alongside Signature Homes on their build journey in 2021.

The local Tauranga/Bay of Plenty team has won this coveted award in 12 out of the 15 years they have been eligible – and aim to make it 13 in 2022. With goals like these, Signature Homes has launched full steam ahead into the New Year with: • A brand new showhome located at 16 Montiicola Drive, Palm Springs, Pāpāmoa.

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• A new office premises located at 2 Glasgow Street, Tauranga. Come and visit the team from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, to discuss your new home ideas or just to say hello.

• Exciting new sustainability initiatives and objectives. For every single Signature Homes home built, the greenhouse gas emissions created from the home’s construction will be counteracted by planting native trees with Trees That Count. They are also protecting our unique biodiversity by helping to save the kiwi as part of their premium partnership with the Save the Kiwi recovery programme.

Follow Signature Homes’ lead of new beginnings for 2022 and embark on your fixed-price build journey with the full-service, award-winning team.

Institute makes big appointment The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand have welcomed Chris Campbell as their new head of education.

Chris will lead their education strategy and delivery of New Zealand’s leading suite of resources and events that help drive real estate excellence across the sector.

Having worked extensively with leading training providers, he has a strong background in general management and sales of professional services, with a focus on training, change management and programme management.

Prior to the move, Chris was director of CCA Ltd, providing consultation services in the education sector. He has worked for leading New Zealand training providers, including Axiom Training - where he was the national sales manager and for a period the general manager and AMS Group, where he held management positions across sales, planning and business development.

“I’m delighted to be joining REINZ and I look forward to bringing my strategic and creative approach to training to our education strategy,” says Chris.

“Education is central to making a difference in peoples’ lives and

driving progress for them and their businesses.”

“We’re really pleased to have Chris join,” says REINZ chief executive Jen Baird.

“Chris shares REINZ’s ambition to help build an enduring, professional real estate profession and has a true passion for training and learning programmes that are innovative and effective.

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The Weekend Sun

Enjoying Rotorua There’s plenty to see and do just across the hill in Rotorua.

Just a short drive from Tauranga, the geyser city is packed to bursting with tourist activities for families to enjoy.

Start your trip with some free entertainment by enjoying some geothermal activity in the heart of town.

Kuirau Park is steaming up with

plenty of mudpools and hot springs to view from the walkway, and clouds of steam to keep you guessing.

Take along some lunch and enjoy a picnic amongst the beautiful trees and gardens before taking a meander through the geothermal activity.

Why not take a trip up the Skyline gondola and enjoy a few luge rides back down? There’s also adventurous mountain biking, adrenaline galore

from the Skyswing and Zoom Ziplines, or a scenic dinner at Stratosfare as you watch the city lights glow.

When you’re finally done at Skyline, maybe you’re ready for a bit of mini golf surrounded by cute bunnies.

Open late, Rotorua Mini Golf is the perfect way to finish off an evening. Blazing with bright lights and pumping good tunes, this mini golf is different in a number of ways – including some fuzzy supporters lazily hopping about and blocking your hole-in-one every now and then.

Or, if you’re after an otherworldly experience, visit the Redwood Forest and enjoy the treetops lit up at night.

The Redwoods Treewalk can be done during the day for a more natural feel, but night time is when the tree tops come alive with bright, dancing lights.

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Get a dose of native culture at Te Puia, the Māori museum in Rotorua. Te Puia is home to the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, who’ve ONLY been training generations of young artists for more than 54 years.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

29

The year of the cancellation Here’s Johnny! We’ve had plain Covid, Delta and now it’s time for Omicron.

outbreaks, the usual suspects are the ones suffering: tourism, hospitality, and of course the arts. It has been a rough time for those in the arts sector, and I suspect resilience is beginning to run low.

at least optimistically – hanging in there.

The message on their Facebook page says: “If it’s still RED come time of the festival 18-20 February we will postpone the Festival until Easter 15-17 April.”

And that brings one question to mind. Easter?

amount of work they have already done, and can only offer my deepest sympathy if everything goes pear-shaped.

This too shall pass.

Since December we’ve been holding our metaphorical breath, balanced on a Angry men metaphorical knife-edge. Now...

I felt particularly bad for the cast of 12 Now I suddenly realise that with Easter Angry Men at the 16th Avenue Theatre. regard to the second metaphor there, The way things work, what’s being They added an extra show to try and I don’t actually know how it affected is very small gigs and very large accommodate people who couldn’t linguistically resolves. gigs. Small gigs can’t get enough people attend because theatre numbers had to What does happen after you’ve been in with one-metre distancing; big gigs can be reduced.

After the preparation a play “balanced on a knife edge”? Do you only have 100 people. requires, it must be soul-destroying. fall off the side of the knife? Do you So the Jam Factory programme is At least a band can reschedule a gig – accidentally cut yourself from becoming effectively off for the time being, reassembling the cast for a theatre unbalanced? It’s not like a “ticking though I’m assured that the Across production is a far harder ask. time bomb”, where the end result is The Great Divide show on February Then there’s local singer Hollie MEDIUM pretty easy to surmise.

27 will be going ahead, possibly Smith, who has just had to Someone at the department because it is a Sunday afternoon9and postpone the album release of metaphors needs to give people can be outside. tour for Coming In From this a serious look.

But the big question is Easter and The Dark. For the fourth In the meantime, in line Tauranga’s single largest music festival, time.

Those following with 2021 being “the the National Jazz Festival. In Taranaki her Twitter feed year of the vaccine”, they seem sure this will be over by then, got things in 2022 rapidly looks like but I must confess to being less positive. 2 real time... becoming “the year of Consider this: Easter is 10 weeks away.

January 22: the cancellation”.

9 VERY They say things will peak roughly six to “FIRST BAND It’s been a messy EASY eight weeks after cases go exponential, GIG BACK week. The traffic 7 3 No.1622 TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which is predicted to be in a week or lights are red and it 4 1 2 8 so. I add those times up and can’t help 5 SINCE means a whole lot of thinking that it doesn’t look MARCH!!!!!!!!!!” stopping going on.

9 good.

5 48 festival I don't envy the organisers.

The The following day The year started Hollie Smith. cancelled, which is no 1 red restrictions arrived. 2 launch with the cancellation 5they’ll 77want 4deal,hasbutbeen 3 1 big I’m guessing January 23: “I am f***** done; What’s of two prominent festivals: Rhythm and to make a final decision the collective noun of depression?”

Vines and Northern Bass. Now we can 2 before 8 5whatever 7 cancellation Her feed is actually quite entertaining, add Fashion Week, Splore, The Auckland clause there and later that day she also found time Pride Festival and The Others Way 5 6 3 9musician 7 is in for: “Does red light mean Tamaki stays in Festival, while in Tauranga the One Love jail longer? Asking for a friend.”

1 contracts5 6 7 Festival, Classics of the Sky and First We takes effect.

Hollie is not alone. I couldn’t help Eat have gone, with many many more on what5 notice that the Taranaki Country Festival, 3 I know4 8 9 the way. scheduled for February 18, is bravely – or a massive As has become standard with Covid

MEDIUM

9

SUDOKU 2

No.2121

How t Sud

8 7 5 6 Fill the g 9 every row 3x3 squa 2 3 the dig 7 6 3 How to solve Solution 4 3No.2121 2 Sudoku!

1 2 7 8 8 5 6 1 85 6 5 4 3 9 2 Fill the grid so that 2 8 1 7 3 row and every5 7 3 9 9 every

9 SUDOKU

SUDOKU

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3

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9 3 5 9 2 6 1 8 4 7

Solution No.1621 2 8 6 1 4 7 9 7 1 2 9 8 6 3 4 6 7 5 3 2 1 3 4 5 8 7 1 6 8 7 9 3 1 5 4 9 5 4 6 2 3 8 5 9 1 2 6 4 7 1 3 8 7 5 9 2 6 2 3 4 9 8 5

5 4 8 9 2 7 3 6 1

5

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5

1 8 4 2 5 6 7 3 9

Solution Solution No.2120 No.2120 2 7 8 4 6 5 3 5 6 1 3 9 4 2 3 9 2 5 7 6 8 8 1 7 6 3 9 4 7 3 9 8 4 2 1 9 4 5 1 2 3 7 4 2 6 9 1 8 5 6 5 4 7 8 1 9 1 8 3 2 5 7 6

9 1 8 3

9 7 1 5 6 8 3 2 4

Friday 28 January 2022

Saturday 29 Jan 12 Angry Men

16th Ave Theatre 21st-29th January. 7.30pm.

The criminal trial of a young man accused of murder. Should he be found guilty or sentenced to death.

Tickets via iTICKET

Animalistic Ceramics Exhibition

The Incubator’s new Pot House Gallery (Historic Village, Tauranga) welcomes Elizabeth Haider. A collection of animalistic ceramics and unique teapots. 21st January-12th February, 10am-3pm weekdays, 10am-2pm Saturdays. info@theincubator.co.nz

Art on the Strand

Original art for sale. Weather permitting. 9am-4pm.

Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui.

Tauranga Society of Artists

Across 6. He was a famous cartoonist (6,4) 8. Encourage (4) 9. Burden (4) 10. Mature (5) 11. Flat (4) 12. Racecourse (NI) (9) 16. Controlled (9) 20. Native tree (4) 22. Bury (5) 23. Swimsuit (4) 24. Talk (4) 25. Miser (10 Down 1. Burrow (6) 2. Clad (7) 3. Ring road (6) 4. Dog (6)

No. 1761

5. Wind instrument (5) 7. Heron (5) 13. Limb (3) 14. Artificial lake (SI) (7) 15. Sailing boat (5) 17. Meal (6) 18. Immature (6) 19. Fraction (6) 21. Letter (5) S E F T O N Y A N O R A K

T F A E U B O X O R U M E

E D I C T C B A S E N J I

V O T C I A O D H M D L T

E N H A N C E E E P O C H

W O C K G S S I S D W E S

I D L E G G G G G A N T I

L M I L P T D E P S N A N

L I N E R I E L A S T I C

I R E V A J L A R I R E L

Solution 1760

A P A R I M A K D R A M A

M N G P S E Y L O L I V I

S K E W E R O A N G L E R

Association Croquet

Sat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15 for 9:30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 574 9232

Bay Singles Social Group

Join a bunch of over 50’s young singles. Weekend dinners, potlucks, occasional outings. Have a go! Ph Delia 027 284 8762 Andrea 021 133 0313

Greerton Hall Market

2nd and last Saturday of the month. 8am-12pm. Stalls inside/ outside. Discounts for charity groups. Refreshments at kitchen.

Phone/txt for site. Tricia 07 543 1487 or 027 908 2952, www facebook.com/greertonhallmarket

Indoor Bowls

Tauranga Senior Citizens Club Hall 14 Norris Street (behind PaknSave) 12.45pm Sat, Tues & Weds. Must be fully vaccinated. Come join us Ph Carol 022 639 2411

Jigsaw Library Brookfield

Every Saturday 10am-12noon.

Hire: 500p 50c, 1000p $1. Choose from a variety of 500 puzzles. Please wear mask, bring Vaccine Pass. rookfield, off igh ore erra e

Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park Rd 12:45-3pm

Katikati Concert Band

Concert 5pm at St. Paul’s Katikati.

Featuring some solos, including trumpet virtuoso Hiro Kobayashi.

Vaccination passports required.

Tickets $10 at the door

LOL Laughter Wellness

Looking for a suitable outdoor venue. Will resume asap. Please check www. lollaughterwellness.weebly.com or Ph Trish 022 036 6768 for updates. lollaughterwellness@gmail.com

Omokoroa Market

Settlers Hall 9am-12pm. Food, coffee, breads, plants & heaps more. Support local, buy local. omokoroamarket@gmail.com

Quakers

Warm welcome to share your spiritual journey with group of friendly people. Tea, coffee, thoughtful conversation, silence and companionship.

10am-12noon. Cnr Cameron and Elizabeth. Ph 543 3101

Stop Motion Animation Workshop

For kids aged 8-13 who are passionate about the environment.

Learn life cycles of single-use plastics, make a stop motion animation using repurposed materials. remaker.co.nz/pages/ workshops

TAGTEAM v2 Group Exhibition

The People’s Gallery (Historic Village, Tauranga) welcomes TAGTEAM - a group of Artists whose practices are wide and varied.

21st January-14th February,10am3pm weekdays,10am-2pm weekends. info@theincubator.co.nz

Taijiquan and Qigong

THE BARREL ROOM Sat 29th Josh Durning & James Walker 7pm CORNERSTONE PUB Fri 28th Groove Vibez 9pm Sat 29th Groove Vibez 9pm JACK DUSTY’S (Bureta) Sat 29th The Silverbeats 7:30-10:30pm Sun 30th Blaze 3-6pm THE PHOENIX Sun 30th Sophie Dodson 3-6pm

The Weekend Sun

30

Sat & Weds 7am free Taiji / Qigong group. Kulim Park on beach opposite new playground. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665

Tauranga Farmers Market

7:45am-12noon at Tauranga Primary School cnr Cameron Road & 5th Avenue. Rain, hail or shine. Direct from the Producers. Support local

Tauranga Fuchsia Group

Meet last Saturday of the month February to November at Art & Craft Centre, Elizabeth St West 1pm. Learn to care for fuchsia plants

Village Radio Museum

Community Radio broadcasting nostalgic music & Community Notices seven days on 1368 KHz

AM Band. Radio Museum open from 10am. Request line 571 3710

Cameron Rd. All Welcome. Ph 0800 229 6754

Western Bay Museum Tour

Citizens Advice Bureau Tauranga

Make your museum experience come alive with a fascinating guided tour. 12noon. WBOP residents FREE. Adult $5/GC $4. 32 Main Rd, Katikati. 07 549 0651

Yunus Haider: Retrospective Exhibition

The Incubator Gallery (Historic Village, Tauranga) welcomes Yunus Haider. Works spanning the artists’ long career. Includes early metalwork, bronzes, ceramics, and drawings. 21st January-14th February, 9am-4pm weekdays, 10am-2pm weekends. info@theincubator.co.nz

Sunday 30 Jan

Farmers Market - Mount Mainstreet

Dutch Friendly Support Network

Coffee morning 1st Monday of the month, 10am-12noon. $4 entry.

Vintage Car Club Rooms, Cliff Road, Tauranga. Ph Bernadette 07 572 3968

Papamoa Hills History Walk

Stories of Maori settlement along the coastline from Tauranga harbour to Whakatane. Amazing views and gripping korero. Book here https:// www.traveled.co.nz/upcomingexperiences

Pickleball

Every Sunday 9am-1pm rain or shine! Te Papa o Nga Manu Porotakataka (Phoenix Park). www.mountmainstreet.nz

Golf Croquet

Sun, Tues & Thurs at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 8.30 for 9am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Nev 575 5121

Papamoa Hills History Walk

Stories of Maori settlement along the coastline from Tauranga harbour to Whakatane. Amazing views and gripping karero. Book here https:// www.traveled.co.nz/upcomingexperiences

Papamoa Lions Club Market

2nd & 4th Sunday. Gordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Rd, Papamoa. Gates open 7am for stall holder entry.

Wayne 027 974 5699

Quakers

Warm welcome to share your spiritual journey with group of friendly people. Tea, coffee, thoughtful conversation, silence and companionship.

10am-12noon. Cnr Cameron and Elizabeth. Ph 543 3101

Radio Controlled Model Yachts

Sun & Thurs 1.30-4pm. Pond behind 22 Montego Drive Papamoa, sailing Electron Radio Controlled Yachts for fun. Adult beginners welcome. Graham 572 5419

Monday 31 Jan

Try pickleball - it’s fun! We meet at the Mount Sports Centre 9.15am-12.15pm. $5. Bats, balls, refreshments provided.

Bob 027 478 6282

Tauranga Senior Citizens Club

Mon & Thurs 500 Cards 14 Norris Street (behind PaknSave) 12.45pm $3, refreshments. Must be fully vaccinated. Come join us Carol 022 639 2411

Te Puke 500 Cards

Mondays 7pm start. 4 Queen Street, Te Puke. Cost $4. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Mike 027 495 5284 or Lou 07 573 8184

Western Bay Museum Tour

Make your museum experience come alive with a fascinating guided tour. 11am Mon & Thurs, 2pm on Weds. WBOP residents FREE. Adult $5/GC $4. 32 Main Rd, Katikati. 07 549 0651

Tuesday 1 Feb 500 Cards

Tues & Thurs Mount Community Hall, 345 Maunganui Road. All ages. All welcome. Fun and friendly group. Margaret 027 658 6848

Active Seniors Exercise Class

Wednesdays 9.30am at Matua Hall. Strength and balance exercises at an intermediate level.

All welcome. Info Ph Diana 021 047 6155

Alcoholics Anonymous

Active Seniors Exercise

Mon & Thurs strength and balance for seniors.

City Church, Otumoetai 9.30 for intermediate exercise and 11am for lo i pa t. ll le els of fitness.

Ph Diana 021 047 6155

Alcoholics Anonymous

Free onfidential i partial information & advice. Don’t know?

Ask Us! Mon-Fri Ph 07 578 1592 email tauranga@cab. org.nz 9am-4pm *no face to face at the moment*

Open meeting 10am Tauranga Central Baptist Church. cnr 13ave/

Closed meeting 7.30 St George`s Anglican Church. 1 Church St Pyes Pa. All Wecome Ph 0800 229 6757

Conversation Cafe Dee St

10-11.45pm Tuesdays at Presbyterian Church Hall. Varied program, morning tea. Aimed at seniors. All welcome. $5/person or $5/couple. Make new friends.

Ph 544 0951

is coming your

way!

The Weekend Sun

Divorce Support Group

A 13 week course for divorced or separated. Gain healing and hope.

Starts 22 Feb 2022. Register www. citychurch.co.nz/ divorcecare contact Kathryn 027 737 3172

Kidz Need Dadz BOP

Dad’s support group from 7pm at 538 Fraser Street, Greerton. Help with parenting, relationship separation, assistance with legal advice and mentoring. All dads welcome

Let’s Learn Something New

An A-Z of clubs, courses & classes for 2022. Find an activity, join & do it! All ages. www.letslearn.nz or Ph 07 544 9557

Otumoetai Walking Group

Meet at 9am at Kulim Park.

Ph Danny 576 6480

Overeaters Anonymous

Is your eating affecting the way you, or someone else, live your lives? Overeating, undereating - meet every Tuesday 7-8pm and Friday 1-2pm. Ph 0210 236 3236

Recycled Teenagers Gentle Exercise

St. Mary’s Church Hall Cnr Girven & Marlin 9-10.30am. Suitable for joint replacements, arthritics, recovery from accident or illness. Also strength, coordination and balance. Jennifer 571 1411

TaiChi TCIANZ Beginner Classes

Tuesdays Te Puke Memorial Hall 9.30am Te Puna Memorial Hall 1pm.

Wednesdays 9.30am St Georges Church Hall, Gate Pa. Thursdays 9.30am Te Puna Memorial Hall. $5

Tauranga Acoustic Music Club

Greerton RSA 7pm. Friendly gettogether, all instruments, all levels of ability. Come in & enjoy some live music. Grant 578 6448

Tauranga Model Railway Club

Club meets at Clubrooms upstairs Tuesday 9.30am & Thursday 7.30pm corner of Mirrielees & Cross roads, Sulphur Point. Ph Mike Oldfield 021 939 233

Yoga For All

Welcome Bay Community Centre, 6-7.30pm. Traditional, relaxing yoga class. Beginners welcome. $15 for one or $110 for nine classes. Bring a mat.

Info: Bhajan 07 929 7484

Wednesday 2 Feb 10 Pin Bowling

1pm @ 10 Pin Tauranga, 135 13th Avenue. Play for fun but keep the score. Very occasionally competitive. Phone Glenda 0212 578 678

Friday 28 January 2022

31

Active Seniors Exercise Class

Wednesdays 9.30am at Matua Hall.

Strength and balance exercises at an intermediate level. All welcome.

Ph Diana 021 047 6155

Adults Ballet/Plus Class

St Peters, Katikati 12.30pm. Exercise and dance class learn ballet french terms. Some jazzy dance and character. Ph Gaye 07 577 1753 or 027 174 8753

Alcoholics Anonymous

Open Meeting , 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month. 10am, Tauranga Central Baptist Church, cnr 13ave/ Cameron Rd. Ph 0800 229 6757

Age Concern Walking Group

Meet at 10am Briscoes, Chapel St. Ph Renee 07 576 6699

Cards

Cribbage 12.45pm at RSA Greerton.

Friendly club. New members very welcome. Ph Jill 021 160 6143

Indoor Bowls

Weds & Fri Mount Community Hall 345 Maunganui Road. All ages.

Beginners welcome. Ph Cyril 022 639 2585

Kaimai Ramblers Tramping Group

From Franklin Road, through farm to Deane track and Mangakino track to lunch time and return. Grade Easy/ Mod. VaxPass. Kevin 021 0200 6306

Kati Chat

New to town? Or want to learn more about our town? 10am. Arts Junction, 36 Main Rd, Katikati. All welcome. Ph 07 549 5250

Katikati Bowling Club

8 Park Road. Mixed Roll-ups 12.45-3pm

Marching For Leisure

A non-competitive activity for mature ladies. Fun, fitness and friendship. For Tauranga team’s practice and contact details Ph Chris Conn 027 479 1871

Newcomers Network Coffee Mornings

10am Wednesdays at Tauranga Multicultural Centre in the Historic Village at 17th ave. Those new to Tauranga are welcome, it’s free

Pickleball

Try pickleball - it’s fun! We meet at Baypark 10am-12noon. $5. Bats and balls provided. Bob 027 478 6282 or Viv 021 162 3342

Tauranga Embroiderer’s Guild

Meets every Wednsday at Tauranga Rowing Club, Devonport Rd 10am-2.30pm and 7-9pm. Beginners very welcome. Ph Carol Roband 027 348 5875 or 466 0075

Tauranga MidWeek Tramping Group

Sentinel Rock + Hot Springs Rd Hotpools. Grade moderate.

Vitus 027 455 2914

Tauranga South Garden Club

1st Wednesday of the month Greerton Baptist Hall, 56 Chadwick Rd, Greerton. 1-2.30pm. Visitors welcome. Ph Carmen 027 378 2248

Thursday 3 Feb

Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Workshop

This class is for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of handmade books, traditional stitching techniques, and the potential of paper. Book at remaker.co.nz/pages/ workshops

Flexercise With Fitness League

Exercise, movement, dance, focusing on posture, balance, stretching, strengthening & flexibility, suits all ages and abilities. 10am, Wesley Church Hall, 100,13th Ave, Tauranga.

Pam 021 117 7170

Katikati Bowling Club

8 Park Rd Rummikub 1-4pm, $3 entry

Katikati Concert Band

Katikati Bowling Club, 8 Park Road, 7pm. Come and join our friendly band.

All brass, woodwind and percussion players welcome. Ph Eryl 02 140 4163

Keynotes Women’s Barbershop Chorus

Do you love to sing? Come join us, age no barrier, 7pm Wesley Hall, 100 13th Avenue. Ph Bernice 576 4848, Facebook Keynotes Inc.

LOL Laughter Wellness TePuke

Laugh your troubles away under the trees in Fairhaven Park, Boucher Ave. Thursday 10.30-11.45am.

Weather dependent. Check www. lollaughterwellness.weebly.com or Ph Trish 022 036 6768 for updates lollaughterwellness@gmail.com

Tauranga 60+ Continuing Education

Kayla Coleman will talk on “Phobias”. 10am The Atrium, Otumoetai Road. Entry $5

Friday 4 Feb

Alcoholics Anonymous

Open meeting 10am Tauranga Central Baptist Church. cnr 13ave/Cameron Rd. All Welcome.

Ph 0800 229 6754

Grey Power Papamoa Meeting

1pm at Papamoa Library & Community Centre. Speaker: John Robson. Must have vaccine passport. All welcome. Ph Dorothy 574 7271, Jonathan 021-151 4481

Pickleball

Try pickleball - it’s fun! We meet at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre 9-11.45am. $5.

Bats, balls, refreshments provided.

Bob 027 478 6282

Pickleball At Night

Try pickleball - it’s fun! We meet 7-9pm at Tauranga Boys College. $5. Bats and balls provided. Bob 027 478 6282 or Viv 021 162 3342

Te Puke Bowling Club

New members welcome. Loan bowls available. Friday rollup 12.45pm. Ph Te Puke Club 573 9709

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

32

CLASSIFIEDSECTION

PH: 07 557 0505 EMAIL: nadia@sunmedia.co.nz Pages can be viewed online at www.theweekendsun.co.nz

trades & services

sliding door won’t slide?

• Window handles, hinges & stays • Security locks for windows & doors • Sliding and bi-fold door rollers, locks & handles • Retractable insect screens

07 575 3000

Call us today to arrange an assessment of your home.

www.exceed.co.nz

LAWN MAINTENANCE LAWN MAINTENANCE

BUILDER

Lawn Rite Lawn Rite Looks After Your Looks After Your Lawns & Gardens Lawns & Gardens

BUILDER

•• Lawn Mowing •• Hedges & Lawn Mowing Hedges & Pruning Pruning • Lawn Mowing • Hedges & Pruning • Rubbish Removal • Odd Jobs • Rubbish Removal • Odd • Rubbish Removal • Odd JobsJobs Garden Cleanouts •• Garden Cleanouts • Garden Cleanouts •• Gutter Cleaning Gutter Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning

www.lawnrite.co.nz • 0800 www.lawnrite.co.nz • 0800 101101 216216

CONTACT JEFF CONTACT JEFF www.matagas.co.nz

NEED A PROPERTY MANAGER? We are a boutique company, that’s why we do a fantastic job!

We take the stress out of property management.

7% +gst ONE FLAT FEE, NO HIDDEN CHARGES

0800 2 YELLOW info@yellowbrick.co.nz yellowbrick.co.nz

Don’t let streaky windows ruin your sun We’ve still got plenty of sunshine left this summer, and with the kids heading back to school, it’s the perfect time to make sure your windows are sparkly clean.

“I do residential properties as well as commercial work and am fully insured, fully vaccinated - including a booster - and follow all safety protocols” says owner/operator Chris.

“I also avoid using hoses, so I can prevent any water staining. All of the cleaning is done using squeegees.”

CK’s Window Cleaning prides itself on Chris Kale of CK’s Window competitive pricing, with an average single-story Cleaning has been in the business for home, inside and out, costing about $120 plus almost 20 years and is an expert in GST. A no-obligation quote can be provided at making your windows look like new. your convenience.

All areas where The Weekend Sun is delivered are serviced, so call CK’s Window Cleaning today for a free quote on: 021 191 9445.

CK’s Window Cleaning’s Chris Kale.

Getting the job done Summer is well and truly here, and with longer days and barbeques a plenty, now is the perfect time to get your outdoor area looking its best.

The team at Trees Done Ltd offer a large range of services and can get almost any job done, including formative pruning of young trees, selective pruning of mature trees, reducing trees to improve views, thinning canopies to allow more sunlight into houses or gardens and large to small dismantling of trees and shrubs.

They also undertake orchard work, including avocado reduction, limb thinning, crown lifting, lowering limbs and chipping, stump grinding, maintaining trees in rental and lifestyle properties, tree planting and ringing trunks or branches for firewood and mulching.

Get your outdoor area looking spectacular.

Photo: Supplied.

For free advice and free quotes, please don’t hesitate to call Trees Done Ltd, servicing all areas in and around the Bay.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 28 January 2022

33

trades & services

P. (07) 578 4110

995 Cameron Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga

www.theupholsteryshoppe.co.nz

GreenKiwi Gardens

SPA POOL COVERS & BOAT COVERS

New Zealand’s Quietest Heat Pumps

Chemwash_Sun 5x2_Feb21_V2.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

1

19/02/20

12:06 PM

WE ONLY DO

DENTURES PHONE: 07 576 0620

www.denturestauranga.co.nz

CY

CMY

K

LAWNMOWING Totally Cut

LTD

Lawns & Gardens Residential - Lifestyle - Commercial

Mathew 021 507 182

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

34

situations vacant

trades & services

Vacancy

Gardening, Mowing, Trimming and Revegetation Do you have a green thumb?

An instinct for gardening?

Smart Environmental is a large New Zealand privately owned and operated parks and reserves contractor.

We have been in business for over 25 years and are justifiably proud of our people, history and customer service. We look after a number of spaces such as parks, reserves and roadsides.

We have a great opportunity for you to join our Tauranga team!

Why join our team?

• Recognition of your talent and skills - Our leadership team will support and enable your growth, providing you with a stable work environment and rewards for a job well done.

• Working early starts and early finishes - there is still plenty of time for after-work activities and work-life balance!

• A supportive environment with training to help you to grow your skills!

Check www.careers.westernbay.govt.nz for more details.

To keep our people safe, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council requires everyone joining our team to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

•

Recycling Assistant (Te Puke Recycling Centre) Part-time, permanent Closes Friday, 4 February 2022

John Holyoake Chief Executive Officer

Mā tō tātou hapori

For our community

You will need to be physically fit and able to work in all conditions, so a love of the outdoors is critical.

In addition, you will: • Be able to drive a manual vehicle and have a minimum Class 1 Licence.

• Have worked in Gardens before or have a Qualification in Horticulture.

• Know how to mow using large ride-on mowers.

If one of these roles are for you, please apply including a cover letter and cv to Gary gbartlett@smartenvironmental.co.nz or phone Karen on 021 2563009, no later than Friday 4 February 2022.

Admin

Administration Services

Please note that only candidates for interview will be contacted.

1 LARGE 600 LITRE BAG $24.00 per Monthly Collection

COME JOIN US!

SEASONAL KIWIFRUIT ROLES LAB TECH AND SAMPLE COLLECTOR ROLES

TO APPLY, VISIT

hill-laboratories.com/careers

The Weekend Sun

mobility

Friday 28 January 2022

35

health & wellness

wanted bible digest

YOU ARE MY REFUGE and my sheild; I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:114)

computers

COMPUTER PROBLEMS? Remote access/repairs, viruses, upgrades, hardware, tuition, advice. For a no obligation chat or quote call Anthony or Bruce on 07 576 7940

curriculum vitae

automotive for rent

situations vacant

CVs THAT STAND OUT. A C.V. For You can help you look great on paper.

Targeted or generic cover letters also available. Samples to view on facebook www.facebook.com/ acvforyou or Ph/text 021 27 27 912

gardening

ABLE GARDENER, experienced, efficient, knowledgeable, highly qualified. Maintenance, pruning, hedges, shrubs, roses; disease/pest control, lifestyle blocks, garden renovations; design & plant. Ph Tita 027 654 8781 or a/h 542 0120

funeral services

HANDYMAN HOME & GARDEN SERVICES tree pruning, weeding, hedges, water blasting, home maintenance, rubbish removal at affordable rates Ph Philip 027 655 4265 OASIS GARDENS covering all aspects of gardening from weeding and pruning to hedge trimming.

Ph Roy 027 920 0000

health & beauty

NATURAL NEW ZEALAND Health Products & Clinic. Something for everyone. NZ Registered Natural Therapies & Natural Medicine Practitioners. Opposite BP Te Puke. Ph 573 5533 www. naturaltherapiesnz.com and www. naturalpetremediesstore.com

livestock

AC PETFOODS collect injured & unwanted cows & horses.

Ph 0800 369 6269

deceased

Our family helping your family

07 543 3151 www.hopefunerals.co.nz 4 Keenan Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga

lost & found

FOUND KITTENS & PUPPIES various places, colours and sex. Ph SPCA 07 578 0245 Found adult black female cat.

Welcome Bay Area. Ref: 536130 Found adult tortie female cat.

Welcome Bay Area. Ref: 535451 Found adult black & white male cat. Ohauiti Area. Ref: 535586 Found adult tabby & white male cat. Ohauiti Area. Ref: 535638 Found adult white female rabbit.

Oropi Area. Ref: 535769 Found adult brown male rabbit.

Parkvale Area. Ref: 535797

rental wanted

LONG TERM, UNFURNISHED 2 bedroom with garage. Sandhurst to Papamoa Plaza preferred on a level section for a mature lady.

Please Ph Lyn 021 294 7104

trades & services

BRYCE DECORATING interior and exterior painting, wallpapering.

Have your powdercoated windows faded? Can be cleaned and restored like new! Plastic car bumpers faded? Can be restored too! Quality work. Showroom finish. Ph Wayne 021 162 7052 BUILDER AVAILABLE repair maintenance, decks, pergolas, fences, all housing work. Ph Roger 022 121 3356 ROOF REPAIRS Free quotes for all maintenance of leaking roofs, gutter cleaning & repairs. Chimney maintenance & repairs. Registered roofer, 30yrs exp. Ph Peter 542 4291 or 027 436 7740 TREE, SHRUB and hedges trimming, topping, rubbish, palm pruning or removal, satisfaction guaranteed free quote. Ph Steve Hockly 027 498 1857

travel & tours

Are you looking for a Day Trip/ Outing? We still have a few spaces on these trips. Historic Kauri Walk- Wednesday 9th Feb -Rotorua Redwoods– Tuesday 22nd Feb -Top Notch Macadamia orchard– 25th Feb –Robotic Farm Tour– 2nd March. Call today to reserve your seats. Phone Zealandier Tours 07 572 4118 NO 8 TOURS New Zealand’s Senior Travel Club. Join our Club today to receive all our VIP Members Benefits exclusive to No 8 Tours & receive our complimentary beautiful colour catalogue. We specialise in bespoke itineraries, modern vehicles, friendly guides & comfortable modern accommodation. 4 Days 5th-8th Feb 2022 Great Barrier Island 5 Days 25th Feb-1st March 2022 Wairarapa 9 Days 12th-20th March 2022 Southern Scenic Escape. Free Door to Door service, Extended Tours, Day Trips, Shows.

BOOK NOW: Ph No8 Tours team on 579 3981 or email admin@no8tours.co.nz Or visit www.no8tours.co.nz to view and book all our tours.

venues

WEDDINGS, PARTIES, MEETINGS, etc. The perfect venue.

With stunning Harbour views, fully licensed bar & kitchen onsite.

Restaurant open every Friday from 5pm & Sunday from 4.30pm, kids under 12 years dine free with every paying adult. Tauranga Fish & Dive Club, 60 Cross Rd, Sulphur Point.

Ph 571 8450

Friday 28 January 2022

The Weekend Sun

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Grab hold of new skills in 2022 Start the year on a new path.

With a range of study options to suit you, including online and part-time, you can study your way with Toi Ohomai.

Our expert tutors are well connected with local employers and are here to empower your learning and guide you every step of the way. Now’s the time to enrol – apply now for courses starting in February.

You could be eligible for fees free study!

Visit our website to find out more.

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0800 86 46 46 · toiohomai.ac.nz

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