The Weekend Sun - 2 December 2022

across neighbourhoods and streets, from Bellevue, The Lakes, the Bayfair end of Mount Maunganui – and out at Katikati – signalling for residents to give generously. Read more on page 11. Photo: John Borren.

Happy Christmas – bah humbug!

“Peace on earth, goodwill to all men” – that sort of encapsulates the Christmas spirit of hope, kindness and generosity doesn’t it? Yeah, well bah humbug, balderdash and nonsense it does! Because what happens to all that warm, fuzzy festive spirit when we drive into the supermarket carpark? It vaporises.

Nice people turn bad, normally welladjusted, smiley, happy folk turn into aggressive, mean-spirited, heartless, inconsiderate ‘scrotes.’

I know – that word is inappropriate, it’s vulgar slang and has no place in a community newspaper…

But needs must, because a simple expedition to the supermarket to buy a sixpack, some toilet rolls and a cooked chook reduced me to a whimpering, broken human being.

The bee-liner

The problem was carpark rage – and like road rage, or any sort of rage, it’s damaging and dangerous.

I was leaving the supermarket carpark when the ‘bee-liner’ was driving in.

He appeared all snarky and aggressive, looking for an argument even though there’s nothing to argue. ‘Bee-liner’ came at me like a bandit from 10 o’clock – diagonally across the parking lot at 40-plus km/hr, straight across my bow before making a bee-line for the supermarket front door. I got a fright and tooted him. He flicked me a finger as though he was the offended party.

Lovely! There are speed limits, driving lanes, directional arrows and pedestrian crossings in a supermarket carpark for a reason. Perhaps you might do us all a favour, little blue Mazda man, and observe them. There’s a raised digit coming back your way.

And it’s that attitude, my attitude, that is part of the problem. Most of us

experience anger and frustration in busy carparks, on busy days at busy times, but common sense tells us we shouldn’t lose our cool. And don’t engage.

I read somewhere that we drivers need to contain frustration and anger, or it can manifest as a hostile or aggressive act. Once we fire an angry shot we have lost control of the situation – and who knows how the target of our anger is going to react. Sing ‘Silent Night’ or hum a mantra and you retain control.

Easier said than done mind you.

Monash University in Melbourne has done some work on carpark rage and it’s

arms akimbo, in the middle of it. She will stand there until Albie arrives in the family four-door.

No! That’s not how it works Marge. You can’t reserve parking spaces.

The opportunist

There’s the opportunist – they circle the supermarket looking for a space that doesn’t involve walking more than 10 metres to the front door. They too are grim-faced and hover like a bird of prey sensing fresh carrion. They spot a reversing light, a car exiting a carpark, and accelerate from zero to 100km/hr in 5.01 seconds.

Even as you sit there with your indicators going, they position themselves so they can out-manoeuvre you. They know no shame.

The Space Cadet

a common phenomenon, which is much worse at Christmas. Carpark accidents soar 50 per cent at Christmas, and 60 per cent of all pedestrian accidents happen in carparks.

They’re a minefield at Christmas.

Monash says there’s a range of reasons for carpark rage – time pressure, territoriality over carparks, general aggressive tendencies and anger at other’s driving behaviour.

At risk of sounding preachy, let’s all agree there are some behaviours that simply aren’t acceptable in a supermarket carpark.

The human bollard

Like the human bollard – a defiant, thin-lipped, not-to-be-trifled with ‘Marge’ who’s claiming ownership of an empty parking space by standing with

Then there’s Space Cadet – they want a chunk of your park. They encroach across the white line making it impossible to enter or exit your car without crunching door panels. It’s not hard Space Cadet – park in the middle of the space! Resist the temptation to leave them a churlish note – like ‘Do you think I am a sardine?’

So breathe deeply and radiate understanding and forgiveness because research tells us the difficulty of finding a park is the main source of aggression in carparks. You may ponder T-boning this jerk on their way out, or up-ending their trolley containing a $400 Christmas shop, but DO NOT engage. This is carpark brinkmanship – blood could be spilled, there could be arrests or law suits. It could all end badly and sadly. And it is Christmas.

hunter@thesun.co.nz

Greenspace over children

One of Tauranga’s oldest kindergartens is facing an uncertain future because their lease on council land will be terminated.

For more than 50 years the Avenues Kindergarten has taught thousands of children, but Tauranga City Council said it won’t be renewing their lease in 2027, so it can increase the useable greenspace.

Teacher Shavaurn Bennett says ending the lease “seems very short-sighted” and wouldn’t just affect the children and their families.

“You’re not just shutting a building, you’re ripping a heart out of a community.”

The kindy is built on Scout Reserve, Botanical Rd, and has a full roll of 40 children aged two-five. They have a waiting list and receive two enquiries a week from families eager to enrol their children.

Head teacher Catherine Geddes says the closure won’t affect pre-schoolers at the centre now, but it could affect their siblings. “We’ve got families where the grandparents right through to the grandchildren have come through...”

Avenues Kindergarten, previously Botanical Road Kindergarten, is one of 16 Inspired Kindergartens in Tauranga. The not-for-profit early childhood education service operates 25 kindergartens and a home-based early learning service in the BOP and Coromandel. Principal Peter Monteith says if they need to relocate the estimated cost to replace the building and outdoor play area would be $1.75m,

which could take years to raise.

Eight of 16 Tauranga Inspired Kindergartens are on land leased from the council, making them the “largest community user” of TCC land, says Peter. He’s concerned if council is ending the lease of one their kindergartens they could do it to others.

Peter says Inspired Kindergartens are keen to work with TCC on a “mutually beneficial” way forward. TCC spaces and places manager Sarah Pearce says the council confirmed in October the kindergarten would need to relocate when their lease expires. “While kindergartens are clearly of community benefit, council faces a limited land resource and increasing pressures on open space.

“Scout Reserve is a key reserve for play and relaxation in an area of Tauranga where those types of spaces are relatively rare.

“Our intention is to expand the useable space at the reserve to accommodate growing demand –and to do so will require the space occupied by the kindergarten.” Another reason given is to “create better visual and physical access to the reserve” after a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design report recommended the kindergarten location should be reviewed because it “adversely affected the visibility into the park”.

Read this story in full at: www.sunlive.co.nz Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Mia-Rose Farmer, 4, Ryder Pomae–Tahan, 3, teacher Shavaurn Bennett and Olly Lythe, 3, want their kindy to stay open. Photo: Alisha Evans.

Clubs take a stand Clubs take a stand

The only local daily news source you need, constantly updated, seven days a week www.sunlive.co.nz

Tauranga summer gigs

Tauranga is becoming the ultimate gig destination, with nine major concerts locked in for this summer and more to be announced.

International acts such as UB40, DIPLO, Sticky Fingers and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will take to the Tauranga stage, as well as Kiwi favourites such as L.A.B, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Shapeshifter. Both Tauranga City Council and Bay Venues say it’s going to be one of their busiest seasons to date. Wharepai Domain will host up to 8000 attendees at Summer Haze and the L.A.B Summer Tour. Next-door Tauranga Domain will host about 20,000 at the One Love festival. Check out: www.mytauranga.co.nz for more.

Law firm on the move

Wanting to have a physical presence in the heart of Tauranga’s CBD has led to law firm Holland Beckett Law leasing about 2000m2 of space in the Northern Quarter Development.

Partner John Mackay says the firm made the call to move into the CBD in August 2020.

“We wanted to have a physical presence in the heart of city and to be part of the revitalisation of the Tauranga CBD. We have 110 people currently working in our Tauranga office and we hope that bringing our people into the CBD will be good news for the business, retail and hospitality sectors.”

John says they needed a large floor for their legal team “to work together on one floor”.

Arson sentencing

Two men who admitted to burning down a building used by the LGBTQIA+ community in the Historic Village have been sentenced.

Alexander James Burgess, 33, and Zechariah Phillips, 29, had both pleaded guilty to arson charges back in September.

In Tauranga District Court on Tuesday, November 29, Judge Thomas Ingram sentenced Burgess to nine months in prison, and Phillips to six months’ home detention.

According to New Zealand law, a person who commits arson – the intentional or reckless damage by fire of a property – can be liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years.

Crime prevention fund

Bay of Plenty councils will get $1 million from a $4 million fund to tackle retail crime and reoffending. The money will go towards crime prevention programmes in the region. According to figures released by the Government, there have been a total of 51 ram raids in the Bay of Plenty region: four in January, three in February, seven in March, four in April, three in May, one in June, 12 in July, 12 in August, two in September and three in October.

Nothing has been recorded for November. Of those above, five remain under active investigation. There have also been 73 prosecutions and 13 youth referrals.

Community sports clubs that could be displaced if a stadium is built on the Tauranga Domain are standing firm on their desire to stay put.

A business case is underway for a $170 million stadium at the domain in central Tauranga, that if built would require the relocation of the Tauranga Bowls Club, Tauranga Croquet Club and the athletics facilities.

The stadium forms part of Tauranga City Council’s recently-released Active Reserves Masterplans for Baypark, Blake Park and the Tauranga Domain.

A strong club

Tauranga Croquet Club president Gretchen Benvie was “disturbed and concerned” that the club could need to relocate, but a suitable site hasn’t been found or offered by the council.

“We won’t just take it lying down.

“We are a very strong club.”

The club celebrated its 100th birthday

this year and has a lease until 2029. In the proposed plan the facilities would be replaced with a carpark and two tennis courts.

Gretchen says the club has 75 members and is growing, with the croquet lawns used six days a week.

“We’re not just a bunch of little old ladies who meet occasionally.”

The club has hosted world championships in conjunction with the Mount Manganui Croquet Club and they will hold the Under 21 world golf croquet championship in 2023.

“There’s more to it than just relocating a croquet club if we are lucky enough to be relocated. You can’t just expect us to fold up and go away,” says Gretchen.

The Tauranga Croquet Club formed the ‘Hands of Tauranga Domain’ alliance with the Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club, Tauranga Millennium Track Trust, and the Bay of Plenty Speedway Association, who are all affected by the council’s masterplans.

Tauranga Millennium Track Trust members Garth Mathieson and Malcolm Taylor.

The Tauranga Millennium Track Trust raised $1.7 million to build the allweather athletics track in 2008 and don’t want to see it “ripped up” for a stadium.

World class track

Trust member Garth Mathieson says: “It’s a world class athletics track that the council are proposing to demolish”.

As part of the masterplans the council would build a new track and athletics facilities at Baypark in Mount Manganui.

But Garth says the proposed site isn’t suitable because part of the land is swampy and floods, and it’s too small.

“You could fit the actual track inside that area, but by time you add the

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An aerial view of the proposed stadium at Tauranga Domain. Image: Boffa Miskell.

Photo: Alisha Evans

grandstand on, curtilage and room for people to watch on both sides, it’s not big enough.”

It is also situated next to a transfer station, sewage treatment plant, with two fertiliser businesses nearby making it a “totally unsuitable area,” says Garth. Trust chairperson Malcom Taylor says the track is used year-round by schools and athletics clubs and some clubs indicated they wouldn’t travel to Baypark if the relocation occurred.

Current courts ideal

If the stadium plans proceed the Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club would have two of its courts relocated to make way for another entrance and parking.

Club president Philip Brown says: “Rearranging our courts does not work one little bit because we have an ideal arrangement from a tournament point of view”.

“All surfaces are the same, all people play much the same sun angle and it’s really good from a spectator point of view.”

The alliance also had the wider community in mind wanting the domain to remain a greenspace for the city, says Philip. “We want the park to remain a green space for community sports.”

All three domain users have echoed their frustration at a “lack of consultation” from the council.

Philip says: “We are really annoyed about the absolute lack of consultation, we’ve just been told what’s going to happen”.

Local Democracy Reporting put the users concerns to the council, but it did not respond directly to them.

Commissioner statement

Instead, it referred LDR to a previous statement made by commissioner Stephen Selwood.

The Active Reserves Masterplans for Baypark, Blake Park and the Tauranga Domain were a “key part” of a wider network plan for investment in active reserves across the city, he said.

This was to ensure the reserves continued to meet the needs of the growing city far into the future, said Stephen.

“It’s important to recognise that these are outline plans which are just the first step on this journey.

“We have listened to the feedback from the groups whose activities could potentially be affected and we are committed to working with all stakeholders as we go through the feasibility, business case and design processes required before any changes are implemented.

“The intent of the masterplans is to improve active recreation facilities and opportunities and as such, our expectation is that the changes outlined would create positive outcomes for clubs, other stakeholders and the community.

Obligations

“We’ve made it clear that this is a long-term masterplan and is subject to meeting all of the council’s obligations to engage, consult and meet all lease and legal requirements,” said Stephen.

The masterplans also includes relocating Baypark Stadium that is home to Tauranga’s speedway by 2029. At this stage a site for relocation has not be identified.

At Blake Park in Mount Maunganui the rugby and cricket fields would be upgraded, additional grass fields added, the tennis courts reconfigured, and the netball courts would be relocated to Baypark.

According to the council’s website, the goal is to present detailed concept and investment plans for the three sites to the commissioners in March 2023.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

“We won’t just take it lying down. We are a very strong club.”

Tauranga Croquet Club president Gretchen Benvie.

Photo: John Borren.

Pākehā who would be Māori

The gifting of Ta Moko

That chapter, now the thrust of Trevor’s latest offering, involves people who would be labelled Pākehā Māori – Europeans who, by force or choice, were assimilated deeply into Māori society and culture and received ta moko, traditional Māori tattoos.

“As respectable settlers came to the country they regarded European men and women wearing ta moko, Māori tattoos, as race traitors, repugnant people who’d slipped back down the scale of civilisation; people who’d cast their lot in with so-called savages.”

And they were “disappeared”, written out of history. “It just wasn’t wise to be associated with these tattooed men and women, especially the men, several of whom were well-known, selfconfessed cannibals.”

‘Hidden history’ revealed

But now that “hidden history” has been laid bare by Trevor Bentley in his latest examination of early New Zealand, ‘Pākehā Ta Moko’ – an intriguing insight into the history of Europeans traditionally tattooed by Māori.

Some were forced to take facial tattoos, others voluntarily crossed cultural boundaries and submitted to the ta moko ritual. “All the tattooed Pākehā men were warriors, they were adorned with warrior markings and they fought inter-tribal battles. They were gory times littered with bloodthirsty characters, like Jacky Marmon. An 1880 Kawakawa newspaper reports Marmon, with full

facial ta moko, walking along a northland beach “with a Māori war party and a full kit of human flesh upon his back”.

Early missionaries and colonialists who encountered the culture-crossing renegade variously described him as a “vile murdering cannibal and a white savage – a lawless animal, the most dangerous character in New Zealand”.

Following an unjustified flogging, Marmon deserted his whaling ship in the Bay of Islands and was taken in by Maori on the Kerikeri River as a mokai or pet pakeha.

Castaways, deserters and convicts had no wish to be recaptured, so they got full face ta moko which guaranteed protection by their tribe.

Māori were very loyal to their tattooed Pākehā.

“When they tried to re-arrest Marmon, it almost came to bloodshed, but his pursuers backed off,” says Trevor. Māori had a wonderful history of welcoming strangers and sheltering the vulnerable.

“So deserters like Marmon threw themselves at the mercy of Māori – they lived and acted as Māori, fought as Māori, became fluent in te reo Māori. And as they evolved into Pākehā Maori, they were tattooed.

A brand

For many Pākeha-Māori, the ta moko was a brand. They were marked with tribal tattoos to indicate that they were owned, they belonged.

There’s the story of one man who Māori chiefs wanted tattooed to ensure he stayed with them, to

Trevor Bentley and his latest book.

Photo: John Borren.

they were horrified by the sight of moko, but they soon began to appreciate their beauty, their artistic value. “I find it very attractive,” says the author. “Some of artists produce very fine lines for the women’s moko kauae, the chin tattoo, and they’re absolutely beautiful, they really enhance an appearance.”

50-year window

Māori had a tradition of gifting the taonga to Pakeha women who had been absorbed into Māori society, and who distinguished themselves in the service of that community. They were rewarded with moko kauae.

Trevor Bentley’s book is a 50-year window into the pre-treaty 1790s to 1840s. “Secondary school students learn about the treaty onwards.

“But before that there was half a century of very exciting, colourful inter-action and co-operation between Māori and Pākehā.” They were violent, bloody times. “But also a lot of inter-marriage and joint enterprises.” Historians wrote about the land wars but little about the musket wars. Bentley trusts his book redresses that imbalance.

Trevor Bentley’s ‘Pākehā Ta Moko’ is available in good bookshops now.

bring trade and to fight for them.

The option was death and the cooking oven. The tattooing began immediately.

“If Pākehā-Maori proved to be men of mana, showed fighting spirit, they were highly valued.”

Like Marmon, who established a reputation as a pakeha toa, a white fighting man.

His extensive sailor tattoos were taken as proof of his courage and endurance by Māori and he accompanied Hongi Heke’s musket armed confederation on his campaigns of bloody destruction south to Auckland.

‘The beast’

The illustrated sailor also began his definitive skin adornment – a full facial ta moko. Bentley’s book says it gave the Sydney-born Irishman such a sinister and intimidating appearance that only his closest fighting comrades dared hold his gaze.

Another Pākehā-Māori with a full face ta moko had gained notoriety as ‘The Beast of Southampton’. He admitted to a missionary to having many wives, many children and taking part in cannibal feasts. When the missionary told the ‘beast’ he would be damned, the missionary reported seeing a “reddish blush” between the dark lines of his facial tattoo.

Brutal process

Ta moko was a brutal process. “A toothed chisel was struck into the flesh with a hammer, there was excessive blood loss, considerable swelling and often infection.” Slaves tattooed in one sitting often died.

Another Pākehā Māori claimed to have been blind for three days and “sick as a dog” for six weeks after a traditional ta moko. When missionaries, traders and settlers arrived

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Hunter Wells

Growing green initiatives

The Gardening Club at Tauranga Girls’ College is growing beyond the school, unfurling into greater sustainability projects within the community.

The Gardening Club was germinated in 2021, initially as a tidy-up project in the school’s horticultural area, according to TGC science teacher Isis Metcalfe, who says the space had become neglected.

“It had become a bit of a dumping ground for various plants and things, and a bit overgrown.”

A group of students decided to bring it back to its former glory. “They spent a lot of time cleaning all the rubbish out, cleaning out all of the leaves and they cleaned out the shed.”

The club is thankful for native seedlings gifted from the Trees for Survival initiative. “We’ve got Manuka, Kanuka, Kawakawa and a variety of different grasses like Harakeke.”

Once seedlings are big enough, the club has been transplanting the plants to Gate Pā gully as part of

the Gate Pā gully forest restoration project. “The idea is to plant all these native plants in the hope it might bring back some of those native birds to the gully, which would be so cool. There’s been a few times when we’ve donated our seedlings to other planting groups for other planting sessions that have occurred in the community too,” says Isis.

A core of six students is involved with the club.

“[They] are quite passionate about the environment...so that’s why they’re doing it –they’re driven because they care.”

Eve Flint leads the club and is on the school’s Environmental Committee. “We’ve done some awesome projects this year, such as organising our ‘Green Gala’, promoting proper mask disposal, and recycling and repurposing bottle caps,” says Eve. “I’ve met so many people through gardening, both students from school and from Gate Pā School, and people from outside organisations.”

Iris says: “We’ve got a lot of sustainability projects going on, so the garden is just a tiny project among many others.” Georgia Minkhorst

He’s suave, smart, and he’s sculpted. We noticed that when he changed into his Polish football shirt for the photo shoot.

Lean, toned, fit.

And a Polish shirt because his surname is Lipinski – about as Polish as it gets. Apart from Robert Lewandowski, the star striker and Poland’s favourite son at football’s World Cup – who Toby Lipinski is following and yelling for.

“I should be wearing a NZ football shirt,” says Toby, the fiercely patriotic 19-year-old from Pyes Pa. Well, NZ isn’t there. So you are forgiven.

And if it’s not Poland, or NZ, it’s Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City in the EPL, or PlayStation football. “It’s football, football, football,” says mum Debbie Lipinski.

But what sets this young man apart, besides the long curly locks and being a straight-A accountancy student at Waikato University, is the wheelchair – a sporty, flame orange bit of gear that cost as much as a new car.

“People that don’t know me think I am a dumbarse simply because I am disabled.” He lives with cerebral palsy. “But I like to think I am somewhat normal.” Don’t forget the straight As.

Make a game of it

Out in the drive at his Pye’s Pa home, Toby has transferred to a low-slung, even sportier, specialpurpose chair. He’s doing wheelies, spinning on a sixpence and catapulting an over-sized 33cm football down the drive. For a guy with limited mobility, he can make this machine sing. He just needs a few like-minded people to make a game of it. And the game is powerchair football.

It’s played on a normal indoor basketball court by two squads of eight players, four on court for each team, unlimited rolling substitutes and two

20-minute halves. Players use a foot guard to ‘kick’ and block the ball. “It’s a good workout,” says Debbie. “You work up a sweat.”

There’s a speed limit of 10km/hr forwards and backwards, and to keep the game flowing only one player from each team is allowed within three metres of the ball. The games makes heavy demands on the player’s chair control skills, including speed, acceleration and precision operation. It is technically difficult.

Liberating

“Powerchair football would be very liberating for a lot of our highly-impaired people who can’t handle a manual wheelchair,” says John Sligo, sport development officer for Parafed Bay of Plenty.

“It’s a way of playing a dynamic sport without having a lot of bodily function.”

In the UK, powerchair football is the fastest growing disability sport in a country where it’s also the only active team participation sport for people who have to, or prefer to, use electric wheelchairs.

Here in Tauranga there are just three regular players. “But we know there are many, many more people who could be playing and enjoying,” says Murray Lipinski, Toby’s dad. He played football for Tauranga City and was also a referee.

Now he coaches powerchair football.

“I’m looking for about eight players to make powerchair football work in Tauranga.”

If they don’t get the buy-in, Toby and his Dad can head to Hamilton for their powerchair football fix. John suggests people just haven’t heard about the powerchair football phenomenon, it just doesn’t have a profile yet. Perhaps it starts here.

Contact John at Parafed on 027 727 2333 or message him at: john@parafedbop.co.nz

Hunter Wells

School students share significant safety slogans

Encouraging safer parking, improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, and showing consideration for younger students are winning themes of the Orange Day banner competition.

Katikati Primary School has won the Year 5/6 Road Safety category for 2022 for their banner ‘Don’t be in a rush or they get crushed’. Travel Safe team leader Sonia Lynds says a lot of thought goes into the banners. “It’s quite clear these students have a strong awareness

of the specific road safety challenges facing their schools.”

Pillans Point School won Year 5/6 Active Travel category with slogan: ‘Be a rockstar, ditch the car’. Mount Maunganui Intermediate School took out the Year 7/8 Road Safety category with: ‘Is it legal to park on yellow lines? NO!’, while Tauranga Intermediate School won the Year 7/8 Active Travel category with their slogan of: ‘Lose the car, it leaves a SCAR’.

Have your say on safe speeds

To ensure our transport system protects and helps us to get to the places and people important to us, the way we manage speeds has changed.

As part of our transition to the new approach, we’re developing an interim State Highway Speed Management Plan.

Our plan includes proposed new speed limits on sections of state highways, safe speeds around schools and marae, and other speed related activities.

Growing up in Tauranga, I’m one of thousands of locals who remember when the old Town Hall, with the wonderful Wurlitzer organ, was replaced with Baycourt Community & Arts Centre.

Located in the heart of Tauranga’s CBD, Baycourt has been the Western Bay of Plenty’s premier full service theatre and performing arts

venue since opening in 1983. The multi-purpose complex has three prominent spaces – Addison Theatre, a 580-seat, tiered auditorium; X Space, the 200-seat ‘black box’; and the Terrace Rooms an 80-seat meeting/function space.

Experiences

In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Dr Bronya Dean and Professor Lynda Johnston, from the

University of Waikato, are researching memories people have of their experiences at Baycourt as children or teenagers.

I remember being one of the first pianists lucky enough to play the Steinway grand piano, and experience the magic of being involved in Bob Addison’s musicals. I posted a link to Facebook about the survey, and quickly people responded.

“I remember when I was about 10, I went to a magic show, it made my night because I got picked with three other kids to go on-stage and participate in their tricks and got a bag of goodies to go home with,” says Brooklyn Ihaka CorbettPitman. Monique Baird Wagener modelled her own sewing during the Bernina Gown of the Year.

“[An] earthquake happened during the show and lots of people left. Also watched a ballet show from the lighting box with my friend who worked there and watched many Otumoetai College musicals.”

Community vision

The venue has been available to schools, arts organisations and theatre groups, which was part of the community vision of music director and teacher Bob Addison. He and wife Vhea are both remembered with a tribute in the garden to Vhea and the main theatre named Addison Theatre.

Bob was chairman of Tauranga Community Arts Council, an enthusiastic group of residents responsible for the original proposal to establish Baycourt in 1974. Their work included nine years of planning and fundraising before it was built and opened in 1983. Bob was appointed manager in 1988 and produced shows such as ‘High Society’, ‘Nunsense’ and ‘Follies’.

Tauranga Primary Schools Music Festival has for decades brought together school choirs performing across five nights at Baycourt. Donella Wellington remembers performing with school choirs in the early-1990s and singing Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything

I do’. Cee Fitter’s first memory was performing and winning Smokefree Rockquest 97. Kim Edwards remember a TGC Ball there in the mid-1980s. Stace Hogg’s first ever show was Swan Lake. “My grandmother told me to get dressed up to go do the shopping. I thought it was a bit strange to go food shopping in our Sunday best but she surprised me with Swan Lake... This place holds so many memories for my family.”

Baycourt has hosted international shows from ballets, orchestras, bands, to musicals and tribute shows, to funerals of community identities. Add your memories to the survey at: https://tinyurl.com/4aep9pt9

Sam Hyde, who played the Baycourt piano as a 10-year-old, will bring his ‘Elton John vs. Billy Joel NZ Tribute’ to Baycourt in 2023.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Get ready to give

It’s that time of year again – get your nonperishable grocery items ready for the annual Emergency Services Foodbank Drive next Tuesday night.

On December 6, more than 30 volunteers from organisations such as Neighbourhood Support and the coastguard will join local emergency services to hit the streets of Bellevue, The Lakes, the Bayfair end of Mount Maunganui – and out at Katikati.

From 6pm fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles will blare sirens to alert residents to their presence nearby. “People can come on out with their goods, or they can just leave them by their mailbox, and we’ll collect them,” says St. John watch operations manager Miranda Templer. “We have volunteers walking alongside cars equipped with trailers; they can take the items.”

All donations go directly to the Tauranga Community Foodbank to distribute. “This year we’d welcome not only non-perishable food

donations, but also grocery goods such as cleaning items, personal care, nappies, pet food, toothpaste and brushes, feminine hygiene products,” says Tauranga Community Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin. “These items are very precious to us.”

Every year a different emergency service takes its turn to organise the event, with St. John for 2022.

Robert Pinkerton of Fire and Emergency NZ has been involved with the drive for nearly 10 years.

“It’s very satisfying receiving so many items, and it’s always heart-warming for the people collecting them to see everyone coming out with their donations.” Robert laughs as he recalls one memorable donation. “The woman must have worked at a chocolate factory, because she came out with multiple boxes of chocolates!”

All the goods delivered go a long way to helping the foodbank meet community needs, says Nicki.

“It’s a huge donation at the end of the day. It’s exciting when it gets delivered to our service.”

In March this year we called on Tauranga to join a challenge to change our city for good. Saving us all money, reducing our emissions, making our streets safer and friendlier for our kids, and paving the way for better transport options in the future.

This year we have seen so many people rise to the challenge, posting images of themselves laughing in the rain, grinning with a colleague sharing a ride, and student leaders applauding other students as they skate, walk and bike into school.

GREEN PARK & PUKEHINA GATE PA SCHOOL Golden Sands School

Catherine Sylvester

Emily Holmes and Steve Read.

Western Bay Community Awards finalists revealed

A total of 24 finalists have been announced for the 2023 Western Bay Community Awards, including champions for the environment, rising junior volunteers, and events that excelled in bringing the community together.

There are six award categories for which nominations were received:

Event Excellence, Sustainable Future, Diversity and Inclusion, Heart of the Community, Youth Spirit and Volunteer of the Year. A Lifetime Service Award and People’s Choice Award will also be announced on the awards night in March 2023.

The judging panel considered

more than 45 high calibre nominations across all categories. Community Awards judge Paul Geoghegan says the WBOP community sector makes the judges’ job difficult. “How amazing that our job is made so challenging by the sheer number of community groups and volunteers who are investing their time and energy into important causes in our community.

A privilege

“It is a privilege each year to read the nominations we receive, and we look forward to acknowledging the passion and dedication of the finalists at the awards evening next year.”

Tauranga City Council’s Commission chair Anne Tolley thanks the nominees and finalists who work quietly to make our community a better place to live. “To all of the nominees for the WBC Awards, your nomination shows that the work you do in the community is recognised and appreciated.”

WBOP Mayor James Denyer says the awards night – on March 16, 2023, at Baycourt – is to

honour these outstanding contributions. “It will truly be a night of celebration and connection.”

Finalists for 2023:

Event Excellence Award: Escape Festival; STEMFest; After Dark Urban Light Festival; Diwali Festival.

Sustainable Future Award: PiPS – People & Plants in Schools; Project Parore; Aongatete Forest Project; Live Well Waihi Beach.

Diversity and Inclusion Award: Sonic Cinema; Tauranga/Western Bay Global Ambassadors; StarJam; Detour Theatre.

Heart of the Community Award: Grief Support Services; Te Puke Events and Promotions Group (EPIC Te Puke); Mums4Mums; Poutiri Wellness Centre. Youth Spirit Award: Brooke Taingahue; Dominic Absalom; Darcy Bassett; Jasrose Mallhi.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Basil and Ann Graeme; Tony Booth; Luke Landon; Doug Barnes.

Winners will be announced at the Western Bay Community Awards on March 16, 2023.

Santa’s Grotto

Discover

The Western Bay Community Awards will be held at Baycourt on March 16, 2023.

Pāpāmoa’s own Kris Kringle

There’s

The Katikati Upcycle Christmas Tree Competition is now open for public viewing and voting for the people’s choice until December 12. The trees have been created

by local community groups and individuals, using only recyclable materials.

The best judged tree will win a $100 prize, and people’s choice will win $50.

For more information, email: info@katchkatikati.co.nz or phone: 07 549 5250.

Despite being a busy time of year for courier drivers, Pāpāmoa’s Kris Nielson also spends his Decembers moonlighting as a benevolent, letter-writing ‘Santa’.

In 2019, when unable to find somewhere to send his young children’s Santa letters, Kris decided to take matters into his own hands. “I thought if I bought a little Santa letterbox online and used social media, I could let others in the same boat know there was this option at Christmas-time.”

Securing the letterbox to his fence that first year Kris received close to 300 letters from local children.

Replies to all

Working on the premise that it’s better to give than to receive, Kris donned his Santa hat and mailed replies to every child who had provided a return address.

Getting into the full swing of the season that year, Kris and his family decked their house with boughs of twinkling lights and joined in the Christmas Light Trail.

Unfortunately, within weeks someone had stolen all of these from the front of their property. But even this couldn’t turn Pāpāmoa’s own Kris Kringle into the Christmas Grinch.

“I almost ruled out doing anything like that again,” says Kris.

“However, I really enjoy reading the letters from

the kids as they tell me everything they’ve been doing. And the funny ones who say: ‘I haven’t been a good boy this year, but I think I’ll be better next year if you could just give me this or that...’”

Pāpāmoa’s young residents clearly enjoy having this ‘santa mail’ operation in their backyard, with Kris receiving nearly double the amount of letters last Christmas than he did the year he began.

“The most popular pressie requests are Pokemon cards, scooters, Lego and Barbies.”

Unique

One letter he received really stood out as quite unique. “A boy wrote to Santa with his only wish being to see his dad on his birthday – no presents, just to see his dad.”

This month Kris expects up to 1000 letters to come in the mail. This means a great need of envelopes and stamps for him to be able reply to them all. “Sometimes parents will tuck a little money into the letters to help out, which is lovely.

“Any donations of stamps or envelopes would go a long way.”

For greater reach, Kris will take his mailbox to the Pāpāmoa Community Markets at Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School on December 11. “The community loves it, and I’m so happy to keep going.” To send a letter to Santa, slip it into Kris’ Santa mailbox at 6 Kanono Close, Pāpāmoa – or simply post it to: 6 Kanono Close, Pāpāmoa 3118.

Catherine Sylvester

Pāpāmoa’s Kris Nielson and his simple-but-effective Santa letterbox.

Christmas from Katikati to Te Puke

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again –where festive events surface, offering a chance to gather, celebrate each other, honour the meaning of Christmas and take some time out to cherish life. Here, The Weekend Sun has put together a ‘go-to’ guide of events to enjoy the festive season.

Tauranga outdoor water restrictions are in place

The Tauranga water supply is drawn from spring-fed streams. Despite recent rain the Tautau stream hasn’t fully recovered after years of dry summers. We all need to be mindful about how we use our share. It’s simply a matter of balance - as a rapidly growing city we mustn’t consume water faster than the streams can replenish themselves.

Christmas parades:

Te Puke: December 3

The Seeka Te Puke Christmas Float Parade starts at 11am on Saturday, December 3. The parade, organised by Epic Te Puke, starts between KFC and JA Russell with floats and bands assembling behind the War Memorial Hall. Each year there is a special opportunity for a deserving child to ride along with Santa in the Float Parade. Businesses, organisations and schools are competing for this year’s DMS Supreme Theme Trophy.

Katikati: December 3

The annual Katikati Lions Santa Parade and the Katikati Christmas in the Park is happening this Saturday, December 3, after missing last year due to Covid.

The Lion’s Santa Parade kicks off 3pm from Katikati College, and makes its way along Carisbrooke St to Moore Park where festivities continue at Christmas in the Park from 3.30pm-6pm.

A feature of the Santa Parade this year is the inclusion of 25 vintage tractors by the Tauranga Vintage and Machinery Club to raise funds for Waipuna Hospice, in recognition of life member Eric Green’s battle with cancer.

The family-friendly event includes entertainment for all ages with horse rides, puppeteers and face painting, and Santa will be available for selfies.

On the open-air stage musicians including White Goat Band, Waihi College Concert Band, and Mural Town Singers promise to get the crowds up dancing with a range of music including Christmas favourites.

For those still searching for the perfect Christmas gift a diverse range of art and craft stalls are on hand along with food trucks for a delicious range of food and drinks.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Christmas in the

Pāpāmoa: December 18

Pāpāmoa is planning its largest Santa Parade yet. “I am so excited to bring the official Santa Parade of the city back to Pāpāmoa,” says Pāpāmoa Unlimited events and marketing manager Julia Manktelow.

The Pak ‘N Save Pāpāmoa ‘Christmas in Candyland’ Santa Parade 2022 will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday, December 18.

The parade will be celebrate Pāpāmoa businesses, the not-for-profit community organisations, children, music and the whole community.

Julia has a word of encouragement for businesses thinking about taking part in the parade.

“This is an awesome way for businesses to celebrate what they do, to a crowd of more than 20,000, and a way to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that helped support them through restrictions,” says Julia. “Let’s make magic and light up the little faces of our beautiful city.”

The event will be cancelled if adverse weather conditions are predicted.

Christmas events:

Te Puke Carols by Candlelight: December 10

Santa with his bag of lollies will be at Te Puke Carols by Candlelight at Jubilee Park on Saturday, December 10, along with stalls, food, entertainment and singing.

The event runs from 7pm-9pm.

Tauranga’s Christmas in the Park: December 10

Admission is by gold coin donation or nonperishable food donation to Tauranga’s Christmas

Park this year,” says Katch Katikati events manager Kirst O’Rourke. “Our community deserves to enjoy a fun and festive event after missing out last year.”

The Seeka Te Puke Christmas Float Parade is on Saturday December 3.

Photo: Kerri Anne Fraser.

in the Park from 10am-4pm on Saturday, December 10, at Soper Reserve, 95 Newton St, Mount Maunganui.

The annual community-focused Christmas fundraising event is an opportunity to encourage community spirit and ‘giving back’, supporting local charities and community groups who are working with families and children.

Enjoy live music, national and local performances, free children’s activities, craft and artisan food/drink and Santa will be there of course.

Christmas Carols on the Waterfront: December 11

Come and celebrate the festive season on Tauranga’s stunning waterfront. Everyone is welcome at this free family-friendly event, which runs from 5.30pm-8pm.

Join in singing everyone’s favourite Christmas Carols at this event organised by Downtown Tauranga and the combined churches of Tauranga.

A Night Before Christmas: December 17

The Bay’s biggest free Christmas party celebrates

more than 20 years of spreading Christmas joy and its links to New Zealand’s very own Bethlehem.

Come together to enjoy a variety of live music, dance, Christmas Carols and fireworks, to welcome in the festive season with this stunning community show hosted by Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Gates open 4.30pm on Saturday, December 17, at Bethlehem College Fields, with the show starting 5.25pm and the event wrapping up with a fireworks display at 9.30pm.

Bring a picnic dinner, grab a bite from one of the delicious food trucks, take a selfie with one of the roving Christmas characters and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. It’s the perfect event for the whole family.

A Night Before Christmas features a heap of amazing entertainers performing some absolute classics that are sure to get you singing and dancing along. With a variety of locally and nationally recognised performers, there’s sure to be something to get everyone into the festive spirit. See their advert on this page to ‘book’ your free ticket.

Bethlehem - the home of Christmas!

Katikati Christmas in the Park is back, on December 3.

A new face, and two returnees to TECT trust

to be elected as a new face to join TECT’s trust.

TECT – now a community trust that provides support for local initiatives, facilities and events –is governed by six trustees who are elected by local residents for a four-year term.

Mark and Pete have been re-elected for another term to the trust, while Tina Jennen’s retirement at this election has made way for Kate Barry-Piceno

Terms of appointment of trustees are staggered, so three trustees retire every two years. The official result for 2022 was determined

Truman Lane temporary detours

A significant change for Truman Lane traffic will be put in place from early December, to enable the next stage of road reconstruction in the area.

A short section of Truman Lane (westbound) will be reduced to one lane.

Access to Truman Lane will be via State Highway 2 Sandhurst interchange only and access to Truman Lane from the SH29A roundabout will be closed.

Please allow extra time when travelling through this area.

after scrutiny of all returned voting papers and counting of valid votes by independent returning officer Warwick Lampp.

The voter return percentage was 18.01 per cent, being 25,393 votes – of which 27.83 per cent were submitted online. There were 75 informal votes and 26 blank voting papers returned.

The voting numbers for each

candidate are as follows: Pete Blackwell 11,545 (elected); Mark Arundel 11,129 (elected); Kate Barry-Piceno 8927 (elected); Don Brash 7390; Annie Hill 6061; Andrew Hitchfield 5346; Paul Hodson 4718; Kelvin Clout 3976; Peter White 3489; Gordy Lockhart 3378; Michael Bayly 2184; Ian Pickard 1540.

What you love about Your Place Tō wāhi

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has compiled results of its ‘Your Place Tō wāhi’ community kōrero where it asked locals what they wanted council to prioritise when it comes to thinking about our future.

The kōrero, featuring online quickfire questions and face-to-face conversations, had the community share their thoughts on topics including climate change, transport, businesses, and shared spaces.

WBOPDC environmental planning manager Natalie Rutland says more than 1100 residents took part, providing council with plenty of food for thought.

“To connect with more than 1000 people at the first step in the process is a fantastic sign that people are passionate about our district and want to work with us to get it right.

“Your feedback will help set our priorities as we embark on a new journey to plan for change and growth.”

A link to the summary of feedback, and more information about the survey is at: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz

TrumanLane

Baypark to Bayfair Link

Mark Arundel, Kate Barry-Piceno, and Pete Blackwell have been elected as trustees of the TECT Community Trust in the recent 2022 election.

TECT trust returnee Pete Blackwell.

Mark Arundel returns to TECT as well.

Newly-elected Kate Barry-Piceno.

Sharing Polish culture

Ewa Fenn, who fled Poland in 1981 as a refugee, says it was a bizarre feeling being awarded a medal from the Polish Government earlier this month.

Having lived in Tauranga since 1985, Ewa is vicepresident of the Polish Community Trust Bay of Plenty and was presented the medal on November 6, as part of celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of Polish Immigration to New Zealand.

She was presented the medal by New Zealand’s Polish Ambassador Grzegorz Kowal, alongside Eva Niedzielski who is treasurer of the Polish Community Trust BOP.

Work done

“The medal is for people who have done work promoting the Polish culture,” says Ewa. “It’s recognition that the work is being done here and the Polish community is being visible here too because there’s not many of us – there’s about

100 Polish people in Tauranga.” Ewa is a former president of Multicultural Tauranga and has been heavily involved in sharing Polish culture to the community for years.

Bizarre

Receiving the medal, Ewa says: “[The feeling] was verging on bizarre because the Government before, where I escaped from, gave me no award for being here and doing a good job.

“Plus I didn’t expect to be awarded for what I was doing because I was just helping.”

During the 1980s Poland, known then as the Polish People’s Republic, was enduring economic crisis and labour unrest. “I left Poland in 1981 and it was a different government obviously, a different regime and the situation has changed a lot since.”

Despite fleeing her homeland, Ewa is proud of her Polish identity. “I went to Poland in May and it’s just incredible. Many have gone to Europe but miss seeing Poland.” Georgia Minkhorst

Eva Niedzielska and Ewa Fenn with their medals.

Photo: John Borren.

Enjoying asparagus season

Let’s get one last asparagus recipe in before the season comes to a close. This one is raw, which is not the usual way to serve asparagus. But it’s juicy, crisp and delicious. You’ll be converted!

Raw asparagus, preserved lemon and pistachio salad

Ingredients

2 bunches asparagus, woody ends removed

1/2 cup pistachios, roasted

1 cup mint leaves

1/2 red onion, very finely sliced 1/2 packet feta

Dressing:

1/2 preserved lemon, fleshy part discarded.

1/2 tbsp honey

1/2 cup extra Virgin olive oil

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped.

Method

Finely slice the raw asparagus stems on a bias, so you are left with lovely delicate angled coins. Roughly chop the pistachios. Tear any big mint leaves in half.

For the dressing, put all ingredients into a jar and shake well.

In a large bowl, toss the red onion, asparagus and half of the mint with a few tablespoons of the dressing until nicely coated.

Pile onto a serving platter and top with the pistachios, feta and remaining mint leaves. Enjoy!

Fancy fantastic Frank?

Frank is a distinguished gentleman, who is 11 years young. Frank loves to lounge about his room, surveying his kingdom.

He’s a very affectionate boy and will chirp and purr to say hello and ask for lots of pats. Frank may be an older feline but he has a lot of life to live yet. The best years are ahead, think fine wine, aged cheddar cheese, pickles; Frank just gets better and better!

He would love a quiet, mature household where he can live out his retirement. He’s dreaming of a comfy bed to sleep on, a warm sunny spot to watch the world go by, lots of interesting places to explore, and plenty of good food!

Frank loves people but isn’t too fond of other animals so would be best as an ‘only pet’. Do you have a home looking for a vintage lap cat? Frank’s your man!

Call the Tauranga centre on: 07 5780245. Apply to meet him today! Ref: 559676.

Would the lovely Elsa suit your family?

Elsa is the most loving dog and all she wants is to be loved by you!

She loves walks on the beach, playing fetch and is getting braver in the water. While she loves to play, really what she wants is to be cuddled.

Elsa is great with other dogs, but can be a little wary when on her lead. She’s not very good with cats, so would suit a cat-free home.

Elsa is the perfect family dog! She is

great with children and has a very calm nature. She is crate-trained, happily sleeps in there through the night and toilet-trained.

She is very calm, doesn’t make a fuss over people and hardly ever barks.

She is a big girl and will require at least one big walk a day, but aside from that she is really easy going.

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

FIRST HEARING CENTRE

Angie Warren-Clark

Staying busy

I’ve had an eventful week with Parliament in recess.

With my Primary Industries portfolios of Agriculture and Oceans and Fisheries, Fieldays is a key event for me to connect with stakeholders.

Having so many encounters with primary industry stakeholders in one week and in one place is extremely valuable – and Fieldays makes this possible. Having spent much of my life working in the horticulture and dairy industries, these portfolios are a natural fit for me and I appreciate the warm welcome when travelling around NZ to meet with farmers and others in this sector.

Also this week I hosted Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon, together with Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell.

Chris addressed a business chamber lunch and shared National’s plans for restoring a healthy economy for New Zealand. We visited two key social investment programmes for the Bay of

Plenty. Dan Allen-Gordon from the Graeme Dingle Foundation and Matt Simeon, principal of Papamoa Primary School, showed us a session of Kiwi Can – which teaches young children about values, respect, consent and managing emotions.

It was a very powerful visit, engaging with the children on the basketball court and in the classroom.

Another local success story we visited is Good Neighbour, conceived by Campbell Hill and managed by Simone Gibson with their dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Good Neighbour provides social assistance and, as well as practical help of distribution of rescued food, firewood and lawnmower rental, their team provide a hand up to help people to help themselves. The power of volunteering has led to greater self-respect and self-reliance as well as increased connectedness to the community. If you’re looking for a way to volunteer in our community, consider contacting Good Neighbour to offer your support.

Helping more families into their own place

While the global economic outlook remains uncertain, our primary sector is at the heart of New Zealand’s optimism about the future.

Through resilience and innovation, primary industry exports hit a record $53 billion last year and economic prospects for the sector continue to look bright, with export revenue forecast to reach more than $56 billion by 2026.

This is testament to the sector’s ability to adapt in a changing world. The hard work of our farmers, growers, foresters and fishers has kept us all out of harder times.

The pursuit of high quality trade agreements gives them even bigger returns for their hard work. Since taking office, we’ve concluded four Free Trade Agreements, including with the United Kingdom and European Union. Now, more than

For those who are only just starting to unravel the tangled Christmas lights – or nervously glance sideways at the box of festive adornments – there is still time to enter SunMedia’s Christmas Lights Drive.

Residents from Waihi, Katikati right through Tauranga City to Papamoa and Te Puke can get their Christmas lights up and get involved before entries close on

December 7.

73 per cent of New Zealand’s global exports are covered by a FTA. To meet sustainability demands, we’re also working alongside industry to position New Zealand’s food and fibre sector as the best in – and for – the world.

Domestically, our Infrastructure Acceleration Fund has taken a big step toward tackling the housing problem by enabling more than 30,000 new homes nationwide. Jumpstarting housing developments by funding vital infrastructure like roads, water pipes, and flood management systems. Here, it looks set to enable 2580 more homes in Ōmokoroa thanks to $38.4m funding into transport and 2000 more homes in Tauriko West thanks to $80m into transport and three waters. Alongside support for first-home buyers, and an affordable housing fund, we’re helping more families into their own place.

Households can register for the Sun Media’s Christmas Lights Drive by sending in their property’s address, their name, and phone number to Sun Media.

Entries can be made by phoning: 07 578 0030, emailing: office@thesun.co.nz with ‘Christmas Lights Drive’ in the subject line, or send

a message via the SunLive Instagram page.

Entries close December 7 – with the Christmas Lights Drive listings published in The Weekend Sun on Friday, December 9.

The winning household entry will receive a huge Christmas hamper worth $250 filled with a selection of Christmas goodies before December 25.

ToddMullerMP

Still time to enter and twinkle your spirit for Christmas!

Email: letters@thesun.co.nz

For more letters go to www.sunlive.co.nz

A Christmas wish...

Dear Minister of Local Government, Please release us from the grim, grinch-like gridlocks of your Commissioners who, in claiming they are giving us what we want, are worse than any elected council we have had in the past. The whole city is ripped up. They have removed heaps of parking. On the pretence of improving traffic flows they have actually made them worse by removing traffic lanes

- notably dedicated left-turn lanes - and putting in double cycle lanes, unused of course.

Our streets are lined with litter, the berms unmowed and unkempt. Street corners flood because cesspits are clogged.

Empty buses are everywhere, only a council could think that it doesn’t matter. Every ratepayer has to cough up more than $200 every year to pay for them.

Please spare our poor retailers from road and footpath works, which for months are right outside their shops and which when finished have taken away any chance of a customer parking there.

Give ratepayers respite from ever-increasing annual rates increases and threats of the consequences of flushing the toilet too often.

And finally, restore democracy to Tauranga City so we can elect our own employees. This time we will be careful who we elect as our mayor.

Dan Russell, Welcome Bay.

Hon Jan Tinetti

jan.tinetti@parliament.govt.nz @jantinetti Authorised

Who do I believe? These emissions reduction measures should apply to all!

On reading ‘Seek out and evaluate many sources please!’ by Bryan Johnson, (The Weekend Sun letters page, Friday November 25), I felt constrained to reply.

There’s a phrase I picked up at an online techies’ watering-hole: “You may have your own opinions; you aren’t permitted your own facts”. The question is not whether or not one can marshall any number of distinguished opinions; the question is, do those opinions stack up?

Arthur C Clarke, of the film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ fame, once said that when an elderly distinguished scientist says something is impossible, he’s bound to be wrong.

I don’t care about the number of distinguished ‘climate change sceptics’ aka ‘climate change deniers’, nor for that matter, for their opinions. The fact is and remains, that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas; in the quantities it has been pumped into the atmosphere for the past two centuries it is bound to have an effect; sea levels are rising and Florida and Bangladesh among other places are going to find themselves running out of land; and glaciers worldwide are shrinking. Sea level worldwide won’t be greatly affected by the Arctic icecap shrinking; it’s a different story altogether with the Antarctic icecap.

The existence of carbon dioxide was deduced from the fact it retained heat. And yes, they knew about its greenhouse effect as far back as 1966, when Harry Harrison wrote the SF novel ‘Make Room! Make Room!’, later filmed in 1973 as ‘Soylent Green’, starring no less than Charlton Heston and set in 2022. So do I believe the people who agree that 1+1=2 except when it impacts their paypackets, or the sane folk?

Wesley Parish, Bellevue.

Recently the Government, with input from the Greens, proposed a piece of legislation called He Waka Eke Noa, which will penalise farmers financially for methane and other so-called ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions. It will reduce farmers’ ability to produce the very things which provide us with our precious foreign earnings.

People say that because we are a small country at the bottom of the world we have no strategic value. But we do. We are an efficient producer of food. That is our strategic asset.

India has approximately 44,900,000 sacred cows, all burping, farting, emitting and making babies. It is a methane-producing production line. Yet India has been given a free pass and, along with the other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) has been deemed by the United Nations to be exempt from the Paris Climate Accord to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Surely Labour and the Greens should bring pressure to bear on India to also bugger up its economy in the sacred name of climate change ideological purity? Emissions-reduction measures should apply to everybody, or apply to nobody. Is He Waka Eke Noa the thin end of the wedge of an anti-meat agenda?

Tony Wahren, Ohauiti.

Treatment and luxury packaged in one gift!

Or share the love this Christmas by booking someone special the chance to enjoy the pampering and relaxation by gifting a massage!

Wayne Rush Bodywork has been around for 35 years in the Bay of Plenty – now they’re open in Cherrywood. “We welcome all, no discrimination,” says massage therapist Emma Lowe, who has been in the massage industry for more than 18 years.

Specialists

She is an owner along with Wayne Rush – who has lifelong experience in massage, studying as a Shiatsu therapist, with more than 35 years’ experience.

Wayne and Emma specialise in injury and illness recovery and prevention. “Treatments we offer promote healthy internal organs, through massage, exercise and food. As well as doing an amazing

They offer a range of treatments including pure shiatsu, ginger compress, exfoliating scrubs, hot mineral pack, ampuku (abdominal), pregnancy and facial massages.

Beneficial effects

Emma says massage therapy has been shown to have beneficial effects on varying conditions. “This includes depression, insomnia, anxiety, stress, skin conditions, pain syndromes, headaches, muscular tension, digestive tract issues, autoimmune conditions, immune conditions, kidney conditions etc.

“We can offer the treatment you need with the luxury you deserve – and we provide classical oil or dry ‘Shiatsu-like’ treatments.”

Treatments can be provided for individuals, or many couples enjoy tandem treatments. See testimonials at: www.waynerushbodywork.co.nz or Facebook at ‘waynerushbodywork’. To book a massage or buy a voucher, see their advert on this page.

A coffee lovers’ Christmas

The Bay of Plenty’s online shop for all your coffeemaking needs now has a pop-up shop in central Tauranga – but it won’t be there for long.

Caffé Italiano is giving customers a walk-in experience, which only happens once-a-year in the lead-up to Christmas. “Every year we set up a pop-up shop during the Christmas period for three or four weeks and carry out some nice sales of all of our products,” says owner Massimo Giurioli. “People always look forward to coming in.”

Caffé Italiano stocks a comprehensive range of beautiful Italian coffee machines and grinders, a large range of coffee accessories, freshly-roasted

coffee beans and many delicious, compostable, paper coffee pods.

With up to 50 models on display, Massimo says there is a broad range of styles and designs to suit everybody. “A lot of people these days are looking for good quality machines, which we have been providing for a number of years now in NZ. What I have learnt over the years is that people want to emulate the coffee they drink in cafes, and the only way you can do that is to buy a good quality machine. We concentrate and specialise in high quality machines in order to achieve that.”

With a dedicated team of distributors and agents throughout NZ, Caffé Italiano strives to offer a fast and friendly service to all.

The pop-up store is at 116 Devonport Rd until December 22.

Wayne Rush

The highly experienced Emma Lowe and Wayne Rush. Photo: John Borren.

Massimo Giurioli’s stunning range of coffee machines and accessories.

A sky-high gift of a lifetime

For the ultimate gift – one that will give the receiver an experience of a lifetime – look no further than FighterJets NZ.

Craig Mossman and his team of highly experienced pilots offer passenger rides in ex-Military jets from Tauranga Airport hangar. “The jets were primarily used for advanced weapons and pilot training, and also used for light attack.

“So people who fly with us experience what it’s like to go for a ride in an actual military fighter jet.”

Three flights

FighterJets NZ has three very different flights offerings. Top Gun is a 30-minute not-for-thefaint-hearted aerobatic adventure – full of loops, rolls and upside-down thrills. Thermal Recon is a 30-minute flight over Rotorua Lakes district, with spectacular views and few cheeky rolls on return.

While the Buzz & Break is for those feeling a little nervous or perhaps just want a taste of what the jets can do.

Craig says the main thing for gift-purchasers or would-be passengers to know is that each flight is

tailored to each passenger. “We emphasise in the pre-flight briefing that: ‘You’re here to have fun –so we’ll make it fun by tailoring the flight to what you’re comfortable with’.

Accommodate all requests

“We haven’t had anyone yet who hasn’t absolutely loved it,” says Craig.

“People have different tolerances... some are adrenalin junkies wanting the full fighter-jet experience. Others want a relaxed scenic flight, while some want the Top Gun, so we can accommodate all requests.”

To book a flight, see FighterJets NZ’s advert on this page.

From thrill-seeking aerobatic adventures to relaxed scenic flights, FighterJets NZ offer it all.

Photo: FighterJets NZ.

Making children smile at Christmas

A collaboration between Mount Maunganui Lions and Tauranga City Libraries this month celebrates a decade of inspiring locals to give gifts to those in need in our communities.

This Christmas is the 10th anniversary of the first Make a Child Smile campaign – and once again the project is in full festive mode with gifts able up to given up to Monday, December 12.

Each year, the campaign seeks toy donations which are given out at a special dinner for local families in need.

Families, identified with help of Plunket, are invited to attend the dinner and each child is given a toy carefully selected for them.

“That’s why we generally request unwrapped gifts each year,” says Brenda Anderson of Mount Maunganui Lions.

“Knowing exactly what has been donated helps us to make sure the gifts find their way to the right recipient.”

Never forget

Amongst the many special experiences Brenda has had throughout her years organising the campaign, one stands out as a pertinent example of matching gift to child.

“I’ll never forget one 12-year-old boy whose Christmas wish was for both a skateboard and a permanent family to love him.

“On the night of the community dinner, hosted at Arataki Community Centre, the boy indeed received the skateboard that he’d wished for, and his adoption to a wonderful foster family was confirmed.”

“I remember that story,” says Tauranga City Libraries marketing and creative coordinator Daniel Petersen. “And I recognised the specific skateboard in question, one which was donated by a kind customer at Tauranga Library.”

“The skateboard was obviously a

small feature of a big moment, but to consider that small way that we all helped contribute to a child’s unforgettable Christmas moment overwhelmed me.”

The gifts make their way to a range of children and families in many different circumstances. While some families are in tight financial situations which threaten to make their Christmases non-events, others are comfortable financially, but experiencing immense medical challenges.

Humbling encounters

“I’ve had many humbling encounters with families throughout the years who don’t outwardly appear to be in need,” says Brenda.

“I’d question to myself why Plunket had them on the gift list only to hear from them about their enormous struggles.

“Seeing how delighted they are to receive the gifts and getting to know their stories is very humbling.”

It’s due to these diverse family situations that the public is encouraged to think creatively about the things they donate.

“We always strive to have everyone covered, so think books, movie vouchers for older kids, make-up kits, as well as the usual

super soakers and Barbie dolls.”

Though this year’s cut off is Monday, December 12, Daniel and Brenda feel it’s important to note that donations will be accepted well after that date.

“As always, we won’t turn away gifts donated after the cut-off –they get happily stored away for a year, providing a good head start for next Christmas’s gift drive.”

Donate!

Gift donations can be dropped to any Tauranga City Library from now until Monday, December 12.

Tauranga City Libraries marketing and creative coordinator Daniel Petersen is helping run the Make a Child Smile campaign.

Kelly Shepherd operates the front desk at He Puna Manawa and is loving seeing the generosity of visitors to the library and service centre.

Rashies aid kids and choppers

Children’s rash vests that unzip to reveal clear CPR instructions are on sale to Kiwis, who by purchasing the swimwear can also support their region’s rescue helicopter.

The rash vests are on offer via Westpac NZ, which aims to help Kiwi families to stay safe around the water this summer.

The Westpac Rescue Rashies are designed to fit children aged two to eight – and they provide potentially life-saving information in a rescue situation, and remind families about the importance of water safety.

1000 for free

The bank is giving away about 1000 Rashies to Kiwi kids around the country during the next few months. The remaining 7000 are on public sale, with 100 per cent of the $25 purchase price going to the local rescue helicopter of the purchaser’s choice.

track to rise again this year,” says Catherine.

“Reminding ourselves about how vigilant we all need to be near and in the water is really important as we start to enjoy the great NZ summer.”

In addition to featuring a unique fold-back design to display CPR instructions, Rashies are brightly-coloured, making children easy to spot, and offer UPF50+ sun protection.

Fun reminders

Westpac ambassador Dame Sophie Pascoe, is right behind the campaign. “What I love about Rescue Rashies is they’re a fun and interactive way to remind us about water safety.

“Kids love wearing them, so putting them on doesn’t feel like a chore.

Rescue Rashies are designed to fit children aged from two through to eight.

Westpac NZ CEO Catherine McGrath says too many NZers are drowning, and the bank wants to work together with Kiwis to turn things around.

“There were 90 preventable drownings in 2021 – the highest in 10 years – and drownings are on

“Every kid wants one and Westpac has ordered more to keep up with demand.

“I look forward to seeing lots of these Rashies around our rivers, lakes and beaches this summer and in future.”

To be in to win a Rescue Rashie, or to purchase one as a Christmas gift – with all proceeds going to your local rescue helicopter trust – visit: westpac.co.nz/rescuerashie

The unique gift of the Mount’s settler history

A Tauranga historian has a book that might be the perfect gift for someone you know this Christmas.

Robert Scott’s latest book ‘Mount Maunganui – A History of the Land and Early Settlers from 1864’ traces the history of the Mount Maunganui area from 1864 following the battle of Gate Pa.

“The book focuses on early history from 1864 following the

Robert Scott and his book ‘Mount Maunganui - A History of the Land and Early Settlers from 1864’.

battle of Gate Pa and confiscation of land through to about 1949.

“I have covered some families in the 1950s but unfortunately due to the arrival of a large number of new residents in the 1950s it was not possible to locate and record everyone.”

Self-described as a researcher and analyst, this is the 83-year-old’s 10th book. Robert says the book has been written for easy reading, with lots of photos and articles to break up the text.

To buy a copy, see his advert on this page.

Offering a guided experience to gift-giving

always think it’s nice to pop in store and pick something that they might not buy for themselves, or pick something you can’t go wrong with.

“I think it’s really lovely for people to come in and pick something for their

partners, mothers or friends, and if it’s not quite right we’re happy to exchange.”

Langton’s Lingerie is at 3/45 Spring St, Tauranga, open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and Saturdays 9.30am-3.30pm.

Christmas is just around the corner and the team at Langton’s Lingerie are here to help you purchase the right gift for the special woman in your life.

Langtons Lingerie specialises in lingerie, swimwear and sleepwear, offering plenty of guidance in what looks best on you.

Get a good fit

“That’s why when you come to a specialised store like us, we can find the shape that works best for you,” says Langton’s Lingerie’s Delys Williams.

“We fit swimwear the same way we fit bras –people can come here who might normally struggle

to know how to get swimwear to accentuate their body proportions and we will help them.”

The store has beautifully-designed nightwear in cotton, modal, viscose, merino/cotton, wrap, button-through or zip dressing gowns and a selection of summer weight robes.

A boutique experience

When you go to Langton’s, you’re treated to a boutique shopping experience.

“What we do here at Langtons is take something that people may find daunting and make it a positive, guided experience.”

If you’re shopping for someone else, Delys says the team can help. “For hard-to-buy people, I

NewLingerieSeasons

Delys Williams and Rebecca Biddick amongst the stylish offerings at Langtons Lingerie. Photo: John Borren.

Believing in oneself Safety device for hearing aids

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts them” – Lao Tzu.

Strange as it may seem, when we accept ourselves and those around us as we are – even embracing one another’s peculiarities with affection and humour – we create a space that enables growth and transformation, both for ourselves and for

others. I really enjoy exploring this truth and putting it into practice… and another aspect of this truth is finding that the people around me have more beauty than I had previously been aware of –what a bonus!

Is there someone in your life you struggle with? What might occur if you applied this principle when you are with them?

A simple innovative device to keep hearing aids securely attached to ears is proving to be suitable for men, women and young children.

A sterilised stainless steel stud and ball is inserted into an ear lobe piercing and secured with a butterfly clasp.

It is then connected to a BTE hearing aid with a surgical stainless steel chain.

“It’s giving me a stress-free life,” says Safetyhear CEO Terry Johnson.

“Reading glasses, sunglasses and hats with cords would catch on my BTE hearing aid and pull it out

of my ear, causing an annoyance with the worst case scenario being that outside the BTE became lost.

“With the chain, if the hearing aid comes out, it then just hangs from my ear.

“The biggest benefit is my stress levels going down.

“I know it’s safe and I’m not going to lose my hearing aid.”

He says young children can also have their ears pierced and wear the device, giving their parents “peace of mind”.

The Safetyhear BTE Hearing Aid Safety Device.

“We chose surgical grade stainless steel as it is hypoallergenic and extremely durable.”

The mighty mitochondria

Our cell Mitochondria are our cell engines that take the energy from food and change this into the energy our bodies need. At the end of the line is the production of ATP – or adenosine triphosphate –to provide the energy that makes our bodies work.

Free radicals – especially nitrogen radicals like peroxynitrite – can damage delicate cell structures, causing less energy to be made. Some diseases can damage mitochondria.

Studies show Chronic Fatigue Syndrome weakens mitochondria, resulting in significantly less energy than in healthy people. The result is always tiredness, but other symptoms are determined by the type of disease. For example, research shows post-Covid fatigue is likely the result of impaired mitochondria.

The first step to improve energy is to add Co Enzyme Q10. Be aware that most of the CoQ10 on the market is low cost semi-synthetic material. I prefer naturally fermented material. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as good, cheap CoQ10. The most important

component of nutritional therapy for fatigue and inflammatory problems is adding a range of mitochondrial nutrients and co factors. These include CoQ10 and other compounds such as Resveratrol, grape seed extract, Acetyl l- carnitine, N acetylcysteine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, B vitamins and curcumin.

I use these in my MTQ10.

These help to increase energy output, support flagging energy processes and reduce free radical damage by actively targeting the free radicals that damage delicate energy systems.

We then add a full B vitamin complex as these are needed in most of the steps to make energy.

A combination of a good diet and these beneficial supplements can make a real difference in life quality for those with low energy. Most people feel a real difference within one-two months. For more information, give me a call or email: john@abundant.co.nz.

You can read back issues at: www.abundant.co.nz

John Arts is a qualified nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health. Contact John on 0800 423 559. To read more go to www.sunlive.co.nz

john@abundant.co.nz

Why sunscreen protection is so important

As we approach warmer days we get all enthused to get outside, into the garden, for a walk, or have beach-time. What we then do is start applying sunscreen on hot sunny days.

We have three UV wavelengths: UVA, UVB and UVC. The UVC is blocked by the ozone layer, so we don’t have to worry about this one.

The UVA is what we call our aging ray as it’s the same wavelength summer and winter penetrating our skin, whether the sun is shining or not.

However, UVB is known as our burning ray. In summer UVB rays are longer, so they penetrate our skin.

A good sun protection should always include three main ingredients to give good protection and repair.

A broad spectrum chemical and physical block, with antioxidants for repair. Hence when we talk about applying sunblock year-round this is to avoid damage caused by UVA predominantly. We have a chemical and physical block, to both help reflect and absorb the UV rays to help stop them penetrating our cells.

Helping your hairline

Finding more hair lying on the floor? Seeing glimpses of your scalp?

Styling your hair differently to cover up thinning areas?

Many people experience hair loss as they age – in fact, two in five women and more than half the male population will suffer from some form of hair loss by the age of 60.

Why does hair loss seem to be so common among people of retirement age?

This is partly because hair loss is progressive – meaning those initial signs of reduced hair thickness and density have continued to develop and worsen over time, until we finally perceive them as ‘obvious’ enough for us and others to see.

Hair loss causes are manifold and more than one factor may be involved. Examples include stress, genetics, poor nutrition, overexposure to chemicals such as excessive use of hair dyes and bleaches, lifestyle and environmental factors, medical conditions, trauma and/or hormonal abnormalities, to name a few.

SRS Hair Clinic has more than 30 years’ experience in providing natural hair loss solutions

– and they’re free of side effects.

SRS conducts an original, one-of-akind microscopic hair analysis and advises you on ways to protect, nourish and grow hair using 100 per cent natural solutions.

SRS had strict, independent safety and dermatological tests carried out in Germany, which found SRS hair loss products are very safe and harmless even for sensitive skin or allergies.

SRS Hair Clinic has locations in Tauranga at 73 Sixteenth Ave, Auckland at 15 St. Benedicts St and Hamilton at the Anglesea Clinic.

Antioxidants in a sun protection are great to help counteract the cellular change (free radicals) caused by exposure to the sun, and cell damage.

The SPF rating also needs considering, with a small increase in protection between a SPF15 (93

per cent) to a SPF50 (98 per cent) it is important to consider other factors when choosing and applying a sunscreen.

These being the sun’s intensity, application, time, environment –and, of course, your skin type.

Ground-breaking blood test for hospitals

A single blood test that can diagnose heart attacks in minutes instead of hours, saving the health system millions and getting patients treated faster, is being rolled out in New Zealand hospitals, says Health Minister Andrew Little.

“This research, led by emergency doctors at Christchurch Hospital, is ground-breaking. Using a new highprecision bedside blood-test, doctors can tell within eight minutes whether a person turning up in the emergency department with chest pain is having a heart attack.

“Clearly, this is good for patients – those who can go home instead of spending hours in hospital worrying they are having heart attacks, and those who actually are having heart attacks and get the treatment they need sooner.

“But it’s also good for the health system, because sending people home within an hour of arrival takes pressure off the hospital and frees an ED bed up for someone else.”

From February 2023, more hospitals will begin using the fast, highprecision bedside troponin blood test.

What’s a pet emergency?

Having a good working knowledge of what signs to look for to determine if your pet’s health is at risk is a very important investment and can make a huge difference to the outcome of a critically ill or injured animal.

The most important question to answer is: ‘Is the animal stable?’ This means that they are breathing regularly and normally, the colour of their mucous membranes (gums in mouth, some animals have black

areas of pigment making it difficult to assess) are pink, they are conscious and responsive, there’s no major pain or discomfort, and there is no significant blood loss. An unstable animal who doesn’t meet one or more of these criteria is very likely to need immediate care.

Ideally, phone ahead to the vet with an outline of the situation so they’re ready and can do everything that they are able to help.

A serious plumbing problem

Throughout spring we have seen a fair number of health issues in our pets. One of the more serious conditions has been blocked bladders in cats. This is a very serious condition that needs immediate attention and can become fatal quickly if the symptoms are not noticed.

This condition is caused by a blockage in the urethra.

When the urethra is blocked urine cannot flow properly and can cause a build-up of harmful waste products.

The most common signs of urinary blockage seen in cats are toileting outside of the litterbox, straining to urinate, blood in the urine and

vocalising in pain. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it is important to take him/her to your vet for treatment as soon as possible.

Treatment may include dietary changes, medications, or surgery.

The prognosis for cats with urinary blockage is generally good if treated promptly.

tauranga katikati te puna papamoa village

Superstition, stigma or maybe their simply not ‘photo-worthy’ – whatever the reason, the Feline Team at Rescue.Revive.Rehome are baffled why black kittens and cats are being given the cold shoulder.

“It’s really sad – like all five of us on the feline team have all got black cats and we just don’t understand why,” says feline team leader Clair Batley.

She says black cats are continuously overlooked by adopters.

“It’s ridiculous and it doesn’t seem to be changing unfortunately.

“This our fourth year and I’ve seen the same thing every year.”

Personality?

“I don’t know whether it’s a superstition thing or is it possibly a thing where black cats are really hard to take good photographs of… maybe it’s not Instagram-worthy. When people view a litter they’re drawn to tabby, and ginger etc. but the black ones get overlooked for some reason.”

Clair says the colour of your cat’s fur shouldn’t matter – it’s what’s in their precious pet heart that counts.

“At the end of the day when you are looking for a cat as a companion, it really doesn’t matter what they look like, or what colour they are. Black cats

make amazing pets and they have just got such a spunky personality and they’re just as deserving as

Will you be one of the rare people who take a walk on the dark side and love a midnight-coloured kitty? With holidays upon us, Clair says it’s the perfect time to welcome a black cat into your home – but only if your family is committed and ready to take on a new pet. “Over

Christmas people have time off work and they’re usually at home a little bit more to be able to settle a new animal in and make them feel comfortable.” Get in touch with RRR to see what black kittens need a home this Christmas. Visit: www.rrr.org.nz

Georgia Minkhorst

Pets on holiday camp

Homes needed

There are 39 black and tuxedo – black with white paws – kittens in RRR’s care. “We’ve been helping a huge colony down in Lake Tarawera and we’ve taken 31 kittens from that… 23 were black or tuxedo,” says Clair. “A lot of the litters that we take that have been born in the wild tend to be black.”

It seems there is an abundance of black cats and a shortage of people that favour these cool cats.

“The people looking for black cats are few and far between,” says Clair.

Relax this summer holiday knowing your precious pets are in safe and caring hands at Pyes Pa Pet Lodge. New business owner Maree Hart is absolutely thrilled to be opening the lodge’s doors to your pet’s paws on Thursday, December 1. “I literally get to wake up and do my dream job every day,” says Maree. Being in the pet care and dog training game for more than 25 years, Maree has a wealth of

knowledge. “I’m a dog trainer and a behavioural professional,” says Maree, who also offers her specialist training system ‘Doglogic’. Maree understands that pets are unique and so she has a range of facilities at her lodge. “We now have a special area for tiny tots and special needs away from the main kennels.” All in all, she says her kennels and cattery is like a pet

“The pets come here and have an absolute

A plea to ditch the superstition… Go

A bush walk at a stunning spot in Whakamarama this Saturday, December 3, is on offer as part of the Wander Dogs Summer Series 2022-2023.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council invites you to bring your pooch and the whole whānau for the event – which is one of five that are running

through to March 2023.

Wander Dogs hits Puketoki Reserve, Leyland Rd, Whakamarama, this Saturday, starting with a power-up education talk on ‘how to defuse dog-on-dog reactiveness’. The talk starts 9am and the walk starts 10am.

The event is free and familyfriendly, and everyone gets

a special doggy treat bag to take home. According to WBOPDC, the Wander Dogs Summer Series is all about giving dog owners some events just for them – where they can bring their dogs to socialise safely and have a good time exploring our beautiful walks. For more information, see: westernbay.govt.nz/wanderdogs

for a wander with your tail-wagger!

RRR fosterer Maree Green with a beautiful black kitten that needs a home. Photo: John Borren.

Maree Hart is extremely passionate about the care of animals. Photo: supplied. Georgia Minkhorst

What 2023 has in-store...

The prospect of an interest rate-induced economic downturn in 2023 has become distinctly real during the past week, with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Adrian Orr signalling the bank’s intent to engineer a recession.

RBNZ’s primary goal is to keep inflation at a low level, and inflation is a problem for us at the moment, running at 7.2 per cent – way above the one-three per cent range that we’d talk about in normal times. Drastic action in the form of a very sharp increase to interest rates should see inflation reduce over time. It will do this by increasing borrowing costs for individuals and businesses, leading them to spend less and cooling prices.

One weapon

High inflation is undoubtedly bad, but unfortunately action taken to control inflation will also come with nasty side-effects. The Reserve Bank only has one real weapon in the form of the Official Cash Rate – a blunt tool that targets the good and bad parts of the economy equally. To get prices to stop moving up as quickly, things need to become much harder for businesses and households so that they spend less. To date, households have mainly been affected by higher prices, but will now be faced with much higher costs to service debt, and critically the prospect of unemployment as business growth prospects dim. A tougher job market is intentional as low

unemployment means that people keep spending and the competition for wages is higher – not factors that are conducive to reducing inflation.

Unfortunately, in past recessions, those that are less privileged in the job market get hit the hardest. This is by no means a problem specific to New Zealand, most countries in the world have the exact same situation – with some worse as energy prices in Europe bite. Most are taking precisely the same action.

We’ll feel it

So how will this economic slow-down affect the economy in our region? My pick is that we’ll certainly feel it, but not quite as bad as other regions might. An obvious area where businesses will be uncomfortable is retail and hospitality, where consumers will be less likely to part with their money than we have seen in past years.

Construction is the area where I would expect that we will see the most pain however, as residential house sales dry up and commercial projects are harder to make work. This is a sector that is one of our largest employers too, around 12 per cent of our workforce. Hopefully some of those staff can be deployed to other sectors that need staff, such as infrastructure.

On the positive side, businesses in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty have proved strong during the past couple of years, many of our exporters have good market positions and unemployment is arguably too low anyway.

I expect these factors will see us through the next year in reasonable shape.

Auction Trifecta

Chapel St, Tauranga

Businesses in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty have proved strong during the past couple of years.

Photo: Merle Cave.

A December deluge of music

December eh? December has arrived and with it, the countdown to Christmas.

It goes like that. October, November – nothing happening, Christmas is months away. December – Christmas is NOW, time to panic and count the days.

But let us remain calm and carry on since the river of live shows I mentioned last week is about to burst its banks and become a raging torrent. To illustrate this, here’s the flood of gigs about to occur in a single weekend...

I think we might start at the Jam Factory again, if only because the three shows there offer a perfect example of exactly how varied the music in that lovely little venue is.

I occasionally run into people who’ve never been to the Jam Factory. If that’s you, you’re missing out. Have a peek at pictures of the venue and imagine seeing a performer in a space so cool and intimate, and with great acoustics to boot. We’re lucky to have it.

Let’s begin on Friday, December 9, with the most obscure show. Billed as “Grains & Oddish Summer Sprouts” I had a hard time finding out much about these bands, who are indeed called Oddish and Grains, both from Wellington. After some dedicated investigative journalism I was able to confirm their self-descriptions as actually pretty accurate. They’re also pretty fun.

“Oddish intend to provide an evening of mystical melodies and endearing rhythms. Drawing from their love of psychedelic rock, ambient electronica, classical minimalism, the instrumental threepiece transfix their audience, pulling them along wordless tales of whimsy.”

They have two instrumental EPs online, mostly guitar-led and mid-tempo and as enjoyable as that blurb suggests. Warning: don’t look for them on YouTube or you will be confronted by hundreds of results for a Pokemon of the same name...

(Jed Prickett) and ethereal throat singing (Fredd Marshall) give way to rising cosmic crescendos driven by punchy sub-bass (Calum Turner) and ecstatic, rising rhythms (Jared Reynolds).”

And, again, that’s not inaccurate. The gig starts 7pm, and costs $15.

The following nights locals take the stage. Saturday, December 10, it’s singer/songwriter Jahvis Stantiall, who describes himself on Bandcamp as a “Bedroom artist” (I assume he’s referring to his music-making there). He has a poppy EP online called ‘Jahvis’ Bedroom Beats’ (again, probably a musical reference...). Gig starts 7pm, cost: $10.

Sunday afternoon brings the debut live show from John Michaelz and The Black Brothers Band.

The four-piece reggae outfit has been releasing EPs all year and is promising a night of old-school reggae. You can find their grooves on the usual online platforms. Starts 3pm, cost: $20.

Totara St

Over at Totara Street, Friday, December 9, brings a feast of funky beats. Electro Funk is a mash up of funk house, minimum deep techno and homegrown funk-infused beats, and the night features Laughton Kora (the L in L.A.B.), Issac Tucker, now in the UK as part of supergroup Spektrum, and a warm-up from house duo Jimmi Fresh & KAURI. Get your dancing shoes on! Starts 8pm, for $38.50.

The following night, December 10, Totara Street has one of the several Eagles tribute shows currently crossing the country. This one’s a Kiwi one. Time 8pm, for $25.

Also that night, for free, Mike Garner and Robbie Laven play old-style blues at The Barrel Room from 7pm. And space for one more: One Sunday, December 11, it’s the Entertainers Club’s final bash for the year, a party with The Tim Armstrong Band at the Tauranga Citz Club.

Grains

Grains is also a largely instrumental band though a little more dance-floor oriented, as you’d expect from their genesis as an ambient-synth-dance duo. They are now five and also have very enjoyable EPs on Bandcamp.

They say: “Technicolour spaces of synth-pad sequences (Peregrin Hyde), dreamy guitar licks

Tim is about the hardest-working musician in New Zealand I reckon, still playing hundreds of times a year. He knows 1000 songs and has played with pretty much everybody since his days with top Hamilton band The Politicians in the eighties. His band also features Nigel Sanderson and Don McClumpha. And, with Tim currently providing keyboards for funk pioneers Collision, he has invited Collision’s sax maestro Hirra Morgan to guest for the night. Starts 5pm, for $20.

Oddish, from Wellington, will play at the Jam Factory on December 9.

Jam Factory.

Raising awareness and funds for the rescuers

Three Tauranga animal-lovers are hosting a charity festival in Papamoa on December 10 to give back to struggling animal rescues and educate the community on the vital work these groups do.

Misha Gildenberger, Missy Ingram and Fran Harvey have created RescuesPalooza – a one-day, market-

style festival with 20-plus stalls offering everything from jewellery and candles to face-painting and vegan food at Papamoa Sports & Recreation Centre.

Donation entry

Event entry will be via donation of animal food or animal-related supplies at the door, to be distributed to the rescues. “We have donkeys, horses, chickens, cats and dog

rescues, so you can bring any item related to these animals. The more goods, the merrier!”

The rescue groups will have their own stalls stocked with products and information about the work they do – so far Vada’s Angels, Pet Food Pantry and RRR have confirmed their attendance.

Educate

Misha, Fran and Missy see RescuesPalooza as an opportunity to educate the Western Bay of Plenty on the animal rescue work being done locally.

“All three of us have worked in animal care and fostering for years. There are so many tough cases and a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes.

“We want to bring the rescue work to the forefront so that people know what’s going on.”

The trio live and breathe animals. Fran runs ‘Moggies,’ a rescue for cats and kittens; Missy is a professional pet-sitter; and Misha runs a dog

behaviour academy. In their spare time, all three catch and help sick, lost and stray cats, and have bought a microchip reader to identify lost dogs.

The team is excited to have so many vendors on board already for RescuesPalooza on December 10 at Papamoa Sports & Recreation Centre – and have their sights set on expanding in future.

Aiming to grow

“We’re aiming for this to grow,” says Misha.

“We’re starting with a little market this year, then hope to expand to two RescuesPalooza’s next year.”

While the day is all about animals, event-goers are asked to keep their own pets at home, with RescuePalooza held indoors. “For me, this is a feelgood event, with something for everyone,” says Missy. Misha agrees. “My heart is fulfilled when I do something like this.” More details are at: www. facebook.com/rescuespalooza

New director, new gig for mural town singers

Katikati and beyond will be glad to know that the Mural Town Singers are back – with a new upcoming gig – thanks to finding a new director after farewelling Jeanette HasellBack in June.

The new director of Katikati Mural Town Singers is Edwin Randell, who is the music teacher at Waihi College.

Edwin and the choir have been working hard to get their first concert together – called ‘It’s Christmas’ – which will be held next Sunday, December 11, at

3pm at St Paul Presbyterian Church, Katikati. Guest performances will include the Mellowtones and the Waihi College

Event entry costs $10 each, with children gaining free entry. To find out more about Mural Town Singers, phone Julie on:

Wheel of Experience of fers rich story steeped in music

Wheel of Experience is a unique blend of music and theatre that tells the lives and legends of early New Zealand through epic original song.

Led by Peter Daubé’s powerful vocals and commanding theatrical presence, the music

morphs with each unfolding story, as brilliant multiinstrumentalists David Ward, and Dave Khan shift rhythm, pace and texture.

The trio perform live on a vast array of acoustic instruments including banjo, fiddle,

mandolin, cigar-box and zhongruan.

Wheel of Experience is at The Jam Factory this Saturday, December 3.

Tickets at: www.davidwardmusician.com/ wheel-of-experience.html

The Weekend Sun’s ever popular guide to ‘What’s On’ in the Bay.

Catherine Sylvester

Mural Town Singers’ new director Edwin Randell. Photo: supplied.

Animal-lovers Missy Ingram, Fran Harvey and Misha Gildenberger with their own pets.

Photo: John Borren

Enjoy the original story of Christmas

Carols on the Waterfront is a Christmas tradition for many Tauranga families; gathering around the waterfront, singing carols with your community really helps lift a festive spirit.

Tauranga’s combined churches organising committee is excited to be able to run this free, family-friendly event again this year on Sunday, December 11, at 5.30pm at the Edgewater Fan, The Strand, Downtown Tauranga.

Spokesperson from the combined churches organising committee, Nicola Fraser, says they will be telling the original Christian story of Christmas in a simple and interactive way.

“It’s just great for people to come together at this time of year, regardless of their position on faith, as we retell the birth story of one of the

world’s great faiths. “We love Christmas time, the carols and the special foods, the presents and the gatherings with family, friends and community.

“This year we are telling the Christmas story through the eyes of the ‘wise ones’ who wondered about the significance of bright star in the sky and set off on a journey to find answers.

“The answer they found was a little baby in a manger in Bethlehem, God had come to make his home with us.”

Nicola says Christmas reminds us that God has made room in his heart for each one of us; and as the carol says ‘let every heart prepare him room’ we too can make room in our hearts for him.

“So come and join us as we celebrate together.” Come early and bring a picnic, if you wish. Bring your own chairs/picnic blanket or just find a spot on the grass to relax, listen and sing along.

A children’s chamber music festival

Applications are open for children and teenagers keen to work with world-class musicians this summer developing skills playing viola, cello and violin.

RimuFest Chamber Music Festival, founded by Amelia Taylor and Alejandro Larumbe, is a six-day summer chamber music programme in Tauranga for beginner to advanced string players between the ages of seven-18.

“Students come together in a social setting using teamwork and leadership skills to create music while expanding their understanding of chamber music and strengthening their own individual ability,” says Amelia.

From January 4-9, 2023, students will participate in daily chamber concert series by faculty and visiting guest artists, daily coaching and rehearsals, as well as private lessons, masterclasses, and Alexander technique for string students.

Students are placed into an appropriate chamber group based on their audition video. All student workshops are held at Tauranga Boys’ College.

Two programmes

Amelia says RimuFest offers two programmes for all levels of string players.

“Our beginner chamber music programme is for the student that has little or no experience in chamber music. This programme is teacher-led.

“Throughout the six days, students will work on

a chamber piece as a group from 9am-12.30pm, learning how to play together, how to lead and how to follow, including other chamber music skills. Students will be divided into smaller groups for the final concert.

“Our full chamber music programme from 9am-2.45pm is for the student that has some to a lot of experience in chamber music or other types of ensembles. This programme is student-led. Students work together in small groups, either a trio, quartet or quintet, with guidance from our high-calibre coaches.

Students have the opportunity to premier commissioned works by NZ composers and have the experience of working directly with the composer.”

Practicing Forgiveness

Surviving domestic violence through forgiveness.

Presenting life changing perspectives on practicing forgiveness. Rev. Mike Dawson will share his childhood experiences surviving domestic violence and growing through forgiveness. Forgiveness can be difficult to do. The knowledge we are taught at school and at work fosters the ability to judge others more strongly than the ability to forgive, to find more easily the flaws and faults in other people.

To practice forgiveness, we need to know the spiritual Truth that forgiveness has real power.

Rev. Mike explains how finding happiness through forgiveness turned his past hardships into shining experiences, solving relationship challenges.

One hour presentation with meditation followed by question and answer session.

Wednesday 14th December 4pm Greerton Library

139 Greerton Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga. Free Event. Donations Welcome. Bookings: seminarbehappy@gmail.com Text: 027 446 5357

Presented by Happy Science New Zealand

WATERFRONT

Concerts

The concert schedule for the January festival includes an evening concert on Saturday, January 7, at Charlemagne Lodge, and a student concert at the Tauranga Boys’ College Graham Youth Theatre on January 9. USA violinist and Rimufest faculty member Chase Ward will make his NZ debut performing solo repertoire on the violin at the Graham Young Youth Theatre on January 10 and will be joined by violinist Amelia Taylor.

Sponsored by Tauranga City Council and Creative Communities NZ, RimuFest organisers hope to find local sponsorship this year for scholarships, festival events and concerts. For more information, visit: www.rimufest.com

TAUR ANG A TAUR ANG A

TAUR ANG A

Brought to you by:

Holy Trinity St Peters in

Tauranga Central Saint Mary Immaculate St Enoch’s Presbyterian Tauranga Salvation

Central City In association with:

Carols on the Waterfront is a free, family-friendly, relaxed event not to be missed this festive season.

Photo: supplied.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

String players attend a six-day summer chamber music programme.

Saturday 3 Dec

114 Group Art Exhibition

The People’s Gallery (Historic Village, Tauranga) invites you to the annual group show. 100 plus artworks. 26 November-18 December 10am-3pm(Weekdays),10am2pm(Saturday). Ph 07 571 3232 info@theincubator.co.nz

3 Potheads Ceramic Exhibition

The Pot House Gallery (Historic Village,Tauranga) welcomes Nick Dom and Kalou with a quirky feast of pottery for sale. 26 Novmeber-18 December,10am-3pm(Weekdays),10am2pm(Weekends). Ph 07 571 3232 info@ theincubator.co.nz

Art Galleries Historic Village

The People’s Gallery, Okorore Maori Art Gallery (Faulkner House), Artist Window, and The PotHouse is welcoming you from 10am to 2pm on the weekends

Association Croquet

Sat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt

Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 07 574 9293

Bay Singles Social Group

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

Boules - Petanque

Tauranga/BOP Club. Social and competitive play. Boules available. Every Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. New players welcome. Ph Ray 027 756 3565

Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park Rd 1.45pm

Katikati Toy Library

Family-focused facility offering 600+ toys to loan to children zero10. Tues 6.30-8pm Weds 2.30-4pm Sat 9am-10am. Located behind the Christian Centre, Henry Rd, Katikati

LOL Laughter Wellness

Spring into Spring and laugh away the Winter blues with us every Saturday.

10.00-10.45am Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way. Koha. Email lollaughterwellness@gmail.com www. lollaughterwellness.weebly.com

NYE at Jack Dusty’s New Year’s Eve, 31 Dec 8pm-midnight. Rock the night away with Shabang at Jack Dusty’s Bureta 576 9059

Repertoire Outlet Sale Omanu School, 22 Tui St, Mount. 9am-4pm www.repertoire.co.nz RRR canine adoption day 10am-2pm. 669 Welcome Bay Rd. Applications must be pre-approved to take home a puppy on the day. To apply: rrr.org.nz/adopt-canine Adoption fees apply. Roadside parking please Riverlight Suicide Loss Support Katikati/Waihi Beach group. Providing hope and inspiration to those coping with the suicide of a loved one. 9:30-11:30am. Contact Karin: riverlight62@ gmail.com 021 103 7404

Sabbath Services Church of God’s Love (COG7) meeting Saturday at 70 Pooles Rd, Greerton from 10.30. This Sabbath’s sermon: The Wonderful Opportunity to Start Anew. www. churchofgodslove.com St Stephen’s Jigsaw Library

Every Saturday 10am-12noon Hire a variety of 500 puzzles, of 100 to 2000 pieces. Please wear masks and bring Vaccine Pass. Located behind church at Highmore Terrace, Brookfield Taijiquan and Qigong Sat & Wed 9:00 am. Free Taiji/ Qigong group. Kulim Park on beach by big rock. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665

Tauranga Civic Choir

Tauranga Civic Choir singing Vivaldi Gloria and Christmas Carols, Saturday 3rd December 4pm, St. Peter’s Church, Cameron Rd, organ, piano and trumpet. Nigel Williams, MD.

Tauranga Farmers Market 7.45am-12noon at Tauranga Primary School cnr Cameron Rd & 5th Avenue. Rain, hail or shine. Direct from the Producers. Support local Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club

Adult tennis every Saturday starting at 1pm. New players and visitors most welcome. Phone Kay for further info 027 480 8042

Tauranga Social Dance

Sequence Dancing 7-10pm this Saturday 3rd December at Wesley Church Hall 100 13th Ave. A warm welcome Ph Jan 576 3455

TrailRider Fun Day

Celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities, we’re giving the opportunity to travel to the summit of Mauao or Hopukiore on our all-terrain wheelchair, TrailRider Under-the-Stars Free

Community Meal

Every Thursday 11:30am-1pm. Every Saturday 4:30-6pm. Sit down and takeaway offered for homeless, hungry, and families needing a meal. Showers open 1 hour before meals. 45 Cliff Rd.

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

Sunday 4 Dec

Art Galleries Historic Village

The People’s Gallery, Okorore Maori Art Gallery (Faulkner House), Artist Window, and The PotHouse is welcoming you from 10am to 2pm on the weekends

Car Boot Sale

Otumoetai Rotary Club at the Otumoetai College Carpark. 9am. Sellers $10 a space Brian 021 122 8735 or Bevan 027 461 2127

Farmers Market - Mount Mainstreet 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. 8.30am for 9am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Nev 07 575 5121

Music Group Sunday Sessions

Play an instrument? Love to sing? Come along & join in! 1st & 3rd Sundays of every month. 4:30pm-5:30pm, Mt Maunganui. $15 per/person Ph: 027 475 1023

Oropi Community Gala 2022 Celebrate our community at the Oropi Community Gala 2022. Food trucks, market stalls, entertainment, scavenger hunt, bouncy castles and a visit from Santa! 10am-2pm

Papamoa Lions Club Market 2nd & 4th Sunday. Gordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Rd, Papamoa. Gates open 7am for stall holder entry. Wayne 027 974 5699

Religious Society of Friends Happily retired yet Soul searching? Share Friendship and silent contemplation with us. No dogma, creed, preaching. 10am-2pm. Corner Cameron/Elisabeth Street. Quakers.nz

Radio Controlled Model Yachts Sundays & Thursdays 1:00-3:30pm, at Pond behind 22 Montego Drive Papamoa, sailing Electron Radio Controlled Yachts for fun. Adult beginners welcome. Graham 572 5419

Spiritual Centre Psychic Cafe Greerton Community Hall. Doors open 6.30pm, starts 7.00pm. Entry $20 cash (no eftpos) then everything free! Psychics, Healers, Spiritualists and Refreshments. www.psychiccafe.nz Tauranga Country Music Club Meets on the 2nd Sunday at 1pm each month at the Senior Citizens Hall, Norris St. behind Pak ‘n Save. All welcome. Members a plate please Tauranga Organ Keyboard Society Meets 1.30pm at Carmel Country Estate Social Centre, 11 Hollister Lane, Ohauiti, Tauranga. Play or listen to Organ, Clavinova, Piano. Contact Maureen 544 5013

Monday 5 Dec

Active Seniors Exercise Class Mon & Thurs. Intermediate class 9:30 Low Impact 10:45 at City Church Hall Otumoetai Road. Strength balance and fun set to music $6 per class Phone 021 047 6155

Alcoholics Anonymous Open Meeting 10am. Central Baptist Church. Corner 13th ave/Cameron Rd Sorry no Pets .All Welcome Ph 0800 229 6757

Association Croquet

Sat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 07 574 9293

Chess Mount Maunganui Mt Maunganui RSA Chess Club, 544 Maunganui Rd. Mondays (excl. public holidays) 7pm onwards. Info: search “Western BOP Chess” online

Free Conversational English Classes 9.30-11.30am during school terms. Holy Trinity Church, 3rd Ave. Come and learn to improve your English and meet new friends. Inquiries: 021 060 0101

Free First Dance Class

Celeste Dance teaches @ Arataki Community Centre every Monday during the term. Starts at 3.30pm. Pop in for a first class free! dancer.amanda@ gmail.com 0210 841 0697 for info

Greerton Garden Club

Greerton Garden Club meets 2nd Monday each month at St James Church Hall, Pooles Rd, Greerton, at 1pm. Visitors Welcome. Ph 07 562 8855

Katikati Art Group

Gallery of local artist’s work open Mon-Fri except Tuesday. Gallery on side of Katikati Memorial Hall. Tutoring on Thursdays. New members welcome. Annual exhibition. Contact Val 027 494 6689

Katikati Bowling Club

Mixed 2 x 4 x2. Reporting time 9.15am

Keep On Your Feet

Omokoroa 11am-12pm,Settlers Hall, 334 Omokoroa Road. Strength & balance classes for older adults. All levels of fitness welcome. Contact Sharnie 021 111 8617

Pickleball outdoors

Pickleball at the Mount Sports Centre, Maunganui Rd 9.15am to 12.15am. Join in the fun! Paddles, balls and tea and coffee provided. $5. Bob 027 478 6282

Tauranga Creative Fibre

Every Monday 9.30am also 2nd & 4th Thursday 7pm. Learn new skills, knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing, weaving & felting. 177 Elizabeth St Tauranga. Ph Cathy 07 570 2191

Tauranga Senior Citizens Club Cards 500 Mon & Thurs Indoor Bowls Tues, Wed, & Sat 14 Norris St. 12.45 pm for 1 pm Start. Entry $3 includes afternoon tea info Carol 022 639 2411

Tauranga Stamp Club

Wesley Methodist Church, 100 Thirteenth Ave. 10am on the 2nd and 7.30pm on the 4th Monday of the month. All welcome. Ph Tony 07 549 5015 or Brian 07 576 5210

Tauranga Vision Friendship Club

Mixed Club for retirees. Monthly meetings. Speakers social activities Citizens Club fourth Monday month 10am Inquiries welcome Phone Bryan 027 813 4526

Te Puke 500 cards

Te Puke Bridge Club, 4 Queen St, Mondays 7pm start cost $5 new members welcome phone Mike 027 495 5284 or Lou 07 573 8184

Tuesday 6 Dec

Alcoholics Anonymous

Open Meeting 7.30pm. St Peters Anglican Church. 15 Victoria St Mt Maunganui All Welcome Ph 0800 229 6757

Altrusa Ladies Service Group

Come and join a bunch of women for community projects and social events. Meet 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Phone Sandra 027-4838454 or visit www. altrusa.org.nz

Bayfair Gardens

Need your help supplying fresh vegetables to the Tauranga Foodbank. Tuesday and Friday mornings. Hillier Centre at The Mount. Ph: 575 9709

Boules - Petanque

Tauranga/BOP Club. Social and competitive play. Boules available. Every Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. New players welcome. Ph Ray 027 756 3565 Bureta Garden Circle Meets 4th Tues of the month St Johns Church Hall, Bureta, 1pm

Conversation Cafe Dee St

9-11.45am at Presbyterian Church Hall. Varied program. Morning tea, aimed at seniors. All welcome. $2.50pp until further notice. 544 0951 or 021 127 4277

Exercise with Dance

Come and join Us!! We have fun doing exercise and dance routines. St Columba Church, 502 Otumoetai Road 9.30-10.30am Contact Gloria 021 139 2448

Golf Croquet

Sun, Tues, & Thurs at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 8.30am for 9am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Nev 07 575 5121

Inachord Women Singers

Join us for singing and fun. 7pm Bethlehem Community Church, 183 Moffat Rd. Musical Director Andrew Braid. Pippa 027 473 0185, Julie 021 0252 6805

Justice of the Peace Greerton Library 2-4pm

Keep On Your Feet

Katikati Catholic Church Hall, 89 Beach Rd. 10.15-11.15am, strength & balance classes for older adults, all levels of fitness welcome. Ph. Sharnie 021 111 8617

Let’s Learn Something New An A-Z of Clubs, Courses & Classes happening now. Find an activity, join, and do it! All ages. www.letslearn.co.nz or Ph 07 544 9557

Olympic Style Shooting

Shooting at the 165 Elizabeth St range at 6.45pm. Come and try our sport. All gear and coaching provided. Contact Alan 021 251 2843

Otumoetai Walking Group

Meet at 9am at Kulim Park. Ph Danny 576 6480

Papamoa Sunshine Probus Club

Meetings held 2nd Tuesday of every month starting at 11.30am at the Gordon Spratt Reserve Clubrooms Papamoa. Contacts Colleen Lambourne 210 235 2736 or Paula Neilson 021 117 0802

Preschool Music and Movement Tuesday 10am @ St Peter’s, 15 Victoria Rd, Mt Maunganui. Thursday 10am @ St Mary’s cnr Marlin St and Girven Rd, Bayfair. Morning tea provided.

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 Lawn Tennis Club

Men’s tennis every Tuesday 9am. New players welcome. Contact Lyn 021 0263 8541. Midweek ladies 9am Wednesday. New players welcome. All abilities, social & friendly. Contact Jackie 021 1881182

Tauranga Model Railway Club

Meetings at the club rooms corner of Mirrielees and Cross Rd. Tuesday at 0930am and Thursday night 7.30pm contact Mike Oldfield 021 939 233

Tauranga Morning Badminton Club

Tues & Thurs 9.15am-11.45am

Beginners to B grade All ages welcome Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre Casual $6 Student $4 March through to end of November Contact Sarah 0274 166 323

Te Puke Pipe Band

Meets weekly 6-8pm Te Puke Baptist Church, Station Rd Te Puke. Learner Pipers and Drummers welcome. Free tuition provided. Ph Jo 021 052 6728

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 7 Dec

10 Pin Bowling

1pm at 10 Pin Tauranga, 135 13th Ave. Mixed group play for fun but keep the score. Very occasionally competitive. Phone Glenda 021 257 8678

500 cards Mt Maunganui 500 cards 1pm St Thomas More Church Gloucester Rd, Mt Maunganui. $4 includes refreshments. Prizes. Join our friendly group Bob 027 478 6282 or Barbara 572 4962

Active Senior Exercise Class Senior exercise class with a focus on strength, balance and fun set to music. Matua Hall Levers Road at 9:30. Phone Diana 021 047 6155

Age Concern Walking Group Meet at 10am. 7th: Kullum Park Bureta. 14th: Fraser Cove - Burger King. 21st: Briscoes Chapel St. Ph Renee 07 576 6699

Association Croquet Sat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 07 574 9293

Beginner Social Dance Group Commencing Wed, 27 Oct, 6-7pm, Welcome Bay School Hall, Welcome Bay Road. Ballroom & Latin, Rock&Roll. Just come along on the night. Phone Sonia 027 322 1786

Coffee/Conversation GroupBrookfield

Age Concern Tauranga holds a friendly Coffee and Conversation Group at St Stephens Church, 9 Brookfield Terrace, 10.30am12noon, cost $5pp. All Welcome Healing Rooms Prayer Experience God’s healing touch. 1-3pm every Wednesday in December and January. All welcome. No charge. Central Baptist Lounge. 640 Cameron Road. www. healingrooms.co.nz 027 640 1263

Katikati Art Group Gallery of local artist’s work open Mon-Fri except Tuesday. Gallery on side of Katikati Memorial Hall. Tutoring on Thursdays. New members welcome. Annual exhibition. Contact Val 027 494 6689

Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park Rd. Mixed Roll-ups 12.453pm

Marching For Leisure

A non-competitive activity for mature ladies. Fun, Fitness and Friendship. For Tauranga team’s practice and contact details phone Marlene Marx 027 342 0698

RSA Tauranga - Activities Housie - from 12.30pm. Cribbage - from 12.30pm. Quiz Night - from 7pm

Singles Coffee Club 65+ Mix & mingle with a group of friends who meet every Wednesday 10am at different Cafes. Gayle ph.027 439 3267 or E: mixandmingle@xtra.co.nz

Taijiquan and Qigong Sat & Wed 9am free Taiji / Qigong group. Kulim Park on beach by big rock. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665

Tauranga Embroiderers’ Guild Meets every Wednesday

at Tauranga Rowing Club, Devonport Road 10am-2.30pm and 7-9pm. Beginners very welcome. Contact Pat McDonald 027 234 8568 / 544 1988

Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club

Men’s tennis every Tuesday 9am. New players welcome. Contact Lyn 021 0263 8541. Midweek ladies 9am Wednesday. New players welcome. All abilities, social & friendly. Contact Jackie 021 1881 182

Tauranga RSA Quiz Night 7pm start. 1237 Cameron Rd. Teams of up to 8. $3 p/person. Bar/ snack food available. Ph 578 9654

Tauranga South Garden club First Wed of month. Central Baptist Church hall cnr Cameron Rd and 13th Ave at 1pm. Visitors welcome. Contact Carmen 027 378 2248

Thursday 8 Dec

Book Club

Book Club, meets every 1st Thursday of the month. St Johns Anglican Church, 94 Bureta Rd, Otumoetai. 1-3pm

Boules - Petanque

Tauranga/BOP Club. Social and competitive play. Boules available. Every Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. New players welcome. Ph Ray 027 756 3565

Coffee/Conversation GroupGreerton Age Concern Tauranga holds a friendly Coffee and Conversation Group, Greerton Senior Citizens Hall, 33 Maitland Street, 10.30am12noon, cost $5pp. All Welcome

Enjoy Travel?

Be home-hosted in Winnipeg, Canada August 2023, and host the Boston USA Club in February. Visit frienshipforce.org or phone Dianne 027 249 9859, Jonathan 572 2091

Justice of the Peace Greerton Library 2-4pm

Katikati Art Group

Gallery of local artist’s work open Mon-Fri except Tuesday. Gallery on side of Katikati Memorial Hall. Tutoring on Thursdays. New members welcome. Annual exhibition. Contact Val 027 494 6689

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

Pickleball Waihi Beach

Playing on Thursdays at 9:30 at Waihi Beach Community Centre. Paddles provided.Ph Doreen 022 687 1586

Preschool Music and Movement Tuesday 10am @ St

Peter’s, 15 Victoria Rd, Mt Maunganui. Thursday 10am @ St Mary’s cnr Marlin St and Girven Rd, Bayfair. Morning tea provided

Pickleball Waihi Beach

Playing 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 9:30-11:30am at Waihi Beach Community Centre. Paddles provided. Ph Doreen 022 687 1586

Radio Controlled Model Yachts Sundays & Thursdays 1:00-3:30pm, at Pond behind 22 Montego Drive Papamoa, sailing Electron Radio Controlled Yachts for fun. Adult beginners welcome. Graham 572 5419

Serenata Singers

Ladies and Gents

Join our friendly welcoming group. 10-11.30am Methodist Church Hall, 2 Oroua St, Te Puke. Ph Anne 572 3130

Tauranga Model Railway Club

Meetings at the club rooms corner of Mirrielees and Cross Rd. Tuesday at 0930am and Thursday night 7.30pm contact Mike Oldfield 021 939 233

Under-the-Stars Free Community Meal

Every Thursday 11:30am-1pm. Every Saturday 4:30-6pm. Sit down and takeaway offered for homeless, hungry, and families needing a meal. Showers open 1 hour before meals. 45 Cliff Rd.

Friday 9 Dec

Alcoholics Anonymous Open Meeting 10am. Central Baptist Church. Corner 13th ave/ Cameron Rd Sorry no Pets. All Welcome Ph 0800 229 6757

Bayfair Gardens Need your help supplying fresh vegetables to the Tauranga Foodbank. Tuesday and Friday mornings. Hillier Centre at The Mount. Ph: 575 9709

Family History Group Last Friday of the month. Need help with research. Group volunteers. Papamoa Library 10-12noon. Ph Jenny 07 542 5243

Foodee Night Market

Come down to Taumata School every Friday 5.30-8pm and be part of an amazing community more info @ foodee.co.nz Free Library 1-3 Free Library. Located at the Greerton Senior Citizens Hall, 33 Maitland St. Lots of books, games, jig-saw puzzles, free refreshments. Questions: call a librarian on 07 543 0355

Golf Croquet

Sun, Tues, & Thurs at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 8.30am for 9am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Nev 07 575 5121

Katikati Art Group

Gallery of local artist’s work open Mon-Fri except Tuesday. Gallery on side of Katikati Memorial Hall. Tutoring on Thursdays. New members welcome. Annual exhibition. Contact Val 027 494 6689

Katikati Bowling Club

Mixed roll up. Reporting time 1.45pm. Visitors welcome. Coaching available. Social activities commence at 4pm.

Kowhai Rebus Club Bethlehem Meetings 1st Friday every month at

Citizens Club. Interesting speakers, outings and coffee mornings. Enquiries to President Tony. 021 949 226

Papamoa Seniors Indoor Bowls

Enjoyable afternoon with other Seniors whilst playing Indoor Bowls at Papamoa Sports Centre. Names in by Noon , prizes $5 entrance

Sahaja Yoga Meditation

Experience the peace of true meditation. Always free. Fridays 7-8pm. Tauranga Sports House, 406 Devonport Road (corner of 13th Ave). Ph 022 303 5704

Solution No.2164

569713482 147528693 791435268 352186749 684279351

Celebrating a life with compassion

Following the loss of a loved one, the quality of service that Mike Savage provides doesn’t change – no matter what the season or the time of the year.

The mark of a good celebrant is someone who is willing to work closely with you and follow your instructions, while bringing their own ideas to create the right funeral service for you and your loved one. The celebrant’s role combines three qualities: a good listener, a good writer and a good performer.

Mike Savage has

years’

Mike provides these qualities with compassion, empathy and professional skill, combined with 30 years as a funeral director and celebrant. Mike, is also a fully licensed marriage celebrant.

For Mike, it is an honour and a privilege to work alongside you and your family to create and officiate a unique service of celebration.

If you would like to chat with Mike, or for more information, call: 022 155 7204, email: mikes53@outlook.co.nz or visit: www.mikesavagecelebrant.com

30

experience as a funeral director and celebrant. Photo: supplied.

Notice

TAURANGA WATER WATCHERS PLAN

Pursuant to the Supply of Water Bylaw 2019 (the Bylaw), public notice is given that water restrictions are being implemented as part of the Water Watchers Plan.

What you need to know

• This is a year-round water conservation plan

• We are asking everyone to watch their water –At Home, At Work, In the Community

• Please refer to www.tauranga.govt.nz/ waterwatchers to see permitted water use throughout the year

The Water Watchers Plan is in place now until further notice.

The Water Watchers Plan applies to all properties that are connected to the Tauranga City Council’s water supply. Recycled water, bore water, and water used for testing fire systems, firefighting and related activities are exempt from the water restrictions. Water from rainwater tanks is also exempt if not topped up from the Tauranga City Council’s water supply.

From the date of this notice, a breach of the Water Watchers Plan constitutes a breach of the Bylaw and will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaw.

Visit www.tauranga.govt.nz or phone 577 7000 for more information. Full copies of the Bylaw and the Water Watchers Plan can be inspected and are available free of charge from Tauranga City Council’s Customer Service Centre He Puna Manawa - 21 Devonport Road, Tauranga.

Copies of the Water Watchers Plan can be obtained from Council’s website at www.tauranga.govt.nz/waterwatchers or by phoning (07) 577 7000.

NATURAL

faded?

AC

Churches Active In Our Community

The thing we focus on, we empower

There are many things in life we don’t have. But there are many things we do have – and we need to be thankful for them.

My friend Ken Legg says: “The thing we focus on, we empower. Whatever we give attention to, we give strength to.”

Christians know a few things they have been freely given; like grace, forgiveness, hope, identity, adoption, acceptance, love, wisdom, inheritance, and life.

These are things we have received in full measure when we gave our life to the Lord. But when our focus is on things we don’t have it enlarges them, and it devalues the things we do have. This is true in the natural realm and is a trap we can fall into.

Becoming fixated on what we don’t have, makes us yearn for those things, and we can’t then enjoy the benefits of what we do have. There’s a better way, because it’s also true in the emotional and spiritual area of life. We need to live out of who we are, what we already have, rather than from what we don’t have yet. We always do better in life when we live from our true identity. From who we really are.

Those who know God and walk in life with Him, know they have been given so much. When we identify these things and count the