The Weekend Sun - 9 February 2024 by Sun Media

9 February 2024, Issue 1196

Rural shenani-Kens We can all get a bit silly and stupid with our mates after a bevy or two – but Vanessa Reid and Hayley Whistler have let wonderful silliness manifest into real characters that are ready to go rogue in Te Puke! Gal pals Vanessa and Hayley have become

their very own version of the Topp Twins’ iconic ‘Ken and Ken’. With their own take on these Kiwi blokes with banter and subtle sleaze aplenty, the pair will strut around the Te Puke A&P show on Saturday, February 10. A crowd favourite with showgoers

last year, dishing out the laughs, Vanessa says: “We did a shout-out to everyone and talked to the shearers about how we used to be sheep shaggers – oops – I mean sheep shearers back in the day”. And how this all began? “We’d had a few

wines… then I put on the wig and Vanessa goes: ‘Oh my god that’s brilliant, and you look like Ken!’” says Hayley. “We just couldn’t stop laughing,” says Vanessa. Read more about Te Puke’s ‘Ken and Ken’ on page 10. Photo: John Borren.

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

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The Weekend Sun is published every Friday and distributed throughout the Western Bay of Plenty from Waihi Beach, through Katikati, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke and available to collect at many stand locations throughout the area. For a full list of stand locations see https://theweekendsun.co.nz/stand-locations.html Produced by Sun Media Ltd, an independent and locally owned company based at 1 The Strand, Tauranga.

Sun Media Ltd Director: Claire Rogers Editor: Merle Cave Editorial: Letitia Atkinson, Alisha Evans, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, Georgia Minkhorst, Hunter Wells, Ayla Yeoman. Photography: John Borren. Publications Manager: Kathy Sellars. Advertising: Jo Delicata, Karlene Sherris, Suzy King, Lois Natta, Sharon Eyres, Sophie Main. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, Kerri Wheeler, Amy Bennie, Caitlin Burns. Office: Angela Speer, Kristina Clayton.

‘Straight in the sky rocket!’ I wouldn’t have lost sleep over it. Not one nod. And I wouldn’t have wrestled with my conscience, because I don’t have one. I would have kept the money and started spending. As they say honesty pays – but it doesn’t pay enough to suit some people like me. Anyhow, the story which has intrigued the nation recently, involves a stranger, an old man and a mystery envelope. You will have heard the story. It’s bizarre, curious and comical. The old man is working in his Auckland garden when a stranger walks up, identifies the old man by name, says: “This is for you” and hands him an envelope. “What’s this?” asks the old man. The stranger replied: “I’m just delivering it” before turning and marching off. It was $5000 – yes, 100 $50 notes. And the old man still doesn’t know who or why? Then the dilemma – what to do with it? Well, he immediately took the wad to the cops. His problem was now theirs.

because he thought someone might be setting him up.

Drug money?

“Exactly,” said another ‘What would YOU do?’ respondent. “I’d be petrified that it’s drug money, that I would have some mobster kicking in my front door late one night to recover the debt. I don’t want to end up dead for just $5000.” But why would a drug lord single out a 70-something-year-old man, give him $5000, then monster him for its return? It doesn’t add up.

What would YOU do?

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“Whaaaaat?” yelped the first respondent to The Weekend Sun’s ‘What would YOU do?’ survey. “Straight in the old sky rocket,” she said. For sky rocket read ‘pocket’. “Wouldn’t even have to think about it.” She would spend $1000 on cocktails while she was deciding how to spend the rest. “Would I take it to the police? F#*k no!” said a second respondent. She reasoned the money was delivered to the intended recipient. “It wasn’t lost, wasn’t picked up off the street. I just wish the right person had been me!” What would bug her would be the ‘who’ and ‘why’ questions – who gave the money and why… Back in the suburban Auckland garden, an old man’s been wracking his brain – he knows of no unsettled debts, or favours to be repaid. And he went to the Police

Let’s not overcomplicate it. The money was a beautiful thing, a day-maker. Dry your tears of joy and start spending. “I’d say ‘thank you’ to the delivery man and rush out and buy myself a new spa pool,” says the Work Wife – but then she has a change of heart… “I’d call the cops because I’d worry I am being scammed or set up, maybe for Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Punk’d.’ That’s the famous American hidden camera, practical joke reality TV series, where Ashton Kutcher pulls pranks on celebs. What would it matter if you got to keep the $5000? There might be spiritual significance to all this – because finding or gifting money is often interpreted as a message from spirit guides, angels, departed loved

ones telling you that you are valued and supported and on the right path, a positive affirmation from a higher realm.

‘Chicken’

Here’s a few other ‘What would YOU do?’ responses. “I’m chicken. I’d be scared someone would knock on the door with questions for which I have no answers.” “Is this dodgy? Is this a drug deal gone wrong?” A 78-year-old man, a gardener, drug deals – that doesn’t compute. It could simply have been a nice gesture to someone who has been nice. You know how teams of neighbours turn up to dig a garden or paint a house for someone who is a nice person. “I’d feel so weird I couldn’t live with it. “Random acts of kindness are so lovely, but I would need to know there were no strings attached. “If it was $50 I could understand, but who gives away $5000 for no reason? I’d put it in the bank until I had answers.”

Cash and tears

It’s a bit of segue, but there’s the story of another find couple who found $150 in the aisle at the supermarket. “We were always going to hand it in at the checkout. But we did think about it…” A couple of days later they got a phone call to say the person who’d lost the money had been identified on CCTV. She was a solo mum who left the supermarket in tears because she couldn’t buy groceries for her family. She left the supermarket in tears again when the money was returned to her. I might be shifting in my attitude. Perhaps I too would keep the $5000 safe until I got some answers. But then I might just cream off $1000 for a treat… *So…‘What would YOU do…?’ Email:hunter@thesun.co.nz

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IMPORTANT STUFF: All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Sun Media makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information and accepts no liability for errors or omissions or the subsequent use of information published. The phrase “random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was written by Anne Herbert on a placemat in Sausalito, California in 1982. Source: Wikipedia.

The Weekend Sun

3 Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

What’s Your Property Worth?

Council purchases Cameron Rd building for new indoor courts Tauranga will be the recipient of new indoor courts on Cameron Rd after council announced this month it has purchased The Warehouse building as part of its Memorial Park redevelopment. Tauranga City Council announced in December that Memorial Park would undergo a $128m upgrade including adding a new aquatic centre to the site at an cost of $122.25 million – and that the park’s indoor courts in the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre would be built at another location in the city at a cost of $25m. Tauranga City Council acting chief executive Paul Davidson says the sale of The Warehouse building at 483 Cameron Road went unconditional on January 31 – and that he anticipates the new facility will be up and running later this year, which will coincide with the decommissioning of the QEYC building which includes Memorial Hall. “The Warehouse building will be able to accommodate four basketball size courts along with changing facilities, associated storage and office space and, 220 existing carparks.” Paul says council will take possession of the property early-June when work turning the building into indoor courts begins.

Existing facilities ageing

Council and Bay Venues have together for several years been planning for new indoor court and aquatic facilities at Memorial Park to replace the existing ageing facilities. Funding for this was

adopted in the last Long Term Plan. Paul says while the original plan was to upgrade the QEYC building, it is nearing the end of its serviceable life and would require a significant upgrade. “Recent building reports have indicated earthquake risk and structural issues will significantly increase project costs, meaning the best course of action is to demolish the old building – including Memorial Hall – and develop a new facility. “At a total estimated cost of $25m, including the purchase of the property and fit-out of the space as indoor courts, this will be more cost effective than building a new building for indoor courts in Memorial Park.” Paul says council is on target to have the new courts available by the end of 2024 to allow limited or no downtime between closing the existing courts at QEYC.

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Bay Venues chief executive Chad Hooker says staff have been working closely with key indoor court user groups to keep them informed of plans and will engage with them further as the design of the new facility is finalised. “In addition to this project council and Bay Venues are currently investigating other new indoor court opportunities over the next three to five years to cater to growth.” Construction on the new Memorial Park Aquatic Centre, approved by the Commission late last year, will commence after demolition of the QEYC and is expected to open in late-2027.

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Friday 9 February 2024 A selection of local breaking stories featured this week on...

The Weekend Sun

City’s sport clubs oppose

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Robbery at Brookfield Superette

Police are making enquiries following the robbery of a superette dairy in Brookfield on Tuesday, February 6. Police were notified of a group of three youths that entered Brookfield Superette on Jude Place around 12.30pm. A fast-thinking customer, who was arriving at the dairy at the time of the incident, realised a robbery was taking place. “I tried to stop the three offenders leaving by blocking the door,” says the customer.

Building boost for Bay Oval

Big crowds, balmy sunshine – and soon Tauranga cricket fans will have world-class cricket facilities to match their world-class ground. As thousands of cricket fans poured through the new entrance to Bay Oval for the New Zealand-South Africa test this week, work is well underway to complete a massive pavilion extension. The project will add in lounge and bar facilities, offices and space for both match-day and year-round operations, and will double the size of the existing pavilion space. When it’s completed – in the second half of this year – Bay Oval general manager Kelvin Jones expects the venue to be able to host even the most prestigious of fixtures.

Katikati A&P Show returns

Sunday marked a triumphant return for the Katikati A&P Show after a three-year hiatus. From sheep racing to a puppet show, the event was brimming all day. “Such a great turnout and vibe today,” says Amanda Besley in a comment on the Katikati A&P Facebook page. “Well done organisers.” The first show was held 111 years ago in 1913 but the ‘non assembly’ laws of World War II, Covid lockdowns and cancellation of the 2023 show due to weather means the show is still one year away from celebrating 100 years.

Teacher guilty of child assault

A Tauranga primary school teacher found guilty of assaulting a child, will be sentenced in April. Jane Hanuere Sowerby, 55, appeared in Tauranga District Court in front of Judge Cameron and a jury on January 24, facing one charge of assaulting a child under Section 194 of the Crimes Act 1961. On March 2, 2023, Jane Sowerby, also known as Janey, assaulted a six-year-old pupil on the grass area outside the reception block at Arataki School, according to court documents. Jane Sowerby will be sentenced in Tauranga District Court on April 15.

Sailor back in Olympic frame

Tauranga sailor Tom Saunders is firmly back in the frame for Olympic selection after finishing fifth at the ILCA 7 world championships in Adelaide late-January. The 31-year-old former world champion secured the result with a sixth place in the double-points medal race on January 31 for his third consecutive top-five placing at the event.

Otūmoetai Tennis Club.

Links Ave sports field in Mount Maunganui.

Photos: John Borren.

Teams that have used various Tauranga City community sports fields for decades are now looking at facing increased fees to keep playing the games they love. While sporting groups accept fees had to be introduced, some believe the costs proposed by Tauranga City Council are too high and will negatively impact community sports. As part of Tauranga City Council’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034, it is proposed users “pay to play”. Setting out a fee model in the LTP,

council propose a training fee of $225 plus GST per hour, per field/ wicket, per week, forming the total fee per season. Then, from July 2025, council proposes the seasonal training fee increases to include a game/match fee, also set at $225 plus GST per game/match. Finally, for community groups leasing council land, council proposes a rate of $6.05 per square metre plus GST. “The proposed fees seek to strike a balance between the need for non-rates revenue, affordability for community sports groups and equity across the codes,” says TCC manager of spaces and places Alison Law.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Football has made a submission to council, opposing council’s fee model. “WaiBOP Football accept there needs to be a fee for the usage of sports fields,” says WaiBOP chief executive Karyn Walters. She adds that WaiBOP would accept the proposed fee model for training, granted the hourly rate is reduced and council’s wording is updated to a seasonal fee rather than per week. “However, we strongly oppose the proposed fee model for matches and the increase on lease fees and operating expenses for clubrooms.”

Excessive and unrealistic

Karyn believes the council’s match fees and increased lease fees are “excessive, unrealistic, and inconsistent with councils in other cities”. She urges council to protect zero fees like in Auckland and Christchurch. “It is rare and something to celebrate, helping keep sport participation accessible for the community.” The Weekend Sun asked if TCC believes the proposed fees in the LTP 2024-2034 are reasonable compared to other sport field user fees in New Zealand. “Council evaluates the reasonableness of proposed sports field fees in its Long Term Plan by considering maintenance costs, community access, and benchmarks set by other councils,” says Alison. “Feedback from stakeholders and alignment with community expectations also have informed fee-setting decisions. While direct comparisons with fees set by other councils across New Zealand can provide insights, the unique context, facilities, maintenance costs and local community needs

The Weekend Sun

Friday 9 February 2024

5 Friday 9 February 2024

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must be taken into account.” Brendon McHugh, who is chair of Tauranga City AFC, which has based its football club at Links Avenue in Mount Maunganui, says there’s a few things council hasn’t taken into account with the fee proposals. “Some community groups, including some football clubs, are returning $30,000 losses [at the end of the sporting year]. “And that’s doing what they do now [with zero to minimal user fees]”. “Then they’re going to be planted with up to tens of thousands of dollars to try and find, just to provide community support for adults.

Tough on members

“It’s pretty tough as it is for community sport and cost-of-living is really hard on members,” says Brendon. Alison says: “We recognise that any increase in fees and costs could be challenging, particularly

up to to up

when to-date there has been zero or minimal costs associated with using our well-loved community spaces”.

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Ensuring continued growth

“The drive towards a ‘user pays’ model means that it is critical to connect with all codes on affordability as to ensure the continued growth of sports and recreation activities on our reserves, and in our community,” says Alison. Brendon says council’s proposed fees hikes – if they go ahead – will ultimately translate to increases in sport membership fees as many clubs try to stay afloat in an already-challenging economic environment. “We’ve surveyed our senior members and they’ve already indicated that they can’t afford it anymore. They’re already living on fumes at the moment with everything else going up. Sport is just one of those things they want to continue doing, but they’ll have to give away because they can’t afford it.” Georgia Minkhorst

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The Weekend Sun

New school finally opens gate to students The classroom, a toilet next door and a new playground was what Year 4 student Raiden Whiu enjoyed most on his first day at his newly-built school, on Wednesday.

“I was excited!” the eight-year-old told The Sun after experiencing his first full day of school at Te Kura o Manunui. “I had a good day!” The school officially welcomed its students, from Year 1-6 onto the new site at 72 Millers Rd on February 7.

Year 4 student Raiden Whiu, 8, at his newly-built school.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

Principal Ngaere Durie says Wednesday offered a “truly memorable and special ceremony for our tamariki, their whānau, the hapū - Ngai Tamarāwaho, Iwi NgātI Ranginui and our staff”. “It was a beautiful heartfelt pōhiri with all those that support the kura.” Formally known as Brookfield School, and located at 20 Millers Rd, it was 2019 when thenEducation Minister Chris Hipkins revealed plans to expand Brookfield Primary – due to population growth – by building a new school. Turning the first sod of soil at the new site happened February 2022, with the new multistoreyed school building taking shape ever since. Today the new school has 25 classrooms, with 320 students enrolled. This is up from 290 students enrolled at the old school site last year, learning within 17 classrooms. Ngaere says the new school campus is highly significant to the community as it is an “acknowledgement of mana whenua Ngai Tamarāwaho, it also reflects all our whānau from all over the world and local stories in and around the Ōtūmoetai area”.

MAJOR FUNDERS

Raiden’s mother Jo Delicata says the new uniform and school have been much-awaited by Raiden and his peers. “Raiden went to the school on Monday for an orientation session where he got to know where his classroom is and got to have walk-around to know where everything is at the school – ready for Wednesday.” The Ministry of Education’s Te Tai Whenua (Central) acting Hautū deputy secretary Tracey Turner says the existing Brookfield School was operating over capacity and there was no more land available to increase the school’s size. “This new site has a capacity for 550 students, compared to the previous Brookfield School capacity of 279 students. Students and families will experience a new school with new facilities, more classrooms and more space, with easier accessibility to the school and parking.” Ngaere says in 2020 the school changed its name to Te Kura o Manunui, and since has created a new logo with five key parts to encompass local historical elements. Now the name and logo have come to life on new uniforms being worn at the school this term.

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The Weekend Sun

7 Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

Resilience funding approved

At circus class is TGC inclusive learning assistant Simone Beattie, student Pippu Jefferies, tutor Regina de Jong, student Tilesha Pouaka, Circability BOP’s Rowan Dawson and student Peyton Crawford.

Social circus classes The favourite part of Rowan Ford Dawson’s job is seeing people’s faces light up when they know it’s circus class.

“[I love] Watching the students get joy out of it and growing and expanding their ability to do the tricks that we’re teaching them.” Rowan is the regional hub manager of Circability in the Bay of Plenty – which provides circus classes to people of all ages and abilities. Circability classes teach people of all abilities circus skills in schools, disability centres and retirement villages. Available in Auckland and Northland, Circability has been running in the Bay of Plenty for one-and-a-half school terms.

All ages, abilities

“Circability started in New Zealand more than 10 years ago, and there are classes for people of all ages, all abilities, all cultures, all together.” Government funding of more than $300,000 has been granted to The Circability Trust to provide more social circus practitioners in regional areas,

including Tauranga. “We go into schools, disability centres, retirement villages and preschools and we teach social circus,” says Rowan. “Social circus is using circus skill as a social tool to encourage coordination, balance, confidence, social engagement and self-pride to create positive outcomes for our students.” It also fosters building confidence, overcoming trauma and developing essential capacities such as resilience and responsibility. There is a particular emphasis on teaching disabled and disadvantaged youth via inclusive transition. The focus on disability is at the forefront of what Circability does. “I work with people who have disabilities and they don’t let it stop them. “They get in there and they give it a go.” Rowan’s team also works with at-risk youth and people with neurodiversity. So what’s the goal for Circability in the Bay of Plenty for 2024? “We’re working in multiple schools, disability centres, and this year we hope to include more of the preschools and aged care into our roster.” Find out more at: www.circability.org

The Government has confirmed up to $7.3 million will be available to assist in the recovery from landslips that impacted a number of Maungatapu properties in early2023’s severe weather. Tauranga City Council has welcomed the news, with chief executive Marty Grenfell saying council will work with the Cyclone Recovery Unit and Crown Infrastructure Partners to finalise a funding agreement

designed to assist with any potential repairs relating to property damage from the landslips, which affected several properties on Egret Ave and Te Mutu Crescent. “Our aim is to have the funding agreement completed as soon as possible, so council can make decisions on the future of this land and allow owners of the impacted properties to get on with their lives.”

Friday 9 February 2024

Don’t miss our open days.

Friday 16 & Saturday 17 February, 10am – 3pm. Arvida Ocean Shores, 80 Maranui Street, Mount Maunganui.

White sand beaches, walking tracks and waterfalls—the Mount really is a dream location for the next chapter of your life. And at Arvida Ocean Shores, you’ll enjoy relaxed retirement living unlike anywhere else, with wide-open streets, big backyards, and a lush sub-tropical landscape. There’s a selection of homes to view now, so join us at our next open days and explore our extensive grounds and beautiful resort-style facilities. Plus, all guests over 65 will receive a free movie ticket after the tour. Call Robyn on 021 983 669 or find out more at arvida.co.nz/oceanshores

The Weekend Sun

9 Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

The Fat Brother Tauranga’s Don and Harry Grewal with parents Johnny and Pal Kaur Grewal. Photo: John Borren.

Restaurant dishes up free food A Tauranga restaurant dishing out free meals on Mondays was saddened to hear one family hadn’t eaten since Saturday. The burger, sandwich and shake joint, The Fat Brother, started their community initiative last month – serving free meals 5pm-7pm on Mondays to those in our community who need extra support. The Fat Brother Tauranga owner Don Grewal says the idea to offer free dinners sprung after seeing calls of help online. “I was looking on Facebook and I noticed a lot of people were posting asking for free food. They were literally posting that they don’t have food to get by until the next day or so, and asking if anyone can donate food and stuff like that,” says Don.

‘The reality’

This set the free community meals in motion, with Don saying they gave out about 200 meals across their Tauranga, Rotorua and Hamilton restaurants on their first Monday of giving on January 15. Dr Karandeep Lall and Mandip Lall own the Rotorua store. “As part of being under our umbrella they also decided to be a part of the free meals for the people in need,” says Don. “A lot of people turned up… we had some people that came in and they actually hadn’t eaten since Saturday – and it was a whole family of them. It’s sad. “The reality is everything is just so expensive,” says Don. “Rents have gone through the roof. That’s the

biggest cost of any household at the moment, and if rent goes up by $200 a week, who’s going to come up with that extra $200? The reason we do [the meal] on Mondays is because it’s a couple days before payday – so usually that’s when people are struggling. It’s not easy because businesses are struggling at the moment as well but I’d rather get some meals out there so people aren’t sleeping hungry”.

All welcome

Don says anyone can come in for a free meal. “It’s open to everyone. It’s not just for people that can’t afford a meal. It could be that you’re kind of sacrificing your family time or something like that, for that meal.” This is why The Fat Brother has made the meal dine-in. “We’re not displaying it as ‘you’re here for a free meal’. There’s other customers coming in at the same time to buy food… that way the kids don’t need to know, and the kids can feel like that they went to eat at a restaurant and have the experience.” Don says his staff are happy to volunteer their efforts for the free meal. “Our chefs cook the meals while they’re at work, whenever it’s quiet… all of my team is working very hard and they love that we are actually doing this. If we can get people supporting this however they can that would be appreciated, so we can provide more for the people that need it. “Nothing’s too big or small.” See: www.facebook.com/thefatbrother Georgia Minkhorst

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Friday 9 February 2024

Join us in honouring the heroes in your life by signing up for the 2024 Superhero Walk. Pledge to raise funds for Waipuna Hospice and make a difference in your community. Sign up to be a superhero before the 19th of Feb for your chance to WIN two nights at Quest Mt Maunganui!

The Weekend Sun

Te Puke’s ‘Ken and Ken’ – Hayley Whistler and Vanessa Reid – are rural stock agents. Photo: John Borren.

Wonderfully stupid shenani-Kens MY HERO IS:

My mum

A glass of wine or two, and a muck around in the dress up box has led to two Pongakawa ladies ending up with some likeable larrikin alter egos… You may be familiar with these characters too. Vanessa Reid and Hayley Whistler have become Te Puke’s very own ‘Ken and Ken’ – the iconic characters created by New Zealand’s beloved Topp Twins. Yet Vanessa and Hayley have taken their own twist on ‘Ken and Ken’ – but still strut around as a pair of rural stock agents ready to hand out cheek and tasteful sleaze at their leisure.

‘Dress up and be stupid’

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The two fell into their alter egos last year when their friend Kim Cawte, and organiser of the Te Puke A&P Show, asked if Vanessa and Hayley could work the crowds at the event. “We were like: ‘Oh yeah – only if we can dress up and be stupid,” says Vanessa. Kim agreed. “So we just started dressing up in some stupid old suits, put wigs on and we just couldn’t stop laughing.” It also helps that Hayley has her own costume hire business – Costume Call! “We’d had a few wines… then I put on the wig and Vanessa goes: ‘Oh my god that’s brilliant, and you look like Ken!” says Hayley. “We’ve always liked the Topp Twins,” says Vanessa. Unleashing their own unruly, heckling Kens at Te Puke’s last A&P show, the pair of mates say they had the best time. “It was so funny and the crowd really got into it and the kids loved it,” says Vanessa. “We just cruised around and we did a shout out

to everyone and talked to the shearers about how we used to be sheep shaggers – oops – I mean sheep shearers back in the day. We both egg each other on as much as possible.” The ladies warn the blokes that they should hold onto to their wives too – because these Kens know how to flirt. “[As Ken] you can be subtly a little bit sleazy like that uncle that every family has, but everyone goes: ‘Oh they can get away with it’,” says Hayley.

Laugh at yourself

A recipe for fun, these lovable ladies in their early-50s have been mates for yonks and are all about enjoying life with a grin and a laugh. “We both see the funny side of everything in life you know, because life can be hard… even if it’s a tragedy, we’re like: ‘Right, we have to see the good side and we have to see the funny side and we are just good at laughing at ourselves’,” says Vanessa. So what’s their friends and family’s thoughts on their shenaniKens’? “They just shake their heads like: ‘Oh god what’s next?’,” says Hayley. The Sun then asked if Hayley and Vanessa relate to the characters of Ken as their real selves. “Um as idiots? Yes,” says Hayley. “We’re so immature. “It’s ridiculous…we kind of act like we’re 18… we’re just a couple of mates that like being silly,” says Vanessa. Catch Te Puke’s Ken and Ken for yourself this weekend at the 118th Te Puke A & P Lifestyle Show, starting at 7am Saturday, February 10. For more information, visit: www.westernbay. govt.nz/community/events/event-calendar?ite m=id:2nt8d36cb1cxby5u4zmt&ref=2024-0209T18:00:00Z Georgia Minkhorst

The Weekend Sun

11Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

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Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

There’s love to give in Tauranga Central and Welcome Bay They may not be loved in Tauranga Central and Welcome Bay yet, but one chapter organiser surmises it’s just that they’re not known about.

The Loved 4 Life chapters in Tauranga Central and Welcome Bay have recently received only a few referrals – so both want to remind their communities that they are always there to help. Loved 4 Life is a nationwide not-forprofit organisation that welcomes new

babies with gifted parcels including quilts, knitted goods and burping cloths plus a listening ear for mothers. “We’re here for our community, to celebrate and welcome new babies,” says Welcome Bay Chapter organiser Ngaire Van Zweeden. “[But] We don’t get a lot of referrals,” says Ngaire. “I think it’s just a matter of publicity, really, getting it out there. I think it’s just been slow... a lot of it’s probably word of mouth, and that takes a little bit of time to build up momentum.” Hence this article, to let the Tauranga Central and Welcome Bay

F LO R I S T

communities know about Loved 4 Life – and how to refer a new mother to the service.

No strings

“There’s no strings attached, it’s just an expression of love and care for our community,” says Ngaire. “If mums are wanting it, we’re here and available to deliver them a quilt and a gift, Father Malachi Fidow with twin baby girl Manaia Kawiti-Fidow, and and provide any support mother Natasha Kawiti with twin baby boy Manaia Kawiti-Fidow are if needed. We provide Loved 4 Life recipients. Photo: John Borren. as much support as possible,” says Ngaire. families are welcome.” family or whanau close by. “If mums have needed Sherry says the Tauranga “We’ve bumped into a few a little bit of help with say, baby Central chapter started a year clothing, we’ve been able to drop families like that who’ve been transferred with roles, business ago. “We’re slowly introducing around baby clothing. etc into the BOP and they might ourselves to the community. “We will provide a meal if they be from another country or from “This involves not only the new would like a meal, just to help within New Zealand. And they mums and babies, but the older them out in the early days of don’t have that support. generation because they make having a new baby.” “We introduce ourselves and quilts and knit things for the Friendship give them a gift for the babies babies,” says Sherry. Ngaire says most importantly and suggest if they need any Make contact they offer mothers friendship. help in any way, we could,” says To get in contact or make a “Just getting alongside mums. Sherry. “Perhaps put them in referral call the Welcome Bay “Someone to stand beside them. touch with other agencies...Just Chapter, contact Ngaire Van “It is a little bit tough at the communication and contact Zweeden on: 027 486 9341 or start.” really and support for them. We Tauranga Central Chapter email: actionpotential@xtra. talk about things like Plunket, organiser Sherry Bennett says co.nz. For the Tauranga Central and things generally a new mum the organisation is a means Chapter, call Sherry Bennett would be aware of in case they of support for families with don’t know. on: 021 188 3536 or email: “This is a non-profit and internewborns – in particular, families bennetsherry2021@gmail.com Ayla Yeoman denominational organisation. All who don’t have grandparents or

Totara Street rebuilding HULL ROAD

One lane closure

Totara Street

northbound lane closed

TOTARA STREET

Visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/ totarastreet for more details.

Major delays are expected, and a detour will be in place. Please allow extra travel time or work from home if possible.

8pm Friday, 9 February to 6am Wednesday, 14 February.

The northbound section of Totara Street (heading toward Mount Maunganui) between Hewletts Road and Hull Road will be closed from:

Detour

via Hewletts Road, Maunganui Road and Hull Road

Hewletts Road

eastbound bus lane open to all traffic – please share with care

HEWLETTS ROAD

The Weekend Sun

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Friday 9 February 2024

Smart cookie Chloe!

Chloe is a happy wee female pup. She’s about four months old, full of beans and love. She loves to play and get attention from her humans. She’s a smart cookie and is starting to learn that sitting on command means yummy treats! Further training should be a lot of fun; Chloe is clever and keen to please. Do you have a safe, loving home for this sweetie? She’ll need secure, fenced property to play in and make lots of fun memories with her new family. Apply to meet Chloe today! Phone Tauranga SPCA on: 07 5780245. Ref: 596604.

The Weekend Sun

Looking after native

Paul Cuming and ‘Penny’ the penguin. Photo: John Borren.

“We’ve got the number one tourist hotspot beach in the country,” says Western Bay Wildlife Trust penguin monitor Julia Sorenson. “And amongst that, we’ve got some incredible endangered species and threatened at-risk species living right in the middle. So, it’s a very stressful time.” As such Julia says summer is always extremely busy for the trust – which encourages the community to look after our native birds this season. “Western Bay Wildlife Trust was formed by like-minded people and means we have a local voice for penguins, petrels and dotterel that has

meaning, authority and mana – and not just random residents making uninformed comments on anything that comes to mind on birds,” says petrel monitor Paul Cuming. “Our main work still revolves around three species: Little Blue Penguin, Grey-faced Petrel, and Northern New Zealand Dotterel,” says Paul. “We have funding to monitor these species from various agencies the trust has applied to.”

Keep your distance

Julia says if you see a native bird people should: “Enjoy, but keep your distance – and enjoy for a short time”. Paul wants to see those who wander Moturiki

The Weekend Sun

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Friday 9 February 2024

species that live among us

Leisure Island to take their trash back off the island. “That includes fishing lines, hooks and sinkers,” says Paul. “We have hundreds of native gulls nesting there and they don’t recognise what fishing lines, lures or hooks are.” Julia says autopsies of penguins show plastic fibres inside them. “They’ve got clothing, plastic fibres, and most of them – the majority of them – have normal plastic fibres.” Paul also advises the public to observe and obey the signs on Mount Main Beach and Marine Parade. “We really have problems with dogs and their effect on penguins; [the] consequences of those encounters most often being fatal.

Leave dogs at home

“Perhaps leave the dog at home when visiting Mount Maunganui,” says Paul.

“Stay behind the dotterel/ oystercatcher fences on Mount Main Beach. Last season Mount Main Beach was probably the most successful beach in the area for chick numbers – let’s keep that trend going.” Julia says there’s a reason why some zones are dogfree. “Wounded animals, sick seabirds, will try and hide. “If they have enough energy, they’ll try to hide in the dunes or around debris. So things like driftwood, which your dog loves to run up and sniff around and take a pee on, you know? That’s where you’re likely going to find a little penguin huddled behind.” If a really sick penguin can’t move, and is plastered on the ground in the middle of the beach, a dog can easily reach the bird before its owner or handler. “Your dog’s already punctured it and given it wounds by the

An adult oi-grey faced petrel after feeding a chick at Mauao. Photo: supplied.

time you’ve managed to realise your dog’s actually just bitten a penguin instead of sniffing a piece of driftwood,” says Julia. “[So] Just be vigilant in the areas where you are allowed to take dogs.”

Take photos

On the flipside, Julia says dog owners can be a huge benefit to the trust for they’re the ones most likely to come across birds, especially dead ones. “They can take photos. So if you find a bird dead, and you’re not sure what it is, take a photo and send it to us. We can ID these birds.” Julia says Tauranga is so lucky have these incredible little creatures living on our back doorstep. “People pay thousands to go and see a penguin... We should be celebrating them and trying to work with them to create co-habitual relationships where

we can benefit each other and help each other rather than just thinking everything is out there is just for our pleasure. [As] for them, it’s survival.” If you see a penguin trying to come ashore in the daytime on a popular beach, call: 0800 SICK PENGUIN. Ayla Yeoman

An adult NZ Dotterel at Mount Maunganui. Photo: supplied.

A gull with lure and fishing line attached to it. Photo: supplied.

Do you have what it takes to run this city?

The Tauranga City Council election is on Saturday 20 July, and we’re looking for candidates who have the best interests of our city at heart. Come to our candidate information evening on Monday 19 February to find out more about being a mayor or councillor.

Visit tauranga.govt.nz/ elections to register for our information evening

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

Free RAT tests until end of June Captured fanworm infestation

Those needing to test themselves and their whanau for Covid-19 are rest assured that free Rapid Antigen Tests – known as RAT tests – will be available until June. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced additional supplies of RATs will enable continued free testing for the public and health sector to the end of June this year. “New Zealand’s current inventory of RATs expires before the end of March and the ability to keep providing free

stock would have come to an end. Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora will procure supplies to enable the ongoing provision of free RATs through until June 30. “These free RATs will be available through the established national network of distribution providers, comprising of health providers and some pharmacies. Officials will provide me with further advice on Covid-19 testing and supply requirements from July 1 onwards.”

One of the Mediterranean fanworm found on the sea floor in Pilot Bay. Photo: supplied.

Bay of Plenty boaties and beachgoers are both being urged to do their part this summer to keep Mediterranean fanworm – an aquatic pest – from plaguing our beautiful waters. This comes after Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s dive team discovered 81 Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) on the sea floor in Pilot Bay in November. The find came from a tip-off of a single fanworm find in the popular boat and beach hotspot. “Council biosecurity

divers searched the area and subsequently discovered multiple fanworm scattered in the same locality,” says BOPRC biosecurity officer Andy Wills. “The team then completed more than 15 hours of underwater surveillance and removal in the area. Each fanworm must be carefully bagged, dug out and removed.” The Mediterranean fanworm is a large, tube dwelling, aquatic worm, measuring up to 20mm wide and 800mm long. Mediterranean fanworm was first detected in New Zealand in 2008 and is now widespread in a number of harbours in the top

of the North Island. It’s known to regenerate damaged body parts, while the worm continues to function. It’s not the first time Mediterranean fanworm has been found in the Tauranga harbour, and on this occasion it’s thought to have arrived as an unwanted hitchhiker on a vessel as hull fouling.

A pest

The Mediterranean fanworm is a pest to NZ waters because it has the ability to form dense beds that are likely to out-compete other species for food and space. “Given that

New notifications now on weather app

Kiwis can now subscribe to receive notifications to their mobile phone when MetService issues a Red Warning for most severe weather, or if there is an Extreme Fire Danger risk. The partnership with Fire and Emergency NZ and the weather forecasting agency began late-January, helping Kiwis be aware of and ready for our most extreme conditions, according to MetService head of weather communication, Lisa Murray. People need to have the free MetService NZ Weather app installed on their mobile phone and the location specific notifications enabled. “Getting notifications directly into the hands, or pockets, of those likely to be impacted is the most direct way we can warn people.” FENZ wildfire specialist Rory Renwick encourages everyone to download the app, enable

notifications and heed the advice when notifications are received. “It may be best to postpone a fire or any activity which could cause sparks – always check further on [the website] checkitsalright.nz It’s also a good prompt to prepare your property should a wildfire occur.” Rory says the MetService app is a trusted source of information. “Weather conditions are one of the main factors that impact fire risk. This makes it the perfect place for our extreme fire danger notifications.” Download the free MetService NZ Weather app from the app store (Android or iOS). It will prompt you with a ‘What’s new’ screen. Enable notifications for MetService severe weather Red Warnings and/or FENZ Extreme Fire Danger. And set your home and/or current location.

The Weekend Sun

17Friday 9 February 2024

a reminder to keep vigilant

Mediterranean fanworm have no natural predators in NZ, they can form dense beds of up to 1000 per square metre and compete against native filterfeeders such as mussels, oysters and scallops for both food and space,” says Andy. The pest is generally found on hard sub-tidal structures but can also be buried up to 10cm deep in soft substances. The pest also prefers sites protected from wave action. According to the council, Mediterranean fanworm can be spread on vessels – primarily as hull fouling – although movement of aquaculture equipment or marine structures may contribute to its spread. Elimination programmes are underway in Tauranga, Coromandel and Nelson harbours. The Mediterranean fanworm can grow up to 80cm long – and given those found at Pilot Bay were all of similar size and close to each other, this indicates they’d most likely been scrapped from the hull of a boat. Andy says if the boatie had simply hauled their boat out and had it cleaned this wouldn’t have been an issue. “We survey more than 3039 hulls across the region every year to ensure that unlike other parts of the country, Mediterranean fanworm does not become established in the BOP.

Above: The distribution of Mediterranean fanworm that were removed from Pilot Bay recently. Photo: supplied.

“With constant threat of pests like Mediterranean fanworm and Asian paddle crab on our marine doorstep and new ones like the exotic seaweed Caulerpa, it’s more important than ever people keep their boats and equipment free of pests.”

Keep boats clean

As such, Andy reminds boaties to keep their boat bottom and any niche areas clean; keep antifouling paint fresh; and to check the hull before travelling to a new area, every time. “If your boat is heavily fouled, haul it out. “Cleaning underwater will only spread any pests that may be hiding on there.” To prevent spread of marine pests, BOP marinas require visiting vessels to have been recently cleaned. Some high-risk vessels may be subject to additional marina requirements. Plan ahead – contact Tauranga Bridge Marina on: 07 575 8264 or Tauranga Marina on: 07 578 8747 for details. As for Pilot Bay, further surveillance will be carried out. If you spot Mediterranean fanworm in the BOP, note down the location and contact BOPRC on: 0800 STOP PESTS (0800 786 773). Find out more at: www.boprc.govt.nz/ environment/pests/marine-pests

Friday 9 February 2024

A talk on voyagers of the Pacific! Café Scientific Katikati is hosting author of ‘Pathway of the Birds’, Andrew Crowe, at an evening event next Thursday, February 15, from 7pm at The Arts Junction, Katikati. The Magnificent Voyagers of the Pacific is the talk’s title. Andrew’s ‘Pathway of the Birds: The Voyaging Achievements of Maori and

their Polynesian Ancestors’ has won four awards, and the book has a children’s version, titled ‘Those magnificent Voyagers of the Pacific’, which was named NZ Listener Top Children’s Book of 2023. Andrew’s best-selling guide books on NZ’s flora and fauna are found in many households too. The event is a koha entry, with light refreshments afterwards. For more information, call Lawrie Donald on: 021 85 99 29 or Peter Maddison on: 07 549 3646.

Right: One of the Mediterranean fanworm found on the sea floor in Pilot Bay. Photo: supplied.

Elevated Care in Your Later Years. Te Manaaki Care Centre allows Pacific Coast Village to offer a full continuum of care – from independent living, serviced apartments to residential aged care. Te Manaaki is a continuation of this considered design, crafted to provide residents with luxury living as well as elevated care and with it an added sense of security in their later years. The Care Centre offers rest home, hospital level and dementia care.

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Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

Make sure you prepare the chicken safely Making sure you handle raw chicken safely is one simple thing you can do during warm weather to keep yourself, your whānau and friends healthy – and free of foodborne illness. That’s the message from New Zealand Food Safety as temperatures are up and Kiwis opt to prepare and serve more food outdoors. “Every summer, as we spend more time preparing food outdoors and away from our homes, we see an increase in cases of foodborne

illness and related hospitalisations,” says NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. “And it’s our youngest, oldest and most vulnerable who have the highest chance of getting seriously sick.” Vincent says the most commonlyreported foodborne illness is campylobacteriosis, which is caused by Campylobacter bacteria. And the most common source of Campylobacter in food is raw or undercooked chicken. As such, FSNZ has some tips to help you safely handle raw chicken. Firstly, do not wash chicken before

r a e w m i Sw

preparing it. Water doesn’t kill bacteria, so rinsing chicken will just spread bacteria to other surfaces. If you want to remove raw chicken juices, pat chicken dry with a paper towel instead.

Wash hands

Secondly, wash your hands in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw chicken – then dry them on a clean towel. This is so any bacteria from the chicken won’t spread from your hands to other food. Thirdly, keep raw chicken separate from ready-to-eat and fresh foods, using separate chopping boards, plates, and utensils. Alternatively, wash them properly with hot

soapy water before using for other foods. Fourthly, if cooking chicken on a barbecue, turn it often so the meat cooks evenly. And ensure the chicken is fully cooked before serving – the juices should run clear. If you have one, use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is steaming hot – at more than 75 degrees Celsius – all the way through. Lastly, use a different plate for raw and cooked chicken. Vincent warns Campylobacteriosis symptoms are nasty and

usually last for a week but can last up to two weeks. “They include diarrhoea, fever, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, and vomiting. In rare cases it could develop into more severe illness such as reactive arthritis or Guillain-Barré Syndrome sometimes resulting in permanent paralysis.”

Call Healthline

If you have symptoms, you can call Healthline for free anytime on: 0800 61 11 16 or contact your doctor or practice nurse for advice.

City needs people who put the community first Local democracy is returning to Tauranga. Last week Simeon Brown announced that “restoring democracy in Tauranga is a priority for me as Minister of Local Government”.

This is a great outcome for our city and upholds the fundamental right of people in Tauranga to elect our local council. There are champions and critics on both sides of this highly fraught local issue. The Commissioners, led by Anne Tolley, have made big decisions with big price tags that will invigorate our CBD. We are, however, a Western liberal democracy and people need to have their voices heard. That is why Tom Rutherford and I have spent a lot of time working with Minister

Simeon Brown to ensure your voice is heard in Wellington and that the people of Tauranga have democracy restored. My approach is to talk in person with key stakeholders who actually make the decisions. This is how you get things done. My recommendation to the community is to put forward strong, competent candidates. We don’t need to return to where we were before Nanaia Mahuta stepped in. For potential candidates, it may be a higher risk career than what you currently do, but that’s part of the sacrifice to serve our community – and you’ll have a genuine opportunity to shape this fantastic city of ours going forward. Tauranga needs people who put the community first, support sustainable development, can work in a collegial manner and bring real world experience to the table. Step up and let’s go!

The Weekend Sun

19Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

Home & Watching your water usage this summer Thank you, Tauranga, for following the Water Watchers Plan and making every drop count. With the hot humid weather in full swing, Tauranga City Council is asking you to continue to be mindful of your water use, while finding ways to stay cool.

The beach or the pool are great ways to cool off and entertain the kids on these hot days. If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, Tauranga City Council water services team leader: water education programmes Hannah Sherratt has some top tips for keeping the water fresh and clean. “Keep the pump on and regularly dose the pool with chlorine,” says Hannah. “Checking the pool’s pH level on a regular basis keeps the water good for swimming, rather than needing to refill it from scratch. “A pool cover is a great

The pool is a great way to cool off and entertain kids during these hot, humid days - but mind your water use.

investment as covering the pool can prevent 97 per cent of the water from evaporating, so you don’t need to top it up as often. “It also keeps leaves and debris from falling into it.” Please remember, as a

this here: www.tauranga.govt.nz/ swimming-pool-barriers For more water saving tips and tricks, visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/

water-tips For a list of community pools to keep cool in visit: www.tauranga. govt.nz/pools

pool owner you have many responsibilities to ensure your pool is safe for those who use it. One of those responsibilities is ensuring your swimming pool has an appropriate pool safety barrier. Read more about

Wipe out woolly nightshade in the BOP Bay of Plenty Regional Council is offering a helping hand to residents who want to wipe out woolly nightshade in the region.

summer can go on to grow and produce seeds by autumn in the same year. Seeds in the soil can germinate up to 20-30 years later. The dust from the leaves and stems can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The council is helping And the berries are landowners across the region poisonous to humans, cattle to take responsibility to stop and pigs if eaten. the spread of woolly nightshade “If everyone takes action by offering to supply wipeout to pull up seedlings or control starter kits to those with mature plants on their property, it all plants on their land. makes a difference.” According to the council, woolly For those with mature woolly Woolly Nightshade. nightshade is a nasty pest plant. nightshade plants on their Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Here’s why: It forms dense property, the council is offering stands which crowd out other plants. It flowers woolly wipeout starter kits. To apply for a kit, call continuously during warmer months. Birds eat 0800 884 880 or fill in a contact form at: the berries and can spread seeds long distances, www.boprc.govt.nz/your-council/contact-us and including native bush. Seedlings established in mention ‘Woolly wipeout’.

Mindful water use, whatever the weather. Check the Water Watchers Plan for this month’s water-saving measures.

tauranga.govt.nz/waterwatchers

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

Home &

Want to showcase your garden? Have you got a fabulous or quirky garden? Maybe you’re a budding or established artist? The biennial Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival is on November 14-17, which means organisers are now seeking expressions

of interest from anyone who would like their garden or art to be included. Those interested can find out more, or register their expression of interest now at: www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz

Sprouting new skills Tauranga kids are growing confidence in the garden while giving back to the community at The Historic Village.

‘Your Garden: Children's Therapy Garden’ started three years ago when Jo Easterby and Jessica Hubbard saw a need to fill for neurodiverse children such as those with autism, ADHD or dyslexia. As women both working in education, Jo says they were finding a lot of neurodiverse children were not accessing funding for extra support. “They were just kind of flying under the radar and not fitting into the normal school programme but with no help around not being able to access all [the funding].”

Success in the garden

This is when the idea of a children’s Kids getting stuck in at the therapy garden down at the therapy garden sprouted. “Jess and I know Historic Village. Photo: Bob Tulloch. that horticulture therapy is used widely in the mental health system through prisons, schools and old folk homes, so we thought we need “We’ve had some really good feedback from both schools and parents of how the children have been a medium for children to get out of the classroom able to go from the garden back to school and use and we’ve made a programme ourselves.” their skills.” Jo says in the garden children are “getting their own learning, getting their own successes, whereas sometimes they don’t seem to gain any successes in Serving community needs Not only is the garden helping the children the classroom”. nurture important social skills, it is also teaching Tucked away at the Historic Village, Jo says them about empathy and other’s needs. The children get a garden bed, design it, plan what they therapy garden has a community bed with produce will plant and figure out how things will grow. solely for the community that Jo, Jess and the “It’s a real problem solving programme and kids children take to food charity – Good Neighbour. are learning a lot of social skills. We find a lot of “Th e kids are getting an idea of a crossover there. these kids struggle socially in terms of working in “It’s not just for them to learn. They are actually groups, confidence and independence, asking for producing something that’s going to the wider help, that kind of thing. community, and it’s actually going to help them “When you put them in a small group it gives understand there are other people with needs them a chance to feel confident, ask for help or out there.” work as a team – knowing they’re not going to be So far the 30-40 children have benefited from the knocked down which is awesome. garden. The programme runs in school hours for a full year, starting in February. Jo and Jess meet with a school’s learning support coordinator to find out which children will benefit most from the garden programme. “We go in and we discuss the criteria of the children that we’d like to be at the garden – so those that don’t receive the funding, or don’t have a teacher aide or any support with how they’re faring at school.” Jo and Jess run the garden free of charge and are in the process of becoming a registered charity to access more funding. “It has been a charity-based project and it will remain a charity-based project, for as long as we can make it run.” Learn more about ‘Your Garden: Children’s Therapy Garden’ at: www.facebook.com/yourgardentauranga Georgia Minkhorst

The Weekend Sun

21Friday 9 February 2024

Friday 9 February 2024

Home &

Callout to DIYers to donate unwanted wood

Tauranga City Sunrise Lions Club is calling on Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty district landowners to donate fallen trees and unwanted wood from their properties. This Lions Club’s mission is to make the most of natural resources while supporting charities around the BOP and providing a low-cost firewood option to the community. “We have about 22 club members in our chapter aged from 70 to around 90 and they work hard to pick up the wood, chop it up and then deliver it around Tauranga. “I’m very proud of our guys,” says Ken Evans, who organises the club’s firewood operation from a property nudging the city’s edge that is offered by generous landowners. Ken says the Lions pick up

“We operate one day a week at our depot from 7.30am-1pm with members putting in around 60 hours of voluntary work collectively chopping and stacking wood into drying crates. “We also work Saturdays collecting the wood that’s been cut into manageable pieces,” says Ken. Their efforts have already seen 40 loads of firewood delivered to customers since Christmas – and there’s already a wait list of locals wanting wood ahead of winter. “It’s a good project to be part of and the guys love the regular operation. One of the big benefits

Lion Bruce Crosby needs more wood to split and stack for the group’s firewood fundraiser. Photo: Merle Cave.

wood from around the district, then spend hours splitting it into firewood before selling it at a fair rate to the community. The initiative raised around

$30,000 last year with funds generated then donated by the Lions to organisations like surf lifesavers, the coastguard, rescue helicopter and Homes for Hope.

Have fun with the heat-lovers! One plant that thrives in the heat is the Hibiscus. They need full sun for best results and don’t like to be crowded with other plants.

Prepare a bed with plenty of compost and well-decayed animal manure and ensure good drainage. There are endless cultivars to choose from and annual spring pruning will encourage healthy growth and lots of flowers. I’ve noticed some gardenias in full flower but many have yellow foliage, which tells you they’re suffering from chlorosis – and need a pickme-up of iron chelates or sulphate of iron. Your local garden centre can help with this. A healthy plant in full sun will produce hundreds of flowers, so needs feeding periodically

with a balanced slow-release fertiliser. And picking the blooms will only encourage more. Good old dahlias are the mainstay of many a summer garden – again, picking will encourage more blooms. The smaller-flowered pompom and cactus varieties are a good choice for picking and they FROM THE multiply freely! GARDEN I recently had the pleasure With Margaret Wilson from of visiting a local garden of a Pacifica Garden Centre bromeliad enthusiast and went online internet to learn more. Apparently there’s more than 2000 members of one of the most diverse and exotic of plant families of which most are tropical epiphites growing naturally in the forks of tree branches. And that’s just scratched the surface so I may have to start a small collection of my own. Watch this space!

bathroomenvy

is for our members to get physical and mental stimulation. On a social interaction level, we get so much energy from what we do.” The firewood costs $260 for two cubic metres delivered within city limits. “It’s a really good deal. I don’t think you’d find cheaper and the money goes straight back to great community organisations.” So Ken encourages those who are felling trees on their properties to consider donating the wood for the good of the community. For more information, call: 0800 546 679 or visit: sunriselions.co.nz

Debbie Griffiths

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

Weekend away locally A weekend get-away doesn’t mean you have to traverse the country to find a good spot. The great thing about living in the Bay of Plenty is that there are a number of fantastic places to escape to on our back doorstep. We chose Whitianga for our most recent weekend escape, and what a great choice it was. We were fortunate to have great weather for our drive, which winds along cliff faces and coastline, and no traffic. Of course, we had to make a few small pit stops to visit local op shops and grab real fruit ice cream! We had booked an AirBnb in Cook’s Beach, a stone’s throw across the harbour from Whitianga township. Cook’s Beach has a few restaurants and eateries, but that’s about it, so if you’re looking for a supermarket or a fuel station, you’ll have to drive about 30 minutes into Whitianga. We only had to

do it twice, and tried to plan our day around it, so it worked out well for us. My favourite part about staying in Cook’s Beach – other than the quiet vibe – was catching the ferry across to Whitianga. For a few dollars, you could purchase a return trip between Cook’s Beach and Whitianga, and the trip would take five to 10 minutes in total. I did have to have a chuckle at the distance – I could see the people lining up on the other side waiting to make the return journey, so it’s not far, but if you can do without your car for the day it’ll save you that 30-minute drive, so it was worth it in my opinion. We reached Whitianga, disembarked, and immediately went and found a café for brunch. After filling up on chicken paninis and a ‘bowl of coffee’ at The Espy Café just off the harbour, we explored Whitianga on foot. After a day in the sun exploring and attempting continued...

The ferry pick-up from Cook’s Beach – you can see the cafes across the way in Whitianga.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 9 February 2024

23Friday 9 February 2024

Digital kiosks popping up! Tourism Bay of Plenty is leading a wayfinding project in Tauranga, with the first digital kiosks popping up outside Mount Hot Pools at the end of 2023. The kiosk’s 24-hour interactive screen is a co-branded collaboration between TBOP and Bay Venues, offering passers-by easy access to essential information about the hot pools and nearby businesses, events and locations. It’s the first of several digital kiosks that will pop up around Tauranga in coming months to inform and inspire locals and visitors about what’s happening in our region.

Phone: 06 357 3619 Mob: 027 269 4277 Email: margaretjjones13@yahoo.com

Cayla-Fay and Dan Euinton caught the lavender in full bloom at Waihi Lavender Farm.

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...continued

to fish with hand lines off the rocks, we boarded the boat back to Cook’s Beach and returned to our AirBnb. After a bit of a rest and a shower, we were ready to head back over for dinner. Our meals at Stoked Bar & Grill were both delicious and relatively affordable, and with a nice relaxed feel and great view of the harbour. On our way home to Katikati the next day, we decided to stop in and see the Waihi Lavender Farm and were fortunate to catch it in all it’s purple glory. Wandering the rows of lavender and enjoying a blueberry and lavender soft serve – which has a nice subtle floral flavour –

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was definitely a highlight of our weekend away. There were plenty of visitors making the most of the gorgeous blue day and stunning flowers, and everyone had their phones out snapping selfies. I personally enjoyed crouching in the lavender and watching the bees do their thing, buzzing around completely oblivious to people posing for photos. It just goes to show that the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel have a number of holiday gems, right outside our front doors, and you don’t have to travel too far to enjoy some of the best places our country has to offer. Cayla-Fay Euinton

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Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

24 Email: letters@thesun.co.nz (200 words maximum) supplied with full name and contact details. For more letters go to www.sunlive.co.nz

Our time has come!

This week we experienced the pleasure of driving on the new Transmission Gully expressway into Wellington. It was brilliant. The expressway is transport planning at its best. Driving home, the only time we experienced congestion was on State Highway 29. It is a tragedy that our region has been left so far behind with our roading network on SH29. And SH2. We live in this beautiful place where we have the best port in NZ, how on earth could politicians have let us down so badly? It was a treat listening to Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford delivering his maiden speech in Parliament and when he referred to SH29 becoming a Road of

National Significance I did what you shouldn’t do in Parliament – I clapped. Thrilled to hear our newest MP calling for action on our highways. He will go a long way reflecting the needs of his community. I look forward to Simeon Brown, our new Minister of Transport, driving decisions which will meet the transport needs of both congested SH29, and SH2 which is years overdue for fourlaning to Omokoroa and beyond. With this decent forwardthinking Government, we expect action from our local MPs Tom Rutherford, Sam Uffindell, and Cameron Luxon to drive those decisions relentlessly. Margaret Murray-Benge, Bethlehem.

Cricket nails it Choose a simpler life

We might have spent Waitangi Day at the cricket, but we didn’t lose sight of the significance of the day. We weren’t allowed to. And we were grateful for it. The Tino Rangatiratanga flag fluttered proudly centre stage on the middle flag pole at Bay Oval – flanked by the New Zealand and South African flags. A nice touch. The ground announcer regularly nudged us by referencing Waitangi Day and Te Kapa Haka o Ngati Ranginui gave a lunchtime performance that fired the national spirit in us all. Right behind us on the embankment two or three young Pakeha women were competent and inclusive enough to sing along in Te Reo. These may be divisive times in New Zealand but certainly not at the cricket test. A couple of Poms sitting alongside were quite overcome by their immersion in our culture. ‘That’s what sets us apart,’ we told them. Thank you New Zealand Cricket. You got things so right on Tuesday and made us proud to be Kiwis. Ian Goldsmith, Otūmoetai.

Should be strictly a caretaker role

Now we have a new government, it is untenable to have our Tauranga community still governed by Nana Mahuta appointees. During their period out of control squandering ratepayer funds, they have focused principally on cosmetic, ‘nice to have’ amenities and have done little to improve important infrastructure. For example, future water requirements. They must not be allowed to lock in a Long-Term Plan that furthers their reckless aspirations. The future of Tauranga development should be the duty of democratically elected councillors. We have to accept we have to endure them until July but this should strictly be in a caretaker role. Maurice O’Reilly, Tauranga City.

– or prepare for strife!

We all used to live on a revolving paradise But because of human greed and thoughtlessness Mother Earth now doesn’t look so nice The Earth’s population must stop and think what it is doing Before the Earth is just another spinning ‘space’ ruin We all must take from the Earth what we actually need And not stockpile our homes with objects we don’t really need Most modern goods require heat and fumes in their manufacture And this very thing causing the Earth’s atmosphere to fracture It’s a case of choosing a simpler life Or be prepared for the coming strife. Ken Jones, Katikati.

White elephant anyone? After reading the two-page spread in The Weekend Sun from Tauranga City Council I am of the impression that said council think that by giving an area a long Maori name, then throw in some green space and the obligatory ivory tower to hold the mirage of bureaucrats that us ratepayers are forced to support, that in turn the masses will come flooding into town. The question I have is what are these masses going to do when they actually get into town? Because said council has managed to close down more than 160 retail stores – so there’ll be very little in the way of shopping to do that’s for sure. Still, as they say in the promotional blurb, via the Masonic Park upgrade you will now be able to contemplate your navel while connecting to the new civic precinct Te Manawataki O Te Papa and the Tauranga Moana waterfront. Why does the term ‘White Elephant’ resonate with me so much? Brian Brown, Pyes Pā.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 9 February 2024

25Friday 9 February 2024

Celebrating 140 years of A&P

Sandy Draffin and her rooster, will head Tauranga A&P Show’s Most Impressive Rooster Competition. Photo: John Borren.

This year celebrates a big milestone for the Tauranga A&P Show. This year’s show marks 140 years for Tauranga A&P. They were newly incorporated in December 1883 and held their very first show on January 29, 1884. The Tauranga A&P Committee was a keen and dedicated group, who decided early on to organise all the Auckland Winter Shows. “As time progresses, we try to maintain what an A&P Show is about, although with changing landscape our of farms becoming lifestyle blocks

and small holdings, this is becoming challenging,” says Tauranga A&P vice president Alison Stubbington. “We have had to diverse to smaller various animal varieties, and fresh produce stalls, eggs and honey.” As Tauranga has the ideal climate to grow fruit, vegetables and specialised breeds of farm animals, some of which will be at this year’s show. The Tauranga A&P Show will be held at 1388 Cameron Rd, Greerton, from February 16-17. For more information, see the advertisement on this page.

Volunteers needed to fight heart disease

More Kiwis are being asked to sign up to become of one Kiwi every 90 minutes, volunteering for volunteers for the Heart Foundation’s biggest us is a vital way you can help in the fight against fundraiser of the year, the Big Heart Appeal. New Zealand’s single biggest killer – heart disease,” Kiwis can register to volunteer from wherever says Gerry. they are in New Zealand for two hours on either “Proceeds from the Big Heart Appeal help fund Friday, February 23 or Saturday, February 24. a significant number of research projects each year, “Heart disease can happen to anyone, anywhere allowing us to keep making progress on improving at any time,” says Heart Foundation medical the heart health of New Zealanders.” director Dr Gerry Devlin. Gerry says outcomes for people who suffer “Sadly, the gains we were seeing in heart disease heart attacks and other heart conditions have have slowed down and we’re now seeing an improved dramatically due to the work funded by increase in numbers globally, including the Heart Foundation “but there is still more young people being affected. a way to go”. “The Big Heart Appeal funds our “We want to continue these incredible investment into world-class heart advances and enable our researchers, research and overseas training for New innovators, doctors and nurses to keep Zealand cardiologists so they can bring shifting the dial to improve heart health the latest skills and treatments back to for New Zealanders and their families.” benefit Kiwis living with heart disease.” Gerry says heart disease can happen The Heart Foundation is calling on to anyone, anywhere, anytime, even New Zealanders to gift a couple of Scan this QR code to someone you love – so please sign up hours of their time on February 23-24 sgin up as a volunter as a Big Heart Appeal street collection to volunteer as a street collector and for the Big Heart volunteer to help fund life-saving heart raise funds for heart research. research today at: heartfoundation.org. Appeal. “With heart disease claiming the life nz/volunteer or scan the QR code.

For our full list of shows or more information

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VISIT BAYCOURT.CO.NZ OR CALL US ON 07 577 7188

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MICHAEL JACKSON HISTORY TOUR

HARMONIC RESONATORS TUTUS ON TOUR THE ENCORE TOUR Date: Sunday 03 March &

KAYLEE BELL NIGHTS LIKE THIS TOUR

THE ELTON JOHN EXPERIENCE

PORT OF TAURANGA 61ST NATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Date: Friday 01 March Location: Addison Theatre

Date: Saturday 02 March Location: Addison Theatre

Date: Thursday 14 March Location: Addison Theatre

Date: Saturday 23 March Location: Addison Theatre

Date: Saturday 23 March to Monday 01 April

Monday 04 March Location: Addison Theatre

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

A 1916 Mogul 8-16hp by International, restored by club member Larry Williams. Photo: supplied.

Celebrating 40 years of vintage machines The weekend of February 17-18 is unmissable for anyone interested in the history of farming in New Zealand. The Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club’s 40th anniversary is being celebrated with a mega exhibition of vintage tractors and stationary machinery at Tauranga Racecourse. Many items included in the display are unique – and this is a rare opportunity for the public to see them in action in one place at one time. The club was established in 1984 by Rex Williams and Kevin Pinkerton.

Rex’s sons Larry and Russell are key members of today’s club and will be displaying a significant amount from their family collection. Along with contributions from local members, further entries are expected from neighbouring clubs – making this an extraordinary event for town and country folk alike. “Our focus is on having as many items as possible working so there will be something for everyone to see and participate in over the weekend,” says chief organiser Larry Williams. For more information, see the advertisement on this page.

Mount yacht club ready for serious fun The Mount Maunganui Yacht Club has a number of seriously fun races planned for 2024, with two events, coming up in February and March. Member Kyle Bryant says on the back of a ‘pop’-ular annual Coke bottle yacht race in November, the club is now set to host a number of seriously

fun races soon. Coming up on February 17, 2024, is the Whangamata Race, and the Plate Island Race is on March 9. The Mount Maunganui Yacht Club headquarters are based in Pilot Bay at the Mount Ocean Sports Club with one of the best views of the Tauranga Harbour

and beyond. New members are welcome to join, says Kyle. “We live in a paradise here at the Mount. I enjoy getting people out on the water and opening the possibilities of sailing to them. Let’s see more of that in 2024.” Find out more at: www.mmyc.org.nz Rosalie Liddle Crawford

MEDIUM

The yachts rafting up near Motuhoa Island. Photo: Kyle Bryant.

Collect donations to help Kiwi kids with cancer Street Appeal 8 - 9 March 2024 VOLUNTEER.CHILDCANCER.ORG.NZ

SUDOKU 1

Working bee on Katikati’s new mountain bike tracks Have you been making good use of the mountain bike tracks at Waitekohekohe Recreational Park? Maybe you want to know more about them. If so, a working bee on the mountain bike tracks is on Sunday, February 11, from 9am-12 noon, at 360 Thompsons Track, Katikati. All are welcome and there’s a barbecue afterwards! The Waitekohekohe Recreational Park – a council-owned reserve in the upper hill slope catchments of the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park

covering an area of 87.982 hectares – opened to the public last February. It offers the chance explore the park by bike, VERY horse or by foot, with a range of mountain bike, EASY equestrian and bush-walking trails. Dogs are 4under 1 allowed on walking tracks provided they’re control. See: www.waitekohekohe.nz 9 For more information on the working bee, email: info@katchkatikati.org.nz 5 2 4 Or phone: 07 549 5250.

2 1 46 5 7 2 8 5 5 6 3 9 7 5 6 7 1

The Weekend Sun

27Friday 9 February 2024

Remembering Paul Parkhouse I have one gig I promised to mention, so I’m doing that right up-front.

‘Angel-Headed Hipster’, he produced for his friend, the poet Mick Innes.

‘Ship of Fools’ It should be outstanding. There followed the final B-Side Critically-acclaimed Australian Band album, ‘Ship of Fools’, duo This Way North celebrate their best, as good as any bluestheir long-awaited first album based album made here. Paul’s ‘Punching Underwater’ at the Jam songwriting chops and musical Factory on Friday, February 16, persona – the self-deprecating along with award-winning Kiwis tough guy – gel perfectly, the Albi and The Wolves. Look ‘em up, arrangements are on point, they’re on YouTube. the whole production is rich, Okay. Done. But today I want to swaggering and Kiwi through write about Paul Parkhouse, who died and through. on January 21. Simon died unexpectedly two Paul was, for nearly 20 years, years ago and now Paul has lost a a singer, harmonica player and protracted battle with pancreatic saxophonist with B-Side Band, cancer. In the interim he did which he founded with singer/ some great gigs with guitarist guitarist Simon Elton in the Josh Durning. early-2000s. The idea was to play I’m going to miss him. Miss “B-sides”, neglected gems of blues his humble funny presence. and rockabilly. They were a trio Paul Parkhouse. Paul was a real pleasure to with drummer Carl Winter and hang out with. The Groover with no bass player. the Hoover from Farmer’s Auto. And so it stayed, though the repertoire He had a thousand and one stories became increasingly dominated by Simon’s of the disreputable old days in Sydney and Christchurch – I and, particularly, Paul’s original songs. haven’t even mentioned him playing sax with outlandish 1980s Their debut recording was a six-song EP in 2006, which Christchurch band Rocko Coco – and a wealth of knowledge contained the first classic Parkhouse song, ‘Lost & Found’. that always surprised. He wrote a lot more as more albums followed. And, however modest about it he was, he was a helluva songwriter. There are more than 40 original B-Side Band ‘Pilot Bay Blues’ songs of Paul’s: that’s a musical legacy. Tauranga is poorer for There was 2008’s ‘Pilot Bay Blues’, with country rave-up his passing. ‘Carter’s Flat’ showing Paul could have happily written for the Topp Twins, whom he later name-checked on ‘Remuera ************************************ Cowboy’ from 2010’s ‘Downunder & Blues’. Both albums also Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: featured Paul’s trademark instrumentals where he unveiled an https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7awriqLZgFkrl3C56FtyQr?si antique shop’s worth of unusual harmonicas. =5db270d84d224646 The band expanded eventually, defiantly ignoring calls for a bass player by adding guitarist Mike Kirk, while Blair Williams joined briefly on drums before Ian Gilpin took over. There were more EPs and a compilation, and Paul’s creativity just seemed to grow. CORNERSTONE BAR THE BARREL ROOM I saw many B-Side Band recording sessions, Fri 9th DJ Cory 10pm Sat 10th Remedy – Modern right from the first EP, and watched Paul gaining Jazz Trio 7pm Sat 10th DJ Cory 10pm in confidence in the studio. From 2012 he took Sun 11th Karaoke 7pm over as producer. By 2018 he was in complete THE FREEPORT WITH control, composing the utterly original and CLEAVER & CO CROWN AND BADGER perfectly-judged music for a spoken word album, Fri 9th Josh Pow 5-8pm Fri 9th POW WOW DUO MEDIUM

SUDOKU 2

9.30pm

No.2223

SUDOKU 2

How to solve JACK DUSTY’S (Bureta) Sudoku! Sat 10th Plan B 2-5pm Sat 10th Mark Tapiari 7.3010.30pm

FillSun the11th gridTim soArmstrong that every row and every 3-6pm 3x3Mon square contains 12th Jack Dusty’s the digits 1 to6-7.30pm 9 Ukulele Players

THE JAM FACTORY Fri 9th Dave Alley Band 7pm *Cover charge applies Sat 10th Sweet & Salty 7pm *Cover charge applies

2 5 4 8 THE PHOENIX TAURANGA Sun 11th Dan Harris 3-6pm 1 5 7 THE RISING TIDE Wed 14th Open Mic 2 8 7-10.30pm Sun 11th Josh Pow 2-5pm Solution No.2222 How to solve 9 3 8 1 9 5 3 6 4 2 1 7 8 LATITUDE 37 TOTARA ST. Sudoku! No.2223 1 7 6 3 8 9 4 5 2 Fri 9th Sam Ryan 8.30pm Fri 9th Skram Summer Tour 3 6 2 8 4 7 5 1 9 6 3 8pm *Cover charge applies Sat 10th Angelo 8.30pm 3 9 1 8 5 6 2 4 7 Fill the grid so that Sun 11th Damo 4-7pm 1 2 5 44 6 3 8 1 6 9 5 7 4 8 every row and every 2 Wed 4 1 5 814th 2 Sam 6 7 Ryan 3 94-7pm VOODOO LOUNGE 3x3 square contains 75 1 3 6 Fri 9th Funk drop with 1 the digits 1 to 9 8 6 9 1 3 5 2 4 7 Omega b and Twenty 2 2 9 6 HOT 8 3POOLS 1 5 7 4 MOUNT 9 5-9pm 1 2 7 4 8 9 6 5 3 Sun 2 11th Tim Armstrong

SolutionNo.2222 No.2222 Solution 3 8 How9to solve 9 5 3 6 4 2 1 7 8 1 7 6 3 8 9 4 5 2 No.1622 3 Sudoku! 6 2 8 4 7 5 1 9 6 3 3 9 8 5 1 7 6 2 4 2 48 Fill the grid so that 6 6 2 7 4 9 3 5 8 1 5 8 5 7 1every 3 row and every 84 61 9 1 32 56 27 43 97 3x3 square contains 7 4 2 9 6 8 3 1 5 1 the digits 91 to 9 5 3 1 2 7 4 8 9 6 7 Solution No.1621 3 3 2 8 6 1 4 7 9 5

Friday 9 February 2024

5 7 1 2 9 8 6 3 4 9 4 6 7 5 3 2 1 8

7-8.30pm *Cover charge applies MOUNT MAUNGANUI RSA Fri 9th Lip Service 7-10.30pm

Fri 9th My goodies 90’s and 2000’s music with DJ Ayesha 9pm Sat 10th Live music with Camila 5-8pm Sat 10th Dancing beats with DJ Hectic 9pm Wed 14th Voodoo jam night 9pm

Across No. 1871 7. Massage (12) 6. Unfasten (4) 8. University (6) 11. Choke (8) 9. One millionth of a 13. Ponder (8) metre (6) 14. Fools (7) 10. Fate (7) 17. Light meal (5) 12. Nip (5) 19. .... and evens (4) 15. Crayfish (Maori) (5)21. Desire (4) C O N S E C T A I F A S H 16. Musician (3,4) OO K M 18. Township (NI) (6) AS CU UA PE ET AS LI NZ MC W T I S 20. Native bird (6) E P I C E H E A D L O N G E P D T D E G C X E MN T 22. Shop (12) M A R R OWG S T R A Y S Down Y E L U OWG T O E A T O 1. Chilli pepper (8) T A S M A N G T O S S E D A M T A I I G H T T I Y K 2. Exclude (4) H A E R E M A I I R A I N 3. Floatable (7) Z Z P E E B I R I A O N K A E V E R L A S T I N GM 4. Mild (5) F D T K E E E T O N T E R 5. Wrongdoing (8) Solution 1870

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

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• Paving & Decking • Pool Coping • Garden Design • Louvres & Pergolas • Artificial & New Lawn • Gates, Screens, Fences • Raised Gardens & Retaining • Pool Installation

Chemwash_Sun 5x2_Feb21_V2.pdf

F O R A L L YO U R E L E C T R I C A L N E E D S CALL US ON

07 575 7775 admin@ecospark.co.nz

CMY

19/02/20

LAWN MOWING

12:06 PM

RURAL ORCHARD LIFE-STYLE LARGE PROPERTY Totally CutLTD Servicing the Bay of Plenty

Mathew 021 507 182

Friday 9 February 2024

public notices

The Weekend Sun

recently departed

wanted

computers

Your one stop shop technology supplier

Computer Support Windows or Apple New Computers/ Laptops Repairs & Upgrades Phones & Mobile devices Wi-Fi and Printers

decorating School Bus Drivers

We come to you!

Get on Board with Go Bus Transport and come join our great team in Te Puke! We are looking for permanent Part-Time School Bus Drivers, school terms only.

072621000 or 0222621000 info@silverservice.co.nz www.silverservice.co.nz

funeral services

What you need:

Class 2 Licence and P endorsement (we can help you obtain this) A responsible and caring approach If you want to be part of a business that is making a diﬀerence in your community then we want to hear from you! Our recruitment process includes a Drug and Alcohol Test and Police Vetting check. Applicants will need current NZ work rights with no restrictions.

mobility We’re here to get you moving

To apply please call 021 747 611 or email Trudy.Murray@gobus.co.nz Get on board with gobus.co.nz

Call Gary: 027 279 1323

public notices

Resource Management Act 1991 Public Notice - Summary of Submissions on Western Bay of Plenty District Plan First Review Proposed Plan Change 95 – Pencarrow Estate Pongakawa The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has produced a summary of all decisions requested by submitters on Proposed Plan Change 95. Copies of the summary and the submissions can be viewed at; • Western Bay of Plenty District Council offices at Barkes Corner, Tauranga;

• Katikati, Te Puke, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach Library and Service Centres;

• Council’s website https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/districtplanchanges Further submissions close at 5pm on Monday 19th February 2024 and can be; • Made online via Council’s Eplan www.westernbay.govt.nz/eplan • Posted to: Chief Executive Officer, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Private Bag 12803, Tauranga 3143; or • Emailed to: districtplan@westernbay.govt.nz; or • Delivered to the main Council Office at Barkes Corner, Tauranga or one of Council’s service centres at 21 Main Road, Katikati; 28 Western Avenue, Ōmokoroa; 130 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke or 106 Waihi Beach Road, Waihi Beach. Further submission forms are available from Council to assist you and can also be downloaded from https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/ districtplanchanges The making of further submissions is limited to only those who are representing a relevant aspect of the public interest, or who have an interest greater than that of the general public. Further submissions can only be made to either support or oppose a submission that has already been made. John Holyoake Chief Executive Officer

Mā tō tātou hapori

For our community

Tauranga, your stories are in safe hands. Taina Savage Embalmer

0 7 5 4 3 4 7 8 0 | l e g a c y f u n e ra l s .c o. n z @legacyfuneralsnz

Keep the story alive.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 9 February 2024

31Friday 9 February 2024

curtain maker

Matua

10th FEBRUARY - SATURDAY. 79 Kings Avenue. Household items, fabrics, clothing, books, linen, tools and sports equipment, toys, games, knick knacks and all sorts available!

20 Words for $29.00incl gst with FREE signs & price stickers! bible digest

CONSIDER THE BLAMELESS, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. Psalms 37:37

NEW & ALTERATIONS Specialist in all Curtains and Roman Blinds including homes and motorhomes. Free Quotes. Ph Liz 027 711 2217

gardening

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

livestock

AC PETFOODS collect injured & unwanted cows & horses. Ph 0800 369 6269

lost & found

FOUND KITTENS & PUPPIES various places, colours and sex. Ph SPCA 07 578 0245 FOUND CAT, Grey, Female, approximately 1 year old, Devanport Road, Tauranga. Ref 599844. FOUND CAT, Black, Male, approximately 2 years old, Ngatai Road. Otumoetai. Ref 600209.

Jesus’ betrayal and the will of God

FOUND CAT, Ginger, Female, approximately 14 years old, Sheppard Street Greerton. Ref 600360.

situation wanted

RELIABLE MATURE WOMEN seek Medication/Laboratory Delivery Position. Strict protocol adhered to. Contact Vera 022 139 6312

trades & services

ROOF REPAIRS Free quotes for all maintenance of leaking roofs, gutter cleaning & repairs. Chimney maintenance & repairs. Registered roofer, 30yrs exp. Ph Peter 542 4291 or 027 436 7740

deceased

situations vacant

In Matthew chapter 27, we have the historical account of how a man called Judas, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, betrayed his closest friend. This betrayal led to Jesus being handed over to the Jewish religious authorities who “took counsel against Jesus to put him to death (Matt.27:1)”. Not long after this, Judas realised the error of his ways and he said to the authorities: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood”. They would have none of Judas’ change of mind – and Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross (Matt.27:2-35). Why did Judas betray his innocent friend? Simply put, because it was the will of God the Father. The astounding thing is this was God’s plan from before the beginning of time! Many Old and New Testament Scriptures testify to this fact – for example, Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:20 - that God’s Son would suffer and die to restore

or fix the broken relationship between people and God. Only an innocent, blemish-free sacrifice could accomplish that. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus said: “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled (Matt.26:56)”. Dear reader - with Easter approaching, let’s meditate on the amazing grace and love gift of God in His Son. We are all prone to being like Judas – a betrayer of the Son of God. But God is merciful and compassionate, giving His forgiveness to those who by faith look upon Jesus. As Isaiah prophesied: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)”. Richard Roodt, Redeemer Church Tauranga

BETH - EL la tyb la tyb

Replace CHURCH CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE with Messianic Family Messianic Family St Andrews Church, Dee St, Mt Maunganui ALL WELCOME Bible Study 9:30am - Worship Service 10:45am ALL WELCOME

SHALOM SHALOM

Also replace the words: SABBATH 10AM AM ONLINE SERVICES ONLY 10 SABBATH MountSDA@gmail.com OTUMOETAI PRIMARY OTUMOETAI PRIMARY Joel van Ameringen Joel & & Sharon Sharon vanyou! Ameringen With: We look forward to seeing

02 2 11 7 76 68 8 0 04 43 3 0

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

You are welcome to worship with us each Sabbath (Saturday) St Andrews Church, Dee St, Mt Maunganui Bible Study 9:30am • Worship Service 10:45am Enquiries 021 277 1909

We look forward to seeing you! mtmaunganui.adventist.org.nz

S2214cbMount

curriculum vitae

CVs THAT STAND OUT. A C.V. For You can help you look great on paper. Targeted or generic cover letters also available. Samples to view on facebook www.facebook.com/ acvforyou or Ph/text 021 27 27 912

Churches Active In Our Community

Friday 9 February 2024

The Weekend Sun

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Offer expires 29/02/2024

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