The Weekend Sun - 26 July 2024

Sharp shooter

Photo: John Borren

Oi! Where w h?

It was a ‘what-the-hell?’

moment – a queue at the DX Mailbox in the Cherr ywood shopping centre

A queue of four dusty old grey heads, but still a queue, and at 1 30pm on a Saturday afternoon

What was to get overly excited about at 1 30pm on Saturday afternoon by a blue mailbox?

What was the urgent need to get something in the post right then and there? Or was it to be the first ever senior citizens ram raid on a post box?

Then a late model Kia screeches to a halt The door’s flung open and a woman ’ s brandishing an orange envelope “I tr ust you have seriously considered your choices,” she says to our DX queue of four She swelled it to five “ We don’t want or need any more of the malarkey we endured four years ago, ” she warned

“So no numpties ” With that, her orange envelope was posted, and I presume, a vote for a ne w broom through the council chamber And no numpties

Locked and loaded

Then with fist clenched, index finger locked and loaded, and a captive audience of four, she fired her par ting shot “Remember a vote is one thing The consequences of that vote is another. Think smar t, think strategically ” And with that the electoral cr usader was gone Perhaps that’s over-dramatising what happened, but it should work well for the movie version of this stor y And a whole week out from election day, this town was pumping We sensed we were on

the brink of something quite impor tant, a watershed moment in Tauranga If this bit of street theatre was anything to go by, the first council election in four years was going to be a humdinger

Fevered voters would be beating a path to the ballot box

Remember the outcries before the election? “Power back to the council” and “ Tauranga demands democracy” and “ We want control” Remember “Commissioners be gone”? Or similar feelings The message being that commissioners appointed by the Government to do the job of a dysfunctional council were now past their use-by date and we wanted democracy back

fully elected council And then we stay away from the ballot box in droves

One might be forgiven for wondering if we deser ve democracy? This is what our forefathers went to war and died for – to protect our freedoms and privileges like the right to vote

And in some countries people still die in the streets while fighting for that right, to have a say over who occupies the offices of power

So what happened last Saturday when we were given one of the great privileges of the free world, the right to vote? To have our one tr ue say on the future of the city, who r uns it and in what direction?

Ts u n a m i o f n o t h i n g n e s s

What happened was a great tsunami of nothingness

We abrogated We failed ourselves Great swathes of the city disenfranchised themselves, could not be bothered exercising their right to vote.

Remember the outcr y at the suggestion of a hybrid council made up of commissioners and elected representatives? We demanded a

But here in Tauranga many of us, most of us in fact, can ’ t be bothered ticking a fe w boxes

Ju s t d i d n’t b o t h e r

People say they care, but have demonstrated they don’t

All the publicity beforehand was telling us this council election was a pivotal time for the city Seems not! And the staggeringly low voting numbers suppor t that notion

There were 109,364 eligible voters in Tauranga City last weekend But just 41,427 (plus special votes), or just 37 88per cent (with special votes 38 7 per cent) of them cast their ballot

That means about 68,000 eligible residents didn’t bother to vote This is about eight times the population of Otūmoetai, about twice the population of Pāpāmoa And the big question is, what would the council have looked like had ever yone exercised their right?

So why didn’t they? Here’s some less-thanscientific research

Excuse #1: “The voting papers are still sitting on the dining room table.” Cue apologetic laughter. “I didn’t get around to reading all the stuff up “Didn’t have time ”

Excuse #2: “I forgot One vote won ’ t make a difference ”

Excuse #3: “I think I thre w the voting forms out

Excuse #4: “ Who cares?”

Don’t bend my ear

I suppose I care I don’t mean to sound sanctimonious, but I was a tad aggrieved about what happened to our last duly elected council It was an embarrassment

So I laboured over my options to ensure histor y didn’t repeat itself Ticked one box one night, scratched it out the next, then ticked it again the third night What a responsibility

But what I won ’ t be doing for the next four years is indulging ever y complaint about bus stops, or the lack of them, traffic congestion or rates, or living seawalls, or ne w civic precincts and ar t galleries and museums, or the wonder ful Māori adornments down Cameron Rd

First, I will be asking whether you voted Did you have your say when it counted rather than needlessly and futilely bending my ear for the next 10 minutes?

Your thoughts? Email: hunter wells@nzme co nz

A newly resurfaced pétanque terrain at Kulim Park destroyed from a motorcyclist tearing it up for the second time is frustrating the game ’ s local group

Matua resident Alf Weston says Kulim Park pétanque players were dismayed when they arrived to play on the morning of July 10 to find “during the previous night, one or more motorcyclists had been doing wheel spins and wheelies over the newly-resurfaced pétanque terrain, destroying the special surface council staff had spent months preparing”.

Alf says on July 17 the terrain had been ridden over and trashed again. “It is so frustrating. A pétanque terrain is constructed, hard clay pan, topped with a thin layer of fine gravel As a result of this deliberate vandalism, a large portion of the surface has been destroyed, with various surface layers now mixed into a slurr y the pistes [playing strips] is virtually unplayable.”

Alf says players have raked and tidied as much as they can “but the damage is deeper than desirable” A police spokesperson has confirmed police received a report of willful damage “which is believed to have occurred between Tuesday afternoon July 9 and Wednesday morning July 10. “The case has been noted for intel purposes.

“As there were no lines of inquir y, the case has been closed pending information that would assist in identifying those responsible.”

Pétanque player Ian, who wants to remain anonymous, was first on the scene after the first vandalism. “My heart sank when I saw the mindless damage inflicted on a wonderful asset.

“I’ve been playing pétanque at Kulim Park for the last three-four years and have watched the council’s contractors painstakingly build a raised, well drained court (terrain) for the public to enjoy

“I’d imagine many thousands of dollars from the council’s park budget was poured into the project.

“Perhaps part of the problem is there is no signage to explain to park users what the area is for?” Ian says children and parents need to understand it’s not a big sandpit or bike track.

Tauranga City Council spaces and places operations manager Warren Aiken says when council was notified of the situation, they sent a maintenance team to assess the damage.

“The terrain was raked level, and we expect it will settle further once it gets some rain on it.

“The community pétanque court was resurfaced as part of the Kulim Park upgrade in 2023 and cost $12,500.” He says there are no plans at this stage to fence the area.

*Read this stor y in full at: www.sunlive.co.nz

Alf Weston at the Kulim Park pétanque court after the site was cleaned up.

Photo: John Borren.

Ayla Yeoman

upsetting pétanque players.

Waipuna Hospice CEO resigns

After 16 years

Richard Thurlow has decided to resign as Waipuna Hospice chief executive.

Waipuna’s director of human resources and quality, Becky Gardiner, will assume the role of interim CEO.

Waipuna Hospice board chair woman Debbie Pattullo says under Richard’s leadership the hospice tripled its number of volunteers and patients cared for, doubled its clinical staff and secured triple the prior amount of funding from the DHB/Te Whatu Ora. “Richard’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Waipuna Hospice into the respected institution it is today ”

Stolen beehives

A man who stole more than 330 beehives cost the industr y at least $184,000 and did “immense harm” to the wider ecosystem

Judge Christina Cook told Jacob Williams the impact of his well-planned and long-term theft of hives from apiaries across the North Island “could not be underestimated”.

The judge referred to victim impact statements during the 26-year-old’s sentencing in Tauranga District Court this week, which said some recovered hives were full of disease.

“Untreated diseases within these hives could spread to other hives in the area causing further harm to the bee population and the ecosystem, ” said honey producer Comvita’s victim impact statement.

Groundwater drilling

Work is to begin to drill a new, deeper groundwater bore hole in Ōmokoroa.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has a groundwater bore at 336 Ōmokoroa Rd where it regularly monitors groundwater levels and water quality for Ōmokoroa. The current bore has holes in the casing, the steel tubes that create the walls of the bore hole.

BOPRC is going to seal off the bore below the holes and repurpose it, so it can still be used for monitoring the shallower-aquifer, groundwater layer A new bore hole will be drilled to a deeper aquifer so there’ll be bores monitoring two layers of groundwater aquifers. This work starts July 29.

Veteran savours national glor y

Experienced Tauranga lawn bowler Sue Hodges is celebrating her fourth national title after a commanding performance in the champion of champions singles in Dunedin

The BOP representative, who plays from Tauranga’s club in the Domain, was unbeaten throughout the event.

Sue celebrated in the city where she started her bowls in 1995 at the Logan Park Business Women’s Bowling Club.“It was great, ” says Sue. “It’s such a strong field and I was stoked just to qualify Then I took it game by game. ”

The New Zealand Transport Agency is re-examining the installation of a median barrier on two sections of State Highway 2 between Waihī and Ōmokoroa.

The decision was announced on Tuesday night just hours before a community-organised meeting regarding the issue.

“ We’re delighted that they’re going to reconsider,” says former Western Bay of Plenty district councillor Mike Williams

However, he points out that: “Unless this review includes input from the locals, I don’t have much faith in what NZTA have to say ”

In a press release by NZTA on July 23, chief executive Nicole Rosie says: “This corridor has had a significant number of deaths and serious injured, and has increasing volumes of traffic It is also a key corridor for the communities who live along or off the state highway”.

“ We are seeking to strike a balance between achieving the best safety outcomes for all road users and a design that meets local trip needs.”

NZTA’s announcement also stated median barrier installation will continue from Wright Rd to Aongatete bridge.

“This will mean Wright Rd and Dawson Rd will become left-in left-out with a roundabout at Matahui/Lockington roads – approximately 1.2km distance from Wright Rd,” says the NZTA press release.

Bulk liquid cartage business Porter

Transport manager Bruce Porter says these median barriers still set to go up will cause massive disruption to the area

The Wine Portfolio and Seeka Packhouse lay either side of SH2 where the median barriers are being installed

Transporters exiting these warehouses will be unable to cross to the other side of

the road due to the median barriers and will instead have to take a long detour to reach a roundabout to go in their intended direction, says Bruce.

No common sense

“ We can go into the winer y from the Tauranga side, however, there is no way that we can exit this site with large vehicles going towards the Katikati way due to the barriers The Seeka packhouse across the road is in the same predicament... This issue into the winer y is going to have issues for Mainfreight as we operate in and out of the winer y daily

“There is no common sense with these people from NZTA ” Bay of Plenty-based ACT MP Cameron Luxton welcomes NZTA’s decision to reconsider sections of the median barriers between Katikati and Tauranga.

“This news will come as an enormous relief for residents I’ve met. While it is difficult to say exactly what pushed NZTA to make this announcement, it’s clear the fierce advocacy and protest of the locals has been effective. As a locallybased MP, I was contacted by residents

tearing their hair out over the prospect of being blocked from turning right out of their roads. Residents of affected roads would’ve been forced to drive kilometres down SH2 in the wrong direction to find a roundabout before turning around. This could add thousands of kilometres of annual travel for regular commuters

Got the memo

“On June 6, I wrote to the Transport Minister about this issue, and the median barriers were a major topic raised at Act’s public meeting in Tauranga last week.

“ While I understand it is difficult for a minister to inter vene in operational decisions that have already reached the implementation phase, it appears NZTA has one way, or another, got the memo ” Mike says while SH2 residents are pleased with NZTA’s u-turn they’re worried the same thing will happen like last time and NZTA won ’ t listen to locals.

“They proved it last time that they would not listen to us The only way they are going to get credibility is by including us in the decision-making and consultation.”

Ayla Yeoman Fierce advocacy and protests by SH2 and adjacent road residents have occurred in recent weeks Photo: supplied

Tauranga’s first council in four years will begin its official duties next week, following the election on Saturday, July 20.

The new Tauranga Mayor Mahé Dr ysdale and nine councillors will be sworn in at a Tauranga City Council meeting next Friday, August 2. The election was hotly contested with 75 people competing for 10 seats at the council table.

Dr ysdale won the election with a landslide 6000 votes more than former Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless, the final results show

The nine ward councillors are Jen Scoular for Mauao/Mount Maunganui, Glen Crowther for Matua-Ōtūmoetai, Rod Taylor for Te Papa, Kevin Schuler for Bethlehem, Marten Rozeboom for Tauriko, Hautapu Baker for Welcome Bay, Rick Curach for Arataki, Steve Morris for Pāpāmoa and Mikaere Sydney for the new Te Awanui Māori seat.

Eight out of the 10 are fresh faces on the council Rick Curach will ser ve his seventh term on council after missing out in 2019. Steve Morris was part of the council in 2019 that was discharged of its duties and replaced with government-appointed commissioners in Februar y 2021. This time the team of 10 will have a fouryear term, which is a first for New Zealand. Mahé Dr ysdale told Local Democracy Reporting his priority is working with his team of nine councillors to “realise the potential of Tauranga [Tauranga] is a good city at the moment, so it’s

taking it from good

“The voters hav positive future for the city’ ”

The new mayor plans to meet with each councillor individually to discuss their priorities and what skills they bring to the table.

After those meetings, Dr ysdale says he will choose a deputy mayor and form council committees. Asked if he was concerned that only two of the team had been on council before, he responded: “It doesn’t bother me at all”

“I just want successful people around the table that know how to get stuff done. That’s much more important to me than having experience.

“ We are a team and it’s about using ever yone ’ s skills to deliver ”

Meet Tauranga’s new council

One thing Dr ysdale says is disappointing is the voter turnout. It was 38.7 per cent after all the votes were counted – lower than the 2019 election, which had a 40.3 per cent turnout.

“It’s a little bit disappointing about the turnout in voting, especially after not having that opportunity for the last four years.

“Our job, as councillors, is to actually engage with the community Make them feel valued and that their views are heard ”

“Hopefully that will lead to them engaging more in selecting who represents them.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

ReelClean production staff Akshita

and

CEO Harleen Bains and finance manager Kaitlyn Napier. Photo: John Borren

Students solve that fishy problem!

Year 13 students from Ōtūmoetai College have created a product to wash away the long-held woe of many a fisherman

“ We’re selling soap for fishermen to remove the smell and residue after one wash,” says ReelClean CEO and 17-year-old, Harleen Bains.

“Our soap is handmade of natural New Zealand ingredients including pumice and aniseed oil, so it leaves you smelling of liquorice.”

Harleen is leading the six-strong student team of Kaitlyn Napier as finance manager, production staff Gaia Bowers, Akshita Saxena and Jake Sykes and Jazmin Howan on marketing.

ReelClean is a venture for the students’ entr y in the Young Enterprise Scheme – a nationwide programme designed to foster entrepreneurial skills among high school students by giving them the experience of running their own business.

Ōtūmoetai College’s business studies teacher

Jason McNamara is a keen fisherman who is impressed with the soap He says ReelClean has taken a product that was originally invented in their Year 12 class and developed it further

“Their product must be sustainable and innovative,” says Jason.

“On top of being an eco-friendly, biodegradable soap that really does combat those fish bait smells, they’ve now included tea tree oil to add antibacterial properties.”

Jason says the students are making bars of soap in their spare time, and have three months to sell them then review how effective their business has been. If successful, they may get selected for the YES regional finals on October 22.

The students are selling ReelClean soap online at: reelcleansoap.company.site and at local markets and plan to donate a percentage of profits to the Wish4Fish charity Debbie Griffiths

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Saxena

Jazmin Howan with

natural looking improvements following treatment with dermal fillers

John Bertrand Collectables Buying in Tauranga and Bay of Plenty Next Week

Once again, the gold and collectables buyers from Wellington company John Ber trand Limited are visiting Tauranga and Bay of Plenty next week Mr Tony Grant from the company says, “If

“Next

Gold & Silver At Near Record Prices

During

Interesting Small Collectables Wanted

The buyers from John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd, visiting Tauranga and Bay

pens and other small antique or historical items If you have something unusual which you would like to sell please bring it into one of our venues we would like the chance to at least have a look at it” said Tony Grant, buyer for the Company “ We will consider anything which may be of interest to a collector he said

Some Big Dollars in Early Banknotes

Collectors Need War Medals

Currently,

People with Alzheimer’s pick up paintbr ushes

ay lenty g

local people living with Alzheimer’s to create artwork to show in a first-of-its-kind exhibition to open in Tauranga next month.

The Artful Mind exhibition will open at The Incubator Galler y on August 28 – and will be the vibrant product of eight artists spending time with 12 residents to create the artwork on show

The idea is the brainchild of Tauranga geriatric psychiatrist Bronwyn Copeland, who is also an award-winning artist – and had the inkling to put her two passions together for the greater good.

“I love putting two strangers together to come up with a piece of artwork,” says Bronwyn, who is facilitating the project.

“ We’re working with people who are losing their memor y – so art can capture a moment in time and be a way for them to express emotions.”

about life, travel and his passions and crossed over each other’s painting, filling in all the gap “ We met three more times, and he also star ted painting when I wasn ’ t there I’ve seen that creating has an amazing way of unblocking neural pathways, making a connection through expression ”

Together, Jacki and the man have contributed more than a dozen pieces to show at the exhibition “He lives by himself, so ar t has filled a void in his life,” says Jacki

“I’ve spoken to his daughter and suggested she stock him up with ar t

ronwyn

BOP artists work with individuals living with dementia Bronwyn is working to create ar tworks with four people

“It’s ver y much a creative adventure One piece metamorphosed into a sculptural piece as the lady and I worked together; another lady loved quilting and suggested stitching into the canvas, ” says Bronwyn

No judgement

Artist Jacki Barklie is working with a Tauranga man who has early onset Alzheimer’s “This was a wonderful journey that delighted us both,” says Jacki “He’d never painted before and seemed a little hesitant, so I explained to him there was no judgment; we were just two five-year-olds painting and expressing on paper ” They started working at each end of a two-metre piece of paper “During the process we talked

supplies It was a fabulous journey for me, and I’d like to think I’ve encouraged him and shown him a different way of expressing himself ”

Huge variety

Bronwyn says there’s “ a huge variety of work being produced” for the exhibition, which in turn will suppor t the Alzheimer’s Society

The August 29-September 21 exhibition is being showcased into September, which is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month And most works will be for sale with funds raised going to the Alzheimer’s Society

Bay of Plenty artists are collaborating with Artful Mind has seen Bronwyn and seven fellow

Tauranga geriatric psychiatrist and artist Bronwyn Copeland came up with idea to collaborate with those living with Alzheimer’s to create art. Photo: John Borren.

auranga came hot : Borren

Debbie Griffiths

Sweet Valerie

Valerie and her four siblings were found as tiny puppies in a box at a park. The young and vulnerable babies should still have been under the comfort and care of their mum but luckily, a caring member of the public found them and took them to the SPCA Since then, they’ve thrived, gaining lots of weight and have become lovely, lively puppies that are ready to be adopted. Valerie is a sweetie inside and out; she loves a cuddle and to play with

her toys. She is confident, friendly and loves to meet new people and learn new things. She’ll reward your care with a lifetime of unconditional love! If you ’ re ready to welcome a new member to your family phone the SPCA on: 07 578 0245. Ref: 608990

Right on target

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Taking first place at the World Clay Target Shooting championships in the United Kingdom last week, James Sullivan was one of the few people around him with dry eyes

“Everyone was pretty tearful, but I was really in the zone I was in a pretty solid mental state, ” says the Te Puke teen – who at age 17 is the youngest winner of the International Clay Target Shooting Federation World DTL title

James is now back on his family kiwifruit orchard in Paengaroa after winning the open grade – the youngest ever to do so – and the junior title

Up against 483 competitors from around the world, James shot 299/300 targets and tied with Daniel Price from England; and after shooting a further 75, he went on to win the title, three points ahead of his nearest competitor

‘Parked the bus’

“It was a massive thing I shouldn’t really have won because he had it in the bag,” says James “I was in the lane next to Daniel so I saw him miss his fourth target I kept calm and cool and ‘parked the bus’ and ended up shooting perfectly “I’d been expecting to take a placing, so to win was pretty amazing ”

His home club had been watching with excitement as James moved from sixth place on day one, to third on day two, then into the top spot “We’re absolutely over the moon, ” says John Beaver from Whakatane Clay Shooting Club “We’re a small club and James has been with us since he was 11 years old, so we ’ re all thrilled for him ” NZ Clay Target Association

executive officer Adrienne Sears describes it as a remarkable achievement for a person so young

“James’ win at the 2024 world championship is truly outstanding James has worked hard to achieve these results and is a regular competitor both at local and national events ”

James started shooting when he in primary school at Te Puke small bore rifle range and transitioned into shotgun shooting in 2018

Pest control

Target practice at home also served as pest control, keeping down rabbit numbers on his family’s rural property “It took me about a year to make any sort of movement in the sport ”

He then rose through the ranks, taking out both North Island and South Island Secondary School Championships in 2022 Last year James won all three South Island, North Island and NZ Secondary School Championships

He was awarded the 2023 DTL Long Run award in March for shooting 451 targets straight, plus the NZCTA DTL Shooter of the Year for 2023 for winning three provincial titles, one provincial High Gun, two Island Titles, one Island High Gun, three national titles, runner-up placings, and the World DTL Junior runner-up title

“I’ve shot every week this year, so I’ve put in a lot of hours,” says James “It takes a lot of concentration to be able to focus when you ’ re shooting – especially when it’s for something meaningful like a title ”

James will defend his world title in 2026 “I won ’ t let any pressure get to me Shooting is 90 per cent mental grit I just go in there, aim at the targets and treat it as just another shoot ”

Up against 483 competitors from around the world, James Sullivan won the open title. Photo: John Borren.

Debbie Griffiths

The feather y family behind

In 2008 Sheryl Baron found herself unexpectedly taking on a significant responsibility when her son Hamish approached her with a unique request She calls it “ reverse inheritance”

“Mum, I’m going to vet school in Brisbane, will you look after my birds for me until I come back?”

Hamish left his 30-40 budgies in Sheryl’s care as he embarked on his educational journey at the University

of Queensland

Attracted by the university’s world-class veterinary faculty and outstanding hockey programme, Hamish, who had played hockey for the NZ Blacksticks, chose Queensland because he hadn’t been accepted at Massey University

Initially going for five years, his study of avian and exotic pets grew into a business with now 10 The Unusual Pet Vets clinics spread across Australia

During Hamish’s prolonged absence, his parents moved to the

Bay of Plenty – and Hamish and Sheryl joined the Tauranga Bird Club This club has grown to more than 80 members, and has managed, after 30 years, to secure hosting rights for the Topflite National Bird Show for 2024 The prestigious event is set to take place this weekend at Mercury Baypark

“We’re about to open a new clinic in Sydney, but when they got the national bird show, I was like: ‘Right, I’ll book my flights’,” says Hamish, who, along with Tauranga exotic pet vet Martin Earles, will provide avian veterinarian services at the show

He says on shifting to Tauranga from Auckland in 2015, mum Sheryl joined the club to be a part of the bird keeping community in her new city Hockey, scouts, birds

“Mum told them: ‘’I’m happy to help” She’s always been a huge community volunteer ”

He recalls Sheryl being a cub leader then group leader of their local Scout group in Auckland where he grew up

“She’s been involved in hockey, Scouts, and birds

“Basically, everything that any of her sons have done, she’s got around it and supported us to make that happen

“And she’s done the same thing with the bird club, where in the first year she helped; and in the second year became president ”

Despite her significant contributions, Sheryl insists that the club’s growth is the result of a large team of volunteers working together

“The coolest thing for me is that the Tauranga Bird Club is one of the only bird clubs in New Zealand that is growing,” says Hamish

“And it’s probably why they’ve been rewarded with the national bird show this year ”

We’re

Sher yl Baron with her bird aviar y. Photo: John Borren

national bird show in town

Hamish emphasises that much of his return this week is about supporting the hobby that supported him during his formative years He is looking forward to seeing birdkeepers at the show who he first met as a 15-year-old “ l f h b d l k i h

“A lot of the bird people I knew are now in their 80s and 90s, coming from Auckland and Hamilton “I’m still that kid who came to the Auckland Budgie Club and won Best Junior “They gave me some birds to help me get started.”

Specialist avian veterinarian Dr Hamish Baron.

Hamish fondly remembers being the only 15-year-old at bird shows

Mentoring and knowledge

here, you might as well do the vet work to make sure that all the birds are healthy, and that if there’s any issues you can deal with them’.”

journey Everyone feels like they belong, and the club is doing awesome things,” says Hamish Details

“I l o H a d s increasing

The older bird keepers mentored him, providing b d and sharing their knowledge was back in the day when you had landlines A f the old guys would call me up and talk to me he phone about birds for an hour ” notes the challenges facing diminishing clubs bird keepers today, such as smaller property busier lifestyles and increasing costs ry few people can dedicate the amount of time s needed As a kid, I was able to have an aviary y backyard in Auckland um and Dad would take me to the shows. parents have other pressures – having to work eekends or do extra shifts to pay the mortgage ard to then encourage your kids to breed birds the backyard as well ”

Over the years Sheryl has transitioned from being Hamish’s stand-in bird keeper to becoming a useful member of the NZ Federation of Bird Clubs, as well as taking on the local club’s presidency

“V th is I i “Mum N o I ’ hard i

“She has this ability to empower people to feel like they’re part of any group She knows how to motivate them and get them to buy into the

The Topflite National Bird Show, with 1435 birds on show, is open to the public at the stadium lounge at Mercury Baypark Arena on Saturday, July 27, from 9am-5pm, and Sunday, July 28 from 9am-12pm Entry is $5 adult, $3 child, preschoolers free, family $12

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Despite these challenges, he says the Tauranga Bird Club has transformed into an inclusive and thriving community, attracting artists who paint birds, birdwatchers, and others who help conservation efforts at Otanewainuku They have a common interest and aren ’ t all le who show birds Passionate people who to be part of a community group that’s doing things ”

e national show

mish is “ super excited” about the national show ially planning to help set up, he has taken on iple roles including avian vet work, a Q&A breeders, a talk for the sponsor Topflite, and g the MC at the dinner riginally, I was coming over just to help, set up ng, that sort of stuff Then Mum said: ‘If you ’ re

thriving community, attracting artists birds, birdwatchers, and others who help with “They t p Passionate g d i a w er e h n I m l h b “Originally, coming just s g

Photo: supplied

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Spor ts fun to celebrate RSE workers

Entries to the first-ever RSE Workers’ Sports Festival in the Bay of Plenty – to be held August 22 – are closing this Monday, July 29.

The kiwifruit industr y is hosting the festival to honour Recognised Seasonal Employers workers who’ve been doing hard graft in the region this season. The event will take place at Mount Maunganui’s Blake Park, and feature rugby sevens, six-a-side volleyball and seven-a-side football, with more than 400 RSE workers expected to participate.

Inspired

The festival was inspired by a successful RSE workers’ rugby game held last August between post-har vest suppliers Seeka and Eastpack

The game, which drew 60 players from each company and a sizeable crowd, highlighted the enthusiasm for sports among RSE workers. Graeme Crossman, former All Black and Bay of Plenty Rugby Patron, supports the new festival, which will provide an opportunity for

RSE workers to enjoy a day of competitive fun and cultural exchange. “Bay of Plenty Rugby approached us with the concept of the sports festival…It’s fantastic to see an event that honours their significant contribution to the kiwifruit industr y ”

Crucial

Zespri’s government and community relations manager Rachel Lynch say after a robust growing season “and with our largest-ever crop of 197 million trays of NZ fruit, this event is a perfect way to celebrate the end of a successful har vest”.

“The RSE workforce has been crucial to our achievements, and we ’ re thrilled to partner with BOP Rugby to show our appreciation.” BOP Rugby partnerships manager Neil Alton is grateful for support from sport codes, sponsors and businesses to make the festival happen. “The festival’s focus on ‘Connections, Fun, and Culture’ reflects our appreciation for the RSE workers.” Entries close July 29. To get involved, email: neil@boprugby.co.nz Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Seeka’s 2023 RSE rugby team. Photo: supplied.

Remarkable Remy!

Meet Remy, a 15-week-old female Staffy-cross that SPCA staff expect will grow into a medium to large dog This wee girl has a sweet nature, loves to play and will take herself to her crate when she needs a nap Remy is eager to please, learns quickly and has already mastered toileting outside, sitting, waiting and coming to you when you call She is currently fostered in a

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Pinkinky’s 50-year

Tauranga man Rober t Pinker ton, known as Pinky, is being recognised this month for 50 years in the fire ser vice

Star ting on June 28, 1973, Pinky has completed 51 years with no intentions of stopping any time soon

“As a child, I was brought up at the Tauranga Fire Station My dad was station officer and we lived in the little old warden house next door,” he says

“My father did 24 years as a volunteer at Tauranga, so with my 51 years, and my cousin Brian Pinker ton, also known as Pinky, who has done 45-plus years – between us we ’ ve done more than 115 years. ”

Brian, who is based at Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade, along with Rober t ’ s wife Michal and two of their four children, joined Rober t at Tauranga Racecourse on July 20 for a Double Gold Star Honours Night

Rober t received an award for his 50 years of ser vice, while fellow Tauranga firefighter Melvern Wainwright was honoured for 25 years Other firefighters also received awards

In va l u a b l e e x p e r t i s e

“ We are privileged and honoured to have Pinky as our VSO [ Volunteer Suppor t Officer]

“His knowledge and exper tise are invaluable,” says Keta Davis, speaking on behalf of Rober t ’ s operational suppor t team and the volunteers under his wing “He has been a great mentor to us all and we look for ward to the many more things we have to learn from him ”

An Ōtūmoetai College foundation student, Rober t first worked for Government Life, now Tower Insurance

“I got transferred to Wellington with Government Life and was a volunteer firefighter

from age 17 with Wellington Fire Police I was a volunteer for the next 23 years ”

After 12 years he shifted to Auckland, continuing as a Fire Police volunteer while working as a tow tr uck driver for a panelbeating firm, before returning to Tauranga to work for Tauranga Recycling, and Chubb Fire

“I did 23 years with Fire Police until I got full-time employment in 1996, with the Ne w Zealand Fire Ser vice

“They did a big recr uitment back then and took on 240 firefighters permanently They hadn’t employed career firefighters for years ”

After completing three months’ training in Christchurch in 1996, he was deployed to the Nor thland station in Wellington for about eight years until landing a position in Kawerau

Ho m e a g a i n

“The only way back to Tauranga then was through Kawerau I did 14 months’ work there, then finally home again to Tauranga ”

One of Tauranga’s Blue Watch Cre w, his days of being back on the tr ucks came to an end after a brain haemorrhage in 2015, which came after two knee replacements

“ To get back on the tr ucks after a knee operation, you have to go through the physical competency test, which I managed to do, but then after the brain haemorrhage I wasn ’ t allowed back on the tr ucks ”

After a full recover y, he says local managers created a job for him as a VSO

“I look after five stations – Waihī Beach, Athenree, Matakana Island, Katikati and Ōmokoroa ”

Rober t has also been involved with the Tauranga Emergency Ser vices Food Drive committee for about eight years and, with Michal has been a member of the Tauranga

Robert Pinkerton at the Tauranga Fire Station.

Photo: John Borren.

firefighting milestone

Samba Band “Michal and I have been married for 33 years, after meeting in Wellington I’ve always been so grateful for how she has cared for me, after two knee operations and the brain haemorrhage ”

with the community, doin

Rober t has always enjoyed working with the community, doin demonstrations and taking programmes to local schoo

Bi g fi re s

He’s been at the scene of significant fires over his fu of ser vice, including the fi the multistorey Hannahs f in Wellington in 1977 and Broadcasting House fire be Parliament in 1997.

“I was driving the second arriving at Broadcasting H that day

“Most of our cre w were almost killed when the flo they were on dropped but due to the quick action of the station officer, they managed to get to the walls before falling throug the floor ”

He also recalls the 1984 River vie w factor y chemical fire in Auckland, with man firefighters impacted by th chemical contamination “ fire I was manning the can feeding the firefighters ”

He’s also officer in charge of the operational suppor t unit based in Tauranga, which provides scene safety at vehicle accidents, and he r uns a mobile canteen for feeding cre ws during major incidents He says firefighters today attend vehicle crashes and medical incidents, plus other emergencies alongside their community work

No slowing down

has happened that I’ve attended ” But Pinky has no plans to slow down “Nope, I enjoy working with my volunteer stations and the career staff ”

Pinkerton looking through the of photos and news clippings assembled by

“Ever y time I go over the Kaimai Range on State Highway 29, I can pinpoint where ever y major accident h y o ing ings R

Robert Pinkerton s father Station Officer Johnnie Pinkerton driving the Tauranga Volunteer Fire Brigade No. 2 fire engine, with Rob sitting behind him aged about 5 years. Photo: supplied

Michal Pinkerton. hoto: Rosalie Liddle C d

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

ober

Offi

Adver tisement Placed by Ron Chamberlain

Early maritime in print

Having two books on the go is part of Dr Trevor Bentley’s usual work process, knocking out a book ever y two years on average.

The Pāpāmoa author and historian has been able to dig up some of the most interesting and important events in Tauranga’s past, many taking its occupation by British and forces in 1864. His latest book, ‘Early Mari Tauranga’, number nine in the work he’s produced, has 370 sections, and 42 chapters. An first of two volumes, richly ill

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old sketches, paintings, and photographs.

For hundreds of years daring Polynesian migrantsettlers and resident iwi plied the harbour waters and seas of Tauranga Moana in a variety of waka.

Starting with voyaging canoes and then Māori waka, Trevor’s book covers the histor y of the vessels, visitors, residents and events in Tauranga’s early maritime period from 1200s-1860s.

Trevor provides colourful accounts of the voyaging, war, utility and dugout canoes, before diving into the first interactions with Pakeha between 1769 and the 1830s.

Busy little port

“ Tauranga had a reputation as a safe port for whaling ships, with no ships ever being attacked here between the 1790s and 1840s.

“It was a quite a busy little whaling port at times, with three whalers, the Vittoria, Guide and Prince of Denmark, anchored in the harbour at one time in 1829.

“The records on local whaling are limited as the captains were quite secretive; no Pākehā were living here then, and from 1838, resident missionaries didn’t want anything to do with whalers ” Captain Cook’s visit, pirates, the old whaling days, Dumont d’Ur ville’s Astrolabe, and then the turbulent 1820s, are all covered in 10 fascinating chapters. The 1830s arrive and with that decade we read about the intertribal musket warfare, the missionar y peacemakers, and the resident traders.

Following this is a section titled ‘The Treaty Decade’ with the book ending with a chapter on the shipping trade from 1840s-1864.

“ We had lots of pirates visiting and hiding here,” says Trevor, who is a long-term member of the

New Zealand Militar y Historical Society

He recounts the tale of visiting Australian convict pirates whose actions in 1806 began the Musket Wars which impacted on local iwi.

“ Tauranga’s seas and harbour waters are central in any historical account of its past – the zones where much of its histor y has been made and remade,” says Trevor A former secondar y teacher, Trevor taught histor y for 25 years, and was head of a social studies department before becoming an adult education director for four colleges.

“I loved teaching about New Zealand’s histor y and after retiring eight years ago, I finally got a chance to research and write full-time.”

Promote

enthusiasm

To help promote enthusiasm for local histor y, Trevor, who has a PhD in NZ histor y, has donated 20 copies of ‘Early Maritime Tauranga’ to Pāpāmoa College’s histor y department.

Describing Tauranga’s seas, seagoing vessels and seafarers, ‘Early Maritime Tauranga’ also covers the stor y of visiting European explorers, whaling skippers, pirates, sea-traders, hydrographers, shipwreck sur vivors, fugitive convicts and sailors, reflecting the courage and seamanship of captains and crews of our harbour’s early trading fleets Trevor’s next book, volume two in this series, describes shipping during the Tauranga Wars of 1864 and 1867, visiting immigrant ships, the second golden age of sail, the age of steam ships and age of scows. He’s also writing a book to be titled ‘Māori sailors on Euro-American whalers 1790s-1890s’.

Dr Trevor Bentley

Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

‘It’s making better women better people’

A Tauranga woman is being congratulated for achieving the highest coaching qualification on offer in Kiwi netball Helena Hoult has completed the Netball New Zealand-accredited Performance Coach Qualification – only the second coach from Tauranga Netball Centre to achieve this.

Helena – who was Waikato-BOP Magic’s assistant coach for 2022-2023, 2022’s SHNL head coach, 2023’s SHNL assistant coach and is in her third season coaching Tauranga Open Women’s team for NNZ’s Open Championships – says achieving her PQC is a “natural progression” of coaching netball in the past 15-odd years.

But scratch below the surface and you’ll find her passion for coaching netball runs deep “Coaching allows me to provide an environment where players can develop their skills, build confidence,

Photo: John Borren

and achieve their best. This continuous journey of nurturing and seeing growth in my players is what inspires me to coach.”

Helena played netball from a young age in Auckland. About 17 years ago she moved her family to Tauranga, where she whakapapas to, and her daughter began playing netball.

When her daughter joined a Year 1 school team Helena began coaching and has never looked back. “ When she got into Junior 1 and Premier 1 college teams I really enjoyed working with athletes of a higher ability – so I did my Community Coach award, known as CCA1.”

After completing her CCA2 and joining the SHNL national netball league as an assistant coach she inquired about undertaking her PCQ. Helena started her PCQ studies in 2020. The qualification can take up to four years to complete. Coursework includes seasonal plans, training plan sessions with

key objectives, reflection, analysing games, receiving mentor feedback, and making obser vations Why does she love coaching? “For me it’s about the people. Regardless of the fact we always want to do well, for me it’s about those in front of you and how I do get the best out of them?” And how does she feel when players reach their goals? “Oh, it’s a feeling you can ’ t explain or even describe, such a buzz Sometimes it might be an individual player who thinks only of themselves and by the

season ’ s end they’re connecting with their teammates, going into battle and having their teammate ’ s back. “So it’s more than the game and players stepping out on courts – it’s the people they become when they leave. It’s making better women better people.”

TNC coaching mentor Deb Fuller says the club is ver y proud of what Helena has achieved.

*Read this stor y in full at: www.sunlive.co.nz

Tauranga netball coach Helena Hoult has achieved her Per for mance Coach Qualification.

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The cabins can elevate the value of by creating another living space for guests or as a kids’ playroom

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Lifestyle Cabins are all under 30m2 so don’t require consent and are made from H3 pressuretreated timber that has a durability of 50 years anything else these cabins might be just what

Debbie Griffiths

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With a comprehensive range of ser vices that span residential new builds to commercial renovations, Tauranga’s Cooper Young Construction has the expertise to address all your building needs

Talk to them about insurance repairs and rebuilds The team understands the importance of restoring your property to its former glory and their experience in office interior, commercial, and retail fitouts ensures a space that’s functional and beautiful Cooper Young Construction also excels in alterations of residential

buildings Whether you ’ re looking to upddate your h home or start f from scratch, the team has the skills in planning, design and execution to deliver exceptional results

“ We take great pride in our meticulous project management, ensuring that ever y detail is considered, and ever y project is completed on time and within budget,” says director Colleen Sidebottom. “ Talk to us about your build. No job is too big or small for our licensed and insured contractors. ”

Commercial proper ty maintenance is another specialty Maintaining the value and appeal of a proper ty is cr ucial for long-term success,

Major health and safety consultation underway

Kiwis have until October 31 to have their say on New Zealand’s work health and safety regulator y system, with a massive consultation programme under way on the countr y ’ s regulator y system.

The Ministr y of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking Kiwis to have a conversation about health and safety at work – in particular your experiences with it, how you think it’s working now, and what you think should change.

The ministr y wants feedback on the regulator y system – the laws and regulations, the supporting information such as guidance and approved codes of practice, the regulators, and the responsibilities of businesses, workers and others with a role in the system.

“ We want to hear from businesses, workers, and anyone with an interest in the health and safety system, ” MBIE says in a statement

“The Health and Safety at Work Act is almost 10 years old, and now is an appropriate time to review what’s working and what needs to change.” Further information about the consultation and how to make a submission can be found at: www.mbie. govt.nz/have-your-say/ work-health-and-safety Consultation closes on October 31, 2024.

Building a brighter future

so the team at Cooper Young Constr uction providdes regullar and thorough maintenance ser vices to prevent minor issues becoming major headaches

“Our goal is to exceed our clients' expectations,” says Colleen. “ We’re committed to delivering top-notch construction and maintenance ser vices that enhance the usability and aesthetics of ever y space we work on. ”

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12 mont h s interest free

Take the guesswork out of a new bed

Sleep supports healthy brain function and maintains your physical health so selecting the correct mattress is crucial At BedsRus, staff use the latest technology to find the best bed for you.

“The SleepMap system is exclusive to our newly opened Tauriko and our Mt Maunganui stores, ” says CEO Daniel Van Dyk. “It uses 10,000 sensors to profile an individual or a couple.

“It’s a complimentar y customised bed fitting ser vice that we ’ re thrilled to offer ”

BedsRus Tauriko boasts the largest range of Sleepyhead beds in the region

“The options can be over whelming, but our staff narrow down the choices and also recommend the perfect pillow Many people underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep Sleep enables your body to regenerate, so replacing your bed ever y 10 years is a smart investment in your health ”

The Van Dyk family’s celebrating 50 years of business in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty

“I still get people commenting: ‘ your grandfather and grandmother sold me a bed’,” laughs Daniel.

“ We’re proud to have been around so long matching locals with the right beds Some of our staff have been here for more than 20 years

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and have returning customers that span four generations of the same family ”

BedsRus prides itself on full-ser vice; from advice in-store to removing and disposing of your old mattress. Consult the sleep experts at Van Dyks BedsRus stores in Tauriko or Mount Maunganui to experience the difference a good sleep can make to your long-term health

New smoke alarm rules coming into force

From November, all new house builds in will require an interconnected smoke alarms.

The new rule comes after a 12-month transition period since the Ministr y of Business, Innovation and Employment made changes to the Building Code last November

In May 2023, MBIE announced it was amending the Building Code to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Kiwis when it comes to plumbing, drainage, and protection from fire in their homes.

Back then, MBIE building performance and engineering manager Dr Dave Gittings said the changes were updates of existing documents used

to comply with the Building Code.

Changes comprise of the latest industr y standards for fire sprinkler, fire alarm, and smoke control systems – including the requirement for interconnected smoke alarms as the minimum fire safety system in new homes “By adopting the latest industr y standards and aligning with similar requirements in other countries, we aim to improve the safety of our communities,” says Dave. According to the LBP website interconnected smoke alarms work by sending a signal between smoke detectors “If one smoke alarm detects a fire, all the smoke alarms in the home will sound an alarm. This update aims to bring NZ in line with the latest industr y standards ”

Announcing the decision in May 2023 –before publication of the revised Building Code documents in November 2023 – Dave says was to provide direction to the sector “ to give manufacturers, suppliers and installers time to comply with the new requirements, and to prepare information and education to support the sector and public with the changes”.

The 12-month transition for the Building Code ends November 2024.

More details at: tinyurl.com/mv8z7mwh

Remote inspections to become default approach nationwide

The Government wants all building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach so building homes is easier, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk.

The minister says building anything in NZ is too expensive e and takes too long “Building costs have increased by 41 per cent since 2019 and data from Stats NZ shows it takes around 569 days on average for a home e to be built – that’s not including g the time to get a consent in the first place.”

The minister says a constant fr ustration is cumbersome consenting system and building g inspections “Inspections are

typically in person, which can lead to long delays as builders are forced to wait sometimes for weeks for a spot to be available, which often means building work must stop in the meantime

“Remote inspections offer significant productivity gains that make it easier and cheaper to build. However, use of remote inspections is inconsistent across NZ That’s why the Government is progressing work to make remote inspections the default approach across NZ ”

Got a shifting or heavy lifting job? Talk to Pete!

The minister says a key benefit includes lowering costs by removing need for inspectors to travel to sites. “This is particularly important in congested cities and in rural areas with large travel distances.”

Other benefits include reducing delays by enabling more inspections a day, allowing inspectors to work in other regions remotely; better record keeping and documentation meaning more quality assurance; and reducing time wasted by increasing flexibility for inspectors and building professionals on inspection day

The Government will release a discussion document in quarter three of 2024, and there will be opportunity for councils and the sector to provide feedback.

Spring is near – so have you bought something that needs shifting or lifting into place in Tauranga?

If you ’ ve got something heavy or difficult you need brought into the Tauranga district – and lifted into place, up high or down in the ground – call Pete Marshall of SkyHooksNZ Tauranga 4X4 Minicranes

Pete, an owner-operator, is doing lifting and shifting jobs on residential, commercial and industrial sites with his minicrane and tandem trailer

“ We can help with anything that’s coming from any par t of NZ, into the Tauranga district.”

Husband-and-wife team Pete and Lynda say their ser vice is ideal for transpor ting items too hard for manpower and too small for larger cranes

“This makes us cost-effective for businesses and the public’s lifting, placement,

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Pete is safety-accredited, has an engineering background and 20-plus years ’ experience working on sites large and small, meaning his ‘moving’ skills extend to all types of places

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Pete Marshall is ready to shift and lift your items – big or small.

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Featuring House of the Year 2024 Winners

Multi award-winning build at Waihi Beach

A magnificent home in Waihi Beach, built by Shaw Builders, has been awarded the Supreme House of the Year Award at the 2024 Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition, along with a long list of other awards.

This home also won the Pink Batts Craftmanship Award, APL Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award, New Home over $4 million categor y, Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award, Outdoor Living Excellence Award,

Gerrand Flooring Lifestyle Award, and a Gold Award.

Built with unparalleled precision to meet stringent design requirements, the judges were captivated by this beautiful home that exemplifies building excellence and remarkable architecture.

Judges comments on this stunning build included: “The flawless integration of art, furniture, and colour within the interior fashions a harmonious living environment”.

“Alongside impressive sustainability credentials, this house is the gold standard of design and craftsmanship It is an incredibly deser ving recipient

of the Supreme Award.”

Designed to ser ve as a lifelong retreat, this house was crafted for year-round enjoyment, offering stunning landscape views to the west and ocean vistas to the east. The skilful combination of contemporar y elements with a subtle homage to the geometric North American architecture of the 1960s and 70s, demonstrates masterful design.

The Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition recognises the finest homes, quality builders, and craftspeople across Ne w Zealand This year, the regional competition saw close to 300 entries across seven regions

The stunning Waihi Beach home has landed a heap of House of the Year accolades

Supreme House of the Year

Photos: Sam Harnett Brodie Geerlings (House of the Year 2024)

Bay of Plenty builder shines with double gold

A Waihi beach construction company has walked away from the regional House of the Year Awards with an impressive two gold medals.

A Knight Design & Build also won both the ‘New Home $1 5 - $2 million’ category as well as the ‘Renovation up to $500,000’ section “I’m extremely proud of the team, ” says owner Adam Knight “We take great pride in working with local tradies to deliver top quality homes with beautiful design features “These were both very client-oriented designs that we were able to give the ‘ wow ’ factor ” The award-winning renovation transformed a former milking shed into guest bedrooms and a living space, impressing judges with a clever use of space and nod to its agricultural roots.

“We’d done a big reno with Adam three years ago, so we already knew he’s great to work with,” says homeowner Karen Hollingsworth “Attention to detail was incredible and the team welcomed input from my husband on the cabinetry, the kids’ bunks and barn doors ”

For Philip and Trish Tennant, nothing felt impossible for Adam and his team Their home was judged best ne w build in their categor y, described as being r ustic and warm, with modern touches

“I love the floating steps to the front door and the decks that make the most of the sea view,” says Philip “Communication was excellent, and the team worked so hard in all weather,” says Trish

“Adam handmade the schist fireplace and every time I see it, I’m so happy ”

Debbie Griffiths

The A Knight Builders team accepting their wins at the regional House of the Year Awards Photo: supplied

Renovation up to $500,000

New Home $1 5 - $2 million

Photos: Brodie Geerlings (House of the Year 2024)

Impressive retreat wins building awards

A significant extension, and a brilliant Gold and Categor y winning renovation designed b by Mark Carnachan of Carnachan Architecture and built by Kuriger Builders have transformed this five-bedroom 1998 Tauranga home into an impressive retreat

An AAC panel plaster system replaced the polystyrene plaster, while Abodo cladding and Hinuera natural stone was used on the f feature chimney and walls, says Kuriger Builders’ Conrad Kuriger Roof tiles to match existing ones ensured cohesion with the extended roof lines while large parapets make for a dramatic entrance The large family-wing extension includes five bedrooms,

four ensuites and a kids’ loft, plus laundr y Else where the home now boasts a r umpus, office and two bedrooms including guest room with ensuite, a bathroom and powder room plus extensive panelled hallways and ne w por tico entr y, says project manager David AndersonSmith “In the spacious living room with vaulted ceilings, a fireplace keeps things cosy. But the focal point is a stylish brassinlaid bar with granite top and splashback ”

The inviting family hub opens to a Louvreteccovered outdoor living space with a woodfire It also links to a formal dining room via wroughtiron glazed sliding doors The striking Lifestyle Award-winning kitchen features a reeded-glass screen and sliding door that divides the room, which links to an outdoor barbecue kitchen area With its original character intact, this is now a luxurious modern home

Conrad Kuriger, Kuriger Builders director David Anderson-Smith, and Master Builders Award judge Mark Metzger

How a real estate agent can work for you!

Lots of people are considering whether now ’ s the time to buy or sell their home

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A real estate agent ’ s job is to make the process of buying or selling a home as stress-free as possible

Real estate agents can advertise and market properties, arrange and host open homes, build relationships with sellers and buyers, complete sales and negotiate contracts, research the housing market and property values, and organise building inspections and reports

They’re required to have knowledge of sales and marketing techniques, networking, property laws and regulations, mortgage

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The REA provides independent information for people who are buying and selling property through the settled govt nz website

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Top 5 Greater Tauranga Area 2020-2024

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The team at the boutique property management company only manage a select 50 properties “ We’re investors ourselves and have a number of properties,” says Yellow Brick’s Nicky Hamilton “

So we understand what it takes and what’s involved to look after a property really well ” “Other property managers hold between 130-180 properties in their portfolio, but we have decided we will take on no more than 50 ” When you choose Yellow Brick, you know your home is being looked after with care when you tenant it “ We do a great job because we ’ re careful not to take on too much ” For more information, visit:

Nicky Hamilton

Greer ton cracking down on antisocial behaviour

Greerton Village is cracking down on its alcohol-free area policy and anti-social behaviour by reminding citizens to always report incidents to the Police and Tauranga City Council.

“ We can all work together to make our beautiful village a space for ever yone, ” says Greerton Mainstreet manager Mahia Martelli. Tauranga City Council’s Alcohol Control Bylaw came into force in 2018, with Greer ton Village designated as a permanent alcohol-free area This means no-one is allowed to drink alcohol in the public area generally bordered by Pooles Rd, Hayes Ave, Cornwall St, and Mitchell St This also

includes Liston Park, the Greer ton Librar y grounds and an area known as the Greer ton Village Green, and Greer ton Primar y School

“If you see anyone drinking in public, or being intimidating or aggressive, please repor t it to the

Greer ton takes on Te Puke in premier final

Greerton Marist rugby club’s Premier team is heading to Te Puke this weekend to finish the 2024 season the way it started –versing Te Puke Sports

The two teams battled out the season opener in April and this Saturday, July 27, will face off again at Murray Salt Stadium as the two top qualifiers in the Baywide Premier preliminar y competition

Greerton Marist is in uncharted territor y, having never captured the big prize before while Te Puke Sports has bagged the Baywide silver ware in 2011, 2012 and 2018.

The teams have got to the final by each winning their semifinal games last Saturday, July 20, against Whakarewarewa and Tauranga Sports. Two other club rugby titles being contested this Saturday, July 27, will be fought out at Blake Park. Mount Maunganui will host Te Puna in the Baywide Colts/Under-85kg title decider; and Greerton Marist takes on the home side – the Mount – in the Western BOP

Incidents

Te Puke Sports’ Grady Forbes caught in a tackle when versing Greerton Marist on June 24. Photo: Stuart Whitaker

Greerton Village Green outside Greerton Librar y Photo: John Borren.

This week I planned to write about the Tauranga City Council elections: it seemed important.

Then I read this on SunLive: Only about onethird of Tauranga residents voted – the lowest turnout in a decade. Apparently fewer people cared about “restoring our democracy” than those who voted for the mob whose alleged infighting led to the loss of it in the first place. Of course, the full results might be different but not by much. Colour me disillusioned.

So let’s not dwell on events that only oneof you care about Instead, we’ll head straig to what it says on the tin: Music plus Once again there are several interesting local releases across a range of styles and with more planned There are releases from relative newcomers and seasons veterans, so let’s dig in and see what’s here and what’s on the way

Dynamite stuff

Auckland jazz and blues singer Fiona Cosgrove has become a regular visitor to Tauranga, popping up at Jack Dusty’s, The Barrel Room and all over She’s also been touring through July to launch her debut album, ‘Introspective’. That happened here with a blast of a gig at Mount Maunganui’s Voodoo Lounge a few weeks back ‘Introspective’ is dynamite stuff, currently only available on CD before dropping on digital platforms in August I’ll be back with a full review then; meanwhile the big-band funk of lead single ‘Comfortable’ is on YouTube.

Ne w albums, EPs, songs and videos album EP , an v deos

cracking debut album ‘Novel’ They have most excellent local indie-popsters Marmalade Skies in suppor t Get in early, it’ll be good

Ha rd c o re n o t e

On a more practical and considerably more

hardcore note, at Palace Tavern next Saturday, August 3, local punk trio Hoick, which seems a very apt name for a punk trio, will be selling T-shirts and taking koha to raise money to complete their first album. Live crowd-funding. They’ll h an reprobates Threat Meet Protocol unt Clown kicking in to aid this very thwhile cause of more music being leased from the Bay Also just released is a new album from singer-songwriter John Michaelz, who has ended the reggae collaboration with the Black Brothers which resulted in last year ’ s ‘Soul Exodus’ album. Now ‘Some Songs III’ offers a retrospective collection of live, alternative and unreleased songs along with two new recordings. Also singersongwriter Frances Ellen is gearing up for the release of her first full EP in ugust, four songs, all written with and oduced by high-flyers Reb Fountain and Khan. Frances can be seen singing jazz at the monthly jams and moves across a wide range of styles. You could call the three songs available so far pop or perhaps contemporar y folk. Expect big things from her. One last song, only on YouTube: Kokomo has dropped a new track from upcoming album ‘Futura’, somewhat surprisingly an instrumental electronica take on Bob Dylan’s ‘Dignity’.

While I’m on album launches, cool Auckland outfit Park Rd, who play a lovely melodic indie rock, are coming to The Mount’s Palace Tavern on August 16 to launch their

Fiona Cosgrove Photos: supplied.

Hoick. Marmalade Skies.

Frances Ellen.

Opera singers to delight Tauranga ears

Two internationally acclaimed opera singers will be performing at the next concert of the Tauranga Opera Forum Trust on August 4

Chinese baritone Zhou Nan along with his soprano wife Lu Xuan are major drawcards for local opera enthusiasts for the event.

“Nan’s voice is rich, powerful and beautiful are we ’ re excited that is keen to work with us, ” says Trust chair John Hodgson “One of the comments I’ve had from a university lecturer in opera is that there’s currently no

Some take off on their big OE for the first time in their twenties, some do it in their sixties.

For Frankie, Noeline, Jean and Ruth it’s now or never – and each one has her own reasons, hopes and expectations.

Roger Hall’s comedy ‘Taking Off’ sees these four quintessentially Kiwi women pack up and leave for London, and from there head to other European destinations In doing so, they discover new things – including about themselves – which propel them into new ways of thinking about

o elight nga

baritone of Nan’s standing in the country He studied in England to gain a doctorate in music and also performed in Italy ”

The first part of the concert sees performances from students who’ve been awarded annual scholarships established by the trust to promote opera in Tauranga “We like to give the students and our members the opportunity to enjoy opera together by including student performances,” says John.

This year ’ s scholarship students are Year 13s Ansh Dhot and Ashana Watene, and Year 12 Yanni Gorsame “All three Tauranga Girls’ College students have beautiful voices and are

their life, their aspirations and capabilities.

Their experiences are conveyed through their chosen medium of communication.

While all four women are ver y different, they are equally authentic, credible and relatable personalities.

Roger Hall has skillfully crafted characters who could be your neighbours, friends or family

Poignant and funny, the play also captures Kiwis’ quirks and their special relationship with the UK

The learning: it’s never too late –for the Big OE and to make major changes in life.

wonderful singers,” says John Unlike previous concerts, the young scholarship recipients will have their choice of songs from any genre.

‘An Afternoon of Operatic Favourites’ is at 2 30pm on Sunday, August 4, at the Wesley Centre in 13th Ave, Tauranga The trust is also looking forward to its concert on October 20 when the 2025 scholarships are awarded For ticket information, see the advert on this page

The Weekend Sun has one double pass to see ‘An Afternoon of Fabulous Operatic Choices’ for one lucky reader who can tell us the name of the Chinese

baritone who is performing

Enter online at: sunlive co nz under the ‘Competitions’ section

Entries close Tuesday, July 30

Debbie Griffiths

International baritone Zhou Nan of China. Photo: supplied.

Soprano Lu Xuan, who is Zhou Nan’s wife.

Photo: supplied

A recent report in The Weekend Sun that the Tauranga City Council has agreed to subsidise a two-year ferry service trial between Tauranga CBD and the Mount, at a cost of $1 4 million beggars belief The ferry service that was operated for many years by Faulkner Bros was closed after the first harbour bridge was opened in 1988 through lack of patronage as commuters used the bridge simply because of the speed and convenience of getting between the

two destinations A service was started a few years ago by an English couple and only lasted a matter of weeks before they abandoned the idea, again through lack of customers. It needs to be asked: Who is going to use this ser vice on a regular basis to make it commercially viable? The answer has to be: No one

The odd tourist or cr uise ship passenger over summer will not make up for the lack of income over the colder, windy months It also needs

noting that the ser vice obviously has to return from Tauranga, most likely empty Who, in Tauranga, is going to pay for parking in the CBD and take a ferr y to the Mount? I do hope that the incoming mayor and councillors will bring in something that in my opinion is lacking in the council – basic common sense and see this for what it is: A total waste of ratepayer money Kerr y Gibson, Mount Maunganui

On behalf of Under the Stars Charitable Tr ust, we’d like to wholehear tedly thank you all for your generosity in our recent winterdonations drive – publicised in The Weekend Sun We’ve been blown away by so many amazing people generously offering their warm winter gear for our community With your help, we ’ ve been able to hand out tents, sleeping bags,

warm beanies, under wear, socks and winter coats to our homeless and most in need Winter is upon us and these items are going to make a huge difference to the comfor t and wellbeing of our guests As a donor to our organisation, you are making a difference in your community We appreciate your generosity; without you what we do would not be possible We also tr uly appreciate those who’ve

made monetar y donations. Ever y dollar makes a difference We’re happy to supply our account number to anyone wishing to make a donation and receipts can be supplied If you ’ re still wishing to donate some of the items listed above we will happily receive them Please email us on: admin@under thestars org nz Ani Stace, Under the Stars.

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h o f t h e i r

i n g s a s a p r a c t i t i o n e r i n t h e i r s p e c i a l i s e d f i e l d o f e x p e r t i s e by w r i t i n g a m a n u a l o n h ow t o s u c c e e d – a n d m a k e l o t s o f m o n e y a t yo u r e x p e n s e Ha ve yo u h e a rd t h e s a y i n g : “ T h o s e w h o c a n ’ t d o , t e a c h , a n d t h o s e w h o c a n ’ t t e a c h , t e a c h t e a c h e r s ” ? T h e f a c t i s t h e Bi b l e c l e a r l y s t a t e s i n Ya a k ov ( Ja m e s ) 1 : “ Be d o e r s o f t h e w o rd , a n d n o t h e a re r s o n l y, d e l u d i n g yo u r s e l ve s Fo r i f a n yo n e i s a h e a re r o f t h e w o rd a n d n o t a d o e r, h e i s l i k e a m a n w h o l o o k s a t h i s n a t u r a l f a c e i n a m i r ro r – f o r o n c e h e l o o k s a t h i m s e l f a n d g o e s a w a y, h e i m m e d i a t e l y f o r g e t s w h a t s o r t o f p e r s o n h e w a s Bu t t h e o n e w h o l o o k s i n t e n t l y i n t o t h e p e r f e c t To r a h , t h e To r a h t h a t g i ve s f re e d o m , a n d c o n t i n u e s i n i t , n o t b e c o m i n g a h e a re r w h o f o r g e t s b u t a d o e r w h o a c t s – h e s h a l l b e b l e s s e d i n w h a t h e d o e s ”

Back in the day voting was a serious and important event, considered a civic duty. To vote you went to a specific polling station where a policeman was on duty and obser vers were there whilst you went into a cubicle, put your cross against your preferred candidate, then posted the slip in a sealed black metal box.

You could judge how each candidate would vote in council as their political affiliations were clearly marked on the ballot slip

Today, ever ything is dumbed down. We just have a candidate’s message to the voters to go on, and that could have been written by anyone as they all use the right words and phrases designed to appeal to all. We fill in the voting paper at home, then drop it in a bin as you leave the supermarket! The bin looks similar to the ones ‘round the side of the house. I am tempted to save myself and others time by cutting out the middleman and putting the lot in the recycling!

Well perhaps not, but it would be so much easier to decide if their political opinions were revealed.

Re: the cognitive testing for senior drivers now in existence. My wife and I are both in the high 80s. She went to the surger y to have stitches removed and was also given the cognitive test. I under went the test when I had to renew my driver licence with a medical; I passed both

It seems obvious that the cognitive test is being used as an early warning system for detecting dementia etc Prior to my taking the test I told a friend in England that I could see no reason to associate memory with driving He corrected me saying he only took his car out for short trips, otherwise he tended to forget where he was going, if he got there he wondered why, and sometimes forgot the way home!

David Lawrence, Otūmoetai.

Rob Neal, Bethlehem.