This Week’s Issue

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THE KING HAS DIED

BY PAULINE STEWART

Every newspaper and every radio station, all social media tell the story.

It is not the King of England, but yet it seems right to say, ‘our King has died’ (I’m an Aussie saying this, a permanent resident but not a citizen).

King Tūheitia, our Māori King, has died.

In official terms, Tūheitia Pōtatau was not the King for all Māori. Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau

Te Wherowhero V11 Tūheitia was the appointed Monarch of Kīngitanga (the Māori king movement). For some tribes, the history of disagreement and struggle has a long arm.

However, during his reign, Tūheitia’s role as an encourager for unity and restoring tikanga (societal lore within Māori culture) has gained the admiration and respect of many Iwi and other tribes. He came to be more widely regarded as a monarch for Māori in this land.

An invitation has been extended to all New Zealanders to share in the grieving and honouring of this man; to be part of this historic and pivotal milestone in mourning the

death of the King. I met Tūheitia Paki several times. It was in the years 1999 and 2000. Then we just knew him as the son of the Māori Queen.

Towards the end of 1998, a steering committee was formed in Hamilton to organise and oversee the Waikato Millennium celebrations.

The Mayor, the Waikato Anglican and Catholic Bishops, the Chair of the Hamilton Business Association and two of the city councillors made up this committee. A significant member was the Māori Queen’s son, Tūheitia Paki.

Stan and I were employed to be the producers and organisers of the Waikato wide Millennium celebration to take place in the grounds of the Waikato University. We were therefore a part of this committee and we met every two weeks in the Mayor’s office. Tūheitia Paki was a quietly spoken member of this group, yet contributing knowledge of resources we could tap into and suggesting aspects to be included in the day long celebration.

Continued on page 5

Kīngi Tūheitia, the occasion of his coronation at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia, 21 August 2006.

Tuesday 3 September - Wednesday, 11 September.

Can you see the difference between a planet and a star? Brilliant Venus shines like a beacon low in the northwestern dusk sky while bright Jupiter dominates the dawn eastern horizon accompanied by slightly reddish and much fainter Mars lower down. Meanwhile slightly yellowish Saturn remains high overhead in the evenings. Planets can be easily distinguished from stars as they don’t tend to twinkle nearly as much, if at all, except when they lie right on the horizon. The Moon can help us find them this week. Tuesday, 3 September: New Moon tonight with a long bright ISS pass from 6:34pm in the

at dusk in the NW and they will be joined by a very low ISS pass from 6:35pm in the west passing right beside them. Friday, 6 September: The thin crescent Moon now sits half way between Venus and the bright star Spica in Virgo at dusk. Saturday, 7 September: The crescent Moon now lies above both Spica and Venus at dusk in the NW. Sunday, 8 September: The Moon now sits high above bright Venus in the west. Monday, 9 September: The Moon has climbed to be high over Venus at dusk.Tuesday, 10 September: The Moon is now high overhead next to the red giant star Antares in Scorpio. Wednesday, 11 September: The First Quarter Moon has now moved to be on the other side of reddish Antares high overhead.

Wayne Rutherford, above, thanks Kathleen for her outstanding work. Wayne himself is registered with the NZ Federation of Dance teachers; Poppy Carpenter, left.

But Ballroom dancing is a particular kind of style and in Whitianga there are many competent ballroom dancers. Saturday night, the Coastal Spring Ball was held at mercury Bay Club.

Smooth and Groove with Woody Dean and Tana Tapri were excellent and very professional entertainers; their vocals and instrumentation gave variety and joy to the dance steps – waltz as well as many styles of ballroom.

In true Mercury Bay Club style, there was also some jive, rock n roll, and swing as well as some ‘dance however you please’ segments . At one point Wayne Rutherford, who teaches dance with Kathleen Conaghan, taught everyone a progressive dance step; so much fun.

Jana Corvalan, medical doctor at Te Korowhai and Sergio Corvalan, mobile massage therapist, presented an Argentine tango demonstration, truly skilled and very moving. Poppy Carpentar, a young vocal talent rendered three songs and starred in her own right

The décor of flower hoops, and stylistic umbrellas made for a perfect spring ambience.

A surprise moment was Roger Simpson announcing the 75th birthday of his wife Betty. Everyone ate cake and sang her Happy Birthday. It was a total surprise for Betty - she cried.

All this was designed and organised by Kathleen Conaghan and her great team. Kathleen is a whiz and loving in her leadership. She also happens to be an excellent dancer. Over 80 people enjoyed this fantastic night at Mercury Bay Club.

• Spaghetti bolognaise

• Pulled beef, mash potato, gravy & veges.

• Pork Meatballs on roast vege’s

• Chicken & vege curry on mash potato.

NZTrio returns to Whitianga

On Sunday, 15 September music lovers on the Peninsula will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with three of New Zealand’s top classical musicians. NZTrio comprises violinist Amalia Hall, Cellist Ashley Brown, and pianist Somi Kim. They will perform at St Andrew’s Community Church at 4pm. The concert is titled Tryptich 2 Untrodden Ways. It will feature chamber works by Mendelssohn, and Bach’s chorales in a new arrangement by New Zea-

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land composer Reuben Jelleyman. This will be the second time these highly accomplished musicians have performed at St Andrew’s. Last year the audience was entranced as their music soared to the rafters of the old church. On that occasion the three promised to try to come back. Tickets are $40 available on-line or cash only - pay at the door.

„ For more information go to https//NZTrio.com/event-directory/Whitianga

Kīngi Tuheitia – working for unity

Continued from page 1

He was clear that it had to be much more than a show; more a gathering in which a large number of Iwi and all the races and cultures in the Waikato could participate. At times, he had quietly reminded the committee that his people had not always been fully included or considered in community events. We had many conversations around content and narrative and the event which took place on 12 December, 1999 to bring in the Millennium was grand and exciting and, in many ways, reflected Tūheitia’s ability to involve his people from across a very large geographical area.

During the year of preparations, a lot of time was spent at the University of Waikato. I learned that the land on which the University sits was only returned to Tainui by the Crown in 1995 and vested in Pōtatau Te Wherowhero title as part of the Waikato Raupatu Settlement Act. The Act, which contains an apology, was personally signed by Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu the Māori Queen. (Kīngi Tūheitia’s Mother). It is the only piece of New Zealand legislation that was personally signed by the Queen.

The outpouring of grief, respect and honour for Kīngi Tūheitia is palpable. But it’s not desperate. There is dignity and understanding regarding his death. There is a process in place set in history since the first Māori King’s coronation, which will see the next royal leader of Kīngitanga appointed.

BEGINNINGS

It was in1852, Tāmihana Te Rauparaha, the son of the powerful Ngāti Toa chief, went to England and met Queen Victoria. When he returned home, he sought to establish a monarchy for Māori. He believed that Māori would be better off if Iwi could unite. Six years later, in 1858, Kīngitanga or the Māori king movement, was officially formed with the crowning of Kīngi Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori King. It is one of the most enduring of the Māori institutions that emerged in colonial times, and one of the longest-running political organisations in New Zealand.

King Tūheitia was the seventh appointed Kīngitanga monarch, following his Mother’s forty-year reign. I have been moved by the Prime

Minister’s, Chris Luxon’s, words; recalling the King’s kindness whenever they met, and “His unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kīngitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation.”

Deputy Prime Minister – and NZ First leader – Winston Peters told RNZ’s Morning Report on Friday that it was a “very, very sad day” for many across New Zealand. “It will be a state of serious grieving,

and rightly so.” Peters said Kīingi Tūheitia was right in his constant calls for unity: “Unity is the key ingredient to progress into the future, not differences and not squabbles.”

Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka told Morning Report that “Kīingi Tūheitia was a rallying force for unity and a man who respected the dignity and mana of all. The King was someone who demonstrated mana motuhake [self-determination], kotahitanga

[unity], and most importantly manakitanga [hospitality].”

It is interesting that on 20 August 2023, just a year ago, Te Pāti Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, called for the Government to formally recognise the mana and status of the Māori King, Kīingi Tūheitia. Waititi was speaking at the pōwhiri for political parties at the annual Koroneihana in Ngāruawāhia. He said he wanted the Māori King to receive the “keys to the country” and to enjoy the same diplomatic rights that King Charles has as a sovereign in the UK and during visits to Aotearoa New Zealand. Waititi said this would avoid the poor treatment Kīngi Tūheitia had been subject to in the past.

As a leader with humility and integrity, this man was not made by being appointed to be King. Tūheitia Paki was already the person he was when he became King.

It has been said that there is room for this role to be more widely recognised, to become a symbol of royal leadership shared with our British monarchy, uniting more naturally the people of New Zealand. But for now, together we listen, we pay our respect, and we pay homage to Kīingi Tūheitia.

Most popular small town for accommodation searches

Below is what was published in Stuff on 31 August, 2024

The feature referred to small New Zealand towns with big accommodation searches. The most popular and the first one listed was Whitianga, and would you believe, the feature common to all five small towns, except Kaikoura was thermal.

„ From Stuff

WHITIANGA – This Coromandel spot saw the biggest increase in accommodation searches year-

on-year of any New Zealand town in Booking.com’s list of the top 25 domestic destinations for first week of spring – an impressive 50%.

Those who do book can look forward to strolling or swimming in the sandy beaches of Mercury Bay, kayaking, boating or diving in the nearby Te Whanganui-AHei Marine Reserve, and blissing out in the adults-only jungle oasis that is the Lost Spring.

At the latter, you might find

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yourself sipping cocktails in hot pools set amid more than a hectare of lush bush before heading to a massage bure set up with his and hers massage tables.

It’s not too much of a tax on the imagination to picture yourself in Hawaii.

Wake yourself up with a five-minute ferry ride across the harbour to Ferry Landing, from which you can walk to the oceanview Whitianga Rock Scenic & Historical Reserve and Shake-

47 years developing

For an obligation-free discussion and appraisal of your

needs, call me.

Phone 021 960 494 or 07 866 2907

Whitianga Office (Mon-Wed) 26a Albert Street, Whitianga

speare Cliff Lookout, which boasts a view the bard would surely have written rhyming couplets about if he’d been lucky enough to see it.

Getting there is half the fun too:

The 309 Road between Coromandel Town and Whitianga crosses jungle-like hinterland that most visitors to the region never see.”

The other places featured in the Stuff article were:

Methven – Thermal Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa Wanaka (close to Queenstown)

Kaikoura – ocean full of fur seals, whales. Hanmer Springs – Thermal. Stuff describes Hanmer Springs with its ‘alpine thermal village’ vibe.

All power to the people who are working to promote Whitianga as resort town with a ‘Thermal Ocean Village vibe’. We are close. People are looking for this very experience of relaxation but support is required. Well done to The Lost Spring.

King Charles (then Prince Charles) and Camilla exchange gifts with Kīingi Tūheitia during a visit to Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia on 8 November 2015.

STAN’S STUFF

The hills are alive with – with what?

Actually I’m not

BY STAN STEWART

After twenty years away, I returned to live in Whitianga. In the first week I noticed something different. This was not to do with the holiday homes, the Waterways, or the permanent residents. It had to do with the hills around the Coromandel.

I sensed that some who lived in the hills were engrossed with ‘conspiracy theories’. I now believe this is the case.

I have no idea what percentage of them are into ‘conspiracy’ but I am certain about some of them. Conspiracy theories have surrounded me all my life. Because of my life in the church, most of these have had a religious connotation.

When I was in my early teens my dad told me a ‘doozie’ (spectacularly amazing) ‘end of the world’ story he had heard. As with most religious end-of-time scenarios, it had to do with the return of Jesus.

In 1923-24, a preacher with an organization in Sydney pro-

sure

claimed that Jesus was going to return (the second coming) walking on the water through the heads of Sydney Harbour. In preparation for this cataclysmic event, an amphitheater was built to be the focus of the worldly welcome to the heavenly Jesus. People prepared for this end of time event by selling their properties and establishing themselves on the hillside near the amphitheatre. On the predicted date, the night was perfect. The true believ-

ers were full of excitement. But, Jesus didn’t arrive and I guess that preacher and his support staff had to look for other jobs. With only six months education, (primary school first grade) my dad was only marginally literate. He attended a fundamentalist church, but he was not fundamentalist. He told me the story above as a way of telling me to treat endof-the-world stories with skepticism. Something I have always done.

The Bible has three books especially loved by end-of-time, last days, conspiracy focussed Christians – Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel. These books are not straight forward. They use allegory, otherworldly references and lurid images to paint pictures of the world to come. In the United States, universities have been established to study these books and preachers who specialize in interpreting them traverse the country in Lear Jets.

I don’t think that the conspiracy theories of the Coromandel hill country are primarily religious. The sense I have gained is that these local conspiracy theories are about a threat to democracy as we know it – something that will lower the standard of living and degrade personal autonomy and well-being. Worrying - yes! However, I am no longer interested in pursuing theories about the future. I reckon I’ve done my time chasing such stories. Over the years, I’ve seen a few of the Bible prophecy superstars from Australia and the USA crash and burn.

My withdrawal from the field of predicting the future is no loss. There are armies of people who have taken up this torch. Today’s future prophets are way ahead of us oldies whose predictions relied on books ancient and scribbles in notebooks. They have the internet and AI.

I am opting out; - opting out of life but out of this predicting the future enterprise. What do I think about now?

I usually enjoy my visits to the supermarkets. I have a soft spot for the workers, especially the young ones. I guess it’s not their dream job, but if they stick at it, maybe one day they will own a store of their own or influence others in service and hospitality. I will keep working at encouraging and supporting the present situations I find.

I came upon this great Maori proverb. II would like to share it with the young women I meet but I don’t think they would listen. Anyway, I will print it here just in case someone reads it.

Moe atu nga ringa raupo Marry a man with calloused hands.

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The viewing platform in Sydney built for Jesus’ return.

Energy in New Zealand is broken

BY ALASTAIR BRICKELL

Having spent some time in Texas this year I was amazed at the number of large solar farms marching across the rural countryside. I was very lucky to just miss this hail storm that caused extensive damage to newly installed panels leaving glass fragments all over many farms. Solar panels are not the magic solution correspondent Denis Tegg would have us believe. I expect most of these will end up in landfill as recycling is very expensive and difficult. Similarly, wind turbine blades are a huge problem as they cannot be recycled or incinerated and are usually broken up for landfill. Lifespan for both is very much less than has been advertised with the much-touted offshore turbines being the most unreliable and expensive by far.

Intermittent Solar and Wind Unreliable

We need electricity that is available 24/7 365 days of the year. Solar and wind cannot offer this. Wind power only works when wind is blowing. Solar panels may have their uses for those wanting to be off grid, but they also only provide intermittent electricity and this can be a big problem for the national grid. They just work in daytime; at night another power source is required to supply the missing electricity when it

is actually most needed as people cook their meals, use their lights and heating and Mr. Tegg and his colleagues recharge their Teslas. Solar power generated at midday is the least valuable, so by flooding the grid with this cheap electricity that nobody wants, the solar farms make other power plants uneconomic which are forced to periodically shut down only to have to ramp up each and every night. This constant cycling dramatically shortens the lifespan of their boilers pushing up maintenance and thus electricity costs. Their otherwise cheap reliable electricity becomes more expensive discouraging investors from building new power plants that are only generating revenue part of the day.

Thus the overall effect of intermittent renewables is to make electricity more expensive, not cheaper, as backup thermal generators have to be built to match their output. Expensive grid scale batteries are not a viable solution as they only provide power for a few hours, then require the solar cells to recharge them the next day if the sun shines, rather than producing energy we actually need. California and Germany have the highest uptake of solar and wind but also the highest electricity cost in USA and Europe, not the lowest as Mr. Tegg would have us believe. Having got rid of their nuclear plants in a huff of greenness, Germany is now building new coal ones and importing nuclear energy from France.

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Coal is Here to Stay

Every single solar panel requires huge quantities of coal to manufacture and refine the polysilicon they are constructed of, emitting huge volumes of the dreaded CO2 in the process. This is a similar process to steelmaking and abundant high quality coking coal is required for both, which NZ has in abundance but the greenies don’t want mined.

Then there’s the serious issue of Uyghur slave labour being used in China to make the polysilicon.

The promoters of Whitianga’s solar farm have yet to satisfactorily prove that their panels are made with Uyghur-free labour.

Silver Mining is Critical for Solar Power

Silver is a critical component of solar panels. Mr. Tegg should know that 90% of the Waihi mine production is silver with only 10% gold, yet he and his environmentalist colleagues have tried to shut down this mine for decades and stop it from expanding. Current global solar panel production already requires the output of over 190 Waihi sized mines just for the silver content and this is set to increase dramatically by 2030. Their silicon, aluminium, copper, concrete and plastic require 1000 times more mining than the silver. Yet environmentalists don’t want our aluminium smelter and don’t want silica sand, silver or coal mining;

preferring instead that we bludge on other countries resources and mines.

Use Our Coal and Keep Jobs in NZ

Rather than doing all the necessary mining, burning of coal overseas and enriching China’s economy with slave labour to make unreliable solar panels that only work in the daytime, surely it would be so much better to just burn the coal here to directly make the reliable electricity 24/7 that we need. That way we can keep highly paid industrial and mining jobs here in NZ, increasing our tax take to pay for hospitals, schools and safe roads that we need.

Sadly, correspondent Tegg obviously still lives in his dream world of a great green utopia in the sky. Readers may remember his promise some time ago in these pages of electric sea skimming planes zipping us back and forth to Auckland in 30 minutes for only $30, all by 2025. This company has yet to produce even one working plane let alone the fleet we will require. Why should we have any faith in his other green dreams?

„ Note from author: This Part Two has been altered to include responses to Mr Tegg’s article, The Informer, 27 August. Apologies if it is now more a letter to the Editor than an article.

It’s time we used our good quality coal instead of importing poorer quality coal from other countries.

In defence of our country

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

Prime Minister Swarbrick gazed at her new spiky hair cut in the mirror and straightened her beret. She frowned, preferring that rather flamboyant “Che Guevara” look she had at the election but now realised that she needed to be taken seriously so the tougher spiky look was necessary. Besides, she felt obliged to be the one to wear the shorter hair style as Co-Prime Minister Davidson had reminded her; she was really the Greens male leader. She turned from the mirror and returned to her desk smiling at all of the congratulation messages, most of them handwritten on woven flax cards. They were congratulating her on finally defeating the coalition government after all of these years, 30 years in fact. She realised that if the three coalition lords had not died off, she probably would still be leader of the opposition but they were all gone, Seymour first, following that bad fall he had leaving a Marae, Luxon just drifted off, doing a Joe they called it, before

being retired to a home for the Bewildered. Last to go was Winston. Nobody suspected his loyal lieutenant was to crack, stabbing Winston in the back while crying “Won’t you ever go away!” But they were all gone now and the Greens were finally our Govern

ment.

The smile went from the Prime Minister’s face as her eyes returned to the formal memo on top of the congratulation messages. She knew what it was, notification that East Timor had declared war on New Zealand and had despatched their invasion fleet. Heavily sponsored by clandestine super powers, East Timor had built up a significant fleet and was looking for more land for its people. So their fleet was despatched and drone reports suggested it was halfway to New Zealand. What to do?

New Zealand had its defence forces, such as they were. The problem was the deployment of these forces. Obviously, it would be best to deploy them while the invading force was at sea but the 2027 Green Party

AGM had passed a remit that the Green Party would only support NZ Armed Forces being used to defend National Parks and erecting Bailey Bridges, as a response to climate change. For the Prime Minister to deploy any forces she must first gain authority from her party. She needed to call a meeting. It took three weeks for the Green Party to assemble their membership so they could discuss the issue.

Fortunately, the East Timor fleet had decided to invade New Zealand from the south so had spent most of this period sneaking past us under the cover of

darkness and had yet to reach land. The Green Party membership was addressed by Prime Minister Swarbrick who had waxed her moustache especially for this occasion.

“It was important that the members could see that they could fit into society,” she had told herself. It was very cold in the Ponsonby Hall and a light dusting of snow began to fall.

“Unusual weather for February” thought the Prime Minister as she addressed the membership.

After much discussion, the meeting decided that it would be a good idea to have the armed forces protect the entire country in situations such as an invasion.

A process had to be followed to make this a policy however.

This was needed if the political wing of the party was to act lawfully. This process called for a vote of all members to be held over the coming month with the result determining the policy. The party machine would burst into action while the Prime Minister wondered what else she had to do.

By the end of the month the

Green Party had its votes in and their policy was changed to allow the New Zealand Armed Forces to defend the country. Fortunately for New Zealand the East Timor fleet had run into trouble south of the Auckland Islands, smacking into the southern ice shelf which now extended as far north as the Auckland Islands. Their initial landing force reported to their commanders that the New Zealand tourist brochures looked to be a little bit inaccurate and they weren’t sure what exactly they were to invade.

A week later the Prime Minister reported to Parliament that the invading fleet had departed and was last spotted by our drones well north of Cape Reinga. No New Zealand citizen was injured by the invasion and the armed forces were now enabled to defend our entire country. “The success of this invasion response,” she announced shrilly, “is entirely due to the strength of robust Green Party processes!”

From the opposition benches

Te Pati Maori leader Darleen Tana smiled.

The Informer wishes to send best wishes to every father

Father’s Day is past but you are still here thankfully, to read this.

We know none of you are perfect but all of you are needed.

For many who live on the Coromandel, fathers are just memories.

We hear stories of grumpy fathers. Old men tell of fathers who came back from the war and never used the word ‘love’. Some can remember angry fathers and lucky escapes when they outran their dad’s anger.

But what are these compared with other stories of love and support and protection.

Our fathers opened doors for us that were firmly shut for them. When we remember them, some of us can smell engine oil and petrol. Others can hear the clatter of farm machinery and others can almost touch the aroma of wood shavings.

And the current young dads, what a great crop you are. We see you walking with your kids, playing with your kids, piggy-backing and pushing prams. You inspire us. You cannot

imagine how important you are to your children and your partner.

But it must be said, Father’s Day is a sad day for many dads and families. Separation is cruel. We hope you can find healing. Working for this may be the hardest job you will ever undertake.

Finally, something to think about. Mates are great but families are better!

Your editors – Stan and Pauline Stewart

This photo was taken down at Whitianga wharf at Easter, well before Father’s Day. He is not earning brownie points.

Welcome to Ridge Runner Coromandel!

Proudly brought to you by the team from the Whitianga Run Fest, is an exciting new trail run –Ridge Runner!

We were proud to host you in May for the Whitianga Run Fest and we’d love to see you return to the Coromandel in spring to take on our new event.

2024 is our inaugural year and we are beyond excited to introduce you to this stunning new trail in the northern Coromandel. When we first stumbled upon the privately owned land of White Star Station, we were blown away with its beauty and you could not get the smiles off our faces! We are absolutely stoked to have created an event that we know you are going to love as much as we do.

The trail is full of exciting things like honest climbs taking you up to ridiculously good views from Matarangi in the east to Waiheke island in the west.

Underfoot is (mostly!) good running, but with a few challenges so you don’t get bored.

When we first stumbled upon the privately owned land of White Star Station, we were blown away with its beauty and you could not get the smiles off our faces!

As with all of our events it is your race and your pace. We welcome runners and walkers alike. We have given you six hours to complete your 24km adventure so as long as you can average 4km every hour, you will make it.

Of course the fun doesn’t end with your finishers medal. We have gourmet burgers included with your entry fee, a night of camping (if you want to), and the after party with a bonfire marshmallows and lots of fun and laughter.

ABOUT THE COURSE

The 24km Ridge Runner is located 100% on privately owned land with stunning 360 degree coastal views! The clockwise course takes

you from a valley, up onto the central Coromandel ridgeline and descends back to the valley floor again.

There are 870 metres of climbing to be done with a couple of nasty pinch points, but you also get 870metres of downhill! Terrain is a mix of farm races and single track.

ENTRIES OPEN 2

SEPTEMBER

We want you to become a Ridge Runner. Entries go on sale 2 September and we want to give you an exclusive Whitianga Run Fest entrant discount.

Please use the code: RUNFESTRIDGERUNNER to receive your discounted entry (code valid until Sept 30th). For more information and to enter on 2 September www.elementevents.co.nz/ridgerunner

Keep on the pulse of what’s happening with the Coromandel’s newest and coolest trail run, Ridge Runner, by following us on Facebook!

A true Coromandel Adventure!!

PROPERTY & YACHT MAINTENANCE

Maintaining your valuable assets to the highest standard.

PROPERTY

• Executive Housekeeping

• Exterior Housewashing

• Window Cleaning Inside & Out

• Lawnmowing and gardening

• Arrival set up and Departure breakdown

• Home provisioning

• Pool cleaning and Pool maintenance

• Interior detailing

• Exterior maintenance and repairs

YACHT

• Boat Washing

• Cut, Polish and Wax

• Interior Boat Valet

• Provisioning

• Vessel relocation

• Engine room checks

• Captain & Crewing

THE ELITE DIFFERENCE

Locally owned and operated www.elitemgmt.co.nz

PURCHASE ANY ITEM OFF OUR SEAFOOD MENU FROM MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER AND GO INTO THE DRAW TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO THE OCEANS FEASTIVAL

To be drawn on Friday 13 September during Happy Hour 4-6pm

Thai Red Curry Prawns $23

7 prawns cooked in Thai red sauce served with rice.

(3) Prawn, Chorizo & Haloumi Kebabs $25

With green side salad with ramesco sauce

Fish & Chips $28.50

Speights ale battered fish, fries, wedged lemon + tartare sauce.

Add side salad for $4.50

Seafood Chowder $22

A medley of seafood pieces simmered gently in our creamy seafood sauce + sour dough bred

(3) Mussell Fritters $24

Mussell fritters, salad + fries with lemon and mayo

(2) Scallop & Bacon Skewers $30

With green side salad with lemon & caper sauce

O’Malley’s Surf and Turf $40

250g prime scotch fillet, salad, fries, 3 garlic prawns with creamy mushroom sauce or garlic herb butter

Salt + Pepper Squid $20

Golden fried squid + lemon alioli on the side.

Add side salad for $5

(6) Battered Oysters $30

With green side salad with lemon and tartare sauce

Whitebait Fritters $32

With green side salad, bread with lemon

Yashneel at the work he loves

BY PAULINE STEWART

There is a new pharmacist in town. His name is Yashneel Reddy and you can find him at the Mercury Bay Pharmacy. He looks very youthful and he is, 27 years, and is enjoying very much his new home of Whitianga.

Yashneel came from Whangerei. “Work was busy and it was a good town, but Whitianga is a place I love. For a time my accommodation was not ideal. It was hard finding a place, but now I am settled along Buffalo Beach and it is where I want to be.”

Yashneel’s goal was to be fulltime in medicine. At some point in his studies and practical experience, he found that in the role of pharmacy, he could be more people focussed. He didn’t have to clock watch so much and the

role felt right for his personality and skills.

“In a town like this, people come into the pharmacy to have a little time with you. I can discuss with them how they can do things better for their health outcomes. I get to know them too and people have been very welcoming of me. I have a great team to work with which helps a lot.”

When he is not at the pharmacy, he is at the gym or practising kick boxing and ju jitsu. Yashneel is clear he needs to be a good example in terms of exercise and health.

One other hobby is cooking.

“I take my Mum some baking every week,” he smiles.

“She was not so happy that I moved to Whitianga but she is getting used to it. My being the youngest of her four children, it was not easy for her.”

Yashneel becomes quiet and reflective.

“One of my goals is I would like one day to invest in this community. It is a very longterm goal of course but it is a dream I have that one day I can invest in a small hospital here. This would take away some of the uncertainty that many of my customers have. It is not just older people but also parents of young children. Maybe other people think about this.”

My commitment will always be in the medical field. I love the care side of medicine and am very privileged to be a pharmacist in such a beautiful part of New Zealand.”

Call in and say Hi to Yashneel at Mercury Bay Pharmacy.

Yashneel, right, relishing the business of being a pharmacist in Mercury Bay.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TCDC’S PROPOSED ROBINSON BOAT RAMP EXPANSION AND THE USE OF HILTON PARK FOR TRAILER BOAT PARKING

It’s sad when as residents and rate payers, we find out through a good friend that TCDC are planning a project that is going to severely alter our immediate environment to the detriment.

The roads we travel on daily will be congested with additional trailer boat traffic. Additional air pollution and noise pollution will be close to our property, Additional boat traffic will further erode the estuary foreshore. The lovely Pohutukawa trees on the Robinson Road reserve will be lost to facilitate additional boat ramps. The use of Hilton Park for

recreational purposes will be lost to provide trailer boat parking and a boat washing facility.

The above will happen should the proposed project stated above go ahead.

The three Councillors who were elected to represent all the Mercury Bay area residents and the TCDC senior management team of the Mercury Bay Ward are all well aware of this project and have appointed an external consultant to lead it. They have also had considerable consultation with most other stake holders regarding the options.

The one group of people who have not been consulted at all are the very people that this project will affect the most, the local residents surrounding the proposed project.

We find this highly irresponsible and undemocratic. This also adds full credence to Flemming H Rasmussen’s recent article in the Informer “You cannot be serious’ and also to the Chief Ombudsman’s ‘recommendation” to abandon ‘closed to the public workshops held by the council’, a

recommendation that TCDC voted not to adopt.

Historically, there is a lot that has taken place along the foreshore on the Robinson Road Reserve in the immediate area from the existing ramp to Lover’s Rock which needs to be respected and preserved. Our goal will be to preserve the Robinson Road Reserve and Hilton Park areas both zoned recreational for our generation and future generations to use by respecting the history of the area, therefore not disturbing it to put in boat ramps, trailer boat parking and boat washing facilities. Let’s continue the area’s use as it is now for future generations

Mike Brown and Dr Jane Buckley Whitianga

GREENMAIL? (WHY POWER IS SO EXPENSIVE)

In the latest example of how broken the RMA consents process is, Meridian Energy has paid out DoC, Fish & Game and Iwi rather than risk them blocking the renewal of consents that it needs to keep running its Waitaki hydro scheme.

It’s an open secret that it’s easier to grease palms than it is to risk getting tied up for years by ’greenmail’ demands from rent seekers. In this case, Meridian agreed to pay, over 35 years, $73.5m to DoC, $2.8m to Central South Island Fish & Game and an estimated, ‘confidential ‘$104m to Ngati Tahu. This old mutt reckons it is the tip of the iceberg – the consent process is buggered and is killing development. The coming overhaul can’t come soon enough.

Printed from Rural News, 27 August, with permission

I’M GRATEFUL – TCDC COUNCILLORS SAVED ME MONEY

At last, the TCDC Councillors have collectively provided cost savings of importance. The constituents of the Coromandel have had time and money saved for them by the council “snubbing” of the Ombudsman’s recommendations of having more transparency within workshops and interactions of public importance.

This is not the first time the Council have identified they do

not wish consult or engage. A broken election pledge.

During the Significance and Engagement Policy consulting the Council advocated for a time ‘When will the Council not engage?’ One of the selections was – ‘already has clear direction on a strategy or plan and has already made up its mind about an issue and therefore does not have a sufficiently open mind to carry out meaningful engagement.’

Since rescinded, however a telling mind set, modus operandi and displayed contempt of the legal structure of the country. Such is my opinion.

So, thank you Councillors who ignored the Ombudsman’s recommendations, you are identified, I no longer have you on my mind when it comes to voting in the 2025 – you have saved me time and money. My pencil just struck your name off the list of acceptable candidates.

What happened with your pledge to represent the constituents that voted for you?

David Yeomans „ More letters p12 & 13

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I’M LOOKING UPWARDS…

Call me a skeptic but surely I can not be the only one who seriously doubts that Whitianga will very soon have an electric plane flying us to Auckland in 30 minutes for only $30.

This is yet another green dream that is just not going to happen. The Seaglider (The Informer, May 3) is a concept being heavily promoted by an American company that has yet to fly once, yet our WRC councillor Denis Tegg apparently believes it is going to happen here in “within a few years”. The developers might well have a slick computer generated promotional video but they have yet to test even a 1/4 scale prototype.

Mr Tegg seems to be implying that these unproven craft might even be funded by local government. Surely if they actually do fly, it is a private company not the long suffering ratepayers who should shoulder the risks for this latest green technological bling. Please, Mr Tegg, do not spend one cent of our WRC rates on “coastal infrastructure like wharves and jetties” for these electric dreams. Electric public transport does not have a good safety record. If in doubt just Google “bus fire Paris” to see a recent video of just how fast the batteries for electric transport can ignite with frightening speed. Air New Zealand has been talking about electric planes recently.

I’m sorry Mr Tegg, but there’s no way I ever want to fly in a bat-

tery powered electric plane, Seaglider or ferry even if it only costs $30 to get to Auckland.

From the Ocean Flyer website: “Ocean Flyer will start operating fully electric seagliders in New Zealand from mid-decade. Seagliders will be sustainable, fast, comfortable and affordable.”

So that’s only a few months away year away by my calculation. They have yet to construct a full sized one, let alone test it. Who would be a good Kiwi guinea pig for that first flight? Maybe one of our former WRC councillors who is so keen on the idea perhaps... Haven’t seen too many of them in our skies as yet...

Alastair Brickell,

Kuaotunu

STANDING UP WITH YOUR VOICE IS BRAVE

Good on Flemming Rasmussen for his opinion piece in The Informer in which he disagrees with the decision our three district councillors made, on our behalf, about having council workshops in private.

It takes some effort for a citizen to stand for council and once elected, to make decisions when staff set up the minutes and motions. Real backbone is needed to go against a perceived majority. It was quite correct to show the picture of the introduction of Māori wards as an example in the article. I see too that Mr Rasmussen has stated his case on the basis of law regarding the way Māori wards were passed for our

„ The purpose of the Letters to the Editor column is to allow members of the public to express an opinion, about an article or a topic of interest. Please keep them to 200 words or less. These letters do not reflect the editor’s view. The editor reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.

region. If you agreed with either decision, waiting for the next local body elections is the only solution. To Reebok and remote on these issues will be a difficult matter to get past the mayor and staff who don’t want the water muddied. Having several councillors of the same mind will mean a chance at reversing the mistakes.

Peter H Wood, Whitianga

RE: BROKEN ENERGY EXPLAINED

I’m not sure if Gerry Sanders deliberately missed the point of my previously published letter. To try and explain the point in more simple terms.

Atmospheric CO2 is like the like the level of bath water, CO2 emissions are like water coming out of the tap into the bath. So it goes without saying that a 5.4% reduction in CO2 emissions will have little impact on the rate of increase in atmospheric CO2. Reducing the flow will not lower atmospheric CO2, but it might just stop it reaching catastrophic levels quite as quickly, and may give the scientific community a chance to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of global warming. Seemingly not a concern of Mr Sanders.

As Mr Tegg points out in his excellent article ‘Renewables Win’, hikes in power prices are not caused by efforts to reduce CO2 emissions but by the wanton profiteering of privatised power companies. (The profits of NZ big four power companies doubled to $1.1 billion in the year ending June 2024). The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East also haven’t helped prices. His positive view of New Zealand and its ability to thrive in the future is refreshing.

Mr Sanders states that the ‘climate emergency’ has been described as the greatest scientific fraud ever perpetrated on human kind. What he neglected to say was who said it? Simple answer, handsomely rewarded

advocates of the fossil fuel industry, the only group that would benefit from labelling it a fraud.

Bernard Farrelly, Whitianga

CONSCIOUS COROMANDELGOOD FOR THE SOUL

Recent articles in The Informer have asked the question of how to brand/promote specifically Whitianga and the surrounding areas and to encourage people to visit all year around.

My suggestion is Conscious Coromandel. Coromandel Peninsula arguably offers some of the most beautiful places in the world for people to visit, enjoy nature, the pristine views, and participate in any one of the numerous outdoor and recreational activities available. Expanding on the “Good for the Soul” theme, a marketing tagline could be Coromandel (Whitianga/Mercury Bay; insert any place name on the Coromandel), “R&R—relax and recreation; slow down and enjoy.”

The Coromandel has, and can attract, the very best experiences that life has to offer. We, as a community, can make deliberate choices to develop a new set of priorities for what is important on all levels, for the health and wellbeing of the people who live here and visit here, and the health and well-being of the land and the sea which feed us and support us.

Obviously, in pursuit of conscious living and thriving, we must be willing to explore, quest, question, discuss, debate, listen, look, learn for ourselves what we are doing individually and collectively to add to, or subtract from, the abundance of nature’s beauty and bounty in this area.

We need to elect conscious people to councils and decision making, and governing boards. so we need to ensure our natural resources are not pillaged and depleted by greedy individuals, governments, and multi-national corporations.

We could be the pioneers and ‘way-showers’ of a new level of living and being.

cies monitoring, pest control and tree planting.

• Provide eco-friendly accommodation, farm stays, and retreat centres.

• Encourage and promote low-impact activities that are fun, like family beach days, bush walking, swimming, recreational fishing, diving, surfing, yachting, kayaking, biking, photography, bird watching, and visiting historical sites and places of interest.

Appreciate what we have on our doorstep. People from all over the world, would love to experience what we take for granted. So let’s create Whitianga as a place to slow down, and enjoy the outstanding natural beauty, outdoor activities, fresh organic food, and friendly people, then visitors will want to spend their time and money here.

Verna Carr, Whitianga DON’T BLAME THE COUNCIL FOR RATE INCREASES

Whilst Thames Coromandel District Council havemade some bad decisions on managing the economy of the District, they are not totally responsible for our high rate increases.

Government legislation over the last 20 years have forced Councils to make decisions that they are not mandated to achieve. Water for instance! In the early part of the 2000’s Central Government made a decision to change the supply and intake of water. The preferred option was intake from rivers or streams. The option discarded the use of water tanks, reservoirs and catchment areas which had wide ramifications.

Take Whitianga for example, when the new system was introduced and a pipeline put in from the Moewai Road base out to the whangamorora stream a few kilometres out of town – opposite the 309 turnoff. The water was then brought back to the Moewai base to be treated and displersed.

What a waste of money, time and energy for council to absorb!

TAO DO MARTIAL ARTS AOTEAROA A Freestyle martial art for Self-defence, Self-Control, Confidence and Discipline. Suitable for children and adults.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Whitianga Town Hall 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Instructor: Tony 0273335146

FILIPINO $15 LUNCH SPECIALS

FROM 10AM UNTIL SOLD OUT

Menu below for week starting Monday 2 September, 2024

MONDAY

Kapow chicken on jasmine rice

TUESDAY

Port adobo on jasmine rice

WEDNESDAY

Beef Kaldareta on jasmine rice

THURSDAY

Chicken Afritada on steamed jasmine rice

FRIDAY

Anne’s homemade banana turon, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream DINE IN OR TAKE AWAY

With global awareness of environmental issues growing, eco-tourism continues to gain popularity among travellers seeking sustainable and impactful experiences. Conservation-focused tourism not only supports environmental preservation but also provides educational experiences and fosters appreciation for nature. Here are some ideas that are both meaningful and profitable and would bring people to visit all year round.

• Encourage sustainable and organic farms, orchards, horticulture, agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture so that food is fresh and locally produced.

• Adventure tours, and package trips that allow tourists to participate in conservation projects such as habitat restoration spe-

In addition to the change in policy, catchment areas up the Wade and Moewai roads were closed. These catchment areas were used in the 1970’s by the Mercury Bay Dairy Company.

So I say in closing, don’t blame the Council for the blowout on rate increases but rather look for alternatives.

Noel Hewlett TCDC Councillor 1998-2010

1080 DILUTION MERELY REDISTRIBUTES THE POISON FURTHER AFIELD.

1080 dilution merely redistributes the poison further afield. Despite hundreds of competing animal poison products now in use, the only one with a government licence to be dropped from the air over the mainland is 1080. Why? 1080 poison forms a solu-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

tion which will be taken up by a tree’s roots. 1080 began its profitable life sold to rose growers as a systemic insecticide which will travel up the plant and into its leaves bringing 1080 to the leaf-eating insects and, in NZ, to the native fruit and flower eaters as well. As Malcolm Campbell pointed out (Informer 27 Aug) the passage of 1080 through the heart of a plant’s system will inevitably reduce its vigour.

Local trees have received six dressings of 1080 in less than 20 years and with their customary vigour so reduced, they have succumbed to diseases like dieback and myrtle rust which were unheard of prior to 1080 poisoning on our peninsula. Die-back first erupted in Northland where 1080 drops had started ten years earlier. Why would a government want to spread this poison so widely and why do we allow them to do it?

John Veysey Colville

OUR ANNUAL ‘FUEL” AND POWER COSTS ARE LESS THAN $100

Denis Tegg’s column on renewable energy’s benefits (The Informer, 27 August) resonated with me based on my personal experience. A new Rewiring New Zealand report (https://www. rewiring.nz) also supports his findings.

Rewiring NZ projects aver-

age household savings of $1,500 annually through electrification, solar, and batteries, but our household’s results showed even greater savings. By fully embracing this transition with two electric vehicles, solar panels, and a home battery, we’ve reduced our annual “fuel” and power costs to under $100. It’s astonishing but true.

Our biggest savings come from eliminating petrol. Our cars plugged in at home cost just $0.31/litre with our solar power. Heat pumps help and the home battery provides cheap solar power during peak prices. The battery means we never have power cuts.

The initial investment was significant, but the return on capital outperformed bank term deposits. We need Government subsidies for solar and batteries to accelerate mass adoption like it has in Australia. This reduces grid demand and saves billions in new generation costs. A much better outcome than using dirty coal and importing expensive gas.

Rewiring NZ projects national savings of $10.7 billion yearly by 2040 through electrification. This shift reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels and improves our trade balance.

While the upfront costs are high, the long-term benefits for households and the nation are clear. From my experience, this transition is a no-brainer – it’s

„ The purpose of the Letters to the Editor column is to allow members of the public to express an opinion, about an article or a topic of interest. Please keep them to 200 words or less. These letters do not reflect the editor’s view. The editor reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.

great for our wallets, cleaner air, and our energy security.

Brenda Smythe Papakura

SECRECY THE MOTHER OF CORRUPTION

The Informer 27 August issue was very informative, if somewhat depressing, Dal Minogue’s letter, defending secret workshops, because “the general public has virtually no interest in attending public workshops was amazing.

The concept that we should keep the public out of public workshops, defies belief, but also illustrates a total lack of honesty, and logic. John Morrissey displays a very sad desire for secrecy when he says that, “You can’t have free and frank discussions in public”, what’s being hidden? For Dal Minogue to believe that our motley bunch know better than the Chief Ombudsman is absurd, Rasmussen is right.

We also have a problem with preferred suppliers and commercial sensitivity, which enables uncontested contracts and no public observation. Secrecy is the mother of corruption. Why do these people desire to hide under a rock and out of the disinfectant of sunlight?

It is nearly 100 years since the Thames Council went bankrupt largely because of its funding of a new wharf, associated dredging, and other nice to haves, now we have a new facility in Kopu, partly

funded by PGF (taxpayers) and partly by ratepayers, it’s sad that it is out of bounds for those who paid for it.

Mayor Bill Bongard was responsible for the wharf project that was the large contributor to the events. leading to a commissioner in 1932. It is to be hoped that Len Salt does not continue irresponsible spending on a path to repeating this catastrophe.

Several people in Coromandel, currently waiting for consents, were actively ignored by our mayor and local councillor, while trying to talk to them. It appears that some councillors have been captured by anti-public sentiment, and forget about those who pay their wages.

In the good old days, after being messed around, one could email our Mayor Sandra Goudie, and suddenly action would take place. Before that Mayor Alistair Thompson was very offended, that the TCDC had again, got an award for being the most obstructive council in NZ, so it’s not new.

It appears that there is no functional system to handle complaints. People may be interested that a friend in Paeroa, applied for a building consent and received it in TWO working days, I have friends in Coromandel who have been held up for many months before a consent is begrudgingly granted, when dealing with the TCDC.

Applications for consents are

Tenanted in Tairua

• Multi tenanted offers spilt risk

• Corner site with good frontage

• Comprising two buildings and yard

Situated on a prime corner site this 835sqm (more or less) site provides significant frontage for its tenants and ample on-street parking. Although the property is residentially zoned, it is currently utilised for commercial purposes, offering options for future development.

The property will be sold on a GST-inclusive basis, adding an additional advantage for potential buyers. bayleys.co.nz/2180728

supposed to notified within 20 days, but here it seems to work on 20 days to find a problem (real or not), and then after resolution, the 20-day clock restarts. When this occurs five times to one consent, this is truly bizarre and outside the meaning of the act, and begs the question of why does one rejection take 20 days?

I think with the way things are going in the TCDC, perhaps the government could look at appointing a commissioner once again or perhaps we could steal from the HDC and ask Toby Adams to stand for mayor.

Neville Cameron Coromandel

MĀORI WARDS.

Māori wards are about representation.

Māori as tangata whenua, should have representation, it really is that simple. To think otherwise is ridiculous.

What’s more ridiculous is to think that a majority non Māori district/country has the right to decide whether Māori have the right to representation. The question should be, do Māori want representation? We know the answer to this already.

To deny Iwi from Te Tara o Te Ika A Maui from participating at council level over their rohe that they’ve been born to be kaitiaki of, is just wrong.

Fiona Gates Whitianga

RURAL LIFE COUNTS

We created the problem – we need to fix it

BY MALCOLM CAMPBELL

Another weekly newspaper carries the headline ‘Workforce Woes’ and a picture of Mayor Len Salt who is rightly concerned about employment of 300 young people who could be employed, but currently are not.

Imagine the power and energy of twenty Rugby Teams and the impact they could have on just about anything, that 300 souls turned their hand to.

The report then states: “The workforce without intervention, would become older and potentially smaller, reflective of slow population growth, a higher proportion of those aged over 65 and fewer young people in the community.”

The report does not spell out

what form this ‘intervention’ is likely to take. The ‘intervention’ carried out previously is the sole cause of the present problems and began in 1980 (Town and Country Planning Act) and has gathered strength ever since with the Resource Management Act, when the Government defactionalised all privately owned property in New Zealand. The whole sordid business is corrupt.

The first Commissioner for the Environment, Helen Hughes, served two five-year terms from 1987 until 1996. Therefore, she was only in the position for five years of the life of the RMA, but discovered that any public opposition to a proposed development could be bought off or bribed in order to keep the opposition mouths shut. The situation has

not improved. A farming paper reports: “The latest example of how broken the RMA consents process is, Meridian Energy has paid out DOC, Fish and Game, and IWI, rather than risk them blocking the renewal of consents to keep the Waitaki Hydro Scheme. It is an open secret that it is easier to grease palms than it is to risk getting tied up for years by ‘greenmail’ demands from rent seekers.

In this case Meridian agreed to pay over 35 years $73.5m to Doc, $2.8m to Central South Island F&G and estimated ‘confidential’ $104m to Ngai Tahu.”

This type of corrupt behaviour says nothing for the integrity of the recipients of this blackmail money.

However, Mayor Len Salt has a major problem, in that if the

would-be developer is unable to fund the consent process which is an unknown cost, he or she should just walk away.

Records are held of ‘consents’ costing in excess of $100,000 whether the ‘consent’ was granted or not and indeed another failed attempt cost close to $1,000,000.

The RMA specifically rules out changing the ‘intensity’ of any business without a consent. Essentially, the would-be developer is buying the right to work or help him or herself.

Firstly, the Mayor and Councillors have to realise the ‘Council Plans’ are not plans at all, never have been and never will be. They are simply heaps and heaps of controls of what you cannot do on your own property.

The Oxford Dictionary states a

plan is: “A formulated and especially detailed method by which a thing is to be done; a design or scheme; an intention or proposed proceeding.”

Nothing resembling anything like the Oxford definition will be found in any so-called plan anywhere in New Zealand. Geoffrey Palmer and Simon Upton did a grand job of killing progress in New Zealand. Drive to any small rural service centre and see the empty shops, closed workshops and virtually no young people making their way in life as the Mayor says.

However, I am the age of a great grand father and this past Sunday, it has been Father’s Day and now it is Conservation Week. So, I better keep on being hopeful and working for a better future.

Elvis and a Harley Davidson golf cart?

BY PAM FERLA

Imagine this – The great Elvis Presley in his fancy Harley-Davidson golf cart, sporting blue suede shoes and swinging his hips as he plays a round of golf on the lovely course at Tairua Golf Club. Up on the 16th tee he scans panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, rolling hills, bush and the village below before moving on to the next tee.

OK, that is fantasy, but the golf club has come up with the bright idea of inviting an Elvis impersonator to entertain at the clubrooms on 12 October. And it’s all part of a new chapter with new manager, Paul McKiddie. Club president, Ken Edwards came up with the Elvis idea and Paul is keen to see more events like this happen at the club to involve the community of Tairua.

Paul has been with the club six months. After a number of years in the building industry he sought a change of career. Working in management appealed to him and as a golfer he decided to study club management, attaining the BMI Club Management Certificate.

The Tairua course is known as a challenging and winding track, located between the Pepe Estuary

and the Coromandel foothills, with different views of the water as golfers enjoy the 18-hole course.

“People tell me it’s a hidden gem and that we are very welcoming and friendly,” says Paul. “It’s a challenging country-style course with spectacular views; no two holes are the same.

“The beauty of golf is that because of handicaps you can compete against anyone, regardless of ability. You also get plenty of exercise and fresh air. It’s a good game for everyone and I encourage people of all ages to come and have a go. If you’ve never played before then let us know. We’re happy to spend a bit of time teaching the fundamentals of how to play, rules and etiquette when we are not too busy.”

There is also a friendly Golf Croquet Club with four lawns. The club’s bar is open on Fridays

from 4.00pm with plans of opening more often through summer.

“We’re a thriving and progressive club with 300 members and new visitors say they will return. I’m keen to see more community functions at our venue, such as events, weddings and other celebrations. I’m also looking forward to encouraging people to play golf and bring fresh ideas to our club.”

As for Elvis, apparently, he did have a Harley Davidson golf cart in which he travelled around Gracelands Estate, and he did try golf but did not take it up as a regular sport. He got plenty of exercise on stage.

For more information on Tairua Golf & Country Club, check out the club’s website, www.tairuagolf. co.nz. For tickets for the Elvis show Email info@ tairuagolf.co.nz

Tairua Golf and Country Club manager, Paul McKiddie, pictured helping his stepdaughter, Annabelle Fang, with her swing. It was a great shot!

Mercury Bay Wine Estate now open

We are open after being closed for the winter months. Spring is here and the Mercury Bay Wine Estate is open for business. Simon and Veronica Ward are ready to host you from 11.00am to 3.00pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

This outstanding setting for a winery with ocean and country landscape to view, is nestled close to Cooks Beach off Purangi Road. Its international reputation brings many visitors, but it is not always known that locals are so very welcome to come to the winery.

Simon and Veronica have relished the opportunity to bring their own style and marketing to the estate.

“We produce two main varieties – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; one white and one red, and we do two Rosés from that” says Simon.

Our Rosé is very popular. There is an upward trend with Rosés. They are now more in vogue and sparkling rosés are growing in popularity. The Lola, the Rosé we named after our daughter, is a sparkling variety.

Food is very important to the experience at Mercury Bay Estate.

“We bring the taste of Italy,” says Veronica.

"Our wine, our food – everything is fresh, organic and quality. One winter we went specifically to Italy to learn how to do a pizza.

“We are clear that most of our cheeses are Italian. We have to

import but we have a mix of New Zealand cheeses that we serve with the Apartif. We have to bring in the best quality.”

And they do. This home and estate of Simon and Veronica for 8 years now, is world class and it's local!

Whitianga, 6 Hei Esplanade

• 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, separate laundry, solar panels, storage galore and so much more!

• Fully self-contained 1 bedroom flat with one accessible bathroom, heat pump & tranquil water view. Boat ramp plus boat park & double garaging.

FOR SALE By negotiation VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L25351998

Katrina Carlyon 021 724 200

Cooks Beach, 8 Fred Harsant Dr

• 3 bdrm, 2 bthrm home with a contemporary design & practical living.

• Generous 801sqm flat site.

• Open plan lounge, kitchen, & dining area, separate second lounge/media room.

FOR SALE $1,280,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L27555777

Paulette Tainsh 027 241 2001

Hendry Tainsh 022 658 4818

Coromandel , 6 Allman Drive

• This little village enclave of 30 independent homes is occupied by the 55 plus age group.

• 3 bdrm, 1 bthrm home on a flat site with internal access single garage.

• Village setting is located within walking distance to the Coromandel Town facilities.

FOR SALE $565,000 VIEW harcourts.co.nz/ L27298614

Glenn Wells 0800 735 788

Whitianga, 155 Kupe Drive

• Stunning 2021 cleverly designed 4 bedrm, 2 bthrm, 2 lounge, dbl internal access garage, family

• Sunny open plan kitchen/dining/family area with superb indoor/outdoor living. Separate butler’s pantry, great storage, bathroom heated floors, ducted heat pump.

FOR SALE $1,250,000 VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L29266453

Kirstin Brown 027 301 1775 Dayle Candy 027 433 6862

Tairua, 113 Main Rd

FOR SALE $649,000

Simon and Veronica Ward outside their winery close to beautiful Cooks Beach..

WHAT'S ON

OP SHOPS

Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop –Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open every Mon-Sat 10am-2pm.

St John Opportunity Shop – 29 Albert St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm and Sat 9.30am-2pm.

St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. 9.30am-1pm Wed-Sat. Social Services Op-shop – 15 Coghill St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-2pm. Donations welcome. SPCA Op-shop – 2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 9am-4pm.

MONTHLY

AA Driver Licensing – Friday 13 September and Monday 23 September. In the Mercury Bay Service Centre Community Board Room in Monk St (behind the council offices).

American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga – Club meetings first Sunday of the month, 11am at Smitty’s for cars and coffee. Phone Reg and Julie Smith on 027 493 5822. Cooks Beach Garden Circle –Last Thurs of the month 11.15am-2.30pm. New members welcome. Ph Anne on 07 866 0268 for more information. Craft Group – Meets first Saturday of the month 10am-3pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr, carpark end. Work on your own craft (stitching, colouring in, scrapbook, card making anything goes). Bring your lunch and enjoy mixing with other crafty people. Any queries ph Marilyn 021 1806 530 or Kim 021 1200 469.

Kūaotunu Dune Care – Every third Wed of the month. To get involved, please email kuaotunudunecare@gmail.com.

Mercury Bay Model Railway Club – Monthly meet. Contact. Damon 0273551650

Mercury Bay Shooting Federation – Muzzle loader, rimfire, centre fire, military, pistol. Email mbsfsecretary@gmail.com

Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club)

– Fourth Monday of every month, 10am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Joan on 07 866 3801 or 027 275 1372.

BI-MONTHLY

Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc – We meet bimonthly for either coffee mornings or luncheons. Learn more about us by phoning Merle 07 867 1737.

FORTNIGHTLY

Greeting Card Making – The second and fourth Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. All materials provided. Contact Rev. Gillian Reid on 021 781 081 or just turn up. Knit for a Purpose – First and third Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. Ph Gillian Reid on 021 781081 for further details, or just turn up.

Mercury Bay Creative Fibre – Spin, knit, weave, crochet. First and third Wednesday every month, 10am-1pm, supper room of Town Hall. Phone Vanessa 027 896 5037. Email vandoo555@gmail. com.

Mercury Bay Quilters – 10am-4pm on the first and third Mondays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Contact Margaret on 021 140 4016. Whitianga Tramping Group – Every second Sunday at 8.30am. Phone Wally 021 907 782 or Lesley 021 157 9979 for more information.

WEEKLY OR MORE

Alcoholics Anonymous – The Whitianga Big Book Group meets every Thursday at 6.30pm at St Peter the Fisherman Church, Dundas Street. Phone 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) for more information. Al-Anon Serenity Group – For those affected by someone else’s drinking. Every Wednesday at 1.30pm. Phone Pauline on 021 086 10955 for more info.

If you have an activity or group or the existing information is incorrect, let The Coromandel Informer know. Call 07 866 2090, email info@theinformer.co.nz. Our What’s On page is not guaranteed to run every week as often space is restricted. Consider paying for a classified advert if you want to guarantee your activity runs every week.

Boys Brigade – An adventure, activity, and values based ministry for boys. For boys aged 5-13 years old. Tues 5.30-7pm For information contact Robyn 020 409 39674.

Chess Club – Monday nights 6.30-9.30pm, MB Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 0272117195 or brettsoanes16@ hotmail.com

Chinwag Café – Every Friday from 10.30am12.30pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. A place for over 50s to meet other people, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and have a chinwag.

Coffee and Discussion Group – Every Sunday, 2-4pm, at The Lost Spring. Topics are open and respect shown. No charge. Convener Peter H. Wood. Cooks Beach Care Group – Join our friendly team and learn about coastal conservation. Come weeding and planting. Thursday mornings. Register www. cooksbeachcare.org.nz

Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club – Every Wednesday 1.45-4.30pm approx, Cooks Beach Hall. One month free trial (4 times). Contact Coral Strong 021 2303 944.

Cooks Beach Table Tennis – Every Thursday night. Juniors 6-7pm $2pp/night; Seniors 7-9pm $5pp/ night. Cooks Beach Community Centre. All levels welcome. Contact Leanne Barnes 021 468 533. Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm, Lovers Rock, Robinson Road. All breeds and sizes welcome to a very sociable group. Ph Jenny on 021 186 5797. Hahei Contract Bridge Club – Every Tuesday 12.30pm at the Hahei Community Hall. Learners and casual welcome. Contact Don Barry 021 741 959 or Robyn Hogg 021543015.

Meditation Classes – Thursday evening. Spiritual, heart, soul development. Sacred energy, chakra activations, working with spiritual guides. Open forum conversation, Thursdays, 6.30pm at Flat 1, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga. Cost $10. Contact Verna 027 320 0079, vernajcarr@gmail.com.

Meditation Stress Reduction Circle – Whitianga – Mondays from 7.30-9pm at the Embassy of Friendship, 5 Coghill St. More info Steffen Lindner (Counsellor, Therapist & Mindfulness Facilitator) ph 022 0853 121 or email steffen@eof.nz

Mercury Bay Badminton Club – Thurs 5-7pm, 4 courts at MBAS gym. Please note club nights currently limited to existing club members due to high attendance levels. Contact: Steve 027 211 3568

Mercury Bay Badminton – Every Wednesday 9-11am, at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. Social badminton. Casual players and visitors are welcome. Players of all levels, ages 16+. Phone Carol 027 474 7493 for more information.

Mercury Bay Contract Bridge Club – Every Wednesday at 1pm and every Thursday at 7pm at the MB Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. For more information, phone Gavin on 07 866 2343 or 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir – Mondays 6.158.15pm, Music Room MBAS. Inclusive, open, friendly choir – no prior singing experience needed, no auditions. Start date 5th August Contact Kate 027 2709 058 for details.

Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tues and Fri from 9-11am, location advised prior. For more information, please email mbenvironmentaltrust@gmail.com or go to www. mbet.co.nz.

Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club – Every Thursday evening, Whitianga Town Hall, 6.45pm. New members and visitors welcome. Phone Cheryl or Alan on 027 452 7887 for more information.

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club – Every Tues 5.30pm7.30pm and every Sunday 4-6pm at the MBAS gymnasium, Whitianga. Outdoor sessions every Thurs 4-pm and Sun 9-11am weather dependant, Matai Pl courts, Matarangi. Equipment and training provided. Contact Tony Minto 021 426 150. Mercury Bay Squash Club – New members/ enquiries to Dawn Thurgood mercbaysquash@ gmail.com

Mercury Bay Table Tennis – Every Tues, 9-11.30am at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Ph Anne on 07 869 5162 or 027 565 5575 for more info.

Mercury Bay Tennis Club – Social tennis at Lyon Park is on from 6pm on Thursdays. All welcome. Ph. Jason 022 186 7992 or Steve 022 378 0648.

Oneness Meditation Centre – The centre focuses on the meditative art of going deeper within. Learn how to meditate, breath, calm the mind, relieve stress, anxiety and be a calm, peaceful, courageous, dynamic human being. Every Monday, 9.30-11.00am. Further info. text Linda 027 650 4881or email linda_c@orcon.net.nz

Spiritual Coffee Mornings – Every Tues and Wed, 10.30-11.30am, 19 Monk St, the Starlight Centre. Grab a coffee and join in some great conversation where we talk about topics and subjects that have

meaning. Gold coin donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079.

Strength, Balance and Mobility classes for Seniors – Men and women, every Thurs 10-11am at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. $2 per session. Contact Lisa Jury on 027 351 7110 for further information.

Tai Chi for beginners – Town Hall, Mondays 6-7pm. Gold coin donation. Ph Tony 027 333 5146 for more info.

Tai Do Martial Arts – Town Hall, Tues/Wed 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146.

Tairua Contract Bridge Club – Every Monday at 12.30pm at the Tairua Bowling Club, 44 Hornsea Rd. Contact Lynnette Flowers 021 252 4709 or Johanna Bonnar 027 466 3726.

Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am-12.30pm every Wednesday morning at the Hahei Community Centre. Ages newborn-5years. We invite all parents, carers, visitors and grandparents. Contact whenuakiteareaplaygroup@gmail.com

Whitianga Art Group – Every Thurs/Fri 10am4pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information.

Whitianga Menz Shed – Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. At the Moewai Park end of South Highway, past the diesel truck stop. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am-12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@playcentre. org.nz or 027 880 3947.

Whitianga Senior Citizens Club – Indoor bowls and card games. Mondays at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, 1pm-4pm. Join us for a fun time and afternoon tea, 55+ age group. Phone Lionel Lawrence (president) on 027 274 6964 for more info.

Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tues 9am start. For more information phone Margaret on 027 7802 744. All levels welcome.

Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga – Wed 5-6pm, Room 10, Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr. Support to lose weight wisely. Check out our Facebook page or phone Cecily on 027 294 1750 for more information.

DANCING

Argentine Tango Dance Class – Fridays, Town Hall, Whitianga, 5.30-7.30pm. No prior experience or partner necessary. Text Sergio for questions 027 410 2454

Belly Dancing – Contact Catherine Corcoran, 021 210 2438 or smile@catherinecorcoran.com. Weekend classes twice a month at 4pm. Mercury Bay Dance Club – Recreational dance lessons. Thurs 6-7pm. Book with Kathleen 022 154 1702 and/or check out the Facebook page. facebook. com/mercurybaydanceclub/. Mercury Bay Line Dancing Club – Tues, beginners 11.15am-12.15pm; seniors 12.30-2.30pm; Thurs, absolute beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, improvers 12.45-2.45pm. Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. Ph Margaret 027 463 8850 or Glynis 021 1099 155. SALSA/Merengue/Bachata and Cha Cha – Contact Molly, events@beatfairy.com. Every Monday from 6.30-7.30pm at Monkey House. $20 per class which includes a drink.

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St, $5 per session. Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am. Contact Cecily 027 294 1750 or Kathy 027 4321 353 Zumba – Contact Carly, book at www.infinitefitness. nz. Wednesdays at 5.30pm at gym for Zumba and Step Zumba on Mondays at 4.45pm, 86a Albert St. GROUP INFO

Mercury Bay Athletics – For info contact alana. baker@bayleyscoromandel.co.nz

Mercury Bay Bowling and Sports Club – Cook Drive, Whitianga. Contact Steve Williams 027 855 2772.

Mercury Bay Lions Club – New members are welcome. Email mercurybaylions@gmail.com. Phone Barb 0274 075 268. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated – Learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Sheryll Carruthers 021 022 62504 or email seniornet.whitianga.admin@gmail. com.

Whitianga Bike Park – 144 Moewai Rd, Whitianga. Open 24/7. Many bike tracks available, picnic areas, BBQs and walking trails. Donations welcome on entry. If you wish to volunteer or for programme enquiries, contact John 027 366 4606. Whitianga Gun Club – For information, phone Mike Deverell 0274 959 477 or Graham Sutcliffe on 021 846 655.

Whitianga Community Patrol – Monitors the township and neighbourhood. If interested in volunteering, ph Gary 027 391 3043.

WHITIANGA POLICE REPORT

BY CONSTABLE MICHAEL CARTER

„

Monday, 26 August to Sunday, 1September 2024

GENERAL:

Monday, 26 August, an incident occurred at one of the commercial properties on Joan Gaskell Drive. Enquiries are continuing to identify the person from CCTV footage.

Also, Monday 26 assault was alleged to have occurred at a South Highway address involving a domestic animal. Persons are being spoken to regarding this matter.

Wednesday, 28 August, a burglary was reported as having occurred at an Albert Street address. Various items were taken by the offenders. Enquiries are continuing to identify these persons.

Also, Wed 28 August, a mobile phone was stolen from a commercial property on Albert Street. Enquiries are continuing to identify the individual involved from

SPORTS

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

18 Players this week, so 501 doubles were played. Only one team went through unbeaten winning all 4 games and they were John Munro & Debbie Holmes. A well deserved victory to them. Highest finish for the men was 65, scored by Mike Gillett. No finishes over 50 by the ladies tonight. One 180 scored tonight and that by Chris Bennett. This is the first time I can recall one of the ladies throwing a 180. Congratulations Chris.

MERCURY BAY CLUB

SNOOKER

Wednesday 28 August

Best of three frames – 11 players today and it’s Bob Haase, Peter Challis and Brian Codyre with two straight wins each to challenge the finals. Bob wins the alley drawn bye and old adversaries Brian and Peter battle out the semifinal with Brian taking the win to challenge Bob in the final frame. However it’s Bobs’ day and takes a comfortable win and the cash prize . Runner up Brian Codyre and with two wins were Wayne Malcolm, Ian Baumgren and Peter Challis who also had the highest break of 18.

Saturday 31st August

Best of three frames – 9 players today & it’s Bob Haase and Peter Schultz with two straight wins to challenge the final third frame . However it is Bob on form today and takes a close win over Peter. With two wins Peter Schultz ( runner up), Ian Baumgren and Doug Pascoe. No high break recorded today Sent from my iPad

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

The Tairua Bridge Club results for the Pacific Pairs week 4 held on 26th August 2024 are as follows: North/South: 1, Celia Young and Nolene Kirkpatrick 70.11%; 2, Kim van Diepen and Peter

CCTV footage.

Saturday, 31 August, a vehicle was interfered with in the service lane between Hannan Road and Lee Street.

ARRESTS:

1x male arrested for Family Harm matters.

FAMILY HARM MATTERS:

Monday, 26 August, incident occurred at a commercial property on Joan Gaskell Drive. The male party was subsequently arrested for assaulting his part-

Tuesday, 27 August, incident reported to police at a South Highway address. Both parties were spoken to and given advice for assistance from external agencies.

Thursday, 29 August, incident occurred at a Moewai Park Road address. Both parties were spoken to by police.

Saturday, 31 August, incident occurred at a Robinson Road address. Both parties were spoken to by police and separated for the remainder of the night.

Sunday, 1 September, incident occurred at an Onerere Drive address. All parties were spoken to regarding the matter.

TRAFFIC:

Thursday, 29 August, a vehicle collision occurred on SH25, Whenuakite. One of the vehicles lost control in the wet and slid into the path of an oncoming utility. Thankfully no injuries were sustained from the crash.

There have been a number of vehicle collisions this past month where vehicles have ended up off the roads. Please drive responsibly and to the conditions. If you are feeling tired, pull over and rest. Have a power nap to try and refresh your system as this could save you and others. Continuing to drive while tired inhibits your sense of timing and reaction to incidences further ahead of you and could cause serious or fatal injuries.

Be safe out there.

Police are targeting Restraints, Impairment, Distractions and Speed this month.

COMMUNITY PATROLS:

Throughout NZ there are local volunteers assisting police with various aspects throughout the day. These volunteers assist with keeping an eye out on suspicious activities and behaviour in their areas.

Community Patrols are made up of everyday people who want to make a difference in their community.

CPNZ volunteer patrollers are the extra ‘eyes and ears’ of NZ Police. Working together to assist police and other agencies in building safer local communities. With their local knowledge they are a useful resource in crime prevention.

Our local Community Patrol are looking for new volunteers that may also want to assist in making a difference.

There are three patrol locations, Whitianga, Matarangi and Cooks Beach.

If you are keen or wanting to ask questions regarding CPNZ, please contact your local police station for further details.

McNeil 60.87%; 3, Judy McKenzie and Jenny Prince 46.74%.

East/West: 1, Peter Clark and Carol Henwood 56.58%; 2, Jean Myles and David Wilkinson 53.29%; 3, Doreen Wernham and Jo Feasey 52.50%.

MERCURY BAY CONTRACT

BRIDGE CLUB

August Competition round 3

Wednesday, 28 August

North/South - 1, Giorgio Allemano & Gavin Hedwig 62.0; 2, Bob Schibli & Denise Knutson 55.5; 3, Jenny Layton & Sue Swan 52.5

East/West - 1, Ian Hogg & Chris Hilford 60.0; 2, Geoff Jervis & Kate Palmano 59.0; 3, Amy Hyde & Augusta Canegallo 47.5 Championship Singles (Thursday) round 2

Thursday, 29 August

North/South - 1, Amy Hyde & Gavin Hedwig 60.2; 2, Alison Gibson & Debbie Cragg 54.3; 3, Rose Tegg & Shay Geach 52.3

East/West - 1, Ischelle Stevenson & Geoff Jervis 57.6; 2, Norma Hart & Augusta Canegallo 56.8; 3, Kathy Moy-Low & Terri Lipanovic 45.7

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

Thursday 29 August

Winners: Ray Rout, Heather Walker and Sandie Morris Runners up: Ian Pudney and Judy Cullinane Good Sports: Merle Ward , Ian Mitchell and Jan Harvey.

COOKS BEACH INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

Wednesday 28 August Singles Championship was played with 10 players attending. Qualifiers for this Tournament were Brian Hill, Colleen Hunt, Coral Strong, Garry Oppert, Sumer Bartlett.

The overall winner was Garry Oppert who played Colleen Hunt in the final game, some great bowls played on the day with a lovely interval for an afternoon tea break.

TAIRUA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

9 Hole Stableford

Thursday 29 August

1, Joyce Birdsall; 2, Brian Fellows; 3, Anna McGuire. 18 Hole Stableford

Thursday 29 August

1, Warwick Rogers; 2, Ray Russell; 3, Ross Reid.

Saturday 24 August

1, Leon Smith; 2, Ray Russell.

MERCURY BAY FOOTBALL

Tenth Grade Orcas

Mercury Bay Orcas had their last game of the season today at home against Hauraki Tigers. With stormy weather for the start of our final game and ending in sunshine the boys played hard and really showed some of their outstanding individual skills but also their ability to play in many areas around the field, fantastic team work all round and able to work through the opposing

teams defensive wall was shown.

A big shout out to Archer Jowsey who stepped up as goalie for the opposing team and gave them a helping hand but also increased the pressure for us to get the ball into the back of the net.

Our player of the day went to Ryan Martin who is a key defender for our team but also showed his ability in the upper field and scored himself a goal. Amazing season and top effort by our boys!

We as coaches and parents couldn’t be prouder of how far they come and the amazing sportsmanship shown all season.

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

Monday 26 August

9 Hole Men’s Stableford

1, Robert Fisken; 2, Ray Green; 3, Rey Bertling.

Wednesday 28 August

18 Hole Men’s Tony Cotton

Memorial Net

1, David Ellis; 2, Tony Joblin; 3, Peter Sharp.

Twos: Tony Joblin on the 5th Nearest the Pin on 18 – Tony Nicholson

Thursday 29 August

9 Hole Men Three Blind Mice: 1, Robert Fisken; 2, David Ellis; 3, Peter Murphy.

Thursday 29 August

18 Hole Ladies Hidden Holes

Equal were Noeleen Mulligan and Sandra Bowen

Saturday 31 August

Mixed Haggle Stableford 1, Charlie Chilwell.

Twos – Charlie Chilwell on 18 Nearest the Pin on 18 – Charlie Chilwell

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Thursday 29 August

Wayne Carter Memorial Trophy 9 hole stableford

1st Female Anne Costello 1st Male Steve Borlase – winners of the Trophy

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

Wednesday 28 August

18 Hole Women – Stableford 1, Marg Maher, Sheree Henderson, Angela Cook; 2, Dianne Gilmour, Sharon Young, Debbie Holmes.

Nearest to Pin #4: Angela Cook

Nearest to Pin #18: Sheree Henderson

Longest Putt #9: Angela Cook

18 Hole Men – Stableford 1, Alan Coubray; 2, Jay Marshall; 3, Alan Henderson

Eagle: Dave Enright Div 1, gross, Dave Enright; Div 2, Alan Coubray

Friday 30 August

9-Hole Mixed Scramble –Stableford

1, Roger Pheasant; 2, Les Walbridge; 3, Campbell Elliott

Nearest Pin #6: Bob Holliday

Saturday 31 August

18 Hole Men – Stableford

1, Willie Jones; 2, Graeme Butler; 3, Ken George

Twos: Neal Robinson

Gross: Matty Menzies

Colleen Hunt and Garry Oppert. Player of the day – Ryan Martin

GAMES AND PUZZLES

Back of neck (4) 9. Article (4) 10. Sports squads (5)

Possessors (6)

Restore to health (4)

Liquid toppings (6)

Made home in tree (6)

Mast pole (4)

22. Ethnic bias (6)

24. Copy outline of (5)

25. Festive occasion (4)

26. Tired reflex (4)

27. Creative thoughts (5)

28. Prisoner’s room (4)

29. Praises (6) DOWN

1. Minors (7)

2. Adult goslings (5)

3. Moves suddenly (5)

4. Model of virtue (7)

5. Japanese hostesses (7)

6. Prelude (7)

12. Wild grass (3)

15. Placate (7)

16. Cut short (7)

17. Wandered off course (7)

19. Geological age (3)

20. Forceful requests (7)

22. Recycle (5)

23. Church cellar (5)

Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Café in Whitianga. Hand deliver, mail, scan/photograph or email your entry to The Coromandel Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga, or info@theinformer. co.nz to reach us by 12.00 noon on Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from Espy Café directly.

Sudoku instructions

Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once.

TRADES AND SERVICES

737 777 or andy direct 027 313 4386 email: atlasgroup@xtra.co.nz

CLASSIFIEDS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

To be held at the Mercury Bay Club Inc. Restaurant area, 69 Cook Drive, Whitianga 11am – 15 September 2024 Open to “current financial members only” BUSINESS:

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

OF THE NGATI HUARERE KI WHANGAPOUA TRUST

To be held at the Fire Station September 21, 2024 at 10am

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD AND ZONE CLOSURES FOR THE OCEANS FESTIVAL SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2024

WHITIANGA LINE DANCING CLUB BEGINNERS CLASSES

STARTING WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 1.45-2.45PM

Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, Whitianga Register your interest now. PHONE CECILY 027 294 1750

Ph: 0274 817 258

There will be limited access to The Esplanade boat trailer car park from Tuesday 10 September.

There will be no access to The Esplanade boat trailer car park or the Marina car park on Saturday 14 September. The Esplanade boat trailer car park and the Marina car park can not have any vehicles left there on Saturday 14 Weptember. The Esplanade road will be closed between Victoria St and Monk St from 6am to 8pm on Saturday 14 September.

Please phone Nick 021 632 721 with any questions. We appreciate your support for this event! NOTICE OF MEETING

Onehunga Weed (Prickle Weed) Control

The TCDC contractor will be carrying out weed control of Onehunga Weed (Prickle Weed) in susceptible areas throughout the Thames-Coromandel District.

Our application dates will start from 30 August to the 30 September, between the hours of 7am and 2pm.

The application will be carried out by knapsack, boom sprayer and spray gun. The chemical that will be used is Clopyralid. Signage will be used at all appropriate areas.

We will start in Pauanui, Whangamata, Mercury Bay, Thames and the Thames Coast, finishing in Coromandel Town.

ST ANDREW’S BY THE SEA

Presby/Methodist Church Albert St Whitianga (Est.1898) COMMUNITY WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY 9:30am

Come, join us! Bring the family! Parish Secretary: ph 022 132 2061 www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

Worship

Everyone welcome for the Easter programme Sunday 10 am – 12 noon @ 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga (Community Service Bldg) Enquiries - 021 113 0566 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Cathedral Cove track work begins

PRESS RELEASE

Removal of dangerous trees and self-sewn wilding pines marks the start of physical work to reinstate temporary walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove’s iconic beach.

The track to the popular beach has been closed to the public since February 2023, when it was extensively damaged by extreme weather events including Cyclone Gabrielle.

DOC has two Mautohe Cathedral Cove work programmes underway, funded through the International Visitor Levy. One programme will reinstate temporary walking access to the cove for this summer, and the other workstream will determine a long-term visitor access and visitor management at the site.

DOC’s Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki Regional Director Tinaka Mearns says arborists will be on site next week to commence an estimated three weeks of work to remove more than 30 trees of different species, including she-oak, pinaster and wilding pines.

“Removing these trees and assorted other pest plants supports weed management and biodiversity

“This type of work makes the area an active work site with obvious hazards – so we’re continuing to urge the public to please stay out of the reserve while contractors are operating. Please follow our clear advice and do not use the track.”

“Entering the closed track while the tree felling operation is underway could result in serious injury and may lead to delays in the work programme.”

Accessing Mautohe Cathedral Cove remains a marine-only experience until December.

Meanwhile, mobilising people to protect Mautohe Cathedral Cove into the future, and determine how its mauri (life essence) can be restored are key facets of visitor management plan-

ning work for the iconic site, says Cathedral Cove Project Lead Tania Short.

“And as a coastal location, Mautohe Cathedral Cove faces greater rockfall and landslide challenges than many other places.

“Mautohe Cathedral Cove is vital to the regional economy, and if we manage it and protect it, everyone will benefit,” she says. “But we must do that in a sustainable way.”

Ngāti Hei consider Mautohe Cathedral Cove as a significant site as it is the location of historic pa and fortification ditches.

Tania says Ngāti Hei has a clear desire for manuhiri (visitors) to be safe when they go to Mautohe Cathedral Cove, and that will be a key aspect in development of a long-term walking access option.

Contributions from the community are vital to the visitor management workstream, Tania says.

“Our visitor management planning project will be a conversation we want everyone in the community to be part of.”

$150 a cube – Whitianga based –covering surround areas. Phone 07 867 1361, 0274 958 033 GARAGE SALE – 16 MEADOW DRIVE,

Saturday 14 September – 10am Household goods and furniture

Tea tree $200 or Pine $150 load per metre2 delivered. Phone (07) 866 3026 or text (027) 866 3026

PINE – SHED

TANDEM BOAT TRAILER

Aakron boat trailer. Fully refurbished. 6.0-6.5m, 2000kg rated. New springs, new LED lights, new wheel bearings & seals, new 3-speed winch, new rope. Complete rewire. All U bolts replaced. 4 near new tyres & bearing buddies. Painted with Metalshield epoxy enamel for extra salt water proofing. All round excellent condition. (Brand new costs around $7300.)

$3900 Ph Colin 021 55 22 18

Transform your outdoor living area

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Call Daniel for your FREE Quote 0204 198 4000 / archgola.co.nz

The home of BIG SCREEN entertainment on the Coromandel 1a Lee

For our latest screening schedule and trailers go to www.mercurytwincinemas.com

Scan barcode to take you directly to our website

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The Coromandel Informer is published weekly and distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula. Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of them are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name, telephone number or residential address. Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher and can be cut if too big. Published by The Mercury Bay Informer Limited.

Editors: Pauline and Stan Stewart (027 271 6182)

Editorial: Jack Biddle, Michelle Dellabarca, Suzanne Hansen, Stephen Holmes, Dorothy Preece, Trevor Ammundsen, Lynette Gee.

Business Manager: Emma Gaunt

Newspaper Layout: Diane Andrew

Social Media: EMD Agency

Circulation: 9000

Office: 14 Monk Street, Whitianga 3510, Telephone (07) 866 2090

Editorial: info@theinformer.co.nz, Advertising: sales@theinformer.co.nz Admin: office@theinformer.co.nz After hours: 027 271 6182

Follow us on social media @theinformernz | ISSN 2422-9083 (Print), ISSN 2422-9091 (Online), © 2023 Mercury Bay Informer Limited

Clockwise from left – Marion Frechtling, Stevie O'Reilly of New World and Marg Kilmister are volunteers from Mercury Bay Lions; Helen Parkinson pins John's daffodil on outside Woolworths, Whitianga; Helen Parkinson, Nicola Hewlett, Sandy Schultz and Carol Haddock providing daffodils for the community on Daffodil Day.

Generosity the theme of Daffodil Day

Daffodil Day has the whole country co-operating to raise funds for cancer support for those suffering from cancer and to change the experience of cancer for every New Zealander. The four key areas are research, counselling, night nursing and childhood cancers. One in three New Zealanders will be affected by cancer in their lifetime All around the Coromandel Peninsula volunteers were selling daffodils. For Whitianga there were no fresh daffodils to farm for all those who donated this year.

Thames: Thames was a large undertaking with stations at Pak N Save, Goldfields Mall, Caroline Eve, Triton Hearing, Hot Chocolate, Grahamstown Music Store. Jo Gladwell, who is the representative of the Cancer Society for Thames, had organised the selling of fresh daffodils for weeks prior to Daffodil Day with Kay-Anne Jo of the Green Grocer and other places in Thames even in Waiomu. Jo

raised a considerable portion of the over $6,000 dollars after Daffodil Day donations were counted. Stickers and the small cloth daffodils were all the volunteers had to offer donors on Daffodil Day. There were no fresh daffodils for Thames on Daffodil Day either.

Whitianga: Many thanks to all the places that gave space to sell the daffodils and to all those who gave to this vital cause. Thank you to the Whitianga Cancer Support Trust for organising volunteers also from the Mercury Bay Lions and the community volunteers to took shifts at New World, Woolworths, 4 Square and outside Tangos Shoes in Albert Street. Volunteers also roamed with their donation buckets covering the Clubs and Pubs. Paper daffodils were on offer this year instead of fresh flowers. This did not deter the generosity of people giving to Cancer support. We are all touched in some way by suffering due to cancer.