Issue 1125 - 1st October 2024

BE AT LYON PARK THIS SATURDAY

DAME LISA CAME TO WHITIANGA

BY RON MORGAN

Dame Lisa Carrington, her husband Bucky, and their beautiful dog Colin have recently had a taste of Mercury Bay hospitality and some of the amazing attractions and facilities we have in this incredible community. This recent visit was a first for Dame Lisa but Bucky had visited some years back.

Dame Lisa and her team had experienced an incredibly demanding time with a full Olympic Games preparation and competition with three events and teams; K1, K2 and K4 with heats and finals in these events. After the Paris Olympics there would have been public engagements, a new children’s book launch, a return to Paris as a commentator and a range of invitations to various functions and events.

WE MADE AN OFFER:

and relax without any formal time tabled events and public demands.

This did mean there was no opportunity for the public to meet the group which was disappointing. An offer was made to have a book launch and an opportunity to meet the couple but there were set protocols with the publisher and their contract, so this was not possible.

Our offer included Colin who was mentioned in most of Lisa’s television interviews. Provision for Colin and gift packs for him were also appealing.

The beautiful accommodation offered, also gave him an area of reserve which he enjoyed.

Brian and Yvonne Lindsay’s offer of accommodation could not have been more appropriate and suitable. On the Point at the entrance to the Whitianga Waterways provided privacy with the tropical gardens and a large luxury unit, opening out to the gardens was much appreciated.

We were honoured that they accepted. I believe that they rescheduled events to take advantage of our offer. This offer was an opportunity for the couple to chill out, wind down

Being next to the Waterways offered easy access for kayak launching and the couple took advantage of that.

Continued on page 2

Dame Lisa Carrington with her dog Colin being welcomed by a local K9 and a friendly passer by outside Harbour House on The Esplanade.

Photo credit Rockie Nixon

Dame Lisa and family visit Whitianga

Continued from page 1

For a morning warm up they paddled from the Waterways down the harbour and around to near Cook’s Beach and returned; one way against the rip. It was interesting to note several folk observed them in the river and commented on the stroke rate and how it was not the normal rate of recreational kayakers. (I believe someone took a video of them. If so, could they make contact please?

An early highlight of their visit was a tour aboard a launch the Waterways with Captain Blink (Mike English) and Rear Admiral Ross (Puggy) Southcombe, with expert commentary from Peter Abrahamson. They had earlier been on a short tour with Geoff Abrahamson the chauffeur in a Rolls Royce (the late Harold Abrahamson’s car). I believe Dame Lisa wondered if anyone in town had real names after meeting so many with nick names.

The launch trip ended at the jetty of Geoff and Lisa’s beautiful Waterways home where our guests cleared customs and were welcomed for a really special seafood extravaganza.

The deck and gardens could not have been more suitable. The food was beautifully prepared by Lisa and Kim Abrahamson with expert guidance and a majestic touch from Chef Chocky and his

talented assistant, Tony Cooney.

The menu featured crayfish –Wood brothers; oysters – Peter Bull; paua – Herb and Sandy Herbert; mussels – OPC Columbia; kingfish – Captain Stacky; and fish from various sources prepared in a range of ways – Craig Davidson and Jack. Dame Lisa and Bucky thankfully were seafood lovers.

It was the best prepared selection of NZ seafood possible just amazing. Lisa and Bucky were so gracious and friendly. They made a point of speaking to everyone in the room and it was the case with other engagements around the town. It made us feel proud to be a kiwi; they are such great ambassadors and role models.

The only formality was a presentation of a magnificent por-

trait of Colin. This was a painting done from a photo of Colin with a gold medal around his neck. The agent had sent the medal following a request sent earlier.

Unfortunately, Julie Smith, the artist (Jools Fine Art) could not be present but we did arrange a later meeting so Dame Lisa could express her gratitude.

A beautiful evening meal provided by Stoked Restaurant was appreciated by all. (Fish, unsurpringly was not selected by any of the group!!)

On the totally free day, they wanted to kayak to New Chums Beach, but it was unfortunately windy. They took advice and altered plans and took a picnic hamper (Thanks Amy and Tanya Arnold) to Kuaotunu, Opito and

Otama.

The high light of their final day was the trip on the Glass Bottom Boat. Mark Jones and Sharon kindly kept their trip private. Lisa and Bucky dived in the marine reserve and loved the trip into the cave.

A beautiful late breakfast at Harbour View Cafe was enjoyed by all and Bucky enjoyed a drive in Reg Smith’s 1955 Chevy 3100. Final gifts of seafood, avocados, citrus and local art were given before departure, They were very thankful and were so impressed with the people and community and all the offerings made. They apologized for the offers not able to be accepted but vowed to return in the not-too-distant future.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

The question was asked repeatedly; “How did this come about? Do you know them personally?”

The answer: It was a crazy thought over a glass of wine with friends that this idea was floated.

“Wouldn’t it be great for the community to invite Dame Lisa here so we could show our appreciation for being so magnificent in so many ways for such an extended period?”

From there the idea was shared on the local social media site, Whiti Chit Chat. The response was immediate and incredible, so much so, that not all offers could be accepted.

Continued on page 5

THREE FOR $35.00

the show this

being

all

Jupiter follows it up in the sky after a few hours while Mars appears even later on and Venus still shines brightly at dusk in the northwest. We just might get to glimpse Comet TsuchinshanAtlas this week perhaps from October 8 at dawn very low in the east. Scanning the eastern horizon with binoculars might help spot a faint fuzzy patch that noticeably moves from day to day. However be warned that comets are notoriously unpredictable with their brightness and also keep your binoculars pointed well away from the Sun or blindness can result. Wednesday, October 2 –There will be a very low ISS pass from 6:12am in the SW with a Tiangong pass from 6:22am in the west. Thursday, October 3 – There will be a very low ISS pass from 6:07am in the south preceded by a Tiangong pass from 5:22am in the west. Friday, October 4 - The ISS has a low pass from 6:13am in the SW moving through the Southern Cross. Saturday, October 5 – A minute crescent Moon lies just below brilliant Venus at dusk in the west. Sunday, October 6 –A very thin crescent Moon now lies directly above Venus at dusk in the west while we have a long bright ISS pass from 6:14am in the SW. Monday, October 7 – The thin crescent Moon sits just below the red giant star Antares and above Venus at dusk in the west while we have a long bright ISS pass from 5:27am in the SW. Tuesday, October 8 – There is a long bright ISS pass in the west from 6:18am moving right beside Jupiter while a crescent Moon now lies above Antares and even higher above Venus at dusk. Wednesday, October 9 – We have an ISS pass in the west from 5:31am moving next to Mars.

Seafood extravaganza for Lisa and Bucky; Tony Cooney, Ron Morgan, Lisa and Warren Harris.

A fitting tribute – MBAS Gymnasium becomes the John Wright Gymnasium

BY PAULINE STEWART

The entire school body was present in the school gymnasium, Friday afternoon, 27 September. All the children from the primary school, all the college forms, the teachers, MBAS Board members, invited guests from the community, civic leaders, including Mayor Len Salt and Ngati Hei Kaumatua, Joe Davis – were all seated and waiting.

John Wright had been welcomed officially with a small powhiri at the school marae, along with his wife Jan, friends and whanau, Then the group was led to the gymnasium to be greeted by a very dramatic Haka. Inside, there wasn’t a sound to be head from the 1,200 seated. This was until John and his small party arrived and everyone stood to welcome their honoured guest. It was a formal, but energetic ceremony- John Wright was the honoured guest. The school gymnasium was to be henceforth called, The John Wright Gymnasium. All who knew John Wright were so pleased to see him and the overwhelming message in the air was “This is such a good thing to do”

Joe Davis was at his best having worked many years with John Wright, during John’s 20 years term as MBAS Principal. He spoke personably and engaged the entire gathering in a suitable response to the Haka. John Wright then spoke followed by the current Principal, Ross Dunn. Dan Asquith, Chair, MBAS Board, who had also worked

with John as Principal, unveiled the new brass plaque bearing John Wright’s name. he was assisted by Hugo and Francie, the head students. Francie then read the words on the plaque for all to hear.

The informer spoke to Ross after the ceremony. “It was a fitting tribute to one who has given such dedicated, effective and long service. John will now be part of our cultural narrative. His name will be ingrained in the daily activities of the school and in our culture,” said Ross.

Ross explained that the name of the gymnasium would be displayed on all signage throughout the school and

MERCURY BAY PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC

Robert Lindsay Dip Phty(Otago) ADP(OMT), Dip.MT.

Co-author of ‘Treat Your Own Shoulder’, ‘Treat Your Own Knee’ & ‘Treat Your Own Hip’ and Associates Rebecca Wood BHScPhysiotherapy

Crystal Vause BHScPhysiotherapy, Post Grad Cert Acupuncture Manipulation / Back and Neck Pain / Work Injuries Sports Injuries / Post Surgery and Fracture Rehab Acupuncture Hand Therapy / Women’s Health Clinic

Physiotherapists with the qualifications to provide excellence in physical health care

24b Lee Street, Whitianga (Next door to Pathlab) Kuaotunu & Hahei Clinics 0800 868 9579

online. “Students will forever be aware that this is the John Wright Gymnasium,” said Ross.

signs ceremony who

There were signs that John was not so strong. He has cancer which makes him vulnerable. However, his strength of character, the eloquence of his thinking, his awareness and acknowledgment of his own vulnerability plus his sustained love for the school reminded everyone of John’s leadership, the significance of the ceremony and the man who had come amongst them again.

John Wright, right; Joe Davis, Kaumatua Ngati Hei, left; some of the large gathering at the renaming of the gymnasium, above.

Ashanti Watene - New owner

‘Peninsula Rent a Car’

BY STAN STEWART

Owned and managed by Ashanti Watene, located at 8 Campbell St, Whitianga, this car and van hire service looks to expand on the available services in Whitianga town and district.

As a first step, Ashanti has been working hard to make ‘Peninsula Rent a Car’ visible. In a great location on Campbell Street opposite

Kiwi Bank, there are now flags and noticeboards and cars and vans on display.

As with all business owners on the Peninsula, Ashanti is aware that the trading environment this year has been tough. However, along with every other business in town she is hoping for a positive summer. So far, the indicators are looking good.

‘Peninsula Rent a Car’ will cater for all types of hires,

from small vehicles to larger sedans. There is clearly interest in the 8 and 11 seater vans. A moving truck is also available. More vehicles will be arriving soon.

Ashanti’s family includes three children. As she plans for the future, the needs of her family are always foremost in her mind. She feels Whitianga is a great place to raise her children.

Ashanti is supported in

Kitchen Calendar

this enterprise by her partner Charles Cater. Charles’ interest in motor vehicles goes back many years and his extensive knowledge of cars and engines will be a great asset to Peninsula Rent a Car.

Ashanti Watene - ready to welcome people.

Time with Lisa

Continued from page 2

Many thanks to all sponsors as without your support this would never have eventuated. NOTED FROM

• Dame Lisa is the third highest gold medal female Olympian winner. That amazing achievement is shared by three other women. Eight Gold Medals!!!

• The role of the coach was interesting. Also, how he has stayed in the background. He must be in line for an award in the Sportsman of The Year Awards night?

• How ideally suited Mercury Bay is for both recreational and competitive canoeing and kayaking. Dame Lisa was so pleased Canoeing Racing NZ had responded to a query about possible assistance for the sport in the area. (It has offered equipment, coaching, advice and all possible encouragement). More details on this to come.

• In summary, thanks to all the community and the sponsors and support in so many ways and to such a beautiful couple for coming to our piece of paradise, Don’t often get hugged by a Dame! We await your return.

Postscript: Should we invite King Charles here as he is to tour next year??

I have a role for Dame Lisa and Bucky when she retires - joining the Diplomatic Corps and being an Ambassador to say the USA or Britain. They would love them and I feel they would be ideally suited for such a role, more so than a retired politician.

Tony Cooney enjoys holding one of Lisa’s Olympic gold medals; Lisa, Bucky and Colin ready for the Glass Bottom Boat tour. This was a highlight for them;Ron Morgan gets a hug from Dame Lisa. (Ron was the principal initiator and organiser of her visit.)

Couldn’t get enough of the King

BY ROGER SIMPSON

At The Mercury Bay Club on Saturday night, Elvis came alive!

We all know that isn’t true. But it was Mercury Bay Club’s big Elvis show – and Trevor Needham, a renowned NZ Elvis, was the star act.

Trevor, who is a superb entertainer, said that his show wasn’t an impersonation of Elvis Presley; but rather it was a tribute show, performing the many great songs of the King.

Perform them he did! His big voice, the style, the huge presence and personality, the magnificent stage setting and lighting, and the excellent backing vocals of Jannine and Suzie.

WHAT ABOUT THE COSTUMES?

There were three changes of costume for Trevor, Jannine and Suzie – spectacular colours and styles. Also, for each new set, there was a change of the huge backdrop at the back of the stage for each set.

WHAT ABOUT THE SONGS?

The repertoire was wonderful –as many songs as Trevor could fit into the show. It included Elvis Presley’s first song, ‘That’s Alright (Mama)’ in 1954 and his last song, ‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’ in 1977.

Among the many songs were his

biggest hits, ‘It’s Now or Never’ and ‘Don’t Be Cruel’.

WHAT ABOUT THE AUDIENCE?

They loved it! The dance-floor was full of revellers of all ages, dancing everything from Rock n’ Roll and Boogie to Cha Cha and Waltz. ‘Elvis’ gave sunglasses to some of the men, and a special touch was giving silk scarves to women and carefully selecting the colour that matched their personality or the colours they wore.

IN TRUE ELVIS STYLE

Another, almost unnoticed, subtle part, was having Trevor’s very large bodyguard, Scott, lead him to the stage at the start of each set.

Also, Winki his photographer, was busy taking publicity photos and videos. It was the view of many that it was one of the best ever shows at The Mercury Bay Club.

Trevor (Elvis) had three changes of costume; Linda Fraser, president of the RSA and one of the organisers of the night at Mercury Bay Club with Elvis; Gwynn Howell enjoys dancing to the Elvis songs with his partner.

Environmental advocate, to speak in Whitianga

Raewyn Peart one of NZ’s top environmental advocates and will be the guest speaker following the Mercury Bay Forest & Bird’s AGM on Sunday 13 October.

Since the early 1970s the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has been involved in numerous cases on the Coromandel Peninsula with a focus on mining, coastal development and marine protection. Raewyn will speak to how the law has been mobilised to protect some of the Peninsula’s most precious places. With our current Government rolling back many environmental protections, these past experiences provide invaluable insights into responses to environmental controversies of today. Following her talk, Raewyn has agreed to take questions for further discussion.

Raewyn heads the

EDS’s environmental policy work. She has over 30 years professional experience in environmental law and policy, having worked as a resource management lawyer and policy adviser to business, government and the not-for-profit sector. For the last two decades Raewyn has published widely on coastal,

marine and other environmental issues. Over 50 years of environmental advocacy by the Environmental Defence Society is recorded in her latest book ‘Environmental Defenders’.

„ An invitation is extended to everyone in the community who is interested in protecting and enhancing the local environment of the Coromandel. Forest & Bird’s AGM will be at 1.30pm with Raewyn’s talk to follow.

Sunday, 13 October

Forest & Bird AGM at 1.30pm. Guest speaker at 2.00pm St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Corner of Albert and Owen St, Whitianga Copies of Raewyn’s book, ‘Environmental Defenders’ will be available for sale.

Raewyn Peart, guest speaker for the Forest & Bird’s AGM.

A new addition to Coroglen School

Coroglen School has recently undergone a major transformation thanks to a collaborative effort between the school’s board, principal, and the talented team at Styled Spaces. The renovation project focused on upgrading the school’s administration and kitchen spaces, creating modern and functional facilities that reflect the school’s unique character.

The kitchen renovation was a particular highlight, designed to support the school’s Garden to Table program. The new space features a ranch slider connecting the kitchen to the garden, allowing students to easily gather fresh produce for their culinary creations. A dedicated washing area outside the kitchen ensures that vegetables are clean before entering the cooking space. The kitchen’s layout includes separate areas for preparation, cooking, and cleaning, providing a safe and efficient learning environment for students and the school’s Healthy School Facilitator, Rice McDonnell.

The transformation of the old staffroom into a welcoming reception area was another key aspect of the renovation. The Styled Spaces team carefully designed the area to create a positive first impression for visitors, incorporating the school’s chosen colour palette, historical timber trophy

cabinet and ensuring accessibility for all. The new reception area features a modern counter, office space for the school administrator, and a dedicated area for the Learner Support Coordinator. The renovation also included the creation of a teacher resource workroom, a librarian’s workspace, and a comfortable staff room. These additions provide teachers with a much-needed

space to collaborate, relax, and recharge.

Coroglen School’s principal, Karlos, and Kim Kockott from Styled Spaces are extremely proud of the completed project. The renovation has not only improved the school’s physical appearance but has also created a more inspiring and supportive learning environment for students and staff.

Apology

Related to Challenging Councils article, September 24

We stated “it was said in private that Mayor Len had asked for that meeting to be cancelled a short time before...” Mayor

Len is adament he did not. The report we had received was also in writing. We now know it was misinformation.

STYLED SPACES

Kim of Styled Spaces and Karlos Bosson, Principal of Coroglen School; both very happy with the project.

Mini Golf – Hole In One Challenge at Mercury

Come and play the winning design from the recent Design-A-Hole competition, built and playable thanks to Wild Wood Mini Golf and situated outside the library. Can you get a hole in one?

Bay Library

Free, no booking required – but be prepared to wait your turn! Wednesday, 2 October; Thursday, 3 October; Tuesday, 8 October; Wednesday 9; and Thursday 10 October – 1:30pm-4:00pm.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL FOR HALLOWEEN?

It’s Thursday 31 October, 4.30pm-6.30pm around the centre of Whitianga.

Can you provide a venue in town for children to call in for a treat? If not, can you provide treats for other venues?

Our children and families love this time – many don’t like the scary but there are lots of options to just dress up, look great and be generous.

CONTACT:

The Informer info@theinformer.co.nz

BY MICHELLE DELLABARCA

• Inaugural Coro Kai at Coromandel Area school

• Coromandel Open Studios Arts Tour – �irst weekend

• Coromandel Car Boot Sale –Car park off Woollams Road

• Colourful Coromandel Town Market – on Saturdays now instead of Fridays

If last Saturday is anything to go by the town will be booming! Market Day has moved from Friday to Saturday this Spring to enable our lovely weekend visitors to check out our homegrown and locally handmade wares – stalls selling everything from plants for your garden, medicinal herbs, work from local artists, dried flowers, fresh food such as bread, chocolate and local produce, health and wellbeing products and hand crafted woodware products. The atmosphere is cruisy and relaxed, there is space for children to run around, and often a local musician or two will come and entertain onlookers.

The Coromandel Open Studios Arts Tour happens on the first 2

weekends of October. This year it starts on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October, followed by 12 and 13 October. About 36 local artists, potters and jewellers will be exhibiting their works either in their own working studios or at combined venues around Coromandel Town and surrounding area. Guides are available at no cost from the Coromandel Information Centre and The Source. A digital version is also available from www.coromandelartstour.co.nz

Car Boot Sale. Once a month and there are bargains galore! Profits go to the local Library. Bring your own boot full of goodies, only $5

per car. it might be the perfect way to entertain entrepreneurial children for a morning! For information call Jeni on 021 0227 5341. Coro Kai first ever event on the bottom field, Coromandel Area School. Organiser, Abby Morgan is excited to celebrate local producers with stalls offering locally sourced food and produce, demonstrations, family fun activities and music. It has opened up to all foods locally sourced, any hunt/gather/ foraged kai. Gate takings support fundraising for their School . Coromandel is open for business! Pop over the hill support this great little town on Saturday.

Dr Seuss: Tairua Library Escape Room

The Cat in the Hat has lost his hat - all we know is Thing 1 and Thing 2 have something to do with it! Can you find the hat and escape the room?

You and your fellow Seuss fans will have 30 minutes to solve the clues and find your way out of the room!

Bookings are essential as time-slots are strictly limited. Contact Tairua Library to book your half-hour time-slot - bookings are open now!

Groups must have a minimum of two people and a maximum of six people. This escape room is suit-

able for primary schoolaged children and older. Younger participants are welcome to participate with a parent or caregiver. We recommend groups include at least one person over the age of eight.

Like all of our school holiday events, this activity is free! Be sure to check out what else is happening at our libraries these school holidays.

When: Monday 30 September - Friday 4 October 9:15am - 4:15pm. And Monday, 7 October - Friday, 11 October 9:15am-4:15pm.

Car

• 4 bdrm, 2 bthrm brand new canal front home.

• Covered deck outdoor entertaining area & double internal access garage.

• Pontoon with power & water, just a short walk to the shops & town.

Whitianga, 62 South Highway

• Desirable & delightful 2 bdrm, 2 bthrm property, fully consented & fully fenced.

• Flat freehold 809sqm section & close to revamped Robinson Road boat-ramp.

• Selling with the property is a ride on mower, a large stand up fridge freezer & a large garden shed, plus extra chattels.

FOR SALE By negotiation

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L30739368

Katrina Carlyon 021 724 200

Cooks Beach, 101 Captain Cook Road

• 3 bdrm, 2 bthrm beachfront home offering stunning sea views.

• Internal access boat garage, generous lawn space & a good-sized shed.

• Nestled in the heart of Cooks Beach, this property provides easy access to the stunning beach, local amenities & nearby attractions.

FOR SALE By negotiation

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/ L28374399

Paulette Tainsh 027 241 2001 Hendry Tainsh 022 658 4818

• This modern, light and bright apartment offers a superior design plan with easy flow to dual balconies.

• 2 generously sized bedrooms with built in robes, loft storage and 2 car parks.

• Located right in the heart of Tairua’s bars, restaurants, cafes and the Pepe Estuary.

FOR SALE $545,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/ L30700330

Philippa Evans 022 266 9295 Jo Wardle-Heath 027 470 7883

Whitianga, 45 Kupe Drive

• 3 bdrm, 2 bthrm home on the waterways.

• Dbl internal access garage, boat parking & covered outdoor entertaining area.

• Fully fenced rear section, pet friendly, fruit trees & garden.

FOR SALE $1,075,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L30791157

Peter MacGregor 027 224 7332

Whitianga, 155 Kupe Drive

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

• 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 $1,185,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L29266453

Kirstin Brown 027 301 1775 Dayle Candy 027 433 6862

Tairua, Unit H/ 10 The Esplanade

• Easy Holiday Living – ¼ Share

Tairua, 56 Rewa Rewa Valley Rd

• Your Perfect Home for Entertaining this Summer.

• Turn-key home features 4 spacious bedrooms, 4 luxurious bathrooms and 2 offices.

• Private self-contained chalet, tucked away among the trees.

FOR SALE $1,895,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/L22541511

Philippa Evans 021 266 9295

• Invest and secure your seaside accommodation for your yearly holiday.

• Affordable investments do not grow on trees and this opportunity won’t last long.

FOR SALE $65,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/ L30453568

Adam Fuller 022 018 0856

• 1,151m2 of cleared land, perched high above the ocean, with mesmerizing views. Envision waking up every morning to that blissful view from your well-deserved dream home.

• Don’t miss out on this chance to elevate your life and make Mt Paku your home.

FOR SALE $650,000

VIEW harcourts.co.nz/ L30749635

Philippa Evans 021 266 9295

Tairua, 279 Paku Drive

Tairua, 10/237 Main Road

Tairua Project wins commendation for Good Energy property installation

Good Energy, our local solar energy installation company was recently awarded tied runners-up in the highly competitive Best Grid Connected PV System category - a huge achievement given the size of the systems in this category. The awards were presented at the Gala Dinner of the annual Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) conference in Auckland at the end of August.

Heather and Simon Jack, of Good Energy attended the twoday which offered an opportunity to network with others in the industry, share ideas, view new innovations, talk to product suppliers and listen to speakers from the industry at all levels, some from Australia

Many people all around New Zealand know Robert Simmons who owns the Heaven and Earth Crystals in Tairua, a true destination store. Robert has a grid connected property with a residential home and a workshop that relies on a constant energy supply. His brief was to supply a system that offered battery backup during grid outages and also ran in self-consumption mode to support their daily requirements reducing their use of the

local network. This ESS SYSTEM offers much more than a standard hybrid system as it can supply larger loads and run indefinitely in backup mode, very much like an off-grid system.

The choice of inverter is essential when designing this type of system. In this project we used a Selectronic Inverter Charger paired with Selectric Fronius Certified PV Inverters.

The owners are very happy

with the outcome and performance of this system.

This is what the judges said about the Tairua project accomplished by Good Energy.

“This property is on a challenging hillside location. It has a large load that supports a house and a workshop that operates grinding and polishing equipment around the clock for the owners’ business. Good Energy provided a ground mount pv system incorpo-

rating 60 kWh of lithium storage providing the site with approximately two days of autonomy.

• “Very complex logistics in this cliff-side installation”

• “A great looking solution”

• “The complexity of the installation, the challenges of the site, and the high quality of the workmanship make this worthy of recognition”

“The two days of absorbing information and listening to oth-

ers has inspired us to put even more effort into our business, our future plans and the growth that we see in our industry. We have come away with some great ideas and encouraged, especially after the recognition Good Energy gained from Simon’s exceptional work on the Tairua project,” said Heather.

They are keen to see more solar use. The website is goodenergy. co.nz

Cocktail lounge

Happy Hours

Thursday 4pm to 6pm Friday 5pm to 7:30pm

Brendan Winitana, above, Executive Chair of SEANZ with Simon and Heather Jack of Good Energy; Robert with Simon Jack with the new solar installation, right.

PINKY’S

The battle is on!

It’s Chess

BY MICHELLE DELLABARCA

“Chess is a game where all different sorts of people can come together, not a game in which people are divided because of their religion or country of origin.” Hikaru Nakamura Mike Mann, co-ordinator of the Coromandel Chess Club made a similar comment today when asked how the first match between Coromandel and Mercury Bay Chess Clubs went. He said, “It was fantastic, different people of all ages connecting over the game of chess.”

The weather was per-

fect, and the tournament was played on the open space in front of the Coromandel Information Centre.

About six tables were set out and spectators wandered from game to game, checking out each match. Mike reports that there were 15 competitors, and the score was very close, right up till the end when Mercury Bay was declared the winner of the “Old Mug”, with a score of 17 to Coromandel’s 16.

Competitors ranged from primary school students to teens to retirees. Most of the competitors were men, however women were also

ENGLISH IS A VOYAGE

represented, as were various nations including South Africa and India. The tournament finished and the competitors retired to Pepper Tree Restaurant for a discussion and debrief of the day over a good lunch. Both teams agreed that it was the perfect ending to a great day and will be repeated in the not-to-distant future, this time with Mercury Bay hosting the event. Not all players had a perfect game. As one competitor, quoting Dave Berry, commented “My problem with chess is that all my pieces wanted to end the game as soon as possible”.

OF LIFE

Chess camaraderie in Coromandel

BY ALLEN SHIMIZU

Recently, a tournament was held in Coromandel Town, where I had the opportunity to compete against local chess players. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as players gathered to showcase their skills. I was able to learn many different styles of play, which helped me improve my own game. Each match required me to adapt my approach from different angles.

Before the tournament began, the President of the Coromandel Town Chess Club welcomed us with a speech, thanking us for our participation and encouraging friendly competition.

I faced a strong opponent known for his sharp tactics. He is the President of the Coromandel Town Chess Club. It was a tough match that required me to stay focused. I eventually lost that game. However, our club won

the tournament overall.

I felt proud to be one of the players representing the Whitianga Chess Club. Interacting with other participants was a wonderful experience. During breaks, we shared advice and discussed our favourite openings and strategies.

After the tournament, we decided to go to a nearby restaurant together for lunch. During this time,

both club presidents gave closing remarks, celebrating the day and acknowledging each other’s efforts in the tournament. We talked about the games, and celebrated our victories. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was filled with camaraderie; people were in the company of friends. It was a memorable day, full of valuable lessons from the tournament and enjoyable moments spent together.

Note: This column will be a regular piece for some weeks as each Japanese student at Evakona Education writes by themselves an article/ story from their experience. The Informer is working with the students in terms of their writing their piece in English and how it is presented in the newspaper. We are enjoying them and their writing.

Outside the Coromandel Town Information Centre the chess competition was held in beautiful sunny weather.

Allen focusses on his next move.

An urgent plea for your generosity – Jasper on Fire

BY BRAYDEN JACK

I returned to New Zealand last Saturday after spending two weeks in Jasper, Canada, as part of “Taskforce Kiwi,” a volunteer organization made up of former NZDF and current and former emergency service personnel.

THEY CAME TO HELP US

My role involved working alongside a large Canadian NGO called “Team Rubicon” with four other Kiwis to assist with the clean-up efforts.

While there, I met members of the local volunteer fire brigade and surrounding volunteer brigades. I quickly discovered that some of them had

volunteered for Team Rubicon and had travelled to New Zealand to help during the Napier/ Hastings flooding, so we shared a lot of experiences.

DRAWING A LINE

However, one major difference was the scale of the wildfire they faced - a wall of flames over 200 metres high swept into the town. They dealt with nearly 400 house fires and more than 20 commercial fires, including a petrol station, a hotel, and a 200-year-old church, all of which were lost.

One of the hardest decisions they had to make was to draw a line across the town, choosing to defend it even if it meant

watching their own homes burn. As firefighters, we would have done the same to protect our community. During the intense 30-plus hours of firefighting, tragically, one crew member suffered a heart attack and died.

DONATION ACCOUNT SET UP

We would like to set up a donation account for the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department. If you would like to donate, please do so at: 03 1578 0036864 01, REF JASPER, and we will transfer funds to them.

Through the ongoing commitment of our supporters, we fly all over our region, to be there in the moments that matter. To celebrate the connection we have with our community, we are running a photo competition.

If you’ve ever taken a shot of our Rescue Chopper we’d love to see it! Simply upload your shot of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter to enter. For more information about the photo competition or to submit your entry, please visit our website.

Together, let’s capture the spirit of our service and local people.

CFO Brayden Jack Cooks Beach Fire Brigade

Brayden Jack, right, in Jasper with Luke ,left, and Rob, centre, also from New Zealand.

STAN’S STUFF

Gay - like it or not! My journey

BY STAN STEWART

Next to my wife, family and a few special friends, the greatest love of my life is Millie. Millie was a female medium Schnauzer. She came to us when she was six months old and lived with us for the next seventeen years. That’s a long life for a Schnauzer. My belief is that our two-way love sustained her.

In my eyes, Millie had only one characteristic that embarrassed me. She loved to hump other female dogs. She obeyed me in everything, but when another female dog of the right size turned up Millie would coral her to the furthest corner of the adjacent lot and hump her for ages. I would tell her to stop. She pretended she didn’t hear and would push her victim behind a bush and keep on.

I now believe that my beloved dog was gay.

It took me a long time, years, to come to terms with ‘gay’ anything. This wasn’t just me. It was the world I lived in. To lull myself to sleep these days I spend a few minutes watching clips of old comedy TV shows. There are hours and hours of the ‘Carol Burnett Show’ (USA 1967 – 1970).

Scattered through the comedy are jokes about gay people, men with limp wrists, and butch women. The studio audiences loved these jokes. Today, jokes on these themes would get the comedians sued, maligned or worse. My point here simply is that the whole awareness of gay people, male and female, has changed dramatically. These changes have been a huge wake-up call for me.

As part of my work, I was in constant touch with young people. In the context of these experiences two individuals come to mind. In 1969 a young man Hing Hock (name changed) came to Melbourne from Malaysia to

undertake a university degree. For three years he was part of our youth group. Hing Hock was different. He loved to sing and dance, dress up and put on makeup. At a moment’s notice, he would present a one person show for the group. He was friendly with everyone but always preferred the company of the males. He was well liked but not at all understood. He was treated as amusingly peculiar which is less than acceptance. The notion that he was gay never crossed my mind back then. However, that is how I think of him now.

Many years ago, Anthony (name changed) was the leader

of a large group of young people –around 35. A young woman, Joyce (name changed) was the female who worked with him. They were a great team working together every weekend organizing, facilitating all kinds of youth activities and events. Along with many others I was hoping and expecting that Anthony and Joyce would hook up and become a couple –the perfect match. To our minds, it was only a matter of time.

One Saturday evening, after a great night’s activities, we were on our way home. I was driving, an adult supervisor sat beside me and Anthony was in the back. Anthony said, “I would like to share something with you. Would now be a good time?” The car was dark, the traffic was flowing. We both agreed now would be a good time.

My friend and I were both thinking the same thing. “At last he’s going to tell us that he and Joyce were getting engaged. Whoopie! We could not have been more off target.

In a quiet voice Anthony said, “I know that everyone would like Joyce and me to get engaged. Well it can’t happen” Anthony said. “Joyce and I are best friends but

there is an obstacle I can’t overcome. I am not attracted to girls. I have no feeling at all for women, girls, females.” Gulp! There was stunned silence. The thought of a male not attracted to females had never crossed my mind.

Speaking very quietly Anthony continued. “All my thoughts and dreams of romance involve males”. I could not believe my ears. Up till that moment I had not entertained the thought that any normal male could be attracted to the same sex. Anthony changed my illusions. Anthony pushed me, catapulted me into a reality that up till then I had been blind to. These days I have long accepted as a fact that same-sex attraction/relationships are a part of the human condition. The world scene bristles with tensions and the future is unpredictable. To my mind the future will depend on individuals, taking responsibility for the world around them. In this end game their sexual orientation will not be a factor. A key issue will be a willingness to honour promises and to contribute for the good of all.

Incidentally, as I try to work out life’s conundrums, I do miss Millie!

Government rolls out new parking penalties

If you’re out and about looking for a parking spot from 1 October, think twice before you park and dash in to do that urgent errand. Starting on Tuesday 1 October, the government is increasing parking penalties and taking a harder line on those who overstay and park inconsiderately in council managed parking areas.

The biggest jump is for parking in disabled spots without a permit, which rises from $150 to $750. The Hon Louise Upston, Minister of Disability Issues, says the increase will “send a very clear message that this behaviour is not okay, and that we are serious about addressing accessibility”.

For the first time in 20 years, towing and impound fees will also be adjusted to reflect operator costs. If you get towed on weekends or public holidays and your vehicle weighs 3,500kg or less, you’ll pay $120.30 instead of $71.50.

Other increases include parking without due care and consideration, parking on broken yellow lines, in a bus or cycle lane, on pedestrian crossings or next to another stopped vehicle: all rising from $60 to $100.

The government says all fines have been adjusted for inflation, with an average 70% increase across the board. Read more List of fees on TCDC website.

Our beloved Millie.

MBAS releases biggest album to date for Creatives in Schools

BY ANUSHA BHANA

For the third consecutive year, students from Mercury Bay Area School have been participating in the Creatives in Schools programme, a wellbeing initiative funded by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Creative New Zealand.

Local music producer, Dave Rhodes returned to mentor students and support them to write and record an album of original music. To celebrate the release of ‘MBAS In Resonance’, a free community event was held last Wednesday night, 25 September at The Monkey House in Whitianga.

MBAS In Resonance is the biggest and most eclectic album yet, with 18 tracks ranging from pop, indie and hip-hop, RnB to rock, punk and heavy metal.

Unfortunately, this is the last

year for the Creatives in Schools initiative.

In June 2024 it was announced that the programme would be ending due to government budget

cuts. The defunding of the initiative has been met with considerable disappointment by schools and creatives alike. Arts educator Dr Kerryn Palmer has initi-

ated a petition on ActionStation to gather support and advocate for the reinstatement of the programme.

We would welcome your sup-

as

for

port for our local rangatahi by signing the petition on ActionStation. Contact anusha@korimakocreative.co.nz

The album cover of In Resonance. This is the third album that has been produced and released as part of the Creatives in Schools. Local musicians hope that it will not be the last

government funding

this programme has been cut.

The rugby year we could have

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

After my recent article about the state of the rugby calendar in NZ, I received comments from a number of the conversation pits around town along the lines of, “If it is so easy to organise why don’t you tell us how it could work?” The comments were not usually put as politely as this example but have encouraged me to give it a go, to design a Rugby Calendar that would be more interesting than the current one and would help restore the depth and strength of New Zealand Rugby.

Any such redesign of our sport must start with the professional game. Currently we have two competitions, Super Rugby and the NPC neither of which are at the level of interest we would like. I suggest they be merged into one competition, call it the NPC, consisting of the 14 current NPC Teams along with the Fijian Drua side and the Samoa/Tonga Pacific side making 16 teams in total.

To bolster the strength of these sides, we obviously have the All Blacks being distributed to their respective unions and would also welcome overseas players, say a maximum of two or three a side. With every team playing every other one and the top four teams

having a semi-final and final, this competition would run from late February to mid-June. The competition would be interesting, especially with players from around the globe taking part. Games would be spread out over the weekend offering plenty of opportunities to watch daytime games as well as the evening ones. At the end of the NPC, our two top teams could take on the two top Australian Teams in a Pan Pacific series consisting of

POLICE REPORT

BY CONSTABLE MICHAEL CARTER

„ Monday 23 to Sunday 29 September 2024

GENERAL:

Monday, 23 September threatening behaviour was used to intimidate another person online. This is unacceptable behaviour and could result in charges being laid.

Thursday, 26 September a burglary was reported as having occurred at a Moewai Road address. Enquiries are continuing to identify the offender(s).

Thursday, 26 September a vehicle has been alleged to have been taken from a Cook Drive address. Police are requesting assistance to locate a black coloured Audi A4 station wagon that had been observed speeding in the area on the day.

Friday, 27 September a suspicious person was observed wandering around a property on

Oyster Drive, Cooks Beach. Enquiries are continuing to speak with this individual. Nil arrests this week.

OCCURRENCES:

Monday, 23 September a Family Harm incident occurred at a Cook Drive address. An argument occurred between family members prior to it becoming physical. It had calmed upon police arrival.

Thursday, 26 September a Breach of Protection Order was reported for unauthorised contact. Police will be speaking with the offending party about their actions.

Friday, 27 September a Family Harm assault occurred on Blacksmith Lane. The offending party has been spoken to regarding their actions.

TRAFFIC:

Monday, 23 September a vehicle collision occurred on Cook Drive where a driver failed to give way entering a roundabout.

the professional Rugby industry but will help lock in a competition of international standard for us all to enjoy.

two semi-finals and a final. Everything would be completed just before the international season commences.

The big change will be in the dissolution of the Super Rugby franchises but presumably that management experience would become part of the union in which they are based. Such experience will be needed as there will need to be an increase in administration and coaching expertise. This offers opportunities throughout

ALTERED RANFURLY SHIELD COMPETITION

The amateur rugby calendar consisting of Club and Heartland Rugby would be largely unaltered with the Heartland competition continuing to be played over August to mid-October. The big change I would propose however is that we run an altered Ranfurly Shield competition alongside it. The Ranfurly Shield has largely had its day. It is a challenge trophy that was the prime trophy fought for in the days before we had more formal league-based competitions but since the advent of these leagues, the Ranfurly Shield has drifted into virtual obscurity. I suggest we revitalise it.

The Ranfurly Shield should become the premier knock out trophy for New Zealand Rugby, competed for by all unions in the country, all 27 of them. This would take five rounds which would be spread through the August to October period. Think of the English FA Cup if you would like a model of what is suggested. Such a competition involves a drawer for each round

Thankfully nobody was injured. Tuesday, 24 September a vehicle collision occurred on SH25, Coroglen. The driver slid off the road and rolling into a rural farm paddock. None of the occupants were injured.

Friday, 27 September a vehicle was impounded on Vanita Drive as the driver was previously forbidden.

Saturday, 28 September a

with the home team drawn first. This could be great for smaller unions. For example, just imagine if Thames Valley were to be the home side against a team such as Canterbury, what a crowd we would get and what an income earner for Thames Valley. This could be a great competition with a few surprises due to the international players being involved in the International Calendar. The international calendar would be largely unaltered to that we currently experience. However, I would love to see an annual tour by either a development, Maori or composite team every year during the international window. There is plenty of places for them to go for half a dozen games and provides a step up to the highest level of rugby. For fans, it does of course offer us something else to watch and appreciate.

A calendar such as this would bring interest throughout the year with varying competitions and rugby of a good standard. I believe it would develop the strength of New Zealand Rugby and the career paths it offers. It just needs a bit more imagination than the NZRFU has traditionally shown and maybe we could even find room for an annual inter-island clash. „ Don’t forget the game on Saturday!

vehicle was impounded on Albert Street as the driver was previously forbidden.

Sunday, 29 September a single vehicle crashed while exiting the Joan Gaskell roundabout onto Campbell Street. The sole occupant was taken through drink driving procedures and will be appearing in court.

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

Reporting Crimes and Incidences to Police

If the incident is happening at the time, ring 111.

If it is historic, you can either ring 105, report it online at the police website (105.police.govt. nz), or report anonymously via Crimestoppers (0800555111) or (crimestoppers-nz.org).

An emergency TXT service for people with hearing or speech difficulties is available if you have difficulty on the phone. You can register for the 111 TXT service at police.govt.nz/111-txt.

The Swamp Foxes will be featuring at Lyon Park this coming Saturday. It will be a great game of rugby.

Swamp Foxes have big win over Poverty Bay Score: 71-17

Excerpts from TIGHTHEAD TED’s TOUR MATCH REPORT

Poverty Bay was crushed as Ranga hits 50*. Blimmin’ heck, me old abacus has been getting a workout over the last three weeks.

As the Valley has been racking up cricket scores – 60, 84 and now 71, the old beads are getting worn out. Anyway, I’m pretty sure the Kiwi cricketers getting slaughtered in Sri Lanka at the moment would be happy with some scores like that. I reckon the heat was about the same too. But I digress, a trip to Gisborne, a sunburn, and another cracking win – this time 71-17.

In a twenty-minute burst the match was put to bed. The halftime score of 47-5 almost mirrored the 49-0 of the week previous.

Without looking at the record books, as one, ole Tighthead is a lazy bugger, and two, he doesn’t have one, this would have to be the first time that the Valley has racked up three fifty plus wins on the trot – massive effort from a

Swamp

team that is making history with every match at the moment –where’s me old mate Mitch, he’ll let us know.

Platypus farmer, Cam Droomgol, was employed in the bomb squad this week, along with regular

starting lock Connor McVerry. Another couple of puzzle pieces to put together for the Boffins – are they better starting as opposed to coming off the bench? A hell of a puzzle deciding who is bomb squad and who starts, more of a

WASGIJ than a regular puzzle, as you just don’t know what the picture will be until all 1000 pieces are on the table.

TIGHTHEAD TED comments on the BIG Rugby game this coming Saturday at Whitianga. Next week sees, probably, unless King Country can tip up

Whanganui, the final home fixture of the season.

So, get on the bus to Whitianga as our mighty Swamp Foxes lock horns with Horowhenua Kapiti at Lyon Park, one of the best venues in the Valley. Those Mercury Bay buggers know how to put on a show.

Thames Valley U19 Boys emerged victorious in a closely contested match against Waikato Harlequins in the Northern Regions U18 Tama Ora competition, with Max Baker securing the win with a penalty conversion in the final minutes, ending the match 27-24 crowning Thames Valley as the tournament champions.

Foxes had a great victory against Poverty Bay.

GAMES AND PUZZLES

(5)

Complete (6)

Negative consequence (8)

Units of sound (8)

Non-transparent (6)

Music style, rhythm and ... (5)

21. Release from restraints (7) 22. Grew dim (5) 23. Scanning book (7) 24. Prominence (8) 25. Earlier (5)

Relinquished (8)

Reviewer (6)

Foliage part (4)

Martial art (4)

5. Chronicle (7)

6. Depletes (4)

10. Outside limits (5)

11. Noosed rope (5)

13. Resting on knees (8)

14. Person charged with crime (7)

16. Formed a crowd (6)

18. Polish (4)

19. Prosecuted (4)

20. Go out of focus (4)

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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

QUESTIONING THE USE OF “UNUSED’ FUNDS

Further to the ‘Open Letter to the Minister’ in last week’s The Informer, I understand that the $90,000 casually uplifted by Council and used to fund a consultant to move the Esplanade Project forward earlier than stated in the LTP, was unused funding from a Wharekaho project that did not proceed?

Whether or not this is the case, the words “Unused funds” would perhaps be better termed as “Reallocated Funds”. The question then is, ‘Who decided that these Reallocated Funds were better spent on a consultant for the Esplanade Development rather than fixing any one of the Health and Safety issues at Wharekaho, or elsewhere on the Peninsula?

Where are the Minutes of the Meeting on the TCDC website showing who voted for, or against reallocating the funds, and what was the science or process behind this decision?

There is already $12.75 million budgeted for the Esplanade project. Is the $90,000 in addition to this amount or will it be subtracted from it?

Just how much more “Unused Funding” is being held by TCDC that could be “Reallocated” immediately to address Health and Safety issues?

Wharekaho first asked for a safe footpath along the SH25 35 years ago. Population increase has young children, along with the very elderly, negotiating a narrow SH with ditches on both sides and trucks and trailers, and commercial and private vehicles, using the SH as a race track. Pleas for Speed Cameras have been ignored. There is no safe space for the school bus to pick up and/or drop children off. Flooding increasingly sees Simpsons Beach cut off from access to Whitianga. No reticulated water, no sewage, and bore water tainted, at different times, with fecal matter, chemicals and minerals.

How amazing it would have been to have had just one of these important Health and Safety issues addressed by Council, rather than choosing to spend up large on a “Nice to Have” .

I can see that ’Esplanade Development Project’ has been in the Long-Term Plan for some time but never with any detail or budget until the last flurry of information on the website. This was done as a reaction to the public comment that people were frustrated and disappointed because they had not been consulted and had not received any information.

This project had been progressed with selected ‘invitation only’ interest group meetings - behind ‘closed doors’. Surely it is time now to no longer work in direct opposition to, and ignoring our Prime Minister’s request to “Do the Basics Brilliantly”.

Ady Cole-Ewen, Wharekaho

CHALLENGING COUNCILS: LEGAL DELUSIONS AND MISINFORMATION

The editor was far too polite in her reporting of the “Challenging Councils” meeting she recently attended with her description of “conspiratorial inference” (Informer 24 September)

I instantly regretted attending the group’s meeting in Thames. I was shocked by how deeply they misunderstood the law and civic responsibility. Their pseudo-legal nonsense is rooted in misinformation, driven by conspiracy theories and a refusal to face reality.

The Challenging Councils group is an offshoot of the “Sovereign Citizen” movement in New Zealand which is a laughable exercise in delusion. These self-appointed “experts” insist that they aren’t bound by the laws of the very society they live in, yet still enjoy its legal and civil rights protections.

The idea that Mayors and Council Chief Executives are personally liable for the

lending a council undertakes or that signing a piece of paper magically exempts them from legal obligations is utterly absurd.

Worse, they’re pulling innocent people into their delusions, convincing them to take pointless actions that achieve nothing. Their absurd claims have been universally dismissed in court.

Thankfully the vast majority of New Zealanders roundly rejected their weirdo local body election platforms in 2022 and will do so again in 2025.

Denis Tegg Retired Lawyer, Thames

CONCERNED ABOUT EDITOR’S OPINION OF CHALLENGING COUNCILS

From what you wrote, I wondered if we had attended the same event.(Whitianga- Challenging Councils at Bowling Club).

You mentioned “two alarming aspects”; firstly Mark’s attitude. My perception of him was very different to yours. I saw Mark as being a true blue, older kiwi Pākehā bloke from the provinces.

His saying that the South Island doesn’t have any Māori tribes or any Māori names, I knew that he didn’t seriously mean it because a man of his age, and financial acumen, would know about Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāi Tahu Holdings. And yes, compared to the North Island, the South Island is Māori name sparse. I sensed that Mark had some vital information to present, so was willing to dismiss his flippant remark, as just that; aremark that in his old school company probably wouldn’t make anybody flinch as it wasn’t racially charged, just a throw away comment that could easily have been about the Scottish heritage of Dunedin.

If you have been paying attention, you surely must be seeing how successive governments are using Māori in many ways, to divide the nation, creating angst, fear, torment and disharmony which further contributes to disempowering and marginalising Māori, which further drives the wedge between Pakeha and Māori. Meanwhile, these distractions keep most of us from paying close attention to what is really going on inside councils, parliament and overseas.

For Bess Kingi to feel frustrated about a reference to Māoridom is understandable but she had the opportunity to tick the “old bugger” off, and I’m sure that he would have taken it on the chin.

Maybe Bess’ frustration could be better directed at the Councils. As a ratepayer, Bess is like many of us who are struggling to see value for the increased rates, being ear tagged for exorbitant levels of proposed spending and then there is the borrowing as well, which is indicated in the Long-Term Plan (LTP).

There are rows and rows of eyewatering high numbers in the charts, extracted from the TCDC LTP which is available on its website.

Your second assertion, that Mark was being conspiratorial. Conspiratorial as far as I understand is suggestive of a secret plan made by two or more people to do something unlawful or harmful.

Continuing to increase rates can be very harmful. Without transparency of the actions of elected members and staff, how are we to know what is really going on, what our rates are being used for and from whom is the council borrowing? The two or more people in the case of a conspiracy, which I noticed that some of the attendees had no idea about, are from the World Economic Forum, (WEF) and some from the United Nations (UN) and some of its agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). It barely takes a few seconds to find such information on these organisations websites.

Watchdog Kathy Thompson, Whitianga

THIS COULD BE YOUR SPACE

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, 9.30am4pm 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 bi-monthly 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, 10am1pm, 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. 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 6.309.30pm, MB Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 0272117195 or brettsoanes16@hotmail. com

Chinwag Café – Every Friday from 10.30am-12.30pm 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.

Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm, Lovers Rock, Robinson Road. All breeds and sizes welcome to a very sociable

Date: Thursday 31 October

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.

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 Bowling and Sports Club – 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Social Bowls, Thursday & Sunday at 12.30pm, Contact Steve Williams 027 855 2772.

Mercury Bay 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 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir –Mondays 6.15-8.15pm, 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 Historical Society are holding a coffee morning meeting at The Lost Spring on Thursday 3 October, 10.30am start. Arrive a little early to arrange for your favourite coffee to be made. 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 5.30pm-7.30pm 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 – 9.30am12.30pm 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 10am-4pm, 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 12.452.45pm. 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 mercurybayathletics@gmail.com

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.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Kim Abrahamson: 07 866 5896 or 027 478 2232

Peter Bould: 021 923 198

Barbara Blair: 07 866 5181 or 021 310 351

Heather Bruce: 021 132 8878 or 07 866 5873

Derek Collier: 07 866 5893 or 027 436 8444

Bess Kingi Edmonds: 022 158 9782

David Harvey: 0274 878 363

Patricia Hynds: 021 935 780

Mary Kedzlie: 07 866 4096 or 027 290 4940

RURAL LIFE COUNTS

Community is critical

BY MALCOLM CAMPBELL

The latest edition of The Informer, 24 September, has some lively ‘Letters to The Editor’. There are obviously some divergent views on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Peninsula is a complex area with a resident population of around 33,000 people and this population at times can swell to around 120,000. Mayor Len Salt has a difficult if not impossible task, attending to the whims and fancies of people in Thames, Coromandel, Whitianga, Tairua, Coroglen, Whangamata and everyone in between.

In earlier times, Mayor Salt’s task would have been much simpler, as he would have only one of the sizeable towns to manage. In 1989, these smaller places were all swept into a District Council Area as in this case, the TCDC. This move was cited as creating ‘Economies of scale’.

Judging by the anger the length and breadth of the entire country, the ratepayers are not happy about the ‘Economies of Scale’ that have never happened. Further, in most of these communities, there were people with knowledge in say building, earthmoving, engineering, all manner of skills and these people could repair, build, alter, or protect eroding streams or shorelines. In other words, the community could look after itself. It is incredible that the purpose of the

RMA is, to use ‘the development of natural and physical resources, to enable people and communities to provide for their social, cultural and economic wellbeing’. Now that clause (sec 5) from the RMA spells out exactly what communities were doing for themselves without duress or 450 pages of clauses, controls, schedules and penalties (Massive fines).

Geoffrey Palmer and Simon Upton took it upon themselves to alter the word community by changing the last two letters to arrive at communism whereby should anybody pick up a shovel, a spade, a hammer, climb on a tractor, or cut down a tree without a consent, the ‘commies’ arrive with handcuffs. In the same issue of The Informer 1124, there were letters

again hitting at the ‘Dairy Farmers and their cows.’ Look at the big picture please. Up until 1970, all waste went straight into the nearest waterbody and by all, that means human sewage, dairy factory waste, blood and guts from the freezing works, milking shed waste, piggery effluent, the lot. All into the nearest drainage, whether it be the drain, the creek, the river, or the ocean, it did not matter. Away it went. All of that waste was grown by natural processes.

Take milk for an example. All mammals begin their lives on milk, even the whales. Milk, like meat scraps is biodegradable, none of this effluent, although distasteful as it was, it did not poison anything; not the eels, the trout, the whitebait, the shags, the ducks and so on.

In fact, those creatures all thrived. Distasteful as it seems, fish can live in raw sewage, if there is sufficient dissolved oxygen. However, chlorine is fatal to fish and most urban water is chlorinated. Here are the grubby hands of Palmer and Upton again ‘preserving the life supporting capacity of air soil and water’ by the use of deadly poison. The Waikato Region is dosed with 50 tonnes of poison concentrate annually. When did you last see a frog, a grass-hopper, a locust, a cicada, and so on? All have been wiped away or nearly so by our ‘commie’ controlling mates. I know what to do. Let’s blame the cows.

NOEL H with a new mode of driving

This is not an event but it feels like an event when you see Noel Hewlett doing his Whitianga rounds on his electric tricycle. He sourced it himself – had a little help from the Bike Park team to ride it, but now he is away. Noel is regularly out at the Whitianga Bike Park helping and was not deterred for too long when he was unable to drive his car anymore. He found a new way to get around. Look out for Noel. He will tell you how to get one of these very fine electric tricycles.

Turning the Tide: How one reusable cup can make a big difference

BY KAT NIELSEN-JONES

On Thursday, 26 September, Earth Store Whitianga – Vegetarian & Gluten Free Café hosted this month’s SUCFree Mercury Bay Thirsty Thursday, proving that small, mindful choices can lead to significant environmental impact. In a district where 250,000 single-use cups end up in landfill each summer, every reusable cup truly makes a difference.

CONSIDER THIS:

One person who brings a reusable cup and enjoys three coffees a week saves over 150 cups from being discarded annually. Earth Store’s waste-free event is a powerful reminder that individual actions, no matter how small, can collectively drive meaningful change.

Known for its organic, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly offerings, Earth Store has embraced Chunky Cups as their reusable cup option. These are produced by a national non-profit organisation focused on reducing single-use waste. Priced at around $10, these cups are designed to be durable, convenient, and environmentally friendly. The event was a resounding success, showcasing Earth Store’s ongoing commitment to ethical choices and eco-friendly practices – highlighting how businesses can seamlessly integrate sustain-

ability into their daily operations. The participation

Sharyn, Letitia and Kat, organiser of Thirsty Thursday on behalf of Wahi Tukurua; a local enjoying the muffin and coffee deal on Thirsty Thursday.

Noel crossing the bridge as you get to the Bike park.

TRADES AND SERVICES

WHITIANGA

TRADES AND SERVICES

CLASSIFIEDS

for

- inc power, 7m x 7.5m $178 per week inc GST,17 Moewai Road, Whitianga. Ph: 0274 817 258

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Everyone welcome for the Easter programme Sunday 10 am – 12 noon @ 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga (Community Service Bldg) Enquiries - 021 113 0566

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

Tairua-Whitianga Road, KAIMARAMA 021 0283 0515 kaimaramacats@gmail.com

SHOWROOM TEAM MEMBER

PlaceMakers is a dynamic, interesting and fast paced environment to work in. We also happen to be one of New Zealand’s leading and largest suppliers of building materials.

Due to large increases in printing, paper and delivery costs we have had to change the layout of our Trades & Services and Classifieds section. The size of the adverts have changed slightly so that we haven’t had to increase the cost of your advert.

We have a diversity of customers who come through our branch and it’s up to us to make sure we deliver out-standing service to each and every one of them. We have an opportunity for a Showroom Team Member to join our high performing branch.

The role will provide a wide variety of work which will appeal to someone who enjoys being busy and is happy to get stuck in and do what it takes to look after our customers.

You don’t need experience in the building industry as this is something we can help you with, although if you do have previous experience in a customer service capacity this will provide good grounding for this role, as well as being flexible, willing to learn and go the extra mile for our customers, employer and team mates.

We have some amazing success stories of people who have shown commitment to work hard and they have gone on to achieve incredible things.

Could you be our next success story? Ideally, we are on the hunt for someone able to work fulltime 4 days a week with rostered weekend work.

To apply please send your CV to Hannah.Hardy@placemakers.co.nz

You will need to pass a pre-employment medical and drug test to be eligible for this opportunity. Applications close 12th October 2024.

SPORTS RESULTS

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

Aldermans Pairs Week Four

Monday 23 September

North/South: 1, Jenny Prince and Judy McKenzie 64.50; 2, Robyn Waters and Lynnette Flowers 61.50; 3=, Jean Myles and Peter Clark/Jo Feasey and Tony White 42.00.

East /West: 1, Celia Young and Nolene Kirkpatrick 62.50; 2, Chris Death and Peter McNeil 56.50; 3, Karen Murphy and Jocelyn Taylor 50.00.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

Championship Singles Round Four

Wednesday, 25 September

1, Don Barry & Augusta Canegallo; 2, Dave Dylla & Giorgio Allemano; 3, Kate Palmano & Rose Tegg.

Championship Singles Round Six

Thursday, 26 September

1= Julie Rutledge & Pam Churchill; Kate Palmano & Angela Cook; 3=, Gavin Hedwig & Jenny Layton, Amy Hyde & Norma Hart.

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Cooks Beach Pairs Four

Tuesday, 24 September

North/South: 1, Myra Hoogwerf and Dave Dylla 71.33; 2=, Ann Scott and Val Dwight and Angela Butterworth and Peter Clark 44.67.

East/West: 1, Kevin Milroy and Don Barry 72.5; 2, Natasha Courtney and Judie Johnson 57.5; 3, Jean Myles and Lee Hughes 47.5.

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday, 25 September

Best of three Frames: A good field of twelve players on Wednesday and it was Ian Baumgren, Jason Smith and Luke Trainer with two straight wins each to challenge the finals. Ian won the drawn bye and Jason and Luke battled out the semifinal with a win to Luke who met Ian in the final frame. Ian was on form and took a comfortable win and the cash prize. With two wins were Luke Trainer (runner-up) Jason Smith, Brian Codyre and Peter Schultz. Highest break was Ian Baumgren with 24. Saturday, 28 September

Best of three frames: Eight players on Saturday and it was Ian Baumgren and Wayne Malcolm with two straight wins to battle out the final frame. And what a very close match this was with Wayne snatching the victory and the cash prize. Runner up Ian Baumgren did not go home empty handed as he took home a very healthy high break pool with the break of

27 pottery all the colours. With two wins were Bob Haase, Peter Schultz and Rob Reilly.

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

20 players this last week, 501 doubles played. Some very close games with three teams winning three of their four games which meant a one game shootout final was required. The teams were Mike Gillett & Karen McKenzie, Greg Healy & Chris Bennett and Selwyn Whatarangi & Todd Moses. Mike Gillett and Karen Mc Kenzie came away with the win. Highest finishers this week were 51 for the ladies scored by Karen McKenzie 93 for the men, scored by John Munro. No 180’s scored this week.

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING

CLUB

Thursday 26 September

Winners: Alan Henderson and Ian Sanderson Runners Up: Keith Denney, Lionel Lawrence and Marie Grimshaw Good Sports: Merle Ward, Lee Pudney and Jan Harvey

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

Friday, 27 September

Nine-hole Mixed Scramble - Stableford 1, Patrick Gonthier; 2, Les Walbridge; 3, Bob Holliday.

Twos: Patrick Gonthier

Eighteen-hole Stableford

Saturday, 28 September

1, El Camino Wade; 2, David Lang; 3, Rohit Ranchhod.

Eagle: Cameron Walls

Twos: James Duncan, Alan Coubray, Mark Kilgour, Mark Boe, Shane Hardy.

Div 1: Gross - Mark Boe; Nearest to PinGraeme Eccles; Longest Drive – Matt Sanders.

Div 2: Gross - Kevin Wallace; Nearest to Pin - Shane Hardy; Longest Drive - Ian McNally

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Nine-hole par - Thursday 26 September 1, Jo Geoghegan; 2, Callum Murray; 3, Jemma Gregory

Eighteen-hole Stableford

Saturday, 28 September 1, Frank Geoghegan; 2, Bob Walker; 3=, Jeff Bright, Brian Keucke; 5, Richard Agnew.

4BBB: Brian Keucke and Richard Agnew

TAIRUA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Nine-hole Tuesday Strokeplay Rnd Two First Division Ladies - 1, Sue McDonnel; 2, Robyn Hunter.

Second Division Ladies - 1, Anna McGuire; 2, Jan Stanley.

BOATS FOR SALE

Thursday 26 September - Stableford 1, Anna McGuire; 2, Robyn Hunter; 3, Brian Fellows.

Eighteen-hole - Thursday 26 September

Stableford – 1 John Reid; 2, Tony Anderson; 3, Bruce Crawford.

Saturday, 21 September - Stableford 1, Ross Reid; 2, Tony Anderson; 3, John Fraser.

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

Nine-hole Mens F9 Stableford

Monday, 23 September 1, Rey Bertling.

Nine-hole Ladies with Mercury Bay Ladies Stableford

Tuesday 24 September 1, Judy Hindrup; 2, Alison Goodlet; 3, Jean Hancock.

Mens Eighteen-hole Net Medal Tony Cotton Memorial

Wednesday, 25 September 1, Brian Tomlinson; 2, Trevor Martin; 3, Chris Palmer.

Twos: Geoff Atmore, Glenn LeLievre, Barry Bowen, Graham Harrison, Robin Fleming, Allan Trow.

Nearest the Pin#18: Brian Tomlinson Nine-hole Men B9 Stableford

Thursday, 26 September 1, Steve Airey; 2, Peter Mathias; 3, Paul Dixon.

Eighteen-hole Ladies Russian Roulette 1 Bev LeLievre - Noeleen Mulligan; 2=, Sandra Bowen - Chrissie Smith; Mary Sharp –Cathy Drake-Wells.

Arnold Cup – Par 3 Comp Stableford 1, Tony Munro; 2, Kevin Adlam; 3, Paul Dixon.

The Malcolm Spry Memorial Golf Tournament – Ambrose Net Medal Friday, 27 September 1, Chris Palmer, Harry Karl, Neil Vowles; 2, Stuart Arnold, Tony De Coek, David Todd; 3, Grant Buttigieg, Nathan Wilson, Grant Robinson.

Nearest the Pin 18: Phil Turner

Eighteen-hole mixed Haggle Stableford

Saturday, 28 September 1, Peter Mathias; 2, Margaret Stevens; 3, Ann Dale.

Nearest the Pin#18: Graham Harrison Twos: Nick Lambert, Graham Harrison, Paul Mellow.

Penta engines, Volvo stern drives, water/oil coolers, heat exchangers, starter motors, steering system, fire and toilet systems, genset and water pumps. Over $50K spent locally with PC Marine. Canvas, clears & carpets replaced mid 2021. Full details and receipts available. Located @ Whitianga Marina, ph owner: 021-742929; Asking $167,500 ono

Scan barcode to take you directly to our website

Follow us on:

For our latest screening schedule and trailers go to www.mercurytwincinemas.com The home of BIG SCREEN entertainment on the Coromandel

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

Sp ts

Hunting and Fishing hosts Whitianga Marine Expo

Agreatdayinbeautifulsunshine(thewordsofoneoftheshoppers)

This was the first expo organised by Hunting and Fishing owners, Alex Reynolds and Ashleigh Taiapa, since their big green shed opened its doors out near Mobil opened earlier this year.

The Expo was such a good idea and brought many in the community to look at the range of camping gear, boats and boating extras, clothing and hunting equipment on display, The car park was designed like a marine market.

Fabian Roberts of CFM broadcast live and interviewed the Coastguard and other exhibitors during the day.

Basker Restaurant which is across the road joined in the spirit of things with excellent outdoor food and the menu under the gazebo included a very swept up sausage sizzle with all the trimmings. Shane Comber was s deft hand at demonstrating the Smoker Kiwi Sizzler, with passers-by enjoying his creations. cooking on the Smoker Kiwi Sizzler. Matilda , the Time travelling fairy

was there attracting the children who wanted a face painting fantasy.

Ashleigh said it was a very good day meeting many new people and seeing the community coming to them.

“Lots of people were able to spend time outside with the activities and attractions as well as come into the store to see all the displays.”

Hunting and Fishing are continuing their many specials on clothing, and other fishing and hunting gear which was on offer at the marine exhibition. Pop in and browse.

Fabian Roberts of CFM broadcasted live to the Coromandel from the event; Shane Comber demonstrating the Hunting and Fishing- Smoker Kiwi Sizzler; Coastguard joined in the Expo sharing their stories with the people and recruiting volunteers. From left Coastguard members –Ron Aylon-Parker, Graeme Thomas, and Isreal Fussell.

Lee Street

P +64 7 866 5891 M +64 27 495 8923 E gbalme@xtra.co.nz

Whitianga