April 2024

Police Helicopter Visits Coatesville School

The New Zealand Police "Eagle" Helicopter's visit to Coatesville School on 26 March was a thrilling pre-Easter event for the students and staff

At first, just the distant sound of rotor blades could be heard, announcing the aircraft's approach as the entire school waited on the field. Moments later, all faces turned skywards to watch Eagle come into view. The helicopter circled the school grounds impressively, giving onlookers a view of how the aircraft looks whilst it carries out its valuable airborne support role, throughout New Zealand, before it was expertly landed on the school field.

Helping the youngsters to contain their excitement were Police dog

handler Shep and his three-year-old labrador, Arc. Shep gave the kids an inside view into what life is like with a Police dog and how he and Arc live and work together. Arc also took an active role, demonstrating his athletic capabilities and high energy levels. Shep talked about Arc's training and answered an array of questions from the children - and even some adults. Meanwhile class groups were given an up close look at Eagle, this included a glimpse of the high-tech gear used to support Police staff on the ground. The visit was organised by Coatesville School parent, Rachel King and the students are bound to remember the experience for years to come.

Editorial

ANZAC Day is just around the corner and once again the CRRA is hosting the best commemoration service in Auckland at the Coatesville Settlers Hall. They say be there at 6.45am for a 7am start on Thursday, 25 April. After the service, everyone is invited to stay on for a cuppa and a chat with friends and neighbours. Please bring a gold coin or two if you'd like to buy a poppy and donate to the RSA. This is their main fundraising event for the year so all funds are gratefully received

I look forward to the ANZAC Day service but it will be a little sadder this year since Lynette Herbke's amazing horse Moonie, has passed away. In the past, Moonie has stood stoic and strong at Coatesville ANZAC Day services, representing the animals that have served in wartime and done a wonderful job. She will be missed by all of us.

On a lighter note, don't miss the entertaining write-up from the Golf Classic on page 4, and this month Coatesville Pony Club are promoting their 50-year anniversary celebrations. Read page 5 for information about their event on 25 May and how to buy your tickets.

Helpful Hints from the CRRA

Evenings will soon be closing in, make certain you can be seen when out walking

Diary Dates

∞ 12 April, Friday, Last day of term one at Coatesville School.

∞ 17 April, Wednesday, 6pm The CRRA meets at the Settlers Hall. All welcome!

∞ 22 April, Monday, Earth Day

∞ 25 April,Thursday, ANZAC Day. Commemoration Service, 6.45am for a 7am start at the Settlers Hall. All welcome!

∞ 29 April, Monday, First day of term two at Coatesville School.

∞ 5 May, Sunday, Coatesville Market 10am-2pm.

∞ 12 May, Sunday, Mother's Day. However you choose to do it, celebrate the mother figures in your life today.

Moonie

Local Board News

By Louise Johnston

After such an amazing summer, it is hard to believe that we were ravaged by floods a little over a year ago. The damaged transport infrastructure has slowly been rebuilt. The only major storm-related projects still outstanding for the area are the Mill Flat Road bridge replacement project and the slip on Ridge Road.

For the slip repairs on Ridge Road, there had been a slight delay in construction starting as Vector needed to relocate the overhead power lines. This issue should now have been resolved. For the Mill Flat Road replacement bridge project, there will be an AT community drop-in session at Coatesville Hall at the end of this month to discuss the proposed designs. Funding has been secured for both the replacement bridge and the safety improvements at the intersection of Coatesville Riverhead Highway and Mill Flat Road, including a right-hand turning bay.

Many properties that opted into the Auckland Council's buy-out scheme are now finding out their risk categorisation. This is an emotional time for homeowners, their families and neighbouring properties. At the start of March, 685 properties were assessed by the Council and received their categorisation. 86 of these properties received buyout offers, as they were assessed as having an intolerable risk to life and there being no feasible intervention.

The cutoff date for property owners to opt into the storm recovery assessment process has been set to 30 September 2024. This funding also covers grants for mitigating risk, such as raising houses, etc.

For property owners that have accepted Auckland Council's buy out offer, dwellings will need to be removed once negotiations have been completed. It is estimated that approximately 600 sites will be transferred into Auckland Council ownership because of the voluntary buy-out scheme. What will happen to the land remains undecided. It seems a straightforward decision in an urban area as these small parcels of land provide valuable open space. However, it is a more difficult decision in rural areas such as Coatesville and Dairy Flat. Auckland Council do not have the funding to maintain their current community assets. What we don’t want to see happening is that these blocks become abandoned by Auckland Council and end up covered in weeds and homes for pests or become a temporary storage yard or some other not-sosuitable activity. The council is currently developing a draft policy framework for these acquired sites. This will be presented to the Governing Body on the 30th of May. One suggestion is that these sites could be used to offset environmental mitigations and planted out in natives at no cost to the Council. It would be great to know what you think should happen to these acquired blocks.

Lastly, thank you to everybody who submitted on the LongTerm budget. Your feedback is being reviewed. Auckland Transport‘s ten-year budget, the Regional Land Transport Plan, will be out for public feedback this month. Dates are still to be determined. One project we need to ensure is funded is the widening of the bottom of Albany Hill on Dairy Flat Highway (DFH) from Stevensons Crescent to Gills Road. This project was not funded three years ago but with Milldale consented to build another 3000 dwellings at the other end of DFH and two private out-of-sequence plan changes for housing near Milldale about to be lodged, and another out-of-sequence plan change in the proposed industrial zone on Dairy Flat highway on its way ... we can't afford to keep putting this off!

Please contact Louise.Johnston@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz with any feedback.

SCoatesville Golf Classic Returns in 2024

o, it’s been a while, but the Coatesville Golf Classic event came around on the calendar once more. No pandemics, flooding or pestilence to try and stop us this year.

As we’re all getting a little older and our memories are not what they used to be, I decided to embrace technology to remind the previous participants what the event is all about.

So, being techno-curious and hearing all about AI (after all, if you’re not using AI you’re falling behind, they say), I nervously approached creating a Coatesville Golf Classic trailer to rouse the troops from their slumber.

I had a look around, found a couple of AI video creators and landed on one called InvideoAI. (Not only is the Coatesville Chronicle a great read but it’s also educational, who’d have thought?)

I put in a few key words to describe the event and I let AI do the rest. I have to say I was very impressed with what it created in just a couple of minutes. Now, the internet in Coatesville is woeful so maybe somewhere else it may have taken seconds.

This is what AI generated –Welcome to a new era of golfing, the Coatesville Golf Classic. An extraordinary event where the greens are local paddocks, and the clubhouse is in the backyard. Picture this: Brave athletes take on a nine-hole journey, each hosted in a different paddock, each with its own unique charm. You'll swing your way through the lush greenery of Coatesville, the camaraderie of your fellow golfers echoing with every stroke. Your golfing prowess will be tested in the most delightful waysfrom manicured greens to rustic fairways, every hole offers a new adventure. The Coatesville Golf Classic - it's not just a game; it's the experience of a lifetime. Golf, as you've never seen it before. Join the adventure, embrace the challenge, and immerse yourself

in the spirit of community. The Coatesville Golf Classic, where every hole is a challenge.

It added some video footage and images of beautiful golf courses and holes which might have set an unrealistic expectation. So I edited the video and inserted some more realistic images from previous years and hey ho, it was done!

It certainly did the trick and the enthusiasm really started to gain momentum. The event started, as usual, with a BBQ in Collings Drive and proceeded around a number of Coatesville properties ending again with a BBQ back at the starting location. The weather was beautiful, the company even better and 21 brave souls took on the task of completing the nine arduous holes.

A couple of memorable holes worth a mention – there was a dead rabbit found at one hole so there was a prize for ‘nearest the carcass’. Well done Jason Steele for winning that. Nearest the pin was also won by Jason Steele who was obviously on form that day. We also had a prize for the worst shot of the day and with many shots to choose from, Andy Glasson (previous green jacket winner) was the outstanding winner with some real shockers! Some would say it’s safer to stand in front of him when on the tee, but that’s a bit unfair.

The day ended with a shoot-off for first place between Nat King and myself (no idea how that happened). It appeared Jason Steele wasn’t having a good short game. It took several attempts but eventually Nat won once again (grumble grumble) to be the first to win the trophy three times. He dons the esteemed green jacket once again. A big thank you must go to those who hosted a hole, the Collings Drive families who are very accommodating and DarkLab.co.nz who kindly provide all the signage. Also, a big thank you to Nev Poole for providing some of the prizes and the most delicious southern comfort-based cocktail at his hole, ‘Southern Comfort’.

By Pete Savage

Nat wins again!

Brett & Nev with questionable taste

The troops gather

CVPC to Celebrate 50 Years

And just like that, daylight savings has ended which means Pony Club season is nearly over!

Our Easter rallies had a festive flair with colourful dress ups, games and Easter egg hunts. Before the ‘dark at 5pm’ challenges start, it was great to get together and have some fun.

We love the enthusiasm of our riders and the effort they went to dress up their obliging equine partners. Ponies transformed into bunnies, easter eggs and even a chicken. The creativity was impressive.

Our riders are now doing their final preparations for their D and D+ certificates. They have been working away all season and we know they are going to thrive. We can’t wait to share the results and be able to highlight all their awesome achievements. This is one of the many benefits of belonging to Pony Club as you get to develop your horse management skills and become a better partner for your equine friend.

As always, we love highlighting the wins of our riders. Huge congratulations to Neve, Libbi, Molly and Mariella who finished second on the podium in the Auckland Manukau Pony Club ODE. They all rode

beautifully and showed immense team spirit and determination through very challenging weather.

Congratulations also to our riders; Luke Jones, Mia Cadwallader and Phoebe Webster who have been selected to compete at the National Eventing Championships. We will be cheering you on from the sidelines. Go get 'em!

News Alert!! Tickets are now available for our 50th Anniversary on 25 May. This is going to be such a fabulous night of celebrations, reminiscing and dancing. From horse presentations to dinner, dessert, and a DJ, you can be guaranteed a night to remember. We would particularly love past members of the Pony Club to join us at the celebration, and to spread the word. Also, please continue to send through any photos or memories for us to share on the night

We do have limited tickets for sale, so make sure you grab yours pronto. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite and the link is also available on our Coatesville Pony Club Facebook page.

Finally, a massive thank you to all our entire Pony Club community for supporting us this season.

From our key sponsors, our committee, coaches, volunteers, parents and riders – we could not do this without you. We’ve been super fortunate this season with weather which has meant lots of rallies, lots of events, lots of riding and lots of fun!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or a member for next season – please email us at coatesvillepc@gmail.com

By Tarryn Bellingham

The protection of assets that we have worked so hard to acquire is an important consideration for most people.

Trusts provide protection of those invaluable assets, which allow a person to hold property and assets on behalf of another - for the good of the beneficiaries.

It is just as important to ensure that other forms of asset structuring are up to date and considered in relation to your trusts structure. These include your will and enduring powers of attorney.

Contact Tammy McLeod or one of the Trust Team for specialist asset structuring and planning advice.

Mila (left) and Libby won best dressed at the Easter Rally.

Garden Club Head to Hunua

On Tuesday, 5 March, Coatesville Country Garden Club embarked on a delightful journey to the Hunua aboard a luxurious Bayes coach. Our excursion began at the enchanting garden of Deanna Robinson, located at 46 Farquarson Road, Ararimu. This garden, a testament to patience and skill, has been cultivated largely from cuttings, showcasing a blend of whimsical and structured plantings. Deanna's meticulous hedges and interspersed hydrangea bushes set a scene of orchestrated beauty, while the sight of enormous pumpkins amidst the vegetable plots added a touch of rustic charm. We learned of an engaging neighbourhood pumpkin competition that adds an element of fun and community spirit to the area.

A mere five minutes away our next visit was to Lynda Hallinan's Sweetgum Cottage. Lynda's garden is a vibrant canvas of success where every plant and tree seemed to thrive, reflecting her expertise and dedication. The garden surrounds a beautifully restored cottage with additional structures thoughtfully integrated to complement the cottage and enhance the garden's appeal. Our group enjoyed a leisurely lunch among friends, savouring the delicious contributions from our members, amidst the serene backdrop of Lynda's garden. The final leg of our tour took us to the expansive Parkwood garden, lovingly tended by Penny Brooker and her husband on Sinclair Road, Ararimu. This

garden is a diverse tapestry of flora with areas dedicated to specific plant and shrub varieties, including colourthemed sections that heightened the visual experience. A particular highlight was a stunning array of dahlias, Penny's favoured blooms, which provided a stunning burst of colour against the backdrop of a substantial woodpile. We were treated to afternoon tea in a splendid wooden structure, built by

Penny's husband where even the three artistically painted toilets received much admiration for their elegant design.

With hearts full of joy and minds inspired by the beauty we had witnessed, we reluctantly boarded our coach for the journey home. Our conversations abuzz with the day's experiences.

By Frances Swift

Broken driveways graded and rebuilt with triple layer construction system. Water tabling, side drains, culverts, french drains in gabion rock and driveway dust suppression treatments. House hard stands, car parks and horse arenas. Call for an on-site chat and a quote. Time for

Agricultural contractor mulching/ gorse clearing, mowing (& lawns), rotary hoeing/seeding, stump grinding, Graeme 027 533 3114

Clean Queen I'll have your house looking like a castle. References supplied. Ph Angela 021 0832 9352

Coatesville Mulch Mowing 1 to 50 acres, local contractor, affordable rates. Phone Warren and Brenda Mills on 415 6503 or 022 315 1953

Connect Electrics For all your electrical solutions, Phone Kris 022 332 6663 or 412 6066

Accomodation I’m a semi-retired gardener with my cat, looking for an unfurnished 1 or 2 bdrm cottage long term. Will pay $ for the right place.

Phill. M: 021 928 469

E: phillpriestley1@gmail.com

GET IN SHAPE Local private gym for one-on-one training or small group sessions, specialising in weight loss, general fitness and rehabilitation. Call Debbie 027 441 8769.

Gardener Are you looking for a gardener who will nurture and take care of your garden on a regular basis; someone who is conscientious, diligent & creative? If this sounds interesting, please don’t hesitate to email, call or text me for a noobligation chat. Phill M: 021 928 469

E: phillpriestley1@gmail.com

Haven Hair Design Need a new look or just a trim? Senior hair stylist and salon owner Lisa Cross will help you look and feel your best. Phone 09 415 4424 or book online www. havenhairdesign. co.nz

Local Shearer, Kevin Abel, 021 223 5033

•

•

•

•

Mister Sharp Mobile Knife, Scissor & Garden Tool Sharpening Service. Onsite at your home or business, priced per item with no call-out charges - just a minimum spend please of $50. Ph 027 444 3348

Odd Job Company For building and landscaping projects, contact Peter 027 453 0570

Painters & Decorators Marshall

Painters can help with all your painting needs; interiors, exteriors, even waterblasting to make sure you get the top quality finish we're famous for. With over 50 years experience in the company, we have the skills you need. Call Marcus on 021 024 86516 or email marshallpainters@gmail.com.

Pilates in Coatesville Hall, Thursday @ 6pm. Special – 2 free lessons for new clients. $12 school term, $15 concession card and $20 casual class. Contact Abraham on 021 122 1530 or abrahampardo@gmail.com

Scout Marquee for hire, 6m x 8m, $250 per day. Call Garth 447 1863

The Blooming Beekeeper fully maintained beehive service. The ideal eco-friendly gift. Bee packages; beekeeping lessons; artisan bee products; swarm catching. Coatesville based. Call Val 021 755 833.

Who’s your caterer? Beautifully presented, great tasting food, at competitive prices. Phone Helen Cato 415 7771 or 021 211 8223.

Are You Mortgage Ready?

Your credit score provides banks with a valuable background into how you manage your debts. A clean credit history increases your chances of a successful application as it demonstrates responsible borrowing behaviour. Before you apply for a home loan, obtain a copy of your credit file to check for any areas that could impact your application. A good credit score requires you to have responsible financial habits, i.e. paying bills on time, keeping within your credit card limit and avoiding excessive borrowing.

Good account conduct is essential when applying for a home loan. The banks will want to look at the last three months worth of your bank account statements to make sure you are managing your money responsibly. If you go into overdraft on your accounts regularly this can be seen as a negative, so you will need to watch this closely. Are there any ‘red flags’? Make sure you have at least three months of positive account keeping prior to applying for a home loan. Outstanding short-term debts, such as credit cards, any Buy Now Pay Later schemes (like Afterpay), or personal loans, can definitely impact your borrowing eligibility. Before applying for a home loan, if possible try and pay off any existing debts. You could also consider consolidating multiple debts into one which can help to reduce your overall repayments. Prioritise paying off high-interest debt first to minimise your ongoing interest charges which will help to free up more funds to pay down your other debt or boost your deposit.

When the banks assess your home loan application, they take into account your credit card limits, not just the balance. If you have unused credit card limits, consider reducing or eliminating them altogether. Reduce your credit card limit and improve your borrowing power. Lenders will take into account the minimum monthly payments based on your credit card limit, so a lower limit means a lower minimum payment assumption when they are running their calculations. For example: If you have a balance owing on your credit card of $1,500, the minimum monthly payment would be around $45. The bank will take the minimum monthly payment based on the actual limit, so if your limit was $10,000 then the minimum monthly payment they would account for would be around $300. How much extra mortgage does $300 per month get you? It’s about $40,000 - so you could be missing out on that extra $40,000 towards your new home. The best time to involve a Mortgage Adviser is right at the start of your journey. A mortgage adviser will assess your financial situation from the beginning and has great connections with lending providers depending on your specific scenario.

Don’t forget in these times, family and friends are more important than the $$ in every way! We are in trying times for many people around us whether friends, family or neighbours; let's be there to offer support in whatever way we can!