There's a lot going on in our community this month. The events kick off with the charity fundraiser, the Kumeu Clothing Swap on 10 August, followed by Coatesville School's quiz fundraiser on 16 August, then the CRRA AGM on 27 August, plus there's also the Miniatures Show on 23 and 24 August. Who knew the end of winter had so much to offer!
Not long now till local election voting begins. Check out the Q and A with Louise Johnston on page 6 and7 for some background on why we all need to vote.
Diary Dates
∞ 9 AUGUST Saturday From today, election signs can go up.
∞ 10 AUGUST, Sunday, 10am till 4pm The Kumeu Clothing Swap. Get along to the Kumeu Showgrounds today for an affordable fashion fix that's all about recycling and fundraising for local charity, Parent Aid North West. For more information, check out the story on page 5.
∞ 16 AUGUST, Saturday
Coatesville School's Great Gatsby quiz night from 7pm at the Settlers Hall.
∞ 23 & 24 AUGUST Saturday and Sunday, The World Of Miniatures Annual Show at the Albany Hall from 10am till 4pm both days. For more infomation, go to page 4.
∞ 27 AUGUST Wednesday 6pm for 6.30pm start. Coatesville Residents and Ratepayers Association invites the community to attend their AGM at the Settlers Hall. Mayor Wayne Brown will be present and will take questions on key topics.
∞ 29 AUGUST Daffodil DayCancer Society fundraiser. If you want to get involved as a volunteer or find out how you or your organisation can support this event, go to daffodilday.org.nz
Our Septic Tank Reports meet the latest Council specifications
Coatesville photo commissioned by the CRRA used on their flyer.
AUGUST NEWS
New Access to Green Rd Reserve
A new access has been constructed on Sunnyside Road for those wanting to enter Green Road Park from the Coatesville side. The bollards prevent vehicle access but there is a small amount of parking on the opposite side of the road for park users and a map to guide visitors through the 154 hectares of farmland.
School Great Gatsby Quiz Night
Coatesville School's Friends of The School is hosting a fundraising quiz night on 16 August. The theme is Great Gatsby and there are still some tickets available. The event kicks off at 7pm at the Settlers Hall and tickets cost $35 per person and tables of 10 are $300.
School families can purchase their tickets using the Kindo app while others can email the FOTS team to request the community payment link. Send your email to: fots.coatesville@gmail.com
Gardeners Enjoy Big Shed Visits
The Coatesville Country Garden Club showed off their skills with hundreds of plants grown and sold at their Annual July Trade Table sale where the club funds were enhanced with many items purchased. Thankfully most have large gardens to support this plantaholic tendency. Also, for the first time the public were able to come along and get some amazing bargains.
This hard task was followed by a sumptuous helping of hot soup and rolls put together by Jenny Cheer and Jenny Hunter. A very satisfying day.
With quite a number of activities keeping us really busy like retired people often are, we recently enjoyed a fascinating visit to some very large sheds with really interesting motor vehicles. Maybe this is why we have the most male club members than any other Garden club in New Zealand.
Firtsly, thank you to Frith Daniels, a member of the Garden Club, and her husband Havard for arranging visits to interesting sheds owned by local people in Kaukapakapa. A total of 20 members and friends set off from the Village Hall at 9.00am in what can best be described as ‘Sheeting rain’! As we travelled through Dairy Flat, windscreen wipers were unable to cope with the incessant rain and cars literally ground to a halt as vision became near impossible.
Conditions gradually improved and we arrived at our first shed owned by Bruce Kett in Waitoki. We witnessed
a splendid collection of vehicles including an immaculate Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet, and a racing car undergoing upgrade.
The second shed visited belonged to Havard Daniels who specialises in speedway vehicles with huge powerful engines which can cost up to $130,000. We met Jonathan Allard from the USA who is a legend in this sport, having won many international races. He provided a most interesting talk on speedway racing.
The final shed visited belonged to Brett Houston who had an immaculate collection of vehicles on display including Chevrolets and a Ford Sierra Cosworth. Clear to see was the exemplary condition of these restored vehicles, both the interior upholstery and the superior external paintwork a credit to the owner’s attention to detail.
Thanks go to all the shed owners for enabling us to see their fascinating collections and for making us feel so welcome. We ended up at the recently refurbished Kaukapakapa Hotel where we enjoyed liquid refreshments and a varied menu of lunches, with excellent customer service being provided. The hotel has recently undergone an amazing upgrade and restoration to its former glory, and it is certainly well worth a visit. Finally, our thanks go to Frith and Havard for arranging this most enjoyable visit to Kaukapakapa.
By Eric Haslam
Bruce Kett's shed revealed classic cars Havard Daniels' speedway racer
World of Miniatures Annual Show
The Wonderful World of Miniatures…That conjures up all sorts of thoughts, doesn’t it?! And trying to decipher what ‘World’ we’re talking about can sometimes be rather amusing – like the time when we were planning a Miniature Convention here in Auckland and the venue asked if our delegates required small seats brought in specially… a little confused we replied “We don’t think we will, why would we require smaller seats?” to which the answer came “for the little people – so they can sit in them and their feet touch the ground!”
Another time we were asked where the ponies would be housed and grazed over the weekend, to which we had to explain we were NOT bringing miniature horses on site… all quite a laugh when you realise that what we actually do as North Shore Miniatures Club is design, tutor, make and show miniature houses, scenes, furniture and all sorts of other things… just in miniature form!
Site(s): RWNZ5108
Ray White Swanson
Business: Totally Amped Electrical
Ship To: 14 Bethells Road, Auckland 0816 New Zealand
Contact: Coel Jackson
Phone: 021 770 696
Our ‘Mother’ or the backbone to all our New Zealand clubs is the NZAME Incorporated – New Zealand Association of Miniature Enthusiasts – formed in 1980, advertising and promoting the hobby and various clubs throughout the country, keeping us all in touch through a bi-annual magazine filled with tips, competitions and sometimes patterns and workshops to keep each member busy between the biennial conventions, held throughout NZ in different cities. Check out www.nzame.org
Email: totallyampedelectrical@gmail.com
What we do ‘In a nutshell’: (and by the way, we do scenes in nutshells sometimes too!) The standard miniature scale is 1/12th. The easy way of explaining this is that if you measure something to be 1 foot… we reduce/ scale down that foot to an inch (anyone too young to know what this ‘foot’ and ‘inch’ business is, just check out Google… it will explain Imperial measurements better than this crazy old lady!), and working to scale in most projects is what we strive to do i.e. a five foot woman will become a 5 inch woman if in a 1/12th scale scene (you will see exceptions of this in our upcoming show on the 23rd and 24th of August at the Albany Hall) although some of our items are just crazy and fun, smaller/bigger and to a scale that only our imagination can adhere to, we do also work in smaller scales like 1/24th (1 foot becomes half an inch) and even 1/48th (1 foot becomes quarter of an inch)… this is a CRAZY but really rewarding hobby and we absolutely LOVE when our show time comes around and we get to share the madness with our community!
Come check out our rendition of Hogwarts Castle, (above) with wonderful and magical rooms to view. Sweeney Todd’s Tonsorial Parlour (with macabre ‘butchers’ below and Mrs Lovett’s Pie Shop next door selling her dubious ‘meat pies’), Miniature streets in various forms –one presented in a small antique case, another a VE Day street celebration with flags, tables, chairs, food and a piano read to celebrate; a miniature Trailer Park (including ablution block!); our new ‘Brownstone Apartment block', there’s also tree houses, lighthouses, man sheds, Weeniefield Food Hall, miniature scenes ‘growing’ in test tubes and so so much more for all to see and enjoy, many lit. We will also have food vendors available, sales tables for purchases and eftpos available on site/at entry and raffles. Always a weekend to remember for all the family… ps bring a magnifying glass if you have one!
GRAPHICS PROOF SHEET 07 5699 8109 07 5575 9748 graphics@movingtogether.com Po Box 847, Burleigh Town Qld 4220
If we REALLY enthuse you and you are keen to join us – our Club meets at Albany Hall on the second Saturday of each month (except January) from 10am to 4pm...come and join the craziness. Attend as a visitor, perhaps then become a member, learning how to use our Club tools, to buy the kits tutored, use our Club trading table and extensive Club library and to make these wonders yourself – entering our magical miniature World too!!!
Alie Wakelin, North Shore Miniatures Member, NZAME Member Coatesville Resident &Crazy Miniaturist
WITH Over 15 years experience
Clear Out Your Closet for a Cause: The Kumeu Women’s Clothing Swap is Back
Is your wardrobe overflowing, but you still feel like you’ve got nothing to wear? Looking for a guilt-free, feel-good way to reinvent your style? Then you won’t want to miss the Kumeu Clothing Swap & Shop, returning this August for what promises to be its biggest, boldest, most fabulous event yet!
This isn’t your average swap. It’s a celebration of community, sustainability, and seriously good fashion. Think epic bargains, fresh wardrobe finds, sweet tunes, tasty crepes, and a buzzing atmosphere all rolled into one vibrant day. And best of all? Every dollar raised supports Parent Aid North West, a local charity doing incredible work supporting families right here in our own backyard.
Event Day: Saturday, August 10th, 10am–4pm at the Kumeu Showgrounds
Public $5 Sale: From 12pm, all remaining clothing is up for grabs! Come Along & Be Part of Something Special We’d absolutely love your support. Come swap, shop, eat, laugh, and know that by simply refreshing your wardrobe, you are doing something amazing for your community. Whether you’re a seasoned swapper or a first-timer, everyone is welcome – and trust us, you’ll leave feeling fantastic. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @kumeuclothingswapandshop for all the updates and sneak peeks.
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For almost a decade, Louise Johnston has served the Coatesville and Dairy Flat communities on the Rodney Local Board. Her hard work has helped deliver some key initiatives that have taken Coatesville forward and made sure residents receive the best outcomes in Local Board spending while advancing road safety
Her regular columns in the Coatesville Chronicle have kept readers informed each month. Whether it's upcoming developments or helping people to access Council support, Louise knows the lie of the land like no one else.
Still friendly and approachable, her final three-year term ends on 11 October and she will leave behind big shoes to fill. This month I asked her to look back instead of forward, and share some of her insights.
CC: Looking back over the past nine years, what have you learned about the community?
LJ: Dairy Flat and Coatesville are quite distinct communities. I do think this is largely due to the zoning, as the Future Urban zoning in Dairy Flat has meant many properties are land banked or turned into industrial yards. This term, many Dairy Flat residents have had Notice of Requirement lodged on their property titles for future unfunded roading projects that may not happen for decades. This has been a difficult and often emotional process to support residents through. I do think that Dairy Flat and Coatesville are not as insular as some of the other areas in Rodney where people only care about their patch. Both communities are really resilient and hopefully I have been able to show residents that we can have a voice within Council and AT. However, residents generally still have a pretty negative view of both Council and AT. Hopefully, over the last nine years I have been able to encourage residents to participate in Council budgets and AT‘s long-term plan and to report problems to AT.
CC: You've worked hard to deliver a number of initiatives including the CRH and DFW roundabout, the 126
bus service, Green Rd Park just to name a few, what are you proudest of achieving and why?
LJ: Maybe not the proudest to achieve but I did feel a sense of desperation for ensuring that the CRH and DFH roundabout was constructed. There were accidents every week. I was not going to stop pushing for this roundabout. You are not given a manual about how to advocate for projects, but the community got behind this one and we were relentless! We were very close to organising a protest at this intersection. Green Road Park was always going to happen one day, but Council’s timeline was decades away and probably not until Dairy Flat was urbanised. Due to the scale of Green Road Park and it being right in the middle of the future urban zone, I felt very concerned that because it was not a reserve, not open to the public, and many locals did not even know it was owned Council, it was a very valuable asset that could easily be sold off by Council. When we have done public consultation on the Local Board budgets residents in Helensville and Wellsford have suggested that it be sold off as they will never use it. So securing Green Road for residents now and in the future and vesting it as
May 2019: Louise catching the 126 bus service on its first run through Coatesville.
November 2020: Louise with the accident victim and her family as well as council staff visit to the new DFH-CRH roundabout.
PFC Volunteer Day 2024 at Mincher Garden
reserve was a good result.
CC: Looking ahead, what are the challenges facing the next RLB representative and what skills will they need to be effective?
LJ: I think the biggest challenge will be to secure funding for the Dairy Flat subdivision as we are one voice out of nine on the Rodney Local Board. So, you need to ensure you are building relationships with like-minded board members. Local Boards have also been given more powers, and they defer maintenance and sell assets etc so these relationships are important.
Also, in this next term, a number of fast track applications and private plan changes will be no doubt given the go ahead even though we have advocated against these out of sequence developments. So, that will bring challenges to ensure that funding is secured for the transport infrastructure. As far as skills go, as a local board member you need to be proactive, not give up easily, and be a good listener.
CC: What advice would you give your successor?
LJ: If you get told you can’t do something, then keep trying and always treat Council staff with respect as they are there to help you. Over the past nine years, I have seen Local Board members yell at staff and that is not the way to get results. You need to like working in a team. Make sure you get back to residents when they contact you, and sometimes it's good to pick up the phone or meet them for a coffee.
Social media is always important. I wasn't on Facebook when I first started on the Local Board, but I must admit it's a good way to communicate with the community quickly and interactively. So, this is important too.
CC: Voting rates in local elections are diminished over the past elections and fewer numbers of people are standing as candidates, what should residents bear in mind when deciding whether or not to vote?
LJ: It is so important that you vote because you will never know when you will need a Local Board member to advocate for you, be it for a slip on your road, unconsented clean fill next to your property, or new bus service. Local Board members are important to your community and to put your name forward as a candidate, you don’t need any qualifications. Local Boards now have extra powers to sell assets so you want to ensure that you have a local board representative that has the community's interests at heart.
CC: What will you miss about the role and what are your future plans?
LJ: This has been the most fulfilling job that I've ever had. There is something about doing something for other people that when it works out, gives you a massive sense of satisfaction. It's a job that's never boring, and it's hard to take a break from, as even in the holidays and long weekends, something can always crop up. Wherever I've been, I've always taken my laptop with me, and I will miss this job. I have put so much of myself in it. But I never planned to get into local politics and nine years ago I didn't think anybody outside of my immediate family would actually vote for me. I have no plans at this stage but something always seems to turn up. In the meantime, I will have no excuse but to go to the gym or do the million jobs that need doing on a lifestyle block!
April 2025: MC at Coatesville's Anzac Day 2025 service
June 2025 Planting day at Green Rd Park
Annabelle White
Winter is comfort food.
The distinctive patter of rain on the roof, the warming glow from the fire or heater, soft candlelight just says easy, soothing food to share with family and friends.
The summer barbecue is often many people’s preferred entertaining option, but for me, a cosy night-in enjoying old fashioned classics like soup, stew and pudding for dessert, is always my favoured entertaining option. It’s not the time for complicated, fussy food. It’s time to unapologetically serve food reminiscent of childhood and carefree days, soothing the soul and cheering the heart. Forget fancy sauces and time consuming dishes and keep it super simple.
If your friends offer to bring a contribution, say yes. It's about nurturing and showing you care and something that reminds you of being at your grandmother’s table, not a fancy eatery.
Years ago I interviewed a top chef in Melbourne and he said “go home and tell your readers two things – spend more time
According to Annabelle According to Annabelle
shopping and less time cooking (and we wasn’t meaning Jimmy Choo shoes – but sourcing great ingredients and doing less to them ) and then with a flourish of his arms he said “remember to have the confidence to just serve a grilled vealchop!”
Nurture but don’t try to over-do it – years ago American researchers proclaimed if you serve more than one dessert at home you are “socially inadequate”.
So now as you serve today’s raisin pudding with a very serious face, put it in the centre of the table and say “I’m socially confident – this is our dessert!"
You are not Valentine's Buffet on a Saturday night with their dessert table. Make a vegetable soup or stew the day ahead and just whip up this fabulous family favourite and serve with cream or cream and plain yoghurt. It’s so good.
* Not everyone enjoys dessert so always have a small bowl of fresh fruit available and some favourite chocolates in the cupboard.
* If there is an issue with fruit and gluten, have cheese and gluten-free crackers to hand.
* Have the confidence to serve a retro classic that is as popular as the golden syrup steamed pudding.
* Remember some desserts can’t be successfully made ahead of time – for example, if you make lemon delicious pudding where in the baking this super dessert creates a sauce to the spongy citrus laden topping – please serve this straight away – as the sauce disappears and gets soaked into the top as it sits for a period of time.
Raisin Pudding
Easy on the budget and super easy to make!
You will need
∞ 1 cup self-raising flour
∞ pinch of salt
∞ ¼ cup sugar
∞ 45 g butter
∞ 1 cup raisins
∞ 1 lemon rind, finely grated
∞ ½ cup milk
Method
Sift flour and salt together with sugar. Lightly rub in butter with raisins and lemon rind. Add milk. Mix to form a soft dough. Spread out evenly in a greased 20cm x 20cm ovenproof dish.
Sauce:
∞ 2 cups boiling water
∞ 1 cup brown sugar
∞ 65 g butter
Put boiling water, sugar and butter in saucepan and heat until butter melts.Spoon over contents of dish. Bake at180 deg C for approximately 45-60minutes. Serve while hot with cream.
Sandwiched Between Two Generations
Kate had a group of friends from university who she saw regularly. They would reminisce and shared stories about their current lives.
Kate often struggled to unwind after seeing her friends, but after last night, she lay awake thinking about the situations her friends were now in.
One friend, Rachel, called them the “sandwich generation”, in their 50s, sandwiched between elderly parents and supporting adult children into home ownership and parenthood. Kate reflected about the friends within the group.
Rachel had parents in their late 70s. Rachel helped with finding them a retirement village that suited her mother, who was unwell and would soon need hospital care. But also, her father who was young for his years and needed socialisation. Coupled with that, Rachel’s older daughter was looking to purchase a house with her partner. Rachel and her husband wanted to help their daughter, but while they were asset rich, they were cash poor and needed some advice as to how they could help without compromising their own position.
Nicola’s father had been diagnosed with dementia. Nicola’s mother cared for him at home and neither
Nicola nor her brother had realised how bad their dad was. No one had considered the legal documents that could simplify handling her dad’s assets. Her parents owned their home together, but all their investments were in her dad’s name. After a recent doctor’s visit, they were told that her dad didn’t have capacity to make his own financial decisions and queried whether powers of attorney were in place. Nicola’s mum had looked at the doctor blankly. She had assumed that she would be able to access their assets or at least sign on behalf of her husband. They learnt this was not the case and they both had been to see a lawyer to help them make an application to the court for Nicola’s mother to be a property manager for her husband.
Mel and her husband had recently separated, and it was becoming messy. Mel’s husband was already in a new relationship. Mel had thought they would be able to sort things out amicably, that did not seem to be the case. Mel and her husband had multiple trusts with various assets and now her children who were in their mid 20s had taken advice as to their rights within the trusts. The had now become a family dispute which was
incredibly upsetting for Mel. Kate reflected on these situations and was grateful for her own relatively calm life, but worried for her friends. The sandwich generation felt like a mix of legal advice and life advice. Then Kate remembered that she and her husband had never made wills – they had drafted them when they purchased their first home years ago but had got stuck on who would be guardians of their then toddler children. Those children were now in the mid 20s, and the wills were still not finalised. Kate vowed to make an appointment with their lawyer the next morning.
Tammy McLeod, Trust Law specialist, Managing Director, Davenports Law
Helpful Hints from the CRRA
Civil Defence
Power outages = barbeque cooking. Is your gas cylinder full?
Clean & Green
Early spring growth disappearing? Possum traps should help.
Born To Build Ltd - Outdoor building specialists - We are here to help you create your outdoor vision, call Leon with all your deck, fence, retaining, pergola and horse & yard works! We are a small local quality business, been in the area for 10 years, helping our customers create their outdoor living dreams! Leon 022 0431443 borntobuild@hotmail.co.nz
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
Cottage Required in Coatesville or surrounding areas to rent long term, for single semi-retired landscape gardener. Unfurnished,1 or 2 bedrooms. Ref available. Please call or text: Phill: 021 928 469
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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
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.
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 & landscaping projects, call 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. 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 Who’s your caterer? Beautifully presented, great tasting food, at competitive prices. Phone Helen Cato 415 7771 or 021 211 8223.
Top Value Boosting Renovations
oatesville’s unique blend of rural charm and lifestyle appeal makes it a sought-after location for buyers seeking space, tranquility, and quality living. Whether you're preparing to sell or simply want to future-proof your investment, here are the top renovations that consistently add value to properties in our area. 1. Modern Kitchens with Country Flair The kitchen is the heart of the home, and in Coatesville, buyers love a mix of functionality and rustic elegance. Think stone benchtops, high-end appliances, and open-plan layouts that flow into dining or outdoor areas. A walk-in pantry or scullery is a bonus for lifestyle buyers. 2. Outdoor Living Spaces With Coatesville’s scenic surroundings, outdoor entertaining areas are a must. Covered decks, outdoor kitchens, and landscaped gardens create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Adding features like a fire pit or spa can elevate the appeal even further. 3. Upgraded Bathrooms Bathrooms with walkin showers, freestanding tubs, and underfloor heating are popular. Neutral light with light and bright tones and natural materials like timber and stone resonate well with the local aesthetic. 4. Smart Storage Solutions Lifestyle properties often come with gear—equestrian equipment, gardening tools, or recreational vehicles. Well-designed sheds, garages, and storage areas add practical value and appeal to buyers with active lifestyles. 5. Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Solar panels, double glazing, and efficient heating systems are not just eco-friendly—they’re smart investments. Buyers are increasingly conscious of running costs and sustainability, especially in larger homes.
6. Landscaping & Entrance & Driveway Enhancements
First impressions count. A well-maintained driveway; concrete or tar sealed, manicured lawns, and planting can significantly boost appeal. Consider fencing upgrades, entrance pillars or gated entries for added privacy and security. 7. Secondary Dwellings or Studio Spaces Whether it’s a self-contained flat, a home office, or a creative studio, additional buildings offer flexibility and minor dwellings also offer income potential. These are especially attractive to multi-generational families. Final Thoughts Renovating in Coatesville isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about enhancing lifestyle and functionality. If you're considering upgrades, focus on features that align with the area's rural charm and buyer expectations. Need advice on what renovations would work best for your property? I’m happy to help!
