The Causeway - June 2024

THE CAU THE CAU THE CAU

Cheerleading team does New Zealand proud

Mia Weber is a 17 year old high school student living in West Auckland that has dedicated the past 10 years to cheerleading and has reached the top of her field. She is a part of three teams; Academy All Girl at level 5, Junior Advanced at level 4, and All Girl Elite at level 6. Mia recently represented New Zealand in the Cheerleading Worlds competition, which is an international cheer competition that took place in Florida in April. Mia’s teams All Girl Elite and Junior Advanced competed in the ICU part of the competition, which is where countries compete against other countries. Academy All Girl competed in the worlds section of the competition, where multiple teams from different countries compete to take the title. Mia’s team managed to win the International Open at level 5 in the worlds competition, which is an outstanding achievement, although it did not come without hours of hard work and dedication.

Mia says that leading up to the competition, the three teams would train 3 times a week, which combined was about 7 hours a week. Although in the week before the athletes depart for the competition, they do boot camp, which is 12 hours a day. While over in Orlando, the team’s practice every day to fine tune their routine. Mia works hard to balance being an athlete and the workload that comes with being in your final year of high school. This commitment came at great reward, with Academy All Girl being the first cheerleading team on the continent to win Cheerleading Worlds in person.

When asked why she has committed so many years of hard work to cheer, Mia replied “we just all have a great sense of community and you get really close with everyone.” She also said that when you get to the higher levels, you are given more exciting opportunities to grow. Mia says her next steps are to continue coaching. She has already been coaching kids for 3 years, of which she believes could be Team New Zealand athletes once their time comes.

It is evident that the amount of effort put in by Mia and her teammates is enormous, and on behalf of the community I would like to congratulate them on their amazing accomplishments. If anyone is interested in getting involved in cheerleading, reach out to All Star Cheersport, a cheer gym on the North Shore. by

Emma Hedley, Hobsonville Point Secondary School.

Wishing you all the Very Best Hamish as you embark on this exciting journey!!

Proud mum and dad Helen & Paul Brinkman with excitement noted recently that it would not be long now before their son 14-yearold cellist player Hamish Brinkman will be travelling to Australia with the Aotea Youth Symphony to perform at the Sydney Opera House. Hamish spent the last school holidays making and selling biscuits to the Herald Island and Whenuapai community, successfully raising over $900 towards his trip (that’s a lot of biscuits!!). Hamish began playing cello at the age of 4 and has been performing for the local community on Christmas and Anzac Day for quite a few years. He is looking forward to the trip, which, along with the Opera House concert, includes visits to The Rocks, Manly, and Taronga. Zoo.

Most Herald Islanders know you have worked hard for this trip Hamish, and you absolutely deserve it! Again!! On behalf of all Herald Islanders, we wish you all the Very Best!! In your travels and performance at the Sydney Opera House!! What a wonderful achievement that is. You are an inspiration and role model for all those younger than yourself. This is what dreams are made of!! Such a wonderful achievement!! Well Done!!

NEWS & VIEWS

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The Causeway

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Property Insight

Presenting opportunities for savvy sellers, buyers, and investors

Currently there is a downturn in sales volumes, auction participation and falling prices in the real estate market, with purchasers feeling less pressure to rush into buying decisions. It seems we are back to the days of FOOP (fear of overpaying) with buyers having a sense of confidence that missing out on a property today won’t necessarily mean having to pay more tomorrow.

Further, the increasing number of investors looking to sell after July, as the bright-line test changes from 5 years to 2 years comes into effect, could inject fresh inventory into the market, offering buyers a wider selection to choose from. This surge in supply will likely mean only sellers motivated to meet the market achieve their goals of moving on.

This downturn is nationwide, and it is important for sellers to understand they are selling and buying in the same market. In fact, selling now with a long settlement or renting for a period could likely result in selling in a better market than they would be buying in, so win win!

While it’s true that interest rates remain relatively high compared to previous periods, this also suggests that there’s room for potential rate decreases in the future. This again would be an additional win for people buying later once rates decrease.

In essence, while the current challenges facing the real estate market may seem daunting, they also present opportunities for savvy sellers, buyers, and investors. By approaching the situation with a positive outlook and strategic mindset, individuals can capitalize on the market’s fluctuations to secure deals that align with their goals.

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M 021 421 967 1/48 Maki Street, NorthWest Shopping Centre, Westgate, Auckland 0614

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Celebrate Matariki with Us!

Join us at the Whenuapai Village Hall on Sunday, 7th July from 4 PM to 7 PM for a fantastic community event celebrating Matariki! Our celebration will feature a variety of fun activities for all ages, including:

• Delicious food from local food trucks

• Exciting face painting

• A fun bouncy castle

• Engaging children’s games

• Live entertainment that the whole family will enjoy

Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your family and friends together for an evening of joy and community spirit. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Brought to you by the Whenuapai Ratepayers & Residents Association

Calendar

Saturday, 15 June 1:00pm – 5:00pm Snow in the Park Royal Reserve, Beauchamp Drive, Massey North, Auckland. Free Admission. It's back! The most incredible Free snowthemed event in all of Auckland! Join us with the whanau at Royal Reserve, Massey and fill your boots with snow, ice and wintery goodness! Take the legendary tube run, play in the snow, enjoy the free activities and check out the yummy food stalls, plus much more! Get it in the diary now and don't miss out! Henderson Massey Local Board

Sunday, 16 June, 9:00am – 2:00pm. Kumeu Market, Kumeu Showgrounds, Access Road, Kumeu. Come and visit our Monthly Destination Market - Kumeu Market on the 3d Sunday of the Month, except for January and March. There is plenty of free parking available. We have space indoors for over 100 vendors as well as outdoor space. The food vendors and music is some of the best in auckland! Come and support local. Please Note: No dogs are allowed Friday, 28 June, Matariki, also known as the Maori New Year, will be celebrated. This annual event marks the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster and holds significant cultural and astronomical importance in New Zealand.

Saturday, 29 June, Herald Island Environmental Group Planting Day, Kingsway Reserve, Herald Island. 10 am to noon. Meet at Kingsway Reserve (south side). If driving, please park in The Terrace or Ferry Pde.BBQ to follow. All welcome. Contact: Jan Diprose 027 687 4157.

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Herald Island Garden Club

Pruning can be quite confusing at times, so we were fortunate to have Ben Cheah who gives workshops on the topic, to share his invaluable tips with us. He emphasized that we all need clean, sterilized, sharp tools. He favours bypass secateurs and a pull saw. He suggested keeping a mini blow torch for sterilizing and a mini stone for sharpening, in your tool belt. He explained the main reasons for pruning are; for plant health (to lessen damage and disease) to achieve the best height (fruit trees need to be low enough to reach) shape (easy to care and harvest) and to encourage fruiting.

To start, an easy rule for fruit trees, is to remove dead, damaged or diseased wood. Then prune crossing over branches and clusters that look like stars and the end of a branch. Be ruthless and cut off anything growing inwards, upwards and downwards. If you are trimming decorative trees, for a full look, you may want to give the ends of all the branches a ‘haircut’ as this will encourage lots of shoots. But if you want to shape a tree, it is good to trim branches off within the tree, to thin it out.

We had plenty of questions especially about fruit trees. The rule of thumb is to prune after fruiting and Ben gave some helpful advice about specific trees also commenting that feijoa and fig trees are practically indestructible. We had a very entertaining evening, watching Ben’s demonstration and appreciating his humour and passion.

Using the power of birdsong to encourage native plantings in Auckland’s backyards

Think kowhai and tui. They go together like gin and tonic or Barbie and Ken.

Native plants and birds are made for each other, which is why Auckland Council is using the power of native birdsong in a radio campaign that launched this week to urge urban homeowners to plant natives in their gardens.

The goal of the campaign is to enlist Aucklanders’ help to increase the region’s canopy cover to 30 per cent - currently, the city only has 18 per cent urban canopy cover. Increasing canopy cover across the city brings with it cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits, like improved water and air quality, greater biodiversity, shade and a reduction of carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration.

When it comes to attracting birds into backyards, Auckland Council’s Head of Natural Environment Design Sam Hill says birdsong has a relaxing, calming effect on people.

“Birdsong is known to have a positive impact on health; it helps improve mental wellbeing, and when we plant natives in our gardens, we entice those native birds back.

“The bird-plant relationship is connected; you can attract specific birds to your yard by planting the right plants which in turn helps support the region’s biodiversity.”

A diverse range of native plants and shrubs in the back garden is the best way to attract native birds. The plants host seasonal fruit and nectar, and serve up insects that native birds have shaped their entire life cycles around. This creates a safe environment for them; a place to shelter, a place to nest.

“Any garden can be made more attractive to the human eye and a bird’s eye, even if it is only small,” says Sam.

“Select a range of native plants that provide food all-year-

round, and that native backyard birds depend on. Make sure your backyard is a safe place for native birds to visit. If you don’t have enough food sources in your garden, it may not be filled with birdsong,” adds Sam.

Auckland Council can help recommend natives that thrive in specific areas of the region. To find out more visit OurAuckland.nz.

To help reach its urban canopy target, Auckland Council is implementing a winter planting programme, the Ngahere Street Tree Project, which will see the council plant 11,000 trees on street verges in Auckland over the next ten years. The 2024 planting season starts soon with the planting of 2,002 new trees on road corridors across 15 areas of the Auckland region.

The 2024 planting schedule is:

May – July: Papakura (141 trees); Manurewa (271 trees)

June – July: Otara-Papatoetoe (294 trees); Whau (72 trees); Henderson-Massey (100 trees); Rodney (19 trees); Kaipatiki (33 trees); Orakei (26 trees); Waitemata (42 trees); Albert-Eden (6 trees); Puketapapa (30 trees); Howick (123 trees)

July – September: Franklin (55 trees); Mangere-Otahuhu (554 trees); Maungakiekie-Tamaki (236 trees).

Aucklanders can play their part in increasing Auckland’s forest canopy by planting natives as they potter in the garden this autumn, and when listening to their favourite radio station throughout the day over the next month, they’ll hear sounds of common native birds found in Auckland, and hopefully see them in backyards soon.

Read more about Auckland’s Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy here, or OurAuckland here 021 704 791.

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Kaka Photo: Tim Lovegrove

Two great reasons for fun and jubilation at the Herald Island Library’s monthly Rhythm & Rhyme session! We celebrated King Charles’s birthday (Sue and Etta wore crown’s in his honour) and NZ Music Month was celebrated with our Playgroup and Preschoolers singing and swaying to the music!

First up, we had a set of witty tunes from the Topp Twins, and then, to the children’s delight, Sue McElroy read the adventure stories of her cat and Wolfie! The finale was Sue and Etta on their ukes and children on instruments with a resounding fun version of NZ band Six60s hit ‘Pepeha’! Thanks for the pics, Tania Foster, who is seen with great-granddaughter Elliana Roche, looking at photos of Wolfie.

Welcome!

We’re delighted to welcome Christine Pearce, our new neighbour, to the team of dedicated Librarians. Christine brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our library, and we’re excited to have her on board. We also extend our gratitude to Lee Barry, who has generously offered to assist Anne Johnson on Wednesday afternoons from 3.30pm to 5.30pm every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Lee’s support is invaluable to us. Thank you!

Thank you to those who have donated books or DVDs to our library this month: Dianne Schmidt, Raewyn & Murray Brown, Christine Johnston, Anne Johnson, Sue McElroy, Geoff Beresford Ross Logan, Sally Laurenson, Hamish Brinkman Family, Jane Smolira, and Gillon Family.

Reminder:

Please return overdue books either on Saturday mornings or into the slot at the front of the building.

21st of June 2024 and we wish him well in his performances.

With great sadness, we farewell Jane Smolira and wish her every success in her travels. Jane has been a tremendous asset to our library and we’ll miss her.

Book Review:

The dark side of the America’s Cup – Alan Sefton and Larry Keating

The Americas Cup is the oldest sporting trophy in the world. While this book talks about sailing and the competition for the America’s Cup, it is about the scams and bias of the defenders against the challengers over the 160 years of its history. The competition has been controversial since the trophy home and established the Deed of Gift to the New York Yacht Club. ‘America’ won the trophy in a race around the Isle of White in England in 1861. At the finish, Queen Victoria, who was watching the race, asked, “Who is second?” the reply came, “ Madam, there is no second”, as the next boat was nowhere in sight. From then on, the defenders were driven to ensure the second boat was never in sight!

The authors captured the ambition and intrigue of this competition through all the shenanigans and battles, on water and off. New Zealand has featured in some of this, the ‘Plastic Fantastic’ episode and the ‘Big Boat Challenge’. It is still going on. It is a great read. - Geoff

Hamish Brinkman, (above) our talented Herald Island library member and accomplished Cello player for the Aotea Youth Orchestra. He will be performing in Sydney on the

Herald Island Library Book Club at the Auckland Writers

Festival for the Month of May 2024

The 2024 Auckland Writers Festival was fantastic and what a real treat it was!!

So, on the festivals major opening night event, eight stellar writers spoke to a moment of choice that led them to where and –and who – they are today. One Herald Island Book Club member Etta Gillon felt spoilt for choice as there were so many good events to see but have always felt that the Festival Gala night has always been a real winner and once again was not disappointed! On the 16th of May she ventured into the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre at the Aotea Centre to a packed stadium filled with like keen enthusiasts. The feature event was themed “Choices and Chain Reactions”, and it appeared the organisers who were selecting the authors/ speakers found it difficult to choose as was noted on the festival’s write up “Momentous moves or daily small calls. Carefully considered from all angles or those made on the fly. Choices we’d take back or ones we defended to the last breath”. They also noted “Our lives and paths are shaped by choices. Whether they’re the choices we wanted to make, the ones we didn’t, the ones that make us or the ones that led us somewhere unexpected. They are all inextricably linked in a complex chain reaction that forms our lives.” The stellar line up as follows was first up Pulitzer Prize Winner Viet Thanh Nguyen – “A Man of Two Faces” A triumph unconventional memoir, Booker Prize Winner Richard Flanagan, Recent book “First Person” What is the truth? In this blistering story of a ghost writer haunted by his demonic subject, the Man Booker Prize winner turns to lies, crime and literature with devastating effect. National Poetry Slam Champion and Young People’ Poet Laureate Elizabeth Acevedo “The Poet X” A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world in this debut novel by renowned slam poet Acevedo. Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and crime author Michael Bennett “Better the Blood” The past never truly stays buried. National Humanities Medal Recipient Abraham Verghese* “The Covenant of Water” Noted as being “Majestic, Life affirming from start to finish”. Scholar and former Aotearoa NZ Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh “Mophead” How “Our Difference Makes a Difference” is a memoir in graphic novel form. Ockham NZ Book award-winner Becky Manawatu* “Aue” It’s a compelling, riveting story that feels likes riding the waves, moments of joy at the heights, the threat of doom as they crash. And finally, our 2023 Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch “Prophet Song” An exhilarating, propulsive and confrontational portrait of a country – and an ordinary family – on the brink of catastrophe. The host for the Festival Gala evening was Miriama McDowell a renown New Zealand actor, director, playwright, and a graduate of Toi Whakaari. She was impressive and gave each speaker a seamlessly warm introduction and made to feel welcomed. It was almost like sitting in our home lounge and being given a wee background of each of the speakers before they themselves appeared relaxed before fronting us on the stage. It could be quite a daunting almost a raw experience for the

inexperienced to be speaking in front of a huge audience, but we were all ready for anything. And what a treat it was! Every one of them imparted a wee part of their lives in such a way that it left us with a little snippet or gems which resonated well in one way or the other. The choices some made were so different in their own way but very powerful. Some came out with heartfelt journeys filled with life’s challenges and unexpected twists plus some with incredible bonds which were forged along the way. This event appeared to be tremendously enjoyed by all who went and is always a must for a great taster of things to come throughout the festival – It was Truly well worth every bit of time and money spent. Meeting the authors after when books are signed is always go down a treat!

Another interesting event: -The Fight for Indigenous Rights Host New Zealand author, researcher and refugee advocate Murdoch Stephens for a vital conversation on how people –whatever background- can lend effective support in this crucial moment for our two nations joins our speakers Educator & Author Debra Dank, Architect lecturer & author Jade Kake and Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga Representative Kirsty Fong. With the fight for the indigenous rights growing in both countries, allyship is more important than ever now. In 2023 Australia voted no in the groundbreaking “The Voice” referendum – a bill that would have given greater representation for Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Government. Almost simultaneously on the other side of the Tasman, the recently elected Aotearoa NZ government have put up for debate some of the most foundational agreements that protect Maori rights, language, and sovereignty. Overall, this interview was thoroughly enjoyed with intriguing readings from both authors. Murdoch did very well and made his speakers welcomed and felt it was a truly compelling event with each speaker giving their personal thoughts on the subject –What rang true after listening to the last speaker, left one pondering on an idea– Is “Racism” the problem?! We all know normalising it needs to be stopped but it unfortunately appears to be out there and in so many levels in one form or another, a truly sad dilemma that once again needs to be addressed. The unwavering cruel injustices continue to be inherent in society’s fabric and is not only in Australia but on both sides of the Tasman. Is it a socioeconomic problem or both? How can a nation work toward a more united front to be a nation as one? Does one sit on the fence and let others decide? Can, we trust ourselves to make the right choices? Is our generation leading our future generations into a happy and safe environment? Would there be enough effective support out there when needed? Thought provoking! But thinking, of Selina Tusitala Marsh’s theory on all levels, appears to ring so true “Our Difference Makes a Difference”: - All opinions do matter. If it came to the crunch, would you be the one to make that difference?

Our second Book Club Member Clare Kitt, in her words, thought that all in all she found it a rewarding and inspiring

experience. She had been to the festival once before, but it was way before Covid. This year she decided to bite the bullet and do it, paying $83.00 for two sessions one for a writers Workshop and the other an author talk with an interviewer. The workshop was writing the child with Catherine Chigley , the author of “*The Axman’s Carnival” The atmosphere was great, and even though it was a full room and not knowing each other my neighbours and I got chatting. Catherine spoke for about an hour and found her so informative with great tips and exercises to practice her advice. The main takeaways for her were to use all five senses, use a child’s language, be real, humorous, and honest. For writers’ workshop we had three authors talk about fantasy and dystopia, their books and how they interpreted the genre. Basically, anything goes, and that we are only limited by our imagination. She found it very interesting in seeing how authors use their cultures and life experience in their writing. The last session was the science behind Science Fiction, looking at books and series, and the Three Body Problem. A fascinating talk with one of the TV series actors, a Kiwi lady, and a biologist and with not having read the books felt that it was way over her head. Overall, her experience at the festival was great and after wishing she had gone to more sessions.

If you love reading books and have a special liking to a particular author: - Remember to pencil in your calendar for the Auckland Writers Festival – Waituhi O Tamaki for 2025. Next year’s event is normally held around mid-May each year. Over 85 thousand people made good use of the festival this year and the Herald Island Library will endeavour as we did this year to obtain & try and hold some books once released for The Writers Festival for 2025.

If you have any queries or would like to join our Book Club we meet every first Saturday of the month. 10am to Midday. Please contact Darell Anderson - on email: - herald.island.library@gmail.com - Herald Island Fire Station Library Book Club

(* A copy of the book can be borrowed from our Herald Island library)

Ask Dr. Heather

IWhat is the best skincare regime? Anon, Whenuapai.

Skincare is complex. There is a lot of noise in the market with zero regulation. Most of us start (and often continue) a very basic regime inspired by supermarket shelves, television adverts and people we know. I myself have been victim of using all the no-no things including face cloths, soap and the dreaded St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

A good regime consists of a few basics. Firstly, a pH balanced cleanser should be used to gently cleanse the skin without compromising the naturally acidic skin barrier. It doesn’t really matter what product you use if the pH is balanced, however be weary of marketing ploys such as foam (foam does not equal better cleaning) and addition of ingredients such a hyaluronic acid as they are washed away during the cleansing process.

After cleansing, application of an antioxidant serum is a great idea. Vitamin C is a fantastic option for daytime as it is great for environmental protection, minimising pigmentation and encouraging collagen production. A good alternative for day (or night-time) is Vitamin B, which helps minimise wrinkles, improve skin tone and also acts to enhance collagen production.

Another great serum for night-time is the famous Vitamin A, AKA, retinol. The hero ingredient to any skincare regime, this powerful micro-nutrient speeds up skin cell turnover, minimises pigmentation, reduces acne, stimulates collagen production and diminishes wrinkles. Care must be taken when starting retinol however as it can cause skin irritation, so staggering its use initially and slowly building to nightly application is recommended. Many products on the market claim to contain retinol, however shop around as some instead contain very weak retinoid esters (retinyl

palmitate, retinyl acetate and retinyl linoleate), that take many years of consistent use to have effect.

On top of serums, one should then apply a quality moisturiser that suits your skin type. Dry skin needs thicker moisturisers, whereas oily skin prefers oil-free concoctions. Choose something that smells and feels good and be sure to also apply it on the neck and backs of the hands as these areas are often neglected and eventually become telltale signs of a person’s true age (you’ll start noticing those celebrity close-ups now).

Finally, during the day don’t forget SPF! Super important to minimise ageing as the harsh ultraviolet rays from the sun (on cloudy and clear days) will undo all the good work you do with your skincare regime. Just be sure to pick a product that you like that doesn’t make you look and feel like a greaseball.

Everyone can benefit from a good skincare regime; the key is to understand the basics and resist marketing tactics by big brands. A good rule of thumb is if it’s advertised in mainstream media, it probably isn’t worth your time (and money) as quality products don’t need big advertisements to demonstrate their worth. Dr. Heather Anderson is a Cosmetic Medicine and Urgent Care/ Emergency Doctor who practises in her own clinic at ALLOR Cosmetic Medicine in Whenuapai. If you have a question for Dr Heather you’d like answered anonymously in the magazine, please email askdrheather@allor.co.nz

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Are you ready to accept Bees into your life?

Are you a beekeeper in waiting? Have you ever wondered about the mysterious equipment and rituals associated with beekeeping?

You could be a link in the chain of beekeeping practice dating back 10,000 years. Bees and honey have been with us throughout history, they feature in our earliest traditions. Honey is the same food that our ancestors consumed, even before the discovery of cooked food. The taste of honey is something that we share with the Romans and even earlier with prehistoric people. A spoonful of clover honey tastes the same as it did a million years ago. There are hieroglyphs from the ancient Egyptians depicting beekeeping and cave paintings showing neolithic people harvesting wild honey. It has changed a lot since then, we have bred much calmer bees and designed better PPE (personal protection equipment). We also have a better understanding of bee behaviour thanks to innumerable beekeepers, researchers, scientists and hobbyists. We rely on bees for pollination more than ever, but they are under threat and harder to keep alive thanks to introduced diseases, predators, pesticides, habitat change and more uncertain weather patterns. It may seem daunting, but like any worthwhile endeavour it is a journey which can be mastered by anyone who is interested and has overcome their irrational fear of thousands of venomous insects.

What sort of person becomes a beekeeper?

A man in need of a hobby - recently retired with a bit of time on his hands and would still like a bit of responsibility

A person who wants peace & solitude -after donning your veil and lighting your smoker, your focus goes to your bees and your cares fade for an hour or two.

Engineer/tinkerer - beekeeping seems to attract retired engineers, perhaps it’s their precision or the methodical behaviour of the bees.

Woodworker - hiveware can be bought fully assembled, but it is so satisfying assembling and painting your own. After a while designing and building your own “perfect hive”

Lifestyle Blocker - you got the chickens and a goat but aren’t quite ready for a donkey. Bees are the obvious next step, after all they will be pollinating all your plants

Herbalist – anyone who understands the benefits of the plants around us will love the properties of propolis, pollen and honey

Gardener - with all the care you put into your garden, one thing that you can’t really control is pollination, unless you keep bees. You’ll get to spend even more time in the garden and think of all the honey.

Home cook/preserver - mead, foods preserved in honey, liqueurs

Craft maker – candles, soaps, cosmetics, food wraps; there are so many things to be made from honey, propolis and beeswax Club/shared interest - beekeepers LOVE to share their knowledge and talk about bees. Join a Local Beeclub and meet like-minded people

Naturalist - lover of nature and New Zealand flora & fauna. Learning more about the natural world we see every day. It’s true that honey bees are “farmed”, but they do help us to become more attuned to nature and be part of the cycle of life outside

Artist – batik, encaustic and decoupage are mediums that use beeswax. Imagine expressing yourself through art with handmade materials.

There are several local bee clubs that can help you on your journey; they usually offer classes, mentoring, advice, and loan equipment.

Auckland Beekeepers Club; www.aucklandbeekeepersclub.org.net

Rodney Beekeepers Club; www.rodneybeekeepersclub.co.nz

Franklin Beekeepers Club; wwwfranklinbees.co.nz

Kumeu Beekeepers Club; www.kumeubeeks.blogspot.com

Warkworth beekeepers Club; Warkworth Beekeepers Society Inc. on Facebook

For a more in-depth classes, you can learn fees-free with Land Based Training; the Level 3 Apiculture course is on two Saturdays a month throughout the beekeeping season from August to May https://landbasedtraining.co.nz/programmes/apiculturetraining-programmes/

Ken Brown is President of Auckland Beekeepers Club and Tutor at Land Based Training

FREESERVICE

Alcoholics Anonymous Herald Island Meets Thurs from 7.30pm at Fire Station Andrew - 021-523-133

Alcoholics Anonymous Whenuapai Branch Meets Tues from 7.30pm at Whenuapai School Hall Andrew - 810-8521

Citizens Advice Bureau 833-5775

Civil Defence - Resident’s Response Team In emergencies meet at the Fire Station, 57 Ferry Pde

Herald Island Boat Club Paul Judd - 416-4194

Herald Island Environmental Group heraldislandenviro@gmail.com Jan Diprose 027-687-4157

Herald Island Garden Club Second Tuesday of each month. Lee Barry - 021-215-1639

Herald Island Hall For Hire bookings@heraldisland.co.nz

Herald Island Library Weds: & Sat: 10-12noon Etta Gillon - 416-7638

Herald Island Museum 57 Ferry Parade. Open by appointment Ph 027-416-0005

Herald Island Playgroup Tues 9.30-11.30am at the HI Hall.

Gold coin donation per child. Contact: Victoria 027-258-3251

Herald Island R&R President Angela Little 021-421-967

Hobsonville R.S.A. 416-7227

Hobsonville Bowling Club Joe Chojnacki – 416-5993 Paul Thompson – 416-5422

Hobsonville Church & Settlers’ Cemetery Preservation Society Leanne Midgley 021-688-164 hobsonvillesettlerschurch@gmail.com

Karate Classes Adults - Children - Teenagers Herald Island Hall Monday 7.00-8.00pm Thursday 7.00-8.00pm David Cox - 416-6620 Henry Lotter - 021-807-231

Living Whenuapai Contact: Annette – 027 2942601

NZ Society of Genealogists, Waitakere Branch Lani Rimington - 818-2161

U3A Hobsonville Meets 3rd Thursday of the Month (excl. Dec & Jan) 10am Hobsonville Bowling Club Carol Denton - 416-4860

Upper Harbour Boat Watch Eddie Grassick - 416-8220 Neil Beken - 483-7323

Whenuapai Air Scout Group email:treasurer@whenuapaiscouts.org.nz

West Harbour Tennis 416-6886, email: westharbourtennis@xtra.co.nz Open mornings Monday & Fridays 9.00-12pm $3 Wednesdays 9.00-12pm $5 ~ Non-members welcome Rae Hassett - 0274-923-129

Whenuapai Floral & Garden Circle

“Meets 1p.m. at the Whenuapai Community Hall, 41Waimarie Road, on the second Thursday of the month (except Jan, June,July, Aug [winter recess] & Dec) All welcome” Pat Hooper - 416-8403

Whenuapai Hall For Hire Vito Sestito bookings@whenuapai.org.nz

Whenuapai R&R Secretary: Dave Allen- 027-288-8371 secretary@whenuapai.org.nz

Trade/Professional & Services

Accommodation Totara Waters0274-926-134/416-8272

Automotive Keightley Motors416-8964

Building Contractor Doug Third021-411-137/416-7646

Cattery & Vet Catmandu, Dr Chris Laurenson0275-444-427/416-7039

Citizens Advice Bureau Massey CAB 833-5775

Computer Problems

Norwest IT Services 0274-388-603/416-5129

Computer Repairs Michael - Controlaltdelete021-251-4138

Cosmetic Medicine Allor - Dr. Heather Anderson022-262-6762

Dance Teacher

Classes in Jazz, Hip Hop & Lyrical Dance - Tania Foster027 -280-8857

Dentist Fraser Dental416-5050

Denture Services Denture Clinic416-5072

Desktop Publishing Huapai Copy & Print412-8882

Drain Layer Echo Drainage 021-416-420/ 416-6849

Drain Unblock Pipe Vision021-802-678

Electrician Level Up Electrical022-538-3587

Electrician Wired Electrical 416-6148

Garden Centre & Nursery Touch of the Tropics021-809-089

Garden design & maintenance Bel Hues Landscapes021-256-0516

Glass Services Nor-West & Kumeu Glass Services 412-9914

Ink and Toner Huapai Copy & Print412-8882

Lawns/Garden Maintenance Brian Stevens0273-441-552/416-7033

Lawyer Haydon Mattson - NZPL869-6873

MP Chris Penk412-2496

Pharmacy Hobsonville Pharmacy416 8277

Plumbing services Valet Plumbing 0800-80-60-20

Property Management Glenn Savery0274--998-415/832-0832

Real Estate Barfoot & Thompson - Leila Morris021-893-413/09-215-2849

Real Estate Bayleys - Chris Head 022-500-6293

Real Estate Glenn Savery0274-998-415/832-0832

Real Estate Angela Little 021-421-967 / Simon Spiller 021-968-068

RSA Hobsonville 416-7227

Waste Water Hydrovac 973-4866

DateHigh Water Auckland Sun RiseSun Set June‘24 9Sun09203.2214407291711 10Mon10083.1223007301711 11Tue10553.0231607301711 12Wed11402.9-07311711 13Thu00023.0122607311711 14Fri00483.0131307311711 15Sat01352.9140307321711 16Sun02232.9145607321711 17Mon03112.8155107321711 18Tue03592.8164507331711 19Wed04482.8173507331711 20Thu05362.9182207331711 21Fri06262.9190807341712 22Sat07153.0195307341712 23Sun08043.1203807341712 24Mon08543.1212407341712