Lizard News August 2017

Lizard News AUGUST 2017

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AONGATETE • ŌMOKOROA • PAHOIA • TE PUNA • WHAKAMĀRAMA

More inside: Reasons behind hīkoi

Cell tower consent lodged

New Community Constable

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t Letters to

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| lizard news | August 2017

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Editor

n exciting new learning opportunity has emerged. It has become apparent, with the opening of the new walkway, that Ōmokoroa has a desperate need for an educational training course; “Teach Your Dog To Read”.

Lesson One will cover the simple sentence: “Dogs must be on a lead at all times.” The first lesson will not go into the background to the statement or why it has been issued under the authority of the WBoPDC, just the fact that it applies year-round to the entire Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Walkway/Cycleway as a safety measure, and to protect the natural habitat along the walkway.

If any dogs still have difficulty with understanding this sign, Lesson Two will help them grapple with the process for paying the $200 infringement fee.

Other lessons will include; "Scoop the poop" and "How to take the bag home, not throw it in the bushes."

Sign up now for the course at teach_an_old_dog_new_tricks@no_fines. com Classes will begin as soon as the minimum registration numbers have been reached.

Murray Grainger.

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Editor: The WBoPDC has no discretion to alter the fines set by the Dog Control Act of 1996. Failure to carry a leash in public is $100. Inability to keep a dog controlled is $200. In a designated “on-leash” area, this explicitly means an adequate restraint held by a responsible person, physically capable of restraining the dog.

Locally, failure to remove and dispose of dog waste in a hygienic manner is $300, under the Council’s Dog Control Bylaw 2016. Disability assistance dogs and ac-

tive working dogs, except for those kept to herd stock, are exempt from all public place restrictions - Matthew. hat is it with drivers around Ōmokoroa? Don't they know that cars are to be parked on the roadside, not on bends or bus stops or where broken yellow lines indicate 'no parking' - and definitely not on the footpath?

Over the past week, I have seen five cars parked FULLY over the footpath.

Twice, they were just outside the hot pools camping ground. There were also two cars in Hamurana Road, on different days and on opposite sides of the road. A fifth was on Ōmokoroa Road, close to the Hamurana Road turn off.

I am assuming the drivers thought it unsafe to leave their cars parked on the roadside but had no thought for children walking or in pushchairs, or adults particularly those with disabilities or mobility scooters. These people then have to negotiate the road in order to get past your inconsiderately parked car obstructing their path.

I for one will be taking photos of offenders and passing them on to the council and police to deal with you.

A disappointed resident of Ōmokoroa; name withheld by Editor.

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las, I note that you have lowered the tone of Lizard News by the multiple use of diacritic marks. I fully agree that we should all learn to pronounce words “correctly”, but I strongly object to diacritic marks being added to Māori words spread through all of the text in a vain attempt to teach everyone how to speak – why don’t you add them to English words as well to be consistent? Those marks considerably clutter the text and detract from reading the article. Instead, why don’t you have a panel on a page somewhere with the object of teaching correct pronunciation for all words – it could be an ongoing learning process and could provoke some interesting debate. This website has good

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Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade

By Ian Blunt he first week and a half of July was quiet without any calls for the Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Our first call was on the 11th to a rubbish fire causing concern in Ross Road. It was extinguished without incident.

We were next called on the 14th, to pump out the Ōmokoroa-Matakana Ferry which had a hole. The barge had just made it to the ramp when it ran aground. The brigade pumped out the ferry and dragged the vessel further up the ramp.

On the 16th, the brigade assisted the medical responders to a call in Esdaile Road, but no brigade action was required. Ōmokoroa and Greerton were called to a switchboard fire on Matakana Island on the 18th, however the fire was extin-

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guished and made safe before the fire appliances left Ōmokoroa.

The First Responders had two calls in one day on the 29th of June, firstly to a sick person on Anderley Avenue, then to a patient with chest pains on Ōmokoroa Road.

It was back to Anderley Avenue on the 1st of July, to a sick person with high temperatures.

On the 2nd, there was another call to Ōmokoroa Road to a person with breathing difficulties.

There was the joint call with the brigade to Esdaile Road on the 16th, then the following day a call to a person in Hamurana Road suffering from convulsions.

The First Responders were next called to a very ill person on the 22nd of July, at an Ōmokoroa Road address.

INTERESTED IN HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY? The Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade requires more personnel for the MEDICAL FIRST RESPONSE TEAM. Full training is given, driving courses are mandatory, full uniform provided. Community minded?

Come and join this dedicated team in Ōmokoroa.

Please call CFO Ian Blunt 0274 599 478 or DCFO Simon Priest 0274 366 265.

lizardnews.net examples of how letters should sound: http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/learnte-reo-Māori/whakahuatanga-pronunciation/ and here’s another: http://www.davidappleyard.com/english/pronunciation.htm Bill Jacob

Editor: It seems we have an interesting debate already. The use of macrons is neither impolite nor indicative of lower quality writing. An attempt is only vain if it is unsuccessful, so let’s give it some time. We have changed our typeface this edition purely for technical reasons and the macron happens to be more subtle in our new font variations.

Te Reo was a language in decline and has been making a comeback thanks to kōhanga and kura, its greater use in wider society and the media too. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t encourage future generations to embrace an official language of New Zealand alongside English and sign language. Keke or kēkē? Cake or armpit?

I appreciate your link to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori - the Māori Language Commission website. Their website uses macrons to show how words should be pronounced; the same reason we are using them.

I wouldn’t advocate for road signs to be changed unless they were damaged and needed to be replaced. However, websites and printed material are easy fixes. I am not putting macrons in English words because there are none in the dictionary. I suppose I could use every accent from every language such as in the French word café, but we aren’t in France. We are in New Zealand. There are five Māori place names in our masthead on the front page.

I support the correct usage of Te Reo in the same way I support the correct usage of English. Thank you for your letter Matthew.

message to residents in Kaharoa Avenue: As Council are looking at spending money on footpaths for the area - would you not like to have a footpath on your street? I watch children walking along the road not knowing where best to be, to keep safe. The opening onto Hamurana Road launches into a tight left hand bend with vehicles often parked on the corner. I think your road should be a priority but do you? If you do, then let Council know.

Anne Sandel

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notice last week that the Mr MacGregor’s shop had closed and wondered if you could ferret out something of its history. It was certainly not new when we came to the district 21 years ago. I shall be interested to know when it opened. One isn’t surprised at the closing as it has been too much of a mission to detour AND get back into the flow of traffic on SH2. But the memory of wonderfully fresh fruit and vegetables lingers on.

Every good wish.

Jackie Wright

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Editor: Mr MacGregor’s has indeed closed - temporarily. The owner has told us that the winter trade is often somewhat quieter, but the traffic disruption has caused exactly the situation you outline: It is difficult for drivers to re-enter the traffic after shopping for their fruit and veg. The owners of three years say they are taking the opportunity to refurbish the shop.

They really appreciate the support from locals and will re-open once the roadworks are complete - Liz.

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Iwi alert pākehā as Hauraki seek rights locally

By Matthew Farrell ocal iwi say a hīkoi along Te Puna Station Road which stopped traffic crossing the Wairoa River at Bethlehem for half an hour last month, was the final local protest they planned.

The joint event involving Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga was held to draw attention to a Hauraki Collective seeking “rights” from the Crown in the Western Bay.

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Iwi here say there may be commercial implications for the wider community, not just Māori, if Pare Hauraki are recognised to have anything more than an “interest” in Tauranga Moana.

Two protests were held on the water in June, including a blockade at the harbour entrance to stop commercial ships leaving the port. A demonstration took place in Katikati on the 9th of July and the march in Te Puna on the 16th of July.

Charlie Rāhiri rouses protesters, calling, “hīkoi te whenua, hands off our whenua”.

One of the hīkoi leaders, Charlie Rāhiri, identifies with all three Tauranga iwi as well as Hauraki through a grandmother.

He says the situation is deplorable.

“Hauraki and the Crown should do this process properly. We acknowledge Hauraki have interests, but that doesn’t mean rights.” If the shoe was on the other foot? “We wouldn’t dream of a claim in their rohe (territorial borders).

It’s not our mana whenua (authority of ownership).”

Charlie says time is running out, with Pare Hauraki getting ready to sign a deal, which proves to him the pen is mightier than the sword and the spoken word.

The writer Tommy Kapai Wilson estimated as many as 500 people took part in the hīkoi.

“This will grow and grow until extreme measures are taken, unless someone steps in to sort it. Hauraki are hitch-hiking on fragile strands of lineage through historical marriages,” says Tommy.

An organiser, Meremaihi Aloua, says future action may be taken outside of the region.

“This impacts on pākehā as well as Māori and the rest of the community too.

We’re fighting this for everyone, not just tangata whenua. Even if your contribution is to be unwillingly stuck in traffic today to help us raising awareness, we thank you for your patience.”

Just two police officers were involved

The three Tauranga iwi stand united, but Hauraki say such protests are “PR stunts”.

with a vehicle escort, with the Māori Wardens keeping the march moving. Beforehand, Māia Wharekura focused minds using a megaphone.

“We’ll hold up the front, regroup, and cross the bridge together. No one is to cross back over the bridge after the haka.

We will keep our whānau safe.”

Elders including Ngaronoa (Maxine) Reweti-Ngata, John Ohia and Mabel Wharekawa-Burt helped motivate from the Mana Moana banner at the front.

The chairman of the Pirirākau Inc Soc, Rawiri Kuka, says it was a privilege to be there supporting the younger generation, and he was proud of their action.

“They don’t have a voice in Māori culture, so this is a way for them to show their concerns and frustrations because they can’t get into the arena where the elders will try to settle this.”

On the bus on the way back to Māramatanga Park, Graham Bidois Cameron of Pirirākau, a board member of the Ngāti Ranginui Iwi Inc Soc, says he wants Hauraki iwi to have a fair settlement of their Treaty of Waitangi grievances without causing injustice to all of Tauranga.

“At the heart of this is the Crown’s desire to resolve this too quickly after many years. We have the patience for slow, steady settlements. Let’s get these negotiations right and not cause future grievances here or around the country.

The Crown decided it had the right to determine who has rights, which is a recipe for disaster. If the Treaty is a partnership, then rights need to be decided with iwi,” he says.

Graham Bidois Cameron says he hopes the city and district councils use their voice to central government to express concern about the process.

The chairman of the Hauraki Collective, lawyer Paul Majurey, says they are not foreigners secretly taking over - and that shared interests and overlapping claims are issues which have been the subject of talks since 2009, which Tauranga iwi have been aware of since 2012.

He says Pare Hauraki have one seat of ten on the Tauranga Moana Governance Group for the harbour and catchments because of customary interests recognised by the Waitangi Tribunal.

The Tauranga iwi say Hauraki iwi are attempting to cement political influence and control in tribal areas they didn’t traditionally hold. Some fear interference in commercial or development matters relating to the CBD or port.

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Time to have OurSay

By Murray Grainger mokoroa is at an exciting point in the development of the community. Decisions need to be made about the location of the commercial centre, a high-school and how we use and develop the reserves on the peninsula and so on. The Ōmokoroa Community Board seeks your feedback on a number of issues to assist in planning and the allocation of rates resources to achieve

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the optimum outcome for all who live in, or visit, our paradise peninsula.

Go to omokoroabeach.nz and click on the big Our Say logo. If you have any difficulties using the OurSay page, please email oursay@omokoroabeach.nz or check out the tutorial PDF file. Also, if there are other topics that you think should have their own forum for discussion, please email your ideas.

Please be aware that because we have been given use of this software at no charge, it has been set up to only accept responses from postcodes within 10 km of Ōmokoroa.

Boat Club plans deck extension for busy Skippers

By Matthew Farrell he Ōmokoroa Boat Club held its 34th AGM and prize-giving on Sunday the 25th of June, with 46 members in attendance.

With the club’s finances in a healthy state, the committee recommended annual fees should be unaltered for the coming year. Members are again reminded to renew by the end of August otherwise subscriptions will be regarded as lapsed, and a joining fee would also apply.

Members will need to carry the new card with a barcode to purchase alcohol in future.

After some discussion on the number of active members at the club, it was decided there would be no further action on closing membership - but if the population of Ōmokoroa increases drastically, the club would certainly look at doing this.

Commodore Phil Cox says a planned

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extension to the deck alongside Skippers Restaurant will provide additional seating, to alleviate any issues on busy evenings.

“Skippers has had an outstanding year, and it has been a pleasure to work with members Steve and Louise Clarke. The committee has renewed their contract for another year so we can look forward to more great food at great prices,” says Phil.

A member thanked the committee, bar and restaurant staff for the running of the club in the past year. It was discovered in conversation that Terry Edwards had been a loyal servant and member of the club in an association going back more than 40 years. He and his wife Lolita were to be offered life membership by the club.

Prizes were awarded for a pool tournament, junior and senior fishing competitions, junior and senior sailing, and rowing races.

Ōmokoroa Boat Club annual prize giving

By John Budden 016 was an interesting year for the Club with a wide range of activities undertaken; here are the awards for pool, fishing and sailing.

A successful pool tournament was arranged by Merv Richards with two tables in play. The winners are - Singles: John Leek with Runner Up Mike Rabone.

Doubles: As for last year, winners are Warwick White and Merv Richards with runners-up Jock Warrender and Pete Dobson. Anthony Avery Trophy: Awarded to Merv Richards for his dedication to the Club’s pool activity.

The Club held two very successful fishing competitions for juniors and seniors. Both had fantastic support from our sponsors; please use them. The weigh-in season is from 1st April to 31st March, and this can be done at the Club when open or the Ōmokoroa Beach Store.

Snapper - Senior: Gary Berwick 4.606kg, Junior: Cory Van Heerden 4.238kg. Trevally - Nick Drake 3.814 kg.

Kahawai - Nick Drake 2.55 kg. John Dory - Angus Raeburn 1.476 kg. Kingfish - Senior: Nicky Raeburn 7.45 kg, Junior: Angus Raeburn 9.028 kg. Largest Fish in the Harbour - (Kingfish) Angus Raeburn 9.028 kg. Wattie Crapp Cup - (Kingfish) Angus Raeburn 9.028 kg. Fisherperson of the Year - The Raeburn Family; out in all weathers going for the big ones. Stan

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Rogers Trophy: Stew Weir and Tim Raeburn.

We had a great bunch of young sailors this summer and fantastic support from the parents and Club members. Thank you. As usual, the weather tested us all at times. Wilson Cup, for all round good performance: Isaac Miller and Luca Dillon Nelson. Budden Trophy for sailing ability: 1st George Miller, 2nd Alex Annan. New Optimist sailors P Class Trophy: 1st Oliver Blackett, 2nd = Aaron McDaniel and Dane Malkhasian. Senior Optimists, Firebug Trophy: 1st Ethan Blackett, 2nd Emily Aldridge. Sunbursts: Angus Raeburn. Lasers (Vikings): 1st = Isaac Miller and Luca Dillon Nelson. Most improved juniors: 1st Jack Gilchrist, 2nd Jule Malkhasian.

It was a mixed senior season with more cancellations than normal, but we still managed Winter and Summer Seasons with some keen competition. However, we do need more yachts to join our fun filled events.

Livingstone Cup - Line Honours - for being nippier than others: 1st Keith Heron, Wild Thoughts 40 pts. 2nd John Budden, Piccaninny 24 pts. 3rd Hugh and Heather Reynolds, Way Leggo 14 pts.

Hiskin Cup - Handicap - to finish in the right time: 1st Keith Heron, Wild Thoughts 38 pts. 2nd John Budden, Piccaninny 26 pts. 3rd Hugh and Heather

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Congratulations to all the prize winners; here are those who were in attendance.

Reynolds, Way Leggo 16 pts.

Coulston Cup - Kārewa Island events: 1st Keith Heron, Wild Thoughts 16 pts.

2nd Hugh and Heather Reynolds, Way Leggo 12 pts. 3rd Greg Molesworth, Arcadia 10 pts.

Patron’s Plate - For the mammoth trip to Auckland and Great Barrier: Hugh and Heather Reynolds, Way Leggo.

Nush Cruising Trophy - The Great Barrier trip: Jo and Paul Uttinger, Sophie Rose.

Sam Snowden Cup - Best Presented Yacht: Lloyd and Lyn Berendt, Culprit.

Captain Crapp Cup - Most Improved: Richard Miller, Little Gem and Black Soo. Merv Anderson Trophy - Consistency: Lloyd and Lyn Berendt, Culprit.

G Crapp Memorial - Most events sailed.

First equal on 15 events: Keith Heron, Wild Thoughts with Lloyd and Lyn Berendt, Culprit.

Walsh Cruising - Winter Series based on handicap: 1st Lloyd and Lyn Berendt, Culprit. 2nd Hugh and Heather Reynolds, Way Leggo. 3rd Jo and Paul Uttinger,

Sophie Rose.

Mono Cup - Greg Molesworth, Arcadia.

Ladies Trophy - A close run thing but again this year the winner is: Jo Uttinger, Sophie Rose.

Vivian Crapp Trophy - Multi Hulls: Bruce and Cath McCabe, Maungaru.

Roberts Family Trophy - Again to the return of Little Gem and arrival of Black Soo: The Miller Family.

Crapp Memorial - Smallest yacht out: John Budden, Piccaninny.

We had an excellent day for our biggest field in the rowing races for many years, perhaps due to prize money? First places also entitle bragging rights.

Junior Shield (canoes this year): Lilly Alton, Angus Raeburn, Annabell McMann, Amy McMann.

Ladies Shield: Heather Reynolds, Louise Turner, Nicky Raeburn, Lilly Alton.

Mens Shield: Hugh Reynolds, Tim Raeburn, John Budden, Peter Catcheside, Bruce McCabe, Neil Alton, Richard Keech.

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Spark lodges consent for Ōmokoroa cell tower

By Matthew Farrell park is making another attempt to construct a mobile phone reception tower in Ōmokoroa.

This time, the target location is an area of Western Bay of Plenty District Council utilities land.

The Council says it has received a resource consent application to install a mast behind the wastewater pump station, which sits beside the railway line off Ōmokoroa Road.

Spark has confirmed to Lizard News that it has proposed a site next to the plant.

It’s adjacent to the green waste facility, which would make the next nearest neighbouring structures the Ōmokoroa Playcentre and the Settlers’ Hall.

It is two years since the telecommunications company began surveying the peninsula for a potential location to site a mast.

The Council says it has appointed an independent commissioner to assess the lodged resource consent application, to avoid any conflict of interest.

Last month’s Settlers’ Hall committee minutes reveal the tower would be 27 metres tall, which is 12 metres higher

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than the original Hamurana Road proposal outlined at a Future Focus meeting in October 2015, supported by the then Community Board at the time.

However when Spark notified immediately affected residents, a public meeting on the 9th February 2016 to discuss those plans was attended by 86 locals and 18 attended the Community Board meeting the following week.

The minutes show five members of the Settlers’ Hall committee attended a meeting called by the District Council on the 7th of June 2017 to inspect the latest proposed site and none could see any obvious disadvantage but they noted the Playcentre was to be consulted.

Spark says the suggested location follows advice from the Ōmokoroa peninsula community and it is currently working through the proposal with the District Council. A Spark spokeswoman says to minimise the need for any further towers, it would also accommodate Vodafone equipment. Spark says locals have been asking for better mobile connectivity for years and many new technologies being developed for business and education purposes also run on mobile data.

The principal of Ōmokoroa Point

Fresh faces from Otago’s school of dentistry ames Eastcott and Lakshmi Masilamani are two new faces at Ōmokoroa Dental Surgery. James is one of the new owners; Lakshmi is one of the dentists on the staff. Both know each other from their time as students at Otago University: James, who also has a pharmacology degree, graduated in 2015, Lakshmi in 2016. Both enjoy general dentistry.

“It’s so varied”, says James. “There’s a new challenge every 45 minutes, and no two days are the same.” He likes speaking to his patients, and developing relationships, not just filling holes or fitting bridges.

James is also passionate about changing people’s perceptions about dentists. What makes his day is when he succeeds to turn an anxious patient who had negative experiences in the past into a relaxed one. “It’s amazing what can happen after only one or two sessions.

People come in nervous and stressed,

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and they walk out with a smile.” The 27-year old is a digital native who embraces technology. In dentistry, this means digital scans, intra-oral cameras and designing teeth on the computer, such as crowns and bridges.

Lakshmi, too, thrives on the variety of general dentistry. She doesn’t want to limit herself and specialise too early but wants to get experience in everything.

“Everything is interesting. It’s cool to start working and learning a lot.” She is convinced: “We are different at Ōmokoroa Dental Surgery; we really have our patients’ best interests at heart.” Lakshmi explains necessary procedures in as much detail as the patient wants and needs to feel comfortable. Patient compliance is also very important when it comes to maintaining good oral health. Therefore explaining and getting patient buy-in are important aspects in a partnership of equals.

School, Vicki Knell, was among those installed in areas where there isn’t a who opposed the Hamurana Road continuous population. However as a proposal. She’s happy a more suitable group, we felt we wouldn’t be highly location has been found. affected as it’s not too close to the “We didn’t want it near the school. It’s Playcentre. It’s about 50 metres away a much better idea for people to be and our kids are generally only there for buying into it as well, rather than having 2-3 hours once a week, so their exposure it imposed on existing dwellings. It’s would be quite limited. We’ll be lovely the community have had a little discussing this again.” bit of say, as we had hoped. It’ll be Developers, the Classic Group, interesting for the property developers.” declined our offer to comment.

The Ōmokoroa Playcentre has been notified and the matter has been discussed at a recent centre meeting. A local spokeswoman says a lot of parents are not big fans of cell phone towers being near residential areas and they’d be quite concerned if they lived in close proximity as others do or owned land where the special housing area is being developed.

“Most of us at the meeting were not at all convinced on the claims about these towers being safe.

They should only be A 27-metre mobile phone tower is proposed for this Council utilities site.

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Full range of general dentistry 2/170 Omokoroa Road, Omokoroa, Tauranga 3172 07 548 2320 reception@omokoroadental.co.nz www.omokoroadental.co.nz August 2017 | Lizard News |

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Hospice benefits as Lotto winner donates

The extension to the day wing at Waipuna Hospice. PHOTOS: Supplied.

By Matthew Farrell aipuna Hospice says it is delighted to have been chosen to benefit from the good fortune of the local $10.3 million Lotto Powerball winner.

Lou Te Keeti, kaitiaki and kaumātua of Wairoa Marae, has donated $100,000 to the hospice - as well as to the local Heart

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Foundation branch and a local diabetes charity, to be used, in particular, for Māori.

At the time the Lotto draw was made on the 8th of July, Lou was at a tangi for a cousin who had spent their final days at Waipuna Hospice.

“Many Māori leave this earth and are delivered home through the Hospice… our people figure high in heart and diabetes statistics,” Lou says.

The Heart Foundation says Māori are twice as likely as non-Māori to have heart disease and there are now 172,000 people living with the condition.

Charlie Rāhiri of iwi health project Mauri Ora says in the last six months the

Opening in Spring 2017 The Garden will be beautifully and thoughtfully set up with natural and recycled materials to create a home away from home for children aged 3 months to 6 years.

state of diabetes in the Western Bay has become the worst it's ever been.

The CEO of Waipuna Hospice, Richard Thurlow, says Mr Te Keeti’s gift is very timely.

“Our fundraising requirements for this financial year have risen, along with an increase in patient numbers. As with the other organisations he has nominated, Waipuna Hospice serves our community and utilises our resources with as much care and thought as possible. In addition to the generous donation, we are also grateful for the increased awareness of hospice services that this has generated,” he says.

Hospice at Home

For most of us the idea of ‘home’ has fairly positive connotations. It’s a haven, a bolthole, a place of familiar things, people and memories. It represents, love, warmth and security. That’s why being able to remain at home is the preference of the majority of Hospice patients.

While they may be admitted for short term stays in our Inpatient Unit, patients can return home with the assurance that our specialist care will continue thanks to the expertise, regular communication and visits of our Hospice at Home nurses.

Every day, eight to ten nurses are out across the district (Tauranga City and the Western Bay of Plenty, from Waihī Beach

to Paengaroa) visiting patients at home.

As specialists in palliative nursing care, they monitor and manage patients’ pain and other symptoms, interpret medical advice for family members, and organise loan equipment and other support services.

Volunteer car valets clean and check the nurses’ vehicles on a weekly basis, making sure that they are roadworthy for the many kilometres they clock up – often around rural areas.

Mondays at Waipuna

Ever wondered what that place by the river is like inside? People are often pleasantly surprised by our light, spacious, life-filled hospice facility. While the majority of our patients remain at home under the care of our specialist nurses, our Te Puna Inpatient Unit and Day Services suite fulfills a variety of functions.

Every Monday at 10.30am, anyone is welcome to drop in for a coffee, view our video and have a look around with a staff member or volunteer. Come and dispel some of those misconceptions. We’ll look forward to seeing you.

For more information on our work, upcoming fundraising events and volunteer opportunities, visit www.waipunahospice.co.nz and see our Facebook page, WaipunaHospiceTauranga.

Article supplied.

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6

| Lizard News | August 2017

Team members Ady, Rachel, Vanessa, Penny, Sue, Jeanette, Judi and Barbara.

lizardnews.net

Responsive policing to support community

By Matthew Farrell wenty years after completing a teacher training degree in Auckland then deciding to become a police officer instead, Paul Wrigley’s never looked back on his change of career only forwards. More than 10 years after transferring to Tauranga Central Police Station, he’s now the Community Constable in these parts with Ōmokoroa one of his latest responsibilities.

“My main message is that the Police will support the community. We’re an agency that will listen and respond,” says Paul, who feels he polices with a community style by default.

“I’d like to feel I’m a problem resolution officer; that my boss is comfortable handing me grey files, not just black and white ones. It takes more effort to find the cause of offending. Often, therein lies the solution and the right course of action.”

Paul sometimes misses the big city lights but he was attracted to the Bay for the lifestyle opportunities. He’s an active cyclist, trail runner and surfer. With friends in Ōmokoroa, he’s also taken advantage of the local golf course and hot pools - and once kayaked here from Matua.

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News in brief...

“Ōmokoroa is in a unique situation re- number of tourists to rise as a result of ally. It’s quick and easy enough to get ev- the new cycleway. erywhere relevant, but non-residents “Who knows what will happen in due would still need a reason to come here course. It’s not just a sleepy place for rebecause it’s a peninsula.” tired people now. There’s quite a lot The Police don’t want to only be seen going on out here that maybe people in when people report a crime. For this Tauranga aren’t aware of.” reason, Constable Wrigley is trying to do Constable Wrigley plans to be in a beat patrol in the city three times a Ōmokoroa at least one day a week for week. now, but watch this space.

“It’s good for people to see a police officer with their hat on occasionally. People respond when you are open and approachable. The Police survive on what the community tells them, so make use of the crime reporting line at Tauranga Police Station. Information is always relevant.”

Paul says he’s aware of the District Council’s plans to grow the population of Ōmokoroa and he’s expecting the Community Constable Paul Wrigley is keeping an eye on Ōmokoroa.

ake sure you are registered on the electoral roll if you are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election. If you didn’t receive an enrolment pack in the post, you can update your details at elections.org.nz or call 0800 36 76 56. The General Election will be held on Saturday the 23rd of September.

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pointment follows the departure of long serving Chief Financial Officer, Matt Potton, in June. Mr Perumal, a CA qualified accountant, has extensive experience, including Finance Manager at Waipa District Council, and Audit and Information Systems Manager at Audit New Zealand. Mr Perumal will take up his new position in early October.

A long-term structure plan for the future growth and development of Ōmokoroa has been given the goahead, after being presented to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Policy Committee in May. SmartGrowth forums will be invited to give feedback on the project framework later this year. Lizard News will strive to keep you informed.

An additional $100k is to be invested in the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycle Trail by the City Council. Elected members earmarked the cycleway as a key public amenity and an economic development opportunity for the 2017/18 financial year through the budget process. Tauranga City Council’s annual plan was formally adopted on the 28th of June.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has appointed Mr Kumaren Perumal as Chief Financial Officer. His ap-

Ōmokoroa Environmental Managers Inc AGM is at Settlers’ Hall on Tuesday the 15th of August at 2.30 pm. It’s open

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Every Wednesday at 7.15pm, a very casual soccer game or ‘kick around’ is held at the bottom field of the Western Ave football pitches in Ōmokoroa. We play all year, almost all weathers, and under lights at present. It’s been going for 13 years! It’s a good way to keep fit and have fun. Depending on how many turn up, we might play five-a-side or a full-size game. Anyone over 12 years is welcome. Contact Hamish Carnie on 552 6427 or 027 448 7782.

The new owners of Beached on Blue have a mouth watering prospect for you, especially if you prefer gluten free or dairy free options.

Debbie Fielding says trying one of the new cakes, slices or savouries from the cabinet as part of a 20 dollar spend will qualify you for a weekly prize draw during August.

The winners will be able to choose from either a cushion cover, candle or room diffuser.

The Fielding family, from Coromandel, have renovated the eatery above the Beach Store on The Esplanade and have since added a range of gifts.

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to anyone who’d like to hear what’s going on in the community with regard to the various groups represented by the Environmental Managers: the Estuary Care, Pest Free, Bird, History, Art, Outdoor Art, and Anzac groups, Friends of Cooney & Crapp Reserves, the Mangawhai Estuary Group, representatives from the Western Bay & Regional Councils, and Environment BoP will be filing reports.

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August 2017 | Lizard News |

7

lizardnews.net

Keep your dogs on a damn lead - Mayor

By Matthew Farrell he latest section of the much heralded Auckland to Tauranga national cycleway project has proven hugely popular with walkers and cyclists of all ages.

Dogs are only permitted “on-leash” for the entire length of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga part of cycleway. Some of the new Cooney Reserve to Lynley Park track is on a boardwalk elevated from unfenced wetlands used by various native birds.

Dogs continue to be prohibited from

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straying from the cycleway path into the wetlands and must be on-leash with handlers, for the safety of all walkers and cyclists.

Officially opening the section with a ribbon cutting on the 7th of July, Hon Simon Bridges, Minister of Transport, was grateful for clear skies, the sunshine and robust ground.

“I remember getting my foot stuck in the mud at the sod-turning, in the pouring rain! There will be a lot of sceptics, but when the whole 19 kilometres of this eight million dollar track is open, you

won’t hear a word against it. We’ll see tourists from far and wide. It’ll be up in the top two or three attractions for visitors, possibly only behind Mauao’s base track,” he says.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s deputy Chief Executive and group manager for infrastructure, Gary Allis, said 250 people had used the path on the Sunday before it was officially opened - and that number would only grow.

Western Bay's Mayor Garry Webber acknowledged the collaborative nature of the project involving central government, district and city councils, the Ōmokoroa Community Board, NZ Community Trust and TECT. He says Ōmokoroa is a jewel in the crown.

“We ask you to take only photographs, leave only footprints and keep your dogs on a damn lead! It’s a pristine environment that needs looking after, and we thank local landowners for allowing our contractors access so we can share this space.”

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless was also there to pay tribute.

“We congratulate our neighbours. As a born-again cyclist myself, I see this as a great example of what happens when people work together and retain public

access - thanks to the foresight of those that went before us.”

You can read more about the trail in Letters to the Editor on Page 2.

Simon Bridges borrows Wayne Allchorne’s bike for a few minutes.

(L-R): Todd Muller MP, Mayor Webber, Hon Simon Bridges MP, Mayor Brownless.

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ecent figures collated for the use of the Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall shows that close to 30,000 people come through the doors each year. There are 25 regular hires (weekly, fortnightly, and monthly) which range from quiet keep fit to the pumping music of Zumba, from Creative Patchwork to painting and pottery artists. There are thought provoking and mindful groups, topical and community-based groups. Family gatherings and local fundraising evenings include bingo, quiz, and local talent nights.

We are the home base for many local clubs.

We are a caring committee of locals who recognise the value of the facility for the community to express themselves in any way possible. We employ locals to keep the hall maintenance running smoothly – electricians, plumbers, and cleaners.

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High tide, high spirits; path users listening to the dignitaries’ speeches.

| Lizard News | August 2017

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The Hall is in a great location with plenty of parking, a good supply of party crockery and cutlery and glassware available for more formal gatherings.

Staging modules are available for performances. The position of Booking Officer is up for grabs.

It involves handling computer based Google calendar bookings, online forms and payments, and initial contact for bookings usually by phone then conversations via email. Full training is available with ongoing support where necessary. Efficient systems are in place; you don’t have to leave your chair! The committee support one another when holidays and children or grandchildren need to take precedence. Other than that you can work in your space and time, and around your other commitments. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the community.

Are you interested? Call me on 07 548 1620.

lizardnews.net

New tyre shop now open

By Matthew Farrell ou need to tread wheely carefully when writing about tyres. I tell my son Jack (his real name) he might feel tired or the air pressure of writing puns. He could get pumped up or go flat and have no spare jokes in the boot - and perhaps a loose nut.

Dad jokes, hey? I know someone who might smile. He knows a lot more about tyres than me, too - and he’ll be able to help you out and see you right while he’s doing it.

Local dad Steve Abbott is the guy behind the latest kiwi family owned and operated business to set up shop on the peninsula, sharing premises with the established Ōmokoroa Automotive.

He’s grateful to Brian and Michelle Kirk for their support as he moves into 8 Hamurana Road.

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Steve, Monika and Zoe (7) love the familyfriendly feel of the Ōmokoroa community.

“They’ve agreed to lease us part of their building. Without their agreement, this wouldn’t be happening. They're well-known and popular already. This turns us into a convenient one stop shop working together to get vehicles fixed for customers,” says Steve.

“We’re very community orientated. We want to support the school and the golf club which are both a big part of our community. The more local support we get, the more we can give back.”

Steve’s also used local tradies to build his office and prepare the workshop area including builder Alan Deane, sparky Nathan MacDonald of Arcadia Electric and Paul Hoskin of PK’s Painting.

“We can provide all tyre services from mowers and wheelbarrows to larger SUVs including wheel alignments. We aim to provide while-you-wait service where we can for tyres, alignments and puncture repairs,” says Steve.

“We stock quality brands of tyres including Pirelli, Yokohama, Kumho and Nankang but we can supply all other major brands as well. Our goal is to provide the best advice and service to our great community at prices you don’t need to drive into Tauranga to get. Drop in to say hi and get a free tyre pressure check anytime, at the only dedicated tyre shop between Katikati and Tauranga!”

With 17 years in the motor trade, Steve will also continue to run Bay Vehicle Wholesale, importing low-mileage, highgrade quality Japanese vehicles which are all serviced by Brian before sale.

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Shonagh Harris Property Management m: 021 211 8141 e: rentals@omokoroafirstnational.co.nz

August 2017 | Lizard News |

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lizardnews.net

Dates for your diary August 5th August 7th-11th

This little Lizard went to Market

Bingo Night fundraiser by Ōmokoroa Sport & Recreation. Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall 7 pm. Entry by koha with cards for sale at the door. All proceeds go to the new Western Ave sports pavilion.

Tauranga Community Foodbank appeal at Ōmokoroa Point School. Thank you for generously donating essentials such as tins, packets, pasta, rice, toothpaste and laundry powder.

August 13th Lions Market, Western Avenue carpark, Ōmokoroa 8am-noon.

he Lizard Market, the brainchild of local women Kim and Alessandra, continues to offer a wide array of wares produced by small businesses.

Clothes, crafts, art, jewellery and more fill the large hall while the small hall hosts the newly-created Lizard Café.

A delicious range of food, including gluten and dairy free options, is available alongside the popular sausage

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August 15th Ōmokoroa Environmental Managers Inc AGM at 2.30 pm. Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall. Contact Murray Grainger on 07 548 1409 for more information.

August 19th Lizard Market 10 am - 2 pm. Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall.

August 25th Ōmokoroa Point School Quiz at the Settler’s Hall. The PTA are looking for “balloon pop” prizes of $20-$40.

Please send any donations of prizes or vouchers to the office. 07 548 1748.

August 29th Whakamārama Community Inc AGM 7.30 pm, Whakamārama Community Hall, 464 Whakamārama Road. All welcome. Joanne Wiggett 021 678 319.

September 2nd & 3rd

September 3rd

Red Cross Book fair. 8 am-5 pm at the Red Cross Office 245 Chadwick Road, Greerton.

Father’s Day.

Aongatete, Ōmokoroa, Pahoia, Te Puna, Whakamārama - we’d love to share your events. Email your details to matthew@lizardnews.net and they’ll appear here and on our website.

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sizzle and coffee cart.

Kim and Alessandra, both small-business owners themselves, wanted to create a family-friendly place for the community to get together while promoting the quality and variety of locally produced creations. Not-for-profit groups can also benefit by running the sausage sizzle to raise funds and awareness for their organisations, and there is a craft table and face painting for kids of all ages.

The stall-holders do change from month to month as there is more demand than space. Follow the market on Facebook @lizardomokoroa to see which businesses will attend each month and to enter the monthly competitions.

Alessandra and Kim both appreciate the great support they’ve received since starting the market in February, with a special mention for Marion of Katikati Bins who has supplied refuse removal for free every month.

So if you haven’t checked out the Lizard Market yet, make sure you’re there at Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 am to 2 pm.

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Challenge supreme for customer satisfaction

By Matthew Farrell hallenge Ōmokoroa is celebrating as part of the 81 strong network which has won the Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customer award for service stations - for the third time in four years.

Service stations are rated on their appearance, service, the price of petrol, facilities and the range of other items available on-site. Challenge was the only service station network to receive five stars for overall satisfaction and received 28 out of a possible 30 stars across all criteria.

Director Joann Deane says it’s exciting news and the local team are very proud to be a part of it.

“We get so many compliments on the way the service station looks. It’s so open and clean. Our staff are bright and cheery - and we have come to know many of our customers by their first name. Traditional service is important to us and also our Gold Card holders. We like to help them with their fuel, and they also get the 8 cents per litre discount, which they love.”

Challenge Dealer Network Chairman, Simon Bratton, says the Ōmokoroa team has contributed to the network’s award and he thanks local customers that took the time to vote.

“Our ongoing upgrades across the country mean that we have modern facilities and convenience stores to match the service we provide to our growing customer base,” he says.

The Challenge network is supplied by Farmlands Fuel, and its motto is “100% Kiwi-As”, which reflects that it’s entirely NZ-owned. Joann Deane says there’s also a real café vibe in-store.

“We feel very different from an average petrol station. People come from miles around to taste a good coffee and pick up some homemade cookies.”

And it isn’t just the renowned Barista Stop that sets Challenge Ōmokoroa apart.

“We’re one of the few service stations that still runs a workshop. This means we can quickly help any customer on the forecourt in distress, who is needing mechanical assistance,” she says.

Mike Deane Motors recently invested in a tow truck for breakdown recovery and courtesy runs.

“Being the local AA contractor, we are very busy with roadside breakdowns. I used to use my ute and trailer, but it’s become harder to do that safely as the highway has become busier,” says Mike.

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The team: (L-R) James Deane, Rachel Parsons, Jim Gillian, Makaylah Phillips, Bart Wassink, Mike Deane, Asher Jones, Joann Deane, Sonya Landers, Kylie Deane (absent: Jack Davison).

“It’s changed over the years. We used to be able to get a lot of vehicles going again on the highway, but now the cars have become more sophisticated with electronic management systems. More often than not, they need to come back to the workshop.”

He prides himself in having a modern facility. “You have got to keep up with the changes in the automotive industry, or you will be left behind mechanically; you have to have the correct equipment to do the job.

“We also have an extensive parts department of the most commonly used parts, to prevent waiting for them to come from Tauranga.”

It’s a family business. Mike and Joann have been there since 1985, and their four children grew up there. Kylie and James both work at Challenge. Kylie is managing the day-to-day running of the service station, and James is the head barista.

“We are proud of what we have created. It is a bustling site and the buzz in the shop at times is exciting. We have loads of fun with our customers, and there’s a lot of laughter through the day.” says Joann.

Makaylah Phillips providing customer service on the forecourt.

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August 2017 | Lizard News |

11

We’re proud to announce a partnership with Rachel Millard and her team in Aongatete, Omokoroa, Pahoia, Te Puna & Whakamarama

RACHEL AND HER TEAM WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO PROVIDE YOU A FREE APPRAISAL AND EXPLAIN HOW SMARTER SELLS BETTER.

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CALL RACHEL MILLARD 021 513 189 OR BERNIE LIMBRICK 021 289 7049

lizardnews.net

Te Puna Quarry Park News

By Shirley Sparks here is always something interesting going on in the Te Puna Quarry Park. That includes various uses of the Gallery. Over the last few months we have had a ‘Bug Hotel’ workshop; art workshops, usually over two days; a ‘High Tea’; team building days; many birthday parties of every age; weddings throughout the winter (and already seven bookings for 2018); guide dogs taking care of their owners and young guide dogs with their trainers; and we have had public meetings. Last month we had a new thing going on: radio controlled cars.

A group of men keen on an activity known as ‘Radio Control Drifting’ were delighted, when visiting the Quarry Park one day, to discover a polished concrete floor. Ideal for their hobby of competitive manoeuvring, they occupied The Gallery one Saturday, into the evening, gaining the attention of visitors and onlookers.

Their beautiful small cars were constantly controlled by their directors working with hand-held monitors. I was told that the cars were valued at hundreds of dollars and required a high degree of skill to manoeuvre around bends and bridges arranged on the floor. I wish them well and hope they continue to use

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the Gallery and that they gain more members to their club.

One day I met a gentleman visitor looking for his backpack. He had gone walking through the eastern bush area some days before. For some reason unknown to me he had removed his backpack, placing it alongside the track, and continued exploring the area. But he was unable to find it again, search as he might! Returning to the car park, he realised he had lost, not only his telephone but his car keys as well. There was a wedding on in the Gallery and guests were strolling about when he spotted an acquaintance he knew. He asked the wedding guest to give him a ride back to Tauranga to get his spare car key. He hasn’t yet found his backpack and nor, it seems, has anyone else. I wonder why he didn’t use someone else’s phone from amongst the wedding guests, to ring his number and so to be guided to the missing article...?

Stuart, one of our committee members, is working on mapping, signposting and naming the various tracks through this wilderness area. He is noting levels of easy to moderate walking and areas of difficulty and challenge. This will take some time as he and others develop it further.

The committee has approached a local carver to make a special entrance to the eastern bush area. Known as a kūwaha, the arched gateway will stand across the track behind the Gallery leading into the native bush gully. As this is a commissioned work of art, we will be making application for grants to help pay for it, and there will probably have to be fundraising on our part as well. (All donations will be gratefully received.) As the Quarry is on confiscated Māori land our wish to acknowledge their owner-

ship and participation is manifest.

Do keep exploring the paths adjoining the main track. Surprises await. Next month the magnolias will make a spectacular show on the west bank. The cacti and succulent plantings are particularly lovely off the east track. A person remarked that it was like walking into a film set. Our theme, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS continues to live up to its topic.

Shirley Sparks is available for further information on 552 5874.

Pahoia kart driver top North Islander at recent meet ayden Lines is a year 5 student at to win a race. The next round is in RoPahoia School. On the weekends torua on the 17th of September, with you will normally find him at the other rounds in Edgecumbe and Hamilkart track. Hayden started karting 18 ton to follow. months ago.

Hayden will also be competing at the He is in the smallest class - Cadet - North Island Champs, which will be held which is for kids six years to 11 years on Labour Weekend in Hamilton, in old. Cadets run a 2-stroke engine and which he is hoping to finish in the top reach speeds of up to 80 kph. But often three. it is the slower technical sections of a Karting is a great family sport where race which are more impressive, nor- everybody is welcome. mally about 40 kph.

The local track in the Bay is in Te Puke, but we are lucky enough to have Rotorua, Edgecumbe, Hamilton, and Tokoroa tracks nearby.

Hayden is competing in the Top Half Series. This is a four round series, with the first round completed at the end of June in Te Puke. Hayden finished 4th overall and was the first-placed North Island Driver. He was also the only Hayden’s grateful to sponsors for helping him to chase driver other than the NZ Champion trophies. PHOTO: Andrew Lines.

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Putting Pahoia on the map, as the top North Island competitor. PHOTO: Emilee Jane Photography.

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My new company name, from the 1st of August 2017, will be Omokoroa Accounting & Taxation Ltd. All other details are the same. Diane Gill ATAINZ.

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A family friendly five star feed wner/operators Hugh and Peta Clavis say local support for the Black Sheep Bar and Grill on Plummers Point Road has been incredible through the winter.

The couple took over the site with chef and business partner Daniel Moffat in December 2015 and got their liquor licence the following March.

Patrons have been coming from far and wide; among the recent highlights has been gaining a Certificate of Excellence from the travel review website, TripAdvisor.

Nearly 30 reviews have been posted

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on TripAdvisor, with 86% of those rating their experience as excellent or very good. Black Sheep is also rated at 4.8 out of 5 after more than 40 reviews on Facebook.

Peta says it’s a pleasant surprise to know they’ve had so many five star reviews within 18 months or so, and they’ll keep working to improve their offering.

“Daniel has been in hospitality his whole life and a lot of the feedback we get is about the consistently high quality of food. It is families we want to encourage here with activities like table football, giant Jenga, California sandbags,

colouring in, dominos and Scrabble,” she says.

There’s also a safely fenced little kiddies area and a new DVD corner which has been a big hit.

“Let’s face it, children can only sit still for so long while they are eating their meals listening to adult conversation.

This way they can have fun, interact with others and still be in sight of the restaurant. Parents love it.”

Peta says Black Sheep is a huge place to maintain and they’ll keep taking baby steps. She would love to get an outside playground for the summer.

Ruth, Logan (7) and Harriet (12) of Whakamārama test their skill with the sandbags.

Captain Jack Spratt rides again

By Anna Raeburn 'm 15 and live in Ōmokoroa. My horse is called Spratt (show name is Captain Jack Spratt), and he is also 15. He is a 15.2 hh, liver chestnut thoroughbred cross gelding.

I have had Spratt now for one year. In the past, he was a high-level show jumper and apparently went to Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. Sadly his owners decided to have him put down as he was no longer wanted, but was rescued by a lady who couldn't let such a wonderful horse be put to sleep.

I went to her farm when I was doing work experience with an equine vet in Katikati. She explained about his sad past and how she had hoped he would be suitable for her children, but found he was too big and advanced for them.

When she showed him to me, I instantly fell in love with him. She encouraged me to visit and ride him, and a month later

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he was in the float on the way to his new paddock in Ōmokoroa. She had very kindly gifted him to me.

After a long period returning him to good health, I started taking him to Katikati pony club, which was obvious from the start that he loved. Spratt is a very fast horse and an extremely talented jumper. To begin with, I struggled with control. He had a tendency to go bolting across the pony club grounds in excitement every time the jumps were brought out. I have had my fair share of falls and mishaps, but both of us learned lots in our first few months. Spratt and I worked hard together, schooling him six days a week.

Due to his amazing personality and work ethic, he improved in leaps and bounds. We went to Pony Club camp at McLaren Falls, and he flew around the cross country jumps with ease. We then went to win our first ever 80cm round in

the Twilight Showjumping Series at Katikati. Spratt and I came third in the tip 'n' out where we jumped 1.15m for the first time, and won best dressed when I covered him in tinsel and baubles and made him into a Christmas tree at the Christmas rally. At this point, I had taught Spratt to be ridden completely tackless, without a saddle or bridle, and he was starting to come a long way in our dressage training.

Over the year, Spratt and I have done other North Island and local competitions coming away with many ribbons.

At the end of year Pony Club prize giving, we were proud to come away with the Carla Morgan Memorial Cup. Spratt is a cheeky, cuddly horse that loves to jump. He likes to perform his tricks that I have taught him such as pawing, bowing, kissing and smiling all on command. Spratt has a best friend called Tammy, my friend’s horse who

currently grazes with him. He loves to go to Tuapiro Beach where we take him swimming in the sea and jump logs. He has an amazing gallop on him and loves to have a hoon along the sand.

I pay for all his feed, care, grazing fees, etc. myself, so I sell horse manure outside the paddock to help, along with babysitting as much as possible.

Spratt is visited by many Cooney Reserve walkers on a daily basis and is much loved by the residents of Margaret Drive, who all make a big fuss of him.

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Are you training yet? unday 29th October should be firmly booked in your diary, so you don’t miss this fun community event. All the profits go to the new Sports Pavilion in Ōmokoroa – a resource that will benefit people from all around the area. It is going to be a fantastic all-purpose building, and we think it is a cause well worth supporting with a morning of exercise around the beautiful Ōmokoroa Peninsula.

Have you registered yet? Early Bird pricing ends Thursday, 26th August so make sure you get in before then to take advantage of the discounted pricing.

Adults $15, kids $10 and Duathlon is $30 – everyone gets a race pack, and there are place prizes for male and female in every event, as well as awesome spot prizes!

This year we are basing ourselves at the Ōmokoroa Sports Fields so bring the whole family – the kids can play on the Skate Path after they have completed the 2km Fun Run. There is an event for all fitness levels and abilities. Last year we

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received many requests for a 10km walk, so we have added one for those who like to go the distance. We have also added a longer duathlon course for those that want a challenge – why not give either the short or long duathlon course a go?

Our 10 and 5km run/walk routes this year include the new Ōmokoroa Cycle Way which is stunning. All the details, including route maps, can be found at www.runrunrun.co.nz Even if you don’t want to enter, come on down to support your community.

Grab yourself a coffee, smoothie or something from one of the food trucks and watch the entertainment while cheering on competitors. We have Minnows Kindergarten doing Face Painting and all sorts of other entertainment.

This event takes a huge amount of organising – all of which is done for free by our small team of fabulous volunteers – so we are always hugely grateful when a business or organisation steps in to offer their support. We want to say a HUGE thank you to the Ōmokoroa

Community Board for their generous grant to help pay for our signage. They even gave us more than what we originally requested, and so we think that they are amazing. I am happy to pay my rates when I know that some of it goes back into resources that are going to directly enhance my community and the facilities available to my children.

We are also excited to announce that MoreFM is back this year sponsoring our event and providing an MC and music on the day. This added a great touch to last year’s event, so we’re thrilled they’re keen to be involved again.

So what are you waiting for? If it's assistance and inspiration to start a new fitness program, or perhaps some old niggles stopping you, then we highly recommend the team at Health Quarters.

Not only are they one of our generous sponsors but they are offering all participants in the Ōmokoroa Coastal Challenge a discount on any of their

services. Just tell them you have registered when you make your initial appointment. Health Quarters is a multi-discipline team offering a physiotherapist, osteopath, nutritionist, psychologist, podiatrist and fitness therapists. Health Quarters also offers a range of fitness classes at their venues on Willow Street and in Te Puna (above Bostock Butchery), and Diego is offering new clients who register at our event massive 50% discount which is a huge incentive to sign up. So call the team at Health Quarters now on 0800 201 122 or check out their Facebook page for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at the start line!

To keep up with what’s happening and all the new developments, like our Facebook page at: facebook.com/OmokoroaCoastalChallenge.

Article supplied.

Audacious festival goal for kapa haka group

By Matthew Farrell n inexperienced but enthusiastic kapa haka group has been set what is described as an “audacious goal” to take part in a festival in November.

The principal of Ōmokoroa Point School, Vicki Knell, says she hopes everyone enjoyed the group’s performances during a hui at the school’s Whare Manaaki on the 26th of June.

“The hui was an opportunity for us all to reflect on what is happening with our Māori student achievement, tikanga Māori at OPS, and where to next from here,” she says.

Since 2013 the number of Māori students at OPS working at or above the national standards has improved from 67% to 78% for maths, 68% to 81% for reading, and 63% to 81% for writing.

Last year, the school asked families which qualities and values were impor-

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tant to reinforce. The feedback included Point School’s kapa haka group for a day identity; that children should have a of shared learning between students sense of where they are from. Now when about tikanga Māori. new students enrol there is a map for Tauranga’s Rā Whakangahau festival is them to identify their iwi or hapū, as an a non-competitive, free event in Novemopportunity for them to acknowledge ber. It began in 1992 and featured more their culture.

Mrs Knell says the school appreciates the feedback, suggestions and awhi (aid) for the tamariki and she looks forward to building on the waiata for next time as the staff try to introduce more te reo across the school. Pahoia School has since hosted Ōmokoroa The OPS kapa haka group performing for whānau at the hui.

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than 40 schools from across the Western Bay last year.

In other news, the OPS Whare Manaaki will be used by Mrs Roest as an additional new entrant classroom for the remainder of the year.

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The spark that started a fire brigade

By Matthew Farrell he oldest surviving former Chief Fire Officer of the Ōmokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade has spoken of his memories about how the lifesaving organisation was started.

John Luckman, now 86, was living in Kōwai Grove in 1965 when his car burned out overnight.

The blaze came very close to reaching the house and John says he knew then the area needed a fire brigade. Two years later the original brigade began, based in a shed where the library is now located.

John co-opted Alec McGregor, who owned the original motor camp, into being involved as third officer.

Schoolteacher Frank Bishop was elected as the inaugural chief and John became his deputy for the first year, before taking the lead himself for the next twelve years.

“I believe my wife Wilma was the first firewoman in all of New Zealand. She worked in the station and helped us with traffic control. Back then, we had no uni-

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forms. We carted hoses and standpipes in my builder’s trailer. Our siren was the size of a cocoa tin,” says John.

John had gained 18 months of experience as a messenger boy with the Mangakino brigade when he was 17 years old. Back then the drills included jumping from the top of a ladder into a canvas tarpaulin. There was no telephone when he awoke to that blaze more than 50 years ago.

“Wilma walked our three children over to the motor camp, while I rushed to move all the furniture and a fridge full of food in case the house caught light,” says John.

Just then Alec turned up with his ute and a tow rope made of nylon, which was a new material. John says he remembered his Mangakino training.

“I got low to avoid the fumes of my car’s burning tyres, I put a heavy rug over my back, I crawled over to hook the rope on the drawbar and yelled at Alec to go.”

He says the plastic rope melted and

stretched until he thought it would snap, but the ute was able to pull his car just far enough away from the house to prevent it catching fire.

John says their first real fire truck was a Ford from Mount Maunganui which is still owned and maintained by the local brigade. He believes the Ōmokoroa brigade was the first in the country to turn out to road crashes, which he used to have to justify to his superiors.

“I kept being called in by the brass in Tauranga to explain why we were attending crashes. After a few of these meetings, I said we went on a fool’s errand last week to rescue a cat from a high place. No one complained. Why can’t I rescue your daughter, wife or mother from a car?”

John says he was never asked to explain himself again, as the Ōmokoroa brigade raised funds to buy more equipment to manage road incidents including axes to cut people from cars.

He says other brigades then began attending car crashes and he thinks fire-

fighters probably deal with more road incidents than fires these days.

John still works with his hands, except now he makes macrocarpa toys for children from the lakeside cottage in Te Ānau where he has lived with Wilma for the past 15 years.

John and Wilma Luckman at the brigade’s recent 50th celebrations.

Katikati Concert Band 125 years young

By Len Riggir

he Band was originally formed in 1892 as a Fyfe and Drum Band when the Council purchased a set of instruments, and a Mr Brown was engaged as a teacher for anyone interested in playing. After a period, the traditional Fyfe and Drum Band popularity diminished, but a few members kept it going.

When the late Arthur Dick arrived in Katikati in the mid-1930’s he revived the band, introducing traditional brass instruments and gave it a new lease of life, Katikati Brass Band was born. Arthur

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was its Conductor till the late 1980’s. He began a close connection with the Katikati College where he taught students to play brass instruments. Many of these players progressed onto the Town Band.

Around 1988 the Band’s ranks were thinning when it was decided to include woodwind. The band became the Katikati Concert Band and Jan Kessel, who was the itinerant brass teacher at the College at that time, took over as Conductor.

This close association with the College continues and the current Conductor,

Wendy Fleming, is Head of the Music Department.

The band plays many styles of music and performs at many events in the district, e.g. on Anzac day since records began, Christmas Parades, IHC Christmas party, rest homes visits, local concerts, regular attendance at competitions. This year the band attended the Pohlen Cup at Matamata and received a Gold award.

The Katikati Band is the only Concert Band in the Bay of Plenty and the players come from Bethlehem to Paeroa and meet in the Art Room at the Katikati

Memorial Hall on Thursday evenings from 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm.

The band is always looking for new members and would welcome any former players who have moved to the district and would like to pick up an instrument again.

To celebrate this anniversary, the Band will be putting on a concert in the Katikati Hall on Saturday 26th of August at 2 pm. If any players who like to join us for the concert, there is a rehearsal at 10.30am.

For more information, please phone Len 027 631 0016.

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they return from their winter holiday in the Sounds. Gordon faithfully sets up the tables and games, and vacuums and locks up each week. He deserves a break away.

Rummikub, Upwords and 500 keep our brains active and we have fun. The morning tea and lunches are as yummy as ever. Do join us on a Friday morning at 10am -12.30pm at the Community Church at 139 Hamurana Road. Barbara Walls - President - 548 2899.

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By Barbara Walls mokoroa Friendship Club numbers almost reach twenty each Friday morning in spite of these cooler, winter days. We spare a thought for those further down the country who have had snow falls causing road closures and power outages and we are thankful for our more temperate climate.

Gordon and Elaine Gravatt were heading south in all the stormy weather recently. We will hear all about it when

August 2017 | Lizard News |

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Christmas in Whakamārama hristmas comes just twice each year? It does when you take part in a mid-winter festival, like that held on the 24th of June at Whakamārama Community Hall.

The fun-filled afternoon included activities such as snowman making, a colouring competition judged by Santa himself, cookie decorating, face painting, a silent auction, games of table tennis, hot food and drinks, mulled wine, baking for sale and brazier toasted marshmallows as the evening arrived.

A new hand carved sign for the hall was unveiled at a ceremony on the 30th of July.

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Josh and Isabel were among the children toasting marshmallows.

Santa took time out of his busy schedule to visit.

Whakamārama Community Inc is a representative group of local volunteers who coordinate projects to strengthen the local community - roading, recreation, conservation, pest control, history, waterways and land management.

Come to the AGM at the Hall (464 Whakamārama Road) on Monday 28th August at 7.30pm and find out more about what is happening in your local Whakamārama Community. You can be more involved if you want to be, or just catch up with others in the community.

Light supper and tea/coffee afterwards.

All welcome. Call Joanne Wiggett on 021 678 319.

A small but happy snowman.

Presents under the tree six months early added to the festive feeling.

Getting stuck into the colouring competition.

Pest Free NZ volunteers at the Blade

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pest control here and is a sign of increasing overall health of the insect biodiversity in the area.

These results mean we will remove all Ditrac baits from the area next time we go in, most likely Friday the 28th July if the weather cooperates. We then continue to trap possums until the remaining chew cards show signs of rat re-invasion, when Ditrac returns.

This should mean the native birds will have the best chance for a good breeding season.

One other thing, where our line six goes through the special fern bird habitat wet land in the centre of our area, it gets very wet in winter, and the stream and muddy banks had caused us to make diversions and re-trackings to avoid it.

So we hauled a 3m plank of 150 mm x 50 mm timber down there, and slapped in a bridge, tied by good old baler twine to shrubs and a tree to prevent it floating off in floods.

If you want to join this worthwhile action, to get Pest Free NZ going here, contact Colin 552 6771 Ta.

An untouched chew The result of rat activcard. ity.

WEB | PRINT | DIGITAL

he wet and windy winter weather has come to disrupt our trap checking in Whakamārama. However, the worthies of our team have battled on. June saw fewer possums being caught, showing that those who had invaded our block during the roar had been culled. This lets us start rat baiting with our rodent specific anticoagulant, to give the birds a good start for the spring breeding season. To measure our success, we will put out several chew cards on each line to check rat presence level.

Possums soon get to know that we have put out rat bait, they love it, and it does them no harm. While we are putting out the bait, in secure stations more than one metre off the ground, possums love to eat it. They are really smart, and stick their forepaws into the bait holders, and bend the holding spikes so they can get the bait out to eat. Hunger satisfied, they tend to ignore the trap lures! When we stop using rat bait, they should return to the traps, and we hope to see a spike of possum kills.

As part of our agreement with DOC, we have to advise the public of our activities for the safety of both the public and ourselves as volunteers. So, it is a shame to be subject to continued vandalism by folk with little thought for their actions.

Recently a sign advising hunters of when we are operating at the Whakamārama road end got trashed.

If, as a result of this stupidity, someone

got hurt or killed, those vandals could be up for manslaughter. Anyone with information about these actions should let the police know.

An excellent team turned up on Sunday the 23rd of July after postponing on Friday due to an adverse weather forecast.

Even with three stalwart regulars unavailable, we covered all nine lines and had a further 11 possums despatched.

One of our roving volunteers managed a line she had never been on before, at a very fast pace. It says a lot about the quality of Line Five’s pink tape markers!

We put out 25 rat tracking ink pads and peanut butter in tunnels and chew cards to see if rat numbers are as low as we expect after four weeks of baiting.

They were checked after 24 hours, to assess the effectiveness of four weeks of Ditrac placement in 100 Philproof bait stations. These sites are spaced in groups of five at 50m intervals through the centre of the five central bait lines in the pest controlled area.

Not one of the chew cards was chewed by rats or mice. One of the peanut butter lured inked cards had one set of rat prints, and three cards had mouse prints from between one and three mice. The old cards that had been out for the past seven weeks were on average moderately chewed, with only four untouched and a further three barely nibbled.

There was a noticeable presence of a few wētā at five tunnels and a moderate presence at three further sites. This is the best result for wētā since we started

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“Does the dog make a difference?”

By Liz Farrell

t is nearly two years since Julie Hancox, founder of Assistance Dogs NZ Trust, arrived on our doorstep with an excited black bundle called Lobo.

Georgie was so delighted: “it’s a dog, it’s a dog, it’s a dog!” she screamed.

Just one month beforehand we’d reached the $20,000 mark in our fundraising - the target families work towards in their quest for an Assistance Dog. We had spent four months of intense activity and the Ōmokoroa community and beyond had opened their arms - and pockets - to help us achieve this goal. But this was far from

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the end of the journey!

Julie left Lobo with us for a couple of days for a honeymoon period of getting to know each other. We practised the routines around commands (sit, stay, wait), feeding, toileting, etc. and learned what it was like to live with a huge dog in our space. Then she returned, and we spent a few days walking - around the community, crossing roads, in shops, around Bayfair.

First of all, we walked while Georgie was at school so we could be trained as handlers, and so that Lobo learned who was now in charge. Then we did walking as a family so that Georgie could get used to wearing a harness and that we could

Georgie has autism and developmental delays. She did not begin to talk until she was five. She was able to participate in her first school camp this year, thanks to ADNZ Lobo’s help.

learn how to support Lobo to keep Georgie safe when she did make a run for it. It taught us how the whole family needed to behave to ensure that when we did go out, it was as straightforward as possible.

Two years later so much is now routine it’s hard to remember the struggles we used to have going out. A significant change that one would not necessarily attribute to a dog is Georgie’s language.

She has learned that cooperation and communication are essential. When she wants to go somewhere or see something if she asks us (rather than just dashing off), she is much more likely to receive a positive response. When getting out of the car, we ask “Are you ready to walk with Lobo?”. Sometimes the answer is “no”, and so we wait until she is ready.

The biggest difficulty in having an Assistance Dog in the family is perhaps not what you’d think. Yes, there are increased costs. His diet is quite controlled to maintain his weight, but he does eat relatively expensive food. Luckily our vet, VetCare, give us a discount which brings the cost down a little bit. We also decided to have pet insurance as we’ve seen other families have to do more fundraising to pay for surgical bills. We are incredibly grateful to have a sponsor to cover the premiums for us so we don’t have to face agonising decisions about him should something unfortunate happen.

The hardest challenge is ‘petting’ by

strangers. Most people who know us, and who have been with us since our journey with Assistance Dogs NZ began, know that Lobo is a working dog and so shouldn’t be touched when he is out in public. It can be tough because he is, after all, a handsome dog. He loves to be petted; he loves to play. But when he’s out, he’s working. It is important that we maintain the rules and the training otherwise the lines will become blurred and he could be distracted when he’s supposed to be keeping Georgie safe.

The reality is that Lobo helps us every day and we will do everything we can to ensure that continues for as long as possible. So on 2nd of September when we celebrate our ADNZ anniversary, you can be sure the dog makes a difference.

First day at school for Rambo, Kaz and Heihei y sister is going to call her chick Rambo, but I’m going to have a think about it.”

Kiani-Lee Piua of Room 2 is taking the business of rearing her baby chick for Te Puna School Ag Day pretty seriously, with no firm name in mind as she collects a pair of the baby birds from the staff room after her lunch break.

Also taking two chicks home was Logan Robertson of Room 3. He’s calling one Kaz, and he thinks the other will be given the Māori name for chicken, Heihei.

“There’s heaps of them! I’ve got food for them!” he gasps.

The school secretary Barb Duncalf isn’t

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sure when the tradition began, but can recall her children now in their 30s having chicks when they were at Te Puna School.

The Cattos have taken some home every year.

“We’re getting two each. There are so many of them!” exclaims Luke.

In fact, 58 chicks have arrived at the school in boxes previously containing salted potato chips. Don’t think about ketchup. One parent is taking 18 home.

Among the most excited to see the birds is the Room 9 teacher, Trudie Ririnui.

“I’m taking three home. My husband doesn’t know yet.”

There are cardboard crates and cat

Kiani-Lee and Logan are the first to handle their chicks this year.

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carriers with torn up newspaper. Trudie has brought a laundry basket full of hay with no lid. She’ll probably be driving home with one on on her shoulder.

Another reason for excitement is the upcoming whole school production at Baycourt Theatre on the 22nd and 23rd of August. It’s called “Te Moana; No, Not The Movie.” With a roll of just under 300, you can expect to see plenty of children being a fish, a shark or a pirate.

“There’s also quite a bit of a filmed

component. The seniors undertake digital work as part of their studies,” says principal Neil Towersey.

He says it’s a story of kids on an excursion getting lost on a raft, and all the marvels they see while a search and rescue operation is launched. I’m told the caretaker Uncle Shane always features, and Constable Dennis Bidois has also been worked into the script again after taking part in the previous “Meanwhile, Back At The Lab,” production in 2015.

(L-R) Tom, James and Luke Catto will be going home with half a dozen chicks.

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Roadworks delays lead to childcare reshuffle n education and child care centre in Te Puna says it has changed the structure of its learning program, because of the disruption caused by the roadworks on State Highway 2.

Above and Beyond has been promoting a courtesy pick up and drop off service and, until the roundabout is complete, has been offering new enrolments $100 account credit.

Spokeswoman Olivia Thompson says they want to support families and minimise stress.

“We’ve felt the frustration as the roadworks have increased. To alleviate this, we have delayed our main program

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to be outside of peak traffic times. We have also taken away late fees for parents who have been getting stuck in ‘surprise’ traffic jams.”

Olivia says it’s been a lot of fun for the children to focus on areas of play each day, as well as structured literacy, maths, science, art and community days out.

“They have been busy growing seeds, making kites, exploring concepts such as floating and sinking, riding bikes at Ōmokoroa skate path and visiting the pets at Animates.”

Above and Beyond opened in Te Puna in March 2014 and also has centres in The Lakes, Gate Pā and Te Puke.

Going above and beyond the walls of the centre, with community days out at Ōmokoroa skate path and Animates.

Lachie and Alex spill the beans ere are Lachie McCullough and Alex Ward to tell you about what they’ve been up to this month at Ōmokoroa Playcentre.

H

Lachie (3 ½ years old): “The train set is one of my favourite areas of play at Playcentre – my ultimate favourite actually! Today I am putting together the tracks and I tell my friend Judy lots of things that I know about trains: “Some engines have one dome, some two, and some three… That’s a buffer to stop the engines… That’s a siding… I need lots of supports to build this bridge, it has to be strong… I need two steam engines to pull this many carriages or we won’t get across the bridge!” I am learning to communicate my ideas, share information

that is important to me, ask questions, solve problems, and have fun with words.

Key learning - Communication: Children experience an environment where they develop verbal communication skills for a range of purposes.

Alex (18 months old): “Today I decided to water the strawberries. I scooped up the water in a jug and as I got near the stairs I stopped for minute – to think. I put the jug down on the first step and climbed onto the step. Then I picked up the jug again and put it down on the next step. Then I climbed onto the grass and picked up the jug again. Now I can water the plants – BUT there’s not much water

Grandkids coming to stay but got no toys?

Or tired of buying toys that never get played with?

of a bit of TLC and repair. Is there a local handyman or someone with a shed & tools with some time on their hands who would like to be our toy repair guy (gal)?

We’d love to get some of these toys back into circulation for our kids to play with.

The Ōmokoroa Toy Library would also benefit from this service too. If you’re keen to help us out, please email Ōmokoroaplaycentre@hotmail.com with your details. Ōmokoroa Playcentre is located behind Settlers Hall, 334 Ōmokoroa Rd, and is open from 9.00am – 12.00pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri (during school terms). For more information, pop in during our open hours, phone 07 548 1343 or email omokoroaplaycentre@hotmail.com We’d love to see you sometime soon!

Article supplied.

Omokoroa

OPEN 9am - 12pm Mon Thurs Fri Behind Settlers Hall 334 Omokoroa Rd

OPEN Saturdays 9.30 - 11am Behind Settlers Hall, 334 Omokoroa Rd

Toys for children 0-5 years from as little as 50c for two weeks* omokoroatoylibrary@hotmail.com

Keen for your kids to develop social skills in a fun environment with unhindered exploring?

It’s all at Playcentre - come for a morning of FREE PLAY and exploration omokoroaplaycentre@hotmail.com • 07 548 1343

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20

left in the jug! So I decided to go back for more water, repeating the whole process again in reverse. I like to help do chores like mum and have been practising my independence and problem solving skills.”

Key learning - Exploration: Children experience an environment where they gain increasing control over their body, with increasing agility, coordination and balance.

Do your pre-school children (or grandchildren) need more opportunity to learn and socialise before they head off to school? Are you looking for some new ways to keep them entertained and avoid the frustrated cabin fever? Playcentre might just be the answer you’re looking for!

Our membership numbers are quite comfortably small with less than 10 kids attending each day, so it’s a lovely calm, relaxed environment for them to explore at their own pace. If you’ve never been to a Playcentre session before, come along and check us out. We love to welcome new members and there’s no need to wait till the start of a new term. Just turn up!

Our kids have been having a lot of fun with the new sandpit toys and art resources we purchased recently with the proceeds from our community garage sale fundraiser held in September last year. They’re much brighter and there’s so much more to go around. Lovin’ it!

Sadly though, a few of our older toys (especially the wooden ones) are in need

| Lizard News | August 2017

lizardnews.net

Thrilling new books for August Ōmokoroa Library Ph. 07 571 8008 Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9.30am-noon

Whakamārama Community Library Ph. 07 578 7015 Open Thu 9am-noon 1st & 3rd Fridays 6.30pm-8pm Te Puna Community Library Ph. 07 552 5715 Open Mon-Fri 12.30pm-1.30pm (closed school holidays) Weds 6.30pm-7.30pm Thu 3pm-4pm (closed school holidays) Sat 10am-noon

THRILLER

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David Hewson Sleep Baby Sleep

Deliciously Healthy Hotcakes oxed breakfast cereals have become a mainstay on most kiwi breakfast tables.

But unfortunately, the whole grains that these cereals originate from are often processed far beyond recognition, and as a result, they lose most of their nutritional value and taste!

To make up for this fact, manufacturers extrude them at high temperature and pressure into novel shapes, often adding synthetic vitamins/minerals and lots of sugar. The end product can be devoid of nutritional value and detrimental to our health if consumed every day.

But... the thought of trying to break free from this breakfast rut can be very overwhelming, especially when it comes to children. These little pancakes are just the ticket, easy to prepare and a real hit with all the family. They are free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar, so they tick a lot of boxes for people with intolerances. Give them a go! I’m sure they will become a family favourite!

You will need: 2 large bananas 4 free-range eggs ½ cup almond meal or oats 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

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Method: Place all the ingredients into a blender and whizz on high for a minute until well combined.

Lightly grease a large non-stick frying pan and cook on a medium heat until golden on both sides.

Serve with fresh fruit, fried banana and yoghurt.

Yummo!

As a health and nutrition coach, I work with people to decrease stress, increase energy, lose weight and eat more real food. For more inspiration and information check out my website… www.rozmcintosh.com or follow me on Facebook – Roz McIntosh Health and Nutrition.

New Arrivals

Michelle and Ricki Helagi welcome baby Joshua Ali John Helagi. Born on 2nd of May at Tauranga Hospital weighing 3.9kg or 8lbs 9oz. Big brother Caleb has been so proud & loving. PHOTO: Supplied.

Sandra Tilgner and Jarel Duncan of Katikati welcomed daughter Maya Ruth Duncan on 11th of July, weighing 3.4kg or 7lb 8oz at Bethlehem Birthing Centre.

PHOTO: babyloveimages.com

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By Sandra Haigh

ugust is Family History Month and libraries, local history groups and genealogical societies all over the country are celebrating with special events and displays.

Katikati and Te Puke libraries, in collaboration with their local genealogical societies, are offering members of those communities a step up into the world of learning about how to find your ancestors using the library’s resources.

Assistance will be available at Katikati Library from Monday through Thursday

A

every week during August – potential students should simply get in touch Katikati library to book an hour’s free tuition, help and advice on family tree research.

There will also be displays and a very special whakapapa storytime at Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach, celebrating the important roles that mums, dads, grandparents, aunties and uncles play our lives.

Sandra Haigh is the Team Leader Libraries Community Heritage, Kaiārahi Taonga Tuku Iho Hapori. Call 07 571 8008.

Discovering the Bay of Plenty’s creative arts RTbop is the free online magazine for creativity in the Bay of Plenty.

Founder and current editor Rosemary Balu of Whakamārama says, “ARTbop is the product of the ongoing collaboration and contributions of a diverse Bay of Plenty creative community”.

ARTbop publishes text, image and video news, reviews and comment. The section ‘ARTbop Alternative’ focuses on the non-mainstream creativity of the Bay. The ARTbop menu allows readers to view both recent and archived content and the website, created by Akari Design, is device sensitive. ARTbop is on Facebook; posts on Twitter; sends out text and image emails, and has paper-based promotional material in libraries, cafes and offices.

ARTbop features some of the upcoming events, exhibitions and performances around the Bay and neighbouring areas.

There are profile interviews, original poetry and book reviews. ARTbop features environmental and political art initiatives and comments on creative sector development issues. ARTbop’s ‘Stuff to Say’ allows contributors to express personal opinions or promote their own

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work, event or exhibition.

Some of ARTbop’s contributors include Dhaivat Mehta (who collaborated in the development of ARTbop alternative), Te Puna local Beth Bowden, Diane Hume-Green, Miriam Ruberl, Jenny Argante, Marcus Hobson, Loretta Crawford, Birgitt Shannon, John Baxter, Lee Switzer, Kingsley Smith, Sam Woodward, Baz Mantis, Polly Moore, and a number of talented occasional contributors.

Rosemary says, “in featuring the talent and creativity of the Bay of Plenty, ARTbop promotes not only our arts practitioners but the Bay as a local and international visitor and tourist destination.”

ARTbop can be seen “anywhere, anytime” at www.artbop.co.nz You can join the email list on the web page to receive regular newsletters. You can follow ARTbop on facebook.com/artbop and facebook.com/artbopalternative and also on Twitter: @ARTbop_ Pre-Purchase Inspections Rental Inspections Moisture Detection non-invasive Project Management for new homes and renovations Concept Planning for alterations and additions

Steve Willoughby 07 548 0848 021 677 374 steve@housefit.co.nz www.housefit.co.nz

August 2017 | Lizard News |

21

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Omokoroa Tide Chart August 2017 1 Tue Omokoroa Tides

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

Omokoroa Tides

Fishing Guide Moon Phase

2:28 8:41 15:01 21:01

2 Wed 1.7 0.3 1.7 0.4

B

1.7 0.4 1.7 0.5

4:05 10:20 16:47 22:48

B

S 1:27 R 12:26 17 Thu 2:50 9:14 15:28 21:43

3:16 9:30 15:54 21:54

3 Thu

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 2:27 S 12:54

1.7 0.4 1.7 0.5

B

S 2:22 R 13:02 18 Fri 3:51 10:13 16:33 22:46

4 Fri

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 3:32 S 13:49

*Not for navigational purposes

1.7 0.4 1.7 0.5

R 4:32 S 14:51

S 4:08 R 14:26 20 Sun 5:59 1.8 12:13 0.1 18:38 1.9

F

0:49 7:00 13:11 19:35

0:33 6:39 12:50 19:17

7 Mon 0.4 1.7 0.3 1.7

1:21 7:27 13:37 20:02

F

S 4:58 R 15:14 21 Mon

B

R 5:27 S 15:56

6 Sun

5:48 1.7 12:01 0.4 18:30 1.7

B

S 3:16 R 13:42 19 Sat 4:55 11:14 17:37 23:48

4:57 11:11 17:40 23:41

5 Sat

0.2 1.8 0.1 1.9

B

2:08 8:13 14:22 20:44

0.2 1.9 0.1 2.0

2:39 8:52 14:58 21:19

Tide chart supplied by OceanFun Publishing, Ltd.

0.4 1.7 0.2 1.8

0.1 1.9 0.1 2.0

3:30 9:43 15:47 22:07

R 7:38 S 19:16

0.1 1.9 0.1 2.0

B

R 8:13 S 20:19

www.ofu.co.nz

omokoroa Proud to Support

Our Community 160 Omokoroa Rd, Omokoroa.

Open 7am – 9pm, 7 days.

Phone 281 1577.

22

| Lizard News | August 2017

Owned and operated by locals

2:53 8:57 15:06 21:25

10 Thu 0.3 1.8 0.2 1.8

G

S 7:10 R 17:59 24 Thu

B

R 6:59 S 18:10

9 Wed

G

S 6:30 R 17:01 23 Wed

B

R 6:16 S 17:04

0.4 1.7 0.3 1.8

F

S 5:46 R 16:06 22 Tue 1:45 7:58 14:06 20:28

8 Tue

0.3 1.8 0.2 1.9

G

S 7:48 R 18:59 25 Fri 4:18 10:32 16:35 22:54

3:37 9:40 15:49 22:06

11 Fri

0.1 1.9 0.1 1.9

B

R 8:46 S 21:20

0.2 1.8 0.2 1.9

G

S 8:23 R 20:00 26 Sat 5:05 11:18 17:21 23:39

4:21 10:23 16:33 22:48

12 Sat

0.1 1.9 0.2 1.9

B

R 9:18 S 22:20

S 8:57 R 21:02 27 Sun 5:50 0.2 12:04 1.8 18:06 0.3 G

R 9:51 S 23:18

5:05 11:07 17:18 23:31

13 Sun 0.2 1.8 0.2 1.9

G

5:50 0.2 11:52 1.8 18:05 0.2 G

S 9:31 R 22:05 28 Mon 0:22 6:34 12:48 18:51

14 Mon

1.8 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 10:24

1.9 0.2 1.8 0.2

G

S 10:05 R 23:09 29 Tue 1:04 7:17 13:33 19:36

0:16 6:37 12:40 18:54

15 Tue

1.8 0.3 1.7 0.4

F

S 0:14 R 11:00

1.9 0.2 1.8 0.2

G

S 10:41 30 Wed 1:47 8:01 14:19 20:23

1:04 7:26 13:32 19:46

16 Wed

1.7 0.3 1.7 0.4

B

S 1:09 R 11:38

1.9 0.2 1.8 0.3

G

R 0:14 S 11:20 31 Thu 2:31 8:47 15:08 21:13

1:55 8:19 14:28 20:42

R 1:21 S 12:04

1.7 0.4 1.7 0.5

B

S 2:00 R 12:20

NOTE: Tauranga tides subtract 50 mins, and Katikati tides subtract 20 mins from the times shown.

lizardnews.net

Lizard Classifieds PUBLIC NOTICES

PEGGY PURL KNITTERS Blankets etc for the Ōmokoroa community

ŌMOKOROA PUBLIC ARTS Anchor stone in Boat Club garden

ŌMOKOROA ANZAC GROUP Installation of Memorial

LIFESTYLERS LEISURE MARCHERS Setup fees and costs

ŌMOKOROA POLICING GROUP Assistance with expenses

VOLUNTEER FIREMEN Courses for new volunteers

SEA SCOUTS VHF radios and gazebo

OPS NEW ENTRANTS Outdoor kitchen

WAIPUNA HOSPICE Commercial washing machine

ŌMOKOROA ATHLETICS General equipment

TOY LIBRARY Repairs to Shed SPORTS AND REC SOCIETY Towards new building SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM Singlets and balls

Members can share via Ōmokoroa Cyberlink community news and events to over 500 emails. Recent posts include: lost and found, free stuff, requests for help, positions vacant, new local businesses, markets, WBoPDC updates, house rentals/sitters, and workshops. Join up at omokoroabeach.nz/amenities/cyberlink where you can also access recent posts. Or email: cyberlink@omokorobeach.nz with your name and email address.

We are currently doing a door knock appeal for members, so look forward to meeting you. Rick Peers

Casual Football

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e welcome your feedback and letters to the editor. We strive for accuracy, fairness and balance in reporting news of public interest. We request that contributors assist us in upholding standards of decency and privacy - avoiding discrimination and defamation. We reserve the right to edit or abridge submitted material and will identify scribes where appropriate, other than where confidentiality has been assured. Unless an article is marked as supplied, those without bylines will typically have been written by the editor.

Using our advertisers?

Kim McCormack dyeing silk hankies.

Whakamārama Community Inc AGM

Tuesday 29th August, 7.30pm Whakamārama Community Hall 464 Whakamārama Road All welcome Joanne Wiggett 021 678 319

Free Staying Safe Driver Refresher Workshop for Senior Drivers Monday 21st August 2017 9:15 am to 1:30 pm Katikati Community Resource Centre, 45 Beach Road.

Thursday 14th September 2017 9:15 am to 1:30 pm Ōmokoroa Community Church, 139 Hamurana Road.

Open to anyone aged over 70 Tea, coffee and biscuits supplied.

Participants need to bring their lunch.

This is theory based, meaning we’re not behind the steering wheel of a car.

We cover: road rules, intersections and roundabouts; looking out for hazards with searching and scanning skills; rural and urban driving; car care and maintenance hints/reminders; medication and driving.

Participants register with Age Concern Tauranga on 07 578 2631

Puzzle Solutions Str8ts Solution

4 3 8 5 2 6 4 5 7 6 7 5 7 6 3 2 1 4 8 9 9 8

e are an enthusiastic group of crafters who work with many fibres, knitting, spinning, weaving, crocheting, felting and dyeing to create unique yarns and fabrics.

We invite you to join us on Tuesdays in the Ōmokoroa Settlers Hall. Anyone from beginners onwards (all ages) are welcome.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays - 10am - 1pm.

2nd and 4th Tuesdays - 7pm 9.30pm.

We offer opportunities to learn, develop skills, share ideas and access the New Zealand Creative Fibre organisation.

If you would like to know more, phone Robyne 549 5100 or Juanita 548 1229.

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News credibility

Sudoku Solution

7 8 6 6 7 9 8 9 7 6 8 4 3 3 4 5 4 2 1 3 1 2

Getting creative with fibre in Pahoia

Word Search Solution

5 1 3 4 2 1 2 1 8 9 2 9 8 6 7 5 7 6 6 5 3

Trustees, volunteers and recipients share morning tea to celebrate the grant distribution.

Every Wednesday at 7.15pm, a very casual kick around is held at the floodlit bottom soccer pitch of Western Ave, Omokoroa. Anyone over 12 years is welcome, year round. Call Hamish on 552 6427.

Community folk who join Whakamārama Cyberlink are emailed news and events relevant to Whakamāramans, sent to more than 230 families in the area. Posts include: lost and found, free stuff, community road notices, requests for help, positions vacant, markets, WBoPDC updates, house rentals/sitters, workshops, neighbourhood watch, stray stock etc.

We also forward info from Ōmokoroa Cyberlink of general interest.

Join up by emailing: col.hewens@orcon.net.nz asking to be added to Whakamārama Cyberlink.

2 7 8 4 5 3 9 1 6

ŌMOKOROA FOOD BANK Fresh food for food parcels

Contact Heather Reynolds 07 548 1620

5 4 6 9 1 7 8 3 2

ŌMOKOROA BOWLING CLUB Replacement of Scrims

ŌMOKOROA ARTISTS Materials

See Page 8 for more details

3 9 1 6 8 2 5 4 7

MAINLY MUSIC Equipment

Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall Booking Officer

6 8 3 2 7 1 4 9 5

LOVED4LIFE Packs for Ōmokoroa babies

Genuine Italian cuisine available as pre-cooked meals and takeaways.

Cooking classes our specialty.

Have a special event?

Alessandra can be your personal chef.

FB: Amore Omokoroa Ph: 548 2453 or 021 183 5591

Volunteer Vacancy

7 2 5 8 4 9 1 6 3

ŌMOKOROA PLAYCENTRE Shade Sails and CD Player

Amore Omokoroa

PUBLIC NOTICES

4 1 9 3 6 5 7 2 8

GRANTS APPROVED 2017

Tuesday 15th August, 2.30pm at Ōmokoroa Settlers’ Hall

9 5 4 7 3 6 2 8 1

I

Approximately $40,000 has been distributed to our local organisations. In addition, the volunteers have $2,000 of discretionary funds to donate to a worthy cause, or causes, who have not applied for grant funding. They are currently making their decisions.

Our thanks go to all of the locals who donate such nice, clean, good quality items for us to sell that enable us to give to these wonderful organisations in Ōmokoroa.

For all your painting/paper hanging requirements, phone Gerard Quilty on 027 447 5493 or 548 1337 after hours.

8 3 7 1 2 4 6 5 9

By Marlene Mackenzie have wonderful news to share with the Community this month. Our grants have been decided upon and almost all who applied have been given some help for their organisation. This is indeed exciting for our team of volunteers who have put in so much hard work, time and dedicated commitment to the running of ‘The Centre’ thus culminating in this glorious result.

AGM

Painter

1 6 2 5 9 8 3 7 4

Celebration as The Centre shares $40,000

Ōmokoroa Environmental Managers Inc

WORK WANTED

Say you saw them in the Lizard News!

Their advert pays to print the news you're reading.

Lynne Meys (left) and Robyne Melton having fun on our Dartmoor dyeing day.

August 2017 | Lizard News |

23

lizardnews.net

Sunset soon for old Matakana Island ferry he new Matakana Island ferry is almost ready to be put into service, but its operator Glen Proctor has asked for some improvements to be made to the vessel.

He wasn’t entirely happy with sea trials in mid-July.

“It was doing five knots at 1,500 revs or six knots at 2,000 revs. There’s no gearbox because everything is driven by hydraulics including the steering, the doors, and the winch. It’s a good machine, but not as fast as the old barge. I have asked them to do some dampening work. I found it quite noisy,” he says.

When the channel is dredged, and the vehicle ramps have been finished at both ends of the journey, Glen will take delivery of the new ferry, and he’s confident it’ll be good for Matakana and Ōmokoroa.

Meanwhile, as we shared on Facebook on the 25th of June, Glen is also attempting to establish interest in a water taxi service between Ōmokoroa

T

Concrete truck tips over edge

and The Strand.

“I’m chipping away at it. I have been talking with Maritime New Zealand and the city, district and regional councils.

I may also need to apply to become a registered Gold Card operator.”

Glen has had a lot of feedback from recent publicity. He predicts some days he’d have quite a few people wanting to make the journey, while other days he might only have a couple.

“Our accountant needs to put some numbers to the local government bodies for their support. It would have to be subsidised because our running costs would always be up there, regardless of passenger numbers. I think it would benefit everybody to have fewer drivers using State Highway 2 and needing parking spaces in Tauranga.”

Glen’s water taxi is berthed at the bridge marina. He says with ten years of roading projects ahead, there is a need for peninsula residents to have viable transport alternatives in the future.

Thankfully, the driver escaped uninjured when his concrete truck rolled. PHOTOS: Sue Gripton.

he driver of a concrete truck escaped injury when his vehicle rolled off the edge of a retaining wall while pouring concrete in Ōmokoroa last month.

Neighbours took these photos overlooking the Bert Wall Drive extension from nearby Lynley Park. Geoff Gripton says there was little that could be done

T The sun is setting on the old Matakana Island ferry.

Robyn Mayne 021 663 318

Mike Wade 021 726 599

Chris A’Court 021 231 1218

about it immediately in the failing light.

“They got a huge crane and low loader to the site late that Monday afternoon, but were unable to do anything until the next day,” he says.

We understand the driver had quite a scare and took a couple of days off work from Greerton-based Bridgeman Concrete, but is now back on the job.

Murray Browne 021 912 972

Faye Wilton 027 231 7770

15 Greystone Place This spacious, near new home sits on a generous 900m² section in an elevated and popular part of Omokoroa...

www.open2view.com ID 399213 Chris A’Court 07 548 2889 or Robyn Mayne 07 552 5921

39 Holyoake Terrace This immaculate, beautifully designed, high spec home encapsulates everything a discerning buyer could wish for...

www.open2view.com ID 399249 Faye Wilton 027 231 7770 or 07 548 2779

12 Charlotte Place

Private executive home / large site / beautiful views

The vendor of this new G.J.Gardner Home has spared nothing in expressing her creative touch…

Situated on a 1,141m² site in a quiet cul-de-sac, this solid high spec. 292m² home will be a dream come true for a lucky couple or family. The open plan kitchen / dining /family room give a great flow to the home and a separate living room accommodates private reading or quiet TV viewing. The house is well positioned on the elevated site to enjoy all day sun and wide reaching views to the inner harbour and Kaimai ranges...

www.open2view.com ID 399503 Murray Browne 021 912 972

www.open2view.com ID 400252 Robyn Mayne 021 663 318

Retail 2, 170 Omokoroa Rd, Omokoroa 3172 (medical centre complex) Office: 07 548 0779 A/h: 07 552 5921 web: www.claridgesrealestate.co.nz