Hibiscus Matters_Issue 362_11 December 2023

Fury at Gulf Harbour meeting

p2

December 11, 2023

localmatters.co.nz

Solid opposition to concrete plant

p3

n i W

BIG Dire SAtraCitsY L E G

VIP TICKETS

Proudly locally owned

EE

R EE FFR

Children create Christmas cheer In a heart-warming display of community spirit, the Citizens Advice Bureau Hibiscus Coast (CAB) and Ōrewa Primary joined forces to spread festive cheer to patients at the Maygrove Retirement Village hospital in Ōrewa. More than 50 Christmas cards were handmade by the students and personally delivered on December 7 to bring smiles to the faces of elderly residents. From glittery tinsel to collage reindeer, the cards were a testament to the children’s artistic talents and their desire to bring joy to others. CAB manager, Tanya Gouws, says the impact extended beyond the immediate recipients. “Creating and delivering the cards fostered intergenerational bonds. It also served as a reminder that small acts of kindness can have a profound effect on the wellbeing of others. I hope it inspires us as a community to find ways to bring joy and happiness to those around us, regardless of age or circumstance.”

Pictured are Maygrove hospital resident Marilyn Karanagh with, from left, CAB’s Georgie Harvey and Jill Green, Ōrewa Primary students Zander de Klerk, Phoenix Mobberley, Calais Owen and Jin Tran, and teacher Rachel Elder.

HBC_WOF_250x52.indd 1

14/03/22 11:05

Contact us Big turnout for ‘save golf course’ meeting December 12, 2023 – Issue 362

21 FlorenceuAve, Ōrewa, d while be nattende hed, ill w ce ffi o r u O rbis 0931 | isph refu8188 ing427 be09 the buildingHibiscusmatters il or call a m e please s u ct ta n co w: to numbers belo Localmattersnz the mobile

localmatters.co.nz

Next issue: January 15, 2024 Book your advertising now General manager: Jannette Thompson gm@localmatters.co.nz Editorial: Terry Moore ph 022 019 6569 terry@localmatters.co.nz Patrick Goodenough ph 022 549 8271 news@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Angela Gallagher ph 022 029 1895 sellit@localmatters.co.nz Leigh Cameron ph 022 096 8517 sales@localmatters.co.nz Graphic design: Lorry McCarthy hibiscus@localmatters.co.nz A division of Local Matters. Hibiscus Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated to more than 22,450 homes and businesses fortnightly: Pūhoi • Waiwera • Hatfields • Ōrewa • Silverdale • Millwater • Dairy Flat • Red Beach • Whangaparāoa Peninsula Views expressed in Hibiscus Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. Reproduction without editor’s permission is prohibited.

The Vine Community Church CHRISTMAS SERVICE Sunday 24 December 10:00am Location Shakespeare Park

Near the Te Haruhi Bay Campsite (Look for the Vine Church Flags)

ALL WELCOME! www.thevine.nz

An estimated 300 people packed the Wentworth College Sports Centre last Thursday night to express their determination to prevent an attempt by the owners of the shut-down Gulf Harbour Country Club to sever and sell off almost half of the golf course (HM November 27).

Representatives of the lobby group Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces (KWGS) informed residents about steps being taken to counter what it views as tactical manoeuvring by the club’s owners, with an end goal of residential or commercial development on the site.

Preparations for the meeting had already been underway when GHCC’s owners, Long River Investments, applied to Auckland Council for consent to alter the boundaries, effectively splitting the 89 hectare property into two.

One part, north of Gulf Harbour Drive comprising 42.2 percent of the golf course (37.52 ha), would be sold, the application says. The remaining 51.39 ha – along with an additional portion of land which the owners hoped to buy – would be used to redevelop the course “over a more sustainable footprint”.

The application stoked long-held fears that owner, developer Gregory Olliver, may seek a rezoning of the open space-zoned property for development – despite the existence of an encumbrance, agreed between GHCC and council in 2006, protecting the site as open space for 999 years.

Albany ward Councillor John Watson told the meeting Olliver’s “game plan” was becoming clearer.

“We’ve all been wondering for years, what is this guy going to do? Well it’s clear now what that pathway is – a boundary adjustment as a prelude for a plan change, and then a challenge to the current zoning and the encumbrance,” he said. “There’s a lot of big hoops to jump over there, but that’s what he’s gearing up to do.”

Cr Watson and fellow Councillor Wayne

Hundreds of Gulf Harbour residents whose properties adjoin or overlook the golf course are among many in the community who are concerned about its future.

Walker encouraged the community to back the KWGS team, including financially, to cover the costs of lawyers, planning consultants and others needed to ensure the campaign is successful.

“You have a very good team and it’s vital that they have money,” Cr Walker said, adding that strong community support would also send a powerful signal to Olliver and his financial backers.

KWGS representative Chris Gedye said the campaign could potentially involve “multiple court hearings, all the way up to the Supreme Court”.

A council spokesperson told the paper last week that the boundary change application has been put on hold, while council seeks further information from the applicant.

Section 92 of the Resource Management Act allows councils to ask for further information from an applicant. Applicants may refuse to provide that information but must inform council within 15 working days – by December 18 in this case – of what they intend to do.

Even if council ultimately approves the application, that should not automatically annul the encumbrance, in the view of a Land Information NZ (LINZ) solicitor.

“Historically, in common practice subdividing a property does not void an encumbrance,” Eleanor Elvidge told

Hibiscus Matters. “When subdividing, any existing interests on that title are brought forward onto the new titles.”

GHCC was shut abruptly in July, with members informed in a letter that the club was not financially viable and had “no option but to cease operations”.

KWGS has been highlighting the issue of a potential sale to a new operator as a way of resolving the matter, and referred in a presentation to the local board on November 28 to prospective buyers “queuing up”.

Asked to elaborate, KWGS spokesperson Howard Baldwin told the paper the group didn’t want to get into specifics, but there were three categories of potential buyers, in NZ and internationally – wealthy individuals wanting a project with a tourism or golfing focus; syndicates of golfing enthusiasts, some of whom have played pro golf internationally; and business-oriented parties, interested in golfing or tourism ventures.

Baldwin said he took his first phone call from an interested party within a day or two of the news breaking of the club’s closure. The most recent was just last week.

“Our advice to all has been, ‘contact the owners immediately’,” Baldwin says.

He could not comment beyond that, other than to say KWGS is “confident there is interest out there”.

The best gifts are under the tree for beautiful Wishing you the happiest of W iholidays s h i n g y o u t h e m o s t m e m o r funerals able

for beautiful funerals

Christmas with family and friends.

www.dils.co.nz

ADD ROOM, SPACE, AND VALUE TO YOUR HOME

www.shadesdirect.co.nz

www.shadesdirect.co.nz www.shadesdirect.co.nz

2

0800 742 337

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

OUTSIDER

CLEARSPAN

OUTDOOR SCREENS

FOLDING ARM AWNINGS

Contact us for no obligation measure and quote

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Council budget ready for consultation

A fiery meeting of the Budget Committee on December 6 saw Auckland Council’s draft 10-year budget (Long-Term Plan) approved for public consultation.

A number of Councillors, including Cr John Watson, called the asset sales the Mayor is proposing ‘ill-advised asset stripping’. The assets discussed at the meeting were big ticket items such as the rest of the airport shares, and privatisation of the Ports of Auckland operations.

However, the Mayor also intimated that “small regional assets” (the example he gave was Rodney) would be in line for sale.

There was keen interest locally in whether the Mayor would include Auckland Transport’s (AT) proposal to remove the

Gulf Harbour ferry (HM November 27) in the draft document, and ferry users were relieved to see that he has not proposed cancelling that service.

However, regional funding for the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre in Ōrewa, which was $100,000 per annum, will cease at the end of this financial year. In the draft, it is noted that the local board does not have the funds to fill that gap and that the Youth Centre has taken on an Alternative Education contract that will help with financial stability. Cr Watson says that is very disappointing, given the hard work over many years to secure that funding.

“So literally hundreds of millions of dollars in the sale of public assets but not

even $100,000 can be found to keep an incredibly busy and successful youth centre going,” he says.

The draft also includes reducing funding for cycleways and a desire to make public transport faster, more reliable, and easier to use – including the option to use Pay Wave as well as HOP cards, and a $50 per week cap on charges for bus, rail and “inner harbour” ferry services.

The Mayor wants AT to improve temporary traffic management, including reducing the number of road cones and length of time of the works.

When it comes to proposed rates (and water rates) rises – three options are offered for consultation – the Mayor notes that

the National-led Government’s policies of repealing and replacing the Three Waters and removing the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax could have a significant impact.

In addition, the draft budget seeks to accelerate fairer funding and more powers for local boards.

Public consultation for the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 will open in either late February or early March 2024 and the budget will be finalised and adopted in June.

The draft is at www.aucklandcouncil.govt. nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/ our-plans-strategies/budget-plans/long-termplan-2024-2034/Pages/mayoral-proposallong-term-plan-2024-2034.aspx

Silverdale residents want concrete recycling gone A group of Silverdale residents is petitioning Auckland Council to direct Atlas Concrete to move its recycling plant from the area, saying “excessive noise, dust and vibrations” are jeopardising their health and wellbeing.

An imposing concrete block wall built between the plant and neighbouring residential properties is not only unsightly, they say, but also presents a potential safety hazard during heavy rain..

The initiator of the petition, Michaela Back, handed it to council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee last week, along with a slide presentation illustrating the long running dispute with Atlas.

She questions why council granted consent for the plant without seeking nearby residents’ views.

Council licensing and regulatory compliance general manager, James Hassall, told the paper the consent approved in February 2018 was not notified because, in the context of what is permitted in the light industry zone, specialists dealing with issues including air discharge, noise and stormwater “were satisfied effects would be less than minor”.

“And so the application proceeded, subject to conditions addressing the aforementioned effects,” Hassall said. ”Noise experts in particular were satisfied the effects would be acceptable for the industry zone.”

Atlas recycles used concrete that would otherwise go to landfill, repurposing the crushed material into concrete products.

Its Silverdale facility’s eastern perimeter wall is located about 10 metres from the nearest house – where Michaela’s parents live – and about 50 metres from the house

where she lives with her husband, and daughters, aged two and six.

The two houses are at the end of a long drive off Hibiscus Coast Highway. The residents of 10 other addresses along the same private road also signed the petition.

When Michaela’s parents, Henry and Jessica, bought the property more than 20 years ago, they knew it was adjacent to a light industrial area, but the neighbouring business at the time was a water tank manufacturer, she said.

The family later lived abroad and rented out the property, but after they returned in 2016 the ordeal began.

Michaela has copies of correspondence with Atlas and council going back to early 2017 with the construction of the concrete block wall.

Among the issues raised was the ongoing noise from machinery crushing concrete and trucks loading and unloading material, which she said exceeds permitted noise levels, as assessed by her monitoring equipment, and begins some days before 7am.

Emails from Atlas and council over the years included talk of plans to install an “acoustic barrier” around the concrete crusher, and references to the use of sprinklers to reduce dust.

Henry Back’s house stands about 10 metres from the concrete block wall along the eastern perimeter of the concrete recycling plant.

little to no planting, she said. Citing the wall, noise and dust, she wrote that it was “like living in a factory”.

Michaela said they had expected Atlas to plant trees to screen at least some of the wall and reduce noise and dust. But when planting eventually occurred in March this year, no tree taller than one metre was planted.

In one January 2021 email to council, Michaela said the high wall did not comply with the site’s resource consent, which stated: “The activity will not adversely affect any neighbouring properties in terms of visual amenity”.

Last week, on the day she presented the petition to the council committee, Michaela received an email from Atlas saying that, after communicating with its compliance monitor at council about consent conditions, it would be reducing the height of the wall, from 3.2 to 2.5 metres.

She also noted that the consent called for a five metre-wide “landscaping strip” between the plant and boundary. Instead, the strip was just one metre wide, and with

Michaela said the wall needs to be moved altogether, to provide for the required five metre-wide landscaping strip and more effective planting. Reducing the height

would also not resolve the dust problem, she added, and residents would like the concrete crushing operation to be moved further away from the wall.

Hassall said council does not have any statutory power to relocate the business, as sought by the petitioners.

Council was, however, working with Atlas Concrete to ensure it was complying with the consent conditions – “in particular, that a concrete block wall and planting adjacent to residential areas meet the terms of the relevant conditions and that sprinklers designed to suppress dust are working as intended.”

Hassall said that noise levels assessed by an external consultant had been found to comply with applicable limits.

Invitations to Atlas to comment brought no response by press time.

FREE T IMPLAN S T L U S N CO EC FROM D B E F TO

DAZZLE FAMILY DENTAL SILVERDALE

General | Cosmetic | Implants

3/1 Alberto Lane, Silverdale | 421 1140 www.dazzlefamilydental.co.nz www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

3

Study result ‘pre-determined’ local board says Auckland Transport (AT) staff were hauled over the coals at a recent local board workshop, when they presented details about their Whangaparāoa Peninsula Future Transport Options study.

AT initiated the study after fierce public opposition to its plans to scupper the Gulf Harbour ferry service, revealed in its Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) in July.

The study, led by Arup NZ at a cost of $50,000, will be largely desktop, although AT says its staff “will be investigating the site”.

“Insights from the community on their transport needs” will also inform the survey, AT says.

At the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board workshop on December 5, members said that the community’s views were heard loud and clear during consultation on the RPTP, and the study is not needed.

“The community has said very clearly they don’t want the ferry removed, so why would you include it in the scope [for the study]?” member Alexis Poppelbaum asked.

In response, AT Principal Service Network Planner, Dave Hilson, said the study is about “talking to everyone – not just those impacted by the potential loss of the ferry”.

“We will be seeking views from Whangaparāoa residents as a whole – those who may benefit from new bus services,” Hilson said.

Four options are proposed in the study – no changes to the current services; the RPTP

proposal (removal of ferry and better bus services); no extension of NX2 bus services and ferry retained; and a mix such as ferries at peak times only, introducing weekend ferries and changes to the bus network.

Deputy chair Julia Parfitt said the option of improving both the ferry and bus services needs to be added.

“The community want better public transport options – it reduces emissions, and hits the target of increasing public transport use,” Parfitt said.

In response, AT head of Integrated Network Planning, Andrew McGill, said “we can look at that, but there is a fixed ceiling of funding”.

Responding to a question about the effect on buses of traffic congestion on Whangaparāoa Road between Gulf Harbour and the start of Penlink in Stanmore Bay, AT said the study will look at whether parking lanes could be repurposed as bus lanes on Whangaparāoa Road.

Members were firm in their views that the four options given show a level of predetermining the outcome.

The local board was given eight working days to provide feedback on the study, by December 15, after which information will be made public about how “customers” can have their say.

Data collection and initial analysis has already begun. There will be further meetings with councillors and the local board in February and “customer input

AT says public feedback is just one element considered when making decisions, as per its ‘decision wheel’

and feedback” in February/March. AT hopes to seek final endorsement of the decisions made from the local board and AT executive in April, in time for them to be incorporated into the Long Term

Plan, Regional Land Transport Plan and decisions about the Whangaparāoa kiss and ride bus station funding.

AT’s full presentation is linked to this story at www.localmatters.co.nz

Dairy Flat notices of requirement under fire Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport’s Supporting Growth programme was accused of ‘putting the cart before the horse’ by issuing Notices of Requirement (NoR) affecting hundreds of properties in Dairy Flat (HM November 13).

Speaking during the public forum of Rodney Local Board’s November 29 meeting, local resident Peter Sinton said not only had Auckland Council pushed out development of the area from 2032 to 2050, but there was no need for NoRs at this stage anyway.

“Development is a long way away,” he said.

“There are reports here saying the NoRs should proceed – they shouldn’t.”

Sinton said a final structure plan should have been in place before the NoRs were issued, but in fact it is still being worked on.

“It’s fundamentally wrong, it’s the cart

before the horse,” he said. “NoRs have to follow that planning process, not come before. They’re already affecting people.”

Sinton voiced his concerns just before the board considered council’s Spatial Land Use Strategy for Dairy Flat and Silverdale Future Urban Zones, which includes siting two new town centres, a rapid transport corridor and new industrial and residential areas.

Members voiced concerns over siting the town centres in flood-prone areas and the potential impact on existing roads, as well as the timing of the land use strategy and NoRs. Council’s principal planner, Dave Paul, admitted that the whole point of the land use strategy was to tie in with Supporting Growth’s transport programme.

“We tried to look at the potential location for the town centres that could support

and integrate with the rapid transport corridor,” he said. “We’ve been working in conjunction with Supporting Growth for three or four years now.”

Dairy Flat member Louise Johnston asked him if there was a risk in planning new town centres so far ahead, with the climate changing.

“The difficulty is because the Supporting Growth team decided to go ahead with notifying and doing the protected transport programme,” Paul said. “We had to work along with them to identify suitable land uses and were stuck with doing something now. But just because something gets adopted now, it doesn’t mean it can’t be reviewed in future.”

Johnson also voiced concerns over the fact that the strategy appeared to be planning significant housing development in or near

flood plains.

“Healthy Waters said there would need to be more work done around that at the structure plan stage,” Paul said. “And any building would be around a flood plain, not in it.”

Members voted to express concerns on eight separate issues, including that the town centres, rapid transport network and high density housing would be in an identified flood hazard – they asked Healthy Waters to review this before the Spatial Land Use Strategy was adopted.

The strategy had been due to go before council’s Planning, Environment and Parks committee the following day, on November 30. However, after the local board meeting, Johnston contacted the committee chair with their concerns and the item was postponed for consideration of the board’s views.

Macrocarpa | Kitset Raised Gardens | Kitset Compost Bins | Landscape Sleepers | Pergolas & Beams | Dry Macrocarpa for Furniture & Joinery | Laminated Timber Benchtops | Live edge one piece Macrocarps slabs | Firewood, Mulch & Sawdust | Treated Pine | Posts and rails | Retaining walls | Tree Stakes | Decking timber | H5 treated | Posts & Beams.

BUY DIRECT FROM THE SAWMILL

Ask about our kitset raised garden beds, patio planters & compost bins

700 Kahikatea Flat Road, Waitoki • Phone 09 420 5485

sales@cypress-sawmill.co.nz • www.cypress-sawmill.co.nz • 4

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Cypress.Sawmill

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

SOL

SOL

D

SOL

D

D

Viewpoint Louise Johnston, Dairy Flat Representative, Rodney Local Board louise.johnston@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

STREET RECORD HIGHEST PRICE

SOL

Check out the new park to build the future high-density housing, town centres, community facilities, schools and integrated transport networks. With climate change, there is a real risk of planning so far in future, making critical decisions, and spending millions without doing a complete analysis. We have time now to do this, as development won’t start until 2050, and we need to get this right.

On another note, after years of planning, Council is in the process of installing a small car park and bollards to direct park users around our 154 hectare park at Green Road, Dairy Flat. This park is largely farmland with rolling meadows and even a waterfall. The Council’s farming unit is now managing the farm, and while much of the farm infrastructure is run down, the broken fences are slowly being replaced.

Our vision has always been to create a rural Cornwall Park of the North Shore. There is a long way to go and if you are visiting the park it is very similar to a DOC walk where you need good shoes; there is no park infrastructure at this stage such as toilets or even rubbish bins. We have recently formed a Friends of Green Road Park – we held an initial working group meeting in October and had great representatives from across the community. In November, the ‘Friends of Green Road Park’ had a site visit and walked over the park, which took a couple of hours, and we only covered half of it as it is so vast.

As part of the offset environmental mitigations for Penlink, thousands of trees are being planted around the different diverse ecosystems within the park. The Green Road Park project is very exciting. It is a hidden gem and will become a destination park for everyone. Our master plan for Green Road Park is on the council website.

Please get in contact if you have any questions, need further information, or want to become part of the Green Road Park friends group. Wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas and happy 2024.

SOL

D

STREET RECORD HIGHEST PRICE

SOL

D

D

SOLD IN 6 DAYS 13% ABOVE CV

SOLD IN 3 WEEKS

SOL

STREET RECORD HIGHEST PRICE

SOL

SOL

D

D

D

SOLD IN 3 WEEKS

OVER 100 GROUPS

WIN 5 HOURS FREE LABOUR! To thank the community for all your support in my first year of Real Estate I would like to give back 5 hours free labour just in time for Christmas Day!

SOLD SOLD SOLD

115 HOURS &

5 HRS

FREE LABOUR

UNTING...

CO

As Christmas is fast approaching, the Council are forging ahead with the planning for when Dairy Flat is urbanised.

However, there are many moving parts, and sometimes it isn’t easy to see the merits of the decisions being made. Firstly, the Council has recently pushed out the development of Dairy Flat until 2050. This is primarily due to the billions that are needed to fund the required infrastructure. The council has also deemed that the flood risks and land stability issues within the Dairy Flat future urban zone can be managed and that the area is suitable for urban development.

Then, this week, Council planners presented an updated spatial land strategy for Dairy Flat, where they identified the future metropolitan centre for Dairy Flat and two smaller centres near Pine Valley Road.

As a local board, we were concerned that the high-density housing was being proposed in the Dairy Flat stream flood zone area without any detailed investigation into managing the flood risks or geotechnical issues. This analysis will happen, but it will be part of the structure planning, that won’t start for decades.

At the same time, route protection is continuing for 13 individual transport projects that form part of the integrated transport network for when Dairy Flat is urbanised with the lodging of the Notice of Requirements with Auckland Council (HM November 13). There is no funding for any of these projects, with the most controversial one being the location of rapid transport network through Dairy Flat. Submissions will be heard by independent commissions not council, feedback closes on December 14, 2023 which is not ideal timing for busy families impacted by these NORs. For further information on NORs and to provide feedback please refer to the Council website www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ I am concerned that with all the planning for the urbanisation of Dairy Flat, we are not looking for the most climate-resilient areas

SUBURB RECORD FOR LAST 12 MONTHS

SOLD IN 3 WEEKS

Fill in the below entry form and drop it in to the Harcourts Orewa office or email ben.gibson@harcourts.co.nz these details to enter. Entries close 5pm Sunday 17th December and the winner will be contacted that evening. Work will be done before Christmas.

Pic by Dave Mason

ENTER TO WIN 5 HRS FREE LABOUR! Name: Phone Number: Email: Address: See Instagram for my past 5 hours of free labour @orewabeachrealestate

A piece of furniture that Charmaine Allen found put out on the berm near her home in Manly turned out to hold a secret. Charmaine has a furniture upcycling business, Charmed Furniture, and she was immediately drawn to the chest of drawers. The mirror needed replacing, and when she took off the backing, she discovered that the furniture maker had used local newspapers, The Christchurch Star, to pack it. The papers were dated from 1961-62. Charmaine read the papers, and popped them back in when she reinstated the mirror. “I then realised that it was a cool opportunity to add a current paper to it as well,” Charmaine says. “So in went Hibiscus Matters October 2 edition.”

She says it’s exciting to think that “in another 60 years”, someone may again pop open the back of the mirror and work out from the paper date when Charmaine’s careful restoration work was done. www.localmatters.co.nz

BEN GIBSON

027 836 4430 ben.gibson@harcourts.co.nz Licensed Agent REAA 2008

www.orewabeachrealestate.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

5

OurOpinion

Cut through community paper

Social media can be an immediate and helpful tool for contacting someone, or getting a message out there, letting off steam or perhaps finding a missing pet, but there are good reasons why so many people still prefer to read the news, share their thoughts, have their events covered and advertise their businesses, in our local community newspaper. A recent small story highlighted this: a Silverdale charity shop was searching for the descendants of a married couple in a photo donated to the shop. The search went far and wide on social media but bore no fruit. They tried Timespanner, but the result there proved to be incorrect. One mention in Hibiscus Matters quickly brought forward the original owner of the image, who was able to share who the family members were in the portrait, and why it was donated to the Op Shop for sale. There are other examples in this edition too, of connections made through this paper and there is no doubt that reading the newspaper connects us – to businesses, our local politicians, charities, sports and arts organisations and the wider population as this area continues to grow. Newspapers like ours are a way to cut through the mass of information that floods the online space. Our own online presence furthers the reach of the newspaper, but the key in all this is the journalism and advertising in the paper itself – that together they are trusted and local, well read and enjoyed by thousands. Our team, pictured, are all local residents and know the area well.

Our job is getting your sales messages out there, and telling stories that are relevant to our unique place in Auckland. I hope that as a New Year dawns, Hibiscus Matters’ role as the leading source of Coast news gets even more recognition and support, so that we can continue to offer what we consider to be a valuable service. Have a lovely Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year, from all our team.

Terry Moore, Editor

6

YourOpinion Students from Red Beach School’s Room 16 have been doing beach clean-ups all term. A number of them also wrote Letters to the Editor, about the experience. Here is one of them: I’m a student from Red Beach School and our class is doing the Young Ocean Explorers and Sea Cleaners challenge. We went to Red Beach to pick up rubbish and save the sea animals and when we looked at the rocks, I was very disappointed. There was a lot of rubbish like food wrappers, straws, and other things. Later in the day, there was still a lot of rubbish but we weren’t giving up. After a while, we found more stuff like plastic cups, lunchbox parts, and squashed bottle caps. I was so angry. We found over 200 pieces of plastic and other bits and pieces. That’s a lot for a fish’s digestive system to handle. There’s still a lot of rubbish in the ocean and this is killing our sea life. We really want you guys reading this to help save the marine animals. We can start by using reusable plastic so there’s not as much rubbish as there is now. If we don’t, our whole moana will be filled with rubbish.

Come on, we all need to work together to start picking up at least one piece of rubbish a day to save the marine environment for future generations.

Travis Henwood, aged 8

Waste options

We were at the recent excellent Makers Market at Estuary Arts Centre and were so happy to see the three bins for rubbish, recycling and organic waste. They got quite full and volunteers were there to steer people to the right bin. Great education along the way. Progress for Auckland’s zero waste by 2040 target. Then, to our dismay, we were at the Twilight Market at the same venue on Friday. There was a single bin for all rubbish to go to landfill. What is going on here? Is there one rule for one market and another rule for a different market?

Not only is that unfair on the organisers of the Makers Market (we’re sure the three bin arrangements cost more) but it is also sending a terrible message to the public about recycling and separating their waste to reduce the amount going to the landfill.

Something needs to change in a hurry.

Margaret Treter-Bogatski, Red Beach Sarah Gracie-Compain, My Markets organiser, responds (abridged): I apologise that some members of the public were upset that there was not a 3-bin system in place at

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Contributions to this page are welcome but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at www. localmatters.co.nz/opinion Letters should be sent to terry@localmatters.co.nz or 21 Florence Ave, Ōrewa 0931. Note: We do not publish abusive or unsigned letters.

that market. I am very conscious of recycling and reducing waste. Friday evening was not how waste management is generally handled at my markets. I do have the bin lids from the Zero Waste initiative and on Friday I forgot to get them out. The cost of having a 3-bin system with stickers and lids is $220 per bin dropped off and collected by the Zero Waste council initiative. The Ōrewa Xmas Twilight Market is hugely busy – at least 10,000 people attended. That means 30 bins would have been required at a cost of over $6000. Unfortunately I am not in a position to pay $6000 for rubbish bins.

I make sure the event space is left spotless, spending an hour after everyone has left to make sure that any piece of rubbish was picked up.

Editor’s note: It is also worth noting that market-goers can always take their rubbish home and dispose of it there. That is something Council is encouraging more and more by strategic removal of public bins.

Danger for dotterels

Thanks for the update on the Big Manly beach dotterels (HM November 13). I fear we won’t have them there much longer. A few months ago I counted five pairs on one occasion scouting out the beach, and now there seems to be just two pairs left, perhaps still trying to nest. I’m not optimistic they will. I think they’re just too scared of all the dogs running around all the time, which is a huge pity because there’s a big park the dogs could easily enjoy as much close to hand. I see that summer dog rules may offer the dotterels some respite from the dogs, starting at 10am on December 1 – which is most unsatisfactory as it’s long past when the birds clearly wanted to start nesting. And how come summer for them and the dogs starts then anyway?

The notices say summer for them is before 10am and after 5pm or am I reading them wrong? I suppose the birds will just have to learn to tell the time and when time’s up.

Gilbert Peterson, Manly (abridged) Editor’s note: The summer dog rules (Dec 1-March 1) for Manly Beach are that dogs are not permitted on the beach at all between 10am to 5pm, but can be on the beach, off-leash, from 5pm-10am.

Jenny Hanwell of Forest and Bird replies: The challenge of people sharing their space with nature in busy urban areas is ever present at Big Manly. The dog rules are set

by Auckland Council, and those timings

are standard for most Coast beaches.

Enforcement is limited due to budgets.

Dotterels have only nested at Manly in the last three years, and are now seen there all year round, with two chicks successfully raised last year and two the year before. As they have now chosen the beach as a long term nesting and foraging spot, we hope this will make a stronger case for changes to dog rules in the future. In the meantime, the dotterel minders patrol the beach in hivis vests and are vigilant around when and where the birds nest.

A mural in Silverdale that needed more investment to reach completion will be officially ‘opened’ later this month, thanks in part to an article in Hibiscus Matters’ November 13 edition. The mural, on a wall near Pioneer Village in Silverdale had stalled because artist Sue Law had run out of money to pay local artists for their work. After seeing the story, Metlifecare came on board, donating $1250 to help fund the completion of the work. A Metlifecare spokesperson says they were happy to contribute, as the donation supports the company’s “community impact and engagement approach”. Sue says it may also be easier to fund any future public murals, and other small creative projects, as Creative NZ has reevaluated how it allocates funds.

Whangaparāoa Medical Centre’s Dr Cecil Antony and his wife, practice manager Maggie Antony, together with their team, held a Christmas lunch at the Antony’s home, inviting all their patients over the age of 90 years. A total of 17 Nonagenarians attended the lunch on December 2, and were served a roast dinner prepared by Maggie. Dr Cecil’s mother had just turned 90 and therefore was welcomed into the group as well. The staff helped out with serving duties and sang carols. Santa brought little gifts for the guests and helped provide the good cheer.

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Ace of spades digs in

Landscaping company Ace of Spades has built a new community vegie garden beside the Ace of Spades sign at 611 Whangaparāoa Road, with the support of the businesses located there – City Carpets, Peninsula Mowers and Ray Garrets Tyres. Ace of Spades owner Jesse Craig says it’s an opportunity to give back to the community in hard times. The company has put lettuce, tomatoes, silverbeet and herbs in the garden and these will get swapped out as they are used or get to the end of the season. Anyone can plant anything they wish, or make requests. Ace of Spades is maintaining the bed but asks that people respect it – and even water it if it looks dry. If this works well, they would like to add more little gardens in future.

$25-$30 million two years later, might be acceptable. The net income from the proposed sale of 40 cliff top sections will cover the purchase price plus short term finance, infrastructure, consultants and all other costs. Whangaparāoa Golf Course can absorb Gulf Harbour members – golf club membership is declining worldwide and two courses side by side in a comparatively remote spot will not thrive. There is a new championship golf course at Wainui only a few kilometres from the motorway.

Colin MacGillivray, Sarawak Malaysia (abridged)

FOR THE FULL RANGE VISIT A BBQS FROM $479

Park plan for Gulf

After seeing our story on the death of a large number of eels on November 8 in a waterway in D’Oyly Reserve, Stanmore Bay (HM November 27), a reader sent in this photo, taken in the reserve on November 10, concerned about the chemicals being used by the Council contractor. Council’s Healthy Waters (stormwater) general manager, Craig Mcilroy, advises that Healthy Waters has been operating in D’Oyly Reserve since November 2021, undertaking maintenance, including infill planting and weed spraying along the watercourse.

“The products shown are Round-Up 360 Green and Garlon. These were used to target invasive broadleaf weeds on the embankment and a major infestation of parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) recently established over the entire length of the watercourse in the aquatic zone,” he says. Mcilroy says the work is carried out by trained professionals who follow strict controls so as not to harm non-target species. “It is not linked to the milky white contaminant reported upstream of D’Oyly Drive on November 8, along with a number of dead eels. The source and nature of this contaminant is still unknown,” he says.

WE’RE OPEN ALLBRAND/HM122x198/DEC/2

The owner of Gulf Harbour Golf Course has recently submitted a subdivision plan to Auckland Council (HM November 27). My solution to the Gulf Harbour Golf Course issue was emailed to the Mayor in August but got no reply. It proposes turning 90 percent of the existing course into public open space, establishing an 82ha Gulf Harbour Regional Park at no cost to ratepayers as the project can be funded by the subdivision and sale of 40 new cliff top sections. The current 89 hectare golf course is private and the public has no access. That may have been flawed town planning 30 or more years ago. The Council buying the land is not necessary.

The plan works in the public interest whichever entity takes it on. The Council might tell the owner that the 40 sections all clifftop are acceptable provided all the land balance is transferred to the Council for a park. It requires a Plan Change, which would proceed after the entity has bought the whole property. The owner paid $12.8 million for Gulf Harbour Country Club in August 2021. A price above the CV around

MON - SAT Since 1953

0800 800 960 2200d East Coast Road, Silverdale 0932 (Look for us behind Plant Barn)

SALES

I

WWW.GATMANS.CO.NZ GENUINE PARTS I QUALITY SERVICE

BOXING DAY

BED SALE FREE LOCAL DELIVERY* UPTO

65%OFF

ON NZ MADE BEDS

24 MONTHS INTEREST FREE

Earn Flybuys with us!

2181 East Coast Rd, Silverdale

Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm / Sat-Sun 9am - 4pm Ph: 09 281 4989 Beds4U reserve the right to amend any misprints or error within this advertisement. Free delivery applicable on orders above $999 within 15km radius.

Lending criteria, $50 annual Account Fee, fees, Ts&Cs apply. Minimum purchase and/or minimum payment amounts may be required, see offers for details. $55 Establishment Fee applies to your first Long Term Finance (LTF) transaction, $35 Advance Fee applies to subsequent LTF transactions. Expired Promotional Rate of 27.99% p.a. applies to outstanding balance at end of LTF interest free period. Rates and fees subject to change. **All offers valid till promotion ends** Sleepset refers to mattress and base only.

www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

7

Doing it for Mum – as well as many others Thirty-seven years after losing her Mum to cancer at the age of 11, Michelle Kerr of Red Beach is preparing to take on one of New Zealand’s biggest hiking challenges – the South Island leg of the Te Araroa trail – to raise awareness and funds to help others facing the disease.

The 1300 km walk is no stroll in the park for anyone, but having dealt with both a back injury and brain surgery in the past 14 years, Michelle has her work cut out for her when she sets off from Bluff on January 12 for the six-to-eight week trek north to the Marlborough Sounds.

Her determination is evident, though, and she hopes to raise at least $11,000 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBCNZ) - $1000 for each of the years that she had with her Mum. To help her reach the goal, Michelle is running a raffle for a desirable bundle of prizes valued at well over $1300, including fishing lures, backpack, café and supermarket vouchers, and massage, facial and sauna sessions – all donated by “amazingly supportive” local businesses.

Louise Baxter died 16 days after Michelle’s 11th birthday, after contracting multiple myeloma, a blood and bone cancer little known at the time.

“By the time they found out what it was, it was already everywhere,” she says. “It was very quick – a few months.”

Michelle remembers being pulled out of school with her 13-year-old brother Robert, and understanding little about what was happening.

“We didn’t have the Internet. Not much was said. Everything was shoved under the rug and we just carried on.”

It would be some years later that Michelle contacted the Cancer Society to ask for

hips probably aren’t going to get any better.

I want to knock it off,” she says.

Michelle Kerr is ready for her fundraising walk.

“Whatever comes next, I need to do the walk to learn about myself. I’m going to carry my Mum, and my Dad, with me every day.”

Michelle says she’ll also be thinking of “other 11-year-olds out there”, dealing with what she faced.

“Doing this, and having the community support me and getting the word out, is all so good. Together, we can really make a big impact. So I’m optimistic, and would love this to turn into something bigger than I could ever have dreamed of.”

Michelle is selling a maximum of 2000 $5 raffle tickets and the winner will be drawn on December 23 at Ōrewa’s Moana Reserve. 100 percent of takings will go to LBCNZ. Tickets can be bought directly via her LBCNZ fundraising site: https://lbc-community-fundraising.raisely. com/michelle-kerr Michelle’s Te Araroa walk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=61552596384329

information on the disease that took her mum so young.

Two years after Louise died, Michelle’s boatbuilder Dad, David, fell off scaffolding in a drydock, sustaining massive brain damage. He died several weeks later, and Michelle and Robert were cared for by two sets of uncles and aunties.

After completing school at Ōrewa College, Michelle’s travels would take her to Europe, the Middle East – and Alaska, where she met her future husband, Jeremy, on a flight.

They married in 2003 and lived in Alaska for the next 10 years before returning to NZ. Her four children are aged between

12 and 23.

In 2010, Michelle travelled to Seattle to have a brain tumour removed. The surgery left her with no hearing in one ear and weakness down the left side of her body, and she had to teach herself to walk again.

Despite that adversity, and a debilitating annular tear in the lower back in 2017 that laid Michelle up for five months, the Te Araroa has long been beckoning. And now, the flight south is booked and her gear’s ready, including a compact tent and hiking poles that double as tent poles.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for ages, and I feel like now is the time. My knees and

Every day, eight people in New Zealand are diagnosed with blood cancer including multiple myeloma, leukaemia and lymphoma. An estimated 21,000 people live with the condition, which can strike at any time, without warning, and may require months or years of treatment. LBCNZ supports patients and families, raises awareness through information and education sessions, supports and funds research, and advocates on behalf of patients. Its patient services are not funded by the government and rely on donations.

Please find attached logo and pictures FB link is - https://www. facebook.com/profile. php?id=61550075205681&mibextid=vk8aRt My message is - why not keep your property looking and Before

After

Before

After

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning • Tile Cleaning • Waterblasting • House Washing

021 140 0482

info@gbnsolutions.co.nz 8

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

The collection of food scraps began on the Coast a month ago.

Food scrap figures rolled out

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our clients, thank you for your continued support this year, and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

We will be closing December 22 and re-opening January 8, 2024.

VISIQUE HAWKINS OPTOMETRISTS Dennis Oliver • David Joe • Aimee Parangi Eperthea Coetzee • Melissa Steed

Māori representation still possible Māori representation remains a possibility on Auckland Council ‘s governing body, despite the introduction of Māori wards being deferred by councillors in October (HM Oct 30).

During an update from Council’s chief executive at the Governing Body meeting on November 23, Cr Kerrin Leoni asked for a way forward on Māori representation.

Weeks prior, councillors had voted down Māori wards, meaning representation is still lacking on the governing body.

The advent of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) during council’s

amalgamation means Māori are represented on committees but not the governing body.

Cr Leoni said she was disappointed council could not get Māori wards across the line.

“There’s a possibility that there could be two seats appointed by the Mayor, possibly mana whenua or IMSB,” Cr Leoni said, acknowledging that the legislation only allowed this to be for speaking positions without voting rights.

Chief executive Phil Wilson confirmed that was a possibility and that staff would look into it and advise the governing body accordingly as to how it could work.

During the debate for Māori wards Mayor Wayne Brown said it was probably a mistake during amalgamation to exclude the IMSB from the governing body.

Meri Kirihimete! As the Pohutukawa blooms and Tuis sing, I want to express my gratitude for your trust and partnership this year.

Thank you for choosing me for your journey.

May the spirit of Christmas fill your home with aroha and joy.

Nga mihi nui ki a koe!

Deepinder Kaur 027 498 0605 d.kaur@barfoot.co.nz

Shop 20, 175 Millwater Parkway, Silverdale | 426 5308 millwater@seriouseyes.co.nz | www.seriouseyes.co.nz

Sudoku

Fill in this grid so that every column, row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9.

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

7 5 8 9

7

4

1 5 2

9 2

7 5

1 3

T H E N U M B E R S G A M E

4

8

1 6

5 4

1 3 8 4 6

Extra Hard– www.sudokupuzz.com

Since the start of the rollout, in April, Council says 9 million kilograms of household food scraps have been diverted from landfill, Auckland-wide. For the Rodney area, which includes the Hibiscus Coast, Riverhead, Huapai, Kumeu and Warkworth, the estimated weekly weight of food scraps collected has been around 20,000kg per week.

The total collected for Rodney, October 30-November 26, was around 85,000kg.

Some areas have seen reductions in the weight of total refuse in kerbside rubbish bins by up to 20 percent.

The service is paid for by a targeted rate on all Auckland households.

The food scraps are processed at New Zealand’s only anaerobic digestion facility run by Ecogas in Reporoa, which converts the the into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.

The material is transported to the facility from Auckland in trucks that have delivered gravel to Auckland from Taupo. Normally these would return empty, but they now carry the scraps so no extra vehicles are added to the roads.

Council says that the participation rate of Auckland households is around 45-50 percent so far.

Council is now working through a list of residents yet to receive their bins. Multiunit developments, such as apartments and retirement villages will be assessed as to whether a food scraps collection service can be delivered either as normal or as a nonstandard service. In these cases, property managers or body corporates can register with Council for an assessment to design a food scraps service that works for the residents and the property.

The food scraps collections service is part of a four-tiered approach to reduce food waste going to landfill that includes supporting redistribution of food through food rescue initiatives and encouraging home and community composting.

Solution page 38

Auckland Council’s rollout of its kerbside food scrap collection service is now complete – the first collections took place on the Hibiscus Coast on October 30.

www.seriouseyes.co.nz www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

9

y r r e M a u o y h s i w s e u o W r e p s o r p & s a m t Chris ear from the New Y Tin Men. team at

SCRAP METAL & DEMOLITION

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED SCRAP METAL & DEMOLITION COMPANY Scrap Metal and Commercial Clearances – Tin Men specialise in the purchasing of scrap metals, industrial and farmyard clearances as well as demolition work.

• Demolition - Residential and Commercial • Asbestos Removal And Control • Scrap Metal Removal • Transportation of Scrap Metal • Cars - Any Condition • Scrap Metal Bins • Digger Hire And Driver • Labour Hire DONATE AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY WITH TIN MEN.

Tin Men have supported the Hospice Charity for many years. If you’re clearing out your unwanted scrap, drop it off into our charity bin to help Hospice. This bin is located at the front entrance of our Silverdale yard. All proceeds go to the Hospice Charity.

Tin Men help your local fire service. The Fire Service can use your unwanted scrap vehicles to practice on and hone their skills. You can help us help them by donating any unwanted vehicles to this worthy cause.

Tin Men wish to thank the community for their support with donated scrap metal. This enables us to help and support our local hospice. Your continued support is greatly appreciated by all parties involved.

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm | Sat 7am-1pm | Sun Closed 63 Foundry Road, Silverdale | office@tinmen.co.nz

Enquiries phone 0800 846 636 or visit www.tinmen.co.nz 10

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

localbusiness

Teen muso’s songs heard around the world It’s been less than a month since Maia Potter’s first four recorded songs went up on Spotify and other streaming services, and the number of listeners and followers is steadily climbing.

The first track, a wistful, piano-centric 3:45-minute song entitled “before”, has been listened to on Spotify more than 1480 times, by listeners in more than 50 countries. More than 860 users are now following the new artist.

Maia is just 13.

It’s been an exciting time for the year eight Albany Junior High student, who lives in Manly and Greenhithe and hails from a family brimming with creative talent.

For three consecutive years, Maia won or was runner-up in the NZ Music Month North Shore intermediate school songwriting competition. Over the winter, she spent three days in the Devonport studio of Depot Sound, the competition’s sponsor, where her EP was produced and recorded.

“It was a really good learning experience, very beneficial for my musical career,” Maia says. “I really enjoyed it too – it was great fun.”

Unusually for her age, Maia grew up listening to bands that were big before she was born – Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, even the Beatles.

Her own musical journey began with just a simple ukulele, which she picked up quickly.

“She’s just musically minded and was able to figure it out quickly,” says her Dad, Francis. “Some people have to mechanically learn an instrument. Maia just has this ability – it’s like a second language to her.”

She plays the piano and guitar, is learning to play the bass, and says she’d love to learn

Maia: “I would like to go anywhere that music takes me.”

the drums as well.

Maia first started writing songs aged eight or nine.

“I start with a melody, sit at the piano or take out my guitar and just play something,” she says. “If I think, wow, that sounds cool, then I’ll build on it – rather than write lyrics first, and work out chords for it.”

Lyrics tend to be “things that are happening in my life”, with the subject matter also depending on whether the melody she has written is “melodic, sad or happy”.

She cites the late American musician Jeff Buckley as “a super big inspiration for me.”

In addition to her solo material, Maia is part of a six-person school band, The Conspiracy.

In this year’s Rockshop Bandquest contest, with 14 bands participating in the North Shore competition, Maia and bandmate Earl Legasto were awarded for best vocals.

and for other people to love it as much as I do. I never expected my music career to go this far already. I’m super-excited for what may come in the future.”

As she moves up to year nine, 2024 will offer new opportunities including the nextlevel Smokefree Rockquest competition, which unlike Bandquest requires original songs – and also offers a solo/duo category.

Maia enjoys strong support from her school, friends and family, including younger sister Julia.

“I have been fortunate to have also travelled to many countries with my Mum, which I feel has helped me experience a variety of cultures and better understand a diverse range of music genres,” Maia says.

“I would like to go anywhere that music takes me. I just want my music to be heard

“We’re super proud of her,” say Maia’s parents, Francis and Joanna. “It’s just wonderful to see a child of yours who’s got talent, being able to express it and love it and nurture it.”

“Whether it becomes Maia’s career or something that she just loves to do, it’s a fantastic thing to have in your life. Music is so special. It’s something that brings people together.”

Merry Christmas RAY WHITE OREWA WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A VERY

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

We would like to thank everyone for their continuous support and trust in us and our team.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and joyous festive season.

Ray White Orewa | 09 424 9169 | rworewa.co.nz Platinum Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

11

Summerset Milldale * selling off plans now Summerset Milldale is excited to announce our first release of homes are selling off plans now.* Once complete, the village will offer a range of independent homes to choose from including a variety of villa types. Plus, we will have a wide range of care options, including serviced apartments, a care centre and our industry-leading memory care centre. All safe and secure within a fully gated village community.

Summerset Milldale is located close to Silverdale and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in one of Auckland’s newest and most affordable suburbs. It will offer the perfect retirement lifestyle, close to beaches, cafes and shopping, everything the Hibiscus Coast has to offer. Visit our sales office today to discuss the range of homes and floor plans for the first release, with our Sales Manager, Nicola Redmond.

Visit our sales office today

Open Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm

Summerset Milldale sales office 50 Waiwai Drive, Milldale 09 304 1632 | milldale.sales@summerset.co.nz *All Summerset homes are sold under a licence to occupy and are subject to availability. Image is artist impression as of January 2023.

SUM5490_FP

12

SUM5490_FP Milldale Selling off plans December_250x355 v2.indd 1

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

16/11/23 10:54 AM

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Tennis club spreads wings

Weiti Bay ‘beach hut’ takes out title A home in Weiti Bay earned a national title for its builders Moore Construction Company in this year’s House of the Year awards.

The awards were presented at a ceremony on November 25.

The Weiti Bay home won the New Home $2-$4 million category, after taking out the same category in the Auckland regional awards earlier in the year (HM September 4).

The home, nestled on a hill in the Weiti Bay development, is made up of six beach ‘huts’, or pods connected by decking and

www.localmatters.co.nz

enclosed walkways.

There are two bedroom pods, one to house the kitchen and dining room, a living pod, another for the garage and a pool house pod with wet bar, all situated around the pool and main deck.

The judges were impressed that whether the family is cooking, bathing or lounging on window seats, there are views at every turn.

As well as the pool deck, there are five other decks, some covered, some with louvre roofs, and one with a double-sided Escea

gas fireplace, which also heats the adjacent living room. Roofing and decking materials mirror the cedar and Spanlok cladding.

In addition, The House Company, which is based in Silverdale won the national New Home $1-$1.5 million category for this home that the company built in Whangateau.

After more than a decade of trying, Whangaparāoa Tennis Club has permission from Auckland Council to add two more courts, expanding onto Edith Hopper Park in Manly.

Currently the club has six courts, and president Alf Sayer says the news that the local board gave its approval at its November 28 meeting was thrilling.

The club will lease an extra 1100sqm on the reserve to build the two courts, which it is doing at its own expense.

Alf says that in the New Year the club will take the next step of getting plans drawn up. The land is on a partial flood plain, so special attention will need to be paid to rectifying those issues. Resource consent will be needed, and the club will set about raising funds. Alf says some money is already in the pot, but not enough to cover the estimated cost of around $300,000.

The club has been given a five-year window to put its first spade in the ground, but Alf hopes it can be done well before that.

“We recently replaced the roof on the clubhouse, so we’re in a good state of repair to support further growth,” he says.

Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz March 1, 2019, July 15, 2020, November 22, 2021

w

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

13

Christmas chick hopes From left, Andre Dixon of AJ Electrical, Coast Lab’s Suia Westbrook, Will Hunt of North Harbour Law..

Waste busting businesses’ efforts rewarded A range of small to medium sized local businesses have had their efforts at sustainability recognised with Green Scheme certificates.

The certificates were handed out on Wednesday, November 29 at Manly Bowling Club by the Green Scheme’s Estefania (Stef ) Muller Pallarès of Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste and Sarah Carr of Business Whangaparāoa, who collaborate on the scheme.

The idea is to inform, educate and assist companies with specific issues they face as they strive to do more for the environment.

The scheme has expanded from an initial focus on the hospitality trade which has seen Hibiscus Coast cafés and other hospitality outlets divert thousands of kilos of waste from landfill.

Eleven local businesses, ranging from hair and beauty salons to electrical companies, lawyers, cafes and op shops received the certificates for working with the Green Scheme to reduce waste and lower their carbon footprints.

Some of the initiatives participating businesses spoke about introducing included composting green waste,

reducing the volume of paper they use, switching to LED light bulbs, separating and recycling waste, and encouraging staff to avoid single use coffee cups. The Hope Shop in Manly Village writes its price tags in pencil and pins them on, so they can be reused. Linley Wade of Hair Scene described collecting and flattening the foils used when colouring hair and taking them to Alexander Scrap Metal every few weeks, receiving cash in exchange.

Many spoke of the money they saved as a bonus to the environmental spinoffs.

The Green Scheme process begins with a waste audit, providing a baseline from which to measure improvements over time.

Support and advice are provided.

Repair café says thanks

Asked why they were keen to do something positive for the environment, the business owners spoke about the urgent need for action, and the importance of even the smallest changes.

The Hope Shop’s Kelly Townsend agreed that making positive changes is important, but said her concern was that these actions are “at the end of the supply chain”.

“We are cleaning up a mess, not getting to the root of the problem,” she said. “I would like to see something happening at the manufacturing end and lobbying of central government.”

To find out more about the Green Scheme for Business, email info@businessWhangaparāoa. co.nz or hibiscuscoastzerowaste@gmail.com

Hibiscus Coast Community House donated the takings from one of their op shop days, $670, to the Repair Café, enabling the free service to continue. Repair Cafés are held on the first Saturday of the month at the Hibiscus Coast Community House’s corner venue, on the corner of Hibiscus Coast Highway and Centreway Road, Ōrewa.

The next one is on February 3. Bring your sewing, electrical, electronic and general items to be repaired for free by our volunteer repairers. Info: www.facebook.com/even ts/691307769352786/787653966384832/

The pair of rare NZ dotterels that successfully raised two chicks last year have nested at the western end of Tindalls Bay, above the high tide line just before the coast goes round to Manly. This is their third nesting attempt this year, and there is just one egg. Forest and Bird’s Jenny Hanwell says both birds are incubating and defending the egg so they are settled.

Volunteers have installed signage and fencing. The egg will be incubated for approximately 28-30 days, and as it was laid around November 26/26, it may result in a Christmas chick! The team looking after the nesting birds ask that people keep well away from the area, especially with dogs, and that dogs are kept on a lead if passing this area of beach. I If the birds are off the nest for too long due to disturbance it leaves the egg open to predation or overheating and they can be flushed off the nest by a dog from as far as 70 metres away. “If you get too close the birds will approach you and try to distract you from the egg, this is not them being friendly – they are warning you to keep away,” she says.

The other pair of resident Big Manly Dotterels are seen daily at Manly or Tindalls, but there is no sign of a nest yet. One of last year’s chicks has been seen at Wenderholm. Join the Big Manly Dotterels Group on facebook for the latest news and to report sightings.

Tailored moving services

for a seamless, stress-free move.

From packing & moving to unpacking & new home set-up.

Let us look after everything so you can focus on what really matters.

021 180 0651 clare@movebydesign.co.nz www.movebydesign.co.nz

14

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Conservation volunteers celebrated

alexanderscrapmetal@gmail.com

mail.com

alexanderscrapmetal@g

Call 0800 141 530

Call 0800 141 530

Forest & Bird’s Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project recently celebrated their 150 volunteers with an end-of-year awards event.

The event, on November 12, began with a karakia by Hibiscus & Bays Local Board member Jake Law, before project manager Jenny Hanwell shared the highlights from the year, including the best ever results from rat and possum population monitoring, showing that volunteer efforts really are making a difference.

Professor Jim Dale then showed videos of birds of the Hibiscus Coast.

A total of 25 volunteer awards were given out, including the first Golden Trap Award given to long standing data management and trap testing volunteer Paul Wilkinson.

Derek Kelsey, Julian Fripp and Jim Bettridge were recognised for their allround contribution across multiple elements of the project and Kelvin Hempseed received the long service award.

The Community Engagement All Rounder Award went to Debbie Thompson, for her efforts to spread the word about the project this year.

Liz Maire received the first Super Street award (a Metalbird tui) for her role as street trapping coordinator on Motuora Road in

Duff innovation on Penlink

ALEXAND ALEXANDER DER N XA SCRAP METAL SCRAP MET ALE LS TA E M AP SCR 0800 141 530 0800 141 0 53 1 14 00 08 The first Golden Trap award, complete with ‘mouse’, went to data management and trap testing volunteer Paul Wilkinson.

Manly, which she has been doing since 2020. She has displayed the tui on her fence. This is the start of a “super streets” initiative whereby when a street has a certain percentage of people trapping, and a coordinator, Pest Free Hibiscus Coast will award them a Metalbird. This will start properly in the New Year.

Pest Free Hibiscus Coast urgently needs more volunteers as their trapping network and community engagement programme continues to grow. Info: j.hanwell@ forestandbird.org.nz

As part of its O Mahurangi Penlink build, Waka Kotahi is trialling an ecological soil mix called Ecological Mulch Duff Topsoil (Duff for short). It is made of the vegetation harvested on-site blended with existing topsoil. Waka Kotahi says using Duff reduces emissions by importing less topsoil and mulch, reduces waste and enriches the soil.

Penlink is the first infrastructure project in the country to use Duff. In addition, larger logs are being used to provide habitats for planting and fauna and tree trunks and root balls are being used in stream restoration efforts, creating freshwater habitats.

ABOUT US ABOUT US

Alexander Scrap Metals is a long established, N.Z owned, family business located Scrap in Silverdale. service the greater Alexander Metals is We a long established, N.Z Rodney area, but also Auckland and surrounds.

We service all industries, but owned, familycity business located in Silverdale.

We service Z ed, N. ablish g est a lonbut isarea, s tal also specialise in commercial, farm clean ups, factory cleanouts, Me ap the greater Rodney also Auckland city and Scr er nd exa Al e We servicjobs.

Silverdale. in one-off d or ate loc deceased estates household ess sin bu surrounds. ily fam d, owne also Auckland city and area, butbrass, ey copper, Rodn r ate the gre We’ll pay you for lead,specialise cable, batteries, steel, cars, We service all industries, but also in s. nd surrou machinery, aluminium, electric motors, stainless steel, roofing iron commercial, farm clean ups, factory cleanouts, deceased in lise cia spe o als etc.

“Free drop off ” for whiteware etc. t bu s, rie ust household jobs. estates orind one-off vice all We ser ts, deceased clean ups, factory cleanou m far , ial erc comm one-off household jobs. estates oralexanderscrapmetal@gmail.com

CASH FOR SCRAP P batteries, steel, A R530 SC We’ll pay for0800 copper, brass, lead, cable, FOR ASH Cyou 141 cars, machinery, aluminium, electric motors,riestainless www.alexanderscrapmetals.co.nz le, batte s, steel, d, cab ss, lea pper, steel, roofing iron etc.bra “Free drop off ” for whiteware etc. u for co pay yo 26 & 35 Forge St, Silverdale

We’ll inless ic motors, sta021 m, ele| ctr Hugh 021 859 554 Brendan 554 906 miniu ry, alu s, machine car re etc. wa ite wh for ” off p dro ee “Fr . steel, roofing iron etc Proud Sponsor of Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club

www.hibiscusfunerals.co.nz 7 Greenview Lane, Red Beach

www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

15

Finance Greg Douglas,

greg@douglasconsulting.co.nz

Winding up or down for Christmas

Angela Kerr

Xplode Signage

A

ngela Kerr and her business partners Peter Murrie and Peter Kerr are the new owners of Xplode Signage, an iconic company in Silverdale that operated for 19 years under previous owner, Justin Logan.

“We’ve ensured that nothing changes from the way Justin ran Xplode,” says Angela.

“It’s the same people, the same relaxed atmosphere, the same good service.”

Like Justin, Angela grew up locally, went to Ōrewa North primary school and Ōrewa College. She worked for a print broker in Albany for seven years before she and the two Peters decided to take the plunge in Silverdale.

“This business came up and the three of us looked into it and decided it would be a really good investment.”

Three months in, the trio bought a stateof-the art Roland 640 printer, the first in New Zealand, which they say extends the

capabilities they can offer new and existing customers.

Nicknamed Gunna Design – after Gunna, Angela’s rescue dog – the business goes beyond signage, offering a design and print service too.

“It’s going really well,” Angela says. “It’s quite physical at times, and fast-paced.”

Commissions include building, interior, glass and window signage, as well as vehicle wraps, which are “quite fun to do”.

Having never owned a business before, Angela says it’s “a bit scary, but fun at the same time, and you learning lots as you go, day by day”.

And the community has been great. “Ōrewa’s always been supportive,” she says.

“Even when I was growing up everyone supported each other around here. It’s kind of funny when you walk around the shops and it’s, ‘I know you – I went to school with you!’”

Christmas is just around the corner, and this is a good time for business owners, staff and employers to have a well-deserved break, depending on the industry.

For others this is when business ramps up, particularly in retail.

Remember this is the season for goodwill so if you’re a customer, be kind to all the workers who have to work during what business owners hope will be a chaotic shopping season.

While there is a lot going on, we would like to point out a few areas which may not be at the forefront of your planning.

If your business is looking to host a staff Christmas party or supply gifts to clients or staff, there are a couple of things to remember with regards to the deductibility of these expenses. Any expenses relating to food or drink are only 50 percent deductible. This includes bottles of wine or

vouchers, for instance, purchased as gifts.

Many business owners would normally be taking the time to review their business plans and look at ways to improve business and plan for the coming year.

However, it’s important to note this year that we have a newly formed government and the biggest coalition we have had. I therefore suggest waiting before any major plans are made, to see what policies may be brought in or changed that could have an effect on your business in the first 100 days of the coalition being in office.

I encourage everyone, where possible, to find some time to wind down, enjoy the warmer weather and spend time with family and friends – hopefully this might be our first decent summer in two years.

This is Greg’s final column for Hibiscus Matters. Many thanks for all those contributions, Greg.

Green Christmas preferred

A majority of Kiwis would pay for their principles, with two-thirds willing to spend more on a Christmas gift if it was sustainable, a new survey reveals. Banked’s Christmas Spending Survey also found that younger people are more likely to pay extra for a more eco-friendly gift. Seventy-two percent of Gen Z and 74 percent of Millennials would spend more on a gift if it was sustainable, while just over half (52 percent) of Gen X would do the same. At 38 percent, the Baby Boomer generation is the least likely to pay more for a greener gift. More than 1000 New Zealanders had their say in the secondannual Christmas spending survey produced by personal finance website Banked. The survey is at www.banked.co.nz/christmas-spending-survey-2023

Coast not on list

Auckland Council recently announced its lineup of free outdoor entertainment over summer.

However, this year, of 25 Movies in Parks and Music in Parks events, not one is on the Coast.

ng community Midway Flooring want to thank our amazi wish you for all your on-going support in 2023. We r. all a fantastic Christmas & New Yea

Specialising in all your signage needs ENQUIRE ABOUT YOUR NEXT PROJECT OR REQUEST A QUOTE

Confirm your flooring installation before December 21 and go in the draw to WIN a Christmas gift basket from Mor Art – Coast Plaza

1/70 Forge Road, Silverdale | 09 427 4467 021 406 855 | angela@xplodesignage.co.nz

xplodesignage.co.nz | 16

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

localbusiness

From left, Lyla Wilson (8) and Aylssa Du Plooy (8) exit one of the inflatable obstacles.

Wishing you a very happy & safe Christmas with family & friends and a great 2024, Best Wishes

Blow ups inflate fundraiser A fun, and slightly competitive, fundraising initiative at Stanmore Bay School on December 1 has so far raised more than $18,000 for playground equipment upgrades and seating.

The event, organised by the school’s PTA, was open to all students and parents/caregivers and involved laps of an inflatable obstacle course provided by CLM Community Sport.

Stanmore Bay principal, Matt Sides, says although the primary purpose was fun, and a chance for the school community to come together, students also had obtained sponsorship based on the number of laps they hoped to complete.

Each class had 30 minutes to do as many laps as possible. The course was set up for the whole day with everyone getting to have a go.

Members of the Auckland Blues rugby squads were there as special guests as part

Mark Mitchell MP for Whangaparāoa mark.mitchellmp@parliament.govt.nz 09 426 6215

From left, Archie McLeod, (9), and Felicity Brown (8) jump for joy before taking on the inflatable obstacle course.

of their “toy drive” but members from the male and female squads did a few laps of the course as well as handing out Blues flags and signing autographs.

The fundraising portal concluded on Friday, December 8 but when Hibiscus Matters went to print, more than $18,000 had been raised.

More Inflatable fun

The popular inflatable Waterworld course is again coming to Big Manly and Stanmore Bay. It will be anchored at Big Manly January 11-16, followed by Stanmore Bay, January 17-22. Bookings are open now at www.wipeout.co.nz/

Authorised by Mark Mitchell, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.

0800 420 470 info@hibiscusfunerals.co.nz w w w. h i b i s c u s f u n e r a l s . c o . n z 7 Greenview Lane, Red Beach

You can't predict the future, but you can plan for it.

Call Tracey to chat about your family's needs. With services starting from $2595 plus GST, there are options to suit any budget. Whether you want a party, quiet farewell, a burial or cremation, Tracey's got you covered.

Our family. Caring for your family.

www.localmatters.co.nz

Tracey Brown, the friendliest funeral director in town.

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

17

Amy and Grant Difford

Plots and Pickles

T

ucked away in an office in Gulf Harbour is a treasure trove of collectibles and a business that has taken antique sales into the 21st century.

Grant and Amy Difford wanted to turn their love of mid-century pieces into a business, and the death of someone close to them was the catalyst to take that leap of faith.

“It made us reflect on life, and we figured – let’s just do it,” Grant says.

Plots and Pickles began online in May, selling pieces that Grant sourced from far and wide, and chose for their quality and appeal.

Items such as mid-century furniture, Art Deco, homewares, vintage tins and lights – anything that is well made and original can catch Grant’s experienced eye.

“We live in a new house, but when you add pieces from another era, you bring a story into

a space,” Amy says. “It’s also so important to reuse older things and give them new life.”

Careful choice of items and good prices saw the business quickly snowball. Amy uses her skills in operations and customer relations, while Grant sources the pieces and delivers Auckland-wide.

“It’s run like an old-school family business,” Grant says. “It may be online, but personal service is absolutely vital.”

Five months on, and it has grown from a hobby into selling nationwide.

“We now need to work out how to grow, which is a great problem to have,” Grant says.

You can view pieces in the Gulf Harbour office, 69 Gulf Harbour Drive, by appointment, and in the lead-up to Christmas Plots and Pickles is open from 10am-1pm every Saturday.

Quirky, Vintage, & Everything in Between

Plots & P ic kl es

The Local Food Market

T

here’s a new place to get your fresh produce and groceries in Manly Village, with the arrival of The Local Food Market last

month.

Stocking a range of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and groceries – including organic and gluten free options and alternative milks – is a focus for owner Nhou My, who heads to the Auckland city markets several times a week before dawn to ensure the freshness of his stock.

Nhou My

He learned the retail trade by working for an Albany store, which he then bought and ran until recently. He also had a butchery in Pt Chevalier.

Fresh meat will be added to The Local Food Market’s wares soon, Nhou says, once he finds a butcher to work for him.

Another focus is keeping prices as low as he can for his customers.

He also has a good range of Asian groceries available.

Nhou says he loved the peace and quiet in New Zealand, and once he married a New Zealander, he knew this would be his permanent home.

Originally from Cambodia, Nhou moved to New Zealand in 2009 to study English at MIT. His hard work saw him go from speaking no English at all, to being proficient enough to run his own business.

“I like seeing all the fresh produce around the store and talking with people,” he says.

“It is such a good start to every day.”

Ask him what he likes about owning a retail business, and he smiles widely.

The Local Food Market Village For fresh fruit & produce in the heart of Manly

aturday Every S ristmas h C l i t n u 1pm 10am -

Viewings at other times by arrangement Please contact us on 021404343 or 021404130 or email booking@plotsandpickles.com

www.plotsandpickles.com Use code: VINTAGEMATTERS for 15% OFF! Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Valid for 1 use per person until 31 March 2024.

18

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Mon-Sun 8.30am-6.30pm 54 Rawhiti Road, Manly | ph 424 2280 localbusiness

Locally owned & operated, Kinetics is a physiotherapy & physical rehabilitation clinic with a friendly approach & a passion for achieving results.

For further information visit www.kineticsrehab.co.nz

Health David Cooper, physiotherapist david@kineticsrehab.co.nz

To book an appointment:

Ph 424 5632

Focus on people It seems that I have been bestowed the honour of signing off my Health column for 2023 in the last issue, so here goes with some end-of-year wisdom. Or something like that.

It is a year that has seen a number of challenges, namely the weather events in January and February. At the very least the benefit from this has been a lesson in resilience. Now however it is time to look forward.

We are well and truly locked into the time of year when Christmas carols echo around the malls, petrol station forecourts and business reception areas. Christmas trees are set up, baubles are hung and you struggle with that birds nest of tinsel that you swear was packed away in an orderly fashion 10 months ago. Workplace Christmas parties are in full swing and the planning is well underway for the family function.

My three tips for the Christmas period are as follows: • Switch off! Everything. Work emails, phones, technology. Reconnect with people.

• Less is more. There is a fine line between enjoying oneself and over-indulgence. • There is nothing better than left-overs!

Following the Christmas hype there will be the New Year’s buzz, when some may look to a new goal or resolution. Though

No local TRY

I have personally never really had a New Year’s resolution, laying down a challenge is a great way to start a calendar year.

My advice is to keep those resolutions realistic. We all have that BHAG (big, hairy audacious goal) but most big achievements come from the combination of a number of smaller goals. A new step up in your career comes from working away at the lower rungs to get noticed. That target weight comes from months in the gym, walking or on a bike. • Small goals make big goals. • Tell others about your goals– they can help keep you accountable. • Positivity makes all the difference, believe in yourself!

On a personal note many of the columns that I have written over the last few years have been my own goals coming to life.

The readers have been those to ‘hold me accountable’ (even if I didn’t meet you!).

These columns also helped me to look for the positives despite the challenging times this year has thrown at us.

So finally I would like to thank all the readers over the last few years. I thoroughly enjoy the process of researching, crafting, and writing these columns.

A big Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

There will be no local Weetbix TRYathlon in Manly this summer. There are only 11 taking place and the nearest location is the Central East event, in Point England on March 24. The TRYathlon was last held at Manly Park and Beach in 2020. A Sanitarium spokesperson says the company hopes to get the TRYathlon back to pre-Covid-19 levels “in the coming years”. Info: https://tryathlon.co.nz/locations/central-east-auckland/

www.localmatters.co.nz

Now at ‘Kinetics Corner’ QUALITY ACCREDITED & REGISTERED PROVIDER.

2/719 Whangaparaoa Rd Stanmore Bay

Whangaparaoa Methodist Parish Christmas Services 2023 Sunday December 24, 9.30am, Kinetics Whangaparaoa is relocating Manly Church, Carols and Readings Rev Val Nicholls Rev Sione Tesimale. to 2/719and Whangaparaoa Road!!

Sunday December 24, 11am, Waitoki Church Baptism lunch Phone number will –remain theand same: 09 424 5632 Rev Andrew Gamman Sunday December 24, 7.30pm Red Beach Church – Children’s Pageant Rev Graeme White Monday Dec 25, 9.30am, Red Beach Church Rev Sione Tesimale For more information phone 426 5615 Manly Church – 1 Walbrook Rd | Red Beach Church – 76 Red Beach Rd Waitoki Church – 1101 Kahikatea Flat Rd

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

19

Stroke Club needs caring heart and helping hand For nearly 40 years the Rodney Stroke Club has brought together stroke survivors for fun, food and friendshipfilled Friday mornings at the Red Beach Methodist Church hall. For many, it’s a highpoint of the week.

But the future looks uncertain, as two longserving volunteer coordinators prepare to stand down, with no successors in sight.

Gaye Miller and Lillian Carde, both in their late 70s, have been sharing the role for the past 15 years. If replacements are not found, there are fears the club may have to close.

“It makes a real difference in the lives of people,” says Don Scandrett, general manger-northern for the Stroke Foundation. “I do worry that if they can’t get someone, it won’t be possible to continue operating.”

Many of those coming regularly to the club would probably find themselves staying at home more – or have to look for other things to do, he says.

“I don’t know what other options there are out there for them.”

Gaye and Lillian say sharing the responsibilities has worked well, and other volunteers have helped to carry the load, although none are able to step into the coordinator role.

“It needs somebody who just has a heart for people,” says Lillian. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful job. We’ve really enjoyed it.”

“We’ve done it for 15 years, and it’s time to pass it on to somebody younger,” says Gaye. “While we’re fit and able, I think it’s good to pass on to somebody else now, rather than wait until one of us can’t.”

They will happily mentor the next coordinators.

On a recent Friday morning, 14 members

Lillian Carde and Gaye Miller, standing, with some of the club members.

are playing indoor bowls, ably assisted by Gaye and Lillian.

Other volunteers, including Gaye’s husband Rod and Maree O’Connor – “she’s brilliant, she’s our right-hand lady”, says Gaye – are helping out in the kitchen, preparing a scrumptious-looking lunch of sandwiches, cakes, fruit, lollies and other treats.

Nearby another volunteer, Roy Steen, plays favourites on a keyboard, providing background music often drowned out by laughter and banter.

Members range from lively to frail, some needing significantly more help than others with the bowls. Bingo is planned for later, but first comes lunch, the arrival of a cake, and the enthusiastic singing of

Happy Birthday for Gaye.

A longstanding member says grace ahead of the meal, and prays that the right person is found as the next coordinator.

Many in the group are very alert – the morning of the visit coincides with the announcement of the new government, and as news of the ministerial posts is read off a phone, it prompts some animated discussion.

The group has occasional outings, such as dinner and a film at the Hibiscus Village, or visits to places like the Navy Museum or Sheepworld. Birthdays are celebrated, and a Christmas bash is held at the last meeting of the year.

day out in the week. And many just want somebody to talk to.”

Ray Miller, who suffered a stroke early last year, has been coming to the group for 18 months.

“It’s hard to put into words” what it means to attend, he says. “It’s friendly, a good lunch. I never played bowls or bingo ever before. We really enjoy it.”

“I’m independent but not that independent.

They are all volunteers, excellent people.

They do tremendous work.”

Ray says he sincerely hopes the group won’t close. If it did, it would “leave a huge gap”.

Info: contact Gaye on 021 410 462, Lillian on 021 268 7606 or Don Scandrett, Stroke Foundation Northern office on 09 478 0070.

Millwater Denta

MillwaterDental Dent Millwater

“It’s a fun thing,” Gaye says of the weekly gatherings. “For some of them, it’s the only

Smiles by Design, Care for the whole family

Smiles

by Design, forwhole the whole family Smiles

by Design, CareCare for the family

Millwater Dental Smiles by Design, Care for the whole family

Jason Dr Dr Lillian Hsu Wang DrDrDr Jason Ella Wang Lillian Dr Jason NgNgNg Ella Wang HsuHsuEllaElla Jason Ng DrDrLillian Wang Lillian Hsu

Dr Jason Ng

Dr Lillian Hsu

Ella Wang

Gain clarity, quieten the mind, enjoy deep relaxation We offer Invisalign Orthodontic treatment, restorative We offer lnvisalign Orthodontic treatment, restorative and cosmetic We offer lnvisalign Orthodontic treatment, restorative and cosmetic lnvisalign Orthodontic restorative cosmetic Access Bars | Access Facelift | Facilitation | Workshops | ClassesWe offer and cosmetic dentaltreatment, care. We also offer free and routine dentalcare, care, we offeroffer free dental treatmenttreatment for dental wealso also free dental for

care, we also offerfor free dental treatment for We offer lnvisaligndental Orthodontic treatment, restorative and cosmetic dental treatment school high school students up tohigh the age of 18students years To find out more about our services high school students up to the age of 18 years students to the 18 years (years 9-13)free up up todental the ageage of 18ofyears old. therelaxationstudio.co.nz dental care,high we school also offer treatment for

Come meet the team at www.millwaterdental.co.nz Come meet the team www.millwaterdental.co.nz Call now to arrange anat: appointment on (09) 972 1518

highCome school students up to www.millwaterdental.co.nz the of 18 years meet team at age www.millwaterdental.co.nz Come meet the the team at

Mon–Fri 10.30am-6pm 10/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale or email reception@millwaterdental.co.nz Call now totoat arrange anappointment appointment on 15 Call arrange on 972(09) 1518972 em leanne@therelaxationstudio.co.nz Come meet team www.millwaterdental.co.nz Callthe now tonow arrange an an appointment on09(09) 972 1518 email: reception@millwaterdental.co.nz reception@millwaterdental.co.nz ph 027 669 4300 ~ The Relaxation Studio ororemail or email reception@millwaterdental.co.nz 20

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Call now to arrange an appointment on (09) 972 1518 Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters or email reception@millwaterdental.co.nz

New Coastie Ed Amon

edamonnz@gmail.com

A poonami of pride Kia ora e te whānau. Kei te pēhea koutou?

How are you all holding up? It has been a difficult year for many of us. Now as the summer arrives and the New Year looms large, I hope that Santa brings everyone joy and good fortune making 2024 a magical year for all of us on our beautiful coast.

Everything is fine with me. My research work is going at an acceptable speed and my PhD deadlines are giving me nightmares.

Oh, and by the way since the last time you and I talked, I have become a father. Nau mai haere mai e te pēpi ki te ao mārama. Let us all welcome the little one to this world of light and life. Just before writing this, I dealt with a poonami. I am sure all parents are acquainted with this phenomenon. The word is a derivative of tsunami and as we live on the coast we know all about those. There is no warning for a poonami. A poonami is always a surprise and wreaks havoc only known to sleepless parents. It breaks through the diaper barrier, then destroys the onesie, the swaddle, and the blanket. This latest one was so enormous that I had it on my t-shirt.

If there was a Richter scale for poonamis, then this one was 11. How can a tiny little three and a half kilogram creature produce such copious amounts of poo? I am a father, I suck it up and deal with it. The baby being

only a week old, I have become a Ninja with diaper changes. I have a system. If there were a Nobel prize for diaper change, I would get it. People without children and prospective parents beware. I am going to become unbearable at parties. My parental hubris will patronise you every time you complain about your cold latte. I am the father, the great teacher, the protector, the hero of all heroes, the happiest person alive.

Seriously though, the joy. Oh my goodness.

The joy I felt when I first saw my little girl has no bounds like our expanding universe.

Our birth experience was a roller coaster.

Nothing went to plan for my wife. I will discuss that in another article but I am in awe of my wife’s strength and courage.

I definitely have to thank all the excellent healthcare professionals who helped us through our birthing journey. Our system is stretched and at a breaking point but these people give it their best for patient care. Yes, this was a bit of a self-indulgent column, but there is nothing more important to me at the moment. The world just becomes a hazy background like those online Zoom meetings. I am so glad that my baby will grow up on our beautiful coast. I am sure she will make her community very proud.

Her dad is already exploding with pride.

International prize for Millwater author

One of Millwater author Karen McMillan’s books has won a cookbook award. Her The Quokka Logic and Baking Book (Duckling Publishing) took third place in the Baking Book Category at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, held in Saudi Arabia last month. Karen says the win was all the more heartfelt as most of the recipes are from her mum’s handwritten recipe book.

Supreme

nchi s

Thursday 14th December, 7:30pm–10pm Get into the holiday spirit at the Gulf Rise Christmas Lighting Evening. Once the sun sets, watch our village light up as our talented residents come together and decorate their windows and balconies with twinkling lights.

Join us for an evening of festive fun and a sausage sizzle.

e

e Award

Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast

F ra

Christmas Lights Night

Care Suites Available now!

2023

Keep your independence and freedom with our safe, reliable companion driving service • •

Medical and other appointments Family/social occasions

• • •

Shopping trips Scenic drives Take your pets to the vets

Total Mobility Scheme cards accepted. ACC contracted supplier.

(Vendor Number: VBD580)

Bookings essential, call Dave & Kathryn today: Ph: 09 428 4490 / 021 035 0431 hibiscus@drivingmissdaisy.co.nz www.drivingmissdaisy.co.nz

New facilities now open Wellness Centre with pool, gym and salon Library, lounge, activities and billiard rooms Café, bar and covered outdoor terrace Apartments from $735,000^ Find a village that feels like home Call reception on 09 553 6103 gulfrisesales@metlifecare.co.nz 89 Symes Drive, Red Beach | metlifecare.co.nz

6934a-GUL-LM

We can drive and accompany you to:

^ Price is for an Occupation Right Agreement secured by a first ranking mortgage in favour of the statutory supervisor on behalf of the residents. Price valid for 30 days from time of printing. Stock availability subject to change. Car park not included in price.

Driving Miss Daisy Hibiscus Coast

www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

21

waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz

ACROSS 1 Near death; very old (3,4,2,3,5) 10 Not scared (8) 15 Accompany (6) 16 Participate in or undergo (10) 17 Sired (8) 19 Make agitated, confused (7) 21 Feebly humorous (5) 22 Transport for injured (9) 25 Butter substitute (9) 27 Bent (7) 29 Polish composer (6) 33 Glossy fabric (5) 34 Orators (8) 36 Decorative needlework (10) 39 Sphere (3) 41 At top speed (4,3) 42 Remove bones from (6) 43 Window shade (6) 44 Opinion (4) 45 Brilliant red (7) 48 Increased or developed rapidly (10) 53 Comes to pass (7) 57 Boulder (4) 58 Mooring cable (6) 59 Shared (6) 60 Mollify (7) 62 A metal (3) 64 Coffin escorter (10) 65 Scholastic (8) 66 Playing card (5) 69 Stock feed (6) 70 General pardon (7) 71 Protest (9) 76 Genuine (9) 77 Humorist (5) 78 Curt (7) 83 Flying (8) 84 Stirs the feelings, emotions of (10)

Crossword conundrum #22

85 Meagre (6) 86 Signed up (8) 87 Receive rapturous applause (5,3,5,4)

DOWN 2 Snuggle (6) 3 Teeth-cleaning thread (5) 4 Not at home (3) 5 Notion (4) 6 Violent tropical storm (7) 7 Wayward (6) 8 Coral bank (4) 9 Profession (8) 11 Subtle difference (6) 12 Temperature scale (10) 13 Well ventilated (4) 14 Ire (7) 18 Resolute (10) 20 Advantage (4) 23 Thin pancake (5) 24 Desire for food, drink (8) 26 Pilot (7) 28 Rice dish (7) 30 Pungent bulb (6) 31 Prosperity (6) 32 Battlefield ditch (6) 35 Farewell (5) 37 Shows tiredness or boredom (5) 38 Artifice (4) 40 Soothing ointment (4) 45 Thick sweet liquid (5) 46 Strong praise (8) 47 Drink sachet (3,3) 48 Brains behind a scheme (10) 49 Arrange by categories (4) 50 Scrap, leftover (7) 51 Bandit (6) 61 Grovelling (10) 52 Thrill (5) 63 Metal joiner (5) 54 Confederate (4) 67 Official list of names (8) 68 Celebrity (4) 55 Small flute (7) 69 Ceremonial trumpet call (7) 56 Spice (6)

72 73 74 75 79

Fragile (7) Complain peevishly (6) Drinking vessel (6) Rabbit hole (6) Cold dish (5)

80 Spoken or verbal (4) 81 Portent (4) 82 Capital of Norway (4) 85 Infection liquid (3)

© The Puzzle Company

Solution p37

KING SINGLE ADJUSTABLE

BED PACKAGE! NOW ONLY

$

3250

TOTAL VALUE

$4693

FEATURES KING SINGLE ‘AH BEARD INTEGRA HYBRID THERMOLASTIC POCKET SPRING MATTRESS’ WITH KING SINGLE REFRESH ADJUSTABLE BASE! SILVERDALE STORE

NORTH SHORE STORE

SHOP 3, 61 SILVERDALE ST.

16F LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK

09 421 1307

09 444 0244

(NEXT TO THE CHEMIST WAREHOUSE)

22

SAME BASE WITH KING KOIL HAWEA MATTRESS ONLY $2750!

SAME BASE WITH KING KOIL TEKAPO MATTRESS ONLY $2950!

SAME BASE WITH ‘INTEGRA PLUS’ MATTRESS ONLY $3450!

HOT PACKAGE PRICES

(DOWN THE DRIVE FROM FOUR SEASONS)

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz feature.festivefun

The five townhouses add more Christmas lights every year.

feature.festivefun

Lights brighten neighbourly relations Once Christmas light fever takes hold, things can get competitive, as a group of neighbours on Waterside Crescent, Gulf Harbour, found out.

Seven years ago, when Pippa Macdonald moved in, she brought festive lights with her that had special significance. They were the last gift that her late husband John gave her before he died. She put them up and had enough to share with her neighbours.

Lights fantastic

Several years later, four other townhouse owners have joined in, and the lights are getting bigger and better every year.

Sue Bunce has gone out of her way to find some “mind blowing”, top of the range lights this year. She has wifi control over the lights via an app.

Neighbours, from left, Pippa Macdonald, Mark Crosby and Sue Bunce, say things get pretty competitive at Christmas. Together with Chezaire Brown and Mark Tomkins, they light up their homes for passers-by to enjoy.

Mark Crosby added strings of lights to the street palm trees this year, which required a very long ladder and considerable time and trouble. He says his involvement came from “peer pressure” but in the best possible way.

The neighbours agree that in the process, they have got to know each other, and also enjoy seeing the reactions of people who stop to look at the lights on their way down Laurie Southwick Parade.

“We egg each other on,” he says.

Sue says one passer-by told her that now

These tours are combinable!!

These tours are Just ask us how. combinable!!

Just ask us how.

he’s seen their lights, his wife wants him to put some up too.

“It’s a great thing to see it spread,” she says.

The lights went up last month – “I know we’re early, but we are all so competitive, and we love it,” Sue says.

Southern India Southern India An escorted Small Group

Exotic Rajasthan Exotic Rajasthan An escorted Small Group

17 DAY TOUR INCLUDING AIRFARES

14 DAY TOUR INCLUDING AIRFARES

tour with YouSmall Travel Orewa An escorted Group 14th 30thYou MarTravel 2024 Orewa tour -with 14th - 30th Mar 2024

tour with YouSmall Travel Orewa An escorted Group 28th 10thTravel Apr 2024 tour Mar with-You Orewa 28th Mar - 10th Apr 2024

9999 9999

* AIRFARES $17 DAY TOUR INCLUDING TWIN pp * SHARE $ TWIN pp SHARE

$ $

Join us onofthis fascinating exploration the of India’s heritage Chennai and Pondicherry, south, from the modernity to the melting-pot of Cochin and of theMumbai emerald-green heritage of Chennai and Pondicherry, the plantations ofofMunnar.

We end with a tranquil melting-pot Cochin and the emerald-green Kettuvalum of cruise through the scenic plantations Munnar.

We end with a tranquil Kettuvalum cruise through the scenic backwaters backwaters of Kerala. of Kerala.

SOLO SUPPLEMENT $2400 INCLUSIONS:

• Return airfares from Auckland, Economy Class

INCLUSIONS: • Return airport transfers

•• Return airfaresmeet fromand Auckland, Class Personalised greet atEconomy all airports in • Return India airport transfers •• Personalised meet and greetinat4-star all airports 14India nights’ accommodation hotels, 2 in nights’ Kettuvallam houseboat • 14 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels, nights’ Kettuvallam • 2Breakfast and dinner houseboat daily in India • Breakfast dinner daily in India (all meals and onboard the houseboat) (all meals onboard the houseboat)

8450 pp 8450 pp

14 DAY TOUR INCLUDING * AIRFARES TWIN * SHARE TWIN SOLO SUPPLEMENT $1550 SHARE

SOLO SUPPLEMENT $2400

Have you ever wanted to see Mumbai, the New York of India?

Have you wanted to see Join us on this ever fascinating exploration of India’s Mumbai, the New York of to India? south, from the modernity of Mumbai the

• Greg Sager of 39 Clea View in Gulf Harbour got the family’s light display on at the start of this month. He says some others have also started putting lights up in the street. Greg has redesigned the lights and upgraded to commercial standard to give better control of colour selection. The snow machine is back, joined by a bubble machine. Greg says on Christmas Eve they have a real fruit ice cream truck coming and maybe a few more surprises in the works as well.

• One of the most popular Christmas light displays is at Vista Motu in Red Beach, and there are also a number in Millwater.

Embark on a captivating journey through India’s golden triangle Embark on a captivating journey and beyond. through golden triangle This trip has aIndia’s mesmerizing itinerary blending and beyond. historic grandeur, local fl avours, and stunning

This trip has off a mesmerizing itinerary blending landscapes, ering an unforgettable tapestry historic local fland avours, and stunning of India’sgrandeur, diverse beauty culture, from the landscapes, offering an unforgettable tapestry of Taj Mahal to the Pink City Jaipurfrom and of course India’s diverse beauty andof culture, the the site ofto thethe fi lm - The Marigold Taj Mahal Pink CityExotic of Jaipur and ofHotel! course the site of the film - The Exotic Marigold Hotel!

SOLO SUPPLEMENT $1550 INCLUSIONS:

• Return airfares from Auckland, INCLUSIONS: Economy Class, return airport transfers • Return airfares from Auckland, • Personalised meet and greet all Economy Class, return airportattransfers in India •airports Personalised meet and greet at all airports in India • Air-conditioned vehicle travel • vehicle travel • 1Air-conditioned 1 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels 11 nights’ and accommodation 4-star hotels • •Breakfast dinner daily ininIndia •plus Breakfast a Highand Teadinner daily in India plus a High Tea

We will also be having an Escorted tour/River Cruise in Europe in Sept 2024. Please register your interest!

Contact your local store today.

YOU Travel Orewa 26 Hillary Square, Orewa

09 426 5743

orewa@youtravel.co.nz

Please enquire about an option to upgrade to Premium Economy or Business Class on international flights. T&Cs apply.

feature.festivefun

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

23

BOOK HEAVEN Whangaparāoa Methodist Church

Pre-Loved Books and puzzles

Donations of books welcomed Monday-Saturday: 10am-4pm 76 Red Beach Rd, Red Beach | phone 426 5615

Whangaparaoa Medical Centre

W M C

Dr Cecil Antony and the team at Whangaparaoa Medical Centre wish all our patients a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and safe holidays.

Come and meet our friendly team, we are enrolling new patients. Check our website for fees and details.

We are closed for Christmas from December 25 until January 3, 2024.

(Back to normal hours January 3)

Coastguard Zane Bryhn, Coastguard Hibiscus crew chief www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz

Fundraising crew out and about The busy time of the year is upon us however we are still eagerly awaiting the return of Hibiscus Rescue 1 after her full refit. As you pull things apart you find more and more that needs doing, so ensuring that the vessel will keep us going for another five years means that all those things have to be rectified and certified.

The Coastguard lottery has launched and this fundraising activity, which has been running for 20 years, is one of the biggest contributors to keeping our vessel on the water. For each ticket sold by Hibiscus, $7 is returned to the unit. We will be out and about selling these tickets at different events over the next month, so look out for our volunteers and support a worthy cause.

Imagine what a brilliant summer you’ll have if you win a scorching Hyundai Santa Fe allwheel-drive and a sleek new Haines Hunter SF485 with a 70hp 4-stroke Yamaha outboard and trailer valued at $141,000!

Contact fundraising@coastguardhibiscus.org. nz to secure your tickets.

We kicked off our first event last Saturday by attending the Hibiscus Coast Raiders’ annual fishing tournament. This event is expertly organised and is the 8th year of being run. Our unit is always invited to attend to answer membership queries and of course selling our lottery tickets.

Gulf Harbour’s Christmas at the Canal event was held on December 2 and we were invited again to deliver Santa to lots of excited kids and a few excited parents.

With not having Hibiscus Rescue 1, we needed to bring our smaller vessel around from her base at Stanmore Bay to ensure Santa was there on time.

As Christmas gets closer, the weather gets better, and the water entices people to get out there. These five key safety tips could save your life: • Life jackets – take them and wear them.

Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.

• Be a responsible skipper – the skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board.

• Communications – carry two forms of waterproof communications so you can call for assistance.

• Marine weather – check the local marine weather before you go out and be prepared for any changes.

• Avoid alcohol – safe boating and alcohol do not mix – things can change quickly on the water and you need to stay alert and aware.

The Coastguard Operations Centre can be contacted by calling *500.

Safe boating and have a Merry Christmas.

16 Wade River Rd | Ph 424 8618 | whangaparaoamedicalcentre.com

!

N E P

W O N

O

Manly CLICK & COLLECT

EARN FLYBUYS

EARN AIRPOINTS DOLLARS ™

WEEKLY INSTORE TASTINGS

FRIENDLY, EXPERT STAFF

SUPER GOLD CARD DISCOUNTS *

We offer delivery service for customers within Manly to Gulf Harbour.

Come in-store to speak to us about business accounts and loyalty specials.

follow us on

for updates

@liquorlandmanly

24

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Liquorland Manly

54 Rawhiti Road, Manly, Auckland 0932 ph. 09 424 0344 manly@liquorland.co.nz

Ōrewa Lions Club’s summer fundraiser, The Big Dig, will be held on Saturday, January 20 at Ōrewa Beach. Children dig in the sand for ice-block sticks, which are exchanged for prizes. There will also be games, rides, quick-fire raffles and food vendors. Ticket sales ($5 for those aged five and under, $10 for the over-fives) open at 9am and digging commences for children under five years at 10.15am, and at 10.45am for the children over five. Funds raised this year go to Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving’s clubhouse and community hub project.

Silverdale Village Market 7 Silverdale Street Saturday 8am~1pm Ph 021 030 3273

feature.festivefun

Sarah Ivinson of Coastguard Hibiscus

A ho sk a dr me bo * op p ut so -o ick ou m e ff s -u r f co er p a ree nd vic n itio ns e! d * ap

Seemore, do more, have more fun!

pl y.

Seemore Tours design group guided travel for mature travellers and ensure all the details are taken care of including flights, meals and experiences, so you can see more, do more and have more fun!

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND 3 - 7 March 2024 Prepare to be amazed when you set

From tragedy to saving lives at sea: Sarah’s story At Coastguard’s busiest time of year, Hibiscus volunteer Sarah Ivinson has shared a very personal story about why she joined the service, in the hope of preventing deaths at sea:

“I’ll never forget how my sister looked when they pulled her from the water. She had her swimsuit on, and her red hair was sparkling in the sun, but her skin was pale, and her tiny body was limp.

Losing Nicola left a hole in my heart – and more than 30 years later, I still struggle to put into words the pain and grief I feel. But I want to share my story in the hope that no one else will go through what I have.

My sister’s death is what led me to become a volunteer with Coastguard Hibiscus.

Because I’ve been there. I’ve seen someone that I love drown. And if I can save just one person’s life, then it’s my purpose.

I was six years old, and Nicola had just turned seven when my family went for a summer camping trip. It was a hot day, and we were excited to go for a swim. While my parents were busy unpacking back at the cabin, my little brother joined Nicola and I as we headed off for a swim.

One minute, we were in the water having fun and the next, we were like, “Where’s Nicola?”

My brother and I screamed her name and looked around frantically, but we couldn’t find her. We sprinted back to tell my parents.

I still remember the look of fear on their faces.

out on a 40 minute flight to Great Barrier, Aotea. You’ll be blown away by the stunning scenery, meet lots of locals and enjoy the simple amenities. Timed in 5 days / 4 nights Twin share $2,990pp

Single $3,590

As I grew older, there was always part of me that thought about joining Coastguard.

I’d seen them at community events – and I thought, if I could be part of a crew, maybe I could save someone from drowning.

Catch the end of the summer sun when we travel from Coastal to Central Otago, on this 7-day tour! Discover the victorian

7 days / 6 nights Twin share $4,590pp

Single $5,090

Keeping Coastguard afloat

7 days / 6 nights Twin share $4,390pp

Single $4,990

Join us as we discover the many treasures of Golden Bay on this 7-day tour. With so much to explore, some highlights include; Farewell Spit – one of the world’s longest naturally formed sandbars, the wetlands of Whanganui Inlet, a flight over Golden Bay and a cruise up the Abel Tasman coast to a private lodge for a fabulous lunch experience.

RAROTONGA & AITUTAKI 11 - 19 June 2024

Last Christmas Day, Coastguard responded to 15 incidents across the country, assisting nearly 50 people, sacrificing time with their own whānau, family and friends. In fact, December was the busiest month last summer, with volunteers responding to 450 incidents, rescuing 21 people from danger. To help support the work of Coastguard volunteers, donations can be made at savingalife.raisely.com 9 days / 8 nights

Our gorgeous gift shop is located in a tiny Victorian summer house in the grounds of Orewa House.

Call in for a delightfully unique shopping experience.

All natural skincare, candles, crystals, jewellery and other lovely treasures.

Open Friday to Sunday 11am to 3pm

498 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa | 027 618 1996 feature.festivefun

architecture, blue penguins, art galleries and people of Oamaru. Then after a drive over the Dansey’s Pass we uncover the old world charm of the Dansey’s Pass Hotel and the sites of Central Otago.

TREASURES OF GOLDEN BAY 7 - 13 April 2024

But I pushed it aside for years. After all, I was still traumatised by my sister’s death – every time I even stood near the water, it was like I was right back at that scene.

Earlier this year, I finally overcame my fears. Now, as a Coastguard volunteer, I’m determined to help others and save lives at sea.”

accommodation and reflect on your fabulous days activities!

OVER THE DANSEY’S PASS 11 - 17 March 2024

When we got to the beach, people had gathered around Nicola’s lifeless body – we all watched for what seemed like ages as an emergency responder pushed on her chest.

Life was never the same from that day. And not just for me, but for our whole family.

perfectly with afternoon high tides, you can relax or swim by your beachside

Twin share $6,390pp

Single $7,890

This dreamy 9-day island tour includes the sublime surroundings of Rarotonga combined with the pristine island atoll of Aitutaki. Everything runs on island time and when you’re not reading a book, bathing in the hotel pool or snorkeling in the nearby lagoon, you’re meeting locals and living the island life.

For a full itinerary or to learn more about our small group tours visit our website or contact: E: nikki@seemoretours.co.nz P: 0800 733 667 W: seemoretours.co.nz December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

25

Vibrant Santa Parade brings out Coast crowds Thousands lined the streets of Ōrewa on November 25 for a Santa Parade that lived up to the annual event’s high expectations.

Rain that threatened earlier to dampen proceedings stayed away, and many enjoyed a glorious afternoon and evening.

Along the now-familiar route, from Florence Avenue along the highway to the beach reserve carpark, crowds gathered five or six deep in places. The organisers, Destination Ōrewa Beach business association, estimated a total turnout of around 5000-6000.

At 49, the number of floats returned to pre-Covid numbers. Vintage, classic and hot rod cars took part, along with several

bands, cheerleaders, guides, scouts, and local groups and businesses. The colourful parade took an hour and seven minutes to pass the finish line.

“The energy was high throughout the event and the smiles on the children’s faces are testament to the joy this event brings,” said operations manager, Hellen Wilkins.

Winners of this year’s float competition were Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa libraries (best team float), Busy Bees Silverdale (best child-aligned float), Ōrewa Baptist (best non-commercial float) and Drifter Coffee (best commercial float) The Pest Free Hibiscus Coast entry, which featured volunteers, supporters and staff of Forest & Bird including children dressed as

rats sitting in a giant trap, was named the most creative float. “Ōrewa town centre was packed to capacity after the event as so many people left the parade and entered the cafes and restaurants, which is what these events are about – bringing joy to our community, sharing the Christmas spirit and bringing a positive economic benefit to the town,” Hellen said.

Unlike previous years, the parade ended with a carnival of amusements and food trucks, organised by Ōrewa-Millwater Rotary Club, rather than the Surf Sounds concert and fireworks, which is now scheduled for Easter Saturday, next March.

Hellen said as both the parade and the

music and fireworks events had grown, it became necessary to separate them, “creating two fantastic event days for our community and beyond”.

To enable Destination Ōrewa Beach to focus on the parade, it approached Rotary to create a new post-parade event. All vendor commissions will go to Rotary programmes and initiatives in the community.

“The amusement rides were busy and the food trucks were in high demand until after 7pm,” she said. “A full schedule of music performances kept the crowds entertained.

This event, being a new format, will be built on for future years to make it even bigger and better.”

What’s on at Estuary Arts this Summer “The Cash & Carry Under $500 Art Sale” Over 400 artworks to view “Gift shop”a great selection of orignal art and craft Summer School Holiday Programme: Age 5 years + Starts 23 January 2024 Summer Art Bootcamp: For Teens & Adults Starts 22 January 2024

Energy healing, hypnotherapy, products & more

View and book on: estuaryarts.arlo.co/w/

Use code NEW20 when booking online

214B Hibiscus Coast H/Way E: admin@estuaryarts.org Mon - Fri 9am to 4pm

26

Being Magic offers a gateway to holistic well-being through the enchanting realms of energy healing.

All sessions can be conducted in person or online!

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

PH: 09 4265570 www.estuaryarts.org W/ends 10am to 3pm

Christmas offer : 20% off all sessions website: www.being-magic.com contact Emma on: 021 297 4496 or email to: beingmagic@proton.me feature.festivefun

Dire Straits’ hits headline summer’s day show Fans of Dire Straits should head to Matakana Country Park on January 2, where a mega-group of artists who recorded and toured with the iconic 80s rock band will be headlining A Summer’s Day Live.

Dire Straits Legacy includes Alan Clark, Dire Straits’ original keyboard player; Mel Collins, who played sax on Love Over Gold, Twisting by the Pool and many tours; and guitarist Phil Palmer and Danny Cummings on percussion, who both toured and recorded On Every Street.

Other Dire Straits Legacy members in the eight-man line-up include legendary music producer and bassist with The Buggles, Trevor Horn, and front man Marco Caviglia, who has spent his career performing and perfecting Mark Knopfler’s distinctive guitar-playing style.

Drawing from the band’s six platinum albums, Dire Straits Legacy will play all the classic hits, including Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Walk of Life, Brothers in Arms, Tunnel of Love and Skateaway.

Also on the bill, and making their New Zealand debut, are Scottish 70s rockers Nazareth, whose biggest hits include covers of Love Hurts and My White Bicycle. The line-

A Summer’s Day - L I V E -

up includes several long-standing members, not least founder and bass player Pete Agnew.

Adding to the fun will be Kiwi favourites Hello Sailor, playing their classic hits unplugged and acoustic, plus Auckland newcomers Uncommon State, with their cruisy, laid-back surf rock, roots reggae sound.

Gates open at 4.30pm, although an extra $25 on the ticket price will get you in early at 4pm. Tickets cost from $129 for general admission, or $119 if you buy four tickets together. There is also a VIP option, where $269 entry includes a private bar, complimentary food until 8pm, premium toilets, a shaded area, a prime view of the stage, plus bar leaners and beanbag seating.

There will also be regular shuttle buses between the country park and Warkworth, Snells Beach, Leigh and Omaha, which cost $30 return.

Info, tickets and bus bookings: www. trademarklive.co.nz/asdl

Win VIP tickets

Dire Straits Legacy, and Hibiscus Matters have a double VIP pass to A Summer’s Day Live at Matakana Country Park, worth more than $530 to give away. A VIP pass normally costs $269 and will get you express entry into the event, a private bar, premium toilets, complimentary food until 8pm, a shaded area, a prime view of the stage, plus bar leaners and bean bag seating. To enter the draw, email your name and phone number to terry@localmatters.co.nz with Dire Straits Legacy in the subject line by 9am on Tuesday, December 19. To be considered, your entry must include your name, phone number and email address.

r o l i a S o l l e H UNCOMMON STATE

– Clothing for men –

Bright Summereat shirts make forsgenr ts.

Christmas pre

Berlin Clothing for all your menswear needs Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm | Sat: 9am-4pm | Sun: 10am-3pm

8 Bakehouse Lane, Orewa | Ph 426 5438

feature.festivefun

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

27

Cuisine Lauraine Jacobs

www.laurainejacobs.co.nz/blog/

Christmas feasting I know what’s on the menu this Christmas for us! A huge golden roast chook, fragrant with a cranberry and orange stuffing. It’s a hangover from my childhood. Every year, the centre piece of our Christmas table was two gloriously large roast chooks, stuffed with the tasty savoury mixture my mother would prepare ahead.

Our chicken was most definitely a special treat, not a common supermarket item, and Mother went to the end of the earth to procure capons for our feast. These large male chickens had moist juicy breast meat, which could be carved into what seemed like an infinite number of delicious white slices, so everyone had plenty on their plate.

Two Hawke’s Bay brothers, George and Ben Bostock, raised on an organic orchard, decided almost 10 years ago to farm organic chickens and they have cornered the market with their fine birds. Their farm in Hastings sits in a large organic apple orchard and chickens are free to roam through the trees, eating the fallen apples in season and pecking about in the long lush grasses for their feed. Their little barns are open to allow them to shelter when needed and there’s no egg production for the Bostock’s aim to offer the healthiest most tasty birds. Chefs in good restaurants snap them up and the pair have achieved distribution through the major supermarkets, discerning butchers and specialty grocers. Of course, these birds are not cheap, but what’s Christmas without a little indulgence. (Unless you’re really committed to a turkey, which always seems like a risk-taking adventure to me. This stuffing would work with that bird, too.)

The stuffing, which I rarely bother with during the year, makes for extra flavour and keeps the bird juicy. As a kid, I didn’t really like stuffing but now older and wiser, I almost like it more than the meat! Dried cranberries or ‘craisins’ as some marketing guru renamed these little red orbs of both sweetness and a hint of tartness, make for a wonderfully festive look to your stuffing. Soak them in sweet orange juice for about an hour so they plump up and use a sourdough bread to fill to it out. Add a couple of bacon slices to the stuffing and use the rest of the pack to drape over the chook to keep it juicy. Herbs straight from the garden are best – I love sage and thyme – but if you have to, use dried herbs, but be sparing rather than over-generous as they tend to dominate the flavours.

I will be serving my Christmas chook with roast spuds, of course, and some lovely fresh green beans and peas mixed up with lots of butter and mint. And a little tip. If you have young children at the table, throw sausages into the roasting pan for 30 minutes so that the adults are left to devour the resplendent bird.

Roast chook with cranberry and bacon stuffing

Size 16 or 18 free range organic chicken 1 cup dried cranberries 1 orange, zest and juice 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tbsps butter 2 thick slices bacon, cut into small pieces 1 cup sourdough bread chopped into small chunks

2 tsps salt Freshly ground black pepper 6-7 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped 6-7 sage leaves 8 slices very thin streaky bacon 1 tbsp olive oil 2 cups chicken stock

To make the stuffing, combine the cranberries with the orange juice and zest in a bowl to soak.

Take a frying pan and fry the onion gently in the butter until soft and starting to colour. Add the bacon pieces and continue to fry, stirring often.

Remove from the heat then add the bread chunks, the cranberries and orange juice, one teaspoon of the salt, freshly ground black pepper and chopped thyme and sage. Allow to cool. (This is important. You should never put a warm stuffing into a cold bird.)

Dry the chicken inside and out and stuff the cavity with the cooled stuffing. Tie the legs together to prevent the stuffing oozing out.

Rub the skin with olive oil then spread the streaky bacon slices over the skin.

Preheat the oven to 200˚C. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and roast in a preheated oven for around 1 hour and fifteen minutes, or less if the chicken is not organic, basting occasionally until the skin is beautifully brown and the bacon is crisp. Take the chicken from the dish, cover it with foil and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes.

While the chicken is resting make a light gravy by deglazing the pan with the chicken stock. Allow this to bubble up and simmer very slowly for 10 minutes, before carving the chicken into eight pieces.

If serving a crowd this recipe is easily doubled for two chickens and will serve 12 or more. Serves 6.

• Barista coffee

CAFÉ AND BAR Open 7 Days 11am till late “The place where you find the best part of Southeast Asian cuisine.

Pull up a chair, take a taste, come join us, life is so endlessly delicious”

348 Hibiscus Coast Highway Orewa | www.cheekandchong.co.nz Phone 09 421 1123 | Enquiries: bookings@cheekandchong.co.nz

• Barista coffee • Fresh • sandwiches, Fresh sandwiches, muffins and scones • Hot pies and savou • Hot pies and savouries • Toasted sandwiche

• Toasted sandwiches and11.30am-2.30pm hot meals Ph 09 421 1199 | Lunch: Sat & Sun

phone: 09 422 7551 |

email: cafe@omaha

Dinner: Tues-Sun 5pm-late | Aperitivo: Thurs-Sat 3pm-6pm Licensed • Open from 7.30am 350 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa | info@semola.co.nz bar available every day bookings@semola.co.nz | www.semola.co.nz with tap beer, great selection • Real fruit ice cream of wines and • Barista coffee available in the weekends spirits plus bar • Fresh sandwiches, muffins and scon snacks too!

The team of Gulf Harbour Four Square would like to • Hot pies and savouries • Toasted sandwiches and hot meals phone: 09 422 7551 | email: cafe@omahagolf.co.nz wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous North 09 West Omaha Beach 422Anchorage, 7551 | email: cafe@omahagolf.co.nz New Year. We would like to thank you for your 1phone: Showroom now open in thethroughout old continued support and loyalty the year.

factory building 60 Hudson Road

Open every day 7am to 8pm (Christmas Day: 9am -12pm) Hand Glazed Coloured Tiles | Terracotta Tiles Four Square Gulf Harbour | 4/160 Harbour for Kitchen Splashbacks | Bathrooms | Wall |Village FloorsDrive, Gulf Harbour

Four Square | www.foursquare.co.nz 60 Hudson Road, Warkworth | 09 360Gulf 2638Harbour | www.middleearthtiles.co.nz 28

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

GULF HARBOUR | 25 feature.festivefun December 4, 2023 | Mahurangimatters

Biltong • Droewors Chilli sticks and much more ...

Huge range of meats and sausages for the perfect BBQ ...

8D Moana Ave, Orewa • 09 218 6853

200 compete in surf carnival

Mon-Fri: 9.30am-6pm • Sat: 9am-3pm • Sun: 10am-3pm

Red Beach Surf Club will play host to the region’s top surf athletes when it stages the 68th Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival on Saturday, 13 January.

The event has always been contested at Red Beach; it was first held in 1957 as a picnic carnival for Auckland’s East Coast surf clubs. The club can lay claim to having the longest-running club day in Australasia for surf lifesavers.

Over the years, the carnival has become a mecca for surf lifesaving competitors, and around 200 are expected to participate in this summer’s event.

Northern Region lifesavers will go head-tohead with their counterparts from the Bay of Plenty and clubs further south.

Only the clubs from the Northern Region are eligible to win the Owen Chapman Cup, which is awarded for most overall points. Red Beach is the defending champion, having won the Cup at last summer’s event. Also up for grabs is the Jubilee Trophy, which any participating club can win. The Mt Maunganui club is the current holder of this trophy.

The carnival caters to the age divisions of U15, U17, U19, and Open. It kicks off at 8.30am with board races, surf races, and ski races. For the U15 athletes, there is a mixedgender Diamond event. Board, ski, and

Check out our new interior!

Mr Candy Stripes, aka Chris Gurr, will make another appearance at this summer’s event. Photos, Ross Malyon

taplin relays will see teams in action before the beach events of flags, sprints, and relays.

The day’s highlight will be the final event, the Candy Stripes Eliminator, in which contestants compete against the clock in a series of surf competition disciplines. The Eliminator was first held in 2016, and last year’s event drew a record number of entries.

The Owen Chapman carnival ushers in the business end of the surf competition season as surf lifesavers begin the countdown to the Eastern Region, Northern Region, and NZ Championships. Competitors see it as an opportunity to assess their chances of success at those upcoming significant events, and the large numbers competing in the various events make it popular with spectators also.

Open throughout Christmas.

No surcharge.

Open Christmas Day for lunch: 11am-3pm Closed January 1, 2024.

2 Bakehouse Lane, Orewa | 11am till late TheShipAnchorRestaurantAndBar Ph 09 426 1539 | shipanchororewa.com www.shipanchororewa.com

Smirnoff Vodka, Gordons London Dry Gin1Litre $47.99 each or

L!

DE A L A E R

UN

2 FOR

89

$ Grants Blended Scotch Whisky, Gordons Gin, Finlandia Vodka, Larios Mediterranean Dry Gin, Malibu, Kahlua1Litre $44.99 each or cus

mish Cam Lane

feature.festivefun

ay ighw

Ave

st H

Coa

riki

a Tam

s Hibi

is Ln Morr

e Ln

Keith

hous Bake

ve na A

Moa

Wishing you a Merry py Christmas and a Hap am at New Year from the te

2 FOR

84

$

Valid from 11.12.2023 to 7.1.2024

Baileys Irish Cream 1Ltr $49.99 each (2 for $89)

Mumm Champagne Grand Cordon 750ml $59.99 each

Deutz Marlborough Cuvee 750ml $22.99 each

2 FOR

$

99

$

2 FOR

40

Heineken 24 Pack Cans/ bottles, Speights Summit Ultra Low Carb 24 Pack Cans/ Bottles 330ml

3999

$

ID required if under 25. Gift Cards, Gift Packs and Gift wrapping available in-store. Shop online Click & collect

2 Tamariki Ave, Orewa | Phone 426 8232 | www.liquorland.co.nz December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

29

Santa tops off family fun day Lots of free entertainment, including a bouncy castle and giant games, was a popular addition to the annual Christmas at the Canal event held at Gulf Harbour on December 2.

Queues also formed for free sausages and candy floss, as well as nail and face painting.

Adults, children, and even dogs, came dressed in festive Christmas outfits.

Although the wind had its way with a few of the moon hopper balls, it also kept things cool for the large crowd.

Santa’s arrival on the Coastguard Hibiscus

boat is the undoubted highlight of the day and caused a surge of youngsters hoping to get the best view. The Coastguard crew made sure he could be seen by everyone, including with a walkabout.

The event is organised by the Vine Community Church. Co-organiser Phil Corser, says it achieved its aim of providing a low cost, festive event and chance for the community to bond.

He says around 1000 people attended, and that when Santa arrived “it got a bit chaotic – like the whole of Gulf Harbour was there!”

Clockwise from top left, Santa’s arrival on board the Coastguard Hibiscus boat was a highlight for families. Saving Hope fosterer Jenny Corser had a fundraising stall for the dog rescue service at Christmas at the Canal. Wentworth music teacher Sarah Poppe said her choir’s performance of carols at the end was enthusiastic, and included dancing and a conga line! Carols were played in the rotunda by Hibiscus Coast members of the Kumeu Brass Band. Twiggy the little Spitz, dressed for the occasion.

S T O Rby Kayleen I E SM. Hazlehurst, F O R NewEZealand V E author RYONE A Caramel Sky

NEVER AGAIN WORRY ABOUT WATER.

K. M. Hazle

e

The

l new wartim is a sweep ing tale of Caught beh e novel set an anth courage, lov in teaolog ind enemy y of pro Greece an e and awakeKAYLAo /N se andZepoetry by lines after EEN roa awash w d the Aegea aland durin ning du the Battle M. Hew ue Chef is ring on n Islandst tiqrld g Wo of Moun his return e of AZ e An HUR War II.dWh “ThST the LE to find his t Olympu darke and the no adoventu st mo s, Sonny lost Māori and od me vel ntster un Wirima mu folds in two rac inswo With the Battalion.

1 rld his help of kin tor rin st joucha poignant Back at ho du y.g the d rne y thr parallel sto dly Greek Zea Mountains me, his fam w ou ghlan ma s, Sonny ries. inl and fights ily and fia Ne Song drshal reaches Cr leyan sMa ncée anxio Les with the to devastating the U ete by sai Resistance news. ling boat. wusl ait orykaw against the by He re, on This is Ha he joins a occupyin e Ne zlehurst’s g enemy. band of reb spans se Saunders second waauthTim He escap Toner (Bo , poet and els in the or of This veral p es to Egyp rtim ok Show, Farming e sag Life. ite a. He t and return adulWh Radio So r debut no thoo Hazlehurst uthland). d. Visu CopyPress vel, A Caram For Maggi conducte to tosyehodme el Sky, ‘ha e Trapp of d exhaustiv members w ith d me by in earli of the 28 lock, stodistributed e internati Kete Books th Māori onal resear e Dr Printed and ck and barre it was ‘a lov guidance ideas Blu Battalion l’, saiof ch for Wh e The she receiv d Te story to thi who left the rry for late o Dism ed from turbs the Kū Copy s beautiful encourag ir lettAv le fro Māori lea ersail kupa? and country.’ ed her to anab d diaries.c z ders durin says she is write abou the nation. g her w.c ypres s too.n indebted op Hazlehurst t the Māori 19 80 ww Sh s fieldwork e acknowle ’s special “Songsto the Battalion. , especially thanks are dges the mother du to the Un genero offered to Sir Hēna ring my chi sung us re Kōhere and co Iraihi Ka ldhood an long career mpassio taraina Su Ngata wh d left a las has been n ... Th llivan, Au o ting impre reverbe devoted to association nty Girlie rate and ssion on my chaCop , s. ‘wh mp stay wit yPion o nurtured ress ing the heart.’ An and leave rights of me an like thr op sh a First Natio ologist by second apes an ns People training, dm Peter Ew s. Her ext Hazlehurst er, autho ended fam ’s r of Forgott Tim Sau wartime, ily has Ng en Anzacs, made Wh ā Puhi successf said ‘Kayl allen financia mov mollulre esthe Māori sol een Hazle adviser to a sma mel mo Lewis Ham country dier on former rab hu rst has pro for mon theoccupati in A cros town he leavlees beh itsd Lewis has run on. duced evocative ind his cultural inc s-dresse come to Germ r since lusion ly render a novella a hauntin try out his an-oc Vintage childied cup g tale of by hood, edCafé isho d sensiti life as a Greece, lon KAYLan EE woman. an ut overnig love and ‘This is an vintage clotwit y.AZ Louise’s evehtrsucc The adven ging to be N M.vit hing are des ess.cen loss in High teas ins back in in topir LEHURtur samed reunited H gandinto clo vogue. New din ple tiny taovers the old wo ngions STes of Sonny Wirim with his gre ying sentim friends Chocola a by of Mel drop a te Afghans. rld an gif ting ted a, a at love, Ata ent Moments The prop wrand of d the ality. A gre a sens ite r,’ wrote rietress ationew Financ about tho rangi Ta n because duher is also som at rin rea Ra g se braofvehumsol a d.’ hiri, areial advise ng sympathtime ofething an foibles i Hapi, We y and kno turbu diersmak r Lew llington au le wledge len ofe her av t d at solv thegoo28 cha es nge. A mu behind ing mys thor and th Mā oriterieBa s. st-r po his form et, ead tta t ‘wh lion, like for those anry The Anti ose sto dm que Che my grand who ever f is awa joiov and odd ns es to a sm sh with mother’s adventur wanted to quirk y char es set in 1990s. In all c brother (Lt acters New Zeal know mo a series to and durin of warm tr a tough Hone Te re y out lif , hum g the amateur sleuth, and orous episodes Kauru Gr Louise, e as a Hig Lewis, always find his delig h, te een htful alter somethin Their frien C as and g puzzling ego, ds—the Lewis ersing. Inlet tures set episodesCap s making. es, and odd adven of warm, humorous tful alter ego,cast off from islan a series 1990s. In and his deligh investi ded floo gate.

K. M. ur sleuth, Hazlehur rs. ng to st, ‘A Dista a tough amate thing puzzli of the nt Muti s find some the ladies ng’ Louise, alway from work, Bentley, a s—the girls sergeant and Their friend police some local Song the helps totocrack church choir, the read. e dog—allcom ung spar a joy to Uns h and rescu pass was searc ion. kles with failed Kayleen little book hum lifetime Hazlehur cases. This drag. of intim st has wove anity and intriguing a touch of ate with nd writi PEN. thou l n together Zeala ng that ghtful. Thes ationa Rural New is lyrical, a inator Intern e poem Tec s poignant all, NZ coordstay with. you and stori Tutor North Lesley Marsh long after es reverbera and sional Editor reading, IPEd. Profes memories on te and NZAMA. and leave your soul. beauty, shapes and Kayleen and take writes with s you on wisdom a journey and of the hear t.

‘Songs to the Unsung sparkles with humanity and compassion.’

A selection of work by the author spanning her creative life from youth to adulthood.

ANTIQU

the

ed by

distribut Printed and The

Blue Dragonfly

Printed

Blue Dragon

fly Press

The

ZLEHURST

Based in Rodney, Kayleen draws inspiration for her poetry and imaginative prose from threads of family life in New Zealand and her own international travel. She loves to create vivid characters and stories of courage and adventure.

E

Chef

KAYLEEN M. HA

About the author

Press

UN SU NG

ALLBRAND.CO.NZ/HMBOX/NOV/1

Songs to the Unsung

The

and distrib

uted by

Available from www.copypress.co.nz

girls from to investiga church choir, the work, the te. local polic ladies of failed sear e serg the ch and rescue dog— eant and Bent intriguin ley, a g cases. all help This little to crack Rural New some book was Zealand a joy to with a touc read. h of drag Lesley Mars . hall, NZ coor dinator IPEd. Profe Internatio ssional Editor. Tuto nal PEN. r NorthTec

fly Press

and distrib

CopyPressuted by The

ZLEHURST

Printed

Blue Dragon

KAYLEEN M. HA

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

by

Hero reimag ineeds of the Māori Batta lio in new NZ ‘The Antique Chef is awash with quirky characters and odd historica l nn ovtel adventures set in New Zealand during the 1990s.’ A riot of good fun.

The Antique Chef

NZAMA.

30

distributed

Hammond er Lewis cial advis behind his ssful finan he leaves When succe , try town childhood a small coun ser since moves to cross-dres Louise’s pation. A a woman. former occu his life as teas and to try out High come ss.

Lewis has ight succe ds drop is an overn e. New frien vogu Vintage Café in and ing are back Moments of Melting vintage cloth ons thing versi some le tiny ss is also in to samp proprietre ledge and know Afghans. The Chocolate . her sympathy mysteries tion because at solving of a sensa her good foibles make of human

SO NG S to the

WOOL + SYNTHETIC

PH 428 3168 I 669 WHANGAPARAOA ROAD I MON-FRI 9-4, SAT 10-2

The

y Press

Press

t

SONGS to the UNSUNG

TI QU E Chef

CARPET

Printed and

CopyP

Blue Dragonfl

the AN

FLOORS

W HO DIS Lewis Hamm T U R B SFinancial advishiser for a novella by mer occup d e EH K UR Ū KSTU PA? leaves behins to M. HAthZL untry a small co KAYLEEN K ve Blu AY LE EN and mo e Drago nflas a sswoman y Pre M. H AZ LE life t ou HU RS T to try thin clo Printed and e tag distrvin ibuted by and High tea CospyPrese. Lo e’s Vin gu s uis back in vo t succe igh ern ov Café is an o a sensa etress is als man fo The propri Kayleen Ha ding of hu tzlehurst bri understan cters an lver of m Moo quirky charang so DisturbChef s n’s with ed to pale ussash g the is awash a po acrowe r a gift ue s the Kūkup Zealand durin Ligh,t disp ss therfu The Antiq in New a? gulf. makes he Sale

URST M. HAZLEH KAYLEEN

VINYL

by

distributed

CopyP

Press

Blue Dragonfly Revi ew Copy

Not For

Chef

TILES

K AY LEE H AZL EH N M. UR ST

Printed and

Tim

the AN TI QU E

CARPET

HO DIS T U R BS the K Ū K U PA ?

In the 1940s, Sonny Wirima is caught behind enemy lines. Guided by his ancestors and sustained by his survival skills, he travels ress through Greece and the Aegean Islands trying to find his lost Māori Battalion. On Crete, he fights with a Resistance group beforeress escaping and returning home to devastating news.

with huma g sparkles stor the Unsun “Songs to poems and sion ... These pas after re com and h you long and stay wit your reverberate mories on me and shapes and leave Saunders

to SOthNeGUSNSUNG

URST M. HAZLEH

TIMBER

KAYLEEN

LAMINATE

Tim s Journey He narro Farming Life. with Soul r of Thisws his eyes autho the to stare rolling cloud s and shrie through the lashi rises, harne ng spray king wind ssing the . Again s, the boat pitches and shoulders of the a white speck falls st gale in rhyth her stron spins on and g bill and the mic arcs. curved wing ocean swells, As an albat s into the The flight maelstrom ross sets of . that he forgethe great seabird is a displ ts the sting ay of such imitate ing elem her serene mast ents and encompassi resolve. From ery comm now on its hims ng chaos he will , unsettle let no storm elf to or deter s, no him.

Who Disturbs the Kukupa?

t

W

SU NG

www.THEFLOORINGPEOPLE.co.nz

hurst, ‘A Distan

lone man nity Aand stands apart with huma from a formid er a ng sparkles Caugh togeth able enemy t behind enemy the Unsu has woven .

Songs to and lines after Sonny Hazlehurst antWirim the Battle l, poign . Kayleen a must make and the Aegea compassion g that is lyrica and n his way throug of Mount Olym pus, Islands to h mainland intimate writin s reverberate onlyshis lifetime of Greece and s and storie instincts and find his lost Māor i Battalion, These poem leave shape traditional with beliefs to thoughtful. and reading, and An m ng inspiri guide him. wisdo with narrative you long after awake writes with of en stay ning, courage Kayle . during one of the world and survival, of love on your soul. y of the heart memories and ’s darkest you on a journe and mome takes poet nts in histor A Hero’ Saunders, beauty, and y.

All Pergo brand laminate floors have AquaSafe, technology that creates a sealed, 100% watertight* surface all the way down into the bevels.

* Tested according to ISO 4760 (no leakage) and is not following EN13553 standards designed for welded resilient floor coverings.

SO NG S to th UN

s the gulf. sash acros Moon’s pale making. rsing. Inlets Light dispe ed floors. off from island Capes, cast t Muting’

n of a selectio t Unsung is Songs to the w Zealand author tha e Ne m youth to work by on fro s ase eral ph mes the d an spans sev ages po . Visual im adulthood ars, became . in earlier ye and verse toyed with later prose of ideas for

poetry by

and y of prose ZLEHURST EEN M. HA

an antholog

The dreams of Grace and Charlie are shattered when a small nation KAYL is plunged into World War II. Set in New Zealand and the Pacific, t real historical events are interwoven with portrayals of Air Force and family life. Readers who have enjoyed sagas of love and war, will enjoy this story.

the

vintag back in vogue. Lo e c uise Café The prop is an overnight s rietress is also a an unde se rstandin g of hum makes he an r a gifte d solver of

feature.festivefun

ANTIQUE Chef

Availab

“The An

t

tique Ch ef is aw characte ash w rs and od d advent New Ze ur aland du ring the 19 Le sley Ma

rshal

Green scene Jenny Hanwell, Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird j.hanwell@forestandbird.org.nz

Giving what comes naturally As we come to what many call the “silly season”, it’s time to think about how we can be conscious consumers with our gifting.

For those who care about the environment, this can be a challenging time, so here are some ideas.

• Feed the birds – one of the best ways to attract birds to your garden is to provide food all year round in with native trees and plants. Take a look at this resource that explains what native birds like to eat: www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/feedingnative-birds-garden.

It isn’t the time of year to plant trees unless you mulch and water frequently, but how about giving a voucher for one to plant in the winter? You can also donate a tree to be planted on your loved one’s behalf through Trees that Count – how thoughtful is that!

If you are looking for a traditional bird feeder, be sure to avoid seed feeders as they can attract rats and our native birds don’t eat seeds anyway. Sugar water feeders are popular but need to be cleaned daily to prevent disease. My favourite is Metalbird’s steel fruit holder, perfect for putting in half an orange to attract silvereyes or tūī. Treat your family to some garden art while you are there, which also includes a donation to Forest & Bird.

• Save the birds – This was what you might have heard Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project volunteers calling out at the recent Ōrewa Santa Parade. A simple way to do that is through predator control. You can either order a trap for yourself, or gift one

to the project on someone’s behalf through the Give a Trap website.

• Nurture a love of nature – so kids might not be into a bird feeder or tree, but how about membership to Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC)? They get invitations to fun KCC events locally, plus a quarterly magazine.

Special gift packs include extra goodies too.

For adults, Forest & Bird membership is a winner for them and for nature.

• The art of giving – there are many artists here on the Hibiscus Coast that can help bring nature into your home and some works, like the outdoor tui made by New Creation in Gulf Harbour, are also an ecofriendly choice.

• Save the date – we have a few beautiful Forest & Bird calendars and diaries left, get in quick by emailing hibiscuscoast.orders@ forestandbird.org.nz.

• Waste is a huge issue at Christmas, but you will find once you start to think about it, choosing reusable wrappings and giving gifts of experiences to reduce all the “stuff ” becomes second nature. There are heaps of great tips out there, including from local expert Ethically Kate, follow her socials to brighten your day!

Finally, remember that Christmas is really about being present, more than giving presents. I wish you a magical time with your friends and whanau on our beautiful Hibiscus Coast. There is no better gift than the natural world around us. Let’s continue to join together as a community in 2024 to keep it that way.

Mangrove Jack’s Brewing Co. Starter Brewery Kit

$ 110

SALE! Still Spirits Turbo 500 Complete Distillery Kit

$799

Open 7 days Silverdale: 14 Flexman Pl, Silverdale Waipapa: 19 Klinac Ln, Waipapa Henderson: 7 Waipareira Ave, Henderson

www.growandbrew.co.nz

I IIIIIreciate your business and wish you a very I

I

II I I I I

We app New Year! y p ap H a d an Merry Christmas to receive free delivery I

24.

Boulevard, Experience the Davies Difference! 4F/20 Central is voucher Silverdale uary 7, 20 Present th er 11 to Jan mb

Locally family owned & operated. Best price & advice. We go the extra mile!

Valid Dece

4F/20 Central Boulevard, Experience the |Davies Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat, Sun Difference! & Boxing day 10am-4pm (Closed Christmas Day,Silverdale January 1 & 2)

4F/20 4F/20 4F/20 4F/20Central Central Central Central CentralBoulevard, Boulevard, Boulevard, Boulevard, Boulevard,Silverdale Silverdale Silverdale Silverdale Silverdale Experience Experience Experience Experience Experiencethe the the the theDavies Davies Davies Davies DaviesDifference!

Difference!

Difference!

Difference!

Difference! 4F/20 Locally family owned & operated.

Best price & advice.

We go the extra mile!

4F/20 Central Boulevard, Silverdale Experience the Davies Difference!

Locally Locally Locally Locally Locally Locally family family family family family family owned owned owned owned owned owned & & & & & & operated. operated. operated. operated. operated. operated.Best Best Best Best Best Bestprice price price price price price & & & & & & advice. advice. advice. advice. advice. advice.

We We We We We We go go go go go go the the the the the the extra extra extra extra extra extramile! mile! mile! mile! mile! mile!

Locally family owned & operated. Best price & advice. We go the extra mile!

feature.festivefun

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

31

Ranger earns highest accolade Guiding’s highest honour, the Queen’s Guide award, will go to Ōrewa Ranger Chanel Porter-Reidy in the New Year.

Brownie and Ranger leader, Kathleen Sunderland, says it is quite rare for a unit to have a Queen’s Guide, but Ōrewa Rangers Sophie and Freya Herbison received theirs earlier this year and now Chanel has earned one too.

Chanel, 18, joined the unit as a Pippin at the age of five.

The Kingsway College student says obtaining the Queen’s Guide medal is a long-held goal.

It requires completing a four-year programme that includes community

service, leadership certificates, outdoor adventures, advocacy and interest certificates.

It takes dedication, perseverance and commitment.

Chanel lives in Ōrewa and is enrolled to do a Bachelor of Business at Massey University next year, double majoring in marketing and management.

She says that completing the Queen’s Guide award has been a significant part of her journey, and is a great honour.

The award will be presented at Government House in Wellington by the Governor General. It is signed by His Majesty King Charles III, but the award retains the Queen’s name as a mark of respect.

Medals, including for community-focused work, are just one of the requirements for the award. Right, Chanel Porter-Reidy.

Community contributes to Guide kitchen refit The kitchen in the Ōrewa Guides den in Centreway Road will get a much-needed makeover, if the final few thousands needed can be raised by Guides.

The kitchen, described by Brownie and Ranger leader Kathleen Sunderland as “vintage”, dates from the 1960s and is no longer fit for purpose. Rusty nails hold down parts of the benchtop.

It is well used by Pippins, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, especially when they host others.

It has taken almost a year of sausage sizzles, and donations from local businesses to raise $8500 of the $12,000 required for the refit.

A chunk of that money came from the Rotary Club of ŌrewaMillwater, which recently presented a donation of $1052 towards the project – the proceeds of a quiz night held especially for Ōrewa Guides.

Kathleen says Bunnings has also been particularly supportive, donating money and providing good deals. Parent help will also be key in keeping costs down.

All the kitchen units will be replaced, the floor fixed, and a new oven and mixer taps installed.

Kathleen says Ōrewa Guides hopes to have raised the money for the work by February, so that the refit can be done next year.

Anyone who can assist with the project is welcome to email orewaguides@gmail.com

Do you have difficulty hearing?

Focus Hearing can help. Don’t buy a hearing aid without talking to us first. We provide: Brownie and Ranger leaders Kathleen Sunderland, left, and Clare Grimwood, right, receive the money from Rotary

Ōrewa-Millwater president Robert Also at checks the presentation •were Rotary’s Wei and several Prices to suitKristy all budgets • FREEHodgkinson.

15-minute hearing Ōrewa Guides and Brownies.

• FULL hearing assessments with reports • FREE hearing aid consultations & trials • FREE hearing aid checks & cleaning

• Payment options available Southern Cross Health Society Easy Claim available for members

Do you have Do you have Do you have Ph 09 972 5250 difficulty difficulty hearing? difficulty hearing? hearing? today to book an appointment 7 Polarity Rise,

Providing medical care to patients when they want and need it. No more waiting a week to book appointments only to see a random doctor. You should be able to see your own registered doctor the same day or the next. We also provide common Scan to book your services on our website such as booking appointment today and changing appointments, requesting scripts, test results, communicating with your doctor, and making payments.

DR SENG CHEONG LOKE

CLINICS: Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm Mon-Fri 5pm-8pm || SATURDAY 9am-1pm.

Closed Sunday and Public Holidays

7/15 Karepiro Drive, Stanmore Bay www.hillviewmedical.co.nz || Ph 09 242 3288 32

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Focus Hearing can help. Don’t buy a hearing Silverdale Focus Hearing can aahearing Focus Hearing can help. help.

Don’t buyprovide: hearing aid without talking to usDon’t first. buy We Clinics also at Takapuna aid without talking to us first.

We provide: Howick.

Registeredto us first. We provide: talking • Prices to suit all budgets • aid FREE without 15-minuteand hearing checks for ACC, War Pensions

•• FREE 15-minute hearing checks ••• Prices to all and WINZ subsidies.

Prices to suit suit all budgets budgets FREE 15-minute hearing checks FULL 15-minute hearing assessments with reportswww.focushearing.co.nz Payment options available • Prices to suit all budgets •• FREE hearing checks hearing assessments with reports • Payment options available ••• FULL FULL hearing assessments with reports • Payment options available Southern Cross Health FREE hearing aid consultations & trials ••• FULL hearing assessments with reports • Payment options Southern Cross Health Society Easy Claim FREE hearing aid consultations & trials Southern Cross Healthavailable & trials • FREE FREE hearing hearing aid aid consultations checks & cleaning Society Easy Claim for members Society Easy Claim Southern Cross Health •• FREE consultations & trials available FREE & FREE hearing hearing aid aid checks checks & cleaning cleaning available for members available for members Society Easy Claim

available for members Ph 09 972 5250 Ph 09 972 5250 today to book an appointment today to book an appointment

• FREE hearing aid checks & cleaning

Ph 09 972 5250 7 Polarity Rise, 7 Polarity Rise, 7 Polarity Rise,

today to book an appointment

today to book an appointment Silverdale Silverdale Clinics also at Takapuna 7 Polarity Rise,

and Howick. also Takapuna Clinics Clinics also at at Registered Takapuna for ACC, WarRegistered Pensions and Howick. and Howick.

Registered and WINZ subsidies. for for ACC, ACC, War War Pensions Pensions and and WINZ WINZ subsidies. subsidies.

Silverdale www.focushearing.co.nz www.focushearing.co.nz www.focushearing.co.nz Clinics also at Takapuna and Howick. Registered for ACC, Warthe Pensions Support advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters and WINZ subsidies.

www.focushearing.co.nz

Sectional Doors

Best Google Reviews!

Warkworth Showroom!

New Doors Custom Made Doors

Cedar Doors

Garage Door Repairs and Maintenance

Clockwise from top, Lion dancers got the festival off to a roaring start. Richard Ouk from Cambodia. The Tamashii Taiko drummers put in an impressive and impassioned performance.

Accessories Insurance Approved

Sights and sounds blown away The Asian Cultural Festival in Ōrewa is always a crowd-pleaser, although this year numbers were down by around two-thirds due to high winds.

the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Cambodian, Turkish, Russian, Iranian and Indian communities brought some cultural colour, tastes and sounds to Ōrewa’s Moana Reserve.

This was disappointing for organiser Hellen Wilkins of Destination Ōrewa Beach.

Performers braved the conditions in full costume, smiling and putting on entertaining, energetic and professional shows.

Nevertheless, on December 2, members of

WE CARE FOR

YOUR

HEALTH Together, caring for and providing a healthy Rodney and Kaipara community. w w w. r o d n e y s u r g i c a l c e n t r e . c o . n z www.localmatters.co.nz

09 422 2299

14 Hudson Road, Warkworth www.dominatorrodney.co.nz

Roller Doors

SPECIALIST MEDICAL SERVICES Breast Surgery Endoscopy General Surgery Gynaecology Opthalmology (Eye)

Oral & Maxillofacial Orthopaedics Plastic Surgery Skin Surgery Urology

Ask your local GP if you can have it done locally or call Rodney Surgical Centre directly.

pointment:

p Call us for an a

0800 425 007

7 7 M o r r i s o n D r i v e , Wa r k w o r t h , R o d n e y D i s t r i c t December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

33

Garage Door Repair Man LTD Servicing Hibiscus Coast & Rodney Garage Doors for 25 years Fast professional Garage Door & Garage Door Opener Repair/Replacement

0800 63 63 48 10/22 Highgate Parkway, Silverdale

M: 021 535 367 E: info@garagedoorrepairman.co.nz

The Silverdale players selected for the Harbour Women’s 7s team, from left, Tia Anderson, Katelyn Hilton, Baylee Longstaff, Annika Nortje, Gloria Vegar and Madi Mataafa. Right, Women’s 7s team, Photos, courtesy Jess Mataafa.

We Service & Sell All Makes & Models of Cars, Diesels & 4WDs

Women’s sevens on a roll

WOFs while you wait • Cambelts • CV Joints All Servicing & Repairs • On-board Computer Scanning Air Conditioning, Clutches, Brakes & Suspension • Tune-ups Wheel Alignments, Tyres & Puncture Repairs • Loan Cars

Silverdale Rugby’s Women’s 7s teams are having a strong season.

The Coast, in preparation for the Global Youth 7s Tournament at Kings College in Auckland from December 15-17. This will bring them face-to-face with top international teams, including Australia and Japan as well as the Black Ferns U18s.

The club was the top performing female club at the North Harbour 7s day last month, winning the U18s division against Glenfield and securing the runners-up spot in the women’s final, narrowly losing to North Shore.

Building on their success, the women’s team went on to a decisive victory in the Glenfield 7s tournament, beating North Shore with an impressive scoreline of 42-5 in the final.

Silverdale then had five players selected to represent the North Harbour Women’s rugby 7s team.

The U18s are training as a unit called

Locally owned & operated for over 30 years

Open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Phone 424 7748

679 Whangaparaoa Rd

www.car-zone.co.nz

Silverdale director of female rugby, Glen Maguire says 7s is a fast growing part of the women’s programme. He says this form of the game is suited to faster, fitter players and is ideal for those who want to move from the Rippa version of the game to contact rugby.

Currently, across the 7s U18 and women’s teams, Silverdale has more than 30 players, and the club is also introducing an U15 division.

We live, live, work workand andsell selllocal local We Let our real estate experience improve yours!

Nadia Bone 021 247 4214

Chris Bone 021 481 660

c.bone©barfoot.co.nz

Fri

Dec 15

Sat

Sun

Dec 16

Mon

Dec 17

n.bone©barfoot.co.nz

Barfoot & Thompson Sea Watch Auckland Area Sea Watch

Dec 18

Tue

Wed

Dec 19

Dec 20

Thu

Dec 21

Fri

Dec 22

Sat

Dec 23

Sun

Dec 24

Mon

Dec 25

Tue

Dec 26

Wed

Dec 27

Thu

Fri

Dec 28

Dec 29

Sat

Dec 30

Sun

Dec 31

3:30am 0.5 4:17am 0.4 5:05am 0.4 5:55am 0.5 12:50am 3.1 1:44am 3.1 2:42am 3.0 3:44am 3.0 4:47am 3.0 5:49am 3.0 12:15am 0.7 1:09am 0.6 1:59am 0.6 2:46am 0.6 3:30am 0.6 4:11am 0.6 4:51am 0.7 10:00am 3.3 10:48am 3.4 11:38am 3.4 12:29pm 3.3 6:48am 0.6 7:45am 0.7 8:46am 0.8 9:50am 0.8 10:53am 0.9 11:52am 0.9 6:46am 3.1 7:39am 3.1 8:29am 3.2 9:14am 3.2 9:58am 3.2 10:39am 3.2 11:20am 3.1

Tide 3:57pm 0.6 4:48pm 0.6 5:40pm 0.6 6:34pm 0.6 1:23pm 3.3 2:18pm 3.2 3:15pm 3.2 4:13pm 3.1 5:10pm 3.1 6:07pm 3.0 12:47pm 0.8 1:38pm 0.8 2:27pm 0.8 3:14pm 0.8 3:59pm 0.8 4:42pm 0.8 5:24pm 0.9 7:03pm 3.0 7:57pm 3.0 8:48pm 3.0 9:35pm 3.0 10:20pm 3.0 11:02pm 3.0 11:42pm 2.9 7:28pm 0.6 8:25pm 0.6 9:22pm 0.7 10:20pm 0.7 11:19pm 0.7 Times 10:17pm 3.2 11:07pm 3.2 11:58pm 3.2 5:57am 8:35pm

Sun Fishing Guide

5:57am 8:36pm

Best At

B

2:48am 3:19pm

5:58am 8:36pm

Best At

B

3:50am 4:20pm

5:58am 8:37pm

Best At

B

4:49am 5:17pm

5:58am 8:38pm

Best At

B

5:43am 6:09pm

5:59am 8:38pm

Best At

B

6:34am 6:58pm

5:59am 8:39pm

Best At

G

7:22am 7:46pm

First Quarter

6:00am 8:39pm

Best At

G

8:09am 8:33pm

6:00am 8:40pm

Best At

G

8:56am 9:20pm

6:01am 8:40pm

Best At

G

9:45am 10:10pm

6:01am 8:40pm

Best At

G

10:36am 11:03pm

6:02am 8:41pm

Best At

G

11:30am 11:57pm

6:02am 8:41pm

Best At

G

12:25pm

6:03am 8:42pm

Best At

G

12:54am 1:22pm Full Moon

6:04am 8:42pm

Best At

G

1:49am 2:17pm

6:04am 8:42pm

Best At

G

2:43am 3:09pm

6:05am 8:42pm

Best At

G

3:33am 3:57pm

Best At

G

4:20am 4:42pm

Rise 7:31am Rise 8:43am Rise 9:58am Set 12:25am Set 12:56am Set 1:24am Set 1:51am Set 2:18am Set 2:46am Set 3:18am Set 3:55am Set 4:39am Set 5:30am Set 6:28am Set 7:29am Set 8:32am Set 9:33am Rise 11:11am Rise 12:22pm Rise 1:31pm Rise 2:39pm Rise 3:47pm Rise 4:56pm Rise 6:05pm Rise 7:13pm Rise 8:17pm Rise 9:13pm Rise 10:02pm Rise 10:41pm Rise 11:14pm Rise 11:42pm

Moon Set 11:01pm Set 11:48pm

*Not for navigational purposes.

G

Good Fishing

F

Fair Fishing

B

Not So Good

www.tidewiz.com

www.tidespy.com

www.ofu.co.nz

Graphic supplied by OceanFun Publishing Ltd.

For the latest wind and swell information for the Auckland area go to: www.tidespy.com/?place=3005 www.barfoot.co.nz barfoot.co.nz 34

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

BARFOOT&THOMPSON Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Advertise your business here for only $75+gst per insertion. Phone 427 8188 or email sellit@localmatters.co.nz or sales@localmatters.co.nz

Coastal Curtains and Blinds – Mobile Service

You fall... We save Fall protection for the construction industry

Phone or TXT: 021 328 087 Email: info@ahsn.co.nz www.aimhiresafetynets.co.nz

Drapes • Roman Blinds • Nets/voiles • Rods & Tracks • Blinds Verticals, Venetians, Wooden • Roller Sunscreen & Blockout Blinds CALL NOW FOR A FREE MEASURE & QUOTE – Phone 027 69 89 925 pauline@coastalcurtains.co.nz | www.coastalcurtains.co.nz

OUTDOOR FURNITURE Tables to order Chairs • Swingseats Benches • Umbrellas NZ made – quality built to last

Call Andy to supply, install, service and repair all major Heat Pump brands and for all your Electrical needs

25 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale (next to BP) Ph: 09 426 9660 • em: clipper.furniture@xtra.co.nz www.clipperfurniture.co.nz

Phone 021 819 733

or email andy@airpower.net.nz

Proud Sponsor of Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club

Buyers of: Copper • Brass • Aluminium • Lead • Steel Stainless Steel • Batteries • Cable • Machinery • Electric Motors • Cars • Car Removal. Pick up or drop off bins available

Phone 0800 14 15 30 • 09 426 9150 35 Forge Road, Silverdale

23 years experience in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration. Daikin & Mitsubishi installation • service • maintenance

022 471 9055

info@bettaplumbing.co.nz

www.bettaplumbing.co.nz

Contact Rodney 022 156 2559 or info@cooltherm.co.nz www.cooltherm.co.nz 10 FO % DIS R G CO U O HO LD C NT LDE ARD RS

Over 30 years experience ce rien expeicense s r yea sing L ti r 30 Ove Z Prac N Commercial • Civil • Rural • Residential • Digger hire Hole drilling • Certifying registered drainlayers

Jeff: 027 489 0851 • jeff@ardnz.com

D I G G E R

S E R V I C E S

• Farm Dams & Drainage • House Sites • Driveways • Pole Drilling • Mulching • Bulldozer & Scoop Services • Transport up to 18 Tonne • Truck Hire • Metal Supply

Phone Wayne 021 953 527

34 years Experience

021 738 137

www.localmatters.co.nz

deltaelectrical.co.nz

Offering a large range of styles and colours.

Cleaning and repairs available.

HOUSEWASHING

FREE Quotes Phone David

daniel

ERIC ODDI FOR BLINDS

PAINTING Stopping, Roof Coating

RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL - NEW BUILDS - RENOVATIONS - SERVICES

• Approved garden tank installer • Fence & deck builds/repairs • Water blasting • Gutter cleaning • General repairs & maintenance

Your local handyman Col Arundell 0275 833 453 | calloncol@gmail.com

CALL FOR A FREE MEASURE & QUOTE

Phone 0800 218 555 or 021 372 620 Email: ericoddiforblinds@gmail.com Serving you Rodney wide since 1995.

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

35

INSTALL RETRACTABLE INSECT INSTALL SCREENS RETRACTABLE INSTALL FOR A BUG RETRACTABLE INSECT FREE, SPRAY INSECT FREE HOME SCREENS INSTALL SCREENS RETRACTABLE we A fixBUG FOR Awindows BUG and doors FOR INSECT • Window handles, seals, hinges & stays FREE, SPRAY FREE, SPRAY • Security locks for windows & doors SCREENS FREE HOME • Sliding and bi-fold door rollers, locks & handles FOR A BUG FREE •HOME Retractable insect screens Local family business servicing Rodney Hibiscus Coast FREE, SPRAY we fix windows and& doors FREE• Window HOME handles, seals, hinges & stays Call free anytime

MICHAEL SHRUBSALL FINANCIAL ADVISER I CAN HELP IF YOU REQUIRE:

• BUSINESS FINANCE • VEHICLE FINANCE • ASSET FINANCE

We service and repair all makes and models WOF • Tyres • Batteries • Cambelts Mechanical repairs • CV Boots

HIBISCUS

15 Arklow Lane, Whangaparāoa Ph: 424 8705 • hbcwof@yahoo.co.nz

GARAGE DOORS

OR MORTGAGE FINANCE FOR:

• FIRST HOME BUYERS • HOME OWNERS • INVESTMENT • CONSTRUCTION • REFINANCE • REFIX • REVERSE MORTGAGE P 027 245 7511 E MichaelS@mortgagelab.co.nz

+ openers Repairs & service to all door makes and models.

Automatic openers repairs and replacements.

New doors and openers, all at local prices.

HIBISCUS HIBISCUS we fix windows and doors 0800 37 37 10 fix windows and doors HIBISCUS www.exceed.co.nz • we Window handles, seals, hinges & stays GARAGE DOORS + openers

GARAGE DOORS GARAGE DOORS

027 476 2741 or (09) 426 0851 HibiscusGarageDoors.co.nz • Security locks for windows & doors • Sliding and bi-fold door rollers, locks & handles • Retractable insect screens • Window handles, seals, hinges & stays Local • family business servicing Rodney Hibiscus Coast Security locks for windows & doors + openers • Security locks for windows & doors Repairs & service to all door makes and models.

• Sliding andand bi-fold doorrollers, rollers, & handles Repairs & service to repairs all door and makes and models.

Automatic openers replacements.

• Sliding bi-fold door locks &anytime handles Call freelocks Automatic openers repairs all andatreplacements.

New doors and openers, local prices. + openers • Retractable insect screens • Retractable insect screens 0800 37 37 10 New doors and openers, all at local prices.

611 Whangaparaoa Road Phone 424 3104 www.peninsulamowers.co.nz

Local family business servicing Rodney & Hibiscus Coast 476Repairs 2741 or&(09) 426 0851 HibiscusGarageDoors. co.nz all door makes and models. co.nz www.exceed.co.nz 027 476 2741 or service (09) 426to 0851 HibiscusGarageDoors. ocal family business servicing Rodney & Hibiscus027 Coast Automatic openers repairs and replacements.

Call free anytime New doors and openers, all at local prices.

0800 37 10anytime Call37free 027 476 2741 or (09) 426 0851 HibiscusGarageDoors.co.nz www.exceed.co.nz

Hibiscus Tiling

0800 37 37 10 www.exceed.co.nz

P.P. 09 P.09427 09 427 5748 5748 427 5748 M.M.021 M.021 021 689 689 700 700 689 700 E.E.firstautoelectrical@gmail.com E.firstautoelectrical@gmail.com firstautoelectrical@gmail.com

Unit Unit 3,3,83, 8 Curley Ave Ave Unit 8Curley Curley Ave Silverdale Silverdale 0944 0944 Silverdale 0944 www.firstauto.co.nz www.firstauto.co.nz www.firstauto.co.nz

HBC Community House

CAR SEAT RENTAL Long or short term hire We can check if your car seat is installed correctly.

Trained technician Phone 426 3598

HEAT PUMP CLEANING

SPECIALISTS

Heat pump cleaning & servicing HRV, DVS, Smartvent & Moisture Master filter replacements.

10% discount (heat pump cleaning only) for Gold Card holders

Ph Neil 0800 225 327 www.heatpumpclean.co.nz

Wall & floor tiling • Accredited Waterproofer Underfloor heating • Free consultations and quotations • 26 years experience

Phone Darcy 021 482 308

n ligatio No ob uotes FREE q

Carpet Cleaning | Upholstery Cleaning Stain Removal | Carpet Stretching & Repair

020 4 PLATNM (020 475 2866) info@platinumcarpetcare.co.nz

www.platinumcarpetcare.co.nz

IICRC Certified technicians | Workmanship guaranteed | Find us on FB

Beautiful lawns & gardens by your local Jim FULLY INSURED AND SECURITY CHECKED ALL WORK GUARANTEED

FREE QUOTES Franchise enquiries welcome

CALL FREE 0800 454 654 or book online: www.jimsmowing.co.nz

LIBERTY TOURSNZ NZ LIBERTYSHUTTLES SHUTTLES TOURS LIBERTY SHUTTLES TOURS NZ &&AIRPORT DIRECT AIRPORT DIRECT & AIRPORT DIRECT

Events-- golf, golf, fishing fishing and • •Events andmore more • Events - golf, fishing and more Otheroptions options on request • •Other request • Other options on request Discount for for group bookings • ••Discount bookings Discount for group group bookings NealeStevens Stevens (owner (owner operator) operator) Neale (owner Neale Stevens 0800 99 55 11 | 09 420 5366 oroperator) 021 447 455

0800 5366 or021 021447 447455 455 080099 9955 551111| | 09 09 420 420 5366 or libertyshuttles@gmail.com | libertyshuttles.co.nz libertyshuttles@gmail.com libertyshuttles.co.nz libertyshuttles@gmail.com || libertyshuttles.co.nz

Bespoke designs for residential and commercial property, large or small. We love to create aesthetically beautiful and functional outdoor spaces suited to you and how you live.

Free Consultation 021 0870 6508

eve@psithurismdesign.co.nz

psithurismdesign

MASON MASON CONTAINERS CONTAINERS LIMITED LIMITED Residential, commercial and industrial.

No job too big, small or difficult!

1 Poplar Lane, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa | Ph Mark 021 960 793 Email: craigmathers58@gmail.com www.hibiscuscoastscaffolding.co.nz | 36

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

HIRE HIRE CONTAINER CONTAINER ON YOUR YOUR ON SITE SITE OR OR OURS OURS

0800 833 323 Visit us at Visit us at 11 11 Sanderson Sanderson Road, Road, Warkworth Warkworth www.masoncontainers.co.nz www.masoncontainers.co.nz

Welding/Repairs for W.O.F & C.O.F, Rust Repairs, Accident Repairs, Insurance Repairs, Cars, Vans, Buses, Campers, Trucks, Trailers, Old/New – All Welcome. Affordable, Quality Repairs with over 20+ Years experience locally. Come see us!

FOR FOR HIRE HIRE & & FOR FOR SALE SALE

MASON CONTAINERS LIMITED HIRE CONTAINER ON YOUR

6c Arklow Lane, Stanmore Bay Phone: (09) 428 3802 | Mobile: 027 506 0400 Email: rustrepairsnz@gmail.com | www.rustrepairs.co.nz

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

Silverdale Computer Support Services At a fair price, with a personal touch

S m p i m u S m p t i m S S tuump mmiitthththh' 's

Servicing the Hibiscus Coast.

We cater primarily for the 55+ age group and assist small business owners. Free Quotes

s tt ' SSSTree ' s s Stump Removal

Tree Stump Removal Tree Stump Removal

FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING AND CARPENTRY NEEDS

Decks • Bathrooms • Pergolas • Doors • Renovations • Fencing Utilize your Space Tree Stump Removal Free Free Quotes Utilize Space Gates • Maintenance • Gib fitter • Plastering • Painting • Kitchens Quotes Utilize youryour Space APPLE MAC & WINDOWS Modern Machinery Free Quotes Utilize your Space Large or Small Jobs Large or Small Large or Small Jobs Jobs Modern Machinery Modern Machinery SUPPORT AT YOUR PREMISES CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE Large or Small Jobs Modern Machinery Hibiscus Coast Northshore One-on-one tutoring – discounts available 32 Seamount Dr, Red Beach | Ph 09 427 8980 M: 022 543 2154 | E: daniel@silvercomp.co.nz

SCR

Roof Maintenance

Understanding roofs since 1976

SERVICES: Moss Treatment • Repairs • Waterblasting • Housewashing • Coatings – 10 year Guarantee ROOF TYPES: Concrete Tiles • Stone Chip Tiles • Clay Tiles • Iron Roofing

PHONE 0800 12 11 11

Hibiscus Coast Hibiscus Coast

Northshore Northshore

Hibiscus Coast

Northshore

Call orTxt Txt Call or Txt Call or Call or Txt

021 996 021 996471 471 021 996 471

021 996 471 stumpsmithNZ@gmail.com Email: stumpsmithNZ@gmail.com stumpsmithNZ@gmail.com stumpsmithNZ@gmail.com Email: Email: Email:

Graham Harfield | Phone 09 428 4770 | 027 428 4770 Email: graham@top2bottom.co.nz | www.top2bottom.co.nz

TEAMWORK

SCAFFOLDING

Residential Specialists Friendly professional & dependable service Free quotes available

All aspects of repair work taken.

We also install windows/doors ...

TIMBER | ALUMINIUM | FIBREGLASS

John Drakeley p: 021 150 6994 e: teamworkscaffolding@gmail.com

Our services: • Cedar - protecting oil or stain • Decks and timber beautifying oil, stain or paint • House washes • Window Cleans • Concrete and paving cleans

Quality work, attention to detail with beautiful results

Graham 027 428 4770 www.windowdoorrepairs.co.nz windowdoorrepairsandinstalls@gmail.com

here s s e n i us your b r insertion. e s i t r z Adve gst pe + 5 7 s.co.n r $ e t y l t n a lm for o z @loca t i l l rs.co.n e e s t l t i a a lm em @loca s e l a s or

www.TKRevive.co.nz | 027 677 0747

COMMUNITY NOTICES

DO YOU HAVE ANY OLD CAR OR BOAT BATTERIES SITTING IN YOUR GARAGE, THAT YOU NO LONGER WANT? I can pick these up from you and dispose of them.

The Ōrewa Lions collect all old batteries and ALL the money received for them goes into the Child Mobility Foundation fund. This is certainly a fabulous cause to support. So, if you want to get rid of those old car or boat batteries or any batteries for that matter (although not the small AAA batteries) then just give me a call and I will dispose of them for you. If you would like to see more information regarding this, then go to this url, and you may well be staggered by what you see, at just what a difference can be made. www.lionsclubs. org.nz/Clubs/Activities/Child-Mobility So come on, if you have some batteries you do not want anymore, then please call me, Martin, on (09) 410 2363 . If I do not answer, then by all means leave a message and I will get back to you very quickly.

DEANZ REPAIR CAFE - encouraging the concept of Repair-Renew-Reuse.

Items that can be repaired include small KING KOILfurniture, HAWEA MATTRESS $2750!clothing, HOT bikes,ONLY toys, laptops PACKAGE KING KOILand TEKAPO MATTRESS ONLY electronics and $2950! small appliances (not Hibiscus INTEGRA microwaves).

PLUS’ MATTRESS ONLY $3450!Coast Community PRICES

House, 216 Hibiscus Coast Highway corner of Hibiscus Coast Highway and Centreway Road. 1st Saturday of month, 11am-2pm. FREE. Contact: coordinator@ hibiscuscoastzerowaste.co.nz SILVERDALE STREET MARKET, every Saturday, 8am-1pm. New stallholders welcome, phone Margaret, 027 663 2010.

SILVERDALE PIONEER VILLAGE Open every Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Group visits Monday-Friday by arrangement Email: Pioneervillage1968@Gmail.com ADULTS SOCIAL BADMINTON Every Wednesday Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre 9am -11am, $5 per session. Contact Nick Fraser 021 433 299 email nickf69@ slingshot.co.nz GOLDEN YEARS FISHING CLUB. Do you love fishing. Are you 50+. Don’t have a boat or want some company. Maybe a little mobility issue. We can help. Our club does weekly charters on Hauraki of Kaipara Harbours. Step on stop off. Even shore based torpedo expeditions. Come & join us for a great fishing experience. Ph. Derek 021 032 6878.

HIBISCUS PETANQUE CLUB, Tuesday and Wednesday 9am-12pm, Sunday 1pm4pm. Adjacent to Ōrewa Bowling Club, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway. All welcome.

Ph John 027 489 4955 www.sporty.co.nz/ hibiscuspetanque MEDITATION IN MOTION WITH TAI CHI HIBISCUS, 9am-10am. 1st Saturday of every month. Whangaparāoa Library’s front courtyard. All welcome. Tai Chi Hibiscus 021 904 333 or taijihibiscuscoast@gmail.com HIBISCUS COAST HIGHLAND PIPES AND DRUMS – DRUM TUTOR Wanted We are wanting a snare/side drum tutor to join our band and tutor others. Tuition on bag pipes offered also. Free tuition – conditions apply. No previous experience needed to learn. All levels of playing and supporters welcome. Wednesday 7:00pm practices at St Johns Ambulance Hall 36 Silverdale Road Silverdale. Drop in to check us out Contact Leslee O’Connell 027 4267 170 or Bob Logan 09 4241838.

HEARTBEATS HEART SUPPORT GROUP Meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of every month, 10am-11:30am at the Hibiscus Coast Community House (behind Estuary Arts Centre). Guest speakers. Ph Trent 0220 606 199 IF YOUR HOME IS UNHAPPY BECAUSE SOMEONE DRINKS TOO MUCH We can help you. Al-Anon and Alateen for families and friends of problem drinkers. Al-Anon Family Groups 0508 425 266 www.al-

anon.org.nz SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT – EMPATHY GROUP meets monthly at Ōrewa, Last Monday of each month.

Hibiscus Community House, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Ōrewa, Western Reserve, 7pm-9pm. All welcome. Info Susan 021 884 162 or PM FB: Empathy support group.

FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St Chad’s Hall 5pm last Sunday of each month.

Just come along, corner Florence Ave & Centreway Rd, Ōrewa All welcome.

HIBISCUS COAST WRITERS Regular workshops led by successful writers, followed by optional interclub competitions. Second Saturday of month, Pohutukawa Room, Whangaparāoa Library. 1pm-3pm, Ph Marilyn 021 936 860 or Chris 021 231 8318.

NZ SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS meet 3rd Tuesday of the month, St Chad’s Church, Ōrewa, 2pm. Entry gold coin donation for the public. Guest speakers present on a range of topics. All welcome.

To ensure your Community notice is included in 2024 publications please email an updated version to hibiscus@localmatters.co.nz

Crossword conundrum solved waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz ACROSS: 1 One foot in the grave, 10 Unafraid, 15 Escort, 16 Experience, 17 Fathered, 19 Fluster, 21 Corny, 22 Stretcher, 25 Margarine, 27 Crooked, 29 Chopin, 33 Satin, 34 Speakers, 36 Embroidery, 39 Orb, 41 Flat out, 42 Fillet, 43 Awning, 44 View, 45 Scarlet, 48 Mushroomed, 53 Happens, 57 Rock, 58 Hawser, 59 Mutual, 60 Placate, 62 Tin, 64 Pallbearer, 65 Academic, 66 Joker, 69 Fodder, 70 Amnesty, 71 Objection, 76 Authentic, 77 Comic, 78 Brusque, 83 Airborne, 84 Stimulates, 85 Paltry, 86 Enlisted, 87 Bring the house down.

#22

DOWN: 2 Nestle, 3 Floss, 4 Out, 5 Idea, 6 Typhoon, 7 Errant, 8 Reef, 9 Vocation, 11 Nuance, 12 Fahrenheit, 13 Airy, 14 Dudgeon, 18 Determined, 20 Edge, 23 Crêpe, 24 Appetite, 26 Aviator, 28 Risotto, 30 Garlic, 31 Wealth, 32 Trench, 35 Adieu, 37 Yawns, 38 Ruse, 40 Balm, 45 Syrup, 46 Accolade, 47 Teabag, 48 Mastermind, 49 Sort, 50 Remnant, 51 Outlaw, 52 Elate, 54 Ally, 55 Piccolo, 56 Nutmeg, 61 Obsequious, 63 Rivet, 67 Register, 68 Star, 69 Fanfare, 72 Brittle, 73 Whinge, 74 Goblet, 75 Burrow, 79 Salad, 80 Oral, 81 Omen, 82 Oslo, 85 Pus.

Shop 3, Silverdale Centre 09 421 1307 | 16F Link Drive Wairau Park 09 444 0244 | www.waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz www.localmatters.co.nz

December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

37

Classifieds

NEW CLIENTS WELCOME

DOUGLAS

ACCOUNTING For all your accounting requirements • Monthly and end of year accounts and tax returns.

• Business planning and advice • Personal Tax Returns • ACC Coverplus Xtra • Cashbooks, Xero & MYOB • GST, PAYE, FBT • Agent with IRD PO Box 308 001, Manly Whangaparaoa 0952 Phone: 09 424 4684 Mobile: 021 912 184 Fax: 09 424 4688 greg@douglasconsulting.co.nz www.douglasconsulting.co.nz

2 6 1 8 3 7 5 9 4

7 5 8 9 2 4 3 6 1

9 4 3 6 1 5 7 2 8

1 3 9 2 7 6 4 8 5

6 7 5 4 8 9 1 3 2

8 2 4 3 5 1 6 7 9

T H E S O L U T

I O N

3 8 6 5 4 2 9 1 7

4 9 7 1 6 8 2 5 3

5 1 2 7 9 3 8 4 6

HOUSIE

$1000

JACKPOT

Played 1pm Every Friday, Clubrooms Bowls Ōrewa, Ph 09 426 5937

WANTED TO BUY TO BUY, RECORDS/LP’S 09 428 1587 txt 0210 258 3437

HOME & MAINTENANCE

SERVICES

ALARMS SECURITY AND FIRE, MONITORING, CCTV, servicing & installation, all brands 027 553 3032 www.tdssecurity.co.nz

MURRAY'S MASSAGE SERVICE 26 yrs professional massage experience, based in Little Manly - off street parking.

Essential oils massage for relaxation and wellbeing. Ph. 020 4116 7992.

BUILDER, ROOFER, LANDSCAPER, HANDYMAN WORK. 30 years of experience, No job too small. Home repairs & maintenance inside and out. Roofs, decks, fences, painting, moss & mold treatments, any kind of gardening or landscaping.

Call or text Shayne 021 362 116 CARPET LAYING, CARPET RE-STRETCH, VINYL LAYING, CARPET REPAIRS Over 30 years’ experience.

Contact Dexter 027 4956 436 CONTRACTORS QUANTITY SURVEYOR 35+ years NZ Building Experience. Measures, Pricing, Tenders, Variations, Monthly Progress Payments, Final Accounts & Disputes etc. David 027 444 1608.

FURNITURE REMOVALS exp Owner Operator 30 years. Single Items to Flat/House lots. Silverdale Based. Ph Gavin 0274 973 867

HANDYMAN

HYPNOTHERAPY

Lose weight. stop smoking. anxiety and depression, confidence, self esteem. Ph 021 635 966 www.hypnotherapy2succeed.co.nz RECORDING STUDIO Vocals to backing tracks, original projects, vocal training & vocal PA hire. Ph Skimp 021 115 5233.

Hibiscus Matters is a fortnightly paper, pays good rates and you have 4 days to deliver.

If you are fit, like walking and wanting to get paid for it ...

Contact Rosemary 021 0300 263 or email name, contact details & age to: hmdelivery@localmatters.co.nz

38

TREK MARLIN 6 - BIKE SZ 13.5 inch - $300.

MGPVX-8 Scooter + Stand - $50. Reebok XR8 exercise gym bike - $100. Defy Bar Fridge - $100. All excellent condition. Ph 022 109 7933

LOST GOLD NECKLACE AND PENDANT with inlaid golden sapphire in the New World, library, Paper Plus, Ōrewa area. Extremely distressing as family heirloom. Reward for its return. Phone 021 444 650

NEED A HAND with something, give me a call, anything considered. Call Will or txt on 021 0847 5188.

HAIRDRESSING CAN’T MAKE IT TO A HAIR SALON? No problem I can come to you.

Qualified Hairstylist providing cutting and blow wave services.

Please phone Julie 021 112 8015

APPLIANCE REPAIRS A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/Simpson dryers.

Prompt service ph 021 168 7349.

HOUSE WASHING - SOFT WASH / LOW PRESSURE / CHEMICAL WASH Also Window Cleaning / Gutter Clearing Careful service, reasonable rates.

DVDS & VIDEOS VIDEOS TRANSFERRED to DVD/hard drive.

Phone or text Te Totara Video 021 777 385.

HOUSIE AT BOWLS ŌREWA every Friday, 1pm-4pm. Lots of fun and great prizes. Ph 09 426 5937. All welcome.

PUMP DOCTOR

WATER PUMP & FILTER SERVICES. New installs for all your water pump requirements. Ph 0274 430 654.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER, New Builds, Additions & Renovations. Concept Design & Building Consents. Clinton 0800 642 425.

ARKLES BAY PAINTERS/DECORATORS In the area for the area. Contact Shane 021 0813 8481.

CARPET CLEANING, repairs and installation. Dwayne 0274 997 929.

HANDYMAN EX-BUILDER Repairs to old windows & doors. Fencing, paving stones, brick garden walls, wooden garden boxes all sizes. Painting inside & outside etc.

Phone 027 436 1828.

PEST CONTROL, Flies, spiders, cockroaches, ants, rodents, wasps.

Competitive prices. Ph 426 2253.

FRIDAY: Silverdale Rugby Club, every fourth Friday of the month, 4pm-8pm • SATURDAY: Silverdale Market, every Saturday from 8am-1pm, 7 Silverdale Street • SUNDAY: Ōrewa Artisan Market, Estuary Arts Centre, 9am-1pm • Ōrewa Beach Farmers Market, every Sunday from 8am-12.30pm, Ōrewa Square • Silverdale Night Market, 5pm until late, in the carpark underneath The Warehouse in Silverdale • Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Car Boot & Craft Market fundraiser, every second Sunday of the month from 10am-2pm, Lower Coast Plaza Carpark, Whangaparāoa.

DELIVERERS WANTED TO DELIVER HIBISCUS MATTERS 11 YEARS+ TO DELIVER THE HIBISCUS MATTERS NEWSPAPERS

MOTORHOME DAIHATSU DELTA. 5 metres, 31/2 ltr diesel recond. 5 sp manual.

Sleep 4. Nice interior. Good condition. $25,000 Ph 09 426 6899.

WORK WANTED

Odd jobs, gardening, painting & water blasting. Phone Nev 021 399 226.

Phone 021 057 9743

FOR SALE

ARKLES BAY 3: Ferry Rd: Hawaiian Parade: Coralsea Way: Palm Grove: Kestrel Heights: Mollyhawk Rise: Montpellier Heights:

| Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

RED BEACH 3: HBC Highway: Moffat Rd: Pohutukawa Ave: Maori Hut Rd: River Rd:

STANMORE BAY 11: Whangaparāoa Rd: Red Hibiscus Rd: Angel Way: Palmgreen Court: Karepiro Dr: David Sidwell Pl: Barwick Pl: Bloomfield Rise: Rishworth Ave:

STANMORE MANLY 1: Stanmore Bay Rd: Bonita Ave: Monyash Rd: Hurdlow Pl: Moreton Dr: Shuttleworth Pl: Manly Heights: Grandview Rd:

8 RUNS AVAILABLE Arkles Bay 4 Semi Rural: 100 Red Beach 3: 220 Ōrewa 6: 375 Stanmore Bay 10: 200 Stanmore Bay/Manly 1: 200 Stanmore Bay 11: 300 Arkles Bay 1: 350 Arkles Bay 3: 300

Deliveries available

Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

What’s on ...

December

15

The Sons, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay, 7pm-10.30pm. Entry $8 members, $10 non-members.

15

Brown Sugar Rolling Stones Experience, Paraoa Brewing Co., 719A Whangaparāoa Rd, 7.30pm-10.30pm. Stones’ songs, energetic, live and loud! Tickets from Eventfinda.

15

Kensington Park’s Christmas Extravaganza, 11 Parkside Drive, Ōrewa, 6pm-8.30pm. View homes lit up for Christmas. Food trucks, scavenger hunt, face painters, live music, games and more. Trail of lights leading to Santa!

16

Hibiscus Christmas Comedy Gala with Brendhan Lovegrove and Friends, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay, 7.30pm-9.30pm. MC Tony Lyall, support by Michéle A’Court. Tickets from Eventfinda.

16

Primal A.D – Nu metal and rock covers. Deck the Halls with heavy riffs! Paraoa Brewing Co., 719A Whangaparāoa Rd, 8pm-11pm. Tickets from Eventfinda.

16

Create a Baby in a Manger Christmas tree ornament, Whangaparāoa Library, Pohutukawa room, 10.30am-11.30am and 11.30am-12.30pm. A creative workshop with Helen Hardcastle. RSVP to WhangaparaoaLibraryEvents@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

17

Free Christmas dinner, hosted by Love Soup Hibiscus Coast, Whangaparāoa Hall, 717 Whangaparāoa Road. Doors open 4.30pm.

All welcome

19

Children’s Christmas Concert, Whangaparāoa Library’s children’s area, 10.30am. Festive music by local tamariki musicians.

20

Joy Bells, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay, 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free entry.

21

Stories and Singalong with Santa, Whangaparāoa Library children’s area, 11am. Dress in Christmas clothes and sing carols and read stories with Santa and his elf.

22

Christmas Singalong with The 2 Of Us, Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, 43A Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Free entry.

22

Food Truck Friday, Drifter Coffee, 3 George Lowe Place, Ōrewa, 6pm-9pm. Epic food trucks serve up some damn tasty food and kick off the weekend right. Bring the whole family.

31

New Year’s Eve Party on the Coast 2023-24. Rock in the New Year with local bands including The People and Rockstok, Paraoa Brewing Co., 719A Whangaparāoa Road, 8pm-1am. Tickets from Eventfinda.

January

20

The Big Dig, Ōrewa Beach, by surf club. Children dig in sand for prize tickets. Hosted by Ōrewa Lions Club. Tickets $5 for children aged five-and under; $10 for over 5s. Sales open 9am. Digging at 10.15 and 10.45am. (see story p24)

21

Ako Hoe Waka/Learn to paddle a Waka, Ōrewa Beach, 11am-12pm.

Free family activity, training with Matatoa – Time 2 Train. Lifejackets and paddles provided. Bookings essential on Eventbrite, as numbers limited.

26-28 Rodders Beach Festival, Ōrewa. Hot rods, music, entertainment and more! Raises funds for Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

See www.localmatters.co.nz/whats-on/ for a full list of upcoming events

Christmas hours Hibiscus Matters’ closes for the year on Wednesday, December 20.

And reopens on Monday, January 8, 2024.

Our next paper will be out on January 15.

May you all have a festive Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. www.localmatters.co.nz

Advertisment

To list events, email: online@localmatters.co.nz

Pharmacy Talk with Tania Adams

Pharmacist at Unichem Manly

Christmas Stress I absolutely love Christmas. Everything about it from the smell of fresh pine emanating from the Christmas tree to the Christmas carols that the Unichem Manly Pharmacy team will attest to me annoyingly starting as early as possible! However, Christmas can also bring with it a lot of stress. Whether it be financial, straight up busyness or those family clashes on Christmas Day, all of us can feel a bit of mental pressure at Christmas time.

Here are just some of many tips available for mental health and well being. Find out what combination of tools works best for you: Exercise - a 2021 study found that people with physically active lives had a 60% lower risk of developing anxiety. Almost any type of exercise will help. Even a simple 20-minute stroll can clear the mind and reduce stress.

Try Magnesium - Studies show that magnesium levels are highly associated with stress levels. Be sure to get the right type of magnesium (they are not all the same), as this will influence whether or not it actually helps.

Limit caffeine - did you know that “caffeine induced anxiety disorder” is actually a thing? Caffeine is not your friend! Try reducing your caffeine intake to ease anxiety. However you will need to do this slowly to avoid withdrawal effects.

Sleep is very important - make sure you are getting enough. If you are having trouble with getting to sleep, staying asleep or sleep quality, book in to our Sleep Clinic at the pharmacy and get expert help.

Other natural therapies - there are many natural health remedies advertising that they help with stress, anxiety or depression. But do they? Yes, some can certainly help. We are lucky to carry the Metagenics practitioner only range at Unichem Manly Pharmacy which you can be prescribed in one of our clinics. Book in to see our in store naturopath, Bridget, for some “one on one” help.

Talk to your friends - In the words of Winnie the Pooh - “Today was a Difficult Day,” said Pooh. There was a pause.“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet. “No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”

“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.“What are you doing?” asked Pooh. “Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.” And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…he thought that his best friend had never been more right.

Have a Merry Christmas Coasties! Be kind to everyone and don’t forget to be kind to yourself.

Book to see our naturopath Just call us on 424-7708 to book your appointment or visit our website on www.unichemmanly.co.nz 53B Rawhiti Road, Manly Village Whangaparaoa Ph (09) 424 7708 Fax (09) 424 7427 www.unichemmanly.co.nz

Manly Pharmacy

Your local health professional December 11, 2023 | Hibiscusmatters |

39

Coast athletes of all ages excelled this month

The Hibiscus Coast Raiders were “blown away” at being named Auckland Rugby League (ARL) Club of the Year at the organisation’s Conference of Clubs on November 25 and 26. The award recognises the club going above and beyond this season to make a positive impact in their community through the game of Rugby League. The club thanks its volunteers, coaches, managers and players as well as the ARL for their support. Pictured is Raiders chair Seth Gleeson, right, receiving the award from ARL general manager Viggo Rasmussen.

Hibiscus Coast Cricket Club’s manager, Gair McSkimming, is also a player and was recently selected for Auckland Cricket’s Over-50s Division 1 team. Gair is a true all-rounder – a left-hand top order batter and right arm off spin bowler. The squad will compete in the Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT,) to be held next month in Dunedin, after which a New Zealand team will be selected.

Year 11 Whangaparāoa College student Jessica Washer is one of 90 secondary school netballers who will take part in the NZ Secondary Schools Netball Development Camp in Auckland next month. She is the only player from the Coast to be invited to the camp. Jessica has been playing netball since she was seven years of age and says she has “loved every second of it”. She was in the school’s Premier team, which won the North Harbour Netball competition this year. Jessica, who normally plays Goal Attack, says she hopes to gain experience and enhance her skills at the camp, but also to connect with other players and coaches. “I’m looking forward to being exposed to the high-level environment and learning what it takes to compete at that level,” she says.

At age 14, Enoch Wu of Stanmore Bay is the youngest member of the Hibiscus Coast Harriers and Triathlon Club and already he is making his mark. The Kingsway School student recently completed the full Rangitoto swim – 4.6km from the island to St Heliers Beach. Enoch came first in his age group (12-14) and 46th overall, in a field of 332 swimmers. He says the race was a great experience, and he chased fast swimmers all the way to the finish. “I was a little bit tired at the last 500m,” Enoch says.

40 | Hibiscusmatters | December 11, 2023

Recently Ōrewa College Year 10 student Brian Wilson set two NZ Men’s U17 records (Para F20 division), in discus and shotput.

The achievement came at the McKinnon Shield Athletics Competition when he achieved a distance of 19.13m in discus using a 1.5kg weight, and a 6.35m throw using a 5kg weight in shotput. Brian has global development delay and is nonverbal. He has been participating in sports since the age of three. Recently the family moved to Ōrewa and Brian trains regularly, including twice a week at the Millennium Stadium. In April, Brian won 1st place in discus and shot put, Para category, at the Auckland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships. He also enjoys the camaraderie of the Ōrewa College rugby club, having played since he was five. Brian will compete at his first NZ Secondary Schools Athletics Championship this month in Christchurch in the Para category for discus and shot put.

Manly Sailing Club excelled, winning five national awards from Yachting NZ last month. Top of the list was the Race Officer Emeritus award, which went to Vice Commodore Harold Bennett. Harold says it recognises the hard work put in over a long period of time and he was humbled to receive it. Last year he was named Race Official of the Year. In addition, windfoiler Aimee Bright is Young Female Sailor of the Year, Ewan Brazle, who sails O’Pen Skiff was named Young Male Sailor of the Year, and Emerging Coach of the Year went to Matthew Rist. Moth sailor Jacob Pye took home the Harken Youth Performance Award. Pictured from top, Harold Bennett, Aimee Bright, Ewan Brazle

www.localmatters.co.nz