This was the impressive result when the call went out last month for donations of handbags filled with essentials for women in need. The annual Love Grace Appeal was set up in memory of young British woman Grace Millane, who was viciously murdered in Auckland seven years ago, to help women escaping domestic abuse and violence.
Local coordinator Ricky Wrightwebb said the response was overwhelming, with 200 bags donated. “We couldn’t fit any more love into one picture,” she said. “These bags are a beautiful mix and display of generosity. What an incredible effort from our community. We are beyond grateful and I would like to thank everyone.”
The bags are being donated to Hestia Rodney Women’s Refuge, which hosted a special Love Grace morning tea in Orewa last Friday, March 28, with Detective Inspector Scott Beard, who led the investigation into Grace’s death and who lives on the Hibiscus Coast, as guest of honour. “It’s very clear that Grace’s tragedy has affected many people from all walks of life,” Wrightwebb added. “Please let these bags give some light and hope for women in need.”
Path plan ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’
Controversial plans by Auckland Council to dig up 90 metres of the Snells Beach coastal walkway to encourage more shorebirds to roost roused passions at Rodney Local Board’s Warkworth HQ this month.
Over 30 Snells residents gathered outside the Elizabeth Street offices on March 19
to present a petition with more than 700 signatures opposing the proposal. There were frustrations that not everyone could fit into the 16-seater board room for the presentation, as well as confusion over council communications and the whole decision-making process.
ECO MIX LOW CARBON CONCRETE
Some of the mostly elderly also expressed surprise at the presence of security guards and two Warkworth police officers.
Petition organiser Stan Armiger said signatories wanted to keep the walkway and picnic area at the northern end of the beach, and removing it would be a waste of money.
“The birds and us can live together. There’s plenty of land there without taking the footpath away,” he said.
When he asked how many board members had actually visited the site, only two raised their hands.
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Path plan ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’
“That’s very disappointing,” he said. “What would Ken Erceg and his team of volunteers say about this when his dream was to have a walkway along the whole length of Snells Beach? They’d be turning in their graves if they knew about this.
“Consider what is being put before you very carefully and have in mind that the vast majority would like a sensible compromise.”
Planner Hugh Briggs agreed that everyone supported protecting the birds, but said council was using “a sledgehammer to crack a nut”.
“It’s a folly and an exceedingly costly exercise,” he said. “If you take that path away, you’re going to make people walk on the beach right through the nesting area to Boathouse Bay – it’s just not logical.”
Another resident, Richard Eames, suggested putting a bridge over the stream at the end of the walkway so people could walk to and from Boathouse Bay without walking on the beach, as originally planned when the land was developed.
Following the petition presentation, attention shifted to a local board workshop last Wednesday, March 26, where council’s Environmental Services staff gave members an update on community feedback.
Natural environment northern delivery team manager Andrew Nelson said, as well as the petition, there had been 146 submissions, 66 per cent of which were opposed to the idea.
Of those, the concerns were that it was a waste of public funds and the walkway was a valuable community asset. Some preferred alternative conservation efforts, while others were concerned about access for the elderly and disabled. Some respondents believed the birds were adaptable, and some thought increased beach use and removing the path would harm the birds. There was also a suggestion that a new roosting area could be created without removing the path.
The workshop heard that there was around $50,000 for the proposal available from two local board budgets.
Norton said constant low-level disturbance, from walkers and beach-goers, was as much of a threat to the birds as being chased or predation.
“Being on constant alert means shorebirds cannot rest adequately and nests and eggs are left exposed,” he said.
Senior conservation adviser Megan Young said council staff had been working to come up with a compromise that recognised how important the path was to the community, while also trying to get “some really meaningful outcomes” for the shorebirds.
She proposed removing only 30 metres of pathway, instead of the full 90 metres from the Hampton Mews footbridge to the end of the path, and installing a gate just along from the footbridge.
“We’re suggesting a gate with signage asking people if it’s high tide, to please not
use that section of the path, enabling and empowering the community to make their own choices to do the right thing by the birds,” she said.
Board member Ivan Wagstaff said the option of putting a footbridge across to Boathouse Bay at the end of the walkway needed to be considered.
“I feel like this is an option that hasn’t been presented and it achieves better outcomes and is cheaper,” he said. “We could create a bird sanctuary at the end of the peninsula, put in planting to stop people walking on the beach and send them round the other way.”
Tim Holdgate and Colin Smith suggested that leaving things as they were should also be considered.
“We’re here to look after our ratepayers, the birds can look after themselves,” Smith said.
The natural environment team will put together a report for the local board, analysing the various options, including potentially using a facilitator to try to find a workable compromise between residents and council.
Armiger said after the workshop he wasn’t keen on Young’s suggested compromise.
“That is not on, we want all the walkway to stay,” he said. “They seem to think the birds use only the north end of the beach. That is wrong, they use the whole length of the beach, and the budget is unrealistic.”
The dark line shows the path as it is now ... How council wants to cut it back ... And its suggested compromise.
Matakana fire station flooding puts crews and callouts at risk
Serious flooding that has put a local fire station underwater at least twice, and risks crews not being able to respond in an emergency, urgently needs addressing, a Rodney Local Board meeting heard on March 19.
Omaha Flats Road resident Mark Postlewaight and Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade senior firefighter Lisa Donaldson told members the problem was a box culvert next to the fire station that could no longer cope with heavy rainfall.
“It’s affecting eight properties on Omaha Flats Road and the fire station keeps going underwater,” Postlewaight said.
“The road’s like a dam and the water can’t get through. That drain catchment goes right back to the sewage plant in Jones Road, so water from a huge area barrels into that drain. It can’t take any more.”
Donaldson said flood water spilled over from the culvert and filled roadside swales, meaning the road and fire station entrance couldn’t be seen.
“When you’re travelling in through the
water, you can’t see the drains on either side so there’s a risk of you getting into trouble yourself,” she said.
Board members heard that the entire fire station had to be cleared out during the last big floods to avoid damage to fire trucks and equipment. As Matakana had the only water tanker in the wider area, Donaldson said it was vital trucks could still be used and comms equipment wasn’t damaged.
Postlewaight said several approaches had been made to Auckland Council, Healthy Waters and Auckland Transport, but in the end AT had said enlarging or replacing the culvert did not meet its funding criteria.
“We don’t know where to go next. Hutchinson Consulting Engineers have done calculations on the pipe and said it is undersized and needs repairing and addressing,” he said.
Members agreed that something needed to be done about the situation and voted to ask AT to report back to them.
“This is a safety emergency situation and
WM input sought on postRedvale rubbish disposal
Waste Management NZ (WM) has launched a public consultation on what should happen to millions of tonnes of rubbish once its Redvale landfill at Dairy Flat has to stop receiving waste at the end of 2028.
The waste conglomerate had hoped Redvale’s replacement, its massive new regional landfill planned for 1000 hectares between Wayby and the Dome Valley, would be up and running by then, but numerous appeals against the proposal by iwi, community and environmental groups have still to be decided by the Environment Court.
WM chief executive Evan Maehl said if resource consent was finally granted, the new site might not be up and running until 2036, and Aucklanders would generate around four million tonnes of waste in the interim.
He said all of Auckland was responsible for finding a solution to this “waste hurdle”.
“Auckland’s waste is a shared problem, and the public’s feedback is essential in guiding our decision-making process. It will ensure we capture the needs and concerns of the wider community and make informed choices,” he said.
Independent analysis by environmental and engineering consultants Tonkin + Taylor found four possible solutions – adding capacity at existing landfills; creating another new landfill site; using new technologies; and minimising waste
and recovering more.
The assessment found the most viable solution would be to use existing landfill sites, though WM said it was open to solutions it might not even have considered.
Auckland Council’s general manager for waste solutions, Justine Haves, said council would use the consultation period to assess all WM’s options and submit its own feedback.
She said council’s 2023 waste assessment included a review of regional disposal capacity, and noted limitations and risks around current provision.
“This identified the risk for Auckland in developing alternative options if the Wayby Valley proposed landfill didn’t proceed, and various constraints related to current resource consents,” she said.
Haves said the assessment also highlighted the need for further consideration of waste from north Auckland being sent to Hampton Downs after the expiry of WM’s Redvale consent.
The WM public consultation is open until May 11 and findings will be published in early June. Community consultation sessions will be held at Dairy Flat and across Auckland, with submissions accepted online, by email or post.
The full consultation document, session dates and submission forms can be found at https://www.wm.nz/consultation/
flooding is one of the major issues we have up here,” Board member Guy Wishart said.
“This needs to be handled in a different
way to emphasise the emergency side of things. We can’t have such a vital piece of infrastructure unable to work.”
Arvida appeals council’s
‘flawed’
plan decision
Arvida has lodged an appeal with the Environment Court against what it calls Auckland Council’s “flawed decision” to reject its private plan change request to rezone 140 hectares of land north of Warkworth.
The retirement village operator wants to develop 198 units and an aged care facility for seniors on 22 hectares at Paddison Farm, but it was the potential for a further 2200 homes on the remaining land that caused council to throw the proposal out last month (MM, Mar 3).
Councillors said the proposal was premature, speculative, sprawling and there was no funding for infrastructure.
However, Arvida chief executive Jeremy Nicoll said the decision to block the request was unjustified, and said the only formal grounds for rejection raised by council planners under the Resource Management Act did not apply.
“We believe they did not follow due process,” he said. “While we would prefer to avoid an appeal to the Environment Court, which will cost ratepayers money, we are left with no choice due to the council’s flawed decision.”
Nicoll said the only reason Arvida was seeking a rezoning of the wider area around its retirement community was to allow “a more comprehensive, coordinated approach, rather than piecemeal, ad hoc development”.
“At a wider level, the assertion our proposal would promote ‘urban sprawl’ fails to recognise that Warkworth is already a
The proposed plan change area.
growing population hub, at the end of a new motorway, with developments completed or underway.”
Nicoll says all the matters raised by councillors were addressed in Arvida’s plan change application and the request should have been allowed to go through the standard public hearing process.
“All we want is a fair hearing where the facts of our proposal can be heard and tested by a panel of independent planning commissioners.”
The Matakana Fire Station in Omaha Flats Road, under water in 2011 and 2023.
Three-year plan to replace Wellsford’s notorious clay pavers
After countless trips and falls by pedestrians, and years of lobbying by local board members, businesses and community groups, Auckland Transport (AT) has admitted that Wellsford’s unpopular clay pavers need taking up and has committed to replacing them with concrete.
Programme director Graeme Gunthorp told Rodney Local Board’s monthly meeting on March 19 that AT acknowledged it needed to replace the yellow clay bricks and would commit to doing so over the next three years, although this remained subject to the transport targeted rate budget.
He put forward a detailed work plan of which sections of path along Rodney Street should be replaced in order of priority, and said a significant amount of the work would take place at night to minimise disruption to retailers and transport.
“We have already replaced the first section outside Gull, which was destroyed by heavy vehicles parking on it, and intend to continue the replacement with higher ranking areas such as Mobil, Post Shop and Hospice,” he said.
The programme marks a sharp about-turn from AT, which previously said there was no need to replace the pavers.
A detailed assessment last year concluded that the footpaths were in acceptable condition and their slip resistance was acceptable and typical for pavers of that type.
However, following a move by board member Colin Smith to direct Wellsford’s remaining transport targeted rate money to replacing the pavers in September, AT changed its tack late last year and has since come up with a proposed work schedule.
At the March meeting, Smith asked that at least some of the steeper sections be done urgently.
“Is there any way we can push for the Post Shop section to be done before winter? Pregnant women and the elderly have to hang on to the wall to get into the supermarket there because they’re so
scared of falling,” he said.
Deputy chair Louise Johnston suggested the whole project should be brought forward and supported by AT, as the board had committed so much through its targeted rate programme and even more rate money would be forthcoming in future years.
At the end of last year, there was around $330,000 left in the Wellsford targeted rate fund, and Gunthorp said the rate-funded Rodney Street path and footbridge project had come in $92,000 under budget.
Members voted to prioritise paver
replacement in the following section order: Post Shop, Mobil, Carpark lane, Hospice, SPCA/Caffe Cozy, Superette, Super Liquor, McDonald’s, Caltex and Drummers.
They also asked AT to consider salvaging the old pavers for possible reuse to keep them out of landfill.
Raised bricks causing falls in Matakana
Calls are being made for sections of pathway in Matakana to be re-laid after a spate of falls by elderly people tripping on uneven bricks.
The town centre footpaths are a mix of smooth concrete interspersed with decorative sections of old bricks laid in sand, which have no cement binding them in place.
Simone Hibbert-Foy, from Premium Real Estate, says she has witnessed at least three serious falls on the bricks outside her office in the past three months.
“There was an 83-year-old man, one lady with a walking stick and then on Friday (March 21) an 80-year-old. This poor man fell completely, he smashed his face and there was a big chunk out of his hand – he was bleeding profusely,” she said.
“I’ve put four calls into the council. I’m not going to sit there and watch old people fall over, it’s horrendous.”
Hibbert-Foy said after her first call in January, contractors came straight out and
placed large ‘Uneven surface’ signs on the section of path, which is between the Rusty Tui and the Matakana Pub, but nothing had happened since, despite further calls.
“I’ve also put cones out over the worst bricks, but they get stolen over the weekend and so do the signs,” she said. “Every time it rains the sand washes out. It’s ridiculous. They need relaying.”
Staff at the Four Square have also witnessed falls caused by the brick section on the corner of Torea Road, and agreed that sand shifting under the bricks seemed to be an issue.
“I’m aware of one lady who fell really badly. I think because council cleans them with a water-blaster that moves the sand under the bricks. It’s frustrating and dangerous –they need relaying,” said one staff member.
An Auckland Transport spokesperson claimed tree roots could be a cause, though there are no trees outside Premium Real Estate or the Four Square frontage. They urged people to report any problems.
“Auckland Transport is aware of ongoing maintenance issues with a brick footpath on sections of Matakana Valley Road in Matakana, around the main business and dining area. Some bricks on the footpath are being raised by the roots of nearby trees,” they said.
“AT has done repairs on the footpath in the past when we have been made aware of these issues, and we urge anyone who has concerns with a part of it to lodge a request for maintenance to us as soon as possible.” Issues can be reported at https://contact.at.govt.nz/
Les Miller & Jackie Woolerton - Webster Malcolm Law
The work will be done in sections by AT, subject to funding.
Odd bricks sitting up to 2cm above the path surface are causing trips and falls.
Medical ute commissioned
Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade is the proud owner of a brand-new, state-of-theart medical vehicle, thanks entirely to the generosity of the local community.
The $140,000 Ford Ranger comes with ample tailormade storage for all equipment that the crew might need, from oxygen and a defibrillator to cones and hi viz gear for rescue helicopter landings.
The shiny new ute in full FENZ livery replaces a standard old grey Hyundai Santa Fe that had been used to respond to the brigade’s many medical callouts since 2012. Chief Fire Office Jeremy Gibbons said the upgraded vehicle had already been busy and made a big difference to the morale of the station’s 22-strong crew since it arrived on March 1.
“We started it up at 10am and at 11.30am it had its first callout, and there have been 19 since then – more than 60 per cent of our callouts are medical,” he said. “It makes a huge difference to everybody when we get new equipment, everyone loves it.”
Gibbons said fundraising for the new vehicle was all down to the brigade – there was no money from FENZ or government.
“We had volunteers go to the markets to shake buckets and we did a fundraiser with Omaha Golf Club that raised around $10,000,” he said.
But it was the generosity of a single local donor who had been assisted by the brigade in the past that made the real difference, when they singlehandedly topped the total up and made the purchase possible in less than a year.
The new vehicle will get plenty of use, as around two-thirds of callouts are for medical emergencies.
YouSay
No free lunch
We had golden syrup sandwiches until we were sick of them. But what else was there for a 1920s school pupil? Christopher Luxon’s Marmite sandwich comment is comparable. 1950-60s lunches were much the same. One had what was available and thankful for a lunch.
Maybe kids today have too much choice and too much influence in their home. For the government to be feeding this nation’s children is unbelievable in our advanced civilisation.
Christine Foster, Mahurangi
Living up to the stereotype of an entitled SUV owner, the driver of this ‘Omaha tractor’ could’ve used one space, but apparently needed to park across two. Where’s a parking warden when you need one?
Twice the savings?
Chocolate lovers could be forgiven for scratching their heads over an apparently sweet price promotion at Warkworth’s Woolworths supermarket this week. Whittaker’s chocolate blocks were on special with a mouth-watering 20 per cent off … but, with two different starting prices on display, the real question was, 20 per cent off what exactly? We can only hope the store did the decent thing and went with the lower option for all.
Pacific colours hoisted high
The Mahurangi Pasifika Festival is set to return to an annual schedule after the success of the March 22 event, the first festival since covid. Hundreds gathered at the Mahurangi Hope Community Church over the day, where there was an abundance of stalls selling Pacific foods and crafts.
Organisers say there was lots of positive feedback about the day and especially the delicious foods on offer, with the chicken curry from the Fiji Rabi community and ceviche from Tuvalu and Kiribati stalls being two crowd favourites. The cultural showcase was a two-hour explosion of colour, music and dance with performances from Tongan, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji Rabi groups.
The festival is organised by the Mahu Community Vision Trust with an organising committee made up of local Pacific representatives. Funds raised from koha at the event will support Pacific youth programmes run by the trust, which includes academic support, mentoring and exercise opportunities.
Matakana maverick
Viewpoint
Jenny Marcroft, Rodney-based MP
jenny.marcroft@nzfirst.nz
Intertidal shellfish review
We are blessed to be living in the Mahurangi region with a beautiful big blue backyard on our doorstep. Once again we have seen a seasonal influx of visitors over the summer who enjoy the Hauraki Gulf just as much as locals do.
As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, I met with Auckland Council and the Mayor’s office recently to discuss the work they do and opportunities for further collaboration with Fisheries New Zealand on marine matters. One of the key issues that regularly comes up for both the council and Fisheries NZ is public concern about the sustainability of shellfish stocks, and the pressure harvesting activity may be placing on local fisheries resources. I’ve also heard concerns from constituents about shellfish sustainability and illegal harvesting. There have been issues raised with the rocky shore being targeted with the taking of species such as sea snails, whelks, barnacles and starfish, to name a few.
The rules for shellfish in the Auckland and Coromandel area already recognise the fact that the resource is close to a large population with the risk of localised depletion. They are, therefore, generally set lower than the rest of the country.
Government is also looking at the bigger picture. As part of the Revitalising the Gulf strategy, Fisheries NZ is reviewing the current management measures for intertidal shellfish species in the northern North Island. The review will take place this year and is in the early stages. It will start with engagement with iwi fisheries forums,
the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Advisory Group (including an Auckland Council representative), and other stakeholders to understand the various perspectives on the issue.
We all want the same thing – abundant shellfish for this generation, and generations to come. No individual or group is capable of achieving this alone. As a local, you can also play a part in helping to keep our fishery sustainable. If you’re fishing or gathering shellfish make sure you know the rules. For the latest information on the fishing rules, including closed areas, download the free NZ Fishing rules app, or visit www.fisheries.govt.nz/rules.
If you live near the coast or are visiting your local beach, and you see fishing activity that looks a bit suspicious, report it to Fisheries NZ. You can do this by calling 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or emailing poacher@mpi.govt.nz
I understand that some MPs and local Council representatives have received letters from residents with concerns about shellfish collection. It’s important to remember that any sightings of suspected illegal fishing activity need to be directed first and foremost to Fisheries NZ to be followed up by fishery officers. Fishery officers regularly patrol fishing hotspots to ensure people are adhering to the rules, especially during the summer period when harvesting pressure is at its highest. If you see them out and about say hello, they’re there to help.
Moir Hill land on market again
The massive 1500-hectare, 207-lot rural subdivision at Moir Hill, near Puhoi, is back on the market. Now bisected by the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, the huge block extends from Ahuroa Road in the south to Perry Road in the north, and is planted with at least 500 hectares of pine forest. Owner Asia Pacific International Group NZ last marketed the Moir Hill site in 2021, but it failed to sell at the time. In 2017, the Matakana Coast Trail Trust won an Environment Court case to secure cycling and walking access through the subdivision. The land is on the market with Bayleys, which describes Moir Hill as a rare investment opportunity with lifestyle lots ranging from 5000 to 10,000 square metres. For sale by tender, closing at 4pm on April 16.
Principal Sponsor
The Warkworth A&P Society wish to thank all the sponsors, supporters, and volunteers for making this year’s Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show a huge success. It was an amazing day and it could not have happened without the help of those involved.
Absolute Scaffolding, Aldo’s Restaurant, Anne Scott, Auckland Council, Brick Bay Equine, Carrfields – Robbie MacLean, Carters Tyres, Central Landscape Supplies, Charlies Gelato, Commercial Diesel, Coresteel Buildings, Cosy Cabins, Craig McNaught Nursery, Dean & Marjorie Blythen, Delys Walsh, Farm & Lifestyle Centre, Farmlands, Generosity Corner, Giana Predazzo – G design, Graham Family, Guthrie Bowron & Dulux Paints, Hamish Buick, Hannah McClure, Hayden Anderson, Hunting & Fishing Warkworth, Hutchinson Consulting Engineers, Ian & Jyl Morrison, Jane Schollum, Jason & Nicky King, Jason Wech Plumbing, Jeff Montrose, John Redmen, John Wheeler, Karola Beauty & Wellness, Kiwi Welldrillers NZ, Laser Plumbing – Greg Jones, Leigh Fisheries, LJ Hooker Warkworth, Linda Macdonald, Lindsay McCaw, Mark Wakefield, Mason Containers, Mason Contractors, Matakana Cinemas, Matakana Palms, Matakana Smokehouse, Morris & James, Noel Leeming Warkworth, New World Warkworth, Northland Waste, Pak n Save Warkworth, Paper Plus Warkworth, Poland Motors, Puhoi Valley Cheese Factory, Puhoi Axemen, Richard Pointon, Rococo Hair, Rocket Lab, Rodney Honda, Rodney Lime Co-op, Sarah Baldwin, Savan’s Bakery, Sceats Earthmovers, Sculptureum Southern Paprika, Springboard, Stargate Forest Retreat, Stihl Shop Warkworth, STR Automotive, Streamlands Art, The Emmanuel’s Café, The Kiribati Dance Group, The Knitting Truck, The Mens Shed Warkworth, The Photo Store, The Range, The Tahi Bar, Vlado Glavish, Warkworth Community Shop, Warkworth Fire Brigade, Warkworth Horse Riding, Warkworth Menswear, Warkworth Police – (especially Celia), Warkworth Vets, Wharehine Group, Yakka Contracting & The Catering Ladies –Barbara Larsen, Kim Jones & Noeline Quedley
All our volunteers and our fabulous committee – many thanks
NZTA cracking on with motorway acquisitions
Te Hana dairy farmer Greg McCracken’s land is one of 58 properties Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) still needs to acquire for the proposed Warkworth to Te Hana motorway.
An NZTA spokesperson says there are also seven unconditional agreements that are yet to settle.
In total there are 88 properties required for the project, which differs from the 89 figure provided to Mahurangi Matters in October last year, as one property is no longer required.
And the total property spend to date is $39,615,474, NZTA says.
McCracken is expecting an offer to come through from NZTA for the acquisition of his property in the next month or so.
While many landowners are feeling shortchanged by what they’re being offered (MM, Oct 25), McCracken says his registered valuation is close to what the NZTA’s valuer came back with.
“They weren’t too far off. I think it comes down to how the properties are being valued.
“If you’ve got one valuer who sees a property as a lifestyle block and one who values it as a small farm, then there can be quite a big price difference. That seems to be where the discrepancies are coming with a lot of the valuations.
“Ours is just being valued as a dairy farm so there haven’t been any discrepancies. But I’ve heard people say, maybe from the smaller blocks where the NZTA is only taking a few hectares, the valuations haven’t matched,” he says.
McCracken’s farm is going to be almost unrecognisable once the motorway is completed – and it seems his life is going to look very different, too.
The final stretch of the new road will run almost exactly through the centre of one of the two adjoining farms that make up his property and cut the other one off from an area of leased land used for milking.
“It means that what we’re left with is not
Library to reopen
After being closed for more than a year, the Mahurangi East Library and Community Centre is set to reopen on Monday, April 28.
The facility was originally due to close for just five months while the building was re-roofed and renovated, but a series of construction problems and break-ins led to lengthy delays and a budget increase, from $1.7 million to nearly $4.5 million. In the meantime, the library has had to operate from a portacom in the Snells Beach Tennis Club carpark and around 60 clubs and groups have had to find alternative venues.
The temporary library will close from Monday, April 14 so staff can move back into the main building, which will reopen on April 28.
Bowls winding down
The Leigh Bowling Club held its prizegiving on February 26, which was generously sponsored by the Bridgehouse Warkworth and Jason Adams Painters with numerous prizes handed out. The main prize went to overall winners Andrew Young, Patrick Betts and Lindsay Duncan from Kingtide Tattoos. The first-year singles championship was held on February 8 with Andrew Chambers finishing first, Bryn Gundy second and Phil Parkes third.
On February 15, the president’s invitation and Leigh Fish event combined with the postponed Yovich & Co Four tournament. The Keith Lineham team from Mangawhai were the winners while Warkworth’s Steve Syric won the corner-to-corner competition. On February 7, the Kitty Hawkes club played a fun tournament and donated $600 to the Leigh Fire Brigade. Leigh competed at the Northland Champion of Champions on March 22 and 23, and will send a team to the Northland Champion of Champion triples and fours events on April 26 and 27. The last tournament of the season is the life members triples on April 5.
Riverside boardwalk work starts
If you follow the crumbling concrete path behind the Queen Street shops heading towards the Elizabeth Street bridge you’ll eventually hit a heavy-duty temporary fence blocking access to the underpass – in other words, a dead-end.
This is because the boardwalk was badly damaged during the severe weather events at the start of 2023, when flooding undercut the foundations, and it hasn’t been fit-for-purpose since.
Auckland Council had hoped to design, construct and reopen this section of the riverside walkway by Christmas last year, but it was delayed.
Now the estimated completion date is early August with construction scheduled to begin on April 7.
Council is using Mason Contractors to carry out the works.
This project is considered high priority due to its critical function as a key pedestrian connection serving the northern end of Warkworth and the high level of pedestrian traffic, a council spokesperson said.
“It involves essential remediation work
to repair significant storm damage that caused the pedestrian bridge to detach from its foundations.
“The scope of work includes renewing the pedestrian access-way from Queen Street down to the Warkworth Town Centre walkway, extending beneath the Elizabeth Street bridge, and connecting to the existing concrete traffic bridge foundation.”
According to the fencing and traffic management plan, the work will be carried out between 6.30am and 8am to avoid disruption to any shoppers or traffic in the area.
Due to the constraints of the site, the entire area under construction will be isolated from the public for the purposes of safety.
Mason proposes to fence off the reserve area near the Kapanui/Wharf Street carpark, where large materials will be stored, and to utilise the corner of the footpath on Queen/Elizabeth Streets during “task specific times” with site fencing placed around the area.
Tree pruning will be done before the April 7 start.
The walkway leading to Elizabeth Street bridge has been fenced off for more than two years.
Auckland Council talked the talk and is now walking the walk.
Police
Sergeant Mark Stallworthy,
Removing opportunity
One of the questions I’m most often asked is, “Much going on in the area, Mark?” Of course the answer to that is far from simple. We are blessed with a comparatively low general crime rate, but despite our best efforts, we are not crime-free. We all knew that population growth here was inevitable. Once that fabulous new motorway ended at Warkworth, the secret of New Zealand’s best place to live was bound to get out. So, to get back to the original question, “What’s going on in the area, Mark?” the answer is that at the moment I’m seeing a trend in increasing criminal activity in our new growth subdivisions. This will be due to multiple factors.
First and foremost, criminals love opportunity, and new large-scale subdivisions abound with opportunity for those inclined towards dishonesty. New house builds mean expensive copper wiring fitouts are taking place and building materials will be stored on site. New appliances are being installed in expensive cabinetry. If an enterprising burglar times it just right, the appliances will be still in the boxes stacked in the garage.
While a new home is still under
construction, there’s a good chance that pricy builders tools will be left on site and a few panels of temporary site fencing are little deterrent to a burglar. Perhaps most importantly, most of our new subdivisions have plenty of houses being built but they still have very few house occupants to keep an eye on these new neighbourhoods.
I wish I could say I’m talking about a single crime, but I’m seeing a trend, with multiple instances of building site burglary in the last few weeks. Building a new home is an exciting time for owners and I’d hate for it to be a disappointing experience due to some opportunist rat-bag breaking into their place before they’ve even started living there.
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You can minimise giving that criminal the opening to steal with a few commonsense measures. Get your materials delivered to site as you need them. Consider CCTV for your home and signpost that you’re using it. Take tools off the site each day. When the house reaches lock-up stage, actually lock it and then don’t store the key outside in some obvious place. Crime prevention is often just about removing opportunity. Keep safe.
Company fined for illegal earthworks
Auckland Council has successfully prosecuted a business and an individual for multiple breaches of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and a representative charge of dishonestly altering resource consents.
The Auckland District Court imposed fines totalling $138,600 for illegal earthworks at two Warkworth sites, including dishonestly altering two resource consents to hide the offending, although the individual was ultimately discharged without conviction on the Crimes Act charge.
The charges stemmed from significant noncompliant earthworks at sensitive receiving environments in the northern region between June 2022 and March 2023.
The court found the individual and the business deposited large volumes of fill without the required consents, and with inadequate erosion and sediment controls.
The earthworks also damaged an on site wastewater system, which was found discharging untreated wastewater toward a stream, posing a significant health hazard to
tenants, as well as downstream of the site.
Fines of $69,300 were imposed on both the company and the defendant for the RMA offences. The discharge without conviction was granted based on the disproportionate impact a dishonesty conviction could have on the defendant’s ability to conduct business, secure finance and travel internationally. Both the individual and the business were granted permanent name suppression.
Council’s team leader of investigations, David Pawson, said the case served as a strong reminder that environmental laws must be followed and attempts to circumvent them would not be tolerated.
He said the case highlighted the need for contractors and developers to ensure they were operating within the law.
“The courts have made it clear that serious breaches of the RMA and attempts to mislead regulators will result in significant penalties,” he said. “This should serve as a warning to others who might consider cutting corners.”
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Coach to the Spiritual Souls
Looking for a specialist to unlock your individual potential? Then you just need to remember one name – Golden.
And you’ll be, well, golden.
A scholar of alternative mental health and life coaching, Golden has been studying a range of therapies for over 20 years, both in the UK and at the American Union of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming).
“My name is like Blondie, Pink or Madonna – I’m in the process of introducing myself, Golden, to everyone locally,” she says.
Recently, she founded Coach to the Spiritual Souls, a series of modalities Golden provides in one-to-one sessions that “allow people to enter the corridors of their own mind using their sensory systems”.
“I’ve been doing this type of healing for five years. I look after all your emotions. Believe it or not, all of our hidden, disguised and trapped emotions sit in our organs. The body stores trauma.”
Golden says negative feelings repeat themselves until they are resolved.
“I can do a single session, a month, three months, six months, or I can do a year if you want to change your whole life.”
Wellington-born Golden says she’s glad to be here for the residents of Rodney.
“I’m finding the people here great to talk to and be with, and I thank you all for that,” she says.
For an appointment email Golden at: coachtothespiritualsouls@gmail.com Or visit: coachtothespiritualsouls.com
We’re takin’ these bloody cars to Invercargill boy – a snapshot from the 2023 run.
Warkworth Minis on epic fundraising drive
Three teams from Warkworth will take part in the Pork Pie Charity Run, the bi-annual fundraising road trip for Mini owners from around New Zealand, from April 4 to 9. They are: Team Foo What Aye with Sam and Willie Ryburn (both five-trip veterans); Team Nuts and Bolts with Blake Ryburn and Tom Mason; and Team Em and Em in the Mighty Mini with Emma Ward and Emma-Jean Taylor (both first-timers).
Inspired by the classic Kiwi 1981 film ‘Goodbye Pork Pie’, the charity run loosely follows the route taken by the story’s three protagonists – aka the infamous Blondini Gang.
But unlike the lone yellow Mini in the movie, the real-life road trip south will feature 50 Minis of all colours, shapes and sizes. They will assemble in Paihia on April 3, depart on April 4 and arrive in Invercargill six days (and over 2300km) later on April 9 – hopefully, without the NZ Police in hot pursuit.
The cars leave Invercargill on April 10. Event organiser Sam Ryburn, whose brother Willie founded the run, says last time (2023) they raised over $417,000 for NZ children’s charity KidsCan.
“This year we’re aiming to raise $500,000 for KidsCan. We’ve got a Pork Pie Charity Run website, porkpiecharityrun.org.nz, where people can donate to a team and/or donate to the charity,” he says.
When Mahurangi Matters visited the website last week $332,465 had already been raised for KidsCan (and counting),
while the teams had also been accumulating donations to fund their respective journeys.
Charity donations can also be made at the various towns on the route.
“Over the years we’ve become quite friendly with a few of the pubs along the way so they’ve all got donation boxes on their counters for their patrons. When we call in, we’ll have dinner and a drink with the locals,” Ryburn says.
The first run took place in 2009 with 36 teams making the trip from Kaitaia to Invercargill over five days. The subsequent seven events saw participant numbers increase significantly with the run extended to six days on the road.
Due to the availability of accommodation and other logistical issues, it’s now capped at 50 teams – and entries this year sold out almost instantly.
Historically, the run has fundraised for Starship Hospital, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, and KidsCan.
In total, almost $2 million has been raised since it began, with donations coming from up and down the country, which is testament to the effectiveness and reach of the road trip.
“We just want to thank the awesome Warkworth community who have supported the Pork Pie Charity Run and KidsCan, not only this year but over the
previous 10 years,” Ryburn says.
“We (Sam and his brother Willie) both love Minis but we’re also into the fundraising side of it.
“And having a bloody good time really.”
Spoken like he could’ve been a true-blue Blondini.
To donate to KidsCan and/ or support a team visit porkpiecharityrun.org.nz
The charity run’s only Warkworth stop this year is at Warkworth School on Friday, April 4 with the Minis arriving around 9.30am.
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The Pork Pie Charity Run is an inter-island NZ road trip inspired by the classic Kiwi movie ‘Goodbye Pork Pie’.
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Parenting and neurodiversity
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Dr Steve Maric MBChB, MRCGP(UK), Dip Obst, FRNZCGP
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Dr Sophie Lines MBChB, DCH, FRNZCGP, FARGP MPHTM
In the wake of Neurodiversity Week, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the joys and challenges of parenting neurodiverse children. Whether you are neurodiverse yourself or raising a neurodiverse child, it’s likely you’ve encountered a unique set of challenges. Neurodiverse brains are a beautiful part of human diversity, but the world isn’t always designed to accommodate the different ways in which people think, feel and process information. Parents of neurodiverse children often find themselves navigating a more complicated path than mainstream parenting advice suggests.
Neurodiverse children such as those with autism, ADHD or other cognitive differences, experience the world in a way that can differ significantly from neurotypical children. Like their children, parents may feel the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Often, mainstream parenting advice is ineffective with neurodiverse children, leaving parents feeling isolated and confused when conventional strategies don’t seem to work. Many parents grow up with certain expectations about how parenting should look. When those traditional methods fail to connect with their neurodiverse child, it can be daunting to adjust. One helpful framework for parents of neurodiverse children is the PANDA acronym, which provides a guiding approach to gaining cooperation, particularly when a child struggles with autonomy or control.
Here’s what PANDA stands for:
P: Pick your battles
It’s important to recognise when to stand firm and when to let go. Rather than addressing every small issue, focus on battles that truly matter – those affecting safety, wellbeing or family harmony. Letting go of
minor issues reduces unnecessary tension.
A: Anxiety management
Many challenging behaviours stem from anxiety. Neurodiverse children can feel overwhelmed by change or uncertainty, which increases their need for control. Creating predictable routines, letting them know the plan in advance, and using calming techniques can help manage anxiety.
N: Negotiation and collaboration
Instead of a “because I said so” approach, collaboration can be more effective. Offer choices, discuss options, and negotiate expectations. Empowering your child in this way builds autonomy and respect, leading to better cooperation.
D: Demand disguise
When dealing with demand-avoidance, presenting tasks in a more indirect way can make a big difference. For example, rather than saying, “Clean your room,” suggest, “Let’s play a game where we put toys away together.” This subtle shift can reduce resistance.
A: Adaptation
Flexibility is key. Try humour, distraction, novelty, or role-play to defuse tension. Sometimes a little silliness or redirecting a challenging moment can lighten the mood and prevent frustration from escalating. Parenting a neurodiverse child can be overwhelming, but remember you are the expert on your child. Don’t worry about others’ expectations or judgments. You know your child’s unique needs, strengths and challenges best. Trust yourself and focus on what works for your family, even if it doesn’t align with conventional parenting advice. You’re doing what’s best for your child, and that’s what matters most.
It was a diamond day for Warkworth couple Grahame and Joyce Turner on Thursday, March 20, when they celebrated 60 years of marriage. The happy couple originally tied the knot at Warkworth Methodist Church in 1965 and they now live at Summerset Falls retirement village. Their anniversary celebrations included a party with fellow residents with cards, cake and flowers.
Trust offers health care help
Families and individuals who are finding it financially difficult to meet the cost of health care are being encouraged to apply for assistance from the Warkworth-based Rodney Health Charitable Trust.
Anyone living north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge is eligible for a grant to assist with any health-related costs, from surgery to dental treatments.
Previously, anyone applying to the trust was required to have a community service card.
However, trust founder Wendy Hawking says the criteria has changed.
“We recognise that even in families where both parents work, the cost of meeting some health care bills is beyond them,” she says. “While we will continue to give large grants to regional charities and services, we really want to get the message out to the community that anyone who is facing financial hardship can apply.”
The Rodney Health Trust started in 1977 with four employees and grew to more than 1000 by the time its two arms – Northlink Health and Rodney Health Trust – were sold to Geneva Healthcare.
The Charitable Trust was kept with the aim of meeting the health needs of those
who required health treatment not funded by the public system, drawing its funds from an extensive portfolio of properties. It annually gives away between $350,000 and $400,000.
The major recipient continues to be the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service, but many local charities have and continue to benefit, including Loaves and Fishes in Wellsford, Springboard, Warkworth St John, Kowhai Coast Youth Trust, Warkworth Christian Foodbank, local fire brigades and Kawau Coastguard.
Two years ago, in response to growing concerns about the mental health needs of some students, the trust funded visits by a child psychologist to Warkworth Primary School.
Wendy says the programme has been so successful that this year the funding is being extended to cover Snells Beach School.
The trust also funds hearing tests for students transitioning from primary to secondary schools.
To apply, contact any of the trustees named in the photo caption above. Alternatively, Wendy Hawking can be contacted on 021 425 252 or drop a letter of application addressed to her at The Oaks, 9 Queen Street, Warkworth.
Brain’s variations celebrated
An information sharing evening was held at Shoesmith Hall in Warkworth to mark International Neurodiversity Week, which ran from March 17 to 23.
Undeterred by the evening’s wet weather, 24 people attended including Mahurangi College’s special educational needs coordinator, parents, grandparents and school-aged tamariki (children).
The keynote speaker was Autism NZ national educator Jo Sutton, who is also the inclusivity and diversity officer for Scouting NZ.
Sutton delivered an informative presentation around neurodivergence, emphasising that all people are neural diverse because everyone’s brains are wired differently. She went on to unpick the difference between a brain wired neurotypical and a brain that is neural divergent.
Sutton highlighted how the te reo Maori words for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) aroreretini meant “attention goes to many things” and autism takiwātanga “in own space and time” provided a kinder, accepting lens and kaupapa, which embraced neurodiversity with far greater empathy.
This supported one of the key charters behind the celebration of Neurodiversity Week, which seeks to challenge common misconceptions and stereotypes that surround neurological differences in thinking.
The event was well supported by Auckland Council, RICI (Rodney Inclusive Communities Inc), the Glass Ceiling Arts Collective, Warkworth Scouts and Warkworth businesses and retailers.
The evening’s programme included spot prizes, supper and a musical set from a talented trio from the Glass Ceiling Arts Collective – Noel, Gab and Sonny.
An organiser said that as a first-time event, the evening had brought people together, created new connections and strengthened the fabric of the community.
“The generous heart of the Mahurangi community was reflected by the richness of the donations that went towards helping create a memorable and free community event celebrating neurodiversity in Warkworth,” she said.
For those interested in finding out more, or being involved in future events, contact Michelle Michaud celebratingneuraldiversity@gmail.com
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Rodney Health trustees, seated from left, Sara Lewis, Wendy Hawking and Guy Schofield. Standing, from left, Terence Banks, Sen. Constable Hamish Buick and Dr Warwick Palmer, Absent, Dr John Gray, Trudy Caldwell, Chris Murphy and Brendan Hart (chair).
Modern
homes pay homage to historical houses
The original cottages that lined Wilson, McKinney and Pulham Roads were purpose-built for the influx of labourers who came to Warkworth attracted by the burgeoning lime and cement industry in the late 1880s and early 1900s.
This mini-housing boom also saw seven identical houses built in 1910 to rent to workers, and these became known as the ‘Seven Sisters’ (MM, Mar 2, 2011).
Only one of the original cottages remains, but their legacy is being kept alive in the form of 10 replica villas being built on Pulham Road by developers Aztek Projects.
Like the ‘Seven Sisters’ cottages that inspired them, the houses will be nearly
identical – apart from one being built on a corner site.
Aztek Projects’ Tresta Cull, who is developing the villas with her husband John, says they wanted to pay homage to Warkworth.
“There are a lot of character homes and cute villas in the area, and then we discovered the Seven Sisters cottages on Pulham Road, so we thought we’d base the project on that,” she says.
“The original houses were actually a little bit further along Pulham Road. I believe there’s one left on the site, one door down from us at 96 Pulham Road.”
While the original workers’ cottages were pretty basic, their 21st century counterparts have all the amenities you’d expect from a
contemporary new build.
“They take design cues from the Seven Sisters houses so they look like a villa on the outside, but on the inside they’re comfortable, modern homes. And they’re low maintenance,” Cull says Accessed on Kereru Lane, off Pulham Road, the 10 villas will range in size from approximately 190sqm to 230sqm (including the basement and verandas), and are built to be secure lockup-and-leave homes.
“It’s going to be a gated community and will have somebody trimming the hedges along the front of the villas just to keep everything looking really nice, and to give it that cottagey feel.
“All the houses have got parking behind
them so that keeps all the cars off the road and also helps make it secure,” she says
Two deluxe villas with four bedrooms have already been built, complete with stone benchtops, feature walls and internal glass doors to a media room – both can incorporate a lift at a later stage, which won’t be available as an option in the other villas. There will be also be one unique threebedroom, standalone villa with parking for a boat or motorhome.
The remaining seven homes will be almost identical to the deluxe villas, but slightly smaller at 190sqm, with three bedrooms and more outdoor space going out from the veranda.
continued next page
Two completed villas inspired by the identical Seven Sisters workers’ cottages with eight left to build.
original ‘Seven Sisters’ workers’ cottages
Pulham Road, built in 1910.
from previous page
Cull says so far they’ve sold one and one other is on the market – its listing on Trade Me says enquiries over $1.35 million.
“They’re not moving as fast as we had hoped, but I just think it’s the market at the moment. But the feedback we’ve had from locals has been great. Everybody absolutely loves them.”
The villas’ first resident and retiree Laurie Healy moved from Auckland to his new cottage late last year and says they’re a really nice idea.
“Around Warkworth, you’ve got a number of lovely old houses, and people look after them. These villas are in tune with that, they fit in with the character of the area,” he says. “I sit out on the veranda in the morning
and have a coffee and talk to everybody as they go up and down Pulham Road. It’s a great spot.”
Pulham Road villas features
Extra-large double garaging
Approximately 190sqm to 220sqm of living space
Secure gated access
Future-proofed for a lift
Four generously-sized bedrooms
Separate media room
Two and a half luxury bathrooms
Expansive open plan living and dining
The kitchen comes with a stone benchtop.
Laurie Healy loves the tiles in his bathroom as “they’re an unusual feature but fit the style of the house and the time”.
Laurie Healy says his villa on Pulham Road reminds him of his grandmother’s historic home.
Conditions
Fly spray is being recommended for anyone dealing with the nuisance of paper wasps at present.
Auckland Council senior ecological specialist Sarah Gibbs says it is to be expected that when the weather is warmer and drier, there are more paper wasps than usual.
“We’ve noticed higher than usual wasp activity in some parks, which may be attributable to the general warming trend of climate change, including another year of record-breaking average temperatures combined with a dry summer,” Gibbs says.
“If people find nests in their garden, they should wait until the wasps have settled in for the evening and then spray the nest with fly spray. Don’t shine a torch onto the nest as they will fly up to it (and the person holding it).”
While Vespex can be effective in the South Island, Gibbs says it doesn’t work as well in Auckland.
“This is thought to be because Auckland has higher biodiversity than the South Island, so wasps have more food choices. Therefore, it’s harder to get the wasps to eat the Vespex so it isn’t as effective.”
Mahurangi West resident Isabel Harris, who has a particular interest in butterflies, says paper wasps are much smaller than the black and yellow German wasp and common wasp.
She says the Asian paper wasp (black and
yellow) was accidentally introduced to NZ around 1979 and the Australian paper wasp (brown/orange) has been here since the 1800s. Both have a painful sting and prey on insects and chew weatherboards. They are likely to be impacting on native and introduced invertebrate populations, especially monarch butterflies.
“Nests are commonly found in garden shrubs and small trees, flax plants, agapanthus, on wooden posts and fences,” Harris says. “The wasps will not ‘attack’ if not disturbed, unlike German wasps that will go for you if you are near their nest.” Harris says that after spraying a nest with fly spray, you should go back the next day, check no wasps are still there, pull the nest down and crush it, because any larvae inside will develop into adult wasps.
“German wasps are another story,” she adds. “They usually make their nests in the ground or up in the roof and eaves of sheds and other buildings. Nests in the ground can be dealt with using a wasp killer product at night when all the wasp are home. Use a red light (red cellophane over a torch will work) as the wasps can’t see red light, so you can approach the nest and use a wasp killer product directly into the hole. If the nest is in a building you may need to get a specialist in to deal with it or get specialist advice. Don’t go near the nest during the day.”
Products to kill German wasps are available from hardware stores.
The Asian paper wasp has a nasty sting. Photo, Auckland Council.
A typical paper wasp nest. Even after spraying, it still needs to be crushed.
Warming up the neutral palette
If award-worthy homes are any kind of guide to the latest interior design trends, fashion conscious householders should be thinking very much along light brown lines this year.
Whether for floors, walls, stairs, cabinetry or furniture, shades of beige, pale honey and ash blonde dominate in many of the latest leading architectural projects.
Two local examples are finalists in this year’s Home magazine Home of the Year Awards, which are due to be announced any day now.
First up is ‘Sandtrap’, a beige brick-built home at the northern tip of Omaha Beach, overlooking Whangateau Harbour.
Its square shape is softened by curved corners and a twostore front entranceway with twin tower-like round-edged walls, making it “evocative of sandcastles”, according to Ponsonby-based architect Lloyd Hartley.
Inside, those rounded corners are echoed in the blonde wood kitchen units and breakfast bar, as well as in the fitted shelves and cupboards in the sitting area.
The wooden floors are the same shade that, in turn, tone in with exposed brick walls and soft furnishings.
Or, as the designers put it: “Softened formal strategies and material selections create resonant sequencing and ease of comfort throughout the home.”
A few kilometres further north is the 60x6 house at Mangawhai Heads, so-called because, guess what, it measures 60 metres long by six metres wide.
Inside the long, black-stained cedar-clad home, honeycoloured wood abounds, from the fawn floor planking to the tall, flush fitted kitchen cupboards and drawers. Some of the internal walls are also timber-lined, with occasional vertically slatted panels to break up the plain brown and add interest.
The house, which is part of The Sanctuary gated community off Cove Road, was designed by Auckland city architect Jose Gutierrez.
Both homes are among 22 finalists in this year’s Home of the Year Awards.
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Beige-zing – blonde wood and honeyed hues rule in two of this year’s Home of the Year contenders.
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Home show round-up
Anyone seeking inspiration for updating their domestic décor and who prefers to see products ‘in the flesh’, instead of merely on-screen, has plenty of choice when it comes to home and living shows in the Auckland region. There are three major events this year, two covering everything from construction to interior design and gardens, and one where the emphasis is more on sustainable living.
Go Green Expo
First up is the Go Green Expo sustainable lifestyle show, which takes place at the Eventfinda Stadium in Wairau Valley on the North Shore on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, from 10am each day.
Although the show has a broad focus, organisers say there will be plenty of exhibitors in the eco-building, healthy home, gardening, and home and living categories. Products on display will include furniture, bedding, home décor, cookware, plants, greenhouses and pest control, together with a wide range of food, drink, health and beauty options.
Online tickets were free as Mahurangi Matters went to press – check the link below for updates.
Info and tickets: https://www.gogreenexpo. co.nz/location/auckland/
Auckland Home & Garden Show
In May, the Auckland Home & Garden Show is on over four days at Auckland’s Eden Park. With the tagline ‘It’s all about ideas’, the show aims to inspire visitors with new ways to improve homes and lifestyles, whether they’re renovating, redecorating or just looking for a few new things to freshen up their surroundings.
There will be free ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions on each day, covering topics such as getting the best out of home renovations, how to paint like a pro, kitchen design and home building. There will also be an ‘Art in the Park’ display, show specials and giveaways, kids’ activities and plenty of food and drink stalls.
The Auckland Home & Garden Show runs from Thursday, May 22 to Sunday, May 25 from 10am each day. Entry costs $5 for adults, with a senior special price of $2.50 on Thursday and Friday. Under 16-year-olds are free. There is free on-site parking at Eden Park and in surrounding streets, or the venue is easily accessible by public transport.
Finally, in September comes the biggest show of all, the Auckland Home Show at the Auckland Showgrounds, near Cornwall Park. Claiming to be the largest home and living
show in Australasia, this four-day event brings together hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products, services and trends in home renovation, interiors and furnishing, home improvements and outdoor living.
There are eight halls of exhibitors, plus an outdoor Backyards & BBQ section, a food truck park and a food court.
There will be a wide range of free ‘how to’ workshops and seminars, twilight sessions, live music, a barbecue competition and an artisan market for small-scale traders.
The seminars and workshops cover everything from AI and interior design to decluttering and deck installation, and there are special maker project sessions for kids, too. Ticket prices for 2025 are yet to be finalised, but last year they varied between $10 and $20 per person. The show opens from 10am to 9pm from Thursday, September 11 to the Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday, September 14. There is no parking on-site, but paid parking is available at Alexandra Park, next door to the showgrounds.
Info: https://aucklandhomeshow.co.nz/
That’s Life
Eric Thompson et.laptop@outlook.com
A beach picnic shouldn’t leave a legacy
my head so hard I nearly had whiplash. I’m about as far from a tree hugger as you can get. I don’t sit in the middle of roads, chain myself to various things or protest over a three-eyed, polka-dotted, semi-endangered bog snail. However, I do appreciate the effort involved and all the hard work entailed, in keeping a coastal area free of predators and rubbish. I also believe in basic decency when it comes to keeping our beaches clean and, honestly, some people seem to think nature is their personal rubbish bin.
The Tawharanui Regional Park is a coastal jewel, especially now that Te Arai has turned into a golf course, and I find it immensely annoying that unthinking riffraff think they can trash the place. I have been surfing Anchor Bay for over a decade and every year, especially over summer, I shake my head in dismay when I rock up for an early morning paddle and encounter the trash and rubbish left behind from the previous day.
It’s not only the food and drink detritus left strewn everywhere including the car park, but often there’s enough clothing, footwear, swimming paraphernalia and hats to start an Op Shop. And then there’s the toilet and changing block. A lot of good money was spent on that construction and
to see it trashed weekend after weekend is appalling. At times it looks like people have been bathing in the sinks, and lord knows what is going through someone’s mind when they think a sanitary disposal bin is a rubbish receptacle. It beggars belief.
Now, I’ll admit, back in the day, getting to Tawharanui wasn’t for the faint-hearted. You had to endure 12 kilometres of bonerattling, twisty gravel road before arriving at Anchor Bay, where your only restroom option was a long-drop toilet that had been baking in the sun all day. That natural deterrent kept out all but the most determined visitors.
These days, if you’re not at the beach by 9am, you’re parking in a sheep field about 800 metres from the paved car park. When you finally get to the steps leading up to the grass, you then have to navigate a Third World-esque city made up of tents, domes and gazebo things. Why you’d want to bring your house to the beach is beyond me.
I do laugh though, when I watch some poor bloke attempting to drag a flimsywheeled trolley full of beach supplies through soft sand, his optimism fading with every agonising step. So, in the immortal words of Joni Mitchell, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Hodgetts recalls Matakana milling history
The former sawmill site at 362 Matakana Valley Road, which now accommodates several businesses from bespoke building projects to landscaping, is being sold by private tender by Bayleys.
The mill was built around 1945 by the Hodgetts and Vipond families.
Harry Hodgetts was a millwright who moved to Matakana from the King Country, where he was building mills for the war effort. He eventually took over sole ownership and three generations of the Hodgetts family worked at the mill over the next 40 years, until it was sold to Aitken Head Timber, from Pokeno, in 1987.
“It was the last commercial mill run on steam in New Zealand and when we sold, the boiler and engine went to the museum in Kerikeri. We were also the last company rafting logs in the Hauraki Gulf,” Garth Hodgetts, Harry’s grandson, remembers.
“We took the timber off Kawau and Rabbit Islands, and rafted it up the Matakana River. We also milled kauri towed from Coromandel.”
There were a lot of mills in the district
when the Matakana Valley mill started including a water-driven mill nearer the Matakana township.
“Roke’s mill, up Wrights Road, had a massive tramway to bring the logs down from the Whangaripo hill. There was a mill on the Glen Eden stream, behind the Wharehine yard in Matakana, on Govan Wilson Road and Meiklejohn’s mill
on Quintals Road.
“My grandfather only expected the mill to last five years because without a way to transport the logs, they could only harvest from the immediate vicinity. But when heavy transport arrived, they were able to keep going.”
At the start, the mill was processing native timbers and pines older than 60 years
that didn’t need to be treated. It then transitioned to younger pines that did need treatment, macrocarpa and eucalypts. One pine log they took from Green’s farm in Matakana was 94 years old and weighed 24 tonnes.
At its peak, the mill employed 14 workers “and every one of them was a specialist at continued next page
With six entrances and great road frontage,
www bayleys co nz/1271153
362 Matakana Valley Road
A slice of Matakana’s industrial history is on the market.
Garth Hodgetts with a painting of the mill, done by a former Matakana school teacher, Gweneth Roe.
circumference of 18.5 metres and weighed 30-plus tonne.
from previous page
some part of the process”.
Lengths were milled in multiples to meet building industry requirements, normally 16 feet (which would produce two eightfoot studs), as well as weatherboard and rafter lengths. Most of the timber was used for local housing and farm buildings, including several shearing sheds with tapered floorboards made of kahikatea.
“The longest length we did was 24ft, which were used to repair scows.”
The mill itself was made up of several stations, starting with the breakdown mill where the logs would be sawn. Then they would either be air-dried or kiln-dried,
treated and finally go through the planing shed.
Before loaders, the logs were winched off the trucks and dragged to the breakdown shed.
“You could be up to your knees in mud in winter.”
Garth says there was nothing mass produced in those days.
“You had to be versatile – one day you’d get a request for skirting boards to match an old villa and the next day you’d be producing the curved covering boards for a dinghy. The work was very individual.”
Old Cellar Door – Matakana
When Garth Hodgetts pulled up in front of the school in Matakana in 1994, towing a kauri log from Hood’s farm in Kaipara Flats, he felt sure it was a sight the students would never see again in their lives. The log was 11 metres long, had a
An aerial shot of the mill in its heyday around 1981.
Present owner Dean Munro on the site after a fire destroyed the finishing shed in 2017.
Chris Penk MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi
Ensemble Aaru
Tickets
Non-members $40
Members $30
Tertiary students $10
School students Free
Purchase tickets online at warkworthmusic.org.nz
Door Sales Cash only, no EFTPOS
A reed quintet with extensive international experience, Ensemble Aaru was formed in June 2023 by principal players from the Auckland Philharmonia and Aotearoa’s leading freelance artists. The performance breathes new life into classic repertoire with a programme that includes works from Vivaldi, Debussy and Gershwin.
Sat 5 April, 4pm Warkworth Town Hall
Education for an AI future
Out of the many pressing challenges we face as educators today, one of the most complex and multifaceted is how we teach students to critically evaluate information and to use technology well. Technology experts predict that by the end of next year, more than 80 per cent of all visual content online (images and videos) will be AI-generated. This is unprecedented. As educators, we need to equip students with digital wisdom and navigational skills, and a critical eye to distinguish what is reliable from the hollow or half-truths that surround them. Our challenge is to develop in students a compass that is both ethically and relationally sound.
From a young age, children are excellent recorders of information, but in the information age we live in, the gap between information processing and interpretation is magnified. We, therefore, need to model how to interpret information critically, but also ethically. Even as adults we are likely unaware of the influence large corporations and algorithms have on the quality and form of information we access. As the days of humanoid avatars and interactive robots become reality, modern educators should be asking, ‘How are we going to model well what it means to be human in an era where increasing numbers of jobs are automated and the information available to us is rapidly being influenced by AIgenerated content?’ A related challenge is that AI-generated content is intentionally formed to create online engagement and so
often exacerbates social differences, leading to increasing conflict and anger within society (how many times have we heard that society is ‘becoming more divided’?). If we do not teach students how to ethically navigate online content and treat others with respect, this trend will continue. The tendency might be to cower away from the technological tsunami arising, but burying our head in the sand is no solution. We cannot advocate a low or no-tech regressionary education. In fact, we embrace the opportunities these new integrating technologies offer our curriculum.
At Horizon School, our E-Velocity Team won first place in the national competition last year, we have a unique automotive class and our younger akonga/learners build and operate aquabots. We are a Google-based school with integrated device use from Year 4 and much of our content is accessed through online platforms like Google Classroom. The range of opportunities in the pipeline are huge, such as AI-powered personal learning assistants, tools to improve biculturalism, and generally raise equity in learning.
However, the first step is to model for students how to become critically aware digital citizens, who can develop and rely on both an internal moral compass and external sources of ethics in their use of technology. As a Christian school, that is our focus at Horizon.
Jubilation revisits Leigh
Anyone in need of some soulful, restorative and uplifting sounds should head to Leigh next month, when renowned Auckland a cappella ensemble Jubilation Choir returns to the Sawmill.
Founded in 2000, the Ponsonby-based choir will perform a rousing blend of traditional gospel spirituals with soul and R&B classics, as well as their own take on diverse artists such as Tom Waits, Prince and Joan As Police Woman.
The choir’s 35 members are an eclectic bunch, featuring everything from pro singers, composers, musicians and broadcasters to academics, teachers, psychologists and even a superyacht builder.
Choir spokesperson, and well-known Kiwi singer and comedian, Jackie Clarke says Jubilation’s return to Leigh in their 25th anniversary year is timely.
“Our last visit to Sawmill Cafe was April 2019, believe it or not, so it’s been a long
time between drinks,” she says.
“We love singing there, so it’s way too long since we’ve made the trip up.”
She says the world currently needs a little bit more harmony and promises the audience “a groovy mix of the divine and the profane, the sweet and the raucous, Americana meets Aotearoa”.
“Expect plenty of life affirming, joyful vocal vibes guaranteed to raise the roof!”
For anyone who hasn’t heard the choir in action, Clarke says that “the gospel according to Jubilation” is based on their love of the naked voice and of bringing harmonies and a gospel sensibility to music from all genres.
Jubilation Choir will be at Leigh Sawmill on Sunday, April 13. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students and children, plus booking fees. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 6pm. Info and tickets: https://www.eventfinda. co.nz/2025/jubilation-choir/auckland/leigh
Kowhai choir packs programme with extra concert
Warkworth community choir Kowhai Singers is hoping to perform three concerts this year, which would make it the busiest and most ambitious programme to date.
Traditionally, the choir puts on two performances a year. Musical director Ken Leech says it comes down to whether they have enough singers for the second concert, Kowhai Singers on Broadway.
“We’re hoping to do a lovely Broadwaythemed concert in the middle of the year so that will hopefully attract a lot of people –both audience and choir members,” he says.
The reason for having three concerts instead of two is to “keep people singing”.
“When you’re in a choir and then you don’t sing for several months, you lose a lot of your tone and your vocal quality. So by keeping the choir going, people still get the opportunity to sing right throughout the year.”
This year’s schedule starts with an Easter concert at the Mahurangi Hope Church on Sunday, April 13 at 4pm. Leech says the choir will be performing sacred music celebrating everything about Easter.
“That’s why we thought it would be appropriate to do it in a church. We’re doing it with audience participation and traditional Easter hymns,” he says.
“This will include excerpts from the Messiah, some spirituals such as ‘Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)’, the amazing ‘Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem’ and some hymns that we will sing with the audience.
“We’re also singing a lot of other beautiful music for Easter, music by composers such as Mozart, which people will know.”
The choir will be accompanied by Helen Lukman-Fox on her digital organ, which
will be “quite an experience as well”.
The Kowhai Singers on Broadway concert and will be held at the Leigh Hall on Sunday, August 3 at 4pm and at the Warkworth Town Hall on Sunday, August 10 at 4pm.
“We’ll perform some great arrangements from all your favourite Broadway shows, including Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Wicked and Aspects of Love – you name it, we have it covered, we’ll be singing all the hits.”
The final concert of the year is From Darkness into the Light and will be performed at the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, November 22 at 7.30pm.
“We’re hoping this performance will be accompanied by a string orchestra and percussion, if we have enough sponsorship to cover the additional costs.
“We’ll feature the stunning ‘Illuminare’ by American composer Elaine Hagenberg, which was premiered by the Auckland Youth Choir last year, plus many other pieces on this theme such as ‘Sure on This Shining Night’ by Morten Lauridsen, another US composer.”
Leech says it’s going to be exciting for the audience and the Kowhai Singers alike, and welcomes new talent to join the choir for this year’s programme.
Info: www.kowhaisingers.org or phone Roger Mackay on 021 505 736.
The Kowhai singers will perform under the baton of their musical director Ken Leech.
The a cappella group includes members who have sung with groups from church choirs and classical ensembles to punk, rock and jazz bands.
Awesome day for A&P
After a few years re-building, largely thanks to the pandemic, this year’s Warkworth A&P Show was back to its former glory, with thousands of people enjoying a huge range of displays and attractions in perfect weather. From cattle and goats to shearing and axe-throwing, and battling knights to Chinese dragons, there was something to keep everyone amused.
Photographer Anna Thoroughgood was at the March 15 show to capture the action.
Mahurangi Artist Network’s Alysn MidgelowMarsden welcomes new members. Photo, Victor D’Alcantara.
Calling all creatives
Rodney creatives are being invited to join the Mahurangi Artist Network (MAN), the organisers behind the hugely successful Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail (MAST2025), held earlier this year.
MAN member and artist Alysn MidgelowMarsden says she wants local creatives to know membership is open.
“The network is always happy to welcome new members and now, at the beginning of our membership year, is the best time for someone to join,” she says.
“We love meeting local artists and helping them grow on their creative journey, and are looking forward to hearing from them.”
The trail is the largest event organised by the network, but there are other opportunities for members, including networking with fellow creatives, information sharing,
exposure on the MAN website, coverage in the newsletter and more, she says.
Midgelow-Marsden is grateful to the sponsors who helped make MAST2025 possible.
“The organisers of the trail would like to celebrate this annual event and to thank our supporters who donate space, money, time and materials to ensure that we are able to bring local artistry to the fore.
“These include Auckland Council, the Creative Communities Scheme, Rodney Local Board, Creative Rodney East, Alchemy Designs, Kowhai Coast Lions Club and Mahurangi River Wines.”
To join visit: www.mahurangiartistnetwork. com/membership-sign Or if you’d like to have a chat first to find out more, send your phone number to mahurangiartistnetwork@gmail.com
Egg-cellent way to spend a Sunday
Anyone wondering what to do with excitable children this Easter Sunday, April 20, might want to take a drive south on State Highway 16 for the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens.
Egg tokens will be hidden along and around the one-kilometre sculpture trail north of Kaukapakapa and will be regularly replenished throughout the day to ensure everyone goes home with plenty of treats. There is also a 2.5-kilometre nature trail to explore, with a lookout point overlooking
Kaipara Harbour, and there will be a sausage sizzle running.
Dressing up in bunny suits or other seasonal costumes is actively encouraged. Tickets cost $50 for families, $17.50 for adults and $7.50 for children.
Organisers say the event is always popular and spaces are limited, so booking an entry time in advance is essential – email info@kaiparacoast.co.nz, phone 09 420 5655 or buy tickets online at: https:// kaiparacoastplantcentre.com/productcategory/vouchers-tickets/
Dinners are here to stay.
From April 5th, Saturday dinners at Brick Bay are here to stay! Enjoy our seasonal menu, estate-grown wines, and stunning twilight views.
Book now: brickbay.co.nz/dine Join us for Easter at Mahurangi Hope Church
Thursday 17th - 6.30pm
It’s Movie Night at Hope, and we’re watching, an inspiring, family-friendly film that will uplift and encourage all ages! Popcorn & Drinks for Sale
Friday 18th - 9.00am Join Us for a Reflective Good Friday Service. www.hopehq.nz Mahurangi Hope Church
Sunday 20th - 9.00am & 10.45am
You're invited to Hope’s Easter Sunday Family Interactive Service
School Holiday Fun every day!
Explore Matakana Village these school holidays: family movies at the cinema, fun at the playground, unique shops, and delicious eats for the perfect family day out!
Go local for a fun family break!
Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.
Holiday Park
Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.
Whangateau Holiday Park
Go local for a fun family break!
Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.
Easter and ANZAC holiday activities
Whangateau Holiday Park
Easter and the school holidays are fast approaching, and local libraries are again gearing up for another round of events and activities.
Go local for a fun family break!
Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz
Absolute coastal paradise!
Go local for a fun family break!
Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.
New movie Dog Man will be a Warkworth highlight.
manager Pip Stocking says.
Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.
Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz
Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.
0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Book an Auckland Council holiday park today: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz
whangateauholidaypark.co.nz
0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
0800 947 275 or 09 427 3305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Family friendly accommodation and camping options, including waterfront camping available.
For this break, it’s just Warkworth and Wellsford that will be running a programme, as the team at Snells Beach are busy getting ready for their impending move back into the Mahurangi East Library and Community Centre after major renovations.
Safe swimming area, awesome snorkelling, kayak and paddleboarding, fantastic walks, pedal bikes, children play area and picnic spots.
Book now: whangateauholidaypark.co.nz
“In the meantime, Warkworth and Wellsford libraries will have some fantastic activities for everyone to enjoy,” library
0800 9407 275 or 09 422 6305 whpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Monday, April 14, 10.30am
Emergency IMPACT Challenge Join Auckland Emergency Management to learn cool skills and become a real-life emergency hero.
Tuesday, April 15, 10.30am
Dog Man Supa-Extravaganza Celebrate the new Dog Man movie with activities, games and prizes. Optional: bring a tin of cat or kitten food for Julie’s Animal Refuge.
Wednesday, April 16, 10.30am
Wonderful World of Tiger Worms Learn all about wonderful worms in a handson biology session with the Compost Collective. Ages 3-plus.
Thursday, April 17, 10.30am
DIY T-Shirt Bag Transform an old t-shirt into a reusable bag. BYO T-shirt. Booking essential – pop into the library or call on 09 377 0209. Ages 7-plus.
Thursday, April 17, 2pm
Easter crafts Easter “crafternoon” making fun things at the library.
Tuesday, April 22, 10.30am
Earth Day craft Get crafty this Earth Day and make some collage art.
Wednesday, April 23, 10.30am
Bin-Tastic by WasteWise A ‘bin-tastic’ holiday session filled with games and activities. Discover what goes on behind the bins and what happens to rubbish.
Thursday, April 24, 10.30am
LEGO Time Bring your imagination and get creative with piles of bricks and heaps of fun.
Highlights at Warkworth include a Dog Man day to coincide with the release of the new movie based on popular children’s book Dog Man by Dav Pilkey. Scholastic and Matakana Cinemas have donated prizes for a drawing competition and scavenger hunts.
At Wellsford, activities include an ANZAC exhibit to explore and the chance to contribute to an ANZAC community art display.
There are also wonderful worms and bintastic sessions on how we get rid of waste.
Monday, April 14, 2-4pm
Escape the Library Drop in and complete fun challenges to unlock the treasure and escape the library.
Tuesday 15 April, 10.30-11.30am
ANZAC Day Community Art Colouring and collaging for community ANZAC day art display. Explore the meaning of this important day with stories, artefacts and histories.
Wednesday, April 16, 10-11am
Easter Storytime & Craft Easter stories and songs, followed by simple Easter craft. Under 7s.
Wednesday April 16, 1.30-2.30pm
Wonderful World of Tiger Worms Learn all about wonderful worms in a handson biology session from the Compost Collective. Ages 3-plus.
Thursday, April 17, 10.30am-12pm ‘Bin-tastic’ by WasteWise Join us for a ‘bin-tastic’ holiday session filled with games and activities. Discover what goes on behind the bins and what happens to rubbish.
Thursday, April 17, 2-3pm
Crafternoon – Easter edition Hop along for some Easter-themed crafty fun. Ages 5-plus.
Tuesday, April 22, 2-3pm
Crafternoon – Earth Day edition Celebrate Earth Day and try some crafty creativeness.
Wednesday, April 23, 2-4pm Games Galore Drop in and challenge friends and whānau to glorious games. Thursday, April 24, 2-4.30pm
Wellsford Library LEGO Club Get creative with our LEGO collection or try one of our new LEGO challenges.
Local farmers clean up at dairy awards
Young farm managers from Tomarata, Te Hana and Kaiwaka cleaned up at the northern regional NZ Dairy Industry Awards on March 15, taking the first three places in the 2025 Northland Dairy Manager of the Year category.
The overall winner was Courtney West, who is farm manager on Greg Partington and Nicola Murray’s 147-hectare, 350-cow farm at Tomarata.
Her route to dairy farming was far from traditional – she first worked in adventure tourism in the South Island, until the pandemic forced a change in direction.
“Until 2020, I worked in Queenstown in zipline, jetboating and skydiving companies,” she said. “I needed a career change when covid destroyed the tourism industry and I haven’t looked back.”
The 26-year-old completed training courses in milk harvesting, livestock husbandry and pastoral livestock production, before placing third in the 2023 Manawatū Dairy Trainee awards and runner-up in last year’s Northland Dairy Manager of the Year.
awards and said her future goals included becoming a dairy cow nutritionist.
Second place in the Northland Dairy Manager category was Michaela McCracken, who is farm manager for Greg and Ingrid McCracken on their 175-hectare Te Hana property, milking 375 cows.
The 25-year-old, who was runner-up in last year’s Northland Dairy Trainee category, won $1298 in prizes and one merit award.
She said she was passionate about dairy cattle breeding and aimed to carry on her family’s breeding genetics programme as a third-generation farmer on the property.
Check-out
West took home $4198 and five merit
In third place was 23-year-old Aidan Clark, who won $1255 and works on Scott Parker and Anna Mahy’s 90-hectare Kaiwaka farm, milking 233 cows.
Donations needed for fabric sale
Calling all sewers, knitters and crafty types – the local Fabric Rescue group is once again on the hunt for unused fabric, textiles and accessories for its annual market at Matakana Hall.
This year’s event is the fifth such sale and takes place on Sunday, May 4 between 10am and 2pm.
It has quickly become a popular treasure trove for all things fabric, not least because of the huge amount of material gathered and the fact that nothing is actually priced, but available instead for cash or eftpos donations.
This year’s market organiser, Angie Gibbons, says the group is looking for donations of good quality fabric, along with wool, sewing and knitting patterns, and haberdashery, such as buttons, needles, thread, elastic, ribbons and zips.
“The Fabric Rescue sale provides an opportunity for people to declutter their sewing rooms while ensuring that surplus materials find a new home,” she says.
“It’s time to check cupboards, under the bed, that forgotten box in the garage – ask friends and family, too. Help us uncover unused fabric and sewing supplies for a great cause.”
Gibbons is also putting out a call for volunteers to help with sorting, set-up and assisting on the day.
“There’s always plenty to do in the lead-up to the market, from organising donations to baking for the team,” she says.
“This event is not just about fabric; it’s about community, creativity and sustainability. Every metre of fabric we save from landfill is a win for the environment and a boost for local makers.”
Funds raised from previous markets have gone to local sewing groups and individuals who are keeping textiles out of landfill, and the group has also been able to offer a Textile Scholarship for a student at Mahurangi College.
“We are now running sewing sessions in conjunction with the Warkworth Library, Mahurangi Wastebusters and have other projects to come,” Gibbons adds.
Anyone with items to donate can leave them at the following drop-off locations until April 27:
Warkworth Library; Matakana Cinema foyer; the Matakana Bag Lady at Matakana Farmers Market; Point Wells Hall; Leigh Hall, Monday and Wednesday mornings; Capri Café & Icecreamery, Snells Beach; Omaha Beach Golf Club & Community Centre; Wellsford Library; and Sandspit –call Sally Smith on 021 425407.
Info and questions: Angela Gibbons on 021 353 666 or fabricrescuemk@gmail.com
Martins Bay Holiday Park
Martins Bay Holiday Park
• Powered sites, cabins, self-contained units, family units and caravans.
• Wi-Fi, kitchen, barbecues, play areas, fishing and all tide boat ramp.
287 Martins Bay Road, Martins Bay.
Book now: visit martinsbayholidaypark.co.nz phone 0800 624 7275 or 09 353 9685 or email mbhpark@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Courtney West successfully swapped adventure tourism for agriculture.
JOIN OUR TRADE BREAKFAST BBQ
Environment If dogs could read
Christine Rose christine.rose25@gmail.com
The signs said ‘No dogs’, ‘Dogs kill shore birds’, ‘No dogs’, ‘Dogs kill kiwi’, ‘No dogs’, ‘Penguins live here’. ‘Keep your dog on a leash’, ‘Keep your dog 20m from wildlife’, ‘Dogs must be under control’, ‘No dogs’, ‘No dogs’, ‘No dogs’!
But no one paid them any heed. The dogs played by the signs, ran through the reserves, scooted into the dunes. The dogs chased the sea birds, barking. The owners threw sticks and balls up the beach and the dogs ran fast and far.
The dogs had a wonderful time. The salt air, the freedom. The thrill of the chase. The signs were ignored by many dogs and humans alike.
The dotterels, red-billed gulls, the penguins, fledgling gannets, seals, sea lions, weka, kiwi and penguins were no obstacle to the dogs’ good time.
Nine dead kiwi in six weeks, up north. A mauled gannet at Muriwai today. The 20 red-billed gulls at Kaikoura. The dotterel fledgling killed at Piha. The penguin dug from its nest at Muriwai. Those are just the
I love a good dog. But they’re wolves in sheep’s clothing, and not entirely compatible with New Zealand’s flightless or even flighted wildlife. Unlike dogs, and perhaps many of their owners, I can read the signs. In wildlife refuges and wild
But when I tried to gently remind people of
what those signs said, over summer, I was threatened with violence, “Do you want a go (fight?),” “Are you from Auckland?”, “I know the rules, I’m a local”, or, “Oh, I just saw the sign now” – after walking past three of them adjacent to the track and continuing all the same.
Then there was the obliviousness when the dogs were right in front of the signs. I was outnumbered and defeated in my crusade to keep local birds safe. I held my tongue and kept the peace when I saw people not upholding the rules or the interests of nature. Dogs’ wants and needs to run, and peoples’ desire to let them go, take priority almost everywhere, including endemic and native species at their mercy.
Auckland Council consulted on the region’s dog control bylaws over summer. In my experience, dog bylaws are the most contentious council issue of all. There seems to be a need for good dog exercise areas where man’s best friend can socialise with their own best friends, and get the unfettered freedom they love and deserve. But the rules suggesting that beaches should be areas where dogs are allowed ‘under control and off leash’ are a nonsense. Dogs can’t be off leash and under effective control at the same time. It takes just a second for a dog to maul another animal, whether it’s a fledgling gannet or another dog.
If dogs could read, and act on what they read, then our wildlife would be leading much safer lives.
Eco friendly insect control featuring a unique blend of botanicals including citronella and eucalyptus with a safe but effective concentration of active ingredient. Safe around pets and children.
History
Cheryl Clague, Warkworth & District Museum www.warkworthmuseum.co.nz
Document unlocks pioneer’s story
Among the records in the Warkworth Museum archives lies an old pension application dated March 3, 1897, for Damaris Brickwood Williams. The document states she was born on July 10, 1821, in St Germans, Cornwall, and arrived in New Zealand aboard the William Denny in February 1855. This record provides a key link to her life and journey.
Damaris was the eldest of nine children, born in 1823 despite inconsistencies in recorded ages. She immigrated to Australia in 1849 with her aunt and uncle, eventually settling in Hill End, New South Wales, a Cornish mining community. In 1850, she married Zacharias Williams, a former convict transported for manslaughter who had since built a life as a farmer.
In June 1855, following Zacharias’s successful application for land in the Mahurangi district, they sailed up from Auckland to Long Beach (an early name for Snells Beach). According to Damaris’s obituary, they ‘spent their first night sleeping under a tree there being no house in the locality.’ Zacharias’s name appears several times in early New Zealand records such as the Highway Assessment Rolls, Freeholders of New Zealand 1882, Electoral Rolls, and Wises Post Office Directories, where he is listed as ‘a farmer living at Mullet Point.’ After 27 years of farming in the district with his wife, Zacharias died in the latter part of 1882. Their only son, Thomas Parkings Williams, later moved to Australia, adopting the
surname Willason. Meanwhile, their adopted daughter Ellen married local farmer John Dawson, whose 10 children became Damaris’s beloved grandchildren. After Zacharias’s death, Damaris continued farming before eventually moving in with Ellen’s family.
Damaris played an active role in building their home, working on the farm, and knitting garments for soldiers during wartime. Even at 80, she tended to her strawberry beds. She enjoyed reading and, at 97, acquired a nine-volume history of England. Despite discrepancies in official records, she was celebrated for her longevity and received many well-wishes on her 100th birthday (though she was likely 95).
She died peacefully at Ellen’s home on May 26, 1920, and was buried in Te Kapa Cemetery. Her headstone, originally larger, broke during transport when it fell into a creek. Only the top half was retrieved and placed at her grave, where it remains a testament to her pioneering spirit and resilience.
The discovery of a simple pension application in an archive has helped piece together the story of Damaris Brickwood Williams and serves as a reminder of how even the most unassuming documents can preserve the history of individuals and the legacies they leave behind.
Damaris Brickwood Williams. Warkworth Museum Collection: 6498.31892
RODNEY SEPTIC TANK CLEANING
Damaris Brickwood Williams “pale blue, pension application paper” dated 3 March 1897. Warkworth Museum Collection.
Dealing with pesky pests Gardening
Andrew Steens
Autumn is traditionally the time for a clean-up in the garden. While in cooler climes this might refer to raking up piles of leaves and burning them, in our more subtropical region it is more likely to involve lots of pruning. Unless you have a park-like garden with many big deciduous trees, there is usually no need to be raking up leaves. For a light scattering of leaves on the lawn, just mulch them up with the mower. Leaves that fall onto the garden make excellent mulch, smothering weeds and feeding the plants and beneficial insects, so they are best left where they fall. Fallen fruit is a different matter. These are often infested with the caterpillars of various pest species, such as guava moth, codling moth and leaf roller moth, so are best gathered up and composted or mown over. This reduces the quantity of these pests in the following growing season. Many gardeners recommend clean-up pesticide sprays to reduce pest numbers before winter. I’m getting less keen on this approach as many pesticides also reduce the number of beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps and pollinators, just as they are preparing for hibernation. If you do have a serious outbreak of bugs at this time, then a spray of Neem oil provides a relatively effective, low toxicity control.
In my so-called pest-proof greenhouse (with insect screening on all openings) that I use for tamarillos, tomatoes, chillies and other members of this pest-prone family,
I have had a serious outbreak of whitefly. This is my own fault really, as last autumn I didn’t take seriously the presence of a few whiteflies that had established themselves. Some half-hearted attempts at control meant the population staggered on through winter and then exploded in spring. This autumn, I’m taking a more extreme approach. All the plants in this greenhouse are potted and all members of the tomato family can be grown as perennials, cut back hard and allowed to resprout. So, all the plants are being cut back to leafless stems and removed from the greenhouse, which is then swept out and sprayed with a six per cent solution of hydrogen peroxide. That’ll wipe out pretty much everything and, as a bonus, will also clean up any algae on the windows. This converts to water and oxygen quickly, so within a day of applying, I can move the plants back in, carefully checking the stems and soil for any sign of pests.
Pruning is an important pest control procedure in the garden. Observant gardeners will notice that dry stems of plants such as cannas and small twigs on grapes and the like may have a slightly serrated look. This is the characteristic egg laying habit of passion-vine hoppers. Pruning these off now and disposing of them either in the compost heap or by burning them, will dramatically reduce the population of this troublesome pest next summer. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine!
Got a story to tell? Let us know. Phone 425 9068 Email editor@localmatters.co.nz
Steve today
278 288 | www.aquaworks.co.nz
APPLIANCE REPAIRS
A SMART REPAIR Service for F&P smartdrive washers, F&P/ Simpson dryers. Prompt service 021 168 7349.
DRIVEWAYS
MAINTENANCE Grading, rolling & metalling for rural Driveways. No job too BIG or small. Contact Trevor tlc.trev@hotmail.com
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DVDS & VIDEOS VIDEOS TRANSFERRED to DVD/hard drive. Phone or txt
Tetotara Video 021 777 385
Switchboard upgrades, additional power points and lighting. Small Jobs Welcome. detechelectrical05@gmail.com 021 313 749 ELECTRICIAN
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FACIAS & SPOUTING Repaired, replaced, rejuvenated. All types. LBP. Ph Steve 021 489 330
HOUSE WASHING - Soft Wash / Low Pressure / Chemical Wash Also Window Cleaning / Gutter Clearing / Decks / Concrete. Careful service, reasonable rates. qualitywash.co.nz 021 057 9743
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Trees: BIG, small, difficult. Pruned. Removed. One off section tidy-ups. Hedge reductions. Insured. Experienced. Ph or text for a quote. Dom 027 222 1223
TRIM & PROPER SOLUTIONS
School Bus Drivers Needed – Warkworth
Get on Board with Go Bus Transport and come join our great team in Warkworth. This is an ideal chance to make a change in your life and try something different with a great company. If you are thinking of re-joining the workforce or looking for extra hours this role may well suit you.
We are looking for Casual On-Call
School Bus Drivers
What you need:
• Class 2 Licence
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Phone 425 8545 www.holyname.org.nz
HOLY WEEK 2025 TIMETABLE
EVE (VIGIL) 12th
6pm PALM SUNDAY 13th April
Puhoi 8.30am
Warkworth 10.30am
Holy Thursday 17th April
• P endorsement (we can help you obtain this)
• A responsible and caring approach
For Weddings, Surprise Parties, Events, Rock & Roll Guitarist/ Singer, Lots of Fun & Showmanship. 021 954 875 ghwinchservices@tra.co.nz
CAREGIVER
Experienced in aged /dementia care would be interested in day care/companionship. Refs Avail. Phone Manda 027 661 0330 HOME HELP ENTERTAINMENT ELVIS SHOWS
HOME & MAINTENANCE
Blue Skies Cleaning
Window Cleaning, Soft Bio House Wash, Gutter Clean, All Exterior Cleaning, Water Blasting, Roof Treatment, Local Professional service. Ph Pat 022-646-5849
CERTIFIED PLUMBER
Plumbing Maintenance, Kitchens, Hot Water Cylinders, Filters, Spouting and Roofing. 027 494 5499
COLLINS ELECTRONICS
HAVE YOU LOST CHANNELS?
Or need your Freeview box tuned for the new channels? Freeview installations & new Freeview boxes for sale. TV repairs & installation, microwave oven repairs. Ph Paul 027 29 222 04
Hedge trimming • Fruit tree & orchard pruning • Formative prunes • Stump grinding 020 4027 6200 trimandproper@outlook.co.nz
WINDOW CLEANING/ HOUSEWASH/GUTTER CLEANING Local professional service. Ph Pat 022-646-5849.
MOVING
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Experienced Owner Operator 30 years. Single items Flat/ House lots. Silverdale based. Ph Gavin 0274 973 867
PEST CONTROL Eradication of rats & mice. Competitive Rates. Ph 426 2253 Ph 027 286 7321, www.noratsandmice.nz PEST CONTROL
PUBLIC NOTICES
ALGIES BAY
RESIDENTS AND RATEPAYERS ASSN
Saturday 12th April 2025, 10am, at Snells Beach Community Church, 325 Mahurangi East Road, Snells Beach. Contact: admin@algiesbay.co.nz
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SERVICE DESKS
Warkworth, at the Library Monday 10am – 2pm
Matakana, Cinema Complex Tuesday 11am-1pm
Warkworth RSA Fridays 3.30pm to 5pm No appointment is needed. There is no cost. Supported by Mahurangi Matters
If you want to be part of a business that is making a difference in your community then we want to hear from you!
Our recruitment process includes a Drug and Alcohol Test and Police Vetting check.
Don't let this role drive by!
Apply here online or email Carol on carol.monteith@gobus.co.nz
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper & Washing of the Feet, Procession of The Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, Adoration. Warkworth 5.30pm and Puhoi 8pm
Good Friday 18th April
(Day of fasting & Abstinence)
Puhoi 10am Stations of the Cross Followed by Reconciliation in the Church Warkworth 1pm Stations of the Cross Followed by Reconciliation in the Church Warkworth 3pm Commemoration of
Our Lord’s Passion & Death, Reading of the Lord’s Passion, Prayers of Intercession, Veneration of the Cross, Collection of Lenten Appeal and Holy Places, Holy Communion, Reconciliation after Ceremonies.
Holy Saturday 19th April
No Mass on Saturday Morning (Fasting recommended till after Vigil) Warkworth 6pm EASTER VIGIL
Easter Fire & Candle, Vigil readings, Blessings of Baptismal Water, Mass of Easter
Easter Sunday 20th April
Puhoi 8.30am Warkworth 10.30am
Runs available. Suit retired or school aged children. Contact 425 9068, admin@localmatters.co.nz
Whānau Frenzy
Wh!nau Frenzy was a welcome opportunity for students to let their hair down and compete in fun events for their house. Spirits were high, with loads of colourful costumes and face paint. Thanks to Mrs Rhodes, the house prefects, and congratulations to our winners, Green House.
Year 10 Hōteo Camp
Hōteo camps for our Year 10 students have started. Students have loved the experience, spending a week switching off from technology, participating in outdoor adventures including kayaking on the beautiful Hōteo river, constructing and sleeping in a bivouac, and learning more about the environment, as well as getting to know their classmates even better.
A huge thank you again to our amazing community who have put together an experience for our students that is phenomenal.
> Check out the new video of our Hōteo Wero site on our website (Learning Programs > Hōteo Wero)
Times Table Rock Stars Founder Visits Mahurangi College
We had an exciting visit from Bruno Reddy, founder and CEO of Times Table Rock Stars. Mr Reddy spent the day inspiring students and staff with his passion for mathematics. At a special assembly, students witnessed a jaw-dropping Guinness World Record moment—a student solving three times tables questions in just one second! The assembly also featured a video showcasing New Zealand’s top-ranked mathematics students.
Mr Reddy emphasized the importance of mastering times tables for success in senior mathematics, encouraging students to practice just three minutes a day. His dedication to supporting the evolving New Zealand curriculum was evident, leaving a lasting impact on both students and staff. Teachers also benefited from hands-on training, gaining fresh strategies to help students build confidence and fluency in their times tables. Thank you for your inspiring visit.
Mahurangi College Shines at Major Equestrian Cup
Competing against 52 schools and 189 riders, our equestrian team delivered an impressive performance at the annual Pegasus Cup, the
Year 7 students have been busy in their Visual Arts program. Students have sculptured dragon eyes by colouring model magic and using a glass cabochon on top of their hand-coloured iris to give a realistic effect.
premium secondary schools show jumping competition in NZ. Our riders demonstrated remarkable talent and sportsmanship, in one of the country’s most competitive equestrian events; placing 6th overall and securing an outstanding 2nd place in the sportsmanship category.
Standout riders included; Eva Morrison who claimed victory in both her accumulator and two-phase competition, 9th in her equitation class and a very commendable 5th equal in the individual rider rankings; Olivia Walker also rode exceptionally well, nishing 3rd in her accumulator and 5th in her two-phase, placing her 8th equal in the individual rider standings; Ashley Russell showcased skill and determination throughout the competition, just narrowly missing out on placings this time.
Incredibly, we are approaching the end of our rst term, and what a start to the year it has been! Well done whānau, students and sta , you make us all very proud of our place and people. The last day of Term one is Friday 11 April. Enjoy your well deserved break and time with family and friends.
Tony Giles, Principal
Proudly Supporting Mahurangi College Cnr Woodcocks
Mansel
Pictured with Chloe Waugh Retail
Netball Warkworth
Netball North Harbour is excited to announce a programme for Year 1 to 4 players in Warkworth this winter season. Now is the time to start getting teams together for registration starting May 6. Open to clubs and school teams, or groups of friends, on Tuesday evenings at the Warkworth A&P showgrounds. Offering games for Year 1 & 2 players, and Year 3 & 4 players. For more information, costs and times go to netballnorthharbour.co.nz/our-competitions/ or call North Harbour Netball 09 481 0022
The Big Bike film night Matakana
The Big Bike film night is showing the best short cycling films from around the world at the Matakana Cinemas in April and May. The film night can be booked on two viewing dates, April 30 and May 28, 7.30-10pm. Showcasing 2.5 hours of bike films that have everything a cyclecentric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration. The evening is unashamedly designed and devised to delight the two-wheel devotee. Book tickets at trybooking.com/nz/events/
Social tennis Matakana
Social tennis is played every Wednesday at the courts on Matakana Valley Road, and anyone is welcome to join. Members play for free and non-members pay $5. For membership information, go to Matakana Tennis Club on Facebook
Kickboxing
Free kickboxing classes are offered being offered at the Wellsford Community Centre on Tuesdays from 7-8pm (finishing April 15) and at the Connect Striking gym in Snells Beach on Fridays, from 4.306pm (finishing April 11). The classes are for 12-18 year olds. The classes are funded by the Rodney Youth Project and participants will learn Muay Thai skills that translate to strong self-confidence. Info: www.connectstriking.com or facebook Rodney Youth Project
Skateboarding clinic Wellsford
Girls Skate NZ aims to empower girls through skateboarding. Classes are open to all ages and abilities with free skateboard, helmet and safety gear hire available. Sunday, April 13, from 2-4pm at Wellsford Skate Park, off Hazelmere Street. Bookings are essential. Register at eventbrite.com/ girls-skate-nz-skateboarding-clinic
Mick Fay Licensee Agent Snells Beach | 021
Not So Good
Local strongman looking to lift trophy at world champs
When Kaiwaka powerlifter Bernie Hall competes at the Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC) World Championships 2025 in Brazil, from October 22 to 26, he won’t be there just to make up the numbers. At the very least he wants a podium finish – and he aims to break a world deadlift record while he’s at it.
Competing as part of the GPC New Zealand team, Hall has his sights set on first place in the deadlift event in the Master 3 class (age group 50 to 54). Because he turns 50 on October 7, only a couple of weeks before he arrives, Hall will no longer be eligible for the Master 2 class (45 to 49).
He’s already smashed plenty of deadlift records locally, and beaten his personal bests plenty of times, so won’t be short of confidence at the worlds.
“I’ve got a good idea that I could be on the podium. Last night I did a 280kg deadlift, which is five kilos over the world record for the under 100kg bodyweight division,” he says. “The record might change in the seven months before Brazil as the GPC has the European champs in May and other countries have nationals. It would be awesome if it’s still there so I can have a crack at it.”
Hall is giving himself the best possible chance with an intensive deadlift training regimen that he carefully manages.
“Over a week I’ll work up to deadlifts of 280 or 285kg and then the next week I’ll drop it to maybe 265kg and try and go for four reps,” he says.
“I rotate it because I found last year and the year before when I was doing 275, or especially 280kg every week, you can keep it up for about six weeks but then all of a sudden your body just crashes and you can’t lift anymore.
“They call it digging yourself into a fatigue hole. The strength’s still there in the background, but your entire body is just
dead and you need to rest. So I manage my fatigue a lot better now.”
Hall has got the training taken care of, now all he needs to do is raise some more money to fund the trip.
“I’ve already paid for the flights, and my mum’s coming with me,” he says.
“But I’ve got to keep saving, because I figure I need about $4000 to pay for accommodation, travel insurance and also all the vaccinations I’ll need because of where it is.”
Recently Hall set up a Givealittle page to help fund his journey and donations have already started to come in, so hopefully by the time October arrives, he’ll be ready for lift-off.
To help get Hall to the GPC World Championships in Brazil you can donate here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/nzkaiwaka-masters-50-yr-old-fulla-goes-to-gpc
Bernie Hall is eyeing a deadlift world record in Brazil.
31 Whangateau Folk Club, Whangateau Hall, 7pm. Irish singer and harpist Úna ní Fhlannagáin. Admission $15. Contact for possible harp workshop. Tickets: whangateaufolk@gmail.com or whangateau.co.nz
1 Fabric Rescue Community Sewing Sessions, Warkworth Library, 2 Baxter Street, 9.30am-12 midday. $5. Bring your own project or start something new, repair or be inspired. Info: Angie: 021 353666 or fabricrescuemk@gmail.com 2&9 Demystifying Dementia, Old Masonic Hall (next to Warkworth Library), 10.30am. First of two presentations by Paddy Sullivan, Age Concern Rodney. Info: hp@ageconcernrodney.org.nz
2 Watercare Public Meeting, Warkworth Town Hall, 6-8pm. Explanation of new sewage pipeline route, construction methods, traffic impacts and timings. All welcome.
3 Back Bar Jazz, The Bridgehouse, 16 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth, 6.30-9.30pm. First Thursday of every month. Free. All welcome.
3-12 Dial M for Murder, Warkworth Town Hall, 2 Neville Street, 7-9pm. April 6, 2pm only. April 12, 2pm and 7pm. Tickets: www.warkworththeatre.co.nz or Mahurangi Matters office
3 Mystery in the Library – Badness in Brokenwood, Warkworth Library, 2 Baxter St, 5-9pm. Join five local storytellers for a terrific evening of criminally good conversation.
4 Pork Pie Charity Run, 50 Minis will stop at Warkworth School, around 9.30am (see story p13)
4 Chess Club, Warkworth Library, 3.30-5pm. Beginners to skilled, children to adults. Free weekly sessions. Info: warkworth.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
4 Tea & Toast, Warkworth Masonic Hall, 3 Baxter Street, 10am-midday. Free weekly drop in session every Friday. Info: warklib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
6 TOSSI Workday, Tāwharanui Regional Park, 9am-1pm. Join us for working bee around the park. Lunch provided. Info: www.tossi.org.nz
7 Retired Men’s Coffee Morning, Sheepworld, 324 State Highway 1, 10.30am. Camaraderie and chat. You don’t have to be a member, strictly social. Info: Ron 422 3111
9 Warkworth Area Liaison Group, Totara Park Hall, 7pm. Share ideas and concerns, keep local communities proactively updated. All welcome. (Note: moved one week later to avoid clash with Watercare public meeting)
10 Gibbs Farm Fundraiser, Restore Rodney East, 2421 Kaipara Coast Highway, 102pm. Tickets through Humanitix or email facilitator@rre.org.nz
11 Tea & Talk, Warkworth Museum, 10am-11am. Topic: Warkworth’s Lucy Moore, the mother of NZ botany. Entry $10, bookings at warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz
11&12 Molesworth Sheep Dog Club 75th Jubilee Trial, 616 Oneriri Road, Kaiwaka. All day. Visitors welcome, but no other dogs. Info: 09 431 2192
12 Fabric Rescue and Mahurangi Wastebusters, 55 Lawrie Road, Snells Beach, 10ammidday. Mending workshop to repair and revamp clothes. Free entry, but bookings essential. Info: 029 433 6373 or mahurangiwastebusterseceprog@gmail.com
12 Warkworth Holistic Health & Wellness Day, Warkworth Bridge Club, 2 Alnwick Street, 11am-2pm. Free mini-sessions and wellness information from local practitioners. Belinda Hunt will play harp. Free entry, all welcome. Info: www.wellnesshub.nz
13 Jubilation Choir, Leigh Sawmill Cafe, 142 Pakiri Road, 6-7.30 pm. A capella, gospel, soul and R&B music. Doors open at 5pm (see story p25)
13 Kowhai Singers, Hope Church Warkworth, 22 Mansel Drive, 4-6pm. Works by Handel, Mozart, Stainer, Bach, Stanford and favourite Easter hymns. (see story p25)
14 Whangateau Folk Club, Whangateau Hall, 7.30pm. Up and coming NZ folk ensemble Butter Wouldn’t Melt, supported by the Pipi Pickers. Tickets $15. Info & tickets: whangateaufolk@gmail.com
20 Settlers’ Market, 980 Port Albert Road, Wellsford, 10am-2pm. Local artisans and stalls.
20 Sheepworld Easter at the Farm, 324 State Highway 1, Warkworth, 10-4pm. Easter egg hunt, face painting, farm feeds, sheep shearing. Free for under 4s. Info: Sheepworld on Facebook or 09 425 7444
20 Mangawhai Easter Hop Car Show, Mangawhai Domain, 10am-2pm. Muscle, vintage and classic cars, trucks, live music, stalls and more. Entry $20 per car, $5 walk-ins
20 Easter Egg Hunt, Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens, 1481 Kaipara Coast Highway, 9am (see story p27)
Surf sport seniors rise to national challenge
Omaha’s senior surf sports team came home loud and proud after competing at the Aon NZ Surf Lifesaving Championships in Gisborne last month.
They won four medals in age group events, plus Rohan Whitaker won a silver in the masters beach sprint for the third year in a row. Team coach Scott Donaldson says it takes a lot of commitment to reach the required fitness levels just to compete at national level.
“The Omaha team’s performance was outstanding,” he says. “In some of the races, it was just one wave separating the winner from the rest of the field.”
Scott’s son Zac, who attends Mahurangi College, was competing in his first nationals. He raced in the Under 15 division, winning gold in the ‘run, swim, run’ event and bronze in the 400-metre swim.
Auckland University student Tobey Sykes won bronze in the Under 19 board race,
one of the closest and toughest races of the tournament, which was run in testing conditions with swells of up to two metres.
The heats, semis and final were all run on one day, involving seven races in total. Sykes started as a nipper with the Omaha Beach Surf Life Saving Club and since 2020 has worked as a paid lifeguard at beaches around Auckland during the uni holidays.
Kane Wright won the club’s fourth age group medal when he took silver in the
Under 15 sprint.
Other members of the team were Oliver Gipps (Under 17), and Jayden Earley and Ben Blair, who both competed in the men’s open division.
The club feels the 2025 team’s performance augers well for the development of senior sports at Omaha.
Bay of Plenty’s Omanu took home the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy for top overall club.
There was nothing in it when Tobey Sykes crossed the finish line in third place. Photos, Jamie Troughton
The team, from left, Oliver Gipps, Tobey Sykes, Kane Wright, Zac Donaldson, Rohan Whitaker and Jayden Earley. (Absent, Ben Blair).
