Day of the twister
mangawhai tornado coverage pages 1-4
By Julia Wade
Two weeks after Mangawhai was hit by a violent tornado, affected locals continue down the long road of putting their shattered homes and lives back together.
Although some streets have resumed a sense of normality, remnants of the early morning January 26 twister are still visible around ground zero, with ravaged houses, some still inhabitable, and conspicuous spaces where grand old trees had formerly graced the sky.
Estimated by NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) as an EF1, with wind speeds between 138 and 177 kilometres an hour, the tornado targeted Mangawhai Village neighbourhoods, leaping from Old Waipu Road to Longview Drive and down Moir Street, leaving two residents seriously injured.
About 90 properties had varying degrees of damage, with nine homes receiving a
yellow sticker, leaving them temporarily uninhabitable. Building materials and vegetation were flung far and wide by the ferocious winds, with housing insulation reported to be found as far away as Te Arai.
With typical Mangawhai spirit, residents and businesses rallied in the storm’s aftermath, offering a multitude of support, from supplying food and accommodation to gifting tarps, building materials and loans of generators. One man even gave his time as a night watchman along Old Waipu Road, to warn off potential looters. Many offered immediate hands-on labour with people willing to bring in their chainsaws, diggers and trucks to clear the debris. However, due to the danger caused by a number of downed powerlines, local help had to be put on hold until Northpower gave the all-clear and the cordons were lifted.
Large amounts of refreshments also turned up at the Molesworth Drive fire station
where the first response team was set up for the emergency, led by Kaipara Civil Defence Emergency Management – trained Kaipara District Council (KDC) staff, Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups (CDEM) and NZ Response Team (NZRT) – with Fire and Emergency NZ, Police, Northpower and other lifeline utilities.
Along with KDC councillors walking the area to check on residents, affected locals were also visited by NZ Red Cross Disaster Welfare and Support, as well as 10 volunteers from veteran-led charitable organisation Taskforce Kiwi.
Descending into ground zero over the first weekend in February, the team cut, mulched or chopped fallen trees into firewood, and removed broken structures and debris to clear access to properties.
Taskforce Kiwi national director Richard Adams says the team was overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to them by the community.
one’s in danger of letting out a sneaky snore, or having to check their service sheetto make sure they’re in the right place! We’ll have none of that!
“The people of Mangawhai have done an incredible job supporting one another in the wake of an unprecedented event,” he says. “Despite this, we know how exhausting it can be for those dealing with the aftermath of a disaster or severe weather event so, for us, it was a no-brainer to get our skilled volunteers on the ground doing what they can to help”.
Mayor Craig Jepson acknowledged the phenomenal response from the community and offers of help that have continued to come through.
“What an effort by so many people. Overall it’s been an incredible and swift response to an unexpected event.”
Any residents affected by the tornado and needing support or further information can call 0800 727 059 or visit the Kaipara District Council office on Molesworth Drive during council office hours.
Northland MP Grant McCallum, left, and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell visiting ground zero. Behind them is the ravaged home of Tina Johnson, who was sucked from her upstairs bedroom before being thrown onto the carport roof.
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Two-year weather pattern emerging
According to NIWA, an average of 10 tornadoes hit New Zealand annually, although this number varies from year-toyear depending on weather systems. The August 1948 twister in Frankton is the largest and deadliest so far on record, killing three people and injuring 80, and damaging 150 homes. In April 1991, a tornado touched down at Pouto Point, west Kaipara, injuring two and wiping out a marae hall, with only concrete steps and the floor left behind.
Mangawhai’s January twister is the second in recent years with the last hitting Cove Road in 2021. Along with the intense thunderstorms of February 2023 – which caused extensive
localised flooding – and now the 2025 tornado, it appears the area is becoming a future focal point for extreme weather events, especially with the ongoing impact of climate change.
“Likely, though there is an element of randomness in terms of a repeat event within a couple of years,” a NIWA spokesperson says. “The Northland region does experience tornadoes and waterspouts, and being a coastal location exposed to the north – the direction from which thunderstorms often approach – means this area will experience these on occasion.”
1:
2: As soon as news of the tornado got around, locals rallied to help with many offering hands-on labour and using their own equipment to help clear the debris.
3: Kaipara Crs Rachael Williams and Mike Howard checking out a Longview Drive resident’s damaged roof and fallen trees with NZ Response Team member, ‘Logan’.
4: Carnage on Old Waipu Road.
5: Northpower crews worked up to 18 hours a day to restore services.
Tornado survivors share stories with visiting minister
Five days after Mangawhai’s tornado, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell visited ground zero, meeting emergency crews and storm survivors to offer assurances of government support and to hear harrowing experiences of a night they will never forget.
Accompanied by National Emergency Management Agency director John Price, Northland MP Grant McCallum and Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson, Mitchell went on a walking tour of the worst hit areas on January 31, viewing the enormity of the devastation and talking to locals, some of whom were still understandably in shock.
Old Waipu Road residents Penny and Nic Berthoud met the group in their home, a one-year-old house which, although cleared of debris, still bore the scars of the tornado. Emotional scars from the traumatic experience also remained, with the couple unsure if they would return.
“It’s incredible how anyone didn’t die,” Mitchell said. “What saved this situation from being a lot worse was the fact that it was 3am. If it had hit during daylight hours when more people were up and about, with the sort of missiles we’ve seen and the velocity they were moving at, we would have lost people.”
Luck it seemed was on Mangawhai’s side, as several residents reported that if their children had been home, the night could have ended in tragedy.
A few metres down the road from the Berthouds, the twister picked up an eightmetre-long sleepout, throwing it over a shrublined bund wall before dumping it upside down in the gutter. The small cabin was the bedroom of a teenage boy who by chance was out for the night.
“Luckily, our three-year-old wasn’t home either
because I think if he was, I don't know if he'd be here today, that’s how bad his bedroom was blown in,” Nic said. “Our 15-year-old son was in his room and was smart enough to put a duvet over his head before the glass came crashing through.”
Penny and Nic were moving their outdoor furniture up against the house as the wind started to pick up and had just returned to bed when “bang, all hell broke loose!”
“It got quiet suddenly, it was eerie, so I got up and pulled the curtain back. There was a lightning strike and I saw a brazier on top of our water tank just launch into the air. I grabbed Pen and dove into the walk-in wardrobe,” Nic said. “Then it was like a plane taking off, you could feel the whole house twisting and I was just waiting for the frame to rip off. The noise was phenomenal.”
After a long 30 to 45 seconds the whirlwind abated, leaving a disconcerting quietness, before the couple heard cries of help from neighbour Tina Johnson.
“At first, I thought it was the cat, but then I could hear talking and screaming. I was like, ‘oh shit, that’s Tina’, so I bolted out the back door, jumped the fence and found her,” Nic said. “Her bedroom was upstairs and she’d been blown out and across the carport roof. I think she was slightly impaled with timber and corrugated iron and stuff at the time.”
Nic was soon joined by others who had also heard Tina’s cries. Access to her house was blocked by fallen trees, so firefighters had to carry her to a waiting ambulance and she was eventually helicoptered to hospital.
The dawn revealed a chaotic scene of shattered homes, shredded vegetation, stripped building materials, glass shrapnel embedded in walls and wrecked cars.
Nic says the loss of his boat was a “real hurting point”.
Replying to Mitchell’s enquiries, Penny said she was impressed by their insurer’s quick response, and the couple was now staying with friends.
“The rebuild will be quite long though. We’re
just waiting to hear from the structural engineers to give us an idea. I don’t know if we’ll return yet, we’ll probably get the house rebuilt, spend a night or two here to see how it feels, before deciding to move on or not. It was a traumatic experience.”
Local design signage business Juicy Media was also in the twister’s path along Old Waipu Road and owner James Taylor showed Mitchell and his entourage the ruined site of his business.
“I’ve lost the whole lot, all product, computers – my source of income gone overnight. I didn't have any income protection insurance either,” he said. “When I woke up today it actually hit me. I was feeling quite emotional, I’ve been sort of riding on adrenaline I guess since it happened.”
Horse chaff, kibble maize, rolled and whole barley, molasses and multi nuts.
Dog, puppy and catfoods plus a range of raw meats.
However, after operating for 17 years, James said he was determined to rebuild and start again with the foundations of a new shed already in the ground.
“I’ve got an acre of land up Lawrence Road and had mates up there on diggers and getting poles in the ground already,” he said. “I’ll be out of the game for probably two or three months. It’s just life, you know, you have to try to stay positive and find a way to survive, come back and don’t let it beat you.”
James was unaware of the tornado until a friend started banging on his door saying “someone’s blown up the shed”.
“It was like a bomb had gone off all down the road; it was crazy. But there are some good people in this community like Smith Construction, Northern Foundations, RTH Builders, they’ve all been around, diggers drilling out holes, putting in my poles, cutting the slabs, giving me timber at cost on their account and Jepo (mayor Craig Jepson) giving me a call to see how I’m going. That has been amazing.”
Mitchell said he had huge admiration for Nic Bertoud for his quick decisions to protect his family.
“I think it made a big difference in terms of them coming through relatively unscathed,” Mitchell said. “I am also very impressed with how strong the community is and how they mobilised and wrapped support around each other right from the early hours of the event to the clean-up.
“There’s always a big human cost in a crisis, not just with the initial response but in the recovery as well, which is critically important, from clean-up to things like emergency housing. Every government agency will respond to make sure that they get the support people need up here.”
Horses
Ducks
Calves
Chickens
Pigs
Cats
Dogs
Alpacas
Above: Old Waipu Road resident Nic Berthoud talking about his family’s experience on the night of the tornado.
Minister Mark Mitchell holds a metal rod that was found deeply impaled in the wall to the left. Top right: “It was like a bomb went off,” Juicy Media owner James Taylor told the visiting politicians, from left, Grant McCallum, Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson and Mark Mitchell. Bottom right: There were some lucky escapes with several children reportedly away from their homes on the night the twister roared through Mangawhai, including the teenager who normally used this sleepout as a bedroom.
Minister meets emergency heroes
Emergency Management and Recovery
Minister Mark Mitchell had nothing but praise for the incredible efforts of the emergency response teams when he visited Mangawhai on January 31.
Fire & Emergency NZ Northland manager Wipari Henwood gave an overview of the initial response to the tornado, saying at first it was chaos, as the Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade (MVFB) crew were blocked from accessing the Molesworth Drive fire station.
“Chief Fire Officer Graham Kerrigan was waiting for his members but they couldn’t get there … then there was a slow realisation of the impact of the incident,” he says. “Our comms team started sending trucks from all over the place to try and get to the epicentre. We had two calls where people’s lives were threatened and that’s who we were trying to target. It took some effort to coordinate to get our people there.”
He said the fact that there were no street lights due to the power outages made coordination difficult in the early morning and it was not until dawn that crews were able to see more clearly what they were trying to deal with.
“Power lines and trees down everywhere, and obviously, a panicked community trying to deal with the situation. To bring that chaos into some order took a long time,” he said.
“With power out right across the area, it was great foresight of the council to have an emergency precinct with a lot of resilience, with generators and water supplies.”
Once the civil defence team was up and running, led by Kaipara’s Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) controller John Burt, Henwood said they were able to get “proper situational awareness” and start to attend to all fire calls.”
Burt said that having the fire station set up as the command centre to sort through “an awful lot of information” and work out the emergency response with his team was pretty amazing.
“When I got the call in the early hours saying there’d been a civil fire emergency, I thought, who the hell am I going to get hold of at 4.30 in the morning on a long weekend?” he said.
“So thanks to everybody who answered the phone and turned up, they all put their heart and soul into the response, particularly in
Kaipara Kōrero
News from Kaipara District Council
Rates due 20 February
A friendly reminder, instalment three of rates for 2024/2025 is due on 20 February.
If you’re having difficulty meeting the cost of your rates, talk to our friendly revenue team about developing a payment plan. You can contact the team by phone 0800 727 059 or email revenue@kaipara.govt.nz
Find out more at kaipara.govt.nz/rates
Mangawhai Summer Bus
The free Mangawhai Summer Bus finished the season on Saturday and is taking a break until Easter Weekend (18-21 April). As of 29 January, more than 4900 trips were recorded by our drivers, making this our biggest year yet. We’d love to hear you feedback on the Summer Bus – visit www.kaipara.govt.nz/summerbus for a link to our online survey.
those first few chaotic hours as we tried to build a picture and prioritise what needed to get done.”
Northland MP Grant McCallum recognised the police involvement on the day and their handling of “quite emotional” situations at the checkpoint.
“They had to deal with some really difficult situations as some people couldn’t understand why they couldn’t go up the road, so the police did an outstanding job.”
Northpower’s long 18-hour days to clear the cordoned areas of fallen lines and restore electricity supply were applauded and KDC councillor Gordon Lambeth highlighted the efforts from the private sector.
“Local contractors who care about the community turned up and did the work for nothing,” he says. “The response from all services and everyone was tremendous.”
Mitchell attended eight local states of emergency last year and stated that the Mangawhai tornado scene “was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult ones”.
“This one had huge challenges because it
was so sudden. No one could anticipate it. There were power lines down, access was very hard for first responders, there were seriously injured people and others were more or less shell-shocked. There wasn’t any order so it was pretty catastrophic for everyone involved,” he said. “You all played such a critical role in terms of not just the response, but in the recovery. You've stood up and done an outstanding job.”
He said central government understood that it had to contribute and was working hard “to make sure that we get that done as quickly as possible.” Mitchell also said lessons had been learned since Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged the North Island in 2023 with extensive flooding, and “we now have world-class emergency management people right through the country”.
“From the leadership of mayors and councils, right through our first responders and the Emergency Operation Centres, there’s a real will to constantly improve and an awareness that we’re a country that’s going to get hit by these weather events, so we’ve got to be the best people we can be.”
Ngā whare pukapuka o Kaipara Library update
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Follow these easy steps: Download, select Library ‘Kaipara District Libraries’, sign up with library card details and read/Listen to your 24/7 digital library.
If you need help, give our library team a call on 0800 532 542 or pop into any of our libraries across the district.
Above: Minister Mark Mitchell talking with members of Kaipara’s emergency response team. Top right: Local heroes Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade with Northland manager Wipari Henwood, far left. Bottom right: Mangawhai Senior Constable Dale Weweg, left, discussing his tornado experience with Mitchell and Sergeant Jess Beckett.
Funding shadow falls over Blue Light
A youth-focused programme is facing funding challenges despite a long history of providing beneficial activities to thousands of local children.
NZ Police organisation, North Rodney Blue Light (NRBL) reported last year was another successful year with more than 1700 young people participating in its programmes and activities.
Run by community youth coordinator Shane Gould for more than 28 years, supported by Mangawhai senior constable Rob Cato as chair, NRBL involves local officers, parents and volunteers, as well as a long list of local businesses, clubs, churches and charities.
Gould says funding will be a priority issue this year following the withdrawal of some major sponsors, including the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Lotteries.
“We used to deal directly with the funder, but because we’re an incorporated society, contracts have to go through our national organisation,” Gould says.
“They’ve got to look at priorities – it’s just one of those things. We’re still waiting, hopefully for some positive news from them.”
Operating since 1992, NRBL’s mission is to support young people’s self-esteem and empower youth to make positive choices while having fun.
The NRBL crew run school camps and holiday programmes that encourage children and teens to challenge themselves with various adventurous activities such as kayaking, archery, air rifles, fishing and sailing. Initiatives for older youth include leadership programmes such as team-building activities, mountain biking and high ropes. Last year, 93 students completed the six-day course including six Otamatea High School students, with Felix Le Mesurier-Cowbourne winning Platoon One Peer Award and Mea Clutterbuck the Excellence Award for Platoon Two.
Six Year 5 and 6 students from Wellsford Primary and 17 from Mangawhai Beach School also took part in a personal development and mentoring programme in December. The
course was so popular the schools have asked for it to be repeated this year.
“We’ve had some really good relationships with the kids and had some really good outcomes, particularly with our life skills and leadership camps,” Gould says.
“Over the years we’ve trialled a couple of new camps, which the schools enjoyed us doing. We’d like to expand our programmes, but this will be dependent on funding.
“We’ve been very generous in the way we subsidise our programmes, and they are not paid through the police, which is a common misperception. The present economic climate facing a lot of community groups is affecting us, too.”
Gould said support from the community and
local businesses had always been good.
“We’ve got new police staff getting involved in a positive way and we’d like to bring on another youth worker.”
Gould says Blue Light wants all kids to have positive lifestyle alternatives and strategies to avoid becoming an offender or victim of crime.
“I suppose it reflects on my upbringing,” he says. “I wasn’t in trouble at all, I was just under the radar. Then the police gave me opportunities and that’s what I guess I'm trying to replicate.”
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Community youth coordinator Shane Gould, far right, with participants of Blue Light’s 100-person Leadership Course held last year, which saw two local teens win top awards.
Mangawhai Beach School Year 5 and 6 students having fun at the personal development and mentoring programme, just one of the many activities Blue Light offer to support local kids.
COMMUNITY-BASED ELDER CARE
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Andréa Bull 021 431 407 Email pca@thecareagency.nz www.thecareagency.nz
THE CARE AGENCY OFFERS PRIVATE HOME CARE IN MANGAWHAI AND THE SURROUNDING
Our service is built around individual requirements. This may include help with morning and evening routines, bathing, dressing, continence care, medication prompts, basic house keeping and preparing your favourite meals.
Andréa Bull 021 431 407 Email pca@thecareagency.nz www.thecareagency.nz
YouSay
In good hands
Good to see Craig Jepson’s Viewpoint (Focus Jan 27). He seems to have nailed it with his careful research and covered most of the points debunking global warming. I went to bed that night feeling reassured we are on the right track.
Early awake, I thought I would just check he had not overlooked anything, and not having access to reliable sources like Twitter or X (or whatever it is called this week), I resorted to a quick Google search.
Surprisingly, I got over 14 million search results, but on closer examination they were mostly rubbish – Greenland ice sheet in trouble melting 100 times faster than expected, how do they know this? Trumpy will fix it anyway. Collapse of the Siberian tundra into massive craters – who knows what those Ruskies are doing, probably nuclear waste disposal. Global sea temperature rising 400% faster than it did in the 80s. Did anyone notice their winter dip was lukewarm? More rubbish!
Anyway, we’ve got the boys over in the good old USA sorting out any problems – Trumpy’s head scientist (he did well in the covid fiasco), sidekick JD Vance (he wrote a book so must be no slug) and top advisor Elon (bit of a loose cannon but firing on all cylinders).
The future is bright, Craig’s got it sorted, we’re in good hands. I’ll think of him when I’m up to my proverbials in sea-level rise on my front lawn in Back Bay a few years down the track – just joking, Craig! Gordon Hosking, Mangawhai
Obviously a lefty
Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust invites funding applications for projects that will provide a sustainable social benefit for our treasured community.
Grant options:
- Mangawhai for Mangawhai - Youth Achievement
Keen to know more?
Visit mangawhaicommunityopshop.com for grant criteria and to download application forms. Applications close on 28 February 2025
I thought the letter, Trump of the North (MF, Jan 27) from Luke Williamson was disgusting, It is important that we have a strong America. Did Luke want a president that was mentally unstable? Look what Biden did in Afghanistan, the millions coming over the border, and promoting woke and the millions he received from Russia, China and Ukraine and countless other socialist left
welcome your feedback but letters under 250 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at www. localmatters.co.nz/opinion. Letters can be sent to news@localmatters.co.nz or 17 Neville Street, Warkworth 0910
wing agendas. President Trump is amazing and was attacked by the media and the left for four years on false charges to stop him from running again. Luke is obviously a lefty – they all hate him.
George Winch, Matakana
Perceiving reality
Thank you Luke Williamson for your letter ‘Trump of the North’ (MF Jan 27). Well said. Craig Jepson’s Viewpoint confirms what Mr Williamson has written – that our mayor is modelling himself on a man who promotes himself, is dishonest and bullying, and lacks empathy. The mayor says we need “to get back to basics and focus on the realities that matter to ordinary folk”, which includes me. However, I believe the scientists who are giving us a different message from either Mr Trump or Mr Jepson, even though the alternative views of both these men might be a more comfortable way to perceive reality. Their viewpoint requires no change to extravagant lifestyles at the expense of our natural world.
“People want roads, not cycleways,” says Mr Jepson. This is not an either/or option. We just need more of the latter to give a safe option for people who can’t afford a car, need the exercise to keep healthy or want to promote a lifestyle that will be less polluting. Along with Mr Jepson, I applaud democracy. When Mr Biden won the presidency in 2020, Mr Trump created mayhem by not accepting the majority vote. In contrast, Kamala Harris graciously did accept the outcome in 2024. A majority of US citizens who voted, did so for Trump.
I suggest that Mr Trump’s wealth, bullying tactics and partnership with other selfpromoters were big factors in his win. He has the interests of himself and big business to thank.
I am relieved to read that the views expressed in Mr Jepson’s Viewpoint are “his personal opinions and not council policy”.
Glenys Mather, Mangawhai Heads
Walking weekend cancelled
For the second year in a row, there will be no Mangawhai Walking Weekend. Normally held in March, the weekend has been a staple on the Mangawhai calendar since 1999, but relies heavily on volunteer support. Organisers did not give any explanation for the cancellation, other than to say there was every intention to bring the walking weekend back next year. However, the Mangawhai Lions Food & Wine Festival, which is held in conjunction with the walking weekend, will go ahead at the Mangawhai Domain, on March 15.
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Water scarcity a growing issue
As we part ways with 2024, we have had two rather paradoxical years to consider, with 2023 being one of the wettest and 2024 being one of our driest. As a Kaipara farmer, I enjoyed the dry winter, but with bores and river levels now so low, there is reason for concern – the New Year is barely behind us and water restrictions are already in place in some parts of Kaipara. With the influx of summer holidaymakers, I expect many water tanks in Mangawhai will be further depleted. When my father started sheep and beef farming in the late 1950s, my mother’s request was never to be short of clean house water. With only three 900-litre corrugated steel water tanks to begin with, they were quickly replaced with a 31,000-litre concrete tank built on site. Back then we did not have automatic dishwashers or washing machines, and a high-pressure tap was just a dream. These modern home appliances have reduced domestic labour, but are consuming more and more water. Water is just as critical today as it was back in the 1950s, but the concern is that it is heading towards being a scarce resource in Northland.
Northland Region Council has been involved with three new water storage dams, two near Kaikohe and one in Kaipara at Red Hill, on the Pouto Peninsula. This was completed last year
and is now filling. I remember meeting with Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries back in early 2013, with a group of farmers concerned over drought conditions and how water storage was needed in Northland. Over a decade later we have a new dam. The wheels move slowly in New Zealand on big infrastructure projects with no sign of this changing. If Kaipara District Council were to buy into this limited allocation it would see the likes of Dargaville transformed from a place of harsh water restrictions to become a desired place to live and set up new industry.
The home of Northland Field Days, which is a three-day event starting on February 27, is in Dargaville. This is the biggest outdoor event north of Auckland and has a small committee that must improvise to get water on site due to the water restrictions. In this day and age, I see this as an unacceptable problem.
Looking forward, the southern Kaipara population is growing very quickly and the need for another water-harnessing reliable water source is overdue. If a sheep and beef farmer in the 1950s could solve the problem of fresh water for his family, then surely we can all work together, both central and local government, alongside our communities, to resolve this crucial problem.
Twister blows sand competition
Mangawhai’s tornado took a toll on an annual fundraiser, with turnout to the popular Sensational Sandsational competition much lower than normal. However, contestants still produced some creative and original sculptures including a beautiful hibiscus flower, a lifelike hippo, a variety of crafted turtles and a giant ‘poopsy’. Held at Mangawhai Heads Surf Beach on the rescheduled date of February 2, organisers Mangawhai’s Barfoot & Thompson and Mangawhai Lions say all proceeds will be donated to the Mangawhai tornado fund.
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Winner of the adult category, a beautifully crafted hibiscus flower by Debbie Hodgsen and Linky Te Whata.
Kaipara Kōrero
News from Kaipara District Council
Shout out Mangawhai
It’s been a very long hard couple of weeks for many of our Mangawhai residents.
Kaipara District Council Civil Defence Emergency Management want to acknowledge the huge mahi, time and support many of our community – individuals, organisations, groups and businesses – have freely given to help those most affected by the 26 January tornado. Thank you.
We acknowledge our first responders, NZ Police, St John’s Ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ who sent teams from as far as Manukau.
Our appreciation to Northpower for working tirelessly to reinstate power to our community in extremely challenging conditions. We also thank our neighbours at Auckland Council for sending their staff to help our small building team scale up during the event.
Thank you to our local and regional contractors who came in on short notice and helped remove trees, debris and waste, to clear our roads and streets and make them safe.
Hats off to the incredible NZ Response Team who were on the ground the day after the tornado and to Red Cross New Zealand who visited 272 homes doing welfare checks and providing support information.
Our thanks and appreciation also goes to Taskforce Kiwi who deployed two volunteer teams into Mangawhai, spending 125 hours helping residents clean up.
Kia kaha Mangawhai.
Ehara te toa I te toa takitahi, ngā toa takitini kē. It is not the effort of one, but the collective effort from all.
Moir Street works
Road rehabilitation and drainage improvement works start on Moir Street on 17 February.
To find out more, come to our drop-in session at the Library Hall on Tuesday 11 February, 4-6pm.
Mangawhai tornado recovery
The response to the 26 January tornado was a multi-agency approach, involving Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Police, Northpower and other lifeline utilities. After the initial morning response led by FENZ, the response was led by Kaipara District Civil Defence Emergency Management, made up of trained council staff and Civil Defence Emergency Management professionals.
Kaipara District Civil Defence Emergency Management stood down its Emergency Operations Centre on 2 February 2025, and moved to recovery.
For affected residents
If you have been affected by the tornado and need information or assistance you can call us on 0800 727 059, or you can drop into the council office on Molesworth Drive during council office hours.
If you have concerns about your insurance claim or are unsure about the process, contact the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service on 0508 624 327 or visit www.nzcrs.govt.nz. This is a free service.
Some of our community may only be starting to feel the emotional impacts of the tornado event now.
Below is a list of free resources available for anyone who may be feeling stressed or upset, exhausted or overwhelmed by the recent events.
• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
• Community mental health afterhours 0800 223 371
• Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
• Victim Support 0800 VICTIM (842 846)
• All Sorts has advice and resources to help you through: https://allsorts.org.nz/
The Mental Health Foundation has more information about accessing mental health support for yourself and others on their website.
Please check on your neighbours, especially people who you know live alone to see if they require assistance, mental health support or a hug.
Be prepared and stay informed
Do you use Antenno? Now is a great time to get on board! This free app delivers real-time updates straight to your phone, just as it did during Cyclone Gabrielle and the recent tornado in Mangawhai.
With Antenno, you’ll receive instant alerts on road closures, water outages, community meetings, and more. Plus, you can report council-related issues directly, making it easier than ever to stay connected and informed.
Bream Bay sandmine fight gains momentum with demo
‘Say No’ was the clear message sent to the powers-that-be recently, spelt out literally by hundreds of concerned locals protesting about proposed sandmining off the Bream Bay coastline.
Around 1500 people attended the rally at Ruakaka Beach on January 26 to send a strong message to officials involved in the fast-track process and Auckland excavation company McCallum Brothers that the extraction of seabed sand was not welcome in the bay.
Stop Sandmining Ruakaka/Bream Bay (SRB) organiser Emma Hart said the energy was “electric”.
“One group member, who previously worked on a sand dredge in Sydney, spoke at the rally of his experiences and when you hear firsthand how they dredged up birds, eggs and anything in their path, it’s shocking,” she says. “People were visibly upset.”
Hart reported record-breaking support for SRB, with 12,000 signatures collected in just 10 weeks on both online and paper petitions. With fast-track applications now being accepted, a new community group has also joined the fight against McCallum and has called out the proposal’s economic and regional importance.
Save Bream Bay Sand (SBBS) spokesperson – Langs Beach local, conservationist and
businessman – Bruce Copeland says the key reasons for the Bream Bay and Pakiri consent applications was the claim that they would deliver economic benefits and concrete sustainability.
“In both cases, they are incomplete, exaggerated or wrong,” he said.
“It is perplexing why this project even made the fast-track list. There is no economic value to Northland and questionable economic value to Auckland, What is apparent is a significant financial benefit to the applicant. It’s not fair and it doesn’t make sense.”
McCallum Brothers chief executive Shayne Elstob says the company is aware of the recent Ruakaka protest and acknowledged that, like many extractive industry proposals, there was public interest in the project.
“At this point, we are still working through the process of finalising our Assessments of Effects for the Bream Bay application,” he says. “Once these are completed we will update them on our McCallum Bros website and we would implore any members of the public who are interested in the project to read the information it contains and review the frequently asked questions.”
For more information on the Bream Bay sandmining issue visit, Stop sandmining Bream Bay/Ruakaka facebook page and www. mccallumbros.co.nz
At Mangawhai Village Preschool, formerly known as FAME, we are proud to stand out for what truly makes us unique. Our commitment to sustainability, community engagement, creative arts, open communication with families, and a child-led learning approach are at the heart of everything we do.
Here’s a glimpse into how we bring these values to life:
Community Connection: Fresh produce from the garden being donated to the Te whai community trust, fostering a strong bond with the local community.
Learning Beyond the Classroom: Through regular library visits, we show how learning extends beyond our preschool and into the wider community.
Barking mad ban unleashes dog-lovers outrage
An Auckland Council proposal to ban dogs from a long stretch of coastline at Te Arai has unleashed anger and disbelief from dog owners.
A pack of more than 30 dogs and their owners gathered at Forestry Beach (aka Te Arai South) on February 4 to protest and draw attention to council’s plans to prohibit dogs from the regional park’s coastline.
The proposal instead offers dogs about a 30 metre sliver of sand at Te Arai Point, known as Quarry Beach, for their off-leash wanderings. If approved, owners will have nowhere else to go as the surrounding coastline of Pakiri and Te Arai is already a dog-free zone, with Mangawhai Heads the closest dog-friendly beach.
Council has justified the proposed change by stating that it is an effort to protect wildlife such as endangered dotterels.
Several longtime locals said they had been walking Forestry with their canine companions for more than 20 years and had never witnessed any threat to wildlife or even seen a dotterel.
Protest organiser Tonya McKay said it was unfair for council to use the conservation card when it had allowed for the excavation of trees, acres of vegetation removal and seabed sand mining, as well as the continued development of golf courses in the same area.
“There’re no life savers here, no flags, so it is great for dogs who are well-behaved. I’ve never seen a dog fight or attack. The ban is just ridiculous,” Mckay said.
She added that council had provided no proof that dogs were causing a negative
environmental impact at the beach.
“In Auckland Council’s 2022 regional park management plan, they would like to see freedom camping here in the carpark. Isn’t that going to have more of an environmental impact? We all pick up after the dogs, as well as rubbish.”
The proposal is part of council’s review of dog management in 14 regional parks including Te Arai, Pakiri and Mahurangi to protect vulnerable native wildlife.
Input for restricting dogs to Quarry Beach ‘to enjoy and access the ocean for a swim’ were sought ‘from across the council family’ including Parks and Community Facilities and Environmental Services and Policy, ‘who have visited the site and are familiar with the location’.
A number of dog owners say they were unaware of the plan and only found out due to Tonya and locals Mark and Janet Holiday, who had increased public awareness in the last few weeks via social media, posters and handing out information at markets.
Marks says there are five kilometres between the Te Arai carpark and the Mangawhai estuary where there is a roped-off area for the dotterels. “So we don't believe there’s going to be much impact on wildlife by walking dogs at this end of the beach,” he says.
Public submissions on the proposal close on February 23. For more information visit www. aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and enter Dog policy, bylaw and regional and local park access rules | AK Have Your Say
Sustainability in Action: In our veggie garden, children garden and produce fresh produce.
Celebrating Creativity: Our school’s display board is adorned with the children’s arts and crafts, showcasing their creativity and hard work.
These activities are just a few of the many ways we embody our values.
Come and visit Mangawhai Village Preschool today to see how we’re making a difference, one child at a time. Enrol now for a bright future!
1D Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai 0505, New Zealand +64 9 945 3976 / admin@mvpreschool.co.nz www.mvpreschool.co.nz
Dog owners are up in arms about a proposal to ban their four-legged friends from Forestry Beach. The protest was organised by Tonya McKay (centre, black top) with Mark Holiday (left, green shirt) and wife Janet spreading public awareness.
More than 1500 attended the protest showing the degree of concern in the community about the proposed sand extraction along their coastline.
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Friendly field days ready to roll once again
A massive rural event with a 40-year history is gearing up once again to showcase the best of the farming sector with a spotlight on adventures in the great outdoors this year.
The 2025 Northland Field Days (NFD), aka ‘The Friendly Field Days’, is the region’s largest agricultural event, held annually in Dargaville over three days, from February 27 to March 1.
There will be more than 300 exhibitors from all over New Zealand and overseas presenting the latest in farming technology, machinery and innovations.
The aim of the event is to help expand public awareness of the country’s primary industries and promote agriculture products.
Along with the three generous food courts and two lifestyle pavilions filled with vendors plying a wide range of wares from home, garden and leisure to healthcare, travel and real estate, a new adventure hub ‘The Outdoor Zone’ will debut this year.
This area will focus on hunting, fishing, boating and 4x4 driving, reflecting Nothland’s reputation as an outdoor recreation destination. Local businesses including Mangawhai Barfoot & Thompson, Te Arai’s Native Nursery and Te Arai Berry Shack will also be heading to the show.
The entertainment area will include 4WD club competitions, motorcross drags and
mini-mack rides, laser clay shooting, tractor pulling, lawnmower racers and helicopter rides, as well as kid’s entertainment, sheepdog trials and a silage bale painting competition with this year’s theme, ‘Climate change and agriculture in Kaipara’.
Visitors will also have a chance to ‘fight a knight’ with The Dargaville Medieval Combat Club, who will be giving scheduled demonstrations of their craft throughout the day.
Environmental groups, community clubs, religious organisations, councils, political parties and charities, such as Kaipara Moana Remediation and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, Rural Support Trust, Northland Fish and Game, will also be on hand to talk to the public.
Brought to the community through the voluntary efforts of the NFD committee, who contribute their time and own equipment to help make the events an ongoing success, the popular show attracts thousands of visitors every year.
A registered charity, NFD also reinvests the show profits back into the rural sector through scholarships and research grants. Not-for-profit groups who volunteer their time at the event, also receive donations from the charity, in an example of community supporting community.
With a local branch in Warkworth, our dedicated team are here to help rebuild and restore Mangawhai after the devastating news of the tornado. If you’re in a hurry, we have a range of ready-to-transport stock houses available across the country.
Come and see us at Northland Field Days, site no RP413 to find out how we can help you.
Project agreement secures historic schooner’s future
Two groups dedicated to conserving Mangawhai’s heritage have made a ceremonious pact to build a permanent house for the Daring.
Mangawhai Museum and Historical Society and the Mangawhai Daring Trust signed a Project Agreement on January 28 to build the Daring Discovery Centre. The ceremony was held outside the 19th-century schooner’s temporary shelter, where the vessel has been housed since returning to Mangawhai in May 2021.
The proposed new building, which will cost an estimated $2.8 million, will be constructed at the rear of the museum, creating a direct internal link to the ship, with tickets for the exhibit available from the front desk. All going well, the project aims to be ‘shovel-ready’ by the end of May this year.
The ambitious venture is led by the Daring’s Joint Steering Committee (JSC), and chair Peter Wethey welcomed guests including Lorraine Street, widow of the late John Street, who was a major supporter and funder of the Daring, Mangawhai Museum board trustees, Daring trustees, and Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson, chief executive Jason Marris and elected members.
Wethey acknowledged the dedicated work of the DSC crew in getting the new build underway, from architectural design and the project agreement to starting on the next phases, fundraising and consents.
“It’s quite a momentous occasion,” he said. “It’s taken a long time to get to this position and certainly, members have worked really hard to get it in this final format.”
Daring Trust supporter Richard Te Haara opened the ceremony with a translated karakia “so we can all understand and feel the essence and love that we have for this matriarch schooner”, calling for unity in belief, trust and perseverance “joining as one so we can succeed”.
“It’s an emotional time because for all those years our lady had been missing, to come home after 150 odd years was a very special thing,” he said. “I thanked Tāwhirimātea, the god of the winds, who blew the sand off her for the Daring people to bring her to safety and Tangaroa, the god of the sea, who nurtured her over all those years.”
Constructed of kauri and pohutukawa in Mangawhai in 1863, the schooner is believed to be the lone survivor of her kind and comes under the protection of Heritage New Zealand. Lost for 153 years on Muriwai’s wild
west coast, after being deliberately beached by the captain and crew after she became caught in a heavy south-westerly gale, the Daring resurfaced near the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour in May 2018.
Daring Trust chair Jim Wintle introduced and acknowledged members for their ongoing care and work on the vessel over the last four years. He believes the new exhibit will become one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Mangawhai.
“Without sponsors, this wouldn’t have got off the ground,” Wintle said. “To everyone – past, present and future – I thank you all for your donations, from quite a few people giving what they can to major sponsors. It is what keeps this thing alive.
“When we finish fundraising for this project, we will be handing the building over to the museum, but the Daring Trust will still look after the vessel, forever more.”
Mangawhai Museum board chair Jill Corkin recognised her team of representatives on the steering committee, Colin Leach, Howard Johnston and museum manager Angela Cook, as well as Peter Wethey for steering the group through what was a much longer process than anticipated.
“I also want to say a big thank you to the Daring Trust for your willingness to work with the museum to make this happen and for bringing the ship here. It is going to be a major asset for the museum and we are grateful for the partnership. I also want to acknowledge Jim Wintle. The Daring has been a passion for Jim and so has the museum which wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for him,” she said.
Mayor Craig Jepson said council was proud to support the Mangawhai Daring Trust. He also announced plans to help raise funds through his personal venture, The Liniment Club, by holding a fundraising dinner with a notable guest speaker.
“The Daring is a significant project, not just for Mangawhai, but for all of Kaipara and New Zealand. It is an outstanding piece of our maritime and boatbuilding history, and it is great to see the huge amount of love and care afforded to preserving it by the trust. I am excited to see this project take its next steps,” he said.
“The big task now is to build excitement about the ship and raise money to keep this project going. I think we can do that as a community.”
Far left: Mangawhai’s very own 19th-century schooner, the majestic Daring in her temporary abode. The vessel’s home will turn on a 180-degree axis to become a permanent museum exhibit.
Above: The Daring’s Joint Steering Committee’s independent chair, Peter Wethey, addresses the gathering, including members of the Daring rescue crew, Mangawhai Museum, KDC and special guests.
Left: From left, Jill Corkin, Larry Paul, Howard Johnston, Colin Leach, Jim Wintle (seated) and Roy Faris.
say
Earth Beat strikes right note for connection and creativity
Ātiu Creek Regional Park, west of Wellsford, will be transformed into a “village” of celebration, music, art, dance and community connection when the annual Earth Beat festival is held there next month.
Timed to coincide with the autumn equinox, when day and night find perfect balance, festival co-founder Issac Oron says the event has earned its reputation as one of New Zealand’s most distinctive gatherings.
“In a world where genuine connection can feel increasingly rare, Earth Beat offers a space where multiple generations come together to celebrate, share and simply be,” Oron says.
“Earth Beat is real and wonderfully unpolished.
“By day, families dance and play under the summer sun, while nights transform into a playground of possibilities, from ecstatic dance floors to intimate conversations around flickering fires.
“This authentic spirit flows through four
distinct music stages, offering everything from morning classical cello and acoustic folk to evening electronic beats and reggae. The comedy and poetry nights at The Barn add yet another dimension to the festival’s rich tapestry of entertainment.”
The programme also includes craft workshops, sustainable food initiatives, traditional healing and discussions around documentaries. There are fire dancers, art installations and music making.
Oron says the stunning natural amphitheatre of Ātiu Creek provides the perfect backdrop, with views stretching across the Kaipara Harbour.
“True to its values, Earth Beat maintains a strong commitment to leaving no trace on this precious landscape, with festival-goers bringing their own plates and cups to support this mission,” he adds.
Earth Beat Festival runs from March 19 to 23. Kids under 14 are free. For more information visit earthbeatfestival.com
Call for better QEII funding
Federated Farmers wants the Government to double its funding for the QEII National Trust to ensure it can continue to meet demand from farmers. “The QEII Trust has a stellar track record of working with landowners to permanently protect special areas of bush, wetland and biodiversity,” Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says. “It’s an utter disgrace that QEII’s base government funding has remained unchanged at $4.3 million for a decade, despite rising demand for its help.” The QEII National Trust’s core function is to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land. The trust partners with landowners who voluntarily protect their land without selling or donating it. Covenants ensure threatened species and special areas of bush and wetland are protected for future generations, in perpetuity, as subsequent landowners can’t alter this protection. Covenants cover 187,774 hectares (more than double the size of Tongariro National Park), and most of the protection is on farms.
About 4000 people are expected to attend the family friendly festival, which has a strong environmental ethos, particularly around waste reduction.
History
By Lachie McLean and Patsy Montgomery
Come one, come all
When the Nova Scotian settlers first arrived in Waipu in the 1850s, a marriage was taken by the minister in private homes and later celebrated by the community with a party, with some being described as “wild”. As the community grew, weddings were eventually held in the church with a wedding breakfast, sometimes followed by a dance in the hall, where everyone was expected to go. These were known as open weddings. The last open weddings were held in the mid-1960s when there were only about 900 people living in Waipu. A couple of these were the marriages of Keith Gordon to Joan Sandford and Malcolm Sandford to Valerie Finlayson. These two couples were non-Nova Scotians whose families were, and still are, heavily involved in community activities. About a month before Joan and Keith’s wedding, as was the custom, a kitchen evening was held in the Coronation Hall. All the locals came and brought an item for the couple’s kitchen, and a supper and dance was held. Joan recalls getting about 24 casserole dishes! During the evening, Joan’s father Jack announced the date and time of the wedding, inviting the entire community, and telling everyone that his wife Molly would oversee the catering. In this, she was assisted by the mothers of classmates of the bridal party and friends. Jack provided a pig, Chris Gordon a sheep, Len Bowmar a sack of crayfish, all served cold. Molly and the local ladies provided the salads and desserts. Jessie Mckenzie, the school sewing teacher, made Joan’s wedding dress as she did for most of the brides in the district.
Keith and Joan’s wedding on November 23, 1963, was somewhat eclipsed by the assassination of President Kennedy that
very same day. They estimated that over 400 people attended the service in the Presbyterian Church and later the wedding breakfast in Coronation Hall. The only formal photographs taken were outside the church because the celebrations had to be over in time for the local farmers’ evening milking. Sports teams often joined the celebrations. Joan and Keith later had a smaller party at the Sandfords’ Finlayson Brook home before they departed on their honeymoon. However, the very last open wedding in Waipu was Malcolm Sandford and Valerie Finlayson in 1965. As the cows were dry, the dance was held after the evening wedding breakfast. Malcolm recalls Alan constantly having to tell David Ryan to turn the band’s volume down as it was the beginning of amplified sound replacing the old acoustic
Netballers score court upgrade
Rodney Netball players have something to celebrate at last, with Auckland Council carrying out $41,000 of improvements on four courts at Wellsford’s Centennial Park over the Christmas period.
The revamp includes resurfacing all four courts and marking up two courts for multiuse, complete with two new tennis nets and basketball hoops.
The former tennis courts at the top of the sports complex had been the subject of numerous concerns and complaints from players and administrators, following serious deterioration in the playing surface.
This was compounded in October, when Netball Rodney was told that long-awaited repairs were again being delayed by Auckland Council, due to budget constraints.
The news prompted a spirited and heartfelt deputation to Rodney Local Board by Netball Rodney committee members, Netball Northern reps and players from teams throughout the region, on behalf of the 700plus players who use the centre every season. Netball Rodney president Kelly Ayres said at the time they appreciated council marking up the old tennis courts for netball, but that was only ever a temporary measure.
bands of piano, violin, saxophone, banjo and drums.
A ritual at the end of the weddings was doctoring the newly-married couple’s car with stones in the hubcaps and confetti in the suitcase before they left on their honeymoon. Apparently one unfortunate Waipu bride and groom even found people hiding under the nuptial bed when they arrived at their hotel. By the mid 1960s the community had grown too big for open weddings, so this old custom has now become a distant memory. The Waipu Museum thanks Keith, Joan and Malcolm for their recollections, and we celebrate the memory of the late Val Sandford.
Dateclaimer: In July, Waipu Museum will host an evening of stories of “Old Waipu” as part of the Winter in Waipu celebrations.
“They’ve become a health and safety issue. We’ve used them for two years, but they have caused significant injuries,” she said.
Rodney’s acting area manager for parks and community facilities, Mike Feather, said last week the improvements were a temporary measure to address Netball Rodney’s safety concerns and to enable netball to be played safely over the upcoming season.
Netball Rodney’s AGM is being held on Thursday, February 20 at the centre’s office at Centennial Park, starting 7pm.
The marriage of Keith Gordon to Joan Sandford was one of Waipu’s last open weddings.
fering you the opportunity o purchase off the plans
Sustainable Kaipara
Sarah Bray
So many recycling options
Ranburn Village Waipu is offering you the opportunity to purchase off the plans
In a world increasingly burdened by waste and environmental degradation, the need to adopt sustainable practices has never been more urgent.
antastic opportuni
The linear economy – take, make, dispose – has dominated global consumption for decades. However, this model is unsustainable, depleting natural resources and generating massive amounts of waste. In contrast, the circular economy emphasises keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. Repairing, reusing and recycling are key pillars of this approach, helping to minimise waste and extend the lifecycle of items.
• Planting is a fundamental way we can improve our environment, but it can come with high waste. Bunnings Mangawhai will now recycle your clean plastic plant pots.
to purchase f rom the p
• Household batteries should not be going to landfill. Not only do they leach heavy metals, they can be unsafe for waste management workers. Bunnings will recycle these for you. The batteries need to be taped before placing them in the collection unit as used batteries may still contain a residual charge that can create a spark, leading to a potential fire hazard.
stic opportunity to purchase f rom the plan,
We are fortunate in Mangawhai to have a crew of passionate locals who are ensuring that we keep loads of valuable resources in use. A few of these sometimes tricky-to-repair or recycle items are covered below.
NG NIT
tunity to purchase f rom the plan, wo, 2 bedroom villas for sale, m plus a 12 sqm deck. first to buy o
we have two, 2 bedroom villas for sale, 60sqm plus a 12 sqm deck. Be the first to buy off the plan!
• Repairing broken or worn-out items is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste. Instead of discarding a malfunctioning appliance or a torn piece of clothing, consider fixing it. For whiteware, Mangawhai Appliance Repair offers excellent service with reasonable prices.
• Although we can easily recycle our jars, cans and plastic milk bottles in our kerbside recycling, the lids should be removed. Locally, these can be recycled at Four Square Mangawhai and Kakariki. This includes bottle tops, milk bottle tops and jar lids.
Fantastic opportunity to purchase f rom the plan,
An exciting offer – 2 new villas to be built at our
Fantastic opportunity to purchase from the plan, we have two, 2 bedroom villas for sale, 60sqm plus a 12sqm deck.
we have two, 2 bedroom villas for sale, 60sqm plus a 12 sqm deck.
• Rather than tossing good clothing away, there are several clever seamstresses in Mangawhai who can repair or alter most clothing items.
Ranburn Retirement Village in popular and vibrant
Waipu. Each villa will have 2 bedrooms the second bedroom a smaller size but with a double
wardrobe – one bathroom per villa.
An exciting offer – 2 new villas to be built at our Ranburn Retirement Village in popular and vibrant
, we have two, 2 bedroom villas for sale, 60sqm plus a 12 sqm deck. B
An exciting offer – 2 new villas to be built at our Ranburn Retirement Village in popular and vibrant Waipu. Each villa will have 2 bedrooms the second bedroom a smaller size but with a double wardrobe – one bathroom per villa.
• Heat pump
• Heat pump
• Spacious sunny deck
Waipu Each villa will have 2 bedrooms the second bedroom a smaller size but with a double wardrobe – one bathroom per villa.
• Spacious sunny deck
• Heat pump
• Own car park and a separate garage
• Choice of
• For several years, ITM Mangawhai has donated its time and space to ensuring that as much polystyrene as possible is recycled in Mangawhai. They have a free drop off bin for household polystyrene collected by Expol for remanufacturing.
Contact Sharalon Sutherland: Call 021
• Soft plastic is generally a huge portion of our weekly waste, but the legends at New World Mangawhai have a soft plastic
• The new school year is here, and the demand for laptops is skyrocketing. Recycle A Device, otherwise known as RAD, urgently needs laptops to keep up with the growing demand. If you have a preloved device gathering dust, now’s the time to give it a new lease on life. To donate any laptops that are less than 10 years old and have their charger, go to https://www.recycleadevice. nz/donate-devices. Every laptop donated is securely data-wiped and refurbished by RAD clubs before it becomes a digital lifeline for a young learner. Repairing, reusing, and recycling are not just individual actions – they are powerful tools for building a more sustainable world.
Kai Ora funding offer
• Own car park and a separate garage
• Spacious sunny deck
• Choice of sunny northwest or north east aspect
• Own car park and a separate garage
• Choice of sunny northwest or north east aspect
• Choice of sunny northwest or north east aspect
Be the first to buy off the plan!
plan!
Contact Sharalon Sutherland:
Contact Sharalon Sutherland:
Contact Sharalon Sutherland:
Call 021 717 457 or email for more information
Call 021 717 457 or email for more information For more information call 021 717 457 or email Sharalon.Sutherland@ultimatecare.co.nz
Call 021 717 457 or email for more information VISIT OUR RANBURN VILLAGE
Groups in Kaipara involved in food security and improving community resilience are invited to apply for a grant from Northland’s Kai Ora Fund. Grants of up to $5000 are available, with applications closing on March 26. Since it began in 2015, the Kai Ora Fund has helped more than 280 grassroots projects with over $900,000 in funding. “Our funding supports projects that involve the gathering, hunting and growing of kai and kai moana, as well as educational workshops, wānanga and other initiatives focused on preserving our cultural heritage,” coordinator Erana Peita says. “We are helping to build stronger, healthier communities that future-proof themselves
against potential disruptions such as weather events, economic instability, or resource shortages. For more information or to apply visit www.kaiorafund.com or email partners@kaiorafund.com
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These are collected by Kaipara Refuse and delivered to Future Post to be made into fence posts.
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR LEASE
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NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Monday's, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Recovery Together, Archie Bull Hall, 11 Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road Kaiwaka. Behind St. Paul’s Church.
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE
CARPET, VINYL, HARDFLOORING
Pursuant to the Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965, the Kaipara District Council hereby gives notice that the following roads will be temporarily closed on the days and at the times below for the purpose of holding the Northern Bass 2023/24 music festival.
Supply and install. 100% mobile service. Ph Kaipara Flooring Co 021 515 415. Free quotes.
Thursday 28 December 2023 at 00:01 until Monday 01 January 2024 at 23:59
Want to advertise in the classifieds? Email Hayley on focus1@localmatters.co.nz
PROPOSED TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE
CHATEAU MANUFACTURING
JEWELLERS - WAIPU
6 The Centre, Waipu, (Behind Lydia Sushi) Phone 09 946 1720. chateaujewellers@gmail.com REPAIR-REMODEL-RENEW
Country character main building, centrally located in Kaiwaka opposite the wellknown Kaiwaka Cheese shop and the iconic
• Settlement Road, Kaiwaka – Restricted access. Access for resident and local traffic only.
RED DOOR GALLERY WAIPU
• Valley Road, Kaiwaka – from Settlement Road to Pritchard Road, Kaiwaka – Restricted access. Access for resident and local traffic only.
Open Thursday to Sunday 10am-4pm Clothes, shoes, art, pottery, jewellery & furniture.
• Lawrence Road to Cames Road, Kaiwaka –restricted access. Access for resident and local traffic only.
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7 The Braigh, Waipu (Old Fire Station opposite FEOH)
Further information, if required, relating to this temporary road closure can be obtained from the Customers Services Team, Kaipara District Council. Kaipara District Council
NOTICE OF INTENTION FOR TARGETED SPRAYING
Kaipara District Council advises all property owners and residents of the district that weed spraying for vegetation control on edges in parks and reserves, weed control in gardens, poles/trees, urban and rural roadsides will be carried out between December 2023 and March 2024, weather permitting.
If you would prefer not to have your frontage sprayed, Council operates a “No Spray Register” which outlines agreed areas where no spraying will be undertaken during this period. You must apply to Council to be included on this register. No Spray Zone Application forms can be found on our website at kaipara.govt.
Spraying will be undertaken by Downer NZ on behalf of Council. To find out more details about this particular spray programme, call Bernie on 021802095 between
For more information about Kaipara District Council’s spraying and vegetation control, head to nz/residents/trees-and-vegetation-2/no-spray-zone
MANGAWHAI REBUS
DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
The Rebus annual Christmas lunch will be held at the Mangawhai Golf Club, noon on Thursday December 21. Entertainment by ukulele singers. Cost $30 for members (subsidised), $40 for non-members. At the last meeting in November Rebus members were royally entertained by some members of the Mangawhai Beach School Kapa Haka group – rousing hakas and quieter waiata and poi songs accompanied by principal Aaron Kemp on his guitar. Aaron then spoke, with questions and answers, his 15 minute talk extended to 90 minutes,
SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2024
$65+gst per insertion. Phone Hayley on 022 527 7609 or email focus1@ localmatters.co.nz
Pursuant to the Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 10, 11(e), the Kaipara District Council hereby gives notice that Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club Inc has made an application to have roads within the Kaipara District closed on the day and at the times set out below for the purpose of the HCMC Arcadia Road Rally Sprint (NRSS round 1).
Sunday 25 February 2024 from 09:00am until 6.00pm
• The entirety of Arcadia Road, Paparoa Any objections to this proposal should be in the hands of the Kaipara District Council no later than 4.00pm
Rodney Centre 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held
400m3 available. Unsprayed for 20 years. Easy access in Waipu village. Expressions of interest. Please Supply and install. 100% mobile service. Ph Kaipara Flooring Co phone 021 515 415. Free quotes.
Comes with recently built, registered and warranted road trailer. Located handy
Tuna run a welcome surprise
This late December/ early January period will be remembered by many anglers for two things – the great run of yellowfin tuna off the back of the Hen and Chicks Islands, and the strong westerly offshore winds that kept many boats at home, and made for mainly unpleasant conditions for those who did venture out wide. The beauty of the yellowfin run, which has had some striped marlin captures in the mix, was its proximity to the main Bream Bay launching points – Whangarei and Mangawhai harbours.
Many anglers who might ordinarily never give gamefishing a shot were putting tuna on the deck, which had them swiftly scouring the internet for the best tuna steak marinades and Hawaiian ahi (tuna) poke recipes.
One family I spoke with at the Mangawhai ramp in mid-January had headed out to chase a few snapper for their dinner but came home with a much more valuable prize – a couple of modest (12kg) yellowfin. They saw the birds diving about two miles off the back of the Chicks and headed in their direction. They were greeted with a full-on workup involving gannets, shearwaters, a whale, dolphins, and a school of yellowfin busting up in front of them.
The snapper were quickly forgotten and a couple of kingfish rods set up with Rapalas were trolled around the action, the result being everyone on board catching a yellowfin. Eight in all were landed with two being kept. What a fantastic holiday memory and good on them for showing some restraint in keeping just enough tuna to share with family and friends. Like any fish, tuna need to be cared for from the time they hit the deck. That means firstly iki-spiking them to kill them humanely and quickly. If you don’t want to weight them, then gut and gill the fish, packing the cavities with ice before placing them in either a large bin or a ‘body bag’ and more ice. The aim is to bring the temperature of the fish down as quickly as
possible. Tuna generate a lot of internal heat during a fight so the quicker you can get them on ice the better.
Getting back to the snapper fishing, this has been tough over the last month with the better fish tending to be found out deeper – 50 metres plus.
Ice should be an essential part of your trip ‘must-haves.’ We work on one 5kg bag of salt ice per angler, plus one for the boat. If you are going to make the effort to go fishing, you may as well enjoy any catch to the maximum by looking after it.
The Mangawhai Boating and Fishing Club has been hosting the Summer Slam over January with kingfish, kahawai, snapper and trevally the target species. Snapper is the target species for February with a mystery weight event for members.
Check it out on the club’s website www. mangawhaiboatingfishing.co.nz
Fishing aboard the Ben Francis skippered Falcon, Clinton Rogers landed this nice yellowfin hooked a short distance out from the Chicks. Photo: Ben Francis
You can never have enough ice to keep the catch in pristine condition prior to filleting.
Lures such as these recently released Halco Laser Pro 210 extra Deep Diver work well on tuna.
3-28 Auschwitz. Now. Exhibition, 267 Rodney Street Wellsford, open daily, 10am-5pm. Check opening dates/times by texting 021 049 5787.
14 Warkworth Garden Club annual show, Warkworth Town Hall, open to the public from midday-5pm.
15 Matakana Opera Picnic, Ward Road, off Matakana Valley Road, 6pm. Info and tickets: www.aucklandoperastudio.co.nz
15&22 Mangawhai Tavern Market 8.30am-1pm
15&22 Mangawhai Community Market, Mangawhai Beach School, 9am-1pm
22 Youth Festival, Wellsford Community Centre. Music, food, expo, markets, noon-4pm
22-23 Mangawhai Art Trail, maps available from Mangawhai Art Gallery, Moir Street (see story below)
27 Mangawhai poetry nights at Mangawhai Library, Moir St, Mangawhai Village. Share your favourite poems and those of your own, 7-8.30pm
March
1&8 Mangawhai Tavern Market 8.30am-1pm
1&8 Mangawhai Community Market, Mangawhai Beach School, 9am-1pm
9 Top of the Rock 5km and 10km walk/run, Kaiwaka Sports Association. Info: https://www.kaiwakasport.co.nz/top-of-the-rock
To list a What’s On event, email juliawade@xtra.co.nz. Listings are free.
www.localmatters.co.nz/whats-on/ for a full list of upcoming events
Trail artists promise warm welcome
Kaiwaka will be among the 27 venues involved in the Mangawhai Arts Trail, being held on February 22 and 23.
Seven artists from the wider Kaiwaka area have banded together to exhibit at the Tulip Café on SH1, just north of Kaiwaka. They will showcase paintings, photographs, resin work and Maori-influenced wood carvings and wearable art. Additionally, three open studios in nearby Gibbons Road will exhibit the work of sculptor Lucy Bucknall, natural dye specialist Karen Williamson, large multimedia artist Peter Panyocksi and his jeweller wife Tatjana Panyocksi. Mangawhai Artists chair Howard Esler says visitors should also plan on a diversion to visit the tucked away studio of painter Jocelyn Friis, in Jude Road. Jocelyn won a first prize in last year’s Kaipara Art Awards and a
second place in the recent Snells Beach Great Summer Art Exhibition.
“There are around 45 artists involved this year – a feast for the art lover,” he says. “Some are old favourites and others are open for the first time.
“Visitors will get a warm welcome at all the sites especially at the more remote locations.”
The most northern studio will be Denis McCartain’s wood turning studio in Waipu.
Also in Waipu is sculptor Claire Nicholl’s Black Shed studio and gallery, and at Langs Beach are Pat Hadley and Penny Goodall’s quirky works, which always bring a smile.
“Visit painter Suzanne Simpson’s studio for a dose of vibrant colour,” Esler adds.
Printed maps are available from the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 43 Moir Street, and online at www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz
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Planned power outage notice
Northpower have a planned power outage scheduled from 9.30pm on Thursday 13 February to 5.30am on Friday 14 February that will affect much of the Mangawhai area.
Northpower is undertaking a large maintenance project on our high voltage 33kV network lines and at the Kaiwaka substation For safety reasons, we will need to turn off the power to compete the work.
We have scheduled these works for overnight to try and keep disruptions to a minimum, however we do know this can cause some inconvenience
We thank you for your understanding and patience as we complete this important work
This project is part of our ongoing mahi to maintain a safe and resilient network for the future.
If you have any questions or concerns, call Northpower on 0800 667 847, or email info@northpower.com
featuring images from Mangawhai Snappers Club
‘Look Up’ Grant Crowe.
‘My best shoes’ Baz Clark.
‘Window on the Heads’ Amie Wintle.
‘Which Door’ Darryl Hepple.