May 4 2021
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Top baker takes the cake u by Andy Bryenton
Todd Cobbin has been crowned Dargaville’s best baker in the final round of the Great Dargaville Bake-off in front of an enthusiastic crowd last Saturday.
Mangawhai plan change approved
A Private Plan Change affecting Mangawhai Estuary Estates …
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Council numbers, wards reviewed
The Kaipara District Council is looking at how citizens are represented …
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Gathering for Anzac services
Local residents turned out in large numbers to commemorate Anzac Day …
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A panel of judges, including mayor Jason Smith, 100% McKay’s Electrical manager Craig Woollam and Feed & Flour caterer and baker Kiri Taylor tucked into samples crafted by four finalists, each of whom had won one of the previous rounds for their efforts baking muffins, slices, cookies and scones. Surrounding the baking action was a festival of Dargaville clubs, groups and societies, all chatting with the crowds about things to get involved with this winter. A variety of activities were represented, from exploring history with the genealogists to learning performance skills with Circus Kumarani. The Scouts were outdoors cooking up campfire damper bread, while a bouncy castle was there to entertain the youngsters, who could also try their hand at gingerbread person art or enter the colouring contest. The gents from Smoken Daggers kept everyone fed as the ongoing cake decorating challenge set mouths watering indoors. In the end, it came down to the four amazing cakes that were crafted on-site by the four contestants. As the clock ticked down the final minutes, more than one spectator opined that it would be tough to choose between these four confections. Hosts Drew and Helen from Good Life concurred, leaving the tasting and aesthetic judging to Craig, Kiri and Jason. From a depiction of Dargaville’s resident taniwha with colourful lollies for scales and dried kumara peel spikes, through to artfully crafted marzipan mushrooms and honeycomb ‘resin’
p Shannon’s tribute to the logging industry, with judges Kiri Taylor (Feed & Flour), Craig Woolam (100% McKay’s Electrical), mayor Jason Smith and host Helen Cairns (Good Life Soap)
on a cake representing the forestry industry, to tiny gumdigger’s shacks and a miniature Tokatoka on an edible map of the Northern Wairoa, all featured detail and charm. However, the final judgment went to Todd’s entirely edible rendition of Tane Mahuta, a kauri tree with sugar foliage, a cake trunk and branches, and edible wildlife clustered around its base on backdrops representing the forest and the coast. To end the day in a generous fashion, every one of the finalists gave their cakes up for auction, joining a pool
of gifts donated by local businesses. These were all snapped up by the crowd in a rapid-fire auction, with all the proceeds going to the fight against cystic fibrosis. These coffers were topped up by the gold coin donations for the bouncy castle and other charitable additions to raise thousands of dollars for the cause. The organisers and participants would like to offer sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of the businesses and individuals who made this event possible and giving generously to help make the day a success. ¢ see more on page 17 …