Point Wells Crier
Autumn 2025
From the Point Wells Committee
Kia ora koutou, Greetings to you all
It was a windy Christmas and New Year in Point Wells, and many of us struggled with putting up gazebos, and sunshades on the beaches The windy conditions also impeded fishing plans Just as we have all headed back to work and school, the weather has improved, and we have seen many families down at the ramps and jetties enjoying the high tides and late summer sun.
There has been plenty of activity down at our community hall, with many bookings including two summer weddings
There are several local community concerns which have been discussed by the committee including a potential private jetty in the estuary, shoreline adaption plan queries, traffic jams on weekends, and dog management on the foreshore areas The committee has sent several emails to the Council, who have been very responsive and given advice and clarity on issues and queries However, there are some concerns which still need to be worked through
The most significant is the Shoreline Adaption Plan for our shoreline area and reserve. A second feedback document was sent through to the Council after the committee received late feedback submissions The next most pressing issue is the provision of a public bathroom at the Hall playground There have been many families caught out by not having access to a public bathroom, while enjoying the park We are waiting for a follow up response from the local Council manager of Parks and Facilities
The late summer weather has provided final opportunities for swimming, and Robin Ransom has been busy having our river water tested Believe it or not the Council does not test our area of the Whangateau Estuary Robin has provided an update in this edition on how the testing process has been going
Finally, the PWCRA would like to express our condolences to the Tull and Barber families who recently, both lost close relatives We are thinking of you all at this time,
The Point Wells Community and Ratepayers Association
Welcome to the Autumn 2025 issue of our quarterly village newsletter
Ivan Wagstaff steps down from Local Board.
Our local board Warkwork subdivision representative Ivan Wagstaff has confirmed he will not run again for the Rodney Local Board in the 2025 local elections.
Ivan strongly advocated against the Northern Action Group’s proposal to reduce the representation in Mahurangi It appears that NAG has been successful and Warkworth has lost a representative to Wellsford despite Warkworth’s booming population
Ivan advocated for Point Wells concerns and we would like to thank him for the time and effort he put in on our behalf
Ivan is strongly encouraging local representation to ensure Warkworth subdivision has a strong voice on the local board
The Crier is compiled and delivered by volunteers - if you would like to lend us a hand please get in touch! Our aim is to provide items of local interest and/or from local contributors to advise, inform and amuse the residents of our beautiful community. We are always looking for new content and advertisers!
If you have something you’d like to share, please email it to our editor alanajclint@hotmail.com
We do, of course, rely on advertising revenue to be able to produce and print The Point Wells Crier, so our heartfelt thanks to all our current advertisers for their continued support. We ask that you please support them in return by buying local when you can.
If you would like to place an advertisement in The Crier, please email our Treasurer pointwellscratreasurer@gmail.com PWCRA Committee
Point Wells Hall
The Hall has been well used over summer namely with two weddings, which is always nice to see! The regular Every Body Yoga class on Wednesday is popular and highly recommended.
An update on the electrical work we have been waiting for the Council to complete - users can now run the dishwasher and the hot water zip at the same time.
A reminder to everyone, that the PWCRA manages the hall bookings (the venue is Council owned) This is a special arrangement that we want to maintain because it means that we, the community, are able to use the venue as we see fit, not be dictated by a Council department miles away. Our Hall Coordinator, Ann Williamson lives right here and responds quickly to emails
So we encourage you to book and use our hall as much as possible and let your friends and family know too!
Do you have any ideas for regular classes?
Are you a part of a local club and do you need a venue to meet?
Email Ann with your enquiries and ideas for the hall: pointwellshall@gmail.com
Scan QR to make a booking.
Village Security camera Management & Cleaning of our Hall Point Wells Library WIFI at the Library Predator control Connoisseurs Club
There’s still time to pay your 2024 fee and show your support! Scan QR
Photo: Wayne McCarthy
Engagement with Auckland Council
The Point Wells Community and Ratepayers Association (PWCRA) has been busy advocating for the needs and interests of our village residents
Public Toilet at the Community Reserve
Last month the public toilets at the boat ramps were closed due to maintenance. The Council failed to notify us of this, and we quickly realised that the closure of the toilet block meant there were no public toilets avalible in the village. We notified the Council who apologised and then confirmed a porta- loo would be provided at the ramps until the bathrooms were back in use We took the opportunity to request a public bathroom at our community reserve ( park next to the Hall) This request has been made multiple times over the years, and various options have been explored by the Council This includes providing public access to the internal toilets ( which we believe is not appropriate as we have had vandalism in the foyer when the front door has been left open) We suggested that an external bathroom be attached to the hall as we have the infrastructure in place to support that The Council did not approve of that option We were also told that if we provided the funds for the toilet it could be approved We then requested a formal response to the request and received this from the local contact:
Kia ora PWCRA
I'm just following up on our last conversation. The toilet provision study did not identify Point Wells Recreational Reserve as requiring an additional toilet, so it is unlikely that this will be a priority. Maybe this is something the committee could bring to the attention to the Local Board. However, we are currently reviewing the possibility of providing external access to the hall foyer toilet
Portaloo’s were provided after our call and the toilet at Point Wells Wharf, I understand is now fully operational
Additionally, Point Wells trampoline is on the list for a shade sail, we are doing a shade provision study this year to take back to the board for approval so that will determine the order of implementation
The PWCRA does not agree with this response and have now requested a review from the Council management
Thank you for your letter outlining the issues at Point Wells Reserve. We have received several requests for additional public toilets at parks in the wider Warkworth area, as many popular coastal and village locations are experiencing growth.
We are currently undertaking analysis to identify priority locations where we may need to improve the provision of public toilets, while also considering where there may be over-provision and an opportunity to re-prioritise investment to areas with the greatest need This is consistent with the Mayor’s direction that investments in new assets, such as toilet blocks, need to be carefully considered to minimise ongoing costs to ratepayers The driveway renewal project is being progressed due to its poor, cracked condition, which poses potential trip hazards for park users
The Rodney Local Board manages parks budgets and allocates funding for projects in their Parks and Community Facilities work programme At present, there is no budget allocated for constructing public toilets at Point Wells Reserve You can consider advocating to the Rodney Local Board to prioritise a solution in future years You can do this by approaching a Local Board Member directly and/or by making a submission on the Annual Plan and Long-Term Plans to support your proposal and encourage others within the community to do the same.
PWCRA thoughts on this last email:
The new bike path is drawing more visitors into the village, our beautiful swimming spots attract visitors and many families and children use our park Our basketball court is very popular and many people outside the village come to use it It is not practical to expect visitors to walk down to the ramp with small children or those with disability requirements when they need a toilet If the library is open we allow public to use the toilet in the foyer as our library staff can keep an eye on any issues or risks But this is limited to a few short sessions a week We will continue to strongly advocate for a public bathroom at our playground reserve!
DearCindy,
Concern about Private Jetty Proposal
Iunderstandthatyouarethepersonhandlingthisapplicationforaconsenttoundertaketheconstructionofajetty,boatramp,androckwallat99Upper WhangateauRoad
IamwritingtoyouonbehalfofthePointWellsCommunityandRatepayersAssociationtoexpressourcommunity'sconcernsregardingthisapplicationtobuildajetty andboatrampintheOmahaRiveroppositethevillage
TheOmahaRiverisahighlyvaluednaturalenvironmentusedrecreationallybymanyresidentsandvisitors Theareaproposedforconstructionofthejettyandrampis averyquietstretchoftheriverlinedwithnativetrees ThetreesarehometoseveralgroupsofbirdsincludingSpoonbills
Theinferenceintheapplicationisthattheworkwillextendintooneofmanybranchesoftheriver Infact,thisisthemainchannel,andtheonlyonenavigableatlow tide Theriverisusedforboating,canoeing,paddleboardingetc andajettyandrampextendingapproximatelyhalfwayacrossthemainchannelwillhaveasignificant effectonnavigationandvisualamenity Thisareaoftheriverisparticularlybeautifulandpeaceful Aconstructionofthissizeisoutofplaceinthisenvironment,which hasbeenquietlyenjoyedbythecommunityformanyyears Theapplicationlimitsconsiderationofthevisualimpacttonearbypropertiesandfailstotakeintoaccount riverusers,forwhomtheimpactwillbesignificant
WehavethesameconcernsasexpressedbyMikeCundyinhisemailofthe28January2023,onbehalfoftheWhangateauHarbourCareGroup,namely
Notification
TheAEEstatesthatpublicorlimitednotificationisnotrequired Westronglyrefutethis
Firstly,theproposalislikelytohavemorethanminoradverseeffects,asoutlinedbelow Secondly,intermsofspecialcircumstances,theapplicationconcludes‘ that thereisnothingnoteworthyabouttheproposal Itisthereforeconsideredthattheapplicationcannotbedescribedasbeingnotoutoftheordinaryorgivingriseto specialcircumstances’
Thisclaimisdisingenuousandhighlydebatableonseveralgrounds,whicharecoveredinthefollowingsummaryofourconcerns
Keyissues
1 Dominantandobstructivestructure:
The31m'jetty'wouldextendhalfwayacrosstheOmahaRiver’smainchannel,obstructingrivernavigationandimpactingpublicenjoyment Itsexcessivesizeand ongoingusebylargevesselswoulddominatethistranquilspaceandimpedesafenavigation
2 Ecologicalimpactsandinadequatebirdmonitoring:
ThesiteiswithinaSignificantEcologicalArea-Marine(SEA-M1) Constructionandongoingusewoulddisturbbirdlife,includingnestingshagsandroostingspoonbills resident40metresnorthofthesite However,theEcologicalAssessmentreliesonacursorysitevisitwhereonlywhite-facedheronswereobserved Thelackof comprehensivemonitoringunderminesthevalidityoftheassessmentandfailstoaccountforthepotentialdisturbancetospeciessuchasspoonbillsandshagsby constructionandoperationofthe'jetty'andboatramp
3 Recreationaleffects
The'jetty'wouldseverelydiminishtheopenspaceandnaturalcharacterofthearea,disruptingrecreationaluserssuchasthemanypeoplewhokayak,useastandup paddleboardorotherwatercraftalongthisscenicandtranquilstretchoftheriver TheAEEfailstoincludethisrecreationalaudienceatallinitsassessment-amajor omissioninourview
4 Visualeffects
SeveralPointWellsresidentshavepointedoutthattheuseofpanoramicphotographsinAppendix4(P4,5and6)greatlydistortstheapparentdistanceoftheproject fromRiversideDriveandPointWellsgenerally Thefrontpagephotoisregardedasmorerealistic-theriveratthispointisamere340mwide Thesheersizeofthe'jetty' wouldgiveitamajorvisualimpactfromtheriver,whenapproachedfromeitherthenorthorthesouth TheAEEconsidersadversevisualeffectstobe‘ lessthanminor’ (Section643) Thisisahighlycontentiousclaim Thejustificationisthatthedeckofthe'jetty'wouldbelessthanonemetreaboveMHWS,butthisfailstomentionthe railing,whichwouldextendafurther1metrehigher,andtotallyignoresthefactthatthewholestructurewouldbeover38mabovethewaterlineatlowtide Todescribe thisasvisually‘lessthanminor’isnonsense
5 AEElacksfullplanningassessmentandproposalmisalignswithAUPandNZCPS
TheAEEfailstoaddressrelevantprovisionsoftheAUP,including:
D9:SignificantEcologicalAreasoverlay
E3:LakesRiversStreamsandWetlands
E15:Vegetationmanagementandbiodiversity
E11:Landdisturbance
AssessmentcriteriaunderF2Coastal-GeneralCoastalMarineZone–F2232includingthoserelatingtoSignificantEcologicalAreas-Marine Giventhenatureoftheproposalanditslocation,itismisalignedwithrelevantprovisionsintheAUPandtheNewZealandCoastalPolicyStatement 6 Inappropriateprecedent
ApprovingthisapplicationwouldrisksettingaharmfulprecedentforprivatestructuresinthepublicCMA,furtherdegradingthenaturalandrecreationalvaluesof WhangateauHarbour
7 Privateinterestsvspublicgood
Theproposalservesprivateinterestsattheexpenseofpublicenjoymentandthenaturalenvironment–againmisalignedwiththeAUPandcontrarytonaturaljustice
8 Cumulativeimpactsneedtobeconsidered
TheAUPstates“ThegrowthofAucklandandpeoplelivingnexttothecoastmeansthereisanongoingdemandfornewstructuresinthecoastalmarinearea These canadverselyaffectnaturalcharacter,coastalprocess,landscape,andpublicaccessandcoastalprocessesandresultinadverseeffectsfromaproliferationof structures”(F2Coastal:F216Structures)
ThisisrecognisedinF2163-Efficientuseofcoastalspace:
(2)AvoidadversecumulativeimpactsfromstructuresintheCoastal–GeneralCoastalMarineZonetakingintoaccountthenumberofstructuresintheimmediateand surroundingarea
TheapplicantreferstothepresenceofcoastalstructuresonthePointWellssideoftheOmahaRivertohelpjustifytheproposal,wheninfacttheoppositereasoning shouldbeapplied–thissectionoftheharbour/Omaharivershouldbeprotectedtomaintainitsnaturalcharacterandavoidadversecumulativeimpacts,especially giventhemodifiedenvironmentontheoppositesideoftheriver
Conclusion
ContrarytotheclaimsintheAEE,thisextraordinaryapplication,ifconsented,wouldhavefarmorethanminoradverseeffects WeurgeAucklandCounciltorejectitin itscurrentform,orrequirepublicnotificationoftheapplication,considering: thesignificantecological,recreational,andcommunityimpacts, conflictwiththeAUPandNZCPS, significantpublicinterestand significantecologicalvalueoftheaffectedarea
AsyouwillhaveseeninMahurangiMatterstheproposalisofsignificantconcerntoourcommunity Weappreciateyourassistanceinthismatter Welookforwardtoyourresponsesowecanupdateourmembers Regards
Public notices from Auckland Council
Publicnotice:AucklandCouncil-RepresentationReview2025
DecisionontherepresentationarrangementsfortheelectionofAucklandCounciltobeheldon 11October2025
Inaccordancewithsection19RoftheLocalElectoralAct2001,theLocalGovernmentCommission determinesthatforatleastthetriennialgeneralelectionofAucklandCounciltobeheldon11October 2025,thefollowingrepresentationarrangementswillapply:
FREEwebinar:BecomeacandidateinAuckland'sLocal Elections2025
Wednesday30thApril4.30pm.7.00pm
contact:elections@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz forwebinar link
WhatwouldyoudoifAucklandelectsyou?
ThePWCRAfeedbackonthisoutcome
Wearedisappointedbythisoutcome.Westronglybelieve thatusing2018censusdatatodecidehowmany representativesWarkworthwouldneedwascompletely flawed.
ThatdataindicatedWarkworth’spopulationwouldnot increaseasquicklyasithas-ifmorerecentdatawasused theargumenttodecreaseourrepresentationwouldbe unfounded.Oneofourcommitteerepresentatives attendedthesubmissionmeetingwithGoverningbody andatleastputouroppositionforward.
NowwehavelostarepresentativetoWellsfordandtheir politicalagendawillbestrengthenedontheRodneyLocal Board.
Wewillneedtoadvocatestronglyforlocal‘coastal’issues whichwillnotbeimportanttotheNorthernRodney representatives.
You’reinvitedtoanonlineinformationsessiontoconsider standinginAuckland’slocalelections-anexcitingopportunity toplayasignificantpartinthefuturegrowthanddirectionfor Auckland.
Ifelected,you’llbetakingonacriticalleadershiproleforour largeanddiverseregion You’llguideandmakedecisionson howbesttoallocateresourcesanddrivevalueformoneyfor ratepayersandAucklandersalike
InOctober2025,anewsetofrepresentativeswillbeelectedto leadourcityof1.7millionandmakedecisionsforitsfuture.We needtohearfromtalentedandcommittedindividualswho arekeentotakeAucklandtothenextlevel 170Aucklandgovernancepositionsareupforgrabsin2025 TāmakiMakaurau'sleadershipisabigteam,witharangeof rolesandresponsibilities:fromthemayorandwardcouncillors, whomakeregionaldecisionsasmembersofthecouncil’s governingbody,tolocalboardmemberswhorepresent21 areasofTāmakiMakaurauandmakelocaldecisions
AreyouenrolledtovotefortheAuckland CouncilElections?
TheAucklandCouncilLocalElectionswillbe heldinOctober2025ensureyouareregistered tovotebycheckingyourdetailsontheVoteNZ website
https://vote.nz/privacy-and-security/yourenrolment-details/
Youdonotneedtobepropertyownertobe abletovoteintheAucklandCouncilelections!
Community
Security Camera in Point Wells Village
The Community Security Camera working well.
The community security camera has been up and running over summer and is working well. We have not had any reported burglaries in Point Wells since December This gives us confidence the camera is performing successfully as a deterrent to crime It is important that residents and visitors continue to be vigilant and follow Neighbourhood Watch guidelines on keeping your hom and property safe. See page 23 .
How does the security camera work?
The camera footage will be managed by Insite Security. If an association member reports a crime to NZ Police and they request footage from Insite it will be released
The PWCRA will not monitor or provide footage to requesters.
The camera is in place to be deterrent to criminals who think that they can drive into Point Wells and commit crime without detection
The camera is part of network of private CCTV across the village and we strongly recommend that residents also install CCTV and join the network Security Cam.
The PWCRA has a policy in place to manage the operational and legal aspects of the camera This is available to association members
Who has access to the camera footage?
The PWCRA members funded the full cost of the camera and installation. We strongly advise all members of our community to join our association to support ongoing security and safety initiatives in the village Only Police or Insite Security can access the footage
Why do we need a security camera?
For several years Point Wells residents have been concerned about crime. The PWCRA have been trying to have a camera installed to monitor Point Wells Road to ensure that any vehicles involved in criminal activity can be noted
There has been a slight increase in crimes reported to the PWCRA in the last year
Crime continues to be a national and regional concern, with Auckland still suffering the highest crimes rates in the county.
House burglaries and car thefts are typically committed by professionals who will target areas and take advantage of villages like Point Wells where residents are often very trusting, and often away from home
River Water TestingWhangateau Estuary
LocalSwimmingClubmembersenjoyingthesummerwaters
WaterTesting-isourwatersafeforswimming?
FinancialsupportfromPWCRAhasenabledustoundertakeaprogrammeofwaterqualitytestinginthe OmahaRiverestuaryforanumberofyears,focusedonmeasuringE-colilevels.Wehavetakenwater samplesfromfourlocationsbetweenthepointatPointWellsandthecornerofRiversideDriveandone locationfurtheruptheriver
Apartfromonenotableexceptionattheendof2022,theresultshavebeenconsistentlyexcellentforthe lastthreeyears.Theonepoorresultcameafterwehadhadraininthethreedaysleadinguptothewater sampling.Perhapsthemostlikelyexplanationforthiswasthatcontaminatedwaterfrommalfunctioning oroverfullseptictankswasfindingitswaythroughthemazeofdrainagepipesinPointWellsandintothe estuary Anotherpossibility,giventhatwerecordedrelativelyhighlevelsofe-colicontaminationatallfive samplingpoints,isthattherehadbeenasignificantcontaminationeventsomewherefurtheruptheriver Butthefactthatthesamplingpointfurthestupriverwasnotthemostheavilycontaminatedsuggests thatleakingseptictankswasamorelikelyexplanation.
Bothtestingcyclesafterthisoutliereventgaveverygoodresults ThemostrecentwasNovember2023so wefeltitwastimetore-test,whichwedidattheendofJanuary Thereadingswereexcellentallalong RiversideDriveandfurtheruptheriver,whichismostencouragingandgreatnewsforallwhousethe estuary,especiallyswimmers.
Itmaybenocoincidencethattheseresultswererecordedduringourcurrentextremelydrysummer,so weshouldaimtoconductournexttestafteraboutofheavyrain Meantimeifyourpropertyhasaseptic tankwhichisnotconnectedtothecommunalsystemcanweurgethatyouhaveitinspectedand emptiedifnecessaryandmaybeconsiderconnectingtothesystem
RobinRansom
After the long hot, and very dry summer, there is a slight chill in the air which might encourage people back inside and reading books
Our book sale at the end of November was another success making over $1400.00, so thank you to all who volunteered, donated books and generally made it the success it was Also, again, many thanks to Northern Waste’s Resort –we really appreciate their support dealing with the other end of the operation and the number of homeless books we are left with
The new Auckland Loan books are now processed and on the shelves Ruth Eyres has processed the books with the help of Becky Clearwater and Jane Beals for the last five plus years Ruth is relinquishing this role and both Becky and Jane have decided that they are ready to take a break Thank you to them all for all the work that they have done over they years Our new committee member, Christine Smith has agreed to take on the role and will be the main contact with the librarians at Titirangi and Mahurangi Libraries
BUT Ruth is not getting away lightly and will take on the role of Treasurer Julie Snowsill will be the Secretary Vanessa Barber has inadvertently become the Chair, and, among other things will look after regul
Point Wells Library
Our adult fiction buyer is Gillian Tewsley and junior books buyer is Maryann Steel – we have a number of requests and intend to go on a buying spree early next month, but if you have requests either write them up on the whiteboard in the work room, or in the red book on the desk Kim Scott looks after our statistics which the council require on a monthly basis
Puhoi Library
You may remember the Anniversary weekend floods in 2023. On Friday 27th January in Puhoi, the name which translates as ‘slow water’, the river quickly rose and saturated the heart of the historic community At its peak the water was over the library door and halfway up the windows and destroying everything in the library and thousands of books, apart from anything on high shelves This was the worst flood for almost a century and caused the library to close its doors in 2024
The Puhoi library will reopen on 2nd April 2025, which is wonderful
The committee have offered to donate books for their library which they are thrilled about If you have books you would like to donate please drop them into the library, but we do ask that they be relatively new and something that you might buy, and for the non fiction they are looking for biographies only They will be picking them up on the 28th March.
Up coming events.
We are planning to have another film night as they always seem to be well attended and an enjoyable get together, probably in the middle of the year
And of course the book sale either at the end of November or the first week of December, depending what else is on at that time in the community.
We also would like to thank the PWCRA who support the library and other village activities and in turn I would like to encourage you to join We recently had a new member asking if she needed to pay to join the library, the answer was of course no but she promptly gave a $50 donation saying this was less than buying two books
Thank you so much to you
Point Wells Garden Circle
This beautiful location, the topography and the soil in Point Wells allow us to enjoy a lifestyle in nature that’s got to be beneficial for our health and wellbeing. It’s been a fantastic summer for getting out there and active in the sunshine, in the water and the great outdoors with family and friends.
Those of us who enjoy gardening have had to get our “green exercise” early in the morning or late in the day, with the extra challenge of getting water to plants through these long, hot droughty conditions There have been plenty of water tankers around the village, making deliveries for those of us who don’t have the benefit of a bore
There was a happy hubbub in the hall as members gathered for the first time in 2025 in late February Lots of new members were welcomed too As is usual to start the year, a local garden ramble followed the meeting It was a special treat to have four local neighbouring gardens to visit, all situated adjacent to each other in a little enclave down driveways off Point Wells Roa
The Point Wells Garden Circle meet every fourth Thursday of the month
Email: ptwellsgarden@gmailcom
Each had a different styl expressing the owners’ preferences and passion cottage garden to native exotic plantings, a privat subtropical trees and pa welcoming wide open g with large trees and feat thoughtful installations including the original ch shed from the Point.
All the gardens had abu crops of blueberries grow cages, some had prolific trees and productive veg gardens, putting the pea good use It was a real sh of what can be grown in Wells and the pleasure a satisfaction to be had liv this wonderful, natural environment
Many thanks to Lynley a Lewington, Ruth and La Eyres, Liz and Alec Brew Charleyne Garner for sha your delightful gardens was a great start to the y
Marion Ransom
Reduce the riskAlways be prepared
You’re sitting on the couch watching the TV news On screen is a burnt-out house and the distraught homeowner saying they have lost everything You think ‘Crickey that’s bad luck!!!” but give it little thought What does it really mean for that poor homeowner Let us imagine You can insert yourself into the storyline for increased dramatic effect
I’m down in Auckland when I get a phone call from a neighbour He says “Mate, your house is on fire and there are fire trucks all over the place ” I rush home in a panic and feel nauseous I arrive home to Pt Wells and see my house is just a pile of charred timber and twisted roofing iron I go weak at the knees and think I am going to throw up Whilst the flames are now out, smoke lingers, and the stench is horrible It smells of death, decay and destruction This is surely what hell looks like!!
Neighbours are gathered around, excited by the action and taking interest at my distress and anguish Some offer their condolences and then wander off to relax in their own homes now that the action has passed I wonder what to do next and hope like hell that my insurance is fully paid up and if we have sufficient cover for a total rebuild and how long will that take anyway? Many months for sure
We need to use the bathroom, but the toilet is out of action Heck, I can’t even wash my hands All our photos, mementos and memories are lost. The drawings and painting done by our kids and grandkids are now gone, even my certificate for my Primary School cross country is destroyed. All our clothes, my tools, even the spare keys to the cars Better not lose my one remaining key then!!
Brand-new Medical Vehicle now operational
Friends and neighbours try to console us, but we feel like crap. They offer us a bed for a few nights, but they won’t want us for weeks. I’ve got too many bad habits that they would never tolerate. Others offer us meals, but we have nothing to eat off, nor a place to store food. Andrew Steens gives me clothes to wear, but they are too big, are crumpled and have food stains down the front and there is no way on earth that I am going to wear his undies!!!!
Now, while the above is just my imagination running wild, you get the point of the message. This situation happens most weeks somewhere around NZ and happened nearby in Pakiri, Stillwater and Milldale recently. Whilst further afield hundreds, maybe thousands of people in the California wildfires experienced such feelings after losing their homes. None of us can know truly how devastating this can be until it happens to us personally.
Whilst the likelihood is low, it could happen to any of us. This is why we bang on about reducing the risks, having a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, smoke alarms and fire plan for the family, as well as updating your insurance cover. Once all that is done, just hope like hell that it never happens and spare a thought for those that it does happen to.
Lastly to finish on a positive note, by the time this goes to print our brand-new medical vehicle will be operational. It is a bright red Ford Ranger decked out in FENZ livery. Whilst it is the Brigade members that drove the fundraising appeal, it is you the community that are the real hero’s in giving so generously to achieve the target.
There are too many of you to list, but on behalf of the Brigade we warmly thank you all for your support. And whilst you may see it on the road sometime soon, I do hope that you never get to see it parked in your driveway!!!
Now back to watching the news!!!
Chris Jensen
The Coastal Trail Update
The Coastal Trail: Progress, Community, and What’s Next
Exciting developments are taking place along The Coastal Trail, and we're eager to share the latest updates with our amazing community
Progress on the Point Wells Trail
Construction is underway on the Point Wells section of The Coastal Trail! The 2 2km stretch linking Point Wells to Matakana Country Park is taking shape, thanks to the incredible support and generous donations from the community If you've driven past Omaha Flats Road recently, you’ve likely seen the diggers in action – marking a major milestone
We’re excited to report that we are now halfway through construction on the Point Wells trail, with 1 1km already completed and looking fantastic Everything is tracking well, and we aim to finish this section by the end of May. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we work towards delivering a trail that connects our community and provides a safe space for outdoor recreation
Making Noise for Safe Cycling – Our Cycle Protest
In February, we took to the streets on two wheels! Our cycle protest wasn’t just about making a statement it was a call for safe, accessible cycling infrastructure, and it worked! We gained incredible media attention, both locally and nationally, which helped amplify our message
This exposure is invaluable for future funding and community backing, and we’re so grateful to everyone who joined us to pedal for the cause If you missed it, check out some of the great photos here starring our local celebrity –actor Martin Henderson
Volunteer Opportunities – Join The Coastal Trail Team!
We’re actively looking for passionate people to help take The Coastal Trail to the next level Here’s how you can get involved:
�� New Trustees – We’re seeking fresh faces for our Board Ideal candidates will have experience in:
Capital raising & fundraising
Political/government connections
Project management/ Social Media Expert
Volunteering with The Coastal Trail is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact, meet like-minded people, and help bring this vision to life If you’re interested or know someone who might be please get in touch!
What’s Next? With the momentum from our community's support and recent fundraising efforts, we’re pushing forward to complete the current Point Wells stage of The Coastal Trail while laying the groundwork for the next phases Our vision remains strong: to create a trail connecting our coastal communities that not only promotes active living and safety but also fosters sustainability and a deep appreciation for the stunning natural environment that surrounds us
Thank You for Your Support! Every dollar donated, every conversation had, and every pedal turned helps build this trail. Keep spreading the word, and if you’d like to contribute, reach out we’d love to hear from you! Visit wwwthecoastaltrailconz
Gardening with Andrew Steen
Autumn is time to plant your seedlings for your winter garden
After a fair to middling start, this Summer has finished on a high, literally, as at the time of writing (2nd week of March) we’ve had a bubble of high pressure sitting above northern NZ for some weeks now, with what looks like a couple more weeks at least of the same
Nevertheless, the signs of Autumn are clear; cooler nights, paper wasps beginning to congregate along wooden fence lines, deciduous leaves starting to colour and new growth slowing on seasonal shrubs like Hydrangeas
In the vegetable garden it’s time to start pulling out tired old crops and replacing them with Winter veggies. If you are sowing seeds, I recommend sowing into in seed trays rather than direct into the ground, as the soil is very dry now and hard
, y g food forest or just an environment for beneficial insects in your vegetable garden or home orchard then this is an ideal time to plant flowering plants such as Calendula
Citrus and Avocados can put on another flush of growth at this time of year, so support this with some extra feeding and mulching. I like to prune my vine berry crops now too, before the runners get time to establish new plants throughout the garden
New Strawberry plants can also be propagated from runners at this time of year, to establish them well before next year’s fruiting season And finally, the worst job, tackle those big weeds before they have time to set seed
Like the old saying goes, one year’s seed equals seven years weeds, and it truly does! Don’t forget to enjoy one of the best seasons for the garden and swimming down at the point though!
Classic Hot Toddy
Warm up with this classic hot toddy cocktail recipe!
Hot toddies are so easy to make.
You’ll just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon
Recipe yields 1 cocktail
Ingredients
¾ cup water
1 ½ ounces whiskey
2 to 3 teaspoons honey, to taste
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
1 lemon round
1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
In a tea kettle or small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer Pour the hot water into a mug.
Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water.
Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing
Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using).
Enjoy
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP THIS JUNE
Focus of the year 2025 - 2026
- Auckland Council Shoreline Adaptation plan reserve and sea wall protection
- maintaining our new security camera - keeping our village safe
- Neighbourhood Support & Community Resilience
- getting the best value out of our rates
Your membership:
- funds the management and cleaning of our community hall & library for everyone to use - funds internet access at the library and library support
- gives you discounted hall hire rates - funds the publication of our quarterly community magazine, the Point Wells Crier - supports our local clubs such as Connoisseurs Club, Garden Club, Trapping Club and social activities - funds our website - pointwellsvillage co nz
The Committee are the primary advocates for Point Wells ratepayers on issues with Auckland Council, Rodney District Board and Auckland Transport
JOIN OUR COMMITTEE
Point Wells Club
March 2025
CLUB HIGHLIGHTS
21.12.24
Thank you to everyone who came and supported the Jodi Sterling - Bayleys Matakana Coast letterbox competition. It was a fantastic turnout. A big thank you to Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade, Point Wells VillageRatepayers Assoc. and of course Santa. Thank you to all the volunteers at the club too!
PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR: THURSDAYS:
those who attended.
Point Wells Emergency Management & Community Resilience
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The PWCRA are making an appeal to our local residents to help create a database of people who are able to assist in the event of an emergency During Cyclone Gabrielle we were cut off from the rest of Auckland for three days As a village we need to be prepared and ready to support each other.
As part of our emergency management plan, we would like to know who we can call on to help
We will collect your contact details and include them in our Emergency Contact database. This will only be accessed in an officially declared state of emergency by committee members who will stand up the Point Wells Hall as our emergency hub
Please email us if you have any skills or resources that you are happy to share with your neighbors in the case of a major emergency
We appreciate your help!
pointwellscra@gmail.com
PREPARING FOR AN EMERGENCY EVENT IN THE VILLAGE
TO TAKATU ROAD
Auckland Emergency Management is working with Local Boards to prepare Emergency Management Plans These will help inform Point Wells and other communities in Rodney on how best to prepare for emergency management events In the meantime, the Point Wells Committee is committed to building on our own emergency management plan – which will best direct us all to how to manage a major emergency event like Cyclone Gabrielle
What should we prepare for?
Tsunami Emergencies
Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) and Auckland Council have just released their new tsuna risk map, which shows coastal and inland flood risk from tsunami Long term residents can recall large tsunami waves that landed on our coastline in the 1960s. The risk is real, and Point Wells is low lying wi only one exit way. Being prepared for receiving alert and evacuating is our best way of preparing for this emergency event
The risk map now indicates that areas exposed to th Pacific Ocean like Aotea Great Barrier Island and Auckland’s north-eastern coastal communities are s at risk of large tsunami, as is anyone that enjoys the beaches and marine areas of the region In the map Whangateau Harbour, Omaha Bay and up to Leigh clearly indicated in red.
EVACUATE
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Our Tsunami Sirens have been decommissioned and will not go off in the event of a Tsunami event
It is very important that every household in Point Wells is aware of this and in a state of emergency preparedness the main warnings and alerts will come via our mobile phones, which means keep a phone at hand, turned on and always charged Don’t turn your phone off at night!
When visiting Omaha Beach be aware of the best place to move to in the event of a Tsunami event. Do not attempt to evacuate to the Whangateau estuary or cross the bridge, if possible, instead move to higher ground at the southern end of the beach
CYCLONES, FLOODING, HEAVY RAINS
Last year we had severe weather events, that put us all at risk of power outages, wind damage to our properties and assets and even surface flooding
Prepare your home and property:
Keep your drains clean and clear If you share a drain with neighbors discuss how this will be managed together Point Wells has a unique drainage system that allows the surface water to flow off our properties –but it doesn’t work if there are blockages.
Have a list of items that need to be put away in storage or tied down in the event of high winds Trampolines and outdoor furniture can easily shift in the winds causing damage Keep up with tree maintenance –falling branches can not only cause injury but damage roofs and vehicles easily They also take out power lines
Keep your gutters clean and clear
Get a generator or power bank
Stay up to date with warnings and watches at MetService: https://wwwmetservicecom/warnin gs/home
If heavy rain is forecast, clear stormwater drains and gutters to help preventsurfaceflooding
In high winds – secure or bring inside your outdoor items like trampolines, wheeliebins,chairs,andpets
Stayoutoffloodwaters Donotdriveor walk through it Flood water is dangerous, strong currents can sweep awaycars,structuresandpeople Itcan contain debris, sewage and chemicals thatwillmakeyousick
Check road conditions at before travelling: https://wwwjourneysnztagovtnz/traffi c/regions/9
Haveanevacuationplanandpreparea grab bag with essentials Follow any instructions about evacuation of your area Flash floods can happen quickly soifyouseerisingwaterdonotwaitfor official warnings, self-evacuate GTFO (GetTheFloodOut)
Prepare to manage your water system SOMETIPSINTHEEVENTOFHEAVY RAIN:
ProtecttheForeshoreandtheSeawalls!
AucklandCounciliscurrentlyintheprocessofassessingthe requirementsforprotectingthereservethatrunsalongthe frontofPointWells ThePWCRAisspendingaconsiderable amountoftimegatheringupinformationtoprepareto speaktotheLocalBoardaboutensuringthehistorical seawallismaintained,aswellasouruniquedrainage systeminPointWells
TheCouncilarealsolookingatpotentiallydevelopingthe reserveareafurtherforbetterwalkingaccess
Therearealmost100propertiesinPointWellsthatsit directlybehindthereserve,andweneedthoseproperty ownerstogetinvolvedtohelpuswiththisprocessand adviceonfeedback!
PleasecontactHowardGeorgetoattendthenextPoint WellsForeshoreProtectionGroupmeeting
pointwellscra@gmail.com
Point Wells Community and Ratepayer Association Feedback on Proposed SAP Adaption Plan
Meeting with Lara Clark Sunday 4th November 2024.
The Point Wells Community and Ratepayers Association would like to thank Lara and her colleague for attending this community meeting to discuss the Shoreline Adaptation Plan. As a community situated on a small peninsula, Point Wells residents were eager to understand this project and its specific impact on their area.
However, many attendees found the presentation difficult to follow; it focused on regional issues and did not adequately address the concerns of Point Wells. Although the Council has presented this project as being solely about "Council assets," it is frustrating that the Council has not acknowledged how these assets—such as roads, culverts, and seawalls—affect the private properties of local ratepayers. Residents were upset to find that some of these assets, such as the historic seawall—a jointly funded investment by the community and the former Rodney Council—were misrepresented in the project documents. Moreover, there was disappointment that no information was provided regarding private seawalls and whether they would be allowed to remain along the Omaha estuary. When discussing shoreline adaptation strategies, it is unacceptable that a Council representative could not openly address the topic in a community forum. If certain private property owners are permitted to protect their assets, all residents should have the opportunity to pursue the same option.
Read the full letter here: www.pointwellsvillage.co.nz/pwcra
PWCRA Feedback on Proposed SAP
NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT
CRIME SPOTTING
If you witness and wish to report any of the following in your neighbourhood: theft, burglary, destruction of property, disorder or manner of driving you can phone: Phone 105 if this has already happened
Neighbourhood Support has 26 members in Pt Wells If you are a new resident or know of new neighbours who may like to join, please contact us at anne@rsvpevents.co.nz
F.A.S.T
F.A.S.T. encourages everyone to learn the signs of stroke and get immediate help: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Take action - call 111.
What is F.A.S.T.?
F.A.S.T. is a really simple way to remember the signs of stroke.
It stands for:
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulties
Take action - call 111
If you experience one of these signs or notice someone else is experiencing one of these signs, don’t wait or think “it’ll pass”. And don’t wait for another sign to become evident
Taking action quickly is vital and could save your life or theirs It is vital to recognise when someone is having a stroke and get medical attention as soon as possible The sooner medical treatment begins, the lower the risk that permanent brain damage occurs and there is a better chance of an excellent recovery.
In some cases, it means that damage can be completely reversed Calling 111 is the best way to get medical attention: it means that an ambulance will be sent to help, and the first responders can assess the situation and prime the hospital to prepare for the patient’s arrival This helps ensure they are triaged appropriately and receive treatment quickly
Phone 111 if this is happening now
Phone anonymously
Crimestoppers
0800 555 111
SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY CAM
Community Cam is a voluntary, not for profit community initiative where people can register a property with CCTV, and upload CCTV footage, to help solve crime in their neighbourhood. When a crime is committed, the NZ Police can refer to Community Cam to quickly identify CCTV locations of registered users in and around the scene of the crime This then allows the police to contact you to help with an investigation. Your details are confidential and secure Only the NZ Police can see your information and, if you choose to upload your CCTV footage, the footage is password protected for your security.
We encourage all CCTV owners in Point Wells to sign up Community Cam™ | Communities working together to solve crime
Dog Walking on the Point Wells Foreshore Reserve
ThePWCRAisawareofongoingconcernsabouthowdogsaremanagedonthePoint WellsForeshoreReserve SomelocalshavecomplainedtotheCouncilwhichresulted insomegoodadvicefromourlocalSeniorManagementOfficer Noonewantstogeta fine,butitisimportantthattheForeshoreislookedafter,anddogsaremanaged appropriatelyinthisareaofthevillage Davidsentthebelowemailthroughforusall
TothePointWellsCommunityandRatepayerAssociation
IhavebeenprovidedwithyourcontactdetailsasapointofcontactforthePointWells VillageRatepayersAssociationwithregardstotryingtogetthemessageouttothe PointWellscommunityaroundthedogaccessrulesforthePointWellsForeshore Reserveasithasbeenreportedmanydogownersareeitherunawareoftherulesor arechoosingtoignorethem
Ihopethatyoudon’tmindmycontactingyouandamwonderingifyouhavea newsletterorsimilarinwhichyoucanletthePointWellscommunityknowwhatthe rulesforthisareaareandthatbreachesofthisrulecanresultinaninfringementof $300?
Ihaveaddedtherulesbelow,buttheentrancementionediswhere36HarbourView Rdwouldbeiftherewasahousethere!
Sofromthereandtotheleft,towardstheboatrampoffRiversideDr,hasthebeach rules,whilsttotherightistheforeshorerules
Manythanksforanyhelpyoucanprovide,butpleasefeelfreetocontactmeifyou haveanyquestionsorifIcanbeofanyhelpwithdogmattersaroundPointWells
DavidBalkie SeniorAnimalManagementOfficer NorthWest
Ph 093010101
davidbalkie@aucklandcouncilgovtnz
Beach
Foreshore
Keeping safe on our roads in Winter
As someone who regularly leaves Point Wells in the early hours of the morning ( to commute into town) I'm always a bit surprised to see how many local residents are out jogging, walking, cycling and dog walking at the crack of dawn! It's fantastic to see how many residents are dedicated to their fitness, but as winter sets in it's important to be aware of how difficult it is to see people in dark, especially if they are not wearing anything that illuminates them to drivers Also it is important to be mindful of personal safety.
Here are some tips to keep safe during those early morning fitness sessions
Walk facing the oncoming traffic Keep as far off the road as possible. Wear reflective/ illuminating safety clothing or wear a head lamp Consider putting something on your dog as well especially if they are walking off-leash or on long leashes.
Remember drivers can only see pedestrians in the dark, if their car lamps illuminate you
This means it can be hard to see people walking on the edge of the road Reflective/ illuminating safety clothing or lights help to identify where pedestrians are. Keep your mobile phone on you, and be familiar with its safety features
Tell someone where you are walking and when you will be back - even better track your walk and share that with someone you trust.
If possible walk/ jog with someone else
Be aware of speed limits in Point Wells and when they change on Omaha Flats Road
Do not engage with any vehicles that pull up beside you unexpectedly. Move away quickly and call 111 from a safe place if you feel threatened or worried about your personal safety A safe place could be a neighbour's driveway, doorway, under a street light, or in front of the shop. Yell for HELP if you feel threated or in immediate danger
Report all incidents or concerns to Police and to the PWCRA
Be mindful about listening to music with headphones. If you can't hear anything around you may not notice risks
Be familiar with the route you are walking ( do it in the day first) we don't have footpaths everywhere, so it is helpful to know where trip hazards are
By Alana McClintock
Warkworth & Districts Croquet Club
The Croquet club members have been making the most of the lovely summer evenings, and playing twilight on Thursdays from 415 Around 6pm they head off to the Pt Wells Store and get takeaways before social get together Hopefully this can continue for a couple more weeks Three players, Marion Taylor, Sandra Mitchell (golf croquet), and Nelson Morrow (assoc croquet) were part of the Auckland wide team to play at Whangārei and Whakatane on Anniversary in an annual Upper Nth Island Teams event
We held a seeded doubles club competition sponsored by Summerset Falls Retirement Village on 10 March, which was won by Neil Anderson and Richard Giles Runners up were Sue Brodziak and Barbara Johnson, one of our newer members On Saturday 22nd March we host the Croquet Auckland intermediate Silver Badge competition
Summerset Falls continue to hold the Retirement Village interclub at the club on a regular basis, and play on alternate Sundays, so the grounds see a lot of use
In April we will be doing work on the lawns which have suffered like everything else by the wind and lack of rain
Current playing times (not incl twilight) are 930 for a 945 start on Mon, Sat and Thurs, and we welcome anyone who would like to come along in and have a go at croquet Email: secretarywarkworthcroquet@gmailcom
In rememberance MELITATULL
Melitawasbornonthe12thDecember1972andpassedawayon26thFebruary2025 attheageof52.
AlthoughMelita'stimeherewasshortshemanagedtopackintoherlifemorethan mostofuscouldhaveimaginedpossible.
MelitawasheadgirlatAucklandGirlsGrammarandundertooka12monthexchange toGermanythroughAFS HereshebecamefluentinboththeHighanddailyGerman language WhilstlivingwithherhostfamilywhentheBerlinWallwasbeingtakendown,Melita wasinterviewedbyPaulHolmeswithregardstotheimpactupontheGermanpeople OnherreturntoNewZealandenteredaJournalistcourse,onpassingthiscourse MelitareturnedtoGermanywhereshewasemployedbyStuttgartCableTV producingprogrammesforthenetwork
ThepullofNewZealandwasgreatandshereturnedtoajobwithTalkBackNZworkingwithPaulHolmesandherbeloved tutorPhillipArmstrong(Grumpy)
ShewasmadeExecutiveProducerfortheLarryWilliamsDriveShow
MelitastayedwithLarryfor11yearsproducingwhatbecameaverypopularshow, Overthelast10yearsMelitabecameTheExecutiveProducerofNationalRadio Trainingandemployingstaffplusproducingthe AfternoonshowwithJessieMulligan
OverhershortlifeasaJournalistMelitahasmetandinterviewedmanyinternationalleadersandMediastars;howeverMelita neverforgottheeverydayfamiliesandtheirpersonnelissues
AsparentsDianneandIhavelostashininglightinourlives Ourfeelingoflosswillremainforeverhopefullytimewilleasethe pain
MelitaleftbehindherPartnerColinandhersonLorenzo
Melita’sbrotherAaronandhispartnerRachel,auntytoGrace,JessicaandFranklin. Alsoourotherfosterfamilymembers,Richard,KarenandourgrandchildrenJennyandJordan
MelitaheadforthonyournextgreatJourneyandMumandIlookforwardtocatchingupwhenourtimearrives Trevor&DianneTull
Captain: Peter Radley peterradley@gmailcom
Beetopianzltd. Beetopianzltd.
Autumn AutumnUpdate Update
Honey Fraud
At Beetopia NZ during our honey tasting experiences we are often asked about Mānuka and its various grading formulas and labels
Did you know that honey is one of the world’s top 3 most widespread foods subject to FRAUD ! Dairy holds first place for fraud followed by honey in 2nd place and seafood in third!!! NZ's first investigated case of honey adulteration dates 2017 when MPI investigators inspected a company in Albany, which resulted in charges being laid See link below for the full articles.
Food fraud is considered a crime and not only misleads consumers but can also jeopardise their health Labelling is not always straightforward and clever marketing leaves consumers confused when it when it comes to choosing a quality honey
There are a number of unscrupulous ways in which honey has been adulterated for monetary gain One is by blending it with inferior honey to increase the quantity while sacrificing quality Cutting honey with cheap sweeteners such as beet, rice or fructose would be undetectable by the ordinary consumer This practice is illegal unless the added ingredient is clearly declared on the label.
Another form of adulteration is pollen removal from honey Pollen can be removed from honey through a process called ultra-filtering at high temperatures Every flower has its own type of pollen, so by removing it one can conceal its botanical source, which in turn erases any evidence of the region in which the honey was produced
Pollen as provenance
Every granule of pollen is as unique as a fingerprint, varying in size, shape and symmetry Melissopalynology is the study of pollen and honey Every drop contains a myriad of different types of pollen from the various flowers the bees have visited A pollen profile can also pinpoint the specific geographic region in which a honey was produced, thus making it possible to identify fraud in the marketplace
We explain that Mānuka honey is produced from our native Leptospermum scoparium tree and the name Mānuka was given by the Māori people who first recognised it healing powers True active Mānuka honey has a potent spectrum of antibacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-parasitic properties due to an organic compound called methylglyoxal. These properties are rated using the *UMF /*MGO and *NPA (*Unique Mānuka Factor/ Methylglyoxal / Non-peroxide activity) factors which are systems to measure Mānuka potency Only qualified producers can license the UMF / MGO name to market their honey
‘All types of honey are pre-digested by the bees - they add one of their own enzymes, invertase, which breaks down the bond between the disaccharide sucrose of nectar, converting it to the monosaccharides fructose and glucose Honey contains valuable vitamins, minerals and enzymes from naturally occurring pollen It is also acidic with a low pH (3 2-4 5) which inhibits various bacteria, fungi and viruses from surviving
When honey is applied topically or internally, its hygroscopic properties which allow it to absorb moisture - cause water from inside any cell, bacteria or fungus to move outside of the cell The resulting dehydration kills the cell, bacteria or fungus In wound care this property allows honey to disinfect as well as act as a sealant to keep wounds moist and clean Honeybees add another enzyme called glucose oxidase to honey which transforms its glucose to gluconic acid If the honey is fresh and not treated with heat this produces hydrogen peroxide’ (Ref The world Atlas of Honey by M Marchese)
Our family business Beetopia NZ is passionate about pure NZ honeys and we stock varietals from both the North & South islands because it is our mission to showcase a range of delicious, raw NZ honey varietals that many visitors are not often exposed to or aware of
The fun part is that before we put a product on our shelves we get to know the beekeepers behind the brand and make sure we have the same ethos regarding pollinators and honey production so travelling to taste honey and talk bees are part of our job description - not bad I’d say!
Pop into see us and taste some of our favourite honey :
Beechwood Honeydew ( tastes aromatic & malty)
Pōhutukawa (tastes creamy & salty)
Rewarewa (tastes of dried fruits & ginger)
Kānuka (tastes of caramel & butterscotch)
Kāmahi (tastes of toffee & molasses)
Rātā ( tastes floral & salty)
Viper Bugloss (tastes citrusy)
Tāwari ( tastes like butterscotch & licorice)
Links to articles regarding Honey Fraud
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/finestotalling-372500-imposed-in-landmark-manukahoney-fraud-case/
https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/markets/fightagainst-fake-honey-heats-up/
visitus visitus
181 Omaha Flats Road
Beetopia is open on Saturdays 9-3pm or by appointment on 021 02649674 . We have a huge range of gift ideas and seriously yummy honey
As a small family business we would like to sincerely thank all the locals who have supported us and have helped us spread the word about pollinators and NZ honey
The PWCRA have been working on our plans for the new financial year. This will be discussed at our upcoming AGM.
Point Wells Community & Ratepayers Association
Strategic Plan 2025
Mission Statement
To protect, enhance, and advocate for the interests of the Point Wells community by ensuring appropriate spending of rates on local priorities, maintaining key community assets, and fostering a safe, connected, and thriving village.
Strategic Priorities
1. Advocacy & Representation
• Engage with Auckland Council, Rodney District Board, and Auckland Transport to ensure Point Wells receives a fair and effective allocation of ratepayer funds
Represent community concerns on infrastructure, safety, and environmental resilience, including the Shoreline Adaptation Plan and seawall protection
Maintain a strong liaison with council representatives to influence positive outcomes for our village and ensure local representation
2 Community Safety & Resilience
• Install and monitor a security camera to enhance village safety Strengthen Neighbourhood Support networks to promote community awareness and crime prevention
Develop Emergency Response plans to improve civil defence preparedness and disaster resilience and readiness
3. Community Facilities & Services
• Maintain and manage the Point Wells Community Hall, including cleaning, internet access, and discounted hire rates for members
Advocate for improvements such as a public toilet for the hall reserve/playground area
Support and promote local clubs and activities, including the Garden Club, Trapping Club, Play Group, and Connoisseurs Club
4. Communication & Engagement
• Continue publishing the Point Wells Crier to keep residents informed about key issues and events
Maintain and improve the PWCRA website as a resource for members
Expand membership outreach in alignment with new regulations, ensuring broader community involvement and representation
5. Financial Sustainability & Fundraising
• Increase membership to strengthen our advocacy efforts and fund community projects
Seek donations and sponsorship opportunities to support key initiatives
Ensure transparent financial management of association funds to maximize impact for Point Wells
Committee Structure & Portfolio Leads
Chairperson: [Name]
Vice Chairperson: [Name]
Secretary: [Name]
Treasurer: [Name]
Portfolio Leads:
Advocacy & Council Engagement: [Name] Represents Point Wells in council discussions and planning
Community Safety & Resilience: [Name] Leads crime prevention and local safety initiatives and coordinates community preparedness and resilience planning
Facilities & Hall Management: [Name] Coordinates management and maintenance of the community hall, library, and related amenities
Membership & Fundraising: [Name] Coordinates efforts to raise financial support through membership and sponsorship
Communications; Point Wells Crier & Website: [Name] Oversees the publication of the local newsletter and website updates
Environment & Sustainability : [Name] – Oversees ecological, environmental and sustainability issues as required including Seawall & Shoreline Adaptation Plan advocacy and implementation
Events and Community Engagement: [Name] –Coordinates community clubs and activities in the village Committee roles to be allocated and reviewed annually
