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Free Fun Run & Walk in Katikati in July
Hume Pack-N-Cool’s third annual free Fun
Run & Walk in Katikati is coming up in July –with a new 10km course option
Hume Pack-N-Cool external operations manager Aimee Barker-Gilbert said the July 4 event would again be open to all ages – offering participants the chance to walk or run either 5km or 10km
“This year we have a new 10km course, which will
see our 10km runners and walkers extend on from the 5km course down Park Rd and back along the bird walk before heading back to the memorial hall ”
Barker-Gilbert said the event ’ s start and finish line would be at Katikati War Memorial Hall – and those registered would begin their walk or run in their chosen distance in waves, starting from 9am through to 9 35am
“Last year we had more than 580 participants on the day and we ’ re hoping to bring in over 600 people this year For those who can, please bring
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along a koha (cash donation) or a non-perishable food items to go to the Katikati Foodbank ” Participants are once again encouraged to go crazy and get dressed up in blue –whether it’s a blue wig, tutu, scarf or shoes – as a fun way to unite the community and add an extra splash of colour
“Prizes are up for grabs for best dressed, and we will have a free sausage sizzle for all participants thanks to Farmlands ”
Barker-Gilbert said the event ’ s main funding partner is Hume Pack-N-Cool & Growers Community Fund,
which made the event free for the whole community
“We will have entertainment and activities at the memorial hall for participants and spectators before prizegiving – which will happen once the last 10km participants cross the finish line, or at 11 30am at the latest ”
Barker-Gilbert said the event ’ s courses were pram and stroller friendly – but dogs, bikes and scooters were not permitted to take part
Free registration is now open, with further event details, at: www humepack co nz/fun-run
Ethan, Kirsty and their three-year-old daughter Felicity, from England, participated last year.
Runner Liam River in action at last year ’ s Hume Pack-N-Cool Fun Run & Walk. Photos / That Guy Photography
No ‘off’ switch for Waihī Beach lifeguards…
The red and yellow flags are down for the season, but there is no ‘off’ switch for Waihī Beach Lifeguard
Services members
After another busy summer, the club recently wrapped up a season that brought together patrol service, rescues, lifeguard development and surf sport success
Across the 2025-2026 surf lifeguard patrol season, Waihī Beach lifeguards recorded nine rescues, 14 assists to safety, 777 preventative actions, more than 26,000 safety interventions, nine searches, 11 major first aid events and 38 minor first aid actions.
Championship wins
At the 2026 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships at Ōhope Beach, Waihī Beach athletes showcased their skills competing against some of the country ’ s best, said the club’s director of sport Maddie Schnackenberg
Max Page claimed silver in the Under-15 Board Race, Max Morley achieved two top-10 finishes in the Under-17 Board and Ski finals, and Georgia Walter finished seventh overall in the Under-17 Board Race The club also made the final in several team events, including Board Relay, Surf Teams, Ski Relay and Taplin Relay Christiaan Maarhuis finishing first overall in his age group; and the Masters Surf Teams won gold, while the Double Ski combination claimed silver, Schnackenberg said
“The surf boat crew also added another proud chapter to the season, with the Under-23 team bringing home silver in the short course Three Waihī Beach surf lifeguards also competed at the bp New Zealand IRB Championships 2026 in Gisborne ”
Reflected Commitment
Schnackenberg said the performances reflected the commitment of the club’s athletes throughout the season
“Our athletes train incredibly hard Many of them are in the water or on the beach five or more times each week, often in addition to swim sessions
“To see them step up and perform like this at Nationals is something the whole club is very proud of ”
Community connection remained a strong part of the season, Schnackenberg said
“Junior Surf continued through a summer that tested everyone ’ s flexibility, with local flooding and slips forcing some creative adjustments The season included
first competitions for many young athletes, support for local carnivals, and four days of outstanding racing at Oceans for the club’s 10-plus junior athletes, again bringing in several Waihī Beach podium finishes
“For Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services, sport is not separate from lifesaving. It is a pathway for new recruits and keeps current lifeguards fit, sharp and confident in the surf It builds teamwork, resilience and the ocean awareness needed on patrol Every training session and race helps strengthen the skills that matter when the club’s lifeguards are called into action ” Annual awards night
This synergy was reflected at the club’s Annual Awards of Excellence – a night recognising the people behind the patrol hours, rescues, coaching, training, events and quiet work that keeps the service running, and acknowledging sporting achievement
Luke Butler was named Surf Lifeguard
of the Year, Andrew Cochrane was Volunteer of the Year, Millie Watson received the Taylor Bros Cup for Junior Lifeguard of the Year, Chloe Poulter was recognised as Patrol Captain of the Year, Chiara Woodford was Instructor of the Year, and the Rescue of the Year was awarded to Mitchell Robinson, Max Morley and one Coromandel Club lifeguard
Christiaan Maarhuis received the President’s Cup and the Butler Family Trophy for effort, attitude and achievement in surf sport and lifeguarding, Byron McIntyre received the McLaughlin Shield for Under-19 Sports and Lifeguarding Volunteer, and Sharlene Manukau was named Patrol Support Lifeguard of the Year
The Spark Merit Shield - Most Improved Member - Sport and/or Lifeguarding went to a team this year, the ‘Four Men One Oar’ Surf Boat Rowing Crew
The awards also recognised the club’s rookies, officials, IRB crew and drivers, and the many members whose contributions strengthen Waihī Beach
Lifeguard Services season after season
Pool rescue champs
While the summer patrol season had ended, the club was now focused on Pool Rescue Championships training, Schnackenberg said
“The championships take surf lifesaving into the pool and focusing on the speed, precision and technical skills that support real rescues It is also a chance for members to stay race-fit, build confidence with rescue equipment and keep connected with their club mates until the flags go back up ”
The club encourages anyone curious about surf lifesaving to check out its social media channels at: https://www.facebook. com/WaihiBeachSurfClub or: https:// www instagram com/wb slsc
“It’s a great way to have fun, learn something new and perhaps start a journey towards becoming a surf lifeguard,” Schnackenberg said
“For former surf lifeguards, it may also be the right time to reconnect, revisit those beach memories and put your fins back in the ocean next season ”
Waihī Beach Li eguard Services Awards o Excellence 90s themed celebrations. Photos / Alex Wilkins
Luke Butler is Waihī Beach’s 2025-2026 Lifeguard of the Year.
Millie Watson is Waihī Beach’s 2025-2026 Junior Lifeguard of the Year
Major step forward for historic pā site at Kauri Point
A cultural concept plan has been adopted for Kauri Point Historic Reserve, marking a major step forward in a long-held vision to honour its past and shape its future
The site represents centuries of continuous Māori occupation and is considered highly significant to Ngāi Tamawhariua, Ngāti Te Wai and Te Whanau A Tauwhao
In a statement, Western Bay of Plenty District said archaeological evidence shows the area was occupied from at least 1200 AD, with cultural layers documenting the transition from early Māori settlements through periods of fortification and tribal conflicts.
“Developed in partnership between Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Kauri Point Te Kō Rōpu hapū group, the cultural concept plan reflects a shared commitment to kaitiakitanga [guardianship and care for the land] and is focused on protecting the heritage of the site, restoring the natural environment, and ensuring it remains a place for everyone to enjoy”
In stages
The council said the project, with a highlevel estimate of about $1 2m, would be completed in stages in line with available funding The council would allocate $453,306 across the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 financial years, and the remaining funding was referred to its 2027-2037 Long Term Plan for consideration, alongside efforts to secure external funding
“The plan builds on the foundations of the 2010 Cultural Assessment and the Kauri Point Historic Reserve Concept Development Plan, and includes both the reserve and surrounding significant areas, including Ōwarau Pā, Ōwarau
Swamp, Ōwarau Springs, South Beach, tea ( pper Level Pā), South Lookout, orth Lookout, orth Beach, and imu ardens”
Storytellling thhrough pou, wahharoa and d interpretation panels, restoring native ecosystems, protecting pā sites and creating learning opportunities are all included in the plan
“The history of this place runs deep for tangata whenua,” says Reon Tuanau, of Otawhiwhi Marae, speaking on behalf of the Kauri Point Te Kō Rōpu hapū group
Pave the way
“We’re doing this kaupapa to honour our ancestors as best we can, strengthen ourselves and pave the way for the next generations
“This has been a really good example of partnership between [the] council and mana whenua.”
The reserve contains three pā sites of significance, spanning different periods of Māori occupation, Tuanau said.
“Early occupation is evidenced by terraces,
which were common for that time, through to the introduction of ring ditch pā It reallly d does takke us on a journey through the many generations ”
In the 1960s, the University of Auckland carried out archaeological surveys and excavations at the site, uncovering significant taonga, including a large collection of intricately carved heru (combs), providing rare insights into Māori artistic traditions spanning multiple centuries.
Some of these taonga were later included in the Te Māori exhibition, which toured internationally in the 1980s
See history present
The council’s reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said the vision built on the successful collaboration that the Te Kō Rōpu hapū group had with the New Zealand
Transport Agency (NZTA) involving recent establishment of pou and cultural artworks along State Highway 2 “It’s really important for tangata whenua to see their history present in their rohe (district) At its heart, it’s about partnership, working together with mana whenua to protect and look after the land and its stories,” Watson said
“It’s about taking a long-term view, making sure decisions today continue to respect and strengthen this special place into the future ” For more information, visit: yourplace westernbaygovt nz/kauri-point-historic-reserve
College clash will return in bigger format next year
The success of the first Bay of Plenty
Clash of the Colleges on a Katikati kiwifruit orchard last Friday, May 8, has prompted the organisers to plan an event twice the size next year.
Agri Futures general manager Daniel O’Regan said the inaugural event was a huge success thanks to the energy, skill, and support from local food and fibre companies, training institutions and volunteers who are passionate about the sector ’ s future
“It’s all about encouraging rangatahi to consider all the options across the booming food and fibre sectors and it would not have been possible without the support of the Kenna family kiwifruit orchard who hosted us ”
About 130 college students from Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Hauraki, Coromandel, Pāpāmoa, Tauranga, Katikati and Waihi attended the event “Given the success we will aim to double the event size in 2027!”
Two competitions ran – for juniors in Years 9-10, and seniors in Years 11-13 – for two hours where students in teams of four rotated around the 16 modules, spending six minutes on each
Modules included seed and plant identification, tree identification, drenching, resilient landscapes, an apiary challenge, break fencing, wool identification and handpiece with local sheep farmers, an arboriculture challenge, chainsaw starting, a fencing wire tie-off, garden layout planting, a sulky horse race and equipment identification and a gumboot cleaning exercise followed by a gumboot-throwing competition
O’Regan said biosecurity in fruit, kiwifruit grading, and avocado facts and nutrition modules were new – to reflect the Bay of Plenty’s strong horticulture industry
“What we ’ re about is opening students’ eyes to multitude of opportunities across food and fibre [industries in New Zealand] ”
O’Regan said students had taken on the modules with energy and enthusiasm
“For example, we have a sulky race because it burns energy – this time we had harness equipment with it and students had to guess and itemise the equipment The kids got 8 out of 10 for their scores Harness racing is one of the most niche areas of food and fibre The kids are actually working it out!
“None of these kids had their mobile phones on them,”
O’Regan said
“They were concentrating and listening to experts give them advice but also having to think as a team and come up with answers – and having fun while doing so It was just basically smiles and laughter”
The event was MC’d by Tauranga High School old boy Tangaroa Walker –Farm4Life’s social media agri-educator from Southland / Murihiku, who has more than
360,000 followers
“What a day,” Walker said “Seeing these rangatahi get stuck into everything from kiwifruit grading to avocados, forestry, fencing, wool, to gumboot throwing The Bay of Plenty has its name because it is a whenua [land] of plenty, there are so many job opportunities for rangatahi in our food and fibre sector ”
Walker said it was rare for college students not linked to the land to be exposed to the multitude of jobs available in the across the rural sector
“If you can put yourself in a 12-13-yearold version of yourself and think about all the things you ’ re exposed to – it’s very rare to be exposed to all these potential jobs that
could have once you leave school, or while you ’ re at school
“A lot of adults say their kids sit at home on their phones all the time but it’s because they’re not getting exposed to these sorts of things Every kid wants to make money and if they know they can go to a kiwifruit orchard and do what they just did other there – sort fruit – then it’s an opportunity for them ”
The event also exposed students to the module-takers, who experts in their respective industries “You’ve got 16 people that are super passionate about their work and proud of their industry – and when the students walk in [to their module stand], they feel the passion ”
Kenna family kiwifruit orchards manager Daniel Kenna talks to students on the Resilient Landscapes module, supported by Future Farmers and Project Parore. Photo / Karen Smillie
Kristine Lagala, Phoebe Scherer and Roy Nix from Apata hosted a new module on kiwifruit grading. Photo / Merle Cave
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