The Weekend Sun 23 March 2018

23 March 2018, Issue 900

EASTER BUNNY

Inside

Sport in Fiji p5

Get cycle savvy p9

Make art with your water p17

Every dedicated jazz fan knows that Easter Weekend means it’s time to get down to The Strand in Tauranga and enjoy some world-class performers at the National Jazz Festival.

This is the festival’s 56th year, with plenty of gigs on offer from Wednesday March 28 through to Easter Monday on April 2. Among them is Irish songstress Caitriona Fallon (pictured), who will be performing for

the first time with her band at the Blink azz ounge at Baycourt. ead the full story, and see what else is happening via our National Jazz Festival feature, found on pages 28-29. Photo: Nikki South.

A twist on the classics p38

The Bay’s largest circulating, most read newspaper. 66,911 copies to the homes of 159,700 residents throughout TAURANGA, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, PAPAMOA, WAIHI BEACH, KAIMAI, KATIKATI, TE PUKE, PAENGAROA, OTAMARAKAU and all RDs

Your Central City Health Centre

Tauranga’s After Hours Doctors

OPEN EVERY DAY 8AM - 9PM

• accident & medical • family medical practice • chiropractor • physiotherapy • pharmacy

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

OPEN 7 DAYS 8AM - 9PM

• dentist • xray

2nd Avenue Health Centre - 19 Second Avenue - Tauranga

Full medical services available including xrays FREE ACC Consultations for children under 13

TEL:577 0010

Accident & HealthCare - 19 Second Avenue - Tauranga

The Weekend Sun

2 1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga Phone 07 578 0030 www.theweekendsun.co.nz

ads@thesun.co.nz Aluminium Awning Specialists

newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Rain, Hail or Shine - We’ve got you covered!

Rain, Aluminium Hail or Shine - We’ve got youSpecialists covered!

Awning Aluminium Awning Specialists Rain, Hail orPowdercoated Shine - We’ve got Aluminium you covered!

Construction Aluminium Awning SpecialistsPROUDLY MADE

& MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND

Designed for Coastal areas PROUDLY MADE & MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND

B.O.P / Waikato wide

Powdercoated Aluminium

Designed for Coastal areas

Curved - Flat - Gable options

Curved - Flat - Gable options Construction B.O.P / Waikato wide B.O.P / Waikato wide

before summer hits Rain, QUOTES Hail orOrder Shine - We’ve got you covered!

FREE QUOTES FREE

Curved - Flat - Gable options

Order before summer hits

Aluminium Awning Specialists FREE QUOTES

021 0227 4245 www.undercoverindustries.co.nz 021 0227 4245

021 0227 4245 CALL US NOW!

www.undercoverindustries.co.nz

www.undercoverindustries.co.nz CALL US NOW!

021 0227 4245

ALL US NOW!

www.undercoverindustries.co.nz

CALL US NOW!

Sun Media Ltd Directors: Claire & Brian Rogers General Manager: Jay Burston Editorial: Andrew Campbell, Letitia Atkinson, Elaine Fisher, Merle Foster, Hunter Wells, Ryan Wood, Cayla-Fay Saunders, Kerry Mitchell, Sharnae Hope, Sam Gardner. Photography: Bruce Barnard, Nikki South. Advertising: Kathy Sellars, Bianca Lawton, Leah Rogers, Aimee-Leigh Brunsdon, Lucy Pattison, Jo Delicata, Tinesha Lupke, Karlene Sherris, Danielle Jensen. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, James Carrigan, Kerri Wheeler, Kyra Duffy, Caitlin Burns, Karen Raikes, Amy Bennie. Developer: Kendra Billington Office: Kathy Drake, Chris Waddell, Debbie Kirk.

The Bay’s most read newspaper

Danger, danger Will Robinson!

As I’ve always said, you can never trust a robot.

Powdercoated Aluminium Construction

Designed for Coastal areas

The Weekend Sun is published every Friday, circulating throughout the Western Bay of Plenty, delivered free to 66,911 homes of more than 159,700 residents from Waihi Beach, through Katikati, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke including rural and residential mailboxes.

The Weekend Sun is produced by Sun Media Ltd, an independent and locally owned company based at 1 The Strand, Tauranga.

There are hundreds of well-researched documentaries, often rudely denounced as science fiction films, that prove beyond doubt that the robots will never be as reliable as the top echelon of living species.

When I say reliable creatures, I am referring here, of course, to Labradors.

A Labrador will do anything, willingly, with an enthusiastic tail-wag, particularly if you have a small morsel of food available.

Or even a rumour of edible material.

The rustling of a pie packet is usually enough to get at least 15 minutes’ worth of full-on attention from a Lab.

people. A driverless car has killed one.”

Dr Ralph didn’t stop there. He has a few choice words about the company operating the car, saying: “Now that said, we're talking about Uber, a company with a terrible reputation for unethical behaviour and technological corner-cutting.

“If Uber knew that their autonomous vehicles were running red lights and did not take reasonable steps to correct the mistake, the company should be held criminally responsible for this woman's death.

Government should fund

He continues: “The problem is that this research should be funded by governments, but national governments, including New

Reliability scale

Humans, however, don’t rate so highly on the reliability scale. But at least we are ahead of the robots, with one notable exception: Cherry 2000. Anyone unfamiliar with the movie, uh, I mean science documentary from 1987, should immediately search the Google machine and view it.

At the risk of being a spoiler, it shows that the robot was loyal to the end, and was eventually betrayed by a human.

And even though he flew off into the sunset with Melanie riffith instead of Cherry, he will have lived to regret it.

No sooner would that plane have touched down on safe ground, and she’d be in Sam’s face about Cherry and his other previous robot encounters.

Now we learn this week that robot cars – so-called autonomous vehicles which are purported to be the way of the future with unsurpassed levels of safety – actually aren’t that smart after all.

A self-driving car in Arizona struck and killed Elaine Herzberg this week.

It s believed to be the first fatal pedestrian strike by a self-driving vehicle.

Human drivers kill thousands

Experts have been quick to defend the emerging technology (but then they would they’re keeping in mind their job prospects, after the robots take control). Dr Paul Ralph, a senior lecturer in computer science at the University of Auckland, says it is critical to “keep it in perspective”.

“People are using this incident to dismiss driverless cars as unsafe,” he says. “Human drivers have killed hundreds of thousands of

driverless and had a supervising driver constantly ready to take over is a detail likely to be lost in the response, but it is extremely important.” Here at RR we think these people have been watching too much Space Family Robinson.

They’ve been suckered into getting friendly with the robots and forming emotional attachments to them, much the same as my wife lovingly interacts with her coffee machine. A former acquaintance of mine grew very romantically involved with her washing machine on spin cycle, but that’s a story for another day.

The point is, that’s the thing about humans. We don’t always need to make sense. Sometimes it’s better to ride on a bit of gut instinct than to blindly trust what appears to be right. Just ask Will Robinson.

Complacency rules

Zealand’s, remain unwilling to invest in innovation at the scale demanded by the 21st Century.”

Well said, Dr Ralph. It’s hard to imagine how the current NZ government is going to tip any cash into autonomous car research, while they’re cutting back on road spend and back-tracking on urgently-needed redevelopment, such as the abysmal Shite Highway 2 north of Tauranga.

Supervising driver

A Law Foundation author, Michael Cameron, reckons driverless vehicles will be safer than the human-controlled vehicles.

“Some regulation is necessary, but any regulation that slows down the adoption of driverless technology will likely cost many more lives than it saves,” he says.

“The fact the vehicle wasn’t technically

At least a human driver is totally responsible. There’s no grey area.

How is it ever going to work, with people semi-relying on automated cars, while supposedly still keeping a proper lookout, to intervene when it stuffs up?

And if the robots hardly ever stuff up, as the experts claim, how long before that common human trait appears: complacency.

It’s like the guy who won a Darwin Award for putting his motorhome on cruise control while going down the back to make a coffee.

Complacency, for him, came surprisingly fast. So did the wall of the building that the RV smashed through at 60 mph.

The more reliable the robot cars seem, the quicker the humans supposedly in overall control will become distracted, complacent and no longer an effective back-stop.

We may as well have the Labrador drive the car. Most of them are better drivers than half the maniacs on NZ’s roads.

All we need is a GPS loaded with the soundtrack of a rustling pie packet or a fridge door opening, and you’ll have infallible attention focus. There’s just one small glitch with Labradrive yet to overcome: Nine out of ten trips terminate suddenly outside the butcher’s shop.

LOOKING AT BUILDING IN THE BAY

Visit our Beautiful Show Homes today / OPEN EASTER WEEKEND

PALM SPRINGS SHOWHOME: 107 The Boulevard, Palm Springs, Papamoa Open Mon-Sun 1pm -4pm

LAKES SHOWHOME

LAKES SHOWHOME: Cnr Lakes Boulevard & Puhirake Cres, The Lakes Open Mon-Sun 1pm-4pm

OFFICE SHOWROOM: Cnr 16th Ave & Fraser Street, Tauranga Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

0800 102 105 signature.co.nz

IMPORTANT STUFF: All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Sun Media makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information and accepts no liability for errors or omissions or the subsequent use of information published.

There are a number of countries around the world that are aiming to commercialise driverless cars by 2020, including the United States, Singapore, Greece, Sweden, Amsterdam, England, Switzerland, China, Japan and Finland.

VOG0372

PALM SPRINGS SHOWHOME

The Weekend Sun

3

Lakes Boulevard residents still can’t go home A number of residents on Lakes Boulevard have not only been evicted from their homes, they are also unable to enter their properties to make repairs demanded by Tauranga City Council.

B to Big ig H To Sit ou w n e - se & Clo Sc se ho ols

Council issued a legal Notice to Fix to the former Bella Vista Homes owners in October.

The residents have since engaged their own experts, produced plans and hired a contractor to install retaining walls, but are currently prevented from acting.

Worksafe stopped work on the former Bella Vista Homes late last year.

The property owners have Worksafe permission to build retaining walls, but the council order to vacate the properties because of the claimed threat posed by Cyclone Hola is still in effect.

At the time of writing, council staff have not confirmed when this will be lifted.

The Notice to Fix has to be completed by June, or the owners will become liable to fines.

“The steps required under the s129 warrant are ongoing, including further engineering assessments,” says the chief executive’s group general manager at council, Kirsty Downey “We hope to have detailed information from them in the coming days. Once we have that we will work with owners and residents on the next steps.”

One resident, who does not want their name used, says the council is saying two things.

It is telling them they have no consent for retaining, when property owners do have consent and three of the houses are fully compliant.

Council staff also said the site levels have changed, “which is also incorrect as they had them surveyed for the retaining job,” says the owner.

“It s very convenient for council to point the finger at Bella Vista because they are out of the picture, but there are a lot of questions about what the city council has and hasn’t done.

“All the problems will go away on the site when the retaining and drainage is complete, yet the council is not allowing the owners to put those basic safety features in place.”

Quality blinds

Direct from the factory We custom make all of our blinds at our Bay Blinds factory in Tauranga. There is no middle man in our supply chain so we can keep our prices low but our quality high. And with our local team assembling them we can guarantee you’ll be happy with the end result.

ROLLERS VENETIANS VERTICALS

Call for a free measure & quote 0800

229 254

8 Maleme Street, Greerton | bayblinds.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

4 A selection of local breaking stories featured this week on...

The only local daily source you need constantly updated, seven days a week

Hot cross buns and books The logistics are mind-blowing.

It might be a book fair, but it’s as much about numbers as it is about books.

www.sunlive.co.nz News tips: 0800 SUNLIVE

‘Mammoth’ kiwifruit orchard for sale One of New Zealand s biggest privately-owned kiwifruit orchard portfolios has been placed on the market for sale.

The portfolio consists of three separate mid to large-sized productive blocks in Te Puke – the centre of New Zealand s kiwifruit-growing industry.

Combined, the three blocks comprise some 98 canopy hectares – on track to produce between 1.21.3 million trays once all in mature production, and with the potential to increase production even further.

The orchards produce both the SunGold G3 and Hayward kiwifruit varieties in roughly equal percentages of canopy.

Mayor turns down Obama invite Most mayors couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw an invitation for dinner with Barack Obama, but Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless turned his down.

“Unfortunately I’m unable to attend the event due to prior commitments,” said Greg.

A council spokesperson said Greg had a longstanding commitment to attend a citizenship ceremony, where 60 people would receive their citizenship from him.

“He regretfully declined the invitation to honour his commitment to his own people,” they said.

Her 14th book fair - Rotary service Director Ann Pritchard.

Photo: Nikki South.

Picture two cool stores with the proportions of a football field possibly 100 metres long and a combined 70 metres wide.

There are 36 rows of trestle tables in one and probably as many in the other.

They’re awash with hardback and softback books, magazines, vinyl records, CDs and jigsaws – many tens of thousands of them.

“Who knows how many?” says the Rotary Club of Tauranga’s Ann Pritchard. It’s the Rotary club’s 31st annual book fair, and Ann’s 14th.

“Everytime we have a sale I think that must be it,” says Ann. “We must have cleaned the city out this time.”

But no, the books continue to flood in from collection depots around Tauranga – up to ten pallets at a time, two or three times a week. And the Rotarians go to work, spending three or four hours a day processing, pricing and placing.

Where does a book called Music and Silence go Ann confirms it’s an historical novel and should not end up on the music table.

There are books about world affairs, history and religion.

There are more books about crafts, food and science fiction.

Others cover gardening, self-help, and there are biographies and autobiographies and even more about business computing.

Maori has its own trestle table, and that’s before you get to the magazines, records and CDs. When one otary of Tauranga book fair finishes, another is starting. There is a container, “and we will start filling it immediately after this year’s sale ends,” says Ann. She’s a reader who devours a book or more a week, with a preference for non-fiction. “ ee Child was the most popular author at last year s sale and I wondered what this ee Child was all about.

“I read one and that was enough.”

It wasn’t Ann’s cup of tea, but she can’t argue his popularity.

There’ll be hundreds of Jack Reacher tales at the fair, and probably hundreds more by the clever, witty and entertaining Bill Bryson.

Anne produces a couple of very special books that have come to light this year. One is ‘The Oxford Annual for Scouts’ – an anthology of stories including ‘Smokey’s Treasure’, ‘Some Hints for Handymen , ead by the Nose and a raft of interesting lithographs.

On the leaf is a hand-written notation: ouis ichards, Thorndon Road, Cambridge and the date 12/27/1927 – presumably the original owner. The book’s 90-years-old and in perfect condition.

It has a reserve of $70 and will go into a silent auction.

There s another fascinating publication – Collins New World Atlas . It s inscribed H.M. ellimore, Bank of NZ, Sydney, 19 .

Not something you would thumb through on the pillow and probably no longer an accurate reference book, but certainly an interesting book to own and show.

That too will go to tender on the specials table.

By the time the Rotary Club of Tauranga book fair opens at 9am on Saturday, March 31, book enthusiasts will have been queuing in the dark for three hours. “Oh ord, yes” says Ann. What s that about early birds and worms and books?

What you see on the trestle tables now will have, until recently, been stored in boxes and cartons in cellars and garages and under stairs around Tauranga.

“They will have belonged to people who have moved into retirement homes or have passed away,” says Ann. “Or people who have run out of space and are cleaning out.

“We are doing people a service and doing the books a service, because it means they continue to be read.”

And the books keep coming back. “We know that because we often spot the little identifying stickers we put on them for the previous sale.” Or the one before that.

The Rotary Club of Tauranga book fair is at the Seeka Coolstore on Harvard Way, opposite Classic Flyers at the airport. It’s open from 9am on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Easter Weekend.

Moving a football field of books - honorary Rotarian Josh Meyer.

Photo: Nikki South.

Driver blows five times legal limit A driver who crashed into a parked car on Sunday was nearly five times the legal alcohol limit.

The emergency services were called to the crash on Bellevue Road at around 6.30pm that night.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter says the 34-year-old woman driver blew 1240 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath when police breath tested her at the scene.

The legal adult limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Wayne says most people would not be able to walk, let alone drive, with that level of blood alcohol. He says no one was injured in the crash.

Retired Tauranga woman wins $1 million A Tauranga retiree has won $1 million in a Bonus Bonds draw this month.

The winner, who heard about the prize on her wedding anniversary, says her only big purchase will be taking her train-obsessed husband to Australia to ride heritage trains.

“We live in a retirement village, so it’s different than if we had our own place which we could do up,” she says. “We have a good life here, so there’s no need to spend it at the moment.”

After hearing she’d won, the winner asked her husband: “How tall would a pile of money of that amount be? I’d never seen money like that before in my life!”

Comment of the week ‘I don’t get it...’ posted by Jed on ‘Shakeup begins for Mount carpark’.

“This seems short sighted to me. Where are we supposed to park now? Personally I will avoid downtown Mount in the future. The mall is expanding, adding new shops and cinema etc. The Mount township is nice, but nice is no good if there is nowhere to park.”

Cosmetic Medicine

The Weekend Sun

5

Kitting out the friendly isles “Love your work Smithy, will get onto it,” and “Gidday champ – I’m sure we’ve got some stuff we can dig out and send up.”

Above: Lana Smith with her Dad Graeme Smith and a group of school kids.

These were among the Facebook comments to the ‘champ’ – the champ being Leona Smith.

In fact there’s a whole family of champs – Leona, husband Graeme and daughters Lana, 16, and Elle, 15.

They’re champs because they’re making a difference to lives in Fiji.

Over the last 16 years, the Smiths have visited Fiji 11 times, and on each occasion have taken around 100 kilograms of sports gear - rugby and soccer strips, football boots

and rugby, soccer and water polo balls.

“One year we organised a boot amnesty and took between 180 and 200 pairs to Fiji,” says Leona. That was enough for 13 rugby teams.

It all began when Graeme Smith wore a Chiefs singlet at a resort in Fiji. “Oh Mr Smith, we love your shirt” said the staff. So Graeme took off the shirt and gave it to the Fijians. They loved it.

“So we said, right, the next time we go, we are going to have a bit of a rally around and take some stuff,” says Leona. “Since then it has snowballed,” At the time of the first trip back to Fiji, the Smiths were both involved with the Chiefs and the Steamers and they scored a lot of ex-playing kits.

“The Fijians loved it, ‘cos everyone in the team looked the same,” adds Leona. “They suddenly looked like a sports team, and anything that helps these amazing athletes feel more professional, more part of a team, then we will do it.”

On each trip, the Smiths cram their own gear into carry-on luggage and 100 kilos of sports gear is packed into checked-in luggage. “We have fallen in love with Fiji and the Fijian people and we know what a difference this gear makes to their lives,” she says.

Now the Smiths are at it again. Their visit to Fiji this year will be their 12th, and the call has gone out for more gear.

“We just encourage people to keep a bag at the back of their wardrobe and every time they decide they don’t have use for something, they should chuck it in the bag,” says Leona.

And on Facebook, help is on its way. “Hi Guys – I have still got the running shoes for you” and “I have got a tub of jerseys and shorts – I’ll vacuum pack them and drop them to you.

“Also have shoulder pads and head gear.”

The Smiths are planning another family excursion to the friendly isles in October.

If you have some sports gear to help them achieve their 100 kilogram luggage allowance, call Leona on: 0274 986 425 or email: Leona@leonasmith.nz

Licensed Licensed

MOUNT STORE MOVING SALE - LAST DAYS!!

Last Chance To Grab 50% Of All Accessories - Most Furniture 50% Off Too!

OUR TAURANGA STORE STOCKTAKE SALE CONTINUES! Huge Discounts Across All Furniture In-store & Online Now!

CNR 13TH AVE & CAMERON RD, TAURANGA

FURNISH.CO.NZ

*Stock only, no orders available CNR NEWTON ST & HULL RD, MT MAUNGANUI

6

The Weekend Sun

Kemper’s race against time Kemper Beatson is very clear about what he wants to achieve this year, including completing this weekend’s Foundation Clinic Mauao Half Marathon with dad Anthony and family friend Eddie Jeacock.

“I’m gonna smash it,” says the 12-yearold. He’s racing against the clock, and not just the one recording finish times on Saturday.

Kemper has a rare inherited disease

The Fujitsu

called Freidreich’s ataxia, that causes nervous system damage and movement problems. One day it may rob him of his ability to walk, so he’s wasting no time making the most of the physical activities he enjoys so much.

He plays blindside flanker for the Greerton Marist under-13 side, and is training to compete in para swimming at this year’s AIMS Games.

There is some overseas travel on the cards later in the year too, and he’s fresh from attending his first live music concert after seeing Bruno Mars.

He can’t stop grinning about it, and his

souvenir cap is handled with reverence.

Kemper decided to tackle the half marathon at the suggestion of his physiotherapist Craig Newland, who is also the event director.

“Craig said ‘Kemper, you should do this’ and I said ‘yeah, okay’, not knowing what I had agreed to.”

As a member of a three-person team, Kemper will do one leg of the half marathon – up, down and around Mauao, a distance of 7km. Tackling the narrow stairs will be one of his biggest challenges, but he will be accompanied by his dad for support.

His condition means he will have to step carefully and take it slowly. He sums it up pretty succinctly.

“There’s a lack of communication between my legs and my brain,” explains Kemper.

He has only climbed Mauao three times before, but has been getting some pre-season rugby training in, as well as his weekly physiotherapy sessions.

His favourite rugby team is the Blues. Why not the local Chiefs? He rolls his eyes.

“It s a long story. When I first started watching rugby I was into Ma’a Nonu and he played for the Blues for about three years.

“Then he went to the Highlanders and the ‘Canes. By the time he went to the ‘Canes, dad had already bought me a Blues t-shirt. When I asked if I could support the ‘Canes he said ‘no, I’ve just spent $100 on your top. “‘You’re sticking with that team’.”

As well as sport, Kemper enjoys making videos and is in a multi-media class at Tauranga Intermediate School.

One day he would like to set up his own YouTube channel. He is also an ambassador for Cure Kids, and for the past two years has organised a Red Nose Day fundraising event at his school.

Kemper was diagnosed with Freidreich’s ataxia in January 2016 after his mum, Carly Pohatu, became concerned after one fall too many. Initially, she put the trips and falls down to general clumsiness.

“I roll my ankles all the time, so I thought he was just clumsy like me,” says Carly. “When he started walking into walls I knew something wasn’t right. As a student nurse I’d also been learning about the brain and realised

Bruno Mars and Blues rugby fan Kemper Beatson, 12, will compete in the Foundation Clinic Mauao Half Marathon this weekend.

it could be something serious.”

Friedreich’s ataxia effects everyone differently, but the reality is that Kemper may lose his ability to walk one day. “Kemper may need to go into a wheelchair at some stage,” says Carly. “We’ve met a lot of adults at the clinic [Friedrich ataxia clinic at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne] and they are mostly in wheelchairs, or have some sort of mobility aid.”

About 80 individuals and 50 teams of three will be taking to Mauao on Saturday, March 24, for the Foundation Clinic Mauao Half Marathon.

The course involves ascending and descending Mount Maunganui three times and three laps around the base track. Event director Craig Newland says the aim of the event, now in its third year, is to inspire the community to lead more healthy and active lifestyles.

The event gets underway at 7.30am, with prizegiving Kerry Mitchell on Mount Main Beach at 12pm.

The Weekend Sun

7

The difficult birth of a green space It is probably one of the most controversial addresses at the Mount.

an adjacent site. The existing building will be demolished, and from the rubble will grow a new building featuring retailers and outdoor dining facilities spilling onto the new open green space.

Both projects are scheduled to be completed and open in December 2018.

But now, after a long and at times acrimonious process, the transformation of the Mount Maunganui Phoenix carpark at 123-141 Maunganui Road, from blacktop into a largely “urban green space” fringed with eateries, is happening.

Work started this week and, according to Tauranga City Council, by December the site will feature grass areas in which to play and relax, native trees for shade and a flexible space for year-round events and activities.

“The park is designed for people to enjoy,” says deputy mayor Kelvin Clout.

“It will create a greater sense of belonging for our community by encouraging social interaction through a shared space to rest and play.”

The number of parking spaces at the car park area will fluctuate during construction. Parking spaces that remain become free of charge, with time limits.

The final park design will retain up to 20 car parks.

The parking area next to May Street will remain open and will be expanded to include 12 extra parking spaces.

New permanent parking spaces The Phoenix carpark for are also being . ow people tomorr added in Nikau Crescent and Prince Avenue, retaining the balance of parking spaces in the downtown Mount area.

You can follow the development at: www.tauranga.govt. nz/urbanspace

Benefits

Councilor Leanne Brown hopes the new space will encourage visitors and locals to stay longer in the CBD. “Local businesses will also enjoy economic benefits through increased foot traffic and a relaxed customer experience,” says Leanne.

The plan to create the trendy new green space was divisive from the outset – some retailers were concerned it would impact their businesses and profitability and it caused ill-feeling, anger and fear.

But ideas were batted back and forth, resulting in trade-offs and compromises, and now the plan is underway.

First, a number of Phoenix palms at the northern-end of the park will be removed.

That end of the carpark will be blocked off after Easter weekend.

The rest of the car park will remain available as long as possible.

Council are in collaboration with Mauao Properties, which is redeveloping

People’s Choice

*Conditions apply. For more info visit www.downtowntauranga.co.nz

THE BIG SELLOFF

.co.nz

5

SNOOZE POP UP SET

upto

HT

$50 OFF

any Mattress Protector purchased with same size mattress Please bring this coupon to redeem Valid until 25/03/2018

oo hi i io people pl ces

Now that the judges have chosen, it is your turn. Choose your favourite photo.

Text CHOICE and the photo code displayed on the photo info panels to 559 and be in to WIN DINNER FOR TWO DOWNTOWN TAURANGA*

4

12 MONTHS INTEREST FREE*

e sc le sho c si o

FREE ENTRY

Bring back your dream sleep

IG 60 N

THE STRAND, DOWNTOWN TAURANGA

The Phoenix carpark for cars today.

BEDS U 60% OFF

ENDS THIS SUNDAY

Parking spaces

#

COMFORT PLUS & COMFORT ZONE

NZ Best Value Trundler*

60% OFF! WAS $1598

$799

Complete set with 1x King Single and 1x single pillow top mattress.

WITH PILLOW TOP

WAS $2398

959

$

WAS $2798

1119

$

An extremely popular bed that offers it all; Comfort, Support, Luxury and Value. Slumberzone’s Posture Pro Spring Technology™ is used along with high quality fabric, exceptionally comfortable and very well priced. Finished in a luxuriously soft designer fabric.

VICTORIA BEDROOM SUITE

AT DARK

10

WAS $2120

1696

$

4pc solid NZ Pine wooden bedroom suite, includes Queen Bed frame, Tallboy, & 2 bedsides. Dressor and mirror extra $649.

Queen Base + Mattress

Available in all Sizes

WAS $3496

20% OFF!

1748

$

50% OFF all sizes

3 Zoned Posture Pro Spring Featuring: Latex, high grade kniting fabric, and polyurethane foam which embraces Also Available in King & Super King the body and diminishes body pressure.

Queen Base + Mattress

65 Chapel street, Tauranga (Mon-Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm / Sat-Sun 10am - 6pm) Ph: 07 578 5874

*12 Months Interest Free is available on Q Card Flexi Payment Plans. Minimum spend $999. Normal Lending criteria apply. #Comfort guarantee not available in all models, some terms and conditions may apply. Beds4u reserve the right to amend any misprints or error with in this advertisement. All stock subject to prior sale.

The Weekend Sun

8

From the gloom into the spotlight She will make her hometown premiere at Baycourt on Monday, and it will be a special night for everyone.

“My whole family is coming,” says Hailey Trappit. “I am very excited.”

Proud parents Geoff and Anita and sisters Sophie, 14, and seven-year-old Ashlee will join friends, old school acquaintances and many others.

But the orchestra pit will be empty, there will be no music, no dancing, no carefully rehearsed dramatic lines – just a brave, beautiful, bubbly and articulate Papamoa 17-year-old on the stage, under the spotlight, telling the world how she went to the brink, but fought back and won.

“I am looking forward to it because I haven’t hidden my struggles from anyone,” says Hailey.

“I have been really open about it, and I think it will be good for them to see how far I have come.”

Lead role

Hailey Trappitt has a lead role in comedian and mental health educator Mike King’s ‘I am Hope’ tour – she’s one of three youth ambassadors travelling the country on 50cc Suzuki motor scooters promoting mental health awareness.

“It’s been a real eye opener,” she says. “It is just amazing how open and responsive kids are.”

She tells the story of two Timaru 13-year-olds who approached her.

“They were friends and both struggling with suicidal thoughts.

“It just broke my heart because I could see myself in them.”

The “myself” Hailey could see was a deeply troubled teenager who once cut herself so deeply she nicked an artery and needed 28 stitches - a teenager “stuck in a psych ward battling her mind every day”, a teenager afraid of living and afraid of dying, a teenager who danced dangerously with suicide, a teenager who went so close to the brink on so many occasions.

Hailey drew on those experiences to help the Timaru buddies out of their dark place. “It was the fact they were able to open up to me and Mike – we gave them our cellphone numbers and got them in touch with some good professional advice.

“It’s a privilege to have this sort of impact on some young lives.”

Hailey’s is a preventative action – stopping kids from heading down the same damaging, tortuous track that she did.

“I reckon if I had been their age and someone came into my school talking mental health and normalising it, I could have been spared a whole lot of pain and struggle.”

But something good is emerging from those dark days.

Simple message

“I am about helping people – and while these past years have been horrible for me, the tour gives them some meaning and worth, I guess.”

When Hailey Trappitt steps from the gloom of her recent past into the glare of the spotlight on Monday evening, she will have one simple message.

“I will talk about my struggles, things people did that weren’t helpful while understanding they meant well, and things that did help.”

When The Weekend Sun spoke to Hailey Trappitt she was getting some therapy - in a Palmerston North pet shop. “I have two cats and two dogs at home in Papamoa and I miss them dreadfully.”

The “I am Hope” tour spent two weeks scootering through the South Island. And when they have finished the North Island leg, they will have visited around 45 schools and spoken to 20,000 people with a message about openness and listening without judgement when people come to them seeking help.

Friends and family

“We’re not just aimed at kids in crisis, we’re also aimed at friends and family around those in trouble and how they can help.”

Like those who will be in the audience at Baycourt on Monday night. “They are the people who were with me before I got sick, while I was sick and now while I am coming out the other side,” says Hailey. “I am really looking forward to all of this.”

New Zealand has the unenviable record of having the highest teen suicide rates in the developed world.

And Mike King and his three young ambassadors, all with their own stories of mental health, will attempt to shake off the stigma and myths surrounding mental health at Baycourt on Monday, March 26 at 7pm. It’s open to all ages and admission is free.

For more information visit: keytolife.org.nz

The Weekend Sun

9

Girls’ football programme expands A football ‘ambassador’ programme among primary school girls is taking off in Papamoa and further east.

Last year, Papamoa Football Club junior girls' coordinator Sue Tilby started the programme at Golden Sands School, with support from Papamoa Four Square.

That programme is continuing this year, and expanding into Te Akau Ki Papamoa Primary School thanks to the support of sports coordinator Andy Munn and some enthusiastic girls.

“They will be running girls-only football at lunchtime once a week to give girls an opportunity to play football, get active, make new friends and hopefully encourage girls who are not so active at lunch to get out there on the pitch and have a run around,” says Sue. All the girls who were selected to be ambassadors were already playing football, but are keen to support and encourage new girls to the game, and those that already play to get more touches on the ball, says Sue. “We are very grateful, too, for the funding from KiwiSport via Sport Bay of Plenty.”

Sue says Paengaroa School has also embraced the ambassador programme, with more welcome to come on board.

The ambassadors are self-directing, with teachers only there to oversee. Ambassadors are provided with

Te Akau Ki football ambassadors Danielle Brogan, Petra Costa and Neeve Lourie.

a folder to give them ideas of games and activities to try, which they set up using cones and pop-up goals, which are also supplied.

“Since starting at Golden Sands and with the girls at Te Akau Ki, the ambassadors have stepped up and come up with many ideas of their own.

“They are seeing what works, what is popular, and learning how long to run each activity to maintain attention and enthusiasm.”

For more info about the programme, contact Sue at: stilby@kinect.co.nz Ryan Wood

Courses for upskilling cyclists very popular The course is full, there are heaps of people on a waiting list, and it may even signal a shift in attitude concerning alternative means of transport.

road and then, in weeks three and four, we will start to ride more on the road.”

The first course runs from 9am to 11am on Wednesday, March 28, at It’s a course designed to Kulim Park, Kulim Avenue, practically prepare people for Otumoetai. It then runs getting out of their cars and on successive Wednesdays onto bicycles. from outside the Historic illage on 1 th Avenue, “If you are new to cycling or haven’t been on a bike for Casslani playground carpark at The Lakes, Sport BOP on years or lack confidence, then this course is for you,” says Devonport Road and at the Paul Roozendaal, Sport Bay of Sulphur Point Boat off Cross Plenty’s cycling advocate.

Road. The course will be mostly “It’s helped many start cycling practical, so participants need a road worthy bike, ideally with or increase their knowledge.”

The five-week course covers “fat” tyres suitable for off road Sport BOP cycle savvy cyclists skilling up. trails. Brakes need to be working setting up a bike, how to fix and tyres properly inflated. punctures, braking and use Cycle helmets are compulsory, and a spare tube of gears, on-road safety cycle skills and managing would help in case of a flat tyres. iders also need intersections and single lane roundabouts. to wear enclosed footwear (sport shoes) and brightly “We plan to start from a different location each week so we can show you some of the great cycle ways coloured clothing or a high viz vest. around Tauranga,” says Paul.

For more information on future courses, contact Paul “The first two weeks will involve mainly riding off Roozendaal via: paulr@sportbop.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

10

KROMI PRESENTATION BOARD - 2PC

DACHSIE DRAUGHT STOP

NOW $19.99

INTRO OFFER $39.99

RETAIL $39.99

RETAIL WILL BE $79.99

L E N D I N G C R I T E R I A , F E E S , T E R M S & C O N D I T I O N S A P P LY – S E E I N - S I D E F O R D E TA I L S

FRANKIE WALL CLOCK RETAIL $79.99

NOW $31.99

GOLD ORB PRINTED ARTWORK RETAIL $399.00

NOW $199.50

FERGUS ARMCHAIR RETAIL $1399.00

MIMIC WALNUT TABLES

NOW $699.50

INTRO OFFER FROM $149.50ea delivery/handling fee will apply

NOOK SIDE TABLE

RETAIL WILL BE $499.00ea

INTRO OFFER $249.50ea

RORA FLOOR LAMP

HOT PRICE $299.00ea

INTRO OFFER $249.50

RETAIL $799.00ea

delivery/handling fee will apply

RETAIL WILL BE FROM $299.00ea

NETWORK COFFEE TABLES

RETAIL WILL BE $499.00

delivery/handling fee will apply

ROKO VASES

RETAIL FROM $24.99ea

NOW FROM $12.49ea

ANTIQUE VISCOSE RUG

RETAIL WILL BE FROM $599.00ea

INTRO OFFER FROM $299.50ea

delivery/handling fee will apply

VCOOL ARMCHAIR

CAMBRIDGE MEDIA UNIT

DANBERT 2 - SEATER SOFA

NOW $1,149.50

NOW $799.50

NOW $3,499.50

RETAIL $2,299.00 delivery/handling fee will apply

RETAIL $1,599.00 delivery/handling fee will apply

RETAIL $6,999.00

delivery/handling fee will apply

79 elizabeth street, tauranga auckland | tauranga | hamilton | nelson | christchurch | queenstown | dunedin www.nood.co.nz *terms & conditions:discount is taken off the full retail price and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.the offer excludes clearance,seconds and elements items.furniture and large accessory items are not kept in stock in store,orders can be placed for such items and a home delivery or a hub pick up fee will apply to these items.delivery times and fees will vary,ask a staff member for more details.stock may vary from store to store,some products may require assembly.while stocks last,orders can be taken on some of our stock items.nood reserve the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time.offer ends 22 april 2018.^ finance conditions: *20 months no payments & no interest (“payment holiday”) is available on flexi payment plans for purchases in-store only.offer available from 15 March to 22 April 2018.excludes online purchases.minimum spend $499.annual account fee of $50 applies.new cardholder fees - $55 establishment.existing cardholder fee - $35 advance.standard interest rate,currently 25.99% p.a.or 22.95% p.a.(depending on your card),applies to any outstanding balance at the end of payment holiday.lending criteria,fees,terms and conditions apply.rate and fees correct as at date of publication,subject to change

The Weekend Sun

11

Sallies outdoors to celebrate resurrection Fun day of fishing for kids Bold as brass – the Sallies’ Easter Sunday service at Memorial park.

ive a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

The old Chinese proverb will be put into play this weekend with the annual Blue ight Kids one Fishin event at Tauranga Bridge Marina.

The free day out is hosted by Blue Light Ventures Tauranga and includes free bait, a sausage sizzle and spot prizes.

About 00 children attended last year s event and Tanya rimstone, from the Te Aranui outh Trust, says it s a great opportunity to have fun and spend quality time with whanau.

It also provides a chance to interact with local police and follows on from

It’s a rousing hymn, especially in the cool of dawn when delivered by a bold brass band as the sun scrambles up over Motiti Island and lights up Memorial Park.

“Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,” as the hymn goes.

“We have to have that one,” says Laurie Bell, the retired fire fighter and now Salvation Army chaplain.

“We have that one every year.”

“He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.” very aster Sunday at am, the local Salvation Army congregation gathers at Memorial Park for a service “for the faithful”, according to Laurie - the ones prepared to get up early.

“It’s about 30 people,” says Laurie, “Not many, but it is spectacular.” And spectacular because “Sallies” are different, he says.

“We have uniforms and a brass band.

“We are already out in the community and it’s very easy to leave the church and go down to the park on aster Sunday.”

There’s no sound systems, no drums and guitars and amplifiers. “We don t need them, we re loud enough. A brass band is loud enough.”

The life-long Salvation Army officer, who s had postings from the lower socio-economic Aranui in Christchurch to Kaitaia in the far north, says the weather has intervened only once in the eight years he’s been in Tauranga.

“The gimmick is the service is outside. If the weather forces us to hold it inside then it becomes just another service. It takes the shine off it.”

And when the brass band fades, and after the final rousing refrain of “Up from the grave He arose”, the Salvation Army will fire up the barbeques down at Memorial Park.

“Something we like to call a alilean breakfast – we’ll sort of imitate what it was like in Jesus’ day as best we can in 2018.”

The Salvation Army aster Sunday service at Memorial park begins at am on April 1, and there is a general invitation.

“We have people who don’t even belong to the Salvation Army who join us for the service,” says Laurie. “We enjoy that.”

the successful Tauranga Police Station open day held earlier this month.

Participants are invited to bring their own rod, however there will be a limited number of free hand lines available.

Prize-giving will be from 2.1 pm.

Kids one Fishin runs from 11am2pm on Sunday, March 2 on the Mount side of the Tauranga Bridge Marina at 101 Te Awanui Drive.

To register, head to: www.tayt.org.nz

The Weekend Sun

12

Rates reduction offer in LTP Ratepayers are being offered a way out of the proposed 9.6 per cent rates increase next financial year by supporting the Long Term Plan rates restructuring.

The rates increases for domestic ratepayers over the next three years, if the current system remains in effect, are 9.7 per cent next year, 8.1 per cent in 2020 and 8.6 per cent for 2021/22.

However, if proposed changes survive the public consultation process, the impact on residential ratepayers will be reduced.

The example given is a 00,000 capital value house that will pay an extra 12 a year, 2. a week or only a 5.5 per cent increase instead of 9.7 per cent.

For the average commercial ratepayer with an $840,000 capital value property, the impact is greater, adding up to an extra $1,117 a year, $21.49 a week or 28 per cent.

The argument is the existing system is unfair. esidential ratepayers with lower-valued properties are paying a larger share of the general rates bill than any other major city in the country.

The commercial ratepayers who own 17 per cent of the capital value of property in the city only pay 1 per cent of the general rates, mainly because the Uniform Annual eneral Charge is set at 30 per cent.

The 0 per cent of total rate

that Tauranga City Council receives from its UA C is the highest proportion of any metro city in the country, and it means people in lower-value properties pay a larger share of the total rate.

The council is proposing to reduce the UA C to 1 per cent and to introduce a differential rate similar to the one used to in the Mount Maunganui Borough before it was amalgamated into the city.

Council staff estimate it will bring about a rates reduction for 38 per cent of ratepayers.

For 0 per cent the increase will be smaller and 22 per cent will pay more - mainly the owners of higher-value residential and commercial properties.

Funeral director Annie Innes.

To accommodate that conversation, A cup of tea, a scone perhaps, legacy is opening Woodhill, the a smidgeon of gracious living old kauri homestead in range from a bygone era and a frank Road, which is one of Tauranga’s most historic buildings, for a morning but valuable discussion about tea next Wednesday, March 28, from dying and funeral plans.

9. 0-11. 0am.

“It s a worthwhile discussion to It was built as a homestead in 188 have,” says egacy funeral director, as a private residence for a family with Annie Innes.

11 children. egacy now operates it as “Pre-planning ensures you have the a venue for funerals. type of funeral you want and makes it There will be a chance to view the easier for those left behind.” landmark and learn about its history.

It also removes the need for big To attend the morning tea, RSVP decisions at a time when loved ones are Natalie on: 0 80 or email: stressed and grieving. natalie legacyfunerals.co.nz

Celebrating around the T Watching the Commonwealth ames is something our family always looks forward to. I have great memories, as a youngster, of the Bridges clan crowding around the TV, cheering on our heroes.

It s a fantastic way to unite the family and the country, and celebrate Kiwi success. I am in awe of the physical training and dedication that goes in to preparing body and mind for competing at such a high level.

As much as we encourage participation, no one can deny the joy we all experience when one of our athletes wins a medal.

I wish all of our sports people who are taking part in this year s Commonwealth ames the best of luck - we will be watching and cheering you on. aster is another celebration we look forward to in our family. It s one of the big events of the year when you grow up as a pastor’s son. It’s a tradition we pass forward to our children, by explaining the religious meaning behind ood

Friday and Easter Sunday.

I can’t wait to spend time with my family. The last few weeks have been busy as we have been making changes, and evolving the National Party.

Spending time around the table, on aster Sunday, is a welcome tradition.

The boys will also be excited about chocolate eggs and the aster Bunny and we all love the smell of hot cross buns being warmed.

No matter what you have planned, I hope you enjoy the aster public holidays and the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.

Hopefully the weather remains settled, and we can enjoy some outdoor activities like the National azz Festival, proudly being held in Tauranga. njoy.

The Weekend Sun

13

0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 1 $ rtain & blind cu

!

E C N A R A CLE

40

%

Back, from left: Ken Knott, Jan Tinetti, Damien Harris, and Bernie Hanvey.

Front, from left: Nate Clissold, Daisy Smith, and Sienna Mackintosh.

Photo: Ryan Wood.

OFF

School’s building blocks Pupils at Mount Maunganui Primary School will have the chance to practice their building skills thanks to the addition of some learning blocks.

A set of the large, interlocking plastic blocks – essentially giant Lego – has been donated to the school through local charitable trust, Donors Choice.

Ken Knott and Bernie Hanvey from Donors Choice visited the school on Monday, along with Labour MP Jan Tinetti, to present the blocks as well as a water trough.

Mount Maunganui Primary School Principal Damien Harris says the school already has one set of the blocks, which have proven extremely popular. “We try to focus on learning through play, which teaches ‘soft' skills such as creativity and collaboration,” he says. Former school principal Jan agrees with that approach to education. While she was at Merivale School, her pupils also benefited from Donors Choice, which provided a programmable robot for the kids to practice coding with.

“We were looking to integrate technology into our curriculum, and at

the same time we also had a number of students with autism,” says Jan. “The robot allowed us to involve them with the programming, because it was easier for them to relate their learning to a physical thing.

“They see it as an actual person, but there's no confusion as to how it will react, which can be a problem for autistic children.” Donors Choice, which has provided several donations to local schools, is a new initiative based on successful USA-based charity Donors Choose. “This trust basically links up enthusiastic teachers and their class of students with sponsors who are interested in supporting school projects beneficial to the students,” says Ken. The New Zealand version is currently small, but they're working to build their profile and bring more donors on board.

“We're focused on classroom and teacher projects. It's for things that will enhance the learning of the children in the school environment.”

Business mentor Bernie says a company he's been working with donated three standing desks, two of which were sold and used to fund the blocks. “Most projects in the United States are only around $400-$500, and that's what we're seeing here too.”

LINED LOOK

READYMADE

CURTAINS $

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE

FROM

%

PENCIL P ENCIL CIL PLEAT PLEAT. ASSORTED C COLOURS. OLOURS UR 3 S SIZES IZES

PAIR

OFF

SUPER SOFT VELVET CUSHION COVERS

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE

NOW $23.97 EACH

FREE

ONLINE

45 X 45CM. INNERS NOT INCLUDED

SIENNA - COLOUR: NAVY

CURTAIN MAKING

APPLIES TO PENCIL PLEAT HEADING

ON SIENNA & WAVES DIMOUT, METROPOLIS, CHELTENHAM, & CASSIDY II BLOCKOUT FABRICS

CUSTOM

40

MADE

Big infrastructure like the $125 million Waiari Water Treatment Plant to prevent future water restrictions and other big growth projects from roads to sewage are driving the increase to a large extent.

However, the mix of councillors you elected has played a part too.

47.97

40

ONLINE

Ryan Wood

Council needs more money – are you kidding?

Last week, council unveiled its $5 billion draft 10-year budget.

Shockingly, Council requires 40 per cent more rates over the next three years.

That doesn’t mean a 40 per cent increase in your rates bill, as this figure includes rates on new homes being built and lower rates increases for home owners as council seeks to bring commercial ratepayers into line with what they pay in other cities.

How it’s chopped up isn’t as important as the size of the burden to begin with, and in my view, it’s not sustainable.

How did we get here?

AUSTIN

%

TAPES AND HOOKS ARE EXTRA. EXCLUDES SHAPED CURTAINS AND DROPS OVER 260CM.

OFF

CUSTOM ROLLER BLINDS

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE

ONLINE

APPLIES TO RIVERBED BLOCKOUT & MECCA TEXTURED LIGHT FILTERED & BLOCKOUT FABRICS.

FREE IN-HOME CURTAIN & BLIND CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE NOW CALL TODAY: OR BOOK ONLINE:

0800 00 88 80

harveyfurnishings.co.nz

WE COVER:

0800 00 88 80

Tauranga, Waihi, Te Puke, Whakatane and Rotorua

SHOP ONLINE AT:

harveyfurnishings.co.nz _________________________

OR VISIT OUR STORE AT: 387 CAMERON ROAD PHONE 07 578 6428

ALSO AT: NORTH SHORE • MT EDEN REMUERA • BOTANY • NEW LYNN MANUKAU • WESTGATE • HAMILTON WHANGAREI • PALMERSTON NORTH ALL OFFERS AVAILABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST UNTIL 28TH MARCH 2018 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. STOCK MAY VARY BETWEEN STORES. 23/03

14

The Weekend Sun

The Weekend Sun

15

Supporting museum with essays Tauranga company Classic Builders is sponsoring an essay competition among secondary students to raise youth interest in the proposed museum for Cliff Road.

Students are being asked to define their idea of a modern museum, and justify why Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty would benefit from it.

“The museum project will be an attractive addition to Tauranga, providing a worthy showcase for the city's heritage,” says company director Peter Cooney.

Locally established over 20 years ago, he says Classic Builders has a strong interest in the cultural development of the city, and see that development as equally as important as other development initiatives.

For this reason, the company is pleased to support the essay competition.

The competition has both junior and senior categories, and secondary schools are asked to

More Kiwi kids experience flight Airpoints members are showing their generosity towards this year’s Air New Zealand Airpoints for Schools programme, with four schools already meeting their donation targets to take off on some unforgettable journeys.

The programme has doubled in size this year, with 20 schools from across the country seeking funding support of up to 20,000 Airpoints Dollars each to support flights for chosen environmental, educational or cultural projects, resulting in almost 400,000 Airpoints Dollars in available funds.

This year the airline received entries from more than 100 schools across New Zealand for travel in

submit their best two essays in each category.

The two categories are Years 9 and 10, and Years 11, 12 and 13. The word limit is 800-to-1000 words in both categories.

The competition closes at midday on March 27.

The winners of the Years 9 and 10 category will receive a return trip to Dunedin to visit the studios of Animation Research Ltd - the company creating innovative graphics that enhance the viewers experience when watching the Americas Cup, cricket and World Golf tournaments.

They will also visit Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, which incorporates ARL technology into its exhibits. The museum recently underwent a $37 million revamp.

The four students from each secondary school whose essays are submitted for judging will be invited to the Classic Builders sponsored prize giving on April 4 at the Tauranga Art Gallery, starting at 5.30pm.

support of projects taking place from May 2018 onwards.

“We have a few more weeks to go to ensure all schools achieve their targets,” says Air New Zealand general manager loyalty Mark Street, “and I encourage members to donate where they can.

“More than 300 kids have had new travel experiences to broaden their knowledge over the past two years and it will be fantastic to send another 400 students on trips of a lifetime.”

Air New Zealand Airpoints members are able to donate Airpoints Dollars to the school of their choice through the Airpoints Store.

Taking to the greens for local charity St John will be better equipped on the course after they received a donation from a golf competition.

The $550 donation came from a fines system from Te Puke olf Club’s Summer Business House Golf competition, which ran for 10 weeks from November 17-February 18.

The co-ordinator of the Business House, Barry Smallridge, says he was pleased with the collection and happy to donate the funds to a worthy cause.

“This season the competition attracted a record number of teams and participants,” says Barry, “and it was fantastic to have many new golfers

experiencing our great course and club.

“The club has a full commercial kitchen which was very busy over summer, and is now available for functions, including weddings and receptions.”

Treasurer of St John Te Puke, Adrienne Bruce, says: “It will be very useful towards the setting up of the new Health Shuttle service which is anticipated to be launched in April/May.”

Area committee chair Lyn Govenlock, St John treasurer Adrienne Bruce and Te Puke Golf Club manager Scott Evans.

Singapore to Hong Kong - 21 nights 12 February - 5 March 2019

M904F

Beijing Seoul Seogwipo Shanghai Hong Kong

Explore home, and beyond.

Singapore

Kota Kinabalu

Launch Fares~

Queens Grill Suite

PP Fares from*

On board spending money for Grills

$21,049 $19,999

Up to $620pp^

Princess Grill Suite $18,539 $17,599

Up to $470pp^

Club Balcony

$12,539 $11,279

Balcony

$10,399

$9,349

Oceanview

$8,139

$7,319

Inside $6,379 $5,759 For more information visit cunard.com/M904F *Fares are per person twin share.

New Zealand and Tasmania - 9 nights 28 February - 9 March 2019

Q907C

Sydney Bay of Islands

Auckland

Image by James Taylor Hobart

Reduced fares~

$300 deposit per person#

Port Arthur

Complimentary gratuities>

plus Complimentary on board spending money for Grills Suite guests

^

To book visit cunard.com, call 0800 543 431 or contact your travel agent

Launch Fares~

PP Fares from*

On board spending money for Grills

Queens Grill Suite

$9,189

$8,729

Up to $265pp^

Princess Grill Suite

$7,319

$6,969

Up to $200pp^

Club Balcony

$4,819

$3,849

Balcony

$3,609

$2,899

Oceanview

$2,919

$2,349

Inside $2,589 $2,069 For more information visit cunard.com/Q907C *Fares are per person twin share.

*Fares are cruise only, per person, in NZD, in complete twin accommodation, based on lead category staterooms as specified available at time of publication, inclusive of all discounts, taxes, fees, and port expenses (which are subject to change). Supplements apply for other stateroom categories. Cunard has set aside a reasonable number of staterooms which are available at these fares. Once this allocation is exhausted, fares may revert to a higher fare, but may also be discounted. Some Oceanview and Balcony staterooms may have an obstructed view. Valid for new bookings and not combinable with any other offer. All offers are subject to availability. ~Comparison launch fares are based on fares launched into the market April 2016 and April 2017. #Pay $300 per person deposit when you book, and pay the balance on final payment of the booking. >Complimentary Gratuities offer is based on pre-payment by Cunard of suggested gratuities in the amount of USD13.50 per person per day when booking Grill Suites, and USD11.50 per person per day when booking Britannia staterooms. Complimentary Gratuities offer is not available for third/fourth berth guests. ^On board spending money is in USD, per person, applies to the first two guests in a stateroom, is nontransferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash or be used at the medical centre or casino. Amounts vary by sailing and stateroom. Offer ends 1 April 2018, but may end earlier if sold out. Offer is not transferable, not redeemable for cash and may not be combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits. To be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions contained in the latest Cunard brochures and available at http://www.cunardline.com.au/Documents/AU/Cunard_AU_Booking_Conditions_2017.pdf which passengers will be bound by. A 1.1% surcharge for Visa and Mastercard and a 2.3% surcharge for AMEX applies to direct bookings made through our call centre and website. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. Travel agents may charge additional fees - check with your travel agent. Please check with Cunard at the time of booking. Carnival plc trading as Cunard ABN 23 107 998 443.

The Weekend Sun

16

Local rugby league showcase The Coastline District rugby league season kicks off this weekend, with the Werohia Shield Challenge Day at Papamoa’s Gordon Spratt Reserve.

Apart from promoting the code in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the Werohia Shield is an indications of clubs’ readiness for the season proper, which begins early next month.

There will four shield games on Saturday, March 2 . The first gets underway at 12.30pm, when the Otumoetai Eels play

Papamoa Bulldogs. At 1.30pm the Eels will play Taneatua Warriors and at 2.30pm the Warriors play the Bulldogs.

The final will between the two teams with the most wins and/or points differential.

The games will consist of two 20-minute halves, played on field one.

The reserve grade will also have a pre-season hit-out on field two.

The Eels will play Papamoa Bulldogs at 11.30am, while the Te Teko Bulldogs will play Putauaki Stags at 12.30pm.

The Eels then play the Stags at 1.30pm and Papamoa take on Te Teko at 2.30pm. These games will also consist of two 20-minute halves, but there won t be a final.

Good news on rates rebate for retirement village residents There’s great news for any of you living in retirement villages here in Tauranga after the Rates Rebate (Retirement Village Residents) Amendment Bill was recently passed in parliament.

With a large aging population, this piece of legislation is an important one for many of our residents.

The Rates Rebate Scheme is nothing new in itself - it came about in the early 1970s under Labour Prime Minister Norman Kirk.

He believed that people who were on

low incomes needed some financial relief as meeting rate payment obligations often proved difficult for many.

This new legislation goes further, to include those living in retirement villages.

There are more than 360 retirement villages in New Zealand, with 34,000 Kiwis living in these villages. That number continues to grow.

Of that, a staggering 80 per cent didn’t qualify for a rates rebate - that's more than 27,000 people who were missing out on the rebate, and for 50 per cent of those people,

national super is their only income source.

This new piece of legislation will now allow people living in retirement villages to apply for a rates rebate, giving them a much needed boost to their finances.

Finally, on a sadder note, I would like to acknowledge the passing of a wonderful member of the Tauranga community, Barbara Rowe.

Barbara did so much for so many here in Tauranga, especially our children.

Farewell and thank you Barbara - you will be missed by us all.

ONLY ONCE A YEAR MASSIVE 1/2 PRICE SPECIAL DEAL! STOCKTAKING SALE!

ALL2255%FLOOR STOCK & 5205%% % FF 10 OBEDS 50% OFF OFF .00 O FEF C I R 0 P H$A2L0F GE BSUOIYTES UN Y ) ON LLOAZ NLY S (10 OA CH IR

$2 00.0O0FOFFF ALL DINING SUITES LLATWO -ZY-BBDAYS F ALL, OOYY F A , O S COFFEE TABLES, N O I H CUS CCHHAONLY! IR SS BUFFETS D WALL N A A IR S R O R R MI PRINTS SATURDAY & SUNDAY LOUNGE SUITES • LA-Z-BOY FEB 10TH - 11TH SLEEPSALE SYSTEMPRICES BEDS • NEWON HOUSE RANGE OUR INNER SPRUNG10am BEDS - 4pm Sale ends 31st March 2018

P 07 575 5008 | E furnituregallery@outlook.com A 282 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui (opposite and just before Mount movie theatre)

The Weekend Sun

17

Artist needs your water An artist is blurring the boundaries between art, craft, science and philosophy by utilising natural materials, colours from nature, water and plants to highlight social and environmental sensitivities.

to bring a type-written story or memory of up to 300 words, about water and what it means to you.

Shown in hundreds of suspended glass beakers, the water samples will be on display at the Tauranga Art Gallery on the corner of Wharf and Willow Streets, downtown Tauranga, from April 14-July 15.

Bring your water samples to Tauranga Art Gallery on Wednesday, March 21, from 1.30pm-4pm, Saturday, March 24, from 10am-2pm, Sunday, March 25, from 10am-2pm or Tuesday, March 27, from 10am-2pm.

Upscale retirement living in the Bay of Plenty The Beach House - an upscale ‘lodge-inspired’ facility - is unprecedented within the retirement village industry in Australasia.

The 16-hectare Pacific Coast illage continues a Bay of Plenty success story - a unique partnership between local iwi (Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporation) and retirement village operator Generus Living Group.

Graham Wilkinson, director of Generus Living roup, says the village was built with the confidence that there was a demand for world-class beach-side retirement living with five-star facilities in the Bay of Plenty.

This has been proven by the success of the village,

The new Beach House bar.

The Bethlehem Community Church Centre is throwing open its doors to mark Neighbours’ Day with a family fun day this weekend.

A bouncy slide, table tennis, board games, face painting, pool shot and food will be available on the day, with most activities only $2. Everyone is welcome

Tauranga-based Swedish environmental artist Jeannette Scharing’s new ‘Whose Whose wate Water Are You?’ exhibition at r are you?

Tauranga Art Gallery explores the role of water in our lives.

Having exhibited her piece around the world, Jeanette “The collection and recording will gather water samples (stories of participant’s stories about water around the collected water) will also form an insightful part of collected by residents of the Bay the project.” of Plenty from various sources such If you would like to participate, as estuaries, streams, puddles or please bring one or two samples of the home.

500mls to 1L of water, collected “Jeanette will then apply a from different sources such as your natural biochemical process with tap, a puddle, a local stream or plant materials and, over time, the from the ocean, to Tauranga Art water will change colour, revealing Gallery in a recyclable watertight the influence of the surrounding container on the dates and times environment, human interaction, mentioned below. light and the warmth,” says If you are not sure what type marketing and media coordinator of container to use, a soft-drink Martine Pierhagen. bottle is ideal. You are also invited

Maranui Street s Pacific Coast illage opened its newest addition on Thursday.

Family fun for Neighbours’ Day

with construction completed on an average of two high-end retirement villas every week.

This comprehensive community building houses a brasserie restaurant, an eatery and lounge, a club lounge bar, a study, craft and activity rooms, a hair salon and spa treatment room and even a 50-seat movie theatre.

The vision for The Beach House was initially inspired by work by American architect Howard Bracken, and the building was designed by renowned Auckland architects Sumich Chaplin, who have been responsible for some of New Zealand’s most upscale residential homes and resort lodges.

“The Beach House is designed to reflect the coastal environment, with a feeling of understated beach elegance,” says Graham.

“This facility provides a major point of difference for Pacific Coast illage.”

The next part of its expansion plans is a serviced apartment complex and aged care facility.

This will provide much needed residential care in the Mount Maunganui-Papamoa area, allowing village residents and the local community the ability to stay on the coastal strip as their needs change.

“There is a severe shortage of care beds in Tauranga and nothing of an equivalent standard,” says Graham.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer this much-needed service in the coming years.”

to attend.

The activities get underway from 1-4pm on Saturday, March 24, at the church centre at 183 Moffat Road, Bethlehem.

Neighbours’ Day events are being held throughout the country over the weekend, including themed events barbecues on the berm, fiestas between the floors for apartment and office buildings and pop-ups in public places.

WHY DOES TAURANGA NEED A MUSEUM? Time for to youth ay! have a s

Promoting discussion – the Tauranga museum is an economic and social game changer

CLASSICBUILDERS.CO.NZ | 0508 4 CLASSIC (252 774)

Thursday, 29 March

Bayswater Village Papamoa

10.00 – 11.30am

Wednesday, 4 April

RSA Mount Maunganui

10.30 – 11.30am

Thursday, 5 April

RSA/Citizens Club – Te Puke

10.30 – 11.30am

Wednesday, 18 April

Katikati Memorial Hall & Lounge

10.30 – 11.30am

Thursday, 19 April

Althorp Village

10.30 – 11.30am

Tuesday, 1 May

Omokoroa Country Estate

10.30 – 11.30am

Friday, 11 May

Greerton Senior Citizens Maitland St

10.30 – 11.30am

18

The Weekend Sun

For more information, call us or check out our website

p. 07 57 99 200 www.fowlerhomes.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

19

Pumping through with a heart of gold you put a bunch of motivated people together.”

He says the team initially started working together at The Gym because they enjoyed the competitiveness. They then found themselves entering in Tough Girl, Tough Guy, Tough Mudder, leading up to their biggest race yet.

The Kiwis will enter the Beast race one of the three toughest Spartan races, involving a 21km run and more than 40 obstacles.

The team will climb ropes, avoid barbed wire, drag concrete blocks, transverse ropes and throw spears,

A group of fitness fanatics are running through mud, swimming over dams and leaping over fires in a gruelling race designed to challenge both physically and mentally.

Twelve Kiwis are taking on the intense Brisbane Spartan race on April 28 in support of the NZ Heart Foundation for their 50th anniversary.

Organiser Richard Joseph says they set a target of raising a minimum of $5000 for the Heart Foundation, and despite surpassing this total, they plan to keep going.

“With health and fitness being a major part of our lives, the charity relates directly to our way of thinking and we aim to make as much as we can,” says Richard.

before facing off against gladiators at the end. On top of that, for each obstacle they fail they will have to do 30 burpees.

“It’s regarded as one of the hardest races out there and we have been training really hard and working ourselves up to the challenge,” says Stefan.

“This has been more than just training, it has brought a group of people together who probably would have never met.

“It’s been amazing to see how far we have come and we hope to keep going.”

Sharnae Hope

The Gym team Richard Wisnewski, Stefan McNeely, Gina McNeely and Haylee Aitken. Photo: Nikki South. going to make your target,” says Team member Stefan McNeely Stefan. “You want to give it a go, says they are over the moon with but you always question whether the response and the amount of you set it too high. It is quite support they have received. amazing what can happen when “You never really know if you are

Prioritising projects for our ever-growing city Tauranga is the fastest growing city in the country and has been for some time, with a growth rate of about 6.6 per cent and a population of over 137,000.

Although it is a city by population and growth, Tauranga is not considered a city by infrastructure. Look at the streets of Tauranga and you will see that we only have three high-rise buildings. And that is just one way of identifying a city. We don’t have a strong, robust transport network, we don’t get our people around our city effectively and

efficiently. We don t have the roads to cope with the traffic. We ve got issues coming into and going out of the city on state highways with huge bottlenecks and accidents happening regularly. We need to sort this out. Cities are also required to have places for visitors to stay. Tauranga could do with a five-star hotel and a convention centre like most other cities have.

But we also need to make sure that when people come to live here, they have somewhere to stay - an affordable home, with all the amenities, that is warm, safe and dry. Amongst all of that, we have a museum project being pushed through. Personally, I don’t see it as a necessity. As much as I would

like to have a museum in our city one day, we need to consider some aspects of the build. The first is the cost. It is estimated that the project will cost nearly $60 million of capital expenditure to complete. With an estimated $25 million coming by way of Tauranga ratepayers, this is an expensive item. However, once the build is complete and with operational expenses of around $5 million per annum set to CPI, this cost will add up very quickly.

DISCOVER HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Elderly Assist Ltd ™

Janice Willis

ACC Paralympics New Zealand Open Day 25 March 2018, 10am - 3pm ASB Baypark Arena - Free Entry

Bring your friends, family and try a variety of Para sports Connect with local sports organisations Meet Paralympic heroes In association with Parafed BOP and the Bayfair Festival of Disability Sport 24-25 March 2018

Phone: 0800 839 874 6231277AC

www.elderlyassist.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

20

Finding the best insurance for your trip Extreme weather conditions have put paid to travel plans for a lot of people over the past few months, reinforcing the need to ensure you always buy travel insurance.

In its annual travel insurance analysis, Canstar Blue found cover for cancellation due to severe weather is a basic element of all New Zealandissued travel insurance.

“But things would have been very different for those who had not purchased insurance either at all or

2018 Tours

Leisure Time Tours

Inspiring Travel Experiences Since 1987 WELLINGTON WEARABLE ARTS 27-30 September 2018 Journey with us to Wellington to experience the magic of the World of Wearable Arts show. This captivating theatrical extravaganza attracts artists and designers from around the world. This year marks the 30th celebration of the World of Wearable Arts, you don’t want to miss this! Enjoy time out in Wellington before the show, and relax in the seaside city of Napier before returning home. Call us for more

  WHY LEISURE TIME?   Comprehensive escorted  tours designed for  seniors

 Value for money  Door to door collections available

 Modern coaches  Roadside morning teas  Single travellers welcome    Early-Bird discounts available

information today!

0800 365 632 Email info@lttnz.co.nz

   

www.leisuretimetours.co.nz

      

South Island Autumn Tour Scenic East Cape Bay of Islands Fiji Island Cruise Central Plateau & Forgotten Highway Classic Cars Tour of NZ Southern Explorer Tour Wearable Arts Lake Waikaremoana & Gentle Annie Molesworth Station Tasmania Taranaki Garden Festival Forgotten World Pacific Coast Highway Christmas Tour New Year Tour Preservation Inlet 2019 Great Barrier Island 2019

Plus many more!

Call today to request your copy of our Holiday Guide

at the right time,” says Canstar general manager Jose George.

“None of us want to think the worst will happen – especially on a long-planned trip – but making help available if it does is what you’re buying with travel insurance.

“New Zealand has a good-sized market when it comes to travel insurance.

“Canstar researched 65 products from 34 providers, so the choice is there for consumers to get the cover that suits their situation and travel plans, at a price they are happy with.”

What should you look for with travel insurance?

Buy your travel insurance when you book your trip. This is a mistake many make, and by not buying travel insurance well in advance of your trip, you’re leaving yourself exposed.

Don’t just go for the cheapest

option. Prices vary hugely for travel insurance and can often reflect the things the policy covers and the maximum pay-out amounts in the event of a claim.

Use online comparison sites. So much variation in price and features can make comparing your options a difficult and lengthy process.

Make sure some basic features are included in the basic policy price, such as lost luggage, emergency medical cover, repatriation in the event you need to get home due to accident or emergency, cancellation due to strike, civil commotion, riots, natural disaster or severe weather and personal liability cover.

Always declare existing medical conditions. With some insurers, pre-existing conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure or epilepsy will have no impact on the cover your travel insurance gives you, but your insurer still needs to know about them.

Don’t assume you’re covered if you go to Australia. Kiwis are entitled to some levels of health and emergency care in Australia under our reciprocal healthcare agreement, however that agreement is limited.

New Zealanders make more overseas trips New Zealand residents set a new record of 2.87 million overseas trips in the year to January 2018 - up 232,300 (nine per cent) from the previous year, says Stats NZ. The number of trips made to most countries increased, with the largest being Australia - up four per cent to 45,500, Fiji - up 13 per cent to 20,200, China - up 15

per cent to 15,300, the United Kingdom - up 12 per cent to 12,900, and India - up 14 per cent to 9000.

In January 2018, New Zealand residents made 173,700 trips overseas, up five per cent from January 2017.

For the first time in five years, total overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in January were down on the same month the year before.

This change mainly reflected a drop in arrivals from China, believed to be influenced by the later Chinese New Year celebrations this year.

The Weekend Sun

21

The experience of Kenya Hi, I’m Bridget Nicholls and I love travelling. I have been travelling for more than half of my 46 years. I know my way around planes, buses, vans and even tuk tuks. I want to share these experiences with you, so I will be taking escorted tours to Kenya this year.

One place that enthrals me is Africa and, in particular, Kenya.

Kenya has a staggering array of wildlife, landscapes, culture, music and communities.

With Kenya, it is not just one or two things - it is the fact that it offers so many experiences that make you want to go.

And if you are like me, you’ll want to go again and again.

The attractions do include wildlife and especially the famed Wildebeest Migration.

There’s wildebeest, as far as the eye can see, making their way across the Kenyan plains.

Mount Kilimanjaro is visible from the Amboseli National Park, or you can try Lake Nakuru National Park and its herds of rhino and beautiful flamingo flocks.

On the tours we will delve deeper into the very heart and soul of Kenya and its people.

It is a travel destination like no other.

I will be following up this blog over the next few weeks

while I am in Kenya (yes, I am here again).

I will tell you more of my journey and I hope it encourages you to join me later this year.

I will be planning trips in September, October, November and December, so there is plenty of time to plan your own journey.

Most expensive travel insurance claims revealed Kiwi travellers don’t need to be heading out on an intrepid journey to land themselves in a foreign hospital with a massive bill – it could happen from something as simple as falling down some stairs.

One Southern Cross Travel Insurance customer last year racked up a $110,000 medical bill in the Pacific Islands after tripping and falling down a flight of steps and injuring their hip.

It was one of the top 10 medical claims in 2017 paid by New Zealand’s largest travel insurer.

The insurer’s largest claim for the year was for a customer who required a lengthy hospital stay and an air ambulance flight home after suffering a heart

Chinese New Year boosts visitors More than 15,000 visitors a day arrived in New Zealand during February, setting a new record for the month, says Stats NZ. Total overseas visitor arrivals numbered 423,500 in February 2018 - the highest for any February.

This total was up 43,400 on February 2017.

“The strong increase in visitor arrivals in February 2018 coincided with Chinese New Year, which is a peak travel period,” says population insights senior manager Peter Dolan.

New Zealand residents set a new annual February record of 2.87 million overseas trips in 2018, up 215,700 (eight per cent) from the February 2017 year.

The number of trips made to most countries increased, with the largest increases being to Australia, Fiji, China, the United Kingdom and India.

attack while travelling in Europe.

The cost of their treatment totalled $682,000 - one of the highest claims SCTI has paid in its 36-year history.

Another claim shows the breadth of destinations SCTI covers: one claim, totalling $176,500, was for a customer who required an air ambulance flight from Antarctica to South America after suffering from pneumonia.

Nearly half of the top 10 claims in 2017 happened in the United States, which is renowned for having some of the highest medical care costs in the world.

SCTI chief executive Chris White says the list of the most expensive claims shows the importance of buying travel insurance before heading overseas, even if it’s for a seemingly safe holiday or destination.

The Weekend Sun

22

Step up with free computing course Many computer users are selftaught, and lack the necessary computer skills to enhance their career, business or personal life.

John Dalimore, an insurance broker, fell into this category. His business, Health Management Insurance Specialists, looks after sports, travel and special circumstance insurance

policies, so while John was familiar with computers, he’d never had any formal training.

He completed Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s free part-time computing course last year and is thrilled with the knowledge and skills he acquired.

“I found the course really interesting, stimulating and challenging,” says

John. “It was great to learn new skills and refresh my existing skills.

“The tools you’ll gain in this course will enable your business – big or small – to really step up.”

The 12-week course covers basic computer skills and knowledge, cyber security and privacy, cloud computing, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and building your own

website. The New Zealand Certificate in Computing (User Fundamentals) Level 2 course starts on April 9 and runs for 12 weeks.

The course can be completed at Toi Ohomai Bongard, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, or Windermere Campuses, Tauranga To enrol, phone: 0800 86 46 46 (0800 TOIOHOMAI) or email: info@toiohomai.ac.nz

Toi Ohomai computing graduate, John Dalimore.

Opportunity knocks for VIP franchisees VIP Home Services has been providing lawn, garden and cleaning services for more than 23 years. With current demands exceeding their expectations, the multi award-winning company is seeking more franchisees to help get the job done.

“If you are considering a change, then contact us straight away,” says New Zealand national franchiser Estelle Logan.

“We have two established rounds with customers in the Mount and Papamoa areas available now, so you can start earning straight away.

“You don’t need any experience – we provide four weeks’ paid training and are seeking people who want to take control of their future by running their own business.”

Franchisee Shane Barber says: “I have no hesitation in recommending VIP to other potential franchisees.

“VIP’s very supportive, however they give you the control in the day-to-day running of your business.

“We need more people to cope with demand.

“With exclusive territories and flat fees, it s a winner all the way”.

For more information on joining VIP’s multi award-winning system, contact Estelle on: 021 489 861 or email: estelle@viphomeservices.nz

Shane Barber.

Financially growing Bay of Plenty nursery The Provincial Growth Fund will provide up to $5.8 million over three years to allow a Bay of Plenty nursery to scale up production of forestry grade native seedlings. “With the government committed to seeing one billion trees planted over the next 10 years, we need to work with

nurseries and help them increase production to ensure enough seedlings - both exotics and indigenous - are available to be planted,” says Regional Economic Development Minister and Forestry Minister Shane Jones.

He says the funding will allow Minginui Nursery to grow up to

one million native trees every year and expand its current workforce from nine to 90. “It’s already involved in growing forest-grade podocarp species - rimu, totara, matai, kahikatea, miro and kauri - and also has a large order book for manuka, kanuka and other pioneer species,” adds Shane.

The Weekend Sun

23

24

The Weekend Sun

The Weekend Sun

25

26

The Weekend Sun

The Weekend Sun

27

Advancing eye care in the Bay ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF A HEALTHY SMILE

One year on and Bay Eye Care is continuing to provide professional eye care services to the Bay of Plenty.

Alex Petty set up Bay Eye Care last year, with the aim to focus on therapeutic and specialty optometry care rather than selling glasses.

Specialising in dry eye and blepharitis management and orthokeratology vision correction (a modern therapy that involves wearing a customised contact lens while you sleep), Alex has found a massive demand for these services.

“It has been amazing to see how much Bay Eye Care has flourished over the year,” says Alex. “We have found that we definitely have a place amongst eye care providers in Tauranga, alongside retail opticians, general optometrists and ophthalmology.”

Bay Eye Care also provides treatments for controlling the progression of short-sightedness and managing ocular disease like glaucoma and keratoconus, as well as offering thorough examinations of children’s eye problems, emergency eye care and general eye examinations.

He says Bay Eye Care continues to develop material online at: www.bayeyecare.co.nz to assist the public, including a blog with useful eye information, professional video clips and testimonials from happy patients.

These have been helpful for new clients who are

Tooth Fairy Dental offers a wide range of general and cosmetic dental services, ensuring not only total mouth health, but a smile to be proud of.

Bay Eye Care optometrist Alex Petty. unsure about the unique procedures or are unfamiliar with the quality of Bay Eye Care’s care.

“This stops confusion and develops trust before a patient has even seen me,” says Alex.

“Some of our treatment options, such as Ortho-K overnight vision correction, may sound like hocuspocus initially, but seeing the great results and positive comments of patients that are using the treatment is a very powerful message.

“It is also very important for us to keep abreast of the latest advancements in eye care science.

“This ensures that people in the Bay of Plenty can access international-quality health care locally, rather than being a decade behind the play.”

Strongest growth in health insurance for 16 years The number of New Zealanders with health insurance rose 25,900 to 1.383 million during 2017 - the strongest annual growth in coverage since 2001.

Health Funds Association of New Zealand chief executive Roger Styles says lives covered increased by 1.9 per cent, particularly in the working age group.

Around 19,000 of the additional lives covered were in the 20-64 age group, with 12,900 of them aged 25-39.

Roger says much of this can be attributed to a combination of general employment growth and an increase in the availability of employer-subsidised health insurance as part of a broader focus on wellness in the workplace.

“It is pleasing to see an increasing number of employers providing health insurance plans for their staff,” he says.

“They recognise that wellness in the workplace is important, not only for employee health but also as part of their new workplace health and safety responsibilities.

“The focus there has traditionally been on safety, but now the impact of health is receiving greater attention - not just the impact of the workplace on employee health, but the impact of employee health on the workplace, such as through productivity and absenteeism.”

Health insurance paid out $1.185 billion in claims in 2017 up five per cent on 2016.

Learning to integrate good self-care habits into your life “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out it s the pebble in your shoe.”

Muhammad Ali I came across this list of things to give up that, when applied to your life, can create more clarity and build more acceptance and love for yourself.

Give up doubting yourself, negative thinking, fear of failure, criticising yourself and others, negative self-talk, procrastination, fear of success and people pleasing.

You may be practising some or all of these steps, however, for those of you who are not, each one is a big step to take and asks a lot of work of you in terms of awareness and focus.

What would it look like if you started incorporating at least one of these steps into your life in the next days and how would you go about it?

Need Help fufilling your New Year Resolutions?

-You may need more than willpower Call us!

Special diet & Lifestyle approaches tailored to your needs

Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Massage, Meditation, Counselling, Yoga, Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

5 Dec 2018

Change to healthy habits.

Book online or email ask@bayhealth.nz or phone 07 571 3226

If you would like to know more about this, phone Mary Parker, The Fast Track Coach, on: 07 577 1200/021 258 2145 or visit: www.thefasttrackcoach.co.nz

. TEETH WHITENING . CEREC ONE VISIT CROWNS . VENEERS . BRACES & INVISALIGN

. IV SEDATION . HYGIENIST . WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL . ROOT CANAL . IMPLANTS

Book an appointment online or call today: MT MAUNGANUI PH: 07 575 6278 TE PUKE PH: 07 573 7856 TO O T H F A I RY D E N TA L . CO . N Z

BRINGING SMILES TO THE BAY SINCE 2001

28

T h i n k Ja z z.

T h i n k E a s t e r.

T h i n k Tau r a n g a .

New Zealand’s The Weekend Sun Premier Jazz Event

One week to go!

Get your tickets now.

Bringing an Irish f lavour to the Blink Jazz Lounge www.jazz.org.nz

Jazz fans will have the chance to enjoy some jazz-influenced tunes sung with a lovely Irish brogue at this year s National azz Festival, thanks to Irish expat Caitriona Fallon.

The former iverdance lead vocalist moved to Tauranga at the end of 2016 from Cork in Ireland, and is excited to be performing in her first National azz Festival with her band.

“Before I moved here I was in a band called Cookie and The audevilles ,” says Caitriona, “and we kind of just

Message from the Mayor

Dear residents, visitors and fellow jazz lovers, The National Jazz Festival is a New Zealand treasure and we are delighted to host the event in its 56th year, right here in the heart of Tauranga.

The annual festival is one of Tauranga’s ‘home-grown’ events and a highlight on the city’s events calendar.

Year on year it continues to showcase our unique community spirit and local pride.

The diverse programme offers something for everyone, delivering performances from some of the best jazz musicians from our shores and around the world.

Events play a key role in the cultural and economic fabric of our city, creating opportunities for businesses, residents and visitors alike. Tauranga City Council is proud to support the iconic National Jazz Festival and its contribution to our community.

I invite you all to enjoy the Festival.

Think Jazz. Think Easter. Think Tauranga.

Mayor Greg Brownless

Caitriona Fallon and Leon Gray will be performing in the Blink Jazz Lounge with the rest of their band onThursday. Photo: Nikki South.

ended up in the jazz scene.

“We never set out to be jazz musicians, but that was the closest genre to what we played. There are blues and swing influences in what I do – just easy listening.”

She first performed in the Tarnished Frocks and Divas Zoetica show last year, and people were soon asking her where they could hear her sing more.

So she formed a band with husband Marc Anderson on drums, Wayne Melville on bass, Aaron Wright on guitar and eon ray on piano.

And Caitriona says she s had an ambition to play at the festival before she even arrived on our shores.

“My husband Marc used to take part in the youth competitions when he was a kid, so I knew what it was about,” she explains.

“I d done similar things in Ireland, so this is something I really wanted to be a part of.” eon, whom Caitriona met through a mutual acquaintance, has been playing piano for 2 years. Originally the plan was to have him accompany her on piano, but they soon grew into a proper band.

With a background in musical theatre, eon says all styles have the potential for improvisation, which is something that particularly attracts him to jazz. “ azz just uses a certain set of codes and scales.

“I like it as it s more relaxed – there s more freedom with it.”

Caitriona and her band will be playing their sold out show in the Blink azz ounge in the Baycourt Space at 6pm this Thursday.

To buy tickets to other great performances at the National azz Festival, visit: www.jazz.org.nz

A stunning tribute to a true icon of jazz oin renowned Wellington vocalist isa Tomlins for her stunning tribute to a true icon of jazz - oni Mitchell.

Performing works by one of the most influential female recording artists of the late 20th century, this show is a journey through Mitchell s quintessential jazz album Shadows and ight . ecorded live in 19 9, it featured jazz heavyweights aco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny.

With sold-out performances at Wellington azz Festival, this show is one not to be missed on March 29.

The National Jazz Festival is one of many events residents and visitors can experience all year round. To see the variety of events our city hosts, visit www.mytauranga.co.nz

New Zealand’s Premier Jazz Event

T h i n k Ja z z .

T h i n k E a s t e r.

T h i n k Tau r a n g a .

One week to go!

Get your tickets now.

www.jazz.org.nz

The Weekend Sun

New Zealand’s Premier Jazz Event

29

Get down and bluesy this Easter Sunday

T h i n k Ja z z.

T h i n k E a s t e r.

T h i n k Tau r a n g a .

A hurricane warning is in place for Classic Flyers Museum this Easter weekend, with jazz enthusiasts expected to dance up a storm at the National Jazz Festival Tauranga’s Hurricane Party Blues Night.

Easter Sunday sees one of the festival’s not-to-be missed shows return to the stage with a highlyanticipated mix of local and international musicians – and a new venue to boot, accommodating 1000 people.

The Bay of Plenty’s very own Kokomo and their original take on blues will be joined by crowd favourites Shirazz, from Melbourne, serving up hot jazz of the 20s and 30s.

And, direct from Sydney, electric blues storyteller Isaiah B Brunt and his six-piece band will pay homage to classic American blues.

“After sell-outs in 2016 and 2017, we are excited to team up with Classic Flyers to offer this electric experience to even more jazz enthusiasts,” says festival director Craig Wilson.

“This is guaranteed to be a night of rollicking jazz and blues from some of the best entertainers in the business and we are excited to present such fantastic acts.”

The Hurricane Party concept originates from New Orleans. People there used to have a ‘hurricane party’

Isaiah B Brunt.

One week to go!

Get your tickets now.

Big band fun in the sun

Wrap up your Easter weekend and complete the festival on a high with some fun at the TECT Big Band Bonanza.

They’ve teamed up with The Little Big Markets, so get together with friends and family for a jazz picnic or peruse the stalls of delectable food while enjoying some classic big band pieces.

Both the Royal New Zealand Air

www.jazz.org.nz Force Band and Auckland’s Queen City Big Band will be on hand to entertain as they pay homage to the golden era of big bands.

There will also be fun for the kids with a bouncy castle and amusement rides.

And thanks to Tauranga Energy Consumers Trust, this is a free event for Easter Monday. See you there!

when there was a hurricane, and it was held in a different venue each year.

Craig says that with the Hurricane Party getting bigger and better each year, tickets are selling fast for this year’s event – so it pays to get your tickets in advance.

“Make sure you join in the fun for a dance party not to be missed!”

See the magic that is James Morrison live The Canberra Times called him “dazzling”, while The Times of London said one of his performances “set the club alight”.

And the Chicago Tribune called him a “remarkable trumpet

virtuoso” who deserved to be a household name.

With reviews like that, it’s a major coup for the National Jazz Festival Tauranga to snare the attendance of Australian jazz legend James Morrison and the

James Morrison Quartet.

They hit the Baycourt Community and Arts Centre stage on March 31.

Tickets are selling fast, so get in quick to guarantee an exciting night of pure swinging jazz.

Barrel Barrel On On In... In...

Barrel On In...

Shout OutShout FridayOut Friday

$15 Lunch Specials $15 Lunch 12pm Specials – 3pm 12pm | Happy – 3pm Hour| from Happy 4pm Hour -8pm from 4pm -8pm

Shout Out Friday $6 Beers, Wines, $6Spirits Beers, With Wines, Complimentary Spirits With Complimentary Nibbles Nibbles $15 Lunch Specials 12pm – 3pmLIVE | Happy Hour from 4pm -8pm LIVE MUSIC MUSIC $6 Beers, Wines, Spirits With Complimentary Nibbles

LIVE MUSIC Steak OutSteak Sunday Out Sunday Steak, Eggs, Chips Steak, & Salad Eggs, Chips All Day! & Salad $15 All Day! Steak Out$15 Sunday Steak, Eggs, Chips & Salad $15 All Day!

TAURANGA TAURANGA TAURANGA

WHARF ST ST WHARF ST WHARF

The Weekend Sun

30

What do you want for your city?

Tauranga City Council’s proposed Long Term Plan 2018-2028

Every three years, we develop a Long Term Plan (LTP) in consultation with our community. Our LTP sets our vision, direction, budgets and work plans for the following 10 years.

We’ve been asking ourselves a lot of good questions lately. Give us your views on our proposals to manage our city over the next decade.

Find your consultation document:

online at www.goodquestion.nz at Council offices or your local library request a copy by calling 07 577 7000

Have your say on the Long Term Plan 20182028 and help us create the future you want.

We encourage you to provide feedback online but you can also make a submission by emailing, posting or dropping your form off in person (see details on the submission form).

Submissions close on Monday, 16 April at 4pm

07 577 7000 info@tauranga.govt.nz TaurangaCityCouncil

Fill out the submission form online, or on paper (at Council offices and libraries).

Do you have any questions?

Would you like to talk to us in person?

Do you need help making a submission?

Come along to our community open days, from 4pm to 7pm at these dates and locations: Tuesday, 27 March Tuesday, 3 April Wednesday, 4 April Friday, 6 April Tuesday, 10 April

Papamoa Community Centre Baycourt X Space Bethlehem Hall Greerton Community Hall Bay Oval Lounge

The Weekend Sun

31

Brows become buzz of beauty world When you think about the two tiny patches of fuzz above your eyes, you’d never think eyebrows could become the defining feature of anyone’s face.

Gone are the days when we all got a little too carried away with a pair of tweezers, or when we’d all cover them in too much foundation, but that was okay.

It seems in modern day fashion, you browse and I browse; we are all just browsing for the perfect eyebrows.

There’s powders, tints, gels and pomades for eyebrows now.

In fact, the buzz around ‘eyebrow game’ is so strong that a new trend is taking things to a permanent level.

Individuals are having what they were literally born with tattooed on, thanks to the magic of cosmetic tattooing, or as its better known micro blading.

As a self-proclaimed beauty blogger connoisseur, and someone who spends far too much on cosmetics, it’s a procedure which I have to admit

interests me and, for the past year, it’s a decision I’ve been tossing up.

Like any new trend, it accompanied by horror stories.

At the moment, I can name about five people who “have a friend who had theirs done” and about 60 per cent of the stories are not good.

But I’ve found most people each have their own reasons for getting the procedure done, and if you keep doing research there’s actually a lot to learn.

It can be okay, if you talk to the Filling in your brows could become a thing of the past. right people.

The main thing I know is that preparation goes a long way. Do your research and talk to your technician throughout the entire process.

Also, you should ensure you exercise properly after care, be realistic with your results and for the life of all of us, don’t overdo it.

Sam Gardner

You deserve to feel beautiful One in three women will notice hair thinning beyond the age of 30, and this can be very distressing, as lush locks are seen as a sign of femininity.

Society places a great deal of value on appearances and as women age, they suddenly find themselves stripped of that femininity, sexuality and beauty, which can wreak havoc on their self-image.

The good news is, this can be treated successfully and completely naturally.

SRS Hair Clinics has 30 years’ of experience in providing natural hair loss solutions and consultations at their established hair clinics in Tauranga, Hamilton and Wellington.

“People in their retirement years want and deserve to present a good image,” says executive manager of SRS Clinics, Claudia Sidhu.

“They want to maintain their selfesteem and to make their golden years golden. The key is to start treatment as soon as you notice hair thinning.”

A single hair has a normal life span of between three-to-five years.

It will then fall out and be replaced by

A CARE

FOR HAIR With SRS Hair Clinic Chief Executive Claudia Sidhu

a new hair. However, as people age, the rate of hair growth slows, particularly after menopause.

“Hair loss can be devastating for women at any age,” says Claudia, “but for seasoned women it can be especially traumatic as it comes at a stage in life when they generally have more time to themselves. Often they will say to us ‘I just want to feel like a woman again’.”

SRS will advise on ways to protect, nourish and grow hair using 100 per cent natural solutions. Recent dermatological tests in Germany found that the SRS hair loss products are completely harmless, even in the case of sensitive skin or allergies.

SRS has clinics in Auckland, at 15 St Benedicts St, Newton; Tauranga, at 73 16th Avenue; Hamilton, at the Anglesea Clinic and Wellington, at 187 Featherston Street.

For more information phone: 0800 348 616 or go to: www.srshairclinic.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

32 A selection of New Zealand and international stories featured this week on...

Your one stop shop for the nation’s local news

www.newsie.co.nz News tips: newsdesk@newsie.co.nz

White crosses line SH2 More white crosses are appearing on State Highway 2 north of Tauranga – but they’re not to mark specific accidents.

Instead, they are intended to remind drivers to slow down and not take risks on what residents are describing as a dangerous stretch of road that urgently needs fixing.

Youngson Road resident Emma Bryan made the crosses last weekend with her three children, who attend school along the highway on Plummers Point Road.

“We’re in and out of these intersections all the time,” says Emma.

“I’m part of the group of people who are trying to do something about this road, because it’s getting out of hand.”

Government to count homeless The government is planning to count the number of homeless people in New Zealand.

Statistics New Zealand will work with Kate Amore from Otago University to get a better understanding of the numbers between each census.

In 2016, Dr Amore found one in every 100 New Zealanders don't have a home to call their own, according to census data.

Similar surveys have recently been completed by community groups in Auckland and Rotorua.

Housing Minister Phil Twyford says it is important to have a more accurate idea of the number of people sleeping rough.

“If you don't understand the scale of the problem, how are you expected to design policies to fix it ” he asked.

Body found near Waihi Police searching for a missing fisherman have located a second body in Homunga Bay, near Waihi Beach.

Two men went missing in the area on March 11.The body of Yingbo Xu, 28, from Hamilton, was found the same afternoon.

Police have been searching for the second man since then and say they found a second body in the water at the north end of Homunga Bay on Tuesday afternoon.

The body is believed to be that of the other fisherman, however formal Identification had yet to be made at the time of writing. The death will be referred to the Coroner.

Obama lands in NZ Former United States president Barack Obama arrived for his first visit to New Zealand on Wednesday.

Media were kept away as those who quickly disembarked were whisked off in a large motorcade accompanied by police vehicles.

The 44th US president is visiting in a private capacity until Friday, and few details of his trip are known.

On Thursday he was welcomed with a powhiri in Auckland, talked privately with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and spoke at a New Zealand US Council event in the evening.

Muller suffering memory fade

SH2 to Katikati has got steadily worse over the last six years, which for five-and-a-half years was under National’s watch. Now we have Todd Muller putting the blame on the Labour Minister. He must be suffering with memory fade.

I would jog his memory that the Transport Minister for most of that time was the MP for Tauranga, Simon Bridges, who did nothing.

Mr Bridges attended the Future Focus Meeting of 2017 with little positive result. He received a suggestion from the audience that a commuter railway service be set up to take the pressure off the highway, but he rejected that idea as the current rail line was not suitable. Yet, some months later, just before the General Election, he was seen on Bill English’s shoulder endorsing the announcement of the high-speed train service from Auckland to Tauranga. I knew when I left the meeting who I would not be voting for, but this just confirmed it.

Unfortunately MPs regularly suffer from memory fade, usually to their personal advantage.

P Turmer, Pyes Pa.

Museum will keep tourists local ‘Of mushrooms and museums’ (The Weekend Sun, March 16) makes me think the writer knows as much about museums as he does mushrooms! A museum, free to locals, would be ideal to help keep the many tens of thousands of visitors we have here at the Mount local, rather than being bussed to other parts of the Bay. They can then learn a bit about Maori history and the many Europeans who also helped New Zealand become one of the world’s tourist destinations.

T Swindells, Papamoa.

Fiscal footballs

Re ‘Huge rates increases for consultation’ (SunLive, March 12). Ten out of 11 councillors have approved the plan to increase the average rates by 40 per cent over three years.

Obviously, the ‘nice to haves’ of a few has grown significantly.

Councillors are clearly desperately focused on how to find more rates income rather than prudently limiting spending. The latter is in ratepayers’ interests, the former in TCC staff interests.

The list of dream world huge spends includes: massive new office tower spiralling close to $100m, carpark buildings, a museum, replace the CBD library, stadiums and a lot more on the wish list. None are ‘essential’ or core activities that will enhance the quality of essential services for citizens.

Councillors don’t understand the basics. Spending more TCC ratepayer money (not their money) than income can only mean more debt and more rates. Debt, having increased tenfold to date and set to at least double in the near future, can only mean even more rates hikes will be demanded by council to be approved by councillors – there will be no choices left.

When the debt is paid off and there is money in the bank then, and only then, should the nice new shiny things be considered.

I Stevenson, Tauranga (Abridged).

Labour pains a bit early It would appear that the Labour pains have arrived early. This ‘youth camp’ business is all a bit ‘she’ll be right mate’.

A rather telling chapter in a rather dirty book perhaps.

Where is Nicky Hager when you need him?

G Martin, Brookfield.

How to send a letter t o the e ditor

The Weekend Sun welcomes letters and photographs from readers. Preference will be given to short letters (200 words maximum), supplied with full name and contact details. Photos are best in high resolution, jpeg format. Email: letters@thesun.co.nz

Read more letters at www.sunlive.co.nz

Vaccination need questioned Re the article ‘Protect your family from whooping cough’ (page 9, The Weekend Sun, March 9 . The statement “on-time immunisation is the best way to protect babies” is completely false. For two decades, scientists have published evidence showing the ineffectiveness of the DPT vaccine.

Parents assume vaccination has few minor side effects, however, at least three children suffered sudden death due to vaccination last year according to the 2016 CARM report.

‘Normal’ (which can be as frequent as 1/1000) side effects also include hives, thrombocytopenia, persistent inconsolable screaming in infants (a symptom of encephalitis , hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode and convulsions (seizures). As epilepsy now affects around one per cent of New Zealanders and seizures are noted as a side effect, vaccination needs to be taken into account as a causative factor.

Let’s investigate the true cost of pertussis vaccination.

According to statistics, the mortality rate from whooping cough decreased by at least 95 per cent by the time vaccines and antibiotics were introduced. As vaccines are given to healthy children to reduce illness, we need to analyse if this is indeed the case.

I challenge the BOP DHB to do a true cost-benefit analysis of vaccination by comparing the health of vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children in Tauranga.

T Livingston, Whakamarama (Abridged).

The Weekend Sun

33

Cyclists, let us all enjoy Re ‘Pedallers push for cycleway’ (page 8, The Weekend Sun, March 16). Are you serious? To have a 2.5m cycleway around the base of the Mount you may as well get rid of the road!

What is happening to our beloved Mount Maunganui? A town that is now so congested you have to think twice about visiting in the summer. Finding a carpark is what dreams are made of, let alone finding a park for your body on the sand!

The road along the Mall and around the Mount is two lanes currently, howbeit narrow.

There is now a beautiful walkway which cost mega thousands. So to all the bikers out there, why not get off your bike and take a leisurely stroll around the Mount base and take in the scenery instead of trying to force everyone else to think the way you do and make more congestion.

Let us all enjoy.

As for those of you who choose not to wear helmets (page 19, The Weekend Sun, March 16), think about the loved ones who have their world turned upside down when they have to look after you when you have a serious head injury, and to all the taxpayers that pay for it with ACC. Think about that cost ahead of your selfishness.

R White, Tauranga (Abridged).

Thanks for the ring-a-ling Re article ‘Ring-a-ling you ding-a-lings’ (page 15, The Weekend Sun, March 9).

I have walked the Daisy Hardwick boardwalk several times, and most cyclists are very obliging, courteous and let me know they are passing by and often how many riders are following.

My husband and I walked along the waterfront from Fergusson Park to Kulim Park on the weekend and again, all the cyclists were extremely courteous – ringing their bells to inform us they were approaching, telling us how many riders to follow, and all thanking us as they passed.

Could it be the time of day/age group of the cyclists who have more or less manners than others? Thanks to those cyclists who ring-a-ling!

W Roberson, Pyes Pa.

Pedestrians should pay attention I had an interesting experience on the estuary walkway this morning, and am thankful it wasn’t more interesting. I was cycling along towards Waihi Road/11th Ave past the blind corner and the engineering companies’ parking areas when I noticed someone ahead. I rang my bike bell and as I came closer, she turned and bent down, almost directly into my path. I noticed she was ear budded, wired for sound. She was functionally deaf by choice.

I was reminded of a couple of biddies I encountered on the Harbour Bridge when I was helping the first rumman Avenger

restoration. They took up most of the path. I rang twice. They didn’t notice. I tried to sneak past and they said I should’ve rung my bell. They wouldn t have noticed if nola ay had dropped an A-Bomb on them; they were completely in a world of their own.

Is it too much to ask that pedestrians should, at the very least, pay attention to something other than their navels when sharing the walkways etc. with cyclists? Is it too much to ask that they understand that asking cyclists to use bells implies that the pedestrians will, at the very least, listen?

Or is that a cruel and inhumane punishment, expecting accountability? W Parish, Bellevue.

I recently moved here from Christchurch and I cannot believe the rates costs here. An example of this is that in Christchurch, my property had a 2016 valuation of $365,000 and the current year’s rates on this property is $2166.99.

This includes three kerbside bins for rubbish, recycling and green/household waste.

Water is also included and is not charged separately as it is here so if you add rubbish disposal and water rates to the cost of our current rates then the costs are even worse than it looks at first sight.

I believe that Tauranga City is due for another valuation this year. In view of the increased property values it would appear that rates are set to soar to levels that could be difficult for some residents to keep up with.

I do not know if Tauranga has a Ratepayers’ Association or not but if not then we could do with one to put pressure on the council to keep rates at a reasonable level.

J Gordon, Gate Pa.

ISSUE 3

Rates cost concerns

Outstanding design

Build tiny

Beach style

Dressing up

The Fujitsu FUJITSU ASTG 09 KMCA INVERTER

NEW e3 SERIES UNIT

AIR CONDITIONING

Get the most efficient unit available in New Zealand

D NE W Z

ACCREDITED CONSULTANT

Only Fujitsu heat pumps are recommended by Asthma New Zealand

Awarded as a leading, iconic New Zealand brand

The Home Comfort Specialist

The Weekend Sun

34

Everything you could want under one barn roof Ever felt at home in a barn? You will at The Barn Burger and rill thanks to the combination of great service, delicious food and classic chic decor that makes for a brilliant dining out experience.

The Barn is far too lavish for animals, with rope hanging lights, wooden barn features and greenery all around. ocated on 169 Mount Maunganui oad, at the end of the Cruise Deck, The Barn s staff pride themselves on making refined yet tasty dishes.

Head chef ucus ly and his partner and sous chef Mariana Schallenberger, who brings than 10 years experience, share a passion and a love of cooking.

“We love to cook and are focused on making simple food with fresh ingredients and beef free from preservatives, antibiotics and added

hormones,” says Lucus.

The menu boasts all the favourites, such as eye fillet, rump cap, seafood chowder and beef and pork ribs, as well as smaller meals for the kids like fish and chips, mini burger and chicken nuggets.

However, the stars of the show are their classic burgers which have individual sauces to die for.

With the motto “great food takes time”, all of their burgers are beautifully crafted to compliment the patties whether that be chicken, beef, lamb, pork, fish or even black bean.

A favourite, the Beef Bacon Burger is a combination of organic beef that melts in your mouth, smoked cheddar, chargrilled bacon, pickles, red onion, and The Barn s secret sauce that transports you into a delicious food coma.

The Chicken Bacon Burger also has the same effect, oozing creamy goodness with a chicken and bacon infused pattie, grilled provolone cheese, roasted

A unique venue for a unique day

Ph 0508 KIWIFRESH (0508 549 437)

peppers, avocado and bacon mayo.

All burgers also come with thick cut chips sprinkled with salt and paprika, and if you would like to be a bit more adventurous you can also add produce like fried eggs, avocado, slaw and cheese to your dish.

If you re not already full from their delicious burgers, the short-but-sweet dessert menu features all you could want to top off your dining out experience, with fried doughnuts, baked Alaska and a kids sundae.

Beef The Barn er. rg u B n Baco

Meat and poultry monthly fall When it comes to buying your weekly stock up of meat, you might find a smaller sum on your grocery bill, with meat and poultry prices decreasing by 0.5 per cent.

According to NZ Stats, beef prices fell 4.4 per cent, while chicken prices fell 3.4 per cent.

The average price for the cheapest available chicken breast was at 12.8 a kilo, down from 1 .9 the previous month.

rocery food prices also fell in February 2018, down 0. per cent, with lower prices for chocolate.

Fruit and vegetable prices are lower than this time last year, falling 0.9 per cent in the month, with no overall change after seasonal adjustment.

“Apples, pumpkin and kumara are coming down after months of high prices,” says consumer prices manager Geoffrey Wong.

“It was around this time last year that we were seeing the effects of a poor summer season.”

ALL YOU CAN EAT

OVER 40 DIFFERENT DISHES TO CHOOSE FROM

The Weekend Sun

35 THE WEEKEND SUN The Weekend Sun’s ever popular guide to ‘What’s On’ in the Bay. Pg36

Think Easter, think jazz, think Baycourt As promised, this week we'll look at jazz bands playing at the Jazz Festival.

There are - and I don't think I need to emphasise this too much - a lot of them. After all, this is the National Jazz Festival and, looking at the concert series, there isn't a single show I wouldn't recommend.

Let's start at the very beginning.

I'm pleased to see that once again the festival is going big for the opening Thursday night. This is traditionally a time for locals as the out-of-town contingent has yet to arrive.

For some reason last year, organisers decided to have no concerts on Thursday despite two sell-outs the previous year.

A couple of real winners open the festival this time.

First up is Tauranga’s own Caitriona Fallon, a relocated Irish singer who is simply wonderful.

She s done a bunch of stuff including a five-year world tour with the Riverdance phenomenon, which started in 1996, advancing from choir member to lead vocalist in the process.

That's not exactly jazz, but her band Cookie and the Vaudevilles were, and played at such swish places as the Cork and Cheltenham Jazz Festivals and the Carnegie Arts Centre.

This festival she's on at 6pm in Baycourt's Exhibition Hall (previously known as the X-Space and renamed this year as the Blink Jazz Lounge).

The show concentrates on Joni Mitchell’s live 1980 album ‘Shadows and Light’ - a culmination of her late 70s jazz crossover period that yielded the albums Heijera, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Mingus, and featured such luminaries as Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny.

Given how unwell Joni Mitchell has been, this seems the perfect time for a tribute show.

Funk and trad

On Friday, Rodger Fox is in the Addison Theatre with a couple of hot Americans - bassist Dewayne Pate and sax player Dave Wilson - along with the NZSM Big Band.

Rodger rarely disappoints, and since Dewayne plays with the legendary Tower Of Power, the funk will no doubt be ferocious.

I’m also giving a shout out for Saturday afternoon's The Birth Of Jazz concert in the Blink Jazz Lounge, featuring three of Tauranga s iconic trad jazz outfits: The Woody Woodhouse Connection, Bay Dixie and The BBC. These bands contain some of the town's most acclaimed jazz musicians - some of them the very people who started the festival in the first place.

Many are still outstanding players and the more I see them the more they inspire me with their knowledge, skill and genuine undimmed love of music.

Of course, the big feature is that night at 8pm in the Addison Theatre.

James Morrison is world famous and in Australia, he's musical royalty.

A multi-instrumentalist, but firstly a Caitriona’s band trumpeter, he's played every major jazz Caitriona will be backed by husband Marc Anderson venue in the world, received numerous on drums, Wayne Melville on bass, guitarist Aaron Wright and Leon Gray on piano. There’s a song from James Morisson. awards, made a slew of best-selling albums and will be as good as they get. her previous, sold out Totara Street concert on her This is a serious coup for the Jazz Festival and a rare Facebook page, where she’s accompanied solely by Leon treat for Tauranga. on an Adele number. It's worth checking out.

Okay, I'm out of space. Next week I’ll look at the For this show she plans to showcase some never-hearddowntown line-up. And it's good, too. before originals and songs from Caro Emerald, Diana Krall, Madeleine Peroux and Norah Jones.

Also on Thursday, across Baycourt at 8pm in the Addison Theatre, is a tribute to Joni Mitchell. This show comes straight from the Wellington Jazz Festival and is fronted by isa Tomlins - a terrific singer who first came to prominence with swing cats Shaken Not Stirred (sadly absent this year).

She has a crack band, including Daniel Hayles on piano, Tauranga bass wiz Rory McCarthy – now playing with Rodger Fox – and guitarist Tyson Smith. There's also drums and sax and a bunch of backing singers.

GIGGUIDE & ENTERTAINMENT GREER’S GASTRO BAR Sun 25th The Native Poms – Easy listening & popular covers duo 5:30pm – 8:30pm MT RSA Fri 23th Tony Wellington 7pm – 10:30pm Sat 24th Mark Taipari 7pm – 10:30pm Sun 25th Mr 2nA 4pm – 7pm MOUNT SOCIAL CLUB Fri 23th Take 2 6:30pm – 9:30pm followed by DJ

Eli from 10pm Sat 24th Play Misty 6:30pm – 9:30pm then Masquerade Themed Party from 10pm Sun 25th Live Music 5pm – 8pm Wed 28th Jazz Night from 6:30pm THE BARREL ROOM Sat 24th Santiago & Camille from 7pm Thurs 29th Trevor Braunias Trio from 6pm

The Weekend Sun

36 THE WEEKEND SUN

Saturday 24 March

A Beach Meditation Enjoy peace,

beauty, harmony & sunrise in a Mindfulness Meditation at Tay Street beach, Mount Maunganui. 7-8am. Weather permitting.

Instruction given.

At Zee Market Today we have an Easter Treat, come along checkout what’s happening. Loads of stalls, plants, food & more, 169 Elizabeth St, 10am-2pm look for our flags Balmoral Kilties Marching Team We welcome ladies to join our fabulous sport.

Ages 30-60. No experience required. Ph Anita 07 578 8996 or 0210 257 6094 evenings Bay Network Singles Club Social activities 55+ Dining, BBQs, outings. Phone Maureen 021 112 3307 or Jonathn 572 2091 Baypark Family Speedway Easter Sat 1st South Pacific 6 Shooter Champs Demo Derby. Tickets from ASB Baypark, at the gate or online www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz Cards Interested in 500? Flexible evenings to suit. Ideal for central Tauranga & Mount residents. Ph Chris 2 8 Free Food Fun Friendship 4:30pm @ Mount Bible Chapel Monowai St Mount. ood News Magic Show. Movie “Case for Christ.” For more info 021 2 0 2210 Gate Pa Junior Tennis Saturdays: 9am 5-8 years, 10am 9-11 years. Thursdays: : 0pm Intermediate College ages.

Coaching included. nquiries raeme 0274 520 600 or web/facebook.

Healing Workshop for Animals Healing & meditation techniques to connect with animals. Today iding for the Disabled questrian Centre, Welcome Bay. Contact ackie- vitalreiki xtra.co.nz Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park oad.

12:45-3pm. Ph Phil Green 549 5344 LOL Laughter Wellness Keep well on laughter - the best medicine ever. 11:0011: am Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui. Koha. Ph Trish 022 036 6768 Email lollaughterwellness@gmail.com Matua School Gala Loads of family fun & food including carnival rides, bouncy castles & pony rides. Enjoy our market & games for everyone. 10am- pm. 1 evers d.

Narcotics Anonymous Open meeting, : 0-8: 0pm, Hanmer Clinic behind Super iquor , 12 Cameron d, Greerton National Jazz Festival 2018 Wed 28 Mar - Mon 2 Apr. Addison Theatre, Baycourt. More info of shows at www. baycourt.co.nz Neighbours Day Family Fun Neighbour s Day Celebration today 1- pm Bethlehem Community Church. Activities & food for all ages at minimal cost.

Olive Copperbottom Show by Penny Ashton. Sat 31st 4pm at 16th Ave Theatre.

See www.baycourt.co.nz for details Otumoetai Tennis Club Saturday adult tennis 1:30pm start. Bellevue Park. Windsor oad. New players welcome. Coaching available. Ph Fred 544 5088 Papamoa Country Music Club Come along to our music afternoon at the ordon Spratt Centre at 1pm. Ph Mike Feisst 0274 597 505 for more info Petanque Tga/BOP Club Club Mt Maunganui. Tuesdays & Saturdays 1pm start. All welcome. Try a new sport quipment available, all coaching given. Ph Jo Ann 578 3606 Rusty Mannequin Sale Women’s pre-

loved & vintage/retro clothing sale. 9am12pm, cash only. Well sign posted at The Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga Sunshine Sequence Dance Group Tea Dance Saturday, Mar 1. Baptist Church Hall, 13th Avenue. 5-9pm. $5pp. BYO food, plates, cutlery, non alcoholic drinks.

Jan 544 4379 Taize @ St.Georges Join us for a quiet service based on both the stations of the cross with the style of worship from the Taize @ 7pm. http://www.stgeorgesgatepa. org.nz/ Taoist Tai Chi Beginners class today at 15 Koromiko St, Judea. 8:30-10am. Membership from $19/month. Great for stress, suitable for all. Ph 578 6193

Tauranga Friendship Social Club

Walks, dinners & outings for the over 50s.

Couples singles all welcome. Barbara 544 7461 Tauranga Fuchsia Group Meets at Tauranga Arts Craft Centre today at 1pm.

Note date change Workshop, trading table.

New members welcome. Ph Pat 579 1655

Tauranga Scottish Society Sequence

Dancing at Greerton Hall tonight 7:30-10:30pm $7 entry. All welcome.

Ph 576 5076 Te Puke Menz Shed Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays @ 9am 86B No. oad Te Puke. New members welcome. Ph 573 8655 or 573 5971 The Sociables 30s/40s/50s age group of males & females that meet once a week to dine out or participate in activities & events. Ph 022 012 0376

Trust Power Photographic Exhibition

On The Strand. Open every day to the public until 25th March. Free entry.

Village Radio Museum Community adio broadcasting nostalgic music Community Notices seven days on 1 68 KHz AM Band. adio Museum open from 10am. equest line 1 10

Sunday 25 March

ACC Paralympics Open Day ACC Paralympics New Zealand Open Day 2018 Tauranga. ASB Baypark. Free ntry 10am- pm. Further info can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ events/269775006851358/ Alternative Healing Practise healing using sound, meditation, affirmations, Optimal EFT for stress & change negative beliefs. Backbenchers oom, rindz Cafe 50 First Ave 12:30-2:30 Art On The Strand Art for sale. Weather permitting. Opp. playground on The Strand, Tauranga. 9am-4pm Tauranga Society of Artists Athenree Homestead efreshment ooms in the old Athenree Station open 12- pm. 60 Athenree oad, Athenree.

More info on website www.athenreehomestead.org.nz Bible Seminar 1:45pm Greerton Senior Citizen s Hall, Maitland St, Greerton. Title: “What went wrong in Eden-Bible Answers “ Interactive, Q&A. All welcome. Vic 543 0504 CD Social Group A discreet, safe environment for CDs to dress socialise starting soon. Wives & partners welcome. Interested? Text only Dan 022 109 4188 Computer Club (Tga) Inc. Meets at Arts Crafts Centre, lizabeth St West, on last Sun of the month, 9:30am-12:30pm. More info Ph 571 4941 Corkers Toastmasters Promoting Communication eadership meets 3rd Sunday of month commencing 2pm Zone Cafe - upstairs 2 B Owens Place

Mount Maunganui. Inquiries Chrissy 027 296 7939 Croquet At Tauranga Domain, Cameron d, Sun, Tues, Fri, 12: pm. Beginners welcome. Peter 571 0633 Dave Dobbyn Show A slice of heaven - 40 years of hits. Sun 1st Apr at 8pm. Addison Theatre. See www. baycourt.co.nz for details

Effectively Sharing Your Faith

- : 0pm Mt Bible Chapel Monowai St. Not sure how to share your faith? Evangelist Lew Meyer will explain how. Inquiries Len 021 230 2210

Farmers Market - Mount Mainstreet

Held every Sunday 9-1pm rain or shine ight in the middle of Mount Mainstreet at Phoenix Car Park, Maunganui d. www. mountmainstreet.nz Historic Village Market Every 1st & 3rd Sunday monthly 8-12noon. Wet or fine.

Inquiries: hvm@lionsclubs.org.nz A Bethlehem Te Puna ions Club Project.

Introduction to Buddhism A new subject each week. Sunday 10am-11:30am.

Tuition free. Donations accepted. BOP Tibetan Buddhist Centre Welcome Bay. Details from buddhismbop@gmail.com 0274 338 834 Mike Garner Blues Acoustic blues & original songs with Mike Garner & Warren Houston. Today 2- pm, Croucher Basecamp, The Strand, Tga. Ph 07 578 3543 Mount RSA Women’s Section Our 6 th Birthday being held in Clubrooms, starting at 1pm. ntertainer is ay Solomon plus a short act. Ph office before 2 rd for transport.

Narcotics Anonymous Sun 7-8pm, Hanmer Clinic behind Super iquor , 12 Cameron d, reerton. If using drugs is causing you problems, maybe we can help. 0800 NA TODAY NZDA BOP Range Day NZDA BOP branch run public open days last Sunday each month at their 300m range in T CT All Terrain Park. 9ampm 20 bring firearms licence Oropi Sunday Market ‘Boutique’ market featuring local chef, good variety of arts/ crafts showcasing talented artists & crafters, fresh produce other goodies Oropi Memorial Hall, 129 Oropi oad

Otamarakau School Fishing Comp

Easter Sunday 1st April. Surfcasting competition. $30 per rod. $4000 for the heaviest snapper. Tickets from Hunting & Fishing, BP Pongakawa, Gull Paengaroa.

Papamoa Lions Club Market 2nd & 4th Sunday ordon Spratt eserve, Parton d, Papamoa. Gates open 7am for stall holder entry. Wayne 027 974 5699 Papamoa Outdoor Bowls All welcome to our ollUp s Sun Wed. egister at 12 0 commences 1pm. Come experience OUTDOO BOW S. ordon Spratt eserve. Ph 01 Quakers in Tauranga In hall behind Brain Watkins House, cnr lizabeth Cameron d 10am for an hour of mainly silent worship followed by tea/coffee & talk 544 0448 www.quaker.org.nz Sunday Sessions Music Group Gathering of musicians, singers, music lovers of all kinds. With a relaxed, let’s have fun feel. Playing music together every Sunday 4:30pm-5:30pm. $15. Ph 0274 751 023

Tauranga Underwater Hockey Club

Meets every Sunday during school term time except holiday weekends at Baywave.

5pm for beginning players & 6:15pm for experienced players. More info: emailtuwh@gmail.com

Monday 26 March

Achieve Toastmasters Promoting

Communication eadership 1st, rd th Monday of month St Stephens Church Hall Brookfield, Tauranga : 0pm-9. 0pm.

Inquiries to Frank or Chrissy 02 296 9 9 Alcoholics Anonymous Open meeting, 10am, Tauranga Central Baptist Church,corner 1 th Ave Cameron d.

All welcome. Ph 0800 229 6757 Argentine Tango “The dance that makes you feel” F Intro classes. No partner required... need more guys . Come challenge your senses. FB ”Tango in Tauranga”.

Denise 0204 006 1340

Badminton at Aquinas College

Tauranga Badminton Club at Aquinas College. Mondays 7:30-9:30pm. Free use of club racquets. All abilities of senior players welcome. Phone/text Sue 021 194 4335 www.sporty.co.nz/taurangabadmintonclub Bethlehem Indoor Bowls Meets in Bethlehem Hall Monday night. Names in by 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start. New members of all ages welcome. Ph John 027 654 1298 Body+Soul Fun Fitness For over 50s, occasional speakers, social events. Monday to Friday various venues. All classes 9:1 am-10:1 am ualified Instructor.

Dianne 027 431 4326 or 576 5031.

Chess in the Afternoon Mount Chess Club. Mondays 1- pm Hillier Centre, 1 loucester d Mt Maunganui. . Sets, boards,clocks & refreshments provided.

Bob or Viv 575 5845 or 0274 786 282 Chess at Mount Maunganui Mount SA Chess Club every Mon, Maunganui d. 6- : 0pm during school term.

Late program 7:30pm onwards. Standard rules. Incl casual games. Noel 579 5412 Free Diabetes Support If you have type one, type two or gestational diabetes ph 07 571 3422 for details of free clinics, programs & events to support your diabetes.

Hanna Somatic Movement Education Gentle, safe, & easy

restorative movement. Monday & Thursdays : 0pm Tauranga Senior Citizens Hall. Tuesday & Thursday 9am Scout Hall Moa Park. 027 227 4161 Suds Individual Computer Help Need help to use your computer, iPad, phone or other device. Book at lesson at the library. Ph. 577 7177 Indoor Bowling reerton Senior Citizen 33 Maitland St Greerton Mondays & Thursdays 12:45-3:30pm. $15 pa & $3 per session, afternoon tea provided. Ample parking & Wheelchair access Junction Garden Group Junction, a service to support those experiencing mental health issues. Join us every Monday at unction Office, 10: 0-12: 0pm. Ph 3010 for details Katikati Bowling Club Welcomes New Members. Come along learn how to play lawn bowls Coaching available. Mixed ollups 9:15-midday. Phil 549 5344 Let’s Learn Wanting to learn something new Check out the wide variety of classes, workshops & activities listed on www. letslearn.co.nz or Ph 544 9557. Become a lifelong learner today Mike King, I Am Hope Tonight at 7pm.

Addison Theatre. Free entry. See www. baycourt.co.nz for more info Mount RSA Indoor Bowls Club nights are Monday & Thursday. 6:30 names in, start pm. veryone welcome. Come have some fun. Ph Diane 575 3480 Narcotics Anonymous Open Meeting, Mon -8pm, Hillier Centre. 1 loucester d, Mt Maunganui. If using drugs is

causing you problems, maybe we can help: 0800 NA TODAY Omokoroa Beach Indoor Bowls Meet at Settler s Hall, Omokoroa oad at 1pm for 1:30pm start. Wear smooth sole shoes/ slippers. New & returning members welcome. Ph Anne 548 1636 Otumoetai Indoor Bowling Club Meets at 7:15pm in the Matua Primary School hall. New members welcome. Come along & give bowls ago. Ph Karen 576 0443 Plant Based Cooking Seminar Last Monday of every month 26th Mar-29th Oct 6: 0pm-8: 0pm Arataki Community Centre Zambuk Way, Arataki.Talk Teach Taste $10 per night. Book now with Arna 0210 232 9895/arna.buckley@gmail.com

Recycled Teenagers Gentle Exercise

50s+ & illness/injury rehabilitation.

Monday & Wednesday at Tauranga Senior Citizens Club 1 Norris Street, Tuesdays St. Mary s Church Hall. All 9am-10:30am. Jennifer 571 1411 Scottish Country Dancing For Fun Fitness & Friendship. Monday 1-3pm. St Peters Church Beach oad Katikati. Ph Douglas 07 548 1997 Silver Singers Choir equire soprano bass voices for their choir. Practices every Monday at St Stephens Chapel Brookfield Tce. Ph Pat 579 1036 Taoist Tai Chi: Beginners Classes today: Te Puke: 8 Palmer Place, 9:30-11am.

Pyes Pa: 9 Granston Drive, 3:30-5pm.

Memberships from $19 month. Great for stress, suitable for all. Ph 578 6193 Tauranga Bird Club Matua Hall, Levers oad. : 0pm. Keen to learn about breeding & exhibiting birds? Sheryl 027 216 3568 Tauranga Civic Choir Practice Monday, : 0pm, Wesley Church, 1 th Ave, Tauranga. For more information please visit our website. www.taurangacivicchoir.org.nz Enquiries welcome. Heather 575 9092 Tauranga Creative Fibre From 9:30am 177 Elizabeth St. Learn & share spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, felting.

Margaret 571 3483 Tauranga Rocknroll Club Lessons & social evening of dancing Mondays @ Legion of Frontiersman Hall, 165 Elizabeth Street. Inquiries ph Malcolm 027 592 7240, or www.taurangarocknrollclub.org.nz Tauranga Theatre Organ Society Meet in Baycourt Theatre at 1pm. Hear & play the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. All Welcome.

Ph 552 0243 Taoist Tai Chi Beginners classes today in: Tga: 15 Koromiko St, Judea 9:30-11am. Te Puke: 8 Palmer Pl 9:30-11am. Pyes Pa: 9 Granston Dr, 3:30-5pm. All welcome.

Ph 578 6193 Women’s Art Group New members are very welcome. Meet every Monday 9am12pm at Lyceum club rooms 68 1st Ave. Margaret 543 3244 Yoga Mondays At Arataki Community Center 9:1 -10: 0am. 10 per class.

Breathe, move & release tension. Ph Mel 022 18 129 runs Feb 12-April 1 th no class Easter Monday) Yoga With Nic -Bethlehem Classes are: Mon & Thurs nights 7-8:10pm; Wed & Fri mornings 9:15am-10:25am; Tues afternoons 1:15pm-2:25pm. Stretch, lengthen, strengthen, reset. Contact Nic: 021 124 2598 www.sweetyoga.co.nz

Tuesday 27 March

ABC - Avenues Badminton Club

very Tues at Tauranga Boys College ym. uniors 6- : 0pm term time . Seniors Adults : 0-9: 0pm. Club racquets available. Delwyn 027 212 4720

The Weekend Sun

37

THE WEEKEND SUN Alcoholics Anonymous Open meet-

ing, St Peters Anglican church, 11 Victoria Rd Mt Maunganui 7:30-8:30pm. All Welcome. Ph 0800 229 6757

Altrusa Womens Service Group

Meet 2nd Tuesday for business & 4th Tuesday programme evening. Lots of fun. Contact Denise president.tauranga@ altrusa.org.nz www.altrusa.org.nz Badminton (Social) Every Tuesday & Friday at Otumoetai Baptist Hall 9:30am-12pm.

Racquets available. Ph Lorraine 579 3229 Bayfair Petanque Tuesdays & Thursdays @ Bayfair Reserve, Russley Drive.

New members welcome. Coaching & boules available, a friendly, social club.

Ph Alf 570 0480 BOP Linux Users First Tuesday 7-9pm L.J.Hooker, Cnr Cameron Rd & Eighth Ave 578 6024. Smarter, faster, safer & free. Put YOU in charge of your computer. http://boplug.co.nz/eventcalendar/ Bureta Garden Circle Bureta Garden Circle’s monthly meeting at St. John’s Church Hall, 94 Bureta Rd, Otumoetai at 1:30pm. Visitors welcome.

Lois 576 4378 Cards Interested in 500? Flexible evenings to suit. Ideal for central Tauranga & Mount residents. Ph Chris 572 3834 Cards 500 Mount Senior Citizen, 345 Maunganui Rd, Tuesdays, Thursdays 12:45pm. Further info Garry 576 3033 Crafty Craft Group Bring your own Craft or learn one. 9am every Tuesday (Term Time) St Peters Church. Ph Shelly 07 262 1036 Fitness League Fun exercise with weights, bands, floor work dance. 9:30-10:30am St. Columba Church, 502 Otumoetai Rd, Cherrywood. Ph Gloria 021 139 2448

Free Pasifika Education Programme

Every Tuesday evening, 3 Apr -23 Oct. 5:30pm-8pm Lifezone Church, 7 Oak Lane, Judea. Dinner provided.

Friends of the Library Mt Maunganui Library Book Group meets at 10am.

Theme this month is Korea: history, travel or fiction. isitors new members welcome. Gail 574 3376 Inachord Women’s Chorus We welcome new members. Multi genre music.

3 weeks free trial. Bethlehem Community Church 183 Moffat Rd. Tuesdays 7-9pm.

Ph Debbie 021 129 1126 Israeli Dancing 6:30-7:30pm for beginners. Gate Pa Primary School hall, Cameron Rd. All ages welcome, no partners required. Ph Maria, 544 1680 or 022 165 2114 Junction Coffee & Chat At St James’ Church, Greerton, 10am-12pm. Support & friendship for those experiencing mental illness &/or addiction. Ph 543 3010 for details or pick-up.

Learn To Play Bridge Beginners lessons start on March 6 at :1 pm finish at the end of June at Tauranga Bridge Club, 252 Ngatai Road. Lessons are $70.

Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Tuesday to Friday 8:30am-9am at 53 Te Okuroa Drive Papamoa. Ph Julie 0274 205 375 or visit: http://www.communityofstaidan.com/

Mount Morning Badminton

9-11:30am. Mt Sports Centre, Blake Park. Social, all ages, racquets available, beginners welcome. $5 per day. Ph Margaret 575 9792 Narcotics Anonymous Women’s Meeting, Tues 10:30-11:30am, Downstairs Hall (accessed from rear bottom car park), Salvation Army Recovery Church, 375 Cameron Rd. Ph 0800 NA TODAY

Ocean Running Mount Maunganui

5k run & walk around Mauao base track. $6 entry Mount Ocean Sports Club from 5:15pm. Full details on Facebook or Phil 021 383 354. All welcome.

Omokoroa Beach Indoor Bowls

Meet at Settler’s Hall, Omokoroa Rd at 7pm for 7:30pm start. Wear smooth sole shoes/slippers. New & returning members welcome. Ph Anne 548 1636 Oriana Singers Oriana Singers practice every Tuesday 7pm at St Andrews Church, Dee St, Mt Maunganui. Actively recruiting Tenors, Basses. Ph president Terry Fulljames, 021 0266 8684 Otumoetai Lions Club Otumoetai ions Club meet every first third Tuesday of the month at Daniels in the Park, Memorial Park. All welcome. Please ph 579 3839 Otumoetai Tennis Club Midweek adult tennis Tuesdays & Thursdays. 9am10:30am Bellevue Park, Windsor Road.

Beginners welcome. Coaching available.

Ph Pam 570 0302 Otumoetai Walking Group Meet at 9am at Kulim Park. Ph Jim 576 7339 Overeaters Anonymous Do you or family members/friends have a problem with over or under eating? Meet Tue & Fri Ph 544 1213 or 022 064 2186 Pilates Classes 10-11am at Arataki Community Centre. $12 per class. Claudia 021 192 7706 Scrabble Tauranga Scrabble Club 8:50am 3 games $3 Tauranga Bridge Club Ngatai Rd. New players very welcome Ph 544 8372 Sequence Dancing Tauranga Social & Leisure Club, St John Anglican Church Hall, 94 Bureta Road Otumoeti. Tuesdays 7pm-9:30pm except 2nd Tuesday each month 3:30-6pm. Faye 543 3280 South City Indoor Bowls 7:30pm Open Triples Tournament plate raffle item). Names in by 7:15pm.

Tai Chi Otumoetai Sports Club Fergusson Park 1:30-2:30 $8 Suitable for beginners to advanced. Beautiful surroundings, friendly group, all welcome.

Taoist Tai Chi Tai Chi Classes Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 1-2:30pm.

Come along to 15 Koromiko Street, Tauranga. Kay 021 668 468

physical, emotional, spiritual. Above Graced Oppshop, cnr 11Ave, Christopher. No charge. Inquiries 021 110 0878 www.healingrooms.co.nz Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park Road.

Mixed Roll-ups 12:45-3pm. Ph Phil Green 549 5344 Kiwi Toasters First, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of the month, 3 Palm Springs Boulevard Papamoa. 5:30pm-7pm.

Inquiries to Chrissy 027 296 7939 Meditation - Free Classes Wednesdays 7:30pm in Welcome Bay. Ph David or Trisha at 570 1204. Find Peace, Balance, Joy. End Stress & be in good health.

Greerton RSA 7pm. Friendly gettogether, all instruments, all levels of ability. Come in & enjoy some live music.

Grant 578 6448

Religions ignite divisions & conflicts across the globe. We delve into religions. Join our second Wednesday monthly discussions.

Enquiries Ph 576 1849 Singles Social Coffee Club 60+ Looking for something new to do or make new friends, this could be it. Gayle 027 439 3267 or 578 1878 E: mixandmingle@xtra.co.nz Steady As You Go Exercises at St Johns Church Hall Bureta, Weds 2-3pm EXCEPT 1st Weds each month. Improve balance and overall wellbeing. Contact Alison 576 4536 Table Tennis Tauranga Memorial Hall Social mixed doubles 12:45-3pm Club night 7-9pm Social/ competitive singles/doubles. New players welcome.

Ph Roy 578 7800 Taoist Tai Chi: Beginners Classes today in: Tauranga, 15 Koromiko Street, Judea: 1-2:30pm & 5:30-7pm. Memberships from $19 per month. Great for stress, suitable for all. Ph 578 6193 Tauranga Embroiderers Guild Meets EVERY Wednesday at the Tauranga Rowing Club, Devonport Road, Tauranga 10am-2:30pm 7pm-9:30pm.

Beginners very welcome. Ph Jenny Williams 07 562 3757

Tauranga Acoustic Music Club

Tauranga Astronomical Society

7:30pm Fergusson Park. The phenomena of light - the cornerstone the Universe is built, or is it? Plus The Parker Solar Probe. Telescope viewing weather dependent.

Tauranga Morning Badminton Every Tues & Thurs 9-11:30am at QE2 Centre.

Racquets available, all welcome. Ph Rachael 0274 462 959

Tauranga Patchwork & Quilters

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7pm & 2nd & 4th Friday at 10am. At Tauranga Art & Craft Centre, 177 Elizabeth Street. Ph Helen 0274 177 581 Tauranga Samba Brazilian Drumming/Percussion band. Bring enthusiasm & expect fun! Tues 7:15-9:15pm. Mount Sports Centre. Ph Rob 021 232 7185 Welcome Bay Lions Welcome Bay Lions meet every second & fourth Tuesday of the month at Greenwood Park. All welcome. Please Ph 544 8625 Yoga For All Welcome Bay Community Centre, 6:30-8pm. Traditional, relaxing Yoga class. Beginners welcome. $12 one or $90 nine classes. Bring a mat. Info: Bhajan 07 929 7484

Wednesday 28 March

Age Concern Walking Group 10am

Waitui Grove, Te Puna Beach. Take your lunch.

Belly Dance Classes Teach your body a new language, have fun, keep fit. oin Arabian Spice classes in Tauranga. Call or text 021 124 5982 arabianspicebd@ gmail.com look us up on Facebook Bolivia Card Game Every Wednesday 1-4pm Lyceum Club, 8 Palmer Court Te Puke. Entry $3 includes refreshments.

Beginners welcome. Marie 573 9219 Bowls Indoor Mount Senior Citizens, 345 Maunganui Rd, Wednesdays & Fridays 12:45pm. For info Ph Ernie & Nancy 575 4650 CAP Money Course CAP money course is a revolutionary FREE money management course that teaches budgeting skills with a simple system that really works. Carlene 021 241 3671 for info Cards Cribbage Do you play crib or would like to learn? Every Weds at Greerton RSA 1pm sharp. Michael Ph 562 0517 Club Mt Indoor Bowls Names in by 6:45 for 7pm start. Ph Val 543 4168 Community Bible Study Join us @ City Church 252 Otumoetai Road 7–9pm Wednesday’s for a Bible Study on the “Book of Acts”. Ph Julie 552 4068 Community Tai Chi Bethlehem Hall 1pm. All welcome Tutor Trish 021 482 842 communitytaichinz@gmail.com Fernland Spa Water Exercise 10:4511:45am. Held rain or shine, not during school holidays. ualified instructor lifeguard.

New participants Ph Jennifer 571 1411 Gate Pa Indoor Bowls Ladies & Garden Forest Marine Men’s Singles.

7:30pm (Ballinger Trophy) Healing Rooms 1-3pm Come & experience God’s healing touch, whether

Mount Maunganui Lioness Club

Meetings 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month. New members welcome. Meet new friends & enjoy community services & social activities Ph Christine 575 2144 Narcotics Anonymous Working the Steps (closed meeting), Weds 7:309:00pm, Downstairs Hall (accessed from rear bottom car park), Salvation Army Recovery Church, 375 Cameron Rd. Ph 0800 NA TODAY Scottish Country Dancing Mount Senior Citizens Hall, 345 Maunganui Rd. Beginners 6pm, general dancing 7:30pm. Ph Mary 574 8687 Lynne 021 140 7912

Sea of Faith, Tauranga

Tauranga MidWeek Tramping Group

Dickey Flat, Mangakino Pack Track, County Rod, Dubbo. Grade moderate, 6.5 hrs. Garry 07 578 3083 Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club Midweek ladies Wednesdays 9-11 Tauranga lawn, Tauranga Domain, Cameron Road. Players welcome to join organised doubles. All abilities, all ages. Followed by morning tea first visit free .

Tauranga Lyceum Club Women’s Friendship Club. New members very welcome. Catered lunch 1st Friday & dinner 3rd Wednesday monthly. Activities include painting, bridge, rummikub & music. Dianne 552 4416

Toastmasters City Early Start

Improve communication leadership teamwork skills. Join a motivated & enthusiastic group at Classic Flyers Avgas Cafe 6:50-8:15am email LaniDTM@ gmail.com Text 021 044 5654 www.cityearlystart.co.nz Tutus On Tour The Royal NZ Ballet.

Wed 4 Apr at 6:30pm Addison Theatre, Baycourt. More info at www.baycourt. co.nz Unique Ukulele Group A group of players who meet to share their music at Tauranga RSA. 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month at 1pm. Ph Loma 579 5109

Thursday 29 March

Adoptee Support Tauranga Support Group for Adoptees. We meet every 2nd Thursday at 6pm at the Arataki Community Centre. Ph Scott for details 027 565 6459 Bay City Rockers Social RocknRoll Dancing, Neon Moon, Rnr Waltz. Thursdays at Senior Citizens Hall, Norris St. 7-9:30pm $3 entry includes supper. Gavin 0276 436 222 or Steve 027 277 9569 Coffee & Chat Support Junction: Peer Support & Advocacy Coffee & Chat for people wanting support around mental illness &/or addictions. St James Church,

Greerton, 10-12pm. Ph 543 3010 Community Bible Study Join us @ 14th Avenue Gospel Centre 10am– 12pm every Thursday for Bible Study on the “ Book of Acts ”.

Ph Gay 021 2255 981 Craft Club Ladies, all crafts are welcome.

9am-2.30pm. For a friendly social day at Arataki Community Centre Bayfair. Ph Jan 021 062 3660 Diabetes Clinic Bongards Pharmacy Greerton, 3rd Thursday each month.

INFOline Ph 571 3422

Hanna Somatic Movement Education

Gentle, safe, & easy restorative movement.

Monday & Thursdays 5:30pm Tauranga Senior Citizens Hall. Tuesday & Thursday 9am Scout Hall Moa Park. 027 227 4161 Suds Fitness League Exercise, movement & dance to help with posture & balance, 1st class complimentary. Thursdays, 10am, central Baptist Church 13th Ave. Ph Pam 549 4799 or 021 117 7170 Joni Mitchell Tribute Show Featuring Lisa Tomlins. A journey through Mitchells’ jazz album Shadows & Light. At 8pm Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre.

More info www.baycourt.co.nz Junction Coffee & Chat Junction Mount Maunganui/Papamoa COFFEE & CHAT, McDonalds Papamoa, 1-2pm. Support & friendship for those experiencing mental illness and/or addiction. Ph 543 3010 for details or pick-up Katikati Bowling Club 8 Park Rd Rummikub 1-4pm, $3 entry. Phil Green 549 5344 Katikati Toastmasters Promoting Communication & Leadership meets 1st 3rd & 5th Thursday of month at 7:30pm Katikati Community Resource Centre 45 Beach Road, Katikati. Inquiries to Chrissy 027 296 7939 Keynotes Inc. Keynotes 4 part harmony Womens’ Chorus meet Thursday 7pm @ Wesley Church hall 13th Ave. Singing for fun & health. Ph Jacqui 542 1766 Learn To Dance WCS We teach a modern, sexy & smooth dance called West Coast Swing. Every Thur at QV Cafe (850 Cameron Rd) from 6:45pm 1st class is FREE. embrace.dancing@ gmail.com Vero 021 191 1601 Mainly Music-Holy Trinity 9:30-10. Corner Devonport Rd, 3rd Avenue. Music & dance for preschoolers & mums, Nans, Carers. $3 per family. Morning tea incl.

Meet the Missioner Discuss any topic that is important to you. First 4 receive a FREE coffee 11-12pm at Gana Cafe Papamoa Julie 0274 205 375 http://www.communityofstaidan.com/

Mount Papamoa Coffee Group Junction Coffee & Chat 1-2pm Papamoa MacDonalds.

Come & meet others for support & friendship.

For details call Junction 543 3010 Narcotics Anonymous Closed Men’s Meeting every Thurs, 7:30-8:30pm, Waipuna Park Hall, 25 Kaitemako Rd, Welcome Bay. If using drugs is causing you problems, call 0800 NA TODAY Papamoa Coffee & Chat Junction, a service to support those experiencing mental health issues. Join us for every Thursday at Papamoa McDonalds, 1pm-2pm. Ph 543 3010 for details Papamoa 500 Card Club Every Thursday at 12:45pm. At Gordon Spratt Reserve. Ph Dave 575 5887 Pilates Classes 11am-12pm at Omokoroa Settlers’ Hall. $12 per class. Claudia 021 192 7706 Spiritual Development Psychic Craft Spiritual development, meditation

psychic craft 7-9pm. Open group. Tutor Kevin Reed 25years experience. Ph 578 7205 email kevinreednz@gmail.com Social Rock’n Roll Dancing Neon Moon, Rock’nRoll Waltz. 7-9:30pm at Senior Citizens Hall Norris St. Includes Supper. $3 entry.

Gavin 027 643 6222 or Steve 027 277 9569 Square Dance Fun New dancer class now, see Facebook Orange City Squares & Rounds.

Enjoy music movement laughter, details 577 1100 or 578 6516. Frontiersmen’s Hall, Elizabeth St

Sunshine Sequence Dance Group Learn dancing at a friendly

club. Every Thursday at Baptist Church Hall, 13th Avenue, 7pm10pm. $2 entrance includes supper.

Jan 544 4379 Table Tennis Tauranga Table Tennis Memorial Hall QEYC 1-3pm social grades, 3-5pm Junior club, 5-6:45pm junior squad training, 6:45-9 Club Night. Ph Paul Henderson 021 884 021 Tai Chi in the Park Memorial Park next to Mini Golf on 11th Ave. No charge. 9:30am Taoist Tai Chi: Beginners Classes today in: Tauranga, 15 Koromiko St, Judea: 1-2:30pm & 5:307pm. Katikati: Memorial Hall, 5:30-7pm. Memberships from $19 month. Great for stress, suitable for all. Ph 578 6193 Tauranga Creative Fibre Every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7pm.

Learn and share spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, felting. 177 Elizabeth St, Margaret 571 3483

continued . . .

The Weekend Sun

38 THE WEEKEND SUN

Tauranga Model Railway Club Meets at

7:30pm in club rooms, corner Cross Rd & Mirrielees Rd, Sulphur Point. Ed 543 1108 Tauranga Porcelain Artists Meet 9am12pm at Elizabeth Street West. Beginners welcome. Ph Lynne 549 0847 027 222 3627 Women’s Singing Group Beginners are very welcome. Interested then ph Marie 576 1300.

Meet every Thursday 11am at 68 1st Ave Tauranga.

Zonta Tauranga Womens Organisation

Warmly welcomes other like minded women,

. . . continued

meet new friends championing the rights of women & girls in our community, get togethers, dinners/speakers, Suzy 021 266 5044

Friday 30 March

Alcoholics Anonymous Open meeting, 7:30pm, Tauranga Hanmer Clinic, 1235 Cameron Rd. (Behind SuperLiquour) All welcome. Ph 0800 229 6757 Alcoholics Anonymous Open meeting, 10am, Tauranga Central Baptist Church,

OlIvE CoPpErBoTtOm

A DiCkEnSiAn TaLe oF LoVe, GiN aNd tHe PoX SaTuRdAy 31 MaRcH 4Pm 16tH AvE ThEaTrE 164 SiXtEeNtH AvEnUe TaUrAnGa

PaRt Of ArTs On ToUr In TaUrAnGa ViSiT BaYcOuRt.Co.Nz FoR DeTaIlS

corner 13th Ave & Cameron Rd. All welcome . Ph 0800 229 6757 Cards 500 Senior Citizens Te Puke every Friday 12:45-3pm.

Lyceum Club, 8 Palmer Court Te Puke.

New members welcome. Brian 573 8465 Chess Tauranga Tauranga RSA Chess Club, Greerton 5-7pm, Casual & Standard length games. Standard Chess rules. Ph Werner 548 1111 http:/www. westernbopchess.weebly.com/

Comparative World Religions

Tauranga Term 1 classes on the Western belief traditions on Fridays 6-8pm, 16 Feb-6 Apr. More info & registration at www.rdc.org.nz/classes Genealogy Support Group The Library support group meets on the 2nd Friday of the month either at Greerton

or Tauranga Library. Experts available to assist. Register: p 577 7177 Junction Board Games Junction, a service to support those experiencing mental health issues. Join us for every Friday at unction Office, 12: 0pm-2pm.

Ph 543 3010 for details Junction Mount Walk 10am12:30pm. Support & friendship for those experiencing mental illness and/or addiction. Ph 543 3010 for details or pick-up.

Narcotics Anonymous Open Meeting, Fri 7:30-8:30pm, Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Rd, Mt Maunganui. If using drugs is causing you problems, maybe we can help: 0800 NA TODAY Piloga Fridays At Arataki Community Centre 10:05-11:20am. Pilates, yoga & relaxation. Ph Mel 022 187 1295

or Claudia 021 192 7706 *runs Feb 16-April 13th

Preschool Music @St. Georges A half hour of fun, dance & movement to music, followed by morning tea.

St. Georges Church lounge (1 Church Street) 9:30am Fridays termtime. Koha Singers Wanted Ladies Singing Group.

Meet at TePuke Lyceum Club. 10am. Ph Bev 573 4943 Te Puke Toy Library New hours, new location & so much fun. Come along & check it out. Friday Playgroup & Lego Club Friday afternoon. See Facebook for details.

Tots’ Time 10-11.30am, Grace Community Church, Bethlehem Hall. Ph Elaine 576 5135

New twist with great expectations sensibilities you have out the window,” says Baycourt A rollicking one-woman musical journey manager Megan Peacock Coyle, “because Olive that’ll have you joyfully crying out: “What Copperbottom is as saucy as it is bloody hysterical. the Dickens?” will open a new show series “Penny performed a snippet of Olive this month.

Copperbottom at the PANNZ Arts Market Baycourt Presents, in association with Arts earlier this month, and she had everyone in on Tour NZ, is proudly presenting Olive the room in absolute fits of laughter. We re Copperbottom: A Dickensian Tale of Love, so pleased to be bringing Penny to Tauranga Gin and the Pox at 16th Ave Theatre on to share her talent with the community.”

Saturday, 31 March.

Olive Copperbottom won the Press Critic’s Following on from her globally ‘Iron Chicken’ award for best indoor show at the successful Promise and Promiscuity tour Christchurch International Buskers’ Festival in 2014, award-winning comedian, earlier this year and ‘Best Overall Show’ at the writer and social commenter Penny Victoria Fringe in Canada 2017.

Ashton swaps Jane Austen for Charles Ashton is New Zealand’s own global Dickens in her new show, which brings comedienne, having performed over 600 solo orphaned hero Olive and a squalid gaggle shows all over the world. She has represented of hilarious and gin-soaked Victorian New Zealand in Theatresports and characters to crusty life.

“Get ready to throw any Victorian Olive Copperbottom. Performance Poetry, continued ...

The Weekend Sun

39

Former world record holder in Tauranga Operatunity arrives in Tauranga at the start Rebecca Wright formerly held the Guinness World of April with a collection of veteran musical Record for singing upside down, and will perform in ‘Because You Asked for It’ in Tauranga on April 6 performers, including a former world from 11am at Holy Trinity Church.

Her recent musical credits include playing the lead record holder.

roles in Cinderella, Evita, Rent and Starlight Express.

In ‘Because You Asked for It’, Rebecca will perform alongside Tizane McEvoy, Karl Perigo, Alex Milligan, Stuart Coats and pianist Penny Dodd.

The show will include hits from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Evita, Cats, Mamma Mia and are all favourite songs voted by Operatunity’s audiences across New Zealand.

Tickets can be booked at: www.operatunity.co.nz or by calling: 0508 266 237.

The Weekend Sun has one double pass to ‘Because You Asked for It’ for one lucky reader who can tell us what Rebecca Wright held a Guinness World Record for.

Enter online at: www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. Entries must be received by Tuesday, March 27.

Performers Tizane McEvoy and Alex Milligan.

A Dickensian tale of love, gin and the pox ... continued

and in 2017 performed 88 shows in 22 towns in five countries.

Ashton is a regular and original panellist on Radio NZ’s ‘The Panel’, a social commentator on Breakfast TV and Newstalk and a busy marriage celebrant and jazz hand enthusiast.

Baycourt Presents Olive Copperbottom: A Dickensian Tale of Love, Gin and the Pox is at 16th Ave Theatre on Saturday, 31 March, at 4pm.

Tickets cost $24.50 for adults, $15 for under18s, $22 for seniors (65-plus), and $20 for Friends of Baycourt $20.00.

Synchronised voices

Two choirs with different skill sets will share centre stage in a grand performance like no other.

The Tauranga Civic Choir has decided to make 2018 a year in which they help the cause of choral music by taking part in four different community events in the Bay of Plenty.

Next week, the established choir will take part in a one-off concert with Mount Maunganui College choir, who include 15 students from the ages of 13-17.

The Mount Maunganui College concert will be in preparation of the regional Big Sing concert, where Waikato and Bay of Plenty school choirs will compete against each other to win a place in the nationals later this year.

Tauranga Civic Choir conductor Nigel Williams says the concert is beneficial to both choirs and may give the MMC choir a leg up in the regionals.

“The combined concert gives the students more practice in front of an audience,” says Nigel, “and allows them to see what their choir could look like one day, as well as what options they have before leaving school.

“It’s also a great opportunity for the Tauranga Civic Choir, as they get to perform in front of a different audience and relay their experiences on to others.”

The Mount Maunganui College concert will be at Mount Maunganui College Hall on Tuesday, March 27, from 7pm.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

All the soloists on the night will be college students, and it will be an evening of interesting and varied music with lots of laughs.

They’re available online at: www.ticketek.co.nz, by phone on: 0800 TICKETEK or over the Baycourt Box Office counter. Booking fees apply.

The Weekend Sun has two double passes for Olive Copperbottom for two lucky readers who can tell us the name of the Press Critic award that the show won.

Enter online at: www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. Entries must be received by Tuesday, May 27.

The Weekend Sun

40

Easter

Money is what I want

is good news A couple of weeks ago we had ex-tropical cyclone Hola brush past our shores, and thankfully we were spared another direct-hit This got me thinking, do things sometimes happen by luck or by chance? from a big storm. A common phrase heard in Is there such a thing as blind luck? conversations after the event was: “We were We sometimes hear people say: “I’m so lucky Hola didn’t come directly at us.” feeling lucky today,” or: “I’ll take a chance on Lady Luck!”

The Bible tells us that in od s world, things do not happen by luck or by pure chance. uck isn t part of od s vocabulary. The Bible tells us that after od created the world, He then created mankind in His own image to live in the world.

So we can say we are here not by pure luck or by some random chance of good fortune - we are here because of the od of creation.

At Easter we remember that a man called esus of Nazareth was crucified on

a cross outside Jerusalem.

The crucifixion was not a random event – Jesus didn’t happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Acts 2:2 affirms that esus was handed over to be crucified by od s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.

The good news of Easter is that Jesus didn’t remain dead.

Acts 2:2 says: “But od raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

This Easter, don’t look for Lady Luck – rather, look unto Jesus Christ whom od raised from the dead for your sake and mine.

Richard Roodt – Bay Bible Fellowship

No doubt most of us have spent time dreaming of what we would do if we were given something like $10 million.

We have listed what we would buy, places we would go first class travel, of course and perhaps even the job we would quit.

Then at the end of that list we may have added what we would do for others beyond our families and close friends. However, this was probably, if we are honest, an afterthought in an attempt to balance all of the things we would want for ourselves and those close to us.

It is strange that so many of us want lots of money even though there is little evidence that lots of money makes you happy.

Actually, quite the reverse is true.

Jesus taught that we should aim at collecting treasure in heaven rather than on earth. arthly treasure is fickle whereas heavenly treasure is of eternal value.

Heavenly treasure is about banking good relationships, firstly with od our creator, but also with other people. Treasure in heaven is more about what we give rather than what we receive and accumulate. A $10 million gift will not buy treasure in heaven - it may actually destroy it.

Dale Williamson - Holy Trinity Tauranga

. ity hur htauran a.or .n

The Weekend Sun

41 As the sun set at Mount Maunganui on Saturday night, the ‘We Run The Night’ running festival at Mount Drury got underway. Fully booked out with more than1800 entrants, the ‘We Run The Night’ was not just about the running. It combined music with running, with a free concert which started at 3pm at Mt Drury.

Churches Active In Our Community BETH - EL la tyb

Early Friday morning, Leo Jones and Isaac Reid set up for the ‘We Run the Night’ event the following day. Coning off the car parks on Marine Parade.

Messianic Family

ALL WELCOME SHALOM SABBATH 10AM OTUMOETAI PRIMARY Joel & Sharon van Ameringen

Joanne Moore and Jodi Botting, both from Auckland, and Ashleigh Moat from Gisborne.

0 2 1 76 8 0 4 3

info@bethel.org.nz bethel.org.nz

L O V E HAS A NAME

The Greerton Village March Business After 5 event this week, was held at Robyn’s Cottage in Chadwick Road.

This Easter Sunday.

Don’t Miss It.

Tauranga City Councillor Terry Molloy and Dan Hughes from Copyman.

9:30 AM - April 1st 252 Otumoetai Road

Janet Wells, Moira Stevens and Deborah Lee - all from Westpac Greerton, known as the G-Town team.

Marilyn Mouat from MDs Leatherworks, Greerton Village Mainstreet Manager Sally Benning and Robyn Parker from Robyn’s Cottage.

The Weekend Sun

42

CLASSIFIEDSECTION

trades & services

PH: 07 928 3042 or email aimee@thesun.co.nz these pages can be viewed online at www.sunlive.co.nz

GreenKiwi Gardens

Don’t put up with bad showers Quality fencing adds value to home Linear Fencing is a family owned and operated business providing high quality workmanship, prompt service and adding value to properties throughout the Bay of Plenty.

If your home has leaky pipes, your bathroom is in need of repair or you need to change your shower pressure, Kev’s Plumbing is an expert you can call on in the Bay. Owner-operator Colin Fine – who is nicknamed Kev – has 35 years’ worth of experience.

Kev believes life is too short to have a bad shower, so he’s here to help renovate bathrooms and replace them.

“I do total shower replacements from start to finish, with no other trades involved,” says Kev. “Most shower replacements only take two days.”

He also does hot water cylinder conversions, so you never have to put up with a low-pressure shower again, as well as total replacement of leaking pipes.

Colin Fine, aka Kev.

36 YEA experienRc S e

“I specialise in re-piping houses that have leaky water pipes in walls,” says Kev. “And a lot of people like their shower pressure increased – that is something I do a lot.”

When you call Kev about a job, he’s the man who shows up.

“I will travel Bay of Plenty-wide for work,” he says.

With 20 years’ of experience, owner-operator Graeme Shaw and his son Logan have a keen eye for perfection.

They specialise in Laminata fencing systems, with a range of robust, uniform fencing solutions combining Laminata’s signature Cross Laminated Timber panel and unique twin post system.

Laminata’s cross-laminated engineered wood offers superior quality and durability with no shrinking or warping - all whilst being a truly neighbour-friendly fencing system Linear Fencing also install various other styles of fencing including but not limited to post and rail, pool fencing, paling, pergolas, colour steel, retaining walls and gates.

Linear Fencing Team Kristal, Graeme and Logan Shaw.

“We always have our customers in mind and pride ourselves on every structure we build, big or small,” says Graeme.

Graeme Shaw Call Graeme for a free quote on: 027 710 4801 0277104801 Straight-up quality. or Mobile: visit: www.linearfencing.co.nz G Shaw Fencing Ltd. NZQA Qualified Fencer

info@linearfencing.co.nz - www.linearfencing.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

43

trades & services

COMPUTER PROBLEMS? Relax!

Tauranga Computers Ltd

Specialising in:  Trees - topped, shaped, climbed, felled, crown thinned & lifted

 Qualified Arborists  Clean tidy job Guaranteed  Chipping up to 10 inch

Phone Warren 0274 777 588 or 552 5215 treeworx@xtra.co.nz  www.treeworx.co.nz

broken window handle?

• • • • *finance available

doors • windows locks • hinges handles conservatories

for a FREE quote

07 571 4491

Seamless gym flooring Create a state-of-the-art sports gym with professional flooring at Action Floors.

Action Floors is a family-owned and operated business that has been supplying and installing quality sports surfaces in New Zealand for more than 20 years.

Specialising in gym sports floors, they install timber and synthetic floors, re-coat timber and re-top synthetic flooring and court lines as well as cleaning and maintain existing floors.

Owner Chris Dennett says Action Floors is proud to be the New Zealand representative for two world class manufacturers of athletic surfaces - Action Floor Systems of the USA, who specialise in maple timber flooring, and Herculan sports surfaces of

Action Floor team Charlie McLeod, Chris Dennett, Thomas Dennett and Joseph Wagstaff. the Netherlands, who manufacture seamless polyurethane sports floors.

They also specialise in the installation of lino, carpet tiles and garage carpet and have expertise in floor preparation, concrete grinding, floor levelling and the removal of ceramic tiles.

“At Action Floors we pride ourselves on delivering top quality, cost-effective products along with exceptional customer service,” says Chris.

For more information, contact Chris on: 021 962 620 or visit: www.actionfloors.co.nz

Your go-to lawn and garden crew Crewcut is the biggest lawn and garden franchise in Tauranga.

It has been a trusted brand for 26 years and has a large team of experienced operators covering the wider area, including Te Puke, Maketu, Katikati and Waihi.

“We offer lawn mowing with edges done and driveways and paths blown down,” says Crewcut area manager Alisa Satherley. “We also offer hedge trimming, tree pruning, spraying and gutter cleaning.

“We cover everything from small gardens and lawns to lifestyle blocks.”

All Crewcut operators are police checked, have public liability insurance and comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company also has franchises for sale to the right people who are looking to get out of the office and into the garden – a great option for those who want to be self-employed while having the support of a franchise behind them.

Crewcut has the total solution for all your lawn and gardening needs,

Crewcut has been a trusted brand for 26 years. from a one-off tidy up to a regular programme of maintenance. No job is too big or small. For all enquiries call Bernard and Alisa, area managers and master franchisors, on: 0800 800 286.

44

trades & services

Admin

Administration Services

For prompt, efficient, professional service

call Vivienne on 07 579 9130 email vivienne@adminz.co.nz

www.adminz.co.nz

93 Wharf Street, Tauranga

AAA

MASTER

PAINTERS TAURANGA

The Weekend Sun

The Weekend Sun

trades & services

45

wanted

entertainment

news on line

public notices

public notices

trades & services

GOT DUST?

GOT WEBS?

GET SMART

GET SEA BREEZE Book a house wash with Sea Breeze and we’ll clean your gutters for

FREE

Call today 0800 273 6227 or visit www.seabreezepropertycare.co.nz

appliance services

The Weekend Sun

46

funeral services

Our family helping your family

health & beauty

gardening

WHEELIE BINS & WHEELIE BINS & GARDENBAGS BAGS GARDEN

07 543 3151 www.hopefunerals.co.nz

4 Keenan Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga

financial

Colin an

Monthly Collections

d Monthly Collections *100% green waste recycle Colin aM ndarlaine M *100% green waste recycle arlainWa& 100% locally owned & operated WHEELIE BINS 100% & operated Wats e tson 25 locally years owned experience on 25Monthly years experience Coli Collections

GARDEN BAGS M

CASH LOANS $200 - $20,000

n and

arlain e WatsMOUNT, WAIHI, KATIKATI, TAURANGA, on WAIHI, KATIKATI, TAURANGA, MOUNT, WAIHI, KATIKATI, TAURANGA, MOUNT, PAPAMOA, and SURROUNDING DISTRICTS PAPAMOA, and SURROUNDING DISTRICTS PAPAMOA, and SURROUNDING DISTRICTS *100% green waste recycle 100% locally owned & operated 25 years experience

COLIN WATSON Director

E: ecogardenbag@gmail.com COLIN WATSON Director COLIN WATSON Director

Ph: 027 473 6425

Ph:Ph: 027027 473 473 64256425

deceased

for lease

E: ecogardenbag@gmail.com E: ecogardenbag@gmail.com

3/212 Chadwick Road, Greerton Tauranga IF23004TWS

funeral services

ALREADY NEED ANOTHER HOLIDAY? You can book it RIGHT NOW with a loan from...

3 SAME DAY 3 OVERNIGHT 3 TAILORED APPROVALS

business for sale

FUNDS

REPAYMENTS

0800 657 888

financial

now?

Need cash See us for a personal loan today

0800 34 62 63 | www.linsa.co.nz 174 D E VO N P O RT ROA D, TAU R A N GA | (07) 578 7717 Terms and conditions apply. Subject to Linsa Finance lending criteria and responsible lending guidelines. All loans must be approved and drawn down in our branch. Establishment and account maintenance fees apply.

FSP 176104

The Weekend Sun

mobility

47

real estate

RUN ON LISTINGS www.sunlive.co.nz/classifieds.html

HANDYMAN HOME & GARDEN SERVICES Tree pruning, weeding, hedges, waterblasting, home maintenance, rubbish removal, affordable rates. Ph Philip 027 655 4265 or 544 5591

gate pa

7 Wylie Street, Sat 24th at 8am.

Toddler, Teen & Adult clothing, books, toys, kitchenware, popvinyls, other random exciting stuff!

tauriko

NEED MORE

SPACE? Ideal as an extra bedroom or home office Three convenient sizes: standard 3.6m x 2.4m - $75pw large 4.2m x 2.4m - $90pw xtra-large 4.8m x 2.4m - $110pw

situations vacant

Fully insulated with lockable ranchslider, large window, power, security lights, curtains, carpet, smoke alarm & even a small deck.

Minimum 6 month rental period.

Visit our display cabin at: 17 Plummers Point Road, WHAKAMARAMA or 159 Jellicoe Road, TE PUKE or call for a free brochure.

situations vacant

312 Cambridge Rd, Sat & Sun 8am-3pm. Desks, beds, crystal, silver, brass, sofas. All sorts!

whakamarama

122 Wallace Rd, Sat & Sun 9am-4pm. Estate Sale! Loads of antique china, antique furniture, vintage clothing & hats, quality whiteware & household goods.

JUST $20+gst with FREE signs & price stickers! accounting

PS&R ACCOUNTING Contact us for a free quote to have your Annual Accounts & Tax Returns completed. Phone Peter 022 136 6005 email trefusis34@ gmail.com

bible digest

BUT YOU, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Psalm 22:19

computers

COMPUTER GETTING you down? Problems, viruses, upgrades, internet, new or refurb PC’s tuition, or advice. Ph Bruce for a no obligation chat or quote 576 7940 or 021 260 9183 FREE ON SITE DIAGNOSIS & quote. We come to you.

Pensioner discounts. Ph Kyle at Tech Solutions 027 828 7078

curriculum vitae

CV’s THAT STAND OUT. Don’t let your C.V. get lost amongst all the others.

Get the WOW factor. A C.V. For You can provide you with a personal and professional touch.

From scratch or update existing ones. Check out samples on www.facebook.com/acvforyou or Ph/text on 021 27 27 912

entertainment

TAURANGA TANDEM SKYDIVING best buzz in the Bay! Gift vouchers available. Ph 574 8533 today

ISSUE 3

finance

5K FROM $37pw, over 48 months incl interest at 17.95% + credit fees. Unsecured loans and car loans. Maxloans.co.nz 0508 629 5626

for sale

JIGSAWS, 1000 pcs. Selection of 47 to choose from. $5 each.

All near new. Ph 544 2431 Outstanding design

Build tiny

Beach style

Dressing up

MAHJONG SET & boards. Good condition. Offers. Ph 576 0305

gardening

ABLE GARDENER, experienced, efficient, knowledgeable, highly qualified.

Maintenance, pruning, hedges, shrubs, roses; disease/pest control, lifestyle blocks, garden renovations; design & plant.

Ph Tita 027 654 8781 or a/h 542 0120

health & beauty

NATURAL NEW ZEALAND Health Products & Clinic.

Something for everyone.

NZ Registered Natural Therapies & Natural Medicine Practitioners. Opposite BP Te Puke. Ph 573 5533 www. naturaltherapiesnz.com and www.naturalpetremediesstore. com

livestock

AC PETFOODS collect injured & unwanted cows & horses. Ph 0800 369 6269

lost & found

FOUND KITTENS VARIOUS Ages, Sex, Various Areas. Ph SPCA 07 578 0245 Found Adult Tabby Female Cat, Mount Maunganui Area, Ref: 120547, Ph SPCA Found Adult Torti/White Female Cat, Papamoa Area, Ref: 120571, Ph SPCA Found Adult Tabby/white Female Cat, Mount Maunganui Area, Ref: 119960, Ph SPCA Found Adult Black Female Cat, Matua Area, Ref: 120230, Ph SPCA Found Adult Grey/Tabby Male Cat, Katikati area, Ref: 119244, Ph SPCA

trades & services

AFFORDABLE HOUSE/ BUILDING repairs & general maintenance, roofing, spouting, building & painting. 20+ years exp. Ph 0223 500 600 APPLIANCE REPAIRS For service of all Fisher & Paykel, Haier and Elba appliances, Ph 0800 372 273 for your local technician.

BOAT BUILDING repairs and maintenance. Timber & fibreglass trade qualified, boat builder. Ph Shaun 021 992 491 or 07 552 0277

ELECTRICIAN, 18+ years experience, NZ registered.

Residential & commercial, maintenance & service, new builds, renovations. Fast, friendly service. Ph Andrew 022 354 1960 HANDYMAN BUILDING, section maintenance, decks, fencing, pergolas, painting, water blasting, odd jobs. Free quotes.

Ph Rossco 027 270 3313 or 544 5911 LICENSED BUILDER 20 years experience. Available for small or large projects. Excellent references. Ph Ben today 021 209 0972 PAINTER/DECORATOR Interior and exterior. Quality workmanship, friendly service.

Over 25 years specialising in residential and more. Quality paint at trade prices. For your best advice in all areas.

Ph Shane Mount/Tauranga Decorators 07 544 6495 or 021 575 307 PLASTERER A1 TRADESMAN with 30 yrs experience. Quality finish with friendly, reliable service. I specialise in interior walls & ceilings with no job too small. Strip your own wallpaper and I will skim your walls ready for a modern paint finish. Repair cracked walls & ceilings using proven carbon-fibre technology.

Call Murray now for an obligation free quote 027 266 5657

book online now PLASTERER, new to Tauranga, specialises in all aspects of plastering, 40+ years’ experience, no job too small. Call Dave today on 027 771 7312 ROOF REPAIRS Free quotes for all maintenance of leaking roofs, gutter cleaning & repairs.

Chimney maintenance & repairs.

Registered roofer, 30yrs exp. Ph Peter 542 4291 or 027 436 7740 TREE, SHRUB and hedges trimming, topping, rubbish, palm pruning or removal, satisfaction guaranteed free quote. Ph Steve Hockly 571 5958 or 027 498 1857

travel & tours

”AAA” with Exclusive Gold Star (Tour 1 – South Island Autumn Tour at Its Best + Main Highlights, Very Excellent Reviews), (Tour 2 – the next ‘North Island Train Trip & Te Papa Museum Tour’….,2 seats left Excellent Reviews).

(Tour 3 - Two night’s stay at Stunning Chateau Tongariro); (Tour 4 – Bay of Islands & Northland) (Tour 5 – WOW in Wellington)….

Plus much much more….

Door to Door service.

Phone HINTERLAND TOURS TEAM 07 575-8118.

NO 8 TOURS NEW ZEALAND’S SENIOR TRAVEL CLUB – Selling FAST!!! Come and be Wowed at Wellington’s Wearable Arts Show 2018. Includes Door to Door Pick Ups, Premium Seating Tickets & Full Colour Programme, Accommodation, Meals as Listed, Visiting Tongariro Lodge, Orlando Country Estate, Cross Hills Gardens, Government House & Exclusive Pencarrow Lodge, Travelling on a comfortable spacious Tour Coach. DATES; Thurs Oct 4th 2018 to Sun Oct 7th Oct 2018, 4 Days. BOOK NOW! Ph. No 8 Tours team on 579 3981 or Email info@ no8tours.co.nz Free Door to Door service, Day Trips, Shows & Free beautiful colour catalogue.

NO 8 TOURS NEW ZEALAND’S SENIOR TRAVEL CLUB – Join our Club today for Free to receive all our VIP Members Benefits exclusive to No 8 Tours.

(1) April 16th Molesworth Station.

(2) April 19th Awhitu Peninsula.

(3) April 24th Wallingford Homestead. (4) May 9th Rangitikei River Lodges. Limited seats available late bookings on request. Free Door to Door service, Day Trips, Shows & Free beautiful colour catalogue: Ph. No 8 Tours team on 579 3981 or Email info@no8tours.co.nz

venues

FOR WEDDINGS, FUNCTIONS OR MEETINGS+ check out No.1 The Strand, a beautiful historic setting.

Email: bookings@no1thestrand. co.nz or www.no1thestrand.co.nz WEDDINGS, PARTIES, MEETINGS etc - The perfect venue. With stunning Harbour views, fully licensed bar & kitchen onsite. Restaurant open every Friday from 5pm & Sunday from 4.30pm, kids under 12 years dine free with every paying adult. Tauranga Fish & Dive Club, 60 Cross Rd, Sulphur Point. Ph 571 8450

48

The Weekend Sun

Long Term Plan 2018-2028 — It’s steady as we grow

Four ticks for the future of the Western Bay...

Council would like to know your response to four key proposals relating to the future of the Western Bay of Plenty so we can finalise the District’s Long Term Plan. To see the questions and register your responses please visit:

haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz All feedback must be received by 4pm Friday, 4 May 2018

Want more information?

You can find our Consultation Document and supporting documentation: • On our website haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz • At Council offices and service centres.

Or come and visit us during our roadshow!

In April we will be travelling around the District to discuss the LTP and answer any questions you might have.

Katikati — Sat 14 April — St. Peter’s Anglican Church — 10am-12pm Te Puke — Sun 15 April — Sport & Rec. Club — 10am-12pm Council Chambers — Thu 19 April — Barkes Corner — 5pm-7pm Omokoroa — Sat 21 April — Community Church — 10am-12pm

J001898DEVCICH.CO.NZ

Waihi Beach — Sat 28 April — RSA — 10am-12pm

www.westernbay.govt.nz | Te Kaunihera a rohe mai i nga Kuri-a-Wharei ki Otamarakau ki te Uru