ws 18/01/13

d n e k e e w e h t

18 January 2013, Issue 632

The Bay’s largest circulating, most read newspaper.

63,460 copies

to the homes of 159,700 residents throughout TAURANGA, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, PAPAMOA, WAIHI BEACH, KAIMAI, KATIKATI, TE PUKE, PAENGAROA, OTAMARAKAU and all RDs

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cheeky birthday

Reeling in the competition

Selfless travels

Blind passion

The beach along the Matata straight will be transformed into a forest of fishing rods on January 27 as a thousand fishers compete in the Bay of Plenty’s longest running surf casting competition. Hosted by the Rotorua Fishing and Casting Club, the 44th surf fishing bonanza offers the same opportunities for camaraderie, camping and competition and big cash prizes that ensures the contest’s on-going popularity. See full story on page 7. Photo by Bruce Barnhard.

formerly known as the Accident & HealthCare Centre

19 Second Avenue - Tauranga

Opening Hours 8AM - 9PM Every Day • accident & medical • skin cancer clinic • chiropractor • physiotherapy

• family medical practice • dentist • pharmacy • xray

2 1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga

ads@thesun.co.nz newsroom@thesun.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

The Weekend Sun is published every Friday, circulating throughout the Western Bay of Plenty, delivered free to 63,460 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.

Sun Media Ltd Directors: Claire & Brian Rogers General Manager: Ross Brown Editorial: Andrew Campbell, Hamish Carter, Letitia Atkinson, Phillipa Yalden, Corrie Taylor, Elaine Fisher, Zoe Hunter, Luke Balvert. Photography: Tracy Hardy, Bruce Barnard. Advertising: Kathy Andrews, Suzy King, Lois McKinley, Kirsty Hutcheson, Rose Hodges, Aimee-Leigh Brunsdon, Caro Leuschke, Abby Taylor. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, James Carrigan, Sarah Adamson, Kerri Wheeler, Kyra Duffy, Amy Bennie. Office: Julie Commerer, Melanie Stone, Tasha Paull, Julia Price, Kathy Drake.

Shell shocked news of the world The big news rocking the world this week is that researchers have discovered crabs do not like being given electric shocks and are likely to feel pain.

This will come as a bit of a surprise to all of you who were thinking of popping out this afternoon onto the Otumoetai mudflats with a car battery and

a couple of electrodes made from gran’s old knitting needles, and doing a spot of crustacean electrocution.

I know it has changed the way I will spend my spare time. Those of you with a fetish for wiring up small defenceless mud critters and giving them an overdose of electrons will be delighted to know you are not alone. Turns out, it is quite fashionable.

Behavioural study

The latest study by Professor Bob Elwood and Barry Magee from Queen’s University Belfast School of Biological Sciences looked at the reactions of common shore crabs to small electrical shocks, and their behaviour after experiencing those shocks.

The research has been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology – which sounds way more interesting to read than the Postie catalogue, although some of the facial expressions on the models are remarkably similar to the crabs.

The good scientists discovered that crabs were prepared to give up their dark hidey holes in order to avoid getting another belt.

It sounds a little cruel. Why they decided on electric shocks is not clear. Yet probably less cruel than torture with repeats of Shortland Street or council recordings of Murray Guy. Why in the world would scientists feel the need to test the response of crustaceans to voltage is beyond me.

Although to be fair, they believe the study may have some relevance to the food and aquaculture industries, and how they treat live crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and lobsters.

Lobsters plight

www.heartland.co.nz Ph: 07 578 3212

Pretty insignificant, I would have thought, compared to the plight of lobsters I’ve met, who have been less concerned about shock therapy and more worried about the iki spike poised overhead and the pot of boiling water on the stove.

I would have thought science had more to concern itself with. Such as, maybe how Bieber or hobbits or the woman from the TV furniture ad respond to a bit of stray current. Hang on, we’re not allowed to bash the hobbits any more. It’s just weird… at

least according to avid reader Chris Thomas, who writes: Hi Brian: I’ve always in the past enjoyed reading Rogers Rabbits, but the last two editions, I wonder if you might have lost the plot a little. It’s OK having a bit of fun with the PC brigade, some of them certainly deserve it, but your references to ‘feeling as stupid as a nurse answering a phone’ and Donny Osmond singing ‘who let the dogs out’ go too far for me. Neither do I find the hobbit rabbit funny, just weird.

It may be worth remembering the departure of Paul Henry who lost his sense of balance with regards to his audience.

Please let’s have the old Rogers back so I can look forward to enjoying a good read again on Friday.

Regards, Chris.

So in a last gasp attempt to not hurt Chris’ feelings, or those of the hobbits or anyone else in the firing line, we will be applying electro shock therapy to Rogers to see if we can fire up the old Rabbiter.

(We would like to thank Chris though, for providing an opportunity to run those particularly poor-taste lines again… and mentioning the great Paul Henry.)

And it got me thinking, Paul Henry could

be a keen closet hermit crab torturer from way back. This would improve his TV show greatly, if he could get hold of Gran’s knitting needles and be let loose on some victims.

Line up

Another idea circulating the vast voids of the RR Research Facility this week, on the back of the shell shocked crab story, is we should get the scientists to extend their studies to test the reaction of ample voltage on recidivist drink drivers, loud boy racers, texting drivers and people who start lawnmowers before 8am on a weekend.

S1242JCSharon

IMPORTANT STUFF: All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Crabs are decapods (ten legs) crustaceans (their skeleton is on the outside) and arthropods (they have segmented legs).

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. No crustaceans were harmed in the production of this newspaper.

The Weekend Sun

3

HSS61052whistle

A ‘no’ to power New powers available to the country’s mayors following this year’s local body elections aren’t going to change the mayoral style of Tauranga’s incumbent, Stuart Crosby, should he be re-elected.

They are ‘claytons’ powers, says Stuart.

“Late in the process they amended the Bill so that the council - all the elected members - could effectively nullify any action of the mayor, including the appointment of the chief executive and the city chairs.

“So on one hand they have given the powers, but on the other hand they are basically back to the status quo.

“It’s not the way I would operate anyway. I would see those new mayoral powers as being quite divisive of a council and I think councils should operate under a collective responsibility regime that means we are all responsible for all the decisions.”

If re-elected Stuart intends using the same process as before, which engages all the councillors in choosing the position of deputy mayor and all the councillors in deciding the committee structure and their chairpersons.

“But I think there is value in the mayor, under the new powers, being very clear about the strategic direction of the city.

“And I believe there will be more powers for the mayor to direct the CEO of the day with regard to staffing levels and other organisational issues. That is new. By and large we do governance, the CEO does management.”

After October the mayors of New Zealand’s 78 councils will be able to lead the development of council plans, policies and budgets, appoint their deputy mayors, establish council committees, and appoint chairs to council committees.

Councils will still be able to disestablish a committee established by a mayor, or remove from office a chairperson that the mayor has appointed.

The government rationale for the changes is they give mayors a greater ability to lead their council, but they don’t change the requirement for council decisions

Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby.

a

rarotongan resort holiday

and policies to be made by the majority of council members.

Claimed benefits are that the new role for mayors will enable them to build an effective leadership team and strengthen the leadership and capability of the council itself within the community Councils can set policies on staff numbers and their pay but they must review those at least once every three years; and must include information on the number of staff employed by salary bands, in their annual report. The changes will make it easier for councillors and ratepayers to assess their council’s financial health and will promote better financial decision-making.

This model is not extended to regional council chairs, who are not elected by voters. By Andrew Campbell

Come and visit us at Ford Spa Pools check out the 4 big ranges of spas, pick up your unique code and you’re in the draw to win 7 nights in Aitutaki with a friend.

Highlife

Limelight

HotSpot

Ford Spa Pools 34 Chapel Street, Tauranga Tel: 07 578 5866 www.fordspapools.co.nz *Terms & conditions apply. See instore for details.

FreeFlow

4

The Weekend Sun

Merivale’s big project Merivale Community Inc starts it door knock campaign, talking to people about ratesfunding for the community centre, in the next week or two.

luxury airport

shuttles es

Holding the conversation about ratesfunding the community centre is going to take most of the year, says service manager Graham Cameron.

“We’ve done our first round, sent a letter to all ratepayers with a bunch of options, and asking for views on that. Now we are starting door knocking.”

The face-to-face meetings with local ratepayers are actually the next round of polling the needs and aspirations of the community, and the rates funding issue will be included. There will also be a series of wider community meetings later in the year, says Graham.

“We are doing it as a project over the next year which will give us full information

about what people think.

“And then the bigger issue; which is how do community groups and organisations fund themselves? That’s really the question we are asking, isn’t it? And what people’s thoughts are about that.

“One of the things that I’m interested in, which is why we took the proposal to council, is how we are more accountable as an organisation which claims to represent and work with people in Merivale, more accountable to the people of Merivale so the people of Merivale feel part of that discussion.

“The reality is that if there is X amount coming out of my rates because I live here, you would quite rightly want to know what that organisation is doing for you and your street.

“I’m interested in how we keep increasing that amount of credibility.”

He’s had some angry people ring up.

One of the popular misconceptions is that the community centre is already council

funded. It isn’t. The land and building is owned by Tauranga City Council and rented to the community centre.

Staff are paid for with funding from a range of government agencies and departments and there is some support from local and national trusts.

The trusts generally support specific programmes. Support from government agencies like Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Youth Development can vary from year to year but also with some medium-term three-year contracts. The range and amount of government support can fluctuate when there is a change of government.

“One of the things I said to them is that there are a whole lot of things that happen in a community that we want to respond to.

“At the end of the day we want to provide great options to young people and children and families, and all that costs money.”

By Andrew Campbell

Loved tramper will be remembered A “warm and caring” Tauranga tramper who died after falling 20 metres in the Waioeka Conservation area near Opotiki on Saturday will be remembered today. love of tramping with others.

“He was just generally a very warm and caring person.”

Russell walked many renowned tracks of New Zealand, including the Able Tasman and Frenchman’s Cap. Chris says the special thing about walking the tracks with his father was that Russell organised them.

“He even was able to organise the weather.”

Russell’s funeral notice read he was a much loved soul mate and husband of Iris, dearly loved dad, mentor and best friend to Chris and John, adored father-in-law to Linda and loved Granddad to Jenny, Caroline and Meg. His funeral will be held at the Hillsdene Chapel on 13th Avenue today. The service will begin at 11am followed by a private cremation.

In memory of Russell, donations to the Eastland Rescue Helicopter can be sent to PO Box 295, Gisborne 4040 or left at the service.

Russell Clarke Brown.

By Zoe Hunter

Russell Clarke Brown, 75, was on a day tramp to the Nikau Flats with 11 members of the Pack N Boots tramping club when he fell, hitting his head on a rock.

Russell’s son Chris Brown says his father always wanted to see the good things in life and enjoyed sharing his

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME

AFFORDABLE HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES

2013 IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET STARTED IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUILDING A NEW HOME..

Speak to our team today!

Mike

Cook

Mark Silvester

Tahiti – 207m2

Justine M

cLachlan

National Client Survey Award Winner 5 Years Running Showroom/Office: Cnr 16th Ave & Fraser St | Open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm NEW Showhome: 24 Mortlake Heights, The Lakes | Open daily 1 - 4pm Riverstone Showhome: 6 Orakei Place, Riverstone Park | Open Sat & Sun 1 - 4pm

Design & Build – 402m2

0800 102 105

VOG0182

ms | Owners Craig & Debbie Willia of Plenty Signature Homes Bay

The Weekend Sun

5

Linda Hopkins will celebrate her 105th birthday with her friends tomorrow.

Photo by Ross Brown

‘Cheeky’ Linda turns 105 She says she has no secret to living a long and happy life, but “cheeky” centenarian Linda Hopkins is getting something right.

Linda will celebrate her 105th birthday tomorrow with family and friends – yet another impressive number in what has been a blessed life.

At 17 years old Linda left school and worked as a court dressmaker before marrying the love of her life, Albert.

As childhood sweethearts, Linda and Albert grew up together living on the same street in England.

Linda says they did everything together.

The pair was married for 77 long years before Albert died at the ripe old age of 102.

Linda says she has never known anyone to be married for as long as they were.

“I’ve seen 66 years, but I’ve never seen 77.”

Linda now lives in Bob Owens Retirement Village in Bethlehem, with best friend Val. She may not be the oldest women in the world – but she is the new village’s oldest resident.

Her friends Wendy Giltrap, Audrey Merz and Val describe Linda as a humorous and ‘cheeky’ woman.

Val says she and Linda have become “very good friends” since Linda’s move in April.

“I’ve taken her on as a sister.”

Linda says she hasn’t got a clue what the secret is to living past 100, let along 105.

Tomorrow Linda will celebrate with her favourite lunch of ‘bangers and mash’ followed by another favourite, fruit cake.

The celebrations continue as Linda will be treated to an afternoon tea at the Trinity Wharf with her daughter and son-in-law.

By Zoe Hunter

6 A selection of some local breaking stories featured this week on...

Read these stories in full at www.sunlive.co.nz

Community mourn Kenyan tragedy

The Tauranga community is in shock this week after three members of the Bethlehem community died in a bus crash in Kenya.

Doctor Brian and his wife Grace Johnston and ex-Bethlehem College student Caitlin Dickson, 19, were killed when the mini-van they were in crashed into a ditch in wet weather on a Kenyan highway on Tuesday.

The three were part of a 19-strong contingent of 12 students and seven adults from Bethlehem College who were on a volunteer trip to Kenya working with the Ark Quest School near the Uganda border.

The tragedy happened while the group travelling in a mini-van and car were returning to the in the village of Mahanga in Kenya’s western province, about 400km north-west of Nairobi.

The mini-van lost control in wet weather and rolled into a ditch.

The driver, a Kenyan man involved with the mission, also died in the crash.

Brian, an anaesthetist at Whakatane and Tauranga Hospital, and his wife Grace leave behind a family of 10 children.

Waihi murder accused denied bail

The 18-year-old accused of murdering Murray Wilkinson at Waihi Beach early on New Year’s Day will stay behind bars until his next court appearance in March.

At a bail hearing in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday the accused lawyer’s Paul Mabey QC sought bail for the accused, who is charged with murder.

Judge Robert Wolff declined bail and remanded the accused in custody.

The Waihi man, who has name suppression, is next due to appear in Hamilton District Court for a post-committal conference on March 8.

Fire engulfs Brookfield home

A Brookfield home was engulfed in flames this week destroying the majority of the two storey house.

Firefighters arrived at the property on Te Koari Drive just after 1pm on Wednesday where flames were coming from the windows.

Three fire trucks and 12 personnel worked to put out the fire, which is believed to have started in the kitchen. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters searched for hot spots in the house before cleaning the water from the upper level of the home.

The owner arrived home and was visibly shaken by the sight.

Beached vehicle owners sought

Police are still looking for the owners of the abandoned vehicle left battered by the high tide near the Kaituna River mouth east of Papamoa.

The car was seen being driven down the end of Papamoa Beach between Karewa Parade and Kaituna Cut by local residents on Sunday afternoon.

Papamoa Police were also called to Harrison’s Cut on Monday where a second car was found abandoned in the sand. Police believe the vehicle is stolen and had been driven onto the beach by the assailants before being abandoned.

The Weekend Sun

40 years on the beat A neighbour helped senior constable Alan Marks decide to become a police officer.

Alan is part of the Tauranga forensic photography section and has been on the force 40 years in January.

“I was looking for a secure occupation and had lived next door to a police officer as a child; this may have influenced my decision,” he says.

“Also, my father and grandparents were public servants, not police, so the government sector was a good place for me to look for a job.”

Alan has worked in the Western Bay of Plenty as a police officer since October 1988.

“I trained in Trentham and was stationed at Wanganui, the officer in charge of Ohakune, officer in charge of Bay View, and then I was the officer in charge of Chatham Island, before coming to Tauranga.”

Alan trained in forensic photography in 1994 and moved to the area full-time in 97.

Thieves target Warehouse

Senior Constable Alan Marks.

One of his best memories from his time in the police force is the three years he spent in the Chatham Islands.

“I was virtually the government agent and had many other official duties.”

However, Alan says he has bad memories to go with the good.

“There were many times that were dangerous. I twice faced a loaded firearm and was once attacked with a broken bottle.

“I was also attacked with a screwdriver after a burglar had been cornered.”

Alan says other bad times also include attending serious incidents, including many accidents and two homicides, in the country areas where he knew the victims and their families.

“Although being close allowed me to give them a shoulder to lean on, which was satisfying.” He says in his spare time he likes to go tramping.

He also likes spending time with his wife Heather, his three children and five grandchildren.

By Letitia Atkinson

Burglary on rise The number of burglaries reported to Western Bay of Plenty Police increased in the month of November.

A well organised group is believed to have stolen a large quantity of high end consumer electronics from The According to figures on the police.govt.nz website, the Warehouse at Fraser Cove this week. number of burglaries recorded by police in November Large numbers of iPods, iPads, cameras, Playstations and accessories were taken in the burglary by thieves who broke in through a side door before dawn on Monday morning.

Tauranga Police acting detective sergeant Lou Curragh says those behind the theft knew what they were doing.

“This certainly wouldn’t be their first, I would suggest.”

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity or people parked up or hanging around Fraser Cover Warehouse in the days before the burglary.

The burglary took place about 5am – a time The Weekend Sun understands is after shelves are restocked overnight, and before dayshift starts at 7am. Lou would not comment on any link between the Warehouse burglary and the burglary of the Warehouse Stationery on November 28 – where a large quantity of mainly high end smartphones was stolen.

2012 was 173.

This is an increased compared to November 2011, when 129 incidents were recorded.

These figures are provisional and drawn from a dynamic operational database. They are subject to change as new information is recorded.

Police say unlike robbery, burglary doesn’t necessarily involve violence or threat of violence.

It involves entering an enclosed space with the intention of committing an offence.

Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander, inspector Clifford Paxton says 63 per cent of properties broken into in the region are insecure.

“Police want to continue to reduce crime in the Western Bay of Plenty. To do this we need the residents of the Western Bay of Plenty to help.

“Thieves are opportunist and will take the easy option, so if your window is open or door unlocked it is an easier target for the thief then the secure property next door.”

People are being asked to lock their windows and doors when leaving home or if out in the garden for an extended period.

“If you need to leave windows open, put security stays on the windows.

By Letitia Atkinson

The number of burglaries reported to police increased in November 2012.

7

The Weekend Sun Rotorua Fishing and Casting Club president Dave Brown practises for the surf fishing bonanza.

Photo by Bruce Barnard.

Hooking into prizes From front cover

They are also available on the day at

Surfcasters and beach fishers are reminded contest headquarters on Saturday and the Rotorua Fishing and Casting Club’s surf Sunday.

The fishing boundary is from the fishing bonanza takes place on Auckland Otamarakau Stream to the Matata Anniversary Weekend at Matata.

Domain – basically along the length of the Matata straight.

Cash prizes include $6000 for the heaviest snapper and $1000 for the heaviest kahawai. By Andrew Campbell

The January 27 competition is the major fundraiser for the not-for-profit club, and president Dave Brown reminds fishers there are big cash prizes on offer for a few lucky and/or skilled fishers, and a great weekend camping alongside the beach for all the participants.

When the competition began at Matata in 1959, the Rotorua Fishing and Casting Club was the only surfcasting club in the entire Bay of Plenty.

The competition itself attracts a lot of interest from across the region and even some from over the hill in Hamilton and further north.

The successful competition grew so big the club was in the 1970s able to pay for its headquarters overlooking the sea at Otamarakau.

At one stage the fishing contest had 1400 entries, says Dave. But the club has had to limit entries to 1000 rods or hand lines in recent years because breeding birds have resulted in parts of the beach being closed off.

Entry costs $25 per rod or hand line and tickets are available in Tauranga from Hamills Tauranga, Top Catch Tauranga, and The Big Fish, Te Puke.

Enjoy summer substance-free Creative Tauranga is offering New Zealand youth the opportunity to experience a substance free summer with several alcohol and drug free events scheduled this month.

The 100 per cent Summer without Substances promotion aims to provide activities for young people in Tauranga encouraging them to enjoy life substance free and features the annual Summerfest festival at Blake Park on February 2.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board youth alcohol and drug clinician David Gilmour says the opportunity for young people to attend alcohol and drug free events

helps to reduce the number of people suffering from substance abuse in Tauranga.

“The whole point of the Summerfest is actually you can have a damn good time without alcohol or cannabis or party pills and for some people that’s actually a real novel idea.

“One, you would enjoy it more; two, you’d remember it. Three, you’d probably feel better afterwards than if you’d been drinking all day in the sun.”

Because the festival is an alcohol and drug free event David says the non-substance day will trigger an idea for a new way to party for some people.

“Because it’s an alcohol-free day

or a substance-free day it quite often will be touching buttons for people.

“So it’s kind of like the opportunity for an experience of dancing and listening to music and being able to have a good time. And it’s like ‘ah, ok maybe I don’t need to be off my face.”

Free events including Urban Dance company workshops and mechanical bull riding and will run for two weeks starting January 16.

All events are drug and alcohol free.

Teenagers aged 11-18 can visit any three events and be in to win a free ticket to Summerfest 2013 featuring Titanium, I Am Giant and Jay Williams.

By Zoe Hunter

our specialty

active schoolwear

See Us At: 111 Grey St - Tauranga (behind Shanton Apparel) PH: 579 4923 www.activeschoolwear.co.nz

8

The Weekend Sun

yours to explore

LIBRARIES

Read the latest titles for only

$

3

Borrow a Top Title book from any Tauranga library, only $3 for two weeks.

includ

ing

Bryce Courtenay

JK Rowling

Ian Rankin

Maeve Binchy

Did you get an eReader, an iPad or a smartphone for Christmas?

Borrow an eBook, only $2 for two weeks - no overdue fees!

Find our eBook catalogue on the library website. You’ll need your library card number.

Don’t have a library card? Ask us how to get one!

Want to update your computer skills this New Year? es class , p u o ur Gr er ho sions p 6 $ l ses idua er v i d p in $10 tes. nu i 20 m

Learning Centre classes start February 2013.  Internet basics

 Skype

 Email basics

 Facebook

 Digital photo basics

 Using your iPad

Limited spaces, bookings essential.

and more!

YOUR LOCAL LIBRARIES Tauranga Library

Greerton Library

Library Arcade, Willow St, Tauranga

139 Greerton Rd, Greerton

Papamoa Library

Mount Maunganui Library

Mobile Library

15 Gravatt Rd, Papamoa

398 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui

Phone 577 7177 for a timetable or visit the Library website.

GET IN TOUCH

577 7177

library@tauranga.govt.nz

www.library.tauranga.govt.nz

The Weekend Sun

9

Child cancer survivor’s walk of hope Saying yes to life is the motto Mount Maunganui woman Tracy Pepper is going by since she was diagnosed with a rare ovarian cancer at 10 years old.

About two years later Tracy gave up her life in Ontario, Canada as a neuromuscular therapist and moved to Mount Maunganui where she works as a team therapist for the All Black Sevens Rugby Team.

At the age of 32, another tumour grew on her

In 1985 Tracy was one of only 20 children diagnosed with an endodermal sinus tumour, or germ cell tumour, and became the pioneer to trial test chemotherapy.

“I was the 20th diagnosed case and there had been no survivors.

“It’s very surreal. Why was I chosen to live and others who had less severe types of cancer died?”

When she was diagnosed Tracy says she was never treated like a sick child or coddled by her mother.

In preparation for the six-day hike Tracy will complete daily walks up Mount Maunganui and a long hike once a month.

Tracy will be documenting her journey as she embarks on her expedition

of hope in a few months’ time.

To help Tracy fundraise for her Expedition of Hope campaign visit http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/ kilimanjaro

By Zoe Hunter

Above: Tracy loved walking to Emerald Lakes at the summit of Mount Tongariro.

Below: In sixth grade at school five months after her diagnosis.

Above: Tracy was gifted a Cabbage Patch Doll from her school while she was in hospital.

“I’m naturally a positive person. I really just looked at it as a big adventure.

“It didn’t occur to me that death was even an option. I believe in the power of the mind.

“I never saw my Mum cry, she was so strong. The parents have to be really strong, because kids believe everything their parents tell them.”

In 2002 Tracy was diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure as a result of the cancer. Concerned for her health, she contacted her childhood oncologist whose advice was to live life to the fullest.

remaining ovary. Tracy had to make the decision to undergo a radical hysterectomy sending her into early menopause. Tracy has never had children but says she has no regrets.

Tracy, now 38, is completely cleared of ovarian cancer and says her diagnosis has made her who she is today.

“I’ve got a really, really great life. I know how precious life is. I’ve had the experiences of seeing so many young people pass away.

It really does affect the way you live your life.

“Every year that I have is a bonus here. Saying yes to life is my life purpose.”

In September Tracy is travelling to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a group from Ovarian Cancer Canada.

At a peek – envelopes show secret details “The way I was dealt with, she (the Westpac bank While the main purpose of an envelope is to hide the contents written inside, one Brookfield manager) came out in the public foyer and expects resident is concerned this is no longer happening. me to deal with it there. No real interest really.

The woman, who does not want to be named, says her privacy has been breached after her bank, Westpac, and ACC sent personal information to her inside window envelopes – with personal content openly visible through the window.

This Brookfield resident is concerned private information is visible from these window envelopes.

She says with a small shake, information including transaction dates and amounts, account numbers and automatic payments are clear.

“You can see, it’s quite transparent.”

Recent letters from ACC also showed private health information, including mammogram information.

“That really concerns me, for understandable reasons. The bank has always posted our statements in blank envelopes.”

Having contacted both organisations and been brushed off twice, she has had enough and says others must be experiencing the same issue.

“It’s my safety as much as anything as well. This is not the first time ACC has breached my privacy in terms of correspondence.”

She says her main concern is if more important information became visible.

“What indicates here that it’s not capable of showing my salary? It could show some really sensitive information.

“It’s been very distressing for me. I don’t think anyone could disagree that they don’t want their financial information disclosed in that way.”

She hopes others experiencing the same problems will come forward.

By Corrie Taylor

DREAM DOORS

®

The complete kitchen transformation service.

CURTAIN & BLIND

SALE 10

The Weekend Sun

FCURRTAEEIN

LINING

Linen Leaf

When we make your Curtains!

ALSO

AVAILABLE

ONLINE

GREAT VALUE

Assorted Readymades R

VALUE

Selected designs only

30 $50 $75

$

Now

GREAT

40%

3000

$

N Now

9597

OFF $

pair

From F

Organza Readymades Assorted colours and sizes

pair

Broad Stripe

pair

Applies to fabrics $29.95 per metre and above. Offer applies to selected lining . options only. Excludes roman blind making

Linen Leaf & Broad Stripe Pencil Pleat at Lined Readymades. Natural. 4 sizes

ALSO

AVAILABLE

30% OFF

Blockout Roller Blinds R

Applies to Riverbed blockout fabric range only.

GREAT VALUE

Up to & including 160cm drops

2

$ 95 Now metre

C Continuous Net Fabrics N SSelected designs only 161cm & above drops

4

$Now 95 metre

ONLINE

40%

41

OFF $ N No Now

97 metre

Andrea Fabric 300cm wide Colours: Natural & Black

GREAT VALUE

19

$

N Now

95 each

Selected Designer Filled Cushions

New Curtains & Blinds for the New Year!

CALL TODAY 0800 00 88 80 or book online harveyfurnishings.co.nz See our website for more custom making offers

7695

OFF $ N Now

each

Lotus Quilted Bedspread. 3 cols 220 x 240cm. Pillow Sham available

0800 00 88 80

TAURANGA, WAIHI, TE PUKE, WHAKATANE & ROTORUA

TAURANGA • OPEN SEVEN DAYS 387 CAMERON RD • PH (07) 578 6428

Find us on:

30%

harveyfurnishings.co.nz

BOTANY • HENDERSON • MANUKAU • MT EDEN • NORTH SHORE REMUERA • NEW LYNN • HAMILTON • WHANGAREI • PALMERSTON NORTH ALL OFFERS AVAILABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST OR UNTIL 31ST JANUARY 2013 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. STOCK MAY VARY BETWEEN STORES. 18/01

*Subject to fabric availability

11

The Weekend Sun

Emotional win for rider’s return SUMMER’S HERE

AND MAKZGEAR HAS ALL YOU NEED TO GET OUT ON THE WATER ...

Lifestyle Living

SEADOO GTI 130 IBR

All new design longer hull for 2011, improved stability, rough water riding and splash protection. The worlds first on water braking system, voted safety improvement of the year. 130Hp economical 4-stroke engine. Fishing, diving, skiing, boarding, this ski will do it all, why buy secondhand when you can have NEW for only $16,990.00 including trailer.

SAVE OVER $1200.00

On this super summer package deal.

42 Dive Cres Tauranga 571 1161 Web: www.makzgear.co.nz

8449912AB

Inset: Courteney Lowe (middle) was emotional after her win in Christchurch last weekend.

“I have been training hard for the race but I had Six months ago Tauranga cyclist Courteney Lowe no idea how I was going. To take the win is totally thought her budding career could be over. overwhelming and I am so stoked to get it.”

But the 20-year-old’s fears proved unjustified when She out-cycled 26 others in the 120.5km course and she pedalled to victory at the Calder Stewart national says it was an emotional victory. It was not without championships in Christchurch last weekend. It its trials. was her first race since she underwent surgery for a “It was really hard out there and hot. I especially blocked artery in her hip last August. noticed it on the last three laps. I was pouring water Courteney had struggled with the blocked artery over me constantly. for more than a year. She returned from racing in “I was definitely struggling in my final time up the America for the surgery. hill.

“Every time I raced or did hard efforts in training I “I would not have got here without my coach, Andy would get no power from my left leg, not being very Reid. He believed in me and just got me to keep helpful when my job is to ride as fast as I can. going. I owe it all to him and my dad.”

“After six weeks completely off the bike I got back Courteney will return to America briefly before into it, slowly but surely.” attending the world championships in Florence, Courteney says she entered the competition with no Tuscany in September.

By Corrie Taylor expectations.

...at Havenbrook Owning your own freehold home at Havenbrook will open up a whole new world!

You get to own your own home (yes it’s freehold and not licence to occupy), socialise with others at your discretion (there’s pot luck dinners, a self-managed library, card clubs and other social activities all on site), take care of your gardens while we do the lawns, count your neighbours as friends and live the life of your dreams!

Secure, modern homes in a safe, managed environment – with the freedom to come and go as you please! What more could you wish for?

• Choice of Villa designs • Duplex or Stand Alone

• The interior design option that best suits your taste

Come and visit the Havenbrook showhome from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday HURRy! LAsT UNiTs sELLiNG NOw

Greerton Village

• Local bus service

MT MAUNGANUI / TE PUKE

PYES PA / ROTORUA

Havenbrook Village

Lifestyle Living

To find out more about Call HAVENBROOK today on 0800 OUR HAVEN Havenbrook Village is located at the start of Pyes Pa Road near Greerton Village

Simple Pleasures SB12089-A

N HAMILTON

12

Council lets grass grow under its feet We ask a lot from council.

We hope for intelligent planning and budgeting but our assessment of council performance in these areas is usually limited to the effect on rate rises. The more basic council responsibilities of sewerage and water services are easy to assess.

They are either working or we have a calamity. The simple council responsibility for mowing the grass is something which we all can observe and have an opinion on. Even more with the public evidence of council meetings finishing at the end of November and not starting again until February, it is not surprising

that the only calls I have had over this period have been on council inattention to its obvious responsibilities in its operation as well as its lawn maintenance.

Overgrown danger There have been regular complaints from Omokoroa residents on walkways so overgrown that they are dangerous, of walkways that start nowhere and arrive nowhere, and of overgrown sports fields.

The council response last year was that

it was unfortunate but people had to recognise that this is a period when grass grows quickly and we would have to put up with it. The implication is that Mother Nature is totally inconsiderate and not being supportive of council’s maintenance schedules. Here in Katikati we were not very pleased to learn last year that our lawn mowing maintenance had been let to a company in Tokoroa.

Read these columns in full on www.sunlive.co.nz

The Weekend Sun

Focus on Tauranga Harbour For those of you interested in the Tauranga Harbour, you will be pleased to hear there is to be a strong focus on improving communication about the harbour over the next year.

First up is the 2013 Coastal Economic Symposium being run by the University of Waikato in partnership with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic on Friday, January 25. Starting at 9pm, this free symposium is open to the public and will cover the need to ensure the long-term

sustainability of our water, soil and fisheries resources while continuing to explore economic opportunities in our region.

Presentations will include a keynote address by Professor Jacqueline Rowarth on the issues around economic sustainability and the role of science and research to underpin sectors which are facing mounting environmental pressures.

Read these columns in full on www.sunlive.co.nz

Saving the Gisborne rail line adds up This government is spending around $12 billion on ‘roads of national significance’.

At least some of those roads are known to be uneconomic.

But we are told that $4 million needed to repair the NapierGisborne rail line is ‘uneconomic’.

What’s more, the on-going maintenance on that line is ‘too high’.

A BERL report out on January 15 disputes both conclusions.

Instead of rail, the link is to be maintained by truck traffic on the winding road through Wairoa, a

road that supports tourists, school buses, local commuters, shopping mothers, and more.

Government should grab any opportunity to keep heavy traffic off that road.

I write this from

By Ian McLean, gorgeous Wainui spokesperson for the Green Party Beach, just north of Gisborne. The road north around the cape is between me and the beach, and it carries 20 logging trucks an

hour. That is one every three minutes, all day.

Crossing to the beach with the children is terrifying. I can’t imagine riding a bike, driving a rented camper van, or taking the children to school on that highway.

Without the trucks, it would be quieter, safer, and much more attractive.

Ian McLean is the Green Party spokesperson for Tauranga – Bay of Plenty.

Authorised by Jon Field, Level 2, 17 Garrett Street, Wellington.

Take time to enjoy the beaches this summer It’s great now that summer is with us.

We all enjoy getting out and about around the harbour and along the coast.

If you’re out and about you won’t see anything like what we saw this time last year when we were reeling from a ship hitting a reef off the coast and then breaking in two.

We’re still feeling its impact. One of the most positive things I’ve noted all the way through is how well people and agencies worked together and are continuing to do so.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is continuing to support the Long-Term Environmental Recovery Plan, and studies that will assess the impacts on the environment. Sampling programmes are running during the summer period to better understand the presence of oil, and the impact it has had on marine species.

You may see oil on the beach during summer. As the ship and containers move in the currents and storms, their contents emerge and make their way to shore. Experience tells us we’re likely to see small spots or nuggets of oil, not mats of it.

If you do see oil, particularly large bits, we still want to know. Oil can come from other sources so it’s important we can sample it to identify where it has come from. Call the Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.

On a positive note, I want to mention and congratulate the winners of various business awards held around the region late last year.

Business awards, including the Sustainable Business Awards, all recognise the commitment and passion of the people at the helm and their staff. Well done to all!

Here’s hoping the businesses, communities and people of the Bay of Plenty have a successful and rewarding 2013.

The Weekend Sun

13

Rise in rescues sparks call for new boat

Sam Casey, Vivian Conway, Hamish Smith, regional captain Sean Smith, Scott Cowdrey and Matthew Strange.

FEBRUARY ONLY

Get billboard advertising Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club is seeking fundraising help from the community halfway through an unusually busy season.

The club needs $21,000 for a new inflatable rescue boat as its existing boats have suffered more wear and tear than usual, due to a higher number of rescues in recent weeks.

Though only half-way through summer, club members have already performed 42 rescues – the club’s average summer season total.

Papamoa SLSC captain Ailsa Cowdrey is appealing to the public for support, saying the busy summer has put a strain on their resources.

“This year has been huge for us and if the conditions

stay as they are, we’re anticipating more (rescues).

Without enough IRBs it restricts the area we can cover and the number of people we can help,” says Ailsa.

To fundraise and raise awareness the club has scheduled two triathlons for the coming months, as well as Thursday night swims and recent half iron-mans.

Ailsa says anybody wishing to donate equipment such as radios, binoculars or rescue tubes can call the club directly.

“We would be extremely grateful because it frees up some money to go towards the IRB.” Anybody wishing to donate items can do so by phoning the club, 07 542 2122.

Future Eve’s Triathlons are scheduled for January 28 and March 1.

By Kelly Dennett

Whopping 6x3mt reusable banner

24/7 Exposure High Impact Cost Effective ASK US HOW ! ! ! over 25,000 - 37,000 vehicles passing per day,...

everyday!

for the same weekly price as this Ad.

- Artwork Design* s de ng ; u l i - 6x3mt Banner Skin Inc y th - Installation/Removal r e ev - 1 Month Advertising

conditions may apply

a spot, call Jen or Ang to book

FREE info pack 575 3993

14

The Weekend Sun

Calamity Jane strikes again Life has taken some dramatic turns in recent weeks, what with holidays at the beach, loads of family coming and going and lots of dogged action. This story isn’t that funny, but it had me in stitches.

It all came unstuck again for me this week. Lucky that Joerg and the good folk at the Mount Vet Clinic were on hand to patch me up again.

The Mount Vet is also the mobile vet, so on occasions they make house calls to fix up ailing critters such as myself. In this case, it was an office call to The Sun, at No.1 The Strand.

This newshound had developed a nasty lump on my lip. We are not sure whether it was a tumour or a cyst or some other nasty, but Joerg said “it has to go”.

Personally I blame the spike from a hedgehog I “encountered” a few weeks ago. We will probably never know the cause, but let’s blame the hedgehog for now, because those nasty critters are the bane of

my life. Them, and the frog that keeps croaking from my fishpond.

So Joerg kindly came to the rescue in his wellequipped animal ambulance, sedated me in the office, then carried me into the ambulance to the operating table and did the deed.

I don’t remember much except waking up a bit dozy… and hearing Uncle Tony mentioning something about lunch. That kind of talk gets a girl going, especially since I’d been deprived of breakfast, pending my surgery.

The boss was looking pretty keen on a snack too, since he’d gone without sustenance for the morning, in moral support of his loyal newshound. But it was small amounts to start with, not my ideal way of snacking.

So the rest of the week has been pretty quiet for me, getting used to the stitches in my jowl and taking plenty of naps.

Thanks again to Joerg and the wonderful team at Mount Vet, who are doing a fantastic job of keeping animals well all around the western Bay of Plenty, and even coming out in the ambulance when necessary.

Next week, we’ll bring you the story of the Swamp Thing, and the boss’ answer to keeping marauding mutts out of the fish pond.

Till then, take care out there, deal to those pesky hedgehogs before they get to you.

- Flo.

Friendship club welcomes new members bers still attending regularly.

Organiser Edna Fitzgerald says people with any minor disability sometimes find it difficult to meet compatible friends and often find it easier to stay at home.

“This is not the answer.”

Members enjoy a range of fun

A social club for young adults with minor disabilities is celebrating 10 years of friendships.

Since The Socialites’ inaugural meeting in 2002 many members have enjoyed the socialisation and friendships formed through the club, with some foundation mem-

18MONTHS

NO PAYMENTS, NO INTEREST forr

*

and varied activities and outings together throughout the year, with an afternoon swim at Memorial Park followed by a dinner out planned for January 19. Anyone aged between 20-40 years old looking for fun, friendship and good company can phone 07 575 3739.

Urban Bedroom Range

Fantastic NEW contemporary bedroom range with telescope drawer runners.

Available in white and black. While stocks last!

With Telescope drawer runners!

Minimum purchase $499. Offers expires 21st January 2013. *Q Card lending criteria, fees, terms & conditions apply. See instore for details.

Diego Corner Lounge Suite with Ottoman

This modern suite gives you the flexibility to set up your lounge any way you like.

Features 4 modular pieces. Lots of 180cm Table fashion fabrics available.

MODULAR SUITE FROM

$1699

5

ACTURE NUF RS MA

NZ MADE

year

W AR

RA

NTY

5

Style

PRICE! 3 Drawer Bedside

SAVE $150

$199

This unique modern design gives you the flexibility to set up your lounge anyway you like. Great selection of fabrics.

8 Drawer Chest

$699

Available in 16 different sizes & 3 finishes. Solid 30mm thick shelves in a lacquered or stained finish, or an option to have unpainted NZ Pine with 18mm thick shelves ready to be painted or stained.

NZ MADE

Your Storage Solutions!

year

W AR

Alabama Corner Suite with Ottoman

$499

NZ Made Cubes

ACTURE NUF RS MA

NZ MADE

7 Drawer Lingerie

RANT

Y

Starting from

$49

was

949

$

MODULAR SUITE FROM

7 PIECE SETTING

$1799

Cottage Hill 7 Piece Dining

$799

5 Drawer Chest 3 Drawer Bedsider

Caribbean Queen Mattress

The Caribbean continuous spring mattress features a Pillowtop for extra softness.

$399

6 Drawer Dresser

5

Zest PIECE PACKAGE

Queen Bed

This Zest 5 piece package includes Queen Bed with underbed drawers, 2x3 Drawer bedsiders, 6 Drawer Dresser and 5 Drawer Chest. Mattress & accesories not included.

$299

5 PIECE PACKAGE

$1599

Cnr 12th Ave & Cameron Rd, TAURANGA

Phone: (07) 579 9256 Mon-Fri: ri: 9am m to 5:30pm m Sat Sat-Sun t-Su un 9:30 9:30am 0a am tto 4:30 4:30pm 0pm

BK4 Queen Mattress

This Pillowtop Queen Sleep Set features a pocket spring system with foam and fibre layers for extra comfort.

Stores are NZ owned & operated. Prices valid until 5:30pm Monday 21st January 2013 or while stocks last.

WE ACCEPT: W A EPT ACCE T:

Join us now on facebook www.facebook.com/TargetFurniture

The Weekend Sun

15

16

The Weekend Sun

Water safety starting young A selection of secondary school students get serious about safety in the second stage of a programme designed to improve water safety practices in the Western Bay of Plenty this year.

Students from Mount Maunganui College learn safe jet ski practices last year.

Six secondary schools across the region participated in Water Safety NZ’s jet ski and boating programme last year, with senior students taking part in theory sessions.

This year practical sessions will be carried out, with 20-30 students from each school learning jet ski and boat safety from Element Water Sport instructors.

The course will focus on safety relevant to all powered and non-powered water craft, with a particular focus on jet skis.

Water Safety NZ spokesperson Cory Sweeny says the theory sessions were successful last year, with evaluations showing a dramatic increase in boating awareness and a keenness for the participants to continue boat and water activities with a safety-first approach.

Cory says recent research has shown the difficulty in influencing and changing the behaviour of adult boaties, so educating youth is the new focus in tackling waterrelated accidents.

In order to influence future change, work must be done with youth to ensure a consistent message is provided, he says.

Two of the practical sessions took place in December 2012 and the remaining sessions will be completed throughout schools’ Term One. The participating schools are Tauranga Boys’ College, Mount Maunganui College, Otumoetai College, Te Puke High School, Bethlehem College, and Aquinas College. By Corrie Taylor

Know your rights: Summer jobs People employed in temporary work during the summer holidays in the Western Bay of Plenty are reminded to be aware of their rights.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment acting general manager George Mason says summer is a time when many people, including students, pick up temporary jobs.

“It’s important employees and their employers are aware of their rights when it comes to pay, leave, breaks and minimum wage.”

The adult minimum wage is $13.50 an hour.

It is a legal requirement for workers to be paid for the hours they work.

This includes where a person is paid ‘piece rates’ which are standard in the horticultural sector (especially fruit picking by bin or vine pruning by bay).

These rates must equate to at least the minimum wage for the hours worked.

“It’s also a legal requirement for all workers to have a written employment agreement, setting out their days and hours of work, their pay and their entitlements.”

17

The Weekend Sun

Newlyweds’ selfless passion Spending the first two years of marriage working in Burmese refugee camps and villages is not every couple’s dream.

But for two Tauranga newlyweds, there is no better way.

The Weekend Sun caught up with graduate Graeme Cook in May last year, shortly before he left for Burma, where he spent six months as Bethlehem Tertiary Institute’s on-the-ground representative, teaching English and helping many of the camp’s 188,000 refugees.

Having returned late last year, Graeme ended his year on another high – getting married on December 8 near Cape Reinga.

Now, he and wife Kendal are returning to Burma together, hoping to work in refugee camps, orphanages or villages, offering aid however possible, teaching English as part of BTI’s teaching programme.

The couple leaves on January 20, making their way to a migrant village in the jungle – ‘a stone’s throw from Burma’.

Graeme says he couldn’t stay away after his trip last year.

“The people there are honestly the most amazing people I have ever worked with, and although next to our standards they literally have nothing, what little they do have is given freely.

“We also believe that when you put the needs of others before your own, you find true happiness.”

The couple, who met at BTI while training to be primary teachers, feel there is no better way to start a marriage than by serving others.

“We don’t buy into the concept that once you are married you have to buy

Newlyweds Graeme and Kendal Cook are preparing to leave on January 20.

Photo by Tracy Hardy.

a house, have children, get a dog and drive a station wagon. Serving over there will keep us both grounded as to what really is important in this life.

“We are hoping to stay there for a minimum of two years, that’s our plan, however God may have different ideas.

“Once you start something like this and see how amazing the people are and the needs of so many it’s hard to put an end date on it.”

The loved-up pair leave for Burma on January 20.

By Corrie Taylor

GERMAN – Level 1:

10 weeks

GERMAN – Level 5:

10 weeks

FRENCH – Level 1:

10 weeks

FRENCH – Level 7:

10 weeks

ITALIAN – Level 1:

10 weeks

ITALIAN – Level 5:

10 weeks

Mon, 4 Feb – 15 April, 7 – 9 pm Wed,13 Feb – 17 April, 6 – 7 or 7.30 pm Thu, 7 Feb – 18 April, 12 noon – 2 pm Thu, 7 Feb – 18 April, 7 – 9 pm Thu, 7 Feb – 18 April, 5.30 – 6.30 pm Tue, 5 Feb – 16 April, 10 am – 12 noon Tue, 5 Feb – 16 April, 5.45 – 7.15 pm Tue, 5 Feb – 16 April, 7.30 – 9 pm Thu, 7 Feb – 18 April, 10 am – 11.30 am

18

The Weekend Sun

There’s a private part National and Act don’t want you to see this summer.

CHARTER SCHOOLS Family time, beach time, down time… …

schools are about. There will be no transparency and

that’s the agenda for most of us rightt now.

public money. Charter no accountability for spending pu

The government is happy with that. t It has its own

agenda – the dismantling of New Zealand’s public education system by introducing charter schools. What better time for

submissions to close on the Education Amendment Bill 2012 than on 24 January, when the nation is on holiday?

scrutinised by the Auditor schools’ annual accounts won’t be scru

General’s ofce, the Ofcial Information Act won’t apply and the Ombudsman will have no power to investigate. So we’ll never know where the money’s going.

National and Act are hoping you will avert your eyes.

Charter schools represent a failed idea from the USA school

We urge you to do the opposite. Tell Parliament you oppose the

failed New Zealand political party. It is being railroaded through

www.ppta.org.nz and clicking on ‘Make an online submission.’

system (hardly the envy of the education world) taken up by a Parliament with unseemly haste.

But behind-closed-doors wheeling and dealing is what charter

charter school assault on our public education system by visiting This government has no mandate to americanise and privatise

the public education system. It belongs to us all.

www.ppta.org.nz

PPTA, PO Box 2119, Wellington.

PPT10385

The Weekend Sun

19

History lessons can be fun Merivale holiday programme participants enjoying the new books.

For children in Merivale Community Centre’s school holiday programme, learning about their home town doesn’t need to be dull.

For two weeks the children are exploring parts of the Bay of Plenty using Te Puna author Tommy Kapai’s book ‘T is for Tauranga’ – the world’s first QR coded children’s book.

Holland Beckett lawyers and TrustPower donated copies of the book to the centre in an attempt to educate children about where they come from.

During this week, and again next week, children are exploring by scanning the QR code on each page which features a new location starting with each letter of the alphabet.

Merivale Community Centre manager Graham Cameron says this is a great opportunity for the children to learn Tauranga’s history.

“One of the big challenges with our young people and children in Merivale is connecting them with the wider community.

“The book is kind of a window to that world really.”

Photo by Tracy Hardy

Tommy says his book works like a treasure map and says it is important for children to learn where they come from.

“When kids find out where they belong they know where they stand and when you give them a place to stand they then know where they’re going to go.

“Sometimes we give them too much Barney and Telly Tubby and Bananas and Pyjamas and I think we should give them more of what’s in our own backyard.”

By Zoe Hunter

Choosing the best career option?

Many families are investing in independent professional guidance and advice from Ewan McLeod at McLeod Careers, allowing their children to make positive, informed choices in planning for their future.

Ewan discusses educational choices with his 15-30 year old clients, to ensure each person is selecting the right subjects for them, and that they aren’t closing any doors to their future career.

“Our business is all about supporting young adults in their Ewan McLeod career decisions. enjoys career It’s about individuals taking planning with positive steps towards establishing Tauranga Boys’ their unique education pathway, College student which will allow them to gain Aron Robertsqualifications that suit their perRadford. sonal needs.

“At this time of the year, many clients are anxious about results, and are considering what secondary subjects to continue on with, or their future tertiary focus,” says Ewan.

He and his wife Sue set up their home-based business in Greerton in 2008 and have experienced growth of numbers annually, with record months last August and December, despite recessionary pressures.

“We’re both ‘people-people’ – I’ve had a wealth of experience in proactively encouraging young people locally, while Sue is well respected for her caring nature and work in the community.

“Our business has had hundreds of clients visit us over the last five years from as far away as Whangarei.

Having Tim and Juliana Smithells (who are recognised nationally for their career development work) as our mentors, definitely provides advantages in being a First Careers licensee.”

Ewan says McLeod Careers is family-friendly, flexible, affordable and there to help young people take positive first career directions.

Looking forward to YOUR future!

20

Jet ski crack down working

The Weekend Sun

Volunteer maritime warden Barry Benton.

Photo: Tracy Hardy.

A pre-Christmas crack down on jet ski safety in Bay of Plenty waters The Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s jet ski safety campaign, introduced in December, aims to reduce is proving fruitful, according to harbourmaster Jennifer Roberts.

the number of jet ski related incidents, accidents and near misses.

So far signs have been positive, says Jennifer, with a reduced number of infringements and close calls reported, and no incidents in the Western Bay. She says this is great, as people are listening to the rules and keeping safe.

Under current law, anyone 15 years old or older can be in charge of a jet ski with no licence required. Jet ski users must comply with the same maritime rules as boaties and can be fined $200 for breaching those rules.

Statistically, most jet ski incidents involve males aged 17-30 years old.

Rotorua Lakes harbourmaster Pererika Makiha says from December 26 to January 9 there were four jet ski infringements and eight jet ski infringement warnings.

“We’ve probably given around 50 verbal warnings over the holiday period to both boaties and jet skiers for less serious misdemeanours.”

Eastern Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Brian Spake says there has been an influx of jet skis in Ohiwa Harbour this summer, but because the area only has one launch point wardens have been able to speak to most jet ski operators before launching.

“This is great as it allows us the opportunity to point out the special provisions which apply to Ohiwa Harbour and remind them of the safety risks and the rules they must adhere to.”

Volunteer maritime warden Barry Benton lives on the Maungatapu waterfront and always has one eye on the water.

He says he often comes across people with new jet skis who do not know how to operate them properly or don’t know the rules.

Barry says speeding near the shore and near other water users is the most common breach of the rules, but when caught, he believes a lot of people say they don’t know the rules because they’ve been “busted”.

“A lot of jet ski users who we catch speeding are just hooning around.

“When my family and I are out on the water I want to feel safe. For me, being a warden is all about making the waterways safer for everybody. We’re coming into the busiest time and we don’t want anything bad happening.”

The jet ski campaign wraps up on February 8 and will be followed by a review.

By Luke Balvert

Healthy festival returns for 18th year The Healthy Living Festival is back in the Bay once again.

In its 18th year, the festival, taking place next weekend, is for all walks of life, no matter how young or old.

With so many holistic therapists and exhibitors who genuinely care about people under one roof, it creates a beautiful energy.

Organiser Ruth Mansford says people leave the festival feeling uplifted and more knowledgeable about their health and wellbeing.

“No matter what problem you may have with your health, there will be someone here who could help you.

“If you are already in perfectly good health then maybe you would like to just come along, listen to the seminars, meet a few very interesting people and just sit and relax with a cup of tea or coffee.”

Free seminars are run throughout the weekend, including Spirit Enlightenment, Pranic Healing, Awaking of Humanity, Numerology, Herbal Detoxing, Mediumship and Meditation.

See The Weekend Sun’s edition on January 25 for you own seminar programme with times and information. See you all there!

21

The Weekend Sun

Duathlon more than staying fit For Te Puke resident Carolyn Symmans the Maketu Duathlon means more than just a bike and run, after she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

The 67-year-old duathlete was told by her doctor if she didn’t use her joints, she could lose flexibility – so she started cycling.

Carolyn designed the Maketu Duathlon cycle tracks and for a while participated in the event before deciding to take a back seat, settling for being event organiser and the ‘tail end Charlie’ – helping cyclists in trouble.

About five years ago Carolyn got on her bike and mapped two laps of one of the required bike routes – which became the Challenge track duathletes ride today.

The event is a run/walk – bike – historic run/walk with standard and challenger courses offered.

Carolyn is happy to see the return

of the standard run/walk and Historic Hikoi track leading participants through a historic tour of Maketu passing the native reserve Kotukutuku Valley.

“It’s a really nice walk. I think it’s a good thing to get the young ones out, get them involved with exercise.

“It’s just get out there and give it a go basically.”

Road closures are not put in place for the event and all road rules apply.

Participants are encouraged to bring a bottle of water on the day.

A number of spot prizes have been donated by the Te Puke community, with a prize for the best dressed also on offer – although appropriate cycle gear must be worn.

The main sponsor is Maketu Rotary Club with help from Atrills Cyclists.

Carnival activities, music, and a sausage sizzle are also available.

Entry for children aged 8-15 costs $10, adults $20, teams $30 and Historic Hikoi walk $10.

The duathlon begins 8am on January 26 at Maketu Village Reserve.

To register, visit www.maketunz.com

Carolyn Symmans started cycling after she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

By Zoe Hunter

Giant pumpkin plants are taking over gardens in Tauranga and Katikati as the race to grow the Bay’s biggest pumpkin heats up.

Mount Maunganui gardener Neville Bright has a plant so vigorous it’s spread throughout the vegetable and flower garden. In Katikati John Sheppard’s pumpkins have a lot more room and he’s been diligently feeding them with fish fertiliser and worm tea, with an extra ‘meal’ of blood and bone planned this week.

Others are keeping the location of their plant secret – unwilling to reveal just how big their plants and the pumpkins are.

All are hoping to take out the top prize for the Bay’s Biggest Pumpkin next month.

However, the fate of other plants hasn’t been quite so promising with reports of some which have been slow to grow or have grown and then `disappeared’ – per-

haps fallen prey to pests.

Just how good Bay gardeners are at growing pumpkins will be revealed at the Bethlehem Town Centre’s Vintage Fair on February 23 and 24, when the winning pumpkins will be judged.

Bethlehem Town Centre manager David Hamilton says the centre’s first fair will have an old-school community theme, in keeping with the contests, sponsored by Bethlehem Town Centre, Kings Seeds, Media Works and SunMedia. Because not everyone has the room to grow giant pumpkins, organisers are also offering prizes for scarecrows.

Entries for the pumpkin contest have closed but people can enter the scarecrow competition, with multiple categories available.

To enter go to www.shopbethlehem.co.nz

By Elaine Fisher

B&RSP0070

Pumpkin plants take over as competition grows

This pumpkin plant – in a secret location – is growing up and over a 1.8m high fence.

SUMMER

e g a t n i V FAIR

Open daily 8.30am-late Fairy Springs Rd Phone 0800 724 626

22

The Weekend Sun

Country style arrives in city for family fun A wood chopping demonstration is one of the attractions at the show on Saturday.

The country is coming to the city in a fun day out for the whole family this weekend.

The Tauranga Agricultural and Pastoral Show on January 19 boasts a range of holiday fun, including sports, rural and historical highlights and international competition.

Organiser Sue McDonald says the event holds all of the traditional A&P attractions, with all the fun of a fair as well.

More than 5000 people attended 2012’s event and Sue hopes even more will come this year.

Popular attractions at this weekend’s show include a Welsh shearing team who will compete against local shearers, the North Island Dexter Cattle Breeds Championship, Western riding events such as a barrel race, the Bay of Plenty strongest man contest, a wood

chopping demonstration, and a medieval combat demonstration.

There is also plenty of fun for children, including mounted games, a petting zoo, free climbing wall, water slides, pony rides and more.

Sue says the event is a great family day out.

“We’re aiming to provide entertainments that will suit a variety of ages. You can even try your hand at milking a cow.”

Visit the Tauranga A&P Show at Tauranga Racecourse on Cameron Road for all the above, as well as harness horses, wood chopping, alpacas, games, a vintage tractor display and trade sites.

Gates open 10am, with gate sales only.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and entry is free for children aged 12 years and under.

By Corrie Taylor

23

The Weekend Sun

The affordable designer skateboards for children

Georgia, 17, Trilae, 10, Hunter, 13, and Steve Davies with their long boards.

Greerton Businessman Steve Davies-Jones has been a skater all his life. Now he has a new trick.

About two years ago Steve’s daughter’s ‘doodling’ on the back of an old skateboard sparked an idea.

Today, the back of recycled skateboards is the canvas for Georgia’s artwork.

Knowing a ‘top-of-the-line’ skateboard can be costly, Steve, Georgia and Steve’s son Hunter rebuild old skateboards, making them affordable for children who

may not have the money for a new one.

‘It’s just a way of putting something back into the community and teaching the kids that you can recycle things. You don’t have to throw them away and get new ones.”

Steve says recycling material such as old snowboards make the new skateboards more original and economical.

“We were never a rich family.

I never had the money as a kid, either, to get all the top-of-the-line stuff. I always sort of made my own stuff and improvised the best I could.”

Photo by Tracy Hardy.

With the help from Evolve Surf and Skate Shop in Papamoa, Steve has rebuilt old skateboards using modern accessories.

Steve charges $150 for his skateboards but prices can be negotiated depending on the cost of the repair work and parts.

“I’ve never done it to make money. I only do it as a hobby and I charge the kids accordingly.”

The trio is working on a skateboard featuring a pink ribbon design to be auctioned on Trade Me to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Phone Steve on 07 570 0534 to

By Zoe Hunter discuss designs.

A matter of strength and stamina There will be tough competition this weekend as men seek to become the Bay of Plenty’s first ever strongman at Tauranga Racecourse.

Held at Tauranga’s A&P Show on Saturday, a handful of men will showcase their mind-boggling feats of strength and tests of physical endurance.

The inaugural competition is the brainchild of former New Zealand powerlifting and strong man champion Matt Rossiter who approached the show after noticing there had never been an event of its kind in the region.

In a mixture of strength, stamina and technique, some of the country’s top heavyweights including 2007’s New Zealand’s strongest man champion Jono ‘Wookie’ Macfarlane.

Competitors will line up in four events to determine who will reign supreme, including a 20kg weight throw for maximum height (a traditional highland games event), the farmers walk with 100kg in each hand, a 300kg tyre flip (x8 flips) and an overhead log lift for maximum weight.

Due to injury, the only Tauranga competitor has pulled out of the competition.

Matt says for a competitor to be successful, they must be able to perform all four varying events to a high standard, something which is hard to achieve as it is still a cardio based sport.

“It’s hard to dominate the event as you have to have

a fair bit technique across all of them.

“The thing that most gym guys get caught with is the cardio.”

By Luke Balvert

Last chance for holiday swim course Time is running out to register for this holiday’s intensive swim programme in Greerton, before term swimming lessons start on January 29.

The programme consists of five 30minute lessons each week and has run across three separate weeks.

Tauranga City Aquatics Ltd BaySwim manager Sean Tretheway says learning to swim is a life- long skill and needs to be prioritised.

“Swimming enables you to enjoy a vast range of social and competitive environments, and it means you can save yourself if you get into difficulties in the water.

“This programme is excellent for

helping children who may get easily distracted, and for those that need to work on specific areas of their swimming.”

The third and final week of the holiday programme will run January 21-25.

Children can stay after lessons for a free swim and the lessons are available for all ages.

In 2013 classes will move to a perpetual lesson structure meaning all swimmers have automatic re-enrolment in classes.

To book a space in the holiday programme contact the Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

24

The Weekend Sun

Dancing to the perfect beat Professional dancer Caitlin Williams is following the perfect rhythm to a successful dance career according to dance teacher Tina Peet.

Caitlin’s love for dance began when she took up Irish dance lessons with Tina at about six years old.

Now a professional dancer, Caitlin is in the final stages of her summer research scholarship programme, which studies how dance can be used to express cultural identity among young people in Tauranga.

Caitlin has held a number of workshops throughout January giving young people aged 15-21 the opportunity to tell personal stories through the language of dance.

A final performance ‘This is Me’ is held on January 19 and 20 at Tauranga Repertory Theatre on 16th Avenue.

Tina says watching Caitlin grow as a dancer has been hugely rewarding.

“I guess it’s like being a parent.

Teacher Tina Peet with student and friend Caitlin Williams. Photo by Tracy Hardy It’s just so wonderful to see them develop and mature. It’s great.

“You get them when they’re little and you keep them until they go off to university. You do become a big part of their life.

So it’s really neat to see her becoming so successful.”

Caitlin says her friendly relationship with Tina has helped her career.

“She has been a huge influence in my dancing career. She gave me the opportunity when I was still quite young to teach alongside her. She kind of shaped the way that I do teach my classes.

Tina says Caitlin’s passion and love for dance will help further her dancing career.

“Watch out for where she’s going because I think she’s going to go even further.”

By Zoe Hunter

Big sounds from big band this weekend

Dance Institute

The Tauranga Big Band is playing at Kulim Park this Saturday in a free concert for the whole family.

In a performance leading up to the National Jazz Festival at Easter, the local band is playing a range of music, including temporary, funky and traditional music from 11am-2.30pm.

Bring along a picnic to the free event and enjoy the smooth sounds.

The Tauranga Big Band consists of about 20 members, who share a passion for music.

The Weekend Sun

25

Of sight and sound To create and perfect his own musical instruments Kelvin Falconer doesn’t need his sight.

Despite being legally blind, the 60-yearold finds comfort in making Japanese bamboo end-blown flutes in his workshop at home.

Kelvin has been perfecting the art of flute-making for nine years, using his hearing, and a range of electronic aids, to create the instruments – including a talking tape measure, calculator, computer, watch and an audio level.

“You’ve always got to find some way of doing that thing you want to do.

“It is pretty awesome. Without this technology, well, I’d be doing something else.”

Kelvin sources the bamboo from his own backyard, which must be at least three years old and dried for another year before he can use it.

“I have no idea what sort of flute it might make. Each one is quite unique, so there’s a certain novelty.

“If I was making them out of wood I wouldn’t get this variety.”

Kelvin first became interested in the

flutes, called Shakuhachi, when a friend gifted him one. “I thought ‘oh this looks pretty simple’. The first ones I made were very ‘do it yourself ’ but they worked. That got my interest so I started to study them further.”

It can take Kelvin any number of months to complete a single flute, but he often revisits older creations after learning new skills.

“There is simplicity to it in one respect, but there is quite a lot of detail in the making.”

Kelvin sells some of his flutes through word of mouth, a welcome aid to his finances, as his poor sight has rendered him unable to work for most of his life.

He suffered a detached retina from an accident at school, and a genetic condition deteriorated his vision further as he aged.

Kelvin Falconer’s passion is “I can kind of making bamboo end-blown flutes. tell that it’s day and Photo by Bruce Barnard. night. I use a cane or a piece of bamboo to navigate.”

By Corrie Taylor

Drama inspires confidence Camilla May believes every parent’s dream of a confident, enthusiastic, articulate child or teenager can be a reality.

The principal of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy says parents and The Matua Lower Primary class performing ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ last year. children alike and quick-thinking team games.

Classes at the academy provide are often amazed at the confident Camilla teaches all classes herself performances students give in front children with the opportunity to and says the friendly, fun learning develop their confidence, creativity of large audiences each year. environment motivates students to and verbal and physical commu“Many parents were able to witparticipate at all levels of developness first-hand the dramatic impact nication skills in a fun, safe and ment. Classes, held across the Bay non-competitive environment. that developmental drama classes Weekly lessons incorporate speech for students five to 17 years old, have had on their children, when are always filled with laughter from work, music and movement, they recently attended our end of children having a blast, she says. scripted and improvised drama, year production.”

GUITAR AND BASS LESSONS OVER 20 YRS EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

LEARN TO SHRED! CALL NOW! MARK 0273120101

26

The Weekend Sun

High flying arts initiative for Bay student Opera will be in full voice in the coming months to provide one Tauranga secondary school arts student with the trip of a lifetime.

Tauranga Opera Forum and Creative Tauranga have teamed up to raise $5000 and send a performing arts student, yet to be chosen, to the Nanchang City Foreign Language School in China for a term later this year.

susanne hanger dance dancing for now, confidence for life Beginners classes

Jazz from 5yrs commences Mon 11th Feb Tap from 5yrs commences Wed 13th Feb

New to Susanne Hanger Dance in 2013

Boys Hip Hop - 8 - 12 yrs commences Fri 15th Feb Hop, skip, jump! - New parent and child class 18mths - 3yrs boys & girls commences Wed 13th Feb

6A Wilrose Pl, Gate Pa, Tauranga • 07 543 1721

info@shdance.co.nz • www.shdance.co.nz

Enrol now for classes at

Susanne Hanger Dance Tauranga An Angelina Ballerina Academy TM

Ages 3 - 5 yrs, commencing Saturday 9th February and Wednesday 13th February Call 07 543 1721 or visit www.shdance.co.nz for more information or to enrol.

Starting on February 20, the first of a series of monthly opera screenings is at Tauranga Club, 72 Devonport Rd, with shows at 1pm and 6pm. Tickets go on sale this Saturday.

Tauranga Opera Forum committee member John Hodgson says this is a great opportunity as the city of Nanchang has four million occupants and is labelled the sixth most dynamic city in the world and most dynamic city in China by Newsweek.

Students must have excelled in any specific art form to be considered for the three month trip.

The exchange will be fully funded, including

international and domestic flights, accommodation in China and some day-to-day expenses. The student will attend the school as well as receive specialist tuition.

Tickets cost $25 and include entry to the film, a complimentary glass of wine and finger food, and a number in the spot prizes draw.

For further information, phone 07 577 0583 or email aideren@xtra. co.nz Ticket venues: House of Travel, Kwang Chow Restaurant, Bureta Pharmacy, Birchwood Motel and Creative Tauranga.

By Luke Balvert

Talented winner tours to Tauranga New Zealand’s Got Talent winner Clara van Wel is set to perform in Tauranga at the seventh Annual Classic Hits Winery Tour in March.

Clara joins the Kiwi line-up including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Anika, Boh & Hollie, and The Adults at Wharepai Domain on Friday, March 1.

The 15-year-old from Blenheim won the inaugural NZGT last year with her original composi-

tions and poignant performances, releasing her debut single ‘Where Do You Find Love?’.

She is thrilled to have the opportunity to tour the country.

“I’m super-excited to be on my first proper tour and I can’t wait to show New Zealand more of my music.”

The Weekend Sun has two double passes to the Classic Hits Winery Tour to give away to two lucky readers who can tell us the name of Clara’s first single.

Entries must be received before Wednesday, February 13.

Gig for fans of dirty old rock music Villainy and Rival State are playing at Brewers Bar is Mount Maunganui on Thursday, March 14.

Fans of good old-fashioned dirty rock music will enjoy two of New

Zealand’s most exciting new rock bands, as they join forces in 2013 and take their guitars out on the road.

Villainy is playing eight shows nationwide and asked special guests Rival State to join them.

Presale tickets cost $25 and can

be purchased from www.nztix.co.nz The Weekend Sun has two double passes to this gig, as well as two albums, to give away to two readers who can tell us what price presale tickets are.

Entries must be received before Wednesday, February 13.

27

The Weekend Sun

Three months open and the journey has just begun Staff say when Gate Pa Preschool opened, it was simply a canvas worthy of moulding into a unique learning environment for children, their families and teachers.

Three months on, every person who visits is in awe when they first walk in, says manager Caroline Hjorth.

“One visitor recently said ‘The pictures on your website don’t do it justice, it’s just amazing’.”

The preschool is designed with two

Manager Caroline Hjorth helps children water the preschool’s vegetable garden.

areas that can be separated or open, each area has its own outdoor environment with grass and trees.

There is also a dedicated baby room, for eight babies, giving infants a peaceful calm retreat to explore at their individual pace.

Children have a wide range of activities to explore, including the large sandpit with its own rocket ship, playground, rock wall, mud-pit, a boat and water units.

Children learn about important issues, such as sustainable gardening, through active participation.

“We grow our veges and pick fruit from our trees. We have a fully resourced carpentry area that comes with our builder Harry; he often works alongside the children and teachers.”

Adventures outside of the centre are also frequent, allowing children to discover the wider community.

“We value family and with this have recently added a school programme with limited spaces. It gives families the opportunity to be together from birth to 10 years old.

“We see a lot of advantages to having the older and younger learning together and alongside each other.”

Visitors are welcome to come and view the preschool’s setting for themselves.

You have won this week’s Prize Pack from Nappies for Less, Casandra Jane Photography & Baby on the move.

28

The Weekend Sun

Fundraising to get life back A Tauranga woman is fighting to get her life back after being diagnosed with a pineal cyst in the centre of her brain.

She is also wants to raise awareness for those suffering with the same condition.

A pineal cyst is a fluid-filled mass or body in the pineal gland.

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland, about 5-8mm, in the very centre of the brain.

The 12mm symptomatic cyst was located when 26-year-old Rhozie Edmonds after she had a MRI scan to get to the bottom of persistent head pain in March.

At the beginning of 2012, Rhozie began experience head pain, nausea, vertigo and jaw pain.

She went to a doctor, who thought it may have been her wisdom teeth but despite having them removed, the pain persisted.

“It was scary. Since then, things

have been getting worse and worse.”

Rhozie has been to see specialists several times asking for assistance, but none are willing to remove the mass.

“Symptoms are so bad on days, with the fundraispressure of swelling in my ing so she head, it leaves me unable to Rhozie with her children can pay care for my two children, for the Madison and Mack.

Madison and Mack, or operation continue working.” if she is given the all clear and has After sending her MRI scan to managed to raise $5660 so far.

Australian neurosurgeon Charlie People wishing to donate to Teo, he has agreed to see Rhozie Rhozie’s cause can click on the in hopes of being able to perform following link: https://www. an endoscopic surgery to remove givealittle.co.nz/cause/Rhoziesthe tumour.

BrainSurgery “My first consultation with him A Facebook page showing is in March and including travel Rhozie’s progress has also been set accommodation, I need around up: https://www.facebook.com/ $5000 and $90,000 if the surgery RhozieEdmondsBrainSurgerygoes ahead.”

Fundraiser The mother of two is busy

By Letitia Atkinson

New products increase comfort and success New state-of-theart techniques and products increasing the comfort and effectiveness of dentures are available at Aspinall Denture Design.

The new flexible partial dentures have no abrasive wires and are virtually unbreakable.

“We have been offering clients these dentures since January 2012 and they have been so well received,” says director Craig Aspinall.

“They are such a great product. The benefit to having flexible partial dentures is that they have better retention than the other plastic partial dentures.”

Aspinall Denture Design is now operating from four locations in the Bay of Plenty, with clients able to be seen at the Centralmed Medical Centre on Devonport Rd in Tauranga.

Craig says the company seeks to offer the best quality in dentures and partial dentures by using only the highest

quality materials available.

“Our team of registered clinical dental technicians strive to provide natural-looking dentures and a high standard of care, both during the construction of the dentures and after they have been fitted.”

This comes with a full guarantee to all customers on completion of work done.

Aspinall Denture Design services also include natural full dentures and partial dentures, including repairs and relines.

“A good set of dentures should last you between eight to 12 years unless there have been anatomical changes,” says Craig.

“We will give your smile back.” Call for a free consultation.

By Corrie Taylor

29

The Weekend Sun

Bay vulnerable to rheumatic fever in children The Bay of Plenty is one of the country’s most vulnerable communities for rheumatic fever, according to health minister Tony Ryall.

against the third world disease when they start back at school later this month.

“Rheumatic fever is largely preventable, yet it can develop into a life-threatening heart disease if left untreated.

“We have committed $24 million to reduce the incidence of

The Bay of Plenty MP says nearly 3000 more children most vulnerable to rheumatic fever will join the Government’s battle

rheumatic fever by two-thirds to 1.4 cases per 100,000 people by June 2017.

“As well as sore throat swabbing and follow-up antibiotic treatment if needed, programmes are also working with local services to address other common health issues such as skin infections, healthy housing and insulation.

“This will bring the total number of children being tested before it progresses to rheumatic fever to more than 50,000 at 208 schools and five community based services around the country.”

Treating bad backs and necks too I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been treating a client for arm or leg pain and then on suggesting that it is referred from the back or neck, received the inaccurate response “That’s ok, I’m seeing a chiropractor/osteopath for that, they are the back/ neck experts”.

It is only when I tell them about the benefits of physiotherapy treatment for such injuries, that they realise we treat them too and with great results.

Physiotherapists aim to restore normal function and movement as quickly as possible following injury. This can often mean addressing areas of weakness and

imbalance or working what functional or on flexibility or alignmovement dysfuncment issues, but tion is present. not always.

I then use treatment It‘s a common mistechniques such as conception that a spinal joint mobilisation, joint is ‘out of place’ but stretches and massage research shows that a to re-establish your joint becomes restricted pre-injury state. I do or hypermobile and as prescribe exercises With Roger Athy-Knibbs such we apply hands-on as an adjunct to from Salveo Physio techniques that address treatment and as you joint restriction or use exercises to progress, as a means of preventing create stability and reduce hyperfurther injury. mobility.

But rest assured, you won’t be I use the experience gained from coming back to me every week 14 years as a physiotherapist to to have that joint put ‘back into perform a comprehensive back place’; instead, you’ll be out doing and neck assessment, to establish the activities you love.

Being

Feeling Great

Introduction to nutritional medicine Over the next few months we will be looking at how nutritional therapy can benefit common health problems.

categories. The first are health maintenance supplements including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fish oils and other nutrients such as co-enzyme Q10.

Specialist supplements

abundant

The terms ‘nutritional’ and ‘integrative’ medicine are effectively the same. The TV series ‘Is Modern Medicine Killing You?’ introduced many people to the principles of nutritional/ with John Arts integrative medicine. We will use the term ‘nutritional medicine’ (NM) as this better reflects the underlying principle of improving health through nutritional therapy.

LIVING

Time to heal

NM can be summarised as a healing discipline that uses food, supplements and lifestyle measures to help restore damaged body systems. Most people I help are under the primary care of their family GP. My role is mostly to work alongside medical advice and treatment to put in place nutritional therapy that can help correct underlying imbalances and dysfunctional processes.

A good example is the very common problem of osteoarthritis. The medical approach is based on anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and diclofenac with surgery as a last resort to replace or repair damaged joints. The NM approach is to reduce joint inflammation by restricting immune system generated inflammation and to add nutrients such as grape seed extract, fish oils, various minerals and other compounds to improve joint function. The outcome is usually less pain.

In most cases the NM therapy will be based on a diet appropriate for the clients’ age and health. Invariably I use a diet high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and have a balance of fats, carbohydrates and protein.

As a general rule our diets are high in simple carbohydrates, low in anti-inflammatory fats and low in many essential nutrients. To this good diet we generally add nutritional supplements. These tend to fall into two

To these maintenance supplements we often add a temporary course of specialist supplements starting with higher initial doses in the first three months before reducing doses and eliminating these temporary products. These can be anything from booster antiinflammatory/antioxidant formulas to those designed to improve energy production. Next week we start our NM journey by looking at osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders and identify key beneficial nutritional therapies. Give me a call if you need help or have questions. To join my weekly newsletter go to www.johnarts.co.nz and visit www.abundant.co.nz

If you have back or neck pain, don’t just live with it!

Roger Athy-Knibbs www.salveophysio.co.nz 0800 SALVEO (0800 725836) Roger Athy-Knibbs www.salveophysio.co.nz

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health. To contact John phone (local) 578 9051 or 0800 423 559. To read more go to www.sunlive.co.nz

Treatment & management of acute injuries.

Rehabilitation for: Post surgical Injury Return to work Sports Muscle balance

Abundant Health

Best Buy

30

The Weekend Sun

Choosing a calming career choice A qualification in relaxation massage offers the ability to work in an environment which is calm and serene every day.

As well as this, students who choose to study massage at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic can be working for themselves in just 17 weeks.

Enrolments are now open for the February intake of the Certificate in Relaxation Massage. The 17-week, fulltime course teaches students a range of different massage techniques including relaxation massage, zone therapy, Indian head massage and on-site chair massage.

Students also learn anatomy, physiology and the knowledge and understanding to make them safe practitioners.

Tutor Michelle Winters says while there is a variety of job opportunities available, including the option to become self-employed, an increasing number of

graduates are using it as a stepping stone into higher learning for courses such as nursing, beauty therapy, midwifery and sport and recreation.

“We’ve had people go onto work in tourist and health spas, health centres and hauora,” says Michelle.

“There is no restriction, but the emphasis is very much about relaxation and stress management – not about pain and rehabilitation.”

Michelle says the course is very practical and includes the chance to work in the polytechnic’s student clinic, so students graduate with a vast amount of hands-on experience.

“I believe we’re the only course in the area that is solely massage focused.”

Michelle is incredibly passionate about what she teaches. As she still works in the massage profession, her skills remain current.

To find out more about the course, or to apply, contact Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

New stroke unit in Tauranga Hospital A new unit dedicated to stroke patients is opening at Tauranga Hospital next week.

Health Minister and Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall is welcoming the news, saying it is great for the 300-odd Bay residents who suffer from a stroke each

year. The unit will be led by a professor specialising in stroke care and has been recruited by the District Health Board from Britain, says Tony.

“Research shows a dedicated stroke unit prevents many people from having a more severe stroke and significantly improves a patient’s recovery after a stroke.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in New Zealand and one of the biggest causes of disability in older Kiwis.

It is largely preventable, yet on average 21 New Zealanders suffer from a stroke each day, with two thirds occurring in people more than 65 years old; one third are fatal.

Tony says he is working towards having 80 per cent of stroke patients treated in a dedicated stroke unit. An audit in 2009 revealed 39 per cent of stroke patients were being treated in stroke units.

“Stroke services are important as they prevent and reduce significant disability following a stroke, particularly for older people.”

Lakes DHB is developing a new stroke unit which is expected to open in March and Waikato DHB staff will be expanding their services when they move into their new stroke unit in June.

31

The Weekend Sun

We want

your views on

booze

Early childhood centres and kindergartens Primary schools Secondary schools Places of worship Sports facilities Community centres or halls Other places that sell alcohol Other (please specify)

32

The Weekend Sun

We want

your views on

booze A

B

C

Pubs and bars Clubs Restaurants and cafes Other (please specify)

On-licensed premises in Tauranga CBD .........................

On-licensed premises in the rest of Tauranga .............................

O-licensed premises in Tauranga ...................................

On-licensed premises in the Western Bay of Plenty district O-licensed premises in the Western Bay of Plenty district

We want

your views on

booze

33

The Weekend Sun

Fashion and fun in French tour ‘France by Design’ is a tour with fashion, luxury and fun, fully escorted by local lady Patti Brown.

If you have a desire to travel to Europe in late September 2013, this could be the itinerary you have been searching for.

Patti spent many years working in a top high fashion store here in Tauranga and was exposed to the world of fabrics, styles and design. This followed a childhood under the influence of an award-winning New Zealand fashion designer mother.

Patti says the world of fashion and her current career in travel are not too dissimilar. Coordinating a wardrobe with special pieces and everyday items to work together is not unlike designing the perfect travel itinerary. We feel that this group tour ticks all the boxes.

This tour has an element of everything that France has to offer; an itinerary to capture your heart, delight your senses and combine all the passions of the good life. It starts with a seven-day tour along the Cote d’Azur, staying in quaint villages and exploring wonderful places, before boarding the gorgeous River Royale five-star river cruise ship and staying in Balcony staterooms for another eight days. Cruise from Arles to Lyon with ship excursions included in the ship fare. Continue on to Paris for another five days to be immersed in Parisian fashion, art and antiques, and the famous Moulin Rouge, before ending with a magical night on the Seine River.

The tour starts in Nice and ends in Paris and we have limited spaces available. We can add your flight arrangements to and from Europe or add on that extra time you may need to

spend with family or friends in the UK or throughout Europe. This is the best time to travel to Europe and this tour is fully inclusive.

Phone Patti at United Travel at Bethlehem for a brochure today on 07 579 3431 or email patti.brown@unitedtravel.co.nz

Phone Patti Brown today.

aHaJBsB144Cws

Bay of Plenty residents are being encouraged to fill in Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s alcohol survey to share their views on a range of alcohol issues in the community, ahead of the formation of a Local Alcohol Policy.

The survey, covering issues such as when and where alcohol can and should be sold, and the impact of drinking on the community, can be completed in this issue of The Weekend Sun (page 32) or online via either council’s website.

So far, about 400 responses have been received, showing a range of opinions in some areas, and clear direction in others, says TCC spokesman Jeremy Boase.

Current respondents generally think there are either the right number of alcohol outlets or too many. People appear comfortable with the amount

of on-license outlets, but general feel there are too many off-licenses.

Jeremy says as far as the proximity of alcohol outlets to other buildings, people are most upset about the idea of alcohol outlets being near secondary schools – followed by primary schools and pre-schools.

In terms of proximity, people want the stores between 0.5-1km away from schools.

“They are also evenly split when it comes to closing hours.”

The survey is in response to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and closes February 8.

The results will shape information given to elected council members when they meet to form local policies in March.

Jeremy says it’s important people respond, so people’s views are correctly represented.

“This is the best way to inform elected members of what you’re thinking. The way to early influence the process is fill in the survey or write

By Corrie Taylor in to us.”

save BIg $$$

#

Tauranga City Council wants to know your views on booze

on Hearing aids* HearINg test for 50+

Free professional follow-up for 1 year MINIMUM 60 day trial & INstaNt fitting options * Budget aids start from under $1000. If buying 2 digital aids, our second aid at half-price offer can easily save you $1000 or more! Conditions apply.

Call Now for your appointment with audiometerist John Bone

0508 20 30 20 or visit www.appliedhearing.co.nz

CeNtral MeD HealtH 434 DevoNPort roaD, taUraNga

34

The Weekend Sun

‘Blonde’ trust founder tackling poverty She might joke about her knack to play the dumb blonde card, but Denise Arnold’s commitment to make a big difference to thousands living in poverty is no laughing matter.

Denise, a partner at Tauranga legal firm Lyon O’Neale Arnold and a self-professed ‘Tauranga girl through and through’ – has long been struck by the tragic stories of girls in the developing world being trafficked for prostitution.

After her daughter visited Thailand in 2007, she decided it was

time to get involved. Why Cambodia, when there is poverty here in New Zealand Denise could be tackling? “In Cambodia there is no welfare system – if you don’t have food, you starve. It’s not about how poor you are compared to your neighbour, or have you go the latest whatever.”

Happy New Year from your local Vodafone store

Encouraged by former Tauranga man Steve Chitty, Denise travelled around the country to learn how she could help children and families – beginning the Cambodia Charitable Trust.

Cambodia Charitable Trust founder Denise Arnold. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

Insurance: a necessary evil?

Insurance, it’s one of those things that you hope you’ll never need but when the worst does happen, it can make all the difference.

Visit our Tauranga store today, and my team can give you some great advice on which plans and solutions are best for you.

VE Sony Xperia U SA $100

149

$

on a 24 month Smart $65

Handset only RRP $299.95

plan

: Smart $65 plan comes with • 2500 NZ TXTs ® • 1 NZBestMate

tes + Double miallynu 200) for the term of your contract 400 minutes (usu

+ Extra data MB) for the term of your contract 1.25GB (usually 250

Jade Ward - Tauranga Store Manager

Talk to us in-store or shop online at www.digitalmobile.co.nz Tauranga - 306 Cameron Road, Tauranga. Ph: 0800 434 448 Smartphone offer ends 28 February 2013 or while stocks last. On Account mobile terms and conditions apply. Early termination fees apply. Included minutes, TXTs and NZBestMate® exclude premium, special and international numbers. Double minutes and extra data offer ends 31 March 2013 and applies for duration of contact term only. After this time, minutes and data will revert back to standard allowances.

See vodafone.co.nz for full details.

“It became apparent that education is the key to creating opportunity for kids and communities to give them a chance to get out of the poverty cycle.” Denise was keen to focus on rural areas because of the lack of aid they received, and travelling through the regions met the two Cambodians she has since employed to run her programmes.

On the ground research convinced her that education should be the focus and five years on from setting up the trust, which now raises $17,000 for a school support programme for almost 5000 children.

As a nation we’re pretty good about insuring our stuff; like our car, our home and contents; but what things like insuring your life, your ability to earn an income or your health? These things are invaluable and yet many people are under-insured or not insured at all in these areas.

Think for a moment: how would you and your family cope if you were struck down by an illness and unable to work?

Without health insurance you may have significant medical bills as well as having

to join long waiting lists in the public health system. Without income protection insurance if you were too sick to work, you would not have any income coming in, making what is already a stressful time for yourself and your family even worse.

What a lot of people don’t realise is that, in addition to actually having insurance, it’s also important to regularly review your insurance to ensure that it is relevant to you at your particular point in life. We recommend all our clients review their insurance every year and also at any big milestones such as having a child or buying a house to ensure their insurance is relevant to them and their needs.

35

The Weekend Sun

They’re working in a man’s world worked in men’s wear for 35 years.

Tauranga businessman Murray Watts and his wife Jill live in a man’s “There’s a lot of experience here and we do a lot of advising. It costs nothing world – where all men dress in style. to get our advice. That’s our job.

Selling everything from shirts, jackets and ties, to socks and underwear, Murray Watts Mansworld has been dressing men in Tauranga for nearly 50 years. The general men’s wear store on Grey Street is moving down the street temporarily while the landlord earthquake-proofs the current building at number 36.

For four months Murray Watts Mansworld will be relocated to a new address at 53 Grey Street – two doors down from the women’s fashion store Caroline Eve. Murray has been providing men with ‘middle of the road’ fashion for 47 Tauranga businessman Murray Watts, his wife Jill and John Dunstan. years with help from his wife Jill and Their store is moving to a temporary shop on Grey Street. co-worker John Dunstan – who has

“I enjoy it. It’s all been a highlight.”

Murray says working with his wife has been ‘not a problem’ and describes their service as friendly and personal.

“Most of my customers have become

my friends. People come in and say ‘gidday Murray’ and vice-versa.”

He says all women like their men to look good.

“Most of our customers are ladies buying for their men. Some guys aren’t interested but their ladies are.

Ladies like to have their men folk looking good.”

By Zoe Hunter

Understanding the risk before acting Now if you’re anything like me, you may have overindulged over the Christmas/New Year break and maybe spent up large on the credit card etc and now the bills are starting to come in.

It’s very common to find yourself under some financial pressure and you start to look at ways to cut some of your spending. We find at this time of year we field calls from clients wishing to cancel or reduce their insurance coverage.

But stop and think for a moment.

This may not be the right thing

to do; you could be putting yourself and your family in even more financial stress and pressure with having reduced or no cover.

A few months ago a client reduced and cancelled some of their insurances, against my recommendations. Two months later I received a call from the client’s wife; her husband had been involved in a motor accident and was now in hospital in an induced coma with serious head injuries. As they had previously

the

cancelled their coverage, they were not covered for certain benefits which would have helped them financially during this time of physical and emotional stress.

So I would seriously urge people to consider strongly their reasons for getting rid of their insurance cover (there was a reason you took it out the insurance in the first place, right?). Talk to your adviser first and get some advice before you start to throw the baby out with the bath water.

By Peter Griffin from Planwise Financial Services

p to $110 Usually u

Now .95 9 $4

MURRAY WATTS MANSWORLD

36

The Weekend Sun

Beautiful bean bounty There are plenty of beans around at the moment and using them while they are fresh is vital to maximise flavour.

Ph 0508 KIWIFRESH

Beans come in a wide variety and some, such as scarlet runners, are only found in your garden or at the

Tauranga farmers’ market. There are lots of recipes for bean salads and various ways of preparing different types of beans. A lot of types are dried and used as bases for casserole dishes and pureed as dips.

Many varieties are traced back to the Central American mountains,

and the hot dry conditions bring out the best in them. For this week’s recipe I have harvested butter and round beans and made two of my favourite bean dishes.

Beans are best planted from seed and can be grown upwards in a sunny spot.

(0508 549 437)

Duo of beans with feta and bacon

Crispy green beans with yoghurt and mustard mayonnaise crust

Serves four

Serves two

Ingredients 1 handful of green beans 1 handful of butter beans 100g Danish feta cheese 4 rashers of streaky bacon Salt and pepper Olive oil for drizzling Method Trim the beans and lay them on top of the bacon in colour sequence. Season well with salt and pepper.

Place a cube of feta in the middle and roll up.

Drizzle with olive oil and bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes.

Serve as a snack or part of a main course.

Ingredients 1 tbsp fennel seeds 1 tsp smoked paprika ¼ C fine polenta ½ C ground almonds 1 tbsp sea salt 1 tsp cracked black pepper 1 pinch of baking soda 1 beaten egg ½ C milk 2 large handfuls of fresh beans 2 tbsp cornflour for dusting Hollandaise 2 egg yokes 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 200ml natural plain yoghurt Method Crush the fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle Add to the rest of the dry ingredients.

Whisk the eggs and the milk, blanch the beans briefly in boiling water, then iced water, and drain well.

Toss the drained beans in cornflour and egg.

Mix into the coating and allow to set in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks, lemon juice and mustard together over a double boiler. Take off the heat when thickened and add the yoghurt to make a sauce.

Cook the beans in a shallow pan with a little oil. Drain on kitchen paper and arrange on plate with sauce.

Study finds veges benefit red meat consumption Eating vegetables when consuming red meat may play an important role in the healthy digestion of meat proteins, new research has found.

Plant & Food Research’s new study suggests the impact of red meat consumption on bowel health may be reduced by eating meat alongside fermentable dietary fibre, found in many vegetables.

The eight week study investigated the effects of cellulose, potato fibre, and potato-resistant starch on a range of gut health indicators in rats fed diets containing cooked red meat. The results showed dietary combinations of red meat with potato fibre or potato-resistant starch had significant effects in the large bowel, including higher concentrations of beneficial bacteria and positive changes with respect to short-chain fatty acid concentration.

Plant & Food Research scientist Dr Chrissie Butts says fermentable carbohydrates deliver a colonic energy source that produces less harmful by-products than the microbial breakdown of colonic protein for energy.

“The proteins we eat can influence the metabolism of microbiota in our gut and therefore our bowel heath. While most proteins are digested and absorbed by the small intestine, undigested protein reaching the large bowel is fermented and can result in potentially toxic compounds.”

Future studies are now being planned to examine the efficacy of different types of non-digestible carbohydrates in maintaining colonic health during long-term consumption of high-protein diets.

37

The Weekend Sun

National favourite serves up flaming good food If you have eaten at Gengy’s Mongolian B.B.Q Buffet in other cities, you will be pleased to know it is now open in Tauranga at 159 Durham Street with plenty of parking right outside the door, now serving up flaming good food!

Gengys’ unique dining experience allows you to choose your own ingredients and create your own very individual dining experience, as hot and spicy as you like, without having to worry about the other family members’ likes and dislikes, it is all just about your tastes. Choose from a huge selection of fresh meats, seafood and a variety of seasonal vegetables, sauces and spices.

Your meal is then cooked, barbecue-style fresh and hot, before your very eyes! Add fried rice or noodles or not, enjoy, then go back for more, and play around with other combinations.

I liked being able to start off with a seafood dish and then move on through to the chicken, then the lamb, changing my oils and spices to suit my dishes; perfect! It’s like cooking at home, without the cooking, but with a much bigger selection of ingredients and the chance to experiment knowing that it was only me that I had to keep happy.

This style of eating is appealing to all ages, which was really evident from the diverse ages dining the night we were there, from

have room), will top off your meal nicely.

Freshness is the emphasis at Gengy’s, all ingredients are tops in freshness and quality.

You’ll find Gengy’s prices very reasonable and great value for money. There is currently an opening special of all you can eat for $21.95 for a limited time only, with children dining for only $3 plus $1 for every year up to 12 years old.

That’s right, you can eat as much of the delicious Mongolian food as you like in attractive surroundings.

It’s the ideal venue for groups, large or small and if someone is Claire and Leah create having a birthday they get their the perfect meal at meal for just $1 when accompaGengy’s restaurant in nied by three full paying adults Durham Street. ($28.95, conditions apply).

grandparents to toddlers. It also works well for anyone looking for a gluten-free dining option, as you have control over your whole eating process. Even the oils and sauces listed the ingredients.

Starters include fresh bread rolls and butter, your choice from the salad bar and two freshly homemade soups. A delicious pancakes and ice cream dessert (if you

MOTOR INN

At Gengy’s, the food is cooked to perfection right in front of the customers’ eyes.

Dicksmith

Number1 Shoes

The Rock Shop

38

The Weekend Sun

Misleading description of fracking Bitter taste of a TCC lemon Re letter “The Facts on Fracking” 11 Jan. 2013: Mr. Martin has given a very misleading description of this process. The “hole” is not just bored!

It is drilled to the “target” depth then redirected horizontally into the target layer.

A double pipe is installed with a sand mix layer between the two pipes.

The horizontal layers are perforated to allow the introduction of the “fracking fluid” [a mixture of the necessary chemicals in water].

The fluid pressures are controlled to give shock waves into the shale or rock structure and release the oil or gas into the pipework. This technique has been used in the U.S.A. since the 1940s.

The question I ask Mr Martin is; : “What is the difference in this

method of “mining” oil and gas to the methods used; in some cases for hundreds of years, to mine coal for fuel; rock for reduction to “road metal’; concrete mix; etc; the mining for diamonds, gold and other precious metals?

They all drill or dig into the earth or rock structure, then blast to break it up in their for the particular purpose or product.

Oil or gas products are required by all people; world wide; for air; sea; road and rail transportation.

For the manufacture of plastics; synthetic clothing carpets, garden and agriculture spray; and many other uses.

You name a product or service in today’s society and oil features in its supply at some stage.

When you or someone else can develop a product or system to provide for all of these uses we could then look at reducing our search and production of petroleum products.

In the meantime stop being negative and rather look at ways of solving the situation not just criticising those who work to provide the standard of living we all prefer to enjoy.

Graeme Matheson, Bethlehem.

Excessive financial bleeding must stop Tauranga City Council CCO’s City Venues (TCVL) and Aquatics (TCAL) should not be amalgamated into a mish mash conglomerate. They need to be taken back directly into the Council fold. Council staff say the assets are worth $150 million (but who to?) and with staff of 150 at TCAL and 50 at TCVL, they clearly rival the overstaffing levels at Council.

Totally inappropriate commercial directors’ fees beckon, yet performances to date show incumbents are not up to speed or that these lemons were always planned to fail ventures. $32,000 a director, $60,000 for a Chairman is insane and I for one don’t want these non-accountable souls administrating my ‘assets’ even if they are of a wasting nature.

Who on earth is doing a good job, when the CCO’s that were not supposed to cost ratepayers any money, now cost a small fortune, probably around at $12

million per annum to run. All the talk of independence makes the eyes water surely, dependency on TCC ratepayer’s funding is a far better description.

The call for further funding straight after the $35 million 2012 TCVL bailout in cash and future shares to make the CCO’s commercially viable is outrageous, TCC ratepayers won’t benefit.

Both CCO’s are losers and always will be but the trick is to stop them haemorrhaging and draining TCC ratepayers’ coffers. Simply increasing bureaucracy, directors fees and administration costs isn’t the way forward. Everyone associated (including Councillors) with these fiascos should resign then install people who know how to run commercial ventures. They may never turn a profit as promised by Mayor Crosby but the excessive financial bleeding might stop.

S. Paterson, Arataki.

On Friday 21/12/2012 Bill Faulkner discloses what NZTA has reported to TCC. The dreams of TCC have finally hit the reality that NZTA/ Government will not “bailout” TCC’s Route-K debt of $60 million, the debt and more future losses stay with TCC! The original 2002 TCC plan for Route-K showed 12,000 vehicles/ day, that would have paid the bills and debt, NZTA peer reviewed all and said the TCC figures are grossly overstated …! So TCC borrowed all the money and did it anyway.

There were 2400 vehicles/day at the start (20% of what TCC said), eight years later in 2012 that doubled to 4,900/day (40% of what TCC said).

Between 2004-2012 annual losses are $2.5-5.0m/pa, all added to the debt that has grown from $31.6 to $60+ million.

The tolls don’t even pay the interest, to pay all interest and operating costs they need to double immediately.

Recently Councilors were told that Route-K would be paid off by about 2029, tolls would need to triple immediately for that to happen.

TCC’s new “Bailout” plan asks NZTA to shelve SH2/15th Avenue/ Turret/Causeway two-lane and instead TCC off-load the Route-K debt. Welcome Bay residents are now to pay the price for 10 years of misdemeanours of TCC. S. Bailey, Tauranga.

Demise of Mount’s Art in the Park Re Andrew Campbell article: “Art In the Park”: Not doubt ‘Art in the Park’ could be considered as a market, except for one thing that it cost the TCC nothing for artists to display their work other than Councils usual on going maintenance that would have to be carried out whether the park is used by the artists or not.

No mess incurred like there might be from a regular Market Place.

The colourful art that is displayed on a Saturday morning gives character to Mount Maunganui, I have taken visitors there and happy that it sometimes coincides with ‘Art in the Park’ from there I take my visitors to tour the shops and always, always have lunch in one of the many lovely pleasant cafés along the street.

To date I have never known anyone to have been disappointed with Mount

Maunganui, and the art display is an added bonus. With a cost of $3250 annually inflicted on the artists that Andrew stated would mean I am sure, the demise of the ‘Art in the Park’ altogether, because this is not the same art display that some of the same artists have for sale at Baycourt once a year for a $1000 a painting mused over by regular art connoisseurs; no way could one get that money at ‘Art in the Park’ sales; albeit, with the majority of the artist sitting in the park all day not selling a thing.

I cannot say any more about this lunacy, other than the Tauranga City Council, should think this idiotic plan over again and remembering the old adage about, “Spoiling the ship for a halfpennyworth of tar!” because eventually I am sure they will.

Ray Jones, Otumoetai.

39

The Weekend Sun

Tourists drive to non-existent i-site The closure of the Mount I-Site by Tourism Bay of Plenty aided and abetted by Tauranga City Council ranks as the most widely unpopular action in a long history of neglect of our visitors.

The German visitors whom I met at the Willow Street I-Site were not pleased that they had been given the useless visitor map which clearly indicated that there is an I-Site in Salisbury Avenue although it closed six months ago.

These hapless visitors drove

6km to the non-existent Mount I-Site and then 6 km back to Willow Street for information.

Having used many very good

information centres throughout Germany I fully understood their anger at the poor information service given by the Willow Street I-Site .

Such treatment of visitors gives a whole range of new meanings for the I in I-Site such as Insensitive, Inaccurate, and Inconsiderate. A quick glance in a dictionary gives thirty or more applicable I words for the Impoliteness of TBOP. Where Tourism BOP is concerned it has never yet meant Information that you can

trust. Tauranga City Council should take steps to thoroughly review its contract with TBOP and the allocation of over one million dollars annually for such Inexcusable Ineptitude and Incompetence.

Without doubt an overwhelming majority of Mount residents and ratepayers would agree that firm Council leadership is needed to immediately restore proper I-Site service at the Mount for all visitors and local folk as well.

Samuel Smith, Otumoetai.

Death sentence for worst crimes Shambles of Novopay In reply and in agreement to the letters by Ken Evans and John Mills, The Weekend Sun 11 January 2013.

All around Earth, crimes are increasing inexorably, as our population heads towards 8 billion. Crimes are virtually out of control worldwide and in the USA and firearm per family is generally accepted. This certainly provides human predatory instinct, causing us to be our own worst enemy!

There is a huge gap between a genius and an idiot. Some clever people are in prison on account that they committed dubious insidious financial deals, there by ruining many thousands of innocent folk of their savings.

On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of ‘low-lifers’ are in prison

for heinous crimes. Capital punishment is a must for the worst crimes – murder one, and why should they live off welfare and a burden to taxpayers when incarcerated?

Civil unrest is increasing around our planet as the people fight for space!

Birth control should have been in force years ago, we should just replace ourselves in marriage – two babies only! More people, more crimes, and at the present rate, the situation will become worse!

I agree that the ‘warrior chant’ haka is responsible for many Maori youths (and adults) to ‘go off the rails’ and banning the cane or strap in classes, has allowed many youths to become arrogant. Ernest Izett, Tauranga.

Jury out on NZ indigenous status Peter Dey’s conclusions regarding the disputed indigenous status of the Maori aren’t necessarily the last word. Because they presuppose that all the evidence has been available to researchers. Sometimes it is a matter of time, and the unexpectedness of new discoveries.

In NZ, unfortunately, but specifically Northland, there is a more sinister complication.

The deliberate hindrance to research and discovery, via destruction or concealment of evidence, blocking of access to sites, unaccountable disappearance of material from “secure” storage, further complicated by self-serving complicity between highly motivated Maori, jealously protective of a shaky “indigenous” status, and certain Government departments.

Not to be underestimated, is the effect of ridicule and dismissal by qualified

experts, of the research conducted by private citizens through a lifelong passion, some living “at the coalface”, driven by genuine passion to understand NZ’s place in global history. They are tireless, intent on truth, serving no masters but their own integrity. Willing to share and compare knowledge. Not accountable to governmental or other dictates. A beautifully presented book of just such research is dismissed out of hand as a serious work, because of the lack of “qualifications” and research procedures. These authors are dedicated people, intelligent and truth seeking, not dabblers or destructive of the environment. And above all, with no agenda. (To the Ends of the Earth stunningly illustrated.)

For this reason, the jury remains out on the sublect of indigenous status.

D. Holm, Tauranga.

NZ bicultural hybrid

Learning from history Dear Sir Rapiti, The lecture given by Military Historian Cliff Simmons on the Battle of Gate Pa at St George’s Church last Sunday was well worth attending.

The message Cliff delivered was one of learnig from history and each other’s cultures.

The message the packed out church gave back was we as a country and a community here in Tauranga Moana we have grown up culturally and are prepared to listen and learn from yesterdays lessons. If you missed this first class lecture it will be repeated this Sunday, 2pm at Saint George’s Church.

Tommy Kapai, Te Puna.

Tga petrol price rip-off A recent Colmar Brunton poll showed New Zealanders to be a nation of cheats thieves etc. Now I didn’t say that, the poll results did i.e. New Zealanders said it. They must have carried out that survey in Tauranga as far as pricing goes. Among the many rip off prices in Tauranga is a humungous one; petrol. We went to Rotorua last week and bought petrol 16 cents a litre cheaper than Tauranga. One wonders how that is possible when the port is in Tauranga.

Alastair Bourne, Bethlehem.

ARTHUR TOYES SUMMER FABRIC SALE...

BUTTERICK RETRO 5748

as oN tV

all stock

1 2

price

FABRICS, PATTERNS, THREADS, ETC. MUST MAKE WAY FOR NEW AUTUMN FABRICS

5078920AA

In his essay “Politics and the English Language” George Orwell writes: “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

New Zealand provides a perfect example of how a single word can corrupt the thought of a whole nation – with serious political consequences.

That word is ‘bicultural’. The term suggests that it concerns two entities of a similar nature, cf. ‘bilingual’, ‘bilateral’, ‘bisexual’. In this case, however, the suggestion is misleading.

At issue are a tribal culture and modern civilization, which is not a culture in the anthropological sense. The former constitutes a closed society, which is determined by tradition. The latter represents the open society, which is based on rationality, personal responsibility and freedom.

The contrast shows that the two entities are not of a similar nature. In fact, modern civilization is essentially transcultural. Its basic characteristics are, in principle, common to all mankind.

The New Zealand term ‘bicultural’ is a hybrid, whose insidious deceptiveness has, indeed, corrupted the thought of the nation. The ensuing political correctness is costing the country dearly.

Kees de Leeuw, Mt Maunganui.

With all the shambles of Novopay, Neverpay, Overpay and Nopay, we have never heard an explanation of why it was needed.

But it probably went; “well our system will be so much better and more importantly so much cheaper.”

It is amazing that in this era of such wonderful communication suddenly our ability to communicate is worse than ever.

And just for all those wondering out there who dreamed up this shambles, would we be able to ask what was wrong with the last system that apparently must have worked perfectly?

Because I’m sure school’s admin people who are trying to cope with it all, would all love to know.

R McGuinness, Tauranga.

ENDS MON FEB 4

Base WOF on distance

What a lot of red herrings are being released with regard to the suggested changes to this country’s requirements for vehicle WOF checks. Surely it doesn’t require an Einstein to understand that the frequency of such checks should be based on distance travelled, together as is the present case, for drivers themselves to still be responsible for keeping their vehicles up to WOF standards. Simple, I would have thought.

Perhaps that is why it is difficult!

Barry H Walker, Mt Maunganui.

Go Gareth Head North: Now that Garth Joyce of Welcome Bay has advised us he is very dissatisfied with the Bay of Plenty and knows the road north, may I suggest he packs his hook and heads there forthwith?

His critical, negative attitude does nothing for our beautiful region.

MP O’Connor, Mt Maunganui.

The Weekend Sun welcomes letters and photographs from readers.

Preference will be given to previously unpublished letters that are short (200 words) and supplied with full name and contact details.

40

The Weekend Sun

E N T E R T A I N M E N T G U I D E MUSIC The ever popular guide to ‘What’s On’ in the Bay.

News, reviews and opinionated raving on the music scene.

DVD MOVIES Reviews of DVDs, old and new, as well as other bits and bobs.

Saturday 19 January

Monday 21 January

Art in the Park

Bay Wing Chun Self Defence

Children’s books available Jan 26 at Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui 10am - 2pm. Tauranga Writers for Children.

576 5721

Balmorals Leisure Marching Team

Welcome ladies to join this awesome sport for fun, friendship & travel. 30-60 age group. Anita 571 4096 a/hs or 0210 257 6094

Bay Association of Sea Kayakers

Fergusson Park to Mangawhai Bay & BBQ afterwards. Bevan 576 8885

Car Boot Sale

At Greerton School 7 – 11.30am.

Cost $5 per single site or $10 for double site. Weather permitting. Something for everyone. All welcome. Shirley 577 1116 or 0274 146 040

Charity Dance

(RNZFB) Greerton Hall 7.3011.30pm. $10/person or ladies $5 with a plate for supper table. Spot prizes, raffles, donations also gratefully accepted. Valerie 573 7093

Learn to Meditate

Afternoon meditation course Feb 16 at Mount Senior Citizens Hall, 345 Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui 12.454pm. Learn how to use your experience of meditation to improve your daily life. Cost $36 (includes afternoon tea).

Bookings essential. 09 846 5829 or www.meditateintauranga.org

Maketu Duathlon

And Historic Hikoi Jan 26. 2 great events. Lots of prizes. Great summer event.

For registrations/information www.maketuNZ.com

Messianic Weekly Meetings

The Way meet in the Kingfisher Room, Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui 10am.

All welcome. 570 1438

Tauranga A&P Show

Train Rides

In conjunction with Memorial Park Train Club, fundraising for Otumoetai College 2013 Mexico Trip group, at Memorial Park Railway 10am - 4pm.

Sausage sizzle also available. Fun for all.

Sunday 20 January Learning Spiritual Laws

Sunday’s at Plunket Rooms, 59 Otumoetai Rd, Tauranga 10-11am. $5 donation, children free. Remember & celebrate who you are!

Lions Car Fair

Buy & sell cars, motorbikes & motorhomes, 11 Ave carpark (opp Mad Butcher) 8am - 12pm. www.taurangacarfair.co.nz

Mount Mainstreet Farmers Market

Every Sun in Phoenix car park 9am - 1pm. Fresh fruit & veges, breads, cheese, oils, plants & more. All home grown & home made. Downtown the Mount open 7 days. 575 9911 mountmaunganui.org.nz

Narcotics Anonymous

Open every Sun at Hamner Clinic, 1235 Cameron Rd, Greerton (behind Tyremaster) 7pm. 0800 628 632

Petanque

Every Sun, Tues & Thurs at Cliff Rd 12.45pm. Boules available, tuition given. 1st 3 visits free. Neita 572 3768

Radio Controlled Model Yachts

Meet Sun 1.30pm & Thurs 5.30pm at pond behind 24 Montego Drive, Papamoa to race Electron class yachts.

Graham 572 5419

Singles Mix & Mingle

50+ coffee afternoon at Zaggers Cafe, Chapel St 2.30pm. Mix & mingle with other like-minded singles in a relaxed atmosphere. Gayle 027 439 3267

Tauranga Big Band

Tauranga Racecourse, Cameron Road, Greerton 9am – 5pm. Free climbing wall, volcano adventure run, superslides & waterslides, petting zoo. Displays include woodchopping, shearing, karate, medieval swordfighting, western riding & harness events & more. Enjoy a family day of fun. Adults $10. Children under 16yrs free. Gate sales only.

Annual picnic at Kulim Park 11am 2.30pm. Bring a picnic lunch. Free.

Tauranga Farmers Market

Meet in Welcome Bay Community Hall 10am.

All age worship, children’s ministry, teaching on Jesus & Humility Psalm 131. All welcome.

Tauranga Primary School cnr 5th Ave & Cameron Rd every Sat 7.45am - 12pm. Fresh & artisian produced food. Trixie 552 5278 or www. taurangafarmersmarket.co.nz

Tauranga Spiritual Society

Welcome back! Senior Citizens Hall, 14 Norris St. Guest speaker: Paul Johnson, Bay Acupuncture. Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start. Entry $5, members $3. All welcome.

Welcome Bay Baptist Church

Womens only classes Mon 6.308.30pm. Public sessions Tues/Weds 6.30-8.30pm & Sat 10am - 12pm. Kids Sat 10am - 12pm. 4 Cherokee Pl, Mt Maunganui. www.baywingchun.school. nz 0800 398 225

Bethlehem Bowls

Every Mon 7.15pm. First 3 nights free. Starts Feb 11.

Wendy 578 2585

Body & Soul Fun Fitness

For over 50’s, social events & guest speakers. Mon & Fri, Greerton Hall Cameron Rd. Tues Wesley Church Hall, 13th Ave. Weds City Church cnr Otumoetai Rd/Sherwood St. All classes 9.15-10.15am. First class free. Men & women welcome. Dianne 576 5031 Qualified Instructor/Cardiac Care leader.

Meditation

Free classes Mon 10am & Weds 7.30pm. Find peace, spiritual awareness & the meaning of your life.

David 576 9764

Recycled Teenagers

Gentle exercise for 50’s forwards, & injury or illness rehabilitation. Mon & Weds, 14 Norris St, Tauranga Senior Citizens Club, behind Pak n Save.

Tues at St Mary’s Church Hall, Girven Rd. All 9 - 10.30am. Taken by Heart Foundation phase 3 cardiac instructor.

First class free. Jennifer 571 1411

Relationships Aotearoa Mon - Parenting Through Separation, free course for separating parents, Tga 10am - 12pm.

ManMade - self esteem course for men 6.308.30pm. Positively Me 4 Women - self esteem course for women 12.30-2.30pm. Blended Families, course for parents in combined household 6.30-8.30pm. Tues Parenting Through Separation 7-9pm.

Positively Me for Women 12.302.30pm. Hot Monogamy - for people in a committed relationship – waiting list applies. Manmade - 6.30-8.30pm.

Parenting through Separation Katikati 9-11am. Weds - Parenting for Success, parenting your 2-12yr olds 7-9pm. Sex, Drugs & Homework, parenting your teens 6.30-8.30pm. Parenting through Separation, Papamoa 10am - 12pm.

Thurs - Positively Me 4 women 6.308.30pm. Living without Pornography – waiting list applies. Weekend Course - Relationship Secrets, for couples, waiting list applies. 576 8392

OUT THERE GUIDE Stories, snippets, strangeness, and general entertainment.

Wing Chun Women

Women’s only self defence club. 0800 FYT BAK or Nicky 021 148 6467

YMCA - ALFS

(Active lifestyle for seniors). Smooth Movers class Mon 8.45-9.45am & 10-11am at Matua Community Hall, Levers Rd. Also 9-9.55am & 10-10.55am at Arataki Hall, Zambuk Way (off Grenada St). Tues 9.1510.15am & 10.30-11.30am at Papamoa Community Centre, Gravatt Rd. Weds 9.15-10.15am Welcome Bay Hall, Welcome Bay Rd. Thurs 8.45-9.45am at Otumoetai Action Centre, Windsor Rd. Also 10.30-11.30am at Bethlehem Hall, Bethlehem Rd. Fri 9.15-10.15am at Papamoa Community Centre, Gravatt Rd. 578 9272

Tuesday 22 January 2013 Christian Singles

Meet every 1st & 3rd Tues at McCafe Maunganui Rd 10am.

Bureta Garden Circle

Monthly meeting at St John’s Church Hall, 94 Bureta Rd, Otumoetai 1.30pm. Visitors welcome. Colleen 576 7610

Genesis - Women’s Group

Every Tues during school term. This week meet at Palmers Garden World, cnr Welcome Bay & Ohauiti Rds 10am.

New members welcome. Jennifer, Salvation Army 578 4264

Inachord Chorus

Ladies 4 part harmony every Tues (restarts for the year Jan 29) at Bethlehem Community Church, 183 Moffat Rd 6.45pm. Enjoy singing & meet new friends. Shona 0272 801 004 or Sabine 577 0455 (day).

Papamoa Tennis Club

Tues & Fri 9am, Weds 6pm, Sat 2pm.

Gordon Spratt Reserve (off Parton Rd).

All levels welcome.

Tauranga Acoustic Music Club

The Weekend Sun’s guide to who’s playing and where.

Tauranga Rainbow Social Network

For lesbian, gay, bi, transgender.

Meet Jan 29 7pm. Kaye 07 218 1411 or 021 239 7142

Tauranga Toastmasters

Tga Lyceum Club 1st Tues 7.15-8.45pm. Exterminate the butterflies, confidence building, improving public speaking & leadership skills.

Alan 544 5989

Toastmasters Excel Club

Learn to be a competent speaker & get your message across. Meetings held on 2nd, 4th & 5th Tues of the month at Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way (off Grenada St) Mt Maunganui 6.15pm. New members welcome. Tess 575 6610

Widow & Widowers Club

People living alone invited to Arts & Crafts Centre, Elizabeth St 2pm.

Margaret 576 5292

YMCA Sit n Fit Class

Tues at Papamoa Community Centre, Gravatt Rd, Papamoa 11.30am 12.30pm. Weds at Greenwood Park Village, Welcome Bay Rd 11am - 12pm.

Social exercise seated to music. All welcome. 578 9272

Wednesday 23 January Badminton Mt Maunganui

Summer social club night Weds at Mount Sports Centre, Maunganui Rd 7-9pm. Cost $8 per night. All past & new players welcome. Janice 575 2438 or 027 201 0529

Baywide Community Law Service

Drop in clinic every Weds at 63 Willow St 5-6.30pm. No appointment necessary. Free legal assistance. 571 6812.

Every Tues morning at Te Puke Clinic. For appointment 573 5614. Every Thurs morning at Katikati Clinic. For appointment 549 0399

Bible Study

Trust Bar, Bureta Rd 7.30pm. Friendly jam sessions or open concert 4th Tues & 2nd Sun, 1pm through reception. Sing, play or just listen. Paul 579 2346 or www.tamc.org.nz

Is the Bible Gods word? Matua area Weds 7.30pm. Tom 022 123 7753 or email: tomg@bbf.org.nz or view www. baybiblefellowship.co.nz

Tauranga Astronomical Society

Weds 10.45-11.45am. Held rain or shine but not during school holidays.

New participants planning to attend ph Jennifer 571 1411. Hall classes recommence Jan 21. Pool class recommencing February.

Observatory & hall open at Fergusson Park 7.30pm. Viewing of DVD: Asteroids good & the bad. Debris & now fossils from an extraordinary event - the birth of our solar system. Telescope viewing if weather permits. Public welcome. 576 5389

Fernlands Spa Water Exercise Class

Global Hearts Exercise Group

Weds 2pm & Fri 11am. Provides group activities combined with health education that encourages members

www.manutere.co.nz

41

The Weekend Sun to live a healthy & active lifestyle.

Classes run by certified Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitator. Vikki 575 0470 or 0272 800 388

Mount Yoga Class

1 hour yoga Weds 5.45pm & Mondays at Papamoa 5.30pm. $10 casual, $70 for 8 weeks block. Experienced Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Equipment provided, limit spaces for quality practice. Bookings essential. 027 654 6526 or info@holisticyoga.co.nz

Social Beginner Dancing Classes

Feb 13 at Tauranga Primary School Hall, 5th Ave 8pm. Feb 14 at Greerton Hall, 1247 Cameron Rd 7pm. Supreme Dance Centre, Sonia 543 2377 or 027 322 1786. Email: Sonia@supremedancecentre.co.nz

Toastmasters - City Early Start

Improve communication, leadership

& teamwork skills. Join the motivated & enthusiastic group every Weds at Classic Flyers Avgas Cafe 6.458.15am. Email: LaniDTM@kol. co.nz or 571 1545. Website: http:// cityearlystart.toastmastersclubs.org

Toastmasters Tauranga South Area

Leadership skills, speaking skills.

Weds at St George’s Church Hall cnr Cameron Rd & Church St 7.15pm.

All welcome. Alan 544 5989

Walking Group

Age Concern walking group meet at Maungatapu Shopping Centre 10am. All welcome.

578 2631

Thursday 24 January Feldenkrais Classes

Start Jan 31 in Welcome Bay

9.30am or 5.30pm. Feel alert & alive.

First class free. www.feldenkrais.org.nz or Gisella 544 4823

Taoist Tai chi

Exercise your body.

Challenge your mind.

New class starts Feb 7 at 15 Koromiko St, Judea 12.30pm. Ann 577 9145

Tauranga Heart Support Group

Phase 3 rehab exercise, social events & guest speakers for those with or at risk of heart disease. Every Thurs at City Church Hall, Otumoetai Rd/Sherwood St 9.30-10.45am. Men & women welcome. Dianne 576 5031 Qualified instructor/Cardiac Care leader.

Tauranga Rock n Roll Social Dancing

Every Thurs at Senior Citizen’s Hall, 14 Norris St, Tauranga 7.30-9.30pm. $3 door entry. All welcome. Maria 576 7326

Peter and Gill Wallers’ art is on display at Tauranga Creative Gallery this month.

Photo by Kelly Dennett

Famous artist duo to exhibit One of New Zealand’s most recognised painters is showing his work at Tauranga Creative Gallery this month, with another great artist - his wife.

Peter Wallers has been painting and exhibiting since 1973 but this is the first time he’s co-exhibited with his wife of 38 years, Tauranga-born Gill Wallers.

He says the decision to share a design space with Gill was easy.

“It’s just to show I’m not the only artist in the family,” Peter laughs.

This special exhibition is based on local history and scenes from around Tauranga. Peter is showcasing oil on canvas and acrylic paintings of local beach scenes, while Gill has created three-dimensional collages of

Tauranga’s historical buildings, with information and stories about each.

Gill was inspired to create the collages when she and Peter returned to Tauranga from where? three years ago and she discovered many buildings remembered from her childhood had been demolished.

“I was quite sad at how many had disappeared.”

Public support has been strong so far, with the pair already selling four pieces. A visitor from San Francisco bought one of Peter’s paintings, taking it home as a souvenir of New Zealand.

Other local businesses have snapped up Gill’s collages for their foyers and offices.

The exhibition closes on January 31.

In September Peter and Gill will have another exhibition at Tauranga Creative Gallery, this time throughout the show room.

The importance of treasuring summertime Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.

JOHN LUBBOCK For me summer is the season that most teases my memories. I believe it is important to use those memories to enhance our ‘today’, to observe what is happening now with the added

joy of past good memories.

When I hear cicadas, I recall a special and loving time I spent with my family when we were over on the East Coast.

Overcast days in summer remind me of the time I was in Africa and the wonderful culture and loving people I came to know, and I realise I can bring more layers of joy to my day by

recalling the feeling of past joyful memories. Today you are creating memories for tomorrow and how you are today is part of the layers of who you will be tomorrow.

Use your summer days to create loving memories full of imagery, sounds and experiences that you can dip into in the future.

What special sounds, sights, textures and emotions do you want to remember about this summer, that become a part of what enhances your future?

If you would like to find out more about coaching, phone Mary Parker for a complimentary session 07 577 1200, email info@coachingtheattitude. co.nz or visit www.coachingtheattitude.co.nz

Te Puke Mah Jong Group

Narcotics Anonymous

Lyceum Club room, Palmer Place. Every Thurs 1pm. All players welcome. Beginners lessons 10.30am. Gig 573 5355

Open every Fri at Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui 7pm. 0800 628 632

Friday 25 January

Ruapehu Family Camp Jan 25-28. Adult $30p/n, child $20 p/n. Includes interpreted walks. To book, Cathy 573 9566

Chess Tauranga Every Fri at Tauranga RSA, Greerton 6pm onwards for the whole family. Noel 579 5412 http://www. westernbopchess.weebly.com

Free Immigration Clinic

Every Fri - legal advice & information on immigration issues. For appointment, Baywide Community Law 571 6812

Gay/Bi Men’s Support Group

Do you need a trusting person to talk to? Discretion assured. For meetings & locations ph/text Alex 027 358 5934

Te Puke Forest & Bird

“What’s On” in the Weekend Sun is a free service for non-profit clubs and organisations.

Email julie@thesun.co.nz or fax 571 1116 or post to PO Box 240, Tauranga.

Deadline 3pm Tuesday. Contributions should be less than 20 words.

42 M U S I C

P L U S

The Weekend Sun

By Winston Watusi

A packed schedule heading for Bay

Summer is here – whoever you ask – which means that event organisers are praying for good weather.

I don’t envy anyone involved with an outdoor event these days. You just have no idea how it will turn out. Global warming, climate change or whatever, it seems that each summer’s weather is more weird and unpredictable than the last.

But in a couple of weeks time, the beginning of February to be precise, it better start turning sunny, at least on weekends, because there’s a packed

Brewers Bar Thursday 14 March – Villainy and Rival State – Mode. Set. Clear tour. R18. Presale tickets $25. Buy tickets from NZtix.

Club Mount Friday 18 – Just Two. The Crown and Badger Friday 18 – One One One. Saturday 19 – One One One. Sunday 20 – Andy Craw and Chris Gunn 3-6pm.

Wednesday 23 - Country music night. A mix of country-rock, blues & traditional.

Thursday 24 – Chis Gunn and Band.

Cornerstone Pub Friday 18 – Elipse 10.30pm – late. Rock.

Saturday 19 – LOL 10.30pm – late. Rock.

Sunday 20 – LOL 3-6pm. Easy listening.

Mount RSA Friday 18 – Ray Soloman.

Saturday 19 – Lip Service.

Sunday 20 – Zone 2 4.307.30pm.

HARD

Heading the bill is the remarkable Nathan Haines. Last year he was selling out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, come Easter he’ll be here in Tauranga for a concert costing only $50, cheaper I would imagine How to solve than tickets for those London gigs.

Sudoku!

No.1662 In fact all the main theatre concerts are priced at $50 which should make them 1 6 more wallet-friendly and open up the Fillchance the grid so thatto go to a few. Also for people 5 every 9 row and on offer in theevery big room are a big band 3x3concert square contains featuring the Army Band and the 1 to 9 Band, a tribute to Ella the digits Tauranga Big Fitzgerald from Christchurch chanteuse 5 Jennine Bailey and an opening night Solution No.1661 How to solve 8 6 guns following 3 9celebration 8 7 6 1 of5the 4 young 2 Sudoku! footsteps: 7 6in1Frank 2 4 Sinatra’s 5 9 8 swinging 3 2 3 4 2Sons 7 the music of 3 6 1includes 5 9Of8 Sinatra 6 4 3 Bublé, 9 Connick Jr, Jamie 7 1 2 Harry Fill the grid so that 8 5Michael

SUDOKU

Welcome Bay Sports Bar Friday 18 – PJ’s karaoke 8pm.

Karaoke at its best!

2

6 1 1 6 3No.1662 9 2 16 6 8 every 7 1 5 every row and 9 2 3x3 square contains 2 9 9 the digits 1 to 9 5 6 6 63 55 4 Solution No.1661 3 How 8to solve6 3 9 8 7 6 1 5 4 2 Sudoku!

2 3 74 26 51 29 48 35 96 81 37 I S H E D K R M 6 A D2 M O N1 8 5 6 4 3 7 1 2 9 3 A E T A I M G E T S L OW 8 Down Fill the grid so that 7 1 4 3 6 9 2 8 7 5 B L U E E P O R T I A L A 2 7 9 1 5 8 4 3 6 5 9 2. Overweight (5) Z I P D E E I E I A G E S 2 every row and every 9 9 3 4 8 7 6 2 5 1 J O N G A D S B Y E E V T 3. Scallywags (7) 3x3 square contains 5 8 2 3 1 9 7 6 4 F N T Y E E E Y O T R U E 6 1 4 digits 16to 9 3 5 the 4. Unclothed (4) 6 1 7 5 2 4 3 9 8 Solution 1302 1 6 5 Solution No.1661 8 6 3 9

SUDOKU

Sell out shows

SUDOKU 3

No. 1303 Across 5. Reverse (8) 1. Handle (8) 6. Small town (SI) (4) 6. Mature (5) 7. Shoe (7) 8. Charges (4) 12. Tedious (8) HARD 9. Translate (8) 10. Postponement (5) 14. Dirty (7) 3 16. Plains (NI) (7) 11. Lake (SI) (6) 18. Debris (5) 13. Cereal (6) 20. Disregard (5) 15. Re-employ (6) 6 1 21. Consumer (4) 17. Short (6) C OW L E A T B I B A T H 19. Annul (4) 1 L F R O E S C A L A T O R 22. Wishing (8) I D O L E T L F M R T N S 23. Breezy (4) V E N C B E E F I E D9 G Y E D G E D R G L X E M A T 24. Insects (4) A A C C A N T E R B U No.1662 R Y HARD 6 25. Income (8) Y N L H OWG T O E A I O

schedule coming up. There are outdoor festivals on 2 February, 9 February, 15 February and 1 March, four events in five weeks, and then at the end of March it’s Easter and the National Jazz Festival.

Starting at the end first, the newly revised and revived National Jazz Festival slipped out its concert programme just before Christmas. I think they’re waiting for the full programme – with details of downtown bands and acts at The Village – to be launched next Friday before going big with the promotion.

But the Baycourt Concert Series is on sale already and that means are really good seats available now for some really excellent and well-priced concerts. After the launch I suspect there will be a bit of a rush on.

This year sees a sensible slimming down of the concert series and returns the festival’s focus to the best of New Zealand jazz. And it’s a very impressive line-up.

4 7 3 8 1

3 9 4 2 7

6 1 8 3 5

9 5 7 1 2

2 8 6 9 4

8 4 2 7 3

7 3 5 6 9

5 6 1 4 8

Cullum and more and should kick of the festival in grand style.

Meanwhile, the Jazz Cafe series in the Exhibition Hall features the guitar and violin wizardry of Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams, an astonishing modern Japanese flautist, jazz piano from Kevin Field, and the Downhome Blues Revue.

But, back to February.

Summerfest hits the Mount on February 2, with a line-up including I Am Giant, Titanium, J Williams, Swamp Thing, Aaron Saxon, Matt Bodman, Eyes of May and a host of others. This was a sold-out blast last year and promises to be just as good this time around.

Details at www.summerfestnz.com.

February 9 it’s the Marchwood Blues Picnic, with another fine line-up of blues, this year featuring a reformed Beasley Street, superb guitarist Anton Tipi Elkington, Rotorua’s Mike Garner, a newly revitalised Kokomo, Chris Gunn and Gunshy, and Black Velvet. For more see www.bluespicnic.com Meanwhile Opshop, Missy Higgins and Che Fu are here on 15 February for the Summer Vineyard Tour at Mills Reef and on March 1 Fat Freddy’s Drop, Anika Moa, Boh Runga and Hollie Smith, and The Adults are part of the Winery Tour at the Wharepai Domain.

But, if you can’t wait that long for a burst of sunny outdoor music, you can just tootle over to Rotorua on January 27, where a couple of Tauranga acts are amongst the bands lining up for the Rhythm Rotorua Festival. R&B Maestros Brilleaux and retro rockabilly cats B-Side Band are both part of the festival which runs from 12.30 to 8.00pm. Also on the bill are popular Aussie favourites The Wizard And Oz, Kawerau’s Harley Kruz, Rotorua country outfit The Geyserlanders, and a reunion for legendary ‘80s band Cairo. The festival takes place at the Arts Village on Hinuara Street and costs $25. Tickets will be available on the day.

There is more info at www.bluesfeast.co.nz.

Or, if you prefer something indoors, The Eastern are at the Tauranga Art Gallery on Wednesday 30 January.

More on that next week.

43

The Weekend Sun D V D

M O V I E S

With Winston Watusi

THE BEST OF 2012 . . .

PAR T 2 The second and final of Winston’s glances in the rear view mirror to assess his favourite DVD and blu-ray releases from last year.

OK. There’re a whole bunch of great films here, so let’s have a look at them by (admittedly vague) categories. First category is Spy Films and there was one head and shoulders above the competition: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy gave a (sadly) rare lead role to Gary Oldman and he lived up to it with a performance of immense depth and subtlety. The spirit of John Le Carré’s novel is vividly evoked and the endless complexities are fascinating.

In a similar vein, David Fincher’s remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was all round quality film-making, a satisfying mystery beautifully realised and expertly controlled. I thought it was better than the Swedish original though both films have great strengths.

If it was fighting you were after there were two great fight movies: Warrior eclipsed Oscar-nominated The Fighter and saw Tom Hardy with his Bane physique but without the mask. But mainly it’s a film with real heart – you will care which of the hardmen brothers wins the big tournament and be on the edge of your seat by the final bout.

The other fight film was the astonishing Indonesian action flick The Raid, hands down the most brutal and exciting action film of the year, showcasing real physical prowess rather than wire work or digital illusions. Many people missed this – it’s a stunner!

On the comedy front I really enjoyed The Artist, though its reputation as a silent black and white movie saw it renting poorly in video shops. Shame.

It’s not silent and it’s a film of real inventiveness, warmth and wit. Also brimming with wit was Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris, a magical realist bit of whimsy that allowed a host of fine actors to bring to life the likes of Salvador Dali, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and others from jazz age Paris. There was a delightful lightness of touch to it and considerable charm.

The Trip was a comedy of another sort, a two hander featuring British comics Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon bickering and indulging in celebrity

imitations as they partook of a restaurant tour of England’s Lake District. It was a laid-back gem and the DVD was loaded with equally hilarious out-takes.

My two favourite policier’s - as the French call them – were both subtitled but well worth the effort.

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within was Brazilian and a sequel but held up fine even without the original.

Wild action and corruption at every level of society made for a mesmerising portrait of a dysfunctional world. Meanwhile Easy Money was Scandinavian but revolved around Albanian and other immigrant law-breakers. Bringing to mind the seedy likes of Gamorrah it opened up a world rarely seen while creating insightful character studies.

My favourite documentaries were Project Nim, a heartbreaking record of how different self-regarding scientists of the seventies were as they attempted to teach a chimp to talk and thought nothing of the abuse they wrought during their egotistical experiments, and Werner Herzog’s Into The Abyss, which brought fresh insights to the application of the death penalty in America while remaining remarkably objective.

And then there were the comic book films. Lots of them. Top of the pile for me were The Dark Knight Rises, over-long and flawed by solemnity but still a towering achievement filled with huge eye-popping set-pieces and a determination to tackle Big Issues.

It was the serious cousin to the knock-about thrills and spills of The Avengers which was just Fun with a capital F. For a film so stuffed with superheroes and super-egos, the balancing act that writer/director Joss Weedon pulled of was nothing short of miraculous.

And there are three “also-rans” that I enjoyed Friday Jan 18 to Wed Jan 23 131 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke.

NEW RELEASE

GANGSTER SQUAD

immensely: Joss Weedon again with meta-horror chill ride The Cabin In The Woods; slow burning tense Russian drama How I Ended The Summer; and sleek, cool seventies throwback Drive.

Next week we return to 2013.

Capitol Cinema 4 MEGAscreen times in BLUE.

(R16)

Violence, Offensive Language & Sexual Themes.

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin and Sean Penn star in this 1940s chronicle of the LAPD’s battle with the East Coast Mob.

Fri 4:05, 6:25, 8:45. Sat 2:10, 6:30, 8:50.

Sun 1:30, 6:00, 8:25. Mon 3:35, 6, 8:30.

Tue 2, 6:20, 8:40. Wed 4:20, 6:40, 9:00.

NEW RELEASE

PARANORMAN (2D)

(PG) Scary Scenes.

ANIMATION, FAMILY, COMEDY, ADVENTURE.

PLAYING THIS WEEK

LES MISERABLES

(M)

A Whole Lotta Sole

A Whole Lotta Sole tells the story of Jimbo (McCann) who, in a misguided attempt to protect his family and pay back gambling debts to the local mobster, robs a fish market which is owned by the same gangland boss, Mad Dog Flynn (O’Hara), and finds himself in a hostage standoff surrounded by the police. Opens on January 17.

Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe.

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever. on MEGA!

With Rialto The Weekend Sun has a double pass to A Whole Lotta Sole for a lucky reader who can tell us the name of the gangland boss.

Enter online at www. sunlive.co.nz under the competitions section.

Entries must be received before Wednesday January 23.

WHOLE LOTTA SOLE

(M) Violence & Offensive Language. Brendan Fraser.

From the writer-director of Hotel Rwanda comes this UK crime comedy about a father in debt to the Fri 2:50, 8:30pm. mob who finds himself in a police standoff after Sat 12:05, 5:40pm. robbing the wrong fish market.

Sun 11:10, 5:00pm. Mon 2:20, 8:00pm.

Tue 2:50, 8:30pm. Wed 12:05, 5:45pm.

Fri 2:30, 8:15pm. Sat 12:30, 6:10pm.

Sun 1:00, 6:40pm. Mon 2:55, 6:30pm.

Tue 2:40, 8:15pm. Wed 12:25, 6:10pm.

JACK REACHER

(M) Violence & Offensive Language.

PLAYING THIS WEEK

QUARTET

Starring: Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly & Michael Gambon. Comedy, Drama about a retired group of opera singers who put on a fund-raising concert.

Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike.

(M) Offensive Language. A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims.

Fri 12:15. Sat 1:55. Sun 3:05. Mon 3:05.

Tue 12:35, 6:00pm. Wed 1:50pm.

on MEGASCREEN! Fri 12:15, 5:55pm.

Sat 3:05, 8:45pm.

Sun 2:20, 8:10pm. Mon 5:25pm.

Tue 12:15, 5:55pm. Wed 3:10, 8:50pm.

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

PARENTAL GUIDANCE

(R16) (PG) Graphic Violence, Sex Scenes & Offensive Language.

Billy Crystal, Marisa Tomei, Bette Midler. COM. COMEDY. From the writer and director of In Bruges

comes this Los Angeles-set crime comedy. Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken.

MONSIEUR LAZHAR

Academy Award Nominated classroom drama.

Fri 4:15pm. Sat 10:40am. Sun 4:50pm.

Mon 11:00am. Tue 10:45am. Wed 4:20.

PARANORMAN (3D)

Fri 10:00, 2:05pm. Sat 10:00, 4:30pm. Sun 11:00, 3:55pm.

Mon 11:00am. Tue 12:00. Wed 10:00, 2:20pm.

PLAYING THIS WEEK IN 3D

LIFE OF PI (3D) (PG) Some Scenes May Disturb.

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor ... a fearsome Bengal tiger.

Sat 5:55pm. Sun 5:10pm.

Mon 5:10pm. Wed 5:50pm.

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS (3D) (PG) Coarse Language.

Animated adventure about a group of Holiday legends - Santa (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Toothy Fairy (Isla Fisher) and Jack Frost (Chris Pine) - who set out to stop the Boogeyman (Jude Law).

Fri 10:10am. Sat 3:55pm.

Sun 1:00pm. Mon 1:00pm.

Wed 3:50pm.

WRECK-IT RALPH (3D) (PG) Low Level Violence.

Disney animated tale set Artie & Diane agree to look after their 3 grandkids. within the world of arcade on MEGASCREEN! Sat 10:00. Wed 10:00. video games. Wreck-It Ralph, the villain of a game, leaves (2D) (PG) Some Scenes May Disturb. his pixelated world to find one where he can be the hero.

Director Ang Lee adapts the best-selling novel, the journey of a young boy adrift in the Ocean after a Sat 12:00. Mon 11:10am. Wed 12:05. shipwreck. Fri 5:40pm. Tue 8:10pm.

LIFE OF PI

Fri 12:25, 6:10pm. Sat 4:00, 8:00pm.

Sun 2:45, 8:25pm. Mon 12:50, 8:15pm.

Tue 12:35, 6:10pm. Wed 2:10, 8:00pm.

Adult Themes. DRAMA, COMEDY. French Canadian

movies NEW THIS WEEK IN 3D

Norman is voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee. The voice (PG) Scary Scenes. cast also includes John Goodman, Leslie Mann, 3D stop-motion animated comedy Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck and Jeff Garlin. about a spooky, misunderstood boy Sat 11:55am. Mon 1:30pm. Tue 10:00, called on to save his small town 4:20pm. Wed 11:55am. from a centuries-old curse.

Violence & Sexual References.

M O V I E S

Info line 573 8055 www.tepukecinema.co.nz

(M)

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS(2D) (PG) Coarse Language. Voices of: Hugh Jackman,

Chris Pine, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, Alec Baldwin.

Fri 12:00. Sat 10:00. Tue 10:30. Wed 10:00

PLAYING THIS WEEK in HFR 3D

THE HOBBIT

(HFR 3D) AN UNEXPECTED PECTED JOURNEY Quad HAUJ.pdf 2/11/2012 1:47:03 p.m.

(M) Fantasy Violence.

WRECK-IT RALPH

Peter Jackson returns to (Standard 2D) FINAL WEEK Middle Earth with part one (PG) Low Level Violence. Disney animated movie. of his trilogy adaptation of (R16) Fri 10:00am. Sun 11:10am. Tue 10:00am. J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Violence, Offensive Language & Sex Scenes. COMEDY. These high frame rate Sat 2:15pm. Tue 4:25pm. Wed 10:40am.

(Standard 2D) screenings are played at 48 frames per second.

(PG) Fri 2:20. Sat 8:30pm.

Low Level Offensive Language. DOCUMENTARY. (M) Fantasy Violence. Director: Peter Jackson.

SIGHTSEERS

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED

THE HOBBIT

CMY

K

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

Fri 10:30am. Sun 11:05am. Mon 4:35pm. Fri 8:15pm. Mon 11:00am.

FACEBOOK.COM|ROADSHOWNZ

WWW.THEHOBBIT.CO.NZ

Sun 7:45pm. Mon 7:45. Tue 2:40. Wed 8:25pm.

44

The Weekend Sun

More to church than just a building As a pastor I’m often asked where the church I pastor is.

Sunday Services 9:30am & 6:00pm Come along!

07 576 5387 252 Otumoetai Road www.citychurchtauranga.org.nz

sunday at 10 10am am thursday at 7pm 146 devonport Rd

You'll love it! www.equipperschurch.com

Where is St Luke’s? In many ways it is a logical question, but at the same time, a question that misses the point in regards to what the church is. We’ve become culturally conditioned to equate a church with a building. St Luke’s doesn’t have a building or a facility. A church isn’t simply a building. Where is St Luke’s then?

A church is a community of people who’ve responded to God’s call to live the Way of Jesus with faith and trust in him. So on a Sunday you’ll find our church gathered at the Mount Sports Clubrooms (you’re welcome anytime). The rest of the week however you’ll find our church scattered here and there throughout the Tauranga community. Young and old, students, stay-home mums or dads, doctors, sparkies, dentists, teachers, builders, volunteers, those looking for work, those retired from work. You’ll find us here, there, and everywhere.

A church is therefore not a building, but rather a community that gathers and scatters to live out the call to follow Jesus.

We gather to celebrate the work of God in our lives and world. We gather around God’s Word, around the Lord’s Table and in his presence.

We don’t gather simply to watch or to consume a ‘service’, rather we gather to participate in community. We gather to stand alongside each other, to love one another, to pray for one another, to encounter God in one another, to encourage one another, and to greet and welcome the stranger and the sojourner. We call this ‘churching’ and we gather to ‘church’ each other; it’s a verb!

We’re not always gathered though.

We scatter. We scatter embracing the

challenge of living as those that bear witness to the life changing reality of God in the nooks and crannies of everyday life. We attempt to live as representatives of love and grace in our work places, where we study, in sports teams, to the stranger and in our various friendship circles; everywhere and anywhere life takes us. We are called to be the church Monday through Saturday, to at times shine boldly as a light and to at times flavour subversively as salt the world around us, with creative and authentic proclamation of the Good News of Jesus.

You’re welcome to join us when we gather this Sunday.

We’re a community not a building.

By Joseph McAuley, lead pastor St Luke’s Church

The Church as the Body of Christ Sunday Gatherings 10:00 am Mount Sports Club 51 Miro Street Blake Park The Mount

www.stlukeschurch.org.nz

The English word “church” is often conveyed or understood as being a constructed building, a denomination or a group of Christians.

The original Greek word however, speaks of a called-out company of people whom God has set together and fitted together for a specific purpose. God Himself uses several definitions, pictures, and analogies in the Scriptures to portray what He has purposed for that calledout company of people to be and how He desires that they are to relate together. The most notable of these is of the Church as the Body of Christ.

There are a number of Scriptures that speak about the Church as being the Body of Christ and of Christ as the Head. The picture is of God calling true believers, not just randomly and individually, but specifically called and fashioned together by the Head of the Church, on the basis of relationships and the structures He sets in the Church.

None of these definitions, pictures, and analogies describe what we often see today, which is a whole lot of independ-

ent individuals coming together once a week to do something spiritual. There is little or no understanding of being living stones being built together or of inter-dependence together for life and ministry or for Church life beyond four walls on a Sunday morning.

The truth is that the Church is to be a living organism of those whom God has called together and whom He has given gifts to so that we might all function as Christ’s Body, that we might manifest and demonstrate together the life and ministry of Jesus and His kingdom. Just as a natural body relies on the proper functioning of every part, so the Church is to be rightly related and rightly functioning as Paul details in Ephesians 4:16.

We see in Acts 2:44-47 that the early Church comprised all who believed, who had all things in common, and who met together in the temple and from house to house. This is not a picture of a loose collection of people coming together once or twice a week to do something spiritual and then to go home again until the next gathering. Instead this was the Church as a vibrant living representation of Christ, and daily people were being saved.

See you on Sunday at Jesus First.

Check out the message: “Revival: Rightly Discerning The Body” at http://www.jesusfirst.org.nz/ MP3Files/RevivalDiscernHisBody.mp3 By Peter Whitcombe, Jesus First Church

45

The Weekend Sun

Mount teen mastering the waves at 17 No slug in the surf, the Mount Maunganui College Year 10 student is lightening on land as well, cleaning up at her school’s cross country and athletics championships last year.

She did the double at last weekend’s two open water swims, finishing top under-16 female swimmer at the 1.5km Bridge-to-Bridge event on Saturday and second in the following day’s 4km jaunt from Pilot Bay to Mount Main Beach.

“It was my second go at the Mount swim and I wouldn’t say I was a lot more comfortable this year – it was still quite freaky swimming so close to all the rocks.

Probably my biggest fear was meeting a jellyfish or stingray on the way around but thankfully I didn’t see any.”

A champion already at the national 14s event held annually at Mount Maunganui, Maia will step up to the under-16s at the open nationals, also at the Mount, in March now she has hit 14 and qualified as a lifeguard.

Skilled as a swimmer and on the rescue board, she’s still trying to get to grips with the nuances of keeping a hulking great surf-ski under control – and that’s when the water is flat.

“My board paddling’s improved so much but the ski needs a lot of work.

I’m doing little trainings on it now, just getting used to it, and I still won’t go out on

Sleep comes easy for talented teenage surf star Maia Bryant, even with the hot, balmy summer nights.

Mind you, you get that when you’re up before anyone else, gunning it to the summit of Mauao at dawn before chucking a surf-ski into the ocean in an effort to master the waves.

The 14-year-old was grabbing an hour’s nap in between training sessions earlier on this week, backing up her lung-busting burst up the mountain with back-to-back water-based trainings at Papamoa with coach Kurt Wilson.

Still eligible for the national 14s titles at Mount Maunganui, where she plans to defend several sprint and water golds, Maia is making the step up into the under-16 division this season and has even been seconded into Papamoa’s under-19 taplin relay team for their recent winning effort at the Red Beach carnival.

Queen’s Badge for Tauranga student Mitchell Harkness is a young man of many skills and talents, but he puts it all down to his time in the Iconz adventure programme.

“We’re incredibly proud,” says Richard. For Mitchell, highlights from throughout the year vary from teaching young children, to camping in the bush.

“I really loved working with the children, running games, maybe a bible story, a craft, some cooking. That was really cool.”

For his Adventurous Journey Badge, he went out to Katikati and into the bush.

“We had to build a shelter and sleep in it. That was quite exciting, it was very cold, I was in my sleeping bag with all my clothes on.”

Mitchell says it has given him many skills, including being able to play the base guitar. “It all looks really good on your CV.” Iconz runs throughout the year and Mitchell Harkness. is always open for new students.

The 18-year-old is the first person to be presented with the Queen’s Badge through the Tauranga-based programme, receiving the respected award in Wellington at Government House last year. “It was pretty special… really prestigious,” says Mitchell. It is the highest award achievable through the Boys Brigade in New Zealand.

Iconz is Christian-based for boys aged six to18 involving camping, bushcraft, shooting, abseiling and much more.

Run by Mitchell’s father Richard Harkness, the Iconz programme has proven incredibly popular since starting in 2003. “It’s about pushing boundaries, outdoor adventure, and learning from good male role models,” says Richard.

The boys achieve badges and accomplish goals set through the national Boys’ Brigade, but Mitchell is the first to achieve the Queen’s Badge with Iconz.

By Corrie Taylor

it when there’s any waves just because I’m not that Pictured left:Maia Bryant, confident yet. “But if I’m going to be any good at 14, was the top under-16 the diamond lady (the female version of ironman) participant in the Bridge-tothen I’ll have to get used to handling the ski soon.” Bridge swim last weekend.

46

The Weekend Sun

trades & services

Deck Restoration

We specialise in restoring weathered decks, fences & outdoor furniture

From this...

ree ech

To this...

Deck cleaning, staining & oiling - fence staining & painting - garden furniture restoration 07 552 5311 Deck&FencePro specialists or 0274 108 940 Paint, Oil & Stain Restoration

AAA

MASTER

PAINTERS TAURANGA

FRE QUOTEE S! AAA

Card

MASTER

PAINTERS TAURANGA

AAA

MASTER

PAINTERS TAURANGA

NZ

47

trades & services Oasis

health & beauty

LAWNS & PROPERTY CARE

ü Lawn mowing ü Hedge & tree trimming ü Weed spraying + more..

Phone or Text Mark Fenton

021 029 76434

www.oasislawns.co.nz

business opportunity

Broken DOORS WINDOWS window LOCKS HINGES handle? HANDLES

CURTAIN CLEAN

CONSERVATORIES

we fix windows & doors

0800 25 25 00

b

h!

   ds    14  Fe 

Call us today to arrange a free assessment of your home

We Specialise in: • Continuous Spouting • All Metal & PVC Spouting systems • Long-run Roofing • Fascia • Repairs & Leaks • Spouting & Roof cleaning

en

The Weekend Sun

www.exceed.co.nz

FgRehEooEd orh

Ran lean wit Hob Cular Oven reg Clean

  .

Trained, Security-Cleared Insured, Owner-Operators All work GUARANTEED. Reliable, friendly service.

Carpet, window & blind cleaning also available

(07) 576 2091

www.viphomeservicesbop.co.nz

48

computer sevices

The Weekend Sun

public notices

cars wanted WE ALWAYS PAY MORE!

$1000 CASH per week to rent

for sale

0800 382 828

situations vacant

Corporate Angels

TAURANGA

MEAT PACKERS

Ladies and gay males required for our busiest $100 season. ½ hr

for sale

Want to be part of a Kiwi success story?

Visit us.

OPEN: Monday-FridayÊ8.00am-5.30pmÊÊÊ SaturdayÊ9.00am-5.00pm

Visit us.

OPEN: Monday-FridayÊ8.00am-5.30pmÊÊÊ SaturdayÊ9.00am-5.00pm

116 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui.

116 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui.

Tel:Ê07Ê578Ê6017

Tel:Ê07Ê578Ê6017

www.farmerautovillage.co.nz www.farmerautovillage.co.nz

public notices

Aegis Oil - a New Zealand owned oil company blending for the domestic market and run by champion racing driver Paul Radisich - is expanding in the Bay of Plenty region and now needs distributors in the Tauranga area.

Aegis offers the most comprehensive range of lubricant products of any oil company operating in New Zealand and offers fantastic opportunities for motivated and enthusiastic distributors.

Contact carina@aegisoil.co.nz to find out more.

CASUAL CAREGIVER FOR SERIOUS INJURY Passionate in-home caregiver in Tauranga Geneva Care is looking for a lively, dedicated and passionate carer to provide in-home support to our female tetraplegic client.

The hours are 7.00 am to 7.00 pm two days a week. You must have experience in complex personal cares and have a full driver’s license.

Please email your CV to Bridgetf@genevahealth.com or call 0508 466 322 for more information

S1126bzAngels

Boutique Parlour

Phone 579 0085 or 021 606 180

The Weekend Sun

family notices

49

deaths

training

funeral directors funeral directors www.cadtraining.co.nz

financial

QUICK

mobility

CASH FOR holidays – weddings car repairs – homeware funerals – new cars

$200 - $20,000 2 1 Branches Nationwide Keeping Kiwis Independant

Registered Financial Services Provider FSP 20381

bills due?

Spent too much at

Christmas?

Come and see us for a loan up to $1000!

All loans subject to normal lending criteria

CALL US TODAY ON

0800 34 62 63 174 Devonport Road, Tauranga (07) 578 7717 | www.linsa.co.nz

Linsa Finance Ltd for all your finance needs

IF21182

0800 760 000 www.instantfinance.co.nz

50 wanted

karaoke hire

Ph 07 928 3042 or email tasha@thesun.co.nz adult entertainment

$$$$ MONEY for Spring. Corporate Angels Escort Agency. Ladies and Gay Males welcome for our extremely busy season. Apply in confidence to Allan 021 606 180

art & craft

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS restart 31st January. Morning & evening classes available.

Mosaics, Stained Glass, Glass Fusing & Ceramic Painting. Enquire now at Clay Art Studio, Historic Village, 17th Ave Ph 571 3726 www.clayartstudio.co.nz

bible digest

“I AM the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

cars for sale

CAR FAIR – buy or sell any vehicle every Sunday at 11th Avenue Car park opposite Mad Butcher 8am-noon. Vehicle Finance available from Heartland Finance. Ph for more information 027 733 9686 or www.taurangacarfair.co.nz TOYOTA IPSUM 2005 45,000 km’s 7 seater disability front passanger seat, wheel chair hoist $15,000 ono.

Ph 07 347 0816 or 021 055 0234

computers

Contact Kelly...

Kelly Exelby

Residential Marketing Specialist P 07 571 7751 M 0275 501 851 E kelly.exelby@eves.co.nz EVES REALTY LTD, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

The Weekend Sun

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 & don’t charge extra for travel. Pensioner discounts. Ph Kyle at Tech Solutions 027 828 7078

dance partners

WANTED MALE ballroom dance partner, must be committed for practices and competitions. Aged between 9 & 10. No experience needed.

Ph 027 411 7652

for sale

BOAT Reflex Camino FX. 17FT Fibreglass, 90HP Johnson, electric anchor winch, all usual extras. New WOF & Service. Very good buy at only $17,500. Ph 575 5789 or 572 0430 BROOKFIELD UNIFORM from 5yrs to 12yrs – Big box of Brookfield Primary used uniforms, Hats, Tshirts, Pants, Shorts, Skorts, Skirts, Vests, Sweatshirts. Some in new condition and some in used - Bulk buy for $50 or individual things for $5. Selling as moving to Papamoa school – text 027 211 9193 SMALL CONCRETE SLEEPERS everlasting and realistic from $9.00 each. Village Stone 53 Hull Rd Mt Maunganui Ph 575 4887

free pets

6 YEAR OLD spayed female registered Sharpei Staffy x, urgently needs good home now. Please contact me for further details. Ph Janice 022 030 0821 GUINEA PIGS with outdoor cage/ run to pet friendly home. Great for kids as they don’t bite like rabbits do, easy to look after & love being cuddled. We have 2 female guinea pigs that need a new home as we are moving & can’t take with us. Text or Ph 027 211 9193 to view.

gardening

GARDEN MAINTENANCE tree pruning, hedge trimming, section tidy ups, green waste removed, odd jobs, affordable prices, Ph Philip 0800 334 453

health & beauty

LOSE WEIGHT feel great! Join a ‘New Look’ clinic in your area.

Healthy eating with real food.

Ph Bernice now 576 4848 NATURAL NEW ZEALAND Health Products. Something for everyone.

NZ Registered Natural Therapies and Natural Medicine Practitioners.

Opposite BP Te Puke. Ph 573 5533 www.naturaltherapiesnz.com and www.kiwikitz.com WANT TO BEGIN exercising but don’t know where to start?

Bellyluv is for women of all ages.

Call us on 552 6685 or email us at

bellyluvnz@gmail.com www.bellyluv.webs.com

house sitter

PROFESSIONAL HOUSE minder available. Do you want peace of mind that your treasured home is in trustworthy hands while you are away on holiday.

Excellent references. Available from the 25th February. Ph Cathie 022 162 8301

lifestyle coaching

CAREER RESTRUCTURING? Creating opportunity from Change. Ph Chris at Balanced Success Coaching 027 548 2548 chris@balancedsuccess.co.nz www.balancedsuccess.co.nz

livestock

AC PETFOODS collect injured & unwanted cows & horses.

Ph 0800 369 6269

mobility

MOBILITY SCOOTERS wheelchairs walkers & more. Visit or showroom 29 Burrows St, Tauranga Ph 578 1213. MES ‘Supporting your independence’ STAIRLIFTS – Make life easy with a stairlift enjoy the home you love by installing an Acorn Stairlift. Call us now TOLL FREE 0800 782 475 or www.acornstairlifts.co.nz

plant & machinery

AUCTION The Rotary Club of Katikati is having a Plant & Machinery Auction 16th Feb 2013 at Aongatete Packhouse Yard, 43 Sharp Rd, Katikati. Donate your goods or mark the date to come along. Contact Rod 07 549 0363

situations vacant

AFTER SCHOOL CARE required in my home, for 2 children 9 & 11 years. Must have drivers licence & reference. Send to PO Box 11506 Palm Beach Plaza 3151 GENERAL HANDYMAN required for 1 day a week for lawn mowing & other general handyman services.

No experience required. Must have own transport. Ph Bevan 542 5553 MANAGE a leading women’s fashion store in Tauranga. Full training will be given. If you love our brand & dream of a career in retail email tony@strettonclothing.co.nz www.annahstretton.com RELIABLE CARING women required for baby-sitting, in exchange for free room in family home. Solo Mum ok. Needed ASAP. Ph Tania 552 6757

work wanted

trades & services

BUILDERS - Murray Pedersen licensed builder with his experienced team will undertake additions renovations also reclads.

We can arrange plans & consents.

Ph 575 7870 BUILDER, PLUMBER, Painter, Plasterer, Renovation Specialist, Excellent workmanship, No job too big or too small Ph Alex 027 481 3448 ELECTRICIAN A professional and affordable registered electrician. New builds alterations repairs. Ph Steve 578 0555 or 027 848 6042 GORSE SPRAYING Do you have a gorse problem? Ph today for a free quote for all gorse control. Ph Scott 027 462 4769 GUTTERING CLEAN and repairs moss removal.

Experienced Certified Roofer.

Free quotes. Ph Peter now 542 4291 or 0274 367 740 HANDYMAN BUILDING and section maintenance decks fencing pergolas painting water blasting odd jobs. Free quotes Ph Rossco 027 270 3313 or 544 5911 INSECT SCREENS Measure.

Make. Mend. Contact Rob at Magic Seal 543 4940 PAINTER / A1 DECORATOR available. All interior & exterior work. Prompt, reliable, excellent references. Ph Paul 576 4793 or 027 689 6252

PAINTER / DECORATOR Interior & Exterior, quality workmanship friendly services.

Over 20 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

PAINTING small job specialist, guaranteed workmanship assured, semi retired tradesman.

Ph Mike a/h 576 5501 or 027 473 7482 ROOFING & SPOUTING Metal fascia, gutter and rainwater systems. Long run corrugate.

Maintenance, repairs or replacement. Free no obligation quotes. PROFIX 027 496 5375 profixltd@xtra.co.nz ROOFING new roofs re-roofs spouting & repairs.

Free quotes. Ph Chris 027 276 6348 or 572 3237 ROOF REPAIRS metal or onduline gutters & down pipes clean or replacement chimney repairs. Certified Roofer over 30yrs experience Free quote. Ph Peter 542 4291 or 0274 367 740 SCAFFOLDING prompt free quotes, friendly service, DIY or full erect & dismantle services. Safe, certified, cost effective. Safeplank Scaffolding 021 680 555 S T U M P I N AT O R STUMP Grinding free quotes & prompt service. Narrow machine to access rear yards. Ph 576 4245 or 022 076 4245 TAURANGA TANDEM SKYDIVING Best Buzz in the Bay, Gift Vouchers. Ph 576 7990

appliance service

trades & services

TILER QUALIFIED TILER references available free quotes all types of work done from kitchen splashbacks to full tiled bathrooms.

Contact Nelson 021 609 289

TIMBER RETAINING WALLS decks and all types of fencing.

Excellent work at a competitive price. Ph Clive 021 048 2833 or 552 6510 TREES TREES TREES Felling, Pruning, Maintenance, Chipping, & Removal. Ph Scott Today on 027 462 4769 TREE SHRUB and hedges Trimming topping removal rubbish removal satisfaction guaranteed free quote. Ph Steve Hockly 571 5958 or 027 498 1857

trailer repairs

GET YOUR TRAILER fixed now! I do it all, from small trailer repairs to major re-dos. Car & boat trailers, horse floats, transporters etc. Free quotes, pickups and drop offs! Ph Dave 027 325 9896 a/h 07 575 3178

transport

DRIVING MISS DAISY relief for busy families let us take care of the transportation of your parents to appointments or outings. Safe, friendly, reliable service. Ph Jackie from Driving Miss Daisy 552 6614

travel & tours

A HOLIDAY or day-out. Every week. Small Group Tours.

Door to Door Hinterland Tours Ph Kae & Rick 07 575 8118 BAYLINE COACHES Day trips, away trips or sight seeing & tours! Call for a free quote today Ph 578 3113 SCOTTSDALE SENIOR TOURS fully escorted owner/operated since 1978. Ph free for colour brochure today 0800 664 414. Also see www.scottsdaletours.co.nz

THE SUNDAY LUNCH CLUB Ohinemuri winery lunch 3 feb, $35pp (Transport only. Lunch at additional cost.) Ph 07 544 1383 tgatastingtours@xtra.co.nz www.tastingtours.co.nz

wanted to buy

ANTIQUES, COINS, medals, china, glass, Kiwiana,

Australiana, militaria, toys, anything old and interesting.

021 392913 or 07 549 0139 mark.holwerda@vodafone.co.nz CORFLUTE SIGNS for sustainable tree project. Can pick up. Email Claire@thesun.co.nz PAPAMOA PRIMARY Girls Uniform – we are moving to Papamoa & my girls need a uniform – aged 5 to 10yrs. Please text or ph 027 211 9193 – thanks!

ROOFING IRON in useable condition please. Text or Ph Jim 021 233 4340

GARAGE SALES BROOKFIELD

2 Solomon Street, Fri, Sat & Sun from 7am. 2 fridges-$50 each, drawers, beds, cutlery, linen, lounge suit etc.

GATE PA

49 Tom Muir Drive, Sat & Sun from 8am. Moving oversea’s, everything must go! Full house lot and a Honda CRV. 021 208 7741

PAPAMOA

61 Santa Monica Drive, Sat & Sun, not before 8am. Household clearance.

51

The Weekend Sun

Getting wet About 120 participants took to the water on Saturday for the annual Murray Dingle Memorial Bridge to Bridge swim.

Hamish Miller running for the finish line on Saturday.

Charlotte Watson, 9, finishing the 600m race.

Jessica Miller was the first woman to cross the line.

Friendly faces Saturday was the last day for summer ambassadors, Hannah Brewer and Matt Smalberger, who have spent their holiday providing information for holidaymakers and locals at Mount Maunganui beach.

Sandy fun Children flocked to Mount Main Beach on Wednesday to participate in the sand sculpture competition.

Come on board before the 30th of April and Come on board before the 30th of April and we will throw in your first years GST returns for FREE!

we will throw in your first years GST returns for FREE!

xero

www.accountingnow.co.nz

www.accountingnow.co.nz

0800 4 LESS TAX

0800 4 LESS TAX

GOLD PARTNER

52

The Weekend Sun

TIME IS RUNNING OUT END OF THE YEAR WALL TO WALL SELLOFF! LAST CHANCE!

+

List: $3564 4pc Bedroom suite

$

1987

“Time is running out at Westlife Bed Store!

The end of year wall to wall selloff must end soon! Further reductions have been made on many items! There is still a great selection!

Bring the family and claim your share of the bargains! Qualify for no money down special financing!* Greet the new year with a great new look and the best sleep of your life! The history-making end of the year selloff will end in just days! Hurry!”

Discover the luxury & style of contemporary Maria Bedroom Suite. Crown curves are in elegant touch, white satin nickel hardware provides a dramatic effect. Top drawers are felt lined.

(Tallboy, mattress sold separately & accessories are not included)

MANLY Solid NZ Pine

Further reductions have been made on many items!

SNOOZER

DREAMAX

List $1950

List $2399

Tallboy + 2 Bedsides

$398

WESTLIFE - HOME OF:

$946

$1448 Dreamax Sleepsets Latex Eurotop Pocket Coils provide ultimate sleeping comfort. Queen, King, Super King, sleepset including mattress and base. Accessories not included.

The 5 zoned Posture Pro™ spring system provides excellent support minimized partner disturbance and no roll together. A medium soft Latex pillow top gives you comfortable and fresh sleeping surface and a solid wood foundation base add to the value of this great deal. Accessories not included.

Partial Listings Only ! More Specials in Store

POSTURE CARE

60 NIGHTS COMFORT GUARANTEE

+

List: $1599 Queen

From

$

936

Posture Care is made of 20cm high individual pocket coils & 360° Foam encasing for excellent edges support which maximize the support and comfort level & minimize partner’s disturbance.

Price include platform base.

Terms & conditions apply. See in store for details.

T H E

B E D

S T O R E

www.westlifefurniture.co.nz

0800 WESTLIFE

PAPAMOA Fashion Island, Gravatt Rd (Next to No.1 Shoes) 07 - 5724075

Palm Beach Shopping Plaza

Santa Monica Drive

®

MON-SAT 9:30am - 5:30pm SUN: 10am - 4pm

Gravatt Rd We Are Here

*Normal Lending criteria & minimum purchase of $999. Account fees may apply. Q Card standard Interest rate applies at the end of payment holiday. Offer Ends 28/01/2013 +Westlife list price is current, future or former offering price of the same or comparable merchandise at Westlife or another retailer. Actual sales may or may not have occurred at list price.

Westlife reserve the right to amend any misprints or error with in this advertisement. Stock may vary from store to store.

Domain Rd

We Accept: