Issuu

14 August 2026, Issue 1323

Millie’s murals The Weekend Sun readers may recognise Millie Pidwell, pictured, from sitting crossed-legged in front of blank walls around the district. “That’s how I sit for a lot of my work.” Pidwell has just marked being a fulltime muralist for three years, using her

YARD

talent for painting to breathe life and spirit into many Bay of Plenty schools and businesses and brought to life public art projects. “I’ve been creating for my whole life,” said Pidwell, who was snapped painting at age 2.

The first mural Pidwell painted as a professional was a smaller scale, interactive piece created 11 years ago with graphic designer Tara Fowler known as ‘Wings to Fly’. It had become an iconic photo backdrop along The Strand in Tauranga CBD.

Since then, Pidwell slowly honed her craft and today has painted murals across the region. “I just want to keep painting meaningful work for communities and keep doing what I do. I just love it.” Read more on pages 14-15. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

405 Cameron Rd, Private Bag 12002, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143. Phone 07 578 0030 www.theweekendsun.co.nz ads@thesun.co.nz newsroom@thesun.co.nz

The Weekend Sun is published every Friday and distributed throughout the Western Bay of Plenty from Waihi Beach, through Katikati, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke and available to collect at many stand locations throughout the area. For a full list of stand locations see https://theweekendsun.co.nz/stand-locations.html The Weekend Sun is part of NZME - New Zealand Media & Entertainment. We keep Kiwis in the know. Locally produced at 405 Cameron Rd, Tauranga

Editor: Merle Cave Editorial: Letitia Atkinson, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, Hunter Wells, Ayla Yeoman. Publications Manager: Kathy Sellars. Advertising: Cade Hughes, Jo Delicata, Sharon Eyres, Ben Simpson. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, Caitlin Burns.

The Weekend Sun is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. First, email your complaint to the Editor at: newsroom@thesun.co.nz If not satisfied or for more details, go to: mediacouncil.org.nz

Chop suey with a side of roundabouts This is about a pothole. A big pothole. More an excavation than a pothole, it could gobble a car rather than just wreck a rim and a $200 tyre. And it’s about moaning. Terminal moaning. Both intensely annoying. We have to travel down the road a bit to get to the pothole. So first moaning. We love a good grumble, a good gripe.

Whenever we perceive a slight, a wrong, or things are out of control, we want others to know we’re hurting, share our misery, provide an emotional release. We moan. Benjamin Franklin warned against moaning. “Any fool can criticise, condemn and complain – and most fools do.” A pragmatic essayist and memoirist Maya Angelou said of complaining: “If you don’t like something, change it. And if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Just don’t complain.”

Mangled parts

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Now to the pothole, a figurative one, a big excavation or roadworks that will soon be a roundabout. In this case, in the beginning, all the moaning was probably justified. Because the intersection of Bureta Rd and Ngatai Rd, Accident Alley, had the unenviable record of being Tauranga’s number one, high risk, intersection. And we loved to complain about it. As you waited for chicken chop suey at a nearby takeaway the sound of crashing woks would mingle with mangled automotive parts at the intersection. And buying a Lotto ticket at the nextdoor dairy would probably bring the shrill of emergency service sirens rather than eternal wealth and happiness. A bit of literary licence. Since 2019, there have been 19 reported crashes at this intersection – eight injury accidents and 11 due to failure to give way or stop. Reported dings that is – probably a lot more bent panels that Tower, AMI and AA A got to hear about. Why didn’t it become a visitor attraction for ghouls and risk-takers, with a billboard saying, “Dare you? Progress at your peril”.

The ‘F’ word

I wasn’t one of those statistics but easily could have been. On several occasions. If you bought chop suey on a Sunday night, it might get home for dinner on Monday night while you waited for a break in the 13,000 vehicles that pass each way along Ngatai Rd each weekday. I’ve wasted valuable days of what’s left of my life waiting at that intersection. Knuckles white with stress, gripping the steering wheel. Foot twitching

impatiently over the accelerator. I have even surprised myself with expletives I never knew were in my lexicon. Impatience often leads to hasty decisions and d horriible outtcomes. And d it did. I’d been working up a lather at Accident Alley one day, cars massing behind, frustration building. I seized a moment and barrelled across the bow of a ute coming up Ngatai Rd. I swear I saw the colour of the driver’s eyes as he flashed by. I certainly saw him mouth me the ‘F’ word. I got the mandatory hostile blast of the horn and middle finger. In hindsight, the heat of my takeaway chop suey probably wasn’t worth dying over. Of course I blamed everyone else. “Fix the damned intersection.” “We need traffic lights.” “Why isn’t someone doing something?” Needless and uninformed grouching. Remember Maya’s advice? “Don’t complain.” Because something is being done. Just not traffic lights. We might have to change our thinking. A signalised intersection, chocka with stop/start cars, would only cause peak hour congestion on Ngatai Rd, give us something else to moan about. What we needed was a roundabout to maintain steady, smooth traffic flow. Now, we like steady smooth traffic. See – a change of thinking. Thank you Maya.

Fraught

While on roundabouts, England’s first roundabout in 1906, had an Accident Alley reputation. In those days vehicles on the roundabout had to yield to vehicles entering the roundabout. Precursor to a stockcar meeting – absolute chaos, snarls, big dings, broken car bodies and broken

bodies. It took another 50 years to get things right. Back on Ngatai Rd, we’re still complaining. Apparently we don’t like the disruptiion and d inconveniience th hat comes with progress. Road closures, detours, 50km/h becoming 30km/h and vice versa, armies of hardhats in hi-vis, serious machines and trucks, temporary fencing and traffic cones which have enjoyed an unseemly birth spurt. Making a major roundabout happen on a narrow corridor down an arterial road, I am sure, can be fraught.

Inconsiderate

Like the day peak-time city-bound traffic down Ngatai Rd backed up from the roadworks “damned near” all the way back to Levers Rd, according to a couple of accounts. “Inconsiderate. Why can’t they think things through,” complained our terminal complainer. “It’s simple. Stop the roadworks for a couple of hours at peak hour both ends of the day. Free things up.” Really? Wouldn’t that needlessly prolong the work and cost squillions? It would be simpler to change our thinking perhaps. Ask not what the road gangs can do for you, but what you can do for them? Why don’t commuters start work a couple of hours earlier, or later – take some pressure off the chokepoint. Or work from home? Did you know that traffic roundabouts have been shown to reduce fatal and injury crashes by as much as 75%. And the chicken chop suey always gets home hot and on time.

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Friday 14 August 2026

Tauranga council submits reform proposal

Tauranga City Council has lodged a solo proposal to create a new unitary authority governing the city and surrounding Western Bay of Plenty District.

That was despite Western Bay of Plenty District Council being an unwilling partner, and Tauranga’s proposal not meeting Government eligibility criteria requiring at least one other council in support. Submissions for the Government’s Head Start process for reforming local government closed on Sunday. Tauranga’s bid to create a Western Bay of Plenty unitary authority is among 18 Head Start submissions being assessed by officials, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts said in a statement on Wednesday. As was Kawerau, Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne district councils’ joint proposal to form an Eastern Bay of Plenty unitary authority. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council voted 6-4 on Thursday not to participate in a Head Start proposal with Tauranga. Tauranga voted to submit the proposal anyway, but hit a snag when it could not find another council to join its proposal. Rotorua Lakes Council voted against that on Friday, with some councillors reluctant to force Western Bay into a proposal with Tauranga. The Eastern Bay councils submitted their proposal after Western Bay pulled out.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting from China on Wednesday, Mahé Drysdale said Tauranga submitted its application before the deadline, noting that it was not compliant. He said the council believed it was better to make a Head Start proposal than wait for the Government’s Backstop reform process. He said it was disappointing that Western Bay had not supported a joint proposal. “The work we’ve done with Western Bay, I felt we’d solved the key issues.” These were about the city council’s high debt and concerns about ensuring local representation. “We’d come up with solutions to be able to solve those two issues … I thought we’d come to a pretty good place.” He said an agreement may have been reached if they had more time. He said, despite not reaching an agreement, the two councils worked well together. “We’ll continue to work well together as this reform progresses.” Drysdale confirmed in a media release earlier this week that the council had submitted its work on the Head Start proposal “to continue the conversation and allow time to explore alternative options”. He said Head Start gave councils the best opportunity to design their own future, but this was looking less likely for Tauranga. The city would “likely” end up in Backstop.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer (left) and Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale at the joint council meeting on August 6 to discuss reform proposals. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“Current indications suggest that could result in a Bay-wide unitary authority, which was not the preferred option expressed through any of the community engagement across the region.” Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer said Tauranga’s decision to submit the proposal was no surprise. “They’re putting it in knowing that it doesn’t fully meet the requirements. What’s next Bishop and Watts’ statement said officials would assess the 18 proposals received and provide advice to ministers. Cabinet will decide in September which proposals to progress to detailed design. These proposals would need to

be submitted by March, for another Cabinet decision. Those accepted will be implemented before the October 2028 local body elections. The Backstop process will start after the local body elections for any councils reformed through Head Start.

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– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Bay conservationists cycle drought Bay of Plenty conservationists cycling the length of the Danube have found themselves riding through wildfires and alongside a river so low that World War II shipwrecks, bombs and other longhidden relics are emerging from the riverbed

When Anna Wentsch and Callum Armstrong set out from Germany on June 18, their mission was to cycle almost 3000km along the Danube, meeting conservationists, scientists and communities and finding out what New Zealand could learn from conservation efforts along one of Europe’s great rivers. Seven countries later, the founders of Bay of Plenty-based Conservation Amplified had discovered a much bigger story.

only to encounter border bureaucracy and language difficulties. By the time they reached a nearby village for help, the fire had grown dramatically. “The smoke was coming up in black plumes of smoke, and it was right at the edge of the village,” Wentsch said. The locals, however, appeared remarkably accustomed to the threat. “They were just like, ‘Oh, it’s fine,’” Armstrong recalled. The villagers told them fires were common and that authorities would intervene only if the situation became

Callum Armstrong and Anna Wentsch in Germany. Photo / Callum Armstrong & Anna Wentsch / Conservation Amplified

Wildfires in Europe have devastated thousands of hectares of forest and agricultural land, experts said. Photo: Aris Oikonomou / AFP

Bigger part

Speaking to The Weekend Sun from Bulgaria on Sunday Wentsch and Armstrong described a landscape being transformed by extreme heat, drought and fire. “Climate is a bigger part of the story now than we initially planned because of everything we’re seeing,” Armstrong said. The couple have encountered several wildfires. In Serbia, they were cycling when smoke suddenly began gathering around them. At first, they wondered whether it was a controlled burn, but as the smoke grew they realised it was a wildfire. They tried calling emergency services,

serious. The couple were offered coffee, food from local gardens and cheese from a nearby factory before continuing their journey. Since then, they had encountered at least two more fires, including one

that started about 50 metres ahead of them while they were stopped repairing punctures. Checking the weather and fire situation had become part of their daily routine. “When you’re at a higher altitude, you’re

looking out, and if you see some smoke coming up, you’re like, ‘Is that a farmer driving his tractor on a dirt road, or is that a fire?’” Wentsch said. “It’s really in your mind.” The fires are only part of what had shocked them. The Danube River itself had become dramatically shallower, with the exceptionally low water levels across parts of central and southeastern Europe disrupting shipping, agriculture and energy production. International news coverage in recent days highlighted one extraordinary consequence: as the river retreated, WWII-era German warships and other military relics were emerging from the water. Near the Serbian-Romanian border, sunken German vessels deliberately

Couple Tired of Being Tired Together For 38 years, Alison and her husband had shared everything. Morning walks around the neighbourhood, evening meals at the kitchen table, and a queen-sized bed they’d bought when they first married. But lately, they’d been sharing something else: sleepless nights. “I’d lie there, mind racing, unable to switch off,” Alison admits. “Every time I moved, I worried I was disturbing him. Then he’d pat my shoulder to comfort me, which made me feel worse. The guilt was almost as exhausting as the sleeplessness.” The couple who once slept peacefully were now both exhausted. “When Alison couldn’t sleep, neither could I,” her husband explains. “I’d lie there listening to her breathing, knowing she was awake, wanting to help but not knowing how. Some nights I’d pretend to be asleep just so she wouldn’t feel bad.” Sleep specialists confirm what this couple discussed with us. When one partner struggles with sleep, they will most likely both end up suffering. The sighs, the restlessness, getting up for water (in or out), all create a cycle of disruption that leaves everyone drained. “We were both tired all the time,” Alison recalls. “I couldn’t keep up when I went to the pool or if I was on a walk with friends. He was grumpy. I was snappy. We just weren’t ourselves anymore. After 38 years, we were becoming strangers in our own home.” Alison’s troubles are quite a common agerelated change. After 60, our bodies produce less melatonin and we spend less time in deep sleep. The brain will stay alert when it should be winding down. For couples, this creates a

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and wildfire crisis scuttled in 1944 became exposed, some still containing dangerous ammunition. Elsewhere, bombs and other wartime objects had appeared from the newlyexposed riverbed.

History emerging

But the spectacle of history emerging from the mud was less important to the cyclists than the modern consequences. They’d seen cargo ships unable to move, ferries affected and crops struggling in the heat and dryness. In Romania, the crisis had become an energy problem too. One reactor at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant was shut down because of low Danube water levels, with authorities taking extraordinary measures to maintain water flow to the remaining reactor. Wentsch said the experience had

changed the way they think about climate change. “Are we seeing an isolated event or a preview of the future?” had become a question they repeatedly ask themselves. “I think it’s likely that it’s a preview of the future,” she said. Armstrong said the biggest lesson had been how quickly environmental problems became human problems. “When fires start coming to the edge of towns, when your freight ships can’t actually move through the river, when your crops are wilting, when you’re struggling to get electricity generation, then all of a sudden the problems with nature directly aff ffeect our economy, our livelihoods and our ability to live our lives.” The pair believed that connection is particularly relevant to New Zealand.

Friday 14 August 2026

The Danube River in Hungary. Photo / Callum Armstrong & Anna Wentsch / Conservation Amplified

Environmental decline could seem distant when presented simply as a problem for nature, but cycling through affected communities had shown them how closely rivers, agriculture, transport, electricity, jobs and everyday life were connected. “Rivers are more than just a blue line on a map,” Wentsch said. “They’re so much more than just a navigational route.”

Slower, more intimate

Cycling the European countries had also given the pair a slower and more intimate view of the continent than conventional travel. Away from major highways, they’d travelled through rural villages, abandoned settlements and farmland, stopping for turtles crossing roads, picking wild plums

The Danube River which runs through Bulgaria has been drying up. Photo / Callum Armstrong & Anna Wentsch /Conservation Amplified

Tip of the iceberg?

and meeting fishermen and other locals along the river. They’d also seen storks, Dalmatian pelicans, cormorants, lizards, geckos and golden jackals. When they reach the Danube Delta, they will spend three days with conservation organisation Rewilding Romania before beginning their journey home. They expect to be back in the Bay of Plenty about September 10. While their original mission was to return with ideas for conservation in the Bay, they now expect to return with something more urgent: first-hand stories about what happens when an extraordinary river runs dangerously short of water. To follow Armstrong and Wentsch on their cycle, visit: conservationamplified.org Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Last year for Shoebox Christmas in Tauranga After nearly a decade of helping bring joy to local children, the volunteers behind Tauranga Shoebox Christmas are preparing for their final year of the community initiative.

The registered charity is calling on the community to sign up as donors one last time, with 3000 local children expected to receive a shoebox filled with brand-new gifts this Christmas. Founded in 2017 by Belinda and Cy Messenger, with Claire O’Shaughnessy on board since 2019, Tauranga Shoebox Christmas identifies children facing hardship, via local schools and community organisations, and matches them with donors. Donors are allocated a child and provided with their age and gender, and where possible, information about their interests. Donors can fill and wrap a shoebox of gifts valued between $20 and $50, ahead of Christmas, for the child, or donate money for the organisation to do so. “For many children, the shoebox may be the only Christmas as gift they receive,” Messenger saaid. “While a shoebox of gifts may seem like a small gesture, it can really help create fond memories for children whose families are struggling and otherwise may go

without a gift at Christmas time.” Behind every shoebox is months of planning and co-ordination by a dedicated volunteer team. “Throughout the year we liaise with schools and organisations, co-ordinate donor registrations, organise drop-off locations, sort thousands of shoeboxes and deliver them across Tauranga in time for Christmas,” Messenger said.

Volunteers

The organisation relied entirely on volunteers and community generosity to make the project possible. Those unable to shop for a child can support the initiative by making a financial contribution through the charity’s Givealittle page, helping cover operating costs or purchase emergency shoeboxes. “Every year there are at least 200 shoeboxes that aren’t delivered and the Givealittle donations go towards making up the shortfall,” Messenger said. This year’s appeal is the final year of Tauranga Shoebox Christmas, she said. After nine years of co-ordinating the project, she said it is time for the volunteeer team to stand down. “It’s crazy to think that our first year was done from my kitchen table, on an excel sspreadsheet and my house filled with ovver 1000 shoebox presentts,” Messenger said. The charityy sought expressions p ons of interest int from people

Volunteers Belinda Messenger, Michelle Bosson and Claire O’Shaughnessy. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

willing to take over the initiative earlier this year. “But no one came forward. As a result, the 2026 campaign will be the last opportunity for the community to support Tauranga Shoebox Christmas in its current form.”

The charity encouraged anyone who’d like to take part this year, to register as a donor and begin collecting gifts in coming months. Starting early allowed people to spread the cost of filling a shoebox while helping ensure every child on the charity’s list receives a gift before Christmas, Messenger said.

Shoeboxes should contain only new items that fit inside a standard shoebox, with suggested gifts being books, toys, art supplies, clothing and everyday essentials. Food, cash and gift vouchers are not permitted. For the volunteers who’ve spent nine years spreading Christmas cheer one shoebox at a time, the hope is their final campaign will be one of their most successful, ensuring every child registered with the charity experiences the excitement of opening a gift chosen especially for them. To donate or register to fill a shoebox, visit: https://shoebox. Rosalie Liddle Crawford christmas/

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Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Club wins eight titles at roller skating nationals A Tauranga roller skating club has capped off a remarkable rise with its strongest national championships result yet.

Built through years of late nights and volunteer hours, a small community was determined to create opportunities where none existed. That journey took Te Moana-a-Toi Roller Skating Club from a handful of skaters in Tauranga to one of New Zealand’s most successful artistic roller skating clubs. The club recently took 19 skaters, aged 11 to 29, to the 2026 New Zealand Artistic Roller Skating National Championships and claimed eight national titles, five silver medals and nine bronze medals. Te Moana-a-Toi was also named the championships’ top-performing club for the second consecutive year. For founder and coach Sarah Jane Johnson, the success reflected years of sacrifice and dedication. She started the club less than five years ago after moving to Tauranga and finding eager roller skaters but no club to support them. It began with a small group as Johnson balanced coaching with raising her three young children. As her children grew older, she expanded the club, building partnerships with skating communities in Rotorua and Whakatāne.

The balance

Today the club runs six classes, with new sessions filling quickly.

Johnson believes artistic roller skating’s appeal lies in the balance of athleticism and creativity. “The girls love getting to skate with their friends and make little routines, and they don’t even realise they’re learning new skills and working hard.” Keeping the sport affordable remains a priority, with the volunteer-run club keeping costs low for families. “I won’t accept the idea that the first level of skating for fun can’t be for everybody.” Despite its success, the club has battled limited access to training venues. Many athletes travel hours each week to train at venues in Rotorua and Whakatāne due to a lack of suitable facilities in Tauranga.

next generation to the sport.

Next generation

Leading that next generation is 13-yearold Daisy Smith, who has already collected multiple national freestyle titles. Smith started skating six years ago after following her older sister into the sport. She trains about 12 hours a week across

five sessions. At this year’s national championships, h h she h won severall awards, d including the Junior Oscar for the best performance up to cadet level. Smith said nothing beats mastering a new skill. “I like landing a jump for the first time.” Her sights are now set beyond NZ, with a goal of World Championships Zoe Blake around the corner. Te Moana-a-Toi roller skater Sophie Moore, in front, frr returned to skating aft fter t more than a decade away. At back is club founder and coach Sarah Jane Johnson. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Cool in chaos

Johnson says those challenges have made her skaters more adaptable. “We function in such chaos. Our skaters, by the time they get to competitions, are just so ready to deal with whatever happens.” Among them is 26-year-old Sophie Moore, who returned to the sport after stepping away as a teenager. Joining Te Moana-a-Toi Roller Skating Club in 2024 brought her back with a single goal: qualifying for nationals. This year, she achieved it and finished on the podium. “I was just happy to be at Nationals. I didn’t care where my results were. I was more excited to be there for the experience.” She says skating offers an escape unlike anything else. “When I’m on skates, it’s like the whole world disappears and it’s just me and my skates.” Moore now coaches beginner skaters alongside Johnston, helping introduce the

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Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

New Tauranga history book uncovers y after Shipwrecks hidden beneath the sands of Matakana Island, immigrant sailing Released two years Early Maritime T Tauranga, ships battling fierce harbour currents and the remarkable resilience of Māori Volume One, Ben ntley’s traders after the 1864 invasion of Tauranga are among stories uncovered in Early Maritime T Tauranga: Pāpāmoa historian Dr Trevor Bentley’s latest book. A History of Vesseels, Visitors,

Residents and Eveents, Volume II, 1864-1900s iis his 11th published history book and continues the stoory of Tauranga Harbour from 1864 to 1900. The 486-page vvolume – about 100 pagess longer than the first – is richly illustrated with more m than 170 historic photographs, paintings and sketches, spread across eight sections and 58 chapters. Between the two volumes, Bentley published carried produce his 10th book to Auckland Te Kaewa – The throughout the Wanderers: Māori 1840s and 1850s Dr Trevor Bentley has published his 11th Sailors on Eurowas effectively book Early Maritime Tauranga: A History of ended. American Whalers, Vessels, Visitors, Residents and Events, Volume “The land1790s-1890s in II, 1864-1900s. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford January 2026. based economy Although continued, but publishing three substantial books within the ships had to be abandoned to rot on two years seems a formidable task, Bentley the beaches or in the backwaters of the said the process was simply the result of harbour,” Bentley said. always having more than one project on Very entreprenurial the go. Yet the story is not one of decline. “While I was researching and writing Instead, Bentley found repeated examples Volume One, I was collecting quite a bit

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 14 August 2026

buried shipwrecks and forgotten stories of Māori adapting to changing circumstances. With more than a thousand 1000 British troops stationed in the district in 1864 and several hundred thereafter, local communities redirected their efforts towards supplying fresh vegetables, fruit, honey, fish and cured meats to the military. By the 1870s, many had returned to building vessels for the coastal trade. “They were always very entrepreneurial,” he said. One of the book’s most intriguing sections explores Tauranga’s reputation as a challenging harbour for sailors. Long before GPS, modern charts and powerful engines, captains relied on landmarks, tides and experience to navigate the narrow entrance. Strong currents sweeping around Mauao and constantly shifting sandbars claimed dozens of vessels, Bentley said. He described the shoreline along Matakana Island as a historic historical “wrecking zone”, where schooners, cutters and steamers regularly ended their voyages. “What was interesting was that after two or three years the sand swallowed them completely,” he said. “They’re still there, a very rich site for archaeologists, I think.”

The Lady Jocelyn

Among the dramatic stories was the arrival of the Lady Jocelyn, a 2000-tonne immigrant sailing ship carrying settlers for Te Puke on New Year’s Day, 1881.

The beach at Tauranga on April 26, 1864, by E.A.Williams. Photo / 75/96 Hocken Pictorial Collections, Hocken Library, University of Otago, Dunedin.

Volume Two reached readers, Bentley had already turned his attention to his next project. His 12th book, Ngā Heremana Wāhine - Māori Women Seafarers on Euro-American Ships, 1790s–1890s, would explore the little-known stories of Māori women who travelled aboard whaling ships, merchant vessels and Royal Navy ships throughout the Pacific.

Second nature

For Bentley, researching one book while writing another had become second nature. For Tauranga readers, Bentley’s research would mean more forgotten chapters of the city’s past continue to surface – sometimes from dusty archives, and sometimes, quite literally, from beneath the sand.

Win with The Sun

Despite carrying full sail, the powerful tidal currents repeatedly forced the ship backwards before local steamers finally towed it safely to its anchorage, Bentley said. “At the time, it was the largest vessel ever to visit New Zealand,” he said. The book also recounts lesser-known local tragedies, including the loss of the cutter Oi, whose crew disappeared after the vessel was wrecked on Matakana Island. Search parties crossed the harbour in rough conditions, borrowed horses from local Māori and combed the length

of the beach, recovering only a few personal belongings. Bentley said much of his research came from digitised newspapers, the Alexander Turnbull Library, Auckland Libraries’ George Grey Collection and Tauranga’s own research collections. One mystery remains unsolved, he said. “I’ve yet to come across a detailed account by a Tauranga captain describing a single voyage,” he said. “Other researchers may yet find one.” Even before Early Maritime Tauranga,

The Weekend Sun has one copy of Trevor Bentley’s new book Early Maritime Tauranga: A History of Vessels, Visitors, Residents and Events, Volume II, 1864-1900s to give away to one reader who can tell us which island in Tauranga Moana was the site of the most shipwrecks? To enter, visit: www.sunlive.co.nz and click on the ‘competitions’ tab. Entries must be in by Tuesday, August 18. Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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13 Lions volunteer Oliver Adams reckons jigsaws are a popular time away from frr devices. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Break out the books and puzzles!

Every journey starts with a single step, according to a Chinese proverb.

The Tauranga Harbour City Lions Club’s annual journey – its signature book sale fundraiser at Tauranga Racecourse – started about three months ago with a single jigsaw puzzle and a few bargain reads, very cheap, quality, used books. Right now the Lions are cranking up for their 13th annual book sale, which will feature tens of thousands of books – fiction and nonfiction – and puzzles and jigsaws. So they’re appealing to us, to clear out our garages, attics and cluttered bookshelves to provide product for the sale. Contributions can be dropped off at Gull on Hewletts Rd, Wet & Forget at Bay Central on Chapel St, Woolworths at Bethlehem Town Centre, Caltex on Girven Rd, Z Energy on Eleventh Ave, Bunnings on Cameron Rd and Tony’s Tyres on Rakiraki Way in Tauriko. No magazines nor encyclopedias thank you. The number 271 is vaguely interesting because it’s the 58th prime number. However 271 is causing high excitement for the Lions and dissectologists, or jigsaw aficionados. That’s the number of puzzles in just one valuable stash unearthed by the club this year. 271 jigsaws? Hobby, passion or obsession? Because it’s one person’s contribution to the Lions’ book fair. “A bequest of sorts,” Lioness Christine Currie said. “A woman passed away in Cambridge and we were gifted her collection.” To give it context, the Lions last year had 900 jigsaw puzzles for sale at their annual November book fair at Tauranga Racecourse. It caused a buying frenzy when the sale began. Now, as the club processes contributions for

this year’s sale, it’s already one-third of the way towards that target. “But we can never have too many puzzles,” Currie said. “It takes several months to collect them all, then they fly out the door in just a few hours at the sale. And we can never have too many books.” A book you no longer need may be someone else’s treasure. It’s also exciting for the Cancer Society, which is the sole beneficiary of this year’s book fair. If 2025 was any guide, the fair raised about $70,000. All proceeds this year will go the society’s new $30 million, 40-room cancer patient lodge near Tauranga Hospital. So a book donated to, or bought at the sale, could be a small investment in your future wellbeing. A 1000-piece puzzle can take five to 12 hours to complete, a 2000-piece puzzle, days rather than hours. Complicate the process with something called a Wasgij where the puzzle is not the image on the box. You have to imagine what the characters on the box are looking at or experiencing. It’s a brainteaser puzzle with almost zero visual clues. And puzzlers love Wasgij. Because puzzles have become such a popular aspect of the sale, the Lions might give them a separate venue at the fair. The first day of the sale takes on Black Friday shopping madness, with crowds armed with shopping lists bursting through the doors. “Mayhem,” Lions volunteer Oliver Adams said. “Calm and respect would be nice,” he said. “If you can’t find a $4 book that may make you $100 when resold, find a good read and relax.” The Tauranga Harbour City Lions Club’s 2026 book and puzzle sale will be at the Tauranga Racecourse from November 6-8. Hunter Wells

Super cute Stan nley Stanley was one of four puppies brought to the SPCA shelter by a member of the public. However, he has unusual colouring and a solid frame. The puppies had a difficult start to life; found cold, alone and without their mother. Thanks to the care and time spent in a loving foster home, Stanley and his siblings have grown into happy, curious and affectionate pups ready to find their forever families. Foster care has helped Stanley get used to the sights and sounds of a home environment. But Stanley’s new family should be prepared to continue his learning journey with plenty of patience, positive reinforcement and guidance. Puppy training classes are highly recommended to help him develop good manners and strengthen his bond with his new people.

If you’re ready to welcome a playful, loving companion into your life and can provide the time, training and commitment a puppy needs, Stanley could be the perfect fit. Meet him today. Phone Tauranga SPCA on 07 578 0245. Ref: 670893.

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Friday 14 August 2026

Enrol to vote by October 25 About 3.6 million enrolment packs will be posted to enrolled voters from next week so they can check their details are up-to-date for the 2026 General Election on November 7. “When you get your pack, open it, and check your details are correct. The boundaries of many electorates have changed, so check your electorate too,” Electoral Commission chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne said. “The packs are being delivered from August 17-22. If you don’t get one in the mail, it means your address is out of date, or you’re not enrolled. More than 3.6 million people

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are enrolled already, Le Quesne said. “There are an estimated 440,000 people who are not enrolled, including approximately 200,000 18- to 24-year-olds. Talk to your whānau and friends and make sure everyone is enrolled by October 25 so they can vote,” he said. “You can enrol or update your address online at: vote.nz using your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity. “You can also enrol or update your address using a paper enrolment form. Call 0800 36 76 56 or text your name and address to 3676 to have a form sent to you. Calls and texts are free.”

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The lady behind

Muralist Millie Pidwell uses a Virtual Reality headset to help create her stunning murals. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

It’s easy to look at a vibrant mural, say: “Nice!” and keep walking by. But have you ever stopped and wondered about the lengths taken to create the incredible artworks? Tauranga’s Millie Pidwell has just marked three years as a fulltime muralist, and one piece of equipment she uses in her artistic process may not be what you’d expect. To scale up her designs on

all sorts of arts, from painting, poetry, singing, drama – you name it! “I’ve been creating for my whole life, and I went to Toi Ohomai of Technology to study the Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts. That was back when I was in my early twenties, so I’ve always been an artist and always loved to paint.” Before using VR, Pidwell used a regular projector to mark up her murals, which meant she’d have to wait until nightfall. “[With VR] you can use it during the

walls, the 34-year-old uses a Virtual Reality headset. Wearing the headset, Pidwell can see the real world around her and digital projections of her art designs in a VR world. “The VR headset is essentially a projector,” said Pidwell. “It’s amazing technology and then I just get my pencil and draw around shapes, and then the rest is hand-painted from sight.” Pidwell said she’d been creative ever since she can remember, with family members involved in

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Friday 14 August 2026

so many meaningful murals day and get into tricky wall areas …so that’s been a real game-changer.”

Scaling up

Cleverly combining VR technology and her talent for painting, Pidwell was able to create her largest mural to date – Tauranga Tiahuia – located at Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre, which features Tauranga-based Black Ferns Sevens player and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hirini. Completed in 2024, Pidwell said: “I’m proud of that mural because it pushed me to do something really largescale, which is something I had always dreamed about doing. “It was 90 square metres, very visible to the public … and represents someone doing incredible things for our community and for New Zealand.” Pidwell said she always does an in-depth scope of the space she’ll be workking on fi first, to know wh hat equipment she requires. “Generally, if [a site] is over three metres, four metres high at most, then I’ll be using a

them, so I will also paint and specialise artwork to what feels special to someone and their space.” Her signature piece on Tauranga’s TSB Bank features bright pohutukawa and fantails mid-flight. g “My work is also vvery vibrant with lots oof very vibrant fun ccolours.” Signature traits Pidwell said The first mural bringing murals to b Pidwell painted llife for schools was was a smaller-scale, aalways among her interactive piece ffavourite projects. created 11 years ago SShe’s painted for 13 with graphic designer sschools and learning Tara Fowler known ccentres in the region. Millie Pidwell,, pictured agged 2. as Wings to Fly. It ““The murals that I Photo / Supplied has become an iconic paint for schools are photo backdrop along to The Strand in really special because it brings so much Tauranga CBD. joy, sense of belonging and pride to the Since then, Pidwell slowly honed her students, teachers and the communities craft and today has painted murals of the schools.” across many Bay sch hoolls and d busiinesses Pidwell worked for creative agencies and brought to life public art projects. “I and as a gallery curator before starting love painting tui, pīwakawaka [fantail] her business Murals by Millie in 2023. and kereru. Often people have a “I didn’t know this was going to be my bird that feels special to fulltime job painting murals. I knew that I wanted to be a fulltime artist one day and after painting Wings to Fly I did paint another couple of murals and could see the potential.”

scissor lift mostly and then otherwise it’s a stepladder and then I will always bring things like drop sheets to protect the ground. “My husband Zane often works with me or helps me to problem-solve. He’s a builder by trade so we work as a team a lot, which is quite amazing.

The future

Millie’s largest mural is Tauranga Tiahuia at Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre which covers 90 sq m. Photo / Supplied

Making magnificent murals wasn’t without battles, however. “When you’re working outside, you’re always having to check what the weather’s doing. I don’t like working in the rain or too much

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Millie Pidwell creating a vibrant mural at SUB10 Training and Recovery in Te Puke. Photo / Supplied

wind for safety reasons.” Rain and freshly painted murals also don’t mix wel. “The last mural I did, some rain caused some of the paint to drip off the wall and I had to start that section again. So that’s just a challenge that’s out of your control, and I’ve just got to get more accepting and patient with the weather.” Her future hope is to take her murals further afield. “I think painting a mural in a different city would be pretty exciting one day and painting bigger walls that have lots of impact. “You get to enjoy it, and I get to challenge myself. I just want to keep painting meaningful work for communities and keep doing what I do. I just love it.” Follow Pidwell’s work at: https:// muralsbymillie.com Georgia Minkhorst

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Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Callout for volunteers to join Bird of Year comp takes fll flight next month

A team of volunteers helping keep an eye on some of Tauranga’s busiest southern suburbs needs more people to join them. The Tauranga South Community Patrol acts as an “eyes and ears” role for police, with volunteers regularly travelling a 70km circuit through Greerton CBD, Gate Pā, Merivale, Welcome Bay, Maungatapu, Ohauiti, Pyes Pā and the Lakes business area to keep watch. Any suspicious activity and other concerns are reported to police, providing a valuable crime-prevention presence day and night. Based in Greerton, Tauranga South Community Patrol has about 25 active patrollers with about 30 volunteers, including people who help with fundraising and other activities. Chair Maureen Kathan said more volunteers were needed. “We are very proud of our volunteers, who give up many hours of their time to not only patrol day and night but also support other fundraising activities as well as events in the local area,” she said. Kathan said volunteering with the patrol was a practical way to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of the local community. “We welcome new members, and the ideal candidate would be

The country’s native manu (birds) will be standing for office next month when polls open for 2026’s Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau | Bird of the Year competition.

From left: Tauranga South Community Patrol volunteers Vince Bethell, Dave Meyer, Wayne Price, Jude Price, Maureen Kathan and Theresa Meyer with their patrol vehicle outside Greerton Police Station. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

between the ages of 18 and 70.” New volunteers, after being vetted, completed training online and via local sessions, often run by police. During their first three months, new recruits go out on patrol with two experienced patrollers, gradually learning the protocols and skills needed to become a full patroller. “It is a rewarding and sometimes exciting opportunity to serve the community,” Kathan said. The patrol had a dedicated community patrol vehicle – a 2020 MG ZS Excite – which was

funded through community and business support. To join Tauranga South Community Patrol or find out how to support its work, phone 0220 974 681 during business hours or visit: tscp.org.nz. For those living outside the Tauranga South patrol area, three fellow patrol groups are based around the city at Pāpāmoa, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga North (previously Bethlehem Community Patrol). To find more about these patrols, visit: cpnz. org.nz.

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The annual competition will find the nation’s favourite native bird out of 70-plus candidates, via public polling from September 4-20. Forest & Bird’s group manager, growing support, Rebecca Hatch said as well as competing as individually, the birds had been grouped into parties. “Every vote cast for a bird will also count towards its party’s total, so we’ll discover in 2026 not only which bird wins Bird of the Year, but which flock claims the top perch.” The call is going out for campaign managers to give each of the manu (bird) the platform it deserved. Interested campaign managers can apply on the Forest & Bird website. “Last year, every single bird found a volunteer human to make memes and make noise for their cause. We’re hoping to repeat that this year,” Hatch said. The six parties standing in 2026 are: Sea Birds and Tree Birds – the ocean-goers versus the forest chorus; Shore Birds and Floor Birds – the water bloc versus the flightless battlers; and Shy Birds and High Birds – the quiet caucus versus the high living. Hatch said more than 80% of New Zealand’s native birds were in some or serious trouble. “Bird of the Year is the funny part – the real work behind it is predator control, habitat restoration, and a louder voice for nature.” Hatch said every vote puts a bird in the spotlight “and every bird in the spotlight is a bird more people will care about and fight for,” Hatch said. “That is the whole point.” Voting is free and open to all at: birdoftheyear.org.nz from September 4-20. Each voter can vote for up to five birds. The winner will be announced September 21.

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Friday 14 August 2026

17 7

Frosts, fruit-set an nd spriing prep!

I’m smiling. Finally, the cold weather has come!

My relief is shared with every deciduous tree from Te Puna to Te Puke, every apricot to quince, that has been silently accumulating “chill hours”. These hours measure time spent below a certain temperature, used to predict bud and fruit set, and indicate yield and therefore bellies fed. With 207 chill hours so far, those of us with a Santa Rosa plum can smile – we’re in for a good fruit set. My advice for all things gardening is: select success. Select cultivars needing 500 or less. Generally, peaches, nectarines and Japanese plums outperform apples and apricots, which, in turn, trump most cherries, European plums and pears. Not only do I count chill hours in anticipation of mouth-watering plums, but also daylight hours in anticipation of spring’s new growth. The days

have been getting longer for the past seven weeks. k It’s’ invigorating to savour the moment when the entire system begins waking, as all plants turn more sunlight into sugars, and these sugars break down into more energy. August is the month that rewards optimism. “Spring will be sprung,” intoned Grandma, as gardening days were divvied up between duties of pruning, weeding and compost spreading. Seed potatoes were sprouted in the hot water cabinet and planted outside a couple of weeks later. Frost protection took the form of simply covering the tender new shoots with more soil. The best inputs are basic: blood and bone or chicken compost, gypsum, potash and humates. The bigger plant is one started earlier. Growing inside for a wee bit ensures your tomatoes, zucchinis and capsicums carry more

fruit. Prep paring in August makes all the diff fferencee, and ff d time spent in the garden now is an n investment in the moonths ahead. Growing inside for a wee bit en nsures your tomatoess, zucchinis and capsiicums carry moree fruit. frr Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Look out for monarchs this winter Gardeners are asked to keep a lookout for tagged monarch butterflies or clusters of the insect overwintering and report sightings to a national advocacy trust.

The Moths and Butterflies New Zealand Trust has been undertaking a citizen science project for the last two years to learn about the monarch butterfly’s overwintering practices by tagging them. The trust said tagging the butterflies did not hurt them – and it appealed to gardeners to keep an eye for the insect in their backyards. The trust urged people to report sightings of tagged monarchs – or clusters of the insect overwintering. “When weather gets cooler, and the days get shorter, monarch butterflies, although sexually mature, go into diapause,” the trust said on its Facebook page. “This means they will not breed. They are the ones that look for overwintering sites, clustered together in sheltered locations. Then survivors return to our gardens in the spring to start a new

A cluster of monarch butterflies overwintering. Photo / Kathy Reid

generation of monarchs.” To report sightings, visit: www.inaturalist.nz/projects/ nz-monarch-butterfly-overwintering To find out more about monarch butterflies, see: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz

Free composting workshops

Tauranga City Council is hosting free composting workshops at its library next month – but registration is essential. Funded through the Waste Levy provided to councils by the Ministry for the Environment for waste minimisation education, the workshops will be run by Tessa Papadopoulos from Roots Regeneration. The free, hands-on workshops will show participants how simple it can be to turn everyday food scraps into healthy compost for their gardens. Whether completely new to composting or looking for a simpler approach that works for their household, this workshop will help participants build

confidence and understand the foundations of successful home composting. Participants will learn what goes where (compost, food scraps bin, and rubbish), simple composting options for home, understanding greens and browns, how to avoid common composting issues, practical kitchen food scrap set-ups, how composting can work alongside the council’s food scraps service, and five top home composting tips for success. The workshops will be at Tauranga City Library on September 5, Greerton Library on September 12 and Pāpāmoa Library on September 19. To register, visit: https://events. humanitix.com/host/te-aomarama-tauranga-city-libraries

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Vintage car club’s Daffodil Car Show & Rally fundraiser returns! Bay of Plenty’s vintage and classic vehicles owners are invited to dust off their four-wheeled beauties for this month’s Daffodil Car Show & Rally for Cancer on Sunday, August 23, in Tauranga for a good local cause. The Bay of Plenty Vintage & Classic Car Club has hosted the annual fundraiser for the local Bay of Plenty/Waikato Cancer Society at its Cliff Rd clubrooms since 2017. August 23 is the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand’s National Day, which means hundreds of vehicles will be on the road or on display around Aotearoa – including Tauranga – to raise money for each local club’s NZ Cancer Society branch. Here in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty Vintage & Classic Car Club will host a huge public car show and rally on August 23 for the local Bay of Plenty/Waikato branch of the Cancer Society. BOPVCCC members Trevor and Raewyn Hughes have coordinated the event for the last three years – this year they’ve handed the steering

wheel to volunteer Hanna Peters. Peters said their main goal for the Tauranga event remained the same – to raise as much as possible for the local Bay of Plenty/Waikato branch of the Cancer Society. “We want as many people as possible to bring their vehicles along and enter the display and/or rally – everyone is welcome, no matter what kind of vehicle you drive!” Peters said. “We also invite the community to come along and view the public car show – it’s a fun, family-friendly day out for young and old!” Peters said vintage and classic vehicle owners don’t have to be part of any car club to join the car show or rally – all are welcome. “A classic car is any car older than 30 years, so all pre-1995 vehicles are eligible,” Peters said.

Raewyn Hughes encourages people and cars to get along to the Daffodil Car Show & Rally for Cancer on August 23. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Gates to the club, at 29 Cliff Rd, Tauranga, open 8.30am on August 23 for cars to assemble – and vehicles need to be in position by 9.45am for the car show. The public are invited to the car show from 10am until midday. This year, Peters said the vehicle entry fee is $20 each. “The $20 will get each car owner entry to display their vehicle at the show, entry to the vehicle rally and afternoon tea. There will be cash and Eftpos facilities at the gate.” The event’s drawcards would include rocker cover racing, and a special display of yellow coloured vehicles in front of the clubrooms. Those who just want to peruse the car show, public entry is via gold coin donation. “People should know that we will section off part of the Cliff Rd carpark so there will be heaps of public car parking,” Peters said. This year the event’s theme is yellow – and the aim is to get as many yellow vehicles along as possible to higghligght that all proceeds raised will go to the Bay of Plenty/Waikato branch

of the Cancer Society. “But we welcome all classic and vintage vehicles along,” Peters said. “If you’ve got a car that isn’t yellow, we still want owners to bring them along – maybe they could hang something yellow on the front passenger seat? Or along the dashboard?” The public car show from 10am to midday is a familyfriendly, fun affair – so rally the wife, hubby, kids, grandkids, grandparents – everyone – to come along! “There will be tea, coffee, scones, sandwiches and savouries available for purchase, plus a sausage sizzle, coffee cart, popcorn and donuts.” For those who want to be part of the afternoon rally – vintage, classic or your everyday car – there’s a 12.30pm briefing and the rally will begin soon after for all cars. “This year’s rally will take participants on a drive through both urban and rural landscapes for about 1.5 hours,” Peters said. “It will conclude at the BOPVCCC clubrooms, where participants will receive their

afternoon tea and find out if they were a winner in any of the raffles and spot prize draws,” Peters said. Extra passengers cost $5 each for the afternoon tea. Peters said she wanted to see as many people as possible bring their cars to the show, view the show and join the rally because it contributed to a good collection for the cause. “All takings will be passed on to the local Bay of Plenty/ Waikato Cancer Society,” Peters said. “This year’s focus is to fundraise for transport costs, getting patients to and from their treatments in Hamilton.” Find out more about the event at: www. bayofplentyvintagecarclub. com For those who can’t make it on August 23 but still want to support the cause, BOPVCCC has created an online fundraising page to donate funds to the local Bay of Plenty/Waikato branch of the Cancer Society. To donate online,, visit: https://ww www ww.daffodilday.org. w nz/t/bay-of-plenty-vcc

Come Join Us 10.00am-12.00pm ● 29 Cliff Road, Tauranga A public car display at the BOP Vintage & Classic Car Club grounds Sausage Sizzle ● Coffee Cart ● Food Trucks Rocker Cover Racing Followed by the Daffodil Day Rally Gold coin donation for public viewing.

$20.00 per car to enter Includes car display, car rally, prize draws and a scrumptious afternoon tea for two. Extra people $5.00 per person. Rally briefing at 12.30pm with departure at 1.00pm.

All funds raised to be donated to our local Cancer Society.

Julian Matthews with his 1968 Mercury Cougar and David Couchman with his 1975 Austin Mini. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Event Contact: Hanna Peters - bopdaffodilrally@gmail.com

This page proudly sponsored by Ultimate Motor Group are contributing $50 for each new vehicle sold in the month of August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Friday 14 August 2026

Big shows, bold sounds and brilliant stories at Baycourt During the next few months, Baycourt will be packed with memorable live experiences, said Reena Snook, Baycourt community and arts centre manager.

“From inspiring speakers and symphonic spectaculars to world-class theatre, chamber music and a city-wide celebration of the arts, Baycourt is the place to be.” First up, EPIC Families LIVE brings together parents, caregivers, educators and professionals for a day of connection, learning and encouragement. “Featuring leading experts and advocates, the event offers practical guidance while creating a welcoming space where families can feel understood and supported,” Snook said. At the end of August, audiences can choose between two very different musical experiences. The acclaimed Aroha String Quartet offers an intimate evening of exceptional chamber music, while Third Space Symphony No.2 returns following last year’s sold-out debut. “Across two nights, beloved pop, rock and disco favourites will be reimagined with the power of a full symphony orchestra, all in support of Waipuna Hospice.” September sees Tauranga Musical Theatre bring the global phenomenon Wicked to Baycourt. “Showcasing outstanding local talent, this spectacular production tells the

Baycourt will be anything but empty this month and next – with a chock-full schedule of events lined up. Photo / Supplied

untold story of the witches of Oz through unforgettable music, dazzling stagecraft and a powerful story of friendship,” Snook said. Then from October 22 to November 1, the Tauranga Arts Festival 2026 will

transform the city with 10 days of theatre, music, comedy, literature and visual arts. Highlights include internationally acclaimed circus sensation Machine de Cirque, alongside a diverse programme designed to entertain,

challenge and inspire. “Whatever takes your fancy, gather your friends and whānau and join us at Baycourt, where extraordinary live experiences bring our community together.”

WHAT’S ON

TALK

MUSIC

THEATRE

FESTIVAL

EPIC FAMILIES LIVE

THIRD SPACE SYMPHONY NO.2

WICKED

TAURANGA ARTS FESTIVAL

Date: Sunday 16 August Time: 1pm Location: Addison Theatre

Date: 28 & 29 August Time: 7:30pm Location: Various Venues

Date: Thursday 17 September to Saturday 3 October Location: Addison Theatre

Date: Thursday 22 October to Sunday 1 November Location: Various Venues

Extraordinary parents. Incredible children. Join New Zealand’s biggest event for neurodiverse families, with expert speakers, practical strategies and a supportive community. Leave inspired, informed and ready to raise your gamechanger.

After a sold-out debut, Third Space Symphony returns for two unforgettable nights. Experience legendary pop, rock and disco hits reimagined with a full symphony orchestra, all while supporting Waipuna Hospice.

Experience the magic of Oz with Tauranga Musical Theatre’s spectacular production of Wicked. Featuring outstanding local talent, this beloved musical celebrates friendship, courage and discovering what it truly means to be good.

Celebrate ten extraordinary days of theatre, music, comedy, literature and more at Tauranga Arts Festival 2026. Don’t miss international sensation Machine de Cirque alongside an unforgettable line-up of creative experiences.

For our full list of shows or more information VISIT BAYCOURT.CO.NZ OR CALL US ON 07 577 7188

Friday 14 August 2026

The Weekend Sun

Jazz a plenty in n Tauranga Let’s have a jazz week. Why not? And let’s start in the driest possible way. Apologies in advance.

Across No. 1997 7. Halfway (12) 6. Native birds (4) 8. Town (SI) (6) 11. Travel fast (8) 9. Troubled (6) 13. Cuddle (8) 10. Shy (7) 14. Friendly (7) 12. Colour (5) 17. Single (5) 15. Pretend (5) 19. Promise (4) 16. Repetition (7) 21. Fashion (4) 18. Beach (NI) (6) C O N F E S T S I M A A H A S P O N T A N E O U S M 20. Fruit (6) O L A M P T H S 22. Previous All Black SZ ET US OT EE M A T H E S O N captain (5,7) E E D W D P G C X E M R T G R E E N S G H A R D E N Down Y E L A OWG T O I A T O 1. Close (8) S C A R E D G F U M B L E A L T A I A G R T U I U K 2. Lift (4) K I H I K I H I I T A C T 3. Threatening (7) Z M P N E N I D I A O I K 4. Smell (5) A B A C K T R A C K E D M 5. Racecourse (NI) F S T H E Y E Y O A T E R Solution 1996 (8)

The Tauranga Jazz Society is having its annual meeting on August 27. I hear a few committee people have stepped down so if you’re excited by Easter’s spectacular festival or just feel you can help make Tauranga a more jazzy city, you might want to get involved. The AGM is via Zoom, but if you’re interested, email: admin@jazz. org.nz. Or, alternatively, head to the monthly jazz jam at The Mount Tavern – previously The Mount Social Club – taking place the previous night, Wednesday, August 26. As far as such jam nights go this is one I can’t recommend highly enough. At the July iteration, the house band was drummer Jeff Baker, keyboard wiz Liam Ryan, bassist Leith Milson, and the extraordinary Trevor Braunias on guitar. My advice for any young players is to get over there as quickly as possible and grab the chance to play with these great musicians. It’ll be a memory you have forever.

There’s more

There’s more jazz in the next fortnight...The Barrel Room is into the final weeks of its Wharf Street Winter Sessions, with jazz on the street Friday evenings finishing August 21. They have been a treat. But Saturday night jazz will still be happening at 6pm, with the classy likes of Take Three, Lucky Strike

and Duende playing. Everyy band I’ve seen there has been an absolute winner. Also next week, on August 21, there’s another Black Coffee session at the Tauranga Club. This month h it’s blues veterans Joanne Melbourne and Mike Garner who join forces with multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lavën and bassist Grant Willis to celebrate remarkable women who shaped the blues, with songs from such legends as Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, and Big Mama Thornton.

Busy bands

Andrew and Kirsten London. Photo / Kirsten London

Moving sideways, I realise I keep describing bands as the “busiest in the country”. Andrew London is another contender. Once leader of swing band Hot Club Sandwich, he is constantly combining with various musicians to tour and play, from country group The Cattlestops, to Too Many Chiefs with Wellington duo Legal Tender, and all sorts of jazz combos doing Sinatra nights, swing nights, everything. But his main gig is under his own name, usually a duo with his bass-playing singer wife Kirsten plus sometimes an additional horn player. Again, they are tremendously busy, playing cafés, theatres, clubs, house concerts, you name it. They’re well-

known here and regular visitors to the Bay; the next time they are here will be October 16 at Katikati’s Arts Junction. Meantime, Andrew has a new album out. Many of you will be excited by this, and with good reason. It’s Set Me Up By The Bar and is impressive stuff, with Andrew’s consistently astonishing lyrics backed by a coterie of Wellington’s finest. But if you want it, buy it. It’s not on Spotify so it’s downloads or CDs. Go to Bandcamp or Andrew’s website – you won’t regret it. I will review it properly when they come to town.

Hear Winston’s Latest Playlist Scan the QR code, or visit:

www.tinyurl.com/y4kpea4z

Events for Family History Month

With August being Family History Month, libraries are inviting the public to workshops to find out more about their whanau. Western Bay of Plenty Libraries is hosting a Creating a Home Archive at Te Ara Mātauranga Waihī Beach Library & Service Centre on August 22 from 9am-midday. The public are invited to attend to hear from in-house archivist Sandra MEDIUM

SUDOKU 1

No.2351

7 8 2 5 5 9 3 1 2 6 4 9 6 1 5 6 9 5 2 9 2 6 1 8 How to solve Sudoku!

Fill the grid so that every row and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9

Solution No.2350

8 9 6 4 1 7 2 5 3 3 8 1 6 7 4 9 2 5 5 6 2 7 4 9 1 3 8

1 5 3 6 2 9 8 4 7 2 6 4 3 9 5 7 8 1 9 3 8 5 1 6 4 7 2

2 4 7 3 5 8 9 6 1 5 7 9 1 8 2 4 3 6 7 1 4 8 2 3 6 9 5

Haigh and librarian Rhiannon Myers, about how to preserve precious family taonga for future generations. Numbers are limited, so registration is essential. Email: sandra.haigh@westernbay.govt.nz Pāpāmoa Library is hosting a free Genealogy Drop-in session on August 28 from 10am-midday. The session hosted, by local genealogy experts, will assist people with their family research. Attendees are invited to bring their laptop and any information they’ve collected; just turn up.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 14 August 2026

An Afternoon f with DEBORAH WAI KAPOHE Stories Stor St S r ie s - S Songs o ng s - C Connection onnecti tion i SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 3PM AT THE CARGO SHED

The Inachord Singers Tauranga will host an aft fternoon t of stories, conversation and music on August 23. Photo / Frame & Motion Collective

We invite you to celebrate togetherness through music and conversation, with stories from Deborah’s impressive international career, complemented by songs from both Deborah and Inachord Singers Tauranga.

Enjjoyy an aft E ffternoon t off connection i to music and community

A local women’s chorus is inviting the Tauranga community to experience an afternoon of stories, conversation and music, all while supporting a local charity.

Rather than presenting a traditional choir concert, Inachord Singers Tauranga will host An Afternoon with Deborah Wai Kapohe at The Cargo Shed on Sunday, August 23, from 3pm. Inachord Singers Tauranga team leader Nardia Lloyd-Ashton said the aim of the afternoon is to bring people together through music, conversation and shared experiences. “This event isn’t just another traditional choir concert. It’s an afternoon of stories, conversation, reflection and music in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and afternoon tea.” Southland soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe, who has previously worked with Inachord’s musical director Dr Dan Ieremia, will share her musical journey through conversation and performance. She will perform as a soloist and alongside the choir in a programme featuring new arrangements of familiar favourites alongside uplifting

contemporary works, Lloyd-Ashton said. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have Deborah joining us. She has performed internationally across opera, musical theatre, contemporary Māori music, arts festivals, concerts and recitals, yet she’s also wonderfully generous in sharing the experiences and lessons that have shaped her journey.” The afternoon will include reflections by choir members, opportunities for the audience to sing together, homemade afternoon tea, and a raffle supporting local charity Good Neighbour. “We’ll donate all raffle proceeds, along with a portion of ticket sales, to Good Neighbour. They’re a wonderful Bay of Plenty organisation that strengthens our community through practical support, meaningful relationships and genuine connection.” Lloyd-Ashton said the event would reflect Inachord’s broader vision of creating experiences that enrich the community. “We genuinely want to bring people together, spark conversation, and remind one another of the goodness that exists around us. We hope people leave feeling not only inspired by the music, but more connected to their community and

Nationwide wild goat hunt on

Hybrid fitness race in city

Those interested in hunting wild goats across the nation can enter their catch in national competition until November. The 2026 National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is open to hunters and landowners from August 1 to November 26. Run by the Department of Conservation, the competitions aims to contribute to a nationwide effort to reduce wild goat numbers. Hunter don’t need to register, they only need to hunt safely, legally and ethically and have required permits or landowner permission. With their catch, hunters need to take eligible goat heads or tails to an official entry location – in Tauranga this is the Hunting & Fishing store at Bethlehem. There are a range of prizes to be won for senior and junior hunters as well as landowner prizes. For more information, visit: www.doc.govt.nz/news/events/ national-events/national-wild-goathunting-competition

A race designed by athletes, for athletes, is happening in Tauranga next month. Surge Hybrid Fitness Race has been created by New Zealand’s elite hybrid athletes in collaboration with fitness event organiser Discipline Games. The event is on September 13 at Mercury Baypark, Mount Mounganui, from 8am-5pm. The unique hybrid fitness race format will offer four categories – solo, men’s pairs, women’s pairs, and mixed pairs. Pairs run together and split stations how they wish. The minimum age for solo is 16, and the required age for pairs is 14 if paired with an adult aged 18-plus, otherwise both participants must be 16-plus. Athletes will tackle challenging workout stations in high-energy, race-day atmosphere that will push physical and mental limits and test each individual’s fitness. Registration closes September 6. Find out more at: https://events. barefootsport.co.nz/event/2526

to one another.” An Afternoon with Deborah Wai Kapohe is on August 23 at 3pm at The Cargo Shed, Tauranga CBD. Tickets cost $25 waged, $20 unwaged online at Humanitix or on the door. Under 12s gain free entry.

MORE INFO

Fundraising for

Julie 021 0252 6805 inachordemail@gmail.com BOOK ONLINE & SAVE 10% USE CODE: TH3 SUN *Up to 5 tickets per order

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recently departed

deaths CATTLEY, Eileen Isabella. (née Laurent) 19 July 1945 – 31 July 2026 Passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Deeply loved wife of the late Ian Cattley. Cherished sister of Noel, Ann, Janet, and Ian. Devoted mother of Angela Clayton and Robert Twomey, and mother-in-law of Tony Clayton. Cherished Granny of Kristina and Darren, and treasured Great-Granny of Evlynn and Zoey. Friend of Jim Twomey. Much-loved Aunty of Laura and Mark. She will be fondly remembered for her warmth, kindness, quick wit, and cheeky sense of humour. A memorial service to celebrate Eileen's life will be held at Hope Family Funerals, 2A Loop Road, Te Puna, at 1.00pm on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. In accordance with Eileen's wishes, please wear bright colours or florals. No black. The family would like to sincerely thank the Waipuna Hospice care team for their compassion, support, and care. Donations to Waipuna Hospice in Eileen's memory and in recognition of the wonderful care she received, would be greatly appreciated and may be made online at: https://waipunahospice. org.nz/donate/. Messages to the Clayton family, c/- Hope Family Funerals, 2A Loop Road, RD 6, Tauranga 3176 or on hopefunerals.co.nz.

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Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard AGM

Sunday 16th August 2026 at 2 pm at Waihi Beach Coastguard Headquarters, Bowentown Agenda • Apologies • Obituaries • Confirmation of 2025 General Meetings’ Minutes • Presidents’ Reports • Financial Officer's Reports • Election of Officers • General Business All welcome Joanne Curd, Secretary Ph 027 5200 727 admin@waihibeachcoastguard.co.nz

TECT Community Trust – 2026 Election Nomination of Trustees The TECT Community Trust (TECT) is administered by six Trustees, three of whom retire by rotation this year. Nominations are sought for the election of three Trustees to hold office for the next four years. Retiring Trustees can stand for re-election if they choose. The Trustees retiring by rotation are Kate Barry-Piceno, Mark Arundel and Peter Blackwell. Peter Blackwell has confirmed he will not be seeking re-election. To stand for election a candidate must be entered on the parliamentary electoral roll with an address in the TECT District (in Tauranga City or Western Bay of Plenty District Council areas). A nomination form and candidate handbook are available by request from the election helpline on 0800 666 937 or email to vote@electionz.com, by visiting the TECT office at The Kollective, 145 Seventeenth Ave, Tauranga, or from www.tect.org.nz Nominations must be in the hands of the Independent Returning Officer no later than 12 noon on Friday 28 August 2026. Candidate Information Meeting If you would like to learn more about TECT and what is involved in being a trustee, you are invited to attend a candidate information meeting.

www.sunlive.co.nz Click on Funeral Notices

When: 6pm, Wednesday, 19 August 2026 Where: The Kollective, 145 17th Avenue, Tauranga 3112 RSVP: Email info@tect.org.nz or phone 07 578 5094

When there is a Will, there is a way to help life live on.

If a voting process is required to determine the Trustees it will be carried out by online voting. Voting credentials will be mailed to electors within the Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District Council areas on 25 September with voting closing on 23 October 2026.

Leaving a gift to BCFNZ in your Will can make a real diﬀerence.

Warwick Lampp Independent Returning Oﬃcer Phone: 0800 666 937 vote@electionz.com

For more information breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/bequests 0800 902 732

Churches Active In Our Community

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EVANS RD COMMUNITY CHURCH, PAPAMOA v d h . an r h r a a il r i

ST ANDREWS

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Family Friendly, All Welcome

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Lifezone 7 Oak Lane, Tauranga Shabbat (Sat) 10am or Youtube live @10am

Shalom

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office@bethel.org.nz BethEl.org.nz Assembly of God

Enquiries 022 632 5957

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