Issuu

Te Kai Whakarongo

NBASKER ROAST

Celebrating the 10th A Taste of Matarangi Festival

SPEEDING IN PARADISE

ew Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing roared through its final round for the 2025 season and Espresso Engineers (pictured above), powering through the waters of Mercury Bay, was technically declared the overall winner across all six rounds of the Superboat Class for 2025.

“Our powerboat racing organisation loves coming to Whitianga”, said John Redwood, Race Officer for the day.

“It is such a good circuit, large areas of calm but also some big

holes in the swells. The racing is not just about speed but also about boat handling skills. This is a very good circuit and with the stunning geographical location, we have a clear view of all our boats.”

The other aspect which was mentioned by the participants and organisers was their appreciation of the way the Thames Coromandel District Council facilitated the event

“There are a lot of health and safety checks and regulations to attend to for such a sport,”

says John. “The Council has guided us through these. In addition, we have a paramedic and a diver on a boat stationed out near the race course and there are six patrol boats out on the water to assist any of the boats. We are encouraged by the support we receive and the community shows a lot of interest.”

It was easy to see how convenient the Buffalo Beach Reserve is for parking boats and cars. There were about 14 boats racing on Sunday as a few

withdrew on Saturday due to technical difficulties. The visually favourite “Rainbow” had to pull out during the Sunday race.

There are five different classes of boats participating in the season’s competition and the classes compete amongst themselves. All the boats start and finish in the same racing route but are competing within their class. Each race is exactly half an hour, so is not based on distance laps.

John explained the race technology

“Each boat has its own GPS sensor which beams the information up to the satellite. This is all collected by a person in the South Island and a minute after the races finish, we have all the timing information from every boat.”

The classes competing over this last weekend were Sports 80km/hr class, (Equal first Superstitious and Fury); 140 class (Winner – Goldship); 200 class (Winner – Blue Pill); 300 class (Winner – Equaliser), and the Superboat class.

What’s that Number?

Emergency 24 (Ambulance,hours Fire, Police) 111

Police (Whitianga) 866 4000

Police (Tairua) 864 8888

Police (Coromandel Town)

................................... 866 1190

Fight crime anonymously –

Call Crime Stoppers

0800 555 111

Dog and Noise Control

868 0200

Civil Defence 868 0200

Coromandel Town Medical Centre .................. 866 8500

Mercury Bay Medical Centre (Whitianga) 866 5911

Tairua Medical Centre 864 8737

Thames Medical Centre 868 9444

Need to talk?

Call/text anytime for support from a trained counsellor 1737

Harbourmaster (Waikato Regional Council) 0800 800 402

Coastguard Radio Ops ................................. 866 2883

Whitianga Social Services 866 4476

Whitianga Locksmith 027 446 6921

Whiti City Cabs 07 866 4777

Whitianga Car Hire 07 866 2226

Go Kiwi Shuttles

0800 446 549 Barrier Air 0800 900 600

A great summer for the young people of Te Tihi Nui Trust

These special needs young people say Thank You and we say Thank you to them. They add a lot to the spirit of our community.

BY REBECCA SIMPSON AND THERESA COLLINSJOHNSON

The community of Whitianga is very fortunate to have the Te Tihi Nui Trust. The Trust is administered by a small group of community members and parents and friends who believe in providing young adults who have different needs, with a stimulating, caring environment in which they can thrive and belong. In addition, the Trust provides opportunities for the young adults to enjoy wider experiences and also give back to their community. All of the young adults have different levels of difficulty but all of them also have skills and qualities which they long to offer in some kind of employment.

Those able to do this are ready and willing and the caregivers ensure their success.

We thank the local businesses and community members who already contribute a great deal to the work of the Trust through the offering of experiences through their business free of charge and adults giving their time and skills

on a regular basis.

Last year a new building was erected and opened by the Trust. It is situated in Albert Street, Whitianga – a centre for these young adults, to enjoy a place to gather socially as well as a point of contact for the wider community.

This was a great summer for the young adults of the trust with a special thank you to Glass Bot-

tom Boats, Dive Zone Whitianga, The Mercury Bay Boating Club for their generosity in making very wonderful experiences possible. Indy would never let the water come near to covering her head, yet after jumping in with Rebecca, she did not want to get out of the water on their Dive Zone Whitianga boating trip into the Marine Reserve. Dive Zone staff showed the young people

how to snorkel.

The Mercury Bay Boating Club volunteer adult sailors took the young people and their caregivers sailing on the Bay. Each young person and caregiver had one adult instructor – making it three per Hobie craft. It was a wonderful day and one they enjoy every summer with the Boating Club. +64 274 782 232 Website:tetiihinuitrust.org.nz

Editors: Pauline & Stan Stewart (027 271 6182)

Business Manager: Emma Gaunt

Newspaper Layout: Diane Andrew

Delivery Managers: Dave Piper & Merv Gregory

Web Host: EMD Agency Circulation: 9000

Writers: Jack Biddle, Trevor Ammundsen, Michelle Dellabarca, Dorothy Preece, Pam Ferla, John Pratt, Malcolm Campbell, Addie Lane.

Office: 14 Monk Street, Whitianga 3510, Phone (07) 866 2090

Editorial: info@theinformer.co.nz, Advertising: sales@theinformer.co.nz

Admin: office@theinformer.co.nz Editor: 027 271 6182

communities across the Coromandel Peninsula

Ready for sailing in the Hobie Craft from left - Courtney, Indy Catran, Kieran Clayton, Caroline TattonBrown , Paige Macpherson, Reuben Davis; Kelly Jones of Glass Bottom Boat took the entire group out for the day on the Glass Bottom Boat. The weather was just right to enjoy the sights and the fish; Rebecca Simpson (caregiver) and Indy Catran had jumped off the back of the boat with Rebecca holding Indy’s hands.

Tackling the dust on South Highway West - Whose responsibility?

BY PAULINE STEWART

It was in December 2022 that The Informer published an article about the dust that invades and then settles itself inside the homes along South Highway stretch of road near the intersection of Highway 25 and South Highway and Moewai West Road. It was mentioned that layers of compliance and working out who needs to take responsibility made the most difficult maze to negotiate. It was also mentioned at the time that correspondence from council over time revealed an inability to resolve the issue and shifted the responsibility back to where the concern was first raised – in the hands of the citizen who has no power to wield.

There was some development which brought a report to a Council/Community Board meeting held in September 2023. There was hope that something could be done for the next summer of 23/24 – when the place is busy; and the summer days make dust.

However, the senior staff person stated that it needed to be ‘public excluded’ as it contained ‘commercially sensitive information’. The Council and community board members of Mercury Bay received that ‘commercially sensitive’ information but there has been nothing since, except a few complaints from residents and some enquiries of the communications staff. Eighteen months has passed since then.

The focus is the paper road next to Allied Concrete and some other businesses also use it.

The concrete trucks and other large vehicles need to carry on their work. Whose responsibility is it to seal that road? It would need to be concrete as the weight of the trucks would necessitate something better than chip or bitumen. Allied Concrete has hosed down the road to mitigate the dust but it all comes back to whoever owns that road and where does the pressure come from to seal it for the sake of the rate payers who live there.

Allied Concrete does not own

that road. Industry was there before the homes and the region needs the industrial park area to keep busy.

However, the plan for development and the matter of settling people there would surely have required to take into account the dust created by concrete and other trucks travelling with full loads on an unsealed road several times a day. That dust would have some cement powder content.

Why does ‘commercially sensitive’ protect the Council and its progress on this important matter, but it does not protect the residents from the dust.?

However, to no one's surprise, The Informer was told recently that it is still ‘commercially sensitive’ and “They are working on it.”

That senior staff person has now left (Sept 23) and another key staff person who wrote so much to assist the residents but instead baffled and discouraged them back in 2021 and 2022 is also leaving.

What will the Summer of 2025 /2026 bring?

Under new ownership

PENINSULA TYRES

These images show the paper road and also the materials that are picked up by the trucks for concrete mixing. The paper road has a number of unsurfaced side roads.

The Beatles came to The Mercury Bay Club!

BY ROGER SIMPSON

Beatles Tribute Show left a big impression on a very happy crowd! I was 14 years old, at school, when The Beatles first burst onto the scene as an exciting new band from Liverpool in 1962.

I loved their music! It was exciting, lively, inventive music, and is still as popular today. I have a boxset of all of their albums.

That music, those songs, were brought to life again at The Mercury Bay Club on Saturday night. One could have been mistaken into thinking that The Beatles had returned.

The sound, instrumentation, singing, and harmonies were so authentic. We really could have

The Beatles Tribute Band: L to R - Don, John, Tim, and Nigel at the back on drums.

been listening to The Beatles! Tim, John (not Lennon), Don and Nigel make a very talented band! This was The NZ Beatles Tribute Show.

For the first set, in their grey

suits, and looking just like The Beatles, they presented an enthusiastic audience with their very popular early big hits. They even spoke like Liverpudlians!

After a break and a chance for

the huge crowd to leave the dance floor and catch their breath, The Beatles came back on in their Sergeant Peppers’ bright costumes. The big songs kept coming!

Tim, changing between key-

board and guitar, helped reproduce those special sounds. No-one wanted them to stop. The NZ Beatles Tribute Show left a big impression on a very happy crowd!

OUR WEBSITE!

Photo credit Roger Simpson

Kuaotunu Volunteer Fire Brigade Awards Night

BY HELEN MOBBERLY

Thursday evening, 20 March, the Kūaotunu Volunteer Fire Brigade came together to honour and recognise some outstanding members - men and women who have dedicated their time, skills, and hard work to building not only the station but also the strong and resilient brigade we are proud of today.

The evening was filled with heartfelt recognition as we presented Life Member Jackets to those who have gone above and beyond in their service.

These legends who paved the way for the next generations of firefighters, were also honoured for their years of dedication and hard work with Service Pins. These went to Craig Lidgard and Fred Bonkovich. Other awards included Most Improved Firefighter, awarded to Mike Julian; Best Driver, Phil Nielsen; and All-Round Firefighter of the Year, Lauren Agopian who also received Attendance Award tying with our Chief, Garrick Simpson.

Garrick Simpson, Chief of the Kūaotunu Volunteer Fire Brigade, said:

“The Kuaotunu Fire Brigade is more than just a fire station. It is a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and community spirit of those who have given their all to serve and protect. Many of these men (and now women) were not only firefighters but also the builders, planners, and leaders who laid the foundation - both physically and through their unwavering commitment.”

The Honourable Scott Simpson, Member for Coromandel, join us for the evening. His pres-

ence and words underscored the importance of the work we do in serving our community.

“It was an absolute privilege to attend and share the very special Kuaotunu Brigade’s Honours and Awards night. Honouring past and present members for their dedicated volunteer service to our wider community is both well-deserved and very appropriate. Volunteer firefighters are always there when we need them most, and I was pleased to be able to say a big ‘thank you’ for all they do. The recent Black Jack fire was a good case in point.

Members of the Kuaotunu brigade formed the core response to the serious and potentially devastating bush fire. Congratulations to those who received awards and a huge thank you to one and all.”

Also in attendance were Shane Bromley, Group Manager, and

Roly Chaney, Volunteer Support Officer, who provide invaluable advice and support to the station.

More than just an awards ceremony, the evening was a celebration of community spirit and teamwork.

HONOURING OUR LIFE MEMBERS

We are proud to recognise and celebrate the dedication of the following individuals who have made significant contributions to the brigade over the years:

• Graham Scarrot (1988-1999). In-house painter, a fantastic team player with an infectious laugh.

• Alastair Brickell (1981-2018). Deputy Fire Chief, secretary, and a very clever and resourceful leader who played a pivotal role in shaping the brigade.

• Paul Jones (1986-1997). A key member of the team, always

lending a hand with block and concrete laying.

• Joe Jackson (1988-2001). In-house engineer, great sense of humour that kept the team morale high. “Yaba Daba Do!”

• Dugald Hoyland (1988-2020).

Treasurer, secretary, bar manager, and fire police. Dugald raised and organised funds for our social events and block and concrete laying in this station.

• Fred Bonkovich (1984). Station Officer who milled much of the timber used in the building. Always a key figure at working bees.

• Ian Goodall (1980). Founding member and part of the great building team.

• Dave Wight (1988). Fire Station former chief, architect, builder, and part of the building team. Dave’s work in constructing the fire station and educating the brigade has been instrumental

in its success. Dave was also recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, where he was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community. The Kūaotunu Volunteer Fire Brigade would not be what it is today without the hard yards of these individuals, past and present. Their legacy of work, dedication, and spirit they have brought will always be a part of the Kūaotunu Volunteer Fire Brigade.

A BIG THANK YOU

Thank you to all our social club volunteers who prepared an incredible spread of delicious food and to the crew that stepped behind the bar. Here’s to many more years of service, teamwork, and success! You can Join the Kuaotunu Fire Brigade. Check it out on a Friday Night from 5:30pm! Bring some gold coins for the raffles!

Kuaotunu Volunteer Fire Fighters with Hon Scott Simpson, Shane Bromley & Roly; Garrick KVFB CHief with Hon. Scott Simpson receiving the Simpson Cup for attendance (along with Mike Julian) not pictured here.

Photo credits: Steve Jones

26-30 March 2025 in Whangamata

Whangamata’s Rock N Roll Festival–five days of New Zealand’s BIGGEST celebration of the 50s & 60s.

The Repco Beach Hop is a gathering and presentation of so many amazing cars – it’s five days of non-stop action on steroids. The festival has grown from 4,000 to about 100,000 people since its inception in 2001.

This makes it one of the largest events of its kind in the world. All proceeds raised are donated to emergency services in the area.

Come along and enjoy all the nonstop action. Wednesday 26 March to Sunday, 30 March.

Head for Port Road, Whangamata.

Countdown to 10th Celebration of A Taste of Matarangi!

Saturday, 5 April, 10am-4.30pm

The excitement is building as we approach the 10th Celebration of A Taste of Matarangi. This much-loved festival promises a fantastic day out for all, filled with delicious food, live entertainment, and community spirit.

A highlight is the Auction, - incredible packages up for grabs. Here’s a sneak peek:

Rimu Lodge Getaway – 1 night’s stay at the beautiful Rimu Lodge, Cambridge including a $100 voucher for Redoubt Bar & Eatery in Mat-

amata

Hobbiton Adventure – 2 passes to the world-famous Hobbiton Movie Set in Mata-

mata

Scenic Flight Experience

– A breathtaking scenic flight for 3 people over the stunning Mercury Bay with expert pilot Charlie Chilwell

Grins Gift Bundle – A gift voucher and merchandise from Grins

Ecostore Treat – A premium Ecostore gift pack

A heartfelt thank you to all the generous donors who’ve made these auction items possible.

PLUS CELEBRATION CAKE COMPETITION – WIN A SMEG CAKE MIXER!

Get ready to show off your cake decorating skills in the Celebration Cake Competition and be in to win a stunning Smeg Cake Mixer, proudly donated by Kitchen Things Hamilton. The Alexander family.

Cakes will be silent auctioned on the day – proceeds going to the festival fundraiser. Entries are limited, so don’t miss out! Message us on Face-

book, Instagram or email at info@atasteofmatarangi.

co.nz.

DRESS-UP CHALLENGE –BRIGHT, BOLD & FUN!

Gather your crew, unleash your creativity, and dress to impress! Adding a splash of fun to the festival vibe. Prizes for the best-dressed, so have fun, stand out, and make this celebration unforgettable!

TICKETS! With the festival just around the corner, now’s the time to secure your tickets! Online ticket sales close Friday, 4 April, at 5.00pm., Gate sales will be available on the day, with Adult tickets $40 each. For full event detail on website. Follow our social media pages for the latest updates. We can’t wait to celebrate with you- see you there!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

A huge thank you to all our incredible sponsors. we couldn’t make this event happen without your support! All About Whitianga, Coro Digital, CFM Coromandel, Richardsons Real Estate, The Matarangi Beach Paper, Matarangi Ratepayers and Residents Assoc Inc, Puku & Kerres Liquor store, Holistic Health, Matarangi 4 Square, Matarangi Monitoring Service, Good as Gold Painting & Decorating, Coromandel ITM, Hopper Construction, NPGS, Mastercraft Kitchens, WBND, Adriaan Van Rooyen Photography, Peninsula Pest Service, The Matarangi B & B, Parr Builders, Coat to Coat Painters.

Doctor Margaret Guthrie – a pioneer in education Part 2

The working lives of Margaret’s parents had a profound effect on her life. Her Dad’s role as a doctor and Principal of the Pacific Medical School affected every part of Margaret’s life growing up in Fiji. Her mother, Hilda, had also wanted to become a doctor but her parents did not have enough money to pay for boarding fees on top of the tuition fees, so she had to choose something available at Auckland University College.

Thus, Hilda trained in education and, at the time Margaret was born, she was working as the Headmistress of Suva Girls’ Grammar School. “1916 was my Mother’s first year of working and she had a Bachelor of Arts and first class masters in Botany and Maths.”

This shaped Margaret’s attitude to higher education. For her it was a most natural path. Her family believed that you should work hard, but there was no pressure to achieve well. It was more important to put in your best effort and meet challenges head on instead of hiding from them.

Margaret was aware she was somewhat privileged having access to a large library, which broadened her knowledge of many topics.

During the period where she was not so confident in Maths, Margaret’s mother, happened to be on a the train when she overheard two of Margaret’s teachers saying how unfortunate it was that Margaret was at the bottom of the class for maths and not very attractive. Her mother leaned over and said, “The important thing is that Margaret be happily confident in herself”.

It was the Christmas to follow, that Margaret’s father came from

Chops Nursery

Suva to visit her in Auckland and announced that he was going to tutor her in maths. Margaret remembers that he was a calm and loving teacher. He taught her in the morning and then left her with some exercises. Her grades rose exponentially.

World War II broke out in Margaret’s second year at Epsom Girls, and her parents were forced to stay in Auckland rather than risk a boat-trip back to Suva. Despite the war, school proceeded.

Margaret’s favourite subject was English and, because she intended to go to Medical School, she had separate physics lessons and also chose piano and choir. She remembers one incident in music class when a Jewish girl quietly excused herself from singing “God of Nations At Our Feet”, which at that point was not the national anthem. The teacher verbally abused the girl, essen-

tially calling her a traitor. Margaret stood up for her, informing the teacher that she was being extremely unfair to one whose family narrowly escaped such intense persecution in Germany.

Margaret decided to do a Bachelor of Science first, before entering medical school as she felt this would give her the proper foundations. She began in 1942.

“Being wartime it was a period when student numbers were comparatively low and the climate encouraged a collegiality heightened by everyone being to a lesser or greater degree affected by the tensions and tragedies that war imposes on those who remain behind, as well as those who are directly involved.”

“One thing that is different,” says Margaret. “If you saw a medical class today, there would be a predominance of women. Throughout my years, there were

at the most, ten women.

“I worked hard and felt I was in the right place. I was right near the top. Sometimes right at the top. There were a lot of return servicemen. I married one of those servicemen at the end of my second year – John. “

Johnnie Wray had volunteered for the army on his 21st birthday – 4 July 1940 – and sailed to Egypt later that year. He was wounded and spent two and a half years in hospital where he developed Crohn’s disease and tuberculosis was found in his Chest X-Rays. Though he recovered, his medical injuries were to plague the rest of his life. However, they also inspired him to transfer from his accountancy degree (which he had started before going to the war) to a medical degree. Margaret says of John, “He said himself that there were those wounded who virtually turned their face to the wall and one knew they would succumb, and those who defied disability and had a better chance of survival. John was certainly one of the latter, a person who lived as if every day mattered, at times a trifle cynical, but always with a great sense of fun and confidence.”

They fell in love and after complications with getting the permission to marry and announcing the marriage around the wrong way, John and Margaret married while they were medical students, on 2 February, 1947.

Margaret received much criticism for being a married woman in the Medical School, and one of the Professors even declared to all of the students in his class that he did not think Margaret would last the full degree. There was also talk among the women medical students who would ask her,

MONTHLY SALES

“How can you be a woman doctor and a lady?” “They assumed that if you got married, you would drop out - which many of them did. The professor was wrong about me.”

Her final year was spent in Dunedin, where she was assigned a placement in the Sexual Diseases Clinic. This experience opened her eyes to how many others lived and she realised she had lived quite a sheltered life. These last months of her medical degree were clouded with a sense of selfdoubt and wondering whether or not she really was good enough to practise as a doctor.

Margaret did well in her final exams, though failed her oral exam because she froze and could not answer any of the questions. The University allowed her to sit a “special” exam in May. Alongside her study over the Summer break, she was offered a position as Acting House Surgeon in the Student Health clinic.

John obtained a position as House Surgeon at Dunedin Hospital. After that, they did a period of locums in Southland and then the couple were offered to house sit their friend’s farm while he was in Britain for a postgraduate course. They accepted it and their first child, Mary-Jane was born 1 March 1952, only two months after they moved into the farm house.

“I graduated as a Doctor in 1951. We knew we had to have children early as John would not live to old age. We both knew that with his injuries in the war, he would not live beyond 50. He was committed to being a physician but he didn’t have the time. We obtained positions in Havelock North. John became a GP at and I became a part-time GP.”

Margaret Guthrie, at 100 years old, has come with her daughter Sarah-Jane to live in Whitianga to be near Julian and Rachael Lee of Guthrie Bowron. Julian is her grandson.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

KUBOTA FISHING COMPETITION

Once something has a price, it loses all intrinsic value and turns into a commodity, making it acceptable to pillage and plunder for money. An excellent example of this is the Kubota fishing competition. Kubota is a Japanese company that sells tractors and farm equipment, so they have no vested interest in the fishing industry or Whitianga’s growth and development. Nevertheless, they are able to host the largest fishing competition in the world, so it is clear that they profit from the event.

Just an aside, I wonder, do the fish caught in this competition and the bycatch become part of the Japanese fishing quota in New Zealand waters that is sold to them for something ridiculous like a $1 a kilo? Or do they get free rein to catch and take as much as they like with no repercussions or consequences?

In addition to covering their own costs, the contestants pay fees to participate in the competition. A few lucky fishers are fortunate enough to win and get awarded prize money and a shiny trophy for the biggest, longest, and heaviest fish. The fishing club benefits since they may make money by holding the tournament and selling food and drinks. In reality, Kubota and the Fishing Club make relatively little contribution to the fishing competition but make a significant financial gain.

Everyone else loses because the communal fishing resources get abused and depleted. The majes-

tic marlin and other fish lose their lives at the end of a hook, sometimes after struggling for hours. Even if they are tagged and released, a percentage still die from exhaustion at the bottom of the sea.

Only when the last tree has died, and the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught. We will realise you can’t eat money. Cree Indian Proverb.

Verna Carr, Whitianga

TO DO OR NOT TO DO-THE KUBOTA CLASSIC

All issues are value-driven. The forthcoming K.C. is a current issue for many locals.

Concerned people in Whitianga, the Kubota sponsors, the competitors, the spectators and affected business folk are all considerably influenced by their personal values in regard to this event.

Current issues, with their associated conflicting values can reflect the present evolution of a society. Consider past issues: gay rights, equal pay for women, apartheid, the liberal use of DDT, whaling, suffrage for women, capital punishment, slavery and so on.

Do we, the people of Whitianga, value and respect our oceans and the marine life therein (which we, as the people of NZ “own”), sufficiently, to request that this trophy-hunting tournament be the last?

Surely we have evolved further than swapping trauma/pain/ death of a dwindling population, for a few days of fun/excitement, the possibility of a monetary reward plus possible personal

accolades.

The commercial benefit for some is acknowledged; the pleasure for some is acknowledged. However, how do we justify this exploitive treatment of our precious ocean over a more-intact ecosystem, where large apex predators are not hooked and tortured, sometimes for many hours.

We are better than this.

Sally Armstrong, Whitianga NO FAITH IN MAYOR’S STAND FOR RE-ELECTION

The Informer’s brief statement in 11 March issue and consequent Facebook post (Mayor Len stands for re-election). This reads like A.I. speak. I would like a list of those friends, supporters, community members, iwi, and community groups across the district with whom the mayor claims to have had extensive discussions.

Certainly, none of our residents and ratepayers here at Wharekaho has seen hide nor hair of him. Speaking to R&R’s (Residents and Ratepayers) in Whitianga the answer is the same.

I have yet to speak to someone whom Len spoke to or who received a survey.

Except, of course, in Thames, where he is getting by with stripping the eastern side of the Peninsula of more than their share of rates to pay for extended coastal upgrades and other “nice to haves”.

1) Social Navigators: Social services are not, and never have been, a part of local council business. Here we have the mayor’s campaign’ commitment to take on the role of Social Services. He will happily (if re-elected) squander our rates on “Social Navigators” when central Government funding runs out in June. There may have been a time following covid and cyclones Hale and Gabriel when members of our community needed extra help while recovery plans were put in place.

However, we have very com-

mitted community service agencies in Whitianga, Thames and Coromandel all doing an excellent job plus a myriad of private and skilled professional individuals who would help for a small amount of funding. Any funding available needs to be invested with the experienced and already established centres and people to achieve the best results for our communities. The mayor states that the voters asked for it. Please make available the survey to justify that statement. How many people were asked? What were the questions they were asked? Where is this item and the costs in the LTP?

2) Transparency: Len Salt has not lived up to any one of the promises he made when campaigning to be Mayor in 2022. His ongoing lack of transparency defies belief. At what point did he not hear the mood of, not just our Peninsula, but the entire country with regard to spending our rates on essentials – the priority is infrastructure followed by infrastructure followed by infrastructure. He is launching a mayoral campaign on non-essentials –electioneering at a time he should be endeavouring to achieve at least one of his original election promises.

3) Governance: The Mayor claims this to be his major role. He is well quoted as saying, “I don’t deal with operations, I am working at the Governance level”. At what point will his governance have any effect on the culture where very little happens at the coal face because the funds and energy are spent at the governance and consultancy levels? He says his focus in the 2025/28 term will be “on maintaining a high level of governance oversight on prudent financial management, waste reduction, responsible environmental management and climate change mitigation. (Empty words, with no discernible action, and an adept ability

to hide behind lack of transparency).

4) Community Boards: Another aspect of concern is the role of the Mayor through Governance to ensure that Community Boards function well making their informed recommendations to be acted on by the councillors. In truth, we have had an appalling three years with the Mercury Bay Community Board. There has been poor, or no leadership at all, and meetings have not produced any positive action. In fact, the first meeting for the Community Board for 2025 had to be cancelled as they could not even raise a quorum.

5) Maori Wards: Mayor Len did not trust us (the rate payers) to support this, so went ahead and called a rushed meeting, inviting selected people to be present for the vote – this has been verified. He did not offer a referendum and now it is a binding referendum which he has not mentioned in his ‘standing for Mayor’ platform. A.I. can be a useful tool if used wisely. However, Truth Honesty and Transparency are a necessary requirement.

Ady Cole-Ewen, Wharekaho

Man’s fascination with speed... Is it something that we REALLY need?

What is this great thing: to be first?

And fastest, and not be the worst?

Society all, we are built on it. Conditioned we’re to: a winlosing kit!

Our best escape from this deformity, Is non-compliance, and artistry. But competitions and such, we should NOT despise for man’s innter aggressions need exercise.

And sport is the great way of doing this so our lives can still be lived in peacefulness.

B. de Vino

Pauanui Half Marathon draws the community and top racers

BY LILY PAULSEN

It was 4:40pm on a sunny Friday afternoon when I put on my journalist shoes and headed to the Shopping Centre of Pauanui to check what was the reasoning behind the accumulating crowd.

The Pauanui Half Marathon event registration outside Hello Friday and a Lorna Jane sale stand proved to be the main culprit. So, upon this discovery I took the opportunity to do some interviews. A salesperson from Lorna Jane said they were “offering a 20% discount to expand awareness in their brand name”.

I also spoke with Mandy from Hello Friday, who said, “We’ve been sponsors since the beginning. As a business owner, we like to support surrounding events, but more in particular, Paula and I have a background in competitive sport, so we like to support these events”.

Hello Friday is a main sponsor for the Pauanui Half Marathon as well as Harcourts, Asics and CFM. Some other sponsors include Nest Homes Loans, Jennian Homes ( features on the finishers medals, Feels like family, Armoire, The Local, and Pauanui Takeaways.

To witness the event first hand

and see the course myself, I undertook the 10km race. This was my first run in two years and my first running event in Pauanui, despite signing up in the past three years and cancelling due to injuries.

The course started at the Lifesaving Club and went up a little bit of Duck Creek. It included the grassy terrain of the beachfront, some paths and roads.

It was well mapped out and the many marshals along the way provided an easy and well directed run.

The finish line was packed with supporters, photographers and food and drink trucks which pro-

vided a good variety of activities for participants and onlookers. Everything was well thought through with surrounding companies on site, such as The Sauna Project Coromandel Coast, which provided an on-site sauna for participants and anyone who needed it and the Elevation coffee cart, and the Tatifruitti Juice Bar to offer the options of delicious meals and pick-me-up drinks and coffees.

As the sun greeted us from behind the clouds, Mark Thompson, the organiser, announced prize giving. The crowds gathered as spot prizes were given out and

winners were recognised and applauded.

Amongst them were the incredible Half Marathon champions, Casey Thorby 1st place with a time of 1:10:15 and Michael Voss 2nd place coming in at 1:11:33. CFM radio was parked up at the line announcing names as they came in and the fire brigade did a great job on standby as well. It was a brilliant event for all involved and there couldn’t have been a better day of sunshine. Being the fifth Half Marathon event in Pauanui, the organisers knew what they were doing and they did a fantastic job.

Nuggets Of HistOry

Gold invites fraud and greed on global scale

BY JOHN PRATT

It’s impossible to know now how much capital flowed from London, to Thames. There were literally hundreds of companies floated specifically to exploit gold mining prospects in the area. Fraud was rampant. Not all of the capital was ever paid up, and of that, not all of it ever made it to the mines.

James “Whitaker” Wright was thought before the turn of the century to be the richest man in Britain. He was just one of the legions of promoters raising money through public floats, much of the proceeds of which he fraudulently spent on his personal interests.

He ran a 900-ton yacht called “Sybarita,” with 33 crew, and notoriously spent more than £1m renovating his 32-bedroom property in Surrey, including the construction of an elaborate, transparent ballroom beneath a lake on the property.

Wright successfully floated 11 separate new companies, most of them on the back of the frenzy of the discovery of gold in Australia and New Zealand. Investors in the London & Globe Finance Corporation believed they were investing in all his various exciting new mining ventures. His Standard Exploration Company was one of those companies. The new Standard Exploration stock was substantially over-subscribed on issue.

By 1899 however, Whitaker Wright’s paper empire was already in trouble. Because he acquired

Thames mining interests with new shares in the Standard Exploration Company, he actually invested practically nothing in his interests. And it wasn’t just mining.

Amongst his other ventures, Wright promoted the construction of London’s Baker Street and Waterloo Railway.

Wright’s house of cards imploded when on 29 December, the last day of trading for 1899, the London & Globe Finance Corporation was unable to meet its obligations to the London Stock Exchange. Independent directors met with shareholders to try and reconstitute the company, but the shareholders finally agreed to wind it up on 19 January.

At least thirteen brokerages collapsed in the wake of London & Globe’s failure. At the time, Wright was thought to have perpetrated the largest-ever fraud, losing more than £8 million of shareholders money. At his trial, Justice Bigham described things as “singular the way in which thousands of pounds sterling became millions on paper…”

According to a contemporary report in the San Francisco Call, Justice Bigham went on to describe the London and Globe and its various subsidiaries as “gambling concerns,” which had, “excited his indignation.”

Having caught Thames up in his web of intrigue, it took a long time for Thames’ various mines, and the Big Pump, to extricate themselves from his affairs.

Whitaker Wright took his own life minutes after hearing his fraud conviction in January 1904.

• Everything for that easter egg hunt • Gifts for friends and family

• Small gift boxes for your mini-eggs • Decorative cloth wall-hangings • Easter signs for your egg hunt • Easter costume glasses • Funky Easter ears

• Light up chicken squishies • Cute bunny ears • Key rings

• Eggs of all sizes to paint and colour, and special egg and pen sets for decorating your eggs • Gift bags and gift baskets

• Moulds to make your own easter goodies – chocolate or cookies.

A sketch of James "Whitaker Wright drawn in 1904.

Our Coromandel

News from Thames-Coromandel District Council

Local Water Done Well

What does the future of water services look like?

Our Council will soon be asking our community for feedback on how best to manage Council’s water services and infrastructure in the future.

The Government’s Local Water Done Well water services reform programme means councils throughout Aotearoa New Zealand must consider diﬀerent management and operation models of our “three waters” – stormwater, wastewater and drinking water.

Currently, Council provides these water services, but under new legislation the status quo cannot continue.

In Thames-Coromandel, a list of diﬀerent models has been deeply researched and the advantages and disadvantages of each weighed up.

These models, and what each means for ratepayers

ANZAC PARADES AND MEMORIAL SERVICES

FRIDAY 25 APRIL

WHITIANGA: 5.45am Dawn Parade – Mercury Bay

RSA. Muster 30 minutes prior at the Mercury Bay Club carpark, Cook Dr, Whitianga. March to Soldiers’ Memorial Park, Whitianga for 6am Dawn Service

COOKS BEACH: 6am Dawn Service – Fire Station, 26 Banks St, followed by gold coin breakfast.

MATARANGI: 10.30am Civic Parade – mustering at corner of Cordyline Crescent and Ake Ake Ave, 10.45am march to Matarangi Fire Station.

11.00am Civic Service outside of Matarangi Fire Station (Matarangi Shopping Centre).

HĀHEI: 10.30am Civic Service at the Kotare Reserve Memorial Garden, Pa Rd, Hāhei.

Returned service personnel are asked to wear their medals and decorations. Descendants of returned service personnel marching in the parades are asked to wear medals on the right upper portion of their apparel.

and residents, will now be included in the Council’s upcoming feedback process for community consideration.

You’ll be able to provide feedback from 17 April to 15 May. We’ll be holding meetings throughout the district and reaching out for feedback on the proposed options.

tcdc.govt.nz/lwdw

tcdc.govt.nz/col

COMMERCIAL OPERATORS LICENCES on our reserves

Our Council is now inviting applications for commercial licences for vendors to deliver activities on Council-owned reserve land.

Commercial operators require a licence to run their business on any Council-owned reserve land. This ensures that the operations are well managed, safe, and enhance our communities and visitors experience of using reserves. Through licensing operators, our Council can also monitor the conditions of the licensee to ensure that they are not breaching the conditions of their licence and taking away from people’s enjoyment of reserves. This also ensures that unlicensed operators can be managed in line with this process.

Applications close Monday 24 April. These will be reviewed in May; vendors will be notiﬁed in June, and licences will be issued in July.

For more information or to submit an application, visit tcdc.govt.nz/col

A word from our Board Chair

Krissy Robinson

“The busy summer season is well behind us now with the weather mostly playing its part. We’ve had some fantastic sunny days and events that have helped pump up the local economy and bring vibrancy to Mercury Bay. Now we, as a Council, are ﬁrmly back at work with some big projects on the boil which you will be hearing about over the next few weeks. These include our Annual Plan, Rates Review and Local Water Done Well. Each of these are important issues that our Council will need to make decisions on – but not before community consultation. So, make sure you get familiar with these projects and how they impact you and tell us what you think. Information and how to give feedback will be available from the end of March tcdc.govt.nz/consultations

We also have Easter and Anzac Day holidays coming up so, whatever these days mean to you and your family, enjoy this special time with your loved ones and stay safe.” krissy.robinson@council.tcdc.govt.co.nz

The Board’s next meeting is 7 May at 9am, Mercury Bay Service Centre, 10 Monk Street, Whitianga and the 2025 Council meeting schedules and agendas are at tcdc.govt.nz/agendas-reports-and-minutes

EASTER AND ANZAC WEEKENDS

Kerbside collections

With the Easter Monday public holiday on Monday 21 April, collections for Mercury Bay South, Whitianga, Mercury Bay North (yellow week – food, glass, recycling) will be a day later than usual, on Tuesday 22 April, Wednesday 23 April, and Thursday 24 April, respectively. Check your local calendar at tcdc.govt.nz/bindays

Refuse Transfer Stations: On Sunday 6 April, with the end of Daylight Saving, our Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations revert to their opening hours of 8.30am–4.30pm. The only days they’ll be closed in April are Good Friday 18 April and until 1pm on Anzac Day, Friday 25 April.

Service centres

Our oﬀices (and AA services) are closed on Good Friday 18 April, Easter Monday 21 April, and Anzac Day Friday 25 April. You can still contact us 24/7 at 07 868 0200; customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz

Mercury Bay Area School seeks support for Yacht Building Academy

Our college, our community has been offered a wonderful opportunity. Can we take it up?

BY ROSS DUNN

Mercury Bay Area School has a proud tradition of providing innovative, hands-on learning experiences that prepare our students for real-world careers.

Building on the success of our Plane Build Academy, we are now seeking to establish a Yacht Building Academy – an initiative that will give students invaluable skills in marine craftsmanship, engineering, and project management.

This exciting opportunity has arisen thanks to the generous offer of a 40-foot Ray Beale-designed yacht, which has been meticulously built over the past 30 years and is now 85% complete. The vessel, which requires sails, rigging, a keel, and some final timberwork, presents an incredible learning opportunity for our students. By completing the yacht, students will gain hands-on experience in marine engineering, woodworking, fiber glassing, electrical systems, and navigation technologies - skills highly relevant to New Zealand’s

thriving maritime industry. However, to make this vision a reality, we need the support of our community. The yacht is currently located in South Auckland and must be relocated to Mercury Bay. To facilitate this move and establish a dedicated workspace, we are seeking a suitable site where students can safely undertake the restoration work. We

invite local businesses, marine industry professionals, and community members to partner with us in providing a location and resources to launch the Boat Building Academy.

A long term goal: Our goal is to not only complete the yacht but to create a long-term programme that equips students with trade skills and opens pathways into

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apprenticeships, marine careers, and tertiary education. This initiative aligns with our commitment to fostering practical, industry-connected learning, and we believe it will be a transformative experience for our students and the wider community. We welcome any offers of assistance, whether in the form of workspace, mentorship, mate-

rials, or funding support. If you have a suitable location or would like to be involved in this exciting project, please reach out to us. Together, we can create a remarkable opportunity for the young people of our area.

Ross Dunn is Principal Mercury Bay Area School. Email: dunnr@ mbas.ac.nz

This is an 11 metre Ray Beale-designed yacht – the vessel offered unfinished to MBAS is bigger; Mercury Bay Boating Club has a young sailors racing squad and there is a great deal of talent and big dreams amongst them.

Does kingfish farming in the have a future? Or is fed-fish aquaculture heading

BY GEOFFREY ROBINSON

Back in 2010 when the government was scouting locations off the Coromandel coastline, the big idea was to diversify New Zealand’s cagedfish aquaculture industry with two potentially high-value, whiteflesh species – yellowtail kingfish and hapuka.

As explained in public hearings and council chambers at the time, the promise was an exciting new business opportunity featuring a premium product, hundreds of new jobs, ready worldwide markets, and a major step toward $1 billion in new aquaculture export earnings. With advances in hatchery technology and years of husbandry trials showing good results, the Aquaculture Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries said it was time to hit the water, taking kingfish aquaculture from the research lab and test tank to open-ocean commercial production.

Waikato Regional Council (then Environment Waikato) quickly fell into line with changes to its coastal plan in 2011 allowing fedfish farming in the newly designated 300ha Coromandel Marine Farming Zone (CMFZ), just 11km from Waiheke Island in the Inner Hauraki Gulf toward Coromandel Town.

But despite the best efforts of regional and government backers, what followed were years of frustrating start-stop attempts to attract industry interest, failure to attract tenders, and then years of apparent project dormancy.

That is – until 2018, when the presumed sunken Coromandel kingfish project resurfaced with a surprise announcement that Pare Hauraki Kaimoana, a subsidiary of the Hauraki Māori Trust Board representing the interests of 12 local iwi, would be granted authority to apply for resource consents to farm kingfish in the CMFZ. Pare Hauraki made application in 2021, providing stacks of reports, analyses, expert scientific opinions and additional requested information through the long application process.

Critics of the proposal cited a raft of environmental risks and concerns, including direct seabed floor fouling, water quality degradation, spread of disease, pollution by anti-foulants and therapeutic chemicals, impact on native kingfish genetics, marine mammal strikes, navigational obstruction, and more.

But after months of negotiations and weeks of public hearings, resource consent was finally granted in July 2023. Official MPI approval followed, giving caged

kingfish farming in the Hauraki Gulf the final go-ahead.

Iwi plans call for annual production of up to 8000 tonnes of kingfish raised in 36 massive floating plastic pens, each 53m in diameter and extending 20m toward the seabed, tended by up to six moored 40m barges. At full operation, over 12,000 tonnes of fish feed pellets would be pumped into the cages each year to take hatchery fingerlings up to 3kg-4kg slaughter weight in 18 months.

With no experience in fed-fish aquaculture and facing substantial investment requirements, Pare Hauraki would likely be exploring a range of joint venture or other operational arrangements. The company has made no public announcement since 2023 as to progressing farm development, and Waikato Regional Council staff monitoring resource consents similarly have yet to receive any pre-work notifications. A request to Pare Hauraki Kaimoana leadership in late February for an update on the kingfish farm project went unanswered.

RAS KINGFISH – AN EMERGING INDUSTRY

But in the 15 years since plans were mooted for fed-fish farming in the marine environment of the Hauraki Gulf, the kingfish aquaculture industry has moved on. That is, it has moved onto land.

Innovative, state-of-the-art land-based farms are proving their commercial potential for kingfish aquaculture and threaten to leave in their wake the plans of government and private interests to raise fish profitably in cages offshore – including in the degraded waters of the inner Hauraki Gulf. Those marine finfish farms are subject to impacts from weather events, disease,

predation, and water quality, with known adverse environmental impacts and other risk factors.

In New Zealand and in Europe (and soon the United States), recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for the production of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi), or haku, are being finetuned, with commercial production already underway and projections for significant expansion. RAS systems for farming of tilapia, barramundi, sturgeon and other species has been ongoing for years. Their success with kingfish is a new development and a likely industry game-changer. In short, conditions for growth can be highly controlled, and adverse environmental impact is virtually nil.

In Ruakākā, at Bream Bay near Whangārei, NIWA’s Northland Aquaculture Centre officially opened its doors last August. The research facility, a joint venture of NIWA and Northland Regional Council (NRC) with Provincial Growth Fund support, set out in 2020 to demonstrate the commercial potential of land-based RAS aquaculture of kingfish and possibly other finfish species. The now fully operational Ruakākā facility has capacity to produce 600 tonnes of kingfish annually, with further expansion potential of up to 3000 tonnes per year with replicates of its 600mt module at the 8.4ha site.

NIWA Chief Executive John Morgan has noted the RAS farm’s “superior environmental and economic performance, and full control over all aspects of production.”

“Our research and experimentation have identified the conditions that maximise the health and welfare of the fish,” he said. The move to on-land aquaculture is “forward-thinking, environmentally friendly farming”.

For New Zealand aquaculture, the NIWA/NRC Ruakākā farm is a successful “proof of concept” demonstration intended to spur development of similar landbased RAS kingfish farms elsewhere.

RAS KINGFISH IN EUROPE AND US

On-shore kingfish aquaculture is also developing fast in Europe. Last month, Netherlands-based The Kingfish Company NV, pioneering “egg to plate” RAS farmers of yellowtail kingfish, reported 2024 sales volume of more than 2000 tonnes, an increase of 37% year over year.

Brainchild of Dutch scientists and engineers, The Kingfish Company until 2016 “was just a PowerPoint presentation, an Excel sheet, and some broodstock fish,” according to its current hatchery manager Sander de Winter. The company, in a trading statement, bills itself as “operating at the cutting edge of sustainable, land-based, highvalue marine aquaculture in the EU and the US,” and projects up to 4000 tonnes annual production at its Kats, Zeeland farm.

To serve the lucrative North American market, a major Kingfish Company expansion is now fully permitted for a second landbased RAS kingfish farm at Jonesport, near Chandler Bay in the US state of Maine. The Jonesport farm, set to raise fingerlings from the company’s high-tech Dutch hatchery, will supply fresh and frozen fillets and whole fish to a local northeast US population of 55 million and overnight to the rest of the country.

The advantages of RAS aquaculture, as summarized by the company, come down to water quality management, environmental control, and biosecurity. Seawater is disinfected by ultraviolet sterilisation and ozone treatments and

is filtered mechanically and biologically to remove solid waste. Precise temperature regulation reduces stress on the fish and boosts immune response, while dissolved oxygen is monitored and maintained at optimal levels. Raised by RAS, the fish are isolated from wild parasites and disease pathogens.

Water quality and biosecurity controls yield another marketing advantage over marine kingfish aquaculture for The Kingfish Company.

“Traditional open-net pen farming exposes fish to pathogens present in the natural environment. High stocking densities and environmental stressors increase susceptibility to diseases, making antibiotic use a common preventive measure,” the company states. “Raising fish in land-based facilities where water quality, temperature, and other environmental conditions are meticulously managed” promotes “fish health, significantly reducing the risk of disease outbreaks and the consequent need for antibiotics.” Customers enjoy “a healthy antibiotic free premium delicacy.”

THE CLEAN SEAS SEAFOOD MELTDOWN

Unfortunately, the environmental and production advantages of RAS kingfish aquaculture in Europe have been contrasted this summer half a world away in the waters of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia – home of ASXlisted Clean Seas Seafood Ltd. Clean Seas bills itself “the largest producer of Hiramasa [yellowtail kingfish] outside Japan,” but has been struggling with production, revenue, and profitability for years. The company is a traditional, open-pen marine producer.

On November 1, Clean Seas disclosed “higher than expected losses due to predation and mortalities” and revised its projected yields downward. Four weeks later, the company advised of even higher fish losses. “The cause of the mortalities is under investigation, as is ongoing treatment for the remaining fish,” the company said. A third announcement on December 20 cited several husbandry issues related to the increased fish mortalities, “rendering them more vulnerable to background stressors, including parasites, disease, and environmental factors.”

For shareholders too, Clean Seas has been an ongoing disaster. For the year ended June 2024, the company recorded a loss of A$33.45m on sales of A$68.80m. For the two previous years, it eked out profits of A$5.99m and

Netherlands-based The Kingfish Company is positioned to be market leader for premium fresh product in Europe and the US.

Photo credit Kingfish Zeeland

the Hauraki Gulf future? heading for land?

$A8.67m. In 2021, the company lost A$32.09m. In January this year following the fish die-off disaster, Clean Seas shares cratered, reaching an all-time low of less than A$.09 and having lost 85% of their value over the last two years.

On February 19, the company was thrown a lifeline by Australian medical technology billionaire Anthony Hall, who holds a significant minority stake (22.6%) in Clean Seas and a majority interest (53.6%) in privately owned Yumbah Aquaculture, Australia’s largest shellfish producer selling abalone, oysters, oyster spat and mussels. A proposed insider deal calls for a merger of Clean Seas and Yumbah, with Clean Seas shareholders being taken out for A$.14 or an equivalent Yumbah stake. The merger is pending, with exclusive due diligence in process and a deadline of March

24 for a binding deal.

The merger would allow the kingfish farmer to shed sales, marketing, and administrative costs and let it revert to being a simple production operation as part of the Yumbah seafood product portfolio. For billionaire Anthony Hall, it’s a win-win deal.

For the remaining Clean Seas staff, it’s an opportunity to carry on raising fish, at least for now, under an established sales and marketing umbrella.

But for proponents of kingfish farming in the marine environment, the Clean Seas Seafood story from South Australia is a cautionary tale at best.

A FUTURE FOR PARE HAURAKI KINGFISH?

All of which leads back to the Inner Hauraki Gulf, where it is still early days for the ambitious farmed kingfish project – a major

development that would dwarf any kingfish aquaculture facility currently in operation.

While the environmental risks of fish farming in open waters are well known, Pare Hauraki Kaimoana says those risks can be mitigated by good practice, monitoring, and appropriate adjustments. However, adverse impacts from weather events, climate change, or disease will be impossible to avoid and a challenge to control.

The market for farm-raised kingfish has been a function of limited production in the last few years. As new land-based facilities have come on line, acceptance by chefs and retail outlets has been growing. Industry captains maintain that the market potential for farmed kingfish is high and could rival other well-known seafood products.

But where an open-pen farm

New Whitianga Office is Now Open!

in the Hauraki Gulf may fit in is another question. And like any other business, kingfish aquaculture is a competitive business.

Land-based kingfish producers in Europe and North America have the advantage, in both time and freight costs, of immediate access to those markets. Both in supermarket display cases and on restaurant menus, locally produced and fresh are words that definitely sell. And carbon footprints leave a bad taste. Fifteen years ago, these export competitors did not exist. They do now and are already scaling up.

Use of therapeutic chemicals and antibiotics is one more marketing handicap for conventional marine production. Landbased RAS kingfish producers in Ruakākā and overseas already tout this advantage.

And for any marine aquaculture company, every uncontrol-

lable factor from weather to water temperature and pathogens, represents potential disruption, losses and unforeseen costs. These variables, controlled in RAS aquaculture, conspire to make farming in the natural environment -- whether of fish, fowl, crops, or cattle – a risky and highly competitive business even in the best of times.

For every Jack, there’s a Jill. And there is almost always a market somewhere for every product, whether premium or economy, whether export or local. With billions of mouths to feed, kingfish aquaculture will have its part to play.

Whether those haku sashimi plates and grilled kingfish specials will come from the waters off the Coromandel coast remains to be seen. To make it work, there will be a lot of swimming against the tide.

Versatile Coromandel’s second office is now open at 2 Lee St, Whitianga

Versatile Coromandel has opened a second office in the heart of Whitianga, giving you a dedicated space to meet with our team, get expert building advice, and start planning your perfect build. Whether you’re after a quality home, a stylish garage, a functional rural farm building, or a sleepout, we have the perfect solution for every stage of life.

Contact Tracey Barker

P: 027 542 8545 | 07 868 8510 | E: tracey.barker@versatile.co.nz

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm

The flaws in the TCDC system

Addressing concerns in Whitianga, though it applies across the other towns on the Peninsula.

BY ROB DAVIS

The Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC) system of operation designed to encourage business, property improvements, and positive growth, appears to be fundamentally flawed.

This system, which is supposed to support development and facilitate growth within the community, especially in areas like Whitianga, seems to be severely dysfunctional, a sentiment likely shared across the Coromandel Peninsula.

I understand that the umbrella that the council works under is the RMA - Resource Management Act. There is a lot of criticism of the RMA and previous Prime Ministers and politicians have promised to revise it, edit it, get rid of it, simplify it. However, nothing has happened.

OUR LOCAL SITUATION

The system’s primary goal is to assist people and promote peaceful coexistence amongneighbours, provide housing for renters, foster business growth, and create employment opportunities for the local populace.

However, in reality, it often requires navigating a labyrinth of costly consents, planning procedures, and town growth policies

that are hard to decipher even for fundamental issues.

One of the most significant criticisms is the system’s complexity and the enormous expenses it imposes. Thousands upon thousands of dollars are often spent merely to get a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, which would facilitate decision-making. Instead, the process is convoluted and incomprehensible, lacking the simplicity and transparency that should underpin such a critical service.

Moreover, it seems that basic logic and common sense have no place in the current system.

This inefficiency can lead to situations where the system works against those it is meant to support.

Paradoxically, it does appear to be effective for those who harbour a vendetta or have a dislike for someone or a business, and they lay a complaint which is a significant deviation from its intended purpose.

In essence, the TCDC system, as it stands, is a maze that stifles growth and community well-being rather than promoting it. The discrepancies and inefficiencies within this system need to be addressed urgently to realign it with its original mission of fostering positive growth and development across Whitianga and the entire Peninsula.

COMPLAINTS

The town centre is historical in its layout, with many properties being former residential buildings. The history spans over two council authorities, being the former Coromandel County in the early days. Much information is sparse and undocumented, and what is available can be difficult to confirm, leading to misinterpretation. Hence, one would think that common sense and logic should come into play.

What is fit for many would be fit for all, would it not? Anomalies only come to light when a project is undertaken, at which point the council then acts. Council policies seem to be to “act on complaint,” thereby working for the negative as opposed to the positive. This approach favours the snitch, encouraging people to become informants. Residents are incentivized to report their neighbours and potential businesses. By laying a complaint, without fear of

being identified, individuals can hold up others’ lives, ruin businesses, potentially leading them to face financial ruin.

This punitive approach undermines the spirit of community and collaboration that Whitianga strives for. Yes, we need to curb rogue operators that flout the laws, ignore boundaries, and have total disregard for the common good. But it should not be at the expense of those trying to abide by laws, increase economic activity and prosper. It is essential to strike a balance where enforcement is fair and reasonable, not punitive and excessively expensive, creating a hostile environment that deters positive initiatives.

The current climate fosters an atmosphere of suspicion and animosity, where neighbours are set against each other. This not only destroys the social fabric but also hampers local development and prosperity. A more transparent, logical, and supportive system is needed - one that encourages growth and cooperation, rather than fear and resentment.

Ultimately, the TCDC must revisit its policies and procedures, ensuring they serve the community’s best interests. This includes streamlining processes, reducing unnecessary costs, and fostering a culture of mutual support and understanding.

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CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT

It is time to act and that action needs to come from the TCDC. Why can’t a local council take up this challenge? What they could do immediately is challenge themselves as to how and in what spirit they implement the regulations of the RMA.

A council, through its governance, can enable, facilitate and ease steps regarding setting up small businesses and local projects. What is very burdensome are the fees the Council charges for the many processes they set down which seem excessive, over the top and sometimes unnecessary for the scale and size of a specific application.

It is time for the council to stop hiding behind, “We are simply following central government legislation: For God’s sake challenge that legislation. Serve the people. The end goal can never be to fulfil the requirements of the RMA but to fulfil the original intention of the RMA. Let’s work together to achieve a system that works for all, old and new, existing and envisioned, one that is fair and just.

Only then can Whitianga and the wider Coromandel Peninsula thrive, fulfilling the promises of growth and harmony that the system was initially designed to deliver.

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THROUGH THE PORTAL

So the turkeys want to delay Christmas

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

The interesting thing our politicians are playing with at the moment is a bill to expand the parliamentarian term from three years to four years. The rationale for this is that it will give the government of the day more time to implement their programme. A cynic could suggest it gives all of them a longer period of guaranteed high income with a work rate that, while it is high for many government ministers, is negligible for opposition list MPs.

Hence the title of this week’s pondering. I have no doubt that Parliament will pass this bill as all of the turkeys would prefer to delay the Christmas cull. The question is will they try to make it their decision only or will they be honourable and hold a binding referendum on the matter, giving the people the chance to decide on whether any change is to take place.

The people have had two referendums on a four-year term, in the sixties and nineties. In both

referendums about two thirds of the population said no, so some in Parliament may feel it is best to avoid this type of outcome by taking the decision away from us. Let us hope not.

Many people would vote against the four-year term as they remember governments that would have been even more harmful if they had longer in power. What further destruction could Grant Robertson have submitted the country to if he had had another year. Scary thought, isn’t it?

A few comments have been made on this topic already. For example ex-MP Maurice Williamson has pointed out that when a government changes, the first year is spent just trying to wrestle the bureaucracy into some form of helpful shape.

So he suggested four years for a first term but three years for subsequent terms. I cannot really see that that would work as the mix of government changes after every election. We would in effect have four-year terms despite the rule.

One person writing to the Herald suggested four years would be great for a National led government but only two for a Labour led one. Maybe biased, but I can understand why the writer came up with that idea.

Personally I don’t have too much problem with a four year term providing our MMP system was allowed to function as it should. Unfortunately politicians do not allow this and have turned it into a glorified first past the post system whereby we really only have two choices of governing blocs.

In an ideal world minority parties should be working with the leading party of the day, not just

staying within the bloc they have formed.

In such a world, the Green Party would work with and support a National government if National was the largest party.

Likewise a party such as Act should be able to work with a majority Labour government, preferably in charge of finance. To encourage such an environment we must get rid of the coalition dance fiasco that happens after every election by introducing such electoral laws as;

• The party with the largest vote after the election is automatically the winner and can summon parliament, form the government etc.

• A vote of no confidence, if successful, automatically initiates a general election

What this would do is ensure that the party with the most support from the people automatically gets to form a government. It would also mean that other parties must think carefully before favouring any vote of no confidence as the electorate can

Whitianga,

punish minor parties that are perceived to waste time.

As an example, consider the 2017 election where National won 46% of the vote but could not form a government as NZ First decided to place the minority Labour Party in that position.

With the changes I am suggesting, National would have been the government and would need to discuss with NZ First conditions of their support on any vote of no confidence. No silly auctions, no king making; do you want to be involved with governing or not.

The same discussions could have been held with the Green Party. And if National could not gain the support and lost a vote of no confidence, the electorate would know who brought the government down and could take retribution at the ensuing election.

So I would support a four-year term but only if our political system was tidied up to make it more effective, inclusive and fairer. But I am not going to hold my breath waiting for turkeys to show common sense.

Last week for drawing/colouring Seabirds Competition - My Favourite Seabird

So much to see and do while

We have lots of entries/ first prize is a Family Pass (2 adults 2 children to Tiritiri Matangi Island. Includes return ferry trip and guided tour of the island plus a picnic hamper for the day. This will be a day to remember –a great adventure.

This island is a beautiful sanctuary and reserve with amazing wildlife, great walks and a natural aquarium right at the wharf.

Drop your entry into The Informer Office 14 Monk Street, Whitianga or to The Information Centre (isites) near you.

Open to children ages 5 to 13.

Winner will be announced 11 April and published in 15 April The Informer.

This is co-sponsored by Southern Seabirds and The Informer.

Entries close next Monday 31 March

Enq: info@theinformer.co.nz.

Ph: 027 271 6182

(There is some latitude with the number for the family pass and a second prize will be awarded due to the generosity of a local resident.)

Enlarge this entry form or use an A4 piece of paper

Shifting Titanic deckchairs

BY FLEMMING RASMUSSEN

1. INTRODUCTION:

Our elected Mayor and Councillors want us to believe they have worked diligently to “limit” a proposed rate rise to a “modest 7.7%,” an outcome achieved after our ever-increasing staff advocated for another double-digit increase (+11.4%).

Our elected members are supposed to lead. They are not. They deliberately ignore the fact that we continue to spend money we do not have and cannot afford. Central Government has signalled to Councils to focus on what must be done, not nice-to-haves (backto-basics). Our Councillors are not heeding the advice.

2. (NOT) CUTTING OUR CLOTH:

Why would rates need to increase with anything more than inflation (2.2% per StatNZ)? Councillors argue 7.7% is in the 2024/25 Long Term Plan (LTP). In comparison, adjacent councils have announced lower rate increases than forecasted in their LTPs. TCDC shields behind alleged Central Government-imposed, non-budgeted compliance costs (on balance, a flawed argument). It states 7.7% has only been achieved by identifying “savings” of approx. $6m (CFM broadcast, 12/3/25).

Conveniently, no savings are being achieved in headcount reduction (wages) achievable with the Government’s repeal of the four well-being principles (s 10(1(b)) Local Government Act 2002.

TCDC’s revised FY24/25 budget has $147.8m in expenditure (TCDC 10/12/24 Council meeting, p.193/236 board pack) -lots of opportunities to realise savings. $27.8m is wages, $5.1m finance costs (interest), $78.6m “Other Expenses.” Balance being depreciation/amortisation.

3. TITANIC DECKCHAIRS:

Scrutinising the “$6m savings”, our Councillors have worked so hard to wrestle from the bureaucracy: $1.6m are in Consultants/ Professional Services ($0.75m) and Other OPEX ($0.86m) – both part of above $78.6m (equals 2% saving). The bulk of the alleged savings is $4.28m in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX). It impacts cash flow short term but is not an actual cost reduction (unless the asset is not replaced at end of life). It is kicking the can up the road, knowing it will return. Surprise, whilst tinkering around the edges with an immaterial 2% cost quantum, we continue to plan to spend +$110m in wages (+$28.1m) and “Other Expenses” ($82m) and increase debt (to $113m, which in turn increases future finance costs)

(2024/34 LTP Financial Statements p2 Supporting information and pp91/287, 18 March 2025 TCDC Council Meeting board pack).

4. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM:

We spend money we do not have; money we cannot afford. We spend money on non-core services and activities. It is unsustainable. TCDC is a bloated, too centralised, ineffective bureaucracy requiring a culture change and organisational reset. Our headcount and wage bill are eyewatering (measured against business size). For reasons only known to our Mayor and Councillors, they are unwilling or unable to address this ‘elephant in the room’. They focus on marginal, symbolic change without addressing the real, causative issues.

5. POLICY: FOCUS AND BACK-2-BASICS

As homeowners, we “…face the fastest rates rise in more than twenty years. Rates are out of control … Government is taking action for councils (to) do the basics brilliantly, rather than pursuing expensive extras that burden ratepayers..” per Hon. Simeon Brown, Local Government Minister, (Dec. 2024). He continued, “(t)here is no room for wasteful spending. Councils must scrutinise every

dollar they spend as they prepare their next annual plan”.

Our Mayor and Councillors must give effect to this!

5.1 Rise and Rise in TCDC Rates: The proposed 7.7% rise equates to us paying $117.2m FY2025/26 rates, a $33.8m increase from FY2022/23 ($83.4m) - a mere four (4) months before our incumbent Mayor and Councillors took office. If implemented, our rates will have increased a whopping +36% compounded during their reign. It is excessive. It is unsustainable.

5.2 Remit Proposal: Council to focus on basic services only and do them well. Council must demonstrate fiscal prudence and relentless focus on delivering value to the ratepayer.

Incoming October 2025 Councillors to adopt a fiscal envelope policy, a financial strategy that limits annual rate increases (except for extraordinary circumstances) to the lesser of inflation or 3%. If adopted, this policy will provide a clear framework for managing rate increases and ensure that they remain within reasonable bounds, forcing the organisation to focus on delivering value for money, trimming organisational fat, and delivering efficiencies.

Had this policy been adopted last time you voted (2022), we would have paid $90.4m in rates in FY2025/26 compared to their

proposed $117.2m — an annual $940 average reduction per ratepayer ($26.8m/28,508 rating units).

CONCLUSION

Our rate levels and increases are unsustainable.

We pay rates to receive clean drinking water, storm and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, rubbish pick-up, local roads/walkways (fill the potholes), and cost-effective asset maintenance.

TCDC needs to focus on delivering these basic services and doing so cost-effectively and efficiently.

Our TCDC Councillors’ opaque attempt to justify a 7.7% rate increase is unjustifiable. Instead of addressing structural issues and inefficiencies, they tinker around the edges, delaying the inevitable – analogous to shifting the chairs on the Titanic.

As we approach this year’s local election, it is important to consider what you want for our community. Do you want more of the same, or do you believe we can do better? I think we can do better. I think we can do more with less. What do you think?

Flemming is a lawyer in Whitianga.

Disclosure: Bringing proven expertise, business acumen and common sense to Council, the writer intends to contest the 2025 Local Government Elections (LGE).

visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Thames pool update

A $26.2 million all-indoor facility on Thames High School land is going forward to Council as the preferred option to replace Thames ageing Centennial Pool.

FROM THAMES COROMANDEL DISTRICT COUNCIL

A new aquatics facility for Thames moved a step closer today with Thames Community Board recommending a preferred option in a business case of a $26.2 million all-indoor facility within the grounds of Thames High School.

The proposed facility would contain three pools: a learn-to-swim pool for younger children, a programme pool for therapy, aqua walking and learnto-swim for older children, and a 6-lane 25-metre pool. There would also be an indoor splash pad.

Under this model, capital costs would be reduced by building the upper section of the aquatic facility with ‘structural fabric’ - a curved steel roof holding two layers of structural fabric with insulation sandwiched in between. A similar structure has been used in Kaitāia’s Te Hiku Sports Hub which opened in 2024 and is reported to be per-

forming well.

The average annual cost of the recommended all-indoor facility per ratepayer over 30 years would be around $682 if funded entirely by Thames Ward.

At 50 years of age, Thames Centennial Pool is reaching the end of its useful life. It is built on an urupā burial site and historically, it has been agreed with Ngāti Maru that the pool will be removed.

“We recognise that having year-round warm water pools for learn-to-swim, fitness, wellbeing, leisure and rehabilitation is hugely important to Thames and the surrounding community,” said Community Board Chair Adrian Catran. In a 2024 community survey, 81% of respondents said it was of vital or high importance.

“At the same time, the

Above is an artists’ impression of the proposed pool complex; the need to learn to swim will not go disappear from our region.

issue of affordability has been uppermost in the Board’s mind,” said Mr Catran. “Finding a way to make the pool replacement affordable to the community is a major challenge.”

The Community Board has asked staff to draw up a report on funding options for Council to consider.

The business case with details of the proposed facility completes over three years’ work investigating community needs, sites, technical specifications, build options and costs.

(senior citizens forecast to comprise 47% of Thames’ population by 2054).

TIME FOR A CLEAN-OUT

From NZ Herald

Tuesday 18 March Act Party gears up for big push in local body politics.

David Seymour reckons “better representation” is needed on councils. He said the party would be targeting everywhere from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

Candidates would be expected to raise money to fund their campaigns.

“You’re not going to see helicopter candidates funded from outside your town ... If you can’t fundraise money

MORE IDEAS THAN EXPECTED

Noel started something very good. It was an Ideas/Suggestion Box – positive ideas to advance Whitianga and Mercury Bay. He placed it at The Bike Park in a sunny position for people to see. There has been an overwhelming response – lots of comments and some strong and creative ideas. He is sorting through them. Many are about the Bike Park but some are for

for your campaign, maybe people are trying to tell you something.”

Seymour highlighted Act’s key focuses in Government, such as addressing the cost of living, wasteful spending, and co-governance, and suggested Act councillors would prioritise core issues like these, such as lowering rates and scrapping “nice-tohaves”.

“We want to end wasteful spending, end massive rate rises, end the war on cars, and start treating people respectfully, regardless of race.”

the whole region. Thank you Noel for your positive approach to involving people.

apartments

Our open plan, single level apartments feature covered balconies with fantastic views of the sea, Kauaeranga River and mountains.

Noel Hewlett's with his Ideas/Suggestion Box.

MOTORING

Economic pressures influencing new vehicle registrations

BY JACK BIDDLE

New Vehicle Registrations in February 2025 showed some healthy signs for some sectors, were sluggish for others and in sharp decline for the past trend setters.

New Zealand’s new vehicle registrations in February 2025 totalled 9,809 units which reflected a 1.5% increase compared to February 2024 and a 2.8% increase from February 2023. No doubt the new passenger vehicle industry as a whole will take any increase as a positive sign after a long spell of average sales results, but there still appears to be some challenging times ahead.

So, as in the past, depending on which camp individual players within the industry sit, it’s better news for some than others but the big question remains, will it last?

While this modest growth

hopefully indicates some form of market stabilisa tion, the new challenge for the industry is reading the market and the ongoing shifts in consumer and business purchasing behaviours.

Light passenger vehicle registrations surged in February, driven by sustained demand for SUVs and hybrid models. Hybrid vehicle uptake in February was actually slightly below the 2024 full-year average at 33.4% (down from 35.9%).

Electric vehicle (EV) registrations remained sluggish at 7.0% of the total sales, compared to 7.3% in 2024 while light and heavy commercial vehicle registrations declined sharply, influenced no doubt by broader economic pressures and cautious business sentiment regarding fleet renewals.

In their recent press statement, the Motor Industry Association offered some

words of caution for the industry moving forward.

“The February 2025 vehicle registration figures indicate a shifting market landscape” said Chief Executive Aimee Wiley. “Total industry registrations have increased slightly with the most notable trend being the widening gap between passenger vehicle growth and commercial vehicle decline. The significant drop in commercial vehicle sales signals

an ongoing contraction in demand, influenced by economic conditions, infrastructure investment cycles, and broader business sentiment. Tighter business spending and a cautious approach to capital investment translate into delayed fleet renewals and lower commercial vehicle uptake.”

Wiley also emphasised that while consumer demand for SUVs and hybrid vehicles continues to grow, the pace of electric vehicle adoption remains sluggish, posing a challenge in meeting stricter CO2 targets.

“Successfully navigating this transition is essential to maintaining vehicle affordability and supporting a well-balanced, sustainable market. While hybrid vehicle adoption continues to grow, electric vehicle (EV) uptake remains sluggish. The challenge for the industry is aligning supply with regulatory requirements and actual consumer

demand, ensuring that a range of vehicles remain accessible, practical, and suited to the evolving needs of Kiwi buyers."

Wiley added.

The other concern for both the industry and consumers is the trade-in and subsequent resale value of the EV fleet. With a lack of high demand for new sales, the value of used EV vehicles will surely become an issue if it hasn’t already become one to date. The current owner data base has always been a good go-to for sales staff to encourage customers to upgrade their current vehicles to a new model. It could all become a bit touchy when trade-in numbers are discussed.

It’s still very early days, but commercial vehicle sales will be monitored with interest as well over the coming months. The Ranger has become a star performer for Ford in New Zealand for a very long time but the company will struggle to fill the void with other models, judging by current sales, if the commercial sales decline continues.

Toyota on the other hand continues to remain strong due to their much wider and popular portfolio of vehicles. And keep an eye on the petrol plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 ute which is a newbie on the commercial scene that has already had a big impact in this market segment.

Stan is pictured here not too along ago with his youngest grandson, Logan. Unfortunately Stan has taken a turn for the worse healthwise this week, so not well enough to do his weekly column.

SPORTS

MERCURY BAY BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB

Over a stunning Whitianga weekend the Mercury Bay Bowls Club held it's Men's Singles Championships.

After games played on the Saturday the Quarter Finals took place Sunday followed by the semis and the Final.

Doug Sargent took on Russell Farrant with Russell winning through.

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

March Pairs Round Three

North/South: 1, Jo Feasey & Doreen Wernham 62.50; 2, Robyn Waters & Donna Harvey 59.50; 3, Johanna Bonnar & Peter McNeil 45.00.

East/West: 1, Jenny Prince & Nolene Kirkpatrick 62.00; 2, Chris Death & Jocelyn Taylor 60.50; 3, Jill Huston & Lee Hughes 46.00.

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Purangi Pairs Week Three

Tuesday, 18 March

North South: 1, Lois Page and Norma Hart 57.50; 2, Robyn and Peter Hogg 56.00; 3, Amy Hyde and Don Barry 54.00.

East West: 1, Bob Schibli and Bev Dickie 64.50; 2, Robyn Waters and Jean Myles 58.00; 3, Carol

Henwood and Dave Dylla 55.00.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

March Competition Round Three

Wednesday 19 March

North/South: 1, Bob Schibli & Pete Hogg 60.0; 2, Kate Palmano & Gavin Hedwig 56.7; 3, Geoff Jervis & Amy Hyde 49.6.

East/West: 1, Robyn Hogg & Don Barry 69.6; 2, Susan Swan & Jenny Layton 56.3; 3, Rose Tegg & Sheryll Roberts 55.0. Cook Pairs Round Three

Thursday 20 March

1, Ischelle Stevenson & Norma Hart 60.3; 2, Hillary Scott & Gavin Hedwig 59.5; 3, Angela Cook & Faith Stock 53.2 .

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

Fifteen players this week, so 501 singles were played. Two players went unbeaten through all four sets, they were Greg Healy and Rex Donaldson. A one game final was played with Rex Donaldson winning a very close game with both players on a 32 finish. Highest finish for the men this week was 76, scored by Kevin Taylor. No finishes over 50 by the ladies this week.

Two players scored 180's this week, they were Stoney and Malcolm Cryer. New players most welcome, names in by 6,15pm for a 6.30 start every Tuesday.

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday, 19 March

Eleven players on Wednesday and it was Ken Gibson, Greg Murphy and Rob Rielly with two straight wins each to challenge the finals. Rob won the drawn bye and Greg beat Ken in the semifinal to move through to meet Rob in the final. This was a very close frame with Rob snatching victory and the cash prize. Runner up Greg Murphy and with two wins Ken Gibson, Wayne Ratrick and Ian Baumgren. Highest break Jason Smith 18.

Saturday 22 March

Best of three frames: Ten players on Saturday and it was Bob Haase and Greg Murphy with two straight wins to challenge the final frame. What a great game

this was ending in a draw and the black having to be respotted where it was sunk by Bob to take the win and the cash prize. With two wins Greg Murphy ( runner up), Jason Smith, Peter Schultz and Ian Baumgren

MERCURY BAY PICKLEBALL

CLUB

Q1 – Round 15 – Tuesday 18

March

Court 1: 1, Hakan Nedjat; 2, Jim Stephens; 3, Justin Woolley.

Court 2: 1, Dan Emmott; 2, Jim Gavegan; 3, Graeme Eady.

Court 3: 1, Tom Duncan; 2, Grahame Christian; 3, Trevor Hayde.

Court 4: 1, Josh Muwanguzi; 2, Rachel Johnstone; 3, Brenda Reid.

Round 16

Court 1: 1, Justin Woolley; 2, Jim Gavegan; 3, Tim Stephens.

Court 2: 1, Eisaku Tsumura; 2, Tony Minto; 3, Graeme Eady.

Court 3: 1, Josh Muwanguzi; 2, Trevor Hayde; 3, Ian Hogg.

Court 4: 1, Chris Hawthorn; 2, James Docking; 3, Hamish Judson

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

Thursday 20 March

Winners: Ray Rout, Ian Sanderson and Christine Mitchell

Runners Up: Keith Denney, Cheryl Henderson and Shirley Marshall

Good Sports: Alan Henderson, Judy Cullinane and Jan Harvey

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

9-hole Stableford and Putts

Tuesday 18 March

Stableford: 1= Steve Borlase, Lauren Stephens; 3, Wayne Morrison; 4, Neil Robertson.

Putts: 1, Steve Borlase Stableford Cooks Beach

Building Supplies Monthly Medal

Thursday 20 March

Winner of monthly medal: 1st on count back - John Hamilton; 2, Wayne Morrison; 3, Lauren Stephens.

18- hole Stableford

Saturday 22 March

1, Frank Geoghegan; 2, Mike Farrance; 3, Neil Vowles.

4BBB: Frank Geoghegan and Neil Vowles

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

St Patrick’s Day Tournament

Ambrose Net Medal

Sunday 16 March

1, The Clover Drivers - Nick Lambert, Polly Lambert, Paul Shaw Net 61.83; 2, Shenanigans - Kevin Adlam, Shane Webster, Justin Wilson Net 62.17; 3, Cordyline Celts - Barry Bowen, Sandra Bowen, Richard Wilkinson Net 62.83.

9-hole Men’s Net Medal

Monday 17 March

1, Graham Kemp; 2, Rey Bertling; 3, Barry Titchmarsh.

9-hole Ladies Three Blind

Mice

Tuesday 18 March

1, Merrin James 18-hole Men Pensioners Versus Taxpayers – Stableford

Wednesday 19 March

Taxpayers Won: 1, Allan Trow; 2, Quentin Francis; 3=, Will Hamill, Russell Barnett, Ivan Adams.

Twos: Allan Trow #5 and #18; Glenn LeLievre #7; Paul Barnard # 18; Damien Dougherty #18; Will Hamill #18.

Nearest the Pin#18: Paul Barnard 9-hole Men’s Stableford

Thursday 20 March

1, Noel Rogers; 2, John Schoutens; 3, David Ellis. 18-hole Ladies Shootout

Stableford

1, Sandra Bowen; 2, Brenda Riggs.

18-hole Saturday Mixed Haggle Stableford

Saturday 22 March

1, Chrissie Smith; 2, Brent Holtom; 3=, Cathy Drake-Wells, Brian Tomlinson, Quentin Francis, Tracey Mulligan.

Twos: Teri Tomlinson # 7, Quentin Francis #18.

Nearest the Pin#18: Quentin Francis.

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

9-hole Women - Stableford

Tuesday 18 March

Div 1: 1, Glennis Drane; 2, Gaylene Imms; 3, Audrey Vickers.

Div 2: 1, Jenny Cotterell; 2, Jean Hancock; 3, Marinka

Hood.

9-hole Mixed - Stableford

1, Peter Chaffin; 2, Patrick Gonthier; 3, Alan Baradale.

NTP #3: Patrick Gonthier, NTP #6: Eddie Lyle. 18-hole Women

Wednesday 19 March

Div 1: 1, Sharyn Smith; 2, Diane Eccles; 3, Anita Ellmers.

Div 2: 1, Jillian Kent; 2, Colleen De Villiers; 3, Angela Cook.

NTP #4: Angela Cook; NTP #18: Anita Ellmers

Longest Putt: Jo Geoghegan 18-hole Men - Stableford 1, Greg Peterken; 2, Ron Watson; 3, Mark Boe.

Two’s: Ron Watson, Dominik Szparagowski.

Div 1 Gross: Mark Boe; Div 2 Gross: Ron Watson.

9-hole Mixed – Stableford

Friday 21 March

1, Glennis Drane; 2, Patrick Gonthier; 3, Roger Pheasant. Twos: Graeme Heathcote

NTP #2: Eddie Lyle, NTP #4: Graeme Heathcote. 18-hole Men – Stableford

Saturday 22 March

1, Joe Kaponga (Putaruru); 2, Steve Geach; 3, Toy Foster. Twos: Paul Lupton, Johnny Lister, Matty Menzies.

Div 1: Gross - Steve Geach; NTP - Graham Eccles; Longest DriveGraham Eccles.

Div 2: Gross - Joe Kaponga; NTP - Paul Lupton; Longest Drive - N/A.

TAIRUA GOLF CLUB

Saturday 15 March

1, Kath Hale; 2, Ross Reid; 3, Brian Cole; 4, Blake Hughes

Tuesday 18 March

1, Kay Van Lubeck; 2, Norm Hammond; 3, Jan Stanley; 4, Robyn Hunter

Thursday 20 March

9 hole Scramble

1, Sue McDonnell; 2, Gabrielle Tucker; 3, Graham Eltringham; 4, Kay Van Lubeck

18 Hole Scramble

1, Warwick Rogers; 2, Tony Anderson; 3, Murray Graham; 4, Maree Jamieson

Saturday 22 March

1, Tony Anderson; 2, Brian Cole; 3, Glen Farrell; 4, Michael McCann

with an

Contact: Ernest Raina 021 716 852 or 07 211 9793 (Matarangi office) ernest@rainest.co.nz

Russell Farrant winner Men’s Singles Championship

GAMES AND PUZZLES

Sudoku Puzzle

Observer (7)

Extinct bird (4)

Stunned (5)

Momentary misjudgment (5)

Carved artistically (8)

Type of spice (7)

Photographer’s tool (6)

Drag with effort (4)

Evaluate (4)

Female servant (4)

northern horizon with much fainter but distinctly reddish Mars off to its right. Mars lies next to the twin heads of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. Castor, the lower of the two, is a very unusual stellar system with 6 stars orbiting around each other in a complex dance. The night sky there would be very dynamic and interesting. Venus and Mercury are now lost in the Sun’s glare while Saturn has moved to its other side and makes a very low reappearance in the dawn eastern horizon at the end of the week.

Tuesday, 25 March: There will be an extremely low ISS pass from 5:51am in the south and a bright Tiangong pass from 8:25pm in the west. Wednesday, 26 March: Faint Saturn has passed to the other side of the Sun and is just visible very low in the dawn eastern horizon directly below the thin crescent Moon. Thursday, 27 March: The crescent Moon is closer and directly above Saturn at dawn and we have a good evening Tiangong pass from 8:01pm in the west. Friday, 28 March: The very thin crescent Moon sits just above faint Saturn at dawn. Tuesday, 1 April: The crescent Moon sits just below and to the left of the Pleiades/Matariki at dusk. There will be a very low ISS pass in the south from 6:38am. Wednesday, 2 April: The crescent Moon is now about half way between Matariki and bright Jupiter at dusk.

Proudly sponsored by Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Café in Whitianga. Hand deliver, mail, scan/ photograph or email your entry to The Coromandel Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga, or info@ theinformer. co.nz to reach us by 12.00 noon on Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from Espy Café directly.

Last week’s winner CONGRATULATIONS Julie Burns-Nevin

Sudoku instructions

Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of 9 boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once.

WHAT'S ON

OP SHOPS

Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop –Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open every Mon-Sat 10am-2pm.

St John Opportunity Shop – 29 Albert St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm and Sat 9.30am-2pm.

St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. 9.30am-1pm Wed-Sat. Social Services Op-shop – 15 Coghill St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-2pm. Donations welcome. SPCA Op-shop – 2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 9am-4pm.

MONTHLY

AA Driver Licensing – Monday 24 March and Friday 11 April. In the Mercury Bay Service Centre Community Board Room in Monk St (behind the council offices).

American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga – Club meetings first Sunday of the month, 11am at Buffalo Beach Reserve for cars and coffee. Phone Reg and Julie Smith on 027 493 5822. Cooks Beach Garden Circle –Last Thurs of the month 11.15am-2.30pm. New members welcome. Ph Anne on 07 866 0268 for more information. Craft Group – Meets first Saturday of the month 10am-3pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr, carpark end. Work on your own craft (stitching, colouring in, scrapbook, card making anything goes). Bring your lunch and enjoy mixing with other crafty people. Any queries ph Alison 021 0508 772 or Sally 027 3962 383.

Kūaotunu Dune Care – Every third Wed of the month. To get involved, please email kuaotunudunecare@gmail.com.

Hospice Waikato’s Bereavement Support Group

– Lost a loved one? Join Hospice Waikato’s monthly bereavement support group. Connect over morning tea with others who understand. Held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. 10.30am to 12.00pm at Whitianga Social Services. Registration required. Contact Hospice Waikato to register at 07 859 1260. Mercury Bay Model Railway Club – Monthly meet. Contact. Damon 0273551650 Mercury Bay Shooting Federation – Muzzle loader, rimfire, centre fire, military, pistol. Email mbsfsecretary@gmail.com

Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Fourth Monday of every month, 10am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Joan on 07 866 3801 or 027 275 1372.

BI-MONTHLY

Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc – We meet bimonthly for either coffee mornings or luncheons. Learn more about us by phoning Merle 07 867 1737.

FORTNIGHTLY

Greeting Card Making – The second and fourth Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. All materials provided. Contact Rev. Gillian Reid on 021 781 081 or just turn up.

Knit for a Purpose – First and third Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. Ph Gillian Reid on 021 781081 for further details, or just turn up. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre – Spin, knit, weave, crochet. First and third Wednesday every month, 10am-1pm, supper room of Town Hall. Phone Vanessa 027 896 5037. Email vandoo555@gmail. com.

Mercury Bay Quilters – 10am-4pm on the first and third Mondays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Contact Margaret on 021 140 4016. Whitianga Tramping Group – Every second Sunday at 8.30am. Phone Wally 021 907 782 or Lesley 021 157 9979 for more information.

WEEKLY OR MORE

Alcoholics Anonymous – The Whitianga Big Book Group meets every Thursday at 6.30pm at St Peter the Fisherman Church, Dundas Street. Phone 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) for more information. Al-Anon Serenity Group – For those affected by someone else’s drinking. Every Wednesday at 1.30pm. Phone Pauline on 021 086 10955 for more info.

Boys Brigade – An adventure, activity, and values based ministry for boys. For boys aged 5-13 years old. Tues 5.30-7pm For information contact Robyn 020 409 39674.

Chess Club – Monday nights 6.30-9.30pm, MB Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 0272117195 or brettsoanes16@ hotmail.com

Chinwag Café – Every Friday from 10.30am12.30pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. A place for over 50s to meet other people, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and have a chinwag.

Coroglen Farmers Market every Sunday until Easter at Coroglen Gumtown Hall (SH25), from 9am-1pm.

Coffee and Discussion Group – Every Sunday, 2-4pm, at The Lost Spring. Topics are open and respect shown. No charge. Convener Peter H. Wood. Cooks Beach Care Group – Join our friendly team and learn about coastal conservation. Come weeding and planting. Thursday mornings. Register www.cooksbeachcare.org.nz

Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club – Starts back 26 February, Cooks Beach Community Hall, 1.45pm. First month free. Ph Coral 021 2303 944. Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm, Lovers Rock, Robinson Road. All breeds and sizes welcome to a very sociable group. Ph Jenny on 021 186 5797. Hahei Contract Bridge Club – Every Tuesday 12.30pm at the Hahei Community Hall. Learners and casual welcome. Contact Don Barry 021 741 959 or Robyn Hogg 021543015.

Meditation Classes – Thursday evening. Spiritual, heart, soul development. Sacred energy, chakra activations, working with spiritual guides. Open forum conversation, Thursdays, 6.30pm at Flat 1, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga. Cost $10. Contact Verna 027 320 0079, vernajcarr@gmail.com.

Meditation Stress Reduction Circle – Whitianga – Mondays from 7.30-9pm at the Embassy of Friendship, 5 Coghill St. More info Steffen Lindner (Counsellor, Therapist & Mindfulness Facilitator) ph 022 0853 121 or email steffen@eof.nz

Mercury Bay Badminton Club – Thurs 5-7pm, 4 courts at MBAS gym. Please note club nights currently limited to existing club members due to high attendance levels. Contact: Steve 027 211 3568

Mercury Bay Badminton – Every Wednesday 9-11am, at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. Social badminton. Casual players and visitors are welcome. Players of all levels, ages 16+. Phone Carol 027 474 7493 for more information.

Mercury Bay Bowling and Sports Club – 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Social Bowls, Thursday & Sunday at 12.30pm, Contact Steve Williams 027 855 2772.

Mercury Bay Bridge Club – Every Wednesday at 1pm and every Thursday at 7pm at the MB Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. For more information, phone Gavin on 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir – Mondays 6.15pm-8.15pm, The Music Room, Mercury Bay Area School. Start date 3rd February. All welcome. No auditions needed. Phone Kate 027 2709058 for details.

Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tues and Fri from 9-11am, location advised prior. For more information, Phone: 027 954 7434please email mbenvironmentaltrust@gmail.com or go to www.mbet.co.nz.

20th April 10am to 3pm at the

If you have an activity or group or the existing information is incorrect, let The Coromandel Informer know. Call 07 866 2090, email info@theinformer.co.nz. Our What’s On page is not guaranteed to run every week as often space is restricted. Consider paying for a classified advert if you want to guarantee your activity runs every week.

Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club – Every Thursday evening, Whitianga Town Hall, 6.45pm. New members and visitors welcome. Phone Cheryl 027 452 7887 or Sandie 021 825 667 for more information.

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club – At Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Every Tuesday Members Night 5.30-7.30pm; Sundays 3.00-6.00pm- Open to New players (Training & equipment provided, first session free) and all members and visitors. $5 per session. Moewai Sportspark Outdoor Sessions-weather dependant & advised per our facebook page. Matarangi (Matai Pl Courts) Summer Hrs-Thurs 5-7pm, Sat 9-11am. Contact Grant 0223836351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club Thurs & Sunday, Contact Tim 0278432683 or refer their facebook page.

Mercury Bay Squash Club – New members/ enquiries to Dawn Thurgood mercbaysquash@ gmail.com

Mercury Bay Table Tennis – Every Tues, 9-11.30am at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Ph Anne on 07 869 5162 or 027 565 5575 for more info.

Mercury Bay Tennis Club – Social tennis at Lyon Park on Thursdays at 5.30pm. All welcome. Ph Jason 022 186 7992 or Carl 027 680 5570. Oneness Meditation Centre – The centre focuses on the meditative art of going deeper within. Learn how to meditate, breath, calm the mind, relieve stress, anxiety and be a calm, peaceful, courageous, dynamic human being. Every Monday, 9.3011.00am. Further info. text Linda 027 650 4881 or email linda_c@orcon.net.nz

Spiritual Conversation Mornings – Every Tues and Wed, 10.30am-12pm, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga the Starlight Centre. Grab a coffee and join in some great conversation where we talk about topics and subjects that have meaning. $5 donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079.

Tai Chi for beginners – Town Hall, Mondays 6-7pm. Gold coin donation. Ph Tony 027 333 5146 for more info.

Tai Do Martial Arts – Town Hall, Tues/Wed 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146.

Tairua Contract Bridge Club – Every Monday at 12.30pm at the Tairua Bowling Club, 44 Hornsea Rd. Contact Lynnette Flowers 021 252 4709 or Johanna Bonnar 027 466 3726.

The Knitwits – A knitting group that meets sociably every Thursday from 10.30 to 1.30pm. Held at Social Services building, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. If you would like to join us please contact Cathy Lines on 0211171037 for more details.

Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am-12.30pm every Wednesday morning at the Hahei Community Centre. Ages newborn-5years. We invite all parents, carers, visitors and grandparents. Contact whenuakiteareaplaygroup@gmail.com

Whitianga Art Group – Every Thurs/Fri 10am4pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information.

Whitianga Menz Shed – Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. At the Moewai Park end of South Highway, past the diesel truck stop. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am-12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@playcentre. org.nz or 027 880 3947.

Whitianga Senior Citizens Club – Indoor bowls and card games. Mondays at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, 1pm-4pm. Join us for a fun time and afternoon tea, 55+ age group. Phone Lionel Lawrence (president) on 027 274 6964 for more info.

Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tues 9am start. For more information phone Margaret on 027 7802 744. All levels welcome.

Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga – Wed 5-6pm, Room 10, Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr. Support to lose weight wisely. Check out our Facebook page or phone Cecily on 027 294 1750 for more information.

Yoga for Everyone - beginners/retirees/inflexibles welcome. Weds 7.15-8.30am. Sats 8.15-9.45am. Gentle Simple. $25/session. Txt Rosemary 0274 489326 for info.

DANCING

Argentine Tango Dance Class – Fridays, Town Hall, Whitianga, 5.30-7.30pm. No prior experience or partner necessary. Text Sergio for questions 027 410 2454

Belly Dancing – Contact Catherine Corcoran, 021 210 2438 or smile@catherinecorcoran.com. Weekend classes twice a month at 4pm. Mercury Bay Line Dancing Club – Tuesdays beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Seniors 12.452.30pm; Thursdays absolute beginners 11.30am12.30pm, improvers/seniors 12.45-2.30pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850 or Glynis 021 1099 155. SALSA/Merengue/Bachata and Cha Cha – Contact Molly, events@beatfairy.com. Every Monday from 6.30-7.30pm at Monkey House. $20 per class which includes a drink.

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St, $5 per session. New Beginners, Wed 2.45-3.45pm, Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 121.30pm; . Contact Cecily 027 294 1750 or Kathy 027 4321 353 Zumba – Wednesdays at 5.30pm at gym for Zumba and Step Zumba on Mondays at 4.45pm at the Whitianga Town Hall in Monk St. GROUP INFO

Mercury Bay Athletics – For info contact mercurybayathletics@gmail.com

Mercury Bay Lions Club – New members are welcome. Email mercurybaylions@gmail.com. Phone Barb 0274 075 268. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated – Learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Sheryll Carruthers 021 022 62504 or email seniornet.whitianga.admin@gmail. com.

Whitianga Bike Park – 144 Moewai Rd, Whitianga. Open 24/7. Many bike tracks available, picnic areas, BBQs and walking trails. Donations welcome on entry. If you wish to volunteer or for programme enquiries, contact John 027 366 4606. Whitianga Gun Club – For information, phone Mike Deverell 0274 959 477 or Graham Sutcliffe on 021 846 655.

Whitianga Community Patrol – Monitors the township and neighbourhood. If interested in volunteering, ph Gary 027 391 3043.

• Whitianga Lions will be manning the sausage sizzle

• Ice cream cart and coffee cart

• Prizes for the children

• Games are targeted for children aged 3 to 11 years old but everyone is welcome

• Entry $10 for a family of four or $3 per person

Organised by Whitianga Lions Club. All money raised goes to the Cancer Society Lions Lodge. Rain day alternative 21st April.

Lexi van 't Lard, 2, with the teddy bear she won at last year's picnic.

TRADES & SERVICES

Carpet Laying

Covering

Phone:

TRADES & SERVICES

MAHON PAINTERS LTD

Keith Mahon Painters Ltd

PUBLIC NOTICES DEATH NOTICES

A massive thanks goes out to Peninsula Roofing and Scaffolding for the seating put up to cater for all of our Swimming Sports Events for year 1-13. We truly appreciate your ongoing support with our school sports events.

EDWARDS, Merle Marie

Peacefully at Waikato Hospital, with family at her side on 20th March, 2025; in her 86th year.

Loved wife of the late Bill. Loved sister of Noel and the late Gary; Mother of Grant and Kyra, Vicki and Steve; Grandmother of Chelsea, Andrew, Ashleigh, Georgia, and Mitchell; and Great-Grandmother of Fletcher, Richie and Zoe.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Catholic Church,16 Campbell Street, Whitianga on Monday 31st March at 11am, followed by private cremation. In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to the Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust. Family invite you to join them for refreshments at the Mercury Bay Club following the service.

LARGE FURNISHED ROOM

RUGBY NEWS

Saturday 22nd March saw the Mercury Bay Marlin Senior A side travel to Taupiri for the final pre-season hit out. Hot, dry, dusty conditions saw Taupiri with early field position and ball possession, which put a lot of pressure on the Bay line.

Mercury Bay defended well for long periods and finally broke out and went

FIREWOOD

on attack, scoring a good try. The score remained 5-0 until the final 30 minutes, when Taupiri scored 3 tries to make it 19-5.

Mercury Bay scored again, just before fulltime to finish the game 19-12 to Taupiri.

All in all a good run for the boys with the first competition game next week at Waitakaruru.

The best view of the rugby being played at Rhodes Park.

RUGBY AT RHODES PARK

Lock, Koen Liddell (Blue and black) leaping high and taking the ball. Koen was 2024 head boy at Thames High School. Both Premier and Development players were on the field = at Rhodes Park on Saturday for a pre-season game ahead of the opening games this coming weekend. next weekend. More information on Thames Rugby social media pages - Facebook and Instagram. Leamington won against Thames 26-19.

Mercury Bay Grey Power committee. Linda Cholmondeley Smith – Acting President Ph: 07 8665516 Phone calls checked Mon-Fri 9-5pm.