BASKER ROAST NIGHT
ALADDIN, THE MUSICAL –
MAGICAL!
Local talent outstanding and community production team relentless. Disney doesn’t let us down with a great framework for success.
BY LIZ SIMS
The opening night of Disney’s musical theatre production
White as the charismatic Aladdin, Olivia Graham as the enigmatic Genie, and Zhyrra Alexie Honrada as the beautiful but strong-willed Princess Jasmine. Connor Maclean played the scheming villain Jafar and his sidekick Lago was played by Tahlia Osborne.
Aladdin Junior was a dazzling success. It was produced by Mercury Bay Performing Arts in partnership with the Coromind Magazine. This was the Mercury Bay Performing Arts debut performance and is a credit to all who are involved.
Through song, dance, and theatre, street urchin Aladdin and his three lively friends take us on a merry jaunt through the lanes and markets of a colourful Middle Eastern city. We meet the beautiful Jasmine – a princess in disguise – with whom Aladdin falls in love, and we watch Aladdin and company stumble upon a magic lamp inhabited by a playful genie.
We revel as they outsmart the villainous palace official, Jafar, and his treacherous companions, leading to a moral and happy ending.
The main characters are expertly cast and performed true to character: Isabella
There are many others who have played their parts so well, and it is the full cast of children and youth – of varying ages –having fun and pouring everything into their performances that make this show such a success. The familiar and new songs are delivered with gusto and the costumes are bright and gorgeous. The dancing is a joy to watch and the solo dance, a mesmerizing treat. This has been a true community effort with the support of many local sponsors. It is testament to producer Fabian Roberts and his large team who made it happen. Of course, it’s the incredible cast of children and youth from around the Coromandel who truly bring the magic to life. Go and see it – and be prepared to be transported into Aladdin’s world through music, theatre, dance, and colour.
New major sponsor and new dimensions for Art Expo
Whitianga Lions Club has two major sponsors for this year’s approaching Art Expo in Dayle Candy and David Frew of Harcourts Coromandel Beaches and Harcourts Coromandel Beaches. It is all going to happen on King’s Birthday Weekend with a gala opening night on the Friday, 30 May.
Dayle Candy says, “ Our decision (both mine and Dave Frews) to support this Lions Club fundraiser was first of all based on the cause.
The Cancer Society Lions Lodge in Hamilton provides a very needed service. This essential service provides accommodation free to patients undergoing treatment for cancer at Waikato Hospital, plus a key family support person. A reasonable number of these people come from the Coromandel Peninsula.”
But the other reason for Dayle and Dave to have Harcourts Coromandel Beaches sponsoring the Art Expo is the excellent work of Lions in this region. “Project Mammogram (Whitianga and Mercury Bay Lions) raised $350,000 in just over 24 months to buy a mammogram machine. I believe the Lions punch above their weight in what they have achieved, and
let’s hope we can get a machine in Whitianga, because I think it’s outstanding, it’s a very impressive achievement.”
Dave and Dayle also enjoy the art and the creative side of people. “We are in awe of the abilities of people that live on the Coromandel and we like to be a part of showcasing our location,” says Dayle.
Dayle adds that a great deal of credit must also go to the many local businesses that support these fundraising efforts again and again. She believes that they
really value this community and what it has to offer residents, holidaymakers, visitors, and tourists.
“Our local businesses give the message that it’s a great place to live.”
When Dayle and her husband David first moved from Auckland to Whitianga in 2018, having established themselves as residential real estate agents in Auckland, they were delighted to discover so many new opportunities.” We branched out into selling commercial, rural, and lifestyle,” says Dave. “It meant that we
could service our clients with all their property needs under our own companies’ banner and ensure the same high services standards across the board.”
Their enthusiasm led to opening up Harcourts branches in Tairua, Cooks Beach and Coromandel Township. And like the people they have assisted, Dayle and David have moved through life changes, most recently selling their share in Harcourts Coromandel Beach Realty to their business partner, Philippa Evans. They will remain as independent real estate agents, a step they planned to take as it brings them back into the community at a closer level, while also giving them more leisure time.
“Supporting the Art Expo is a great way to give back,” says Dayle. As well as their financial support, Dayle, David and some of the Harcourts team will help over the King’s Birthday Weekend and they’ve also been busy sorting out an auction and prizes for opening night.
See poster details page 19
“We love auctions! I believe quite strongly it is the single best way to sell property…and its a fantastic way to sell art. When you get a lot of buyers it’s exciting,
because there’s a lot of theatre around it. There’s a bit of adrenalin and you can have a lot of fun and achieve a good result.
In real estate an auction can be very rewarding for a seller and a buyer because they can see other people want that property and they can feel reassured about their purchase. There are a lot of positives in the five minutes it takes to run an auction, but you have to have people there that want the products.
We need people at the opening Friday night of the Art Expo in Whitianga Town Hall to bid on the wonderful prizes the community has donated. And we will have just as much fun on Friday night as we do on-site selling a house. Also on offer are the wonderful art pieces from our artists, 25% of each sale will go to the Cancer Trust.
The Whitianga Lions Art Expo presented by Dayle Candy and David Frew of Harcourts Coromandel Beaches Realty runs from opening night, May 30 (5.30pm-8pm), Saturday and Sunday - May 31 & June 1(10am-4pm) and Monday, June 2 (10am-noon). Entry is free, but if you want to buy a bird painting, it sounds like you’ll have to be quick!
Dayle Candy and David Frew enjoying the sunshine outside Harcourts.
High Court action again for New Chum/Wainuiototo
PreserveNewChumforEveryone(PNC4E)isbacktotheHighCourtinJunetochallengethelatestEnvironmentCourt decisiontomakenofurtherchangestotheNaturalCharactermappingatNewChum/Wainuiototo.
PRESS RELEASE
New Chum/Wainuiototo is a world class wilderness beach, pristine and free from development, on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. It has outstanding natural character, significant biodiversity values, magnificent landscapes and seascapes, and significant cultural and archaeological values for Maori.
“All of these values are dependent on there being no houses close to or overlooking the beach. Houses that are visible and in earshot of the New Chum Beach and Bay would destroy these.
It’s the last of the Coromandel wilderness beaches that is accessible to the public.
Although the headland at the north end of the beach was publicly purchased to protect it from development in 2021, the battle to protect the land behind the middle of the beach continues.”
John Drummond Chair PNC4E.
A Structure Plan was promoted by Northern Land Property Ltd through the TCDC District Plan
process that would allow 25 houses on their land behind New Chum / Wainuiototo.
“Since 2013, PNC4E has participated at every stage of the TCDC District Plan process. Submissions, appearances at the local hearings, consideration of the decision, appeals, three years of drawn-out mediations, appearances at three separate Environment Court hearings, consideration of the decisions, a High Court appeal in 2023 and now a further appeal to the High Court in June 2025. We are the only
party to appeal this decision.”
“We have had some successes with the earlier decisions of the Environment Court and the High Court. We have had to engage experts in Planning, Landscape, Ecology, and Law to speak for us at Environment Court and High Court hearings as well as during the mediations.
Local iwi, Ngati Huarere and Ngati Hei have provided Matauranga Maori evidence at the Environment Court hearing under our appeal.”
“Our experts, Lawyer Rob
Enright and Landscape Architect
Di Lucas, have advised us that we have a strong case, and we are determined to pursue every available avenue to halt development at New Chum/Wainuiototo.
This is likely to be our last remaining chance to stop this proposed development, and we are determined to persevere.”
said Mr Drummond.
“Members and supporters of PNC4E have dug deep into their pockets and provided much needed funds at times when it has been needed. Our experts
have gifted us some pro-bono work (free to us) as well as large discounts for their rates. The government funded Environmental Legal Assistance Fund has been wound up and so we are relying totally on the people to fund this appeal. We thank all our donors for their ongoing support and ask you to donate generously so we can participate at this level.”
“We remain resolute that significant changes will be made to the Structure Plan, including the number and location of house sites, so that it protects the beach and the bay for future generations.” Mr Drummond said.
To continue the legal battle, Preserve New Chum for Everyone is seeking to raise $50,000 for legal expenses. Every donation will support our efforts in securing a better future for New Chum/Wainuiototo, a unique and wilderness beach that is at risk of being irrevocably changed. For more information on how to support our cause, visit www. preservenewchumforeveryone. org.nz/donate or www.givealittle. co.nz/org/preserve-new-chumfor-everyone-inc
Pacific Island Resort - The Lost Spring, Thermal Ocean Village
Chefs' Special Platter:
Lost in Paradise
Dining Delights
Our special sharing platter this month is a smoked chicken avocado bruschetta, five spiced pork belly, lemon fried falafel sticks, ginger crispy wonton, grilled tzatziki chicken kebabs and crumb prawns.
A great way to enjoy a range of flavours and a fantastic entrée for sharing.
Restaurant Hours:
Thursday & Sunday 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am to 9pm
Now available for May at The Lost Spring
GEOTHERMAL POOLS
Immerse yourself into crystal-clear mineral waters, embrace tranquility, and experience rejuvenation with our luxurious spa treatments.
Opening Hours: Thursday & Sunday 9.00am to 7pm
Friday & Saturday 9.00am to 9pm
Relax, unwind, and indulge at NZ’s number 1 Day Spa.
Choose from our massages, rejuvenating Vitamin C and Dilo Facials, or treat yourself to a luxurious 2.5-hour deluxe experience like no other. Please check our website below.
Thankyouforthecolour,thevitalityandexcitementyouhave broughttomanyfamilieswhosechildrenandteenshavebeen involvedintheAladdinproduction,andtothelargenumbersin the
SpeakingtoFabianRoberts,theDirector.‘It’sbeenafantastic andexhaustingexperience!”
Onlytwoperformanceshaveseatsavailable.Thursdaynight 15Mayat6.30pmandFriday16MayMatinee1.00pm PerformancesareatMercuryBayAreaSchooluntil17thMay. BuyticketsfromWhitianga’sisiteInformationCentre or call 07 866 5555.
Mitsubishi Heatpumps
Mums – they are never perfect but ……
A personal story of Mother’s Day
BY PAULINE STEWART
Iwatched the little girl and felt myself smiling. She was about 14 months and was beaming in delight as she ran up to the mirror placing a gleeful kiss on the mirror surface, virtually kissing herself. She did it again and again, the redness of smooching all over her little face. She loved the look of that person in the mirror. To this wee girl, the person she was kissing was beautiful and should be aptly greeted by any discerning person.
One day soon, she will understand the trick of mirrors. I hope she hangs on to the fact that mirrors don’t lie. Will she have that view of herself when she is a teen? A mum? A professional something? An elderly woman?
I thought about my own mother as I watched this encounter. I think she might have been like that. I didn’t see myself there.
My mother was the queen of 11 children. We were not Catholic. Mum wanted a big family, and Dad thought it was okay too. No one ever discussed how big.
I was number four - a good place to be. I could be invisible sometimes.
Mum’s character gave everyone in our family access to an
unusual gift which we haven’t always demonstrated but which none of us have ever forgotten.
When you raised your voice a little or a lot, which can happen easily in any family, mum would look frightened. There was no anger there, or impatience. It was fear on her face, and in her eyes - that your anger would accelerate to something far worse she was responding to from her past. She didn’t talk about that past. We would ask dad about it. He would say, ‘Never mind. Don’t talk to your mother like that. Help her.’ We did. We knew her fear was real, and we would tone down or even finish off sibling disagreements out in the back yard. Mostly we decided to forget about it and see where we could be part of the helping team.
Sometimes we would ask her to sit on a chair while we rushed around doing jobs that a 13-member household created daily and where we didn’t want to fluster her. That way we got the jobs done and Mum was not frightened by our speed or flurry.
However, our mother was no pushover. Her will to keep going and provide for us and cope was of steel.
Mum loved us and she loved all our friends and neighbours
Eileen Oakman, the editor’s mother, on the beach at Whangamata. 23/3/192716/12/2017.
in a very welcoming way. She was not gushy, just vulnerable and generous and purposeful in her generosity.
What she excelled at was forgiving. It moved me many times and I experienced it so often myself and with my siblings. She forgave the worst she encountered in her life and kept expecting the best. He ability to forgive turned hostility into peace and calm.
I often thought about why my mother got frightened so easily and why she was so spontaneously kind.
In time we were able to find mum’s history. It took years. Her young life was in and out of an orphanage. She never got selected in those terrible days of people coming by to select the best of the orphan bunch.
Her first four years were for her, wonderful; - in a great big urban house in Brisbane with two people who fostered over twenty children at one time. Mum remembered those images of tender caring, a warm bed nestled with other children, regular food around a big timber table, a yard with big trees. The two people (she thought of them as parents) saw it as their life’s task to be kind to children with no family.
When the government decided these people had too many children, they took away the younger ones and mum was one of those (1931).
What followed were years of cruel foster arrangements, and
sometimes no arrangements, just being forgotten, till one of the nurses offered to take her home from the hospital after a long bout of rheumatic fever. Mum was eleven.
The years of neglect, cruelty and hunger never left her, but neither did the kindness of the early four years. No amount of abuse could take away her ability to forgive.
I don’t think you can learn forgiveness. I think you are born with it. Searching deep to find it again is life giving. Mum’s nature and early experience protected and housed her child-like forgiving nature.
I miss my mother – I simply loved being in her company. A big event as children was travelling on the train with our mother returning to visit the place and the people where she spent those first years. Mr and Mrs Green would welcome us with cakes and stories.
The part I didn’t like was the fact our family took up three bench seats in the train. It embarrassed me.
That dear little girl running at the mirror to plant a kiss on her own face is a message of affirmation and acceptance in a world of tension and distrust. It cheered me considerably.
I hope on your Mother’s Day, you found a way to cheer someone.
Tairua and NZTA turn out a crowd for Pepe Bridge presentation
BY PAM FERLA
“Afabulous turnout” is how Tairua Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA) chair, Jo Finnis, described last week’s meeting about New Zealand Transport Association’s plans (NZTA) to two-lane Pepe Bridge.
About 170 people turned up at Tairua Community Hall on Wednesday afternoon, April 30, to talk to NZTA staff and give feedback on the proposal, which has a completion date of Christmas, 2027. About ten NZTA staff were at the meeting.
Regional manager, Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter, said there is a lot of work ahead to get the bridge designed and consented. Ecology, archaeology and geotechnical studies began early this year. NZTA expects to have a contract signed for the design and build later this year. Preliminary design will be completed and the consents lodged in mid 2026,
followed by granting of resource consents and completion of final designs. Mr Coalter said construction is planned to start in late 2026 and the intention is to have traffic on the new bridge by Christmas 2027. A footbridge is planned as part of the project, as well as a pedestrian crossing on the highway. The state high-
way will remain open during the building of the bridge.
CONCERNS
Jo Finnis said a common concern of those attending last week’s meeting was how the new plan would affect access to Pepe Road, with about 40 percent of residents living in that area.
Many of those attending the meeting were keen to see a roundabout at Pepe Road intersection. Creating a walkway on the upstream side of the bridge was also suggested.
Jo pointed out that the concept diagram on display at the meeting was a concept, not a design. It was based on community consultation done several years ago.
This identified a two-lane bridge plus walk/cycleway as people’s preferred solution to traffic issues in the town.
Jo Finnis and Peter Hunt of Tairua Business Association, met with officials from New Zealand Transport Association earlier this year when they visited Tairua.
“We met to see where they were up to in the bridge planning process and were told that it is in the early stages,” said Jo. “So I asked if they could hold a public session. We think it’s important for our community to be involved in this.”
Reconstructing Pepe Bridge to two lanes has long been an issue
in the community, especially during peak holiday times when long queues build up to cross the one-lane bridge.
Pepe Bridge construction is part of a wider bridge programme aimed at improving safety, efficiency and resilience regarding transport around the Coromandel Peninsula. In 1911 a 92-metre wooden bridge with totara piles was built to accommodate horses and pedestrians crossing Pepe stream. This was widened in 1926 to allow carts to cross. In 1943 a reinforced concrete bridge was built because of the need for heavy military equipment to cross the bridge during World War II.
Jo said the TRRA instigated last week’s meeting and works to promote the Tairua community in many ways. New members are welcome and annual membership is $20 per household. For more information contact ratepayers.tairua@gmail.com.
However not all stages were approved. Last Wednesday 7 May, the Mercury Bay Community Board met and pushed for Stages One and Two to be approved as well as Stage Three and these were presented by Councillor Deli Connell. There is little to add visually to what was on the front page of last week’s The Informer. It was decided Stage Four awas to be postponed and Stage Five which includes ‘substantive construction’ was to be considered for further public input in 1927 Long term Plan. There is a letter to the editor
about this meeting on page 17 and there seems to have been some hard questioning of Councillor Connell and at times Dean Allen who were not able to inform the public forum of all of the correct answers to the questions asked.
The project has been underway with consultants and selected community meetings for many years. There is a great deal of interest in this large undertaking in a key tourism activity area. There is some awareness that it is still piecemeal and does not cater for future tourism demands and
over caters on boat trailer space. The current budget of $16.5 million has grown from the early days of just a little over $7million but there is confidence that the stages 1, 2 and 3 can be accommodated by existing budgets and the figure of $16.5m will cover the ‘substantive construction’ of Stage 5. There is really no detail yet on how the usage will help pay for this development.
Please see front page of The Informer, Issue 1156, 6 May for details or TCDC website for detailed Community Board decisions.
ENVIRONMENT MATTERS
Pinnacles Hut, Summit Track set for improvement
Two of the Coromandel’s most popular DOC sites are set for upgrades, with work beginning next week on improving the Pinnacles Hut and nearby Summit Track.
The Pinnacles Hut is an 80-bunk hut, located in the Kauaeranga Valley. Built in 1994, the hut offers expansive views across the southern Coromandel Peninsula.
The Pinnacles Hut and Summit Track are often used by international tourists visiting Coromandel and is one of DOC’s busiest with 15,000 bednights per year.
DOC Hauraki Senior Ranger Karen Ismay says the hut refurbishment project will start on Monday 12 May and run for six weeks until 21 June.
“The work involves installing insulation, false ceilings and double-glazed windows - all of which will mean a warmer, drier and more comfortable hut for our visitors.
“We know that a significant
proportion of tourism is based in, on or around our unique natural environment and this is part of a wider drive to make DOC’s hut buildings more environmentally sustainable for future generations to enjoy,” Karen says.
With the work underway, the hut becomes an active worksite,
which means it is off-limits to the public and cannot be booked for the duration of the refurbishment project. Alongside the hut project is an improvement project on the Summit Track, which is accessed from the Pinnacles Hut.
The Summit Track project focusses on improving the track
All apartments are within walking distance to Thames’ shops, cafes, and walkways.
surface, with boardwalks set to be installed to prevent the spread of kauri disease.
Drainage work will also improve management of rainwater on and around the track.
The track will be closed to the public from 7am Monday to 3pm on Friday for the period stated
above, but will be available for weekend walkers. The track upgrade project is expected to be completed by 21June.
“We understand there may be some disappointment about these closures, but we’re confident our visitors will appreciate the improvements,” says Karen.
Our open plan, single level apartments feature covered balconies with fantastic views of the sea, Kauaeranga River and mountains.
Kaitarakihi Summit track and The Pinnacles Hut. Images supplied by DOC
Lions and the Lodge, helping hands for cancer patients
BY CYNTHIA DALY
WHAT IS THE CANCER SOCIETY LIONS LODGE?
Take a look from a distance at any group of people, of any age and the cancer statistics will stare you straight in the face. In New Zealand 1 in 3 people are dealing with a cancer diagnosis and by 2040 that number is expected to double.
One can only imagine the shock reality and emotional distress a cancer diagnosis brings to the patient and their whanau. Amidst this traumatic situation there is an umbrella of support and a haven for patients receiving treatment at Waikato Hospital.
The Cancer Society Lions Lodge is not a centre providing medical treatment, but a tranquil place of care where patients can talk to other people with cancer, lessen the reality for a while by playing board games or the piano and reading in the library…if they feel up to it.
On the other side of that portrayal, are the gentle caring hands of one of the 400 volunteers, including kaitiaki and the Lodge Hosts, who give their time to support those with cancer.
The Lodge facilities have homely touches to help guests feel at ease. Accommodation, meals and even a regular shuttle to and from the hospital to the Oncology doorstep are provided free of charge to those receiving cancer treatments at Waikato Hospital and their support person. The Lodge hosts regular support groups each month and there is a therapeutic massage therapist on-site.
WHAT DOES THE CANCER SOCIETY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY?
Dr Heather Connolly, Head of Philanthropy - Pou Whai Tautoko, Cancer Society, Waikato/Bay of Plenty takes us through the role of the Cancer Society, the Lodge, and explains who can access their support.
“Many people know of our work through the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge, but we are actually part of a lot more than that.
“The Cancer Society has a mission to “reduce the impact of cancer” for the 74 New Zealanders who are diagnosed each day with cancer. Our division works across the entire Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, including throughout the Coromandel and we cover all types of cancers.
“When a person is diagnosed with cancer, their oncologist designs the medical pathway needed to treat their cancer, but the reality is that this is only part of their journey. Cancer is an emotional and mental experience and that is where our support can really make a difference. We have experienced nurses and navigators working in the community, including in the Coromandel, who help them navigate the new world they suddenly find themselves
in. Our cancer care team ‘opens the door’ to new information, resources and community support that they had previously not been aware of.
HOW DOES THE LODGE WORK?
“When someone is receiving treatment at Waikato Hospital that involves travel, their medical team can make a referral to the Lodge.
“But we can only provide all this with the support of the community, and that is where I come in.
The Cancer Society is not directly government-funded so my role, as Head of Philanthropy, is about making sure we have the funds coming in to enable our work. This includes fundraising, donations, bequests, regular giving and anything that can provide us with sustainable funding.
I am lucky that I am part of a team of passionate people who
are working hard to make sure the Cancer Society can reach those that need it. We also have a large number of volunteers that support the provision of our services as well as our fundraising events.
“Our volunteers are all ages and come from all walks of life. Some of them may have experienced a cancer diagnosis in their past or had someone close to them go on the journey.
“They regularly give their time in supporting those with cancer. For example, we have Lodge Hosts serving the meals, we have support group facilitators (including in Whitianga), and we have transport to treatment drivers. We also have over 3000 event volunteers who support us with our fundraising events such as Daffodil Day. Our event volunteers are all across our region and are key for our fundraising efforts.
Dr Connolly says anyone inter-
ested in becoming a volunteer should keep an eye on the cancer.org.nz website. “We regularly advertise for open volunteer positions there.”
WHAT IS THE LIONS INVOLVEMENT IN THE LODGE?
There is a reason why the Hamilton facility is called the Cancer Society Lions Lodge.
“The Lions Foundation has provided invaluable support to the Cancer Society for many years. The Lions were a key driver in getting the Lodge built. But like any building, the Lodge requires frequent maintenance and we are grateful to the many Lions groups who have supported our calls for help, and continue to engage through sponsoring a room or funding one-off projects, such as the new retaining wall which is underway now.”
Dr Connolly says that while the numbers of cancer patients continues to grow, capacity at the current location of the Lodge cannot be increased, so the Cancer Society is assessing new ways to help meet increasing demand.
“We are looking ahead to what other locations across our wider region may need in accommodation. For example, Tauranga Hospital provides various cancer treatments but there is currently no accommodation like the Lodge for cancer patients.”
If you would like more information about the services the Cancer Society provides or would like to make a donation towards these services please see www.cancer. org.nz for contact details.
The Cancer Society Lions Lodge is now the main fundraising project for Whitianga Lions Club. You’ll see these Lions at work selling sausages at Whitianga Market; running the Family Picnic Day on April 20 and the Whitianga Lions Art Expo over Kings Birthday Weekend. Please give generously so that they can support this essential facility and the services of the Cancer Society in our community.
A view from the Cancer Lodge windows, Hamilton – a healing place and accommodation for cancer patients and close family support.
Chicago
Genesis Acacia Hill
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE COVID VACCINE – A DIFFERENT OPINION
Covid-19 has had both positive and negative impacts on people’s lives. Some people experienced a paid holiday, while others suffered from job loss, family violence, depression, and isolation and were distressed because they couldn’t visit sick or dying relatives.
Jacinda Ardern was either considered a heroic, capable leader for taking control and acting decisively to prevent the spread of Covid-19 or the most despised, a puppet of the World Health Organisation and World Economic Forum, committing crimes against humanity in the name of greed and profit for Big Pharma and individuals that advocated vaccines. Vaccine manufacturers were given legal immunity, and governments and regulatory agencies were shielded from direct accountability and responsibility. Where is Jacinda Ardern now?
People played Russian Roulette with an untested vaccine, with pressure and coercion to take it. The vaccine was made mandatory, but it was a death sentence for many. The potential adverse effects of the vaccine included illness, disability, and life-changing events, including death. Since 2020, there has been a remarkable increase in people dying of blood clots, heart problems, turbo cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Covid information was treated as a battlefield, with the government paying the mass media millions to push the narrative. “Disinformation” was labelled dangerous and censored aggressively, attacking anyone who challenged them, scorning and rejecting those of a differing opinion who wanted to make sovereign and informed choices about what they put into their body.
Verna Carr, Whitianga
SLOP AND SEDIMENTATION DESTRUCTIVE TO WHITIANGA
Over the last few months The Informer has been publishing letters from a group of people concerned that the many fishing competitions being held here in Whitianga will cause the demise of Whitianga as a tourist centre. Their concern may well be justified, but I am concerned to believe that nothing has been said about a much more destructive event that has been taking place for some years and causing destruction that I consider a much greater problem.
I am talking about the sedimentation or slop as I call it that pours out of our estuary and into the Bay, causing the destruction of the coastal marine habitat. i.e.
reef life. Surely anyone who has lived in the Bay over the last 10 years must have seen this discharge. Recently, a visitor of mine driving from Wharekaho to town, reported that the low tide, especially at Brophys Beach, looked more like this black porridge than shallow water.
Most of this slop came from felled pine forests. We have had sedimentation since time began, but before the pine plantations, that sedimentation was caused by the result pf natural causes and did little harm to the sea. That is because it was part of the natural environment.
The current pine sedimentation contains poisons known as turpin which remains in the sedimentation deposited on the sea bed and this poison is so destructive.
Twenty years ago Simpsons Beach was the site of a vibrant marine habitat operating around a reef, similar to others along the coastline. Currently this reef is all but dead as proved by the absence of marine life washed up in recent storms. This discharge obviously occurs after heavy rain which means it could be happening twice a month. This poison is being poured into our Mercury Bay at least 20 times a year. Surely anyone who has seen this flooding must have wondered where the sediment ends up, and if they were to don some goggles and explore the reefs, they would see the absence of life.
This dirty water flooding clears away in about 3 to 4 days. So surely it cannot be too difficult to overcome. It would be good to know that our local parliament representative must have seen this flooding and is putting effort into ending the associated destruction.
The spoiling of this natural beauty which provides so much work for local workers and associated commerce, may well soon end these opportunities on our doorstep, which is so important for Whitianga’s appeal and future.
Jenny and Chuck Edwards Whitianga
DATA CAN BE MISINTERPRETED
Correspondent Denis Tegg (Informer, May 6) once again believes the most alarmist sea level rise data he can find on the internet rather than the truth.
His claimed rise of 5.9mm last year is obviously nonsense to anyone who bothers to actually look at the source of the data and understands it. This figure and his claimed acceleration in the rate are clearly just artifacts of incorrect splicing of satellite records; in particular combining data from the Topex and Jason 1 satellites with that from the Jason 2, Jason 3 and Sentinel 6MF satellites.
The purpose of the Letters to the Editor column is to enable members of the public to express an opinion, about an article or a topic of interest/concern. Please keep them to 200 words or less. These letters do not reflect the editor’s view. The editor reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.
Not one of the hundreds of tide gauges around the world supports this nonsense, yet they are the instruments that actually measure the sea level right at the ocean surface, not from an altitude of 1336km by a satellite travelling at over 7km per second.
The funniest part of Tegg’s blind faith in his silly satellites is that they actually showed sea level falling in 2024. Why doesn’t he tell us about that?
Alastair Brickell Kuaotunu
SHARK BITE – TAKE TWO
I refer to recent letters to The Informer re the repairs carried out to the damage caused to the waterfront from the great storm over two years ago.
The question has been asked “has the repair work finished?”
Here is my observation. I am confident that, yes, in fact the repair has been completed, job done, contractors gone. I am an expert in nothing, and did not vote for the Green Party.
However, my observation is that after the recent bad weather the Shark has been back and taken another bite. It is obvious to anybody with limited common sense that the repair job is unsatisfactory and any big storm will eat away and break up the waterfront. The rock retaining wall is not long enough and not high enough. It’s not rocket science. After years of red tape, engineers reports, and predictions of doom and gloom, it has already failed.
So, my question is how much has this cost? Half a job for twice the price? Has the engineer signed this off, and are they happy?
If this is not fixed properly, i.e. a lot more retaining rock wall, then the ratepayer will be faced with another big repair cost, years of delay with Council red tape, town planners, engineers, and IWI scratching their heads.
Meanwhile down the other end
of the beach the Boat Club sits high and dry, waiting, locked up in Red Tape and PC nonsense. Could easily be re piled on the existing site and the waterfront reinstated. The kids are waiting.
Hopefully, with local body elections coming up we can get some positive leadership looking to get things done, as opposed to looking for reasons why things can’t be done.
Douglas Anderson Whitianga
COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING ON ESPLANADE DEVELOPMENT LACKING IN DETAIL
I attended the Esplanade Redevelopment Project Community Board Meeting in Whitianga last Wednesday. I have just read the TCDC online report on the meeting and I wondered if we were at the same meeting.
Deli Connell was the main presenter/supporter of the project and proceeded to push ahead with a demand for a further $380,000 so they would then be able to make a yes or no decision with regard to moving this project forward. She was supported to a lesser degree by Rekha Giri Percival.
Councillor John Grant questioned Deli on most points she made. She was either unable to respond – or chose not to. She presented no plans, project reports, costing or any of the information one would expect to justify a request for such a large sum of money. She did not identify what the health and safety issues are, and there was no discussion as to how these issues measure up against other health and safety issues across the Peninsula. Take for instance, the fact that the ‘safe’ footpath for Simpsons Beach residents is State Highway 25 which is navigated on a daily base, year round, by school children, and the elderly, amongst others. Not one other Community Board Member spoke out and verbally supported, or questioned, her demand for $380,000. There wa certainly no “discussion”. The Chairperson failed to pick up on, or act on Councillor Grants questioning of Deli, on her lack of response. Surely a request from the Chair for Deli, (in view of the hundreds of thousands of dollars already spent on Consultants) to return to a future meeting with all the supporting documentation required. No! - they just moved on, voted, and the funds were allocated. This is a continuation of a flawed process. Starting with the Submission which lacked the most important question of all. We had carefull chosen “Options” from TCDC to choose from. But the most important question of all was missing. The Option - To
Do Nothing.
My thanks to Councillor Grant. He appeared to be the only informed person in the room. My thoughts on the “meeting”. Shock at the lack of accountability. My vote – No Confidence.
Ady Cole-Ewen
THE FRUSTRATING FERRY MYSTERY
Sometimes we wonder how our economy is doing and latest after Covid and Cyclone Gabriel everyone feels the impact of the current recession on so many levels. We were forced to rebuild and repair roads, highways, houses, business and entire life’s in a forever demanding world.
The Coromandel Peninsular is particularly fragile in terms of loss of revenues. Our seaside towns try their best to survive and when the $100 million dollars annual income no longer filtered through to support the local economy due to tourism decline, Fullers360 (ferry services) stopped the ferry from Coromandel to Auckland return.
Perhaps it is due to the monopoly contract Fuller360 has managed to get with the Auckland City Council. However, in normal business procedure, companies lose their contract if services are not delivered properly.
Common sense would be that at a time when our major link highway collapsed in front of us, then evrything would be done to secure other transport options. This did not happen. Apparently the reason for the ferry stopping (over 2 years ago) was that Fullers 360 is only contracted to employ their skippers and workers from Auckland and not from Coromandel. So do we assume this means no one in Auckland wants to work the ferry? I know there would be people in Coromandel town who would be very willing to gain employment assisting a ferry service. Or is this matter about no one in Auckland wanting to work the ferry, just an excuse? The situation is unacceptable. We have so many intelligent, clever, innovative people on our Coromandel Peninsular to come forward with a solution.
What can be done to make it attractive for new providers to come forward and what needs to be done in terms of advocating or lobbying? Where is our member of Parliament on this matter? I did not get any reply from TCDC when I wrote regarding my concerns.
After all, a regular ferry service should be a basic service when there are so few public transport options for people on the west side of the Peninsula. I repeat - a basic service is not being provided!
Marguerite Muellers, Kuaotunu
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EVIDENCE REFUTABLE ON ENVIRONMENT DESTRUCTION
The truth behind New Zealand’s postcard-perfect scenery is brutal: our environment is being sacrificed on the altar of dairy profits.
The evidence is irrefutable. Two-thirds of our rivers – toxic. Half of our lakes are contaminated. Children drink water laced with cancer-causing nitrates while dairy methane cooks our climate with impunity.
Since 2023, the dairy industry has seized control of our environmental policy. A former Federated Farmers president now sits as Associate Environment Minister. Industry lobbyists literally write government policies in backroom deals. This is a corporate coup.
The government has gutted freshwater protections, unleashed destructive farming practices, stripped ecosystem safeguards, and manipulated climate accounting to shield polluters from accountability.
This isn’t just an environmental catastrophe – it’s the corruption of our democracy. When corporations dictate legislation, citizens become collateral damage.
New Zealanders have always defended our identity against threats. We rejected nuclear ships, stopped native forest logging, and expelled foreign oil
companies from our waters.
Now we face a more insidious threat: the corporate capture of our environmental governance.
The question is stark: will our environmental laws protect our people and natural heritage, or serve corporate polluters? Our rivers, drinking water, and children’s future hang in the balance.
Paul Sommerville Tairua
TWO-FRONT WAR
Our coalition Government has launched a two-front war-first on nature, now on women. The rushed passage of the pay equity amendment under urgency, without public scrutiny, is nothing short of despicable. This isn’t what New Zealanders voted for.
How quickly our female Coalition MPs have forgotten those who fought for their privileges!
Judith Collins, who mocked Labour’s pay equity deferral in 2017, now supports slashing these very protections. Nicola Willis, who once championed equal pay as “an important moment,” and Erica Stanford, who dreamed her daughter would grow up in a country with equal compensation, where are their principles now?
Does Christopher Luxon, who promoted women executives at Air New Zealand, possess any moral compass? Do male MPs
who voted for this have no mothers, daughters, or sisters?
New Zealand isn’t America. Luxon lacks Trump’s weird charisma, we have no Bible belt, and our judiciary remains uncorrupted. Those importing Trumpian politics here will face their reckoning as we have just witnessed in Australia.
As Pope Francis wrote, “We need to listen to female voices.” Look at this government’s poverty of spirit and weep.
Brenda Smythe Papakura
RATE REVIEW - REDESIGN OF A PROPERTY TAX
I have now had a read the supplied information by TCDC. To me it is merely a complex method of a property tax, and the review is simply masking the real Issue.
The real issue is why are the rates so high. Are these payments delivering good value for money or merely locking in overhead heavy operational practices and vanity projects.
Nowhere have I read/seen justification around the rates $ settings irrespective of the methodology applied. The review is simply cutting the cake in a different way. Nothing more.
This is not fundamental to good professional management.
I readily acknowledge the revenue streams available to TCDC are
Robert Lindsay Dip Phty(Otago) ADP(OMT), Dip.MT.
Co-author of ‘Treat Your Own Shoulder’, ‘Treat Your Own Knee’ & ‘Treat Your Own Hip’ and Associates Rebecca Wood BHScPhysiotherapy Crystal Vause BHScPhysiotherapy, Post Grad Cert Acupuncture Manipulation / Back and Neck Pain / Work Injuries Sports Injuries / Post Surgery and Fracture Rehab Acupuncture Hand Therapy / Women’s Health Clinic
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limited and lack of cohesion on what is rightfully a municipality responsibility and what should be central Government does make the tasks harder. But that is not a justification for maintaining and accepting poor practices.
In a Rating district such as TCDC which swells in population over the summer months with visitors both domestic and international using facilities paid for and maintained substantially by the local municipality. This cost should be borne by the free-loading visitor. Many overseas jurisdictions do just that through a bed tax of up to 3 Euro per person per night and all letting facilities including Air BnB are registered by way of record.
The proposed capital works around inundation is a hybrid mix of false thinking and lack of original strategic thought. The costs for this type of work should be borne by the property owners so effected….and there is alternatives to just levying special rates or embodying in current rating systems whatever that becomes. In at least one place on the Peninsula residents directly impacted currently pay the remedial costs.
Creative thinking and sound business practice needs to be applied to TCDC operational practices. Which do seem to be overhead heavy if this rate review is the best TCDC can come up with.
There is evidence of waste all over the TCDC district.
Compounding year on year rate increases is strategically weak practice. It creates a never-ending cycle of monopolistic comfort for administrative teams paid by residents.
We can do better -much better. Gavin Hodder Whitianga
THANK YOU FOR TENACITY ON CLIMATE CHANGE
I have refrained from writing the editor regarding the ongoing back and forth between climate deniers and others, hoping that the deniers would lose interest if no-one replied to their claims. However, I am grateful to Dennis Tegg (and others) who have the tenacity and knowledge to show the falsehood in their claims and call them out. Yes, it is a social danger to have their skewed information brought up again and again.
Carol S Whenuakite
Pay equity decision creates unrest
PREPARED FROM MEDIA PRESENTATIONS
Pay equity is a vital principle. When women fought and battled for the right to vote in this country, being paid a fair wage was also on the agenda. It was a time when a woman was paid less than a man no matter what the job.
Times have changed but it is a fact that professions traditionally dominated by women such as teaching and healthcare and the medical profession are behind in the journey to get a pay package equal to other comparable professions. People doing jobs of the same value shouldn’t be paid differently because of their sex. That’s a noble goal. The previous gov-
ernment was committed to this and so is the coalition government.
Restoring fairness and common sense to pay equity - and saving taxpayers billions is the goal. The panic and despair response has not grasped this and protesting that this is a gender discrimination and women being imprisoned in a disadvantaged less pay system. That is an inaccurate emphasis and will cause mischief.
The current government is clearly stating that they favour equal pay across professions and their history shows they do. What is puzzling is their seemingly rushed announcement and postponing of the current cases being reviewed.
This week, Brooke van Velden
in making what she says are long-overdue changes to a broken pay equity system. She seems to have done it in a sledge hammer way rather than eased the country into it. Labour and the unions and groups of workers have responded angrily everywhere.
There does seem to be some misinformation in the panic and despair stance of those opposing her announcement.
The Government is clear. The principle of pay equity is being upheld. It is not under threat. The immediate plan is to find a simpler and more cost effective system of devising pay equity across vocations and areas of industry.
Under Labour, their government effort was focussed on
this very principle, but the system became ‘somewhat of a farce’. There were claims based on insubstantial evidence and overly comparisons between completely unrelated jobs:
• Librarians were compared to fisheries officers
• Administrative clerical staff to mechanical engineers
• Social workers to air traffic controllers.’
“Common sense says that this system is not enabling fair comparisons.”
The result was an unworkable mess that ignored basic differences in skills, qualifications, and responsibilities, and sent costs spiralling into the billions.
We do need as a country to save billions in many areas of our still democratic governing
processes. Continuing on from Labour, pay equity remains a high priority. The Coalition has done the right thing to simplify and reduce costs. They are saying there is no intention of disadvantaging any woman in this country but that there is a too complex and too costly system in place.
All those who are fighting for pay equity in the professions that are dominated by women such as teaching and healthcare need to keep speaking up to ensure negotiations and calculations are fair right across their profession.
The coalition has said again as late as Monday, 12 May - pay equity is not being scrapped and genuine cases of discrimination can still be addressed.
The ‘proposed’ Whitianga Bridge
From the Editor: It began as a wild idea which by the way has surfaced and been debated at different times in Mercury Bay’s local history. Many years ago, the concept of a curved bridge was put forward at the local Council level. Perhaps this means it is not such a wild idea but an idea whose time awaits.
In The Informer, 25 February 2025, page 12, we published this as a wild idea, but now Mr. Lane has international clients with funds to invest.
In addition, since being published, Mr. Lane has received many responses, all of which were in favour of the Bridge. He recounts one resident’s response at Cooks Beach.
“We have a voluntary serviced Fire Station, but where is our Ambulance Station? A bridge can get an ambulance here in 5 minutes. I ask myself, why is it that we have no bridge? We should have had a bridge years ago – if only to save lives in a medical emergency. It is overdue and badly needed,” she said.
COMMITTED TO SEE THE BRIDGE A REALITY – IT’S THE 21ST CENTURY FROM ROCKY LANE
The word ‘Whitianga’ translated to English means, “Crossing”. So where is this crossing?
As far back as the 50s, when I was raised on a farm at Hot Water Beach, the crossing over to Whitianga has been problematical. I’ve been away in Asia for 34 years. Now, back in my hometown, Whitianga to retire, I still can’t find this crossing, now 70 years later,” says Mr. Royce Lane, formally in the legal profession, practising most of his life in Asia.
“I have measured it, its 50 kilometres by car from Ferry Landing to the wharf in Whitianga, while in fact the actual distance between the two is about 200 metres. So
why the 50km then?
One could never find such a scenario in another part of the world. To me it is unbelievable and in terms of 2025, it is unacceptable. Call me Moses or whatever, but I feel I must get this bridge built to produce a crossing. The people badly need it, and I feel this huge challenge to find a way to deliver it”.
I call it a ‘humanitarian’ cause (much needed). The idea/project has already got some traction - some have already indicated a commitment to the construction of such a bridge. Of course, there will need to be toll gates probably at $5.00 per car, which is cheaper than the present $8.00 return ferry ride without transport available when arriving at Ferry Landing. The toll on heavy vehicles will be more and free for emergency vehicles. A significant aspect will be a draw bridge to allow large
vessels to have access in and out of the estuary.
For the boat owners, don’t worry. The bridge crossing will be further up past the Marina and also past the Waterways entrance. This the same engineering that happened with the Harbour Bridge in Auckland. Letters have already been dispatched to all related authorities to get this project as a valid possibility into the minds and views of our community leaders.” Should legal issues arise, and there will be those of course, I can do this work pro bono for my hometown. I am passionate about this and I sense I have returned to my hometown to help make this happen. In my years in Asia, I worked with many who brought big dreams to fruition. My email is open for those who want to share their views regarding the need for the bridge. Rockypower@myyahoo.com
This is not the bridge, but a concept drawing of a bridge.
These images are of a protest outside National MP office in Thames on Friday last week. Scott Simpson was in Wellington at the time. Photos Garry Brandon
THROUGH THE PORTAL
Let’s ‘Chuck’ out the Pine Forests
BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN
hen I had a chat to Chuck a few weeks back, one of the things he got hot under the collar about was the planting of pine trees on the Coromandel Peninsula.
His concerns were similar concerns many of us have; their contribution to topsoil loss, their failure to control erosion, the spread of wilding pines, their contribution to the destruction of neighbour’s property through slash, their contribution to the destruction of good farmland and so on.
Add to that is the fact they don’t really do anything for carbon dioxide absorption that a good native tree doesn’t do and it’s pretty easy to see why Chuck gets upset by these foreign weeds. It seems that people in decision making areas are starting to agree with Chuck.
In early April the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, made 15 recommendations in a report entitled, “Examining the drivers of Forestry in New Zealand”. One of these recommendations calls for the removal of forestry offsets from the ETS (Emissions Trad-
ing Scheme). The reason stated is that if they are allowed to continue, vast areas of land will be locked up in carbon forests with serious impacts on communities, loss of productive land and the imposition of unproductive costs in the form of forest maintenance. There are other recommendations relating to the removal of pines and the replacement by natives, but I won’t bore you with all of the details. The main point
is that the powers that be have shown they can have common sense.
Many of the problems with pines are related to their effects on the environment; topsoil reduction, lack of erosion control, slash and so on. These problems have been revealed in the east coast region a number of times in recent years with communities being devastated by the effects of pine forestry.
ArtExpo
TIMES: Friday 5:30pm-8pm Sat/Sun 10am-4pm Monday 10am-12noon
The East Coast and Hawkes Bay are two regions with steep hill country that are vulnerable to storms. In the 1960s, trials were carried out on the use of poplars and these proved very successful. There is no perfect tree for erosion control but the poplar comes closest as they grow alongside grazing animals, do not significantly reduce pasture growth, help combat erosion, produce timber and sequester carbon. They are a much better solution than pines, especially commercial pines which have a 25-year cycle and for much of that time do nothing for erosion, as they are too small, and do not allow the farm to operate alongside the trees.
So poplars started to spread through the hill country regions until vested interests persuaded the political leaders that pines would be a better bet and would help the economy, through timber sales, pulp paper production and so on. Conservation and erosion control went out the door and the profit motive walked in. Poplars and grazing land were swapped for pine forests and environmental damage. With all of the negative aspects of pine, along with its short-term use for
carbon sequestration, it becomes obvious why the Commissioner of the Environment has come to the conclusions he has.
We can improve on the current situation with political will. The first step is to start taking our native bush into account when calculating carbon absorption as once we do this, we will find we have no carbon problem in this country. As part of the exercise, we can allow farmers to use their native bush as an offset against any carbon they produce. After all, we expect farmers to plant waterways to clean up our water system so they should be able to gain a benefit from this cost by offsetting against carbon production. We have to stop hitting these men and women and act like we are on their side.
Let us do what Chuck wants and chuck out the pines. Hopefully the Government’s moves to have a nationwide land zoning system will help with this; making it illegal to plant pines on productive land for a start. While they are at it, why not make the forestry industry accountable for their mess, be that slash or wilding pines? They have created the mess they should be cleaning it up.
Dayle Candy, David Frew Real Estate and Coromandel Beaches Realty Ltd
By Deborah Phillips - Kahu Kete
Alan Rhodes
SPORTS
MERCURY BAY PICKLEBALL
CLUB
League Q2 – Round One
Tuesday 6 May
Court 1 – 1, Hakan Nedjat; 2, Justin Woolley; 3, Tony Minto.
Court 2 – 1, Kevin Walmsley; 2, Graeme Eady; 3, Dan Emmott.
Court 3 – 1, Helen Oram; 2, Brenda Reid; 3, Janine Hayde. Court 4 – 1, Rawiri Brightwell; 2, Hamish Judson; 3 Fiona Gardien.
Round Two
Court 1 – 1, Hakan Nedjat; 2, Kevin Walmsley; 3, Justin Woolley.
Court 2 – 1, Jim Gavegan; 2, Dan Emmott; 3, Graeme Eady.
Court 3 – 1, Brenda Reid; 2, Rawiri Brightwell; 3, Trevor Hayde.
Court 4 – 1, John East; 2, Richard Oram; 3, Michael Holmes.
TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB
Round 1: Paku Pairs
1, Celia Young & Nolene Kirkpatrick 69.42; 2, Peter McNeil & Mary Castles 67.82; 3, Chris Death & Peter Clark 64.86.
HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB
Hahei Pairs Week One
Tuesday 6 May
North/South: 1, Peter Clark and Robyn Hogg 64.58; 2, Dave Dylla and Johanna Bonnar 50.00; 3, Val Dwight and Anne Knowles 47.40. East/West: 1, Peter Hogg and Robyn Waters 58.75; 2, Myra Hoogwerf and Lee Hughes 55.63; 3, Tia Ormsby and Don Barry 50.63.
MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB
Championship Pairs - Round 2
Wednesday 7 May
North/South: 1, Kate Palmano & Gavin Hedwig 57.1; 2, Jenny Layton & Bob Schibli 55.7; 3, Sue Gill & Geoff Jervis 53.9 East/West: 1, Pete Hogg & Don
Barry 67.1; 2, Robyn Hogg & Giorgio Allemano 65.4; 3, Chris Southwell & Anne Knowles 52.1.
Kaimarama Pairs Round One
Thursday, 8 May
1=, Lois Page & Rose Tegg, Jenny Layton & Faith Stock, Ischelle Stevenson & Geoff Jervis 62.5.
MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS
Twenty players this week, so 501 doubles were played. Several very close games this week with 4 teams winning three of there four sets which necessitated a one game shotout final. The teams were Greg Healy and Fletcher Bale, John Munro and Jordan Richards, Wayne Olson and Nan and Bluey Stratton and Dave Kennedy. Wayne Olson and Nan came away with the win.
Highest finish for the men this week was 68, scored by Greg Healy. No high finishes from the ladies this week and no 180’s scored.
MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER
Wednesday 7 May
Twelve players today and it’s Dave Colman, Peter Schultz and Brian Codyre with two straight wins to challenge the finals. Dave won the drawn bye and Brian Codyre despatched Peter in the semifinal to go through to meet Dave in the final frame. It was Dave on form Wednesday, and had a comfortable win to take home the cash prize. Brian Codyre runner up and with two wins Peter Schultz, Peter Challis and Rob Rielly. Wayne Malcolm had the highest break and got a star in the 27 Club by potting all the colours.
Saturday 10th May
9 players today and it’s Peter Schultz and Rob Rielly with two straight wins to challenge the final frame . It is Peter after a very
Get running or walking!
Discover the ultimate coastal challenge at the Whitianga Run Fest! Saturday 31 May 2025King’s Birthday Weekend!
Whitianga Run Fest is a premier coastal running festival that blends adventure, endurance, and stunning scenery. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a first-time runner or walker, there is something for everyone with our four course options.
From the 3.5km fun run, 6km explorer course, 10km adventure & the 21km challenge, it’s a race at your own pace. Take in the panoramic ocean views, Coromandel tracks and golden beaches as you run alongside fellow enthusiasts.
Your coastal adventure awaits!
Standard entries for the G.J. Gardner Homes Whitianga Run Fest have been flying out the door! If you’ve been thinking about signing up, now’s the time to act! Standard entry closes off
tense game who snatches a very close victory and the cash prize. Runner up Rob Rielly and also with two wins were Greg Murphy Murphy, Doug Pascoe and Bob Haase who also had highest break of 21.
TAURUA GULF CLUB
18-hole Scramble Stableford
Saturday 3 May
1, Aaron McFarland; 2, Lisa Radford; 3, Warwick Rogers; 4, Tony Anderson.
9-hole Putting
Tuesday 6. May
1=, Norm Hammond, Carolyn Williams; 3=, Brian Fellows, Kim Kelly, Sue McDonnell, Michael McCann.
18 hole Scramble Stableford
Thursday 8 May
1, Ken Edwards; 2, Kath Hale; 3, Michael McCann; 4, Connie Graham.
9-hole
1, Gabrielle Tucker; 2, Donna Hunt; 3, Sue McDonnell; 4, Joyce Birdsall.
MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLS
Thursday 8 May
Winners: Ian Pudney & Sandie
Morris
Runners Up: Keith Denney & Shirley Marshall
Good Sorts: Merle Ward & Betty Russell
THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB
9 hole mens stableford
Monday 5 May
1, Graeme Kensington; 2, Paul Anderson; 3, David Macdonald.
Twos: Graeme Kensington and David Ellis on Hole 7
Wednesday 7 May
18 hole mens stableford
1, Doug Smith; 2, Chris Palmer; 3, Brian Tomlinson 40
Nearest the Pin on 18: Kevin
Adlam
Twos: Graham Harrison, Tracey Mulligan, Brian Tomlinson, Kevin Adlam.
9 hole mixed day stableford
Thursday 8 May
1, Robert Fisken; 2, Noel Rogers; 3, Barry Titchmarsh
18 hole ladies Aotearoa Cup Net Medal
1, Teri Tomlinson; 2, Polly Lambert; 3, Chrissie Smith 78
Veterans Winner: Marie Murphy
Coronation Medal Winner: Cathy Drake-Wells
Jack Daniel’s Tournament 2025 Ambrose Net Medal
Saturday 10 May
1, Dan Wright’s Team – Daniel Wright, Tim Burgess, Carl Seymour, Julian Stone; 2, Allan Dickinson’s Team – Allan Dickinson, Raymond Fanning, Luke Steiner, Thomas O’Connor; 3, Chris Fairbairn’s Team – Chris Fairbairn, Graeme Zinnerman, John Cash, Nick Brooks.
Longest Drive on hole 17: Raymond Fanning
Nearest the Pin on hole 18: Darryn Pritchard
MERCURY BAY SQUASH CLUB
The Mercury Bay Squash Club has started its first business house competition for 2025. Here’s the results for the first three rounds.
Round 1
Glass Bottom Boat (5) vs Luke’s Kitchen (3)
Glasshouse (5) vs Ideal Buildings (3)
Bye - Guthrie Bowron
Round 2
Guthrie Bowron (3) vs Glasshouse (5)
Glass Bottom Boat (4) vs Ideal Buildings (4) - Ideal Buildings winner on countback
Bye - Luke’s Kitchen
Round 3
Ideal Buildings (6) vs Luke’s Kitchen (2)
Glass Bottom Boat (4) vs Guthrie Bowron (4)
Bye - Glasshouse
Scoreboard after 3 rounds:
1= - Glass Bottom Boat & Ideal Buildings (13); 3, Glasshouse (10); 4, Guthrie Bowron (7); 5, Luke’s Kitchen (5)
PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
9 holes stableford
Tuesday 6 May
1, Phil Costello; 2, Wayne Morrison
Thursday 8 May
9 holes stableford Cooks Beach Building Supplies monthly medal
1, Wayne Morrison winner of the monthly medal; 2, Sheree Webster
MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB
9 holes women – Gross
Tuesday 6 May
Div 1: 1, Audrey Vickers; 2, Gaylene Imms
Div 2: 1, Noeline Boardman; 2, Felicity Sanders 9 hole mixed - stableford
1, Gavin Green; 2, Rod Bott; 3, Campbell Elliot
Wednesday 7 May
18 hole men - stableford
1, Richard Schofield; 2, Willie Jones; 3, Jay Marshall
Twos: James Duncan, Ken George, Graham Eccles, Kevin Smith
Gross: Div 1, Dave Enright; Div 2, Jay Marshall
18 hole men - Scramble
Saturday 10 May
1, Mark Boe; 2, Dave Enright; 3, Greg Peterken
Twos: Dave Enright (2) Gross: Div 1, Mark Boe; Div 2, Jack Coldicutt
Women’s Rugby – Canada connection with Whitianga
Five special additional players for Sundays game
BY RON MORGAN
For the first time ever, we welcomed back five former Mercury Bay Area School students to play in Sundays game at Lyons Park, Whitianga. These five players all took part in the rugby exchange to Shawnigan Lake School In Canada!
Now, years later, they all hit the field together on the same team to play Te Aroha Tui!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment and a proud chapter in our rugby history. The day had quite a bit of magic.
2010 Cherry Wood, 2012 Tori Shirley, 2013 Lily McMurtrie, 2014 Tia Ngataua, 2014, 2015 Chelsea Finnerty, 2015 Harmony Kelsall (unable to play due to injury).
IMPORTANT HISTORY
“The Shawnigan Lake connection started when I replied to a small advertisement in the old Rugby News where they requested
schools to host them for a proposed rugby tour of NZ, Our reply was the first and they always honoured us with the first game on
their tours of NZ. They have come to Whitianga probably for four tours over many years , Mercury Bay teams have also been hosted
at their Vancouver Island school. Shaun Jackson and Chris Costello have been awarded rugby scholarships with Anthea Neighbours
and Oli Wright being hosted as well.
The girls rugby has been the ongoing connection for many years with several hosted with fees etc which were in the vicinity of $45,000 at the prestigious school. Eloise Blackwell went onto captain the Black Ferns which was one of many outstanding successes resulting from the exchange. The calibre and contribution our girls made was a feature of all the girls selected representing the school and themselves at the highest level in all fields. Mark Hall the coach, was continually impressed with the girls’ contribution. It was interesting to note that it was assumed the girls were selected from regions around NZ but the fact was they were all local . With the many visits to Whitianga, local folk will remember and should be thanked for billeting the visitors. Many friendships have continued and no doubt we will be asked to host Shawnigan Lake School teams in the future.
Mercury Bay Women’s Rugby
BY MIKE TAYLOR (MANAGER)
The ladies played Te Aroha on a stunningly beautiful late Autumn day, which also coincided with Mother’s Day.
Mercury Bay competed very strongly for the first 25 minutes and the scores locked at 5 all.
Te Aroha found holes in the Mercury Bay defensive line and managed to build a lead. Our ladies also sustained some injuries in the second half and continued to have key players off the field more frequently than desired.
Credit to the Te Aroha ladies who have been operating as a unit for several years now, and their maturity and superior fitness was telling in the final scoreline of 41-10. Mercury Bay however, fought all the way to the final whistle and scored their second try right on full-time. Macca Boyd was the lady to score. The tenacity shown by our ladies and their unwillingness to give up was very heartening. Our team, in its infancy, is only lacking experience and a better run with injury challenges.
For Mother’s Day the club treated our ladies to pink sparkling wine and some beautiful cakes courtesy of Harbour
The
our hospitality and the game of
a
Thank you to all the loyal and vocal supporters and we ask that
you keep turning up and making a difference.
Next week we have a bye and an opportunity to reset, train hard and heal some injuries.
House café.
Te Aroha team enjoyed
rugby was grown
little bit further.
The Mercury Bay Womens Rugby team, above, after their match on Mother’s Day; right, it was a well won victory for Te Aroha and their Captain and Coaches.
Five special guest players: From left - Cherry Wood with Billie (niece) Levi and Rylei Bennett, Chelsea Finnerty, Lily McMurtrie with Baby Elsie, Ron Morgan (past co-ordinator of Shawnigan Lake programme), Tori Shirley with Evie Shirley, Tia Ngataua with Haylee-Rose and Beauden.
GAMES AND PUZZLES
Puzzle
Proudly sponsored
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
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.
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 26 May and Friday 13 June. 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 Linda 07 866 5516 or our fb page Grey Power Mercury Bay/ Whitianga Inc.
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.
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. Mon 2.30pm, Tues 5.15pm, Thurs 8.45am, Fri 8.45am, Sat 8.15am. Gentle Simple. $25/90 minute 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
Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc – AGM, 11.00am on Thurs 15th May 2025 at the MB Club. Doors will open at 10.30am. All are welcome. Lunch & guest speakers. Any questions ph 07 866 5516. 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.
TRADES & SERVICES
Thames – Pak n Save, The Green Grocer (new), Richardsons Real Estate (new), Aeroview Garden Centre, Superprice Furniture (new), Goldfields Shopping Centre
Tairua – 4 Square, Surf n Sand Takeaways, Bayleys Real Estate, Gull Service Station, Super Liquor Coroglen – Coroglen Tavern, Whangamata – Tango’s Shoes, Whanga Books, Challenge Service Station Whitianga – New World, Woolworths, 4 Square, Gull Service Station, Z Service Station, Tango’s Shoes, Stephensons Pharmacy, Mercury Bay Pharmacy, Liquorland, Well Stocked Deli (new), Whitianga isite Coromandel – Coromandel Oyster Company, Super Liquor, Coro Liquor, Coromandel Information Centre, Coro Super Saver, James & Turner
Also general stores at Taruru, Te Puru, Tapu and Colville
SUPER STAR SALES PERSON
Location:
the peninsula required.
Employment Type: Full or part-time.
Remuneration: Base salary + performance-based commission.
Opportunity
We are looking for a motivated, commercially driven person to join our team to drive sales growth for our publications and content.
You need to be inquisitive, energetic, largely self-managing, and want to work within a small dynamic team. You can make a real
impact. You can influence our business.
Key Skills and Attributes
– Ability to build long-term client relationships.
– Self-motivated, target-driven, resilient.
– Good verbal and written communication skills.
– Work within a team.
– A valid New Zealand driver’s license and own vehicle.
The Informer – Strives to make a difference.
– Believes in our community. Enquiries: Phone Pauline 027 271 6182 or send your CV and a brief cover letter to office@theinformer.co.nz
Mercury Bay Football starts season with a roar!
Mercury Bay Mini Kickers played their first game of the season against Te Rerenga. Many of the players were playing their first ever game of football. A big thank you to all the parents, but especially David and Ashleigh for making sure everything ran smoothly. Players of the Day were Ella Fearnley and Waverley Collier.
The Mercury Bay Senior Boys (mixed) travelled to Paeroa to play in the first grading game of the season. The first 15 minutes was fairly even, but Mercury Bay probably had the better chances and were only kept out by some scrambling defence. Our team then got into its groove scoring six goals before halftime to lead 6-1. The second half saw another six goals leading to a final score of 12-1. It was great to see a good defensive effort led by Elijah Bianchi and goal keeper Valo Gray. Goal scorers were Noah Palmer (2), Shanti Wilson (3), Curtis Treherne (3), Joel Iggulden (2), Ben Collins and Hyodo Taniguchi.
Mercury Bay football U12s
Team
On Saturday the Sharks played Whenuakite 12th grade. It was a great game played in beautiful weather between two awesome teams. Mercury Bay played well
Whitianga Boat Chandlery
Do you like to do your own maintenance work?
both defensively and attacking with end-to-end action.
Goal scorers Kayleb Cornwall x 4, Dylan Castle x 1, Casey Carleton x 2. Players of the Day were Harry Sharman and Kayleb Cornwall and Reef Havard was chosen also from
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Phone or email for info: info@whitiangaboatchandlery.co.nz
Phyll 027 4852036
Mitch 027 4852046
Whitianga Boat Repairs
We specialise in woodwork repairs & maintenance, including teak decks & platforms, insurance and rot repairs, plus we fit new transducers, anchor winches, bow thrusters and more.
Mitch has over 40 years experience with an Advanced Trade Cert Wooden Boat Building qualification to back it up!
Phone or email for info
E: info@whitiangaboatrepairs.co.nz
Mitch 027 4852046
Phyll 027 4852036
Whenuakite.
A big thank you to Harcourts for our new drink bottles.
12th Grade Stingrays opened their season against a tenacious Whangamata team under glorious sunshine. The large pitch allowed
for plenty of open play and the ball found the back of the net on multiple occasions. The Stingrays opened their account with an impressive win. Congratulations to Archer and Dom who picked up the Players of the Day honours.
Sharks
Ella Fearnley and Waverley Collier were Merbury Bay Mini Kickers Players of the Day; the Mercury Bay Football Under 12s Sharks team with their new drink bottles.