Issue 1214 16th June 2026

Te Kai Whakarongo

BASKER ROAST NIGHT

THAMES SEAGULL CENTRE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

Turning a dream into a hugely successful reality and community asset.

BY JACK BIDDLE

It takes a certain amount of courage to take the plunge, get started and turn a long-held dream into a reality. It’s a big enough challenge for an individual to take that initial leap of faith, but when there is a reasonably large mindset change required by local council and a wider commu-

nity to convince, then that dream can easily suddenly turn into something of a nightmare.

For local Thames man, Ian Coatsworth, one of his long-held dreams was always about doing more for the environment, plus having a vision of creating a community-based organisation built around sustainability, reuse, and opportunity.

“It was way back in 2000 when I witnessed an oak dresser in seemingly perfect condition being dropped into the concrete pit and crushed at the Burke Street Refuse Transfer Station in Thames that really kick-started me into action. I was chair of the Thames Coast Protection Society (TCPS) back in the 90’s and had connected with some very spe-

cial like-minded people including Clive Monds, Shelley Carr and Denise Lyons who quickly came onboard to start the wheels turning in earnest.

“There were also a number of other members of the TCPS including Fin and Carol Buchanan who also played a significant role in those early days. Clive had had previous input into the

TCDC waste management plan so that gave us valuable runs on the board initially, and soon after spending a week at the Kaikoura recycling dump shop, I chaired a public meeting to gauge start-up interest which ultimately led to the formation of the first Trust with myself being nominated as the chairperson.

Continued on page 3

Mike’s YouTube Minutes

‘Worth Watching Online’

LOOK UP ON YOUTUBE

1) The Coelacanth: Ancient Fish That Defied Extinction – FULL DOCUMENTARY.

This relates the discovery of a living dinosaur fish once thought to have been extinct for 65 million years.

2) The band no one saw coming – The Beatles 1963 Documentary.

We woke one morning in January 1963 to a new sound on the radio. The group called themselves the Beatles and they sang “Please Please Me” 3) To EV or not to EV? Running costs, battery life and price comparisons – The Prosperity Project.

Johnathan Sergel, the AA’s chief mobility officer responds to questions about EVs from the Herald’s, Nadine. Enjoy viewing Mike

We apologise that we were not able to cover the Mercury Bay Area School Ball in this issue, due to being limited to 24 pages. This will be in next weeks’ issue.

Pauline’s Piece

Water rates overcharging continues

Water is a constant source of grievance – all due to overcharging. The Informer sympathises with this and has been publishing the grief of residents for some time, especially last year leading up to the Election and listening to promises of those wanting to be elected.

For some months now, resident Ian Stewart has been trying to get a reasonable answer from TCDC on the legal justification for knowingly massively overcharging residents for water.

A portion of his open letter responding to their latest email is below. Ian believes the council keeps avoiding the question.

Going back to just prior to the election, the TCDC team wrote this as part of a Letter to the Editor in The Informer 16 Sept, 2025.

“We now have Long Term Plan capital funding to undertake this unbundling work in Whitianga starting in 2027/28 financial year. We will also look at retrofitting smart meter technology onto the installed meters to allow them to be read remotely... Two systems are being investigated. The objective is that over a period of time all of TCDC district will be metered and usage will be recorded using smart meter technology.

“Currently, about 11,500 properties in the district are metered, and about 9,500 are not.

“The way we set our (water) rates is complex and involves a significant process. The setting of our rates was legally reviewed prior to adoption on 24 June and adheres to all aspects set out under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002. We don’t expect people to necessarily understand the intricacies of this process …” – TCDC

This editor is stating that as yet, TCDC has acquiesced to what was stated prior to the election.

Ian Stewart directed his recent letter to the Legal Technical Specialist, Thames-Coromandel District Council (name withheld). Here is a portion of that letter:

“Again, you have failed to respond to my question, so now I am invoking this under the Official Information Act. I’m also submitting this to the Mercury Bay Informer to ascertain feedback from other residents in this position

Firstly, I have made you aware that you are massively overcharging us for water used not only in our apartment but in ALL the apartments in the Mercury Bay Apartments complex.

Secondly, the information emailed through is clearly documented as being guidelines only, and DO NOT constitute legislation which allows you the leeway to knowingly overcharge people for water. My question to you was, what Legal precedent does the TCDC have which allows you to knowingly overcharge for water which is not being used.

Thirdly, you stated in your email dated 6 May, 2026 that “For Eyre Street, Council owns and main-

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STAR and SPACE STATION GAZING IN 2026 – your guide to the night sky

Tues 16 June: The Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are all lined up at dusk in the west and from 6:19pm there is a good ISS pass in the west to join the party. Wed 17 June The Moon now sits between Jupiter and faint Mercury at dusk with Venus, Jupiter and Mercury all equally spaced. Thurs 18 June: Jupiter is now just on the western horizon after dusk. The Moon sits just above Venus with Jupiter and Mercury lined up below. Fri. 19 June: The Moon now sits high above equally spaced Venus, Jupiter and Mercury in the western dusk sky. Sat 20 June: Venus now lies just beside the Beehive cluster, a lovely sight in binoculars and we have a bright Tiangong pass from 6:46pm in the west ending near the Southern Cross as it disappears into the Earth’s shadow. Sun. 21 June: There will be a good Tiangong pass from 5:47pm in the NW starting just to the left of Jupiter and Venus.

Tues 23 June: Jupiter has now moved to be just above faint Mercury with bright Venus well above in the western dusk sky.

All five naked eye planets are again visible this week with the two brightest, Jupiter and Venus, still putting on a lovely early evening show giving us a rare chance to actually see planets in motion from night to night. Both rise ever higher in the sky each night but Venus is now well past fainter Jupiter and is moving upwards at a greater rate so the separation between them increases noticeably from night to night. Much fainter Mercury lies almost on the horizon but gets slightly higher each day. Meanwhile both faint Saturn and Mars are visible in the eastern dawn sky with Saturn the much higher up of the two. The Moon can help us find the planets this week.

tains the public water infrastructure up to the boundary meter only. The internal distribution infrastructure within the complex is privately owned. Council is not responsible for installing, maintaining, or upgrading water infrastructure or meters on private property.” However despite us requesting a water meter at the boundary, none has been supplied by the council. It was the council’s initiative, for patently groundless reasons, to install these water meters. However, the TCDC has only installed these in a hap-hazard fashion and then arbitrarily levied charges against those households without a meter, based on a “guideline” which is completely out of touch with reality for almost all of the occupied dwellings in this town.

A. Why, despite our requests, has the council not supplied a water meter to the boundary?

B. The council has ample information available to it comparing the number of residents in a dwelling to water consumption…. The current fixed charge is the equivalent to every non-metered household emptying and refilling a spa pool 365 times per year,

and still having water left over for showers etc. It is a totally unrealistic figure.

Why hasn’t the council either:

1. Installed water meters at every property to ensure fair charging for water, or 2. Surveyed the properties without meters and calculated a fair and equitable charge based on known parameters for household water usage.

Please remember also that I’m asking under the OIM what legal precedent you are using to overcharge for water with the full knowledge that you are doing so. Lastly, you have stated that the TCDC only has a duty of care to bring water to the boundary of the property, yet you are charging each unit individually. As you are treating us as individual consumers and billing us as such, I believe an argument could be made in court that your care of responsibility for accurate billing is also relevant to the original customer, particularly since the TCDC has declined to install a water meter on the boundary of the shared property.

I’m also questioning that particular excuse. I have owned a cross lease section in Auckland. The Auckland City Council had no issues installing individual meters on all properties in the cross lease. Please give me a reason why the TCDC can’t do the same… You are supplying goods to individual dwellings within the property. These dwellings are individual consumers and unique billing entities. So they have a right, and you a legal obligation as a service provider, to supply them with accurate billings for accurate measure of goods and services supplied by the council, rather than a generic overcharge of 925.6 litres per day.”

Editorial/News: Contact Pauline Stewart, Editor/owner ph 027 271 6182 info@theinformer.co.nz

Advertising/advertorial in The Informer: Phone (07) 866 2090, Email sales@theinformer.co.nz Letters to the Editor: 200 words or less please. Name and town of residence required. Email info@theinformer.co.nz

Published weekly. Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula to Waihi. Readers’

Driving the Circular Economy

“The Trust currently has 8 Trustees including Peggy Barriball, Denise Lyons, Lou Deane, Shaked From, Satyananda Cooney, James Elder plus two of the originals, Denise Lyons and myself”.

A name for the facility soon followed that initial gathering with The Seagull Centre, which has since been abbreviated by many to simply “Seagulls” becoming an obvious and unanimous choice.

The next major task was getting TCDC on-board and asking for $50K to fund the first building and to provide access to what still is the current site position in Burke Street.

To gain their full attention, 10 full rubbish bags were scattered around the councillor meeting room during their morning tea break where Ian spoke about and sold the idea of establishing a resource centre to which people from the wider Coromandel community could contribute positively, in one way or another. The council didn’t take a lot of convincing of the merits of the proposed scheme and wasted little time signing off on the initiative.

An initial challenge for the Trust along the way was that the designated site was an old landfill which still leaked methane from the decomposing waste. The concrete foundations required ventilation to prevent the risk of fires or explosions from the methane

buildup. This unbudgeted work added an additional $14K onto the setup cost, and set the Trust back a year in completion time.

The Seagull Centre was officially opened on 6 July 2006 with a very compact shop and a smallish yard with local man, Ben Wolfe appointed as the manager.

The financial expectation was basically a few pennies, but from day one, enough money was taken to keep the centre and dream afloat.

Initially, staff numbers and opening hours were limited, but during this period Ben and his small team added the finishing touches to the building, added extra shelving, constructed new

pathways and sorted out onsite drainage issues.

“From the very start we were able to meet our main objectives of saving waste from landfill, employing local people who also shared the dream, providing goods at reasonable prices to local people and to quietly educate people about the benefits of reuse and recycling,” adds Ian. The site has grown significantly since those early days with the addition of more buildings and more recently with the addition of the Resource Recovery Park in 2020 adding a drive through and integrating the drop-off process closer with the neighbouring Refuse Transfer Station.

Staff numbers and opening hours have also increased with the centre currently employing an enthusiastic group of 25 staff diligently working to stop reusable goods from joining what they hope to be a diminishing landfill queue.

Ongoing education also plays a big part in Seagulls current and long-term focus with the Trust’s educator Lucci Scott employed to provide education initiatives to local schools, shops, businesses and local residents as well as advocating national level initiatives like the Container Deposit Scheme.

Seagulls has also played a leading role in the establishment of other Resource Recovery Centres locally in Coromandel, Paeroa, Whitianga and Katikati and are actively supporting Whangamata’s proposed facility at Lindsay Road. Another new innovation has been the establishment of ‘goods-drop off’ centres at Pauanui, Tairua and Matarangi which allows residents to drop-off their reusable goods at weekends.

This financial year, the Seagull Centre Trust will turn over $1,000,000 with at least $750,000 going back into the local economy through staff wages. This along with the annual grants, that have cumulatively totalled more than $200,000, highlights the significant impact Seagulls is making on the local economy. With a stag-

gering 600 tonnes of reusables diverted from landfill annually, they are certainly making a significant impact on the environment.

All this was made possible by the vision, dedication and ongoing governance of the Trustees, the dedication of staff and volunteers, the support from their funders, TCDC and in particular the Ministry for the Environment and their loyal local stakeholders.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DAY

The official 20th birthday celebrations will take place on Sunday, 5 July, with the day featuring a special auction, a sausage sizzle, and complimentary coffee for customers spending more than $20.

Ian says it’s a small way of thanking the loyal locals who have supported the Centre over the past two decades.

“The team says they want the anniversary to feel less like a formal celebration and more like a true community gathering which is a reflection of what the Coromandel is all about and the values the Seagull Centre has always stood for”.

After twenty years, one thing remains clear: the Seagull Centre is not just about second-hand goods, it’s about second chances, sustainability, connection and community plus a timely reminder that some often farfetched dreams can and do come true.

Ian Coatsworth with Denise Lyons, the two original Trustees of the Seagull Centre.

‘Sword of Honour’ for Le Sueur

Le Sueur Van der Byl is a former MBAS student finishing his studies in 2025.

BY PAULINE STEWART

Le Sueur Van der Byl was awarded the Sword of Honour on 6 June, by the Minister of Defence, Hon. Chris Penk at the Royal New Zealand Navy graduation of Junior Officers Common Training (JOCT).

This is not a regular or even annual award. In the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), the Sword of Honour is a prestigious award presented to the best overall Officer Cadet graduating from a training course, such as the Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT). It recognizes supreme military leadership, integrity, character, and outstanding overall performance.

This honour was bestowed on this local Whitianga young man whose parents, Leon and Gwynneth Van der Byl reside in Whitianga. This is Le Sueur’s home.

Le Sueur had many opportunities for fun and development through his high school years at Mercury Bay Area school, and the rest of the ‘village’ raising him up. He was involved in the Diving Academy, the Plane Build programme and a prefect in his senior year. While looking for a scholarship to assist his plan to be an engineer and also provide sone financial assistance, Le Sueur found that the navy had a

very good scholarship to join the navy plus do the officers course. If he was successful in this, the navy would send him to do an engineering course at University.

He applied for and was granted a RNZN scholarship to study engineering. His first commitment was to complete the Junior Officer Training as part of his scholarship requirements prior to starting university. It commenced in January, and as is his usual, he ‘made the most of the opportunity’. Le Sueur really enjoyed the adventures and challenges that this particular opportunity presented. However, he also applied himself fully to the study aspects aiming to be at or near the top of

all the students. He did not know until the ceremony that he would receive the Sword of Honour but he had an idea that he might be the top student.

Saturday, 6 June was the long awaited Graduation Parade in which the Leadership Development Cadets showed off their newly acquired skills to friends and whanau – a real treat to all despite the pouring rain that started the day. It was towards the conclusion of this ceremony that Le Sueur was presented with the Sword of Honour. The Coromandel wishes Le Sueur all the very best for his upcoming career in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Le Sueur holding the flag in the parade.

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Hahei speaks out on DOC access charging and keeping tracks open

Five representatives from DOC led a packed meeting at the Hahei Community Hall last week. There would have been 80 residents. Some travelled across on the ferry to attend.

Councillors Flemming Rasmussen and Tony Brljevich attended participating in comments and questions. John Freer attended in a CFM capacity.

The one item on the agenda was to seek feedback and present options on international visitor access charging

PETITION TO SAVE CATHEDRAL COVE TRACKS

The 3 June issue The Informer, Ray van Beynen’s Column published: “DOC are proposing the cancellation of the Hahei Beach track reroute, the decommissioning (closure) of the Hahei Beach Track and the closure of the Gemstone Bay Track. The reasons given were the extensive damage to both tracks and the costs of the repairs.

The reaction from local communities has been swift and pointed. There is widespread opposition to the DOC proposal.

Three weeks ago, Liz Harsant started a petition on Change.org to stop the closure of any Cathedral Cove tracks. (The Harsant family many years ago gifted the Cathedral Cove area to the crown to be used freely by all of New Zealand.)

In just under three weeks, it has gathered over twelve hundred signatures. Hahei has a resident population of about four hundred people. Twelve hundred signatures.That tells you this isn’t a few locals making noise. People right across New Zealand, and overseas, care about keeping these tracks open.

FROM LIZ HARSANT

What I’m asking for is simple. I want to protect the infrastructure we already have. We’re not asking for something new or expensive to be built. We have these tracks, they work, and if it comes to it, this community is willing to look after them ourselves rather than watch them close.

Lack of consistency and different standards

DOC’s safety assessment doesn’t add up: e.g. the track out to the point at the

It’s a Māori pā site, with a lookout and a narrow track running out along a rocky ridge to the point. It’s narrow, it’s steep, there are no barriers, nothing at all, and it stays open. Now, I’m not against a track like that. I think most people weigh up the risk themselves and make their own call.

Look at the track from Hahei beach to the Cathedral Cove look out. It was built after Cave Creek, with proper steps, engineered to a very high standard. If the unprotected track at the point is acceptable, then closing the well-built one makes no sense. Standards aren’t being applied evenly……..

Then there’s the Gemstone Track. As it stands, the plan is to make it accessible only by water, and only to educational groups.

People don’t think that’s right. That track should stay open to all. A family should be able to walk down together without having to take a boat. It doesn’t need to be done up to some high standard. It just needs to stay open to able-bodied people who want to get down and snorkel in the reserve……. DOC, the council, and everyone who cares: let’s keep these tracks open. Add your name to the petition, talk to your neighbours, and let’s look after what we’ve got………

This is really the heart of it. It’s important to keep the character of the land experience when visiting Hahei and Cathedral Cove.

„ To read the full petition and sign it go to: https://www.change.org/p/ don-t-close-our-cathedral-covetracks

To quote Dasha, a policy advisor in Wellington, who led the presentation:

“We are seeking early feedback. Access charges can create significant income for conservation,” and “This could also help a fairer system where visitors contribute to the experiences they use.”

Questions presented by DOC:

• Where do you think access charges should apply?

• What factors should be considered when setting the charges?

• What discounts, exemptions and waivers should be available?

• How do you think access charges should be implemented?

Locals were very clear that some kind of financial benefit must come into their area to maintain the facilities for the many visitors, both international and New Zealanders. From the beginning of the meeting, there was tension as to whether DOC would control the use of income or whether it would be managed locally. It was indicated the income could be used further afield for other DOC projects, This did not go down well. One resident summed up the general feeling in the hall, “I have been involved in this area for a long time. The locals have been thinking about this for a long time. Before you ask the question will they support charging, please tell us your thinking on HOW it will work.”

A summary of points and concerns raised from those present – business owners, tourism operators, residents,

local government reps:

• Cathedral Cove was a gift to all New Zealanders.

• A community-led solution from the start is better.

• How do you identify New Zealanders from overseas ones?

• None of the income of the current International Visitor Levy (IVL) flows through locally. Before covid, 150,000 international visitors a year. Numbers are returning. Why not use this as the international fee?

• We depend on the economical activity associated with our visitors.

• How will access from the sea work?

• Consider the easy ‘paying at the Border’ solution

• Hahei’s multiple entries to Cathedral Cove and the is a challenge.

• DOC needs to work with council to look at opportunities for management within the council own Hahei carpark.

• This leads into the spatial plan discussion. The team from Wellington and Hamilton stated they wanted something to be in operation for the Summer 27/28. They will return towards the end of the year after taking into account the community’s points and suggestions. From this July onwards, they will develop recommendations for incoming government. Four locations are being considered for Access Charging – international visitors: Milford Sound, Tongaririo Crossing, Mount Taranaki, and Cathedral Cove

southern end of Hahei Beach.

Big dreams, big changes, high hopes

Part Two - MBAS student leaders answer important questions – the following three questions were put to Senior students.

These three questions were put to student leaders at MBAS.

1. "What is your favorite way to spend your time outside of school, and what has that hobby taught you about yourself?"

2. "What is your 'big dream' for your career or life after school, and what inspired you to chase it?"

3. "If you could change or improve one thing for the next generation of students in our town/school, what would it be?"

NAOMI BELL

- ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER

My favourite way to spend my time outside of school is by participating in the performing arts. It taught me that while something may seem stressful in the moment, looking back at it you will miss what you had.

My dream is to go into Environmental Law and protect our kaitiakitanga.

If I could change or improve things for the future, I would open up more opportunities for our students in sports, performing arts, and academics.

MIRANDA COLEMAN

- WELLBEING LEADER

My favourite way to spend my time outside of school is doing physical activities like netball, basketball and swimming. These

hobbies have taught me to be confident in my decisions, try my best, and work well with others as part of a team. It has also helped me to take others' ideas into consideration and be collaborative.

My big dream after school is to become a nurse and midwife, where I can care for people and support mothers and babies during important moments in their lives. I was inspired to chase this dream as I feel I am a very caring person and I enjoy helping others, especially when they need support the most.

If I could change or improve one thing for the next generation of students in my school, I would improve opportunities for students to get real experience in their future careers before going to university. This would mean more work experience, volunteering, and job shadowing, so

they can make more confident choices about their pathway.

TYRON CUMMINGS

- SPORTS LEADER

My favourite way to spend time outside of school would be rugby/ basketball. These sports have taught me a lot of things including discipline, learning how to productively work as a team, leadership and organisational skills.

My ultimate goal in life would be to own my own diving business in Aitutaki, Cook Islands. To help me achieve this, I plan to enlist as a navy diver. I have also been studying at Dive Zone for two years and am now a Dive Master in training. If I could change anything in our school, it would be to try and teach the next generation of kids not to be so judgmental towards each other. Get to know people before you start judging them and

COSY COMFY WINTER SALE

always show respect if you want respect given back.

LAILA DUNN

- ACADEMIC LEADER

Outside of school I really enjoy staying active, especially going to the gym and playing sports like netball and basketball. Sports and moving my body are a big part of my routine and day to day life. Through this, I’ve learned a lot about discipline and consistency, showing up even when I’m tired or busy.

My big dream is to go into paramedicine and work in a role where I can help people in critical situations. I’ve always been drawn to fast-paced environments where you have to think quickly and make a real difference. My experiences with surf lifesaving and being involved in helping roles have inspired me, and I like the idea of having a career that is

both challenging and meaningful. I would want to create a stronger sense of support and balance for students, especially around managing stress and expectations. School can feel overwhelming at times, so making sure students feel supported, not just academically but mentally as well, is really important. I’d also like to see more opportunities for students to get involved in leadership, sports, and community activities, so everyone can find something they’re passionate about.

BROOKLYN JADE MARK - CULTURAL LEADER

Outside of school, I love spending time with my friends and playing netball. This sport has taught me the importance of teamwork, commitment, and supporting others, while my friendships have shown me how valuable strong connections and communication are.

My big dream after school is to go to university and build a successful career that I’m passionate about. I’m inspired by the opportunities that education can create and by wanting to make my family proud through hard work and success. One thing I would improve for future students is creating more opportunities for student voices to be heard. Students should feel supported, included, and encouraged to take on leadership opportunities and share their ideas.

Left to right: Naomi Bell, Miranda Coleman, Tyron Cummings, Laila Dunn, Brooklyn Jade Mark.

Whitianga partnership brings world-leading literacy assessment

This could mean huge benefits for local children – special meeting.

BY PAUL BLACKMAN, FOUNDER, WORDSMART AND THE NURTURING YOUNG MINDS FOUNDATION

Aunique opportunity is emerging for New Zealand education through a new partnership between WordSmart and Lexplore, a Swedish educational technology company that is transforming the way schools identify reading difficulties and support literacy development.

Lexplore was developed by a team of more than 50 researchers and scientists associated with the world-renowned Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Using advanced eye-tracking technology and artificial intelligence, Lexplore can assess a student's reading ability in just five minutes.

What makes Lexplore so remarkable is its objectivity. Traditional literacy assessments often rely on teacher observations, written responses, or lengthy testing procedures. Lexplore instead measures how a student's eyes move across text while reading. These eye movements provide highly accurate data about reading fluency, decoding skills, comprehension, and potential indicators of dyslexia. Research has shown Lexplore to be approximately 97% accurate in identifying reading difficulties, making it one of the most advanced literacy assessment tools available anywhere in the world. Currenty they have measured over one million students worldwide.

For parents and teachers, this means struggling readers can be identified much earlier. Rather than waiting for a child to fall significantly behind their peers, schools can pinpoint difficulties quickly and provide targeted support before confidence and motivation are affected.

The partnership between Lexplore and WordSmart creates an exciting opportunity for New Zealand children. While Lexplore identifies literacy challenges through objective assessment, WordSmart provides practical solutions through structured literacy, storytelling, phonemic awareness, mindset development, and

accelerated reading programmes designed to help students succeed.

Together, these two approaches answer the two most important questions in education:

1. How do we accurately identify students who need support?

2. What do we do next to help them succeed?

New Zealand has invested heavily in improving literacy outcomes, with the Government committing significant funding to literacy and mathematics initiatives. However, effective intervention depends on accurate measurement. As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets managed.”

Lexplore offers the possibility of providing schools, teachers, parents, and policy makers with a consistent and objective measure of literacy progress. Schools can track individual students over time, identify emerging difficulties, and evaluate whether interventions are working.

Locally, plans are underway to offer pilot assessments to families, homeschoolers, and schools in the Coromandel region. The first assessments will be offered free of charge to gather evidence and demonstrate the potential benefits for New Zealand students.

As someone who has spent more than forty years working as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact that reading failure can have on a child’s confidence and future opportunities. I have

also seen the extraordinary transformation that occurs when children receive the right support at the right time.

Our vision is simple: no child should be left behind because their reading difficulties were not identified early enough.

By combining world-leading

assessment technology from Sweden with practical literacy solutions developed here in New Zealand, we believe we have an opportunity to help more children become confident, capable readers and learners.

“When we change a child’s relationship with reading, we change the trajectory of their life.”

„ For more information about upcoming Lexplore assessments and WordSmart literacy programmes, contact Paul Blackman at paul@wordsmart.app or phone 027 237 9086. Or come to the meeting on Wednesday, 24 June 3:00pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga.

Paul Blackman.

Local Government Matters

Is TCDC slow off the mark

As Hauraki Plan advances?

BY GEOFFREY ROBINSON

Thames-Coromandel District Council is on the back foot, as neighbouring councils put forward re-organisation plans that, left unchallenged, could drag in the Coromandel on unfavourable terms, silencing local voices and diluting local democracy for decades to come.

Hauraki District Council last week opened pubic consultation on three amalgamation proposals in response to the Government’s Simplifying Local Government directive. Only one of the three options has any chance of gaining public support. That option calls for a sprawling local authority taking in all of Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, South Waikato, and Thames-Coromandel districts stretching from the top of the peninsula down through the Hauraki Plains all the way to Tirau and Tokoroa. The proposal does not require consultation with, or approval by, Coromandel residents and ratepayers to gain government acceptance. The four-district scenario is likely to be backed up by analysis showing financial viability and public support, and would likely meet all the government’s requirements for efficiency and deliverability. Two other survey options – one for an all-Waikato supercity and the other an all-Waikato council minus Hamilton City – are likely to generate little interest.

While Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams and his Council have proceeded smartly to identify the best political outcome for his district before the looming August 9 deadline, TCDC leadership has so far dithered with process and public relations. After six weeks, a preliminary survey of Coromandel residents asking “what matters most to you” and “what people want to see from the reform process” has been the only word out of Thames headquar-

This is the cover of the central government’s document Simplifying Local Government, a reference for councils. Available online.

ters. Terms of reference for the mayor’s five-member sub-Council working group will not even be formally adopted until next week.

FOUR DISTRICTS:

CHALK AND CHEESE?

For Hauraki and its southern neighbours, wrangling Thames-Coromandel into an Eastern Waikato council is a tempting option, despite the Coromandel representing next to nothing in

the way of a natural “community of interest” – geographic, economic and social – with the other three districts. Put another way, Thames-Coromandel District is largely a misfit. Geographically, it’s a long and rugged peninsula with over 400 km of coastline and a handful of settlements and small towns largely isolated from the rest of the North Island – the Hauraki Plains included. And as no one needs reminding, the

This is episode 5 by Geoffrey Robinson as part of The Informer’s commitment to inform the people of the Coromandel and beyond as to what is involved in Local Government Reform. TCDC

number one economic driver by far is tourism with its related service, retail, hospitality and construction sectors.

Primary economic drivers in Hauraki and south, in contrast, are all about dairy, dry stock, meat processing, forestry, mining, agriculture and manufacturing. The districts are economically unrelated to points north. And for residents and businesses in the three southern districts, the natural urban catchments are nearby Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua – definitely not Thames or Whitianga. The four districts would overlap, however, in respect of Waihou catchment management.

With rating unit numbers boosted by thousands of coastal community holiday homes, the Coromandel, first and foremost, would be a financial milking shed for its farming and forestry council-mates, should the Hauraki re-organisation plan eventuate under unfavourable terms. Still worse, assuming council representation based on population, Thames-Coromandel with 27% of the four-district total would be apportioned just four seats on a hypothetical 16-member Council board. Community Boards as they presently exist would be just a memory.

As the weeks tick down and with TCDC still in the starting blocks, the urgent question is whether Mayor Peter Revell and his Council have the political will and negotiating skills to navigate the political waters, effectively challenge the Hauraki proposal, and develop an alternative option that meets government simplification criteria, while preserving local democracy for the Coromandel. As most observers agree, this is the most critical issue facing Coromandel communities, and one that will define local government on the peninsula for generations to come.

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND NEGOTIATING SKILLS

According to the government’s Head Start Pathway directive published May 5, individual territorial authorities (like TCDC) cannot submit a re-organisation proposal, such as a stand-alone unitary council for the Coromandel Peninsula. As the government rules presently stipulate, TCDC must join with a neighbouring council to jointly put forth any proposal, such as a Hauraki-Coromandel grouping.

But there is a fundamental problem with the rules. Thames-Coromandel District shares a border with only one other district –Hauraki. Hauraki has expressed no interest publicly in working with TCDC on a jointly acceptable proposal.

Out of 43 territorial authorities in the North Island, only one other district (Far North) borders just one other district. Out of all 67 territorial authorities (district, city and unitary) in the entirety of New Zealand, only two other districts (Far North and Invercargill) border just one other district. With only a single bordering district to plan with, unless that district engages cooperatively, TCDC has no option to submit a proposal to government under the rules as they stand.

But when stymied by rules and regulations, effective politicians, lawyers and consultants find “workarounds”. With its unique geography, economic base, and strong district-wide rating valuation base, the Thames-Coromandel District has a strong case to plead with decision-makers in Wellington, and a strong hand to play with partner districts, when it comes to negotiating an equitable amalgamation outcome. The question is whether that forceful and persuasive leadership will emerge from Thames headquarters in time to head off a local democracy disaster.

Weightings for local government reform

The Thames-Coromandel Simplifying Local Government Working Group has released the weightings will be used to assess and shortlist options for local government reform, marking a significant milestone in the process.

The weightings reflect the Working Group's view of what matters most when considering future governance arrangements for the district and will guide the evaluation of potential options before recommendations are presented to Council. The agreed weightings are:

• Keeping local voices strong –30%

• Better value for ratepayers –25%

• Less bureaucracy and clearer decisions – 25%

• Better planning for the future – 10%

• Making change practical and

achievable – 10%

Mayor Peter Revell said the weightings strike a balance between ensuring local communities continue to have a strong voice while also recognising the need for efficient, effective and affordable local government.

"The Government has pro-

vided five criteria against which reform options must be assessed. The Working Group has spent considerable time discussing the relative importance of each and has now agreed a framework that will help guide its decision-making," Mayor Revell said.

Local Government Matters

The demise of Community Boards

BY TONY FOX

At our last Local Body Election, the majority of candidates stood on a platform of better community engagement, greater transparency, and local decisions made by local people. With the recent adoption of the 'Accord', TCDC has effectively neutered Community Boards. Boards now meet only every 2 months, with Board meetings lasting 2 hours or less.

IS IT WORTH PERSEVERING WITH COMMUNITY BOARDS?

Having Community Boards with all its wraparound services, staff support, etc., costs TCDC ratepayers millions of dollars every year. It is a significant part of the almost $14M we spend this year on "governance". The highest cost, by far, is staff costs. With the adoption of the "Accord", Community Boards are now nothing more than post boxes. For those who have been in the District long enough, they will have noted the significant improvements in Mercury Bay

between 2010 and 2020. Yes, many of our improvements can be attributed to Hoppers – such as the development of international-quality infrastructure, improved event support, and the creation of employment, to mention but a few.

Add a town upgrade, a formed walking/cycling track along our beach front, new play grounds, Moewai Park, improved boating facilities, revenue generating car

parks and boat ramps, acquisition of land in Monk Street to cater for future development (a Civic Centre housing Council offices, space for performing and visual arts, a library, museum along with spaces for community groups) undergrounding of power lines, creation of a family/recreation at the Coroglen sale yards, along with many other improvements.

These improvements were all generated out of the Mercury Bay Area Office. Driven by your Community Board and delivered by our Area staff.

The days of Mercury Bay controlling its own destiny are gone. With that, it is a very reasonable question to ask: Do we now need Community Boards (in the diminished form that the Accord promotes)? For my money, the answer is NO.

So, who have we got to thank for the lack of transparency, the loss of community engagement and empowerment, and local decisions made by local people? Personally, I suspect it has been a surreptitious ploy by staff and some "senior" politicians.

As far as today's situation exists, the Minutes of the last Council Meeting identify who voted in favour of the Accord. Mayor Revell and Deputy Mayor Grant sponsored the Accord, as did the Mercury Bay Community Board, except for the Chair, Richard Shelford Woodcock. Crs. Flemming Rasmussen and Tony Brljevich voted against the Accord.

Maybe we can sheet today's issues regarding local democracy back to the Salt-led Council, which did nothing to support or value Community Boards, or to TCDC, which, anecdotally, did not promote the Community Board Terms of Reference during the induction process for this Council and Community Boards. Whatever the cause, there is no doubt that the endgame was to render Community Boards impotent.

Indeed, there would appear to have been a great deal of 'arm-twisting' here in Mercury Bay, as only days before the Council Meeting, our Board supported the Terms of Reference rather than the Accord.

In Richard's absence, the scene

was ready-made for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to 'screw the scrum' in a manner that would make any Frenchman proud. With that and the stroke of a pen, we have lost everything those of us from a past era stood for, and that our communities benefited from! I guess there is a silver lining to everything. With the pending Local Government reform, most of the elected arm will be history (and rightly so), as will several Chief Executives and senior staff. Their legacy will not make good reading.

Yes, we will lose some good people, but at the same time, we will rid ourselves of others who do not have our interests at heart. Sadly, we have elected weak leadership and have accepted the autocracy of a staff-driven Council. You can thank the very same people for the move from Land Value to Capital Value rating, the botched water deal with Western Bays and now the removal of local democracy. That will be their legacy. Not one to be proud of. As they "leave the building", they should bow their heads in shame!

Shane Jones on NZ First’s election policy

BY PATRICK KERR

New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones delivered a wide-ranging, 45 minute address to a packed Waihī Event Centre on Saturday afternoon, 6 June about 250 people, speaking eruditely and then fielding questions on mining royalties, fisheries, energy, artificial intelligence and conservation - returning again and again to one theme: that wealth generated in the regions should be reinvested where it is created.

The Resources, Regional Development and Oceans and Fisheries Minister summarised some other themes in the course of his speech:

• New Zealand First will not

agree to unfettered migration. It will be for whom we need, not who needs us as a stepping stone.”

• “I don’t care if my words offend the woke-ridden ears of main stream journalism”.

• “We stand and we are pledged

to ‘one flag, one people, one mission – an indivisible nation.”

• “We are laden with excessive doubt. We are surrounded by people who tell you why you can’t do anything. It is a “risk-averse culture.”

• “NZ First Party is very tired of the conduct and overreach District Councils. They have gone too far and exaggerated their obligation to Waikato iwi who have a veto on the economy of the Waikato community.”

Pressed on how the benefits of mining, could flow back to the communities that produce them, Jones was unequivocal. Crown minerals, he noted, include petroleum, gold, silver and uranium –a list with obvious resonance in

a town built on the Martha gold mine. If New Zealand First were “privileged to form another government,” a substantial share of gold and silver revenue would be “redirected back into an appropriate vehicle” to be spent exclusively in the local community. He stopped short of naming local government as that vehicle. He could already see “eyebrows arching upwards”, but insisted the money should return to the district that bears the costs of mining. “That is the position that Winston and I have,” he said. “This township is the first place where the fast-track legislation has been used to enable more gold mining here.” Jones later said, “’Mining in this region is a long-term commitment- there is

a profoundly rich seam of wealth - much broader than your immediate environment.”

On aquaculture, Jones defended his record, recalling predictions the industry would collapse. Instead, he said, every marine farming permit in the Coromandel has been extended for 25 years, with no need to reapply – something he claimed had “never been done in New Zealand ever before.”

The afternoon’s sharpest exchange came from a self-described keen fisherman, speaking for the roughly 400,000 recreational anglers, who complained of depleted stocks, encroaching trawlers and a lack of social licence for commercial boats

Tony Fox.

Stacey Costello MP introduces Shane Jones.

Mercury Bay Winter Drive

The recent Winter Drive has been hailed a tremendous success, thanks to the generosity and support of the community who came together to help children in need during the colder months.

Over the course of the campaign, community members donated a wide range of essential items. The overwhelming response ensured that many local families and individuals facing hardship will receive much-needed support this winter.

Alana Baker from Bayleys Whitianga, who coordinates the annual Winter Drive, expressed her gratitude to everyone involved.

“The response from our community has been absolutely incredible,” said Alana. “Every donation, no matter how big or small, has made a real difference to someone this winter. We are so grateful to the individuals, families and businesses who supported the drive. Their generosity and kindness are what make initiatives like this possible.”

So you’ve got a new phone Seniornet

BY VERNA CARR

The family had been at you for months. It’s amazing, they said. It takes fantastic photos, they said. We can keep in touch on Facebook, they said. You can listen to music, access the knowledge of the entire world, and it’s so easy – all delivered with the cheerful confidence of people who grew up with a screen in their hand.

Your son promised you’d love it. Your daughter said it would change your life. Your twelveyear-old grandson – bless him –informed you that ‘you could play video games on it, Nana.’

So for your birthday, they bought you a brand new smartphone – slim, shiny, and looking terrifyingly expensive. It sits on the table.

You look at it quietly for weeks. Then your grandson comes to visit. He opens the box and gets to work. Within the hour, he has downloaded every app you’ll ever need, set up your passwords and email address, and carefully explained how everything works. Simple enough; except the button is on the side now, not the top, and pressing it too long does something entirely different. Pressing it twice does something

else again. Before you know it, you’ve accidentally called someone in your contacts listed as DO NOT ANSWER.

Your new phone, it turns out, has a mind of its own. It will beep when you receive a message, buzz when someone likes something, chime when you have an appointment, and vibrate mysteriously for reasons you will never fully understand.

YOU ACCIDENTALLY DO SOMETHING

You were simply trying to check the weather.

Now the screen is upside down, your text is enormous, your cam-

era has applied a filter that gives you dog ears, and your phone is speaking to you in a calm robotic voice like it is possessed by an alien from another dimension. This is normal. This happens to everyone.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS

You don’t have to wait for the family to visit, and you don’t have to figure any of this out alone. SeniorNet is a wonderful New Zealand organisation run by volunteers – patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping older adults get comfortable with technology. SeniorNet tutors can sit with you one-on-

one or in small groups and walk you through setting up your new phone from scratch – contacts, email, photos, apps, video calls, the lot. They also help with computers and tablets, so if your laptop has been “acting funny” since 2019, they can help with that too. No question is too basic. No mishap is too spectacular. (They also promise not to laugh when you ask about a left-handed mouse.)

Give SeniorNet a ring. Their tutors will show you how to use your device with confidence, so you can connect with your family, navigate a world that runs on smartphones, and – who knows – maybe challenge your grandson to a video game after all.

Whitianga SeniorNet is located in Room 9 at the Social Services Centre, 2 Cook Drive, every Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. You can book a one-hour or twohour session for one-on-one tuition. Bring your own device and the tutors will walk you through everything it can do – at your pace, in plain English.

FEES:

• Annual membership: $25, Onehour session: $8; Two-hour session: $10 „ To book or make an enquiry, contact Carol on 021 022 62504.

Carol, Molly, Pam, Megan and Sheryl.

Mining wealth should stay in the regions

Continued from page 13

working close to shore near Mayor Island.

Jones, a former Sealord chairman, said it was far from certain the current fisheries bill would pass before the election, and agreed there should be a clearer split between commercial zones and recreational areas. But he was firm that his party had never supported the existing protected areas, which he said were “imposed by Labour” and continued by National.

ENERGY

On energy, a question about Marsden Point prompted a case for fuel resilience. Jones recalled the refinery was originally conceived under Robert Muldoon to process New Zealand’s own hydrocarbons.

“Closing down Marsden Point has made us a weaker and more vulnerable nation. We have recommissioned a 100 cu metre tank there. We have begun to recover. Unless we look after ourselves; unless we stop taking for granted the way we live, we can’t maintain this way of life.” Jones said he had commissioned a study into restarting refining capacity. “We have acres of oil and gas” Just over the hill at the Port of Tauranga, we are importing coal from Indonesia, but not far from here there are thousands of acres of good quality coal.” Cautioning against nostalgia, he flagged “options for small bespoke refineries” and signalled the party would campaign on a bespoke refining capability for domestic resources. Against a global oil shock, the lesson was clear, he said, “We have to be resilient and have economic security.” Voters who wanted that should “invest in leadership that will deliver it.”

AI, CONSERVATION & SOEs

He was more guarded on artificial intelligence, calling his party “very cautious about this breathless enthusiasm for AI.” His objection was practical: the proposed data centres would draw enormous power, and

“where’s the electricity coming from?”

Conservation drew a longer answer after a question about legislation said to open up a share of conservation land.

Jones noted the estate covers roughly a third of the country, mostly in the South Island, and that the relevant bill - under Conservation Minister Tama Potaka - had only just entered Parliament. He stressed that the department’s supreme purpose, set by the Lange government in 1987, remains conservation, though there would be clearer processes for tourism, economic development and, “where appropriate,” mining. He predicted the bill would be “hotly contested.”

His harshest language was reserved for state-owned enterprises. Recounting what he called the worst case he had seen, Jones alleged power company, Meridian Energy (51% state owned|) had paid $145 million, citing a newspaper report, to secure an iwi entity’s acquiescence and speed up a resource consent.

The episode, “under Jacinda’s watch,” amounted to “a type of extortion deserving of Tony Soprano.” SOEs, he argued, wrongly believe they are sovereign, and must be brought back under the control of elected representatives.

That frustration with iwi involvement in major projects extends well beyond Waihī.

Jones referred to recent weeks working with the Tauranga hapū Ngāti Kuku over the Port

of Tauranga’s stalled Stella Passage wharf extension, advanced under the Fast-Track Approvals Act. Reports, and the Minister himself, put their redress sought in connection with the hapū’s opposition at around $450 million, a sum he has called “weaponised cultural extortion” For as long as that Port is not able to expand, they are holding to ransom the good name of the Maori people. It is a shakedown of the country’s largest port. Ngāti Kuku reject that, casting their stance as kaitiakitangaprotecting traditional kaimoana gathering areas - while Te Pāti Māori’s Rawiri Waititi branded his comments a disgrace. Last month the Environment Court ordered the port to compensate local iwi and hapū for the “wasted effort” of a consent process it ultimately abandoned.

New Zealand First has planted itself firmly in the centre-right bloc for this election. Leader Winston Peters has permanently ruled out any deal with a Chris Hipkins-led Labour. Jones added, ”I got the message; don’t ever support the Labour Party again.”.

On infrastructure, Jones reaffirmed a commitment to extending the four-lane highway north of Auckland and lamented that building anything here “costs far too much.” His parting shot on power prices drew the afternoon’s biggest laugh: if you really wanted to cut electricity bills, “just sack all the CEOs.” „ Shane Jones is holding 35 such meetings around New Zealand between now and the election.

The National Fieldays

BY RAY VAN BEYNEN

In 1969 the local A and P (Agriculture and Produce) Show was held at the Te Rapa Showgrounds, Hamilton. The organisers expected around 3,000 people. Instead, some 10,000 people attended causing wide spread traffic delays and a serious run on the hot dogs and candy floss. It was such a huge success that in a couple of short years the show was included in a Royal Tour.

Apart from the traffic problems, there has been a massive amount of change in the ensuing 57 years. The A and P show has morphed into the National Fieldays held annually in June at Mystery Creek in the heart of the mighty Waikato.

Over 100,000 visitors now attend with over 1,100 stall holders catering to every agricultural, pastoral, horticultural and shopping passion known to humans.

Last week after years of prevarication, I headed into Hamilton to attend. Sure, enough it was a cool grey morning and the famous fog had kindly lifted. On the Expressway there seemed to be some 5 kilometres of traffic queue all heading to Fieldays. The enterprising Camjet Company was advertising transport to the Fieldays by jetboat and 30 minutes later I was on a jetboat with 6 young students from St Peters at 70 kmh along the river right to the back doorstep of Mystery Creek.

On arrival there appeared to be a continuous stream of helicopters arriving and departing. Just as I was thinking that farmers were making way too much money, I spotted a nearby sign, ‘Helicopter Rides $95’. It never pays to jump to conclusions too early.

Once inside the sprawling metropolis of Mystery Creek, the true scale of what is billed as the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, became apparent. It was fascinating wondering around and checking out what was on offer. Every conceivable product that could be remotely connected to our rural and farming commu-

nities was on display and for sale. Every lifestyle product that any self-respecting rural person and a heap of townies might desire to enhance their working and leisure activities was available. From head gear to clothing, to heavy and light vehicles and machinery to technological advances in animal welfare, to horticulture, to pest and weed control, to immigration stands for foreign workers and so it went. Please don’t get me started on the food stalls!

It was great to a see a very large number of family groups and children involved. New Zealand brands of out door clothing Macpac, Ridgeline, Stazi, Bushbuck, Earth Sea Sky, Swanndri, Cactus, Icebreaker, Norsewear, Stoney Creek etc. were all being proudly worn by people who reflected our wider rural demographic. Just for the record I wore my Redbands purely for ceremonial reasons as the ground underfoot was firm and dry.

It was great to see the huge involvement of Waikato University and Waikato Polytechnic in all manner of research and development. Local high schools and colleges were there in force showing their agricultural credentials. There were significant numbers of international displays which clearly show that New Zealand products hold their own on the world stage.

With the current prices for Beef and Dairy at near record levels and with a slow but sure resurgence in wool prices, our rural sector is once again proving it is one of the economic power houses of the country. Fieldays alone is estimated to contribute over half a billion dollars to our economy. Fieldays is highly recommended to everyone as a highly professional, highly entertaining and educational event.

Shane Jones greets the crowd at Waihi Event Centre.

Labour selects Glen Bennett for Coromandel

Glen Bennett is the candidate for the Coromandel electorate ahead of the next general election.

Currently serving his second term in Parliament, Bennett is a Labour List MP, Senior Whip and spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality, a portfolio with direct relevance to jobs, small business and the Coromandel economy.

Bennett says he is standing to deliver strong, grounded representation and advocacy for the Coromandel, now and for future generations.

“Across the electorate, people are feeling the pressure of rising costs, health services and housing stress, and the growing impacts of climate change on our coastlines, roads, jobs and local businesses,” Glen Bennett said.

“The Coromandel is a special place that deserves representation that understands both its beauty and its vulnerability.”

Bennett brings more than two decades of experience

working alongside diverse communities across New Zealand. He says his upbringing in a Salvation Army family shaped his commitment to service and deepened his understanding of how important strong communities are, especially during tough times.

“I’ve spent my working life focused on the things that make a real difference in people’s lives,” he said. “I believe everyone deserves to belong, to be heard and to have a fair go.”

Bennett is asking Coromandel voters to cast their electorate vote for Glen Bennett and their party vote for Labour at the upcoming General Election.

Tairua School opens its Te Whare Ara Moana

BY PAM FERLA

It was a lovely day and a lovely atmosphere as children, parents and teachers gathered for the opening of Tairua School’s Te Whare Ara Moana on 29 May.

Tairua School pupils joined mums, dads and toddlers to celebrate the re-opening of the building on Tairua School grounds, which now hosts the Rudolf Steiner-based playgroup, Pinnacles Playgroup.

Tairua School principal, Juliet Small said the school and Board of Trustees were thrilled to breathe life back into the building.

“Today is a special day for many Tairua School students and their parents, who spent lots of happy hours here in this space when it was the Tairua Playcentre.”

She acknowledged Nyvonne Krause and her whanau, who gifted the new name to the building.

Maia-Jayde Konelio gave the karakia.

School leaders, Indie Waller and Blake Johnston, along with house captain, Finley Moss, spoke during the opening. They explained the meaning of the name Te Whare Ara Moana, that the building is perfectly placed between the harbour and the main road and that it bears witness to the many that journey through our beloved rohe. The proverb

shared was “Ko te mauri, he mea huna ki te moana” meaning “the life force is hidden in the sea”.

“Sometimes our most powerful gifts are hidden in plain sight. Connect with your hidden gifts, your true self, and bring them to the surface.”

Coordinator of the playgroup, Michelle Cameron, says it is a place for families with children under five to meet and enjoy time exploring,

playing and connecting together in a calm environment.

“I’m so excited to be part of the re-opening of this special place,” she said. “My three kids were playcentre kiddies, so it’s dear to my heart. And now I’m lucky enough to help co-ordinate this Steiner based playgroup. We are so grateful to Tairua School for providing this space for us and the community.”

Some parents involved in the original playcentre were at the opening, including Meagan Holwerda, whose three children attended.

“I’m really happy to see it open again for children of the future to enjoy as much as my family did.”

Rebecca Rowland was also involved in the previous playcentre and says it has a very special place in her heart. She said as well as benefitting the children it was also a place for parents to make friends.

Part of Tairua School, Te Whare Ara Moana is situated at the north end of the grounds and is used by the school and other groups. Pinnacles Playgroup is on Fridays, 9.30am and welcomes new families. For information email pinnaclesplaygroup@gmail.com

The junior Jiu Jitsu group will also be using the building. For more information on this group contact Dylan Curtin or Gareth Beatson tairuabjj@outlook.co.nz

A Lifestyle Village in Thames on the Coromandel

2 BEDROOM VILLAS AND 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT AVAILABLE!

Everyone enjoyed the opening of Tairua’s Te Whare Ara Moana.

Inspiration Alley

By Ananda Laberge

Women – Embrace and share your wisdom

Awoman’s wisdom has changed a lot in the modern era. In the past, her wisdom was valued by other women mostly but often compressed by societal limitations. Today, we are in a beautiful renaissance of female spirit that is helping to guide corporations, societies and communities in new and resplendent ways.

In the past, sharing wisdom was confined to limited circles of community and family – often passed down quietly in kitchens – and it focused primarily on survival, running a household, maintaining social cohesion and how best to thrive in a patriarchal society. Today, a woman’s reach is much broader, even global, in the form of board rooms, podcasts, and authorship, shaping new norms of inclusion and highlighting intuition and leadership in ways unique to women. And it isn’t just other women that are watching and learning, it is reaching all genders, and the world is waking up to what we, as women, have developed in lives that often were muted by a society that saw us as ‘other.’

Our strength came from endurance of oppressive strategies that silenced our views and minimized

us into believing maybe we didn’t have value. But as the few stood up and spoke their truth, they started changing the world little by little. Endurance has been our fortress of knowledge that guided us to reaching new heights and being heard.

I remember as a twelve-year-old in California, having moved there from Guatemala with no language and trying to manage a culture that was completely foreign, I relied on an innate guide to help me survive. Observation was my secret weapon and I used it to understand what was being accepted by society; it helped me formulate a way to change that which was not kind, inclusive or fair.

In high school I had developed into an accomplished competitive swimmer and when I wanted to join the water polo team I was told it was only for boys. It was 1982 and I was 15. I was getting used to hearing ‘no’ having lived several years now in a society that put me and other girls into a predetermined box. And so, bucking the system became my MO. I went to the school board and argued that having the capacity of water agility better than most of the boys on the water polo team, was enough of a reason to let me join. (Back then a girl had to prove

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that she belonged; fairness never entered the picture.)

I did get on that team, but I endured untold harassment--my bathing suit was often ripped, and I had to find my way out of the water holding the rest of my suit up the best I could as the boys jeered at me. I was also held under water by boys much stronger than me who wrapped their legs around me and submerged me under the water until I scratched them to the point of drawing blood on their bodies to get free. My value to the team was irrelevant. I was different and for that a

brutal punishment was doled out. The male Coach laughed with the rest of the boys. That lesson had its pros and cons. I and many women in that time thought we had to fight like a man in society to reach success. As I entered the workforce, my unconscious led me to believe that although I was a woman, I was going to have to play by the patriarchy rules, which created a culture of toxic femininity for me and my fellow women. We were in a foreign land—we had some power finally, but we didn’t know how to use it. But it didn’t take

us too long to figure out that this was no way to freedom. Sisters helping sisters started to happen, rather than fighting each other up the ladder to the golden pot.

We have learned to fight to be heard and now our wisdom of how to wield our newfound power is guiding us. Our struggles have made us leaders in a society that now values disruption. No longer are abusive relationships tolerated, toxic workplaces endured, or unequal partnerships allowed for the sake of appearances. Saying “no” is our battle call and the world is not only listening but putting us into roles of leadership. Broadcasting our message of inclusion to all that are seen as different from the male patriarchy. We don’t want ‘special treatment’ or allowances, we just want what every other person wants— to work hard and be rewarded in accordance with that.

We survived the boxes they built for us; now, let us share the wisdom that will dismantle them forever.

„ Feel like commenting or getting in touch? You can reach me at: ananda@seismicaudit.com. You can also find me online at: www.linkedin.com/in/ananda laberge.

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Games & Puzzles

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7. Floor show host (7)

8. Minuscule amount (4)

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10. Comic actor, ... Murphy (5)

11. Littler (6)

13. Must-have (4)

14. Impair (6)

18. Embark, get ... (6)

21. Old wives’ tale (4)

DOWN

1. Winched up (7)

2. Emirate, Abu ... (5)

3. Diminish, ... out (5)

4. Cool beverage (4,3)

5. Remembrance (7)

6. Unpaid sportsman (7)

12. Cardiac monitor (1,1,1)

15. Whenever (7)

Issue 1214 – Grid 182

Sudoku Puzzle

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For last week’s solutions see page 23

22. Tropical parrots (6)

24. ... dog has its day (5)

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29. Slashed (6)

16. Disbelief in God (7)

17. Passed through into (7)

19. Feather wrap (3)

20. S African churchman, ... Tutu (7)

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Name:

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Win a coffee and a muffin from Mat’s Cafe 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 claim their prize from Mat’s Cafe directly with ID with their published name.

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.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor 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. They do not reflect the view of the Editor who reserves the

GOOD RESULT FOR SOL BEST SPF

I just wanted to reach out and sincerely thank everyone for helping spread the word about Sol Goods for the annual Viva awards.

We attended the awards event on Tuesday night and are incredibly proud to share that Sol was named Runner-Up for Best SPF!

This year, Viva also introduced a new category: the People’s Choice Award, where readers were invited to nominate any beauty brand, product, or founder they felt deserved recognition. We’re thrilled to announce that Sol Goods was also named Runner-Up for the People’s Choice Award

We’re so grateful for the support of the

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 Sue 021 274 7899. Email suzyed@ outlook.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.

Badminton – Whitianga Badminton Club –Thurs 5-7pm, MBAS school gym. Four courts. Now open to new members wanting to play competitive Badminton. Coaching provided for those wanting to improve their skills. Phone Steve for more details 027 211 3568.

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

Coffee and Korero – Every Wednesday from 10.30am-12.30pm 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 – Meet new friends, learn about coastal conservation and make a difference. Hands-on weeding and planting, Thursday mornings. Register at: www.cooksbeachcaregroup.org.nz; www.facebook.com/ CooksBeachCareGroup

Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club Wednesday at 1.45pm. Come and join us at the Community Centre (Hall). New members are most welcome, please contact Coral ph. 0212303944.

Cooks Beach Pickleball – tennis courts, cnr Purangi Rd and Rees Ave. Saturday mornings 9am. All welcome. First time free, then $5. Contact Kevin 021 396 062.

Coromandel ‘Growers & Artisans Market’ – Every Saturday from 9am - 1pm at The Anglican Church Hall, Coromandel Town. Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm,

community in helping us achieve these results and spreading the word.

Thank you for being part of the journey and for backing our brand.

+64 27 971 4357, hello@sol.co.nz, www. solgoods.co.nz

Steph Wood, Kuaotunu

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.

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 1.00pm and every Thursday at 7.00pm at the MB Bowling and Sports Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. For more information contact Gavin 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir – Meets Monday 5.45-7.15pm at the Mercury Bay Area School music room. Friendly non auditioned choir. All comers welcome. Phone Kate 0272709058 for details.

Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tues and Fri from 9-11am, location advised prior. For more information, phone 022 104 1701 please 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, beginners and visitors very welcome. Phone/txt Cheryl 027 452 7887 or Sandie 021 825 666 for more information

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club - At the Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Tuesdays Members Only 5.30-7.30pm; Saturdays Social & New Players 9.30-11.30am; Sundays All Players 4-6pm. Contact Tony 021 426 150. Matarangi (Matai Pl Courts) Thurs 3-5pm (Winter) 5 -7pm (Summer) Saturday 9-11am Contact Grant 022 383 6351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club-Thursday & Sunday Contact Tim 027 843 2683 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, 9.30-11.00am. Further info. text Linda 027 650 4881 or email linda_c@orcon. net.nz

Self-defence classes – Town Hall, Tues/Wed 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146.

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

HOME SCHOOL HELPS AT BIKE PARK

The Coromandel Pensinsula Home School Group recently did tree planting at the wetlands at the bike park.

We would like to thank the generous team at Mercury Bay Environmental Trust for their kind donation of 30 trees.

Tarah

Spyve

we talk about topics and subjects that have meaning. $5 donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079.

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

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. Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am12.30pm 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 10am-4pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information.

Whitianga Menz Shed – 18 Abrahamson Drive, Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. Phone Glenn 0274-952-015. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am12 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. Whitianga Toy Library - Tummy Time sessions for parents/caregivers and babies under 12m. Every Wednesday 9:30am at the toy library - Shop 4, Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Members and non-members welcome. Contact librarian@whititoylibrary. co.nz for more information

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 - Whitianga - beginners, retirees, inflexibles welcome. Mon 2.30pm, Tues 5.15pm, Thurs 4.20pm, Fri 8.45am, Sat 8.15am. Gentle Simple. $25 for a 90 minute session. Text 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 – Held in the Whitianga Town Hall. Tuesdays beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Seniors 12.45-2.30pm; Thursdays Seniors 10.15-11.15am, Absolute Beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Improvers 12.45-1.45pm. Night class held at Whitianga Town Hall for Absolute Beginners 5.25-6.25pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850, Glynis 021 1099 155, Kathleen 022 154 1702.

Silver Swans Adult Ballet Class – Tuesday’s weekly 10am to 11.10am $20, Whitianga Town Hall supper room. All ages welcome. Marilyn Swan, experienced professional teacher of Dance.M: 0273365263 E; swanebbs@gmail. com

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes –Town Hall, Monk St, $7 per session. Beginner/

THEY GOOGLED THE BEST SPA

I have been so impressed and happy with The Lost Spring winning the Number 1 Spa of the World. It’s so good!!

I had Swedish guests book 2 weeks ago to stay at my Annabells B&B. When they arrived to stay with me I asked them what made them choose my B&B to stay in? They said that they had googled the best spa in the North Island and found The Lost Springs and then found my Hosted B&B to stay in.

A big Thank you to The Lost Springs for putting Whitianga on the map!

Beverley Sheppard, Annabells B&B, Whitianga

Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; . Contact Kathy 027 4321 353 or Cecily 027 294 1750 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 – our next gathering will be on Thursday 2nd July 10.30am start. (Doors will open at 10am). Guest speakers. Morning tea $5 per person. Further info please phone Grey Power Mercury Bay 07 8665516 or e: greypower.mercurybay@gmail.com. Come and join us for our next get together. Mercury Bay Athletics – For info contact mercurybayathletics@gmail.com

Mercury Bay Lions Club – New members are welcome. Email mercurybaylions@gmail.com. Phone Cecily 027 253 3088 or Chrissy 021 177 4226.

SeniorNet Whitianga, Inc. – Learn, update your skills using smart phones, etc. in a friendly setting. Call Carol Wood on 021 022 62504 or email Carol on 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 Neville Crawford 021 276 2169.

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

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WORDSMART MEETING

Wednesday 24 June, 3:00pm At Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga RSVP to paul@wordsmart.app See advert page 15.

Trades & Services

Trades & Services

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

1st round of Coromandel Pairs

Monday 8 June.

North/South: 1, Chris Death & Peter McNeil 66.67; 2, Jenny Prince & Judy McKenzie 57.92; 3, Ray Verrall & Tony White 50.00. East/West: 1, Celia Young & David Wilkinson 62.92; 2=, Jenny Hemmings & Jocelyn, Jean Myles & Sonia Botica 52.92.

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Week 2, Bright Pairs

Tuesday 9 June

North/South: 1, Jenny Hemmings and Bev Dickie 56.00%; 2=, Val Dwight and Johanna Bonnar, Donna Harvey and Maggie Beattie 51.50%

East/West: 1, Robyn and Peter Hogg 69.00%; 2, Robyn Waters and Peter Clark 55.00%; 3, Judie Johnson and Jean Myles 51.00%.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

Championship Pairs round 7

Wednesday, 10 June

North/South: 1. Giorgio Allemano

& Robyn Hogg 62%; 2. Susan Swan & Bob Schibli 54.2%; 3. Jan Autumn & Faith Stock 50%.

East/West: 1. Anne Knowles & Colin Day 58.8%; 2. Augusta Canegallo & Lois Page 56.3%; 3. Ischelle Stevenson & Pete Hogg 55%

Whiti Championship Pairs round 3 Thursday, 11 June 1. Tony van der Drift & Ischelle Stevenson 57.9%; 2. Kathy MoyLow & Pat Doube 55.6%; 3. Geoff Jervis & Rose Tegg 50.8%.

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

On Saturday the 6 June, Mercury Bay Club Darts section hosted Whangamata for a darts challenge. The format was a mix of singles and doubles 501 with each club having a 10-player team. After a full day of darts, Mercury Bay came away winners 28 sets to 15. A great day was had by all, and it was a pleasure to host Whangamata. They are a great bunch of people. We look forward to next year’s challenge Whangamata.

This week we had 19 players, so 501 singles were played. Three players went through unbeaten in all 4 sets. They were Roscoe Anderson, Richie Neighbours and Stoney. Richie came away with the win. Highest finish for the men was 88, scored by Wombat, no high finishes for the ladies. One player scored a 180 this week and that was Stoney.

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

Thursday 11 June

Winners: Ray Rout, Judy Cullinane and Robert Jackson Runners Up: Ian Pudney and Sandie Morris Good Sports: Cheryl Henderson and Jan Harvey

MERCURY BAY CLUB INDOOR BOWLS

Drawn Fours Monday 8 June 1, Ray Rout, Cheryl Henderson, Lionel Lawrence and Liam MacQueen; 2, Ian Pudney, Wayne Fisher, Jan Harvey and Christine Mitchell.

Good Sorts: Lee Pudney, Judy Cullinane, Colleen Holmes and Doreen Davis. This was for the club champion fours, and it was fought hard, but with lots of laughter.

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday 10 June

Dave Colman and Brian Codyre were the only players to come through section play with 3 wins each to meet in a play-off final. Brian was in top form, taking out a comfortable win over Dave and also scoring the highest break of the day with 22. Ian Pudney, Peter Challis and visitor Denis Rush had 2 wins each.

Saturday, 13 June

The day’s field was reduced to two players, Peter Schultz and Bob Haase with 3 wins each. The play-off final was closely contested but Bob eventually took out the win and the prize money for the day. Doug Pascoe had 2 wins and both Peter and Bob each scored the day’s high break of 22.

On Saturday the 6 June, Mercury Bay Club Darts section hosted Whangamata for a darts challenge. A great day was had by all,

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

9-hole Women Nett

Tuesday 9 June

Div 1: 1, Raewyn Hill; 2, Christine Godden.

Div 2: 1, Sharon Morrisey; 2, Jenny Cotterill.

9-hole Mens Stableford

1, Les Walbridge 20; 2, Roderick Bott 19; 3, Kelvin O’Leary, Bob Holiday 17.

18 Hole Mens Stableford

Wednesday 10 June

1, Mickey “The Bricky” Henderson 37; 2, Patrick Gonthier 36; 3, Richard Steel 34. Twos: Steve Geach, got the only 2 of the day, so, got all the biscuits, 5 golf balls.

9-hole men

Friday 12 June

1=, Rodrick Bott & Peter Chaffin 17; 3, Bob Holiday.

Twos: Patrick Gonthier

NTP #3: Jeff Dixon

18 hole Mens Stableford

Saturday 13 June

1, Ron Campbell 39; 2, 89-yearold Ron Watson 37; and 4 on 36, Greg Peterken, Trevor Hayde, Dave Enright & Jimmy Duncan.

Twos: Neal Robinson, Trevor Hayde, Dom Szparagowski & Justin “Fluff” Wilson.

Looking for Sponsorships: Mercury Bay Golf Club also has

4 new carts arriving and 2 current carts looking for sponsorship, we also have 2 tee signage sponsorships available, this is a great way to get your name in front people and influence them in their buying decisions. We also have our new practice nets and there is a massive area available to get your brand up there and be the first sponsor you see as you drive in to our fine course. There are great benefits in sponsoring our great club, so pick up the phone and call us (07) 8766-5479 and find out what these benefits are.

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

9 holes par - L Haycock Trophy Rd 2/3

Tuesday 9 June

1, Frank Geoghegan; 2=, Mark Bell, John Hamilton, Richard Agnew

9 hole stableford and 4BBB

Thursday 11 June

1, Lauren Stephens; 2=, Ryan Cochran, Di Gilmour, Jock Peacock

4BBB Lauren Stephen’s & Nicola Godward

18 hole Stableford

Saturday 13 June

1, Wayne Radonich; 2, Annelise La Roche; 3, Caleb Mahoney 4BBB Wayne Radonich and Brian Keucke

TAIRUA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

18 Hole Stableford

Saturday 30 May

1 Steve, Habershon, 37; 2 Johnny Grundling, 37; 3 Mike Roberts, 37; 4 Geoff Cambie, 37

9 Hole Stableford

1 Kay Van Lubeck, 24; 2 Sue Poland, 20; 3 Anna McGuire, 19; 4 Jan Stanley, 19 18 Hole Net Medal

Thursday 4 June

1 Tony Anderson, 72; 2 Maree Jamieson, 74; 3 Warwick Rogers, 77; 4 Glen Farrell 77. 9 Hole Stableford

1 Carolyn Williams, 18; 2 Anna

McGuire, 17; 3 Sue McDonnell, 16; 4 Annette Eltringham, 15

9 Hole Stableford Shootout

Tuesday 9 June

1 Kay Van Lubeck, 35; 2 Carolyn Williams, 36; 3 Kim Kelly, 36; 4 Leo Gage-Brown, 38 18 Hole Net Medal

Thursday 11 June

1 Michael McCann, 72; 2 Glen Farrell, 75; 3 Kath Hale, 76; 4 Tony Anderson, 79. 9 Hole Stableford

1 Sue McDonnell,19; 2 Kay van Lubeck,17; 3 Kim Kelly, 17; 4 Carolyn Williams,15.

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

9-hole Mens - 5 iron and putter day (Stableford)

Monday June 8

1, Ray Bertling 21; 2, Richard Cummings 16; 3, Hary Karl 13. 9-hole Ladie’s- Nett and Putting

Tuesday June 9

1 Ruth Fisken 32, 2 Glenda Philpott, 3 Joanne Nicholson. Putts: Ruth Fisken 17, Maureen Moss-18, Pip Perry 18. 18 Hole Mens- Strokeplay

Wednesday 10 June

1, Brian Tomlinson 66; 2, Graham Harrison 67; 3, Kevin Adlam 68; 4, Tracey Mulligan 69; 5, Bob Walker 69. Twos: Bob Walker #5, Tim Bartlett #7, Brian Tomlinson #7, Allan Trow #18, Geoffery Hill#18, Paul Anderson #18. Nearest to the Pin: Allan Trow Best Gross: Charlie Chilwell

9-hole Mens Nett day

Thursday 11 June

1, Lance Croawell 35; 2, Graham Kemp 38; 3, Rey Bertling. Mixed 18 Saturday Haggle Stableford

Saturday 13 June

1, Narie Dunn 36; 2, Polly Lambert 36; 3, Tracey Mulligan 35; 4, Ruth Fisken 34; 5, Paul Shaw 34; 6, Norman Gilbert 33. Twos: (all #14) - Graham Harrison, Russell Barnett, Cathy Drake-Wells, Charlie Chilwell.

Junior Girls MB V Hauraki Plains

Mercury Bay Junior Girls produced a spirited performance against Hauraki Plains, going down 3-0 but showing just how much they have improved since their 6-0 grading-round loss to the same opposition.

The Bay girls matched HPC for much of the game and created just as many scoring chances in an even contest. Their effort and growth were clear for all to see as they continued to close the gap on a strong HPC side.

A big thank you goes to HPC for hosting and for the support they provided after the match. Jessica Allen earned recognition from the opposition coach, while Arielle Jaimeson was the Bay’s Player of the Day.

MB Senior Boys V Rototuna We travelled to Hamilton to play Rototuna with only 10 players. It was a complete team performance that led to a very enthralling and entertaining 0-0 draw. The whole team had to dig deep against the home team who were constantly making four interchanges very often to keep their team fresh. All our ten players were magnificent and fully deserved to get the draw, being very unlucky not to snatch the win on multiple occasions.

MB ‘Rays and Sharks

The Mercury Bay ‘Rays and Sharks squared off today in their first meeting of the season, playing under beautiful winter skies. The Sharks enjoyed the better of the first half, winning the 50/50 balls, executing strong tackles, and finding the back of the net twice to put the ‘Rays

under pressure.

However, a spirited halftime team talk sparked a massive turnaround. The ‘Rays emerged for the second half looking like a completely different side. By the final whistle, the two teams couldn’t be separated, a draw being a fair reflection of a hardfought contest.

Mercury Bay Dolphins

The Mercury Bay Dolphins had a fantastic outing at the Tairua Festival Day! With plenty of enthusiastic whānau support on the sidelines, our teams really thrived on the pitch. The players continue to develop their football fundamentals each week. Well done to all the players for their hard work and teamwork! Players of the Day: Thea – For brilliant playing; Kataraina– For a wonderful willingness to give things a go; Flynn – For excellent passing. U11 Marlins and Orcas

U11 Marlins and Orcas, both Mercury teams, had their much anticipated face off in an outstanding home game at Moewai. Both teams worked hard on their attacking play and defensive skills, showcasing fantastic passing, teamwork, and communication throughout the match. Players of the Day for Marlins went to Kian, and for Orcas to AJ, well deserved for their outstanding efforts on the field.

A special mention also goes to Lex and Jnr, who were selected by the opposing coaches as their standout players.

See overleaf for more sport

Mercury Bay Golf Club winners of the Nash Trophy, Dianne Gilmour and Jillian Kent, which is an American Foursome format.

Mercury Bay U11 Marlins and Orcas. Player of the Day Ryan Martin, for a tenacious defensive display and

tackling.

Te Aroha teaches tough lesson to MB Junior Boys Local rugby in full swing

It was a challenging weekend on the pitch for the Mercury Bay Junior Boys, who hosted their toughest match of the season last Saturday against a formidable and well-drilled Te Aroha JB squad, ending in a 1-7 loss. The match, refereed by Hugo Fairweather and assisted by linesmen Mike Cornwall and Adrian Havard, was always going to be an uphill battle. Mercury Bay went into the clash carrying several injuries, which forced a major tactical shake-up early on. Regular starting goalkeeper Alfie was forced out of the net due to injury but bravely substituted back onto the field to play outfield and support his teammates.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” says Coach Taddy. “The boys showed great heart, but Te Aroha exposed some weaknesses that we need to iron out on the training pitch immediately.”

The clock is ticking for Coach Taddy and his squad. They face a quick turnaround with a massive away game in Hamilton next weekend, and the countdown is already on for a shot at redemption when they travel to face Te Aroha on their home turf in two months’ time.

A huge thank you goes out to the Te Aroha Junior Boys for a fantastic, cleanly contested game and for travelling the huge distance.

Moewai Sports Park: Mercury Bay faces strong defence from Waihi Year 6; Year 5 pushing hard Te Aroha and Mercury Bay.

Mercury Bay Junior Boys played Te Aroha; Two top players, MB left, TA right.

A hard game for Mercury Bay Premiers against Thames on Saturday at Lyon Park, Whitianga. Final score was a win for Thames. Mercury Bay 19, Thames 39. Photos: Togo Kubota.