Issue 1230 6th October 2026 by theinformernz

Te Kai Whakarongo Issue 1230 | 6 October 2026 | Proudly locally owned and operated

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MERCURY BAY ART ESCAPE

What does ‘the local voice being heard’ actually mean?

Moewai Park Reserve Reclassification Debate. Councillors voted 5 to 4 to re-classify even though the Mercury Bay Community Board had brought a recommendation supported by 6 votes to 1 vote to NOT re-classify and that local submissions(10) had been unanimous that Moewai Park Reserve should not be re-classified. BY PAULINE STEWART AND EMIR DE JEROME

his decision is not necessarily the end of the road. It is a decision that clearly demonstrates that the current Community Board’s voice has not been heeded. What seemed like a simple strongly supported recommendation from the Mercury Bay Community Board that would

receive a lot of support from Councillors became a drawn out debate with the addition of a District manager’s presentation. It ended in a 5 to 4 vote – a loss by one vote for mercury bay Community Board. This really translates to a loss for the local residents who put in their submissions and worked with their Community Board. Local voices lost and in some ways the presentation by

Ferry returns

Weekends from Labour Weekend and daily from 27 Nov See page 3

the District Manager included information that had not been made available before the Council meeting in Thames. The Mayor originally supported both the Community Board's position and the views expressed in local submissions. However, a staff report appears to have changed the direction of the debate. District Manager Dean Allen, advised the meeting

that if the reclassification proceeds, decision-making authority would move from the Department of Conservation (DOC) to Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC). He emphasized that reclassification does not automatically mean there will be changes to the use of the land. Dean referred Councillors to recommendations by the Mercury Bay Community Board two

electoral terms earlier (20/21) a further recommendation for reclassification made on 25 September 2025, just days before the 2025 local elections. Dean also made reference that he felt the current Community Board had not had sufficient time to fully understand the background, assess alternative parcels of land, or engage with stakeholders. Continued on page 2

A Great SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN Pony Model Show See pages 6-9 Club THAMES

See page 5 Lesley Yeoman and her grandchildren Millie 11 and Ollie, 7.

Sophia Child, 7yrs and her pony Blitzen.

Pauline’s Piece

Not quite the democratic process

Continued from front page “The current board has not yet reviewed all potential land parcels or met with all stakeholders.” Dean included this to contextualized the reasoning behind why the current Community Board was not in favour of the classification 6 votes to one. The principle of Community Boards making recommendations on local matters was addressed by the Mayor and he asked the meeting to consider the strong view point by the current Mercury Bay Community Board members. Several speakers minimized the significance of the debate by describing it as "only a reclassification" that "doesn't determine use". Opponents to the re-classification had had argued that changing the classification could enable future developments that many local residents do not support. They contended that if the proposal is abandoned, decision-making remains with DOC. Over recent years, the site has been considered for pensioner housing, an arts trust facility and, more recently, as a potential location for a community marae. Supporters and opponents of

Whitianga Airport

Moewai Park Reserve Moewai Park Reserve. Photo taken in the last few days; Location of Moewai Park Reserve.

retaining the current classification argued this demonstrated the ongoing lack of suitable land available for community wellbeing initiatives. However, the submission from local residents who were unanimous in their opposition to re-classifying the reserve had described how the current reserve was used by the local residents for a lot of leisure activities and social interaction. It had recently been planted with fruit trees with the involvement of local residents.

The issue was publicly notified and submissions were received. However, some questioned whether the current Community Board had been given the same information as its predecessor. Despite that, staff have continued to recommend reclassification, which would transfer authority from DOC to the Council. During questioning, Councillor Rasmussen asked whether the Sheriff Block, a large parcel of land near the runway, had been considered. Staff confirmed there

had been no recent work examining that option. Questions were also raised about the reported loss of informal recreation space. Dean Allen said some submitters believed a marae development would reduce public access, although some current activities, including off-leash dog use, are not formally permitted. Community Board Chair Richard Shelford-Woodcock stressed that the decision concerns classification, not future activities.

“I want to clearly convey the position of the Board – this decision about classification about Moewai park is not a decision about what activity it can be used for”. Nevertheless, he continued, the Community Board's position is clear -six of the seven members support retaining the current classification, with only John Grant favouring reclassification. “Ten submissions, plus one submission supported by 24 signatories, opposed the proposal.” Continued on page 23

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The Auckland to Coromandel Ferry return is back Explore Group (Auckland Marine tourism operator) has made this possible. Skip the traffic: Auckland–Coromandel ferry with a daily summer service. SUMMARISED FROM PRESS RELEASES AND NEWS BULLETINS

xplore Group is bringing back its Auckland – Coromandel ferry from Friday 23 October, ahead of Labour Weekend, running Friday to Monday, with an expanded timetable to follow. Daily Services to begin: From 27 November through until Easter daily services will be offered. The expanded timetable builds on the return of the ferry in October 2025, when Explore Group reinstated the connection after a threeyear absence. During the height of summer, the move to a daily service will make it easier for Aucklanders to reach the Coromandel without the car, while giving Coromandel residents greater flexibility to travel to and from Auckland. Daily services will depart Auckland’s Viaduct at 9.15am, connecting the Coromandel with Auckland and other destinations across Tīkapa Moana, the Hauraki Gulf. For weekend travellers, an additional direct service will operate every Friday afternoon,

The ferry at Hannaford’s Wharf undertaking a pre-service landing.

departing Auckland at 4.45pm and arriving at Hannaford’s Wharf at 6.45pm. A return service will depart the Coromandel at 7pm on Friday evenings bound for Auckland. Explore Group Managing Director William Goodfellow says the expanded timetable is about giving travellers more choice and flexibility. “For Aucklanders, it’s an easy way to enjoy a day trip or longer stay without taking the car, while for Coromandel town and Peninsula residents it provides more options for travelling into Auckland and choosing when they return.” Partnership to enhance services: Explore Group is partnering with Mad Campers to offer a range of land transport options, including a shuttle between Hannaford’s Wharf and Coromandel Town, which is included in the ferry fare. Mad Campers are providing not only the shuttle, but in Coromandel town - two vans for services and

hire, plus 50cc scooters, rental cars, local tours and eventually campervans “We are excited to be part of this initiative and allowing those wanting a longer stay to explore more of what the region has to offer,” says Andy Haslett CEO of Mad Campers. Thames-Coromandel Mayor Peter Revell welcomes the ferry’s return. “Arriving by sea is a pretty special way to begin a visit to our district. We hope visitors will spend time in Coromandel Town, explore further around the peninsula and enjoy everything we have to offer,” he says. Thames-Coromandel District Council and Coromandel-Colville Business Association have been working with Explore Group to help bring back the ferry connection. For service information and timetables, visit https://www. exploregroup.co.nz/auckland/coromandel-peninsula/. Thank you Explore Group and Mad Campers.

The ferry stopping on its way to Coromandel.

Photo Clive Holmes

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The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 3

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NEWS FROM THAMES

First time pony riders welcomed

Zubin Singh, 5yrs; Tristan Keleher, 3yrs; Zayne Keleher 6yrs.

BY GARRY BRANDON

A Above: Ryan Hall, 7yrs, on Dan the horse, led by Allie Thackwray. Below: Sophia Child, 7yrs and her pony Blitzen.

fun day was had by all at the Thames Pony Club open day on Saturday 3 October Lots of locals came to have a look and to see their kids having a go at riding the ponies. Club members helped local children who were riding for the first time, and made sure everyone enjoyed themselves. There were local crafts, second-hand horse riding gear for sale, and of course, a sausage sizzle. Club members also had fun doing hobby horse

events, a sport which advocates are trying to have included in the Olympics! The pony club is always open to new members of all ages. Ph: 021 02590650.

Garry Brandon loves Thames and is a profession photographer and also builds guitars. He is of excellent assistance in providing news to The Informer. Concert photography : Twitter: @GarryBrandonNZ. Guitar building : Instagram : brandonandsonguitars

Jorja Walmsley, 15yrs, Kerepehi.

Sophia Child, from Thames Pony Club leads Ariah Tapp, 4yrs; Paige Hunt, 11yrs.

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24th-25th: Whitianga 28th-31st: Cooks Beach, Hahei, Hot Water Beach & Coroglen October: 1st -2nd: Cooks Beach, Hahei, Hot Water Beach & Coroglen 5th-9th: Cemetries at Ferry Landing, Coromandel and Colville + 2nd spraying @ Cooks Central & Pauanui Beach Front Reserves.

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They haven’t lost their appeal

Models - watching them work, building them and adding the finishing touches is still a popular hobby on The Peninsula. 1

4 3

7 6

ver 600 came and enjoyed the Whitianga Model Show put on by a skilled, enthusiastic and dedicated team of modellers. Damon Christensen and a small group of modellers from across the Peninsula created the

two day school holiday exhibition in the Town Hall on Saturday and Sunday 3-4 Oct – trains, villages, ships, boats, planes, cars, miniatures, and one fascinating gun. The Mercury Bay Lions Club provided a two-day roster – wel-

coming everyone to the Model Show, collecting entry fees and selling raffle tickets. They did it in style and with generosity. “It was just perfect – over 600 people visited in the two days – all ages said Damon Chris-

tensen, the principal organizer of the Model Show. “It’s encouraging when people say, ‘keep up this great work’, And it is a lot of work. “Damon clearly loves what he does and explains that most of what people experience at the

Model Show represents people’s life-time hobbies. Ken Gibson won the people’s vote for ‘Best Exhibit’. The winner of the Raffle – a big basket of goodies, was Mark White. Continued on page 7

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Continued from page 6

12 11 13

THE INFORMER GATHERED SOME COMMENTS AND DESCRIPTION TO SUM UP THE MODEL SHOW 1 - Aidan Murphy - was building a helicopter - almost a replica of what he had built when he was just a kid. 2 - John Henson - He designed, built and flew all of these model airplanes. 3 - Miniatures. 4 - Herbie is transfixed by the trains. A family of three brothers Herbie, Quiney and Oak spent hours at the show. 5 - Neil Dorrigan – 1950’s layout

I started back in the 1950’s. My brothers had two locos and I owned the rest. I bought secondhand pieces whenever I could and accumulated all sorts of models to put together. I found some American and English pieces. 6 - Oak (8) checking the remote car workings. 7 - Bex Cox – she is Manager of our Mercury Bay Museum and had on display a working

train, rails, station and village accoutrements. 8 - Mike Bain - “I spent a lot of time making models as a kid and now I have started doing it again. One large item of his display was very different and stood out - a German Railway Gun – the largest gun ever built. “The only way it could be moved around was by railway tracks. It only ever fired 40 times and didn’t hit anything. It was Hitler’s

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personal project.” 9 - Ken Gisbon had the largest and most complex display which was voted the most popular – lights, bridges, a number of trains with all the additions of a small town. 10 - Two cousins – Felix 8 and Phoenix 9, were keen on just about everything at the Model Show including the ‘Search and Find’ competition. 11 - Lorraine and Paula of Mercury

Bay Lions a the welcome and raffle desk with Damon Christensen – key organizer. 12 - Lindsay pointing out some technical details in his large model display. 13 - Noel was happy to put together this Swedish train set. “So many models can’t be touched or they will break, but this is intended for kids to touch and they can move the pieces.”

Continued on page 9

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As much fun as a phone?

Continued from page 7

19 14 - Maxwell Reid - He is an expert on the stories and events around the battle ships he had displayed, each one featuring in an historic sea battle. Maxwell built and painted each of these to-scale models. 15 - Bev Johnstone - Bev is a creator and maker of miniatures. She has her own studio in Coromandel town. “These tiny things are all my babies. I created them.” 16 - Cars were also popular. 17 - Deane Salzwedel – “I became interested when I was five just before I started school. My grandfather got me into it. Now after years away, interest is rekindled.” 18 - What Deane Salzwedel is building. 19 - Romeo Bax looking while adults discuss. 20 - Planes. Other comments - Murray - one of the exhibitors commented, “People were interested to see what the community was doing - they were not necessarily modellers.” Trish - Also a modeller who creates villages, “I enjoyed the way people were so appreciative of what the community put together.“

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The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 9

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Celebrating Our Seniors

The important message was older New Zealanders deserve to be celebrated, valued and heard. It was The International Day of Older Persons celebration, organised by Grey Power, Mercury Bay and brought together 100 people for a wonderful occasion filled with friendship, laughter and entertainment.

David Marshall National President Grey Power Federation New Zealand; Mercury Bay Line Dancers.

eld at the Mercury Bay Club, the event welcomed members from across Mercury Bay, Coromandel and Thames, alongside Mayor Peter Revell, Councillors Flemming Rasmussen and Tony Brljevich, and New Zealand First candidate Vincent Andersen. Grey Power Mercury Bay President Linda Cholmondeley Smith welcomed everyone, reflecting on this year's international theme, “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.” “Older people helped build our communities, continue to

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contribute to them and intend to remain very much involved in shaping their future.” Keynote speaker David Marshall, newly elected National President of Grey Power Federation, highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong, credible national voice for older New Zealanders. He outlined the Federation's commitment to modernisation, with new board members bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy. A significant focus of his advocacy has been achieving fairer treatment for senior drivers, particu-

larly challenging the routine use of cognitive testing during licence renewals. His work with NZTA, medical professionals, government agencies and parliamentarians demonstrates the importance of sustained national advocacy. Grey Power continues to champion universal New Zealand Superannuation, accessible healthcare, affordable housing, aged care and the protection of seniors' independence and dignity. Locally, Grey Power Mercury Bay has been equally active. Recent achievements include bringing Resonate Health's

mobile hearing service to Whitianga, alongside ongoing advocacy for safer pedestrian crossings, improved emergency preparedness and recognition of older residents' needs in future district planning. Vincent Andersen also addressed the gathering, outlining his background and New Zealand First's position on retaining the superannuation age at 65. He remained available afterwards to answer questions. Then came the entertainment! Margaret and the Mercury Bay Line Dancers encouraged some adventurous audience participation with the official guests and leaders enthusiastically joining the dancing, much to everyone's amusement! Eloise Green, better known

as Matilda the Time Travelling Fairy, created delightful face and hand ‘tattoo’ paintings. Nee and his Mercury Bay Restaurant team provided an enticing selection for morning tea. Special thanks go to Woolworths, The Lost Spring, Mercury Bay Medical Centre and Mercury Twin Cinemas for their generous raffle prizes; to Mercury Bay Club Manager John Walker for his valued assistance The day reinforced a simple but powerful message: ageing should be celebrated, and social connection is fundamental to wellbeing. Our next opportunity to celebrate together is the Grey Power Christmas Lunch on 3 December at the Mercury Bay Club. Doors open at 10.30am. See the What's On page for further details.

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 11

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS

Local Government Matters

Time to hit restart button on Local Council Reform BY GEOFFREY ROBINSON

no public discussion of amalgamation options – no staff reports, no financial analysis, no independent advice, let alone any public consultation. None of the last three mayors had even mentioned the idea.

ocal democracy for Coromandel communities has been thrown a lifeline. And with the government’s surprise taihoa on district council mergers, Thames-Coromandel District Council has been given a golden opportunity to restart and rethink the process of local government reform for the peninsula. The district’s brush with democracy disaster – a rushed and politically suicidal merger proposal with two Hauraki Plains councils that is currently on hold – can be taken as a lesson learned. Governments come and go, and ministerial settings can change with the political winds of the day. TCDC can continue to plan for local government simplification, but this time the long-term interests of Coromandel residents and ratepayers need to take top priority. The government’s Head Start merger directive on May 5 was never targeted for councils like

The prudent course of action would be to take a proactive stance and reclaim control of the process.

Council meeting.

Photo from TCDC website .

Thames-Coromandel. Instead, the streamlined, short-deadline amalgamation pathway was explicitly designed for those councils that were ready to move ahead with merger proposals – some of

Better Now

You work hard. Your pay should go further. Labour will cut everyday costs.

which had been stymied by onerous re-organization rules. In the Waikato, a merger of Ōtorohanga and Waitomo into a new King Country Council has been on the cards for years. Thames-Coro-

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mandel, however, was not only not ready, but ending independent local government in favour of a merger with any neighbouring council, or councils, was simply not on the agenda. There had been

But single-tier local government, combining the responsibilities of current district and regional councils into “unitary” councils, enjoys broad support from across the political spectrum and is on the legislative horizon, regardless of which parties hold the reins of government post November. In anticipation, councils large and small across New Zealand have been evaluating what structures will serve their areas best. Continued on page 13

Good jobs and incomes so your kids can build a future here at home.

Fully costed. Fully paid for. See the detail at labour.org.nz

Glen Bennett for Coromandel

glen.bennett@labour.org.nz labour.org.nz/glenbennett /glenbennettlabour /glen.bennettmp @gbennettmp Authorised by Rob Salmond, 2 Gilmer Terrace, Wellington.

12 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

www.theinformer.co.nz

Local Government Matters Continued from page 12 For some that means combining with neighbouring districts where logical communities of shared interest exist – as in larger urban catchments – or where necessitated by financial pressures. For others, where unique geographic, economic, and cultural factors prevail and finances allow, the best option will be restructuring as standalone unitary councils. For these districts, the benefits of streamlined local government will be achieved without loss of political independence.

TIME TO UNWIND RISKY HAURAKI-MPD MERGER With the future of all Head Start amalgamation proposals now in doubt, the most prudent course of action for TCDC would be to unwind in orderly fashion its hastily drawn, bare bones agreement with neighbouring Plains districts so all options for reform can go back on the table for thorough analysis, review and consideration. The pending merger proposal and memorandum of understanding with Hauraki and Matamata-Piako district councils now represents far greater risk for Thames-Coromandel District than potential benefit. Rather than leaving the future of local democracy

for the Coromandel to shifting ministerial priorities and decision-makers in Wellington, the prudent course of action would be to take a proactive stance and reclaim control of the process. If at some future time a merger with neighbour council(s) is demonstrated to be the best local government structure for Coromandel communities, a proposal can always be put forward again.

Numerous

opportunities

exist for far better outcomes and

budget efficiencies. Any decision to reorganise local government for the district, either as a standalone unitary council or by merger, will need to be buttressed by thorough in-house and independent financial analysis that district ratepayers can take to the bank. Tangible long-term benefits need to be identified. And most importantly, decisions affecting the shape of local democracy will require hearing and responding to the thorough and meaningful public consultation - local aspirations, local

voices, local decision-making, and local control over the district’s public affairs. In the end, any structural change will need to deliver guaranteed, long-term benefits to Coromandel residents and ratepayers and leave the district demonstrably better off than either the status quo -- or any other option. BRINGING DECISIONMAKING BACK TO THE COROMANDEL For Coromandel communities, the shift toward single-tier local government presents a list of potential benefits. The unitary council model promises improved efficiency by eliminating the duplication and overlapping responsibilities of districts and regions. But bringing appropriate responsibilities, budgets and accountability back to the local level also promises greater democratic control and improved outcomes in critical areas. Several major workstreams of existing Waikato regional government would clearly be better placed closer to the Coromandel coalface, including economic development, public transportation, harbour management, and biodiversity/ biosecurity. Numerous opportunities exist for far better out-

comes and budget efficiencies in these areas. As for affordability, several regional activities, while nice to have, are purely discretionary, of debatable value and not required by statute. But with over $19 million in regional rates now flowing annually from peninsula property owners to Hamilton, there is considerable resource to assume oversight and management in key areas that can more effectively support the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural interests of the district. Fortunately for Thames-Coromandel councillors, current long-term planning is underpinned by a strong financial position in comparison to peer territorial authorities – a relatively healthy balance sheet and strong ratings base to counter the district’s weather-related vulnerabilities and ongoing infrastructure requirements. While opportunities for enhanced efficiency and better service delivery are being evaluated and the sands of government policy continue to shift in Wellington, an eye toward preserving and enhancing democratic self-determination and local control for Coromandel communities should be right there at the top of the planning list.

Mike’s Minutes

‘Worth Watching Online’

JUST KEY IN THE TITLE AS WRITTEN TO FIND THE VIDEO IN YOUTUBE (And it’s better on a flat screen TV) 1. What Exactly is Artificial Intelligence? (An How Does It Really Work?) Have you ever stopped mid-scrolling and wondered how machines seem to understand you? From finishing your sentences to recommending products you were looking at yesterday. 2. Why Nobody Was fat in the 1970s America-The Whole Truth In 1970s the average American weighed 30lbs less than today. So what happened? 3. China’s Hospitals of the Future: AI Robots, Smart Booking & Affordable Healthcare! Step into the future of healthcare with China’s most advanced hospitals. From AI delivery Robots zipping through corridors to smart kiosks that book doctors in seconds, these hospitals are revolutionizing patient care. Enjoy watching Mike

NEW ZEALANDERS FIRST

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The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 13

Through the Portal

Opinion

Taxes, Promises and Reality BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

he General Election is looming and as usual the economy draws our attention. What is the current situation? How far in the sewerage are we? What promises should we take seriously? How much more of my money do the buggers want to get their hands on? Questions such as this may make the economy sound really complex, so much so that we find it easier to vote based upon all sorts of odd reasons, but how complex is it really? To answer that question let’s look at this from a household point of view. Presume that the household finances were ok, but a couple of years ago Dad bought a huge new TV and signed up for a lot of TV subscriptions. At the same time Mum took up smoking and now they were spending more each month than they were earning. They decided to handle this by Mum taking on a part-time job and gradually paying off the credit card and, as their pay increased each year, getting their household budget back into surplus. But now the kids all want to go on an overseas school trip, Dad needs a new car, and Mum has

$180 $160 $140 $120 $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Actual cost

Inflation adjustment

Revenue

Government costs and revenue by year.

been shopping for a new season’s wardrobe. The credit card limit would need extending but how will you ever pay it back? You could look for more revenue but are you able to do another job? Perhaps you could sell some assets? Alternatively, it may be that it would be better to cut costs; the kids don’t get an overseas school trip, Dad doesn’t buy the new car and so on. Mum gives up smoking but would of course still get her new wardrobe as no one is brave enough to say she can’t have it. This is pretty much the situation the country is in; I will attempt to explain with some numbers. The Department of Statistics provide extensive figures

relating to the country’s books and I have summarised these for simplicity, presenting them in the accompanying graph. The graph shows three things over the last ten years; firstly, the green line shows what our government expenditure could have been if we just allowed it to grow at 4% per year, catering for inflation plus a bit. The brown line shows what government expenditure actually was. You will notice that for the first few years, a period of time when National ran the economy, expenditure was under control with the brown and green lines on the same path. But along came a Labour Government and all hell broke loose, fiscally speaking,

with costs since 2019 growing at a pace that showed the books were not in control. The blue line shows government revenue which has steadily increased, that increase escalating over the past five years. The revenue increase has not yet caught up with the increased costs, so we are forced to borrow more and more to cover the deficit. So, do we need more taxes? Simple answer is – No we don’t. We just need to bring our costs down to the level they should be at. As the graph shows, if the subsequent governments exercised the same discipline that the National Government exercised in the John Key era, we would have been in surplus for the last five years, we as a nation could have had more cool stuff like roads, hospitals, schools and so on. So back to the election and what future are the various parties offering us. The coalition government is really offering a “steady as she goes” option with the current growth paths of costs and revenue indicating we will be back in surplus by 2030. Sensible but not very exciting. The challengers corner offers excitement but no commonsense. At the time

of writing Labour have offered 24 billion worth of new expenditure that they have no money available for funding. They have announced one new tax, a capital gains tax, but have reserved the income from this to pay for free doctor visits, so it will not help with the 24 billion extra spending. How will this be addressed? All other parties on the left are promising new taxes. A tax on your land, a tax on your wealth (land, shares, savings etc), a tax on what you leave your children when your time is done, lifting business taxes, international profit taxes and so it goes on. While the Labour party says it will only introduce the capital gains tax they will be forced to agree with the other party’s policies if they are to fund their promises. There is a lie there somewhere, it’s a lie about tax or it’s a lie about what they offer. It could of course be a lie about both. We are offered two versions of reality. We either run things conservatively and get back into surplus or we spend like there is no tomorrow, rob the people of more of their money and ignore the phone when the bank manager rings. Which reality do you want?

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A cross between Willie Nelson and Gilbert & Sullivan

Kiwi musical satirist Andrew London and partner Kirsten deliver original songs about life’s obses-sions, absurdities and taboos. Their style is a hybrid of jazz, blues and folk - Andrew describes it as a cross between Willie Nelson and Gilbert & Sullivan. Targets include pretentious socialites, televan-gelists, technology, youth culture, neighbours, and the joys of trying to earn a living in what we laugh-ingly refer to as ‘The Music Business’. Songs about Kiwi life

in particular pepper the repertoire, with lines you don’t expect to hear in songs like: ‘I Mowed My Neighbour’s Berm Today’, ‘Please Don’t Make Me Play Down By The Toilets’, ‘I Hugged My Mate’ and ‘Country’s Buggered’. Andrew began writing, performing and recording his unique and quirky songs about 25 years and 25 albums ago; firstly with Wellington swing trio Hot Club Sandwich and Kapiti country-rock band The Cattlestops, then, from 2012, with

his own Andrew London Trio. bass guitar-playing partner Kirsten now contributes vocal harmonies. The Londons have played clubs, festivals and functions all over New Zealand, also venturing as far as Sydney, Melbourne, Norfolk Island, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Come and enjoy Andrew and Kirsten who are currently touring their 8th album entitled’ Set Me Up By The Bar’. andrewlondon11@ gmail.com, andrewlondon.co.nz

Where to pick up The Coromandel Informer Paeroa – Arkwright’s Antiques, 4 Square Waihi – New World and Gold Discovery Centre Thames – Pak n Save, The Green Grocer, Richardsons Real Estate, Aeroview Garden Centre, Superprice Furniture, Goldfields Shopping Centre Tairua – 4 Square, Surf n Sand Takeaways, Bayleys Real Estate, Gull Service Station, Super Liquor Coroglen – Coroglen Tavern Whangamata – New World, Tango’s Shoes, Whanga Books, Challenge Service Station, Whangamata Food Market, Whangamata Club, Saskia’s Beauty Whitianga – New World, Woolworths, 4 Square, Waitomo Service Station, Z Service Station, Tango’s Shoes, Stephensons Pharmacy, Mercury Bay Pharmacy, Liquorland, Well Stocked Deli, Whitianga isite, Warehouse Stationery Coromandel – 4 Square, Coromandel Oyster Company, Super Liquor, Coro Liquor, Coromandel Information Centre, Coro Super Saver, James & Turner Kopu – Mobil Service Station Also general stores at Taruru, Te Puru, Tapu and Colville

Thank you to these businesses for their support www.theinformer.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 15

So positive– ‘A Solid Handshake’ and a children’s book

BY PAULINE STEWART

oug the Digger has a magical way with children. It’s not entertainment, as he is not an entertainer. He is a storyteller, a teacher, and a mentor for children. This is his vocation in the middle years of his life. His name is not actually Doug. It is Alistair. But the book he has written for children (and also suitable for adults who have a childlike spirit) is called Doug the Digger. It is not a Bob the Builder book, though there are similarities, as it does encourage children to read to the end of the story. It is far more than that, however. This little book reveals a story of overcoming adversity and showing courage. There is another book about Alistair’s life called A Solid Handshake. This is a biography, though not the whole story, as Alistair is

still creating a bigger one. Both books are connected and reveal Alistair’s meaningful life, which you could describe as a mission or ministry. A Solid Handshake is about openness, trustworthiness, and reliability. Alistair visits schools and spends time with classes as a Duffy Books in Homes Role Model. He travels throughout New Zealand doing this. All in all, he has led more than 1,200 Duffy assemblies. The Duffy vision is to inspire a love of books in children, who become adults that inspire a love of reading in others. Alistair visited Coroglen School recently, and The Informer went along to experience Doug the Digger. This visit was not to fulfil a Duffy ambassador role, though he had done several of those that week. This occasion was simply a Doug the Digger visit. Alistair used the introduction of the story

to involve the class in reading it aloud. He presented in such a way that even students who find reading difficult wanted to have a go. Alistair was essentially communicating and engendering confidence and inspiration. Alistair is not a famous sports star or celebrity actor. He is a highly skilled tradesman, businessman, and much more. When he had a workplace accident in 1986, which for a time halted his ability to manage and operate his excavation business, it set him on a decades-long course to inspire Kiwi kids to jump into an excavator, learn how to operate it, and at the same time promote literacy and life skills for young people. At the age of 37, he took the brave step of going back to primary school to learn to read and write, from the same teacher who had struggled to teach him when he was seven. This led to the pub-

MARINE MAMMALS PROTECTION REGULATIONS 1992 APPLICATION FOR A NEW MARINE MAMMAL PERMIT Cathedral Cove Kayaks Limited have applied for a new permit to operate commercial tours to view Marine Mammals (excluding Bottlenose dolphins) by kayak in the Whitianga area. Application details can be obtained online at www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/have-your-say/, received by email on request from permissionschristchurch@doc.govt.nz or from a Department of Conservation office. Any submissions on the application are to be sent to the Director-General of Conservation, Department of Conservation, Christchurch Shared Services, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch Mail Centre Christchurch 8140, Attention Hannah Zwalue, to be there by the 3rd November 2026. Once submitted, submitters’ information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission. Note: Submissions are part of a statutory process and may be commented on by the applicant. 16 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

lication in 2000 of Alistair’s first Doug the Digger book to promote literacy. As well as that, he thought, “If I can’t take children to a work site, why not bring the work site to them?” So he got a smaller digger than the ones he drove in his business and created a mobile worksite for children. He and his wife Barbara have, over the years, organised thousands of children to experience operating a digger. Doug’s spirit reaches the desire in children to learn and become engaged. From his own journey, he knows what it is like to be unable to read and write when everyone around you can, and then still face life with courage and a can-do spirit. It did not stop him from being successful in business, but when he had the accident and could no longer do the same work, Alistair realised he could not manage his new life without the ability to read and write.

COROGLEN SCHOOL Coroglen School did not need any persuading to join in. From the oldest to the youngest, there was no peer pressure to be cool. They had seen their teachers warmly welcome Alistair and express genuine interest in his well-organised visit. The teachers were there the whole time as participants alongside the children. The students embraced the Doug the Digger philosophy intuitively. It was a pleasure to watch. To say thank you, the children performed a line dance for Alistair. Well done, Coroglen School, for a memorable visit. Thank you, Doug the Digger and Alistair McIntyre, for your service to children and young people. Email: www.dougthedigger. co.nz

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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 right to edit and decide what is published.

Letters to the Editor

Editors note: The below about scamming is not really a letter, but it came across our desk as an urgent experience that had just occured. We feel this is important to share with the wider Peninsula.

THE SCAMMERS ARE ACTIVE ON YOUR CELLPHONE It started with an advert for cleaners and drivers on Facebook. I enjoy driving so I filled in the form with my name, email address and phone number. That was straightforward. I got a reply later that day thanking me and telling me that someone would call me within 24 hours. The next day I got a call from an Australian number and the lady explained that they were a cleaning company expanding into New Zealand and had contracts to clean government buildings and schools etc. They wanted someone to cover the Coromandel and deliver cleaning materials etc. to the cleaners. They would provide the vehicle and would pay $40 per hour but no overtime because the job would be flexible hours, often with early morning starts. The next week they would want pictures of my driving licence and my IRD details etc. The work would start at the beginning of November. This still seemed quite normal. I would need to use an app on my phone called Workable. I had used this or something similar 3 years earlier when I had worked for Stats New Zealand as a census collector. I would enter the time when I left home, where I went and sign off when I got home. Again quite normal. I went to download the app and she said she would send me a link to the app, it would be quicker. This is where the Scam started as the link was not to the actual app, but one that looked identical. I downloaded the app, entered my name, email address and phone number. Then I had to choose a password. I kept entering a password, but it didn’t seem to enter correctly often missing

out a character. Not a problem she said, I will create the account for you and send you a link to enter the password later. At that point the cellphone screen went black. I tapped it a few times before it lit up again and saw there had been a text message from Westpac. It said contact us immediately there is suspicious activity on your account. Then the text message disappeared and I realized someone had deleted it. I tried to turn off the phone but it wouldn’t turn off. Eventually I crashed the phone by doing a soft reset. This was about 2 minutes after she said she would sort it. I borrowed my neighbour’s phone and contacted Westpac. Westpac checked my account, my credit card was at max and the money had been transferred into my cheque account. My cheque account had a small overdraft facility and that was also at max overdrawn. Then all the money had been transferred out of my cheque account using Wise to a person I didn’t

know. The small amount of money in Wise ready for me to go on holiday, had gone as well. I then called Wise, but couldn’t stop the transfers. They checked my account and did give me the name of the person the money had gone to. All this happened in less than 20 minutes from the start of the phone call to my talking to Westpac and Wise. I thought I was secure and had never saved the passwords for my bank account on the phone, and I used my fingerprint to unlock my phone. Westpac and Wise were very helpful, but have said the chance of getting the money back is very small. My accounts are now empty and locked and I need a new credit and debit card. I have to file a police report and provide a receipt to show that my phone has been professionally cleaned or rebuilt. All this will take time and effort that I didn’t want to do. Richard – a Peninsula resident

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COGNITIVE TESTS NOT DISCRIMINATORY I am writing in response to Pauline Stewart’s article in The Informer (Issue 1228, September 22) titled “Cognitive tests to stop for older people.” The mini-ACE cognitive test has been portrayed solely as a discriminatory tool. That is simply not the case. Of the 374 driver licence medicals conducted at Mercury Bay Medical Centre between September 2025 and September 2026, only three patients were assessed as unfit to drive. Of those 3, only one had their drivers licence declined when taking into account the result of their miniACE. For all those other patients it became a valuable clinical tool for identifying changes in cognitive function and helping us recognise those in our community who could benefit from further assessment, investigation or support. Following the opposition raised about routine cognitive testing, Mercury Bay Medical Centre has responded to the concerns and reconsidered its approach and will no longer require patients to complete the mini-ACE as part of their driver licence medical. We will continue to use appropriate, evidence-based screening. This remains important because patients will not always see their regular clinician for a driver licence medical. The clinician conducting the assessment must therefore have a reliable way of identifying any concerns. Ironically, this may result in more people being

referred for on-road driving assessments, as we need to ensure that we can be satisfied they are safe and fit to drive. For clarity, the cost of the medical will not change, despite the suggestion made in the article. We fully recognise that driving is an important part of independence, particularly for older people living in the Coromandel. However, a driver licence is not a right, it is a legal privilege afforded by the Government Our task as medical practitioners is to strike the right balance between preserving independence and quality of life while ensuring that drivers are safe to be on the road. That is not discrimination. It is responsible medical practice. Kathryn Johnson, Nurse Practitioner, Mercury Bay Medical Centre DAYLIGHT SAVING Why do we have Daylight Saving Time foisted on us for or another year? Surely the electricity companies will lose income if the reason is to save power? My body-clock routine is disturbed and I have to put up with the uncomfortableness, probably for a week. And for what? It can’t be for the citizens welfare! Big business? Habit? So my suggestion is, make it permanently thirty minutes and we don’t have to go through this rigmarole twice a year. Also those who need more outsight daylight time, get up earlier! Peter Wood, Whitianga

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Community patrollers are keeping watch. How good is that? Interested in becoming a Patroller? Phone – 027 391 3043. Matarangi, Whitianga, Cooks beach are all serviced by Community Patrollers. Interested? Phone 027 391 3043. Community Patrol operates day and night in Matarangi, Whitianga and Cooks Beach. Interested? Phone 027 391 3043. Community Patrol works with the Police to patrol our area, both day and night. Interested? Phone 027 391 3043. Community Patrol helps our community to be a better, safer place.

Interested? Phone 027 391 3043 You don’t do this by yourself, but in a team of two. One person drives, the other writes down where you ptarol and any unusual observations. There is access by radio to the Police. while you are on Patrol. The car is clearly marked Community Patrol. You do this for three to four hours – and once a month is a big help. Interested in becoming a Patroller? Phone 027 391 3043.

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Travel with Sarah Jane Waikato school holiday ideas for families S chool holidays in the Waikato do not need to be complicated, expensive or planned with military precision. Although anyone who has packed children into a car knows a “simple family outing” can still involve: The good news? The Waikato is built for flexible family days. The best school holiday plan is often simple: one good activity, one backup plan, and permission to call a bakery stop “local food research.” In the Waikato there are: glowworm caves, themed gardens, riverside paths, bike trails, beaches, small towns, conservation sanctuaries, rainy-day options, cafés, bakeries and ice cream stops when morale collapses. HAMILTON GARDENS Hamilton Gardens is one of the easiest family outings in the Waikato. This is educational, but use that word carefully. Children can detect an “educational outing” from 50 paces. Turn it into a treasure hunt: • find the dragon • choose a favourite garden • spot fountains • look for patterns • decide which garden would make the best secret base

WAITOMO CAVES Waitomo is a strong school holiday choice, especially when the weather is uncertain. Rainy day? Still useful. Too hot? Go underground. Someone suddenly refuses to walk anywhere? A cave tour may still save the day. It works well because it has: glowworms, limestone caves, underground rivers, dark spaces, science, adventure, enough mystery to keep children interested.

Italian Renaissance Garden in Hamilton Gardens; Te Aroha town statue and clock tower.

RUAKURI WALK For a free or lower-cost Waitomo option, try the Ruakuri Walk. Wear sensible shoes, especially after rain. Wet limestone and enthusiastic children are not always a graceful combination. It has: bush, bridges, limestone, water, cave-like atmosphere, enough adventure without becoming a major expedition.

TE WAIHOU WALKWAY AND BLUE SPRING Te Waihou Walkway near Putāruru is one of the Waikato’s most beautiful nature stops. The key is not to overdo it. You do not need to turn every family walk into an endurance event with witnesses. Choose a manageable section. Take snacks. Let children pause and look properly. That is half the point. It is best for: clear spring water, gentle walking, photography, calm outdoor time, families who need a slower day

SANCTUARY MOUNTAIN MAUNGATAUTARI Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is ideal for families who want nature with purpose. It is not a theme park. It is better than that, provided everyone agrees to use their quiet feet. Note the mountain walks are steep in places, not suitable for smaller children. It offers: native bush, birdlife, conservation stories, protected species, a different view of the Waikato beyond towns and farmland. CAMBRIDGE AND LAKE KARĀPIRO Cambridge and Lake Karāpiro make an easy school holiday combination. This is the golden rule of family travel: leave before the wheels fall off emotionally. A simple day could look like this: wander Cambridge, stop at a café or bakery, drive to Lake Karāpiro, have a picnic or short walk.

Remembering Phil Gifford on The Coromandel BY SHAUN FAY

I was hit hard this morning when I read of Phil’s death. Phil was one of our greatest entertainers and journalists – judged New Zealand’s Sportswriter of the year and three times New Zealand’s Sports Journalist. His time on New Zealand Radio also won him many awards. His ‘Loosehead Len’ character gave all of us many laughs and his many books hours of entertainment. I knew knew Phil as an acquaintance. We had worked at similar radio stations at different times, so we knew each other and became Facebook friends. In 2024 I messaged him if he would speak at an Enterprise Whangamata Business After 5 at the rugby club. He didn’t hesitate, a Waihi College old boy and Waihi Beach bach owner he replied almost instantly – “Any excuse to get to the Coromandel”.

RAGLAN Raglan is the obvious Waikato escape when everyone needs salt air. Raglan feels like a holiday even when you are only there for a few hours. MATAMATA AND HOBBITON Matamata works well for families who want an easy, recognisable destination. Hobbiton is the headline attraction, but Matamata also works as a practical stop between Cambridge, Te Aroha, Putāruru and the wider Waikato countryside. Film fans, visiting relatives and children who enjoy storybook landscapes will love it.

TE AROHA Te Aroha is a gentler school holiday option. Not every successful family outing needs a gift shop at the end. And there are locations for the teenage selfie to see some action. It has: mountain views; look at heritage buildings; spa-town his-

tory; easy town wandering; walking tracks; let the mountain do the background work.

RAINY-DAY IDEAS Waikato weather does not always cooperate. This is not a personal failure. Keep a rainy-day list ready so the whole holiday does not collapse because the sky had other plans. Sometimes the smartest thing a family can do is change the plan and call it “flexible travel.” Sound confident. Good options include: • museums • libraries • indoor pools • movies • indoor climbing • cafés with space • Waitomo cave tours • Hamilton Gardens between showers • scenic drives with bakery stops See bestbitstravel.com for more information and photos from Sarah-Jane.

The latest update on the Grass Carp going into the Cooks Beach Lakes RECEIVED FROM TCDC

Phil Gifford speaking in Whangamata.

I asked if he needed remuneration. “don’t be silly he said – perhaps a bed for me and Jan for the night would be good”. Breakers Motel obliged and Enterprise Whangamata had one of their busiest nights and one of my most enjoyable. "We had a full house that night and a rollicking good time, packed with Phil's anecdotes and humour. It's one of our best-remembered evenings, ”said Patrick Kerr, Chair, Whangamatā Business Association (formerly Enterprise Whan-

18 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

Photo: Wikipedia

gamatā). The term GOAT is often branded about but for me Phil was up there. Journalist, broadcaster, writer, comedian, keynote speaker; this bloke did it all. Phil, New Zealand will miss you a great deal and so will the Coromandel. RIP.

Council is pleased to advise that several key project dates have now been confirmed: • Containment screen installation: 7-8 October 2026 (weather dependent) • Grass carp release: Proposed for the first week of November 2026. This is the earliest available timeframe from the grass carp supplier. The release is subject to suitable weather conditions for collection from the holding pond. We expect to have a confirmed release date by the end

of October. • Signage Approximately 2026.

installation: 26 October

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Our world tomorrow - TOURISM A continution of the Visions that have come from the community to enhance the life of the Coromandel Peninsula. GUEST EDITORIAL BY ALAN HOPPING

et’s consider who the beneficiaries should be in a just and perfect world.

RATE PAYERS They hold council and infrastructure together. They pay bills and raise their children. They need good income. They deserve to enjoy their life and playground OUR CHILDREN They deserve to be inspired. They deserve opportunity. They deserve good schooling without suffering bullying or intimidation. They deserve job and career opportunities that are stimulating, well-paid and where they don’t lose their jobs through off-season downturns. They deserve to have the incentive and ability to save and own their own home.

OTHER DEPENDENTS They deserve to live with dignity and security, both in health, security and happiness. We need to be much better selling the attributes of our Coromandel to potential tourists - par-

ticularly international tourists. Currently, we are not exceeding expectations when compared to other tourist destinations. Strategies – which I refer to as Tourism Yesterday will not ‘cut the mustard’ on Tourism Tomorrow expectations. Growth in tourism is vital, not arbitrary – our future life depends on it. I wish to define our Peninsula largely in two parts – for this Tourism Tomorrow – the lower and the upper. The reason for defining the two is very simple. The Lower Kopu Hikuai (Great Eastern Highway) - gorgeous forest, a multitude of volcanic mantes, is potentially unstable. Pacific Coast Highway from Pauanui to Whitianga including South Highway intersection, Pauanui Flats, Delmaney Corner, Mill Creek Road, McLeod Straight, are all serious flood plain situations. The Government may improve these zones by dredging and try to uplift the flood zone but it will not happen as it is not a government priority and there will never be enough rates. We hardly have enough resources to repair the damage. My Point? Upper Coromandel – we need several small international standard hotels at favour-

runway paid for by the hotel developers. Bookings of international guests on a daily basis will never be achieved with constant interruption by flooding and slips. The current airport is not an attraction and cannot operate in saturated conditions. Going forward without an all-weather runway is impossible. With this development, we will see property values rise; our kids with local career aspirations will have opportunities and a tomorrow which has only been dreamt of in the last 50 years.

Alan Hopping dreaming of a bigger future for The Coromandel.

able dollar value for tourists.

A BETTER AIRPORT ADVANTAGE – This will mean less tourists but with ADVANTAGE – A much higher customer spend. ADVANTAGE – this will bring less community impact ADVANTAGE – higher pay rates and more insulation from the ups

Inspiration Alley

and downs of domestic market affordability. ADVANTAGE – We have an airport and our airport is key. Alongside this we need to grow our domestic market both permanent and holiday makers but it is the internationals whose income will raise the level of the quality of facilities we can offer. We must concrete the main

JOAN GASKELL AND HER INVESTMENT Local legend Joan Gaskell who put a 5,000 pound mortgage against her farm to enable purchase of the current airport believed in this tomorrow when she stated, “One day this investment will set Whitianga free to grow to its full potential.” She was right. If the current situation is the best we can offer and a promotional statement, “Good For Your Soul” is the stimulus to visit, then perhaps Gold mining is our future. As we face the rising sun, we should face the future. Tourism Tomorrow – we can do this! This matter is discussed further in our coming magazine.

By Ananda Laberge

What are we projecting? What is it that we are really seeing?

any philosophical and psychoanalytical texts talk to the power of projection. In its core definition, it is attributing something from one’s own mind to the world or to other people, rather than recognizing it as one’s own inner state. The great psychoanalyst Carl Jung called it “an unconscious transfer of subjective contents onto an external object, so that what is really ‘in here’ is experienced as ‘out there’.” At its core, the world we see is a mirror of the thoughts we hold. We don't perceive things as they are; we perceive them as we are. The meaning of any experience is always filtered through the hues of our own perspective. Imagine you see a beautiful golden retriever on the beach. If you once owned a similar dog and he had passed away, you might look on him lovingly, and it might bring back sadness at his loss, as well as a reminder of all the love you had for him. Then imagine a person who has a keen dislike for dogs. They might be thinking, “What a nuisance – I hope he doesn’t run over here and jump www.theinformer.co.nz

on me!” The dog is still the dog, happily running up and down the beach, simply being a dog. But the experience we attribute to the dog is vastly different between people, simply based on our own experiences with dogs. We are seeing the dog through the lens of our past. And I’ve noticed we do this all the time with situations as well. A lot of the anxiety I created surrounding an event or experience was shaped by my past and how

I have viewed similar situations. When I was younger and less experienced, I used to get extremely anxious in the business world when I knew I was going to be in front of a lot of people, giving a lecture or talk to people I had never met – something I had started doing weekly, so you can imagine how wound up I was! My mind would race: “Will they like what I have to say? What if they don’t? Will I do what I did that one time when I lost track of where I

was? I made a fool of myself that day.” The lecture hadn’t even happened, but here I was, future-tripping and imagining the worst possible scenario. I needed to look at it like a blank slate and reframe my thoughts with only positive ones. And it worked! With people, many of us do the same thing. We are very good at creating a past inventory of what they did or didn’t do to us: why we don’t like them, why they are ‘dumb,’ etc. Or we might like these people and think fondly of them. When the interaction happens, the outcome is already set to play out the way we envisioned. If we can give people the benefit of the doubt more often, imagine how we could change our interactions! After all, don’t we all want more friends? What can we learn from people who have a different viewpoint on issues? It’s a much healthier perspective, and chances are we will walk away feeling a lot better than if we had let our negativity take over. Sigmund Freud first gave this idea life before Jung expanded on it. In Freud’s psychoanalytic the-

ory, he stated: “It is the process of attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.” So, if what I hear and see coming from another person is frustration, it might be my own frustration coming out, not theirs. Simply put, it’s a defence mechanism – a creation of the mind to deflect what we do not like. Racism, homophobia, misogyny – the list goes on – have roots in this concept. It has been a tool used to drive the belief of “them vs. us.” Countless wars and conflicts have their basis in this simple but powerful trick of the mind; we see it all around us every day. It might be interesting to try to stop before we reacted and consciously became aware of what we were thinking about the other person and simply decided to tweak it. Ask ourselves: how would I act if I had never met this person before? You might surprise yourself and enjoy the interaction – and walk away with a friend rather than an adversary. Feel like commenting or getting in touch? You can reach me at: ananda@seismicaudit.com

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 19

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Ray’s Report #40

Not Snake Gully Again BY RAY VAN BEYNEN

ome 3 years after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the Peninsula TCDC finally got around to repairing a large slip on Snake Gully in Hahei. At the time concerns were raised with TCDC about the quality of the work and the dangerous mess left behind by the contractors. Fast forward to late September of this year and after heavy rain, the slip face suffered significant damage with a large slip at the bottom of the original slip, minor slips on and above the slip face, water course damage at the top of the slip and rock overhangs that are threatening to drop down onto the road. Residents advised TCDC and supported this with several photographs. To their credit TCDC staff responded promptly and in a matter of hours the slip was examined and locals updated with the information that the contractors would be back and the remedial work done. Specific mention was made of the rocky overhangs. A few days later the contractors arrived with an army of orange cones, traffic control and a digger. Within a matter of hours, the traffic management and contractors had

Photo taken after the slip occurred before remedial work; Photo taken after TCDC’s remedial work.

departed the scene. On closer inspection their appeared to be no work done on the slip face; none of the rocky overhangs were removed and none of the minor slips or watercourses repaired. The only work done was to remove some debris and smooth off the large slip at the bottom of the original slip. In effect this slip has not been repaired or mitigated, and it appears to be more unstable than when TCDC were advised. The question is: When are TCDC going to do the slip repair job properly and effectively? This was their third attempt to complete this work. It was interesting and gratifying to see Mayor Revell stand up and apologise on behalf of TCDC

around their lack of consultation on the Whitianga Wharf fee fiasco. But where was the CEO in doing the same. Over recent years there have been a series of ‘cock ups’ by TCDC including the waste water issue on the Eastern Seaboard yet there has never been an acknowledgement of wrong doing or an acceptance of responsibility. The Editor’s recent opinion piece on TCDC’s ‘promoting the Peninsula is not our core business,’ was more about utu than it not being TCDC core business to supply information. At least The Informer has the guts to regularly hold Local Government politicians and staff to account and the least TCDC could do is be mature and then actually do a lot better!

Digital Decoder

By Agent EJ

Crypto in NZ:

A fringe, not an exit Think of currencies as vehicles. Whether it's a bicycle or a truck, they both get you from point A to B on the same road, just at different speeds. That's how our financial system works, and Bitcoin isn't outside of it. More accurately, it sits on the fringes. If it were a total divorce from banking, you wouldn't be able to trade it for ordinary currency in the first place. Someone typically hoards bitcoin for years, but ultimately seek to cash it out, in order to buy property or other assets, which they would likely pay taxes on. It might have had a reputation as “rebelling against the system”, but it’s very much still part of that system. What it proves though is that there are other financial pathways, in case the current system ever collapses. That was the original point of it – a decentralised backup to something people have long suspected is unsustainable. Banks were threatened at first, but now they are cautious investors, offering limited services. But Bitcoin isn't for everybody, and trading it is a privilege. You need a capable device, a reliable internet connection, and a stable political environment, three things many

people around the world don’t have. It has the same issues around access and inequality as any other currency, and the more capital you already hold, the easier it is to trade in it. Here in New Zealand, adoption remains modest. Ownership sits at about 9% of online Kiwi adults, but still well under the 15% global average. The local market also shrank this year: Easy Crypto ended New Zealand trading in March, shifting its users over to Swyftx. So I don't see Bitcoin as a true alternative to the system it emerged from. It's more a prototype or proof of concept, for something

better yet to come. When that something arrives, every currency we know, including any asset Bitcoin has touched, will likely be rendered obsolete. Stablecoins look like the more realistic next step, local, price-stable, and far easier for ordinary people, not just those with capital and connectivity. Depending on who you ask, it’s good news for those who hate traditional banks, or bad news for those who fear a “new world order”, but I think blockchain technology will eventually produce a genuine global digital currency, fully separated from central banks – it just hasn't happened yet.

Second round of daytime closures confirmed for SH2 Karangahake Gorge Another block of daytime closures on State Highway 2 (SH2) through the Karangahake Gorge has been confirmed, from 9am to 4pm each day between Monday 12 and Friday 16 October (weather dependent). The closure will cover a 500-metre section of SH2, beginning near the historic rail tunnel bridge and extending toward Paeroa. Property access will be maintained throughout up to the closure points, but not though the closure. Road users should plan to travel through the gorge outside the closure times, while inter-regional traffic should consider using SH29 over the Kaimai Range.

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Some of the team from Avalon Rope Access Services at work above the road in Karangahake Gorge last month.

A similar closure in August focused on inspections and identifying areas that needed treatment, with some rock removal. The October closure will allow crews to remove

larger unstable rock and complete any further work identified during the inspections. Rock-scaling involves trained rope-access technicians removing loose or

unstable material using tools and specialist equipment. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says the work will help keep this important regional

route safe, reliable and resilient. “A full closure is the only safe way to do this work because rope-access technicians will be working directly above the highway and rocks may fall on to the road below,” says NZTA Waikato Area Manager, Asset and Operations, Andy Oakley. “The closure hours have been chosen to reduce disruption on school traffic, commuters and freight while giving crews enough daylight to work safely. “We recognise the closures will be disruptive and appreciate road users’ patience. Confirming the dates early gives people, businesses and freight

operators time to plan their journeys.” The section of the Hauraki Rail Trail through the old rail tunnel will be closed while work is underway. Emergency services and first responders will continue to have access through the closure area. NZTA will also use the closures to complete other maintenance and resilience work where possible, reducing the need for further disruption. Subject to suitable weather and river levels, rock armouring work on the historic riverside retaining wall within the closure area may also be completed during the closure.

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 21

What’s On OP SHOPS

Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop – Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open every Mon-Sat 10am-2pm. Mercury Bay Resource Recovery Centre ReUse Store 239 South Highway, Whitianga Open Tues-Sat 9:30am-3:30pm St John Opportunity Shop – 29 Albert St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm and Sat 9.30am-2pm. St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. NEW HOURS - 9.30am-1pm Tue-Sat. Social Services Op-shop – 15 Coghill St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-2pm. Donations welcome. SPCA Op-shop – 2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm.

MONTHLY

AA Driver Licensing – NEW LOCATION. Friday 9 and Tuesday 27 October, Whitianga Community Service Trust Centre, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga – Club meetings first Sunday of the month, 11am at Buffalo Beach Reserve for cars and coffee. Phone Reg and Julie Smith on 027 493 5822. Cooks Beach Garden Circle –Last Thursday of the month 11.15am-2.30pm. New members welcome. Ph Anne on 021 0247 7460 for more information. Craft Group – Meets first Saturday of the month 10am-3pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr, carpark end. Work on your own craft (stitching, colouring in, scrapbook, card making anything goes). Bring your lunch and enjoy mixing with other crafty people. Any queries phone Alison 021 0508 772 or Sally 027 3962 383. Kūaotunu Dune Care – Every third Wed of the month. To get involved, please email kuaotunudunecare@gmail.com. Hauraki U3A (University of the Third Age) – Paeroa Interesting speakers every 3rd Tuesday of the month. All are welcome. Paeroa Baptist Church, 2 Wood St, Paeroa. $10 at door for nonmembers. www.pc.org.nz Hei Mara Garden Club Hahei - We meet on the first Monday of each month at members’ homes, 11am - 2.30pm. New members from Hahei and surrounding areas are welcome. Phone Liz on 021 0649232 for more information. Hospice Waikato’s Bereavement Support Group – Lost a loved one? Join Hospice Waikato’s monthly bereavement support group. Connect over morning tea with others who understand. Held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. 10.30am to 12.00pm at Whitianga Social Services. Registration required. Contact Hospice Waikato to register at 07 859 1260. Mercury Bay Model Railway Club – Monthly meet. Contact. Damon 0273551650 Mercury Bay Shooting Federation – Muzzle loader, rimfire, centre fire, military, pistol. Email mbsfsecretary@gmail.com Ohuka Garden Club meets 2nd Wednesday of the month. New members welcome. Contact Beverley Sheppard Phone 021 09028855 or emailbeverley@annabells.co.nz Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Fourth Monday of every month, 10am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Jo on 021 264 3753. Tairua Market takes place on the 1st Sunday of the month all year at Tairua Bowling Club, 9am till 1pm. Starting 1st Sunday in October until June 2027 (closed for winter). Food, fruit and veges, crafts, clothing, home decor, plants, furniture, books and much more.

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. Phone Gillian Reid on 021 781 081 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 the

Town Hall. Phone Sue 021 274 7899 or mail 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 – Monday 6.30-9.30pm, MB Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 027 2117195 or brettsoanes16@hotmail.com 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 phone 021 2303944. Cooks Beach Pickleball – Community Tennis Courts, 9am Saturday morning. Weather permitting. Nets and bats provided. $5 each, first time free. Contact Kevin 021 396 062. Cooks Beach Table Tennis – Every Thursday night 6.00-8.00pm, $5pp each night. Cooks Beach Community Centre. All welcome. Contact Stu 0274 572 243 or 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, 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 021 543 015. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club - Thursday & Sunday Contact Tim 027 8432683 or refer their facebook page. Meditation Classes –Spiritual, heart, soul development. Sacred energy, chakra activations, working with spiritual guides. Open forum conversation, Thursday, 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 Nirie Reddy 021 292 0197 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.

22 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

If you have an activity or group or the existing information is incorrect, let The Coromandel Informer know. Call 07 866 2090, email info@theinformer.co.nz. Our What’s On page is not guaranteed to run every week as often space is restricted. Consider paying for a classified advert if you want to guarantee your activity runs every week. Mercury Bay Community Choir – All welcome to this friendly non auditioned choir. Mondays 6pm to 8pm Mercury Bay Area School Music Room. Start date 10th August. Phone Kate 027 270 9058 for more information. Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tuesday and Friday 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 Golf Club – Twilight golf will commence on Friday 2 October, from 3pm, last card to printed by 5.15pm, must be in by 7pm; Sunday Funday, cards in by 10.30am for an 11am start. $10. Phone 07 866 5479.

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 League Nights 5.30-7.30pm, Saturdays Social & New Members 9.3011.30am, Sundays All Players 4-6pm. Members, Guests & Visitors $5, a complimentary session is available to local new players wanting to try pickleball – all equipment provided, please wear non marking court shoes. Membership is $20 annually and online application is provided at www.mercurybaypickleball.co.nz . Outdoor sessions are held at Mercury Bay Sport Park which are weather dependant and advised on our facebook page Mercury Bay Pickleball. Matarangi Pickleball Club (Matai Place Courts) Thurs 3-5pm (Winter) 5-7pm (Summer) Saturday 9-11am Contact Grant 022 383 6351. Mercury Bay Squash Club – Lyon Park, Albert Street - New members/enquires please email mercbaysquash@gmail.com Mercury Bay Table Tennis – Every Tuesday, 9-11.30am at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Phone Anne on 07 869 5162 or 027 565 5575 for more info. Mercury Bay Tennis Club – Social tennis at Lyon Park on a Thursday 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, Tuesday and Wednesday 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146. Spiritual Conversation Mornings – Every Tuesday and Wed, 10.30am-12pm, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga the Starlight Centre. Grab a coffee and join in some great conversation where we talk about topics and subjects that have meaning. $5 donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079. Tai Chi for 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 Thursday and Friday 10am-3pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information. Whitianga Menz Shed – 18 Abrahamson Drive, Open Tuesday and Thursday, 9am-12 noon. Phone Glenn 027 495 2015. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tuesdayand Fri 9am-12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@ playcentre.org.nz or 027 880 3947. Whitianga Senior Citizens Club – Indoor bowls and card games. Mondays at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, 1pm-4pm. Join us for a fun time and afternoon tea, 55+ age group. Phone Lionel Lawrence (president) on 027 274 6964 for more info.

Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tuesday 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 – Wed5-6pm, 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. Monday 2.30pm, Tuesday 2.30pm and 5.15pm, Thursday 4.20pm, Friday 8.45am, Sat 8.15am. Gentle Simple. $25 for a 90 minute session. Text Rosemary 027 448 9326 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. Tuesday 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 weekly 10am to 11.10am $20, Whitianga Town Hall supper room. All ages welcome.Marilyn Swan, experienced professional teacher of Dance.M: 027 336 5263 E; swanebbs@gmail. com Tairua ZUMBA GOLD class – Tuesday weekly 9-10am. Held upstairs in Tairua Fishing & Marine Club. $7. All welcome, contact Theresa 027 5760602. Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St. Absolute Beginners Wednesday 2.00-3.00pm ($5); Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm. $7 per session. 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 4.00pm at the Whitianga Town Hall in Monk St.

GROUP INFO

Grey Power Mercury Bay – We are going to have a Christmas lunch 3 December at the Mercury Bay Club. Doors open at 10.30am. Further info please phone Grey Power Mercury Bay 07 866 5516 or email:- 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 Jon Maud 027 366 4606. Whitianga Gun Club – For information, phone 027 495 9477 or 021 276 2169. Whitianga Community Patrol – Monitors the township and neighbourhood. If interested in volunteering, ph Gary 027 391 3043. Whitianga Lions Club – We welcome new members. Dinners first Thursday of every month, 6.00pm at The Mercury Bay Club. Contact John 027 248 0779. Email whitianga@ lionsclub.org.nz

www.theinformer.co.nz

Reclassification decision of Moewai Park Reserve

Continued from cover and page 2 Richard concluded that the Community Board subsequently resolved that Moewai Park should retain its current classification. Councillors sought clarification about Council's level of control if a marae or arts facility were proposed. Staff explained that reclassification would give Council greater control over future decisions, although any specific proposal would still require further approval. Concerns were also raised about the evidence used to assess

FARRIER AND HOOF TRIMMING SERVICE

reserve usage. Staff acknowledged there has been no formal monitoring programme and that assessments were largely observational. The report itself notes that no systematic information has been collected about recreational activities on the reserve. Several councillors said they had expected a relatively straightforward decision but were hearing new information during deliberations. Councillor John Freer questioned what was different, what had changed since the very early recommendations and the current recommendation? He

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answered his question by saying, ‘the people’ that is really all that has changed; therefore he would be voting for the re-classification. Staff advised there was no

significant risk in delaying the decision. The only consequence would be postponing a process that had already gone through public consultation.

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• Industrial SHORT & LONG • Commercial TERM • Households HIRE • Building Sites

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Sadly, the public consultation which is about people, has not been heeded. The Mercury Bay Community board is very involved in their locality and well acquainted with the issues. They were representing their local community. The Councillors, not local have decided the outcome of the classification largely due to one Manager’s presentation. The mayor spoke an advised that local opinon and voice be heard. We are still not there. Let’s wait to see if it is the staff or locally elected Councillors who decide the future usage of Moewai Park reserve.

Whitianga Contact Stu Macfarlane Mobile: 021 914 226 Email: stu@drainagesystems.co.nz web: www.drainagesystems.co.nz

phm.co.nz • sales@phm.co.nz

Andy 021 125 1668 Ian 027 442 6001

Planners Plus LIMITED 5 Monk Street, Whitianga Office Ph: 07 8671087 Email: info@plannersplus.co.nz David: 027 4994833 Tracey: 027 4907988 See us for all your land development, planning, subdivision and resource consent requirements.

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Office: 14 Monk Street, Whitianga 3510, Phone: (07) 866 2090 Office hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-3:00pm We are online www.theinformer.co.nz Facebook, Instagram @theinformernz

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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’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication is at the discretion of the Editor. Distribution: 10,500. ISSN 3021-4114 (Print), ISSN 3021-4122 (Online), © 2022 Mercury Bay Informer Ltd

Newspaper Layout: Debbie Morgan Business Manager & Sales: Emma Gaunt Delivery Managers: Dave Piper & Merv Gregory Writers: Trevor Ammundsen, Jack Biddle, Pam Ferla, Geoff Robinson, Verna Carr

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 23

Trades & Services WHITIANGA

HEAT PUMPS

Peninsula Home Kills

Sales and installation of Mitsubishi and Fujitsu heat-pump/air conditioning.

SERVING THE WHOLE PENINSULA - 2011

Call Bill for a free no obligation quote. 027 2714803

Processing beef, sheep, pigs & all game

www.dynamicelectrical-whitianga.co.nz Warm up a medium sized bedroom with a Mitsubishi heatpump. Starting at $2000 installed.

Top quality sausages, bacon, ham & salami Bookings essential

Call 027 557 7023 shorelinepainters23@gmail.com

HAMMER HARDWARE WHITIANGA TRADE

OPENING HOURS MON - FRI (8AM - 4:30PM) SAT (8:00AM - 1:00PM) CLOSED SUN

BJOLI BUILDERS Contact John 0276 425 654

225 South Highway, Whitianga P: 07 866 2457 E: whitiangatrade@hammerhardware.co.nz

Cee-Jay

Flooring & Property Services Whitianga based Servicing Coromandel area Independant • Supply and lay • Vinyl, carpet, diamond grinding floor levelling

Phone Cory Newton 021 616 304

• Mould removal specialists • All fabric types, including thermals • Roman blinds – clean and repair • Pick-up/delivery/take down and reinstall

- New builds & renovations BEFORE

Local Whitianga agents covering Coromandel to Whangamata

- Replacement joinery in existing homes

- Aluminium & glass balustrades AFTER

Visit our website: www.curtainclinic.co.nz or phone us on 0800 477 478

Rug Binding

• Interior/Exterior Painting • Interior Plastering • Airless Spraying • Wallpapering • Chemical Cleaning • Chemical Paint Remover • Moss and Mould Spraying Justin Toomey 021 797406 Rodney Gamble 021 2411 421

Need some Mats bound? We do Rug Binding for mats, stair runners or fitted carpets for your home. Please note: We do not overlock second-hand or used carpets.

Guthrie Bowron Whitianga

Keith Mahon Painters Ltd admin@kmahonp.co.nz

2/9 Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga 07 866 0035 flooring@gbwhitianga.co.nz

Showers Splashbacks

- Sales Chemicals • Pumps Filters•Covers•Heaters

Mirrors

- Service / Repairs - Maintenance

07 867 1772 (24hrs)

22 Bryce Street, Whitianga whitianga@gatewayglass.co.nz www.gatewayglass.co.nz

Residential & Commercial Glass “We’re your one stop shop when it comes to all things glass”.

NEED WINDOW & DOOR REPAIRS? • WINDOW HANDLES, SEALS, HINGES & STAYS • SECURITY LOCKS FOR WINDOWS & DOORS • SLIDING AND BI-FOLD DOOR ROLLERS, LOCKS & HANDLES • RETRACTABLE INSECT SCREENS

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LAND SURVEYORS We guarantee our work

LOCAL SERVICING FOR THE COROMANDEL

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Photo: FernVision

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KEITH MAHON PAINTERS LTD

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Windscreens

P - (07) 211 9445 Nathan - 021 653 907

House wash, roof wash, fences, driveway, patios – soft-wash for best moss and lichen clean and treatment, exterior window cleaning or general waterblasting, 100m hose so access no problem.

We clean curtains!

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07 866 0088 26 Lee Street, Whitianga

Signage - T shirts - Vehicle Graphics Boat Names - Business Cards & more COASTALSIGNS.CO.NZ

0800 268 632 surveyingservices.co.nz

24 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

www.theinformer.co.nz

Classifieds PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

STORAGE AVAILABLE

GARAGE SALE

Now Leasing:

√ 3m x 6m bays available √ 6m x 10m bays available √ Fully undercover √ Great access and security

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07 866 2373 or 027 273 4420

Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Understanding the Coromandel Since 1960

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT &

Rentals

Coromandel Beaches Rentals Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Shannon Smith M 027 592 0636 P (07) 866 4981

propertymanager.whitianga@harcourts.co.nz

Church Services

GR STORAGE

8 GOLF ROAD WHITIANGA

Phil 027 343 3023 storage@gr8storage.co.nz

GR8 STORAGE, WHITIANGA Phil – 0273 433023, Car, boat, campervan storage, 20 foot containers available to store your belongings.

OTAMA RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION

AGM

For all your storage needs?!! We have clean dry containers and units in a range of sizes for you to choose from at four different sites. If you need a temporary or longer term storage solution at an affordable price give us a call today! • Units – range of sizes from 2m x 1m to 9m x 6m with roller doors for easy access. Prices start from $30 per week. • Containers – range from 1.9m x 1.6m to 6m x 2.4m. Prices start from $27 per week. Moewai Road, Whitianga. Ph: 0274 817 258

E: whiti@totalstorage.co.nz www.totalstorage.co.nz

ACCOMMODATION OFFERED x www.tongariroriverretreat.com

Sunday 25 October (Labour weekend) 10.00am start Kuaotunu Hall

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FOR SALE

C3 Church Whitianga Join Us – Expect Miracles! Sundays 10am 22 Coghill Street, Whitianga

St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church 82 Albert St Whitianga (Opp Z)

SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00AM Come, join the family Find peace and friendship.

Enquiries: ph 022 1322 061 www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

Anglican Worship Every Sunday at 9.00am at St Peter the Fisherman 7 Dundas Street, Whitianga ALL WELCOME Enquiries ph 021 781 081 www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.org.nz

Trish’s Bible Gems

“As it is written, I have not seen nor heard; neither have entered into the heart of man; the things which God has prepared for these that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

FIREWOOD FOR SALE Tea tree $250 or Pine $150 load per metre2 delivered. Phone (07) 866 3026 or text (027) 866 3026

HOLISTIC HEALTH

INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALER TAROT CARD READER VERNA (027) 320 0079 vernacarrspiritualhealing.com

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Ph 07 866 2090 PETER’S QUIZ ANSWERS Answers to quiz 23 on page 27 1) White Xmas

2) Votes for women 3) Campbell Street 4) An author

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SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 8AM-2PM Fishing, boating, camping, chest freezer, clothing, household items. Everything must go.

XMAS GARAGE SALE

Very affordable – handmade decorations. You name it, we have it! 37 ROBINSON ROAD, WHITIANGA Saturday and Sunday 10 & 11 October 10:00am-2:00pm

STORAGE SHEDS Whitianga Total Storage, opposite Carters. Ph: 0800 944 660 PUBLIC NOTICES

GARAGE SALE

126B COOK DRIVE, WHITIANGA

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MARKETS

WHITI CITI MARKETS

STARTING BACK! Downtown Whitianga THIS SATURDAY 9AM-1PM Weather permitting

SITUATIONS VACANT

PERMANENT TEACHER AND TEAM LEAD Full time, Permanent

Primary and intermediate (Years 1–8) / kura tuatahi, Syndicate leader 1 Remuneration Unit Come and join our fabulous Whenuakite team, in the heart of the Coromandel. With Hahei, Hot water beach, Cooks Beach and Whitianga you will be spoiled with choices of recreational activities. Whenuakite School is seeking a passionate and fully registered New Zealand teacher and team leader. We are looking for an educator who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to building positive relationships with students, colleagues, and the wider community. We welcome applications from experienced teachers with leadership experience, as well as capable classroom teachers who are interested in developing their leadership skills. Our priority is finding an excellent teacher who is the right fit for our tamariki, staff and school community. Key Qualifications • Experience working with a collaborative team • Understanding of and commitment to a positive school culture • Ability to articulate and demonstrate your strengths • Proven leadership experience • To co-lead various initiatives and areas within the school We encourage prospective candidates to visit our school to get a sense of our community and K.I.T.E. Values. Please send your covering letter, CV with 3 referees, and direct enquiries to:

Gary Veysi 1055 Tairua/Whitianga, SH 25 principal@whenuakite.school.nz Phone 0279141648

Whangamata Community Library is looking for a Librarian to lead our community library We are looking for an enthusiastic leader whose management style focuses on ‘people’. You will need to provide a friendly, professional, and timely service to our subscribers, while working closely with our library staff and volunteers to support and grow the services we offer. Key details: A typical day might include: • Permanent position, Monday to Friday, • Supporting library users with digital 35 hours per week. Hours are 9:00 am to technologies, online resources, and 4:30 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break. everyday technology questions • The library is also open on Saturdays • Recommending and discussing books from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, and with adults and children additional hours outside the usual • Managing volunteer rosters and working week may be required. supporting service delivery • Whangamata Library is an • Library tasks ie: issues, returns, Incorporated Society, proudly supported notices, cataloguing by an annually elected Committee. • Administrative tasks, ie: banking, • The Librarian reports to the elected taking payments, processing President on behalf of the Community subscriptions, paying accounts, updating Library Committee. Xero etc. Library qualifications/experience are not essential in this role, rather we are seeking a candidate with strong communication skills, competency with technology, and a positive approach to working with staff and volunteers. To request a job description or register your interest in this position, please email whangamatalibrary@outlook.com. We would love to hear from you.

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 25

Spring is captured in the photos BY KATE BEAUCHAMP

hitianga Photographic Club members embraced the ‘In Bloom’ theme, producing a vibrant and varied collection of floral images that showcased both technical skill and creative interpretation. From delicate garden flowers to bold and atmospheric compositions, the entries demonstrated the many ways photographers can capture the beauty of nature. The club extends its sincere thanks to Stephanie Forrester FPSNZ, who generously gave her time to judge the competition and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback to members. Stephanie also selected the two winning images, with both receiving Honours. BEST IN SHOW: BLUEBELL BY CHRISSY LAWRENCE LPSNZ Judge’s comments: “Nothing speaks of spring more to me than the bluebell.” She praised the beautifully rendered simplicity of the photograph, particularly the contrast between the crisp, sharp bluebells and the soft, out-of-focus surroundings. Stephanie particularly appreciated how the image evokes a

Chrissy Lawrence – Bluebell.

strong feeling without becoming complicated, “Sometimes a simple image that evokes a strong feeling needs very little else.”

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: QUIET CHARISMA BY WENDY PEMBERTON LPSNZ A serene portrait of a Kākā. Stephanie described the image as one that “almost threatened to overwhelm me with its beauty”, praising both its composition and technical execution. The club congratulates Chrissy and Wendy on their outstanding results, and thanks Stephanie for the time, expertise and encouragement she shared with members through her judging. The winning photographs, along with all of the August entries, can be viewed on the Whitianga Photographic Club’s public Facebook page and Instagram page. THE CLUB’S SEPTEMBER COMPETITION ‘Something in the Water’ whether captured above, below or reflected in the water, will be sharing the results very soon in The Informer. Whitianga Photographic Club

Wendy Pemberton – Quiet Charisma.

Coromandel Rescue Missions 01.09.2026 Pauanui 02.09.2026 Tairua 07.09.2026 Thames 10.09.2026 Thames 14.09.2026 Thames

Crew tasked to assist a male patient in his teens suffering an injury from a tool. He was flown to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.

Crew tasked to assist a male patient in his 30’s involved in a single vehicle accident. He was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

Crew tasked to assist with the interhospital transfer of a female patient in her 50’s suffering a medical complaint. She was flown from Thames Hospital to North Shore Hospital in a serious condition.

Crew tasked to assist with the interhospital transfer of a female patient suffering from a medical condition. She was flown from Thames Hospital to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

Crew tasked to assist with the interhospital transfer of a male patient in his 50’s suffering a medical complaint. He was flown from Thames Hospital to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition. Astronomy Tours and B&B Phone (07) 866 5343 www.stargazersbb.com

STAR and SPACE STATION GAZING IN 2026 – your guide to the night sky Tuesday, 6 Oct: The Moon is now half way between Mars and bright Jupiter and there will be a short Tiangong pass in the west starting beside Venus at 9:03pm. Wednesday, 7 Oct: The Moon lies midway between bright Jupiter and the star Regulus in Leo and we have a long Tiangong pass from 8:03pm in the west ending right beside Saturn. Thursday, 8 Oct: Jupiter sits half way between the Moon and Mars at dawn while brilliant Venus and Mercury sit side by side at dusk and from 8:28pm there is a short ISS pass in the North and a Tiangong pass from 8:42pm in the west beside Mercury. Friday, 9 Oct: Regulus is now half way between the Moon and Mars with Jupiter to its left while from 9:17pm there is a good ISS pass from the NW. Saturday, 10 October: The Moon

is now lost in the Sun’s glow at dawn but bright Jupiter remains halfway between Regulus and Mars while from 8:30pm there is a long bright ISS pass in the NW. Sunday, 11 Oct: Faint Mercury has now moved to sit above and to the right of brilliant Venus at dusk and from 9:20pm there is a low ISS pass from the West. Monday, 12 Oct: A minute crescent Moon now sits right next to Venus at dusk and the is a good ISS pass in the west from 8:32pm. This week we can watch faint Mercury rising up in the dusk sky to pass brilliant Venus which is getting steadily lower on its way to pass by the Sun. The dawn sky has Mars and bright Jupiter on display while Saturn rises just after dusk and is in the sky all night. The Moon can help us find them this week.

26 | The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026

25.09.2026 Coroglen

Crew tasked to assist a male patient suffering injuries from a cow. He was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

28.09.2026 Thames

Crew tasked to assist a male patient in his 60’s suffering a medical complaint. He was flown to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition.

25.09.2026 Coromandel Crew tasked to Coromandel Airport to assist a female patient in her 70’s suffering a medical complaint. She was flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

28.09.2026 Tairua

Crew tasked to assist a male patient in his 20’s involved in a motorcycle accident. He was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

30.09.2026 Coromandel Crew tasked to assist a male patient suffering a medical condition and in a moderate condition. Transportation to hospital by helicopter was not required. Crew returned to base.

30.09.2026 Thames

Crew tasked to assist with the interhospital transport of a female patient in her 50’s suffering a medical complaint. She was flown from Thames Hospital to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

Mercury Bay – the sun, the moon and the tides

Wednesday 7 October

Thursday 8 October

Friday 9 October

Saturday 10 October

Sun: Rise 6:45am Set 7:25pm

Sun: Rise 6:43am Set 7:26pm

Sun: Rise 6:42am Set 7:27pm

Sun: Rise 6:40am Set 7:28pm

Moon: Rise 4:44am Set 3:46pm

Moon: Rise 5:12am Set 4:54pm

Moon: Rise 5:38am Set 5:59pm

Moon: Rise 6:03am Set 7:04pm

High Tides:4:30am 5:04pm

High Tides:5:34am 6:01pm

High Tides:6:33am 6:54pm

High Tides:7:26am 7:04pm

HOT WATER Low Tides:10:20am 11:01pm BEACH

HOT HOT WATER Low Tides:11:21am 11:59pm WATER Low Tides:12:19pm BEACH BEACH

Sunday 11 October

Monday 12 October

HOT WATER Low Tides:12:52am 1:11pm BEACH

Tuesday 13 October

Sun: Rise 6:39am Set 7:29pm

Sun: Rise 6:37am Set 7:30pm

Sun: Rise 6:36am Set 7:31pm

Moon: Rise 6:29am Set 8:08pm

Moon: Rise 6:56am Set 9:12pm

Moon: Rise 7:27am Set 10:15pm

High Tides:8:15am 8:30pm HOT WATER Low Tides:1:41am 2:00pm BEACH

High Tides:9:01am 9:13pm HOT WATER Low Tides:2:27am 2:46pm BEACH

High Tides:9:44am 9:55pm HOT WATER Low Tides:3:10am 3:30pm BEACH

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Sports

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TAIRUA BRIDGE 4th round Alderman Pairs Monday 28 September North/South: 1, Judy McKenzie & Jim Buffett 62.70. 2, Christine Meinhold & Peter McNeil 61.90. 3, Jill Huston & Donna Harvey 47.22. East/West: 1, Glenn Lovell & Tony White 62.70. 2, Chris Death & Doreen Wernham 59.13. 3, Ton Van der Meer & Jenny Hemmings 52.38.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB Championship Singles round 4 Wednesday, 30 September North/South: 1 Ischelle Stevenson & Gavin Hedwig 64.1; 2 Giorgio Allemano & Dave Dylla 55.7; 3 Jenny Layton & Amy Hyde 45.8 East/West: 1 Susan Swan & Anne Knowles 60.0; 2 Johanna Bonnar & Terri Lipanovic 56.9; 3 Geoff Jervis & Sue Gill 51.3 Gumtown Pairs round 1 Thursday, 1 October 1 Bryan Patterson & Gavin Hedwig 58.8; 2= Hillary Scott & Tony Van Der Drift, Terri Lipanovic & Ischelle Stevenson 57.5 MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS 22 players this week so 501 singles were played. Three players went through all for sets unbeaten and they were Peter Reekers, Rose Stables and Wayne Olsen. A one game final was played with Peter Reekers taking a commanding early lead only to have Waye Olsen and Rose Stables run him down with Wayne Olsen grabbing the victory. Highest finish for the ladies this week was 101, scored by Chris Bennett and highest finish for the men was 104, scored by Selwyn Whatarangi. Four players scored 180’s this week and they were Beau Hamilton, John Munro, Stoney and Mike Gillett who scored 4. Well done Mike. I don’t recall anyone at the club ever scoring 4 in one night.

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Thursday 01 October Winners: Alan Henderson and Sue Webb Runners Up: Ray Rout, Jan Harvey and Ashlee Good Sports: Lionel Lawrence, Cheryl Henderson and Colleen Holmes

DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB 9 Hole Men’s Shootout Stbfd Qualifying Results Mon 28 Sept 1 Kevin Mills 19, 2 Peter Murphy on count back 17, 3 Lance Croawell 17. Two’s: Kevin Mills # 14 9 Hole Ladies Net Tue 29 Sept 1 Ruth Fisken 35 18 Hole Men’s 5 Club Day Stbfd Wed 30 Sept 1 Gary Bancroft 36 (on Count Back) 2 Tony Joblin 36, 3 Steve Moss 35. Two’s Results:Doug Smith # 7 Darryn Pritchard and Tony Joblin # 14 Charlie Chilwell #18. Russell Barnett HOLE IN ONE on Hole 7 Nearest The Pin #18: Charlie Chilwell 18 Hole Ladies Russian Roulette Thur 1 Oct 1 Team – Sandra Bowen, Ann Dale, Marie Dunn Mixed 18 Hole Haggle Stbfd Sat 3 Oct 1 Robert Fisken 40 (on count back) 2 Marie Dunn 40, 3 Kayleen Smith 38. Two’s Results: Robert Fisken on Hole 18 Nearest The Pin #18: Graham Harrison PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB 9 hole Par Tuesday 29 Sep 1 Jason Godward, 2 =Richard Duckworth, Mark Bell, 4 Annabel Wharton. Cooks Beach Timber and Hardware Monthly Medal 9 hole Stableford Thursday 1 Oct 1 Jo Geoghegan monthly medal winner, 2 = Jock Peacock, Wayne Morrison, 4 Dave Gibson. Cooks Beach Timber and Hardware

Mercury Bay Golf Club – Winners of the Ladies Vice Captains Trophy, Cathy Breeuwer & Janine Hayde with Chris Van Veen, Ladies Captain; Winner of the Morrison Cup - Diane Andrew with Chris Van Veen, Ladies Captain.

Monthly Medal 18 hole Nett Saturday 3 Oct 1 Jo Geoghegan monthly medal winner 2 Lauchie Phillips,3 =Jock Peacock, Richard Agnew, Kelly Phillips. 4BBB nett Callum Murray and Jo Geoghegan Nearest the Pin: Neil Vowles

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB Sunday Fun Day – 19 Sept. (No play 26th) Stableford Winner: Jenna Leach (41) 2nd Jimmy Duncan (38) 3rd Jazz T (35) 9 Hole Men. Stableford Friday 25 Sept Winner: Gordon Brain (25) 2 Warren Clark (20,) 3 on countback (20), NTP on 4: Gordon Brain, NTP on 2, Jeff Dixon. Tuesday 29 Sept 9 Hole Ladies. Stableford Winner: Lee Rattray, 2 Christine Godden 3 Sheryl Carruthers. 9 Hole men. Stableford.

Winner: Chian Ho (22) 2 equal Jeff Dixon & Graeme Heathcote (21). Wednesday 30 Sept 18 Hole Ladies Drawn Pairs Winners: Janine Hayde & Cathy Breeuwer (57…wow) 2 Joanne Geoghegan & Marg Maher (47). Two’s: Marg Maher. 18 Hole Men Stableford Winner: Garry Morton (42) 2 Patrick Gonthier, Graham Eccles & a visitor from Te Aroha, Mike Dearnley all on 41, worthy of a mention are the 3 lads tied for 5th with 40 points each, Mickey “The Brickey” Henderson, Cam Walls & Chian Ho. 9 Hole Men Friday 2 Oct Stableford Winner: Bob Holiday (21) 2nd Equal Graham Dun & Bruce Godden on 19. 18 Hole Men Saturday 3 Oct Gross: Dave Enright (Snr) & Ken George (Jnr) Stableford Winner: Dave Enright (41) 2nd Chian Ho (40) 3rd Ken George (39) Two’s: Dave Enright, Mark Boe & Sam Murphy.

Two movies for this weekend – at Mercury Twin Cinemas FORGOTTEN ISLAND PG, 100 minutes DreamWorks Animation, brings us a story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart. High school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school, are now about to embark on separate life

paths. While celebrating their last night together, they stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali. Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal.

Times Thursday, 8 Oct: 1:30pm Friday, 9 Oct: 11:30am Saturday, 10 Oct: 11:15am

HEART OF THE BEAST M, 110 minutes After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements.

Oct‘26

Peter’s quiz

From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart of the Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet. Times Thursday, 8 Oct: 11:00am Friday, 9 Oct: 4:00pm Saturday, 10 Oct: 4:00pm Sunday, 11 Oct: 4:00pm.

October 2026

Issue 1230 – Quiz 23

1) What is Bing Crosby’s most famous song? 2) What does the USA 19th amendment guarantee

3) What street does Isabella Ave adjoin? 4) Who was Rudyard Kipling?

5) In the unit of frequency what does MHz stand for? For solutions see pg 25

Appreciation for the bravery of those NZers who sit in the front row of chairs at public meetings. They hear well and can’t fall asleep.

For our latest screening schedule and trailers go to www.mercurytwincinemas.com

www.theinformer.co.nz

The Coromandel Informer – 6 October 2026 | 27

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