The Informer - 18 February 2025 Issue 1145

Whitianga Fisher Wins National Award For Protecting Seabirds

BY JANICE MALLOY

AWhitianga fisher has received an award for motivating recreational fishers to fish in a ‘seabird smart’ way.

John Ellwood of Marine Adventures is an important and influential voice promoting the need to protect seabirds from becoming hooked while out fishing.

The Seabird Smart Award John has received is an initiative of the Southern Seabirds Trust, which aims to publicise commercial and recreational fishers who have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to looking after New Zealand seabirds. Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro presented the award to John on Wednesday, 12 February, at Government House, Auckland.

Bill Mansfield, Chair of The Southern Seabirds Trust says John’s role within the recreational fishing sector is key. “People listen to their peers, particularly someone like John with high standing in the community.”

John Ellwood says “Over the last forty years I’ve developed a huge respect for the seabirds we see around our boat. Much like us, they are just after a feed for their family.” He adds “At times when there are lots of seabirds around we just pull up the anchor and try somewhere else. There is plenty of space for everyone.”

The Seabird Smart Awards were established in 2005 and are held every second year.

Continued on page 2

John Ellwood with Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Al Brown.

Photo credit Focalpointphotos

A gift from those who bowl a wrong bias

BY JIMMY JOHNSON

The Mercury Bay Bowls Club presented a “presentation” cheque for $1000 to the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust during the lunch break of the Q’s Plumbing triples tournament on Sunday 16th February.

The $1000 was raised as

“fines” for members who bowl a wrong bias during a competition over the past couple of years.

President Steve Williams made the presentation and members were then told of the work of the Helicopter and how important all donations are to the work of saving people’s lives.

You have to love the water

Continued from page 1

This year the awards were supported and sponsored by the Department of Conservation, Fisheries New Zealand, Seafood NZ, Te Ohu Kaimoana, WWF-NZ, Sealord, Deepwater Council, Inshore Fisheries Council, Sanford, Moana New Zealand, Talley’s, Leigh Fish, the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen, Wildlife Management International, Solander, Maruha, and Tipping Point Wines.

TALKING WITH JOHN ON THE WATER

John has been engaged in fishing charters for thirty-five years. One of the biggest changes he has noticed is the number of recreational fishing boats out on the water. “They would have increased ten-fold,” says John, the fishers are out here every day of the week.”

One of the adaptions people have had to make is to be a bit more diverse in their fishing; change the times, where they fish and what time they fish.”

Talking to John, it is easy to see how much he enjoys the environment and puts those fishing on his charter boat at ease with their surrounds as well.

ABOUT THE TRUST

The Southern Seabirds Trust is an alliance bringing together representatives from the seafood industry, New Zealand government, WWF-New Zealand and Te Ohu Kaimoana. His Royal Highness, King Charles III is the Patron of the Trust.

Key objectives of the Trust:

• Build awareness and engagement among fishers so they understand and care about seabirds

“You just can’t beat the scenery, whatever the weather, there is beauty out here. The wildlife, the sea birds, all of it is great. But you need to love the water. That’s the key.”

• Discover and share knowledge and resources that empower fishers to protect seabirds

• Recognise and reward efforts made by fishers and the people around them

• Cooperate with organisations outside New Zealand that can help to protect the seabirds that breed here but migrate to other parts of the globe

„ Enquiries: Janice Molloy, 021 386 311; janice@southernseabirds. org

John spoke a little of the fishing scene between recreational and commercial fishing.

“The commercial fishers get a bad wrap. A lot of people don’t understand how the fishery works. Phil Clow and Adam are great for the industry and that is rubbing off on others. The commercial industry is targeting certain species not everything and they do it at certain times of the year and in specific areas. That has really improved our fishery. John is very positive about the future and glad to be in the fishing charters business. When asked what are you going to do in retirement – the answer was immediate. “Go fishing!”

and much lower in the east. It lies very close to the two stars that form the twin heads of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. It is fun to watch it change its position with them over several nights or weeks as it wanders through the

There will be several International Space Station (ISS) passes to enjoy this week but as usual timings may change if it has to be

moved to avoid space junk. Always best to check the website heavens-above.com for updated timings.

Tuesday, February 18 – The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, lies about half way between Mars and the second brightest star, Canopus.

Friday, February 21 – There is a short and low ISS pass from 9:49 in the SW.

Saturday, February 22 – Another very low ISS pass from 9:02pm in the south.

Sunday, February 23 – There is a short but bright ISS pass low in the south from 9:49pm.

Monday, February 24 – There is another low ISS pass from 9:01pm in the south.

Tuesday, February 25 – There will be a short but bright ISS pass from 9:49pm in the SW.

Wednesday, February 26 – We have a bright ISS pass from 8:58pm in the SW.

John Ellwood on his “Marine Adventures” Charter Boat.

Steve Williams, president of the MB Bowling Club and Shane O’Hara presents the $1000 gift to John Stephenson of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Celebrating 100 years of the MBGFC

BY DIANA FRANKLIN

e are celebrating a mon

of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club! The actual 100 years date is 26 February.

To mark this historic occasion, we’re kicking off with a sold-out Centennial Marlin Tournament.

Boats are being polished and gear is being checked as anglers prepare for this one-off event.

Teams will compete for the prestigious Centennial Cup, aiming to have their names etched in history.

We want very much to include the community in our celebrations. We know not everyone likes fishing but we are all connected on the Peninsula and we are committed to sharing this celebration with our community.

To this end we are running a free event, a quiz night, for every-

one including members of other fishing clubs

A ‘THROUGH THE DECADES’ QUIZ NIGHT IS BEING HELD ON FRIDAY, 28 FEBRUARY

Whether you fancy yourself a New Zealand, Whitianga, or fishing history buff, or a general knowledge buff, this is your chance to shine and enjoy a team event.

Join us for a drink, a great time, and some great quiz questions

Don’t miss out on this once-ina-lifetime event. Come celebrate with us, and let’s make history together!

QUIZ NIGHT DETAILS:

• Friday 28 February

• Registration from 7pm and Quiz from 7.30pm

• At the Blue Lagoon, at the back of MBGFC Clubrooms

• Free entry and prizes to be won!

• Max 6 per team

What happened ninety years ago

The period of 1929-132/33 was very active in terms of game fishing in Mercury Bay. Even in those days there was an ongoing dispute as to whether the name Mercury Bay or Whitianga should have been used officially.

Mr E. Chadman (Chad, the then proprietor of the Whitianga Hotel) had several bands of overseas visitors who had arrived in the country at Dunedin bound for Mercury Bay waters. The Post office officials could not tell them how to telegram Mercury Bay and the Tourist Department was not able to tell them how to reach such an area! Whitianga was the only officially recognised name.

The last gamefish caught

during the 1932/33 season were the last for 15 years. New Zealand was just beginning to recover from the great depression when World War II broke out. For most people such recreation was beyond their resources and the energy and needs of the country were focussed elsewhere.

THE FISHING CLUB RESURFACES

A spectacular catch by local skipper, Bill Clark in March 1947, instigated the revival of the fishing club. A striped marlin had just been caught locally, the first for many years and nine men then set off to see if they could land another.

The men were Bert Chaney,

skipper of the Ronomor, Bill Clark, skipper of the Norma, Gordon Clark, Guy Dale, Bruce Clark, Bru Peachy, Trevor Brown, Tommy Caldow and Edgar Street .They had a good second hand set of game fishing gear that Guy dale had bought in Auckland and wanted to see of mercury bay could still produce the big game of the past. Bill and Bert were both commercial cray fishermen

and the Ronomor and Norma were the only two fulltime boats operating around Mercury Bay at that time. Bill and Bert were good friends who went out occasionally in their time off to try their luck at game fishing. Bill Clark had just taken the chair of Red Mercury when the huge black marlin took the kahawai bait. Bill knew for sure he had something really big on when he got his strike. They were forced to follow the fish. Bill played the fish all morning into the afternoon the fish showed no signs of tiring and the Ronomor was Thiry miles past Red Mercury Island and dark was setting in. Some twelve hours after the initial strike the fish was gaffed, but

the exhausted men took another half hour to work it on board. A search boat was setting off just as the Ronomor approached the wharf. Any anxiety over their late arrival turned into celebration as the news went out.

Although there was some dispute about the accuracy of the weighing gear, the weight of the fish was estimated at 453.6kg. Bill remembered the sheer size of the fish made it very difficult to handle but reckoned a large proportion of the town feasted on smoked marlin for a good few days afterwards!”

„ Excerpts from the publication of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club 70th anniversary booklet produced by Margie Thomas and provided by Gordon McIvor.

BY STUART BROWN

INews from the Coastguard

t has nice to see a period of good boating weather given the start of the year which was just wind and swell. As a result, the number of callouts has been up and down.

If we average out the last couple of months’ numbers, we had 15 callouts in December and 18 callouts in January which is putting us on average of approximately one callout every two days (to date, February has been busier).

Urgent callouts covered reports from Police of kay-

akers needing assistance, vessel broken down and heading towards rocks, vessel taking on water after clipping rocks at night. The area covered has been from Cuvier Island, Alderman Islands and out to just short of the 12 nautical mile limit and everything in between.

Thank you to the handful of vessels who offered assistance to attend to a vessel whilst our Rescue vessel was already out assisting another boat, or they were nearby and could assist with a tow or supply fuel / oil etc.

Marlene logging a trip report with Whitianga Coastguard. She was part of the Alan Jackson Memorial Cadetship programme in 2023 – a student from Germany..

Please remember that if you are not a member, the charge out rate is $350.00 per hour as per standard

Coastguard New Zealand fees. Also please note that there is a 24 hour stand

down period between signing up as a member and requesting assistance i.e. you cannot join up in the morning and then request assistance that same afternoon.

We have been averaging 1000 people hours per month across the unit which not only includes the people out on the water, but also the people who do all the invaluable work behind the scenes. Not a bad effort for a hugely committed and trained bunch of volunteers!

You can keep up to date with callouts and what’s happening via our

Facebook page which is updated regularly.

We have started the planning for this year’s Alan Jackson Memorial Cadetship programme. There will be more to come out over the next couple of months.

Finally, thank you to the volunteers who helped sell over 1500 tickets to the Coastguard Summer Raffle. The money raised will go towards outfitting our crews.

Safe boating.

„ Stuart Brown is President of Whitianga Volunteer Coastguard

de Havilland 60 Moth to fly over Whitianga

BY KEITH SKILLING

It was 100 years ago on the 22 February 1925, that the first de Havilland 60 Moth took to the air at Stag Lane, England. This was a very historic occasion because the Moth was the beginnings of the Tiger Moth, the most famous training aircraft to come out of England in the early twentieth century.

The Tiger Moths were also a very important part of early New Zealand aviation history with nearly 500 of them operating here over the years.

To celebrate this occasion, all tiger Moths in New Zealand, and the one remaining DH 60 Moth, will get airborne and fly around their local districts this Sunday, 23 February at 3.00pm (the 22nd in England!).

The Mercury Bay Aero Club is fortunate enough to have three of these historic aircraft based at Whitianga and at least one of them will be flying over Whitianga and the local area for this commemoration.

Tiger Moths were the first aeroplanes to arrive at Whitianga for the formation of the MBAC on 1st

October 1948. Two Tiger Moths flew from Auckland and landed on Buffalo Beach where they did joy rides from the beach before being pushed up onto Albert St into a paddock for the night.

The first aeroplane purchased for

the club was a Tiger Moth costing £525. This was the result of a lot of fund raising by the club.

This aviation history right here in Whitianga, so be sure to watch out for this commemoration flight next Sunday afternoon.

THE DE HAVILLAND MOTH FIRST FLEW ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

The clear leadership of Geoffrey de Havilland and Charles Walker assured the early success of the small de Havilland Aircraft Company, assisted by a dedicated and loyal staff under Frank Hearle’s guidance. They did not lack expertise. Geoffrey de Havilland had been one of Britain’s aviation pioneers and had taught himself to fly, been the Chief test pilot at Farnborough, and the first to fly an aeroplane from which a gun was fired. He had a string of notable designs…

…On the afternoon of 22 February 1925, the prototype Moth, G-EBKT, wings and tail still cleardoped and the fuselage in grey undercoat, was pushed onto the muddy Stag Lane aerodrome,

and Geoffrey de Havilland climbed aboard. Waving away the chocks, he taxied out and, turning into the wind, took off in a mere 100 yards. Steadily he climbed, banked and banked again. He checked the stall and landed. He taxied over, beckoned to Broad, who climbed onto the wing for a hasty word, then hopped into the front cockpit. This time de Havilland made a more extended flight and Broad tried the dual controls. They returned jubilant. This was the aeroplane they had been waiting for.”

„ Excerpts from Tiger Rag newsletter of

The local Tiger Moth ZK-BFF based at Whitianga that will be doing the flypast; Line up in front of the de Havilland works at Stag Lane in 1925. Photo credit Jerry Chisholm/Tiger Rag Newsletter

the \ tiger |Moth Club of New Zealand Inc. February, 1925.

Brilliant line-up of cars at Car Fair

BY JULIE SMITH

Local Club members were joined by cars from Whitianga, Pauanui and Auckland BMW and the weather certainly turned it on for the Coromandel car fair held Sunday, 2 February.

The paddock was full of a stunning variety of cars and humming with people strolling around admiring their favourite cars – catching up with old friends and meeting new, like-minded people.

Bruce Finan, Club Organiser, said it was “A brilliant line up of cars I’ve never seen before. It’s amazing what comes out of the wood work.”

It was a very successful day in both value for money and entertainment remembering that the Coromandel club is all volunteers. The band “Bits and Pieces” and the Line Dancers encouraged a lot of toe tapping and singing along creating a fantastic atmosphere. Many conversations were held under the bonnets or

under the shade of gazebos. A well organised family day out with “build your own” burgers, Mussel Fritters, coffee, cream buns and an Ice Cream truck all on site.

The event was just a gold coin entry charge with all proceeds going local to the RSA/Car Club and other charities.

Adding to funds raised on the day was the Auction of a Holden Commemorative Pack which one of the local members won.

Well done to all the organisers.

Irish/Kiwi guitarist in Kauaeranga Hall

Award-winning Irish-Kiwi guitarist/composer Dave Flynn returns to New Zealand with an exciting expansion of his acclaimed show Celtic Guitar Journey.

In Kauaeranga Music’s first 2025 concert in the Kauaeranga Hall, Dave Flynn’s Celtic guitar style has a new dimension to it, with the inclusion of exhilarating, percussive sounds of Flamenco.

Connections between Irish and Spanish music come alive in the Rumba Reel, while Galician and Irish jigs dance in unison. New arrangements of music from Brittany (France) and Cape Breton (Canada) further his explorations of global Celtic culture.

Dave promises a vibrant mix of new compositions and familiar favourites, including:

• The Irish haka ‘O’Neill’s March’, enlivened with a hint of Flamenco

• Intricate, soulful arrangements of O’Carolan’s baroque harp music

• The infectious energy

of Celtic jigs and reels, spanning centuries of tradition.

With his virtuoso guitar playing and engaging storytelling, he brings new life to the rich tapestry and heritage of Celtic music.

Saturday 8th March 2025 @ 7:30pm, Kauaeranga Hall, 437 Kauaeranga Valley Rd, Thames.

TICKETS:

Door sales $28. Pre-paid $25 txt: 021912993 or kauaerangahallmusic@ gmail.com or Garden Music, 712 Pollen St, Thames.

For further information contact Peter Revell on 021-912-993 or kauaerangahallmusic@ gmail.com

Discover local art that you’ll love

A spinal injury when she was 14 years old didn’t deter Toni from following her passion for painting. With limited use of her upper body, Toni has learnt to paint by holding the brush in her mouth and using this method she creates amazing and colourful water colour paintings.

“I paint predominantly New Zealand scenes because we have such a beautiful country, especially the Coromandel bush and beaches. I love the sea so that features in a lot of my artwork. At present I am going through a phase of making everything bright and colourful which has resonated in my recent flower paintings.

I am looking forward to meet-

ing visitors during Art Escape to share my unique way of painting and to show people that my disability is only a small part of who I am and that I can still achieve great things regardless.”

Toni is a student member of the International Mouth and Foot Painting Association.

Visit Toni Leefe’s studio at 16A Albert Street, Whitianga

One of the seven members of the Whitianga Art Group, taking part in this year’s Art Escape, Margaret Gibson is currently specialising in landscape painting. Through her paintings, Margaret shares her love of the environment of the Peninsula.

Belonging to the Whitianga Art Group has enabled Margaret to work alongside fellow artists, developing skills and participating in local art events. Her holidays as a child were always at the beach where she grew to love and respect the

beauty of the coastal environment. These embedded childhood memories are her inspiration and motivation.

To see Margaret’s art and also that of Jackie Chatfield, Misun Jung, Gillian McNabb, Jenny Cotterell, Merle Ward and Junko Cooper, head along to the Whitianga Art Group, 23 School Road, Whitianga

Betty was a founding member of the Mercury Bay Art Escape and is an internationally renowned, long established multidisciplinary artist and conceptualist whose focus is on process rather than product.

Based in Ohio, Betty and her scientist husband Ted spend each summer in Hahei. Returning to her Hahei ceramic studio each year is an opportunity to experiment with form, surface texture

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and colour where the complexity of glaze making and the vagaries of reduction firing ensure surprise, delight and chagrin. In Betty’s distinguished and long career, traditional ceramics morphed into figurative sculpture, environmental installations and then experimental soft sculpture which proved a seemingly endless form to express and exhibit ideas about growth, structure, life and the immensity of the universe.

In Hahei, Betty’s experimental method is applied to multi-panel painting and reticulated glazes.

Betty’s studio is at 17 Patricia Place, Hahei and open when the flag is out

Kaylie’s artwork reflects her love for vibrant colours, intricate details and the natural beauty around her. Finding inspiration in the delicate patterns of nature, the fluidity of water, and the vastness of the sky, her work aims to

evoke a sense of wonder and tranquillity.

“Art, for me, is not just a form of expression but a way to bring joy and inspiration into the world. I hope that through my work, you find a piece of serenity, a touch of magic and a sense of connection to the beauty that exists all around us.”

Kaylie’s studio at 30 Kauri Place, Tairua is open when the flag is out.

Mark your calendars for the first two weekends of March 2025. Over 50 artists from Tairua to Whangapoua will open their studios to art lovers, showcasing a variety of artworks.

Artists’ studios are open 10am to 4pm March 1-2 and 8-9, 2025. Look out for the official blue ‘Art Escape’ flag outside the studios. Tickets to the Mercury Bay Art Escape Gala event (includes canapes, music, entertainment and a complimentary drink) are available online from the Mercury Bay Art Escape website or at Hot Waves Café, Hot Water Beach. The venue is Hot Waves Café, from 6pm on Friday, 28 February. Jeff Lockhart, an acclaimed Pasifika artist is this year’s keynote speaker. www.mercurybay-artescape.com

Come along and discover local art that you’ll love.

WATER COLOUR PAINTER –TONI LEEFE

PAINTER – MARGARET GIBSON

CERAMICS – BETTY COLLINGS

PAINTER – KAYLIE FINNIS

Coromandel (town) Youth Sailing: Nurturing the next generation of sailors

BY MICHELLE DELLABARCA

Coromandel Youth Sailing held a two-day regatta on the weekend of 15 and 16 February at Heards Bay in the Te Kouma Harbour. Unfortunately, the second day was cancelled due to the weather. Saturday’s action started at 10.00 am and featured two Open BIC skiff sailors from Thames who bought their BIC skiffs to compete alongside Coromandel’s students. The aim of the regatta was to provide a couple of fun-filled days on the sea and to promote sailing to a new generation.

Coromandel Youth Sailing (CYS) programme, founded in the summer of 2022/23, is making waves in the local community by introducing young sailors to the sport. What began with four ‘Delta’ dinghies from Coromandel Area School has grown into a thriving program, thanks to the dedication of a passionate group of volunteers.

The founders—Glenn Beattie, Tony Burton, Darryn Morgan, Scott and Glenys Carr, Toby Adams, and the Coromandel Youth Group—shared a vision: to foster a new generation of sailors. Glenys Carr explained that their not-for-profit initiative quickly

gained traction, with 16 enthusiastic young sailors signing up in the inaugural season. That first summer was a steep learning curve, but the team adapted, refining their approach for the following year.

A GROWING FLEET AND A BRIGHT FUTURE

By the 2023/24 season, the CYS team decided to limit intake to eight students, ensuring a more structured and effective learning environment. The Delta dinghies proved to be stable and reliable learner boats, setting a strong foundation for beginners.

Late in 2024, CYS successfully secured funding through The Star and Garter Hotel and the New Zealand Community Trust

(NZCT) to acquire four BIC Open Skiffs. Sourced from the Manly Sailing Club in Auckland, these skiffs represent the next step for young sailors looking to refine their skills. The lightweight, fast, and self-draining skiffs provide an exciting challenge, teaching sailors to manage balance and trim with their body weight. Unlike the heavier Delta dinghies, which require bailing -after capsizing, the skiffs are easier to right - an essential feature for young sailors gaining confidence on the water.

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG SAILORS

This season, CYS is running both dinghies and skiffs, maintaining an intake of eight students per program. Each course consists of

six lessons, with five hours on the water per session. With two lesson blocks already completed this summer, demand remains high, and plans are underway to add another session.

Dedicated to professional development, Scott Carr and Toby Adams have attained coaching qualifications from Yachting New Zealand, ensuring high-quality instruction. This year, CYS will also send one of its young sailors to Yachting New Zealand for junior coaching certification, further strengthening the programme’s future.

The young sailors, aged 10 to 14, are not only developing their sailing skills but also preparing to compete. Some students own Optimists and will be bringing

them to future regattas, while others will race in the BIC Open Skiff class. Notably, the prestigious 2024 BIC Open Skiff World Championships were held in Italy, highlighting the global relevance of this class.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND A LASTING LEGACY

CYS is deeply grateful for the support of local businesses and community groups, including Grey Power, the Lions Club, ITM, and Coromandel 4 Square, whose sponsorships have been instrumental in expanding the programme.

Sadly, the sailing community suffered a great loss with the passing of Glenn Beattie in 2024. As a founder and passionate advocate for youth sailing, Glenn’s vision and dedication laid the foundation for CYS’s success. His legacy lives on in the young sailors who now take to the water, embracing the sport he loved so much.

As Coromandel Youth Sailing continues to grow, it remains steadfast in its mission: to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of sailors. With community support and a strong foundation, the future of sailing in Coromandel looks brighter than ever.

ENQUIRIES FOR STAGE 2 ARE WELCOME!

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Tairua,

A great idea –Hugo did it

BY PAULINE STEWART

Hugo Moffatt is a Year 13 student. He is not a student on the Coromandel Peninsula. Rather, he attends Napier Boys High. However, the idea he had and brought to reality, effects the schools on the Coromandel and all schools in New Zealand that require uniforms.

“I first had the idea in April 2024, when I went to the school uniform shop. I needed to buy part of my uniform. I found that the price of the new school uniform was extremely expensive and I thought that as I was going to be leaving school in eighteen months, I didn’t need to pay that. I also read at the same time an article online that some families were cutting down on necessities to be able to afford the school uniforms.

“They were very expensive. I brainstormed some ideas with others. That helped. I thought I should be able to help families afford school uniforms no matter where they were and to help families who no longer needed that uniform, trade it or sell it. The idea was they could go onto a website and both load up a second hand inform they wanted to sell and at the same time find a uniform they needed.

“This website needed to apply across the whole of the country - people move from one place to the other and the website

would serve them.”

That was just the start.

Hugo didn’t know how to make a website but went around to all his contacts and began working with those who knew more than he did. He finally found one person who could do the job he needed.

“He is a great web designer - Jamie Tweak. It didn’t matter that he lived in Auckland and I lived in Napier. He helped me achieve the idea. Things were very slow at the start, and I made mistakes,” says Hugo.

“I had done all of this publicity and people were seeing it on other websites, but it wasn’t showing up on google.”

Hugo remembered that as quite a setback and he had to learn how to sort out the engine optimisation.

“It was a great feeling

when we achieved a website that is now so quick and easy. There was a lot of support for me through all of this which I have really appreciated. Other times, I just had to work through the issues myself and be clear what it was I was trying to do and why. The fact is families everywhere can need help with their necessary costs.

This is one way I can contribute.”

Hugo loves working on the marketing side and he is quite the entrepreneur.

“It means more families find the uniform they need for hardly any cost or they can upload their still very good, but second-hand uniform for another family.

The name of Hugo’s website is ‘Get Uniformed’ Get Uniformed – buy and sell second hand New Zealand school uniforms online.

A better deal is needed for our migrants re their visas

BY ALAN HOPPER

Immigration rules were supposed to be easier with the coalition government. I am hoping that will happen, particularly as we have seen an exodus of Kiwis to Australia looking for better opportunity. But when will it happen? On the ground, immigrants say the processes have become even harder, more expensive and punitive.

Current policy is about encouraging those on the dole to fill the job shortages and that this is an emphasis by our current government more than encouraging immigration.

That can’t be right when our economy is in

dire need of a willing and skilled workforce and particularly in country areas. Any policy to encourage people on the dole to embrace work, any kind of work, will take a very long time.

Why not do both? I am not going to hold my breath on a policy that discourages the contribution of immigrants while taking their taxes.

Let’s focus on the situation at hand – that is the immigrants that we have already admitted into the country – the law-abiding ones who are gainfully employed. What about them? They are already here filling necessary roles and are willing to work

very hard. It seems we are using them up and then extracting as much money as we can while we hold them on a knife edge as to whether they will be allowed to stay. It seems the policy is somewhat authoritarian making their lives more difficult and using them up with their hard labour and then ‘spitting them out’ at the government’s convenience.

BETTER DEAL FOR BUSINESSES

Small businesses everywhere need the immigrants, and they give as much back as they receive and more.

Continued on page 17

Hugo Moffatt takes time out at school to demonstrate his website Get Uniformed.

Resource Management Act (RMA) Burdensome for small business

BY PAULINE STEWART

“Frankly, the Resource Management Act sustains unnecessary staff levels in our local councils and grants too much power to some roles where making decisions on matters occurs where there is little or no experience in the practical field. Council staff are slavishly, and sometimes blindly, following rules that may or may not fit a situation.

“The RMA is unbelievably process-heavy and costly to the person applying and takes far too much desk work at a local government level. It has been priced out of practicability. The RMA is outmoded by the very economic and societal life it was set up to support.

“Its demands in the applications are sickening for entrepreneurs and the stipulations leave no room for specific evaluation for specific situations. A boastful attitude can develop when proclaiming from behind a desk, ‘There are no exceptions!’

“In such a small country and small economy, the RMA threatens the very possibility, let alone effectiveness, of small businesses rather than encouraging them.”

„ The above is a quote from “Fred”, a Coromandel Peninsula resident whose identity we have concealed with a name that is not his. This is part of telling his difficult, ongoing journey.

WHAT HAPPENED

“Fred” is an entrepreneur. He has already done a lot in terms of business in his area to add to the economic activity. He is a visionary and offers a multi-faceted business. He has been around a long time. Fred had a Resource Consent for a couple of aspects of his business but in the enthusiasm of seeing new opportuni-

ties and planning for them, he assumed that these new opportunities could be included in the current Resource Consents he holds.

Other businesses made some complaints to TCDC mainly due, Fred suggests, to competition. What Fred was offering is closely related but not the same. One of his Resource Consents allowed him to display but not sell artworks. How that happened is very surprising as a gallery must sell to survive. How does one afford to stay open let alone pay rates without Income?

The council is obliged to investigate all complaints.

EXCERPTS OF TCDC STAFF

EMAILS TO FRED:

• “To summarise, I have visited the site to investigate the complaint around unconsented commercial activities occurring at your property. Based on my site inspection I tend to agree that commercial activity is occurring

on your site that does not have resource consent. If you wish to continue the current activities you have on the site, you will need to apply for and be granted a discretionary Resource Consent.

“Our normal compliance approach is to try and work with our customers to achieve compliance, therefore in the first instance, I will give you a reasonable amount of time to either apply for resource consent, or reduce the scale of the activity on site, such that it is consistent with the resource consents you hold. Therefore, within six weeks can you please either lodge a resource consent for the additional activities you are carrying out on site, or reduce the scale of the activities, such that they are consistent with the current contents you hold.”

• “Regarding the extension (of your trading activities), Council needs to see progress towards compliance, so if you can engage a planning consultant now and

advise us of his/her name and the consultancy firm, we can have a chat to them about time frames for making the application. Without this confirmation from your planner, Council may require you to cease operating the unlawful parts of your business at ……… until resource consent has been granted. (Note – it is almost mandatory to engage a planning consultant.)”

• “I would appreciate you please letting me know what you propose doing now that you are aware of the non-compliance ……., and if you have any other queries, please give me a call and we can have a chat about it all.”

TWO WELCOME INTERVENTIONS FROM ONE TCDC COUNCILLOR

1) Addressed to TCDC staff:

“I rang “Fred” today to discuss his concerns that are effecting his ability to conduct his home business services.

“Fred” is frustrated at the continual complaints that Council receive over the services he is offering and that Council staff have to follow up on these complaints.

I suggested he needs to address the complaint issues by sitting with Council staff to agree on what services he can offer and if there are consents he needs to obtain.

I recommended he engage with a council planner/staff and find a pathway to permit the selling of art………..

“Fred” is concerned that if the consenting cost is high and unaffordable, he will need to assess the viability of the services he is providing to local customers and visitors.

The three Mercury Bay Councillors have been briefed, and a

site meeting was to be arranged with “Fred” but we have held back until “Fred” engages with Council. Trust you can assist with “Fred’s” concerns.”

2) Dec 2024 addressed to “Fred”:

I find it disappointing that you are still having problems getting your coffee cart up and running. The residents, non-residents and tourists need that option of having a sit down and coffee time after experiencing the beach, boats etc.

I am coming your way next week, ….. and will swing by for a catch-up if that works.”

COUNCIL – RIGID PRACTICES WITH RMA

Fees and more fees requested from “Fred” From Council

“I can confirm that resource consent for a Discretionary Activity will be required. The application will cover all the retail components that you have listed below.

1) The planners fee (company outside TCDC) to assist you in preparing the final planning report and assessment of environmental effects will be $5,000 (Plus GST and expenses). This invoice from them must be paid prior to lodging the application with Council. The work required to be undertaken includes a review of the statutory and non-statutory documents; a site visit; preparation of the planning report and assessment of environmental effects; collate supporting information; and lodge the resource consent application with the Council. This fee relates to a non-notified resource consent application and does not include any consultation with neighbours.

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

Please note: a notified application and any requests for further information will require additional fees.

The Ideal investment

2) Council’s application fee (deposit) for a Discretionary Activity is $3,300.

3) Before we start preparing the application the planning company will need:

• An accurate and scale site plan showing the location of the activities (including any seating) on the site.

• A description of each retail activity including operating hours and the time of the year they will be operating from the property.

• A description of the scale of the activity (number of resources etc and where they are stored on site).

• Any on-site parking that will be provided for the retail activities (in addition to the parking requirements for the residential and visitor accommodation activities undertaken on the site).

• Signage details (dimensions) and their location.

“From experience, Council may ask for a traffic assessment from a suitably qualified traffic engineer. There will be additional costs associated with this if Council requires one.

“I suggest putting in the application without one, but as a planner I can only describe the surrounding parking situation and what is available. I am not qualified to comment on whether this is adequate from a traffic engineering perspective.

Council will make the final decision on whether one is required or not.

4) “Written approvals may be required. The planning assessment will discuss separation distances from adjoining residential boundaries and the subject site’s proximity to the commercial area. However, the Council makes the final decision as to whether written approvals will be required or not. If the Council requires written approvals that cannot be obtained, then further planning advice will be provided to address any notification and hearing costs.

5) “Hearing costs can be substantial (i.e. for budget purposes only - $20,000 Plus GST and expenses). “

STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT REQUESTED BY “FRED”

In the course of the email traffic and determining non-compliance, “Fred” enquired as to what was the strategic plan for

tourism and economic development in Hahei and the wider district.

Council Response: “……. The Communications/Economic Development team to respond to you regarding if Council has a strategic plan for tourism in Hahei and the wider district. That strategic plan would be useful for all ratepayers and residents. You will hear from them directly.”

MUCH TO BE FOLLOWED UP HERE

1) The biggest issue is a release from the chains of the RMA. This is a central government issue and everyone is still waiting for John Key’s promise to be fulfilled. This coalition government also promised it. Time is running out.

2) The second is enabling freedom at a local government level to be more lateral and permission giving. After all, people need to have some power. The Councillors and Community Board members have a role in advocating for residents and provide instruction for council staff to enable local situations to be addressed quickly, more cost effectively and mercifully.

3) It would be important to see a refreshed strategic plan from Communications/Economic Development team of TCDC. No doubt this fits with the current Long-Term Plan but elucidating the strategy will be helpful for anyone testing out a viable economic proposal and very helpful for the election year.

Ancient trees feature in history talk

BY DOROTHY PREECE

Some of Whitianga’s oldest trees were the feature of the Mercury Bay Historical Society talk on January 30th at The Lost Spring. The speaker, Dorothy Pooley presented her father’s historic records of the plantings by the early European settlers in the Bay. Dorothy’s father was Alfred Lee, who married Iris Hamilton. Many Historical Society members are related to those families and the venue was filled to capacity. Mrs Pooley was visiting from Australia.

Around 1930 Alfred Lee made meticulous notes about who planted the trees and where they had been planted. Mrs Pooley based her talk on her father’s hand-written notes, and her own photographs, with a sketch map showing residents in the township around 1880, when only 14 homes were recorded.

Some trees have survived to this day, including one ancient gum tree remaining of a row planted by Mr William White on the corner of White Street. His son George brought the eucalypts by boat from Australia and some were also planted at Lover’s Rock.

People brought in cuttings and seeds from Europe. In the 1890’s Mr Meikle planted the magnolia which still survives at the Peninsula Motel. Thomas Carina,

thought to be Hungarian owned land in the vicinity of Lee Street, where he planted a substantial orchard with many fruit trees, including mulberries, which proved very easy to grow and spread far and wide, though it seems none are left today. Carina Way, and the walkway named The Mulberries, off Lee Street, reflect that history. Mr Carina is said to have remarked, “You only have to stick a stake in the ground and it will grow here.”

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• learn about trauma, co-existing problems, recovery options, and when and where to get help

Attending the workshop is about gaining an understanding about where the person is coming from, and working alongside them.

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Ancient gum tree on the corner of White Street.

STAN’S STUFF

Telling the truth could get you into trouble. Do it anyway!

BY STAN STEWART

My four years of formal theological education were a trial to me and to my professors – and the other students. I was part of a small college, 21 students, where attending lectures was compulsory. What I can remember most clearly is a drone – a professor droning on. Other students who came straight from university to our college also found our lectures a drone.

At first, I thought that attending college lectures of higher learning would be exciting. I imagined myself contributing/interacting with the professors and other students on all kinds of subjects. I soon found out that wasn’t on the college lecture agenda. The professors had all the answers, and the students were expected to listen, agree and take notes. Consequently, we would usually doodle and occasionally take furtive naps.

The professors would begin every lecture with a prayer and at the conclusion of each lecture ask a student to close with a prayer. If the professor spotted a student who was particularly dozy, he would choose that person to pray the closing prayer.

My favourite lecture room memory occurred on a particularly warm afternoon. As usual we (the students) were all engrossed in doodles. On this occasion, the professor was having a hard time keeping to his notes. Clearly the professor had lost his place, and this led to a long pause. The

student two along from me had gone completely to sleep. Full of mischief, his neighbour woke the sleeping student and told him that the professor had asked him to close in prayer. The startled student immediately stood up and proceeded to pray an all-purpose prayer’. We all had one of these. All-purpose prayers included such topics as saving young people from sin, the conversion of the lost in other countries and for the life and work of our college. The professor looked up in amazement.

When the student finished praying, the bewildered professor said, “I know the Bible urges us to be prayerful at all times, but Mr … (we were all addressed as Mr.) please keep your prayers during lectures to silent prayers.”

This was one of the few memorable highlights of my four years of theological education.

I’ve rather gone off all-purpose

prayers. Along the same lines I don’t find all-purpose conversations helpful. What I am talking about are patterns of words which we use when we are having a conversation but not really saying anything. Often the weather is the subject of all-purpose sentences and remarks.

My daughter Michelle was greatly irritated by all-purpose conversations. She spoke her mind and wanted others to do the same. Michelle was partial cerebral palsy. Because of this she was often the object of stares. As a teen she would call out the starers with, “What are you staring at?” She was too hurt to be polite. I copped some of this but would reply with some strong language self-defense. After a period of hard-hitting verbal conflict, we would settle down to normal conversation. We were the best of mates.

My only retirement dream was

to spend days of at an uncrowded beach talking with Michelle about politics and theology. It was never to happen. She died many years ago. Straight talking is needed more than ever today. Some comedians make their living talking about body parts and all kinds of sexual liaisons - all subjects very hush hush early in my life. That’s a kind of straight talking. No subject is taboo and we are liberated now. Well partially!

I’m thinking that ‘truth telling’ as to how we are feeling and what we are thinking about life, I think very little has changed. These days I hear glamorous women talking on TV using language which used to be the domain of drunken men. I am not impressed. However, when it comes to talking honestly about what we think and how we feel about life etc. I think we are as tongue-tied as ever.

As one of the editors of The

Informer, I hope this paper will be a vehicle for free and honest speech. In this aim, I think we are partially successful. Certainly, reading through the articles and the Letters to the Editor makes me think many in our district are expressing their views through this paper.

There is another side to ‘sounding off’; that is listening carefully and respectfully. Michelle and I fought like ferocious dragons but once the heat had cleared, we discussed like mates. My aim is to have less ‘all purpose’ conversations and to share my truth more freely. I understand that this implies I must listen to other people’s ‘truth’ as carefully and respectfully as I would like them to listen to mine.

That’s my hope for today for relationships and dialogue in our little piece of heaven, the Coromandel Peninsula.

Oceans Festival cancelled

BY LINDA BIRD

The Whitianga Oceans Festival committee announce their intention to cancel the iconic event for 2025.

The committee which has run the event since 2005 has made the call to cancel this year’s festival because as guardians of the event we have had to take notice of the decline in ticket sales across New Zealand in the event industry and in the Oceans Fes-

tival itself last year.

We apologise to all our locals who benefit from the festival however, the sustainability of the event must be our priority. We do recognise how important this is for our local economy and our community and intend to return with a bang in 2026 and once again provide an event to support local groups with fundraising opportunities and an early boost to the shoulder season for our businesses.

Stan’s daughters, Cathy (left) and Michelle who is the subject of this story.

Ready for going back to school

BY VERNA CARR

After a long summer break, the kids are back at school. Rhea Lelivre is 5, and Monday, 10 February, was her first day at school. Equipped with her new uniform and school bag, excited and maybe a little nervous, holding hands with her proud parents Shane and Lorielle, Rhea bravely walks into the school grounds, the first steps of her education journey. Rhea looks forward to reading, swimming, painting, and playing in the play

ground.

M.J. Tuhakaraina-Saywell is in her second year. After spending the holidays with whanau in Rotorua, M.J. is excited to see her best friend Nina De la Cruz.

It is Nina’s first day of school; she is shy and unsure of what to expect, but Mum Noelia offers Nina lots of comfort and reassurance to alleviate her concerns. The first day of school is a significant milestone because it marks a new phase in everybody’s life. M.J. and Nina like “learning a lot, swimming, painting, and going to the library.” M.J. enjoys drawing pictures of her family.

The senior girls are thrilled to be back at school as well. They chat, catch up on current events, and share their holiday adventures. As senior students, they are more focused and philosophical since they are aware of their goals and what is expected from them, so they want to make the most of their last years at school, be happy and

productive, and create their dreams for their future.

“Rising achievement through unity and positivity” is the motto of Mercury Bay Area School, Te Kura o Te Whanganui o Hei. The school caters to all ages from entry-level year 1 to seniorlevel year 13. The school has resources so that students can learn a variety of disciplines both inside and outside of the classroom, as well as participate in athletic, cultural, and performing arts

events. Some students even have the chance to build a plane. International students are welcomed and hosted at Mercury Bay Area School, Te Kura o Te Whanganui o Hei, where they receive a unique education and experience Kiwi culture.

We hope that as we grow older, we will remember our school years as a positive time in our lives, learning, trying new things, developing life skills, and forming lifelong friendships.

The senior girls from left to right are Mieke Ducker, Lara Sharman, Lana Ducker, Marika Mc Donald, Skye Condon; top right, Nina De la Cruz and her mother Noelia

pauanui.

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Immigrants working in NZ deserve better

Continued from page 11

Our Filipino immigrants and Pacific Island communities and our Asian immigrants work hard and contribute above and beyond in supporting our local workforce, caregivers, and businesses.

We, the local business community in my view would not have survived without them and I think that stretches to many other parts of the country. They are keen to contribute to the community life. They want to work. The current policies penalise them and make the whole process with visas exorbitantly expensive and not logical.

Many businesses have tried to employ kiwis and many times been disappointed at the lack of

commitment reliability, ambition willingness to work. There is a distinct lack of compassion, respect and consideration of their financial situation demonstrated by our government and this should not be happening.

We need the immigration just to make our businesses reliable particularly in hospitality, care giving, production and customer service. Many of these immigrants have tertiary qualifications that are not recognised by New Zealand. However, they are patient about that and are willing to take menial jobs so as to get a visa and live with some glimmer of hope that this country will eventually grant them permanent residence.

Governance without compas-

sion, governance which lacks intelligent reasoning is a very doubtful practice. For example, we have a very highly respected Filipino couple on our Peninsula. They have been in New Zealand for more than two years. Both are hardworking, multi-talented and pretty much indispensable. The husband’s visa expires very, very soon. His wife’s visa is still current. This country is demanding he go back to the Philippines for a year and then apply again for an extension of his visa which it

looks like he will get.

But why separate husband and wife? Why send him back just to charge an extra $4,000 for the visa as well as air fares and leave an employer looking for someone to replace him after the training and proving he is competent and reliable. While he is appealing this insane decision, he cannot earn one dollar. The appeal is about nothing else but allowing him stay here to keep working at an essential job and be with his wife.

This is repeated again and again across the country, and it makes no sense.

This manner of implementing an immigration policy is unacceptable. It demands an explanation and some action that

better represents the needs of businesses and communities.

On humanitarian grounds it is not acceptable. This is surely not the will of the people. This authoritarian approach to people’s live will work against everything in the future.

Seeking help and action from our MP

At the time of writing this, Scott Simpson our MP was approached by The Informer. He has promised to speak with the particular couple and also advocate for change and a different outcome. However, he did hint that he might not get a result that any one wanted. That can be challenged. In this system called democracy, we expect a lot from our local Member of Parliament.

Kids Sea Bird Art Competition

Print an entry form from www.theinformer.co.nz or www.facebook.com/theinformernz or use the space above. or any information centre on the Coromandel Peninsula. Draw yourself and your favourite seabird. Tell us why you like it and an interesting fact about the bird. Do you know the difference between a shore bird and a sea bird? See next week’s edition of The Informer for the answer.

Win!

Entries close 31 March 2025

Winners annouced 11 April and published in The Informer 15 April a family pass (2 adults, 2 children) to Tiritiri Matangi Island. Includes return ferry trip and guided tour of the island.

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ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

Shock, anger over boaties and dogs on pest-free island

MEDIA RELEASE

DOC staff in Coromandel are shocked and angered by a report of two boaties taking their pet dogs ashore one of the district’s pest-free conservation islands.

And they’re calling on responsible boaties to report other recreational sailors who land on Coromandel’s off-limits islands.

DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says the most recent incident occurred on Kawhitu/ Stanley Island on Saturday 8 February, and was witnessed by two members of the public who alerted DOC.

“Our informants saw two people – believed to be from a 660 Haines Hunter boat named Nirvana 2 – ashore on Kawhitu,” says Nick.

“These people were spot-

ted walking along a beach on the island at about 1.30pm with two dogs.”

Nick says Kawhitu is classified as Nature Reserve, under the Reserves Act 1977 – meaning no-one can enter without express permission.

“To see people flagrantly disregard the rules – and in this case walk right past a sign telling them they shouldn’t be there – is very distressing”.

“As well as being somewhere they shouldn’t have

been, the two people who’ve landed on Kawhitu have risked undoing decades of conservation work protecting vulnerable species.

“They’ve also risked the biosecurity of the island, which is protected through strict protocols we place on our own staff and any visitor authorised to carry out work on Kawhitu.”

Nick encouraged the owner or skipper of the Nirvana 2 – or anyone who saw the people from the vessel go ashore – to contact DOC on 0800 DOC HOT, and quote CLE-8615.

Roughly 86 ha in size, Kawhitu is a haven for a number of protected and threatened species, including tieke/saddlebacks, fleshfooted shearwaters/toanui, and kakariki/red-crowned parakeet.

DOC’s poisons

(Department of Conservation)

BY JOHN VEYSEY

While DOC/WRC are dropping Haloxyfop over the Coromandel harbour they care not for the aquatic life that will get poisoned. They say it doesn’t matter. Sure, they say, the fish and shell-fish will get poisoned but the poison washes away - eventually - and becomes so dilute, it no longer matters.

The same thing with the 1080. Sure, it gets in the water and sure it poisons every living thing in the water but it dilutes and eventually is so dilute you

hardly notice it.

NZ’s Environment Protection Agency, the EPA, even have a concentration level of poison in our water which is acceptable, the only EPA in the world which allows any of DOC’s poisons in public water supplies.

Kiwi numbers growing in Coromandel

According to recent reports, the kiwi population on the Coromandel Peninsula has been steadily growing, with numbers doubling in the past decade, with an unfenced zone seeing a rise from around 130 kiwi to nearly 300 birds.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PURPOSE OF WAITANGI DAY

Waitangi Day is to celebrate New Zealand becoming one nation for the people. Alas, it seems the day is certainly confused as to what is being celebrated.

Perhaps another day for the event would be more appreciated and prevent the hijacking of our national day.

R Davis Whitianga

A REALITY APPROACH TO MINING

Correspondent Denis Tegg (The Informer, 4 February) is always trying to find ways to criticise mining and highlight imagined NZ mining disasters. It’s rather sad when the best he can do in his ongoing and increasingly desperate search for these tragedies is to go back not just 10 years, not 20 years, not even 40 years, but over half a century to find a ‘problem’. He dredges up once again that perennial favourite of the anti-miners, the Tui Mine, near Te Aroha. Yes, central government funded a clean-up there just as it has from other problem sites (think Rena disaster, HMS Mananui).

What Tegg conveniently fails to mention is that unrelated NZ mining companies at the time offered to remove the problematic tailings at no charge. This offer was

soundly rejected by green zealots and politicians at the time and eventually taxpayers were totally unnecessarily left with the bill. It is very clear that the green anti-miners just want to have an ongoing ‘problem’ they could point to that is caused by those ‘evil’ miners.

Not content with desperately clutching at straws to bad mouth the gold mining industry, Mr. Tegg also states that new coal mines are “dangerously heating our planet”. Yet as usual, he fails to provide even one minute shred of evidence for this ridiculous claim.

The next lie is that banks “increasingly abandon coal investments”. Clearly still living half a century in the past, he is not aware that in fact banks and financial lenders are busy reversing this and other silly ESG policies worldwide as fast as they can.

He also attempts ‘character assassination’ (his words) of correspondent Flemming Rasmussen in these pages. As Ady Cole-Ewen points out, Flemming actually has a deep commitment to the Peninsula and its people. I first met him many years ago helping plant kauri trees for Kauri 2000 at Kuaotunu. I have yet to see Mr. Tegg plant anything but outdated, negative and poisonous thoughts in our community.

Alastair Brickell Kuaotunu

„ The purpose of the Letters to the Editor column is to enable members of the public to express an opinion, about an article or a topic of interest/concern. Please keep them to 200 words or less. These letters do not reflect the editor’s view. The editor reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.

DIFFERING ON EMISSIONS CULPABILITY

Dal Minogue’s graph on CO2 emissions in the 10 February issue of The Informer misses the big picture. The USA, not China, has been the biggest historical climate polluter, producing twice China’s CO2 and seven times India’s. Check out the Carbon Brief graph I have asked to be printed with this letter.

That historical CO2 matters because it’s still in the atmosphere, helping push us past 1.5°C warming. Now, if we’re talking per capita like Dal prefers, New Zealand is the worst nation on earth says Carbon Brief, with 51% more cumulative emissions per person than the US. China and India don’t even crack the top 20 in this measure. With their rapid shift to renewables, they’re unlikely to ever match NZ’s per-capita emissions.

Dal’s all about singling out

developing nations like China and India, but the data is clear. Developed countries, like NZ and the USA, have contributed far more to climate pollution on a per-person basis over time.

Time to face up to our appalling climate pollution record , eh?

Anton Taylor, Whitianga

DATA ON CO2 EMISSIONS SHAMES DEVELOPING WORLD

I have not seen the letters regarding CO2 emissions, only Dal Minogue offering the chart from ‘Our World In Data’. Here is another chart from the same source, showing per capita emissions and few people take note of this. You will note Australia at No.1, NZ at No: 3 and India at the bottom of this list. Another FACT is that China set up more renewable energy plants, noticeably Solar PV, than the whole of the rest of the world put together in

2024. They have targets and are surpassing them. Yes, they are still commissioning coal powered plants but whilst they meet their targets, most of the developed world are falling well short of their promises.

Chris Southwell, Kuaotunu MUSIC – A ‘SAVING GRACE’ I was so inspired when attending my son’s wedding and conversing with a lovely couple – the bride’s grandparents – aged 92 and 94. This couple live in a retirement village and share with their community the special gift of music.

The wife, aged 92, whilst caring for her husband plays the piano at many venues including other retirement villages and gives joy to many people.

The most significant and special part of our conversation was her playing to dementia patients. These are people who could not recall or remember many aspects of their lives – the one exemption to this sad phenomenon, was the love of music.

When playing her music to the dementia patients, this special lady recalls them singing along – mainly traditional and country music – and even remembering most of the words.

This to me was an amazing experience and that music can be a ‘Saving Grace’ in people’s lives.

Noel S. Hewlett, Whitianga

THROUGH THE PORTAL

If our government played cricket

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

Recent polls showed that both factions of our parliament are currently running neck and neck, which is an odd situation when you consider what a disaster the last Labour Government was.

Is it that half of us genuinely believe that a combination of latte drinkers, Greenies and various activists can run the economy better or is it that the current Government does not yet inspire confidence?

I tend to think it is the latter and started comparing our Government to a game of cricket.

Just imagine; it is the Coalition Team’s turn to bat and the openers are taking forever to get onto the field and start batting. The opposition is out in fielding position, where they have been for some time and are starting to look bored.

One opener, Winston he is called, is ready to go but is sitting down smoking another cigarette while he waits for his fellow opener to be ready. Our third batsmen, David, is enthusiastically practicing his drive and pull

shots in front of the crowd and posing for selfies with members of the public.

Half of the crowd has got bored with the wait for the batting team to front up so have gone to look at another game at the number two ground.

The team playing on that ground, Lefties United, are not very good and in fact were dismissed for a score of only two runs last time they were allowed to bat. This score was in fact so low that everyone who put a bet on them at the TAB lost their shirts, making them most unpopular. But at least they were trying to bat so offered their small crowd some movement to watch.

What is keeping the coalition openers from taking the field? A quick glance showed the problem. Winston’s opening partner and team skipper, Christopher, was not yet ready to bat. He only had one pad on and was signalling to the changing room for a smaller box. At his feet lay three discarded boxes that were obviously too large for him. He wanted a snug fit for safety reasons and it was some time arriving.

The replacement box duly

arrives and, waving away the offers to assist from his deputy captain, Christopher carefully placed the box into position.

Winston sensed he might shortly be asked to do something so had stood up and was dusting down his impeccable whites while watching the Deputy lace up the Skippers second pad. That completed the skipper called the team to him and encouraged them to have a good day finishing with “the most important thing is not to throw away your wicket”.

The opening pair made their way onto the field accompanied by a slow clap from the crowd and the opposition. Unfazed the skipper prepared to face the first ball, marking his crease for centre wicket before glancing in the direction of the sight screen only to see David in front of the screen practicing his swishes and hook shots. The umpire was requested to have David moved, which he duly did and Christopher was finally ready to face his first ball. The bowler pounded in and released a thunderbolt which Christopher blocked. As the bowler returned Christopher met Winston half way down the wicket and advised him “the most important thing is not to throw away your wicket”.

The bowler came pounding in and this time attempted to fool Christopher with a slow ball. Unfazed our skipper blocked it, smiled and repeated to himself “the most important thing is not to throw away your wicket”.

Another four balls were sent down all of which were successfully blocked by our skipper resulting in a maiden over. Winston stood ready to face his first

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bowl, the first of the second over. The bowler released the ball and Winston was ready, moving forward slightly and drove the ball through the fielders and commenced running. The batsmen crossed for three runs leaving Christopher to face the second ball. He was looking uncomfortable as he took guard, he obviously had not realised how much chafing you can get from a tight box when running between the wickets. “Never mind” he thought, “the most important thing is not to throw away your wicket”. He carefully batted out the rest of the over, blocking all five balls. At the end of the over, the umpire signalled that it was time for the lunch break. Christopher protested that they had only just started to which the umpire informed him that the Coalition Team had wasted too much time preparing to take the field. As the two batsmen left the field side by side Winston remarked about them having scored more than Lefties United did in their entire last innings. Christopher nodded and said “and importantly we did not throw away our wickets”.

Transparency won on the day, just!

FROM WARREN MAHER WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL REPORT FEBRUARY 2024

On Monday, 15 February, the Council meet to approve the proposed 2025/26 Annual Plan, a number of workshops have preceded this meeting. This plan will set the total increase in rates for the 2025/26 period and represents Year 2 of the Long-Term Plan (LTP). The 2024 to 2034 LTP proposed rate revenue for the 25/26 period was 8.6%. This rate has since been influenced by four main external matters.

a. The release of the National Land Transport Plan and associated funding.

b. The impact of a pause to freshwater farm plans.

c. Funding secured through the ‘Before the Deluge’ programme.

d. Rapid changes in the Official Cash Rate.

Taking into account these external drivers and other internal changes requested by staff, the revised Annual Plan increase in rates to 6.2%, down from 8.6%.

Several business cases were also presented for Council consideration, an outline of these, and whether they were successful is as follows.

1. Increase to Community Transport from $300,000 to $500,000. Carried unani-

mously.

2. $170,000 per annum for 3 years for operational work in golden clam areas. Carried 8 to 5.

3. Business case for contractor to work in Process Management

$138,000. Opposed 7 to 6.

4. Installation of real-time displays at Hamilton bus stops

$300,000. Carried 8 to 5.

5. New river catchment and work programme for Wharekawa Coast $120,000 per annum.

Warren Maher addresses a large crowd at Whangamata Club where the issue was recent matters regarding recreational fishing and the proposed changes in marine reserve boundaries.

Carried unanimously.

6. Council’s role in Economic Development $302,000 per annum for 2 years. Carried 9 to 4.

7. Regional Transport Rate as advised in the Long-Term Plan will go out with two options for consultation. With a minimum rate rise in mind, I voted in opposition to items 2, 3, 4 and 6. I believe the increase to Community Transport

will be of benefit to operators in the Coromandel, and the new Wharekawa catchment rate is the outcome of a lot of work done with the Kaiaua Community and will be a targeted rate.

All parts of the Annual Plan will go for audit at the end of February and be out for public consultation mid-March.

The biggest item that divided the Council was whether or not to inform ratepayers of an oper-

ating surplus from the 2023/24 financial year of $6.04 million. Council approved the use of the surplus for $100,000 to inform Regional Development activities, $100,000 for Maritime Services for navigation safety functions at Taharoa, $410,000 capital to protect Waikato from the spread of fresh water clams, and $1.851 million for the write off of a historic loan for fresh water farm plan technology.

This leaves a balance of $3.575 million, which I and five other Councilors believe should be returned to ratepayers in the form of rate revenue reduction, as well as requiring the transparency of this being included in the Annual Plan consultation document.

Other Councilors stated that the balance should not be reported in consultation, and the money could be applied to rates or other projects in the future.

It was also noted any reduction would have an effect on the 26/27 rates. The motion was put, and Councilors Graff, Cookson, Downard, Huges and Dunbar-Smith as well as myself voting in favor of transparency, with one abstention, the vote was 6 for and 6 against. This required Chair Pamela Storey to use her casting vote, and having originally voted against, she changed to support, and transparency won on the day, just!

GAMES AND PUZZLES

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

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

WHAT'S ON

OP SHOPS

Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop

– Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open every MonSat 10am-2pm.

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

St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. 9.30am-1pm Wed-Sat. Social Services Op-shop – 15 Coghill St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-2pm. Donations welcome.

SPCA Op-shop – 2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 9am-4pm.

MONTHLY

AA Driver Licensing – Friday 31 January & 14th

February. In the Mercury Bay Service Centre Community Board Room in Monk St (behind the council offices).

American Muscle Street and Custom Club

Whitianga – Club meetings first Sunday of the month, 11am at Buffalo Beach Reserve for cars and coffee. Phone Reg and Julie Smith on 027 493 5822.

Cooks Beach Garden Circle –Last Thurs of the month 11.15am-2.30pm. New members welcome. Ph Anne on 07 866 0268 for more information.

Craft Group – Meets first Saturday of the month 10am-3pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr, carpark end. Work on your own craft (stitching, colouring in, scrapbook, card making anything goes). Bring your lunch and enjoy mixing with other crafty people. Any queries ph Alison 021 0508 772 or Sally 027 3962 383. Kūaotunu Dune Care – Every third Wed of the month. To get involved, please email kuaotunudunecare@gmail.com.

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

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

BI-MONTHLY

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

FORTNIGHTLY

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

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

Mercury Bay Quilters – 10am-4pm on the first and third Mondays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Contact Margaret on 021 140 4016.

Whitianga Tramping Group – Every second

Sunday at 8.30am. Phone Wally 021 907 782 or Lesley 021 157 9979 for more information.

WEEKLY OR MORE

Alcoholics Anonymous – The Whitianga Big Book Group meets every Thursday at 6.30pm at St Peter the Fisherman Church, Dundas Street. Phone 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) for more information.

Al-Anon Serenity Group – For those affected by someone else’s drinking. Every Wednesday at 1.30pm. Phone Pauline on 021 086 10955 for more info.

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

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

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

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

Coffee and Discussion Group – Every Sunday, 2-4pm, at The Lost Spring. Topics are open and respect shown. No charge. Convener Peter H. Wood.

Cooks Beach Care Group – Join our friendly team and learn about coastal conservation. Come weeding and planting. Thursday mornings. Register www.cooksbeachcare.org.nz

Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club – Starts back 26 February, Cooks Beach Community Hall, 1.45pm. First month free. Ph Coral 021 2303 944. Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm, Lovers Rock, Robinson Road. All breeds and sizes welcome to a very sociable group. Ph Jenny on 021 186 5797.

Hahei Contract Bridge Club – Every Tuesday 12.30pm at the Hahei Community Hall. Learners and casual welcome. Contact Don Barry 021 741 959 or Robyn Hogg 021543015.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tues and Fri from 9-11am, location advised

TRADES & SERVICES

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.

prior. For more information, please email mbenvironmentaltrust@gmail.com or go to www.mbet.co.nz.

Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club – New season starts Thursday 6 March. Every Thursday evening, Whitianga Town Hall, 6.45pm. New members and visitors welcome. Phone Cheryl or Alan on 027 452 7887 for more information.

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club – At Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Every Tuesday Members Night 5.30-7.30pm; Sundays 3.006.00pm- Open to New players (Training & equipment provided, first session free) and all members and visitors. $5 per session. Moewai Sportspark Outdoor Sessions-weather dependant & advised per our facebook page. Matarangi (Matai Pl Courts) Summer Hrs-Thurs 5-7pm, Sat 9-11am. Contact Grant 0223836351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club Thurs & Sunday, Contact Tim 0278432683 or refer their facebook page. Mercury Bay Squash Club – New members/ enquiries to Dawn Thurgood mercbaysquash@ gmail.com

Mercury Bay Table Tennis – Every Tues, 9-11.30am at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Ph Anne on 07 869 5162 or 027 565 5575 for more info. Mercury Bay Tennis Club – Social tennis at Lyon Park on Thursdays at 5.30pm. All welcome. Ph Jason 022 186 7992 or Carl 027 680 5570. Oneness Meditation Centre – The centre focuses on the meditative art of going deeper within. Learn how to meditate, breath, calm the mind, relieve stress, anxiety and be a calm, peaceful, courageous, dynamic human being. Every Monday, 9.30-11.00am. Further info. text Linda 027 650 4881 or email linda_c@orcon.net. nz

Spiritual Conversation Mornings – Every Tues and Wed, 10.30am-12pm, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga the Starlight Centre. Grab a coffee and join in some great conversation where we talk about topics and subjects that have meaning. $5 donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079. Strength, Balance and Mobility classes for Seniors – Men and women, every Thurs 1011am at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. $2 per session. Contact Lisa Jury on 027 351 7110 for further information.

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

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

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

Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am12.30pm every Wednesday morning at the Hahei Community Centre. Ages newborn-5years. We invite all parents, carers, visitors and grandparents. Contact whenuakiteareaplaygroup@gmail.com

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

Whitianga Menz Shed – Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. At the Moewai Park end of South Highway, past the diesel truck stop. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@ playcentre.org.nz or 027 880 3947.

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

info.

Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tues 9am start. For more information phone Margaret on 027 7802 744. All levels welcome. Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga – Wed 5-6pm, Room 10, Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr. Support to lose weight wisely. Check out our Facebook page or phone Cecily on 027 294 1750 for more information. DANCING

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

Belly Dancing – Contact Catherine Corcoran, 021 210 2438 or smile@catherinecorcoran.com. Weekend classes twice a month at 4pm. Mercury Bay Line Dancing Club – Tuesdays beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Seniors 12.452.30pm; Thursdays absolute beginners 11.30am12.30pm, improvers/seniors 12.45-2.30pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850 or Glynis 021 1099 155.

SALSA/Merengue/Bachata and Cha Cha –Contact Molly, events@beatfairy.com. Every Monday from 6.30-7.30pm at Monkey House. $20 per class which includes a drink.

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St, $5 per session. Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am. Contact Cecily 027 294 1750 or Kathy 027 4321 353 Zumba – Wednesdays at 5.30pm at gym for Zumba and Step Zumba on Mondays at 4.45pm at the Whitianga Town Hall in Monk St. GROUP INFO

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

Mercury Bay Lions Club – New members are welcome. Email mercurybaylions@gmail.com. Phone Barb 0274 075 268.

SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated –Learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Sheryll Carruthers 021 022 62504 or email seniornet. whitianga.admin@gmail.com.

Whitianga Bike Park – 144 Moewai Rd, Whitianga. Open 24/7. Many bike tracks available, picnic areas, BBQs and walking trails. Donations welcome on entry. If you wish to volunteer or for programme enquiries, contact John 027 366 4606.

Whitianga Gun Club – For information, phone Mike Deverell 0274 959 477 or Graham Sutcliffe on 021 846 655.

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

Beginners Ballroom/ Latin American 6 week course commencing Thursday 20th Feb @ Mercury Bay Club 6-7pm

Introduction to Waltz, Rhythm foxtrot, Square Rumba, Cha, Cha, Cha & American Jive. $80 per person for the 6 week tuition. Please contact Wayne Mobile: 0274143310 for enquires and enrolments (Limited spaces) No partner required as we teach both lead and follow steps. NZFATD qualified teacher

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

Razor SharpeningSharp Services

TRADES & SERVICES

DESIGNER/ LAYOUT PERSON

SPORTS

Julie Rutledge (right) presents the Kaimarama Cup to the winner, Anita Elmers, which is a nett competition played over two rounds, at the Mercury Bay Golf Club.

CONTAINER IT SELF STORAGE

for rent - inc power, 7m x 7.5m $178 per week inc GST,17 Moewai Road, Whitianga. Ph: 0274 817 258

STORAGE SHEDS

MERCURY BAY BOWLING CLUB

Q’s Plumbing Triples Tournament Sunday, 16 February

available to

Whitianga Total Storage, opposite Carters. Ph: 0800 944 660

Despite the rain at times, the new surface carpet provided a fantastic surface all day.

Local teams were joined by teams from Coromandel,

Kerepehi, Waihi Beach and Thames Coast. The eventual winners were Nirie Reddy, Bryan Patterson and David Field, from Mercury Bay Bowls Club.

Peacefully at Waikato Hospice on 14th February, 2025; aged 81 years.

Much loved husband of Lauris, dearly loved father and father-in-law of Joleane and Steve, Yvette, Nick and Amanda, Arlene and Sam. Adored Papa D of Cody, Greer, Zak, Lochie, Nova, James, Brodie, Lani and Ellie.

Loving brother of Marilyn Yule.

Always in our hearts and memories.

Our gratitude and thanks to all the staff at Hospice Waikato.

A service celebrating Don’s life will be held at St Paschal’s Catholic Church, 56 Pipiroa Road, Ngatea, on Friday 21st February, at 10.30am, followed by private cremation.

In lieu of flowers donations to Hospice Waikato would be appreciated and can be left at the service or online at: hospicewaikato.org.nz

Correspondence to: 109 Rolleston Street, Thames, 3500. TWENTYMANS COROGLEN DARTS CLUB

To be held on 27 February 2025, 7pm All welcome

Followed by food, drinks and laughs at 59 Wade Rd, Whitianga.

Bo BOYD (Neil)

Donald Grant A celebration of the life of Bo Boyd (Neil) with be held at the Mercury Bay Club at 2pm on the 22 February 2025.

Gray Hill, Quenton Bates, Nirie Reddy, Bryan Patterson and David Field

SPORTS

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Cummings Pairs Week 1 11 February

North South, 1st Don Barry and Peter Clark 58.85%, 2nd Carol Henwood and Ngaire O’Brien 54.69%, 3rd Robyn Waters and Alison Tichbon 51.56%. East West, 1st Norma Hart and Amy Hyde 58.75%, 2nd Jean Myles and Maggie Beattie 56.88%, 3rd Lee Hughes and Bev Dickie 51.88%.

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

17 players this week, 501 singles were played with handicaps to allow everyone a chance of winning. Two players went through unbeaten in all four sets, they were Stoney and Steve Crake. A one game final was played and Steve Crake game away with the win. Highest finish for the men this week was 160, scored by Peter Reekers. No finishes over 50 by the ladies this week and no 180’s scored this week.

MERCURY BAY TENNIS CLUB

Business house Finals

Tuesday 11 February

Cup final – R.U.Surveyors def Gubb Electrical 9-6, 9-5

Plate final – The Cut Hut def The Misfits 9-3,8-9, 4-0

Spoon final – C.S.Construction def Rugby Club 7-9, 9-8, 4-3

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday 12 February

A good field of 12 today and it is Ian Baumgren, Peter Challis and Greg Murphy with two straight wins to challenge the finals. Ian wins the bye and Peter despatches Greg in the semifinal to meet Ian in the final frame. A very close match this was with Ian snatching the win and the cash prize. Runner up Peter Challis and with two wins Greg Murphy, Doug Pascoe and Dave Colman who also had the highest break of 24.

Saturday 15 February

9 players and its only Greg Murphy and Wayne Malcolm with two straight wins to challenge the final third frame .A great close match this was with Greg( a long time between drinks) grabbing victory over Wayne. Others with two wins Bob Haase, Doug Pascoe and Peter Schultz who also had the highest break of 23.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

Handicap Pairs (part 1)

Wednesday, 12 February

North/South - 1, Robyn & Pete Hogg 52.3; 2, Rose Tegg & Tadek Gawor 51.7; 3, Augusta Canegallo & Jan Hawkins 51.6 East/West - 1, Giorgio Allemano & Colin Day 60.8; 2, Johanna Bonnar & Terri Lipanovic 54.7; 3, Jenny Layton & Bob Schibli 54.4 Kupe pairs

Thursday 13 February

1, Terri Lipanovic & Ischelle Stevenson 70.8; 2, Jenny Layton & Gavin Hedwig 59.7; 3, Hillary Scott & Rose Tegg 54.2

MERCURY BAY PICKLEBALL CLUB

League Q1

Round 5- 11 February

Court 1 - 1,Tim Stephens; 2, Eisaku Tsumura; 3, Jim Gavegan Court 2 - 1, Hakan Nedjat; 2, Justin Woolley; 3, Kevin Walmsley Court 3 - 1, Tony Minto; 2, Dan Emmott; 3, Fiona Gardien Court 4 - 1, Grahame Christian; 2, Brenda Reid; 3, John East Round 6- 11 February Court 1 - 1, Hakan Nedjat; 2, Eisaku Tsumura; 3, Justin Woolley Court 2 - 1, Kevin Walmsley; 2, Tony Minto; 3, Josh Muwanguzi Court 3 - 1, Grahame Christian; 2, Graeme Eady; 3,T om Duncan Court 4 - 1, Chris Hawthorn; 2, Jacqui Everett; 3, John East

TAIRUA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Saturday 8 February

1, Ken Edwards; 2, Linda Keyte; 3, Connie Graham. 9-hole Nett

Tuesday 11 February

Div 1: 1, Norm Hammond; 2, Robyn Hunter; 3, Dave Wallace; 4, Sue Poland. Div 2: 1,Janine Arnerich; 2, Shona Russell; 3, Ruth Crossman; 4, Gay Warrington.

Second Week of Business House Golf

Wednesday 12 February

Tai: 1, 4 Square; 2, Simon Roche Ltd; 3, Tairua Electrical; 4, Coral Cove Collective.

Rua: 1, Cock Roach Construction; 2, Get It On; 3, A J Construction; 4, Ecolab.

Scramble Stableford

Thursday 13 February

1, Terry Kingham; 2, Ron Abbott; 3, Robyn Hayward.

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

Sunday 9 February

Twilight Golf 9-hole Stableford

1, Tony Nicholson; 2, Joe Nicholson. Men’s 9-hole Stableford

Monday 10 February

1, Robert Fisken; 2, Ray Green; 3, Rey Bertling.

18-hole Men’s Stableford

Wednesday 12 February

1, Robin Fleming; 2, Tony Horne; 3, Brian Tomlinson.

Nearest the Pin#18: Doug Smith

Twos: Joshua Woods, Graham Harrison, Gary Bancroft,Oliver Rose

9-hole Men Three Blind Mice

Thursday 13 February

1, Peter Mathias; 2, Mark Deutsch

Twos: Peter Mathias,

18-hole Ladies Canadian Foursomes

Thursday 13 February

1, Sandra Bowen, Bev Gwyn, Brenda Riggs; 2, Chrissie Smith, Polly Lambert.

Mixed 18-hole Haggle Stableford

Saturday 15 February

1, Chris Palmer; 2, Chrissie Smith; 3, Elizabeth Philip.

Nearest the Pin#18: Ray Fanning

Twos: Graham Harrison, Elizabeth Philip.

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

9 Hole Women - Nett

Tuesday 11 February

Div 1 – 1, Jenny Layton; 2, Allison Goodlet; 3, Adle Conway

Div 2 – 1, Sharon Morrissey; 2, Judy Hindrup; 3, Jean Hancock

9 Hole Mixed - Stableford

1, Phil Drane; 2, Kelvin O’Leary; 3, Gavin Green

18 hole Women – Kaimarama Cup Rd2

Wednesday 12 February

Div 1 - 1=, Diane Eccles & Dianne Gilmour; 3, Anita Elmers

Div 2 - 1=, Julie Rutledge & Karen Johansen; 3, Angela Cook

Twos: Julie Rutledge

Nearest the pin: Julie Rutledge, Angela Cook

Longest Putt: Karen Johansen

18 hole Men – Stableford

1, Les Walbridge; 2, Jay Marshall; 3, Ken

George

Twos:Ken George, Osman Emer, Jim Gavegan, Dave Enright

Gross: Div 1 – Dave Enright; Div 2 – Jay

Marshall

9 hole mixed Scramble – Stableford

Friday 14 February

1, Alan Barridale; 2, Johnny Day; 3, Paul Bradley

18 hole Men – Nett

Saturday 15 February

1, Jack Poa (Waitomo); 2, Willie Jones; 3, Neal Robinson

Gross: Div 1 – Neal Robinson; Div 2, Jack Poa (Waitomo)

Longest Drive: Div 1 – Sam Pye (Waitomo); Div 2 – Graeme Butler

Nearest to the pin: Div 1 - Sam Pye (Waitomo); Div 2 -Johnny Day

The Coromandel Informer is published weekly and distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula. Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of them are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name, telephone number or residential address. Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher and can be cut if too big. Published by The Mercury Bay Informer Limited.

Editors: Pauline and Stan Stewart (027 271 6182)

Editorial: Jack Biddle, Michelle Dellabarca, Suzanne Hansen, Stephen Holmes, Dorothy Preece, Trevor Ammundsen, Lynette Gee.

Business Manager: Emma Gaunt

Newspaper Layout: Diane Andrew Social Media: EMD Agency Circulation: 9000

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

Editorial: info@theinformer.co.nz, Advertising: sales@theinformer.co.nz Admin: office@theinformer.co.nz After hours: 027 271 6182

Follow us on social media @theinformernz | ISSN 2422-9083 (Print), ISSN 2422-9091 (Online), © 2023 Mercury Bay Informer Limited

What’s that Number?

Police (Tairua) 864 8888

Connect 4 Art Exhibition Showcases Local Talent

This stunning mosaic of artistic expression is a must-see.

BY MICHELLE DELLABARCA

Take four artists from different backgrounds, each working with distinct mediums and techniques, and bring them together under one roof. You get a stunning and vibrant exhibition that captures the essence of creativity in Coromandel.

The Connect 4 Art Exhibition opened last Wednesday at Hauraki House, Coromandel, drawing art lovers into a world of colour, texture, and storytelling. Featuring the works of Elizabeth Carter, Murray “Muzza” Rainey, Julia Danns, and the renowned Harrison family from Kennedy Bay, the exhibition is a celebration of artistic diversity and local talent.

Elizabeth Carter’s floral and landscape paintings burst with life, while Julia Danns’ collection showcases towering trees and rolling hills, drawing the viewer into lush natural scenes.

Meanwhile, Muzza Rainey’s eye-catching pottery, with its striking blue and orange hues, adds a playful yet sophisticated contrast.

The Harrison family’s masterful carvings and weaving take centre stage, offering a glimpse into the rich traditions of Māori craftsmanship.

A CELEBRATION OF ART AND COMMUNITY

Curator Darren Risby (Ris) was thrilled with the exhibition’s reception at the opening night. The event was well attended, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. Carver, Fred Harrison, brought along his guitar and played well-known tunes, keep-

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ing the good vibes flowing. Several pieces have sold within the first few days, a promising start for the artists involved.

One of the most talked-about sections of the exhibition is the Harrison family’s contributions.

Four members of this incredibly talented whānau have generously allowed some of their personal

taonga to be displayed. A highlight is a full-size Pou Pou carving by the late Dr. Pakaariki “Paki” Harrison, QSO, a master carver and expert in the construction of wharenui. Created over 50 years ago, this ancestral carving is a rare opportunity for visitors to admire the intricate techniques and deep cultural significance of Paki Harrison’s work.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

As visitors move from room to room, they are captivated by the contrasting styles and vibrant colours. Muzza’s dynamic pottery lines the centre of the gallery, flanked by Elizabeth and Julia’s lively paintings of flowers and trees. Each piece tells a unique story. yet together they form a stunning mosaic.

„ The Connect 4 exhibition runs until February 23, so be sure to visit Hauraki House and experience the magic yourself!

Artists Elizabeth Carter, Julia Danns, Murray Rainey and Hinemoa-Harrison’s Kororwai (top right)