WFB_Mar2024

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Intersection wheelies cause burnout for locals

Call them wheelies, burnouts, donuts or whatever, local residents in North Waikato around Otaua and Whiriwhiri are fed up with delinquent drivers causing mayhem on interestions.

One of the worst and often used is the intersection of Waiuku-Otaua Road and Whiriwhiri Road. The design of this intersection is quite wide and seems an ideal place for these burnouts.

Concerned nearby residents Lloyd Hull and Matthew Adams are tired of being woken at night with high revving of cars’ engines and the screeching of tyre rubber on the tar seal

intersection.

“It is a constant destructive activity now and we are on the receiving end of it along with our neighbours and we have had enough,” said Lloyd.

“Other nearby intersections like Holmes and Codlin Road are also being targeted, and I know there are many others around the Waiuku area,” said Matthew. “I am in constant fear that I will be confronted outside my house with a serious injury or death. We are also concerned about vandalising the roads and signage by these mindless hoons.”

Hamilton also experience similar hoon burnouts and

last year trialled a high-friction antiskid surface at several intersections prone to these anti-social behaviours.

The high-friction surface is a special type of layer on the top of the road to give tyres extra grip and makes it harder to lose traction and skid. With normal driving, it is hard to notice much difference.

Hamilton City Council Transportation Unit Director Gordon Naidoo told the Breeze that their trial went ahead in March last year at three troublesome intersections.

“The trial of the anti-skid surface has generated positive feedback from

businesses in the areas where it was applied,” he said. “However, street racing is a difficult problem to manage, and we understand that use of anti-skid surfacing in certain streets may only shift the behaviour to other locations and not stop it altogether.

Continued page 2

Read racing legend

Greg Murphy’s opinion on page 2

Congregation hope to use Holy Trinity again

Anglican parishioners in the West Franklin area are supporting their Waiuku brothers and sisters in a bid to once again use the Holy Trinity Church on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Avenue.

Chairman of the Mauku Local Shared Ministry Council (MLSMC), Bob Thom, said the efforts to advocate for the Waiuku Ministry were ongoing.

A letter had been sent to the Auckland Diocese in the latter part of 2023, and there had been an online meeting during which the group was able to represent the case for returning the church for use by the Waiuku Ministry.

“We received a sympathetic hearing at the Zoom meeting,” said Bob. The meeting was attended by members of Diocesan Council, including an archdeacon representing the bishop, and the Diocesan Manager.

The group is now awaiting a formal response to its request that the Auckland Diocese, which owns the land and building, make available some or all of the building for the use of the Waiuku Ministry, which currently gathers to worship at the St John ambulance hall facility.

The church was deconsecrated in 2014, and had been used by various groups until 2021, when it was closed for health and safety reasons.

The land and building was listed for sale at one time, but a last minute appeal by members of the MLSMC proved successful in having the property withdrawn.

Local efforts to make the building safe have taken place since then, and the Auckland Diocese has confirmed that funding has been earmarked to carry out repairs and maintenance work in 2024.

The church would need to be reconsecrated in order to be used as a regular place of worship.

Bob said the community was hopeful of a positive outcome. “Good things take time.”

Holy Trinity Anglican Church was built in 1873 and is the oldest church building in Waiuku. Anglicans had been in the district since 1836 when Rev. Robert Maunsell (inset) set up a Christian mission at Orua Bay. He later moved south of the Waikato River to Te Kohanga, but his mission there only lasted a short time. The original bell in the belfry came from this mission to Holy Trinity. After an arduous journey to Waiuku with the bell, parishners were red-faced when the builder declared the bell too heavy for the bell tower he had designed!

It was local MP George Garland who donated “four stout totara posts” from his property to complete the job. These posts stand today as testomy of the Anglican’s dedication to have a church bell.

Tena koutou! We are often asked for advice around routine blood tests. Medically, for young, healthy patients, without symptoms, most blood tests have no proven value in early detection of diseases. Due to the chance of false positive results, they may even lead to unnecessary referral for additional tests and investigations and cause needless anxiety.

On the other hand, if they are ‘normal’, they may give false reassurance. If particular health worries prompt you to seek a health check, it is useful to note them down and share them with your doctor or nurse to help them identify what tests are appropriate for your specific needs.

Remember the best things you can do to stay healthy, is to eat a varied diet with plenty of vegetables, stay physically active, limit alcohol use and stay smoke free and up to date with vaccinations and screening

If you want to achieve a healthier lifestyle, our Health Coach James Burton is available to WHC registered patients for free practical support and advice. You can contact him on:

james@waiukumedical.co.nz, or via reception.

Great North Island Rail Tour

Departs Glenbrook 2 April for destinations in central North Island and New Plymouth Check website for options www.gvr.co.nz

Open Days

Pollok Temple Gardens

2109 Awhitu Road, Pollok

Saturday 6 April, 4 May 10am to 3pm $10 entry fee

Children welcome but must be supervised

All proceeds go to Surf Life Saving Kariaotahi

Waiuku Rotary MONSTER Book Fair

20-21 April 2024

Anzac Day West Franklin 2024

Awhitu: 8.30am Awhitu Central Cenotaph

Waiuku : 10.45am Parade to Waiuku Cenotaph Service at Cenotaph 11am

Mother’s Day Express

11 May 2024

Train and bus ride to buffet lunch at Viligrad Winery, Waikato Depart from Waiuku or Glenbrook www.gvr.org.nz

Intersection wheelies cause burnout for locals

Continued from page 1

“The trial cost $30,000, with 51% of this covered by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

“Another method Council can use to help deter street racing and burnouts is a Light Vehicle Ban through the Traffic Bylaw, which helps NZ Police with any enforcement. A Light Vehicle Ban means cars, utes and vans are banned from the street between 9pm-4am unless they are legitimately accessing a business or home on that street,” said Gordon.

Back in our district, Councillor Peter Thomson said Waikato District Council is also working on its bylaws to help po-

Greg Murphy fed up with anti-social behaviour

lice and any other steps they can take. “These people seem to move a lot on any given night. It is probably half the fun dodging police and upsetting locals. The damage means nothing to them,” Peter told the Breeze. “We do have a boy racer/anti-cruising clause (clause 14) in our current Traffic Bylaw. This was adopted last year and gives us the ability to place light motor vehicle prohibitions on roads in the district that we manage or own.

“These prohibitions apply to vehicles under 3500kg, and between 9pm and 4am in specified locations and roads. There is a legislated process we need to follow to add additional roads to the schedule, including public consultation and the installation of signage on the roads once added,” Peter said.

Waiuku area Police Sergeant Dean Borrell said that the burnout problem is one that occurs in West Franklin at many rural intersections on a regular basis.

“It’s been an issue in the area probably since we began driving cars.

Well-known motor racing driver Greg Murphy is also fed up with the anti-social behaviour and when the Breeze made contact with him, he relayed some of his opinions.

“One morning recently I turned up at Hampton Downs to find a disgraceful mess on the road outside, from delinquent behaviour involving youths in cars doing late night burnouts. There were tyre carcasses everywhere, rubber all over the road, and a mountain of bottles and cans strewn all around the place, yet just down the road at Hampton

Downs there’s a skid pad for people to do burnouts safely.

“We can provide the space, but if people persist with doing it illegally, then you’ve got the grounds to dish out harsher penalties. But unfortunately, part of the enjoyment, the reason these people keep doing it, is they know it’s a public nuisance and can get away with it.

“I’ve had a couple of meetings in the past about creating environments for people to use, and there are pros and cons to the idea, but let’s not give up on the idea,” said Greg.

“These drivers usually go to rural intersections where there’s less likely to be a passing Police patrol or residents complaining. In town there are too many witnesses and CCTV everywhere.

“We know it is of major concern to nearby residents, but often when we get information and undertake a response the illegal activity has moved on.”

He said the most effective thing residents could do was phone police at the time on 111 or 555 as soon as the car racing or burnouts start. The cars are often only in the vicinity for a few minutes before moving on.

“If we catch them in the act, it’s easier to deal with evidentially because we are the witness that goes to court. If they have left, we need to start an investigation and for the public to be our witness. Get a number plate and car description if you can – video if you can do it without risk,” said Dean.

“If it has already happened, still report it on 105. We always have several drivers and vehicles under investigation for burnouts at any one time. Most are charged with an offence known as sustained loss of traction which means a fine and disqualification. Vehicles are impounded for 28 days.

“Drivers are usually young males who have recently got their drivers’ licenses. Don’t be afraid to take a stand and be ready to be a witness for us in court if necessary.

“They source second-hand tyres from some tyre dealers and garages and we would like them to stop selling or giving away old tyres that are just used for burnouts.”

Lloyd Hull too, is also angry that second hand tyres are being supplied to young males. “It doesn’t take much thought to realise that they are going to be used for something other than normal driving. I believe there is a need for businesses to have accountability to this community problem and not supply second hand tyres where there may be a chance of them being used for illegal activities.”

Greg Murphy — Photo Courtesy Prowear

Banking hub may solve loss of Waiuku banks

With the closure of Waiuku’s last bank, the ASB at the end of February, feedback to the Breeze has included a variation of opinions. Many people feel that they are being left cold, while others accept that with modern trends online banking is preferred. The Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing is local MP Andrew Bayly, and the Breeze asked Andrew for his thoughts and he has an interesting concept that may be an option to consider for Waiuku.

Bringing banking back to the community

In January I received a letter from the ASB Bank’s general manager of personal banking to say that after “extensive consideration” they had made the decision to permanently close the Waiuku branch.

I was very disappointed. The major banks have been steadily closing their doors in Waiuku over the last few years, and the ASB was the last one standing.

It was due to close on 29 February. Now, those who wish to go to the bank for personal service have to travel to Pukekohe. That’s at least a 20 km trip one way from Waiuku. If you live in Awhitu, it could be a round trip of up to 120 km.

ASB justified the decision by saying that customer visits to the bank have steadily declined over the last four years and it’s part of the larger trend for Kiwis to do their banking online. They estimate that 90 per cent of their personal banking customers are “digitally active” and prefer to manage their everyday banking online.

That may be so, but conversely it means that ten per cent of their customers would still prefer to visit a physical bank and speak to a real person. That’s a lot of people. If the queues at the ASB branch next door to my electorate office are any indi-

cation (and it’s the same for all the banks in Pukekohe), there is still a considerable demand for in-person banking.

It’s the same for other communities across my electorate. Pukekohe is now the last main centre for physical bank branches. To the south of the electorate, the nearest bank branches are at Te Rapa and Chartwell, north of Hamilton.

We are still a long way from being a cashless society. Charities, op shops and many community service providers still deal mainly in cash. Bank ATMs may be able to handle cash deposits and withdrawals, but they cannot answer queries about mortgages or loans or credit cards. Many people, especially the elderly, are wary of making decisions about their banking via a chatbot or online. I believe there is still a need for physical banking facilities in a township such as Waiuku.

The answer is a ‘regional banking hub’. A pilot programme of hubs is currently underway in seven small towns across the country with all the major banks participating – BNZ, ANZ, ASB and Westpac, along with Kiwibank and TSB. Each hub provides basic services for all the banks, along with a Smart ATM for cash withdraw-

Quinn Gardiner-Hall has been awarded ‘Top in the World’ for AS Physical Education in the Cambridge International exams.

Around 1.5 million students across 150 countries from 6000 schools enter Cambridge exams each year.

An international exam board wholly owned by University of Cambridge, the Cambridge programme offers education curricula and examinations to students aged 3 to 19.

The Physical Education syllabus covers practical and theoretical study including anatomy, physiology, movement skills, and contemporary studies in sport.

als and deposits, support staff and technology support. Most of the hubs have a representative from each bank on site for a few hours on separate days for in-person meetings.

The pilot programme is being run by the New Zealand Banking Association (NZBA) in an attempt to find a way of providing banking services to smaller townships and rural communities. I asked the NZBA’s chief executive whether Waiuku might be an opportunity for another banking hub to be established, but they have no plans to open any further hubs until the current trial finishes at the end of July this year.

I am very aware that the loss of bank branches in smaller communities is happening in many parts of the country. Once the NZBA’s trial has finished, I will certainly be talking to the banking industry again about whether a regional hub may be feasible in Waiuku.

— Andrew Bayly, MP for Port Waikato

Quinn was studying for his final year exams while training for a half ironman event in Rotorua which took place in December. Quinn achieved first place in his age group for that event, and fifth place overall out of a field of 192.

“It was a real juggle managing all of my study plus all of my triathlon training,” said Quinn. “So to come out with that Cambridge result was awesome. I am really stoked and honoured and wish to thank all of my teachers and my boarding school masters, for their teaching and support.”

Dux at Waiuku Primary School in his final year, at age 12 Quinn won a scholarship to board at Auckland Grammar School, and has lived away from home for most of his secondary scholastic career.

A natural athlete, Quinn became the youngest runner to complete the Antarctica Half Marathon in 2017 at the age of 11.

In late 2023, Quinn received the news he had been awarded three scholarships to study a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at Canterbury University.

The 18 year-old is now living and studying in Christchurch.

“As I’ve been boarding since I was 12, shifting into the university hostel has been an easy transition for me, and as long as there’s lots of food, I’m sorted.”

Formstress — a reinforced business in Waiuku

BY DAVID BLACK

If you are driving out of Waiuku on the Pukekohe Road it’s hard to miss the seemingly ever expanding Formstress pre-stressed concrete manufacturing plant just past the corner of Cornwall Road. But who are Formstress what is pre-stressed concrete? I spoke to the owners, Paul Cane and Greg Johnston about their history and future.

Formstress combined with their sister company, Stresscrete, is one of New Zealand’s largest manufacturers of prestressed and precast concrete products. They are now expanding their Waiuku precast concrete manufacturing, together with their Big River Readymix

business and employing more locals as they go.

Although prestressed concrete was patented by a San Francisco engineer in 1886, it did not emerge as an accepted building material until a half-century later. The shortage of steel in Europe after World War II together with technological advancements in high-strength concrete and steel made prestressed concrete the building material of choice during the post war reconstruction of Europe.

Most Kiwis are familiar with conventional reinforced concrete, we use it ourselves when we lay a concrete driveway and

reinforce it with steel mesh. Pre-stressed and pre-tensioned concrete is quite a few steps further on. Here, the high tensile strength of steel is combined with concrete’s great compressive strength to form a structural material that is strong in both compression and tension. The principle behind prestressed concrete is that compressive stresses introduced by highstrength steel tendons in a concrete structure before loads are applied will balance the tensile stresses encountered during service.

Since the 1990s Owner Paul Cane and his partners have expanded the precast concrete businesses, including the Stresscrete business in Auckland and Wellington. Paul continues to be involved in Stresscrete today as well as other precast and property businesses in Auckland. The Waiuku plant has been managed by part owner Greg Johnston since 2008. Greg joined Formstress in 2004 and brought a wealth of knowledge from other precast yards. During this time and with the addition of the new Readymix

Concrete business the staff have grown to over 100.

Prestressing removes several design limitations conventional concrete places on span and load and permits the building of rooves, floors, bridges, and walls with longer unsupported spans. This allows architects and engineers to design and build lighter and shallower concrete structures without sacrificing strength.

Compressive stresses can be created in concrete either by pre-tensioning or post-tensioning the steel reinforcement. In pre-tensioning, the steel is stretched before the concrete is placed. High-strength steel tendons are placed between two fixings and stretched to 70 to 80 percent of their ultimate strength which relies on the “work hardening” property of the steel. Concrete is then poured into moulds around the tendons and allowed to cure.

Once the concrete reaches the required strength, the stretching forces are released. As the steel reacts to regain its original length, the tensile stresses are translated into a compressive stress in the concrete. Typical products for pretensioned con-

crete are roof slabs, piles, poles, bridge girders, wall panels, and railroad ties.

Prestressed concrete has experienced the greatest growth in the field of commercial buildings. For buildings such as shopping centres, prestressed concrete is an ideal choice because it provides the span length necessary for flexibility and alteration of the internal structure. Prestressed concrete is also used in school auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias because of its acoustical properties and its ability to provide long, open spaces. One of the most widespread uses of prestressed concrete is parking buildings.

Greg sees the future for Formstress and the Big River Readymix business as bright. As the Auckland population continues to grow the demand for concrete and concrete products also grows. Formstress is ideally placed for this growth, supported by local staff, local quarries, suppliers and a great transport company, Knight and Dickey, supporting their future.

Have your say on Council’s direction

Auckland Council’s finances continue to come under pressure and Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker says that makes it essential people express their views before consultation on the 10-Year Budget – the Long-Term Plan – closes on 28 March.

ANDY Baker says the LongTerm Plan will outline a range of moves that reflect Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s commitment to tackling Council’s financial challenges.

“People need to tell us what they support, what they don’t, what they want to see prioritised and what they feel can take a lesser focus.

“It isn’t just about rates, though they are an important part of it. The LTP sets the direction Council goes in for a decade, and that’s why the consultation documents will put a broad range of options on the table, which is a different approach from previous years.”

Proposals include creating an Auckland Future Fund by possibly selling remaining airport shares and income from a port lease or sale, releasing land from the port for public use, improved public transport with a weekly $50 cap for regular commuters, new budget rules and cost savings, and alternative options for rates increases.

“We have all heard Mayor Brown saying things must change. We need to ensure we are strengthening the longterm prospects of our city. That is why there are options we need people to take time to consider.”

Franklin residents have another reason to contribute, with the local board consulting on a $52 a year ($1 a week) targeted rate to fund a locally-driven programme of paths and trail improvements.

The board has identified a programme for investment across Franklin, but Council’s funding issues mean the programme requires a targeted rate.

Board chair Angela Fulljames says since 2017 $2.4 million has been allocated, much of it in Waiuku, to progress paths in partnership with community groups, but that level of investment is not sustainable from within limited existing budgets and increasing demand from the community for paths and trails.

“Paths are a public good. They generate benefits through improved connections and allow people to move around safely without having to get in the car, especially those going to and from school.

“The proposal would generate around $20 million over the 2024-2034 period for improvements mainly within urban areas at locations based on community requests and priority routes from existing trails plans.”

Reprint of popular book nearing launch

Find out more and give feedback online at akhaveyoursay. nz. The board is also holding a hearing style event in Pukekohe from 5-7pm on Tuesday 26 March. To register for a 10-minute slot email franklinlocalboard@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz.

SIDZ – A sustainable fashion alternative

BY SANDY SMITH

Sam and Nameeta Dutta of Waiuku are the owners of SIDZ, a retail business that began in 2023 to provide sustainable clothing and other fabric items to the Aotearoa New Zealand market.

The couple currently sells women’s clothing, men’s shirts, fabric bags and even soft toys. They are also in the process of procuring a supply of sustainable leather bags to expand the product mix further.

What is special about their current range of products is that they are, according to Sam, made with recycled fabric. The company is dedicated to sourcing environmentally friendly materials and is supplying a growing list of stockists.

One of the most important factors to consider is SIDZ, “Our price range is affordable.” According to Nameeta, everyone deserves to wear quality clothes at an affordable price range which should be durable for the next five years.

“Currently our products are manufactured in India in factories that we have personally visited,” said Sam. “In addition, we are hoping to collaborate with a partner in India where they are using banana tree stems to make a type of decomposable fabric called banana crepe.

“We focus on using fabrics such as linen, cotton, rayon, and silk which decompose relatively quickly.”

In addition, Sam explained that these fabrics will take vegetable dyes, an alternative to the more toxic dyes often used in the industry.

Overall, Sam and Nameeta are providing not only a sustainable but also a healthy alternative for NZ consumers.

The ever-popular Heads, Harbour and Hills book, an extensive history of the Awhitu Peninsula is now being reprinted.

The updated version which includes history and stories about Pollok will be launched at the Pollok Market on Sunday 7 April 2024.

Originally published in 2004 and then reprinted in later years, the 2024 version has been fully updated and brings information to the present day.

The Awhitu Peninsula Historical Society is publishing the book again after numerous requests for copies since it has been unavailable for some time.

Society Secretary Gillian Conroy said the committee has been working on the update and reprint for a long time, and now that the launch date is in sight it is quite exciting.

“Wayne Aspin has been updating and editing the book and he has been the backbone of the project. He has done such a wonderful job,” said Gillian.

The Pollok Market is held the first Sunday of every month, and the book will be launched at a short ceremony at 10am.

Orders for the book are now being taken, contact:

Gillian Conroy email gc50@xtra.co.nz

Penny Prescott email pwaipipi@gmail.com

Wayne Aspin email aspin@ps.gen.nz

Sam Dutta

Counties Energy Tariffs

EFFECTIVE 1 APRI L 2024

Al l prices are GST exclusive Count ies Energy prices wil l be changed on the 1st April 2024 and are d isclosed as fol lows: Summer is from Oct 1 to Apr 30. Winter is from May 1 to Sep 30. Peak is defined as between the periods of 7am and 11am, and, 5pm and 9pm, Monday to Friday ( includ ing publ ic hol idays) Off-Peak is al l other periods

The total price is a combinat ion of the transmission component and the d istribut ion component The transmission component represents payment for the use of the nat ional network owned by Transpower New Zealand The d istribut ion component is for use of the Count ies Energy Network

The d iscount amount is calculated as a percentage of the l ines charges and power consumpt ion at that address for the qual ifyingt period Only customers who are connected to our network on the cutoff date are el igible for the d iscount The d iscount relates to the 2024/25 tariff period for the 12 months to 31 March 2025 and is calculated on fixed fees and usage for the 12 months to the strike date The total d iscount paid wil l be the greater of the d iscount tariffs posted above and $11 8 mil l ion

Seaweek walk over spectacular environment

Awhitu Coastcare are organising a Seaweek walk over some spectacular countryside with unprecedented views. Historical talks will also be a feature of the day.

The walk traverses land to Irwin’s Gap over Awhitu Heights Farm which is an unspoilt and not normally accessed piece of peninsular historic land.

Ngaati Te Ata will highlight all the paa sites through this area and will feature an explanation of the original Maori name of Irwin’s Gap.

Organiser of the event Anna McNaughton was excited that the group would venture into the location of one name, but come out with the addition of another being the original Maori name for the future. “I feel that this will be unique. We will go in as we are and know, but come out with a renewed knowledge of original mana of the land.”

“After losing our walks to cyclone and covid, we are delighted to be back on track for a Coastal Walk which gives a rare opportunity to access this unspoilt coastal gap,” said Anna.

“Ron Mansfield, Adam Scattergood and farm manager Thom Kelly have facilitated our walk, through their farm to Irwins’ Gap. We also have secured the Blue Float team to join us at the beach and give us a rundown of their planned offshore wind farm.”

While on the beach, sea cleaners from the group will do their annual collection of beach rubbish. Bags are supplied for a beach clean by Awhitu Coast Care.

“We require people to bring their own picnic/snacks/drinking water, and be sure that they have sturdy footwear, sun protection and weather appropriate clothing,” concluded Anna.

Earthquake work on Waiuku hall

Seismic strengthening work on the Waiuku War Memorial Town Hall is now forecast to cost around $5 million, at a time when all spending is under review as part of Auckland Council’s LongTerm Plan consultation.

Franklin Local Board chair Angela Fulljames says the project timeline calls for detailed design to be completed ahead of a building consent being sought but concerns about funding the work are growing.

“The timeline for tendering remains uncertain because the Seismic Regional Programme called for work to begin in the 2025 financial year, but there are significant changes being discussed ahead of the Long-Term Plan. That plan remains open for consultation until 28 March, so Waiuku residents need to be heard. The quake work suggested would affect the interior of the hall, some people may think that is not an issue, others may wonder if the project should even go ahead.”

The hall is a complex structure, made up of

three different but interconnected properties, the single level brick structure with mezzanine town hall, the single storey timber backstage theatre hall, and the reinforced concrete two-storey foyer extension built in 1957.

The Town and Backstage Theatre halls are Historic Heritage B listed in the city’s unitary plan.

“Seismic assessments have revealed the complex has major earthquake-danger issues and is rated at just 20 percent capacity of new building standards,” Waiuku subdivision board member Sharlene Druyven says.

“But it still sits at the heart of Waiuku life and remains an important facility.

“A lot of work has already been done, including geo-technical assessment, structural inspections, refining designs and fire safety assessments, work that’s needed ahead of consenting.

“It’s clear that while a lot has been done in terms of investigative work, we remain some way off securing the necessary finances.”

Waipipi School celebrate 150 years Saturday 6 April 2024

Start Saturday 10am

12 noon BYO packed lunch. Some bought food available. Bring cash. Official welcome 1pm.

Photos and afternoon tea from 2pm.

To register contact: waipipischool.150years@gmail.com

ASAP Numbers needed for afternoon tea

Advertise your business

sales represenative.

Email Kelly today on sales@westfranklinbreeze.nz

Oystercatchers caught on camera at Big Bay

The variable oystercatcher is a familiar stocky coastal bird with a long, bright orange bill, found around much of New Zealand. They are long-lived, with some birds reaching 30+ years of age.

The Manukau Harbour hosts a plethora of birdlife and recently spotted were a pair of variable oyster catchers (torea pango) at Big Bay Cove in January. The photos show the transition of eggs, sitting and then two healthy little chicks. Bird safety is always a concern, especially at nesting time, and often free roaming dogs can disrupt and often kill. Council bylaws exclude dogs on beaches of the Manukau unless they are on leads.

They are a large heavily-built shorebird. Adults have black upperparts, their underparts vary from all black, through a range of ‘smudgy’ intermediate states to white. They have a conspicuous long bright orange bill (longer in females), and stout coral-pink legs. The iris is red and eye-ring orange. Downy chicks occur in two colour morphs; they have a black bill, pale-mid grey upper parts with black markings, and either grey or off-white underparts. Firstyear birds have a dark tip to the bill, browner dorsal plumage, and grey legs. Their colour morphs can change according to the area they are from.

Variable oystercatchers breed in monogamous pairs, and defend territories vigorously against neighbours. Nests are normally simple scrapes in the sand, often with a marker of driftwood, vegetation, or flotsam. The two to three eggs are usually laid from October onwards, and replaced if lost. Incubation is shared and takes about 28 days. Chicks fly at six to seven weeks-old, and late chicks may not fledge until March.

Chicks are vigorously defended by both parents, often well after fledging.

The birds eat a wide range of molluscs like mussels, tuatua, cockles. These are opened either by pushing the tip of the bill between shells and twisting, or by hammering. They occasionally take small fish. On grass, variable oystercatchers eat a range of terrestrial invertebrates, including earthworms.

Sullivan’s trophy relaunched

Waiuku primary schools have taken steps to relaunch the annual Sullivans Trophy tournament this year. It will be held on 26 March with almost 500 year 7 and 8 pupils participating. The pupils are encouraged to take part in a sport that they have never played before – giving them a chance to experience a new skill set, and mix with students across the nine full Primary Schools in the Waiuku Group. Waiuku College supplies the umpires and referees for the tournament which is held over a number of venues around Waiuku.

The tournament was initiated in the 1980s as a memorial to a loved Sandspit Road School teacher Mr Graham Sullivan who lost his battle with cancer. He was a very keen sportsman

who believed that all children should give some form of sport a go. After his untimely death the Principals’ Assn of Waiuku Schools decided to hold an annual sports day in his memory. It was something pupils of Waiuku primary schools looked forward to each year. There were basketball, cricket, football, rugby, netball and hockey events. This year the Year 7 and 8 pupils will take part in five different codes; softball, soccer, netball, touch rugby and turbo touch.

During the afternoon all participating students will meet at the Waiuku College to celebrate the day’s activity and award the Sullivan’s cup to the school which has achieved the highest points for teams achievement from game results and sportsmanship.

Local business answers the call to help local charity

Beloved local charity, Waiuku Toy Library has been operational in the community now for more than thirty years, and was recently the target of vandalism.

The library, which currently operates from Waiuku Museum’s Pollok Cottage on the George Doherty Green by the Waiuku Estuary, features a couple of large ‘chipmunk’ figures in its front garden.

Various acts of mischief have been performed on these figures over the years, including a mysterious complete theft of the smaller chipmunk, a hole kicked in the library’s storage shed and the security lock tampered with.

Following a Facebook appeal from Librarian Melissa Sexton, the chipmunk was returned, sporting a makeover. The captors had painted the figure’s nails, face, and towel.

The more recent vandalism involved the breaking off of one of the chipmunk’s hands. The hand was retrieved, and on behalf of the committee, Melissa made another appeal to the local community for help.

The anti-slip mesh laid over the Pollok Cottage ramp

entrance had started to lift at either side and become dangerous for members and children, so the appeal was for assistance with both the ramp and the chipmunk.

Within two days of posting the appeal, local Glenbrook Beach business, Epic Roofing, had fixed both the mesh and the chipmunk’s hand.

Epic Roofing owner, Jason Groom, said as a small business owner he knew times were tough for everyone. “It was no hassle,” he said. “I imagine it’s worse for charities.”

As this story was prepared, vandals have struck again, and the chipmunk’s hand is once again separated from its arm.

“We’re really disappointed by such senseless acts of vandalism,” said Melissa. “The Toy Library committee works really hard to provide this service for the local community and chasing around trying to fix up broken things takes time away from what we’re here to do.”

Melissa said the committee

and members had been rapt with the local support they’d received lately.

“Franklin Gutters and Exteriors recently soft-washed and cleaned our building, and now Epic Roofing has helped out with the mesh… it’s really wonderful to have this local support. A huge thank you to both businesses, and all our local supporters.”

The Toy Library Chipmunks now repaired with a trusty friend.

Photos Kate Oakley

Photo Sally Greaves

McDonald family legacy continues at school

Otaua School would be unique in New Zealand. It would be the only school with a pupil tally of almost 200 where 24 link back to the same family. That family is the McDonald family.

In 1864 John Martin McDonald left Ireland and headed for Capetown South Africa. As with many Irish at the time, he found South Africa did not hold the promise he hoped. John then set sail for New Zealand, arriving in December 1864. He eventually settled and farmed in the area and married Kate Deane at Maioro on the 30 April 1872.

Kate and John had 13 children, including a set of twins.

John; Anthony and William (twins); Elizabeth; Sarah;Kate; Mary; Annie; James; Margaret; Thomas; Arthur; George.

Margaret married George Goodwright, whose great, great, great grandchildren are pictured here with the surnames, Goodwright, Thornton, Payne and Turner.

Arthur married Doris Winzenburg, their great, great, great grandchildren are the McDonald twins pictured here.

George married Dorothy Hickey and their great great great grandchildren are the Donovan children in the photo.

The descendants at the school today of course follow in the footsteps of the three generations before them that were also schooled either at Otaua, or in the early days at the old Maioro School.

Awhitu Landcare receives one of three environmental grants

Awhitu Peninsula Landcare has been successful in receiving a $5000 environmental and sustainability grant from Counties Energy. Two other recipients of grants were the Trees for Survival Charitable Trust and Pukekohe Christian School who also received $5000 worth of funding for their individual projects within the local community.

The Counties Energy Environmental and Sustainability Grant aims to support not-for-profit community organisations or educational providers with projects that protect or enhance the environment in the southern Auckland and northern Waikato regions. This is the third year the company has offered the grant.

The three grants encompass three different categories which include an education, environmental and a cultural project. The applications considered across these categories all had a focus on waste reduction, habitat improvement and emissions reduction. Counties Energy General Manager Safety, Culture and Sustainability Tracey Kay says the company is proud to continue their sustainability partnership with the community for a third consecutive year and was impressed with the variety of applications received.

“We’re delighted to continue our support of local not-for profit

community groups by offering $15,000 worth of sustainability-related project funding. Working with our community to help make a difference for the future of our tamariki is heartening and inspirational. We received exceptional applications across all three categories and are eagerly awaiting the completion of the Grant recipients projects. We thank everyone who applied for the Counties Energy Environmental and Sustainability Grant and wish them all the best with their projects.”

Āwhitu Peninsula Landcare is using their grant to remove invasive plant species from the restoration site at Taahuna Paa, enabling the native planting onsite to thrive. This project is in partnership with Ngaati Te Ata and supports their wider restoration efforts of important cultural sites. Trees for Survival Charitable Trust are continuing their support of Te Paina School, Mangatawhiri in the Trees for Survival programme and will be planting seedlings at a local stream. Pukekohe Christian School will be running a zero-waste project aimed to equip students with the skills to make better decisions around how to reduce waste, reuse resources and turn waste into a valuable resource. All three projects are expected to be completed by March 2025.

The McDonald family decendants still attending Otaua School photographed on the school playground at the end of the school year 2023.

Back row left to right:

Kaylee Thornton, Rhett Payne, Rory McDonald (3 years old), Jake McDonald, Harris Payne, Aria Payne, Chad Goodwright, Ryan Thornton, Adam McDonald, Zoe Goodwright.

Front row left to right:

Jack Goodwright, James Turner, William Turner, Nate Goodwright, Jace Goodwright, Isabel Turner, Bella Goodwright, Caleb Thornton, Kobe Goodwright, Lockie Payne, Luke Goodwright. Foreground: Georgia Donovan (3 years old), Molly Donovan, Lucy Donovan (6 months).

George and Margaret Goodwright

New school year and new head prefects

With every new school year, new student prefects are appointed at schools including Waiuku College. Prefects act as the role models for all the students at the school. The main duty of prefects is to maintain an atmosphere of friendly co-operation, peace, discipline and unity and serve as counsellors to junior students. The West Franklin Breeze asked the newly appointed head prefects to share their profiles.

Finn Macdonald:

My name is Finn Macdonald, and I am honoured to take on the role of being one of the four head students leading the Waiuku College prefect team in 2024.

I started at Waiuku College as a year 9 in 2020. The last four years have been some of the best of my life, but I feel that the journey has only just begun, with 2024 set to be the busiest of the lot.

I live and grew up in Waiau Pa; right on the flight path out of Auckland airport, facilitating my passion for aviation — a lifelong dream which I hope to turn into a career.

Angelina Albuquerque:

My name is Angelina Albuquerque, and It is such a privilege to be one of the Head Students to represent Waiuku College for the year of 2024.

In my role of head student, I aim to lead our 18-strong prefect team to succeed at the highest achievable level throughout the year, enabling them to further develop their own skillsets as leaders.

I believe that the most important attribute a leader can hold is open-mindedness; to set aside one’s own biases and treat others with empathy as they suggest a new idea, without discrimination around who they are or what background they come from. Thus, one of my main goals within my position is to create positive change by facilitating an accepting and understanding environment in which the prefect team are able to express their ideas and opinions freely, and therefore forming a diverse and open-minded student leadership team who can make positive changes across our school and therefore the wider community.

Susie Williams:

Kia ora, ko Susie Williams tooku ingoa.

I feel privileged to have been selected as a Head Student of Waiuku College for 2024.

Throughout my years at Waiuku College I have enjoyed being involved in house leadership, peer support and one of my proudest achievements was to complete my Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. This has helped me evolve as a leader and encouraged me to take on the role of Head Student.

Outside of school I have grown up on the beautiful Awhitu Peninsula and have developed a love for the outdoors, travelling, tramping and all water sports.

This year I hope to lead by example, demonstrating the values of hard work, determination and commitment can be a pathway to success while remembering the importance of treating people with kindness and compassion.

For 2024 we have a diverse range of Head Students who bring many different qualities to the role. We are supported by 18 Prefects and are really looking forward to working alongside them. The student leadership team at Waiuku College are guided by our school values of Whaanaungatanga, Whakaute and Korowai Maanaki. We are proud to work towards upholding these values as student leaders of the Waiuku Community.

Growing up I was always the introverted, shy girl who would often sit at the back of the class, be quiet when it came to group work, and was hesitant when asked to answer a question in front of the whole class. Applying for this Head Student role was something way out of my comfort zone, but I knew I had the capability of leading Waiuku College with pride. I am confident that my time as a Head Student will go a long way in preparing me for my future endeavours, which include a career as a veterinarian.

The time I spend on the netball court has taught me that in order to achieve a common goal, we must work as a team. My love for dance, both contemporary and hip hop, has taught me dedication, perseverance, and most of all, to strive for perfection.

As a Head Student, I hope to encourage others to feel appreciated, empowered, and motivated to succeed. My goal is to promote a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive atmosphere where all viewpoints are not only accepted but also honoured.

It’s an honour to work alongside other fellow leaders and students, where I aim to establish strong relationships founded on a sense of trust and respect. By leading with honesty, empathy, and a constant dedication to excellence, I wish to leave a legacy of positive impact throughout Waiuku College.

Charlize Chandra:

My name is Charlize Chandra and it’s an honour to be one of the Head Students for Waiuku College and work alongside fellow leaders.

I’m quite introverted, so by taking on this leadership position, I knew I would be challenging myself and stepping outside my comfort zone. However, this is what is going to help me grow for the future.

As a Head Student, I hope to encourage and influence the more shy students of Waiuku College to take on challenges and have confidence in themselves. You don’t always have to be loud to be a leader, because a quiet person is just as deserving.

Outside of school, I train and compete in Freestyle Wrestling. I have represented Waiuku College in multiple championships around New Zealand and have come away with multiple National titles which has led to my selection for the New Zealand Wrestling Team two years in a row. Wrestling has taught me respect, dedication and perseverance which has a played a part in shaping me into who I am today.

Waiuku College Head Students for 2024: Angelina Albuquerque, Susie Williams, Finn Macdonald and Charlize Chandra.

New standards to recycle right

The Waiuku-Awhitu areas of Auckland residents may need to brush up on their recycling etiquette as new national standards have come into effect.

From 1 February new recycle collection rules for Auckland including Waiuku and the peninsula areas are part of new rules which are quite different to what was allowed in collections previously.

Everyone across the country is set to have identical guidelines for what items can and cannot be placed in kerbside recycling bins. Previously, it had depended on where you lived as to what items were accepted in local council collections.

Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, is encouraging Aucklanders to familiarise themselves with the new recycling guidelines.

“By only putting in the right recyclable items into our bins, we are helping increase the quality of materials collected for recycling, which in turn reduces disposal costs.

“We want to protect our natural environment and recycle more resources back into the economy.

“Reducing the use of single use items is the best way to reduce waste, following that, it is recycling correctly. This change is another important step along the path to Auckland’s goal of zero waste by 2040.”

• Items that now can be accepted in your kerbside recycling bin:

• Glass bottles and jars

Paper and cardboard

Plastic bottles, trays, and containers (grades 1, 2 and 5 only)

Tin, steel and aluminium cans

• Items that are now excluded:

• Items less than 50mm (e.g. caps, small cosmetic and spice containers)

• Aerosol cans (steel and aluminium)

• Liquid paperboard (beverage cartons and juice boxes) Plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7

• Aluminium foil and trays

• All lids

Items over 4 litres

Auckland Council collects approximately 132,000 tonnes every year from kerbside household recycling bins. The material collected is sorted and baled as paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, tin cans, glass, plastics (1, 2 and 5) and sent to facilities onshore and overseas for sale and reprocessing.

Recycling contamination continues to still be an issue for Auckland. Nearly a quarter of the material collected in Auckland’s kerbside recycling is contaminated with non-recyclable items like clothes, nappies, and bagged rubbish. This contamination costs Auckland ratepayers an extra $3 million per year in sorting and disposal.

Materials that were never accepted in kerbside recycling, but which show up in Auckland bins include:

• Food

Textiles, carpets and clothes

Nappies, medical waste and garden waste

• Soft plastic and plastic bags

• Bagged recycling and rubbish

Lithium-ion batteries and appliances.

Some of these items can be recycled through other means like community recycling centres, private companies, or in the case of soft plastics, be returned to participating stores.

The chips are up and

There will not be too many members of the Waiuku / Awhitu Peninsula / Otaua – Aka Aka communities, that over the last 10 years, have not enjoyed the wonderful hot and crisp, salty and tomato sauce drizzled “World Famous in Waiuku” Lions Club chips, from our mobile gas heated deep fryer.

It could have been at one of the many high profile local Community events such as Blast from the Past / Steels & Wheel / Christmas Parade / Hot-rod Club Swap-meet in Waiuku or the NZ Steel Children’s Christmas Picnic at

Lions Club of Waiuk

Local

www.facebook.com/waiukulions

Karaka Sports Park.

Waiuku Refuse/Recycling centres:

Waiuku Zero Waste, 5 Hosking Place, old household appliances to RAYS, Waiuku Business Park, 23 Kitchener Road, Waiuku old printer ink and toner cartridges Action Office Products Depot, 16 Bowen Street Waiuku.

Or it could have been at one of the local schools we support – Awhitu Easter Auction or the Calf Club events at Awhitu, Waipipi, Otaua, Aka Aka, Waiau Pa and Patumahoe Calf Club, or Group Day Finals at Rugby Park, or the Combined Cross Country at Awhitu Regional Park when over 1200 cups of chips were sold with all profits going back into the schools funds.

But things are a changing!!

Keep you eyes open and you could soon see the Lions Chip Cooker wearing it’s new logo.

With support from Mr Chips/ Balle Bros allowing Lions to use of their trademarked Logo, and grateful thanks to Go Graphics for the design, printing and installation of the colourful signage.

Fuchsia show a hit

With hundreds of plants on display the two day event attracted fuchsia enthusiasts from as far south as Wellington and Christchurch. Waiuku’s own Carol Smithlin won ‘Best in Show’ and an armload of awards. Meanwhile local car buffs displayed their toys at the ‘Petals to Metal’ Show and Shine.

President of the Franklin Fuchsia Group Mary Hull said she was very pleased with the preparation, participation and visitor numbers this year. “It’s a wholehearted thank you to community supporters for generating a successful Franklin Group Silver Jubilee in January,” she said.

New Landcare group for Northern Waikato

A new Landcare group for the area of Karioitahi, Whiriwhiri, Maioro, Otaua and Aka Aka is in the process of being set up.

With over 100 Landcare groups already up and running in the greater Waikato, Karioitahi ki Awaroa Landcare Group is an initiative that is been driven by local farmers, lifestyles and residents of the area with the intent of doing good for the environment as a community. Support has been given by all the relevant and necessary parties.

It covers the Northern area of Waikato District, within the Otaua and Aka Aka catchment.

More details about this will be advertised in the next edition of the ‘Breeze’. For any queries please contact Ric Balfour at ric.balfour@landcare.org.nz or Willy Muir 0276770861.

ADVERTORIAL Sat 16th March 10am to 3pm Pukekohe Anglican Church Complex 43 Queen St, Pukekohe THE LITTLE GREEN EXPO Sustainable Market Kids Activities Cooking demos Upcycling Composting Hands-on Workshops Franklin’s Sustainable Living Expo

Possible threats to “them thar hills”

BY KEELY MUIR

Publisher’s introduction:

With the proposed Waiuku Windfarm project encompassing west coast hills south of Waiuku, natural habitat for native species is still a subject of discussion. Are these species under threat with the proposed development?

Heading into Waiuku from the East, cast your eyes westward and you see the eminent wall of hills.

They stand between Waiuku and the Tasman Sea like an impenetrable barrier: a protective ridgeline from the salty westerlies and a dark silhouette against the last glow of sunset.

These hills represent many things to many people, home, history, agriculture, lifestyle, peace and tranquility. They are also a culturally significant landscape for local iwi Ngaati Te Ata. There are intricate networks of defensive paa sites, burial grounds and other cultural sites which sit within this landscape. Some of these sites are recorded but many are not.

These hills are also habitat and sanctuary for rare and critically endangered species.

Matuku (Australasian Bittern, or Booming Bittern)

The Matuku have a conservation status of nationally critical. They are amongst our most severely threatened native species, and face an immediate high risk of extinction. There is thought to be less than 1000 left in New Zealand, and numbers could be as few as 400. They are rarer than the Kiwi. In New Zealand Matuku numbers have decreased drastically as 90% of their wetland habitat has been destroyed to make towns and farms or degraded by pollutants or sedimentation.

In the Maioro and Whiriwhiri hills, the freshwater habitats are clean and clear. This is due to the fact that they are close to the waters source, and the water has been filtered up through iron sands. The water here is renowned for its clarity and quality.

These wetland habitats consist of dune lakes, large spring fed swamps, smaller swamps, streams and creeks. They also have dense reeds, rushes and other plants, all combining to create the pristine and perfect habitat for the Matuku. They will seasonally, use a network of these habitats within a 15km radius. Recent research has shown they can travel 500km away, stopping over in habitat networks along the way.

The Matuku are visual feeders, which means that they need to see their prey, hence why the clear water of their habitat is vital to their survival. They feed on fish, small eels, freshwater crayfish, and also spiders, insects, molluscs, worms, frogs and lizards. They hunt by stalking in shallow clear water, mainly during the day, with an ideal water depth of 15cm.

They are a member of the heron family, and are large stocky birds streaked with brown feathers which help them to camouflage in the rushes or reeds. They are around 74cm tall, about the height of your dining table and weigh 900g for a female and 1400g for the male. Their size is evident in the description sometimes used to describe their turning and coming into land ‘like a big slow B52 bomber.’

Matuku are really shy birds. When seen they will often stand motionless with their neck and bill facing skyward. They will sway with the reeds to blend in, and have been known to stand like this for hours to avoid detection.

During the breeding season male Matuku, commonly referred to as ‘Booming Bittern’ produce a sequence of distinctive ‘wooom’ noises or ‘booms.’ Each call sequence consists of several individual booms, ranging from 1-10 booms per sequence, and are preceded with gasps or inhalations. These noises are all to attract the females, and appear consistent to individual birds.

The female Matuku builds her nest on a platform of reeds usually 20-30cm above the water. She lays between three to five eggs and incubates them for 25 days. Chicks remain on the nest for seven weeks, then stay with the mother to learn how to feed and hide, before leaving.

If food is abundant, mother Matuku won’t have to leave the nest long to find food. The eggs and chicks are most at risk from predators when the mother is not there to protect them. Often Matuku chicks, fledglings and adults are found near starvation.

With wetlands now only covering 1% of New Zealand’s land area, it is important that we acknowledge and protect the areas that remain. If we look after the Matuku habitat, other species such as indigenous birds, fish, invertebrates, molluscs and plants that are all part of a healthy wetland ecosystem will benefit. Because everything is connected, if one species goes extinct, this affects others.

Next time you glance upon the western

horizon above Waiuku, my hope is that you see it as more than just an area of hills within an unshifting landscape.

The Matuku, the wetlands, the indigenous bush blocks, and the Pekapeka, are all part of the highly biodiverse ecosystem that are the Maioro and Whiriwhiri hills. This is something all of Waiuku can be proud of. There is other wild life here too, the Dabchicks, the Fern birds, the Tui, Kereru and the Ruru, and of course, let’s not forget about the Kiwi, he might be here too.

Pekapeka (Long tail bat)

ance and logging of habitat, felling of old trees for firewood, urban expansion and agricultural intensification and predation by introduced animals and human interference in its many forms.

They roost in naturally hollowed out trees, in social groups or individuals. Entering the evening skies at dusk until dawn to feed on insects. Long tail Pekpeka are aerial insectivores, they never touch the ground and use their echo-location to find their prey. They are tiny creatures, with a body roughly the size of your thumb, with a wingspan twice as wide as your thumb is long. They are smaller than the short-tailed Pekapeka, are chestnut brown to black in colour, with small ears and weigh around 8-11 grams.

The Maioro and Whiriwhiri hills specifically, are home to the critically endangered Pekapeka (Long tail bat) and the Matuku (Australasian Bittern, or Booming Bittern). The area is also home to the nationally threatened Dabchick, and the at-risk Fernbird. It is also home to the Huia, only kidding, I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. The Huia mention does however serve a point, they became extinct somewhere between 1907 and the mid 1920s, the point being, once a species is lost, there is no getting it back.

The area may also be home to the North Island Brown Kiwi. No, not kidding. The call was picked up on an acoustic recording device during the monitoring for Matuku. The NI Brown Kiwi call can sometimes be mistaken for the Ruru/Morepork, so this exciting possibility still needs further investigation.

It can be hard to picture it now, but the Franklin area was once known for its vast expanse of bush, and for having the finest Puriri forest in New Zealand. Other large expanses were covered by Manuka. Parts of the hills above Waiuku were known as the Puriri belt. Now only pockets of indigenous bush blocks remain, and its these special pockets of mature trees where the long tail Pekapeka make their roosts.

The Pekapeka have the highest threat ranking of a nationally critical species and are on the endangered list. They are our only land-based mammal, and are endemic to New Zealand, which means they can be found nowhere else in the world. They are a protected species, and it is a criminal offence to kill, hunt, possess or disturb them. There were once three species of bats in New Zealand, now only two remain. The short tail, and the long tail Pekapeka.

The Pekapeka were once common throughout New Zealand. The cause of their decline are combinations of clear-

The Long tail Pekapeka can fly at 60k/hr and have a home range from their roost of around 100km2. Their roosts change seasonally, and they can use more than 100 different roosting trees. Their feeding grounds are around the edges of bush, bush canopy, over swamps and water ways, and over open pastures, they are also attracted to lights as insects are naturally attracted. Females will congregate in roost trees with their pups which they only have one per year. During this time the males need to find another roost, and sometimes choose the underside of loose bark on large mature trees.

Pekapeka use high pitched sounds (mostly above the human range of hearing) to navigate, this is called echolocation. The sounds they make are reflected back and they use this information to avoid objects and to hunt. Other bats, for example the fruit bat in other countries use sight to navigate. Dolphins and whales also use echolocation, but under water. Researchers used this same principle to develop radar and sonar during WW1 and WW2.

Researchers and citizen scientists use bat detectors, that record the bats sounds that humans cannot hear. These detectors have been used at Maioro and Whiriwhiri. At one location, one monitor showed 1060 recordings, with 944 passes of Pekapeka over eight nights. Each night recording an average of 118 passes. Another monitor at a different location over 42 days recorded 13,003 bat passes, averaging at 310 per night.

Waiuku on world art stage

Waiuku will be centre stage when the Venice Biennale – the world’s most celebrated art show, opens in May.

Celebrated sculptor and Waiuku icon 96 year old Fred Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui) will showcase his work alongside his son Brett at the ‘Olympics of Art’.

Franklin Local Board Waiuku subdivision representative Sharlene Druyven says it’s an incredible honour to be invited to participate at the prestigious event, which has been running since 1895.

“Fred is such a humble man that it’s possible to lose sight of the fact that he is an incredibly big name in the arts world, not just here in Waiuku, or even nationally through Aotearoa New Zealand, but internationally.

“We all pass by his work in Centennial Park to recognise Glenbrook mill’s 50th anniversary in 2015, probably without even realising its creator is a true giant of the art world.

“It’s possible there have been father and son teams at the Biennale before, but it has to be rare, and given how rightfully proud Fred is of his son, he must be delighted, as any of us connected to the area should be.”

The biennale runs until November and will attract more than half a million people.

Organisers say it picked up its ‘Olympics’ tag because of its unique approach. Unlike other events it has multiple sites and events – turning it into an international festival, rather than a single exhibition.

Fred told the Big Idea arts website when selected that he was grateful for the honour and hoped it would encourage other artists to carry on.

“It’s a hard row to hoe for artists in New Zealandwhether in music, art, opera, you name it. The question, ‘what do you do for a living?’ is always asked.”

He says his selection alongside his son makes it all the better. “I’m very proud of being able to share this with him. I’m happy to be known as Brett Graham’s father.”

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Fred Graham Brett Graham

For most of January the Waiuku community teams focus was Karioitahi beach and policing vehicles there.

Locals will well know exactly how bad it can get there at times with dirt bikes and cars speeding and driving dangerously amongst people who just want a day relaxing at the beach.

Someone will be seriously injured or killed soon, it could be a child playing on the sand. We make no apologies to try and keep those drivers away and educate them and I hope longer term the message gets out that this is not the place to drive or ride like that anymore.

We know from our experience, the public meetings we have had and talking to stakeholders like the surf club that the current approach works best. That is turning away non road legal vehicles like dirt bikes, enforcing the speed limit of 20km and yes ensuring everyone driving or riding on the beach has one of those unpopular council permits.

The permit system works for us because the dirt bike rider coming from afar will never get a permit so we can send them home. We can’t be there all the time so I hope that people will slowly get the message.

Whilst working at the beach we had the tragic drowning of a teenage male. Attempts to locate and save him were unsuccessful. Waiuku Police and Auckland Search and Rescue staff spent the next few days in a search and rescue role until we located his body at Hamilton’s Gap. Thanks to our Kariaotahi life savers and coastguard.

Of course, amongst the beach patrols and check points we have been called away at times to attend the other things that go on, timewise it’s mostly assaults, domestics, mental health issues, drug activity, unneighbourly disputes and driving complaints.

We also have had an increase in burglaries to commercial businesses in the town centre. These have occurred in the middle of the night and are still under investigation.

Often we get a bit of a spike in a crime like car break ins for example and we work out it is someone new in town.

Waiuku remains small enough that we can pick up that pattern early. We get a constant flow of families with high needs coming here via our emergency housing, unfortunately some are also active criminals.

Recently on a local face book page there was a frenzy of comment about recent crime in Waiuku one night. I think there

were four or five incidents of property damage mentioned to different buildings and teenagers were blamed. It sounded bad and everyone was saying ‘what’s going on in our town?’

It turned out that most of those incidents had occurred weeks before. Also, some hadn’t even been reported to police. It didn’t help that some commentators just added stuff they had heard about and there was many uninformed comments without knowing the facts. It made it sound like we had one night of kaos. Social media is not the place to get the facts about policing!

Being a community team, we try and prevent crime before it happens, I see us as the ambulance at the top of the cliff not at the bottom.

What can you do to help?

If you are the victim of a crime or see suspicious activity report it. Ring 111 at the time or if they have gone ring the 105 number, you can also report the incident online. It’s hard to solve it if we don’t know about it. Let us decide if it’s not worthy or that police will never catch them.

If I know about a reoccurring issue like people loitering at night somewhere I task a nightshift police car to be here at that time and location. I also task our community patrol to roam that area. Don’t just post it on face book.

Join our community patrol, this is a group of trained volunteers who

patrol Waiuku. They are always looking for numbers so they can be out every night. They work with us out of the police station and are our eyes and ears. We urge parents to know where your teenagers are after school and at night. Keep them off the streets.

Remember if you want to chat with a local cop about an issue come along to the information centre Wednesdays at 9am to 10am.

Keep safe Dean

Karioitahi Beach

Have your say on 10 year budget

FRANKLIN COUNCILLOR ANDY BAKER

The scale of Government changes for Council will be massive. The removal of the Regional Fuel Tax and water management will have a large impact on how AT is funded in the future and what projests can be managed. Look at Council’s consultaion material and have your say it is more crucial thean ever to get opinions.

We have in recent weeks started to see announcements from the Government relating to the changes they are putting in place across a number of things that will and are having a significant impact on what and how Auckland Council and other councils do. The one that has probably received the greatest media coverage is the removal of the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax (RFT). When this tax was introduced by the Government at the request of Auckland Council in 2018, it was designed to provide Auckland Council through Auckland Transport the ability to address some of the major transport infrastructure deficit that the region was suffering from. There has been some things said that I do not believe accurately represents the situation in regard to where the money collected has been spent. However in politics the common saying is never let the facts get in the way of a good headline. The RFT was created to provide an ability for AT and Council to actually provide new trains needed to meet the need of a rapidly increasing patronage

of trains and the CRL whilst also giving them the money to build the Eastern Busway, the really big stuff with eye watering big numbers attached to it.

All the other more locally focused stuff was envisaged to be funded in the normal way with 49% coming from Council and 51% from the Government through NZTA Waka Kotahi. Like so many things, Covid stuffed that up a bit but so did the Government’s Policy Statement that determined their funding priorities were about active modes (cycling and walking) ahead of maintenance and renewals of roads etc.

AT, like every roading authority in NZ had no choice but to meet the Government priorities hence why roads across the country are in such disrepair. The new Government has made their position very clear in regard to priorities and so AT and Council is having to make some massive decisions about what can be done now. I am fearful that the NZTA kitty will be reduced by their need to, in the absence of any extra funding, apply money

that would typically be available to Councils to fix their own road network. An example of the folly of letting assets degrade to a point where they need rebuilding as opposed to repairing. So as both a Councilor and a Director of AT, I am keen to see the new Government’s GPS on transport so we can all have some certainty.

The other big thing is the position on what was formerly known as Three Waters. Recently the Government announced they are repealing the legislation adopted toward the end of the last Government term and will create a process for councils to set up Council Controlled Organisations (CCO) to manage water. This is basically what Auckland has already with Watercare.

There is no doubt changes are needed across NZ in regard to provision of water and waste water services. 85% of the population receive their water services from their local council, it is re-

Dave: 027

John: 027

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust MONTHLY MISSIONS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

Glenbrook 22 January 2024 — W1 Crew tasked to Glenbrook to assist a male patient in his 20s involved in an accident while diving from rocks. He fell 10 metres. He was flown to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.

Port Waikato 29 January — W1 Crew tasked by Police to Port Waikato to assist with the search and rescue of two fishermen believed to be in their 50s stranded on rocks. They needed to be extracted by winch and were in a minor condition. Transportation to hospital by helicopter wasn’t required and crew returned to base.

Waiuku 1 February — W1 Crew tasked to Waiuku to assist a male patient in his 40s involved in a mountain biking accident. He was flown to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.

Waiuku 7 February — W2 Crew tasked to Waiuku to assist a female patient in her 40s suffering a medical complaint. Transportation to hospital by helicopter wasn’t required and crew returned to base.

ported that a fifth or around 500,000 of that number are supplied water that does not meet the current water quality standards. Thankfully Auckland is not included in that with Watercare having a 100% compliance rate. Across the country 21 percent of water supplied is lost before it gets to the end user which is obvious from the regular reports of pipes failing. A quarter of wastewater treatment plants are operating on expired consents and more are not meeting consent conditions.

Waiuku 16 February Rapid Response Vehicle Crew tasked to Waiuku to assist a male patient in his teens who fell through a window and was in a critical condition. He was treated at the scene until ambulance arrived.

Aka Aka 22 February— W1 Crew tasked to Aka Aka to assist with a motor vehicle accident. Crew were stood down en-route and returned to base.

to that scale it is going to take some time to be determined with care to make sure they don’t get it wrong.

With the scale of change, detail will be massively important and is eagerly awaited but due

Please make sure you have a look at the Council’s consultation material for our 10 year budget. Set aside some time because it is meaty but is incredibly important and I ask you take time to consider the options within it and provide feedback.