627 11 March 2015 Week 2.indd
Transcription
627 11 March 2015 Week 2.indd
The Mercury Bay Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Phone 07 866 2090 PORTING P U S S L A LOC LOCALS Building a boat in two hours Circulation 6,000 Calling all local kauri champions see page 15. The experience of four Mercury Bay Area School students in the 2015 Marine Trades Challenge in Auckland. By Len Salt The MBAS Marine Trades Challenge team with the boat they built in just two hours. From left to right - Alex Grindrod, Austin Brear, Ethyn Brear and Eliza Shelvey. 5am on a Saturday morning two weeks ago. It’s still dark and Mercury Bay Area School is deserted, apart from a small group of students and parents outside the front office. Woodwork teacher Des Bristow arrives in a school van, towing a trailer. I am along for a ride to Auckland. They’ll drop me off on the way and I’ll pick up a car to bring back to Whitianga. These intrepid early morning travellers are off to the Marine Trades Challenge of industry training organisation NZ Marine in Auckland. Personally I’m not sure about the 5am side of things, but I’m sure there are plenty of dairy farmers out there who will tell me I need to harden up. We pile in, still half asleep. Parents wave goodbye, and the doors slide close with a thud that echoes in the still Whitianga night. Eliza Shelvey is wearing pyjamas or a onesy or something. She’s almost instantly asleep and who can blame her. I’m sitting next to Austin Brear, his brother Ethyn is in the front, along with the fourth member of the crew, Alex Grindrod. We stopped briefly at Coroglen to pick up Des’s wife Lorraine. She’s the International Student Liaison at the school. It’s a team effort, getting everybody to Auckland and back safely. We cross fingers that nobody gets carsick. It doesn’t work. One of the lads (who can’t be named for coolness rating reasons) piles out of the van halfway up the Tairua Hill and chundering noises are heard outside. MBAS has a pretty good track record in the Marine Trades Challenge, having won the trophy twice since they first became involved in about 2010. Upon arrival the four students will be given some pre-cut pieces of plywood, a small sail, a two horsepower motor and a mast. From this assortment of stuff they have two hours in which to build a boat, rig the mast and sail and be ready to race it around a course with the aim of beating all the other competitors. The van and trailer are full of tools and gear. Today they arrive early and check in at the Viaduct Basin. There’s no parking, so Des drops them off and drives the van three kilometres to a relatives’ house. He has loaded his bike on board and cycles back to the Viaduct. The team has set up in the meantime right behind where the Volvo Ocean Race bases (Continued on page 3) EUROLOC FENCING POWDER COATED ALUMINUM TUBULAR FENCING & GATE SYSTEMS • Pool, Garden, Perimeter fencing • Commercial perimeters • Gates • 6 Powdercoated colours • Various designs available • 10 year guarantee • Free quotations • DIY or erected for you Contact: Gates & Fences Ltd Ph 0800 2 B FNCDIN 0800 223 623 07 866 5271 Whitianga Covering Whangapoua to Pauanui, including Whitianga, Hot Water Beach and Tairua - www.theinformer.co.nz Waka ama coming to Mercury Bay For those involved in waka ama, or outrigger canoeing, it’s more than just a game. It’s a movement that has the potential to get people of all ages active and into the outdoors. And this coming Sunday 15 March waka ama is being brought to Brophy’s Beach in Whitianga by a Paeroa-based group led by Larn Wilkinson. Larn lives and breathes waka ama. As well as teaching waka ama and entering teams in national championships, he is actively involved in helping to start up clubs. Larn is enthusiastic about hosting a waka ama family open day at Brophy’s Beach and sees a future for the sport in the area. “Mercury Bay is the perfect place for Waka Ama championships to be held in the future - the Bay is great and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and accommodation options here,” he says Waka ama originates from Hawaii and is now an internationally recognised sport. Manager of Whitianga Social Services Jenny Wolf is keen to see waka ama developing as a sport in Mercury Bay, “The concept of starting a waka ama club came from our Youth Space wanting a disciplined, fun sport to develop some youth leadership and the experience of working in a team - it's all fun learning of some good values. But it's not just for our youth. Family teams and adult teams are more than welcome to join in.” Waka ama is about healthy lifestyle, fitness, practice and discipline. The Social Services vision is to be an integral part of establishing waka ama as a sport in Mercury Bay in partnership with Mercury Bay Area School and the community in general. One six-seater waka can have a number of teams use it. “There's a 70 year old waka team in the Hauraki area,” Jenny says. Safety is an important factor in the organisation of the sport and there are national guidelines in New Zealand regarding safety protocols using waka. “There is rigorous safety training to ensure that, if the waka is capsized, the individuals know what to do. It's a very rewarding sport that isn't too taxing on the body,” Jenny says. “Social Services is in a good place to seek funds for a community based waka ama club through outside funding grant sources, without asking our community for money." She is looking forward to the arrival of the waka this weekend. "We are keen to see the community get together for some positive fun, enjoying family and team The Mercury Bay Informer is published weekly on Wednesdays and circulated throughout the Coromandel Peninsula. Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name and surname, telephone number and residential address. All reasonable steps are taken to ensure accuracy. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher. Published by - Mercury Bay Media Limited Publisher - Petra Roodt Editor - Stephan Bosman Contributing Editors - Len Salt, Alison Smith, Meghan Hawkes and Jack Biddle Deliveries - 14 Monk St, Whitianga 3510 Mail - PO Box 426, Whitianga 3542 Tel - (07) 866 2090 Fax - (07) 866 2092 Editorial - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2090 Advertising - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2094 ISSN 2422-9083 (Print) ISSN 2422-9091 (Online) © 2015 Mercury Bay Media Limited Please contact us if you would like to receive a copy of The Mercury Bay Informer delivered to your lettterbox. ONLINE POLL FOR MARCH 2015 Local councils must put policy in place regarding places where “legal highs” can be sold. Should Thames Coromandel District Council allow the sale of “legal highs” anywhere in Mercury Bay or Tairua-Pauanui? Have your say - at www.theinformer.co.nz. Want to view a PDF copy of every week’s Informer online? Just visit www.theinformer.co.nz. Page 2 Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. opportunities with the waka.” The plan is for Larn’s group to return once a month as the concept begins to take shape, with hopefully a team or teams based here in Mercury in the future. And it’s the team commitment that is vital to the effective functioning of a waka. Of the six seats, people on the team get a place and always remain in that seat. Those interested in becoming part of a waka ama club can contact Jenny at Social Services on telephone 866 4476. Larn and his group and their waka will be at Brophy's Beach this Sunday from 9:30am. The whole family is welcome. If the weather is bad, the waka ama family open day will take place the following Sunday 22 March, also at Brophy’s Beach. Action from a New Zealand waka ama race. High & Low Tides for Mercury Bay and Hot Water Beach DAY/ DATE HIGH AM LOW AM HIGH PM LOW PM Wed 11 11:52 5:28 Thu 12 0:16 6:10 12:34 6:33 Tide data sponsored by 5:51 Fri 13 1:00 6:56 1:18 7:19 Sat 14 1:49 7:46 2:08 8:11 Sun 15 2:42 8:41 3:03 9:07 Mon 16 3:41 9:40 4:03 10:08 Tue 17 4:41 10:41 5:05 11:09 nzwindows.co.nz 4 Dakota Drive Whitianga Tel 07 869 5990 What’s that Number? Emergency (Ambulance, Fire, Police)........................................................................... 111 Police (Whitianga) .............................................................................................. 866 4000 Police (Tairua) .................................................................................................... 864 8888 Fight crime anonymously - Call Crime Stoppers .................. ....... ............. 0800 555 111 Dog and Noise Control .......................................................................................868 0200 Poison Centre ..............................................................................................0800 764 766 Dental Emergency (Mercury Bay) ...................................................................... 869 5500 Civil Defence ..................................................................................................... 868 0200 Medical Centre (Mercury Bay) ........................................................................... 866 5911 Doctors Surgery (Mercury Bay) ......................................................................... 866 4621 Medical Centre (Tairua) ....................................................................................... 864 8737 Harbour Master (Whitianga) ........................................................................ 027 493 1379 Harbour Master (Tairua) ............................................................................... 027 476 2651 Coastguard Radio Operators ............................................................................ 866 2883 Social Services Whitianga ..................................................................................866 4476 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Marine Trades Challenge (Continued from page 1) are located. They proudly rig their big MBAS banner. There are four apprentice teams and four schools competing. Des is allowed to guide the students, but not to participate. They are all “his” students and he “volunteered” them, army style, but they are happy to be involved and want to do well for the school and for themselves. Eliza Shelvey is there because she loves working with wood. “I want to learn about the joinery trade. My ambition is to make high quality fine furniture,” she says. Her teachers describe her as talented and focused on what she wants to achieve. The clock counts down and in the end it’s like a Masterchef finish. “You have ten minutes to complete the construction.” The stress levels reach fever pitch. “Two minutes people.” And then it’s over. “Time’s up! Tools down!” The MBAS team has finished right on the clock, thanks in large part to a detailed plan of attack by Des. He has prepared a run sheet for the students, printed and laminated. It was stuck to the back of his drivers’ seat in the van so they could read it on the way up. It worked. Their boat may not be a work of art, but it floats and everything works the way it should. It’s time for the racing to start. The boat can carry two, so they take it in turns, paddling, sailing and motoring. Eliza and Ethyn on one team, Alex and Austin on the other. It’s a tough challenge and MBAS finishes second in the schools division. As soon as it’s over the students start packing up. The Volvo crews are arriving and they need the space, so Des sets off again on his bike to go and get the van. Another three kilometre ride. He often rides his bike from Coroglen to school and home again, so three kilometres is not a big deal. The team stops at McDonalds in the Bombay Hills to fuel up, then they hit the road again, but when they get to the Kopu turn-off the road is closed. There’s been an accident. It’s a long detour, up the Thames Coast Road and across to Whitianga on the 309. It’s a few days later Des is upbeat about the challenge and proud of his team. “The challenge was created by people in the marine trade and after it had been going for a while they opened it up to schools,” he says. “We first got invited to participate by Craig Comstock of Blue Water Marine Services in Whitianga and he deserves a big credit for supporting the school in the early stages and getting us trained up on how it all works. “After we completed the challenge the first year, we were ready to set off home when the organisers said, ‘What about your boat?’ We hadn’t realised the boat has to go home with you once you’ve finished the challenge. So we tied it to the roof with blankets and cushions underneath and ropes through the windows and carried it home to Whitianga. We’re a bit more organised these days.” Eliza says she would do it all again next year and this time they’ll win for sure. This month we’re offering: New patient exam & x-rays!* *Terms and conditions apply, talk to reception for details. 12/1 Blacksmith Lane Whitianga Ph: 07 869 5500 [email protected] Practices nationwide | Ph: 0800 LUMINO | lumino.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3 Cross the river swim goes back a long way The annual Cross the River swim was held last week with around 400 Mercury Bay middle and senior school students (from Mercury Bay Area School, Whenuakite School, Coroglen School and Te Rerenga School) participating and some impressive results recorded. Given the enormous popularity of this event, The Informer decided to do some research on the history of the swim and see if we could find out how it all started. In the process we uncovered pure gold and ended up with some fascinating information about the history and the people of Whitianga going back almost 70 years. First we tracked down Whitianga resident Shirwin Lee, who remembers going to school in the original building in School Road in Whitianga. “We had a teacher, and he was headmaster as well, Mr Wotherspoon, who would take us out for swimming practice,” Shirwin said. “There was no pool, so he would pace out a course along Buffalo Beach and put sticks in the sand. We would head out into the water and swim along parallel to the beach. He would walk alongside shouting encouragement or instructions.” Shirwin remembers doing the beach swims in 1954-55 and there was a cross the river swim then, but it was a a community event. It seems as if there was a period of evolution and that the swim across the Whitianga River from Ferry Landing to Whitianga Wharf developed into the annual school feature that it has become today in the early to middle 1960s. Walter Russell, now 76, is another original resident whose family has been in Whitianga for a very long time. “My grandfather arrived in Auckland in 1859 and then moved to Whitianga in around 1860-61. The family settled here and so my father, his father before him and myself have all been connected with Whitianga for over 150 years.” Walter remembers that the cross the river swim was originally held every year on Regatta Day, which was held on New Years Day, and the entire Whitianga community of around four to five hundred people came out to participate. “There were boat races, where all the little fishing vessels would fire up their engines and line up for the start,” he said. “They were used to motoring slowly out across the Bay, so when they got cranked up for a race, the motors weren’t used to working so hard and they would belch smoke and steam from their funnels. It was quite a sight.” There were also dinghy and yacht races, greasy pole climbing, diving competitions, pillow fights, a sandcastle competition, a beauty contest, lots of food and fun for the kids and a dance in the evening. And a feature of every Regatta Day was the big cross the river swim. New Autumn Menu starts this week Buy One Main and enter into the draw to win Dinner for Two! “As kids we learned to swim along the beach and across the river,” Walter reminisces. “The ferry back in 1946 was just a dinghy and a man with oars rowed you across. There were often horses to be taken to the other side and they would be tied to the back of the dinghy and swim across behind the boat.” He says that the kids would try and hitch a ride by hanging on to the back of the dinghy. “If the current was too strong and the ferryman was struggling, we would get a crack on the knuckles with the oars so that we had to let go.” After a few years the dinghy was replaced by a 12-14 foot clinker with a Seagull outboard and the days of kids hitching a ride were over. The Regatta Day tradition has died out but the cross the river swim has continued as an event for the Mercury Bay school students ever since. Full Menu at Open for brunch, lunch Great pizzas www.govino.co.nz Ph. 867 1215 Saturday and Sunday and for bookings also available dinner 6 nights Closed today. In tr o d u c i n g S i g n at u re S e a f o o d B i r yani and Go at Curr y Delicious and Affordable Indian Food Enjoy restaurant quality food in the comfort of your own home. Food made with freshly ground spices. Enjoy real curry pies. Open for dinner only Dine In • Takeaway • Delivery 13 / 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm Open for dinner only Dine In FREE on your Birthday One main, rice & naan. Minimum 2-person party. Open 7 Days From 5pm DV D Whitianga’s Walter Russell (on the left), his brother Graham (in the middle) and their friend Neil Chaney getting ready to swim across the Whitianga River in the late 1940s. According to Walter, it was just something kids did in those days. The cross the river swim as Mercury Bay school students know it today, came many years after. Authentic North Indian Cuisine Wide selection of seafood, vegetarian & gluten-free. Children’s menu available. • Sushi • Japanese Cuisine Dine in or Take away Whitianga Ph 07 866 5858 TOP MOVIES What’s New REVIEW If I Stay (M) (Out Now) Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether she wants to wake up and live a life far different from the one she had imagined. This is an honest, emotional teen melodrama with a great performance by Chloë Grace Moretz. The best tissue-ready feel-good film out at the moment. Reviewed by Cara. Page 4 69 Albert Street, The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz 1. Let’s Be Cops 2. Horns 3. Kill the Messenger 4. No Good Deed 5. The Best of Me Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Happy Hour 3-7pm Sorry Bistro closed for a private function SNOOKER 1:30pm 8 BALL 7pm Tai Chi 9am Next week on the 17th Wednesday 11th Steak night Super 15 - LIVE LIVE Super 15 $10 Curry Night!! $16 Scotch fillet, FREE POOL! is on 6 big Happy Hour 3-7pm Happy Hour salad & fries!! Meat raffles screens $10 Burger & Win $100 Bar Tab Steak Night 3-7pm St Patricks @ 6pm Live band Fries Happy Hour all $16 Scotch Fillet!! $10 Burgers & Fries! The Rubics Mon-Fri Drink Specials day until 7:00pm. DJ Mighty 9pm 9pm Jameoke 9pm Chase the Ace Win $250 cash!! Ali’s Restaurant MEMBERS DRAW RAFFLES 11am Club Opens11am $10 ROAST Meat/Seafood The Whitianga LUNCH 11am DINNER 5pm Country Music & Raffles 5:30pm Meals/Bar Play Bar Trivia Variety Club 2pm Early Bird Draw From 4pm Snacks 5:30pm All Welcome Tai Chi 9am BODY BALANCE 9am Thursday 12th Friday 13th Open @ 5pm Rob & the Rooster Acoustic Jazz & Blues Mediterranean Salads and Platters for 2 Saturday 14th Open @ noon Live Music DARTS 7:30pm Dance/Rock ‘n’ Roll Lessons Monday 16th JAZZ DAY Closed today Free Wi-Fi Jazz Music From 5pm w Rob & The Rooster Stunning Ocean Views Free Wi Fi Bookings for large groups or functions Text 027 486 6744 or ph 07 866 2275 Tuesday 17th Open @ 5pm St Patricks Day Download our menu Best Sea Views or friend us on FB Craft Beer Guiness for entertainment and Live Irish updates or see Music Tonight www.onfirecafe.co.nz Lamb & Beef 2014 Silver Fern Farms Greek Easter - 4 & 5 April 3 Course meal with coffee - $65 per person Tue - Thur 4pm - 10pm Fri - Sat 4pm - 10:30pm Sunday 4pm - 9:30pm LIVE GREEK MUSIC BOOKINGS TAKEN NOW! www.alcaminos.co.nz Pork Belly $20 w mustard potato mash Cajun Chicken wraps $16 7:15pm Tai Chi 9am MEMBERSHIP DRAW Award winning 11A Coghill Str, Whitianga Tel: 07 866 2200 Surf ‘n’ Turf Tai Chi 9am Sunday 15th Open @ noon Gypsy Jazz & Blues Lunch Wed- Sun from 12 noon Dinner Tues - Sun from 5pm Closed Monday SCOTCH, Tavern made ONION RINGS w. salad RAFFLES 5:30pm Irish ST PATRICKS St Patricks breakfast Real Irish Come & Dare to be DAY, day party! all day bar staff! celebrate! different ALL DAY! from 9am Open @ 5pm PIZZA NIGHT AMAZING SEA Open @ 5pm VIEWS Magic Sea Views Asahi, Estrella 20% off Damm & Cider on Wood Fired Pizza’s Tap and Craft Beers Tonight Alfresco Dinning Available! STEAK NIGHT SIRLOIN, Egg ‘n’ Chips INDOOR BOWLS 7:15pm DARTS NIGHT IS BACK! 7.30pm Newbees Welcome! Best night of the week HAPPY HOUR RAFFLE NIGHT 5pm-7pm SUPER RUGBY TONIGHT SUPER RUGBY Hurricanes v Blues 7:35pm Super 15 TAB POKIES HIGHLANDERS V WARATAHS 7:35PM POOLS ON US ALL DAY! Super 15 Rugby live Rugby live Hurricanes v Blues Crusaders v Lions 4:30pm 7:30pm Wishing Tree Highlanders v from 5-7pm Waratahs 7:30pm Join us for brunch lunch or dinner Gotta Love Sundays FREE POOL ALL DAY We are now FULLY LICENCED Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick $1.00 from EVERY cake, death and an easy one. muffin or slice gets A pretty girl and an donated to honest one. A cold pint COROGLEN SCHOOL and another one! $562 dollars from last Happy St. Pats! year! Happy Hour Every Week Day from 4-6:30pm QUIZ NIGHT 7:30pm Al Fresco dining on our sky deck cafe 07 866 0456 www.thelostspring.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5 OPEN Thursday - Monday from 11:30am and Wednesdays from 4:00pm. Closed Tuesdays. For the freshest local fish and seafood. Open from 3:30pm. Book to avoid disappointment 07 867 1710 squids.co.nz. Serving the freshest seafood in town The Espy’s milkshake clears first hurdle The Espy Café in Whitianga has cleared the first hurdle in their bid to become the winner of the inaugural Anchor New Zealand’s Best Milkshake Competition. Their “Aw Fudge I Crushed My Nuts” milkshake was last week announced as one of four regional winner, in the process attracting more votes from the public than any of the other competitors throughout New Zealand. The Espy’s fate is now in the hands of Deanna Yang, owner of Auckland’s famous “milk and cookies bar” Moustache and renowned milkshake aficionado. She will taste the entries of all the regional winners before deciding the national winner. The other regional winners are in Avondale (Auckland), Hastings and Christchurch. Deanna was last week Wednesday in Whitianga to taste-test The Espy’s milkshake. Feedback from Anchor’s marketing consultants is that “she had a ball.” Pictured are Duncan Wood, owner of The Espy, and Deanna with two of The Espy’s now famous milkshakes. The winner of the competition is expected to be announced this week. TAKEAWAY • Fresh Fish n Chips • Classic Burgers • Heat n Eat dishes R ORDER PHONE YOU Y TO GO! D A E R D A E AH Main Road, Tairua OPEN 11am - LATE Ph 07 864 8617 Got guests coming? Need an affordable bed? See your sleeping specialists - Bedpost Whitianga Lee Street, Whitianga P: 07 866 2448 Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Our Coromandel News from Thames-Coromandel District Council 4 MARCH, 2015 once an application is accepted.” Building and Planning information simplified The processes for applying for resource consent changes from Tuesday 3 March. What it means is that the onus will be on the applicant to provide full and complete information so staff can make a decision on whether to accept the application or not. “We now have little to no discretion on accepting the application where information is missing,” says Michael Jones, our Council Planning Manager. “There’s now a clear expectation that we reduce our processing times and the number and nature of further information requests we had been getting The legislative changes have come from the Ministry for the Environment through the Resource Management Act to try to make the consent process more efficient. The changes gives Council 10 working days to decide whether an application is complete and 20 working days to provide for a notification decision. It’s a good idea to come and have a pre-lodgment meeting or book in some time with our free duty planning service to talk about your application or plan to avoid possible delays. Just call our Customer Service Team to make an appointment about your consent on 07 868 0200. Find out more about building/planning and consents on our website www.tcdc.govt.nz/regulatory Promoting the Blue Highway between Auckland and the Coromandel Promotion of the ferry links from downtown Auckland through to Coromandel Town is to be improved with better signage and increased marketing coverage. “We want to encourage more commuters and tourists to use ferry links between Auckland into Coromandel and potentially continue travelling on through to Mercury Bay and Thames,” says Ben Dunbar-Smith, Council’s Economic Development Programme Manager. [email protected] Flush your taps The Ministry of Health reminds all of us to flush a mug of drinking water from our taps every morning to help remove metals that might have dissolved in plumbing fittings overnight. The Ministry recommends this simple precaution for all households in New Zealand, including those on public and private water supplies. win BE IN TO Can we do better getting our news to you? Fill in our survey and be in to win one of these great prizes: To help stimulate this, we are working to look at developing improved signage on the 360 Ferry, which travels between Auckland and Coromandel Town, www.tcdc.govt.nz/External-Links/360-DiscoveryCruises/> Visitor-friendly signage is also to be installed at Hannafords Wharf welcoming people onto the Coromandel. In the past year our Council has been developing a closer relationship with ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development), which is an Auckland Council Controlled Organisations. “ATEED sees a great potential in a blue highway between Auckland and the Coromandel and we have some concepts in development including the viability of a food trail and encouraging more day visits from the increasing number of people arriving through the international cruise ship market,” says Mr Dunbar-Smith. 2015 Collections Adventure Weekend Fish & Dine Coromandel Coastal Walk & Dine Coromandel Adventures & Pepper Tree Restaurant To be in to win, go to: www.haveyoursay-tcdc.objective.com TCDC/0612 Follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/ourcoromandel www.facebook.com/ ThamesCoromandelDistrictCouncil Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 ! Join us at a workshop on how we can help grow your workforce. Strategies to guide, develop and retain young people on the Coromandel. FREE event, refreshments provided. 5.30 - 7.30pm Wednesday 29 April at Thames Toyota, Jellicoe Street Thames RSVP to [email protected] An initiative by the Futureforce Action Network (FAN), Smart Waikato and our Council. Mercury Bay Community Board UPDATE Brophy’s Beach Playground A section of the Brophy’s Beach playground has been removed temporarily and is undergoing repairs. We had health and safety concerns around this section of the play equipment so we have an engineer fixing it up and it will be reinstalled shortly. We apologise for the temporary inconvenience to playground users. Sale of legal highs in Mercury Bay “The Board wants to thank everyone who turned up to a public meeting at the Whitianga Town Hall to discuss our draft policy about regulating where psychoactive products (legal highs) can be sold on the Coromandel. Though we can’t legally ban sales of psychoactive substances (some of the ingredients used in different drugs including legal highs and party pills), we have proactively drafted a policy on the appropriate location of retail premises when it begins issuing licenses to retailers later this year. The Community Board is looking to make a submission to the draft bylaw looking at areas in Whitianga that could be affected. Submissions close 9 March. BOARD SUPPORTS THE ARTS Canyonz & Ocean Leopard Tours Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris & Luke’s Kitchen All Coromandel Employers We Want You Collection schedule details are now online. www.tcdc.govt.nz/kerbside Our Refuse Transfer Stations are back to off-peak hours from Sunday 1 March. Go to www.tcdc.govt.nz/rts to find out the details for your area. www.coromandel.govt.nz [email protected] Private Bag, 515 Mackay St, Thames Phone: 07 868 0200 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz The Board is encouraging everyone who has involvement or interest in the arts to come along to a workshop we are hosting, with the support of Creative Waikato. This is the first step in work looking at how to development an Arts Strategy for the whole Coromandel. The Strategy will involve all genres – creative arts, digital arts, performing arts, crafts, music, visual arts, crafts, art spaces. The workshop is at the Thames Memorial Hall – Civic Centre on Tuesday 17 March : 9am – 4pm. RSVP or find out more by contacting [email protected] The Board also wants to wish the Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust all the best with their Open Studio Arts Tour which runs the first two weekends in March. “Everyone should get along to it and meet and visit some of the exceptionally talented artists we have living in our area,” says Community Board Chairperson Paul Kelly. To find out more about the Arts Tour go to www.mercurybayartescape.com Page 7 Mercury Bay Area School Year 7 beach clean-up By Leah Mckinlay - Year 7 student at Mercury Bay Area School On Friday 27 February all of the Mercury Bay Area School Year 7s came to school feeling bubbly and looking forward to the annual Year 7 Whitianga beach clean-up. The teachers (Cameron Burrows, Teresa Shepherd and Monique Garland) all had a different group that was covering different areas of Whitianga. Ms Shepherd’s group was walking down the estuary and up around the marina, while Mrs Garland’s group started from Mother Browns Creek and Mr Burrows’ group walked through town and up along Buffalo Beach. We found rubbish of all different shapes and sizes. The main items we mint collected were glass bottles, plastic food wrappers, cigarette buds and aluminium cans. It was very upsetting to see that people litter in such a beautiful town and I think in the future we should think more about our environment and ways we can stop pollution. These are some of the ideas we came up with - placing more public rubbish bins around the beaches/town, taking a plastic bag/ziploc bag with you wherever you go to ensure you take your litter home and putting more signs up around town about reducing littering in Whitianga. hair • beauty 869 5000 14 coghill st whitianga WHITIANGA PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC Robert Lindsay Dip Phty(Otago) ADP(OMT), Dip.MT. Co-author of ‘Treat Your Own Shoulder’ and Associates Crystal Vause BHScPhysiotherapy The Mercury Bay Area School Year 7 teachers and students after their beach clean-up the end of February with some of the rubbish they collected. Photo by Sharon Wright. Manipulation / Back and Neck Pain / Work Injuries Sports Injuries / Post Surgery and Fracture Rehab Acupuncture / Hand Therapy / Women’s Health Clinic Physiotherapists with the qualifications to provide excellence in physical health care Dr Adam’s and Hemmes’s Surgery - Ph 866 4621 Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9 hers Gift Voluacble avai KSAR COLUMN Full Facial Special $65 -For men and women Herbal steam cleansing with ozone. Scrub, masque and moisturiser + Hand treatment + Foot treatment Get spoilt! Contact Maria 866 4987 or 021 404 923 14 Parkland Place, Whitianga Revitalize with Reflexology Sleep better Less Pain More Energy Nick Reynolds i nternati onal i nsti tute of reflexology [email protected] 0274 799 763 7 Punga Place Thumbs Up To the kind lady who handed a lost purse in at New World Whitianga. The owner of the purse is truly thankful. with Steve Hart Training in February focused on going “back to the basics,” so that our field search teams ensured they retain these core principals when participating in a search operation - communications, navigation and equipment. If you remove any one of those elements, your search operation will run off the rails and lives can be put at risk. Locally we undertake monthly training for the Incident Management Team, the First Response Team and any new recruits. Local training keeps all volunteers up with standard basics in search techniques and then base and field members undergo more intensive multiday training and refresher courses to achieve NZQA qualificatons. Last weekend KSAR volunteers and others SAR groups from throughout the Waikato headed into the hills behind Thames on a district Land SAR exercise that focused on basic bushcraft techniques. This element in land SAR standards provides additional skills in bush survival and a greater understanding of the outdoor environment from a land SAR perspective. Learning new and well developed search skills is a core ingredient to locating lost persons and many Land SAR members utilise the same skills when out hunting for pigs or deer. The principles are the same - understand the behaviour of whatever it is you are searching (hunting) for and learn to identify the clues that will lead you to the target. Searchers who wish to advance in the techniques of searching can become excellent trackers and when this is combined with the skill of search dogs, a highly recognised team can develop. Search volunteers also need to be well equipped for any environment that they may be tasked to search. Wherever possible, KSAR will help equip its search volunteers and this can be expensive keeping 30-40 volunteers fully equipped for search operations. Regrettably one of our principal fundraising events, the Bush to Beach Half Marathon, has now been shelved indefinitely due to a land access issue on the half marathon course and the KSAR committee deciding that they no longer had the energy or time to commit to future events. Instead, the committee will focus on smaller events that will take less time to organise, but will still provide funding incentives. If anyone is interested in organising an event like “Bush to Beach,” KSAR would be interested in assisting with on the day support such as base and marshalling personnel. Kuaotunu Land SAR would like to take this opportunity to again thank all the landowners, businesses, sponsors, inviduals, volunteers and participants who supported the three Bush to Beach events. We hope that this event will resurface again sometime in the future encouraging fitness in the outdoors. Our goal to build our new base in 2015 is on track with a formal lease now being sought from TCDC for the land. Once we’ve acquired the lease, we will go public with more detail about this exciting new concept that will provide us with a purpose built facility and lift our spirits after five years of uncertainty in our current location. Sponsorship, funding and building permits will also be required, but we are determined and confident that we will be in our new home by next summer. Bad night’s sleep? Need a better bed? See your sleeping specialists - Bedpost Whitianga Lee Street, Whitianga P: 07 866 2448 Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Sunair expanding service from Whitianga Sunair is expanding their scheduled air service from Whitianga. From the beginning of next month they’ll be adding Hamilton and Whangarei (via Great Barrier Island) to the list of destinations they already serve. “Our services between Whitianga and Auckland Ardmore, Great Barrier Island and Tauranga are going really well,” Sunair pilot Ryan Bergman (pictured) says. “Our research indicates that there’s a demand for a service to Hamilton and that’s why we decided to start flying there. On Great Barrier Island we had many requests for a service to Whangarei. It really makes sense to add a second leg to that service to Whitianga.” Sunair priced their new Whitianga-Hamilton service at $120 per person one way (the same price as their services to Ardmore, Great Barrier Island and Tauranga). To get to Whangarei from Whitianga, a passenger will have to buy a fare to Great Barrier Island and another $120 fare to Whangarei ($240 total). Sunair will be flying to Hamilton seven days a week and twice weekly to Whangarei. Ryan also says Sunair put a lot of work into making Ardmore Airport in Papakura as accessible as possible for everyone flying with them. A convenient shuttle service is now available to both Auckland International Airport and the nearby Papakura train station and Pegasus Car Rentals now have an Ardmore drop off/pick up service available, starting at $55 per day for a rental vehicle (also available for single day rentals). “Another thing we noticed is that a lot of people are flying between Whitianga and Great Barrier Island,” Ryan says. “Both are great holiday destinations with rental vehicles available both sides. It’s a service that’s definitely meeting a lot of people’s needs.” Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Community Patrol Report with Laurie Johnston - chair of the Mercury Bay Community Patrol It appears this area has seen a big increase in visitors this last month on previous years and it would be interesting to get some official figures. For us at night it seems as if most of these people settle down quite early. We have not had any special requests and we haven’t seen any reportable incidents the past month, which of course bears well for the district. We have been putting the finishing touches to our carport at the Police Station in Whitianga. We thought the picture below is a gem. We shall now organize an official opening. We are looking for a couple of members to attend the yearly National Training Seminar to be held in Lower Hutt this year, a very useful weekend with the Police and patrols from all over the country . On Council matters, we have finally left the old fire station which housed our vehicle on the town side of the water and the Mercury Bay Community Board has very kindly waived our carport permit costs. Our Council is very supportive of the patrol. Finally, our numbers are slightly down on the town side, especially over the winter months when people tend to find warmer climates. So, if anybody is interested in doing their bit for the community, we would love to hear from you. Our recruiting person would come and see you and explain the ins and outs of the job and go from there. Dwayne Mansell from Peninsula Concrete Laying and his son Kyson last Saturday busy laying the last of the concrete of the Mercury Bay Community Patrol’s new carport at the Whitianga Police Station. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11 Art Escape Open Studio Tour launch a great success The 2015 Open Studio Tour of the Mercury Bay Art Escape got off to a flying start last Friday evening with a sold-out launch at Hot Water Beach’s Hot Waves Café. Guest speaker, artist and academic Carole Shepheard, shared with the audience her own experience of moving from the hustle and bustle of Auckland to the small community of Kawhia, south of Raglan. “Art is and can be made anywhere,” she said. “Artists can thrive in a small community. Small communities tend to support their artists.” A highlight of the launch was, once again, the “Taste of the Tour” exhibition, featuring a work of art by all the members of the Art Escape. The artists had the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork in the exhibition. Up for grabs was the “Artists’ Choice Award,” sponsored by The Little Gallery of Fine Art in Tairua. Announcing Paula McNeill of Tairua as the winner of the award on Friday evening was an emotional moment for Sarah Holden, owner of The Little Gallery, as Paula is her mother. Second was Colin Verner of Kuaotunu and third Bernadette Ballantyne of Whitianga. Members of the public have the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork in the exhibition until early April, when the winner of the “People’s Choice Award” will be announced. Pictured are all the Art Escape member artists who attended the launch. Mercury Bay Big band in full swing The Mercury Bay Big Band is off to a busy start in 2015. Rehearsals are now held at the Mercury Bay Area School music room and four MBAS students have joined the band. “The students are doing very well,” says band coordinator Helen Lee. “They all are being tutored at school by Paul Lee, one of the band members. “The Mercury Bay Big Band gives the students the opportunity to play the big band genre with more experienced players and this is really good for them.” The band will perform at the Mercury Bay Club on Thursday 19 March. Some new pieces are Page 12 included in the show. “So, put on your dancing shoes and come to the club for a good night out,” says Helen. The show will kick off at 7:30pm. The band will also be playing at A Taste of Matarangi on 11 April. Pictured are the band members, from left to right - Jani Dennis, Paul Lee, Corey Anderson (MBAS student), Daniel Vickers (MBAS student), Tabetha McHugh, Hannah Trebes (MBAS student), Stormi Jones (MBAS student - behind Hannah), Murray Carr, Rhys Nicholas, Martin Van Es, Trevor Hildreth, Helen Lee and Steve Davis. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Continuing Care’s Community Comment The planned refurbishment of the Whitianga Continuing Care facility has started with new light fittings going up as I write. The major works will commence over the next couple of weeks. On the activities front, Valentines Day was a great success - sing songs, heartshaped baking and a surprise visit by Adele aka Frank. The gardens are looking amazing with Louise and the residents doing a great job and making the place look beautiful again. Our volunteers are a great asset to the facility and provide that much needed one-on-one attention that is sometimes lacking in today’s fast paced environment. And of course it’s fantastic to have the Golden Girls back. Our CEO Earl Gasparich has received a reply regarding his request to the Council for a pedestrian crossing. To put it simply - don’t hold your breath. We look forward to further debate on this issue as many families and visitors to the facility are in favour of this and see it as a priority for the safety of all in the area. A big thank you to those in the community who have helped our residents who have had accidents whilst out and about in the town. We really appreciate your fast thinking in calling us and the ambulance in order to deal with the situation as quickly as possible. Unfortunately there have also been a few negative comments about residents on mobility scooters and the ability of residents to go into town shopping. To those people I would like to make it clear that the fact of a person getting older does not diminish their right to enjoy the town and the beach as they always have. An aged-care facility is not a prison, on the contrary we are there to promote independence whilst providing a level of support appropriate to maintaining quality of life. Thank you also for to those in the community who have called us to warn of the rats across the road in the rocks on the beachfront, concerned that some may enter the facility. I have called the Council who assured me they are on top of the issue and have a pest exterminator on the job. Some of the older gents here have offered to take up arms again and “shoot the buggers.” Hopefully it won’t come to that and I look forward to the rat free evenings to come. Craig Scaman, Business and Care Manager, and the Team at Whitianga Continuing Care BUILDING CONTRACTOR Quality workmanship guaranteed Design-Build or Your Plan Alterations & Maintenance Now available for more work in all areas Contact Bernie on any of the following Mob 0274 946 019 Ph 866 4877 Fax 866 4879 Email: [email protected] For more information and photo’s visit our website Kitchens Bathrooms WardroBes Furniture shopFitting Custom Renovations or neW Builds 17 Coghill Street, Whitianga. Phone 07 866 4513, [email protected]. www.dimax.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Website www.testdrill.co.nz Email [email protected] The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz • Inspection Drilling • Cone Penetrometer Tests • Ground Anchoring • Foundations - Excavations • Drilling - Piling • Retaining Walls - Digger Hire Mike 0274 720 882 Ph/Fax 07 866 4643 Page 13 Scott’s Thoughts Scott Simpson - National Party MP for Coromandel Our economy is growing Whitianga 07 866 0070 • Spouting • Roofing • Water treatments systems • Septic tanks • Hot Water cylinders • New Housing • Alterations • General Maintenance • Solar water heating • All LPG gas installation MERCURY BAY POOLS LTD Concrete Swimming Pool Builders • Design and build new pools • Renovations of existing pools • Pool covers, auto or manual • Quality portable spa pools Contact Peter Thomas M: 0274 806 288 A/h 07 866 4358 www.mercurybaypools.co.nz Whitianga and Mercury Bay have had a terrific summer and with luck the golden autumn weather will hold through to Easter. This is my favourite time of year. It’s often said that good government is good housekeeping. More jobs, higher incomes and good growth - these are all benefits of an economic programme that has a positive impact in our local communities. A number of important policies will be implemented over the next few months. In a major initiative that will have a real impact for families with younger children in our area, visits to the doctor will be free for all children under the age of 13. But of course there is often a prescription to be filled by a pharmacy after a visit to the doctor and so I’m pleased that prescription charges for children up to 13 years old will also be free from 1 July this year. When National came into Government in 2008, the Accident Compensation Corporation (“ACC”) was in a real financial mess. Urgent steps had to be taken to rebalance their books to keep ACC working for us all. Several years later, after a more careful financial approach, we are now at a stage where the ACC levy charged for private motor vehicles can be reduced. The reduced ACC fees that come into effect later this year will mean savings of about $130 a year per vehicle. That’s money that people will get to keep in their pockets for either saving or spending on other household items. Furthermore, on 1 April superannuation payments and benefits are set to increase as part of National’s strong commitment to older New Zealanders. Superannuation payments will increase by around $11.60 a week for married couples and $7.50 a week for those living alone. This little bit extra helps seniors live a full life, receiving 66 per cent of the average wage. Benefits will increase in line with inflation, as they have done each year since 2011. This will ensure that our seniors are not worse off because of inflation. Finally, nominations are open for the 2015 Minister of Health Volunteer awards, recognising the thousands of unsung heroes who support New Zealand’s health and disability services. If you know an individual or team of volunteers who deserve to be recognised, and there are many in our region, I encourage you to nominate them. For more information about nominations and the awards go to www.volunteerawards.health.govt.nz. Please never hesitate to make contact with me if I can be of assistance with any matter. For an appointment you can phone my electorate office on (07) 868 3529. Tile & Grout restoration work including cleaning, repair work Grout clear/colour sealing, re-colouring silicone work Shower glass/glass cleaning/treatment Phone/txt Jack 021 775 118 Coromandel Woodcraft Qualified craftsman. Trusted locally for more than 20 years. Kitchens Bathrooms Wardrobes All types of custom furniture 245 B South Highway, Whitianga Phone Gary on 027 293 5947 [email protected] Need a decent pillow? Large selection in store. See your sleeping specialists - Bedpost Whitianga Lee Street, Whitianga P: 07 866 2448 Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Calling all local kauri champions Residents from around Mercury Bay are banding together to save the area’s kauri, large and small, by forming a group specifically to fight against the spread of the deadly kauri dieback disease. New Zealand's kauri are dying from the microscopic, fungus-like organism that infects and kills the fine feeding roots of the trees and locals have ramped up protection measures following the discovery of the disease at two sites in Mercury Bay. Although research is continuing, there is currently no known cure. Mercury Bay volunteers will meet on Monday 16 March from 5:30pm 6:30pm at the Campbells Steak ‘n Ale House in Campbell Street, Whitianga to follow up on their pre-Christmas activities and share practical ideas for preventing the spread of the disease. Whitianga resident Augusta Macassey-Pickard, who co-ordinates the group of volunteers, says the only way to keep kauri standing is for forest users, tangata whenua, communities, landowners, industry and scientists everyone - to work together. “Everyone is welcome to join next week’s get-together because everyone can help, even if they are not outdoors types. This gathering is a great chance to see what you can do and share your ideas. “Actions following our first meeting in December included the distribution of kauri dieback disease brochures through Bachcare and Bookabach and other places and we’ve approached local businesses to display posters. “The group is particularly interested in having local pig hunters and tramping group members who regularly use the forest join and people active in the tourism and accommodation sector. Jeanie Allport of the national Kauri Dieback Programme with an infected kauri in Whangapoua. We also need to protect the kauri planted as specimen trees in reserves, as these are particularly vulnerable to root damage and infection from people walking on the roots.” The Mercury Bay group is part of the Coromandel Kauri Dieback Forum, which is currently calling for local volunteers to set up groups in Coromandel Town, Thames, Waihi and Whangamata too. The Forum has a Facebook page for sharing news and ideas, which Augusta manages. The Kauri Dieback Forum is an independent volunteer organisation working alongside the national Kauri Dieback Management Programme, Rolla-Tilta-Sectional and custom made doors Garages Automatic Openers Houses We service all makes and models 5 Year warranty on all new doors and openers the Department of Conservation, Thames Coromandel District Council and Waikato Regional Council. Forum Chair Vivienne McLean says it will take a combination of individual effort and a collective rallying of communities and agencies to save the region’s kauri. The first dieback infected trees on the Coromandel Peninsula were identified on DOC-managed land above Whitianga in an area known as the Hukarahi Block a year ago and more recently a second site has been identified on private property in Whangapoua. “Sadly, more sites in our area have shown suspicious symptoms and also others outside Mercury Bay,” says Viv. “The bottom line is, we all need to change the way we behave and interact with kauri if we’re to stand a chance of saving them. That may even mean accepting that we can no longer visit our favourite kauri or use local walks if that’s what it’s going to take.” Thanks to funding from the Department of Conservation, the Coromandel Kauri Dieback Forum has recently appointed a coordinator, Alison Smith. Setting up and supporting the Coromandelwide network of local groups is her top priority, along with working with schools, building relationships with iwi and getting the kauri dieback message out into the community. “Alison will be coming along on 16 March, so this will also be chance for people to meet her and have a talk about what the Forum can do to support the volunteer group here in the Bay - and what the Mercury Bay group can do to support the wider Forum,” says Augusta. Just last month the Long Bay Kauri track near Coromandel Town, which features an iconic 1,200-year-old kauri tree, was closed by Thames-Coromandel District Council as a precaution following some soil sampling. Soil samples are now being analysed to determine whether kauri dieback is present and the results are expected within the month. Jeanie Allport, a member of the Kauri Dieback Management Programme’s operations team, says track users were not heeding the dieback signs and staying on the track. “It is evident that walkers are still ignoring the signage - in fact even as I was approaching the tree two tourists were walking on its roots and touching the tree’s trunk.” Sleepouts Your design or ours Licensed building practitioners All concrete work Ph 07 866 5544 or 027 493 2691 71a Cook Drive, Whitianga www.hoylandcontracting.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15 What’s On the next few weeks Sponsored by Dive Zone Whitianga Tel (07) 867 1580 • Kitchens • Laundries • Vanities • Walk in robes • Splash backs • Media Units Contact Carol Harker: 866 4111 or 027 22 66 289 www.kitchensoncoromandel.co.nz Page 16 Op-Shops and JP Social Services Op Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street (west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00am - 1:00pm. Also JP at Social Services, every Monday 10:00am - 12:00 noon. Phone (07) 866 4476 for more information. The Church Op-Shop, at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Thursday to Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm. St John Op-Shop, Coghill Street (east of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Phone 869 5416. Every first Saturday of the month a special promotion. Free Community Meals At St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Albert Street, Whitianga. Phone St Andrews on 867 1102 or email [email protected] for more information. Mercury Bay Community Bus Available for transport to hospital, specialist or health related appointments outside of the Whitianga area. Phone 866 4993 for information and bookings. “Whitianga Movers and Losers” (the Old WW’s) Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm at St Peters Anglican Church, Dundas St, Whitianga. $2 donation (to cover cost of room rent). We promote a slow, steady weight loss based on eating well, nourishing foods and moving more - towards maintaining our our ideal weight and optimal health. New members always welcome. Whitianga Senior Citizens Club Meet Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Contact Pam Phillips (president) 866 5908 for more information. Road Cycling and Mountain Biking Road cycling meet every Saturday at 8:00am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Bryan on 022 155 8944 for more information. Mountain biking meet every Tuesday at 5:15pm and every Saturday at 7:30am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Paul on 021 605 230 for more information. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on 866 4215 for more information or to join. Whitianga Probus Club Meet on the fourth Monday of every month at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Friendly club for seniors. Visitors welcome. Phone Arnold or Vivienne Leigh on (07) 869 5995 for more information. Mercury Bay Table Tennis Every Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Pat or Neville on 867 1447 for more information. Mercury Bay Badminton Every Wednesday 9:30am - 11:00am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Diane on 027 246 1915 for more information. Bridge Clubs Mercury Bay Contract Bridge Club meets every Wednesday. Hahei Bridge Club meets every Tuesday. Phone Anne Knowles on 866 5686 for more information. Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club Thursday evenings at 7:00pm in the Whitianga Town Hall. New members and visitors welcome. Just come along or phone Doreen on (07) 866 5237 or Alan on (07) 866 4024 for more information. St John Cadets Meet every Monday from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the St John Ambulance Station, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Beth on (07) 869 5294 or (021) 241 9757 for more information. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre Group Spinning, weaving, dyeing, everything to do with fibre. Meet the first and third Wednesday of every month from 10:00am - 2:00pm at the Whitianga Town Hall. Phone Betty on 867 1233 for more information. Whitianga Social Services Youth Space Corner of Bryce Street and Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Wednesday - Fridays after school. Also Friday 13 March at 5:30pm the opportunity to meet an artist from last Saturday’s Outdoor Rock Concert. Phone 866 4472 for more informationm. Coroglen Farmers Market Every Sunday from 9:30am - 1:00pm at the Coroglen Hall, SH25, Coroglen. Whitianga Art Group Meet every Thursday and Friday at the Art Centre in School Road, Whitianga. New members welcome. Phone Heather on 866 4474 or Maryanne on 866 4099 for more information. Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio Tour The first two weekends in March - a self drive tour of 48 artists’ studios in the wider Mercury Bay area. See www.mercurybayartescape.com for more information. Mercury Bay Area School Rugby v Shawnigan Lake from Canada Wednesday 11 March at Lyon Park, Whitianga. Development teams at 4:30pm. First XV teams at 6:00pm. Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Stabicraft Trailer Boat Tournament Thursday 12 March - Saturday 14 March 2015. See www.gamebase.co.nz for more information. Whitianga Art, Craft and Farmers Market Saturday 14 March from 8:30am - 1:00pm at Soldiers Memorial Park, Whitianga. Waka Ama Family Open Day Sunday 15 March at Brophy’s Beach, Whitianga. From 9:30am. All welcome. BYO towel, togs and picnic lunch. Phone 866 44476 for more information. Thames Coromandel District Council Draft Long Term Plan Community Meetings Monday 16 March at the Tairua Library at 1:00pm, Tuesday 17 March at the Mercury Bay Area Office in Whitianga at 1:00pm and Wednesday 18 March at the Pauanui Fire Station at 1:00pm. Offshore Powerboat Racing Saturday 21 March off Buffalo Beach, Whitianga. A two race format. The first race at 11:00am. Weekly Church Services Mercury Bay Co-operating Parish St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, 9:30am every Sunday worship service and kids friendly Bible sessions with Rev Mary Petersen, Albert St, Whitianga. Anglican Services St Peter the Fisherman, 9:30am Sunday services. All are welcome, Dundas St, Whitianga. Crossroad Encounter Fellowship 10:00am Sundays, cnr Joan Gaskell Drive and Cook Drive, Whitianga. St Patrick’s Catholic Church Weekend Mass Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday 8.30am, Monday - Friday 9:00am (except Tuesday no Mass, Wednesday 12:00 noon). Tairua Sunday 10:30am, Tuesday 9:00am, tel 866 2189. Whitianga Baptist Church 10:00am every Sunday, children’s programme, 112 Cook Drive, Whitianga, tel 866 4027. C3 Whitianga 10:30am every Sunday, children’s programme, 23 Coghill St, Whitianga, email [email protected]. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Meet on Sundays 10:00am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. Children’s programme. Phone 021 277 2126 for more information. Seventh Day Adventists Home study group. Phone Laurie/Lois on 866 2808 for more information. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Proposed new levy for holiday rentals By Alison Smith Coromandel Peninsula property owners that rent out a room to guests or rent their property to holidaymakers will have to pay $200 a year under proposed new rules by Thames Coromandel District Council. The Council’s draft Long Term Plan introduces a targeted fixed rate of $200 per property for those who make their homes available on a short term basis for holiday rentals and is also proposing to classify Bed and Breakfast businesses with four or more bedrooms available for short term accommodation as commercial rather than residential ratepayers, paying commercial rates. The proposed changes are projected to collect $252,000 which will reduce the amount to be collected from all ratepayers for funding economic development activities across the district. Currently moteliers pay the commercial portion of the Council’s Economic Development rate and their competitors do not. Other changes are also proposed, which the Council sees as bringing fairness for people who have granny flats on their property and who only make use of this second dwelling for family and friends on a non-paying basis and for those in retirement villages who own a “licence to occupy” their homes, rather than having a freehold interest in their home. The following is taken from the proposed Long Term Plan, which is available for public comment until 4:00pm on Thursday 9 April. “Two issues have been raised with us in recent times, where those impacted consider they are not being treated fairly or with empathy. Those people who have one additional unit on their property are charged additional uniform charges. Where they only make use of this second dwelling for family and friends on a nonpaying basis, a remission of these additional charges is available upon application and subject to certain conditions being met. We are proposing to add to our rates remission policy so that there will be an automatic remission of 50 per cent of the fixed charges applicable to owners with one additional unit used as accommodation where these units are 50m² or less in size (as these are permitted to be built on a property as of right in our District Plan). This should provide greater certainty and require less administration for the relevant property owners. “Those residents of retirement villages who own a ‘licence to occupy’ their homes, rather than having a freehold interest in their home, are unable to access the rates rebate made available by central government when they have very low incomes. They are however still required to pay the rates through their contracts with the retirement villages. This difference in treatment has been acknowledged by some other Councils. “The Retirement Villages Association advocated that we should make a grant to the relevant retirement villages as well. After researching the issue, we came to the conclusion that it would be showing empathy to a small section of our community to remit their rates to an amount equal to that which they would receive from central government, should they have owned their homes outright. This proposal will cost approximately $50,000 per year. Other alternatives we considered were to do nothing or to provide a grant at a small fixed amount regardless of each person’s circumstances. We have taken the view that to do nothing is not living up to our core values and to simply make a set figure grant is relatively too generous to some people and equally, not good enough for those who would receive more.” The full Long Term Plan document can be seen at libraries, Council offices and online at www.tcdc.govt.nz/ltp and this includes details for your local councillor. This is your chance to let the mayor, councillors and Community Board members understand your views or to put forward your ideas and the Council is urging people to take the time to get involved and have their say. The mayor, councillors, Community Board members and TCDC staff will be available across the district during the time the draft Long Term Plan is open for submissions to discuss the proposals and future planning. They will be in Whitianga at 1:00pm on Tuesday 17 March in the Monk St office of TCDC, at the Tairua Library at 1:00pm on Monday 16 March and the Pauanui Fire Station on Wednesday 18 March also at 1:00pm. 5 Monk Street, Whitianga Office Ph: 07 8671087 Email: [email protected] David: 027 4994833 Tracey: 027 4907988 See us for all your land development, planning and resource consent requirements. www.plannersplus.co.nz Farmers “cultivation time” under sowing dicing, power harrowing roll seed roll {cultivated ground} Call now for a no obligation price or booking 027 511 8178 / 07 866 5745 Your local caring funeral directors • Modern chapel & viewing room • • Excellent sound system • • Ample parking • Celebrants available • Funeral Directors for over 140 years Tel (07) 868 6003 Top of bed. Large selection. See your sleeping specialists - Bedpost Whitianga Lee Street, Whitianga P: 07 866 2448 Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17 3 1 95 4 6 2 87 Sudoku Fishing Report with Alan Proctor Sponsored by H&M Pascoe Tel 0274 852 046 Puzzle 627 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once. Deliver or mail your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The weekly prize is one free Current Release from Civic Video, Whitianga. The winner must please claim his/her prize from Civic Video directly. A significantly reduced fishing effort out wide this week has had the expected result and no marlin or tuna have been weighed here since the end of the Tristram Marine Open. Many local fishers are taking a break between tournaments, but there are still a few visiting boats from north and south out there chasing game fish, with several reports over CH61 of multiple strikes, tag and releases and the odd boated fish. Most days we are still hearing of marlin being tagged or boated from our area, so it’s good to see the fish are still out there as we prepare for the next major tournament for our club - the Stabicraft Trailerboat Tournament, starting this Thursday. We will have in the vicinity of $150,000 of prizes, which will be won and/or given away and will be a big draw card for many anglers. This tournament is specifically designed for smaller craft and everyone is welcome. You don’t need to be an existing member of our club (although you will need to buy a day membership for each day fishing) and any brand of boat, dinghy, kayak, etc will suffice. In-shore fishing is still ticking along nicely with some excellent reports of good quality snapper fishing in shallow water around Needle Rock, Little Ohinau and the Black Rocks. Fishers have also done well close to Korapuki, Stanley Island and the south eastern edge of the Big Island. Closer to the mainland many anglers are being plagued by undersized fish, with just the odd keeper amongst them. Catching snapper in the river seems relatively easy, though there are varying reports on the sizes, with some fishers ending up with a good feed and others just feeding the juvenile snapper. There are still quite a few work ups in the very outer part of the Bay and catching a kahawai for bait or a meal shouldn’t present too many problems. There are kingies dotted around these kahawai schools as well and though most will struggle to go 100cm, there are a few good ones amongst them, making it well worth the effort. It hasn’t been uncommon for fishers to come home with a bycatch of trevally, which is a welcome sight on most dinner tables. A few of these fish are up around the 3-4kg mark and put up a good fight, but they have notoriously soft mouths and you must play the fish carefully so as not to pull the hook if you want to see it. One report has come in that there are gurnard out in deeper water behind Centre Island and that they are of really good size, which will be pleasing news for those who have struggled to catch many of this species inside the Bay in recent weeks. Tight lines, Alan Last week’s solution Last week’s winner - Isabel Lloyd Keeping you on the water Open 6 days - SALES SERVICES & REPAIRS Ph 07 867 1280 The one stop shop for all your boating needs. Located at 14 Moewai Road Whitianga (Out by the Airport) Deals on now... Sounders, Fish Finders and New Outboard Engines *Ask us about Mercury Finance “We know marine and we know great deals” Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 To the Editor See page 2 for our requirements with regard to letters and contributions Dear Editor - Say yes to smart meters! There is no danger! Sylvia Gallot has made some serious claims in her letter in The Informer of last week. There are people, particularly the elderly, in our community who now think that electromagnetic fields (“EMF”) is a killer or it will inflict serious illness upon us as it has “negative effects” (whatever that is). There are more positives than negative from having this equipment installed. This sort of correspondence is the stuff that causes “negative effects” on people’s minds. Smart meters in NZ are not a major contributor of EMF and Mercury Energy will confirm that. Talk of smart meters transmitting two miles away and in clusters is nonsense. Smart meters in New Zealand work singularly and transmit monthly consumption data twelve times per year via the cellular phone system. This operation is similar to intruder alarms, St John’s medical alarms, etc. Anyone who read Sylvia Gallot’s letter should not take seriously the alarmist nonsense she has contributed, but ignore it! P Bethell Whitianga Dear Editor - The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement On Saturday last week a few of us gathered in front of the Mercury Bay Library in Whitianga to voice our concerns about the serious shortcomings and known pitfalls of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement of which, due to secrecy, few New Zealanders are even aware. Unfortunately there was no information to hand out nor a PA system and the sound of loud music was a serious challenge to two speakers who certainly did their best. One big problem. Because our government debt has now climbed from $15,000,000,000 in 2007 to a record $87,000,000,000 and climbing even more rapidly, we are probably unable to say no anyway. Our current leader has sure seen to that. We can only do our best to encourage people to be strong and encourage others that freedom is very precious. I believe that most of us would not go down without a fight. Information can be found at www.itsourfuture.org.nz. Tragicly, our erstwhile US banker and corporate man who is currently our leader and secretly “negotiating” with his US friends is doing his best to challenge that freedom. John Macassey Kuaotunu Sailing in the Bay last week The boat racing report this week is a combined effort with contributions from Lee Boswell (skipper of True Colors) and Al Joslin (skipper of Solvieg). The field was spread wide in last Wednesday’s Steinlager Series race of the Mercury Bay Boating Club, with H2Go and Solvieg well in front and plenty of drama and excitement back in the rear. Solvieg reported about 200 seagulls to chase away and a scrub down before the start of the race, where light winds and calm conditions prevailed. A combination of tactics and luck was always going to be a factor in these conditions. It was crowded at the windward end of the start line, with a few choice sailor words exchanged between vessels and the smaller more agile boats having to dodge the bigger ones. Despite the crowding, the whole fleet managed to avoid contact and settled into a reach to the first mark (Doctors Buoy). The breeze was 8-10 knots, but good consistent pressure helped keep things moving as everyone tried to climb up to Cooks Beach. At this stage the field split into two groups with different strategies, some heading on a starboard tack to Davis Point and the rest on port tack to Shakespeare Cliff. At the first cross it was a definite advantage to the Shakespearians. H2Go and Solvieg were already showing real speed and their ability to tack quickly and often was allowing them to create a real break on the field. Loose followed her usual close to shore direct route and looked a danger early on. After making a strong start, Blue Print and Shadz managed to find a completely different wind pattern and began to head for South America, with both Longshot and Killara also affected by the same breeze. Then it was tacticians to the fore and the pressure coming out of Cooks Beach was spotted by True Colors, Contrast and Vanadis - who made a big break on the pack. H2go and Solvieg continued to extend, picking up speed in the light conditions. Rounding Doctors proved crucial. Both True Colors and Loose made good calls to tack in pressure and were pack members to get to the mark first. Up ahead Solvieg had begun a tacking duel with “the Bullet” H2Go, but came to grief as she came around the Simpsons Buoy, snapping a carbon pole and sending the kite flying. Her crew recovered quickly by hoisting a spinnaker which was more suited to the run home. Getting around the Cooks Beach mark in pressure gave both True Colors and Loose a significant advantage heading downwind until they went head to head at the Simpsons mark. There was more drama when both boats had issues gibing their spinnakers and almost touched. Fortunately for True Colors she recovered after losing a sheet and continued to fly her chute all the way to the finish. The crew on Loose dropped their spinnaker after rounding Simpsons, only to be overtaken by True Colours still flying hers. The crew realised their mistake and got it up again, but it was too late to catch the bigger boat. Difficult light winds didn’t help the chasing boats and there was no chance to make up time coming home. H2Go won line honours and also took the handicap win, with Solvieg having her best race of the series finishing second over the line and third on handicap. Holding her spinnaker for two legs helped True Colors to second place on handicap. Coastal Tyre & Alignment & East Coast Automotive are under one roof So when you need ... Tyres Mechanical Repairs Wheel Alignments WOFs Mechanical Repairs On your … Car Motorcycle Trailer Truck Why drive around? Come to the One Stop Shop! For all your needs - engine oil, Fork oil and chain lube, we are now the Suppliers of Motul Motorbike Oil for the Coromandel Peninsula. Phone Malcolm on 07 866 2120 8a Dakota Drive, Whitianga Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19 Sport Results (our thanks to the coaches, managers and administrators who provide us with the results) MERCURY BAY SENIOR RUGBY Pre-Season Game - Saturday 7 March Mercury Bay First XV 10 v Tokoroa 5. MERCURY BAY FAMILY TAG FOOTY Finals - Sunday 8 March Family Junior - Young Guns 2 3 v Young Guns 2. Family Senior - Dark Siders 3 v Kaos 2. Open Senior - Green Machine 11 v Buffalo Boys 9. MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Opening Night - Thursday 5 March A Drawn 4's Tournament was the season opener and sponsored by Whitianga New World supermarket. The club welcomed 40 players, which included seven from the Cook's Beach club and eight from the Tairua club. Everyone enjoyed a great night of bowling, socialising, raffles and ending with a delicious supper. The winning team was Rae Jensen (MB), Merle Ward (MB), Roy McDonald (CB) and Anne Jeune (MB). The runners-up were Joan Smith (T), Norm Strong (CB), Colleen Taberner (MB) and Dot Codyre (MB). These players received New World gift vouchers and the club thanks Stacey Rolton of New World Whitianga for his ongoing generous sponsorship. The good sports were Doreen Davies (MB), Neville Hopley (MB), John Morrison (T) and Cheryl Henderson (MB) and they received the chocolate fish. The club meets every Thursday at 6:45pm in the Whitianga Town Hall and warmly welcomes new members. Come along and give it a go! TAIRUA INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Monday 2 March The first night of the new season at Tairua. A good number attended with four mats in play. Winners - Ken Lowe, Geoff Lawrence, Peter Carverhill. Runners-Up - Albie Marr and Ron Annan. Good Sports Award - Bruce Crawford, Celia Morrison and Barry Spinlay. Raffles were won by - Joan Smith, Albie Marr, Ray Bruce, Perrine Busby and Beryl Burrows. A few days ago a number of Tairua players attended Cooks Beach Opening Night, which was very enjoyable. TAIRUA COUNTRY CLUB Ladies Golf - Tuesday 3 March 18-holers and 9-holers joined together for a fun round of golf, playing a mixed foursome with stableford scores. Results - Bev Wickham and Bev Waterman 22, Linda Keyte and Joyce Birdsall 21, Sue Poland and Val McLaughlin 20, Marilyne McCabe and Audrey Scrivener 20, Jill Shandley and Gwenda Flavell 20, Josey Feasey and Janet Taylor 19. PENINSULA NAIL GUN SERVICING Ph Ian Sloane 866 4235 027 7263 797 Page 20 PURANGI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Thursday 5 March The competition was par. First was John Hughes with + 6. Phil Costello and Norm Strong had +4 and Dick Watson +1. Saturday 7 March A Stableford competition. First Mark Cox with 42 points, Tim Bartlett 40 and Grant Rowell 39. John Hamilton, Barry Scott and Warwick Steel all had 37 points. John Hamilton won the nett eagles/birdies competition. MERCURY BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Ladies’ Golf Area Stableford - Wednesday 4 March Results Division One - Mary Ross 40, Beryl Gilliland 40, Joan Roseman 39, Chris Fox 39. Results Division Two - Debbie Davidson 45, Chrissie Tegg 40, Ann Blair 38, Maria Duxfield 37. Nearest the Pin on 4 - Del Langdon, Nearest the Pin on 18 in two - Pam Anderson. Men’s Golf - Wednesday 4 March 16 two-man teams competed in a net 4 ball better ball. Two teams shared the winning score of 56 Ian Millin/Gary Kilmister and Bill McLean/Lee Hall. Third place one back were Mike Croad/Ron Watson. Closest on hole #2 was Mike Croad and Bruce Massie on #4. Twos in the senior category were scored by Gord Davidson, Mike Croad, Roger Booth and David Fussel. Bill McLean cleaned out the jackpot for a deuce in the junior group. The net albatross jackpot was not struck and will be carried forward to next week. Ladies’ 9-Hole Golf - Thursday 5 March A good field of 17 assembled to play in a gross and net competition. Two new members were welcomed as was Debbie Holmes, our club Manager, who joined the 9-hole members for a game. Results First Division - Gross Audrey Vickers and Net Kathleen Stewart. Results Second Division - Gross Margret Coysh and Net Sandra Bushell. A highlight for Audrey was reaching the green on the par five 7th hole in 3. Men’s Golf - Saturday 7 March This day turned out to be the best scoring day of the summer, with twelve players scoring 40 points or more and two thirds of the total field playing to their handicap or better. The winner was Paul Lupton with 48 points, shooting an 82 off 23, for a net 59. Second was Carl Mitchell with 47 points, shooting 70 off a 10 handicap. Next was Steve Tull with 44, followed by Lee Hall on 43. They were followed by a group on 41, Alan Proctor, Kevin Smith and Kelly Barson, with Garry Morton and Jack Skinner on 40 points. Twos were scored by Ken George and Carl Mitchell. Nearest the Pin Senior (0-18) - Carl Mitchell, Junior (19-36) - Kevan Miles. Longest Drive Senior - Geoffrey Lowe, Junior - Paul Lupton. The New World Open is Saturday 14 March, teeing off between 8:30am and 10:30am. Please book at the office. MERCURY BAY PONY CLUB Show jumping - Wednesday 4 March Results 35-50cm - 1 Rylee on Jimmie, 2 Sarah on Chillie. Results 50cm - 1 Rylee on Jimmie, 2 Eden on Possum, 3 Sarah on Chillie. Results 50-65cm - 1 Alex on Ava, 2 Shannon on Bon Fire. Results 50c-65cm - 1 Shannon on Bon Fire. Results 65-70cm - 1 Shannon on Lavanti, Rochelle on Indi, 3 Nakita on Henry. Results 85-95cm - 1 Sarah on Tuhoi, Nakita on Henry, 3 Shannon on Lavanti. MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER Wednesday 4 March Best of three frames. Winner - Ken Gibson with three wins, runner-up Wayne Bellingham with two wins. Also with two wins - Peter Challis. Highest score - Wayne Bellingham. HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB Betty Dunn Pairs - Tuesday 3 March North/South - 1 Alison Tichbon and Robyn Hogg 67.93, 2 Philip Shewell and Sue Gill 56.06, 3 Laura Scaglia and Chris Death 55.56. East/West - 1 Ngaire O’Brien and Alva Gibson 60.00, 2 Annette Gray and Dave Dylla 54.44, 3= Annette Cox and Peter France and Chris Ellett and Vivienne Leigh 53.33. MERCURY BAY CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUB Handicap Pairs - Wednesday 4 March North/South - 1 Terry Stewart and Dave Dylla 55.69, 2 Laura Scaglia and Sue Gill 55.01, 3 Gerry Church and Giorgio Allemano 50.55. East/West - 1 Jenny Layton and Doreen Harris 59.73, 2 Vivienne Leigh and Ian Peden 59.58, 3 Bev Philips and Val Dwight 55.29. MERCURY BAY TENNIS CLUB Business House - Tuesday 3 March Whitianga Hotel def MBAS 9-8 9-4, NYM def The Cut Hut 8-9 9-2 4-3, Pen Vet Services def Coastal Sanctuary 9-8 9-4. Young Guns 2 - the 2014/2015 Junior Family Tag Footy champions. Back from left to right - Dylan Glazer, Mason Norgrove, coach Bryan Skelton, Carter Hodge, Fenella Skelton and Holly Smith. Front from left to right - Tane Skelton, William Lockhart and Quinn Smith. Thumbs Up To the organisers of the family tag footy competition that finished last weekend in Mercury Bay. A great community initiative. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Peninsula Home Kills SERVING THE WHOLE PENINSULA - 2011 Processing beef, sheep, pigs & all game Top quality sausages, bacon, ham & salami g Knife sharpenin . le b service availa Phone Nick Burcombe 866 3970 or 021 2125 260 21 Rangihau Road, Coroglen Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Successful weekend for two Pony Club members AutoCare Whitianga Limited Trading As Subaru Authorised Parts & Service Centre We Will Service & Repair Any Make & Model WoF Electronic Diagnostics On Car Brake Lathe New & Used Vehicle Sales # Tyres~Fitted & Balanced Test Drive the exciting new 2014 Subaru XV Today! Call Wayne Wilson & the Team 6 Abrahamson Drive E: [email protected] # 07 866 4134 Vehicles sold in conjunction with Bay Subaru Whitianga Tractors & EQUIPMENT CENTRE Sales Repairs Maintenance TRACTORS & SMALL ENGINES Dave and Karen The past weekend was very successful for two of the members of the Mercury Bay Pony Club. At the Woodhill Sands (north of Auckland) show jumping competition on Saturday, Rochelle Litherland (pictured) achieved two first places (in the 80cm and 90cm horse classes) and a third place in the 1m horse class. At the Papatoetoe show jumping competition on Sunday, Rochelle achieved a first place in the 1m horseclass and also a clear round ribbon in the 80cm training ring. Amelia Lockhart also did very well at the Papatoetoe competition. She achieved a first place in the 1m pony class and in the 90cm pony class she came second. Phone 07 867 1046 a/hrs 0275 832 343 Email [email protected] Dakota Drive Whitianga Your local Husqvarna dealer Sore back at night? Need a better bed? See your sleeping specialists - Bedpost Whitianga Lee Street, Whitianga P: 07 866 2448 Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21 US Style Crossword © The New York Times ACROSS Puzzle US 627 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ Go in the draw to win a weekend for two in Queenstown next winter (transport to Auckland Airport, flights, accommodation and $500 spending money included). Deliver or mail (or scan and email) your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner will be notified by phone. No correspondence will be entered into once the winner has been notified. Conditions apply. 3.1415926 ... BY TOM MCCOY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Last week’s solution 1 Exploit, e.g. 4 Mountain cat 8 All-____ 11 Careen 15 “New Adventures in Hi-Fi” band 18 Thickness 19 Subject of a prophecy in Genesis 20 Ad ____ 21 Eponymous Indian tribe 22 Cry on the bridge 23 The last one in, perhaps 25 Toledo-to-Akron dir. 26 “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” asker 28 Move quickly, as clouds 29 Shames into action 32 Puts on 33 Darlings 34 Cross 35 Confuse 37 Capital near the 60th parallel 38 Sushi coating, maybe 40 Currency in Turkey 41 Bully on “The Simpsons” 43 “____ no doubt” 45 Mess 46 2009 Newberywinning author Gaiman 49 Where you might exchange tender for tenders 52 Something off the top of your head? 54 Particularly: Abbr. 55 Make content 56 El Amazonas, e.g. 57 Hole punchers 58 Heart-to-heart, e.g. 62 Shaving ____ 63 Wood in Lucius Malfoy’s wand 64 Chum 65 Setting for part of “Frankenstein” 69 With 94- and 72-Across, a mnemonic for the first eight digits of [symbol in the middle of the grid] 71 XV years before the Battle of Hastings 72 See 69-Across 74 “I” strain? 75 Jeremy of the N.B.A. 76 Like much of Italy in 700 B.C. 77 Encrusted 78 Atop 81 ____ Bay, site of a historic Admiral Perry visit of 1853 82 Israeli diet 85 Disquietude 86 “Carry on” 88 It never starts with 666: Abbr. 89 Beast imagined in “Beasts of the Southern Wild” 91 “That makes sense now” 93 Practice runners: Abbr. 94 See 69-Across 101 Trips up? 103 Computing pioneer Lovelace 104 Agitates 107 It’s revolting 108 One way of learning, it’s said 111 Parish head 113 Belch 114 Risky venture 116 Cropped up 117 Snitch 118 Fabled 90-Down 119 Needle case 120 Like two lowercase letters of the alphabet 121 Mormon V.I.P. 122 English author Blyton 123 1/2, for one 124 Brings around DOWN 1 Bank inits. 2 Not far apart 3 As is usual 4 Remains unsettled 5 Exploit 6 Smith of “Downton Abbey” 7 Portends 8 Heat, informally 9 Breather 10 Stock of certain companies? 11 12 Like the previous clue (which originally read “Place of Jewish worship”) 13 Red Cross work 14 Place to get clean 15 How questions may be asked 16 Derelict buildings, e.g. 17 Eau holder 24 Money in la banque or la banca 27 “Rolling in the Deep” singer 30 Bank inits. 31 “Where would ____ without you?” 33 Puts on 36 [Good heavens!] 38 Enter through the back door, say 39 Frat Pack member Ben 42 Slip-____ 44 Slugger’s stat, for short 47 “Who goes there?” response 48 Deadly 49 One end of the hotline 50 Pie part (that’s appropriately placed in this puzzle?) 51 Arrivals 52 Betide 53 Be in store for 58 Threatens, as a king 59 “____ Heroes” 60 Like a body no longer at rest? 61 x 65 N.A.A.C.P. or N.C.A.A. part: Abbr. 66 Trounced 67 Ladies’ man 68 Church assemblies 70 Tobacco chewers’ chews 73 & 79 Place to get spare parts 80 Ear-related 83 Key material 84 Ballyhoo 86 Hide 87 Put on again 90 Race loser 92 Solve 94 It always points down 95 Football hiker 96 Bivouacked 97 Brouhahas 98 Struck (out at) 99 Escalator parts 100 What money can be kept in 101 Ear-related 102 Cry exclaimed while facepalming 105 More work 106 Actress Parker 107 Parcel (out) 109 Rani’s wear 110 Bit 112 Chianti and Beaujolais 114 What’s that in Italy? 115 Train-track support Mobility equipment available available for locals or visitors. Walking frames, crutches, walking sticks and mobility scooters Phone Roger on 07 867 1986 for more information Page 22 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 UK Style Crossword © Lovatts Puzzles Puzzle UK 627 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ Win a $6 Big Wednesday ticket. Deliver or mail (or scan and email) your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim his/her prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday the week following the issue in which he/she was announced the winner. T HE O DD J OB M AN GARY VINCENT No job too small. [email protected] 07 866 0059 021 1466 074 Carpet Cleaning Charlie Lodge & Restoration Residential Commercial Industrial Carpet Cleaning & Restoration - Marine Carpet & Upholstery Upholstery Cleaning - Stain Removal - Rug Cleaning Vinyl Floor Restoration - Spot Dyeing - Odour Control All work undertaken will be to the AS/NZ Standard Institute of Inspection Cleaning And Restoration Certification T: 07 866 0075 M: 027 2806374 B-ROW PROJECTS P 020 404 31990 ACROSS 1. Unpredictable 4. Large sea mammal 7. Lift 8. Chores 9. Picturesque 12. Lengthen 15. Role models 17. Pass (of time) 18. Dock 21. Word jumble 22. Shaving cuts 23. Earth’s mid-line DOWN 1. Unmasking 2. In poor health 3. Zodiac Cancer symbol 4. Sharpen (appetite) 5. Extremely bad 6. Dines 10. Prison rooms 11. Pickle 13. Outward 14. Over-zealous supporter 16. Yellow fruit 18. Caution 19. Cooling appliances 20. Story Last week’s solution E [email protected] • Decks • Fences • Repairs • Property maintenance • Sleep out conversions • Minor alterations Quick response time Free quoting All work considered Call Bram 020 404 31990 Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Last week’s winner - K Nicholsen The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 23 Hot Water Beach Junior Surf brings home a medal More than 800 athletes from 42 surf lifesaving clubs from all over New Zealand descended the week before last on Mt Maunganui Beach for the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships. Hot Water Beach was represented by a team of eight junior athletes, who made their mark among the country’s toughest competitors. The group finished 18th overall on points. Taine Mason made it into two finals and finished with a 9th in his flags final and a 7th in his age group’s very fast sprint final. Holly McCleery finished 10th in her board final. Jasmine McCleery finished 9th in her flags final and achieved a silver medal in her board final. Individually the Hot Water Beach athletes achieved as follows Tiana Tiro - flags 14th, board race heat 9th, run swim run semi 12th, diamond heat 11th, surf swim semi 17th, Conor Fitzsimons - board race heat 15th, Emma Hinds-Senior - flags 14th, run swim run heat 25th, surf race heat 15th, Holly McCleery - flags 25th, board final 10th, run swim run semi 14th, surf race semi 13th, sprint semi 5th, diamond semi 11th, Taine Mason - flags final 9th, board race heat 9th, sprint final 7th, Jasmine McCleery - flags final 9th, board race final 2nd, run swim run semi 14th, sprint heat 1st, Zeke Tiro - board race heat 12th, run swim run heat 15th, Troy Bernhard - board race heat 16th, run swim run heat 16th, board rescue - Zeke and Troy heat 4th, Holly and Emma heat 4th, tube rescue - Tiana and Jasmine heat 6th, Holly and Emma semi 7th, board relay - Troy, Zeke and Conor heat 16th. The team members and their parents would like to say a huge thank you to Go Kiwi Shuttles, Matarangi Markets, the ladies in the sewing room at the Hinds family farm, New World Whitianga, Derek Collier, Birdwood Springs Mini Putt, Blackjack Surf, Infinite Fitness, The Lost Spring, Lukes Kitchen, OPC, Stephenson’s Pharmacy, Subway, Whitianga Waterways and the community in general for their support. Pictured are the members of the Hot Water Beach team, from left to right - Tane Mason, Jasmine McCleery, Troy Bernhard, Tiana Tiro, Emma Hinds-Senior, Zeke Tiro, Conor Fitzsimons and Holly McCleery. Classifieds & Public Notices PUBLIC NOTICES COUNTRY MUSIC CONCERT Sunday 15 March, 2:00pm at the Mercury Bay Club. Phone Ray Hewlett on 866 2822 for more information. TE WHANGANUI-A-HEI MARINE RESERVE COMMITTEE MEETING A meeting will be held at 10:00am on Monday the 16th of March at the Hahei Community Hall. Members of the public welcome. ARE YOU NEW TO THE HAHEI/ COOKS BEACH AREA? Would you like to join a small, friendly garden group? Please phone or email for further information Phone 021 042 2132 Email [email protected]. DO YOU KNOW THIS CAT? Bowler (temporary name) is a neutered, one-year-old male. He was found at the bottom of Centennial Drive, Whitianga (towards Stormont Lane). Please contact Peninsula Vets, Albert Street, Whitianga. Phone 866 5314. Kuaotunu Residents & Ratepayers Association Inc AGM Sunday 5th April 10:00am Kuaotunu Hall Page 24 STALL HOLDERS WANTED What - COOKS BEACH EASTER MARKET DAY Where - Cooks Beach Community Hall. When - Easter Sunday 5th April from 10am - 1pm. Phone Lesley Morrison for details 866 5334 or 021 157 9979. WHITIANGA TOY LIBRARY Isabella Street (off Coghill St). Open Tuesday 4pm - 6:30pm and Friday 10am - 12.30pm. New members welcome. ~Toys for Hire~ WHITIANGA PIG HUNTING CLUB AGM Saturday 28 March 1:00pm Coroglen Tavern WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? FIND YOUR ANCESTORS! Join a free class in family history online research. EASY TO LEARN. AND ALL FREE. To register or for more information Call Elder Gordon 027 560 2469 or 021 277 2126 WHITIANGA ART, CRAFT & FARMERS MARKET Saturday 14 March Soldiers Memorial Park, Albert Street, Whitianga, 8:30am - 1:00pm. Unique locally created art, craft & local produce. Anne 866 5550 or Doreen 866 5237. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 Classifieds & Public Notices COURIER SERVICES SITUATIONS VACANT VOLUNTEERS WANTED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We need more volunteers to work in our Coghill Street Op Shop Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings - 8.45am to 1pm. If you have some spare time and would like to join a great team of ladies sorting and serving customers, give Delle at Social Services a call on 8664476 for more information. SITUATIONS VACANT PART TIME CLEANING POSITION Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park requires a friendly person to join our cleaning team. The successful applicant will be well presented, with a good level of fitness. They must be responsible, with a mature attitude along with a sense of pride in their work. The applicant will be able to work within a team and be able to take direction. Please reply to - [email protected] or 07 866 3116. LANDSCAPING LABOURER Part time/full time Phone 027 611 3384. THE INFORMER HAS PAPER RUNS AVAILABLE We pay really well. Please phone (07) 866 2090 or email [email protected] if you’re interested. BACHCARE IS RECRUITING IN TAIRUA! Become a Bachcare Holiday Manager and join NZ’s leading holiday home management company. Receive excellent training / support. If you enjoy meeting people, have great attention to detail and are a cleaning extraordinaire, contact [email protected]. COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS/SUPPORT WORKERS NEEDED URGENT need for your area We are currently looking for Caregivers/Support Workers to join the team of one of the most reputable Homecare Support Providers in New Zealand. You will work in the community providing support and quality care to clients who require help to stay in their own homes. • Flexible hours • Free training available towards a Healthcare Cert LV2 This will include • Helping with personal care, showering, dressing, etc. • Helping with household chores • Preparation of meals It is essential that you have • A current valid driving licence • A reliable vehicle For further information about this role, please call Michele (07) 929 4418 or email [email protected]. The Coroglen Tavern is looking for a superstar to work our bar. Monday & Tuesday nights + Saturday & Sunday days. This is a part time position starting asap, approx 15 - 20 hours per week. We also need a part timer that can work flexible hours that could turn into full time work when the last of our summer staff leave (bar + kitchen). Lazy bums need not apply as we need someone that is RELIABLE and can cope in sometimes hot and fast paced situations... Experience in a bar and a General Managers Cert would be a plus, but not essential. YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO CONTACTABLE WORK REFERENCES. Drop your CV off in person to Jed or Michelle at The Coroglen Tavern or email [email protected] for more info. Cheers. PENINSULA AGGREGATES LIMITED Temporary machine operators required Digger/loader/dumpers If you are keen and viable and can competently operate heavy machinery, and can pass a drug test, we are keen to hear from you. Must have own transport. Phone 021 684 636. RETAIL POSITION We are seeking someone with proven retail ability, with general clerical skills and an understanding and interest in scuba diving to work with our dynamic, fun team. This is a full time position, Monday to Friday, but may include some weekend work. To apply please send CV to Retail Position C/- P O Box 202 Whitianga MOTEL CLEANER REQUIRED Permanent casual position available at 9 unit motel. Must be reliable. Experience would be an advantage. Please phone Kevin or Karen on 866 5607. REQUIRED FOR AL CAMINO RESTAURANT Experienced waitress and Greek chef. Phone 866 2200 or 866 5733. CO-ORDINATOR OSCAR (OUT OF SCHOOL CARE AND RECREATION) Permanent Part-Time School weekdays 1:15pm - 5:15pm School holidays Mon - Fri 8:30pm - 5:00pm Applicants must have demonstrated experience working with children and also have people management skills. For a job description contact Delle on 8664476 or email CV with referees to [email protected]. Applications close Friday 20 March. CINEMA SHIFT POSITION We require a mature person to carry out all operational duties at our cinemas on a casual basis. You must be able to greet our customers with a smile, be honest and reliable and enjoy meeting people. Hours of work will vary from week to week, but must be able to work over holiday periods. Full training will be given. If this sounds like you, please contact Glen (0274 272 372) or Gisella (0211 115027) MERCURY TWIN CINEMAS WHITIANGA Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 25 Classifieds & Public Notices FOR SALE FIREWOOD HOME BREW SUPPLIES Full range available. Mercury Bay Pharmacy Tea Tree, Mac, Pohutukawa, Etc. For full list & prices go to www.trickytrees.co.nz or phone Chris on 021 240 9909. TRIESTE WASHING MACHINE, 9 months old, 6kg capacity, model TRWTL - 60, $300. Ph: 866 0019 or 027 663 2505 FOR SALE Dry ti-tree $120 per load delivered. Phone 866 3026 Purchase a 3 or 4 bay pole shed in March or April And get a free 18” Hitachi Chainsaw (CS40EA) *conditions apply BRIDGE LESSONS CATTERY BRIDGE LESSONS Starting 22 April. Contact Robyn. Phone 866 3389 or 021 543 015. KRISTIN’S BOARDING CATTERY Vet nurse, warm, clean, secure, outdoor run. Phone 866 4724. HEALTH SERVICES FLATMATE WANTED FOR 2 BDRM 2 BATHROOM APARTMENT, $150p/w plus bills. References required. Ph: 021 631 510 WANTED TO BUY POLES, Do you need S.E.D H5 poles for retaining or house foundations? Timber and poles all lengths available. Oriental trellis made to order. MB Timber & Fencing Supplies 225 South Highway Ph: (07) 866 2457 BACK TO SCHOOL Guitars , Electric Drums, Ukuleles, Keyboards at The Cave on Monk St. Open 7 Days. Phone 866 2574. Applies to quotes dated from the 1st March to the 27th April 2015. 12 Moewai Road, Whitianga Ph:07 866 2489 | www.carters.co.nz LOST BOATS WANTED LOST Between Whitianga and Whenuakite Thursday 5 March. Silver trailer tailgate (40mm box-section). REWARD Please call Pete 0800 94 84 84. WE NEED YOUR BOAT NOW!!! Quality late model trailer boats needed for sale on behalf! We have buyers waiting! Call the team at Whitianga Marine Centre today on 867 1182 or come in to 233 South Highway, Whitianga. CHURCH SERVICES FOR HIRE HOUSE FOR REMOVAL WANTED Please phone (021) 027 45654 TO LET STORAGE SHEDS available, various sizes, reasonable rates. Dry and secure. Ph: 07 866 5147 STORAGE SHEDS Whitianga Total Storage opposite Carters. Ph: 0800 944 660 HELP, HELP, HELP Permanent rentals urgently required NOW Tenants: Rental list changing constantly, Holiday rentals available. Call into office at 7 The Esplanade, by the wharf or phone Robyn Turner 866 0098 or 027 550 0120 [email protected] Licensed under the REAA2008 ANGLICAN SERVICES URGENT! HOMES WANTED! Long term & short term needed NOW! Good tenants waiting for good homes. Ask for an appraisal on your property. Phone Beth on 021 153 8593. St. Peter the Fisherman Dundas Street, Whitianga Sunday Service: 9:30am BETH EVANS A.R.EI.N.Z Property Manager ALL WELCOME Call Krissie Brand Enquiries Ph 869 5577 www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.co.nz Licensed Property Manager with 13 years local experience Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Understanding the Coromandel Since 1960 07 866 5824 or 027 273 4420 Long term & holiday. Free rental appraisals. Landlords & Tenants, for all your rental requirements. WANTED ! WORK WANTED FARRIER Quality homes for quality tenants. VEHICLES FOR SALE 2nd Hand Covers HorseTransport Saddlery Cover Repairs WORK WANTED THE BESS HANDZ EMBROIDERED MONOGRAMS Alterations, repairs, zip and hem service. Ph: 866 5277 Ron Cooke 866 5984 027 498 4447 Tricky Trees • • • • Pruning Felling Stump grinding Firewood Call Chris Page 26 • • • • Hedge maintenance Crown reductions Difficult removals Chip waste to mulch 021 240 9909 11 Nissan Navara D/Cab 91kms $34,900 02 Toyota Rav4 Ltd, 5dr, Auto, 125km $8,950 02 Toyota Corolla H/B, 5 spd, 141km $5,900 05 Toyota Corolla H/B, 5spd, White $6,900 01 Toyota Hilux X/Cab 3.0D flat deck $9,900 03 Toyota Hilux D/Cab 3.0D flat deck $10,900 00 Nissan S/Cab ute, canopy, towbar $7,900 03 Toyota Hilux S/Cab 3.0D flat deck $9,900 98 Toyota Camry GL sedan, 5spd, $2,900 07 Mitsubishi Fuso 4 berth M/Home $66,500 03 Nissan Pulsar H/B, 5spd $4,900 97 Mitsubishi Challenger 4x4 5dr, $5,650 19 Campbell Street, Whitianga www.coastalautos.co.nz The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 “The boat will go” “The difference between the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Trailer Boat Tournament and other tournaments is that the boat will go,” says John Mort, Whitianga local and organiser of the trailer boat tournament. What he’s referring to is the tournament’s “last man standing” (a lucky draw) prize - a Stabicraft 1650 boat with 70hp Yamaha outboard engine and DMW trailer, valued at $50,000. “There are no conditions to the prize, no fish in excess of a certain weight to be caught. By Saturday evening, when the tournament is all done and dusted, the boat will have a new owner.” The tournament will be fished from Thursday 12 - Saturday 14 March. The Stabicraft boat is part of a total prize pool of about $150,000 and the tournament is open to everyone fishing from something that can fit on a trailer. “Kylie Laker, famous jet ski angler is in the competition,” says John. “And we expect a kayaker or two to enter too. Even a homebuilt raft will qualify.” Another unique feature of the competition is that it’s part of the Snapper World Cup three tournaments in which the angler of the heaviest snapper overall gets his name engraved on an impressive snapper replica trophy. The other two tournaments, in Hawkes Bay and Auckland, have already taken place. Interestingly the winner of the competition last year caught his 10.85kg snapper from a kayak. The trailer boat tournament, now in it’s seventh year, was John’s idea - he says it’s all about a level playing field, where the size of your boat doesn’t play a role in the size of the fish you catch. John expects, depending on the weather, more than 400 anglers to enter the tournament. Stabicraft has indicated that they will donate a boat to the tournament again next year. Pictured is John next to the Stabicraft boat that’s up for grabs in the tournament this year. H O U S E WA S H I N G Call Drew for a free quote The Expert with the time tested and guaranteed method of removing mould, lichen, moss and stains. In fact any exterior surface that needs a clean, Drew can deal to with a harmless but totally effective wash. And remember a pre-paint wash will extend the life of your paint job and make painting easier. Buildings. Boats. Fences. Wood. Concrete. Metal. Call Drew Edwards - The Chemwash Man Mobile: 0274 375 578 a/h 07 867 8493 Issue 627 - 11 March 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 27 Make Short Work of it! A local looking after locals for more than 20 years! Building Repairs and Maintenance All Painting Airless applications Waterblasting - paths, driveways & fences Window Cleaning Pre-paint clean Drain unblocking Total house wash with enviro friendly detergent Insect spraying Roof Clean / Treatment Best by reputation - guaranteed Commercial Residential Phone Russell Short: 07 866 2097 or 027 360 2937 • • • • • • 0800 CAR DUMP GOT a DEAD or ALIVE VEHICLE $ $ $ cash paid Pickup Peninsula wide 0800 227 3867 Second Hand Tyres, Mags, Lights, Radio’s & parts FOR SALE • • • • • • • • • • Boat Repairs Timber & fibreglass Repairs Trailer Boat Repairs Cleaning & Polishing Hot Water Washing Propspeed application Specialist Marine Coating and Antifouling General Boatbuilding Stockists for Jabsco Impellers and pumps Rule Pumps Altex & International paint DLM & Martyr Anodes Meguiars & NanoShield products SALT FREE & Tallon Products Marine hardware & chandlery McMurdo PLB’s & EPIRBS Kiwiprop Mitch Pascoe 0274 852 046 Phyll Foster 0274 852 036 A/H: 07 866 5866 Fax: 09 353 1994 Dundas St. Whitianga or Whitianga Marina Hardstand [email protected] / www.pascoeboatrepairs.co.nz
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