Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000 first in line for water meters By Gillian O’Neill Whitianga residents and business will be first in line to have water meters installed at their properties if proposals by Thames- Coromandel District Council go ahead as planned. While TCDC has undertaken to ask the public for their views on water meters as part of their Long Term Plan consultations, the roll-out appears to be a done deal for Whitianga and also Whangamata, with a funding agreement already submitted to central government. In his latest report to elected council members, Chief Executive Rob Williams confirmed the plan to use the first tranche of funding from the government’s Three Waters Reform Programme, worth $2.4 million in total, to pay for meters in the two towns. Thames already has water meters. “Central government’s Three Waters Reform is progressing as previously indicated,” Mr Williams informed elected members. “The Memorandum of Agreement between council and the Department of Internal Affairs was signed and submitted in August. The associated draft funding agreement was submitted in September identifying the projects proposed to be funded. The proposed projects include the Part of the Whitianga Waterways on Saturday last week. installation of water meters in Whitianga and Whitianga will be one of the first towns on the where water meters will be installed. Whangamata, along with a small allowance for continuing to investigate any wider a $33 million regional pool allocated to because it’s not a tax and it’s not a rate, Affairs, the aim of the programme is to address regional opportunities.” the . it’s actually a utility bill.” what it describes as “...underinvestment in TCDC will receive a further two funding While TCDC will initially utilise the water Mr Williams said legislation associated with three waters infrastructure in parts of the instalments from the Three Waters Reform meters to monitor usage and supply and the Three Waters Reform Programme was country and persistent affordability issues,” Programme over the next two years. identify leaks, a user pays service where likely to be introduced to Parliament before while ensuring there is “...additional Both population and land area were used to consumers receive a monthly water bill is the Christmas. While details were still unclear, investment to meet improvements in determine how much each council receives. ultimate goal, according to Mr Williams. this is likely to involve the establishment of freshwater outcomes, increase resilience The funding is notional and specific projects “The creation of a utility bill is actually a number of regional publicly owned entities to climate change and natural hazards, need to go back to the Department of Internal the way forward for filling the infrastructure to oversee and manage both water and and enhance community wellbeing.” Affairs for final approval. funding gap that we have in ,” wastewater services, with discussions still Responding to queries from council If TCDC can partner with any other Mr Williams told the 27 October meeting of underway around the inclusion of stormwater. members, Mr Williams said there were still districts in developing regional solutions the full council. “In the way that power How this will impact on costs for ratepayers many questions as to how the new system with regards to the delivery of water services, companies send bills… we need the ability has yet to be fully determined. would operate, but a clearer picture should it may also be able access further funds from to send a water invoice on a monthly basis According to the Department of Internal emerge by December.

Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz Changing skies provide inspiration for some stunning images

“Golden or Blue Hour” was the challenge topic for members of the Whitianga Photographic Club in October, stars coming out towards the end of blue hour at Hooker Lake in the South Island. Second was Sean King, in addition to the usual open category. with Anita Ruggle-Lussy in third. Golden hour is the period of the day just before the sun sets or after it rises when the light is redder and Voting by club members in the open category was extremely tight with just three points separating the softer than usual. Photographs taken during this time have a pleasing quality and produce warm tones. top three entries. Sean King triumphed with his Te Horo Rock image (pictured on the right), with Wendy Blue hour is the period of twilight each morning and evening where there is neither full daylight nor Pemberton in second and Karen Moffatt-McLeod third. complete darkness, so everything has a blue light and produces cool tones More images can be viewed on the club’s public Facebook page, “Whitianga Photographic Club.” The set challenge was won resoundingly by Hakan Nedjat with his image (pictured on the left) of the

What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information provided and sponsored by Week of Wednesday, 11 November to Wednesday, 18 November - New Zealand company, Rocket Lab, hopes to launch another 30 small satellites anytime from 14 November onwards on its 17th mission from Mahia Peninsula. The big change with this launch is that company CEO, Peter Beck, is hoping to recover the booster. It will parachute down and be picked up from the ocean. The next step a few launches later will be to snag the booster mid-air with a helicopter as it comes down on a parachute. Beck’s small rockets can’t carry enough extra fuel to land on terra firma, like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, so mid-air recovery is the only option. If successful, this will save Rocket Lab the cost and time to build new boosters for each launch and allow a lot more launches each year. Jupiter and Saturn still remain very noticeable high overhead in the early evenings. They are getting ever closer together and moving towards their very rare meeting in December. Reddish Mars is a lovely sight but much lower down in the east, while bright Astronomy Tours and B&B Venus is unmistakable low in the eastern dawn sky. Thursday, 12 November - The crescent Moon is visible at dawn just to the left of bright Venus. Phone (07) 866 5343 Friday, 13 November - An even thinner Moon lies just below and to the left of Venus in the dawn sky. Saturday, 14 November - It might be possible to catch a last glimpse of faint Mercury very low in the pre-dawn sky immediately to the right and slightly above a tiny crescent Moon. www.stargazersbb.com

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Page 2 The Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Great Mercury Bay support for Operation Christmas Child People all around Mercury Bay have once again been shopping large and imaginatively for small things to pack into boxes for Operation Christmas Child (OCC), an appeal run annually by the charity, Samaritan’s Purse. This year the boxes are going to remote villages in Fiji, Cambodia, Malawi and Madagascar. Saturday, 31 October was the deadline for getting the boxes away. Donations and gifts were stacked up at collection points all around the Coromandel. Sunday, 25 October was earmarked for “packing day” at St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church in Whitianga, where gifts and donations had been coming in for weeks in advance. Local OCC coordinator, Robyn Balfour, came to help the packing team. All manner of small toys was packed, together with items of clothing and personal hygiene. Boxes were labelled by age and gender. Robyn says each year Samaritan’s Purse identifies the most needy places where the charity has a presence and every child in those villages is invited to take a box. “I would love to be there to see their faces when they open their boxes,” Robyn says. This year, the Coromandel Peninsula contributed a total of 228 boxes to the Operation Christmas Child appeal. Mercury Bay alone contributed 119 boxes. Pictured are the St Andrew’s packing team on 25 October. From the left - Annie Lynch, Robyn Balfour, Elizabeth Nicholls, Julie St George, Sue Hutson, Gina Mahmud and Garth Hutson.

Issue 923699 - 1027 NovemberJuly 2016 2020 - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3 Efforts to secure more pensioner housing in Whitianga stepped up By Gillian O’Neill With a waiting list of 36 people in need of fully tenanted. Alison said all the tenants were accommodation, efforts are being stepped on very low incomes and could not otherwise up by the Mercury Bay Community Fund afford to house themselves. She went on to (MBCF) to secure more pensioner housing highlight the suitability of the School Road in Whitianga. location. “The land must be available for long The MBCF, a charitable trust which already term lease and the site needs to be flat, she said. owns and administers nine pensioner units in “Most of the residents use mobility scooters, Kenneth Avenue, has identified a section of so it is essential the site is close to services Thames-Coromandel District Council-owned such as supermarkets and medical facilities.” land at the School Road Reserve as a potential MBCF secretary, John Stephenson, also site for development and has begun canvassing spoke at the meeting and emphasised that any support from elected officials. development would be cost free for council, In both a written letter and an in-person with the trust meeting all statutory regulation appeal to the Mercury Bay Community and building costs. Board at a meeting last Wednesday, The MBCF estimates it would need to trust chair, Alison Henry, highlighted a serious use around 20 per cent of the 5,900m² site, and growing need within the community but did not confirm at this stage how many and asked for the board members’ support in units it would like to create. A small portion finding solutions. “The challenge is to timely of the property is currently leased to the facilitate the developments necessary to enable Whitianga Art Group and the site is zoned adequate housing and support services for our recreation reserve. elderly population,” she said. “The Thames- The trust is aiming to have the School Road Coromandel District’s population growth over Reserve identified as a future location for the past 10 years was driven by the age group pensioner housing within the Mercury Bay 65 years and older, which has grown from Reserve Management Plan which is currently 23 per cent in 2009 to 32 per cent in 2019. under review and due to be released for public Over the next 10 years, the remaining baby consultation shortly. The draft version of the boomer cohort will take this age group to 40 plan refers to the location as underutilised and per cent in 2029. having very little aesthetic appeal. “The growth in our ageing population “The MBCF will make a submission on clearly demonstrates that we must be planning the draft plan for the possible use of the site for further development of pensioner housing for pensioner housing and we request support in our area.” from the Community Board in that regard,” Alison Henry, chair of the Mercury Bay Community Fund, at the School Road Reserve in The trust’s nine units in Kenneth Avenue are Mrs Henry said. Whitianga where the development of more pensioner housing is being proposed.

Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5 Change of venue for Community Christmas Lunch The planning for this year’s Mercury Bay Community Christmas Lunch is gathering speed, with a change of venue making the planning so much easier. The event will now be held at Crossroads Church, opposite New World Whitianga. Crossroads pastor, Dennis Acraman, and his wife, Mina, have generously offered to open their kitchen and auditorium to the whole community. The doors will open at approximately 11:00am with lunch to be served at midday. Organising committee convenor, Maureen Kerr, says this change of location will relieve the chefs and volunteers of hours of work. “In the past we have cooked the meal at St Andrew’s Community Church on Christmas Day and transported it all to the Whitianga Town Hall,” she says. “We also had to transport chillers, crockery, cutlery, the lot and decorating the Town Hall was an enormous job. It will all be so much easier at Crossroads with everything there to accommodate our 180 partygoers. “It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a whole community to make a truly inclusive Christmas Day. We are encouraging everyone to bring their friends and neighbours so no-one is excluded. We want people to plan to be there and to let us know who’s coming, as we have capped the number at 180, as last year. “We know our Mercury Bay businesses have had a hard time this year and funding might be more difficult than in previous years. At the same time, families who were ‘doing okay’ will be affected by loss of work this summer and we feel it is more important than ever to provide a fun-filled Christmas Day for those families.” If you would like to attend the lunch, please email [email protected].

Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Local fishing vessels give their The Small-time Investor By Whitianga resident, Max Ross names to new Waterways streets

Kathmandu Last week was a terrible week for my to bounce back over time. I’m hoping investments. The market took a steep drop that I am buying at a cheaper price due to and I lost all the gains so far. Currently I am world events. down $20.37, which is a negative return of Kathmandu doesn’t pay a dividend at the 1.17 percent. My investments went down $40 moment, so this is a very different strategy in the week. from last week where I was looking for Six of my investments are down and five regular returns. With Kathmandu, I am are up. American shares had their worst week hoping that the company will continue to do since the March COVID-19-related crash. well and grow in value. I have to keep reminding myself that shares go This is a high-risk investment. Some of the up and down over the short term, it’s the long risks are that if we go back into lockdown, term that counts. If I had to sell everything then no one can go to the shops to buy now, it would have been much better for me things and they cannot go out and enjoy the to put my money in the bank. great outdoors. Kathmandu is a large company that is a I bought $100 worth of shares in specialist outdoor retailer. They trade in New Kathmandu. That was 84.32 shares at $1.18 Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. a share. Their stock price was hit hard by the Please remember that how I invest and coronavirus outbreak, it dropped from $2.50 to $0.50 in March. It has climbed back a bit, what I write in this column is just my personal opinion. Some of my investments but is still half the value it was. The Whitianga Waterways developer continues to give a nod to the local area’s long fishing and While COVID-19 and travel restrictions will lose money. I am sharing my thoughts seafaring history with three notable vessels set to lend their names to the streets in the latest stage will have an impact on the number of people and strategies along with my results so that of the subdivision. buying Kathmandu’s products, I’m hoping you can see how easy it is to invest in the Ngaroma Crescent, Ronomor Place and Norma Way have all been chosen in tribute to three well- that in New Zealand tramping and outdoor share market, even a small amount and maybe known game fishing boats that pioneered deep sea fishing and game fishing in Mercury Bay. holidays will resume as people explore their learn from my mistakes. Be careful with your Ngaroma belonged to Don Ross who was the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club’s longest life member own country. These holidays don’t involve money. until his death last year. Ronomor was owned by Bert Chaney, a member of a well-known local meeting too many other people and with With online platform, Sharesies, you family, while Norma was owned by another community stalwart, Bill Clark. Kiwis not able to travel, I’m hoping they will can invest as much or as little as you wish. The road names are part of Stage 12 of the subdivision, which will eventually connect to earlier spend their money on camping equipment If you want to invest in shares with Sharesies, stages via an extension of Kupe Drive. and outdoor adventures. please use this link - https://sharesies.nz/r/ The Mercury Bay Community Board considered the name choices at their meeting last Wednesday I’m also hoping that the company’s value is KHQQWP. You will get $5 into your account and recommended to Thames-Coromandel District Council that they be accepted. low due to the coronavirus and will continue to get started and I will get the same. Pictured is Stage 12 (still under development) from the air. Photo by Tony Turner.

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7 Museum Musings By Rebecca Cox, Mercury Bay Museum Manager

Here at the Mercury Bay Museum we are spaces. Along with the diorama, we will be the museum. what we already have, will therefore increase always looking at how we can improve our researching the buildings in detail, looking at Also, if you have any memories about their knowledge of the history of the town exhibitions and the stories that we tell. their history and any photos that we hold in Whitianga from this period, we would love that they call home. We have had discussions about telling the the museum archives. to hear them too. All this information will If you think you can help us with images story of some of our historical and notable This is where we need our community to help us build a better “picture” of what the and/or stories, please give us a call or pop in, buildings in Whitianga. help us out. If you have any photographs of town was like back then and add to our town we would love to chat. These discussions have led to us possibly the town and/or buildings from the 1940s history archive. Don’t forget the museum is now in summer embarking on a project to recreate a town to 1960s, we would love to see them and As part of this project, we will be hours, which means we are open seven days scene based on a photograph we have from in fact any photos after that period would providing an education programme that from 10:00am until 4:00pm (last admission 1943. We have asked Whitianga resident, be welcomed also. We would take a digital will be available to all local schools. 3:15pm). Entry only costs $5.00 for adults Damon Christensen, to help us with this copy of the images so you would get to keep This programme will link in with their local and children (14 and under) are free. project by building the actual town scene your photos, but they would be available history and identity curriculum. The stories We look forward to seeing you soon, with models of the buildings and outdoor for research and future generations here in and images that will be collected along with Becs

A panoramic photo of Whitianga in 1943.

Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Issue 699923 - 2710 JulyNovember 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9 “Spot the Fake Ad” winner drawn

Congratulations to Whitianga resident, Christine Whibley, for winning the “Spot the Fake Ad” competition that ran in The Informer of 20 October (our issue just before Labour Weekend). Christine correctly spotted the “Clever Pills” (to do a crossword faster) advertisement on page 36 as a fake. She has won $100 to spend with any of the advertisers in our issue of 20 October. Christine’s correct entry was drawn by Whitianga Coastguard cadets, Sam McDonald and Dana Ohlson, at the Coastguard Open Day that was held last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who entered the competition. We hope it brought a smile to your face. In our Labour Weekend issue of 2021, we’ll do it again. Pictured are Sam and Dana drawing Christine’s entry. The Coromandel remains a sellers’ market By Stephan Bosman According to statistics released last week by concluded, an increase of 56 percent on the property website, realestate.co.nz, the average same quarter last year, was the most sold in any asking price of residential properties on the quarter during the past decade. The value of all Coromandel Peninsula was in October this transactions was $70,547,500, an increase of 74 year still the third highest in New Zealand. percent compared to last year. Only ($1,015,383) and Central During the quarter, nine Whitianga residential Otago/Lakes ($971,891) recorded a higher properties sold for more than $1 million, seven asking price than the Coromandel’s $852,780. of them in the Whitianga Waterways. The three The Coromandel’s average asking price most expensive properties sold for $1,990,000, increased by 2.9 percent compared to the month $1,910,000 and $1,800,000 respectively. before. Nationwide, the average asking price All three of the properties are situated on was $772,288, an increase of one percent over Leeward Drive. September this year. Whitianga’s surrounding beaches - Worth noting is that the Coromandel’s asking , , Kuaotunu, , price is closing the gap with the Central Otago/ Opito Bay and - have seen 49 Lakes region compared to last year. In October properties changing hands during the quarter 2019, the Coromandel was $267,086 behind (including 10 sections and lifestyle blocks), Central Otago/Lakes. The gap last month 15 more than the same period last year. The total was $119,111. value of sales was $38,958,000, an increase of Housing stock on the Peninsula remains 71 percent over the same period last year. under pressure. Last month, only 295 properties With 28 properties changing hands, Matarangi were listed on realestate.co.nz as available accounted for more than half of all the sales at for sale, a reduction of 37 percent compared the surrounding beaches. The most expensive to October 2019. At 140, the number of new property in Matarangi, situated on Matarangi listings in October this year was down by 7.9 Drive, sold for $2,275,000. One other Matarangi percent compared to the same month last year. property attracted a sale price in excess of That is bucking the national trend, which saw $1 million. an increase of 13.8 percent in new listings Seven properties sold in Cooks Beach and six compared to October 2019. in Hahei during the quarter. Two of the Cooks Most telling of the state of the property Beach and four of the Hahei properties sold market on the Coromandel is the fact that if for more than $1 million. The most expensive no new listings were to come onto the market, Cooks Beach property is situated on Admiral it will take only 15 weeks for all the properties Drive and sold for $1,110,000. The most currently available for sale to change hands. expensive Hahei property, on Tutaritari Road, A year ago, it would have taken 29 weeks to attracted a sale price of $3,400,000. clear all stock. According to realestate.co.nz, Kuaotunu attracted seven sales during the this is indicative of increased activity and a quarter, Opito Bay one and Whangapoua three. strong sellers’ market. In Kuaotunu, the most expensive property The residential property statistics for is situated on State Highway 25 and sold for Mercury Bay for the third quarter of this year $1,150,000. It was the only property to break (July to September), as provided by Ray White into the $1 million or more price bracket. Whitianga, also indicates rising prices and an The Opito Bay property, on increase in activity. The median house price in Road, sold for $935,000 while none of the Whitianga was $680,000, up two percent on the Whangapoua properties attracted a sale price of same quarter last year. The 97 sales that were more than $1 million. Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Issue 699923 - 2710 JulyNovember 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11 Successful Bring Your Own Fibre is finally ready to roll Cup Day in Coromandel Town in Whitianga Cafés in Coromandel Town jumped on board nationally with the Community Group to support a community-driven initiative Award at the Keep New Zealand Beautiful to promote reusable cups and reduce the annual honours. “We were making reusable volume of rubbish going to landfill. bags from recycled materials and selling Judy Rooney of Rethink Rubbish them in the community, and that was a Coromandel Town said the group, real success,” Judy said. “Of course the which mainly consists of six volunteers, conversation has moved on from there now was thrilled with the level of enthusiasm and we are focusing on the need to more from local cafés for Bring Your Own broadly reduce the amount of waste we are Cup Day on Friday, 30 October when an producing.” estimated 100 fewer throwaway cups were Judy and her fellow volunteers are used by coffee lovers. enthused by what is possible at community “In New Zealand, we go through around level. “I don’t see myself as an ardent greenie 300 million disposable coffee cups every or anything like that,” Judy said. “Like most year,” Judy said. “The vast majority go of us, I just care about the environment and to landfill because there aren’t suitable I can see how by making small changes, recycling facilities for them in most areas of collectively there are things that we can do the country.” to help.” BYO Cup Day was an opportunity to The group’s previous initiatives include spread the word about the value of bringing providing water stations at local events Postcards should be hitting the mailboxes of Whitianga residents in the coming days with the your own cup with Rethink Rubbish and festivals where people can refill their long-awaited arrival of ultrafast broadband (UFB) finally here. Coromandel Town providing a range of bottles, holding beeswax wrap workshops, A spokesperson for Chorus said work on the fibre network installation programme was vessels for sale at participating venues. distributing recycled paper bags to complete and the company anticipated that connection to the new network would be available “Some of the cafes had signs up promoting stallholders at various markets and working through internet providers from this month. what was happening, they advertised it on with students at Coromandel Area School The mail drop will advise those who are keen to upgrade to fibre what to do next. For most their Facebook pages, and our group was on producing reusable bags. residential customers who have fibre on their street, standard installation is free of charge. The process involves connecting their property to the network via a cable, installing an external out and about talking to people on the day Looking ahead, Judy said future events termination point on the exterior of the property, installing an optical network terminal inside the and in the weeks leading up to it to help always depend on the availability of property and usually connecting the internet provider’s modem. The monthly cost of delivering raise awareness,” Judy said. volunteers, but she feels there is a strong UFB will, however, vary between providers in the same way as any other internet service. Several outlets also offered and continue level of support from within the community. Those living outside the neighbourhood areas covered by the fibre network can still be to offer discounts to customers who provide “I think we probably will talk to the cafés connected to UFB, but this will be at their own cost. Residents in Whitianga and elsewhere on their own cup. and see if they would be on board to do the Coromandel Peninsula can check if their home can be connected by entering their address Rethink Rubbish Coromandel Town another BYO cup day during the summer,” at the property checker on the Chorus website, www.chorus.co.nz/tools-support/broadband- first established themselves several years she said. “The feedback we have had so far tools/broadband-checker. ago as Plastic Free Coromandel as similar was that almost all of the customers who Chorus has confirmed work will continue on the roll-out of UFB on the Coromandel as scheduled. groups popped up across New Zealand with came through on the day were interested and Matarangi is also due to be completed this year, Ferry Landing and Cooks Beach by mid-2021 a particular focus on eliminating plastic supportive, so hopefully everyone would be and and in the first half of 2022. bags. In 2018, their efforts were recognised keen to do it again.” Pictured is Whitianga from the air.

The Mercury Bay Informer is published weekly on Tuesday afternoons and is distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula. What’s that Number? Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are Emergency (Ambulance, Fire, Police) 24 hours ...... 111 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. Police (Whitianga) ...... 866 4000 Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher. Police (Tairua) ...... 864 8888 Statement of scientific fact needs to be accompanied by evidence of the fact. Police (Coromandel Town) ...... 866 1190 Published by Mercury Bay Media Limited Fight crime anonymously - Call Crime Stoppers ...... 0800 555 111 Editors - Stephan Bosman and Gillian O’Neill Dog and Noise Control ...... 868 0200 Contributors - Meghan Hawkes, Jack Biddle and Suzanne Hansen Civil Defence ...... 868 0200 Advertiser Management - Petra Bosman and Alex Kennedy Mercury Bay Medical Centre (Whitianga) ...... 866 5911 Administration - Diane Lodge Medical Centre (Tairua)...... 864 8737 Need to talk? Call/text anytime for support from a trained counsellor...... 1737 Office 14 Monk Street, Whitianga 3510, Mail PO Box 426, Whitianga 3542 Telephone (07) 866 2090, Fax (07) 866 2092 Harbourmaster (Whitianga) ...... 027 476 2651 Editorial email [email protected], Advertising email [email protected] Coastguard Radio Operators ...... 866 2883 ISSN 2422-9083 (Print), ISSN 2422-9091 (Online), © 2020 Mercury Bay Media Limited Whitianga Social Services ...... 866 4476 Whitianga Locksmith Services ...... 027 446 6921 The Mercury Bay Informer is subject to the principles of the New Zealand Media Council. Please contact us first if you have concerns about any of the editorial content published in The Informer. If we were unable to address your concerns to your satisfaction, you can file a complaint with ONLINE POLL FOR NOVEMBER 2020 the New Zealand Media Council, PO Box 10 879, Wellington 6143 or Are you in favour of the installation of water meters at private www.presscouncil.org.nz. residences in the Thames-Coromandel District? See page 2 for what’s happening Like us on Facebook. in the night sky, and the Whitianga and Follow us on Twitter. Hot Water Beach tides. Check us out on Instagram. Have your say at www.theinformer.co.nz.

Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Issue 699923 - 2710 JulyNovember 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13 The St John Siren Sponsored by Mercury Bay Pharmacy - Tel 866 4532

The workload of the ambulance service in Signs of a first degree burn include redness, Whitianga has certainly kicked up a notch minor inflammation or swelling, pain and last month. Both our day shifts and night dry, peeling skin that occurs as the burn heals. shifts were busy. First degree burns heals relatively quickly We responded to 116 incidents during once the skin cells shed, usually within seven October. This was made up of 82 medical calls to 10 days. and 34 trauma-related calls. An air ambulance So, what to do with minor burns? was utilised on seven occasions during the Soak the area of the burn with cool water for month. This month’s total compares with 85 20 minutes, do not use ice. Take paracetamol responses last October. Our year to date total and an anti-inflammatory for pain relief. stands at 933 responses, which is 35 less than Apply an anaesthetic cream with aloe vera the same period last year due to a fall-off in gel to sooth the skin. Cover the burn with call-outs during the COVID-19 lockdown. loose gauze. Our staffing levels have remained stable Sunburn is another common burn. with 21 volunteer ambulance officers and The best treatment is to cool the burnt area four full-time paid paramedics. This month, in a cool shower or running water for 20 one officer has completed their National minutes, do not burst large blisters. Apply a Diploma in Ambulance Practice, which is an soothing cream if the burn doesn’t have severe 18-month course, with a further three officers blisters or broken skin. For large sunburn completing their New Zealand Certificate areas, sunburn over joints or large blistering, in Emergency Care (First Responder) seek medical assistance. qualification. It’s great to see newer officers Do not put small children or babies into a coming through the system and gaining cold bath as that will cause hypothermia. formal qualifications. For all other burns, seek medical assistance. Okay, so summer is on the way. Summer Remember to slip, slop and slap before usually means barbeques, evening fires on going out into the sun, and please drink plenty the beach, etc. One of our more common call- of non-alcoholic fluids to stay hydrated. outs over summer is to burns, so I thought Remember you can DIAL 111 for an this month we would talk about minor burns ambulance 24/7. or first degree burns. These are also known Enjoy your summer. as superficial burns or epidermal burns. This Mike Burrows is because a first degree burn effects the Station Manager outer layer of skin and is the most common. St John Whitianga

The St John Whitianga Ambulance Station.

Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Issue 699923 - 2710 JulyNovember 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15 What’s On The next few weeks

Regular Events Scrapbags Quilting Group Op-Shops Meets every Wednesday from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Street, Whitianga. All welcome. Social Services Op-Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street phone Shelley on 866 0236 for more information. (west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:300am - 2:00pm. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre The Church Op-Shop - At St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Meets the first and third Wednesday of every month from 10:00am - 2:00pm. in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street, Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm. Whitianga. Phone Wendy Russell on 866 3225 for more information. St John Opportunity Shop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm and Saturday Whitianga Art Group 10:00am - 2:00pm. Meets every Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 23 School Road, Whitianga. Visitors are invited to join us Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open every Monday - Saturday from for a day of painting. Start-up materials supplied. Phone Jenny on (027) 210 0160 for more information. 10:00am - 2:00pm. Cooks Beach Garden Circle Justice of the Peace Meets the last Thursday of every month from 11:15am - 2:30pm. New members welcome. Phone Leila on 866 3264 or Available every Monday (except public holidays) from 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. Anne on 866 0268 for more information. Bookings not necessary. Phone 866 4476 for more information. Exercises for the Elderly and Those with Arthritis Whitianga Senior Citizens Club Every Tuesday from 10:00am - 11:00am at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Street, Whitianga. $2 entry. Meets Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie Phone Viv on (028) 403 6741 for more information. etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Phone Adrian Telders (president) on 866 5377 for more information. Whitianga Tramping Group Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Meets every second Sunday at 8:30am. Phone Wally on (021) 907 782 or Lesley on (021) 157 9979 for more information. Meets the fourth Monday of every month at 10:00am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. AA Driver Licensing Phone Joan on 866 3801 or (027) 275 1372 for more information. The second Friday of every month at St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated Mercury Bay Table Tennis Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their Meets every Tuesday from 9:30am - 11:30am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Phone Anne on computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on 869 5162 for more information. 866 4215 for more information or to join. Mercury Bay Badminton Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga Meets every Wednesday from 9:30am - 11:00am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Meets every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 6:00pm in Room 10 at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive , Whitianga. Phone (07) 866 5476 for more information. Learn portion control, eliminate processed sugar, eat well at meals and eat well for life. Support to lose weight wisely. Mercury Bay Pickleball Club Check out our Facebook page or phone 869 5648 for more information. Meets Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 6:00pm and every Sunday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm at the Mercury Bay Area School Serenity Al-Anon Group gym, South Highway, Whitianga, $5 per session. Paddles and balls supplied. Tuition available. Meets every Tuesday at 1:30pm. Phone 866 5104 or (021) 086 10955 for more information. For those affected by Mercury Bay Tennis Club someone else’s drinking. Club night every Thursday at 6:30pm at Lyon Park, Albert Street, Whitianga. Dog Walking Group Meets every Thursday at 2:00pm at Lovers Rock, Robinson Road, Whitianga. An opportunity to socialise your dog. Specific Events Phone Jenny on (021) 186 5797 for more information. Mercury Bay Boating Club Double Trouble Regatta ICONZ for Girls Saturday 14 and Sunday, 15 November. Three multi-hull classes with different start times. The first gun scheduled Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at the Kuaotunu Hall, corner of Blackjack Road and Irish Town Road. For girls for 10:45am on Saturday. All races to start and finish in front of the Boating Club at the northern end of Buffalo 8 - 13 years old. Phone Robyn on (020) 409 39674 for more information. Beach, Whitianga. More than 25 boats expected from as far as Picton and Christchurch. Whitianga Playcentre Music on the Lawn Charity Event Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00am - 12:00 noon and every Friday from 12:00 noon - 2:45pm at 1D White Street, Saturday, 14 November from 2:00pm - 6:00pm at The Lawnmower’s Son Gallery, Hahei Homestead, Grange Road, Whitianga. For children 0 - 6 years, free entry. Visitors welcome. Hahei. Take a picnic and enjoy live music by Vegas Brown and Philip Hart. A bucket collection benefitting the Matarangi Craft Group Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust will be held. Meets fortnightly at the Matarangi Fire Station. Phone Lesley on 866 0788 for more information. Whitianga Santa Parade Cooks Beachcare Group Saturday, 5 December at 12:30pm. Float entries now open (free entry this year). Please phone (07) 866 2090 Make new friends, learn about conservation and make a difference. We meet Thursdays for hands-on weeding and or email [email protected] for an entry from. planting, 9:00am - 11:00am. Register on our website, www.cooksbeachcare.org.nz or phone Adele on (021) 201 6625.

Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 A negative OCR - what to expect from a financial adviser By Miles Flower of Mercury Bay Financial Services In this article we are looking at what to expect details, plus how they get paid and the product when you get advice from a financial/investment suppliers they use. In addition to this, they adviser and how to stay on top of your should declare who their dispute resolution financial decisions. service provider is and what process they follow Financial advisors are professionals who if a client is not happy with their service. can help you plan and manage bigger financial After your first meeting, you should be in a decisions. They can help you set financial goals, position where you can decide if you want to so you feel confident that your future plans proceed with getting further advice. You should are achievable. Financial advice can be useful not feel that you are not under pressure in at turning points in your life, like planning for any way. retirement or managing an inheritance. Your adviser should follow the internationally When you meet with a financial adviser for recognized six-step process for financial the first time, it should be at no charge as you planning - are taking time to get to know each other and • Establishing the client relationship. you are determining what the adviser can do • Gathering data. for you once they know your financial position. • Analyses and evaluation. It is important to discuss what’s important to • Recommendation and presentation. you and to share your short and long-term goals. • Implementation. Be prepared to provide a lot of information at • Monitoring and review. the first meeting, including - As part of this process, the adviser should • Your personal situation such as your age, also ask you to complete a questionnaire to work situation, personal relationships and work out how much risk or volatility you family structure. are prepared to accept to reach your goals. • Your assets - home, savings, cars, Once this is understood, they will be able to investments, etc. share with you information on the suitable • Your income from all sources. financial products available for you to meet • Your expenses - it will help if you have a your goals. budget available. The potential return on your investment will • Your estate plan. be influenced on the product mix you choose, • Your lawyer and accountant’s details. which could be anywhere from a stable portfolio At the first meeting with the adviser make with a forecasted 4 percent return to a growth sure you discuss - portfolio returning 8 percent. • The scope of the advice I trust you find these articles of interest and • The adviser’s initial costs and ongoing if you have concerns about where to invest fees. your funds to generate a return when the OCR • Ongoing contact and reviews. goes negative and bank deposits are returning When you first meet an adviser, they should less than one percent, feel free to phone me on give you their primary disclosure document (021) 645 000 or email me with your queries at which outlines their qualifications and contact [email protected].

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17 Crossword © Lovatts Puzzles

Crossword Puzzle 923

Name: ______

Tel no: ______Win a $5.60 Wednesday Lotto ticket. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday of the week following the issue in which they were announced the winner.

ACROSS DOWN 1. Genetically altered 1. Squandered 4. Rubbed lightly 2. Not sinking 7. Protest banner 3. Haul 8. Pass (legislation) 4. Broad 9. Heathens 5. Royal homes 12. Pants 6. Song for two 10. Hard iron alloy 15. Fishing vessels 11. Loud 17. Deeply desires 13. Bright weather 18. Ear test, ... 14. Bearer (of disease) examination 16. Thin biscuits 21. Citrus fruits 18. Wheel shaft 22. Strange 19. Taste defeat 23. Enormous 20. Coconut tree Last week’s Crossword solution

Last week’s winner - Peter Hull

Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Motocross riders punching Peninsula Past - 1895 far above their weight Two motocross riders, Tane Skelton (pictured right) and Cody Scott (pictured left), represented Every now and again, Informer contributor, a man who had broken his leg. He had Mercury Bay Area School in the Makz Gear King of the Secondary Schools Motocross Series Meghan Hawkes, reads through newspapers remained with this patient all day and was 2020. Both competed in the 12 to 16 Years Old 85/150cc class. The competition took place over that circulated in Mercury Bay and on the unable to attend another call in Mercury Bay. three rounds and with 68 schools participating, it was never going to be easy. Coromandel Peninsula in earlier years. The inhabitants of Kuaotunu were furious at The first round took place on 6 March at the North King Country track. Both MBAS boys rode Here are several interesting snippets of the board for advertising for a new doctor. At a well and finished in the top 10. history she uncovered from 1895. meeting, several petitions were presented from the bushmen of the district and from the people The second round was hosted by the Tauranga Motocross Club on 10 October. The conditions A remarkable discovery was made at Tairua of Kuaotunu. Two gentlemen were appointed were challenging, but once again Tane and Cody finished in the top 10. when Mr Raws, hotelkeeper, found two to appeal to the Mercury Bay Hospital Board The last round took place on 16 October in Rotorua. Despite a very tough track, the boys finished pieces of pure gold in a chicken’s gizzard. and urge that Dr Craig’s services be retained. for the third time in the top 10. Chickens were at a premium at Tairua, which The district had entire confidence in him. Overall, with a total of 24 riders in their squad, the competition was taken out by Hauraki Plains was coming to the fore in the mining industry, Dr Craig was reinstated to the great and the ground where Mr Raws’s poultry College. Tane and Cody punched far above their weight in securing a 10th overall finish for satisfaction of the area. He was a most MBAS. To top things off, in their class Tane finished third overall and Cody fifth overall. usually fed was carefully prospected. obliging and attentive doctor and he received A “Tide of Mining” was sweeping through congratulations from all parts of the region. Anyone local riders interested in competing with Tane and Cody in motocross events, the area and now reached Cabbage Bay - A farmhouse at Gumtown was struck can contact the Mercury Bay Motocross Club through their Facebook page (MB Motocross). the district was thought admirably adapted for by lightning shattering and scorching the mining being well watered and having good roof, and demolishing the brick chimney. roads. Four claims had been pegged out. The oven in the fireplace was left twisted up Jack Thompson, an old prospector, had and useless, and the stone hearth split open. unearthed a large-sized lode near Whangamata The lady of the house was rendered insensible showing free fine gold deeply impregnated for some time, but other occupants escaped with blue sulphides - a high class bullion ore injury. An adjoining wire fence was utterly which was expected to yield a high percentage destroyed and the wooden portion was split up of gold. He took a parcel of the quartz to the into matchwood. to be assayed. Old The Handa Isle from Mercury Bay arrived Jack thought it was an extensive lode, judging in Sydney in a damaged condition after by the great boulders lying on the outcrops. an encounter with two immense whales. He said there were miles of promising One dived under her and the other struck unexplored country there, some of which had the vessel amidships with tremendous force. not had as much as a pick put into it. Planks were stove in and smashed, and water Great indignation was aroused at Kuaotunu began coming in. The deck cargo of timber when Dr Craig was asked to resign his was thrown overboard and pumps kept going. appointment by the Mercury Bay Hospital The breach was stopped up with pillows. Board. The charge against him was that he It was thought that if the vessel had not had the delayed attending a call. Dr Craig had been solid cargo of Mercury Bay timber, she would telegraphed to come to Kuaotunu to attend have been sunk.

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19 Sudoku

Sudoku Puzzle 923

Name: ______

Tel no: ______Win two Trumpet ice creams. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from Buffalo Beach Four Square directly before the Wednesday of the week following the issue in which they were announced the winner. Sudoku Puzzle Instructions 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.

Last week’s solution Last week’s winner - Michael Hyder

“Kīwaha o te wiki” (saying of the week) “Hangareka ana!” - What a crack up Saying of the week supplied by Te Puna Reo o Whitianga - a playgroup with a focus on Māori tikanga and te reo Māori. The group members meet every Monday and Tuesday at 9:00am at the old dental clinic at Mercury Bay Area School. All those with pēpi or young tamariki are welcome to join.

Page 20 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Tairua too good for Mercury Fishing Report By Alan Proctor of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Sponsored by Mercury Bay Marine - Tel (07) 867 1280 Bay in senior cricket clash Senior cricket is back in the Thames Valley the Tairua Stingrays, with his three sons - Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been We are very fortunate to have a number of area for the first time in 17 years with the Hunter, Cullen and Austen - also playing conducive to boating very often in the last members who are happy to volunteer their first round of a new semi-social competition competitively. Again this year, there will be couple of weeks and the fish have been given time (and in some instances materials) to taking place on Sunday last week. two mixed junior teams - Year 5/6 and Year a break. We are still getting a few fish being get maintenance completed around the caught though, with a couple of club records club, and to ensure that other members and Cory Park domain in Tairua was the scene 7/8 taking part. tumbling in the last fortnight. people involved in our club activities and of the opening action for the Mercury Bay To help build interest within the A week or so ago we had junior member, tournaments have an enjoyable experience. Barracudas who made the short trip south to community, the club ran a competition William Yeeles, catch a 9.04kg snapper Although we were heavily impacted by take on neighbours, the Tairua Stingrays. asking the public to come up with suggestion while fishing on Black and Black, which is COVID-19 earlier this year with firstly an The home side took the points with a five- for a name for their senior cricketers. Over a pending junior club record on 37kg line. outright closure and then at Alert Level 2 wicket win after the Barracudas went all out 40 ideas were tabled, some were highly This weekend just gone we had Michelle with reduced operating ability, the club is Farac catch a 3.22kg kahawai while fishing for 176 at 28.5 overs. inappropriate but very funny. Mary-Anne being well supported by members and we on Rosa, which is a pending ladies club The win for Tairua followed an historic Thompson eventually bagged the box of record on 10kg line. Both these fish are have been tracking quite well, which gives first ever day/night match at the Tairua beer as reward for her Stingray suggestion. very noteworthy fish and the anglers will us the confidence to plan ahead for upcoming Rugby and Sports Club on Friday, In keeping with recent developments at be pleased to have their names recorded tournaments and ensure our assets are 30 October to celebrate the completion of the Tairua Rugby and Sports Club, cricket well maintained. against them. the club’s ambitious floodlights project. has benefitted from the installation of two While this is all going on, there are many of Although there hasn’t been a lot of actual An invitational team from Whangamata new practice nets to enable both juniors us watching to see when we can start heading fishing going on, it’s still a busy time at the travelled over the hill for a T20 challenge and seniors to hone their skills. A serious Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club with a lot of out wide for the next wave of tuna as they maintenance being undertaken and the format pass through our area. against the newly named Tairua Stingrays amount of hard work went into creating the and rules for next season’s tournaments all Tight lines, in what turned out to be a thrilling game of nets, testimony to those who want to see the being finalised. Alan cricket. A dramatic final over saw Tairua sport flourish in the town. score six off the final ball to secure atie, With the recent upgrade to the floodlights, setting the newly formed outfit up nicely for more friendly day-night short games will their first competitive action at the weekend. hopefully provide a fun spectacle as well as Despite having one of the smallest a unique experience for players. communities in Thames Valley, Tairua has With participation numbers in most sports been a passionate contributor to the revival in New Zealand on the decline, seeing this of cricket at the junior level over the past trend reversed within Thames Valley Cricket couple of years, entering two mixed teams and the sport now starting to flourish under in last year’s competition. As with all the watchful and expert eye of Northern amateur sports clubs, it relies on volunteers Districts cricket development officer, and enthusiasts and the Tairua effort has Ramesh Subasinghe, is a very welcome been led by Glenn Crowe who now captains development.

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21 Brain Teaser - Vaki Puzzle © Tamaki Education and Sports Society Inc

Brain Teaser Puzzles 923

Name: ______

Tel no: ______

Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Café in Whitianga. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from Espy Cafe directly before the Wednesday of the week following the issue in which they were announced the winner.

Vaki Puzzle Instructions The puzzle is solved when there is a playing card (Ace - A, King - K, Queen - Q, Jack - J) and a suit (Diamonds - D, Hearts - H, Clubs - C, Spades - S) in each cell and each card and each suit appears once in each row and once in each column. Each pair occurs once and only once in a solved puzzle.

Last week’s solution - Figures of Fun

O=4, P=7, Q=2, R=5, S=1, T=8, U=6, C=9, W=3.

Last week’s winner - Emma Bzowski

Page 22 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Tairua skatepark campaigners Business house shoot a making progress “great day” The members of the Tairua-Pauanui advising the issue would come before the full Community Board took on the challenge last council at their 8 December meeting. week of finding $300,000 to kickstart work The request will be for a $300,000 out of on a skatepark in Tairua after more than 30 budget loan to the Tairua-Pauanui Community years of waiting. Board. While TCDC has put an emphasis on In June, apparent confusion over the financial restraint in terms of spending for board’s preferred location for a skatepark saw the next three years, elected members from the project lose $104,000 of the $164,000 other parts of the Peninsula will face a strong that had been earmarked this financial year. argument for equity, with Whangamata, However, advocates - including students Thames and most recently Whitianga all from the local school - have since forced the receiving substantial council investment to issue back on the agenda. upgrade their skateparks, while Tairua has for At last Monday’s Community Board years failed to secure one. meeting, local campaigners were supported In what Mr Walker described as a “stake by Bill Cooksley, Thames-Coromandel in the ground,” he urged fellow Community District Coordinator for Sport Waikato, Board members to be united in what they who urged the members to back the project do going forward and give the people of the at its current proposed site at Cory Park. community what they said they would. He said a skatepark beside an open field was a great opportunity for overcoming barriers With unanimous agreement, the board to youth participation in sport. As well as voted to request the out of cycle funding. outlining multiple health benefits, research If approved, work could commence without showed skateparks don’t encourage antisocial further delay and the project would not need behaviour as some suggested, but frequently to go thorough yet another Long Term Plan reduce it as young people have something to process next year. do in a designated area. The board also approved an updated design With 16 teams competing, the Whitianga Gun Club hosted a very successful clay target business With a commitment from the campaigners for the skatepark. Nearby residents will be house shoot on Saturday last week. to raise a third of the total $450,000 cost, invited to provide further feedback on the “It was a great day,” says club committee member, Dave Munday. “This year, we couldn’t put on our it is now down to the South Eastern Ward detailed design, including the landscaping well-known Wild Foods Shoot because of the situation with COVID-19, so the business house shoot councillors Terry Walker and Gary Gotlieb to which will be extensive. really was our big event for the year. It was great to see a bunch of locals getting together and having convince the rest of council to get on board, In addition, the board members formally a good time.” something Thames-Coromandel District endorsed applications for external funding Several younger members of the community competed against their fathers in the shoot. “There was Council’s Infrastructure Group Manager, to raise the outstanding $150,000. The one a lot of friendly banter going on,” says Dave. Bruce Hinson, warned may not be an easy third/two third split between community and The shoot was sponsored by Pro Life Foods, Whitianga Butchery and Party Systems Whitianga. feat. “They have a lot of other things they are council funding is based on models employed The team of Ki-Lin Fishing was ultimately crowned the winners on the day. Pictured are the team considering across the whole district, given elsewhere, including the new skatepark in members with the trophy. From the left - Mike Ashwood (team captain), Jarrod Hill, Peter O'Conner, the current financial situation,” he cautioned, Whitianga. Gavin Laker and Lyle Wood.

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 23 Tairua locals out in force for Sport Results 2020 Trail and Tides

MERCURY BAY NETBALL CENTRE BaZ Player of the Season Sarah Harland, Hustle and Prize-giving - Monday, 2 November Flow Player of the Season Ngaio Gregory, Straight off the Future Ferns Award Winners - Year 1 Player of the Season Couch Player of the Season Laura Barnaby, Vixens Player Anuhea Kirby, Year 2 Player of the Season Hazel Whitford, of the Season Pip Calder, Casual Ts Player of the Season Year 3 Player of the Season Lucy Thomas, Year 4 Player of Terri Evanson. the Season Angel George-Waterhouse. Umpire of the Year - Cybele Anderson, Rookie Umpire Year 5/6 Division Winners - Invaders, Runners-up - of the Year - Macy Costello, Supporter of the Year - Defenders. Hayden Anderson. Year 5/6 Award Winners - Invaders Player of the Season Leavers - Dana Ohlson, Cara Bosman, Maggie Jones, Layla Fowell, Invaders Most Improved Jamaica Pryce, Ellise Williams, Keera Follows, Anna Stevenson, Haven Defenders Player of the Season Tallulah Lukic-Calder, Adams, Summer Power, Zoe Smith, Jazmin Jackman, Defenders Most Improved Lili Wigglesworth, Burning Kelly Evanson and Maia Crighton. Roses Player of the Season Claudia Westrupp, Burning COOKS BEACH INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Roses Most Improved Charlotte Allen, Incredibles Player of Wednesday, 4 November the Season Gia Swindlehurst, Incredibles Most Improved At the end of an unsettling year, the Peninsula indoor Isabelle Thurgood. bowling clubs of Mercury Bay, Cooks Beach and Tairua Year 7/8 Division Winners - Hornets, Runners-up - Tairua. held a combined end of year event hosted by Cooks Beach. Year 7/8 Award Winners - Hornets Player of the Season Forty players enjoyed a progressive fours tournament over Madi Walls, Hornets Most Improved Katie Robson, five games. Avengers Player of the Season Lila White, Avengers Most Results Skips - Winner Arthur Taylor (CB), Runner-up Improved Millie Pepper, Invaders Player of the Season Perrine Busby (T). Miranda Coleman, Invaders Most Improved Hine Haddon- Results Threes - Winner Tom Riddle (CB), Runner up Webster, Hustle On Player of the Season Kaya Mataiti, Shirley Morris (T). Grey skies made way for warm sunshine for much of last Saturday morning as around 350 runners Hustle On Most Improved Asher Simmonds, Coromandel Results Twos - Winner Jenny Goodwin (MB), Runner-up by and walkers made their way along the various routes in the Tairua Trail and Tides event for 2020. Player of the Season Devyn Bennett, Coromandel Most playoff Dot Lidgard (T). With organisers scaling back a little on widespread promotion due to uncertainty around the potential Improved Kororia Wirihana. Results Leads - John Maddren (CB), Runner-up by playoff College Division Winners - BaZ, Runners-up - Shadows. Winstone Gallot (T). impact of COVID-19, this year took on a significantly more local flavour with lots of familiar faces at College Award Winners - BaZ Player of the Season Ellise After play an enjoyable evening meal was appreciated by the start line for the 23km, half marathon, 10km and 5km races. Williams, BaZ Most Improved Francie Lidgard, all. Thank you to Stephensons Pharmacy for sponsoring Local teacher, Jenny Tawa, had a standout performance, completing the Twin Peaks half marathon Shadows Player of the Season Aimee Burton, Shadows prizes for the competition and to New World Whitianga for in 2 hours 18 minutes, eighth in a field of 19 women. Tairua School boys, Lincoln Easton and Hugh Most Improved Bronte Murray, Royals Player of the sponsoring the raffle prizes. Donovan, also put in a terrific effort to knock out the 23km run, which included two challenging Season Lily Williams, Royals Most Improved Dana Miller, MERCURY BAY BOWLING & SPORTS CLUB Assassins Player of the Season Trinity Holmes, Assassins Men and Women’s Pairs Championships - climbs, in 2 hours 29 minutes. Hugh’s mum, Kristin Donovan, was second overall and the first Most Improved Demi Welch, Phoenix Player of the Season Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 October lady home in the 10km walk. Samara Cameron and Sage Dunn, also students at Tairua School, Cara Bosman, Phoenix Most improved Siobhan Cox, The championships were held in fine, sunny conditions claimed fifth and sixth respectively in the 5km distance, both finishing well inside 28 minutes. The Daisies Player of the Season Harper Sanders, on Saturday with overcast windy conditions on Sunday. Their fellow schoolmates, Quade Johnson and Rylan Curtain, claimed third and fourth in the male The Daisies Most Improved Chelsea Springer. Three teams qualified for post section play in the women’s section, sharing a time of 23 minutes 30 seconds. The distance was won by well-known local, Senior Division Winners - MBAS, Runners-up - Fusion. championship and four teams qualified in the men’s Adam Fuller, in a time of 23:11. Senior Award Winners - MBAS Player of the Season Zoe championship. Smith and Jasmine McCleery, MBAS Most Improved Lee McDonald (S) and Colleen Sexton drew the bye directly All funds raised from the event will go towards the latest stage of the Pauanui-Tairua Walking Trail, Darnika Urlich, Fusion Player of the Season Nicole into the women’s final, while Sheryll Roberts (S) and Pam which will eventually connect the two communities via a walking and cycling track. Keatley, Rhi’s Team Player of the Season Summer Power, Phillips narrowly beat Jayne Skinner (S) and Dolly Welch Pictured from the left are Tairua residents, Lisa Radford (on the left), Lulu Bree and Craig Berger, (Continued on page 27) ready to get going on Saturday morning.

Page 24 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Classifieds and Public Notices SITUATIONS VACANT TO LET

Office Administrator School Te Rerenga School is seeking an Office Administrator. As the front person in the office, you will be the important first point of contact for all visitors and families when they enter the school. Strong interpersonal skills and a professional manner are essential. Proficiency and experience in office administration is a must. This job requires a self-starter who has an ability to multi-task during the busy parts of a school day. The ideal applicant will - • Have strong system-management and IT skills. • Be experienced with Novopay (ideal but not essential). • Have experience with accounts and associated tasks. • Provide secretarial support for the principal and Board of Trustees. STORAGE SHEDS, various sizes, dry and secure. Affordable rates. • Understand the confidentiality and integrity required in the role. Ph: 07 866 5147 • Have a current First Aid Certificate. STORAGE SHEDS Whitianga Total Storage opposite Carters. Ph: 0800 944 660 • Be an empathetic person and love children. Container It Self Storage, 17 Moewai Road, Whitianga. Ph: 0274 817 258 This position is term-time only and currently structured to STORAGE, Self storage/boat storage, Matarangi - Kuaotunu. Ph: 07 866 5693 work 25 hours per week. Please contact Mary Kedzlie, principal at Te Rerenga School, for further details or to declare your interest in the role. CVs with covering letter can be posted to or dropped off at school, or alternatively email them to [email protected]. Applications close 3:00pm, Friday 27 November 2020. Start date - 28 January 2021.

CLEANER WANTED FOR PRIVATE HOME IN COOKS BEACH Phone (021) 338 598

Experienced Barista Required Mat’s Café is after an experienced barista/front-of-house person. Full-time permanent position. You will work with the owner, Mat, and enjoy the support of his friendly team. Good pay rates. Email Mat at [email protected] or call Mat on 022 184 9115.

HOUSE FOR RENT Two-bedroom house, recently renovated. Small office space in Long term rental. Great view. Unfenced so central Whitianga location probably not suitable for dogs or Available long term, affordable rent. young children. References required. Phone (021) 672 748 for details. Phone 021 398 514 POSITIONS AVAILABLE OP Columbia (OPC) is a major participant in the aquaculture industry on the DEATH NOTICE Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. We specialise in processing Greenshell™ mussels. KATHLEEN STEWART Dearly loved wife of Rod. Loved mother and grandmother. Passed away peacefully If you are motivated, reliable and have an excellent work ethic, at Whitianga Continuing Care. A private cremation has been held. then this job would suit you. We pay competitive rates with the opportunity Special thanks to everyone who looked after her during her illness. to increase pay based on performance. Travellers are required to commit to a minimum of three months SITUATIONS VACANT and provide a current work visa. NZ applicants need to have NZ residence or a valid NZ work visa. Administration Office Manager Shift times available: for Tairua Golf & Country Club Dayshift processing 6:00am to 3:00pm This is a part time 20-hour position, Monday to Friday. Hygiene (cleaning) shift 3:30pm Skills required - (times are subject to change) • High accuracy and attention to detail. Applications can be made online at www.opcolumbia.co.nz or • Computer literacy in appropriate programmes eg Xero. call into the office to submit an online application. • Excellent verbal/written communication skills. • Self-motivated, professional and capable of managing their workload, and prioritizing tasks in an active environment. Front of Office - PR Manager • A genuine team player. for Tairua Golf & Country Club If you have the skills and experience above, email your CV to The position is a figurehead for the club. The incumbent must portray a [email protected] - Reference Administration Office Manager. good image to club members, visitors and sponsors. Phone manners Further information on Tairua and the club can be found at www.tairuagolf.co.nz. and interpersonal skills are an intrinsic necessity for this position. Skills required - Casual Bar Staff • Self-motivating and proactive. for Tairua Golf & Country Club • Computer literacy in appropriate programmes eg Dot Golf. This is a part time flexible position to run the bar for tournaments, • Excellent verbal/written communication skills. club events and private functions. • Professional and capable with a “can do” attitude to manage workload Skills required - and prioritize tasks in an active environment. • A People person / a genuine team player • A genuine team player. • Previous bar experience / handling money / stock taking This is a part time 20 hour position, Wednesday to Sunday. • Organised and efficient If you have the skills and experience above, email your CV to • Holder of a current Bar Manager’s License [email protected] - Reference PR Manager. If you have the skills required and interest in the above position, Further information on Tairua and the club can be found at www.tairuagolf.co.nz. email your CV to [email protected] - Reference Bar Staff.

Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 25 Classifieds and Public Notices FOR SALE ART AND CRAFT SALE GARAGE SALE WORK WANTED

FIREWOOD SATURDAY, 14 NOVEMBER, 75 Cook Drive, Whitianga, 8:00am. Tools, double Pine, shed stored, $120 per cube ART, MOSAICS wardrobe, desk, shelving, household Phone (07) 867 1361 or items and sundries. Free delivery locally & CRAFT CLEARANCE SALE PUBLIC NOTICES FIREWOOD Pine, Gum, Macrocarpa, Saturdays Poplar, Wattle 9:00am - 1:00pm www.goodwoodfirewood.co.nz 22 Seascape Ave Abstract Painting Jay Calway Notice is hereby given of the Mercury Bay Area CHURCH SERVICES Secondary School Rugby Club AGM • MBAS Library coromandel garage doors For new door installations, auto openers • Thursday, 12 November and full maintenance service • 6:00pm Ph: Don McLean 022 453 2188 New and existing committee Email: [email protected] CATTERY members are welcomed for the 2021 season.

community bus

MERCURY BAY COMMUNITY BUS 866 4273 For your door to door travel to hospitals and related services in MERCURY BAY RUGBY CLUB MIKE’S MOWING Thames, Waikato, Auckland Senior Rugby Muster $25 empty sections, and Tauranga. Thursday, 3 December at fortnightly or monthly mowing. To book phone 866 4993 or 6:30pm at Lyon Park, Free edge spraying. 867 1333 or 021 0270 6897 Phone Mike or Deb 866 4678 Advertisement sponsored by the Mercury Bay Club Whitianga. Everyone interested in playing or 027 320 1703. senior rugby next DOG GROOMING year welcome. Meet the coaching team, play a game of touch, talk about the upcoming season and enjoy a BBQ afterwards. HOLISTIC HEALTH WORK WANTED YOUR CONSCIOUS HEART ST ANDREW’S BY THE SEA INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALER Community Church WORKSHOP FACILITATOR Albert Street, Whitianga SPIRITUAL MENTOR COMMUNITY WORSHIP CLAIRVOYANT EVERY SUNDAY 9:30am. Rubbish Removal VERNA (027) 320 0079 Trees, Lawns, Garden Bags Come, join the family of God! Phone John 866 5511 Enquiries 869 5452 HOMEOPATH www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz THE BESS HANDZ EMBROIDERED MONOGRAMS Alterations, repairs, zip and hem service. Phone 866 5277.

TRANSPORT

VEHICLES WANTED Mercury Bay Spouting For all types of guttering and spouting Tony 021 505 109 YOGA DAVE’S DRAINAGE Drainlaying, Public & Private, 1.8 Ton Digger Hire. 30 Years Experience. Free Quotes or Advice. Call Dave 027 727 0348 [email protected]

Page 26 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 923 - 10 November 2020 Sport Results

(Continued from page 24) for the other place in the final. #4 - Dave Enright, Nearest the Pin #18 - Chrissie Smith Ian Pudney achieved two straight wins to fight out the third Giorgio Allemano 52.68. In the men’s semi-finals, Peter Sheehan (S) and PO and Graeme Heathcote. frame final. A close match in which Ken took the win and East/West - 1 Dave Dylla and Lynn Hickey 55.65, 2 Deidre Sheehan were victors over Trevor Knight (S) and Don Sponsors’ Day - Friday, 6 November the pork chops. Those with two wins were Ian Pudney Stevenson and Vivienne Leigh 55.06, 3 Augusta Canegallo Bates, while John Saunders (S) and Des Dwight emerged Winners - Plasterix. (runner-up), Peter Challis and Ian Baumgren, who also had and Colin Day 52.08. winners over Doug Sargent (S) and Shannon Marino. Eighteen-hole Men Scramble - Saturday, 7 November the highest break of 22. HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB The finals on Sunday resulted in a tight, close game by Results - Alan Henderson 38, Steve Geach 37, Stuart Saturday, 7 November Te Pare Point Pairs Week 2 - Tuesday, 3 November the men, with the evergreen 97-year-old Peter Sheehan Hunter 37. Best of three frames North/South - 1 Alison Tichbon and Peter Hogg 67.50, together with his son, PO, losing on the last end, having Best Gross - Steve Geach 74, Twos - Phil Radford, Seven players. Peter Schultz and Barry Roach progressed 2 Annette Cox and Sue Gill 60.42, 3 Equal Val Dwight been tied at 13 all going into the end. A great achievement Mark Burcombe, Roger Booth, John MacLachlan and Brett to the third frame final with two straight wins each. and Johanna Bonnar, and Angela Butterworth and Chris for John Saunders and Des Dwight, neither who had Goodger. In the final, veteran, Peter was too good for Barry and Rendle 49.17. previously won a club championship. PURANGI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB took home the pork chops. Those with two wins were East/West - 1 Robyn Hogg and Don Barry 74.58, 2 Peter In the women’s final consistent, superb bowls were played Nine-hole Men and Ladies Stableford - Barry Roach (runner-up), Gavin Kerr and Phil Jones, who and Chris Ellett 55.00, 3 Barry Scott and Annette by both Lee McDonald and Colleen Sexton who triumphed Tuesday, 3 November also had the highest break of 23 and took home the high Cummings 47.50. as deserving winners over Sheryll Roberts and Pam Results - 1 Phil Costello 22, 2 Dick Hawke 20, 3 Meryll break pool. TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB Phillips, neither of whom reached the standard that they Hawke 18. MERCURY BAY CLUB 8-BALL Monday, 2 November had played in previous games. Stableford Three Mystery Holes - 1 Phil Costello 9, 2 Dick Sunday, 8 November North/South - 1 Wendy Morris and Peter McNeil 67.50, MERCURY BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Hawke 7, 3 Equal John Maddren and John Hamilton 6. Best of six frames 2 Jean Myles and Chris Death 50.50, 3 Gillian Martin and Eighteen-hole Women v Men J&D Trophy - Eighteen-hole Men and Ladies Monthly Medal Doug Pascoe took home the pork chops with five wins. Dave Dylla 47.00. Wednesday, 4 November Stableford - Saturday, 7 November With four wins each, Richie Neighbours and Gavin Kerr East/West - 1 Lee Hughes and Ngaire O'Brian 54.00, Winners - Men. Results - 1 John Hamilton 41 (winner of the monthly played off for second place. Richie took the win and the 2 Celia Young and Nolene Kirkpatrick 52.50, 3 Barry Scott Results Women - 1 Munin Tonsri, 2 Betty Tocker, 3 Yvonne medal), 2 Equal Phil Ander and Grant Webster 39, 4 Equal chicken breasts. and Sue Poland 50.50. Mehrtens. Meryll Hawke and Alan Richie 37. MERCURY BAY CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUB MERCURY BAY BOATING CLUB Results Men - 1 Roger Pheasant, 2 Carl Mitchell, 3 John Nearest the Pin - David Young, Best Net - Alan Richie 83. Championship Singles Round 7 - Keeler Fleet Spring Series - Six Consecutive Lister. MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER Wednesday, 4 November Wednesdays from 30 September - 4 November Twos - Chrissie Smith, Graeme Heathcote and Dave Wednesday, 4 November North/South - 1 Gavin Hedwig and Kate Palmano 57.44, Results - 1 Strictly Business (skipper Mike Phear), 2 Titoki Enright, Longest Putt #9 - Betty Tocker, Nearest the Pin Best of three frames. Eight players. Only Ken Gibson and 2 Don Barry and Sue Gill 55.65, 3 Gerry Church and (skipper Roger Fulton), 3 Deep Purple (skipper Philip Hart).

Some of the Mercury Bay Netball Centre award winners after the Strictly Business, winner of the Mercury Boating Club’s keeler fleet Spring Series, club’s prize-giving on Monday last week. on Wednesday last week. Photo by Jackie Dagger.

Issue 923699 - 1027 NovemberJuly 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 27