kumeuCourier FREE monthly community newsletter for Kumeu & districts OVER 65 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES IN MURIWAI House sales update Mike Pero heats up market Holiday safety messages Infrastructure the key for Kumeu CAROLS NOT CRASHES THIS CHRISTMAS PERIOD Circulation is 8000 print copies and 3371 opened and read email copies Editorial contributions are free from cost. Advertising starts at $75 plus gst for a business card size. Contact Sarah Cartwright on 0212507324 or [email protected] kumeuCOURIER/December 2013 Intro kumeuCourier Well here it is! After a long hard year we have finally reached the end. Christmas is only weeks away and with that we can look forward to Feature Stories a well-deserved break with fami- ly and friends. Please take care on the roads during the holiday break, remember every car on the road 3 Muriwai Surf holds someone’s loved one, so be 4 Community notices patient and just enjoy the journey. This month’s issue has a few treats 5 Mike Pero heats market in store for you. If you haven’t made 6 NZ Police and NZFS your Christmas cake yet there is still time to create something delicious 7 Property sales update for your family and friends. Check out 8 In brief - updates the funky wooden cake boxes at Mix n Match in Waimauku or perhaps a visit 10 Local chair notes to Grasslands Kumeu to upgrade your old BBQ is on the cards. The Kumeu 20 Area columnists Art Centre has an exhibition running 21 Stress free Xmas hair till the 20th of December with some wonderful local art and crafts. Why 23 Ratepayers update not support our local community by 25 A tribute to Kumeu doing your Christmas shopping here? With the weather warming up we can 26 Citizens advice now begin to enjoy all that our beau- 28 Vintage shop returns tiful beaches offer, but remember that water safety is the responsibility 29 Water thieves of everyone this summer. Make sure 30 Nature Walks your children are swimming between the flags and keep an eye out for any 31 Kumeu Rugby swimmers that could get into trouble so we can make life easier for all our- wonderful lifeguards. Wherever you are this Christmas, remember the best Questions and feedback: holiday is one spent with family and friends. Merry Christmas everyone! Sarah Cartwright P 021 250 7324 E [email protected] And a very happy W kumeucourier.co.nz New Year Sarah Editor Print run is 8000 copies through Nicholson print Email database is managed by Sublime NZ kumeuCourier members involved since childhood. Sixty five years of Nippers take to the beach each Sunday what is the make up morning to develop their surf skills as saving lives they work towards becoming lifeguards. of a fire VOLUNTEER A proud part of the Muriwai and great- Situated on a fifty kilometer stretch er Rodney community and holding of Auckland’s rugged west coast, Mu- an immense gratitude for each of the riwai is renowned for it’s stunning sponsors and supporters, without scenery, abundant wildlife and its whom the job would be impossible. sparkling black sand. The Muriwai Muriwai strives to live the motto, that Volunteer Lifeguard Service found of ‘Great Since ‘48’ in celebration of the its origins in 1948 after a series of founding members and their successes. near tragedies encouraged the local Members also align to the mission with community to form a lifesaving club. that of the governing body, Surf Life For over sixty five years Muriwai life- Saving New Zealand who endeavor to Fire has effected most of us at some guards have patrolled this isolated para- preserve life on New Zealand beaches. time and with this experience comes dise, preventing injury and loss of life on Along with the seventy five other lifesav- an empathy for the volunteers that re- one of Auckland’s most popular beaches. ing clubs in New Zealand, this club con- spond to such incidents 24 hours a day, Lifesaving is the club’s foremost concern tinues to be passionately In It For Life. 7 days a week without pay nor fanfare. and Muriwai is patrolled each weekend Want to Join? A quiet army of men and women that by volunteer guards throughout the Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Ser- don’t make fuss but respond profession- summer months from Labour weekend vice needs volunteers across all as- ally and effectively to local and regional until Easter. From December, paid life- pects of the club. Whether you can events requiring immediate attention, guards watch over the beach during the help over the whole summer, or just resources and structure. The opportu- weekdays, ensuring beach users are safe. a few hours, they need your help. nity of becoming a volunteer firefighter Surf sports keep members fit and Muri- They are a volunteer lifeguard ser- may appeal to you because of the rela- wai has a strong team of athletes com- vice, so any help is much appreciated. tionships, the skills or the discipline. peting in all disciplines of surf life saving. Email [email protected] If you would like more information Whether it be surf sports, boat Want to become a sponsor? please drop by your local fire brigade rowing or IRB racing, Muriwai ath- Just talk to Pauline and they can tailor a at 7pm on Monday night and ask to talk letes are highly successful region- sponsorship deal to suit your business with the officer in charge. ally, nationally and internationally. needs, big or small. Email secretary@ They will provide an introduction and The Junior Surf program or ‘Nippers’ muriwaisurf.org.nz an overview of the requirements and is where it all begins for many Mu- For more information go to www.muri- time frames involved. riwai Lifeguards with many of the waisurf.org.nz. 4 community is located at 1 Maud Street, Riverhead. For more information please read our notice board excellent Education Review Office (ERO) report online. Phone us on: 412-8800 to enable your child to attend our won- church think the carol service would be derful, natural learning environment. carols on the court a fitting time to bless this local symbol everyone is welcome and you don’t of faith. Businesses and individuals, have to be a member to come along. Sunday 22nd December, from 5pm till who have helped with the restoration of 8pm. Do you need to unwind before the structure and the bell and in build- the big day of Christmas? Come along ing the present tower or who have been to a fun time of carol singing on the involved in its journey in some other Waimauku School court. The event will summer at the riverhead way, have been asked to attend. So St begin from 5pm with free activities for Chad’s congregation hope you will take the kids like face painting, bouncy castle We are proud to announce the start of some time out from the hectic rush at etc. Bring along a picnic dinner, spread our new summer menu designed by this time of year to gather in fellowship out on the court with others in your Paul Jobin, our new Food and Bever- to celebrate and enjoy Christmas cake community and from 7pm enjoy singing age Director. It will be available from and mince pies after the singing. along to carols for an hour. There will Wednesday 20th November in The be espresso coffee, sausage sizzle, hot Landing Restaurant. The menu features chips and other treats to purchase for some interesting new dishes which in- your convenience along with giveaways keep safe course clude some mouth-watering salads; and spot prizes. This event is spon- Watermelon, Cows’ Feta, Almond & Pumpkin Kernel Salad or the Spiced sored by Abundant Life Church – for At Nature’s Explorers kindergarten we Duck Breast Salad with granny smith more details visit www.abundantlifenz. believe it is important for children to apple, water chestnuts, water spinach org. If weather is lousy, this event will understand the importance of keep- & avocado. His Cured Marlborough be held in the Waimauku School Hall. ing safe. This year our children aged Salmon Scallop Ceviche is to die for 3-6 attended a ‘Keep Safe’ course, once and the Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder a week over a five week period. This with blue cheese polenta, cumin but- programme is run by ‘Auckland Sexual st chads carol service tered cauliflower, almonds, roquette Abuse HELP’. The course is interactive and marmalade glaze will knock your and the children had the opportunity Members of the local community are socks off. To make a booking visit to learn about how to keep their bodies warmly invited to St Chad’s Communi- our website www.theriverhead.co.nz safe in an energetic and fun way, through ty outdoor Carol service on Sunday 22 We’re gearing up for a massive summer participating in dancing rhythm, stories December at 7 pm. The Kumeu Vintage and already thinking about our New and listening to a puppet called “Toby”. Band will be playing at this festive occa- Year’s Party. If you missed it last year, it The programme aims to raise aware- sion which was a great success in 2012. was the place to see in the New Year…. ness with children, encouraging them This year something special will also be and we’re doing it all again this year to keep safe, by learning skills to protect happening – the blessing of the historic with a similar band belting out the ‘Best their personal safety. This includes pro- St Chad’s Bell tower which was rescued of British’ songs you grew up with and viding a starting point for vocabulary after the original church was burnt can’t help dancing to! Get your tick- and open communication between par- down.