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Smith enters four-way mayoral race u by Paul Campbell
The field for the Kaipara mayoralty in the local body elections has gone wide open with the lastminute nomination of former mayor and director of The Kauri Museum, Dr Jason Smith.
Back to the drawing board The Dargaville Town Hall annexe demolition and recladding is going back to first principles, with councillors …
P3 p Jonathan Larsen
Solar farm nears completion Te Puna Mauri o Omaru, the solar farm near Ruawai in west Kaipara, is nearing the end of its construction phase …
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p Ash Nayyar
“I know how to get things done, and Kaipara is going in the wrong direction on many paths, which I shall be exploring,” says Dr Smith. His nomination just before the deadline at noon last Friday has thrown the mayoralty race into a fourway contest, with the added impetus of his tenure leading the Kaipara District Council from 2018 to 2022. “We need better than the present. There are 32 candidates for the overall local election, and that shows the extent of change the wider community is wanting in place of the last three years.
p Dr Jason Smith
“I feel this change is why I have stepped forward to stand for the mayoralty again. I will take unpaid leave of absence from The Kauri Museum from August 8, and I will campaign vigorously across the region in a focussed way. I know the ropes, I know the roads and the rates, and I know how to get things done,” he said. “This election is good for democracy, and I will be establishing my platform in more detail as my campaign unfolds over the coming days.” Dr Smith served as mayor from 2018 to 2022 through the Covid pandemic before
p Snow Tane
stepping down to stand unsuccessfully for a national government seat, and taking leadership of the museum in Matakohe, near his farming property. The other three candidates who have declared for the mayoralty are councillors Jonathan Larsen and Ash Nayyar, and businessman Snow Tane. Local body elections’ key dates are when voting documents are posted on Tuesday, September 9, and when voting closes on October 11 at noon, with preliminary vote counts shortly thereafter, before final declaration on October 17 and 18. ¢
At the top of her sport u by Andy Bryenton
Celebrating cultural diversity Te Kaipara Tangata Moana has partnered with Selwyn Park School to put on the Moana Vibes Festival …
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Harmony Covacich has attained the highest level of achievement in the rugby league world, becoming part of the first-ever all-women’s squad to take the field for the Penrith Panthers. The Dargaville High School alumnus and former head girl now represents the biggest sporting club in Australasia, a source of immense pride for her whānau and community. With famous All Blacks, the Dunn brothers as uncles, Harmony grew up in a family supportive of
Authorised by: Dr Jason Smith, 42 Matakohe Wharf Road, Matakohe 0593
her sporting goals, as one of eight siblings. Now she’s competing on a global stage, inspiring a new generation of Kaipara youngsters to follow their dreams. Previously, Harmony has represented Ngāpuhi under-15s and under-18s, the Hibiscus Coast Raiders Under-18s, and the New Zealand Māori under-18 squad, before travelling to the US and Australia for more sporting successes. ¢