Kaipara Lifestyler, March 24th 2026

Four decades of brigadiers

Tinopai’s big contest gears up “This

Northland urged to seize opportunities

Dusty road to victory

Fostering sporting aspirations

u by Amy Fifita

Dargaville High School students recently immersed themselves in the world of professional sports at the Blues Leadership Camp in Auckland.

“The Blues Leadership Camp teaches students about what the professional environment is like, and what the discipline needs to get there. It also helps with self-leadership and teamwork,” said coach Peter Hugo.

“My job is to guide them with the rugby principles to get to that level and to play to the best of their ability. You have to keep the franchise strong with their behaviour and look after your investors. Those are some topics which they learned about over the weekend.”

Benjamin Leao was one of the students who attended the camp and returned to school with a wealth of knowledge about

what it takes to become a professional rugby player. “Rugby is all I wanted to do since I was a child, and I played all of the grades, until I got an injury in the under11s and began playing again two years ago. I was excited to go down to the Blues Leadership Camp,” said Benjamin.

“The camp was fun, and we learned a lot, and we had amazing experiences like watching the Warriors’ game, and I want to go far in the sport.”

New to rugby this year, Harvest Kakara also attended the camp. She said it was good fun and encouraged her to be courageous. “It taught us a lot about leadership and how to step out of your

comfort zone, even if you’re scared. I started playing rugby this year, but I’m stronger at netball, so I aim to become a professional netball player. This is an opportunity to go professional in rugby,” said Harvest.

Having worked with previous students who have been successful in their sporting aspirations, Mr Hugo says he and the school want to give students the best shot at their goals. The excursion was part of the newly-formed DHS Rugby Academy.

“We want to build something in the school where we can be rugby proud, and help our students to harness their talent,” coach Hugo said. ¢

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A welcome for Easter Celtic festivities

Fish deaths cause unknown

u by Paul Campbell

The death of prime snapper remains a mystery after exhaustive laboratory tests carried out by three entities involved in an investigation after the swathe of dead fish in the Ōtamatea River arm of the Kaipara Harbour last month.

Hundreds of dead snapper, both on tidal shorelines and floating in the water from Kaiwaka to Batley, were first reported by Te Uri O Hau Environs and samples were sent for testing, but returned a negative reading as being too decayed for a result.

Fonterra, which has its dairy factory at Maungatūroto, was initially contacted and said milk residue was not to blame. “Tests by AsureQuality confirm that the sample of scum provided to Fonterra by Te Uri o Hau did not contain milk residues. Fonterra internal testing also confirmed the lack of presence of milk protein in the sample.”

That left the Northern Regional Council still awaiting tests from the prestigious Cawthorne Institute but these too have now returned a negative result.

“The matter is still under investigation and as far as the council is aware, the cause of the white substance and dead snapper has not been established at this stage,” said NRC group manager for regulatory services, Colin Dall. “The test results of the sediment samples taken by the council were inconclusive, and we understand that no further information has been submitted to the Ministry of Primary Industries regarding the snapper mortality.”

Dall said last week reports of dead snapper led compliance staff to a white film at the tide line and flew a drone to film the river, which did not show a white film in the water itself. “One possibility was that the white material was dead diatoms, a type of microscopic algae commonly found in oceans, rivers, lakes and wetlands.”

With the deaths unresolved one local fisher, who asked not to be named, said “the question worries us because our harbour is a major snapper nursery for the wider west coast. I guess we just keep our eyes out in case it happens again.” ¢

Four decades of brigadiers

u by Amy Fifita

Celebrating 40 years since the First Dargaville Girls’ Brigade was inaugurated in 1986, the local club is welcoming brigadiers, helpers and parents from past and present to its April 30 anniversary.

After the club’s official inauguration in April 1986 at Dargaville’s St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 44 girls joined the ranks under captain Vivian Coleman and lieutenants Stacey Gordon and Alison Mawson.

“They started with just juniors aged 5–10, welcoming 44 girls. Over the following years, the programme expanded to include up to 18-year-olds, attracting around 100 girls,” said leader Pauline Taylor.

“We have maintained a steady membership of 50 to 60 girls. In 2020, we decided to hold the Girls’ Brigade only during the winter months.”

Currently, the club has just over 50 members. Built on a strong 40-year foundation, some of the interests have changed over the years with the girls and the leaders.

“Many girls have completed their International Queen’s Award, the highest achievement in Girls’ Brigade, with our most recent recipients being Bethany Godfrey and Monica Davidson in 2024.

“We look forward to seeing even more girls achieve this prestigious award, as it offers them valuable opportunities for leadership and personal development.”

The Girls’ Brigade will hold its Easter Eggstravaganza, with fun activities and an egg hunt set for Thursday, April 3, from 3pm–5pm. The 40th anniversary celebration is on Thursday, April 30, from 3pm–5pm.

“We warmly invite past and present parents, girls and dedicated helpers to join us in this special 40th birthday celebration.” ¢

IDEAL SOLUTIONS TRANSPORT

KAIPARA

Mayor ’s Message

It’s been a busy few weeks across Northland, and I’m pleased to share some of the good work happening both in our district and around the region. There’s a real sense of momentum at the moment, and it’s encouraging to see what we are achieving.

One of the highlights this month was the signing of the Triennial Agreement at the Northland Mayoral Forum. This agreement is our undertaking, as councils, to keep working closely and supporting one another. Whether we’re dealing with infrastructure, economic development, or planning for the region’s future, there are opportunities to find benefits for all of Northland.

That same collaborative spirit was evident at the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee meeting. Northland Inc. shared its latest impact reporting, and it’s great to see the positive results coming through, from helping local businesses to attracting new investment and promoting our region’s strengths.

Closer to home, our Proposed District Plan continues to move steadily through its stages with a full schedule of hearings now underway. This plan will shape how our district grows over the coming decades, ensuring we carefully manage growth in high demand areas, whilst enabling development. Thank you to everyone who has contributed through submissions and hearings.

On the roading front, work is continuing across the district, including steady progress on our slip repair programme. We’re now getting into the gnarlier end of this multi-year effort, where the remaining sites are more complex and take a bit more time to get right. Even so, crews are pushing ahead to keep our roads safe and our communities connected, while also building in better resilience for the network.

I recently visited the Harrison Contracting team at the Victoria Street site in Dargaville where old drainage is being replaced followed by a complete rebuild of the road, improving what is currently a pretty bumpy surface. It’s great to see significant work being awarded to local contractors, keeping rates money circulating in our local communities.

It was a pleasure to attend the opening of the new shed at the Paparoa showground, a project made possible by a reserve contributions grant. I also attended a successful meeting with the Tinopai Wharf Committee to discuss plans to replace the wharf which has fallen into disrepair. The Tinopai community’s proactive work with Council is helping us find the right solution for this special place. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected Kaipara.

Jonathan Larsen Mayor

of Kaipara District

A winning pair Apron art accolade Premiere

Tinopai’s big contest gears up The road to rehabilitation

u by Paul Campbell

“This event is so much more than just a fishing competition. It is our biggest annual fundraiser and a true celebration of our community coming together.”

That description from acting principal Kristeen Pranley of Tinopai Primary School summed up the Tinopai Fishing Contest on Saturday, April 4 from 7am. It is aimed at providing funds for the kids’ education at the Kaipara harbourside village.

“Each year, whānau, friends, local businesses, and visitors from across the region gather in Tinopai for a day filled with connection, laughter, and a bit of healthy competition out on the water,” says Kristeen. “Whether people are fishing, helping behind the scenes, donating prizes, or simply coming along to enjoy the atmosphere, there is a real sense of pride and belonging that makes this day incredibly special.”

support contributes to making that goal a reality,” said Kristeen.

u by Amy Fifita

From alcoholism to helping those out of addiction, David Cross spoke at Celebrate Recovery at the Dargaville Church of the Nazarene, with a message of hope — that recovery is possible.

“Born an alcoholic, die an alcoholic, that’s what I believe. My dad and grandad were alcoholics, one of my brothers is dying of it, and another has died of it, but I got through it,” David said.

“When I drank my first beer, I could feel it in my veins. It was a feeling of elation, and that was it — I drank whenever I could.”

The funds raised from the fishing contest go directly back into the school. This year, the goal is to raise enough to repair or replace the school swimming pool.

“Something that is hugely important not just for recreation, but for building water confidence and safety skills in our coastal community. Every ticket sold, every donation made, and every bit of

“What makes this event truly amazing is the scale of community support behind it. From sponsorship and spot prizes to volunteers giving their time in the leadup and on the day, it genuinely takes a village — and our village shows up every single year.

“It is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community rallies around its school. It’s about creating opportunities, strengthening connections, and ensuring our children have access to the resources and experiences they deserve.” ¢

Being exposed to the impacts of alcoholism from a young age and having his first beer in his early teenage years, David broke the cycle.

“My mum intervened and told me I needed to do something about it. I went to Alcoholics Anonymous, and it was going OK for a while, then I started drinking and attending meetings.

“It didn’t work for me, so I played the best card I had and went to rehab at the Salvation Army Rotoroa Island, and now I am 22 years clean and sober. If you do your work and recover, it is the best work you can do.”

Since becoming sober, David married his wife Claire and has worked in various rehabs in the United Kingdom and Africa, including helping set up Steps to Freedom in Sierra Leone.

“Many addicts will tell you that all they want is a normal life, and I am standing up here because so many people helped me along the way.” ¢

Safeguard your farm against electricity faults and accidents.

These simple checks can prevent damage and out ages, and help keep everyone safe.

Northland urged to seize opportunities

u by Andy Bryenton

Northland is entering a period of significant opportunity, says the chair of the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee; now it’s time to take that opportunity and turn it into prosperity.

Speaking in Kerikeri at an event hosted by Ngāti Hine, regional councillor Geoff Crawford highlighted unique strengths of Te Tai Tokerau and the energy building across the region.

“Northland is a region with extraordinary potential,” said Mr Crawford. “Our natural beauty, our communities, and our history of resilience and enterprise give us a foundation that many regions would envy.

“Today’s gathering shows how closely our economic story is tied to the land and the people who care for it.

“Better roads, rail, and port capacity transform how businesses operate here,” said Mr Crawford. “For growers, infrastructure determines how quickly fruit reaches packhouses, how safely workers travel, and how reliably products get to market.”

He said Northland’s primary industries remain a cornerstone of regional prosperity.

“By embracing processing, technology, and sustainability, we create higher-value products and more skilled jobs right here in Northland.”

Of relevance, a meeting has been called in Dargaville to explore options for tertiary-level training, convened by civic

leaders and Massey University professor Doug Sutton, invites those involved in the very industries chair Crawford has indicated for growth to engage on the matter of preparing a workforce to turn opportunity into action. The meeting will take place at 6.30pm at the Dargaville Intermediate School hall, on Monday, April 13.

“Prosperity means young people can build careers without leaving home, families can thrive, and communities feel optimistic about the future,” said Mr Crawford. ¢

Win a huge hamper prize

u by Andy Bryenton

The massive Dargaville Easter Hamper contest is on right now, rolling into its second week with bunnies hopping into stores all over town.

The big news is the big prize that’s been put together with contributions from dozens of local businesses. One lucky winner will take home the entire bunch when the contest ends, and the generosity of those individual gifts means that this is a mighty hamper indeed.

Inside you’ll find gift vouchers, products and prizes from Snazzi Gifts, the Dargaville Warrant and Repair Centre, Shiney Beauty and Jewellery, the Empire Luncheonette, the Health Spa, MOA Bakery and Cafe, Godfrey’s Mowers and Chainsaws, 100% McKay’s, Hammer Hardware, Supahn Thai Restaurant, Laser Electrical, the Kauri Computer Company, Fosters Home Decorating, Dargaville Motors, CarMech Services, B’arch Wear the Funk Store, Morfett Autos, Matich’s Fish Shop, Farrand and Mason, House of Lash and Brows, the Dargaville Sewing and Curtain Centre, Dargaville Honda, Century 21, Boarding House Antiques and Collectables, Kauri Coast Pizzeria and Jon Matich Surfwear. That’s well in excess of $1,000 in value, and it could all be yours. To play, you’ll have to find our army of Easter Bunnies. There’s one hidden in every

single business listed on these pages, and each one has a name. Pop in and visit your local shops to find them, then write down at least five of their names and locations. Email your list of five bunnies, their names and where they live to comp@rml.nz before Easter Sunday to be in to win.

Don’t forget to shop local, too. To claim the massive hamper prize, our lucky winner will also need to have at least two receipts from participating businesses. Keep your dockets or eftpos receipts as proof of purchase. ¢

Kauri tracks remediation A heart for rural policing

u by Amy Fifita

Coming from the Kaikohe Police Station, Constable Nigel Nicer is bringing his passion for people and rural policing to the Dargaville team.

“Ever since I was younger, I wanted to help people in some way, and policing spoke out to me. While I was studying sport management in university, I had a plan in place that policing would be the way I’d go,” said Constable Nicer.

Starting his career in Kaikohe, Nigel says he found a passion for rural policing and enjoys being able to build more connections in smaller communities.

“It was an eye-opening experience, and the community was similar, being a rural community. You have more of an ability to connect with people than working in a big area.

“In this job, you get exposed to a lot of stuff that people don’t see, and I rely on my friends and whānau, colleagues and my faith to deal with challenging situations.

“Dargaville has a low crime rate, which speaks to how good and safe the community is. It’s like a second home.”

While encouraging others to join the cause, Nigel loves the work that he does

and meeting new and familiar people in his role on the public safety team.

“I am taking my career a step at a time, and I love it because you meet all sorts of people.”

Keep your community safe by reporting crimes to 111, in the case in an emergency, or call 105 for nonurgent matters. ¢

u by Andy Bryenton

Tracks in Waipoua Forest leading to the Four Sisters and the ancient Te Matua Ngāhere are closed as of this month, while major upgrades create new raised boardwalks.

As well as securing these kauri giants from the Phytopythora agicida fungus, which can bring them down, the upgrades will open up new, previously inaccessible areas of the forest for tourism and for locals to appreciate, says the Department of Conservation northern North Island regional director Sue Reed-Thomas.

“Forest health is our top priority, and we are focussed on delivering a memorable experience so visitors who come naturing here, walk away and want to be part of protecting this incredible taonga for future generations,” said Sue. “Partnership is the key element of the Rākau Rangatira kaupapa. We work alongside Te Roroa to share this significant milestone of getting work underway.”

Te Roroa representative Piripi Moore says that the works, which will take until October this year, follow on from the very successful upgrade of infrastructure around the Waipoua Forest’s most famous identity, Tāne Mahuta. These works, completed in 2024, marked the beginning of a comprehensive Rākau Rangatira programme.

“For Te Roroa, this is an expression of kaitiakitanga responsibilities in action. We are proud that our kaimahi will be actively involved throughout

construction, visibly upholding our role as mana whenua and our intergenerational commitment to safeguard this taonga for ngā uri whakatipu (future generations), while helping shape a world-class visitor experience grounded in respect, conservation and kotahitanga (unity).”

Tāne Mahuta will remain open while the new pathways and 1.5 kilometres of boardwalk are established to the Four Sisters and Te Matua Ngāhere. A specialist construction firm has been engaged with specific skills in working within biosensitive areas. ¢

EDITORIAL by Andy Bryenton

Smokescreens and financial fires

There’s a new drug dominating the black market, and it’s dangerous. Highly addictive and linked to serious illnesses, this substance has sparked gang warfare in Australia as dirty profits are up for grabs.

It’s tobacco, and the push to tax smoking out of existence has led to exactly what happens whenever governments decide to ban or restrict, criminalise or punish something which people want. An illicit trade has sprung up, to the tune of 11 million cigars and illegal cigarettes, 5.4 tonnes of loose tobacco and millions of dollars in 2025 alone.

Not that ending tobacco smoking is a bad thing. On the contrary. Never starting is the ideal, quitting second best. Customs reports that illegal smokes are going for $20 a packet, under the counter. That’s compared to $40 a packet for legal smokes. Addiction and the financial crisis we’re in makes the maths easy to add up. It’s vexatious because the reason for taxing tobacco is to pay for healthcare — at least nominally. There’s a grim irony in the fact that the recently announced winter band aid spend of $16.5 million by the government to add hospital beds in the main centres almost perfectly matches the amount lost to the taxman due to illegal cigarette sales.

It’s enough to make you pretty angry, really. Those dastardly gangsters, dodging taxes to enrich themselves, while hospitals have to settle for a percentage of what they need, and people die without the operations and care they require. What could we do with that extra $16 million?

Well, don’t ask about the other $7 billion. That’s the yearly cost of tax evasion, perpetuated by people who might, if asked, say that they were advised to slime their way out of paying their dues by professionals, and that it’s ‘just business’.

If ciggy crims make your blood boil, but these next-level crooks are just a glitch in the system that you can shrug off as ‘part of the free market’, then you’ve been played for a sucker. Last year, the government had to send $116 million to the IRD just to fund them to chase dodgers and cheats.

This isn’t a comparison; we don’t want any of this. An ideal situation would see smoking relegated to history like laudanum and trepanning, the black market squashed by lack of demand, and tax fraud punished like the crime it is, not a white-collar foible. A functioning society is user-pays, and we’re currently getting the broken results of what a greedy minority refuses to pay for. ¢

Kaipara Kōrero

News from Kaipara District Council

We’re on the hunt for humble heroes in our community. Citizens Award nominations are open until 30 April Nominate at kaipara.govt.nz/funding

One more week to apply!

Applications close on 31 March for the Rural Travel Fund, which aims to subsidise travel for junior sports teams (5 to 18 year olds) participating in local competitions Find out more and apply at kaipara.govt.nz/funding

A Dome Valley landfill view

u by Paul Campbell

An eight-year court battle against plans for a mega-dump for Auckland’s rubbish in the Dome Valley and an Environment Court finding in favour of the Waste Management landfill plan, subject to conditions, is not being taken as a ‘done deal’, and opposition shows no sign of backing down.

Those close to the tip opposition movement say “councils of war are well underway to continue heartfelt opposition to having 60 hectares of rubbish in a fragile ecosystem in a catchment area for the Kaipara Harbour and this battle is not over. We are actively exploring avenues to prevent such a travesty.”

There’s every indication that there is strong iwi involvement in pursuing further legal remedies to the tip plan.

“We are keeping our legal powder dry until we have confirmed concrete legal action,” say those involved with the opposition.

A formal legal hearing is continuing. Meanwhile, Forest and Bird appeals over national river protection provisions are ongoing, because many streams would be blocked by a dump site.

Tip opponents reject Waste Management’s fix-plan for stream loss by riparian planting in the adjacent catchment of the Kaipara Harbour. It’s their opinion that this

would simply echo work undertaken by the $300 million Kaipara Moana Remediation project.

However, iwi opposition has many facets, and one major consideration is understood to involve “a statement of tikanga” (Māori custom). Tip opponents cite the imposition eight years ago of a rāhui over the landfill site that remains in force today. Tikanga was most recently cited successfully in a Wellington court case involving the national museum Te Papa, resulting in a Crown backdown in a criminal prosecution.

So while Forest and Bird soldiers on, there are strong rumblings through the Kaipara iwi base that the Dome Valley tip is most certainly not a foregone conclusion. These cite a 180-degree about-face from opposition to tip approval by iwi leadership that does not have rank and file support. That, and the succession of court decisions, locals say, “fly in the face of common sense.” ¢

Ngā whare pukapuka o Kaipara

Library update

MyHeritage now available online

Ever wanted to know more about your family history? With Kaipara Libraries’ brand new digital resource you can do just that! MyHeritage is an online genealogy platform where users can obtain their family trees, upload and browse through photos, and search through over 19 9 billion historical records. You can access MyHeritage via kaipara.kotui.org.nz (click the E-resources tab, then MyHeritage and log in using your Kaipara Libraries card number)

OPEN HOME

DARGAVILLE 136 Whakahara Road

A Standout Home With Exceptional Views

4 2 4

DEADLINE SALE

A standout 34.67ha lifestyle property with stunning rural views and a warm, character-filled four bedroom, two bathroom home. Timber features, open plan living, wood fire, heat pumps, and great indoor-outdoor flow. Impressive 9x18m four-bay shed with concrete and power. Native bush, grazing land, well setup cattle yards, and a gravity-fed spring and water system. A private, well-set-up property that’s hard to beat. Enquiries welcome.

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior)

Closes 2.00pm, Wednesday 29 April VIEW

1.00-2.00pm, Sunday 29 March

Nellwyn Lulich

M 029 127 4729

E nellwyn.lulich@pggwrightson.co.nz

Megan Browning

M 027 668 8468

E mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

NEW LISTING

RUAWAI 132 Access Road

Your Next Project Awaits

pggwre.co.nz/DAG43322

OPEN DAY

3 1

DEADLINE SALE

If you've been searching for a home with space this country bungalow is ready for your creativity. Set on a generous 7780sqm (approximately) lifestyle section, this property offers room to breathe, play and create the rural haven you've always imagined. With four bedrooms the bungalow is ready for someone with vision to restore it to its former glory. Double garage and also a large shed suitable for storage and workshop needs. Set within a subdivision and awaiting title, this property offers an exciting opportunity to secure your slice of countryside with plenty of potential to add value.

pggwre.co.nz/DAG43248

DARGAVILLE 1067 Hoanga Road

Dairy Farm With Scale, Potential & Infrastructure

An exceptional opportunity awaits with this 204 hectare low-input dairy farm, offered across five titles and presenting genuine potential for increased production and diversified land use. Currently milking 400 cows, this property has demonstrated consistent production thanks to fertile soils, strong pasture performance, and productive flats, some of which have been laser drained for improved efficiency. Farm Infrastructure includes, 35 ASHB cowshed with yarding, abundant calf sheds and implement sheds, Reliable layout with good access to support buildings, Proven history under long-term family ownership in the past now operated as a lease farm Accommodation on farm is a brick and tile homestead on its own title, elevated with views across the farm. Two additional four bedroom homes, both with garaging and convenient access to the dairy shed Only 11 kilometres from a rural town and supportive community, providing schooling, services, and essential amenities within easy reach. This is a property with versatility and upside. Suitable for dairy, cropping, horticulture, grazing, or mixed farming - or continue with the current leasee, who is interested in staying on to milk for another year.

GST Inclusive

(Unless Sold Prior)

Closes 2.00pm, Thursday 30 April

VIEW By Appointment Only

Megan Browning

M 027 668 8468

E mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

2 2

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 2.00pm, Thursday 30 April VIEW 11.00-12.30pm, Friday 27 March

Megan Browning

M 027 668 8468

mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

Pahi power progress

u by Paul Campbell

Occasional power cuts are a fact of life on Pahi Road but Northpower is halfway through its million dollar-plus project to strengthen and modernise the electricity network on the Pahi Peninsula.

“Work is progressing well thanks to favourable weather and strong support from the local community,” said Northpower’s spokesman. The project began in February and involves replacing ageing power poles, electrical hardware and overhead lines along Pahi Road and surrounding areas. Due to the peninsula being supplied by a single spur line, the work requires planned outages so crews can complete upgrades safely.

“We’ve had multiple crews working along the peninsula at the same time, allowing us to replace many poles and spans of line concurrently. That’s been a big part of why we’re tracking well at the halfway mark,” says Northpower’s customer excellence manager Rachel Wansbone.

“Residents will have seen crews working at several sites on any given day, which is part of a coordinated approach designed to complete the project as efficiently as possible.

“We know the planned outages are disruptive, especially given the number required on a single line supply like Pahi. We also appreciate everyone’s understanding around traffic

management near our work sites. Your support has made a real difference.”

Stable weather has helped crews meet their planned timelines, with the project expected to continue through to mid- April.

Once complete, the upgraded network will improve reliability for approximately 280 homes, businesses and community facilities on the peninsula.

“We want to thank everyone on the Pahi Peninsula for your patience and positivity,” said Wansbone. “This investment will make the network stronger and more resilient for years to come.”

Residents can contact Northpower’s Customer Care team on 0800 667 847 or visit northpower.nz. ¢

Times Gone By

Railway edges closer to Dargaville

During the long, slow saga of building the railway to Dargaville, some satisfaction was gained by the settlers in the region when the KirikopuniPukehuia section had its bridge constructed over the Northern Wairoa River. It was officially opened in September 1927, when the Auckland Weekly News captured the first train crossing the bridge.

Image credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Tinopai fishing

Good sport with sharks has been enjoyed by campers at Tinopai, on the Otamatea River, two large specimens having been landed. Tinopai also enjoys a reputation for the size of snapper caught at the mussel beds and one ‘old man’ type landed recently weighed 16lb.

Northern Advocate, 11 April 1939

Plunket branch at Mangawhai

At a meeting of residents held at Mangawhai on the 2nd November, it was unanimously decided to form a sub-branch of the Rodney Plunket Society there. Considerable interest was taken in the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the headquarters branch of the society.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, 8 November 1944

Turning sunlight into sustainable savings

u by Andy Bryenton

Cameron Duckmanton of Energy Equipped has been in the industry and working with solar for a decade, during which time he’s seen the technology advance and the savings grow.

Cameron established his own business, Energy Equipped, five years ago, assembling a team of three to help him achieve more than 300 installations

in this time. He says that the most important part of considering solar power for your farm or home is the way in which it’s tailored to fit your situation, and that’s exactly where he and his team shine.

“We go to every home and every farm, and we’ve found that every one is different. On a farm, for example, we make a calculation which takes into account how many cattle are in the farmer’s herds, how many milkings are done each day, what kind of shed, chiller and equipment is on-site — these are all factors,” says Cameron.

If you’re stuck, call the

“Right now, with banks such as the ASB offering zero per cent finance on solar installations, and with modern panels carrying a 30-year warranty, the opportunity to reduce power bills through solar is timely.”

Solar power is a technology whose time has come, especially in Northland where we enjoy some of the longest sunlight

p The sun rises over a custom-designed solar array installed by Energy Equipped hours of any part of New Zealand. Then again, one of the solar myths, which Cameron is quick to debunk, is that solar panels only work well in bright, direct sunlight. Even on a cloudy day, an array of panels that’s the right fit for a farm or home can deliver ample energy; enough to run all the modern appliances which people demand.

That ‘right fit’, which is so important, comes into play for offgrid installations, too. Cameron has overseen more than 50 of these specialist solar builds, with batteries and inverters designed to cut dependency on the national grid. Once again, the right solution which will last the distance begins with a conversation, and an assessment by Energy Equipped to ensure satisfaction.

From the iconic Waikaretu Marae in Poutō to off-grid cabins and highly productive dairy farms, Cameron and his team have tailored solar solutions that deliver sustainable, affordable, robust and reliable power. If you’ve been thinking about the possibility of harnessing the limitless energy of the sun, but have not known quite where to start, Energy Equipped invites you to make use of their expertise. Give Cameron a call and talk about what could be achieved at your place. Big or small, on grid or off, farming or residential, he’s got the know-how and the technology to ‘make it pay when the sun shines’. ¢

The first diesel mechanic

u by Andy Bryenton

Diesel technicians and mechanics

keeping the tractors and trucks, harvesters and telehandlers working.

While it’s a hard-working fleet of diesel specialists who ensure the machines of the present day are ready to roll each day, once upon a time there was only a single diesel mechanic in the world. Aptly, Rudolf Diesel was his name. Most people know that he developed the first compressioncombustion engine in 1897, but few are aware that Rudolf was born in France, educated in Britain and he helped invent air conditioning before he turned his colossal mind to building motors.

Born in Paris in 1938, Rudolf was forced to go to work early, despite being the third most-accomplished student in France. Pushing a heavy barrow of his father’s leather goods through the streets, Diesel reasoned that something had to replace horses and barrow-lads like himself.

He later continued his education in London, and ended up in Germany, where he studied under the tutelage of Carl von Linde, the inventor of refrigeration. Another inspiration came to Diesel. The big steam engines used to power industrial freezers were horribly inefficient, and a smaller, more potent motor would allow refrigeration for the home, food and cooling the air in hot climates.

in turning their fuel to power, led to young Rudolf ripping up his plans and starting afresh. He had time to think and design; the explosion had put him in hospital. By 1893, he had a theory, and then a patent. However, it would not be until 1897 Diesel unleashed a 25-horsepower four-stroke, compression-ignition motor, which boasted a 75 per cent improvement of fuel-to-power ratio over steam. The world was waiting for just such an engine. Industries worldwide could now switch out steam for diesel in their excavators, mining machines, transport solutions, ships and, more chillingly, military applications.

he had been assassinated, to prevent Germany’s enemies from gaining his knowledge to use in two new inventions — the submarine and the tank. ¢

Diesel’s first idea was to make a steam engine, which ran on ammonia vapour, but the prototype exploded, nearly killing him. This, and the fact that steam engines could only achieve 10 per cent efficiency

Rudolf Diesel did not get to enjoy the fruits of his genius or his labours for long. On September 29 1913, as Europe stood on the brink of the first world war, Diesel boarded a ship to London to talk to investors there. He never made it. Following his disappearance, it was revealed that he’d cleared out his bank accounts and taken plans with him for next-generation engines. In early October 1913, he was confirmed dead by drowning, but speculation was rife that

Royal estates and real estate

u by Andy Bryenton

You may have wondered why the term ‘real estate’ is written that way; surely a

to existing only online or as a sketch?

The term comes down to us from the end of the mediaeval period, when an estate was land granted to a person by their feudal lord, such as the country estate of a duke or a knight. The term ‘real’ means both ‘material, not money’ and ‘royal’ at the same time.

In those days, real estate wasn’t handled by the same kind of professionals we can call today when buying or selling a home, farm or business. Modern estate agents might be pleased to know that their calling originates with the scribes

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House Sites

and archivists of the colleges of heraldry, the people who made sure that knights and nobles had their family assets tied to a distinctive coat of arms.

Today, heraldry serves as a great key to history. Genealogists and researchers looking back into the Middle Ages and the Renaissance can track the fortunes of families by the way their coat of arms, a design based around a stylised shield, appears on property deeds, legal documents, and even in carvings on tombs and the stones of castles. In

those early times an estate was granted by the king, or granted to lesser knights by mighty barons and dukes, so one’s ‘real estate’ was very royal and very real indeed. The right to bear a coat of arms was part of the grant. Therefore, when things changed hands and the fortunes of famous families rose and fell with the centuries, it was heraldic scribes who kept records of who owned which estates. In a very pragmatic way, the king or queen could keep track of the estates of their subjects, when it became necessary to levy a tax or two.

arms had flown on the flagpole there for the longest.

Things get even more interesting north of the Scottish border, where land and coats of arms were even more tightly linked. The overlap between the ancestral clan structure and the mediaeval concept of estates through fealty meant that titles to land were often established by territorial designation; which coat of

Coats of arms were tied to marriages, property disputes, land ownership and tax. Heraldic archivists became adept at knowing the laws of land and ownership, and were often consulted first when land changed hands. While it was not their job to broker deals on estates, their role as the prime identifiers of property ownership carries down to the modern profession of real estate, as does the royal connotation of the industry’s name. ¢

CALL THE RIGHT TEAM

The fire of the fabricators

u by Andy Bryenton

Watching a metal fabricator

Metal is a medium which has been

to human

for thousands of years. Those who know how to shape and fuse it into the right forms for work and warfare have always been professionals in high demand.

There’s a good reason for this respect. Metalworkers and those who can turn a plan on paper into a working tool or machine part are responsible for our capacity to feed billions, our ability to travel all over the world and into space, and even the machines that build our cities.

The word weld comes from an old Saxon term meaning ‘to make red hot’, and for good reason. Before Sir Humphry Davy discovered the electric arc in 1800, forge welding was the only way to bond metal to metal in a way we’d recognise as welding. Even so, the feats of the late medieval and renaissance armourers are testament to a sublime level of skill.

Davy created the electric arc as part of his experiments in isolating elements like potassium and calcium. Also the

father of nitrous oxide, inventor of photographic enlargements and the editor of Wordsworth, Davy didn’t immediately think of welding when he created the arc, but a Russian scientist named Vasily Petrov did. It would take 80 years until fellow Russian Nikolai Benardos and his Polish colleague Stanislaw Olszewski introduced carbon electrodes to build the arc welder. Three-phase welding was also a Russian invention, but the revolution in that nation saw innovation stall until a great leap forward in welding technology came in 1914.

The first world war was a war of manufacturing and engineering as much as it was a war of brutal attrition. The British, who relied on a strong navy, adopted arc welding to attempt to speed up production of what until then had been riveted ships. The Fullagar was the first vessel to come out of the UK with an entirely welded hull, and it changed the game. Meanwhile, German aircraft were being made using welding, as wood and canvas planes were superseded.

By the 1920s, auto-feeding electrode wire and the use of shielding gases to prevent oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere from affecting welds were in wide use. The second world war saw the rise of TIG welding, using a gas tungsten arc method, and aluminium could now be welded for the aircraft industry. By this time riveted ships like the ill-fated Titanic were resigned to history, and welding allowed feats of production like the US liberty ships programme, turning out large vessels in a matter of days each. ¢

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 2 Ton Digger also Available.

CALL THE RIGHT TEAM

A pair of eights wins for John Deere

u by Andy Bryenton

Thirty years from the inception of the John Deere 8 Series of tractors, the big

for seeding, tilling and planting, as evidenced by the release of the

The new 8R and 8RX tractors from Deere offer 440, 490 and 540 horsepower options, making them capable of utilising some of the biggest and most efficient implements for crop and pasture management tasks. All have at their heart the new JD14 engine, which delivers its peak power at low rpm, and can max out at a big 634 horses at just 1,700 revolutions.

That’s in line with customer demand for more potent PTO power on tap, as well as electrical offboarding, a growing need in the modern farming environment. The hydraulic systems of the 8 Series have also been beefed up, with more capacity, and separate steering and braking pumps to ensure smooth operation.

“Whether you are seeding, tilling or planting, these tractors have the power, technology and functionality to increase productivity and efficiency,” said John Deere marketing manager for production and precision agriculture, Royce Bell, when the new 8 Series broke cover in Australia last month.

“Similar to the impact of the HHP 9RX, the HHP 8R and 8RX are expected to increase productivity and efficiency in customer operations while providing the versatility of a rigid chassis tractor. Horsepower, ballasting, lift capacity, size and functionality all increase with these models.”

That high horsepower and high capacity has been matched up with a push for more manoeuvrability. Features like reactive command steering to bring the wheels back to centre automatically during pasture operations are coupled with smart chassis design to deliver a turning radius that’s got to be seen to be believed.

With the option of a front hitch and PTO, and equipped with a rear hitch that boasts a capacity close to 11 tonnes, this new brace of John Deere machines is set to work with some large and efficient tools, leveraging maximum economies of scale.

That’s no mistake and no coincidence. At the same time as the big green and yellow brand launched the newest 8 Series

innovation and power generation, they also debuted their modelyear 2027 planters, packed with new tech for parallel fertiliser application, digital connectivity and accuracy of placement.

A new air cart, the C1100, boosts the

capacity of grain growers who want to tackle more pasture during tight seeding windows, while the 2027 sprayer range was also unveiled, once again focussed on improved precision. ¢

This one means business

u by Andy Bryenton

In these days of geopolitical madness, fuel price shocks and busy schedules,

those seeking a hard-working vehicle.

When it’s time to get down to business, the ability to haul tools and equipment is often balanced by the need to bring along a whole crew. All too often, there’s the need to do both in one day, which makes it hard to settle on the right van for the job. Add in running costs, and bigger is not always better; a nimble, smaller, more flexible solution is in hot demand.

As a bit of a detour, let’s think back to the last time the situation in Iran led to oil headaches. In 1979, the Shah was out and petrol was up. Back then, tradespeople found a solution which meant they didn’t have to drive a fullsized truck or even a big van to get the most out of their day. That answer came from Ford, in the form of the Escort panel van.

Now a beloved classic, with examples going for major dollars online, the ‘esky’ was a familiar sight, painted up in the livery of your local plumber or builder and out there getting on with business. Fast-

forward to the present day, and you’ll see an echo of that cheeky little snub-nosed shape in the new Ford Transit Courier, the little brother of the big Transit Custom. Ford calls it a double cab in van form, and that’s quite true. There are two

full rows of seats on offer if your task involves shuttling a team to where they need to go. Then again, it’s a snap to fold up those rear seats and turn the back of this machine into a voluminous cargo hold.

Like its classic ancestor, the Transit Courier has the driving position and layout of a passenger car, and a small footprint to dominate city driving and parking. Unlike anything else this shape, that rear deck will take a pallet, and comes with an adjustable cargo protecting grille. This utility and small footprint combined have seen it become one of the bestselling vans in the UK.

Then there’s the fuel economy, and it’s in a league of its own right now when you’re at the pump. With Ford’s acclaimed 1-litre ecoboost engine under the hood, the Transit Courier is equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and a truly frugal appetite. Added to this practicality is the fact that it’s a goodlooking little machine too, with plenty of big, flat spaces on which to emblazon your company’s logos and colours. ¢

Kaipara Kōrero

News

from Kaipara District Council

Steady progress on slip repairs

The multi-year, multi-million-dollar Kaipara slip remediation programme has continued in full swing over the last twelve months, with roading crews and contractors working across multiple sites at once

One of the major repairs the roading teams tackled in the latter half of 2025 was on Tinopai Road. The work involved a 250-metre-long realignment to bypass a large and unstable underslip This site required extensive earthworks and careful planning, with crews needing to wait for suitable weather windows to reduce the risks involved with being close to a marine environment Work at Tinopai Road was fully completed in December 2025.

Another recently completed major works project is Lawrence Road in Mangawhai, which presented a challenging fix for our roading crews This repair required a shearkey solution after it was found that poles couldn’t be driven deep enough into the ground to support the structure, so a new shearkey timber pil retaining wall was installed The work was completed in Janua 2026 to avoid conflict with the pre-Christmas road closures on Mangawhai Tomarata Road that were required for a pavemen rebuild and two separate slip repairs

Other sites completed since June 2025, include:

• A large underslip on Pahi Road

• Sealing of a slip repair also on Pahi Road

• Sealing of a major slip repair on Tangowahine Valley Road

• Retaining walls and new pavement structures addressing two large underslips on Bickerstaff Road

Information about other slip repairs can be found on our website These repairs are not just fixing immediate damage but are also strengthening the roading network for the long term. Network inspections after last year’s storms showed that earlier investment in repairing significant slips, as well as upgraded culverts, rock armouring, and improved drainage, has already reduced new damage across the district

The value of the slip repair programme is approximately $17 million, with the majority funded by NZTA All of that funding is expected to be committed before the end of this financial year – another major step towards restoring and strengthening Kaipara roads for the future

Victoria Street road rehabilitation

Work is underway on Dargaville’s Victoria Street, where contractors are carrying out road rehabilitation between State Highway 12 and 204 Victoria Street. While construction is underway there is a road closure and short detour in place. Please allow extra travel time Work is expected to finish before Easter.

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If you’re interested in adopting Boston, please complete the Expression of Interest – Dog Adoption form on our website or pick one up at our council offices Before you adopt a dog from us, we will make sure that you’re a good match for each other, that your property is suitable, and that a background check confirms you are a responsible dog owner

Work is also progressing at Colville Road in Dargaville, addressing two slip sites Originally scheduled for completion in August 2025 after beginning in April, the Colville Road works were delayed by persistent wet weather. This site remains a priority for slip repair crews

One of the next off the ranks is the large slip approximately 40km down Pouto Road. This fix is due to begin in March and take around eight weeks to complete

Dogs adopted from us are:

Desexed

Vet checked and vaccinated (parvo virus)

Dewormed and defleaed

Microchipped

Council registered

Engaged with art and creativity

u by Andy Bryenton

Artbeat came to Dargaville on Saturday, offering a feast for the eyes, a multitude of musical acts and a wide selection of international foods to try. There was something for everyone at the Riverside Gardens, and the festival’s first visit to the west coast was judged to be a great success.

p Many hands collaborated to turn a wire mesh frame into a soaring dragon, just one of

WHAT’S ON?

For outside of Dargaville events email info@rml.nz

March

Tupuna Parenting Foundation — 1 to 30 Mar, Plunket Clinic, 29 Hokianga Rd. Contact cherrie.christy-hita@ plunket.org.nz.

Inland Revenue Clinic — Tues 24 Mar, Heartland Services, Whanau Focus Bldg, 61 Victoria St. Bookings essential. 09 439 7009 or 021 245 3765.

Twilight Bowls — 25 Mar. Games start 5.45pm, $10pp includes light meal. Teams of 3, great for family, friends or workplace groups. Contact Max Jones 027 439 7714, Ron Bishop 027 535 7214. Kauri Coast Surfcasting Contest — 28 Mar, Omamari Beach. Tickets available on the day. $50 per entry. 1st prize $3,000 heaviest kahawai, 2nd prize $2,000 cash, 3rd prize $1,000 cash. Prizes for heaviest snapper & trevally. Also spot prizes.

Repair Cafe Mangawhai — Sat 28 Mar @ Mangawhai Shed, Mangawhai Domain. Bring clothing, small electrical items or wooden goods for advice or minor repairs from our skilled volunteer team. Koha. Also free Bike Maintenance Workshop: Eastside Cycle Repairs will run a 1 hour session on basic bike maintenance safety checks and everyday upkeep. Charlie Priestley 027 486 5796 charlie@sustainablekaipara.org.

April

Ruawai Festival 26 — 18 April Ruawai Tokatoka War Memorial Hall. 9am to 2pm Koha entry. Food, info, crafts.

1st Dargaville Girls’ Brigade 40th Birthday Party 30 Apr, 3pm to 5pm, The Lighthouse Church, 78 Normanby St. Contact Team Leader Pauline 021 263 7446.

EMAIL info@dcdb.nz

Markets

helenat@sportnorth.co.nz

Kaihu Hall Market — 4th Saturday each month 10am–noon. Phone Robin 09 439 4878.

Monthly Market — 1st Saturday of each month, 8am–noon at the Kaipara Community Centre, Hokianga Road (opposite the Town Hall).

dargaville@cab.org.nz

Paparoa Farmers’ Market — Every Saturday 9am–12pm. Genuine local produce, vegetables, seafood, olive oils, meats, patisserie, plants and more. Village Green, Paparoa.

Te Kopuru Market — 2nd Saturday of each month, 9am–1pm at Coronation Hall. Stall holders ring Rachel on 021 133 7560.

WED 25 3:45am (3.0m) 9:59am (0.9m) 4:12pm (2.9m) 10:24pm (0.9m) THU 26 4:47am (2.9m) 11:06am (1.0m) 5:20pm (2.7m) 11:34pm (1.0m) FRI 27 6:04am (2.8m) 12:27pm (1.1m) 6:43pm (2.7m)

Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 Email: info@rml.nz

Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville

Editor: Andy Bryenton

Journalists: Andy Bryenton 021 439 947 | Amy Fifita 027 259 6455 | Paul Campbell

Advertising: Olivia Green 027 525 8197 | Sue Girven 027 525 7984

Classifieds: 09 439 6933 | info@rml.nz

Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Marnie Fuller | Daniel Foster | Liz Clark

Accounts: accounts@rml.nz

Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME

Website: kaiparalifestyler.co.nz THE KAIPARA LIFESTYLER IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE

27 2:52am (2.5m) 9:02am (0.9m) 3:20pm

9:24pm

SAT 28 3:58am (2.5m) 10:09am (0.9m) 4:26pm (2.3m) 10:33pm (0.8m) SUN 29 5:03am (2.5m) 11:13am (0.9m) 5:32pm (2.4m) 11:38pm (0.8m)

MON 30 6:03am (2.5m) 12:12pm (0.8m) 6:34pm (2.4m)

TUE 31 12:36am (0.8m) 6:58am (2.6m) 1:06pm (0.7m) 7:30pm (2.5m)

PUZZLE TIME

67 Approximated (6)

72

75 Hush (7)

77 Slack, remiss (3)

80 Tempest (5)

81 Invented allegations (7-2,7)

82 Make payment (5)

83 Warmed (6)

84 Sit astride of (8)

85 Fireplace (5) DOWN

2 Love goddess (9)

3 Bus station (5)

5 Space (4)

6 Set of documents (7)

7 Soot remover (7,5)

8 Perch (5)

9 Protruding rock face (7)

10 Window frame (4)

11 Cease to be valid (6)

12 Aggressive (5)

13 Treated hide (7)

14 Corridor (7)

16 Acting spontaneously without constraint (11)

22 Frightens (6)

23 Loyal and dependable (7)

24 Fleece remover (7)

25 Restless (6)

27 Snake (7)

28 Select (6)

30 Coloured (4)

32 Dark beer (5)

34 Italian dish (5)

36 Fermented honey drink (4)

38 Pair (3)

42 Lithograph (5)

43 Rejuvenated tyre (7)

44 Eye part (4)

45 Protects (6)

46 Strike with a heavy blow (5)

48 Terror-inspiring (11)

49 Set aside for a specific purpose (7)

50 Facial twitch (3)

51 Reveals (anag)(7)

52 Fearful (6)

53 Fairytale footwear article (5,7)

54 Poultry cage (4)

57 Kindle (6)

64 Working productively and economically (9)

65 Imply (7)

66 Quayside post (7)

68 Awarded (7)

70 Anticipated with fear (7)

71 Nook (6)

72 Knowledge tests (5)

74 Tie up tightly (5)

76 Mistake (5)

78 Soot stain (4)

79 Colourful gemstone (4)

ACROSS: 1 Swell, 4 Throw in the towel, 14 Shell, 15 Slice, 16 Engagement, 17 Cheap, 19 Sun, 20 Comment, 21 Bilateral, 22 Reject, 25 Masculine, 27 Tattoo, 28 Bursar, 33 Immaturity, 35 Ego, 36 Picnic, 37 Calm, 39 Use, 41 Crystal, 42 Awoken, 43 Conscript, 44 Coast, 45 Dead heat, 50 Be, 51 Reindeer, 55 Lanza, 58 Furtively, 59 Locker, 60 Spanish, 61 Eel, 63 Rude, 64 Junior, 65 Oil, 66 Deportment, 68 Ocelot, 69 Raisin, 71 Abundance, 76 Accord, 77 Congenial, 79 Scolded, 81 Nun, 84 Drama, 85 Granulated, 86 Limbs, 87 Olive, 88 Thin on the ground, 89 Ogled. DOWN: 2 Willow, 3 Locum, 5 Hone, 6 Ovation, 7 Ice cap, 8 Theme, 9 Entrant, 10 Once, 11 Evened, 12 Least, 13 Slander, 14 Speed up, 18 Inaccurate, 23 Elfin, 24 Concoct, 26 Amassed, 27 Trounce, 29 Seaside, 30 Emerge, 31 Jerky, 32 Fiancé, 34 Yawn, 36 Penal, 38 Meter, 40 Scan, 45 Defer, 46 Abridge, 47 Heir, 48 Avenue, 49 Under, 50 Balloon, 52 Importance, 53 Dynamic, 54 Easing, 55 Lyrical, 56 Scaly, 57 Lead, 62 Spent, 67 Concede, 68 Opinion, 70 Shotgun, 72 Bravado, 73 Preach, 74 Unsung, 75 Feeble, 76 Anvil, 78 Graph, 80 Lying, 82 Dawn, 83 Hewn.

5x5

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.

KAIPARA SERVICE DIRECTORY

KAIPARA SERVICE DIRECTORY

ENTERTAINMENT

DRESS UP for the Easter Egg Hunt at Dargaville Riverside Gardens — Taha Awa.

CLASSIFIEDS

•

Join our well-established community agency supporting women, children and whānau across Kaipara.

Be part of a supportive, experienced team making a real difference in the community.

• Relevant qualification (Counselling or Social Work)

• NZAC membership or SWRB registration (or working towards)

• Experience in trauma and/or family harm (preferred)

• Strong communication and relationship skills

APPLY NOW: missy.walters@soskaipara.co.nz Applications reviewed as received.

PHONE 09 439 6933

SEPTIC TANK SERVICES

MAGIC PROPERTY Services Ltd. SEPTIC TANK CLEANING. UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S POO LATE! PH: 021 290 0442.

TRADES & SERVICES

CARPENTER/RENOVATOR specialising in General Repairs & Maintenance, and Kitchen Installs. (30yrs senior experience). Contact Mark 027 603 8323 or info@alteredestates.co.nz.

CARPET CLEANING, repairs, re-stretching, and patching. Flood drying and small carpet laying work and upholstery cleaning. Very fussy and reasonable prices. Phone Darren, Alltrades Carpet Services 0800 425 587 or 027 286 8584. Dargaville & surrounds.

PLYWOOD 7MM Untreated $29, 20+ $26.10 or Pack(75)

$23. Scooters Plywood & Joinery 09 438 6565.

WINDOW & DOOR Repairs & Glazing, Insect Screens, Security and more — call me today. Phone 027 275 0918 or 09 439 6458. Kevin Sowter or visit my website: windowanddoors.co.nz — Window & Door Services Ltd.

Semi-Retired Builder

Renovations, Farm Repairs, Roofing, Storm Damage Clean Up, ETC, Kitchens and

Any and All.

TREE SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIED arborists. For all your tree needs — removal, chipping, trimming. Get the right team for the job. TEAM VEGETATION 09 439 0050.

TREE REMOVAL, pruning, chipping & stump grinding. Qualified & insured. Phone Scott 0800 468 9663 Arborcare Tree Maintenance.

PUBLIC NOTICES

28TH MARCH — Easter Egg Hunt at the Dargaville Riverside Gardens — Taha Awa, gates open 10am, Activities from 10am, Hunt starts 11am. Age 1 to 9 years, entry by gold coin donation. Facebook page: Dargaville Riverside Gardens — Taha Awa.

DARGAVILLE FRIENDSHIP CLUB AGM, Tuesday 14th April, 10 am at the Kiosk, Memorial Park, Logan Street, Dargaville. All Welcome. Phone Raewyn 09 4390901.

DARGAVILLE HEALING rooms 7pm Tuesdays. No charge & no appointment necessary. Lion of Judah Building, River Road. All Welcome. Check us out on Facebook.

HEY GUYS, Dargaville Club Membership fees are due 1st April 2026. Open on Wednesday and Friday 5pm onwards. Single Membership $35 per annum, Couple Membership $60 per annum. Pool, snooker and darts available.

REFRESHMENTS & BBQ available at the EASTER EGG HUNT this Saturday from 10am at Dargaville Riverside Gardens — Taha Awa, ages 1 to 9 years. Activities and Face painting. Entry by gold coin.

THE KAIPARA District Council is planning to demolish the Dargaville town hall and annex in June or July this year. The area will become grass. I would like to see the annex removed and the hall repaired. This could possibly save the ratepayers millions of dollars and the KDC would have a profitable asset. For details, write to Lance Bullock, PO Box 196, Dargaville 0340. Time is short.

Public notice

(Section 101, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012)

Maungaturoto Off Licence Limited of Maungaturoto, has made application to the Kaipara District Licensing Committee for the renewal of an off licence in respect of the premises situated at 147B Hurndall St, Maungaturoto known as Maungaturoto Liquor Centre

The general nature of the business conducted under the licence is Bottle Store

The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday 9am to 10pm.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the Kaipara District Licensing Committee at 32 Hokianga Road, Dargaville or Unit 5, 6 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 25 working days after the first publication of this public notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee, Private Bag 1001, Dargaville 0340.

No objection to the renewal of a licence may be made in relation to a matter other than a matter specified in section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

This is the first publication of this notice.

PUBLIC NOTICES

The Local Mangawhai Limited of Mangawhai, has made application to the Kaipara District Licensing Committee for the issue of an on licence in respect of the premises situated at 40 Moir Street, Mangawhai known as The Local Kitchen & Bar

The general nature of the business conducted under the licence is Cafe/Bar/Restaurant

The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is intended to be sold under the licence are: Monday to Sunday 9am to 12 midnight.

The application may be inspected during ordinary office hours at the Kaipara District Licensing Committee at 32 Hokianga Road, Dargaville or Unit 5, 6 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai.

Any person who is entitled to object and who wishes to object to the issue of the licence may, not later than 25 working days after the first publication of this public notice, file a notice in writing of the objection with the Secretary of the District Licensing Committee, Private Bag 1001, Dargaville 0340.

Appointment of Coates Memorial Church Reserve Board

Notice is hereby given that the following have been appointed as the Coates Memorial Church Reserve Board to control and manage the reserve described in the Schedule for a term of seven (7) years commencing 1 May 2026:

• Michael Patterson (representing the Coates Family),

• Penny Weber of the Matakohe Women’s Guild

• Karen Weber of the Matakohe Cemetery Committee

• James Patterson as a Member of the Matakohe Community

• Amanda Bennett of the Otamatea Kauri and Pioneer Museum Trust Board

• Cr Denise Rogers of the Kaipara District Council, ex officio

• A representative of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, ex officio

• A representative of the Department of Conservation, ex officio Members names above will be appointed on behalf of their respective organisation. Schedule 4,097 square metres being part Allotments 37 & 56 Suburbs of Matakohe (All NZ Gazette 2001 p.1643). Known as the Coates Memorial Church Reserve S Soole Operations Manager