September 16 2025 KEEPING YOU ON THE ROAD
• Mechanical Repairs • Air Conditioning •Brake repairs • WOF’s With over 20 years of experience, we proudly serve the local area as members of the MTA, Automotive Solutions, and AA.
Kaipara’s Only Regional Newspaper | Kaipara owned and Operated
10,510 Copies DELIVERED FREE throughout the Kaipara
If we can help you please phone our Reception on 09 423 9003 for a booking. Or send an email to info@autoserviceswellsford.co.nz
A theatrical odyssey to Monaco u by Andy Bryenton
A team from the Dargaville Little Theatre has come back from halfway around the world, after performing live on stage before an international audience and bringing them to their feet with applause.
Future orators step up Dargaville Rotary Club hosted the annual west Kaipara junior schools speech contest last Wednesday, with a large crowd of friends and whānau …
P3
A tall tale trail opens In a first for Kaipara, an interactive picture book walk through scenic Harding Park now invites families to enjoy a ripping yarn and the great …
P5
Road Dog rolls in with rock The season is changing, and it’s time to get off the couch and groove to some local rock music …
P10
Jasmine Humm, Deborah Steele, Julianne Parkinson, Yasmin Bainbridge, Brenda Polwart, Lorraine Ripikoi, Deborah Parkinson and Eryn Wilson-Collins took their production, Out of Mind, from an idea shared on a Dargaville street corner to the most prestigious stage in amateur dramatics, the Mondial du Theatre in Monaco, with the support of an entire community behind them. Arriving in the Principality of Monaco, they stayed with theatre companies from around the world, in a village adjacent to the nation’s famous Formula One racing circuit. “It was a fascinating country,” says Eryn Wilson-Collins. “Eighty thousand people come to work there every day from neighbouring Italy and France, but only 30 thousand live there permanently. It’s a very historic place. We saw the museums, the palace, the famous casino, and we even had the prince of Monaco come to the show.” Each night the Mondial du Theatre festival presented several plays by teams like DLT, from non-verbal prop comedies through to emotionally moving dramas, in a variety of languages. All, say the Dargaville contingent, were stunning in their own ways. “The first night we were in the audience, all of the plays were so incredible it actually scared us a bit,” says Julianne Parkinson. Those fears melted away when it was time to perform Out of Mind, a play entirely scripted, choreographed and scored by Kaipara people, detailing the
BUY - SELL - RENT
p The Dargaville Little Theatre contingent in Monaco with well-wishers from around Europe; friends and family with Dargaville connections who came to watch their triumph
lives of the patients and staff at the Tokanui psychiatric hospital last century. The story is one with deep meaning to New Zealanders, but its message proved universal. Out of Mind earned a unanimous standing ovation from the international crowd; the only such accolade for any play at the festival on opening night. “Pretty much the whole room was on its feet,” says Eryn. “Afterwards, we had people coming up to us wanting to buy the script, and at the colloque (a post-performance discussion) with the hosts they were tearing up talking to us; they had family who had been in similar institutions,” says Julianne. By all accounts a triumph, it’s still “surreal”, said the cast and crew, to think
about Out of Mind being performed in faraway lands and translated to other languages. Another big announcement at the festival: in two years time the next big international festival of amateur theatre will be hosted in Wellington. Returning from what they describe as a “whirlwind experience”, the DLT team wish once again to wholeheartedly thank the supportive community who made their trip possible, with special mention of the local Lions club. It’s also worth noting that while they were away, another DLT play, Check Mate, has been selected to go to Hamilton for the grand showcase performance of TheatreFest 2025. See DLT in action at youtube.com/@ mondialdutheatre8387 ¢
RESIDENTIAL - RURAL - COMMERCIAL
Let one of our trusted award winning team members look after you. For everything real estate - we Cover the Kaipara
Craig 021 461 668 Sales
Adrianne
Michael
0204 076 2650 027 278 8122 Sales Sales
Kathy
Gary
027 436 4750 Sales
021 902 087 Sales
Rhoda 0274 800 691 Sales
Karyn 029 779 9019 Sales
Nicole
Roper & Jones Licensed under REAA 2008
Dargaville Realty Limited
Jill
Sonya
Property 021 505 712 0211 251 576 Principal Officer Manager Sales Maungaturoto Sales
roperandjones.co.nz
Simone
Sean
Operations Manager
Property Manager Dargaville
09 431 1016
09 439 7295
143 Hurndall Street Maungaturoto 0520
110 Victoria Street Dargaville 0310