FundraisingforShakespeareantriptoLondon
KatikatiteenHannahGourlayhas livedandbreathedShakespearefor thelastfiveyears–andin2026 she’lltourthestreets,theatres andhauntsofthefamousEnglish playwright.
Butfirstshe’llspendsummer fundraisingforthetripofalifetime, whichwasprofferedtoherafterentering ShakespeareGlobeCentreNewZealand (SGCNZ)2025’sevents.
BackinApril,attheSGCNZBayof PlentyRegionalShakespeareFestivalat MountMaunganuiCollege,Hannahwas namedadirectentryintotheNational ShakespeareSchoolsProduction(NSSP) inSeptember.Hannahself-directedher playwithfellowYear13Katikatistudent ManaseUiloutowintheaccolade.
AttheNSSPinWellingtonin September,shewasoneof24direct studententries,plus22fromthe SGCNZNationalShakespeareFestival, andtwoothersselectedfromSGCNZ’s MorrisonMusicTrustShakespeareMusic CompositionCompetitionandtheDawn SandersShakespeareCostumeDesign Competition.“Therewere48ofus chosenfromaroundNewZealand–we alldidthreedifferentplaysandeveryone performs,”saidHannah.
Internationaltour
Fromtheweek-longintensivecourse, Hannahwasoneof24chosentobe partofSGCNZ’sYoungShakespeare Company(YSC)2026trip–athree-week internationaltourinJuly2026. Howdoesshefeelabouttravelling toLondontoperformattheGlobe Theatre,participateinworkshops,andsee performancesandtourothersites?“It’sso exciting!Itisabitofmoneytofundraise togo–butwe’llgetthere.”
Hannahsaidherloveforactingbegan whenshewasyoung–she’dalwaystried tobepartofschoolproductions.“In primaryschoolwedid‘RobinHood’ andIwasoneoftheMerryMen.It’sjust areallycoolexperiencebeingwithall theotherpeopleinvolvedandmaking somethingtogether.”
Beautiful
Thefeelingstuckandwhenshegotto collegenotonlywasthereproductions toparticipatein,butShowQuestandthe regionalShakespearecompetitions.
Shegotinvolved“becausetheyseemed prettyfun”andherfive-oddyears oflearning,recitingandperforming Shakespeareplaysandverseshadflown
by.“Andlookwheremeit’sgotme!”
WhatdoesshelikeaboutShakespearean plays?“Alotofpeoplefindthelanguage hardtodecipherbutit’sactuallyreally funnyalotofthetime.Thepoetryofthe languageisbeautifultoo,”saidHannah, whobelievedoncepeopleunderstandit founditopenedupawholenewworldto them.“Onceyoustartreadingyoufind there’slotsyouloveaboutit.”
Shealsosaidstudentsmisunderstood Shakepearefestivals.“Yourpefromance doesn’tneedtobetraditionalShakespeare–youcanmoderniseitasmuchasyouwant.”
Herpath
TheYear13studentfinishedexams atKatikatiCollegelastweek,andhas beenacceptedintoMaseyUniversityin WellingtonnextyeartostudyaBachelor ofScreenArtsdoublemajoringinFilm ProductionandMātaurangaToiMāori.
“I’dlovetokeepworkingtheperforming artsoranypartoftheartsortheatre world.That’skindofwhereIwantgo.”
AsforperformingattheGlobeTheatre inLondon–thestageofShakepeare himself–Hannahdidn’tknowitwas apossibilityviaSGCNZfestivalsuntil lastyear,whenafriendwasselected. Moreover,Londonwillbeherfirsttrip
abroad.“ThetripisfromJuly3-22within theuniversityholidays.”
Fundraisingbuzz
Assuch,Hannahisnowlaser-focused onfundraisingthe$12,600neededfor thetrip.“They[SCGNZ]lowerthe priceasmuchastheycanforus,”said Hannah.“Themoneycoversourflights, accommodation,foodandessentials.”
Highlightsincludeagroupperformance ofShakespeareatmidnightattheGlobe Theatre,workshopswiththeleading GlobeLondonpractitioners,tutorsand theatrepersonnelplusvisitstoRoyal AlbertHallandRoseTheatre.
“Also,IwillgettoseeStratford-UponAvon–the16th-centurybirthplaceof WilliamShakespeare.Thisiswherehe livedandwenttoschool.”
MotherLeonieGourlaysaidHannah, who’llrepresentKatikatiCollege,theBay ofPlentyandNewZealandinLondon hadreceivedalotofbackingfromthe communitytofundraiseforthetrip.
VarietyConcert
ThebigfundraiserisaVarietyConcert onSaturday,November29,from 5.30pm-7pmatKatikatiCollegeHall featuringperformancesbystudentsof
thecollege’sartsdepartmentandHannah herself–pluslivemusic,dance,kapa haka,rafflesandspotprizes.Entryisvia openhatdonationonthenight.
“Theschoolissupplyingthehallfreeof chargeandtheteachershavegotbehindit too,”saidLeonie.
Shesaidthatthecollegehadbacked Hannahbecauseshe’dgivensomuch totheschoolbybeingpartofsomany groupsandactivitiesoverheryearsthere.
Thisyearshewasheadgirlandtheaudio visualcaptain,trainingyoungerstudents totakeontherolenextyear.She’salso beeninthecollege’skapahakagroup,the rockband,concertband,andofcourse theartsdepartment.“Asaresult,students fromallofthesegroupsareperforming attheVarietyConcertbecausetheywant tosupportHannah,whichisreallycool,” saidLeonie.
Givealittlepage
Hannah’sfamilyhavealsostarteda Givealittlepage–forthosewhocan’t makeitonthenightbutwanttosupport her.Peoplecandonateonlineat:https:// givealittle.co.nz/cause/get-hannah-to-theglobe-theatre-london
OthersfundraiserHannahhasunder wayincludesraffles.Oneistowina korowai–whichwassponsoredby Wellington-basedbusinessContemporary KorowaiDesigns.
“We’dpurchasedoneasfamilyandgave ittoHannah(NgatiWhakaue,TeArawa andNgaiTahu)whensheannouncedas headgirl,”saidLeonie.
InWellingtonrecently,Leonieand Hannahvisitedtheshoptobuyanother andseekpermissiontoraffleit–the artistsaidshe’dsponsorit.Leoniesaid thehalf-korowaiishand-madeandworth $370.Thesecondistwo5kgbucketsof ManukahoneysponsoredbyKiwicoast Honey.Peoplecanpurchaseraffletickets byemailing:hgourlay531@gmail.com
Veryproud
Leoniesaidsheandherhusband Andrewandfamilyareveryproudof Hannah.“She’sworkedvery,veryhardto gettothispoint.She’sgotherfingerinall thesedifferentartsythings–soit’sniceto seehergetsomethingbackfromherwork atschoolandinthecommunity.”
Hannahtookpainting,photography, drama,chemistryandbiologysubjectsin Year13–andwasundecidedonwhich directiontoheadformuchofthisyear, saidLeonie.“Shewaspulledbetweenthe artsandscience–shewantedtobeavet rightuptoapplyingforuniversities.”But theartsbughasstuck!
MerleCave
annah Gourlay wearing the korowai s onsore by Contem orary orowai esigns that she’s ra ing o to un raise or her tri Photo / Merle Cave
BarrytomissChristmas as on Katikati’s s Main Rd
ItlookslikeKatikati’smosticonic sculpturewon’tbehomefor Christmasonthemainstreet thisyear.
Thesculptureof‘Barry,theRelaxed TypicalKiwiBloke’wasremovedfrom outsidetheArtsJunctionat36Main Rdafterhewasdamagedbyavehicle accidentonApril27.
KatikatiOpenAirArt(KOAA) committeememberSteveGravesontold KatikatiNewsthatwhileBarry’sseat hadbeenfixedlocally,Barryisyettobe repaired.
“Theinsurancecompanyhasreceived anestimatedcosttorepairBarry,butit hasbeendifficultforthesculptorDonald Patersontoreallygiveatruecostuntil heseesthetotaldamagebothinsideand out.”
WherePatersoncansourcethematerials requiredtorepairBarryisalsoupinthe air,saidGraveson.“Donaldisworking withtheinsurancecompany,butatthis stageunabletogiveadateforBarry’s return.
“Unfortunately,Donaldnowlivesdown thebottomoftheWestCoast,soismiles away,”saidGraveson.
Jack KOAAisthenon-profitartgroup, foundedin1989,thatcommissionedand maintainedthetownship’smuralsand sculpturesviaitscommittee.
Peoplehadsuggestedusingsomeoneelse torepairBarrybutGravesonsaid:“Unless youknowhowhe’smadeandwhat he’smadeupofyoucoulddestroythe
integrityofBarry,sowe’vegottowork withDonald”.
‘Jack’–Bary’sdog’wasalsodamaged andremovedfromthescenebypolice thenightoftheaccident.“It’slooking likeJackwillhavetogoonhisown littleadventureashewillhavetotravel toChristchurchtoberepairedata specialisedfoundry,”saidGraveson.Again thetimelineforthisworkisunknown.
Muralsupdate
Meanwhile,thelifeofsomeofKatikati’s oldermuralswasupintheairtoo.
KOAA’smural‘ThoseWhoserved’–is ontheformerRSAbuilding’sexterior whichfacesStateHighway2.
Earlierthisyearthebuilding,accessed fromHenryRd,wasputupforsaleandis currentlyundercontractwithabuyer.
Gravesonsaidthisisatrickysituation forKOAA.
“Ifit[thebuilding]getssoldandthe newownerdoesn’twantitthere,weare probablyobligedtotakeitdown.”
Gravesonsaidthemuralwaspainted onpanelsbyGeoffreyFullerinhis studioinHavelockNorthin1996,then transportedtoKatikatiandattached totheRSAbuilding.Ithassincebeen repaintedbyartistReneeTePairiin2011.
“Becauseofitsageandthematerials usedbackthenit’shardtoremovethis mural–whichisattachedtothebuilding inpanels–withoutcausinganydamage toit,”saidGraveson.
“It’sthesamestorywiththe‘Sunday inaBushCamp’mural[createdin1994 byartistAnnedeSilva]thatwastaken downfromthesideoftheArtsJunction
Haveyouseen thesepondpests?
Ourteamwillbeinspectingbackyardpondsacrossthe WesternBayofPlentythissummer. Ornamentalpondscanhostinvasivespeciesthatthreaten localecosystems.Earlydetectionhelpsusactfast.
1. Takeaphoto
2. RecordtheGPSlocation
3. ReportittotheBayofPlenty RegionalCouncilBiosecurityTeam: 0800STOPPESTS(0800786773) STOP.PESTS@boprc.govt.nz
‘Barry,theRelaxedTypicalKiwiBloke’isknownforsittingintheheartofKatikati.
building,whenremedialworkwasdone onthebuildingthisyear.
“Wetriedtosavesomeofthosepanels toseeifwecouldrecreateitinanother muralbut,again,becauseofthematerial theyusedbackinthosedays–itwaslike afibre-lightboard–itwasn’tpossible,” Gravesonsaid.
HesaidifKOAAhadtotakedownthe muralonthesideofRSAbuildinghe wouldhavethesametrouble.“Ihopeit staysthere–butalso,insayingthatit’s probablyoneofthosemuralsthatdoes needamajorupgrade.”
Othermuralsinthetownthatneeded anupgradeincluded‘TeWhanau aTauwhao’–paintedbyTeMaari GardinermTurangiin1999–on TalismanDrive.“It’sthesame–ifwe
upgradeitisitbettertoputitonanew boardthatisgoingtolast?”
Nearly30
GravesonsaidsomeKOAAmuralsare nearly30yearsold“whichisquitealong timeforanoutdoormural,whichfacesall weatherconditions24/7”.
IftheoldRSAbuilding’snewowneris happytokeepthemural,Gravesonsaid hewouldfindanartisttore-paintitand bringitbacktolife.“It’sbeentouched upafewtimesbutitneedsamajor overhaul.”
TodayKOAAchosesanACMmaterial foritsmurals,“whichisbulletproofjust about”.“Thismaterialdoesn’trot,and youcanunscrewandusethepanels again,”saidGraveson.
MerleCave
Whilesomeaquaticplants andanimalsmaylook attractive,theycouldbe causingmoreharmthangood.
Manypeopleunknowinglyhaveaquaticpeststhatthreaten thehealthoftheirpondsandbeyond.Thesepestspose aseriousrisktotheBayofPlenty’swetlands,lakes,rivers andstreams.Theseinvasivespeciescanquicklytakeover, crowdingoutnativeordesirableplants.Theirspreadcan blockoutflowpipesandformdensecanopiesthatdryout ponds,alteringtheirappearanceandfunction.
That’swhereourornamentalpondsurveillancecomesin. Ourteamhelplandownerstoidentifywhat’sgrowinginand aroundtheirponds,whileprovidingpracticaladviceonhow tomanageorremoveunwantedspecies.Thegoalistogive peopletheconfidencetotakeactionandpreventthespread ofthesepestsdownstream.
Shareyourphoto viaemail,subject line‘PondPests’ andbeintowin a$100garden centrevoucher! T’s&C’sapply
Readmoreabouteachspecieshere www.boprc.govt.nz/aquatic-pests
Thisprogrammehasalreadyprovensuccessfulinother areasoftheregion,andnowourfocusisontheWestern Bay.Byknowingwhat’sinyourpondandhowtomanage it,you’rehelpingtoprotectthefreshwaterareaswealllove andenjoy.
Detectingpestplantsandanimalsearlystopsthemfrom spreadingandbecomingestablishedbeforeit’stoolate. Thegoodnews?We’reheretohelpyouspotthedifference betweenpondfriendsandfoes.
Photo/File
Therearestilltoomanyburglaries happeningbutatleastwe’ve apprehendedafewpeoplefortwo whichoccurredrecently.Keepcalling inanysuspiciousbehaviouron111. It’sgettingprettywarmandthere aremanypeopleoutandabout.The roadssuddenlyseemtobebusier–so takecarewhiledrivingandbepatient withroadworks.Therehavebeenafew concerninglyhighalcoholreadingsfrom drinkdrivers,whichputthepublicatrisk. Reportanypoordrivingon555sowecan getthemstopped.
Arrestsandapprehensions
November9:Policeattendedacarversus fencecrashonParkRd.A22-year-old Katikatiwomanwaschargedwithdriving withexcessbreathalcohol.
November10:A27-year-oldWaikato manwasstoppeddrivingonSH2south ofKatikatiduetodrivingcomplaints. Hewasalmostseventimesoverthelegal limitandwaschargedwithdrivingwith excessbreathalcohol.Hislicencewas automaticallysuspendedfor28days pendinghiscourtcase.
November10:A26-year-oldAuckland manwasarrestedandchargedwith assaultingawomanwithablunt instrumentafteranincidentin Ōmokoroa.
November11:A36-year-oldKatikati womanwasarrestedandchargedwith theburglaryofanelectronicsstoreon MainRoad,Katikati.Shewasremanded
Katikati policereport Sergeant SteveHindmarsh
incustody untilshewouldappearedin TaurangaDistrictCourt.Searchwarrants wereexecutedatthreeKatikatiaddresses wheresomeofthestolengoodswere located.
November12:A32-year-oldKatikati manwasarrestedforburglaryofthe electronicsshoponMainRd,Katikati andthebeautycliniconJocelynSt.He washeldincustodytoappearincourt November13.Hewasalsoarrestedfor breachinghiscurrentbailconditions.
November12:A29-year-oldWaikato manchargedwithcarelessuseofamotor vehicleafterjack-knifinghistruckonSH2 atWhakamārama.
Burglaries
November8:TheFortaLezarestaurant wasbrokenintobutnothingstolen.It’s likelytheoffenderwasscaredoffbythe alarmsystemsounding.
November8:AbeautycliniconJocelyn Stwasbrokenintoandacashboxtaken (seeapprehensions).
November8:AnelectronicsStore inCherryCourtwasburgledwitha substantialamountofpropertystolen(see apprehensions).
November10-11:Anelectricguitarin acasewasreportedstolenfromaTimRd address.
November12-13:Aworksiteon WharawharaRdwasburgledand propertyincludingagenerator,tools,solar equipment,officeelectronicsandadrone werestolen.
Council,inpartnershipwithhapūgroupTeKōRōpuhas developedtheculturalconceptplantoprotectandenhance thecultural,environmental,recreationalandhistoricalvalues ofthissignificantreserve. Tohonourculturalvaluesandancestralconnections,protect theenvironmentandlocalbiodiversity,andensurethearea remainssafe,respectful,andaccessibleforeveryonetoenjoy, soitcanbetreasuredbyourcommunitynowandintothefuture. Feedbackcloses11:59pm,Sunday7December2025
Jointhekōrero
Online,wānangaipurangi- Formoreinformation andtoprovideyourfeedback,visit: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/kauri-point-historic-reserve Hardcopy,pepamārō- Conceptplanandfeedbackformsare availableatthePātukiManawaKatikatiLibraryandServiceCentre.
Funndraising pagge for shop burrglar
victtim
iFixedLtdownerChamaraPunchihewagebesidehisshop’semptystandwheremobiles phoneshehadforsalewerestrippedintheburglaryonNovember8.
AGivealittlepagehasbeensetupfor aKatikatitechnologystoreownerwho lost$74,000ofstockinanovernight burglaryearlierthismonth.
iFixedLtdownerChamaraPunchihewage toldKatikatiNewslasteditionthathedidnot haveinsuranceforstockinhisKatikatistore duetochangingproviderswhileopeninga newWaihistore,whichcausedablipin hiscoverage.
Duringthisnon-coveredperiodthree offendersbrokeintohisiFixedLtdKatikati storeonthetopflooroftheCherryCourt complexovernightonNovember8andfled withlaptopsandmobilephonesthatwere forsale.“Theytookeverythingwithin10 minutes–thewholeburglarytook15 minutes,”saidChamara–knowninthe communityasChama.Hesaidnoneofhis customers’equipmentwasstolenbecauseit waslockedawayinasafe.
TheSriLankan–whohaslivedinNew Zealandfor16yearsincludingmorethan eightyearsinKatikati–wasnowweighing upwhetherAotearoawasasafeplacetolive forhisyoungfamily.Thiswasalsoduetohis
Katikatihousebeingenteredovernighttwo monthsago.
“Ihaveatwo-year-olddaughteraswell–so tobehonest,we’rereallyafraidtostayinNew Zealand.We’rethinkingwhatwe’regoingto donext–becausewhenpeoplearebreaking inwhileyou’resleepingitisveryscarytolive likethat.”
SeniorSergeantSteveHindmarshsaid KatikatiPolicehadexecutedsearchwarrants atthreeKatikatiaddresseslastweekand recoveredsomeofthestolenproperty.
A36-year-oldKatikatiwomananda 32-year-oldmanhadsincebeenchargedwith burglary.“Enquiriesarecontinuingtolocate theothertwooffenders.”
NowiFixedLtdcustomerandfriend WaynePaulhadbegunGivealittlepage ‘(Kiwis)Weareone!’withagoalofraising $1200.“Let’sshowChamarathatKiwisare goodpeople.Let’sshowhimandhisfamily thatitwastherightchoicetorelocatehis familyfromSriLankatoNZ,”thepage read.“iFixedoffersatremendousservice toKatikati–particularlytheseniorswho strugglewithnewtechnology.”
Todonate,visit:givealittle.co.nz/cause/ kiwis-we-are-one
Photo/MerleCave
MerleCave
Katikati
ATHENREE
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KATIKATI 4COLEMANPLACE
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WAIHIBEACH
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NewListing
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OpenHome
Auction Thurs11Dec,from1pm 247CameronRoad,Tauranga (unlesssoldprior) View byappointment ColinStewart-Rowe 0274548080 colin.stewart-rowe@eves.co.nz
Katikati 123WoodlandRoad
Lifestyle,IncomeandDualLiving
3.1766ha(approx.)offersamodern,10-year-oldhome withthreebedroomsandtwobathrooms,whichflowsout toalargedeckcompletewithanoutdoorkitchen.Theonebedroomflatofferspassiveincome.Theorchardis stunningandearnsagoodincome.
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EVESKatikati / October
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