The Weekend Sun - 13 March 2026

When Veronica a and the forces of nature c collided

“My first day at school ” Tuesday, February 3, 1931. “My very first.” Excitement tempered by first day jitters probably

Aged 6, and in the moment, she wouldn’t have stopped to read the signs

No one did The air had grown still, and oppressive The sea, quiet and calm And a most peculiar colour Ominous, suggested reports of the time

“I remember the morning vividly” And for one tragic, destructive, life-changing reason

Because Veronica Miles had been at school just an hour-and-a-half when a city heaved upwards, swayed and rocked like a ship at sea, then tumbled and crumbled in ruins It was 7 8 on the Richter scale – energy likened to a 100 million tonnes of TNT, and the roar of an express train

Then a city burned, with many of Napier’s wooden buildings fuelling the fire

It was playtime at Napier Central Primary School, 10 47am, on February 3, 1931

“We were all outside and suddenly kids everywhere were falling about uncontrollably”

The earth was convulsing “We had no idea what was going on ” But she clearly remembers the wall Oh yes, the wall

A survivor

“A huge brick wall, the side of a building, a classroom It disintegrated in a big

heap of bricks right in tumbled down ” She

“Mmmmm ” A sca

ago “I don’t know wh suppose I was scared when the dust and sm and the fires doused, Earthquake, New Zea natural disaster, had c Veronica Miles (nee a resident at the Altho community in Pyes P 2026 reunion of 193 survivors

n front of us It just pauses, reflectively ary moment 95 years hat I thought But I Very scared ” And moke had settled, the 1931 Napier aland’s deadliest claimed 256 lives e Thomas), now orp retirement Pa, has just been to the 1’s Napier earthquake

‘Refugees’ they calle reunion name tag – ‘V

ed them It’s on her Veronica Miles, nee

Thomas, Refugee’ A refugee in her own land People displaced by the earthquake

There were many But few these days

“Perhaps just eight or 10 of us survivors this reunion ”

So 95 years after the event, and aged 102, nearly, Miles’ story becomes an increasingly significant document of record “It was important for me to go back to Napier and say, ‘Yes, I was part of that’ ” She’s a sliver of history And a survivor

Before the earthquake, she was ravaged by whooping cough, the virulent respiratory infection and a significant cause of child mortality Then she was hospitalised with bacterial scarlet fever, another child killer

She pulled through both

Then the earthquake “Things were different – not many health and safety

protocols in those days,” Miles recently told TheWeekend Sun

‘Go home’

Especially in the face of a full-blown disaster “The teachers didn’t know what to do with us Finally they told us to go home I can still see it ”

Miles and her sister, wandering bewilderedly down the street, not far from where a CBD had crumbled and burned

Where the missing, the injured, the dying, and the dead, lay in the rubble

“We were protected Weren’t allowed to see that Weren’t allowed anywhere near town ” The new entrant only got to understand the scale and gravity over time “It’s confusing – some is what you know and remember, but most is from reading or

hearing stories ” But she wasn ’ t completely spared of upset

Blood streaming

One encounter, one image, is etched

An injured woman, wide-eyed with fear, standing at her gate as Miles and her 10-year-old sister Lorna passed by “There was blood streaming from her head ”

Two confused schoolgirls walked on by until they were rescued by their father out looking for them on his bicycle “He’d been all over the road – he couldn’t ride straight because the road was rocking and rolling ”

Two minutes after the first rumble, after the first deadly jolt, it was over Nature’s evil deed done And what wasn ’ t levelled was burning – a hot, dry day and flames

fanned by a strong easterly breeze A fire brigade stood by powerless because the quake had taken out the water supply A perfect storm

“No one, absolutely no one was brave enough to go home to sleep that night –just in case it tumbled on them,” recalled Miles So the neighbourhood set up a tent village in the still-trembling college grounds across the road. There were more than 500 aftershocks in the fortnight after the quake

In fact, Miles never lived in her “old, not flash, wooden home” on Napier Hill again “It was still standing but a mess Cupboards thrown open, stuff flung everywhere So sad ” Earthquakes take no account of a family’s feelings A freestanding wardrobe had fallen across her Mum and Dad’s bed “Now had they been

in bed when earthquake struck ?” Miles winces at what might have been

The Thomas family was spared personal injury but not psychological scars

“Mum refused to go back to that house. She was so upset, she was ill [She] Almost had a breakdown But I understand As an adult she would have been with the catastrophe around her” Later in life

Miles pitied her “ poor ” father. “He must have nearly had a divorce on his hands ”

The refugee

When the Thomas family was evacuated from “ tent town ” to “refugee camp ” in

Palmerston North, that was the end They would never return to Napier Not as a family

n n more in touch c home, o

‘Refugee’

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The refugee camp was a showgrounds pavilion “Yards and yards of scrim Straw-coloured scrim. Partitioned off into scrim cubicles Each cubicle a temporary ering some privacy, to a refugee family” Later they would be billeted with local families, spend time with grandparents before establishing life again in Marton in Rangitikei district

– the tag distributed to Veronica Miles and other Napier earthquake survivors.

Now, 95 years later in Pyes Pa, the 1931 quake remains the defining moment of a long, resilient life “Oh yes, I think so ” Set aside World War II, The Apollo moon landing and all the technological advances

“The Napier earthquake is always there, [I’m] always thinking about it, I am always learning something new about it ” Not all of it uplifting

Like a tragic act of mercy Historic records tell of a doctor, and a husband, forced to make the decision to administer a fatal injection to the man ’ s wife trapped in the rubble as savage flames swept towards her “Rather than let her suffer! It must have been awful ”

And that’s the reason Miles had returned to Napier for four or five survivor reunions

“As I said, it’s important to be able to say you were part of that ” Part of New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster

Mentors sought for Project K at Tauranga Girls’ College

The Graeme Dingle Foundation is calling for volunteer mentors as it prepares to launch its youth development programme Project K at Tauranga Girls’ College.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tauranga Girls’ College to bring Project K into a new school community this year, ” coordinator Annaliese Arnold said.

The 14-month programme is designed for Year 10 students and aims to build self-confidence, life skills and motivation through outdoor challenges, teamwork and one-on-one mentoring.

Project K has three stages: a wilderness adventure, a community challenge, and an individual mentoring partnership with a trained mentor “Twelve Year 10

students will be selected to take part in the programme, with the 19-day Wilderness Adventure scheduled for early-June,” Arnold said. “The programme is presently in the selection phase, which is an exciting time as we begin identifying the students who will take part. ”

Key part

Western Bay of Plenty manager Neil Alton said the mentoring phase is a key part of the programme, providing students with ongoing encouragement and support as they work toward personal goals.

“Volunteer mentors are paired with a student and meet with them regularly, offering guidance and a listening ear while helping them maintain the positive changes developed during the earlier stages of the programme, ” Alton said.

The relationship is designed to complement a youth’s existing support network of parents, caregivers and teachers. Arnold said mentoring can be “incredibly powerful” for a young person.

“Many of our young people simply benefit from having someone outside their immediate circle who believes in them and walks alongside them. Project K gives our rangatahi the opportunity to discover their strengths, set goals for their future, and realise what they’re capable of, and mentors play a really important role in that journey”

“Mentors often say the experience is just as rewarding, as they build meaningful connections and support a young person to realise their potential,” Arnold said

The foundation supports nearly 30,000 young Kiwis annually via its programmes Mentors are now being recruited for the Tauranga Girls’ College programme, with 12 required. Those interested should email: annaliese.arnold@ dinglefoundation.org.nz

More needed

“We are also looking for mentors across our other Western BOP Project K programmes at Te Puke High School, Mount Maunganui College and Ōtūmoetai College,” Arnold said. “Both male and female mentors are welcome, with a particular need for male mentors. ” Email: pietiera.tuhura@dinglefoundation. org.nz. Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Have artistic flair but not sure what to do with it? Want to be involved in the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival?

Fear not – the festival team has you covered, with a not-to-be-missed opportunity

Fledgling artists are being encouraged to apply to be one of a dozen selected emerging artists who will receive free tuition in the lead up to the November 19-22 festival They will enjoy two full days with Tauranga artist and festival supporter Rob McGregor

Those interested have until April 15 to lodge their interest at: www gardenandartfestival co nz – go to ‘Register your interest – Emerging Artist Award’ Festival director Marc Anderson said the intention of The Weekend Sun Emerging Artists component of the festival was to encourage would-be artists to develop

their skills, or to prompt existing, nonprofessional artists to take their work to the next level.

“It will provide a platform from which non-professional artists, or would-be artists, can improve. It’s about learning, gaining confidence, and artistic exposure, ” Anderson said

One piece by each of the emerging artists on the programme would be displayed at the festival gallery, at Bloom in the Bay sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners, during the festival. From those, one artist will be named the winner – and receive entry to exhibit as a festival artist in the 2028 festival, plus a cash prize.

While the expectation is that most of the emerging artists would use canvas as their medium, carvers and sculptors were also invited to apply, Anderson said Artists do not need to reside in the Bay of Plenty Bayleys returns as the festival’s principal partner

Double-header showdown with South Africa

International cricket returns to Mount Maunganui this weekend as New Zealand’s men ’ s and women ’ s teams prepare to face South Africa in a double-header at Bay Oval.

The Blackcaps and White Ferns will both take on South Africa on Sunday, March 15, giving Bay of Plenty cricket fans a heady dose of international action at the Mount Maunganui venue.

The back-to-back action will begin 2.45pm with the White Ferns facing the Proteas women before the Blackcaps meet South Africa’s men ’ s side at 7.15pm

Build momentum

For the White Ferns, the clash presents another opportunity to build momentum against a competitive South African side. South Africa have been one of the most improved teams in the women ’ s game in recent years and will provide a stern test

The Blackcaps, meanwhile, finished runners-up in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, losing the final to India by 96 runs after India posted a huge 255/5, with the Blackcaps bowled out for 159. In the semi-final NZ were outstanding, beating South

Africa by nine wickets, with opener Finn Allen smashing a record-fast T20 World Cup century (100 off 33 balls). Tim Seifert also scored 58 in the chase

They also won a historic ODI series in India earlier in 2026, the first time New Zealand had done so on Indian soil

Five-match series

The Blackcaps will be looking t present a strong home form for t start of the five-match T20 series against South Africa in front of what is traditionally a lively Mou crowd The squad is set to featur eight Blackcaps from the World including Mitchell Santner

BLACKCAPS selector Gavin L said the squad for South Africa reflected the balance between loo after those returning from India and planning for the future. “We certainly had to be pragmatic in selecting this squad,” Larsen said

"We’re lucky to have strong dep across the different skill sets whic has afforded us the opportunity to rest a few players and introduce some others

“That provides an excellent opportunity for many to stake their claim for regular inclusion in the T20 team moving forward as we begin a new World Cup cycle ”

Larsen said the Proteas would provide a stern challenge to finish the BLACKCAPS home international summer. “It’s a great opportunity for Kiwi fans to see many of our guys back on the park so quickly after the World Cup and I know those in the squad are looking forward playing in front of their home-crowd again ”

Full day

Event organisers said the event format offers fans a full day of cricket entertainment, big hits, fierce rivalries, and unbeatable summer vibes, with two international matches for the price of one ticket

The T20i showdown also highlights the growing profile of the women ’ s game, placing the White Ferns and Proteas women on the same stage as the men ’ s international fixture

Gates are expected to open

1 45pm to accommodate the two matches, with organisers encouraging fans to arrive early TVNZ+, TVNZ 1 and Sport Nation will again be the free-to-air host broadcasters for the five-match T20 series against South Africa, with the Alternative Commentary Collective covering Blackcaps

matches via their digital channels

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Lock down your number plate in 60 seconds

To help curb the theft of vehicle number plates, the Tauranga South Community Patrol is bringing back its popular tamper-proof screw day this month.

The patrol will be installing tamperresistant screws in the lower car park at Tauranga Crossing tomorrow, March 14, from 9am-1pm.

Chair Maureen Kathan said the initiative is a simple but effective way to deter criminals.

“It takes us about 30 seconds to a minute to do a car, ” Kathan said. “We put one screw in the front and one in the back. One of our team removes the old screw and another puts the new one in. It’s very quick.”

Motorists can remain in their vehicles while patrol members fit the specialised screws, which require a special tool to remove. A gold coin donation is appreciated.

Number plate theft remains an ongoing issue, with stolen plates often used in ram raids, petrol drive-offs and other criminal activity Kathan said unprotected number plates were easy targets for thieves, especially if parked on roadsides outside the owner ’ s property

“It takes a criminal about 30 seconds to get your standard number plate off,” Kathan said. “They flog your number plate, put it on their car and commit offences, and it’s your plate that gets photographed. With a tamper-proof screw, they can get one out, but the other one has a special head They can ’ t remove it without the proper tool

“The more time they spend trying to

get the plates off increases the chance the police, community patrols and members of the public have of spotting the crime taking place.”

While the day acts as a fundraiser for the volunteer patrol group, Kathan said the primary focus is community safety

“It is a fundraiser, but it’s more about keeping crime down and helping protect people.”

The last event was held in 2024, when more than 150 vehicles were fitted with the tamper-resistant screws

Tomorrow patrol members will wear high-visibility clothing and signage to direct drivers to the lower carpark, which now has direct driveway access.

The Community Patrols of New Zealand affiliated group is always looking for new volunteers Anyone wanting more information about joining the patrol can find the Tauranga South Community Patrol on Facebook or via the national Community Patrols of New Zealand Facebook page

The tamper proof screw event will be held at Tauranga Crossing in the lower carpark from 9am-1pm on March 14. Tauranga South Community Patrol members will occupy part of the Tauranga Crossing carpark to add a tamper-resistant screw to each number plate on cars Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Just two months after a new beach safety sign and rescue buoy were installed at Anzac Bay, the equipment was credited with helping save a life.

On February 18, off-duty surf lifeguard Josh Coombridge was at Bowentown beach with family when a friend of a group of swimmers urgently approached him.

One of three people in the water – an older man – was struggling to stay afloat, a statement from the Waihī Beach Lifeguard Service said Coombridge immediately grabbed the newlyinstalled rescue buoy – part of a Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc. initiative – and swam out to the group, the service said.

“Two swimmers were attempting to support the distressed man, but with no ability to touch the bottom and the tide pulling them outward, they were being swept toward deeper water Josh reached them quickly, provided the buoy to stabilise the man, and guided all three safely back to shore.”

No further medical treatment was needed.

The rescued man thanked Coombridge, telling him: “You saved my life”.

The incident underscored the importance of the expanding network of beach safety signs and rescue buoys, according to Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc’s Natalie Lloyd.

She said Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc was asking the community to help protect the equipment.

There are 12 safety signs installed, and beachgoers were encouraged to report missing buoys, damaged ropes, or vandalism by texting or calling 027 863 5108 or emailing: info@ waihibeachlifeguards co.nz.

The next goal is to install six to eight more safety signs at key coastal locations.

Resurrection living while using wheelchair

Roto ua pasto w o ost 92% of his bodily function in a split-second mountain bike crash is bringing a message of hope and “resurrection living” to Tauranga later this month.

Timothy Lee will speak at Matua Baptist at 10am on March 22, sharing from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 in a message titled The BodyTransformed He said the resurrection of Jesus is not only a future promise, but something that can transform lives now – even in the midst of suffering. He hopes that the message will resonate, no matter who comes In 2010 Lee’s life was irrevocably altered when he crashed on a mountain bike trail in Rotorua’s Redwood Forest

He went over a drop-off at speed and sustained a devastating head injury He has no memory of the impact but knew something serious had happened after being knocked out His helmet was split in two and the impact damaged his spinal cord, leaving him to live with tetraplegia “It really changed everything. It had a huge impact on my family, my vocation, my world. I so very nearly lost my life,” he said.

Lee spent 40 days and nights in intensive care at Middlemore Hospital; the first 10 in an induced coma. He said that his pathway to recovery was drawnout and, at times, frustrating,

p p

Christian faith sustained him and d continues to do so

Take for granted

Today he has limited movement in one arm, just enough to operate his wheelchair He requires assistance with everything else for daily life.

“It’s very challenging,” he admitted “You take mobility for granted – until it’s gone ” At the time of the accident he was senior pastor at Rotorua Baptist Church. Now an itinerant preacher with more than 25 years in Christian pastoral ministry, Lee continues to teach, mentor and serve across church and community settings.

His recently-released autobiography, Hopes, Fears and Wheelchairs, was a story of faith and hope after the trauma of his life-threatening accident In it, he recounts the day that changed everything and the long, slow road of rehabilitation that followed “What happens when your whole world changes in the blink of an eye?” the back cover asks. “In the face of tragic circumstances, the framework of life is no longer the same ”

Accessible

The book was dictated using voicerecognition software – with lee’s hands no longer able to type In the book he blends practical insights with reflections on grief, loss

y to be accessible, not academic, and to address difficult questions about suffering in everyday Kiwi life

A otorua pastor who lost but he never lost hope His deep and faith Timoth said he wrote it

Instead of retreatting from the community he lovves, Lee is deeply immersed in it H He serves as a hospital chaplain, mentors people who are new to liffe in a wheelchair, works with the hoomeless, and chairs the Rotorua’s Acceess Committee, collaborating with h Rotorua Lakes Council for greateer mobility access

He’s also involved d in Sailability, helping provide saailing experiences for children with special needs in the Bay of Plennty In addition, he enjoys doing p professional supervision with c colleagues Born in Pukekohhe and raised with a strong rural heriitage, Lee trained and worked as a d diesel mechanic before entering paastoral ministry He and his wife Jeenny have two sons, a daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughteer

Others’ wellbbeing

One of his manttras, he said, was simply: to invest in others’ wellbeing for as long as he h has breath “God’s kept me alive, and d by His grace, I will endeavour to make the best of each day”

Lee’s book will b be available for purchase at his tallk for $30 It was also available as an e-book via Amazon “I really want to convey to people that whateever is going on in their lives, there is s always hope ” Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Aching, cramping, itchy, restless or swollen legs?

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Repairchallenge issuedto Kiwis

As more Kiwis opt to fix all kinds of items instead replacing them, a popular rural lubricant brand is offering a repair challenge where they can win cash for themselves and their community

The WD-40 Repair Challenge 2026 from March 1-April 18 invites doers, makers, fixers and professionals alike to showcase the repairs that keep homes, tools and treasured belongings in circulation for longer

WD-40’s New Zealand distributor E-Products NZ director Malcolm Macnaught said the challenge was a global initiative that recognised projects of all sizes, proving no repair is too small to make a difference

“Repairing our well loved items is not only about saving money and working towards a

more sustainable future, it’s also about empowerment and selfexpression,” Macnaught said

“The Repair Challenge is the perfect opportunity to inspire New Zealanders to share their journeys in extending the lifespan of their tools, worn down equipment, bicycles or just about anything else and keep them in circulation for longer”

In its fourth year, the challenge had grown to support community-based repair initiatives, partnering with nonprofit organisation Menzshed New Zealand for 2026

This year the winning entry would receive $5000 in prize money and would direct an equal donation to a local community repair initiative

To enter, Kiwis can share their DIY or restoration projects showing how they use WD-40 and submit videos demonstrating their repair process at: https:// repairchallenge wd40 com au

Shania Cooke tees off on the Midson’s family sheep and beef farm-turned golf course for the Kaimai Classic Photo / Supplied

Teeing off from a wooden pallet over a river, chipping into water troughs, navigating rolling hills and dodging the odd cowpat – the Kaimai Classic isn’t your typical golf tournament

But, it’s one that this year has raised more than $20,000 for Kaimai School.

Sponsored by James Bell Bower real estate, the annual fundraising event invites golfers to play 12 holes on 58ha of the Midson’s family sheep and beef farm.

Bell, who has been one of the greenkeepers for the past 10 years, said the tees and greens were mowed a week before the event, and the holes were a 200mm pvc downpipe set flush with the ground.

“When you play, you don’t need to use a putter You just have to chip the holes ”

Trading manicured greens and groomed fairways for more rugged terrain, the Kaimai Classic course means golfers have to be driven to their tees.

A cow’s trough

For the fifth hole, for example, golfers tee off from a wooden pallet over a river “fairway”.

“Another hole is just a sink basin, and the first hole is a cow ’ s trough,” Bell said “It just blows people away ”

The tournament begins with a corporate day for businesses, which sponsor a team to enter for the day, followed by a community day.

The corporate golf day includes an auction, with items including a signed rugby jersey by Black Ferns Portia Woodman and signed rugby balls by Black Ferns Jorja Miller and All Black Damian McKenzie up for grabs All proceeds go to Kaimai School. Bell said businesses this year raised more than $20,000.

“It all comes back to the community It’s a big

thing to do for a small rural school.

F Farm golf tournament raises $20k for school

“We couldn’t do it without the support of the community and everyone mucking in for a great cause ”

380ha farm

The event has been held on a section of the 380ha farm, owned by Mike and Julie Midson, for more than 25 years.

Their son, John Midson, said it was the family’s way of giving back to the school.

“It’s pretty fun,” said Midson, who plays every year in the community day

While he never had a hole in one, many golfers have. “One of the holes is a water trough with a net in it, so of course someone is going to get one in there,” he said with a laugh

Kaimai School principal Matthew Jackson said funds raised from this year ’ s event would go towards a Beat Station music programme, designed to empower teachers to bring the joy of music into their classrooms

Past events have helped fund new rugby posts and soccer goals, as well as the school’s skate park.

“It makes a huge difference to what we can achieve. It means that rather than focusing on the musthaves, we can invest in some of the nice-to-haves for the kids.”

Jackson thanked the school’s Parent Teacher Association, who were the “masterminds” behind the event, and the Bower Group for coming on board as major sponsors

“Being a country school, we are so closely tied to our community and to have a day where people can come and not only have fun, but have the intent of supporting the school is incredibly humbling

“Everyone was there for the school. I can ’ t wait for next year ”

nter Y

Past winner urges young people to enter BOP Young Grower comp

A last-minute decision to enter the Bay of Plenty Young Grower Competition has propelled horticulture adviser Phoebe Scherer to regional and national victories, despite early doubts about her ability to compete.

Now, she’s encouraging other young growers to give the competition a go Contestants compete in practical and theory-based challenges th h i skills, knowledge, and lea horticulture industry

In a statement from the Kiwifruit Grower Incorpo

Phoebe Scherer said she o the audience and quietly h might one day have the co to compete herself

Six years later, nearing th competition’s age limit and encouraged by friends, she finally entered – despite feeling unsure of herself

Right moment

“I was really hesitant. Everyone experiences impostor syndrome at some level, and I was no different.

“But I had so much support around me. That made me realise it was the right moment

to give it a go ”

Scherer said the competition pushed her well outside her comfort zone

While her day-to-day role focuses on technical advice in fertilisers, agrichemicals, and biosecurity, the practical modules were daunting.

“Learning to drive a tractor and reverse a bin trailer was absolutely terrifying,” she laughed

“I’ll never forget the moment I got off that tractor and realised I hadn’t completely messed it up I almost cried with relief - that was when I thought, ‘I can actually get ” l

Last year, 151 volunteers contributed their time to Fieldays – and the New Zealand National Fieldays Society is looking for new volunteers to join their returnees for this year ’ s event on June 10-13 at Mystery Creek

Fieldays’ people and culture executive Beth Jobin said as valued volunteers relocate or step back after years of dedicated service, they must invite the next generation to come on board “Our volunteers are the reason we have reached 58 years, ” Jobin said “Their commitment and passion are what keep the tradition alive. Every year, we look for new faces to join us and become part of something truly special.”

Retired seed industry specialist Peter Fisher has volunteered for seven years. He began volunteering in 2018 at the 50th anniversary Fieldays event, helping in the New Zealand International Business Centre, and now supports the mobility parking space

“I had always enjoyed coming to Fieldays during my working life and wondered what it would be like to volunteer I had good knowledge in the seed industry and an interest

in agriculture and felt I could add value,”

Fisher said “I enjoyed meeting many people from across the world, all coming to Fieldays at the bottom of the world to do business.”

For Fisher, he loved working with a great group of people.

pared intensively for the ner speech, practising in colleagues, family, and p from a speech coach was a topic I really cared about, so I wanted to deliver it well Performing in front of 500 people was scary, but by then I was prepared and grounded ” When she was announced the winner, Scherer said it felt surreal.

“Honestly, it was pure shock and disbelief I genuinely dn’t expect it ” nning the regional petition - and then the

“Volunteering is a good social thing to do, enabling you to give back to the community You make lifelong friends ” The roles the society is looking to fill this year included event support, ticketing, hosting, administration, customer engagement, parking and more Fieldays welcomes volunteers with all backgrounds and experience levels, as training and support were provided. Applications close March 27. Visit: www.nznfs.co.nz/ working-with-us/volunteering

national title - has been career-defining It broadened her outlook on what horticulture offers and strengthened her belief that she belongs in the sector

“It made me realise how broad my skill set actually is,” she said

“It also opened doors I’d previously assumed were closed, because I didn’t have the confidence to knock on them ”

Evolving

Scherer said the competition highlighted how the definition of a “ grower ” has been evolving “As orchard ownership becomes more difficult for young people, we’ll see more rural professionals, consultants, and advisers

stepping into that space

“We’re all part of the same growing system, making decisions that contribute to better, bigger, tastier fruit ”

Give it a go!

Her message to those considering entering is simple: “Give it a go ”

“Even if you don’t have support immediately around you, the competition itself is full of people who want you to succeed - module runners, previous contestants, organisers You just need to commit and give it 110% ” Applications for the 2026 Bay of Plenty Young Grower Competition are now open and close on Friday, April 24, at 12pm

Food growing is taking centre stage in the Bay of Plenty this weekend as backyard and community gardens open their gates to the public.

Tauranga’s Sustainable Backyards calendar, run by Envirohub Bay of Plenty, offers a full month of activities throughout March, with the Community Garden Festival Day on March 14 and the Edible Garden Tour on March 15 offering a glimpse of what can flourish just beyond the fence.

Show how

Envirohub BOP project coordinator for Community Garden Festival Day, Te Ara

Dirkse, said the aim was to show people how community growing works and to inspire them to give it a try

“It’s really about opening the gates and letting people see what’s possible.”

Participating gardens – which would open their gates from 10am-1pm – would include Ngāti Kahu Māra Kai in Bethlehem, Merivale Community Garden, Ōtūmoetai Railway Community Garden, Rock Pāpāmoa Community Garden, Giggles Childcare Centre Community Garden in Te Puke, Linton Park Community Centre in Rotorua, and Kai Rotorua. Each site would offer its own mix of activities.

At Rock Pāpāmoa Community Garden,

W Wandder garddens f for growiing g inspiration and connectiion

chef James Broad will host a live cooking demonstration using char grilled garden produce and gourmet dips.

Ngāti Kahu Māra Kai will showcase its newly-planted food forest, with permaculture teachers leading guided tours and explaining how the garden will help supply kai to the local community

Kids’ scavenger hunt

And no matter which garden families visit, a children’s scavenger hunt will be waiting. Dirkse said support from the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund meant organisers could offer even more demonstrations and workshops at no cost to the public.

On Sunday, March 15, the focus would shift to backyard growing at the Edible Garden Tour in the Ōtūmoetai area from 12.30pm-5pm.

‘Fun food revolution’

The tour is organised by Grow on Ōtūmoetai, an initiative working to build a more connected and food secure community Facilitator Ruth McLean said the tour was part of a “fun food revolution” showcasing suburban residents already growing their

own food

The aim was to inspire others and highlight how practical gardening can strengthen communities and reconnect people with what they eat.

One stop would feature a tiny garden created less than a year ago, where the homeowner had been harvesting vegetables within a few months.

Another property had long replaced its lawn entirely with fruit trees, vegetables and flowers

Other sites would demonstrate creative use of space, including a once-weed ridden strip of unused railway land now growing kūmara and kamokamo alongside chickens.

A ‘street garden’

The tour would also include a shared “ street garden” where neighbours cultivate a communal plot and spend time together Visitors would hear directly from the gardeners themselves, who would share their experiences and answer questions.

To find out more about the Community Garden Day Festival on March 14 and the Edible Gardens Tour on March 15, visit: https://envirohub.org.nz/programmes/ sustainable-backyards

Moth plant drop-off day next month

A moth plant drop-off day is being held in Katikati next month to allow the community to rid their backyards of the invasive pest plant

The Western Bay Weedbusters Moth Plant Drop-off Day will be held on Monday, April 13, from 10am-2pm at The Big Avocado carpark, off State Highway 2, in Katikati.

Hosted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the day would allow the community to drop off the invasive species they gather for disposal

“This time of the year is prime pod time for moth plants. Help stop the spread of this invasive species by collecting its pods before they burst,” said council.

Those with moth plants need to gather the pods, bag them and bring them along and the

weedbusters team would deal with the rest.

According to council, the moth plant or kapok plant (Araujia hortorum) was introduced from South America to New Zealand as an ornamental species and recorded as naturalised in 1888

The pest plant grows rapidly, forming large, heavy, long-lived masses in the canopy and produces masses of viable seed that travel long distances via wind. The plant could be found in any frost-free habitat, council said.

“Left unchecked, this invasive species can quickly take over You can make a real difference by collecting and disposing of its pods before they burst and spread their seeds on the wind ”

The five Ps of autumn gardening

Autumn is officially here As the days cool l down and d thhe sun sets earlier, it’s time to start the five Ps of autumn gardening: Pull, Prune, Propagate, Prep, and Plant.

Pull

The tomatoes are looking sad, the beans have turned to straw, and the flower beds have had their day. It’s time to start pulling out all your annuals Avoid throwing anything diseased in the compost

Prune

Pruning is highly dependent on the plant. Some plants like lavender can be pruned in autumn to encourage winter flowering. Others, like feijoa, should not be pruned this time of year because they are still fruiting. Remember that pruning usually encourages regrowth, so it’s important that if you are pruning, you are also simultaneously adding slow release fertiliser and organic compost to help the plant regrow and heal.

Propagate

There are two types of propagation: sexual (seeds) and asexual (cutting, grafting, dividing). How you propagate a plant depends on the type of cultivar Tomatoes, capsicums, calendula, beans

and other varieties all create seeds that can be easily gathered and sown later Other varieties like dahlias and lilies multiply their tubers or corms underground, which can be dug up and divided.

Prep

How well you prep your beds now will determine how well your garden does in spring. Autumn is a great time to prep your beds with a generous amount of organic matter like compost, coffee grounds, chopped banana peels, shredded cardboard, grass clippings, shredded leaves and slow release fertiliser Rain in winter will break it down, giving your plants in a healthy start ahead of spring.

Plant

Thanks to Bay of Plenty’s virtually frost-free growing zone, I find that most plants do better in the long run when they are planted in autumn and winter This is because the winter rains help them get established faster, resulting in a stronger plant in spring This doesn’t work for heat-loving varieties like tomatoes, but it does work for bushes, shrubs, trees, and succulents

Melissa Cox is owner of Papamoa Pick Your Own Flowers, a garden offering affordable pick-your-own flowers for weddings, parties and special occasions. Learn more at: tinyurl.com/papamoaflowers

With autumn upon us, Grower Direct in Te Puna has all the plants, trees, vegetable seedlings, ceramic pots – and knowledge – to help you transform your backyard.

“Here at Grower Direct we are a wholesale nursery open to the public seven days a week,” said Jaclyn Phillott, who with husband Sean purchased the business late-2025.

“Autumn is the perfect time to be planting out your hedges and undertaking larger landscape projects – so we have a few specials below our already low prices.”

Their current 50% off specials include the following products:

Corokia frosted chocolate large 5L grade native hedging plant, up to 1.2m, was $20 each – now $10 each

Ficus benjamina large grade, a lush hedge for shade areas, was $45 each –now $22.50 each.

Olives EL Greco large 5L grade olives, great as a specimen or hedging variety, was $45 – now $22.50 each.

Fraxinus Griffithii (Evergreen Ash) 2.5L feature tree, great for creating an umbrella style shade area, was $25 each –now $12.50 each.

“As we grow our stock here on-site, our staff have extensive knowledge on what will be best for your garden or landscape

project,” said Jaclyn “So come on in and talk to us about any projects you want to tackle this month or anything you ’ re not sure about. We’re more than happy to help and talk plants all day long!”

As always, Grower Direct has an extensive range of vegetable and edible seedlings with winter varieties now available.

“Plus, our latest shipment of handmade ceramic pots from Vietnam are fantastic quality, not like the plastic rubbish you get elsewhere.” So get in-store today!

Age is no barrier to a good runway

“strut”, and a Bay of Plenty retirement village has proved just that as residents took the catwalk for a charity fashion show

From fighter pilot to fashion model – one BOP retiree said he rarely gets nervous, but modelling had now made the list

“I’ll tell what, I thought hat dentis and no

Village residents strut thheir stuff for charity

Pāpāmoa perfected their walk, twirl and pose after 10 weeks of training.

On Tuesday, they modelled outfits from Mount Maunganui boutiques to a crowd of more than 160 – all to raise money for the Cancer Society

Surprisingly challenging

Resident-turned-model Mike Rudd said a fashion show was outside his comfort zone but thought he’d give it a go

“Interestingly, it’s been quite challenging, actually, surprisingly challenging. It looks easy, but it’s not so easy ”

He said he learnt “the basics” of how to walk, strut, and pose

“Also, the complexities of the logistics of who comes in where, wha goes on backstage, and all that, there’s a little bit more to it than meets the eye. ”

Rudd said what he enjoyed most was gaining greater selfawareness.

“I think it’s good to push yourself outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself, particularly in later years. ”

The residents modelled clothes from shops along Mount Maunganui’s Mainstreet

Just do it!

Village resident Julie Washer said she took part as a way to give back to the village

She said training was “excellent” and she couldn’t have wished for anything better

“I just felt it’d be a lovely way to present something and be part of a team, and the team has been marvellous ”

The group learnt how to walk down a runway, turn, disrobe and redress in time with music.

“Really it’s given me confidence in myself if anything and once you learn how to do it, you get up there and strut your stuff, it’s just fun ” Proceeds from tickets to the fashion parade were donated to the Cancer Society

Kaitlyn Morrell

“You think you ’ ve got a lot of time when you get off the catwalk, but you haven’t; you must actually have assistance with dresses and everything ” Washer said her advice to other’s thinking about trying something new was to just do it.

V Villa available at boutique village

If you ’ ve been dreaming of a peaceful, modern retirement in a location that’s close to amenities, now is your chance.

A two-bedroom 160m2 home with a study and roomy garage at Woodlands Boutique Retirement Village in Bethlehem is ready for its new occupants

Tucked among established native trees, Woodlands comprises 17 architecturally designed homes.

“We’ve created an environment where residents enjoy independence, security, and privacy while being part of a warm and welcoming community,” said

operator Sarndra Newman. Each villa is designed with solar panels, double glazing and high ceilings for energyefficiency, ensuring a comfortable and cost-effective lifestyle.

Located across from Bethlehem Town Centre, residents enjoy the convenience of shops, medical facilities and cafes are just a short stroll away

Plus, the village has exceptional communal facilities that include a clubhouse, gym, hobby shed, a serenity space and raised vegetable gardens.

To view the two-bedroom160m2 home, call 021 02653536 or email: sarndra@ woodlandsboutiquevillage co nz today

National Jazz Festival to transform Tauranga

The sound of jazz will once again fill the streets, venues and public spaces of Katikati, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui when the Port of Tauranga National Jazz Festival returns to celebrate its extraordinary milestone of 63 years.

Festival director Marc Anderson said the longevity of the festival reflects the enduring appeal of live music and the power it has to bring people together

“For more than six decades, the festival has been a vibrant expression of music, creativity and community,” Anderson said “It’s filled with talented

musicians, enthusiastic audiences and the unmistakable spirit of celebration that jazz inspires ”

Across the 11-day celebration from March 27 to April 6, audiences can expect a diverse programme of concerts, performances and special events taking place

The Katikati Jazz Street Festival – a week ahead of Easter – sets the tone, with the popular Uptown Downtown programme filling bars, restaurants and hospitality venues across Tauranga and Mount Maunganui with jazz, blues, funk and soul over Easter weekend Good Friday’s Jazz Village at The Historic Village brings a lively New Orleans-style atmosphere

A festival highlight is the Baycourt

Concert Series at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, which will showcase an impressive mix of international and local talent

Inspiring musicians young and old is the 48th Wright Family Foundation National Youth Jazz Competition, which will take place from March 30 to April 1 at Baycourt

The festival will also feature a lively mix of outdoor performances, concerts and late-night events, ensuring there is something for everyone – from dedicated music lovers to those simply looking to soak up the festival atmosphere. For more information, go to www.jazz.org.nz

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Game bird hunters urged to get sorted for early Mark-up Day

Game bird hunters are urged to purchase their 2026 licences now, with Mark-up Day falling a week earlier than usual this season and licences now on sale.

Because Easter falls early in 2026, Mark-up Day is March 29 This day is when licence holders stake their claim on preferred maimai sites ahead of the new game bird season.

Fish & Game New Zealand chief operating officer Richie Cosgrove encouraged game bird hunters to buy their licence now

“Buy your licence, get your claim tag sorted, and secure your spot before someone else does,” Cosgrove said. Hunters who held a maimai site last season can reclaim it on March 29 before 10am by purchasing their 2026 licence and attaching the claim tag. After 10am, any unclaimed sites become available to other licence holders.

Key rules apply to maimai sites nationwide: Mark-up rules cover both private and public land, though landowner permission is still required; on public land a marked-up maimai must be occupied before 7.30am or it becomes available to others for that day; and a 90-metre minimum distance between sites applies unless parties agree otherwise.

Full details are in the Game Bird Hunting Regulations available online or at Fish & Game regional offices. Licences can be purchased at: fishandgame.org.nz or through licensed agents nationwide.

A deluge of blues and more

“Humankind cannot bear very much reality,” said T.S Eliot.

At least so said the bird in Eliot’s poem Burnt Norton We do seem to be getting a lot of it these days I can ’ t remember more people saying they’ve stopped watching or listening to the news Too much bloody reality

Favourite news

But things will pass you by if you stop paying attention

One of my favourite annual news story has just dropped It’s the list of rejected baby names In my generation boys were called sensible things like John and Michael And occasionally Winston Girls? Mary, Susan, Jane no friends were named Chelsea or any spelling of Britney

Not that I object to today’s free-form approach to baby names and their spelling But some of the declined offerings amuse me Most disallowed names are titles – Queen, Judge, so on – but I do wonder about calling your baby Heil? Lucifer also seems iffy What was weird was the attempt to get round the ‘ no titles’ thing by using similarlypronounced words Who wants to be named Qwen or Jhudg?

Omnipresent

Fortuitously this column is largely about music, one of humankind’s greatest escapes from reality As another poet said: “Rock ‘ n ’ Roll might not solve your problems, but it does let you dance all over them”. Thanks Mr Townshend

Currently music is omnipresent. A deluge is about to occur on Friday, March 20.

There’s a lot of blues: for the first time Black Coffee night at the Tauranga Club is shifting sideways into the blues, with a tribute to the great Fleetwood Mac guitarist, the late Peter Green

A treat

If anyone in town was doing that I’d want it to be guitarist Trevor Braunias, a master of 1960s blues styles, and so it is, along with his trio comprising Julian Clark, bass, and Stefan Braunias, drums Braunias has played Green’s music a lot over the years, from hard-edged shuffles to cool miniatures such as Jigsaw Blues For blues-lovers this will be a treat

The same night at The Matua Bar from 6 30pm there’s Autumn Blues, old-timey sounds with Mike Garner and Joanne Melbourne No charge And – blues adjacent – at Totara Street, Dutch/New Zealand trio

Baby is touring New Zealand to celebrate their most recent album Echo, bringing their modern bluesy, roots-driven grooves Excellent stuff

Hard to describe

Same night at The Jam Factory brilliant a cappella Lancashire punk folk singer Jennifer Reid returns to New Zealand

She’s hard to describe, continuing the tradition of using music as social provocation, an archivist, storyteller and fantastic singer, who has opened for Pulp and toured the world Local duo Poetic Justice – of Meshell Hardman and John Baxter – open

On March 21 The Harmonic Resonators will perform at Baycourt, and punk rules at Ōkahukura on Grey St with Pipeline Punk, Raglan’s Critter and Hamilton band Hoon

It will be a busy weekend

Hear Winston’s Latest Playlist

Scan the QR code, or visit:

www tinyurl com/sst8u5yj

Skateboarding Nationals return to Mount Maunganui

The Skateboarding NZ 2026 National Championships will see the country ’ s top and emerging riders compete in Park and Vert in Mount Maunganui on March 28 Hosted by Skateboarding New Zealand, the 2026 championships are split across two locations for the first time, with Street to be held in Auckland on May 2 Park and Vert showcase skateboarding’s most

progressive disciplines, combining speed, style and technical skill. Park features flowing lines and transitions, while Vert highlights high-flying halfpipe action.

Open to all ages and skill levels, there is a fee to compete, but spectators can attend free Register at: https://skateboarding nz/park-vertnational-champs-2026-register-now/

Five exhibitionsandnew VillaStudios launchat HistoricVillage

The Incubator Creative Hub has five new exhibitions opening tonight, March 13, and the official launch of the Villa Studios.

Thin Skinned, an Exhibition of Extraordinary Ceramics by Z – which is Tūrangi artist Zed Snook – has come back to the gallery for his second solo exhibition, on display until April 4.

Te Manaia Jennings’ exhibition Revival, which explores freedom and transformation through abstract realism, will run until April 5.

Nick Eggleston’s Dogs with Sticks returns with his beloved, attitude-filled canine characters in a pop-up exhibition until April 4.

A group exhibition brings together In Quiet Company, a collective of Aotearoa-based women artists –Rhianna May, Rose Ackland, Hollie Teutscher, Jessica Crowe, Rose Kennedy, and Lisa Billing – of Heymaker Studio

The Space of Pause, on until April 4, will showcase their painting, textile, photography, and objectbased practice invites stillness and attention.

Lastly, the Artist Window Gallery will have a new rotation of 40 artist and jewellers. Find out more at: www.theincubator.co.nz

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Te Puna rugby’s new $5m clubrooms build plan

It’s game on for Te Puna Rugby Club with upgraded clubrooms on the horizon.

Te Puna Rugby Club is home to about 400 members from all walks of life. People as young as five and as old as 60 played in the club’s leagues.

But the club is now home to more than just rugby

President Rawiri Kuka described the club as a “rugby, sports, and cultural club”

The club now had netball and softball teams, a kapa haka group, and up to 18 cricket teams played every Thursday night

But the rugby crowd was still going strong, with several teams across the junior and senior leagues

At the junior level, there were two teams for under-5s and two teams for under-13s, while the senior league had a premier team, a development team, a women ’ s team, and a ‘Golden Oldies’ team

Renovations were long

overdue for the 107-year-old club. It was founded in 1919, but the clubrooms were built in 1971 A second storey was added five years later

The current infrastructure was 50 years old, and leakage problems had arisen through maintenance neglect.

The last renovations took place in the 1980s, when the internal toilets were expanded, a viewing deck was added, and the kitchen was extended

“We decided that it’s easier to build rather than try and renovate, because you don’t know how long renovations will last,” Kuka said

The club’s building committee came together in 2024 to formulate plans, deploying the skills of Valiant Building Services and Mod Architecture.

The new club would be twice the size of the current one, with greater capacity for functions

Features included a commercial kitchen, bar, an outdoor tuck-shop, and a miniature grandstand

With designs prepared, the next step for the club was to present to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council to obtain consents and permits

Kuka said the club hoped to do this within the next three or four months

The estimated cost for the plans and permits was $300,000, and the build was projected to cost $5 million

Newliquefactionmaps forTe Puke

Updated liquefaction maps are now available for Te Puke, showing how properties could be affected during a large earthquake.

According to Western Bay of Plenty District Council, liquefaction occurs when shaking from an earthquake causes soft, wet soil – typically silts and sands – to behave like a liquid, potentially affecting homes and property

In a statement the council said the new maps take into account soil type, groundwater levels and earthquake strength Three risk categories are identified, with some properties having one or more of these categories mapped:

• Liquefaction damage is unlikely – a probability of more than 85% that liquefaction-induced damage will be minor in a 1-in-500-year earthquake shaking event

• Liquefaction damage is possible – a probability of more than 15% that liquefaction-induced ground damage will be minor to moderate (or more) in a 1-in-500-year earthquake shaking event

• Liquefaction category is undetermined – a liquefaction assessment has not been undertaken for this area, or there is not enough information to determine the appropriate category with the

required level of confidence

Council said the new maps replace previous maps from a regional study in 2021, which was based on a basic level of assessment A more detailed study has since been done, which improves the accuracy of the maps.

“As a result, many ‘undetermined’ areas have been re-categorised as ‘unlikely’, including the large majority of residential properties The number of properties shown as ‘possible’ has also significantly reduced ”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council regularly update the natural hazards maps for the district because the Resource Management Act and Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement have requirements relating to how councils manage natural hazard risks

As the mapping of each hazard is completed, landowners are notified and the information is put on Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s website, property files and in any Land Information Memoranda (LIMs) requested for properties

The maps are also used when processing resource consents, project information memoranda and building consents, to ensure that the risk from natural hazards to people and buildings is assessed

Western Bay of Plenty District Council interim general manager strategy and community Emily

Applications for funding would be necessary, but at this stage, the club was asking the community for pledges to help reach the estimated $300,000 in permit-related costs

Kuka said the club was advertising for $1000 pledges from people who can help out, while other fundraising ideas were in the

Johnson

A comparison of Te Puke in the Regionwide Study in 2021 to the Te Puke study in 2025. Image / Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Watton said the new information would improve understanding of how properties in Te Puke may respond during an earthquake. “Updating the accuracy of liquefaction maps is important to meet legislative requirements and ensure that natural hazard information is current “The mapping information will help people make informed decisions about building, buying property, and preparing for future events ” Watton said letters had been sent to landowners affected by the latest liquefaction maps and the new information had been included on council’s Natural Hazards’ webpage at: www.westernbay.govt.nz/propertyrates-and-building/natural-hazards

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