The Weekend Sun - 2 April 2026

2 April 2026, Issue 1304

Northern Health School Tauranga held its first-ever Giant Pumpkin Day this week –and it did not disappoint!

Months in the making, participants nurtured their plants from seeds back in September, battling through a summer of rain and hail.

On Tuesday morning, they hauled their pumpkins in for judgment. Associate principal Robyn Meikle, pictured with her giant beauty, walked away with the heaviest title, while student Blake Roberts claimed the student category Senior student William White won the weirdest pumpkin

for his quirky design. There were cookies, clay pumpkins, and a vibe deputy

leader Karla Revell described as a real positive feel.

“We made lots of fantastic contributions from students and staff A really good vibe.” Meikle said the day meant something bigger than winning first place. “It’s

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Old school, uncool and gobbledyygook

What runs, but has no legs? Or runs but never walks. Or…has two hands, a face, but no arms or legs?

Figure it for yourself my old Tick-tock.

Corny old riddle-dee-diddles, that have probably been getting dad joke groans for as long as there have been mechanical clocks. But they’re losing relevance, becoming obsolete. I read recently these brainteasers are being wasted on those

who should be falling about and laughing hysterically – the kids.

They don’t get the joke because they increasingly don’t understand big hands and little hands, quarter past and quarter to And half past. They don’t understand analogue time. “Why would you, if you don’t have to?” was a fair enough response. We don’t drive a pony and trap anymore Unless you ’ re Pennsylvania Dutch. Or you like A&P shows Likewise quills and inkwells…sadly

Leagues are bollocks

What about imperial units and the duodecimal currency system? Miles in a nautical league? Feet in a chain. Crowns in a pound, shillings in a guinea? Stuff we had drilled into us But, admittedly, seldom, if ever, used

“Blah!” offered a Young Bright Spark – YBS. Blah equals baloney He’s right. Except to make sense of Jules Verne’s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. A league is 4.8km. And not 20,000 down but rather distance travelled under the sea by the submarine Nautilus. See – it doesn’t have to be common usage to be fascinating

But YBS has decided leagues are “bollocks”. I sympathise – because after 57 years of the metric system, I know what 6ft 1in looks like, but not 185.42cm. If the police put out a “dangerous wanted man ” bulletin and estimated his height in centimetres I wouldn’t know if they were looking for dwarf or giant.

Revolution has started

Now, a British teachers’ union says students are more used to digital time and don’t know how to read analogue. The world is digital. If it has hands and face, it’s analogue, it’s old school, uncool and gobbledygook

It’s 3.40, not 20 minutes to 4 o’clock anymore, or 20 to 4. Try explaining that when the big hand moves over the hour its ‘ past ’ something, and beyond the half hour it’s ‘ to ’ something else

“The big hand is busy

But the small hand has power

The large one counts minutes,

display…”

Anyhow, UK teachers says schools are swapping out analog clocks for digital displays that count downwards or backwards The exam room revolution has started. Back in the exam room, it seems YBSs are gobbling valuable time calculating how much time they have left on the analogue clock. It’s causing stress and confusion and could make the difference between a C for a pass, or F for bummed out. “Well, teach them analog,” screamed the critics. “Isn’t that why they’re at school? To learn stuff?”

Slip this into the curriculum then “When both hands

Join at the top

The little one names hours.”

Who would be inspired to compose a ditty about a digital display?

“Hickory dickory dock, The mouse ran up the alphanumeric

It’s sure to be twelve o’clock, Whether it’s twelve at noon Or twelve at night

Depends on if it’s dark or light.” From high on their horses, the critics

suggest schools teach kids useful life lessons like tying shoelaces Isn’t that why they invented Velcro, loafers and Crocs? So we don’t tangle in shoes laces

Sometimes knowing stuff doesn’t help because it’s been calculated we waste six hours of lifetime each year tying laces

Impress the

‘deb’

I don’t think kids would thank you for shoe lace lessons. Neither would this old dog. There comes a time when you crink your crack whenever you bend to tie laces I plead infirmity and park on the stairs to do it.

They could teach kids to drive a manual shift. More fun, and safer Better control And it would help when you want to borrow Dad’s race red Mustang Dark Horse with a six-speed manual shift for the school ball. That would impress the debutante more than knowing how to circular waltz. Without analogue how will digitised kids know clockwise from anti-clockwise. When a Reddit bloke told his digital nephew to unscrew wheel nuts ‘anticlockwise’ when changing a wheel, “he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about”. Bloke then took several minutes loosening the nuts nephew had tried to undo clockwise.

If kids can ’ t read analogue, they certainly won ’ t understand Roman numerals. Been doing the job for 2000 years and still wonderfully symbolic and aesthetic. How else would we ID Queens, Kings, Popes, book chapters and Olympics? How?

‘Ding bloody dong!’

Without knowing Roman numerals they would ignore Katikati’s main street memorial clock. And wouldn’t take a moment to appreciate the old Post Office clock in Harington St because it’s all X’s, V’s, and I’s. They’d just reach for the phone. Where’s the sense of history, the charm and romance? Throw up the scaffolding right now and swap out the eight hands on Big Ben Stick up four humungous digital displays. Would the Great Bell still chime over Westminster, or would bright red digital displays silently, unceremoniously and soullessly record the passing of time?

Mount RSA opts to sell land, pursue merger

Mount Maunganui RSA members have voted to sell the club’s land and pursue a merger with Club Mount Maunganui in a move to secure its long-term survival

The decision was made at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on Monday night, attended by 374 members, as the Mount RSA confronts increasing financial pressure and a deteriorating state of its Maunganui Rd premises The meeting followed a proposed merger with Tauranga RSA falling through earlier this year, leaving Mount Maunganui RSA to consider its options independently

Members were told the Mount RSA was at a “crunch point”, with president David Corin warning it could not continue operating under its current model.

“The Mount RSA has been spending more than it earns – we are absolutely broke. We cannot trade when insolvent,” Corin said.

He outlined a prolonged period of financial decline, including a $350,000 debt and ongoing monthly losses, which had been reduced from about $30,000 to $10,000 but remained unsustainable.

Limited options

Corin said the club also faced significant maintenance issues, including a leaking roof, outdated electrical systems, and structural problems, with parts of the building sinking. “No one wants the RSA to

close. We are not here to close the Mount RSA – we are here to save it,” he said.

Mount RSA acting general manager

Jonathan Clarke told members the club had been losing money for more than a decade and was now approaching potential liquidation

“We’re already making difficult short-term decisions just to cover essentials like staff wages, and the situation is worsening week by week ”

Clarke said rising costs – including increases of 10-15% from suppliers – were compounding the problem, while revenue and membership engagement continued to decline.

He said development of the current site was no longer a viable shortterm solution, particularly after a prospective developer withdrew shortly before the meeting.

“Most development options would take two to three years – time we don’t have.”

He outlined two realistic pathways – merging with another

club or selling the land to create an investment fund capable of generating ongoing income.

Following presentations and a question-and-answer session chaired by Graeme Elvin, members voted in favour of both selling the club’s land and pursuing a merger

In the first vote on the club’s financial pathway, 281 members supported a land sale, and 48 favoured insolvency management

In the second vote on future structure, 279 members backed merging with Club Mount Maunganui, while 73 voted against this. The outcome gave the club a clear mandate to pursue both options simultaneously

Merger talks begin

Clarke said proceeds from a land sale could be invested to generate an estimated $500,000 to $600,000 annually, helping restore member benefits and significantly increase

Seven children, one hip p

Janet always dreamed of retiring to the Hawke’sBay

She and her husband had talked about it for years Thewineries Theorchards Longwalks through the countryside that people travelled from all overthe worldtosee

And after raising seven children, surely she’dearnedtherighttoenjoywhatcameafter

“I carried all seven of my kids on that hip,” shesays “It’sjustwhatyoudoasamum You don’t thinkabout what it might meanlater”

What it meant later was that her hip remembered every single one of them Seven children, decades of carrying them, and now herbodywasaskingforsomethingback

Janet found herself counting benches Not because she collected them, but because every walk started with a calculation of how far to the next one, how long before she’d need to stop,andwhetherit wasworthstartingat all Cold mornings were the worst Her hip would stiffen overnight and take half the day to loosen By the time it eased, the motivation hadgone

“You adjust,” she says “You tell yourself thisisjust howit isnow”

She’d tried what was available Creams that promised so much but nothing quite did the job for her Janet had made her peace with a life smallerthanwhat she hadhopedfor Thenhergrandsoncame tovisit

He’dheardaboutKoruFXthroughhiswork

Customers had been talking about how this natural cream had supported their joints and muscles He thought about his grandmother, about her hip, and about all those walks she couldn’t take anymore

He brought a few bottles and then went to see her

Janet was willing to try But she wasn’t expecting much “Hope was something I’d learnedtoration,” she admits

funding for veteran welfare.

Club Mount Maunganui president Dean Wearne, who attended the meeting with club manager Fred Ferris, said the vote marked the beginning of a formal negotiation process between the two organisations “Mount RSA have made a decision to enter into negotiations to merge with Club Mount Maunganui,” Wearne said He said Club Mount Maunganui had prior experience with mergers including with the Cosmopolitan Club, Mount Bowls Club and Mount Croquet Club

“Now we ’ ve got to work together as committees to put together information that goes to our Club

Mount Maunganui members to decide whether a merger is appropriate for both clubs,” he said “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be as clubs, we ’ re well suited ” The Mount RSA executive will now progress the land sale and plan for a potential merger Members will receive updates in coming weeks, including opportunities for input Clarke said veteran accommodation at Mount Maunganui RSA Village next to Mount RSA is under a separate trust, and would not be affected by the land sale.

It’s never too early to tell your life story but it can easily become too late

Wemakeiteasyforyoutotransformaheadfullof memoriesandaboxfullofphotosintoanenduring familyheirloom

Preserveyourlifestoryforgenerationstocomeinan elegantlegacybook

Morning and night, she rubbed it into her hip It became part of her routine, sitting right there on her bedside table next to her reading

glasses

The first cold morning surprised her Janet swung her legs out of bed the way she always did, bracing for the familiar stiffness But somethingwasdifferent

Herhipmoved

Notperfectly,notlikeshewastwentyagain But it movedwithout the usualfight

Within weeks, she was moving differently Not having to think so much Not planning everystep

Walkingbecame walkingagain

The next time her grandson visited, Janet made sure to tell him The wineries and

orchards she’d dreamed about were back withinreach

“He was so chuffed,” she says “He’d wantedtohelphisnan,andhe had”

These days, Janet keeps her Koru FX close Morning and night, and more when the weatherturns

“I just love being able to get out and about now,” she says “To walk around the wineries without worrying about how far the next seat is”

Seven children Decades of carrying them And now, finally, her hip is letting her walk free

“My grandson just wanted to help his nan,” she says “Andhe did”

Migrant father’s brain

A migrant father living in Pongakawa is battling brain cancer as his visa is about to end

Now his family is searching for their next steps, uncertain about what their future in New Zealand might look like Bob and Becky Tafan moved to New Zealand from Vanuatu in 2023 with their four children – Fredrick, 15, Elizabeth, 12, Junior, 9, and Harrison, 3 – on a working visa, hoping to build a stable life The family settled in Pongakawa

Before that, Bob spent more than a decade coming here solo as a recognised seasonal worker in kiwifruit orchards

Stability unravelled

But his family’s stability unravelled after Christmas when Bob began suffering

headaches and memory loss

The Tafans made four visits to the doctor in January, each time sent home with paracetamol and anti-nausea medication

After weeks of worsening symptoms, Bob was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital on January 23, where doctors discovered a large tumour in the frontal lobes of his brain He underwent surgery soon after Becky admitted she was scared but had trust in God

Mounting expenses

Surgery removed some of the tumour, but what remained could not be safely taken out Bob has since returned home and begun six weeks of daily radiotherapy, to be followed by six cycles of chemotherapy over 36 weeks The family lives an hour from Tauranga’s Kathleen Kilgour Centre, where

tumour alters family’s future

Bob receives his treatment, and neither he nor Becky can drive, relying on volunteers for daily transport

Becky worked as many hours as she could picking kiwifruit and caring for their children, but it was not enough to keep up with mounting expenses

As non-New Zealand citizens, they have been unable to access government support, and an application for emergency assistance was declined

The loss of income has left the family struggling to cover their essentials

Despite that, Becky said they were grateful to be in New Zealand “It’s good to be here Good hospital here, good treatment ” Garcia Contracting Services managing director Luciano Garcia said Bob had worked for him since 2015 Garcia said Bob quickly proved himself as a natural leader who consistently went above and beyond “I saw potential He solved problems, trained people, very good cultural interaction, he embraces diversity”

He said he hoped Bob could stay in New Zealand to focus on recovering and eventually return to work, with visas extended so the whole family could remain together Garcia stepped in to help and arranged for family members to travel to New Zealand Bob’s father arrived last week, along with Becky’s

sister and her husband, offering the family some much needed comfort

Their youngest son, Harrison, had gone back to Vanuatu to stay with family while his siblings remain at school in New Zealand

Kylie DellaBarca Steel, who is chief executive of the Fruit of the Pacific charity, has been supporting the family She has worked with recognised seasonal workers since 2008, and Bob’s dad was among the first groups she supported

In recent years, her children became friends with Bob and Becky’s, and the families grew closer

‘Is everything okay?’

DellaBarca Steel was there the day Bob was taken to the hospital “I was only there because I was picking up their son for a play date And I looked at Bob I said, ‘Is everything okay?’ because he was wobbly on his legs and he didn’t look like he recognised me and then he just didn’t come home from the hospital ”

What began as helping with childcare soon expanded to providing meals, covering essentials, and arranging transport

DellaBarca Steel, who was treated for leukaemia three years ago, said her experience helped her understand the uncertainty Bob is facing, as well as the toll it took on loved ones

A Givealittle page has been set up to help cover the family’s essential living costs at: givealittle co nz/cause/ stand-beside-bob-and-becky

Visa until June

While Bob’s treatment will continue into next year, his visa only allows him to stay in New Zealand until June

Steel said the Tafans were fearful of what would happen when their time in New Zealand runs out, with no clear path ahead

Immigration New Zealand director of visa Jock Gilray said anyone who became seriously unwell and was unable to continue meeting their visa conditions

Bob and Becky Tafan, with their children, navigating life far from home as they face Bob’s diagnosis.

should contact them as early as possible

He said medical related visa matters were assessed on a case by case basis

Discretionary exceptions might be considered when illness prevents someone from meeting their normal visa i

Harry’s lifeline on four legs

For 7-year-old Harry Ward and his family, Kōwhai is much more than a companion – she is a lifeline

Harry lives with Congenital Myasthenia, a rare neuromuscular condition that affects the body’s ability to produce acetylcholine, the chemical responsible for sending messages from the brain to the muscles. Harry can suddenly stop breathing, requiring immediate support from a ventilator

The Matua boy’s early years were marked by long hospital stays and constant vigilance.

On edge

“The first two years of Harry’s life were spent mostly in hospital, and the next two largely at home as we learned how to manage his condition,” said his mother Natasha Ward.

“It was a really challenging time. We were always on edge, watching his breathing and ready to act at any moment. ”

When Harry was aged 2 his parents decided to apply for an assistance dog – unsure if they would ever receive one.

“As much as we wished for an assistance dog, we didn’t really believe it would happen,” Ward said. “We knew how in demand they are and how much training is involved.”

That changed in 2023, when Kōwhai, a golden Labrador, entered their lives.

Trained through the Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust, Kōwhai has transformed not only Harry’s daily routine, but the entire family’s ability to engage with the world around them.

“She has an extraordinary calming effect on him,” Ward said “Her assistance in helping Harry self-manage his condition is beyond what we ever thought possible.”

Kōwhai is trained to recognise when Harry is becoming fatigued. She gently nudges him behind the knees to prompt him to sit down, helping prevent potentially dangerous episodes.

When he needs reassurance, she provides what’s known as “deep pressure ” by resting her chin on his legs.

Beyond physical

“If he feels his body starting to tire, he’ll go and sit with Kōwhai until he’s ‘recharged’,” Ward said The impact goes beyond physical safety

Kōwhai had also helped Harry navigate the emotional challenges of living with a condition that sets him apart from other children.

“He often needs to use his ventilator in public, which can be hard for a young child,” Ward

said “But with Kōwhai beside him, he feels more confident and calm ” Kōwhai is never far from Harry’s side – whether she’s watching him play quietly, retrieving his medical bag when needed, or simply offering companionship

“She gives him unconditional love and friendship When he needs quiet time, she’ll just sit and watch him play for hours. He’s never alone.”

Gratitude

Harry’s experience with Kōwhai had also strengthened his connection with others. At a recent photoshoot for the mural, he was thrilled to meet other working dogs and their owners.

“He was buzzing afterwards,” Ward said

“He loved hearing about the different jobs the dogs do and meeting people who understand his world ”

The opportunity to be part of the mural came through connections with his school and community, and the family says it’s an honour to be included.

For Harry’s mother, the artwork represented not just awareness, but gratitude.

“Having Kōwhai in our lives helps us all stay connected, calm, grounded and positive,” she said “We will be forever grateful.”

More safety measures for SH29andŌmanawa Rd

Additional traffic management will be introduced on State Highway 29 and at the intersection of Ōmanawa Rd, as part of the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement project.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi regional manager infrastructure delivery for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Adrian Jones said the measures were designed to make turning movements safer and to encourage better compliance with the reduced speed limit through the worksite.

“Safety is our top priority With construction activity increasing and visibility changing as the new road alignment is built up, these temporary measures will help protect everyone accessing the state highway, travelling through the site and our crews on the ground,” Jones said.

The new layout included a merge lane to help people turning right out of Ōmanawa Rd to join SH29 safely The Ōmanawa Rd limit line would be moved forward, giving drivers a clearer view of eastbound traffic and allowing them to cross one lane before merging safely with westbound vehicles

Right turns into Ōmanawa Rd would be temporarily stopped to create space for the merge lane and simplify traffic movements at the intersection. Drivers wanting to turn right into Ōmanawa Rd will be able to use a short detour of about 3km via the SH29/ Redwood Lane roundabout.

To support safer speeds, larger speed limit signs, improved road markings and side islands will be installed to the west of the intersection to reinforce the temporary 50km/hr speed limit.

“To keep everyone safe while this work is underway, we ’ re adjusting the layout, so drivers have better visibility and traffic movements are more predictable,” Jones said. To implement the changes, stop/go and a reduced 30km/hr speed limit will be in place from 7pm-6am from April 7-9.

Dragon watching the pumps

She’s back. And this time, she’s not watching the ocean – she’s watching the petrol board

Mount Maunganui’s rogue dragon sculpture, Toa Ahi, has re-emerged in a new nest on Maunganui Rd – perched high on a stand and staring directly over the fence at the neighbouring BP Connect petrol station like a fiery watchdog of the forecourt.

If dragons are known for guarding treasure, this one appears to be guarding something far more precious in 2026 – fuel.

Owners Graham and Carol Foote said the placement wasn ’ t meant to make a statement – but they admit the dragon’s new line of sight has raised a few eyebrows

“She’s definitely looking in the right direction,” Graham said

“With prices the way they are, maybe she’s just checking no one ’ s stealing it.”

The 1.2m-tall Art of Outdoors sculpture – crafted from scrap metal including car parts, bolts and horseshoes – first captured the public’s imagination when it mysteriously appeared overnight at Pilot Bay last August

Back then, she looked out over the water Now, she’s looking out over something a little less calming – 91 petrol pushing well past $3 a litre.

Toa Ahi’s return comes as fuel prices across New Zealand have surged dramatically in the past month – and Tauranga has felt it just as sharply.

At the start of March, motorists in the Bay could still find 91 petrol for about

Toa Ahi, the metal dragon that first appeared in Mount Maunganui last August is back, next door to Mount Maunganui’s BP Connect, looking over the fence at the rising fuel prices

$2.60 to $2.90 per litre. Fast-forward a few weeks, and many are now paying about $3.30-plus for 91 petrol – with some stations even higher

That’s a jump of roughly 40 to 50 cents per litre in a single month. In percentage terms, it’s about a 20% increase – the kind that turns a casual top-up into a small financial event.

For a typical 50-litre tank, that’s an extra $20-$25 gone in one fill The price of diesel also increased significantly during March, with the additional road user cost of $75 per 1000km on top of that It’s all enough, perhaps, to make even

a metal dragon wince. “She’s gone from watching paddleboarders to watching the fuel board climb,” one passerby joked.

“Maybe she’s breathing fire on the prices.”

While her seaside perch is gone, Toa Ahi hasn’t lost her audience.

“People are stopping and taking photos,” Carol said “We’re just glad that we ’ ve found a final resting place for it.”

Whether guarding or judging, Toa Ahi is once again doing what she does best –getting people talking.

*The price of 91 petrol in this article was verified at the time of print.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Commissioning ceremony marks return of Waihī wetland

After many decades as a working farm, water is once again flowing through Te Heriheri Wetland (formerly known as the Cutwater Road Wetland), signalling the land’s transformation back to its original state

At a special ceremony, Te Wahapū o Waihī and the Regional Council stood alongside staff, iwi and hapū leaders, local and central government officials, and members of the community to commission Te Heriheri Wetland

The transformation of Te Heriheri Wetland was made possible thanks to project partners Te Wahapū o Waihī - the collective of Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Pikiao and Tapuika - and Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional, who purchased the land with the goal of restoring the health and mauri of the Waihī Estuary

To find out more scan the QR code:

KO TŌ REO, KO TŌ ANAMATA YOUR VOICE, YOUR FUTURE

We asked and you answered – thank you to everyone who had their say on the Annual Plan 2026/27 and Long Term Plan Amendment consultation over the past month Your feedback helps us make decisions that shape our region, now and into the future.

What’s next?

With submissions now closed, hearings are due to be held in April, with deliberations in May. Adoption of the Annual Plan 2026/27 and Long Term Plan Amendment is expected in June 2026

Looking at travel options?

Baybus services continue to operate across the region If you’re new to catching the bus, it’s easy to get started and you can save on your fare by using a Bee Card

Visit www.baybus.co.nz to find out how to use the bus and to plan your journey

Heading out on the water?

Remember that the three reef areas making up the Motiti Protection Area are strictly no-take zones That means no fishing, no gathering and no removing marine life of any kind These protections are unique in Aotearoa and play an important role in restoring the health of our coastal waters

Our patrols are out on the water regularly, checking in with boaties and making sure everyone understands the rules They have found most people are doing the right thing, but a few needed reminding

Help keep these reefs thriving, know the rules before you go. Visit us online for more info.

Blackley remembered for couple’s work

One of the founders behind the creation of Summerhill – Pāpāmoa’s widely used outdoor recreation and education facility on a working farm and forestry operation –has been remembered for an enduring gift.

David Loreburn Blackley died aged 95 on March 3, 2026, “under a Blood Moon” according to his death notice –a poetic detail fitting for a man

so closely tied to the rhythms of land and sky

Born in Heretaunga near Wellington on November 2, 1930, to Sam and Catherine Blackley, David met 17-yearold Cloie as a 20-year-old while aboard a ship returning to New Zealand in 1950.

In 1959, David and Cloie bought Summerhill on Reid Rd in the Pāpāmoa Hills, arriving from a remote Wairoa farm to seek new opportunities. What they found was a rundown block of land, covered in gorse, with

extraordinary views.

During the following decades, the couple transformed the original holding into a productive and diverse 400-hectare farming and forestry operation

Recreation, education

For many in the wider Bay of Plenty, the Blackley name is synonymous with Summerhill.

The ridgeline property shares a boundary with the Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park, enabling families to park at Summerhill and walk a shorter distance to Pāpāmoa Pā Today, this land serves as a rare greenbelt on the edge of the rapidly expanding Tauranga city

Summerhill is owned by Summerhill Charitable Trust, founded by David and Cloie in 2014, with the aim of promoting recreation and education in the Pāpāmoa Hills.

“That legacy was no accident. It was the result of decades of vision, diversification, hard work and, ultimately, extraordinary generosity,” Summerhill Charitable Trust chair Richard Balm said.

Vision beyond farming

His family said David was known for thinking “outside the square. ” Long before it became common, the couple experimented with agroforestry, integrating trees and

Smart,

eager Abbey!

One of a litter of seven hungry and tiny puppies, crossbred female Abbey is getting braver and bigger every day – and is now looking for her forever home.

This sweet 3-month-old puppy is affectionate, curious, and full of playful energy She loves meeting new people and is always excited to make new friends. Abbey is learning house rules and doing great with training, especially when treats are involved. Smart and eager to learn, Abbey picking things up quickly and would thrive in a loving home ready to continue her training, provide plenty of playtime, and enjoy all the

and enduring gift

eucalypts and poplar – to control soil erosion,” a NZ Farm Forestry Association spokesperson said.

David was also quick to adopt innovations such as aerial topdressing in the late-1950s, transforming soil fertility and livestock health. These decisions, 40 years on, had created an attractive, diverse and resilient landscape.

The Summerhill Golf Course was another example of alternative land use. For David, the farm was never just about production. From early on, he and

Cloie welcomed others onto the land –opening tracks for schools, walkers, horse riders and, later, mountain bikers, long before public access became formalised

Close to a growing Tauranga and Pāpāmoa population, Summerhill evolved into something unique – a working farm that also served as a recreational and educational resource.

Next generation mattered

Community initiatives followed. In 2009, David founded the A1 Academy, offering leadership training to secondary school students. Now rebranded as NextGen Leader, it reaches students across Bay of Plenty schools.

Daughter Rose Blackley said he also encouraged Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology agricultural and forestry students to gain practical experience on the farm

“He always believed the next generation mattered,” Rose said “One of the greatest joys our parents had was watching the youth enjoying the property, from the AIMS Games mountain bike downhill drops to the high-viz preschoolers walking to their forest classrooms ”

Farm and community hub

Today, Summerhill remains a working farm, running sheep and cattle while supporting forestry, conservation plantings and the charitable trust.

Native bush areas have been protected, waterways restored, and an ecological corridor established

At the same time, the property has become a hub for outdoor activity, with

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walking and mountain biking trails drawing thousands of visitors each month. Major events hosted there include the AIMS Games mountain biking, National School MTB Championships, orienteering and trail running races.

“I refer to it as Tauranga’s Cornwall Park,” Balm said

Using Summerhill timbers and wool, a new purpose-built community centre known as ‘The Base’ was recently opened, which is used extensively for local events

Those who knew David speak of his practical intelligence, curiosity, endless energy and willingness to try new ideas.

“I remember him saying, ‘Where there is a will there is a way’,” said Rose.

‘Remarkable legacy’

In announcing his death, The Summerhill Charitable Trust described his “love for the land” and the “remarkable

legacy” he and Cloie created.

“It is a legacy measured not only in hectares, but in the experiences of the countless walkers, riders, students and families who have found connection and enjoyment there,” Balm said

David Blackley is survived by his w ife Cloie, their four daughters, nine grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren His life’s work endures in the hills above Tauranga – in the trees they planted, the tracks they opened, and the land held in trust for all.

*Summerhill wants the Bay of Plenty communtiy to know that it has re-opened following January’s landslide damage throughout the Pāpāmoa hills. Runners, walkers and mountain bikers are welcome seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. For more information on what’s on offer at Summerhill, visit: www.summerhill.nz

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Fairness backlash over new TEL/SH2 toll

New charges on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road have been labelled “unfair” and potentially damaging to Pāpāmoa East businesses

Motorists who stop at Pāpāmoa East, before continuing on the Tauranga Eastern Link/State Highway 2 (TEL) will be charged twice, more than they would pay to drive the same distance without stopping.

The new Pāpāmoa East Interchange was blessed in an official ceremony on Monday, and is expected to open before Good Friday

The project, which has been under construction for four years, was jointly funded by Tauranga City Council and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and was finished early and under budget at $90 million.

Hundreds concerned

Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford posted on Facebook, saying he had heard from hundreds of residents concerned about the new toll taking effect in late 2026.

Rutherford and NZTA confirmed late last week there would be a second tolling point added between the Domain Rd and Pāpāmoa East interchanges

Travelling this section will cost $1.10 for light vehicles and $2.80 for heavy vehicles.

Travelling the full length of the TEL (Domain Rd to Paengaroa), or between Pāpāmoa East and Paengaroa, would cost $2.30 for light vehicles and $5.60 for

heavy vehicles. Rutherford said if drivers exit at the Pāpāmoa East Interchange to shop at The Sands or visit friends and family, then re-join the TEL at the same spot, they would be charged two separate tolls once the new point was active.

“For example, $1.10 for the short northern section plus $2.30 for the southern section, totalling $3.40.”

‘Feel unfair’

“That extra $1.10 simply for stopping to shop locally, visit family and friends, or whatever it may be, does feel unfair and goes against supporting new development and businesses in Pāpāmoa East,” he said Rutherford wrote to NZTA seeking its justification for treating an exit and re-join as two separate trips, and asking it to reconsider

“I have already heard from several affected businesses and residents who believe this is unfair,” he wrote.

Matua-Ōtūmoetai ward councillor

Glen Crowther also posted about the “unfairness” of the extra charge for people stopping off at Pāpāmoa East.

“Why should they pay the full toll, $2.30 for cars, for that leg of the motorway, when they already pay a half toll, $1.10, for the other leg?

“I can now only hope that NZTA will change the unfairness of their extra toll on people who stop off at Pāpāmoa East.”

Contribute fairly

An NZTA spokesperson confirmed motorists who hop off and on the highway at Pāpāmoa will be charged two separate tolls.

“This is the same for someone who exits

at Paengaroa and re-enters a short time later”

The second toll point ensured all TEL users contributed fairly, wherever they entered the toll road

“Without the additional toll point, only users travelling from the Paengaroa side would continue to pay, while others could benefit from the same improved access and reduced travel times without contributing,” the spokesperson said A free alternative route was available for those making short trips and wanting to avoid paying two fees.

Opening ceremony

The site was blessed after a ribboncutting ceremony early on Monday morning, March 30.

Rutherford told Local Democracy Reporting at the event that he lived on Te

The Pāpāmoa East Interchange was expected to be open for the Easter long weekend.

Okuroa Dr, and had been using the new interchange’s eastbound off-ramp since it opened early in August.

He said it had taken two to three minutes off his trip home and eased congestion at the Domain Rd TEL exit, which was often at a “standstill” from 4pm onwards

Pāpāmoa ward councillor Steve Morris said the interchange meant more time with his family before his daughter heads off to the United States for university Morris said he had lived in Pāpāmoa since he was 9 months old, when there were 1900 residents. Now there were 38,000. “The community has changed a lot.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

tries open for 2026 Bay of Plenty Export Awards

tries are now open for 2026 ASB Bay of Plenty port Awards, with the wards gala to be held ust 7 at Mercury Baypark n Mount Maunganui. awards, which will celebrate hievements of Bay of Plenty sses exporting goods and es to global markets, will close tries June 8 ortNZ BoP Executive mittee chairman Warwick ing said the event was a rm to recognise outstanding sses, and a prime opportunity tworking and knowledgeg “These awards shine a eserved spotlight on the

incredible exporters in the Bay of Plenty who work tirelessly to bring New Zealand products and services to the world

“Equally important is the opportunity they provide to bring the exporting community together, to share stories, challenges, and insights that help drive the sector forward ”

This year ’ s event, organised by the EMA and ExportNZ in partnership with NZTE, has an awards gala theme of On The World Stage

The award categories are: Air NZ Cargo Best Emerging Business: Celebrating early-stage export success; Port of Tauranga Excellence in Innovation: Acknowledging businesses that have successfully commercialised innovation internationally; Zespri Unsung

Export Hero – Outstanding Individual Contribution: Honouring an individual who has made a significant material contribution to export growth - often behind the scenes; Page Macrae Service to Export: Recognising the significant and sustained contribution of an individual or organisation to exporting success; and Sharp Tudhope Exporter of the Year: Recognising established businesses with a strong track record in export markets

Businesses looking to enter the awards or purchase tickets can visit: www bopexportawards co nz

Entries close June 8, finalists will be announced July 10 The awards gala is on August 7

Freedom from Heel Pain

You might not be able to exercise, keep up with family and friends work or even get out of bed in the morning without hobbling. You have spent hundreds of dollars on orthotics that don’t fit in all your shoes.

Nothing’s worse than feeling great mentally, but physically feeling held back from life because your feet hurt and the pain just won’t go away!

Do You Have Any of The Following Conditions?

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Foot Pain Is Not Just ‘old age’. No Question if you are having foot pain, then something is wrong It’s not normal ageing to hurt all the time Pain is your body’s warning sign telling you something is wrong. Finding the problem and fixing it has to be a top priority!

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Three city events coincide to celebrate our best friends

A celebration of dogs in all their forms – from lifesaving service animals to beloved family pets – is coming together in one lively morning at Memorial Park on April 11

At the heart of the festivities, which includes the popular Bark in the Park and Pooch in the Pool events, is the unveiling of a new public canine-themed mural by Tauranga artist Sam Allen.

Titled Our Best Friends, the artwork pays tribute to service dogs and the vital roles they play in supporting people and communities.

For Allen, the mural is more than just public art – it’s a heartfelt ‘thank you’. “I wanted to celebrate dogs,” he said.

“And to really celebrate them, I decided to select service dogs – to acknowledge all the work they do for us humans ”

The idea was sparked during travels to Nepal, where Allen witnessed a festival dedicated entirely to honouring dogs. Similar experiences in Japan reinforced the universal bond people share with their canine companions.

In

common

“It struck me that loving dogs is something almost everyone has in common, ” he said “No matter your background, social or economic situation – it’s something we can all connect on. ”

Back home in Tauranga, Allen put a call out on local Facebook community pages asking for dog nominations The response was overwhelming – more than 350 comments poured in, with people nominating their own beloved companions and others in the community

From these, he selected four service dogs which have roles that reach far beyond their immediate families: Kora, a search and rescue dog involved in the Tauranga landslides; Milly, a conservation detection dog; Easton, a guide dog; and Kōwhai, an assistance dog.

“I selected service dogs because they’ve dedicated their lives to helping multiple people,” Allen said “Most people nominated their own dog, which is fair – there’s that personal connection. But I felt it was important to give the spotlight to dogs serving the wider community”

Accessibility

In a thoughtful touch, the mural, developed with support from Tauranga

City Council’s public art fund, was designed with accessibility in mind. Raised tactile elements allow people with low or no vision to experience the artwork through touch –a meaningful inclusion, particularly as one of the featured handlers is blind

The unveiling, running from 9am-12pm at Memorial Park, is being opened up as a community celebration – and everyone is encouraged to bring their dogs along.

Coinciding with the launch are two popular events hosted by Tauranga City Council, transforming the park into a hub of canine activity

Bark in the Park, held at Jordan Field from 9am to 12pm, invites dog owners to connect, learn and enjoy a relaxed morning out The event features educational booths on topics such as microchipping and

dog-friendly walking spots, along with live music, agility demonstrations, food trucks, giveaways and dog play areas

Splash-filled experience

Meanwhile, nearby, Pooch in the Pool returns at Memorial Pool, offering a splash-filled experience for dogs of all sizes. Running from 10am-4pm, the event includes dedicated swim sessions for small, medium and large dogs, along with games, treats and prizes. Entry is $16 per dog, with proceeds supporting charity

Together, the mural unveiling, Bark in the Park and Pooch in the Pool promise a day that celebrates not just dogs, but the joy, companionship and service they bring to everyday life

As Allen puts it: “It’s about giving thanks ”

LU XURY LAKESIDE RETIREMENT

School’s first Giant Pumpkin Day a growing success

Pumpkins of every shape

– and some of enormous size – filled Northern Health School Tauranga on Tuesday, March 30, for its first Giant Pumpkin Day

The day featured pumpkinthemed activities alongside judging in multiple competition categories

After being given giant pumpkin seeds last September, participants spent months nurturing their plants

across the school community

Five pumpkins went on to compete in the heaviest weight category

Taking out the title was a 55kg giant grown by the school’s associate principal Robyn Meikle

Close behind was student Blakes

Roberts, whose 35kg pumpkin won the student category

Senior student William White claimed the weirdest pumpkin category for his quirky design.

Students were also able to shape their own clay pumpkins to later glaze once kiln-fired

Northern Health School

The lead up built excitement nd n r d n m nt

and encouraged engagement

decorated them on the day wit coloured icing and sprinkles

Younger students had baked pumpkin-shaped cookies in the days leading up to the event, then d d h h d th nt th m after ult ons rain

Meikle was quietly confiden in the final weeks after her pumpkin had a late growt burst

Though she said the journey to the podium proved challenging a a summer of difficu growing conditio

“The weather, with all the r

Tauranga students Harry Ward, 7, and Piper Button, 10, with their pumpkin entries.

and the hail and things like that, the growing conditions over the summer were quite tricky”

Meikle said the day served a deeper purpose for the school “It gives our students the opportunity to participate in events like regular schools. It’s fun, it connects us with our community, our students, our whānau, and our stakeholders.”

School unit co-leader Karla Revell said while the pumpkins had endured heavy rain, the mood on Tuesday was anything but damp “We made lots of fantastic contributions from students and staff [It was] A really good vibe, lots of positive, just a real positive feel.”

Revell said the activities also encouraged communication and connection among students who might not usually interact. The event was one of the

Northern Health School Tauranga student entries into the school’s inaugural Pumpkin Competition.

school’s most successful to date, she said “It’s one of those events that anybody can get involved in, and it doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is – it allows everyone to have a sense of success or an element they could ” Planning is already underway for the 2026/2027 competition to make it even bigger and better Zoe Blake

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Do you know that Parkinson’s is the fastestgrowing neurological condition in the world?

And it is estimated that 13,000 people are living with the condition in New Zealand right now? Moreover, this number is expected to double within the next 20 years, according to national charitable trust Parkinson’s New Zealand.

Walk, raise funds for locals with Parkinson’s

As a result, building public awareness of the disease is the reason behind the trust ’ s Red Tulip Walk in the Bay of Plenty, on Saturday, April 18, commencing at 10am

While the average age for diagnosis is 59 years, Sonia Park, who resides in Tauranga, was only 42 and training for a marathon when she symptoms such as muscle tightness, as w foot cramping.

Over time she also noticed changes affecting the muscles in her throat and her speech.

A roller-coaster ride

For two years she felt like she was on a rollercoaster ride, visiting specialists, including trying holistic forms of medicine until she was finally diagnosed with Parkinson’s. apting ought eiving Therapy help with my d “I can lot of etimes I to slow iscovered and ealand local for a wide inson’s,

Herbs & Homeopathy, Supplements, Food & Teas, Salt Lamps, Crystals, Natural Skincare, Makeup, Suncare & more

www bethlehemhealth co nz

Free 10-15 minute Homeobotanical Consults for Acute Illness Cough, Colds, Sore Throats, UTI’s Closed Friday, Sunday and Monday for Easter Open Saturday 9-3pm

being able to talk to meone else with this condition so helpful.Being young with

the onset of the disease can often be hard for other people to understand I have learnt, Parkinson’s doesn’t control me, it is not paramount to my life!” Park hoped fellow Bay of Plenty residents would get behind the BOP Red Tulip Walk on April 18 at 10am, with this year ’ s event being held at a new location – the

meeting point in the boardwalk beachfront pathway opposite Tay St Café. Event participation costs $25 per adult, under-16s gain free entry – and the first 50 entries will receive a free T-shirt.

To sign up for the event, visit: events.humanitix.com/red-tulipwalk-bay-of-plenty-2026

Keep safefrom life-threatening listeriosis

New Zealand Food Safety is sharing some simple guidance to prevent people getting a rare but life-threatening foodborne illness.

“Although listeriosis is rare in New Zealand, vulnerable people die of this preventable disease every year, so we want to share some practical steps people can take at home to avoid getting sick,” said New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle Listeriosis is caused by eating or drinking food with high levels of Listeria

Most at-risk

Arbuckle said listeria was invisible, had no odour and, unlike most bacteria, could continue to grow when food is refrigerated.

“The most recent annual report concerning Foodborne Diseases in New Zealand shows that there was a single death from listeria in 2024. But even one death is one too many, so that’s why we are continuing our efforts to get those most at risk – pregnant women and older people – to better understand the dangers of listeriosis and what to do to decrease them ”

Infections in healthy adults are unlikely to be severe, but listeriosis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage,

premature labour, stillbirth, or disease in the newborn baby, Arbuckle said.

As people age the immune system gets weaker This means foods you safely ate in the past may no longer be safe for you to eat, Arbuckle said.

“Some people may not be aware of this. So, we ’ re highlighting higher-risk foods while sharing some foodsafety advice on how to make them safe to eat. ”

Higher-risk foods

Higher-risk foods included ready-to-eat meat products (like deli meats and pâtés), smoked seafood (especially cold smoked fish), soft cheeses (like brie, camembert, and paneer) unpasteurised dairy products (like raw milk and

• Cutting toenails

• Removing callus or corns

• Ingrowing toenails

All

Red Tulip Walk in the Bay of Plenty

10am, Sat 18 April, Mount Maunganui

Boardwalk beachfront path (Opposite Tay Street café)

$25 Tickets (16yrs & under free)

• First 50 entries get a free T-shirt

• Donations appreciated

• For more information, visit Humanitix

In theory osteoarthritis, also known as OA, is one of the simplest health problems.

For years we thought that cartilage in our joints just wore away over time. We now know that OA is a complex disease where the processes that reduce cartilage are affected by genetics, past joint trauma and nutrition, especially levels of trace minerals and antioxidants.

Cartilage has no nerve or blood supply and appears as lifeless tissue. Cartilage is in fact dynamic tissue. It is a matrix of proteins (collagen and elastin), chondroitin sulphate, water and living cells called chondrocytes.

Each chondrocyte maintains a small patch of cartilage repairing damage by secreting new cartilage where needed When chondrocytes are damaged or die it cannot

Success storiesversus mistakes ve sus Let’s talk cartilage losss – P Part 1

maintain cartilage Eventually, cartilage thins leading to a painful bone-on-bone scenario.

Hand joints are susceptible to OA, especially the basal thumb joint. Nutritional therapy can be very effective but small joints take a few months to respond It seems counter-intuitive, but big weight-bearing joints especially knees tend to respond faster. I’ve been helping someone with OA in their base thumb joint at the wrist Within three months the pain had reduced, and after a

More Kiwis are able to access bowel screening earlier, with the starting age lowered from 60 to 58 in the central and lower North Island, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This means thousands more people will have access to lifesaving screening, giving them the best chance of having bowel cancer detected early, when it can often be successfully treated,” Brown said.

About 40,000 extra people will become eligible in the first year, with the majority to be invited for free bowel screening by April 2027 “The programme is

year, discomfort is minor and only when under heavy use.

I use a three-pronged approach to supporting cartilage. Firstly, I add compounds, especially chondroitin, to support and repair cartilage Secondly, I add curcumin from turmeric and Omega 3 fish oil to reduce inflammation Often, inflammation causes more pain and mobility loss than the actual cartilage damage Thirdly, I add the antioxidants that protect chondrocyte cells from further damage

John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email: john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at: www.abundant.co.nz.

being expanded in stages to make sure services have the workforce and endoscopy capacity needed to safely support more people being screened,” Brown said Meanwhile, rollout of the FIT for Symptomatic pathway is continuing, with full implementation expected by October “It delivers two key benefits: helping detect bowel cancer earlier in people with symptoms, including those not eligible for routine screening, and making better use of colonoscopy services,” Brown said See: www healthnz govt nz

“If you want to be successful, learn from other people’s mistakes, don’t learn from the success stories” – Jack Ma

Success stories often show us the destination, however they don’t usually show the terrain They highlight what worked, and edit out what didn’t Mistakes, on the other hand, reveal the real learning – the missteps, the assumptions, the blind spots, the turning points that can shape growth

When we study mistakes, we gain insight into what to avoid in future, what to strengthen, and

what becomes important to us under pressure Other people’s mistakes can become a form of borrowed wisdom that allows us to move forward with more awareness and fewer suppositions This will apply whether we are facing a work situation or a relational one If you’d like to know more about strengthening relationships, exploring your potential and creating transformation in your life, phone Mary Parker The Fast Track Coach, on 021 258 2145, or visit: www.thefasttrackcoach.co nz

Welcome to sunny Tauranga...

Welcome to Tauranga! I’m talking of course to all you Aucklanders.

You probably discovered this helpful weekly publication in a supermarket or motel or shop counter while still decompressing from the traffic and confusion of big city life, eager to enjoy Easter in our quiet sunny seaside hamlet

You might think that I’m going to offer some sort of helpful guide to the best things to do in Tauranga. Think again The main food critic from your main newspaper recently ran his list of NZ’s 10 Best Foodie Cities No Tauranga, no Mount The verdict on us was “feeling a little stuck where they are ”

So if you want to find any of our many excellent restaurants, you ’ re on your own

We know all the best places and we ’ re happy to eat in them without being crowded out by urban sophisticates No, I’m kidding We’re chuffed to have y ’all – spend up large, party like it’s still 2025, and enjoy the jazz festival

Fundraising gig

But, whatever you do, don’t come back at the end of April for the big fundraising gig It’ll be completely packed. The only reason I’m even mentioning it so early is that it’s one for which local folk might not want to wait before grabbing tickets

What we ’ re looking at is a fundraiser following the deadly Mauao landslide.

On Sunday, April 22 from midday Totara Street at the Mount, which will host 11 hours of music with two live stages and a DJ courtyard. Every ticket purchased and donation made goes directly to the Tauranga Mayoral Relief Fund, supporting families of those lost in the landslide.

Jay Monroe of Totara Street said: “This is a day about unity, remembrance, and backing the people who need us most. Our community has always shown up when it matters and this is the Bay of Plenty music scene stepping up”. He said that the response from the local music community was overwhelming, with more than 100 artists volunteering to perform It is indeed a huge bill, including headliner Tiki Taane, Darz Music featuring Frances Phoenix, The John Michaelz Band, The Gunsmiths, Stella Riley, Sonorous, K Holla, No Reply, Red Street, Noel Smith, Derek Toner & Tuner, Frances Ellen, Iz Waddid Iz, Dan Sharp, and many many more.

The event is supervised, with under18s welcome when accompanied by their parent or legal guardian and at $30 a ticket, it will sell out quickly

Tauranga City Council is hosting a free Art in the Park event on Wednesday, April 8 and Saturday, April 11 to keep youngsters busy these school holidays. From 10am-4pm on both days all ages are welcome to stop by Tauranga Waterfront and get creative There will be a range of mini art activities to get

Other gigs

For the more hardcore inclined there’s a companion Rock and Roll Warm Ups show at Totara Street on Friday, April 24, raising funds for the same fund – you’ll get five bands for $5. The bands are Afterlight, Bones Inc, Dead Empire, Koolaid and Token Ceremony And just quickly, three killer incoming gigs: On Thursday, April 9, astonishing Australian acoustic guitarist Ben Catley is at the Jam Factory and pianistic legend Michael Houstoun is at Baycourt; on Sunday, April 12 Dunedin five-piece Michael Morris & The Sonic Boom bring a new 22-song double album and quirky heavy ‘70s retro-rock to the Jam Factory

Hear Winston’s Latest Playlist

www tinyurl com/awupemfv

involved with, whether kids would like to do a step by step painting or if they prefer to go with their creative flow There will also be opportunities to try a fun collaborative art piece with a friend. The free event is for the whole family, so if you feel like getting arty, get along – and get those creative juices flowing.

Easter basketball on at Mercury Baypark

Basketballs will be bouncing throughout the long weekend at Mercury Baypark Arena as a long-running representative competition takes place from Good Friday, April 3 to Easter Monday, April 6

The Mel Young Easter Classic is celebrating 38 years of competition in 2026, with the tournament set to bring together the basketball community across the motu, competing in five age groups from U12 to U20, one adult grade, and exciting new grades planned for this year including Wheelchair, Whaikaha, Masters, and Walking Basketball

Spectators can catch the action daily from 8am-10pm, with opportunities for everyone to be involved – showing the tournament is a true celebration of inclusion, community, and the enduring legacy of Mel Young, inspiring generations of players, coaches, officials, and supporters

Find out more about the tournament, game time and have-a-go sessions at: taurangacitybasketball co nz/mel-youngeaster-classic

Easter reading and egg-scapades

Easter weekend will be a vibrant celebration of creativity and community, with events in Tauranga and Te Puke offering something for all ages.

Book lovers and bargain hunters will have another chance to snap up a good read at a three-day Easter pop-up sale hosted by the Rotary Club of Tauranga.

Running from Saturday, April 4, to Monday, April 6, at 63 Devonport Rd, opposite Devonport Towers, the sale follows the club’s recent annual book fair

Coordinator Jill Best said the pop-up is an opportunity to rehome remaining books, jigsaws and artwork while continuing to support worthy causes. “Following the successful 39th annual Tauranga Rotary book sale, there were books, art and jigsaws left over, ” she said.

About 750 items, including books and puzzles along with about 20 artworks will be available, with most books priced between $2 and $8 A selection of more valuable titles from New Zealand and overseas will also be on offer Best said proceeds from the sale will go toward a range of charities, many of them local.

“Last year ’ s recipients included Waipuna Hospice, SPCA and Starship Hospital, and ongoing sponsorship of a horse for local Riding for the Disabled,” Best said Te Puke will also be buzzing with colour and

ctivity on Easter aturday, April 4, as ubilee Park hosts The Great Easter Easel Egg-Scapade – an art cavenger hunt and free amily festival from am to 1pm.

The event invites isitors to explore the ark in search of 12 iant Easter eggs on asels, with each egghaped canvas uniquely ainted by local artists nd community groups. articipants can vote or their favourite design, with voting closing midday and winners announced 12.30pm.

Families can also take part in a hands-on collaborative artwork, contributing to the ‘EGGPIC Community Egg’, or join the scavenger hunt by collecting stamps at each egg for a chance to win prizes, including a children’s mountain bike from MyRide Te Puke.

For those keen to explore further, the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway will feature hidden painted rocks that can be exchanged for Easter treats at the EPIC Te Puke tent.

“There is one rock per child, so everyone gets a chance,” organiser Sally Benning said.

The festival will also feature a wide range of free activities, including meeting the Easter Bunny, Fun First Football, balloon twisting, face painting, pony rides, the COLAB play trailer, photobooth, spot prizes, and a variety of market stalls and food vendors.

Some decorated Easter eggs will be auctioned on TradeMe as well. Find more Easter weekend events at: www.whatsontauranga.co.nz

challenge returns

Registration is now open for 100k’s in 30 Days – a community challenge encouraging participants to complete 100km of physical activity across 30 days while raising vital funds for the Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust (BCSSTT).

Among those supporting this year ’ s event will be breast cancer survivor Deb Cory, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in November 2024 – a decade after supporting her sister through the same diagnosis. Following extensive chemotherapy and surgery, Cory is now cancer-free and credits BCSSTT with helping her through the most challenging period of her life.

The service provided practical and emotional support, including regular check-ins, handmade post-surgery pillows, restorative massages, informative speakers, and home baking when it was needed most, Cory said.

“This challenge is my way of giving back to an extraordinary community that helps women stay afloat during their breast cancer journeys,” she said Now in its fifth year, 100k’s in 30 Days runs throughout May and invites

people of all fitness levels to take part by walking, running, swimming, skating, or mixing activities

Funds raised support people affected by breast cancer across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty and provide a critical source of income for BCSSTT, which is celebrating 35 years of supporting women and families through breast cancer in 2026 In 2025, the event accounted for nearly 30% of the trust ’ s total income To find out more about 100k’s in 30 Days and to sign up, visit: www.100ksin30days.nz.

Saturday 4 April

Art in the Park Original art for sale Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui Weather permitting 9am - 5pm Tauranga Society of Artists

Association Croquet On Sat, Mon, & Wed 9 15am for 9 30am start at Club Mt Maunganui 45 Kawaka St Visitors & new players welcome Ph Peter 07 574 9232

Badminton Social Badminton, Greerton Hall, Mon + Fri 10 30am – 12 30pm All Welcome Phone Lorraine 027 408 6211

Bay Singles Social Group Join a bunch of over 50’s young singles Weekend dinners, pot-lucks, occasional outings Have a go! Ph Delia 027 284 8762 or Andrea 021 133 031

Beth-El Messianic Family Celebrate Shabbat (Sabbath) as did Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), his disciples and early believers All welcome Lifezone -7-Oaklane-Judea-Tauranga 10am or Youtube Live @10am Joel 021 768 043 info@bethel org nz

Boules - Petanque Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Club Mt Maunganui Boules available New players welcome Ph Ray 027 756 3565 for times, further details Falun Dafa An ancient mind /body programme perfect for today Eliminate stress anxiety and pain For locations around Tauranga call/text Judy 021 0425 398 https:// en falundafa org

Indoor Bowls Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday 12 45 am start 50+ and over Afternoon tea is provided 14 Norris Street (behind Pak n Save) Carol 022 639 2411

Indoor Bowls Matua Primary School Hall at 715pm New members welcome Come and join us for a evening of fun and bowls Phone Karen 576 0443

Laughing Yoga Arataki Community Centre 10am every Saturday Join a friendly bunch for 45 minutes of fund and laughter! phone Jude 021-0277 5901

Scottish Country Dance Club Come and try Scottish Country Dancing every Monday 7 15pm - 9 30pm, St Johns Church Hall, Bureta, All welcome for fun and exercise Ph Joy 027 285 3093

St Stephen’s Jigsaw Library Every Saturday 10am-12noon Hire for 2 weeks a variety of 600 puzzles Cnr of Brookfield and Highmore Terrace

Tauranga Numismatic Society Interested in coins, banknotes, medals, etc Dealers present Come and see us Coin and Stamp Fair Tauranga Methodist Church 100 13th Avenue 9am-3pm

Tauranga Scottish Society Sequence dance 4th Sat Monthly at Wesley Church Hall 100/13th Ave 7pm Dancing, raffles and supper All welcome Ph Nola 576 5076

Tauranga Social Dance Club Sequence Dancing 2nd Sat monthly 7pm St Johns Church Hall 94 Bureta Road $7 incl Supper and raffles All welcome Ph Nola 576 5076

Te Puke Community Tennis FREE lessons for intermediate youth players Doubles, Singles, Tactics, Developing your OWN style NZ Tennis qualified teacher Joseph Walsh 020 4015 2094 or coachkoha@gmail com

Sunday 5 April

Accordion Music Group Every third Sunday of the month, Welcome Bay Hall, 1-4pm, $4 00pp, afternoon tea supplied, everyone welcome to an afternoon of evergreen music Ph Joy 027 285 3093

Electronic Recycling Electronic Recycling Give your gear a new life Fees apply Otumoetai College Car Park Windsor Rd 8 00am Brian 021 122 8735

Golf Croquet On Sun Tues & Thurs 8 30am for 9am start at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St Visitors & new players welcome Ph Graham 07 572 1032

Quakers in Tauranga Explore your spiritual journey amongst supportive Friends in our mostly silent meeting Second Sunday of month 10am-12 Brain Watkins House, Cameron Rd/Elizabeth St Ph 027 458 1322 Mah Jong Experienced players invited Sunday & Thursday 12 45 - 4pm, learners to be arranged Te Puke Lyceum Rooms 8 Palmer Pl, ph coordinator 027 430 6383

Miniatures Club Tauranga “Making it Small” Meetings 2nd Sunday each month [Feb-Nov] 10am to 4pm Art and Craft Centre, 177 Elizabeth Street Tauranga Contact: Jan 021 2145192

Otumoetai Rotary Carboot Sale 8 00am for buyers at Otumoetai College Car Park Windsor Road for Otumoetai Rotary Sellers $10 Details Brian 021 122 8735 or Bevan 027 461 2127

Radio Controlled Model Yachts Sundays 1:00-3:30pm at Pond behind 22 Montego Drive Papamoa, sailing Electron Radio Controlled Yachts for fun and competition Adult beginners welcome Graham 572 5419

Rifle Range Open Day Managed by NZDA-BOP branch at TECT All Terrain park, upper Pyes Pa Last Sunday of every month (except December) 9am – 3pm Day fees apply Must bring a valid firearms license, and all rifles and ammo to be inspected upon arrival Info wwwdeerstalkersbop org nz

Soul Food Relax, unwind, be still, reflect, refresh, enjoy Share in a selection of sacred and inspirational writings and music from around the world Usually held on the last Sunday of the month All welcome Ph 543 0434

Tauranga Model Aircraft Club Interested in flying model planes? Join us every weekend at TECT Park weather permitting between 10-3pm Beginners welcome Directions & webcam on our website wwwtaurangamodelflyorg

Tauranga Organ Keyboard Society Meets at 1 30pm Carmel Country Estate Social Centre, 11 Hollister Lane,

Ohauiti, Tauranga Play or listen to Organ, Clavinova, Piano Maureen 544 5013

Monday 6 April

500 Card Group Every Monday (except public holidays) from 9 30-11 30am, held at Age Concern, 177A Fraser Street, Tauranga, $2 donation, light refreshment providedall welcome!

Euchre Tauranga Euchre Club, Monday evenings from 7pm Inquiries - Graeme 027 543 0872

Greerton Garden Club Greerton Garden Club Meets on the 2nd Monday of the month in the Greerton Senior Center 33 Maitland Street, Greerton -1pm Visitors Welcome Ph 027 253 6704

Invitation to singing men Harmony-A-Plenty has been singing for twenty years We practise Monday evenings 7-9pm Ph Frank 576 3037 David 576 0578

Keep On Your Feet Omokoroa, 11am-12, Settlers Hall, 334 Omokoroa Rd Strength & Balance classes for older adults, all levels of fitness welcome Contact Sharnie on 021 111 8617

Library Lunchtime Art Class Learn how to create stylised local landscape art at Tauranga City Library No experience required- just come along! Monday 8 Dec 12 – 12 45pm

Mahjong Every Monday at 12 30pm Tauranga Rowing Club Memorial Park Learners welcome Contact Jill 0274769440 or 5430390

Miniatures Club Tauranga “Making it Small” Meetings second Sunday each month [Feb-Nov] 10am to 4pm Arts and Crafts Centre 177 Elizabeth Street Tauranga Contact Jan 021 214 5192

Papamoa Mah jong Papamoa Mah jong 12 15pm -

4 00pm Bowling Club Rooms, 2 Alice Lane Gordon Spratt

Reserve Come and have some fun Afternoon tea provided Ph Wendy 021 0238 7283 or Chris 027 415 5771

Recycled Teenagers Gentle Exercise St Peters church hall, 15 Victoria Rd, Mount Maunganui 9 30-11am

Suitable for joint replacements, arthritics, recovery from accident & illness Strength, coordination & balance Jennifer 027 206 0776

Tauranga City Brass Tauranga City Brass Band Practice nights on a Monday 7pm to 9pm for Snr Band Jnr band from 5:30 to 7pm Contact Jeremy 021 132 3341

Tauranga and District Stamp Club Every second Monday (10am) and fourth Monday (7 30pm) of each month

Wesley Hall 100 Thirteenth Avenue New members welcome Ross 578 8215 Jill 578 0930

Tauranga Theatre Organ Society Meet at Baycourt Theatre at 1 00pm Hear and play Tauranga’s historic

Wurlitzer organ All welcome, no charge Ph 5520243

Tauranga Vision Club Tauranga Vision Club (affiliated to Friendship NZ) meets 4th Monday each month at Tauranga Citz Club 10 am - noon New members welcome Ph Jim 022 088 7760

Te Puke Community Menz Shed 48 Cameron Road, Te Puke Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-12.30pm Share your skills & knowledge, learn new skills or redevelop your old skills. Ph Mike Harman 027 444 8559 or Phillip Du Plooy 021 756 604

U3A Tauranga Seniors Group We have interest groups running Mon-Fri Computing, card & board games, dining, films, history, music, photography, exercise, sciences www u3atauranga kiwi nz

Womens Art Group We are a Women’s Art group who meet every Monday 10am 68 1st Ave to paint together in a supportive environment Beginners welcome Annie 021 186 4429

Tuesday 7 April

500 Card Club Mount Community Hall 12 15 pm Fun and friendly group All ages all welcome Afternoon tea provided Parking available Bus stop nearby Queries to 027 658 6848

Altrusa Ladies Service Group Come and join a group of women for community projects & social events We meet 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month Ph Maggie 0274476530 or visit wwwaltrusa org nz

Arataki Coastal Club Meet on 2nd Tuesday of the month

9 30am Arataki Community Centre for friendship, morning tea, guest speaker, dining, outings etc Contact Robyn 572 2908, Bev 575 3348

Body+Soul for 50+ Fun Fitness for men and women

Exercise for better health, strength and balance to great music Tauranga Senior Citizens hall Norris St Ph Dianne 027 431 4326

Cherrywood Probus Meet every 2nd Tuesday of Month @ Citizens Club 13th Ave 10 00am Come along for Fun Fellowship And Friendship Visitors very welcome Pam 578 3757

Chess at Mount Maunganui Mount Maunganui RSA Chess club 544 Maunganui Rd Mondays 6:15pm & 7pm onwards excl Public holidays for more info http:/www westernbopchess weeblycom/ or search “Western BOP Chess”

Coffee/Conversation Group Te Puke Age Concern

Tauranga holds a friendly Coffee and Conversation Group Te Puke Citizens RSA, 179 Jellicoe Street, 10am – 11 30, cost $5pp All Welcome

Croquet in the Domain Tues and Weds Tauranga Croquet

Club A great place for Christmas team-building events For more info phone: 020 4112 0241

Free Public Advocacy Service Need help completing

a form? Accompany you to an appointment? Talk to an agency? Come speak to an Advocate! Every Tuesday, Greerton Library 1-2:30pm

Greerton Indoor Bowling Club Greerton Senior Citizens Hall in Maitland Street, Greerton on Tuesday nights from 7pm New members welcome Phone Sally 021 172 6004

Greerton Walking Group Meet outside Greerton Library at 9am for a gentle, local walk with a friendly crowd, followed by a cafe visit All welcome Contact Mike 021 180 7429

Inachord Singers Tauranga Women’s Chorus 7pm

Bethlehem Community Church, 183 Moffat Road Contact: Julie 021 0252 6805 or Sabine 021 111 8659

Keep On Your Feet Katikati Community Centre, 45 Beach Road 11am-12 Strength & balance classes for older adults all levels of fitness welcome Contact Sharnie 021 111 8617

Let’s Learn Something New An A-Z of Clubs Courses & Classes happening now Find an activity, join, & do it! All ages wwwletslearn co nz or ph 07 578 9416

Maori Conversation Practice your reo Use it or lose it Join us for weekly conversations in Maori language over a coffee Grinds Cafe 10am Tuesdays For more information phone 027 284 9738

Migrant Seniors Morning Tea 10am - 12pm

Multicultural Tauranga, complex 1, Historic Village, 17th Avenue To register/more information ph 07 571 6419 or email enquiries@trmc co nz

Mount Runners and Walkers Join us at 9 30am for a run or walk at our club rooms in May Street, all weather, all year round, Tuesdays and Fridays, all welcome

Olympic Style Rifle Shooting Every Tuesday evening at 7 00pm at the Tauranga Target Rifle Club’s range 165 Elizabeth Street, opposite Tyre master Public welcome All gear and coaching provided

Overeaters Anonymous Is your eating affecting the way you, or someone else, live your lives? Overeating, undereating - meet every Tuesday 7 to 8pm Fridays 11-12pm 022 064 2186

Petanque @ Bayfair Reserve Play social petanque at Bayfair Reserve, Russley Dr 12 45 to 2 30pm, Tues and Thurs Friendly club, all welcome Boules available Call 021 158 0129 for details

Recycled Teenagers Gentle Exercise Mt Bible Chapel cnr Monowai and Bedford 9-10 30am Suitable for joint replacements, arthritics, recovery from accident or illness Strength, coordination & balance Jennifer 027 206 0776

Tauranga Embroiderers Guild Meets Tuesdays @ Bowls

Tauranga South 15 Tutchen St (off 11th Ave) 10am2 30pm Everyone welcome Contact Linda 027 369 0984 or taurangaembroiderersguild@gmail com

Tauranga Model Railway Club Club meets Tuesday 9 30am & Thursday 7 30pm corner Mirrielees & Cross roads, Sulphur Point Ph Mike 021 939 233

Tauranga Morning Badminton Club Come join us at Haumaru Sports Centre 483 Cameron Road Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30am to midday Casual players welcome Contact Pam, 022 806 9117

Tauranga Scrabble Club Tuesday Scrabble Meet weekly for friendly & competitive games at Tauranga Citizens Club 9 30am - 12 45pm Ph Fay 021 1648180

Te Puna Quarry Park Many tasks for active volunteers in a friendly team environment 8:30am-noon each week Contact Jennifer 021 132 9585 or email tepunaquarrypark@gmail com

Wednesday 8 April

10 Pin Bowling 1pm 135 13th Ave Tauranga We are a mixed social group, non competitive except with ourselves Contact Glenda 0212578678 for more info

Age Concern Walking Group A friendly weekly walking group for all ages and all fitness levels 10am start, meet at Pacific Avenue (by the toilets)

Beginner Social Ballroom/Latin Group Dance Class

Wednesday, 6pm-7pm, Welcome Bay Primary School Hall, 309 Welcome Bay Road Phone Sonia 0273221786 or Just come along Details on website: wwwsupremedancecentre nz

Body+Soul 50+Fun Fitness For better health, strength and balance to great music Men and women welcome, make new friends 9 15am Bethlehem hall opposite Woolworths Ph Dianne 027 431 4326

Bolivia Te Puke Every Wednesday Lyceum Club 8 Palmer

Place 1pm-4pm beginners welcome Come and join our friendly group Ph Brenda 027 229 6992

Cards - cribbage Come and join our friendly group every Wednesday 12 30 for 1pm start Tauranga Citz Club, 13th Ave New players very welcome Jill 021 1606 143

Coffee/Conversation Group -Brookfield Age Concern Tauranga holds a friendly Coffee and Conversation Group

Greerton Senior Citizens Hall, 33 Maitland Street, 10 30am

- 12noon, cost $3pp All Welcome

Fernland Spa Water Exercise Gentle exercise in warm mineral water Suitable for joint replacements, arthritics & recovery from accident or illness Good for strength coordination & balance Jennifer 027 206 0776

Improve Strength & Balance Steady as you go (saygo) Exercise programme keeps you mobile Friendly group 2-3pm Wednesdays at St Johns Church Hall, Burtea Road Phone Angela 576 9847

Ladies Tennis Every Wednesday at Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club Come join in ladies tennis from 9-11 am New or seasoned players are welcome

Marching For Leisure A non-competitive activity for mature ladies Fun fitness and friendship For Tauranga team practice details contact Bernie Taylor 027 775 5612 Newcomers Coffee Meetup Group New to Tauranga? Come along to meet other like-minded people and make new connections For more information email enquiries@ trmc co nz or phone 07 571 6419

Omanu Rebus Club Join our monthly meeting 9 30am at Mt Maunganui RSA Enjoy morning tea guest speaker raffles other activities for Older Adults Ph Margaret 021 170 5933

Seniors Fitness Greenwood Park Wednesdays 9 15am for fun fitness to music Improve strength & balance & gain more confidence Open to public also Ph 022 340 6219 Tauranga Embroiderers Guild Wednesdays 7-9pm Everyone welcome For venue confirmation please contact Linda 027 369 0984 or taurangaembroiderersguild@gmail com

Tauranga

Thursday 9 April

021 0172 02184

500 Card Club Mount Community Hall 12 15 pm Fun and friendly group All ages all welcome Afternoon tea provided Parking available Bus stop nearby Ph 027 658 6848

Coffee/Conversation Group -Greerton Age Concern Tauranga holds a friendly Coffee and Conversation Group, Greerton Senior Citizens Hall, 33 Maitland Street, 10 30am - 12noon, cost $3pp All Welcome

Creative Fibre Tauranga Knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, felting & dyeing Mondays 9:30am, & 2nd & 4th Thurs 6:30pm 177 Elizabeth St Enjoy learning new crafts Joan 021 323 325

Flexercise with Fitness League Exercise, movement and dance focusing on posture, strenghtening, stretching and flexibility, suit all ages and abilities, 10am Baptist Church Hall, 13th Ave Pam 021 117 7170

Free Public Advocacy Service Need help completing a form? Accompany you to an appointment? Talk to an agency? Come see us! Every Thursday, Welcome Bay Community Centre, 1-2 30pm

Healing Rooms Prayer NEW TIME 7-9pm Every Thursday St Peters Church Cameron Rd Entrance Experience God’s Healing physical emotional spiritual All Welcome No charge facebook com/ TaurangaCentralHealingRooms 027 640 1263

Keynotes Women’s Barbershop Chorus Love to sing, start 2026 on a tuneful note Women any age welcome, 7pm Wesley Hall, 100 13th Avenue Contact Bernice 576 4848, 0274424642

Learn to play bowls Free coaching Lots of fun Beginners most welcome Meet new people Keep active Papamoa Bowls Inc, Gordon Spratt Reserve, Papamoa Thursdays 10am to 12pm

Mt Maunganui Creative Fibre Every Thursday 9 30am - 12 30pm St Andrews Presbyterian Church Dee St Mt Maunganui Spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, crochet etc all fibrecrafts Very friendly group Serenata Singers Thursdays 10 - 11 30, Methodist Church Hall, 2 Oroua Street, Te Puke Phone Anne 027 850 3776 Starseed UFO club tga Social group for people who are into alternative realities and ufos Step out of the box and into a coffee meet up Monthly meetings Phone Dan 022 462 3316

Te Puke Mah Jong Lyceum Club rooms 8 Palmer Pl 12 45 -4 00 pm Convenor 027 430 6383

Womens Singing Group We are a group

Churches Active In Our Community

This Easter know that hope is still possible

Easter is a celebration full of life

It’s an announcement that hope is not buried, that love has the final word, and that new beginnings are always possible

It’s a time when people gather, share kai (food), enjoy the last warmth of autumn, and look ahead with a renewed sense of possibility

And yet, this year, Easter arrives in a world that feels heavy Across the globe, conflict continues, communities are displaced, and many are living with deep uncertainty

Closer to home, the rising cost of living, housing pressures, and the ongoing impacts

of extreme weather events are being felt by many It can feel, at times, like the weight of the world is hard to carry

One of the things that continually pulls me back to a faith in God, in the midst of all this, is that my faith doesn’t ignore those realities It doesn’t pretend everything is fine or rush past the pain Instead, it meets us there and insists that even there, hope is still possible

Easter reminds us that darkness doesn’t get the final word That even in the midst of uncertainty and struggle, something new can begin

In our own communities, that hope can take a simple, practical shape: checking in

Expanding compassion and love

The impulse to love and care for strangers is wide, ancient and not exclusive to any single religious tradition

Many spiritual paths taught universal compassion

In Judaism is the command to love the sojourner, in Buddhist karunā is to care for all beings In Hindu and Vedic teachings, the message is to see the whole world as one family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam); and Confucian and Taoist traditions emphasise harmony, humility and living in accordance with the Tao in ways that nurture life and avoid harm

In Zoroastrianism, an ancient monotheistic tradition, the ethical ideal of ‘Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds’ grounds moral responsibility toward others as part of humanity’s participation in truth against falsehood and cruelty, weaving care for others into a cosmic insight transcending tribe and self-interest

The teachings of Jesus profoundly shaped the moral fibre of the Western world, especially in expanding compassion beyond family, tribe, and nation to include the poor, the marginalised, and even the enemy Christianity played a decisive role in embedding care for the stranger into Western institutions, culture, and conscience

From an interfaith perspective, Jesus can be perceived not as originator of compassion

HOLY WEEK

on a neighbour, sharing what we have, choosing compassion when it would be easier to turn away These small acts matter They are how hope becomes visible

This Easter, even in a complicated and uncertain time, may we find moments of joy, hold tightly to hope, and be part of building a more compassionate Aotearoa together

for strangers, but as one of humanity’s great embodiments and transmitters of a timeless, divine ethic of love – a love that has flowed through many cultures and revelations, each expressing it in its own language and historical context

In that sense, Jesus helped transform the West

info@bethel.org.nz

EASTER SERVICES

public notices

To be held on the 8th May 2026 at 1.30pm at the Tauranga Senior Citizens Club Inc. For Sale

BROIL King BBQ, 5 burner complete with gas bottle and cover Needs one new caster $150 Urgent removal $50 will go to Cancer Society Phone 07 282 9206

On Friday 24thApril in TheWeekend Sun,we will be publishing a special remembrance column in our Family Notices section,to honour & remember our loved ones

For only $45 you will receive your own personal remembrance notice Other sizes available on request

To place your notice email us at classifiedsbop@nzme.co.nz or Phone 07 577 7770

Gardening & Landscaping

A1 HANDYMAN SERVICES

waterblasting, painting, gib repairs, section tidy ups fence & gate repairs, carpentry, gardening Affordable rates. Ph Phil 027 655 4265.

LANDSCAPE GARDENER

Experienced, efficient, knowledgeable and highly qualified. Maintenance, pruning, hedges, shrubs, roses; disease/pest control, lawns, tree work, garden renovations; design and plant. Ph Ben 021 133 1857 bellissimolandscapes@hotmail.com

Livestock & Poultry

AC Petfoods collect injured and unwanted cows and horses. Phone 0800 369 6269

Lost and Found LOST Car Cover, silver with green reflection tape Lost in the Brookfield area Phone

If

DENTON, Beryl. Passed away peacefully on the 28th March 2026.

Beloved wife of the late Jim. Beloved Mother to Greg and Gill, and proud Grandmother. A talented craft and textile artist.

According to Beryl’s wishes a private cremation has taken place. Messages may be sent to the Denton family, c/- Hope Family Funerals, 2A Loop Road, RD 6, Tauranga 3176 or on hopefunerals.co.nz.

PRINGLE, James Scott. (Jim)

On 17 March 2026, Jim passed away peacefully at Tauranga Hospital aged 97 years

Dearly loved husband of Margaret and loved father of Doug, Glenda and his extended family.

“Rejoice , Jim has gone home”.

An intimate farewell with family and close friends, was held at Legacy funerals, Gate Pa onFriday 20 March. In lieu of flowers, donations to National Heart Foundation would be appreciated and may be left at https://www. heartfoundation.org.nz/ Communications to the Jim Pringle Family, C/- Legacy Funerals, PO Box 3136, Tauranga 3142.

08/04/1896 66

Outdoor Activities

Indoor Activities

• Rumi

• Knit and Na er

• Pool, Spas and Gym

• Art room, Cra s

• Choir