issue 1171 19 August 2025

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Every Wednesday night from 5pm

Bookings recommended

EQUESTRIAN TEAM FUND TAUPO

The Mercury Bay Area School (MBAS) Equestrian team was out in the chilly weather in Woolworths carpark, Whitianga, on the weekend cheerfully raising funds for their five day regional equestrian competition in Taupo.

The MBAS Equestrian team is sending four riders to The North Island Secondary Schools Championships week which runs from Sunday 24 August to Thursday 28 August at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo.

The event provides an opportunity for riders to try something new, and the format of the fourday competition/experience has

been developed so riders can take part in different disciplines as well as supporting their team mates. The event offers experiences in Competitive Trail Riding (CTR), Arena Eventing, Jumping, Show Hunter and Dressage. This year, two new disciplines have been added – Mounted Games and the Three Day Event. “Presentation is a very important part of the competition so we need to present impeccably and every aspect of our riding and the horse’s performance is examined very closely,” says Sarah-Kate. Since it began in 2022, the NISS Equestrian Championship

has grown significantly. From 203 competitors representing 56 schools and four sporting codes, it expanded in 2024 to welcome 417 competitors and 115 schools at the event. It is definitely the biggest event on the school equestrian calendar.

The girls are very conscious that the sport, including their horses, is a very expensive exercise. It is clear to see, that they work hard at training almost every day and caring for their animals every day is no small feat.

“Our budget is shoe-string. We camp with the horses, we cook and share our food for the five

days we are away. We have a lot of support from our parents,“ the girls said at their Woolworths sausage sizzle. People were being very supportive and generous and there is no doubt about their commitment. This team is working to make their school and community proud.

The Informer is issuing an

TRUST YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS

invitation to readers to reach into their phones and send some financial support to this Equestrian team. If people would like to donate, the account is MBAS Equestrian, ASB – 12-30310435158-01.

„ Enquiries to: andielusby@ gmail.com

A Night of Cabaret with the Alternative Dance Collective

On Saturday 30 August, Whitianga will be shimmering with sequins, laughter, and bold self-expression as the adult students of the Alternative Dance Collective take to the Monkey House Lounge & Cabaret stage for a one-of-a-kind Cabaret evening. This captivating event promises to dazzle audiences – it’s fun, it’s sassy and cheeky.

But what exactly is Cabaret? Far more than feathers and flirtation, Cabaret is a

performance art originating in 17th-century Europe as a form of satirical entertainment. Today Cabaret is celebrated as an inclusive and empowering genre, blending humour, dance, and theatre. Miss Kitty Fantastico, their tutor extraordinaire, says about the upcoming show “When women take the stage with confidence, they don’t just dance – they claim their space. That’s the power of cabaret.”

The Alternative Dance Collective’s students have

spent months honing their craft, learning not only the base choreography of Cabaret and heels, but also, their stage characters and solo numbers. Their performances range from classic vintage glamour to modern, edgy routines.

The Monkey House in Coghill Street was the first to introduce Burlesque shows to Whitianga over 4 years ago. Tickets are $20includes a glass of bubbles on arrival – available from Eventfinda or ADC.

Sunday Afternoon Concert Features Auckland City Brass

Thames Music Group’s September Sunday afternoon concert on Sunday, 7 September at 2:00pm, features Auckland City Brass. It is three years since Auckland City Brass last performed for Thames Music Group and we’re thrilled to welcome them back. Experience one of New Zealand’s premier brass ensembles.

Venue: St George’s Church, Mackay Street, Thames. Tickets: $20/Adult, $15/ TMG Member, Free entry/

Under 18 yrs old. Contact: thamesmusicgroup@yahoo.co.nz.

Local young actor has lead role in The Red Admiral

Johnson Manakau, who grew up in Whitianga, is the lead character in a feature movie to screen at Mercury Twin Cinemas this coming weekend and what is more, Johnson will be present for the movie’s screening this Sunday afternoon.

It’s a mix of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of OZ, a fantasy-parody about a blue-collar worker called Terry, who falls down a rabbit hole on his way home from work. He is drawn into a wizard's plan to stop a giant killer butterfly, known as the Red Admiral. The only way back home to his beloved girlfriend.

Destiny is by defeating said butterfly. On his journey he is joined by all manner of strange individuals who try to help him on his quest.

Johnson is 26 and didn’t really start acting until two years ago. As a student at Mercury Bay Area School, he was attracted to the drama course but some experience of being bullied there held him back.

“Something good came of that though,” says Johnson. “Mr Wilkinson, the Deputy Principal encouraged me to hold on to my dream and gave me the confidence to push myself further to keep pursuing an acting career.

“I replied to an audition advertisement – ‘Auckland actors’ , says Johnson. “I showed up and funnily enough, I had been feeling angry about a few things that day and that emotion was still with me. I used it to good effect in the audition and landed the lead role.”

Johnson describes his experience with The Red Admiral. This feature film has helped me improve my skills and my under-

standing of taking on different persona. This has led to my gaining another lead role in a movie called Bogged, by Dylan Poihipi. I am excited about that but we haven’t started filming yet.”

Johnson has not had much time to come back to Whitianga but his family still lives here and so family ties will continue to bring Johnson back in between movies.

The Red Admiral is 61 minutes long and is screening at Mercury Twin Cinemas Whitianga, Sunday afternoon, 24 August, 1.30pm.

„ See page 27 for the CoroCine Festival programme.

of the Jupiter and Venus at

with faint Mercury much lower down but still at its highest today. Wednesday, 20 August: A crescent Moon lies just below and to the left of Jupiter at dawn and from 6:40pm in the west we will have a Tiangong pass. Thursday,21 August: A thin crescent Moon sits directly below bright Venus at dawn with faint Mercury almost on the horizon to its right. Friday, 22 August: Jupiter, Venus and faint Mercury make a pretty line in the pre-dawn sky. Saturday, 23 August: New Moon tonight so good stargazing all night. Monday, 25 August: A minute crescent Moon sits well below slightly reddish but faint Mars at dusk and from 6:45pm we have a Tiangong pass in the SW. Tuesday, 26 August: The Moon now lies just below and to the left of Mars at dusk and from 7:25pm we have a Tiangong pass in the west.

Wednesday, 27 August: The Moon has now moved to be directly above Mars at dusk and just below the bright star Spica in Virgo and from 6:28pm in the west we have a long bright Tiangong pass. We have a rare chance to see all five naked eye planets this month. Venus continues to dominate the eastern dawn sky but is getting noticeably fainter as it moves away from us. Considerably fainter Jupiter now rises before Venus at the start of the month and progressively climbs above it. Faint Mercury also makes a brief and low appearance with the best views this week just before dawn. It can be found then by drawing a line from Jupiter to Venus and then extending it down a bit more than twice that distance. The Moon can help us find Mars low in the west early next week while faint Saturn is slightly yellowish and rises in the east at about 10pm.

Hamr Homes and PJ Builders awarded Gold in Master Builders House of the Year

This annual high-level competition by Master Builders covers a very wide and populous region – Auckland / Northland / Coromandel Peninsula held in Auckland the weekend of 8 August.

We congratulate these two Coromandel Peninsula companies based in Whitianga.

MID-CENTURY SOUL

Mid-century modern meets coastal living at this exceptional home by Hamr Home Building Contractors won Regional Gold and was Regional category winner.

This home is at Rings Beach. The 275sqm property blends classic architectural lines with laidback family functionality, delivering a stylish and enduring retreat that embraces its bush and beach setting.

This home was in the Bunnings New Home category $1million - $1.5 million.

Regional Category Winner Regional Gold.

WATERWAY WONDER

A prime canal-front section on Whitianga Waterways deserved an epic home. The result? This beautiful home by PJ Builders was Gold and category award winner in this region and in the top

100 homes in the country. This 413sqm four-bedroom house that matches the quality of the site in every way. Sea and hill views, topclass materials, designer features, special additions (such as a wine cellar) and rarely found grandeur can all be enjoyed in this home. Suppliers were Mastercraft Kitchens and Coast to Coast Painters.

This home was in the Resene New Home category $2million$4 million.

Top 100 Homes, Regional Category Winner, Regional Gold.

SUNNY ALL-ROUNDER

Light, bright and with amenities aplenty, this sunny all-rounder,

built by Hamr Home Building Contractors is a home that excels in myriad ways. You only need to look at the Cape Cod-influenced 209sqm house with pine bevel-back weatherboards trimmed with cedar to understand the house’s interior is going to be good, too.

Inside, you can spot the attention to detail in the walk-in kitchen pantry, custom-built wardrobe cabinetry, raked ceilings in the oversized lounge and the divine timber-lined portico and decking flowing from it. This home won a gold in the new home $500,00 - $750,000 category and features in the top 100 homes in NZ.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL WRITER – SARAH-JANE

Tourists – who’s actually pocketing the cash?

It appears that the more things change, the more they stay the same, especially when it comes to the delightful and sometimes destructive dance between tourists and the places they visit. The age-old problems of too many people and too much money have simply upgraded their wardrobe.

ADVENTURE TOURISM, 19TH CENTURY STYLE

Back in the 1800s, wealthy visitors trekked through the New Zealand wilderness, navigating whaleboats and buggies for a glimpse of the Pink and White Terraces. They had "celebrity guides," like Sophia, who gave them the "authentic" experience. Meanwhile, the village of Te Wairoa grappled with the side effects of tourism: a boom in hotels, a bust in traditional values, and a lot of questions about whether all this was a good thing. They were the beta testers for overtourism, until, in a dramatic, pyroclastic plot twist, a volcano had the final say, wiping the slate clean in 1886.

Fast-forward to today, and we've replaced whaleboats with jumbo jets and stagecoaches with Uber. The Pink and White Terraces are gone, but we have a new set

of "eighth wonders of the world" that are just as famous and just as crowded. The central dilemma, however, is a carbon copy of the 19th-century version, just with a digital and corporate facelift.

WHO PROFITS FROM TOURISM?

Who’s in charge? And who's pocketing the money? That is the multi-trillion-dollar – question in the world of tourism. When you're standing on a pristine beach, marveling at a historic landmark, or buying a handcrafted souvenir, it’s easy to think the money just magically appears in the hands of the friendly local who sold you the trinket. But the reality is, the tourism industry is a complex web of interconnected players, and the profits often travel a long and winding road before they settle anywhere.

Let's break down the cast of characters, and see who's really profiting from your wanderlust.

CORPORATE GIANTS

This is a bit like a Hollywood movie with a mega-corporation as the villain (or hero, depending on your perspective). We're talking about the big dogs who have their paws in everything:

• Online Travel Agencies (OTAs):

Think of these as the all-powerful gatekeepers of travel. Booking.com, Expedia, and their ilk are masters of the digital domain. They make it easy for you to book flights and hotels, but they take a hefty commission from the businesses you're booking with – often 15-30%. So, a big chunk of your money is going straight into their virtual bank accounts, often far from the destination you're visiting.

• Airlines and Cruise Lines: These are the colossal metal birds and floating cities that get you from point A to point B. They operate on a massive scale and are often publicly traded companies, meaning their profits are distributed to a global network of shareholders.

• Hotel Chains: The international brands you know and love – Hilton, Marriott, etc. – are often owned by large corporations or franchised. They're all about maximizing efficiency and profit, and while they create jobs, a significant portion of the revenue flows to corporate headquarters.

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

This is where the idea of "authenticity" really comes into play. These are the people and businesses that provide the unique, genuine experiences you crave.

• Small Businesses: Local, family-owned restaurants, the charming bed-and-breakfasts, and the guided tour operators. They are the backbone of authentic tourism. The money you spend on a home-cooked meal or a kayaking trip with a local guide is more likely to stay in the community, creating a positive ripple effect.

• Craftspeople and Artists: When you buy that hand-carved wooden mask or a painting from a street vendor, you're directly supporting a local artisan. These individuals are a vital part of the "authentic" experience, and their profits directly support their families and creative endeavors.

• Local Communities and Governments: This is where things get a bit more complex. Governments profit from tourism through taxes on flights, hotels, and goods. This revenue is supposed to be reinvested into public services and infrastructure—like the roads and airports you used to get there—but how effectively that happens can vary wildly.

HIDDEN

PLAYERS

These are the behind-thescenes characters you might not think about.

• Tour Wholesalers: They're the

brokers who create holiday packages and sell them to travel agents.

• Shareholders: Remember those publicly traded companies? Every time you buy a flight, stay in a chain hotel, or book through an OTA, a tiny fraction of that money goes into the pockets of investors all over the world. It’s the ultimate form of passive income, often far removed from the actual tourist destination.

So, who's really in charge and profiting? It's a bit of a tug-of-war.

On one end, you have the massive, global corporations with their polished websites and multi-million dollar marketing campaigns.

On the other, you have the local communities and small businesses, fighting to make a living and preserve the very culture that tourists are coming to see. The next time you travel, think about where your money is going. Booking directly with a local business might not always be the easiest option, but it's often the most impactful way to ensure your money is supporting the authenticity you're seeking.

And don't forget the most important character of all: the visitor. We've got our bags packed and we're ready to go, so let's make every trip a positive one.

Sunday, 7th September

Sunday, 7th September

Mammogram Machine update

BY MIKE BROWN

The Mercury Bay Medical Equipment Trust is working hard to get this service up and running.

We are pleased to confirm that the funds raised to purchase the mammogram are in excess of $350,000 which is a tremendous effort from all the Eastern Coromandel Community. These funds are held in the combined Lions Clubs trust account.

PURCHASING A 3D

MACHINE

We have received two quotations from reputable suppliers for 3d mammogram machines. This may seem a simple process but with many options available, we have had to ensure that we order a machine that will be able to just do screening mammograms at present, but has the capability to do more complex diagnostic mammograms in the future. This will require a radiologist or breast specialist present at the time they are taken. We have learnt a lot about this with the help of specialist radiologists.

LOCATION

We need at least 60 square metres of space to house the mammography suite consisting of a reception area, waiting area, two change rooms and the mammography area. There are two preferred options for us at present, both of which will need to be built. Mammography units like x ray facilities have some specific requirements regarding the need to contain scattered radiation. This is not so straight forward and the machine which weighs over 300 kg, needs a concrete pad to sit on. This makes a purpose-built facility our preference to comply with

the manufacturer’s requirements. We are in the process of finalising a location from which the machine will operate.

WHO WILL OPERATE THE MACHINE?

The short answer is nothing is finalized yet but negotiations are on going and commercially sensitive at present. As soon as we have concluded our negotiations, this will trigger the purchase order for the machine and the build contract for the mammography suite. We will advise the community of the outcome as soon as we can.

GOING FORWARD

The trustees are working hard to ensure that we get the best possible service for mammography for the women of the Eastern Coromandel and this is taking longer than expected, but is time well spent to ensure the best possible outcome. We are working towards a timeline of the end of 2026 or before to have the unit up and running.

„ The Mercury Bay Medical Equipment Trust is happy to answer any further questions you may have. You can email these to Mike Brown at email: whitibrown4@gmail.com

Message from Hon Scott Simpson MP For Coromandel Education – NCEA

Every New Zealander deserves a quality education which equips them with the skills needed to make their mark on the world. That’s what NCEA is meant to do, but when speaking to parents, teachers and students, it’s clearly not doing that well enough.

This is why we’re proposing to replace NCEA with a new national qualification which will build a stronger foundation for students to have future success.

The key changes include:

• Removing NCEA Level 1 and requiring students to take English and Mathematics at Year 11 and sit a Foundational Skills Award in numeracy and literacy

• Replacing NCEA Levels 2 and 3 with two new qualifications (The New Zealand Certificate of Education at Year 12 and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education at Year 13)

• Returning to marking assessments and subjects clearly out of 100 with grades that make sense to parents like A-E

We all want to see students reaching their full potential, and these changes will give parents more confidence that their kids are receiving a world-class education.

Consultation is open until 15 September and more information about this process can be found online at: https://www.education.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultation-proposal-replace-ncea/ details.

In more local news, the Government announced that changes are coming to the Conservation Act, which will include charging

international tourists to visit the most popular sites on the conservation estate. Cathedral Cove has been listed as one of the four sites where these charges will be implemented, because it attracts an estimated 250,000 annual visitors, with about 75% being international tourists.

The proposed access fee will be about $20-40 and will only apply to international tourists. The funds raised through this fee will be prioritised towards maintaining world-class experiences at the sites where they are collected. This differs from the existing International Tour-

ist Levy, which is paid by around 60% of international visitors and is spent on tourism and conservation priorities at a national level, such predator control. At the moment, the Department of Conservation manages nearly a third of the land in New Zealand. This comes with significant financial pressures to ensure that current and future generations can enjoy our incredible natural environment. Kiwis pay to fund conservation through their hard-earned tax dollars; it’s only fair that international tourists also contribute through an access fee.

Whitianga Industrial expansion

BY BEN GRUBB

Anyone who has lived in or just known Whitianga for a while will remember how the southern entrance to the town used to be. The highway turned right at where there is now the Moewai Road intersection, and every resident and visitor was forced to drive through and experience what most would consider was one of New Zealand’s uglier small town industrial areas.

Then in 2003, as a key part of the Waterways development, the current bypass was built, and since then everyone has travelled past the airport and along Joan Gaskell Drive to get to town.

Absolutely wonderful – with the functional ugliness of industry now hidden down what had become a side road, Whitianga’s entrance was transformed. It was a very pleasant transition from countryside to the town’s centre and the beauty of the estuary and the Bay.

At about the same time as the bypass was built, land down Moewai Road, was zoned for industrial expansion. Today, even though the few businesses at the state highway intersection are now showing their less pleasant faces and the airport view is becoming a parade of billboards, the ugliness of industry remains reasonably discreet and largely hidden from us locals and the town’s visitors.

A TREND IS HAPPENING TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE

I fear this is all about to change. Rather than industry expanding down the side road, Moewai Road, a trend seems to be developing of allowing industry out into the country south along SH25.

Although the zoning for all this land is rural and industrial development is a non-complying activity, permission has already been granted for various industrial developments – 38 public storage units on one property, 76 on another and on a number of other blocks, single ‘storage’ units being used for a variety of industrial type activities.

Council planners decided, when they considered all these applications, that these developments

be not publicly notified. In other words, they decided that the public should not be told about them and that you should not have a say on how they could possibly affect your town. Their approvals were made on evidence and opinion, principally from experts employed by the landowner applicants. All of these decisions have set precedent and are creating a cumulative effect.

Right now there is a proposal on the table for a Waste Management truck and machinery yard facing onto the main highway into town. It is currently the subject of a pre-application meeting with Council planners. It is interesting that since I emailed Council about it, the documents detailing the proposal have been removed

from Council’s publicly accessible website ‘Consent Tracker’.

There are many questions that I think we as a community (Whitianga and the wider Coromandel area), should be asking Council and ourselves. Do we want the ugliness of industry to be the entrance to our town? Are we accepting of the possibility that in time, industry could take over the rural flats right through to the 309 intersection, and beyond?

Do we think town planning should be on an ad hoc basis as is happening in this situation, or should there be carefully considered zones? There’s lots of land down Moewai Road that could provide for further industry.

We need to be thinking about the beauty of our countryside and

towns. How important is it for tourism, our principal industry? In England, I was impressed by the many picturesque villages on highways that remain unspoiled because their industrial estates and modern housing areas are hidden (and discretely signposted) down side roads. We need to be asking how important is this beauty, that we live within and usually take for granted, for each of us individually? Is this issue of industry creeping into the countryside and ‘uglifying’ the entrance to our town important enough to stand up and protest what Council seems to be allowing to happen?

How ugly is a truck yard going to be at the entrance to the town? Will it set a precedent for worse?

Yes, let Winton and his team check your tyres and battery for safe and hassle free winter driving. Large tyre and battery stocks on hand, instant replacing available.

MAKE ME YOUR MAYOR - 2 CANDIDATES THIS WEEK

PATRICK KERR

I’m originally from the “Mainland”, Timaru, South Canterbury. The Coromandel has been my home for nearly ten years.

I have a proven business background. I chair Enterprise Whangamata. I have experienced how the Council and staff conduct business on our behalf.

It must change. It cannot continue like this! We cannot afford to continue as we are!

I stand for:- • Accountability • Back to basics • A fair deal for all rate payers • Targeted economic development

I have a vision for a vibrant Coromandel Peninsula. One of togetherness – acknowledging our differences. We can cherish and protect our distinctiveness and unique environment while fostering controlled, targeted growth.

To achieve economic sustainability, we must implement business- and community-friendly policies.

I believe Council should set policy to stimulate economic activity in our building, tourist conference, and hospo sectors – creating growth, especially in the shoulder seasons. We need to provide tourists with more compelling reasons to visit.

My focus is on quality over quantity.

My vision is to protect what

we have. We must work with the strengths that we have. We have half of New Zealand’s population living within two and a half hours drive from our doorstep.

Transparency Why is transparency and openness so hard? I am disappointed in all three Mercury Bay Ward Councillors.

Together with Cr Morrisey, they carried the day 4-3 and voted against the adoption of the Chief Ombudsman’s Recommendations. The use of “workshops”, “network meetings” and “closed doors” is unbecoming for local democracy. Back-to-basics

We pay taxes to Central Government to receive social services. We pay rates, a land tax, to local government. For this, we expect

to receive basic infrastructure services. Let’s not confuse the two!

Core Council Business is roading, infrastructure, three water or water done well, rubbish, parks, sports fields, footpaths and public toilets. That’s It!

DENISE MESSITER

Denise Messiter, new Mayoral candidate for 2025 election, will focus on community connection, fair infrastructure, housing, and targeted engagement with groups whose voices are often missed in public debates. She has promised to put Community connection at the heart of Mayoral campaign Denise says Thames–Coromandel deserves leadership that listens to every part of the community, not just the loudest voices

in the room.

At the recent Whitianga meet-the-candidates event, more than half the audience were older women. Many came with important questions about local issues, yet there was limited time for everyone to be heard. For Denise, it highlighted the need for more inclusive and welcoming formats that give space to all voices.

“I want to create spaces where people feel welcome to share their views and know they will be listened to. Smaller, more focused gatherings can give everyone the chance to speak. Older women, our rainbow and takatāpui whānau, tangata whaikaha, and others whose voices are sometimes missing from public debates will be at the centre of these conversations,” says Denise.

As well as being proactive in the Coromandel Watchdog movement, Denise has stood against mining on the peninsula for decades. Protecting the whenua and supporting local communities continues to influence her vision for the district today.

She is committed to:

• Fair infrastructure and storm recovery that prioritises rural and flood-affected communities, with transparent project updates and climate resilience built into every decision.

• Housing affordability and community-led development that supports local housing trusts,

Māori-led builds, papakāinga, and multi-generational housing.

• Te Tiriti partnership and Māori representation through a genuine co-design approach with mana whenua on all major projects.

• Rates and funding reform to ensure fairness for permanent residents and Māori landowners, with greater transparency about where rates are spent.

• Youth, digital and transport access, plus public Wi-Fi expansion, and better transport links.

• Community voice and democratic accountability so council decisions are explained in plain language and councillors are regularly present in every town.

Email: nin4mayor@gmail.com

Facebook: @NinForMayor

MORE MAYORAL CANDIDATES NEXT WEEK

We intended to also include Steve Hart, but his statement was not available in time for this week’s Informer.

Next week: Steve Hart, Peter Revell, Len Salt, James Subritzky. See page 13 for Meet the Candidate meetings.

Spring is here at Stilo Design

Treat yourself to fl avour-bomb delights from Raw by Nic.

Enjoy a sneaky glass of bubbles while you browse the gorgeous new collection.

Plus – receive a FREE Country Road key ring with any purchase over $199. We can’t wait to catch up and share the new

COUNCIL CANDIDATES FROM MERCURY BAY WARD

This coming weekend is the first Meet the Mercury Bay WardCandidates for Council gathering at The Dunes, Matarangi 4:00pm-6:00pm. At the same meeting we will be meeting the candidates for the Mercury Bay Community Board. There will be other meetings; see page 17. Candidiates in alphabetical order.

TONY BRLJEVICH

For almost a decade, Tony Brljevich was a familiar face around the Coromandel Council table. First elected in 2010, he went on to chair the Infrastructure Committee and serve as Deputy Mayor. For 25 years, Tony and his wife Wanda called Coromandel home, raising their family there before moving to Whangapoua in 2019. Now Tony is stepping forward again - this time to represent the Mercury Bay Ward - because, as he puts it, “The gains we made have been lost.” He remembers his first term well. The council he joined faced a forecast 21% rates hike. “We turned that around,” he says. “By cutting waste and running things more efficiently, we delivered a 4.5% reduction instead. We reduced borrowing, improved services, and gave Community Boards more say over local decisions.”

The “Community Empowerment” model he helped create, delegated to Community Boards greater decision making power

and even invited Community Board Chairs to sit at the Council table with speaking rights. “It worked brilliantly. Communities felt heard, and good ideas came forward.” At the time, only Southland District Council had greater delegations.

These days, Tony worries about the direction things have taken. Rates and debt are climbing fast, bureaucracy has grown, and people feel shut out of the decisions that affect them. “All of this is happening during a cost-of-living crisis. That’s just not acceptable.”

If elected, Tony wants to cap rates, reduce debt, focus on core services, and bring back the transparency and community voice he

says have been lost. “We didn’t need new laws to act responsibly back in 2010; we just did it. The same approach can work again.”

With an engineering background and decades of practical experience, Tony believes in getting the basics right. “I don’t want to see hardworking people who’ve paid off their homes forced into reverse mortgages just to cover their rates. We canand must - do better.”

Email: tb777@xtra.co.nz

DELI CONNELL

I’ve been your District Councillor in the Mercury Bay Ward for the past three years and am asking for your continued support. I spend

time in all corners of the Ward and have friends and contacts in all communities, I know what worries you and what excites you.

My priorities for the next three years are:

To get any future rate increases down to CPI or lower, we’ve suffered costly storms and damaged roads but we’re back on track and it’s time to tighten our belts.

We need to get spatial planning done for the entire district prioritising community input and balancing any future development with liveability. People and the environment thriving side by side should be our focus.

Community Boards have slowly been disempowered, it’s time

to restore their ability to make meaningful decisions on behalf of the communities they serve. They should have oversight of projects that impact our Ward.

I have backed Deputy Mayor Walker and Councillor Gotlieb to get the open workshops decision revisited.

I voted against the move to Capital Value rating and strongly supported remaining with Land Value as the fairest mechanism to calculate rates.

We need to do the basics well and this includes getting our new Waters organisation up and running in a cost-effective manner.

REKHA GIRI-PERCIVAL

I’m Rekha Giri-Percival, and I’m standing again for District Councillor. I’ve previously served two terms on the Mercury Bay Community Board and am currently serving as your District Councillor. Now more than ever, we need people around the Council table with the skills and experience to lead our community through the financial, environmental, and infrastructure challenges we face. Also reforms underway in water services, resource management, and local government, the next Council will need to make smart, future-focused decisions. We must maintain essential services, plan wisely, and continue to avoid wasteful spending. My experience in governance and understanding

of Council processes prepare me well for this.

I’ll continue to strongly advocate for:

• Community voices at the Council table

• Responsible infrastructure planning

• Financial accountability to protect ratepayers

My husband and I run a residential building business in Whitianga, and our children attend the local school. I understand the challenges that local business, homeowners and families are facing. I also bring corporate experience in construction, engineering, and energy, supported by a Bachelor’s degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business.

Email: rekgiri@hotmail.com

JOHN GRANT

I’m John Grant, a passionate Whitianga resident seeking re-election as your Mercury Bay Ward Councillor in the 2025 Thames-Coromandel District Council elections. With three years of dedicated service, I bring business expertise, a focus on fiscal responsibility, and experience to represent our community.

As co-owner with my wife, Lynda, of Coromandel’s CFM radio station (35% audience share, Curia Research) and Managing Partner at Coromandel Insurance Services, I understand local needs. Married for 43 years, we have two children, Annie and James, and four grandchildren.

My council tenure of three years has navigated inflation, severe weather events, and leadership challenges. Serving on committees like Risk and Assurance, Destination Hauraki Coromandel Advisory Group, Chief Executive Committee, Waikato Civil Defence, and Waters Working Group, I’ve built strong relationships to deliver results.

I’ve championed lower rates, reducing a proposed 11.4% increase to 7.7% in the Long-Term Plan, and opposed non-essential spending. Council must prioritise core services: roading, rubbish, and water, which accounts for 50% of rates.

Retain my common-sense approach and experience for an effective council.

Vote John Grant. 021 351 922, jgrant@vcs.co.nz

I stand for Council in the Mercury Bay Ward.

I practice law and have proven, successful business and leadership experience.

My vision for Mercury Bay is rooted in our unique environment. We must protect our distinctiveness while fostering controlled, targeted growth. We must enact business- and community-friendly policies to create opportunities for affordable housing development and generate local, well-paid jobs.

I believe in local decisions by locals, for locals.

Status quo – not an option: We have endured three years of +36% unaffordable, unsustainable rate increases, planned debt tripling, quadrupling of interest

costs, and a lack of transparency and accountability. If you want more of that, vote for our three incumbent Councillors. They did!

Real change required: Like rust, TCDC’s ever-increasing bureaucracy does not sleep.

I bring a results-focused, no-nonsense approach to governance and leadership, anchored in financial, business and legal acumen.

We face significant challenges. Difficult calls are required. TCDC must be put on a disciplined, fiscally sustainable path.

I stand for: Accountability. Common sense. Back-to-Basics. Transparency. Vote for: Focused. Results. Vote: Flemming Rasmussen. Email: flemming@mountwilliam.co.nz M: +64(0)21594705

PETER WOOD

Democracy is my favourite form of governance and works best if all folk take part in expressing their opinions/decisions. Having choice is part of that and I could represent the increasing demographic with their problems as I was born in 1937.

What I do bring is experience and I have based on service as a Councillor in previous years. I understand its workings and how to give people a voice.

Potable water is going to be an increasing problem with more population and drought from Climate Change. House tanks and dams need to be considered. As do many topics by Community Boards. Councillors must take monthly reports to Council from their Community Boards so we utilise democracy and bring concerns from the ratepayers. Seats based on race will cause dissension and we are leaving tribalism behind.

Our forests and wildlife are under threat from introduced pests, so any remedy should be considered. Do nothing is not an option. We are accountable to our inheritors.

With global warming and extreme weather events, coastal erosion will continue and human coastal retreat is not an option. Having experienced the efficiency of the Buffalo Beach armouring, I believe that this will be the way to go. Our cities have already done this.

Ph 07 868 2262

›

›

MERCURY BAY COMMUNITY BOARD CANDIDATES

KIM ABRAHAMSON

I’m standing for the Mercury Bay Community Board.

If elected my focus will be on achieving positive outcomes across the entire ward. I intend to create a proactive link between community and council, advocating on behalf of and promoting our communities, whilst ensuring that every dollar is valued.

Since my childhood I have lived and worked in Mercury Bay, an area I’m proud to call home.

I finished my schooling at Mercury Area School and headed to Waikato University where I completed a Bachelor of Education and have worked almost entirely in education. I have been an active member of many local clubs and organisations, Play Centre, Kindergarten, swimming, surf lifesaving, netball. I was involved in establishing, and am a Trustee of, the Te Tiihi Nui Trust, an organization that provides opportunities for young adults with disabilities. I am a Justice of the Peace.

Since my childhood I have lived and worked in Mercury Bay, an area I’m proud to call home.

I finished my schooling at Mercury Area School and headed to Waikato University where I completed a Bachelor of Education and have worked almost entirely in education. I have been an active member of many local clubs and organisations, Play Centre, Kin-

dergarten, swimming, surf lifesaving, netball. I was involved in establishing, the Te Tiihi Nui Trust, an organization that provides opportunities for young adults with disabilities.I remain a Trustee of this organization and I am a Justice of the Peace.

I’m confident of having a strong working relationship with the Community Board to be elected this year and look forward to being a part of a proactive council that progresses a wide range of issues.

pamdkabrahamson@xtra.co.nz

ROB DAVIS

I am a long-term local businessman. I am a business owner, past and present.

It is my turn to stand up and do something for our village and community. We need to apply some common sense and logic to

our Council and focus on our kids and prepare for what they face in the years ahead.

My particular interest is to encourage businesses and to work towards Council being more small business friendly. There are a lot of restrictions and a degree of unfair decision making. We need to listen and treat people with fairness and lose high-handedness. Mercury Bay has a long history of taking initiative and achievement. We used to be part of the Coromandel borough and that morphed into TCDC. We should look more at what has happened. I want to make sure we are not losing touch with our community and what attracts people to come and visit and what attracts them to live here. In this day and age, people are scared to sign on the dotted line because of repercus-

sions and this hinders progress. Let’s work through this. People need to be able to speak up without fear. I am committed to a no-nonsense approach and to getting the job done.

Email: whitixtra.co.nz Mob. 027 668 8470

CAROLINE HOBMAN

After nearly a decade calling Whitianga home, I am standing for re-election to the Mercury Bay Community Board, as your community advocate. I will continue my mission to challenge top-down, council decisions and support grassroots governance.

Elected in 2022 on a community-first platform, I have remained committed to listening to the community through my networks and in my voluntary role on the Whitianga Residents’ and Rate-

payers’ Association committee as well as through Grey Power membership.

My key priorities include progressing local “discretionary funds” for community projects, advocating for elderly residents, local businesses and the implementation of affordable rates.

Drawing on extensive community service, internationally and locally- from Salvation Army volunteer work to NZ Territorial Army medical corps service and with my career as a naturopath and medical herbalist, I will bring diverse and practical experience to governance. Currently, I am a volunteer with the Whitianga Community Response Group for Civil Defence.

Locally-led economic development is a priority but I will oppose Council competition, citing TCDC’s “Our Coromandel” magazine as Council overreach and overspend. I will advocate implementing the Chief Ombudsman’s transparency recommendations, and where appropriate, execute MB Ward Community Plans, and secure council support for the M B Community Fund Trust’s elderly housing initiative.

Back to basics, common sense, core Council business- this is my commitment. I will listen, be present, and advocate for you.

CaroTCDC@proton.me or 027438-4654

Continued on page 17

Coromandel Our

News from Thames-Coromandel District Council

Consultation to begin for slower speeds for Ku - aotunu and Wharekaho

On 22 August, consultation will begin on proposed speed limit changes in parts of the Coromandel Peninsula, including at Kūaotunu and Wharekaho.

NZ Transport Agency proposes to reduce the speed limit at the western approach to Kūaotunu (from about 200m south of Hilldale Crescent to Kawhero Drive) and at the eastern approach (from 150m past Blackjack Road to 115m past Cemetery Road) from 70km/h to 50km/h.

The agency also proposes to reduce the speed limit at Wharekaho (southern approach from Leah Road to near Harbour Lights Terrace) from 80km/h to 50km/h.

Reduction of the speed limit from Thames, Burke Street, to Tararu, Ash Street, from 70km/h to 50km/h is also proposed.

CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

Our Council adopted two key documents in August.

Our Council has offered candidates running for Councillor and the Mayoralty in this year's election the opportunity to be filmed answering key questions such as why they think they are best for the role they are standing for.

The proposal comes after feedback from local communities and the consultation will help the agency determine whether to change the speed limits in these areas. Find out more information and have your say by visiting the agency’s webpage nzta.govt.nz/waikato-speed-limit-reviews from 22 August.

The Climate Change Strategy directs our Council’s organisational response to climate change, setting out what we will do to adapt and protect our assets and services, and our approach to working with communities.

CLIMAT E CHANGE

THAMES-COROMANDEL DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Greenhouse Gases Emissions Reductions Plan identifies our current emission volumes and how much we need to reduce them to achieve Council’s long-term emission reduction goals.

Find out more about communities caring for our coast at tcdc.govt.nz/dunes

SH25 WEEK-LONG CLOSURE AT BOUNDARY CREEK

NZTA has awarded contracts for the replacement of Boundary Creek Bridge on SH25 on the Thames Coast, with work due to start in early October. A new, safer two-lane bridge and slow traffic passing bay at the southern bridge approach will be in place well ahead of summer holiday traffic.

The road will be closed for up to seven days, beginning in the week immediately after Labour Weekend, to allow for the demolition of the old bridge deck and installation of the new one. The bridge deck is being pre-fabricated and work hours extended to keep the closure to a minimum. Emergency services have been involved in the project and will have plans in place for the closure period.

The road is expected to be open to two-lane traffic from early December. For more information, visit nzta.govt.nz and search ‘Boundary Creek’

Caring for our coast

Around 1900 native plants were planted at Pūkaki (Cooks Beach) this month by local volunteers and a group of future leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The plants will provide vital enhancement of back dune areas as part of the larger project to restore the foredunes, enabling them to self-repair after coastal erosion.

This year’s cohort of the New Zealand Leadership Programme teamed up with the Cooks Beach Care Group (celebrating 15 years of beach care), our Council’s Coastal Restoration team, Ngāti Hei and Coast Care to provide participants with a firsthand experience of positive action to protect our taio (environment).

These videos will be published on our Council website’s election page, alongside candidate profile statements.

Meet the Candidate events are also listed on our website. These include the upcoming Meet the Mercury Bay Ward and Mercury Bay Community Board Candidates event on Sunday 24 August at The Dunes Golf Clubhouse, Matarangi Drive from 4pm – 6pm.

To find out more about whose standing for Council and what other election events are being held, visit tcdc.govt.nz/elections

Creative Communities Scheme funding open

Apply by Friday 29 August

Funding for creative projects and events that increase community participation in the arts.

Projects will need to include at least one of the following outcomes:

• Creating opportunities for local communities to engage and participate in the arts

• Support diverse art forms and cultural traditions of local communities

• Enable and encourage young people (under 18) to participate in the arts.

tcdc.govt.nz/ccs

ELECTION UPDATE – MB WARD CANDIDATES & PENINSULA MEETING DETAILS

Continued from page 15

BESS KINGI

I have resided in Whitianga with my whanau for 34 years now. I consider this a privilege. I am a business woman, owning a digital embroidery and clothing repair business that is well supported by the local community.

In my role as Justice of the peace, and an advocate for grandparents raising grandchildren, I have come to know and engage with our community at a grass roots level. I am very passionate about this.

I have been a Mercury Bay Community Board member since the last election in 2022. Each member has different skills and knowledge to contribute. I see mine as being a voice reflecting the diversity and needs within this unique community stretching from Coroglen to Whangapoua I want to continue offering balanced representation and advocating for often unheard voices.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao… he tangata , he tangata. he tangata.”

PETER MACKENZIE

I am standing for re-election as Community Board candidate. I am a retired lawyer and came to Whitianga from Auckland in 2016 with my wife Chris and our two small dogs.

I enjoy playing bowls, fishing, walking our two dogs, our beaches, and I

enjoy having a drink and chat with our friends.

I have been on the Mercury Bay Community Board for three years and I have learnt a lot as to how the Community Board and the Council function or at times, appear not to function.

I am a firm believer in the power of common sense, and I get impatient with unnecessary time and cost spent on protocol and progress where a straight-forward approach and result is readily apparent. I intend to work to finish these kinds of processes.

I’ve spent many years blue water yacht racing and being associated with marine organisations. I understand different waterfront landscapes and what they bring to development and the way the wider community has access to waterfront spaces.

I will bring this experience through common sense and financial awareness to any plans on these matters.

JO PULLIN

As a proud resident of Kūaotunu, I’m looking forward to serving our community on the TCDC Mercury Bay Community Board.

My husband and I have a long connection to Opito Bay, and we’re excited to be raising our three children here, who are currently attending Te Rerenga School.

I’m passionate about making a positive difference

in our beautiful, diverse neighbourhood.

My family’s five-year sailing journey exploring remote South Pacific islands has also given me a distinctive perspective on community needs and resource management.

With a Bachelor of Architecture and experience as a successful business owner and commercial landlord, I’ll bring a unique blend of skills to local governance.

As your representative for the Mercury Bay Ward, I’ll prioritize listening to the community and ensuring our voices are heard and valued. I’ll work tirelessly to understand local needs and concerns, and make informed, practical decisions that support our community’s interests.

I’m committed to common-sense approaches with practical solutions, ensuring resources are used efficiently. I’ll advocate for evidence-based decision-making that prioritises local needs over ideology Together, let’s build a brighter future for Mercury Bay, where every voice matters and every perspective is valued. I’m dedicated to being a strong voice for Kuaotunu and our community.

RICHARD SHELFORDWOODCOCK

As a proud Whitianga resident with 20 years of voluntary service and governance experience, I’m standing for

the Mercury Bay Community Board to advocate for real community empowerment and practical leadership.

I’ve recently served as Chair of the Whitianga Residents & Ratepayers Association and District Chair of the Coromandel Alliance Associations – roles where I pushed for fairer, more transparent local government and stronger grassroots representation.

I will work to empower the Community Board by fostering genuine community dialogue, restoring trust, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape that slows progress. I support fair and sustainable rates, and a renewed focus on core infrastructure.

My principal place of residence is in the Mercury Bay Community Board area. I know this area well and its people- young and old, the full variety of views. I care about the people of the Bay and I will continue to listen carefully.

Change begins by changing the culture withinreplacing backward looking processes with open, community-led leadership. I believe our council coupled with our community board must listen, act, and speak with one voice.

Let’s build a Community Board that works for Mercury Bay, Empowerment. Teamwork. Leadership.

„ Candidiates listed in alphabetical order.

COLVILLE HALL, COLVILLE

Sunday, 24 August, 11:00am. The Colville Hall, Colville Road, Colville. Mayoral candidates.

THE DUNES GOLF CLUB, MATARANGI

Sunday, 24 August, 4:00pm-6:00pm. Meet the Councillor and Community Board members standing for election in Mercury Bay Ward. Tony Fox will Chair this meeting. The bar will be available for drinks and snacks.

THAMES WARD CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, THAMES WARD COUNCILLORS AND THAMES COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS

Saturday, 30 August, 12 noon at Thames Civic Centre.

MERCURY BAY WARD CANDIDATES FOR COUNCILLORS AND COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS

Saturday, 30 August, 2:00pm- 4:00pm at Whitianga Town Hall.

PAUANUI & TAIRUA SOUTH EAST GENERAL WARD CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, COUNCILLORS AND COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS

Saturday, 6 September, 10:15am at Pauanui Club, Sheppard Ave, Pauanui. Saturday, 6 September, 1:45-3:45pm Tairua Hall, Tairua.

Each meeting includes all candidates.

THAMES Sunday, 14 September, 2:00-5:00pm at Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga, Thames High School auditorium. The event is hosted by The Basket Hauraki, Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki, and Transition Town Thames.

COROMANDEL TOWN CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, COUNCILLORS AND COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS

Wednesday, 24 September, 5:00pm at the Combined Clubs, Woollams Avenue, Coromandel.

WHANGAMATA

Saturday, 27 September, 10:00am. Whangamata Club, 404 Port Road, Whangamatā.

TARARU VILLAGE, THAMES

Friday, 3 October, 10:00am. Community Centre, Tararu Village, 109 Wilson Street, Thames.

MAORI WARD REFERENDUM PANEL

Saturday, 6 September, 11:00am-1:00pm, St George Anglican Church Parish Hall, 602 Mackay Street, Thames. A facilitated panel of three speakers. HAVE YOUR SAY ON MĀORI WARDS

This election there will be a referendum on whether to continue with Maori Wards. At this time we have our very first Maori Ward Councillor. We do not have to wait until election day 11 October. to knopw this. There is only one contendor for this role – Michael Barlow, and we congratulate him for stepping forward for this pioneering role in the Peninsula.

Voting day for Mayor, Councillors and Community Board members is 11 October. Voting documents delivered between 9-22 September. 7 October is last day for postal voting.

MUSINGS FROM THE VILLAGE

Let’s not waste money on words

BY GORDON T

Iwas thinking about a news report the other day which caused me to wonder about how much of our money politicians squander. The particular report was about a politician’s desire to change the front cover of the New Zealand Passport to feature the English wording before the Maori wording. Currently a new passport apparently has the Maori words of Uruwhenua Aotearoa ahead of the English words New Zealand Passport. I was curious so grabbed my old passport to check and notice that on mine the English words appeared first. “Yippee!” I thought, “If you move slowly enough eventually you get up to date”. Curiosity got to me so I had to check the changes made and found the change to feature the Maori wording first was made in May 2021 by the Labour Government of the day and now the current government was to reverse this. Money will be spent by two governments on passports and during that time my passport hasn’t changed, the machines that read the passports when going through customs haven’t changed and ignore the cover, the customs staff in Australia still haven’t

learned how to smile and ignore the front cover. So the effect of both changes seems to be zilch yet both of our last two governments have wanted to waste our money on this matter. No surprises there.

The whole point of a sign is to inform people clearly and the trouble with the passport cover is that it doesn’t do that, no matter the order of the languages used. Where they let you down is that you don’t know if the passport you are looking at is yours or the wife’s. You are forced to constantly look inside them to see which one is which. I asked the cleaner about this when she was last in; asking “How do you get on with your passport, do you think the cover identifies things well enough?”

She looked up from her position scrubbing the floor and replied “it’s pretty good really, mine is the one with YOURS written on the cover”. That confused me “Shouldn’t it have MINE or maybe your initials?” I asked. “No silly” she responded, “Hubby’s one has MINE on it so mine had to have YOURS, else it could get confusing”.

Obviously the passport cover is a problem which has resulted in individual solutions for individual families however a better, more universal solution is required and I think I have one.

My solution is to start incorporating our third official language, that of sign language, onto the cover of the passport. The simplest way to do this is to incorporate the universally recognised signs for males and females that are used to identify all public toilets. Therefore in my situation I could order a passport with a male figure whereas my wife could order a female figure. A brilliant scheme really as the sign gives information to us as users yet doesn’t affect the official use

of the passport; it doesn’t matter to the unsmiling gentlemen at Australian Customs what identifying sign I use, the data they are after is inside and the cover doesn’t change this.

To help make this clearer you could extend the signs available. Smaller male and female figures could be used to denote children for example and for toddlers maybe the sign used to identify baby changing facilities at public loos. And of course this system is very inclusive, for example trans-

gender people can chose whatever sign they want to identify with, it doesn’t matter to anyone else. What a great idea, simple but effective; all we need is a government budget to implement it. There has been a lot of discussion about signs, the languages used, the order they are displayed in and so on. The main problem with a number of signs is they are unclear, especially so to tourists, but possibly the authorities could consider the use of more pictures to make things more obvious. This is already done in a number of areas such as road maintenance signs but we could extend this. For example the signs for school could be changed from the two words of Kura and School to also include a stylised picture of three kids having a smoke behind a shed.

The Medical Centre could have a sign that features dollar bills flying away and the road sign to Hot Water Beach could feature a kettle. Simple pictures could be used to inform the public quite easily, now the only thing we have to do is work out what order the three languages are displayed. My suggestion is that the image goes on top, it is after all more universal, but I am sure there will be one or two that disagree.

STEP INSIDE WHITIANGA'S NEW LANDMARK

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CR JOHN GRANT – THE MATTER OF WATER RATES

Thanks for shining a light on the water rates concerns for a Whitianga resident. I’m responding as a Mercury Bay Councillor, not on behalf of TCDC, but I’m committed to resolving this and others with similar concerns, as are my council colleagues, Rekha Giri-Percival and Deli Connell.

The core issue is TCDC’s non-metered water charge ($1,030.06 in 2025/26), assumes a higher-than-average use of water. This assumption disadvantages low-usage non-metered properties. TCDC’s pricing aligns closely with councils like Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown, despite different methodologies (e.g., capital value, pans). Auckland’s scale (630,000 properties vs. TCDC’s 30,000) brings scale, and our summer population surge to ~300,000 taxes infrastructure, raising costs for water services.

I’m seeking a review of unmetered pricing assumptions and pushing to accelerate metering rollout (~9500 awaiting meters). Mid to long-term, TCDC joining a Water Services Organisation, will I believe help lower costs through scale. In the meantime, we must relook at our current approach and show ratepayers that they are receiving good value for their rates contribution.

I am committed to work with ratepayer groups who have raised this issue and will keep them up to date with progress and I welcome community input— please email me at jgrant@ vcs.co.nz to discuss.

John Grant, Councillor MB Ward

Editor’s note – this was intended for last weeks issue of The Informer, to be part of the main article on the unfairness of the Rates process.pages10 &11 issue 1170 12 August. We missed the email from Cr John.

CALLING OUT THE TCDC’S CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY

The Thames-Coromandel District Council’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan focuses heavily on emissions the council directly controls, but that’s just 0.7%(1) of the district’s total. This long, detailed plan produced at taxpayer expense doesn’t meaningfully address the other 99%, for which the Council claims it “can only influence and support initiatives…in conjunction with others”.

So where is this influence and support?

A local council’s job isn’t just managing its own emissions, yet the Council’s plan, for instance, offers almost no guidance on meaningful actions residents can take, such as eating less meat, flying less, or driving less, even though most people won’t act without clear leadership and support. The plan repeatedly relies on vague terms like “encourage” and “promote” for actions that are currently unbudgeted and lack measurable outcomes, such as those focused on individuals’ transport or waste behaviours.

A credible climate plan should set measurable targets, lead by example, and actively promote behaviours that make a real difference – not just pat itself on the back for fleet electrification. Many contractors handling power and water are privately contracted and pay their own bills, so what fleets is the Council talking about? Management cars?

A long report of good intentions addressing less

than 1% of the problem isn’t enough.

(1) Appendix 2, page 24 of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan.

(2) https://protectourwinters.nz/top-individual-actions-to-address-climate-change/ Louise Stokes, Matarangi FAILED BUSINESSES

I feel the need to reply to a letter that was praising our current mayor.

As a small business owner (past & present) I am aware of how difficult it can be, nothing is a given, there are no bail outs if you fail.

Now this chap had four businesses; then he became bankrupt. 2011 is the year records cease, so things might have improved.

And he is in charge of spending our money!

I did ask Len if he thought he was fit for office -of course he defended himself.

Failed businesses and yet one can be Mayor.

Rob Davis, Whitianga

QUESTIONS ABOUT CEO’S’ SALARY

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is apparently on a base salary of approximately $318,000, Defence Minister Judith Collins is on about $304,000. T his is probably not unreasonable as they make decisions affecting literally millions of people.

How then does TCDC justify paying its CEO $369,025, about $50,000 more than Brown and $65,000 more than Collins from a ratepayer base of about 10% of theirs? Why also did they just give her a pay rise and also extended her contract recently? What are the superpowers this individual has that justify such generosity from her already financially stretched ratepayers? Yes, she no doubt faces “significant challenges” in her role as reported by local media

„ The purpose of the Letters to the Editor column is to enable members of the public to express an opinion, about an article or a topic of interest/concern. Please keep them to 200 words or less. These letters do not reflect the editor’s view. The editor reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.

recently, but so do Collins and Brown and that is part of her job, one would have thought.

Can anyone in TCDC help me understand this? Would those candidates currently standing for council positions care to tell us where they stand on this issue?

Alastair Brickell, Kuaotunu FOOL ME TWICE? NOT LIKELY

Well, don’t I feel like a proper mug. Last local elections, I fell hook line and sinker for misinformation from a local radio station on behalf of their favoured candidate, blaming the regional council for ruining our fishing. Turns out there has been zero impact from regional council policies on my weekend snapper trips. The real damage has come from Minister of Fisheries

Shane Jones, New Zealand First and the coalition. I should’ve seen the signs. Jones has been collecting donations from Big Fishing like his personal ATM. Over $100,000 since 2017! Talley’s alone coughed up $66,900, with Sir Peter Talley splitting up donations to try to dodge disclosure. What did this buy them? Free range to pillage our oceans.

Jones rolled over faster than a dolphin doing tricks for a bucket of fish. After “wine and oysters” dinners with his mates, he made fishing boat camera footage secret that had previously exposed fish dumping and dolphins caught in nets. He rubber-stamped quota increases without consultation and killed any chance of banning bottom trawling. He’s made it nearly impossible for groups like LegaSea to keep them honest.

This time, if some slick local election campaign resorts to distortions about wrecked fisheries or whatever, I’ll check who’s really pulling the purse strings and doing the damage. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Not likely.

Anton Taylor, Whitianga

PATRICK KERR STANDS OUT AT THE FIRST “MEET THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES”

Tony Fox, Whitianga Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Ass. Inc. (WRRA) chairperson, and his carefully selected team of informed local people, worked long and hard on our behalf, committing their time, energy and expertise into presenting all Mayoral Candidates with a list of questions relevant

to resolving the untenable situation we are currently in.

This gave all the Candidates the time and opportunity to be open, honest, and transparent about their positions, and to state factually and competently how they will address the issues.

Patrick Kerr was the only candidate who not only answered every question but also added to the questions asked. He was the only candidate who treated the meeting with the respect due, thus confirming he is a “team player/leader’”, a businessman with the ability to work efficiently, recognising, utilising, and putting to good use the expertise of his team.

All other candidates chose to ignore the list of questions. We just received the usual non-identifying rant, which allowed them to skirt the issues and carefully avoid any that may have negative repercussions.

Was this through ignorance or arrogance? I’m not sure, but neither of these “attributes” is acceptable in a potential mayor. Openness. Honesty. Transparency. Please! Ady Cole-Ewen, Wharekaho

PATRICK KERR

WHAT'S ON

OP SHOPS

Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop –Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open every Mon-Sat 10am-2pm.

St John Opportunity Shop – 29 Albert St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm and Sat 9.30am-2pm.

St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. 9.30am-1pm Wed-Sat. Social Services Op-shop – 15 Coghill St, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-2pm. Donations welcome. SPCA Op-shop – 2 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 9am-4pm.

MONTHLY

AA Driver Licensing – Monday 25 August and Friday 12 September. In the Mercury Bay Service Centre Community Board Room in Monk St (behind the council offices).

American Muscle Street and Custom Club

Whitianga – Club meetings first Sunday of the month, 11am at Buffalo Beach Reserve for cars and coffee. Phone Reg and Julie Smith on 027 493 5822. Cooks Beach Garden Circle –Last Thurs of the month 11.15am-2.30pm. New members welcome. Ph Anne on 07 866 0268 for more information. Craft Group – Meets first Saturday of the month 10am-3pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr, carpark end. Work on your own craft (stitching, colouring in, scrapbook, card making anything goes). Bring your lunch and enjoy mixing with other crafty people. Any queries ph Alison 021 0508 772 or Sally 027 3962 383.

Kūaotunu Dune Care – Every third Wed of the month. To get involved, please email kuaotunudunecare@gmail.com.

Hospice Waikato’s Bereavement Support Group

– Lost a loved one? Join Hospice Waikato’s monthly bereavement support group. Connect over morning tea with others who understand. Held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. 10.30am to 12.00pm at Whitianga Social Services. Registration required. Contact Hospice Waikato to register at 07 859 1260. Mercury Bay Model Railway Club – Monthly meet. Contact. Damon 0273551650

Mercury Bay Shooting Federation – Muzzle loader, rimfire, centre fire, military, pistol. Email mbsfsecretary@gmail.com

Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Fourth Monday of every month, 10am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Joan on 021 264 3753.

BI-MONTHLY

Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc – We meet bi-monthly for either coffee mornings or luncheons. Learn more about us by phoning Linda 07 866 5516 or our fb page Grey Power Mercury Bay/Whitianga Inc.

FORTNIGHTLY

Greeting Card Making – The second and fourth Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. All materials provided. Contact Rev. Gillian Reid on 021 781 081 or just turn up. Knit for a Purpose – First and third Fridays of the month, 10am-12pm at St Peter the Fisherman, 7 Dundas St. Ph Gillian Reid on 021 781081 for further details, or just turn up. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre – Spin, knit, weave, crochet. First and third Wednesday every month, 10am-1pm, supper room of Town Hall. Phone Vanessa 027 896 5037. Email vandoo555@gmail.com. Mercury Bay Quilters – 10am-4pm on the first and third Mondays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Contact Margaret on 021 140 4016. Whitianga Tramping Group – Every second Sunday at 8.30am. Phone Wally 021 907 782 or Lesley 021 157 9979 for more information.

WEEKLY OR MORE

Alcoholics Anonymous – The Whitianga Big Book Group meets every Thursday at 6.30pm at St Peter the Fisherman Church, Dundas Street. Phone 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) for more information.

Al-Anon Serenity Group – For those affected by someone else’s drinking. Every Wednesday at 1.30pm. Phone Pauline on 021 086 10955 for more info. Boys Brigade – An adventure, activity, and values based ministry for boys. For boys aged 5-13 years old. Tues 5.30-7pm For information contact Robyn 020 409 39674. Chess Club – Monday nights 6.30-9.30pm, MB Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 0272117195 or brettsoanes16@hotmail.com

Chinwag Café – Every Friday from 10.30am-12.30pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. A place for over 50s to meet other people, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and have a chinwag.

Coroglen Farmers Market every Sunday until Easter at Coroglen Gumtown Hall (SH25), from 9am-1pm. Coffee and Discussion Group – Every Sunday, 2-4pm, at The Lost Spring. Topics are open and respect shown. No charge. Convener Peter H. Wood. Cooks Beach Care Group – Join our friendly team and learn about coastal conservation. Come weeding and planting. Thursday mornings. Register www. cooksbeachcare.org.nz

Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club – The Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club have had to move their weekly bowls games whilst the Cooks Beach Community Hall undergoes renovations, not to be deterred by this, one of their members offered the use of his garage for the Club to use and this is where they now enjoy playing and are thankful for having this as their venue. New members are most welcome, please contact Coral ph. 0212303944.

Dog walking group – Every Thurs, 2pm, Lovers Rock, Robinson Road. All breeds and sizes welcome to a very sociable group. Ph Jenny on 021 186 5797.

Elevate Fitness – Strength and balance class using chair, sitting and standing exercises – Monday and and Thursday 9:00am Whitianga Town Hall, $10, ACC approved. Aqua Fit Water Workout, Hot Water Beach Resort, $20 including soak in spa, 11:30am Monday and Thursday. Movement to Music exercise class –strength & cardio, The Embassy of Friendship, Coghill Street. Call Nicole 021 0265 2693.

Hahei Contract Bridge Club – Every Tuesday 12.30pm at the Hahei Community Hall. Learners and casual welcome. Contact Don Barry 021 741 959 or Robyn Hogg 021543015.

Meditation Classes – Thursday evening. Spiritual, heart, soul development. Sacred energy, chakra activations, working with spiritual guides. Open forum conversation, Thursdays, 6.30pm at Flat 1, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga. Cost $10. Contact Verna 027 320 0079, vernajcarr@gmail.com.

Mercury Bay Badminton Club – Thurs 5-7pm, 4 courts at MBAS gym. Please note club nights currently limited to existing club members due to high attendance levels. Contact: Steve 027 211 3568

Mercury Bay Badminton – Every Wednesday 9-11am, at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. Social badminton. Casual players and visitors are welcome. Players of all levels, ages 16+. Phone Carol 027 474 7493 for more information.

Mercury Bay Bowling and Sports Club – 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Social Bowls, Thursday & Sunday at 12.30pm, Contact Steve Williams 027 855 2772.

Mercury Bay Bridge Club – Every Wednesday at 1pm and every Thursday at 7pm at the MB Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. For more information, phone Gavin on 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir – Meets Mondays 6.15 to 8.15pm at the music room Mercury Bay Area School. Start date 4th August. No auditions, no previous singing experience required. Phone Kate 027 2709058 for details.

Mercury Bay Environmental Trust – Every Tues and Fri from 9-11am, location advised prior. For more information, Phone: 027 954 7434 please email mbenvironmentaltrust@gmail.com or go to www.mbet.co.nz.

If you have an activity or group or the existing information is incorrect, let The Coromandel Informer know. Call 07 866 2090, email info@theinformer.co.nz. Our What’s On page is not guaranteed to run every week as often space is restricted. Consider paying for a classified advert if you want to guarantee your activity runs every week.

Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club – Every Thursday evening, Whitianga Town Hall, 6.45pm. New members and visitors welcome. Phone Cheryl 027 452 7887 or Sandie 021 825 667 for more information.

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club- At the Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Tuesdays Members Only 5.30-7.30pm; Saturdays Social & New Players 9-11am; Sundays All Players 3-6pm. Members, Visitors & Guests $5, a complimentary session is available to new players wanting to trial pickleball. Current membership only $10 to 30/09/2025 www.mercurybaypickleball.co.nz Contact Tony 021426150. Moewai Sportspark sessions are weather dependant & advised on our facebook page Mercury Bay Pickleball. Matarangi (Matai Pl Courts) Thurs 3-5pm(Winter) 5-7pm(Summer) Saturday 9-11am Contact Grant 0223836351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club-Thursday & Sunday Contact Tim 0278432683 or refer their facebook page.

Mercury Bay Squash Club – New members/enquiries to Dawn Thurgood mercbaysquash@gmail.com

Mercury Bay Table Tennis – Every Tues, 9-11.30am at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Ph Anne on 07 869 5162 or 027 565 5575 for more info.

Mercury Bay Tennis Club – Social tennis at Lyon Park on Thursdays at 5.30pm. All welcome. Ph Jason 022 186 7992 or Carl 027 680 5570. Oneness Meditation Centre – The centre focuses on the meditative art of going deeper within. Learn how to meditate, breath, calm the mind, relieve stress, anxiety and be a calm, peaceful, courageous, dynamic human being. Every Monday, 9.30-11.00am. Further info. text Linda 027 650 4881 or email linda_c@ orcon.net.nz

Spiritual Conversation Mornings – Every Tues and Wed, 10.30am-12pm, 15 Mill Rd, Whitianga the Starlight Centre. Grab a coffee and join in some great conversation where we talk about topics and subjects that have meaning. $5 donation. Contact Verna 027 320 0079.

Tai Chi for beginners – Town Hall, Mondays 6-7pm. Gold coin donation. Ph Tony 027 333 5146 for more info.

Tai Do Martial Arts – Town Hall, Tues/Wed 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146.

Tairua Contract Bridge Club – Every Monday at 12.30pm at the Tairua Bowling Club, 44 Hornsea Rd. Contact Lynnette Flowers 021 252 4709 or Johanna Bonnar 027 466 3726.

The Knitwits – A knitting group that meets sociably every Thursday from 10.30 to 1.30pm. Held at Social Services building, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. If you would like to join us please contact Cathy Lines on 0211171037 for more details.

Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am-12.30pm every Wednesday morning at the Hahei Community Centre. Ages newborn-5years. We invite all parents, carers, visitors and grandparents. Contact whenuakiteareaplaygroup@gmail.com

Whitianga Art Group – Every Thurs/Fri 10am4pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information.

Whitianga Menz Shed – Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. At the Moewai Park end of South Highway, past the diesel truck stop. All welcome.

Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am-12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@playcentre.org. nz or 027 880 3947.

COFFEE MORNING –THURSDAY 21 AUGUST

Join us at the Mercury Bay Club for our next coffee morning at 11:00am (doors open at 10:30am). Come along, connect with others, and enjoy a warm cuppa in great company.

SUPPORT LOCAL – ENJOY MEMBER DISCOUNTS

We encourage members to support our local businesses offering exclusive benefits to Grey Power cardholders:

• Marina Bay Eatery – 10% off Sundays & Tuesdays

• Indian Aromas – 10% off

• Mercury Bay Optometrist –

Whitianga Senior Citizens Club – Indoor bowls and card games. Mondays at the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, 1pm-4pm. Join us for a fun time and afternoon tea, 55+ age group. Phone Lionel Lawrence (president) on 027 274 6964 for more info. Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tues 9am start. For more information phone Margaret on 027 7802 744. All levels welcome.

Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga – Wed 5-6pm, Room 10, Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Dr. Support to lose weight wisely. Check out our Facebook page or phone Cecily on 027 294 1750 for more information.

Yoga for Everyone - beginners/retirees/inflexibles welcome. Tues 5.15pm, Thurs 4.20pm, Fri 8.45am, Sat 8.15am. Gentle Simple. $25/90 minute session. Txt Rosemary 0274 489326 for info.

DANCING

Argentine Tango Dance Class – Fridays, Town Hall, Whitianga, 5.30-7.30pm. No prior experience or partner necessary. Text Sergio for questions 027 410 2454

Belly Dancing – Contact Catherine Corcoran, 021 210 2438 or smile@catherinecorcoran.com. Weekend classes twice a month at 4pm. Mercury Bay Line Dancing Club – Tuesdays beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Seniors 12.45-2.30pm; Thursdays absolute beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, improvers/seniors 12.45-2.30pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850 or Glynis 021 1099 155. NEW!! NEW!!

Silver Swans Adult Ballet Class - Tuesday’s weekly 10am to 11.10am $20, Whitianga Town Hall supper room. All ages welcome.

Marilyn Swan,experienced professional teacher of Dance.M: 0273365263 E; swanebbs@gmail.com

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St, $5 per session. New Beginners, Wed 2.303.30pm, Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.3011.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; . Contact Cecily 027 294 1750 or Kathy 027 4321 353 Zumba – Wednesdays at 5.30pm at gym for Zumba and Step Zumba on Mondays at 4.45pm at the Whitianga Town Hall in Monk St. GROUP INFO

Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc – Coffee Morning, 11am on Thursday 21 August 2025 at the MB Club. Doors will open at 10.30am. All are welcome. Informative & interesting speakers. Any questions or to learn more about us ph: 07 866 5516 Mercury Bay Athletics – For info contact mercurybayathletics@gmail.com Mercury Bay Lions Club – New members are welcome. Email mercurybaylions@gmail.com. Phone Cecily 027 253 3088 or Chrissy 021 177 4226. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated – Learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Sheryll Carruthers 021 022 62504 or email seniornet.whitianga.admin@gmail.com. Whitianga Bike Park – 144 Moewai Rd, Whitianga. Open 24/7. Many bike tracks available, picnic areas, BBQs and walking trails. Donations welcome on entry. If you wish to volunteer or for programme enquiries, contact John 027 366 4606. Whitianga Gun Club – For information, phone Mike Deverell 0274 959 477 or Graham Sutcliffe on 021 846 655. Whitianga Community Patrol – Monitors the township and neighbourhood. If interested in volunteering, ph Gary 027 391 3043.

10% off new frames (conditions apply)

• Harcourts Whitianga, Katrina Carlyon – 10% off sales commission (excl. GST)

ALSO: Go Fuel cards, Mobility cards, and Senior Discount Days at Woolworths and New World. Many thanks to all for your support!

SAVE THE DATE – 1 OCTOBER

We’re celebrating the International Day of Older Persons at the Mercury Bay Club.

WHY SENIORS MATTER

Stats NZ (2023) reports that 34% of the Coromandel popu-

lation is 65+, more than double the 16.5% national average It is long overdue for our council to include a Community Senior Policy in its strategic planning.

JOIN US

Become a member – you contribute to the collective voice of seniors, ensuring that senior issues remain a priority for local and central government.

Linda Cholmondeley Smith, President

Ph: 07 866 5516. E: greypower. mercurybay@ gmail.com

Fb: GreyPower Mercury Bay (Whitianga Inc)

GAMES AND PUZZLES

TRADES & SERVICES

TRADES & SERVICES

-

- Aluminium & glass balustrades

07 869 5990 | nzwindows.co.nz

1 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga (Mon-Fri, 8-4)

Where to pick up The Coromandel Informer

As well as Whitianga, The Informer can be picked up from: Paeroa – Arkwright’s Antiques, 4 Square

Waihi – Waihi Information Centre and Gold Discovery Centre

Thames – Pak n Save, The Green Grocer, Richardsons Real Estate, Aeroview Garden Centre, Superprice Furniture, Goldfields Shopping Centre

Tairua – 4 Square, Surf n Sand Takeaways, Bayleys Real Estate, Gull Service Station, Super Liquor

Coroglen – Coroglen Tavern, Whangamata – Tango’s Shoes, Whanga Books, Challenge Service Station

Coromandel – 4 Square, Coromandel Oyster Company, Super Liquor, Coro Liquor, Coromandel Information Centre, Coro Super Saver, James & Turner

Kopu – Mobil Service Station

Also general stores at Taruru, Te Puru, Tapu and Colville

A House for Rental

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dbl. garage, brick, long term, available now.

Enquiries 027 243 9848

St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church 82 Albert St Whitianga (Opp Z) SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00AM

Come, join the familyFind peace and friendship.

Enquiries: ph 022 1322 061 www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

To be held on Saturday 20 September 2025, 10am at Manaia Marae, 17 Marae Road, Coromandel.

AGM Agenda

For more information please contact the administartor on 0800 895 212 or email tetawharau@ ngatipukenga.com TE TAWHARAU GROUP

11am on Thursday 21st August. Doors open at 10.30am

The successful applicant must -

Casual Relief Ferry Driver

We are looking for a casual relief ferry driver. This is a great lifestyle position offering work all year round (not seasonal).

• Have an SRL commercial skipper’s qualification or ring fenced skippers ticket.

• Be reliable, honest and comfortable working with the public.

Phone/txt Chris on (027) 491 1485 or email info@whitiangaferry.co.nz

GARAGE SALE

Clothing mostly menswear M-L ladies 12-14 42 Kupe Drive Saturday, 23 August at 9:00am

Thames-Coromandel District Council Meetings - September 2025

Pursuant to Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, public notice is hereby given that the following meetings will be held during September 2025.

Council Meetings

Council Meeting

Tuesday 16 September 2025 09:00am, Thames Council Chambers, 515 Mackay Street, Thames

Community Board Meetings

Coromandel-Colville Community Board

Tuesday 2 September 2025 9.00am, Coromandel Town Service Centre, 355 Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town

Mercury Bay Community Board

Wednesday 3 September 2025 9.00am, Mercury Bay Service Centre, 10 Monk Street, Whitianga, Mercury Bay

Committee Meetings

Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee Meeting

Thursday 11 September 2025 10.00am, Thames Council Chambers, 515 Mackay Street, Thames

Please visit https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/meetings for copies of agendas and order papers.

A Lawrie

Chief Executive Thames-Coromandel District Council

www.tcdc.govt.nz

Gallery 6 needs ‘2’ to make up their ‘6’

BY PAULINE STEWART

Everything is beautifully presented when you walk into this vibrant and spacious gallery space in Kapanga Road, Coromandel.

It is known as Gallery 6 and even though it only began in 2021, it has become a part of the town’s character.

People love to walk in and see what is on display from local artists. Many visitors travel to see Gallery 6.

Diann Cade, who is an acrylic artist, started Gallery 6 in 2021. She and Ed Buckett, her husband, came to Coromandel township in 2004, and Diane has become a well-known and talented artist in that time.

Once opened, Vaughan Udall also an acylic artist, joined the gallery to be one of the artists and so did Donna Scatchard who has lived in Coromandel for ten years.

The gallery hums along with

6 artists (Gallery 6) but at the moment they just have four. One artist has gone to England and for health reasons, another artist has gone to Kati Kati.

So Gallery 6 is looking for two participating artists to join them before Christmas.

“The gallery is a co-operative venture,” says Diann. “The way it works is that the artist shares the cost of rent and electricity, and shares in the setting up of the way the gallery looks.”

The art works of each artist adorn the walls of the gallery. The calibre of art is very high with lots of variety and the ambience is one of ‘Welcome to everyone’.

There is no commission collected by Gallery 6 from participating artists when their paintings or art is sold. This is a big financial advantage for an artist.

In addition, the wall space is shared equally among the participating artists as far as it is possible, as each artist has their own

style and the works are all different sizes. Once a month, the entire display is rearranged. The team of Gallery 6 do this to make the gallery look altogether different.

This has the effect of the space ever changing - visitors noticing different artworks highlighted by the re-arrangement, or something that was on a back wall is

now on a side wall. It’s a great exercise in teamwork and a very creative experience for the artists and the visitors alike.

There is still generous space for other art such as ceramics, and craft items from other local artists. The presentation of cards individually made, prints and books is a popular go-to space for visitors and travellers.

Gallery Six is going very well. The number of visitors continues to increase and this year, 2025, has been their busiest year since they first set up the gallery

They are excited about the Coromandel Arts Tour coming up in October, Gallery 6 being in the main street of Coromandel township is like a hub for visitors to the Coromandel Open Studios Arts Tour.

Opening Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 10.00am to 2.00pm Look for 191 Kapanga Road, Coromandel.

MOTORING Long term warranties and service plans – benefits but strict conditions

BY JACK BIDDLE

As competition within the mainstream new car industry continues to heat up, there seems to be a growing trend amongst some new vehicle distributors to extend their warranty programmes. It’s all in an effort to either neutralise a competitor’s potential advantage, gain a new customer, or to encourage existing customers to remain loyal to their brand.

Up to 10 years in some cases is the promise from some mainstream new passenger vehicle distributors, plus some potential new customers are being enticed to jump ship with the added bonus of either free or capped service price plans for various time frames.

On the surface it may sound like a big one-way win for the customer, but it does pay to drill down sometimes and look into what conditions or owner responsibilities apply to ensure those long-term warranties remain valid.

The free or capped price service programmes seem to be a no brainer. All owners need to do is just front up for their scheduled services, hand over the keys and walk away with the peace of mind knowing that the total costs are

covered or there is a fixed charge they have to pay on collection of the vehicle.

However, in some cases there may be a clause added that states there is a limit to the total number of kilometres a vehicle can travel while under a particular warranty and service umbrella. For those who cover a lot of ground per year (the average is around14,000 kilometres). It could mean the actual time is reduced because the total distance travelled exceeds the set time limit.

One of the reasons for the extended warranty programmes from new vehicle distributors is the overall reliability of mainstream passenger cars these days although, if you have your ear to

the ground and are in the know, there are still certain makes and models that are known for mechanical and body related issues from time to time. But apart from the inconvenience factor, who really cares if owners abide by the rules and repairs are carried out under warranty and free of charge?

Often those long-term warranties and service plans are transferable as well which is great for when owners decide to upgrade their vehicle. The one condition is of course those owners need to have followed the conditions of the extended warranty and service plans.

So, what are the potential downsides or cautions to be aware of?

For those looking to purchase second-hand either privately or from an authorised dealer, they should never assume long term warranties and service plans still apply without asking for evidence all conditions have been met.

Competition within the industry doesn’t always come from a competitor with a different brand. If a potential customer has their sights set on a particular make and model they can, and often do, shop around for incentivises from independent dealerships selling the exact same vehicle and offering exclusive special deals such as free or fixed price service packages.

Sounds good, but it can also mean having to return the vehicle to that particular dealership for servicing in the future which can become frustrating over time, and an expensive exercise if any long-distance travel is factored in.

A so-called free service package can also have limitations and include only the basic requirements with recommended extras a cost to the owner.

Obviously general wear and tear items are not covered ,but it pays to ask a dealer specifically what is not covered under a longterm service plan to stop any future misunderstanding.

Having the vehicle serviced

on time or distance (whichever comes first) is probably the most crucial thing to remember with extended warranties and service plans as there appears to be some new vehicle franchises who come down extremely hard on owners who fail to adhere to their exact rules. Those owners simply cannot afford to have their vehicles serviced late or even miss a routine service due to lack of distance travelled for example. If owners want to postpone or change an upcoming service, then its essential, they talk to the franchise dealership concerned and seek their approval plus, asking them to update their service history records to reflect any agreed changes. Verbal agreements should be avoided at all costs.

For some new vehicle distributors, long term warranties may only cover the main mechanical components after a specific time has elapsed. This may include the engine, transmission and driveline componentry only so once again it pays to ask for clarity before signing a sales agreement on the dotted line.

If owners play by the rules, then there should be no issues further down the track, but it’s knowing just exactly what those rules are that is important.

Mercury Bay Area School Boys Football wins Thames Valley Secondary School Football Championship

Last Wednesday, 13 August at Matamata, in 160 minutes Football, MBAS scored 17 goals and conceded nil to become the Thames Valley Secondary School Champions.

The first game was against Hauraki Plains College with MBAS 4 – HPC. The second game score was MBAS 9 - Te Kauwhata 0. In the Semi Final: MBAS scored 2 against Morrinsville College 0. In the Final it was Mercury Bay against Katikati College and that final score was - Final: MBAS 2Katikati College 0. Well done team!

Sharks U12 Football

U12 MERCURY BAY WAVES VS TAIRUA

BY CARL GUBB

The Waves, faced their biggest test of the season on Saturday when they came up against the undefeated Tairua side. It was a true measure of how far our girls have come, and they showed once again just how much they are learning and improving in this beautiful game.

The Waves put on a gutsy display. The game was full of end-toend attacking football and some outstanding defending from both teams. Our goalkeepers – Jessica Allen in the first half and Pipi Wilson in the second – pulled off some brilliant saves to keep us in the game.

We rotated attackers so everyone who wanted the chance to have a go up front got their opportunity. Once again, Neela Sacault was a standout performer. Her speed, skill, and determination to help out in both attack and defence earned her Player of the Match. Alongside her, Isla Flynn impressed with her ability to close down opposition attacks and provide quality ball to the strikers. As coach, I couldn’t be prouder of their effort, teamwork, and love for the game.

A big thank you to Dean Allen who stepped up to referee the second half, and to our super-supportive parents who are always ready to help out at a moment’s notice.

EIGHTH GRADE FOOTBALL

Saturday 16 August

NZ manufactured aluminium windows and doors since 1990:

the entire game. Wallace Roberts was our other Player of the Day, he was everywhere, saving goals, scoring 3 goals of his own and everything in between.

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

- New builds & renovations

- Replacement joinery in existing homes

- Aluminium & glass balustrades

Round Two, Pacific Pairs. Monday, 11 August 1 Nolene Kirkpatrick & Celia Young 64.09; 2Robyn Waters & Peter Clark 58.18; 3 Christine Meinhold & Jocelyn Taylor 55.91.

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Highest finish this week for the men was 118, scored by Rex Donaldson. No finish over 50 for the ladies. Only one 180 scored this week and that was by Karen McKenzie. Congratulations on your first 180 Karen.

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

07 869 5990 | nzwindows.co.nz

1 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga (Mon-Fri,

Thurs 14 August

Winners: Wayne McNeill and Shirley Marshall.

Runners Up: Ken Lack, Cheryl Henderson and Betty Simpson.

Te Pare Point Pairs Week Two Tues 12 August

North/South: 1 Liz Young and Robyn Hogg 57.81; 2 Judie Johnson and Robyn Waters 56.25; 3 Lee Hughes and Maggie Beattie 51.04.

East/West: 1 Bev Dickie and Peter Clark 66.88; 2 Peter Hogg and David Wilkinson 61.25; 3 Carol Henwood and Pam Churchill 47.50.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

August Competition One. Wed 13 August

North/South: 1 Kate Palmano & Gavin Hedwig 62.5; 2 Rose Tegg & Anne Knowles 52.5; 3= Val Dwight & Jenny Layton, Johanna Bonnar & Dave Dylla 47.0.

East/West: 1 Pete & Robyn Hogg 61.0; 2 Bob Schibli & Geoff Jervis 50.0; 3 Norma Hart & Lois Page 49.0

Moewai Pairs Round Three

Thursday, 14 August

1 Geoff Jervis & Gavin Hedwig 76.3; 2 Faith Stock & Ischelle Stevenson 61.3; 3 Chris Southwell & Kate Palmano 55.0

MERCURY BAY CLUB

SNOOKER

Wednesday, 13 August

9 players today and it’s Dave Colman and Dennis Rush with three straight wins each to challenge the final frame. This was a comfortable win to Dennis who takes home the cash prize and also has the highest break of 30 today. Runner up Dave Colman and with two wins were Rob Phillips and Ian Baumgren.

Saturday 16 August

Dennis Rush was the only player with three straight wins and took home the cash prize. With two wins were Bob Haase, Peter Schultz and Ian Baumgren.

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

Good Sports: Maureen Lack, Merle Ward and Jan Harvey.

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

Nine-hole Women – Net. Tues 12 August

Div. One: 1 Christine Goddert; 2 Audrey Vickers; Div. Two: 1 jenny Cotterell, 2 Jean Hancocok.

Nine-Hole Mixed – Stableford

1 Muzz Bennett, 2 Kelvin O’Leary, 3 Campbell Elliot. NTP 14: Paul Bradley; NTP 18: Phil Drane

Eighteen-hole Women –“Waltz” Wed 13 August

1 Faith Stock, Anita Ellmers, Janine Hayde; 2 Jo Geoghegan, Lynne Butler, Di Gilmour;

3 Pam Price, Fiona Gardien, Colleen de Villiers.

NTP #4: Janine Hayde; NTP #18: Pam Price.

Longest Putt: Anita Ellmers

Eighteen-hole Men – Stableford

1 Lachlan Tee, 2 Steve Collins, 3 Patrick Gonthier.

Two’s: Dom Szparagowski, Brett Proctor, Jason Sherriff, Mark Kilgour, Sam Murphy

Gross: Div.One: Dom Szparagowski; Div.Two: Rob Baines.. Nine-hole Mixed – Stableford Friday 15 August

1 Patrick Gonthier, 2 Muzz Bennett; 3 Rod Bott

Two’s: Graeme Heathcote, Mick Henderson

NTP 6: Mick Henderson. Eighteen-hole Men – Stableford. Sat 16 August

1 Chris Burgess, 2 Geoff Lowe, 3 Rohit Ranchhod.

Two’s: Tony Bartlett, Brett Proctor

Div. One: Gross: Mark Boe; NTP: n/a; Longest Drive: Mark Boe.

Div. Two: Gross: Graham Butler;; NTP: Chris burgess, Longest Drive: Chris Burgess.

TAIRUA GOLF CLUB

Tuesday 12 August

Nine-hole Golf Putting

The Sharks played the Mercury Bay Stingrays today. The game was divided into two distinct halves, with the Sharks dominating the first half and the Stingrays mounting a strong comeback in the second. The game was tense and competitive, with action occurring at both ends of the field.

Reef Havard, Kayleb Cornwall, and Seth Wilmshurst scored the goals. The players of the day were Kayleb Cornwall, Reef Havard, and Zeke Calder from the Sharks.

The team travelled to Tairua. With more than half the team away with illness, Tairua kindly let 2 of their players join the Whitianga team. It was a very competitive game. Arlo Christini received Player of the Day for his great effort in attack, scoring a goal and his involvement for

26 players this week, so 501 singles were played. Double to start and finish. Six teams went through winning three of there four sets, so a one game final was required. The teams were John Munro & Steve Jessup, Bill Bonnetto & Mike Gillett, Stoney & Roscoe Anderson, Malcolm Cryer & Nan, Peter Reekers and Richie Neighbours and John McGregor & Karen McKenzie. John Munro and Steve Jessup came away with the win.

1. Ruth Crossman; 2. Brendan Platt; 3. Jill Shanley, Gabrielle Tucker, Larraine Brooks, Brian Fellows.

Eighteen-hole Stableford

Thurs 14 August

1. Murray Graham; 2. Terry Kingham; 3. Brian Cole; 4 Michael McCann.

Nine-hole Scramble

1. Kay van Lubeck; 2. Robyn Hunter; 3. Francis Reid; 4. Jan Stanley.

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Nine-hole Stableford plus G Free Trophy Round 3 Putts

Tuesday 12 August

Stableford

1 Jill Huston, 2 Wayne Morrison, 3 Neil Robertson.

Putts: 1 Ryan Cochrane, 2 =Anne Costello, Neil Robertson Winners Free Trophy

First Lady – Annabel Wharton First Man – Mark Bell

Nine-hole Nett

Thurs 14

August

1 Callum Murray,2 =Catherine Borlase, Wayne Morrison, 3 = Richard Duckworth,

John Hamilton Eighteen-hole Nett

Saturday 16 August

1 Grant Webster, 2 Brian Keucke, 3 = Neil Vowles, Jeff Bright

4BBB Nett: Grant Webster and Jeff Bright

THE DUNES GOLF CLUB

MATARANGI

Ladies 5 Club Day Stableford

Tues 12 August

1 Glenda Philpott 17, 2 Ruth Fisken 14, Men’s Eighteen-hole Nett Day

Wed 13 August

1 Glenn LeLievre 67, 2 Brian Tomlinson 69, 3 Tracey Mulligan 69.

Two’s: Gary Bancroft on Holes 5 & 18, Charlie Chilwell # 7 & 18,

David Gaskell # 13, Brian Tomlinson # 18

Nine-hole Men’s Stableford Thurs 14 August

1 Steve Airey 20, 2 Peter Mathias 20, 3 Rey Bertling 19.

Two’s: Paul Anderson on Hole 13.

18 Hole Ladies Shootout Qualifier Stableford

1 Ann Dale 37, 2 Deidre Mear 35, 3 Chrissie Smith 34

Two’s: Teri Tomlinson on Hole 13, Margaret Stevens #18

Saturday Haggle Mixed Stableford

Sat 16 August

1 Paul Anderson 36, 2 Charlie Chilwell 36, 3rd Peter Mathias 36, Two’s: Russell Barnett # 5, Ivan Adams # 8. Nearest the Pin #18: Allison Drake-Wells.

Mercury Bay Women’s Rugby Club Prize Giving

BY MIKE TAYLOR

On Friday, 1 August we had a fun night celebrating our successful foundation season with the promise of much to come.

Special thanks to all our supporters, sponsors and friends including The Informer.

PRIZE-WINNERS

• Gabby – Rookie of Year

• Cherry – Player of Year

• Harmony – Team Spirit Award

• Mark Finnerty – Legacy Award (The Grace Nagataua

Trophy)

• Trinity – Back of the Year

• Lily Honeycombe – Most Dedicated Player

• Carson – Most Improved Player

• MacKenzie – Iron Woman (resilience award)

• Rangi – Forward of the Year

NZ manufactured aluminium windows and doors since 1990:

CoroCine Festival Programme

OPENING FILM - THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING

The powerful Kiwi drama will serve a deeper cause, raising funds for the Monday Community Meals Programme, which provides warm meals to locals who need them.

“We wanted to open CoroCine 2025 with a film that reflects the courage and creativity we see in our own community,” says Anne-Maree McDougall, co-owner of MTC. “This film is a tribute to determination in the face of hardship - and what better way to honour that than by helping feed local families.” Bunny King is a mother of two, a rough cut diamond with a sketchy past. While battling the system to reunite with her children, a confrontation leads her to take her niece Tonyah under her wing. With the world against her and Tonyah, Bunny’s battle has just begun.

FREDRICK POKAI ANTHOLOGY

2 (M)

107 minutes. Short films featuring Frederick Pokai – writer, actor, director.

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Best Actor Visionfeast 2023, Best Actor Top Of The South Film Festival 2024, Best Writing NZ Webfest 2024. 2:15pm Saturday, 23 August.

THE GROUND WE WON (M ) Documentary. Christopher Pryor – Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Photographer; Miriam Smith –Writer – Producer.

With great bawdiness and camaraderie, an eclectic rugby team of farmers strive to redeem themselves from a long run of bitter losses. A cinema verite study of contemporary manhood as observed through the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club.

5:00pm, Saturday, 23 August.

- New builds & renovations

- Replacement joinery in existing homes

- Aluminium & glass balustrades

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1 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga (Mon-Fri,

THE TAVERN

(R16)

Matt Hicks – Filmmaker, Actor, Champion of NZ Film

The Tavern follows five small town guys who have a race against time to save their beloved yet run down Tavern from an evil big city property developer with sinister plans. This movie has been hailed as the NZ version of "The Castle" It's fun, it's irreverent and it features a host of characters that will feel SO familiar to you!

7:15pm, Saturday, 23 August.

THE RED ADMIRAL (R13)

Filmmaker Josh Hamblin. Starring Johnson Manukau – Mercury Bay Area School alumni. Home grown, Whiti-City star!

A blue-collar worker falls into a magical world and finds himself embroiled in a battle with a violent butterfly. Josh and Johnson will be with us for the film.

1:30pm, Sunday, 24 August.

THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY Documentary 75 mins.

A stunning audiovisual experience of Splore. Filmed over seven years during a three-day music and art festival, Splore, the film is a cinematic celebration of human connections and our need for play. For decades this festival has created a safe space for playfulness on land that is blessed by the local iwi.

Producer Lani Feltham's summers were spent in the Coromandel with her grandparents. We welcome her and filmmaker Serena Stevenson for a Q and A after the screening.

3:30pm Sunday, 24 August.

SHORTS SMORGASBORD

Come enjoy a smorgasbord of shorts from or about talented Coromandel creatives all showing at Mercury Twin Cinemas.

12:00pm, Saturday, 23 August.

Open Thurs-Sun 8.30am-4.30pm; others days by phone appointment

WAITAIA NURSERY

Waitaia Road, Kuaotunu

Phone Colin or Cam 07 869 5910 www.waitaianursery.co.nz • Native

Phone or email for info: info@whitiangaboatchandlery.co.nz

Phyll 027 4852036 Mitch 027 4852046

Ohuka Park lifestyle sanctuary

A rare opportunity to secure the largest block in prestigious Ohuka Park, 33,854sqm (mol) of privacy and breathtaking views over Mercury Bay. This threebedroom, three-bathroom home plus rumpus/bunk space features serenity, and the scope to expand. There’s no shortage of space - and the surroundings invite relaxation, and connection to nature. A rare lifestyle opportunity all within a 3-minute drive to the beach, and 10 minutes to Whitianga township. Get in touch to experience this incredible lifestyle property. bayleys.co.nz/2241260