Issue 1185 25 November 2025

PAULINE’S PLACE

New ways are not necessarily better

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN (SQUATTER IN RESIDENCE)

This is my last week as ‘Squatter in Residence’ at Pauline’s Place. Hope she is enjoying her holiday, I’ve been ok with the temporary job here. There isn’t much to do really. Her staff do most of the work and I just sit around trying to look important. Most of the time I just think about things, sometimes one of the staff will ask me if I’m awake while I do this. They can be so unkind.

Rugby: The other day I couldn’t help but think about the rugby and how the current All Blacks are just not up to the standard of previous years. We seem to have individuals who are quite classy but as a team they just cannot seem to get it together for the whole game. All Black teams in the past were famous for their fitness and skill, generally running over the top of opposition in the final quarter and having an unmatched record of success but not this year, or indeed last year. Why the change?

A clue as to why they are going downhill was revealed after the Scotland game in a post-match interview with one of the players who was asked “What did

the coaches say to you at half time?” The reply gob smacked me; “Nothing really, they just showed us a few videos”. You have to be kidding me. At a time when the team needs to be focussed, reset for the kick off and second half, the coaches show them videos. This was compounded in another show where I saw the attack coach during the warm up running around with a computer and showing the players pictures etc. It became clear why the All Blacks are going down-hill and I am afraid it is not going to change until this coaching style is binned. Contrast this with the famous Ranfurly Shield challenge of

Action in the Ranfurly Shield Challenge of 1985.

1985 between Canterbury and Auckland. Auckland dominated the first half, leading 24 to 0 at the break. The half time speech delivered by Canterbury coach, Alex “Grizz” Wyllie was reported as his holding up a rugby ball and in a loud voice announcing to the team, “This is a rugby ball! Grab it and use it!” After that, he left the room. Canterbury stormed back in the second half, narrowly losing 28 to 23.

The point is that most sport, if played well, involves playing at a subconscious level, not a conscious level and rugby is one such sport. By filling up the players heads with computer based vid-

eos of plays and instructions, it can lead to their trying to play the game at a conscious level. This results in instinctive flair and instinctive decision making going out the window. Players often seem to be caught short wondering what the appropriate process is rather than just playing the game. A recipe for disaster. Don’t just take my word for it, there are books on this subject such as “Inner Game of Golf” which explain the why and how of playing at a sub conscious level.

Some sports are based purely on processes and instructions with absolutely no flair. A great example is Grid Iron where every

Thames – Information Centre and Pak N Save

Tairua – 4 Square, Tairua Stationers

Coromandel – Information Centre, and 4 Square

Matarangi – Richardsons and 4 Square

Whitianga – Information Centre, Paper Plus and Liquorland

Pauanui – Information Centre

Whangamata – Tangos and The Whangamata Club

Mars at dusk and is inside the teapot or Sagittarius and there will be a Tiangong pass from 9:09pm in the NW. Monday, 24 November – The Moon now sits high above Mars and near the handle of the teapot and there will be a Tiangong pass from 9:48pm in the west. Wednesday, 26 November – There will be a Tiangong pass from 9:28pm in the west. Thursday, 27 November – The Moon sits below and well to the left of Saturn throughout the evening and from 10:07pm there will be a Tiangong pass in the SW. Friday, 28 November – The Moon is to the left and just below Saturn all night. Saturday, 29 November – The Moon has moved to be just below and to the left of Saturn. Sunday, 30 November – Saturn is just

above and to the left of the Moon. Saturn is visible high overhead right after dusk and will be joined after midnight by very much brighter Jupiter. The Moon can help us find Saturn and Mars this week but the red planet is very low in the western dusk sky. Both Venus and Mercury are still too close to the Sun to be easily visible but will reappear in a week or two. Orion is starting to peek over the eastern hills by mid-evening with Matariki or the Pleiades slightly above and to it’s left. There will be many Chinese Tiangong passes to enjoy this week but, as usual, timings may change especially

play is pre-determined. There the coach runs around with a computer with plans on; the players take it in, then execute the play. At the end of that play, the next play is explained, executed and so on. Rugby is not like that however. Any move that heads the All Blacks in such a direction on game days will weaken them, removing instinctive play and creativity. So new ways are not necessarily better ways. There are plenty of other examples not in the sports sector. For example, Third Party Insurance on vehicles used to be compulsory and paid when registering your car. Why is it not now? Who would not want this, other than the Insurance Companies? You used to be able to buy fresh fish off the wharf in Whitianga, but apparently we now don’t want this. Says who?

School kids had Thrift Club accounts to train them, and the IRD did not charge the wee ones tax on their interest. So why did they start?

Signing off, this is my last Squatters Editorial. Pauline will be back next week, rested and invigorated so I can have a hard earned break. Hopefully she will be pleased enough to front up with a sausage roll.

Stepping Out Hauraki celebrates 30 years

BY MICHELLE LUCKMAN

Stepping Out Hauraki this last week celebrated 30 years of service in the Thames Conmmunity. We are a Mental Health and Addiction Service and provide advocacy and support for all who come into our service. We celebrated on Wdnesday, 19 November 2025, with a Masquerade Ball.

IN THE BEGINNING....

MEMOIRS BY MARIE

Stepping Out Hauraki was restarted in April 1995 when Marie Reilly was employed as the Manager. We were fortunate to secure a shared office in the Union Parish building. We used some funding that had been granted to the original Stepping Out a few years previous. The main role was to provide support initially but also to find a building that we could use as a Drop-In Centre as it was called in the early days. In October 1995 we moved into Mary Street house just down the road from Community Mental Health

We were fortunate and thankful to receive a big boost in funding from the DHB to provide support locally and throughout wider Thames-Hauraki district, with the guidance of our accountant Geoff Dalzell. His help enabled the continuity of our funding from the DHB, and allowed us to secure a Kainga Ora home, which we

moved into three years later.

We are still here and are thriving through our dedication to service within the Thames Community. We provided support and advocacy for tangata whaiora or Psyche Survivors as they preferred to be called back then. As we were able to secure more funding, we employed a full-time support worker Toni, followed by two other part-time workers Ali and Jan.

We were contracted to provide monthly support groups in areas like Coromandel, Whitianga, Paeroa Whangamata and Waihi. One of our people Steve, initiated a Whanau United Music festival to give everyone an opportunity for everyone to show off their talents and artwork. The festival was so popular it became an annual event.

Other highlights throughout the years were a ski trip that everyone saved for and enjoyed immensely, which included camps at Kaiaua and our own Kaueranga Valley. We also visited Henry Bennett Centre once a month to meet new clients to encourage them to come to the centre and provide support to our people if they were in hospital at the time.

The best highlight for me over the years has been just seeing the people reach out for support and supporting each other and knowing that we were helping to keep the people well, giving them a place to be, a sense of purpose

and a place to stand in the community. We were often told that the place felt like an extended family for many. At the 30th anniversary celebration It was extremely rewarding to see that Stepping Out still feels like home for many. Listening to them share these stories

YourWeekly Kitchen Calendar

QUALITY THERMAL ROLLS

Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust Lottery a big success

BY JACK BIDDLE

The Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust (CRHT) was formed by a group concerned citizens in 2012 with the main goal of providing a Rescue Helicopter Base in Whitianga. Since that time, the trust has worked extremely hard to maintain its presence with constant fund raising a huge part of their agenda to help cover the overall and ongoing rescue helicopter costs and Whitianga Base maintenance.

John Stephenson, the CRHT chairperson, says the facility is on standby 24 by 7. “The establishment of a hangar facility at the Whitianga Airfield thirteen years ago has been one of our enormous success stories but it doesn’t stop there. Keeping modern helicopters along with

their specialised crew in the air does not come cheap, neither does procuring and providing the most up to date equipment at the base in Whitianga. So, when the opportunity came to partner with NZ Rescue Trust and launch a national lottery, we decided to take the plunge and get onboard”.

The lottery consisted of two prize pools with the main prizes including a new 6-berth caravan plus an out-of-the-showroom Land Discovery package valued at $275K and a new 8-metre JB Touring Motorhome worth around $260K. For those who purchased their tickets early, there was an opportunity to be part of the early bird prize pool totalling around $100K in prizes and included overseas travel and business class flights.

“The response around the Coromandel in particular was fantastic with many people purchasing a ticket saying it was more a donation toward a great cause rather than desperately hanging out for the win. Nevertheless, when we touched base with all the respective winners, including those from around the Peninsula, their excitement levels were extremely high” adds John.

Whitianga struck it lucky when locals Peter and Dale Banks had the lucky ticket attached to the new Motorhome. Pete and Dale recently took over ownership of the local Guthrie Bowran store. “We were totally shocked to be told we had won this fabulous prize. Our wider family is involved in community services around the country, so we didn’t hesitate.

‘Space Sloth’ Lola tackles ‘Weed Free Tairua’

airua resident and nature

Tlover, Lola Chick is alarmed that noxious weeds are taking over the town’s native bush and she wants to do something about it. Lola is keen to hear from people willing to join her and create a volunteer network to tackle the problem.

Lola is a very active and productive resident of Tairua. When she is not nurturing the land, you may find Lola at her sewing machine where she creates colourful clothes with an emphasis on fun. She sells them at festivals and the Extravaganza Fair under her label ‘Space Sloth’.

Lola recently outlined the weed problem at Tairua Environment Society’s annual general meeting and was invited to operate Weed Free Tairua under the umbrella of TES.

Lola grew up on a dairy farm in Kerepehi and studied for a biology degree at Waikato University before travelling overseas. It is ten years since she settled in Tairua and she has continued her interest in nature and conservation.

“We started catching possums in

our garden,” she says, as we sit on her deck surrounded by large trees and the lovely sound of bird song.

“Then I got to know Allie Cotter, who focuses on pest control in this area. I have much admiration for what her group does and thought something like that could be set up for weed control.”

Lola’s garden was full of weeds when she moved to Tairua and she identified them with a phone app. Then she started reading about specific weeds and the effect they have when taking over the land and upsetting the balance of nature.

“What we need now is volunteers willing to join Weed Free Tairua and tackle them.”

Lola has seen a lot of Jasmine around Tairua and says one of the big challenges is getting rid of it.

“Just a small fragment can quickly grow and take over an area. Most of the plants classified as weeds in New Zealand were imported.

For example Jasmine and Climbing Asparagus were introduced as ornamental garden plants but quickly spread to reserves, roadsides and native bush, where they

smother and strangle everything in their path. The Cherry tree is a pretty plant that also threatens to take over our native bush.”

Lola has pots of native seedlings sprouting and ready for planting and is happy to give them away to others wanting to restore the bush and encourage bird life.

Lola’s husband, Adam Fuller, has a real estate business and shares her love of nature. They work together to create a garden that is a haven for birds and a pleasure to be in.

The app she uses to identify weeds is Aotearoa Species Classifier and she says iNaturalist is also very helpful.

Pest plants present in Tairua include:- Cotoneaster, Pampas, Climbing Asparagus, Wild Ginger, Brush Wattle, Taiwan cherry, Jasmine, Woolly Nightshade, Ladder fern, Banana passion vine, Lilly Pilly and Agapanthus.

„ People can follow Weed Free Tairua on Facebook and Instagram. For further information or volunteer enquiries, contact Lola via weedfreetairua@gmail.com or 0211620671.

Melbourne Cup coverage missed EVENTS

The Informer covered the Melbourne Cup events but not everything was available to us at the time of going to print and some information was not accurate. We apologise if comments or descriptions were not the facts particularly in the case of the Whitianga Hotel who offered the community a very successful and enjoyable event.

The Hotel was fully booked throughout the

day and well into the night. With a special price of $20 per person, people enjoyed being part of a table for ten with complimentary first drink and two platters.

The Best Dressed Female won a Lost Springs voucher valued at $250.00. The Best Dressed Male won a fishing charter trip – excellent prizes for both categories.

Sweepstakes run by the on-site “Bookie,” assisted guests with TAB betting

NEW SUMMER

throughout the day.

Professional Photographer Jazmyn Welch captured many great moments of fashion and fun.

A ‘Rip it Up’ night with Shane, Suzanne and Shazam Band

BY ROGER SIMPSON

From Shane Hales MNZM opening song, ‘Rip It Up’, we knew that it was going to be a super Saturday night at The Mercury Bay Club!

That was the start of great music, backed by The Shazam Band, handpicked by Shane from NZ’s best! Drummer Dean Ruscoe, guitarist Kevin Furey, bassist Alistair Taylor, and Mal McCallum on keyboard and guitar. After the opening song, Suzanne came to the stage and she and Shane sang ‘Crocodile Rock’. We all know it. ‘I remember when Rock was young, me and Suzy had so much fun’.

TWO OUTSTANDING MUSIC CAREERS ACROSS DECADES

Shane and Suzanne Lynch, also MNZM, really must have had so much fun as young entertainers. Suzanne at 14 years of age, with her older sister, Judy, being The Chicks and Shane and his band, The Pleazers.

They would often perform at the same gigs, and

also on the very popular television shows, C’mon and Let’s Go. Shane’s song, ‘Saint Paul’ in 1969 won the Golden Disc for Song of the Year. He then had an extensive music career in Europe.

At age 14, Suzanne could not possibly have imagined the huge musical career ahead of her, ongoing some 60 years later!

Also a Golden Disc Award winner, Suzanne moved to London where she worked as a session singer and then as part of Cat Stevens’ backing group, as well as with many other artists.

On Saturday night, Suzanne noticed local couple Trish and Ken Gib-

son, local residents whom she had met on a cruise ship many years ago, and invited them onto the stage. Ken helped with some fancy ‘go go’ moves! When the band were checking in to their motel, Oceans 88, it was found that charming hosts, Marie and Alex, were celebrating their wedding anniversary.

The Mercury Bay Club was pleased to give them complimentary tickets to the show. They, and the rest of the enthusiastic crowd, enjoyed a superb night of entertainment.

MNZM – member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Santa Parades

TURUA CHRISTMAS AT THE DOMAIN

Friday, 28 November 5:00pm - 7:30pm At the Turua Domain

CHRISTMAS AT BOYD PARK, TE AROHA

Sunday, 30 November 10am onwards

PAEROA SANTA PARADE & AFTER PARTY

Friday, 5 December 6pm

TAIRUA CHRISTMAS MARKET WITH SANTA’S GROTTO

Saturday, 6 December 9:00am - 1:00pm, Tairua Community Hall. More info www.tairua. co.nz

THAMES SANTA PARADE & TE KAUAERANGA WHĀNAU DAY

Saturday, 6 December Parade starts 11:00am

cnr of Cochrane/Pollen Streets Whanau Day & Prize Giving: Te Kura o Te Kauaeranga (Thames South School) 12:003:00pm More info www. whanauday.co.nz

NGATEA CHRISTMAS PARADE

Thursday, 11 December 5:45pm - 6:45pm

WHANAGAMATĀ

CHRISTMAS PARADE AND FAIR

Saturday, 13 December 11am-4pm The fair kicks off at Williamson Park from 11am.

The Lions Club Christmas Parade follows at the new time of 1pm along Port Road.

WHITIANGA SANTA PARADE

Saturday, 13 December Parade starts at 1pm.

COROMANDEL TOWN

CHRISTMAS PARADE & CHRISTMAS MARKET

Sunday, 14 December 11:30am Starts from Coromandel Hotel (Top Pub) and finishes at the Area School

MATARANGI SANTA PARADE

Saturday, 20 December 11:00am Parade starts cnr Matarangi Drive and Fernhill Rise heading towards the shopping centre More info https:// whitianga.co.nz/events/ TAIRUA SANTA FUN RUN

Saturday, 20 December

All ages 5km & 500m events, Pepe Harbour. Open from 1pm, more information is available at the Tairua Information centre.

Be the difference: change a child’s life in Coromandel

Local mentoring programme seeks volunteers and supporters to help young people reach their potential.

BY VERNA CARR

Every child deserves support – someone who believes in them, listens to them, and shows them what's possible. For many young people facing challenges in their lives, that champion comes through ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters’, an organisation dedicated to creating life-changing relationships between caring adult mentors and the children who need them most.

The programme works through carefully matched pairs of volunteers and young people who share similar interests and personalities. They spend an hour or a few hours each week hanging out with each other, having fun or simply having a good chat. It's not complicated, but the impact is profound.

Nicki Airey is the Coromandel Manager and Mentoring Coordinator of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters. She has recently moved to Whitianga from Rotorua. Nicki's dedication to vulnerable children runs deep. She spent a decade teaching neuro-diverse students and advocating for abused chil-

dren. Her personal connection to the organisation began when she was raising children who weren't hers and discovered that Big Brothers Big Sisters was the only place offering the support she needed.

Nicki became a full-time manager and coordinator for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Her exceptional work earned her the Manaakitanga Award for supporting at least 250 local children and helping other regions develop and grow their programmes.

When Nicki arrived in Whitianga, she connected with Georgie Harkin from Coro Youth Mentors. Both women share an unwavering passion for igniting youth potential across the Thames-Coromandel Peninsula.

In October 2025, they joined forces with Coro Youth Mentors, becoming an affiliated member of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The organisation offers four mentoring options across Coromandel:

Community Based Mentoring allows mentors and young people to meet independently after school or on weekends for activi-

ties and quality time together.

School Based Mentoring brings volunteers into schools for about an hour weekly to enjoy fun activities with children during school hours.

School Based Teen Mentoring empowers older students to mentor younger children for an hour each week – building leadership skills while making a difference.

Business In Schools enables businesses and organisations to support employees in mentoring children during work hours. Participating companies receive recognition through social media tags and marketing materials.

We've all heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," but what happens when that village is broken? Not every child has positive role models at home. Some face abuse, dysfunction, or simply the absence of caring adults. Imagine being a young person with no one to talk to, no one to trust, no one to show you that life can be better.

This is where Big Brothers Big Sisters steps in – and the results speak for themselves. Research shows that mentored children

become more resilient and positive. They're less angry, less likely to bully or fight, more engaged with learning, and better at forming healthy relationships.

The reason? Simple but powerful - they know someone cares. They're being heard and seen.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organisation that receives no government funding. Every dollar comes from grants, fundraising, and the generosity of local businesses and community members. These funds are essential for training volunteers properly, conducting thorough screening processes, and professionally monitoring matches to ensure meaningful, safe relationships.

Be Someone's Champion. Whether you have a few hours a month to spare, financial resources to contribute, or other ways to help, there's a place for

you in this village. One caring adult can change the trajectory of a child's entire life.

Ready to make a difference and create a brighter future for a young person in your community? Every child deserves at least one person who believes in them.

CONTACT:

Nicki Airey – Coromandel Manager / Mentoring Coordinator

Email: nicki@bbs.nz

Phone: 021 158 8227

Georgie Harkin – Mentoring Coordinator

Email: georgie@bbbs.nz

Website: www.bigbrotherbigsister.org.nz

Facebook: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coromandel

The real value of a pint: why paying more might just

BY KAREN AND NEIL VOWLES

Inflation, that invisible bandit, has been nicking coins out of our pockets faster than you can say, “Another round, please.” It’s no wonder we wince when we see the price of a pint these days. The old “cheap as chips” supermarket beer now looks like a bargain bin miracle compared to what your local charges. But before you clutch your can and retreat to the sofa, let’s remember – price isn’t the same as value.

When you buy a craft pint in a proper craft venue such as The Pour House in Hahei amongst many, you’re not just getting beer. You’re getting the beer. It is all about value. Your pint’s brewed by passionate people who talk about hops the way others talk about the weather – nonstop. A lovingly brewed, perfectly poured, gloriously presented masterpiece is handed over with a smile that says, “Kia Ora, mate.” You can’t put a price on that (well, you can, but you’ll grumble less if you think of it like this).

When you order a good pint of craft beer in a proper craft venue, you’re not just buying 568 millilitres of fermented joy – you’re buying an experience.

If you’re a reader of a POH (Pursuit of Hoppiness) publication, we can safely assume you’re already fluent in the language of hops and foam. You appreciate that craft beer on tap is a living, breathing part of your evening –not just something to be poured and promptly forgotten while you scroll TikTok.

This brings us to the true value of a pint at the pub – people!

Yes, actual human beings - the kind who talk, laugh, and occasionally argue about whether this year’s hazy IPA (Indian Pale Ale) ) is better or worse than last year’s. In a world where half our “social life” involves staring at glowing rectangles, the pub is still the antidote to the algorithm.

Now, the stats tell us younger generations are drinking less and going out less; admirable restraint perhaps. However, it’s also these same generations who report record levels of stress and anxiety. Coincidence? Perhaps. But we’re just saying, a bit of friendly chat over a moderate pint might do more for your mental health than your mindfulness app ever will.

Science (and, frankly, common sense) tells us that low to moderate drinking can boost feelings of happiness, sociability, and general,

“isn’t-life-grand-ness.” A good pub chat delivers more than opinions on beer. That chat can provide shared stories, recommendations, random banter, and the occasional new friend. It’s community, distilled. This is the social glue that keeps humanity together. You can’t get that from drinking alone while your cat judges you.

Let’s be honest about ourselves. These days, many of us are more likely to talk to our phones than to each other. Our phones are terrible listeners. In the pub, how-

ever, you’re surrounded by actual human beings – some of whom might even make eye contact. You chat, you laugh, you debate the superiority of stouts versus sours like it’s the fate of the world. You reconnect with the lost art of conversation - no emojis required. Sure, we all know that too much of a good thing is, well, too much. But drinking in good company tends to keep things in check. After a pint or two, your brain loosens up just enough to wander into interesting territory – a phe-

nomenon we like to call the Friday Night Effect. (Also known as “that point where you start thinking you’re hilarious.”)

That’s the idea behind the naming of The Third Pint podcast - the notion that somewhere around pint number three, at a sensible ABV, (Alcohol By Volume) the consumer unwinds, the conversation really starts to sparkle and the world is ‘put to right’.

So let’s reframe how we think about “value”. A craft beer, served well and enjoyed in a lively pub, is so much more than its price tag. It’s part beverage, part therapy, part community service. It’s a ticket to human connection, laughter, and a few stories you’ll definitely be embellishing in years to come.

Cheers to that – and to the pint that’s worth every dollar. „ Neil and Karen are the owners of The Pour House in Hahei. They are very committed to their community and to providing excellent service where people can enjoy craft beer and delicious food. Their Coromandel Brewing Company makes craft beer, ciders and gin. It is a very cosy, welcoming and ‘country elegant’ bar and restaurant open seven days a week. See advert page 6.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL WRITER –

SARAH-JANE

Top ten museums in Australia that are anything but boring

Tired of boring art galleries and dusty history displays?

Australia doesn't just offer beautiful beaches and cute marsupials; it also has a delightfully weird side! We've scoured the map for the places that put the "odd" in odyssey - from a church dedicated to burnt teddy bears to a building shaped like a giant camera. Forget highbrow culture; these are the unique (and often hilarious) museums guaranteed to add a truly unforgettable twist to your travels.

1. Camera Museum, Meckering, WA

Shaped like a 35mm camera, this museum on the way to Kalgoorlie explores the history of photography before the smartphone era. Discover a time when taking a photo required 10 minutes of motionless waiting. This museum is a reality check on the world before the instant selfie.

2. National Motor Museum, Birdwood, SA

Located in the scenic Adelaide Hills, this museum is a haven for car enthusiasts. It chronicles the evolution of the motor vehicle, with a special focus on the iconic Australian car, the Holden.

3. Old Umbrella Shop, Launceston, Tasmania

A preserved National Trust site, this shop offers a rare glimpse into Tasmania's retail heritage. Originally opened by the Shott family who manufactured and repaired umbrellas, it still retails umbrellas and Tasmanian artisan goods today, with displays of original umbrellas and early

4. Bonegilla Migrant Centre Museum, Albury, NSW

A profoundly significant site, this museum was the first home for over 300,000 migrants from more than 50 countries between 1947 and 1971. Visitors can tour Block 19 and learn the stories of those who began their lives in Australia here.

5. International Cricket Hall of Fame, Bowral, NSW

A must-see for sports and cricket fans, this museum features interactive exhibits centred around the game, with a definite focus on

the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. Highlights include the permanent display of Shane Warne’s Baggy Green cap.

6. Museum of Fire, Sydney, NSW

This museum delivers a powerful message about fire safety through visually graphic, life-sized displays depicting the horror of home fires (such as burnt teddies). It also celebrates firefighting history, featuring an extensive collection of fire trucks, helmets, and regalia.

7. Surf World Museum, Torquay, Victoria

Celebrating the quintessential Australian surfing and beach culture, this museum is dedicated to the history of the sport, surfboards, and related popular culture. It is conveniently located at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

8. Berndt Museum, Perth, WA

Hosted at the University of Western Australia, this institution houses one of the world's most significant collections of Aborig-

inal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material, including art, objects, archives, film, and sound. It is open for specific exhibitions.

9. Albany's Historic Whaling Station, Torndirrup, WA

A stark epitaph to the 19th-century slaughter of whales, this site allows visitors to explore an intact whale processing factory and a fully restored whale chasing ship. Tours provide an informative overview of the station's operations.

Note: Near Mangonui, Northland is Butler Point Whaling Museum. Awesome gardens with panoramic views of the harbour.

10. Santos Museum of Economic Botany, Adelaide, SA Housed in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, this museum is a historical exhibit in itself. Its collection, which focuses on plants and their various uses, is displayed in its original 19th-century upright glass cabinets, transporting visitors back to the 1880s.

BY RAY VAN BEYNAN

The recent fatality in Whitianga last week brings the spotlight squarely onto road safety. From media reporting and volunteers at the scene it appears that one vehicle has driven through the compulsory stop at the intersection of Moewai Rd and the State Highway and been struck by a vehicle travelling through the intersection. Sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and a speedy recovery for the others involved.

A roundabout like this would be of benefit.

Locals have called for years for a roundabout at this intersection. It is one of the busiest in our town with a busy State Highway and commercial areas on both sides and heavy vehicles in abundance. The speed limit of 80 km/ph is too high given the volume of traffic. It’s time for Waka Kotahi (Land Transport Safety Authority) to install a roundabout and reduce the speed limits that will go a long way in mitigating this dangerous intersection.

fighters doing traffic control after the crash. That’s not on. The delays are often caused by the time it takes for the specialist Police units to travel from Hamilton and carry out their complex scene investigations. Following the fatality Police are responsible for reporting to the coroner and investigating any breaches of the law. That work can’t be rushed.

Statistics show that our rates of deaths and serious injuries compared to similar sized OECD countries are too high. The EU average of deaths per 1 million is 40 whilst we sit at almost double that. Our Scandinavian and Irish cousins are so much better placed.

mandel is mediocre. Every time I get in a vehicle or on my bike, I witness at least one piece of driving that ranges from dangerous to reckless and gives the impression that the driver or their victims are fatalities waiting to happen. There are way too many drivers who mistakenly believe they have the skills of Liam Lawson to navigate our roads. Speed limits must be relative to the condition of the road and terrain. In may places they are not built for a 100 km/ ph limit.

Media reports focused on people who verbally abused our volunteer fire

The standard of driving in and around the Coro-

Next week some commentary on solutions. Let’s take personal responsibility for the safety of all road users. Let’s treat our emergency services workers with respect and support their efforts. Stay safe.

Danger at the crossroad

My neighbour has been on social media about the problem of the intersection of South Highway and Moewai Road near Whitianga. Her speaking up has encouraged me to speak from my own experience.

I live on South Highway and every day I come into town so I drive through the intersection every day. It might seem obvious that people must stop and give way but the drivers often don’t. They might give way to one vehicle and then they think it’s their turn and just drive

out there.

Recently there was a fatality on the corner of South Highway and Moewai Road one of our own residents. It is very sad, and I am not blaming anyone, but I want to point out that it is a very dangerous intersection because it is a main highway intersecting with a residential and business crossroad.

Drivers need to stop at any major intersection; especially this one and be patient.

Everyone needs to stop.

A major aspect of what is happening is that peo-

ple coming out of South Highway turning right into town do not seem to give way. Underestimating the distance away and speed of the cars on the Highway 25 is easy to do if yopu don’t stop and just pause. Yes, it would help if there was a roundabout but there isn’t. please let’s be dirvers who stop and give way before proceeding.

Resident of South Highway West, Whitianga

A letter to the editor that applies to the above column by Rav van Beynan

Homegrown and Homemade Creatives

BY BEVERLEY SHEPPARD

Hands up those ladies who joined the Facebook group called the Homemakers Club in Whitianga.

I out my hand up and I glanced at the reason for this new Club’s existence, thought it sounded nice and forgot all about it. Today, I had the pleasure of attending the final gathering for the year of this special new club which meets at the Coro Club in Whitianga on Sundays from 10.00 am to 12 noon. Ashleigh Taiapa and Madie Carswell are the young creatives that are behind these gatherings of homemakers

The Homemakers Club encourages locals to come along to the weekly gathering and bring five items each that are homemade, hand crafted, thrifted, baked, foraged, created, or picked from your garden. All the beautiful items bought are placed on a prepared and decorated large table. Club members are then invited to each take

five items from the table.

On the occasion I came, about 18 ladies arrived with very delicious, home baked and decorated cookies, a Christmas cake and even jars of raw fresh milk. Other items included swan plants in little pots grown from seed and dried flowers in a posy with yellow gift wrapping. Labels can be provided on the day to name and describe the artisan’s skills. Ashleigh shared with me about her passion for learning, creating and growing friendships with like minded locals. Any age is welcome but

this gathering was mostly young mums and young professionals who love being generous with their skills at home making and home baking. The next Homemakers Club gatherings are in January. Save the dates and make your way to the Coro Club at 10.00am. For those ladies who have already joined the Facebook group, they are finding a joy in the friendships which develop. The momentum Ashleigh is wanting to build in growing this unique club is fabulous and definitely building a movement of encouragement and motivation.

Christmas display a big hit. Come to Pauanui

BY PAULINE STEWART

Post Plus Pauanui is a small retail store in the Pauanui Shopping Village with a beautiful Christmas surprise. Delia and Tracey have set up an enchanting Christmas display taking up a large section of their store. This is their sixth year of doing this for the community and it grows every year. Delia is the decorator of the trees and displays and the joyful atmosphere in the store is bursting with the spirit of Christmas.

The name Post Plus Pauanui is because this store in the Pauanui Shopping Village houses 600 post boxes for the residents of Pauanui as there is no postal deliveries in the area.

The Christmas exhibition and retail display provides something for every post box holder and a special invitation is issued to the peninsula residents and holiday visitors to come and enjoy the Christmas display. There are many things to

delight young and older.

Opening hours are 10.00am to 4.00pm seven days a week. Tracey says there is no cost at all to enjoy this

exhibition and children love it. However, there is so much in this retail store about gifts and gift giving that shopping will be hard to resist.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THUMBS UP TO RICHARDSONS

Thumbs up to Abby Lawrence from Richardsons Real Estate. This wonderful lady went way above and beyond when selling our property in Robinson Road, Whitianga.

We knew the purchasers loved our home with self-contained cottage for their mum and dad.

Abby turned herself inside out and outside in to make our sale work by a certain date so we could buy a property at Auction.

Talk about down to the wire, we went unconditional one hour prior to the property we wanted going to Auction. Even the purchasers Solicitor bent over backwards to make it all work for us. Our stress levels were extremely high which rubbed off on our pooch Dex too. There were tears from Abby and us when she phoned to say it was unconditional. Even Dex was excited and happy as he felt our relief.

We wish to thank everyone involved in the whole process. Everyone made this happen for both us and the purchasers. A very rare thing in Real Estate. I used to be in the Real Estate industry so I know how hard Abby worked for both purchaser and Vendor.

Richardsons Whitianga watched the live Auction and the whole office were cheering and jumping up and down when we won. If you're looking for the best

Real Estate Agent in Whitianga and the Coromandel, you cannot go passed Abby Lawrence from Richardsons Whitianga.

Bronwen (Bronee) Stanfield, Andrew Fleming and Dex our dog

NEW STANDARD SET!

Richard

Shelford-Woodcock, at his first Mercury Bay Ward Community Board Public Forum meeting has set a hopeful and bright standard for Community Board meetings for this new election cycle period.

Very competently backed by his deputy Kim Abrahamson they make a “Dynamic Duo”. And, with the other two elected Community Board members, Rob Davis and Peter McKenzie, already armed with port folios to move forward with and report on, this is such encouraging organisation and commitment.

When Richard experienced resistance to his pro-active approach from council staff ,he took his proposal to Mayor Peter Revell. The protocol in place was as it had been in the past. And here, we must give full credit to our new Mayor. He listened, agreed that Richard’s. request and expectation that they get straight down to business with a Public Forum at the first meeting of the local Community Boards was the most effective and positive way forward, and promptly actioned the change.

„ 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.

Whitianga cancelled

I believe the new team we have in place across the Peninsula have the ability to deliver results that we have been wanting for some time. Give them a brief time to settle in and give them the support and respect they deserve. They look like the best teams the Coromandel needs for this next period of budgetary and economic challenges where a lot still has to be achieved for less.

Ady Cole-Ewen, Wharekaho

THE COROMANDEL LEFT BEHIND - AGAIN

The recent cancellation of the Greenstone Entertainment Summer Concert in Whitianga represents more than just a disappointing scheduling change - it exposes a fundamental failure in our region’s economic development strategy.

When I campaigned for the Mayoralty, economic development

was at the heart of my platform. Events like the Summer Concert Tour are precisely the kind of opportunities that can transform our local economy. An iconic lineup featuring Iggy Pop and Joan Jett would have drawn thousands of visitors to Whitianga, filling our accommodation providers, restaurants, cafes, and retail businesses during what should be a peak summer period.

Instead, we’ve watched this opportunity slip through our fingers and relocate to Auckland’s Spark Arena.

The TCDC (Thames-Coromandel District Council) had months to work with Greenstone Entertainment to address concerns about the Monday, January 26 date. Rather than proactively problem-solving - perhaps lobbying for a better date, ensuring adequate infrastructure support, or demonstrating the region’s

commitment to hosting major events – we remained passive while the concert was quietly moved Auckland unlikely to ever return.

This isn’t just about one concert. It’s about a pattern. Time and again, regional New Zealand is sidelined in favour of metropolitan centres. The Coromandel has world-class venues, a spectacular summer atmosphere, and a community that embraces visitors. Yet we continue to be overlooked. Our region desperately needs events that encourage visitors to stay, to spend, and to experience what makes the Coromandel special. We need a council that actively pursues and fights to retain these opportunities, not one that watches them disappear from our district.

The economic impact of this decision will be felt across Whitianga and the wider Coromandel – in empty accommodation, quieter restaurants, and lost revenue for local businesses who were counting on this event. It’s time for the TCDC to take economic development seriously. We need proactive engagement with event promoters, better infrastructure planning, and a genuine commitment to making the Coromandel a premier destination for major cultural events. Our region deserves better than being an afterthought.

Patrick Kerr, Whangamata

You’re Invited!

CARS, COFFEE & CAKE!

27 NOVEMBER | 10-2

We invite you to join us on Thursday 27th of November at our Whitianga Service Centre - 6 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga, as we celebrate Brent’s next chapter! Brent has been a valued member of our Farmer Autovillage family for many years now and likely a familiar face to those who have purchased vehicles or serviced with us over the years.

Brent is embarking on a new adventure of retirement, one that will include plenty of fishing, travelling in his campervan and making treasured memories with family.

Pop in for morning tea, have a coffee with Brent and check out the latest vehicles from MG and GWM on display. PLUS enjoy event only pricing and exclusive offers available for this day only.

us know if you can make it ›

AT THE MARKETS

From heartbreak to handcrafted beauty

BY VERNA CARR

At the Whitianga Saturday markets, Sunflower Glass stands out with its dazzling array of handcrafted glass creations. Behind the colourful display are Sandra and Mark Hoskin, whose artistic journey emerged from profound loss.

After the tragic death of their daughter Jess, Sandra found comfort in her daughter's leftover beads. Jess had loved sunflowers and excelled at jewellery-making, and working with these materials became Sandra's way of staying connected to her memory.

In 2017, the couple purchased their first kiln, discovering a shared passion for glasswork. They began creating flowers, ornaments, and jewellery, their skills growing with each piece. By 2023, they elevated their craft by importing authentic Murano glass from Italy, renowned worldwide for its exceptional quality.

The market stall offers something for everyone. Mark's funky fish are the bestsellers

– each one unique, crafted from vibrant Murano glass and designed to actually float with special floating balls.

The collection also features Kiwiana favourites including glass kiwis, pukekos, sheep, and native birds, plus Christmas ornaments and jewellery. Particularly special are pieces incorporating sand from popular Whitianga beaches.

Sandra, a regular at both Whitianga and Coroglen markets, also stocks affordable items like rings, bracelets, and jibbits for Croc shoes – small

treasures children can buy with pocket money.

Next year brings exciting expansion. The Hoskins will offer two-hour workshops at their Whitianga studio, where participants can learn glasswork techniques and create their own unique pieces with all materials supplied (bookings essential).

Sunflower Glass stands as a beautiful tribute to Jess's memory while bringing joy and creativity to the Coromandel community, one handcrafted piece at a time.

Local artist brings colour to market

BY VERNA CARR

Every Saturday morning, visitors to Whitianga Market are greeted by a splash of vibrant colour as accomplished Australian artist Birgitt Shannon transforms a simple market stall into a captivating gallery of contemporary art.

Birgitt, who has made the picturesque Coromandel region her home, has become a familiar face at both Whitianga and Coroglen markets. Her stall showcases bold, nature-inspired artworks that reflect her unique artistic vision and deep connection to the natural landscape that surrounds her.

Working primarily in acrylics and ink, Birgitt offers expressive, striking paintings alongside popular greeting cards featuring miniature versions of her larger works. She also creates hand-painted jewellery, but her true passion lies in crafting bespoke earrings that capture the essence of Whitianga’s coastal environment.

“I comb the local beaches for pāua shells and other treasures,” Birgitt explains. Each find is meticulously sanded and polished to a brilliant shine before being transformed into

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Art lovers can discover Birgitt’s distinctive style of artwork and jewellery at her weekly market stalls, or browse her full collection online at her website birgittoriginals.com. Her art is accessible to both serious collectors and casual market-goers, while her statement jewellery pieces appeal to those seeking unique, locally-made wearable art.”

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Seagull Centre News – gadget drops, Christmas Party and more e-news

FROM THE SEAGULL CENTRE

GREAT GADGET DROP AND SHOP COROMANDEL

Have you got a junk drawer full of gadgets? Maybe you have a cupboard full of unused electronics? We are encouraging our Coromandel friends to pull out their unwanted electronics and give them a second chance – working or not. Bring them to Coromandel town’s ‘Great Gadget Drop and Shop’ on Saturday 28th November to do just that- drop your old e-products and shop for something new (Christmas is coming). Disposal fees may apply.

From the Coromandel Independent Living Trust

SEAGULL CENTRE CHRISTMAS PARTY 21 DECEMBER

You are all invited to this year’s Seagull Centre Christmas Party on Sunday, 21 December. We are celebrating at all four Seagull Centre sites – Thames, Pauanui, Tairua and Matarangi with Thames hosting the main festivities – including an ice cream truck, coffee cart, sausage sizzle, and special in-store sales throughout the day. All our sites will be joining in the fun with chocolate Santas, lollies, and a festive raffle.

This event is also our chance to say a heartfelt thank you. Your donations, your shopping, and your support throughout 2025 have helped keep thousands of reusable items out of landfill and circulating in our community. We truly could not do what we do without you. Come along, celebrate with us, and let us wrap up another big year of reuse together!

MATARANGI OPENING

The Seagull Centre opened its third Drop-Off Bay on Saturday, 22 November at the Matarangi Transfer Station. They are accepting good-quality furniture, tools and outdoor equipment, building and renovation materials, electronics, bric-a-brac.

Everything collected is taken to our Thames site to be processed and redistributed – keeping good stuff out of landfill and in our community.

Open every weekend - Saturday & Sunday 9am–4pm.

MATARANGI’S CORO CLASSIC WILL DIVERT FOOD WASTE

This Summer 2025, the Seagull Centre is excited to partner with the organisers of Coro Classic music festival on Saturday, 3 January. Their Waste Wizards team will help separate and divert food waste and recyclables from landfill.

WAHI TUKURUA - WHITIANGA

Wāhi Tukurua (Mercury Bay

Resource Recovery Centre) is also referred to as the Whitianga Seagull Centre. All the centres work together. Whitianga’s is well underway and is modelled on the original Seagull Centre in Thames. This community-managed centre aims to reduce waste by accepting reusable and repairable items and selling them in an on-site shop. It is located at the new Refuse Transfer Station on Moewai Road (still under construction) and is designed to provide affordable goods and create local jobs while promoting a circular economy.

TAIRUA AND PAUANUI Tairua and Pauanui have dropoff sites at their transfer stations.

Both sites are run by Seagull Centre staff and collect items from the community to be brought back to the Seagull Centre in Thames for processing.

WHANGAMATA

The Seagull Centre has been supporting the establishment of a CRCC in Whangamata alongside Whangamata Resource Recovery Trust. WRRT runs a collection at the local Sunday market collecting items such as E-waste, plastic bottle lids. Batteries, liquid paperboard containers, clean polystyrene. These items are sent to the Seagull centre Thames for processing and recycling.

PAEROA

Paeroa is where the Hauraki Reuse and repair Centre is located and it has been running for three years. The Seagull Centre over the years has provided governance and operational support as needed.

„ Manus Pretorius of the Thames Seagull Centre would love to see more of this happening across the Coromandel Peninsula, so if you have an upcoming event and want to reduce waste, get in touch today through our web site info@seagullcentre.co.nz

‘Let’s make reuse the first choice, not the last resort.’

Vision Whitianga – Water Sports Centre

This is the second in our series on people’s vision for Whitianga. We are keen to hear about the visions for other centres on our Coromandel Peninsula.

BY JOHN MCKENZIE

As a lifetime sportsperson, with a background in rugby and later triathlons and cycling, and being a very well-travelled person, I have come to believe that Whitianga is absolutely a prime location for aquatic based sport. Such sports include open water swim-

ming and sheltered-water swimming in the estuary. Other estuary based sports could include rowing, kayaking and canoeing. Open water sports also include yachting, waka ama and triathlon.

It would be great to have one Aquatic Centre to house these sports. Such a centre would house equipment, provide changing

facilities, social areas and so on. Realistically it would be based as close as possible to town but could also be based at Brophy’s Beach or further up the estuary on South Highway.

The surrounding countryside provides great scope for cycle and running training which supports aspects of aquatic sports such as triathlon.

Environmental Trust is Kim’s passion

BY GORDON BARNABY

The Historical Society members were recently treated to a fascinating talk by Kim Lawry of the Mercury Bay Environmental Trust at The Lost Spring. Kim gave an excellent summary of the Trust’s very small origins as an outdoor activity for Mercury Bay Outdoor Language School’s students and then morphing to become a Trust when the school had to close down.

our area. With a growing demand for ‘eco sourcing’, most seeds for the plants are locally sourced and the difficulties and challenges of harvesting and choosing viable kauri seed were an insight for us all.

in the planned excursion to visit the nursery early in the New Year.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

• Mercury Bay Environmental Trust NurseryEarly New Year

The interest of TCDC in coastal dune restoration and the need for suitable plants provided the initial inspiration for growth, and it is now a huge supplier of plants for various dune care groups in

Some of the issues with DOC over handling kauri dieback and access to areas for planting kauri were touched on as was the probability of humans being only one of many potential vectors of the disease with feral pigs, deer and even kiwi being some of the others.

This was an excellent overview of the Trust’s work which will be a great background for all those who choose to participate

• Driving Creek Railway and Art Gallery plus Gold Stamper Battery – March/ April

• Thames – Thames Cemetery at Kopu, Sir Keith Park Airfield Memorial –May/June

The dates for these trips are yet to be finalised.

„ New members: The Mercury Bay Historical Society welcomes new members. Contact Gordon Barnaby, Secretary, Ph 07 866 2433

ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

Actions speak louder than words

BY MALCOLM CAMPBELL

Just after the Coalition Government was elected, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made a quick tour of the country reassuring the farmers that the government had faith in the farming community and with government support he was relying on them to get the nation’s debt under control.

The message was music to farmer’s ears and with a promise to rewrite or revamp or ‘re-something’ of the Resource Management Act, all systems seemed to be on go. The reality is some-what different.

The RMA after two years is still sailing on with all the frustrations and the poisoning that has now been authorised for the last thirty years. To reinforce the faith in the farming community, the penalty for damaging the environment in the Government’s eyes has been raised from three hundred thousand to one million dollars and for industry, from six hundred thousand to ten million dollars!!

The government persists in blaming industry for any and every little spill, whilst knowingly, wilfully and deliberately, the government is responsible for the policy behind poisoning land air and water from North Cape to the Bluff

rain be washed into the pond.

Successive governments have an endless prosecution session on productive people all based on a great big lie. For the past thirty years now, effluent has been the villain in spoiling our water ways for recreational activities, yet natural effluent has been around for thousands, if not millions, of years without the world coming to a stop. Going to the loo is just as natural as putting food in your mouth. But saturating our soil and water with poison has only been widespread for sixty years and the results have been devastating.

The food chain from soil biology to insect life, bird life, fish life and so on is all crumbling, as the poi-

son brigade ignore nature at everyone’s peril. The lakes at Cook’s Beach are an example, as twenty years of diquat poisoning did not get rid of the weed, but destroyed the water quality. Environment Waikato on their website stated that Lakes Whangapae and Waikare were in good condition until 1970. The chemical poisoning became widespread about 1965. Now those lakes are described as ‘Eutrophic’.

The government persists in blaming industry for any and every little spill, whilst knowingly, wilfully and deliberately, the government is responsible for the policy behind poisoning land air and water from North Cape to the Bluff. On the roadside fence of our farm, I have placed ‘NO SPRAYING’ notices and to their credit, the contractors have complied. More, we have a man-made pond on the farm with a catchment of about 60ha entirely on this farm. The catchment is grazing land with all the poo and pee deposited by cattle, that may in heavy

Regular testing reveals nitrate levels one third of the World Health Organisation (WHO) level required for drinking water and the second test for Escherichia Coli (Ecoli). The water is quite safe for swimming. Therefore, it demonstrates that if water is left un-poisoned, it will cleanse itself as I was taught in primary school and what I have come to learn by experience in farming for over seventy years. But that was before 24D, 245T, Glysophate, Paraquat etc.

„ Malcolm Campbell is an author of a number of books on innovation and observation on farming practices and policies that affects farmers. At 94, he has been farming his own land for 74 years. He remains an active and successful farmer and advocate for less spraying, more common sense in policy that nurtures the land, and practical partnership with local government. Contact Malcolm on smaljoa@ gmail.com

GAMES AND PUZZLES

Win a $5.60 Wednesday Lotto ticket. Hand deliver, mail, scan/photograph or email your entry to The Coromandel Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga, or info@theinformer.co.nz to reach us by 12:00pm on Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from the New World checkout manager directly.

Editor: Pauline Stewart (027 271 6182)

Newspaper Layout: Debbie Morgan

Web Host: EMD Agency

Print Run: 9800

Writers: Jack Biddle, Trevor Ammundsen, Michelle Dellabarca, Dorothy

Pam Ferla, Malcolm Campbell, Lily Paulsen.

Office: 14 Monk Street, Whitianga 3510, Phone (07) 866 2090

Editorial: info@theinformer.co.nz, Advertising: sales@theinformer.co.nz

Admin: office@theinformer.co.nz

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Coastguard Action

BY STUART BROWN CHAIR OF WHITIANGA COASTGUARD

The last month has been a busy period.

Four reports from vessels or individuals of the following:

• Person in the water after haven fallen out of the dingy reported by the ferry. Another vessel quickly picked up both the person and the dingy and returned them to land.

• Overdue jet ski reported to the Police. Two duty officers investigated local Whitianga boat ramps prior to launching Rescue Vessels. Just prior to unit activation we received report that the jet ski was back on land at Kuaotunu.

• Report of a sailing dingy out near Mussel rock with no one onboard.

Our CRV was in the river returning from training. Went back out and located dingy which was anchored and had two people snorkelling at Mussel Rock.

• Report of a possible flare sighting in Whitianga river. Two duty officers investigated local ramps and river with nothing evident. No mayday, 111, VHF calls or further flares. After discussion with the Police, no further action undertaken.

Thank you for all the calls and to the people who assisted in some form of action. The big takeaway from Coastguards’ view would be that if a trip report was completed in some of these incidences, there would be actionable intelligence for us to work on. A good mantra

is that a trip report is the beginning of any good Search and Rescue response.

Callouts: Four general callouts with one being stood down with a vessel of opportunity assisting with a tow. Boat locations were Coralie Bay, Maori Lady and Double Island with tows back to Whitianga.

Seven training sessions were held for duty crews; crew going for assessment to qualified crew status and unit crew training with two boat searches.

We are now in discussion with Coastguard New Zealand about replacing our 9 metre Naiad vessel “Te Morehu Rescue”. We have an initial proposal in for funding of $560,000 against a build of over $1.1 million. If anyone would like to contact me to discuss any possible contributions towards the new vessel, please contact me on 021 0222 5625.

We are actively recruiting for

wet crew to boost our numbers. If anyone is interested in joining our team of professional volunteers, please email info@whitiangacoastguard.co.nz or phone me on 021 0222 5625 for details.

Coastguard Summer Raffle: We will be starting to sell tickets in the Coastguard Summer raffle soon from Countdown Whitianga and on Saturdays at the market in Soldiers Park. Thank you to Countdown for providing space for a Rescue vessel to be put on site. The proceeds primarily go to the volunteers PPE with some put aside for asset replacement.

Thank you: Lastly, as we head into the busy period, I would like to thank in advance the partners, pets and either self-employed or employees of all the volunteers of our unit. As we regularly see around town, it is the volunteer crews that put down tools or pens at the drop of a hat to help others. Safe Boating.

POLICE REPORT

„ Monday, 17 to Sunday, 23 November 2025

GENERAL:

Several burglaries have been reported this past week with bach owners returning after a few weeks away. Various items were taken from these properties including alcohol and food.

Monday, 17 November: two violent offenders assaulted 3 people on Albert Street. Enquiries are continuing to locate these persons and hold them to account for their actions.

Tuesday, 18 November: an incident occurred on Mayfair Close between two males. Damage was done to a vehicle, and both are being spoken to regarding the matter.

Friday, 21 November: a vehicle was reported to having been broken into while parked on The Esplanade. Various items were taken from within the vehicle.

ARRESTS:

No arrests made this week

OCCURRENCES:

Friday, 21 November: a Family Harm matter occurred at a South Highway address. Both parties were spoken to regarding the matter and will be gaining assistance from external agencies.

Also, on the 21st, a minor

family harm matter occurred at a Kuaotunu address. The male was subsequently trespassed from the victim’s address.

TRAFFIC:

Wednesday, 19 November: a single vehicle collision occurred on SH25, Whenuakite. The driver lost control of the vehicle with both occupants receiving injuries.

Friday, 21 November: a single vehicle collision occurred on Matarangi Road. The truck was fitted with a hiab crane and the operator failed to lower the crane, which subsequently collided with an overhanging cable. The driver has been spoken to regarding the matter and fined for his actions.

Sunday, 23 November: a driver was stopped on Buffalo Beach Road and processed for drink driving. He was found to be in excess of the limit and will be appearing at court. Police are targeting Restraints, Impairment, Distractions and Speed this month.

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 – Friday, 12 December and Monday 22 December, 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 Jo on 021 264 3753.

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 – s 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 10.30am12.30pm 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 –

Wednesday at 1.45pm. Come and join us at the Community Centre (Hall). New members are most welcome, please contact Coral ph. 0212303944.

Coromandel ‘Growers & Artisans Market’

When: Every Saturday from 9am - 1pm Where: The Anglican Church Hall, Coromandel Town.

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: 022 104 1701 please email mbenvironmentaltrust@ gmail.com or go to www.mbet.co.nz.

Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club – Will recommence in March 2026, Phone Cheryl 027 452 7887 or Sandie 021 825 667 for more

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.

information. Mercury Bay Pickleball Club - At the Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Tuesdays Members Only 5.30-7.30pm; Saturdays Social & New Players 9.30-11.30am; Sundays All Players 4-6pm. Members, Visitors & Guests $5, a complimentary session is available to new players wanting to trial pickleball. Membership is only $20 PA and can be completed online at www.mercurybaypickleball.co.nz Contact Tony 021 426 150. Mercury Bay Sports Park 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 022 383 6351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball Club-Thursday & Sunday Contact Tim 027 843 2683 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

Self-defence classes – Town Hall, Tues/Wed 6-7.30pm. Ph Tony 027 333 5146.

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

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. Whenuakite Area Playgroup – 9.30am12.30pm 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 10am-4pm, 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 9am12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@ playcentre.org.nz or 027 880 3947. 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 12.452.30pm; Thursdays absolute beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, improvers/seniors 12.452.30pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850 or Glynis 021 1099 155. 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, $7 per session. New Beginners, Wed 2.30-3.30pm, Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; . Contact Kathy 027 4321 353 or Cecily 027 294 1750

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. Our next gathering will be Christmas Lunch on 4th Dec at the MB Club. 11.00am start (doors open at 10.30am). Further info or to join Grey Power Mercury Bay please phone 07 866 5516 or E: greypower.mercurybay@gmail.com. Come and join us there is lots to celebrate. 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.

MERCURY BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Christmas Luncheon for Members and friends To be held at The Dunes Matarangi Golf Course Thursday, 27 November @ 11.15 Inq. Sec 07 867 1254

BECS’ BELGIUM ADVENTURES Join Becs from the Mercury Bay Museum and hear all about her recent Belgium adventures to the IKUWA8 Conference, Museums & a WW1 Battlefield Tour. Her trip wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support of our community, so she wants to tell you all about it! Thursday, 27 November 5:30pm – Mercury Twin Cinemas. Tickets $5 – Museum Fundraiser All the details are here on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EcPC7Wgoq/

OUR ANNUAL “GIVE AWAY DAY” @ Whitianga Baptist Church, 112 Cook Drive. Saturday, 6 December 2025. Doors open @ 8am Free Face painting. Drop off @ Whitianga Baptist church Friday, 5 December 8am to 2pm for donations of Bric a brac and clean and near new clothes welcome.

TRADES & SERVICES

TRADES & SERVICES

Church Services

Anglican Worship www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.org.nz

Every Sunday at 9.00am at St Peter the Fisherman 7 Dundas Street, Whitianga ALL WELCOME

Enquiries ph 021 781 081

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

relationship, but happy to see where it goes. Contact (in total confidence) design@theinformer.co.nz

To advertise your business here call 07 866 2090 or email sales@theinformer. co.nz

MEETING OF OWNERS OF HARATAUNGA 2H2

Owners are invited to a meeting to discuss and provide any feedback regarding an application by Teariki Tekeu Terry PAITAI to the Waikato-Maniopoto Maori Land Court to determine ownership of a house situated on land block Harataunga 2H2 at 1149a Kennedy Bay Rd, Kennedy Bay, Coromandel

DATE: Saturday 20th December, 2025 TIME: 1pm VENUE: Harataunga Marae Terry Paitai terry.paitai@gmail.com

ACCOUNTABILITY

Our government has failed us. We know that fossil fuels are finite. Yet commerce is distributed by trucks, when building up a nationwide rail system fuelled by forest waste could be the answer. Nationalising the remaining system and rebuilding it while we grow trees needs hard decisions. – Peter Wood

“We are in this together”

of support and love they have received it really warmed my heart knowing that stepping out still makes a difference in the community.

STEPPING OUT HAURAKI, IN THIS MOMENT... MEMOIRS BY MICHELLE

Stepping Out continues to attain its memoriable work, both in the community and beyond and please check our website for our mission, visiopn and values, www.steppingouthauraki.org.nz

Our day was filled with love, laughter, memories and a chance for our past members to acknowledge the new. There were many stories of the last 30 years, amid other rememberances of how Stepping Out has made a difference, to the lives of those we have reached.

I asked one of our members who has been here since 2001, for a memoir of what Stepping Out means to him.. ”It has given me ongoing support along my journey to wellness at the same time as offering a safe place, akin to a second home” says Steven Foster. The stories and korero from our tangata whai ora (members), remain etched into our hearts.

We shared a grazing table, dined like true kings and queens and were blessed with the incredible music of Mark Taipari, a Thames musician... thank you Mark.

We all shared a wonderful afternoon amongst friends, tangata whaiora, staff and past managers of Stepping Out. Our King and Queen for the day were Kevin and Charleen – congratulations and what an amazing effort you put into your costumes.

A SPECIAL BOOK

On this special day we were able to launch our new book created/ edited and published by our Creative Writing Group – “Expressions from Within”. Copies will be available at Stepping Out, for a small charge, please contact us at the centre – (07 8685595). We are so proud of our creative writing group and will continue to advocate the creative side of writing as a tool for recovery.

What we do at Stepping Out matters. Everyday we create a space where our people can show up as their whole selves- without judgement, shame or pretense. Our strength comes from lived experience, we know what support and advocacy looks like, and we know what hope feels like when it first begins to return...

Our 30th Birthday has been a most memoriable day which

Stepping Out will treasure for years to come.

As the current manager of nearly three years, I have witnessed true peer support within the cornerstones of our whare and realise my role is not just to manage, but to walk along side, guide and inspire all who are walking on the continuum of mental health and addiction. I

am humbled by the resilience and amazing talents and aspirations that eminate from and through our tangata whai ora. May Stepping Out Hauraki continue to provide Thames an invaluable service, through the years into the future. We are in this together...

Arohanui and Blessing.

Michelle Luckman

Through the Outback on the Ghan

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

It has always been an ambition of mine to travel through the deep outback of Australia and there seemed to be no better way to do it than riding on the renowned great train ride; the Ghan. This is a train about 774 metres long which covers a total distance of 2,979 km, from Adelaide to Darwin with shorter journeys available, such as between Alice Springs and Darwin or Adelaide. The journey takes three days to travel from Adelaide to Darwin, and four days for the return trip. I told my wife there would be plenty of stops for smokers so, having resolved her fears, she was onside and the planning began.

When booking the Ghan, you get a number of ticket options. Some are described as different versions of gold, but the real ticket is the platinum one which is what we selected. Our thinking was, if you are only going to do something once you should do it as well as you can. My advice to anyone contemplating this trip is to do the same thing. Many of the experiences described in this article relate to the platinum ticket.

Our flight from New Zealand duly arrived in Adelaide. We spent a couple of nights there, having a bit of an exploration, before catching the train. Of interest we found a ‘Coromandel Place’ in central Adelaide which had a nice little pub in it. The pub had some historical photos and memorabilia which showed that their Coromandel Place was named after the same boat that gave its name to our Peninsula.

Our actual trip on the Ghan started with a limousine calling

at our hotel to transport us to the station. The train is so long it cannot leave from the metro station. Passengers have to go to the freight station, but it is still comfortable as the Ghan people have built their own building for registration etc. We were escorted by a friendly hostess to our platinum booth where our bags were all taken for us, to appear in our cabin when we boarded the train.

The time waiting for the train to start rolling was spent drinking a few glasses of complimentary champagne, a great morning tipple enjoyed by many.

Eventually boarding, we found our cabin, one of five in our carriage. Our cabin had its own ensuite and was set up as a lounge area during the day with the staff converting it to a double bed arrangement in the evening.

A maximum of 30 platinum passengers shared a common dining / bar carriage. When entering our carriage we were greeted by the sight of another complimentary

champagne each, a Bollinger this time. One of the four hosting staff called by to explain aspects of our journey and generally welcomed us as part of the setting in .

Once the train started rolling, we met most of the other platinum passengers who were on the whole a very friendly bunch. Everybody shares a little of their life history and listens to others relate theirs while sipping the refreshments and watching the countryside move past. I can’t really say roll past as we weren’t really travelling through rolling countryside. It was flat most of the way with the odd hill in the distance, often referred to as mountains by Australians who are of course prone to exaggeration. Dinner was served and this was markedly different from the pies and sandwiches on Kiwi Rail. The menu consisted of an entrée of Venison Tataki with appetisers - Crocodile Dumplings, Duck and a soup. For mains you choice was Barramundi, Eye Fillet and

Dahl with a cheese board to follow and two dessert options. This excellent food and much enjoyed by the passengers. The evening ended eventually with people making their way back to their cabins, enjoying the pre-arranged night cap (cognac, Baileys etc).

The next morning started with an early train stop at Welbourn Hill, just south of Northern Territory.The time is 6.00 am and we are encouraged out to watch a desert sunrise. It was clear and cold. We made our way to the central point to enjoy cups of tea and a bacon and egg roll while watching the sun rise, quite spectacular really. The next stop was Alice Springs where we had a choice of a number of activities. The main one was dodging flies.

For our second night, the train rolled on to an eventual stop in the town of Katherine, a few hundred kilometres south of Darwin. The selection of activities to pursue included a trip to Katherine Gorge for some, exploring Aboriginal

cave drawings for others, but we decided on the ‘Outback Station’ experience. This was great - very much the Australian outback life we imagined. . Once we were on the train again, we found the hosting staff had gone to great lengths to set up the dining area so that we could enjoy a ‘fine dining’ experience on board. A few more bollies with our group was the order of night following an exceptional repast before preparing to disembark at the Darwin station. This was a great trip that we would recommend to anyone, a ten out of ten experience and we were looked after superbly. Would we do it again? Yes, but next time we will go from Darwin to Adelaide as it takes an extra day with a few more opportunities for tourist activities. Suggest you give it a go.

„ Editorial note: NZ Jane’s Travel column has raised a lot of interest in travel experiences, so we are sharing some edited traveller’s accounts in The Informer.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

Handicap Pairs Part 2 Round

Four. Wed 19 November

North/South: 1 Tadek Gawor & Sue Gill 58.7; 2 Ischelle Stevenson & Colin Day 55.3; 3 Don Barry & Giorgio Allemano 54.4 .

East/West: 1 Pat Doube & Jan Autumn 63.1; 2 Johanna Bonnar & Anne Knowles 56.6; 3 Mike & Sue Spence 55.1. Lost Spring Pairs Round Two Thurs, 20 November

1 Steven Knowles & Angela Cook 55.6; 2 Geoff Jervis & Amy Hyde 54.8; 3 Faith Stock & Julie Rutledge 53.2 .

TAIRUA BRIDGE CLUB

Slipper Pairs Week Three Mon 17 November

North/South: 1 Ron Baker & Rob Stewart 69.84; 2 Jocelyn Taylor & Christine Meinhold 65.08; 3 Jean Myles & Chris Death 45.63.

East/West: 1 Jenny Hemmings & Robyn Waters 63.89; 2 Sonia Botica & Sue Poland 55.56; 3 Heather Buffett & Jim Buffett 51.59.

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Week 3 of Cathedral Cove Pairs

Tues 18 November

North/South: 1 Val Dwight and Sue Gill 62.50, 2 Robyn Waters and Robyn Hogg 62.08, 3 Denise Knutson and Natasha Courtney 52.50.

East/West: 1 Jean Myles and Chris Death 57.50, 2 Peter Clark and Lee Hughes 55.83, 3 Jenny Hemming and Ngaire O’Brien 50.00.

MERCURY B AY CLUB DARTS

29 players this week, so 501 doubles were played. One team went through unbeaten in all four sets to be the outright winners this week. They were Rex Donaldson & Todd Neilson. The highest finish for the men this week was 138, scored by Jordan Richards. No finishes over 50 by the ladies this week. One player scored a 180 this week and that was Fletcher Bale.

MERCURY BAY BOWLING CLUB

Members of the Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club enjoyed dinner at the Mercury Bay Club restaurant on Thursday 20th November, followed by prizegiving where certificates and New

World vouchers were presented. Drawn Four’s - Hart Shield: Winners – Alan Henderson, Maureen Lack, Jan Harvey and Wayne McNeill. Runners Up: Ray Rout, Cheryl Henderson, Lionel Lawrence and Betty Russell. .Drawn Triples – Frost Plate: Winners - Ray Rout, Ian Sanderson and Betty Simpson. Runners Up: Maureen Lack, Sandie Morris and Wayne Fisher. Drawn Pairs – Eddie Chaney Cup: Winners – Alan Henderson and Judy Cullinane. Runners Up: Ian Sanderson and Lionel Lawrence.

COOKS BEACH INDOOR BOWLS

The Cooks Beach Indoor Bowls Club held there Junior Singles Competition on 19 November 2025. Four new members were

competing for this, the winner was Tony Kelly and Runner up was Jan Bates

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

9 hole Stableford

Tuesday 18 November

1 Donna Dinsdale, 2= Mark, Annelise Du Roche, 4= Wayne Morrison, Paul Hopkins, Lauren Stephens

Thursday 20 November

Stableford and Putts

Stableford

1Lauren Stephens, 2 Richard Duckworth, 3= Anne Costello, Wayne Morrison, Frank Geoghegan.

Putts 1st Frank Geoghegan

Annual Cooks Beach v Hahei

Saturday 22 November 13 holes from the Women’s tees, Men’s handicaps adjusted 1= Neil Robertson, Lauren Stephens. 4 Harry Van Der Putten. 5 Frank Geoghegan. Team Winner (Average score) Cooks Beach 25.6 Hahei 24.7

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

Nine-hole Mixed – Stableford Fri 21 November

1 Eddie Lyle, 2 Vern Bahr, 3 Bruce Godden.

NTP 2 & 4: Vern Bahr

18 Hole Men

– Net Sat 22

November

1 Steve Collins - 65, 2 Cam Walls66, 3 Graham Dun p 69.

bert 39, 3 Graham Harrison 38, 4 Libby Hunt (Coromandel) 37

Two’s: Ton De Coek on Hole 5

manufactured aluminium windows and doors since 1990: New builds & renovations - Replacement joinery in existing homes - Aluminium & glass balustrades

Mary Sharp on Hole 13

Graham Harrison on Hole 18

Nearest The Pin On Hole 18: Graham Harrison

MERCURY BAY SNOOKER CLUB

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1 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga (Mon-Fri,

Wednesday

Kenny G was the only player to have 4 wins, he decided to be greedy and also got the highbreak money. Well done 2 wins: Peter Challis.

Two’s: Matty Menzies, Richard Steel, Patrick Gonthier. Div. One: Gross – Nathan Wilson – 77. Div.

Two: Gross - Graham Dun – 88. Strokeplay Champions

Senior: Nathan Wilson

Intermediate: Cameron Walls

Junior: Johnny Lister

THE DUNES MATARANGI

GOLF CLUB

9 Hole Men’s Stbfd Result Mon 17 Nov

1 Phil Rodgers 22, 2 Rey Bertling21 on count back, 3 Barry Titchmarsh 21

Nearest the Pin: Paul Anderson

9 Hole Men’s Shootout Results: 1 Rey Bertling

2 Lance Croawell, 3 Graham Kemp

18 Hole Ladies (WALTZ) Stbfd Thurs 20 Nov

1 Noeleen Mulligan 37, 2 Polly Lambert on count back 35, 3 Sandra Bowen 35, 4 Chrissie Smith 34.

Bev LeLievre – Polly Lambert 35 points, Kayleen Smith – Cathy Drake-Wells 30 points

9 Hole Men’s Stbfd Results:

1 Ray Green 20, 2 Barry Titchmarsh on count back 18, 3rd Lance Croawell 18. Closet to The Pin: Ray Green Sat 18 Hole Mixed Haggle Stbfd Sat 22 Nov

1 Paul Anderson 41, 2 Polly Lam-

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Saturday Whangamata decided to come play on Saturday. A good day was had by all with a wonderful lunch put on by the kitchen staff and cake and muffins provided by Terri.

Mercury Bay Snooker took out their section 12-9. Was told not to put in the pool results under threat so fair to say Whangamata won the day by overall points. Thank you to everyone that turned up.

TAIRUA GOLF CLUB

9 Hole Stableford Tue 11 Nov

1 Ros Rundle; 2 Gabrielle Tucker; 3 Graham Eltringham; 4 Jean McCann

9 Hole Scramble Thu 13 Nov

1 Gabrielle Tucker; 2 Annette Eltringham; 3 Robyn Hunter; 4 Carolyn Williams

18 Hole Stableford

1 Connie Graham; 2 Ross Reid; 3 Michael McCann; 4 Ray Russell. 18 Hole Stableford Saturday 15 November

1 Fletcher Koot; 2 Nicholas Wedde; 3 Brett Mansson; 4 Gabrielle Tucker

9 Hole Scramble Tue 18 Nov 1 Michael McCann; 2 Sue McDonnell; 3 Jenny Cosford; 4 Jan Stanley

18 Hole Stableford Thu 20 Nov

1 Warwick Rogers; 2 Kath Hale; 3 Robyn Hayward; 4 Michael McCann.

9 Hole Stableford

1 Kay van Lubeck; 2 Annette Eltringham; 3 Dennis Rundle; 4 Carolyn Williams.

Ladies news at the MBGFC

LADIES CLUB RECORD

Congratulations to Anne Smal on her Ladies Club Record for her skipjack tuna which was caught on Sunday, 16 November in sponsors grid GSB Construction Ltd.

Anne’s record is for the 37kg line class with a weight of 8.06kg. This record will supersede the

incumbent record holder which has been held since 2017. Well done Anne it’s a great achievement.

LADIES BLUE TOURNAMENT

MBGFC Ladies Blue Tournament starts in just over a couple of weeks away (1st December – 30 April). This is a ‘Blue Water’ Comp for

Whitianga Boat

those keen ladies that like to get out there behind a lure. Eligible species are marlin, broadbill and tuna (all species).

Entries to the 25/26 MBGFC Ladies Blue Tournament are now open! Get in touch with the office or pop down to the clubrooms to grab a form; phone 07 866 4121 or email office@ mbgfc.co.nz

We stock International & Altex antifoul & marine paints, Propspeed, anodes, resin, fibreglass, TruDesign plumbing fittings and so much more!

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

Phyll 027 4852036

Mitch 027 4852046