Issue 1201 17 March 2026

On Day one of the world’s largest billfish tournament, angler Jason van Esch aboard the 8.5m trailer boat Corblimey (skippered by Mark Phillips) landed a 384.9 kg black marlin, considered a “record setting” and “fish of a lifetime” catch in terms of the history of catching marlin in the waters of New Zealand.

BY RAEWYN WATKINS

If fishing tournaments are not your thing, we can only share the joy that many feel from simply being on the water, being part of a team, plus of course catching (and releasing) a BIG ONE!

As an amateur fisher person myself, I’m all too familiar with the excitement of the potential for catching my own dinner. Sadly, the reality is most often disappointment. Fish are smart and can be a challenge to land.

Along comes Kubota Classic Billfish Tour-

nament – officially the world’s largest. On a dull and windy Wednesday morning, 11 March, I headed down to take a good look at the boats heading out. Due to the conditions, the shot gun start could not happen. This didn’t seem to put people off standing on the waterfront to watch them head out and I was pleasantly surprised how many showed up. I guess the allure of seeing so many boats on mass is still an attraction. How many boats you ask?

Living a long life? Then you know grief

If you live long enough, grief becomes a part of your life, and it can be more than you ever imagined. The miracle is that life goes on – wherever we are and whatever has happened – our living is essentially a part of ‘life goes on’, especially when a life you loved has ended. For some grief comes early.

I remember at 14 years old, I watched a boy of 9 years lose his young brotherrun over by a drunk driver who didn’t stop. He was getting off the school bus and forgot to look. Everyone on the bus saw it and the older brother watched in horror unable to move - the body of his 8-year-old brother on the road.

Today, he is a businessman in his sixties, but the day is

etched on his mind and heart. He has known death at other times but that first grief is a part of who he is. His life has been full - work, marriage, children, grandchildren – travel, community life. Yet, it is a different life to what it would have been with a younger brother.

A young woman living on the Coromandel lost her teenage daughter unexpectedly. She is a high functioning organiser but just under the surface, what happened years ago is sitting there and it is part of her. Her smile doesn’t show it and many acquaintances don’t know of the tragedy. She goes on living her best, but since that day, her life is different. We are surrounded by people who carry grief. Before I came to

• Sweet and sour meatballs with roast vege.

• Chicken lasagna with cheesy vege.

• Sticky pork, scallop potato with gravy.

Whitianga, my mother Eileen (90) and my oldest sister Dot (69), died on the same day. It was a hideous jolt for our family. – the two best people in terms of their nature and their role in the family – gone.

Four years have come and gone and in that time, my son became very ill with a terrible paralysis connected with the covid vaccine. He struggles still to walk, his immunity is very compromised though his upper body is working.

In a few weeks, my husband Stan will have been gone one year.

As I write this, I am in Australia. My sister Dot’s husband, Vinnie died unexpectedly. A knee replacement operation, though standard, resulted in his

HOW TO ORDER

• Roast beef, mash potato, vege and gravy. Order by noon Wednesday, 18th March, delivery from 9am 19th March.

and SPACE STATION GAZING IN 2026 – your guide to the night sky

Tuesday, 17 March: Viewers with a clear view of the eastern horizon may see the Moon in the predawn sky with faint Mars and Mercury next to each other well below both just on the horizon and from 6:10am there will be a bright ISS pass from the north. Wednesday, 18 March: A clear view of the eastern horizon reveals the Moon in the predawn sky with faint Mars to its right and Mercury just above the Moon and on its left. Thursday, 19 March: There will be a bright ISS pass starting overhead in the west as it pops out of the Earth’s shadow from 6:13am. Friday, 20 March: A minute crescent Moon sits just to the right of Venus on the western dusk horizon. Monday, 23 March: The crescent moon is now directly below the red giant star Aldebaran in Taurus at dusk with bright Venus below and to the left. Tuesday, 24 March: The

Moon as dusk sits halfway between bright Jupiter and Venus. Wednesday, 25 March: The Moon is now just below and to the left of Jupiter after dusk.

Jupiter continues to dominate the evening and is unmistakable in the northern sky. It remains the brightest thing in the sky apart from the Moon. Those with a clear eastern horizon can now catch a glimpse of faint Mars and Mercury just before the sun rises and the Moon can help us find them this week as well as Venus now appearing very low in the west just after dusk. There will be a few International Space Station (ISS) passes to view this week but, as usual, timings may change if it has to be moved to avoid space junk. Always best to check the website heavens-above.com for updated timings.

death. It's hard to understand, but nothing can ring him back.

In my role in the family I will do his eulogy as part of a Catholic mass. So here I am thinking, - Have I just lived long enough to experience grief many times?

Since living in Whitianga and travelling around the peninsula, listening to people's stories

and being part of their events, I have met many who live with grief. It is not known at first but with talking and time, you learn of those memories of loved ones lost and you can feel an energy tinged with grief.

Though it remains very real, grief can't dominate. It is not a badge either. It is simply the price of having

Ray’s Report #16

loved. The cost of loving is high – it makes you want to pay or give back something for the future.

So I see myself fortunate because I am looking at a future, even if it is uncertain.

In that aspect, I am the same as everyone else and I choose to live with a degree of dignity, empathy and compassion.

Major culture shift needed

Recent editions of the ‘Informer’ have detailed a number of current and historical issues that have resulted from poor service from our local Council.

Local Residents and Ratepayers have a keen interest in how the Council performs and that includes both the elected members and the TCDC staff themselves. After all, the Council elected members represent their Wards, that is the voters, whilst the Council staff carry out the policies and directions set by these elected members.

Logically you would think that the TCDC is there to serve the best interests of their community by being fiscally responsible and adhering to the strategic direction set by the elected officials.

Sadly, the current elected members are falling into the same trap that cost their predecessors so dearly. Whilst they have the best of intentions and work incredibly hard, they are not able to do their job without the complete support and cooperation of the paid Council officials. Note: I am not having a crack at individual staff members rather the internal culture.

I don’t believe that either the previous or current elected members had this cooperation and support. From both personal experience and speaking to elected officials, Community Board members, members of the Residents and Ratepayers Associations and Council staff, there appears to be a great reluctance by paid council staff that they are responsible and accountable to their communities and understand where their wages and salaries come from.

Editorial/News: Contact Pauline Stewart, Editor/owner ph 027 271 6182 info@theinformer.co.nz

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Letters to the Editor: 200 words or less please. Name and town of residence required. Email info@theinformer.co.nz

Published weekly. Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula to Waihi. Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are

‘The fish rots from the head down.’

There is an old Maori saying: ‘The fish rots from the head down’. It is incumbent on the CE to institute a cultural shift where her staff listen to the views of their communities, change their negative approach to a ‘can do’ and positive one and not fall back on the hoary old chestnut of ‘well this is the way we have always done it’. There has to be less of the ‘Yes, Minister ‘and ‘The Thick of It ‘approach. These shows brilliantly portray a Civil Service who believe that elected officials and the wider community are a pain in the proverbial and have no idea how a Government – Local or otherwise – should be run.

My plea to both our Mayor and the CE is please listen to your communities; ensure that staff behave in a positive and helpful way, empower your Community Boards and appreciate that failure to do so will be costly at the ballot box.

The largest in the world – and right here!

from front page

HERE ARE THE STATS:

• With 470 boats entered, (that’s over 2000 anglers), a world record, which surpassed the previous record in 2005 at the White Marlin open in Maryland, USA with 449 boats.

• Spaces sold out 9 months ago!

• Mercury Bay is expecting a cash injection of between $9-10 Million dollars!!!

• There are $1.7 million dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs.

On chatting with Whitianga local and organiser Tom Maxwell, I was pleased to hear rules and policies for these prizes are heavily geared towards a tag and release policy.

Such a large scale and successful event dosn’t just happen, and Tom has been the driving force behind the tournament since it began. I sat down with Tom to hear his thoughts prior to the start of the tournament.

I was not surprised to hear it takes most of the year to plan, starting almost immediately after one event finishes, and during the 4 days, he enlists over 60 volunteers.

So, what was his inspiration for starting this tournament?

“it stems from working overseas on various fishing charters and watching how tournaments were run there. The lack of good, well-run events in NZ, that could be run in a way that benefits so many, not just the anglers.

MORE THAN A TOURNAMENT

- A COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

“With a large majority of participants being from out of town, our community always benefits from the cash injection, plus exposure to our beautiful region,”Says Tom.

“ It’s been so great the last few days to see the cafes and restau-

rants full, and our town certainly is buzzing!”

In my discussion with Tom, I was happy to hear about the auction - the public can buyfresh fish, with all proceeds going to a new Youth Development Programme, based at the Whitianga Community Services Trust, run by Tony

Masters. Tony is very encouraged by this, as there is currently no government funding for the programme. Any fish left over from the auction go to our local food bank, supporting families in need. So where does Tom see the future for this event?

Continued on back page

A Milestone for the Arts

Betty Collins: A Legacy of Art and Collaboration – 20 years of Art Escape.

BY SARAH-JANE LEE

t the 2026 Gala Open-

Aing, the Mercury Bay Art Escape (MBAE) marked a significant archival milestone: two decades of connecting the creative soul of the Coromandel with the public. Central to this celebration was Betty Collins, an internationally distinguished sculptor and ceramic artist whose career spans the creative corridors of both Hahei and Ohio.

In a heartfelt tribute to her 20 years of unwavering vision, Betty was honoured with a bouquet bursting with summer colour; a symbolic acknowledgment of her belief that art is the ultimate catalyst for community.

THE SEEDS OF THE ESCAPE

The story of the Art Escape began in 2006, born from Betty’s desire to connect the "serious, thought-provoking artists" of the Coromandel. With her characteristic dry wit and sharp observations, Betty recalls the early days as a period of "trial and error."

She is quick to acknowledge that the event’s success was never a solo effort. Betty credits co-founder Dave Fowell (of Eggcentric Café) as a vital force. His

deep roots in the community and his production of the very first brochure helped gather the initial group of 17 pioneering artists.

ABSURD BEGINNINGS AND NETWORKING

SUCCESS

Some of the event's most critical milestones happened by

sheer, "absurd" chance. Betty recounts the time her husband, Dr. Edward Collins, a scientist from America with few local ties, was tasked with the unlikely job of fundraising.

While chatting with a neighbour, Greg Dickie of Bayleys, Edward simply asked, "Do you want to put your money into

studio@taraking.co.nz 0210391086 @tarakinginteriors tarakinginteriors www.taraking.co.nz Call today for your free measure and quote.

SUMMER SALE

art?" Greg’s immediate "Yes" secured Bayleys Whitianga as a founding sponsor. This is a partnership that has now flourished for over two decades.

A TESTAMENT TO PASSION

Today, the Mercury Bay Art Escape is a premier "banner event" for the Coromandel, but its heart remains the same.

From Dave’s early brochures to the continued support of Bayleys Real Estate (Whitianga) and the countless volunteers who have grown the idea, the festival stands as a testament to what happens when passionate people support one another.

Now in her 93rd year, Betty was met with a deep, collective surge of gratitude from the community she helped cultivate. The tribute was more than a thank you; it was a profound acknowledgement of her role as the "architect" of this creative ecosystem.

Mercury Bay Art Escape stands as a rare, tangible archive of human connection. It remains a testament to Betty’s enduring belief that when artists and supporters align with a shared intent, they don’t just create an event they create a sense of place shared with us all.

Friday

delivers hope

In February, Gumboot Friday helped 1,754 young people aged 5–25 access free counselling, delivering a total of 2,721 sessions. Every session is free, needs no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.

These numbers show young people getting seen when they need it, not after things reach crisis point, not when “things get bad enough”.

“A lot of them of the kids are still in primary school. The tricky thing is, a child who needs to talk doesn’t always look ‘obviously’ distressed. It can show up as being snappy, going quiet, not sleeping, acting out, or even without any obvious tells at all.” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.

“Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, and donations to I Am Hope are what keep Gumboot Friday running –onboarding counsellors, running our school programmes, and supporting the wider foundation. ” King says.

If you’re 25 and under and need someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to connect with a counsellor for Free. No GP referral needed.

„ To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.iamhope. org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.

The day to wear green and enjoy

This week, The Informer comes to most people on The Coromandel Peninsula and wider area on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March. The Editor is of Irish and Italian descent and enjoys marking the day. There are enough Irish accents, Irish immigrants and Irish pubs on the Coromandel and beyond to make Saint Patricks Day a notable celebration.

Grace O’Malleys on The Esplanade, Whitianga has always offered a great party- music, food, drink and green in every form of dress. This year Saint Patrick and the Irish enjoyed more acclaim with Saturday night prior being the start of celebrations which peak on Tuesday 17 March.

The manager of the Buffalo Beach Club, Dash Fellows, with an Irish accent as marked as Saint Patrick himself, has added the BBC to the calendar of places to go on Saint Patrick’s Day.

The extra visitors on The Peninsula due to the Kubota Billfish Classic and the Art Escape Open Studios experience an extra treat. Whitianga and Mercury Bay has offered some Irish revelry to everyone – thank you.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the fifth century patron saint of Ireland who converted the Irish to Christianity. The traditional stories say he used a shamrock (three leaf clover ) to explain the meaning of The Trinity (Father, Son

and Holy Spirit) and of course the shamrock is a vibrant green. Originally a feast day where food such as corn beef and cabbage were enjoyed, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture including parades, and the colour green. It became an official Irish holiday in 1903 and cities with

large numbers of Irish immigrants began staging extensive celebrations. Boston had its first St. Patricks Day parade in 1737, followed by New York in 1762. What is puzzling is the colour blue was traditionally associated with St. Patrick and somewhere along the way, green took over. This “wearing of

the green” seems a natural evolution with the shamrock being the Irish national plant. It is many centuries since Saint Patrick, who was born in Roman-Britain and enslaved to Ireland at the age of fourteen; escaped, studied for the priesthood and became a missionary

returning to Ireland with the message of the Christian good news. He began the building of churches across the land. The famous story of his driving snakes into the sea is a widespread myth or metaphor; post-glacial Ireland never had snakes, According to legend, Saint Patrick chased the reptiles into the sea after they began attacking him during a 40-day fast. What is fact is that he travelled throughout Ireland, living in poverty as a friend of the people and died 17 March, 461. It is 2026. Enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day. The Irish sense of humour means there is no copyright on enjoying the company of friends and wearing a bit of green and sharing some good news. „ Information retrieved from National Geographic

Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund already helping those in need

ADAPTED FROM PRESS RELEASE SUPPLIED BY COMMUNICATIONS

DEPARTMENT TCDC

Applications to our Thames-Coromandel Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund have now closed.

On 21 January a State of Emergency was declared as a significant storm event hit our district, causing widespread flooding, slips and isolation. Many people were forced to evacuate.

The fund was created to help those in our communities suffering extraordinary circumstances due to the storm. Applications for the fund closed on 6 March 2026.

Just over $400,000 was raised in the relief fund thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and the Government. This includes an additional contribution of $100,000 announced last week from the National Emergency Management Agency.

We received 243 requests for assistance.

Some of the applicants worst affected have now received funding and

our teams are busy working through the remaining applications. Due to the number of applicants, this may take time.

An independent panel is assessing each application in batches, with a focus on prioritising individuals and families hardest hit.

While the fund will go some way to help people impacted by the storm event, the road to recovery is long. It will take time before our district can truly return to normal.

„ Latest updates on our Recovery efforts, can be found on our dedicated webpage www.tcdc.govt.nz/ storm-recovery.

Tairua School upgrade

BY KIM KOCKOTT

Principal Juliet Small, parents and staff are thrilled with the transformation the upgrade to Tairua School has made to school operations and to the quality of learning. Classrooms now feature dedicated storage for resources, creating calmer, more organised learning environments for teachers and students.

Styled Spaces Whitianga designed, manufactured and installed cabinetry across five classrooms, a new staff kitchen and the multi-purpose room.

The project was completed in collaboration with project manager Marica Slavich and Andrew Allison of Complete House Maintenance Tairua Ltd, who carried out painting and refurbishment work throughout the classrooms. Work transforming the learning spaces at the school was done in the school holidays and finished in time for the new term.

The school also acknowledged the generous contribution of VDM Architects, who gifted their time to the project, helping guide colour schemes and material selections for the new flooring, splashbacks and walls in the classrooms as part of the overall upgrade.

A key focus of the project was creating practical, flexible storage to better support the way the spaces are used. This was particularly important in the multi-purpose room, a busy hub for music

lessons, Food Technology as part of the TAI Tech programme, meetings and school assemblies. Carefully designed cabinetry solutions allow the room to transition easily between activities while keeping the space organised, calm and welcoming.

More than a physical upgrade,

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the project reflects a collaborative effort to invest in Tairua School’s future, creating practical and welcoming spaces that will support students, staff and families for years to come.

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Thank you to Tairua Fire Chief

BY PAM FERLA

Tairua’s fire chief, Chris New, is retiring after 42 years, with 25 of those years leading the Tairua branch of Fire and Emergency NZ.

Chris joined for the camaraderie, to meet people and to give service to the community.

He became part of the brigade when he moved from Hamilton to Tairua in 1981 to ‘get away from Waikato winters and enjoy Coromandel’s beaches and fishing.’

“I’VE SERVED THROUGH BIG CHANGES”

Chris says there have been massive changes over the years since he joined.

“Warwick Brooks was the chief in Tairua when I joined up and Brian Cullen was deputy. We used to beg or borrow what we needed and Brian Cullen had a way of acquiring things. When we wanted equipment like the ‘jaws of life’ to cut cars, we fund-raised by standing in our uniforms with a bucket at Pepe Bridge.

Fundraising has changed and now our equipment is professional, with the fire service funding core equipment. But we still need to raise funds for the extra equipment we use.

“Back in 1981 there were no females in Tairua’s brigade and now there are six. There’s also been big changes in our training.

I used to jump on the engine and just hang on the back plates. We don’t do that anymore. Health and safety is huge now.

When I started at Tairua, the station was just a quarter of the size it is now.”

There was a national name change in 2017 to Fire and Emergency NZ because brigades do so much more than put out fires. Locally about twenty percent of calls-outs are to fires. The rest are medical, including ‘purple calls’ to help St John Ambulance, which may include the Westpac helicopter.

ANOTHER BIG CHANGE IS IN THE TRAINING.

“I remember when I first joined up it was only a week later that I was driving the fire truck to calls. Now you have to do a week’s basic training course including first aid. When I did the training for breathing apparatus, we went on a ship and had to do it in blackout, with a black mask on. That was a challenge!”

Vetting by the police was introduced about 1990.

FAMILY SUPPORT

“Of course we get called out any time, including Christmas Day and family birthdays. That means you have to have the support and understanding of your family. You also rely on their support because you may deal with some trau-

matic situations. When I joined up I had never seen a dead body. Personally I find it hardest to handle when I know the people involved. We always fear being called out to

one of our brigade family.

“We get called out to storms in the middle of the night, heart attacks and other medicals and sometimes to vegetation fires,

which can get big. A cliff rescue team is part of the brigade and there’s a swift-water rescue kit on hand in case needed.”

DEDICATED

PEOPLE

Six young people joined up in Tairua recently and Chris says he is proud of them and of the brigade team.

“They are brilliant and they are dedicated. I also acknowledge and appreciate the support of those people who employ our members because they are very important. I do find the community here is very supportive.”

Chris has had a plumbing business during his time in the fire brigade and points out that four plumbers have been chief fire officers on the Coromandel Peninsula. Chris is the longest serving fire chief on the peninsula.

He says being in the brigade is like being in a big country-wide family and having friends everywhere. His time as chief ends in April. Then he plans to spend more time travelling in his caravan with his wife, Gail, and their little dog, Maddie, catching up with family and some of their brigade friends. You may also spot Chris launching his boat for a day’s fishing.

The brigade is keen to hear from people interested in becoming part of the team and invites them to call in the fire station at trainings nights on a Tuesday.

About Us

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We regularly rotate a limited selection of vehicles on site. If you’re looking for something specific, our team can arrange a test drive with any model from our extensive range, delivered right here for your convenience.

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New leaders for Momentum Foundation

Momentum Waikato Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recent appointments of Margaret Wilson as its new Chair, and Susan Hassall as its new Deputy Chair.

Margaret says it is a privilege to have been asked to chair the Momentum Waikato Board.

“Momentum is preparing to further develop our contribution to the Waikato and Coromandel. We are always grateful for the support we receive and look forward to continuing to work with communities across the region into the future,” says Margaret.

Susan says being on the Momentum board is an opportunity to support “an amazing organisation”.

“Momentum allows us all to gain happiness, through gifting, through giving, and in doing so, it creates a way to gift happiness to others, by providing them with the opportunity to receive. In other words, to really care,” says Susan.

Margaret, who joined the Momentum board in December 2023, was the first Dean of Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato. As an MP from 1999 to 2008, she held several Ministerial positions, including Attorney General, and was the Speaker of Par-

liament. She has also been a Director of the Reserve Bank and a Law Commissioner.

Susan, who joined the Momentum board in August 2025, was Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ High School from 2000 to 2024. She is currently the Chancellor of The University of Waikato and Chair of the Hospice Waikato Trust.

„ For more information, see momentumwaikato. nz/our-people.

Hon Scott Simpson

MP For Coromandel

Good changes – to Kiwisaver and for visitor numbers

There are changes coming to KiwiSaver which will help young farmers, farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence personnel in service tenancies get on the property ladder.

Since 2010, New Zealanders have been able to make a withdrawal from their KiwiSaver accounts to assist with the purchase of a first home, so long as they live in the homes they buy. However, this requirement has effectively locked some people out of making a first home withdrawal because their jobs require them to live in employer-provided housing. The Government will remove this rule for those in service tenancies, enabling them to purchase their first home using their KiwiSaver. This change will be made through a KiwiSaver amendment bill which is expected

to be introduced in mid2026.

We will also make changes to allow first-time farm buyers to put their KiwiSaver balances toward the purchase of a farm through a commercial entity they majority own, where it will be their principal place of residence.

At the moment, KiwiSaver rules allow the purchase of a farm under a KiwiSaver member’s name, but in practice most farms are purchased through a company or trust. Changing this requirement reflects the commercial reality of modern farm ownership.

I made this announcement in my capacity as Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis. This is good news for people in rural communities and for service ten-

ancy residents, and it shows the Government’s commitment to back rural New Zealand.

In other news, it’s encouraging that the latest International Visitor Survey showed international tourism contributed $12.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy for the year ending December 2025. That’s up 3 per cent compared to the previous year and I’m sure many international tourists would have made their way to the Coromandel.

The Government recognises the importance of the tourism sector and is focused on doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034. This will have a significant positive impact on local economies, with tourists spending more at cafés, restaurants, retailers and accommodation providers.

Through the Portal

Best leadership – vision, ideology or pragmatism?

BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN

The latest American military excursion into the middle east, ill designed as it has been, has resulted in yet another bout of panic over the supply of petrol products around the world and we unfortunately are not immune from this.

The media is drawing parallels with the oil shocks of the 1970s and reporting on the possibility of car less days and petrol rationing. Are we really going to have to leave our cars in the garage for the day; to have to accept a ration of petrol? We are not meant to be even thinking about these options, but this illustrates the dangers of different forms of governance. A look at history will help me explain these comments.

The oil shocks of the seventies showed us up as being a country that, despite having riches of energy sources, was too reliant on overseas oil products. We had hydroelectric dams to provide us with electricity but not enough to make any income from this; and we had a petrol refinery at Marsden Point that had opened in 1964. This was a project of some vision, initiated by a Labour Government, that ensured we did not have to rely totally on imports of refined petrol products. It was not enough to protect us from oil shocks; however. Something else was needed. What was needed was a vision.

That vision was provided by Robert Muldoon’s government in the form of their Think Big projects. Think Big was about not only making us energy inde-

pendent but also to use our energy resources to add to the country’s income. The making of income was in the form of projects to boost exports;- projects such as the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, the expansion of the Glenbrook Steel Mill and the Kapuni Ammonia-Urea factory. The Clyde Dam was built to add more electricity to the grid to support such projects. To ensure supply of electricity during times of drought, the Huntly coal-based Power Station was built, using clean local coal. Independence of supply of petroleum products was addressed through the formation of a government company, Petrocorp, in 1979. This company discovered the McKee oilfield in 1980 and owned the Natural

Gas Corporation. The early eighties saw the construction of the Motonui Synthetic Petrol Plant, a partnership between the Government (75%) and Mobil who owned the intellectual property for the technology. The Motonui plant was a world first. The Marsden Point Refinery was expanded and the main trunk railway line electrification begun, aimed at reducing reliance on diesel. Overseas companies were encouraged to explore for oil reserves around our coast as the only thing missing was a secure supply of oil which, once found, would supply Marsden Point and ensure our energy independence. This was the Vision of Robert Muldoon’s government and if it was still in place, and local oil supply secured, we would not only not

be worried about the rest of the world’s supply but could potentially be earning income from any surpluses.

So, what went wrong? In the first instance money problems occurred. The country had to borrow heavily to pay for these projects and Robert Muldoon, who also acted as Minister of Finance, was a long way from being an economics genius. The country was significantly in debt and the next few governments, who were of a pragmatic nature, set about reducing debt by selling off assets. Petrocorp went in 1987; Motonui was completely private by 1990, and Marsden Point was sold to a consortium of oil companies. While we had a vision, and saw that vision to reality, we could not retain control of it.

Once in private hands, the driv-

ing motive becomes money. This caused the synthetic petrol facility to close in 1999 as at that time it was cheaper to import petrol. Wouldn’t it be great to have that producing now? Kiwi Rail decided to move back to diesel in 2016 as diesel locomotives were cheaper than electric ones. Pragmatic Governments had contributed to the crumbling of our vision. Perhaps they could have done better at protecting the vision, but they were in a weak negotiating position when trying desperately to reduce debt.

The real destruction to our energy vision came from an ideological government who just didn’t like oil, preferring bicycles and electricity. Jacinda Ardern decided to halt oil exploration which completely changed the dynamics for Marsden Point, so they changed to become a petrol import facility in 2022. The refinery that had been crucial for energy independence for sixty years was gone. Jacinda Ardern’s government also decided to stop coal mining which meant the Huntly Station now had to import dirty foreign coal to replace the local product. The ideologists killed the vision for independent energy supply in New Zealand. In answer to the question posed in the title, I believe it is important for all three aspects to work together. Ideology can work well if it has a vision, but not if it is just about destruction. Vision needs to work alongside pragmatists to ensure the vision is realised properly and affordably. Do we yet have these groups working together? Unfortunately not.

Man of Steel Cycle Challenge raises funds for cancer support

BY JACK BIDDLE, MERCURY BAY CANCER SUPPORT TRUST

An enthusiastic group of around twenty-four cyclists gathered at the Whitianga Fire Station on Saturday 7 March for the annual Man of Steel Cycle Challenge. All up, it’s an 85-kilometre fundraising ride organised by Bike Mercury Bay (BMB) in support of the local Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust.

Overall numbers increased during the day with other keen cyclists who, feeling the total distance was a bridge too far, opted for a shorter distance.

It was the eighth edition of what has become a much-anticipated and signature ride on the local cycling calendar. The ride itself takes in some of the Coromandel’s toughest terrain with almost half the total distance ridden on maintained gravel surfaces that included the picturesque and thankfully dry ‘The 309’ and Tapu Roads.

To highlight the growing diversity within the cycle industry, the roll out from the local fire station included an almost even split of riders on both e-bikes and the more traditional non-powered machines ,plus one brave soul who continued past traditions by riding an old retro steel bike complete with clothing to match the occasion.

While the fitness and ability levels were at some extreme levels, all those who participated and those who supported the riders, were united by the same common goal which was raising funds for a cause that supports people and families facing cancer across the Mercury Bay region.

Included in the support group on the road were local Mountain

Bike legend Paul Simpson whose tyre-changing skills were put to good use during the day due to some riders suffering from multiple flat tyres. Also, on hand, were volunteers providing a welcome complimentary coffee and donut at the top of the Kirita Hill Climb as riders made their way down the Thames Coast towards Tapu.

After the ride, those gathered, heard from Di Taylor of the Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust, who spoke about the vital services the organisation provides for individuals and families dealing with cancer in the Mercury Bay area. She went on to thank the riders and supporters for their fundraising efforts and

ongoing community support.

BMB spokesman, John Marshall who, along with fellow local cyclist Rik Walkley, led the organising efforts, spoke of a local hero.

“The ride is held annually in honour of Kieran McKarten who passed away in early 2017 after a short and unexpected battle with cancer. Kieran owned and operated a successful engineering business in Whitianga for many years and whose passion for cycling plus his positive impact on the local community, continues to inspire the event.”

As in previous years, the ride certainly featured plenty of memorable moments, including the presentation of several light-

hearted but well-earned trophies which took place at the Coroglen Tavern.

Those that received special recognition and awards included Anthony Seagar for his Outstanding Non-Powered Ride, Peter Hogg picked up the Perseverance Trophy for his never give-up attitude despite suffering several punctures, while popular Auckland-based visitor Tania Forde was awarded the coveted Man of Steel Trophy for her outstanding overall performance.

Another regular visitor from Auckland was 16-year-old Blake Jeffery who collected the Retro Steely Trophy after completing the ride on a 40-year-old sin-

gle speed bicycle fitted out with skinny tyres and having only a front brake to provide the stopping power. Riding in a suit and bow tie, he battled two punctures and ongoing chain issues ,but still manged to finish the course in style and with a big smile.

“The Man of Steel ride is certainly no easy challenge, but past participants have always said that is all part of its meaning and what makes the ride so unique and special,” added John. It’s the reason riders keep on returning. Kieran certainly left us with something very unique and for riders to be able to contribute to such a worthy charity along the way makes it extra special,”

No point in improving on perfect

Part Three

BY MARGARET LOVELL

Our youngest son had married and moved to Texas but when he saw Agricultural Mechanics were a wanted trade in New Zealand, he applied and was warmly welcomed. It is now eighteen years later and he is still happily working for Giltraps. Several people we have met are surprised that more Europeans do not move here. These Kiwis do not realise it is virtually impossible to get a visa to live here. (Unless you are a ‘wanted trade’ etc). We were exceedingly fortunate when there was a micro-moment for visa applications for ‘parents’! I had been accustomed to travelling here for a couple of months each year as I could not leave my elderly Mum for too long. When she died at 97 years old and the brief visa opportunity presented itself…we were right onto it! All very expensive and only possible since my husband

had a good private pension, but we did make the move, and we got here!

More recently, our eldest son and his family have got here, but only after – (well into his 40s) hetook a second Master’s Degree. Despite his wife being a teacher, she could not get a job without a visa and could not get a visa without a job!!.

Our daughters would love to be here too but have no desire to be loggers or HGV Drivers. So it’s just

holiday times only for them.

Now, several properties (and cars) later, we are so happily settled and have a lovely new build at Matarangi. Proud to be NZ citizens and flying the NZ flag number four which now has lost one of the stars due to weather winds!

But new flags are a small price to pay for the joy of living in NZ and Coromandel at that!

Where can I sit and have a cup of coffee.

But 26 years on, still somewhat

Environment Matters

intrigued by the fact of this beautiful country and area here being so very frequented by tourists, yet so few places they can get a drink or food whilst travelling!

A few months ago I was at Buffalo Beach Takeaways (before it sadly closed….Matthew – where are you? We miss you!), but a lone cyclist pulled up – Union Jack crash helmet and Union Jack ruck sack panniers and all ‘the gear’. You could see he had had a hard day! He put his head inside

the fish and chip shop and asked ‘Is there anywhere around here where I can get a cup of coffee’? It must have been as ‘late‘ as nearly 5pm! He was told, ‘if you go up the road there is a garage with a coffee machine’! True yes - but ……if only I had been near a kettle to boil and make him a coffee…I would have! Besides that I could have found a couple of ginger nut biscuits ….to dip in …just to make memories!

Yes I do keep up friendships – online – in Crete, but rather similarly when folks say, “Oh you should see the South Island’’…I say ‘No! I am happy to go nowhere else now. This is IT!

The scenery, the beaches….no point in trying to ‘better’ the perfect!

Part One - 3 March , Part Two10 March.

„ Margaret is a renowned sculptor, exhibiting in United Kingdom and in Parnell, Auckland. With her husband, they have chosen New Zealand, and more importantly, Matarangi as their home.

Impractical fines and over-regulation

Part Two

BY MALCOLM CAMPBELL

There have been a number of prosecutions in the Waikato by the Waikato Regional Council (WRC).

A farmer in central Waikato, Bas Nelis, cleared what he thought was a drain – privet and willows, just rubbish. WRC flew into action and termed the offending ditch a stream, but could not identify which; drain or stream.

Six people arrived, one police officer, two enforcement officers, ex-senior detectives employed by WRC and others. Bas Nelis was of course fined by Judge Melanie Harland and as expected, Patrick Lynch went into overdrive quote: ‘discharging into the river with-

out sediment control, negatively affects plants, invertebrates, fish, water quality and aesthetics’..

Why did not Patrick Lynch put sediment control on all the Coromandel streams and stop all these slips in this January flood?

The court levied more penalties against the contractor Bas employed. Then another Contractor ‘Jacobsen Contracting’ at Paeroa cleaning farm drains, was pimped on by a motorist. This time Judge Geoff Smith trots out the usual blast of ‘damage to wetland and the Ohinemuri River.’ In these cases WRA has seemed over eager, over the top ridiculous, and of course, incompetent.

I talked to Jacobsen and he was quite unconcerned, “I was insured and paid the fine,” he said. There were other similar attacks, one at

I have photos of the flood in April 1978 which hit hard from Matamata all the way to Cape Colville. A private rain gauge on the east side of the range between Waihi and Whangamata recorded 30 inches of rain!! The photos show that even if all the contractors had a thousand bulldozers,

they could not have created the havoc that nature wrought over a five-day period.

Another isolated deluge in February 1985 over Te Aroha almost washed the town away. Lives were lost unfortunately. What happened there was remarkably similar to the tragedy at Mt Manganui a few weeks ago. There is nothing our population can

physically do with deluges pouring off mountain sides, as steep as church roofs. However, there is plenty that can be done on the flood plains and undulating lower lying land.

It is critical to keep the drains flowing. It does not matter whether it is your kitchen sink or local stream, it must flow freely. Everyone knows ‘it is incredibly easy to make simple matter complicated’ especially in this day and age, when common sense has been abolished by the RMA. You know we had round mouth shovels, then steam shovels, draglines, hydraulic diggers and they all worked fine until we ran into the brick wall of the RMA, WRC, Patrick Lynch and add in DOC and the Environment Court. Do you ever wonder why you go to work at all?

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor 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. They do not reflect the view of the Editor who reserves the right to edit and decide what is published.

A CLEAR PRACTICAL STEP OVERDUE

Dear Mayor, Member for Parliament, respected Tangata Whenua, Mercury Bay Community Board Councilors.

There is a clear solution to the boating club dilemma.

Sea ingress is clearly a problem that isn't going away. The current territorial authorities policies are just holding us back from solutions. The groynes at Flaxmill bay have proven to stabilize the dynamic sand there. So why not build 3 or 4 geocloth groynes along from the rock retainers already installed?

And just wait & see what happens. After 6 months we should have a good idea whether we can reinstate the clubhouse where it was & connect it to original services. The territorial authorities will have a proven way to deal with the rising tide. Maybe Kubota could provide sponsorship & do something truly constructive for our community.

Roger Harwood, Whenuakite DOC SPEAKS ON

BOATING CLUB ARRANGEMENT

I’d like to clarify a few aspects in response to your recent lead story (The Informer, 2 March) on the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s proposal to relocate its building to DOC-managed land at Dundas St in Whitianga.

We appreciate the club’s position is of significant interest in the local community and felt it was important DOC’s context and processes were understood by readers.

“Consent” is a broad term, and some elaboration will be helpful for readers. DOC approved and offered the club a lease/licence to occupy the site, easement for use of the site and a concession to operate – all of which the club chose not to take up. Any legal “consent” aspects regarding the club’s building would’ve been dealt with by other agencies.

The phrase “they won the case” in the coverage is also somewhat misleading. There was no court process and no case to “win”. A public submissions hearing was held by DOC as part of the application process. The majority of submissions supported the club’s proposal, and the chair of the Submissions Hearing Panel then

provided a report to other DOC staff involved in decision-making on the club’s application.

Regarding costs, DOC significantly reduced the Permissions processing fees for the application: $28,221.20 plus GST was discounted to $1,147.50 +GST which acknowledged the recreational benefit of the proposed activity to the local community.

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Lastly, DOC did not “charge a rental of well over $30,000” for the site – because the boating club chose not to pursue the lease/license to occupy it etc was offered, and therefore has not committed to shifting its building onto the site and any related lease or activity costs.

If the club had pursued the lease to occupy the site, the lease and licence fees DOC proposed would have been phased in over several years, to just short of $10,000 in its third year. At that point, the club’s lease fees would have been reviewed in line with standard three-yearly rent review clause.

Tinaka Mearns, Regional Director, Department of Conservation

RATES CAP ENDS PET PROJECTS

The recent deluge of columns and letters in the Informer is a sadly predictable masterclass in a lack of self-awareness. We have a growing choir demanding ratepayer funding for an endless list of “pet projects,” or for retaining the status quo, ranging from fixing the Matarangi slip and installing Cooks Beach aerators to Kuaotunu footpaths and

preserving more frequent community board meetings.

The irony is staggering. Many of these voices are the same people who stridently campaigned for “fiscal responsibility” and rate cuts or caps. Now that the Council is delivering exactly that austerity, they seem shocked that the cupboard is bare.

Perhaps the most egregious example is Trevor Ammundsen. A long-time advocate for personal responsibility, Trevor’s principles have taken a decidedly “socialist” turn with his knee-jerk demand that the Council use public funds to protect private property from flooding. This would, no pun intended, open the floodgates for thousands of at-risk property owners in the District to make similar ad hoc demands, blowing the Council’s budget apart in an instant.

While these critics focus on their backyards, the big picture is ignored. To balance the books, the Council is slashing services: neglecting parks, reducing refuse hours, and a “rob Peter to pay Paul” 13% hike in user fees.

You cannot demand a smaller pie and then moan when your favourite slice is missing.

Denis Tegg, Thames

THIS POISONING WON’T GO AWAY

Peter Wood (Informer 24 Feb) tells how Arthur Hinds organised a 1080 drop over his farm.

A number of pigs were poisoned and Hinds left the carcasses lying around available for scavenging birds, insects, grubs and animals. Numerous dogs got poisoned.

Hinds knew some of those poisoned dogs before he poisoned them and met some of the owners of dogs which had been poisoned by 1080.

Hinds was not sympathetic with the owners. 1080 use was more important to him than all the unintentional poisoning which follows every 1080 drop. Poisoned animals have travelled great distances beyond the poisoned areas before dying, often ending up in the private back gardens of dog-owners whose animals have subsequently been poisoned.

Despite denying responsibility, DOC has been forced to compensate persistent owners who have lost their animals to DOC’s poisons. The one stipulation is that the aggrieved animal owners may not make their loss public. Contrary to the directions given on the packet, leaving poisoned carcasses lying around after 1080 drops is part of what is described as “best practice”. John Veysey, Thames Coast

WHITIANGA ESPLANADE REDEVELOPMENT

Essential infrastructure? Or a maybe nice to have? At what cost to ratepayers?

In TCDC’s 2018 Long Term Plan this project was costed at $7M. In the most recent LTP there was no description of it but an amount of $12.5M was found buried in the appendix numbers. $16.5M is now being mentioned, including contingency and earlier wharf/ pontoon upgrades. Eventual cost?

Why do we need it? Well we’re informed that it will “transform the Esplanade into a more acces-

sible, vibrant and safe space for both locals and visitors” … “balancing environmental, cultural and recreational considerations”.

No mention here of the needs of the commercial operators who use the wharf.

Tourism is the life blood of the region, but I’m told that one uniquely special tourist business which has been going for 25 years and has rapidly filling bookings for next year, is likely to have to move away from Whitianga because it is impossible to secure a suitable and safe berth for their operation. Because of the lack of space at the wharf, they are simply unable to comply safely with conditions set by a Council officer (tail wagging dog?) and are threatened with loss of their licence.

So yes, upgrading infrastructure around our wharf needs to be prioritised but much of the rest of the planned Esplanade redevelopment could surely be shelved in favour of more urgent and essential work . The majority of the Mercury Bay Community Board, quoted as having been actively involved with the redevelopment project, was voted out of office at the last election. The current Board is strongly focused on watching ratepayers’ dollars and committing only to essential spending.

It might be nice if visitors marvel at Whitianga’s vibrant Esplanade but more important surely for them to spend money on easily accessed, memorable boating experiences around beautiful Mercury Bay.

Helen

Vivian, Wharekaho

Thames Music Group Free Friday Concert Series

The Thames Music Group’s Friday lunchtime series is a wonderful opportunity for locals to enjoy live music and see the talents of local musicians. On Friday, 27th March, local CFM Radio broadcaster, Rob Holding will take the stage at St George’s Church to perform on songs with guitar and piano accompaniment. Rob’s parents bought him a miniature grand piano when he was three years old, because he’d shown such interest in trying to copy his piano-teacher mother on the big one. That led to a

few years of annoying music lessons and several years of even more annoying recitals at Otago University’s Marama Hall with the Dunedin Music Society. The focus changed when his father brought home Peter Posa’s LP ‘The Mad Hatter’. Half a century later it’s mostly guitar and vocals with only the occasional foray into piano. Apart from being the sole pianist at the church, Rob and his wife Sharon have been attending in Katikati, most of Rob’s singing these days is done at markets and retirement homes. Prior to going

full-time with Coromandel’s CFM you could find him regularly busking in various towns the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Rob will perform a mix of original works and covers, accompanying himself on both guitar and piano. Rob is the guest performer for the first Thames Music Group Friday concert for 2026.

DETAILS: Thames Music Group’s Free Friday Concert series presents Rob Holding, Friday 27 March, at 12.15 pm, St George’s Church, Thames. Free entry, koha/donation gratefully accepted.

‘Street photography’ - people are never ‘ordinary’

BY WENDY, WHITIANGA PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB

Photographers who focus on ‘street photography look to capture spontaneous scenes from daily life in public places. It is really about observing what is happening between ordinary people.

Capturing it in a photo is quite the challenge and this was the task before the Members of the Whitianga Photography Club for their February competition. Margie Coplestone was the judge.

WINNER: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITITON - ‘PONSONBY ROAD’ BY CHRISSY LAWRENCE

Judge’s Comments: The cat seems to connect the two main subjects of this image. ‘This is a wonderful

example of street photography where ordinary people become interesting while just going about their business.” Highly Commended

PHOTO OF THE MONTH WINNER - ‘STEEPED IN CURIOSITY' BY KATE BEAUCHAMP

Judge’s comments: Very well composed and suited to a portrait orientation. Note the colour harmony of the three cups and the addition of the Silvereye -well coordinated,. “I feel this is a beautiful, well considered image.” Honours

All February submissions, are now up on the club’s public Facebook page for everyone to enjoy.

March theme: ‘Looking Down’. A challenge that’s wide open to interpretation, so time to get creative with this topic.

Police Report

Monday 9 March to Sunday,15 March

GENERAL:

Tuesday, 10 March: Trespass incident occurred at a South Highway address. Police spoke with all parties involved.

Thursday, 12 March: A burglary was reported as having occurred at a South highway address. A boat cover was taken from the property.

Saturday, 14 March: A burglary was reported as having occurred at an Irishtown Road address.

ARRESTS:

2x males arrested for Warrants

2x females arrested for Warrants

1x male arrested for Escapes Custody, Dangerous Driving, Theft, Wilful Damage, Trespass and Causing Harm by Posting Digital Communication.

OCCURRENCES:

Monday, 9 March: A male wanted for various Family Harm matters was observed in the Whitianga area. After being placed under arrest, he fled from police and swam across the river to hide in the nearby bush. He was located some time later and quickly apprehended again.

Thursday, 12 March: Family Harm incident was reported at a Jacaranda Drive address. Police

spoke with all parties involved.

Friday, 13 March: Family Harm matter was reported as having occurred at a Rangihau Road address. Enquiries are continuing regarding this matter.

Friday, 13 March: Family Harm matter was reported where threats were made to an ex-partner. Enquiries are continuing to assist all parties with external assistance.

Saturday, 14 March: Family Harm incident was reported at a Cooks Beach location. The aggressor in this matter was served with a Police Safety Order.

TRAFFIC:

A number of speeders have been stopped and issued with fines this week.

Please remember to obey the posted speed limits throughout the area. This includes the reduced limits throughout Coromandel Peninsula.

Police are targeting Restraints, Impairment, Distractions and Speed this month.

A Lifestyle Village in Thames on the Coromandel 2 BEDROOM VILLAS NOW AVAILABLE!

Motoring

Efficiency yes – but large is popular

As environmentally friendly as the NZ fleet gets, big boys’ toys still dominate numbers road space.

BY JACK BIDDLE

Atrip to Auckland for a few days and getting stuck in peak hour traffic on a regular basis is hardly worth writing about, but if you’re interested in the types of vehicles currently taking up all the space on the City of Sails motorways, roads and residential streets, then it’s the ideal viewing platform. With traffic moving at snail pace at best at times, it certainly gives one the time to survey the surrounding metal work and take note of trends and the various types of motive power that businesses and the general public are currently opting for.

First impressions were the growing number of mainstream hybrids on our roads with the older fleet in particular certainly finding favour with many owners. Affordability and perceived reduced running costs are the suspected reasons with the Toyota badge seemingly the most prominent by far.

The other standout was the number of Tesla’s there are in use. Once considered a vehicle for those with thicker wallets than others and carrying some pres-

tige and exclusivity, they are basically a dime a dozen these days in certain parts of Auckland and driven and used by many as simply daily transport. Once again, it would appear the used market is doing a healthy trade in finding new homes for many average income homeowners who want to join the electrified fleet. In direct contrast to the drift toward the more fuel efficient, environmentally friendly and quieter motive power for some, the big boys are also very hard to ignore or miss. They are the noisy, heavy, and somewhat over powering diesel fuelled utes. They certainly don’t appear to be getting any smaller as new

models are introduced to the NZ market either. Then there are all the fancy accessories hanging off these vehicles to help make them look even more aggressive and intimidating. A simple “PlainJane” ute is almost impossible to sight these days which would suggest the accessory market is doing extremely well plus, the ‘extras’ column must be full of ticks when new vehicle sales agreements are being signed.

Last month alone, Ford New Zealand added 761 more Ranger utes into the overall Kiwi fleet as they continued their total dominance of both the light commercial and passenger vehicle sales numbers. Toyota, which has always been Fords biggest rival in this space with the Hilux, had a quiet month in comparison with only 297 registrations but expect that to change dramatically when their soon to be launched new generation Hilux arrives in showrooms.

While the other players in this market namely Nissan, BYD and Mitsubishi play a minor role in comparison, their numbers each month are still significant.

In comparison last month, the Hyundai Tucson was the top selling passenger vehicle with 418

sales followed by the Toyota RAV4 (369), Mitsubishi ASX(308) while in fourth place was the rather large Ford Everest (275) which is basically a much more refined Ranger ute in disguise.

So, while there are many positive changes happening in places like Auckland including Park & Ride facilities and more dedicated bus lanes in place, it appears Auckland’s roading network overall struggles to cope with vehicle congestion. Those big rigs certainly aren’t helping the situation.

Regardless, after facing all that traffic for a few days, it was simply great to get back home where there wasn’t a traffic light in sight and absolutely no congestion.

MARKET OVERVIEW

New vehicle registrations totalled 10,193 units in February 2026, an increase of 4.1 percent year on year. Growth was recorded across all major segments in the month.

Year to date registrations reached 21,970 units, up 6.5 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Overall, the market has commenced 2026 on a firmer footing relative to last year.

Motor Industry Association Chief Executive, Aimee Wiley, said

the February result reflects steady underlying demand across the market. “Both the monthly and year to date figures show moderate growth compared with 2025, with light passenger vehicles continuing to account for around seventy percent of registrations. While heavy commercial volumes remain slightly below last year on a year-to-date basis, the February lift is encouraging.

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Broader economic forecasts point to gradual improvement in 2026, following a subdued period last year. Interest rates and business confidence indicators have shown signs of stabilisation, supporting purchasing activity across both household and business segments.

MOTIVE POWER TRENDS

Hybrid electric vehicles continue to feature prominently within the light passenger segment, maintaining a significant share of registrations year to date. Battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles remain present across both passenger and light commercial categories, while internal combustion vehicles continue to account for the majority of total registrations.

opportunity to acquire

Two established income streams with clear room to grow

Current owners moving on for family reasons – motivated to find the right buyer

Games & Puzzles WIN!

Crossword Puzzle

to reach us by 12:00pm on Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from the New World checkout manager directly.

1. Suspicion (5)

7. Consistently (8)

8. Lethal (5)

10. Sailor’s skill (10)

12. Unfortunate coupling (8)

14. White metal (4)

16. Contests, ... with (4)

17. Tour de France competitors (8)

20. Institute of higher learning (10)

23. Finnish steam bath (5)

24. Coup (8)

For last week’s solutions see page 22.

1. Twist out of shape (6)

2. Lingerie items (4)

3. Molecule particle (4)

4. Chief water pipes (5)

5. Most powerful (9)

6. Near-sighted (6) 9. Licit (5)

11. Star-like footnote marks (9)

13. Weep (3)

15. Openings for coins (5)

16. Bank strong-rooms (6)

18. Wisp (6)

19. Male singing voice (5)

21. Slide violently (4) 22. Pull sharply (4)

Proudly sponsored by

Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Café in Whitianga. 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 12.00 noon on Monday each week. The winner must please claim their prize from Espy Café directly.

and column, and every group of 9 boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once. ACROSS

25. Glided on snow (5)

What’s On

OP SHOPS

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

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.

From a small town to packed theatres across Australia

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

FROM INTERVIEW WITH KOLBIE AND HER DAD, BLAIR

St Andrew’s Church Op-shop – Owen St, Whitianga. 9.30am-1pm Wed-Sat.

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.

Mercury Bay Bridge Club – Every Wednesday at 1.00pm and every Thursday at 7.00pm at the MB Bowling and Sports Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. For more information contact Gavin 021 146 9203.

Mercury Bay Community Choir – Meets Mondays 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the music room

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.

KMercury Bay Area School. Friendly inclusive non auditioned choir. All welcome. For enquiries phone Kate 027 2709058.

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-Sun 9am-5pm.

MONTHLY

olbie Fraser is seventeen and until the beginning of 2025 she was in Cooks Beach preparing to go to Wellington for her post-MBAS college studies at the New Zealand School of Dance.

AA Driver Licensing – NEW LOCATION. Monday, 23 March, Friday, 10 April. Whitianga Community Service Trust Centre, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga.

She is quietly proving that talent backed by grit goes far. Late last year almost at the end of her first year at the dance school, Kolbie earned the invitation to a fiveweek paid professional contract with Rising Ballet Company BIG Live, performing Nutcracker productions across Australia.

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.

Under directors Joel Burke and Khalid Tarabay, part of one of the highest-selling ballet companies in the Southern Hemisphere, she completed 45 performances, dancing five ballet roles, some lasting nearly seven minutes, performing to around 80,000 people. She was also trusted with partner work, which was an honour and embraced wholeheartedly.

Kolbie could hardly believe the experience she was getting and being chosen to be part of the elite ballerinas in the country.

Hei Mara Garden Club Hahei - We meet on the first Monday of each month at members’ homes, 11am - 2.30pm. New members from Hahei and surrounding areas are welcome. Phone Liz on 0210649232 for more information.

She knows her achievements to this point are not just about hours in the studio. There were

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 – Mondays 6.30-9.30pm, MB

Bowling Club. Players of all levels. Cost $2. Contact Brett Soanes 0272117195 or brettsoanes16@hotmail.com

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

Coroglen Farmers Market every Sunday until Easter at Coroglen Gumtown Hall (SH25), from 9am-1pm.

Coffee and Discussion Group – Every Sunday, 2-4pm, at The Lost Spring. Topics are open and respect shown. No charge. Convener Peter H. Wood.

Cooks Beach Care Group – Meet new friends, learn about coastal conservation and make a difference. Hands-on weeding and planting, Thursday mornings. Register at: www. cooksbeachcaregroup.org.nz; www.facebook. com/CooksBeachCareGroup

nights walking 30 minutes uphill after training, soaked by Wellington rain and buffeted by wind, legs burning and body exhausted. Shared houses, different cul-

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.

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. Every Thursday evening, Whitianga Town Hall 6.45pm. New members, beginners and visitors very welcome. Phone/txt Cheryl 027 452 7887 or Sandie 021 825 666 for more information

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club - At the Mercury Bay Area School Gymnasium, Tuesdays Members Only 5.30-7.30pm; Saturdays Social & New Players 9.30-11.30am; Sundays All Players 4-6pm. Contact Tony 021 426 150. Matarangi (Matai Pl Courts) Thurs 3-5pm (Winter) 5 -7pm (Summer) Saturday 9-11am Contact Grant 022 383 6351. Hahei Tennis & Pickleball ClubThursday & 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.

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

Kolbie’s success is inspiring others back home. Eight-year-old Harlow Macaw from Tairua also joined the Adelaide and Sydney legs of BIG Live’s Nutcracker tour, a remarkable achievement for someone so young. Performing in the Party scene’ in front of thousands each day, Harlow thrived on stage and says she loved every minute of it. She has since returned home full of inspiration and will continue training under Sarah Fitzsimons at Thames Hauraki Dance Theatre where all the girls have come from, united by their love of dance.

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 – Held in the Whitianga Town Hall. Tuesdays beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Seniors 12.45-2.30pm; Thursdays Seniors 10.15-11.15am, Absolute Beginners 11.30am-12.30pm, Improvers 12.451.45pm. Night class held at Mercury Bay Club for Absolute Beginners 5/30-6.30pm. Contact Margaret 027 463 8850, Glynis 021 1099 155, Kathleen 022 154 1702.

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

The Coromandel Peninsula’s presence in national dance continues to grow, with Kolbie training in ballet and Liarah Anderson – 2nd year, Izzy Fitzsimons and Neka Woolf - now accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance, first year contemporary programs.

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

tures, and strict dancer nutrition became unexpected hurdles, and Kolbie made the tough call to move, prioritising her health and training.

Cooks Beach Pickleball – tennis courts, cnr Purangi Rd and Rees Ave. Saturday mornings 9am. All welcome. First time free, then $5. Contact Kevin 021 396 062.

Hon Scott Simpson

COROMANDEL-COLVILLE

BETTER HEALTH CARE

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

Coromandel ‘Growers & Artisans Market’ –Every Saturday from 9am - 1pm at 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.

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

That resilience and decision to change her situation, soon turned into opportunity as it was after that she earned the invitation to dance in Australia

MP For Coromandel

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

Mercury Bay Athletics – For info contact mercurybayathletics@gmail.com

Proudly carrying her Coromandel roots into every lesson, Kolbie’s journey is proof that big dreams are being built right here at home. Kolbie has just now begun her second year – carrying with her the lessons of life away from home and the experience of professional dancing for several weeks and there will be more to come!

Well done!

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.

Access to healthcare is one of the biggest concerns for people in rural and remote areas and our government is committed to ensuring New Zealanders can get the care they need, when they need it, no matter where they live.

Ohuka Garden Club meets 2nd Wednesday of the month. New members welcome. Contact Beverley Sheppard Ph 02109028855 or email beverley@annabells.co.nz

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. Tairua Market takes place on the 1st Saturday of the month all year at Tairua Community Hall, 9am till 1pm. Food, fruit and veges, crafts, clothing, home decor, plants, furniture, books and much more.

FORTNIGHTLY

Last year’s Budget invested $164 million to strengthen urgent and after-hours care nationwide, meaning 98 per cent of New Zealanders will be able to access these services within one hour’s drive of their home. One of the initiatives funded was a pilot programme to enhance urgent and after-hours healthcare in six rural communities, including Coromandel and Colville.

In terms of the Coromandel pilot programme, it began in mid2025 and is being delivered at the Coromandel Family Medical Centre and Colville Health Clinic practice. They’ve been benefiting from extra support, better access to information and working more closely with an Emergency Care Paramedic which can treat urgent care patients in the clinic, while also available to respond to local 111 calls.

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 Sue 021 274 7899. Email suzyed@ outlook.com

I was thrilled to hear the announcement from Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey that these pilots have been rolled out and have shown the positive impact that locally led approaches can make, with faster care, better access to treatment, and stronger links between rural health services.

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.

I’m hoping that there will be even more support for similar projects around our region and the rest of the country in the coming year. People in rural areas can often travel long distances for care and rely on small teams supporting large regions, that’s why this investment is so important.

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.

In other news, our region is still recovering from January’s heavy weather event, but it’s encouraging to see communities rebound so quickly and contractors working to stabilise our roads. There are parts of the Peninsula which are still affected by storm damage, and I visited these areas a

Mercury Bay Badminton Club – Thurs 5-7pm, MBAS school gym. Now open to new members wanting to play competitive Badminton. Coaching provided for those wanting to improve their skills. Phone Steve for more details 027 211 3568.

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.

couple of weeks ago alongside the Associate Minister of Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk.

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.

Whitianga Menz Shed – NEW LOCATION - 18 Abrahamson Drive, Open Tues/Thurs, 9am-12 noon. Phone Glenn 0274-952-015. All welcome. Whitianga Playcentre – Every Tues/Fri 9am12 noon, 1F White St. Contact whitianga@ playcentre.org.nz or 027 880 3947.

We received a briefing from the Thames-Coromandel District Council, which outlined the impact of the storm and the work ahead. It was stressed throughout these visits that support is available, such as Civil Defence payments through the Ministry of Social Development.

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 Neville Crawford 021 276 2169.

“Major events are critical for our hospitality and tourism sectors, especially here in the Coromandel. Accommodations fill up, restaurants and cafés thrive, and local businesses see more customers, creating jobs and lifting incomes.”

Whitianga Community Patrol – Monitors the township and neighbourhood. If interested in volunteering, ph Gary 027 391 3043.

TWO UPCOMING COFFEE MORNINGS

Grey Power Mercury Bay Inc

“Across New Zealand, Tourism directly contributes $17 billion to national GDP and just under 200,000 jobs. Tourism makes up almost 12% of Coromandel’s GDP. The economic ripple effect of major events is huge, supporting our local businesses and growing our economy.”

Addition to Scott’s column Excerpt from his Press release Wed 11 Feb.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OCEANS

FESTIVAL

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.

“I’m excited that the Coromandel will once again host the Whitianga Oceans Festival in September 2026, attracting visitors from around New Zealand and overseas, as part of the national $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package. “

Coffee Morning 10.30am on Thurs 26th March Doors open at 10.00am. At the Mercury Bay Club. Come & join us. Ph: 07 866 5516

Mercury Bay Medical Centre Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki

“Events such as the Whitianga Oceans Festival don’t just bring visitors; they bring life and energy to our region and to our towns which helps to create vibrant communities and unforgettable experiences.”

Whitianga Community Services Trust would like to invite you to a Kaumatua / seniors morning tea 10:30am, Wednesday 18 March at Mercury Bay Club This is a free event, and no bookinga are required.

“This funding is a significant boost to Whitianga and the wider Coromandel, and I’m looking forward to our region hosting another great event which encourages locals and visitors to celebrate all that we have offer.”

Tuesday, 10 March: Ladies

Nine-hole: Division One

Jenny Layton, 2nd Audrey Vickers 3rd Ros Rundle (Tairua)

Tuesday, 10 March: Mens Ninehole Stableford.

Winner Rodrick Bott (19) 2nd

Brian Gordon (18) 3rd Gavin Greene (17)

Wed 11 March Ladies Captains

Trophy A/S Round 2

Winner Jenna Leach 2 Di Andrew, 3 Jo Geoghegan

Two’s Carol Jacques & Lynne Butler NTP 4th Betty Tocker

Closest in 2 on 18: Carol Jacques

Longest putt Karen Morris

Wed 11 March: Mens Scramble.

Gross winner Dave Enright (73) 0-17 handicap.

Gross winner Colin Jacques (101) 18+ handicap

Nett Winner Darren Abernethy (70), 2nd Dave Enright (70 C/ Back) 3rd Mark Kilgour (71)

Two’s Dominik Szparagowski, Darren Abernethy, Mark Boe & Willie Jones

Thurs 12 March. The “Get It On” Women’s team tournament. Best 2 of the 3 Stableford.

Winning team: Shay Geach, Carol Robertson & Aggie Bowyer

(MBGC)

Runner up: Jane Deadman, Julie Rutledge & Alison Bryson (MBGC)

Third place: Polly Lambert, Sheryn Parry & Brenda Riggs. (The Dunes, Matarangi)

Two’s: Kay Buckeridge, Rachel Johnstone & Brenda Riggs

Mercury Bay Masters 2026

Saturday 14 March

Gross Men: 40-54: 1st Mark Boe, 2nd Nathan Wilson, 3rd Dan Ray

Net Men 40-54: 1st Dominik

Szparagowski, 2nd Matt Kurth, Cameron Walls

Gross Women: 1st Suk Hee Kim, 2nd Karen Phillips, 3rd Charmaine Reti

Net Women: 1st Betty Tocker, 2nd Sharon Young, 3rd Diane

Andrew

Gross Men 55+: 1st Ken Meaden, 2nd Mike Leeper, 3rd Dave Enright

Net Men 55+: 1st Kevin Wallace, Richard Steel, 3rd Neal Robinson

Two’s: Anthony Jin, Justin Wilson, Wayne Kearney, Janse van Rensburg, Brett Proctor, Richard Steel, John Millar, Wayne Martin, Darron Reti, Ken Meaden and Richard Craven who had 2 Two’s, 1 being on the par 4, 3rd.

A beautiful couple of days greeted our intrepid golfers and sunblock rather than wet weather gear was the requirement. The golf was enjoyed by all. We thought about 30% of the field were visitors who commented extremely favourably on the quality of the course that

our awesome green staff turned out. Roll on 2027.

PURANGI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Nine-hole par Round One L Haycock Trophy Tuesday 10 March

1 Lauren Stephens, 2 = John Hamilton, Jo Geoghegan, Annelise LA Roche.

Nine-hole Stableford Thursday 12 March

1 Wayne Morrison, 2 =Annabel Wharton, Lauren Stephen's 18 hole nett. Saturday 14 March

1 =Harry Van Der Putten,Cullum Murray, 3 Phil Anders 4 =Annabel Wharton, Annelise La Roche, AL Sims

4BBB Nett: Callum Murray and Phil Anders

THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB

Nine-hole Men: Monday Back 9 - Nett Day

1Mark Deutsche 30, 2 Ray Green 34, 3 Noel Rogers 34, 4 Ross Gwyn 34.

Nine-hole Ladies: Yellow Tee Day- Stableford Tues, 10 March Ruth Fisken 21

Red/Blue day: Stableford Wed 11 March

1 Robert Smith 40, 2 Glenn LeLievre 38, 3 Jim Dale 36. Nearest the Pin: Doug Smith

St. Patrick’s Day Tournament :Ambrose Net

Mike Smith, Thomas O’Connor, Glenn LeLievre 62.33 Nett Saturday Haggle: 14 March

1 Allison Drake-Wells 34, 2 Paul Harrison 34, 3 Cathy Drake-Wells 33.

Nearest the Pin: David Todd Two’s: Paul Harrison # 5, David Todd # 18.

TAIRUA BRIDGE RESULTS Round 2, March Pairs, 9th March.

North/South. 1st Heather Campbell & Peter McNeil 63.10, 2nd Carol & Ron Baker 59.52, 3rd Suze MacLean & Sonia Botica 51.19. East/West. 1st Jim Buffett & Christine Meinhold 63.49, 2nd Chris Death & Jocelyn Taylor 59.13, 3rd Jenny Hemmings & Peter Clark 53.17.

THE HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Results for week 2 of the Betty Dunn Pairs held on 10 March 2026 are as follows; North South. 1st Robyn Waters and Dave Dylla 66.50%, 2nd Val Dwight and Denise Knutson 54.50%, 3rd Ngaire O’Brien and Natasha Courtney 50.00% East West. 1st Peter and Robyn Hogg 55.50%, 2nd Jenny Hemmings and Johanna Bonnar 54.50%, 3rd Loring Stewart and Margaret Muir 49.00%.

Sport results continued on page 23

Trades & Services

PLUMBING

Vicky 027 399 4279

Darryl 027 336 8603 anchoredatcooks@gmail.com

Church Services

WORSHIP 10:00AM Come, join the familyFind peace and friendship. Enquiries: ph 022 1322 061 www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.org.nz

Saint Patrick’s Day Blessing

“May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us.

May the Hand of God protect us.

May the Way of God direct

TRADE SALES SUPPORT

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Receiving incoming calls

• Following up customer inquiries

• Processing orders for collection or dispatch

• Source and Order special products and solutions

• Handling general price enquiries

• Co-ordinate plan estimations and facilitate pricing

• Providing backup service for our Account Managers

We will be looking for the following attributes in the successful candidate:

• You will need strong communication skills

• Provide a high standard of customer service

• Be able to work under pressure and organise your time and environment for maximum efficiency

• You will need to be computer literate

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work permit and will be required to undergo pre-employment and medical testing.

If you have a “Know How Can Do” attitude, enjoy working in a team environment, and would like the challenge this position brings, then please forward your CV and cover letter to:

Todd Moses our Trade Sales Manager Todd.Moses@placemakers.co.nz

OPEN CLASSIC FOURS - MERCURY BAY BOWLING CLUB

Sponsored by G J Gardner

Thursday 12 March.

First: Graeme Goss, Dale Tegg, Peter Mackenzie, Colin Everett (as per Photo)

Second: John Gregory, Nirie Reddy, Bryan Patterson, David Field.

Third: Shane O’Ohara, Colleen Sexton, Pam Phillips, Lee McDonald. Many thanks to our kind sponsors G J Gardner Whitianga.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

March Competition round 2

Wednesday, 11 March

North/South - 1 Giorgio Allemano & Tadek Gawor 64.2; 2 Don Barry & Robyn Hogg 56.3; 3 Terri Lipanovic & Johanna Bonnar 55.2

East/West - 1 Ischelle Stevenson & Rose Tegg 61.5; 2 Faith Stock & Lois

Page 61.1; 3 Jan Autumn & Graeme Warburton 54.0 Cook Pairs round 2

Thursday, 12 March

North/South - 1 Faith

Stock & Angela Cook

56.6; 2 Steven Knowles & Ischelle Stevenson 53.3; 3 Augusta Canegallo & Kate Palmano 52.6

East/West - 1 Chris Southwell & Gavin Hedwig 61.8; 2 Amy Hyde & Geoff Jervis 54.6; 3 Kathy Moy-Low & Pam Churchill 48.0

MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

Thursday 12 March

Winners: Ray Rout and Jan Harvey Runners Up: Ian Pudney and Wayne Fisher

Good Sports: Cheryl Henderson and Shirley Marshall

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday 11 March

Ken Gibson continued his recent good form to take top prize, being the only player to win all 3 games in section play. With 2 wins each were Ian Baumgren, Greg Murphy and Peter Challis who also made the highest break of the day with 25.

Saturday 14 March

A good turnout of play-

ers was reduced to 2 with Peter Schultz and Rob Reilly winning 3 games each to contest a play-off final. A drawn out battle ensued but it was the experienced and wily Peter with a clearance from blue to black to pinch the frame and take out the day’s top prize. Peter also scored the highest break of 22.

MERCURY BAY DARTS CLUB

28 players this week, so 501 doubles were played. One team went through unbeaten in all four sets giving them an outright win. They were Fletcher Bale and Phil Maudsley. Highest finish for the ladies was 60, scored by Chris Bennett and for the men, 81 scored by Fletcher Bale. No 180’s scored this week.

MERCURY BAY

ATHLETICS CLUB

Mercury Bay Athletics Club have been making their mark beyond their home track, travelling to compete at meets hosted by other clubs and delivering impressive performances along the way.

Leading the charge are senior athletes Neela Sacult, Reef Havard, Louie Jenson, and Noa Jenson. The group has been proudly representing Mercury Bay Athletics Club at regional meets. Their most recent highlight came in the relay event, where the team combined speed, skill, and teamwork to secure an outstanding

first-place finish and showcasing the strength of the club’s senior athletes.

Mercury Bay Athletics Club is supported by a passionate group of parents and volunteers whose efforts keep the club running week after week. Special recognition goes to Freya, club President; Felicia, club Secretary, and Jamiee, club Treasurer.

Their commitment and guidance continue to help the club grow and thrive. Together, the athletes, families, and volunteers create a strong and supportive environment that allows everyone involved to enjoy the sport and achieve their best. We are looking forward to a bright future both on and off the track.

Kubota Billfish tournament – the winners

Continued from page 3

Well, Whitianga will remain his iconic tournament, with the potential for smaller ones. Possible locations may include places like Opua, Bay of Islands or Whangaroa, in Northland.

In the meantime, Whitianga remains top of his mind, with a focus on community engagement, regardless of whether you’re into fishing or not.

‘There is a huge marquee erected for the whole week, and it would be great to see it utilised, either for food or music festivals,

another way to bring our community together,” says Tom. “I certainly am excited about that prospect for our town.”

A huge congratulations to angler Jason van Esch and Skip-

per Mark and team Corblimey landing a Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club pending club record with the Black Marlin that pulled the scales down to 384.9kg!

Heaviest Billfish $400,000Corblimey 384.9 kg Black Marlin

Champion Team Billfish

Points

1st – Matador 1268 points

$200,700 2nd – Corblimey 1040 points

$66,900 3rd – Ata Rangi 682 points

$33,450

Heaviest Billfish

Day 1 – $30,105 – Corblimey

384.9 kg Black Marlin

Day 2 – $30,105 – Ata Rangi

252.4 kg Black Marlin

Day 3 – $30,105 – Matador

112.3 kg Broadbill Swordfish

Day 4 – $30,105 – Providence

III 170.1 kg Blue Marlin PJ Builders Heaviest Tuna $20,000

Blue 44.82 kg Yellowfin Tuna Heaviest Tuna Day 1 – $17,403.75 – Lawai’a

kg Yellowfin Tuna Day 2 – $17,403.75