Te Kai Whakarongo Issue 1202 | 24 March 2026 | Proudly locally owned and operated
theinformer.co.nz
@theinformernz
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
Come & join us for happy hour EVERY DAY from 3-6pm
3A Reweti Drive (opposite Mobil) www.basker.co.nz info@basker.co.nz Phone: 07 866 0645 Hours 8.00am to late
KICKDOWN FESTIVAL Darren Shields returns to his home See page 3
Are Resident & Ratepayer Associations needed? See page 7
IN TOWN AND ALL ABOUT THE BIKES The 2026 Kickdown Festival in Whangamata ran this last weekend from Friday, 20 March to Sunday, 22 March, featuring a new ‘ Downtown’ style weekend right in the heart of Whangamata.
In previous years, the programme was mainly on farmland property just outside Whangamata. However, this weekend focussed on local venues rather than the farm location. Friday night was the motorbike show with bike games.
Comfy queen mattress and base
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PRICE • suPER RE FURNITU
Saturday was the Coromandel Loop Ride, and a Saturday night concert at Summer Bar with band 88 Miles Per Hour. The legendary Coromandel Loop Ride occurred on Saturday with camping available for festival goers at the nearby Whangamata Motor Camp.
•PRICE EsuP R E UFURNIT R
The event focused on connecting riders, shifting to a tighter, high-energy, walk-between-venues format in the heart of Whangamata. It served well as a prelude to a larger return to a farm setting for Kickdown Festival in 2027. See images on page 2
Moana queen mattress and base
New Zealand made comes with a 10 years warranty
$1599
Easter Special Available in three feels – Plush, Medium and Firm
SPF Furniture Thames 513 Pollen Street, Thames 3500 07 2116954 SPF Bed Shop 543 Pollen Street, Thames 3500 07 2119307 SPF Furniture Whitianga 33 Albert Street, Whitianga 3510 07 2800367 www.superpricefurniture.co.nz