Issue 1205 14 April 2026

Pauline’s Piece

One year ago on 12 April… but Stan has something to say

This last Sunday, apart from being full of warnings of rain and wind; it was the first anniversary of Stan’s (my husband) death, a sobering but important time. I wanted to share something of him with The informer readers. He wrote a lot and this is a piece that was not shared in his weekly Stan’s Stuff. He wrote it just prior to coming to The Coromandel in 2022.

FROM STAN

Many years ago a young friend gave us a print of the Van Gogh painting above. I love Van Gogh but had never seen this painting and could not understand why of all of his paintings, she had given us this one. When I asked about it, she said, “It’s you - you and Pauline.” I just didn’t get it. I could not imagine Pauline and I would ever look like that!

This painting. takes me back to the school song of the High School I attended, ‘Forty years on. The song was borrowed from ‘Harrow’ the famous English school. I can still remember thinking, this is a dumb song, which has no interest or meaning to me or my fellow students. However, I have never forgotten it.

The first verse goes…

Forty years on, when afar and asunder

Parted are those who are singing today,

When you look back, and forgetfully wonder What you were like in your work and your play.

Then, it may be there will often come over you,

Glimpses of notes like the catch of a songVisions of boyhood shall float them before you, Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along. I used to wonder , “Why are we singing about 40 years on? We might as well be singing about 4,000 years on. It is so far from us that it is unimaginable. For me it is now an unbelievable 70 years on since I first sang that song. Now I understand the lyric, except for the comment about memory is not quite right. In my experience, it is memory short” at least for the immediate. It is true that memory is ‘long’ for things far away. As the lyric goes, ‘visions of boyhood’teen years etc., do come all unbidden into my mind and ‘float there before me.’

I have been looking again at the Van Gogh print of the old couple. Maybe that is Pauline and me. Our young friend’s imagination was on the mark. The fact is I

have lived over 85% of my life. I am now well into the final winddown. How do I feel abut that? Strangely enough, not too bad. I am at ease in a way I never was in my teen years. What helps is I feel part of an extended community.

When thinking about why I feel more peaceful now, I recognise that a key source of stability and security for me is my marriage.

This relationship has been a great antidote to the ‘lost in time and space’ and ‘not fitting in feeling’ that accompanied me in those early years.

Of course there are others who tread a different path to me. Some marriages are destabilising. Many live without marriage. Some have lost their life partners many years earlier and live solo, and live well. I don’t think that marriage is necessarily the key to a fulfilled life. But ‘Love’ is To find contentment, it is my observation that somewhere, somehow, a person must connect with a source of love.

For Pauline and me, yes, we love each other, but we cannot live in our love bubble.

The warmth we experience from people goes far deeper than casual greetings and embraces. In many cases friendships have grown into real love. Intentionally we have reached out.

We have come to know that this love can be relied on. For us it has not just been the love of contemporaries. It includes the love of babies, children, teens, and young adults.

We are fortunate. We are not alone. We are not afraid.

My imagination draws me back

Astronomy Tours and B&B Phone (07) 866 5343 www.stargazersbb.com

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

Jupiter continues to be the highlight of the evening sky glowing brightly in the north and is joined by considerably brighter Venus very low in the western sky. However, Venus will climb steadily higher over the next few weeks making it easier to see. Meanwhile the predawn sky has Mercury, Mars and Saturn performing a lovely dance changing positions all week low in the east with the Moon helping us to find them on Thursday, 16 April. Tuesday, 14 April: The predawn crescent Moon is getting thinner but closer to Mercury, Mars and Saturn very low on the eastern horizon and we have a low ISS pass from 7:18pm in the west. Wednesday, 15 April: A tiny crescent Moon now sits just above the planetary trio before dawn on the eastern horizon and from 6:30pm in the west we have a bright ISS pass starting just beside Venus.

Thursday, 16 April: A minute crescent Moon lies right next to Mars with brighter Mercury above and faint Saturn below just before dawn very low on the eastern horizon. Friday, 17 April: The Moon is now too close to the Sun to observe but the planetary trio remains very low on the eastern horizon before dawn with the brightest, Mercury, getting closer to the others every day while Mars moves ever further down towards Saturn. From 6:33pm low in the west we have a good ISS pass. Sunday, 19 April: Mercury, Mars and Venus form a lovely triangle low in the east at dawn. Tuesday, 21 April: Mercury has moved to be with its fainter planetary sisters all in a bunch together before dawn very low on the eastern horizon which will be a lovely sight in binoculars. In the evening the crescent Moon lies below bright Jupiter. Wednesday, 22 April: The crescent Moon now sits directly below Jupiter at dusk.

to the real world. Here is some practical advice that I find good to think on.

FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Like to be younger- not feel younger – but be younger?

Migrate to Ethiopia. In that country the Roman calendar(ours) is ignored and the date of this year in Ethiopia is 2010. What this means is that all who reside there are 7 years younger than those who live in the world of the Roman calendar. Go for it!

Like to be treated with courtesy and respect by especially the young?

Move to Asia particularly to the Asian countryside. In these cultures, the aged are revered and treated with respect, especially by the young. A welcome change from many NZ and Australian young people who see everyone over 50 as ‘old farts’ and treat them accordingly.

Suffering from body-hunger? That is about the loneliness of people who are hardly touched. Go live in Italy or some of the other Eastern European countries. The normal way of greeting is a light hug and a kiss on both cheeks. As well as women, men kiss men – get used to it! Go to Albania where the norm is two kisses on each cheek!

Why not be inventive? A widower friend of mine gets up close and personal to a beautiful young woman every fortnight. He never misses a shampoo and a haircut even though he does not have much hair.

Watching Online’

LOOK UP ON YOUTUBE

1) Electricity Turns Sand Into Solid Stone. No Cement Required. Could Concrete Become Obsolete? (Duration 13.13)

2) Six Free Satellite Imagery Tools Every Investigator Should Know. (Duration 14.46 min)

3) I visited the worlds most Advanced City.cn (Duration 19.57 min)

„ If you’re not online, but would like to get online why not try Seniornet (see page 16

CONTENTS

Centrefold – An amazing achievement – MenZ Shed opening

Anzac – some important groups pg 5

A new column – Inspiration Alley pg 7

Your name on a bridge? pg 9

Goodbye and thank you Mat Ali pg 10

Entertainer Tina Cross for Mothers Day pg 13

Anzac Day Services pg 13

Voyage to the Moon and Back pg 16

Local governance pg 17

Four Americans pg 19 Letters pg 20

Hunting & Fishing Junior Tournament and Youth Nationals pg 28

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

Advertising/advertorial in The Informer: Phone (07) 866 2090, Email sales@theinformer.co.nz 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 welcome.

Cyclone Vaianu snapshots

Remembering – ‘Lest We Forget’ some important groups

BY RON MORGAN

In a little over a week, Anzac Day falls on Saturday, 25 April 2026, with a public holiday on the following Monday. All services will take place on the Saturday. In recent years, it has been wonderful to see so many people, young and old, pay their respects at ANZAC services to honour our fallen soldiers from both major conflicts.

There are several other groups worthy of remembrance on this day.

• Those military personnel who lost their lives in other theatres of war since the major wars e.g. Vietnam and other conflicts to which we have sent personnel.

• Those who were often emotionally, mentally, or physically traumatised and faced huge difficulties re-adjusting to civilian life. Many families bore the consequences.

• Those at home who stepped up as volunteers shouldered many additional responsibilities and hardships. The contribution of women to the workforce and military was remarkable, adding further burdens to many mothers.

• There were many groups who made major contributions to the war effort in many ways – busi-

nesses, charities, welfare groups, churches both within New Zealand and abroad.

• One group who operated offshore with incredible bravery was the Merchant Navy. Enemy aircraft and U-boats were acutely aware of the importance of the convoys’ cargo, tracking them relentlessly. When a ship was attacked, the convoy had to press on, often leaving crew behind in freezing water amid oil, flames, and burning debris. The Merchant Navy’s contribution to the war effort has never been adequately recognised. Without the supply line they maintained,

troops overseas could not have been provisioned, yet the loss of ships and personnel was horrific.

• There were also those lost in recreational, commercial, or other non-combat incidents over the years. Some families never achieved closure as bodies were never recovered; they too deserve to be remembered.

• The role of animals in major conflicts should never be underestimated. My grandfather rode as a cavalryman in the Boer War and again in World War 1, and the bond between cavalry soldiers and their horses was legendary. Horses navigated mud and dif-

ficult terrain, pulling artillery, ambulances, and wagons, and delivering messages. Many were killed by enemy fire, disease, or poison gas.

Over the years it has been gratifying to see that many artists, poets, films and documentaries have acknowledged the massive contribution horses made. A memorial in Hampstead has the inscription – “Most obedient and often the most painfully injured, they died – faithful unto death.”

Horses were brought from Australia, Canada, the USA, and New Zealand, as well as being requisitioned from British citizens. No horses under 15 hands (152 cm) were taken in Britain, as children were deeply concerned for their ponies’ welfare. It turned out, however, that the stockier smaller breeds proved more effective and were preferred by many units.

Perhaps the most harrowing moment came at the war’s end, when many horses were put down or sold to slaughterhouses rather than repatriated. Of the 136,000 horses shipped from Australia, only one was returned home. In New Zealand, I believe only officers were permitted to bring their horses back.

Dogs were used in a variety of roles across many conflicts.

Trained to carry messages via cylinders attached to their collars, they could negotiate barbed wire with ease. They also carried water and medical supplies and ventured into No-man’s land to locate the wounded. The Swedish army used dogs and sledges for transport. On the home front, their heightened senses made them invaluable in search and rescue, and they were also used for pest control during trench warfare. More recently, dogs have been trained to locate landmines. Of interest is the use of dogs as mascots. A planned remake of the film Dam Busters has generated controversy, as the squadron’s mascot was a black Labrador with a name now considered deeply offensive. The debate centres on whether to change the dog’s name to reflect current standards. So, perhaps on ANZAC Day we can spare a thought for all these groups who made such incredible contributions. Let us continue the fine tradition of remembrance. „ Please find the times and places of Anzac services on page 13, or check the TCDC website.

DEALS

Inspiration Alley

By Ananda Laberge

Welcome to Inspiration Alley!

Inspiration Alley is place that will warm your heart with stories of inspiration, love and healing. For our first installment, read on to learn about the gifts of RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness), or Ray-oks, as we call them in our family (thanks to my 11-year-old daughter at the time – now 21 – Tasha, who introduced us to this many years ago).

Every week I attend an online forum called, The Miracle Room. The man running it brings comfort and joy to many, and it’s free! People attend from all over the world. Every time I’m done with the call, I feel so good. It got me thinking about how important it is to do something for someone else and how it can change our reality in a very concrete way, and it doesn’t have to cost us money.

Have you ever wondered why doing a good deed for someone else gives you a “zing?” There’s a chemical component to it in the brain; dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. I call them the “feel good” chemicals in the body.

These beauties are at our disposal anytime we want. We can activate them in simple ways with exercise, like when we go for a run, head to the gym, or take a leisurely walk on the beach. But the higher gift comes when we get this

good vibe by looking outside ourselves and share it with others. Whitianga is blessed with many that volunteer; I applaud you all! You get it. You are a true example of Love.

The body is full of mystery, take for example, the pre-frontal cortex in the brain, aka: the amygdala; it can work for us, but also against us.

It’s our “fight or flight” mechanism that can protect us. It gets triggered by fear. When we come from Love instead of fear, the amygdala response lessens and our stress response lowers as well.

And for those of you wanting to lose weight, when the amygdala is triggered, it raises our cortisol levels (due to stress) which is associated with fat retention. It also can cause us to have sleepless nights, make us feel more anxious, irritable and exhausted.

It’s a great feeling to be able to have control over our bodies, rather than the other way around. You can even say it

can be empowering! With a spirit of “giving” rather than “getting” we can change our day-to-day experience, physically and emotionally, and get to feel good doing it.

Given all this, why don’t more people do it? We get so wrapped up in our problems that we don’t realize a little lift is there for us, anytime and anywhere. I use any problems that are going on in my life as a quick reminder to go do something for someone else; it has changed my life. So much so that now I do it without needing to have problems to trigger me to do it, and guess what? I have less problems that come up!

The world is insane and we can change how it impacts us, here in our backyard. If you get consumed and depressed by the state of the world – politics, the price of gas, the pain… change it up! When you start thinking negative thoughts, that is another trigger to go do a RAOK. Instead of sitting

down for the evening news at 6:00 pm, pick up the phone and ask a neighbour over for dinner. Chances are that you will feel a lot better at the end of the night than if you had watched the news.

So, this week, try doing a RAOK (or two) in the community – a compliment to someone, picking a flower and delivering it to an elderly neighbour, baking a hot soup for that friend that is under the weather. The options are endless. Afterwards, close your eyes and take in how it feels in your body. You can even start a journal of RAOKs that you can read to remind yourself of the good deeds you have done for people in your community and how it made you feel. Write in to us about the RAOKs you’ve experienced or watched someone else do and how it affected you. Write to ananda.laberge@gmail.com. Kindness goes a long way… not only to those around you, but to you!

HI EVERYONE! I’M ANANDA LABERGE

I feel incredibly lucky to have called the idyllic town of Whitianga home for over four years (thanks to my wonderful husband for bringing me here!). Although I’m Canadian, people often assume I’m American – no offense taken – the US treated me very well. I enjoyed a dynamic thirty-year career in sales, leadership and consulting within the competitive healthcare sector, and raised our two daughters in beautiful California. Having grown deeply fond of Whitianga, I wanted to give something back to this special community-and indulge my love of freelance writing at the same time. Above is my first weekly column for The Informer, titled Inspiration Alley. Drawing on a lifetime of global travel for both work and pleasure, I’ve developed a zest for seeing life as “glass half full”. I look forward to sharing that perspective with you each week.

„ ananda.laberge@gmail.com

Builders forced to tighten their aprons Yoga Festival heads to Whangamata

BY SHAUN FAY

The Thames Valley Industry survey

reveals that construction is the Coromandel’s second biggest sector, totalling over $148 million with real estate just pipping them at the post. Most local builders would agree they have had a strong decade, and the big ones still have forward work, but for several in this sector-things are slower. Of course it’s not just on the Coromandel, construction companies in our bigger towns and cities are also feeling it. That’s why more building companies are looking at the lucrative east coast of The Coromandel. And why wouldn’t you? Many of their potential clients inherited land from their parents and are now wealthy boomers who want to build their dream bach and retire.

For many years it was always difficult to have remote builds but today with modern communication it’s easier and you can rent a bach for your team so they can take

weekend trips home. And some of those builds are extremely opulent. One ‘bach’ recently completed has eight toilets, another is rumoured to have a budget of fourteen million dollars, they even have their own crane. While round the corner sits Mum and Dad’s one bedroom with a long drop bought in the 60’s for five hundred pounds. It’s clear that several of the current local projects are expensive and complicated builds perhaps surpassing the local skill set. And judging by the number of unfamiliar names outside building sites there’s a solid market for the out

of towners. This has led to more local builders having to sharpen that measuring pencil of theirs. However, new builds can be years in the development – design, quotes, compliance and if there’s not much in the pipeline now the next few years might be lean affairs. Worth noting that the current world energy crisis will also prices up. All of which will make the next two to there years challenging for our second biggest industry as they battle the recession and the out of towners.

Time to put another notch in that builder’s apron.

BY SHAUN FAY

One of the Coromandel’s biggest Yoga Festivals is coming to Whangamata, April 17 to 19. Featuring carefully selected teachers from a pool of ‘wisdom keepers’ within the Coromandel region, the festival has been popular with limited spots now available.

The Coromandel has always been popular for these kinds of events and while some struggle with understanding the differ-

ent disciplines, devotees are often keen on these weekend retreats.

The festival runs most of the weekend and participants can choose the classes and workshops that suit. Organisers have put together a detailed and extensive weekend that promises three dedicated spaces for your weekend, including:

• BODY SPACE – movement, strength, yoga, dance.

• MIND SPACE – talks, phi-

losophy, practical tools for everyday life, the mental body and bringing balance to your mental health.

• SOUL SPACE – meditation, breath work, mantra and quiet reflection to soothe and harmonise your soul.

„ The festival is held at the Whangamata Memorial Hall, Friday 17 to 19 April. For more detail see their website, Google: Coro Yoga Festival. Space is limited.

Your name on a bridge?

A chance for public to contribute to Tairua River Trail landmark.

Awalking and cycling bridge spanning the Tairua River is moving closer to becoming a reality, and the public now has the chance to be a permanent part of it.

The team behind the Tairua River Trail have launched a “Build A Bridge” campaign to help fundraise for the 120-metre suspension bridge, which will form the centrepiece of a 13km off-road trail connecting Pauanui and Tairua in the coming years.

Once completed, the trail is expected to bring a range of benefits to the Pauanui and Tairua communities, including recreational and environmental, as well as creating safer off-road walking and cycling routes and boosting local businesses.

DONORS

Whether individuals, charitable trusts or businesses - can choose their donation level, starting with pledges for single planks for $2,000. Donors will be recognised on an honours board at the bridge site. Construction on the bridge will start this coming summer, depending on funding.

Hikuai District Trust Chair Derrick Adams says the trail has been always been known as “the people’s trail” – built, maintained and partly funded through the generosity of locals – and he called on

people to get behind this exciting new stage of its construction.

“The bridge is going to be a fantastic addition to the Eastern Coromandel’s trail network and a resource for both locals and visitors to be proud of,” Mr Adams says.

“We started out with 165 planks to sell and we’re confident of finding a donor for every one of them. We’ve already secured a cornerstone partner and together with some early plank donors we have approximately 30% of the funds we’ll need to build the

bridge. We’re looking for generous donors who want to help us get the rest of the way.

“You can contribute as much as little or you like – starting with a single plank, but if you want to be a naming sponsor of the bridge, we’re here for that conversation too.

“We already have a great group of contributors who make regular donations via our ‘Trail Blazers’ programme, as well as others who make one-off donations when they’re able. We know not everyone will be in a position to

give money right now, but every amount, large or small, takes us a step closer to making this community dream a reality.”

People who are interested in donating can find their full list of options at https://www.tairua rivertrail.org.nz/donate.html.

Mr Adams hailed the steady progress building the next section of trail towards Tairua over the summer. Volunteers and Storms Contracting have built about 1.5km of trail around the Tanners Farm area.

“Our team has another 1.2km

or so of trail building to go before they reach Swampy Stream, where we’ll have to build a new bridge to reach the SH25 road reserve. This will complete approximately 2.7km of trail, which we hope to open to the public later this year

“We’ll then connect this section to the south bank trail via the suspension bridge - which we hope to start building next summer depending on funding. This will create an uninterrupted 10km trail from Pauanui Waterways to Swampy Stream Bridge.”

Once these tasks have been completed, trail construction will continue downriver towards Tairua via new trail and boardwalk sections, eventually finishing next to the Tairua Primary School on Petley Parade.

“The trail is fully consented and our conversations with locals in both towns over summer tells us they’re on board. With the continued generosity of local donors, we’re aiming to have the trail fully completed in the next few years,” Mr Adams says.

„ The next major fundraising event for the trail is a “Gatsby Las Vegas” gala night at Puka Park in Pauanui on Saturday 30 May. Tickets are available from the Pauanui Information Centre or by emailing patcourtney@ xtra.co.nz.

Goodbye and thank you Mat Ali

– a change of command at Mat’s Café

BY PAULINE STEWART

Mat Ali said goodbye to Mat’s Café on Saturday, 11 April. A stream of customers came out in impending inclement weather to say, ‘Thank you for excellent food and service. We are sad to see you go.”

There were lots of hugs all round. Many of the tables were full of people despite the coming cyclone warnings.

Mat arrived in Whitianga March 2020 – the new owner of what became a dining landmark, called Mat’s Café on the corner of Albert and Lee Streets, Whitianga.

Covid launched itself at about the same time on the New Zealand population and just as the restrictions were lifting Highway 25A closed with the damage cyclones Hale and Gabrielle for several months.

However, Mat’s Cafe became a bright refreshing refuge with

excellent breakfasts and lunches topped up by baking that made coffee and a sweet a sought after repast.

Mat knew our names when

Digital Decoder

we came for sustenance either take away or a sit down meal or refreshment. Many social or sporting groups came to Mat’s for their after session cup of coffee or tea

“Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and frequented Mat’s Café. I will not forget your kindnesses.”

with a savoury or sweek muffin.

Sadly, Mat is heading for the shores of Australia. We lose a talented and generous man at least for now.

Actually, Mat is no stranger to the far flung towns of outback Australia where he has many friends and business connections who have kept in touch and with whom Mat has worked in the past.

I would like a different and new venture,” says Mat.

“I will use my experience to try something different in a contrasting geographic environment. I have energy and focus for this. It is something I need to do.”

Mat is sad to leave this commu-

nity and his wide circle of friends and supporters, “Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and frequented Mat’s Café. I will not forget your kindness.”

Mat has given Mercury Bay and visitors from afar excellent service and food. He gave everyone a lot of himself and his shoes will be hard to fill.

The good news in this is that Mat Ali has sold Mat’s Café to Nicole Wu and Connie Su. Everyone knows Nicole, the owner and manager of Snapper Jacks. Connie is relatively new to our community but has been a close friend of Nicole for many years. Snapper Jacks is another excellent and reliable business open every day.

We will have more news for you in our next issue from Nicole who is a dynamic personality and chef who knows the hospitality business and what it takes to nourish a community with good food and service.

By Agent EJ

Russia shuts down internet for citizens.

Can it happen here?

Since February, Russia has been strangling the popular Telegram app, used by nearly 100 million Russians including the Kremlin itself. The stated reason: fraud and terrorism. The real reason: to push citizens onto MAX, a state-backed messaging app that shares data with the FSB, has no end-to-end encryption, and was pre-installed on every phone sold there last year. It’s been called a digital iron curtain. Students were threatened for refusing to install it. Dissidents are silenced through it. This is what censor-

ship looks like when a government has had years to build the infrastructure, quietly, incrementally, and always in the name of safety.

Russia isn't alone. India, Iran, Myanmar, and Ethiopia have all weaponised internet shutdowns against their own citizens, during protests, elections, even school exams. Egypt killed it during the 2011 revolution. Cuba switched off WhatsApp during 2020 protests. The pattern is depressingly consistent: the kill switch exists, and eventually, someone uses it. Blackouts

are implemented during a crisis and they call it public safety. Could it happen here? We have a functioning democracy, an independent judiciary, and a fresh Cybersecurity Strategy 2026–2030. But documents don't automatically translate into protected rights. Malicious cyber events logged by the NCSC jumped 4,600% in a single year.

A major health data breach hit 100,000 New Zealanders in 2025. A sufficiently damaging attack on critical infrastructure (power, water, finance) could create exactly the kind of crisis that justifies exerting emergency powers. Polarisation does the rest. We have seen how quickly "public safety" can erode civil liberties when political will aligns with fear.

The UN Human Rights Council has affirmed that the rights people have offline must be pro-

tected online. Internet access is NOT a luxury. Cities that have rolled out free public Wi-Fi have seen gains in business growth and democratic engagement. New Zealand should be leading that conversation in the Pacific. We need stronger whistleblower protections to hold everyone accountable and enshrine internet access as a public utility, not a commercial product. And we need to watch Russia's playbook closely, because the lesson here is that the switch is always built before it is ever flipped.

Your First Mammogram: Quick. Safe. Life-Saving.

Many women delay their first mammogram because they worry it will be painful or harmful. The truth is reassuring. With modern technology, mammograms are quick, generally painless, and safe. Radiation exposure is minimal, and the benefits of early detection are significant.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A screening appointment takes about 20 minutes.

The mammogram itself takes around 10 minutes. Each breast is positioned between two plates for a few seconds. You may feel some pressure, but most women describe it as brief discomfort rather than pain.

This compression is essential. It helps radiologists capture clearer images, allowing them to detect small cancers long before they can be felt.

WHY START AT AGE 40

Breast cancer risk increases with age.

Cancers found below the age of 50 are harder to detect clinically as these patients usually have denser breasts. Patients with denser breasts have a higher risk for breast cancer. Health experts, including Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and American Cancer Society, recommend begin-

ning regular mammogram screening at 40. Detecting cancer early means:

• Simpler treatment options

• Less invasive procedures

• Higher survival rates

“Mammograms remain the most effective tool for early detection of breast cancer. For most women, the procedure is fast, comfortable, and can save lives,” says Sugania Reddy, Lead Radiologist – Breast Imaging.

SAFE AND LOW RADIATION

Mammograms use a very small dose of X-rays, similar to the natural background radiation you are exposed to in everyday life. The benefit of detecting breast cancer early far outweighs any minimal risk from this radiation.

CHECKLIST FOR YOUR FIRST MAMMOGRAM

• Wear a two-piece outfit for easy undressing from the waist up.

• Avoid deodorant, lotion, or powder on the chest or underarms.

WORLD-CLASS BREAST CARE. RIGHT HERE IN PUKEKOHE.

At Allevia Radiology Pukekohe, advanced  3D Mammography with Volpara breast density assessment provides clearer breast screening.

If further answers are needed, diagnostics and specialist treatment are coordinated through the Allevia Breast Institute network.

Because when it comes to world-class breast care, the right place is actually, right here.

• Schedule your mammogram a week after your period if your breasts feel tender.

• Tell your radiographer if you have breast implants, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.

• Arrive a few minutes early to complete any forms.

A mammogram is one of the quickest and most effective ways to protect your health. If you are 40 or older, regular screening gives you and your doctor the best chance to catch breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable.

A quick, safe test could save your life. „ alleviaradiology.co.nz

If you are 40 or older, regular screening gives you and your doctor the best chance to catch breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable.

Book now: 0800 626 664

No GP referral needed for screening mammogram (ages 40+). Scan the QR code for more info.

Entertainer Tina Cross coming to Mercury Bay

Tina Cross, one of New Zealand’s most vocally talented, enduring and versatile performers will celebrate 50 years in the music industry at the Mercury Bay Club in Whitianga on Saturday, 9 May, the weekend of Mother’s Day.

Tina has been a defining presence in New Zealand’s entertainment landscape for nearly five decades. She first captured national and international attention in 1979, winning the Pacific Song Contest with “Nothing But Dreams,” launching her amazing career.

Tina (Te Aupouri / Ngāti Porou) achieved chart success both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of 1980s band, Koo De Tah, whose hit “Too Young for Promises” reached the Australian Top 10.

Already an established recording artist in New Zealand through her work with PolyGram Records, her trans-Tasman success marked the beginning of a wide-reaching international career which has included Tina sharing the stage with legendary performers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, and Meat Loaf.

Tina’s career is marked not only by musical excellence but by her deep connection to audiences and community. Tina has used her music to support causes close to her heart. Her single “Walk Away,” was dedicated to Women’s Refuge, while her 2017 release “Another Little One” supported Shine and was inspired by the tragic death of Moko Rangitoheriri.

She has also led “Power of Song” workshops in men’s and women’s prisons across the Auckland and Northland regions, using music as a tool for healing and empowerment.

TINA CROSS AND JOHN BETTISON

This Saturday night celebration show is called Nothing But Dreams and will bring together two remark-

able careers weaving iconic songs with the stories behind them.

Joining Tina on stage for the Nothing But Dreams show is acclaimed guitarist and vocalist John Bettison, whose career spans decades of performance. John is one of Australasia’s most respected session musicians, performing and recording with international and local artists including Olivia Newton-John, Burt Bacharach, Rick Astley and Tina Arena. His work in television incudes Australian Idol, The Voice and The X Factor.

Together, Tina and John share a unique musical history that began with Koo De Tah and has evolved into a rich creative partnership.

In Nothing But Dreams, they revisit the songs that shaped a career, the moments behind the music, and the journey of a life lived on stage-offering audiences an intimate, entertaining and heartfelt celebration of five decades in music.

Tina is excited to bring the 9 May show with John and the programme will be in two parts.

We visit homes and businesses anywhere in the Coromandel Peninsula at no extra charge.

(07) 2420042 or 02041714916 trish@mobilelawsolutions.co.nz

– Is your KiwiSaver

“The second part is particularly geared for getting on the dance floor,” Tina says.

“However, the key to this show is that it’s personal. There’s a lot to sing that I have loved very much over 50 years.”

This is the perfect night out to mark Mother’s Day or simply enjoy a classy night out at a great venue with top class New Zealand entertainers. The restaurant is open from 5.30pm.

Not only will people be treated to two great entertainers instead of one, Tina’s sister, Mata Tu Paea, who is an outstanding vocal performer in her own right, and Tina’s brother-in-law, Hal, who is a professional bass player will add to the music and energy of this evening, making it a family affair for what promises to be a big performance and audience night.

One not well-known fact was that the full and original recording for Shortland Street was by Tina and she mentioned in the interview with The Informer, she will be singing that on Saturday, 9 May.

Tina’s contributions to the arts have been widely recognised. She has received numerous accolades, including New Zealand’s Top Female Vocalist, Best Theatrical Performer, and an Australian MO Award.

In 2008, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to the music industry, and in 2014 she was honoured with the Variety Artists Club’s highest accolade, “The Benny.”

„ Tickets for Nothing But Dreams show Saturday, 9 May at Mercury Bay Club Whitianga at 7.30pm, are available from the front desk of Mercury Bay Club or the bar. Phone to book your tickets as numbers are limited to 200. Cost $25.00. Ph: 07 866 5576 ‘Tina Cross – Celebrating 50 years of music’.

Anzac Parades and Services

Cooks Beach – a dawn service at the Fire Station. Breakfast to follow.

Coromandel Town – 10:00am service Memorial Reserve. Morning Tea to follow at the RSA (Bowling Club). Hahei – Civic Service at 10:30am at the otare Reserve memorial Garden, Pa Road, Hahei.

Matarangi – Civic Parade – 10:45am March to Matarangi Fire Station for 11:00am Civic Service.

Pauanui – a Dawn Service at 6:00am Assembly at 5:45am at Surf Life Saving Club Ti service takes place on the beach.

Tairua – a Dawn Service at 6:00am. Soldiers Wall Tairua Ex-Serviceman’s Cemetery, Main Road, Tairua. Tapu -a Dawn Parade at 5:45am from Fire Station to the Cenotaph. Breakfast to follow.

Thames – a Dawn Parade 5:45am followed by a Dawn Service at 6:00am at Thames War Memorial Civic Centre. Civic Parade 9:45am gather in Sealy Street followed by Civic Service 10:00am at the War Memorial Civic Centre. Whitianga – a Dawn Parade 5:45am Mercury Bay RSA to Soldiers Memorial Park for dawn Service at 6.00am. Hot breakfast is available at the Mercury Bay Club Restaurant afterwards. See page 26.

Whangamata – Sunrise Service – 6:00am Whangamata Surf Club. Breakfast follows at Blackies in Williamson Park. 9:30am Beach Hop cars drive RSA members to the Parade beginning. Civic Parade – 10:20am led by Bay of Plenty Pipes and Drums. Followed by Wreath laying 11:00am at Whangamata War memorial Hall – Light lunch to follow.

HAURAKI PLAINS

Ngātea – 6:00am Dawn Service, Hauraki Plains College, Ngātea. 11:30 am Civic Service at Ngātea War Memorial Hall. Paeroa – 6:00am RSA Dawn service, Cenotaph, Primrose Hill. 9:15am Civic Service at Paeroa War Memorial Hall.

Waihī – 6:00am RSA Dawn service, Waihī RSA. 8:00am Wreath laying, Waihī Cemetery. 9:00am Tunnelling Company Service, Gilmour Reserve, Waihī. 11:00 am Civic Service at Waihī Memorial Hall

“An amazing achievement – 13 months of a lot of people doing a lot”

The new MenZ Shed Whitianga is ready to welcome you. Opening is 11.00am Saturday, 18 April, Abrahamson Drive, off Moewai Road. The Mayor Peter Revell and Diane and Richard Vetter will do the honours.

Glenn Schache, as President of Whitianga Menz Shed is feeling very proud of what the team and the business and wider community have accomplished.

The Informer has been following the building project and visited in recent days. The MenZ Shed looks great - so very well-finished and without debt and so busy.

Glenn is very clear about the role of the Menz shed “This is much more than a place for enjoying building, repairing and creating things. This is about a community that uplifts people and provides a relaxed and non-pressured environment for men. It’s a place to chat and build friendships. Also men who now don’t have room for a home workshop can still use and share their creative skills. “

Glenn Schache has nursed this project like a mother hen through all its stages and difficulties and every day has been worth it.

Glenn was not part of the MenZ

operating from the red shed owned by Peninsula Roofing and Scaffolding, Richard and Diane Vetter, the owners of Penin-

Caleb Jennings p. 027 537 5953 caleb@baysideconstruction.co.nz baysideconstruction.co.nz

Grant Haycosk, General Manager p. 07 866 4200, m. 021 856 104 grant.h@penroofscaff.co.nz penroofscaff.co.nz

Graeme Coleman, Branch Manager p. 07 777 4111, m. 027 551 0006 graeme.coleman@chesters.co.nz

6/9 Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga 3150 chesters.co.nz

Pete Banks, Owner/Operator p. 07 866 0035, m. 021 822 145 peter@gbwhitianga.co.nz

2/9 Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga 3510 guthriebowron.co.nz

p. 07 866 0221 info@mbcd.co.nz www.mbcd.co.nz 33 Albert Street, Whitianga 027 9047 521

Glenn came to Whitianga 36 years ago. “My wife’s family had a bach at Simpson’s Beach which we eventually bought off her. We came really to live a different life out of the rat race.”

From the start Glenn never wanted for a job. He was a builder and there was lots of work on offer. An interesting turn of life, Glenn relates. “I had worked with Jeff Riddle in Auckland. We were builders together on many projects. About four years after me, Jeff came to live here and it was as if we picked up where we left off. “Jeff Riddle is a very fine builder

Registered Electrician/Inspector p. 07 866 5509, m. 021 867 646 admin@pcelectrical.co.nz 36 Owen Street, Whitianga pcelectrical.co.nz

Peter Thomsen, Branch Manager p. 07 866 2489, m. 021 117 4091 peter.thomsen@carters.co.nz 12 Moewai Road, Whitianga 3610

Paul Mason, Branch Manager p. 0800 785 010, m. 021 227 9139 paulm@nzwindows.co.nz

1 Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga 3591 nzwindows.co.nz

having done a large number of excellent builds in this town. He has been instrumental in the building of this MenZ Shed.”

Brian Mearns, the former President had been travelling on his vacation and looking at other MenZ Sheds. He visited Keri Keri to look at their operation there and came back with great enthusiasm, which was infectious“Let’s build our own shed!”

Brian encountered significant health issues and Glenn became the President of the MenZ Shed. However Brian’s dream and enthusiasm was not lost on anyone , particularly Glenn.

“We started with a clear plan and a well-managed build,” says Glenn .

“This land is owned by TCDC. It is part of the Sheriff Block. We have taken over the head lease as the Scouts have left and the Lions Club shed will become part of a sub-lease to the Menz Shed.

“Our budget, carefully worked out to a completed and operating shed was $691,000. We had a very good team. The whole project has taken us 13 months .We had $63, 000 of our own funds that we had built up through fund-raising and sales. A gift of $150,000 from a donor that I cannot mention got us to the one- third threshold we needed to begin funding applications.

“We received $100,000 from Lotto; $50,000 from Trust

THERE ARE SO MANY TO THANK

• The Site Crew who built this MenZ Shed. They were here most days.

• Ron Ayan-Parker, Ian Baumgren, Fred Bonkavich, Fred Brinsden, Greg Henly, Jeff Riddle, Glann Schache (President), Richard Vetter.

• The Office Crew: Anusha Bhana, Fred Collins (Secretaqry), Ian Robbie, Keith Schmidt (Treasurer),

• The logos and business information set out below announce the generous local businesses who made the MenZ Shed a reality. Thank you.

Ian Telfer

m. 027 637 0049

56 Racecourse Road, Whitianga 3510 telferbuilders@gmail.com

Mark Sampson

p. 07 867 1620, m. 027 567 1620

Craftsman, plumber, gas�itter, drainlayer PO Box 377, Whitianga

Ray Blackler p. 0274 980 980 roadworx@xtra.co.nz 278 Cook Drive, Whitianga

Waikato and $20,000 from Pub Charity.

“The difference between $400,000 we had, and the cost of the shed being $691,000 is all due to the overwhelming generosity of businesses and individuals in those businesses. Ray Blackler of Roadworks donated his equipment and time to the project, Peninsula Concrete – the laying of the concrete base, all donated. The scaffolding for the build was supplied free of charge. Grant from Peninsula Roofing and the manufacturers of the roof itself -little or no charge. The same with Dean from Steel and Tube. That is why we have printed their name son our Honour board because we

Stu McFarlane m. 021 914 226 stu@drainagesystems.co.nz www.drainagesystems.co.nz

don’t want the community to forget their generosity.”

“Collectively this community project is the result of a lot of people doing a lot.”

Sandy Sanderson with his perfectly operating, model making machine lathe. Sandy had cast all the parts. It had been his final year optical instrument apprenticeship project. This was in 1980. This machine was designed for a home environment – almost silent. Sandy has fully intended to use it a lot but with close neighbours a lathe can be extremely noisy. This project had earned him Apprentice of the Year. He was apprentice of the Year in England

John Berryman was putting

the finishing touches to a Starling Box. His professional life had been as a Counsellor and Social Worker.

Ron Aylan- Parker is a Canadian and worked in several countries with police and government and in radio and television. None of these professions were about making things or fixing things. Ron had made some beautifully finished wooden boxes. There was a system in Canada run through Canadian Universities where, once your had graduated, you could apply for service overseas. There was a job with the police in Zambia and none of the other graduates wanted it. Because English was the national language there, I thought I could give it a go, so off I went to Dar es Salaam in what is now Tanzania. It was there he got his first taste of broadcasting, editing and reading the news.

He also hosted a TV programme ‘Police Call ’focussed on finding lost and stolen items; some very large.It was a challenging but excellent experience for Ron then returned to Ottawa to work in Public Service for a number of years. Carpentry has always been an interest. Teaching carpentry to 4 year olds.

Julie Pearson, Plant Manager, Whitianga m. 027 252 8344

julie.pearson@holcim.com 263 South Highway West, Whitianga 3510 holcim.co.nz

Susan Watters m. 027 225 3685

whitidesign@gmail.com 3261 Tairua Whitianga Road, Whitianga RD1 3591

Dean Ronald, Account Manager p. 07 578 1089, m. 021 762 620 dean.ronald@steelandtube.co.nz steelandtube.co.nz

CLEANIT SKIPS

Mathew Bell m. 0274 817 260 redtruck50@outlook.com PO Box 12, Whitianga

Greg Addison, Branch Manager p. 07 866 0478, m. 021 875 171 greg.addison@jarussell.co.nz

3/20 Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga 3510 jarussell.co.nz

p.

Voyage to the Moon and Back

BY ALASTAIR BRICKELL

The Artemis II mission should rightly be celebrated as an event of great technical achievement and human bravery. There are just so many things that could have gone seriously wrong, with the last major hurdle being the thirteen landing parachutes that had to sequentially deploy both correctly and inflate completely.

The mission also undoubtedly ticked all its PC boxes having taken the first woman and first American of colour to the Moon as NASA’s DEI management has been craving for years.

However, it was basically just a resetting of the clock back to 1968 with Apollo 8 which looped around the Moon that Christmas. Back then they did a successful Moon landing only 7 months later but now it’s going to take at least 2 more years so we’ve wasted almost 60 years.

It will nevertheless give America a much needed boost in the new space race. Not with the Russians as in the Apollo days but with the Chinese. Relatively unhindered by environmental regulations and crew safety concerns, China has advanced rapidly in recent times, often using copied American technology, and say they want to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. I suspect they will actually try and do it a year or two earlier thus explaining American’s recently ramped up activity.

The prize is not just national pride but also staking territorial claims on the

Moon. The initial goal is the lure of water at its south Pole and, a bit like the Iranians, the aim is to exclude others from having access to this resource. A lunar water mine will be infinitely more valuable than any lunar gold mine for a future base. But it’s not just water that is the incentive. Much serious science and radio astronomy can only be done on the back side of the Moon and there are relatively few sites suitable for this. I suspect that this is one of the reasons the Artemis crew took so many photos of that side and the Chinese are in the race here too. They have already returned samples from that side. Whether we like it or not, the Moon is going to be the site of intense international civil and military rivalry in the decades to come.

The Brits invade despite the weather

It was the night before Cyclone Vaianu arrived in earnest. Mercury Bay Club hosted The British Invasion. Numbers were down but the music was excellent and there

were times when the 50 or so people all danced away to well-known British good times tunes. The Beatles music was a real hit and the band of four turned on a great evening despite the weather.

Seniornet

What’s been happening

Did you know that research suggests using digital gadgets may be helping older New Zealanders stay sharp?

We held our AGM in mid-March and honoured our outgoing Treasurer, Dave Campbell, with Life Membership. Dave devoted ten years of outstanding service to the organisation. He lives on “The Dark Side” and every month, he took the ferry over to attend our Committee meetings. Dave’s accounts were always accurate and he provided the Committee with practical, sound information and advice. Dave will be enjoying his full retirement as he paddles his kayak from Cooks Beach to go after an elusive snapper or kingfish.

OTHER HAPPENINGS:

The iPhone/iPad groups are going great guns. However, there is often space available on the B group which meets every other Wednesday, at 2:15. If you’d like

newest Life Member with his certificate.

to explore the features on your iPhone or iPad, email our Admin at seniornet. whitianga.admin@gmail.com to book in.

Music at the Lakes, Pauanui

Open Mic sessions have been running in Pauanui for a number of years but last year saw a big change. The venue was moved to The Lakes Resort and the event was held on the second Sunday afternoon of each month. In 2026 we are still at The Lakes but on the third Sunday of each month, currently from 1.00pm to 4.00 pm (winter time).

All are welcome to come and per-

form. We have seasoned performers as well as first timers and everyone in between. Some are regular and others occasional but everyone’s there for the enjoyment of making music. We have performers who are local and others who come from anywhere in the Coromandel and even places beyond. Open

Sunday, 19 April, 1.00pm-4.00pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

Concerns from Residents and Ratepayers

PREPARED BY TONY FOX

Congratulations to all involved in our Civil Defense/Emergency Management for their exemplary work regarding our recent weather event. It is the first time in 25 years that I have witnessed so many residents actually preparing for a major weather event. CFM, Social Media, NEMA etc. . Well done!

This only goes to show that where there is a will, where there is good planning, where there is good training and when everybody understands their roles and responsibilities, great things can be achieved.

I doubt that anybody on the Emergency Management Team had to consult with Heritage NZ, Forrest and Bird, Regional Council etc to achieve what they did. People simply got on and got the job done.

This should be the bench mark for all activities of Council.

WATER METERS

Complete the project. It is simply not right that those without meters pay significantly more for water than those who have meters. I believe that should those who do not have water meters were to challenge TCDC at law they would win. It is simply morally wrong to have a few residents so unfairly treated for the sake of installing a few water meters. Get on and fix the issue. This issue is significantly more

important than many of the fantasy/unnecessary activities that TCDC involves themselves in.

ESPLANADE REDEVELOPMENT

Given other priorities there is simply not the money to continue with this project. Take the project off the books and spend no more money pursuing something that will not happen in the foreseeable future. The Health and Safety argument used to support this project is simply unfounded. Who holds the Empirical data. Health and Safety a buzz word to justify a project.

SPEED LIMIT ESPLANADE – ALBERT STREET ROUNDABOUT TO BLACKSMITH LANE

We have had a number of requests re reducing the speed limit along this part of the Esplanade to 30 kph on the basis of the number of hospitality businesses, car parking and recreational facilities in this area where there are multiple crossings (on foot) and children using this part of town. Whilst many ‘locals’ understand the dangers visitors do not. This is a formal request to have the MBCB consider a review of the speed limit in this area.

BOATING CLUB

Time to bring pragmatism to the table. It would seem that every reason to end the Boating Club future is in play. Heritage NZ, Iwi,

Wetlands... they were not issues when the Boating Club was established so why now? How many of these obstacles are staff generated?

MACROCARAPRA RESERVE

This is one of the few areas on the beach where a tree offers some shade and I dare say protection from further erosion. We need to develop a CAN DO /Pragmatic approach to save this area. A high tide beach should NOT be the priority.

CBD LIGHTING AND CCTV CAMERAS

We have an ongoing issue with vagrants.. we need to do better.

METH

We are aware of the issue… water testing provides some disturbing trends. If we want to make an impact on family harm, social harm etc we need to rid the community of this evil. What are the Police doing?

RATES – LV TO CV

Whilst there has been good work done by the elected arm to get the rates increase to less than 4% this is not the full picture as those in Thames and Whitianga will face approx. 10% increases in their rates as the result of the move away from LV rating. To soften this blow consideration should be given to increasing the UAGC to 30% until such time as the LV to CV model is

revisited.

I think of a very basic budgeting process. What can I do without? It is easy to go out and find additional income/revenue to Carry on doing what you have always done but this is not addressing the real issue. The corollary is Council continuing to spend, and in fact adding to expenditure, supporting activities that are not the role of Council knowing that they can simply add the cost to the rate. The rate cupboard is bare. This might be hard to understand for some TCDC staff who are amongst the highest paid people in the District. They can afford these excesses, many cannot.

RESILIENCE

We hear this word bandied about a lot. Maybe TCDC needs a work programme that pays regular attention to drains, i.e the drain that runs alongside Moewai Road (it is a sad day when home owners have to clear this drain), the Mother Browns Creek outlet, trees growing under power lines etc. None of these matters are complicated. They need addressing and a plan put in place.

TAIL WAGGING THE DOG

It would seem that the TCDC Staff position is to say NO rather than YES so long as the ‘following are met’. Our elected arm needs to drive a culture change. We need to adopt a ‘CAN DO’ attitude and not what many of us see – a NO answer.

We are simply too risk adverse. Maybe this is because we lack a RISK POLICY.

I am very clear on how the system should work. Our elected arm set the agenda and staff take care of the operational matters. In our current climate I rather fear that it is the staff running the cutter and not those whom we elected.

There is a Public Forum Mercury Bay Community Board Meeting Wednesday 15 April 9.00am in Whitianga. Not everyone can come to these meetings. Community Board meetings are also held across The Coromandel this week in Coromandel, Tairua, Whangamata and Thames. These are the matters that will arise and be presented by the Chair of WRRA, Tony Fox. Some of these concerns have been in front of TCDC for a long time. WRRA is working closely with our Community Board to get some results. It is of note that the number of Community Board meetings has been reduced (without consultation) so each one has to handle more material and ensure results in between meetings. The Informer was interested to be made aware of this report and would be interested in other Residents and Ratepayers reports to their Community Boards.

This is your chance to secure one of the very best sections at Wharekaho.

Perched above the coast, these elevated, sun-soaked sites boast sweeping views over the Whitianga Harbour, Front Beach, Flaxmill Bay, Mercury Bay, and the golden sands of Wharekaho.

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Four Americans – our life with Kiwis

Each has a share in a medium sized fishing boat called Chaos which is moored at Sovereign Pier. All four enjoy fishing. Tom and Bill are the most keen. Tom first enjoyed New Zealand fishing at Lake Taupo fly fishing for Rainbow Trout. Now he is a Mercury Bay fisher and to confirm the depth of his love for fishing, he bought Fraka a fishing rod for their wedding anniversary. Tom’s wardrobe of special brand comic fishing T-shirts is very distinctive. Fraka and Tom have been fishing in British Columbia and along the West Coast of USA from Alaska to California. Carol is clear she doesn’t love fishing as much as Bill. However, the four enjoy fishing in the beautiful Mercury Bay aboard Chaos and share their catch with their neighbours.

The Informer had opportunity to meet with them after dinner at Mercury Bay Club following a line dancing class. They don’t all line dance but enjoying a meal afterwards with friends they have made at Sovereign Pier.

I want readers to know them a little through this articlethoughtful, hardworking, professional people who immerse themselves in Kiwi life for a period every year. None of the subjects we discussed were political, but their concern at the nature of the leadership and the economy of their home country was tangible. Those subjects were left alone as we could do nothing about it.

TOM AND FRAKA

Tom is the oldest of this group of four friends. He will be 86 in July. He is a Professor of Botany at the University of California State specialising in plant structures and plant development with a focus on how roots function. Teaching at university was his life for over forty years and his great love was

interacting with students, enjoying their youthfulness and their different ideas. Tom takes a great interest in the trees and plant life on The Coromandel and is an avid reader of newspapers – from the New York Times to the NZ Herald and The Informer.

Fraka is actually a kiwi more than an American. Born in Amsterdam, her family immigrated to New Zealand from the Netherlands in 1962. Fraka was two.

“I read a book on plate tectonics, when I was nine years old. It was fascinating and gripping for me and set the direction for what I would do with my life. I would watch Jacques Cousteau and dream of what I might do. When I finished my study at Victoria University, I left New Zealand to do a Post -Doctorate in Geology at the University of Montana. As part of my field work, I went to Peru and Alaska and studied ancient coral reefs.

Then followed two expeditions to the Antarctic for Fraka. This meant three months in a tent in the Antarctic weather. “I worked for the NZ Oceanographic Institute which is now called NIWA. Of course, I wasn’t by myself in the tent. There were two scientists, plus an expedition leader and a survival expert. We had to do survival training at Tekapo before going. My field gear from the time in the Antarctic was displayed in the Christchurch Antarctic exhibition for quite some time.”

The expeditions were funded by New Zealand Antarctic Society and the United States Air Force provided support taking Fraka and her team to the Antarctic in a C- 40 which is like a ski plane.

“In 1989, I got a job as Professor at that same University in Montana. From there Tom and Fraka initiated and organised what became known as the

South Pacific Semesters. Students studying geology, biology, anthropology or business were offered a semester abroad working with universities in New Zealand. “The idea was to be out in the field a lot, gaining experience in a different country where there was a lot of geological and botanical significance,” said Tom. “This was very different to what the students were used to. We were a sleeping bag group.”

I can remember over at Sovereign Pier, the man cleaning the rentals would say every day, “Another day in Paradise,” and I would say, “Yes”.

The students also stayed for some of the time in University Halls of Residence as they came in New Zealand’s Summer and the halls were empty.

“We brought students who had never been out of their hometown,” says Fraka. The two organised at least four such trips. It meant three months of travelling, the students seeing a great deal of New Zealand – 5,000 to 6,000 kms each visit. “It was a success story,” says Fraka. “The students built up all kinds of connections; one or two even married Kiwis.”

In addition to science pursuits, Fraka has pursued music and theatre as a past time and this has included roles in movies and a few brief cameos in Shortland Street. She had been a host of the television show, ‘That Jack’ in Northern California so she was no stranger to the industry. In her musical theatre experience, she is a singer of light opera as well as rock and blues and a saxophone and keyboard player.

BILL AND CAROL

Bill and Carol are the same age – late sixties -and they met in college when they were 18. They have a daughter in Germany and a daughter in Illinois, USA.

Bill is a mining engineer and his focus has been production –running mines for mining companies. His training and experience started with construction and underground coal, then industrial minerals such as aggregates, heavy mineral sands, salt, and specialty clays.

It was this business that brought them both to New Zealand. Bill was recruited from the USA to help build the West 2 coal mine in Huntly. “These were some of our best years. The company brought in many new people - two other Americans and engineers from England and Canada. They eventually switched the Huntly power station to natural gas and unfortunately, that was the end of the Huntly underground mines.

Carol was with Bill for this venture as her University degree and training were in Earth Science Geology. In the work arena, she specialised in environmental permitting, compliance and management. Also she specialized in health and safety compliance at the mining operations. “Aspects of dust, noise, air and water quality were all crucial and needed to be highly regulated in the mining industry all across the world. “My job was to help people keep operating in a legal and safe manner,”

At one point in their careers, both Bill and Carol worked in the same company in Reno, Nevada. Carol engaged with the environmental work, while Bill worked in operations.

“I had seen and done most of the work before,” says Bill. “We were both very seasoned and experienced and it was no picnic. We were thinking about retiring, but

one day the offer was put, “Do you ever think about working in South Florida?“ We moved to Florida. Four years after that we left the corporate world,” says Bill. “Through the years, I had learned the skills of carpentry and basic mechanical and electrical worksimply fixing things that needed fixing. I found that as well as fixing things for neighbours, I could fix up rental properties efficiently and I enjoyed it. So that’s what we do when we are not in New Zealand; we fix up our rental properties as well as our home in Southern Florida.

Soon these four will return to their other life in USA for six months. The Informer asked them two questions: „ What is your perception of living in New Zealand?

– I love the beautiful scenery that is constantly on display. I love the access to fishing and very friendly people are everywhere. – Compared to the USA, the political scene is very different and more cooperative. Perhaps that’s a good thing.

– The Coromandel is not crowded with its low population density. – It is safer here. In the 1990s, the students we brought from USA could walk around and not feel threatened.

– It’s a good place to raise kids; our children loved the playgrounds and children in NZ feel safe in the outdoors. The other major consideration is that this there is nothing really hazardous or dangerous in the natural environment.

– “My American friends and I believe New Zealand is ‘A lot in a small package,’

– Here the beauty is concentrated.

“We would plan a three-hour drive when we first came, but it would take 10 hours. There was so much to enjoy.”

Continued on page 20

Four Americans continued

Continued from page 19

„ What has changed for you since you have been coming to New Zealand?

– The infrastructure has not kept pace with the population growth.

– We are surprised at how many tourists there are now. However, we can still find many spots which can be just to ourselves. That’s a feature of New Zealand-not crowded.

– The coffee culture has grown a lot.

– The food has changed immensely. Now many cultures contribue to the enjoyment of the whole population. NZ however has still got that air of being very quaint.

– Night life hours are slowly growing. We can remember a postcard that described nightlife in New Zealand – the postcard was totally black.

– The conservation mindset has changed for the better. When I first came, the conservation pressure in USA was tighter than here, but that has changed and the whole country seems in tune with it.

– We worry about sustainable fishing. Scallop beds are gone. I think there were years where people including recreational visitors and residents, took too many.

– I hope we keep coming as long as our health is strong and I hope our daughters and our grandson can come. In Florida, we talk a lot about NZ. Sadly people still think NZ is too far and they know nothing about it. Once someone said to me, ‘NZ? What state is that?’

From Tom – You live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Look after it!

I can remember over at Sovereign Pier, the man cleaning the rentals would say every day, “Another day in Paradise,” and I would say, “Yes”.

Letters to the Editor

TCDC: CUT THE BUREAUCRACY, NOT THE SERVICES

Ratepayers are once again being asked to dig deeper. TCDC’s executive proposed an average 14%+ rates increase. Councillors trimmed it to 3.77%. Both figures are unacceptable – and both entirely dodge the real problem. Nobody is talking about TCDC’s burgeoning bureaucracy.

Housed in Thames, TCDC now employs an estimated 255 fulltime equivalent (FTE) staff at a cost approximately $28 million per year. That is ratepayers’ money. Yet in all the consultation documents, all the carefully worded proposals, there is not a single mention of reducing staff numbers. Not one.

Instead, we are offered four choices: mow the grass less, cut transfer station hours, pay more fees, or lose rates remissions. That is the sum total of TCDC’s vision for fiscal discipline - make ratepayers pay more or receive less, while the organisation itself remains untouched.

Look at the legal function alone. TCDC employs an army of lawyers in-hous, – and still spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on external legal opinions. Why? If the in-house team cannot do the job, why are ratepayers funding them?

Then there is communications. A heavily staffed department producing material that, with standardised templates and modern AI tools, could be handled by one person. Councils far larger than TCDC are already doing exactly this.

And the consultation process itself? Whangamatā residents were notified of a community meeting – Thursday 10 April, 10am to 1pm – by a notice published Wednesday, 8 April; working day’s notice. That is not community engagement. That is window dressing.

The numbers make this even harder to swallow. According to TCDC’s own figures, the Whangamatā ward alone contributes $23.9 million - 22.3% of the district’s total 2024/25 rate take of $107.3 million. That figure is projected to climb to $117.5 million in 2025/26 and $122 million by 2026/27, before accounting for the proposed shift from Land Value to Capital Value rating. More broadly, the eastern Coromandel – from Whangapoua to Whangamatā - contributes some 75% of all district rates. Communities paying the lion’s share of the bill deserve far better than this.

TCDC exists to serve ratepayers, not the other way around. Before a single dollar is added to rates, or a single service is cut, this council owes its community a full, honest accounting of its staffing levels, its management structure, and whether 255 fulltime employees are remotely justified for a district of this size.

Submissions are open until 28 April. I urge every ratepayer to have their say - and to demand the question TCDC refuses to ask itself.

Patrick Kerr, Whangamatā

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.

REDUCING FUEL COSTS

I noticed the Govt was making suggestions on how to reduce fuel costs. One was “reduce speed”. I tried this on a trip to Waikato Hospital and another trip to Auckland. Totally unscientific. But the results were astounding. The vehicle is a Nissan Navara Ute diesel. Diesel Fuel price has just jumped from 180.9 to 364.9 a litre.

To Hamilton and back to Whiti: Two POB. Cruise control set to 85 Kph on both trips. Whiti/Hamilton/Whiti gave me 6.7L/100Km. I do this trip often and normally in would be 7.6 to 7.8. L/100Km. So that is a saving of between 11.8% and 14.1%. Pretty good.

Whiti to Auckland: Because of traffic I only kept a record till we hit a standstill around Greenlane. At that point the recording was 6.1L/100Km. Normally at that point I would be at 7.5L/100Km. So that was a saving of 18.7%.

On the return trip from Auckland I was towing a heavily loaded trailer plus a pile in the back of the ute. For the whole trip including dreadful Auckland traffic, it was 7.6L/100Km.

Two years ago, I wrote to the AA, the Govt ministers and to NZTA suggesting a nationwide speed limit of 90 kohl to reduce pollution, reduce fuel usage, and reduce road accidents. Silence. My suggestion sank like a lead balloon.

Pete Bould, Whitianga

REARRANGING THE DECKCHAIRS

The TCDC is going to great lengths to consult on the up and coming increase to rates.

I have no problem with consultation. Consultation is great and important.

But, as with the proposed Whitianga Esplanade project, we are just given a set of options. For the Esplanade Project ($12 to $18M) "Do Nothing" would have been my preferred option, but it wasn't an option.

For the rates consultation, again are given set options, and once again, my preferred option is not an option. I would have supported real reductions in costs. Fund the basics, get rid of the nice to haves, work on efficiencies and productivity, lower the head count.

The set options we are given do nothing to lower costs. They just

30 minutes for only $30 which he promised us all would happen by 2025. It is his misty-eyed faith in unrealistic dreams that I mock. Unfortunately, the rest of us have to live in the real world, not his great green utopia.

Mr. Tegg suggests readers use ChatGPT, his preferred AI, to check his claims. Could this be the same ChatGPT that recently told me with great confidence that Moa stones come from kiwi?

Alastair Brickell, Kuaotunu

MUDDY ECONOMICS

redistribute costs. For instance, everyone's water charges are going up 40%, rubbish tags up by 12.7%, rubbish to the transfer station up 13.1%, dog registration up 15.8%, boat ramp combined annual fee up 25% and on it goes.

Yes, our rates bill will look less frightening, but the costs don't change. They just come from different angles. This consultation is only about rearranging the deckchairs.

Ed Arron, Whitianga CONTRARY TO MR TEGG

Wonderful to hear that correspondent Denis Tegg (Informer, 7 April) is now a geology expert and can educate us all on NZ’s gas fields.

Contrary to his newfound geological expertise, New Zealand does indeed have very considerable potential for new gas discoveries. Unfortunately, this process is expensive and will require substantial overseas investment. Thanks to Jacinda’s ban on offshore exploration it is unlikely any overseas investors will ever again invest in NZ hydrocarbon exploration, and who can blame them.

We could probably also significantly extend our current reserves by doing the same remarkable fracking trick that the USA did which turned them from a net gas importer to a global exporter in only a few years. However, I can’t see the anti-petroleum lobby ever allowing that to happen here as they continue to agonise over non-existent global warming fears.

Mr. Tegg is quite correct when he states that hydro dams can be used to provide some backup to his unreliable and intermittent electricity from solar panels and windmills.

Unfortunately since the Muldoon era our population has rapidly increased and electricity demand skyrocketed with his Teslas, Chinese EVs and AI all set to become significant parts of that demand. Rather than sensibly becoming a nation of dam builders, we have become a nation that prefers to build sports stadiums and cycle ways as the environmental lobby opposes new dams at every step.

Mr. Tegg is also wrong when he says that I “mock electric sea gliders”. On the contrary, I would love to be able to travel to Auckland in

I felt shame as I looked out at our Mercury Bay ocean backdrop after the recent rain event (I am not referring to Cyclone Vaianu). The colour is muddy brown almost to the horizon. Are people’s actions degrading our environment?

When I owned a lifestyle block containing a stream, it was often syrupy brown after rain.

I changed this to clear water run-off through several actions while earning a salary elsewhere. These actions were: trapping rats and possums, shooting feral pigs and goats, and stocking a small number of sheep on the bush-dotted pasture. Also I planted many trees in the headwaters bush. There was no venison to be had.

Previously, a neighbour had rented the block for grazing but had used it as a ‘sacrifice paddock’ to protect his farm from the effects of over-stocking. I assume he was having to pay back a bank loan. Is the loss of farm soil the result of poor husbandry or badly practised economics – environment or profit?

Before humankind came on the scene, was our ocean receiving clear run-off?

Peter H Wood, Whitianga

MORE REMINDERS THAT POISON IS NOT THE WAY

Peter Wood (Informer March 31) reminds us how the animal poisoners would dismiss any kind of alternative method of wild animal control as non-viable.

Now George Campbell has come along with his self-resetting traps and demonstrated a more efficient, effective and very viable way of controlling “pests” in remote country.

The resounding benefit of these traps is the ability to target “pests” alone without harming any of the non-target creatures which inevitably get poisoned.

It was good to hear how successful George’s traps have been for the Purangi Conservation Trust (Informer March 31).

Enviro-groups have, in the past, accepted government funding with the proviso that the possums will be poisoned, usually by workers carrying bags of poison baits into the forest and filling bait stations. Today, with George’s traps being funded by government, we are seeing enviro-groups turning, one by one, from poison to traps. One of the great benefits of killtraps is the absence of the IN-humane cruelty we witnessed in all the deaths by poison. More about the cruelty of poisons next time. John Veysey, Thames Coast

A Splendid Day in Thames

Occasionally the Eastern seaboard residents of the Coromandel Peninsula make the long trek over the Kopu Hikuai to the thriving metropolis of Thames to expand their cultural, commercial and social horizons and their stomachs.

Thames has long been the ‘capital’ of the peninsula due to its size and former glories arising from the gold mining days. It is one of the few towns in New Zealand that has retained its very long main street as the central shopping area and there are strong comparisons between Pollen Street and Petone’s Jackson Street.

At the northern end of town is the precinct known as Grahamstown, the historical area that is crying out for gentrification. There are some stunning examples of residential, industrial and commercial buildings from the mid-19th century.

Starting from the northern end of Pollen Street the Eastern visitors can find the best coffee in town at the Coco Coffee bar and the fish curry at the Café Melbourne is highly recommended. Whilst the visitors are waiting for their meal a quick trip into the nearby Sallies Op shop is always worth while not to mention the amazing goods on offer at the Thames Traders.

At the Grahamstown end is one of the great Thames institutions, the Seagull Centre. Here one man’s rubbish literally becomes one man’s treasure with most goods heading for the landfill diverted into the centre and then promptly snapped up by bargain hunters from across the Peninsula.

Heading south and just off the main road, the architectural wonder that is the Goldfields mall is not to be missed. One favourite is Boots and All a purveyor of souvenirs, a great collection of pounamu and

its main purpose as a shoe and boot repairer extraordinaire not to mention an engraving service as well.

The banter is always good and the shop not to be missed.

The nearby Pak and Save put our supermarkets to shame in terms of both selection and price.

The people watching is a great way to compliment piloting a trolley down the well stuffed aisles.

In the centre of town, the Bakehouse Café does a roaring trade with their award-winning meat pies. (Don’t tell Dr Gwyn) and another must visit is Mainly Books with the excellent Crime section.

No visit to Thames is complete without a visit to one of New Zealand’s oldest hardware stores Read Brothers. Take the time to check out the latest garden gizmos at the Stihl Shop and if you want something for dinner then the fresh fish and seafood from the Wharf never disappoints.

Hon Scott Simpson MP For Coromandel

Despite the weather and higher fuel prices, it has been good to see a lot of people visiting the Coromandel Peninsula and making the most of the shoulder tourism season before we head into winter.

Over the Easter long weekend, I had a stall at the Whitianga market, and it was great to catch up and hear from local constituents, as well as welcoming quite a few tourists to our region. I didn’t make it to Beach Hop this year, but I understand that the organising team did a great job adapting to the conditions, while also ensuring that the weekend’s events went as smoothly as possible. I’m sure that there will be many people, myself included, who will be looking forward to next year’s Beach Hop.

Of course, most people will be watching what is happening in the Middle East and hoping for a peaceful resolution. As I write this column, a temporary ceasefire has been agreed to, and the New Zealand Government stands in support of all efforts to bring

about a lasting, durable end to this conflict.

The economic impact of the conflict has been wide-ranging, but it’s most noticeable at the petrol pump. We cannot control global oil prices, but the Government can control how we respond, and we are taking careful, deliberate, and measured approach to support Kiwis through this tough period.

We’re providing targeted, timely and temporary support for people most under pressure from rising fuel costs. This support includes a temporary 30 percent increase to mileage rates for home and community support workers to help ease the pressure of rising fuel costs driven by global instability. Moreover, about 143,000

A new and bright presence in Insurance

Jasmine and Joricel Abad visit the Coromandel Peninsula regularly. They live in Hamilton with their two daughters Elizabeth and Amanda and their business takes them across the Waikato including The Coromandel.

FUTU RISK is an Insurance and Financial Advice Company which fully employs this young couple who have been involved in the industry for the last six years.

“We are accredited with five major insurance companies and available to anyone in New Zealand actually,” says Joricel . “We are very keen to be in touch with people outside the big cities as that has been our background. We spend time fishing, camping and travelling and understand the financial situations of young families who are also wanting to assist older parents while at the same time preparing a good financial

foundation for our children.

“We worked in The Philippines in insurance before coming to New Zealand, so we bring a lot of different experience in working with all generations,” says Jasmine.

FUTU RISK is accredited with NIB, CHUBB, PARTNERS LIFE, FIDELITY LIFE and AIA.

Their services include:

• Life Cover

• Health Cover

• Trauma (Critical illness) Cover

• Income protection Cover

• Repatriation Cover

• Mortgage and debt protection

• Disability/Total Permanent Disablement Cover

• Business and Self-Employed Cover We are available to visit people and businesses readily. They can phone us or email or send a message via our Facebook page.

working families with children will get an extra $50 a week through a boost to the in-work tax credit. A further 14,000 working families will receive a smaller payment.

In political news, there has been a cabinet reshuffle, and I have been made the Minister of Statistics. I previously held this role in 2017 during the previous National government and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the portfolio again. Moreover, I have been named as the Deputy Leader of the House, as well as retaining the ACC portfolio. And, of course, I remain your Local Member of Parliament and I always endeavour to advocate and represent the Coromandel electorate to the best of my abilities.

Games & Puzzles WIN!

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using the

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

What’s On

021 140 4016.

OP SHOPS

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

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

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

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

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

KWomen’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.

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. Tuesday, 28 April, Friday, 8 May. Whitianga Community Service Trust Centre, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. 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.

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.

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

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

COROMANDEL-COLVILLE

BETTER HEALTH CARE

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

Al-Anon Serenity Group – For those affected by someone else’s drinking. Every Wednesday at 1.30pm. Phone Pauline on 021 086 10955 for more info.

Boys Brigade – An adventure, activity, and values based ministry for boys. For boys aged 5-13 years old. Tues 5.30-7pm For information contact Robyn 020 409 39674.

Chess Club – 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.

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.

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.

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

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

Hon Scott Simpson

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

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.

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

Coromandel ‘Growers & Artisans Market’ –Every Saturday from 9am - 1pm at The Anglican Church Hall, Coromandel Town.

MP For Coromandel

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 12.45-1.45pm. Night class held at Whitianga Town Hall for Absolute Beginners 5.25-6.25pm. 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

Whitianga Line Dancing Club Classes – Town Hall, Monk St, $7 per session. New Beginners, Wed 2.30-3.30pm, Beginner/Improver classes Monday 10.30-11.45am, Intermediate classes Wed, 12-1.30pm; . Contact Kathy 027 4321 353 or Cecily 027 294 1750

Zumba – Wednesdays at 5.30pm at gym for Zumba and Step Zumba on Mondays at 4.45pm at the Whitianga Town Hall in Monk St. GROUP INFO

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

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, Inc. – Learn, update your skills using smart phones, etc. in a friendly setting. Call Carol Wood on 021 022 62504 or email Carol on 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.

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

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

Mercury Bay Badminton Club – Thurs 5-7pm, 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.

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

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.

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 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.

Whitianga Art Group – Every Thurs/Fri 10am-4pm, 23 School Road. Visitors and new members welcome. Phone Margaret on 027 635 1615 for more information.

Whitianga Menz Shed – 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.

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

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

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.

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.

MUSIC AT THE LAKES, PAUANUI

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

GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OCEANS

FESTIVAL

Mercury Bay Quilters – 10am-4pm on the first and third Mondays and second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Contact Margaret on

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 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

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.

Whiti Stitchers – Embroiderers meet every Tues 9am start. For more information phone Margaret on 027 7802 744. All levels welcome.

Whitianga Toy Library - NEW Tummy Time sessions for parents/caregivers and babies under 12m. Every Wednesday 9:30am at the toy library - Shop 4, Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga. Members and non-members welcome. Contact librarian@whititoylibrary. co.nz for more information

“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. “

“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.”

Open Mic sessions have been running in Pauanui for a number of years but last year saw a big change. The venue was moved to The Lakes Resort and the event was held on the second Sunday afternoon of each month. In 2026 we are still at The Lakes but on the third Sunday of each month, currently from 1.00pm to 4.00 pm (winter time).

“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.”

All are welcome to come and perform.

“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.”

Sports

MERCURY BY

BOWLING CLUB

Thursday, 9 April

Winners: Alan Henderson, Judy Cullinane and Betty Simpson

Runners Up: Ray Rout, Ian Mitchell and Jan Harvey

Good Sports: Merle Ward, Sue Webb and Christine Mitchell

MERCURY BAY BOWLING

CLUB

Junior Women’s Singles

Championship finals

Saturday, 11 April

Mercury Bay was host to these finals. Jan Harvey and Marie Denny fought it out through difficult weather conditions with Jan Harvey winning this year’s title.

MERCURY BAY BRIDGE CLUB

April Competition Round 2

Wednesday 8 April

North/South: 1, Giorgio Allemano & Don Barry 58.2; 2, Gavin

Hedwig & Pete Hogg 53.7; 3, Val Dwight & Faith Stock 53.3 East/West: 1, Susan Swan & Jenny Layton 63.5; 2, Augusta Canegallo & Sue Gill 57.8; 3, Bob

Schibli & Kate Palmano 50.9

Harbour Pairs Round 3

Thursday 9 April

1=, Terri Lipanovic & Gavin Hedwig, Amy Hyde & Rose Tegg 63.75; 3, Pam Churchill & Angela Cook 55.0

HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB

Week 1 of the Purangi Pairs

7 April 2026

North South: 1, Don Barry and Robyn Hogg 62.50%; 2, Dave Dylla and Angela Butterworth 56.77%; 3, Val Dwight and Sheryl Roberts 45.83%

East West: 1, Natasha Courtney and Margaret Muir 56.25%; 2, Tia Ormsby and Maggie Beattie 55.63%; 3, Ann Scott and Ngaire O’Brien 53.13%

MERCURY BAY GOLF CLUB

Due to inclement weather there were no competitions until Friday 10th.

18 hole mens stableford

Saturday 11 April

1, Jeff Dixon 36; 2, Trevor Hayde 35; 3, Brett Proctor 31

Well done to these guys who braved the day to come out and enjoy themselves.

On Saturday the Mercury Bay

Golf Club held the final of the Annual Shootout. Started with 21 players and dropping one off each hole, subject to your score (lowest eliminated). The final two blokes standing were Rohit Ranchhod and Nathan Wilson, the latter prevailing with a par on the last hole (9th).

MERCURY BAY CLUB DARTS

23 players this week so 501 singles were played. Three players went through unbeaten in all four sets and they were, Fletcher Bale, Stoney and Malcolm Cryer. A one game shootout final between these three players was played with Fletcher Bale a very deserving winner playing very good darts. Highest finishes this week were 54 for the ladies, scored by Chris Bennett and 139 for the men, scored by Rex Donaldson. One player scored a 180 this week and that was Stoney.

MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER

Wednesday, 8 April – A large turnout of players battled out 3 frames each in section play and amazingly, only one player came through undefeated with 3 wins. The ageless Peter Schultz keeps on reminding everyone that he is still the man to beat, taking out the top prize. Ian Baumgren claimed the High Break prize with a break of 21. Saturday, 11 April – Tightly contested frames in section play produced 2 players with 3 wins each. Rob Reilly and Peter Schultz played out a close play-off final but it was the current Club Champion Peter who got across the line to take the honours for the day. Doug Pascoe, Bob Haase and Ian Baumgren had 2 wins each with the High Break jackpot not being struck. Thank you: A big shout out to those who supported the Snooker Raffles on Saturday.

Trades & Services

PLUMBING

Vicky 027 399 4279

Darryl 027 336 8603 anchoredatcooks@gmail.com

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

Saturday 25 April 2026

e Mercury Bay Returned and Services Association Inc.

Wish to advise residents of Whitianga and the wider Mercury Bay Area at the ANZAC DAY DAWN PARADE SERVICE

Will be held at the Soldiers Memorial Park, Whitianga at 0600 hours. Residents are invited to participate in the March to the Soldiers Memorial Park And join in the Annual Dawn Service.

An early Ferry has been arranged to leave Ferry Landing at 0515, 0530 and 0545 hours.

Associations or Organizations who would like to join the March from the Mercury Bay Club car park to Soldiers Memorial Park assembly time at 0515 hours

0530 Parade to form up as directed, 0545 Parade Marches to Soldiers Memorial Park.

e Parade Marshall is Mike Carter

Members of the public who are direct descendants of deceased Returned Service Persons are invited to wear their Service Medals.

Anyone interested in laying a Memorial Wreath at the Cenotaph during the Service is asked to contact Trevor Fraser 866 0225 prior to the event so he will arrange your participation.

Breakfast will be available a er the Parade at the Mercury Bay Club.

$25.00pp Linda Fraser, Secretary, Mercury Bay RSA

PUBLIC NOTICE

Reserves Act 1977 – Section 24

The Thames-Coromandel District Council hereby gives notice of its intention to change the classification of the Moewai Park Reserve located at 42 Moewai Park Road, Whitianga and legally described as Lot 42 DPS 12154.

Current Classification: Recreation Reserve

Proposed Classification: Local Purpose (Community Facilities) Reserve

The reserve is currently underutilised for its intended classified purpose. Changing its classification to a Local Purpose (Community Facilities) Reserve will enable better use of the site for a wider range of community activities, services and facilities. The existing classification does not allow for the types of community initiatives that currently align with local community objectives. The proposed change of classification will better support cultural, social and community development within the Mercury Bay area.

Further details and a plan showing the reserve are available at the Mercury Bay Service Centre, 10 Monk Street, Whitianga

Written objections must be received no later than 4pm Friday 22 May 2026 and should be addressed to:

Chief Executive

Thames-Coromandel District Council

Private Bag

Thames 3540

Attention: Faith O’Sullivan-Babe faith.osullivanbabe@tcdc.govt.nz

Please include your name, contact details, and the grounds for your objection.

www.tcdc.govt.nz

CLUB MANAGER

The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club is one of New Zealand’s premier game fishing clubs, with a proud history of tournament fishing, strong membership participation, and a deep passion for the sport.

We are seeking a Club Manager who genuinely loves fishing and understands the culture of a fishing club. This is not just a hospitality role – it is about supporting the fishing program, engaging with members, and helping maintain the club’s reputation as one of the leading game fishing clubs in the country. Working closely with the Committee, the Club Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the club while helping drive participation in fishing activities, tournaments, and club events.

The Role

The Club Manager is responsible for the daily operation of the club while supporting the fishing activities that are at the heart of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club. This includes working with tournament convenors, supporting weigh-ins, engaging with members about their fishing, and helping promote the club’s fishing culture and achievements.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the club facilities and services

• Support and promote the club’s fishing activities, tournaments, and competitions

• Assist with weigh-ins and ensure accurate recording of catches and club records

• Engage with members and visiting anglers to promote participation in club fishing

• Manage club staff including rostering, coordination, and support

• Assist tournament convenors to ensure events run smoothly and professionally

• Maintain fishing records, displays, and club recognition of catches

• Manage membership systems and member communications

• Ensure the club facilities, systems, and equipment are well maintained

• Ensure compliance with licensing, health & safety, and club policies

About You

• A strong personal interest in fishing

• Knowledge of recreational or game fishing (highly advantageous)

• Experience in hospitality, events, club operations, or similar roles

• Strong organisational and communication skills

• Experience coordinating staff or volunteers

• Confidence working with committees and club members What We Offer

• The opportunity to work at one of New Zealand’s leading game fishing clubs

• A role at the centre of a passionate fishing community

• A varied position working across fishing activities, events, and club operations

• Competitive remuneration based on experience Applications including a CV and cover letter should be sent to: President@mbgfc.co.nz Applications close 1 May 2025

Church Services Classifieds Sports

Anglican Worship www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.org.nz

Every Sunday at 9.00am at St Peter the Fisherman 7 Dundas Street, Whitianga ALL WELCOME Enquiries ph 021 781 081

St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church 82 Albert St Whitianga (Opp Z) SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00AM Come, join the familyFind peace and friendship. Enquiries: ph 022 1322 061 www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

Life Membership is awarded to Trish Graves

The Mercury Bay Squash Club is proud to announce that Patricia “Trish” Graves has been awarded Life Membership in recognition of her outstanding dedication and many years of volunteer service. A member for more than 30 years, Trish’s generosity and commitment have made a lasting impact on the club, both on and off the court. She has played a valued role in welcoming new members, sharing her knowledge of the game, and passing on her passion for squash. This honour reflects the club’s sincere gratitude for everything Trish has contributed over the years.

of me... and you shall find rest in your souls!” Matthew 11:28-29

Hunting & Fishing Junior Tournament and Youth Nationals

Is underway! and runs to Saturday 18 April.

Easter Saturday and Sunday were the days that we saw the weigh station hustling with excited young junior anglers and their catches.

Some notable catches so far are 14.02kg Kingfish, 2.5kg Trevally, 2.42kg Kahawai and some really nice Snappers between 5kg and 7.75kgs.

The competition is in its early stages and still just over a week to go including the weekend.

It’s not too late to enter – only $40 per angler entry fee and be in the draw to win the gate prize worth $10,000 thanks to Alex and Ashley and the team at Hunting & Fishing Whitianga.

You must be 17 and under as at 18 April 2026 to be eligible for this tournament.

Download the entry form and rules from www.mbgfc.co.nz/ tournaments/ or you can enter at the Fishing Club office or at the bar on The esplanade, Whitianga.

Whitianga Boat Chandlery

Do you like to do your own maintenance work?

YOUTH NATIONALS

Our young anglers are also competing against other NZSFC affiliated Clubs in the Youth Nationals. Notable mentions to date:

• Kate Stables is currently in 2nd place Champion Youth Angler High School – Kingfish 77.2 points with her 11.58kg Kingfish

• Xavier Rush and Caelen Gubb are currently 1st and 2nd Champion Youth Angler High School –Shark 100 pts each

• Liam Fussell is currently 3rd place Champion Youth Angler High School – Trevally 81.5pts with his 1.63kg Trevally

• Levi Nicholson and Max Carpenter are currently 1st and 2nd Champion Youth Angler Primary – Kingfish 175.25 and 25.16pts respectively

• Lachie Pedersen is currently 2nd in Champion All Tackle High School – Snapper with his 6.47kg snapper. However, these can change as other Clubs weigh fish in!

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

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

Phyll 027 4852036

Mitch 027 4852046

Whitianga Boat Repairs

We specialise in woodwork repairs & maintenance, including teak decks & platforms, insurance and rot repairs, plus we fit new transducers, anchor winches, bow thrusters and more.

Mitch has over 40 years experience with an Advanced Trade Cert Wooden Boat Building qualification to back it up.

Phone or email for info

E: info@whitiangaboatrepairs.co.nz

Mitch 027 4852046

Phyll 027 4852036