18th December 2017 Issue

With only seven sleeps to go before the big day, the Christmas spirit of friendship, goodwill and a whole lot of fun, is alive and flourishing at Mangawhai Heads new retail store.



 

It's a bit hackneyed but we continue to ask the same question. The older we get, the faster it seems to go, especially when advertisers ask in September, if they can have a nominated high profile spot in the paper in the Christmas issue!


 

Kaiwaka’s Top of the Rock family fun day is scheduled for Sunday 11 February, and organisers are encouraging entrants to take it fast or take it slow, whatever suits your fitness level or enthusiasm


 

The development and management of a popular coastal area bordering Mangawhai but owned by Auckland Council (AC), has been opened up for public feedback.


 

Mangawhai Harbour may soon contain more vessels in its waters due to Northland Regional Council’s (NRC) proposed plan to add more moorings, sparking concern that the increase may lead to the development of a marina.
 

My last article outlined some ideas for Christmas gifts and on a recent tour of the Bows and Bells we came across some of the ideas I had been discussing.



 

Most of Mangawhai knows Richard Te Haara. He’s the guy who had the funny little rhyming ditty on local radio, the guy who is loved by so many locals for his TV prowess because there are few things worse than a TV not doing what it's meant to do. Richard's always been the 'go to' man.

 

To keep the fairy tern in existence requires extreme dedication from DOC staff and a number of volunteers from both the Mangawhai and Waipu groups. In the Waipu inlet, About Tern volunteers report there is not a lot of Christmas cheer from the Christmas fairies at this time.

 

A local teen with a hunger for challenges and a desire to help others, has recently departed on yet another adventure with the aim to raise money so other young people can have similar life enhancing experiences.

 

Northpower Fibre has achieved another milestone on the Whangarei ultra-fast broadband network – connecting its 10,000th customer.

By end of first quarter 2018, the company is forecasting to have connected almost 50 per cent of all possible premises on the network, giving Whangarei one of the highest uptake rates in New Zealand.
 

Four startups from Mangawhai and Waipu were among 22 Northland finalists in a recent business ideas competition, proving entrepreneurial thinking and innovation are booming in Bream Bay.


 

The survival rate of one of New Zealand’s rarest and most critically endangered birds has been given an extra protective hand in the form of children’s artistic talent.



 

Prohibition can kill So, what are the facts on prohibition, and who benefits? Cannabis: We know that it has health benefits, proven by countless studies and the US patent. We know that Government and most New Zealanders can’t afford to pay $1,000+/month for the pharmaceutical cannabis products currently permitted.


 

Michele is a new Mangawhai local, married to Rob Leslie, a true Mangawhai local. She fell in love with Rob and also with Mangawhai so it made sense for her to start a new cosmetic medicine practice at The Heads.


 

The Cow Shed Pop up Cafe returns again this summer for its third holiday season, as Wendy and Robert Klink, welcome their daughter Amy and her husband Sam back from Melbourne for another summer. 


 

It’s been a difficult week for the Worzel as the weeks leading up to Christmas are apt to be. I was booked to be the introductory speaker at the inaugural, ‘Prophets of Doom Conference'.



 

Although it has had various alterations since the late 1800s, Hardies Bridge at Matakohe was originally a simple accessway, simply a means to ‘get to the other side’.



 

The generosity of Northlanders is being acknowledged following a record fundraising total for the Northland Rescue Helicopter annual appeal. More than $307,000 was received in public donations in a little over two months, taking the total in public donations since 2011 to well over $2.1 million

 

Hop along to the annual Mangawhai Domain Summer Gala on 2 January to enjoy live music, fun rides, market stalls, food and drinks, quick fire raffles, dog shows, and lots more!


 

“Kiwi are amazing,” was one of many messages expressed by Mangawhai Beach School pupils in their dazzling display of posters about kiwi.



 

Whangarei beachgoers can now boost their tsunami readiness using new information boards at popular district beaches. “With summer coming, more people than ever will be going to the beach.

 

There's a new face at Mangawhai Pharmacy recently, that of pharmacist Lanny Wong who, along with husband Ben Oldfield (also a pharmacist), have become partners with Yvette Urlich in the ownership of the business.

 

„ Sarah C & Elena Nikolaeva: Exhibitions change every two weeks
„ Wendy Clifford & John Ecuyer: Opening at 6pm Thursday Jan 11
„ More info at mangawhaiartists.co.nz or visit Mangawhai Artists Inc. Gallery

The second highest number of drowning fatalities last year occurred on beaches; one more compared to 2015 and three more than the five year average. With 21 beach drownings in 2016, it is the highest beach toll since 2011.


 

Travelling to France will take you 20 or so hours but why would you when you can immerse yourself amongst all things French by simply taking a five minute drive up King Road, travelling through local wine country to the elegantly presented barn housing No 28 Antiques.



 

Menopause is the natural termination of the menstrual cycle and usually occurs between the ages of 42 and 52. This should not mean a transitory termination of an emotionally balanced and vibrant woman, yet for 70 per cent of Western women this transition is not a smooth and easy experience.

 

Seven local homes and venues including the Mangawhai Museum and the Pioneer Village’s Tara Road School and Church, lit up with festive lights and décor recently, for the second annual showing of ‘Bows & Bells’.


 

Summer days are here, so now is the time to plan your walks for the forthcoming Mangawhai Walking Weekend running 15-18 March 2018



 

With the influx of people into Mangawhai and the consistent questions around storage we decided to create a professional, modern facility with its own entranceway for household, business and boat storage, set beside Mangawhai Landscape Supplies at 107 Mangawhai Heads Road.

A relatively new local youth organisation, based on learning medical aid, has been presented with a prestigious award which recognises the group as a leader in its field.



 

Ruakaka’s Two Birds cafe recently won the title of most popular local cafe in the Meadow Fresh Café of the Year 2018 awards.




 

ime, discussions and planning have recently become more serious regarding the rebuilding of the Mangawhai Wharf, which once ran over 100 metres into the channel from a point adjacent to the boat ramp at the Mangawhai Tavern.


 

Entries are now being called for the 2018 Waipu Museum Art’n’Tartan Wearable Art awards to be held on Friday 20th and Saturday 2lst July in the Celtic Barn, Waipu.


 

A cash credit will soon be in the hands of Northpower's electricity consumers throughout Kaipara and Whangarei. 

The Northpower Trust has announced its annual distribution which will see $80 credited back to everyone connected to the Northpower network. The credit will be displayed on power bills sent out by electricity retailers throughout December and January

Camping was once simply a getaway. An outdoorsy summer holiday and a time when sand in your sandwiches and ants and mosquitoes were mostly tolerated in good humour.