News in brief

No shellfish gathering in Waipu for 28 days

Members of the public are advised not to gather shellfish from the Waipu Estuary and Bream Bay one kilometer either side of the mouth of the estuary for the next 28 days. A broken sewer main near McLean’s bridge has spilled up to 40 cubic metres of sewage into a nearby paddock and stream flowing into the Waipu River. The break has now been repaired.

New ‘bad boy’ at Mangawhai Beach School

Mangawhai Beach School has recently purchased a Bad Boy commercial lawnmower with a $10,000 grant from the Lion Foundation. Caretaker Geoff Finlay has halved his lawn mowing time and it gives a very professional finish according to Diane Treneman, school administrator. 

“It also saves time which enables Geoff to use his time building shelves, bookcases, sheds and repairing the playgrounds. The school is extremely grateful to the Lion Foundation for the grant as the Ministry of Education does not pay for this sort of equipment.”

Artworks abound over Labour Weekend

The largest event of the year for the Mangawhai artists group, Labour weekend 2012 (Saturday and Sunday October 20/21) again provides the platform for over fifty artists who exhibit in an array of styles and media throughout the Art Trail that weaves it’s own path around the streets and studios of Mangawhai. 

A leisurely tour, it’s not to be missed by the serious collector or even those seeking a different form of entertainment, such is the variety of the works on display.

Full particulars of the group and the event may be found on the website mangawhaiartists.co.nz including the Art Trail map which is also available at every venue with a red flag and the Information Centre. 

Just over the hill the Waipu coasters add to the art lovers’ menu with their own display and sale with support of several works from the acrylic painting group from the well-known Reyburn art studio in Whangarei. This is a fundraiser for the Waipu Museum and the display will be set up in the grounds of the Waipu Museum on the Saturday of Labour weekend from 9.30am-4pm.