Small Talk

 

Scouts say thank you
Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Scouts are delighted they now have enough money to send all their scouts to the national Jamboree thanks to support from the local community. The Jamboree will be held in Blenheim from December 29 to January 7. The scouts are very grateful and wish to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to all those that have helped. There are too many to people and community groups to list so please take this as a personal thank you.

Walking Weekend date Announced
The annual Mangawhai Walking Weekend will be from Friday March 24 2017, and promises to offer something for everyone.

“We get tremendous feedback from participants,” says organiser Dorothy Freeman. “As a result of this, and the enthusiasm of our guides and helpers, we have been able to showcase a wider range of outdoor activities in our 2017 programme. Of course, we have retained everyone’s favourite walks and the Wine and Food Festival.” The full 2017 programme will be available at mangawhaiwalkingweekend.co.nz from December 1. Bookings open on ine from January 15, 2017.

A few of the new walks/activities include a harbour paddleboard tour, kayaking, beach boot camp, hash run, and blokes sheds.

New to Mangawhai? Looking forward to becoming a part of a thriving community? Here’s your chance! The 2017 Mangawhai Walking Weekend is seeking new volunteers. Can you help? Call Dorothy Freeman on 09 431 5950.

Waipu carol services
Carol services will be held on Sunday December 18 at 8pm in the Waipu Coronation Hall. As many voices as can be mustered will be needed to make it the biggest massed traditional Christmas carol service in the north. New and past singers are welcome! Practices will be held in the Waipu Coronation Hall on December 8, 13 and 15 at 7.30pm. Participants are expected to come to as many of these practices as they can. However all are expected to be at the final run-through which will be held December 18 at 6pm. For more details ring Lachie McLean at 432 0530.

Don’t be greedy!
Uretiti and Bream Bay are often the scene of big crowds when the paddle crabs make their annual appearance. Though not overly big they are nonetheless plentiful and tasty but should only be taken at the rate of 50 per person. On a recent fine weekend the beach was packed with crab ‘pickers’. However, with word of fisheries inspectors turning up most of them left in a hurry leaving behind a pile of fresh crabs estimated to be over a hundred kilograms, obviously dumped to avoid a fine or forfeiture of gear. Ironically when fisheries officers did arrive the crabs had vanished. An onlooker described them as having no smell so it’s possible they were fresh out of the water and probably still okay for eating. There’s plenty for everyone so please just abide by the rules or bear the long arm of the law.

Make a carol date
A Christmas music and carol concert will be held at the Anglican Church of Christ the King, Mangawhai, on Wednesday December 14 at 7pm, led by locals the Do-Re-Me singers. This is a musical celebration of Christmas, and is a family event open to all.

“Our aim is to bring the spirit of Christmas to our wonderful community of Mangawhai, and to welcome everyone to join with us in this very special time of year,” says Maggie Cameron, one of the singing trio.”We are also privileged to have joining us two internationally experienced viola players, so it promises to be a night of beautiful music with song and instrument.”

So jot a note down on the calendar and join in this musical event.

You never know your luck
Bream Bay readers can pick up their copy of the Mangawhai Focus from Magascene Stationery and Lotto at Ruakaka, but you might also get a bonus as happened to one lucky customer last week. Though they may have missed out on the $44M big one, a local Ruakaka ticket holder would have been pretty pleased with themselves in nabbing a $22,000 return from Division 2 lotto on the following Saturday night November 12. Owner Grace Hou says her customers regularly win small amounts or up to a few hundred but never anything this big. Maybe the tide is turning.