4th December 2017 Issue

 We, the community, will protect our beautiful environment. To play my part, this summer I pledge to: Refuse straws, refuse plastic bags, refuse single-use coffee cups, use a reusable water bottle, support all family and friends visiting our area to do the same. 
 

Recently I got to musing about the past decade – the “olden days” to some of our younger community members – and how, in the interim, our lives and indeed the world had changed, principally due to technology. 

 

A wander around Olga Yuretich’s rambling seven acre garden at Te Hana reveals pretty much all there is to know about her love of, and dedication to, the historical Heritage Rose. 
 

Planning on an overseas trip this summer? Be warned that customs authorities have decided to get tough on biosecurity rules. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is taking a harder line on arriving air passengers who fail to declare items that could bring pests or diseases into New Zealand. 
 

Dan the Butcher from our wonderful shop in the local village has a sign on his counter counting down the weeks until Christmas, and last night I was reminded that there are barely four weeks, three by the time this is distributed. 
 

The Waipu Highland Games promises to be a colourful and exciting event again this January 1. A full contingent of Clans will be in attendance where you can check out your Scottish ancestry. 

 

Bullying at MAZ Police say they have been receiving increasing reports of bullying 
Young drivers targeted With the festive season fast approaching,
Community patrol busy Mangawhai’s community patrol has proved successful 
 

Cavern Homes, under the management of Ken Dugdale, have been operating successfully in and around Mangawhai for the past four years and have come up with a new concept which must appeal to first home buyers.



 

Dental crisis The NZ Herald reported that, in NZ, pre-schoolers’ hospital admission rates for dental caries or pulp nerve decay in 2016 was 13 in 1000 children. For 5-14 year olds it was 9 in 100. 
Ban breastfeeding? There are many scoffers when medicinal properties of cannabis are mentioned, those whose thoughts immediately turn to visions of a generation of mind-dead pot-smoking teenagers.

 

The Kaipara District Rating Revaluation for 2017 is now confirmed and property owners will soon receive a 2017 Notice of Rating Valuation with an updated rating value for their property. The new rating valuations have been prepared for 14,819 properties by Quotable Value (QV) on behalf of Kaipara District Council.

 

A cultural festival which has been running for nearly three decades, brought Mangawhai Beach School [MBS] alive with a kapa haka celebration of music and dance on November 11. 


 

Viewing the world through gritty, scratchy eyes which feel like they have been desiccated by the Sahara causing red globes and erratic blinking, is an ailment that unfortunately affects many.


 

Democratic Services Manager, Sean Mahoney, says anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for the Mayor of Kaipara District Council has until noon on Friday December 22 to get their nominations in. 


 

Members were privileged to have two speakers address the November meeting: Roger Hill and Linda Wintle. Roger represented the Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust which recently opened the Mangawhai Opportunity Factory situated at the corner of North and Fagan Streets. A van pick-up service is available, as well as a drop-off zone on-site. 

 

As everybody knows, Finns were bred for music and touring, and this summer Liam and Neil will be happily piling into the van for some back-road wandering. 
 

Labour Weekend marked the official launch of Mangawhai’s new community patrol (CP), a posse of volunteers who keep a lookout for suspicious behaviour after the sun goes down.


 

November is one of the busiest times in the beauty industry with December just around the corner when everyone wants to be booked in before Christmas. 
 

December is a busy month for local artists with two group exhibitions: ‘Brushstrokes’ and the Mangawhai Artists Christmas Show. 



 

I went up to Whangarei city the other day. It is not something I am fond of doing and I wouldn't recommend it but I had to do a little shopping. At the conclusion of a particular purchase I paid via the plastic card thing that I have by the dubious virtue of convenience been trained to use, rather than traditional cash or cheque. After following the prompts from the terminal gadget.
 

A trio of Mahurangi College students has won a highly recommended award at the recent International Youth Silent Film Festival (IYSFF) New Zealand Regional competition held at a red carpet event at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre in Tauranga recently.

 

 A major new site access point for the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway project is about to be opened in time for the project’s first earthworks season.


 

The outstanding achievements of Kaipara’s athletes have been recognised by a sell-out crowd at the Silver Fern Farms Kaipara Sports Awards held last month in Maungaturoto.