7th December 2016 Issue

Prime Minister John Key made a rare official visit to Mangawhai last week initially landing at the golf club for a meet-and-greet breakfast address attended by 100 interested locals.

 

We had a visit from the Prime Minister John Key recently, similar to that of Northland MP Winston Peters some months ago. While some tend to see him as ‘Teflon John’ personally I’d rather see our PM arrive in a suit rather than jeans and a denim jacket. 

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The Panel charged with facilitating community input to the Council’s draft Mangawhai Town Plan is holding an Open Day on Saturday December 10 at the Mangawhai Club from 11-3pm.

Te Reo English - Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell announced, “We must normalise Te Reo Maori so that New Zealanders can... start their Te Reo Maori journey.”

We need developers - It is understandable that developers want to pay as little as possible to create their subdivisions 

The Garden Ramble is over and those of us who took part can relax knowing the gardens are fed and mulched ready for summer.

 

The mythical world of Hawaiiki burst into reality last week with the ceremony marking the landing site for the Hawaiki submarine cable that will come ashore there and further improve technological contact...

Caution drivers - A warning out to the community about responsible driving.
Hungry rustler - Dargaville police are appealing for help after an attack on a cow. 
Burnouts targeted - Drivers doing burnouts around Mangawhai streets.
Watch valuables - Constable Wewege also wants to remind people to be more careful of valuable items as Mangawhai’s
 

Following the popularity of the first carol service in the Coronation Hall last year, organisers have decided to move it to the Celtic Barn to ensure seating for everyone.

 

The wages of sin are death says the Bible and as far as I know the only thing that pays worse than that is writing for the newspaper.
 

 

Locals in Mangawhai Village village were a little befuddled by an unusual protest recently, but the message was strong.

 

A local Mangawhai tree ‘knit bombed’ in orange yarn has become a bright beacon for a global social initiative.


 

Local thrash metal band Alien Weaponry made New Zealand music history this year when they won both the Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats competitions. 

 

Our national sports teams are an important part of our collective identity and we certainly get very focussed when our New Zealand teams are playing, and very excited when we do well on the world stage. The Paralympics (Parallel Olympics) this year in Rio was no exception.

With its old life left behind, in true new-broom fashion, cafe-restaurant The Dune opened in fine weather attracting a raft of customers to try new dishes and assess it prior to their summer dining selections.

 

Music and art figure prominently in our area beginning in schools and, in some cases, taking many of our younger generation to worthwhile careers on the national and even international stages.

 

Though early ticket sales were languishing enough to put some stress on the organisers, garden ramblers from far and near had no intention of forsaking Mangawhai’s annual garden tour.
 

Two artists well known to locals will take centre stage and combine their talents at the Mangawhai Art Centre over the New Year period.


 

Laughter and socialising appears to be a vital part of the creative process for members of Mangawhai’s longest running art group, who recently held an exhibition at the local gallery in Moir Street.


 

Annual summer water quality tests have begun at Northland’s popular beaches, rivers and lakes.

The Northland Regional Council testing looks for bacteria used to gauge the risks of contracting gastrointestinal and other infections while using the beaches, rivers and lakes for swimming, water sports and other forms of recreation.

With sparkling tinsel, frantic shopping sales, Santa’s ‘ho ho-ing’ and Christmas tunes reminding us all to be joyful, the big day in December is now only 20 sleeps away!

 

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A community-initiated water programme has been sampling inflows into the harbour for the last six months. This work was facilitated by Kaipara District Council with Northland Regional Council providing equipment, training and support.