Rebus club meetings back after Covid stoppage

 

The recent October meeting of the Mangawhai Combined Rebus Club was the first in a long time thanks to Covid-19.

Well known to many in the north, guest Wayne Brown spoke to a good sized crowd about the Upper Northland Supply Chain.

Brown has had an extensive business and civic career, serving on several health boards, two terms as Far North mayor, directorships with TVNZ and Maori TV, along with many and varied business and property interests.

Based in Mangonui, Brown balances his commercial career with a love of family and surfing.

Brown is urging Northlanders to get behind the port being moved to Northport, or risk losing a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’. The Upper North Island Supply Chain Study was carried out by 80 experts in infrastructure, truck, rail and sea freight, exports and economics, and these groups are backing Northport – the deep water port at Marsden Point – as the best replacement for Auckland’s CBD-based port.

Also he explained, there should be no confusion, Northport will not be entering Whangarei Harbour.

Wayne Brown was an extremely knowledgeable, passionate and entertaining speaker, and passionate about his subject.

He emphasised affordable living in Ruakaka, the growth of agriculture with gold kiwi fruit and avocado planting in Northland, that Northport is mainly an exporter, but Auckland solely imports, and Auckland port has not paid dividends for two years and is not a good use of expensive land.

A short video by Terry Ballard followed Wayne Brown, showing the fantastic work the Mangawhai Trackies are doing with the Back Bay boardwalk build. This stops abruptly in the midst of mangroves – apparently work was halted because, he quipped, the fairy terns were running out of earthworms!

„ Mangawhai Combined rebus Club meets every third Thursday of the month, 2pm in the Community Hall, Fagan Place, Mangawhai Heads. Visitors welcome. Next meeting November12. Contact David Foster 027 431 5005.

Former Far North mayor and businessman Wayne Brown is passionate about Northland’s growth and development. PHOTO SUPPLIED