All About mercury Bay, Whitianga, Tairua, Pauanui| the Mercury Bay Informer

TheMercury Bay

Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz

Kids, win with Beach Hop - see page 14.

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Issue 679 - 9 March 2016 Phone 07 866 2090

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The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club’s Trailer Boat Tournament is taking place later this week. Dependent on the weather, and with a brand new boat to be won, it may be one of the club’s biggest tournaments ever.By Stephan Bosman

“In a trailer boat tournament, the playing field is level,” says John Mort, organiser of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club’s Trailer Boat Tournament that is taking place this Thursday 10 March to Saturday 12 March. “If the sea is too rough for one to go out, the sea is too rough for everyone. Size doesn’t really matter. All the anglers have to leave Whitianga in the morning and come back in the evening. And it’s not just boats that can enter, if it floats and it’s no longer than 9.4m and no wider than 3m, it’s good to go. Kayakers and jet skiers are very welcome to enter too.”

This will be the Game Fishing Club’s eighth trailer boat tournament. With prizes worth more than $150,000 to be won, it’s deemed to be one of the two biggest fishing tournaments in New Zealand. “Dependent on the weather, we hope to have 150 boats and between 400 and 450 anglers in the tournament this year,” says John. “It will make this year one of our club’s biggest tournaments ever. I know we’ll have one entry from Melbourne this year. Last year we had entries from as far north as Warkworth and as far south as Hastings.

“We use virtually all the entry fees to buy prizes, but get fantastic support from local businesses and sponsors from outside the area as well.”

Anglers last year stood a chance to win a Stabicraft boat in a “last man standing” competition and this year another boat will be given away. “The boat this year is a 16ft Stabicraft Frontier with a 70hp engine,” says John. “It has a centre console and a VHF radio and comes with a DMW trailer. The prize is worth more than $50,000 and is sponsored

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“During the course of the competition the names of ten lucky anglers will be drawn and at prize-giving on Saturday evening, the ten anglers will each get a ping pong ball with a number. The balls will all go into a bucket.

Under the watchful eye of Graham Bell of Police Ten 7 fame, representatives from the sponsors will draw the balls out of the bucket. If your number is drawn, unfortunately you won’t get the boat. The last number remaining is the winner. It’s high tension.

“Even if people aren’t participating in the tournament, they should come to the Game Fishing Club on Saturday evening. The atmosphere will be electric. The Whitianga Sea Scouts will be selling hamburgers and pizzas to raise money for their new den and the club’s bar will be open. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to witness first-hand how someone wins a $50,000 prize.”

The rules of the tournament have been changed this year to foster a culture of catch and release. “We won’t weigh snapper, trevally,

kingfish and kahawai as we did in the past,” says John. “Instead, anglers will be able to measure and photograph the fish they caught while on the water. The fish with the biggest measurements will win. That means anglers only have to keep the fish they want to eat. All the others can be set free.

“Every angler who tags and releases a marlin will be given a rod and reel worth $650. If you tag and release two marlin, you get a more expensive rod and reel and if you’re lucky enough to tag and release three, you’ll go home with a new rod and reel worth $2,000.

“Like last year, the weigh station will be at Taylor’s Mistake.”

Together with the Beach and Boat tournament held north of Auckland and the Tutukaka Small Boat tournament, the Mercury Bay Game

Fishing Club’s Trailer Boat Tournament once again forms part of the Snapper World Cup. The angler catching the biggest snapper during any of the three tournaments gets his name engraved on a magnificent snapper-replica trophy and his fishing club gets to keep the trophy until next year. “The leading snapper so far this year weighed 12.31kg and was caught in the Beach and Boat tournament,” says John.

“Last year Nathan Wilson, one of our club members, caught the winning snapper in our trailer boat tournament. His fish weighed 12.4kg. There’s no reason why the trophy can’t stay in Whitianga for another year.

“I wish all the anglers a fantastic few days on the water. Thanks for participating. Rest assured, I’ve already started thinking about next year’s tournament.”

John Mort, organiser of this year’s Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Trailer Boat Tournament, at the Stabicraft boat that can be won this year.

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The Mercury Bay Informer is published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula.Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name and surname, telephone number and residential address. Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher.Published by Mercury Bay Media Limited Editor - Stephan BosmanContributors - Len Salt, Gillian O’Neill, Meghan Hawkes, Cheyenne Walmsley, Deli Connell and Jack BiddleAdvertiser Management - Petra Bosman and Bronwyn BurkhartOffice - 14 Monk St, Whitianga 3510, Mail - PO Box 426, Whitianga 3542 Telephone - (07) 866 2090, Fax - (07) 866 2092Editorial - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2090Advertising - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2094ISSN 2422-9083 (Print), ISSN 2422-9091 (Online)© 2016 Mercury Bay Media LimitedThe Mercury Bay Informer is subject to the principles of the New Zealand Press Council. Please contact us first if you have concerns about any of the editorial content of The Informer. If we were unable to address your concerns to your satisfaction, you can complain to the New Zealand Press Council, PO Box 10 879, Wellington 6143 or www.presscouncil.org.nz.

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Generous donation by Lionesses

Present when the Mercury Bay Lionesses’ “promise” for a new foetal heart monitor was handed over to the Mercury Bay Radiology and Health Trust were, from left to right - Lioness Helen Linehan (second vice-president), Edwin Linehan (trustee of the Mercury Bay Radiology and Health Trust),

Lionesses Shirley Beer (secretary) and Nicola Hewlett, midwives Jocelyn Yates and Fiona Kington (at the back) and Lionesses Pat Lilley (treasurer - in front of Jocelyn),

Carol Timmins (president), Jan-Louise Hamblyn, Yvonne MacKenzie, June Glendenning, Megan Henson (first vice-president) and Trish Cunningham.

On Tuesday last week a group of Mercury Bay Lionesses gathered at The Informer’s office in Whitianga to hand a “promise” to Edwin Linehan, a trustee of the Mercury Bay Radiology and Health Trust. Witnessing the occasion were Mercury Bay midwives Fiona Kington and Jocelyn Yates.

The “promise” will enable the Radiology and Health Trust (the owner of the Mercury Bay x-ray machine and ultrasound scanner) to order a foetal heart monitor with the assurance that the Lionesses have the funds available, and set aside, to pay for the monitor. “It would have been nice to hand the Radiology and Health Trust a cheque, but with the fluctuations in the exchange rate, we’re not sure what the exact cost of the monitor will be,” says Carol Timmins, president of the Lionesses. “We expect it to be in the vicinity of $5,000.”

The Lionesses decided to allocate some of their funds towards a foetal heart monitor after one of the local GPs mentioned to them it’s something the area is in real need of. “We’re always looking for worthy causes we can donate funds to or specifically raise funds for,” says Carol. “Up to now the local midwives had to get by with a much smaller monitor. We met with Fiona and Jocelyn and got an understanding of just how much a new monitor will help them in their work. The idea of gifting the people of Mercury Bay a new monitor was popular among all of us.

“We’re proud to be able to do this for our local community.”

Although the Radiology and Health Trust will be the owner of the monitor, it will be

in the day-to-day care of Fiona and Jocelyn. “The monitor will be known as the ‘Lionesses Monitor,’” says Edwin.

Foetal heart monitors have been around since the late 1950s. It’s of great use in determining the health of an unborn baby during pregnancy and birth. Fiona says the

Lionesses Monitor will provide her and Jocelyn with more accurate information than the information they get from the monitor they’re using at the moment. “Better information means better decision- making,” says Fiona. “An immediate benefit we can foresee is that unnecessary travel to

Thames of Hamilton will be reduced. “Jocelyn and I are both very excited about

the new monitor and, from our side, would very much like to thank the Lionesses for this amazing act of generosity and kindness. It’s people like them making this community we live in so special.”

Page 2

The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 679 - 9 March 2016



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Issue 675 - 10 February 2016

Impressive Art Escape Open Studio Tour launch

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The launch of the Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio Tour at Hot Waves Café in Hot Water Beach is always greeted with anticipation and last Friday was no exception.Keynote speaker was official New Zealand Defence Forces artist Matt Gauldie, who didn’t take long to point out his connection with last year’s keynote speaker, Dr Carole Shepheard. “Carole was one of my teachers when I was a student at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland in the late ‘90s,” he said.Matt also said that he’s proud to call himself a New Zealand artist and that artists shouldn’t underestimate their role and the role of their art in society. “I am extremely fortunate that my position as official Defence Forces artist allows me to travel extensively. Art is everywhere, even in warzones. It’s such an important part of life. I believe that in New Zealand we support our artists more than any other country. It’s something we should always cherish.”The Open Studio Tour launch was also the opening night of the Taste of the Tour exhibition at Hot Waves Café, displaying one piece of art from all the artists who are members of the Art Escape, as well as Emily Boswell, recipient of the 2014 Mercury Bay Art Escape scholarship earmarked for students attending Mercury Bay Area School.Members of the public will have for the next month the opportunity to vote for their favourite piece of art exhibited, so bestowing the title “Winner of the People’s Choice Award” on one of the artists.On Friday evening the artists themselves had the opportunity to vote for their favourite work in the exhibition. For the first time in the history of the Open Studio Tour, the “Artists’ Choice Award,” sponsored by The Little Gallery of Fine Arts in Tairua, was shared with Julie Whyman’s painting “The Colour of Dreams” receiving the same number of votes as Martinus Sarangapany’s drawing “Home Away from Home.”Five pieces of art were sold during the course of Friday evening, including the one submitted by Emily Boswell.Pictured is Sarah Holden, owner of The Little Gallery, congratulating Martinus with his achievement in the Artists’ Choice Award.

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Conditions perfect for Across the River SwimIt takes a few planets to line up in the right order for the annual Across the River Swim to take place and run like clockwork. Of course the key ingredient for the swim from Ferry Landing to the playground on The Esplanade in Whitianga has to be the tide, which is all about the moon, not the planets. In the case of an event like this in Whitianga, it means getting the timing just right. The tide must be low and on the turn when the swim takes place, allowing for safe conditions in calm water in between low and high tides.Conditions for last Monday’s swim were perfect, with a bit of cloud cover to take the sting out of the sun and a gentle breeze laid on for the 400 school students involved. The planets were indeed perfectly lined up.The swim is significant as it’s not only a Mercury Bay Area School affair, students from Coroglen and Whenuakite Schools are also participating. It’s yet another example of a unique Mercury Bay tradition, something that dates back to the 1950s when the swim was part of the annual regatta which was held on New Year’s Day. Easily 5,000 people, residents and holidaymakers alike, participated in the regatta.The race winners on Monday were Aimee Burton - Year 7 Girls, Sebastian Ross - Year 7 Boys, Jasmine McCleery - Year 8 Girls, Jordan Richmond - Year 8 Boys, Isabel Lunn - Junior Girls, Ben Smith - Junior Boys, Ella Tompkins - Intermediate Girls, Tangaroa Lewis - Intermediate Boys, Nicole Hauer - Senior Girls and Rueben Dimock - Senior Boys.Pictured are the placegetters in the Junior Girls race, from left to right Anna Stevenson (third), Isabel Lunn (winner) and Kenjia Campbell (second).

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When it comes to being voted by the public as serving the best milkshake in the central North Island region of New Zealand, Espy Café on The Esplanade in Whitianga has done it again.“Anchor, the organisers of NZ’s Best Milkshake Competition, phoned last week to say that our ‘Woohoo My Mango’s Got Pashinit!’ milkshake got through to the final and will now be judged by an expert with the other three regional winners of the competition,” says Espy owner Duncan Wood.Espy’s “Oh Fudge” milkshake was last year crowned as New Zealand’s best milkshake and Duncan hopes their “Woohoo…” entry will follow suit. “People could vote for us once a day and we’re aware of many people who made an effort to vote for us regularly,” says Duncan. “We want to thank all of them. The support we’ve received is truly humbling.”People who voted during the course of the competition went into the draw to win a fortnightly prize pack made up of a Breville milkshake maker and a $50 prezzy card. One of the winners was Whitianga’s Paulette Hoyland.“It’s a very good milkshake and I’m delighted Duncan and his team got through to the final,” says Paulette. “I really hope they win, they certainly deserve it.”The winner of the competition is expected to be announced in the next three weeks.Pictured are Duncan and Paulette (holding a “Woohoo” milkshake) with Espy staff members Kylie Clayton (on the left) and Harmony Kelsall.The photo was taken on Friday last week, less than 18 hours before Paulette and her husband Jason started in the 12 hour race of the weekend’s ARC adventure racing event. Read more about the event on page 23.

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Page 6



I am not cooking !!!Indian or Thai tonight?

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Rich history on wall of Coghill Street CottageBy Len SaltSarah Hamilton was born in Lammy, near Tullywiggan, in Ireland, and died in Whitianga at the age of 94 in 1958. Her life was lived through a period of history which spanned two world wars and the great flu epidemic of 1918 which infected 500 million people across the world and is estimated to have killed between 50 and 100 million. She witnessed the birth of the motor car, the invention of the telephone, radio and television, movies and sound recordings, electricity and air travel and massive growth in populations and economic change, upheaval and development across the western world.

There was nothing glamorous at all aboutSarah’s early life, but some of the stories still

remain, which give an insight into life at the time. She was 12 when her mother died. Sarah

had to take over running of the farm and raise her three younger siblings, the youngest a toddler of just two years old. That meant carrying water for the household, cutting

wood for the stove to bake bread and making all the clothes for her brothers and sister as

well as her father’s shirts. The practice in Ireland was to build a house with a high gable

for storing winter vegetables. It’s not clear when Sarah first arrived in New Zealand with

her family, but records remain of her first experience at trying the Irish method of

storing the vegetables through the winter. In the warmer, humid climate of Whenuakite,

where the family initially settled, the vegetables rotted away, causing Sarah to

comment that thestench was awful.Another story tells how Sarah found

Whenuakite’s isolation difficult and invited Florrie, a young girl from Tairua to come and stay. Florrie went missing, putting Sarah into a panic. She looked everywhere and saw the pigs

munching on something. Sarah screamed for her brother Billie who was ploughing in a field not far away, “Come quickly, the pigs have eaten Florrie!” But after a terrifying few minutes, little Florrie was found fast asleep in a barn.

Prior to World War One, Sarah had beenliving in Waihi, caring for her father. It was

the days before the old age pension which was introduced by Richard Seddon in 1898, paying men over 65 the sum of 18 pounds a year, enough to pay for their pipe tobacco and not much else.

By a stroke of fortune, a legacy of Sarah’s life

still remains today in the old kauri cottage at 5 Coghill Street, Whitianga, where Sarah lived as an adult. A poster had been hand painted on the wall of the front room of the cottage to advertise a dressmaking business Sarah ran from the cottage. The cottage itself had started life as a miners house in Kuaotunu before being moved to its current location in Coghill Street.

The cottage housed, until recently, artist RickSwain’s studio. Whitianga resident Steffen

Lindner has just opened a new business on the premises and has taken great care to preserve the poster that was aptly titled the “Lucky Lady.” The “lady” was revealed purely by chance in 1989 when some renovations were being done on the cottage. A saw had cut right down through the middle of the poster before it was found just in time to save it. The beautiful piece of original artwork had been covered in layers of scrim (a hessian sacking type of material commonly used to cover walls in the days before gib-board), hardboard and wallpaper.

The poster remains to this day in pride ofplace on the same wall it was painted and

with any luck it will still be there in another hundred years to keep telling Sarah’s stories.

The poster “Lucky Lady” painted on the wall of the front room of the old kauri cottage at 5 Coghill Street, Whitianga.



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By Alastair Brickell of Stargazers Astronomy Tours in Kuaotunu

The detection of gravitational waves... does it matter?Some readers may have noticed the intense publicity around the announcement about three weeks ago of the discovery of “gravitational waves.” Even the TV news bulletins covered this… in between the usual celebrity nonsense and rugby news. Well, what are these gravitational waves and do they matter at all? Two very important questions.What are they?About 100 years ago Albert Einstein developed his theory of general relativity. This predicted many weird things, one of which was the existence of gravitational waves and people have been looking for them ever since without success. They consist of very slight ripples in the fabric of Einstein’s space-time, produced by all things that are accelerating in the universe. We even produce them when we walk around, but our waves are much too small to ever be detected. The biggest things in the universe, such as two black holes colliding, do, however, produce waves that we are only now able to detect.

The eventual detection required the development of the strangest telescope ever built. This LIGO telescope has been looking in vain for over 22 years and consists of two identical huge instruments in separate parts of the USA. Each has two arms 4km long, consisting of vacuum tubes set at right angles to each other. The arms are so long that the far end of each has to be raised by 1m to counteract the curvature of the earth.

Pulses of laser light are sent down both arms at the same time and the time it takes them to bounce back off the end is measured extremely precisely. If a gravitational wave passes by, it will momentarily make one arm very slightly longer than the other and this can only now be

detected since the instruments were upgraded last year.

The exquisite precision of the measurement is equivalent to measuring a change in the distance to the nearest star (Alpha Centauri, four light years away) to about the width of a single human hair! It is the most precise measurement ever made by the human race and one of the most significant advancements in science for well over a century.

Gravitational waves give us a totally new way of looking at absolutely everything in the universe. Up to now we have relied on electromagnetic radiation to let us sense our environment. This includes visible light, infrared (heat), ultraviolet radiation, radio waves, gamma rays and x-rays, which are all just variations on the electromagnetic theme. Gravitational waves are completely different and so allow us to “see” everything with new eyes in a new manner.

There will eventually be differentgravitational wave telescopes both on land and in space produced to see different frequenciesof these waves, just as optical telescopes allow us to see different things from what radio telescopes see. We live in an environment that is absolutely riddled with gravitational waves which we have never before been able to “see.” We cannot imagine just what we are going to learn in coming decades and centuries… the human species has just acquired a new kind of eye!Great for the boffins, but does it matter? Absolutely! But in ways we cannot yet imagine. The LIGO telescopes cost over $ 800 million to develop and some will suggest that surely we would have been better off spending this money to help the poor in Africa. This seems to make

sense, but one could make the same argument (and many did) about spending over $20 billion on space exploration to go to the Moon back in the 1960s. However, it is only through the advancement of science that the human race will ever progress and it is impossible to predict just what rewards investment in seemingly useless fundamental science will produce.

Space exploration led to many new technologies, including weather satellites and these have already saved many more lives than what the investment of that same money in Africa would have ever produced and they will continue to save lives forever. Military spending in the US led to the development of GPS satellites and they too have and will save many, many lives. Astronomical research led to the development of CCD cameras which most of us now carry around in our pockets. Radio

telescopes (another seemingly useless idea) required the development of sophisticated signal detection techniques to pick up the extremely faint radio signals astronomers were listening to from distant stars. This technology has allowed the development of cell phones that can detect the very weak signals from a cell phone tower, often kilometres away, and this too is now affordable miniaturised technology that we carry in our pockets along with our GPSs and CCDs.

Similarly, the development of lenses and thus microscopes led to the discovery of many totally unexpected things such as the existence of cells and bacteria which allowed modern medicine to progress.

So, gravitational waves are important and the human race just took another giant leap forward.

One of the 4km long LIGO telescopes in the USA.

Page 8






Community Patrol ReportWith Laurie Johnston - Chairman of the Mercury Bay Community Patrol

I had first-hand experience last week of commented on that it really helps to have athe Kuaotunu Fire Brigade. We are indeed vehicle registration rather than just the modelfortunate to have these services available and colour.to us in all these smaller settlements on the Last month I mentioned the problems thatCoromandel. Well done you guys in dealing occurred at the Cathedral Cove car park.with a truck and trailer on State Highway 25 Well, last Saturday it was just as bad,late one night. but the Police were in attendance making

Also to the contractors they organised, notes. The land is owned by the Departmentit’s amazing to me how these people appear of Conservation and they, of course, have nofrom nowhere to help. That’s the great officers in attendance in that area. I understandcommunity spirit we have in this area. there are moves afoot to put the area into a

Our contract with Thames Coromandel more controlled state.District Council was finalized a couple of It’s interesting to note that some of theweeks ago and we have duly received funding nearby residents are taking full advantagefor the next 12 months. We are able to do quite of the situation by offering parking on theira bit for TCDC, including reporting vehicles properties. One notice was written in German!whose occupants put their plastic bags of Why not?rubbish into other residents’ black wheelie In Whitianga, the past few weeks have beenbins when they’re out for collection. its been quiet again. That’s good, isnt it?

We are in a good position to continue our The only incident that came to my noticepatrols for the next twelve months. was a problem at one of our hospitality

Our South Patrol has five new candidates establishments one evening when patronsfor membership and that is great news. started fighting and a temporary close downThe patrol has quite a big area to cover and had to be applied.with a high level of enthusiasm from residents, Last week graffiti appeared in Cook Drive.it bodes well for the future. I have said before, get it photographed and

I would like to highlight the need for noting arrange for the Police to see the graffiti beforecar registrations when anyone sees anything it’s painted out. That’s exactly what happenedthat looks suspicious to them. All too often in this instance. Well done to the resident.we hear of vehicles or their occupants causing Finally, I would like to make it known thatconcern, but only a few think about noting both the Whitianga ferry and the Go Kiwithe car registration. That’s very important. Beach Bus offer free transport to the HotI remember a Whitianga Police Report Water Beach Lifeguards when they are onpublished several months ago where it was duty. A fine gesture.

The Department of Conservation-initiated upgrades to the Cathedral Cove track and the Stingray and Gemstone Bay tracks are well underway. Apart from weather delays, everything is going to plan and, according to DOC, the progress is looking great. The tracks to Stingray and Gemstone Bay will be ready for sealing next week.Temporary closures are still in place during certain times at different sections of the various tracks. This is to ensure the work can be completed as efficiently and safely as possible.“To avoid disappointment, visitors should first seek information about what closures will be in place at the time they plan to visit the Cathedral Cove area,” says DOC’s Operations Ranger Nicola Miller. “Although we plan to stick to the initial closure dates as much as possible, interruptions such as rain can add delays to the work schedule. If people are unsure, it is best to call the local DOC office.”Planned closures are as follows -11 March to 12 March - Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay CLOSED.18 March to 22 April - Main Cathedral Cove track every Thursday and Friday morning until 11:00am CLOSED (open rest of the day).From the progress that has been made already, it is exciting to start envisioning what the end product will look like. The DOC staff members involved in the upgrade are thankful for the patience and cooperation of the local community and look forward to seeing the benefits enjoyed by all once completed.Please contact Nicola on (07) 869 5632 or or 027 660 2496 for any enquiries and for updated details. More information will be provided during the progress of the operation through The Informer and other media outlets and on the DOC website www.doc.govt.co.nz.

Update on Cathedral Cove tracks upgrade

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Unique niche hobby business for Art Escape artistBy Gillian O’NeillA childhood obsession with fish has evolved into a unique niche hobby business for Tairua carver Tim Aldrich, who is be opening his doors to visitors as part of this year’s Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio Tour.

The father of three, who moved his familyfrom the UK to Tairua 10 years ago, is

gaining notoriety for his fish carvings which have been commissioned for both displays and trophies. Kingfish are particularly popular because of their bright colouring. However, a new opportunity has recently emerged that Tim is keen to explore further.

“There is a growing interest in replica fish.It used to be that if a prize fish was caught,

it would be stuffed and mounted. With people more committed now to conserving fish, the idea of a carved replica is a great alternative,” Tim says.

“If people are out there and they land a spectacular fish, they can measure it, photograph it and then release it. If they bring me the photo I will create a precise replica so they can have a lasting memory of their day’s

fishing.“As a kid back in the UK, I would spend a

lot of time drawing fish. I was fascinated with the shapes and the colours. Then, when I came to New Zealand, I found the colours were even more vivid and of course everyone here loves fish, so there is a real interest in the

carvings I do.”Oregon Pine from America is one of Tim’s

favourite materials to use. “The wood resembles the patterns of the fish, so it’s a really nice wood to use, but I also work with Kauri and sometimes Macrocarpa.”

While fish may be his favourite subject, Tim’s repertoire is extensive and he is happy to accept commissions based on whatever ideas people have. “I’ve just finished a piece for the Mercury Bay Art Escape Taste of the Tour exhibition at Hot Waves Cafe. It’s called ‘Happy Dancer’ and it’s a woman dancing. It’s turned out really well, I’m very pleased with it.”

Tim is enjoying hosting viewings during this year’s Open Sudio Tour, demonstrating his skills and even allowing visitors to try their hand at some carving.

“I ‘m working on a snapper, so people are getting a good look at what’s involved in creating the fish. I also enjoy giving carving tuition, it’s amazing what people can achieve, even in just a day. So if anyone is interested getting a little taster they can come along and give it a go.”

Tim’s studio at 39 Hornsea Road will again be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm this weekend (the second weekend of the Art escape Open Studio Tour).

Tairua carver Tim Aldrich is demonstrating how he creates unique fish carvings,like the kingfish pictured here, during this year’s Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio

Tour.




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Whitianga artist Raewyn Helms-Davis has featured in the Informer recently as the creator of Sydnie, the cartoon dog. Raewyn is also an accomplished artist specialising in the use of pastels and she has just achieved the honour of having three of her pieces accepted for inclusion in the annual exhibition of the Pastel Artists of New Zealand, to be held in Mapua near Nelson next month.One of the pieces Raewyn submitted has been gathering a lot of attention since it was created four years ago. It’s a portrait of former Maori Party co-leader Sir Pita Sharples.The process of creating the portrait kicked off with Raewyn contacting Sir Pita through his office and being invited to his West Auckland marae to meet him. Sir Pita took the time to walk and talk with Raewyn and was happy for her to take a number of photographs she could later reference from. He asked that Raewyn include in her portrait the carving that is always around his neck. He also ensured Raewyn was given images of a treasured panel recording his family’s history, located inside the wharenui.Following this, Raewyn received a Maori Party t-shirt as a gift from the party. She enlisted the help of her husband to model the t-shirt while she was taking photos. Then she got to work.Once the portrait was finished, it showed Sir Pita in front of his family’s history panel and proudly wearing the t-shirt of the party he helped to establish in 2004.Pictured is Raewyn with her portrait of Sir Pita, which she decided to call “Rangitira - Pita R Sharples.”

Creating “Rangitira - Pita R Sharples”

Page 12



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Becoming involved in the Mercury Bay culture of generosityWhen Whitianga mother Eloise Green approached Mary Ray, the owner of Stilo Hair & Co in Whitianga, with a request to cut her two daughters’ hair, Mary said yes. But when Eloise told Mary why her two daughters, Cerys and Seren, would like to cut their hair, Mary didn’t hesitate to say she’ll do it for free.

The reason for Mary’s generosity is simple. Cerys and Seren wanted to donate their hair to an organisation making wigs for people suffering from extreme hair loss (for example cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment). “For such a good cause I was happy to donate my time to restyle the two girls’ hair,” says Mary.

On Thursday afternoon last week Cerys and Seren arrived at Stilo for the big event and Mary asked Eloise if it was OK for Paige Williams, who started working with her only the day before, to cut the girls’ hair. “Eloise was fine with it,” says Mary. “Paige is an experienced hairdresser and I was confident she would do a good job. I thought it was a great opportunity for her to become involved in the culture of generosity we all experience and love in Mercury Bay.

“Paige indeed did an outstanding job. Cerys and Seren looked stunning when she was finished with them.”

Paige grew up in Thames. After school, she spent a few years in Auckland and then moved to Tauranga, where she qualified as a hairdresser. It was in Tauranga she met her partner Russell.

Paige and Russell are the proud parents of two boys, Cash (three) and Jett (two), and some time ago they started talking seriously about moving to the Coromandel. “My parents are now living Coromandel Town and we wanted to be closer to them,” says Paige. “We decided that Whitianga is the town we ultimately would like to settle in.

“Russell is a heavy vehicle driver by profession, but was happy to take a job in my dad’s landscaping business. I had to find a job in Whitianga before we could move. A friend told me that Mary was looking for someone. I sent her my CV and she invited me to do a trade test. It went really well and here I am.”

Paige, Russell and their two boys are at the moment staying with Paige’s parents in Coromandel Town. “For now it’s a convenient arrangement as Russell is working with my dad and rental accommodation in Whitianga is scarce,” says Paige. “It also gives usthe opportunity to check out theWhitianga market before we invest in a place of our own.”

Asking Paige why she and Russell decided Whitianga is where they would like to settle, she says the town has everything they like, including the beach and the opportunities to fish and dive. They also like the community feel of the Mercury Bay area and think Mercury Bay Area School will have a lot to offer their boys once they start school. “When it comes to ticking the boxes, Whitianga is for us the perfect place to be.”

Mary has another stylist starting at Stilo in the next few weeks. Tash Stephen and her partner (who’ll be joining the team at Guthrie Bowron Whitianga) decided to trade the Auckland rat race for the quality of life only Mercury Bay can offer. The couple’s six-year-old son will attend MBAS once they arrive in Whitianga.

“Tash did her training as a hairdresser at the same group of salons I did my training,” says Mary. “Like Paige, she’s very experienced. Whitianga is growing and Stilo is growing with it. I’m excited about the future with two top-class stylists working with me.”

Seren (on the left) and Cerys Green on Thursday afternoon last weekwhen Paige Williams (behind Cerys) of Stilo Hair & Co cut their hair for a good

cause.



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Kids, win with Beach Hop!

Thames Coromandel District Council is giving children the opportunity to have a bit of early Beach Hop fun with this colouring competition.

Kids, just make sure you have your entries in on time to win vouchers from a variety of Mercury Bay businesses.Remember Beach Hop will be in Whitianga on 29 March. It’s the Tuesday just after Easter.

Page 14



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Local Samaritans blown away by generosity of community

Ian and Raewyn Diprose have been travelling to Fiji regularly for the last almost four decades to undertake volunteer work. Over time they have built up strong friendships, which turned out to be of immense value after Cyclone Winston battered the country on 20 February this year.Winston came ashore as a category five hurricane and was the strongest cyclone on record to ever hit the country. It inflicted severe damage to many parts of the main and outlying islands. Forty three people lost their lives.Ian and Raewyn had a pretty good idea of what would be needed after Winston struck. They put the word out to the people of Mercury Bay and they were overwhelmed by the response. “All the op shops and many local businesses offered to help, as well as many individuals, and we have been able to fill in a very short space of time an entire 40ft container to send to Fiji,” says Ian.The village where Ian and Raewyn’s friends live were not as badly hit as other areas and they (Ian and Raewyn’s friends) will be able to distribute the aid donated by the people of Mercury Bay to those parts of the country that are the most in need of help.“Again we have seen that our local community is not afraid to step up when people are in need,” says Ian. “The generosity of the people of Mercury Bay people has blown us away.”Pictured are Ian and Raewyn with some of the things the people of Mercury Bay donated to the people of Fiji.



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Inclusion of MBAS in Art Escape Open Studio Tour highly successfulThe inclusion of the Mercury Bay Area School art room in the 2016 Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio Tour is proving to be a roaring success. This is in no small part due to the combined goodwill and effort of some MBAS teachers and senior students who volunteered their time to make sure there’s at all times someone staffing the art room while the Open Studio Tour is on (last weekend and this coming weekend).None of the work on display in the art room is for sale. The school is included in the Open Studio Tour purely to showcase of the work of the school’s art students.Last Saturday saw 56 visitors coming through the art room, Sunday another 40. MBAS teachers Carol Boswell and Svargo, the core mathematics department of the school and both avid supporters of the arts, were volunteers last Sunday. “The feedback on the day was very positive,” says Svargo. “There were lots of compliments on the high quality of the work, particularly the attention to detail in many of the pieces, and on the obvious passion and dedication that art teacher Janet Hoogwerf has inspired in her students.”Carol has added reason to be proud. Her daughter Emily was the 2014 recipient of the Mercury Bay Art Escape scholarship. Emily has an extensive portfolio of work, from Year 10 to her Year 13 excellence achievement board, on display at the school. In 2015 two Art Escape scholarships were awarded to MBAS students Renee Royal and Joseph Morcom. Artworks by these two promising young students also feature strongly in the art room.Also getting a lot of attention is the Year 13 excellence board of Marie Everth, who, in addition to her achievement in art, had achieved excellence in calculus, physics and a number of other subjects in order to become the school’s Dux student for 2015.A short video playing in the art room during the Open Studio Tour shows several students, including Emily, working on art projects and teacher Janet Hoogwerf and MBAS principal John Wright discussing the importance of art in the school curriculum mix. “My favourite quote from the video is this, ‘Earth without art is just - eh,’” says Svargo.The school art room will be open again this coming weekend, the final weekend of the Open Studio Tour. It’s well worth a visit.Pictured are MBAS teachers Svargo (left) and Carol Boswell in the MBAS art room last Sunday.

Page 16


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Apartment 1 Apartment 2

Harcourts Whitianga

71 Albert Street P 07 866 4981harcourts.co.nz

Awesome home with 4 bedrooms,3 bathrms, garaging, carport. Includes separate section with its own title.Two titles, two properties. Private and peaceful.For Sale $895,000www.harcourts.co.nz/wi 20856Katrina CarlyonM 021 724 200Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

5 Laura Place

Apartment 7

4 Roseberry Place

3 Mill Road

27 Tarapatiki Drive

Amazing and beautiful tranquil home on 2.14ha (5a)Built to awesome views, private, minutes to town.Owners will consider options to buy.

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High spec show home in Whitianga Waterways.3 bdrm, 2 bthrm, family room, office, attic, large double garaging.For Salewww.harcourts.co.nz/wi20943Peter MacGregor M 027 224 7332Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

1950’s residential, waterfront zone giving future options.2 bdrm1 bthrm home with original bach in rear. Central to all amenities.For Sale $550,000www.harcourts.co.nz/wi20816Marie OsbornM 027 433 4027Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

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Auction Thursday 24 March 12.30pm, Harcourts office, 71 Albert Street, Whitiangawww.harcourts.co.nz/ wi20993Peter MacGregor M 027 224 7332Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

128B Cook Drive6 Wells PlaceDelightful holiday home in popular Location, close to beach.For Salewww.harcourts.co.nz/wiWayne Anderson M 021 963 354Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home plus separate.1 bedroom self contained flat. All on 1227 m2 (approx) section.For Sale $620,000www.harcourts.co.nz/wi20999Noelene Bellingham M 027 280 8477Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

2 bedroom easy care unit designed for comfort. Central- close to beach and town.For Sale $345,000www.harcourts.co.nz/wi20997Katrina CarlyonM 021 724 200Larsen Realty Ltd MREINZ Licensed Agent REAA 2008

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Every now and again Informer contributor, Megan Hawkes, trawls through the newspapers that circulated in Mercury Bay and around the Coromandel Peninsula in the early days. More often than not she discovers something interesting. This is an example from 1879.

Peninsula Past 1922

A Mormon City at Tairua looked likely following a lively and convivial meeting headed by a Mr Dyer, known as the “leading spirit.” In a speech made about forming a New Jerusalem, Dyer said that when Joseph Smith first started Mormonism at Salt Lake, he had great difficulties to contend with - all civilisation was against it.

Thanks to perseverance and go-aheadism, they had overcome this and now, he said, Salt Lake was the most flourishing and best conducted city on the face of the earth. A gum digger in the audience wanted to know how many wives a man was allowed to keep. Mr Dyer answered as many as he could afford - women worked in the fields felling trees and doing all the outside work and where a man had eight or ten wives, all he had to do was sit in his rocking chair and smoke his cigar, for the women there worship a man the same as they worship a sealskin jacket in New York.

After a great deal of hurrahing and stamping of feet, order was restored. Tairua, Dyer said, was similar to Salt Lake. Rowley’s Hill - well, it was the twin brother to the Rocky Mountains. There they had the Great Pacific Railway running past, just the same as they should have the Thames Valley Railway running past Tairua. A bushman interjected there never would be a Thames Valley Railway to groans and cries of “sit down.”

Mr Dyer told them he had great influence with the government and what was more -

some members told him that they would stand for prophet when the New Jerusalem was formed and he could count on the railway being pushed ahead, a statement which earned him a pelting with an orange.

An old seaman, to deafening cheers, said he was always a lover of the fairer sex and he

could speak with confidence that he could get 50 or 60 women to join. He added that he could raise nine wives for himself and he

believed the ugliest man could reckon on three or four. It was proposed that Mr Dyer and

followers proceed to Thames to gain converts for the New Jerusalem. “The day of jubilee

has come at last,” rhapsodised the newspaper, “For petticoat husbands, neglected wives, old

maids, widows, grass widows, the rejected, despised, old, ugly, the blind, lame, Turks and

Greek, Jews and gentiles - all are welcome. Now the future land of promise is open, so

don’t be bashful, men or women, boys or girls, but make tracks for the New Jerusalem, Tairua, where a hearty welcome will be

accorded to all. Any person wanting information may obtain the same by writing to

the Secretary, No 44, New Jerusalem, Tairua.”

We, like many others undoubtedly will, found this Peninsula Past column quite amusing. We never doubted that it wasn’t a true depiction of the Mormon Church. We thought it prudent to obtain permission from Elder Charles Carr, Whitianga leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (as the Mormon Church is more formally known), to publish the column. This was Elder Carr’s reply -

I appreciate the editor of The Informer allowing me to review this 1879 newspaper article and respond. At first I laughed at the way it depicted early Mormons in Salt Lake City. Then I thought, “Take the editor’s offer to not publish it if it would offend us.” Finally, I realized that as an historical article, it accurately depicted the way many people viewed Mormons in the 1800s.

While it is true that until 1890, like the patriarchs in the Old Testament, some members of the Church practiced polygamy or plural marriage, I doubt it was quite the male “rocking chair” paradise painted by “Mr Dyer.”

Moreover, polygamy wasdiscontinued

by Church edict in 1890. (If you read about husbands with plural wives today, they are not Mormons, despite what may be said.)

Further, regarding the 1879 news article, it is probable that the “Mr Dyer” quoted there was not a Mormon and as far as I have been able to discover, there was not a Mormon city, “New Jerusalem,” group or congregation in the Tairua area as described. (If anyone is interested, I have just received a new, fascinating DVD “The History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in New Zealand,” that begins in 1853 and is narrated by former All Black Sid Going. It is available to borrow, just email me at [email protected]).

A group of Mormon elders from Utah in the USA in New Zealand in 1909. Photo courtsey of Sir George Grey Special Collections AWNS-19090218-14-2.

Page 18


http://www.kitchensoncoromandel.co.nz/


Issue 675 - 10 February 2016Issue 679 - 9 March 2016



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Op-ShopsSocial Services Op-Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street (west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00am - 1:00pm.The Church Op-Shop, at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Thursday toSaturday 8:30am - 12:30pm.St John Opportunity Shop, Coghill Street (east of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday 9:00am - 2:00pm. Phone 869 5416.Justice of the PeaceEvery Monday 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. Phone 866 4476 for more information.Mercury Bay Community BusAvailable for transport to hospital, specialist or health related appointments outside of the Whitianga area. Phone 866 4993 for information and bookings.Road Cycling and Mountain BikingRoad cycling meet every Saturday at 8:00am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Bryan on 022 155 8944 for more information. Mountain biking meet every Tuesday at 5:15pm and every Saturday at 7:30am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Paul on 021 605 230 for more information.Social Cycling GroupMeet every Sunday at 9:00am at Taylor’s Mistake, Whitianga. Short 45 minute cycle and coffee. Phone Bryan on 022 155 8944 for more information.“Whitianga Movers and Losers” (the Old WW’s)Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm at St Peters Anglican Church, Dundas St, Whitianga. $2 donation (to cover cost of room rent). We promote a slow, steady weight loss based on eating well, nourishing foods and moving more - towards maintaining our our ideal weight and optimal health. New members always welcome.Waka Ama “Have a Go” daysFirst and third Sunday of every month and Thursday afternoons. See Facebook.com/whitiangawakaama.Mercury Bay Community ChoirMeets every Monday from 6:00pm - 8:00pm in the Mercury Bay Area School music room. Non-auditioned. New members welcome. Contact Kate Nielsen on telephone 866 2573 or (027) 270 9058 for more information.SeniorNet Whitianga IncorporatedClasses held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on 866 4215 for more information or to join.Whitianga ToastmastersMeet Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Whitianga Art Centre, School Road, Whitianga. Competent Leadership - listening, critical thinking, giving feedback, time management, motivating people, mentoring and team building. Phone Merle on 866 0240 or (021) 0241 9368 for more information.Mercury Bay Table TennisEvery Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Pat or Neville on 867 1447 for more information.Mercury Bay BadmintonEvery Wednesday 9:30am - 11:00am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Diane on 027 246 1915 for more information.Scottish Country DancingEvery Monday 7:00pm - 9:00pm in the Whitianga Town Hall. Phone Anthea on 866 4516 for more information.St John CadetsMeet every Monday from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the St John Ambulance Station, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Beth on(07) 869 5294 or (021) 241 9757 for more information.Whitianga Senior Citizens ClubMeet Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Phone Lance Hayson (president) on 866 5817 for more information.Whitianga Toy LibraryIsabella Street (off Coghill St), Open Wednesday 2:30pm - 4:00pm and Friday 10:00am - 11:30am. New members welcome.Operation Cover-UpMeet the last Wednesday of every month at Whitianga Social Services from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. An initiative knitting clothing for Missions without Borders in the Ukraine and Moldova. Phone Brenda on 866 5814 for more information.Whitianga Art GroupMeet every Thursday and Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm, at the Art Centre in School Road, Whitianga. New members welcome. Phone Rose on 022 139 2968 or Maryanne on 866 4099 for more information.Coroglen Farmers MarketEvery Sunday, 9:30am - 1:00pm. Locally produced seasonal fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, jams, chutneys, home-baking, handmade soap, coffee, hot snacks, art and craft, quality vintage items and much more. Phone Fiona on 866 3315 for more information.Mercury Bay Pony Club Accumulator Show Jumping SeriesWednesday 9 February at the Mercury Bay Pony Club grounds, Wade Road, Whitianga. Starts at 4:00pm. Entries $5.00 per class ($5.00 ground fee for non-MBPC members). Points to be accumulated over three competition days (this is the last competition day). See www.mercurybayponyclub.wordpress.com for more information.Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Trailer Boat TournamentThursday 10 March - Saturday 12 March. Registration on Wednesday 9 march from 11:00am at the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club on The Esplanade in Whitianga. More information at www.gamebase.co.nz.Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio TourSaturday and Sunday 12 and 13 March. A self-drive tour of 36 artists’ studios from Tairua to Kuaotunu. See www.mercurybayartescape.com.Whitianga Art, Craft and Farmers MarketSaturday 12 March from 8:30am - 1:00pm at Soldiers Memorial Park, Whitianga. Locally produced fruit and vegetables and art and craft. Phone Anne on 866 5550 or Doreen on 866 5237 for more information.Weekly Church ServicesMercury Bay Co-Operating ParishSt Andrews by the Sea Community Church, 9:30am every Sunday worship service and kids friendly Bible sessions, Albert Street, Whitianga.Anglican ServicesSt Peter the Fisherman, 9:30am Sunday services. All are welcome, Dundas Street, Whitianga.Crossroad Encounter Fellowship10:00am every Sunday, cnr Joan Gaskell Drive and Cook Drive, Whitianga.St Patrick’s Catholic ChurchWeekend Mass Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday 8.30am, Monday - Friday 9:00am (except Tuesday no Mass, Wednesday 12:00 noon). Tairua Sunday 10:30am, Tuesday 9:00am, tel 866 2189.Whitianga Baptist Church10:00am every Sunday, children’s programme, 112 Cook Drive, Whitianga, tel 866 4027.C3 Whitianga10:00am every Sunday, children’s programme, 23 Coghill Street, Whitianga, email [email protected] of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)Meet on Sundays 10:00am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Social Services building, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Children’s programme. Phone 021 277 2126 for more information.Seventh Day AdventistsHome study group. Phone Laurie/Lois on 866 2808 for more information.

Page 20


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KSAR Columnwith Steve HartExciting news for KSAR with Pub Charity

approving a grant of $29,121 towards the construction of our new base next to the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust hanger on Moewai Road in Whitianga. This will enable the project to start with KSAR providing $34,000 towards the project from various fundraising activites over the past three years.

We are hopeful of the success of another

funding application that will assist with the costs of the fit-out of the building. We were very pleased to also receive news that Thames Coromandel District Council assisted with the cost of the development contributions and the kind donation of bathroom supplies from Mico Wakefield. Thanks guys.

In late February KSAR hosted 24 Land SAR volunteers at a Tracking Core Skills course held in the Kauaeranga Valley. This course

brought SAR volunteers from throughout the North Island as far away as Wanganui and Hawkes Bay to learn the basic skills of tracking. Tracking Core Skills is the first of four tracking courses that land SAR members can undertake that will give them skills to locates signs and direction of travel of a lost party and to identify clues that may lead to the lost party. Quite similar to hunting skills used to track wild anmals, but the outcome

quite different.Two KSAR members entered the

Adventure Racing Coromandel “Lady of the Mist” eight hour adventure race last weekend. This race certainly put our team to the test for endurance, plus a few other interesting skill challenges. KSAR was also be on standby for the duration of the race as one of the challenges for those taking part was not getting lost…or injured. Fortunately we didn’t get called out and everyone came home safely.

KSAR intends working closely with Whitianga Coastguard and the Auckland and Coromandel Rescue Helicopter crew this year to give its first response members improved skills in rapid deployment. Getting searchers with a high level of training in tracking, first aid, search methods, helo winching, safe boat practices, coastal landings and navigation will ensure search teams arrive into remote or coastal search areas faster, improving the chances for a lost person to be located. The rapid deployment teams will be supported by a highly mobile incident management team who will also upskill in the initial response period, providing remote radio communications, logistics, mapping and taskings.

There are a few more months of good weather coming, so enjoy the start of autum but ensure you plan ahead and remember to explain your intents to someone before leaving for a walk or adventure in nature.Some of the Land Search and Rescue volunteers who attended a Tracking Core Skills course in the Kauaeranga Valley in late

February.





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Scott’s ThoughtsScott Simpson - National Party MP for Coromandel

Should we change our flag?The flag debate is hotting up as we get closer to decision time about our whether we retain or change our flag. This is the first time we as individual New Zealanders have had a chance to have a say in what flag we should have.

Whatever your view I urge you to complete the voting paper which you will have received by now and return it by 24 March.

Superannuation and Family Support Increases

The National government has made an iron clad commitment to keep the retirement age at 65 and to keep the rates of superannuation and pensions for veterans at 66 per cent of average incomes. As a result there will be a

2.73 per cent rise this year for both married couples and those living alone.

However we are also aware that families need support and the $25 per week Child Hardship Package announced in last year’s Budget will take effect on 1 April along with increased support for low income working families. Over half a million children will benefit from these changes.

Leave Drug Decisions to PharmacI am very sympathetic to melanoma

patients who are undergoing treatment and recognise that the expensive new drug

Page 22


Keytruda would be beneficial to some sufferers.

Keytruda clinical trials have examined eight months’ worth of data. For one-in- three patients there was a clear benefit, but not for the remaining two-thirds. This demonstrates to me that more data is required

Pharmac are involved in complex commercial negotiations with a number of drug companies who supply similar medicines. Keytruda is not the only one.

I stand behind the decision-making process of Pharmac. They have to consider all patients to ensure the best spend of the health dollar to benefit all New Zealanders. There may be some good news in the May Budget as the National government has substantially increased health spending in every budget since 2009 and I suspect the next one will be no different.

Indeed Prime Minister John Key made public comments along those lines last week. This year’s Budget will be presented on 26 May by Finance Minister Bill English.

Please never hesitate to make contact with me if I can be of assistance with any matter. For an appointment you can phone my electorate office on 07 868 3529, email [email protected].



Richie McCaw in Whitianga last weekendLast weekend saw the 15th annual ARC adventure racing event taking place on the Coromandel Peninsula, with Rugby World Cup-winning All Black captain Richie McCaw participating in one of the 24 hour races.

The ARC event is a made up of five races, the traditional 24 hour and 12 hour races (including kayaking, running/trekking and cycling), a non-kayaking version of the 24 hour and 12 hour races and an eight hour race. The 24 hour races started this year in Thames. The 12 hour races started closer to Whitianga and the eight hour race took place in its entirety around Whitianga. All the races finished at

Brophy’s Beach in Whitianga.Each of the races last weekend included

paintball and rifle shooting.Adventure racing is as much about strategyas it is about endurance and strategy most

certainly came into play at Fun Zone just south of Whitianga, where teams had the opportunity to knock valuable minutes off their overall time with a solid paintball performance.

Fun Zone’s Sandy Gaskell says that all teammembers had to get into some safety gear

first and were then given a paintball gun with 30 paintballs each. “Each team’s mission was to

get through our trench warfare course to retrieve a medallion from the fort at the other end, which was worth a 20 minute reduction in their race time. If they took out one of our strategically positioned snipers on the way, then they would get another 10 minutes taken off. However, if they were shot… gun up and out they go.”

Only a handful of teams made it through - Richie's team wasn’t one of them. “Was I tempted to give him a few pointers? Well, yes of course,” says Sandy. “Instead, I asked for a photo with our granddaughters in return for a donation to Cure Kids, one of his

favourite charities.“We were also lucky enough to get his

autograph on a rugby ball. The ball is to be auctioned off, with all the proceeds going to Mercury Bay Area School for the upgrade of the primary school playgrounds. People can now already bid on our Facebook page. On Easter Sunday we’ll have a massive Easter egg hunt and the final bidding for the ball, like in a real auction, will take place then.”

Prize-giving for the five adventure races was on Sunday morning at Brophy’s Beach, where Richie was happy to hand out autographs and pose for photos with fans.

Fun Zone’s Sandy Gaskell with Richie McCaw and her two granddaughters Dior (on the left) and Dannii Cullen. Dannii was born on the day

the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Whitianga’s Jason and Paulette Hoyland and their son Rhys with Richie McCaw at the ARC adventure racing event prize-giving at Brophy’s Beach last Sunday.Jason and Paulette won the Mixed Pairs category of the 12 hour race they

participated in.

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February has seen the ambulance service in Whitianga attend some interesting call- outs. We have had our share of people being dumped by what appears to be small surf, but there was plenty of force behind the swells. This has resulted in several serious spinal injuries from Simpsons Beach and Hahei.

February has by no means been as busy for us as the summer peak, but we have still been busy. The Whitianga ambulance responded to 83 call-outs for the month, an increase of 10 over the same month last year. Our total responses for the first two months of the year were 223, which is an increase of 41 over same period last year.

Last month’s responses were made up of 46 medical cases and 37 trauma cases. We utilised an air ambulance on four occasions, which ensured speedy transport to hospital of high acuity patients. As we move into winter, we will see the balance of medical/trauma shift to more medical cases, which is only to be expected.

Can I now introduce you to what we call the “Clinical Hub?” This is the place where your 111 call for ambulance assistance goes to. There are three in the country - Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. It is the place where ambulances are dispatched from and is now also the place where alternative care pathways can be organised. This is something new and I’m sure that some of you would have experienced this already.

St John receives approximately 1,200 to 1,500 emergency 111 calls per day. A small number of patients are not in a life- threatening situation and do not require an immediate ambulance response, even though they do need medical assistance. When a person dials 111 for an ambulance, the call handler (the person answering the 111 call) gathers basic information, using standardised questions, in order to process the call and triage the response. An incident triaged as being of lower acuity is eligible for a clinical telephone assessment from a registered nurse or paramedic in the Clinical Hub.

Not every call that someone makes to 111 will get an ambulance response. Why is this? St John has a finite number of emergency resources. The Clinical Hub was introduced in Auckland during 2014 with registered nurses and St John paramedics working alongside call-takers and ambulance dispatchers. The goal of this is to identify the right care for patients and to utilise hospital Emergency Departments, ambulances and community/

primary health care resources appropriatelyand to ultimately reduceambulancepresentations to the hospital EDs.

When a patient has been identified as having a low acuity complaint, a nurse or paramedic will call the patient back to ask them additional questions to ensure that they get the right care.

During 2014, approximately 25,000 calls were managed via the Clinical Hub and of those nearly 9,000 were resolved through telephone advice from nurses or paramedics. This resulted in a seven per cent reduction in emergency ambulance responses and a six per cent reduction in ambulance transports to EDs. This enabled St John to increase our capacity to dispatch emergency ambulances and to improve our response times.

People who were managed by the Clinical Hub were supported in accessing the right care and using alternative care pathways. This included assistance with the booking of GP appointments or referring patients to the district nurse.

So, why are our response numbers increasing so dramatically? I would hope that this is due to better education from within our community as to what ambulances are actually for and the community making better use of the ambulance service.

Ambulances are not just to transport patients. They are manned by highly skilled and trained paramedics who are here to provide you with pre-hospital emergency care. Our aim is to ensure that you get the right care as soon as possible. We are able to provide a wide range of care in the back of our ambulances.

As part of this “Right Care” regime, calling an ambulance does not automatically mean that you will be taken across the hill to Thames Hospital. We will assess you and provide treatment to you and, if appropriate, will make arrangements for an alternative care pathway with your GP.

Whitianga is very lucky to have excellent after hours GP care and the ambulance service utilises this to assist in patients being treated within the community rather than a trip to Thames, where this is appropriate.

Please remember that we would rather you call the ambulance to assist you early, instead of leaving it to the last minute when things could be very serious. If in doubt - call us out.Mike Burrows - St John Whitianga Station Manager

Page 24


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For further information please do not hesitate to contact our sales office on 07 866 0164.Email - [email protected] Website - www.whitiangawaterways.co.nz

What an incredible summer we had weather wise, from seriously dry in mid-December to lush green by the end of February.The good news is town appears to have been busier than normal for thistime of the year, with many people taking the opportunity to travel a bit later. The market has continued on right through the peak season and shows no sign of slowing down.A big welcome to everyone who has made Whitianga and Mercury Bay theirnew home.There is no doubt we are witnessing an amazing amount of construction at present, so many homes in the planning, consent stage or under construction. It’s great to see how many local builders have been able to secure much of this work.DevelopmentThis past week has seen Hopper Construction start work on the completion of Leeward Drive on the Island. It’ll be nice to have this island loop completed and we expect this to be done around June.The western island canal works will be in the next stage. This new stage willbring on nine non-canal front sections, all elevated with great views north or over to the ranges to the west. It will also see the network of walkways near completion and the big reserve take shape.Stage 7 is also nearly finished, just some minor works still to be done,including the landscaping. This was delayed due to the dry summer and will now be done in April.

Mercury Bay Area SchoolA school is always a great barometer of how an area is performing. A growing roll is a great sign that a community is tracking well and that you are getting a good cross section of society moving into the area.So with that being the case, the area must be going great as the school roll has hit the stratosphere. Well done to Principal John Wright, the staff and the Board of Trustees.Bragging RightsThe annual Marlin Mayhem Waterways Fishing Tournament was held this past week. This year the winners were, for the heaviest fish, the team from “Plumb Crazy” with a great marlin and “Going Deep” with the most tagged and released.Marlin WatersAs is evident, the development is progressing nicely. The next four units are under construction with more in the consenting stage. The next units will be a three bedroom two bathroom option.EventsOnce again, thank you to all those that came along to the WhitiangaSummer Concert.Watch this space for next year’s line-up. I know promoters Greenstone Entertainment is out talking to acts as we speak. Also this past weekend speedway, Art Escape and offshore powerboats. What a wide range of fantastic events and what a happening place we all live in.

MARCH 2015 UPDATE

New automatic cleaner caps pool improvements

The current swim season has been a true “swan year” for the members of the Mercury Bay Community Swimming Pool Trust. All calm and graceful on the surface, but a period of intense activity going on below the water to score some remarkable achievements in a short space of time.A $2,100 ICH200 Roberter automatic pool cleaner, capable of pumping 300 litres of water a minute through its filters, has just been added to the list of pool equipment the trust owns. Trust member Mel Asquith says that having the machine is saving a lot of time. “It’s simple to use and it can be set and left on a timer for up to four hours to do its job. Previously somebody had to be here the whole time manually cleaning the pool.”The installation of new pool covers at the end of last year will hopefully see the shoulder season of the pool extended. “We’re hoping to add up to another month to the season,” says Mel. “It’s going to depend on how much of the daytime heat we can retain overnight with the covers.” The $30,000 cost of the covers is already proving itself, with the temperature of the water in the pool being maintained at more than thirty degrees.A new water testing system has been also installed, which allows for more efficient measurements of pH levels. The advantage is lower and more accurate dosing of chlorine levels. “Billie McDonnell [pictured] is our paid lifeguard who does weekend duties,” says Mel. “She takes responsibility for much of the testing while she’s on duty. It has to be done three times a day, every day, so the rest of it is done by our volunteers, which is usually Steve Mannington. He’s been an enormous help, putting in literally hundreds of hours of his own time to make it all happen.“Maintaining and improving the pool has been very much a community effort. In the last 12 months, as well as the covers and the robotic cleaner, we have also been able to paint the pool surface, retile the changing rooms and install new hand basins.“We’ve had enormous support from the community, from Thames Coromandel District Council and Pub Charity to get all this done. We are very thankful.”

I had the privilege to experience last Saturday’s offshore powerboat racing in Whitianga on the start boat. Terry Fletcher, owner and skipper of the boat, invited me along for the ride. Also on the boat were a race official, the official “flag man” and a diver.To start each race, Terry had, in essence, to pull up next to the row of powerboats on the start line and then accelerate to 50kts while the flag man waves the start flag. It was both a technical and an exhilarating affair - and almost impossible to hang on and take good photos.In addition to starting each race, the boat was also on standby to assist with any accidents on the water. Two races of 30 minutes each took place on Saturday.Terry has recently retired to Whitianga. He owns two powerboats, both of whom raced on Saturday. In the Superboat Lite class his boat won the second race after a technical difficulty prevented it from finishing the first race. In the Classic class his boat won both races.What made an impression on me on Saturday, in addition to the speeds the boats achieved when they roared past us, was the number of locals who put their hand up to help with the race. Local boats served as markers at the various buoys and Whitianga Coastguard had a large crew on the water. And when it was all over, everyone mucked in to pick the buoys up and leave the ocean as they found it.I also couldn’t help to notice the large crowd at Buffalo Beach Reserve enjoying the action.I wasn’t the only one who was impressed. Several of the boat drivers were overheard saying that they thoroughly enjoyed racing in Whitianga and cannot wait to come back next year. I like the sound of that.Now I must just find a way to get Terry to invite me next year on the start boat again.Pictured are the large Superboats a split second before Saturday’s first race formally got underway.

Impressions from the start boatBy Stephan Bosman




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ACROSS1. Lovers’ squabbles7. Undid (skirt)8. Fear10. Children12. Rissole14. Yemen port16. Burlesque actress17. Exerted (oneself)20. Intensifying (of war)23. Relieved24. All of space, the ...25. Situate

DOWN1. Monotony2. Become tattered3. Unknown writer4. Refreshments booth5. Widening6. Light-bulb inventor9. Niggling worry11. Documents fastener13. ... sleeping dogs lie15. NE US state16. Personal money order18. Dally19. Director, Woody ...21. Assignment22. Prison

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MERCURY BAY CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUBHandicap Pairs Round - Wednesday 2 March North/South - 1 Elsie Cousins and Sue Gill 62.45, 2 Ernie Pitchfork and Bob Schibli 55.97, 3 Gerry Church and David Dylla 55.71.East/West - 1 Bill and Annette Cummings 62.39, 2 Giorgio Allemano and Laura Scaglia 54.80, 3 Prue Clifford and Lyn Baines 53.05.HAHEI BRIDGE CLUBBetty Dunn Pairs - Tuesday 1 MarchNorth/South - 1 Chris Rendle and Robyn Waters 58.07, 2 Barry Scott and David Wilkinson 55.73, 3 Maritza Kocsis and Bev Dickie 55.47.East/West - 1 Annette Cox and Peter France 66.48, 2 Philip Shewell and Sue Gill 56.82, 3 Betty Dunn and Myra Hoogwerf 54.06.WHITIANGA TOUCH CLUBEnd of Season Tournament - Saturday 5 MarchCup Round - 866 5 v Rhythm 4.Shield Round - Cooper Tyres 4 v Dark Side 3.MERCURY BAY SWIMMING CLUBPeninsula Fun Carnival - Sunday 6 MarchTwelve club members competed in the carnival, which will be held in Whitianga next year. All the members swam really well and came home with ribbons for placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their heats.Both the 11 Year and Under and the 12 Year and Over teams won the 4 x2 5m medley relay and came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 4 X 25m freestyle relay.Points were awarded for each race and the following children placed in their age groups - Tom Lamason -

3rd in the 7 year old boys, Meg Hoyland - 1st in the 9 year old girls, Milly Lamason - 1st in the 10 year old girls, Aimee Burton - 3rd in the 11 year old girls, Ava Lamason- 3rd in the 12 year old girls, Isabel Lunn - 2nd in the 13 year old girls and Ella Tomkins - 1st in the 15 year old girls. MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKERWednesday 2 MarchBest of three frames.Brian Codyre took home the bacon and eggs with three straight wins. Two wins for Peter Challis and one win each for Barry Roach, Wayne Bellingham, Shayne Butler, Warren Bellingham and Kevan from Vancouver.Highest break Peter Challis 28 - taking home the pool of $13.50.MERCURY BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBMen’s Golf - Wednesday 2 MarchA small field contested the mid-week stableford scramble. The winner was Roger Booth, who had a very good 42 points. Next was Kevin Smith with 41, followed by Alan Henderson on 39. Bob Haase and Jack Coldicutt had 37 and Kevan Miles had 36 points.Jack Coldicutt had two twos.Ladies Nine Hole Golf - Thursday 3 MarchThe competition was gross and net. Seventeen ladies competed.Winners - Division 1 Gross - Audrey Vickers, Division 1 Net - Ann Kerkhof, Division 2 Gross - Margret Coysh, Division 2 Net - Pat Skinner.The birdie pot was once again collected by Beryl Gilliland and there were four pars.

daily support of our club.MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUBOpening Night - Thursday 3 MarchThe season opened with a "Drawn Fours" tournament, once again sponsored by New World Whitianga, for which the club thank them very much for their continued support of our Opening Night. The club welcomed 48 players, which included 12 from Cooks Beach Indoor Bowling Club and 12 from Tairua Indoor Bowling Club. Everyone enjoyed a great night of competitive bowling, socialising, raffles and a delicious supper before the prizes were awarded. The winners were - Alan Henderson (MB), Ron Annan (T), Coral Strong (CB) and Brian Lawn (MB).The runners-up were - Terry Hefferan (T), Martin Lewis (MB), Roy MacDonald (CB) and Neil Moore (MB).The Good Sports were - Doreen Davies (MB), Tom Riddle (CB), John Morrison (T) and Dennis Wilkins (MB).The club meets every Thursday evening at 6:45pm in the Whitianga Town Hall and warmly welcomes new members. COOKS BEACH INDOOR BOWLING CLUBWednesday 2 MarchTwenty three players competed.Winners - Arthur Taylor, Carolyn Posel and Robyn Wright. Runners-Up - Trevor Knight, Coral Strong and Sandra MacDonald.TAIRUA INDOOR BOWLING CLUBOpening Night - Monday 7 MarchTeams from Mercury Bay and Cooks Beach travelled to Tairua to join in the games with five mats required and teams playing five ends each game.Winners - Terry Hefferan (T), Nirie Reddy (MB), Ailsa Davies(T) and Lois McDonald (CB).Runners-Up - David Wilkinson (T), Beryl Burrows (T), Sandra McDonald (CB) and Carolyn Posel (CB).Chocolate Fish Award - Mal Burrows (T), Georgie Matchett (T), Celia Morrison (T) and David Pike (CB).Raffles were won by - J Smith, Albie Marr, Nirie Reddy, Lois McDonald, Terry Hefferan, David Wilkinson, Shirley Pedersen, Sheryl Henderson, Shirley Hamilton and Lyn Wilkins.MERCURY BAY TENNIS CLUBMen’s Doubles Championships - Thursday 3 March Mike Surgenor and John Orbell defeated Alan Rosoman and Kerry Healion 9-2 in the finals.

Sport ResultsSaturday 5 MarchThe competition was Drawn Partners Russian Roulette, where the partners’ two stableford scores on each hole are multiplied. The winners were Ken George and Wayne Cosgrave with 83, followed by Roger Booth and Wayne Anderson and Alan Henderson and Jeff Dixon, with both teams scoring 80 points.The individual winner was Muzz Bennett with 41 points, from Jeff Dixon and Wayne Cosgrave who both had 40 points.Twos were scored by Micky Henderson, Bob Haase, James Greenhalgh and John Bow, who had two of them. Nearest the Pin Senior - Carl Mitchell, Junior - Not Struck, Longest Drive - Senior Keven Clark, Junior - Jeff Dixon. PURANGI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBNine Hole Stableford - Thursday 3 MarchResults - 1 Dick Watson 21, 2 equal Phil Costello and Wayne Morrison 19, 4 equal Gary Randell and Dick Hawke 18, 6 equal Jenny Lea and Jim Brown 17.Monthly Medal - Saturday 5 MarchResults - 1 Jeff Bright 40, 2 Wayne Morrison 38,3 Bob Walker 36.4BBB Barry Scott and Wayne PrendergastHOT WATER BEACH JUNIOR SURF LIFESAVINGNew Zealand National Oceans 2016 - Thursday 3 March to Sunday 6 MarchHot Water Beach Athletes Holly McCleery, Emma Hinds- Senior, Conor Fitzsimons, Jasmine McCleery, Tiana Tiro and Dylan Fitzsimons joined together with over 960 other Under 14 athletes to represent Hot Water Beach at the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (known as Oceans).Oceans has a proud history of being not only the largest Junior Surf Life Saving event in New Zealand, but the most competitive, exciting and fun.Held at the Main Beach of Mount Maunganui, clubs from the Far North to the Deep South participated.Hottie kids achieved personal goals and to have the athletes make it to the semi-finals when they started out with over 120 competitiors in their heats was a massive result.Thanks to all of those who helped to get the kids to Oceans and thanks to our lifeguards Josh Hinds-Senior for your

The Hot Water Beach Junior Surf Lifesaving team that participated in the National Oceans 2016 Championships from 3 to 6 March. From left to right - Holly McCleery, Jasmine McCleery,

Tiana Tiro, Emma Hinds-Senior, Dylan Fitzsimons and Conor Fitzsimons.

The finalists in the Men’s Doubles Championships of the Mercury Bay Tennis Club that was played on Thursday evening last week.

From left to right - Alan Rosoman, Mike Surgenor, Kerry Healion and John Orbell.




Last week’s winner - Augusta Canegallo


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Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once. Deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The weekly prize is one butter chicken combo (including rice and a poppadom) from Hurry 4 Curry, Whitianga. The winner must please claim his/her prize from Hurry 4 Curry directly.

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Things are still rocking along on thefishing front and excitement levels are increasing each day as we draw closer to our next tournament.

The Stabicraft Trailer Tournament runs for three days starting this Thursday. With a reasonably good long-range weather forecast and good numbers of fish in our area, we are expecting a huge number of anglers and early entries have been tracking well.

Any brand of trailer boat is eligible to enter the tournament, as are jetskis and kayaks. There are over $150,000 worth of prizes, including a brand new Stabicraft 1600 Frontier boat complete with 70hp four stroke Yamaha motor, all sitting on a new DMW boat trailer. There will also be other lucky angler draws and over 100 different prizes for ten different fish species from kahawai and trevally through to marlin - something for everyone.

If you want to enter the tournament and you are not already a member of our club, day membership can be purchased

for $15 per day, just call us on 866 4121 and we’ll point you in the right

direction. For those that do manage to get out on the water, things have been

looking up with excellent reports of snapper,

kahawai and trevally from most areas that you would expect to. There are plenty of fish being caught up the river, at the river mouth and along the beach. Along the north western coast of the Bay fishers have easily catching a feed, but I have had a few dud reports from some people fishing in the inner part of Mercury Bay using long lines.

Out around the islands the good run of fortune has also continued, especially earlier in the morning or in the evening. Agood berley trail is highly recommended and when deployed on the right tide, there are enough fish around to get a real frenzy working.

Further out the pace is not quite as hot as

it was a couple of weeks ago, but marlin are still being caught each day vessels are able to get out there. We’re still catching yellow fin tuna and mahimahi out there too and with the water temps being as high as they are, it wasn’t too much of a surprise to hear of a wahoo being caught over on the

west coast last week.

Tight lines,Alan






5 M o n k Street, W h i ti a n g a

Office Ph: 07 8671087 Email: [email protected]

David: 027 4994833Tracey: 027 4907988

S e e us for all your l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , p l a n n i n g a n d re s o u rc e c o n s e n t requi rements .

w w w. p l a n n e rs p l u s . c o . n z

I had the pleasure of witnessing Stephan Schieren, a Mercury Bay Area School international student and Mercury Bay Boating Club Sailing Academy prospect, taking on the helming duties on Blue Print last Wednesday evening in race seven of the Boating Club’s Steinlager series.

Talk about being thrown in the deep end,but Stephan, kitted out in an automatic

PFD life jacket, relished the opportunity to jump on the handlebars of a 30 footer and race with the big boys.

Stephan nailed the start for us,then he helmed the reaching and off the wind gennaker legs of the race, not an easy task with 2m easterly swells running into the Bay. On the run to the finish line, Stephan guided Blue Print onto an absolute cracking swell and we rode it for close to a hundred metres getting up to 12.8kts.The Race - Harmony (Arnie Leigh) timedhis start to perfection at 4.00pm, an hour before the rest of the fleet as Harmony is a tad slower (at swimming pace). Having said that, Harmony had good pressure throughout the race and ended up getting the daily double - first on line and first on handicap. A bit of experience goes a long way (75 years’ worth and sailing solo…)

BluePrint (Matt Algie) lead from start tofinish in the Division Two 5:00pm

starters,

Race seven of the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s Steinlager seriesRace report by Matt Algie - Skipper of Blue Print

but it was never a gimmy. At Doctors Buoy (Cook Beach) one minute separated all five yachts, Blue Print, Loose (Belinda Wallace), Contrast (John Wright), Kahurangi (Stue Crockart) and Straight Shooter (Max Ross), that is close racing.

Blue Print deployed her gennaker and wasgone burger, but the remaining yachts, in

very testing reaching conditions, had a fair old arm wrestle all the way to Simpsons Buoy.

The spinnakers were doused just beforeSimpsons Buoy, then redeployed at Davis

Point on the run for home.Blue Print still had a slender lead at DavisPoint, but once her gennaker was deployed

again and Stephan climbed onto a few good- sized swells, off to the finish line we went.

The yachts following didn't have thatluxury, as two didn't have spinnakers, so it

was tooth and nail right to the finish line, with Loose beating out her larger cousins in that final encounter.

As they Finished - 1 Harmony, 2 BluePrint, 3 Loose, 4 Contrast, 5

Kahurangi,6 Straight Shooter.On Handicap - 1 Harmony, 2 Blue Print,

3 Loose, 4 Contrast, 5 Kahurangi,6 Straight Shooter.Many of the yachts are still looking for

crew. If you’re keen, phone me on (07) 867 1333.

International student Stephan Schieren (left) at the helm of Blue Print inlast Wednesday’s race seven of the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s Steinlager

series.Looking on is Boating Club mentor Wayne Wilton.




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Observer Puzzle 679

Name:

Tel no:

Go in the draw to win a package of Mercury Bay delights (including restaurant, cafe and attraction vouchers). Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk Street, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner will be drawn in July 2016 and will be notified by phone. No correspondence will be entered into once the winner has been notified. Conditions apply.


Down1 Account kept by scoundrel with

yen for ministerial office (6)2 Rising in force, curtailed armistice

(5)3 Open day in university, I’d guess,

chaotic (11)4 Hear about upset following party for

Mafia boss (9)5 Permissible to exclude learner?

Very bad (5)7 Ridiculous price upon large

rodent (9)8 Cover me, supporting battalion’s

leader in rush (8)13 Dejected and cold, pause on

marshland, taking everything in (11)14 Virility in body securing new job (9)15 Economist’s answer blocks merriment,

right away (4,5)16 Misrepresenting wit, badly hurt (8)18 Get back for example in shower (6)20 Fruit in Antigua varied (5)22 Number with alien belief (5)

Everyman Cryptic Crossword© The Observer

Across1 Agile thief in saloon, say, grabbing

food with thanks, turned and left (3,7)

6 Work that’s necessary to stop usurper (4)

9 Completed refund, food being rotten (7,3)

10 Kid after carbon copy (4) 11 Area of London church?

Different area (7)12 Address European court, entering

appeal (7)14 Opening wide, scoffed doughnut?

Delicious (5-8)17 Victory and loss traced variously in

royal residence (7,6)19 Second language good for party (7)21 Leading story, not a surprise (7)23 Notion one endlessly cherished (4)24 Singer arriving initially during

frantic alarm in Oz (5,5)25 Pant softly and sink back (4)26 State laundry list, finally

acceptable (10)

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Page 30




Brain Teaser Puzzle 679

Name:

Tel no:

Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Cafe in Whitianga. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or [email protected] to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim his/her prize from Espy Cafe directly before the Wednesday of the week following the issue in which he/she was announced the winner.

Last week’s solution - Binary Puzzle

Last week’s winner - Bob Schibli

Brain Teaser - Red Herrings© Lovatts Puzzles

Answers

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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Classifieds and Public NoticesSITUATIONS VACANT

COMMUNITY CARE GIVERS/SUPPORT WORKERS NEEDED

URGENT need for WHITIANGA And surrounding areas

We are currently looking for Care Givers/Support Workers to join the team of one of the most reputable Homecare Support Providers in New Zealand. You will work in the community providing support and quality care to clients who require help to stay in their own homes.

• Flexible hours• Free training available for Healthcare Cert LV2

This will include -• Helping with personal care, showering, dressing etc.• Helping with household chores• Preparation of meals

It is essential that you have -• A current valid driving licence• A reliable vehicle

For further information about this role, please call Leigh on 07 9744696 or email your interest to

[email protected]

TREASURER - SOCIAL SERVICES WHITIANGAThis is a permanent part time position three days per week. The Treasurer supports the Board of Trustees, is a member of the Management Team and is responsible for planning,preparing and monitoring budgets, plus sees to

the payroll for 12 staff.The position is a vital part of our non-government charitable organisation.

For a full job description and any enquiries please contact The Manager - Jenny Wolf

866 4476 or email [email protected].

Applications close 5pm Monday 14th March 2016.

LOADER OPERATOR AND FORWARDER OPERATORCox Forestry Services Limited is a mechanized harvesting company specializing in cut to length operations throughout New Zealand.

We currently have a vacancy for -1 x Loader Operator and 1 x Forwarder Operator.

Applicants must be module for task with relevant experience.OR If you are willing to learn with a can do attitude, we would like to

talk to you.Location - Maramarua/Tairua Forests.

Cox Forestry Services is an ACC credited company with a 100 % drug free attitude.

Please call Jeremy Carter for more information.Phone 0274 113 366.

KIWIFRUIT PICKERS REQUIRED

IN LATE MARCH TO MID MAYSome general orchard work

included.Coroglen/Whenuakite area - own transport

essential. Phone Rhys 027 866 5000.

BUILDING/LABOUR ONLY CONTRACTOR WANTED

CLEANER REQUIREDFor Motel

Permanent Part TimeMust be mature,

experienced,reliable and available

seven days.Great working conditions -

a happy team!Phone Jo/Alan on (07) 866

5766.

THREE POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN A BUSY ENGINEERING WORKSHOP1 Fitter turner/fitter welder, trade qualified with

stainless fabrication experience an advantage. Full time position.

2 Fitter turner/welder on a casual, on call basis. Flexible hours.

3 HIAB operator. Minimum class 4 licence, part time position with flexible hours.

We are a busy shop and have great equipment in a large workshop.

If you want to work with a great team and you have a fantastic attitude and are drug free, please contact Stefan on 027 210 5329 or email your cv

and cover letter to [email protected].

PERMANENT 20 HOUR+ POSITION(S) AVAILABLE BUFFALO BEACH 4 SQUARE

We have EITHER -• 1 x permanent position, approximately 30 hours per week, including

three shifts to 8:00pm.OR

• 2 x permanent positions, approximately 20 hours per week, including two shifts to 8:00pm.

Grocery retail experience essential. Also must be -• Honest• Physically fit and energetic• Positive and helpfulLiquor Manager’s licence an advantage. Or willingness to do training to obtain this.What we’re offering -• A full range of small store duties - customer service, checkouts,

filling stock, cleaning etc• Standard grocery pay rates• Some flexibility with rostering - to be discussed at interview

Apply in writing by Sunday 13 March 2016. Drop in or email your CV / application letter to [email protected].

Building/Labour Only for Tairua Backpackers CONTRACT

To remove old gable roof on trusses with decramastic tiles and replace flat

roof trusses ready for long-run iron.Soffits, some exterior cladding and remedial

work.To start around May 2016.

Contact Brent @ Tairua Backpackers, 200 Main Rd.

Phone 864 8345.

SITUATIONS VACANT TRADE ASSOCIATE - SALES SUPPORTDo you have strong building product knowledge and building industry experience? Are you a proactive, people person, driven to deliver a high quality service to your customers?Help us build New Zealand! PlaceMakers is New Zealand's leading and largest supplier of building materials to New Zealand’s commercial and residential construction markets. We employ more than 2,100 people in over 60 locations across the country and stock more than 74,000 product lines, from concrete to paint and plasterboard.PlaceMakers Whitianga is seeking a Trade Associate to support a busy trade sales team. The role will be centred on customer service and engagement with a high level of exposure to our customer base will be expected as part of the role. We are seeking someone with a commitment to customer service and the ability to build strong working relationships both internally and externally.You will respond promptly to customers with queries ranging from the status of their order, pricing, availability, invoice information, and delivery times. You will also be expected to call on customers sites, providing support to our account manager and customer network.To be successful in this role, you will have had customer service experience, ideally in the building industry sector, and be looking to take the next step in your sales career. You will have a clean, full, NZ drivers licence, plus the ability to work autonomously and enjoy being part of a cohesive and successful team. With effective communication being critical to the role, you will be confident in communicating with stakeholders of all levels and be able to adapt your style to suit different customers.While building experience is desirable, a willingness and genuine desire to learn is what we are seeking, as well as a high level of attention to detail.In return, you will be joining a well-respected company offering a competitive salary package, fantastic culture, real opportunities for career advancement and a range of other benefits that come with being part of New Zealand’s largest listed company.To apply, please email your CV to [email protected] or via post to Joe Reece, PlaceMakers, PO Box 442, Whitianga 3510.

Page 32








Tricky Trees

Call Chris 021 240 9909

••

Pruning Felling

• Firewood

• Hedge maintenance• Crown reductions

• Stump grinding

•

Difficult removals• Chip waste to mulch

DAVE’S DRAINAGEDrainlaying

Public & Private1.8 Ton Digger Hire

30 Years Experience Free Quotes or Advice

Call Dave 027 727 0348

[email protected]

F A R R I E R

2 n d H a n d C o v e r s H o r s e T r a n s p o r t

S a d d l e r yC o v e r R e p a i r s

R o n C o o k e8 6 6 5 9 8 4

0 2 7 4 9 8 4 4 4 7

MIKE’S MOWING$25 empty sections, fortnightly or monthly mowing. Free edge spraying.

Free quotes.Phone Mike or Deb 866 4678 or 027 320 1703.

WINDOW CLEANING

Call 022 023 3566

for a great finish

[email protected]

THE BESS HANDZ EMBROIDERED MONOGRAMS

Alterations, repairs, zip and hem service.

Phone 866 5277.

WORK WANTED

WHITIANGA ART, CRAFT & FARMERS MARKETSaturday 12 March

Soldiers Memorial Park, Albert Street, Whitianga, 8:30am - 1:00pm.

Unique locally created art, craft & local produce.Phone Anne 866 5550 or Doreen 866 5237.

PUBLIC NOTICES

SENIORNET WHITIANGA INCAnnual General Meeting

Will be held on 17 March 2016

at 2:00pmin the Social Services Centre Community

Rooms at2 Cook Drive, Whitianga.

Refreshments available.All members

encouraged to attend.

TEARORANGI AITUBe advised you have 7 days from this

publication to pay all arrrears in reference to your storage shed.

You are required to contact by phone only. No texts. Mercury Bay Storage

WhitiangaTelephone 866 5147 or

0274 722 070.

WHITIANGA PIG HUNTING CLUB AGMSunday 20 March, 12:00 noon at The Coroglen Tavern.

New members from within the district welcome.

MERCURY BAY JUNIOR RUGBY MUSTERJunior Rugby Muster will be from 5:00pm on the

16th March, at the Mercury Bay Rugby Club Rooms.

This is for all players from Rippa Rugby to 5th Grade.All players will need to register, please bring a copy of

the player’s birth certificate and a photo and pay their fees -

Rippa - $30.00 Individual - $50.00 Two

siblings - $75.00Three or more siblings - $100.00Also at this muster Junior Rugby will be selling a

limited number of old players jerseys. Forms will be available for parents to registertheir interest as a coach, assistant coach, manager or

referee.People can also sign up as non-playing

members of the Mercury Bay Rugby Club.If you have any questions

please email [email protected].

DEATH NOTICE

ESPY “LICENSED" CO M P E T I T I O NThe answer was 9.

Noel Conway wins a $10 voucher for closest with 8.

WALLACE, David Andrew (Pommy Dave)

Passed away suddenly on March 5, 2016 in Dannevirke.

A much loved Partner of Kaye. According to Dave’s wishes a private cremation has been held.

All Messages to the “Wallace Family,” c/o PO Box 235 Dannevirke, 4942.

KELLY FUNERAL HOME 0800 24 80 24SITUATIONS VACANT

Classifieds and Public Notices












Classifieds and Public NoticesFOR SALE

HOME BREW SUPPLIESRight price. Nice guys.

Mercury Bay Pharmacy

STORAGE SHEDS available, various sizes, reasonable rates. Dry and secure. Free furniture trailer available - conditions apply. Ph: 07 866 5147STORAGE SHEDS Whitianga Total Storage opposite Carters. Ph: 0800 944 660

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & HOMES FOR RENT

“Our expertise in property management will ensure your investment property is well looked after. You can just sit back and relax. We also offer a selection of qualityrental homes for tenants.”We welcome your enquiry at7 The Esplanade (by the wharf).Robyn Turner 866 0098 or 027 550 [email protected]

Licensed under the REAA2008

VEHICLES FOR SALE

HEALTH SERVICES

TO LET

**Quality Greenhouses**Award Winning NZ Brand

Options in toughened safety glass,

polycarbonate and shade mesh

See us at OutspaceCnr Cook Drive and Lee Street,

Whitianga07 869 5590

ST ANDREWS BY THE SEAPresbyterian/

MethodistCommunity

Church (opposite the

Z Service Station, Whitianga) Sunday

Worship 9:30am Come, join the

family of God!www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz

FOR HIREHUGE BOUNCY CASTLE,$100 on site. FREE BBQ and playground facilities. Ph: 866 0038, www.combatzone.co.nz

CATTERIES

KRISTIN’S BOARDING CATTERYVet nurse, warm, clean, secure, outdoor run.

Phone 866 4724.

COURIER SERVICE

WE NEED YOUR BOAT NOW!!!

Quality late model trailer boats needed for sale on behalf! We have buyers waiting!

Call the team at Whitianga Marine Centre today on 867 1182 or come in to 233 South Highway, Whitianga.

CHURCH SERVICES

ANGLICAN

SERVICES

St. Peter the Fisherman Dundas Street, Whitianga Sunday Service:

9:30am ALL WELCOME

Enquiries Ph 869 5577www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.co.nz

BOATS WANTED

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASESeveral sizes available in Central Whitianga. Phone 027 477 0132

2007 FIGLASS DOMINATOR,Low hours, excellent condition,all extras, $24,000 ono. Ph: 866 0309

BOAT FOR SALE

GARAGE DOOR, color-steel sectional door and fittings, 4.8 x 2.1, excellent condition, $900. Ph: 866 2226TWO SLIDERS FOR SHED, reasonable condition, Mercury Bay area.Ph: Roy 866 3734TIPPER TRAILER, One and a half tons, good tyres, $2,000 ono, Whitianga.Ph: (07) 866 4359TRUEFORM SPA POOL, lockable cover, all in good condition, $3,500 ono. Ph: 0274 801 992

PSYCHIC READINGS SPIRITUAL

HEALINGText Verna 027 320

0079vernacarrspiritualhe

aling.com

READINGS

SHORT TERM RENTAL IN WHITIANGA

Fully furnished.

Prime location.Close to beach

and town.Phone Rob on 0274 926 773.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION HOME INSULAATION

PENINSULAR MIDWIVESJocelyn Yates 027 9124104

Fiona Kington 021 743 717 or07 866 0413

Free Pregnancy Tests.

PORTABLE CABINS

TOY LIBRARY

WHITIANGA TOY LIBRARYIsabella Street (off Coghill St)

Open Wednesday 2:30pm - 4:00pm and Friday 10:00am - 11:30am.New members welcome.

~Toys for Hire~

WANTED TO RENTHOUSE, for 5 - 6 months, 2 or 3 bedrooms, mature couple. Ph: 027 703 3469SMALL GARAGE/WORKSHOP, with power, Whitianga area. Ph: 021 186 4990

12 Toyota RAV4, auto, 4WD, 2.4l, red, 19,900 04 Toyota Corolla H/B, 1.8, 5spd, alloys

$4,900 07 Mazda 3 GLX Sport H/B, auto, 106kms $10,900 02 Nissan Primera S/W, auto, 88,000kms $5,500

07 Suzuki Swift Glxh, NZ new, 5 spd, 57kms $9,900 08 Mitsubishi Fuso 4 Berth Motorhome, 3.9lt turbo 06 Nissan Pulsar Q, H/B, 1.8, 5spd, t/bar, alloys $6,900 diesel, 190kms, 5 spd, self-contained, solar panel, 05 Toyota Corolla S/W, 1.8, Auto, 47,000kms $10,900 BBQ connection $75,000

19 Campbell Street, Whitianga www.coastalautos.co.nzPage

34The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 679 - 9 March

2016


http://www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz/

http://www.standrewsbythesea.org.nz/

http://www.combatzone.co.nz/

http://www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.co.nz/

http://www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.co.nz/

http://www.coastalautos.co.nz/



Great entertainment and close racing produces a worthy North Island Super Saloon championBy Jack BiddleLast Saturday saw the running of the CTRA North Island Super Saloon Championship hosted by the Mercury Bay Speedway Club in Whitianga. While entries were lower than expected, it didn’t detract from an action packed race meeting and ultimately a hard-fought championship win for young twenty four year old Kaikohe driver and former New Zealand Quad bike representative Darren Emm.

He was by far the most consistent and dominant driver on the day and deserved his victory with three first places and one second place from four starts.

If the local club drivers couldn’t manage to take out the championship victory on home soil, there was some consolation in knowing the winning car once called Whtianga home. “We actually purchased the car from local

Mercury Bay club driver Jason Bull, so it’s a fitting return I guess,” said Emm, who is in his first full season in the Super Saloon ranks. He is no novice to speedway, however, with his past success and experience in quad bikes and production saloons making for a very smooth transition to the larger and far more powerful Super Saloons.

Local hopes were focused on Peter Candy and Ants Smith, who both survived their own separate dramas to make the 15-lap championship race. Smith had the biggest battle after failing to make it past the warm up laps and limping off the track with transmission problems and what seemed to be a disappointing and early withdrawal from the meeting.

Enter Whitianga’s Craig Richards, who had also experienced mechanical issues of his own in his immaculately presented less powerful limited saloon during warm up. In his case, the engine problems were far more terminal, which robbed fans of some exciting racing and the chance for the former champion to exhibit his exceptional dirt track driving skills in the undercard limited saloon racing.

Once the reality had set in that his race day was over, Richards was very quick to turn his attention and energy into helping his fellow club mate Smith out with his transmission issues and to make it back onto the track.

Speedway is a very competitive sport, but is also renowned for being family and competitor friendly off the track and that was demonstrated by Richards who unselfishly used his past experience and “it’s-not-over-until-it’s-over” attitude to help get Smith’s car sorted and back on the grid for the final heat race and then the big final. At times he was almost out of sight under the car’s large space frame chassis and body panels as he worked feverishly on fixing

the transmission problems.Candy who is one of the major influences in

the club’s revival this season, left nothing in reserve during his heat races, which saw him eventually qualify on the second row of the grid for the 15-lap championship race. Smith was relegated to the rear of the field due to his earlier mechanical issues and had the challenging task of playing catch-up to the front row qualifiers.

It was a no holds barred championship, with several stoppages to untangle cars that had been pushed a little too hard at times by their very enthusiastic drivers. While the main pack fought for a podium place, Emm had a pretty much trouble free run to the line, eventually finishing ahead of an equally consistent Keith Wilson who had also made the long trek down from Kaikohe in the far north. Smith was in and out of trouble during the whole race, but managed to recover each time to finally take out third place.

Sadly Peter Candy’s very entertaining all-out efforts for a podium finish came to an abrupt end when he spun out of contention in the closing laps.

Attending the meeting and presenting the winning trophies, was CTRA president Anita Sloot, who gave praise to the Mercury Bay Speedway Club for the way the championship was run and the support of local sponsors. She also thanked the many club volunteers who helped make for a successful championship.

The meeting was also well supported by a large field of Go Karts, entertaining production saloons and youth mini stocks, in addition to the limited saloons.

For those interested in getting involved in local speedway, contact Peter Candy on 021 901 828.

Last Saturday’s CTRA North Island Super Saloon Championship podium finishers. From left to right - Ants Smith (Whitianga - third), Darren Emm (Kaikohe -

champion) and Keith Wilson (Kaikohe - second).




0800 CAR DUMPGOT a DEAD or ALIVE

VEHICLE$ $ $ cash paid

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Second Hand Tyres, Mags, Lights, Radio’s & parts FOR SALE

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