Hibiscus Matters Issue 164, 17-12-14

Waiwera to Silverdale including Whangaparaoa Peninsula and Orewa

17 December 2014

A division of Local Matters

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www.localmatters.co.nz

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Local folkPastor Paul Collins discusses the meaning of Christmas

page 9

Big hurdle for seawallCampaign begins to get Orewa seawall builtpage 7

Inside this issue

pages 21 to 31

Fun in the sun A guide to summer events and more

Magic call-upCoast netball player joins the Magic

page 37

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Santa arrived at The Plaza in Whangaparaoa, on December 13, aboard a stylish hot rod, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from local families. He is there every day until Christmas Eve and will also be at this weeks Twilight Market at The Plaza on Friday, December 19. He is pictured trying out the 1936 Chevrolet Junior owned by Hibiscus Rodders members Barbara and David Swan. For more local Christmas, New Year and summer fun and frivolity, see our guide pages 2130.

Christmas will be a little bit brighter for more than 100 struggling local families this year, thanks to the generosity of the Hibiscus Coast community.

Community raises Christmas spirits

continued page 2

Local Matters, which owns Hibiscus Matters and sister paper Mahurangi Matters, started the Buy Local Give

Local campaign last Christmas. The idea is to encourage people to purchase a gift voucher from any local

business while doing the Christmas shopping and donate it to people in

| Hibiscusmatters 17 December 20142

Enquiries: ph 427 8188 fax 427 8186 Unit G, Tamariki Plaza, Cammish Lane, Orewa, 0931

[email protected] www.localmatters.co.nz

Design: Lorry McCarthy ph 427 8188 [email protected]

contact us... December 17, 2014 Issue 164

Views expressed in Hibiscus Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. Reproduction without editors permission is prohibited.

Editor: Terry Moore ph 427 8187 [email protected]

Advertising: Leanne Watson ph 022 096 8517 [email protected]

Next issues are February 4 & 18, 2015 - Book your advertising now

Hibiscus Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated to more than 21,400 homes and businesses twice a month.

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need not only does this give the recipients choice about what they buy for their family, but it also benefits businesses.Last week Hibiscus Matters and Mahurangi Matters presented vouchers valued at $2070 to organisations on the Coast and in Rodney, who will distribute them to local families.Generous Coasties gave vouchers worth $1430, which were divided between the Hibiscus Coast Community House and Orewa Baptist Church for distribution with their Christmas food parcels. This was $600 more than last year.Every voucher was from a local business, so that money will come back into the community. People put a lot of thought into what families might need when choosing their vouchers there were haircuts, a WOF, a range of local supermarket vouchers, books, Hoyts cinema, The Warehouse, The Plaza, chemists (Manly Care Chemist and Life Pharmacy Orewa) and many more.As well as local politicians Rodney MP Mark Mitchell and Hibiscus & Bays Local Board deputy chair Greg Sayers donations flowed in from dozens of shoppers all over the Coast, and several were posted into the Hibiscus Matters office anonymously.The largest single donation was from Shiree and Robbie Parrish of Peninsula

Christmas cheer from page 1

Giving Local: From left, Lyn Court of Orewa Baptist Church and Christine Alesbury of Hibiscus Coast Community House accept gift vouchers valued at more than $1400 from Hibiscus Matters editor Terry Moore and advertising manager Leanne Watson. Below, Hibiscus Coast Community House coordinator Michelle Drinnan in the thick of preparing Christmas food parcels for local families.

Landscapes in Whangaparaoa who made Buy Local Give Local their charity of choice for the annual donation that they make on behalf of their customers.The team at The Plaza management were also big supporters of the cause, and we must also thank local radio station Times FM, which came on board this year as a sponsor and was invaluable in spreading the message.Lyn Court of Orewa Baptist Church says the churchs foodbank has struggled this year with fewer donations of food coming in from the community. However, thanks to Orewa New World and Buy Local Give Local, around 30 families will receive a Christmas food parcel from the church.Christine Alesbury says the Hibiscus Coast Community House is flat out preparing around 90 festive food parcels for distribution.The generosity of the community always amazes us, and we are very grateful for these vouchers, which will definitely put smiles on peoples faces, Christine says.

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A building that encapsulates the history of farming 100 years ago in Shakespear Regional Park, was opened to the public last week as part of the Christmas Party that SOSSI puts on for its volunteers.

From top, SOSSI chair Peter Jackson with a freeze-dried ferret one of many examples of pests that were caught in the sanctuary before the pest proof fence was constructed. This basic, but still restorable machine, known as a Lister Power Plant, is the kind that was used to power the shears in the Shakespear familys woolshed.

Woolshed provides glimpse into Shakespears farming past and pest-free present

The Shakespear familys woolshed was originally down on the foreshore but was moved to its current position in Te Haruhi Bay in 1975 when the former Auckland Regional Council took over the property.Now known as the Old Woolshed, it has been used mainly for storage, essentially mothballed for many years. Park Ranger Steve Burgess says over the summer it will have a much-needed exterior repaint and tidy up, but it is the artefacts inside that provide an insight into the Shakespears life on the farm.Thanks to some lucky finds and thoughtful donations, many original items from the farm are preserved, intact.With a bit of imagination and a few interpretive panels, the whole story is revealed: from the area where the sheep were corralled, an original Lister Power Plant used to power the shears, the press that uses a system of levers to form wool into bales and the boat built by Robert Shakespear Jnr that carried the bales out to the familys scow, The Frances, which is now at the Auckand Maritime Museum. The wooden wheels of a cart, which the family called a shandrydan, are

mounted on one wall. The shandrydan was loaded with firewood or seaweed and pulled by horse.The original mailbag that travelled regularly on the scow between the farm and Auckland was donated by the late Verna Shakespear.One of the most evocative items is the original cowshed door with the names of cows handwritten on it, dating from 1925. Information about the many cows Peggy, Gazelle, Spotty, Pansy and Lucy, and many others is carefully noted, including what became of them. Robyn Doherty found the door on her familys farm, which was where Peter Snell Youth Village is now.A part of the Old Woolshed is set aside for information about the work that the Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society does, including a cabinet filled with stuffed or freeze-dried pest animals.SOSSI chair Peter Jackson says he hopes that opening the Old Woolshed to the public will make visitors from outside the area more aware of its open sanctuary status.A lot of people come to the beach over summer and are unaware of the sanctuary, so hopefully this will help

Visitors to Eaves Bush in Orewa over summer will notice some big improvements made to tracks by Auckland Councils Local and Sports Parks, Northern Sector. The work included an upgrade of the Loop Track. Eaves Bush volunteer Laurie Rands says that this track would sometimes be inches under water in winter, and

the newly constructed boardwalk also reduces damage to tree roots. Major improvements have also been made to steps leading from the Hollow Kauri onto the track. Laurie says these were previously unstable and in dire need of repair. The Eaves Bush Appreciation Group meet every first Saturday of the month. Info: phone Laurie, 426 3122.

them get a little more out of their visit, he says. The Old Woolshed will be opened by the park ranger daily over summer from around 9am to 4pm.

Making tracks in Eaves Bush

Pictured on the new boardwalk are Eaves Bush volunteers, from left, Laurie Rands, Glenyss and Rodney Jones, David Monteith, Kelvin Hempseed and Graeme Tarr.


Feedback Whats on your mind? Readers are welcome to air their views. Letters may be abridged or withheld. See address on p2 or e: [email protected]

Local opinion Editor Terry MooreKeeping it real

This issue of Hibiscus Matters is the biggest we have ever produced, at 44 pages, reflecting the increasing support that our newspaper is receiving from local businesses and the community as a whole.

Recently a business owner who had just set up shop in the area asked us why he should support Hibiscus Matters, in his words because youre just a small, free newspaper. It was meant as a put-down, but is, of course, entirely accurate; we are all those things.

Although its undoubtedly getting thicker as we grow, the small format of our paper is something that readers tell us, time and time again, that they enjoy it makes us user friendly. But small is also beautiful in other ways. Its real power is relevance.

Our local focus means that we can bring you stories that you care about, because they happen right in your backyard this is why independent, local papers are holding their own, or growing, while national dailies and foreign-owned media struggle with falling readership, and therefore advertising revenue.

This is where the free part comes in. Hibiscus Matters is free because a wonderful array of mostly small to medium sized local businesses choose to advertise in it, or on our website. Free does not mean that people would not pay if there were a charge; its a great way to be, as a newspaper, because it means we can reach everyone.

And that wouldnt be possible without our advertisers. We still have advertisers who supported our very first edition, more than seven years ago, but as the area has grown, so has the variety and number of businesses with a local customer base. For them, our paper works because their customers read it, and as a community, if we want to retain their products and services, we must also support them. Before your next trip to Albany Mall, consider checking to make sure that you cant buy that product or service here on the Hibiscus Coast: you may be pleasantly surprised.

The role of newspapers in independently investigating and reporting on issues on behalf of the community remains valuable, but the way in which that news finds its way to people is rapidly changing. Yes, we distribute more than 21,000 papers to homes and businesses around this community and that number is growing, having gone up by 2080 this year alone. But online is how more and more people are finding, reading and sharing our stories and advertising. This gives the paper enormous reach if you are interested in Hibiscus Coast news, we are the ones that pop up first on that Google search.

The small team Lorry, Leanne, Kylie and Terry that brings you Hibiscus Matters wishes all our readers, advertisers, columnists and distribution team a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in February.

Congestion time bombThe NZ Herald recently reported that the university was helping to develop a probabilistic computer model that would allow authorities to better respond to major disruptions. Ultimately, the model would predict the behaviour of traffic in response to road closures across large areas, identifying the best points for diversions. It needs little imagination, and certainly needs no university probabilistic computer model to predict the chaos that will occur on Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the event

of an incident blocking the Peninsulas main arterial road. The traffic chaos and ensuing delays caused by the 2006 road works will be well remembered as well as officialdoms assurances that it will never be allowed to happen again! Now is the time for this time-bomb to be defused.Bryan Shaw, Whangaparaoa.

Taking it to the streetsThe Christmas spirit must be in the air, as I am feeling the need to thank our local councillors and local board members for their hard work in face of

what appears to be Auckland Councils complete disregard for peoples needs in this area. It must feel like beating your heads against a brick wall but its obvious youre not taking it lying down. I hope the community backs them with some vigorous protests as we are being ignored by the super city. Seeing how much money is being spent on trips overseas by staff (HM December 3) just rubbed salt in the wound. Perhaps 2015 can be the year of protest!Jason Baker, Whangaparaoa

Tyler Broughton of Red Beach and his team have been earning a bit of cash doing odd jobs around the community since school finished. One garden tidy up in Dairy Flat included harvesting a large amount of vegetables, which the owner of the garden was happy to donate to charity. The Hibiscus Coast Community House welcomed the gift with open arms, adding the fresh veg to its food parcels. Pictured with some of the produce is, clockwise from back left, Jack Watson, Tyler Broughton, Ethan Moverley and Matthew Fishlock.

Helpful harvest

Neighbourly siteYou may think that going online is the polar opposite of neighbourliness, but there is an exception a website called Neighbourly. Age Concern is encouraging older New Zealanders to connect with their communities through the website www.neighbourly.co.nz. Neighbourly Community Partnerships Manager Maureen Glassey says seniors are among the most active on the site. As well as recommendations for local tradespeople, teaching skills such as knitting and weaving, joining book and yoga groups, discussing local council plans and selling bits and bobs, they are using the site to meet new people and feel safer within their community, she says.

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Christmas is celebrated at Wainui School with an annual picnic which principal Gillian Bray describes as a very mini Christmas in the Park this years picnic was on December 11. Families share a picnic, and the children perform Christmas songs and items. Grocery items are collected which go to the Auckland City Mission, and this year donations filled two large cartons. Its all done in the true Christmas spirit, Gillian says.

Caf celebratesThe Local Caf in Manly Village had an early Christmas present, being judged the Auckland regional winner of the Caf of the Year Awards, following an incognito judges visit last month. The winners were announced on December 3. The supreme award for best caf in NZ went to Ironic Caf in Dunedin.

Orewa Surf Lifesaving Club is grateful for $2000 recently received from Recreational Services which was spent on nine much-needed Rescue Tubes.

Summertime boost for surf club rescue equipment

Amanda Wignell of Orewa Surf Lifesaving says that the rescue tubes have been needed for a while, especially when its teams compete at surf carnivals.The club relies heavily on business sponsorship to purchase key equipment which is high maintenance and gets a lot of use, she says.The club is also the proud owner of 50 new boogie boards, thanks to Bachmann Orthodontics. Drs Lutz and Claudia Bachmann and their three children are all members of the club. The club do a wonderful job of keeping us all safe on the beach and we wanted to support the great work they do with our kids and our communities, Dr Bachmann says.

From left, surf club members Ian Siddins receiving the Rescue Tubes with Warrick Sissions from Recreational Services, also an active surf club member.


FREE METAL COLLECTION

A major fundraiser for the Tamaki Sports Academy is the free metal collection service it offers.We will pick up any old metal whiteware such as fridges, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines roofing iron, metal piping, venetion blinds, computers, batteries, car panels, cars, metal shelving, filing cabinets, machinery, lawnmowers, engines and so on.Tamaki Sports Academy offers mentoring, coaching, and work experience to South Auckland youth who have dropped out of the mainstream school system, but who show some sporting talent. Academy members are enrolled in the Correspondence School and work towards unit standard credits and national qualifications.

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Gutter Kitties is a non-profi t organisation whose primary aim is to rescue and re-home abandoned cats and kittens. A Charitable Trust, who run a no-kill shelter, and focus their efforts to the communities street and colony cats. The cats housed in the communal shelter in Stanmore Bay are timid, anxious and/or undersocialised. Gutter Kitties work with them until they gain confi dence and trust in humans, they are then moved into foster homes where they learn the wonderful ways of having a home and human companionship, and prepared for adoption.

Purchase your Auto & Marine consumables from us every Saturday: 10am12pm and all funds will be directly donated to Gutter Kitties...

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A recent survey of Auckland Councillors and local board members shows up distinct differences between the level of information and support that Council and CCO staff provide to Councillors, as opposed to Local Board members.

Survey shows need for better information

Council commissions the survey every year from Colmar Brunton to assess satisfaction with the advice and support provided by Council staff .A total of 108 elected members, out of 170, took part in the survey, which was released last month.While 75 percent of Councillors are satisfied with the level of advice and support provided by staff, just 61 percent of local board members say they are satisfied.However, overall satisfaction has increased from last year, where the numbers were 70 percent and 52 percent respectively.Elected members commented that they would like to have fewer meetings, of better quality to make them more effective. They also suggested that more collaboration is needed with other elected members and more free time to help achieve their objectives.Local board members are seeking greater decision-making powers, and better information to inform those decisions.Generally, satisfaction with the information provided by various departments of Council is lower for local boards than Councillors. The

most striking examples of this are the Finance department, where local boards say they are 49 percent satisfied, as opposed to 63 percent for governing body members and Civil Defence where local board members are 37 percent satisfied, compared with 82 percent for governing body members.Comments about the Financial Advisory team suggest that both the quality and timeliness of the budgetary information provided needs to improve.When it comes to consultation between Councils CCOs and local boards, Auckland Transport comes out on top (43 percent satisfaction), while ATEED was lowest at just 19 percent. The summary does not include figures for the governing bodys level of satisfaction with CCOs.Local boards again reiterated their disappointment with the non-delivery of many local projects. Other areas where members are seeking improvements are cooperation and teamwork, governing body and local board relationships and better internal understanding of the council governance model.The Colmar Brunton survey is linked to this story at www.localmatters.co.nz

No simple solution for park n rideThe appeal by neighbours of the Silverdale Park n Ride has been set down for a hearing in the Environment Court for January 20. Regardless of the decision, however (as revealed in Hibiscus Matters November 19 edition) a further 500 car parks and the station itself will not be built before 2026 unless ratepayers are prepared to accept additional road taxes or tolls. The cost of asphalting part of the site for carparks is being looked at by Auckland Transport which advises that a significant amount of groundwork would also be needed.

New Network details to be revealedThe final form of the Coasts new bus network may be revealed by the end of this year. An Auckland Transport spokesperson says that the routes and timetables should be on its website soon, once negotiations with bus operators are finalised.


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Strong resolve neededOn behalf of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, I would like to wish all of the Hibiscus Matters readers a very Happy Christmas and New Year.I would like to also ask you to add a New Years resolution to the list; to engage with the Councils Long-term Draft Plan (LTP), particularly the absence of one key project in this to do list; the reconstruction of the Orewa sea wall.As a local board that follows the coastline from Campbells Bay to Waiwera, our beaches are so important to us. They are the key reason we choose to live where we do.Over the last few years our coastline has taken a real battering. In the last year alone we have had three 50 Year storms pound our coastline. Nowhere has been more impacted than Orewa Beach, one of the regions most iconic beaches.Since the first serious event occurred nearly two years ago we have highlighted the issue. We have taken the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and senior officers to see the extent of the damage. Although we have limited funding we have set aside $265,000 of local board funding to cover the costs of the detailed plans, engineering assessments and consent fees required to get this work over the line but now we face a new and significant obstacle. We have been told that because the project at this point in not in the Councils 10-year financial plan (the LTP) we cannot do the initial assessment work required to make it a project for inclusion. Its a Catch 22 situation.We now need to work together through this impasse to ensure the much-needed work does happen so this project can be funded and delivered within the next 10 years.Last week I met with Lady Rhyll Jansen; a wonderful advocate for Orewa and the beach. We decided to go out to the community to get support for the much needed seawall work at Orewa. We are preparing a fact sheet that will outline what works are required in Orewa, what those works will achieve and what the likely costs will be. On the 28th of February we have the Orewa Community Centre booked between 10am and noon and will be there with the big rig, asking residents to give us feedback on this and other LTP issues. Recent legislative changes allow us to be far more flexible in how we receive and present your feedback. We will keep you updated through traditional media columns like this, and though our boards Facebook page. We urge you to read and contribute to conversations online and talk to us at our upcoming February community meeting. Your feedback and support to Councils proposed Long-term Plan is required if we are to be successful in ensuring that our most important projects are funded and delivered.I hope in the New Year that you will join us and make the restoration of Orewa Beach your New Years resolution.

Viewpointwith Julia Parfitt, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board [email protected]

From left, Mayor Len Brown, Julia Parfitt and Greg Sayers of Hibiscus and Bays Local Board at Orewa Beach.


Some Auckland Council kerbside recycling collection dates change during the summer break.

Recycling collection changes

If your usual collection day is:

Put recycling out:

Thursday 25 December 2014 Friday 26 December 2014Friday 26 December 2014 Saturday 27 December 2014Thursday 1 January 2015 Friday 2 January 2015

Friday 2 January 2015 Saturday 3 January 2015

Visit makethemostofwaste.co.nz or call 09 301 0101.Normal recycling collections resume Monday 5 January 2015.

For rubbish collection date changes, please check with your provider.

BC42

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CONTACT DETAILS: Tamariki House, 7 Tamariki Ave, Orewa

EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: (09) 426 6215 AFTER HOURS: 021 228 3519

MERRYCHRISTMAS

Mark, Peggy and family wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a relaxing summer.

The office will be closed from Wednesday 24th December and reopening on Monday 12th January.

Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by Mark Mitchell, Tamariki House, 7 Tamariki Ave, Orewa

Local colleges celebrated achievements of all kinds among their pupils at recent prize givings. Dux is the top academic prize, yet recipients are often all-rounders, with cultural and sporting achievements also to their name.

Awards for best and brightest

Whangaparaoa Colleges dux is Roman Amor. Roman gained Excellence for all his internal assessments. He contributed to music, including the junior Choir, Concert Band, Stage Challenge and Kids Sing, as well as applying his skills as a sound and lighting technician. Roman mentored students in the Tech Squad and Robotics groups and participated in sports, including fencing, where he is in the top 10 of his age group in the country.

Wentworths Head Girl Sarah Haggerty was named Dux at the

colleges prize giving on December 4. Sarah topped her classes in Design and English Literature (Cambridge) and came second in Mathematics. She is a competitive swimmer, and was also one of the choreographers of the colleges Stage Challenge, She is planning to study design in Melbourne next year.

This year Orewa College awarded the Dux prize to Victoria Yong, left, and Kendall Robertson. While Kendall has been awarded dux every year since Year 8, Victoria is new to the college but quickly proved to be an exemplary student. Kendall achieved Excellence in English, Chemistry, Physics and Biology. She was first equal in English, Chemistry and Physics, and top in Biology. Victoria achieved Excellence in Statistics, Calculus, English, Chemistry and Physics. She was first equal in Statistics, Calculus, Chemistry and Physics and top Year 13 Mathematics student.

Este Swanepoel was named Dux at Kingsway Schools prize giving on December 9. Her NCEA results included Excellence for every subject in Language, giving her a grade point average of 96.2 percent. She was also awarded the Geography Cup and Literary Award as well as scholarships from Auckland University and Whangaparaoa Rotary. Este, who played a lead role in the schools musical, will study towards a BA, majoring in English and Ancient History. She hopes to do a diploma in Primary teaching.


localfolkEven after God answered his desperate call for help, Paul Collins thought that becoming a pastor would be the last thing he would ever do. But once he swapped a job as a professional photographer to take on the role of pastor at Orewa Baptist Church, 12 years ago, he never looked back. As he told Terry Moore, a difficult childhood was what prepared him best for serving the community.

Paul Collins Pastor

When I was in my intermediate and early college years, I had a friend and mentor called Mason, who was from the church. He was in his mid-late 20s and he took me under his wing. I could visit him any time of the day or night and wed get out our guitars and have a jam session, or go and get ice cream in the middle of the night. He showed me that stuff happens and that its how you respond to it thats important. I look at that difficult chapter of my life and youd have thought nothing good could come of it, but actually it prepared me for being a pastor. A lot of what I do now is motivated by what Mason showed me.

My mum and dad took us to church as children, and we may have been there physically, but not in any other way. My mum was a Christian, and my dad just went through the motions. One of the things that puts a lot of people off church, even today, is people who are one person at church and another outside. Its something I feel very strongly about valuing people who are real, including those who are vulnerable. In my late teens, I looked at where my life was heading and realised it wasnt going anywhere unless I made some changes. I wanted to know if God was real, and God answered in a way that it couldnt be put down to fluke or imagination. And a new door opened.

I was a professional photographer. I worked at a photo shop in Otahuhu restoring historical photos, did camera repairs and later had a wedding photography business in Morrinsville. I did aerial photography using a blimp that I brought in from the States, and I also took photos from my mates helicopter. That led on to working for the Australian Consolidated Press, taking photos for eight magazines, which often meant taking more than 1000 photos a day. I left that job to go to Bible college but couldnt leave photography completely behind. Today, my daughters are getting involved in wedding photography so its coming around again. Lynda and I got married in 1993 and moved to Morrinsville. When I proposed she asked me to guarantee that I would never become a pastor, because she didnt want to be a pastors wife. I

was leading a church youth group and as it started to grow, the pastor suggested that I go to Bible college. We ended up at the East/West College of Intercultural Studies in Gordonton, near Hamilton for two years. I came out with a Diploma in Mission work basically how to plant a church from the ground up, but I always planned to return to photography. However, Lynda and I began to realise that pastoral work was what God had in store for us, and we had a change of heart and accepted the role here at Orewa Baptist Church in December, 2002.

Helping others has always been a big thing for me. I grew up in a situation that softened my heart towards people who find themselves in trouble I care a lot about what they are going through. The commercialisation of Christmas has robbed the intent, which is for people to give to others not material things, but things like helping people through a tough time so they know they are not on the journey by themselves. That is whats important at Christmas loving each other. When I first became a pastor, I had absolutely no idea what would be required. It soon hit me that it is about getting involved in peoples lives and I found that very taxing. A lot of the contact I had with people was very emotional and I took a lot on myself, so I needed to learn how to journey alongside and support someone but not go down with them too. I remember sitting in my office and saying to God that it was just too hard, and since that moment, it changed I can still empathise but I am now empowered to keep a level head when dealing with death or people in vulnerable situations. It means that I can be a straight thinker on their behalf, which is what people need.

My wife had our fourth child two weeks after we moved here, and hes nearly 12 now. She is a wonderful support and a big part of keeping the family together. I love working with people, but every time I take something on, it is at the expense of something else and you have to be careful that it is not at the expense of the family. Its a balance that I find quite difficult at times, fulfilling my role as pastor and also roles as a father, husband and son. The community

know me now, which can make it tricky at home there have been times when Lynda needs eggs or milk, and I go out to get them and come home an hour later after helping someone out.

When we first moved here from South Auckland I saw this area as wealthy, but I found that the need is still here, but under the surface that was the idea behind the You Can Help project, to help families in need. The church relies quite heavily on trying to do things that actually connect with the community, so they can see that we really care. Converting people to Christianity is part of the gospel and it is important, but to me it is more about loving one another. That opens a door. Getting outside the church walls is vital we do things like taking gardeners up to the college and primary schools to do some work and tidy up, those kinds of things break down walls. There is no doubt that some people find themselves in strife because of poor choices up this way there is what I would class as an unhealthy pursuit of the mighty dollar at the expense of people and peoples needs. Some of the homes I visit look wealthy on the surface, but the people are in such debt in pursuit of an image and they are suffering. We are looking at starting a group called CAP that can help out in those situations.

In the last five years or so I have taken up photography again because I am a creative person and thats my outlet. Im doing landscapes, particularly night work, and really enjoying it. I was a diehard traditionalist for a manual camera and film but became a convert to digital cameras after I had to use one once, for a wedding. My father was a photographer, so Ive kept all his old gear as well. He worked at the University of Engineering photographing things like the process of stress testing concrete.

I value the word of God, the Bible, which is my handbook on life, and Jesus as my example. Its about accepting the way that other people have walked and not judging, but loving them. At the same time there are standards that God expects us to live up to. There are some sermons that Ive prepared and then thought I cant say that to other people unless I am able to do something about it in my own life. I hold justice up high, and I believe in hellfire and brimstone, but God also loves every one of us something I have experienced in a very tangible way in my own life. We all try our best, and sometimes we let people down or fail, but we are forgiven. There is always forgiveness and love.


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The removal of dozens of mature mangroves from the edge of Crocodile Island in Orewa Estuary has angered local environmentalists.

Stumps like this remain around Crocodile Island, in Orewa Estuary.

Mangrove vandalism at Crocodile IslandForest & Bird member Philip Wrigley, who has been regularly visiting the island to remove weeds for around 10 years, discovered the carnage on December 1.He says he was confronted with piles of large mangroves that had been sawn off at the base and dumped on the island. The cut off stumps of mangroves are all around the edge of the island.Auckland Council rules only permit mangroves that are less than 60cm tall to be hand pulled, within certain parameters, but Philip says the ones that had been cut down were far larger than that. Resource consent is required for anything more, and Council advised Philip that none had been sought or obtained.Philip says the removal of the mangroves is a particular concern because it exposes the edge of the island, which already gets hammered in northeasterly storms.The mangroves provide vital shelter to other plant species, such as coastal ribbonwood, he says. I cant understand why someone would do this those particular mangroves did not impede anyones view or boat access. Its wanton vandalism.Auckland Council senior biodiversity advisor Craig Pratt says that the removal of large mangroves can result in the loss of biodiversity and habitat values as well as increasing the potential for coastal erosion, release of sediments and associated contaminants.Orewa estuary has been identified for its significant ecological values and has Coastal Area Protection 1 status.This status recognises the need to protect the whole estuary including the mangrove ecosystem, for its ecological values and the ecosystem services it provides, he says.

He says the hand removal of mangrove seedlings is permitted in the estuary where it is for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing the values of the wading bird feeding and roosting areas.Hand removal of seedlings in these situations controls the spread of mangroves but also ensures the important ecological values that mangroves play in the coastal environment are not impacted. Removal of large trees or using different methods may require consent, and it is best to seek advice before removing any mangroves. If people see others removing mangroves in the Orewa estuary, if possible, take photos and provide the information and details to council, Craig says.The finger of blame for the removal of mangroves at Crocodile Island was initially pointed at the group of Orewa residents who recently brought the issue of mangroves in the estuary before the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board. However, their spokesperson, Kevin Sutton, categorically denies responsibility, saying they do not know who did it and that type of mangrove removal is not what they recommend.Anyone who saw people removing those mangroves, sometime in mid-late November, can still report it to Council.

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A community recycling centre proposed for Whangaparaoa could not only reduce the amount of rubbish that is illegally dumped, but also provide a resource for the whole Hibiscus Coast.

Community recycling centre proposed for peninsula

The proposal is part of Auckland Councils Resource Recovery Network, currently under development, that will include resource recovery parks for commercial waste and community recycling centres. Twelve community recycling centres are proposed to be developed in the next 10 years which will enable the public to drop off items such as used furniture, clothes, whiteware and hazardous waste as much as possible will be diverted from landfill for reuse, repair or refurbishment and sale. The community recycling centres may also include the processing, composting and chipping of green waste, with the compost or mulch on-sold to the public. Councils solid waste manger, Ian Stupple, says that the land behind the Councils recycling site on Whangaparaoa Road is under consideration as a community recycling centre. He says his department is working with Auckland Council Property to come up with local sites.Having sites that are convenient for the community is definitely part of the plan, he says.The recent dumping of large quantities of rubbish on the New World site in Stanmore Bay and in Eaves Bush highlighted a problem with waste disposal that is ongoing on the Hibiscus Coast.Waste is often dumped in parks and reserves, with the major hot spots being esplanade reserves and sites like Western and DOyly Reserves. Most of the waste dumped in parks is general rubbish, along with green waste and advertising pamphlets, all of which could have been easily, cheaply and legally disposed of.Mr Stupple says rubbish is also illegally dumped on vacant building sites in Millwater, and areas with steep drop offs such as Wade River Rd, Scott Rd, Riverhaven Drive, Old North Rd and Hillcrest Rd in Hatfields Beach.There are also a number of places in the rural parts of the Hibiscus Coast where he says large quantities of rubbish are consistently dumped.Most of this waste is televisions, mattresses and couches as well as bagged household rubbish.Although this creates an ongoing expense for Council, which contracts Lendlease to collect and dispose of illegally dumped waste, Council figures show that the Rodney and

Hibiscus Coast areas have the second lowest levels of dumping in Auckland (the North Shore has the lowest).Of the 449 requests for removal of dumped rubbish received in 2013-14, a total of 92 (or 20 percent) were from the Hibiscus Coast. Nevertheless, it costs ratepayers $2084 per month for the Lendlease waste removal service that covers Rodney and the Coast.Council can issue infringement notices for dumping, which range from $100$400 depending on the volume of waste. Only two notices were issued in this area for 201314, one in Dairy Flat and one for a trailer load of green waste left on the edge of Hibiscus Coast Highway near Wenderholm.One reason that people go to the lengths of dumping their rubbish illegally, a process that takes place mainly at night, is to avoid disposal costs, and Mr Stupple says many of these are small traders as well as members of the public.Whats needed is a mix of education and awareness and supporting businesses to do the right thing, before we go to enforcement, Mr Stupple says. No matter how much we do, there will always be people who act in an illegal manner.The fact that the Hibiscus Coast and Rodney do not currently have an inorganic rubbish collection, paid for by rates, is frequently raised by residents as an issue when it comes to rubbish disposal, however the figures show that the areas in Auckland that have kerbside inorganic collections (with the exception of the North Shore), also illegally dump more waste.Mr Stupple says he expects the Auckland-wide inorganic collection system that will be rolled out by Council starting next July will help reduce illegal dumping. The system allows residents to make a booking to have material collected from their property, rather than the kerb.The collection is funded by a targeted rate, which all residents will pay in their rates bill, whether they use the service or not. Mr Stupple says Council hopes that up to 50 percent of the inorganic material collected in this way can be reused or recycled.


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Getting the building of Stillwater Community Hall over the line to completion has been fraught with difficulties, with the latest spanner in the works becoming apparent during construction.

A lease between Auckland Council and the owners of Dairy Flat Hall has finally been signed, after several months of negotiations.The Dairy Flat Community Hall Association owns the hall in Postman Rd, but Council owns the land it stands on.The arrangement was never formalised into a lease by the former Rodney District Council, but Auckland Council began seeking a lease earlier this year.Dairy Flat Community Hall Association chair Henk Landweer describes the 20-year lease, which was agreed between the parties last month, as our Christmas present from Auckland Council.The lease is based on a peppercorn rental and includes the use of the

Local Board takes action to save Stillwater Hall project

Work began on the site on Duck Creek Road Reserve three months ago, during which it was discovered that the water table was higher than engineers reports had suggested.Holes drilled for the foundations simply filled up with water, causing the walls of the holes to collapse before any depth could be achieved.The unforeseen problem required significant extra work on the enormous piles, which needed to be rammed into the ground, causing a cost overrun of more than $100,000; this put the completion and eventual opening of the hall in jeopardy.Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt says the board was determined to get the former Rodney District Council legacy project completed.A hall that is a shell, that you cant use was simply not an option, she says.

She says with local board budgets stretched to breaking point, the only option for the additional funding was to go to the governing body.A series of negotiations behind the scenes with Council staff and Councillors and preparation of a business case, followed by a presentation to the Finance & Performance Committee on December 11, reaped rewards, with Councillors agreeing to provide up to $108,000.Mrs Parfitt says the problem came out of left field, but Auckland Council appreciated that it was vital to get the project completed.The framing is now underway and should be completed in the first half of January 2015. The hall is scheduled for completion in April 2015 and a community celebration will be held shortly afterwards to officially open it for use.

Lease agreed for Dairy Flat Hall

reserve and carpark as well as an area where an outside stage is to be built.The hall and all improvements made over the years remain the property of the Dairy Flat Community Hall Association, which will continue to run live music nights there and provide a facility for community organisations to hire.

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Design plans for the upgrade of the Stanmore Bay Pool & Leisure Centre are heading in a new direction, with suggestions that major internal renovations, together with much needed work on the roof and cladding, could be the most cost effective way to go in the short to medium term.

Change of plan for Leisure Centre refurbishment

Financial constraints caused by Auckland Councils deferral of capital projects have lead to the re-think of plans that originally included significant extensions to the building.The original budget of $5.4 million has been reduced to around $4.2 million $419,000 this financial year and around $3.8 million the following year (an amount that is still to be confirmed).The initial $419,000 is to cover the outsourcing of design work, consenting and preparatory work. This will see the project ready to go, although the money to complete the next stage is as yet unconfirmed.Auckland Council staff presented their revised proposals to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board at its December 10 meeting, saying they were designed to achieve fitness and learn to swim revenue growth as well as work within the reduced budget.The priority is to ensure the facilitys structural integrity. As well as structural remediation work and an upgrade of the air conditioning and electrical systems, the revised plan includes upgrading the changing rooms and entry/reception areas.One squash court may be retained, while the other two are combined into a group exercise training room. The upper mezzanine administration offices and the ground floor crche are to be demolished and the space used to build a bigger learn to swim pool.Local board chair Julia Parfitt says that the suggestions make sense because

there is a lot of under utilised space inside the 24-year-old building.She says that staying within the buildings existing footprint will reduce consent fees and that the proposed improvements will make the centre more efficient and more welcoming for members.Local Board members gave their approval at the December 10 meeting for staff to get the design, planning and consent stage underway.

Funding cuts have lead to creative new plans to overhaul the Leisure Centres interior.

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Disease rife in military campsAmong the names etched on the Silverdale War Memorial is Private Ralph Brunton, from Kaipara Flats, who died on November 13, 1918 of influenza followed by pneumonia at Trentham Camp. He was the son of Robert and Margaret Brunton, whose eldest son Norman Theodore Brunton had enlisted in 1914. Both Norman and Ralphs home address was Ruakaka when enlisting, but Ralphs occupation on his record is shown as labourer, Freezing Works, Tokomaru. This is not unusual as farmhands often went further afield to work to gain experience and because the home farm could not always afford to fund several sons working there.Military camps, where so many men were crammed together, were badly affected by infectious disease and some died in camp during these outbreaks. The influenza epidemic in 1918 put 1566 men in hospital and 75 died.Camp historyWithin a week of war being declared in August 1914, camps were hastily erected in the four main cities and Awapuni near Palmerston North. These were only temporary. The Dominion Rifle Association had their rifle ranges at Trentham Racecourse and the Main Bodys Mounted Rifles had completed their brief training there.On October 14, 1914, as the Main Body and First Reinforcements of the NZEF embarked for Europe, nearly 3000 troops and their huge quantity of equipment entered Trentham Camp. Henceforward every draft passed through this camp except for the Artillery, Mounted Rifles and Divisional Signallers who were mobilised after the new camp at Featherston was built.At Trentham, tents were erected for the men, with marquees serving as a supply store and Quartermasters Stores. The only buildings at this point were those connected to the rifle range and these housed officers, and a small hut did duty as a post office, as the men wanted to write home as soon as they had arrived at camp. It remained a tent city until March 1915 when the Public Works Department began building huts according to plans prepared by the military authorities. The huts stood in rows with no sealed roads.By July 1915, 50 huts were completed and the camp by this time contained 8000 men, well over the number that the site in its current state could handle. So on July 9, 7000 men with three days supplies each, were marched out of Trentham to other temporary camps set up around Wellington while the camp was surveyed. Drainage and roading was developed with the help of a steam plough and large swamp plough. Surface water was channelled through deep drains and discharged through Silverstream into the Hutt River and drainage from washing places was collected in a large underground storage tank and regularly discharged into the Hutt River two miles away from the camp.Trentham had its own electric light plant, water supply, postal, telephone and telegraph services a well as drying rooms, office, shops and clubs provided by other organisations such as the YMCA.The first hospital was set up in the grandstand and the tea kiosk, which was octagonal in shape. When the Cottage Hospital was built near to the main gates, its wards continued this shape, as it had proved very practical. The central office area was raised and glassed on all sides so the Duty Nurse could see all the patients at a glance. Movable screens covered all the windows so they could provide ventilation from any direction.The public raised funds to fund new wards such as the 62-bed Wairarapa Ward and the Wellington Racing Club Ward, which had 24 beds for acute cases. The Fever hospital had 50 beds and was the only one that the Government paid for. The Casualty department was in the Jockey Club, which was loaned for the duration of the war.

Ralph Brunton


with Ruth Olsen, Silverdale & Districts Historical Society, [email protected]

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Orewa holiday townOrewa has long been a favourite holiday spot for Aucklanders but getting there has not always been easy. In the late 1800s there were bone shaking mail coaches jolting along the clay tracks which passed for roads, but most people chose to journey by coastal steamer. This had its drawbacks as sailings were affected by tide and weather. Weekend excursions to Orewa and Waiwera, which included boat fare and hotel accommodation, were advertised in the Auckland papers. However these did not always go according to plan. Easter 1910 experienced a particularly bad storm. Visitors to Orewa should have been picked up by the SS Waitangi to return to Auckland on the Tuesday morning but the surf was too turbulent for the steamer to put in for them there was no wharf at Orewa and passengers had to transfer to the steamer from a small rowboat. An appeal was telegraphed to the Northern Steamship Co who sent the SS Orewa to the Wade (Silverdale) and the bravest of the stranded passengers managed to procure horses and vehicles to get from Orewa to the Wade and endured a very rough four hour journey to Auckland.Gradually the road north from Auckland improved and as more people began to own cars in the 1920s it was easier to reach Orewa and they wanted to build their own holiday baches there. In 1923 Crown land near the beach was being sold off in quarter acre sections. Bidding was keen and sections in the first auction fetched between $52 and $162. However, there were problems. The sale plans featured a landing place for yachts and launches, extensive ornamental plantings and recreational reserves while the sections for sale were in neatly laid out streets. The writer of a letter to the NZ Herald in December 1925 complained bitterly that although purchasers had cleared their own sections of gorse and brambles, the gorse on the government held sections was seeding on to the cleared sections and streets such as Weiti Road and Beach Road at the southern end of the town, were no more than standing walls of gorse.A year later, in December 1926, a deputation representing owners who had bought Government sections at Orewa waited on the Commissioner for Crown Lands in Auckland to discuss the need for drainage and gorse cutting in the area. They also complained that the Government planting on the 20 acre beach reserve was neglected. After vigorous discussion it was agreed that the gorse would be cut back on Government held land, and a drainage plan would be put in place. As for the reserve, marram grass and lupins had been planted to stop sand erosion together with 1600 pohutukawa trees.

Museum NewsSilverdale Pioneer Village open every day except Tuesdays, 10am3pm December 124, Vintage decorations in houses. Craft shop open December 13, 1pm2 pm Warkworth Brass Band plays Christmas music. Devonshire Teas available. December 14, 7pm8pm Carol Service in the Chapel.

Slow spend for ChristmasPaymark figures show that Christmas retail spending has been slow to build. During the first seven days of December spending through the Paymark (Eftpos) network increased by 4.9 percent, which is well below last years growth rate of 8.6 percent for the same period. Paymarks head of customer relations, Mark Spicer, says many people have yet to start their Christmas shopping and he anticipates that later in December, spending will significantly increase.


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Mahurangi residents are making thousands of dollars renting out their homes over the summer months as the holiday rental market heats up in the region.

Holiday rentals booming

LJ Hooker salesperson Marie-Dominique Lennan has run local holiday home website aholidayhome.co.nz for the past four years and says it is becoming increasingly popular for locals to rent out their homes over the holidays.We have more houses listed than ever before, and more people renting than ever before, Ms Lennan says.Most of the properties are coastal and range from baches to mansions.The clientele is also varied, with a notable number of expats renting when they come back for the holiday season. Although more people are coming to the area, the prices have remained steady.I think theres a limit to what people will pay for a place.The website bookabach.co.nz has 390 homes listed in Rodney ranging from $2200 per night for a five-bedroom, three-storey villa on Tawharanui Peninsula, to $60 a night for a studio bach in Snells Beach. Omaha has the most properties with 100 listed. The Kaipara District has 186 houses listed with nearly 130 of those in Mangawhai Heads alone. Prices in Mangawhai range from $795 a night for a modern beach bach on the estuary to $70 a night for a one-bedroom bach.Local builder Darren Reader has been renting out his home near Matakana for the past five years through rental management company Bachcare.The family of five has a permanent caravan at Martins Bay and has their home booked out from December 20 until the end of January.Their home is about five kilometres from Matakana, with views over rolling hills out to the Coromandel in the east and Rangitoto in the south.

During the peak season, they are getting $500 a night for their four-bedroom modern home with a sleep-out.It works out that we almost get as much over those weeks as we would renting it out for a whole year, Darren says.Initially, it was a bit of an overhaul. We lock away our private possessions, but Bachcare take care of the rest and make it hassle free. They get the bookings and meet and vet the tenants, and make sure the place is clean and tidy when they leave. We havent had any problems other than a broken wine glass.My three daughters hated it at first, but they understand the benefits of it and weve got used to it. Though it can be a bit cramped in the caravan.Darren and his wife Ruth Perkin, a Mike Pero agent, work from the caravan throughout January and have started to take on regular weekend rentals throughout the year, at a lower rate of $350 a night.The caravan has got wifi and its still close to work, so its not a problem.Darren says he has been surprised at the level of interest and the number of rentals has been increasing recently.Our house is in a rural setting so I didnt think many people would be interested, but its been booked out.Bachcare manages over 1000 homes in NZ and has had a 38 per cent increase in bookings over the last 12 months.Local holiday manager Linda Waller says the number of weekly rentals she deals with has grown from two per weekend last November to eight per weekend this year.People are starting to realise that they can make their bach work for them and still enjoy it during the off-season.

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House of Travel OrewaAfter almost a decade in its site on the corner of Moana Ave and Hibiscus Coast Highway, House of Travel is on the move. The business is owned by Dennis and Yvonne Payne, who also own House of Travel offices in Manly and Browns Bay, and have been in the industry for more than 30 years. Yvonne and Dennis say the shift further along the highway has been on the horizon for some time, as a way to modernise. The couple were looking for a prominent spot that they can occupy long term, and House of Travels new premises on the corner of Tamariki Ave and Hibiscus Coast Highway fits the bill in every way.Dennis says the team are excited about the new fit out, which will bring the Orewa branch in line with the one in Manly Village and feature bold and inspiring travel images and a bright, fresh interior.The same team of five travel consultants will be at the new Orewa site, with new consultant Ricky Andrews joining them Ricky has more than 10 years experience in all aspects of travel. Yvonne says that each consultant has their own area of special interest, knowledge and clientele, but that information and advice is freely shared among the team, depending on the customers travel requirements.Travel consultants are a bit like hairdressers, she says. When you find a good one you establish a relationship of trust over many years.Dennis points out that this is why travel offices are holding their own in the face of internet bookings. Theres no substitute for the advice and information you can get from an experienced consultant, he says.

The large amount of repeat business that comes through the office, as well as the raft of awards on the consultants desks is testament to their experience each has been in the business for at least 10 years.Among the specialty areas of the branch are adventure or off the beaten track travel and cruises Dennis says that Orewa House of Travel consistently remains in the top three, out of more than 70 branches nationally, when it comes to selling cruises. One of the key aspects of House of Travel that Dennis and Yvonne pride themselves on is their involvement in the community. Yvonne is on Hibiscus Hospices womens committee, while Dennis is also a keen Hospice supporter and part of the daybreak unit. Yvonne and Dennis also support many local events and sponsor several sport and community organisations.Yvonne has issued an open invitation to all past customers to pop in and say hello, anytime from December 19.

Yvonne and Dennis Payne

Night market now in SilverdaleThe Auckland Night Markets, which ran in the carpark under The Plaza Whangaparaoa from November 2013 to June 2014, re-opens in Silverdale this week. The market opens on Thursday, December 18 in the car park underneath The Warehouse in the Silverdale Centre. It is open from 5.30pm11pm and will be held weekly. Organisers say around 100 stalls will be offering a range of crafts and food.

Luge land soldA 9ha portion of land containing the former luge track was purchased by the Lee family of Albany last month. James Lee says that the family have made no decisions about what to do with the land as yet, and are still considering the options. He says this could consider some kind of entertainment facility. The land is zoned entertainment and recreation. The property abuts the 6ha site owned by Les Osbourne of Pyramid Engineering, who is developing a luge and entertainment hub there.

Holiday rentals booming

Still locally owned and operated with same great team. Moving December 19,

call in to say hi and talk travel! Orewa: Corner Tamariki Avenue

& Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa Phone 427 9700

Our Manly store is still in same place...Manly: 60 Rawhiti Road, Manly

Phone 424 1021

House of Travel Orewa is on the move!


Alexander Scrap Metal

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One of the striking things about a visit to Alexander Scrap Metal in industrial Silverdale is the versatility of metal; a component of everything from pots, pipes and washing machines to cars and diggers and all of it recyclable.Alexander Scrap Metal is a well-established Silverdale business, started 25 years ago by Peter Ross and Ray Mansell. Current owners Hugh Milliken and Brendan Robbers had been with the company for around eight years before they took over last month and both of them know the trade inside out.Theres no such thing as a desk job Hugh says everyone does a bit of everything. Around 50 percent of the metal that comes in for recycling is dropped off, but the rest requires carefully planned truck movements that cover a wide area from the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast to all of Rodney.Hugh says that a boom in manufacturing and building is keeping Alexander Scrap Metals trucks busy, alongside regular work such as processing copper from hot water cylinders, pipes and cables.Clients include many large local companies such as Hoppers, Alimax and Archgola, as well as small businesses and charitable organisations such as the Salvation Army and Hospice.A job can be as small as collecting a dishwasher or shed load of old tools from residents to manoeuvring carefully down difficult rural sites to extract large pieces of farm machinery.The team at Alexander Scrap Metal sort, process and clean the

material so it can be in its purest possible form before it is on-sold to larger recycling companies, such as Sims.At this stage is it shredded or melted and made into things such as reinforcing bars or mesh.Hugh says when he first came to work for his uncle, Peter Ross, scrap metal was a far cry from his previous job in sales and marketing with Yamaha and Honda.It remains a bit of a contrast for Brendan too he also helps run a family business specialising in travel to South America.However, the job of keeping a valuable resource in circulation, rather than in landfill, is something they are both passionate about, as well as providing a service that puts them in touch with people from all walks of life.They are also on a mission to build the business.We have the capacity to double the amount of material we deal with here, Hugh says. We are definitely in a growth phase.

Hugh Milliken (right) and Brendan Robbers

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The quick, professional and affordable hair cutting service offered by Cutting Edge in The Plaza has proved a very successful model over the last 12 years.Owner Tony Pipes says the cutting bar cuts the hair of around 400500 people each week. With figures like that, it is no wonder that Tony recently opened a second Cutting Edge on Central Boulevard, Silverdale.Cutting Edge grew out of a barbershop that was originally part of Rodney Wayne, which Tony also owned, together with his wife Cheryl, until two years ago.He says in renaming the barbershop Cutting Edge, he and Cheryl also changed its focus to offer haircuts for the whole family. These days around 70 percent of Cutting Edges clients are men, 25 percent women and five percent children.The service is a hair cut only, and there is no booking service with clients waiting on a comfy couch. Cuts by the four hairdressers generally only take around 1520 minutes.Tony says all the staff are very experienced hair cutters and up to date with the latest techniques and styles, so while many cuts are of the maintenance variety, clients also come in for a completely new look.The staff know that listening to what people want is key, Tony says. Theres a lot of competition on the Coast among hairdressers, and that keeps all of us on our toes. We also have a lot of fun.As well as the quality of the cuts, Tony says Cutting Edge uses Fudge products and maintains high standards of service to its customers.Prices are competitive and the service super-convenient, which is why there is so much repeat business; this is rewarded with a loyalty system where

customers get their 10th cut free.The Silverdale Cutting Edge is virtually a mirror image of the one in The Plaza and initially has a staff of three hairdressers.The success of Cutting Edge is something that Tony and Cheryl are proud of although owning buying a hair salon was a big change in direction for the couple, almost 20 years ago.Tony got into the hairdressing business after he was made redundant at the age of 50 from a corporate and two weeks later was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Looking for a complete change, Tony and Cheryl decided to open their own business, took on the Rodney Wayne franchise, and the rest is history.While Cheryl handles the finances, Tony makes sure he visits each Cutting Edge regularly.I thrive on having my own business, Tony says. Like any business, we have our ups and downs of course, but I find it exciting to have been able to start up such a successful brand and work with a fabulous team.

MerryMerryyM yChristmasChristmasC

fromAlison & the Borders TeamfromAlison & the Borders Team

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Community environmental projects were the beneficiaries of grants awarded last month by Auckland Council through its Environmental Initiatives Fund.

Grants aid environmentCouncil handed out a total of $634,000 to 133 community projects that enhance Aucklands natural habitat and historic heritage, with the recommendations approved by the Environment, Climate Change & Natural Heritage Committee on December 3.The fund supports local residents initiatives from the enhancement and conservation of important environmental and heritage sites to community-led projects.A total of $12,400 went to environmental projets on the Hibiscus Coast.Councillor Wayne Walker, chair of the committee, says that the fund is a way to help the community play an active role in looking after the environment.From water storage tanks to coastal restoration programmes, there are a wide range of projects the council is supporting through this fund. Grants ranged from $200 to $15,000.Local projects funded were: Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society, $2100. To enable the expansion of production at the Shakespear nursery to meet a goal of growing 12,000 plants next season for the annual

planting plan for Shakespear. This plan aims to develop a habitat linkage with Tiirtiri Matangi and the North-West Wild Link, to connect up existing areas of forest within the sanctuary and to introduce more native plants to sand-dune areas. Hibiscus Coast Branch Forest & Bird Society, $2500 and $800. To control pest plants and animals and revegetate open areas at Matakatia Scenic Reserve and the associated esplanade reserve in partnership with Auckland Council and the local community. And $800 for the removal of pest plants from Raroa Reserve in Stanmore Bay. Raroa is an urban native bush reserve, within the North West Wildlink, which provides habitat for skinks, birds flora and fauna and a place for the community to enjoy. Whangaparaoa College, $7000. To increase the biodiversity of the Stanmore Bay wetland which decreases stormwater run- off, and improves the quality of water going out into the marine environment. The project will also allow school children to have a sense of ownership and care for the area. The money is to be used for plants and weed control.

First catch at Archers BlockLess than 24 hours after Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird volunteers laid a Timms trap in Archers Bush, by the Weiti River in Whangaparaoa, the first victim, a very large possum, was sighted. Forest & Birds Pest Free Peninsula Project was widened to include the 25ha Archers block of bush last September.


CoastSummerA few lucky children, and one or two adults, got to jump onboard Coastguards Hibiscus Rescue 1 vessel for a chat with Santa Claus at the annual Carols on the Canal event in Gulf Harbour.Families, mainly from the Gulf Harbour area, gathered to share picnics or dine at one of the restaurants alongside the canal, on the calm, fine evening of Saturday December 6, while Christmas music flowed from the band rotunda.The North Shore Brass Academy Band played a set of Christmas favourites, followed by carols sung by the children of Whangaparaoa Primary Schools choir.Santa cruised in on the Coastguard boat and tied up alongside the canal, with children immediately jumping on board to tell him all about their Christmas wishes.The event has been put on for the past 19 years by the Gulf Harbour Marine Village Residents Association and includes a gold coin collection for Coastguard Hibiscus.

Looking festiveDestination Orewa Beachs competition for the best festive window in the town centre was won by Orewa Optics, with Flowers by Joanne second. Judges were looking for window displays that were appealing visually and incorporated the business or its products. Orewa Optics ticked all the boxes, incorporating sparkly glasses and a beachy theme and Flowers by Joanne mixed flowers, toys and Kiwiana.

Santas arrival at Gulf Harbour, at twilight was picturesque. Father Christmas was escorted by Coastguard Hibiscus. More photos, www.localmatters.co.nz

Cruisey Christmas celebration

STIHL SHOP SILVERDALE 6 Flexman Place, Silverdale | Phone 426 5414 MonFri: 8am5pm; Sat: 8am1pm; Sun 10am4pm

Love Your Land

www.stihlshop.co.nz

SAnTAS gOT OnE... HAVE YOu?


Coastsummer

1st floor, 304 HBC Highway, Orewa | MonFri: 10am5pmFor bookings Ph Sue 027 259 2897 | reddoorstudios

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Takeaway or Dine in Open TuesSun, 11.30am8pmShop A, 316 Hibiscus Coast Highway Ph 427 6111

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All meals come with roast potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, peas and carrots and our delicious home made gravy. Apple, mint & horse radish sauces available on request.All meals come with roast potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, peas and carrots and our All meals come with r

Documents

Hibiscus Matters Issue 164, 17-12-14