16 Mahurangimatters February 17, 2016

MATAKANAour patch

In this new regular section in Mahurangi Matters called Our Patch, we will begin to profile the towns and villages that make up the beautiful Mahurangi region, from Puhoi to Mangawhai and all stops in between. It will be an opportunity to focus on what makes these communities tick, what some of the local issues are and what makes them special. We hope you enjoy it.

Nowhere in the Mahurangi district is the rapid pace of change more evident than in Matakana.In the space of just over 10 years, the quiet country village has been transformed into a Mecca for holidaymakers and weekend day-trippers.And like bees to a honey pot, new businesses and housing developments are springing up to cater for the area’s newfound popularity.While some may mourn the passing of the Matakana they once knew, others are embracing the change but are apprehensive about the lack of Council investment in infrastructure to cater for the growth.The Matakana Community Group, which formed several years ago during the Slow Town debate, has identified three priority projects this year – remedying the open drains along Matakana Valley Road, completion of the walkway bridge from Tamahunga Drive, and the opening of a school/public carpark in Logan Campbell’s paddock, adjacent to the school.Chair Simon Barclay believes that

• As at the time of the 2013 census, Matakana had a resident population of 291 – 141 males and 150 females. This is an increase of 39 people, or 15.5 per cent, since the 2006 Census.

• The two largest age groups are those aged over 65 years (16%) and those aged between 10 and 15 years (11%)

• There were 117 occupied dwellings and nine unoccupied dwellings in Matakana in 2013.

• The population is predominantly European (255), with 30 people identifying as Maori, three as Pacific, 27 Asian and six as Other.

• A total of 162 people said they had no religious affiliations. Of those who did, 87 were Christian and 12 were Hindu.

• The median personal income in 2013 was $31,000, up from $28,000 in 2006 and $17,900 in 2001.

LOCAL NEWS: TOWN STATSCommunity engagement essential

MATAKANAour patch

Matakana’s best interests will be served if all stakeholders – residents, businesses and the school community – can work collaboratively.“People must be kept well-informed and consultation is essential,” he told this month’s meeting.“Matakana is a fabulous place to live but unless we work together, we could lose it. There is development happening now that is completely out of keeping with the aims and aspirations of the 2006-2016 Matakana Structure Plan.”The group plans to hold a community engagement event in the cinema complex in early April to encourage greater stakeholder buy-in.

Group member Amanda Stewart says the display will be an opportunity for the community to see what the group has achieved through projects such as the walkway/cycleway, to view current projects and to revisit the Structure Plan, with the view of planning the village’s future direction.Group member Chelsea de Barry says looking forward, it will be about identifying “who we are, what we stand for and how we want Matakana to develop in the future”.The Matakana Community Group meets in the meeting room beside the Matakana Hall on the first Thursday of every month, starting at 7.30pm. New members and visitors welcome.

17MahurangimattersFebruary 17, 2016

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Yes, it has a huge parking problem.How bad is it?The problem is really bad. Locals tend to hide by staying home as they don’t want to get caught up in the slow traffic looking for carparking. We are often asked, “Why isn’t there a parking area/space?” We put out cones in front of the petrol station as visitors will park there and make the road way approaching the roundabout very narrow, which causes traffic jams. How could it be solved?A car park needs to be away from the village area (ie. the pony club but this is weather-permitting only) and no parking down Matakana Valley Rd at all. There should be foot traffic only down Matakana Valley Rd to perhaps the hall. Only freight and delivery traffic should be allowed in the village area. This would stop driver frustration and this would help to make the locals accept and be happier in Matakana.

Kieran RiceMorris & James general manager

Yes.How bad is it?From our (Morris & James) point of view, the bigger issue is the impact that the parking problem has on traffic flow through Matakana. A lot of people, who are not intending to stop in Matakana, get caught up in the congestion. These are people heading for places like Goat Island, Tawharanui and Leigh.How could it be solved?We need parking spaces on the edge of town and at busy times, we should look at banning parking along Matakana Valley Road. A lot of the problem stems from the roundabout, which is a bit of a bottleneck on busy weekends. People turning into Matakana Valley Road often have to sit and wait for people parking and then the traffic backs up from there.

Simon BarclayMatakana Community Group chair

It’s terrible.How bad is it?On a busy day in summer, the congestion starts at the Hill Street intersection in Warkworth and ends at the Matakana roundabout. In the 2006-2016 Matakana Structure Plan, Rodney District Council forecasted traffic volumes to double. And it has, but there has been absolutely no investment in infrastructure to cope with it.How could it be solved?We need a co-ordinated response. The group is currently working on a concept plan which will address both the problem of the open drains along Matakana Valley Road and the lack of parking. We’re in talks with Auckland Transport to cover the drains and provide angle parking and tree planting. We estimate this could provide an additional 70 carparks.

Origins of a nameThe origin of the name Matakana is a little vague, but in an interview in 2010, Matakana identity Errol Jones said a very old Maori man told her that the word was originally Matakino, meaning raw or smelly. Apparently, early Maori used to dry fish, particularly shark, on flax lines tied between two poles at Sandspit and the place became known as the place of “stinking fish”. Today, the drying fish have long gone (thank goodness!) and Matakana is a town that prides itself on making available food that is ‘fresh and local’.

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MATAKANAour patch

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Have church, will travelMatakana has two churches. As well as St Leonard’s Anglican Church, which celebrated its centenary in 2014, the St Andrews Presbyterian Church, built in 1895, once stood further along Matakana Valley Road where the patisserie recently opened. It was barged down the Matakana River to a Salvation Army camp at Snells Beach in 1992 only to return up river in 2007 when the camp closed. The church, which is made of kauri and still has its original kauri pews, is now located at the Matakana Country Park.

Does Matakana have a parking problem?

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Each year we set our budget to meet future growth and deliver the services that council provides.

As part of our Annual Budget consultation we want your feedback on rates, the Interim Transport Levy and local board activities and priorities for 2016/2017.

Have your say online at shapeauckland.co.nz or in person at one of the Have Your Say events in your local board area.

Rodney• Thursday 25 February, 6.30-8.30pm,

Helensville War Memorial Hall, 49 Commercial Road, Helensville

• Tuesday 8 March, 6.30-8.30pm, Old Masonic Hall, 3 Baxter Street, Warkworth.

Help guide Auckland’s direction for 2016/2017

Have your say by 4pm on Thursday 24 March, 2016.

For more information, to provide feedback or for a full list of Have Your Say events, visit shapeauckland.co.nz, your local library, service centre or local board office.

18 Mahurangimatters February 17, 2016 MATAKANAour patch

ACTIVITY KAYAKING

Beating the trafficKayaking to Matakana from Sandspit is a rewarding journey, made more pleasurable without contending with vehicular traffic.According to a GPS app, it’s a 5.4km paddle that takes the average paddler – plus dog, plus 10-year-old – 54 minutes in a tandem kayak. A moderate level of fitness is required, especially when the 10-year-old talks most of the way instead of paddling.Planning your trip includes coinciding with the incoming tide and, ideally, a good day. Wind can impede progress across the first stretch of open water from Sandspit, but you’re relatively protected once inside the mangrove enshrouded winding narrows of the upper river, where you pass grazing cattle, large houses with private jetties, fallen pine trees, other kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders, jet skiers and fizz boats.The hum of motor cars alerts you to the approach of Matakana, which deceptively sounds like it is just around the next bend, or maybe it’s the next bend!Finally, pulling your kayak up the boat ramp you smugly walk through the packed car park for a bite to eat and a nice coffee before departing on the outgoing tide.

Matakana has no shortage of creative and enterprising people, including Garry Currin who is known for his large, atmospheric landscapes that aren’t literal places. Garry moved to a home studio on the Takatu Peninsula in 2003, looking for a quiet place out of the city to work: “I was attracted to the solitude and the elemental spaces around the local coastline. My images are inspired by the idea of a changing ecology and the human impact on the fragile balance of nature between man and this earth.” Garry’s work is exhibited throughout NZ and is currently on show at The Vivian.Gallery spaces include Small Works, Art Matakana, The Vivian, A Fine Line Gallery, Piece Gallery and Morris & James.

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FruitloopThe annual fun run through orchards and vineyards in the Point Wells, Omaha and Matakana area is back and this year it will be held in conjunction with a two-day wine and food festival, on March 5 and 6. Events will be based at the Matakana Country Park, on Leigh Road, and money raised will boost the coffers of community projects such as the Matakana pathway. There will even be a Kids Loop.When: Fruitloop fun run, Saturday, March 5 Info: cmnzl.co.nz/mwff

Introduction to permaculturePermaculture has developed into something that can be applied to every aspect of our lives from housing and energy efficiency to agriculture … so what’s it all about? This taster course is run over a weekend and covers permaculture ethics and principles, and field trips. The course is run by the Kaipatiki Project and the tutor is Trish Allen.When: March 12 & 13 Info: kaipatiki.org.nz

PickleballThere’s a new sport in town called Pickleball, which encompasses badminton, ping pong and tennis. It is played at the Matakana Hall on Mondays from 6.30pm-8.30pm; and Wednesdays, 9am-11am. All equipment is provided, just wear appropriate footwear and take a water bottle. All welcome. When: Mon & Wed • Where: Matakana Hall Info: 021 980 852 or pickleball.org.nz

Vege swapThe Matakana Vege Swap meets at the Matakana Wharf every Friday at 9am. This is an opportunity to shop and swap – a great place to pass on your excess greens, fruit and flowers, in return for other things you might use. All welcome.

Community GardenGardeners or wannabe gardeners are invited to join the working bees at the Community Garden, next to the Matakana Hall, every Monday, from 9am to 10am. The time is spent weeding, planting and harvesting, and it’s a great way to share gardening knowledge. All welcome.

Matakana Community Group meetingsThe Matakana Community Group meets on the first Thursday of the month, at 7.30pm in the Matakana Hall backroom. Info: matakanacommunitygroup.org.nz

Urban farming workshopLeading Canadian urban farmers Jean-Martin Fortier and Curtis Stone are holding a workshop at Whangateau Hall as part of a Six Figure Farming NZ Tour, sponsored by Ooooby. Mr Fortier is known for earning a six-figure income from under one hectare of organic vegetables, farmed by hand in Quebec. Tickets $220.When: Monday, February 22, 9am to 5pm • Where: Whangateau HallInfo: sixfigurefarmingnztour.com

Sunday Sessions Vintage MarketFoot-stomping folk duo The Bollands will be performing at the Sunday Vintage Market.When: Sunday, February 28, 10am to 2pm • Where: Matakana Village Market SquareInfo: thebollands.com or matakanasundays.co.nz/

19MahurangimattersFebruary 17, 2016MATAKANAour patch

COMING EVENTS

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Tracey Martin New Zealand First List MPI bring a fresh, energetic, practical approach to issues of importance that impact on you.

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Tracey will be in the Pohutukawa Room at the Whangaparaoa Library on Wednesday the 24th of February from 1pm till 3pm. Ring 09 4257360 for an appointment or just drop in. All Welcome.

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