From high fashion to flat whites - Issue 915 - 15 September 2020 - Mercury Bay Informer
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Issue 915 - 15 September 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000
From high fashion to flat whites
By Gillian O’Neill
Ine Benschop is loving life in Whitianga.
After moving from Auckland four years ago,
she says the relaxed pace, friendly people
and sense of community are the things she
enjoys most. After a couple of years running
a Bed & Breakfast, the mum of two adult sons
returned to hospitality a year ago.
But customers at Espy Café might be
surprised to learn that the friendly lady who
hands them their flat white in the morning
has also created fashion alongside designer
Trelise Cooper, looked after wealthy
American tourists while cruising the Greek
Islands and once fitted out the interior of a
helicopter for Tom Cruise.
“I’ve had some amazing experiences and I
feel lucky to have worked with so many great
people over the years,” Ine tells The Informer
after popping in for a chat after her regular
shift at the café. “I’ve done a lot, but I have
always found that, no matter where you are or
what you’re doing, what you remember most
are the people.”
Born in the Netherlands in 1960, Ine was
just a year old when she moved to New
Zealand with her family, settling in South
Auckland. It was at high school that a
teacher first identified her passion and talent
for fashion.
“I was doing tech drawing which I enjoyed,
but I really didn’t know what I wanted to
do with that,” Ine says. “Then the teacher
suggested that I was very good at apparel
and fabric, and that I should look at going
into fashion, so I ended up going to AUT
where I studied Apparel Technology and
Administration.”
This led to a job doing sample work at Marta
Fine Underfashions working on original
patterns, and adjusting, problem-solving and
developing designs into prototype garments
ready to be put into production. “Then the
company started a new children’s line and
I had the opportunity to work on that also,”
Ine says.
For Ine, it’s the process of seeing something
evolve from a sketch on a page to an actual
wearable garment, that is most exciting,
and she counts being able to work with the
likes of David Pond, Adrienne Winkelman
and Trelise Cooper among the highlights of
her fashion career.
(Continued on page 3) Whitianga resident, Ine Benschop, says she has had some amazing experiences and worked with many great people over the years.
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
Four new sets of wheels First Seasons Art Class
at Whitianga Bike Park “graduation” celebrated
There are four brand new additions to the line-up of bicycles at the Whitianga Bike Park after
The Warehouse Whitianga generously donated four new bikes to the growing collection that are
available for visitors to use.
Bike Park manager, Jon Maud, said he was delighted and grateful, and the bikes would be well used,
especially throughout the summer when numbers visiting the park increase substantially. The park
has been receiving plenty of donated second-hand bikes over the past 12 months, but the latest
additions will particularly suit older children.
Manager of The Warehouse Whitianga, Rachel Reid, said the bicycles were part of an end of line
range, so were able to be donated. “We’re delighted to be able to give them to the Whitianga Bike
Park,” she said. “The facility is so well used by so many in the community. I come here with my own
children, Jeter and Blake. They love it here, they can just take off and explore, they have so much
fun and freedom.”
The park’s collection of bikes was recently given a rainbow makeover by artist, Wendy Walls.
“Not only has it helped spruce up some of the older bicycles, it has made them instantly recognisable
on the odd occasion that they turn up somewhere other than the Bike Park and need to be reclaimed,”
Jon said.
The park’s popularity continues to grow, with the number of events like birthday parties also
increasing. “People can come along and use the bikes and there’s a giant Jenga and barbecues,
so everything is here that they need and it’s only a $20 donation for a party,” Jon said.
The Coromandel Peninsula’s first Seasons Art Class group celebrated their “graduation” with
Pictured are Rachel (right) and The Warehouse Whitianga sales support manager, Ann Madden,
an exhibition of their artworks at The Lost Spring on Thursday evening last week.
on two of the four new bicycles that were donated.
Seasons Art Class offers a 14-week beginner art course that teaches basic skills in four
mediums - sketching and drawing, oil pastels, water colours and acrylics. An intermediate
course for “returning” artists is also available.
Courses are offered at various locations around New Zealand and the world.
Caroline Milburn, the Coromandel resident who brought Seasons Art Class to Whitianga,
says she’s very happy with how the first course went. “The COVID-19 lockdown meant we had
to postpone our start date, but it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the participants,”
she says. “If I look at what they’ve produced over the past three months, I cannot help to
be amazed.”
Seasons Art Class courses on the Coromandel is tutored by well-known Whitianga artist,
Leanne Adams, who says the growth in skills and confidence of those who participated in the
first course was impressive. “Most of the participants have never painted before,” she says.
“They’ve had no idea that they were able to come up with what’s on exhibition. It’s such a
privilege to work with people who are keen to learn and who appreciate their progress.”
The first Season’s Art Class course in Pauanui is starting on Thursday this week. The next
Whitianga course is scheduled to start on Tuesday, 22 September and is sold out.
Pictured is Caroline Milburn (on the left) and Leanne Adams (on the right) with 91-year-old Paula
Kline, the oldest participant in the first Seasons Art Class course in Whitianga, on Thursday
evening.
What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information
provided and sponsored by
Week of Wednesday, 16 September to Wednesday, 23 September - This week and next are an excellent time to see if you can catch a glimpse of
elusive Mercury. It is the smallest planet after Pluto and is extremely hard to observe. However, it is approaching its furthest point from the sun and thus
sets sufficiently late after the Sun that we can catch a glimpse if we have a clear western horizon. The Moon is a very useful guide to locating Mercury this
week as it is so faint and can be hard to spot or can be easily mistaken for just a star. We will also be able to spot the movement of Mercury from night
to night as it travels rapidly around the Sun and actually catches up and passes the star, Spica. Bright Jupiter and Saturn are high overhead all evening
while the dawn sky has brilliant Venus low down in the NE with reddish Mars much higher up and getting brighter each week. Mars will soon be even
slightly brighter than Jupiter as we get ever closer to it. Saturday, 19 September - Low in the west just after sunset we can see a lovely triangle of a very Astronomy Tours and B&B
thin crescent Moon, faint Mercury to the left and the fainter star Spica just above Mercury. Sunday, 20 September - The Moon has moved above Spica Phone (07) 866 5343
while Mercury is gradually approaching it. Tuesday, 22 September - Mercury and Spica make a lovely close pair low in the western evening twilight sky
while the Moon sits next to the red giant star, Antares, in Scorpio. www.stargazersbb.com
Whitianga and Hot Water Beach tides Tides data sponsored by
nzwindows.co.nz
4 Dakota Drive
Whitianga
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Tel 07 869 5990
Page 2 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020
From high fashion to
flat whites
(Continued from page 1)
“I really enjoyed working for Trelise Cooper,” couple returned to New Zealand with their
Ine says. “She was very good to everyone two sons around 11 years ago. “The boys both
in her team and of course the designs have that sense of dual culture now,” Ine says.
were great.” “The oldest one spent some time living in the
But fashion is just one chapter in Ine’s Netherlands recently and has just returned,
colourful story. By the time she turned 21, while the youngest, who is 29, has just moved
she was ready for her OE and set her sights over there for a while. All my family is still in
on Europe. “It ended up being a 22-year- Montfoort, which is outside Utrecht.”
long OE,” she says. Spent largely in her Back down under, Ine once again unlocked
native Netherlands, the experience grew her her creative passion, first with her own
connections with her country of birth and sewing machine shop in Papakura and later
presented the opportunity for further travel. working for a flight interiors company based
“I think because I spoke English, it was at Ardmore. “We were working on things
always relatively easy to find work,” Ine says. like the covers for the seating on airplanes,”
“I also had the chance to do another course she says. “We did work for Air New Zealand,
in fashion.” including the Dreamliner, and we even did a
One of Ine’s most memorable roles while helicopter for Tom Cruise. It was transported
overseas was with a high-end tour company. in, the upholstery was fitted and they flew it
“We would meet groups of American tourists out again, it was crazy.”
when they arrived and escorted them around, Although there’s no trace of a European
making sure they had everything they accent during our chat, Ine says her family is
needed,” she says. “On a couple of occasions, firmly Dutch-Kiwi. “I still cook lots of Dutch
they would head straight for the BMW food at home and I have lots of Dutch habits
factory in Germany to order a brand-new car like putting all the pots and pans in the middle
and have it shipped back to America.” of the table,” she says.
As part of this job, Ine travelled extensively, While Ine loves to make the journey back
including around the Greek Islands on board to Europe as often as she can, a six-week visit
Sunline Cruises. “It was so much fun,” a year ago will need to sustain her until such a
she says. “I did that for about 18 months in time as COVID-19 loosens its grip on world.
total. Because I knew the agent in Athens, “A photograph in the Netherlands next year
there were times when I was able to be off at Christmas, that’s the aim, but we’ll have to
the ship and see the islands by land as well. see what happens,” she says.
It was definitely hard work. It was a six-week These days, Ine’s designing and sewing are
stint with a different group coming in each restricted to an occasional special project.
week. So, you were living out of a suitcase “It can be difficult to source all the bits and
for that time. But I certainly got to see some pieces, you often need to order things in
amazing places.” advance, so I don’t do too much,” she says.
As well as finding her roots in Europe, “But every now and then, when I feel like it,
Ine also found husband, Barend, and the I will get the machine out.”
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3
Funding supports widespread action on
pest control
The collective efforts of landowners, physical work being undertaken, including be limited by our imagination, our vision is active community groups contributing.
businesses and community groups are pest and weed control, and more recently a predator-free, invasive weed-free, bush to “We’ve built a very good relationship with
continuing to work towards a goal of, if not revegetation and restoration. beach corridor linking the DOC reserves at the ORG,” he says. “The work the group is
eliminating, at least reducing the volume of “While carrying out pest control, we found the rear of the wetlands to the Otama sand doing meshes really well with some of DOC’s
animal and plant pests on the Coromandel. out we have matuku, fern birds, pateke and dunes and lagoon.” efforts in this part of our district, in particular
The Otama Reserves Group (ORG) recently scaup, along with many other bird species DOC’s Coromandel District operations long-term sand dune protection initiatives and
received funding from both the Department of and this is what inspires us to protect and manager, Nick Kelly, says the Otama wetland restoration.”
Conservation and Waikato Regional Council preserve these reserves, along with what Peninsula has long been a conservation The ORG received a further $4,922 from
to drive forward its vision of a bush to beach inhabits them,” Paul says. “We don’t want to heartland for the district, with a number of WRC in its latest Small Scale Community
corridor free of weeds and pests. The group Initiatives Fund (SSCIF) round. This fund
received $13,000 in the latest round of DOC’s was set up to help local communities and
Community Conservation Fund grants, individual landowners undertake ecological
which ORG acting chair, Paul Kington, says enhancement through pest animal and plant
will be used to develop a robust restoration control, and this year received 72 applications.
plan for the wetland reserves it is already Several other Coromandel-based pest
working in alongside DOC and WRC. animal and plant control projects were also
“We identified very early on that in order to
supported from the SSCIF, among them Pest
achieve our goals and aspirations, we would
Free Opito Bay ($4,704), trapping for rats
require a comprehensive restoration plan
and stoats at Silverstream Falls ($4,059),
for the reserves - one recognised by local
government agencies, iwi, landowners and increased rat/mustelid control and continued
the community,” Paul says. “The funding will possum control at Driving Creek Railway
go toward employing ecological consultants ($4,321.60), and the Papa Aroha Forest
Jim Dahm and Meg Graeme to undertake a Restoration Project ($4,277.00).
wetland restoration plan… giving us a clear Natural Heritage biodiversity officer at
direction and document to help with future WRC, Andrew Thomas, says, “The fund
fundraising efforts.” helps volunteer groups and landowners with
The plan will also give the group a guideline the costs of materials required to undertake
on timeframes for a staged restoration pest management. Being able to support
approach over the next decade, and how the them financially to buy the tools can make
goals in the plan can be achieved. a real difference in trying to keep on top of
The ORG’s focus shifted to wetland The Otama Reserves Group has recently received funding from both the Deprtment of pests. In this funding round we are helping
reserves because members felt those areas Conservation and Waikato Regional Council to assist with its vision for a pest free with the purchase of a range of traps for rats,
were under greater pressure and had high bush to beach corridor between the DOC reserves at the back of the Otama wetlands stoats, possums and herbicide for pest
biodiversity value. That led to extensive and the sand dunes and lagoon at the beach end. plant control.”
Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020
Issue 915 - 15 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5
Peninsula Past - 1908 Every now and again, Informer contributor, Meghan Hawkes, reads through newspapers that circulated in Mercury Bay and on the Coromandel. Here are several interesting snippets of history she uncovered from 1908. Casting aspersions on Mercury Bay hotels was the Anglican Church who classified these country establishments as mere “drinking dens” where a traveller could not even get a cup of tea. Publicans from Mercury Bay and Gum Town hotels responded that the commercial public of Auckland, who travelled through their district, could not have been treated better. Furthermore, their hotels had always made it a rule to never charge a clergyman no matter what denomination and this had been strictly adhered to. A furious preacher also sprang to the hotel’s defence - hospitality in all cases was ungrudgingly given, nothing being charged for either himself or his horse. The Whitianga Hotel was a model one, well conducted and Cabbage Bay (Colville). Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19010601-1025-4. comfortable in every way - an ideal tourist’s mining point of view and though the land was to go over the proposed route and examine was despatched to the bay for him and then hotel. Publican, Mr O’Brien, had a kind rather poor, it had potential for pastoral and the back district. Some councillors thought took him to Coromandel hospital. Irish heart and Mrs O’Brien was extremely agricultural ventures. the road should come out at Kirikiri. A Whitianga mother had a narrow charitable. The clergymen of the Coromandel Considerable money had already been spent A communication on the matter was to be laid escape when a four-room house was totally were in the habit of staying at this hotel and on an existing road from Puriri to Tairua, before Parliament. destroyed by fire. The occupants were all in were always loud in praise of the generous but this appeared to have been a waste. A man driving a bullock wagon from bed when the fire started in a defective oil and kindly treatment they received and this If a road were formed from Neavesville to Cashmore’s and Goldie’s bush at Cabbage heater that had been left alight in the kitchen applied to all hotels in the district. Matatoki, about two thirds of the distance Bay met with a serious accident. He was to keep some food hot for a sick child. A proposed road from Thames to Tairua would be saved. A track already existed and seated on the wagon and his wife was on The mother tried to save some belongings but was discussed at a Thames Council meeting. was largely used by bushmen. horseback riding alongside when she fell off was severely burned. The road would go from the Kauaeranga An engineer was to be instructed to her horse. Her husband, in jumping off the Wanted - 30 gum diggers to dig gum over the Hihi to Tairua. The Tairua district investigate the matter, but before that was wagon to save her, went under the vehicle’s at Whenuakite No 2 Block, 1,000 acres - was one of considerable promise from a done an experienced bushman was required wheel and was badly injured. The SS Falcon apply D Bryce, Mercury Bay. Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020
What happens when the OCR goes negative? By Miles Flower of Mercury Bay Financial Services I write this and several follow-up articles as a qualified Authorised Financial Adviser with more than 20 years’ experience in helping clients with their money, I have an MBA and have completed the Graduate Diploma in Business Studies in Personal Financial Planning from Massey University. I hold the internationally recognised designation of a Certified Financial Planner, having completed an approved course of study and examination. Over the years, I have had the unfortunate experience of having to help my clients navigate through several financial crashes. I am happy to say the vast majority those clients were highly diversified in their investments and while they were not happy with the volatility they experienced with the markets going down and then up, they rode out the falls with time and have not lost any money. Many market commentators are predicting the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will look to implement a negative Official Cash Rate (OCR) as the next tool in its policy arsenal. Along with this, the RBNZ may combine a negative OCR with cheap long-term funding for banks to on-lend as mortgages. The RBNZ has already directed the banks to get their systems ready for a negative OCR by 1 December. The RBNZ estimates that in order to meet its inflation and employment goals, it will need to deliver monetary stimulus equivalent to an OCR of -2 percent over a period of two years. The expectation is that like other countries that have experienced a negative OCR interest rate, any interest rates paid or received by New Zealand households and businesses are not expected to go below zero. Unfortunately, when the OCR is already low, further cuts reduce only a portion of the banks’ overall funding costs and it is estimated that an OCR cut from 0.25 percent to -0.05 percent would reduce mortgage rates by less than 0.4 percent for mortgage holders. Many retired people rely on fixed interest term deposits to supply them with income to supplement their national superannuation. With current interest rates of 1.5 percent with major banks for two years and less for shorter terms, potentially going lower will make things even tighter for New Zealand’s retired population. We have all heard the old adage to not put all your eggs in one basket. Investing is the same, but take things one step further. Unfortunately, 10 years or so ago, in a low inflationary time, a lot of people lost money due to investing in finance companies to try and get a better return than what the major banks were offering. In an effort to diversify, they would invest in more than one finance company. The flaw in this was all the finance companies were in the same business of financing construction and when the building industry collapsed due to the Global Financial Crisis, so did all the finance companies. The way to diversify when investing is to invest in different assets. In following articles, I will explore some of the alternative types of investment individuals can invest their money in to generate income without undue risk. Issue 915 - 15 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7
Nineteenth “Support Local/
The Small-time Investor
By Whitianga resident, Max Ross Buy Local” winner drawn
Congratulations to Sonia McGregor, the 19th winner in The Informer’s “Support Local/Buy Local”
Vital Healthcare Property Trust
campaign. Sonia’s entry was drawn on Friday last week by Tony Wackrow (pictured) of Fagans
At the time of writing, there has been a few this week. Flooring Xtra in Whitianga.
days of selling in the markets. My portfolio I’m going to buy $100 of Vital Healthcare During the campaign, which will continue until the end of this month, we’re giving away $100 every
has lost all previous gains and in total I’m Property Trust. They operate in New week to someone who supported a local Mercury Bay business. The prize has to be spent with an
down $7.30, which is a -0.87 percent return. Zealand and Australia, and provide rental Informer advertiser.
When discussing investments with others, properties to the healthcare sector. They run Sonia’s winning purchase was made at The Style Makers in Whitianga.
one thing that comes up regularly is property. the buildings used by hospitals and other The campaign started in the second week of May. In the first week of October, all entries received
There is a Kiwi love affair with rental healthcare providers. during the 21 weeks of the campaign will go into a second draw, where the winner will win $1,000
property. Rental properties allow you to Currently I’m a bit worried about the to spend with one or more of our advertisers.
invest borrowed money and hopefully make a economy and am thinking that a larger share To enter is easy. Simply email us proof - in the form of invoices or receipts - of your local purchases,
capital gain on other people’s money. market drop may be coming. Real estate, or drop your invoices or receipts into the blue bin on the front porch of our office in Whitianga or in
People understand houses and other and in particular healthcare real estate, could the many “Support Local/Buy Local” counter boxes around Mercury Bay.
residential property, we all live in one and be a safer investment than regular shares.
so they make sense to us. To be able to Please write your name, surname and phone number on all your entries.
The essential nature of healthcare,
invest into a home for yourself or as a rental, The philosophy behind the campaign is simple - the more you buy local, the better chance you have
the aging demographic and world events are of winning.
you need a sizable chunk of savings, all indicating a long-term rise in demand for
a dependable income and a good relationship Local businesses need our support more than ever. Make sure to check out our “Support Local/Buy
healthcare services. Healthcare rents tend to
with a bank so they will lend you money. Local” video on YouTube, featuring a well-known local family (search for “Informer Support Local/
be long term leases and are not as affected by Buy Local”).
It’s hard for young people to get started
a downturn in the markets.
investing in this area. Remember, those who own and work in local businesses are your friends and neighbours. They are
It also feels good to be helping the
There is a solution to those of us with not as invested in your local community’s future as you are.
much to invest, but who want to invest in healthcare system run. So, I bought 32.8
property. It’s called a Real Estate Investment shares at $3.03 per share.
Trust or REIT. With these it’s harder to invest The risks are that Vital Healthcare will
in residential property, but easier to invest badly manage its investments or a COVID-19
into commercial property. recession will change the value of the
You can do this in Sharesies by investing buildings that the company has invested into.
into a real estate trust or managed fund. If interest rates rise, the value could also fall.
These are in essence companies that buy REITs are less attractive if you can earn good
real estate, manage the real estate, perform interest in a bank.
the maintenance, deal with the tenants and Please remember that this is all my personal
collect the rent from them. You can buy a part opinion. Some of my investments will
of these companies, like you can buy a part of lose money. I am sharing my thoughts and
any other company. strategies so you can learn from my mistakes.
With the current uncertainty in the markets, Be careful with your money and only invest
I’m going to invest $100 into property what you can afford to lose.
Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020
Issue 915
699 - 15
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9
Work on new Te Puna Reo fundraiser
skatepark underway a great success
Physical development work on the new organised and professional campaign which
Mercury Bay Skatepark got underway earlier engaged the community and made the project
this week and is expected to take around three happen. Trustee and long-time skateboarder,
months to complete. Chris Devenoges, said the long and exhausting
If work moves ahead on schedule, the new process had definitely been worth it and
facility should be open for action before thanked all who had contributed to making
Christmas this year, and ready to welcome the dream a reality. “The existing skatepark
local and visiting skaters and scooters in Whitianga, created mostly by an awesome
riders throughout the summer. On Monday, team of volunteers, is falling apart,” he said.
some of the key players in making the “It has cracked, bumpy concrete and a clear
project possible were at Taylor’s Mistake in need for more interesting features.”
Whitianga to welcome the first machinery on With upgrades all around the existing
site as Auckland-based contractor, Contrax skatepark as part of the Whitianga town
Limited - who have significant experience centre redevelopment, Chris said this really
in the building of skateparks - moved in to put the spotlight on the park’s poor condition
commence with construction. and the need to lift the standards, not just to
As well as the skate elements, the park meet the needs of users, but to mirror the
will include new landscaping, walkways and other aesthetic improvements in the area.
seating. While the Mercury Bay Skatepark According to Chris, the formation of the
Trust hit its fundraising target of $150,000 Mercury Bay Skatepark Trust in July 2018
The Te Puna Reo o Whitianga fundraiser that took place at the Mercury Bay Club on Saturday
earlier this year, support continues to come in was a gamechanger, bringing together a last week was a great success. “We’re overwhelmed by the community support we’ve received,”
from across the local business and community strong team with a range of different skills. says Lorelli Lupton, one of the organisers. “The Mercury Bay Club was the perfect venue for our
sectors, and the possibility of being able to “It was great to have a strong group of people market in the afternoon and concert in the evening.
provide floodlights is now also becoming working together to get this done,” he said. “At the market, we had craft stalls, amazing food, games and a colouring competition for the
a reality. “The community really got on board and put children, raffles and live music. Due to the COVID-19 alert level restrictions, we could only have
Thames-Coromandel District Council in tens of thousands of dollars and because 100 people at the concert and it was a sell-out. The live band, Harmonic Resonators from Tauranga,
has provided $460,000 towards the cost of that strong support it was possible to get a was fantastic. It was a great evening.”
of the project in this year’s Annual Plan. sizable grant from the Lottery Grants Board, Te Puna Reo o Whitianga is the only bilingual playgroup in Mercury Bay. The fundraiser coincided
A grant of $118,000 was also secured from which pushed the idea into reality.” with the group’s second birthday and also served as a precursor to Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
the Lottery Community Facilities Fund, with The Trust will continue to fundraise in (Māori Language Week), being held this week, from 14 to 20 Mahuru (September). The proceeds
the remaining money coming from donations, order to raise the estimated $50,000 needed of the fundraiser will go towards the building of a new deck at the rooms where the group meet at
raffles and other fundraising activities. for floodlights, as well as small ongoing costs Mercury Bay Area School.
The Mercury Bay Community Board for surface treatment to increase the park’s Pictured is Lorelli (on the right) with fellow fundraiser organisers, Alicia Gubb (on the left) and
has congratulated the trust for its highly expected life. Madeline Johnson.
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Pickleball Club thankful for
Scott’s Thoughts Grace O’Malley’s sponsorship
By Scott Simpson, National Party MP for Coromandel
Last week a lady told me she was going to put
her Christmas decorations up very early this
year because doing so would help remind her
that 2020 will soon be coming to an end.
This year has been tough for everyone,
but some have had more difficult challenges
than others.
The latest unemployment figures paint a
sad picture for thousands of New Zealand
families and highlight the scale of the
economic challenge our country is facing.
More than 5,000 people registered for
unemployment support in the fortnight to 28
August, bringing the total number of people
receiving some kind of unemployment benefit
to 222,000 - nearly 80,000 more people
unemployed than in March. Figures for the
Thames-Coromandel District show we’ve
had higher numbers of people registering for Coromandel MP, Scott Simpson.
the unemployment benefit than the average one in 14 workers now feel there is a high or
for New Zealand. almost certain chance they will lose their jobs
If that’s not sobering enough, what really or businesses within the next year.
worries me is that these numbers may be the Even in communities like Whitianga and
start of another wave of job losses as the third Mercury Bay, the reality of the economic
tranche of the wage subsidy ends. The worst disaster confronting us is hitting home. On Tuesday afternoon last week, members of the Mercury Bay Pickleball Club met with Peter Jones,
is yet to come. It’s rare these days to have a conversation the owner of Grace O’Malley’s Irish Inn in Whitianga, to thank him personally for his support of
Coromandel Peninsula businesses are with anyone about our current situation the club. A recent Grace O’Malley’s sponsorship allowed the club to purchase a teardrop flag and
overwhelmingly small businesses. We don’t without people agreeing that just borrowing club shirts.
tend to get jobs losses in large numbers from billions more dollars is not a realistic option.
The club was established a year ago and, with more than 60 paid-up members, is enjoying outstanding
single businesses. When job losses hit our People are right to be asking where the community support. A first competition team will represent the club at the Rotorua Open Pickleball
region, they come one or two people at a current government’s plan is for growing Championships during the first weekend of next month.
time, and they come from every sector and our economy, creating more jobs and
every type of business. These are not the giving businesses the confidence to grow. Peter says he’s proud to be associated with the Mercury Bay Pickleball Club. “For a young club,
kind of job losses that make headline news they’re doing very well,” he says. “It’s the sort of community activity I love to support.”
What I know for sure is that just creating
and they aren’t always obvious to others in more public holidays is not a plan for growth Rachel Johnston, club founder, says Peter’s support couldn’t have come at a better time. “How great
our community, but the impact for the people and prosperity. is it that we’ll be able to participate in our club colours in Rotorua,” she says.
involved, the people who have been made What is needed are pro-employment Club members play pickleball every Tuesday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and every Sunday from 3:00pm
redundant, is just as devastating. policies that will give businesses confidence to 5:00pm at the Mercury Bay Area School gym.
A new Statistics New Zealand survey has to invest, grow and create more jobs. Pictured is Peter (on the left) with the Mercury Bay Pickleball Club members who met with him on
found that 185,000 New Zealanders expect Governments do not create jobs… Tuesday. From the left - Sharyn Smith (next to Peter), Udo Gladbach, Tony Hill, Rachel Johnston,
to be out of work by mid next year and that stable, profitable businesses create jobs. Monika Gladbach and Debbie Cragg.
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www.presscouncil.org.nz.
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Issue 915
699 - 15
27 September
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13Local business’s new CNC machines to help
train more apprentices in the art of engineering
A chance encounter in Hamilton almost a handrails and balustrades, and they want to
year ago is now Whitianga’s gain. have it made locally in Whitianga, we would
When Derrick and Vicki Turner sold be able to design and produce it for them.”
their successful engineering business in “We ordered two machines from the
Johannesburg, South Africa a move to the USA just before the COVID-19 Alert Level
Land of the Long White Cloud was firmly 4 lockdown and while they were on the
on their radar. “We have family in New high seas, the agency through which we
Zealand and were looking forward to a worked in Auckland went into liquidation.
change of scenery,” says Derrick. “I jumped Unfortunately, that caused a whole heap
on a plane to determine what opportunities of legal wrangling to have the machines
were available. Driving from Auckland to released to us, but that is all behind us now.
Wellington, I stayed at a motel in Hamilton. The machines have been installed and are
As it turned out, the owner of the motel fully operational. We would like to think
was also one of the owners of Mercury Bay that we can now offer clients a one-stop shop
Engineering in Whitianga. We started talking when it comes to engineering solutions.”
and she said they were looking for someone Former Mercury Bay Area School student,
to take on the management of the business. Cody Golaboski, has recently finished
I agreed to come have a look and as I his apprenticeship through the business
drove into town, it was love at first sight. as a general and mechanical engineer and
An absolutely beautiful place. another former MBAS student, Austin
“Looking at the business, what I saw was a Brear, will finish his apprenticeship in the
dedication to delivering a very high standard next few months. “The transfer of skills is a
of work and a commitment to apprenticeship major priority for us,” says Derrick. “Going
training. I did not hesitate to sign on the forward, we would like to take on more
bottom line. I went back to South Africa to apprentices to train in the art of engineering.
fetch Vicki and our 18-year-old son, Raven, Mercury Bay Engineering manager, Derrick Turner (on the left), recently qualified engineer, We also look forward to working on projects
Cody Golaboski (centre) and apprentice engineer, Austin Brear,
and here we are. It’s now more than seven with the technology students at MBAS.
at one of the business’s two new CNC machines.
months since Vicki and I have taken over the Along with our CNC machines, we also have
management of the business and despite this an important part of our operation was the “We thought about acquiring two CNC a training simulator which makes it easier
being the most disruptive year imaginable, manufacture of bottle inspection equipment,” machines from Haas, a machine manufacturer to teach how to programme and operate the
we couldn’t be happier. says Derrick. “It’s equipment we custom in the United States, as they would be a machines without the fear of making a costly
With a background in CAD design and the designed and supplied to large South African valuable addition to the business’s existing mistake on the machine itself. That provides
manufacturing of custom-made components companies as well as for the export market. manufacturing and welding facility. a wonderful opportunity for the students to
and equipment, it wasn’t long before CNC machines can pretty much produce Basically, what it boils down to is if someone embrace highly sophisticated technology and
Derrick and Vicki decided to introduce CNC anything from steel, aluminium, stainless needs custom made parts for almost anything hopefully motivate them to consider what can
machinery into the business. “In South Africa, steel, brass and engineering plastics. from airplanes, boats, hotrods and bikes to become a satisfying and creative career.”
Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020Issue 915
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27 September
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15Let’s Talk About Pests Update on the general
By Sharon Clay of Peninsula Pest Services - Tel (027) 778 8836
And here we are in spring with all the bulbs and and has a resemblance to a mosquito. Adults
election
blossoms out in flower, but here come those fly at dusk on calm nights in mating swarms,
bugs that can make our spring and summer a but during daylight hours they rest and
constant headache. I’m not talking about pollen hide in vegetation near their breeding sites.
and hay fever, but those little annoying midges. Their primary food source comes from flower
The common New Zealand midge occurs nectar and other high-sugar juices such as plant
throughout the country and is associated sap, but they are also attracted to humans,
with most freshwater rivers and lakes. their pets and livestock thanks to the CO2, body
The adult midge is attracted to light and can be heat and particular scents that are being produced.
a nuisance at night, particularly in houses close Once midges become aware of these cues,
to waterways. they hunt down their target.
There are two types of midges in New Direct spraying onto foliage and lawns,
Zealand. One that feeds on vertebrates, including or under trees and any other surface where the
humans, and those that feed off insects. They do insects are landing will reduce the number of
not transmit any diseases, they’re just annoying. midges congregating on your home and help to
Midges breed throughout the year, but most eliminate them.
prolifically in summer. The larvae stage is the Do not leave any container of stagnant The New Conservative Party expressed concern after one of their general election hoardings
so-called “blood-worm,” which is common in water around your property, such as a bucket, along Joan Gaskell Drive in Whitianga was vandalised for the third time last week.
mud at the bottom of most freshwater areas. and covering fish ponds with a light gauze can “The billboard promotes our ‘No Carbon Tax’ message,” says Anton Roest, convenor of the
Large-scale breeding produces large amounts also help. Citronella candles can be helpful, party in the Coromandel Electorate. “It’s clearly a policy some people don’t like. Their vandalism
of adults in shallow lakes, man-made shallow but are not always as effective as some people shows that they have no respect for democracy, freedom of speech and conservative values.”
wastewater/oxidation ponds and stagnant water would like to hope. The Informer isn’t aware of damage to any other election hoardings in the wider Mercury
found in home ponds. Water containers is If you have questions about midges Bay area.
another source. and any other pests, please phone us on
The adult midge is about 5mm in length (027) 778 8836. Nine candidates have so far indicated that they will contest the Coromandel Electorate in the
general election on 17 October. Incumbent, Scott Simpson, is representing the National Party,
Nathaniel Blomfield is running for the Labour Party, Pamela Grealey is representing the Green
Party, the New Conservative Party is represented by Michael Egleton, Rob Hunter is running for
The Opportunities Party, Steve Hart is running for the Outdoors Party, the Advance New Zealand
Party is represented by Tony Brljevich, David Olsen is representing the Act Party and “Not a
Party” is represented by Bob Wessex.
Advance voting opens on Saturday, 3 October. We have already sent a list of Coromandel
Peninsula-focused questions to the electorate candidates and will publish their answers in our
issue of 29 September.
A “Meet the Candidates” meeting will be held in the Whitianga Town Hall on Sunday,
27 September.
Pictured is the damaged New Conservative Party hoarding along Joan Gaskell Drive.
Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020Issue 915
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27 September
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17Tsunami sirens’ final
call delayed
The Coromandel’s network of tsunami sirens be council’s job to build confidence and
is to be phased out over the next 18 months, trust in a new alert system so the reasons for
but not before an alternative, suitable and decommissioning the sirens would be clearly
effective alert system is in operation. understood. “We will be talking particularly
Thames-Coromandel District Council’s with those 10 communities where they have
Civil Defence Controller, Garry Towler, installed their own sirens,” he said.
said he could absolutely guarantee that under Council’s preference is to fully move away
no circumstances would communities be left from sirens and have the entire Thames-
without a warning system. “We have a duty Coromandel District on the same alert
of care as a council, that is not something that system. “We don’t want to end up with mixed
will ever happen,” he said. The new system messages which could be very confusing,
is likely to include an Indoor Alerting Device especially for visitors,” Mr Towler said.
(IAD), which would either plug in or be wired The total cost of an IAD system and
into homes. However, the extent to which how it would be funded have not yet been
such a tool would be used, and how it fits into announced. Mr Towler said this will form
a wider plan for communicating tsunami and part of a full business case currently being
other civil defence emergencies, is currently conducted by Hamilton-based consultants,
under consideration. Advance Business, who are expected to
TCDC has negotiated with Fire and report back within a month. “It will then
Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for the go to the TCDC Emergency Management
continued transmission of tsunami warnings, Committee who will send it forward with a
which are issued via the council’s paging recommendation to the full council,” he said.
system, until early 2022. Currently TCDC “I would hope to see that done by the end of
sends out these alerts through 19 FENZ- the year.”
operated sirens, mostly at fire stations, and If endorsed, the IAD system would likely
10 separate community sirens. However, be part of an overall suite that could also
due to upgrades to the FENZ system, it was include the national Civil Defence emergency
expected that TCDC would no longer be able mobile alert system, apps such as Geonet and
to use these sirens from the end of this year. other social media solutions.
“We have gone back to FENZ and they A pilot programme involving 120 IAD
have agreed to push this out until February units plugged in at various key locations
2022,” Mr Towler said. “They recognise on the Coromandel at the start of this year,
that we need to have a solution in place for particularly targeting areas with poor cell
alerting our communities and we are working phone coverage, showed a success rate of
with them on having a plan in place.” around 85 percent. Meanwhile, work is
Although it is estimated that the siren continuing on the 29 Community Response
network only reaches around 30 per cent Plans which are being developed in
of the Coromandel Peninsula’s population, consultation with residents. “This process
Mr Towler said both TCDC and FENZ were is going really well with a high level of
mindful that they were still seen as a tried engagement,” Mr Towler said. “The alert
and trusted method by many members of system, once finalised will form part of
the community. “Part of the planning we are these plans.”
working on will include a new education Around 20 of the Community Response
programme,” he said. “Technology is Plans have been completed, including
changing, the options we have for alerting all the major centres on the Peninsula,
people are getting better and better.” with work in progress or about to start on the
Once operational, Mr Towler said it would remaining nine.
Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020Issue 915
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19What’s On The next few weeks
Op-Shops Matarangi Craft Group
Social Services Op-Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street Meets fortnightly at the Matarangi Fire Station. Phone Lesley on 866 0788 for more information.
(west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:300am - 2:00pm. Whitianga Art Group
The Church Op-Shop - At St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Meets every Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 23 School Road, Whitianga. Visitors are invited to join us for
Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm. a day of painting. Start-up materials supplied. Phone Jenny on (027) 210 0160 for more information.
St John Opportunity Shop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm and Saturday AA Driver Licensing
10:00am - 2:00pm. The second Friday of every month at St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga.
Justice of the Peace Whitianga Tramping Group
Available every Monday (except public holidays) from 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. Meets every second Sunday at 8:30am. Phone Wally on (021) 907 782 or Lesley on (021) 157 9979 for more information.
Bookings not necessary. Phone 866 4476 for more information. Mercury Bay Table Tennis
Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open every Monday - Saturday from Meets every Tuesday from 9:30am - 11:30am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Phone Anne on
10:00am - 2:00pm. 869 5162 for more information.
Whitianga Senior Citizens Club Mercury Bay Badminton
Meets Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie Meets every Wednesday from 9:30am - 11:00am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome.
etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Phone Adrian Telders (president) on 866 5377 for more information. Phone (07) 866 5476 for more information.
Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Mercury Bay Pickleball Club
Meets the fourth Monday of every month at 10:00am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Meets Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 6:00pm and every Sunday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm at the Mercury Bay Area School
Phone Joan on 866 3801 or (027) 275 1372 for more information. gym, South Highway, Whitianga, $5 per session. Paddles and balls supplied. Tuition available.
SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated Tour de Friends Biking
Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their A 23km ride social ride around the flat areas of Whitianga. Meets every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 9:00am
computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on opposite Taylor’s Mistake, Whitianga. Followed by coffee. Phone Lance Cook on (021) 048 8475 or John Gregory on
866 4215 for more information or to join. (027) 278 0002 for more information.
Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga Cooks Beach Garden Circle
Meets every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 6:00pm in Room 10 at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Meets the last Thursday of every month from 11:15am - 2:30pm. New members welcome. Phone Leila on 866 3264 or
Learn portion control, eliminate processed sugar, eat well at meals and eat well for life. Support to lose weight wisely. Anne on 866 0268 for more information.
Check out our Facebook page or phone 869 5648 for more information. Exercises for the Elderly and Those with Arthritis
Serenity Al-Anon Group Every Tuesday from 10:00am - 11:00am at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Street, Whitianga. $2 entry.
Meets every Tuesday at 1:30pm. Phone 866 5104 or (021) 086 10955 for more information. For those affected by Phone Viv on (028) 403 6741 for more information.
someone else’s drinking.
Dog Walking Group
Meets every Thursday at 2:00pm at Lovers Rock, Robinson Road, Whitianga. An opportunity to socialise your dog. Coromandel Wedding Vendors Get-together
Phone Jenny on (021) 186 5797 for more information. Thursday, 17 September from 4:30pm - 7:30pm at 221 Mill Creek Road, RD1 Whitianga. A networking
ICONZ for Girls and social opportunity for those involved in the wedding industry in Mercury Bay. Around 70 local vendors
Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at “The Dwelling,”Coghill Street, Whitianga. For girls 8 - 13 years old. Phone Robyn on are expected to come together to discuss collaborating and supporting each other. The event will also
(020) 409 39674 for more information. include a marketing photoshoot where vendors can feature their marketing material and/or products.
Whitianga Playcentre Hosted by Party Hire Whitianga, it will be a fun, social event with all local businesses who are involved in
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00am - 12:00 noon and every Friday from 12:00 noon - 2:45pm at 1D White Street, supplying or hosting weddings welcome to attend. For more details and to RSVP, email Richard and Helen at
Whitianga. For children 0 - 6 years, free entry. Visitors welcome. info@partyhirewhitianga.co.nz.
Cooks Beachcare Group SeniorNet Whitianga Open Day
Make new friends, learn about conservation and make a difference. We meet Thursdays for hands-on weeding and Tuesday, 22 September from 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive.
planting, 9:00am - 11:00am. Register on our website, www.cooksbeachcare.org.nz or phone Adele on (021) 201 6625. Mercury Bay Area School Drive In Movie
Scrapbags Quilting Group Saturday, 26 September at 7:00pm at the MBAS field. “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be screened. Tickets $5 per
Meets every Wednesday from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Street, Whitianga. All welcome. person, available from the school office. Food will be available. A Year 13 Business Studies class initiative.
phone Shelley on 866 0236 for more information.
8
Page 20 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 915 - 15 September 2020SeniorNet
By Mavis Hicks
Update
Our Open Day has come around again. to check out, the dress in a shop window
It will be held on Tuesday, 22 September and instructions on how to do something.
from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The venue is Treat the camera as a recording device,
the SeniorNet Room, Whitianga Social not just to photograph the grandchildren.
Services Building, Cook Drive. Registration These recordings can be deleted later when
for classes and workshops will be held on they are no longer needed.
the day and it’s also a time for new members Our members will remember Peter
to join SeniorNet and discuss courses. Bethell, a former SeniorNet Whitianga
There will be committee members and tutors chairman and tutor. Peter has offered to
available to explain the various classes/ provide a class remotely using Zoom as
workshops for the coming term. the means of contact. The class subject
The often-used saying, “A brave new is still to be decided, but it will be a good
world,” correctly describes where we opportunity to see how Zoom works. It’s a
seniors are in the IT world today. We can great programme for participation in family
either embrace it and make our devices meetings and it’s free.
work for us, or struggle on with the old A tip for iPad users. If you accidently
ways. The days of scribbling notes or delete an email received or one you are
busy writing, shake the iPad and a message
writing letters with pen on paper are
will pop up asking if you want to undo the
gone. SeniorNet members can start their
instruction. Indicate “Yes “and the text will
learning with the basic use of devices and
come back on the screen.
keep progressing, or, if you already have
The SeniorNet Whitianga committee and
some computer literacy, you can continue tutors are looking forward to seeing our
to improve your knowledge. Finding members at the Open Day and meeting with
out just how useful our devices can be is people wishing to find out more about what
amazing - writing, taking measurements, SeniorNet can offer them to help manage
meeting a new friend and adding a phone their devices.
number, making a presentation for a family The contact person for SeniorNet
event and much more. The new shopping Whitianga is Lorna Russell, telephone
list is not on the fridge anymore, it’s on your (07) 866 4215 (daytime only please).
phone. Your diary it there as well when you
are making appointments.
About your phone’s camera. It’s not
just for pretty pictures, it’s also great for
recording a picture of a flower or shrub
Issue 915 - 15 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21You can also read
