Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer

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    Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                                    Phone 07 866 2090                                        (07) 867 15               Circulation 7,200
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Sir Owen Glenn and the “Tin Cup”
By Stephan Bosman

A group of friends from the USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand played for the “Tin Cup” at     wonderful course.”
the Mercury Bay Golf Club in Whitianga on Saturday last week. Among the friends was well-          The friends finished the day with a top-class meal at the golf club.
known Kiwi businessman and philanthropist, Sir Owen Glenn.
                                                                                                   Sir Owen’s yacht, Ubiquitous, arrived in Mercury Bay on Thursday last week. The yacht was
The friends play for the cup on an annual basis. Saturday’s competition was organised by           moored off Cooks Beach until last Sunday morning.
Doug Pye, a Whitianga holiday home owner who’s based in Los Angeles. Doug and Sir Owen             It was Sir Owen’s commitment to making the world a better place that caused him to embark
are good friends.                                                                                  on his many philantropic endeavours. Through the Glenn Family Foundation, he has made for
This year’s winners of the Tin Cup were Dean Anglesey and Lee Peina. Dean is a former Super        nearly 40 years significant donations in support of innovative projects in New Zealand, Australia
Rugby player and Lee is a former King Country provincial rugby team captain. The best individual   and throughout the Asia Pacific region. One of Sir Owen’s most recent acts of philanthropy was
player on the day was Sam Pye.                                                                     the establishment of the Sir Owen G Glenn Scholarship - an initiative that will enable high-
After conclusion of the competition on Saturday, Sir Owen unexpectedly borrowed some               achieving University of Auckland business students to continue their studies for a year in the
stationery from the golf club’s pro shop and wrote a note to Andrew Boyle, superintendent of       USA and China.
the Mercury Bay Golf Course, complimenting him on the condition of the greens on the course.       Pictured is Sir Owen (on the left) with some of the friends who played for the Tin Cup on
“The greens were world standard” Sir Owen wrote. “Thank you for caring for this                    Saturday. From the left - Sam Pye (next to Sir Owen), Dean Anglesey, Lee Peina and Doug Pye.

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Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
A huge array of talent on display
in Circus Aotearoa performances
By Meg Tatton-Brown

Last weekend (from Friday 18 January to Sunday 20 January), Circus Aotearoa once
again wowed the Mercury Bay community with four spectacular performances at the
grounds of Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga.
  The Raglan-based circus is on their 11th tour of New Zealand. Whitianga is always
part of their itinerary.
  The Coromandel Peninsula was their first stop this time around and they will soon be
making their way down south, performing in as many towns as possible.
  I attended the performance last Friday evening. Despite the threatening rain clouds,
the atmosphere was one of excitement. Fresh popcorn, candy floss, lollies and drinks
were on sale, which added to the circus theme.
  Once inside the stunning traditional big top tent, I was lucky enough to be seated
ringside, only a few meters way from the performers. Veteran ringmaster, Damian
Gordon, kicked off the show with a welcome, before we were straight into the first act
of the night.
  Throughout the performance, a huge array of talent was on display. The performers
were of all different ages and came from both from New Zealand and overseas.
The audience witnessed jugglers, aerial displays, tight rope and ladder walking,
precarious balancing acts and more.
  The youngest performer, Artemis, wowed everyone with a beautiful hula hoop routine,
using nothing but her body to keep many hoops spinning at once. Matthias mesmerised
the audience with a crazy display of talent as he balanced himself on a plank of wood
placed atop a pile of moveable objects while juggling clubs. Justin’s display of upper
body strength, doing with one arm what most people will struggle to do with two,
was nothing short of amazing. In one of the last acts, Irene stunned us all as she climbed
to the top of a long rope and then proceeded to twist her body into amazing positions,
complete with an astounding spinning routine called the Spanish Web.
  Of course no circus is complete without a clown. The children were thoroughly excited
when Damian Gordon’s alter ego, Pod the Clown, took centre stage, delighting everyone
with a range of antics. He even used a piece of my hair in one of his jokes!
  The entire show had a feel-good vibe and was highly interactive. The audience was
encouraged to participate in some of the acts, whether from their own seats or by joining
the performers in the ring.
  One look at the audience with their huge smiles and laughter and it wasn’t difficult to
see that the show was a resounding success.
  A huge thank you to Circus Aotearoa for not only their performances over the weekend,
but also the continuous hard work and dedication that goes into making the performances
possible for communities like ours to enjoy. We very much look forward to their return!                   Justin, one of the Circus Aotearoa performers, in action in Whitianga last weekend.

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Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
Photoshoot for Kuaotunu
mini skateboard ramp

A photoshoot of people supporting the development of a mini skateboard ramp (halfpipe) in
Kuaotunu was held last Sunday.
The purpose of the photoshoot was to create awareness of a campaign to raise funds for the
mini ramp and also to create a library of photos that can be used in the fundraising campaign.
The idea of a halfpipe in Kuaotunu was first raised in August 2017 when Kuaotunu resident
and Mercury Bay Area School Student, Vinnie Russell, addressed the Merecury Bay Community
Board. The idea has since been “adopted” by the Kuaotunu Residents and Ratepayers
Association (KRRA) and is being spearheaded by a committee made up of Kuaotunu residents
Kathy Speirs, Luke Reilly, Rory Keyworth and Richard White.
The intention is to develop a halfpipe similar to the mini ramp in Grey Lynn in Auckland.
A location for the mini ramp has not yet been finalised.
The fundraising campaign target is $75,000. Approximately $10,000 has already been raised.
“Any kid or family interested in getting involved in raising funds [for the mini ramp] or assisting
in any other way, must please contact myself or any of the other [mini ramp] committee
members through the KRRA website,” says Luke Reilly.
The KRRA website, www.kuaotunu.nz, also contains the details of a bank account halfpipe
donations can be made into.
Pictured are some of the people who participated in Sunday’s photoshoot.

    wATERPROOF | iDEAL FOR RENOVATIONS
    iMPACT resistance | bODY WELLNESS | sILENCE

      699 - 23
Issue 829   27 January
               July 20162019                                              The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz   Page 3
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
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Page 4                                                      The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                 Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
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               2.0
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               1.5
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                       53        15        28        33        47          08        23          28          41          01        17          24         35          54        11        20        29          47        06        17        24        40        00        14        21        34        56
                     2:        9:        3:        9:        3:        10
                                                                          :        4:        10
                                                                                                :          4:        11
                                                                                                                        :        5:        11
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Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                                                                                                         The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                                                                                                            Page 5
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
Page 6   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz   Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
Flox and #TrustMe to participate in
Tuia 250 Street Art Festival
The Mercury Bay Art Escape have announced
on Thursday last week that internationally
respected street artists Flox (Hayley King)
and #TrustMe (Ross Liew) will participate
in the Tuia 250 Whitianga Street Art Festival
that will be held from Monday 4 March to
Friday 8 March.
   The pair will paint a large mural between
The Cave retail store and the Whitianga Town
Hall in Monk Street.
   They have recently completed a mural
in Riverton that illustrates the concepts
of diversity and inclusiveness. The same
concepts are relevant to the nationwide Tuia
theme of “weaved together,” the intangible
bonds that are established between people
when they work together.
   Flox’s intricately hand-cut stencils
are what makes her style unique and her
trademark native birds, ferns and flowers are
not only depicted in her murals, but also in
her expanded practice of producing prints,
publications and homewares. Numerous TV
appearances and editorials have added to her
popularity. Seen everywhere from Berlin,                 Internationally respected street artists Flox (right) and #TrustMe will be participate in the Tuia 250 Whitianga Street Art Festival
Hong Kong and New York to Taiwan and                                         that will be held from Monday 4 March to Friday 8 March. Photo courtesy of Studio Jubb.
India, Flox continues to spread her wings.       and contributing towards the improvement of       artists and the communities which host              Art Festival in March,” says Jane Parson,
   #TrustMe has more than 15 years’              public spaces. His personal and professional      their work.                                         organiser of the street art festival. “The
experience in public art. He is a founding       focus is on the role art and artists can play       “We are honoured by the generous                  festival, along with other art installations that
member of Cut Collective, an Auckland-based      in contributing towards the quality of built-     community spirit shown by [Flox and                 will form part of the Whitianga town upgrade,
art collective specialising in public projects   up environments and the communities that          #TrustMe], who are, [like all the other artists],   will see Whitianga and Te Whanganui-A-Hei
and is a passionate advocate for the role of     occupy and use them, while, at the same time,     donating their skills and time when they            [Mercury Bay] visually showing its important
public art in enhancing built-up environments    encouraging authentic engagement between          participate in the Tuia 250 Whitianga Street        place in the history of New Zealand.”

Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                            The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                                         Page 7
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
Auckland improv group
                                  to perform in Tairua

                                  Auckland improv group “Casual First Date” (pictured) will be performing at the Tairua Community Hall
                                  this coming Saturday (26 January). The performance is a fundraiser for lifesaving equipment at Sailor’s
                                  Grave Beach.
                                  Fans of the television show, “Whose Line is it Anyway?” know that improv theatre guarantees plenty of
                                  humour in a relaxed setting. While the audience is encouraged to offer topics for the actors, they are not
                                  expected to join them on stage.
                                  The actors’ improvisation ensures that each performance is unique.
                                  It is the first time the group is performing in Tairua and the group members are excited about the
                                  opportunity to bring their style of comedy to the town.
                                  The show starts at 7:30pm and includes light refreshments. Tickets are $15 and on sale at the Tairua
                                  Information Centre. There will also be door sales on the night.
                                  The group’s decision to support a fundraiser for lifesaving equipment follows the near drowning of one of
                                  their members last summer, when the member was rescuing a young swimmer caught in a rip at a popular
                                  family beach.
                                  The initiative to install the lifesaving equipment at Sailor’s Grave Beach is supported by the Tairua
                                  Environment Society, the Tairua Surf Lifesaving Club and Thames-Coromandel District Council.

Page 8   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                   Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
“10 Artists” exhibition to be held over
Anniversary Weekend
“10 Artists,” a collective of professional artists, will hold their annual
exhibition in the Kuaotunu Hall over Anniversary Weekend.
   The artists are looking forward to repeating the success of their inaugural
exhibition, which was held at the same time last year. The historic hall will
be transformed into a vibrant contemporary art gallery by the artists, who all
live in the Kuaotunu area between Otama Beach and Whangapoua.
   The collective held a second exhibition during Labour Weekend last
October, which also included artist-run workshops, but the Anniversary
Weekend event is their flagship exhibition and is expected to become an
anticipated part of the growing Mercury Bay arts scene.
   “We are excited about becoming a permanent fixture on Mercury Bay
area’s arts calendar and showcasing the amazing talent we have in our
small corner of the Coromandel,” says 10 Artists spokesperson, Isabel
Gilbert Palmer
   One of the distinctive aspects of the collective is the variety of work
produced, from photography, drawing, collage and painting to weaving,
sculpture and mixed media.
   “We aim to keep the exhibition fresh for our community and the many
visitors we get to our area, while still maintaining the high standard of work
demonstrated by the collective,” says Isabel.
   As some members of the collective have international careers and
commitments, different artists may be invited to participate, while still
keeping the talent local. Jewellery maker Hannah Clayton, who moved to
Kuaotunu from Whitianga two years ago, will be exhibiting as part of the
collective over Anniversary Weekend. “The 10 Artists exhibition is a fantastic
representation of the vibrant and supportive arts community we have in
Kuaotunu,” says Hannah. “I’m very excited to be a part of the exhibition and
to be able to add metalsmithing into the mix of mediums within the group.”
   Most of the artworks in the exhibition will be for sale and visitors will be
be able to meet the artists in person.
   The exhibition will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday 26
January and Sunday 27 January and from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Monday                             Hannah Clayton, a jewellery maker, is one of the artists who’ll be participating in the
28 January.                                                                                             10 Artists exhibition in Kuaotunu over Anniversary Weekend.

Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                              The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                               Page 9
Sir Owen Glenn and the "Tin Cup" - Circulation 7,200 - The Mercury Bay Informer
The first 40 years of the Mercury Bay
Aero Club - scratching the surface
By Jack Biddle
Driving into Whitianga from the south,                a piece of paper expressing a desire to become    its own airfield, Whitianga would gain better        flying day took place. Two Tiger Moths were
the Whitianga Airport, owned by the Mercury           members of an aero club in Mercury Bay.           access to the outside world as well as creating      flown from Auckland and landed on Buffalo
Bay Aero Club, is one of the first and biggest        What instigated the interest initially was when   an opportunity for those locals wanting to learn     Beach, where local aviation enthusiasts were
landmarks that attract the eye of people              Mr L Russell and Mr H Rees discovered the         to fly.                                              taken for joyrides around the Bay. When the
entering our patch of paradise. And while there       government had drawn up a proposal for an            On 1 October 1948, the Mercury Bay Aero           tide came in, the planes were pulled up onto
is a regular flow of air traffic all year round,      airfield in Whitianga during World War II.        Club became an incorporated society and not          Albert Street and parked in a paddock behind
the summer months certainly see an increase in           The thinking at the time was that by having    long after the first organised, albeit unofficial,   what was then the home of the Mercury Bay
numbers on or above the grassed runway.
   For many visiting flying enthusiasts,
Whitianga is just a hop, step and a jump from
main centres such as Auckland and Hamilton.
It is aviation’s version of a Sunday drive for
enthusiastic pilots and passengers who love
the picturesque view of Mercury Bay before
touchdown and after takeoff.
   So popular has the airport become that hangar
space is at a premium and the demand from
owners wanting their own private space to
park and tinker with their planes currently
exceeds supply.
   The airport is also used by a couple of boutique
commercial operators to transport passengers on
regular routes as well as offering charter flights
to destinations around New Zealand.
   So where did it all begin?
   Well, like most things in the greater Mercury
Bay area, the Whitianga Airport and the
Mercury Bay Aero Club had small beginnings
and a keen volunteer labour force to help get it
off the ground (excuse the pun).
   According to notes taken from the aero club’s
40th anniversary celebrations held in 1988,
it all started on 30 April 1948 when a number                                The first airfield the Mercury Bay Aero Club developed on Norman (Boy) Wells’s farm in Whitianga.
of interested gentleman signed their names to                                                 The photo, courtesy of the Mercury Bay Museum, was taken in 1963.

Page 10                                                                     The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                  Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
The Mercury Bay
Aero Club
Bowling Club.                                          Cessna 172, registered ZK-CDB. It had seating
   In the early 1950’s, Norman (Boy) Wells             for four and a cruising speed of over 120 knots.
expressed an interest in forming an aerial top-           Never happy to simply sit on their hands,
dressing strip on his Whitianga farm at the            the next item on the club’s wish list was
northern end of Racecourse Road. The aero              purchasing their own airfield and on 4 May 1965
club, keen to get something happening, agreed          a proposal was put forward to obtain 200 acres
to form the airstrip on Boy’s farm for an agreed       of land owned by Mr R Rohrlach. The price was
sum of 450 pounds, which was to become the             15,000 pounds. After arranging suitable finance,
start of the club’s aircraft fund. Soon to follow      a resolution was eventually passed at a meeting
was the start of another fund by way of things         on 16 February 1966 that the Mercury Bay
such as debentures and scrap metal drives to           Aero Club should take the bold step to purchase
build a hangar on the land.                            the land.
   A temporary strip licence for dual flight              And so began the formation of the Whitianga
training using an Auster aircraft based in             Airport as we know it today.
Thames was also sought from and approved by               In 1984, a committee was formed to look into
the Civil Aviation Authority.                          the feasibility of operating a twin aircraft out of
   On 26 June 1955, the Mercury Bay Aero               Whitianga, which resulted in the formation of
Club’s first official flying day took place when 30    Whitianga Air Services Limited two years later.
club members were taken for dual flight training       It was a move designed to segregate the club
by Mr BH Packer, an ex-Air Force instructor,           completely from their commercial operations,
who had been duly elected as club instructor.          leaving the club members to concentrate on
   In August 1955, Midland Air Services                getting on with running an aero club.
approached the club to operate an air service             This summary of part of the history of the
out of Whitianga, which was first flown by             Mercury Bay Aero club is only scratching the
John Stokes.                                           surface of the club’s first 40 years. The making
   With the runway complete and a hangar under         of two airfields and building some outstanding
construction, an aircraft of their own was the         club facilities have been great achievements for
next priority for club members. They finally           a small club.
settled on a Tiger Moth purchased from the                The last paragraph of an anniversary booklet
Waikato Aero Club for the sum of 525 pounds.           published in 1988 seems to sum it all up
It was to be the first of several aircraft the club    perfectly. It reads, “Many pilots have passed
was to purchase over the years.                        through our doors over the years as have a
   The club decided in 1963 to make an                 number of instructors. Some have gone onto
application for a charter licence. This was            fame or fortune, some haven’t, but one thing
followed in early December by the arrival of the       you can be sure of, they all had a lot of fun along
club’s first commercial aeroplane, a brand-new         the way.”

  Heritage fete to highlight
  Tairua’s rich history

  Tairua’s rich heritage will be celebrated at the Tairua Heritage Fete this coming Saturday (26 January).
  The event, which will be held at the Cory Park Domain, includes competitions and races, a tug-o-war
  and the return of the popular Scruffs Dog Show. Classic cars are also expected to attract visitors.
  One of the organisers, Auriol Farquhar, says the fete will raise funds for a proposed heritage centre in
  Tairua, however, the emphasis on the day is community involvement and fun. “We would like lots of
  entries in advance for our photography and art competitions and hope to see lots of competitors on
  the day for the kids races, decorated bikes and tug-o- war,” she says.
   “We are very grateful to local businesses, especially CoroVets, who have been most generous in their
  donations of vouchers and items for prizes.”
  The Tairua Volunteer Fire Brigade will attend the fete, which will also include a Middle Eastern dance
  performance and entertainment from singers.
  There will be many stalls and raffles, plus Devonshire cream teas and a sausage sizzle will also be
  on offer.
  Auriol points out that people may need cash, as there are only a few stalls with Eftpos and voting for
  competitions is through gold coin donations.
  Thames-Coromandel District Council mayor, Sandra Goudie, will open the event. People attending are
  encouraged to wear heritage costumes to fit the theme and add to the atmosphere. There will also be
  a Tairua Heritage Fete fancy dress competition.
  Entry details for the art, photography and heritage dress competitions are available at the Tairua
  Information Centre and the Tairua Library in Manaia Road.
  Pictured celebrating Tairua’s rich history are Rowena Brown (left) and Ros Rundle.

Issue 829
      699 - 23
            27 January
               July 20162019                                                     The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz   Page 11
From Hollywood extra to Hot Water
Beach local
By Suzanne Hansen
Hot Water Beach local, Bob Noe, is no stranger      In the 1960s, getting work as an extra in
to Hollywood. He spent many of his younger          Hollywood was no easy task and although
years in the mid-1960s appearing as an extra        Bob’s sister, Lynn, was married to Michael
in various television shows and movies in and       Landon, who at the time was playing Little Joe
around Los Angeles.                                 Cartwright in Bonanza, Bob had to make his
   A Los Angeles native, Bob worked as an           own way into the Screen Extras Guild, which
extra to afford the tuition and books for his       was tightly knit and stringently unionised.
undergraduate degree at the University of             Nepotism and using connections were
Southern California. “Some were attracted to        frowned upon in the Screen Extras Guild,
stardom. Me… I just wanted to pay my way            so Bob went through the normal channels,
through university,” he says.                       which entailed monthly casting calls with
   Throughout his time at university,               interviews where he found himself with little
Bob got regular work in a cavalcade of              to say.
roles, frequently appearing in the TV series          To his good fortune, Bob soon came across
“Bonanza” as a cowboy, barman, man about            a casting agent called Bob Crosby who knew
town or whatever the producers required.
                                                    and liked Lynn. When Bob Crosby asked
He calls “Star Trek” a weird set where he
                                                    what Bob could do, he told him he could
was forced to wear a costume sporting a
                                                    “do everything,” including riding a horse,
pair of pants with a bell bottom on one leg
                                                    although his experience with horses was
and stretchy leotard on the other. In “20,000
Leagues Under the Sea,” he drove a submarine        limited. Bob soon got an offer to appear in
while sobbing during a nuclear holocaust and        his first extra role in a TV series called “Mr
he played a knight in “Sir Lancelot.” He was        Novak,” about a young, tough-minded high
also an extra in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”        school teacher, starring James Franciscus.
   Bob was called up for extra roles in             Although already in university, a blonde,
“The Graduate” a couple of times. The first         younger looking Bob was hired as a high
scene he was to appear in conflicted with his       school student and got himself a union card.
final exams. He got called up again and was           When the Bonanza producers found out that
told to appear in the desert east of Los Angeles    Bob was in the union and “could ride horses,”
in a suit. A surfer, he reluctantly donned a blue   they seized the opportunity to take him on
suit, only to sit around and sweat in the heat      as a “man about the set.” He got thrown
all day. When he was finally requested to           quite quickly on a horse. Luckily some very
act, he was so testy that when the scene was        talented cowboys were happy to train him and
filmed, he buried himself in a newspaper and        Bob became a familiar face in various roles in                       Hot Water Beach local, Bob Noe, with his puppy,
can only be seen as a blue arm behind a paper.      Bonanza. He was in the series so frequently                        Uno Mas (“One More” in Spanish), and his Combi van.

Page 12                                                                   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                         Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
From Hollywood extra to                                                                                 MERCURY BAY PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC

Hot Water Beach local                                                                                         Robert Lindsay Dip Phty(Otago) ADP(OMT), Dip.MT.
                                                                                                                  Co-author of ‘Treat Your Own Shoulder’
                                                                                                                                and Associates
                                                                                                                       Crystal Vause BHScPhysiotherapy
(always non speaking), that the producers          horse ran off with some expensive gear and
even sprayed his blonde hair black and gave        was never seen again.
him a moustache just to stretch his versatility.     Bob describes the Bonanza cast of Lorne
                                                                                                              Manipulation / Back and Neck Pain / Work Injuries
   Shooting horse chases with lots of rough        Greene, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon                     Sports Injuries / Post Surgery and Fracture Rehab
and tumble rifle wars was tricky. Bob speaks       very fondly, saying they were as nice in reality          Acupuncture / Hand Therapy / Women’s Health Clinic
of a time when all of the cast and crew were       as they were on the show. He says one of the
transported to Ponderosa Ranch on the              other cast members, Pernell Roberts, who                   Physiotherapists with the qualifications to provide
Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. The substantial         played Adam, the eldest, university-educated                         excellence in physical health care
team of actors, stuntmen and crew were             Cartwright son, did not appreciate the
housed at the ranch for two weeks to film          “assembly-line” mindset of serial television
many of the external stock shots. Bob had to       and often fought with the writers. When he           Mercury Bay Medical Centre - Ph (07) 868 9579
get accustomed to riding a horse while turning     resigned after the 1964/1965 season, attempts
around to shoot blanks in the right direction,     were made to replace him, but none were
at the same time not scaring the horse he was      successful and the series continued on with the
riding. Because the Lake Tahoe horses were         original three Cartwrights (Greene, Blocker
                                                   and Landon) signed to new solid contracts.
not as accustomed as the Hollywood horses
                                                   The ratings went up when Roberts left.
to the noisy experience of blanks, it often
                                                     Bob speaks of the 1960s in Los Angeles
got problematic.
                                                   as being the “halcyon” days of the city
   In one scene where a mad chase of riders
                                                   where he got heavily into the surfing scene.
and horses needed to go over a steep hill          He remembers a beach party where someone
while being chased by the bad guys, one self-      offered to contact a band they knew who
avowed “stuntman,” who turned out to know          could play for free. The band turned out to be
little about horses, panicked and stopped cold     The Beach Boys and they did play for free.
on the hill. Due to all the dust, no one behind      Bob went on to become a successful
him saw that he had pulled up, which caused        corporate lawyer, building his “dream home”
one of the other cowboys to ride into a tree so    off the grid in Santa Barbara. When oil and
hard that he had bark in his teeth.                gas was discovered just off the shore and
   There also was an incident where Bob had        spoiled his beautiful view, he opted to sell
a bad feeling about the horse he had been          his property. Still a keen surfer, he expected
assigned to ride. He declined and grabbed          to move to Australia until two of his surfing
another horse. An experienced cowboy took          buddies introduced him to the Coromandel.
the first horse and got on. The horse panicked     He gained New Zealand residence, moved
and rolled over to get the cowboy off.             to Hot Water Beach in the late 1980s and has
The cowboy escaped serious injury, but the         been a local ever since.

Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                               The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                       Page 13
Tips for Business Owners
                                                          By Christine Petrie
                                                      At the start of a new year, many of us pause       factors that the organisation has no influence
                                                      to consider how things are going in our lives.     over. To keep succeeding, organisations must
                                                      Those of us who are business owners or are in      understand the reasons for their success and
                                                      leadership positions, often reflect on how our     maintain urgency to move forward in ever-
                                                      organisations are doing too.                       changing market conditions.
                                                        Where we identify failure, or are dissatisfied     Winning organisations take each and
                                                      with some results, we rightly ask questions        every customer complaint seriously, looking
                                                      to find out what is going wrong and then           for opportunities to improve. Their leaders
                                                      develop plans to make things work better.          are hungry to see and seize opportunities
                                                      But what about when things are going well?         before others. They remain alert to trends
                                                      Do we complacently rest on what appears            and the impact that these could have on
                                                      to be a winning formula or do we strive for        their organisation. They know that there
                                                      further improvement?                               is an abundance of untapped ideas and
                                                        High performance anthropologist Rasmus           opportunities and that they have not yet
                                                      Ankersen teaches that the factors that lead        reached their potential. In these rapidly
                                                      to success should be questioned just as much       changing times, wise leaders stay curious.
                 Thumbs                               as those that lead to failure. This is because
                                                      leaders often incorrectly assume that success
                                                                                                         Information included in this column is of
                                                                                                         a general nature and is not a substitute

                 Up
                                                      is the result of their good performance,           for tailored legal, accounting and other
                                                      when in fact it could be due to any number of      professional advice.

                 To the driver
                 of a Coastal
                 Camper and all
                 the others who helped last
                 Sunday to push a broken-                                                                             Christine Petrie, the author
                                                                                                                      of this column, is the owner
                 down classic car off the                                                                             of Shifting Focus Business
                                                                                                                      Consulting. She can be
                 Cook Drive/Lee Street                                                                                contacted on telephone
                                                                                                                      (021) 775 571 or email
                 intersection in Whitianga.                                                                           christine@shiftingfocus.co.nz.

             Mobility equipment available for locals and visitors.
          Walking frames, crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs.
                  Phone Roger on 07 867 1986 for more information

Page 14                      The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                              Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Hot Water Beach resident’s debut
novel published
By Meg Tatton-Brown
Talented Hot Water Beach resident,                 she will have achieved her goal.
Deborah Anderson, has recently self-published         Most people would be surprised to hear
her debut novel, “Through Her Eyes.”               that you don’t have to be an avid reader to
   With a love for travel, Deborah and her         become a writer. While Deborah enjoyed
husband, Steve, have visited many different        English at school, she has only read a handful
countries. While holidaying in Thailand where      of novels and has never pursued any training
they volunteered at an elephant sanctuary,         as a writer. The most she did was contributing
inspiration struck. Passionate about animals,      to a poetry website for six months some time
Deborah embarked on writing a fictional            before embarking on Through her Eyes.
adventure story, but which addresses the very      She emphasizes that all you need is a story to
real theme of animal cruelty.                      tell and a desire to achieve your goal.
   Soon returning home, Deborah slipped back          Deborah wants to encourage those who are
into a busy schedule and put the book on hold      keen to self-publish a book, to just take the leap
for three years. It wasn’t until she saw an        and do it. She’s had no previous experience in
elephant programme on TV by chance, that she       the publishing industry. Amazon.com offers a
felt compelled to open her old laptop again and    simple step-by-step procedure that guides you
pick up where she left off.                        through the process. All you need to do is find
   An unfortunate back injury resulted in          yourself an editor. That can be done through
decreased work hours and it seemed the perfect     a Google search and via email conversations
opportunity to devote time to completing the       the editor will work with you to ensure your
book. During this time the words flowed easily     writing comes together in a suitable format.
and the story came together effortlessly.          “It’s so easy, anyone can do it,” says Deborah.
   Deborah has never been interested in making        If time allows, Deborah would love to write
money from the novel. Rather she hopes             another novel. At the moment she works at
that her writing will educate people on the        Countdown in Whitianga and is planning on
mistreatment of animals and encourage more         purchasing some land with her husband to set
awareness around the issue. She mentions such      up an animal sanctuary and B & B. She would
examples as the elephant rides in Thailand.        also love to foster her passion for animals,
While tourists think they are participating in     while giving others the opportunity to do so as
an exciting and novel experience, really these     well, in a relaxing and tranquil environment.
beautiful creatures are abused into compliance.       Through Her Eyes is suitable for readers
   Deborah feels that if her book helps just one   of all ages and can be ordered through
person to better understand these often-hidden     Amazon.com (search for “Through Her Eyes:
issues, then it will have done some good and       Inspired by True Events”).                                   Deborah Anderson with a copy of her debut novel, “Through Her Eyes.”

                                                                                                                                                      WAITAIA NURSERY

                                                                                                                                                      Native • Ornamental
                                                                                                                                                    Big Trees • Fruit Trees
                                                                                                                                                         Citrus • Hedging
                                                                                                                                                       Palms • Hire plants
                                                                                                                                                                and more
                                                                                                                                                        Bagged Products
                                                                                                                                                              Bulk mulch
                                                                                                                                                              Open
                                                                                                                                                     Thurs - Sun 9am - 5pm
                                                                                                                                                      other days by phone
                                                                                                                                                          appointment
                                                                                                                                                         (07) 869 5910
                                                                                                                                                            Waitaia Road
                                                                                                                                                             Kuaotunu

Issue 829 - 23 January 2019                                                The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                            Page 15
“Night @ the Museum”

                                       On Friday evening last week, the Mercury Bay Museum hosted a community event they
                                       called “Night @ the Museum.” A similar fundraising event was held in October last year.
                                       “A lot of fun was had, with 40 children and their parents eager to solve a ‘history mystery’
                                       by torchlight,” says Rebecca Cox, manager of the museum. “While one question proved a
                                       little tricky for all, everyone solved the mystery in the end.
                                       “Two families were welcomed back who had attended our Night @ the Museum in October
                                       and it was great to see many new faces who are now keen to come and have a look through
                                       the museum in the daylight.
                                       “Our staff and volunteers absolutely loved seeing the museum come to life in the way it
                                       did on Friday evening. They thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with all the children and
                                       their families.”
                                       The money raised from the event will go towards a small revamp of the main foyer of
                                       the museum.
                                       Pictured are some of the museum volunteers on Friday evening. From the left - Isobel Cox,
                                       Dot Cavanagh and Janet Mitchell.

                                         Scott’s Thoughts
                                         By Scott Simpson, Nataional Party MP for Coromandel
                                    Happy New Year                                      cultural activities.
                                    We’ve certainly had some stunning                      Though Abel Tasman’s Dutch expedition
                                    summertime weather that has allowed                 saw the first Europeans visit New Zealand
                                    visitors and locals alike to make the most of       in 1642, Cook and his men were the first to
                                    all our region has to offer at this time of year.   explore the country and interact with Māori.
                                      But that’s not the way it always is.              For the first time two cultures met and from
                                    This time last year, people around the              that stemmed the nation we know today.
                                    Coromandel Peninsula were still recovering          Te Whanganui o Hei/Mercury Bay is one
                                    from the vicious storm that hit us on               of the four landing sites in Aotearoa New
                                    5 January 2018. It was the perfect storm            Zealand where Europeans and Maori first
                                    in terms of the factors that made it so             met 250 years ago in October 1769.
                                    destructive. Huge king tides, the remains of           As 2019 progresses, we’ll all have an
                                    an easterly tropical cyclone and incredibly         opportunity to mark, participate in and enjoy
                                    heavy rainfall combined to cause havoc.             a range of events to celebrate the anniversary
                                    We felt it hard here in Mercury Bay, but it         and what it has meant for those who came
                                    was along the Thames Coast and on the other         before us, what it means to us today and
                                    side of the Firth of Thames at Kaiaua and           what it will mean for future generations.
                                    Miranda where the damage to homes, roads            Be a tidy Kiwi
                                    and farms was most devastating.                     Perhaps it’s just because we have more
                                      However, that unfortunate weather event           people around during the summer months so
                                    is now just a memory and we’ve had such             it’s more noticeable, but the amount of litter
                                    a contrast with long sultry summer days             around our towns, parks, beaches and bush
                                    this year. While many of us are now back at         seems to me to be an increasing blot on our
                                    work, there are still lots of people enjoying       beautiful natural environments. Litter on the
                                    our holiday sun. Lucky them!                        sides of roads and highways is a sure sign
                                      I hope you’ve had the opportunity to spend        to me that people are literally just tossing
                                    time with family and friends to celebrate,          rubbish out of moving cars.
                                    reflect on the past year and set goals and             I’ve got a Member’s Bill coming up for
                                    projects for the new year. I wish you all the       a second reading in Parliament in February
                                    best for 2019.                                      that will give district councils the ability
                                    250th Anniversary of Captain Cook’s Arrival         to increase the maximum instant fines they
                                    Some will remember the commemoration                can impose on litter bugs from the current
                                    in 1969 of the 200th anniversary of Captain         maximum of just $400 to a far more realistic
                                    James Cook’s 1769 arrival in Aotearoa New           $1,000.
                                    Zealand. Fifty years on, commemorations                I know that increasing the maximum fine
                                    marking the 250th anniversary will start            won’t solve our litter problem or the culture
                                    in Te Whanganui o Hei/Mercury Bay this              around it, but it will give councils a more
                                    March and are being expressed through               powerful tool to help prevent littering and
                                    music, storytelling, kapa haka, arts and other      keep our communities safe and clean.
Page 16   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                 Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Coastguard News                                                                                  Retirement village seminar
    By Stuart Brown                                                                                  to be held in Whitianga
Welcome to 2019! I hope everyone has               members, for successfully revalidating his
had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy             skipper’s ticket.
New Year.                                            Thank you to our local radio operators who
   In December, our unit undertook eleven          took a record number of calls over the busy
requests for assistance, all of a general          Christmas/New Year’s holiday period and
nature and mostly resulting in tows, at times      managed our computer systems, especially
bringing two vessels home at a time. These         with the additional Coastguard trip reporting
call-outs assisted 26 people.                      app. And thank you to our wet crew who
   We have now sold all our raffle tickets         often had to leave friends and family to
in the Annual Coastguard Summer Raffle.            attend call-outs.
Thank you to all those who purchased our             A reminder to all boaties, if you haven’t
tickets and to the volunteers who worked hard      yet renewed your membership, you will not
to sell such a large number of them. Fingers       be covered for any call-out, meaning that the
crossed - let’s hope that a local supporter wins   New Zealand Coastguard charge-out rate for
a major prize!                                     non-members of $280.00 per hour will apply.
   A huge thank you to Countdown Whitianga           Given the increased boat traffic the
for their support in letting us “park”             Coromandel experienced over the Christmas/
Te Morehu, the larger of our two rescue            New Year’s holiday period, a big pat on the
vessels, in their carpark and sell our tickets     back for most boaties who managed to obey
outside their store. Without this kind of          the five-knot speed rule, especially around the
support, reaching our goal of selling all          divers in the Opito area. We have had some        The national manager of retirement villages at the Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC),
our tickets will be far more difficult. Their      reports of vessels travelling at faster speeds    Troy Churton (pictured), will be presenting a public seminar on the implications of living in a retirement
support is much appreciated by our unit.           close to divers, which resulted in some very      village in Whitianga on Wednesday 30 January.
   We have some big plans for the funds            close calls.                                      The CFFC is an independent government agency that monitors the retirement village industry.
we’ve raised, which I will talk more about in        Until next month, safe boating.
                                                                                                     The seminar is free to attend and will be held at Oceans Resort in Eyre Street. Tea will be available
next month’s Informer.                             Stuart Brown                                      from 10:00am. The seminar itself will be taking place from 10:30am until midday.
   Congratulations to Brent Watts, one of our      Whitianga Coastguard President
                                                                                                     The seminar will focus on the personal, legal and financial implications of retirement living and will
                                                                                                     highlight what individuals should consider before deciding to move into a retirement village.
                                                                                                     The CFFC aims to ensure New Zealanders are objectively informed of the implications of moving into
                                                                                                     a retirement village before they do so and have time to obtain legal advice and discuss their decision
                                                                                                     with their family.
                                                                                                     “Many people do not fully understand the financial implications of retirement village contracts when
                                                                                                     they pay for a ‘license to occupy’ a retirement unit,” says Troy. “The occupation right agreements
                                                                                                     some retirement village companies offer have little financial sympathy when an occupancy ends due
                                                                                                     to the resident passing away or having to move to more intensive rest home care.”
                                                                                                     Another fish-hook may be if a married couple buy into an independent-living unit and then the
                                                                                                     husband or wife unexpectedly needs to move into a care facility. In such an instance additional costs
                                                                                                     may apply.
                                                                                                     Attendees are encouraged to register for the seminar. You can do this by phoning the CFFC on
                                                                                                     0800 268 269 or by visiting www.eventfinda.co.nz (search for “Retirement Living”).

Issue 829
      699 - 23
            27 January
               July 20162019                                              The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                                              Page 17
An overview of the early childhood education
services available in Mercury Bay
Now that the New Year is well and truly              •    Childcare      and     education      centres
underway and many parents are heading back                (preschools) - Staffed by qualified early
to work, it may well be worth the effort to               childhood education teachers, trainees
start considering the most appropriate early              and support staff, preschools are similar
childhood education service to enrol your                 to kindergartens, although they generally
youngest children in. A variety of options are            run for longer hours and cater to babies
available in Mercury Bay.                                 and toddlers as well. Local options include
   Early learning centres often have very good            Peanuts, Mercury Bay Preschool and
websites containing information about their               Kauri Learners in Whitianga.
facilities, any specific teaching philosophy         •    Home-based        education      and      care
they prefer and what sets them apart from                 centres - These providers care for
other centres. They all thoroughly encourage              your children either in our own home
enquiries and personal visits, so that parents can        or the home of the caregiver. Inspired
meet with staff and get a feel for their specific         Kindergartens is offering a home-based
learning environment.                                     childcare service in Mercury Bay.
   Research shows that children attending an         •    Te Kura Early Childhood Education
early learning centre experience important                Service - Known as a “correspondence
benefits, most notably the positive impact on
                                                          school,” this is a service for families living
their emotional, social and physical development
                                                          rurally or more than 6km from the nearest
as they interact with others of their age and gain
                                                          early childhood education provider.
new skills and experiences - all while being
cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.            Children complete activities that have
   Here is a general overview of the most                 been mailed to them. You record what your
common types of early childhood education                 children say and do and send that back to
services that you may want to consider for                the Te Kura teachers. Each activity has a
your children -                                           specific learning goal.
•     Kindergartens - Kindergartens are staffed         Children between the ages of three and five
      by registered early childhood education        can attend an early childhood education service
      teachers and support staff. Traditionally      for up to six hours a day, 20 hours a week,
      kindergartens are community-based, non-        free of costs. However, you will need to check
      profit organisations that cater for children   that your children are enrolled in a centre that
      between the ages of three and five years       offers this 20 hours free scheme.
      old. In the past, they offered part-time          A childcare subsidy is also available to
      sessional care, with morning and afternoon     help eligible families pay for their pre-school
      sessions, but many now offer “all day”         children to attend an early childhood centre.
      sessions (up to six hours a day). Mercury      The subsidy is means-tested and depends on
      Bay Central Kids in Whitianga and Rudolf       your income. Phone Work and Income on
      Steiner Kindergarten in Kuaotunu are two       0800 559 009 for more information or visit                    Kindy mum Laura McInnes with her two-year-old daughter, Ada-Mae.
      local options you can consider.                www.workandincome.govt.nz.                            Laura is very happy with the early learning centre Ada-Mae is attending in Whitianga.

Page 18                                                                      The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                           Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Issue 829
      699 - 23
            27 January
               July 20162019   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz   Page 19
JANUARY 2018 UPDATE
  The crowds are thinning out and normal business conditions are beginning           District Council.
  to resume with many going back to work, albeit with many visitors still in the     Loop 1 Ferry - i-SITE - Concert Venue (the Whitianga Waterways Arena).
  Mercury Bay area.                                                                  Loop 2 Centennial Drive - Buffalo Beach Road (the toilets near Halligan
  By all accounts it was a very busy Christmas and the weather certainly             Road) - Concert Venue.
  played its part. The numbers of people who visit our little piece of New           Loop buses run from 10:00am - 2:00pm and then again from
  Zealand continues to amaze and it’s no wonder we get the odd spot of               4:30pm - 7:30pm.
  congestion. It certainly adds to the fun of this time of the year.                 General Information
  It’s the Whitianga Summer Concert this coming weekend (on Sunday                   A wide selection of Gibbston Valley Wines, beer and non-alcoholic beverages
  27 January). If you haven’t got your tickets yet, don’t delay any further.         will be available at the concert venue. Free refill water will be available,
  The concert is sporting a very good line-up of international artists and you       bring your own drink bottle.
  don’t want to miss out. You can buy your tickets form the Whitianga i-SITE         No alochol is permitted into the concert venue. You may bring your own
  or online at www.greenstoneentertainment.co.nz.                                    picnic and non-alcoholic drinks. A variety of local food vendors will be on
                                                                                     site. Please note that management reserves the rights to search bags and
  The Whitianga Summer Concert Weekend is always a big weekend,                      coolers on entry and prohibited items will be confiscated.
  so here are some tips -                                                            Please bring plenty of cash as most vendors will not have card facilities
  Carparking                                                                         within the venue. Cash-out facilities will be available at the venue.
  On-site parking will be available on the day. Entry to the main carpark is         Chairs are permitted to be used at the venue, but please be considerate to
  opposite the Whitianga Fire Station.                                               the people around you.
  A gold coin donation to a nominated local charity group is appreciated.            Bean bags are not permitted.
  Please follow the traffic management directions on the day.                        Sun shades are permitted in selected areas. Please bring hats and plenty
                                                                                     of sunscreen.
  Whitianga Loop Shuttle Bus
                                                                                     If you wish to bring umbrellas, please be aware that you will be placed in a
  There is a free Whitianga Town Loop Shuttle Bus which runs on two routes
                                                                                     designated umbrella area.
  to the concert and back.
  This is a free bus for concertgoers sponsored by Thames-Coromandel                 And above all enjoy a sensational day.
                                            Our sales office in Joan Gaskell Drive, Whitianga is open 7 days,
                                       Weekdays 9:00am - 4:00pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10:00am - 2:00pm.
                               For further information please do not hesitate to contact our sales office on (07) 866 0164.
                                  Email - whitiangawaterways@xtra.co.nz Website - www.whitiangawaterways.co.nz

Page 20                                                     The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
Issue 829
      699 - 23
            27 January
               July 20162019   The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz   Page 21
Car Talk By Jack Biddle
    A question for Jack? Just email us or drop us a note.
Another record year for new vehicle sales

Despite a softening market, total new vehicle      In the luxury passenger vehicle and SUV              The length of warranty offered by individual     Top 10 models and registrations for 2018 -
registrations in 2018 managed to squeeze           sector, Mercedes-Benz retained its 2018              new vehicle distributors could also become       Toyota Corolla 		           7,300
past the 2017 figures by a mere one per cent.      market leader spot, followed by Audi and             a heated battle ground in 2019. With no real     Toyota RAV4		               4,964
It was the fifth year in a row that new vehicle    BMW. However, the market for these brands            “lemons” being sold these days, the point of     Mazda CX-5		                3,695
registrations have reached record levels,          softened during 2018 compared to the 2017            difference could boil down to buyers’ long-      Kia Sportage		              3,289
with the 2018 numbers helped by the increasing     figures, signalling a distinct pending softening     term peace of mind and what a particular brand   Suzuki Swift		              3,034
appetite for new vehicles from the commercial      in the rest of the vehicle market according          can offer to close a sale.                       Toyota Highlander		         2,681
and rental sectors.                                to the MIA.                                            It promises to be an interesting year          Mitsubishi ASX		            2,436
                                                      For the fourth year in a row, the Ford Ranger     regardless, in more ways than one.               Mitsubishi Outlander        2,681
   On corrected figures recently released by the
                                                   remained both the top commercial vehicle                                                              Nissan Qashqai		            2,160
Motor Industry Association (MIA), the month                                                             Top 10 brands and percentage share for 2018 -
                                                   model and the top model overall with 9,904                                                            Mazda3			2,113
of December was down 3.6 per cent (420 units)                                                           Toyota		         20.0 per cent
on December 2017. However, those numbers           registrations, up 484 units compared to 2017.                                                         Top 8 commercial models and registrations
                                                   The Toyota Hilux came in second with 8,086           Ford		           10.1 per cent                   for 2018 -
were sufficient to take the 2018 calendar                                                               Holden 		        7.6 per cent
year to an all-time new record, with a total of    registrations, also up on 2017 volumes by                                                             Ford Ranger 		         9,904
                                                   980 units. The Toyota Corolla was the third          Mitsubishi       7.6 per cent                    Toyota Hilux		         8,086
161,519 registrations.                                                                                  Mazda		          7.6 per cent
   The total registrations of passenger vehicles   highest selling model for the year with 7,300                                                         Mitsubishi Triton		    4,720
                                                   registrations.                                       Nissan 		        5.1 per cent                    Holden Colorado		      4,583
and SUVs for 2018 were down by 0.4 per cent                                                             Hyundai		        5.0 per cent
                                                      Vehicle segmentation for the 2018 year                                                             Nissan Navara		        3,655
(403 units) on 2017 volumes also. However,                                                              Kia		            4.3 per cent
                                                   continued recent trends, with SUVs and light                                                          Toyota HiAce		         2,485
commercial vehicles were up by four per cent                                                            Suzuki		         4.0 per cent                    Isuzu D-Max		          2,271
                                                   commerical vehicles dominating the market.
(2,049 units) compared to the 2017 figures.                                                             VW		             3.7 per cent                    Mazda BT-50		          2,073
                                                      “Given current global economic factors,
   Helping the new vehicle industry out
                                                   distributor expectations for 2019 indicate a
once again numbers wise, were rental sales
                                                   softening of the market,” says David Crawford,
which accounted for over 15,000 of the total       CEO of the MIA. Further steady growth in the
registrations in 2018. Toyota continued its        new vehicle sector above the 2018 outturn is
complete dominance of this market with close       not expected.”
to 12,000 sales alone, which went a long way          While 2019 may not reset the record books
in helping the brand celebrate 31 years of         numbers wise, for many the interest will be
continuous overall market leadership.              on the number of alternative fuelled vehicle
   Statistics can be a little misleading at        options that the new vehicle distributors will
times, however. Take away those big rental         bring to the market. Fully electric, hybrid
registrations for Toyota and vehicles such as      and plug-in hybrids are bound to increase in
the Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Suzuki Swift,        number as more affordable options are offered
Mitsubishi ASX and Nissan Qashqai all found        to potential buyers looking for the latest in this
favour amongst a wide spread of different          technology, rather than considering an older
buyers last year. Plus Subaru New Zealand          used import.
set an all-time sales record in 2018, with their      As in previous years, the ongoing upgrades
Forester being awarded the 2018 New Zealand        in safety and passenger entertainment
Car of the Year by the New Zealand Motoring        features will continue and filter down to the
Writers’ Guild.                                    cheaper models.                                          The Mazda CX-5 was a popular model among the purchasers of new vehicles in 2018.

Page 22                                                                    The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz                                                Issue 829 - 23 January 2019
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