Te Puna Reo o Whitianga to celebrate birthday with major fundraiser - The Mercury Bay Informer
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Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 7,750
Te Puna Reo o Whitianga to celebrate
birthday with major fundraiser
Te Puna Reo o Whitianga will be undertaking a major
fundraising event on Saturday, 12 September at the
Mercury Bay Club in Whitianga. The event will celebrate
Te Wiki ō te Reo Māori (Māori language week) and Te Puna
Reo o Whitianga’s second birthday as the only bilingual
playgroup in Whitianga.
An afternoon market will run from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
featuring crafts, food and entertainment. Entry is by
gold coin koha. The playgroup’s mums and bubs will do
an opening karakia and perform some waiata (songs).
A performance by well-known Whitianga singer, Richard
Shelford-Woodcock, and waiata and kapa haka by Mercury
Bay Area School students will be among the highlights.
The kai for sale will include boil up, fry bread and
steamed pudding.
Throughout the day, Poihakena Portraits will be doing
cultural-styled photos at Te Puna Reo o Whitianga
co-founder, Bess Kingi’s house with bookings now
available via the business’s Facebook page.
The fundraiser will continue into the evening with headline
act, Harmonic Resonators, taking to the stage at 7:00pm.
The acoustic country/folk band based in Tauranga is led
by frontman, Jeremy Hantler, with harmonies and strings
from special guests. Doors will open at 6:00pm with more
local music on offer before the main performance. Tickets
are priced at $25 early bird rate for the first 50 tickets
and $30 after that, and are now available at Mercury Bay
Pharmacy or Eventbrite. Door sales on the night are $35.
Te Puna Reo o Whitianga is a not-for-profit community group
which provides a playgroup that embraces te reo Māori
and te ao Māori (Māori language and world view). Whānau
and tamariki (children) meet regularly in an environment
based on tikanga Māori (“the Māori way of doing things”).
Their kaupapa is centred on fostering tamariki to learn,
play and grow along with whānaungatanga (relationships)
between parents and whānau that prioritise te reo Māori,
te ao Māori and tikanga Māori.
The group relies on the support of the community for
resources and opportunities. Their goal for the fundraiser
is to raise money to add a deck to their facility at
Mercury Bay Area School. The additional space will allow
them to better cater for the growth in numbers they
are experiencing.
Pictured are some of the parents and children who
attended the playgroup on Monday this week. From the
left - Cavalli Lupton, Lorelli Lupton, Madeline Johnson
(co-founder), Mika Illingworth (in front of Madeline),
Jessie McCroskie and Noah Auriom.
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
MBAS students plant kauri at Stella
Evered Memorial Park
For the last 12 years, students from Years 7 and 8 at Mercury Bay Area School have joined achieved. “These students are always great to work with,” she said. “They know what they are
forces with Kauri 2000 to plant kauri seedlings. doing, they work really hard and they are very well informed about the threat of kauri dieback
This year, the students planted 400 kauri at the Stella Evered Memorial Park at the end of disease. They are also really good fun and all of us at Kauri 2000 look forward to these planting
Lees Road, Hahei. The planting site was a steep gully where the TCDC Memorial Forest events every year.”
commemorating the WW1 Battle of the Somme was planted. The kauri seedlings add to For more information about Kauri 2000 visit www.kauri2000.co.nz.
this forest. Pictured are two of the students who participated in the Stella Evered memorial park planting.
The two days of hard work by students, parents and teachers the week before last were highly In the photo on the left is Sirya Smith. In the photo on the right is Keylon Tansey.
successful and Kauri 2000 chairperson, Alison Henry, was once again impressed by what was
What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information
provided and sponsored by
Week of Wednesday, 26 August to Wednesday, 2 September - Elon Musk launched yet another batch of 57 Starlink satellites last week, bringing his
total to about 650. Although he has permission to launch 1,200 and applied to launch another 30,000, these are already causing problems for companies
like NZ’s Rocket Lab when they are trying to launch their own small rockets. Typically they have a launch “window” of an hour or two to get their satellites
into the correct orbit. However, now with so many Starlink satellites in orbit, this has been reduced to 12 three-second gaps when they have a chance
to slip theirs in between Musk’s ones. In the meantime, Venus is still lovely and bright in the early morning dawn sky with reddish Mars high overhead,
while further to the west bright Jupiter and Saturn are visible close together all night. Thursday, 27 August - The Moon lies to the left of bright Jupiter
and slightly fainter Saturn in the evening sky, all lying roughly along the same line. Friday, 28 August - The Moon sits to the left of Jupiter in the evening Astronomy Tours and B&B
sky with Saturn further to the right and just below the upside down teapot which is the constellation Sagittarius. Saturday, 29 August - The Moon now Phone (07) 866 5343
lies between Jupiter on its left and Saturn on the right. Sunday, 30 August - Saturn can be found to the left of the Moon almost directly overhead in the
evening with brighter Jupiter a bit further to the left. 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 912 - 25 August 2020
July splurge a sticking plaster
on gaping COVID-19 wound
By Gillian O’Neill
A bumper July that saw thousands of visitors anticipated start of the peak tourism season
flock to the Coromandel was the glimmer of at October’s Labour Weekend. According to
light in a very dark tunnel for the local economy. Infometrics economist, Brad Olsen, the easing
Figures released last week reveal total of the Auckland restrictions and how keen
consumer spending for the Thames- Aucklanders are to travel again will be a key
Coromandel District in July was $16.93 million, factor for the Coromandel over the next few
up 32.2 percent on the same month last year. weeks. “July was the peak of pent-up demand
The spending injection was driven by the for many people with the school holidays,”
two-week school holiday period and offered he said. “Our view is we are likely to see a softer
welcome relief after a dismal second quarter that profile in spending going forward. So don’t bank
saw the economy finish 2.4 per cent down for on such a strong second rebound this time after
the year to June. The drop - the sixth largest in the current COVID-19 alert levels are eased.”
New Zealand - was fuelled mostly by a crippled With all eyes now on the crucial summer
local tourism sector that lost $26 million season, Destination Coromandel has launched
(6.4 percent) during the 12 months. its first ever summer marketing campaign with
With a quarter of Coromandel jobs connected the tagline “Where Kiwis holiday.”
to the tourism industry, unemployment has “We know that our region, and our visitor
risen sharply, up 73 percent for the 12 months to industry in particular, needs the best possible
June, including Jobseeker Support recipients as summer to adapt to the changing travel
well as those who have recently lost their jobs environment and the absence of international
receiving the government’s COVID-19 Income visitors,” the marketing agency said in a
Relief Payment. However, the unemployment statement. “The Coromandel must work hard
rate of 2.9 per cent is still well below the 4.1 per to maintain visitor numbers - the lifeline for
cent national figure. our industry - so there will be strong promotion
Thames-Coromandel District Council has prior to summer.”
reported further evidence of reduced business While all parts of the Peninsula shared the
activity with non-residential building consents benefits of the July school holiday spending
dropping 40 percent and commercial vehicle surge, it was the Eastern seaboard that reaped the
registrations also down 22 percent. lion’s share of the rewards. Northern Mercury
TCDC mayor, Sandra Goudie, described the Bay, which contains the communities north of
numbers as “disappointing,” but encouraged Whitianga to Coromandel Town, experienced
businesses and communities to try and remain the largest year-on-year increase, seeing almost
positive with the busier summer season getting double the volume of visitor spending when
closer. “Winter is always our quiet season for compared to July 2019. Southern Mercury Bay,
visitors and we anticipate domestic tourism which takes in the popular beach communities
activity, which makes up a significant share of of Cooks Beach, Hahei and Hot Water Beach,
our market, to pick up heading into summer,” was up 40.5 percent while Tairua saw a $47.2
she said. percent rise. Whitianga was up 33.5 percent
The Alert Level 3 lockdown in Auckland, and Coromandel Town/Colville 32.6 percent.
where a third of the Coromandel’s visitor The top performing industry in July was food
spending for July originated, has at least and beverage services, where $4.52 million
temporarily cut off one of the lifelines helping was spent, up 43.2 percent on the same time
to sustain struggling businesses through to the last year.
699 - 25
Issue 912 27 August
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3
The life and death of
William White
By Meghan Hawkes
“What’s in a name?” and began boat building with his brothers,
Answering that question, with particular employing at times up to a dozen men.
reference to the inscriptions on some of the The district’s abundance of kauri timber was
old and weathered gravestones at the Mercury ideal for ship building.
Bay Cemetery in Ferry Landing, has revealed William’s ingenuity and pluck were evident
some fascinating stories of those who when he built a fine racing yacht named
rest there. Ripple. When he entered it in the Auckland
One such man was Alexander (better Regatta, he discovered the yacht was too long
known as “William”) White who died on 19 for the race. Undeterred, the night before
June 1903. This is his story. the race he cut the bow off the yacht from
William White was hungry. He’d worked the foot of the bowsprit to the waterline.
through the night with two other men With this eccentric modification, William not
overseeing the filling of a dam with kauri only sailed in the race, but won it. Afterwards,
logs which, when released, would start their he returned the Ripple to Mercury Bay,
journey down river to the Kauri Timber repaired it and delivered it to Mr Dacre
Company’s mill. at Whangapoua.
The men were in an area known as the Siberia William also built two trading boats and
Bush on the Otangaru Block, Whangapoua. one, the Mercury, was challenged to race
By 9:00am on that June morning in 1903, from Auckland round the Watchman off Cape
the dam was nearly full. William told the other Colville. The Mercury was the first cutter to
men to go home to their shanty and have their
put her nose inside the North Head, closely
breakfast, and asked that afterwards they
followed by her rival, Sovereign of the
bring him some.
Seas. In a tense and long-remembered race,
The men had walked some distance when
the Sovereign ultimately caught a change of
they heard the noise of the water as William
let the dam off. At the shanty, the men wind and passed the winning post with the
expected William would appear now that the Mercury right at her heels.
dam was let go and they waited some time At another Auckland Regatta, a £100
for him. Puzzled by his absence they returned prize was offered for the outrigger race and
to the dam. There was no sign of William, three crews entered - Auckland, Thames
but there was horrifying evidence that the and Mercury Bay. The Thames crew were
dam had not been let go, but instead had swamped and the Auckland crew won by
suddenly burst. skilful baling. William’s craft, however,
The panicked men went down the creek unceremoniously broke in two.
and discovered 55-year-old William dead William had several brothers, all good
between two logs. yachtsmen or oarsmen, and the whaleboat
One of the men headed to Mercury Bay to crews from Mercury Bay were mostly crews
report the tragedy. Several helpers returned to of White brothers.
the bush to recover William’s body. He was William left a widow and ten children
then taken to his home in Mercury Bay. to mourn his death. The man, who took a
William White was one of the oldest leading part in everything concerning the
residents of the Bay, a well known and welfare of Mercury Bay and was one of its
respected man, whose shipbuilding skills in greatest aquatic sportsmen, was buried at
earlier days were legendary. the Mercury Bay Cemetery amidst profound
William had arrived in the area around 1870 sorrow and regret.
The grave at the Mercury Bay Cemetery of Alexander (“William”) White.
Photo courtesy of Find-A-Grave.
Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020
Whitianga seniors enjoy a crash course in online shopping A group of seniors from the Whitianga community took the opportunity to learn more about online grocery shopping and how the process works at a specially arranged workshop on Wednesday last week. The event was a joint initiative of Whitianga Social Services, SeniorNet Whitianga and New World Whitianga, and saw one of the supermarket’s in-store personal shoppers guide the attendees through the step-by-step process, as well as answering questions. SeniorNet Whitianga chairperson, Megan Henson, said for older people in the community who are more vulnerable to the coronavirus, being able to do their shopping online was giving them huge peace of mind and there had been an increasing number of their members wanting to learn about the process. “The team at Whitianga Social Services were receiving similar enquiries, so it made sense for us to work together,” she said. While SeniorNet courses are normally open to just members, Megan said this course had been made available to everyone in the community. Because of the important subject matter and increasing concern over the re-emergence of the virus in New Zealand, the course (pictured) went ahead under strict COVID-19 Alert Level 2 guidelines, with social distancing and contact tracing requirements being observed, and all those attending provided with a mask if they wanted to wear one. Megan said it was very satisfying to be able to work collaboratively with other local organisations, sharing knowledge and resources, to respond to the needs of the community. Those who attended also received a bonus of a special discount on future deliveries from New World. “New World was extremely supportive and even donated two hampers for us to raffle on the day with the proceeds going back to Whitianga Social Services,” she said. Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5
Groynes proposed as solution to save
Boating Club clubhouse
By Gillian O’Neill
Strategically positioned groynes that would Speaking in support of the Boating Club, erosion was a district-wide issue and said asked for information to be provided on the
promote the build-up of sand along a Whitianga resident, John Evans, backed he was aware of 14 other places with the effectiveness of the geotech bag groynes
vulnerable section of Whitianga beachfront the calls for immediate action claiming a same or near same priority, and solutions that had been installed by a local resident at
is one potential solution being put forward historic lack of action to address the problem were expensive. He argued that TCDC was Flaxmill Bay and whether something similar
to urgently offset coastal erosion threating was responsible for the current situation. not investing as heavily in infrastructure as could be used to help at Buffalo Beach in the
the survival of the Mercury Bay Boating He called on Thames-Coromandel District it would like to because the public was not short term. Council engineers will be asked
Club clubhouse. Council to immediately apply to Waikato willing to pay for it. He cited the recent to provide these details to the board at an
Representatives of the club attended Regional Council for consent to install two opposition to TCDC’s proposal to lift rates by upcoming workshop.
last week’s meeting of the Mercury Bay to three groynes as well as a new section of 10 percent as evidence of ratepayer reluctance However, Deputy Mayor Murray McLean
Community Board to plead for immediate rock wall. to fund such work. appeared confident that something of that
assistance amid fears their clubhouse, located Councillor Tony Fox pointed out that Community Board member, Jeremy Lomas, nature could be done sooner rather than
on the Buffalo Beach beachfront, is on the later and said he and Councillor Fox had
brink of falling into the sea. The Informer already discussed the matter with senior staff.
reported at length on the extent of the erosion “We have the bags in stock, the sand is
in our issue of 28 July. The Community Board naturally on the beach, let’s see if we can do
members were asked to intervene without something,” he said
delay to find a solution. The two groynes currently in place
Boating Club Commodore and at Flaxmill Bay have been described as
youth sailing programme coordinator, “a spectacular success” with no bank loss for
Jonathan Kline, said extending the existing two years and the high tide mark pushed back
seawalls which were already in place on both up to 7m.
sides of the section of beachfront in question Residents have also observed how the
was one obvious potential option. However, angle of the beach has become steeper so
based on his knowledge of the conditions, the energy of the waves is dissipated on
he believed trial groynes which would stop the beach and not on the bank. A soft sand
the longitudinal flow of the sand from the buffer has now formed above the high
north to the south would be a preferable and tide mark from where the wind picks up
less contentious remedy. and deposits sand in grasses on the bank,
“I believe that [groynes] would build up the thus building the dunes back up.
beach without necessarily requiring a hard The groynes are five bags high, but now
structure,” he said. “They are removable and only the top can be seen as a result of the
we’ll know pretty quickly whether or not they The two geotech bag groynes at Flaxmill Bay have been described as “a spectacular success” build-up of over a metre of sand along
help to collect sand. with no bank loss for two years and the high tide mark pushed back up to 7m. the beach.
4
Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020
Board Talk
By the Mercury Bay Area School Board of Trustees
As I come to my final month of being the student representative on the Mercury Bay Area
School Board of Trustees, I reflect on the year with great passion. This year has been like no
other, a rollercoaster with many ups and downs. These challenges have enabled me to grow
and have allowed me to build a stronger sense of what resilience is. These gains have helped
me as an individual and in my role. My position on the board has not only allowed me to have
a say for students at the school, but to also get involved and understand many aspects about
how the school runs.
The year started as most others, until it took a dramatic turn of events, spinning myself,
my peers, the school and the wider community into a crazy tornado of a global pandemic.
Out of all of these difficulties and obstacles, we have faced the pandemic’s challenges with
great resolve and have become stronger together. This is not only acknowledged from myself,
but also from the wider school community who have commented on the great support from
the teachers’ engagement online.
One initiative that I was proud to be a part of was being able to have a say in the hoodies
which we designed for the school. This was a collaborative effort from the Year 8, Year 10, and
Year 13 student leadership teams who all participated and contributed towards the design,
colour and texture of the hoodies. Many students of the school have already embraced these
new hoodies and they are in popular demand.
In recent discussions with the board and students, we’ve had a great presentation from the
Year 13 business class on their proposal to hold a drive-in movie on the school grounds in
late September. We also have our traditional Spirit Week coming up, this year consisting
of a wide range of different themes for dress ups, including diversity, decades, character,
vice versa and Daffodil Day. Unfortunately, the school ball has been postponed, but the
organising team is still planning on ways to work around the situation we are currently in,
another example of our developed resilience.
It has been of great interest to learn about what the Board of Trustees does for the school and
I encourage others to come along to a meeting to help understand the workings of the board,
and maybe even to sign up for a position to have a voice and get involved within the school.
I believe our school has a great future ahead in the hands of a superb school community.
While I continue on with my own future, I will always have fond memories of my time in
Mercury Bay.
Bianca Harsant-Sowter
Mercury Bay Area School Board of Trustees Student Representative
Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7
Unprecedented need for local cancer
support ahead of this year’s Daffodil Day
Dozens of dedicated volunteers will be out
in force across the Coromandel this Friday,
28 August for the Cancer Society’s 30th
annual Daffodil Day collection.
For the team in Mercury Bay, there’s a sense
that the event has never been more important.
While the country and indeed the world
has rightly stopped to focus on beating the
coronavirus, cancer has carried on, leaving
those fighting it, their families and supporters
on an even more challenging journey.
The Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust,
which works directly with local cancer
patients and their families, says the generosity
and support from within the community has
always been incredible and that will inevitably
be the case for Friday’s annual collection for
the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society.
Trustee, Anne Mulcahy, says the Whitianga
collection stalls will be set up outside New Some of the Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust trustees and volunteers after picking daffodils last Sunday. The daffodils are being delivered to local
World, Countdown, Buffalo Beach Four businesses ahead of the Cancer Society’s 30th annual Daffodil Day collection this Friday, 28 August. From left to right - Sel and Lynne Richardson,
Square and Tango’s Shoes. Glen Mulcahy, Delle Jackson, Ann Mulcahy, Anne Pendray, Jo Cox, Raewyn Ceruti, Wendy Bradshaw and Rick Swain.
Through its volunteer work and fundraising,
the trust provides a range of support to However, out of adversity once again came be able to provide this support, thanks to “The trust would like to thank everyone who
cancer patients and their families, including triumph in the form of a wave of community businesses, organisations and individuals, has contributed to cancer support in Mercury
at home nursing and hospital beds during support. “A reduction in rent by our landlord and we’re constantly amazed and humbled by Bay and we hope that this challenging year’s
helped for April and May, and then the the amount of community support we’re so Daffodil Day collection is a success for the
terminal stages, petrol vouchers for treatment
response from volunteers, book donors and generously given.” Waikato-Bay of Plenty Cancer Society.”
and appointments at Thames and Waikato
customers - mostly locals - was so outstanding The trust fully anticipates that this rise in If you would like to get in touch with
Hospitals, practical help with housework, that we’ve had some record sales since demand will be a continuing trend, making the Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust,
shopping and other services, respite re-opening and have almost made up the fundraising events like Daffodil Day even please contact Ruth Young on (021) 363 840
care so a regular carer can have a break, deficit to return to last year’s revenue level,” more vital. “With our age demographic here, or Julie Oliver on (027) 687 1502.
and information about relevant resources. says coordinator and trustee, Ruth Young. largely over 65s, for whom the incidence of The Brave the Shave event organised
While the lockdown forced the volunteers “We’ve also secured some Community cancer is increased, it isn’t surprising that by students at Mercury Bay Area School
to adapt and innovate to continue supporting Organisation Grant Scheme funding which we’re busy and we can expect to be called on will also go ahead on Friday, but will not
patients during a very stressful time, has helped, but this is just as well as there more and more to provide support and help be open to spectators from outside the
the financial impact was also severe, with the has been unprecedented demand for cancer medical professionals provide cancer care in school. To donate, visit bravetheshave.
trust’s main source of income, the Bookshop support in Mercury Bay this year, especially Mercury Bay as the retiree population keeps everydayhero.com and search “Mercury Bay
on Albert Street, closed for several weeks. in the last few weeks. It has been good to growing,” says Ruth. Area School.”
Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020
Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9
Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020
Issue 912
699 - 25
27 August
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11Local Flavour
By Joanna Mannington - Food and nutrition teacher at Mercury Bay Area School
Lemon and honey
This month’s column celebrates the Syrup When the loaves are cooked and cooling, The longer you marinate the pork the better, but
Coromandel’s latest gold rush, honey. It is also 1/2 cup lemon juice pierce evenly with a small sharp knife at regular we did this in a one-hour class and it worked
lemon season and both golden foods are the 2 teaspoons honey intervals and drizzle with the syrup. deliciously.
perfect sweet and sour combo. Method Preheat the oven to 180°C bake.
The following recipe is quick, moist and Preheat the oven to 170°C and grease two 10 x We tried out a variation of the following Line a baking dish with foil or baking paper
tender because of the use of oil instead of butter. 20cm loaf tins. Line with baking paper. recipe in class the other day with the Year and place the pork on top, discarding the raw
If it wasn’t so delicious, it would keep well Make yourself a cup of tea and use some 11 food students. It was a popular dish meat marinade.
because of this too! It’s so good I’ve doubled boiling water to heat a tablespoon. Use the hot executed well. Roast for 30 minutes basting with the rest of
the recipe to make two loaves. Why turn the spoon to measure the first measure of honey into the marinade and turning to cook evenly.
oven on for just one? You can always slice the a large bowl. It will slip off the hot spoon easily.
Hoisin and Honey Pork Strips
Ingredients The meat should be caramelised and tender.
extra loaf and freeze portions sandwiched in Measure the second measure of honey into a We cut the pork into thick slices and
¼ cup hoisin sauce
wax paper to pop into lunch boxes as a sunny small pot or bowl and warm. served with bean sprouts and salad greens
¼ cup soy sauce
surprise. It makes a great dessert topped with Zest then juice the lemons. Add 150ml juice sprinkled with sesame seeds and drizzled with
2 tablespoons lemon juice
manuka honey yoghurt, bottled apricots and and the zest to the honey in the large bowl cooking juices.
1 teaspoon lemon zest
crushed pistachios. Add ½ cup of juice to the small bowl of honey
2 tablespoons honey
and set aside. A group of Mercury Bay Area School Year
Lemon Honey Loaf 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
Add the eggs and oil to the large bowl and 12 Business Studies Students are currently
Loaves 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
whisk until well combined. selling honey produced through the school’s
1 cup light flavoured oil ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
Stir in the ground almonds or coconut. beekeeping programme.
6 tablespoons honey 3 pork belly strips
Sift in the flour and baking powder and The honey sells for $12 per 500g jar with
6 eggs Method
cardamom if using. two available for $20. This is local Coromandel
150ml lemon juice (approximately 2/3 cups) Combine all the ingredients except the pork in
Whisk the batter together until just combined. honey, produced by local kids for the local
Lemon zest from the lemons a jug.
Divide the batter between the two tins.
Place the pork in a shallow dish and cover community. People can order by emailing
2 cups ground almonds (substitute desiccated Bake for 30-ish minutes until an inserted
with half the marinade. honeybiz@mbas.ac.nz.
coconut) skewer comes out clean.
1 1/2 cups flour Meanwhile mix the small bowl of honey
2 teaspoon baking powder and juice together. It helps if you warm it
1 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional) a little.
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Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020Fundraising mission to
improve KSAR base
Kuaotunu Land Search and Rescue (KSAR) is currently on a mission to raise $7,000 to line and
insulate the ceiling of its base in Whitianga. The base roof is colour steel sheets with no insulation and
whenever it rains, the noise from the roof creates sound issues for the group’s incident management
teams and radio operators. The lack of insulation in the ceiling also means it’s extremely hot in the
summer and cold in the winter for anyone using the base for meetings, training or operations.
The KSAR base was built in 2016 and while the walls were insulated, there weren’t sufficient funds
at the time to line and insulate the ceiling.
The group was looking forward to receiving a donation to improve the ceiling from the 2020 A
Taste of Matarangi festival where its members assist the organisers to host the event and also run
its own fundraising. Unfortunately, the festival was cancelled this year because of the COVID-19
Level 4 lockdown.
KSAR has recently hosted an incident management team refresher course at its base with Search
and Rescue members attending from other groups on the Coromandel, Hamilton Land Search and
Rescue, and Tauranga Land Search and Rescue. A search techniques course was due to be hosted
at the base last weekend with members attending from Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland, but due to
the COVID-19 Level 3 lockdown in Auckland, the course has been postponed to a later date.
“Our group has received a very generous donation of $1,000 from The Informer towards our
fundraising goal,” says KSAR chairman, Steve Hart. “This donation from Stephan and Petra Bosman,
the owners of The Informer, was a real boost for our fundraising efforts and is yet another example
of the magnificent support The Informer is providing to the local community.”
If anyone wishes to donate to the KSAR fundraising mission, they can donate at givealittle.co.nz/
org/kuaotunusar, contact the group via its Facebook page or phone Steve on (027) 474 4223.
Several other donations have already been received through the Givealittle page.
Pictured are a group of KSAR volunteers in the group’s base in Whitianga.
Issue 912
699 - 25
27 August
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13Letters to the Editor
See page 12 for our requirements with regard to letters and contributions
Dear Editor - Sweden’s response to the serious long-term health issues even for young, 2 nationally and Level 3 in Auckland... Europe, South and Central America, and every
COVID-19 pandemic healthy people. Maybe Mr Ammundsen should “Unemployment in Sweden rose from 6.7 country between Greece and India.
Trevor Ammundsen’s Letter to the Editor in reflect on that as well, before advocating the percent to nine percent for the year ended June. People offered me their, often very touching
The Informer 18 August might like to reflect failed Swedish response. In New Zealand, year-on-year unemployment and humble, hospitality and in the poorer parts
that being dead kind of takes the gloss off Denis Tegg was flat at four percent. of Iran, even a little money. Only once when
being rich or having a “stronger” economy. Thames “If New Zealand loses control of the sleeping on top of a small haystack in Kurdish
Bizarrely his message seems to be let’s sacrifice virus, that would be a game changer for the Turkey, did I experience the wrath of locals.
Dear Editor - Sweden’s response to the
a few thousand old folks in New Zealand who economy. Around the world, we are seeing a Mt Ararat was just visible in the early
COVID-19 pandemic
are going to die soon anyway for the sake of sharp divergence in the economic performance morning sunrise, when I was rudely awakened
the economy. I reply to Trevor Ammundsen’s Letter to the
of countries that have control of the virus, by a group of women armed with pitchforks.
Mr Ammundsen promotes Sweden’s approach Editor in The Informer of 18 August.
compared to countries that do not. Countries Apparently my comfy stack was the one to be
suggesting that “their economy is great.” While I agree that a country’s death toll
that have implemented successful lockdowns collected on that day. Reason enough I thought
But the facts tell a different story. attributed to COVID-19 over this time
are generally doing much better economically as I sheepishly donned my backpack and went
In Sweden, GDP decreased by 8.6 percent may (or may not) include those who might
than countries that have not - illustrating that on my way.
in the second quarter of 2020, while New have succumbed to the flu or similar, that is
the “choice” between health and economy was I am disappointed in the current attitude
Zealand’s GDP only decreased by 1.6 percent. something we just don’t know and I for one am
always a false dichotomy. towards such freedom campers by some of our
Sweden’s unemployment rate is 9.2 percent, not sure I would have wanted us to take the risk.
“If Sweden has in fact achieved ‘herd locals. I understand that Deputy Mayor Murray
New Zealand’s is four percent. Sweden’s Which of my friends or family may have then
immunity’ then why are their COVID-19 cases McLean even stated, “Our beachfront is a
COVID-19 case numbers are up 40 percent in fallen victim to the virus?
on the rise again?” disgrace.” I wonder if either he or fellow
the last two weeks. The more interesting facts are that Sweden’s
Even though our government has not done a TCDC councillor, Tony Fox, have ever thought
Not only has New Zealand had a far superior economy hasn’t fared well over this time even
perfect job throughout this pandemic, I think of visiting any of those freedom campers and
health response with only 22 deaths compared to though they did not put lockdown restrictions in
they have handled it reasonably well for a listening to their stories. I love meeting them
Sweden’s 5,800, we also have a much stronger place initially, but many don’t realise that they
situation that was new to everyone. Yes, many and many of them are very interesting people
and more open economy. Between May and had and still have restrictions, they just did not
people are suffering financially in this current with some great stories to tell.
August, New Zealand had fewer restrictions go into a total lockdown.
situation. But even if we did not have COVID-19 Does it not occur to disgruntled locals that
than Sweden according to an international I quote from a recent article by Marc Daalder
in New Zealand and did not have lockdowns, there may even be a few people among the
“stringency” comparison. of Newsroom NZ -
would we be any better off economically when campers who are in need?
There is more to COVID-19 than death. “From 14 May, when New Zealand
the rest of the world is in turmoil? Probably not. After all, according to a study by Yale
The COVID-19 virus infects cells in the moved down to Level 2, we have enjoyed
I still have all my friends and family, I can’t University, New Zealand was in 2017 rated as
gut, heart, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels and more freedoms than the Swedes. Even now,
say the same for friends overseas who have lost having the highest rate of homelessness per
nervous system. There are reports of people two-thirds of our population operates in a less
loved ones. I for one, wouldn’t have wanted to capita in the OECD (YaleGlobal Online of 13
experiencing a mild infection, recovering and strict environment than Sweden.
risk that. July 2017) and I don’t believe that has changed
then suffering a stroke - even if they are young “Studies of consumer spending data shows
Karen Moffatt-McLeod much in 2020.
and healthy. Doctors have also found evidence purchases fell by 25 percent in Sweden and
Whitianga So how about a little compassion, tolerance
of heart damage and worsening or new diabetes 29 percent in Denmark, which instituted a
for some patients. strict lockdown. Dear Editor - Freedom camping and caring for our fellow men?
There are many reports of people who are “The IMF predicts Sweden's GDP will fall by on the Coromandel Rather than discourage or worse, persecute
experiencing months of persistent symptoms 6.8 percent this year and then increase by 5.2 I refer to the article in The Informer of 18 August the freedom campers, shouldn’t we be offering
who may suffer from brain damage, insomnia, percent the next. By comparison, New Zealand's about Thames-Coromandel District Council’s them friendship, support and, even better,
vertigo, irregular heartbeats, long-term GDP is expected to fall 7.2 percent this year and review of its Freedom Camping bylaw. some assistance?
shortness of breath, hypertension and joint pain. then rise by 5.9 percent the next - although this In the 50s, 60s and early 70s I freedom John Macassey
COVID-19 is deadly, but it can also cause projection was made prior to the move to Level camped through both Western and Eastern Kuaotunu
Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020Issue 912
699 - 25
27 August
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15Whitianga estate agent retires after more than 35 years The landscape of Whitianga has changed a on,” he says. “And it’s going to be even more franchisor. The family connection continues, renovation and some travelling along with bit since Peter Lawrence first came to town in exciting watching what comes next, because however, with daughter Abby, also a licensed new wife, Carolyn, his childhood sweetheart 1975 and entered the business of real estate a it is not slowing down.” agent, carrying on the baton. with whom he reconnected a couple of decade later. He has seen the town negotiate As Whitianga has evolved, so too has the “Abby came on board around 10 years years ago. highs and lows, challenges and celebrations, real estate industry. “It’s certainly a lot more ago and she is going brilliantly,” Peter says. And the keen singer and musician is but now, as he leaves the industry behind, organised and there are far better systems in As for him, he says retirement means also still likely to be spotted around town, his overall reflection is an exciting time of place,” Peter says. “Richardsons was one of retirement. There are plans for more biking, performing at parties or event as his alter ego, growth and development - with plenty more the first companies to move to a computerised fishing and golf, as well as a campervan the “Rockin Realtor.” still to come. system, even before some of the big Auckland “When I came here, there were fewer than companies were doing it.” 1,000 people in town,” Peter says. “It’s almost Being able to attend two USA realtor hard to imagine now.” His first entrepreneurial conventions - trips Peter won through being ventures after arriving in Whitianga were in one of Richardsons’ top performing agents hospitality, running a take-away and later an - were major highlights of his 35-year-plus Asian style restaurant with his late first wife, career. “I picked up so many great ideas and Christine. However, a long-held passion for I’d bring them back and see how we could property and a sense that the town was on incorporate them into the business here,” the verge of some significant expansion saw he says. “I always wanted to improve. To see him take the plunge into real estate, starting how we could do things better.” at Stan Holland & Co which was bought by Some of the fundamentals haven’t changed, Richardsons Real Estate around 1986. though. “You need to be able to connect with “I think when we got the sewage system people and get on with them,” Peter says. in 1985, that was huge,” Peter says. “Before “I remember one time coming home with a that, every section needed these big septic ute full of pumpkins that I bought for 40 cents tanks, which meant developing was very each. My wife asked me what the heck I was costly. You also couldn’t put them in low going to do with them. I found a recipe for lying areas, which of course ruled out half pumpkin soup and I made a whole load of the town.” copies and I went down the town handing out After the game changer that was the recipe to people along with a pumpkin. wastewater connection, the building of the It was a way of meeting people and of them Whitianga Marina followed by the arrival of remembering you. I met one lady years later Leigh Hopper and the start of the Whitianga and she told me she still had the recipe.” Waterways around 1998, are among the other Peter stepped back from real estate sales major events which Peter has seen drive the at Richardsons Whitianga around 18 months growth of Whitianga. “It has been exciting ago, but remained on as owner of the office watching it all unfold and being part of it, until this week when he completes the sale the arrival of the big supermarkets and so of the business back to the Richardsons Whitianga’s Peter Lawrence is retiring after more than 35 years in the real estate industry. Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020
Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17
Police Report A heartfelt thank you
By Sergeant Andrew Morrison of the Whitianga Police
Monday, 17 August to Monday, 24 August 2020
General Occurrences
Our community seems to be dealing with Two Family Harm incidents attended this
COVID-19 logically and adhering to Level 2 week.
restrictions. On the 22nd a separated couple argued
I see plenty of people getting COVID-19 about their circumstances at a Cook Drive
tests done, including about half of our local address and contacted the Police when the
Police who have returned negative results. incident started to get out of hand, while on the
Please continue to “Unite Against Covid” 23rd a couple argued about their relationship
and hopefully we will all be OK. at a Purangi Road address and enquiries are
We were advised of a cat being found with continuing in relation to an alleged assault.
a slug gun pellet wound last week and would On the 16th an outboard motor was stolen
like to state that if we identify the offender, from the Whitianga Marina area and later
the appropriate charge is the offence of recovered. Please secure your property as
“Cruelty to an Animal.” In a residential area best you can.
most cats will be someone’s pet, so if you Keys were stolen from Mercury Bay Area
want to scare them off your property squirt School on the 21st and later recovered,
them with a hose or similar. with the case being referred for Youth
Arrests Aid action.
20th - 1 x 22-year-old local man for Refusing a Traffic
Blood Sample (Drink Driving) and Sustained One drunk driver apprehended this week as
Loss of Traction. per the refusing blood sample arrest above.
A family who made Whitianga their home at the height of the coronavirus epidemic in March is now saying
farewell and thank you as they prepare to return to the Philippines.
Kaylee and Robert Cook and their three children - Ethan, Brodie and Peyton - were evacuated from Manila
at 17-hours’ notice and after their 14-day self-isolation in Auckland, on the cusp of the Level 4 lockdown,
formed a bubble with Robert’s parents, Angela and Patrick, at their Whitianga home.
The Informer spoke with the family back then after the children started creating hearts made out of shells
on Buffalo Beach to help spread love and happiness during what was a difficult time.
Last weekend the family created one final giant heart (pictured) as they said goodbye.
“It has been a long long nearly six months away from our home, but Whitianga really opened its arms to
us and made it a fantastic second home,” says Kaylee. “We will miss it dearly. We just wanted to thank all
those who helped us through this COVID-19 experience. We are sad to leave, but are looking forward to
getting back to the Philippines.”
Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020Issue 912
699 - 25
27 August
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19The Small-time Investor
By Whitianga resident, Max Ross
NZX50
I write these columns a week before they different funds have very different fees.
are printed. This is the first column since the It is my opinion that when you invest in
return to Alert Level 2. This news did have an a fund, you are investing in the economy
impact on my portfolio and I was expecting to overall. You are looking at country-wide
be writing about a loss. However, my shares factors and hoping that the economy is stable
have bounced back and I can report an overall and moving upwards. When you invest in a
gain of 2.24 percent. company, you are investing in that particular
Fisher and Paykel healthcare is up 3.32 business. You believe that the business will
percent, Mainfreight is up 5.07 percent, do well compared with the other businesses
Pushpay is up 4.88 percent and my risky in the economy.
share, Smartpay, is down 2.62 percent. Investing directly in companies rather
Each week these will change and I’m not than funds means that I know exactly what
short-term investing. I’m not trying to I am investing in. With a fund, there may be
buy dips and troughs, it’s the long term companies that I don’t really like or believe
that counts.
in that are part of that fund. For example,
Last week I talked about spreading risk by
if I invest $100 in the NZX50 fund, part of
investing in a number of different companies.
my investment will be an investment in Sky
Funds are a way to invest easily in a large
City Entertainment and I’m really unhappy
number of different companies. There are lots
of different funds that invest in different types with supporting gambling. Some of the
or groups of companies. The NZX50 fund money will go into Sanford Limited and after
invests in the biggest 50 companies on the having recently watched “The Price of Fish”
New Zealand stock market. documentary, I’m not prepared to invest in
You can easily invest in funds using this company.
Sharesies. After clicking “Invest,” you select Therefore, I am not going to invest into the
“Funds” instead of “Companies.” There is a NZX50 this week. I am going to put another
list of funds available and you can click on $100 into Fisher and Paykel Healthcare
each fund to get more information on that (which was discussed in my column published
particular fund. in The Informer of 28 July). I bought 2.9051
A fund manager runs the fund and they shares at $34.25 per share.
charge a fee for this service. For the NZX50 Please remember that this is all my
fund the fee is 0.20% of your investment. personal opinion. Some of my investments
When you select a fund in Sharesies, the fee will lose money. Be careful with your money,
is right at the bottom. Look carefully at this as only invest what you can afford to lose.
Thumbs
Up
To the
Dive Zone
Whitianga
staff and students who
helped to clear a fallen
tree off Blackjack
Road on Monday
morning this week.
Page 20 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020Sixteenth “Support Local/Buy
The Fire Siren Local” winner drawn
Sponsored by Safety + Apparel - tel 0800 726 726
Once again we are at COVID-19 Alert We were called to a house fire at Opito Bay
Level 2, which may have it’s difficulties that unfortunately resulted in a total loss by
but is nowhere near as frustrating as our the time Kuaotunu and Whitianga Volunteer
neighbours in Auckland at Level 3. Fire Brigades were able to get to the scene.
Even in these unusual times, the Whitianga Our sympathy goes out to the owners of the
Volunteer Fire Brigade is still responding to property. The losses suffered in a house fire is
the community’s calls for assistance and the always devastating.
last month was no exception. We responded Remember at this time of the year when we
to two calls of a fire causing concern - a power are all trying to stay warm, keep away a meter
box that caught fire and a small bush fire. from your heaters and make sure you have
We assisted people stuck in a lift twice working smoke alarms, they do save lives.
and also attended on a boat with a small Stay safe out there,
electrical fire. Thankfully, the owner had a
Deputy Chief Fire Officer
fire extinguisher handy and was able to put Congratulations to Scott Forsyth, the 16th winner in The Informer’s “Support Local/Buy Local” campaign.
Derek Collier Scott’s entry was drawn on Friday last week by Louana Skelton of The AutoBarn in Whitianga and Don
the fire out before we arrived.
Edgecombe of the Whitianga Police.
During the campaign, which will continue until the end of next month, we’re giving away $100 every
week to someone who supported a local Mercury Bay business. The prize has to be spent with an
Informer advertiser.
Scott’s winning purchase was made at Longshore Marine in Whitianga.
The campaign started in the second week of May. In the first week of October, all entries received during
the 22 weeks of the campaign will go into a second draw, where the winner will win $1,000 to spend with
one or more of our advertisers.
Every now again, the weekly winner also receives an additional prize provided by a generous local
busines. Next week’s winner will receive, in addition to $100 from us, a $100 voucher from The Lost Spring
in Whitianga.
To enter is easy. Simply email us proof - in the form of invoices or receipts - of your local purchases, or
drop your invoices or receipts into the blue bin on the front porch of our office in Whitianga or in the many
“Support Local/Buy Local” counter boxes around Mercury Bay.
Please write your name, surname and phone number on all your entries.
The philosophy behind the campaign is simple - the more you buy local, the better chance you have
of winning.
Local businesses need our support more than ever. Make sure to check out our “Support Local/Buy Local”
video on YouTube, featuring a well-known local family (search for “Informer Support Local/Buy Local”).
Remember, when you buy local, you help to keep your very own community vibrant and happy.
Pictured are Louana and Don drawing Scott’s entry.
Issue 912 - 25 August 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21Crossword
© Lovatts Puzzles
Crossword Puzzle 912
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Tel no: _________________________________________________________________
Win a $5.60 Wednesday Lotto ticket. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to
The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or
info@theinformer.co.nz to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim
their prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday of the week
following the issue in which they were announced the winner.
ACROSS DOWN
1. Rubs until sore 1. Young swans
5. Public garden
7. Encrypts 2. More at liberty
8. Strong wind 3. Range
9. Meditation routine 4. Weirdness
10. Hysteria 5. Clairvoyant
11. Meal course
13. Dagger handle 6. Splendid clothes
14. UFO, flying ... 12. Supplement, ... out
18. Living in a group 15. Religious non-believer
21. While
22. Exchanged 16. Map line
24. Track down 17. Return game
25. Unit of weight 19. Belonging to us
26. Take on (staff) 20. Portable steps
27. Aunt’s husband
28. Night sky object 22. Native American tent
29. Eventuates 23. Fire remains
Last week’s solution
Last week’s winner - Alan Rhodes
“Kīwaha o te wiki” (saying of the week)
“Mā te aha i tēnā ” - Better than nothing
Saying of the week supplied by Te Puna Reo o Whitianga - a playgroup with a focus on Māori tikanga and te reo Māori.
The group members meet every Monday and Tuesday at 9:00am at the old dental clinic at Mercury Bay Area School. All those with pēpi or young tamariki are welcome to join.
Page 22 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 912 - 25 August 2020You can also read
