This year was Whitianga's warmest winter on record - The Mercury Bay Informer
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Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000
This year was Whitianga’s warmest
winter on record
By Gillian O’Neill
This year has delivered Whitianga’s warmest
winter since official temperature recording
started in the town in 1962.
The high was repeated at 17 other spots
across the country during what was the
hottest ever winter season for New Zealand.
The record 9.6°C mean temperature
nationwide was 1.1°C above the average,
which NIWA calculates based on the 20 years
from 1981 to 2010. Up until now, 2013 was
the country’s warmest winter on record.
Whitianga clocked up an overall mean
temperature of 12.2°C. That was 1.5°C
above average. The mean maximum was
16.6°C, which is 1.4°C above normal and
night-time temperatures overall were 1.7°C
above average at 8.0°C.
Consistently warmer temperatures
throughout winter drove the record
temperatures rather than any extreme highs
which were seen in other locations such
as Timaru, which hit 25.1°C on 30 August,
its highest winter temperature ever and the
equal fourth warmest winter temperature
on record for New Zealand as a whole.
With a mean of 11.7°C, Paeroa experienced its
second warmest winter, 1.4°C above average.
The lowest temperature recorded in New
Zealand throughout the season was -12.3°C,
observed at Middlemarch on 14 June.
NIWA forecaster, Ben Noll, says the winter
warmth can be attributed to several factors.
More sub-tropical north-easterly winds than
normal, particularly in the North Island, This year’s winter was the warmest in Whitianga since official temperature recording started almost 60 years ago.
brought warmer air towards New Zealand term trend of increasing air temperatures due Gorge in neighbouring Hauraki District likely to be above average in all regions
from the north. Sea surface temperatures to climate change. recorded its fourth highest one-day total of of New Zealand. North-easterly winds are
were also above average, especially The Coromandel also featured heavily in 120mm on 25 June. expected to continue to leave northern areas,
during August. NIWA’s most recent report on major weather All the indications are that we may well such as Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula
As an island nation, New Zealand’s air events during the winter, with flooding and see a continuation of this mild weather as we and the East Cape, exposed to sub-tropical
temperatures are strongly influenced by the road closures occurring on 21 June, 25 June move through spring. rainstorms.”
seas surrounding the country. Air pressure and again on 17 July. The deluges on the “New Zealand’s coastal water temperatures However, a prediction of normal or
was higher than normal, particularly to the eastern seaboard surprisingly did not register are well above average for the time of year potentially even above normal rainfalls for
east. This contributed to a sunnier than normal on the records board. However, Thames’s and are expected to have an upward influence this part of the country will be welcome news
winter in much of the South Island and lower 106mm on 20 June was the town’s third on air temperatures through spring,” NIWA’s ahead of the summer season with near normal
North Island. And the warmth over winter highest one-day rainfall since 1957 when seasonal outlook for September to November soil moisture levels and river flows also
is also consistent with New Zealand’s long- recordkeeping began. The Karangahake indicates. “Air temperatures are most forecast as likely.
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
Huge support for Daffodil Still no decisions on
Day this year Sheriff Block
Unprecedented levels of support were shown for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society and
local cancer support groups during this year’s Daffodil Day that was held on Friday, 28 August.
A 28ha block of public land on the outskirts of order establish a track on the block and does not
The Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust paid tribute to the amazing people of the region who Whitianga has become the town’s newest hottest require any funding from council.
collectively donated a record $10,760. The generosity is particularly heart-warming in a year property with a queue of both commercial and The Mercury Bay Speedway Club has been
that has been tough for many and the volunteers were overwhelmed with the response they community interests lining up to secure a chunk in negotiations with TCDC for five years in
received from so many. of the action. an attempt to secure a section of the block.
In Tairua, $2,480 was raised for the Cancer Society along with $2,070 for the Tairua/Pauanui However, who precisely will get a slice of Approval in principal was given as far back as
Care & Cancer Support Group, far exceeding last year’s takings and proving that kindness and the Sheriff Block (adjacent to the Whitianga August 2016, when it was also agreed to lease
community mindedness is very much alive in the coronavirus era. Airfield) and for what purpose remains up in the a section of land to the Whitianga Sea Scouts
air, with Thames-Coromandel District Council for their new den. The Scouts signed a lease
“My humble thanks to all the volunteers, too numerous to mention, who set up stalls, shook
and the Mercury Bay Community Board yet for 7,000m² of land in 2018. In June this year,
collecting buckets, manned tables, baked cakes, pickled and preserved, and potted plants,”
to develop an overall plan for the site or reveal TCDC said, “Ongoing discussions are being
said Tairua area coordinator, Jean McCann. how future leases or rights to occupy would held to determine the exact area to be leased to
Almost $700 in online donations have also been raised by the Brave the Shave event organised be granted. Speedway for its proposed track development.
by the student leaders at Mercury Bay Area School with some cash donations also made on the The site has already been widely touted Final location will be dependent on assessment
day. In addition, several other local schools and early childhood centres hosted mufti days or as the replacement venue for the Whitianga work for the future of [the overall Sheriff
other fundraisers. Summer Concert once the current Whitianga Block].”
This year marked the 30th anniversary of Daffodil Day. Waterways location becomes unavailable TCDC has owned the land zoned active
from 2022. TCDC Area Manager North, recreation since 2001.
Pictured are Whitianga volunteers Helen Larsen (on the left), Wendy Bradshaw (in the centre) Alan Tiplady, confirmed that a contract has been An equestrian academy had also expressed an
and Jenny Robertson - getting ready to shake collection buckets on 28 August. agreed with “an event organiser” with further interest operating at the site while neighbouring
information to be made public “once all the Sieling Farms, who previously leased part of
details have been finalised.” the land for grazing, has recently asked for
Council had planned to spend $318,000 access to approximately 4.5ha to grow crops for
last year developing the concert site and feeding dairy cows until June 2021. However,
tenders were invited for the project. However, if permission was to be granted for such an
no work was done after it was established that activity, council staff have recommended that
the concert could remain at the Waterways in an open expression of interest process would
2021. An amount of $80,000 has now been be preferable.
budgeted between July 2020 and June 2021 for When asked where the current process is
“design and investigation.” at and what input the community will have in
Future ratepayer spending will come under the future use of the land, Mr Tiplady told The
public scrutiny as part of TCDC’s new Long Informer, “We are developing a concept plan for
Term Plan consultation process beginning early the entire site, taking into consideration all of
next year. the expressions of interest for the use of it that
A plethora of other groups have also been we have received from the community. Once an
writing to the Community Board and attending overall concept plan is completed, this will be
meetings to lobby for a section of the land. shared with our communities.”
The Mercury Bay Motocross Club has been one TCDC did not give any indication of
of the most proactive, sending representatives the timeframe for this process or how each
to speak during the public form on a number expression of interest would be assessed.
of occasions. With 250 members, the club says The Mercury Bay Community Board were set
is has a group of volunteers “ready to go” in to discuss it further at a workshop.
What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information
provided and sponsored by
Week of Wednesday, 9 September to Wednesday, 16 September - Four planets are clearly visible this week. All night we can admire bright Jupiter
and slightly fainter Saturn high overhead. They are now starting to rapidly approach each other and will almost touch in December, the closest they have
been since 1623! Distinctly reddish Mars rises a few hours after Saturn and is getting steadily brighter as it gets closer to us, while bright Venus shines in
the early morning eastern sky. The Moon is a useful guide to finding it before dawn and to follow it in the brightening sky after the Sun rises.
Saturday, 12 September - In the early morning sky the crescent Moon lies below the red giant star Betelgeuse in Orion, and above and to the left
of Venus.
Sunday, 13 September - The Moon has now moved into Gemini and sits above the two stars Castor and Pollux that form the heads of the twins, Astronomy Tours and B&B
and to the left of Venus. Phone (07) 866 5343
Monday, 14 September - Just before sunrise, the crescent Moon can be seen just to the left of bright Venus, with the Beehive Cluster of stars in between.
Tuesday, 15 September -The Moon now sits on the NE horizon just below bright Venus early in the morning. 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 914 - 8 September 2020
Royal Aeronautical Society’s
visit to ZK-MBB
Members of the Hamilton and Bay of Plenty branches of the Royal Aeronautical Society visited the
aeroplane build programme of the Mercury Bay Student Aviation Trust (a joint venture between
Mercury Bay Area School and the Mercury Bay Aero Club) on Wednesday last week.
The programme’s focus on detail and safety resonated with the visitors. “We’re not rushing,”
said George Fletcher, one of the two MBAS staff members responsible for delivery of the programme.
“In aviation no one can afford to rush.” Patrick Pfister, the other MBAS staff member, added,
“Apart from of the excitement of being involved in the building of something special, the quality of
what we’re producing is nothing short of spectacular. It’s quite simple, actually. There is no room for
mistakes, if something isn’t right, it has to be fixed. The knowledge and experience of our community
mentors are exceptional. It’s a real privilege to work with them.”
Des Underwood, one of the Bay of Plenty members who visited the programme, said there’s an old
saying in aviation which will always be true. “It doesn’t matter who and what you are, your best will
always be just good enough,” he said.
A nice surprise was when the members of the Hamilton branch donated an amount of $250 to the
Student Aviation Trust. The Bay of Plenty branch made a donation to the trust last year.
The aeroplane that is being built at the moment, to be registered ZK-MBB, is close to completion.
Since the programme started in 2012, four MBAS students have pursued careers in the aviation
industry. This number will grow to six from the beginning of next year with one of the students
involved in the building of ZK-MBB embarking on an aviation engineering apprenticeship at Ardmore
Airport in Auckland and another enrolling in a Diploma in Aviation in Christchurch.
Pictured are Patrick (behind ZK-MBB, on the left) and George (next to Patrick) with the Royal
Aeronautical Society visitors on Wednesday. In front of the aeroplane, from the left - Warwick Jones,
Gerarda Peeters, Hugh McCarroll, Sal Carta, Des Underwood and Jack Best.
699 - 827September
Issue 914 July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3
Eighteenth “Support Local/
The St John Siren
Sponsored by Mercury Bay Pharmacy - Tel 866 4532 Buy Local” winner drawn
August was a pretty average month for the ambulance could have been responding.
St John Ambulance Station in Whitianga. Also, and I hope this is an obvious issue,
We responded to a total of 76 calls for is what happens if the ambulance is not on
assistance, made up of 59 medical and 17 station. The crew could be out attending
trauma-related calls. Our year to date total another patient, on the way back from a call,
stands at 726, which is a decrease of 73 over etc. What do you do? Dial 111, of course,
the same period in 2019. This is due in the but now you’ve wasted all that time driving to
main to a quieter time during the Alert Levels 3 the Ambulance Station.
and 4 COVID-19 lockdowns. Air ambulances If you need an ambulance, please stay where
were utilised on five occasions during August, you are and Dial 111 from your location.
these being dispatched from Auckland Stay calm. The nearest ambulance will
and Hamilton. respond to you. It could be that one of our
Our staffing levels have remained relatively local volunteers may arrive in a first response
stable during the month. We have farewelled capacity or an ambulance could respond from
two volunteer members who have contributed another ambulance station.
a total of 14 years of service to the community. The second thing is that “Blue September”
Congratulations to Rolly Saunders, the 18th winner in The Informer’s “Support Local/Buy Local”
On the plus side, we are in the process of taking is the Prostate Cancer Foundation's national campaign. Rolly’s entry was drawn on Monday this week by Bodie Abrahamson (pictured) of
on board a couple of new volunteers. We are awareness campaign. Prostate cancer is highly Overdrive Total Automotive in Whitianga.
currently recruiting people who would like curable when detected at an early stage.
to become volunteer ambulance officers from The PSA screening test, especially if During the campaign, which will continue until the end of next month, we’re giving away $100 every
within Whitianga, along with people from performed regularly, greatly improves the week to someone who supported a local Mercury Bay business. The prize has to be spent with an
the Kuaotunu and Matarangi areas. Please chance of catching a tumor while it is still Informer advertiser.
phone the Whitianga Ambulance Station on confined within the prostate, before it has Rolly’s winning purchase was made at Longshore Marine in Whitianga.
(07) 866 4747 if you are interested. metastasized. If prostate cancer is detected The campaign started in the second week of May. In the first week of October, all entries received
There are a couple of things that I would like early, the patient has more treatment options. during the 22 weeks of the campaign will go into a second draw, where the winner will win $1,000
to draw everyone’s attention to. But if the cancer is detected after it has spread, to spend with one or more of our advertisers.
The first is that it’s becoming increasingly treatment options become much more limited. To enter is easy. Simply email us proof - in the form of invoices or receipts - of your local purchases,
common for people to turn up at the Hey all you blokes! Go get your PSA level or drop your invoices or receipts into the blue bin on the front porch of our office in Whitianga or in
Ambulance Station with medical issues. and prostate checked now. It’s painless, the many “Support Local/Buy Local” counter boxes around Mercury Bay.
This presents several problems. If the only takes a minute or two and has the potential Please write your name, surname and phone number on all your entries.
ambulance is on station, we still need to “call to save your life.
the job in” to Ambulance Communications, That’s all for now. Remember, if you need The philosophy behind the campaign is simple - the more you buy local, the better chance you have
which is where your 111 calls go. We are an ambulance, dial 111. of winning.
not permitted to go anywhere or attend to Mike Burrows Local businesses need our support more than ever. Make sure to check out our “Support Local/Buy
patients without being assigned to the job. St John Whitianga Local” video on YouTube, featuring a well-known local family (search for “Informer Support Local/
People presenting to the Ambulance Station Ambulance Station Buy Local”).
have taken the time driving there when an Manager Remember, “shop local, love local.”
Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5
Reopening of The Small-time Investor
The Lawnmower’s Son By Whitianga resident, Max Ross
Plexure Group
New Zealand shares are doing very well at the only publicly listed company.
moment. Currently my portfolio has gone up “Plexure Group has applied to list on the
with $28.82, which is a return of 3.92 percent Australian Stock Exchange,” Maximus told
in seven weeks. It’s good when my shares go me. “This should give the company access to
up. However, I am getting the feeling that more capital to invest in growth. Plexure wants
there may be a big COVID-19-related drop on to become the main large player in the mobile
the horizon. engagement market, which is worth over $22
One of the added benefits that I get billion. This industry is set to grow 20 percent
from writing this column is the interesting a year for the next four years. The share price
discussions I have with other investors. will be very volatile because the company has
There are so many ways to invest and so a market capitalisation of around $200 million.
many different perspectives. A young investor Smaller companies tend to be more volatile.”
who I enjoy discussing opportunities and Imagine it’s a hot day, you are walking
Saturday last week saw the reopening of The Lawnmower’s Son Art Gallery in Hahei after the COVID-19 investing strategy with is Maximus. He has
lockdown. down the road and your local supermarket
recommended this week’s share pick. app on your phone bursts into life and tells
“We’ve used the lockdown to expand on the number of artists we’re working with,” says Shaun Jackson, Plexure Group is a company that helps you, “Hey, it’s a hot day and you are close to
who owns the gallery with his wife, Jo. “We now have more than 100 artists selling their art through us. other companies with mobile engagement
Virtually every medium and style is covered. We’re very proud of what the gallery has to offer.” a store. Thanks for being a great customer,
marketing. They help companies deliver
drop in and get a free ice cream.” For me,
The gallery was created in two old sheds on the grounds of what is known in Hahei as the “Homestead.” deeply personalised offers, messages and
this is a bit scary and I would be worried about
The main house on the property is believed to have been built sometime between 1868 and 1874 by loyalty programmes that aim to improve the
Robert Wigmore. Robert was an Irishman who originally came to New Zealand in the 1840s. After many customer experience. Their big customers my privacy, however, the free ice cream and
adventures, including a six-month walk from Whitianga to Wellington, he ultimately settled in Hahei with are McDonalds, Super Indo, 7 Eleven and the personalised messages increase many
his family. He continued to live at the Homestead until 1890 when he died from an assumed heart attack. White Castle. customers’ engagement with the supermarket.
His wife remained at the property until her death nearly 20 years later. McDonalds have a 9.9 percent stake in Plexure is another New Zealand company
A massive Morton Bay fig tree, referred to by Shaun as “Mavis,” is the property’s most prominent feature. the company, indicating that they feel what that writes software here and sends it all over
Shaun grew up in Hahei where his father, Kevin, owned a lawnmowing run of more than 250 lawns. Plexure has to offer is important to them and the world. Based in Auckland, the Plexure
“Dad was known locally as ‘The Lawnmower,’” says Shaun. by investing in the company they are showing Group share price has just dropped, possibly
After spending many years in Auckland, Shaun and Jo purchased the Homestead two years ago. that they will continue to support them into due to COVID-19. Does this make now a
In addition to restoring the sheds that are now the art gallery, they built two holiday cottages on the the future. Having a number of big clients as good time invest in the company? I think so.
property and is at the moment in the process of the restoring the main house. “My dad is working with customers may help the company through the I bought 70 shares at $1.42 a share this week.
us,” says Shaun. “It’s great.” harder economic times that could be ahead. Please remember that this column is my
Shaun is the brother of Stacey Bale, one of Whitianga’s most-loved residents, who passed away in Maximus believes there is a huge market personal opinion. Some of my investments
February last year after a 17-month battle with cancer. She was 47 years old. “Stacey was sad that she in this mobile area. The mobile engagement will lose money. I am sharing my thoughts and
wouldn’t get to see what dad was doing with us at the Homestead,” says Shaun. “I miss her very much. market is growing and is seen as a way to strategies so you can learn from my mistakes.
If she was still with us, everything would have been perfect.” connect with the younger generation. Plexure Be careful with your money and only invest
Pictured are Shaun (left) and Kevin on Saturday. is one of the big players in this area and the what you can afford to lose.
4
Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
Nearly time for the Coromandel Arts Tour For the first two weekends of October, artists in the northern Coromandel invite you to visit them in their studios, talk to them about their art and perhaps buy something that takes your fancy. More than 30 participating creatives are ready to share their stories and inspiration, and demonstrate their process, with the Coromandel Arts Tour taking in some wonderful hidden gems of the Coromandel Peninsula. One of the organisers, Jan Panther, urges part-time residents that this is a great event to come and enjoy pre-Labour weekend. “If you are a local, maybe invite your out of town friends to stay for a ‘country art weekend,’” she suggests. The tour is supported by a showcase exhibition at Hauraki House Gallery, Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town, featuring a piece of work from each of the participating artists. The exhibition will be open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm until Sunday, 11 October and is the best place to plan your itinerary. This is also the venue for the Gala Opening on Friday, 2 October, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. An Artist Guide containing full details of the tour, which stretches from Te Kouma to Colville, is available free from various information centres, galleries and art shops across the northern Coromandel and is also downloadable from www.coromandelartstour. co.nz. Individual studios are open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on the Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, and Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7
Bo Boyd - coalminer, bridge builder and a jolly good storyteller By Jack Biddle When you meet Bo Boyd for the first time, coalmining family learned the meaning of what you see is what you get. There are no hard work by shovelling coal not long after pretences, no mincing of words, he tells it leaving school. For Bo, that was when he straight and blunt. He’s the sort of man who was just 16 years old. “I started as a trucker offers a firm handshake as a meaningful at the McDonald Mine in Glen Afton before greeting rather than an unnecessary ritual. moving into the mines,” he says. “It was hard But there’s a softness beneath that tough work and there was no apprenticeship as such. exterior. He is a man who still carries the You were given a shovel and stood on your scars of many years of hard work and is a best ‘shovelling side’ of the coal skips. As the great storyteller. body soreness wore off and your technique Bo and his wife of 50 years, Barbara, improved, the big reward was finally being have lived permanently in Whitianga for handed the large number four shovel so you almost their entire married life and have seen could move more coal and earn more money. and contributed to the many changes and I worked the left hand side while my mate, milestones achieved in the greater Mercury Shorty Dow, was on the opposite side and Bay area over that time. Bo has had a tough together we shovelled tons of coal per day.” life, not that he’s complaining. “Work was all Rugby league was also par for the course centred on hard manual labour, which I was in those days, with Bo becoming a well- cut out for to be honest,” he says. “But Barb respected forward in the competitive local and I have always enjoyed a good social time competition. He represented the Waikato and still do. I have always found it hard to in the mid-1960s and was selected to play sit still, a trait engrained in me by my father. against the touring Great British Lions side. He used to say if you haven’t run out of Bo still loves his rugby league. “It’s a hard gas by the end of the day, you haven’t man’s game which has ties that go way back done anything.” to the early coalmining industry in the north Born in Ngaruawahia in 1943, Bo was of England,” he says. “So there is an obvious officially registered as Neil Lewis Boyd, connection for me.” but the Neil Lewis part was quickly shelved The Sydney Roosters jersey he wears to become simply Bo when growing up in has seen better days, but Bo wears it with his home settlement of Glen Afton, 14km the pride and passion of a diehard fan. He’s from Huntly. quick to also point out his ongoing loyalty to The community was part of the area’s vast the Warriors, a team he has supported from Bo Boyd, Whitianga resident for almost 50 years, represented the Waikato as a coalmining operations. The five boys in Bo’s day one. rugby league forward in his younger days. He still loves his rugby league. Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
Bo Boyd - a jolly
good storyteller
The relationship with Whitianga began when many of the concrete river crossings on
Bo and Barbara, who grew up in Huntly, private and forestry land, as well as many
began visiting the Boyd family bach in of the main bridges around the Coromandel.
Ohuka. “Dad purchased two sections in the He and Barbara designed and built their
late 1950s and built what was loosely called first house in Cook Drive before moving to
a bach,” Bo says. “We loved our holidays and their current home, a 14-acre block on Old
leisure time there and I really got into water Wade Road.
activities, especially free diving for crayfish Like most men who have worked outdoors,
and scallops, spearfishing and eventually Bo has many stories to tell, like how he almost
mullet boat racing.” cut his right arm off with a chainsaw. “I’m not
There was a long family connection to sure what happened exactly, but the chainsaw
the area with Bo’s great-grandfather on his ended up cutting into a fair chunk of my
mother’s side working in the Whangapoua forearm,” he says. “In those days you often
gold mine many years before. worked alone, so when accidents happened
The decision to settle in Whitianga came it was a matter of quick thinking. I managed
about very abruptly. “We were driving back
to wrap my arm in a makeshift bandage and
to Huntly one day and got as far as Coroglen,”
headed off on foot to get help.
Bo says. “I stopped the car and asked Barbara
“Long story short, I managed to get a
if she really wanted to head home. That brief
conversation resulted in a quick u-turn and us complete stranger to rush me to hospital
heading back to Whitianga, a place we would so they could save the arm and repair the
call home on a permanent basis pretty much damage. It was pretty serious and I never had
from that day onwards.” time to apologise for the pools of blood I left
Barbara found work as a schoolteacher on the interior of the vehicle.”
while Bo put his hands to work doing all sorts Although the accident limited his use of his
of projects. The list of ventures he and Barbara arm and hand, Bo never saw it as an excuse to
were involved in over the years includes slow down. It did, however, mean he couldn’t
collecting wool from farms, working in the play his much-loved Washburn guitar as well
gold mine on Pumpkin Flat Road, Kuaotunu, as he once did.
deep water boat salvaging, breeding bulls and It has been a life of no regrets, Bo says,
goats, commercial fishing and forestry work the horizon his only boundary. He is certainly
felling trees. one of life’s real characters who, once met,
Bo was also heavily involved in building leaves a lasting impression.
Mercury Twin Cinemas to mark
World Suicide Prevention Day
Mercury Twin Cinemas in Whitianga will mark World Suicide Prevention Day - this Thursday,
10 September - with three special screenings of the New Zealand documentary, “The Girl on
the Bridge.”
The film tells the story of well-known New Zealand mental health activist, Jazz Thornton (pictured).
Jazz is 25 years old and uses her own experiences of post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD,
and her years of suicidal thoughts in her empowering and enlightening work speaking out about
mental health issues.
Jazz started her own mental health charity at age 21 to share positive stories and practical insights,
providing the hope and inspiration that she knew she needed when she was going through her
own struggles.
In 2019, Jazz spoke at the UN General Assembly and began to work with the World Health
Organisation. The same year she was a winner at the inaugural New Zealand Impact Awards. It was
also the year that Jessica’s Tree was launched. This is an online documentary series directed by Jazz
as part of her work to break the silence around mental illness. Jessica’s Tree has garnered numerous
international awards.
This year, Jazz’s charity, Voices of Hope, was the recipient of the Queen’s Commonwealth Points of
Light award. Her first book, “Stop Surviving Start Fighting” was also published this year. The book
went to number one in New Zealand.
The Girl on the Bridge by award-winning filmmaker, Leanne Pooley, follows Jazz’s journey to
overcome a suicidal past and help others with their struggles, and gives amazing insight into the
personal cost of her advocacy. The world premiere of the film was on 25 July at the New Zealand
International Film Festival. The sell-out premiere screening received a standing ovation from the
600-strong audience at Auckland’s Waterfront Theatre.
Screenings of the film at Mercury Twin Cinemas are on Thursday 10 September at 7:30pm, Sunday,
13 September at 3:00pm and Wednesday, 16 September at 11:00am. Tickets are $10.00 and private
screenings may be available by arrangement. The film is rated RP15 which means persons under 15
must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9
Letters to the Editor
See the bottom of this page for our requirements with regard to letters and contributions
Dear Editor - Tree vandalism Dear Editor - Closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter
Reading a recent report in the national media, it would seem that if trees on the Coromandel It seems to me that transnational corporation, Rio Tinto, has managed to extort favoured treatment
Peninsula obstruct your view and they are on a reserve, then it is alright to cut them down so long from successive New Zealand governments regarding electricity prices and other matters in the
as you own up to the vandalism and pay a fine. operation of its aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point.
This occurred in April this year on a reserve in an exclusive area of Matarangi where there are Rio Tinto has also managed to get the New Zealand taxpayer to take responsibility for its
many elite, “trophy” homes. waste products as the township of Mataura found when a storage dump was undermined by a
It is not clear from the report whether the fine is still to be paid and Thames-Coromandel recent flood.
District Council has yet to decide whether to prosecute the vandal. Thirty-one trees were With a poor record of global care, Rio Tinto has no responsibility to the New Zealand taxpayers.
destroyed in this act of vandalism and it is woeful that council has not come down hard on the Its only responsibility is to its shareholders. Its decision to close the smelter was made offshore.
person and laid criminal charges. The massive amount of electricity that will be freed up when this polluting industry closes
To its credit, TCDC has replanted four trees on the reserve and the ongoing maintenance of the down allows an opportunity for our government to do something about climate change.
trees is supposed to be met by the perpetrator of the vandalism. The excessive amount of CO2 in the atmosphere can be reduced. This, instead of planting more
It is laughable to think that this unnamed person will “maintain” these trees when obviously damaging pine forests for overseas wealth.
there was no love for them in the first place. Peter H Wood
Trees take a considerable time to grow and in the meantime this person can enjoy uninterrupted Whitianga
views, so they got their wish... no charges laid.
TCDC mayor, Sandra Goudie, feels we should “move on and not dwell” on this outrageous Dear Editor - Demise of the Green Party
incident, but it is high time that council makes an example of this type of vandalism which Some may find it sad that the Green Party seems to be heading down the gurgler, mainly those,
should not be tolerated. Too often people are removing or poisoning trees for selfish reasons to such as we original Values Party supporters, who remember the foundation of the Green Party
give themselves unobstructed views. It makes a mockery of the hours of time volunteers spend and what it stood for. Those people will remember the integrity of the late Jeanette Fitzsimons
assisting with tree planting and re-establishing sand dunes. and Rod Donald, who were environmentalists who seemed to favour a simple life living off the
Harriette Brickell land. The policies they supported were aimed at protection of the environment and while not all
Kuaotunu people agreed with them, most people respected their integrity.
Dear Editor - Thank you for a safe and successful Daffodil Day But those days are no more. The Green Party has morphed to the level where the red influence
When our team of staff and volunteers began planning for this year’s Daffodil Day many months far outweighs the environmental and corruption has become more prevalent. At the last election,
ago, we looked forward to celebrating the 30-year anniversary of this iconic day of hope with we saw a leader of the party confess her theft from the people of New Zealand through benefit
New Zealanders. fraud, while initially showing no regret. That did not go down too well and the Green Party only
The 2020 Daffodil Day street collection will likely be remembered for different reasons. just managed to get back into Parliament.
Although cancelled in Auckland, planning for street collections under Alert Level 2 continued And now, having finally been given a place at the feeding trough, the Green Party through
in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, but with precautions in place - contactless donations another leader, James Shaw, has discovered the benefits of true corruption. Shaw’s reported
encouraged, physical distancing required and friendly smiles frequently hidden behind refusal to sign off hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure work unless a private
face masks. non-registered Green indoctrination facility for children was to receive an $11.7 million gift
Daffodil Day may have looked different this year, but the hard work of our area coordinators from the New Zealand taxpayers, is deplorable at best. At worst it is corruption.
and their teams of dedicated volunteers in towns across the region was no less significant and the Today’s Green Party has shown it is destructive to our economy through attacks on various
support of the community no less vital. industries such as farming and transport, it has shown it does not encourage personal betterment
To everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and successful Daffodil Day, we thank you. preferring a socialist distribution of income, it has allowed itself to become a slave of
And to the communities who gave generously to our collectors, we are so grateful. environmentally destructive industries such as exotic forestry and has shown itself to be just as
Your support ensures that despite these uncertain times we can continue to be there for people tempted by the baubles of power as any of the others could ever be.
impacted by cancer. Isn’t it time they went?
Shelley Campbell Trevor Ammundsen
Chief Executive Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society Whitianga
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Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020Issue 914
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11Monochrome magic in Photographic Club’s August challenge After an inspiring talk via Zoom by New Zealand Photographer, Scott Fowler, on “Monochrome,” this was contact I feel helps this. Also, the use of light and dark to separate the subject from the background.” an obvious theme choice for the Whitianga Photographic Club’s challenge for August. In second place was Anita Ruggle-Lussy, with Karen Moffatt-McLeod taking third spot. Scott was also the guest judge and commented, “Thank you everyone who entered a nice selection of The open challenge was, as usual, voted on by the club members with photographers entering any image images to select from. I felt the overall standard was good. All the images followed the monochromatic of their choice. Karen Moffatt-McLeod’s “Ballerina” (pictured right) attracted the most votes. Anita Ruggle- brief well. Good work everyone.” Lussy finished second, and joint third went to Anne Thurgood and Kate Beauchamp. First place went to Anne Thurgood’s entry (pictured left) with Scott describing it as follows, “This image The club had acclaimed UK photographer, David Clapp, do a Zoom talk with them on Thursday last week really leapt out to me. The subject seems to morph out of the background and the sharpness and eye on the topic of “Scapes,” which is the challenge for September. Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15Boating Club erosion quantified By Stephan Bosman The rate of the erosion of Buffalo Beach at will be directly impacted in approximately the Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga three years’ time. The deck in front of the was quantified when the results of the first clubhouse will be impacted earlier. resurvey of the dune and beach area in front of Councillors Fox and McLean indicated the clubhouse was released. RMS Surveyors that they would like TCDC to consider have been engaged by the Boating Club undertaking emergency protection work to carry out monitoring surveys following under the Resource Management Act. concerns about increasing rates of erosion Mr Fox qualified his position, however, by along the dune face. The resurvey was done saying that the cost of any hard options should on 26 August. be weighed up against the cost of continuous “We can report that since the original survey soft options, including sand push-ups and on 5 July 2020 (52 days), the face of the dune temporary groynes. “An 80m geotech bag has retreated by an average of 0.9m and by seawall will cost in excess of $500,000,” he up to 1.8m in places,” the RMS report stated. said. “A rock wall will cost closer to $800,000. “The toe of the dune has retreated more than And these are the two cheapest alternatives. the top, with the result that the face is now Given that there are at least 13 other coastal generally steeper than when last surveyed. erosion hotspots on the Coromandel, we have “The top of the bank immediately in front to carefully consider how ratepayer money is of the clubhouse has retreated by 0.5m to spent. Soft options may well be the way to 1.3m. The toe has retreated by 0.8m to 1.6m.” go to buy time while permanent hard options The rate of the erosion caused The Informer are being considered as part of the Shoreline to ask Thames-Coromandel District Council Management Plans process.” mayor, Sandra Goudie, and local councillors, We did not hear from Mrs Goudie and Murray McLean and Tony Fox, as well as Councillor Tegg. the Thames Coromandel representative on The delegated authority within council to Waikato Regional Council, Denis Tegg, how order emergency protection works sits with they personally would like to see the issue Infrastructure Manager, Mohamed Imtiaz. being dealt with. As reported in The Informer In the meantime, the erosion at the Boating of 28 July, if hard structures (including a Club uncovered a collection of Lion Beer backstop or rock wall, and groynes) are cans, buried more than 1m under the surface. deemed to be a suitable option under the The appearance of the cans indicates that Shoreline Management Plans TCDC is in the they hail from the mid-1970s. How the cans process of developing, resource consent for got to where they are, seems to be a mystery. such structures may be several years away. According to several long-time locals The According to TCDC’s coastal scientist, Jamie Informer spoke to, Whitianga’s old Buffalo Boyle, if the current average rate of erosion Beach rubbish dump was further to the south Mercury Bay Boating Club commodore, Jonathan Kline, indicating the depth of the Lion Beer at the top of dune continues, the clubhouse (at Buffalo Beach Reserve). cans that were recently uncovered as a result of the the beach erosion at the club. Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020
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699 - 827September
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17Crossword
© Lovatts Puzzles
Crossword Puzzle 914
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. Higher (part) 1. Open out
7. Orators 2. Immense time spans
3. Big-scale movie
8. Native animals
4. Sends
10. Stock market risk 5. Constrains
taker 6. Celestial
12. Impasse 9. Orchard fruit
14. Slay 11. Radio frequencies
16. Hatchets 13. Dove call
17. Amorous 15. Small magical being
16. Arrow marksman
20. People in books
18. Pure
23. Pulls sharply 19. Plane detector
24. Made beloved 21. Foot digits
25. Glide on ice 22. Subsided
Last week’s solution
Last week’s winner - Jim Hargreaves
“Kīwaha o te wiki” (saying of the week)
“Me he tē” - Like a boss
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 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020Whenuakite School’s dune Police Report
planting at Cooks Beach By Sergeant Andrew Morrison of the Whitianga Police
Monday, 31 August to Monday, 7 September 2020
General their relationship at Hot Water Beach and
We’ve had a lot of visitors over the past week contacted the Police when the argument
and it was excellent to see that the shops were started to become physical. Sound advice was
looking pretty busy. given, which calmed the incident.
Hopefully a lot of people unable to travel On the 31st a beer glass was stolen from a
overseas for their holidays will come and visit SH25, Whenaukite business and on the 2nd a
us and support our local businesses in the threatening behaviour incident was reported in
near future. Albert Street.
The weather is warming up and there will A local man was trespassed from a Joan
be plenty of fishing and fun on the water. Gaskell store on the 4th.
Please look after your gear and secure it as Traffic
best you can. A driving complaint reported on the 4th was
A valuable set of fishing rods and reels were related to a man believing the driver in front of
reported stolen last week and our advice is that him sped up when he attempted to pass her at
valuable items aren’t left under cover in your Coroglen. Of concern is that this man stopped
boat - take a few minutes to store valuables on the Coroglen bridge to confront the other
inside at the end of your fishing trip. driver and tell her what he was thinking.
Arrests If you have a complaint about another
1st - 1 x 36year-old local man for an person’s driving please call *555 or 111,
Protecting sand dunes along all beaches is an important task. The Cooks Beachcare Group - outstanding Warrant to Arrest for a domestic or come and let us know.
along with assistance from the community, Thames-Coromandel District Council and school assault. Failing to wear your seatbelt when
students - have planted in excess of 20,000 dune plants over the last five years. Occurrences driving is obviously dangerous and also can
Native dune grasses and rushes do an essential job holding the sand and mending storm-damaged One Family Harm incident attended this week. result in a $150 infringement notice - so just
areas, but it is important that these plants are not walked over and damaged. “The best way to On the 5th a visiting couple argued about put it on!
look after these plants is keep to the marked accessways when going to the beach,” says Alan
Henry, chair of the Cooks Beachcare Group. “This is something everyone can do to help protect our
dune systems.”
On Thursday last week, Year 6 and 7 students at Whenuakite School did an outstanding job helping
the group plant spinifex, muehlenbeckia and club rushes to close over old or little used pathways.
“The students were excellent workers,” says Alan. “They knew exactly what to do and understood
why they were doing it. They planted over 600 plants, which was a fantastic effort. It was a fun day
with lots of laughter as well as great achievements thanks to the hard work of the students.”
The group have worked with TCDC to place new markers at the main beach accessways at Cooks
Beach. They hope that these will be the accessways that are well used once summer arrives.
Pictured are some of the Whenuakite School students hard at work on Thursday.
Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19Sudoku
Sudoku Puzzle 914
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Tel no: _________________________________________________________________
Win two Trumpet ice creams. 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 Buffalo Beach Four Square directly before the Wednesday of the week following
the issue in which they were announced the winner.
Sudoku Puzzle Instructions
Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes
inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once.
Last week’s solution
Last week’s winner - Ian Millin
Page 20 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 914 - 8 September 2020Fishing Report New home for Tairua’s lifeguards
By Alan Proctor of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club thanks to $700,000 grant
Sponsored by Mercury Bay Marine - Tel (07) 867 1280 By Gillian O’Neill
The hardworking lifeguards at Ocean Beach changing room with showers. “These are
After an extended period of windy days, this slowed things down a bit too. Most of in Tairua will have a brand new place to just the basic things that many clubs take for
we finally got one or two days at the end of last the success was found once again around call home from next year with construction granted and that our guards deserve,” Tony
week where anglers were able to get out on the Mercury Islands with less fish seemingly set to get underway on a new clubhouse by says. “We are a small club, but a growing
their boats and have a crack at catching some caught in the Bay. early March. one. We have great support from the local
fish. Unfortunately the wind still got up a bit The scallop season opened on 1 September Chairman of the Tairua Surf Lifesaving community, but to raise this sort of money
in the afternoon, so any thought of heading and so far it looks like a very slow start to Club, Tony Cheetham, says the club is ourselves would be a tough ask, that’s why we
wide for a look was quickly squashed. the season. There were a few stories of lucky ecstatic that the long-dreamt about project is are absolutely delighted that the government
A calm morning on Saturday, coinciding punters who parked right on top of a bed of finally set to go ahead after the government has decided to help us out.”
with the influx of visitors into Whitianga scallops and were back with their limit in a announced it would meet the $699,000 cost. It has been a busy year for the club. As well
over the weekend as many Aucklanders short space of time, but by far the majority of “I’m just so pleased for our guards, they are as hosting a visiting delegation of lifeguards
were able to escape their latest lockdown, people reported that getting the numbers was out there working hard, putting in long days from Huntington Beach, California, near
ensured the boat trailer park was chocker not easy. While most people managed to get looking after everyone and not being even record numbers participated in the summer
and although most people were able to catch able to have a shower, it has been a pretty bad Junior Surf Programme in January and,
their limit, or close to it, they used a lot of air
what they were looking for, not everyone was situation to be honest,” he says. for the first time in its history, Tairua was
doing so and had to cover a fair bit of ground.
completely satisfied. The current single-room clubhouse has named the Coromandel Club of the Year as
A few people couldn’t find many at all and
The two main targets during the weekend no hot water, no space for lifeguards to do well as Patrol Club of the Year at the Eastern
were snapper and scallops and it’s fair to say came home more or less empty handed.
I only heard from people searching for training or eat lunch and nowhere private Region Surf Life Saving Awards. “It was just
that the results for both species were patchy. for members of the public to receive first awesome and it reflects the huge progress we
I heard a lot from anglers who managed scallops at Opito and Otama, so it will be
interesting to see if there are many to be aid treatment. Tony says the club members are making as a club,” Tony says.
to catch plenty of snapper, but several of have made it work for a long time, but the A strong focus on pathways for further
them reported that it was hard fishing. A lack found in the other spots that usually hold
committee had always known it wasn’t good qualifications and even employment for its
of current in some areas certainly seemed these shellfish. The condition of the scallops
enough. “For years we have been talking lifeguards are among the aims of the club
to slow things up a bit, but patience and was good but not spectacular, however there about the need to improve our clubhouse, going forward.
perseverance paid dividends, and there were was no doubt that for those who brought some but it always came back to the same issue of Tony says the announcement earlier this
some very nice fish caught. As the wind got home it was definitely how do we pay for it,” he says. year that government is to directly fund
up later in the day, many were forced to find worth the effort. Tairua was one of six clubs in Surf Life the cost of running surf lifesaving clubs for
more sheltered areas, which may not have Tight lines, Saving New Zealand’s Eastern Region that the first time will mean more time to focus
been first choice fishing spots and no doubt Alan received support from the government’s on their goals. “It means we know that our
$50 billion Covid Response and Recovery costs - the electricity, our rates, the tubes we
Fund. Elsewhere on the Coromandel need to purchase - all of that is now covered,”
Pauanui Surf Lifesaving Club has been given he says. “Up until now, pretty much all of our
$676,000 and Onemana Surf Lifesaving Club time as a committee was spent on fundraising
will get $317,000. and applying for grants just so we could
The clubhouse in Tairua will work within operate. We will now be able to focus more
the current site, but will be larger and include on our lifeguards and our communities,
a separate training room, a kitchen and a and that’s how it should be.”
Issue 914 - 8 September 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21You can also read
