Mercury Bay Up Coming Events| Whitianga

TheMercury Bay
Issue 674 - 3 February 2016 Circulation 6,500
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
Phone 07 866 2090
LOCALS SUPPORTING
LOCALS
Fairy tale
ending to drama
at sea -
see page 13.The second Whitianga Summer Concert took place last Sunday 31 January at the Whitianga Waterways
Arena. Len Salt was there. These are his impressions of a day that was, in his words,“Very close to perfect.”
Good weather, great music,
will you marry me?
(Continued on page 2)
On the few occasions when the sun did peek
out from the behind the clouds last Sunday
at the Whitianga Summer Concert, the heat
was intense. Thankfully the day delivered
overcast conditions with just the right amount
of breeze to provide relief from the humidity.
It was a day that was very close to perfect.
The music was a good mix of styles,
with enough to get people up and dancing,
but also with some laid back moments which
gave everybody a chance to relax, have their
lunch and enjoy the atmosphere.
And for Matt Robertson from Albany
in Auckland, the concert provided an
opportunity to get down on one knee and
propose to girlfriend Jess Kneebone during
the second verse of REO Speedwagon’s song
Can't Fight the Feeling. Great timing, Matt.
“Of course I said yes,” said Jess.
Opening act The Blind Venetians played
a tight set of well-known covers. Guitarist
Paul Foulds followed with a solo bracket
done with backing tracks and some nice lead
playing, including an authentic cover of the
Jeff Beck arrangement of People Get Ready.
Melissa Etheridge came out firing and
set the tone that was to be carried on by the
other two headline acts, REO Speedwagon
and Huey Lewis and the News. The artists
all said they were having a great time and
they loved seeing parts of New Zealand that
they wouldn’t get to see by playing just in the
cities. “We knew the country was beautiful,”
said Huey Lewis. “What we didn’t realise is
how great the people are.”
It’s infectious when the performers are
enjoying themselves and it shows in the
quality of their performances.
Etheridge seems to work solo most of the time
and it’s a format that can have its limitations.
She has recently been working on developing
her lead guitar skills, something that she
hadn’t done early in her career. Playing lead
guitar, however, means that there has to be
something going on underneath and how do
you do that if you’re the only one on stage?
The two main methods if you don’t have a
band behind you are backing tracks, which
can be foot controlled from a device, or a
loop system which records a section of an
instrument and repeats it until you tell it to
stop. Etheridge uses the latter, a loop pedal,
and lays down a rhythm with an African
drum, a tambourine and sometimes another
guitar playing rhythm chords.
“There’s nothing pre-recorded here,”
she told the crowd of close to 10,000 people.
“It’s all me.” Many of the people in the crowd
were already moving along to the beat and
even a small African drum that is run through
a massive PA system gives a big deep sound
which complements Etheridge’s giant 12
REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin on stage during the Whitianga Summer Concert last Sunday.

The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 674 - 3 Febuary 2016Page 2
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(Continued from page 1)
string Ovation guitar. It all adds up to a sound
which is a whole lot bigger than one solo
guitarist on stage.
Her set covered many of the favourites
that the crowd knew and could sing along
to - Somebody Bring Me Some Water, I’m the
Only One and The way I Do among them.
REO Speedwagon delivered a hard rocking
set that included some favourites - in addition
to Can’t Fight the Feeling there was Keep on
Loving You - and got another few thousand
happy fans on their feet.
Huey Lewis and the News brought the big
band to town, including a three piece horn
section, two guitars, keyboards and bass.
They came on stage to a big Whitianga
welcome and the crowd, having been
well primed by the previous two acts,
were ready to party. If This is It, Heart and
Soul and I Want A New Drug were their big
hits, together with Power of Love. “Little did
we realise when we wrote this song that we’d
be playing it every day of our lives for the
next thirty years,” Lewis said.
The band threw in some new material
and while the old songs are familiar
and comfortable, the new material was
impressive, even though Lewis was slightly
apologetic for imposing songs they didn’t
know on the crowd. The crowd didn’t mind
a bit and didn’t have to pretend they liked it,
even though Lewis asked them to. Solid four/
four swamp blues-rock songs with a funk
edge to them. What’s not to like?
Promoter Greenstone Entertainment had
done a great job on the organisation of the
concert. Everyone was in a good mood.
Even an acute shortage of toilets experienced
now and again provided a few laughs and
lighter moments. When desperate women
with no other choice were crashing the men’s
toilets, the men accepted it in good humour.
“We won’t look” jokes abound.
It was a top afternoon of classic rock.
Whitianga was truly privileged to play host
to such an outstanding event. Now everyone
is eagerly awaiting to see what next year’s
line-up will be.
Good weather, great music, will you
marry me?
Matt Robertson from Albany in Auckland asking Jess Kneebone to marry him
at the Whitianga Summer Concert last Sunday.
The Mercury Bay Informer is published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed
throughout the Coromandel Peninsula.
Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of
contributions are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be
considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name and surname,
telephone number and residential address.
Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or
publisher.
Owner - Mercury Bay Media Limited
Publisher - Petra Roodt
Editor - Stephan Bosman
Contributors - Len Salt, Gillian O’Neill, Meghan Hawkes, Deli Connell,
Cheyenne Walmsley and Jack Biddle
Ofﬁce - 14 Monk St, Whitianga 3510
Mail - PO Box 426, Whitianga 3542
Tel - (07) 866 2090, Fax - (07) 866 2092
Editorial - email info@theinformer.co.nz, tel (07) 866 2090
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The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3Issue 674 - 3 Febuary 2016Issue 674 - 3 Febuary 2016
Spotted at the Whitianga
Summer Concert
People from all over attended last Sunday’s Whitianga Summer Concert.
In the top photo are, from left to right - Riley McMurtry and sister Ruby McMurtry from the Bay
of Islands and Jade Kahn and Olivia McMurtry from Auckland.
Many Mercury Bay locals were also spotted in the crowd. Pictured in the bottom photo are
Whitianga and Matarangi residents (from left to right) Jo Clark, Rex and Susan Coubray,
Fiona Clark and Elizabeth Moyle.

“PUT YOUR FEET
UP LOVE, WE’LL DO
THE COOKING.”
Phone for your
TAKEAWAY DINNER
07 866 3809
www.coroglentavern.co.nz
A Sunday well spent
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popping into the Tavern
for a beer & burger…
COME CHECK
OUT OUR MENU
Lamb Burger
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YOU CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS
BUT YOU CAN BUY COFFEE
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250g
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With your choice of…
Egg, Onions + Chips
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All come with a salad
Tavern Made
Mussel Fritters
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GLUTEN FREE
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Good thing we have
WHY LIMIT
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Ours is for
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Saturday
Happy Hour
5 - 6
Sundays
Jazz Brunch
11:30am
Live Music
• Prime Scotch
Fillet
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• Fish of the Day
Woodfired
Pizzas
Mon - Fri
12 noon - late
Fresh
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Oysters
Sat & Sun
8am - late
Wishing tree
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5 - 7pm
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Fridays
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07 866 0053
or
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Valentines Day
Amazing Set Menu
Book now
Tuesday to Sunday
Dinner 6pm onwards
Set menu
for
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bookings
Open 7 Days
From 5pm
Dine In • Takeaway • Delivery
13 / 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga
Dine In FREE
on your Birthday
One main, rice & naan.
Minimum 2-person party.
Authentic North
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Wide selection of seafood,
vegetarian & gluten-free.
Children’s menu available.
Lunch
12 noon - 2pm
DINNER
5:30 - 8:30pm
THIRSTY
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HAPPY HOUR & TRIVA
4 - 6pm
LUNCH
12 noon - 2pm
Dinner 5:30 - 8:30pm
SNOOKER 1:30pm
POOL 7:15pm
Tai Chi 9am
Saturday Morning
Raffles 11am
Lunch
11am - 1pm TAB
FREE POOL
POKIES
MEMBERS DRAW
Raffles 5:30pm
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FREE POOL
TAB • POKIES
$20 BUFFET
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DESSERT MENU
AVAILABLE
Lunch
12 noon - 2pm
Dinner 5:30pm
Tai Chi 9am
BISTRO
CLOSED
Tai Chi 9am
Members Draw
Raffles 5:30pm
Meat/Seafood
LUNCH 12 noon - 2pm
Dinner 5:30 - 8:30pm
DINNER
5:30 - 8:30pm
DARTS 7:30pm
8 BALL
ANITA PRIME
7:30pm
Closed
Tuesday &
Wednesday
OPEN
ALL DAY
10am - 8pm
Closed today
for the
public holiday
Bike down and an
enjoy a coffee
on our deck
Try our
delicious
hardshakes or
spiked floats
OPEN
ALL DAY
10am - 8pm
Opening Hours:
Mon - Sat
10am - 6pm
• Sushi
• Japanese Cuisine
Dine in or Take away
69 Albert Street,
Whitianga
Ph 07 866 5858
New brown rice sushi
New hot food menu -
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Extra spicy available
All our
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Try a
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Rock your long
weekend
Saturday with
Live Band
‘Recliner Rockers’
9pm
Serving cold beer
& fresh fish
since 1869
DJ Mighty
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9 til late.
CURRY
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Bistro open all day
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DJ from 9pm
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Bistro
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Great food,
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Steak Night is back!
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Whitianga,
only $18!
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Chase the Ace
at 6pm,
win $250!
Open all summer
7 days a week
Beer
tastings &
platters
Come check out our new
“Beer -B-Que”
Fresh barbequed food marinated in our famous award winning beers,ales & stouts.
Ph (07) 866 3830 www.hotwaterbrewingco.com
Open
Breakfast/Lunch 9am - 2pm
Dinner from 6pm
Bookings advisable
Enjoy Brunch in our Garden
Courtyard. Come try our
legendary Big Breakfast
Full menu at
www.govino.co.nz
Ph 07 867 1215
for bookings
Closed Tues
11A Coghill Str, Whitianga
Tel: 07 866 2200
Open 7 days
5pm - 10pm
We are
FULLY
LICENCED
Take away coffee
Special liquor coffees Greek wine &
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Greek Beefteki
w salsa salad & fries
OPEN EVERY NIGHT
FROM 5PM
Lunch
Fri / Sat / Sun from 12 noon
Out Catering Available
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Open for
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Dip & Dine
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Late night dining.
Book now.
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NOW OPEN
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Sharing Jugs:
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New exciting
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45 Albert Street
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Now You Have A Choice…. Indian or Thai
07 866-2666
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39 Albert Street, Whitianga (Westpac Bank Arcade)
I told you I wanted
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LISTEN TO
JACQUI & ANDY
Thames Coast 97.2 |
Whangamata 89.9 | Coromandel 89.1 |
Cooks Beach 90.3 | Matarangi 94.0 |
Coroglen 93.9 | Paeroa 93.2 | Waihi
Beach 104.2 | Hahei Beach 90.3 |
Whitianga 90.3 | Opito Bay 106.7 |
Pauanui 93.9 | Tairua 93.9 | Waihi 90.6
The Informer and Espy Café on The Esplanade in Whitianga have joined forces to bring Mercury
Bay residents and visitors a competition with a difference.
Up for grabs are two main meals from the Espy lunch menu.
All you need to do to win is to work out how many times the word “Licenced” appear on formal
Espy signage inside the café and outside on the deck of the café and in the immediate vicinity
of the deck.
“The competition is a bit of fun,” says Espy owner Duncan Wood.“Hopefully it’ll motivate people
to look around a bit and discover things about our café they may not have known before.”
To enter, just let Espy Café or us have your answer and your name and address in writing.
It cannot be easier.
The closing date is Tuesday 16 February.
Pictured is Duncan giving prospective competition entrants a clue.
Win lunch for two at
Espy Café
Espy Cafe
10 The Esplanade, Whitianga
07 866 0778
the.espy.whiti@gmail.com
Win!2 main meals
Free coffee & muffin winner
Rewards card no 10139
Licensed
Tell us or The Informer how
many times the word “Licensed”
appears on the signage in and
around Espy Cafe to go in
the draw to win.
Competition closes on 16 February.

“Because, he said, I looked honest...”
Yes, it’s happened again. Precious rings lost
in the sand, this time at New Chums Beach.
It’s a good story, this one, so make a cup
of tea, put your feet up and turn off the TV.
Here we go.
Aucklanders Bruno and Hannah Warren
had teamed up with a friend and gone to
New Chums the Saturday before last. It was
a beautiful day, warm and sunny, with some
surf running due to the easterly swell.
Hannah put her wedding and engagement
rings in a hat next to her towel, while
she and their friend went for a swim.
Bruno headed back to Whangapoua to do
some surfing. “We’ll meet up at two o’clock
on the Whangapoua side of the New Chums
path to head home,” said Bruno.
Two o’clock came and went.
By 2:30pm Bruno checked his phone to find
a heap of panicked texts and missed calls.
“Come quickly, it’s an emergency,”
Hannah’s voice said. Bruno raced around to
New Chums.
When he arrived, Bruno found Hannah and
their friend searching frantically for Hannah’s
rings. “When we got out of the water, I picked
my hat and other things up and forgot all
about my rings until we were 100m up the
path to Whangapoua,” said Hannah.
Another local family came along and started
helping with the search. They remembered a
story in The Informer a few months ago about
another set of weddings rings lost at Lonely
Bay and how Whitianga’s Walter Russell had
helped with his metal detector. They called
the Whangapoua store to find the number for
The Informer. Editor Stephan Bosman had
Walter’s number at hand and Bruno gave
him a call. “I can’t come out to New Chums,
but you are welcome to use my detector if
you can come and get it,” said Walter.
Bruno ran back to Whangapoua, jumped in
his car and drove the 40 minutes to Whitianga
to pick up the detector from Walter.
“You break it, you buy me a new one,”
said Walter. He showed Bruno how to use the
detector and gave him a crash course in how
to map out a grid pattern.
Bruno raced back to Whangapoua, another
40 minute drive. “The tide was coming in and
it was getting late. We were concerned that the
place where the rings were lost was below the
high tide level. Hannah was very distressed.
Things were starting to get desperate.”
Bruno laid out a rough grid pattern and
started the search. Walter had said that he
was likely to pick up other stuff, like bottle
caps, keyrings, maybe even knives and forks.
“The detector didn’t go off at all. New Chums
is so clean and untouched. There’s very little
evidence of humans,” said Bruno.
Worried that the detector might be faulty,
or that he wasn’t operating it properly,
Bruno took off his own wedding ring and
dropped it at his feet to see if the detector
was working. “My ring sank immediately
into the sand. It was gone in an instant.
You could understand why we couldn’t find
Hannah’s rings.”
As it turned out, Walter’s detector was
working perfectly. The buzzer went off and
they retrieved Bruno’s ring about 20cm
deep in the sand. “It was a shock to see how
quickly the ring disappeared and how deep it
was when we found it,” Bruno said.
Close to 8:00pm, almost six hours after
Hannah lost her rings, the metal detector
went off and everyone started digging.
They finally found the rings, buried in about
30cm of sand and within a 10m radius of
where they figured the rings had fallen.
“It was a huge relief,” said Bruno.
“I still can’t believe the generosity of
the people who helped us out. The family
who came and helped, the people at the
Whangapoua store, Walter Russell who
wouldn’t take any money or credit cards
because, he said, I looked honest and The
Informer who steered us in the right direction.
“A massive thank you from both Hannah
and me. ”
Bruno and Hannah Warren just after they’ve found Hannah’s lost wedding and
engagement rings at New Chums Beach.

Movies Under the
Stars this weekend
According to Kate Nielsen, chair of the Mercury Bay Community Choir, they have a very exciting
first term planned for 2016.
“When we held the hugely successful ‘Winter Sing’ with James Niblock of Pennsylvania last
year, we had a large number of singers join with us from other community choirs in the wider
area,” says Kate. “They included a wonderfully keen group from Te Aroha. We all enjoyed one
gorgeous bass in particular... John Mullon. John is also the director for the Te Aroha Community
Choir and we have invited him to be our Community Choir’s guest director this term.
“Building on the musical relationship we began last year, our two choirs will be learning the
same repertoire and in May we will perform together in Whitianga and then at the Arts Festival
being held in Te Aroha. I’ve been listening to the repertoire John has put together and it’s going
to be fabulous!”
John describes the programme as ranging from challenging to simple, but fun. “My choices
have been directed by vocal challenge, lyrical content or rhythmic feel with pop, world, classical
and folk songs in five languages all part of the mix.”
The Mercury Bay Community Choir is not auditioned and they always welcome anyone who
might like to give singing a try. “We meet on Monday evenings,” says Kate. “Come along for a
few times and give it a go. We have a lot of fun. We’re a friendly bunch of locals who get heaps
of enjoyment from singing together.”
Pictured is James Niblock with the “Winter Sing” choir last year.
Exciting first term planned
for Community Choir
Lyon Park in Whitianga, home of the famous Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club, will be
the location of something different this Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7 February.
“The Mercury Bay Community Events Support Trust wanted to do something really nice for
the local community,” says Linda Simonsen, coordinator of the trust. “So, we’ve organised
a big outdoor movie screen and this weekend we’ll screen two classic movies under
the stars.”
On Saturday evening Dirty Dancing will be screened and on Sunday evening it’ll be the turn
of Mrs Doubtfire.
“Entry is by way of gold coin donation,” says Linda.“The movies will start at approximately
8:30pm each evening, but people should come around 7:30. Bring a picnic, or come and buy
something to eat from the Luke’s Kitchen mobile pizza oven, the Whitianga Lions’ famous
sausage sizzle or the Shellz Ice Cream Parlour ice cream cart.
“Classic movies are being screened outdoors on balmy summer evenings all over the
world. There’s no reason why we cannot do it in Whitianga too.”
The Rugby Club bar will also be open for those who require liquid refreshments during the
two evenings.
Pictured is Linda at Lyon Park.

Well-known Coromandel Peninsula resident Barry Brickell (pictured) passed away
on Saturday 23 January. He was 80 years old.
MERCURY BAY PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC
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COASTAL SANCTUARY
HAIR, SKIN AND BODY THERAPY
Phone 866 2679 for appointments 14 Victoria Street Whitianga
$
85$
85
Raspberry & Lychee Facial
Thumbs
Up
To Bryan
Skelton of The
AutoBarn in
Whitianga for his very
generous donation of two
batteries to the Mercury
Bay Speedway Club for
use in their water truck.
Catherine’s Column
Catherine Delahunty - Green Party MP
On Wednesday last week Barry Brickell
was laid to rest at Driving Creek outside
Coromandel Town.
In his extraordinary life, Barry turned
Driving Creek into a cultural phenomena,
rather than a name on a small bridge.
Barry was part of an extraordinary group
of talented artists and craftspeople who
embraced and enhanced the Coromandel
Peninsula and we are all the beneficiaries
of their legacy.
Barry was the uncompromising heart of
this group and he created a pottery studio
that nurtured many talents as well as his
own. My first husband Paul Tobin was one
of his young students and we witnessed the
beginnings of the creation of the railway
and the re-vegetation of the hillsides.
Barry was the engineer as well as the
driver of these projects, a man passionately
experimenting with steam, steel, clay and
fire. He was a relentlessly hard worker and
adhered to a fierce individualism while
creating opportunities for the collective
good and for the environment. Resistant to
being labelled, Barry loved native forests
and everything natural and took the long
term view.
It took years of hard work to build
the railway and create what is the best
eco-tourism experience that many of us
have had.
Many people participated and have
worked at Driving Creek and thousands
of visitors have spent their money in our
communityattractedbythelegend.Driving
Creek Railway is more than a train ride,
it’s a testament to art, conservation and
Barry’s very particular sense of humour.
When I visited Barry recently, he urged
me to enjoy the latest show at the art
gallery he has created and also to support
his vision of the harbour pier and miniature
railway, which was his alternative to
dredging the contaminated mud in the
Coromandel harbour to create a ferry
terminal and marina. Although very ill,
he remained determined that we can create
the extraordinary based on a respect for
nature, rather than the utterly conventional
and environmentally damaging.
The lesson of Barry’s remarkable life
and fantastic contribution is that authentic
creativity and a viable business venture
can succeed as one, but need the leadership
of true visionaries driven by a holistic
understanding of making things work.
Thank you Barry for your amazing
pottery and sculptures, including the one I
see every day at Parliament. Thank you for
being truly unique and true to your own
values, which you turned into an inspiring
reality for the benefit of all.You have left us
some very clear instructions about looking
after our place and valuing creativity,
so let’s honour them in your name.

The St John Siren
Sponsored by Mercury Bay Pharmacy Tel 866 4532
Summer is upon us! Yeah right! Some days
are like a typical Kiwi summer and others
overcast and damp, not forgetting the humidity.
The fishing has been pretty good, a few snapper
out wide, striped marlin, tuna and mahimahi for
the big gamers and kahawai and the odd snapper
off the beach. So all is good in paradise!
Summer brings the tourists and visitors out
to Whitianga and surrounds, the locals are
just lucky enough to live here. Along with the
summer influx, which I thought was going to be
short-lived with the summer rain early January,
which turned out not to be the case at all, it is
usual to see an increase in trauma related cases -
the fractured arms and legs, etc that result from
all the slips and falls. This year is no different.
We received 132 call-outs during January,
which is a significant increase on the same
month last year. There were 76 medical related
responses and 56 trauma related. We utilised
the air ambulance on eight occasions during
the month.
The easterly swell caused some issues with
people being dumped on the sand and swimmers
in surf beyond their capabilities. There have
been several injuries caused by being dumped,
including one serious spinal fracture.
Let’s talk about falls, particularly falls as they
relate to our older population. We may not like
the term, especially as the term “fall” relates to
a slip, trip or loss of balance.
Falls are the single most common cause of
injury and the main reason that older adults
lose their independence. Over the course of
a year, one in every three adults over 65 and
one in every two adults aged over 80 will fall.
In 2013 - 2014, ACC accepted 126,000 new
claims for older adult falls and of these 4,500
had resulted in a fractured neck of femur (NOF).
In almost every case, the older adult had already
had multiple minor falls before the fall that
resulted in a fractured NOF. This is why early
recognition and referral of older adult fallers are
so important. St John, along with ACC, have
embarked on a joint approach to reduce harm
from falls.
A patient will usually be admitted to hospital
after a fall if that fall has resulted in bone
fractures and/or head injuries. The statistical
outcomes for the 4,500 patients admitted with
NOF fractures are not good - 27 per cent will die
within a year, 10 - 20 per cent will be admitted
to residential care and 50 per cent will require
support with daily living or mobilising.
I guess you can all imagine that there is a
significant cost on the health system. Some of
these costs are -
• A simple fall causing minor injuries $600
• A simple hip fracture with three weeks in
hospital $47,000
• A hip fracture requiring admission to an
aged care facility $135,000
The financial costs are not insignificant,
but there are also other “costs.” After a person
has experienced a fall, particulary if it has
resulted in injury, they often worry about falling
again. The fear of falling may be somewhat
mitigated if older adults are aware of their risks
and take action to address them, However,
if they restrict their activity too much, this can
conversely increase their risk of another fall,
as well as impact in their overall quality of life.
There are many factors that cause an increase
of falls in the older adult - medical conditions,
our own physical condition and the many
hazards that we have in our homes.
So this is where St John come into the picture.
As a matter of course we will be carrying
out a falls risk assessment on older adults.
We will ask questions and conduct assessments,
even where a fall was not the reason why an
ambulance was called. We will assist with
making older adults safer in their own homes,
with permission. Simple things like moving rugs
and mats that could be a trip hazard, removing
clutter, ensuring that glasses and mobility aids
are easily accessible and the common problem
of not wearing the right footwear are just some.
We will also be referring our at-risk patients
to a falls referral pathway, where these patients
will be visited and assistance offered to reduce
falls risks in the home. The whole idea is to
keep our older adults safe in their own homes so
that they can enjoy life.
So where does fishing come into the equation
with falls? Simple, stand up and don’t give in
to falls. Stay active to ensure that you maintain
good muscle tone and good mobility and you
will reduce the risk of falls to yourself and
maintain your quality of life.
Happy fishing!! Even a regular walk along
the beach is not not only good for the body, but
also for the soul.
Mike Burrows -
St John Whitianga
Station Manager
Monday 18 January to Monday 25 January 2015
Police Report
With Sergeant Andrew Morrison
General
With another tragic drowning death in our
area this week and the near drowning of a
diver near Great Mercury Island, we again
remind everyone to be cautious around water
and to stay within their ability.
There are plenty of beautiful places to
visit throughout the Coromandel Peninsula,
please identify any risks and stay safe.
We offer our sympathy to the family of
the man who passed away and hope other
families don’t have to endure what they have
had to deal with this past week.
Three homes were burgled in the Hahei
area on the 24th, with money, bank cards,
diving and fishing gear stolen.
A suspect was arrested in Auckland
attempting to use the bank cards and our
enquiries are continuing with this Auckland
man and his associates.
Arrests
No arrests this week.
Occurrences
Two domestic incidents attended this week.
We attended a Protection Order Breach at
a Dundas Street address on the 18th, while
on the 24th we attended an incident on South
Highway involving a separated couple.
Anumber plate was stolen from a car parked
in Wharekaho Crescent on the 18th, while on
the 23rd there was an attempted arson at a
Moewai Park Road address.
Wilful Damage was caused to the Matarangi
Golf Course on the 24th, with enquiries
continuing in relation to identified suspects.
An Odea mountain bike was unlawfully
taken from the Robinson Road boat ramp on
the 24th.
Traffic
One drunk driver apprehended this week.
23rd - 1 x 20yr old Auckland man 348/250.

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Hazard and emergency consultant Brendan Morris is more than happy with the two Tsunami
Open Days held last weekend in Matarangi and Whangapoua.
The Matarangi Open Day was held at the Matarangi Fire Station on Saturday 30 January and
saw a constant stream of people from 10:00am to after 3:00pm. “People were really interested
in how they would be affected in the, I must say unlikely, event of a significant tsunami,”
says Brendan. “They were also interested in how often significant tsunamis could happen and
how big they would be. These are, of course, questions we don’t have exact answers for.
“We estimate the eastern seaboard of the Coromandel may have seen three significant tsunami
events the past 7,000 years. The last time Japan saw a tsunami as big as the one they had on
11 March 2011, was in the year 869.”
Inundation maps - maps indicating which areas of Matarangi and Whangapoua would be
affected in the event of a significant tsunami - drew a lot of attention.
Brendan says research is continuing and more open days around the Coromandel Peninsula will
be held in the next few years.
Pictured is Brendan (left) with Peter Wishart, Thames Coromandel District Council Strategic
Relations Manager, at the Matarangi Open Day.
Tsunami Open Days
well attended

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Mercury Bay Area School top academic
students for 2015 announced
Mercury Bay Area School’s NCEA results for
2015 are in. The school has their 2015 Dux and,
not one, but two Proxime Accessit.
Marie Everth is the 2015 Dux and Karl
Glen and Sol Glen share the honour of
Proxime Accessit.
Marie is currently in New York enjoying a
gap year and new experiences. She has been
awarded a scholarship to Otago University to
study marine biology and will begin her studies
in 2017.
Marie’s parents, Thomas and Lisa, are
understandably excited to receive the news that
their daughter has been awarded the coveted
title of Dux. “We are very, very proud that she
has achieved this result. She has such wonderful
opportunities ahead of her,” says Thomas.
He adds that Marie is grateful to the whole
school community for the support she has
received in her years at MBAS, which have
most definitely contributed to her success.
The joint Proxime Accessit winners, you’ll
notice, don’t just share their accolade… they
share a family name too. Sol and Karl are
actually cousins who hail from Otama and
Kuaotunu respectively.
Karl is busy battling the heat in front of the
pizza oven at Luke’s Kitchen in Kuaotunu and
saving in anticipation of his first year at Otago
University where he will begin his studies
towards a Bachelor of Science focussing on
biology and genetics. He is very grateful to
the staff at Mercury Bay Area School for
their support and also to Otago University for
awarding him a scholarship.
Sol is pretty proud of himself having devoted
the final year of his education (and only
year attending MBAS) working towards an
Excellence result. “The teachers were great and
really welcoming,” he says. He is researching
his options for universities in New Zealand and
overseas. He is aiming to study aeronautical
engineering with the “end goal” of a flying
career with the Air Force.
MBAS Principal John Wright is full of praise
for the focus and dedication that these young
people have put into their studies. “Marie,
Karl and Sol have achieved NCEA Level Three
endorsed with Excellence. This equates to
stage one University or better from these
fantastic learners.”
John highlights the diversity of the learning
journey that they have each undertaken to reach
this peak of learning. “Marie came to us in Year
9 from Coromandel Area School, Karl from Te
Rerenga in Year 7 and Sol was home-schooled
until joining us in Year 13.” John believes
this highlights the flexibility of NCEA as a
qualification which, with the support of staff
and the wider school community, can see very
individual learners achieve top level outcomes.
The MBAS top achiever for Year 12 is
Hannah Trebes with NCEA Level 2 endorsed
with Excellence. The top achiever for Year 11
is Cheyenne Walmsley with NCEA Level 1,
also endorsed with Excellence.
The Dux and Proxime Accessits, along with
all those who have also achieved outstanding
NCEA results, will be recognised at an
Achievement Assembly in week 3 of the first
term of the 2016 school year. The date and time
for the assembly is yet to be confirmed. Marie Everth, the Mercury Bay Area School Dux student for 2015.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) announced last week that the Cathedral Cove area (including the
track from the Cathedral Cove carpark) is about to receive a much deserved and long awaited upgrade to
better cater for the growing numbers of visitors attracted every year.
Managed by DOC, the area brings in around 400,000 visitors annually and DOC’s investment in the upgrade
will provide erosion control and better drainage and essentially meet the safety standards required for
what is classified in New Zealand as a “short walk”. The upgrade also means less frequent maintenance
will be required in the future.
DOC’s Conservation Services Manager Dale Tawa says the project is well overdue. “We appreciate the
patience that our visitors and stakeholders have shown while the track has been in need of attention,
but we now have the money to proceed.”
Plantpro and Sons has been selected as the contractor to undertake the work, which is due to start on
Tuesday 9 February.
Dale says it’s important for DOC that minimum disruption to visitors and businesses occurs during the
time the upgrade is undertaken. However, for the operation to happen as efficiently as possible, as well
as to comply with safety standards, closures will have to be put in place. The closures are expected to be
as follows -
9 to 24 February - Stingray Bay closed
25 February to 1 March - Gemstone Bay closed
2 March to 15 April every Thursday and Friday Morning until 1100am - the entire area closed (open the
rest of the day).
Please contact Nicola Miller on (07) 869 5632 for more information. Updated information will be
provided during the progress of the work in The Informer and other media and on the DOC website
www.doc.govt.co.nz.
Cathedral Cove area to be
upgraded
The second Coromandel Goldrush Cruise will this year take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14
February. “Last year 22 vintage and classic cars participated in the event,” says Whitianga’s Harold
Abrahamson,one of the cruise organisers.“This year we’ve received 28 entries.The cars participating
are spectacular. Among them are a rare 1929 Ford Tudor Model A and a 1946 Ford Deluxe, one of those
the Police used to drive around in back in the day. A variety of MGs, Mustangs and Cadillacs will also
be part of the cruise.”
The event will kick off on Saturday morning in Thames, with the participants driving to Waihi to have
a look at the Martha Mine. From there’s it’s on to Tairua for lunch and a “people’s choice” display.
Harold will escort the vehicles from Tairua in his 1985 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit to Cathedral Cove,
Hot Water Beach and Whitianga.
Upon arrival in Whitianga, the participants will have the opportunity to cruise on the Waterways
canals and to admire the view from Centennial Heights. “It’s about showing people how special our
part of the world is,” says Harold.
In the evening dinner will be accompanied with prize-giving at the Mercury Bay Club.
Early on Sunday morning, from 8:30am, the cars will be on display at Taylors Mistake in the Whitianga
CBD while the participants have breakfast.
From Whitianga the vehicles will travel to Coromandel Town, the last stop on the cruise.
Gull Whitianga donated petrol vouchers to the participants. “We would like to thank Gull for their
generosity,” says Harold. “Their support is much appreciated.”
Pictured is Ravi Tiku (left) the owner of Gull Whitianga, handing the vouchers to Harold.
Goldrush Cruise to
overnight in Whitianga

Fairy tale ending to drama at seaLast Monday afternoon 25 January,
Steve Miller, the owner of Cave Cruiser scenic
boat tours, his brother Richard and Richard’s
partner Jo, together with two friends from the
UK, Gareth and Sophie, set off for a trip to
Great Mercury Island. The plan was to have
a few hours on the water, do some diving and
get a few scallops.
Richard is a dive master and both Gareth
and Sophie have scuba dived before.
The two of them had come to New Zealand
to get married, so this trip was a welcome
chance to relax before the wedding.
Once they found a good spot, Richard,
Gareth and Sophie kitted up and followed
the anchor rope down to the scallop beds.
Steve and Jo stayed on board. A couple of
minutes later they saw Sophie surfacing
20m from where they were on the boat.
“She didn’t look happy,” said Steve. He
threw her a life ring, but as he did, Sophie
disappeared under the water again.
Jo didn’t hesitate to dive into the water to
try and get hold of Sophie. Richard came
up from below when he saw that there
was something happening on the surface.
He immediately followed Sophie down and
by the time he reached her, she was on the
sea floor in 18m of water. He grabbed her
and brought her to the surface as quickly as
he could.
In the meantime Steve made a mayday
call to the Whitianga Coastguard and moved
the boat to where he calculated Richard and
Sophie were going to surface. Sophie was
unconscious and non-responsive when they
breached the surface. Richard began rescue
breathing on Sophie while still in the water
and they all worked as a team to get her on
board. “We took her mask off and started
CPR,” says Steve. “Her face was covered in
blood at this time. We had no idea what had
gone wrong.”
Jo continued with rescue breathing,
while Steve did chest compressions
and Gareth stayed on the radio with the
Coastguard, giving them progress reports.
Meanwhile the Auckland and Coromandel
Rescue Helicopter were called out to the
scene. It was a time-critical and potentially
life threatening situation, something both
the Coastguard volunteers and the Rescue
Helicopter crew are trained to handle.
Back on the boat, the results of the CPR
efforts were starting to kick in. “Sophie
responded in less than five minutes,” said
Steve. “The moment that her eyes came back
into focus was amazing. It’s something that
will be burned into my memory forever.”
Sophie choked on the water in her lungs
and started to breathe on her own. Steve and
Richard laid her on her side with one leg
drawn up in the recovery position so that her
airway wouldn’t be impeded. The Coastguard
told Steve oxygen was available at the wharf
on Great Mercury Island and he immediately
steered the boat there.
Once the helicopter arrived, Sophie was
in better shape and had started talking to the
others. The medical staff on board carried out
some tests before the crew setting off with
Sophie and Gareth to Auckland Hospital for
further tests. The helicopter maintained a low
level flight path to avoid any possible diving-
related complications.
Steve said that he can’t stress enough the
importance of people doing a CPR course.
“We do workplace first aid and CPR as part
of our skipper’s ticket. You never know when
you might need it and it certainly proved its
value last week.”
Gareth and Sophie got married on Friday
last week - a fairy tale ending to what could
have been a very different outcome.Steve Miller, the owner of Cave Cruzer scenic boat tours.

To the Editor
See page 2 for our requirements with regard to letters and contributions
Dear Editor - Review of sustainability controls
for Coromandel scallop fishery
For any person who is interested in our local
scallop beds, you now have the opportunity
to contribute to the future of this fishery
by making a submission to the Ministry
for Primary Industries (MPI) on the best
option to advise the Minister of Primary
Industries to look at when reviewing all the
information provided.
An overview of what is on the table are
“two options.”
Option 1 - Retain the Total Allowable
Catch (TAC) of 131 tonnes of scallop meat,
distrubuted as follows - commercial sector
100 tonnes, recreational sector 10 tonnes,
Maori sector 10 tonnes and other sources of
fishing related mortality 11 tonnes.
Option 2 - Reduce the total allowable
catch (TAC) to 81 tonnes of scallop meat,
distrubuted as follows - commercial sector
50 tonnes, recreational sector 10 tonnes,
Maori sector 10 tonnes and other sources of
fishing related mortality 11 tonnes.
This review outlines past and current issues
with our scallop beds, offering quite detailed
scientific data to what MPI sees as the
current state of this fishery. This document
will give you an opportunity to comment
on the processes of what governs our
natural resources, especially with something
so tangible and relevant to the Mercury
Bay community.
To view the MPI review document on the
web, type “MPI Sustainability Coromandel
Scallop Fishery” into your browser.
Written Submissions close at 5:00pm on
Thursday 11 February 2016 and should be
sent directly to -
Inshore Fisheries Management
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6011
Email submissions to -
fmfisheriessubmissions@mpi.govt.nz.
Mark Pennell
Whitianga
Dear Editor - Great service
We were recently staying in Matarangi for
two weeks and after enjoying great weather
and fun times, it was time to go home.
Being ex-Whitianga people, we knew the
road and knew it could be busy, so we headed
off towing our boat home to the Manawatu,
leaving plenty of time as we were in no rush.
Little did we know that we would get a huge
blowout on our boat trailer about five minutes
after the Pauanui turn off.
No problem! We tried to replace the tyre,
but our car jack just didn't have the
strength to lift the weight of the boat. Ahh!
Ourbreakdownservice!Wehaveabreakdown
service specially for this situation. But when
we called, they said we didn't have towing
cover! What! And then they put us through
to a panel beater in Thames, who actually got
cut off.
So here we were, parked in the drive of
the water hole. Very hot day. Busy road.
We decided to call Prescott's Garage at
Hikuai. We got Bill. Bill was out to us within
10 minutes. He was so kind and helpful and
helped us change the tyre super quick.
We turned around and went back to pay
and Bill then even got our busted tyre fixed,
so that we were ready to go having another
spare wheel! Amazing service! Thanks Bill!
You made our day!
Angela Allan
Manawatu
Dear Editor - Commercial and recreational
fishing
I thank Mr Wheeler for his reply (in The
Informer of 27 January) to my Letter to
the Editor (in The Informer of 20 January)
regarding the state of the fishery on the East
Coast of the Coromandel.
I am not frustrated because of my personal
lack of success and I certainly don’t wish to
see the demise of the local commercial sector
and its contribution to our economy. What I
wish to achieve is more abundance for all and
a level playing field.
What does frustrate me however, is the
commercial netting of the harbours on the
East Coast (quite legally) under the cover of
darkness.
What frustrates me is seeing the commercial
trawlers netting schooling snapper during the
November spawning season.
What frustrates me is diving on the shallow
inshore scallop beds on the first day of the
recreational season to find the beds combed
clean by dredges with GPS precision.
What frustrates me are the different sizes
and seasons for recreational and commercial
fishers for several different species, all to the
advantage of the commercial sector.
If we are to establish a shared fishery,
surely these should be the same.
Yes, as Mr Wheeler points out there are
more recreational fishers, but the recreational
bag limits have been reduced, which allows
for that.
What I seek is a common sense approach to
ensure the health of the inshore fishery. The
Ministry for Primary Industry’s (MPI’s) own
statistics show a worrying picture for this
and other areas. I’m sure that the commercial
sector will be making submissions through
their high-powered lawyers, so it is essential
the recreational sector do the same to ensure
a balanced outcome.
Mr Wheeler is correct when saying a wider
view about the factors to be considered and
addressed when looking at the management
of our fisheries is important. That’s why I am
encouraging fishers to research the issues and
make an informed submission.
I smiled when I read Mr Wheeler’s
suggestions on how I could improve my
fishing. For the record, I am an avid saltwater
fly fisherman and abide by the “catch and
release” ethos. I often release far more fish
than I bring home. I have also setup three
fishing operations at resorts in the Pacific and
return several times a year to train the guides.
My fishing prowess, or lack thereof, is not
the issue. A healthy fishery for all, into the
future, is.
Information on the proposed changes to the
Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Act can be
found on the MPI website under consultations
(www.mpi.govt.nz) or the Legasea website
(www.legasea.co.nz). There is a public
meeting at the Thames Civic Centre on 15
February at 5:30pm and submissions close
on the MPA website (www.mfe.govt.nz/
consultation/mpa) on 11 March. Act now,
your grandkids will thank you for it.
Scott Lee
Tairua

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Local schools all ready for the new year
“Few will have the greatness to bend history,
but each of us can work to change a small
portion of the events, and then the total -
of all these acts - will be written in the history
of this generation.” Robert F Kennedy
The beginning of the new school year
brings with it a whole new set of opportunities
and challenges. We spoke to the principals of
four of the schools in the wider Mercury Bay
area to get an idea of what they see ahead
for 2016.
Anna Yates - Principal, Te Rerenga School
I’m excited about all of our students returning
for 2016 to a year of opportunities and
learning. We have four small classes this year
with passionate, knowledgeable teachers who
love learning.
We have a designated New Entrant class
starting with just nine students. This is really
exciting for us as a school and it reflects
the growth in our thriving community.
Our students continue to come from
Coromandel Town through to Whitianga and
everywhere in-between. We want to continue
to be a school families choose because of our
small, nurturing, learning-focused culture.
This year will be a year of learning for our
teachers as well as our students as we focus
upon developing our school curriculum,
gifted and talented education, Te Reo Maori,
literacy and maths as well as our sustainability
education utilising the expansive learning
areas in our school.
John Wright - Principal, Mercury Bay
Area School
We’ll start this year with a school roll of
more than 930 students. There are 45 families
who are new to the school and who have not
had children here before. We have 16 new
teachers, including two who are covering for
staff due to be away on study leave this year.
MBAS has become a school of choice now
for teachers deciding where they would like
to work. I’m very pleased with the make-
up of our staff and our new facilities are
coming along well. We hope to have the new
Hei classroom block ready by the end of the
first term.
Discussions have already started with
the Ministry of Education about more
new classrooms to prepare us for a roll of
more than 1,000 students within the next
couple of years.
The school’s annual fundraising Summer
Carnival famously achieved fantastic success
in torrential rain on Friday 8 January.
The money raised will be used to upgrade the
play areas in the junior school.
It’s our imperative to deliver high quality
education that is effective and responsive as
our students grow and develop. We’ll aim to
develop within our students the tools to be
effective and critical thinkers, to be flexible
and innovative global citizens into the
21st Century.
Jamie Marsden - Principal, Whenuakite
School
At Whenuakite School we are looking
forward to the successes and challenges that
we know the year will bring.
We want to continue working with
our school families to develop learning
environments that will bring the best out of
their children. We look forward to celebrating
our successes, taking care of each other,
solving the tricky problems that will occur
every day, working hard and having fun.
We look forward to continuing and
strengthening the positive relationships we
have with all local schools so that Mercury
Bay continues to be recognised as an area
where our communities value and support
their schools.
Our Summer Gala was thankfully an
amazing success and the proceeds of this
will once again allow us to confidently do
many essential and worthwhile things. We
start the year with some new children, new
staff, new families and a nearly completed
building project.
Brendan Finn - Principal, Tairua School
This year promises to be a momentous year
for Tairua School as we reach new milestones
with our school roll whilst continuing to
innovate our curriculum design and delivery.
Steady growth over the past three years has
resulted in an opening roll of more than 150
students and the introduction of a brand
new classroom courtesy of the Ministry
of Education. Our Board of Trustees has
established a robust strategic plan for 2016
that will ensure no child is left behind and our
unique school culture continues to provide a
safe and inclusive environment for students
and families.
The Tairua Wine and Food Festival held
on 9 January was a resounding success and
will once again provide additional funds to
enhance existing facilities and offer support
programmes for all students.
By Stephan Bosman
The Te Rerenga School re-modelled chicken house was completed in 2015. The school will
start 2016 with some fencing and the hatching of chickens later in term one.

What’s On the next few weeks
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• Spouting
• Roofing
• Water treatments systems
• Septic tanks
• Hot Water cylinders
• New Housing
• Alterations
• General Maintenance
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• All LPG gas installation
Whitianga
07 866 0070
Op-Shops
Social Services Op-Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street
(west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00am - 1:00pm.
The Church Op-Shop, at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Thursday to
Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm.
St John Opportunity Shop, Coghill Street (east of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Monday to Saturday,
10:00am - 4:00pm. Phone 869 5416.
Justice of the Peace
Every Monday 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. Phone 866 4476 for more information.
Mercury Bay Community Bus
Available for transport to hospital, specialist or health related appointments outside of the Whitianga area.
Phone 866 4993 for information and bookings.
Road Cycling and Mountain Biking
Road cycling meet every Saturday at 8:00am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Bryan on
022 155 8944 for more information. Mountain biking meet every Tuesday at 5:15pm and every Saturday at 7:30am at
the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Paul on 021 605 230 for more information.
Social Cycling Group
Meet every Sunday at 9:00am at Taylor’s Mistake, Whitianga. Short 45 minute cycle and coffee. Phone Bryan on
022 155 8944 for more information.
Waka Ama “Have a Go” days
First and third Sunday of every month and Thursday afternoons. See Facebook.com/whitiangawakaama.
“Whitianga Movers and Losers” (the Old WW’s)
Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm at St Peters Anglican Church, Dundas St, Whitianga. $2 donation (to cover cost
of room rent). We promote a slow, steady weight loss based on eating well, nourishing foods and moving more -
towards maintaining our our ideal weight and optimal health. New members always welcome.
Whitianga Probus Club
Meet on the fourth Monday of every month at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Friendly club for
seniors. Visitors welcome. Phone Des Robinson on (07) 866 0960 for more information.
Social Darts
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm at the Mercury Bay Club. Contact Pauline Curtain at paulinecurtain@msn.com for
more information.
Mercury Bay Community Choir
Meets every Monday from 6:00pm - 8:00pm in the Mercury Bay Area School music room. Non-auditioned. New members
welcome. Contact Kate Nielsen on telephone 866 2573 or (027) 270 9058 for more information.
SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated
Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their
computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on
866 4215 for more information or to join.
Whitianga Toastmasters
Meet Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Whitianga Art Centre, School Road, Whitianga. Competent Leadership -
listening, critical thinking, giving feedback, time management, motivating people, mentoring and team building. Phone
Merle on 866 0240 or (021) 0241 9368 for more information.
Mercury Bay Table Tennis
Every Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Pat or Neville on 867 1447 for
more information.
Mercury Bay Badminton
Every Wednesday 9:30am - 11:00am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Diane on 027 246 1915 for
more information.
St John Cadets
Meet every Monday from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the St John Ambulance Station, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Beth on
(07) 869 5294 or (021) 241 9757 for more information.
Whitianga Senior Citizens Club
Meet Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie etc. Afternoon tea,
55 plus age group. Phone Lance Hayson (president) on 866 5817 for more information.
Operation Cover-Up
Meet the last Wednesday of every month at Whitianga Social Services from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. An initiative knitting
clothing for Missions without Borders in the Ukraine and Moldova. Phone Brenda on 866 5814 for more information.
Whitianga Art Group
Meet everyThursday and Friday,10:00am - 4:00pm,at theArt Centre in School Road,Whitianga.New members welcome.
Phone Rose on 022 139 2968 or Maryanne on 866 4099 for more information.
Coroglen Farmers Market
Every Sunday, 9:30am - 1:00pm. Locally produced seasonal fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, jams, chutneys,
home-baking, handmade soap, coffee, hot snacks, art and craft, quality vintage items and much more. Phone Fiona on
866 3315 for more information.
Bonze Skins Fishing Tournament
Thursday 4 - Saturday 6 February. Australasia’s richest game fishing tournament. Entry forms at the Mercury Bay Game
Fishing Club bar or at www.marlinfever.com.
Movies Under the Stars
At Lyon Park, Albert Street, Whitianga (the Mercury Bay Rugby Club). Saturday 6 February - Dirty Dancing. Sunday 7
February - Mrs Doubtfire. From 7:30pm. Movie to screen at approximately 8:30pm both evenings.
Leadfoot Festival
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February at Leadfoot Ranch outside Hahei. Tickets available at www.leadfootfestival.com.
Whitianga Art, Craft and Farmers Market
Saturday 6 February from 8:30am - 1:00pm at Soldiers Memorial Park, Whitianga. Locally produced fruit and vegetables
and art and craft. Phone Anne on 866 5550 or Doreen on 866 5237 for more information.
Weekly Church Services
Mercury Bay Co-operating Parish
St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, 9:30am every Sunday worship service and kids friendly Bible sessions,
Albert Street, Whitianga.
Anglican Services
St Peter the Fisherman, 9:30am Sunday services. All are welcome, Dundas Street, Whitianga.
Crossroad Encounter Fellowship
10:00am every Sunday, cnr Joan Gaskell Drive and Cook Drive, Whitianga.
St Patrick’s Catholic Church
Weekend Mass Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday 8.30am, Monday - Friday 9:00am (except Tuesday no Mass,
Wednesday 12:00 noon). Tairua Sunday 10:30am, Tuesday 9:00am, tel 866 2189.
Whitianga Baptist Church
10:00am every Sunday, children’s programme, 112 Cook Drive, Whitianga, tel 866 4027.
C3 Whitianga
10:30am every Sunday, children’s programme, 23 Coghill Street, Whitianga,
email info@c3whitianga.org.nz.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Meet on Sundays 10:00am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Social Services building,
2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Children’s programme. Phone 021 277 2126 for
more information.
Seventh Day Adventists
Home study group. Phone Laurie/Lois on 866 2808 for more information.

•
•
•
•
Ph 07 866 0937
Mob 021 063 8367
MERV GEORGE Plumbing
& Drainage Ltd
“Do it by George and you’ll be right”
PO Box 74 Whitianga
P: 07 866 5787
F: 07 866 5780
M: 0274 521 298
mjfgeorge@xtra.co.nz
Reduce, reuse and recycle - the tale of
the little blue bag
“Him Indoors” informs me that, indeed,
you can purchase two sizes of Council bag!
(I hate it when he’s right!) How have I not
noticed this? (How many years have I lived
here in Mercury Bay?) So, why isn’t there a
plethora of small rubbish bags on the sidewalk
come rubbish collection day? Would the
smaller bag not be eminently more suitable for
single or twin households? However, wouldn’t
it also be a great challenge for a family to try to
reduce their waste to the smaller quantity for a
week… and perhaps maintain that new regime
beyond that into a month and beyond?
So, off I went to the supermarket and,
lurking in the darkness of the (nearly) bottom
shelf (bags, tinfoil and wraps department),
I discovered a dark blue, half size,
Council-approved rubbish bag! It retails for
$1.30 per unit compared with the standard size
at $2.40.
Could we, at the Connell household, reduce
our own non-recyclable waste to this size
every week? I’m sure that some weeks we’d
do it easily, but it may well depend on the
number of visitors in the house… especially at
this time of the year. You could also argue that
the big light blue bag could last us two weeks,
but no-one wants their rubbish to start reeking
in this summer heat.
Time for a household waste-audit. Fruit
and vegetable waste to the compost bin…
check. All the qualifying recyclables to the
I like to consider myself a fairly conscientious
consumer. I stress over buying a plastic-
coated carton, kick myself if I leave my cane
shopping basket at home (despite enduring
many a “Doesn’t Red Riding Hood want it
back?” from the comedians who abound round
these parts) and avoid anything individually
wrapped or double-packaged… think chippies
in small plastic bags inside a larger plastic bag
for example.
Conversations over the years, with folks
from far-flung places like Switzerland and
Japan, have revealed their shock at the amount
of rubbish we Kiwis produce, especially whilst
actively promoting ourselves as a “clean
green” haven at the bottom of the world.
In their countries the cost of a rubbish bag is
steep, but the size quite small. It is not part
of their culture to react to these restrictions by
“fly-dumping” their household waste over a
bank somewhere. And if they were to do so…
they would face a very hefty penalty.
Yet another of these conversations, recently,
led me to lament the size of our Council-
approved rubbish bags, my argument being
that the big light blue bag only encourages
you (maybe subconsciously) to fill it and not
to bother too much about recycling, or better
still, to even avoid the offensive packaging in
the first place. “She’ll be right bro’, plenty of
room in the bag!”
You can imagine my absolute horror when
Opinion piece by Deli Connell
The larger light blue and the smaller dark blue Thames Coromandel District Council-approved
rubbish bags. The dark blue bag is approximately half the size of the light blue bag.

wheelie bin… check. All those empties in
the green crate… check. So where on earth
does the rest of it come from? A quick, and
very unscientific, survey indicates that 90
per cent of what’s in the blue bag seems to
be kitchen and bathroom waste… packaging,
the non-recyclable plastic around the bacon,
the packets crackers come in, cling-wrap,
the trays sometimes forming part of meat
packaging, the plastic that toothbrushes come
in… and the used toothbrushes themselves…
the list goes on. It appears that much of
what we can readily purchase is not designed
to be recycled.
A quick Google search indicates there
are alternatives to some of the nasties in the
bag. Bamboo toothbrushes, waxed fabric
lunch-wraps and elasticated covers for food
containers. The following websites and blogs
are a selection of the many, in New Zealand
and overseas, that offer innovative ways to
reduce, reuse and recycle -
http://www.rubbishfree.co.nz
http://1yearnoplastic.blogspot.co.nz
http://myplasticfreelife.com
And whilst on this particular soapbox,
one has to raise the question of that other
little evil, the plastic bag. Nearly every time
you buy anything, you have your purchases
handed back to you in plastic. That’s where
the cane basket or the reusable shopping bag
comes into its own. I applaud anyone who
utilises paper bags in their business… and so
do the worms in my compost bin.
Supporting our farmers markets and road
side stalls is a wonderful way to purchase
locally-grown, often organic and (generally)
unpackaged seasonal food. Take your own bag
or basket.
Wouldn’t it be great to make Whitianga
a plastic bag free town? It has been done.
Collingwood in Golden Bay was the first
New Zealand town to go plastic shopping
bag free back in 2005. The “Bag Ladies”
of Collingwood produced and promoted
the use of lightweight reusable cloth bags.
They were supported by the local stores as well
with those not providing paper bags offering
either a cardboard packing box or charging to
purchase a plastic bag.
Once you’ve done your own waste audit
and got your reusable bag sorted then you’re
on your way to exploring, if not waste-less,
a less-waste lifestyle. Let us know how you
get on!
Note - The environmental organisation “Ocean
Conservancy” cites the following as the
world’s deadliest ocean trash -
1. Fishing gear
2. Plastic bags and utensils
3. Balloons
4. Cigarette butts
5. Bottle caps and rings - I cut every plastic
ring (from bottle necks) before it goes into the
recycling bin - if it blows away then it won’t
trap and strangle any wildlife!
Reduce, reuse and
recycle

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NZ WIDE REMOVALS
What opportunities might there be
for remarkable dogs?By Len Salt
The new hit movie “Oddball” in the cinemas
at the moment is based on the true story of a
penguin colony on an island off the coast of
Australia which had been all but wiped out
by marauding foxes coming over from the
mainland.
The Australian equivalent of our
Department of Conservation and the local
Warrnambool Council had run out of ideas
and were resigned to the colony becoming a
total loss within months or even weeks.
A local chicken farmer by the name of
Alan “Swampy” Marsh had used the Italian
livestock guarding breed of Maremma
sheepdogs for years to protect his chickens
from the same foxes that were attacking the
penguins. He reckoned that penguins were
just “chickens in dinner suits.” Swampy got
his dog Oddball to guard the penguins on
the island and not a single bird has been lost
to foxes in the ten years the programme has
been running.
The movie has taken in over $10 million at
the Australian box office since it was released
at the end of 2015. Glenn Parker of Mercury
Twin Cinemas says it’s been very popular
in Whitianga over the school holidays too.
“It’s a bit different,” he said. “And because
it’s based on a true story I think people relate
to that.”
We had a Maremma sheepdog and would
have to be one of the few families that
managed to keep such a dog in an urban
environment. All of the disaster and chaos
that Oddball causes in the movie rings very
true with us.
Kaskuh (pronounced “cash-koo”) was part
of our family for 12 years before he died in
2014. He was a highly intelligent dog with a
loyal and affectionate nature and he caused
endless mayhem in his years with us.
Modern thinking is slowly starting
to separate canines into their various
abilities to help us do our daily jobs, from
identifying kauri dieback disease and finding
cancer in humans, to search and rescue and
bomb detection.
The remarkable achievements of Oddball
and his mates are now famous around the
world, but the first responses from the
Warrnambool Council and local conservation
authorities were severely sceptical. They took
some convincing, but are now the Maremma
programme’s biggest supporters and the
penguin colony with the dogs on guard has
become a tourist attraction.
The Maremma breed stands out for its
unique qualities and these same attributes
might have the potential to solve some of
the issues that are faced by people working
in conservation and farming in New Zealand
today. Based on the experience in Australia,
what opportunities might there be in New
Zealand for Maremmas to protect kiwi, Kaskuh, the Maremma sheepdog that was for 12 years part of the Salt family.

Squeaky Clean
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Phone Nick on
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021 522 041
Opportunities for
remarkable dogs?
dotterel and other endangered species?
New Zealand farmers have been using them to
protect their sheep and alpacas for a number
of years. Maremma are bred to live with the
flock. They identify any herd or family group,
whether it’s animals, humans or birds as
their responsibility and will defend it with
their lives.
The movie does, however, raise concerns
for me as a former Maremma owner.
The puppies are cute and fluffy, but first
and foremost however they are a livestock
guarding dog and they are always on guard.
That means they will bark at every stranger
or visitor until they learn the sound of that car
or are introduced to a new person.
Our dog Kaskuh was trained by my
wife Svargo to do agility and competed in
competitions. He was hopeless. It’s not that
he couldn’t do the course, but he would only
do it if he wanted to.
AMaremma off lead will immediately head
to the perimeter of wherever he happens to
be and go on patrol. He will get in between
you and the bears and wolves in the forest or
on the beach. He might come back for dinner,
he might not. People who buy Maremma
puppies will often give them up before they’re
a year old. They shed fur like it’s an Olympic
sport, all year round, worse in summer. Your
house will look like a snow storm has just
been through it.
In Australia there are dedicated Maremma
rescue facilities which re-home the dogs.
So don’t be tempted by the Oddball movie to
rush out and get a cute puppy for the family,
unless you live on a medium to large property
and are prepared to understand the breed and
how to work with them.
Jodie Cawood of Maremma Rescue
Victoria, who was involved in preparing the
Maremmas for the Oddball movie, has been
quoted as saying that, “[Maremma dogs] are
not pets and suburban settings are not ideal
for them. They do make brilliant family
members, but ideally they are working dogs
with a job to do, something - even chooks
- to look after, otherwise they get bored.”
It would be a tragedy to see increased
numbers of Maremma puppies euthanised
simply because they end up in the wrong
environment and people can’t cope
with them.
Oddball will be showing at Mercury Bay
Twin Cinemas every weekend until the next
school holidays.
For more information and some amazing
Maremma footage visit -
https://www.facebook.com/MaremmaSheepdog/
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/
country-living/dog-lover-jodie-cawood-
runs-maremma-rescue-victoria/news-story/
c76243efb012c404063b86630728cdfb
http://www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au/

ACROSS
1. Supply & ...
5. Angry crowds
7. Unhitch
8. Brass instrument
9. Iconic whale, ... Dick
10. Hit the road
11. Drives forward
13. Fingertip cover
14. Leafy side dishes
18. Slow-moving mammals
21. Tax
22. Portable
24. Car stopping device
25. Tropical tuber
26. Burial chamber
27. Risky
28. Seductive
29. Spend (3,3)
DOWN
1. Little tunes
2. Die down
3. Loses shine
4. Desperate, in dire ...
5. Relic
6. Childish & silly
12. Young chap
15. Arithmetic mean
16. Anyone
17. Relieve itch
19. Zodiac sign
20. Fizzy powder
22. Actress, ... Streep
23. Fragmented
Last week’s solution
UK Puzzle 674
UK Style Crossword
© Lovatts Puzzles
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Tel no: __________________________________________________________________
Last week’s winner - Marion Frechtling
HOUSE WASHING
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The Expert with the time tested and guaranteed method of removing mould,
lichen, moss and stains. In fact any exterior surface that needs a clean, Drew can
deal to with a harmless but totally effective wash.And remember a pre-paint wash
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Buildings. Boats. Fences. Wood. Concrete. Metal.
Call Drew Edwards - The Chemwash Man
Mobile: 0274 375 578 a/h 07 867 8493
Polyurethane
coating & colouring
Timber & Cork Floor
Installation
www.mercurybayfloorsanders.co.nz
Call
chris mcKibbin
M: 021 046 7169
Mobility equipment available for locals or visitors.
Walking frames, crutches, walking sticks and mobility scooters
Phone Roger on 07 867 1986 for more information
Win a $6 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 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim
his/her prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday of the week
following the issue in which he/she was announced the winner.

Thumbs
Up
To Greenstone
Entertainment
for bringing
to Mercury Bay the 2016
Whitianga Summer
Concert that was held last
Sunday at the Whitianga
Waterways Arena.
Race two of the MB Boating Club’s
Steinlager series
Before racing in race two of the Mercury Bay
Boating Club’s Steinlager Series started last
Wednesday evening (27 January), the crew of
Blue Print decided to check out the sea state
and wind conditions around Windy Buoy
(located 300m off Buffalo Beach) and got
more than they bargained for.
As we approached Windy Buoy heading
towards the beach, three massive swells
came through. The first picked us up and
with nowhere to go, we careened down the
face of the first wave in a foaming cauldron
heading towards the beach. With a low tide,
shallow water loomed up rapidly.
Luckily, we dropped out the back of the
foaming cauldron, luckily we didn’t hit the
bottom, luckily we were able to get the boat
around and facing seaward and accelerate into
the next wave, which gave us a good workout.
We then climbed the last wave, which we
smashed out the other side of - a lot of luck
involved. On checking my speed log, we did
15.1 knots down the face of the wave.
The only real collateral damage suffered
was to my underwear.
Needless to say Sandy Wilton in the control
tower omitted Windy Buoy from the race and
we all got off on time at 5.00pm
With only 10kts of breeze and continuous
swells coming through, the start was pretty
ropey to say the least. H2Go (Paul Dimock)
weaved his magic and got away clear,
but the second bunch of Loose (Belinda
Wallace), Kahurangi (Stu Crockart), Contrast
(John Wright) and Him Outdoors (Al Joslin)
all came together on the start buoy and some
colourful adjectives were shared. On Blue
Print we muffed the start, but had a very
cunning plan to be unveiled later.
Not surprisingly, H2Go was first to Doctors
Buoy, leaving the rest of the fleet to engage
in some titanic tacking duals. Loose led most
of the windward leg, but took her eye off the
ball and allowed Kahurangi to sneek past.
Contrast and Him Outdoors had a loose cover
on the front runners, so were always in there.
We hatched our cunning plan rounding
Doctors Buoy and found ourselves a massive
5m in front of Kahurangi and a whopping
8m in front of Loose. Plan Done.
We deployed the famous Blue Print
gennaker and with binoculars and other
visual aids, we could just make out H2Go,
so the fleet set off in hot pursuit. All the
fleet, bar Kahurangi, carried spinnakers or
gennnakers en-route to Simpsons Buoy.
With a substantial lead over the following
boats, we did a botch gybe at Simpsons.
That’s now where you rap the gennaker
round and round the fore stay and then pull
your hair out. Not exactly a “plan B.”
H2Go was surfing her way to the finish
and another first, but once round Simpson
Buoy, all the fleet enjoyed some good
bursts of speed to the finish. I must say
Contrast looks a picture with her near new
turquoise spinnaker.
As the boats finished - 1 H2Go, 2 BluePrint,
3 Kahurangi, 4 Loose, 5 Contrast and
6 Him Outdoors.
On handicap - 1 Him Outdoors, 2 Blue
Print, 3 H2Go, 4 Kahurangi, 5 Loose and
6 Contrast.
ThankyoutoSandyWiltoninthestarttower
and Anne Davy for food and refreshments at
the club rooms after the race.
By Matt Algie - Skipper of Blue Print
Handicap winner Him Outdoors in Race 2 of the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s Steinlager Series.

Last week’s winner - Malc Cooke
Sudoku
3
2
1
5
6 8 7
9
4
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Tel no: __________________________________________________________________
Sponsored by H&M Pascoe Tel 0274 852 046
Fishing Report
Sudoku Puzzle 674
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. 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 6:00pm Monday each week. The weekly prize is one
butter chicken combo (including rice and a poppadom) from Hurry 4 Curry, Whitianga. The winner
must please claim his/her prize from Hurry 4 Curry directly.
There were plenty of opportunities last
week for fishers to get out there and wet
their lines and large numbers of people
did exactly that.
Once again the results were fairly patchy,
but overall things seem to be improving as
far as snapper are concerned. Whilst it’s
fair to say that many have struggled to get
amongst the snapper from time to time,
some excellent reports are starting to filter
in, suggesting this lean patch is about to
come to an end. In recent times gurnard
and trevally have helped fill up the chilli
bin, but over the weekend, snapper were
the dominant species in shore.
A few of the spots that worked well at
some stage last week included various
areas along the southern shore of Great
Mercury Island, off Korapuki, behind the
Black Rocks and the coastline between
Hahei and Hot Water Beach. Tide is fairly
critical and a change of tide may bring
on the bite or cause it to cease. Different
areas fish in different tides and several of
the more successful anglers have good
records of where and when they have
done well.
The excellent weather conditions have
also enabled a fair bit of game fishing
out wide and they too are having a lot
of fun. There are quite a few smaller
marlin out there still, which most of the
guys are tagging and releasing. There is a
theory that the big blue marlin will come
in just after the shortbill spearfish arrive,
which is great news for the Bonze
International Skins tournament being held
later this week from 4 to 6 February.
During our Troy Wheeler Contracting
Ladies tournament last Saturday, no less
than six shortbill spearfish were landed
(one of which is a pending club record for
ladies - all tackle) and at least one vessel
lost a tussle with what they called a very
big blue marlin.
With tens of thousands in cash up for
grabs each day of the Bonze International
Skins tournament and $250,000 in cash
for the heaviest marlin over 350kg,
the serious fishers are sure to be keeping
a close eye on the weather forecast with
their fingers crossed.
Contact us at the club if you’re interested
in taking part in any of our tournaments
and you can keep an eye on where the fish
are being caught by going to www.fishgrid.
com and by listening
to VHF channel 61 -
Gamebase.
Tight lines,
Alan

M: 021 909 406
P: 07 392 9123
P: 09 940 5801
E: rolly@smartbrokers.co.nz
M: 021 909 406
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A disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge.
With 93 boats and 241 anglers entered, the Troy Wheeler Contracting Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club
Ladies Tournament that was held last Saturday (30 January) was even bigger than last year’s tournament.
Participants came from all over the North Island.
On the water good success was achieved. Specifically impressive is the fact that five marlin were landed,
but eight were tagged and released.
Teresa Gardiner was the winner of the Striped Marlin category, with a 111.72 kg fish. The heaviest
shortbill spearfish was caught by Kiri Moore (25.7kg), while Anna Brown landed the heaviest yellowfin
tuna (6.67kg).
Bec Le Quesne took the honours for the heaviest kingfish with her 20.35kg catch. The heaviest kahawai
was caught by Nora Corbett (2.64kg) and nobody could beat Kim Newman’s trevally of 2.57kg.
In the Skipjack Tuna category Aenea Waldron came out on tops with her fish of 5.09kg. The heaviest
albacore was caught by Janelle Bell (8.46kg) and Jane Wildman caught the heaviest snapper (5.36kg).
The heaviest mahimahi, weighing 9.02kg, was caught by Moana Scarrott.
More than $60,000 worth of prizes were won.
Pictured is angler Kim Bowman holding the dorsal fin of a striped marlin she landed during the tournament.
Simon Buchanan and Sonya Corlett, the owners of Moko Artspace at Hot Water Beach,
donated on Thursday last week 10 pairs of sunglasses to the Hot Water Beach Lifeguards.
“We’ve recently started to stock Moana Road sunglasses, says Simon. “It’s a Kiwi
brand with polarised lenses and bamboo arms. I thought about doing something for the
lifeguards for some time now. The Moana Road supplier was happy to do us a good deal
on the glasses.
“I surf a lot and fully appreciate the work the lifeguards do to keep Mercury Bay residents
and visitors safe.”
Gary Hinds, chairman of the Hot Water Beach Lifeguard Service, says the sunglasses are a
welcome gift. In as much as they will come in handy in the day-to-day work the lifeguards
do, it’s also a token of support from the local community, which is always appreciated.
Pictured is Simon (on the far right) shaking Gary’s hand when the sunglasses were handed
over. Sporting the sunglasses with Gary are lifeguards (from left to right) Jess Gestro,
Hunter Reid, Callum McKinney, Reuben Dimock and Georgie Hood.
Sunglasses for lifeguards Impressive ladies fishing
tournament

Go in the draw to win a package of Mercury Bay delights (including restaurant, cafe and attraction
vouchers). Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer,
14 Monk Street, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or info@theinformer.co.nz to reach us by
6:00pm Monday each week. The winner will be drawn in July 2016 and will be notified by phone.
No correspondence will be entered into once the winner has been notified. Conditions apply.
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Tel no: __________________________________________________________________
Observer Puzzle 674
Across
1 Clumsy person breaking section in
wall (7)
5 Discourage delay (3,3)
8 Reliable police officer with watchword
back in base (6-8)
10 Left with desire to disrupt mad
show (10)
11 Ring linked to odd elements in sale
of capital (4)
13 Learn good tip (5)
14 Air in large shed (9)
15 Controller’s true goal ruined by
resistance (9)
17 Substitute returning pass with doubtful
expression (5)
19 Gain vase, according to report (4)
20 Pressure to join in courses arranged
for part of orchestra (10)
23 Fellows taken in by devious effect,
false modesty (4-10)
24 Level enclosure filled with mineral (6)
25 Article in store, not right for
impetuous type (7)
Everyman Cryptic Crossword
© The Observer
Down
1 Exercises on record oddly involving
monarch and hierarchy (7,5)
2 Agent with service admitting large
defeat (7)
3 Agreeably different panel last year (10)
4 River in wood, miles away (5)
5 Prepared to erupt if getting little cake?
(5,4)
6 Attempt to encapsulate love for city
of Paris? (4)
7 Flower father planted on raised area,
I notice (7)
9 No admittance after development is
polluted (12)
12 Benefit in advancement for young
person (10)
14 Book entirely about loud insect (9)
16 Something with which chap covers
part of body? (7)
18 Language used by machines
extensively (7)
21 Disagree with Conservative whip (5)
22 At a distance from Nadal, upset? (4)
The fact that the weather caused the Matarangi Boat and Fishing Club’s Annual Fishing Competition to be
postponed from 2 January to last Saturday, didn’t affect the number of entries. In fact at the prize-giving,
it was standing room only at the Matarangi Fire Station.
The results were impressive.
In the Snapper category (sponsored by Atlas Gentech), Cody Blowe was the winner with an entry weighing
7.78kg. In second place was Dooley Goonan with a 7.75kg catch and Brian Baker’s 7.4kg fish took out the
third spot.
Pete Murphy won the Heaviest Kahawai category (sponsored by Beach Realty) with a 2.38kg entry.
The heaviest John Dory (sponsored by Puku and Kerre’s Liquor Store) weighed 1.284kg and was caught
by Paul Eden. Phil Mosen was closest to the mystery weight (sponsored by Matarangi General Store)
of 0.972kg.
The heaviest kingfish, weighing 10.250kg, was caught by Kirk Davis, one of the hosts of the TV show
Fishy Business. In the show Kirk fishes from a jetski. Kirk’s family are Matarangi bach owners. Kirk fished
on Saturday also from his jetski and caught and released more than 20 kingfish. He says his next big
challenge is to catch a marlin from his jetski.
A number of spot prizes sponsored by Battery Town and NZ Outdoor Gear were also given away during
prize-giving.
Pictured is Kirk Davis (left) receiving his prize from Matarangi Boat and Fishing Club President Harry Karl.
Good turnout at Matarangi
fishing competition


Brain Teaser Puzzle 674
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Tel no: __________________________________________________________________
Win a coffee and a muffin from Espy Cafe in Whitianga. 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 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim
his/her prize from Espy Cafe directly before the Wednesday of the week following the issue in which
he/she was announced the winner.
Brain Teaser - Red Herrings
© Lovatts Puzzles
Open
Thurs - Sun 9am - 5pm
other days by phone
appointment
(07) 869 5910
Waitaia Road
Kuaotunu
WAITAIA NURSERY
Native • Ornamental
Big Trees • Fruit Trees
Citrus • Hedging
Palms • Hire plants
and more
Bagged Products
Bulk mulch
Answers
1 _____________________________
2 _____________________________
3 _____________________________
4 _____________________________
5 _____________________________
6 _____________________________
7 _____________________________
8 _____________________________
9 _____________________________
10 _____________________________
Last week’s solution - Binary Puzzle
Last week’s winner - Anthea Austin

Classifieds and Public Notices
Sport Results
WHITIANGA ART, CRAFT & FARMERS MARKET
Saturday 6 February
Soldiers Memorial Park, Albert Street, Whitianga,
8:30am - 1:00pm.
Unique locally created art, craft & local produce.
Phone Anne 866 5550 or Doreen 866 5237.
WHITIANGA ART GROUP
Raffle Result - Summer Exhibition
Winner of the
Frans van Hoppe Painting
Soundshell - Flaxmill Bay
Ticket No 346
(Anne Johnson from Taupiri)
WANTED
Young, fit person to work with logging
crew, breaking out and trimming.
Must be drug free. Whitianga area.
Phone 866 5429 or 027 255 8792.
ALL ROUNDER REQUIRED
Well-known Whitianga business
needs an all-rounder.
The job requires physical work,
including heavy lifting.
An HT Class 2 licence is required.
The Informer is the receiving office
for this vacant position.
Please drop your CV off at 14 Monk Street,
Whitianga or email it to
info@theinformer.co.nz.
MERCURY BAY COMMUNITY CHOIR
Reconvenes Monday 8th February
(and every Monday thereafter)
MBAS Music Room, 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
We welcome new members (no auditions).
“If you can talk you can sing!”
Enquiries - Kate Nielsen 866 2573 or 027 270 9058.
Customer Service position in our
Drivethru and Timber Yard
PlaceMakers Whitianga has a vacancy for a customer service based
role in our busy Timber Yard and Drivethru.
Initially this will be a part-time position, working approximately
25-30 hours per week, including some rostered Saturdays, Sundays, or
public holidays.
To the right applicant this could eventuate into a fulltime position
mid 2016.
Duties include, day to day customer service, answering the phone,
collating orders for delivery, housekeeping and a variety of tasks as
required.
Previous experience would be an advantage, however, you will be
working alongside and supported by Whitianga’s best so full training
will be given.
Applicants also need to be aware that PlaceMakers Whitianga is a
smoke free site and that a requirement of PlaceMakers’s Health and
Safety policy is that the successful applicant must undergo a full
medical, and a drug and alcohol test.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward
your CV to Tony.Enchmarch@placemakers.co.nz or via post to Tony
Enchmarch, Customer Service Manager, PlaceMakers Whitianga,
PO Box 442, Whitianga 3542.
Applications close 4:00pm, Tuesday 9th February 2016.
PUBLIC NOTICES
SITUATIONS VACANT
PUBLIC NOTICES
MERCURY BAY TENNIS CLUB
Business House - Tuesday 26 January
Certsonline def Whitianga Hotel 9-7 9-8,
New World def Pen Vet Services 9-8 9-6.
MERCURY BAY ARCHERY CLUB
Lakeview Classic - Saturday and Sunday 23
and 24 January
The competition was held at Lakeview Archers in
Tirau. Four unmarked field rounds were shot over
two very hot days.
The Longbow category was tough, but Dennis
McLeod managed to secure the silver medal.
MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER
Wednesday 27 January
Brian Codyre, after a hard fought final against Ken
Gibson, tool home the meat with three straight
wins. Two wins for Ken Gibson (runner-up), Peter
Challis and Wayne Bellingham.
We welcomed again our visitors - Kevan from
Vancouver and Evan from Taupo.
MERCURY BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Mixed Scramble - Wednesday 27 January
Forty golfers avoided the threatening rain to
compete in a game of PAR (which is basically
(Continued on page 35)
Dennis McLeod (on the lef) with his silver medal in the Longbow category of the
Lakeview Classic archery tournament that was held the weekend before last.
With Dennis are gold medalist Cyrille Leveque (in the centre) and bronze medal winner
Gary Hutchings. Cyrille and Gary are members of other archery clubs.
The Business House competition of the Mercury Bay Bowling Club kicked off on Monday
evening last week with 26 teams having entered. That is six more teams than last year.
“We’re delighted with the turn-out this year,” says Mercury Bay Bowling & Sports Club
Match Convenor Gwyn Howells.
Each Monday evening during February the teams will play against each other to determine
their ranking for a finals tournament that will be played on Sunday afternoon 28 February.
“Even if people aren’t playing, they should come down to the club on Monday evenings,”
says Gwyn. “It’s a great atmosphere with everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves.”
Play on Monday evenings start at 5:30pm. The finals tournament on Sunday 28 February
will start at 1:00pm.
Pictured are the members of the Keith Mahon team, one of the teams all out competing
for the winners’ trophy. From left to right - Ben Cullen, Jason Dickson, Joe Watene and
Rodney Gamble.
Business house bowls
underway

Mercury Bay Up Coming Events| Whitianga

Mercury Bay Up Coming Events| Whitianga

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