Issue 86 November 2008 Part 1

Maungaturoto Matters

Maungaturoto Matters

Maungaturoto, A Real New Zealand Town ‘Gettin’ on with it!’

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Issue 86 November 08

New trail ride opens 80km of tracks at Maungaturoto A new motocross trail ride near Maungaturoto next month will give riders of all abilities access to 80km of tracks through farms and forestry.

The event’s central location - a few kilometres off State Highway One - means the trail ride could attract around 500 people, including children, from WhangaThe Maungaturoto Country Club Trail Ride on Satur- rei and further north, throughout the Kaipara and day, November 29 will enable riders to travel across Rodney districts, and from Auckland. five farms and through pine forest on tracks which The trail ride will commence at Smales Farms on are suitable for both motocross and quad bikes. Golden Stairs Rd, 8.5km from Maungaturoto. The At 80km, the track is twice as long as most trail ride route will be signposted from State Highway One at the south side of the Brynderwyns. tracks. It comprises two separate tracks of similar lengths. Riders can complete one or both. Country Club members Shay Hawken and Brett Coates say the trail ride will be great for anyone who always wanted to have a go at trail riding and also for people who’re already hooked on the sport and want to have some challenging fun. They hope the track will offer some of the best offroad riding around. “Trail rides offer families an opportunity to have fun and enjoy a great day out together,” says Brett Coates.

The tracks will open at 9am and close at 2.30pm. The entry fees are: Adults - $30, Children under 16 $20, Families - $70. There will be a mini track for children and food will be available all day. Riders are required to wear helmets and suitable footwear. The Maungaturoto Country Club, which will benefit from the fundraiser, is a sports and social complex operated by volunteers. It has several affiliated clubs, including the Maungaturoto Motocross Club which hosts meets on the first Sunday of each month.

Shay Hawken says a group of people came up with the idea having a trail ride in the area.

For more information on the trail ride contact Shay Hawken 09 4316 698 or hawkenhot“We all wanted to do one. We started with Mike and [email protected] or Brett Coates on 09 4318 720. Karen Smales then talked to the forestry people and another four farmers so the ride linked up. It all came together.”

153 Hurndall St Maungaturoto Ph/Fax (09) 431-8059 Bus Trip to Whangarei TUESDAY NOVEMBER 08 Shopping Appointments etc. Leave 9.00am and return approx. 3.30 – 4.00pm as required.

For information on 2008 trips Please phone 431 8059

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Maungaturoto Matters

Maungaturoto Matters Maungaturoto Matters is a free monthly publication, produced and published by the Maungaturoto Business & Community Association for the Maungaturoto Community. Letters to the Editor cannot be accepted due to space limitations. Contributions and feed back from members of the Community are actively encouraged. Read the full copy on line at http://arealnewzealandtown.blogspot.com/

Deadlines:

Advertising 15th of each month no exceptions Editorial (articles) 20th of each month Editor: Elizabeth (Liz) Clark Advertising:Elizabeth Clark 09 431 9129 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected]

Payments to: Maungaturoto Business & Community Association P.O. Box 113 Maungaturoto

Contributions & Advertising Email to [email protected] or [email protected] Or Drop in the RED BOX at Tony’s Lotto Shop 147 Hurndall Street Maungaturoto Please note the Editor is not available during normal business hours. Questions or comments: Please phone the Editor A/h 09 431 9129 or email: [email protected]

Retirement Units For Sale and Rent The Community Trust wishes to advise, that vacancies occur from time to time in both the 2BR OYO units and 1BR rentals, situated within the village in Riverview place, Maungaturoto. If you, or you have family interested in this retirement option, please contact Rest Home Manager Debbie Ph. 431 8696, a name on our waiting list will ensure you are advised of vacancies.

FLOORSANDING & COATING Serving the Kaipara area Since 1971 Ph: 0800 4 Floors

A WORD ON PHOTOS: Due to the limitations of our technology Image quality cannot be guaranteed

ADVERTISING RATES Full page Half page Quarter Page Eighth page Classifieds

$60 $35 $20 $12 5c per letter/space

BUSINESS DIRECTORY $9 PER INSERTION MINIMUM BOOKING 6 MONTHS. Book for a year (11 issues) and get one Free

MAUNGATUROTO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Notice of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to be held Wednesday, 5th November 2008 @ 7pm To be held at the Maungaturoto Community Hall, Hurndall Street, Maungaturoto. Refreshments will be served. All interested community minded persons and business persons are welcome.

Maungaturoto Matters

Councillor’s Column Open Forum Thanks to those who attended the Open Forum on 29 Sept. Generally this round of community consultation was not well attended by the public. Council would like to hear of any ideas the public have on ways of improving these contacts with the community. Please feel free to contact myself or council direct. Maungaturoto Wastewater Upgrade The works for this project have commenced. The membrane technology is being supplied by Canadian Pacific Limited and the civil works contract has been awarded to Kaipara company, Harrison Contracting Ltd. Work is starting this October and should be complete by February 09. The plant should be fully operational by April. Harrison’s are raising the walls of the storage pond to provide extra capacity and developing the site for the membrane filtration plan. A new discharge consent has been issued by Northland Regional Council. Maungaturoto Water Supply There have been a few problems with water supply lately but hopefully have not caused too much inconvenience. The pipelines are old and fragile. The pump station at Brynderwyn has been upgraded and is waiting on electrical connections . Upgrades to the reticulation have been delayed due to a fault in the leak detection equipment but this is now rectified. The Ministry of Health has approved the Public Health Risk Management Plan for Maungaturoto and council has applied for funding to upgrade the water supply from the capital Assistance Programme. If you have any concerns please contact myself or council direct. Rapid Numbers It is good to see so many of the new blue numbers appearing on gateposts. If you have not received your number please let council know. Recycling The next dates for recycling collection are Monday 3 and 17 November. The bags are available from your normal blue bag retailer. Cr. Graham Taylor PIANO - KEYBOARD GUITAR - VOCAL TEACHERS If you have a sound knowledge of music You can play either, piano, keyboard, guitar, recorder You have a pleasant personality You would like to work from home or local schools We need teachers in your area Phone Alexis Westlake 09 433 0298 NZ Modern School of Music

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SeniorNet Has come to your area SeniorNet has come to your area in the guise of SeniorNet Mangawhai Inc No need anymore to travel to Dargaville, Warkworth or Whangarei. Open to Seniors over 50 years old, to over 90 years old, able or disabled. If you feel you want to learn how to use the computer to keep in touch with family and friends, SeniorNet can help. SeniorNet is Oldies teaching Oldies how to use the computer at Your pace. No speed teaching here, and we have a lot of fun doing it. We have structured courses with notes that you keep for future reference (If you forget how to do something, which we all do). SeniorNet Mangawhai Inc. is a non profit, charitable organization Run entirely by volunteers – even the Tutors are volunteers. Fees are charged for: - Membership of the society ($20.00 per head per year), - Workshops ($5.00 per head for each workshop), -Four week courses ($25.00 per head) and -Eight week courses ($45.00 per Head). These fees are all used to pay for all the overheads that all businesses have - except wages!! Try our website (we share one with Warkworth for now until we get our own) www.seniornetwarkworth.org.nz and find our page. If you want to find out more, come and talk to our members at the Senior Citizens Hall, Fagan Plc, Mangawhai Heads on Friday 31st October at 2 pm. We are having a Workshop about “TradeMe”, and how easy it is to buy and sell using your home PC, presented by Howard Annan, from Warkworth SeniorNet ($5.00 per person) For further information on SeniorNet Mangawhai, give the Chairman, Neville Andrew, a ring on 4318191 or Tony Mundell, one of our Tutors, on 4318169 (no toll calls, we are on your side of State Highway 1). Neville Andrew Chairman SeniorNet Mangawhai Inc.

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Maungaturoto Matters

The value of our lives is not measures in dollars and cents and material things we possess, but in the quality and quantity of love, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, meekness, self control money can’t buy, nor facilitated by money. These are given “Finance system on edge of meltdown” that not by the church or any religious thing we do, but developed in the relationship we have with Jesus. His Spirit in us grows these This is a warning from the head of the International Monetary his characters. (Ephesians 5:22). These are the very things that th Fund (IMF) sent out on Sunday 12 this month. He said that money makers deligently seek and with the hope that once they “bank debt was pushing the global financial system to the brink of have all the money they need, they will be happy, satisfied, at rest meltdown, world leaders talked up a co-ordinated response but with no worries in the world. But is that true of them? Hardly! King offered disappointingly few details about what would be done.” Solomon, the wisest and richest man of the Bible had this to say, The financial future of New Zealand, as recently announced by from experience : the Labour Government and Economic experts is bleak. The National Party uses Tax cut promises as its Campaign draw card. Ecclesiastes 5:10 Does this worry you? Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. True to the core of life and living everywhere in the world, is There is another way. The Only better way offered by MONEY. EVERY ONE, well, almost every one, in the world enJesus and is In Jesus The Way, The Truth and The Life. trust their lives and livelihood in MONEY. The term ‘economic depression’ is an appropriate description of the state of mind of "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat the one whose life is dependant on money and making more or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more money. The very thing people work so hard for in order to enjoy important than food, and the body more important than clothes? life seems to be flying away leaving them in depressed.. 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store Here is a testimony of a friend whose lifestyle was changed at the away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you Wall Street crash in 1989. not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can He had a motel and three restaurants with a great investment in add a single hour to his life[b]? the world market. His house was huge, a fully furnished three bedroom for this couple without children. He drove a jaguar that "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the shamed some of the cars that parked around the church on Sun- field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even day, for he was a church elder. Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today I was sitting with him outside his house when the bank came to and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe take his car and furniture away. His house was soon up for sale you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we and the only thing he could call his own at that moment in time eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the was the Ute his brother lent him. That day my wife and I helped pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows them move with a few personal belongings to live with his brother. that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his rightHe already had in his hand the Job vacancies page of the local eousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. paper. He had shed enough tears that week. But one more fell Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will when he shared his dilemma – that he went from being a man worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. worth a million and more, to a man with no value- in fact, less, Jesus is concerned about us worrying which leads to depression because after the bank confiscated the house he still had to pay which leads to heart attacks. There is already a lot of other trouup to two hundred thousand dollars of bank loan. bles around us to add on to it worry about how we look and what I took the opportunity to speak truth in his life that day. I said to we should have. He would rather that we put our priorities right him that as far as God’s word and I believe the heart of God was and seek out what He is all about and finding a better living in concerned, this was the best thing that has happened in his life. It Him and everything else will fall into place. was a very hard lesson to learn but the word of God is very clear “ What happened to my friend? He found work, driving a milk truck where your treasure is, that is where your heart is also”. His heart here in Northland. He rebuilt his life, not on investing in the Wall was in his business, his home, and in his investment. Church was Street (learnt that lesson well). He is active in his church, not just a comforting religion only when God does not take the central as a church going Christian but he turned his love to the Lord: place in his life. For him this word was true :

Christian Comment

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” His love for money was taking him away from God and leading him to traps and danger. Have you heard that “the love of money is the root of evil”? Money is not evil, nor is it the root of evil. It is when we fall in love with it that we place our life into an evil snare. That verse actually says this: ‘For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10). Love for money only brings grief and more grief. God would have us love Him: “to love the Lord your God with all your might (work), with all your mind (knowledge and understanding) and all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself (sharing). And "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." His material possessions ‘after Wall Street crash 1989’ are blessings from God – things that are added to him for his use in the Kingdom of God. His new found treasure are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, long suffering, and self control - that face no meltdown.

Meshach Adomea.

Maungaturoto Matters

HOMEBUILDERS MAUNGATUROTO/PAPAROA Greetings from the team at Homebuilders, we have had a busy time over the past weeks as we had our AGM and a new Chairman Brian Plunkett was elected. Robert Brownlie who has been our Administration/Funding Manager has decided it is time to retire and so will be leaving our team shortly before Christmas. Robert has been a real blessing to all of us on the team with his gentle wit and thoughtful wisdom. We will miss him terribly and would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his commitment to Homebuilders and to the team individually. We hope his retirement years will be full and satisfying. I will leave him to have the last say in next months Matters!

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Hello from the Rest Home It has been a while since we told you about what we have been doing at the Rest Home - here are some highlights. St John’s Trash and Treasure week was great fun as it was close enough that we could wander down there most days. Sugarbelle’s is becoming a favourite place for Rest Home residents to go for morning tea and a chat. It’s nice to meet all the people who come and say hello. You might have seen residents out and about in the twoperson scooter. We have had a lot of fun with this scooter and we thank Lou Roadley’s family who donated it to Rest Home residents. Over summer we will use it even more and residents are looking forward to getting out in the sun.

Tool Box has been running on Tuesday evenings for a That’s about all for now, feel free to visit us if you have a few weeks now and we are all getting to know each other spare half hour or so. and get lots of new ideas to help us in the awesome task of From everyone at the Rest Home. parenting. Golden Oldies Christmas Lunch will be held on the 10th December at the supper room of the Community Hall. We will begin with singing and entertainment at 10.30 am. Last year we had 50 of our seniors come and join in for the celebration of Christmas. If you have some free time we would love to see you there whether as a guest or to help with serving of the meal. If you need a ride please ring me on 4319080.

“THANK YOU, MAUDE”

Past and present members of Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka St. John give a very big thank you and appreciation to Maude Christie who has retired as Otamatea Area Committee Chairperson after 25 years as chairperson and 28 years of involvement on the Area Committee. In 1979 a ‘sub-centre committee’ was formed to take over the responsibility for the financial upkeep of the station Elaine (431 8417) has started a Slimmers club at the com- building and the well-being of its volunteers. In 1982 the munity house each Thursday afternoon at 3pm. For a sub-centre changed its name to the St John Otamatea $2.00 donation you can enjoy some fellowship, check your Area Committee. Over the years several dedicated people weight, get some new ideas and encourage each other in have been involved with either the sub-centre or the Otayour endeavours. matea Area Committee and Maude has certainly been one of those people. With the establishment of the Kaiwaka St Well another month is past and the silly season is nearly John First Response Unit in 1991, the Otamatea Area upon us, I will be making the most of the next few weeks Committee took responsibility for the Maungaturoto and before I get caught up with Christmas, I hope you can too. Kaiwaka units. The committee now has representatives from both areas. Blessings from the Team at Maude’s involvement in Maungaturoto St John began in Homebuilders. 1955 with her late husband George, who was an original St John Volunteer. Maude became Treasurer in 1980 and was appointed Chairperson in 1988. She guided the Area Committee with dedication and loyalty, looking after both Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka Brigades. The annual Trash and Treasure, which started in 1984, would always find Maude alongside her late friend Yvonne Brljevich at the top table, pricing the items and taking the money and also having a joke with both the customers and her dedicated team of workers such as the wonderful Pauline McMurchy. Maude was a driving force on the committee concerned only with the well-being of St John Brigade volunteers. Maude, you have done a wonderful job and we are immensely proud of you. From all of us a very big THANK YOU! Trevor Brljevich Chairperson St John Otamatea Area Committee.

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Maungaturoto Matters

INVITES YOU TO ATTEND EVERY TUESDAY 10AM AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH MAUNGATUROTO

0-5 YRS MUSIC & MOVEMENT FOLLOWED BY MORNING TEA CONTACT ELAINE 431-8317 Or RUTH 431-8491

supported by Maungaturoto Congregational Church ($2 donation per family please)

Maungaturoto Matters

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Linking Hands Inc.

Regards Maureen.

Linking Hands Health Shuttle is starting to take off. We are getting more calls every day as people hear about our services. We have been able to meet people’s needs in all cases so far and a couple of times have even gone that extra mile or 10 to get the job done. A word for our volunteers: We have a great team of people who are wonderful and give their time with a happy, cheery manner. They’re always prepared to do what it takes to get clients to appointments. We have had great appreciation from clients. That’s who we’re doing it for. Sometimes it’s a big ask to get a driver to leave early, to drive a long distance, wait around for hours, maybe get held up while more tests are done or patients are kept waiting for appointments with specialists…some drivers have put in 12-hour duties without complaint or pay…and are happy to do it. So…. WELL DONE DRIVERS YOU ARE ALL JUST THE BESTEST, SWEETEST, CRAZY BUNCH. …. Just updating our new initiatives:

Our FAB outing… (Family Activities Boost)

So far we have taken out two families. They had a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable day - the treats, the picnic, the great driver and a boost to their lives. We are about to get our third family out about for October. If you know of a family that deserves to be nominated for this day out on Linking Hands please give us a call and we take it from there. Ph 09 4318969.

Water Aerobics -

the best thing since sliced bread…Mid October was our first trip to Te Hana. We took nine ladies who loved it. The water was a perfect 34 degrees; the pool is beautiful with a lovely outlook to a garden with roses and shrubs. It’s an easy 30km drive and an enjoyable social outing with the ladies all talking at once.

What will they make us do? See you at … Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hurndall Street Maungaturoto Please join in . . . We have a couple of places to fill It was amazing - doing exercise in the water with no strain, no pain, no sore muscles and guess what, it doesn’t take your breath away like usual exercise. It makes you feel fantastic…and well washed ... like being in a sauna for an hour. All the ladies couldn’t wait to get back again the next week.

as we can take 14. If you would like to give it a go, even to see if you like it, give us a call. It is health related and we ask some questions to make sure you fit our criteria. Cost is by donation as Linking Hands is subsidising it. The shuttle and second car leave Maungaturoto at 9am sharp on Wednesdays. We may expand this to another class in the future.

men’s

We are looking at a class but need more men …so get those men to think about it, water aerobics is great for knees, joints, back pain, etc and for overweight people who find it difficult to exercise. Give us a call 09 4318969. Water aerobics is for everyone - not just elderly and not just Maungaturoto residents.

Please note earlier service time 9.00 am – Every Sunday. 1st Sunday —Morning Prayer 2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays Holy Communion

Everyone welcome.

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Maungaturoto Matters

Maungaturoto Matters

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achieved a very high standard. Congratulations to Erin Lambert, Nick & Patrick Armour, Robin Ramsay, Brook Zeilstra, Jacob Morton-Jones, Cory Morton-Jones, Ben Morton-Jones, Gemma Morton“Never Mind Mother Goose” Jones, Olivia Cripps, Chris Dent, Ripley Dean and Karam David. Excitement is building as rehearsals for the 2008 pantomention goes to Ripley Dean for her 1st in Sonmime progress and the sets and props begin to work their Special st net, 1 in Improvisation and 3rd in Characterisation. Ripley magic. The cast is working hard at their roles and looks forward to presenting the show. Show dates are 15, 16, 21, has played many roles in shows for the theatre and is a 22, 23 and 28, 29, 30 of November. Please put these dates great asset to our community. Well done Ripley. in your entertainment calendar now and support the efforts Annual General Meeting of the cast and, of course, enjoy a jolly good show. Annual General M was held on Tuesday, October Book through www.iticket.co.nz, or at Craig Garnett Electri- The 14th and the new committee looks forward to an eventful cal in Maungaturoto. year with some interesting events planned and future For more information contact the director, Helen Mortonproductions under review. The theatre is a community Jones on (09) 433 0288 or the theatre 09 431 8728 facility and one that works with participation, enthusiasm and passion and needs all the support that it deserves. Please support your local theatre and find out what is go-

Otamatea Repertory Theatre

Northland Performing Arts Competition Society (Inc)

The annual festival of dance, music and speech was held at Forum North in Whangarei in September with over 300 entries just for the speech and drama weekend. This is a formal competition with participants from as far away as Auckland and is intended, amongst other things, to improve communication and performance skills, help them overcome nerves on stage and, of course, increase personal achievement. We have pleasure in announcing that many participants were from Maungaturoto. Members of our theatre

Committee members for the Otamatea Repertory Theatre are: President: Peter Matheson Secretary; Lyn Warbrooke Treasurer: Maura Flower Brian Dent Peter Flower Bill Tupp Dennise Brownlie Ted Trembarth Frances Yardley

946 9696 431 6488 431 6640 431 8008 431 6640 431 8618 431 7012 431 6010 431 8737

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Maungaturoto Matters

Fencing Contractors Conventional Rural and Residential Post and Rail Stockyards

ALAN SWINDLEHURST

Retaining Walls

Livestock Agent for Elders.

Drilling attachment Repairs

To contact Alan please phone (09) 4317 081 or Mobile 027 493 2844

Prompt and reliable service Ring for a quote Phone or Txt Ed — 027 497 1714

WJ Construction Wayne Jaques *Decks *Alterations

*Additions *New Homes Labour Only

Phone 021 400 039 A/Hrs 09 431 2808 Free Quotes 25yrs Experience

SUBDIVISIONS FARM SURVEYS TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS LOCATING LOST BOUNDARY PEGS

CALL KEN ON 09-4318705 OR 021-1612344 KEN URQUHART BSurv (Otago) – YOUR LOCAL REGISTERED LAND SURVEYOR

HSB BUILDERS LTD Phone Hayden 021 506 260 09 431 9143

NEW HOMES • ADDITIONS • ALTERATIONS IMPLEMENT SHEDS • ROOVES • DECKS ETC

027 240 7786

Maungaturoto Matters

MAUNGATUROTO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER THE COLOUR OF LAW by Mark Gimenez A gripping courtroom drama about rich lawyers (and how hard they can fall). It’s theme is based on the famous classic To Kill a Mockingbird. A great read. Recommended Authors: Nicholas Evans who wrote The Horse Whisperer. Check out his latest: The Divide. Jeffrey Archer: His latest Prisoner of Birth. Also check out our new selection of talking books – a sample of authors : Dick Francis, John Grisham, Ruth Rendall, Daphne du Maurier, Michael Crighton, Joanna Trollope and many more. Hours : Monday – Thursday : 10.30 a.m. – 12 noon Friday – 10.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 am – 1 p.m.

Maungaturoto Waste Water Upgrade - Update Ground works have begun on Maungaturoto’s waste water upgrade which involves installing a new membrane filtration system which will meet strict new consent requirements. Kaipara-based Harrison Contracting Limited has been awarded the contract for civil works which include providing road access, pond work and raising the wall of the pond to provide addition storage. The contractor moved onto the site - at Maungaturoto Country Club - just before Labour Weekend and is expected to have completed most of this work before Christmas. Canadian Pacific Limited has the contract to provide and install the membrane filtration plant and this will be done during January and February, with the plant being commissioned at the end of February. Following this will be performance tested for a further two months. Discharge consents, valid for 24 years, have also been obtained. The site was recently visited by Northland Regional Council Councillors and staff, accompanied by a number of Kaipara District Councillors. Following an overview of the project the visitors expressed satisfaction with the moves being taken to resolve problems with Maungaturoto’s wastewater treatment and provide a system that will produce discharges well within new consent requirements.

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UPDATE ON JAMES GREENWOOD We have finally been able to bring James back up north. He is currently in a private hospital in Whangarei, where unfortunately most residents are extremely elderly. We are working with the different bodies involved and it is hoped to set up a special residence for younger adults, who, like James, fall outside ACC funding. James has continued his slow progress. He suffered a major head injury, but has progressed so much further than we could have hoped for this time last year. He is still confined to a wheel chair, but he is now able to stand and walk, with assistance, during physio sessions. He can now do a ‘stand transfer’ which means he can be moved without the need of a hoist. There is still a long way to go, but we are hopeful he will continue to improve. He still suffers from short term memory loss and lost memory of the last seven years. But here again he has shown he is able to improve. With repetition he is able to learn to retain things to his long term memory; so he can learn the names of new people or play games like bingo. It also means he has very definite ideas about what music he has on the radio and what shows he watches on TV, and what activities he will or won’t do. The care that had to be taken in the past in not overfatiguing him has just about gone. We can now take him out and about so much more. For instance, we were able to take James along to the recent Jazz Festival and to such things as his brother Chris’ singing competition. So, if you have any spare time James would love to see you. If you haven’t changed too much in the last few years he will even possibly recognise you. But James is still himself and just likes having people around him. If they are young and pretty all the better; (recently this was the only way they could convince him to let someone take a blood sample!) But he is happy to get any visitors - to take him to his room and talk, take him out for a while or just sit in the garden for a while. He and some of the other residents like it when the family go and sing; James sings along with us if it’s a song he knows. I would like to finish with a thank you to all who have helped us over the last year. Something like this doesn’t just go away, but you have to readjust to the changes and get on with life. If you want to visit James, he is at Potter House, 176 Bank Street, Whangarei. If you would rather visit with one of the family first, give me a call on 09 439 2216, or just front up and ask for James. He is currently out on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm. ~ Brian and Ngaire Dent

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Maungaturoto Matters

STEPHEN M JAQUES CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

_________________________________ 123 Hurndall Street Maungaturoto _______________________________________

Phone: (09) 431 8733 Fax: (09) 431 8736

You Can Hire … Concrete Mixer (Electric) Concrete Power Float Plate Compactor Waterblaster Hydraulic Log Splitter Post Hole Borer Scrub Cutters Weed Trimmers Chainsaws Lawnmowers Trailer Generator 1.5 Tonne Digger

At Maungaturoto Auto Centre 431 8288

JENNY'S RURAL CLEANING SERVICES Phone Jenny on 09 431-2826 Let’s take the hassle out of your busy life. These are the services we offer. Cleaning on weekly, fortnightly, monthly or those one off jobs. Rented & Holiday Homes. Windows& ceilings Ovens Domestic Cleaning

Maungaturoto Matters

MAUNGATUROTO GARDEN CLUB Garden Club members travelled to “Rosalie’s Retreat” at Mangapai on 15 October. This magnificent natural garden was a bare 2.5 acre paddock 38 years ago and since then Rosalie has developed every nook and cranny with trees and shrubs and flowers. She has many varieties of gorgeous rhododendrons – luscious pale pinks and reds, along with different coloured vireyas and also old fashioned roses. After 38 years the trees are large and we admired, amongst them, a persimmon tree and fig trees, all bearing fruit every year. Amazingly, Rosalie finds time to make garden ceramics as well as tend to her garden every day.

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GARDEN NOTES FOR NOVEMBER Hopefully early summer has arrived and your plants will probably need watering to maintain growth. Mulching helps to keep the soil moist – use grass clippings and compost Roses will be at their best in November. Trim back dead flowers and cut back three or four buds below old flower heads to encourage new flowers. Canna lilies can be planted in warm sheltered positions. Also plant chrysanthemums and carnations directly into the garden. Apply fertilizer to citrus and other fruit trees. Your grape vines will have rapid growth this month.

Move your container plants to a sheltered position in On 19 November members are to visit three gardens at Mangawhai. Meet at the Ambulance hot weather. Station at 10.30 a.m. and bring your lunch. (Garden hints from Maungaturoto Garden Club)

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Maungaturoto Matters

Mobile Accounting Solutions Registered Tax Agent Invoicing, Gst Returns, Paye, Budgets, Financials to Tax returns. We come to you and we don’t charge Chartered Accountant prices. Ph 09 4318 617 or Mob 021 431861 E-mail [email protected]

KAIPARA PLUMBING LTD ΚΑΙΠΑΡ Α ΠΛΥΜΒΙΝΓ ΛΤ∆

Graham Slatter CALL IN TO SEE US FOR ALL YOUR SURVEY & SUBDIVISION INQUIRIES OR PHONE US ANY DAY AT 431 8750 OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CONTACTING JULIE AT THE OFFICE

PLUMBER DRAINLAYER Master Plumber Registered Drainlayer

3 ton digger & truck for hire

FIRST WEDNESDAY IN THE MONTH IS OUR VISITING DAY

HOBSON CHAMBERS 143 HURNDALL ST MAUNGATUROTO

Ph (09) 431 8750 Mob (021) 723 284

5 View Road, Maungaturoto Phone 025 2445430 5430 027 244 A/Hrs Ph. 431 8451 Fax. 431 8561

Maungaturoto Matters

MAUNGATUROTO PLAYCENTRE NEWS Kia ora, Hi everybody, Term Four has started with the two sessions this week happy and busy. We have some new dress-ups costumes which have been popular - we have discovered a few batmen on our roll! The new wooden push-chairs have been in demand and the swings, as usual, have been well used. The blocks received a thorough cleaning thanks to our CSW (Centre Support Worker) and her band of small helpers at the water trough. They scrubbed them in soapy water, laid them out to dry and pulled them back to their shelves in the hand cart. Really well done! We have made a few plans for this term’s sessions. We're looking forward to having our own Pet Day on Wednesday (plus sand saucers with flowers), followed by a visit on Friday to the Primary School Pet Day. Also planned are a Bike Day, a trip to the beach, and sessions with a focus on water play. And lots more, including Christmas things to do. What is Playcentre? At Playcentre we value the family/whanau as the most important setting for the nurturing and education of our children. Children have the opportunity to reach their full potential when parents understand their development and take part in their learning experiences. We have a group supervision licence which means Playcentres are supervised by parents. Playcentre offers children playmates of varying ages, a wide range of equipment, a chance to relate to other adults while their parent is there for support, a caring supportive environment in which to develop as a whole person. Children have opportunities for adventure and imaginative play, freedom to choose their play and learning activities, fun, plus they can practice communication and social skills with a range of children and adults. Playcentre offers parents companionship and friendships, a chance to learn more parenting skills through shared experience and by attending Playcentre workshops, courses and discussions. Playcentre is: • A place where you can develop your strengths. • An informal meeting place where people from diverse backgrounds and with different values meet as equals and share a common bond - that of wanting the best for our children and provision of an early childhood education for them. • A supportive environment where sharing problems often solves them. • A place where you can enjoy your children. A place where you can have real input and a real say in children's early education.

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Our sessions run 9.30am - 12.00, Wednesday and Friday for 0 - 6 year olds. We offer three free visits - come along and see if Playcentre is for you, we'd love to see you. Maungaturoto Playcentre phone number is 4318 517 or contact Helen at 4318 221.

Trespassers at Playcentre Playcentre had uninvited visitors sometime between Friday 17th and Monday 20th of October. They managed to open the shed door and put the wooden diggers in the sandpit, then played on them. They pulled out other gear, leaving it outside here and there. They tossed some dolls' furniture and cushions out of the playhouse and broke the small children's bed in it. A few other things were strewn around outside. Judging by the footprints in the sandpit, the kids who did this were probably 10 years old or younger. Although the damage was not huge, it still represents time and money which most playcentre parents don't have a lot of to spare, and also means our preschoolers have lost some favourite playthings to this vandalism. It is sad that the kids who did this showed disregard and lack of respect for other people’s property.

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Maungaturoto Matters

Maungaturoto Plunket Rooms & Ruawai Physiotherapy 09 431 7188 Also Mangawhai 09 431 4070

Maungaturoto Matters

Bird Flu—Guilty!! If bird flu ever strikes our country, Biosecurity New Zealand need look no further than my hen pen to find its source. As I browsed through a lifestyle farming magazine recently, Biosecurity’s bold yellow advert grabbed my attention. It offered eight tips for keeping birds healthy. I learned I am guilty on seven of eight charges then, uh oh, a few days later, a sparrow lay cold and dead in the pen. Tip One: Don’t let food and water get contaminated. Food should be stored in a sealed container and water treated with chlorine if it’s not town or bore supply. Guilty. My poultry drink tank water and, on rare occasions (forgive me, Biosecurity NZ), dam water. As for uncontaminated food, as far as I can figure hens love foraging. Mrs B, who excavated immense craters to feed her chickens, is a shining example of this phenomenon. I have, however, mended my ways. But although I now put their food in a dish, the hens still forage. Tip Two: Avoid contact with wild birds. Use netting to protect your birds and remove places where wild birds might nest. Guilty. Sparrows flock above the open-topped pen. The hens and Whitey Esq. spend hours mooching round the garden where they meet countless wild birds which have access even more countless nesting spots. Tip Three: Keep it Clean. Clean aviaries and poultry yards and disinfect equipment, feed and water containers. Wash hands, clothing and footwear before and after handling

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birds. Guilty. If I wash my hands each time I pet Ditzy Daisy I will appear obsessive. And I’m too lazy to clean the hens’ food dish daily, scrub my gumboots daily and do more laundry. Tip Four: Practice good hygiene at shows. Yay! Not guilty. But also not applicable, although dignified Whitey Esq and glossy Mrs B would surely win prizes. Tip Five: Limit visitors and ensure they only handle birds if necessary and wash their hands with hot, soapy water before and afterwards. Hordes of visitors have petted my chickens, helped with wing clipping and a couple have given old hens and surplus roosters their final goodbye. No soap in sight. Tip Six: Quarantine new birds. Guilty. But when the next newbie arrives, I promise to follow the rules. Tip Seven: Know the signs of disease. Guilty. I attributed one hen’s slow down to old age. When she died I found she was fly blown under her feathers. Still feel guilty about that. Am now vigilant and promise to notice sudden deaths, depression, loss of appetite, nervousness, blue combs (they are currently all red), coughing, sneezing and diarrhoea. Tip Eight: Report sick or dead birds to 0800 80 99 66. Another black mark, but I doubt Biosecurity NZ want to know about the old girl who passed away a while back. Telecom got phoned about her death. The housesitters cut the telephone cable when they buried her. -Rae

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Maungaturoto Matters

GRANT FRIRES DRAUGHTING . ALTERATIONS . SMALL DETAIL DRAUGHTING DRAWINGS . STEEL SHEDS . BUILDING CONSENTS PH 09 4318044 FAX 09 4318064 EMAIL [email protected] 12 WHAKA ST MAUNGATUROTO

Maungaturoto Matters

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Maungaturoto Matters