The end of an era Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 - The Mercury Bay Informer
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Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000
The end of an era
By Stephan and Petra Bosman, owners of The Mercury Bay Informer
Thursday last week, Christmas Eve, was the
end of an era for Gordon Barnaby. After 23
years of delighting children of all ages, the
lights of the “Whitianga Christmas House”
were switched off and the doors closed for
the last time. Every year those who enjoyed
in the lights, Christmas trees and toys in
the two weeks leading up to Christmas,
were given the opportunity to make a
donation into a “wishing well.” Making the
finality of Christmas Eve more palatable was
the fact that the wishing well produced a
record amount of $1,791 this year.
Over the years the Christmas House was in
existence, Gordon and his late wife, Diana,
collected more than $35,000 for the Make-
A-Wish Foundation and the Whitianga
Day Camp.
A special feature of the Christmas House
was that Santa (aka Gordon) was every
evening - for 23 years - in residence, always
willing to discuss the wish lists of the children
who wanted to see him.
Attendance on Christmas Eve smashed
another record, more than 500 people visited
the Christmas House and the children who
wanted to meet Santa were happy to wait half
an hour and even longer.
One of the consequences of Gordon’s
appearances as Santa at the Christmas House
was that he became the “town Santa,” a role
he is also now sadly relinquishing. He was
always more than happy to don the red suit
and white beard wherever he was required
- from Whitianga Continuing Care to the
annual Whitianga Santa Parade. His last Santa (aka Gordon Barnaby) with Rio Eccles (left) and Mia Rumble, the grandchildren of Whitianga residents,
appearance was at the Mercury Community Graham and Diane Eccles, during the last night of the “Whitianga Christmas House” on Thursday last week.
Christmas Lunch on Friday last week. put into the production of each issue of The year, he interviewed me live on Christmas special for the people of Mercury Bay.
Who Gordon Barnaby is, without or Informer every week. Eve on The Panel. You are leaving an enormous legacy.
without his Santa outfit, became once again “For me personally and my family we are “My biggest regret this year is my inability “Fortunately we know we’ll see you
clear to us when he sent us a very touching so fortunate to also have had your support to convey properly my feelings with regard around, not as Santa, but continuing to do
email on Boxing Day last week. for all the issues that have faced our family to what you both do make our community your bit wherever you can - whether it’s as a
“One of the best things that can happen in over recent months and years. Whenever truly great.” dedicated Lion or chair of the Mercury Bay
your life is to meet special people, people we needed you, you not only were willing Gordon, allow us to reciprocate. Big band, or maybe even as moderator of the
who care and have empathy for others and but also there bringing whatever assistance “As Wallace Chapman said after his next ‘Meet the Candidates’ meeting in the
the community they live in,” Gordon wrote. we needed. interview with you on Christmas Eve, Whitianga Town Hall during the 2022 local
“The community of Mercury Bay and “I am not sure if you realise it, but Wallace community is made up by people like you. council elections.
Whitianga was truly blessed when you and Chapman of Radio New Zealand reads The We are privileged to not only call you our “Take this as a token of our deepest
your family moved here and made your mark Informer (I guess online) and as a result of the friend, but to live in the same community appreciation with regard to what you do to
on society with the love and warmth you publicity you gave the Christmas House this as you. You and Diana did something very make our community truly great.”
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
Cardigan a highlight of Community
Christmas Lunch
More than 120 people attended the third Mercury Bay Community Christmas Lunch at well-known local performer Richard Shelford-Woodcock (aka Chocky Brown). “Duncan Garner
Crossroads Whitianga Church on Friday last week (Christmas Day). The free lunch, a gift from gave the cardigan away on the AM Show a few weeks ago,” says lunch coordinating committee
the community to the community, is every year sponsored by local businesses and individuals. convenor, Maureen Kerr. “You had to phone in and explain why you should win the cardigan.
Many volunteers helped out on the day as well. I told Duncan about our Christmas lunch and that Chocky is Whitianga’s answer to Bing Crosby.
The main purpose of the lunch is to provide fellowship to those who otherwise would have Next moment I was the winner.”
spent Christmas Day without family and friends. Maureen says that the absence of overseas visitors impacted on the number of people who
From when the doors opened at 11:00am until lunch was served at midday, the attendees were attended the lunch this year, but the coordinating committee is still very pleased with how the
treated to Christmas songs performed by several of the young people of Mercury Bay. day went.
Lunch consisted of all the Christmas favourites. After lunch, Santa made an appearance and “It was a time filled with love and laughter,” Maureen says. “Everyone left very happy.”
handed out gifts. Pictured in the photo on the left is part of Crossroads just before lunch was served. On the left
A highlight undoubtedly was the colourful Christmas cardigan worn by master of ceremonies, is Chocky wearing the cardigan Maureen won on the AM Show.
What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information
provided and sponsored by
Week of Wednesday, 30 December to Wednesday, 6 January - Jupiter and Saturn are now getting very close to the horizon at dusk after their close
encounter last week and are increasingly hard to see before they set. Mars continues to shine quite brightly and pinkishly high overhead in the early
evenings. Venus takes over as the star of the show this week as it appears as the brilliant morning “star” about an hour before the Sun rises. This is, however,
the week of the International Space Station (ISS) with several bright passes. Currently with a crew of seven (one more than normal), it can be seen
silently gliding across the early evening sky after dusk. Wednesday, 30 December - The ISS makes two passes tonight with the first starting at 9:45pm
in the SW to be followed by another at 11:22pm, also in the SW. The second pass only lasts a couple of minutes before the ISS disappears from view
when it goes into the Earth’s shadow. Thursday, 31 December - The ISS makes a very bright pass high overhead from 10:34pm in the SW, once again Astronomy Tours and B&B
disappearing into the Earth’s shadow at 10:38pm. Friday, 1 January - An earlier ISS pass tonight from 9:46pm in the SW, passing high overhead. Phone (07) 866 5343
Saturday, 2 January - A quite faint ISS pass from 10:36pm in the west ending as it travels just below pinkish Mars. Sunday, 3 January - A long ISS pass
tonight from 9:48pm in the SW moving just below pinkish Mars. www.stargazersbb.com
Whitianga and Hot Water Beach tides Tides data sponsored by
nzwindows.co.nz
4 Dakota Drive
Whitianga
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Tel 07 869 5990
Page 2 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
The new Whitianga
skatepark is open
After four years of campaigning, fundraising, planning and construction, the new Whitianga skatepark
opened on Tuesday afternoon last week. “It was an informal opening with a sausage sizzle and a bit of
live music,” says Chris Devenoges, one of the trustees of the Mercury Bay Skatepark Trust. The trust was
instrumental in getting the skatepark approved and developed.
“There were heaps of people at the opening,” says Chris. “And since then, the skatepark has been in
constant use. The following day, for instance, kids were at the park at 5:30am already. The feedback we’re
getting is amazing. I bumped into someone from Christchurch a few days ago who seems to know what
he’s talking about and he said it has to be one of the best skateparks in New Zealand.”
The skatepark is located at Taylor’s Mistake. Excluding the half basketball court immediately adjacent to
the park, it covers an area of approximately 720m². Among the facilities are a street drain run, an open
flow section and an isolated bowl with intermediate to advanced quarter pipes.
Landscaping around the skatepark still has to be completed and the Skatepark Trust are continuing to
raise funds for lights to be installed at the park. Donations towards the lights can be deposited into the
Westpac account of the Mercury Bay Skatepark Trust, account number 03-1578-0110921-000. The trust is
a registered charity and donation receipts can be issued.
The trust is also working on a plaque that will be installed at the skatepark recognising everyone who
have supported the development of the park, whether financially or in kind.
The skatepark will formally be opened on Saturday, 9 January.
Pictured is Benson Lockhart, another trustee of the Mercury Bay Skatepark Trust, in action at the opening
of the park on Tuesday.
699 - 30
Issue 930 27 December
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3
Meet some of the hidden creatures that
call the Coromandel home
By Gillian O’Neill
A frog that doesn’t croak, a bird that sways says Rebecca.
with the surrounding plants to stay hidden, a bat Not only does the Archey’s frog not croak
that ground hunts on the forest floor and New like regular frogs, they also have no tadpoles
Zealand’s only fully parasitic plant are among but instead hatch baby frogs, about the size of a
the unique but often hidden natural treasures pumpkin seed, directly from eggs.
of the Coromandel and many of them need our Also enjoying the In our Backyard spotlight
help to survive. is the pekapeka, the lesser short-tailed bat.
Ask anyone to name some of the animals As well as spending much of its time crawling
associated with the Coromandel Peninsula and on the ground using its wings as front legs,
they most likely will mention our brown kiwi this unique character has a special relationship
and maybe even the orca that regularly frequent with another of our Coromandel forest dwellers,
our shores. But names like Archey’s frog and the Woodrose Dactylanthus taylorii, a parasitic
Australasian bittern might not roll off the tongue plant which Maori call “pua o te reinga” -
so quickly, being among the lesser known but flower of the underworld. When it flowers for
also very special taonga that call this part of the just two to three weeks of the year, it attracts
world home. the pekapeka to drink the nectar, serving as a
“It has been fantastic learning about these
pollinator as it goes from bloom to bloom.
unique species, several of which have some
DOC supported the display with both funding
quite unusual characteristics,” says Rebecca
and research and, like the Mercury Bay Museum,
Cox, manager of the Mercury Bay Museum,
which celebrates some of these curious creatures is excited about the opportunity it provides for
in its recently opened “In Our Backyard - learning. “An education progamme for schools
I te Ao Tūroa” display. has been developed around the display, so lots
Developed in partnership with the Department of our young people will be coming in to learn
of the Conservation and the Auckland Museum, more about this amazing natural history that
the display aims to introduce more locals we have around us,” says Rebecca. “And don’t
and visitors to our colourful collection of worry, those precious ones that we all know
inhabitants, many of which are endangered, about, like our kiwi, our little blue penguin and
in the hope of raising awareness around our kereru are all in there too.”
protection and biodiversity. In Our Backyard - I te Ao Tūroa is a permanent
“For example, the Coromandel is one of display at the Mercury Bay Museum, which
only two places in the whole of New Zealand is open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm over
where you will find Archey’s frogs, one of the the holidays, with some changes around New
world’s rarest and most endangered amphibians Year. Full details are available on the museum’s The Archey’s frog is one of the rare Coromandel species celebrated in the Mercury Bay
that has been around since prehistoric times,” Facebook page. Museum’s In our Backyard - I te Ao Tūroa display. Photo by Sharon Wright.
Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5
The Small-time Investor
By Whitianga resident, Max Ross
Apple
Throughout December I have been buying faster than their competitors. Making their
large American technology companies. own chips means that Apple is controlling
This week I am buying Apple. I invested $100 more of the build process and this should help
in Apple back in September and the investment them with their profit margins.
has gone up just over 10 percent since then. The introduction of 5G mobile networks
A few days ago, I bought 0.561789 shares will also mean many people will decide to
for $125.75. upgrade their phone for a new version that
The other day I was catching up with can access the new network. If this happens,
friends and we started talking about phones many of them will buy Apple phones.
and laptops, and Apple was on everyone’s The risks are that global issues can impact
Christmas wish list. They are still really on the supply and manufacture of Apple’s
relevant as a company that makes products products. We could also see a global market
that people want. Young people know the crash due to COVID-19 which could drive
models and the features of the phones that down the price of all stocks.
Apple makes. Currently my investments have increased
Apple has just released the M1 chip. in value by $264.99, which is a 10.86 percent
It’s a new computer chip that is generating return. Plexure remains my biggest losing
rave reviews for its performance and its low investment with a negative 23 percent return
power usage. The M1 is a RISC chip, which and Tesla remains my biggest winning
stands for “reduced instruction set computer. investment with a positive return of 48 percent.
The difference between it and other chips is At this time, 14 of my investments are up and
that it does very simple computing calculations only three are down.
really fast and efficiently. It doesn’t do other Please remember that what I write in this
specialised operations, these are made up of column is just my personal opinion. Some of
a series of simple calculations instead. This is my investments will lose money. I am sharing
not really new, RISC chips have been around my thoughts and strategies along with my
for a while. However, the latest version results so that you can see how easy it is to
from Apple is really changing the game for invest a small amount and maybe learn from
computer CPUs. The M1 chip also combines my mistakes. Be careful with your money!
a device’s RAM, graphics card and the central With the Sharesies online platform you can
processing unit into a single chip. invest as much or as little as you wish. If you
I believe that this technology will have far- want to invest in shares with Sharesies, please
reaching consequences and drive the price of use this link - https://sharesies.nz/r/KHQQWP.
Apple’s shares to new heights. Their products You will get $5 into your account to get started
using the new chip will last longer and perform and I will get the same.
4
Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
Legends to perform at Coroglen Pop-up COVID-19 testing
New Year’s Eve concert centres over summer
Pop up COVID-19 testing stations will be in place at several Coromandel tourism hot spots over the
summer season to ensure early detection of any potential cases of the virus against the backdrop of
the mass movement of holidaymakers.
The Waikato DHB, in partnership with local healthcare providers, has rolled out the facilities as part
of what they describe as “a comprehensive testing plan” to keep our communities and many visitors
safe while they’re enjoying everything the Peninsula has to offer.
Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki and Anglesea Clinic Urgent Care will operate the testing sites in
Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Tairua and Whangamata until 31 January, excluding public holidays
and weekends. The aim is to provide easy access to testing for the many visitors who will not be
registered with a local GP or medical centre. The visibility of the stations also serves as a reminder
to the public that they should still follow some very simple precautions to protect themselves and
their families while they are enjoying the freedom of a Kiwi summer.
“[We are] expecting large numbers of people coming to the [Coromandel] for their holidays,”
the DHB said in a statement. “We want everyone to have a great break, but want to remind you all
about some basic, but important ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 to make
New Zealand music legends The Feelers (pictured) and Elemeno P, will be kicking off their sensational summer unstoppable.
five-date summer tour on New Year’s Eve at The Coroglen Tavern. This incredible pairing will bring their
much-loved hits for a guaranteed good time of nostalgic feel-good summer fun. There is surely no better “Keep doing these four simple things - wash your hands, scan QR codes, turn on bluetooth tracing
way to see in the New Year than by dancing to classic Kiwi anthems. on the NZ COVID Tracer app, and stay home if you’re feeling unwell and get advice from Healthline
on 0800 611 116 about getting a COVID-19 test.”
Iconic duo James Reid and Hamish Gee of The Feelers have known each other since school in Christchurch
and formed the band in 1992, often playing early gigs at Christchurch venues like Dux De Lux. In 1995, More detailed opening dates and times of the pop-up testing stations are available on the Waikato
a win at a battle of the bands contest funded a recording session at Auckland’s York St Studios where they DHB Facebook page.
cut their first single, “The Leaving,” which gained traction on student radio. Pictured is the Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki clinic at 2 Coghill Street where the Whitianga testing
The band signed with Warner Music and recorded their first album, “Supersystem,” in 1998. The album site is located.
went to number 1 in New Zealand with hit songs like “Pressure Man,” which featured in the 1999 movie,
“Drop Dead Gorgeous,” during Kirsten Dunst's tap-dancing act.
Since then, the band have notched up a huge amount of success, including five multi-platinum albums,
five number one albums, seven number one singles, numerous NZ Music Awards and 3 APRA Most Played
Songs of the Year awards for the most radio airplay of any New Zealand bands.
In addition to “Pressure Man,” New Year’s Eve concertgoers can expect The Feelers to perform hits like
“Venus,” “Larger than Life,” “One World,” “Fishing for Lisa” and “Astronaut.”
Elemeno P will also be pumping up the crowds on New Year’s Eve with their most popular songs, including
“Verona,” “Fast Times in Tahoe” and “11:57.”
Joining the two popular bands will be Capital Theatre, who have recently released their debut single,
“Force to Fight,” produced by Los Angeles legend, Mike Clink.
Tickets for the New Year’s Eve concert at The Coroglen Tavern are $65 plus booking fees and can be
purchased online at eventfinda.co.nz. The music starts at 7.30pm.
4
Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7
Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
Issue 930
699 - 30
27 December
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9
Forty-fifth anniversary of tragic incident off the Whitianga coast that claimed six young lives The brother of Robyn Hamilton has been Nelson remembers his sister, one of five recalling the tragic incident 45 years ago off siblings, as a fun-loving girl who loved being the Whitianga coast that claimed the life of his with her friends and enjoyed life to the full. sister and five others in what was one of New “She worked in the supermarket here in Zealand’s worst ever boating accidents. Whitianga and she was just a very easy-going Nelson Hamilton says he still recalls the person,” he says. “I still think of her every day, 29 December 1975, when word came day and what she would be doing if she was through that the boat his sister, Robyn, still here, probably married and with her own had gone out on with friends had not children and even grandchildren. returned home. “She loved fishing and she had gone out The six had left Whitianga for a night with this group before. They were all good fishing trip and the vessel, a 15-foot fibreglass kids, we knew them all, they knew what they runabout, was discovered overturned the were doing. There was no messing when they next morning at 9:15am, just south of Great were out at sea.” Mercury Island, around two hours after the At the time, the tragedy was described as alarm had been raised. the worst boating accident in New Zealand “We were farming at Whenuakite and word since July 1965 when six men were drowned didn’t get through to us until a bit later,” while travelling in a dinghy from the shore Nelson says. Robyn’s was among three bodies at Te Kaha in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to a found later that day. She was just 17 years old fishing trawler. when she died. “Forty-five years seems like a lifetime The others who lost their lives were Kenneth ago, but you don’t ever forget,” Nelson says. Laurence Bayliss (23) of Kaimarama, Kim “Although we lost Robyn, she is still very Laurie Smith (17) of Albert Street, Whitianga, much part of our family. But I think this Tony Davison of Coroglen, Patricia Latham anniversary is also a chance to remember (17) of Cook Drive, Whitianga and Darryl everything that the community did at that time Amies of Upper Hutt. to try and help. And Whitianga is still like that, A newspaper article from the week of the people care and they look out for each other.” incident described a huge land and sea search, Nelson says, with the busy holiday season including two aircraft from the Mercury Bay now upon us, that it’s also a good time to remind Aero club, an Air Force Iroquois helicopter people to take care out there, follow all the and a fleet of local fishing boats. “Whitianga safety advice and don’t take any unnecessary residents and holidaymakers, shocked by risks. “Even when you are experienced, things the tragedy, offered their boats to help in can go wrong and I would not want any family the search,” the article said. “More people to suffer that sort of heartbreak this summer,” Robyn Hamilton (back, on the right) died 45 years ago in a tragic incident off the Whitianga volunteered to search the mainland beaches.” he says. coast that claimed the lives of six young people. She was 17 at the time of her death. Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
Appeal goes out to dog owners after Coromandel kiwi deaths The Department of Conservation and kiwi with the birds discovered sleeping under conservation groups are urging dog owners ponga fronds or other vegetation. Kiwi to have their pets trained to avoid kiwi above ground can easily be smelled by a dog following a spate of recent deaths of the and chased. national icon on the Coromandel. Sheila Westley, a Coromandel-based Mailee Stanbury, DOC biodiversity senior kiwi avoidance dog trainer who has been ranger, says there have been recent reports delivering training courses for dogs and of dead Coromandel brown kiwi discovered owners for several years, says kiwi have at three locations - Tairua, Whenuakite and a strong scent and are very attractive to Matarangi. The birds killed at Tairua and dogs. “In training we have found even the Whenuakite have been confirmed as the most loyal and obedient dog is drawn to the victims of dog attacks through DNA testing. scent of kiwi when its owner is distracted,” Dog owners are not permitted to take she says. their animals on public conservation land in When chased, kiwi will run from a dog, Whenuakite, which is the only completely but their anatomy, in particular a weak protected kiwi zone in DOC’s Hauraki chest due to a lack of flight muscles, means district (which includes the Coromandel they can suffer fatal injuries very easily. Peninsula). “We need dog owners to keep An inquisitive dog can push a kiwi against their animals under control at all times - a tree within a few minutes of inattention by tied up or contained at night,” said Mailee. a dog owner. “Owners can also do the right thing to “Roaming dogs are the biggest threat faced protect our precious kiwi by arranging for by our kiwi,” says Diane Hinds, a trustee their pets to have kiwi avoidance training. of the Whenuakite Kiwi Care conservation The Coromandel experiences an influx of group. “We find this very disturbing and summer visitors and if they’re bringing frustrating as we spend many hours trapping their dogs to the Peninsula, kiwi avoidance and protecting kiwi. The impact of roaming training is really valuable to help protect dogs is very disheartening to our community these taonga species. Remember kiwi can conservation project.” now be found in residential areas as well as DOC and community conservation groups bush and farmland on the Coromandel.” are offering kiwi aversion training across DOC say, despite the common perception, the Peninsula this summer. Dog owners not all kiwi are safely asleep in their can contact the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre burrows during the day. Studies undertaken on (07) 867 9080 to book into a session. at Moehau in the northern Coromandel The training takes about 10 minutes and found kiwi above ground during the day, is free. Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11
The beach ridges of Whitianga
and Cooks Beach
The first in a two-part series about local land formations by retired Kuaotunu geologist, Alastair Brickell
This is history writ large. It is not immediately These ridges are the curved lines in Toby’s
obvious, but lies in the rocks and landforms photograph and they get progressively
surrounding us and which geologists use to younger as you move towards the coast.
help decode our past. There are about 30 of these beach ridges in
There are many excellent photographs of the Whitianga area and at least 15 in Cooks
our past landscapes, largely from Whites Beach. They give us the big picture and tell us
Aviation taken from approximately 1920 that the sea has been progressively retreating
to 1988, but a 1948 one of Whitianga and at about half a metre a year over the last 4,000
Cooks Beach from the late Toby Morcom’s years or so. The Whitianga shore was where
collection is one of the best. It is striking in the Mobil petrol station is now. Most of the
many ways, with the lack of development and present town would have been under water.
vegetation being the first things we notice. However, when it briefly got colder again
It also shows very well the series of flat- during what’s called the “Little Ice Age,”
topped explosive volcanic centres around starting at approximately 1300, the sea would
Hahei and Flaxmill Bay that made our have actually fallen even further to be about
landscape very similar in shape to that at the half a metre lower than it is now with the
present Mt Tarawera. beach some distance offshore. Since the end
The photo furthermore illustrates clearly of the little Ice Age in about 1850, the ocean
the series of curved “beach ridges” extending has been gradually coming back in and is
out towards the present coastline both in causing some beach erosion. It is not a steady
Whitianga in the foreground and Cooks The late Toby Morcom’s photo of Whitianga in 1948, with Cooks Beach in the distance. one-way process as the shoreline moves back
Beach in the distance, many of which are The series of beach ridges, many of them now covered by housing developments, and forth, just like the tides, but operating on
hard to see now due to housing developments. are clearly visible. a decades-long, rather than daily, cycle.
All those curved lines are previous shorelines Brassospora), the main change was that much In between these ice ages were short warm The time when the sea was actually at its
that started forming about 4,000 years ago of the world’s water was locked up in ice caps “interglacial” periods, each lasting about highest 4,000 years ago is what geologists
when the sea was actually at its highest and glaciers. In fact, the sea was about 120m 12,000 to 15,000 years, the latest of which call the Holocene High Stand. The reality
point in the last 16,000 years, at least 1 to lower at that time and you could happily we are currently enjoying. is we have built Whitianga, Cooks Beach,
2m higher than now, with the shoreline walk from Whitianga to Great Barrier Island, When the ice fully melted from the latest Tairua and many other settlements on newly-
several kilometres further inland from its the South Island and even Stewart Island of these ice ages, about 16,000 years ago, acquired beach land. Whether that was wise,
present position. without getting your feet wet. the sea rapidly rose back up and actually only time will tell. Sea levels may continue to
While most of New Zealand was not The coastline for us in Mercury Bay was came almost 2km further inshore than it is rise gradually at 2 to 3mm per year, as they
covered in the kilometres thick ice that about 40km offshore, so a long way to the now and left a beach ridge by the Whitianga have done for the past 100 years according to
smothered much of North America during the beach back then. However, this is actually Airfield about 2 to 4m above where Buffalo the tidal gauges around the world monitored
last major Ice Age which ended 16,000 years the coastline’s normal location since during Beach is at the moment. by the UK government-funded Permanent
ago, there were still significant effects here. 90 percent of the last one million years or As the sea gradually fell, it left behind a Service for Mean Sea Level, or they may
Quite apart from the cooler temperatures so, Earth has been in ice age conditions. series of beach ridges every time it paused or rise faster. Or we may move into another
resulting in much of Whitianga being covered There have been about 10 major ice ages over reversed its movement every few decades or ice age and once again have a beachfront
with southern beech forests (Nothofagus that period, each lasting about 100,000 years. centuries as it was not just a steady decline. 40km offshore.
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Should there a total ban on backyard
See page 2 for what’s happening Like us on Facebook.
fireworks on the Coromandel?
in the night sky, and the Whitianga and
Hot Water Beach tides.
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Check us out on Instagram. Have your say at www.theinformer.co.nz.
Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13
Thousands of people at Aero Club Open Day The annual Mercury Bay Aero Club Open Day attracted thousands of people on Monday hours required by the Civil Aviation Authority and is expected to be made available to members this week. of the Aero Club for hire-and-fly purposes in the next few days. In addition to the large number of aircraft, model aircraft, and classic and vintage cars that The Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade were also present at the Open Day, selling their famous were on display, scenic flights were available in a variety of aircraft, including a vintage mussel fritters. A variety of other food options were also available. Stearman biplane. Pictured in the photo on the left are some of the Fire Brigade members on Monday. From the Attracting a lot of attention were the two Mercury Bay Aero Club Van’s RV12 aeroplanes - left - Maurice Muir, Ian Cox, Chief Fire Officer Roly Chaney and Duncan Farmer. In the photo on MBA and MBB - built by students of Mercury Bay Area School. MBB is brand-new, having taken the right is Amy Bosman, the first MBAS student who will learn to fly MBB, with her instructor, to the skies for the first time last month. She has almost flown the minimum number of test Alan Coubray. Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
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27 December
July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15Beach Hop won’t be returning
to Whitianga next year
Beach Hop won’t be returning to Whitianga in 2021. In a personal email to The Informer, thanking
us for our support over the years, festival organiser, Noddy Watts (pictured) said it cost them
more than $6,500 to come to Whitianga this year, mainly due to the four one-lane bridges that
had to negotiated between Whangamata and Whitianga.
“We’ve brought the festival to Whitianga for three years and we do like to share it around other
locations,” Noddy said. “So we are heading to Thames for the first time next year. There are no
one-lane bridges along the way and it’s 50 minutes drive time [from Whangamata] as opposed
to 90 minutes [to Whitianga].”
Noddy finished his email by saying that they do plan to return to Whitianga at some time in
the future.
Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020Storms cause $8 million in
The Fire Siren damage to Coromandel roads
Sponsored by Safety + Apparel - tel 0800 726 726
As 2020 draws to an end, I would have to say As the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the
it has been a very busy year for the Whitianga Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade I would
Volunteer Fire Brigade with 180 call-outs. like to wish everyone a happy and safe
December has been no exception with 23 New Year. Please leave the fireworks in the
calls for assistance. cupboard until next Guy Fawkes.
We responded to four private fire alarm A special thank you to the members of the
activations, one boat on fire and a fence on Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade for doing
fire. We’ve also had a gas leak and a request to an amazing job that has been at times very
set up a helipad. We were called to investigate testing, but as always they all went above and
smoke causing concern and three scrub fires, beyond when required.
one of which saw fire crews from across the Please be patient out there
region providing assistance. We went to five and stay safe.
motor vehicle accidents, a couple of which Deputy Chief Fire Officer
were quite serious, and we’ve also assisted St Derek Collier
John Ambulance five times.
The cost for road repairs arising from five major storms that hit the Thames-Coromandel District
since 2018 is set to top $8 million with ratepayers forking out 30 percent of the bill.
Earlier this month, the elected members of Thames-Coromandel District Council heard that work
relating to three weather events in June 2018, July 2018 and September 2019 had now exceeded
original estimates by over $700,000, mostly as a result of design changes.
Meanwhile, the cost of both the immediate emergency response and the permanent repairs following
this year’s massive Queen’s Birthday flooding has been put at just under $1.8 million. The subsequent
weather event on 24 and 25 June, which resulted in further dropouts and slips, generated a repair
bill of $645,000.
Councillors approved an additional $1.03m spend from TCDC’s Disaster Relief Fund to cover council’s
share of the new costs with the New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi covering the other 70
per cent.
The most significant cost overrun was in relation to a site at Colville Road damaged during the
June 2018 storm which almost doubled from what had been originally predicted. “Original design
assumptions have been proven incorrect by further geotechnical investigation, and changes in the
anticipated site conditions and scope has required a significant redesign from the original plan,”
a report to council said. “The assumed $450,000 treatment option allowed for originally would not
work and fails the safety in design requirements making it unsafe for a contractor to construct.
The preferred option has an estimated cost of $850,000.”
Pictured is a slip on the Kuaotunu Hill caused by the weather event of September 2019.
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 23Merv George - a master of juggling work and serving the community By Jack Biddle In 1965, a young 12-year-old lad by the name of Mervyn George was looking to earn some extra pocket money and found work at a busy Whitianga fish and chips shop on the corner of Monk Street and Albert Street (now known as Snapper Jacks). By his own admission, Merv was at the time “a little brash and rough around the edges” and was best suited for the non-glamourous tasks such as cleaning and unblocking the kitchen’s grease traps rather than being on the frontline taking orders. Little did he know at the time, but unblocking and clearing drains would a few years later become part of his full-time job as an apprentice plumber and drainlayer working for local tradie, Robbie Yeoman. In fact, 2020 marked Merv’s 50th year as a plumber and drainlayer in Mercury Bay, 37 of which he has been self-employed. Former Whitianga Chief Fire Officer, Merv George, celebrated 50 years as a plumber and drainlayer in Mercury Bay in 2020. “I owe an awful lot to Robbie, he provided me with an opportunity to learn a trade and took a punt on a young carpenter’s labourer who had just been laid off due to lack of work and was willing to give anything a go,” said Merv. “After my apprenticeship was completed, I spent a number of years working for Robbie before deciding to follow in his footsteps and start my own plumbing and drainlaying business. Robbie wanted to see me take that big step and even sold me an old van and threw in a bit of gear to help get me started. We remain good friends to this day.” Merv said while parts of a plumber and drainlayer’s work are far from glamorous, it has always been a trade which demands high work standards. “Some of my mates have me on from time to time about what I do for a living, but I can reflect back on times where we have relieved many of what was or could easily have become a rather messy problem,” he said. The diversity is part of the trade Merv really enjoys. “I have worked hard to run my business around good customer relationships,” he said. “Changing a common house tap washer, for example, for one of my regular customers has always provided a chance for an overdue catch-up, plus an exchange of a jar of my favourite homemade jam for the washer and minimal labour cost involved in fitting it. During the COVID-19 lockdown, we were an essential service provider and were able to help out with a number of emergency call-outs which my team and I were very happy to do.” Unexpected call-outs have, in fact, been very much part of Merv’s adult life. He has dedicated a huge amount of voluntary time to the New Zealand Fire Service following a family tradition started by his father who was a foundation member of the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade. Merv’s dedication to the Fire Service was officially acknowledged in 2010 when he was awarded the Queens Service Medal (QSM). In addition to having been the Whitianga Chief Fire Officer, a position he had held from 1984 to 2018, he’s a past president of the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand. No doubt in trying to balance his life as a businessowner with the demands of the Fire Service over a 50-year period, Merv must have felt at times he was a part-time plumber and drainlayer and a full- time volunteer. “That was what my wife used to say initially, but she soon adapted to my somewhat hectic and unpredictable lifestyle,” he said. Actually, Merv was far more flattering when asked for a bit more detail on wife, Greer. “She was very awesome when we first met and after 44 years of marriage she still is,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. If there is one particular strength that makes Merv stand out from the crowd, it surely is his willingness to contribute to making Mercury Bay a better and safer place for both residents to live and visitors to visit. And he is not afraid to take on some of the more demanding and challenging tasks, including his recent appointment as chair of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust. All-in-all, Merv is an outstanding example of what can be achieved by someone who started out cleaning and unblocking grease traps at a local fish and chips shop and who was at the time “a little brash and rough around the edges.” Everyone in Mercury Bay should be fortunate to call him one of their own.” Page 24 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
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Page 26 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020
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July 2016 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 27What’s On In the next week
Christmas Art Exhibition Matarangi Beach Realty.
Until Friday, 15 January at Hauraki House Gallery, Tairua-Pauanui Sports Fishing Club Kids Day at the
Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town. Open every day from Wharf Competition
10:00am - 4:00pm. More than 40 artists exhibiting. Saturday, 2 January from 9:00am - 12:00 noon at the
Whitianga Wellbeing Market Tairua Wharf, Tui Terrace. Prize-giving at the TPSFC
Until Wednesday, 6 January at the Whitianga Town Hall, clubrooms, Tairua Marina at 1:00pm.
Monk Street from 10:00am - 5:00pm every day. Mercury Bay Golf Club New Year’s Open Tournament
That 90’s Band Saturday, 2 January. Phone (07) 866 5479 for more
Thursday, 31 December (New Year’s Eve) at 8:30pm at information.
the Mercury Bay Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Tickets Keltic Fair
$15 club members, $20 guests, available from the club. Saturday, 2 January from 9:00am - 4:00pm at
Tairua/Pauanui Annual Fireworks Display Coromandel Area School, Coromandel Town. One of
Thursday, 31 December at midnight. Best viewing along New Zealand’s largest one-day fairs.
the Estuary Reserve in Tairua. Whitianga Summer Festival
Sounds of Summer Concerts at The Coroglen Tavern Saturday, 2 January - “Mini Olympics,” fun and games
Thursday, 31 December (New Year’s Eve) - The Feelers for the younger ones. From 12:00 noon - 2:00pm at
and Elemeno P. The Esplanade, Whitianga.
Saturday, 2 January - Katchafire Sons of Zion and Monday, 4 January - Family Beach Dig. From 3:00pm -
Laughton Kora. 5:00pm at The Esplanade, Whitianga.
Wednesday, 6 January - Trinity Roots. Whiti Beach Meet
See www.coroglentavern for more information. Sunday, 3 January from 9:00am - 2:00pm at Albert
Mercury Bay Boating Club New Year’s Race Street and Taylor’s Mistake, Whitianga. Celebrating the
Friday, 1 January - 11:00am start opposite the MBBC third birthday of the American Muscle, Street & Custom
clubhouse, Buffalo Beach Road, Whitianga. Entries Club Whitianga.
accepted up to 15 minutes beforehand on channel #77. Coroglen Farmer’s Market
Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Suzuki Top Ten Sunday, 3 January from 9:30am to 1:00pm at the
Tuna Tournament Coroglen Hall.
Saturday, 2 January - Saturday, 9 January. A cash prize Whitianga Art Group Summer Exhibition
pool of $10,000. Prize-giving at 8:00pm on 9 January From Monday, 4 January - Monday, 1 February at the
in the MBGFC clubrooms, The Esplanade, Whitianga. Art Centre and Gallery, Whitianga. Open every day from
Visit mbgfc.co.nz for more information and to enter. 10:00am - 4:00pm. Free entry.
Whitianga Art, Craft & Farmer’s Market Cooks Beach Summer Gala
Saturday, 2 January and Sunday, 3 January from Monday, 4 January from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Central
8:30am - 1:00pm at Soldiers Memorial Park, Albert Reserve, Banks Street, Cooks Beach. Home of the
Street, Whitianga. famous Daisy Dung Drop.
Matarangi Boat & Fishing Club January 2nd Hahei Market Day
Competition Wednesday, 6 January from 9:00am - 2:00pm at
Saturday, 2 January, 5:00am start. Great prizes. Kotare Reserve, Pa Road, Hahei. An eclectic variety
Entry tickets available from Matarangi Four Square and of stalls.
Page 28 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020Just when 2020 couldn’t get any worse, it did By Stephan Bosman Just when Ravi Tiku, the owner of the Mobil service station in Whitianga, though 2020 couldn’t get any worse, it did. At 2:30am on Saturday last week (Boxing Day), a speeding driver took out part of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association park fence along Joan Gaskell Drive as well as a water mains backflow valve, and slammed into the service station shop with such force that the vehicle ended up fully inside the building. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time of the year,” says Ravi. “We were fully stocked up for the busy holiday season. There’s no way we will be able to reopen the shop anytime soon. The incident has caused a lot of damage. It’s like a bomb explosion. We are thankful that no one was seriously hurt.” “Fortunately our fuel supply systems haven’t been affected. People will still be able to fill up at all the pumps in our forecourt and pay at the pump.” According to Sergeant Andrew Morrison of the Whitianga Police, the driver was a 20-year-old Mercury Bay man. “Poor decision-making around alcohol and speed, as well as inexperience, driving on a restricted licence, were factors in the incident,” Sergeant Morrison said. “The driver will be appearing in the Thames District Court on 11 January 2021 on charges of Dangerous Driving and Driving with Excess Breath Alcohol (1,283/150).” “An examination of the crash scene highlighted how lucky the driver was not to have been killed as he narrowly missed some pretty solid structures and a large boulder. No one being in the path of his crash was also exceptionally fortunate. “Wearing his seatbelt and having a car with airbags allowed the driver to walk away with minor injuries.” The main photo (taken by Michelle Egen) is showing the inside of the Mobil service station shop after the incident. The driver’s vehicle was still inside the building at the time the photo was taken. The inset is showing the damage caused to the outside of the building. Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 29
Crossword
© Lovatts Puzzles
Crossword Puzzle 930
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Tel no: _________________________________________________________________
Win a $5.60 Wednesday Lotto ticket. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to
The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or
info@theinformer.co.nz to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim
their prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday of the week
following the issue in which they were announced the winner.
ACROSS DOWN
1. Belt hole 1. Teat
7. Malarial insect 2. Seaside crustacean
3. Dinner chime
8. Appeal earnestly
4. Provide with gear
10. Price negotiation 5. Aping
12. Making possible for 6. Wedged
14. Slip sideways 9. Every 24 hours
16. Tasks 11. Cooked outdoors
17. Not merited 13. Convent dweller
20. Fashionable society 15. Wage recipient
16. Medieval king’s clown
people
18. Protect
23. Bird of prey 19. Suez or Panama
24. Passenger lift 21. Press (clothes)
25. Work (dough) 22. Milled (timber)
Last week’s solution
Last week’s winner - Alan Rhodes
“Kīwaha o te wiki” (saying of the week)
“Wetiweti ana!” - Mean! Wicked!
Saying of the week supplied by Te Puna Reo o Whitianga - a playgroup with a focus on Māori tikanga and te reo Māori.
The group would like to wish the community a Meri Kirihimete and ngā mihi nui for all the support during this year.
They are taking a break and will start back when the school starts back with their first session on 15 February 2021 at 9:00am at the MBAS old dental room.
Page 30 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020Sustainable, inclusive, public building
project to go ahead in Coromandel Town
A contribution by the Coromandel Independent Living Trust
A $500,000 Lotteries grant has finally triggered internet facilities. The location opposite to the such as toilets, lockers, changing rooms and but Mike Noonan, executive trustee of CILT,
the go-ahead for a ground-breaking building Coromandel Area School rugby grounds was a tent drying room. Smaller grants were also says, “It has been hard work for our team,
project in Coromandel Town. The Coromandel chosen as the best site as it has room to expand secured in 2019 from the Span Trust of $12,000 but this is a tremendous breakthrough for us and
Hub in Pound Street will provide a sustainable, into a second phase, dependent on funding and and the DV Bryant Trust of $50,000. will be a fantastic facility.”
inclusive, public facility that will bring iwi, room for parking. Anna Galvin, service delivery coordinator for The new building will be completely
support agencies, employers, residents, visitors The $500,000 grant is the latest piece in the CILT, believes the building will future-proof accessible and will be designed using Te Aranga
and community groups together in a single jigsaw after several years of tireless behind- services to Coromandel Town. “We haven’t Māori design principles. The final design will
location, sharing resources. the-scenes fundraising. Trust Waikato agreed had a new community building for 15 years, be firmed up in the new year and expressions of
Work is scheduled to start in April next year. to come to the party with $574,000 in August this will be such a great resource for the town interest are welcomed from local builders.
The money from the Lotteries Community 2018 and in November 2018 CILT was given a and what’s really amazing is that we have been The building will be as sustainable as
Fund has been awarded to the Coromandel grant by Thames Coromandel District Council able to secure the funding without putting any practicable, especially in terms of power, light
Independent Living Trust (CILT) and will (TCDC) to buy the land in Pound Street. pressure on locals or local businesses,” she says. and water, which will reduce running costs,
launch the first phase of the project, which Then in June 2019, the Tourism Infrastructure The search for funding has had knockbacks making the project financially sustainable into
includes meeting rooms, office space and Fund agreed to fund the project to the tune of in the process. A hoped-for application to the the future and alleviate pressure on current
tourist amenities, as well as high speed $504,000 if it included amenities for visitors, Provincial Growth Fund never came through, infrastructure.
As well as the new building, an existing
workshop on the adjoining site will be used
to transfer skills from experienced tradies to
younger people keen to learn those skills.
CILT has made a big impact on Coromandel
Town in the past 25 years. They have built
and retro-fitted 14 pensioners flats which they
now manage, they have been the driver to
develop the 4km Harray Track, they built the
community re-use centre, or Goldmine, in 2016
and then took on the town op shop, The Bizarre,
in 2019. They currently employ 14 staff which
share five offices in Tiki House, which they are
outgrowing.
Among the CILT staff are two social workers
who assist families to undertake family
wellbeing and parenting programmes, and
deliver a life skills and values programme for
An artist’s drawing of the new Coromandel Hub to be developed in Coromandel Town. five to 12-year-olds.
Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 31Sudoku
Sudoku Puzzle 930
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Tel no: _________________________________________________________________
Win two Trumpet ice creams. Hand deliver or mail or scan and email your entry to
The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga or
info@theinformer.co.nz to reach us by 3:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim
their prize from Buffalo Beach Four Square directly before the Wednesday of the week following
the issue in which they were announced the winner.
Sudoku Puzzle Instructions
Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes
inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once.
Last week’s solution
Last week’s winner - Rod Aitken
Page 32 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 930 - 30 December 2020Fishing Report
Sponsored by Mercury Bay Marine - Tel (07) 867 1280
Things are heating up for the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club’s Top Ten Tuna Tournament which
runs from 2 to 9 January 2021. Almost every day yellowfin tuna are being weighed by the club.
For this season’s tournament schedule and the club’s Sponsors’ Grid, see pages 20 and 21 of
this issue of The Informer.
On Monday this week, 106 children participated in the club’s Kids Wharf Competition.
The tournament was very well supported by local businesses and almost every participant
received a spot prize. The top three anglers in each of the six categories have also received
a prize.
The heaviest spratt was caught by Declan Tucker, Mary Elliston (pictured
in the top photo) won the mackerel category, the spotty category was
won by Tori Wright, the heaviest kahawai was caught by Israel Jones,
Harry Fergus (pictured in the bottom photo) won the triple fin category
and the “other” category was also won by Tori Wright with a parore.
Sport Results
THE DUNES MATARANGI GOLF CLUB progressed to the finals. In the first semi-final, after
Eighteen-hole Stableford - Saturday, 19 December a very close frame, Peter took the win over Forrest.
Results - 1 David Gaskell 41, 2 Barry Bowen 37, 3 Tony In the second semi-final, Paul was too good for Brian.
Nicholson 35. The final was another close frame with Peter taking the
Twos - David Ellis, Nearest the Pin #18 - David Ellis. win and the lamb roast. Paul Bean (runner-up) finished
Eighteen-hole Stableford - the day with three wins. Those with two wins were
Wednesday, 23 December Brian Codyre (who also had the highest break of 23),
Results - 1 Allan Trow (Coromandel Town) 39, 2 Tracey Forrest Littlejohn, Jason Smith and Ian Pudney.
Mulligan 37, 3 Chris Palmer 35. Saturday, 26 December
Twos - Allan Trow, Nearest the Pin #18 - Geoff Atmore. Best of three frames. Six players. Roger Smith and Paul
MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER Bean progressed to the final frame with two straight
Wednesday, 23 December wins each. Paul was too good for Roger and took home
Best of three frames. Thirteen players. Four of the the lamb shoulder chops. Those with two wins were
players - Peter Schultz, Forrest Littlejohn, Brian Codyre Roger Smith (runner-up) and Barry Roach. No high
and Paul Bean - achieved two straight wins each and break recorded.
Issue 930 - 30 December 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 33You can also read
