What do we call ourselves? - Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 - The Mercury Bay Informer
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Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 Phone (07) 866 2090 Circulation 8,000
What do we call ourselves?
By Stephan Bosman
We’re on the search for demonyms for the residents of Matarangi, Kuaotunu, Whitianga, Hahei and Cooks Beach. Please be part of the campaign.
Are you looking for an opportunity to Somewhat more difficult are Dunedin and Matarangi and Matarangians? Cooks Beach of the surrounding villages. We’ll publish
contribute to the history of Mercury Bay? Dunedinites, Sydney and Sydneysiders, Los and Cooks Beachers? the results in The Informer of 24 November.
To even have your name featuring in the Angeles and Angelenos, and Moscow and Hahei and Haheians sound complicated. From that issue onwards, we’ll attempt to use
Mercury Bay Museum? Or just to have Muscovites. Amusing are Christchurch and And there has to be something better than the results as often as possible in our articles
something to talk about other than COVID-19, Christecclesians (who would have thought), Kuaotunu and Kuaotunuians. and stories.
the elections in New Zealand and the USA, Sunderland (England) and Mackems, Be part of the campaign. Please send us Moreover, we’ve also agreed with the
and the future of Super Rugby? Then why not and Kuala Lumpur and KLites. Confusing your ideas in writing together with your Mercury Bay Museum to make some wall
take part in our campaign to find demonyms are Birmingham (England) and Brummies, name and surname, and phone number. space available where the story of the
for the residents of Matarangi, Kuaotunu, and Birmingham (Alabama, USA) and Be in touch with us whatever way you like - campaign will be told. That will include
Whitianga, Hahei and Cooks Beach? Birminghamsters. Not sounding quite right are social media, email, mail, by hand. All we the name of every person who sent us
Demonyms are generally understood Wilmot (Wisconsin, USA) and Wilmotters, ask is one idea per person for each town/ their ideas.
to be words identifying groups of people Yellow Knife (Canada) and Yellow Knifers, village and please stay away from things that This year is a very tough year, for all
in relation to where they live. An easy and Xalapa (Mexico) and Xalapeños. may offend. of us. We hope a campaign about what
example is referring to Auckland residents as Wouldn’t it be great to refer to the people of During the third week of November we call ourselves will lighten the mood,
Aucklanders. Or those living in Wellington Whitianga as, well, something? Rather than (about five weeks from now), we’ll work bring some fun and, who knows, make history
as Wellingtonians. Or New York and New “the residents of Whitianga?” What about through all the entries and identify the most and expand our vocabulary with demonyms
Yorkers, and Melbourne and Melburnians. Whitiangians? Whitis? Whitians? Or Fidians? popular demonym for Whitianga and each we’re proud to use every day.
Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz
Major home-based education milestone
for Jenny Collier
By Gillian O’Neill
A decade’s worth of current and former students, Inspired Kindergartens. She mentions projects “The children learn very quickly what they and then, but then you see all these beautiful
and educators gathered on Thursday last week at the Whitianga Bike Park and beach planting can and can’t do because we just operate like children and all these families who believe in
to celebrate 10 years of Inspired Kindergartens initiatives as examples of how the children were a normal family where we nurture and respect and support home-based education, and you
Home Based Education in Whitianga thanks to learning by exploring and contributing to their each other,” Jenny says. “I’ve never had to put realise what a special thing it is to be a part
the hard work and dedication of Jenny Collier. own communities. things away in the house, the children just know of it,” she says. “It’s a real privilege actually,
There were greetings and reunions aplenty as According to Jenny, it is these freedoms and what is theirs and what is not and we all tidy that’s the reason I do it. I have been very lucky
families with children of all ages paid tribute to opportunities that are at the heart of the home- up together. Most importantly it is child-led, to have had some amazing educators working
the care and learning that Jenny has given to so based approach. Whether it is at home or out we aren’t trying to make them fit into a system, with me over the years.”
many. And while she was proud to receive her and about in Whitianga, Jenny says the children they can just be who they are.” So the answer it appears is no. Jenny is
10-year certificate from Inspired Kindergartens’ can be actively involved in directing their own With more than three decades of what is hanging around for a while yet and the smiles
Kathryn Hawkes, the day also provided an learning. Cupboards full of learning resources a fairly all-consuming role under her belt, all round on Thursday suggest her Inspired
opportunity for Jenny to reflect on a career in line numerous walls inside her house, while the Jenny gets slightly teary when the word Kindergartens family wouldn’t have it any
home-based education that has lasted for 36 garden is a haven for fun and exploration. retirement is mentioned. “I do think about it now other way.
years. “It just made sense to me at the time,
I was raising my own children so having a few
more around the house was not a problem,”
she says.
But seeing how the children flourished
and thrived in the relative freedom of home-
based care, how relationships developed and
friendships were formed, Jenny’s new job
quickly became a deep passion. “They are all
just part of my family,” she says. “That never
changes, even when they grow up.”
Some of the teenagers that Jennie looked after
as babies and toddlers still visit on occasion.
“Come around any time, you know where I
am,” she lightly jokes with some of her former
charges. “If you want to run away for a little
while, you are welcome here,”
Having worked with several other umbrella
groups over the years, Jenny partnered with
Inspired Kindergartens 10 years ago because of
their strong focus on nature and the environment,
and the benefits of these experiences for
children. “Their philosophy really fitted with
ours,” she says.
Kathryn says Jenny, who is now joined by
daughter, Tracie, also a qualified educator, A happy crowd of present and past students, and educators joined Jenny Collier (front, in the middle with the orange top)
“walks and talks” the values and beliefs of on Thursday last week to mark a major milestone in her home-based education career.
What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information
provided and sponsored by
Week of Wednesday, 7 October to Wednesday, 14 October - This week is Mars’s big chance to be “star” of the show. On the 7th it will be closer to
us than it will be until 2035 and a small telescope will possibly show some slightly darker markings on the planet. A big telescope will also show the
tiny remains of its south pole ice cap, which is rapidly melting as it is now approaching summer on the red planet. It looks like a little white dot on the
edge of the planet and is a lovely sight. However, if it is cloudy on the 7th, do not despair as it will be lovely to view all week and will actually be slightly
brighter than Jupiter, which is highly unusual. It will be very easy to compare these two rivals as they will be in the sky together until early morning,
with somewhat fainter Saturn just below Jupiter. Venus continues to rule the dawn as the brilliant morning “star” in the NE before sunrise. This is the last
week to easily see elusive Mercury in the west just after sunset. It is now starting to move rapidly back towards the Sun, very low in the northwestern Astronomy Tours and B&B
twilight sky. Monday, 12 October - The International Space Station makes an early morning pass starting at 5:51am in the SW and travelling high Phone (07) 866 5343
overhead to end near Venus. Tuesday, 13 October - Venus has already moved well to the right of and below the star Regulus, while the Moon sits just
to its left in the dawn sky. Wednesday, 14 October - The Moon now sit below and between both Regulus and Venus in the dawn NE sky. 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 918 - 6 October 2020
Investing in the precious art
of handwriting
Former school teacher, Peter Wood (pictured), believes changes in education, along with our
advancing reliance on technology, means the art of handwriting is in danger of being lost forever.
Not only that, but the Coromandel resident, who divides his time between Whitianga and the Thames
Coast, is concerned that students could be losing a valuable life skill.
This is why Peter, who taught in primary schools for 46 years, decided to give students in all the
schools across the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki Plains a helping hand. In a throwback to the
days before decimalisation, Peter had 5,000 writing pads printed, each ruled with three lines to an
inch. Peter says the format creates more space for young learners to work with when trying to get
to grips with shaping letters, making it far easier than the standard 7mm ruled books which became
popular when metrics arrived.
Peter says keyboards will never reduce the importance of children learning and forming letters
quickly to enable them to write accurately. This is clear from his own quote which he has printed on
the back of the writing pads alongside examples of all the letters of the alphabet, in both upper and
lower case, “The proof of an educated person is the ability to record legibly their language.”
Peter says he used thick paper for the writing pads so the children could use the back of each page
for art and drawing. He has already delivered the pads to almost all the schools, with just Tairua
and Hikuai still on the list. He says the reception from the schools was great and the teachers have
appreciated the gesture.
From Peter’s perspective it is “an investment in the future of our young people” and he hopes that at
least some students will find the notepads helpful as they negotiate those tricky curves and angles
en route to becoming beautiful writers.
699 - 627October
Issue 918 July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3
Page 4 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020
Service to Golf Club honoured with life membership The Mercury Bay Golf & Country Club has acknowledged the service and dedication of Joan Roseman (pictured) by making her a life member of the club at their AGM on Saturday last week. The decision was taken after a proposal by fellow club member, Chris Watson. Joan joined the club in 1972. Twice the junior club champion, she also took bronze four times in senior level club championships. She represented the club in the Bay of Plenty Champ of Champs tournament on several occasions. Joan was selected to play in Mercury Bay teams at the Bay of Plenty Pennants from the days of 36 holes to the present time. Highlights were the two wins in 1980 and again 39 years later in 2019. She played in numerous Bay of Plenty District teams, taking victory in 2008 at Matarangi and again at Taupo last year with Chris Watson, Robyn Anderson and Barbara Bradley, before they collectively went on to take the national teams title. As part of the club’s administration, Joan has been a ladies committee handicapper, treasurer, vice-captain and captain on two occasions, and served as secretary for the past three years. She also actively supported her late husband, David, through his 20 years on the men’s committee and board of te club, playing a crucial role in the raising of more than $30,000 towards the purchase of the land to extend the Mercury Bay Golf Course to 18 holes. In addition, Joan personally managed the debentures scheme that was used to raise the money for the following 10 years. The club members agreed that Joan was deserving of a life membership given her total dedication to the club for the past 48 years. Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 5
Finally an opportunity to pay tribute to Barbara Lee By Suzanne Hansen Mercury Bay’s Lee family can finally pay four children adopted. tribute to Barbara - their wife, mother, Barbara deeply appreciated the value grandmother and centre of their family - of family and absolutely loved children. with a proper send off on Saturday, 10 October. She also adored entertaining, providing her Barbara June Lee (nee Dutton) passed away wide network of friends with great hospitality. unexpectedly on 22 March, just before the Raised in Hamilton in a close but widely first coronavirus lockdown, which meant that extended family, Barbara spent a lot of her the family were unable to honour her with a teenage years babysitting and tending to gathering until this coming weekend. her younger cousins. Her family had a love Barbara and her husband, Bill’s extended for camping and during the summer would family alone would comprise at least 50 travel from Hamilton to various parts of the attendees even before the vast community Coromandel to set up a temporary home with of friends that the couple have developed their impressive set of camping equipment. during their 64 years together are considered. In 1956, Barbara’s family stayed at This anticipated turnout was simply too large Mulberries Campground in Lee Street, to comply with COVID-19 restrictions until Whitianga. The campground belonged just recently. Barbara’s send off on Saturday to Bill’s parents, Amy and Fredrick Lee. will take place a month after what would have It was then that 13-year old Barbara met been her 77th birthday. The service will be 15-year old Bill when she was looking for held at St Andrew’s by the Sea Community the family cat and spotted Bill mowing the Church at 10:30am. All are welcome. lawns. Although Bill was off to Army cadet Barbara Lee was a dynamo, always keen to camp very soon, they struck up a relationship learn and continuously adopting new skills. and began exchanging letters which went on She was talented and self-taught in all sorts for years. Bill still has all the letters. of creative endeavours, which she shared Barbara was determined that her family freely with her family and her community. return to Mulberries Campground again the She gave a huge amount to everyone around next summer and was instrumental in the her, including the Kaimarama Garden Club, family becoming regulars at the campground. the Glee Club (Golden Girls), the Mercury One day, Bill worked up the nerve to ask Bay Lionesses and the the Mercury Bay Barbara for a walk to the beach, but felt Cancer Support Trust. She was a staunch compelled to ask her father for permission. supporter of the community activities Bill Her father allowed the “date” as long as Barbara Lee, the centre of Mercury Bay’s well-known Lee family, was involved in and the many pursuits her Barbara’s sister, Julie, accompanied the passed away on 22 March this year, just before the first coronavirus lockdown. Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020
Paying tribute to Barbara Lee couple. Coming back from the beach past Barbara enjoyed all sorts of creative pursuits, the old hospital, Bill took Barbara’s hand and including gardening, preserving, baking, Julie ran straight home to tell their parents. crafting and floral arranging. She loved art and When Barbara was 18 and engaged to Bill, excelled in music. A devoted parent, she was she moved to Whitianga and boarded with constantly reading about child psychology Bill’s parents. Bill said that Barbara was and later passed these skills on to her own made to feel incredibly welcome in the area, children in dealing with their offspring. joining in with all his activities, including In their later years, Barbara and Bill relished with the Fire Brigade and the Aero Club. their roles as grandparents and travelled all The couple loved to dance, frequenting over to babysit for their children and spend the many dances and balls of the time. time with their grandchildren. Bill remembers it as an incredibly social time, Barbara also had a knack for nursing and full of dancing, beach bonfires and good fun. although she was dissuaded from training They married in November 1962 in as a nurse by her mother, she had a keen Hamilton. Barbara, a talented sewer, created attraction to the profession and later became a her own wedding dress. In fact, she had been healthcare assistant at Whitianga Continuing recruited out of high school to sew wedding Care, where she worked for more than 12 dresses in Hamilton for Maree de Maru years. She took any course she could and (now Vinka Designs). learned continuously, becoming a very skilled In 1965, the couple gave birth to their first and knowledgeable health worker. She had a child, Tony, and moved out to the family particular passion for dealing with elderly farm at Kaimarama. In a small space of time patients, providing them comfort and dignity, the young couple moved from town with a and going out of her way to provide them newborn, took on a new house, six paddocks with kindnesses like violets from the garden and a rustic existence a mile away from the and home baking. In the flood of condolences main road, a time Bill says was definitely since her passing, Barbara’s care for the “tricky.” They went on to have two more elderly has been mentioned multiple times. boys, Jason and Scott, and a daughter, Sarah. It is hard to compress the life of a woman These years were a blur with all the activities like Barbara Lee into a limited number of associated with active children. But Barbara words, but daughter, Sarah, sums it up well took to farming naturally and would milk when she says that Barbara, “Had a thirst for cows and rear calves in addition to her other knowledge and shared this, and her time and endeavours. love, generously with so many.” Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 7
Car Talk By Jack Biddle
A question for Jack? Just email us or drop us a note.
Fuel saving and more environmentally friendly vehicles area starting to show up in sales statistics
The Motor Industry Association (MIA) is 3 Kia Sportage 285
putting the drop in new vehicle registrations 4 Toyota Corolla 283
for both the month of September and the 5 Mitsubishi Outlander 262
calendar year to date (YTD) down to a 6 Mazda CX-5 242
weaker economy affected by the worldwide 7 Hyundai Tucson 232
COVID-19 pandemic. 8 Kia Seltos 229
Be that as it may, what is something of a 9 Mitsubishi ASX 227
surprise is the fact that the Kiwi love affair 10 Nissan X-TRAIL 201
with the oil burning (diesel) utes continues 11 Toyota Yaris 182
with the Ford Ranger once again completely 12 Hyundai Kona 150
dominating the sales charts for both September 13 Honda CRV 148
and YTD. With 5,623 registrations YTD, 14 Suzuki Vitara 143
the Ranger leads the new vehicle registration 15 Tesla Model 3 139
numbers by a comfortable margin, with the Top 10 new car/SUV models - YTD 2020
Toyota RAV4 (4,152) the only passenger 1 Toyota RAV4 4,152
vehicle to stop a total domination of 2 Kia Sportage 2,041
commercial utes at the sharp end of the 3 Suzuki Swift 1,909
sales charts. 4 Kia Seltos 1,909
Along with the Ranger and the RAV4, The Tesla Model 3 - fully electric with a claimed driving range of 460km,
5 Toyota Corolla 1,855
the Toyota Hilux (3,989), Mitsubishi Triton top speed of 225km/h and a retail price starting at around $80,000.
6 Mazda CX-5 1,677
(2,890) and the last of the run-out Holden any time soon, it seems many other buyers units) and Mitsubishi in third spot, also with 7 Mitsubishi Outlander 1,615
Colorados departing the showrooms (2,425) are taking an active interest in the fuel saving a nine percent share of the market (978 units). 8 Mitsubishi ASX 1,489
make up the top five models overall. and more environmentally friendly vehicles 9 Hyundai Tucson 1,283
MIA Chief Executive, David Crawford, SUV and passenger vehicle sales
on offer. This is no doubt the market where for September 10 Nissan Qashqai 1,232
says September registrations came in at 24.9 the new vehicle industry will be pinning its
percent below September 2019 with 10,902 Toyota was once again the market leader for Top six new commercial models -
long-term future on. passenger and SUV registrations with a 16 September 2020
vehicles registered, down 3,623 units on
We can therefore also expect to see a steady percent market share (1,217 units), followed 1 Ford Ranger 663
the same month last year. “Year to date the
increase in the number of pure electric, by Kia, who are now becoming a very 2 Mitsubishi Triton 360
market is down 23.8 percent… confirming
hybrid and PHEV models made available to consistent brand at the top end of the sales 3 Toyota Hilux 265
our expectations that 2020 will finish about
consumers in the very near future. charts, with 10 percent (801 units) and then 4 Nissan Navara 227
25 percent down on 2019 volumes,” he says.
The one twist in the tale of new vehicle Who knows, it may not be too long before Suzuki with an eight percent market share 5 Mazda BT-50 206
registrations for September was that there buyers are given the choice of bypassing (625 units). 6 Ford Transit 140
were 243 pure electric vehicles, 54 plug-in the diesel only option and looking at an The all-electric Tesla range which certainly Top 6 new commercial models - YTD 2020
Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) and 927 hybrid (non alternatively powered ute. It may well be an makes an impressive statement on looks 1 Ford Ranger 5,623
plug-in) vehicles sold. The all-electric Tesla option that is closer than some may imagine. alone, made it into the top ten with a total of 2 Toyota Hilux 3,989
Model 3 also performed exceptionally well Market leaders in September 158 units registered for the month. 3 Mitsubishi Triton 2,890
with 139 new registrations. Toyota remains the overall market leader Top 15 new car/SUV models - September 2020 4 Holden Colorado 2,425
So while the sale of new utes in comparison with a 15 percent market share (1,623 units), 1 Toyota RAV4 464 5 Nissan Navara 1,647
to total sales shows no sign of slowing down followed by Ford with nine percent (994 2 Suzuki Swift 290 6 Mazda BT-50 1,450
Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020
Thank you Coromandel
for supporting local
On Friday last week, well-known Whitianga said customers have played a critical role
resident, Ambuj Uppal, drew the names of the in supporting them during the coronavirus
three participants in The Infomer’s Support pandemic, which compares with a national
Local/Buy Local campaign who will go into a average of 48 percent.
final draw where one of them will win $1,000 The credit card company is in the process
to spend with one or more of our advertisers. of launching its global Shop Small scheme
The campaign ran from May to September in New Zealand, which allows users to
this year. Each week, we gave away $100 earn cash back when they support small
to a lucky winner who chose to spend local. local businesses.
All participants had to do was to provide us Rob Bourne, American Express country
with proof of their local purchases. There was manager for New Zealand said, “This year
no limit on the number of entries per person. has been incredibly challenging for many
It really was a case of the more you supported small businesses. More than ever, we need to
Mercury Bay businesses, the more chance show our support.
you had of winning. “Shop Small celebrates the valuable
All entries received during the course contributions small businesses make to their
of the campaign went into Friday’s draw.
communities and the economy, and reminds
Congratulations to the finalists - Caitie Bird
people of the importance of spending with
(who shopped at Fagans Furniture Beds and
them. In times like these, it’s not enough to
Homewares in Whitianga), Warren Roach
(who enjoyed a movie at Mercury Twin simply fall back into regular shopping habits.
Cinemas in Whitianga) and Sheryl Hayson Small businesses are crying out for support,
(who supported Mercury Bay Pharmacy so it’s critical that shoppers look for any
in Whitianga). opportunity to shop somewhere new.
The final winner will be drawn by TV “Every dollar counts when you’re a small
personality, author and psychologist, Nigel business, especially when for almost two-
Latta, during an event in Whitianga on thirds of them (64 percent) revenue is down
Friday, 20 November, where he will be the on average 49 per cent compared to the same
guest speaker. time last year.”
Last week also saw the release of the Rob also pointed out that small businesses
results of a survey confirming Coromandel are often the ones to go above and beyond
residents are among the best in New Zealand for their local communities, and that local
for supporting their small local businesses. sporting clubs, schools and community
In “Small Business Recovery” research groups have long benefited from this
conducted by American Express, 60 percent generosity, and now was an opportune time
of small business owners on the Peninsula to return that favour.
Well-known Whitianga resident, Ambuj Uppal, busy drawing the entries of the three finalists
in The Informer’s Support Local/Buy Local campaign on Friday last week.
Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9
The Small-time Investor
By Whitianga resident, Max Ross
Tesla Week 2
Early last week, my shares dropped in value The entire bonnet of the car is a crumple zone
by 3.5 percent. They have clawed back some and there is no heavy, solid engine in the way.
of those losses and at the time of writing I am Tesla makes the three safest cars ever tested.
down 1.7 percent or $14. My biggest loser is Electric cars have less moving parts than ICE
Tesla at minus 10.5 percent, which hopefully cars. This means they are much cheaper to
means now is a good time to buy more. maintain and the running costs are less.
My biggest winner is Mainfreight, which is up The components of electric cars
9.8 percent. Of the nine different companies I (the batteries and the engines) are getting
have invested in, six are worth less than when cheaper at a rapid rate. As production of these
I bought them and three are worth more. parts scales up, the costs come down. In the
This is Week 2 of my four weeks of buying future, electric cars will be much cheaper than
Tesla shares. I believe that in two or three the equivalent ICE cars.
decades all new cars will be electric. Tesla is the leader when it comes to
Tesla cars sell themselves. The company electric cars. When mobile phones were new,
refuses to advertise and yet the brand is there were a number of companies growing
well known and respected. People who
into that space. If we wanted to invest back
own a Tesla cannot stop talking about them.
then, we could have invested in Palm Pilot,
The company has a huge demand for its
Apple or Nokia. Only one of those options
products and has customers waiting for all the
has gone on to dominate the industry. It’s hard
cars it can produce.
Internal combustion engine (ICE) cars are to pick the winners with a new technology.
what we are all used to driving. They get their The risk with this investment is whether Tesla
power from exploding petrol or diesel. These will be able to maintain its dominance in this
explosions drive engines and produce exhaust area and be the company that lasts the distance.
gases that are not very good for people or I think that the price of Tesla shares will
the planet. continue to swing up and down. However,
Electric cars get their power from electricity. in 10 or 20 years I am hoping that today’s
The electricity is stored in batteries in the car. prices will look like a typo. So, I bought
How this electricity is generated can be in through Sharesies (sharsies.nz) a further 0.152
ways that are bad for people and the planet, shares at USD426.77 per share (at a cost of
or in ways that don’t have a harmful effect. approximately NZD100).
In New Zealand, we are blessed with having Please remember, I’m not an expert.
lots of positive ways to generate electricity. I get things wrong. I’m losing money at the
Electric cars have many other advantages moment! Be careful and make your own
over ICE cars. They are safer in a crash. decisions with your money.
Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020Local Flavour
By Joanna Mannington - Food and nutrition teacher at Mercury Bay Area School
Spring clean and the “Berocca”
Usually this time of year finds me writing about fabulous new crop at our local library and a
scallops and the Whitianga Scallop Festival. fresh crop of vegetable-based books out in the
Scallop season for recreational divers starts book shops.
on the first day of spring, closely followed • Nadia Lim’s book, “Vegefu,” voted
by the Whitianga Scallop Festival. This year, second best vegetarian cookbook on
however, with COVID-19 restricting public the planet at the Gourmand World
gatherings, the festival is taking a break until Cookbook Awards.
next year. • Sophie Steevens, “Raw and Free,”
I wonder how long it will be before food a New Zealand woman sharing how
scientists begin to culture scallop meat in labs she reversed her serious autoimmune
alongside synthetic red meat and legume- disease with plant-based eating.
based chicken products? • Chelsea Winter, a local favourite’s
Spring always induces a spring clean panic new book, “Supergood,” came out
on diets and fitness regimes, and my social last weekend.
media feed has been targeting my COVID-19 • “Hiakai,” by Monique Fiso, ranges
middle age spread, exhorting me to dance, between New Zealand history, Maori
run, challenge, eat and sculpt away my
tradition and tikanga telling the story of
winter excesses.
Maori kai
My spring clean involves some hard work
• Annabel Langbein’s new book, Bella,”
in the garden, lots of fresh tender spring
greens and the last of the abundant winter is a biography about her remarkable life
citrus. We have a new drink in our family and how food has shaped it.
called the “Berocca.” It consists of one of • My last book choice takes me armchair
the sweeter citruses - grapefruit, tangelo travelling in preparation for the coming
or orange - juiced into a glass and topped summer of outdoor cooking. It also
with soda water. Refreshing and cleansing, balances out the vegetable cooking.
and thirst quenching after all that gardening. Ray Mear’s latest book on outdoor
The waste citrus peels can be used for spring cooking is a thoroughly good solid
cleaning the house. Peel the thin layer of oily book, much like the man himself.
rind from the pith and steep in white vinegar in It was also a timely read as, meanwhile at
a spray bottle. The oils lift dirt as the vinegar school, a Year 11 hospitality student, Jazlyn
kills bacteria. Sloane brought in a sow for our cooking
After hard work in the garden and all classes. We were working on meat cookery
the winter dust and mould wiped away in and utilising the whole pig - breaking it down,
the house, it’s time to sit with a Berocca in learning the correct cooking processes for Some of the Mercury Bay Area School students who enjoyed learning about meat cookery
hand and a big pile of cookbooks. There is a each cut and eating the results. last term. From left to right - Jack Williams, Bryn and Jacob Corley, and Kenzo Griffiths.
Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11Authorised by K Stitt, 35 Lenore Road, Favona, Auckland. Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020
The tragic tales of Mercury Bay’s Eyre Family
By Meghan Hawkes
A heavy shower of rain foiled 17-year-old in November 1909, the Eyre family were
Alfred Eyre’s pheasant shooting expedition again struck by tragedy when a five-roomed
on a Sunday afternoon in April 1891. cottage owned by the Kauri Timber Company
Alfred was out hunting some five miles and occupied by Mrs Eyre was destroyed by
from Mercury Bay and as he passed the fire. A bucket brigade saved nearly all the
Shealand home, Mrs Shealand invited him furniture and effects, including a valuable
to take shelter on the verandah. As the pair collection of oil paintings, but was unable to
were talking, the butt of the gun slipped save the building. A defective cooking range
on the wet flooring of the verandah and, was thought to have started the fire.
striking the hammer, discharged the weapon, The oil paintings were the work of Jane
shooting Alfred. Eyre, sister of Alfred and Harry, who was
A shocked Mrs Shealand helped Alfred by then a well-known Auckland-based artist,
to bed and then hurried two miles for her teacher, painter, sculptor and enameller.
husband, who then went to get Dr Bedford. Among her paintings was one which depicted
The doctor was soon on the scene, but had the place where Captain Cook landed at
little hope for young Alfred’s recovery. Mercury Bay, showing the spot where he
As he could not be moved, he was left at the first took observations of the transit of
Shealand’s residence. Constable Dunn, after Mercury. Another portrayed the scene where
examining the gun, reported that it was the HMS Buffalo was wrecked, showing all the
most dangerous he had ever seen, the hammer principal points connected with the wreck -
being tied with string. the rock on which the ship struck, Buffalo
The Observer’s Mercury Bay correspondent Beach and the remains of the Buffalo after
noted that Alfred was “in a very bad state, more than 60 years of buffeting by wind
but it is hoped that he will get over it.” Despite and weather.
the community’s hopes, Alfred died from his Fire had also featured in the Eyres’ lives
injuries two days later. a year earlier when another blaze destroyed
Eighteen years after this terrible event, a house in Whitianga owned by the family.
Alfred’s brother, Harry, aged 39, a saw The Roddas family, who occupied the house
doctor at the Kauri Timber Company’s mill and were all in bed, had a narrow escape.
in Whitianga, was putting a slab of timber The fire was suspected to have originated in
through a saw when a loose piece was thrown an oil heater which had been left alight in the
over the saw, striking him with terrific kitchen to keep some food hot for a sick child.
force. He was immediately carried round to Alfred and Harry Eyre are very likely
the hospital, but died a few minutes before buried at the Mercury Bay Cemetery, their
admission. parents also. Frederick Hampton Eyre,
Harry was a single man, well known and the family patriarch, died in 1908 aged 74.
respected, and his death cast quite a gloom He had been connected with timber mills
over the area. Much sympathy was expressed all his life. Within two years, his widow,
for his mother and family. The official opening Margaret, also died, aged 68. The Eyre family
of the local creamery was, in consequence are remembered in the street bearing their
of this accident, postponed until the name in Whitianga.
following week. Thanks to the Mercury Bay Museum for
Several days after Harry’s death, assistance with this article. Portrait of Jane Eyre by Girolamo Pieri Nerli (circa 1895).
Issue 918
699 - 627October
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13Catherine’s Column Town bus service for
By Catherine Delahunty - Coromandel Peninsula resident and former Green Party MP
Spoilt for choice - the voting opportunity
Whitianga proposed
I have never seen so many small right-wing tries to limit that reality. Support appears to be growing for a government subsidised public bus service for Whitianga
parties competing as there are for this election. Flawed as the system is, I am grateful to the that would improve access to services and reduce isolation in particular for older residents and
People keep asking if Destiny is the New people who are willing to stand for political people with disabilities.
Conservatives or if Public Opportunity is TOP. office with no chance of getting elected because Councillor Denis Tegg, the Thames-Coromandel representative on Waikato Regional Council,
There are billboards breeding like rabbits across they are so low on their party’s list. It’s a lot has been canvassing interest from communities around the Coromandel in relation to
New Zealand. Who is the Kingdom Party? of hard work and not much joy. You do get to connector shuttles similar to the one that already operates in Thames. The Thames Connector,
What does the Heartland Party stand for? learn a lot more about the community you live which has been running since 2018, is coordinated by WRC and jointly funded through fares,
It’s all part of MMP, but it’s splitting the right- in, sometimes more than is comfortable, but it’s the Thames Community Board and the New Zealand Transport Agency via the National Land
wing vote and probably affecting New Zealand interesting.
Transport Programme.
First as well. Meanwhile ACT is rising in the I hope all those people who stand in the
polls not via merit, but because alarmingly they general election will also participate in the A similar service for Whitianga already has the backing of Whitianga Social Services and on
look more stable than National at this point many issues we work on every day - the climate Wednesday last week, Mr Tegg outlined a proposal to members of the Mercury Bay Community
in time. threat, the inequalities, the pollution and the Board. Using the Thames service as a model, Mr Tegg estimated the cost to Thames-Coromandel
Advance and Public Opportunity sure have undermining of our forests. We need more help District Council would be approximately $44,000 a year, which he equated would be around $5
a lot of billboards, but are not visible in most with creating a future that will address the huge per ratepayer in the Mercury Bay ward.
polls. You could call it the anxiety vote which risks to our coastal towns and communication “The Thames connector runs Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm and does five circuits a
COVID-19 has exacerbated. There have always routes around Hauraki. day from the north to the south of Thames,” Mr Tegg said on Wednesday. “SuperGold Card holders
been people who believe the World Health I have been missing some of those meet the
are free and otherwise the fares are $2 for adults and $1 for children. The feedback I get from
Organisation, the communists and Jacinda candidate meetings where candidates or people
Ardern are planning to microchip us all, but the in the audience say random comments to which the community there is that it has been a huge success. One example is a lady who lives on one
numbers have increased since global paranoia there is no answer. I recall people demanding the side of the town, but her husband is in a rest home on the opposite side. She has recently had
has spread. right to hit children or fish the ocean empty. It’s her driver’s licence taken away and if it was not for the bus, she would not be able to visit her
I understand why marginalised people do good to be reminded that not everyone agrees husband. That’s the kind of benefit we are talking about.”
not trusts governments, why should they? with me about these matters. It’s good to work Mr Tegg noted that public transport was defined as a core service under the Local Government
But when rich and privileged people start voting to remain civil in these challenging discussions. Act and pointed to obligations under the Land Transport Management Act to ensure that people
conspiracy, you have to wonder what they I am not sure that the current format of were not “transport disadvantaged.” Given the high percentage of older people living on the
think freedom means. The whole “lockdown candidate meetings shed much light on who to Coromandel, which would continue to rise in the future, he said there were large numbers of
is slavery” myth is a pretty big insult to people vote for or why. Young people do not generally people already experiencing isolation due mobility problems.
who are or were enslaved in a real and terrifying go to those meetings and many do not vote.
system of economic oppression. So vote for Rather than criticise their generation, we need “We know many of our older people do not have driver’s licences or they have had to give up their
anti vax or vote for religious fundamentalism, to look hard in the mirror and have a good think licenses for medical reasons,” Mr Tegg said. “This has a huge impact on them, many of them are
but do not be surprised if most of us vote for about how political processes lack the power stuck at home and we all had a taste of what that feels like during the COVID-19 lockdown, so you
science and the imperfect but pretty reasonable and the passion to attract their interest. I have can imagine if you were living like that all the time.”
approach to COVID-19 that the current New more faith in young activists than I do in older, While options for inter-town connections such as linking Whitianga and Thames are also possible,
Zealand government has led. controlling, status quo-thinking people. Having Mr Tegg said, based on the feedback he had to date, he did not believe there was a lot of appetite
Meanwhile no political party is perfect and said that, don’t forget you have the right to vote. for that and local services were likely to be the way to go for people on the Coromandel.
none of them represents the kind of vision that People have died for this right.
I think the state of the world requires. But it’s It has been the strangest year of our times The next step is for the Mercury Bay Community Board, with the support of TCDC staff,
not quite a good enough reason to not vote. and the temptation to withdraw into our own, to determine if the local bus service is something they want to investigate further. More accurate
However, a vote once every three years is not smaller worlds is understandable, but we also costs could then be assessed based on proposed routes and other details. TCDC’s share of the
all we need to do. This is a Te Tiriti o Waitangi- need to reach out across our differences and find funding would then need to be included in the 2021 - 2031 Long Term Plan which will be subject
based country, even though the government a common humanity. to a public consultation process beginning early next year.
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Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020Issue 918
699 - 627October
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 15Page 16 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020
Issue 918
699 - 627October
July 2016
2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17What’s On The next few weeks
Op-Shops planting, 9:00am - 11:00am. Register on our website, www.cooksbeachcare.org.nz or phone Adele on (021) 201 6625.
Social Services Op-Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street Scrapbags Quilting Group
(west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:300am - 2:00pm. Meets every Wednesday from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Street, Whitianga. All welcome.
The Church Op-Shop - At St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Tuesday to phone Shelley on 866 0236 for more information.
Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre
St John Opportunity Shop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm and Saturday Meets the first and third Wednesday of every month from 10:00am - 2:00pm. in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street,
10:00am - 2:00pm. Whitianga. Phone Wendy Russell on 866 3225 for more information.
Justice of the Peace Whitianga Art Group
Available every Monday (except public holidays) from 10:00am - 12:00 noon at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive. Meets every Thursday and Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 23 School Road, Whitianga. Visitors are invited to join us for
Bookings not necessary. Phone 866 4476 for more information. a day of painting. Start-up materials supplied. Phone Jenny on (027) 210 0160 for more information.
Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust Bookshop - Albert Street, Whitianga. Open every Monday - Saturday from AA Driver Licensing
10:00am - 2:00pm. The second Friday of every month at St Andrew’s by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga.
Whitianga Senior Citizens Club Mercury Bay Table Tennis
Meets Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie Meets every Tuesday from 9:30am - 11:30am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome. Phone Anne on
etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Phone Adrian Telders (president) on 866 5377 for more information. 869 5162 for more information.
Peninsula Penultimates (ex Probus Club) Mercury Bay Badminton
Meets the fourth Monday of every month at 10:00am at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Meets every Wednesday from 9:30am - 11:00am in the Whitianga Town Hall, Monk Street. All welcome.
Phone Joan on 866 3801 or (027) 275 1372 for more information. Phone (07) 866 5476 for more information.
SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated Mercury Bay Pickleball Club
Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their Meets Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 6:00pm and every Sunday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm at the Mercury Bay Area School
computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on gym, South Highway, Whitianga, $5 per session. Paddles and balls supplied. Tuition available.
866 4215 for more information or to join. Tour de Friends Biking
Women’s Wellbeing and Weight Loss Whitianga A 23km ride social ride around the flat areas of Whitianga. Meets every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 9:00am
Meets every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 6:00pm in Room 10 at Whitianga Social Services, 2 Cook Drive , Whitianga. opposite Taylor’s Mistake, Whitianga. Followed by coffee. Phone Lance Cook on (021) 048 8475 or John Gregory on
Learn portion control, eliminate processed sugar, eat well at meals and eat well for life. Support to lose weight wisely. (027) 278 0002 for more information.
Check out our Facebook page or phone 869 5648 for more information. Cooks Beach Garden Circle
Serenity Al-Anon Group Meets the last Thursday of every month from 11:15am - 2:30pm. New members welcome. Phone Leila on 866 3264 or
Meets every Tuesday at 1:30pm. Phone 866 5104 or (021) 086 10955 for more information. For those affected by Anne on 866 0268 for more information.
someone else’s drinking.
Dog Walking Group
Meets every Thursday at 2:00pm at Lovers Rock, Robinson Road, Whitianga. An opportunity to socialise your dog. General Election - Advance Voting
Phone Jenny on (021) 186 5797 for more information. Thames-Coromandel District Council Offices, 10 Monk Street, Whitianga - Until Tuesday, 13 October, 10:00am -
ICONZ for Girls 4:00pm. Wednesday 14 and Thursday, 15 October, 9:00am - 5:00pm. Friday, 16 October, 9:00am - 2:00pm.
Every Tuesday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at “The Dwelling,”Coghill Street, Whitianga. For girls 8 - 13 years old. Phone Robyn on Crossroads Church, Cook Drive Whitianga - Until Saturday, 10 October, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Monday 12 and Tuesday,
(020) 409 39674 for more information. 13 October, 9:00am - 5:00pm. Wednesday 14 and Thursday, 15 October, 9:00am - 6:00pm. Friday, 16 October,
Whitianga Playcentre 9:00am - 2:00pm.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00am - 12:00 noon and every Friday from 12:00 noon - 2:45pm at 1D White Street, Ebony Lamb and Gram Antler
Whitianga. For children 0 - 6 years, free entry. Visitors welcome. Saturday, 10 October at 7:00pm at the Monkey House Theatre, Whitianga. Food and drinks available. Tickets $30
Matarangi Craft Group adults and $15 children under 12, available from Mecury Bay Pharmacy and www.undertheradar.co.nz. A Creative
Meets fortnightly at the Matarangi Fire Station. Phone Lesley on 866 0788 for more information. Mercury Bay and THINK Coromandel Gig Guide initiative.
Whitianga Tramping Group
Whiti Village Markets
Meets every second Sunday at 8:30am. Phone Wally on (021) 907 782 or Lesley on (021) 157 9979 for more information.
Cooks Beachcare Group Sunday, 11 October from 9:30am - 1:30pm at the Whitianga Waterways, opposite Mobil Service Station.
Make new friends, learn about conservation and make a difference. We meet Thursdays for hands-on weeding and
Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020Tourist service hub proposed at Hahei Visitor Carpark A central meeting and ticketing point at the Hahei Visitor Carpark for the village’s tourism operators has received approval in principle from the Mercury Bay Community Board. The idea was prompted by requests from numerous operators who would like to be able to sell tickets, provide information and pick up and drop off customers at the carpark. Thames-Coromandel District Council staff support the idea as it will reduce parking and traffic congestion in Hahei village and at reserves, which is a major issue during the peak summer period. Describing the proposal at the Community Board meeting on Wednesday last week, TCDC community facilities manager, Derek Thompson, said the concept of Hahei as a “walking village” would be enhanced with people stopping at the entrance to the village and continuing to Cathedral Cove or other attractions by walking or by bus. “Having the tourist operators based at the carpark will enable council to impose conditions on its license operators at Hahei, requiring them to operate from the carpark and not allowing them to operate their ticket selling and park their customers’ cars at the reserves,” he said. “This would help to provide relief to the demand for parking at the beach. Comprehensive information would be provided to visitors at the carpark, enabling them to decide on the service they wish to use and taking them from that point.” Responding to questions from several Community Board members, Mr Thompson said there were yet to be any formal discussions about the potential design of the facility, but what was envisaged was something like two modernised containers with a small footprint which could be located in one corner of the carpark. The project would require resource consent and TCDC favours being the holder of the consent as it could ensure a level playing field for all operators. An operator of the facility would be appointed via a tender process with the service contract ensuring all tourist operators are treated equally and there is no bias or favour to any one or any group of operators. While the Community Board members saw the merits of the proposal, they postponed any decision in relation to a consent application pending further details from TCDC staff, particularly around how both the set-up and ongoing operational costs would be funded, and how the facility would be managed in the context of continuing growth. The cost of the consent and planning advice is estimated to be between $3,250 and $3,750 plus GST and would be funded from the Community Facilities budget. A consent would take between two and three months to be processed and granted, and would require an independent commissioner to be engaged, meaning the facility is unlikely to be up and running ahead of this year’s peak summer season. The carpark has been operating since late 2016 and can now hold 385 cars and 25 campervans, and is the current pick-up and drop-off point for the park and ride shuttle to the Cathedral Cove track. Issue 918 - 6 October 2020 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19
Plans for Tairua Library
extension moving forward
The Tairua-Pauanui Community Board has earmarked funding of $225,000 for an extension of the Tairua
Library in order to accommodate a new heritage centre.
Thames-Coromandel District Council said the board wanted to retain the money which was originally
set aside in the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan for a “Manaia Road Community Hub.” The project description
would change to “Library Extension” and new cost estimates have been requested. The proposal, including
those revised costs, will be scrutinised by Tairua and Pauanui residents as part of the 2021 - 2031 Long
Term Plan consultations which get underway early next year. However, the project is likely to have several
further hurdles to jump in order to become a reality.
Under the new plan, the expansion of the library (pictured) would extend as far as the boundary with the
adjoining TCDC-owned campground. In 2019, the Community Board rejected a proposal to take a strip
of the campground land to create additional carparks for an expanded library as they maintained this
would reduce the commercial viability of the campground. Since then, TCDC has entered into a lease
agreement with the current campground operator for a period of five years. According to council, building
without creating additional carparking, specifically one per 20m² of additional floor space, would require
resource consent.
Furthermore, using the land adjoining the library - which currently contains an outdoor paved seating
area - for a heritage centre, will require a change to the current classification of the site under the
Reserves Act. This means inviting public submissions for and against such a change and for these views
to be considered by council before making a decision. A report on this process will be presented to the
Community Board at their next meeting.
An alternative proposal to locate the heritage centre at the Tairua Community Hall reserve,
where community use is already permitted, was also presented to the board who elected to move forward
with the library option.
Page 20 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 918 - 6 October 2020You can also read
