Tyrone Baker zips through Russell on one of the town's new electric bikes. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Tyrone Baker zips through Russell on one of the town's new electric bikes. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
A weekly round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and around the Mid North
Bay of Islands goes electric
A Russell charity is doing its bid to help wean Northland off fossil fuels by hiring out electric bikes to visitors.
The newly established Adventure for Good, which is also setting up a traditional boat-building course, has bought ten of the Kiwi-designed bikes.
The bikes were initially displayed on the Strand, outside the Duke of Marlborough, but are now for hire at the charity's headquarters at 22 York St from 9am-5pm daily.
They are charged up overnight and, as long as the rider does a bit of pedaling, will run all day without the need for recharging.
Adventure for Good founder Christian Pera said the aim was to provide visitors to Russell with an ecologically conscious way of seeing what the area to offer.
The charity was keen to develop a network of trails in the Bay of Islands, including Paihia and Kerikeri, and was keen to work with local authorities to make it happen.
The Smartmotion eMetro bikes run on a 36v10ah lithium battery, with a USB port for charging cellphones, and have three-speed hub gears.
Just last week the Far North took its first step towards a future of electric vehicles with the opening of the district's first fast-charge station, on Kawakawa's main street.
The company behind the new station, ChargeNet, has chosen Northland to start a national saturation of fast-chargers because of the region's relatively high uptake for electric vehicles, 18 of which attended the February 7 launch.
The installation was backed by local group Rev-Up and the Far North District Council. A charge-up costs $5-10.
Calling all sailors
Kerikeri Cruising Club is holding an open day from 12.30pm this Saturday, February 20.
The club, based at Dove's Bay, off Opito Bay Rd, will welcome ex-sailors who want to get back into the sport and will have spaces on keelboats or Mistral centreboard yachts for anyone keen to get out on the water. People who have never been sailing before, but want to check out the sailing activities available and and chat to club members, will be equally welcome.
The open day is part of the Yachting New Zealand's Sailing and Boating Week, which is being held for the third time this year. Call the club on (09) 407 9434 for more information.
Corvette convention
Sports car fans keen to feast on the sight of 100 Corvettes gathered in one place need to head to the Bay of Islands where the New Zealand Corvette Convention is taking place this weekend.
Corvette fans will be in seventh heaven this weekend when the New Zealand Corvette Convention is held in the Bay.
A few prized Corvettes will on parked on Paihia's Village Green on Friday but all 100 will be on display at a "show and shine" at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi from 10am-3pm on Saturday. Entry by gold coin donation with proceed going to St John.
Owners will be travelling from as far away as the Deep South Corvette Club in Invercargill to take part in the event, which is hosted by the Auckland Corvette Club.
Ironmahue returns
This year's Ironmahue - a multisport event featuring a 1km swim and 10km run/walk - will take place in Whangaroa this Saturday, February 20.
Participants in 2014's Ironmahue celebrate after reaching the finish line. This year's Whangaroa multisport event is expected to draw a record turnout. PICTURE / SUPPLIED
The swim starts at 8.30am at lovely Mahinepua Bay, followed by the run/walk to Te Ngaere and back. The kaupapa of the event, now in its third year, is healthy living rather than competition. As of last week more than 150 people had registered.
A tamariki-rangatahi Ironmahue for school children aged 7-12 will be held on Friday. Email ironmahue@gmail.com for more information.
Do you want to meet new people and learn to dance?
For the 19th year running Judy Remnant is running her Come Dancing classes at the Waipapa Hall (near the Pioneer Tavern) from 7-9.30pm every Thursday.
Styles taught include waltz, foxtrot, veleta, rhumba, quickstep, rock and roll. Partners not required. The first class for 2016 is on March 17; the $5 fee is to cover costs only. All ages. Call Judy on (09) 407 5447 for more information.
Senior eating
A session at Flourflower in Kerikeri on Wednesday, February 24, aims to help senior citizens rediscover the joy of eating well.
The demonstration, information and conversation session will be led by Linz Hart-MacDiarmid from 10am to noon and costs $15. Flourflower is at 2 Cochrane St, off Waipapa Rd.
Call 021 174 1164 or (09) 407 6339 for more information.
Retirement seminar
The retirement commissioner is holding a free public seminar in Kerikeri to equip Northlanders thinking of moving into a retirement village with the information they need to make financially sound decisions.
The event, at the Turner Centre on Friday, February 26, will cover the personal, financial and legal implications of becoming a retirement village resident.
The seminar will be objective and include at least four question and answer sessions. Joining the commissioner will be the head of the Retirement Villages Association and one of Northland's top lawyers specialising in retirement villages.
Refreshments are provided at 10am; the seminar starts at 10.30am and runs for 90 minutes. Register via the web page www.cffc.org.nz/retirement/retirement-villages or by calling 0800 268 268.
It is open to anyone thinking of living in a retirement village and their families.
Bumper weekend coming
This coming weekend is a relatively quiet one in the Mid North, so it's a good chance to get those chores done before the bumper weekend of February 27-28. Upcoming events include ...
- Wild West Fest in Waimamaku, South Hokianga, February 27. One of Northland's most enjoyable, and unusual, festivals in which cowboys descend from the hills and take over the town for a day. Attractions include cheese-rolling races on the state highway, keg throwing, wearable arts, and lots of horses and mock shoot-outs.
- Kurbside Rodders' annual Street Meet, February 27. From 9am-12.30pm Kerikeri's main road will be invaded by more than 100 hot rods, classic cars and muscle cars.
- Taumarere Festival at Karetu Marae, east of Kawakawa, February 27. Members of Ngati Manu hapu will commemorate their ancestor Pomare II's signing of the Treaty at Opua on February 17, 1840.
- Concert at the Station, Kawakawa, February 28. Annual fundraiser for the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust with blues, barbershop, hip-hop dance, kapa haka and country from 3-6pm.
More details in next week's Bay News Bites.
Do you have news or an upcoming event you'd like to see in this column? Send it to us, including your full contact details, to baynews@northernadvocate.co.nz.
