Three-year-old Julius Beazley, seen here with parents Nikki Beazley and Harata Tua, brought his own wheels to a previous Kurbside Rodders show. PHOTO/PETER DE GRAAF
Three-year-old Julius Beazley, seen here with parents Nikki Beazley and Harata Tua, brought his own wheels to a previous Kurbside Rodders show. PHOTO/PETER DE GRAAF
A weekly round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and around the Mid North
This weekend promises to be a cracker in Kerikeri with three major events within 48 hours.
The action starts on Saturday morning when the Kurbside Rodders take over the town centre to show off their classic cars and hot rods.
In the afternoon the spotlight shifts to Kerikeri Domain for the annual Ocean and Orchard food and wine festival. On Sunday the music continues at the Domain with the Be Free talent quest and family day out. Read on for more details...
Petrolhead heaven is coming to town this Saturday when the Kerikeri Kurbside Rodders hold their third annual street meet.
At least 100 classic cars and hot rods are expected from as far away as the Waikato. Kerikeri Rd will be closed to traffic between Cobham and Homestead roads from 9am-12.30pm; vehicles will also be on display in the car park behind Rock Salt.
Club member Grant Clearwater said highlights would include a 1969 McLaren single-seater race car and "some pretty nice hot rods". Rock and roll dancers and tyre-changing races would provide entertainment.
The winners of a children's colouring-in competition will get a ride to school on Friday in a hot rod; kids are also being encouraged to build a mini hot rod out of junk or recyclables. The entries will be on display on the day.
The show got bigger every year, Mr Clearwater said.
... and foodie heaven
Just as the car show winds down another form of entertainment will rev up on Kerikeri Domain - the annual Ocean and Orchard food and wine festival.
The event runs from 11am-6pm and combines a line-up of top musicians with dozens of stalls offering Northland food and wine. Nine wineries will be represented along with 19 food stands selling everything from whitebait fritters to watermelon sundaes.
Revellers at last year's Ocean and Orchard food and wine festival. Photo / Peter de Graaf
A $1000 prize is up for grabs in a wearable arts competition (parade and prizegiving at 2pm) with junior and open innovation awards of $300 each.
This year's performers are Matene Dixon, Rocksalad, Thelonious Punk, Taylah and Jay D, Jules Trio and 2014 Battle of the Bands winners Strangely Arousing.
Entry is $25 adults, $10 teens (13-17 years) and free for kids 12 and under if accompanied by an adult. The festival is a Kerikeri District Business Association initiative.
Free concert
Sunday's Be Free Family Day Out offers a day of music on Kerikeri Domain with a drug- and alcohol-free message.
As well as the finals of the Mid North talent quest for up-and-coming bands, solo artists and dancers, the event features Waipu thrash metal band Alien Weaponry, Kerikeri/Kaikohe rock band Late Night Meat Sandwich, and Battle of the Bands winners Strangely Arousing.
Alien Weaponry has supported Devilskin on a national tour even through the youngest member is just 12 years old.
The event runs from 11am-4.30pm. Free entry.
Horse riders safer
The speed limit on a section of Haruru Falls Rd is likely to be dropped from 100km/h to 70km/h following a recommendation from the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board.
The 520m section of road immediately north of Haruru Falls is often used by horse and pony riders, many of them children, from a nearby club but speeding cars have startled the animals and caused several near misses.
Board chairman Terry Greening said reducing the limit to 70km/h would make the road safer for drivers, riders and horses. The recommendation still needs to be approved by the Far North District Council and publicly notified.
The Opua community is offering defibrillator training evenings to teach locals how to use the town's new heart-starting device.
The training sessions will be held at Opua Community Hall from 6.30pm on March 2 and 6 and will take about 90 minutes. Bookings to loveopua@gmail.com; entry by gold coin donation.
The defibrillator, worth $5000, was provided by St John. Locals are now fundraising for an alarmed wall box so the device can be mounted outside Opua General Store. It can't be stored inside because heart attacks can happen any time of day or night.
If someone suffers a heart attack a defibrillator can increase the chance of survival by up to 40 per cent.
A new pop-up gallery on Kerikeri's Cobham Rd, opposite the library, is showing a wide range of work by Northland artists. The Jetsom Artspace show includes painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, jewellery and bespoke furnishings. It runs until March 14.
Paihia filmmaker wins
Pulp: A film about life, death and supermarkets, by Paihia filmmaker Florian Habicht, has been named the Best Music Film at the NME Awards in London.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, left, and Paihia filmmaker Florian Habicht at the New York premiere of Pulp: A film about life, death and supermarkets. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
The documentary follows the Sheffield, England, band Pulp in Mr Habicht's inimitable, quirky style as they prepare for the final gig. The award was decided by audience vote.
His previous films include Kaikohe Demolition (shot at the town's demolition derby) and Land of the Long White Cloud (filmed at the Snapper Classic fishing contest on Ninety Mile Beach).
A Year 11 student at Kerikeri's Springbank School has achieved 97 per cent in the international IGCSE information and communications technology (ICT) exam, the highest raw score in New Zealand.
Top scholar Taiyo Serge
Taiyo Serge, of Paihia, has now been invited to a high achievers' ceremony in Auckland. He will be accompanied by his ICT teacher, Paul McFadden, and deputy principal Phil Webb.
Principal Mike Warren put Taiyo's results down to a quality teaching and learning environment, his academic talent and sheer hard work.
He also scored five A*s (90 per cent or over), one A (80-90 per cent) and 93 per cent at A Level Mathematics, a university entrance course.
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