The scenery in the Bay of Islands and Olympic athletes will feature at the 7th Mother's Day event on May 13.
The scenery in the Bay of Islands and Olympic athletes will feature at the 7th Mother's Day event on May 13.
Focus Paihia to talk rubbish at local meeting The call has gone out for Paihia to focus on waste, with a reminder that one person's trash is another's treasure.
Focus Paihia is holding a public meeting next Monday, from 5.30pm until 6.45pm Paihia War Memorial Hall, to discuss how the community can improve on how it deals with rubbish.
To make the subject tastier, the discussion will be followed by a complimentary sausage sizzle.
This is a chance for visitors, residents, schools, organisations and businesses to collaborate.
Likely to come into focus are ideas for zero waste events, community recycling, more recycling bins, repurposing opportunities, minimising packaging and community compost programmes.
Anyone is welcome to bring along their thoughts on how to tackle waste, inspire input from lots of locals, improve recycling and turn around the mountains of waste going to landfill.
Representatives from Far North District Council will be at the meeting.
The historic French legacy of Russell's famous printery will be enhanced all winter long with delicious espresso and light lunches at the Pompallier Mission Coffee House.
A helping of history accompanies French flavours at Pompallier's cafe.
By popular demand, the French-themed eatery – which is part of the historic printery cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga – will remain operating throughout winter.
The coffee house has become a favourite of Russell locals as well as visitors, and will open between 11am and 3pm daily offering the perfect range of French-themed light lunches for winter.
"We're delighted to be able to extend our service throughout winter, and look forward to providing such delicacies as French onion soup and leek and potato soup, as well as savoury French tarts," says the manager of Pompallier Mission, Scott Elliffe.
"Other delicacies on the menu will include local oysters and sparkling mineral water, as well as our delicious espresso and selection of teas."
The historic mission building will be closed from June to August while a new fire sprinkler system is fitted but the coffee house will stay open.
Lunch bookings are recommended, phone 09-403-9015.
Sorry, we have no regos today - Kaikohe AA closed For anyone who missed this notice on social media regarding the closure of the Kaikohe AA office:
''Oops! We're sorry! We have had to close our driver licensing and vehicle licence plate doors at 97 Broadway, Kaikohe. We are actively searching for another Kaikohe site where we can offer these services but, in the meantime, if you need to renew your New Zealand driver licence or do stuff with plates you will need to go to Kerikeri: AA Kerikeri: Shop 5, Fairway Drive, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
''You can go to NZ Post Kaikohe for motor vehicle licensing and road user charges. If you just need to renew your vehicle rego, you can do it online - the label will be posted out.
''We know that those who have been in the Kaikohe driver and vehicle licensing office over the past month had a heads-up, but we'd like to apologise to most of you who knew nothing about this closure until reading this post just now.
''We promise to do better, and we'll keep you updated. http://www.nzta.govt.nz/rego''
Hearty response expected to Mum's Day fun run/walk The Northland heat of New Zealand's largest Mother's Day active and health-support event might be the most picturesque course as it winds from Paihia to Waitangi and back.
Sharon Ferris-Choat.
Tickets are now on sale for the May 13 Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk, the Northland outing part of Sport Northland's Run/Walk Series.
More than 1000 participants across all ages and capabilities — mums and dads, nan and pop and the kids — are expected to join in. The Paihia event starts and finishes on Marsden Road, with an option of competing in either the 8.7km or 6km run/walk.
The event offers spectacular views as participant's pass through the Treaty of Waitangi grounds on route.
A band will greet the walkers/runners at the finish post and there'll be a great range of spot prizes.
In its seventh year, the annual event supports Heart Foundation for Women, in the Heart Foundation's 50th anniversary year.
Two Commonwealth Games and Olympic athletes will assist with the 5km event warm-up — sailor and Kerikeri local Sharon Ferris-Choat and rower Jade Uru.
Ferris-Choat sailed at both the Athens 2004 and Barcelona 1996 Olympic Games and Uru at Rio 2016 and London 2012.
Fun run/walk participants can buy an official T-shirt designed by New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell, featuring the word "fifty" in the shape of a love heart.
They'll then go in the draw to win either an iPad mini or a weekend away in the Bay of Islands. The weekend includes one night's accommodation at the Scenic Hotel BOI, a Fullers GreatSights cruise and a dining voucher worth $250 from 35degrees South in Paihia.
Buildings going up An increased number of applications for building consents received and issued by the Far North District Council to the end of February continued the rising trend of recent years.
In February, 106 building consents were issued, the majority for residential houses. Consent applications for commercial buildings were down from previous months, the greatest decline in commercial buildings.
Sixty resource consent applications were received during the month and 59 consents issued. Although the number of applications was just below what was forecast, it is still above the four year average.
Building inspection numbers were high, with a total of 702 inspections.
Russell's ripe old past on show The Hell Hole of the Pacific street-theatre, performed over two days in January this year, is growing in reputation.
Actors from the Hell Hole of Pacific relax at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel after a command performance.
By request, the troupe got together again in late April to deliver a command performance at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell.
The occasion was the five-yearly reunion of the Lincoln College Class of '73 (that's 1973, not 1873).
One of the former university students had seen the Hell Hole performances in January and requested a repeat showing, in truncated form, at the Duke where their reunion was held this year.
Director Cris Aronson said the request solidifies the reputation of the concept and the actors.
"Everyone involved in the Hell Hole is a volunteer, but they are so enthusiastic they make the performances look very professional."
The pared-down version depicted rascals and reprobates from the 1830s, a local townswoman, the mayor, his wife and various strumpets, women from the early Temperance Movement and a sermon from "Bishop Pompallier".
The hour-long performance was warmly received by the visitors to Russell.
Ms Aronson said the response from the audience was ''heartening'' and there are plans to make the shortened version of the street-theatre acts available for other local functions and events.
Following on from her Promise and Promiscuity tour in 2014, Penny Ashton swaps Jane Austen for Charles Dickens and brings orphaned hero Olive and a squalid gaggle of hilarious Victorians to crusty life.
Penny Ashton's Olive Copperbottom - A Dickensian Tale of Love, Gin and the Pox.
Olive Copperbottom - A Dickensian Tale of Love, Gin and the Pox is a rollicking romantic musical journey through 15 gin-soaked characters told with song, dance and questionable personal hygiene. It's Oliver! meets Blackadder with a saucy feminine twist.
Ashton's brilliant and rather naughty Olive Copperbottom won the Press Critic's Iron Chicken Award for best indoor show at the Christchurch International Buskers' Festival this year and Best Overall Show at the Victoria Fringe in Canada 2017.
Sadly, Kerikeri's Turner Centre is not on the tour itinerary but audiences can catch the show at Ramada Resort Taipa Beach, Friday, May 11, 7.30pm (book Ramada and Essentially Flowers Kaitaia,); or Whangarei's Riverbank Centre, Saturday, May 12, 7.30pm (Book: www.whangareitheatrecompany.org.nz and Storytime).
■ Do you have some Bay of Islands and mid-North news to share? Please contact Lindy Laird who is filling in for Peter de Graaf while he has a break. Email lindy.laird@northernadvocate.co.nz or reporters@northernadvocate.co.nz, or phone the Kerikeri office, 09 407 3287.
