Nine-year-old Jack Kinghan (middle) won the supreme award in last weekend's wearable arts contest at the Ocean and Orchard food and wine festival in Kerikeri. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
Tiger Moths are coming
Kaikohe will be invaded this weekend by classic biplanes when the New Zealand Tiger Moth Club stages its annual fly-in at the aerodrome just south of town.
At least 15 Tiger Moths are due to arrive on Friday with club members spending Saturday competing in challenges such as spot landing, bombing, aerobatics and executing the perfect loop.
They will hold their AGM on Sunday then fly home to every corner of New Zealand. The public is welcome to drop in on Saturday to see the biplanes in action for a gold coin donation.
Kaikohe aerodrome is accessed from Mangakahia Rd.
New Zealand has a large proportion of the world's surviving Tiger Moths. They built by the thousand by British firm de Havilland as a Royal Air Force trainer starting in the 1930s and only phased out in 1952.
Hub Festival
At the same time as the Tiger Moth fly-in the Maihi Family Trust is holding a Hub Festival at the other end of the aerodrome.
It will start with a fun run/walk on Saturday morning followed by kapa haka, a world record loop-the-loop attempt by a Kaikohe farmer in a home-built aircraft (to be confirmed), and live music.
Entry is $10 ($2 for schoolchildren, under-12s free) or $35 for the Saturday evening concert featuring two Auckland bands.
Note that the two events are separate so you don't need a ticket to the Hub Festival if you only want to see the Tiger Moths.
Party in Paihia
Paihia will celebrate winning the Community of the Year title in last week's New Zealander of the Year Awards with a party in the park. The party kicks off at 5pm in Horotutu (Focus Paihia's waterfront park) on Saturday. All welcome. Bring a plate of food to share and, if you're musical, an instrument.
Library Lane mosaics
The latest beautification project in Kaikohe's Library Lane involves tile mosaics incorporating koru designs and the kohekohe berries which give the town its name.
The mosaics are on the concrete kerbing around a garden which runs the length of the pedestrian-only lane.
Nine artistically inclined pupils from Kaikohe Intermediate made the mosaics with help from the Kaikohe Community Arts Council, which organised the project, and passers-by. Creative NZ provided funding and a Bay business donated tiles.
Arts council chair Kelly van Gaalen said the aim was to build pride in the town and give as many people as possible ownership of Marino Court and Library Lane.
So far Northland College had created a series of painted panels depicting local heroes, Ngawha Prison inmates had painted a mural, and the business association had contributed seats and planters.
Jack is costume king
A 9-year-old boy has won the $1000 supreme prize in a wearable arts contest staged on Kerikeri Domain last weekend as part of the Ocean and Orchard food and wine festival.
Jack Kinghan's extraordinary costume was called Phoenix from the Orchard and made from old venetian blinds cut up and painted gold, as well an old sleeping bag and feathers.
Proud mum Melanie Kinghan of Waipapa, who won the adult section with her Sea Witch costume, said Jack first entered last year and had been so inspired he immediately began work on this year's creation.
The junior section was won by David "DJ" Jones of Kerikeri, also aged 9.
Grill the candidates
The first of a series of "grill the candidates" meetings is being held at Oruru's Swamp Palace, inland form Taipa, at 2pm this Sunday. All candidates in the March 28 byelection have been invited. Organisers promise a "Kiwi-style Q&A" in which the audience will have a chance to put questions.
Further meetings will be held at Far North REAP in Kaitaia at 1.30pm on Friday, March 13; and at Kerikeri's Turner Centre at 7pm that evening.
Sea tales
Kiwi entrepreneur Barrie Neilson will give a talk at Opua Cruising Club from 7pm tomorrow about his adventures racing motorbikes with Burt Munro in Invercargill to owning 180 charter yachts in the Greek islands. Mr Neilson is said to be a great story teller. Free entry; bar/galley open from 5pm.
Marae gala
Waikare Marae, east of Kawakawa, is holding a gala day from 9am this Saturday with quick-fire raffles, tug o' war, kids' games, a hangi and "all sorts of kai". Proceeds go towards upkeep of the marae.
Kauri art
The fight against kauri dieback disease is the theme of the latest art exhibition at No 1 Parnell St in Rawene. Called Keep Kauri Standing/Kia Toitu He Kauri, the show opens at 10.30am on Saturday and runs until April 1. The gallery is open daily from 10am-4pm.
Album launch
Fans of jazz, blues and a "little touch of opera" can head to Kerikeri's Turner Centre on March 14 for the launch of Everything Must Change, the debut album by Jireh May (vocals), Mike Nettmann (piano), Joseph Kaptein (piano) and John Fraser (bass).
The show starts at 7pm and will include special guests Kauwiti Selwyn (up-and-coming opera singer), Matt Hennessy (drums) and Reuben Topzand (keyboards). Entry is $20 for adults, $10 children.
Quiz time
If you like pub quizzes and good causes, get to the Kaikohe RSA on March 14 for the local fire brigade's quiz fundraiser. Entry is $10 per person with a maximum of six per team; doors open at 6pm.
Proceeds will go to Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand when keen firefighters take part in the Sky Tower Stair Challenge later this year. To enter contact Aimee Ruka on aimeeruka@vodafone.co.nz or 021 135 0886.
Ngati Hine fest
Mark this one on your diaries - Ngati Hine is holding its biennial Te Ahureka Festival at Otiria Marae, Moerewa, on March 13-14. If you are a fan of live music, kapa haka and kai, you shouldn't miss it. Entry is free and you don't have to be Ngati Hine or Maori to feel welcome.
Epilepsy seminar
A seminar aiming to improve understanding of epilepsy will be held from 10am to noon on March 12 at the St John Ambulance Hall in Kaikohe. It will be followed by a one-hour support meeting when anyone can drop in and talk to Epilepsy Northland staff or others living with the condition.
The mayor disagrees with the councillor's comments.