Paihia is a finalist for the Community of the Year title, part of the 2015 New Zealander of the Year awards.
Paihia is a finalist for the Community of the Year title, part of the 2015 New Zealander of the Year awards.
A weekly round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and around the Mid North
The entire town of Paihia is a finalist for the Community of the Year title, part of the 2015 New Zealander of the Year awards.
The other finalists are the Auckland-based groups Community Fruit Harvest and VisionWest Charitable Trust.
Paihia made the finals on the strength of the town's revitalisation by the community group Focus Paihia. The group's biggest project to date has been the transformation of a waterfront car park into a popular public space called Horotutu or Our Place.
The judges said: "For the past six years the community of Paihia, under the project leadership of Focus Paihia, have been united in the common goal of improving the experience of residents and visitors to Paihia.
"Paihia has a lot of organisations for its size, and an even larger number of volunteers. The collaboration of the residents, Council, local businesses and community organisations has achieved a complete revitalisation of the town.
"This is not only visually stunning, but is now underpinned by a sound and cohesive, long term management and planning structure. This will ensure that the legacy of community pride and spirit, that has been achieved, will continue."
The winner will be announced on February 25 at the Langham Hotel in Auckland.
The Treaty of Waitangi is the highly topical theme of the latest show at Kings Theatre in Kawakawa, which was refurbished and reopened late last year as a creative space.
Kawakawa's newly refurbished Kings Theatre Creative is hosting an exhibition exploring the Treaty/Te Tiriti.
Called Te Tiriti - The Treaty, the exhibition by more than 40 emerging and established Northland artists aims to start a bicultural conversation around the Treaty's 175th anniversary and invites visitors to "join the korero".
The artists are Maori, Pakeha and new migrants. They include Scott McFarlane, Colleen Urlich, Linda Munn, Shane Hansen, Theresa Reihana, Lester Hall, Thomas Lauterbach, Keri Molloy, Will Ngakuru and many others.
The show runs until April 6 and is open from 10am-4pm Thursday to Monday.
Martin siblings to perform
The talented Martin whanau will play a one-off concert in Kerikeri featuring everything from Vivaldi's Four Seasons to Metallica.
The Whangarei siblings - Purotu, 9, cello; Atawhai, 10, violin; Maia-Dean, 14, violin; Xena, 18 cello; and Ngaruaroha, 21, violin - have all been playing from a young age. Maia-Dean was not quite 3 when she first picked up a violin. All have won accolades at a national level and Ngaruaroha, who completed a degree with honours in music performance at Waikato University last year, plays for the National Youth Orchestra.
The talented Martin siblings, seen here performing in Whangarei in 2010, will play a one-off concert in Kerikeri on February 7.
The outdoor concert promises everything from gypsy melodies to the Four Seasons and Metallica's dark harmonies, featuring the siblings in various combinations.
It starts at 5pm on Saturday, February 7, at the Flute Farm, 77 Wiroa Rd, Kerikeri. Bring a picnic and something to sit on. A suggested donation of $20 per adult ($10 student) will go to the family for ongoing musical education.
The whanau is also playing at the Waitangi Day celebrations.
The latest exhibition at Kohukohu gallery Village Arts, called Kohia Nga Taikaka - Gather the Heartwood, features new ceramic work by Rod Davies (Fern Flat Pottery) and art furniture by Cam Wilson. The show runs until March 5.
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