Rapper, JessB, support act for Salmonella Dub at the Bay of Islands Music Festival at Waitangi.
Rapper, JessB, support act for Salmonella Dub at the Bay of Islands Music Festival at Waitangi.
BAY NEWS BITES
The Bay of Islands Music Festival returns to Waitangi on Northland Anniversary Weekend, January 2022.
Headlining the festival is the multiple platinum-selling and award-winning D&B pioneers Salmonella Dub. Their two-hour set will include some of the "Dubs" classics, alongside a swag of new tunes from their forthcoming album Return toour Kōwhai.
Tiki Taane will join his old bandmates and special guests will be Laughton Koro and Whirimako Black.
Also on the card are rapper JessB, rootsy pop singer Muroki, the Sunshine Sound System, Rubi Du, dancehall DJ Big G and the legendary Savage.
JessB has toured extensively around the world and in 2019 she captured the MTV European Music Award for the Best New Zealand Act. She has toured with the likes of Ladi6, SIX60, Lil Simz and Stormzy - she was a professional netball player with the Northern Mystics before becoming a full-time rapper.
Muroki, the rootsy singer released his debut six-track EP last week and hit number 1 on the New Zealand singles chart.
Muroki was born in the Coromandel and is of Kenyan descent. He has lived in Raglan since he was a kid and started learning guitar as an eight-year-old. He surfs, skates and brews a good coffee for Raglan locals, and between lockdowns in 2020 he had a "brutal stint" planting trees through the Whāingaroa in winter.
He joined Benee on her New Zealand tour and featured on a track on her debut album. In early 2021, Muroki released his debut six-track EP on the new Olive label, which last week hit number one on the New Zealand singles charts.
South Auckland-born Samoan rapper Savage is New Zealand's undisputed king of hip-hop and has arguably the most recognised voice in the business. He had a global hit with the rap classic, Swing, which achieved platinum status in the US.
The long-awaited replacement of Kāeo's one-lane bridge and intersection comes a step closer on Friday, with a ceremony to officially launch the $40 million construction project.
A digital representation of what the new Kāeo bridge and roundabout will look like when it's complete in early 2024.
Poor visibility of oncoming traffic for northbound motorists on the existing one-lane bridge has long been a problem. Waka Kotahi confirmed there have been more than 30 accidents there since 2000.
The SH10 Kāeo Bridge Safety Improvements Project will create a large roundabout to improve access to a new two-lane bridge. It will be a welcome improvement for visitors, freight and other road users travelling on the Twin Coast Discovery Route.
The transport agency estimated the project, including the removal of the old bridge, will be completed early in 2024. Far North District Council said it will benefit tourism and aid economic development in the Far North.
Native trees planted in Paihia
Local Paihia volunteers planted nearly 80 native trees on the bank of the Williams Road car park reserve in September.
Two of the 17 volunteers who helped plant nearly 80 native trees in Paihia. Brita Marti (left) and the project driver Jan Baker.
The planting was a project driven by Jan Baker, who was joined by 17 volunteers. The goal was to complement the school planting over the fence and to provide a bird corridor for native species. More plants will be added to the area next year.
Paihia Four Square provided a surprise morning tea while Far North Holdings Limited is supplying two picnic tables to go in the area.
Ōmāpere residents and property owners are being asked by Far North District Council for feedback on options to manage coastal erosion that has claimed about nine metres of beachfront reserve over the past decade.
Erosion has been a problem for several years at Freese Park but is now accelerating, with up to 0.7m of the reserve being lost each year to the Hokianga Harbour. Without intervention, it will endanger council-owned assets including a wastewater pipeline, public playground, toilets and a car park.
Last year, council engaged specialists to investigate methods to halt or slow the erosion and consulted with tangata whenua and affected property owners. The specialist team, called Stellar Projects, presented three management approaches for the community and council to consider. These include building hard structures to halt erosion, slowing the rate of erosion through managed retreat or not intervening and letting nature take its course.
The public is now being asked to help council decide on the best course of action through an online survey launched last week. Survey forms will also be available at the Hokianga i-SITE at Ōpononi.
Background information and explanations of the different erosion management approaches can be found on the council's website at fndc.govt.nz/freese and on large display signs being installed at Freese Park.
Stellar Projects will also explain each management approach and respond to questions from the public during a webinar to be conducted on behalf of the council. The 1.5-hour online event will start at 5.30pm on Wednesday, November 3. Go to us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdOmtpj8pE9UNA-4ilH7gMieXw6qjBYg6 to register for the event.
To find out more and to provide feedback, go to the Freese Park page www.fndc.govt.nz/freese on the FNDC website.
Russell Gardening Club annual flower show
The annual flower show that sees flowers and vegetables entered from around the Russell Peninsular is going ahead on November 5 and 6 as is traditional. It certainly has a long history.
Jenny Yang won first prize in the rose section at the Russell Flower Show 2020.
Always taking a big part in the Russell Flower Show is Russell School which has its own section in the show.
In 1948 the club was convened in Russell School and the president, Dr Vince Tothill, was duly elected. Claudia Grant, neé Lindauer, remembers, "I was 16 and my young brother Lynton was 11. We were members. Mum ran the first flower show with my help, which allowed other members to exhibit".
The club has progressively evolved from a small group of serious gardeners to where current membership stands close to 100, including Virginia, who at 99 leads the dancing at social events.
Invited experts speak to meetings on gardening topics, bus trips are arranged twice a year to visit gardens in other areas, two luncheons a year are organised. A seed bank has been started to secure the availability of vegetable crops in case of shortages, as was experienced during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
The most recent enterprise by two members is a trial crop swap or organic, non-spray vegetables grown on the Russell Peninsula. The highlight of the year is the flower show, which is now in its 73rd year. Over time many trophies have been donated. In fact, they now number 24.
Last year's winners included Melody Oldfield, who won the champion bloom, Maggie Grant, who won the best exhibit in show, Trish Macintosh, who won a trophy for vegetables, fruit and for her homestyle produce and won a trophy for the most overall points in the show.
Support is given to projects such as the Russell School's Garden-to-Table programme. Recently members lent a gardening hand to Duffus Trust retirement "Village within a Village" grounds.
Russell Flower Show, Friday November 5, and Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Garden Safari delayed
Thanks to the heavy rain over last weekend, the Kerikeri Rotary Garden Safari has been postponed until November 20-21.
Kerikeri New World Garden Safari has been postponed until November 20-21 because of the heavy rain experienced last weekend.
The long-range weather forecast has the weather settled, which will allow the ground to dry out and for gardeners who are exhibiting to rescue their displays.
There will be 15 gardens in the Safari. Tickets are still on sale at nine points around Kerikeri, including New World, or go to gardensafari.co.nz
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