More than 1000 people attended last year's Settlers Day at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe. Photo / Supplied
More than 1000 people attended last year's Settlers Day at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe. Photo / Supplied
Settlers Day on this weekend
The Kauri Museum will be hosting its annual Settlers Day On Saturday, October 6, with this year's theme being the "revolution of industry".
Dr Tracey Wedge, collection manager/curator of the museum, said there would be a variety of activities on show on the day.
Local electrician Bill Sheppard will be demonstrating electricity from older-style appliances to the latest technology.
There will be shoemakers, wood turners, saddle makers, spinners, wood carvers, weavers, print makers, chainsaw demonstrations, rope making, brick making, photography and butter making, to name a few.
Musicians entertain visitors at last year's Settlers Day at Matakohe's Kauri Museum. Photo / Supplied
"Last year we welcomed over 1000 people and this year we hope to welcome more. It is the one free live day where we thank our community for their support," she said.
She said that everyone is welcome and although entry is free, things will be for sale at several of the stalls so bring cash as there is no eftpos onsite.
Rewards to encourage reading The Hell Pizza van was to visit Dargaville yesterday rewarding local children who had participated in "The Hell Reading Challenge".
Some of the books local Dargaville children received after participating in the library reading challenge. Photo / Supplied
Participants collected a stamp for each book they had read at the Dargaville Library and once they had read seven books, and therefore had seven stamps on their wheel, they could redeem these for a pizza on the day or later at the Whangārei Hell Pizza shop.
The fast food retailer is a sponsor of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and as part of this relationship, has visited Dargaville on three previous occasions.
Ben Hope, public affairs manager at Kaipara District Council, said the goal of the event was to "encourage reading and improve literacy in New Zealand". Rewards such as this can act as a motivation, particularly for children, he said.
In addition to this initiative, the Dargaville Library is hosting a sustainability-themed holiday programme including learning how to make a birdfeeder from a recycled plastic bottle this week, and next week's newspaper plant pot.
Coming of age in Otamatea Growing Pains is on at the Otamatea Repertory Theatre, for two shows only this weekend.
Otamatea Repertory Theatre is presenting Growing Pains this weekend. Photo /Supplied
New drama teacher at the Otamatea High School, Alex McKellar, and ex-Mangawhai student Whitney Channing have written and created a "coming of age" story using musical numbers from a wide variety of shows and composers as a backdrop to the "universal experiences" of growing up.
"We decided to do cabaret, because we like the idea of presenting an exciting original show" that has already sold a third of the tickets.
"We're hoping for a great reception as we know there is a lot of support for the arts in our community."
Channing confirms the play is "perfect school holiday entertainment".
The theatrical duo "have no idea what the future holds after this, but we'd love to do more seasons in the future, and maybe even a tour, either with Growing Pains, or other original material".
Sewing class for youngsters Dargaville Sewing Centre hosted their school holiday sewing class "Kidz Can Sew" on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Marion McEwing, manager and owner of the Dargaville Sewing Centre, described how "sewing is a great skill" that once learned, you can always fall back on.
"I get a thrill out of seeing the children being proud and excited about making things" and each item they complete, such as beanbags, pyjamas or a shoulder bag, they take home," she said.
After 16 years of running this programme, she has had a variety of students and has discovered that children aged 8 and over are more ready to learn to sew and understand, but she has taught 5 and 6-year-olds too.
"We have boys and girls come to our classes, although the majority are girls, but I find the boys seem to pick up how to use the machine."
McEwing is proud that some of her previous students are still sewing today.
