There seem to be two Far Norths - the hopeless and helpless and the inspirational. And once in a while, just to remind ourselves that this is a pretty good place, it's nice to focus on the latter.
The congregation at Te Ahu last week was, once again, impressive. And while the majority were there to collect awards, they were just the tip of the iceberg, all of them giving the lie to the suspicion that the days of selflessly giving to others are over.
The Puketi Forest Trust was one of the bigger outfits, boasting some 500 members, 70 of whom were heading out into the forest on an almost daily basis to wage war against the predators that a decade ago had all but driven the kokako population to extinction, and were well on the way to consigning kiwi to the same fate.
The scale of the challenge that faced the trust in 2003 cannot be overstated. And while the war is by no means won, the predators are finally on the back foot, albeit at enormous cost in terms of the volunteers' time and energy.
A thousand volunteer hours are going into restoring Puketi Forest every month, and this year predator control has been expanded to take in another 1700 hectares. The last 10 years has seen more than 24,000 rats and 6000 possums destroyed. The kiwi population has doubled, robins and kokako have been re-introduced and there have been large increases in tui and kukupa numbers.
Even at a time when saving our natural environment from the predations of introduced species has become something of a national passion, this is a heroic achievement, an example of Far Northerners fixing something of their own volition rather than waiting for someone else to do something.
It was fitting too that Women's Refuge in Kaitaia and Kaikohe were recognised. Kaitaia's Whare Timatanga Hou Ora won the health and well-being award, with Kaikohe's Mid North Women's Aid and Refuge runner-up. These organisations might be part of a national network but it is they who are there when they are needed, and who have displayed the ability to stretch a little funding a very, very long way.
Those who attended the awards presentation would also have been impressed by the contributions made to their communities by teenagers, not least the Northland College students who, led by teacher Chris Wilkie, have transformed Kaikohe into what Transpower described as a 'mural-coated town.' Their efforts have achieved much more than brightening previously drab walls, however. The gathering heard that there had been all manner of spin-off benefits, including raising the profile of Northland College and Kaikohe, lifting student achievement and helping community groups to brand themselves.
Two individuals were also recognised. Te Kura Taumata o Panguru student Cody Makau won the Far North Youth Community Spirit award, with Springbank student Melissa Chapman runner-up. Once again, this award in identifies some exceptional young men and women year after year, and Cody and Melissa had to beat some strong competition to make it to Te Ahu last week. Cody was actively involved in teaching kapa haka and mau rakau at his school, was the male leader of the kapa haka group, was the student representative on the board of trustees, a member of the Kohukohu Fire Brigade and a leader of the Northland Catholic Youth Group.
Melissa was described as one of Springbank's academic, mentoring and charity leaders, a netball coach and organiser of activities and events, a volunteer at the local Hospice Shop and now working in the field of combating teenage depression.
These two may not be typical teenagers, but nor are they aberrations. They are just two of countless young Far Northerners who enjoy giving to others, and who give every reason to believe that the future is in good hands.
A pity, perhaps, that some of this doesn't rub off on others who could do more, for themselves if not for other people, but seem to be incapable of it.
There is probably a middle group too, made up of selfish individuals who just don't give a toss about anything. Like those behind the awful statistics that have come to light as a campaign begins to persuade the Far North District Council to stop shooting dogs.
Last financial year the council shot 683 unwanted dogs, while Whangarei and the Kaipara euthanased (by injection) 587 and 162 respectively. Of the 1146 dogs impounded in the Far North that year, homes were found for 274 (24 per cent), and just 189 (16 per cent) were claimed. The rest were shot.
Those figures are shameful, even if the cost of retrieving an impounded dog is too steep for some owners to meet. That five dogs out of six are not sufficiently valued by their owners to warrant their release illustrates an appalling degree of empathy and irresponsibility.
How unwanted dogs are destroyed is a secondary issue (although it is interesting that Whangarei and Kaipara use lethal injections, which the Far North apparently can't afford), as is the fact that the only benefit that accrued to responsible dog owners from the not inconsiderable annual registration fee last year was a plastic tag and the privilege of paying for 683 bullets (but that's another argument).
At the end of the day Tania McInnes is right; life is what each and every one of us makes of it. Some are making a great deal, and enriching the lives of others in the process.
She says we each have within us all that we need to succeed, and she's right about that too. And that so many draw on their inner resources, and share the results of that, should be cause for celebration.
