Paihia Library has opened its Christmas chapter thanks to the efforts of Friends of Williams House volunteers. Each year the volunteers bring a touch of Christmas magic to the town’s library, using Christmas swags with shells and ornaments created by the late Barbara Traviss and other residents in the past. These much-loved decorations are refreshed and displayed at the library each year, bringing festive sparkle to the tourist hotspot during the holiday season. Children, families, residents and visitors are encouraged to pop down to the library to enjoy these hand-crafted decorations and get into the Christmas spirit.
Council opening hours
Far North District Council will be running reduced services during the Christmas and New Year period, with most reopening on Monday, January 6. Kaikohe, Kaitāia (Te Ahu), Kerikeri, Kāeo, Rāwene and Kawakawa service centres will close at 5pm on Friday, December 20, reopening on Monday, January 6. For urgent inquiries, phone 09 401 5200 or 0800 920 029. For a full list of the council’s summer operating hours, go to the council’s website.
Tara iti breeding season starts
The Department of Conservation is excited to announce the start of the 2024-25 breeding season for the critically endangered tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern). With fewer than 35 individuals remaining, every nest, egg and chick is vital to the survival of this iconic species. The season got off to a bumper start with nine active nests recorded and 25 eggs laid. Eight chicks have successfully hatched through the DoC-Auckland Zoo captive rearing partnership, and three chicks have hatched in the wild. People can boost efforts to save tara iti by donating through the New Zealand Nature Fund: Tara iti/ New Zealand Fairy Tern | New Zealand Nature Fund.
