Worth pausing at the charms of Kaiwaka

By TONY GEE

Some say it's where Northland really starts on State Highway 1 going towards Whangarei and the Bay of Islands.

It almost seems out of place - being part of the Kaipara district and administered by that council with the Brynderwyn Hills beckoning a few kilometres up the big, sealed track.

But Kaiwaka (population about 600) is impossible to miss by highway travellers going north or south as they are forced to slow from 100 km/h plus.

The township, set in a rural farming landscape, is definitely an island location.

No beaches, crashing surf or glistening white sands here, but the basic necessities of life are looked after by a wide variety of services including a service station, a hotel, dairy, several cafes and eateries, a Dutch cheese shop, Four Square shop, motel, garden centre, saddlery and canvas working centre, pot shed, information and service centre, public toilets, a museum and generally plenty of parking.

Bob Clyde, owner of the Pot Shed and cafe, has a development process going in multi-use premises after the renovation of a dilapidated building.

There is an information and council service centre, with a cafe added on since last October, a sheepskin shop, as well as the Pot Shed.

"This all attracts passing trade and tourist buses are now stopping." Mr Clyde says.

"There's plenty of parking and public toilets available."

Matakohe Museum is part of the information centre and displays are being set up to entice those with historical interests.

Accommodation is available at the Three Furlongs Hotel.

There is also a restaurant and bistro food in the bar.

The bistro was offering seafood chowder, nachos, shrimp cocktails, burgers and other goodies for lunch when the Herald inquired.

Manager Jamie Chapman says the establishment has more of a daytime trade - "Aucklanders heading north, especially on Fridays and Saturdays."

Apart from locals, passing bar trade tends to be relatively quiet for most of the week.

But he notes that Sundays can be busy with family groups and people returning south from holidays up the line or weekends away.

However, Kaiwaka may be hiding its main feature attraction under a bushel.

For out-of-towners who didn't already know, or who don't travel after dark, it's a town of lights at night.

When darkness falls, lights attached to buildings, business premises and signs switch on to reveal, among other sights, a sailing ship and a windmill.

"It looks spectacular," says Mr Clyde.

"Kaiwaka is probably quite a good destination," he adds.

MONDAY, MONDAY

An informal survey in the Far North shows residents tend to favour a nationwide anniversary day rather than the Monday tacked on to the last weekend of January.

Annie Tothill, Mangonui, artist - I'd like to see a week of anniversary celebrations in November to kick off the summer. But if there was consensus for an alternative Monday holiday, somewhere halfway between Labour Weekend and Christmas might be all right.

Liz Cosford, Mangonui, shop assistant - I'm happy the way it is because I work that day, so it doesn't affect me. We're busy that weekend with the annual fishing contest right outside the door. If you change the day you miss out on the Aucklanders and visitors from other places who come for the fishing.

Ngaire Watts, Coopers Beach, hotel administrator - The whole country should have the same day. It would be nice if we could celebrate an anniversary altogether, rather than have separate days. My family comes to visit from Marlborough on their anniversary day but I can't celebrate that day because I have to work.

Jimmy Osborne, Mangonui, harbourmaster - I don't know if it's necessary to have an anniversary day with Waitangi Day following so closely. Maybe there should be a separate Northland anniversary day later in the summer or a combined one for the whole country later in the year. No one really thinks in terms of provinces now and most people aren't sure where Auckland extends to.

John Marks, Stony Creek, farm manager - Let it stay the same. It's an opportunity for people in the north to take time off and go visiting. If I want to go and watch the Auckland Anniversary Regatta I've got three days to do it.

Sandra Brott, Coopers Beach, shop assistant - There should be one anniversary day throughout the country so everyone can have a day off at the same time. Maybe it should be later in the year, perhaps between June and October. There is a long, tiring winter spell between Queen's Birthday and Labour Weekend.