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Last updated
July 26th, 2010
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Home > Current News Articles |
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links below to news items on the Helensville area and its
future development. Most articles appear courtesy Helensville News.
2010 Articles
(July 2nd, '10)
(July 2nd, '10)
(July 2nd, '10)
(May 31st, '10)
(May 31st, '10)
(May 7th, '10)
(May 7th, '10)
(May 7th, '10)
(April 6th, '10)
(April 6th, '10)
(March 6th, '10)
(March 6th, '10)
(February 2nd, '10)
(February 2nd, '10)
(February 2nd, '10)
(February 2nd, '10)
 Click
here for archived stories from:
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Preschool education open day (July 2nd '10)
In 1960, a band of enthusiastic
women (many from the active Plunket
Mothers' Group) met to discuss setting
up a play centre in Helensville.
There was no pre-school facility in
the area and the mothers realised there
was a possibility of starting a play centre
by building upon the structure set up by
the founder of the movement, Alex Gray,
which was already well proven in other
places in New Zealand.
In September that year the
Helensville Play Centre opened in the
Foresters' Hall (now the Christian Life
Centre in Commercial Rd) with two
supervisors, a roster of mother helpers
and 18 children who paid a shilling a
session.
Contrary to
predictions the
Helensville Play Centre
flourished, with fund
raising efforts for new
equipment and practical
help from many fathers.
There have been several
changes of location and
now the Centre is firmly
established in its own
premises in Stewart St.
Over the years, there
has been continuing
emphasis on the
importance of early
childhood education with
many changes such as
the increase in working
mothers.
Today there are a
variety of established
pre-school organisations
including kindergartens,
Montessori and day care
centres. The Hippy
programme at
Helensville Primary
School has now
assimilated the earlier
Kohanga Reo nests set
up at the various local
maraes.
To celebrate the 50 years of pre-school education in
Helensville there will be an open day at
1.30pm on August 29 by the Helensville
and District Historical Society in the War
Memorial Hall. All who have been
involved over the years (young and old)
are invited to come and share their
memories.
There will be speakers from all of the
local pre-school organisations and
records and photographs are being
prepared for display. Any additional
early information would be most welcome.
For further information contact Julie
Colville on 420 8475 or the Pioneer
Museum on 420 7881, or email
.
- Gay Hildreth
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Local groups win community awards (May 31st '10)
South Kaipara Landcare has been
acknowledged for its conservation
works by the Rodney District Council. And the Shelly Beach Residents & Ratepayers Association also received an award
for their work protecting the local environment and keeping it clean.
The 71 member strong volunteer Landcare
group, which began more than 10 years
ago, has the motto 'Awhi te whenua'
which means 'embracing the land' and
has a primary focus on activities which
conserve, preserve and restore the land
and its native flora and fauna.
Rodney District Council presented
the group with a Community Service
Award during a recent awards
ceremony.
Chairman Greg Smith, in his fourth
term, said the Award acknowledged the
work of the hundreds of volunteers who
gave their time and energy to projects
which were important to the region.
South Kaipara Landcare cover the
region from Greens Road, north of
Parakai and all of South Head and it had
a unique eco-system of significance to
ornithologists, botanists, ecologists and
the ARC, DOC and Rodney District
Council, he said.
“When people come to the area,
they ooh and aah and are often ecstatic
at the rare and endangered species they
see in abundance.”
These included the Fairy Tern, a rare
Hebe, a nationally vulnerable mazus
plant and an endangered rhizome which
looked small and insignificant, like a
scribble, he said.
Recent projects include the planting
and restoring of areas around Lake
Ototoa, opening the Marie Neverman
Reserve in 2009 and the annual
community road clean up which attracts
about 100 volunteers each year.
A major project has been planting
indigenous plants on the Fenton Track,
off Wilsons Road. This area was
considered significant as a link in a
native forest corridor which was
attracting Kakas from Little Barrier
Island, he said.
The group which represents about
16 per cent of the 450 residents in the
area has its own plant nursery on
donated land where it propagates native
plants from seedlings. It also loans out
traps for use on private properties and
provides training sessions on issues
such as pest control and control of
noxious weeds.
Rodney District Council's award
monies will be utilised to purchase a
table and chilly bin to be used by the
volunteers during working bees.
The Shelly Beach Residents & Ratepayers Association works with the volunteer fire service and South Kaipara
Landcare to organise annual clean ups as part of Keep New Zealand Beautiful week.
These clean up events often culminate in a bog event for local residents with lots of
fun activities for families and children.
The Association is also active throughout the year with projects such as removing
mangrove shoots to keep the boat ramp and swimming areas clear and repairing the
groynes after bad weather.
The Shelly Beach Ratepayer and Residents Group received a donation as a
contribution towards a new community notice board outside the Shelly Beach Café.
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Over $400,000 available in
community grants schemes (July 2nd '10)
Applications for community support grants close on July 30. Rodney District
Council has five contestable grant funds
with more than $400,000 available.
Smaller grants of up to $10,000 are
available through a Community Grants
Scheme with $164,000 in funding
available.
Four new grants have been added
this year:
- A large Youth Grants Fund with a
total of $75,000 available for projects
greater than $10,000.
- A large Recreation Grants Fund with
a total of $80,000 available for
projects greater than $10,000.
- A small Youth Grants Fund with a
total of $33,000 available for projects
requesting less than $10,000.
- A large Community Grants Fund with
a total of $61,000 available for
projects requesting more than
$10,000.
Further information on the
community support grants and their
criteria is available online at
or contact Paul
Green on 0800 426 5169
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Motorway extension to cut minutes off Helensville commute (May 31st '10)
Works on the SH16 Brigham Creek Road extension
are ahead of schedule signaling the start of a new era for
commuters from Helensville.
The SH16 Brigham Creek Road extension is part of
the new motorway route connecting the North Western
motorway with the new SH18 Hobsonville Motorway.
The two minute, 100km/h trip on the Brigham Creek
Road extension will shave off four kilometres through
the increasingly busy business district of Westgate.
Noel Rugg, Liaison Manager for HEB Construction,
the company building the motorway, says the SH16
Brigham Creek Road extension is a bonus for
Helensville commuters. “It is an express link for them to get on and off the
motorway more quickly.”
Helensville commuters getting onto the new
motorway extension at Brigham Creek Road and
heading south won't be able to get off at Westgate.
Those wanting to go to Westgate will continue to take
SH16, which will be renamed when the new link is
complete.
Motorists heading north to Helensville will travel under the
new bridge at Hobsonville Road and continue to the roundabout
at the intersection with Brigham Creek Road.
They will still be able to get off atWestgate, but won't be able to
rejoin the motorway and head north to Brigham Creek Road on
the new extension.
There were several reasons for this, the major ones being the
cost and complexity of the construction, says Noel. A massive
flyover would be required to get south bound motorists off the
extension, over all of the Hobsonville bound lanes, over the old
Hobsonville Road and exiting onto the new bridge. Getting
motorists fromWestgate down onto the new extension was a little
easier and might occur at a later date, he adds.
Noel says the current motorway model also protected the
businesses along SH16 that were reliant on passing traffic.
The completion date for the SH16 Brigham Creek Road
extension is sometime in 2012. “With another dry summer, and if everything goes to schedule,
the work will be complete by October 2011,” says Noel.
During the winter months, HEB Construction will continue to
build the SH18 and SH16 motorway lanes. When complete, a new
link road will provide access to the development planned directly opposite the Westgate shopping centre, to be called Westgate
Town Centre.
The SH16 Brigham Creek Road extension would serve the
commuters of Helensville and ultimately attract more growth to the
area, he says.
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Faith and passion for work
leads South Head local to India (May 31st '10)
A passion for textiles, exotic cultures
and food has led South Head resident
Rachel Higham to take up a challenging
role in Kolkata, India.
The 26 year old textile designer has
accepted a posting with Freeset Global,
an international Christian organisation
which rescues sex workers from the
streets and retrains them to sew a range
of products and clothing.
Freeset, which started 10 years ago,
pays twice the normal pay rate, breaks
the poverty cycle and restores dignity
and respect for these women and their
children, says Rachel.
The organisation was started by
New Zealand couple Kerry and Annie
Hilton and now
employs 150
women rescued
from prostitution
and more than 20
expat staff.
Rachel's
position is
voluntary for 12
months, and she is
supported
financially by her
local church, the
Helensville
Christian Life
Centre, family and
friends. This
ensures as much of
the profits as
possible go back to the women, says
Rachel.
Rachel has always had an interest in
fair trade and social justice. When she
discovered Freeset at a gift fair last year
she jumped at the chance to submit her
resume. She loves the concept of “an
upside down business which puts
people before profits rather than the
normal business model which is all
about making money.”
True to its mission of caring for
people first, Freeset also teaches its women to read and write, basic
mathematics and provides child care,
medical care and health insurance.
Pay day at Freeset is revolutionary
as every worker is paid the same,
regardless of skill level, and they get
twice what they would earn in a similar
job elsewhere. This gives the women a
'stake' in the business and they provide
their best work knowing they are
working towards freedom.
Freeset's business premises are
deliberately located on the fringe of the
sex district, Sonagacchi. The women
remain in their homes in the district and
walk to work. The goal is to transform the
area from within, replacing one trade with another. Over time the community
will be filled with more and more women
free from prostitution.
Rachel will be taking on the role of
product design and development for
Freeset, a position she is well qualified
for. She has spent the past three years
working for Jill Main New Zealand
designing giftware, bags, jewellery and
clothing. Freeset offer a range of jute
bags and tee shirts and Rachel will be
sourcing new fabrics, designing new products, custom orders and working on
the various graphic design material.
When she and a friend read the job
description it appeared to have been
written for Rachel and her skill set. “Everything I've done in the past has
prepared me distinctly for this,” she
says.
There will be a short stay in
Singapore and a six week course in
Thailand before Rachel sets foot in
Kolkata in late August, which is the
monsoon season. Rachel had
reservations about whether she would
be able to handle the heat and humidity,
but fortunately her office will be air
conditioned - a requirement when
working with computer technology.
India has fascinated Rachel for
many years, and she had even started
learning the language prior to applying
for her new position. “I've had several countries in my
heart but India always stood out.
However I was not ready to travel until
this year,” says Rachel, whose overseas travel to date has been a few days in
Vanuatu and various trips to Australia.
“I had fears about whether I could
handle the heat and the culture but
those fears are trivial ... I know God has
opened up this opportunity for me and I
can't argue with that.”
Rachel enjoys all cultures and
describes herself as a 'foodie' who loves
hot food, spices and cooking. She is
excited about embracing the culture and
food in the Bengal region. “I am completely open to the
opportunity and even though it's a bit
horrifying it is exciting … I know it is
clearly the right thing.”
Rachel is determined to learn the
language so she can converse with the
women seamstresses, visit their homes
and share her faith. She will also take an
instructional sewing DVD so she can
help with some more advanced training.
For more information about Freeset
visit or to
purchase products visit the Helensville
Christian Life Centre in Commercial Rd.
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Parakai driest in 50 years (May 7th '10)
A drought declaration has been extended to include Rodney District and unofficial records show the driest period in 50 years.
South Head farmer Murray Narbey has been farming for five decades and has been advised by a fellow farmer in Parakai who has been keeping his own rainfall figures for 50 years that this summer has been his driest on record.
Farmers are definitely affected quite badly and are already using their winter reserves of feed, he says.
The last rainfall of 10cm and 20cm in January had no affect, because it was too far apart. If we don't get a good long week of warm rain, we'll be cactus, he says.
“All we can do is hope and pray.”
There was the expensive option to buy in surplus feed but it was difficult to get. So many dairy regions had been affected around the North Island and there just wasn't the surplus to purchase.
Any farmer that had surplus would be holding onto it, according to Murray.
Farmers were sending surplus stock to the works and these companies were already busy, he says.
To combat the shortage of grass and feed, the Narbey farms at South Head and Helensville had grown alternative feed of palm kernels and maize silage for such a time of drought. They had also dried off their cows as a way to hold their weight and this was earlier than other farms, he says.
Rodney's inclusion in an extended drought zone comes as no surprise to Rodney District Mayor, Penny Webster.
She says Rodney is experiencing its longest spell of dry weather since 1994 and whilst the district's water supply is not under immediate threat, farmers are feeling the economic impact.
A former farmer herself, Mrs Webster is relieved a drought declaration has been made as it will enable farmers to get tax assistance under the Income Stabilisation Scheme, farm management advice, welfare support and funding for the region's Rural Support Trusts. She says her council will also be working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Federated Farmers and the Northland Rural Support Trust to do what it can to lessen the impact on farmers.
Rodney Council websites will publish lists of support services for farmers and updates on drought and soil conditions for the district, she says.
Rodney's towns are also affected by the drought. Mrs Webster says there is no intent at this point to impose water restrictions in urban areas, but dramatically low levels in the district's waterways mean water conservation is essential.
Mrs Webster says she has authorised the immediate extension of a water conservation campaign for the district.
“We're taking every measure we can,” she says, “but the ultimate solution is rain, a lot of it, and soon.”
Farmers seeking aid or support can contact the Northland Rural Support Trust on 0800 778 667 or 09 430 0954.
For other drought information visit .
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Mountain bike ace has sights set on World Champs (May 7th '10)
New Zealand Under 19 Downhill Mountain Bike Champion, Charlotte Clouston (16) has her sights set on the World Championships in Canada in September.
Charlotte, who is Head Girl at Kaipara College, spent the summer on tour competing in events and gained a second place in the Open Women's section of the Oceania Downhill Championship in Dunedin in March. She also won the South Island Cup Series and was second overall in the North Island Cup Series. In February she won the National Championships with a four and a half second lead over fellow rider, Sophiemarie Bethell from Waimauku.
In an event where seconds count and times are compared to the millisecond, that was a convincing win for Charlotte who was out of the season in 2009 with a broken ankle.
“It's really cool to look back on my times in 2008 and see just how much faster I am now,” she says.
Charlotte, who lives at Muriwai, started riding for fun on family bike rides and at 12 years began competing in cross country events. These are grueling events of one and a half to two hours and require great fitness, difficult routes and much up and down.
“Cross country is gnarly stuff, but downhill is more extreme … it can be really scary but it's definitely fun,” says Charlotte, who started racing both disciplines three years ago.
This year, she has chosen to focus on downhill.
Downhill events involve three and a half to five minutes of intense racing.
“It's not just about straight down. We have to negotiate trees, rocks, roots, big corners, jumps and uneven surfaces - it's all about times and going as fast as you can, “ says Charlotte.
The U19 races use the same courses as those in the Pro-Elite category so the younger riders have to assess their capabilities and overcome the 'fear factor’.
Charlotte explains that where big jumps are involved there are 'chicken run' options so riders can choose an alternative route - but it's always quicker to do the jump.
“Some things do mess with your head and sometimes I just have to 'man up' and do it.”
During practice runs, Charlotte will watch others ride over big jumps and obstacles and assess her abilities, along with how fast she can go through a particular section.
Training for the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Mont Saint Anne, Quebec will involve extra workouts as it is a 5km race of about six minutes. Charlotte's training will include gym sessions for muscle endurance and cardio fitness along with skills work.
She also rides weekly with fellow competitors Sophiemarie Bethell and Sophie Tyas from Coatesville, who was fourth in the National U19 Championship. They are members of 'The JAFAKIDS', a junior cross country club of the Auckland Mountain Bike Club which keeps them all motivated to ride and train.
As a hockey player in the Kaipara College 1st XI hockey team her hockey training also benefits her bike fitness and vice versa.
Charlotte encourages everyone to give mountain biking a go and says her key tip is to keep going even after a few knocks. She broke her ankle during a trial for the Auckland Downhill Junior Development Squad in 2008 and it required an operation and the insertion of two screws. It took her the whole of 2009 to rebuild her confidence, she says.
“We've all been hesitant at jumps and corners but we've worked up to it. Your confidence grows and you just get faster and faster,” she says.
Charlotte is confident her racing is back to where she left off “and even better” and has her goal set on a world championship title.
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Promoting local musicians (May 7th '10)
Talented song writers and musicians will be invited to contribute to a new website offering a royalty service for New Zealand music.
Royalty Free Music NZ is the creation of local professional musician Andrew Dixon and is due for release later this year.
Andrew completed a Diploma in Creative Enterprise from MAINZ Auckland (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) last year where he received the Merit Award from Vero worth $5000 and also won the Academic Award for his class of 2009.
“I was dedicated to doing the course full time for twelve months and wanted to focus on a business idea using my skills and incorporating the musical desires I have,” says Andrew. “The best thing is that I have come out with a brilliant business plan so it was well worth it.”
He is currently fleshing out that business plan and has resolved the initial website design and software programming. The next step is to input the library of music which will include music from well known New Zealand musicians such as singer/songwriter and guitar maker, Graham Wardriff.
The website will also encourage new composers and musicians to submit music and provide a system for them to get paid for their creativity.
At the Royalty Free Music NZ site, visitors will be able to purchase unlimited use of a song for a small subscription, ranging from $15 to $60. The site will also offer world-wide exclusive-use tracks ranging in price from US$4,000 to $12,000 per year.
Site users will be able to search by 13 music genres including Maori and New Age music, or find mood music such as inspirational, energetic, scary or playful music.
A master saxophonist with seven CDs to his name, Andrew has owned and operated his own computer based commercial recording studio for 13 years. He is also a member of the 'Nairobi Trio', a top kiwi jazz band formed in 1989, and a guest with the 'Lazyboyz', a covers band.
Recently, Andrew has been performing solo where he sings and plays soprano, alto and tenor saxes.
This year he began teaching music at Kaipara College which has given him an appreciation for the diversity of emerging talent, and he is excited by the prospect of providing revenue for young musicians.
Andrew moved to Helensville seven months ago and is enjoying the rural location. Everyone is incredibly friendly and the town is like a real village, he says. His wife Rowan is a keen rider and they have just completed stables and a court yard on their five acre lifestyle block. Four horses will join them shortly.
Local performances this month include an Open Day at the Kumeu Valley Estate on May 16 and at Madison's Bar and Tapas Restaurant on May 22.
For a sneak preview of the Royalty Free Music NZ website visit .
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Major photo collection donated to museum (April 6th '10)
A significant collection of 450 slides documenting local life in the early 20th Century has been donated to the Helensville Musuem. The
slides, dating from 1905 and covering a period of about nine years, are the work of a former Helensville resident and amateur
photographer, Henry Bertram Becroft (1885-1970). The 450 glass negatives have been donated by Bert's daughter Doris Jenkins and
digitised using a grant from Pub Charity.
Henry Bertram (Bert) Becroft was the
eldest of the 10 children of Alfred Becroft
and Alice Ballans. He was born in 1885 at
Helensville.
Bert's grandfather, John Becroft came
to New Zealand as a widower with his 10
children on the 'Matilda Wattenbach' to
Port Albert with the Albertland settlers, in
1862. Bert's father, Alfred, came to
Helensville in 1883, and married Alice
Ballans in the following year.
Alfred Becroft was a builder and also
served as Helensville's undertaker. He
built a small
home on the
corner of
Garfield and
Commercial
Roads,
which was
later
replaced by
a large villa
with
verandahs.
In later
years Miss
Ellie Becroft
took
boarders in
this house.
When Bert
left school
he worked
with his father in the building trade, and
also carried on the duties of undertaker
and coffin maker.
In 1912 Bert Becroft married Mary
Mabel Dormer of Kaukapakapa. They
built their home at 20 Porter Crescent, and
this has remained as the Becroft residence for nearly 100 years. Bert and Mabel had
three children. Their first child, a girl, died
as an infant and they had a son, Ken, and
another daughter, Doris.
Ken served in the Airforce in World War
II and received the Distinguished Flying
Cross; he died in 1968. Mabel had died in
1958, and Bert lived on until 1970 to the
age of 85 years.
Doris and her father were members of
the Helensville & District Historical Society
from its earliest days, and Bert was one of
the first Patrons. Doris was secretary for
many years, and has also served in other
roles with the Society. She is currently one
of the Society's Patrons.
So Bert was a 'Kaipara' local living all
his life in Helensville but moving around
the north, as evidenced by his
photographs. Bert's hobby as a young
man was photography, and he actively
pursued this during the
first few years of the
20th century.
His daughter Doris
(Mrs Jenkins) says that
he gave up his hobby
when he married in
1912, but fortunately the
family have preserved a
collection of 450 glass
negatives, which over
the years have provided
photographic material
for some historic
projects.
One was the A B
West Memorial Kaipara
collection, assembled
by Arthur's widow, Margaret West in the early days of the
Helensville Museum. The Maritime
Museum also copied slides for their
records. Although the slides have
obviously suffered some damage over
time, many of the images remain clear and
printable. The earliest dated slides are
about 1905, so they probably cover a
period of about nine years.
The range of subjects in the collection
is very wide, from people and family
groups to local views and buildings. Some
photographs show historic change such as
the burning down and the rebuilding of the
Terminus Hotel. Some of the people views
are delightfully casual and a contrast to
other photos of the time where people are
stiff and formal. The watermelon eaters,
views of children and some of the picnic
groups are good examples.
As a microcosm of life in the early part
of the 20th Century this is an important and
valuable collection.
- Wynne HaySmith
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Art Fest on its third year (April 6th '10)
The Helensville Christian Life
Centre will host it's third 'Art Fest' next
month from Saturday, May 1 to Tuesday,
May 4, exploring the theme, 'Diffusion -
The Spreading of Light.'
The four day exhibition will include a
diverse range of creative works such as
painting, photography, installations,
fashion and multimedia. A highlight will
be a fashion show on the Saturday at
7.30pm.
The vision of Art Fest is to develop a
community that nurtures and celebrates
creativity from a diverse range of
people, mediums and levels of
experience says Art Fest coordinator, Rachel Higham.
This year's event has been
extended and is building on the success
of the previous events.
Workshops which precede the
exhibition include painting for all levels
on Saturday, April 16; ceramics on
Saturday, April 24 and two classes in
textiles on Friday, April 9 and 23. The
textile class will create a machine
embellished cushion. All classes are $5
plus extra for materials.
For more information and workshop
registrations contact the Helensville
Christian Life Centre on 420 8911 or
email: .
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Local plans afoot for Rugby World Cup (March 6th '10)
Planning is underway for a series of
events and activities which will attract
visitors to Helensville during the Rugby
World Cup in 2011.
A committee has been established to
coordinate the activities which will focus on
the annual Helensville Heritage Day to be
held in October.
The day will extend to a major evening
function with the quarter-final games
shown on a giant video screen and plenty
of food and entertainment. A venue has
yet to be finalised however the Helensville
War Memorial Hall, is a top contender
because it is one of the few locations not
affected by possible bad weather.
A major goal of the committee is to
attract visitors to the area who are in need
of accommodation. It is already
anticipated some Rugby World Cup
(RWC) spectators will have to stay in
Hamilton and Rotorua and be flown or
bussed to Auckland for the Cup final. This
shortage of central accommodation puts
Helensville in an ideal location to cater for
overflow accommodation. Chrissy Jones of Frech Orchards
Estate at Shelly Beach is compiling a list of
locals who would like to have paying
guests in their homes during the
tournament period and those who have
other accommodation available.
The committee, which is affiliated to
the Rodney District Council World Cup
committee was instigated by the
. It is
chaired by Alan Hargreaves, with Sarah
Legg as deputy and Sherryl Walker as
secretary. Other members are: Richard
Kidd (representing the ), Rick Croft (), Chrissy Jones, Gary Dunn
(Helensville Business Association), Terry
Somers and Dave Fergusson (Richies
Buses).
The RWC is a golden opportunity for
the business community in Helensville,
according to chairman of the committee,
Alan Hargreaves. In addition to involving
businesses, the committee is keen to
engage with rugby clubs, schools and
other organisations to ensure a cross section of the community is involved, he
says.
Representatives from the Heritage
Day committee and Dave Addison from
, who runs the which will help promote the
events, are also liaising with the group.
A special section will be set up on the
website to point RWC tourists to local
accommodation and the range of events
and attractions that will be on offer. The
information will be online soon at
, or
accessible from the site's homepage.
The committee would like to hear from
anyone with ideas for other events during
the month-long RWC tournament. Contact
Alan Hargreaves, ph 420 2063. If you have
a spare room, granny flat or any other form
of available accommodation contact
Chrissy Jones, ph 420 2010.
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Kaukapakapa to get one-week bus trial (March 6th '10)
Kaukapakapa residents are one
step closer to a permanent bus service.
A trial service from Kaukapakapa,
along Kahikatea Flat Road is scheduled
to run for one week from Monday, March
15 to Friday, March 19.
Positive feedback from an online
survey initiated by the Kaukapakapa
Area Residents and Ratepayers
Association (KARRA) earlier this year
has prompted the trial and will
determine the extent of the proposed
bus service and its destination.
Three operators have expressed
interest in transporting passengers from
Kaukapakapa to Silverdale with a return
trip at the end of the day. Vehicle options
allow up to 40 people to be transported.
Routes to Albany and the Auckland CBD
are also being explored.
The online survey was initiated to
allow KARRA to gauge public interest in
a permanent bus service and predict
realistic passenger numbers. KARRA
have requested people book seats for
the trial service.
KARRA representative, Pip
McAlwee says the survey results were
extremely positive and that a service
was long overdue.
“Catching buses is a mindset and
once you get used to it, it's really easy;
the route is fixed and you can work on
them.”
The latest census showed the
catchment areas for the proposed bus
service had population growth of more
than 50 percent from 2001-2006. That rate of growth in the area has continued,
if not accelerated.
Most survey respondents indicated
they worked on the Hibiscus Coast,
North Shore or in the Auckland CBD and
commuted along Kahikatea Flat Rd
(average daily traffic figure of 5,500 as
at October 2009) to the motorway
onramp at Silverdale. Some commute to
the Auckland CBD from Tauhoa and
Ahuroa.
Ritchie's bus company already
transports around 300-400 students
each day to North Shore schools along
Kahikatea Flat Rd, and there are
hundreds more who travel on other
school buses to Orewa, Kingsway and
Wentworth Colleges.
Details of the bus service have yet to
be finalised, however the trial was likely
to include a bus leaving between 7am
and 7.15am from Kaukapakapa Hall. If
the service concludes at Silverdale
passengers could transfer to several
buses at 7.40am bound for the CBD, the
North Shore,Albany and Orewa.
A return journey is likely about 6pm
which would allow commuters to reach
Silverdale, including students from
North Shore schools participating in
after school activities.
The survey also identified interest in
carpooling and a bus service for
shoppers. Rodney District Council has
been operating an online carpool
scheme called 'Take a Mate' since 2007.
A major project signalled in the draft
Regional Land Transport Strategy is the
extension of the Northern Busway to
Silverdale, with two new bus stations to
be built at Redvale and Silverdale. The
busway is being designed to allow for a
light rail service in the future.
If the bus trial is successful, KARRA
expects the operator to continue the run
as a permanent service.
The majority of bus services in the
region are subsidised and KARRA is
lobbying to get funding assistance for
the Kaukapakapa to Silverdale run.
Without a subsidy the fare would be no
more than $5.
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New Zealand's Got Talent star at A&P Show (February 2nd '10)
Popular finalist of television show 'New
Zealand's Got Talent', Chelsea Marriner
will feature at this year's .
Chelsea (18) and her border collies will
entertain and delight visitors with the tricks
and stunts which rocketed her to fame
during last year's televised talent show, on
which she featured with Quest.
Since then, Chelsea and her dogs
have travelled the country performing at
agricultural shows. It has become her
hobby and income.
Audiences will get to see the whole
team of dogs - Bree, Quest, Flash, Ike, Spy
and Shift. The newest member Cloud, who
was a Scottish farm dog and is currently in
training.
“The dogs love to show off their tricks,
and people are often amazed at the focus
and enthusiasm they put into their
performances,” says Chelsea.
The dogs are regular competitors at
agility, flygility and canine freestyle events
around New Zealand. Chelsea has been
competing in agility events for the past 11
years. Bree, is the country's first and only
dual agility and flygility 'Grand' Champion.
The 'Grand' category requires more than 20 placings in competitive events and Bree
has about 60. Quest and Flash are also
Dual Champions with placings in more
than six events.
Chelsea is from Rotorua and has had
dogs since she was two and a half years
old. She performed her first shows at
school sports days when she was eight.
Now she spends all day exercising,
grooming, feeding and teaching the dogs
new tricks. It takes patience and
perseverance but the breed is naturally
hyperactive and they pick things up
quickly, she says.
“I teach them in a fun way, which
means they enjoy it, however sometimes
they enjoy it too much and go off course! Border Collies are working farm dogs
so they need an incredible amount of
exercise and discipline to be well behaved
but they are so willing to please it makes
them fun dogs to work with and train.
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Big list of events set for A&P Show (February 2nd '10)
The 108th annual is on Saturday, February 27. It’s the
largest event on the town’s calendar.
A major reorganisation of the grounds
last year proved very successful, so the
show’s layout will be pretty much
unchanged again this year, apart from a
few minor tweaks to the layout of some of
the horse rings.
One of this year’s highlights is bound to
be Chelsea and her Star Dogs. Chelsea
was one of the most popular competitors
on the recent television series, ‘New
Zealand’s GotTalent’.
Also new this year will be a
performance by Kahurangi Ki Kaipara
kapahaka, who are raising funds to visit an
international folk festival in Finland in June.
And also making a first appearance will
be a kiwi lumberjack show, featuring
among other things log-rolling in a big pool.
Once again, the popular ‘Carnival’ area
of sideshows and rides will be around by
the racetrack, adjacent to the wood
chopping area which this year will have a
full field of competitors.
One of last year’s big hits was the
introduction of Clydesdales - the gentle
giants of the equine family - to compete in
the equestrian section. They are back
again this year.
Prime Minister and local MP John Key
is booked to visit the show, but he won’t be opening the event - show organisers have
decided an official opening ceremony, in
previous years held in the middle of the
day, is no longer necessary.
Reorganising the Show’s layout last
year was necessary because of high
demand for trade spaces at the Show; at
the time of writing trade stall bookings for
this year’s event were pouring in - with
many new businesses signing up - and it
looked like the show would equal the more
than 100 trade stalls that were open for
business last year.
Once again, the A&P Show promises a
day filled with fun and activity for local
families - and the many ‘townies’who make
a special trip to our town for what is the
largest one-day A&P Show in the Northern
District.
Show visitors in recent years have got
used to seeing beautifully coloured and
decorated cardboard-cutout works of art by
local schools, fastened to the outside of the
main building and toilet block, and inside
the main building. This year, look out for
some stunning tractors, following on from
previous years which featured horses,
pigs, sheep, goats, trains, gumboots and
cows.
Relish the Taste, the ‘mini expo’ of
locally produced food and wine which has
been so popular the last few years, is back
again.
On the main stage, local band Last
Chance will be playing up a storm, while
younger visitors will enjoy the Marionette
Circus, The Cookie Bear Roadshow and
face painting.
Of course the A&P Show would not be
what it is without the usual assortment of
animals, including Highland cattle, sheep,
alpacas, miniature donkeys, horses,
poultry, working dogs - plus the equestrian
competition.
There will be free tractor rides from the
public carpark, accessed through Stewart
Street, and EFTPOS cash out facilities will
be available at the show office.
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Kaipara Mills development undergoing redesign (February 2nd '10)
The proposed multi-million dollar
in Mill Road
has had a major setback.
The project planned for the 14,000
sq.m site of the old Kaipara Dairy Factory
is undergoing a redesign as the original
plan, which included a hotel, 150
residences, 20 commercial units, a public
market place, theatre and river front
development was proving too expensive.
Developer Jeremy Dyson says the
costings were a major setback as they
thought they knew what it would cost and
the next stage was to apply for resource
consent. However a quantity surveyor had found the project to cost a lot more and a
new design was required, he says.
“We're getting together a new design
and keeping going.”
Mr Dyson says in the current economic
climate it was challenging to start from
scratch, but he was pushing ahead every
day.
Local residents packed the Helensville
War Memorial Hall in July last year when a
public meeting was held to present the
proposal and receive public input. The
development, which was to include a
major upgrade for the river frontage, was
generally well received.
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40 years of combined community service to District Health Trust (February 2nd '10)
has
farewelled two of its foundingTrustees.
Alison McKenzie (MNZM) and Ian
Amoore each gave 20 years of voluntary
community service to the Trust - service
which was recognised at a special
dinner in December.
It was through the
leadership and drive of
Alison, in the years
leading up to the
closure of the
Helensville Maternity
Hospital, that NZ's first
birthing centre was
established in Helensville in 1989.
Hallmarks of
Alison's leadership
included a
determination to
succeed and the
ability to build strong
personal relationships
with people from the
community. She
quietly worked
towards achieving
what have often been
very ambitious goals
with a professional
and always caring
approach. Hern
attention to detail
ensured that the
highest standards
were always met.
Alison will continue
her ongoing interest
and involvement with
the Trust as a director
of the Helensville
Birthing Centre.
Ian Amoore's two
decades of service with the Trust were
marked in particular by the
responsibilities he took on with property
management in the early years. Hands
on attention was often required.
Ian also provided a strong community relationship with The Lion's
Club of Helensville, which in turn has
provided significant financial and
working bee support to the Trust over
the years.
The Helensville District Health Trust
is a great example of
what can be
achieved in
communities where
people work
together. The
success and pivotal
role that the Health
Trust has today in the
community is a
tribute to Trustees
past and present,
and particularly to
outgoing chairman
Alison McKenzie.
There have been
continuous changes
in the health sector
over the past 20
years, and the Trust
has kept on task to
ensure quality health
facilities are available
for people in the
Helensville District
which extends from
Huapai / Kumeu,
Parakai and South
Kaipara Head in the
west through to
Kaukapakapa,
Waitoki and Glorit in
the north.
The purchase of
land in Commercial
Road in 1999 which
now houses the
Kaipara Medical
Centre and other health services, with
the help of a $250,000 Government
suspensory loan, secured the ongoing
delivery of health services for the Helensville District for the future.
None of the developments on the site occurred without much planning,
negotiating and hard work from the
Trustees of the Helensville District
HealthTrust.
The Health Trust is a registered
charitable trust with local assets of
almost $3.5 million.
Today it is recognised and respected
throughout the region as a very
successful and integrated rural health
model. The quality health facilities
include the Genesis Energy Kaipara
Medical Complex and the Alison McKenzie Community House, both
owned by theTrust.
These facilities provide a wide range
of essential health services in our rural
area and include the , the ,
Waitemata Health Community Services
andTe Puna Ote te Ora.
The Trust recognises and values its
key strategic health partners in this
complex - Waitemata Health, Genesis
Energy and the Kaipara Medical Centre.
Dianne Kidd was elected as
Chairman of the Trust at the AGM held in
November 2009. Dianne is also a
foundingTrustee.
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