Helensville Brochure

Follow the links below to archived news items on Helensville and the surrounding area. Most articles appear courtesy Helensville News.

2005 Articles

Men and Family Centre to open (November 28, 2005)
Athletics Club draws huge response (November 26, 2005)
Rodney learning centres to close (October 26, 2005)
Roadside banners cause controversy (October 26, 2005)
Garden Party on again (October 10, 2005)
Power station near Helensville looks like to go ahead (October 6, 2005)
Lions Club to create Heritage Trail (September 22, 2005)
Spring Fling turns five (September 21, 2005)
Gala Performance event marks PACKS opening (August 31, 2005)
Youth Club holds open day (August 16, 2005)
Lions Club elects first woman president (July 21, 2005)
Mobile vaccination service (July 21, 2005)
Site visitor figures balloon (July 12, 2005)
Resource recovery centre to open in Helensville (April 28, 2005)
Horse Expo a huge success again (April 3, 2005)
Record crowd at A&P Show (February 3, 2005)
Website attracts growing visitor numbers (February 3, 2005)
Crime is locals biggest worry - poll (January 28, 2005)
Council sponsors youth centre (January 26, 2005)

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Men and Family Centre to open (November 28, '05)

     A Men and Family Centre is being set up in the former Rodney Learning Centre building in Helensville by the South Kaipara Men's Trust.
     The trust, established earlier this year, will be based at the centre, following approval of seed funding by COGS to start pilot support and psycho-educational services for men and young men in the South Kaipara region.
     National research shows statistics related to men are not in good shape: 70% of road deaths are males; 71% of deaths from heart disease are males; 80% of community probation offenders are male; 75% of work related injuries in 2003 were to males; ADHD is 3-4 times more likely to occur for males than females (Bruce Mackie 2005).
     Research done in Helensville by Jonathan Lee is not yet complete, but initial indications show there is a need for local social and psycho-educational services and programmes for men.
     The trust, through the centre, will start pilot services based on the identified needs in the first half of 2006.
     Jonathan Lee and Andrew Connolly have recently returned from the Australia and New Zealand Men's Gathering and Festival, hosted by the Men's Health and Wellbeing Association (Queensland).
     “Learning from the successes and failures other men have made in their work with men and young men was an honor, and strengthened my passion to do what I can to support men to be good men,” said Jonathan.
     The pair are grateful for the support which enabled them to attend the gathering, in particular: Helensville Lions Club, Helensville Fitness Centre, DIA Youth Training, Computer Research,; the Gane Family and the South Kaipara Men's Trust.
     Jonathan is planning to host a number of hui in the region to report to the community the initial results of his research, and to get further feedback regarding the needs of the community regarding men and young men. For further information contact Jonathan on 420 6232 or Andrew on 420 7043.

Athletics Club draws huge response (November 26, '05)

     Helensville has a new athletics club for the first time in 10 years.
The revived Helensville Athletics Club’s organising committee has been astounded at the response to the club’s formation, with more than 260 members signing up in the first four weeks.
     Catering for children aged from two to 13 years, the club is held at Kaipara College each Wednesday evening from 5:30pm.
Events include track, relays, long jump, high jump, shot put and discus.
     The number of helpers has been promising, but more are still needed. The club aims to hold a coaching day so marshals can receive professional coaching for all events.
     Helensville Athletics Club is also in the process of affiliating with Athletics New Zealand and North Harbour Athletics, which will give members the chance to compete against other clubs.
     However, the main aim of the club is for the children to have fun and enjoy themselves. To that end, a special theme night was being held on November 23 so members could dress up as their favourite ‘Superhero’.

Rodney learning centres to close (October 26, '05)

     The Rodney Community Learning Centres (formerly Helensville Youth Learning Centre) will close at the end of the year after 21 years of providing tertiary education courses in Helensville.
     The changing patterns of training requirements, and the reduction in unemployment, have both been cited as reasons for the closure.
     The decision to close is regretted by many students and tutors who have been associated with the RCLC over the years, even though it was seen as inevitable.
     Many hundreds of people throughout the Rodney District have benefited from training courses provided by the centres at Helensville, Wellsford, Warkworth, Orewa, and Silverdale. Other places like Kaiwaka, Matakana, and Kaukapakapa, were served by the centres' mobile training programme in the 1990s.
     RCLC has worked with other local providers, including Haranui Marae, to provide the best possible opportunities for local people. Youth Learning Centres were established, as a Government initiative in the mid-1980s, to provide post-secondary training in various country areas which had no easy access to polytechnics.
     Helensville, Kaitaia and Papakura were chosen in the north. Helensville was hosted by Carrington Polytechnic for its first five years, and in 1989 gained permission to transfer its host status to Kaipara College.
     The Helensville Youth Learning Centre began operation from the former convent school in Gerald Stokes Avenue, Helensville South, in January 1984. It provided Government training programmes for school leavers and adults wishing to return to the work force. Topics covered a wide range: farming and rural skills, building, computer and business training, retail and customer services, community care, life skills, job search and work based training.
     For the last couple of years the Helenville centre has organised the community education classes for Kaipara College. Two very enterprising schemes instigated by the RCLC in the early 1990s were the support for the setting up of forestry and agriculture courses at Kaipara College, using a variety of government and non-government funding, and the establishment of a Mobile Training Service to take computer training out to the people of Rodney.

Roadside banners cause controversy (October 26, '05)

     Helensville’s roadside banners are causing controversy.
     The 34 banners In Commercial Road and at the State Highway 16 roundabout are expensive to maintain and replace. In Helensville’s climate, they only have a life expectancy of around six months.
     When the generic ones installed by the previous Helensville District Business Association needed replacing, help was sought from the business community. Only three businesses were prepared to meet the cost, and Helensville’s main street banners are now commercial advertisements for those three businesses.
     This has met with quite a lot of criticism, and prompted a number of letters to the editor of the Nor West Newsbrief deriding the banners. The current business association is now canvassing members for their views and suggestions on the issue.
     You can vote on the banners in this website's latest poll.

Garden Party on again (October 10, '05)

Power station near Helensville looks likely to go ahead (October 6, '05)

     With an option in place to buy 18 hectares of land halfway between Helensville and Kaukapakapa, it seems likely Genesis Energy’s plans to build a natural gas-fuelled power station will go ahead.
     The company announced on October 4 it had secured an option for the site adjacent to State Highway 16 for its proposed natural station, which will have an ultimate capacity of 360MW and is scheduled to be commissioned for the summer of 2008/09.
     The option to buy means Genesis has reached an agreement with the property’s landowners to purchase the land should the project attain the necessary consents to proceed.
     In planning for new electricity generation for the region, Genesis investigated a wide range of generation types and settled on a natural gas-fuelled plant, citing high efficiency and reliability as reasons.
     Genesis has engaged in discussions with Rodney District Council to ensure the project meets environmental standards and fits into the region’s infrastructure needs, before beginning community consultation and the resource consent process.
     Genesis Energy chief executive Murray Jackson is pleased to see the project moving ahead and believes the proposal that goes to the consent phase will have the backing of the community.
     “We are set on making sure our proposed power station meets the expectations of Rodney’s residents and that we end up reaching an outcome that is agreeable to all parties,” said Mr Jackson.
     Genesis Energy will shortly begin consultation with neighbours, Rodney residents, local iwi, environmental groups and other interested parties. Provided community consultation is successful, the resource consent process will begin after consultation.

Lions Club to create Heritage Trail (September 22, '05)

     A Helensville heritage trail celebrating the history of the township is to be created by the Lions Club of Helensville.
     The trail will be established after appropriate buildings have been identified and their histories researched.
     Once the background work has been done, plaques will be installed at the sites giving a brief history of the buildings to keep passersby informed. It is also planned to produce a map and accompanying brochure, which will give more in-depth information on the history of the buildings.
     The first building identified for the trail is the original Helensville Hospital of Dr Meinhold in Garfield Rd. Extensive research has been carried out on this building with the help of the owners, and this is now being prepared for inclusion on the plaque.
     Other buildings being considered are Helen's villa, the home after which Helensville is named, and Judge Rogan's house in Rogan Ave.
Once a number of sites have been identified and plaques installed, the heritage trail will be developed.

Spring Fling Turns Five (September 21, '05)

     The annual Spring Fling celebration is on again, with the event now in its fifth year and returning to Frech Orchards Estate at Shelly Beach on Sunday, October 16 from 9.30am to 4pm.
     Many stallholders from previous years are taking part again, plus lots of new and exciting exhibitors. Country rock duo John and Susie will again play their mix of easy-listening music all day and caterer Rosemary Steele will once more run the Spring Fling Kaff.
     New stallholders this year include:

• Sharon Langlois, a sewer who makes fairy dresses. Sharon will also bring her glass cheese platters, great gifts presented with wineglasses and cheese knife.
• Jill Woodgate is recent arrival from England and now resident at Shelly Beach. Jill is showing her range of children's clothing, aimed at the four to eight-year-old group.
• Laura Mason will be showing her range of crystals in copper, a unique style of gifts.
• Prenzel of Kumeu will have their range of delicious schnapps and liqueurs. They will also be supplying Matua Valley Wines and a boutique supply of beers.
• Street Espresso Coffee
• Shona Beech will show stone creations and children's' fantasy pieces. Shona creates magical pieces ranging from jewellery boxes to book marks.
• Adrienne and Sandra King will bring their unique style of jewellery to Spring Fling
• Art Kaipara will be well represented this year, specialising in print, sculpture, painting and weaving.

Among those returning are: Diane Ferguson - plants; Chrissy Jones - preserves; DD Tulloch - pottery; Marj Pendergrast - olive oil and soaps; Brian - wind divas; Trisha - crystals and feng shui; Helen Rozelle - bromeliads; Marlene Shirley - baby linen; Joy Constable - patchwork; Andrea and Lee Cooper - toys and herbs; Helen Cardnow - paua shell creations; Jane Vallings - shower caps and throws; Colleen and Malcolm - the Lolly Truck; Ann and Erin - handcrafted cards; Bev and Lee - ceramics; Rachel Fraser - gold and silver jewellery; sculptor Diane McGarvey will be joining the Art Kaipara stand this year.

Gala Performance Event marks PACKS opening (August 31, '05)

     A Gala Show at the Kaipara College Hall in Helensville on Wednesday, September 7 marked the establishment of the Performing Arts Centre - Kaipara South (PACKS).
     With support from Rodney Creative Communities Scheme and the Parakai Licensing Trust, the gala event was billed as a show unlike any seen before in Helensville.
     There were performances by a wide age range across all performing arts disciplines, plus appearances by special guest stars. More than 30 acts auditioned for the event.
     The aim of PACKS is to give the community a focus, and to enable people to fulfil their dreams and ambitions without having to leave the area.
     Where parents currently drive their children to the East Coast for dance classes, or into the city for drama - PACKS plans to offer quality local classes to keep our talent here, enriching our region.
     The first sign of PACKS progress is the arrival of a new ballet school to Helensville, teaching all grades, R.A.D. and competition and all ages. For more information call Linda on 420 4478 or Christine on 027 310 5684.
     PACKS isn't aimed solely at children and youths, however. There are many adults who play instruments, sing or who simply fantasise about appearing on stage. PACKS aims to offer everyone, regardless of age, the opportunity to get involved in their chosen performing arts field. And there will be opportunities for those who don't want to get on stage too, in the areas of costume, stage management, sound and lighting.
     A bonus is there will be more local events, and a rich, interesting local culture. For more information on PACKS, contact Nick Roberts on 420 7846 or hville@xtra.co.nz.

Youth Club holds open day (August 16, '05)

     The Te Awaroa Youth Club hosted an open day for members, families and the community on Saturday September 10.
     The event will began with a powhiri at 10am. After brief talks by speakers, the club held another graffiti art workshop facilitated by well-known aerosol artists. There was an all-day boxing exhibition featuring professional boxers Sean Sullivan and Alex Manning, amongst others.
     Club manager Heidi Van Duyn says: “the open day was a fantastic way to see this top notch venue, which not only caters to youth but also provides a special place for other groups to work from.”
     Te Awaroa Youth Club is a non-profit organisation located at 10 Awaroa Rd, and is free of charge. Its aim is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for local youth, mostly in the 12-17 age group.
It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and also offers after hours functions and workshops, such as Friday night movie sessions and Sunday morning kick-boxing classes.
     The club's 465 sq.m. premises has been tailored specifically for teenagers, and its uniqueness is apparent to anyone who walks through the doors.
     It has been designed for youth to realise their potential in an environment that is their own, and in response the 300-plus members view the club as theirs and portray a refreshing friendliness, desire to learn and natural talent.
     “To witness boisterous people at peace in the art room; timid people beating drums in the music room; insecure youths sparring in the boxing ring; excited individuals creating in the craft room, is a delight for any observer,” says Heidi. “There is something to be said when two people that would otherwise not relate can have a friendly game of table tennis or pool.”
     Te Awaroa Youth Club provides various programmes and community-based projects, along with activities such as kick boxing and a gymnasium, a music room and a comprehensive library, art and crafts, computer classes and leisure areas with air hockey and fooze ball.
     The club is run by Heidi and a group of highly motivated individuals, who have over the last four years created a wonderful, inspiring place for teenagers of all backgrounds to come to, says Heidi.
     “It's is a great way for community members to assist in the development of youth and aid them to become responsible young adults.”

Lions Club elects first woman president (July 21, '05)

     The Lions Club of Helensville is showing its feminine side, with the election of Raewyn Crean as its first woman president.
     In fact women now occupy many of the club's top spots, including first vice president, third vice president, secretary, and three of the four directors' positions.
     The club has had a busy start to the year.
     Their first major event was catering for the Helensville A&P Show, which involved a large number of members preparing lunches, filled rolls, sandwiches etc both for show officials and sale to the public. The following day the club was involved in catering for the Camp Quality 'Escarpade', a scaled-down version of the Variety Bash.
     During March the club helped with car parking at the 4 Wheel Drive Championships at Peak Rd.
     Starting in November last year a Lions team worked on the bi-annual Lions Club Community Directory, since distributed to every home and business in the 420 dialing area.
     The club has also been busy helping clean up the old Dairy Company building and grounds.
     Over the past six months the club has made donations to the International Lions Tsunami appeal, helped Senior Net with upgrading their kitchen facilities, and helped with installing a deck at the Hospice shop. The Club also made donations to the National Burns Unit at Middlemore Hospital, the Salvation Army and helped with the purchase of a defibrillator for the Helensville Volunteer Fire Brigade. They also helped a Kaipara College student go on a Spirit of New Zealand voyage, and contributed towards Lucy Pengelly's training expenses for her preparation for the upcoming World Surf Lifesaving Championships.
     Club officers elected for the next Lions year are:
     President: Raewyn Crean; 1st Vice President: Bronwyn Alexander; 2nd Vice President: Scott Osmond; 3rd Vice President: Glenys Curran.
     Secretary: Lynda MacGregor; Treasurer: Chris Clark; Directors: David MacGregor, Janet Heron, Pauline O'Neill, Gaye Teague.
     Bulletin: Scott Osmond; Tail Twister: Mike O'Neill; Lion Tamer: Terry Frost-Jones; Greeter: John Old; Welfare Officer: Dennis Cummings.

Mobile vaccination service (July 21, '05)

     The free 'Moby' mobile vaccination service will be at Haranui Marae on September 1 and at Reweti Marae on September 8, both at 10am. Visits to Arapareira Marae are also planned.
     The mobile clinic delivers meningococcal B immunisations to preschoolers whose families find it hard to get to a doctor. Young people who have left school but are under 20 and eligible for the MeNZBTM vaccination can also book a time to be immunised by the Mobile Clinic Service.
     Kaipara Medical Centre practice nurses Sarah Epstein and Linda Ingles will staff the vaccination clinic alongside community nurses Doreen Scully, Heather Thompson and Aroha Tapsell of health provider Te Ha O Te Oranga O Ngati Whatua.
     Families or young people who think they may be eligible to use the Mobile Clinic Service can call 420 7235 or 420 8400 to make an appointment for vaccination.

Site visitor figures balloon (July 12, '05)

     Around 400 people a day are visiting Helensville - but you won't see them on the streets.
     They are visiting the town through this website - Helensville Online - with more than 10,000 unique visitors every month. In fact for three of the past four months that figure has topped 11,000 - with almost 12,000 in March.
     Visits by Kiwis account for just over half the total - generally around 52% to 57%. The remaining site visitors come from all over the world. As well as visits from the nations you would expect - the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and the UK - there are a raft of visitors from every corner of the planet.
     Over the past few months people have called into the site from: Kazakhstan, the Slovak Republic, Indonesia, Uruguay, Estonia, Belgium, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Brazil, Poland, Portugal ... the list goes on.     

Resource recovery centre to open in Helensville (April 28, '05)

     A resource recovery centre is to open in Mill Road, Helensville.
     Rodney District Council has given its blessing to the community-led project, with a grant of $68,000 which will be made available over the next two financial years. The money will be used by the Helensville Resource Recovery Centre Trust for capital investment.
     The trust is to lease a site in Mill Road off the council at a peppercorn rental for 10 years. The council will also provide help with consents.
     The trust's aim is to provide the Helensville community with a low cost resource recovery centre, where as much as possible will be recycled, with 'recovered' material being on-sold.

Horse Expo huge success again (April 3, '05)

     Horse Expo New Zealand - held for the second time yesterday at the Helensville Showgrounds - was given a big thumbs up by the crowds and participants.
     Undoubtedly the biggest hit with the crowds was the Lone Ryders stunt girls, who performed twice during the day to loud cheers and gasps of amazement.
     Their final performance was followed by some speed runs in front of the crowd by chariots from the Xena Warrior Princess series, being filmed by a television crew. At one stage a chariot was "driven" by a barking Boxer - much to the audience's delight and amusement.
     There were many more trade stands at this year's Ancare-sponsored Expo than last year, and they reported brisk trade.
     Demonstration Corner again drew an interested audience, to watch experts demonstrating saddle fitting, equine dentistry, Bowen therapy, barefoot trimming and more. A talk by international judge Kevin Cholmondeley-Smith was well received.
     Displays from a wide range of equestrian codes, clubs and organisations held in two arenas were also very popular, covering the gamut from miniature Mediterranean donkeys through to giant Clydesdales. [Visit the Horse Expo website]

Record crowd at A&P Show (February 3, '05)

     A record 7000 people attended the 103rd annual Helensville A&P Show last Saturday - that's 2000 more than the previous highest figure.
     They were treated to perfect weather, a record number of trade displays, entertainers and demonstrators, plus greater than normal entries in some of the equestrian classes.
     A huge hit was the first-ever "Relish the Taste" - a large tasting and demonstration area where visitors could sample locally-produced food and beverages, and in some instances see it being prepared.
     And mid-afternoon the crowd was treated to the sight of the local volunteer fire brigade being called in to ladder-rescue a 12--year-old boy who got stuck 13m up a poplar tree after climbing up to rescue a balloon.

Website attracts growing visitor numbers (February 3, '05)

     The Helensville Online website has recorded it's highest visitor numbers, with fractionally less than 11,000 individual people looking at the site in January 2005.
     The website is now averaging more than 10,000 unique visitors each month, around 55% of them from New Zealand. That figure has grown by more than 1000 in the last 12 months.
     The site has been online for approximately six years.

Crime is locals biggest worry - poll (January 28, '05)

     More than half the respondents in the latest Helensville Online web poll cited crime and tagging as their main concern with living in the Helensville area.
     And while 57 percent were worried about crime, a further 20 percent believe there isn't enough for the district's youth to do.
     The only other area of concern to reach double figures - and just at eleven percent - was a perceived loss of rural character.
     Race relations and roading both garnered five percent of the poll vote, while council rates can bottom of the pile as an area of concern with just two percent.

Council sponsors youth centre (January 26, '05)

     Rodney District Council has decided to sponsor Helensville's Te Awaroa Youth Club - a deal which spokeswoman Heidi Bassett says will enable the club to reach its full potential.
     The council will sponsor the club in its bid to get significant government funding for a community leader, through the government agency Family and Community Services. A community initiatives fund of up to $75,000 is available.
     The council has been a keen supporter of the club in past years, including providing grants for various projects. It's sponsorship of the Te Awaroa Youth Club ties in with the council's youth strategy, which aims to make safe and accessible places for youth.