23rd March 2020

It’s been a while coming. Some say never go into business with family. However, it’s family businesses that have been the cornerstones of trade and commerce throughout centuries.


 

Unprecedented events are unfolding around us as we deal with a double-header of challenges: the worst drought in decades, possibly a century, which we’ve already all been dealing with for months; and then a rapidly evolving virus pandemic that’s global and now impacting locally at speed.
 

After training for the last six months a band of intrepid local bikers are on the final legs of a marathon 3000 kilometre journey spanning the length of New Zealand.


 

Throngs navigated their way to a unique open-air music and arts event, based on Europe’s festival scene, with a Kiwi flavour and a focus on caring for the environment.


 

Stations to diagnose people carrying Covid-19 have been set up around the region by Northland District Health Board (NDHB) with the first Community Testing Centres (CTC) already opened on March 19 in Whangarei, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Kawakawa with a Dargaville station available from March 25. At time of print, a CTC for east Kaipara – Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and Maungaturoto, is yet to be confirmed.
 

MHRS mess Anyone who visits the Mangawhai sandspit can see hundreds of metres of torn windbreak mesh rolling around in the shallows of the estuary, plus heaps of fencing.
Road to ruin We did a double take when we saw this headline (Living on a road to ruin) in your March 9 edition.
Dunny delight Was in a supermarket yesterday in Warkworth. Sadly, another of Auckland's growing, overspill neighbours now. 

A fortuitous encounter between a local artist and the bare walls of Kaipara District Council’s new offices has resulted in another venue for people to view the multi-talent of Mangawhai artists.


 

Kaipara Kai, a support base for landowners and the kai industry was opened for business in Ruawai by the Hon Shane Jones.



 

Preparing for uncertain times Council is working hard to prepare for service delivery in a COVID-19 pandemic environment, and to help minimise its effects.


 

Traveller’s will be happy to once again access Mangawhai unhindered by delays through a main arterial route now a bridge repair has been given the all clear, two weeks before the due finishing date.
 

The Organising Committee for Waipu Museum’s Art’n Tartan Awards is postponing this year’s 10th Anniversary event. Claire Drake, Producer and Debi Walters Brown, 2020 Director, said today “Our Art’nTartan Wearable Art Awards attract an audience of 1500 people over 3 performances in July each year. 
 

I was accosted by a fellow in the street. It’s the price I pay for writing in the paper. “Hey,” he said (he shall remain unnamed for everyone’s benefit and also because I can‘t remember his name) “I read your article about the coronavirus and it gave me food for thought.” I had some empathy with him as I was on my way to get a filled roll for lunch.
 

Two Whangarei schools were crowned champions in a race against-time competition designed to stimulate the problem-solving inventor mind-set of school children.
 

The fate of Wood Street’s shopping centre traffic is still undecided with two more consultation sessions held recently asking for feedback on the one-way design.

 

In November 2019, Computers Plus and MK Rentals co-located to Unit 2 in the Hub at the Village. The new location has proved to be great for both companies with its central location and off-street parking being highly accessible for customers.

 

A long-standing popular multi-product shop has been undergoing a makeover in the last few months complete with a recent name change.