Kiwi Release in Brynderwyns

For the first time in something like 50 years there are kiwi in the Brynderwyn ranges. Fourteen north island brown kiwi were released into the 400 hectare Maranui conservation block on the south eastern side of the Brynderwyns on Saturday 13 April 2013 (article from Bream Bay News)

Speaking to several hundred people gathered for the occasion at the King Rd. entrance to the Maranui block, Catherine Hawley, representing the Maranui community, said that the land was purchased 26 years ago by a group of families and was covenanted by the Queen Elizabeth 11 Trust, which gives it protection in perpetuity. Read more

Where should the Cycleway/Walkway Go?

Last week I chaired a public meeting in the Anglican Church Hall which drew a great crowd, and some passions running hot for and against the proposed combined cycleway/walkway between Waipu village and Waipu Cove.

The end result of the meeting was:

1. Overwhelming support for the walkway/cycleway to do beside Cove Road (safely and separate from traffic)
2. This route would also point to the public access points to the estuary, and from here people could walk along the public esplanade reserves.
3. The issue of public access to Esplanade Reserves and strips remains important, and should be something that we continue to work with as a community,  and as affected landowners.
4. This worthwhile project needs continued community support, energy, and funding
5. The Trust overseeing the project will keep people in touch with developments via a newsletter and their website. Read more

Kiwi to be Released in The Brynderwyns

The sound of the Northland Brown Kiwi may once again be heard in the Brynderwyn Hills – what a treat that will be. Although some of us who enjoy walking our dogs up there might have to get some kiwi aversion therapy sorted I guess.

Marunui Conservation own a fabulous block of native land on the Mangawhai side of the hills and applied to Doc for some kiwi to be translocated there.

Saturday 13 April 10am 300 King Road, Mangawhai
- All invited to come and share in this magic occasion

(allow 15 minutes to park and walk) Bring a picnic but no dogs please
We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you (Directions below) Read more

Getting here – Hire a Car? A Campervan? Catch a Bus?

Waipu is just 2 hours north of the Auckland International Airport.  For many people in the western world – that is commuting distance.  Also many international flights arrive early in the morning, so it’s not surprising that many people end up here in Waipu and Bream Bay on their first night in NZ.

We are half way to the Bay of Islands, they are probably ready to fall asleep at the wheel and the beaches, well they are fantastic. They are usually more than ready to stop and stay a while.  Read more

Algae Stinking up the Beach

Most of us have noticed it – the red stuff getting caught in our togs as we swim, red waves at Waipu Cove, rotting weed in the seaside creeks and up the Waipu River. 

Stories of people – especially children getting sick when they swim.  It has certainly kept me away from Waipu Cove.  I don’t know what has caused it, but it has certainly affected many of us this summer.  Read more

Estuary Restaurant Opens in Ruakaka

The Estuary Restaurant has just opened at 5 Princes Rd., Ruakaka under the Bream Bay Club. David and Dale took over the lease on this property in November 2012 and have been running a cafe and takeaways there all summer. Read more

Beard Shave off and Rural Development Strategy in Bream Bay

Did you know you can get the Bream Bay News delivered to your in box as well as your mail box – both at no charge?  Contact: megan@eirim.com

Here are some of the highlights from 31 january 2013:

• The Great beard Shave off
• Rural Development Strategy Read more

Boaties, let nature have its tern

“When mooring access comes before world’s rarest shore bird our society is insane.” so begins an article in the NZ Herald this week by Mark Bellingham

Mangawhai Harbour is promoted as a water-lovers’ paradise and the perfect launch pad for surfers, boaties and recreational fishers. But some locals are gunning for significant development of the natural landscape with little regard for the importance and fragility of the harbour’s wildlife.

Many people don’t realise Mangawhai Harbour is critical to the survival of New Zealand fairy terns.

Fairy terns are New Zealand’s rarest shore bird. There are just 43 left in the world. Each one is so vital to the species’ survival that the Department of Conservation (DoC) and volunteers take turns to watch over the birds in shifts, at nesting sites during the breeding season.

This critically endangered species once bred around the North Island and upper South Island, but is now confined to four nesting sites north of Auckland.

Read the rest of the story here

Waipu Wildlife Refuge also has Fairy Terns nesting.  An active group regularly traps, and fences off the nesting sites.  PLEASE DO NOT TAKE DOGS TO THE END OF WAIPU COVE BEACH

Tony Soloman 39 years in Waipu and counting

Tony Soloman has been the chemist in Waipu for 39 years, and there is not much he has not been a part of in Waipu during that time. 

He was here when the State Highway Bypass went through, with Kaye Dixon and a small team, he has helped to keep the parks and – streets clean and tidy – is often to be seen in the early morning hours of Christmas Day tidying up after the Street parade.  Tony has been an active member of lots of organisations, in my time it has been the Waipu Business and Promotions Group and the Waipu Residents and Ratepayers.

I was proud to be one of those at his farewell  as the Chemist in Waipu as he moves into retirement, and I hope he will continue to be a part of this small community, though in a different way.

Many people spoke about how he went the second mile in terms of helping with medication after hours.  While he had an eye for business, he also knew that to succeed, Waipu needed to have a strong identity and work together.

Myra hoping to be back in Whangarei for Christmas

Story from the Bream Bay News

Myra van den Bergen has had to put the exciting plans she had for her first year after leaving college on hold after being crushed by a half tonne log and suffering multiple broken bones during her first week at work barcoding logs at Northport.

Myra was a year 13 student at Bream Bay College this year and the stevedoring was a holiday job. She had just sent off her application to Camp America thinking she would spend a year travelling before settling down to a university degree. Myra’s friend Paige Carter said her plans were on hold but not abandoned and she was sure she would be taking them up again as soon as she is well enough to do so

Myra’s fellow students have been visiting her in hospital and keeping in touch with how she is doing on facebook. She spent an hour on Sunday looking through all their messages on her father Fulco’s Iphone and managed a smile.

“The sense of community at that school is just fantastic”, said Fulco. He said it is likely Myra will be well enough to be transferred back to Whangarei Hospital before Christmas. A safety officer from the Ministry of Business Inovation and Employment is investigating the accident and will issue an official report.

Thanks to Natural Beauty in Waipu, run by Katie Watts, Myra’s friend Belinda Browning reports Katie often runs a ‘good sorts’ competition on Facebook where people nominate someone that they think deserves some pampering and the winner gets to go and have a manicure/facial/something along those lines. The latest competition was for an extremely generous prize worth over $200 and was won by Myra Van Den Bergen.

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