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

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.

Buy Local

Most of us like the idea of buying local, and our Waipu and Bream Bay Markets, along with small local shops all help to make this a reality.  Certainly when I did renovations – I wanted to use Waipu ITM, and was glad that the timber they used even came from Northpine – quality timber milled right here in Waipu.  Petrol is cheaper other places, but all Waipu noticed when our garage was not open for a few months, so my commitment is to use them regularly, if not all the time.

Local couple Phil and Kaz also have this commitment and have taken it a step further by setting up a website which focuses on Buying Local – banks, books, cleaning…  Check out their site

Jandals Bar and Grill at The Big Tomato

I am planning my next dinner out at Jandals.  I have just finished doing a small website for them, and my mouth started watering as I loaded the photos and read the menu.

Proprietors Angela Clements & Brendan Moore spent two years providing the catering at the Waipu Golf Club, they are joined by Chef Chris Coffey (formerly of Tonic Restaurant in Whangarei – one of my favourite restaurants) and Apprentice Kate Clements.

Why not try them out this summer -  Jandals Bar and Grill

Follow them on Facebook to find out about upcoming specials
- such as the upcoming fundraising for Surf Lifesaving

 

 

Another Boat in the Fleet at Marsden Cove

A new adventure for Wally and Shirley Browning – SPOT ON. Taken from the Bream Bay News – get the news online as well as in your letterbox

Wally Browning, with his bushy eyebrows looks every bit the old sea captain. It’s as if after years in different occupations he has finally found his calling. He started his working life in the car painting business in Dargaville and then purchased several holiday parks – first at Oakura and then another in Takapuna. Of late he and wife Shirley have been living in Orewa but you get the impression Wally isn’t one to let the grass grow under his feet. “We had a bach at Tinopai and Wally had a smaller boat there” explains Shirley. This gave him the idea of setting up a fishing charter business at Marsden Cove. They had a new home built alongside their marina berth where they can watch boats coming and going and Wally commissioned his dream fishing charter boat, which he named – “Spot On.”

Spot On was built and designed by Greg Shine of Blade Runner Boats in Kumeu. She is licensed to carry up to 16 game fishers further offshore. She is a 12 metre long catamaran, built in marine grade alloy with a roomy cockpit and plenty of deck space for fishing parties. In ideal conditions she will cruise at between 26 and 30 knots

To help launch his new business Wally is offering what he calls “a rep deal”. If you can find ten people to make up a fishing party on the boat, you get to come along for free.

Contact Wally and Shirley Browning 09 437 2112 0274 922 824  Website  marsdencovefishing@gmail.com  Facebook

Other fishing Charters in Marsden Cove

• Bay Fishing Charters: operating from Marsden Cove and Whangarei   MORE “We can take up to 20 people for a fishing trip, 10 people for an overnight trip and 40 people for a harbour, BBQ or sight seeing cruise.”
• Cara J – Bream Bay Fishing Charters - surveyed for 15 passengers

Waipu Cove Surf School for Sale

Great location 100 metres from Waipu Cove beach with road frontage on the main Cove Road, this business is all set up and ready to go for summer with heaps of potential to grow this business.   The lease on premises is negotiable

 Stock includes

• 12 soft top surfboards
• 45 steamers of assorted sizes
• trolley for boards
• all shop fixture

Currently taking 10 – 20 kids after school on Mondays

Waipu Cove beach is a great surfing or swimming spot which is patrolled during the summer time. Potential to expand into kayak and bike hire.

SALE DETALS HERE

Waipu based Celebrant

Margaret Crichton was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and has background as a teacher and senior manager

My career as a Celebrant, like a lot of things in life, happened by chance. I got a request from a friend at a dinner party to become a Celebrant so I could officiate at their Civil Union. They said ‘it has to be you! We want some-one with your skills.’

It was 2007 and the Civil Union Act had been law for several years. I had attended a few ceremonies but always left feeling a bit disappointed. I felt I could do a much better job. So I applied to the Department of Internal Affairs, met their criteria and did the necessary training.

After doing several Civil Unions for friends I was regularly approached at these events to do weddings as well. So I applied to become a Marriage Celebrant and was accepted.. It has been very rewarding being part of a couple’s special day and helping them to organise such an important milestone in their relationship. I look forward to doing many more.

www.waipucelebrant.co.nz

Read more

Kumara Delight – a new taste sensation

Visiting the Waipu Markets, there is always some interesting new stall. Last week I was delighted to come across My Nana’s Deli selling a fabulous kumara based sweet sensation which is very much like Turkish Delight.

Owners Olga and Carlos live in Ruakaka where they have perfected the recipe- yummy, healthy, low GU, gluten free….

Kumara Delight … Kiwi as.

We choose the best New Zealand Kumaras and Chelsea sugar, to make our Kumara Deligth.

The result , is those beautiful Kumara Deligths, with an incredible taste and beautiful texture, rich in fiber, and totally cholesterol, dairy, gluten and additive free.

We are passionate about creating healthy deli food products. That is why we have added the best Dark Ghana Whittaker’s Chocolate to our original Kumara Delight recipe.

We want to keep your palate pleased with the best healthy ideas, that is why we keep innovating for you and we would love to hear your ideas.

Meet you at the Kasbah

Waipu’s latest eatery has opened…  L’Amour de Kasbah

L’Amour de Kasbah has taken over the old Artform premises on the corner of South Rd in Waipu, offering another great choice for dining in the Bream Bay area.  They have a great Tapas menu and main courses of Moroccan and Mediterranean styled food.  PHONE 09 432 0500

Read more

Next Page »