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30 years ofSADD page 9

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The release of a report on the Araparera Forestry Joint Venture on May 24 has delivered little insight into how the troubled scheme was managed.Rodney Councillor Penny Webster promised northern Rodney ratepayers

an independent audit of the joint venture to put to rest concerns about the poor return on investment ratepayers would receive.But the eight-page report produced by Auckland accounting firm Accru Smith Chilcott falls well short of the mark.As expected, it concludes that northern ratepayers will receive 69 per

cent or $2.4 million of the proceeds, which is just $900,000 more than they contributed over the 28 years of paying a targeted rate. Maori Trustees will receive the remaining 31 per cent or $1.1 million.But the report also identifies a gross lack of documentation on the joint venture, particularly in the years when

Hollow audit on Araparera releasedit was under the control of Rodney District Council. It looked specifically at the contributions that each of the joint venture parties made to the scheme because the dividend was calculated according to those contributions. However, Auckland Council could

continued page 3

More Mahurangi residents are coming up with proposals to solve the regions traffic problems as people become increasingly incensed at the lack of headway on new transport projects. Our story on page 6 details the latest proposal, which would enable a bypass of Warkworth by linking into the northern end of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway exactly what local business owners were calling for at a transport consultation meeting last month.

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Former Mahurangi College student James Hayday has won a BAFTA at the Television Craft Awards for his work on the BBC TV series Wolf Hall.James, aged 31, is currently working as a sound engineer in London.Describing how it felt to pick up one of the music industrys most coveted awards, James said it would have been hard to make a mess of it. Director Peter Kosminsky had crafted the show so precisely and subtly, he said. It was a unique and collaborative mix. You dont get many quite like that, so we all had this feeling that we were working on something a bit special.James has worked on numerous productions, including Doctor Who and The Almighty Johnsons.He attended Matakana Primary School and Mahurangi College, and then Tai Poutini Polytechnic where he studied audio engineering.It was impossible to avoid music at home really, James said. Mum and Dad have been music teachers for as long as I have been around.I worked through a few piano and music theory grades as a kid, and that training definitely folds in to the sound engineering side of things. That and being a bit of a nerd.James made his start on student films. His first sound job was creating sound effects for a New Zealand childrens TV show called Amazing

James Hayday (centre) has been a part of multiple award-winning productions and has received a BAFTA for his efforts on BBC TV series Wolf Hall.

Sound is golden for BAFTA winner

Extraordinary Friends in 2007. There was huge scope to design lots of interesting sounds, so it was a wicked job to get early on.Since then, James has worked on the short documentary, Home, which won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Awards in 2013.He also worked on Ellen Is Leaving, which won best narrative short film at the SXSW film awards.In general, there is a bit more money to go around in the UK and that means that we have more time to craft the work. There is a huge pool of

very talented people, too, so its very humbling on that level. It also means that theres a strong community, which is a healthy thing for soundies who otherwise spend their days isolated in dark basements.James has just finished the sound effects on a feature film The Infiltrator, starring Bryan Cranston, and is about to start working on 6 Days, Toa Frasers next film. The weather here is pretty sweet to be honest and Soho in summer is glorious. Good-bye brain, see you in autumn. Im not really in a hurry to leave. Dont tell Mum.

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Issue 296

LocalmattersNZ

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localmatters.co.nz 3MahurangimattersJune 1, 2016

Roading on Board agenda

furnish supporting documents for only 17 per cent of its contributions over the entire life of the joint venture. Panuku Development, which manages the scheme on behalf of Council, says it is not reasonable to expect the audit firm to go through nearly 30 years of documentation and there is no legal or taxation requirement to keep source document for more than seven years.Retired auditor and finance and policy analyst (local government) Larry Mitchell says the report is a disgrace and a scandal.The so-termed review was commissioned by Council, with no independent oversight of its terms of reference and is, thus, not worth the paper it is written on, he says. It is full of holes. The fact that it points out periods when records of the venture were either not kept or are missing is a very serious matter.Mr Mitchell says Cr Webster has played the major role throughout this affair and she must now take the rap and resign.She has failed abjectly to do her job.Cr Webster, who had yet to read the Accru report when Mahurangi Matters contacted her the day after its release, said she knew there were documents missing.I just wonder what people think I could have done? she said. The joint venture was set up well before I joined Rodney Council. I relied on the advice of the staff and the experts we employed to give us forestry advice. It was not my job to decide when the trees should be harvested or to determine what they were worth. When you employ someone, you expect them to do the job.Cr Webster said the way the joint venture had been handled since it went into Auckland Council had been a disaster. (Cr Websters further comments can be read with this story online at localmatters.co.nz)On the issue of the terms of reference for the report, Panuku said the auditors

A copy of the Accru Smith Chilcott report can be read with this story online at localmatters.co.nz

Araparera report released from page 1

were to undertake those procedures they considered necessary in order to obtain reasonable assurance that the terms of the joint venture agreement had been followed. In particular they were to investigate the yearly contributions of each party, determine whether the CPI and IRR calculation had been properly performed, and whether the division of forestry returns and supporting calculations had been properly performed.IncensedLike Mr Mitchell, Tomarata landholder Brian Mason is equally incensed by the lack of information in the report.After waiting years for this piece of information and after our involvement in compiling a 90-page dossier questioning the venture, we now are reluctantly furnished with a brief eight page summary, Mr Mason says.The document is insufficient and misleading, and it raises questions which no doubt need a more qualified opinion than mine. It doesnt even show us the gross returns and working expenses.The Accru report also questioned the reasonableness of charges by Council for management fees and overheads. In the five years from 2007 to 2011, the fee was $7800. This figure jumped to $76,748 in the following four years when the scheme was fully under Auckland Council.Panuku said this was because forest harvesting required significantly more

Panuku Development Auckland director portfolio manager Ian Wheeler says that with interest, Rodneys northern rural ratepayers will receive $2.7 million from the 30-year investment. In a prepared statement, the Rodney Local Board said it is working with Auckland Transport on the best way to prioritise the proceeds from the Araparera funds in accordance with the original Council resolutions. The Board is developing an initial prioritisation framework and schedule for the end of August. If smaller projects are adopted, then the ground work could start in the latter part of the 2016/17 financial year.

ongoing management oversight than a forest that was still in the growth stage.While the report did not audit how the harvest contract was awarded or how the harvest was managed, it did state that the payments made by the harvest manager, HarvestPro, to Council were a net amount after deducting logging, cartage, administration and management fees.This appears to be in conflict with the terms of the harvesting agreement, which required HarvestPro to deposit all monies from sales directly into a Council bank account. Expenses were to be paid on presentation of a monthly invoice.Asked about this, Panuku said there was no particular reason for doing this.However, netting off expenses was a much simpler approach, saving the need for two separate physical transactions, and with the

monitoring of wood sold and market price received, the same outcomes of traceability of expenditure is achieved, a spokesperson said.The report also identified a discrepancy in rental payments to the Maori Trustee. Up until June 2007, Council had included the rent as part of its contribution as per the joint venture agreement. But, this arrangement ceased from July 2007 and Accru could find no evidence that this variation had been agreed to by the joint venture parties. The Maori Trustees were asked to comment on the Araparera outcome, but said their involvement was of a commercial nature and they would not be making a comment on the matter of any investments or returns.On the question of the Forestry Right and the $64,525 per annum rental that ratepayers were continuing to pay on the Araparera land, Panuku said Council had the right to surrender the grant upon payment of a premium of one years rental.We are currently waiting on legal confirmation that registration on the Araparera Certificates of Title has been completed.The Accru report took 11 months to produce. Asked about the cost of the report, Panuku said it did not have exact figures at this stage, but the cost was capped at 80 hours, at a market-related hourly rate for auditing services.

The trees have gone, but concerns about how the Araparera Joint Venture was run are far from resolved.


We welcome your feedback but letters under 300 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them as necessary. Unabridged versions can be read at localmatters.co.nz/opinion.

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Investigation neededCongratulations on your much-needed investigative reporting on the apparent disappearance of North Rodneys deserved pay-out from the joint venture Araparera Forestry Project.Surely 25 years or so of special targeted rate must be on record in the archives and easily found?As a Rodney Councillor for the Hibiscus Coast in the late 70s and 80s I recall the project was first mooted because of an out of control fire on Iwi land at Araparera, which required the fire service and a helicopter to bring under control. The cost, as I recall, was around $8500, which was a large amount at the time, raising the question, How do we pay?. Another pressing question was the ever-present problem of funding for the extensive gravel roads needing to be sealed.The Northern Riding members of the County Council endorsed a scheme with the agreement of the Northern ratepayers, that was believed to be the answer to solve both problems in the long term.A special targeted rate on Northern Rodney ratepayers only was levied for the next 25 years, with the object of sealing all gravel roads in the north and paying off the costs of extinguishing the fire, and a formula for the profits to be paid to the local iwi landowners and the ratepayers was also devised

and agreed, so in my mind, the involvement and procrastination of the Punuku Development Auckland who was not involved at the time...is unnecessary.When amalgamation was forced on us, surely all our assets were not to be considered fair game to be stripped from us? I would have thought that targeted rates, development levies etc were protected by law?More power to your elbow in your investigation!Pat Clapham, Wellsford

Defending magpiesAs a child I spent most of my holidays on family farms in the Manawatu. I came to love the calls of the magpies and at one stage we had a pet bird that would come to be fed.I now have lived in the Mahurangi area for over 50 years and in that time have enjoyed hearing the occasional calls of these birds. I, as would most residents, have seen the magpies chasing hawks away from their territory.On the road to Scotts Landing there have been three families of magpies for over 30 years. They nest in pines and, when nesting, can often be seen on the road. Sadly the young birds are often killed by careless or speeding drivers.Obviously the birds lifespan is quite considerable. So I was really annoyed to read that the local ratepayer group

MERRA [Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association] had bought a magpie trap with the express purpose of killing magpies. Their reasoning was quite patently absurd. Get rid of magpies and we might encourage kaka and pigeons to nest. It was further claimed that magpies predate the nests of other birds.Sadly, a retired farmer claimed to have expertise in killing magpies and set about using the trap. There is something about many retired farmers that leads them to believe they have all the answers. Very annoying.So regardless of the nesting season, birds were caught and killed. No thought for the chicks or the adult partner. And the captured birds would have died a terrifying death. How absolutely cruel to treat birds this way, when they pair off naturally for many years.Kaka nest in cavities which can form in old trees. Not too many of these in Scotts Landing. And as for magpies killing pigeon chicks, that really would be a figment of the imagination of someone who has spent a lifetime using hormone sprays.The birds that do fly low down the hedgerows, circling carefully looking for young nestlings are the hawks. And they are chased off by magpies. So I say, MERRA, rethink your foolish attitude to the beautiful magpies and

Drivers off the leashThe Warkworth traffic situation is causing more discontent every second. This driver sat with its paws on the car horn for a minute until he got his owners attention.

Petrol crisisFilling up for the first time is never easy, especially when the petrol stops pumping into the vehicle. However, as one Mahurangi Matters staff member discovered, it is never a good idea to pull the nozzle out while still holding the trigger. A few litres lost onto the forecourt, but no use crying over spilt petrol.

continued next page

Competition winnerCongratulations Les Johnston for winning the double pass to the NZ National Agricultural Fieldays in Mystery Creek this month.

Fire brigade anniversaryThe Leigh Volunteer Fire Brigade will mark its first 50 years in November and the hunt is on for old photos, memorabilia and stories of call-outs. Organisers say they are also keen to get in touch with as many former brigade volunteers as possible to invite them to the celebrations. Tony and Jenny Enderby, who are putting together a booklet on the history of the brigade, say that it is surprising how few photos there are in the digital camera era. Once upon a time, people would print a photo and then throw it in a drawer so there was a physical record, Jenny says. It is quite noticeable how few prints we have of more recent events. Info: Jenny & Tony [email protected] or 422 6127.

See story page 6


Email letters to [email protected] SAY

[email protected]

ViewpointPenny Webster, Rodney Councillor, Auckland Council

The biggest factor facing the Auckland Council and Rodney is growth. Aucklands population in the 2014-2015 year grew by 43,500. We have had an extra 200,000 in the past five years. This does have a positive side as there are 405 employment opportunities created each week. The downside is dealing with that growth.Council has projected up to a $1.8b in capital spending to deal with not just the growth but with catching up on the underspend of the past. Roads, water and wastewater, storm water these are all big numbers. Council is making savings of up to $200 million a year with an aspirational target of $260m year-on-year and in spite of the rhetoric, staff numbers are three per cent less now than all the previous eight Councils. In fact, finding and retaining staff in areas such as building consents proves a real challenge as many builders I have spoken to contest. Tauranga, Christchurch and Wellington pay $25K more than Auckland and living is cheaper.Investment continues to come to the region and at the recent Tripartite economic summit in Auckland, between Los Angeles and Guangzhou, 700 business people from the three cities met to talk about working together, with many deals being done between firms on a wide range of topics such as film, food innovation and tourism. Many were here for the first time and were delighted with what Auckland had to offer, even visiting Matakana which they raved about. For Rodney, there is the ability to leverage off this growth to get more investment in infrastructure. We need to focus on the big picture which is sometimes difficult when the day-to-day matters are top of mind. Council is also looking at renewing Facilities and Maintenance Contracts. This has been an issue with many of our communities in Rodney as the centralisation of halls, parks and public toilets (of which we have 900+) has meant cleaning and maintenance is often not up to scratch. There are a great many opportunities for improvement while driving down costs and allowing a more flexible regime. Especially in the area of cross over between Auckland Council parks department and Auckland Transport in the road corridor, the cause of much frustration to the public and councillors alike. Finally, we are looking forward to an announcement of the contract to build the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway and yes this will include the Matakana Link road. The battle then will be to get the link road formed early so that it becomes a construction road for the motorway to relieve the Hill St intersection.

Managing growth

throw your expensive trap in the rubbish.Incidentally, I have had two pigeon chicks come to our feeding table in the past fortnight. That makes four chicks that two pair of pigeons have raised on our property this summer. The birds eat 1kg of Watties free-flow corn each day.Warren Agnew, Scotts Landing Residents Group

Highway rubbishI was out for my weekly walk this morning and was struck by the absolute mess along SH1 around the new BP and McDonalds sites.

If we have to put up with these eyesores the least they can do is clean up the rubbish generated by their customers. I have even seen rubbish scattered along McKinney Road.Kevin Ball, Warkworth.

Traffic woes continueCongratulations Elizabeth Foster on a well-informed letter regarding the mess that is Warkworth (MM May 18).Greed and self interest is rampant and now we have safety and potential life threatening situations arising from the traffic, gridlocks which can prevent fire and ambulance services operating efficiently tragic.Sheryl Smith, Snells Beach

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They are doing most of the route already. It only requires this connecting road to be built.The land is zoned as Future Urban in Auckland Councils proposed Unitary Plan and is likely to be developed in 10 years time.It will break up my farm, but in the longer term its inevitable the area will be developed. Why not do it now?But, NZTA has rejected the proposal.

Auckland and Northland highway manager Brett Gliddon says a temporary bypass would still take years to plan and construct, and could not be included in the motorway project at this late stage.While the suggested proposal offers private land, this land would still need to be formally designated to construct the motorway and resource consents obtained for any potential environmental effects, Mr Gliddon

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A Mahurangi resident is offering to give his land to let NZTA build a bypass of Warkworth to reduce the backlog at the Hill Street intersection.It is the latest in a string of proposals that have come from local residents frustrated with the lack of progress on projects to reduce congestion in the region.Bill Endeans farm, just north of Valerie Close, lies between SH1 and the designation for the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway.He has put forward a proposal to NZTA to let them build a road through his land to link the motorway to SH1.He says the motorway could be completed from the Warkworth end first and the new road could create a temporary bypass of Warkworth and the Hill Street intersection.Its just for the satisfaction of seeing commonsense brought to bear on the chaos at Hill Street, Mr Endean says. I cant stand the misery of it any longer. If nothing gets done, Warkworth will grind to a halt.NZTA and Auckland Transport have decided they will wait until after the new motorway is constructed in 2022 before making any improvements to the Hill Street intersection or building new link roads.Mr Endean says the proposed road would mostly traverse flat land, but would require a bridge over a tributary of the Mahurangi River.

Bill Endeans land, shown in blue, lies directly between SH1 and the new motorway designation. The red line shows the proposed road.

NZ Transport Agency declines link-road freebie

Tracey Martin, Mark Mitchell and Warkworth Liaison Group member

Roger Williams talk about what needs to be done to fix Hill Street at localmatters.co.nz

says. A temporary bypass would still take some years to plan and construct before it could be operational, therefore it is unlikely to provide significant time savings or benefits compared with the complete project.The preferred consortium for the motorway construction is expected to be released next month with the contract awarded in October.Mr Endean has also sent his proposal to local MPs and to the Prime Ministers office, and has been told it will be considered by John Key.It is the latest in a series of traffic projects which have been developed by Mahurangi residents.The Warkworth Liaison Group is pushing for NZTA to commit to designing a solution, which it believes may need to include both traffic signals and traffic islands.The Minister needs to put funding towards this design as soon as possible, group member and retired roading engineer Roger Williams says.He is pleased to see residents like Grant McLachlan putting forward solutions.He says the two traffic island idea is one of many that NZTA needs to evaluate.

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A proposal to reduce the rates paid by farm owners has been rejected by Auckland Council, as it announces its proposed budget for the next financial year.Earlier this year, Council consulted on a proposal developed by Franklin Councillor Bill Cashmore and Rodney Councillor Penny Webster, which would have seen rates for farmers with properties over 50 hectares reduced by a third. The policy would have been paid for by a general rates increase of $3.70 a year.But it failed to get backing from the urban local boards only the Franklin and Rodney local boards supported it.In a press release, Mayor Len Brown said the policy might be included in the next Long Term Plan, which would be finalised in 2018.While I understand the rationale for this proposal, I am still of the view that leaving our rating policy basically unchanged is a desirable outcome at this stage of the planning cycle, Mayor Brown said. The Long Term Plan, which coincides with new valuations, is a good time to review

significant change to differentials.Cr Webster said the result was disappointing.But at least we put it out there, Cr Webster said. It was a fairly new concept. Rural ratepayers already have a lower differential, so to get a further decrease was pushing it a bit. We knew it was a long shot.It comes as Mayor Brown has opted for a steady-as-she-goes budget, with no changes to any of the budget policies which were consulted on at the start of the year.The Uniform Annual General Charge, or UAGC, will remain at $394 and the Interim Transport Levy will stay at $113.85 for residential ratepayers and $182.85 for business ratepayers.I am firmly of the view that after five years of upheaval in the rating system since amalgamation it is time for some stability, Mayor Brown said.There will be a general rates increase of 2.4 per cent, which includes a 2.6 per cent increase for residential ratepayers and a 1.7 per cent increase for business ratepayers.

Council blocks rural rates cut

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The Pacific Road carpark at Te Arai will stay put after the developer has backtracked on its proposal to move the facility back from the beach.The developer, Te Arai North Limited (TANL), had a resource consent to move the carpark about 300 metres back from the beach. But, TANL representative David Lewis says, after talking with Auckland Council, the developer has agreed to leave the carpark where it is.Full access will remain at the carpark, Mr Lewis says. We are waiting to meet with the groups involved to talk through what we are proposing. We never had any intention of restricting access.The Save Te Arai group and Mangawhai resident Christine

Fernyhough presented to Councils Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee on May 18. The Committee requested Parks manager Mace Ward work with the community and the developer to resolve public access for all modes to Te Arai Beach.A meeting between Council, the developer and community groups was scheduled for Friday May 27, as Mahurangi Matters went to print.Save Te Arai chair Aaron McConchie says the group hasnt heard any details about the proposal, but is hopeful the issue will be resolved at the meeting.We are going into the meeting blind, but with an open mind, Mr McConchie says.

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Thirty years after it was first formed at Mahurangi College, the Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) initiative is still thriving at schools around the country.The student-led programme, which promotes safer driving among youth, is now in three-quarters of all New Zealand schools.Mahurangi student Lynda Civil started the programme after she returned from an exchange trip to America in 1985.Back then, the road toll among 15-19 year olds was 152. Now, 30 years on, that figure has been reduced by 80 per cent to around 30 deaths each year.Robyn Jones (nee Starr) got involved in the initiative when she was 14 and was one of the original members. She still lives locally and runs a transport business in the area.Im amazed its still going, she says. My daughter Paige is about the age I was when it started. Shes also a student at Mahurangi College. They need to keep going with it.Robyn and her fellow students used shock tactics to get their message across. Accident scenes were created with wrecked cars and victims heavily made-up with tomato sauce.Our thinking was, if people can see it

and get scared by it, they are less likely to drive dangerously, Robyn says.The next step in the students campaign was to mark the spot where people had been killed along State Highway 1 with white crosses. Former student Amanda Johnson (nee Bellingham) remembers it well.We started off the whole white cross initiative, she says. I remember going down to the satellite station and putting up the first white crosses. Transit New Zealand, now NZTA, ordered them to be removed. The students, under the watchful eye of local Rotary Club member Pat Lennan, were not deterred and moved the crosses onto private land. In 1991, Transit New Zealand reversed its decision and the white cross is still used as a cautionary sign to drivers.Amanda Johnson says that although the organisation was local it was always focused on having a positive impact nationwide. We used to travel around doing speaking engagements and setting up mock accidents. I remember going up to Whangarei Girls [high school] and explaining SADDs goals and concerns. We were very much focused on spreading the word to other schools, Amanda says.The success of the local SADD organisation caught the attention of American-based SADD founder

A thirty year legacy Mahurangis SADD initiative still saves lives

Robert Anastas. The former teacher started SADD after two of his pupils were killed in a car crash involving a drunk driver. He visited Warkworth in 1991 and embarked on a nationwide tour, bringing together all the schools that Mahurangi College had encouraged to take up the cause under the SADD umbrella.Current SADD school support regional coordinator Chris Rogers says despite the significant reduction in the road toll, the message is still as poignant today as it was 30 years ago.If you are between 15 and 19, you are more likely to die in a car crash than

any other cause, Chris says. Speed, alcohol, and drugs have the most destructive impact. Today, Brenton Baker is Mahurangi Colleges current SADD representative. He says they owe a debt to the original students back in 1985. He isnt surprised the initiative is still going strong today.Its relevant today because its still an issue, Brenton says. I had a family member killed in a car accident and I wanted to make sure that my friends didnt become a statistic. Im really happy to be part of the initiative that they started.

Robyn Jones, one of the first members of SADD at Mahurangi College, goes through her old scrapbook of newspaper clippings.

Robyn Jones (nee Starr), center, with Amanda Johnson (nee Bellingham), far right, at the start of the campaign to erect white crosses at the site of fatal accidents along SH1 in 1990. Transit NZ reversed its decision to ban them one year later.

Mahurangi students promoted their road safety campaign nationally. These students from Napier used the Mahurangi College initiative of shocking young drivers by creating their own mock accident. They set up this scene in 1992. It was so lifelike an off-duty nurse and doctor rushed to their aid before realising it was staged. SADD is now in 77 per cent of all New Zealand high schools. Despite an 80 per cent reduction in the road toll, SADD says car crashes still the most common cause of death among 15-19 year olds.

environment10 Mahurangimatters June 1, 2016

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A former director of Leigh Fisheries is calling for a review of the Quota Management System (QMS) after taking part in research that found millions of tonnes of fish are being illegally dumped in New Zealand.Leigh resident Barry Torkington was one of a team of 11 researchers that released a report that estimates the NZ fishery catch is 2.7 times more than what is reported, mainly due to unreported commercial catch and catch being discarded at sea.The study is a collaboration between the University of British Columbia and the University of Auckland, and forms part of a global review of fisheries catch figures.Mr Torkington was invited to take part in the study by lead author Dr Daniel Pauly, because of his experience in the industry in NZ.Mr Torkington says the QMS creates an incentive for fishermen to dump catch they dont hold quota for, which has meant the impact of fishing has gone under reported.The public is repeatedly told New Zealand is the envy of the world with our quota management system, Mr

Leigh fisherman challenges Government on quota system

Torkington says. This report dispels that myth.Its an inevitable consequence of a quota system because you cant choose what you catch.The system needs a complete overhaul. There is no Band-aid that can be applied. They are systemic issues.Under current regulations, fishermen are meant to bring ashore all catch of quota species and pay an invoice, a bit like a fine, for the catch that exceeds their quota, Mr Torkington says. But many fishermen dump the catch, rather than pay the price.Most of what you receive will be paid to the Government, so theres no incentive to land it.

But, the fishermen operating under Leigh Fisheries are not the main issue, he says.Most of Leigh Fisheries catch is from long-lining, so even if there is some discarding, the volumes arent great. Most of the dumping is done offshore in the deep-sea fisheries. Its when you get a net of fish you dont want that the problem starts.The Ministry for Primary Industries has been dismissive of the report. It issued a press release saying the research relies too heavily on anecdotal evidence and that fish stocks are a more important measure of sustainability.The overwhelming majority of fish caught by commercial fishers came

from stocks where sustainability was not a concern, MPI fisheries management director Dave Turner says.But, MPI director general Martyn Dunne has since called for an independent review of an MPI report, which found widespread illegal dumping during inspections in 2012 and early 2013.Mr Torkington says MPI has lost credibility and is ineffective at managing the fisheries in a sustainable manner.The rationale is contradicted by their own reports. Widespread dumping has been happening for a long time. The degree of defence they go to its like they are unpaid consultants for the industry. Its not the public interest they are representing, its private interest.Mr Torkington is a former fisherman and was director of Leigh Fisheries in the 1990s and has been a long-time critic of the QMS.He recently chaired a major conference in Snells Beach looking at the impact and future of fishing in New Zealand.New Zealand was a world leader when it introduced a quota management system in 1986 and it has since been introduced around the world.

Leigh fisherman Barry Torkington says Leigh Fisheries is not one of the main culprits in the fish-dumping scandal which made headlines las month.

environment 11MahurangimattersJune 1, 2016

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Not a week goes by without freedom campers in the news, with their actions attributed to a range of social ills. Toilet paper in bushes and allegedly worse on peoples berms; campervans parked overnight, or sometimes for weeks at a time in coastal and lakeside locations disturbing locals views; hassling wildlife; leaving rut marks beside scenic but highly modified lakes! Ive seen the campers, too, of all nationalities, lighting fires, chasing endangered species with their selfie sticks and playing loud music till all hours of the night.Tourism is currently New Zealands highest overseas currency income earner and what a beautiful place it is, too. Stunning scenery, snowy mountains, bubbling mud, golden beaches, and we are lucky to have immediate access as residents. Though its not the pure experience we might expect with the (manufacturing, fishing and consumer) rubbish on beaches and roadsides, and industrial scale agriculture and irrigation. And all those other tourists!Many of us Kiwis are tourists and freedom campers, too. It seems the secret is out and the whole world knows how fantastic it is to road-trip the country with the freedom of a camper vehicle and to stop anywhere along the way in the most magnificent locations. From cashed-up Aucklanders in mansions on wheels to adventure-seeking young Europeans in Wicked vans, or Kiwi teenagers traveling around or just camping overnight, in summer especially, New Zealands roads, campsites, coastal strips, carparks and wilderness areas are full of people pulling up to stay.But some current toilet blocks in places like coastal Otago, serving hundreds of people every night over summer, are so old, small and decrepit that they must be a health hazard. In other places like Lindis Pass and on the eastern shores of lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, there are no toilets at all. No wonder travellers of all sorts are sometimes caught short. The Government has pledged $12 million over four years to help small councils with necessary infrastructure to help mitigate the effects of this new economic miracle. Thats not much when a decent set of toilets can cost half a million dollars, as excessive as that seems. And its not much when tourists generated $30 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in GST last year.In response to the pressures from increasing visitors, Councils are also stepping up monitoring and enforcement of camping restrictions, reviewing and closing more areas where previously no or few restrictions applied. Theyre also looking at other ways of addressing all these pressures. But while adequate funding for facilities should go some way towards mitigating the hygiene and sanitary risks from freedom camping, it does nothing to address the wider impacts on the environment of tourism, including overcrowded huts and tracks, eroded coastal margins, and threatened species such as penguins, sea lions and dolphins hassled by visitors for the perfect moment or photo. Whether its freedom camping or not, tourism still has costs.

Tourism has its costs

BID manager cleared following investigationBusiness Improvement District (BID) manager and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Gary Holmes has been cleared of wrongdoing after an investigation into alleged conflict of interest.In March, the Warkworth Commerce and Industrial Association (WCIA) raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest involving Mr Gary Holmes. His company, Campaigns Ltd, manages four BIDs and he is also a joint shareholder in a company with two Council staff members who are involved in establishing BIDs.The WCIA speculated that this could involve a serious conflict of interest, where those who establish BIDs work in tandem with those who profit from managing them.Council CCO and external partnerships manager Alastair Cameron says the investigation has now concluded.The investigation has determined that there was no actual conflict of interest, although it is acknowledged that the relationship at the centre of the allegation could have given rise to the perception of a conflict of interest, Mr Cameron says. The staff involved have been reminded of the need to ensure that they do their upmost to avoid situations which could lead to the perception of a conflict of interest.


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George Driver

A recent review of the Supercity has raised concerns about public representation in Auckland Council, but has warned against breakaway groups dividing the region.The Committee for Auckland, an independent business-orientated group, commissioned a report to look at whether Auckland Council had delivered following the local government amalgamation.Overall, the report gives Council a tentative thumbs-up.We believe credit must be given to Auckland Council and its staff for the hard work that has gone into building such a large and complex organisation, while maintaining services and functions for the public, the report says. We do not agree with those who want to start again and build a new council structure. Nor do we see the need to re-litigate its outer boundaries.But, it says issues with representation may be alienating members of the public. As a remedy, it suggests giving local boards greater involvement in decision-making.They lack power, profile and respect. Not enough is known about how local boards engage with communities. People dont yet feel they can participate in the democratic process.

Supercity review dismissive of NAG agendaA new law has come into force which prevents representatives from serving on multiple local boards at one time.Out of the five local board members who are reportedly affected by the bill, three of them sit on the Rodney Local Board: Greg Sayers, who also sits on the Hibiscus and Bays board; Warren Flaunty, who also sits on the Henderson-Massey board and John McLean, who sits on the Upper Harbour board.The law comes into effect for the elections in October. It wont stop candidates from standing for more than one local board, but they will only be entitled to hold one elected board position.Candidates must specify which boards they are standing for and list them in order of priority.

Other than Great Barrier, only a small minority of residents surveyed in the report said they felt like they could participate in local board decision-making, including just 23 per cent of Rodney residents.Massey University associate professor Grant Duncan was one of the authors of the report and says the issues facing Rodney residents are no different to those of other areas of Auckland.The issues in Rodney are symptomatic of the low levels of representation per head of population in the Auckland Council structure, Mr Duncan says. When you look at the representatives who actually have powers over regulations, bylaws and budgets, its only the Governing Body. Thats 21 people representing a population of 1.5 million. Its a ridiculously high representation ratio. When you include the local boards its still high, both nationally and internationally.The number of residents per representative in Auckland is nearly

double the national average, with one representative per 8980 residents compared to the NZ average of one representative per 4847 residents.But, the Supercity was created to enable better regional planning to manage growth and those arguments for including Rodney are still valid, he says.Growth will happen. You can run away from it and put up a boundary and say you arent part of the big shemozzle, but it is going to happen. Is splitting off a better way of dealing with it?If we get too excited with criticising the model, we will end up with 21 borough councils.But Northern Action Group chair Bill Townson says the report gives an urban-centric view of the issues.There is no attempt to qualify their statement opposing boundary alterations and, other than that, the rural sector of Auckland doesnt even get a mention, Mr Townson says.

CORREC TIONAlternative application for the structure of local government in Auckland will not have to show community support, as incorrectly stated in Mahurangi Matters, May 4.The Local Government Commission is calling on alternative applications as part of its assessment of the Northern Action Groups application to secede from Auckland Council.Info: lgc.govt.nz

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Three people have already announced they will vie for the position of Rodney Councillor at the local body elections in October.Rodney Local Board members Greg Sayers and Steven Garner will stand against Penny Webster.Cr Webster has held the position for two terms and was mayor of Rodney District Council for one term. She says it is important the area has consistent representation with a new mayor coming and she is keen to stand again.Our issues wont change, but they need that voice, Cr Webster says.Mr Sayers says his priority will be to ensure there is a fairer share of rates spent in the area.I am deeply disappointed about what has failed to be done for Rodney over six years and I want this turned around.He says he will not stand for either the Rodney or Hibiscus and Bays local boards, which he also currently sits on.I wish to concentrate all of my energy and resources into a single campaign.Mr Garner has served two terms on Rodney Local Board. He also stood for councillor in 2013 and will stand for both roles this year.I think I can do a better job than what is currently being done, Mr

Garner says.He says getting progress on major infrastructure projects will be his priority.I think it will take someone who has a depth of understanding and commitment to the area to get them over the line.Local Board members Beth Houlbrooke and James Colville have confirmed they will stand for the Board again.Ms Houlbrooke was first elected to the Board in 2013. She says getting a new swimming pool in Warkworth remains her priority. Without a champion for it, I think it would have been dead in the water, Ms Houlbrooke says.Mr Colville was runner-up in the 2010 election and first served on the Local Board after James Rolfe resigned in 2012. He was elected to the position six months later.My main concern is the roads have been deteriorating, Mr Colville says. Im still ever hopeful that there will be more tar-sealing done in this area.Candidate nominations open on July 15 until August 12. Candidates will be publicly notified on August 17 and voting day is October 8.Info: lgnz.co.nz/vote2016

Three candidates campaign for Rodney seat on Council

View local news videos online at localmatters.co.nz

onlinefeature14 Mahurangimatters June 1, 2016

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As the Mahurangi area is predicted to grow dramatically, could new high-tech industries provide jobs for the future population? Thats the plan behind Massey University and Auckland Tourism and Economic Developments, Grow North initiative. The concept aims to facilitate and encourage innovative business and tech start-ups outside Aucklands central business district and in the Rodney area. The plan is still in the consultation phase but aims to provide the right facilities, communication, and expertise to encourage high-tech economic development throughout the area. The think-tank behind the scheme believes that can be achieved through building technical hubs for office space, as well as online initiatives.Senior lecturer at Masseys School of Management Dr Rebecca Gill says the initiative will expand northwards over the next 10 years.It would be really exciting to have a creative Grow North hub in Orewa, and that will affect other areas in the north indirectly. I would like to see Grow North go farther, even to Wellsford or all the way up into Northland, but thats a long term vision.Local businesses are already aware of the benefits of locating in the Mahurangi area. Paul Russell is the chief executive of Matakana-based business, Global Design and Production. Pauls business turns ideas into user-friendly products hes currently producing flat-packed, polystyrene-free, reusable, cool boxes for the food industry. Mr Russell employs

Could Warkworth be the next Silicon Valley?

Local businessman Paul Russell is mixing business with lifestyle.

five staff and believes the lifestyle of the region is attracting a highly skilled workforce, well suited to the tech industry.There are not many businesses like ours for people to work for up here, Paul says. If I advertise for staff I get very high calibre applicants. They arent expecting Auckland pay rates because they want to have an awesome lifestyle instead of sitting in traffic. Its a win-win.

But, does he think Mahurangi has a future as a tech-hub?Its a great idea for new businesses, when they are trying to get going and learn. We have found our own way of using technology to help our business. Were planning on expanding with an office in Albany. We will set up one wall in each office as a screen and live stream to each other. Basically combining the offices in a virtual space despite the physical distance. The initiative believes that by encouraging business hubs throughout the region, Aucklands commuter traffic will improve as people work closer to home.Others in the tech industry are less optimistic and believe infrastructure needs a serious revamp before Mahurangi can capitalise on becoming a hub for online business.Mike Hargreaves from Meshninety, a software solutions consultancy, is looking to move to the area to join his family. However he says he cant base his business in Mahurangi because ultra fast broadband isnt available. Ultimately, fibre is essential, Mike says. You can operate on VDSL, but the fibre roll out wont reach most of the area for years. Fibre solves the face-to-face problem through proper video conferencing solutions.Despite the lack of fibre, the idea of a shared office is appealing to Mike, who has been involved in three internet start-up companies.The tech-hub scenario would work in that you could cheaply hire office space and share modern office facilities. Having access to a decent conference room, audio-visual equipment, and networking with others increases your productivity, Mike says.

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Former banker and cricket coach Patrick Cole is aiming to smash the coffee capsule market for six with his Warkworth-based business, Simply Coffee. Patrick was working in a high-pressure role in global banking, based in Londons financial district, but was shaken by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and decided to return to New Zealand with his wife Louise. It made me realise there was more to life than money and I wanted to come back home, he says.After a spell with a New Zealand bank, Patrick finally landed his dream job and became the manager and assistant coach of the Auckland Aces cricket team.During his tenure, Patrick went to the champions league a record three times, facing the worlds top one-day sides, and he counts a number of household cricketing greats as friends Andre Adams lives down the road. After moving to Warkworth from Takapuna two years ago, spending more time in the local area became a priority. He retired from the game last year, after managing Northern Districts.Patrick was using coffee grounds in the garden and was horrified at the cost of coffee capsules on the environment and on his wallet.

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After a decade of owning her own hairdressing salon in Notting Hill, London, Karin Tomey has returned to her roots and opened Artisan Brown Hair Design in Warkworth.Karin purchased the Hair Studio in Riverview Plaza from Jacqui Harvey last year, but two weeks before take-over she took on the lease for the neighboring tenancy, allowing for expansion of the business.We were at capacity and needed space to grow, Karin says.The former Warkworth Movie Hire store has had a major overhaul with a light interior, and an eco-friendly attention to detail.Karin grew up in Matakana and started training to be a hairdresser in Warkworth, after studying at Mahurangi College.She continued training in Remuera before heading on her big OE.I planned to go for six weeks but ended up staying for 15 years.She lived in London, first working in PR, before opening a salon in Notting Hill, which she ran for a decade.Working in the industry in London was a huge learning curve, she says.London is a fantastic place to learn. There are world-class designer hairdressers on your doorstep to keep

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you up to date with all the latest trends.Karin moved back to New Zealand with her husband nine years ago to raise their daughter. She worked as a hairdresser from home, but was ready for a new challenge.Former Hair Studio owner Jacqui Harvey has had the business for 15 years and will continue to work alongside Karin and her husband and the original team.Its been a fantastic business and I want to thank all the clients that have supported me, Jacqui says. Karins come at the right time. Theres growth in Warkworth and she will take the hair studio to a higher level.Im really excited to be working alongside her.

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After having worked at dental practices in Snells Beach and Wellsford for the past four years, Dr Vivek Jain has decided to start his own practice, Matakana Dental Care, in the new building at 44 Matakana Valley Road.I always felt welcomed by the community, Dr Jain says. People here are friendly, it has a great lifestyle and it is growing.Dr Jain grew up in Kolkata and moved to Bangalore to study dentistry after high school.After seeing picturesque scenes of New Zealand in movies and cricket matches, he decided to move to New Zealand during his final year of dental school.My aunty lives in Palmerston North and I always wanted to come to New Zealand.I enrolled with the University of Otago School of Dentistry for their Bridging Programme in 2011 to sharpen my skills.After working in Wairoa and Hawkes Bay he moved to Auckland and started working in Mahurangi four years ago.Matakana Dental Care is due to open this month. It will be a three-chair, modern practice with state of the art facilities, including a modern chair and digital x-rays. The dental centre

Helen Young and Dr Vivek Jain.

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will provide general and preventative dentistry, with a focus on cosmetic dentistry. I have been mentored by some of New Zealands leading cosmetic dentists. Giving people a good smile is one of the best things you can do.Dr Jain plans to open seven days a week and also offer after-hours emergency dental services.Matakana Dental Care will be a mercury-free practice, and will soon introduce implants and intravenous sedation. All treatment to under-18s will be free. He also plans to have a specialist orthodontist on board.Dr Jain will be joined by Helen Young as his practice manager, with whom he worked at Wellsford.

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Spending two years renovating a villa in Waitoki was the start of a love affair with painting and decorating for husband and wife team, Darren and Linda Taylor. The couple has joined The Pro Group, providing interior and exterior painting services throughout the Rodney and Hibiscus Coast area. Over the last 20 years, Darren has run a wide range of businesses in the hospitality field from lodges and events to small cafes.You learn in hospitality how important your customers are, so I wanted my next new business to have customer longevity, he says.While taking a break from business and spending more time with his three children, Darren indulged in to his love of sailing, teaching it between renovating.I loved it and felt so relaxed when I was sailing that I started to look for a business that would accommodate this new passion. We wanted a business where we could establish a relationship with clients that would be ongoing. I liked how you could do that with The Pro Group. Doing a professional job is key and I didnt want to be a one-man band. We have some of the best contractors

Warkworth real estate agent Len McKeown believes the future of real estate sales is online and has started a web-based property business, Webrealty.Len started the business in April after researching how people buy and sell property. The reality is that over 90 per cent of people head online to either Trademe or realestate.co.nz to look for property for sale, Len says. They dont go down to the real estate agents office on the main street any more.Commission rates are also much higher here than in Australia and that is because most real estate companies have high overheads, with high-cost retail premises, staff and outdated advertising practices.Most of the job is now done online and I am able to operate without any staff or retail premises which means I can provide very competitive rates.Lens interest in real estate grew out of his career in estate planning. He started his career in the Public Trust Office in Masterton and worked in a number of North Island locations before moving into the private trust sector in the 1990s. His interest in property was developed while dealing with property sales through estate planning and trust administration.He has owned property in Mahurangi

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in the region on our books. The Pro Group use Dulux paint exclusively, and, as looking after our clients is top priority, we also offer a five-year peace of mind warranty. Darren says being a part of a larger company that has a great seven stage work system, makes it faster and more efficient for clients to get their jobs completed from installing garage carpet, to grout cleaning as well as interior and exterior painting.However, its not all hard work with the Taylor family. Darren grew up in Queenstown and still ventures back to go skiing with the family. He says it is important to travel and the couple have instilled that in their children. We took three months off and travelled the world. It was a wonderful classroom for the kids and they learnt a lot.

Len McKeown

since the 1980s and moved to the area permanently six years ago. He started working for United Real Estate the following year and has been involved in selling real estate ever since.The negotiating involved in property transactions can be fun but can also be very frustrating dealing with people from all walks of life is the part of the job I enjoy the most.Webrealty covers the North Shore and Rodney.

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realestate18 Mahurangimatters June 1, 2016

The Big Omaha Trail:Plans to build a 20km trail from Matakana to Pakiri Beach, via Mt Tamahunga, including artwork by renowned Kiwi artist, Billy Apple. The trail will mostly use paper roads.Matakana Coast Trail Trust: Has built trails connecting Point Wells, Omaha through to Matakana and plans to form a trail network from Waiwera to Mangawhai.Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust:Plans to build a trail linking Wenderholm Regional Park to Te Muri Regional Park by building a foot-bridge across the Puhoi River.Warkworth: Members of Forest and Bird and Lions are building trails from Warkworth to the Old Cement Works, which is nearly complete but permission is still needed to cross one private property. The group is also working on trails to connect Warkworth to the Showgrounds via Kowhai Park and up the Mahurangi River to a reserve near the Falls Road ford.Puhoi: A group is investigating trails to connect with new subdivisions near the town and wants to build a trail to connect the Te Araroa trail to Wenderholm and Te Muri.

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Mahurangi trail building groups are looking to unite under a new structure to gain funding and momentum behind walkway and cycleway projects.The idea is being supported by Auckland Council, which is looking to use Mahurangi as a pilot project to develop new ways of supporting trail groups.Representatives from 10 trail groups met at The Bridgehouse in Warkworth last month to share information about the projects they were working on and discuss coordinating under a new arrangement.Meeting chair Gary Browne proposed the groups unite behind the Matakana Coast Trail Trust (MCTT), which already had established relationships with Auckland Transport (AT), Council, NZTA, DOC and iwi. It was crucial that groups unite behind the vision of a trail stretching across the region, from Waiwera to Mangawhai, he said.This could be a trail of national significance the most popular in New Zealand, Mr Browne said.Each group would have a member on the MCTT board and they could use their collective power to lobby for funding.The meeting was buoyed by the announcement that the Government would contribute $13 million

Mahurangi walkway groups look to unite behind trail of national significance

It needs to ensure all groups are equally represented, Mr Macdonald says.Greenways consultant Steve Bramley said Council was developing a scheme to support trail developments through Auckland and he wanted to use Mahurangi as a pilot.We have about 170 groups across Auckland, Mr Bramley said. It can be more effective working with one entity that has your confidence. You know your community. Id love to work this through as a pilot of how to integrate funding strategies.

Council parks advisor and greenways project manager Don Lawson said Council would be consulting on a greenways plan for Matakana, Warkworth and Snells Beach in September.I am blown away by this evening, Mr Lawson said. We are well ahead of the game here. Im very excited.Mr Lawson was developing a plan with Kumeu, Riverhead and Waimauku. Next year, the Board would fund a Rodney-wide greenways plan.Takatu businessman Martin Dancy

The groups:

Ten trail groups mapped out the projects they were involved in at the meeting last month.

towards a $26 million trail network in Central Otago.Its important we are heading in the same direction so we can access some of that funding, Mr Browne said. Once we harness that energy, its incredibly powerful.Matakana Community Group chair Simon Barclay said uniting under MCTT would save the groups a lot of time and effort.The frustration of dealing with Council at the lower levels is enough to kill any project, Mr Barclay said. The fact this group has legal agreements bypasses this problem and we should all make the most of this unique opportunity.But other groups are apprehensive about supporting a structure led by MCTT.Big Omaha Trail Trust secretary Ian Macdonald says he is in favour of the groups coming together under a larger federation, but the details of how each group is represented will be important.

realestate 19MahurangimattersJune 1, 2016

Snells Beach: The Snells Beach Ratepayers and Residents Association is investigating a trail from Snells Beach to Warkworth and Matakana. The Rodney Local Board has given a $10,000 grant to the group to commission a feasibility study for the project, which is expected to be released in July.Sandspit: The Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association is investigating trails linking to Snells Beach and wants to build a footpath up Sandspit Road.Scotts Landing:There are a number of paper roads on the peninsular, which a group is working to have established as part of a trail network.Omaha: The Omaha Beach Community is planning a 4km walkway beside the Taniko Wetlands Scientific Reserve, which borders the Whangateau Harbour.Baddeleys Beach Farm Trail:Martin Dancy is planning a trail from Takatu Road, along Whitmore Road to Baddeleys Beach, through neighbouring farms. The trail would cross five private properties, including his own.

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Research by a former Mahurangi resident, which suggests Portuguese and Spanish explorers could have been the first Europeans to visit New Zealand, has opened the door to a Government review of the topic.Winston Cowie published The Conquistador Puzzle Trail last year after researching alternative theories for the European discovery of NZ.The book looks at evidence, including maps of Portuguese and Spanish voyages, which suggests Portuguese explorers could have visited Aotearoa between 1520 and 1524, followed by the Spanish in 1576-78.Last August, Winston wrote to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, asking for the theories to be included in the Governments online encyclopedia, Te Ara, which made no mention of the possible Iberian discoveries in its NZ history section.The Ministry has reviewed its entry on the European discovery of NZ after reading Winstons book and it updated the article this month, conceding that it is possible Spanish and Portuguese ships visited NZ in the 15th century, but further evidence is needed.Spanish or Portuguese ships ... may have reached, or become wrecked on the New Zealand coast, the updated entry states. But there is no firm

evidence of Europeans reaching New Zealand before Abel Tasman in 1642. Although fragmentary information found in Portuguese and Spanish archives suggests at least the possibility of earlier arrivals, no-one before Tasman reported the discovery of new land that can be identified as New Zealand.The Ministry says it will conduct a more thorough review into alternative theories of the European discovery of NZ.Winston has now been included in the list of sources for the article.Although the encyclopedia doesnt state the Iberian discoveries were probable, as Winston believes, he says it is a huge step towards having an open debate on the topic.I am a glass half full kind of guy history wasnt written in a day, Winston says.Moving forward, and with the knowledge that a thorough review will come, I will be strongly advocating for additional changes to be made. I am very happy and humbled to have been added to the key sources list.Winston grew up in Mahurangi and his family still lives in the area, but he now works as a marine policy manager in Abu Dhabi.

Pieces falling into place in conquistador puzzle

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Mahurangi walkway groups look to unite behind trail of national significance

also announced a new trail proposal he was working on to connect Takatu Road through to Baddeleys Beach. The trail could involve a new scheme he had been developing with Council to encourage landowners to form paths through their land by granting them titles for subdivision.It would be a win-win situation for land owners, the public and councils, Mr Dancy said.The groups plan to meet again next month to discuss opportunities for working together and whether

the groups will unite under a new structure.After the meeting, MCTT chair Allison Roe said it was important for the groups to maintain their independence, while being united behind a common cause.Weve got to all be on the same page and working together, Ms Roe said. Thats the way we will make the most progress. Every group will continue to do what they are doing and everyone needs to feel comfortable about the new direction.

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If we wind the clock back to early 2010, most people in Christchurch would have been going about their daily lives with no inkling of what was about to hit them. Fast forward to 22 February 2011 and their lives would be turned upside down as a result of the second major earthquake to hit them in a short space of time. The result was that this was the third biggest-ever insurance event the world had seen with claims for damage hitting the $40 billion mark. Some

Are you covered?

people were well covered, some partially covered and some had no cover at all. Peoples lives were changed for ever and now five years on I thought I would ask local Warkworth Insurance expert Josh Adams of RMA Financial some questions about how the Fire & General insurance industry has changed.What are the main changes to household insurance since the quake?This is a huge topic, When it comes to house insurance, one of the major issues after the events in Christchurch was that reinsurers really had no idea as to the total exposure they had in New Zealand. As the magnitude of the losses started to be realised, the insurers reacted quickly with an end, almost simultaneously, to open-ended house policies that were based on SQM replacement.This certainly caused headaches for the industry and particularly the consumer, as policies defaulted to a sum-insured basis. As building costs rose, the default that most insurers used of $2000 per SQM quickly became out of touch with reality and before long most properties were well under-insured again. Despite what your view may be on this, it is the new normal for almost all insurers and I believe the sum insured replacement provides more certainty for policy holders at claim time. The key is that policy holders must review their policies and make sure the values insured are sufficient. What advice would you give people about renewing their policies, what to check for? Know your policy! They come in all shapes and sizes, and certain coverage options that are automatically included in one might be excluded from the other. Also, review your sums insured and engage the services of an expert such as a valuer or quantity surveyor if you want to help ensure the accuracy of your sums insured. AVOID UNDER INSURANCE. It is better to slightly over-inflate the sum insured of the property than to under-insure. The policy will only ever pay up to the sum insured noted in the schedule. For every $100,000 in cover is approximately an extra $80 in premium per annum.We all noticed that insurance costs went up a lot post-2011 for all of us, have these settled now?Short answer, yes. The market is competitive at the moment and in some cases natural disaster rates have dropped back to similar levels that were present pre-Christchurch. Review your cover, consult your broker or valuer and take the time to understand you policy.

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There has been a dramatic and sustained surge in buyer enquiry over the past month in Northern Rodney (and throughout the country). This is resulting in a severe shortage of properties on the market and rapid rises in property values. All good for property owners, not so great for first home buyers or people moving from less expensive to more expensive suburbs.

In this market there is a stronger argument than normal for taking your property to auction. However not every property is ideal for auctioning, so be careful that you are not talked into selling by auction when you may get a better result with a fixed price. An experienced agent should be able to identify the types of buyers that are most likely to be interested in your property and therefore the likely volume of cashed up buyers that are going to be potential bidders. If most of the buyers are likely to have a house to sell, or they need to conduct extensive due diligence on your property, or your property is so unique that only a small group of buyers is likely to be interested, then auction is probably not for you.

At Mike Pero, our agents are paid the same for an auction sale as for fixed price and we have an outstanding track record with both types of sale; so when we recommend one or the other, we have your best interests at heart. Call one of the Team if you would like to know more.

Know someone who deserves a big thank you for their community spirit? Tell us and they will receive acknowledgement in Mahurangi Matters and an amazing hamper from Chocolate Brown, 6 Mill Lane, Warkworth. Send your nominations to [email protected] (subject line: Sweet Appreciation) or post to: Sweet Appreciation, Mahurangi Matters, PO Box 701, Warkworth. Kindly refrain from nominating members of your own family.

Send your nominations to [email protected]

Congratulations to Warkworth Butchery, who are the recipients of a gift basket from Chocolate Brown. The business was nominated by Helen Jamieson, who wrote:

Id like to nominate the amazing Rob and his team at Warkworth Butchery for their community spirit. Rob has turned the Warkworth Butchery into a thriving business by applying skill combined with good old-fashioned customer service. He remembers everyones names, knows all the kids names and will even remember where you just went on holiday! He goes the extra mile making allergen free

Warkworth Butchery owners Rob and Renee Lees

products and has even been willing to make us sugar-free bacon so we could try it! Rob generously supplies sausages to many school and sporting events locally. And, when possible, he supports charities and fundraising with his BBQ outside his shop on Saturdays. Rob and his teams hard work has made the butchery an important part of Warkworth. It would be lovely to let them know how much they are appreciated.


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