A trophy in the form of a traditional Māori weapon carved by Kerikeri firefighters has been presented to the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, winners of this year's Community Spirit Award in the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge.
The May 19 challenge saw 950 firefighters race up all 1103 steps of the
Bay News Bites: Maori weapon carved by Kerikeri firefighters presented as Sky Tower Stair Challenge Community Spirit Award
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Kerikeri firefighter Ngaia Cruden exchanges a hongi with Rev Sid Kingi after the blessing of the Community Spirit trophy. Photo/Peter de Graaf
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The inaugural winner, in 2015, was the Kaikohe Fire Brigade, which raised a massive $18,513 despite being first-timers in the challenge and having to fundraise in one of the country's poorest towns.
In 2016 the Community Spirit Award was won by Halcombe, in the Manawatū; last year it returned to the Far North when it was awarded to the Kerikeri Fire Brigade, which raised more than $26,000 through a car wash, walkathon, sausage sizzles and a charity auction.
That meant Kerikeri firefighters had to create a new trophy for the 2018 winners.
Qualified firefighter Ngaia Cruden carved the tewhatewha (a traditional bladed weapon) from kauri, but said it was a team effort with other firefighters providing the wood, paua and feathers, or doing the polishing. His son, Kiwa, helped with the carving.
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Cruden called the taonga Tumanako (hope), a reference to the search for a cure for leukaemia.
"Everyone – parents, patients, supporters – hopes there'll be a cure or a relief," he said.
The taonga was blessed and cleansed by Rev Sid Kingi on May 14, the brigade's last training night before the challenge, so it would be ready to be handed over after Saturday's challenge.
"It's important that we do it properly, to uphold traditions and customs," Cruden said. "We're dealing with Māori taonga so certain customs have to be followed. It's a good experience for the rest of the brigade too."
Cruden's iwi affiliations include Nga Ruahine, Taranaki and Te Atiawa but he is connected to Northland through the waka Kurahaupo.
Station officer Ben Scott said a team of 10 firefighters from the Kerikeri brigade took part this year, raising $7848.
"We had a quieter campaign this year. We stepped back a bit after going big for a couple of years, but we'll regather next year."
Scott said the volunteers took part because they loved a challenge and a good cause.
"It's the same reason we get on a fire truck. They go side by side," he said.
Challenge organiser Tony Scott, of Pakaraka, said the Lyttelton brigade won this year's award because the town was still recovering from the devastation of the 2011 earthquake, yet the community rallied behind their firefighters year after year to help others.
Free kiwi listening workshops
Winter is coming but it won't see the dedicated Project Island Song team and volunteers hunkering down in front of the fire when there's work to do.
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May is the beginning of the planting season, which is work enough, but there are also a number of other events coming up that tie in nicely with the project's mission.
Kiwi enthusiasts or amateur ornithologists are being reminded to pencil in kiwi listening workshops later this month in the Bay of Islands.
Department of Conservation Kerikeri is running two free kiwi listening workshops in the lead-up to the annual kiwi listening period. Community groups and the public are invited to come and learn about where kiwi live, what they actually sound like and how to record their calls.
These workshops are a chance to meet other keen kiwi listeners over a cuppa tea and learn what some of those nighttime calls are, such as a possum scream or a morepork/ruru call, and how different the male kiwi sounds from the female.
The eastern BOI workshop is at Maratu Marae, Russell, from 1pm-3pm on Saturday, May 26, hosted by Russell Landcare Trust. The mid-BOI one is at Waimate North School Hall, Te Ahu Ahu Rd, Sunday, May 27, 1pm-3pm, hosted by Waimate North Landcare Trust.
For registration or more information contact Helen Ough Dealy on 027 201 2695 or hodealy@doc.govt.nz.
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Kaikohe celebrates creativity and culture
In a town that often gets a bad rep, Te Pu O Te Wheke Arts says it works hard to show the creativity and devotion to culture that Kaikohe celebrates.
Over the last few months, members of the community have brought in objects to decorate with fairy lights, turning them into star formations which represent Matariki, the constellation that used to guide Māori across the seas.
That dedication and local talent will be on show at the second annual Matariki Art Celebration, opening on June 1 at 6pm, at Te Pu O Te Wheke Arts, 81 Broadway.
The exhibition opening will include star formation sculptures, local art, free popcorn, barista coffee, kai, kids' glow tunnel and live music.
Shelter keeps the children warm and dry
When Stella Schmid heard there was no bus shelter she got the backing of Focus Paihia and arranged for one to be built on the front yard of the Takimoana's property.
Local resident and builder Chris Brittain volunteered his time and talents to guide the building project.
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A team of community members, many families among them, got together on the first weekend in May to get the building up, with materials and other services donated by local businesses.
The bus shelter was designed by Stella Schmid with help from the team at Bay of Islands ITM.
The new facility has been dedicated to and named after the Takimoana's moku Te Kaha Me Te Kororia, who recently died.
Mavis and her brother Timmy Takimoana have gifted the piece of land the bus shelter sits on in Tahuna Drive in memory of their parents Timmy and Diana Takimoana.
Inaugural golf tournament includes Kauri Cliffs
A new golf tournament is due to tee off in Northland, with PaR NZ Golfing Holidays introducing the inaugural 2018 Bay of Islands Four Course Golf Classic.
The tournament is being advertised as taking part in New Zealand's lush, subtropical North — ''a great golf destination and home to a unique marine paradise, sheltered white sandy beaches, natural kauri forests, a vibrant Māori culture, and history, where the foundations of New Zealand as a nation were laid''.
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This new multi-course tournament from May 28 to June 1 combines playing one of the world's best courses, Kauri Cliffs, along with some of Northland's best club courses — the Bay of Islands, Waitangi and Whangaroa golf clubs.
Golfers taking part are offered the rare chance of playing Kauri Cliffs in a competition format for a special rate. Kauri Cliffs is ranked 49th in the world according to Golf Digest's World's 100 Greatest Courses. The four tournament rounds will be held over five days including a rest day.
Men and women of all handicap levels and ages are welcome to enter, with the invitation going out to New Zealand, Australian and international golfers seeking the chance to visit Northland.
Trip to perform
The Mazzoli Trio, comprising three talented young players who have gained an international reputation, will perform in Kerikeri.
The trio was formed in 2015 by Shauno Isomura (violin), Julie Park (viola) and Sally Kim(cello), at the time students from the University of Auckland and Pettman National Junior Academy of Music.
Members of the trio have made concerto appearances including with the Baden Baden Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, the Mazzoli Trio performed concerts at the International Akaroa Music Summer Festival, featured as the official ensemble in residence.
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Shortly after its formation in New Zealand, the group was invited to perform in the second International PAMS Music Summit held in Beijing, China. The trio's recital received a standing ovation and the players were praised for presenting the most unique selection of works at the summit.
Presented by Aroha Music Society in association with Chamber Music New Zealand, The Mazzoli Trio will play a diverse programme at the Turner Centre, Kerikeri, Friday, June 8, 7.30pm.
Bay of Islands performers in Smokefreerockquest
Smokefreerockquest gets under way in Northland on Saturday with a number of young Bay of Islands performers taking part.
For entrants in the nationwide high school music competition, finding a name is often first among their many challenges. Pastie Boys and Soup of the Day feature among the bands to play off at the Forum North on Saturday.
This year an expected 3000 young people will go through regional heats and finals in 24 towns from Invercargill to Whangārei as they compete in Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats (formerly Pacifica Beats) which showcases Pacifica and Maori culture in a contemporary music setting.
Founder and director Glenn Common says over the past 30 years there has been tremendous support from schools, who value the framework these events create for their students to strive for success, express themselves and gain NCEA credits.
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"This is often mentioned as the motivator that keeps kids engaged in the school system. Teachers can see the benefits that being in a band brings - kids learn to co-operate, to negotiate around their differences, to express their thoughts and emotions in words, to front up on time, to promote themselves and their ideals. And performing live on stage is a great boost in confidence – it requires a lot of skills that are not just musical."
SFRQ founder and director Pete Rainey says Smokefree has been supporting young Kiwis to showcase their music almost from day one of the 30-year-old competition, and is closely aligned with the events.
"We all want to encourage kids to look after themselves and their mates by engaging with music and the benefits that brings," he said. "It's great to stage events that recognise that today's musicians and artists will play a huge role in shaping New Zealand's future - with the goal of Smokefree 2025."
The Northland heats of Smokefreerockquest are being held at Forum North, Rust Ave, on Saturday, May 26, start time 1pm. Tickets $10 at the door, no charge for children 5 years and under.
1pm Session – Solo/Duos:
Huia Shortland Te Kapehu Whetu - Teina
Uno Kerikeri High School
Patrick Henderson-Biss Whangarei Boys' High School
Q Kerikeri High School
Abbey Collins Rodney College
Dani Tauraroa Area School
Justyce and Alicia Northland College
Empty boxes Rodney College
No Credit Kerikeri High School
Savage Bream Bay College
Drew And Aysha Rodney College
The Tempts Kerikeri High School
Tasha Perrett Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa
2.30pm Session – Bands:
Reflecks Kerikeri High School
Utopian Daydream Rodney College
Pastie Boys Tauraroa Area School
Soup of the Day Rodney College
Live Wire Mahurangi College
A08 Kamo High School
Wham Bam Thank you Ma'am Whangarei GHS
Jinx Springbank School, Kerikeri HS
If & When Bream Bay College
Heavy Steel Kerikeri High School
Ke Lo Ke Whangarei GHS, Pompallier Catholic School
manifest of war Bream Bay College
Rillet Broadwood Area School Te Kura Taumata o Panguru
The Violet Violets Bream Bay College
UltraViolet Blue Huanui College
Good Morning Waipapa Kerikeri High School
Elevated Mahurangi Coll Rodney Coll
Ke Lo Ke Whangarei GHS, Pompallier Catholic College, Whangarei BHS
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5pm Session – Smokefree Tangata Beats:
Savage Bream Bay College
Tasha Perrett Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa
Harmonies Divergent Bay of Islands College
Fresh Division Kerikeri High School
■ Do you have some Bay of Islands and mid-North news to share? Contact Lindy Laird who is filling in for Peter de Graaf while he has a break. Email lindy.laird@northernadvocate.co.nz or reporters@northernadvocate.co.nz, or phone the Kerikeri office, 09-407-3287.
