Bay News Bites: Movies, sausage sizzles and war art

Volunteers and movie-goers celebrate the short-lived re-opening of Kaikohe's Castle Duo in 2012. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Cinema for sale

Have you always wanted your own cinema?

Now is your chance because Kaikohe's Castle Duo is due to be sold at auction later this month.

Owner Lynnis Burson, of Kerikeri, said she was keen to see the cinema used by the community, particularly for youth.

A young woman had approached her with an "amazing proposal" to use the building to develop music and drama skills in Kaikohe youth but lacked the finances.

The two-screen cinema with a total of 245 seats was built in 1996 by John Upperton. He sold it in 2009 to Brandon Murphy who was killed in a car crash just a month later.

Projectionist Ben Wilson then bought the business and ran it until his lease expired in 2012.

With movie-makers abandoning 35mm films and the cost of switching to digital projectors estimated to be about $120,000, the cinema looked doomed until a volunteer group stepped in to save it.

They organised charity screenings and special events and took part in the national premiere of The Hobbit, but by April 2013 the demands on a dwindling band of volunteers become too great and the Castle closed again.

The auction will take place at Kerikeri's Orchard Estate at 1pm on April 23. The 35mm projectors and sound system are part of the deal. The property has a rateable value of $280,000.

Sizzling carwash

Kerikeri firefighters will wash your car this Saturday for $5 and they'll throw in a free sausage from the barbecue.

All proceeds from the carwash/sausage sizzle, which will take place on the fire station forecourt from 9am, will go towards the brigade's Sky Tower Challenge fundraiser.

The brigade is one of several around Northland taking part in the gruelling charity race up all 1103 steps of the Auckland landmark while weighed down with 25kg of gear. The money raised goes to Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

For the fallen

Kaan Zamaan Gallery, on Kerikeri's Hobson Ave, is holding an exhibition called For the Fallen to mark the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.

The show opens with a preview from 5-7pm on April 10 then runs to May 10.

Detail of Avian, a watercolour by artist David Barker which is part of an Anzac-themed exhibition opening in Kerikeri next week. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

More than 20 artists have contributed including renowned photographer Laurence Aberhart, painter David Barker (whose Anzac watercolours have been shown in Auckland Museum), a joint work by Therese Hoani and Therese Wickbom, Minhal Al Halabi, Richard Adams, Wally Hicks, Scott McFarlane, Liz McAuliffe and others.

Their works encompass ceramics, sculpture, painting, glass, photography, weaving and multimedia.

The exhibition is the gallery's first in a new street-level location immediately below the old upstairs gallery. Owner Julia Reinholt said the gallery and framing workshop had outgrown the first-floor space.

Calling all artists

Kings Theatre Creative - the new community arts space in Kawakawa's former theatre - is hosting an artist hui from 3-5pm on Easter Monday, April 6.

Owner Lau'rell Pratt said she wanted to hear artists' views on what they wanted from the space now the first two trial exhibitions had finished. The brainstorming session would cover expressions of interest for future shows and events, workshops, wananga, studio and retail spaces, a public/commercial gallery, funding and plans for summer 2015-16.

Ms Pratt said almost 4000 people had visited in the three months since the space opened, with 1300 checking out the oil-drilling-themed Rip, Sh*t and Bust show and 2400 visiting Te Tiriti/The Treaty.

Her vision for the landmark building was creative hub that was accessible and inclusive.
All artists, musicians, writers and creative types welcome; bring ideas and a plate.
The next show, Wairua (Spirit), opens at 5pm on April 10. More than 20 artists will take part.

The last movie screened at Kings Theatre in 1976. The building was later converted into a clothing shop but has been vacant in recent years.

More sailing success

Kerikeri High School students have again cleaned up in a sailing regatta.

After two days sailing and 130 races, Kerikeri were clear winners in the North of the Bridge Regionals held last week at Algies Bay.

Westlake Boys placed second, followed by Kristin School and Kerikeri 2. Their next big event will be the national high schools regatta on Lake Taupo from April 13-18.

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