Te Tai Tokerau Tall Ship Sailing Challenge winners Kristy Buchanan, left, and Prairie Herk, with R. Tucker Thompson captain Tim Grant and Northpower network's general manager Josie Boyd.
Te Tai Tokerau Tall Ship Sailing Challenge winners Kristy Buchanan, left, and Prairie Herk, with R. Tucker Thompson captain Tim Grant and Northpower network's general manager Josie Boyd.
Taipa Area School has been crowned winner of the 2018 Te Tai Tokerau Tall Ship Challenge.
Kristy Buchanan and Prairie Herk teamed up to take out the title and said the voyage has left them with memories that will live with them forever.
The five-day voyage is in its ninthyear and pits teams of two students from six Northland high schools in a competition to be the best.
It is a case of fourth time lucky for Taipa Area School. Glenbervie's Huanui College took home the title last year.
But it's not just about sailing. Students are judged on safety, leadership, cooking, daily challenges, team work and more.
Taipa Area School was sponsored by the R. Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust. Students sailed from Opua to Whangarei's Port Nikau.
The 2018 voyage saw Whangarei Girls' High, Dargaville High and Pompallier Catholic College (all Northpower sponsored) come up against Top Energy sponsored schools Kerikeri High and Kaitaia College.
Taipa Area School was sponsored by the R. Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust.
Students sailed from Opua to Whangarei's Port Nikau, taking in Northland's beautiful east coast – rounding Piercy Island (the Hole in the Rock) and dropping in at Mimiwhangata, Poor Knights and Urquharts Bay along the way.
Northpower and Top Energy have sponsored the event since day one and Northpower network general manager Josie Boyd said it is still inspiring to support the development of Northland youth who are clearly future leaders – a sentiment shared by Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw.
Meanwhile, R Tucker Thompson spokeswoman Pauline Moretti said Team Taipa's Kristy and Prairie were deserved winners.
"They demonstrated they had what it takes in terms of leadership, initiative and especially teamwork. They also showed they could work not just with each other but also members from other schools to complete their tasks," Moretti said.
"As well as learning to sail the ship, they were continually presented with a variety of challenges, both physical and mental, while also having a lot of fun.
''All of the students who took part tested themselves in an unfamiliar environment, rose to the challenge with enthusiasm. It was very rewarding seeing them buzzing with excitement when they docked in Whangarei at the end of the voyage.
''There was a real sense of camaraderie on their return.''
All that jazz Jazz Club at the Turner Centre on Friday night presents Trudy Lile and Mojave.
Easy, breezy, cheesy, perhaps a little sleazy — jazz can be many things, including being a great musical accompaniment to tapas and drinks.
Trudy Lile and Mojave are Lile (vocals/flute), Alex Ward (piano), Olivier Holland (bass) and Ron Samson (drums). Doors open at 5.30pm, Friday, jazz starts at 6pm. $5.
Charming time at Honey House Cafe It's tucked in beside New Zealand's oldest buildings at the Kerikeri Mission Station and just like those, the Honey House Cafe is going nowhere soon.
The popular cafe will stay open throughout winter and a local artist will share her ''charming'' craft with others during the extended hours.
Jewellery maker Rina Ward will hold the first of her Crafts & Coffee get-togethers on Thursday, May 31, from 10.30am-12.30pm.
She is encouraging people to come along to share "coffee, cake and charm jewellery making".
"For the cover charge of $25 people can enjoy coffee and cake, and receive a jewellery starter kit to start them off," said Ward, who owns Nostalgems Handmade Jewellery.
"I'll be showing participants how to create one-of-a-kind heirloom-style jewellery, and offer a helping hand if needed.
''It's not a workshop, but more an opportunity for people to get together and have fun. What better way to spend a winter morning than with some coffee, cake and a bit of crafting, together with people who have similar interests?"
One person who has joined one of Rina's jewellery workshops in the past is Kerikeri Mission Station and Honey House Cafe manager Liz Bigwood.
"As the name Nostalgem suggests, Rina's jewellery has a wonderful heritage feel and her work is very popular in the Stone Store shop," Bigwood said.
"Rina's charm bracelets, for example, give people the opportunity to incorporate little keepsakes or objects that might otherwise become lost or overlooked – instead, giving them a purpose and significance that they might not otherwise have."
Bigwood made a bracelet that incorporates a button from her grandfather's army coat which he wore at Gallipoli.
Over winter The Honey House will be open Wednesdays through to Sundays from about 9am.
People can book their place on the crafty coffee meet-up by calling Rina on 021 175 9700, or emailing Rina at nostalgems@gmail.com.
Travel stories and wish lists The Kerikeri Travel Companions soon meet again to talk about destinations and the wonderful journeys taken to reach them.
The Sigiriya rock fortress in Sri Lanka, one of the destinations included in the Kerikeri Travel Companions upcoming first tour to the South Asian nation. Photo / Getty Images
This month's guest speaker is from Back-Road Tours which focuses on UK and Europe "off the beaten track" small group tours.
The group is finalising its first tour to Sri Lanka in October. Kerikeri local and destination expert Mark Snoxell has travelled to Sri Lanka many times and with a local operator, has designed a two-week tour of the island specifically for members of a group (maximum 12).
"It really is a superb itinerary with guests enjoying a wide variety of wonderful experiences, including the impressive Sigiriya rock fortress, comfortable 4WD safaris, tea plantations, spice gardens, cultural performance, beautiful ocean views and mouth-watering food throughout."
For those who want to kick-back afterwards, there's also an extension to the white sands and clear water of the amazing Maldives.
Kerikeri Travel Companions was created in December 17 for all travellers: solo travellers, friends and couples who like the idea of going away with like-minded people.
These days, there are so many reasons why someone would be travelling solo: single, widowed, divorced, their partner is unable to travel, etc, but more often than not, they just want to escape on their own!
Anyone wanting to know more about the June meeting, or to RSVP, phone 09 407 8013.
Kaikohe Library shares music month Free stylers, hip hop, rap and original music makers are invited to the Kaikohe Library to join local recording artist Lady D and others to farewell New Zealand Music Month.
The library has run a local musicians open forum during May, and says farewell to the Kiwi music celebration with an open mic concert in Kaikohe's library square today and Thursday, until 4pm. An amp, mic and acoustic guitars will be available to use.
A taste of Matariki As whānau across the Far North gather for annual Matāriki celebrations, two of Kaikohe's brightest stars are getting ready to treat the community to a taste of the future of healthy marae kai.
Betty Wihongi and Horace Davis will be showcasing their culinary skills at the Matāriki celebration evening at Te Pū o Te Wheke Arts in the heart of the township on Friday, from 6pm.
The two wāhine form the backbone of the Kohewhata Marae kitchen and have been working with Healthy Families Far North to transform the kai options for whānau and visitors who spend time at the marae.
Because the marae is such a significant hub of activity, the women are very serious about revitalising it as a centre of health and wellbeing for the Kaikohe community, starting with what comes out of the kitchen.
■ 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, or Whangarei 09 470 2801.
