The Heart Foundation is calling on New Zealanders to gift just two hours of their time on February 27 and 28 to help raise funds to save lives.
The Heart Foundation is calling on New Zealanders to gift just two hours of their time on February 27 and 28 to help raise funds to save lives.
Big-hearted volunteers will be out in full force in February 2026 as part of the Heart Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the Big Heart Appeal. The Heart Foundation is calling on Kiwis to gift just two hours of their time on February 27 and 28 to help raise life-savingfunds for heart research by becoming a Big Heart Appeal street collector. Heart Foundation medical director Dr Gerry Devlin said heart disease is “our number one killer, claiming the life of one New Zealander every 90 minutes”. To get involved with the Big Heart Appeal street collection this February and volunteer, visit the Heart Foundation’s website.
Waka warning
Crews from Te Tai Tokerau who took part in last week’s Waka Ama Sprint National Champs have been told to stand down from paddling on any freshwater lake or river in Northland to prevent the possible spread of invasive species. The championships were held on Lake Karāpiro from January 11-17, and crews were urged to take an immediate 10-day stand down, with the region’s lakes, particularly Lake Ngātu, Lake Manuwai and Kai Iwi Lakes, at risk of pests such as golden clam. Invasive species can live not only in small pockets of the waka, but also in clothes and parts of the body for up to 10 days.
Earth Tongue perform
Earth Tongue, the fuzz-soaked psych duo Gussie Larkin and Ezra Simons, whose heavy psych rock has resonated widely across NZ and internationally, will play in the Far North in February. Earth Tongue were awarded Best Group at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards and have since been based in Berlin, where they teamed up with garage-rock producer Ty Segall to create their new record, Dungeon Vision. They will be at the Turner Centre, Kerikeri, on February 13, the same day the album is released.
The Mangonui Garden Club hosts its annual flower and vegetable show next month. Held at the Coopers Beach Christian Centre on February 28, it will offer a plant stall, a cake stall and amazing raffles. A portion of money raised will go to Riding for the Disabled and the Christian Centre’s foodbank. All gardeners invited can exhibit at no charge. For inquiries, call Margy 021 252 9410.
