Far North news in brief: Civic hub progress; waterfront fest and BBQ challenge

Kaikohe's new $14.6 million library and Civic Hub is progressing with steel framing up at the site. It's due to be finished later this year.

Hub progress

Kaikohe’s new $14.6 million library and Civic Hub is taking shape, with its steel framing starting to dominate the skyline of the town. The outline of the new facility on the corner of Broadway and Raihara St shows the size of a project that has taken years of planning and community participation. The multi-purpose hub will be a place of learning, connection and creativity for residents throughout the Far North, with a wide range of activities for whānau and visitors alike, from library collections to a creative-maker space for kids, meeting rooms, a gaming room, a recording booth and a cafe. Te Āta Haere, the name given by local hapū for the project, is due to be completed later this year. It is funded through the council’s Long-Term Plan.

Festival back

The popular Mangōnui Waterfront Festival is back in March, bringing thousands of people to the tiny Far North seaside town. The event brings businesses and tourists together to celebrate the best of Northland’s coastal culture. Set along the picturesque Doubtless Bay waterfront, the festival features delicious food from local chefs and vendors, live music, artisan markets, interactive kids’ activities and vibrant entertainment. Held in the heart of historic Mangōnui, it’s a fun, family-friendly day out that supports local enterprise and showcases everything the Far North has to offer. It’s back on March 28 from 12pm to 6pm.

Kaikohe roadworks

Parking will be restricted in Kaikohe next week due to night-time road resurfacing on sections of State Highway 12 and SH15, which involves removing the existing road surface and paving a new asphalt surface. Work will take about seven nights to complete, running from Monday between 8pm to 5am across three sites in the town. There will be stop/go management in place and reduced speed limits at times then a full road closure on Wednesday and Thursday SH12 Broadwaybetween SH15 Mangakahia Rd and Rankin St. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said short delays may be experienced and access for residents and emergency services will be maintained throughout the works. There will be no parking along this section of SH12 (the main street of Kaikohe) between February 23 and March 3 (excluding Friday and Saturday nights), from 8pm to 5am.

Lunch help

Hundreds of children from 16 Northland schools have been given lunchboxes and drink bottles through the Sistema School Starter Programme, a nationwide initiative supporting families and encouraging waste-free lunches. The 461 students come from a range of schools, from Matakohe School in the south up to Pukenui School in the north. Sistema Plastics director Tim Burnie said a quality lunchbox and drink bottle might seem small, but they’re part of setting kids up for success from day one.

Pāmu open

The Pāmu Kapiro Complex, near Kerikeri, is a 3000ha commercial farm operating as a flagship for land optimisation and agricultural innovation. It focuses on sustainable, diversified farming, including the “Sheep of the Future” breeding programme, sub-tropical forestry and horticulture (blueberries/avocados), and serves as a hub for testing climate-resilient farming systems. The farm is having an open day on February 25 from 10.30am.