THE traffic flow trial that will begin at the Landing Road Bridge in September will only work effectively if traffic flow through The Hub car park coming onto the roundabout at Harvey Norman (as a quick exit) is stopped.

Driving into The Hub carpark off the board mills bridge will work still but make the traffic exit only at the Bunnings roundabout.

While I was waiting for the traffic the other morning at the peak time 8.30am, I counted 41 vehicles using the offending exit. Totally unacceptable in a traffic-flow crisis.

The new configuration going to be trialled for the Landing Road roundabout should work. But probably during the last test period it may soon be realised that a second bridge across our river may have to be the answer in the future.

JD Cooper
Whakatane

URBAN FOOD: The Kawerau Urban Food Forest team of Akeyla Wade, Dylan Edwardson, Niamh O’Brien, Trish Brady and Hannah Edwardson has approval to create a fruit and vegetable garden.
Photo supplied

KAWERAU will soon have a food forest to provide fruit and vegetables to the community all-year long.

The Kawerau Urban Food Forest (KUFF) was approved after the team behind it pitched the project to Kawerau District Council earlier this month.
Neighbourhood of Healthy Homes co-ordinator Hannah Edwardson said the project’s aim was to establish a two-hectare forest of food-bearing trees and shrubs on a portion of Monika Lanham Reserve.

A community garden and nursery would also be established on a smaller .4ha site belonging to Kawerau Life Konnect.

Ms Edwardson said the estimated cost would be $70,000.

The KUFF team has applied to the Transpower Community Care Fund for a $42,000 grant and for $25,000 from Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Kawerau District Council will lease the two hectares of recreational reserve and donate compost, mulch and expert knowledge.

Ms Edwardson said the trees planted would provide fruit all year – stone fruit in the summer, pears, apples and other heritage varieties in autumn and citrus fruit in the winter. Included in the forest will be companion plantings of berries, nuts and herbs.

The vegetables will provide fresh vegetables all year for the community, Neighbourhood of Healthy Homes cooking classes and the Kawerau Life Konnect café.

The nursery will also be a place for workshops on seed gathering, sowing and other aspects of gardening.

Ms Edwardson said excess seedlings would be sold to provide some financial support back to the project.

Kawerau schools would be closely involved and there would be “opportunities for students to get NCEA qualifications in a variety of areas”.

“Children will be able to walk between the sites and pick and eat healthy food.

“As a general principle, public access will be encouraged.

“Signage with gathering and picking instructions will accompany planting to promote community education.”

The KUFF team is Ms Edwardson, team designer and horticulturist Trish Brady, permaculture expert Lesley Ralph, horticulturist and

Kawerau Life Konnect’s Georgette Paul and Tarawera High School year-10 students Dylan Edwardson, Niamh O’Brien and Akeylah Wade.

“We wanted year 10 students so they are involved right from the beginning and by the time they finish high school the project will be established,” Ms Edwardson said.

The KUFF team would now launch the project to the Kawerau community.

Ms Brady said people would be invited to put their name forward to be involved in jobs such as site preparation, building, planting and managing the nursery, glasshouses and workshops.
Site preparation would begin in December and tree planting, shrubs and ground cover would take place in February and March next year.

haylee.king@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

IN what will be welcome news for dairy farmers, Fonterra last week increased its forecast milk price for the current 2016-17 season by 50 cents to $4.75 per kilogram of milk solids.

When combined with forecast earnings per share of 50 to 60 cents, the total payout available to farmers in the current season is forecast to be $5.25 to $5.35, before retentions.

This looks like a total payout to Fonterra farmers of around $5.15 per kg MS, which, based on Dairy NZ estimates of cost of production, would result in the average dairy farm breaking even.

Federated Farmers general policy manager Nick Clark said the reforecast followed two large gains in Global Dairy Trade auctions and futures pricing.

“However, before getting too excited there is a lot of volatility in world commodity markets and the strong New Zealand dollar has been offsetting some of the world price gains.

Fonterra is required under the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act to revise its forecasts on a quarterly basis.

Mr Clark said lower meat and dairy exports pushed total goods exports down, according to Statistics New Zealand’s monthly overseas merchandise trade statistics.

Goods exports of $4 billion in July 2016, were down $205 million on July 2015.

Meat exports were down 19.3 percent, milk powder, butter and cheese exports were down 9.5 percent and wool exports were down 40 percent.

On the positive side, exports of cereals, flours, and starch were up 47 percent, forestry up 19 percent and wine up 10 percent.

ISLAND FOCUS: Whakatane District Council is turning its attention to the economic benefits of White Island. File photo

IT’S been almost continuously smoking off the Eastern Bay coast for centuries, but Whakatane District Council is now turning its attention to the economic benefits of White Island.

The benefits of using the already popular visitor attraction as a key promotion tool for the district are to be assessed through a project incorporating the region’s major tourism stakeholders.

The project, which initially involves developing a destination marketing plan business case, was endorsed by the council’s policy committee this month.

Its first task will be to use the knowledge and experience of White Island tourism business operators, iwi, Tourism Bay of Plenty and council staff to define destination management issues and options and complete an economic impact assessment.

The biggest operator, White Island Tours, has recently lifted its capacity to 250 visitors a day with the addition of a third boat.

Council business services manager Roslyn Mortimer said the company was currently negotiating to buy a fourth vessel which would lift the daily capacity to more than 320 visitors a day.

The rapid growth has one councillor concerned. Gerard van Beek said White Island was still being promoted as a type of adventure where people were entering “the bowels of the earth – fire and brimstone-style”.

“If we are going to see an increase in people on the island it is going to reach a point where it is not going to be adventure tourism anymore – it is going to be a walk in the park.

“Will we soon be going over and seeing 400 people walking around on concreted walkways with handrails. Is there a point where we can’t get any more people on White Island?”

George Johnston’s concern lay with the shipping container recently placed on the island for storage and use as a shelter in the event of eruption or severe weather.

“In my opinion it downgrades this beautiful natural site. I hope they camouflage it to look like a lava flow or something.”

Ms Mortimer said the aim of the destination marketing project was to identify the actions required to make Whakatane a must-visit tourism destination.

“This approach seeks to emulate the positive economic and community outcomes that destinations like Kaikoura have achieved by using one iconic attraction to anchor their destination marketing,” she said. “Tourism New Zealand and Tourism BOP are both promoting White Island heavily in key overseas markets and that is showing through strongly in our international visitor numbers and spending.

“This project seeks to build on those marketing initiatives and create a comprehensive process to co-ordinate all aspects of the visitor experience.”

Ms Mortimer’s report identifies more than 20 attractions in the cultural-heritage, eco-tourism, marine, walking-cycling and events sectors capable of contributing to a comprehensive destination experience.

Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and a former Whakatane resident, supports the focus on White Island as the ‘pull factor’ for visitors.

“In industry-speak, we call this having a distinct visitor proposition. White Island is a unique, world-class attraction. It can be used as the anchor for promoting the district, pulling visitors in who will then discover the other delights of the area.”

Mayor Tony Bonne said it was something the council had been talking about for many years.

“It is something that is unique to this area and the sooner we incorporate it the better.”

WHAKATANE District Council’s policy committee has agreed to initiate a variation to the proposed district plan seeking to have the existing residential zoning for the area impacted by the 2005 debris flow from the Awatarariki Stream at Matata replaced with a more appropriate zoning.

The variation will address the high loss-of-life risk, which potential future debris flows represent for anyone living in the stream’s “fanhead” area.

Planning, regulatory and corporate services general manager David Bewley said the proposed change was consistent with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s regional policy statement provisions relating to the assessment and mitigation of natural hazard risks.

“Detailed analysis of the debris flow hazard risk has been undertaken and peer reviewed, confirming the loss-of-life risk, and the ministry of business innovation and employment has also recently released a final determination, which states that new building consents cannot be issued for habitable buildings in the affected area,” he said.

“It is, therefore, proposed that a variation be developed to rezone the land, to recognise the risk and discourage building in that area in the future.”

A variation will be developed in consultation with the owners of properties in the Awatarariki Stream fanhead area and brought back to the council for consideration.

If adopted, a formal consultation, submission and hearing process will then be undertaken.

Any submitters who are not satisfied with the outcome of that process can then have their views heard by the Environment Court.

NEWS reports concerning the integrity of manuka honey risks damaging export markets and undermining the value of the wider beekeeping industry, Apiculture New Zealand says.

The industry body was responding to recent news that questioned the integrity of the sector and suggested that certain producers were making false claims about their manuka product.

“We support the hard work of the ministry for primary industries to resolve this issue and to have an agreed manuka honey definition by later this year,” ApiNZ chief executive Daniel Paul said.

He said the ministry was working to resolve what was scientifically speaking a complex issue.

“It will provide certainty to our export markets and assurance to consumers about the authenticity and integrity of New Zealand manuka honey, and that’s the most important thing,” he said.

SUPREME WINNERS: The team at East Coast Heavy Diesel won the Horizon Business Excellence Award in 2014. File photo

BUSINESSES from across the Eastern Bay will be celebrated for their successes and achievements at the 2016 Horizon Business Excellence Awards on September 16.

Finalists in each of the seven categories have been announced, with tickets to the black tie affair now on sale.

Hosted by the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce, the awards attract entries from the region’s vast and varying businesses.

Chamber chief executive Gerard Casey said the entry process was robust.

“The awards deliver real benefits to those organisations entering, largely through the thorough self-assessment process each goes through,” he said.

“Each also enjoys an enhanced profile, a boost in staff morale and public recognition of the organisation’s achievements.”

He said it was important that Eastern Bay businesses had a forum to showcase excellence and the awards provided the perfect opportunity.

“Eastern Bay businesses achieve well on a national stage. Businesses featuring in the awards allow an opportunity to be benchmarked against others and also drill down on what they are doing,” he said.

The chamber took over hosting the business awards in 2010. Until then and since 1985 they had been known as the Triple A Business Awards, an event run by volunteers.

“It’s been an enjoyable learning curve since we picked up the reins.

“The first year it was largely myself and chamber office manager Kirsten Ashcroft running the show, including washing and drying dishes at the conclusion of the event,” Mr Casey said.

Judged by Waikato University’s Business School faculty, the awards push entrants through the challenging and in-depth entry form, but enable feedback from the judges.

With the Nova Excellence in Business Award for large business, the Focus Accountants Excellence in Business Award for medium business and the Waiariki Institute of Technology Excellence in Business for small business, the awards celebrate emerging and new business, young leaders, work/life balance and excellence in sustainability.

All excellence category winners are automatically entered into the Supreme Winner Business of the Year Award – an award recognising the most outstanding business overall. In 2014 the honour went to East Coast Heavy Diesel and Machinery.

Other premier awards include the Toi EDA Excellence in Economic Development Award, the Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi Business Entrepreneur Award, the Hamertons Lawyers Excellence in Innovation Award and the Sun FM Leadership Award.

Finalists are ...

• Nova Energy excellence in business (large): Mainstream Engineering, Nicholson Autos, New Zealand Manuka Group, Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park.
• Focus Accountants excellence in business (medium): First Credit Union, Kawerau Medical Centre, Life Pharmacy Whakatane, Ohope 4 Square, The Wrangler, Whakatane Office Products.
• Waiariki Institute of Technology excellence in business (small): Bullseye Productions NZ, Christie Electrics 2010 Limited, Columbus Coffee Whakatane, Evolution Autos Ltd, HBC Home Based Childcare, High Profile Enterprises.
• Julian’s Berry Farm and Cafe excellence in business-emerging/New Business: Awakeri Rail Adventures, Diverse Graphics, Eastern Bay Chiropractic, Plenty Limited, Stage Door - Performing Arts Academy.
• New World Whakatane emerging young leader of the year: Bradley McKenzie (Nicholson Autos), Simon Wren (Wren Builders), Patrick O’Sullivan (White Island Tours), Karla Meharry (East Coast Heavy Diesel), Steve Franklin (Hamertons Lawyers), Lewis Ellis (Whakatane Office Products Depot), Tete Raerino (Columbus Coffee Whakatane).
• Spark employer of the year work-life balance award: Columbus Coffee Whakatane, Whakatane District Council, Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park, NZ Manuka.
• Bay of Connections excellence in sustainable practices award: Trident High School, White Island Tours, Ohope Beach 4 Square.

THICK SKINNED: Bay of Plenty regional councillor Tiipene Marr wants to represent the Kohi Maori constituency for a further three years.
Photo Louis Klaassen D4159-24

NO-ONE would have been surprised when Tiipene Marr’s name appeared as one of the nominees for the Kohi Maori constituency seat on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

A regional councillor for the Kohi constituency for the past 12 years, Mr Marr has never been backward in coming forward.

Fast-talking and tough-skinned, he revels in being outspoken and believes it is a quality he has kept in good stead during his time as a regional councillor.

“I’m very mature after 12 years. I know what I am talking about and I know all the ins and outs of regional council, how nominations work, how you vote and how you don’t vote, what you do say and what you don’t say.”

Mr Marr said he wanted to give the role another go because he was passionate about being a voice on the regional council for Maori.

“I try and do my best for our people. I try and do the best I can to represent Maori and the regional council.

“I say it how it is and I tell them how Maori think. I don’t just go along with it. I know how Maori think and I am happy to tell people about it.

“I have learned that once you are elected you can say anything as long as you don’t swear.

“There are some councillors who want to tell me to shut up but we all get our five minutes to have our say and I speak fast so I can say a lot in five minutes.”

He is a self-confessed “greenie” and with a background in the Greenpeace movement he has always trumpeted environment issues.

He said if re-elected he would focus on the issue of water and he had set his sights on farmers, who he believed were the biggest culprits when it came to polluting the region’s waterways.

“I’m not shy to give our Maori thoughts and I don’t hold back. I just say it straight-up that farmers are polluting our waterways.

“They are the only ones with resource consents and they are doing what I call a double whammy – they not only have all of the water rights consents but they also are responsible for pouring all of those poisons on to the land and polluting what water is left in the river.”

He said he believed New Zealand farmers, particularly those in the Bay of Plenty, should focus on becoming organic because it would be more profitable and better for the environment.

Producing organic sheep, goat and cow milk would earn farmers “five times more than normal milk”.

karla.akuhata@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

WHAKATANE HERITAGE: Chloe Lagneaux and Guilhem Salvy re-opened Golden Krust Bakery to revive a part of the town’s heritage. Photo Mark Rieder D4184-1

GOLDEN Krust Bakery’s new owners want to celebrate the golden age of the once-famous pie shop that used to supply the Bay of Plenty with its renowned meat pies.

Chloe Lagneaux and Guilhem Salvy, who also own L’epicerie French Deli and Café, said they were looking for a place with a kitchen large enough to supply their other business with baked goods.

“All the bread is made here, all the puffed pastry – almost everything,” Mr Salvy said.

But it was the historical background of the shop that sold them on the business.

“Why start something new when you can keep a piece of history alive,” Ms Lagneaux said.

The original Golden Krust opened at Kopeopeo in 1931. After a fire destroyed the bakery, it re-opened at the current location on Commerce Street in 1976. At its height, the bakery made 300 pies per run.

Ms Lagneaux said the bakery attracted a different clientele than L’epicerie because it offered the traditional Kiwi fare the original Golden Krust bakery is known for, but with a slight French flare.

“We really wanted to keep the Kiwi bakery style with easy takeaway lunches of good quality,” she said.

“Here, we are taking the best of both worlds.”

Though friends and customers urged them to rename the bakery, or at least to use the correct English spelling, they believed it was important to preserve the original spelling.

“This was a really famous place in Whakatane for its quality and we think it’s an important part of the town’s heritage,” Ms Lagneaux said.

As part of their re-opening strategy, the bakery offers a coffee and sandwich special, where the coffee is free with the purchase.

Mr Salvy said they were able to do that because they did their coffee roasting in-house.

“I think we launched a new movement in town because we have been doing that for a month-and-a-half and we now see other cafes doing the same thing,” he said.

mark.rieder@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

STUDENT-LED: Tobie Wharewera, 14, and Deyshan Glanville, 15, talk to science teacher Karen Asquith about their ideas for creating a modern, innovative, flexible learning space for future generations at Whakatane High School. Photo Louis Klaassen D4168-25

KAREN Asquith’s year 10 class at Whakatane High School is co-ordinating its own learning and calling on her for advice as needed.

The sustainability project, worth two credits, is totally student-led.

“I set the scenario – it has to be on sustainability – and let them go,” she said.

“The teacher takes a back seat. It is totally student-led, the only thing I do now is offer a different perspective.”

Talking is allowed, so is using cellphones and computers. In fact everything is done using Chromebooks in this class, with each group required, at the end, to make a digital presentation.

With Whakatane High School about to gut its old science labs and rebuild them, a couple of the student groups have chosen to look at modern learning environments, including specialist furniture and solar energy.

Both these groups will present their findings to the board of trustees’ September meeting.

Mrs Asquith said other focuses included how to save the urupa at Piripai from sea level rise and development, the development of a community garden at the school, and how to save the dotterels at the Ohope Spit.

KAWERAU’S Container Terminal Project is two-thirds of the way toward completion and is expected to be finished in November.

The project is assessing the proposed container terminal’s economic and logistical feasibility.

If a terminal is developed, it will open up opportunities for Kawerau businesses and the wider Eastern Bay, with increased connectivity allowing them better access to customers.

The proposed terminal was first suggested in 2012, when established Kawerau businesses such as Sequal Lumber realised rail could be a more effective way to transport products to a port than road.

Kawerau District Council economic and community development manager Glenn Sutton visited the Tokoroa container terminal in October with council chief executive Russell George and Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell, and they realised a Kawerau terminal could benefit the whole Eastern Bay.

Mr Campbell said the project was positive for the entire Bay as business and industry worked together to better the region.

“All the industries participating will ensure the project’s long-term sustainability. From a transport point of view, the project will ensure we can get heavy produce transported via rail. As strain on our roading system from the central North Island increases, this will help relieve the congestion at Tauranga.”

Mr Sutton said the project team was in the process of gathering baseline data and developing software models to determine how the project might work.

The project kicked off with an initial stakeholder meeting in April, when staff from NZTA, Scion, Kiwi Rail and the Port of Tauranga visited Kawerau for an overview.

A range of businesses likely to participate also attended.

Mr Sutton said there was a good cross-section of stakeholders represented.

“There has been interest from a wide range of businesses, including wood-fibre processors, pack houses, boat builders, engineering companies and food manufacturing.”

MEDIATION  between the NZ Resident Doctors Association and district health boards has been scheduled for Monday, September 12.

Health boards and the association are negotiating a renewal of the collective employment agreement governing doctors who work fulltime in hospitals – resident doctors.

Negotiations had stalled previously, largely over the issue of rostered hours for doctors.

The association is seeking a change to roster patterns that require resident doctors to work seven 10-hour night shifts in a row, and 12 day shifts in a row.

That included two days of up to 16 hours, with only two days off before returning to work.

“We are asking to work no more than four consecutive 10-hour night shifts and no more than 10 days in a row, with adequate recovery time before we return to work,” association national secretary Deborah Powell said.

“Resident doctors will still work all the nights and all the weekends, just as they always have, we just want to break these long stretches up so the doctors don’t get so fatigued,” she said.

She said of 17 doctors on staff at Whakatane Hospital, 11 worked rosters that required them to be on-site for 12 days at a stretch.

“We need 1.4 more doctors to fix the problem roster at Whakatane,” she said.

Dr Powell said after trying to resolve the issue at a local level for four years with limited success, the association turned to the bargaining table to achieve a definitive resolution.

“The doctors are suffering from significant levels of fatigue on these long stretches and are a risk to themselves, their patients and members of the public.

“We can no longer wait in the hope the health boards will do the right thing, sometime,” Dr Powell said.

She said the association acknowledged the Tairawhiti health board, which had improved its rosters, as well as the Northland and most recently Taranaki boards, which had improved at least half of the affected rosters.

“However of the 144 affected rosters identified nationally, over 80 remain unresolved and over 40 are only partially rectified.

“This rate of change is simply too show,” she said.

LAST weekend Whakatane Clinical School of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board hosted 30 health professional students on a grass roots experience.

Students came from different health disciplines to Whakatane for a rural weekend and with a goal of promoting the possibilities of health careers outside major centres.

One of the experiences arranged was three accident scenarios organised by our local St John. They were very realistic, with students all commenting on this.

I am so proud to have such commitment, energy and a knowledgeable workforce supporting our community. We are blessed with people like this team who, on a Saturday morning, gave voluntary time being patients in quite challenging weather and terrain, guiding and educating the students.

What an unforgettable experience for our future health professionals. Thank you.

Yvonne Boyes
Academic co-ordinator
Rural Health Inter Professional Programme
BOPDHB candidate

EASTERN Bay parents can learn about teaching their children the spoken word at an Eastbay Reap workshop tomorrow.

Speech therapist Annette Stock will host the workshop, Talking to Tamariki, at REAP house.

Ms Stock said the importance of oral language being largely developed by age five could not be underestimated.

“Basically, a child’s oral language development sets them on the road to later formal reading, writing and spelling success.

The workshop would give parents some simple tools, using their hands, as a guide to provide language for children to model.

“Children need to hear the words and sounds in their environment before they can use this information in their early talking and later writing.”

Ms Stock said research showed up to 50 percent of youth offenders had “clinically significant but previously undiagnosed” oral language problems.

Most parents she knew who struggled at school did not want the same for their children, but did not know how to help.

The Talking to Tamariki workshop would help with that.

Ms Stock said there was an oral language issue in the Eastern Bay.

“You only have to look at the high rate of youth offending, and adult as well, to know that some of these offenders are where they are because of lack of early oral language development.”

She said the court system was a nightmare for them to understand and respond to, and then make changes to their lives.

“They are simply ill prepared for a justice system as a result of their actions, largely because they do not have oral language competence and have never had it since they were pre-schoolers, sadly.

“Preparing our tamariki well before school would give them a better chance of not becoming a statistic in the justice system.”

Attendance at the workshop costs $5. A room will be available for children if parents have to take them along.

D4198-08

BRUCE Butler is the winner of the New World Whakatane car giveaway draw.

One-hundred-and-thirty-eight New World stores across the country have staged the giveaway, the prize being a Holden LS Spark, 1.4L.

New World Whakatane owner Dave Trubshoe, accompanied by car supplier Brad McKenzie, general manager of Nicholsons Autos, presented the Mr Butler with the keys to his prize yesterday afternoon.

Customers qualified for an entry in the draw with every $50 they spent at the store.

TARAWERA High School is preparing for its annual celebration of student success.

Last year’s celebration doubled as a final farewell for the school hall before it was demolished.

This year’s event, on Tuesday, September 6, between 5pm and 7pm, will celebrate the success the school has enjoyed since moving into its new facilities.

Students and teachers will be available to show interested members of the public around their new modern learning environment.

At 5.15pm and 6pm, the students will put on a dance, drama, kapa haka and music performance.

DRIVING around the Rangitaiki Plains into Whakatane in recent days I notice these curious notes added to election billboards – “I’m baking Bill”.

I wondered what this was about until at the Beacon Business and Leisure Show I was confronted by Bill Clark, who filled me in on his election campaign.

He said he had asked Mayor Bonne if he could stand for the local council.

Mayor Bonne told him “no,” he should stand for the regional council and he would get the support of the two other mayors in the Eastern Bay to fulfil their wish to unseat one of the incumbent regional councillors standing for re-election.

Over two days at the business and leisure show I learnt of stories aimed at discrediting a regional councillor.

Clearly, people are repeating comments in their ignorance of not knowing the difference between the roles of governance and executive.

A day later, Bill was attending a service in Kawerau and using his time to campaign.

A farmer asked him what he was standing for, what was his campaign platform?

Bill did not, apparently, have one. He continued to trumpet that with the support of the three mayors he would win the seat.

In my view there is a lack of ethics appearing in this election.

Too many have been watching Donald Trump and his circus.

The leaders of our councils, if they have taken the stance as portrayed by Bill, have shown a serious lack of judgement in trying to gerrymander the result of an election

I want to know that those representing me have the highest levels of integrity.

Much of the regional council’s work is about policy, planning, use of water and conservation, so the ability to identify the issues, check the facts and then make decisions in the best interests of the development of our community are key elements in the election of the person who will represent me.

I hope that all ratepayers will study the lists of candidates who have put their names forward with a genuine interest to serve the best way they can with intelligence, openness and fairness to ensure all are given a chance to live with satisfaction in a district we are proud to live in.

Douglas Bull
Braemar Road

Key summit

Photo Rob Murray

OHOPE amateur photographer Rob Murray, 69, has won the enthusiast section of the Beacon’s landscape photography competition.

His winning photograph, taken from Key Summit, on the Routeburn Track looking west to Mount Christina, was recorded using a Nikon D7100.

He says memories of people and places are important, “so it is great to have them recorded in image form”.

“The scenery in New Zealand offers great opportunities for photography, of course. With digital photography it is great to have a lifetime presented in one folder that can be passed on in the family.

Judge Troy Baker said the image was “pin sharp, crystal clear”.

“It draws you in and makes you want to be there. It’s a quintessential New Zealand landscape handled well. It just stood out.”

Twilight beauty

Photo Bryan Heath

BRYAN Heath won the advanced section with his shot of the Ohope Wharf at twilight.

He took this image from “up the road from where I live, at dusk, perched precariously on a post with my Canon 60D while trying to maintain balance – not an easy feat – but this shot definitely was worth it”.

Mr Heath, 49, lives in Ohope and says he loves capturing stunning scenes, usually from vantage points not typically shot from. “I particularly love the golden-hour shots, usually an hour around sunrise and an hour around sunset.”

Judge Troy Baker said it was obvious Mr Heath had an “idea in his mind” that he wanted to achieve and he managed brilliantly.

The composition was fantastic, as were the star bursts coming off the lights.

Mr Heath obviously knew the correct aperture to achieve the right effect

“For pure artistic effect – it works. And there are a great mix of blues and oranges.”

THE Beacon would like to thank all 78 people for the 137 photos they contributed to the landscape competition. There were so many wonderful pictures, choosing the two best was a tough job for judge Troy Baker.

He said many of the other photos were “stunning” and a testament to the talent possessed by those in the Eastern Bay photographic community who chose to take part.

YOU may have looked twice at the back of this vehicle if you’ve followed it somewhere recently.

It may look like an advertisement for a showdown at the OK corral, but no, it’s a fun bit of advertising for one of the candidates in the October 8 Whakatane District Council elections.

Incumbent Rangitaiki ward councillor George Johnston has chosen a novel way to advertise his intentions.

With most of the campaign advertising appearing rather overtly around the town, he decided the spare wheel cover was as good a place as any for a more subtle, but catchy, piece of advertising.

Being an “ideas man” himself, Mr Johnston said he came up with the concept and thought it had turned out pretty well.

He is seeking re-election for his fourth term on the council.

Bike versus car race highlights congestion issue

Photo Louis Klaassen
D4181-19

MAYORAL hopeful Mike van der Boom didn’t have the leisurely bike ride he was expecting from The Hub into town one morning this week.

His light-hearted bicycle-versus-car race on Monday was meant to highlight traffic congestion – except there was no congestion.

LJ Dobbin and Rebecca Blackwell, from Radio 1XX, enjoyed a surprisingly clear run into town, arriving at The

Bean just two minutes after their suit-clad cycling opponent.

They said it would have been one minute except they had to find a car park then walk over to the coffee shop.

Neither the 1XX team nor Mr van der Boom can understand the lack of traffic and believe they may have been misled over what time the morning congestion is at its worst.

The experiment was originally scheduled for 8.40am but the time was later brought forward to 8.15am.

“As an experiment it failed – failed to prove the point – although biking is still a fantastic way to get to work,” Mr van der Boom said.

“I thought I would have a leisurely bike ride but because there was so little traffic I really had to go for it.”

Who’s this Bill they’re backing?

Photo Louis Klaassen D4195-01

SITTING Whakatane district councillor Dave Sheaff is backing him, as his sign on Landing Road clearly states. So is council hopeful Marewa Karetai, and others.

Mr Sheaff explains that regional council nominee Bill Clark rang him and asked whether he could piggy back on his sign with an “I’m Backing Bill” slogan.

Mr Sheaff said he considered Mr Clark would make a good regional councillor so he agreed.

However, Mr Sheaff said he wished it said Bill Clark, instead of just Bill, and included some reference to the regional council.

He’s had a couple of people ask him “Who’s Bill?”.

MY name is Mia and I am 13 years old. I have just returned to Whakatane from Perth to live with my mother.

On August 10, 2016, my koro had a hip replacement operation that was conducted at the Whakatane Hospital.

When I talked to my koro after the surgery he was expressing a lot of gratitude about how successful the operation went. I can recall prior to the operation how much pain and discomfort he was in, but now he is recovering quite well.

Furthermore, my koro did express confidence in the surgeon and his medical team because of the outcome of the surgery, which had removed concerns and fears to undergo surgery on his right hip in six months’ time.

We, the whanau, recognise the professional treatment of the Whakatane Hospital staff and the on-going nursing care in the ward.

Mia