Auckland Council have recently launched their Recycle Right campaign, which aims to educate the community on what can and cannot be recycled. You can recycle plastic, glass, metal, and cardboard packaging containers. Only grocery packaging and paper and cardboard from home is recyclable.However, when it comes to soft plastics, it's not quite so straightforward. Plastic bags and other soft plastics cannot be placed into home recycling bins, as they get caught in machinery at the sorting facility. So, if we don't want them to end up in landfill, what other options do we have?Leigh local Lily Walkington took the initiative and set up a community station where members of the public can drop off their soft plastics and they are then taken to be recycled at Silverdale or Albany. Since setting up the collection by the hall in December, they have collected and diverted over 100kg of soft plastic: a huge effort. Soft plastic refers to grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, plastic wrappers of products such as biscuits, chips: anything you buy that has a soft plastic sheath.Although having the option to recycle soft plastics in New Zealand is fantastic and does help reduce plastics in the environment, it is not the solution. The best way to help is to actually change what you buy. Even if we try our best, not everything gets recycled; New Zealand just doesn't have the infrastructure.Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people become part of the solution to plastic pollution so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?

Matariki signals the Māori New Year. It is a time of renewal and celebration in New Zealand that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster in the night sky during mid-winter.In 2021, Matariki will be celebrated between 19 June and 11 July.There are a few events happening locally to celebrate Matariki:Pakiri School Kapa Haka group will perform outside Unity Collections in Matakana Village, dates to be announced. The Whangateau hall will be the site of a Matariki potluck dinner on Friday the 2nd of July, starting at 5:00 p.m. All members of the community are invited and are asked to bring a plate of food to share and their own refreshments.Traditional Matariki celebrations include gathering your friends and whānau and eating together, remembering those you have lost that past year, talking about dreams and aspirations for the future, and getting land ready for the coming year. The cluster is best seen at sunrise. From early June, before sunrise, look to the north-east horizon. Find the constellation Tautoru, or Orion’s belt (sometimes called ‘the pot’). Trace a line northward from the three stars of Tautoru. Look for a faint sparkle of tiny dots, about the same width as Tautoru is long. This is the Matariki star cluster. Matariki can also be seen during the summer months in this location of the sky after sunset.The word Matariki comes from Ngā Mata o te Ariki, Tāwhirimātea (The eyes of the chief, Tāwhirimātea).Tāwhirimātea (the atua of the wind) was so upset that his parents (Ranginui and Papatuānuku) were separated by Tāne Mahuta (Atua of the forest) that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky, creating Matariki.Matariki was also used by early Polynesian navigators to make their way across Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean).In 2022, Matariki will be officially recognised as a public holiday. The first Matariki public holiday will be held on Friday 24 June, 2022. The public holiday will shift each year, similar to Easter, but will most likely always fall between June and July.

Tonight at Matakana Cinemas there will be a special screening of the award-winning film, The Pollinators.This amazing film provides insight into how all types of pollinators are struggling around the world and what we can do to help them survive.The documentary has been described as a cinematic journey around the United States, following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honey bees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables we all eat.The many challenges the beekeepers and their bees face reveal flaws in our simplified, chemically dependent agriculture system. The Pollinators draws on the perspectives of farmers, scientists, chefs and academics along the way to give a broad perspective about the threats to honey bees, what it means to our food security and how we can improve it.Members of the Warkworth Beekeepers Society will be present at the screening to answer any bee related questions.Tickets ONLY AVAILABLE at the cinema prior to the event, so arrive early as the film starts at 6:00 p.m. sharp.

Auckland Transport (AT) has begun construction of the new Warkworth Community Transport Hub led and funded by the Rodney Local Board through the Rodney Transport Targeted Rate. The new hub will serve the growing transport needs of the community in and around Warkworth.Auckland Mayor Phil Goff congratulates Rodney Local Board for getting the project over the line.“The new Warkworth Community Hub will give people more transport choices and make it easier to get around this fast-growing area of Warkworth,” he says.“This will help to lower carbon emissions from private vehicles and address traffic congestion.”Rodney Local Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke says the board is excited to see this project underway. “The community has been very vocal of their desire for improved transport infrastructure and services, and we are glad to be able to deliver on yet another one of our commitments.”Costing approximately $3.7 million the new station will feature:a bus layovertwo bus stops137 car parks, including 15 short term and four accessible parkingfootpathsa signalised pedestrian crossing across Great North Roadtwo toilet blocksbike parkinglightingCCTVOriginally projected to cost around $5 million, a competitive tendering process undertaken by AT has resulted in the project cost being confirmed at $3.7 million, which means the board will now have an additional $1.3 million to invest in other projects in the targeted rate programme.Murray Chapman, manager of One Mahurangi (business association), says parking in Warkworth has been a real issue with a lack of parks for our retail staff. “This hub will free up parks for people to come and spend money and support our local businesses.”

The Mahurangi Winter Festival Of Lights is returning, and it's shaping up to be better than ever with some awesome events scheduled. The Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights is a community event started to bring Rodney together to brighten up winter and add smiles to the Mahurangi region. The Parade of Lights will be returning for its second year on the 10th of July. All the festival day favourites return for a full day of action-packed fun on the 17th of July. This year, there are three great events taking place: The Parade of Lights, July 10th, The Gull Laser Light Show on July 17th and the Wonderland Glow Show, a ticketed event, on July 25th.  The Parade Of Lights on Saturday, July 10th, include rides and entertainment, food stalls, face painting, bubbles and lots and lots of lights from 6:00 p.m.  The second event is the Gull Laser Light Show. Activities include laser light show (sponsored by Gull Matakana & Snells), ice skating rink, foam cannon, snow pit, food stalls, music and more.  To wrap up three great events for this year’s Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights, the Wonderland Glow Show will be coming to Warkworth and the Town Hall for the first time on Sunday July 25th.. The glow show team will put on a ‘Kiwified’ interpretation of the classic ‘Alice in Wonderland' tale for tamariki, educators and whanau. Let your imagination soar as you're transported by the magic of giant scale glow-in-the-dark puppetry. Wonderland Glow Show is an upbeat, engaging show that dives headlong into a weird and wonderful world of dancing flamingos, shuffling cards, an eight-metre caterpillar and giant flowers. But it’s not all rosy… there’s a march hare on the loose!

Calling all zero waste heroes; nominations are open until the 30th of June for the 2021 Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards which celebrate all those helping reduce waste to landfill across Auckland.“There are so many people across Tāmaki Makaurau finding creative ways to reduce waste in their local communities whose stories need to be heard,” says councillor Richard Hills, chair of Auckland Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee.“Celebrating these people and organisations and their mahi helps inspire others to try new things. It will take all of us to meet Auckland’s target of being zero waste by 2040.”There are plenty of awesome businesses and organisations in the Matakana locality that are doing their bit to reduce waste. The Matakana Markets have a zero-waste policy, which has seen huge success and is a point of pride for market organisers;“We needed an easy system for people to deal with waste. We changed our systems, and slowly eased into compostables. We’re very proud to say that we are 98 per cent zero waste. It was a great accomplishment”.Neighbourhood Recycle are contributing to a circular economy, giving unworn clothing a new life, and stopping it going to landfill.Mahurangi Wastebusters focus on reducing, repairing, reusing and recycling as much as possible for the benefit of our people and our environment. Mahurangi Wastebusters have proudly been running zero waste events, repair cafes, waste minimisation education and training events in north Rodney since 2017, and they now have an up-cycled learning hub at Lawrie Road to educate kids on how to reduce and recycle waste.Nominations are open until 30 June at ecomatters.org.nz/zerowasteawards. Individuals, groups, schools, businesses and organisations can be nominated in one of the five award categories:Rangatahi Leadership - for individuals or groups of rangatahi (young people under 18 years) showing commitment and leadership in reducing waste in their community.Growing the Movement - celebrating local heroes (individuals or groups) raising awareness, inspiring change and spreading the aroha of the zero waste kaupapa.Community Collaboration - businesses or social enterprises who are ‘walking the talk’ by demonstrating a commitment in building community partnerships to reduce waste.Cultural Connection - individuals or groups using culturally appropriate approaches to educate, inspire and care for their communities to reduce waste.Innovation - initiatives demonstrating the circular economy in action, and ‘making it happen’ through demonstrable results.This year’s awards are being hosted by EcoMatters Environment Trust, in partnership with Auckland Council, in support of its aspirational goal of zero waste by 2040.“We’re keen to hear the amazing stories of those trailblazers who are championing innovative ways to minimise waste,” says Charlotte Moore, chair of EcoMatters Environment Trust.“The Zero Waste Awards are a chance to celebrate individuals, groups and organisations working towards achieving zero waste in Auckland. We know the recognition means the world to those who are acknowledged.”

Earlier this month, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced that a standalone structure would be built next to the harbour bridge, giving cyclists and walkers a route across the Waitemata Harbour. However, not everyone is thrilled with this announcement, as the cost of the crossing is estimated at $785 million, including $100 million for land selection.The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has come out against Auckland's massive infrastructure project, launching a petition, which now has more than 20,000 signatures, calling for an end to funding of the project."The latest proposal for SkyPath has blown out costs to an eye-watering $685 million - more than $370 for every household in the country, from Kaitaia to the Bluff. Whether you use it or not, you'll be paying for it," the petition said.Matakana local Garth Falconer was the design team leader of the SkyPath project and originator of the SeaPath. He also believes that there are better and more cost-effective options for cyclists and walkers to be able to cross the harbour than the one AT has chosen to go with. Below, Garth shares his thoughts on the project, and offers some alternatives that could be considered. "Back in 2012 when starting the coordination of the design of the community driven Skypath/Seapath proposals for providing walking and cycling access across the Waitemata, I briefly looked at other options, including abandoning the steel truss, post-war designed Auckland Harbour Bridge (AHB) to build a better state-of-the-art bridge that is fully equipped for multi modal transport. At the time, I even showed a short report on an alternative idea to the controlling authority NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency, then called Transit and later sub-titled as Waka Kotahi), who said it was best to shelve the report for a later date. Perhaps now with all the public stress around on how best to cross the Waitemata, its time has come to be reviewed.To me, it had always felt uncomfortable how the AHB cut across our lyrical inner coastline and central water body (which some call a harbour, and to others lovingly the Wai-te-mata) at its narrowest point, creating a back and front, severing off the large upper reaches as well as monstering the delicate peninsula form of Northcote Point. The alternative proposal I sketched out for a new bridge would head westwards from Point Erin/Westhaven, stepping across Curran Street and the reef then beginning to curve before Watchman Island and sweeping out to acknowledge the channel before hooking back into the stem of the Northcote Point, with a short 250m surgically inserted tunnel through to the east to emerge seamlessly into the northern motorway past Sulphur Beach.As it would be longer than the AHB, the gradient could be less of a climb. Passage for trams, walkers and cyclists could be alongside or perhaps sheltered better beneath. The actual form of the bridge could be quite simple, the curved form with a series of long legs would be restrained and elegant enough to fit the outstanding surroundings. A good example of such a curving bridge is the pre-stressed concrete and steel girder Coronado Bridge in San Diego which is five lanes wide and high enough at 61m to allow the US Navy Pacific Fleet to pass underneath. At that stage, I was thinking about the redundancy of the AHB and to simply remove it. Northcote Point could be reinstated and the hacked-about Sulphur Beach would be returned to the public in a usable state, as was promised 60 years ago (subsequently though I learnt that with lower volumes of traffic, especially heavy vehicles, the recently strengthened AHB could last indefinitely). To futureproof and provide a backup crossing, the NZTA had ambitiously proposed a tunnel under the Waitemata. It was going to be a massive project, somehow entering through the regenerating Wynyard Quarter and daylighting somewhere around Esmond Road to then merge with traffic coming off the AHB which would be retained. At the time, the cost estimate for the tunnel crossing was $4 to 5 billion, last heard that had spiralled upwards to $10 billion. Since picking up the Labour Government’s pledge to build the popularly backed Skypath/Seapath - the smart lightweight composite design that had been thoroughly peer reviewed, costed at $50m and achieved resource consent in 2016 - the NZTA have embarked upon a strange odyssey with its delivery. Many people have been baffled as to why NZTA would dump the incumbent design team, and not even talk to us. Four years later the plans for Seapath now follow a convoluted inland route at $250m and we now have a new concept visualisation design of a standalone boxy-looking steel bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, an estimate of $685m and very little else. Little wonder organised storming of the AHB by cyclists and walkers is back on the news creating all sorts of divisive controversy.My guess on further steps is: if we accept the new pedestrian bridge, maybe then the ground is cleared for the tunnel proposal to also be funded. Though on reflection, it could it be that the most feasible, cost-effective and unique solution is simply to build a new bridge; sweeping at an easy gradient out westwards from Westhaven for northward trafficand keeping well away from Wynyard Quarter whilst retaining the AHB for southward traffic, giving the two eastern lanes - 7m wide - to walking, cycling and lookouts (with adding wind and rain protection),and continuing seaward all the way to Esmond Road. Going on recent examples, such as the 2.5km long Gordie Howe bridge in Detroit due to be finished in 2024, the cost of a new bridge will be significantly less than the tandem currently being concocted, and it would be a more worthwhile addition to the Waitemata" Reach Garth at garth@reseturbandesign.co.nz

In a major first for Tāwharanui, a pair of Cook’s petrels successfully raised a chick at the open sanctuary during the 2020-21 summer.It is thought that this success is the first on the mainland of Aotearoa in a long time, maybe more than 150 years.In 2019, the mainland burrow was discovered by Auckland Council ranger Amy Waldmann and German intern Juliane Mommert while checking for stoats.They found an egg abandoned outside the burrow and subsequent investigation by seabird scientist Edin Whitehead and Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc. (TOSSI) volunteer James Ross revealed a dead Cook’s petrel inside.Trail camera pictures showed a pair of Cook’s petrels had adopted the burrow to lay their own egg and hopes were high for the 2020-21 season. The camera and a dog trained to find petrels confirmed the burrow was in use and was being visited in a routine that strongly suggested an egg had been laid. However, getting the final proof was tricky.Cook’s petrels are small grey-and-white petrels. Their goat-like calls (kek-kek-kek) are often heard at night north of Auckland as they return from feeding in the Tasman Sea to their burrows on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island).Cook’s petrels formerly bred throughout both the North and South Islands, on mountain tops and ranges. After hundreds of years of predation by introduced mammals, they became confined to just three islands. In the north, the largest colony, more than a million birds, is on Hauturu and there are a small number on Aotea/Great Barrier Island. Control of cats and kiore on Hauturu has led to a significant increase in seabird numbers in the past 15 years.In southern New Zealand, several thousand Cook’s petrels breed on Codfish Island.The chick that successfully fledged at Tāwharanui is the first known Cook’s petrel chick on the mainland of New Zealand for more than a century.After a week of exercising its wings, the chick left its burrow for the last time on 9th March. It will now fly across the Pacific to feed off the coast of California before returning to New Zealand in September.

On Monday evening, it was announced that the proposed landfill in the Dome Valley had got approval after a split decision by independent commissioners.The resource consent gives permission for Waste Management New Zealand to construct and operate a 60ha landfill on its 1,000ha Wayby site.The project has drawn strong opposition from locals and iwi leaders who believe that the landfill will pollute the surrounding environment and increase traffic congestion on the already busy roads. After looking at several sites over several years, Waste Management said it chose the site at Wayby Valley in the wider Dome Valley area because of its proximity to SH1, appropriate geology and ability to maintain separation from sensitive receivers.The decision to grant consent was supported by four out of five independent commissioners. The chair of the panel, Sheena Tepania, believed the consent should be refused.The resource consent includes about 400 conditions, which are the direct result of hearing the valid concerns put forward.As a result of the amendments made to the original conditions, 20 experts from Auckland Council covering a wide range of specialist topics, including ecology, land stability, landfill engineering, human health risk, transport, erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and air quality, amongst others, all agreed that the proposal should be granted.There is an appeal period of 15 working days.Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua released a statement, saying that they “are disappointed yet unsurprised by the ruling.“We will do a fuller analysis of the decision and reconvene our team as soon as possible to discuss next steps. We will share these once the team have agreed the next steps.  “Rest assured, the fight is not over, and we will continue to advocate for the mana of our whānau, hapū and iwi in the protection of our whenua, waterways and Kaipara Harbour.”Local group Fight the Tip, Save the Dome are also extremely disappointed in the decision.“Our resource consent system is broken if it is approved when 1,000 people are in opposition including Iwi, Dept of Conservation, Forest & Bird, Kaipara Council, community and more. The only loser is the environment. This is so wrong on so many levels. We will continue this fight”, said Michelle Carmichael in a post to the group’s Facebook page.

The Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out across the country, but in Rodney there has been some confusion about where to get vaccinated, and who can get it done.Currently, we have the Coast to Coast Medical Centre (72, School Road, Wellsford) providing vaccinations to all New Zealanders in vaccination groups one, two, and three. This vaccination site is open to all in these groups, and you don't have to be registered with Coast to Coast. Everyone in New Zealand aged 16 and over will be in one of four vaccine rollout groups. People at greater risk will get vaccinated first. Those in groups one, two, and three are currently being vaccinated.Group one includes border and managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) workers.Group two are high-risk frontline workers and people living in high-risk places. This group includes frontline healthcare workers (public or private), those who work or live in a long-term residential environment, older Māori or Pacific people, or those who live with or care for an older Māori or Pacific person.Group three is made up of people who are at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. This includes anyone aged 65 or over, anyone who has a relevant underlying health condition, any disabled person or anyone caring for a person with a disability, pregnant women at any trimester, and adults in a custodial setting.Over the next few weeks, the following facilities will begin opening up for vaccinations:• Hibiscus Coast Medical Centre• Weiti Creek Medical Centre• Orewa Medical Centre• Windsor Medical Centre (Albany)Other practices are also likely to be providing services, but this is being worked through with the primary health organisations. In Warkworth, Kowhai Clinic will be the next GP practice in line to go live and will be vaccinating from both Warkworth and Snells Beach.The pharmacies who have submitted an application are listed below and will be part of the next tranche of site implementations.• Life Pharmacy Orewa• Life Pharmacy Franklin’s – Warkworth• Unichem Manly Pharmacy - WhangaparaoaIf you are in group three and you haven't had an invitation yet, you should ring either the Covid booking number (0800282926) or Coast to Coast Healthcare (094238086) for an appointment.

Takatu LandCare is a volunteer organisation with a vision of making Takatu Peninsula a pest and weed free buffer zone for the stunning Tawharanui Open Sanctuary. Over the last few months, the team has been busy setting new traps, checking traplines, and adding an exciting new addition to their website. Takatu LandCare has now got an interactive map on their website which shows what has been caught and where. It is oddly fascinating seeing what pests have been lurking in your locality, and you can check it out here:http://www.takatulandcare.com/Catch-Map/This month, they hit the milestone of over 5,000 pests caught. It took from 2017 until February 2021 to get to 4,000, and just 3 months to get from 4,000 to 5,000. New traps were set at a brand-new site at Wilson's Reserve, under DOC ownership. The reserve provides an important island of bush for birds moving around the area. It has not been trapped for pest animals in recent times, if at all. They also set 54 new traps at Matakana Country Park.If you are interested in helping to eradicate pests on the Takatu Peninsula, Takatu LandCare is hosting a coffee meeting on Saturday 3rd July, at Bramble Cafe, Matakana Country Park. Head along and meet with others who trap and kill pest animals, or target invasive weeds, or just find out what type of people do these things and ponder on whether you might want to join them. Alternatively, if you would like some traps, and you live or own property in the Takatu area, get in touch via pestcontrol@takatulandcare.com, or via their website www.takatulandcare.com

This month, Auckland Council's Natural Environment Delivery Team will be undertaking aerial survey work for wallaby using a helicopter equipped with thermal imaging capability in an area from North Orewa to Cowan Bay Road and inland to Puhoi.This work will take place on days with suitable fine weather between the 7th and 30th of June 2021. This aerial survey will not involve any control work such as shooting from the helicopter. The helicopter will also not operate below 300 metres, and to minimise disturbance it will avoid dwellings and livestock.Within the last five years there have been four reported sightings of wallabies by members of the public in this area. All were investigated, including with the use of a certified wallaby detection dog. Two of these were ruled out as definitely not wallaby, but two had a lower level of confidence of wallaby absence indicated by the dog.This survey will help confirm or otherwise any individual wallaby or low-level wallaby population in the area as we do not want this pest animal establishing on the Auckland’s mainland. These objectives are outlined in Auckland’s Regional Pest Management Plan.Introduced from Australia in the 1870s, wallabies are common in parts of South Canterbury, Otago and Bay of Plenty but their reach is growing. They have been seen in fresh territories in Auckland, Northland, Hawke's Bay, Waikato, Gisborne, Wellington, Marlborough, Southland, and the West Coast. According to the Ministry of Primary Industries, left unchecked, wallabies could spread across one third of New Zealand over the next 50 years.Wallabies can:damage native forests and tussockscompete for feed with sheep, cattle, and other livestockdamage crops, young trees, and fencesincrease the risk of erosion.The cost of this operation is $17,000, covering 9000 hectares, so that works out to be just under $1.90 per hectare. To put this in perspective, in 2016, Otago Regional Council were spending $100,000 annually on wallaby control trying to prevent them moving across the ranges from Canterbury into Otago and are losing the battle. Investing early in the infestation curve of a species like wallaby is futureproofing costly spend on control in later years.

With more and shoppers discovering businesses through online research, there’s simply no good reason not to have a presence on the web or a better time to invest in a website. Research shows that more than a third of people are unlikely to do business with companies that don’t have a website, so it is increasingly important that your business can be found.For a new website or an existing site revamp, contact the Woodswork Web & Graphic Design team of experienced web specialists. Woodswork have been in business since 1999, providing web and graphic services to many Rodney businesses and they have worked with a diverse range of industries from food suppliers like Black Earth Preserves, Matakana Chilli & Watercress to organisations like Kowhai Surgery and the Mahurangi West Hall.For many years, Clare Woods and Rachel Ellis have also provided freelance services to other web design companies in the area and built hundreds of sites for local trades, construction companies, wineries, accommodation providers and online stores: you name it, they’ve been involved. So, their work might already be familiar to you.Being active in the community and giving back is important to the Woodswork team. They have happily gifted their graphic services to Matakana School and lots of other organisations. Because they like to make a difference, especially where kids can benefit, they even built a free web site for the Matakana Pony Club. Clare's own boys were born or raised in Matakana, and the Woods family has had their family home at the end of Green Road since 1995. Not only do they work for clients in Matakana, Woodswork extend their business to Auckland, around New Zealand and even around the world.Working closely with you, they can turn your ideas into responsive, smart, business-generating websites. The team can even write all your content for you and will cut through the jargon to keep the process simple so you can get on with running your business.Give yourself an advantage by getting online with a good-looking website. This local, professional web design company with a proven track record, can make it happen. Call Clare on 021 1581400.

Over the next few weeks, various roads in the area will be closed overnight to enable construction on the Ara Tūhono Pūhoi to Warkworth project.Beginning on June 13th, Carran Road will be closed so the NX2 group can install culverts across the road.For safety reasons and to minimise the disruption to the travelling public, the work will be carried out at night. A small section of Carran Road will be closed between 13 and 22 June 2021, from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. (No work will take place on Friday and Saturday nights). There will be an overnight closure of the northbound Hibiscus Coast Highway off-ramp near the Johnstones Hill Tunnels on Monday 14 June, 2021. This closure will allow workers to safely replace the temporary barriers on the Hibiscus Coast Highway northbound on-ramp.The night works are scheduled for between the hours of 900 p.m. .and 4.00 a.m. when traffic volumes are lower. There may be a small delay while works are happening,Starting June 23rd, NX2 will be installing large panels and undertaking bridge deck works on the Woodcocks Road Bridge across Woodcocks Road. A small section of Woodcocks Road will be closed for four weeks starting 23 June 2021, between 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. (No work will take place on Friday and Saturday nights).The dates are all weather dependent and the roads will remain open if works cannot be undertaken. Signposted detours and traffic management will be in place. As the detours may add extra time to journeys, people are encouraged to plan their travel outside the closure hours, where possible.

The stormy weather of Queen’s Birthday Weekend is expected to continue through today, before easing off for the end of the week.Auckland has had a soggy few days, with the north of the city being impacted most. A total of 46mm of rain was recorded on Monday at Warkworth’s Mahurangi River and 41mm at Omaha.A complex low-pressure system affecting northern New Zealand is expected to slowly move northwards this evening.A strong wind warning is in place for Northland and strong wind watches continue for northern Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula. Coastal inundation is possible about east coastal parts of Northland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula, through a combination of heavy easterly swell and high tides.MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam said the bad weather offered some good news for Auckland’s dam levels, which are at about 49 per cent, compared with 77 per cent which is the level usually expected at this time of year.

A private plan change has been proposed for the southern area of Warkworth including the former Ransom Wines property in order to develop the land for residential and recreational use. The project, titled the Warkworth South Concept, would involve up to 1,400 new housing units, large lots, open spaces, a sportsground, a local shopping centre, parks and reserves, along with walking and cycling networks.Garth Falconer, the urban designer on the project working alongside planners David Hay and John Duthie, has been a local resident for 25 years. His main focus on the Warkworth South Concept was to create a new, quality community complete with a full range of facilities and which sits sensitively with what has to be one of the nicest river valleys in Auckland.The base of the large valley will be reserved for wetlands and playing fields and connected with walking and cycling lanes. A range of sections will offer living options for families, couples and singles, and a local retail centre is planned to serve the local population - but not to compete with the Warkworth town centre.“With the vision of landowners led by Bill and Christine Endean and Cindy Hao, our multi-disciplinary team is bringing a wealth of professional experience of similar developments to make South Warkworth a proud addition to the Warkworth township.” says Mr. Falconer.In addition to the new homes and retail centre, the development is being considered by the Ministry of Education as the site of a new primary school.In the most recent Rodney Local Board meeting, the chair of the board, Phelan Pirrie, suggested the development of Warkworth South should not proceed until the Southern Interchange is opened. However, with the new motorway opening next year and the development of Warkworth South still being a few years off, those behind the Waimanawa concept plans don't share this opinion. “With the new motorway opening, traffic volumes along the current State Highway One and Hill Street will have decreased significantly by this time next year, and we don’t have the same concerns as those raised by the chair of the Local Board.  “It is also important to recognise that it is expected that the council will upgrade the current State Highway One when the new motorway is opened. This upgrading should include new pedestrian and cycle paths, which will greatly increase pedestrian and cycle connections through Warkworth, including those from Waimanawa in the future.  “The number of new homes in this South Warkworth area is around 1,400, a comparatively minor number in terms of vehicle movements but a sizable contribution to providing homes for people wanting to live in the area in the future.” At this stage, the project is at the visioning stage and the team is to confirm if it is viable before proceeding with preparing planning documentation. The aim is to lodge the private plan change by the end of this year when it will be assessed by council officers, notified for submissions and then considered at a hearing by a panel of independent commissioners. “Given the continuing housing crisis in Auckland and the very strong direction by the Government for further and quicker urban development in Auckland, it would be extremely disappointing if council officers recommended the panel declined the plan change.“Our team is in discussions with various arms of council and council-controlled organisations to ensure we meet their requirements and address any significant concerns they may have. “The vision statement and the potential plan change is a direct result of the increasing housing demand in Warkworth and the need to coordinate the various ideas of Council, AT and the Ministry of Education for their future requirement in this area. “Feedback from landowners and mana whenua has been positive to date, and we will continue to work with these parties as the development of the plan change progresses.”

On Wednesday 9th June, acclaimed Auckland crime writers Rose Carlyle, Madeleine Eskedahl, and Nalini Singh will discuss the thrills and spills of writing and reading crime, from high-stakes suspense to the darker sides of human nature.The Coastal Crime author panel is being held at the Warkworth Town hall at 7:00 p.m, Wednesday, June 9th. If you are unable to make the event in person, it will also be live streamed online. Matakana’s very own Kathy Hunter will be acting as panel facilitator. Kathy Hunter is a writer and book reviewer, was a founding member of the first New Zealand book blog, of New Zealand Book Month and has also worked as a bookseller. She currently writes for a variety of publications and is involved in the Creative Matakana project.New Zealand and international best-selling author of the edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller, The Girl in the Mirror Rose Carlyle will be on the panel, along with Nalini Singh, New York Times best-selling author of gripping thrillers Quiet in her Bones (2020) and A Madness of Sunshine (2019).Madeleine Eskedahl, local author of the page-turning debut novel, Blood on the Vines, set right here in Matakana will also be in attendance. Matakana was chosen as the setting for Blood on Vines as it is such an incredible area, one that no author has yet been utilised as a setting. The landscape itself is rich, with the rolling hills, stunning vineyards and quaint little village, and the diverse mix of people who call the area home all come together to make for the perfect setting. The seemingly perfect exterior also makes the darkness under the surface that we see in Blood On Vines that much more shocking, drawing the reader in. The event is part of the We Read Auckland Programme run by Auckland Council.We Read Auckland / Ka Pānui Tātau i Tāmaki Makaurau celebrates Auckland’s readers and writers and the stories that bring us together.This free programme of exciting live and online events has something for every reader, featuring your favourite authors, reading champions and family fun at community places and libraries across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.Booking information: Register to attend in person: Here Register to attend via live stream: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/.../coastal-crime-auckland...

Auckland Council has released a new report and digital map easily visible via the council's online mapping service that shows the areas that are likely to be affected by coastal erosion. The report has predicted that by 2050, the sea level at Omaha Beach will be up to the beach front properties. Check out the map here.A study undertaken in 2006 is the basis for the current coastal erosion rules within the Auckland Unitary Plan. No more up-to-date information related to the potential exposure of Auckland’s coastline to erosion was available. To fill this knowledge gap, a programme of research has been undertaken to identify, at a regional level, the area susceptible to coastal instability and/or erosion. The study forecasts the areas of Auckland’s coastline that could be affected by coastal erosion and instability under a range of climate change (sea-level rise) scenarios and timeframes.Stats NZ data shows Auckland has averaged 1.67mm of sea level rise each year since 1899, but the Ministry for the Environment predicts this rate will accelerate if little action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Coastal instability and erosion can present a safety risk, adversely affect property and infrastructure, and damage or destroy cultural and environmental sites. 

Today bidding opens for Matakana Schools fundraising silent auction. Matakana School’s annual auction event is one of their main fundraisers for the year. The silent auction will run for two weeks prior to the Bayleys Op Shop Ball & Auction evening, which will be held on Friday the 18th of June. There will also be live auction items on the night.The funds raised from this auction will be going towards programmes, such as their amazing Garden to Table programme and digital technology via robotics through Lego Education, to name just a couple. It will also go towards student enrichment through activities, such as the kapa haka group, school choir, school pool and library, along with additional learning support; and new school resources, such as technology, sports equipment, music, and art supplies.This year, the school is using online auction site 32 Auctions for the silent auction items. Please follow the steps below to ensure you have a successful bidding experience.Before the auction opens on Friday...1. Go HERE 2. Create an account.You will only have to enter your first and last name, your email address and create a password.3. Go to your email and verify your account through the email sent to you by 32 Auctions.Check out the amazing items and get ready to bid. The auction will run for two weeks closing at 3.00 p.m. on the 18th JunePlease feel free to share the link to the silent auction with friends, family and the community. Thank you for supporting Matakana School.