Auckland Council has released the Long-Term Plan (Auckland's 10-year budget), and online consultation is open and ready for feedback until 22 March 2021.COVID-19 left a $1 billion shortfall in Auckland Council's budget, hitting services and local board projects. Tough decisions are needed, and community feedback helps the local board understand what matters most to you.The Rodney Local Board advocates to councillors, who then decide on funding. Their proposed priorities are safe and well-maintained roads, with Auckland Transport getting funding to renew and maintain 12 percent of the city's roading network yearly, and securing $121 million for AT's Unsealed Roads Improvement Programme.Locally the board proposes that in the 2021-2022 financial year they:continue to deliver improvements to our village and town centrescontinue to improve water quality in our waterwaysimprove our local biodiversity and natural environment by eradicating pestscontinue restoration work and mitigation of kauri diebacksupport the community, and community resource recovery and recycling centres to minimise waste, turn waste into resources, and to promote education on waste reductionprogress the outcomes identified in the Green Road master planprogress renewals or construction of key community facilities including Wellsford toilets, Kumeū Library, Mahurangi Community Centre.The budget for the next year is allocated to: Community servicesOperating spend 2021/2022: $14.3 millionCapital spend 2021/2022: $5.4 millionEnvironmental servicesOperating spend 2021/2022: $487,000Planning services$315,000GovernanceOperating spend 2021/2022:$1.1 millionFeedback on the 10-year budget is open until 22 March at akhaveyoursay.nz/recoverybudget where you can also comment on the council's regional priorities.You can also have your say at the Rodney Local Board Point Wells Community Day this Sunday, 28 February, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Point Wells Reserve.Regardless of whether you support the 10-year budget, community feedback is crucial, so if you please take the time to read, submit, and share as widely as possible

Significant progress is being made on the Matakana Link Road project. Over 333 truck and trailer loads of drainage metal have now been supplied - enough to fill a rugby field to a depth of approximately 1m. Erosion controls are now 100 per cent complete; while site clearing and tree felling is 98 per cent complete. Matakana Road overhead services have now all been placed underground.New drone fly over footage of the link roadAuckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomes the progress on the project, which he says is coming in on time and on budget. “The Matakana Link Road will ease congestion around Hill Street and make things easier for people travelling to and from Leigh, Omaha, Sandspit and Snell’s Beach,” he says.“The community has been asking for this project for a long time and the fact that we can deliver it now is thanks to revenue funded through the Regional Fuel Tax.“When jobs have taken a hit from the pandemic, this project employs up to 120 staff and uses local Wellsford contractors. It’s a double benefit for locals in Wellsford and Warkworth.”Rodney Ward Councillor Greg Sayers says local residents are delighted to see this investment from Auckland Transport. The project is funded with $30.5 million from Auckland Transport and $31.7 million from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.“The link road is part of a wider set of future roading projects which will cater for the inevitable population increase and the associated traffic volumes.”The link between State Highway One and Matakana Road is a 1.35km route that will provide an alternative around the frequently congested Hill Street intersection.Auckland Transport’s Portfolio Delivery Director David Nelson says “it’s difficult to see from State Highway One, but good progress is being made on the project. “Those living nearby would have no idea about the level of activity but looking at the drone footage you can see the amazing transformation that is taking shape.”Rodney Local Board Chair Phelan Pirrie says with the population in the area expected to jump by 20,000 over the next 30 years, the Matakana link project comes at an important time for the future development of the area.“We are very pleased to see the rapid progress being made by Auckland Transport, especially given the challenges with COVID disruption and budgets cuts. Frankly, the rapidly growing Rodney community needs these critical improvements to our roads as fast as Auckland Transport can deliver them.”

Auckland will join the rest of the country at alert level one from midnight tonight.Face masks will remain a mandatory requirement on public transport across the country, Ardern said, even at alert level one. Children under the age of 12 are exempt, along with those who have medical requirements that prevent them from wearing a face covering.People should continue to use the Covid Tracer app.

MondayAlbi and the Wolves, Whangateau Hall, 7:00 p.mAlbi & The Wolves is a soulful, energetic, electric, and uplifting trio. Winners of the Best Folk Artist at the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards, this captivating band pride themselves on pushing the limits of what three musicians can do using only an acoustic guitar, an electric violin, a double bass, and three voices.TuesdayMatakana Community Group Monthly Meeting, Matakana Hall, 7:30 p.mMatakana Community Group is involved in a wide range of community activities including town planning matters that affect the future of Matakana and its surrounds. Their aim is to build a strong and supportive wider community to care for all those who live here. Head along to their monthly meeting to see what's happening in Matakana. All welcome.SaturdaySurf Sistas, Aotearoa Surf School, 11 Te Arai Point Rd, 11:00 a.mLearn to surf, build ocean confidence and have fun with the girls! The best way to make sure you are getting out in the water consistently and improving your skills.The Surf Sistas Club is an ongoing weekly surfing program designed to help women of all ages and skill levels learn to surf and build more confidence in the ocean. Regular attendees will be able to track their improvement on a week-by-week basis. Above all else Surf Sistas is an awesome club for women with a huge FUN factor!Auckland Opera Studio, Summer Picnic at Matakana, Ward Rd & Matakana Valley Rd, Matakana, 5:30 p.mAuckland Opera Studio is back for this very special experience in their Matakana garden venue. Settle in and let the music envelop you as the evening fades, and the lights come up over the lake. It is truly magical. This year they have another extraordinary group of talented singers. Bring your own picnic and refreshments/wine, rugs, chairs, whatever you need to be comfortable. The lawn has a slope towards the stage - we recommend rugs and low chairs on the slope, and more upright chairs will be on the flatter area at the top. They are providing some chairs. You can view the stage from all areas while you enjoy your picnic. Sunday Point Wells Community Day, Point Wells Hall, 1:00 p.mRodney Local Board invites the community to the new recreational facility in Point Wells. Join them for a blessing, followed by refreshments and children's entertainment. Bring a picnic and enjoy a nice family day out.

Matakana Estate have recently released their new wine, and this one comes with a great excuse to buy it. TOGETHER Pinot Gris is a partnership between Matakana Estate and Harbour Hospice, where $1.00 will be donated to Hospice with every bottle sold. The wine is retailed at $14.99 per bottle.The TOGETHER Pinot Gris is bright and refreshing. The label was created by design student Hannah Russell, and reflects in a playful and light-hearted way how we had to be physically apart at times, but always together in community spirit.“2020 was an incredibly difficult year for families and local businesses. The core focus of the TOGETHER project is to raise funds for a charity dedicated to helping those in need and to uplift the community,” said Matakana Estate CEO, Chrissy Lu.“We are proud of the strength and kindness that New Zealand has displayed during these tough times. Harbour Hospice is an embodiment of the generous Kiwi spirit and we are very happy to be supporting them.”Harbour Hospice is the only specialist, palliative care provider for families living in the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth/Wellsford communities. They provide compassionate care, free-of-charge, working with patients, families, and carers. Their services include nursing and medical care, counselling, social work, cultural and spiritual support and much more, with an emphasis on helping people live every moment in whatever way is important to them.Harbour Hospice is an essential service and has continued to deliver specialist, palliative care across our communities at all alert levels. In 2020, many fundraising events were cancelled or postponed. Their 17 hospice shops which normally raise the $4 million net needed to run each year were forced to shut during alert levels 3 and 4. This has had devastating impacts on funding and on their volunteers and staff.The money raised will help fill the funding hole created by the cancellation of key community events throughout the Covid-19 period last year.“As a charity and service that welcomes families and whanau with open arms – staying home, self-isolating, wearing masks and keeping our distance was a foreign and tough concept to adapt to. Being physically ‘together’ suddenly was not achievable. Despite this, our frontline staff remained committed to providing the best care possible. We are incredibly grateful that Matakana Estate has chosen to support our Warkworth/Wellsford community with this project”, says Harbour Hospice Chief Executive, Jan Nichols.

Fibre broadband is coming to Omaha and Chorus is holding a public information session to help people better understand how they can get connected and why they should want to.Subject to Covid alert levels being at Level 1, the Chorus team will be on hand at the Omaha Beach Golf Club from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday 23 February 2021 to answer residents’ questions about getting connected to fibre, or how to make the most of fibre in their home or business.When Chorus’ fibre build is completed in January next year, more than 1,400 homes and businesses in Omaha will be able to connect to a world-class fibre broadband network.“We are bringing world-class connectivity to Omaha and in most cases getting connected is free,” says Andrew Carroll, Chorus General Manager of Customer and Network Operations.“Fibre provides the broadband equivalent of an autobahn right to the door of homes and businesses, and it will future-proof Omaha for the exponential growth in data usage that we expect to see continue for some time to come. That fibre plans are no more expensive than broadband plans using other technologies is an added advantage.”Chorus’ role in the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband programme covers about 1.3 million homes, businesses, schools and medical centres across the country. By January, the average data usage across the nation had increased to 403GB per month – in 2011 this was nearer 10GB per month – and the average downstream connection speed has increased to 181Mbps.“Fibre is how we internet now. What is common in most homes now is that multiple devices are connected at the same time and this is where the performance of fibre shines,” Mr Carroll says.

From Tuesday 23 February 2021, there will be a new road layout for traffic north of the Johnstone Hill Tunnels. The current road layout will be reversed and northbound traffic leaving the tunnels will run adjacent to the current southbound lane.This new road layout will be in place for most of the year and is part of the work to connect the new motorway alignment with State Highway 1. A reduced speed limit of 60km/h will remain in place for the duration of the works, as safety is of the highest priority.The road layout changes will be formed over a period of two nights on Sunday 21 February and Monday 22 February 2021 from 9.00 p.m. – 5.00 a.m. Once the new road layout is in place, works will continue for a further three nights from Tuesday 23 February to Thursday 25 February 2021, so workers can complete the Hibiscus Coast Highway tie-in works.Stop/go traffic management will be in place on SH1 north of the tunnels while the five nights of works take place, for everyone’s safety. Motorists may experience longer travel times and are encouraged to plan ahead, slow down and to take care when driving through the area. Ara Tuhono appreciates your cooperation and apologises for any inconvenience that may be experienced. Unfortunately, due to the current Covid 19 situation, Ara Tuhono had to make the decision to postpone the Public Open Day that they had planned for Saturday 20 February.“To keep our staff, partners, stakeholders and the community safe, we will continue to monitor alert levels and announce a rescheduled date for the open day as soon as we’re able. Once a new Open Day date has been decided, we will communicate this through our usual channels, including our Facebook page, website and construction update.”

A predator control project is underway in the forests of Mount Tamahunga to protect native plants and wildlife, and encourage recolonisation of birds by trapping rodents and mustelids. And the group behind it all, Tamahunga Trappers, need your help.Tamahunga Trappers are a community group made up of iwi, local landowners, Department of Conservation (DOC) staff and other Warkworth / Matakana area residents who are interested in preserving and enhancing the biodiversity values of the Mt Tamahunga forest, and they are looking for more volunteers.The Omaha Ecological Area is a 240-hectare reserve administered by DOC, which extends down the south-eastern slopes of Mount Tamahunga. Ngati Manuhiri administers a 10-hectare scientific reserve at the summit and local landowners have covenanted and protected forest adjacent to these reserves.The native forest is one of the finest in the region with rare plants such as king fern, Kirk’s pittosporum, and a unique iris found only on Mount Tamahunga. Native animals include the rare Hochstetter’s frog and birds such as tomtit, kaka and bellbird. Reducing the number of introduced pests should allow these native species to flourish and encourage more of them from other protected areas in the region to become established.With the support of the Department of Conservation and some neighbouring land owners, lines of DOC250 kill traps have been set in the area, and a roster of volunteers is in place to check, clear and re-bait them. These traps are an effective and humane method of killing rodents, mustelids and other predators. So far, the group of 35 people have killed over 1,000 pests in the area.It's a great way to get fit, enjoy a walk in the bush and do some pest control at the same time. If you are keen and able to get out in the forest on a regular basis to check, clear and rebait stoat and possum traps, Tamahunga Trappers need you. Trap lines take a few hours to complete and regular checks are required (currently monthly on a roster system). You will accompany one of our seasoned trappers to learn the basics before you are let loose on the hill on your own. If you’re interested and want to find out more, please contact Nicole at [email protected].

It has been a stormy start to lockdown level three for those of us here on the Matakana Coast. While lots of locals are happy that their tanks are finally filling up, the storm caused chaos for some. Strong wind and stormy conditions led to a 60-foot launch named Sea Dog washing ashore at Algies Bay on Monday. While there was no damage to the deck of the boat, the winch housing was completely shattered, and the winch ripped clean off. “I’m hoping to get her floated again tomorrow. Big thanks to this community, in particular Dave from Sealift and Mason Contractors had a couple of guys come down also. There was also a legendary local who went out (up to his chest I'm told) and tied the winch on the foredeck,” said the boat's owner. Sea Dog wasn't the only boat who ran into trouble on Monday: a yacht washed up on the northern end of Omaha Beach. Once again, the community was quick to do what they could to make the boat safe and get in contact with the owners.“Thank you to the wonderful Omaha locals who took charge today finding us via phone calls, throwing an anchor out to rescue our yacht (and laying it perfectly I might add!) She is a little worse for wear, but not on the rocks! What a great bunch of locals! We are super grateful.”According to MetService meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree, a low-pressure system near the upper North Island is the driver behind the rain, as well as strong, gusty winds.Power outages and flooding are possible in regions where severe weather is expected. "Follow updates from your local council, and if you need to travel in turbulent conditions, take care and follow the advice of NZTA," advises Crabtree. Many of the gravel roads in Rodney have been reduced to a slippery, muddy mess as a result of heavy rain, so take extra care if you are using any of our rural roads. Strong winds will also continue, with weather watches in place for possible gales in most North Island regions. Temperatures are set to take a dip alongside the adverse weather - overnight minimums will drop to single digits across the country. Luckily the cool temperatures are all that remains on Wednesday, with clear skies forecast across the country by evening.

Warkworth residents are concerned for the safety of their pets. There have multiple instances of cats being injured after being caught in gin traps.Leg-hold traps, otherwise known as gin traps, have metal jaws designed to catch and hold an animal by a limb, usually the leg or foot. Gin traps cause injury and distress to the trapped animal, unnecessary suffering if they're held in the trap too long or if injured animals escape.Traps set in residential areas also increase the risk of injury to pet cats and dogs, as we are seeing around Warkworth. The use of leg-hold traps is restricted to protect pets. However, these restrictions are not deterring some. The regulations state that no leg-hold trap may be used within 150 metres of a dwelling without the permission of the occupier, or in any area where there is a probable risk of catching a pet animal.One poor family have had two beloved pets caught in these traps, resulting in the amputation of one's leg, and unfortunate euthanisation of the other as its injuries were too severe.These two cats were caught in gin traps behind the public path along Browns Road in Warkworth.The police have been contacted on this issue, and they advised the family to contact the council.If you have pets and are near the river, please make an effort to look out for traps and if you see anyone placing them contact the police. 

COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL UPDATEAuckland moves to Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2. The measures will remain in place for three days until midnight Wednesday. They will be reviewed on a 24-hour basis and we will provide regular updates. This is a response to the latest community outbreak in Auckland which is currently under investigation. We don’t yet have a complete picture of the potential source of the infection and spread. Accordingly, we have chosen to respond with a high degree of caution because of the possibility that this might be one of the new more transmissible strains of COVID-19.Three days will give us time to gather further information on the source, and undertake further testing, as well as breaking any chains of transmission if the virus is present wider in the community.We have planned for the likelihood of further community outbreaks and have activated our national resurgence plan. We have stamped out the virus before and we can do it again. AUCKLAND ADVICEWe are asking that people in Auckland stay home, and work and study from home if possible. For information on the Auckland boundary, please see our website: https://covid19.govt.nz/.../auckland-boundary.../Travel in and out of Auckland is restricted to essential travel only - otherwise you must stay in the region. If you must leave home, keep a 2-metre distance from others and wear a face covering if possible. If you are an Aucklander, you can travel to Auckland to return home. But you should not travel out of the region unless you have to. This is vital to us getting on top of the situation. Please follow instructions from public health officials, and if asked to get a test or self-isolate please do so. If you have symptoms, get tested. It is free. Call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice. Children should learn at home if possible. Early learning centres and schools in Auckland are open for children whose parents have to go to work and have no care giver arrangements, particularly essential workers. Businesses can open, but cannot offer services that involve close personal contact, unless it is a supermarket, primary produce retailer, pharmacy, petrol station, or hardware store providing goods to trade customers, or if it is an emergency or critical situation.Public venues must close. This includes libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds and markets.Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed for wedding services, funerals, and tangihanga only. Physical distancing must be maintained.Please see our website for reminders on life at Alert Level 3: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-3/ REST OF NEW ZEALANDThe rest of New Zealand needs to remain vigilant. This means stay home if you’re sick or vulnerable, wash your hands regularly and well, and use the NZ COVID Tracer app by scanning QR codes and keeping your Bluetooth turned on in the app, or sign in if you can’t use the app.Businesses and schools remain open but public health guidance including physical distancing and record keeping need to be maintained. Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated, and served by a single person with a maximum of 100 people at a time.Mass gatherings will need to be limited to 100 people. Gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed for wedding services, funerals, and tangihanga. Keep physical distancing of 2 metres from people you don’t know when out in public. Keep 1 metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practical. Wear a mask or a face covering if physical distancing is difficult.Please see our website for reminders on life at Alert Level 2: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-2/ TESTINGTesting centres across Auckland reported strong demand for testing this afternoon. All testing locations in Auckland are available on the Auckland Regional Public Health Service website (https://www.arphs.health.nz/.../covi.../where-to-get-tested/), on Healthpoint and at www.covid19.govt.nzIt’s important the right people can get access to testing — so please don’t rush to a centre if you are well, or if you weren’t at one of the locations of interest. We are anticipating high demand at our COVID-19 testing sites and delays are possible, so our request is to please be patient.If you have symptoms but have not been to a location of interest stay home and call Healthline for advice.

After more than six months of meticulous planning, the weekend of the Big Buzz Festival has finally arrived. On Sunday February 14, Matakana Primary school will transform into a buzzing hive of activity, with a programme jam packed full of awesome bee-based fun, with something for everyone. For the AdultsCooking With Honey & Tasting Sessions, 12:00 p.m.The Big Buzz Festival is absolutely thrilled to announce that during the Honey and Bee Festival, a world famous chef will delight us all with ‘Cooking with Honey & Tasting Sessions’. Now Matakana based, chef Cory Campbell's distinguished culinary career speaks volumes, having worked in some of the world's top restaurants, including Copenhagen's two Michelin star restaurant Noma, Shannon Bennett's flagship restaurant Vue De Monde and most recently, Matt Moran's newest Sydney waterfront landmark, Barangaroo House. These are just a sprinkling of the food meccas he has transformed with his culinary flair, so folks, bee prepared to have your taste buds challenged. Nuku Floral Dyeing, 11:00 a.m.Through her work as textile artist and eco dyer, Karen Williamson of Nuku, finds a spiritual connection to the land and its changing seasons. Using botanical resources foraged respectfully from the local Kaipara landscape, Karen infuses prints of leaves, petals, seeds and bark into natural fibres to create her unique range of garments. “Papatūānuku inspires me. She is my art director. Every plant has potential to make colour or prints, so I’m constantly looking around my immediate environment for inspiration. My whole enterprise is about treading lightly on the planet: dyeing with purpose”. During her presentation about her work in natural dyeing, Karen invites you to join her in creating a collaborative piece as she demonstrates the process of infusing colour into fibre using flowers.Chic Journals and Books, DIY Recycled Materials, 2:30 p.m.Come along and join this crafty workshop in which everyone can learn how to make the perfect handmade gift. Experienced tutor, Colleen Kangwai, a Chinese brush painting and calligraphy artist, will teach you how to make paper cards, Chinese brush painting and handmade books and journals using recycled materials. These gorgeous handmade books and journals are a great recycling craft that encourages children and adults alike to use up leftover paper, old calendars, artwork, scrap wrappings, wallpaper and loads of other simple materials. If you have ever wanted an original visitors’ book, a super pretty wedding book, a children’s art booklet or a poet’s journal to leave on the bus for a stranger, this is the perfect workshop for you.Collaborative Installation Piece, 10:00 a.m.Marianda Twydell is a local artist whose medium includes drawing, felting, glass art and mixed media. Marianda loves community art projects and the use of natural or repurposed materials in her art. Come along to this workshop and create a collaborative installation that will be representative of NZ pollinators and their unique environment. For the KidsAll Day ActivitiesGiant beehive especially built for The Big Buzz. Enter into a beehive and become a little honey bee yourself. This beehive is BIG and inside children will find bee photos and info on the walls and giant frames hanging from the ceiling...all at the buzzing sound of real bees recorded in a beehive!Goat Island Marine Reserve unique touch tankMums’ & bubs’ zen area....zzzzzz!Pollinator library and book readings thanks to the wonderful Warkworth Library.Bee jokes wall - read our funny jokes and add your ownBee photo booth for the cutest photo ever.Hour by Hour10.30 a.m. - Paint a beehive11.30 a.m. -Weaving creations with harakeke12.00 p.m. - Talks with a beekeeper12.30 p.m. - Sensory activities with beeswax1.00 p.m. - Bee arts & crafts1.30 p.m. - Reading and meet the author of ‘Bumblebees have smelly feet’, Rachel Weston 2.30 p.m. - Pin the stinger on a bee game & find the hidden pollen game3.30 p.m. - Reading and meet the author of ‘Bumblebees have smelly feet’, Rachel Weston 

A national advisory for strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore has been issued following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake near the Loyalty Islands (near New Caledonia).Northland is likely to be one of the first regions affected.Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, small boats and anyone in or near the water close to shore.People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries. They are advising people to:• Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, rivers and estuaries.• Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.• Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.• Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.The first tsunami activity causing these strong currents and surges may reach New Zealand in the areas around North Cape from about 4.20am today; however this may be later and the first tsunami activity may not be the most significant. Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.

As the total pool of properties available for sale in New Zealand falls to record lows, there is continuing pressure on house prices, with the country seeing a new record median house price for the fourth month in a row, according to the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), source of the most accurate real estate data in New Zealand. At one point last month in Omaha, there was only one property for sale, compared to the usual 70 to 100 listings in the suburb. Experts believe the Covid-19 pandemic is causing a shift in lifestyles. There are currently five properties up for sale. Precision Real Estate agent, Di Balich, said low interest rates and the inability to travel overseas had caused unprecedented demand for baches in the area.In December 2020, Auckland’s median house price increased by 17.4% from $886,000 at the same time last year to $1,040,000 a new record high – the fifth consecutive month where Auckland has seen a new record median house price. In total 11 regions saw record median prices during December 2020.“Currently we have half the inventory levels we had back in December 2018. Therefore, there just isn’t enough choice for people looking to purchase, which has meant that there is significant pressure being placed on house prices in most parts of the country. When you add into the equation the fact that there are record low interest rates, people are more willing to compete to secure the property they want,” says Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at REINZ.“This lack of choice and high levels of confidence is also causing properties to be sold at the quickest pace we’ve seen in 17 years. The median number of days to sell a house is now just 27 days, showing how people are moving quickly to secure ‘good’ properties,” she points out. “Auckland city remains New Zealand’s most expensive district in the country, with December seeing the city reach a new record median house price of $1,280,000 – hovering extremely close to the $1.3 million mark. Not far behind, was North Shore City on $1,235,000 and Rodney District on $1,005,000, showing how unaffordable the Auckland region is becoming, especially for first home buyers. 

Valentine's Day is next week, and if you don't want to be left struggling to find a romantic gift the night before, take a look at some of the Matakana Apps’ top picks for how to sweep your significant other off their feet.Jane Gifford DateOn Sunday the 14th of February, The Jane Gifford will be sailing down the Mahurangi River on a romantic three-hour cruise, departing from the Warkworth wharf at 9:00 a.m. Treat your wife, partner, friend to this special excursion down the historic Mahurangi River to Scotts Landing and Casnell Island return. Bring snacks, refreshments and a jacket. Reservations are preferred.Mystery Picnic DateSpend Valentine’s Day discovering more about not only your partner but also about the beautiful Matakana Coast. Start with a picnic hamper and let Village Picnic guide you on a journey to discover local artisan producers by solving clues and riddles along the way. At each stop, you will take time to admire the scenery and/or collect delicious, gourmet picnic food to enjoy at your final destination! All locally sourced products are made in NZ from the finest ingredients and personally selected by Philippa. Dinner at Wharf Street BistroWe have all heard that the way to heart is through the stomach, so why not treat your valentine to a delicious meal from Wharf Street Bistro. Enjoy the intimate, warm atmosphere, relax and enjoy fabulous cocktails on the sunny balcony. Matakana CinemasIf you are looking for a classic date idea, you can't beat the movie date. Grab a glass of wine at The Vintry before heading into one of the three stunning theatres to watch the latest films at Matakana Cinemas.

TuesdayCinema Enigma, Matakana Cinemas, 8:00 p.m.The movie is a mystery, an unknown, a surprise. Join us for Cinema Enigma, a screening of a surprise movie for just $8.00. You just won't know what the movie is until the opening credits roll! Take a chance with Matakana Cinemas. SaturdayThe Tahi Brothers, The Tahi Bar Warkworth, 7:00 p.m.Their very own house band, The Tahi Brothers, will be playing the get-happy rock & roll that they're famous for. See you at Warkworth's original craft beer bar, now with a new wine list and a full casual dining menu. Guardian Singles, The Leigh Sawmill Cafe, 8:00 p.m. Guardian Singles' hectic live shows have earned them the reputation of one of the best bands in Aotearoa. Their anthem-packed debut album enjoyed widespread success through NZ college radio and has been picked up internationally in places as far as Denmark, Italy, and Colombia. Band members Fiona Campbell (Vivian Girls, Coolies), Thom Burton (SoccerPractise, Wilberforces), Yolanda Fagan (Na Noise, Echo Ohs) and Durham Fenwick (Green Grove) will play favourites from their debut, alongside blistering new material that they're recording for their second album. SundayDubhead and Stinky Jim, Smiths Matakana, 2:00 p.m.Two heavyweight selectors laying out an afternoon's worth of aural delights free of charge, their music reinforced on an upgraded sound system for the day. Perfect for the whole family, with nearby playgrounds and rides, drinks specials and the amazing food on offer at Smiths.Big Buzz Festival, Matakana Primary School, 9:00 a.m.The Big Buzz Festival is a free entry, family-friendly, fun filled country fair in Matakana with stalls of all things bees, food trucks and live entertainment, free talks and workshops, spot prizes and competitions, free children's activities all day long and much more. This will be a stimulating day out experiencing the wonderful world of our pollinators, the honey bees, and all things associated with them, from honey to cosmetics, from health to gardening, from conservation to environmental awareness.

As February 14th draws closer, final preparations are underway for the Big Buzz Festival being held at Matakana Primary School.The army of volunteers has been assembled, the final coats of paint are going on the human size beehive, and there's a buzz in the air as excitement builds. The Big Buzz Festival is going to be an awesome day out for everyone, with a huge array of activities, food trucks, stalls and demonstrations. It will be educational and interesting, but most of all, it will be a big party for the whole family to enjoy.The festival aims to educate everyone on these fuzzy buzzy little insects who are such an important part of our ecosystem. Event organiser Isabella says that “it's nice to see so many people getting excited about the festival. We want people to see how important bees are and take away some of the fear around them.” There will be live music from Jasper and Jane and Latakana all day, along with free Charlies Gelato, with three different types of ice cream (including a dairy free option), all made with honey: rose honey, mango honey, and coco honey. Yum!The highlights of the day include a honey-based cooking demonstration from internationally renowned chef Cory Campbell, and two sessions of honey tasting with beekeeper and Big Buzz organiser Grass, where 50 New Zealand honeys will be available to sample.For the younger ones (and the young at heart), there will be a 3 metre x 3 metre x 3 metre beehive, into which you can venture to learn about all about bees. There is also a fabulous photo wall, and since it's valentines, there will be space for you to leave a special message for your honey. It truly is going to be a fabulous day, and even better, it's free! So, head along to Matakana Primary School on February 14th for a BEE-autiful day!

Locals were outraged on Saturday after a pair was caught fishing inside Goat Island Marine Reserve.In a post to their Facebook Page, Goat Island Dive and Snorkel expressed their disappointment that people could be so selfish. “Unsure what is worse; the fact that people were fishing in the reserve or the fact that they were fishing there in the middle of the day from the main beach and all the people around didn’t say anything?”By the time the pair were spotted they had reeled in two snapper. One was returned to the water alive while the other had died.A person who came across the fishers said they appeared to not realise it was a marine reserve and were "very sorry"."Unbelievable that after 45 years of marine protection some people say they didn't know what a marine reserve was."Luckily for the rest of the fish, two amazing locals came to the rescue and managed to stop the people from fishing. If you see any poaching, please call DOC on 0800 362 468 immediately and try and gather the evidence needed to present to the Ministry of Primary industries in order to see the appropriate punishment applied.Locals seemed to be in agreement that at the very least those involved deserved a huge fine.The marine reserve is a place where natural and undisturbed marine environments and sea life can be studied. This is important as it gives researchers something to compare to when investigating the effects of human activity and climate change. The reserve protects a large range of near-shore and reef-dwelling organisms in a clean, largely silt-free environment, which contrasts with much of the inner Hauraki Gulf.Visitors are encouraged to enjoy boating, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, and picnicking in the marine reserve. However, a number of activities are prohibited or restricted to protect the area’s marine life and habitats. The following are offences under the Marine Reserves Act:• Fishing of any kind • Taking or disturbing any marine life, including shellfish and seaweeds• Taking of any part of the sea floor, including rocks and shells• Feeding the fish, as this disturbs their natural behaviour.The marine reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Its success depends on the care and vigilance of visitors. If you see people taking fish or other marine life within the reserve, please report it to DOC.

With another scorcher of a long weekend coming up, it is safe to assume that the traffic in our area this weekend will be nightmarish.Last weekend (Auckland Anniversary Weekend) saw queues going into Warkworth from all directions for most of the weekend, and traffic was still at a standstill in Warkworth at 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening. On top of the usual hordes of holiday makers this long weekend, there is also the Summer Classic music festival at Ascension Vineyard, which will bring plenty more people to Matakana. The festival will be on Saturday February 6th, starting at 4:00 p.m. and ending at 11:00 p.m. so we suggest avoiding travelling between Matakana and Warkworth around these times.Northbound traffic on State Highway 1 on Friday is predicted be busiest between Puhoi and Wellsford from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. This stretch will probably also be busy on Saturday between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. Plan your weekend around these times if possible, as you don't want precious holiday time eaten up sitting in a hot car.NZTA have an interactive holiday journeys map. They are encouraging motorists to use this in the hope it will ease congestion and minimise traffic over the long weekend.Whether you're a local or you’re heading to the area to celebrate the sunshine for the long weekend, be aware that trips may take a little longer than usual, so be patient on the roads and drive safely.