In April, Matakana App spoke with Matakana locals, Paige Patten and Daniel Hubbard about the innovative new social platform they were developing for lovers of fashion to connect with each other and brands to form a community. The app, called the FriendsWith App, has finally launched.We spoke to Paige about how the app is doing so far, and here is what she had to say. “A lot has happened since our first catch up in April. We launched the FriendsWith App on Sunday 1st August with over 500 products to shop from and a range of men’s, women’s and children’s wear.“On the first day of the launch we made it to #60 in the fashion category on the App Store, which was a great little win for us! We also received really positive feedback from users; the main response was that they love the clean and minimalistic interface of the app and how easy it is to operate. “We have managed to build user content, which has been great and it really shows new users how the content side of things works. For further guidance, we created an E-Guide detailing everything new users need to know about the App, which has since built hype and excitement - great to hear. To download the E-Guide head here )“FriendsWith has taken nearly 2 years from the ideas phase to development, and now finally to launch. For us, life post launch has been a refreshing, critical time of re-aligning ourselves with the next phase of the business. Our plan for FriendsWith is to become an industry-leading, all-in-one fashion platform where users can shop, share and earn on their retail purchases. We are currently expanding our partnered brand scope, growing our loyal customer base, and put lots of marketing strategies in place.“FriendsWith incorporates all the benefits of social media, such as interaction with others to share advice on sizing and products, and personal styling through comments, captions and photo sharing!“We have partnered with a range of brands that share our values of inclusivity and authenticity and best represent New Zealand and Australian fashion. Our vendors are amazing, we have formed a super supportive little community where we are all working together to grow our community and make customers that feel like friends!“The future is all very exciting and we just can’t wait to see and share with you all what the future brings for FriendsWith App.”You can now officially download the FriendsWith App on the App store, download here.

Snells Beach local Steve Hathaway is calling for reports on any orca sightings.For him to film for an international documentary on orcas over the next month or two, he needs locals to keep an eye out to help find them. If you see or hear of any orcas from Northland down to Tauranga, please call 0800 FILM UW (0800 3456 89) as soon as you can.The team and the boat are ready and waiting to go as soon as they get a call. Orcas have been spotted around Kawau Bay, Omaha, and Leigh areas over the last few days, so if you are in any of these areas, please keep an eye out.Underwater cameraman and storyteller Steve Hathaway is a marine enthusiast who has supplied footage for documentaries on BBC, TVNZ, National Geographic and Discovery TV, and won a BAFTA with the camera crew of the One Ocean episode of Blue Planet 2. On their last shoot, the team rescued an orca that was tangled in a cray pot line and are looking forward to what they'll encounter and film this time.Steve and his daughter Riley developed Young Ocean Explorers, the free-access website intended to inspire children and adults to care for the ocean – and act to protect the ocean. Steve’s mission is to inspire people to practise kaitiakitanga over the marine world, and to turn that sense of guardianship into action.

The new Ara Tūhono – Puhoi to Warkworth motorway north of Auckland will not be tolled when it opens next year, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced.Michael Wood said after careful consideration he had declined a tolling proposal submitted by Waka Kotahi.“As is the case with all new sections of state highway, Waka Kotahi assessed the potential for tolling the Ara Tūhono – Puhoi to Warkworth motorway. This included consultation last year to gather feedback from the public and key stakeholder groups.“There was strong community opposition, with 80 per cent of the affected community opposing a toll. I’ve listened and this was a factor that led me to decline the proposal.“Another was commuters could be forced to pay two tolls given the Northern Gateway is already tolled between Silverdale and Orewa, and especially since there is also no southbound exit from the road before the Northern Gateway.“Tolling is a useful tool that can help fund the construction and maintenance of new roads or significant upgrades to existing roads, so it warrants investigating, but it’s important there are adequate alternatives for drivers,” says Michael Wood.All of the documentation about the assessment for tolling Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth, including the proposal and the public consultation report are available on the Waka Kotahi website.

This Friday, Smiths Bar and the Stables Matakana will transform, bringing all the groove of 1970s New York to Matakana.The decade is 1970, the dance floor is crowded, disco fever is in full swing, and life is good. Studio 54 is the one nightclub from this era that everyone remembers.The hottest party spot in the world, defining the disco era in all its excess. More than a discotheque, more than a nightclub. It was a cultural phenomenon!Hold onto the lightning bolt on Friday 13th August 2021; this is the mid-year party you have been waiting for. The velvet rope will be lifted for the flamboyant and the outrageous, the socialites and the artists, the beautiful and the unusual from around our local area with only one job to do: create the magic and the freedom at the party and on the dancefloor! Everyone is invited to this glory days disco!In celebration of this fabulous groovy decade in its heyday, this mini music festival is hosted at The Stables and Smiths Restaurants with a larger capacity than usual from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. The doors open with entertainment, live music and DJs over two venues, presenting the golden age of disco across the genres.Celebrate not imitate! Come as a celebrity or just you as a superstar. Whoever you wish to be, just be sure to dress to impress!Music acts includeThe Cousin Alice TrioBoogie Wonderland DJsDJ Nigel LoveDJ Martin MarshallDJ Wendy DouglasDJ Zane:TeeLive percussionGetting into Studio 54 in the 1970s was a nearly impossible endeavour. We have limited tickets for sale so get in quick and not be left waiting at the door.Food is available throughout the night and water is complimentary.ONLY $54 per ticket (R18) Tickets available from www.stablesmatakana.co.nz/studio54 or  Smiths Bar, The Stables Restaurant or the Warkworth Hotel.

As the end of winter approaches, your mind may be turning to the garden and planning for spring. Luckily, Mahurangi Wastebusters have been cooking up some great compost with the waste from local businesses.Mahurangi Wastebusters have been collecting ingredients from around the area over the last months and turning them into rich compost that is finally ready for sale at the Lawrie Road Recycling Centre.This super food for your garden is a high-concentrate, high-quality compost made with local hops, coffee grinds, tea leaves, food scraps, fish skins, oyster shells, compostable packaging, mulch, biochar, micro-organisms, seaweed and leaves.All this goodness is sourced from Savan's bakery, The Sawmill Brewery + Smoko Room, Matakana Village Farmers Market, Daily Organics, and Matakana Smokehouse NZ.Pick some up from the Lawrie Road recycling centre for $16.00 per bag or $28.00 for two. And don't forget, you can drop off your food scraps for free to add to the compost.  

ThursdayMahurangi College Employment Expo, Mahurangi College, 7:30 p.m.In a collaboration between One Mahurangi, Auckland Business Chamber and Mahurangi College, the employment expo will showcase training organisations, local trades, businesses and industry. There will be free seminars on CV writing and interview techniques. Ideal for school leavers, or anyone looking for a job or considering a change in career.SaturdayTrivia Quiz Night, Mahurangi Rugby Club, 7:00 p.m.Come and support our Mahurangi College 1st XV rugby team and help raise funds for their end-of-season rugby trip to Rotorua.Live auctions and quick-fire raffles as well as the quiz. $30.00 per person includes nibbles throughout the evening. Make up at table of 10 or join a table on the night.Snells Beach Comedy Night, The Salty Dog Inn, 7:30 p.m.Snells Beach Kindergarten presents their annual comedy night and this year it's Stand Up!With laughs, a raffle, silent auction and spot prizes, this is a night not to be missed.Tickets $25.00 and available via text 021 078 7991 or email: [email protected]:MC Steven Lyons (Warm Up Guy, The Project & 7 Days, NZ Comedy Guild Nominated Best MC 2019), Hannah Campbell (Best Newcomer nominee 2018, NZ Comedy Guild, NZ International Comedy festival 2021), Ed Amon (Columnist at Hibiscus Matters, Baboon Yodel Podcast), Bridget Davies (NZ Comedy Guild Nominated Best Newcomer nominee 2016, NZ Comedy Guild Nominated Breakout Comedian at the 2017), Mike Kevan (I’ll Be Back Catalogue, The Dice Show), Bailey Poching (Raw Comedy Quest Finalist 2020, Nominee: Best Newcomer Upper North Island 2020 NZ Comedy Guild Awards)Studio 54, The Stables, 6:00 p.m.The decade is 1970, the dance floor is crowded, disco fever is in full swing, and life is good. Studio 54 is the hottest party spot in the world, defining the disco era in all its excess. More than a discotheque, more than a nightclub, it is as a cultural phenomenon!This Friday, 13th August 2021, is the mid-year party you have been waiting for! The velvet rope will be lifted for the flamboyant and the outrageous, the socialites and the artists, the beautiful and the unusual from around our local area. With only one job to do, to create the magic and the freedom at the party and on the dancefloor! Everyone is invited to this glory days disco!SundayThe After, Leigh Sawmill, 7:00 p.m.“The After” with debut single “Clear to Me” is creating great interest and New Zealand radio and television is lapping up the Pink Floyd-esque track. The band is taking the opportunity to put the put themselves through their paces and connect with audiences with a winter blast tour of the country. 

Next Friday, the 13th of August, ECM Tattoo will be hosting a Flash Day to raise funds for the Gumboot Friday initiative to help Kiwi kids in need. From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the talented ECM tattoo artists Melissa and Ethan will be tattooing their original designs and a portion of the proceeds from each tattoo will to Gumboot Friday. Each year in New Zealand, between 120 and 180 young people die by suicide and it is estimated another 3,500 attempt to take their own lives.While government agencies are doing their best, some young people are stuck waiting up to six months to receive the counselling they so urgently need.Gumboot Friday is a fun way for Kiwis to join in the mental health conversation, while raising money to provide free and timely counselling for any young person in need.“It’s a great cause, kids are the future and being parents ourselves, to know there are places out there passionate about helping the ones who are struggling is a wonderful thing”, says Kate Sheehan, who owns ECM with her husband Leigh.“Some kids find it easier to talk to people outside their social, for whatever reasons, and to know there’s a place that provides that is fantastic.” Flash day tattoos will be priced from $150 - $300. To secure a spot, just turn up on the day - there’s a board in the tattoo studio where you can pop your name to be next in line, but it’s first in first served.“We love any opportunity to bring the community together and to give back. It’s always thoroughly enjoyed by all and a great chance to connect with other locals.“We are always here and welcoming of anyone wanting or needing to stop in to chat or hang out. It shows strength to reach out when you need it, and ECM is always here.”

Auckland Council is offering grants of up to $50,000 as part of the $500,000 Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund / Te pūtea Whakamōkito Para me te Auahatanga. Applications are open from 1-31 August 2021.The fund brings ideas for reducing waste to life and supports the target of zero waste to landfill by 2040. WMIF projects are open to community groups, businesses, mana whenua, mataawaka, early childhood centres, schools, tertiary organisations and other community-based organisations operating in the Auckland region.Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, says funding last year was given to significant projects focussing on reducing construction waste, contributing to the circular economy, rescuing food and diverting food scraps from landfill.Auckland Council’s general manager of Waste Solutions, Parul Sood, says 425 projects have been funded by WMIF since 2013, allocating approximately $4.5 million to assist our wonderful zero waste champions.“We have a strong track record of funding projects which have a real difference. We want to keep encouraging and developing great ideas, and ensure all our diverse communities, including Māori and Pasifika groups, have access to the grants.”If you are interested in applying for WMIF funding, further information is available online, including lists of previous award recipients.

At the end of August, classic cars will flock to Matakana for a rally raising money for the Cancer Society.Each year, vintage car clubs team up with the Cancer Society of New Zealand to raise funds and help our local communities.The Daffodil Rally for Cancer starts at Smales Farm on the North Shore at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday August 29th. At 10:45 a.m., the vehicles will begin the drive up the west coast, before parking in Matakana for the afternoon. 2021 will be the fifth year the Wellsford Warkworth branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand has participated in the Daffodil Rally for Cancer. This year, the cars will park up at the carpark next to Matakana Primary School, where previously they stopped at the Warkworth Wharf. The change of venue will minimise congestion and allow more cars to participate. Vintage cars, trucks and motorbikes of any kind are invited to participate, regardless of whether they are a member of the Vintage Car Club.Once in Matakana, everyone is welcome to check out the classic vehicles on display. Volunteers will be collecting donations for the Cancer Society, so be sure to take some cash. It costs $10.00 to register a car in the rally. 

Businesses all around New Zealand are struggling to find workers in the wake of Covid-19, and the Matakana coast is not immune to the issue.Businesses in all sectors are having a hard time finding workers, and industries that have previously relied on immigrant workers, like the hospitality industry, are finding it particularly difficult.Online employment websites report it's a "job-seekers market" with Trade Me data showing over 80,000 job vacancies from April to June and job ads up 25 per cent.Woody and Kim Richards, owners of The Stables, Smith Bar, and The Warkworth Hotel have felt the fallout from this firsthand.“A lot of hospitality professionals have left the industry because of Covid, so it's hard to employ skilled talent.“We have had to spend a lot more time and money in training and had to offer better pay rates across the venues.“We are also much more willing to employ people from overseas and spend the money on immigration”.The country has gone from allowing 90,000 migrant workers into the country to just a few thousand. Pre-Covid, New Zealand's hospitality industry was made up of between 25-30 per cent of migrant workers. Now, this sits around 15 per cent.Staff have gone from working minimum hours (as a result of lockdowns) to being overworked and stressed. In the meantime, Woody and Kim have been working hard to create a great working environment so that personnel stay for long periods and get the skills they deserve. “We are offering apprenticeship programs for New Zealanders and immigration assistance for skilled migrants.”The trade sector is also struggling to fill roles, seeing a 37 per cent increase in job listings between 2021 and 2019.Local builder Graeme Garner has noticed a lack of skilled tradesmen in the industry, and people wanting a specific builder or a refurbishment to their home are having to push back project timelines due to a lack of skilled tradies.Some local trades companies have taken to recruiting workers from outside of the Auckland region, as it is simply too hard to find tradesmen already in the area. “Businesses are still finding it quite difficult to find workers, businesses themselves reporting the most difficult period in fact to find both skilled and unskilled workers on record since at least the 70s," Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen said in an interview last month.“What that's highlighting is it's not only difficult for businesses to find a new worker but they're having to hold on really tight to their current workers and that's means wages are becoming a much more important issue.”

Locals are invited to put forward their views on the licensing for the proposed Matakana Super Liquor store at a hearing on the 17th of August.The store is set to be at 1A/44 Matakana Valley Road, in the premises that used to be Summer Sessions.Matakana Community Group has organised a bus to transport interested parties to the hearing, which will be held at the Council Chambers in Orewa 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday the 17th of August.On April 8th of this year, the following licensing notice appeared in the Rodney Times:“G1 and Co. Ltd has made an application to the district licensing committee at Auckland for the issue of an off-licence in respect to the premises situated at 1A/44 Matakana Valley Road. “The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is a Super Liquor Matakana. “The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is intended to be sold under the licence are Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.”The consensus seemed to be that Matakana was only a small town and the already available options to buy liquor were more than enough“Horrendous. Gosh, we don't need another liquor store”, said one Matakana resident, whose sentiments were supported by many others. If you give voice to your views along with the Matakana Community Group at the hearing, RSVP using this form.

The Warkworth RSA is holding a bike ride fundraiser for the installation of an elevator to help members gain easy access to the club. To provide members and their partners, many of whom are elderly, or wheelchair bound, easy access from the car park to the club without having to climb the stairs, the RSA in Warkworth is in dire need of an elevator. 88-year-old club veteran member Jim Sonerson will be riding his static bike nonstop for 6 hours at a time, outside of New World Warkworth on September 10th and 11th. Each day, he will be attempting to cover 200kms, and is hoping to better a total of 400kms over the two-day period. To reach this goal he will need to keep up a speed of 33.3kph nonstop for two days running. At 88 years old this will be no easy task. This isn't Jim’s first foray into fundraising for local causes. In 2019, at 86 years old, he cycled 1,000kms (on rollers) over 25 hours across four locations around Warkworth and asked friends and family to support his efforts by donating to Harbour Hospice.  If you would like to support Jim and all his efforts for the Warkworth RSA, you can donate to his Givealittle page, which can be found here.

MondayMatakana Community Group Monthly Meeting, Matakana Hall, 7:30 p.m.Monthly Meetings are now on the first Monday of each Month at 7:30 p.m. in the Small Meeting Room behind the Matakana Community Hall. The change is for those who wish to regularly attend both the hall meetings and the MCG.FridayOpen Mic Night, The Leigh Sawmill Cafe, 8:00 p.m. Presented by the one and only Lindsay D. Come and experience an evening of highly talented local musos. Koha is always appreciated!SundayTroy Kingi with Delaney Davidson, The Leigh Sawmill Cafe, 7:00 p.m.Troy Kingi‘s fifth installment 'Black Sea Golden Ladder’ in his 1O 1O 1O Series (10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres) is due for release June 18th. A collaboration with award winning artist and producer Delaney Davidson, this album was written and recorded as part of the Matairangi Mahi Toi Artist Residency in Wellington, a partnership between the Governor General and Massey University that was established in 2016 to encourage and promote the development of Māori and Pasifika visual arts and creative practices.  The 6:30 Sparkling, The Vintry, 6:30 p.m.Enjoy a glass of Matakana Methode Traditionelle, a film and wine tastings with 11 local winemakers at Matakana Cinemas. At 8:00 p.m., Sparkling: The Story of Champagne starring Stephen Fry and leading champagne producers will be screened. $40.00 per ticket.

Matakana Four Square will be changing hands, with new owners David and Helen Whyman set to take over in the coming weeks.David and Helen have owned the Waipapa Four Square, just north of Keri Keri, for the last five years, and now they are making the move to Matakana.Years ago, when driving through Matakana, they made a stop at the local Four Square, and after having a conversation with the owner at the time, decided that they wanted to own it.They ended up buying a store near Kerikeri, which they set up from scratch, with all the usual supermarket fare along with takeaway food, and anything and everything you could need from morning to night.Eventually Four Square Matakana came up for sale, and David and Helen applied along with many others and were chosen to take over the store. There will be significant changes made to the store. “We want to bring more heart and soul, and our goal is to bring a flagship small supermarket experience to Matakana”, says David. The interior of the store will be completely renovated and will eventually expand into the building next door, which used to house the Black Dog Cafe. “We want to provide the community with not just a shop, but a community hub.“The goal is for people to think ‘this is the best supermarket I've ever been in’, not just a Four Square, but a supermarket.“We want people to feel like they are being welcomed into our home when they walk through the doors.”Another change will be a stronger focus on environmentally friendly practices and sustainability.“Sustainability is just part of what me and my family find important,’’ says David. “We have never used plastic bags in our stores, and we never will.“All deli packaging will be recyclable; the whole store will have minimal waste and any waste that is produced will be dealt with appropriately.’’ David and Helen will be joined by their two daughters Eva and Bella, who you may see lending a helping hand on the weekends. 

Julie’s Animal Refuge in conjunction with the Majorie Gray Animal Protection Trust are urging people in the area to de-sex their cats and kittens ahead of the upcoming kitten season.Their campaign will run from the throughout August and will allow people to have their cats de-sexed for only $20.00.This offer helps to prevent the dumping of unwanted kittens, and free kitten advertisements, which just perpetuate the problem.To take them up on this offer, call Julie's Animal Refuge on 09 422 3322 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and you will receive a voucher number that can be redeemed at a number of vet clinics in the area.Julie’s Animal Refuge are able to do this thanks to the Marjorie Gray Trust. The trust has given a lot of assistance to the community by de-sexing many animals over the years and providing help and support to Julie’s Animal Refuge. A well-fed kitten in a domestic setting can mature and fall pregnant as young as 6 months’ old and can have up to 12 kittens in a litter. A cat to have up to five litters in a year, which can result in huge populations of abandoned and feral cats roaming the country.Desexing and responsible pet ownership are the only ways to address the cause of unwanted animals being born, of being neglected and the continued cycle of unwanted litters.Each year, New Zealand shelters receive about 9,000 cats and 11,000 kittens, who have no other place to go. Help keep this number under control, and get your cat fixed.

A group of locals are taking on an epic challenge to raise funds and awareness for those struggling with mental health.Hamish Barton, Hamish Blampied, Luke Davids, Tom Searle, Greg McDowell and David Hassan plan to walk the local Warkworth DOC track up Mount Tamahunga 16 times (and a bit more) to climb the equivalent height of the highest mountains in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, (Mt Ruapehu- 2797m and Mt Cook- 3724m) a combined height of 6521 metres. The Mount Tamahunga track is a five-kilometre round trip with an elevation of approximately 400 metres. It's a fairly rough track, steep in sections, and is surrounded by beautiful plants, trees and bird life. The Tamahunga16 Challenge will take over 21 hours and will happen on Friday, October 1st and October 2nd.“We all have friends, family, work colleagues, teammates and community members who struggle with mental health challenges,” the group’s Givealittle page explains. “There aren't many people who don't experience some kind of mental health challenge at some stage of their life, but sadly some suffer more than others. “We want to do this challenge to raise money and awareness for mental health and do our bit to support the amazing work of the Mental Health Foundation in NZ. “We'll be dedicating each summit to people who are sadly no longer with us and doing a little ceremony at the summit to remember them.”Nearly 50% of New Zealanders will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, and no one should have to face it on their own. The goal is to raise $16,000 to help the Mental Health Foundation of Aotearoa provide people, workplaces, schools and communities with the tools they need to build positive mental health and well-being, and every little bit counts. If you would like to donate to this awesome cause click here

A section of the Omaha Beach shorebird sanctuary fence will have to be moved to prevent damage from the shifting sand below it.“You will no doubt be aware of the ongoing erosion eating away at the dunes in front of the eastern end of the sanctuary predator fence”, said Aaron Pickering from the Auckland Council.“The erosion and dune removal is now compromising the integrity of the fence in this area. “We have been working closely with the Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust but wanted to inform the resident body of the project. “The necessary consents and approvals are now in place to enable a small retreat to be undertaken.”The works are scheduled to start during the first week of August and involve fence realignment, the removal of the older section of the fence, and follow up planting and infilling of the dunes.The work is expected to take one to two weeks to complete but may be extended slightly depending on the trapping requirements the trust wants to undertake.

Wild weather on Sunday night and into Monday morning was a concern for many locals, especially those living in Pakiri. The area saw heavy rain overnight as an active front moved up the country from the South Island, bringing wet weather and strong winds.People awoke to find driveways flooded, the Whangateau field was underwater, and stray canoes and dinghies were turning up in strange locations. At 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning the bridge on Pakiri Road was still submerged and people were unable to get out of the area. Multiple businesses such as Smith Hairdressing and The Omaha Beach Golf Club Cafe had to close due to flooding.Pakiri's Flooding - Image Tine Meharry RolandResidents reported around 68mm of rain overnight, and one local reported 120mm overnight on Pakiri hill. In the six hours leading up to 8.00 a.m. this morning, weather stations around Auckland recorded 40-45mm of rain, but 20mm of this fell in a burst of very heavy rain around 6.00 a.m. MetService is forecasting an easing trend as the week goes on. The rest of the week is looking mainly fine, but a southwesterly change brings a few showers up the east coast tomorrow afternoon. 

Hidden Valley, one of the most anticipated local summer events, has just dropped this year's lineup, and it's a banger.Crowd favorite Wilkinson will be back, along with Dom Dolla, Kanine, Skream, Partiboi69, Prospa, Nina Las Vegas, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Aroha ft. Tali, Sin, K2K, T1R Otosan, TwentyTwo and many more. That's not all though, with Red Rum Touring promising another special international guest to be announced in September. Tickets on sale to those who pre-register at 7pm Thursday 29th of July. Sign up at - https://arep.co/p/hv-festival-2021Public Tickets on sale 12pm Friday 30th of July