Unfortunately, due to current Covid-19 developments, the Kowhai Festival’s annual Huge Day Out will be cancelled for 2020.The festival committee has collectively taken the decision to cancel the Huge Day Out which was scheduled for Sunday, October 18th, 2020.This decision was not taken lightly. Organisers worked extremely hard, and even considered re-scheduling for a later date. However, with the current risk of Covid-19 in New Zealand, organisers feel it is their responsibility to keep the community safe and would hate to see an outbreak of Covid-19 during the festival.So, after careful consideration of the health and safety of members, participants, exhibitors, volunteers and the wider community, the decision was made not to proceed with the Huge Day Out this year.The team behind the festival want to reassure everyone that they are committed to continuing the 50-year tradition of this celebration and will do their best to have an amazing Huge Day Out in Warkworth in October 2021.Although locals are understandably disappointed, they understand the reasoning behind the difficult decision. 

Envisage yourself: brush in one hand, glass of wine in the other and copious amounts of fun while creating a masterpiece. This is what is in store for you with The Village Picnic’s newest event, Paint n’ Picnic. The event incorporates local wineries, local delicacies and local artists. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon painting session, for which no experience is required, just a good sense of humour.There will be three Paint ‘n Picnic afternoons over October: on the 1st, 11th, and 25th, and all will be held at the beautiful, newly renovated Matakana Estate. The launch event on October 1st will cost $89.00, while the other two dates will only be $69.00 per head. This price includes a glass of wine, a picnic box filled with great local products, and a two-hour guided painting session by a local artist. All participants will paint the same painting and take home their masterpiece.The idea is to have fun while experiencing some of the great things our area has to offer, with no pressure on participants to be the next Picasso. These events are for everyone, so drag along your partners, neighbours, and friends for an afternoon of picnicking and painting. Tickets can be purchased via The Village Picnic Facebook page, or at Eventbrite, here.These events have already generated a lot of interest, so get your tickets quick! However, if you miss out, don't stress. This event is likely to turn into a regular occurrence over summer. If painting doesn't sound like your cup of tea, The Village Picnic has another great experience on offer: their Mystery Tour. Start with a picnic hamper and embark on a journey to discover local artisan producers by solving clues and riddles along the way. At each stop, you will stop and admire the scenery and / or collect gourmet picnic food to enjoy at your final destination.The Matakana App is giving away a DOUBLE PASS, to enter simply go to our Facebook To see more of what the Village Picnic has to offer, click here

Today, Friday the 25th of September marks the end of term three for schools. As we are all well aware, school holidays often bring a huge influx of traffic to the area, and with Harbour Bridge repairs happening, journeys are likely to be even more delayed. To help alleviate these problems, Auckland Transport recommends planning your travel well in advance and travelling outside the busiest periods. Live north of the bridge? Instead of heading south this year and having to deal with a heavily congested harbour crossing, consider exploring areas up north instead. To make travel easier for you, Auckland Transport has created an interactive map. Based on travel patterns from previous years it shows when to expect traffic to be heavy. You can use the journey planner to map out your route, and see what kind of traffic conditions to expect. Traffic over these school holidays is not expected to be as congested as some of the peak holiday times, such as Labour Weekend, Christmas, Auckland and Northland Anniversary Weekend and Easter. However, with the added delays due to the Harbour Bridge repairs, it is a good idea to allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

The Waiwera Hot Pools were a Rodney institution for over 50 years. But in 2018, the park closed its doors, ostensibly for a renovation, but fell into disrepair. The present owners have just made preliminary decisions on a $250m masterplan that could see the pools and the slides at Waiwera return, along with a day spa, a hotel spa complex, a micro-brewery and apartments. The pools were purchased by Russian oligarch Mikhail Khimich in 2009. Khimich, a fast-living oil company magnate, wanted the bottled water, but was forced to take a water park he never wanted as well.By 2018, Khimich and his business partner (and reported Las Vegas-based diamond trader) Leon Fingerhut had run Waiwera Hot Pools into the ground and vanished from the country, owing significant amounts of rent on the pools - among other debts.New Zealand-based family-owned property company Urban Partners own the Waiwera land, but not the water park lease. Now they have the chance to take over the business and develop a plan to start the pools and slides again from scratch.Evan Vertue, Waiwera project director for Urban Partners has said "It's a strong, high-foot traffic attraction and would get Waiwera on the map."We haven’t scoped up the whole investment, but we are in the $250m stage, so we are going to look for other parties to hold hands with us on this one".And as for timing? The whole project might not be complete in the next 10 years, "but it will be well on the way. Patience can't go on forever", Vertue said.

The school holidays marking the end of term three begin next week, on Monday the 28th of September. It can be hard work keeping the little ones entertained for two weeks straight, so we've come up with some options to help you out.Dance and Drama School Holiday Program, Matakana School28th-30th SeptemberWhat could be more exciting than a day of dancing, drama games and sport activities? These workshops are dynamic with a focus on body awareness, movement, balance, coordination, play, presence, imagination, concentration, confidence, fitness, and most of all fun! Classes start with a warmup, games, exercises and end with a cooling down for mind and body. Over three days kids will work on team building, storytelling and creating from the heart. Through sport, team games, dance and music imagination can run free. To book please email: [email protected] and Sculpture Experience, Brick BayAll HolidaysIf you are looking for a fun activity for the whole family that will get everybody out of the house and into the fresh spring air, look no further. Join the team at Brick Bay to explore the Sculpture Trail and meet some of their gorgeous new lambs. The kids can enjoy a hot chocolate after petting and feeding the lambs and then carry on exploring the Sculpture Trail.Monday to Friday only, weekends excluded.Kitten Taming, Mangawhai Helping PawsAll HolidaysMangawhai’s Helping Paws (Animal Rescue) needs helpers to spend time socialising their rescued cats. If your children are calm and confident around cats, and would like to spend time socialising timid cats in the rescue centre, please message Helping Paws Admin on Facebook. Many of their cats came to them as wildlings. Helping Paws have done a huge amount of work to socialise dozens of them and sending them off to forever homes, but they need help socialising the next generation.School Holiday Art Program, The Foundation Gallery Leigh5th-9th October, Leigh HallThe aim of the Foundation School Holiday Program is to give children an opportunity to investigate a range of artistic pursuits. Foundation has engaged the skill of many artists and craftspeople to encourage and educate the holidaying youngsters. Ages six and onwards are welcome. This program is suitable for older teens as well. The kids will get to explore different mediums and techniques, such as screen-printing shirts, drawing, carving, and ceramics. 

Traffic heading into and out of the city has become a heavily congested nightmare. NZTA has been forced to close half of the Auckland Harbour Bridge to make urgent repairs to a strut damaged from two truck crashes on Friday.Those who commute to the city from our local area are faced with delays hours long, and traffic was backed up to Takapuna yesterday morning, as only two lanes are open heading in each direction.However, there is one way to bypass this traffic: public transport. The Mahu City Express made the journey from Warkworth into the CBD in under an hour yesterday morning, despite the congestion. They are part of the AT traffic management plan that prioritises buses getting in and out of the city as rapidly as possible. The Mahu City Express is not expecting the delays those driving cars will face.For new passengers, please note that booking is essential due to COVID health and safety regulations. All passengers are required to wear face masks. Booking can be made by downloading the Mahu City Express app and following the step by step instructions.While repairs on the Harbour Bridge are taking place, Mahu City Express will be discontinuing the Parnell pick up in the evening to allow the quickest exit from the city. The first pick up will be 4.45pm on Commerce Street.Auckland Harbour Bridge may will see a temporary solution today: a new piece for the bridge will be tested and if all goes well, there should be two new lanes opened by the end of the week.Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Transport Services General Manager Brett Gliddon said they expected the work would take between two to three nights and the southbound lanes would be closed between 9.00 p.m. and 5.00 a.m.

The Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth Project advises there will be nighttime lane closures and road layout changes on State Highway 1 (SH1) near the Johnstones Hill Tunnels over the next few months.From Sunday 20 September to Thursday 01 October (not including Friday and Saturday) there will be night works happening north of the tunnels with stop/go traffic management in place from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m.Works will include temporary lane closures and road layout changes on the Pūhoi side of the tunnels. All northbound SH1 traffic will be moved to a southbound tunnel lane. The Hibiscus Coast Highway northbound lane will be closed, with traffic diverted onto the southbound lane, under stop/go traffic management.Safety is the highest priority and the reduced speed limit of 60km/h will remain in place for the duration of the works. Motorists may experience longer travel times and are encouraged to plan ahead, slow down and to take care when driving through the area. NZTA appreciates your cooperation and apologises for any inconvenience that may be experienced.

Waka Kotahi, New Zealand Transport Agency's spring / summer road maintenance programme, will see about 100km of state highway in Northland resealed, including areas in Warkworth.Resealing in Warkworth starts this month and ramps up in October as the days become longer and warmer. Sections will be resealed near the Hudson Rd intersection, which will be done at night to minimise disruption to traffic, and new asphalt will be laid on SH1 to the south of Warkworth.The warmer weather helps the new seal stick to the road surface. Weather conditions are critical, as was demonstrated earlier this year. In November and December there will be new chip seal on sections of SH1 between Kawakawa and Warkworth. While this work will be largely done at night, motorists may experience some daytime delays."This year we will be implementing more short-term and cost-effective repair solutions such as pothole repairs and localised patching work, rather than more significant maintenance improvements. This should result in less disruption on the network for motorists," said Northland system manager, Jacqui Hori-Hoult.Despite the significant roadworks programme, most work will stop before busy holiday travel periods like Labour weekend, Christmas and New Year, to minimise disruption to people's journeys.Hori-Hoult said the repairs and resurfacing would keep the road surface maintained and make it safer, but everyone had a responsibility for safety while the work is being done."We ask all motorists to do their bit by slowing down and keeping to the temporary speed limits. The speed limit applies on both sides of the road, even though work may only be occurring in one lane at a time. Driving at the posted speed limits helps bed in the new seal and prevents stone chips flying into windscreens," she said."The road crews will do their bit by working hard to minimise inconvenience and delays. We urge people to be patient, plan their journeys and allow extra time."

Flowers are happiness. Twig + Bloom Matakana have moved into a bigger store where they can house more flowers and make more people happy. Pop in 10am-3pm, now located by the staircase in the village.

3,000 Auckland Council staff have given up part of the 1.9 per cent pay rise they were due to get this month, in recognition of the local body’s budget problems.The pay rise will be lowered from 1.9 per cent pay rise to 1.3 per cent. The sacrifice is partly offset by the granting of one day’s additional leave for union members, and improved backdating for any redundancies.The Auckland Ratepayers Alliance aren't satisfied that this decrease will help, calling it all smoke and mirrors.“The 3,000 staffers, who are also members of the PSA, have very generously agreed to a pay increase of 1.3 per cent instead of the planned 1.9 per cent. But it’s all smoke and mirrors, because it’s being offset by an additional day of leave. Despite Mayor Goff’s rhetoric about cost cutting and savings, this pay increase is still going to cost ratepayers millions of dollars – and that doesn’t include the extra resources needed to cover the lost hours as a result of the extra day off.”The deal is separate from council plans to cut 500 or more jobs as part of its pared-back Emergency Budget this year, which reflects a Covid-19-related revenue hit of around $475 million.Auckland Council has not yet released any detail on identifying how many and which jobs would be cut as part of the budget settled in July.Senior executives across the council group and the mayor have taken pay cuts of between 10 to 20 per cent for six months in response to the budget pressures. Separate negotiations continue with council agencies such as Auckland Transport.

Last summer, a number of Godwits were fitted with solar powered satellite trackers in New Zealand. These incredible birds are now making their way back here from Alaska, where they migrated for the winter.Some of New Zealand Godwits have already arrived and a lot more are on their way.One bird left Alaska last week but was blown off course by bad weather and landed on a small island in Papua New Guinea. There is another tracked bird on the way to New Zealand enjoying favourable winds.The godwits arrive from Alaska around the 15th of September to spend the summer here and leave again at the end of March for the Yellow Sea and then back up to Alaska, a 30,000 km trip around the Pacific rim.They perform the longest nonstop flight of any non-seabird in the world. The epic 11,000-12,000 km flight from Alaska takes 8-9 days and is fueled by only stored body fat and muscle mass. Unlike seabirds, they must flap their wings the whole way. They do not have the luxury of soaring or gliding, and they don’t stop to feed, drink, rest or sleep. The godwits lose half their body weight on the journey.As soon as they arrive, they start to prepare for their epic return migration in March, another 8-9 day nonstop flight. They restore their organs and moult their tired, worn feathers.The godwit is a bird native to New Zealand and has a life expectancy of 20-30 years. These amazing birds are in decline, and we can make a huge difference and save their lives by just letting them rest and have their space.Snells Beach is home to flocks of up to 400 Godwits over summer, feeding over the intertidal sand flats. Snells Beach is one of the best feeding areas in Auckland for them, and along with 35 other species of shorebirds and waterfowl, they do us a great service by maintaining the health and delicate balance of our marine environment and beach. However, with the options of where to go becoming more and more limited, the world has lost 50% of its migratory shorebirds in just the last few decades.You can follow the birds journey here.

Finding a job in today’s Covid climate can be tricky. One Warkworth Business Association’s inaugural Mahurangi Employment Expo will be held at the Warkworth Town Hall on October 1 from 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. to help with all the skills you need to get into the job market.The expo, which is a joint initiative with Mahurangi College and the Auckland Business Chamber, was due to be held last month but had to be postponed due to lockdown restrictions.A wide range of local businesses will be represented, including those from the hospitality, engineering, real estate, electrical, plumbing, brewing, banking, medical, boating and building sectors.There will be free seminars on CV writing and job interview techniques, and talks by local business owners, including the Matakana App’s very own Fraser Falconer. The expo is a chance for employers to connect with potential new staff or trainees, and the hope is that it will become an annual event.Businesses seeking space at the expo should email One Business Association manager, Murray Chapman: [email protected]

The land bordered by Clayden Road, Matakana Road and the Warkworth Showgrounds was earmarked for future urban and light industrial use, but a new application has been lodged that could see up to 1,100 houses and six shops built on this 102 hectares of land north east of Warkworth.The application was lodged by Warkworth Land Company, White Light Trust Limited, Kaurilands Trust Limited, Rob Mills and P & L Richards. It was originally notified in February, then re-notified in July due to “technical issues receiving submissions”, according to Auckland Council.The group of applicants wants to change the zoning of land to residential with ‘neighbourhood centre’ shops off the Matakana link road.While board members accepted that additional land was needed to cater for expansion in Warkworth due to the new motorway and link road, they stated that growth had to be well-planned and sustainable. They were also worried about the loss of light industrial land: a zone that could create local jobs.Members voted to support the application but expressed concern over any light industrial land losses. They also asked for footpaths and cycleways to be provided throughout, plus multiple bus stops, and for open space to be evenly distributed within the development. The board also said that water supply, wastewater and stormwater runoff should be planned and managed sustainably.Submissions on Private Plan Change 40 are now closed and a hearing will be held in the Auckland Council chamber at 50 Centreway Road, Orewa on October 5th, 9th and 12th, starting at 9.30 a.m. each day.

Nature has a powerful source of remedies to optimise our health and well-being. There are so many different oils, clays and plants that do so much good you’d be silly not to use them. Phillie, the woman behind the Good Blend has harnessed their benefits, creating gorgeous body bars and essential oil rollers. Your skin is the largest organ on your body and absorbs a percentage of what is put on it, so switching to a natural soap is the first step to creating a healthier lifestyle. “I believe that going back to basics, using what nature has provided us really is the best thing people can do, not only for themselves but also the planet. Whatever you are using on your body is getting washed down the drain back into our precious earth.”The body bars are made the old-fashioned way and infused with luscious essential oils and natural clays for all skin types. The rollers are unique blends and range from aiding in sleep, to giving you the boost you need to keep you going through the day. Phillie has always loved wholesome, pure skin care, and has seen the importance of unity between humans and the earth. This inspired her to start creating handmade products, blended with nature to enhance well-being. “I have been making soaps for four years after the supermarket brands began irritating and drying my skin. Research made me rethink everything I was putting on my skin and initiated my journey into creating homemade soaps to cater for different skin types. I have enjoyed creating them for friends and family, but the hobby became a bit out of control, so I thought it was a great time to share the products with everyone.” The Good Blend currently has 8 blends available to buy on their website. Each blend has been uniquely created so the essential oils work together to create magic. 

Aucklanders will remain in level 2.5 until at least the 21st of September. However, the rest of New Zealand is set to shift out of alert level two in a weeks’ time, Jacinda Ardern has announced.The country - except Auckland - will move down to level one at 11.59 p.m. on Monday, September 21, contingent on any new Covid-19 cases appearing between now and then. The move will be confirmed on Monday week, when Cabinet meets again.Cabinet will then review the current restrictions in Auckland next Monday. However, there is no commitment to loosen restrictions at the same time as the rest of the country.Ardern said the earliest Auckland could join the rest of the country in level one would be Wednesday, September 23, depending on how the existing cluster is contained. The move into alert level one will take place when there is a lower risk of bouncing back up alert levels.An easing of physical distancing requirements on planes and public transport has also been announced, effective from today.There will be no seating restrictions or passenger capacity limits, but mask use will continue to be compulsory.“I know this change will make a real difference to Air New Zealand and those parts of the country seeking increased numbers of visitors, and the change made demonstrates the willingness on the government’s behalf to constantly review our settings, with everyone’s health at the top of our minds,” Ardern said.

TuesdayMahurangi Artists Network Social Get Together, The Matakana Village Pub, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.This social get-together is for anyone with creative bones who would like to be in touch with others. Just drop in, grab a drink and join the conversations. Maybe you’ll already know some of the artists, maybe you are new to the area, maybe you would like different conversations or to share your work or your questions. Whoever and whatever you are, the Mahurangi Artists Network look forward to seeing you on these evenings.WednesdaySteak Night, The Tahi Bar, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Calling all carnivores, Wednesdays are Steak Night at The Tahi: $18 for 300g of luscious beef steak, cooked to your liking, and a free-range egg on a bed of good old-fashioned crinkle cut chips. Plus, happy hour discounts at the bar from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Quiz Night, The Matakana Village Pub, 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.Put your thinking caps on and rally your best brains (or favourite company). Bookings are essential for this popular night at The Pub, so call 09 422 7518 to book your team in. Great prizes and atmosphere and you can take on the regular local teams.SaturdayHope Gap - Advanced Public Screening, Matakana Cinemas, 12:15 p.m.Head along to see an early screening before the full season. The intimate, intense and loving story of Hope Gap charts the life of Grace (Annette Bening), shocked to learn her husband (Bill Nighy) is leaving her for another after 29 years of marriage, and the ensuing emotional fallout the dissolution has on their only grown son (Josh O'Connor). Unraveled and feeling displaced in her small seaside town, Grace ultimately regains her footing and discovers a new, powerful voice.SundayA World of Whiskey, The Vintry, 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.Join Sam Snead & The Vintry to take a tour around the World of Whiskey. Single malt Scotch is arguably one of the most revered and diverse spirits of the world. However, there are more and more countries creating their own style or version of whiskey and some deserve more than a second glance. With his own unique style, Sam will walk, talk and taste you down a global road of whiskey, making a few stops along the way to introduce some new friends to your drinking circle. 

The Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway Project is undertaking night works on SH1 between Hudson Road and the Kaipara Flats Road / Goatley Road intersection, Warkworth. The ground investigation works will start on Sunday, September 13th and are expected to be completed by Thursday, September 17th, weather permitting.For your safety, the safety of project staff and to minimise traffic disruptions, there will be traffic management on SH1 with stop/go traffic management in place from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. each night.Additional night works are planned between late September and the end of December 2020. NX2 will provide a further update on these activities and proposed start date closer to the time.The temporary maximum speed limit of 60km/h is in place on this section of SH1 during the works. Motorists are advised to watch out for road crews working.When it opens in mid-May 2022, the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth project will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstones Hill Tunnels to just north of Warkworth.The new four-lane motorway will provide increased safety, more consistent travel times and create a robust and reliable transport connection between Auckland and Northland.

Mahurangi Oysters Ltd is family owned and operated by Andrew and Lisa Hay, and this year they are up for a people's choice award at the 2020 New Zealand Food Awards. In 2020, the New Zealand Food Awards are unlike previous years. Amazed by the efforts of the community to help Kiwis and businesses survive this challenging time, they believe communities deserve some recognition, too. This year there were over 340 outstanding nominations for New Zealand’s food and beverage heroes. All the nominations reflect Kiwi innovation and the community spirit that flourished during the COVID-19 response.Mahurangi Oysters Ltd take the greatest care and pride in producing the very best, freshest, tastiest live oysters. The small family run business takes the sort of care that only a smaller operation can provide, supplying plump, succulent oysters from their growing location in a beautiful, unspoilt corner of the Mahurangi Harbour. You can vote here for your 2020 NZ Food Heroes Finalist that you think deserves to win from 1 - 14 September 2020. The Finalist with the greatest number of votes will be awarded the Countdown People’s Choice NZ Food Heroes Award at a celebration on the 8th October, 2020. As well as being nominated for the NZ Food Awards, Mahurangi Oysters have an exciting month coming up, celebrating wine and oysters in October. The team at Mahurangi Oysters Ltd will be serving up fresh oysters and fritters at Matakana Estate on October 10th. Pair them up with a selection of locally produced wines from Matakana Estate and Monarch Estate Vineyard. 

Last month, the national road policing manager, Acting Superintendent Gini Welch, confirmed that all motorists edging over the speed limit at any time of the year can now expect to be pulled over and possibly fined.It has been a longstanding convention that law enforcement would let minor speeding breaches slide. However, this has been scrapped in favour of a no-tolerance approach.Previously, besides zero-tolerance long weekends, it was understood police could exercise discretion up to 10kmh over the speed limit.This news comes after being identified by AT to be high risk roads, have high crash rates, or the speed limit is unsuitable due to the road being winding, hilly or having unsegregated lanes, 700km of roads around the region saw reduced speed limits in June this year. Rodney was one of the areas with the most changes. There were 54 deaths and 595 people seriously injured on Auckland Roads in 2018. One of the most effective ways of minimising road trauma involves reducing vehicle speeds, which is what the New Zealand police is hoping to achieve with the new zero-tolerance policy. Speed determines both the likelihood of a crash occurring and the severity of the outcome.So, remember to double check the speed limits of local roads, as things may have changed in the past six months. Stay safe and avoid a hefty fine by sticking to the limit.