We all know how magical a day at Goat Island exploring the underwater world can be. Goat Island was New Zealand’s first marine reserve, created in 1975 for scientific purposes. It covers 518 hectares of coastal sea. More than 100 species of fish have been recorded from the reserve. Invertebrate species that include crabs, sea stars and sea shells number in the thousands.Soon there will be a new way to experience all this marine life, through a ‘Clearyak’ invisible kayak. Clearyak run kayak tours with a difference. They take kayaking tours in clear boats (hence the name "clear-kayaks"). Made from the same material as bullet-proof glass their boats are both strong and completely see-through, providing views of the sea floor beneath.The kayaks are a perfect way to explore the marine reserve, being unobtrusive on marine life. They are peaceful and paddle powered so won't affect the natural environment.Alert level and Weather permitting, Clearyaks will be running trips from the 11th of September. They will offer a great way to see the reserve before the busy summer season, without you having to take a dip in the chilly water.Fares from $30 per person for half hour paddle.clearyak.co.nz 0204257925

Construction work on the Warkworth pontoon has been delayed due to Covid-19.The pontoon and the attached foot ramp are an important part of Warkworth wharf, allowing easy access to the riverside for sailors, regardless of the tide. It also provides a great spot to feed the ducks. It was removed for repairs in late summer, just before Level 4 lockdown was imposed. Auckland Council hoped to have the pontoon back in place last month, but it is still waiting upon specialised parts from overseas .Auckland Council Community Facilities Manager Mike Feather says as soon as the parts arrive, the repair will be a key focus of the facilities team.“Boats coming up the Mahurangi River to visit is something special about Warkworth and we love seeing it. Despite the delay, we are on track to have the pontoon ready for the summer sailing season.”

The Takatu LandCare group is a volunteer organisation with a vision of the Takatu Peninsula being a pest and weed free buffer zone for the stunning Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary.They hope that some of the endangered species flourishing in the sanctuary will be able to spread safely into the broader region and connect with other important ecological zones through the implementation of the control of pest mammals and invasive exotic weeds on private land.The Takatu LandCare group is embedded in the Buckletons Bay, Baddeleys/Campbells Bays, Christian Bay, Christian Bay West, Takatu Road, Waikauri Bay and Omaha South communities. They work in conjunction with the Omaha, Point Wells, Leigh and other local pest control volunteers and also with the Matakana Community Group and the Forest Bridge Trust.You may have noticed the wonderful Takatu LandCare sign on the Takana Native Trees site at the corner of Leigh and Takatu Roads.The sign clearly states their goal of “Creating a pest-free peninsula”. If it encourages passersby to make contact and perhaps join one of the many local groups active in pest control in our peninsular neighbourhood, their goal will be one step closer.Currently the animal pest control work of TLC encompasses community volunteer groups who focus on the target pests of mustelids, possum and rats. In terms of invasive weeds, climbing asparagus, woolly nightshade, Japanese honeysuckle, moth plant, kahili ginger and pampas are relatively common on some parts of the peninsula. Community working bees are organised to help manage weeds within the local communities.Through Auckland Council funding, they have a dedicated pest control co-ordinator who assists by encouraging and helping people with trapping in their areas. Records show that the group successfully trapped 1,257 pests in the first 6 months of 2020, almost triple the previous catch for a similar period. Birds are already returning to areas where active trapping is taking place.If you would like to know more or are interested in being involved with trapping or weed control, please contact [email protected]. www.takatulandcare.com

If you are walking your dog in Omaha, be wary of poison stations left out to control pests. Two bait stations in Rahul Te Kiri Reserve at the southern end of Omaha were removed over the weekend, as members of the community feared they were too close to the beach and walkway. The poison was accessible to children as well as dogs and other animals, with some of it lying openly on the ground.  The council was informed and marked it as a ‘critical’ project. Council contractors looked at it on Friday. However, they weren't able to start a cleanup process due to it being hazardous material that only poison experts are qualified to deal with. The stations have now been removed.The poison was believed to be Pindone, an effective pesticide used to control possums, and most commonly, rabbits. However, Pindone is also toxic to cats and dogs. Pindone is less hazardous than other commonly used poisons, but you still need to take care to prevent accidental poisoning, either from pets eating toxic bait or carcasses. The secondary poisoning risk from eating poisoned carcasses is very small.If you see pets eating toxic bait, induce vomiting as soon as possible and take them to a vet. A vet can administer vitamin K1, which is an effective treatment, but it must be given in the early stages of poisoning.

On Monday, the government announced that face coverings will be mandatory from next week on all public transport, planes and rideshare services from level two up. This applies to the whole country, not just Auckland, where we have seen community transmission.The World Health Organisation recently published information on mask use for different age groups suggesting that:Children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee a distance of at least one metre from others and there is widespread transmission in the areaFor children aged between six and 11, the WHO advises taking into account how widespread the transmission of the virus is and whether the child is interacting with high-risk individuals such as the elderly. It also stresses the need for adult supervision to help children use, put on and take off masks safelyChildren aged five and under should not, under normal circumstances, wear masks.There are two different types of masks readily available to us, disposable surgical masks and reusable fabric masks. Single use surgical masks are easily accessible, being sold at most supermarkets and pharmacies. They need to be changed if they become moist and should be used for no more than four hours. Single use masks can also be an environmental hazard if not disposed of correctly. Waterlogged masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles and other coronavirus waste already are being found on seabeds and washed up on beaches. If you are using single use masks be sure to cut the straps before you dispose of them, so if they do end up out in the world, they are less likely to tangle on any creatures.Fabric masks are also readily available, with lots of crafty locals using this lockdown to get sewing. It's a great way to use up leftover fabric, and has been quite a profitable venture for some, with one Auckland woman making $1,500 in just three days from selling her masks. The important thing to remember if you are using fabric masks is that to be effective, the mask needs to be made of a weave that is tight enough to be effective at containing droplets, while still allowing you to breathe easily. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests they should ideally have 3 layers. They also need to be washed after every use. 

Nothing makes you appreciate the little things like being stuck at home for two weeks. With Auckland (hopefully) set to move back into level two next week, here is a list of some the things many of us are looking forward to doing locally again very soon.Live Music at the Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Once we hit Alert Level 1! The Leigh Sawmill is known far and wide as one of the best places to catch some of New Zealand's freshest talent. The Sawmill has played host to major New Zealand musical acts and comedians, as well as small, otherwise unheard-of bands. Local legends such as The Chills, Cornerstone Roots and Shihad are no strangers to the pub. You can take a seat or join the moshpit and hear everything from hard hitting drum and bass to classical performances. A Beer with Friends at 8 Wired BarrelworksAt 8 Wired, you go for the beer and stay for the friends. They have 21 taps pouring their latest crafty creations, and on weekends you will find food trucks parked up in their car park (or inside during winter) bringing you a vibrant and ever-changing food offering. The outdoor seating area gets the sun long into the evening as the weather gets warmer, and it is a great spot for a post-beach beer. Big breakie at Pete & Mary's - Photo Bri Cato Breakfast at Pete & Mary’s EateryWarkworth has seen the addition of Pete & Mary's Eatery in the town. Formally known as Ginger, Pete & Mary's is bursting full of homemade goodness, happy locals, and a cup or two of delicious coffee. Head in for a deliciously big breakfast of hearty bacon and eggs with all the trimmings, like pork sausage, mushrooms, smashed potatoes, slow roasted tomatoes, spinach and beans. As full and satisfied as you may be, it's near impossible to leave without grabbing one of their delicious sweet treats from the cabinet. Oyster Tour with Matakana River ToursSpend a day collecting fresh oysters straight from the water while the skipper teaches you how to ‘shuck’ or open them, and then lets you have a go yourself. Once finished eating as many as is seemly, or you can, head back to Scott's Landing cruising shallow sheltered bays while spotting stingrays and enjoying the beauty of the harbour.Movies at Matakana CinemasWhat better way to escape reality for a bit than being transported to a different world in one of New Zealand's most beautiful boutique cinemas. Grab a glass of wine from The Vintry next door and settle in for a few hours. Don't miss their monthly event ‘Cinema Enigma’ in which the movie you’ll be seeing is a complete mystery … it may not even have been officially released yet. There are so many great things to do in our area, especially as we get closer to summer. Don’t forget, support local!

Tomorrow cabinet will meet to discuss whether New Zealand is ready to make the move down to level two. We have already experienced level two before the country went into full lockdown, but with new data on the virus, some changes have been made to the restrictions in order to keep everyone as safe as possible.Level two will mean that domestic travel will once again be allowed, as long as social distancing is practiced, and people keep a record of where they have been and how they got there. This news has been welcomed by the tourism industry, who will once again be able to operate for Kiwis who want to experience what our beautiful country has to offer.Schools will open completely to all students, and only those who need to self isolate will continue with distance learning.Bars, cafes, and restaurants will be able to reopen fully for dine in experiences, provided they comply with social distancing, and stay seated while they are there. Each table will have one server to ensure a minimal number of people they have contact with. Gatherings of 100 people both indoors and outdoors will be allowed, which differs from the 500 person limit for outdoor events last time we were in level two. This will allow funerals and small weddings to go ahead as before.Public buildings like gyms, libraries and museums will be back open, with social distancing measures put in place. Level two will mean that our bubbles are a thing of the past, and we will once again be allowed to connect with friends and family in person. However while the Covid-19 is still active in New Zealand, it's a good idea to keep note of who you have been in contact with, and keep the number of people you see small if possible.Thanks to our efforts as a country, New Zealand has moved through this tough time incredibly successfully, especially compared to other countries who have seen the devastating effects of Covid-19 when action is not taken. Level two would bring a little bit of normalcy back to our lives, and the move will be thanks to everyone who stayed home, and stayed in their bubbles.

The search for a missing boatie on Saturday ended sadly, with a body being found at Lagoon Bay, just south of Scotts Landing. The man, who was in his 60s, was reported missing when he failed to show up for work on Friday. The man lived on his boat in the Mahurangi Harbour, and concern grew when police searched his boat on Friday evening and failed to locate the man. The man’s dinghy, which was usually tethered to the boat, was also missing.The Kawau Coastguard, police maritime unit and Eagle helicopter carried out a search on Saturday, along with the dive squad.The death will be referred to the coroner and formal identification of the body will need to take place, police said.

As well as the general election, in October Kiwis will also be asked to vote in two referendums: one on the legalisation of cannabis, and the other the end of life choice act, which would give people with a terminal illness the option of requesting assisted dying.Voting in the two referendums is optional. You can vote in one, both or neither. The official results of the referendums will not make anything legal right away. If either or both of the referendums get more than 50 per cent of votes supporting them, a bill will go to a select committee, during which stage the public can give their feedback on the bill. Select committees usually have six months to gather information and prepare a report on a bill for the house. Then, there will be second and third readings, so it’s likely we’ll be waiting until 2021 for actual law changes.The Cannabis Legislation Bill would allow those over the age of 20 to:Buy up to 14 grams of dried cannabis (or its equivalent) per day only from licensed outlets.Enter licensed premises where cannabis is sold or consumed.Consume cannabis on a private property or at a licensed premise.Grow up to two plants, with a maximum of four plants per household.Share up to 14 grams of dried cannabis (or its equivalent) with another person aged 20 or over.Cannabis would only be available to buy from licensed premises, and the consumption of it in public spaces would still be against the law. A recent poll of 120 Rodney residents revealed differences of opinions on this cannabis referendum, with 63 voting for yes, and 57 voting for no. Those who voted for yes mostly agreed that the regulation would mean that the substance could be better controlled in New Zealand. Those who voted no thought that the detrimental effects of smoking cannabis would have too great of an effect on people to justify it. The End Of Life Choice Act means people with a terminal illness are given the option of assisted death. In the act, 'assisted dying' means:a person's doctor or nurse practitioner giving them medication to relieve their suffering by bringing on death; orthe taking of medication by the person to relieve their suffering by bringing on death.In the act, 'medication' means a lethal dose of the medication used for assisted dying.To be able to ask for assisted dying, a person must meet ALL the following criteria. They must:be aged 18 years or overbe a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealandsuffer from a terminal illness that's likely to end their life within 6 monthshave significant and ongoing decline in physical capabilityexperience unbearable suffering that cannot be easedbe able to make an informed decision about assisted dying.A person would not be eligible to ask for assisted dying if the only reason they give is that they are suffering from a mental disorder or mental illness, or have a disability of any kind, or are of advanced age.Some big questions to ponder until Saturday, 17 October 2020.

Rodney Local Board is investing to significantly increase support for community-led action to protect and restore local ecosystems and threatened species. Natural environment targeted rate funding was used in 2019/20 to increase the value of grants given out through the grant scheme. These environmentally focused groups in Rodney received grants from the Regional Environment and Natural Heritage Fund, an established grant that received a top up of $440,000 in 2019/2020.Motuora restoration society - $5,000The Forest and Bridge trust - $17,000CUE Haven Community Trust (native forest restoration) - $20,000New Zealand Native Forest Restorations Trust (vegetation mapping) - $5,000Gecko New Zealand Trust - $5,000The Community Coordination And Facilitation Grant is a new grant scheme to support community conservation groups. It is a natural environment targeted rate administered initiative which distributed $775,000 to groups in 2019/2020, of which $150,000 was funded by the water quality targeted rate for landowners and groups helping to protect and restore urban and rural waterways. The Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group received $33,500 from this grant.

Leigh residents have been left disappointed by some bad behaviour over the last few weeks.Reckless drivers have been driving over public embankments, tearing up the grass and leaving quite a mess. Locals described whoever had left this unsightly mess as “morons who don’t respect anything, including themselves, poor things!” and "NZ's version of the crop circle .... The cock circle!"There has also been an increase of people illegally dumping rubbish. There have been stacks of tyres, bags full of empty spray cans and wire and even furniture dumped in places where it doesn't belong. Not only is this dumping disrespectful of the community, it is also illegal. Auckland Council will investigate claims of illegally dumped rubbish and try to identify the offender(s). Offenders caught illegally dumping rubbish will be ordered to remove the rubbish and may be issued with a fine of up to $400.00. Serious offenders may also be prosecuted under the Litter Act 1979 with a maximum penalty of $30,000.If you see someone illegally dumping rubbish, call 0800 663 867 (0800 NO DUMP) to report it. Mahurangi Waste Busters is still open for rubbish and green waste disposal under level three, so there is no excuse for illegal dumping.

Warkworth has the largest population of Kiribati families in New Zealand. There are nearly 600 people of Kiribati descent living in Warkworth, with families having settled here for work opportunities and seasonal employment since the 1980s.The Kiribati community of Warkworth has plans for a new cultural space, modeled after traditional Manaeba, or meeting house that are traditionally the centre of village life in the Kiribati Islands. It is envisioned it could host exhibitions, community fairs, orientations for new migrants, support groups, youth art programmes and community kitchens.The next step is to find a site for the project, and secure funding to get it built. Locations in Matakana, Warkworth and Wellsford are currently being investigated for suitability. Rae Bainteiti, a full-time student at Massey University, arrived in New Zealand under the New Zealand Aid Programme as a scholarship recipient in 2016. Mr Bainteiti co-founded a youth charitable trust with a group of young leaders called Kiribati Aotearoa Diaspora Directorate (KADD).The Trust is focussed on the community and how they can empower members to reach their full potential in their new home of New Zealand. One of KADD's objectives is to promote the Kiribati language and culture, especially engaging young people to get involved.This new space would provide a place to do this, and be a vital monument to honour the Kiribati culture for migrants adapting to life in New Zealand.

Covid-19 has created a lot of uncertainty, particularly for small businesses. We are all being told to support local, but what can we do to help a business that is yet to reopen?Check businesses social media pages and interact with posts. A like, comment or share can go a long way, and will let others know how they can support that business too. Word of mouth can be one of the most effective forms of advertising, and it reminds people that these businesses still exist and will be back as soon as they can. Ratings on Yelp and Trip Advisor can be another effective way of letting people know about favourite local businesses. It will take you just five minutes and will do a world of good both for the business and those in the future looking for places to visit and shop in our area: a win-win.If a small NZ business you love isn't running right now but has a newsletter, subscribe to it. You'll know what's coming up for them and when they'll be able to operate again, and you'll be part of growing their customer database, which is a valuable business asset.Book an appointment in advance or buy a gift voucher. You can buy vouchers for a huge array of businesses here: https://sosbusiness.nz/ Although we may not have an exact date of when everything can reopen again, ask your favourite local salon if you can reserve an appointment sometime in the first week back, or buy a gift voucher so that you can head in whenever suits you. For a list of small businesses that would love your support, check out the support local section in the Matakana app.

The 2020 general election has been delayed by four weeks until October 17.Factors including the participation of voters, the fairness of the election, and the need for the election to be held in a timely way were considered in the decision. Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reached out to all parties with seats in parliament to seek their view. “Complete consensus is unlikely,” she said.However, she said there were a number of areas that were agreed to by all parties. “Ultimately, the 17th of October, in approximately nine weeks’ time, provides sufficient time for parties to plan for the range of circumstances we could be campaigning under, for the electoral commission to prepare and for voters to be sure of a safe, accessible and credible election,” Ardern said.Ardern said that once parliament dissolves, the Electoral Commission has the power to move the date. If there were another Covid-19 outbreak and it was truly unsafe to vote, this would be considered, she said. According to Ardern, the Electoral Commission is anticipating 60 per cent of the voting population will advance vote. “It is unusual to hold advance voting over a school holiday period,” she said. “My hope is that will create the opportunity for potentially additional venues, venues with much larger capacity.”New election timetable:13 September: Writ day – the Governor-General issues the writ for the election to be held.17 September noon: The deadline for parties to submit bulk candidate nominations and party lists to the Electoral Commission.18 September noon: The deadline for individual electorate candidate nominations to returning officers.30 September: Overseas voting begins.3 October: Advance voting begins.17 October: Election day – preliminary results released progressively from 7.00 p.m.30 October: Preliminary referendum results released.6 November: Official Results declared for the General Election and referendums.The Electoral Commission has always planned to run the election as if New Zealand is at Alert Level 2. Health measures that will be in place that include contact tracing, hand sanitiser and physical distancing in voting places, and providing protective gear for staff if needed. Planning is also underway to have more voting places and longer voting times to reduce queues.

The Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway project is back underway, and workers are hard at it trying to minimise the effects of the Covid-19 isolation delays. Project workers recently completed the largest concrete pour on the project to date, which took place on the deck of the stunning Arawhiti ki Ōkahu, the longest viaduct on the project. Over 12 hours, 313m3 of concrete (57 concrete trucks) was poured over a 65m section of the viaduct. It will take six pours to complete the first deck pour for this viaduct. The team will be undertaking urgent repairs to the road surface on SH1, on Wednesday 12 August between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., south of Mahurangi West Road and north of Hungry Creek Road. This date is weather dependent. You may experience some minor delays during these works. However, the project team will work hard to minimise disruptions. Traffic management will be in place while the repair work takes place, with the southbound SH1 traffic being transferred into the merge-lane as a contraflow. Traffic will still be able to move in both directions, with a temporary speed restriction of 30km in place.Once open, people travelling on the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway can expect some spectacular views, and not just from the rolling hills. Where there are steep rock cuts, the rock will be left exposed to showcase the geology as a key feature of the journey, creating a minimalist and natural aesthetic. A fixed drapery wire mesh will be used on the rock face to catch any loose and falling debris, allowing the natural features of the rock to be visible. When it opens in mid-May 2022, the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstone's Hill tunnels to just north of Warkworth.

With active cases of COVID-19 back in the community, it is important that we all do our part to minimise the spread of germs and the risk of the virus spreading. One way of doing this is to wear a mask. In her address to the country last Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked that Aucklanders "please cover your face when leaving your home to access those services operating at level 3". "While we're not mandating their general use at this stage, we're strongly encouraging their use in the general Auckland region...You can fashion your own face covering if needed," she said.At alert level 3, when people cannot maintain physical distancing of more than two metres, such as on public transport, at workplaces or in shops, face masks or face coverings are highly recommended. A face mask can help stop infectious droplets spreading when people speak, laugh, cough or sneeze. Disposable surgical masks are sold at most pharmacies, but stocks are limited since the announcement we would move into level three last week. World Travellers in Warkworth has bulk supplies of 50 masks for sale, if you are needing a large supply.The other option are reusable fabric masks, which also have the added bonus of being kinder on the environment. The seamstresses in the community have been sewing up a storm, and a quick scroll through any of the community Facebook pages will give you plenty of options for buying some funky facemasks. You will also be supporting local makers, so it's a win-win. If you have some spare fabric lying around, you can apply some true Kiwi DIY DNA and make your own, using this helpful guide put together by Spotlight, or this clever video even shows you how to make no-sew masks from socks: https://www.facebook.com/777759765/videos/10158588526774766/.

A new festival is coming to Matakana, and it's got us buzzing! The Big Buzz festival will be held at Matakana Primary School, on the 14th of February 2021, celebrating all things bees.Bee in Hand by Fabian KellerThe Big Buzz Festival is a free family-friendly, fun-filled country fair in Matakana with stalls of all things bees, food vendors, live entertainment, music, talks and workshops, children's activities and much more. Experience the wonderful world of these little pollinators, and all things associated with them, from honey to cosmetics, from health to gardening, from conservation to environmental awareness.The Big Buzz festival is the brainchild of two passionate beekeepers: Grass Esposti and Isabella Sullivan. Grass is a founding member and secretary of the Warkworth Beekeepers’ Society and has created Beetopia NZ Ltd, a unique educational concept which introduces practical beekeeping to those interested in becoming keepers of bees. Grass has also recently launched the NZ Honey Tasting Shed which offers guests the opportunity to savour honey varietals from throughout Aotearoa, plus honey pairings with local produce.Isabella Sullivan has a strong background in event planning and management, having worked for the likes of the Auckland War Memorial Museum and The Auckland Festival of Photography. In 2012, Isabella and her husband David acquired an olive grove in Matakana and relaunched brand and distribution of Matakana Extra Virgin Olive Oil. In 2015, Isabella developed a keen interest in beekeeping, becoming a beekeeper herself and discovering a lifetime passion which she shares with family and friends.The Big Buzz is open to volunteers, vendors and sponsors. If you Wanna bee part of the Buzz? Contact them on [email protected]

Our current alert levels will be staying in place for a further 12 days, the prime minister has confirmed. Auckland will be remaining in alert level three, and New Zealand at level two, until August 26 at 11:59 p.m.The settings will be reviewed in a week’s time, on August 21.In addition to the alert levels staying in place, the prime minister confirmed the wage subsidy will be extended nationwide. “We have identified 29 cases, at this stage all linked to the Auckland cluster… and one case that is likely linked to the cluster,” she said.More than 30,000 tests have been completed over the past 48 hours. “There are signs we have found this outbreak relatively early in its life,” Ardern said. “The earliest case we have found to date was a worker at the Americold store in Mt Wellington who became sick on the 31st of July… Contact tracing and genomic testing has not yet found a link to the border or managed isolation in quarantine facilities at this stage.“The sequence of the virus at this stage is not the same as community cases in our first outbreak. This suggests this is not a case of the virus being dormant or a burning ember in our community. It appears to be new to New Zealand."

Once again, we find ourselves in level three lockdown. This time, we had less time to prepare, with Jacinda Ardern announcing it on Tuesday around 9:30 p.m. and the lockdown coming into force on Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.With cases in New Zealand outside of managed isolation, people are scrambling to get tested. Testing facilities across Auckland have been swamped, with some having to stay open until 11:00 p.m., five hours later than they were supposed to, just to clear the backlog of people waiting to be tested. Over 950 cars were waiting outside of St Lukes testing station on Thursday morning. Luckily, there are some closer to home options for those of us in Rodney that feel like we may need a test. There are testing stations in Wellsford and Warkworth, that are open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. However, they are doing things a little differently to testing stations in Auckland.No walk-ins are being accepted at these testing facilities. Everyone needs to have called and made an appointment in advance. In Wellsford, you will then be asked to wait in your car and telephoned when it is time for your swab. The Wellsford station can be reached on 09 423 8086 and the Warkworth station can be reached on 09 425 8585.The no walk-in policy has worked well so far, helping to keep things running smoothly and avoiding the large lines of traffic which disrupt others on the roads. On Wednesday, the Wellsford station carried out around 150 tests, which is a respectable amount for a station of its size and number of staff.If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, such as a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or high temperature, call Coast to Coast Healthcare and set up an appointment with the Warkworth or Wellsford testing stations as soon as possible.