Severe Thunderstorm WarningArea: Kaipara, Far North, Whangarei and RodneyForecast: 04:15 pm near WHANGAREI, DARGAVILLE, HIKURANGI, RUAWAI, MAUNGATAPERE, TANGITERORIA, WAIOTIRA, OFFSHORE KAIPARA WEST COAST, TE KOPURU, OKAHU, TANGOWAHINE, MAUNGAKARAMEA, KAMO, TOKATOKA and MITITAI. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.Impact: Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 7hrs from 2pm - 9pm Mon, 26 DecArea: Northland, Auckland, Forecast: Scattered thunderstorms are expected to affect parts of the central and northern North Island this afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms will bring localised heavy rain and hail. About Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, western Taupo, Rotorua and near the Kaimai Range, some of the thunderstorms could be severe between 2pm and 9pm, with localised downpours of 25-45 mm/h. There is also a low risk of a small and very localised tornado within this area. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

Significant progress has been made on Te Honohono ki Tai - Matakana link road in the last couple of months. The bridge is nearing completion with the installation of the barriers and bridge cycleway almost complete and bridge footpath in progress. The road pavement, footpaths, cycleway and landscaping are complete except the tie into the bridge. All drainage, rest areas, raingardens and wetlands complete and road streetlights are installed.Most works cease over Christmas between 12pm 22 December until 9 January 202, however some critical path works will continue on non-statutory holiday days. In the New Year pavement works will continue along with bridge works, sign installs and line marking - alongside NX2/Waka Kotahi construction works at the intersection with SH1. Te Honohono ti Kai Road will open in tandem with the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway.

It can be a hard life for little blue penguins/kororā. This year we think has been particularly difficult for them. During July there was a huge amount of rain and some nesting sites were underwater or had water and debris flowing through them. The displaced penguins needed to find alternative nesting sites and some may have started nesting later.Since 1999 we have recorded rainfall at Leigh. This year our records show that 2022 is the wettest year since our records began with over 1850mm so far and we are only half way through December. To make life more difficult for penguins this year, storms coinciding with penguin fledging made it hard for young birds to find food. They’ve had to survive five metre waves, plus sediment runoff discolouring the water, making it hard for penguins to see their prey underwater.If you have seen dead penguins washed up and they are very blue, this indicates they are probably juvenile birds. No signs of injury have been recorded on most dead penguins found, a sign that they probably starved. If you see a dead penguin between Ti Point and Goat Island we are keen to record the whereabouts and this can be done by emailing us.We hope the large number of dead birds means more have fledged. Continued monitoring will give more of an idea of surviving numbers in our area.While there is not a lot we can directly do to help penguins out at sea, we can help when they come ashore by reducing their predators by trapping. If dog owners keep dogs on a leash when out walking and cat owners keep cats inside at night this will also help.*Author: Jenny Enderby for Leigh Rag. Reposted with permission. [email protected]

After a good night out you may not be surprised when you wake up feeling rough the next morning. But what may surprise you is if your friends aren't feeling the same way. Some may feel worse, some better and some (if they're lucky) may not feel any of the negative consequences at all.This is the variability of a hangover. In research, hangovers are measured on an 11-point scale (zero being no effects and ten being extremely hungover). In my own research, participants have reported hangovers on this scale anywhere between one (very mild) to eight (severe) - while other research has estimated around 5 percent of people may be hangover resistant.So why the difference? There's more to it than simply how much we drink. Researchers are now starting to explore the many biological and psychological mechanisms that could influence our experience during hangovers.Biological mechanismsSome research suggests that people with a variation of the gene ALDH2 report experiencing more severe hangovers.When we consume alcohol, it's broken down by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde - a protein important for the emergence of hangover symptoms. However, the ALDH2 gene variant limits the breakdown of acetaldehyde, leading to a greater buildup of the protein - thus greater hangover symptoms.Age and sex can also influence the way in which a hangover is experienced. A recent online survey of 761 Dutch alcohol consumers has found that hangover severity declines with age, even when accommodating for the amount of alcohol consumed. Interestingly, the authors also reported differences in hangover severity between men and women. These sex differences were greater in younger drinkers, with young (18 to 25-year-old) men tending to report more severe hangovers compared to young female drinkers. However, it's not currently known why these differences exist.Psychological factorsCertain psychological traits may be linked to how a hangover is experienced - including anxiety, depression, stress levels and even personality.Previously, research suggested that neuroticism, a broad personality trait which tends to cause people to see the world in a negative way, can predict the severity of a hangover. However, recently this idea has been disputed with another study finding no link between hangover and personality.This is somewhat surprising, given that extroversion (a personality trait usually characterised by being sociable and outgoing) is positively associated with binge drinking behaviours in college students - though it doesn't appear to be linked to worse hangovers. This is despite evidence that more frequent heavy drinking is linked to more severe hangover experiences.Anxiety, depression and stress are all also linked with more severe hangovers. Each of these moods are associated with a "negative bias" - a tendency to interpret the world more negatively. Our findings show hangovers also tend to make people interpret the world more negatively. As a result, hangovers may exacerbate this negative bias, leading some people to feel worse than others.Coping mechanismsIt's possible that the way we cope with adverse situations could underlie the variation in hangover experiences.Pain catastrophising refers to the extent to which a person emphasises the negative experience of pain. Research shows that people with high scores of pain catastrophising report more severe hangovers - suggesting that they're focusing on their negative symptoms and possibly amplifying them. Other studies have also shown that people who tend to cope with their problems by ignoring or denying them tend to experience worse hangovers.Emotion regulation is another key psychological mechanism that helps us to deal with difficult situations by effectively managing and responding to emotional experiences. Interestingly, although people who are hungover report feeling it's more difficult to regulate their emotions, this may not actually be the case - with research showing participants are just as able to control their emotional response compared to those who weren't hungover. This could mean that people choose easier (but less effective) regulatory strategies during a hangover - such as avoiding feelings of guilt or shame. But this is yet to be determined.What can we do?Although researchers may have identified a few natural compounds which may alleviate overall hangover symptoms, further research is still needed to determine whether these should be recommended for treatment. In the meantime, the best strategy for alleviating your hangover is going to be up to you to determine.But one study suggests a strategy commonly used by students to cope with the misery of a hangover - by "suffering" together and bonding on their experiences - may be helpful in helping relieve at least some of the negative emotional effects of a hangover. Taking care of your own personal wellbeing more generally and finding better strategies to reduce stress levels and adopt better coping mechanisms may also help you deal with the negative consequences of a hangover.Though of course, if you really want to avoid a hangover, you could always choose non-alcoholic alternatives.

Here is our expected weather for Christmas week. Merry Christmas!🤶🏼Warkworth regionSaturday 24th December - Partly cloudy. Isolated showers, clearing early evening. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Sunday 25th Christmas Day - Fine, apart from isolated afternoon showers. Southwesterlies developing in the afternoon.Monday 26th Boxing Day - Partly cloudy. Isolated showers from midday, widespread and some heavy in the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms possible in the west. Southeasterlies.Tuesday 27th December - Cloud increasing, with occasional rain developing. Fresh easterlies, possibly strong north of Whangaparaoa.Wednesday 28th December - Mainly fine, isolated showers developing. Fresh southeasterlies, easing.Thursday 29th December - Fine. Easterlies.Friday 30th December - A few showers. Easterlies.Mangawhai regionSaturday 24th December - Partly cloudy with a few afternoon showers. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.Sunday 25th Christmas Day - Partly cloudy. Southwesterly breezes.Monday 26th Boxing Day - Partly cloudy, with a few afternoon or evening showers possible, chance heavy with thunder. Southeasterlies.Tuesday 27th December - Fine, then rain developing. Easterlies strengthening.Wednesday 28th December - Fine with southeasterlies.Thursday 29th December - A few showers. Easterlies.Friday 30th December - Showers. Easterlies.

Our last day of giveaways and we have a $25 voucher for Tumbleweed for you!🌱🌵🌿To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Air New Zealand is changing flight times for close to 2000 international flights next year, which could affect travel plans for hundreds of thousands of passengers.While the number of passengers who now have to fly on a different day is relatively low, they face having to re-book accommodation, rental cars and activities at their destination.In response to questions after a passenger had flights changed next April, Air New Zealand said it was trying to build more flexibility into its network."As we did in August this year, we've made some changes to our long-haul schedule between the end of March and October to build flex and certainty into our network," said Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty.She said adjustments had been made to 1900 flights across an eight-month period.That would "'give our customers surety that in the event of a disrupt, we have aircraft and crew available to get them where they need to be".About 90 percent of changes are retimed within 60 minutes, or changes to the aircraft type.But the remaining 10 percent of flights mean passengers cannot travel on the day they have booked. They have been offered flights one day either side of the one they have booked.One Auckland man said he was frustrated at the sudden flight cancellation without any explanation.The man and his wife have been planning - and saving hard for - a trip to America with their three adult children and their families since before Covid-19 hit. There are nine adults and five children in total so it has taken a lot of planning and logistics for the once in a lifetime six-week family trip."How can Air New Zealand just cancel a flight four months out without any explanation whatsoever? That costs us as a group."Going a day or two later was not an option as all accommodation, many of the activities and a cruise have already been booked and paid for by the group and could not be changed around.They are now having to leave a day earlier which has increased the costs once food, accommodation and the new flights - an additional $4200 to get similar seats - are factored in."It's cost us $6500 added to our trip - money we now have to try and somehow claw back from parts of the trip. What frustrates me is they didn't even offer any explanation to the travel agent,'' he said.Air New Zealand said domestic flights were not affected.Air New Zealand is bringing on another 700 staff by the end of February. (file picture) Photo: Supplied/ Air NZThe airline is still struggling to match capacity with still strong demand. That has made finding flights more difficult and sent fares sky-high.Geraghty said by late May, the airline would have all seven of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft flying again.That would "be an important moment for us as it will help to further ease the capacity constraints we are seeing", she said.The airline has retired all of its eight smaller 777-200s, which were sent into deep storage early in the pandemic.The airline was also bringing on another 700 staff by the end of February. It has rehired about 2000 staff during the past 12 months but is still facing some Covid-19 sickness disruption.House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said hotel bookings, cruise holidays and rental car reservations would have to be re-jigged for those now travelling on different days. Those who had booked through agents could contact them to get this done.Air New Zealand had done the right thing, Thomas said."This is a lot of work for us but good on them for giving us plenty of warning."The return of more aircraft was welcome news because there was no sign of any drop off in demand for travel, despite the prospects of a recession next year, he said.Bookings in the week before Christmas traditionally tapered off, but there had been no slowdown this year.In August, the airline cut its summer schedule by 1.5 percent to build more flexibility into the schedule following disruptions due to illness and staff shortages.It said then it wanted to avoid short-notice disruption.To help build more padding into its network over summer it has contracted Spanish wet lease operator Wamos to fly between Auckland and Perth. Wamos provides the plane and crew to operate the service, freeing up Air New Zealand resources to be used on other routes.The airline is gearing up for its busiest day in nearly three years tomorrow, with more than 55,000 passengers on its network. It is urging patience from those who may face delays or be in queues for longer than usual.

Here is your events guide for Christmas week!Merry Xmas everyone! Be safe out there!Friday 23rd DecemberLive Music - Friday nights @ Matakana Village PubMatakana Christmas Night MarketFiji Friday's @ Smiths Saturday 24th DecemberMangawhai Community MarketMangawhai Tavern MarketMatakana Village Farmers MarketMixed Messages - Saturday's @ SmithsSunday 25th December2022 Mahurangi Community Christmas Brunch at the beachTuesday 27th DecemberWaterworld Waterpark - MangawhaiAcoustic Days With Marianne LeighHidden Valley FestivalWednesday 28th DecemberWaterworld Waterpark - MangawhaiGeorge Summer Tour @ Matakana Village PubWings Wednesdays! @ Tahi BarLive music @ Warkworth HotelThursday 29th DecemberWaterworld Waterpark - MangawhaiNorthern BassSchnitzel Night - All Day @ Matakana Village Pub

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away two 6 packs of Love Parade beer by 8 Wired Brewing!! 🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻 To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Plan ahead for your holiday journeysUse the holiday journey planner to check traffic predictions before you leave.Every holiday period and long weekend we see large numbers of people heading out of the main centres to popular holiday destinations and this can cause queues and delays.To help alleviate these problems we recommend planning your travel well in advance and travelling outside the busiest periods. To make this easier for you, we’ve created an interactive traffic prediction map for holiday periods. The map shows when we expect traffic to be heavy based on travel patterns from previous years.The times shown are predictions based on previous years’ travel patterns at the busiest times, and are subject to change based on weather and other factors. For real-time information on the day use the Journey Planner.

Some locals in Warkworth have noticed raw sewerage leaking out of overflow pipes and manholes and running into roadside gutters and all over the road recently over the last few weeks. Sewerage flowing down the roadA business owner commented on a local Facebook community page that this has been happening for years, with the Council doing nothing about it. Sewerage poses a severe health risk. As you can see from photos there is macerated toilet paper on grass near a footpath. Currently the sewerage is leaking near Bridgehouse Lodge and flowing into the river, which will then make its way out to sea.The $123 million water treatment plant currently being built in Snells Beach,  is not due to be finished until the end of 2024 (original date 2021). The existing Warkworth and Snells Beach wastewater treatment plants will be decommissioned when the new Snells Beach plant opens.Council was aware Warkworth wastewater network had limited capacity for population according to Water and Wastewater Servicing Plan 2019 (Warkworth Structure Plan). Treated wastewater is released into the Mahurangi river near the pant. Snells beach wastewater treatment plant will discharge into the Hauraki Gulf, south of Martins Bay.

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away a family pass for 2 adults and 2 kids for Ti Point Reptile Park To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

A new national ticketing system for buses, ferries and trains will open the way for more road tolls and could introduce congestion charges for motorists - for the first time.A business case for the $1.4 billion system - being built by a US transport and military contractor - raises this possibility several times.Waka Kotahi has signed up Cubic to roll out the new system across 13 regions by the end of 2026.It could provide a platform for "park-and-ride, road tolling and congestion charging", the business case - released under the Official Information Act (OIA) - said.It focused mainly on the benefits of boosting patronage, unjamming roads and relieving motorists of costs such as for repairs and parking. However, it also repeatedly noted the expansion options."There are a range of other transport-related services that could be serviced ... examples include tolling, congestion charging, park-and-ride and so forth."It "would enable transport accounts not just for ticketing but for all transport payments such as ... congestion charges for drivers who enter congested areas at peak times".The new system, like those in Queensland, London, Chicago and Sydney, is "open loop" - meaning you will not need to top up separate branded Snapper, Hop or Metrocards. Instead, you pay by hovering a smartphone or debit or credit card over a reader. Each customer would need only one account.The simplified approach would allow the linking of link fare levels to "future congestion charging regimes", the report said.US firm contracted for national transport ticketing system involved in weapons manufacturingCurrently only three roads are tolled, but Waka Kotahi is already spending millions on back-office systems to enable more.Both tolling more roads - each of which would require ministerial sign-off - and new congestion charging would be politically charged.The 228-page business case was done in August, and does not put a timeframe around any of these options.It said it was "guaranteed" the system would deliver the lowest possible fare to customers, and caps on fares, because it charges a person's account at the end of a day when all possible concessions can be factored in.Unjamming roadsThe business case, and several other reports released under the OIA, show Waka Kotahi had high hopes for the ticketing system helping unjam the roads, especially in Auckland.It foresees $500 million of decongestion benefits from 2026/27.Auckland traffic is frequently at a standstill. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell"The key benefit is increased patronage, which lead to decongestion benefits from fewer private vehicles, and public transport user benefits from not using a vehicle, such as reduced petrol and maintenance costs, reduced parking charges."Canterbury aims to run a pilot first-up in mid-2024.Cubic offered to experiment in Wellington earlier, but its proposal was not costed or detailed enough, Waka Kotahi said; instead, a stopgap expansion of Snapper cards on to the train system has gone ahead at a cost of $25m.Benefits of a national system outweighed the costs by 1.7-to-one compared to separate regional upgrades, the business case claimed.At $1.4b in capital and operating costs over 14 years, the total for the new ticketing system compared to $1.1b for the region-by-region upgrade, and $700-800m for the third option, "do nothing".Nothing for freeThe business case briefly touched on making public transport free, at a cost of $385m a year."In those countries and cities that have introduced free public transport, there has been little reduction in private vehicle use," it said.Services typically did not improve due to lack of money, it said, dismissing the idea.Climate change is touched on in the business case, but not in depth.The national ticketing solution is a long time coming. Stopgap solutions have been used since 2013 to keep the country's 16 different systems going."Outdated and inefficient" systems - such as in Canterbury, and for trains in Wellington - turned customers off, the report said. They virtually all need updating within five years.Wrangles with Auckland Transport (AT) have held up a national system for years. The business case stressed Waka Kotahi was keeping Auckland on board and "AT is increasingly supportive".Auckland stands to gain the most if the new system boosts patronage as forecast. A mere 0.5 percent boost in customers nationally would be worth $236m in benefits.Auckland stands to benefit the most, the report said. Photo: RNZOverall, it was forecast the ticket system would increase passenger trip numbers by 2 percent in 2026/27, and by up to 5 percent by year 10.That would play a part in the forecast overall rises in patronage for Auckland, from 48 million trips a year now to 198 million by 2035; in greater Wellington from 18 million to 58 million; and in Canterbury from 7 million to 17 million.A group of nine smaller regions - that have been instrumental in getting this far with national ticketing - would grow from 7 million trips now to 19 million.Data gatheringOne drawback is the national ticketing system will concentrate customer information in one place that could be hacked or compromised by security gaps."One central, account-based system poses wider and more significant digital risks than the current regional closed-loop solutions," the report said.Auckland's Hop, Wellington's Snapper. Christchurch's Metrocard and the regions' Bee Card are closed-loop, proprietary systems.A plus was all the "rich data" the new system would provide to planners and policymakers.It would also boost tracing and tracking attempts during disruptions such as Covid, the report said."Richer data ... can enable faster contact tracing, which could mean more localised lockdowns, reducing the economic impact and enabling faster recovery."Data "capture" could also enable future services like ride-sharing and the development of "smart" cities, it said - where cities focus on using information and communication technologies to increase efficiency and provide services.In the US, privacy campaigners have expressed alarm "the development of smart cities creates growing incentives for companies like Cubic to aggregate our data and then sell it".Waka Kotahi told RNZ only "very limited" personal information would be gathered by the system, "eg name, contact details".The system would "meet the requirements and expectations in respect of data sovereignty and Māori data sovereignty".It had adopted privacy-by-design approach and would do a privacy impact assessment at the delivery phase.

Kaipara Refuse is adding an additional rubbish collection day during Summer.Commencing this week from 19th December. This means that we will be collecting the blue and yellow bags TWICE WEEKLY: on both MONDAYS (as normal) and THURSDAYS.Normal rules apply: collections still happen on public holidays bags need to be kerbside 8am on day of collection. The last day of summer collection will be Thursday 2nd February 2023.

Police have defended a rise in the number of speed camera infringements being issued, saying new mobile cameras are able to identify speeding vehicles more accurately.RNZ revealed tens of thousands more tickets had been handed out for drivers doing between one and 11km/h over the speed limit.In January 2021, speed cameras snapped just under 20,000 drivers going just over the limit. In January 2022, that figure was more than 90,000.Police told RNZ the increase was due to camera activation settings being set in closer proximity to the speed limit. They later added they had recently completed replacing all the old mobile cameras with new models.They say the newer model performs better in conditions such as rain, fog or at night-time, meaning speed cameras can operate more often."Due to the modern functionality, these new cameras are now also able to identify offending vehicles more accurately, which has enabled police to issue infringements in situations where this wasn't possible with the previously used technology," police said.The January-on-January figures for fines against motorists from mobile and fixed cameras show $600,000 worth of fines were issued in 2021, and $2.7m in fines in January 2022.Police have been under pressure to increase use of speed cameras after years of undershooting the targets that NZTA funds them to hit. NZTA is taking over the cameras next year.In the past couple of years, police language has changed around speeding, and police have again reiterated, "the speed limit is the speed limit and you can expect to be stopped for going at any speed over the limit".Breath testing numbers are also expected to increase as Covid-19 related restrictions eased and in the rolling 12 months to 31 October 2022, 2.2 million tests were completed.Police said these new measures were about working towards Road to Zero."We are working closely with our road safety partners, Waka Kotahi, Ministry of Transport and others to achieve the goal of reducing death and serious injury on the road by 40 percent by 2030."If the number of deaths on the roads continues to increase, our enforcement will continue to increase as well."

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away a $25 voucher for Matakana Village Butchery! 🍗🥩 To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Thunderstorms are on the way for the North Island with the heaviest rainfall due on parts of the east coast.Much of the North Island is on a severe thunderstorm watch from from 1pm to 9pm.MetService said the combination of cool temperatures at upper levels and warm humid conditions nearer the ground are likely to form thunderstorms.The risk is moderate to high of risk of storms in many areas, with localised downpours of 25mm to 45mm of rainfall an hour from Waikato through Taranaki to Wairarapa, the central high country and much of Hawke's Bay.An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke's Bay south of Napier, the Tararua District and Wairarapa north of Featherston from 2pm.File photo. Rail in the Auckland CBD. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-FarrellyThe forecaster said rain of this intensity can cause surface flooding and flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas like streams, rivers or narrow valleys.Driving could be hazardous with the possibility of slips and flooding, as well as poor visibility in heavy rain.

The organiser of this week's Kaipara karakia protest hikoi is petitioning Parliament to make the Māori tikanga feature mandatory for the more than 30 New Zealand councils with Māori electoral areas.Dargaville district's Paturiri Toatu has lodged a petition request with Parliament seeking karakia are made compulsory for the start and finish of council meetings in councils with Māori wards or constituencies.Northland's four councils - Kaipara District Council (KDC), Far North District Council (FNDC), Whangārei District Council (WDC) and Northland Regional Council (NRC) - all have Māori electoral areas.Toatu's 5 December petition request reads: "That the House of Representatives make it mandatory for councils that have Māori ward representation to respect Tikanga Māori and Māori culture by having an opening and a closing karakia (prayer) before and after all council meetings, according to Māori custom."His move comes after KDC Mayor Craig Jepson refused to allow Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora to open the council's 30 November meeting in Mangawhai with a karakia.Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson (centre grey shirt) and councillors meet the hikoi on the steps of the Northern Wairoa War Memorial Hall. Photo: LDR / Northern Advocate, Tania Whyte"Recently the Kaipara Mayor refused to allow Kaipara District Council Māori Ward councillor Ihapera (Pera) Paniora the right, according to Tikanga Māori and Māori Custom, to have an opening karakia (prayer) in order to bless proceedings," Toatu said."Not only was this action deeply hurtful and offensive to Ihapera (Pera), I believe it was also very disrespectful to the Māori community overall."He said that 30 November karakia ban directly contravened Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).Toatu said he would approach a Te Pāti Māori MP to present his petition to the House where it would go to a relevant select committee.Toatu organised Dargaville's Wednesday hikoi calling for the Kaipara mayor's resignation after his November Mangawhai council meeting karakia block, calling the council leader's action racist.Hikoi participant Melanie Russell makes her views known Photo: LDR / Northern Advocate, Tania WhyteThe hikoi of more than 300 people walked through the main streets of Dargaville township to the Northern Wairoa Memorial Hall venue for KDC's December council meeting.It was Dargaville's biggest hikoi in the town's local government history which began more than a hundred years ago with the settlement's first mayor in 1908.KDC's elected representatives on 7 December decided on what was called a compromise position on the use of karakia to open their council meetings, where it could be used, as one option, by councillors who on a rotating basis could start proceedings ahead of the meeting with this or other choices including a prayer or other reflection.Toatu said KDC's compromise position did not go far enough.Karakia timatanga (karakia to start a meeting) have become commonplace across New Zealand local government, which is required to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.Signatures for the petition close on 4 January.Toatu was among candidates who this year stood for the single seat on KDC's first-time Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori Ward, won by Paniora.New Zealand councils currently with Māori ward/s or constituencies include: Northland's KDC, FNDC, WDC and NRC along with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Gisborne District Council, Hamilton City Council, Hastings District Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council, Manawatū District Council, Manawatū-Wanganui Regional Council, Marlborough District Council, Masterton District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Nelson City Council, New Plymouth District Council, Ōtorohonga District Council, Palmerston North District Council, Porirua City Council, Rangitikei District Council, Rotorua District Council, Ruapehu District Council, Taupō District Council, Waikāto District Council, Wairoa District Council, Whakatāne District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, Taranaki Regional Council, Tararua District Council, Waikato District Council, Waipā District Council and Wellington City Council.

Christmas Giveaways! 🎅🏼🎅🏼Today we are giving away a 10 trip concession card for Matakana Country Park Express train rides for kids! 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂 To enter follow/like The Matakana App on Facebook and Instagram, and then head to the WIN STUFF! button on the App and enter your details.Please include the date so we know which prize you are wanting. We will draw the prizes as we go.Good luck and Merry Christmas!!