Rockers descend for Bay festival
Old favourites return as event at venues in Paihia and Russell marks 32 years
The Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival celebrates 32 years this year and it’s still going strong. This year features over 40 musicians performing at multiple locations in Paihia and Russell.
Topping the bill are the A-team, the old perennials Brendan Duggan, Gray Bartlett, Susan Prentice, Jodi Vaughan and Aly Cook and Eddie Lowe, the Midnite Special Band.
The curiously named Curly Ann and the Cowboy Band, Craig Robertson and 43 Holes and Rica-Shez also join the extensive line-up.
Organiser Shirley May said the festival was cancelled last year because of Covid-19 lockdown and is back bigger this year with more musicians.
There are four Paihia venues – Scenic Hotel, Paihia Sports Bar, Kingsgate Hotel and Paihia RSA and two venues in Russell, the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, and the Duke of Marlborough Tavern.
The Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival runs from Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 9. For more information: countryrock.co.nz
New Lions Club formed
A new Lions Club will be formed to serve both the Kerikeri and Waipapa districts. A public meeting will be held to inform the role that Lions has in the community and sign those interested in joining the new club.
Peter Griffiths, secretary for Waipapa and District Lions, said the opportunity came about because the Kerikeri Lions Club has closed, due to numerous reasons.
“The club’s contribution to the Kerikeri community since its charter in 1968 is substantial but dwindling membership and the increasing age of those remaining forced the closure,” he said.
He said this does not affect other Lions clubs in the district, although the Lions clubs of Waitangi and Kawakawa have also folded. There’s the probability the new club formed will have a more contemporary outlook, including mixed membership.
The meeting will be held on May 12, from 7pm at Waipapa Hall, Loop Rd, Waipapa. Guest speakers will include the FNDC mayor John Carter, QSO.
● For more information: waipapalions.org
Paihia Sea Scout group grows
From only a handful of hardcore Scouts four years ago, Paihia Sea Scout has grown considerably.
Today there are 38 participants spread over Keas (described as the ankle biters, 5-8 years) through to Cubs (8-11 years) and Scouts (11-14 years).
Rob Galley, assistant group leader and Scout section leader, said the last spring and summer terms had been “cracking”.
“We have been enjoying the warm water and thanks to the hard work of our team of leaders, adult helpers and committee we have been sailing Sunbursts, paddling kayaks, rowing
cutters and racing keel boats.
“Our Scouts have sailed and bivied, cooked food, burnt food and eaten it. The cubs have camped, sailed, rowed, kayaked and swam and all this time the Keas were busy sharing, caring and discovering.”
The Paihia Sea Scouts have had a windfall in the shape of a bequest. It came from George Hansen who endowed $14,000 for a replacement cutter, to be named Rawinia.
“I understand it was George’s wish that he wanted to give money to an organisation that would be training our young people in rowing, sailing and seamanship within the Bay of Islands,” said Galley.
● Paihia Sea Scouts meet Monday 5.30-7.30pm, Cubs meet Tuesday 5.30-7.30pm and Keas meet Wednesday 5.30-6.30pm. They are always on the lookout for more leaders to assist. Phone Rob Galley, 022 624 1231.
Free entry at Russell Museum
Children will have free admission to a new exhibition launched recently at the Russell Museum, Te Whare Taonga o Korora¯reka.
The exhibition is part of New Zealand Archaeology Week which runs from April 24 through to May 2. The free offer coincides with the school holidays and is subsidised by Heritage New Zealand.
The exhibition was developed by Te Arakite Trust and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Northland staff and spans centuries of history relating to Moturua Island — from the earliest Polynesian explorers and settlers at Mangaha¯wea Bay through to the archaeology of the area.
The display is part of a larger project led by Te Arakite Trust, which has included three archaeological excavations and an international wa¯nanga on Polynesian navigation.
“As well as relics from pre-human settlement times through to taonga associated with the early Polynesian explorers, the exhibition includes a range of other artefacts from early contact with Europeans and the tumultuous years of the 1800s,” said Bill Edwards, Heritage NZ Northland manager.
“It’s like a snapshot illustrating every phase of human settlement in Aotearoa-New Zealand. It’s that sense of continuity over centuries that make this place — and this exhibition — so remarkable,” he said.
The Mangaha¯wea Bay project has been supported by Nga¯ti Kuta and Patu Keha, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, the Department of Conservation, the University of Otago and the University of Auckland.
● Visit facebook.com/ RussellMuseum for more information.
Stone Store free entry on Anzac Day
Kerikeri’s famous Stone Store will be open from 1pm on Anzac Day. Visitors will be able to learn about Northland’s “secret war” free of charge.
The store is currently hosting a display entitled World War II in Northland – The Untold Story. It tells of “Fortress Northland” which sheds light on the secret plan to counter a feared Japanese attack on New Zealand during WWII.
Immediately after the bombing of