Whaingaroa Environment Centre has announced that Maui Dolphin Day will be returning for 2024. One of many casualties of the Covid years, Maui Dolphin Day had grown into one of the major community events in the Whaingaroa calendar as the plight of the Maui Dolphins was adopted into the local culture.
No date has been set yet but the event has traditionally occurred some time in March after the summer tourist rush is over.
Waikato District Council has issued a Shellfish health warning for an area from Port Waikato down to the entrance of Kawhia Harbour, including Raglan and Aotea harbours.
They have detected Paralytic Shellfish poisoning toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg and are warning the public not to collect or eat shellfish from this area. They also say want to remind the public that cooking the shellfish does NOT destroy the toxin.
If you become ill after eating shellfish they should
• Phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately.
• Advise your nearest public health unit.
• Keep any leftover shellfish for testing.
Find out more, https://ow.ly/io9Z50PLOxN
Local artist Aaron Kereopa has won an art and innovation award at this year’s Art in the Park in Auckland. Aaron has been invited to display his work at Art in the Park for the last few years but this year investment firm Lighthouse Partners selected him for their art and innovation award out of approximately 100 artists. They were particularly attracted to his work because of the approach he takes where he recycles old surfboards by using them as the material for his sculpted art.
Raglan Food Co has announced that their community grant is currently open with the closing date at the end of the month. The $10,000 fund is open to organisations and projects in the Whaingaroa/Raglan area including Te Uku, Te Mata, Ruapuke and Waitetuna and they’re looking for projects that align with their Sustainable Development Goals and are vegan friendly.
Local author, Meliors Simms, has won a Bronze medal in the Health Mind and Body category of the Global Book Awards for her non-fiction, self help book called The Secret Lives of Teeth: Understanding emotional influences on oral health.
Since winning the award, The Secret Lives of Teeth, shot into the top ten bestsellers in the Oral Health category on Amazon. However locals can find it in Raglan at Zinnia, Well Read Books and the public library.
Angeline Greensill, Chairperson of Tainui o Tainui and Nga hapu o Te Uru Customary Fisheries Forum is calling on community members to make submissions to the Regional Council Coastal Plan which is open for consultation at the moment for the first time in 30 years.
As a representative of these organisations she is very concerned about an application by Northwestern Mussels Limited for a private plan change that would allow for 4 mussel spat farms off our coast.
She has called a meeting with the Regional council to let them know local iwi are opposed to the private plan change which she is worried will go unnoticed as the focus is on the main plan review.
In local sport: The Raglan Roosters are having their last game of the season this Sunday 1pm at Papahua. Having finished mid-table in the Waikato Division 1 Sunday Football League and also making it to the semi finals of the Scottish Cup knockout competition they’re hosting a friendly match with Hamilton team Deezciples for their end of year celebration.