One Warkworth – Speeding up

The quiet days of lockdown seem to be in the distant past. Life suddenly feels like a sports car going from nought to a 100 in six seconds. There has been a noticeable surge in activity around town, and the One Warkworth team has lots to organise to support this, as we head through winter and the lead-up to the General Election.

There has been a heartening response by locals with many buying into the “support local” message and feedback from the majority of businesses around town is quite positive. Now, more than ever, this support is essential as winter bites.

The General Election is being held on Saturday, September 19, and we are now in a new electorate called Kaipara Ki Mahurangi, which includes Helensville. On Thursday, July 9, we are hosting a Meet the Candidates evening at the Warkworth Town Hall (6pm for a 6.30pm start). This is your opportunity to come along and ask those standing as candidates questions that will inform your voting decision. I look forward to seeing a lot of people at this meeting.

Employment is also very topical at the moment. Sadly, Covid-19 has meant there have been some redundancies. At the same time, many young people are out there trying to get their first job. One Warkworth is co-hosting an Employment Expo with Mahurangi College on Saturday, August 1, from 1 to 4pm at the Warkworth Town Hall. This is an opportunity for businesses to share information about their industry and make contact with potential employees and apprentices, even if they don’t have any vacancies at the moment.

I encourage as many businesses as possible to contact me about taking a table or stand at this event, which will cost $10 per business. We will be running short seminars on CV writing, interview skills and other topics during the expo, which will be free to attend. Mahurangi College is also encouraging tertiary education institutions and other careers advice services to join in.

While a lot of the Winter Festival had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, we are asking businesses and locals to put up their festive lights during the July school holidays (July 4 to 19). Called Bring Back the Light, this is a chance for businesses to showcase themselves, and we will have prizes for locals who come into town and put a short video or photos of their lights on the Winter Festival Facebook page. Let’s make Warkworth and surrounds the place to visit these school holidays.

As we accelerate out of the darkness of lockdown, the One Warkworth team looks forward to seeing you all getting involved in a little journey of light towards economic recovery. Remember, together we are stronger.

Murray Chapman, One Warkworth, Manager
www.onewarkworth.co.nz