Brendan Coghlan’s enthusiasm for ninjas prompted him to include a ninja warrior course in the new Matakana playground. A top adventure playground that has delighted visitors to Paihia for the last 15 years opens with numerous additional features...... Read More

Jenny Eirena Matakantata Choir has appointed Jenny Eirena as its new musical director. A teacher specialising in music, Jenny formerly conducted choirs at Mahurangi College and more recently at an international school in Papua New Guinea.    Jenny...... Read More

Clare Woods at work in her home-based studio. Clare has donated Spring Flight to be auctioned at mARTakana Spring Flight by Clare Woods will be among the colourful and vibrant works for sale at mARTakana – Harbour Hospice’s annual fundraising...... Read More

The Nairobi Trio will star at the Jazz Festival in Waipu. What started out as a proposed jam session for local bands to get together has morphed into a fully-fledged jazz festival in Waipu this weekend.   Organisers of Jazz Festival, Dave Brown...... Read More

The Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival has been a feature of summer at Red Beach Surf Club for 65 years. More than 300 surf lifesavers from the Northern and Bay of Plenty regions, along with competitors from clubs further south, are expected to take part...... Read More

One of the most popular fundraising events in Orewa, the annual Rodders Beach Festival, is on again this summer. This time, due to uncertainties around Covid-19, the event has been scaled back a little, and will be held over two days instead of three. The...... Read More

Orewa Lions Club is gearing up for its annual Big Dig fundraiser, and putting it together is a real community effort. For 39 years, The Big Dig been a winning formula – children continue to enjoy digging in the sand of Orewa Beach to find iceblock...... Read More

With a career that spans five decades, Midge Marsden is one of New Zealand’s best- known and most well loved musicians. At his side for 19 years has been guitarist and bandleader Chet O’Connell of Millwater. This connection with the...... Read More

Fans of cool classic cars should note that there’s an important date change for one of the area’s most popular events next month, when the Black Swamp Rod Run takes place on Sunday, January 3. Normally the annual cruise of muscle cars,...... Read More

Just some of the works that are on offer in the new space. The OWL Hub in Wellsford has officially reopened as a space for local artists to display their works. Wood carver Paul McRae has worked hard to bring the project together after being shoulder-tapped...... Read More