Whangaparaoa College School student Madison Blackburn (Downs), aged 16, was awarded a top prize of ‘Overall Merit Award’ at a Blue Light Camp in Auckland, held last month. Blue Light life skills coordinator Abbe-Mae Henry says it was Madison’s...... Read More

Pet owners who are keen to adopt a more back-to-basics health care regime for their dog or cat may find what they are looking for at a new centre in Moana Court, Orewa. After working on animal health issues for more than 40 years, animal naturopath Sarndra...... Read More

The founder of a new health hub in the Whangaparaoa Plaza believes the range of skills the centre is pulling together will offer clients a more holistic way to get healthy and stay healthy. Registered homeopath, Kate Fitness, is the driving force behind...... Read More

Looking after a family pet comes with the same care and responsibility that human members of a family would expect. That’s the philosophy behind the Orewa, Millwater and now Manly Vet Hospitals. Owner Brett Finlayson says for many clients, their...... Read More

Hibiscus Matters’ annual Christmas collection is underway, and donations are slowly coming in. We are now in the final week – all donations must be in by Monday, December 7! This gives the charitable organisations time to make up their...... Read More

For the third year running, local Police will act as Santa Claus, bringing joy to local families in need. They are collecting ‘luxury’ grocery items such as festive biscuits, sweets, chocolates, spreads, coffee, sauces, juices and puddings...... Read More

Baker and business owner Bernadette Gee (Bets) of Red Beach recently produced her second book, after the first one, Magnolia Kitchen, was a runaway international success. She says lockdown saw sales of the recipe book go through the roof locally as...... Read More

A sunny afternoon of games, food, live entertainment and craft stalls proved a winning recipe for A Very Coastie Christmas, held at Whangaparoa College on November 22. Local families found plenty to keep the children happy, with a range of free games...... Read More

Writing could be Laetitia Tan’s superpower – words have been tumbling out of the 18-year-old Millwater resident since she was a child. “She was constantly writing,” her mother Valentina says. Initially it was a stream of stories,...... Read More

Victims of family harm are bracing for a spike in violence over the Christmas period and with it, a rise in animal abuse. Police say they are attending significantly more incidents of family violence already this year due to the impact of Covid-19,...... Read More