Month: March 2020

Oakura Bay Fire First Response – First Callout

March 12, 20200 commentsEnvironment, Uncategorized

The recently formed Oakura Bay Fire First Response team had their first “callout” on Sunday afternoon, 26th January 2020.

The fire team successfully extinguished a bush fire on the hill between the Hall and Waimarie Avenue. Neighbours heard a loud bang and saw smoke high above the area. It was from a large firework and the falling debris ignited the bush, which was of course tinder dry.

Fortunately a nearby householder saw smoke from the fire and used a garden hose and carried buckets of water to contain the situation. The Oakura Fire First Response team were notified and 111 fire calls were made.

The First Response team had the fire completely extinguished when the Hikurangi Fire Brigade arrived approximately one hour later. A serious fire was definitely averted as the dry conditions would have enabled a serious fire to develop right in the Oakura Bay heartland.

The Oakura Bay Fire First Response group deserve our hearty congratulations!

Deb Glasgow – as published in the March 2020 Whangaruru Pothole Newsletter.

Whangaruru Coastguard – Saving Lives at Sea

March 11, 20200 commentsCoastguard, Uncategorized

The Whangaruru Coastguard has a big year lined up for their crew and volunteers with the announcement that they will be receiving one of the AC36 Protector RHIB America’s Cup chase boats at the end of the America’s Cup regatta. The new 9m RHIB will be fully refitted post the regatta, with members of the unit involved in the refit design. The new boat will replace the existing 6.8m Naiad (RV Tangaroa). The extra size of the new boat will be a great boost for the unit as it will increase the ability to do larger tows, handle heavier weather conditions and increase the range.

To read more about the America’s Cub regatta chase boats, click here.

The Whangaruru Coastguard’s training regime is progressing well with six operational crew and one trainee. The big push for this year will be to progress senior operational crew through to skipper.

Whangaruru Coastguard are seeking dry crew for their administration team, including the roles of secretary and treasurer, as well as committee and fundraising positions. The Whangaruru Coastguard Incorporated Society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for 6pm, Sunday, 22nd March 2020 to be held at the Whangaruru Coastguard Shed, Wharf Road. Nominations can be made to whangaruru.coastguard@gmail.com one week prior to the AGM. Following the AGM, there will be a shared meal.

A warm welcome to attend is extended to all volunteers, members and the wider community of Whangaruru.

Kit Bigelow, Acting President – as published in the March 2020 Whangaruru Pothole Newsletter

For more information on the Whangaruru Coastguard, click here and here. To follow them on Facebook, click here.

Beach Hop Dance at Oakura Bay

March 8, 20200 commentsSocial, Uncategorized

By Margaret de Jong

Oakura Hall was swinging once again to the music of the Basin City Big Band on the last day of February.  The dance floor was jam-packed with enthusiastic dancers as the band of 20 plus musicians pumped out some old time and modern music.  The atmosphere was fantastic; the hall decorated for the Beach Hop theme with surf and boogie boards, buckets and spades, beach balls and fishing nets and rods adorning the walls and hanging from the ceiling amongst the fairy lights. With a true community style supper at half time, and donated spot prizes awarded, the evening was a great success for all.

So can we continue like this ?  YES of course. In April we will have a Dancing Through the Ages theme with the Steve Tulloch Band from Auckland .  Steve has a 3-piece band who play chart hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  On alternate months, we will hold casual dances in the hall – no theme, decorations or pre-sold tickets – just dancing.  Just $5 at the door on the night, turn up if you like and enjoy an evening of non-stop dance music, streamed through the sound system. BYO drinks and a plate of finger food for a shared supper. 

Mark it in your calendars – Saturday 21st March from 7pm.  We warmly welcome suggestions on dance themes or ideas to improve your evenings of dance.  Check out our Facebook page, Oakura Dances, for information on upcoming dances.

Heritage Military Vehicles visit Oakura Bay

March 4, 20200 commentsUncategorized

Nearing the end of an organised convoy traversing the Far North, on Wednesday, 4 March 2020, some lucky residents and visitors to the bay were treated to the sight of a number of heritage military vehicles. The owners of these vehicles were en-route south to overnight in Whangarei, before deciding to drop in to treat themselves to an ice-cream on what turned out to be the wettest day in the Bay for months.

Organised by the New Zealand Military Vehicle Club Inc., these vehicles are owned by a community of like-minded MV enthusiasts from New Zealand (and elsewhere) with a common goal – to have fun on an adventure packed holiday of sun, sand and sea – as well as taking in some military heritage and other historic sights along the way. The MVs on convoy cover a wide range of types, not just the iconic US army jeep familiar to anyone who watched the TV series, M*A*S*H, back in the day. Without exception, all vehicles have been lovingly restored by their respective owners.

Setting out from Orewa on Sunday, 23 February, optional side trips were also available for participants to tour WWII gun emplacements, pill boxes and other historical sites. Some of the US vehicles were actually returning to where US forces were once stationed in the North at airfields, radar stations and coastal defences during WWII.

The convoy was organised by a team with many years of convoy experience, many of whom are veterans of convoys both here in NZ and in the United States. We hope they enjoyed their brief sojourn in the bay.

For more information, visit the New Zealand Military Vehicle Club Inc.’s website here.

Our thanks to Skips Fish’n’Chips for the use of their images.

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