Water hardship was a significant issue for many Coromandel residents earlier this year, with the Covid-19 lockdown compounding the problem even further.
Thursday, 13 August 2020
At their meeting on Wednesday last week, the Mercury Bay Community Board has requested a police report in relation to traffic speeds and safety on Joan Gaskell Drive in Whitianga while recommending the speed limit be immediately reduced to 50km/h while the full legal process is completed.
Central Kids Tairua farewells a much loved-face this week as teacher, Barb Ward, takes her leave after 10 years of caring for and educating the community’s tamariki.
By Sergeant Andrew Morrison
General
We have had an overwhelmingly good response to the Covid-19 restrictions and hope that this behaviour continues as the restrictions are eased.
Yes, we had a few people stretching the rules, but the majority took this health emergency seriously and New Zealand seems to be doing pretty good.
Just like the idiots we have all seen on TV, we did have a 60-year-old man abuse supermarket workers and threateningly cough in their direction. However, the community response towards him was appropriate and he was subsequently trespassed and warned for his actions.
Arrests
27th - 1 x 23-year-old local man for Breaching Bail Conditions.
Occurrences
Two Family Harm incidents attended this week.
On the 25th a drunk couple argued about their relationship at a Pipi Dune address and called Police when the argument began to get out of hand, while on the 26th a woman reported ongoing text abuse from an ex-partner and our enquiries are continuing.
On the 29th we attended a disorder incident at Hannan Road where a group was fighting, however they had dispersed prior to Police arrival.
Also that night a 21-year-old man was assaulted by the occupants of a grey people mover vehicle on Cook Drive.
A letterbox was smashed on Buffalo Beach Road on the 30th with a damaged Subaru car seen in the area shortly after, while also that day two men were acting suspiciously around a utility vehicle at the Kuaotunu boat ramp.
Traffic
No drunk drivers apprehended this week.
On the 26th an 18-year-old Lower Hutt woman was apprehended for Driving Whilst Forbidden, while on the 29th a driver was observed driving dangerously on Purangi Road, failing to stop for Police and we are completing enquiries.
A trail bike rider did a burnout on the 309 Road on the 29th and the suspect was explained the consequences an offender would face.
The driver of a car on SH25 just south of Whitianga lost control in the wet on the 30th and slid into a ditch. Thankfully no injuries resulted.
Enquiries are also continuing with the registered owner in relation to a driver doing a burnout at the intersection of White Street and Cook Drive on the 30th.
A group of brave Mercury Bay locals have been credited with saving the lives of two tourists who got into difficulty when swimming in extremely challenging conditions at Hot Water beach last Friday morning.
Two weeks into the Covid-19 Alert Level 2 restrictions, many local businesses are eyeing up Queen’s Birthday weekend as an opportunity to boost cashflow after what most have described as a steady start to the new normal for staff and customers.
Members of the Kuaotunu community, in collaboration with Coromandel artist Rebekah Pearson, have transformed the Blackjack Reserve public toilet block from bland to beautiful with a specially designed mural reflecting the area’s stunning surrounds.
Listening to a recent Creative Mercury Bay “Bubble Bites” episode, I enjoyed Gerald (Jerry) Thoma’s guitar performance and couldn’t help to recognise his lilting midwestern US accent.
Latest business rest of site
Hair of the Dog, Whitianga's dog groomers, was established in 2006. Tonia (a qualified vet nurse) and Gary have been keeping the Coromandel's dogs looking and smelling great for more than 10 years.
ONLINE POLL
Will you be voting to legalise the recreational use of cannabis in the upcoming general election/referendum?
The Mercury Bay Informer is a highly popular community newspaper, based in Whitianga. The paper is distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville.