Shaping the future of our district is both an honour and a shared responsibility. Our young people demonstrate this in many inspiring ways, as I recently saw through Rotary’s Learn to Sail programme.

I read with disappointment news of dog attacks in Northland recently, including the dog vs persons attack closer to home in Hakaru. Communities should be able to move around in safety and without fear.

I had the opportunity to visit Tina Johnson a week or so ago in Middlemore Hospital. Tina was seriously injured during the Mangawhai tornado. 

On New Year’s Day I woke to the terrific news that Mangawhai local Richard Marshall Lovelace Bull was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and the community. I know that all of Kaipara will be tremendously proud that Richard has been acknowledged on such a prestigious national platform. 

December has landed with a bang.  

I am often asked about whether there is a disparity between what we spend in Dargaville and Mangawhai, our two largest towns in Kaipara. Earlier this month I met with a group of Dargaville business owners and we talked about that.