Mayor takes the plunge for cleaner waterways
Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai and councillor Tricia Cutforth were the first of around 38 swimmers to "Take The Plunge " in support of cleaning up Whangarei's Hatea River.
Campaigners pushing for cleaning up the Town Basin and other waterways in the district collected more than 170 signatures at the inaugural event held on November 19 at the Canopy Bridge.
Two out of five water tests taken by the Northland Regional Council this year have recorded bacteria levels in the Hatea River considered unsafe for swimming.
Organisers of the event Together Tahi will be presenting a petition to the Whangarei District and Northland Regional Councils which asks the councils to make cleaning up and prevention of pollution in the waterways more of a priority.
Together Tahi plans to hold the event annually until 2025.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Whangarei Aglow Meeting
Please join us for an inspiring massage from Pastor Geoff Wiklund, 7 pm Tikipunga Baptist Church, 25th of February!
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