38 Mahurangi Matters April 1, 2015 school holidaysfeature

RAD Ballet • Jazz • Contemporary • Tap• Hiphop • Musical Theatre

Warkworths premiere dance school supported by qualified & professional teachers

All ages and abilities welcome

Phone 021 129 0113warkworth@talbotdanceacademy.co.nz

www.talbotdanceacademy.co.nz

Excellence in Dance

ENROLING NOW

Courses for Term TWo 2015 – WarkWorThMum’s Post-Natal Support Group Thurs 23 April • 10.30am-12.30pm • 12 wks • FREECome along for a cuppa and a chat with this friendly group. Meet other mums, make friends and gain strength every week. Facilitator: Maria Collins Young Mum’s Educational Programme Wed 22 April • 10am-12.30pm • 11wks • FREEFor mothers up to 25 years. Get in touch with other young mums, learn positive parenting, self-care, skills & strategies for raising healthy and happy children and much more. Runs weekly. Facilitated by Maria CollinsPersonal Development Tues 21 April • 10am-12.30pm • 9 wks • FREEA weekly support group for women that encourages learning, sharing and inner-growth in a confidential and caring environment. Introduction To Mosaics This course is run over 3 days in May • Cost $32 & materials Mon 11th 5-6pm; Sat 16th 9am-3pm; Sat 23rd 9am-12pmLearn the process of making a mosaic and create your own piece. Supported by Creative Communities Tutor: Paddy SullivanFlax-Weaving/Harakeke Sat to be confirmed 9.30am to 3.30pm • Cost $32If you have basic flax-weaving skills, come along to this

workshop and make a waikawa/basket. You will also make and hand-dye flax embellishments to add to your waikawa. Supported by Creative Communities. Tutor: Kathy StevensonTwo Day Self-Awareness Workshop for 14 to 16 Year Old GirlsHoliday Programme: Thurs 16 & Fri 17 April, 9am-3pm • Cost $30Artwork, fun games and hands-on activities for girls, while discovering personal boundaries and learning about self-identity, body image, assertiveness and self-defence. Supported by Comprehensive Care and WPHO. Facilitated by Rana MoirDJ Workshop for Girls Aged 11 to 14Holiday Programme: Weds 8 April, 10am to 2pm • Cost $20Express your passion for music and have fun at this one day workshop. Learn the basic techniques of operating turntables and DJing. Supported by Creative Communities. Tutor: Maria CollinsCounselling: Low Cost Sessions Available by appointment. Some conditions apply. Please contact the Women’s CentreMassage for Women: $45 for 1 hour Available on Tuesday afternoons by appointment. Please contact the Women’s Centre.

Bookings essential: Contact us on 09 425 7261 or 0800 2DROPIN (0800 237674)Email: info@womenscentrerodney.org.nz • www.womenscentrerodney.org.nz

Follow us on Facebook at Women’s Centre Rodney10 Morpeth Street, Warkworth • 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday

Most courses run in Warkworth. Please check details when booking.

ART EXHIBITION FUNDRAISER: At The Woolshed Gallery, Matakana Country Park Opening Night: Fri 24th April, 5.30 - 7.30pm. Mark playing tunes. • Open daily Sat 25th April to Sun 3rd May, 10am - 4pm

We are proud to present an Art Exhibition supported by well-known local artists to raise funds for our backyard community playground. All are welcome.

fundays

Tortoise holidays at Ti PointA 250-kilogram, 45-year-old Galapagos tortoise called Smiley is on holiday at Ti Point Reptile Park after a serious case of sibling rivalry.Galapagos tortoises are the largest tortoises in the world and one of the longest-lived invertebrates.Smiley is one of four Galapagos tortoise in New Zealand, which are all usually on display at Auckland Zoo.Park owner Ivan Borich says he has been separated from his two sisters and brother, Willy, as part of the zoo’s breeding programme.“The males can get quite aggressive with one another, so they separate them when they attempt breeding.“Inbreeding isn’t a big issue as they will never be released back to the Galapagos. It’s about increasing the population in New Zealand.”It is the second time the park has had a Galapagos tortoise, as Willy was at the park for about three years, but left two years ago.“They have quite distinct personalities. Willy was much more temperamental. Smiley is very mild mannered. He’s a nice tortoise.”Smiley is most active on warm days, but even then he takes things quietly. Despite his size he has a modest appetite, mainly eating carrots, oranges and cactus.It takes four people to lift him, but he is no giant by tortoise standards. They can weigh 300 kilos and live over 170 years, making him just a youngster.He is expected to go back to Auckland Zoo before winter.Ivan started the park about 50 years ago and now has more than 400 animals, including about 100 native lizards, three alligators and two capuchin monkeys.

There are 10 surviving subspecies of Galapagos tortoise, with animals on different islands of the archipelago evolving different shell shapes to allow them to reach the different kinds of plants on each island. These distinctions were observed by Charles Darwin when he visited the Galapagos in 1835 and contributed to his development of the theory of evolution.Possibly the world’s most famous tortoise, Lonesome George, was the last surviving member of tortoises from the Galapagos island of Pinta. When he died in 2012 it was the end of his subspecies. Generally Galapagos tortoise numbers are strong thanks to recent conservation efforts.

Park owner Ivan Borich says the Galapagos tortoise, Smiley, enjoys being stroked under the neck.

39 April 1, 2015 Mahurangi Matters school holidaysfeature

p a d d l e - p u h o i h i s t o r i c v i l l a g e - n e w z e a l a n d

we offer a safe leisurely unguided 8km paddle along the puhoi river which meanders from thehistoric Bohemian village to the scenic wenderholm regional park. we supply superior kayaks,buoyancy aids, paddling instructions,maps and a courtesy coach return.

Open 1 Sept - 30 JuneBOOKINGS ESSENTIAL•hourly hire available in the puhoi village • summertime Kayak

hire available atwenderholm park •noexperience necessary 84 puhoi road, puhoi villagePH (09) 422 0891 | FAX (09) 422 0881 | MOB 027 284 1672 | EMAILpuhoicanoes@clear.net.nz

www. p u h o i r i v e r c a n o e s . c o . n z

HORSE RIDING WARKWORTH

42 Kaipara Flats Road Phone 09 425 8517 Email: horseriding@xtra.co.nz Google: horse riding warkworth

42 Kaipara Flats RoadEmail: horseriding@xtra.co.nz

• Quiet horses and ponies• Farm & Forest treks• Birthday rides• Lessons available• Social or family groups• English study tour groups• Holiday and weekend horse riding camps• People with disabilities welcome• On the doorstep of Sheepworld, Matakana and Goat Island

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

1 hour ........ $452 hours ...... $80

No eftpos or credit cards

Gift vouchers available

Our aim is to cook food using exactly the same ingredientsand techniques a good cook would use at home, so everything

looks and tastes deliciously homemade.

www.handyfood .co . nz

Shop 2b Riverside Arcade 62 - 64 Queen StreetWarkworth

Mobile: 0274318740 Phone: 094259909 hello@handyfood.co.nz

fundays Education taster this monthCommunity education courses will start again at Mahurangi College from May 1, with a speed-dating style taster on April 18. Course coordinator Ben Dugdale says they already have a range of topics, so there should be something which appeals to everybody.“So far we have courses in guitar, Mandarin, Te Reo, art history, drawing, up-cycling, cooking, defensive driving, democracy and Photoshop.“We are still looking for further courses and tutors, and are very open-minded about the kinds of classes we offer.“Some courses may go for eight weeks, while others may just be one or two sessions.”The courses will run on Fridays from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and Saturday afternoons from 2pm till 4pm. “A lot of people found midweek courses difficult to attend and felt they had more time towards the end of the week and weekend.”The “Speed Date your Course” day will allow people to speak to different tutors about courses in a speed-date style event at the college auditorium on Saturday, April 18, from 2pm to 4pm.“People can see what courses are on offer and which ones will suit them best.”Ben says community education can

lead people into another career and helps foster a sense of community.“In this age of smart phones and the internet we are becoming both incredibly connected across the globe, while becoming disconnected from shared community experiences.“Participating in community education leads to an increase in community participation and people become more involved in other organisations and social activities.”Research by Pricewaterhouse Coopers found people who attended community education improved their confidence and enhanced their communication skills and 82 per cent of learners moved towards further study. It also improved participants’ employability.Info: Ben Dugdale 021 0429 406 or adultteencommed@gmail.com

Ben Dugdale

Tortoise holidays at Ti Point

What will $20 get YOUthis long holiday weekend?

How about …ALL OF THIS

for just $20 per person• 72 air rifle shots• 40 golf balls (driving range)• 21 baseball or softball• 9 holes of mini golfAll equipment included

Open seven days9:30am – 7pm

With no holiday surcharge!1794 SH1, Warkworth – 09 425 8393

therange@xtra.co.nztherangewarkworth.co.nz

CHEAP

FAMILY

FUN!