On April 6, Justice Mary Peters in the Auckland High Court sentenced Cory Marson-Wood to three years in prison for fires that caused serious damage at Piha and a fire at the Viaduct Events Centre when 900 people were inside. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12027265
The “Friends of the Forest” exhibition of photographs by Piha-based photographer Heidi Padain opened last night at Arataki Visitor Centre (16 February 2018). A good crowd of lovers of the Waitakeres gathered to admire the selection of intimate photographs of birds taken by Padain. Formidable tui, plump kereru and cute little smaller birds were shown [ Read More ]
Three measures that will strengthen efforts to save kauri trees from dieback disease were agreed by the Kauri Dieback Governance Group when they met yesterday (29 January 2018). It was agreed to put in place: a Controlled Area Notice for kauri dieback a National Pest Management Plan a Strategic Science Advisory Group. “These new measures [ Read More ]
Dotterel on North Piha beach – note tyre marks, another hazard Today (22 January) Ben Paris of Auckland Council biodiversity team was interviewed on Radio NZ about the recent attrack on a rare Northern Dotterel by a local dog. A dotterel pair as nested on the beach between the Marawhara and Wekatahi Streams for the [ Read More ]
On 5 December Te Kawerau a Maki attended a meeting of the Auckland Council Environment and Community Committee to inform the committee it had placed a rahui over the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park which would prevent people from entering it, in the hope of allowing the kauri in the forest to heal. A recent report [ Read More ]
Jack Kingston was one of Piha’s oldest and longest dwelling residents, when he died on 9 November 2017 aged 99 years. He has been at Piha so long, the corner of the road by his driveway is known locally as “Kingstons’ corner”. A very community-minded man, he was also a thorough going gentleman and will be very sadly [ Read More ]
Elections results for the party vote at Piha have been released. In the 1914 the Greens made the most votes at Barnett Hall, 192 of the 464 total votes cast. This year the Greens were third, behind Labour and National. At 331, total votes were also down, probably a result of early voting depleting the [ Read More ]
Cory Marson-Wood appeared in the Auckland High Court this week pleading not guilty to fires that destroyed the takeaway on Marine Parade North, fires at The Gap and Tasman Lookout, and other charges. He has elected trial by jury which is set down for March 2018. http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/06/piha-arson-accused-pleads-not-guilty.html#.WWalo-TGXEw.email
In December 2016 Auckland Council published a draft concept plan for The Gap at Piha consultation and as a result received submissions from 9 community groups and 75 individuals. There was a general response that submitters wanted to see more about restoration of the environment, more about reducing the fire risk and less about recreation and new tracks until [ Read More ]
At the request of the Piha surf club, the Parks Department of Auckland Council will be taking the top off the dune in front of the surf club during the winter. The surf club has said that the growth in height of the dune is obscuring their view of the rip around Lion Rock from [ Read More ]