Local’s book about a journey to learn te reo Māori

Waikawa Beach local, writer Glenn Colquhoun, has just published a new book:

The picture book The Small Girl Who Lives Next Door follows Jack, who is curious about the girl next door who speaks te reo Māori.

The story follows his journey to becoming more proficient in te reo, and learning about Māori culture.

Source: Picture book follows curious boy on a journey to learn te reo Māori.

Book cover: The Small Girl Who Lives Next Door.
Book cover: The Small Girl Who Lives Next Door.

Congratulations, Glenn!

Glenn has the book available for sale on his website: The Small Girl Who Lives Next Door.

High seas; low river

Since a heap of rain and wind and some high tides in the second half of June, the river has been very low by the footbridge.

Very low river by footbridge.
Very low river by footbridge.

It seems the sandbar that forces the river into a slow lazy loop has gone for the moment allowing the sea to flow in all the way to the groyne, and the river to flow out.

Sea coming right up to the groyne with no sandbar.
Sea coming right up to the groyne with no sandbar.

There once was a bridge

Back in the day the footbridge across the Waikawa Stream was upstream closer to the end of Drake Street. Lesley-Anne Walker sent us some photos of how the bridge was, and when it met its end.

Rickety old footbridge.
The old footbridge over the Waikawa Stream. Photo courtesy of LA Walker.
Kids jumping off the rickety old bridge.
A spot of high-tide diving from the old footbridge over the Waikawa Stream. Photo courtesy of LA Walker.
Rickety old footbridge sunk in the stream.
The old footbridge over the Waikawa Stream just gave up. Photo courtesy of LA Walker.

Lost kayaks Sunday 27 June 2021

Have you seen these kayaks?

I was given your details regarding a community email group. A group of us lost three kayaks and paddles up above the Waikawa Reserve DoC campground today. We intend to look for them when the stream is low but in the meantime people may come across them, on the beach or riverside. Would appreciate hearing from anyone if they find them.

Many thanks,
Nigel

027 2684912

It’s a wet one — 27 June 2021

In the past few days we’ve had about 18mm rain with another 20 forecast for today. Up in the hills though it’s been raining a lot more.

The paddocks beside Waikawa Beach Road are starting to look more like lakes, and the river at the footbridge is flowing swift and strong.

Where the last few weeks we’ve had a long lazy loop between the groyne and the sea, the river has now broken through the sandbar to flow straight out.

Full river breaks through sandbar.
Full river breaks through sandbar.

BTW: MetService are forecasting significant swells in the next few days.

Swells forecast.
Swells forecast.

Posted: Sunday 27 June 2021, 09.30.