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This information sheet focuses more on the Cooks Beach/ Ferry Landing area but the activities are

open to all. The resident population of Cooks Beach/Ferry Landing is less than 500 but despite these

numbers there are a whole range of activities in which residents (and visitors) can take part. The

purposes of this information sheet are twofold - firstly to make you aware of the broad range of

these activities and secondly to encourage you to take part in and to support them.

AT THE COOKS BEACH HALL

Pilates
A Pilates programme is held in the hall on Monday and Friday from 9.30 to 10.30 am. This is a

core strengthening exercise class suitable for women and men of all ages. Charge per class

$12 or a concession card at $100 for 10 sessions. For further information contact Becky Lingard

027 3736509 or email lingardbecky@gmail.com

8-Ball
A convivial group of men and women who meet in the hall at 6.45 on Tuesday evenings. More

players would be very welcome. The door charge is $5 and you bring your own refreshments.

For information contact Max or Judith Castle 866 3587

Indoor bowls
Played in the hall on Wednesdays at 1.45. You should try this, a fun game for men/women and

young/old. No special gear or clothing needed.

Annual sub $15, $2 per afternoon. Contact Alan Henry 866 0020 or henry.a@xtra.co.nz

FitDance
Why join? Cause it’s always a good time to move your hips and have fun! This dance/aerobics

class at the hall on Thursdays from 5 to 6 pm is for men and women of all ages. No prior

experience needed. Sessions $15. Contact Nayla Lucero 020 06301401 or

naylalucero17@gmail.com

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
COOKS BEACHCARE TRUST
This group has been active for over 10 years working with the objective to restore and maintain

the dunes through removing plant pests and undertaking an annual planting programme.

Over the years more than 30,000 dune plants have been put in the ground. A worthwhile

outdoor activity with a positive environmental outcome.

We work on Thursday mornings between 9 and 11 am. To get on our mailing list, contact Adele

Smaill 8664551 or smylla@slingshot.co.nz

PURANGI CONSERVATION TRUST

The trust was formed in 2018 to work towards creating a pest free community. Its activities now

cover a large part of the Cooks Beach/Ferry Landing and surrounding areas on both private
and public land. Volunteers are needed in the field for monitoring traps and establishing

additional trap lines with appropriate training provided. Trap building, maintenance or

administration help also requires volunteers. The trust has a very informative website at

purangiconservationtrust.org or contact the administrator Rose Morcom 027 6298872

 OTHER ACTIVITIES
FUN MAHJONG GROUP
A small group who play Mahjong for fun and enjoyment of the game. It meets on a
Wednesday afternoon at 1pm, rotating at each other’s homes. No ongoing costs, just an initial

purchase of a book with information on the plays. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played, you

learn as you go. Contact either Mary 021 1118398 or Jacqui 021 1603099

PURANGI GOLF CLUB

The charming 9-hole course is open to the public. For information on green fees and

membership go to their excellent and informative website at purangigolf.nz

COOKS BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

The fire brigade has been operating in Cooks Beach since 1977. It is both a fire service
operation and a first response for accident and emergency events. It is staffed by volunteers

and is always looking for people to be involved. Opportunities are available either in operations

or operational support. The firefighting activities involves volunteers, both men and women,

who need to be full time residents. Training nights are held at the station on Wednesday

evenings. (Training Officer Richard Free 027 5660138) Operational support involves record

keeping and database, fundraising or machine and equipment maintenance (Secretary Tina

Bartlett 027 2268018

ST JOHN IN OUR COMMUNITY

St John is a charity, that provides ambulance services throughout most of New Zealand. In our

area it is largely staffed by volunteers who respond to your 111 call from their home or

workplace.
If you have a medical emergency, please call 111 first. This enables the St John despatcher to

allocate the appropriate resources for your emergency in the most timely manner. In a small

community it’s tempting to call the local person you know, but they may not be rostered on, or

even in the village. Interested in more information on volunteering? Visit the website

https://join.stjohn.org.nz/home

ST JOHN SUPPORTER SCHEME

By joining the St John Supporter Scheme, you and your family get the peace of mind that in an

medical emergency if an ambulance is called for you, that bill is taken care of.
The part charge for ambulance transport is $98, so the annual cost of $50 for an individual,

$65 for a couple living together or $80 for a household is well worth it.
For more information visit www.stjohn.org.nz/join or phone 0800 St John (0800 785 646)

MERCURY BAY CRAFT GROUP

This group meets fortnightly on Thursday from 1.00 to 3.00 pm at Purangi Golf Club. The
current focus is on knitting activities with recent projects having seen knitted goods sent to

several charitable organisations looking after those in need including Women’s Refuge,

Salvation Army and the Breast Cancer charity shop in Hamilton. Contact Robyn 027 4282731 or

Noelene 027 3760166

FERRY LANDING LIBRARY
This is the small building on the corner of the parking lot up from the ferry. Any resident can

belong with books being available on a self- recording basis. Annual membership is $10 and

with this you will be issued with a key ($5 bond) for access at any time. Contact Elizabeth

Nicholls 866 4908 or Kate Piper 866 4555

COOKS BEACH GARDEN CIRCLE
This group has been active for over 50 years ! If walking and talking gardens is your interest

then this is group for you. It covers and visits gardens in the local area and as far as Tairua. The

group meets on the last Thursday of each month on a roster of members’ homes. Annual sub

$5. Contact Anne Innes 866 3717 for more info.

BRIDGE
There is no bridge club in Cooks Beach but there is one in Hahei – the friendliest bridge club on

the coast. Open to all players with playing hours ideal for retired and self-employed folk.

Lessons are offered to new players. The club meets every Tuesday from 12.30 pm at the Hahei

Hall. The annual sub is $10, table money $3 Contact Don Barry 021 741 959 or Robyn Hogg 021

543015

COOKS BEACH COMMUNITY GET TOGETHERS

A chance to meet and chat with other members of your community, share ideas and interests

in a social setting over a glass of wine and nibbles. There are currently 90 families on the
email list. Held periodically on a Friday afternoon 4-6pm, especially in Winter. Open to

residents and holidaymakers in the Cooks Beach, Ferry Landing, Flaxmill Bay areas. Bring a

small plate of finger food to share and your beverage of choice. No cost. Ladies and mens get

togethers held at different locations on the same date. A good way to meet those in your

community especially if you are new to the area. Phone Lesley Morrison 021 1579979 for more

information or to go on the email list.

WHITIANGA TRAMPING GROUP

Although the group departs from Whitianga, its membership is open to everyone who has a

love of exploring the outdoors and has a reasonable level of fitness. It is a friendly group and

welcomes new members. An experienced leader heads each tramp although participants are

all ultimately responsible for our own safety. Walks depart 8.30am every second Sunday to

locations near and far. Most outings are for a full day 8.30am - 3 or 4pm. Cost - $5 per time to

a maximum of $20pa. We travel in members' cars with transport costs shared. No booking,
just turn up on the day. A calendar of tramps goes out to members twice a year. Average age

50-75. Being part of a tramping group gives you the opportunity to visit places that the
average public does not have access to. Contact Lesley Morrison 021 1579979

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY

THE INFORMER
This free weekly is delivered to all residents in our area. Its owners until very recently (Stephan

and Petra) were extremely generous in the time and support they gave to our community. The

new owners Stan and Paula Stewart have indicated they wish to continue this philosophy. If

you have a story you want told or an event/idea to promote, have a chat with them. They are

also happy to publish sports results which can give you an increased profile.
RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
This is set up to promote the interests and welfare of our community and to represent its views

to our local authorities. If there is anything you would like to raise, please contact the secretary

Cyndy Lomas gandclomas@xtra.co.nz or the treasurer Paulette Tainsh

paulette.tainsh@harcourts.co.nz ph 027 242001. Become a member so you can take an active

part in your community and are kept informed what’s happening. The annual sub is $20.00. For

more information go to the website mercurybaysouthratepayers.weebly.com

TCDC
The Council website is very informative but there are two useful things you should be aware of.
1 Request for service (RFS). If there is something you would like Council to do, eg clear a drain, fix
a sign, lodging an RFS is a formal notice to the council and they must both respond to it and

advise you of the outcome. Go to TCDC home page, click on “our services” and on the right-

hand side of the page click RFS form. Proceed with your issue from there.
2. Registering your email with council so you receive all their weekly newsletters and other

notifications. Go to home page, click on “have your say” and compete the form on the left-
hand side.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
PICKLEBALL
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Suitable for all ages and particularly

appropriate for the more senior of us. Sessions for learner / first timers are held at the Mercury

Bay Area School each Sunday at 4pm. $5 per session. Paddles (yes Paddles!) and balls will be

available for people wanting to give it go. There are outdoor courts set up at Moewai Park for

playing at any time. Looking at doing a demo day in the July school holidays at the Cooks Beach

tennis courts. Contact Tony Minto / Club Administrator 021 426 150 or Dave Campbell/Cooks

Beach 022 675 2571

MENZSHED
Do you enjoy working with your hands? Here is where every handyman bloke goes to do what

blokes like to do! It meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 to 12.00 am. The shed is

situated at the Moewai Park end of Highway 25 past the diesel truck stop. For more information

contact Kevin Robinson 021 336 864

WHITIANGA SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB

This group meets in the town hall on Mondays from 1 to 4 pm. Activities include indoor bowls,

scrabble and card games. As well the group has outings and shared meal events. Annual sub is

$10 and door charge per session $2. For more information contact Adriaan Telders 866 5377

LINE DANCING
This group meets in the Town Hall on Tuesdays at 12.30 and Thursday at 1.00. Participants are

roughly grouped in 3 sections, beginner, intermediate and experienced. To ascertain where you

might fit in contact either Margaret Tucker 027 463 8850 or Glynis Quinn 866 4544 or 021

1099155. Session charge $5.

Thanks to Harcourts Cooks Beach for production and distribution to the community

Paulette Tainsh PH 027 241 2001

Hendry Tainsh PH O22 658 4818
Licensed REAA 2008