Sophia, who lives down Wylie Road, just had a close encounter with one of our Patumahoe residents.

As it is Sunday, she has taken it home for the afternoon, but it would be great if someone recognised this young dog, and we could get it returned to it’s owners as soon as possible.

If you own this lovely dog, or know it’s owners – can you please get in touch with Sophie 027-376-7443

For a quick look at the current state of affairs, visit the Chorus Broadband Capability Map.

Auckland Council have contacted me and the more information we can provide, the more they are able to assess whether Patumahoe would be a suitable recipient of this fund.

Given the increasing residential growth in the community, the existing ADSL system may be less than adequate in the future for providing consistent, reliable and high traffic internet access.

Please take a couple of minutes to fill in the form below, so that we provide a collection of reliable data along with our register of interest.

Many of us have personal experience of the benefit that our local Playcentre has provided – and still provides – to our community.

They are currently looking for business or personal sponsors for this project  and invite local businesses or individuals to be a part of it.  If you are able help out, have a look at the options available for sponsorship and contact Lorna Thompson

Sponsorship form:

Patumahoe/Mauku Playcentre: Recipe Book Sponsorship

(Resident submitted notice – Thanks!)

Craddock Farms who own intensive egg layer farms applied to build a new intensive farm for 310,000 more hens in the village of Patumahoe. In late 2014 there was a hearing for the resource consent application where three opposing submitter’s fought vigorously to prevent this.

With the weight of the local community and the Animal Rights groups behind them the submitter’s managed a successful defence and the independent commissioner’s declined the application in full on the 13th of January 2015.

however….

Craddock farms having already purchased a significant property are not willing
to let this go without further fight and have now appealed the commissioner’s
decision.

The appeal will be heard in the Environment Court and will be very costly – more than double that of the original hearing. We have created a givealittle fund to provide financial backing so that we can continue the fight with legal and other expert representation to keep hens out of cages and out of Patumahoe. If you would like to donate or help with the fundraising please visit our page

http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/banchickenlayercages#

Attend A Community Meeting 7:30pm Tuesday 3rd March At The Patumahoe School Hall To Find Out How You Can Help

If the decision is reversed this alone will account for 10% of New Zealand’s total egg production and the egg layer facility will be a total of ten sheds with 31,000 caged chickens in each shed, five cages high.

This will affect our community – noise, pollution, flies, odour, additional traffic
on an already busy road and of course property values.

If you want to know more contact www.facebook.com/banchickenlayercages
or phone 027 419 0413

We need your help!

Patumahoe will have another intensive poultry farm notch on its belt if the Craddock Farms Ltd resource consent application is approved. The application is to build ten sheds each housing over thirty thousand caged chickens at any given time. With a total of 310,000 chickens this will be one of, if not the biggest intensive poultry farm in New Zealand. Surprising as this comes at a time when the global demand for any caged product is declining. Specifically the social appetite for caged eggs is waning and in New Zealand there are some cases where supermarkets (including Countdown) are reacting to social pressure and banning these products from their shelves. Kudos to them.

Currently there are between 125-140 poultry farms providing eggs for local consumption and a small amount for export. In terms of volumes this is more than one billion eggs or a retail value of $286 million a year. Of those more than 80% of the egg farms are caged – that’s over 2.5 million caged chickens just in the egg industry.

The Patumahoe village already has a broiler operation right in the heart of the township. There have been significant efforts to have this shut down as it is offensive by nature but also it flies in the face of the rural community atmosphere. Patumahoe is an up and coming area that has recently been part of a developmental program to help accommodate the growing wider Auckland region, particularly for those who prefer the country lifestyle. New residents are looking for access to all the surrounding ‘big city’ facilities whilst having a corner of bliss right at their doorstep. Another farm of this nature in Patumahoe will easily dispel these beliefs. This will prevent families like the ones already living here, from choosing Patumahoe as the preferred place to live.

It is an indictment on our council that they consider that the community itself not relevant enough to include in this type of decision making. An operation like this affects the entire community not just those who live on its boundary. No one wants to live next to this type of operation but it begs the question – how close is too close?

Printed at the request of Peta Berry, resident of Patumahoe
Post originally published on 17 June 2014, on FaceBook

Patumahoe Village Inc and St Brides Anglican Church in collaboration with local Iwi would like to invite you to join us on a Historic Walk & Commemoration of the Battle of Titi Hill 150 years ago.

When: Sunday October 20^th, 1.00 – 4.00pm

Where: Park at Bald Hill Rd on the side of the road along from Number 55 next to the cypress hedge.  Parking signs will be put in place as a visual guide.  (If you wish to car share, we will be meeting at St Brides Church at 12:40pm to organise seats)

What : The total walking distance is approximately 6km, although shorter and older legs will have the option of smaller routes.

Why: Acknowledgement of the past while building connections into the future.  A small programme and history booklet will be handed out on the day, and we welcome contributions to this. Please contact us if you wish to do so.

PROGRAMME

Titi Hill & Battle site

We will walk around Titi Hill then up to the summit. From here we will walk down to where the main battle took place, close to the main road and close to the cow shed on Brian & Jan Day’s property. There will be a brief recount of events and a blessing.  (Those wishing to –  can drive around to Brian and Jan Day’s cow shed on the main Waiuku Rd)

Whakaupoko Summit & Old Coach Rd

We will return to Bald Hill Rd and then walk to the summit of Whakaupoko (Bald Hill). From the summit we will return but via the old coach road and visit some historic Pa sites, a small old quarry and see a place where bats live. (You can also drive to the summit).

St Brides Anglican Church

From back at the start we will drive to St Brides Church. Here there will be a brief recount of events at the Church around the time of the battle. We would hope that people remain to share stories of the past and present, and enjoy a late afternoon tea / early evening meal. It is a byo basis for food and drinks. We ask that everyone bring a plate – savoury or sweet – and tea / coffee / water will be provided. There will be a gold coin donation at the St Brides Community Centre.

BACKGROUND

As time has distanced us from personal involvement – and verification of written and oral histories becomes more difficult – we have both an opportunity and an obligation to view these incidents differently.

To begin – an acknowledgement of the cost to both parties of any violent altercation that results in fatalities, dispossession and more importantly, a break in peaceful communication and community.  To continue with the realisation that we can piece together only a fragment of what occurred, and add to this knowledge as best we can, by inviting all to contribute.  While Pākehā written histories can be found, they often contradict each other, and are often only reflections of personal perspectives.  Māori oral histories were not recorded – or if they have been – have not yet come to light.  We would be delighted to have additions to add to our knowledge from both.

From this perspective, the Battle on Titi Hill is one of the more tragic parts of our past that occurred on October 23rd 1863 during the New Zealand Land Wars.

For the Pākehā community – comprised of settlers and militia – there was a loss of eight lives.  The names and deaths of these casualties are recorded in written histories and gravestones.

For Māori the cost in lives were significantly more than this – and estimates in various histories range from 16 to 30.  However, their losses around this time were far greater.  From an area they once owned and worked intensively – they were in effect banished.  The few remaining pieces of land they did own were confiscated shortly before the battle.  This included 700 acres that now takes in all of the present day village of Patumahoe.

We have been able to view a historical map of this area – referred to as the “Native Reserve”.  After confiscation, this area was the beginning of the subdivision of Patumahoe, which continues to this day.

This dispossession of land resulted in a permanent fragmentation of the Māori community that lived here.  The official recording of their home as a “Native Reserve” does not give us a name for the iwi or hapu that lived here.  Day Road, in living memory was once named Patumahoe Hill Road, so perhaps that is the name of the hill where they resided but we have no confirmation of that.

This event is about building stronger links in our community particularly with local Iwi – Ngāti te Ata & Ngāti Tamaoho who are the remaining iwi in this district.  We would like to develop  an annual format taking in a physical activity and at the same time exploring more of our past.

The historical incidents that are being recognised all over Franklin,  were part of a campaign that is collectively referred to  as the New Zealand Wars. From 1860 to 1864 the wars were aimed at dislodging the Māori King Movement, which refused to accept colonial authority, and the acquiring of farming and residential land for English settlers. The 1860s conflicts involved 18,000 British troops and about 4000 Māori warriors and over the course of the Taranaki and Waikato campaigns took the lives of an estimated  800 Europeans and 1800 Māori.

St Brides Anglican Church in Mauku welcome the opportunity to be involved and invite everyone to use their hall for the food and drinks that will follow the commemorative walk.

Be a part of something new….

This is a new approach for all involved – and the format and focus will likely change if – as we hope – it becomes an annual event.  Alongside the sadness of commemoration of the loss of lives on both sides, is a fragile celebration of the ability of people to reconnect.

Local Iwi, and St Brides Church are the present representatives of the past players in this story, we invite you all to join them in helping to weave the histories and future of this place together by simply participating in this event.

How you can help

We would love to hear your stories of the past and over time share these within the wider community.

If you are able to offer support on the day let Andrew Sinclair know.

Email: andrew@climbingjack.com Ph 2363 647

Bring a flouro jacket if you have one as we will need a few people at the front and back of the group as we walk along Bald Hill Rd. We will require people to assist with tea / coffee / running a cleaning up.   You may be able to assist with recording the days events via camera, video or recorder.

Patumahoe waiata

If you are interested in being part of a group singing a waiata on the day, or just want to learn the words, please contact us.  A preliminary session will be held before the day and an ideal group would include members of local residents, St Brides and local iwi to reflect the kaupapa (purpose) of this day.  Beginners are not only welcome, but are running this aspect of the day.  Come along and join in.

So, a joint Patumahoe Village Inc & Whakaupoko Landcare committee meeting is to be held tomorrow night to go over some ideas.

Time: 7.15pm
Place: Andrew & Louise Sinclair’s home, 89c Baldhill Road
Who: All welcome

DRAFT AGENDA:

1. Purpose:
To establish budget requirements for various projects from both PVI and Whakaupoko Landcare for the next 12 months that relate to possible funding support via Auckland Council and the Local Board. (We have just been made aware of a requirement to have this sorted before the end of this month).

This includes a funding application request from Patumahoe Heritage group for purchase of computer hardware and office furniture for their archive and collation project, to run in line with Patumahoe School’s next reunion.

Bring:
Some brief background of any projects / ideas along with a budget estimate for the next 12 months. (The projects can be longer than 12 months).

Also if time permits for each group to establh a framework of meeting dates etc for the next year.

While many of you will already be aware, the sudden death of Dave Pufflet, the coordinator of Whakaupoko Landcare has come as a shock to us all.

We have lost a truly great friend our thoughts are with his awesome family.

Puff was coordinating the grand opening of our new walkway (Te Ara O Whangamaire), linking the bush near Patumahoe School to Henry’s Bush on Hunters Rd.

This Walkway opening is planned for November 23^rd 2.30pm Friday afternoon and will still go ahead in what will now be both a happy and sad day.

More detail will follow and in the meantime we will be holding a working bee next weekend to finish the track off.  Puff has been a key part of this project right from the start and we know if you are able to make it along he would appreciate it.

When: Sunday 11^th, 10.00am (Along from North East Fields just off Clive Howe Rd)

What to bring: Yourself and any friends. Bring a sharp spade or shovel, some gloves and the odd hammer.

What we are doing:

1. Killing surviving gorse and convolvulus around the steep part of the track and around the spring.
2. Completing the loop track in the bush at the bottom right. (This will be done by youth for the youth of Patumahoe and just needs a little track shaping to finish it off)
3. Nailing on plastic triangles to trees, fences, pegs – to mark the track.
4. Assembling a gate entrance at the bottom and a stile across one fence.
5. Putting in track signs.
6. Tidying up the entrance way.
7. Carrying some metal down the track to fill up 6 steps that lead through the bush.

We are thinking of finishing off the morning with a pot luck bar b que and brief details will follow.

There will also be more detail re the Walkway opening and if you are willing to assist on the day then please get hold of either Andrew or Peter. We would like to think that it will be a day to remember

See you on Sunday. Any questions contact:

Andrew Sinclair Ph 236-3647

or Pete Hardy    Ph 236-3590

Where: Meet at the start of the track close by the first sharp corner on Clive Howe Rd or if you are late simply walk down to the bottom.
Bring: A sharp spade or shovel and a rake if you have one.

This session  is to design and complete the blue part of the Walkway in the enclosed map. The yellow path is already complete and is metalled etc and looking good. The green part is across farmland and will be a marked walkway. The blue part is through the bush in the bottom of the gully as an extra loop track. This will not be metalled at this stage but just an exploration track primarily for the kids of Patumahoe.

For those of you who knew him, a few of Richard Harris’ friends have already committed to coming along, and it may be a good time to discuss ideas on how we can commemorate one of our people, while also participating in an activity he would no doubt enjoyed being part of.

Remember it is daylight saving starting on Sunday so the start time will feel like 9.00am.

See you there.

Andrew Sinclair

Ph 236-3647

Response received 5 September 2012:
AT2012-039815 Andrew Sinclair
 
Update: Auckland Transport response dated 28 January 2013