News category

We have a new, very active U3A here in Katikati. Our Early NZ History group was recently privileged to spend the day, on a bus tour of Tauranga with Buddy Mikaere, a Māori community leader.

He took us to all the places associated with Gate Pa. Places some of us didn’t know existed, and we certainly didn’t know all about them. We visited the Otumoetai Pa (to give an idea of a traditional pa), the Elms, the Mission Cemetery, Monmouth Redoubt and Durham Redoubt. We drove by the 68th Regiment barracks, in the Historic Village, then after a hearty buffet lunch at Tauranga RSA, visited Pukehinahina-Gate Pa and Te Ranga.


It was a day full of surprises, interest, sobering and eye opening history. The battle site at Te Ranga was news to most of us.
I listened attentively to the interview with Charlie Ramiro, another Tauranga community leader, on Māpuna on RNZ on Saturday afternoon, at Labour Weekend. He provided even more explanation and insights to the battles and the background to the battles.

This week Tauranga Moana prepares to host Te Pūtake o te Riri, the national commemorations for the New Zealand Wars. This year is the 159th anniversary of the battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) where the iwi of Tauranga Moana defeated British forces, and the retribution by the British at Te Ranga.

Christine Donehue

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Hi all,

 
Our next Mini Hike will be in Whakatane starting by the toilets closest to the harbour/river entrance situated on Muriwai Drive just past the boat ramp and close to the playground. We will be walking along the riverbank.
 
Start time - 10am at the venue
 
Footwear - this is a concrete/sealed pathway so anything goes
 
Distance - I don't know but as it is a there and back walk, we will walk for 45 minutes and turn back so expect 90 mins maximum for the walk.
 
Toilets - start and finish
 
Cafe for lunch - see what we can find in Whakatane unless someone has a place they know of.
 
Carpooling - I will have room for 4 people leaving from Omokoroa, via Bethlehem, Bayfair area to Whakatane. Contact me if you want a ride on 021 159 5613 or email me. I will be leaving Omokoroa around 8am - traffic???
 
For other areas,  please contact the drivers to confirm arrangements and times.
 
For the Mount/Papamoa, meet at the corner of Gloucester Rd and Sanhurst Dr. Please let Barbara Ph 027 315 1136 know if you are carpooling with this group and she will tell you the meeting time.
 
From the Pyes Pa area, call Ed on  0275431108  if you want to carpool with him.
 
Can you please let me know if you are coming on the hike
 
Remember, cancellation emails due to bad weather will be sent out on the day no later than 730am.
Steve Subritzky
Ph 021 159 5613
 
Remember -  A new leader is required for 2024, either jointly with me for you to take over the group. No leader, no group, simple.
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Hi all,

 
Next Wednesday's walk will be in the Karangahake Gorge. Meet at the large carpark in the middle of the gorge on the south side of the highway. The carpark is approx 5km from the Waikino Railway Station and 14km from Waihi
 
We will be walking through the old railway tunnel, then along the cycle trail, then return the same way unless the pool track has reopened.
 
Start time, 10am at the venue
 
Distance is around 7 to 8 km total and should take approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
 
Footwear - gravel all the way so shoes or boots are OK. Walking poles are not required but you can bring them if you wish.
 
Torches - the tunnel has lighting but is dim, you may like to bring a torch.
 
Toilets - start, finish and at the start of the tunnel
 
Cafe afterwards at the Waikino station
 
Car Pooling 
 
I can bring people from Omokoroa. Please contact me if you want a ride.
 
For the Mount/Papamoa, meet at the corner of Gloucester Rd and Sanhurst Dr. Please let Barbara Ph 027 315 1136 know if you are carpooling with this group and she will tell you the meeting time.
 
From the Pyes Pa area, call Ed on '027 323 6053 if you want to carpool with him.
 
Note that the U3A Katikati walking group has also been invited to this walk.
 
Can you please let me know if you are coming on the hike. 
 
Remember, cancellation emails due to bad weather will be sent out on the day no later than 730am.
Steve Subritzky
Ph 021 159 5613
Details

24 August 2023 - Carol Chetwynd presents - Operetta

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For me it was awesome to experience this country which has been shaped by the forces of Nature for over 2 billion years. It has been invaded by the Carthaginians, the Romans, Arabs, Spanish, Portuguese and the French over 2,300 years.

Today, Morocco is a reflection of this history, but now has a strong identity of self. Many cities are examples of the old and the new. Modern and bustling in the outer areas but the walls and gates that protected people for centuries still surround the Medinas and give an insight into what life would have been like in those times.

Away from the city it becomes evidently clear that where there is water, there is life! The river valleys are green and lush with food producing plants and well camouflaged villages nestle into the hills or cliffs above. Life here would be far from easy.

To drive in the Gorges, the alpine passes, through huge expanses of arid land and ride camels to camp overnight in the Sahara Desert are all experiences never to be forgotten.

There is so much more detail I can share about the lives today of these gentle people who cope with many different challenges to ourselves.

MOROCCO

Some of the information I plan to cover.

Brief History and its influence on modern day Morocco.
Architecture, culture, religion, language.

What is a Medina, a Riad, a Souk?                
What goods are traded within the Medinas?
Animals within the medinas and their behavioural patterns.                       
How to avoid getting lost within a Medina.

Rural life. “Where there is water there is Life.”
How is this scarce commodity managed and distributed.
What product is grown.
(Imagine a 5 year-old child never having seen or experienced rain)

Other resources of Morocco? How plentiful or scarce are these?
How are they managed?

Appreciate Nature’s breathtaking artistry on the landscapes.
And there could be much, much more depending on your questions.

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Click here for notes on the program

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Margaret Marsh received the following information and attachments from NetSafe via SeniorNet:

Following on from our recent discussion, I’m pleased to send you some initial resources for older people to share with your network:.

As part of Netsafety Week 2023 which runs from 24-30 July, Netsafe and Chorus are pleased to launch a Scam and Fraud Prevention video presentation created with seniors in mind,  featuring NZ Anti-Fraud Award winner and Netsafe ‘Scambassador’ Bronwyn Groot and Netsafe’s Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons.

This is the first initiative as part of a partnership to create online safety resources for older people, so they can enjoy the benefits of technology while being confident and safe online. 

Watch this video and share it with older friends and family members, for tips, advice and resources on how to avoid being scammed online.

You’ll also find other helpful tools and resources on the same webpage, including a PDF version of the Little Black Book of Scams which is free to download, print and keep on hand for reference, and the CheckNetsafe tool, which tells you if a website or link is likely a scam or legitimate.

Top tips for older people - Netsafe – social media and online safety helpline

 

MM:  There is also a copy of this on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7pXRM4GJU4&t=1s

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Click here for a report ( Presentation by Margaret Marsh )

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Hi all,

Our next walk will be in Omokoroa on Monday the 26th June. Meet outside the Medical centre car park in Omokoroa Rd just before Fresh Choice.

The walk will be either along the boardwalk or around the Golf Course, both taking around 1 hour with a Cafe break after. I will decide on the day which walk we will do.

Meeting time is 930am

Either walk is on concrete/gravel/boardwalk so walking shoes are OK.

There are no toilets on either walk. There are Public toilets in Western Ave which is approx 1km before the meeting place.

Can you please let me know if you are coming on the walk

Remember, cancellation emails due to bad weather will be sent out on the day no later than 730am.

As usual I have invited members of my U3A Mini Hikes 1 group on this walk

See you all on Monday

Steve Subritzky
Ph 021 159 5613

Update for next month:

As you may know, I will be away overseas early July, due back late September. The last walk that I will be taking with this group will be on Monday the 26th June.

As there is no one who wants to lead the group for the full time that I am away, the group will recess until I get back.

I expect the first walk after I get back will be the 25th September.

I will also be trying a new format where we meet at the same place in Katikati every walk, then walk or car pool from that meeting place.

 

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Hi all,

 As I have previously advised, the U3A Mini Hikes 1 group will be in temporary recess while I am away. The walk on Wednesday the 5th July will be the last one until I return. I expect the next walk will be late September or early October, watch this space for emails.
 
While I am away, you will be getting invites to participate in the Mini Hikes 2 walks run by Steve Hailes Ph 021 133 2911. This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.
 
Note, if any of you want periodic updates on my travels, let me know and I will put you on my email list. I send out emails most days that  I have internet and include photos of what I have been up to in Outback Australia, the very remote parts.
 
See you all in the spring, I will have dust, corrugations, flies and hopefully sunny warm weather.
 
Steve Subritzky
Details

Hi all,

Our next walk will be next Wednesday, the 5th July starting at 10am. The walk will be around the Omokoroa boardwalk and Golf Course with an estimated time of around 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The paths will be a combination of boardwalk, concrete, gravel and some grass. 
 
Meeting  - we will meet in the Fresh Choice car park in Omokoroa at 10am.
 
Footwear - shoes or boots, walking poles not required.
 
Cafe - to undo all the good work walking we will be Nourish cafe, at Te Puna as the existing cafes in Omokoroa are too small.
 
Toilets - there are toilets around halfway, there are none at the start or finish but there are toilets in Western Ave which is approx 1 km from the start.
 
Car Pooling
 
For the Mount/Papamoa and other people, meet at the corner of Gloucester Rd and Sanhurst Dr.                            
Please let Barbara Ph 027 315 1136 know if you are carpooling with this group and she will tell you the meeting time.
 
From the Pyes Pa area, call Ed on '027 323 6053 if you want to carpool with him.
There will be no carpooling from Omokoroa as I live there.
Remember a donation to the driver is recommended.
Can you please let me know if you are coming on the hike
 
Remember, cancellation emails due to bad weather will be sent out on the day no later than 730am.
Steve Subritzky
Ph 021 159 5613
Details

Hi all,

 
Next Wednesday's walk will suit the Papamoa people - no traffic hold ups for them I hope.
 
We will be walking the walkways from Fashion Island Papamoa to Parton Road and return. We will meet outside the Blackberry Eatery and walk along the waterways to Parton Rd, then return
 
Distance is around 7km total and should take approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
 
Footwear - gravel all the way so shoes or boots are OK. Walking poles are not required but you can bring them if you wish.
 
Toilets - there are some at Fashion Island somewhere.
 
Cafe afterwards, guess where, where we started.
 
Car Pooling 
 
I can bring people from Omokoroa. Please contact me if you want a ride.
 
Ed is away so there is no carpooling with him.
 
For the Mount/Papamoa people, I am sure that you can make your own way there, or contact Barbara.
 
Note that the U3A Katikati walking group has also been invited to this walk.
 
Can you please let me know if you are coming on the hike. 
 
Remember, cancellation emails due to bad weather will be sent out on the day no later than 730am.
Steve Subritzky
Ph 021 159 5613
Details

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