Wet Weekend

I don't mind wet weather on Kawau. It gives me a chance to catch up on reading, do the house work I've been putting off and catch up on various odd jobs around the house. It also provides time for reflection, a time to slow down and, a time to enjoy the serenity of where I live.
Often, there is nobody else around which brings out all the wading birds in the estuary as well as the wood pigeons, the tuis and the Wekas.
So, this weekend, I have the place to myself and, I'm loving it.

Firewood

A large part of my winter and pre winter activities seem to revolve around gathering, sawing and splitting firewood. Here on Kawau we are fortunate to have virtually unlimited supplies of Kanuka which is one of the best fire fuels you can get.
If I am really organised, I start the process in late Summer/early Autumn by selecting the trees that have fallen over or died during the previous year.
These get dragged/carried to the house and stock piled ready for cutting to length and splitting.
Over a period of a week or so, dependant on my enthuisiasm and energy levels,I cut all the trunks to the right length and then split them ready to go into the fire.
The final process is stacking all the cut and split pieces in the firewood bin by the back door.
If I have done the job properly, there will be enough fire wood to last the winter. If not, I will have to top it up part way through.
It's hard physical work, but you feel very virtuous when it's all done.
The real reward come of course on a cold winter evening when you enjoy a toast warm house without using any electricity.

Winter on Kawau

Winter on the island is a very special time with fewer people around, more bird life evident and, some truly stunning, still sunny days.
At night, the smell of wood fire smoke drifts around the coves and, for some reason, the skys seem even clearer than normal.
At other times like today, the rain pours down, filling the water tanks and raising the water table to keep the bush flourishing. A great day to catch up on office work, read some good books and enjoy the warmth of the fire.

Easter on Kawau

Easter on Kawau Island, like many other places, marks the end of Summer and the onset of Winter. It tends to be the last long break of the year and most Kawau property owners come up for the holiday break.
One of the tradtitional island Easter events is the Mahurangi Cruising Club Easter Regatta which is based in North Cove.
While not as big as the Anniversary weekend regatta, there are a good number of classic yachts and launches that come to the island each year for the event, swelling our population for that period.
Traditionally starting on the Friday evening with a barbeque ashore, the main events take place on the Saturday. The morning sees dinghy and radio controlled yacht racing with a casual barbeque lunch, then, in the afternoon the main regatta for the larger boats takes place.
This usually comprises a race starting in North Cove and following a course out around a number of the islands in Kawau Bay, returning to finish off North Cove.
The start is a "Mark Foy" (Start times are staggered according to the size and race history of the entrants) and if the handicapper has done a good job, most entrants finish around the same time. The winner is the first boat over the finish line.
Following the race, there is another barbeque and prize giving ashore with lots of tall tales being told about the day.
Most of the visiting boats enjoy the island surrounds for the rest of the easter break, returning home on the Monday.
One of the great things about this regatta is that entry is open to all and everyone always seems to have a great time.
So, if you have nothing better to do at Easter, come over and participate in the event, either in your own boat, or as crew on another boat.

The Kawau Island Advisory Committee

One of the unique things about Kawau Island is the Kawau Island Advisory Committee (KIAC)
KIAC was first set up in the 1980's as a body that could liase between the Rodney District Council and the residents and property owners of Kawau Island. At the time there were only two such organisations in the country (the other was in the South Island). The latter no longer exists so KIAC is the one and only in New Zealand. KIAC is made up of 2-3 elected island representatives plus one Council representative. The island representatives are elected every three years
Over the last few years, KIAC has been involved in a number of very important issues including: fighting massive rate increases proposed by Rodney District Council, helping to set up and implement the Kawau Island Vision, Examining the method and practise of mooring allocations on the island and a number of other issues. It works very closely with the Kawau Island Residents and ratepayers Association (KIRRA) and communicates with virtually all Kawau property owners on a regular basis.
Of more recent concern has been the contiunuence of KIAC under the new super city structure.
After strong lobbying of the select committee overseeing the new city, we were fortunate to have the value of KIAC recognised by the comittee and an undertaking from them that it will continue.
The present members of KIAC are: Michael Marris (Chairman), Lyn Hume, myself and Councillor Dave Parker representing Rodney District Council.

Kawau Island and Yachting

I was thinking recently about the things that bought me to Kawau Island to live and came to the conclusion that one of the most important was yachts and yachting.
Having been a keen recreational sailor for many years, like many other boat owners, I had visited and enjoyed Kawau as both a destination and a place to stop over and visit.
No matter what direction the wind is from, you can always find a sheltered bay or cove to anchor in thus enjoy a peaceful night or two. If you needed water, fuel, a shower or to wash your clothes, the Kawau Island Yacht Club provided all these as well as a drink or meal if you wanted them. It was always fun and interesting to go ashore at Mansion House and explore house and grounds and in the old days Pah Farm provided an entertainmaint all of its own.
Now that I live here, I can enjoy all of the foregoing (apart from Pah Farm) whenever I want. Nearly as important, I can keep my yacht(s) here on a mooring for far less than it would cost me to have it on a marina berth on the mainland.
Most of my sailing these days involves classic yacht regattas and events with my 1939 Arch Logan design Gypsy.

When I want to go cruising, I generally take Mahutonga, a 1966 38 ft cutter which is easy to singlehand and will go just about anywhere with very little fuss.
So, for me Kawau is the perfect place to live because I can indulge in my hobby and passion at very little cost

Emergency Services on Kawau

Those of you who don't live here or have property here, may not realise that we have a very active and well trained team of volunteers who: fight fires, respond to medical emergency's and carry out civil defence tasks.
The volunteer fire force was first set up in 1997 with the guidance and help of the Department of Conservation and it grew and evolved from that point to its present size of 17 fully trained and equipped fire fighters and first response medical team.
The organisation has equipment depots (both fire and medical) at six points around the island plus a fully equipped rapid response vessel set up for fast response to any type of emergency on the island. We have been very fortunate to have been assisted by the Kawau Emergency Response Trust who have raised considerable amounts of money for the purchase of equipment.
Most call outs are medical emergency's and most of these involve visitors to the island. Helicopters are called in when required and I think it fair to say that if you have an accident on Kawau, you are likely to end up in hospital far quicker than you would if the accident occurred on the mainland.
Anybody needing help needs only to call 111 and we will be notified of the situation and what action is required within a very short space of time.