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PAKU VIEWS ISSUE 3 SPRING/SUMMER 2011-12
WHATS NEW
Fresh produce, deli items, cut Flowers
& much more
1 Wharf road (beside bakery)
07 864 7439
Tairua Traders now open for business!
You may already be dreaming of summer sun... I
know I am. A simple salad made from sliced fresh
buffalo mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and
fragrant basil, seasoned with Maldon rock salt and
olive oil is my idea of a good time.
It’s called Insalata Caprese and all the ingredients
can be bought from Craig Mortland’s Tairua Traders
beside Tairua Bakery on Main road. Add a bunch of
fowers and bring it on.
Tairua’s Historic Cow Shed
“harbours” two new businesses
Mike Harris found out through a mate at Dive Zone Whitianga that Peter Cross was opening a fshing outlet in Tairua
and wanted to know if he and his wife Alex would be interested in opening a dive shop. They met and Pete was keen on
securing the deal with a handshake, so Mike rang to ask Alex, and she said, “Do it”. Two weeks later they opened their
doors for business in the former Cow Shed. –Rowena Brown
TAIRUA
MASSAGE
CLINIC
TAIRUA
• Reg. Remedial Massage Therapist (MNZ)
• Bowen Therapy
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Lymphatic Drainage
• Pregnancy Speciality
07 864 8083 • 021 215 7980
11 Laycock Road
Please can you put Reg. in front of Remedial Massage
Therapist.
Omit Aquarian Healing and Tina Raymond.
Add Deep Tissue Massage
Add Lymphatic Drainage
Add Pregnancy Speciality (if room otherwise leave
it out)
Dive Zone
Me Old Mates
Let me tell you…. Pete and Brett were
looking for something new to get their
teeth into, Pete had recently sold his
business and Brett had crossed back
over the ditch from Aus. Over a couple of
brews the two old mates decided to go into
business together.
With a mutual love of fshing, the ex
Innkeeper and ex butcher opened Me Old
Mates, sharing the iconic Cow Shed with
Dive Zone. Me Old Mates is a fully kitted
out fshing store with a delicious point
of difference. While carrying all sorts of
tackle, hooks, lines and sinkers, the boys
also sell deli items Brett makes on the
premises.
Mouth watering smoked mussels and
fsh, quality salamis, delicious cheeses –
they have all the tasty morsels you need
to put a platter together for the boat, a
bbq or home. If you need fresh ice for the
afterparty or to ice down the catch, these
guys have got your number.
Both men say the feedback so far has
been wicked and they've had good support
from the local lads. "What makes it work is
'me and my old mate' share the load–it’s
brilliant”. The boys also offer a smoking
service and fshing charters on Pete’s
boat, the Inn Keeper. Brett, who owned
Tairua Butchery (a few butchers ago) says,
smiling as he shakes his head, “It’s great
to be home”.
Pete concludes, “If you haven’t already,
come in and give us a shot–make yourself
an old mate”. Brett adds, “Get into it!”
The strong arm on their new business
branding ‘Me Old Mates’ says it all. Old
fshing mates, Peter Cross and Brett
Collins look like dockworkers; they are
both big burly men. What’s that got to do
with the price of fsh you ask.
"Our vision is to establish ourselves as one
of the top dive shops in the area, sending
people away with big smiles on their
faces”, says Mike. “We are a small shop
with big service”.
They sell dive gear, run PADI training
courses, test tanks and gear, do airflls
and use local charter boats for their divers.
Innkeeper Charters, Delphinus Divers and
Seahorse Tours all beneft as a result. Dive
Zone is in the former back dining area of
the Cow Shed. "It's a great location",
affrms Mike. "There is plenty of parking
space, making it easy for those with boats
to get in and out.
“We are looking to attract anyone who
wants to go out for a fun day of diving
whether they have before or not”, says
Alex, who also hopes to attract more
women into the water. Husband Mike
tells us Alex is the world’s expert on
keeping woman warm. “Women divers are
different”, she says, “Girls wanna have fun
out there, see interesting fsh, take photos
and stay warm”.
Alex talked about the wall of nudibranchs
out at the Aldermans. "These little
creatures are one of nature’s most exotic
animals, true beauties with remarkable
tones and colours–thay are just gorgeous",
shares Alex. Little is known about these
sea slugs (they don’t have bones so there
are no fossils to study).
Where can I sign up, I want to go to the
wall. "Another incentive to get women in
the water", Alex laughs, “Is cute half-naked
guys”. Like I said, where can I sign up…
Although Carol and Tony certainly aren’t
new to the community, they are pooling
their talents in a new business venture
together. In February the couple bought
Mastercraft Kitchens.
As marketing and North Island manager
to a national company, Carol has been
designing kitchens for years. Tony’s BSc
led him into information technology where
he spent many years as a technician for an
internet access company.
Why Mastercraft? Carol answers, “We felt
like a change and wanted to do something
local. It fts our skills, not just because I am
a kitchen designer, but because we are
both service orientated and running a good
business is all about service”.
Carol and Tony offer a complimentary
consultation and design service. Whether
you want a bench top replaced or the full
Monty, they can help you! They also assist
with bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and
shelving requirements!
As an active, community-oriented couple
with a deep love for the environment, they
have lived here 18 years, giving much
time and energy to Tairua. As qualifed
Waterwise instructors, they have taught
many children to kayak over the years and
Tony also coached soccer at Tairua School
for nine years.
Carol recently starred in the Troubadours
production of Tairua General Hospital,
playing multiple roles.
Tony, involved with Tairua Beach Care,
Tairua Environment Society and recently
the Rat Attack initiative, also owns a bird
watching company, Manu Tours.
Renovating or building? You won’t fnd two
people more committed to delivering their
service than Carol and Tony. That is the
Mastercraft guarantee!
Carol Harker & Tony
Wilson - “In the Kitchen”
with Mastercraft
English couple, Mike and Alex Harris
immigrated to New Zealand six years
ago and, as owners of the new Dive Zone
on Main road, they are already happily
blending in to the community. They are
open seven days, offering a full range of
dive services.
New Cocktails providing entertainment at Punters
“Passed Out Naked on the Bathroom Floor”, is a
funny name for a drink but it’s not on Punter’s new
cocktail list. You have heard of “Sex on the Beach” but
you should always be careful, take the alcohol out and ask
for “Safe Sex on the Beach”. Check with the Cosmopolites
(Punters citizens of the world) to see how they like their
Cosmopolitans and if dieting, stay clear of the Toblerone. If you
want a feel like a box of fuffy ducks, next time you are in, have
their mixologists fx you up with one of their new cocktails!