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Hello Whangārei, Whangarei (2026)

23/06/2026

Last week, 120 people showed up just so others could say thank you. 👏

National Volunteer Week, held this year from 14–20 June, carried the theme “Your Year to Volunteer” (Tōu Tau ki te Tūao). It felt fitting for a region that always punches above its weight when it comes to community spirit.

Volunteering Northland marked the week the best way they knew how — with home baking and shared conversations with people whose contribution to this community happens without fanfare.

Events were held across Te Tai Tokerau, in Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitāia and Dargaville. In Whangārei alone, close to 40 volunteers from around 25 community organisations turned up — some representing multiple organisations, because when giving back becomes part of who you are, a single commitment just isn’t enough. One attendee mentioned her husband is rarely home.

Volunteering Northland Chair Nick Connop and Manager Bev Giles opened the Whangārei session with a thank you before handing the floor to the volunteers. Each person introduced themselves and spoke about what drives them to give their time.

"It was incredibly heartwarming listening to their stories," says Bev, "to hear all of the amazing things our volunteers do to improve the Whangārei community."

The stories were varied. Supporting children with specific learning needs. Providing food and shelter. Championing local arts. Fundraising for causes close to home. Pest trapping and w**d clearing. The kind of essential work that holds a community together - mostly done by people you'll never hear about.

Home baking for all events came courtesy of the Just Serve Team from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Handmade thank-you cards were made by their children in Whangārei. The volunteers loved them.

So, if you've been thinking about volunteering, whether that's a regular weekly commitment or a one-off event like helping out at the Quarry Arts Centre. It doesn't have to be complicated. Bev and the team can help you find something that fits your life.

“You almost always end up getting more than you give," says Bev.

22/06/2026

Out & About - Café Review, Whangārei

This was my second visit to Quail Café at the Whangārei Quarry Gardens at 37a Russell Road. I like to do a recon visit first to make sure the coffee is good - and it was. It's 'Supreme'.

On the drive in, you can see that it's another of Whangārei's hidden gems. Tucked away, it's a beautiful spot to visit, especially if you have some extra time to kill. You can take a stroll around the gardens or simply stand outside and take it all in.

There's plenty of parking, but no dogs allowed.

Inside, the café has a contemporary vibe, with a good selection of seating inside and out. And it doesn't matter where you sit; you are surrounded by dappled light and beautiful bush. The glass exterior, the glass balustrades, and the rippling water below all add to the ambience.

We went on a Saturday, and it was packed with the weekend lunch crowd and a 70th birthday celebration in full swing. Although it was pumping, we were quickly seated by the FOH staff (you have to wait to be seated).

We chose a share table with a bench seat outside, which we were advised to sit further along to avoid it acting like a seesaw. Probably worth knowing if you have kids or less mobile guests with you.

There are plenty of outside tables, most under cover, with some blankets for the chillier days. A nice touch.

There is a good fresh menu, a specials board, and an excellent selection of sweet and savoury cabinet food. The staff are proactive and will offer their recommendations, which is a nice touch and also helps if you are in a hurry. They are also licensed.

We both ordered the corn fritters; Hamish got bacon with his. Now, admittedly, the fritters were smaller than what you normally get, but they were packed full of flavour. Quite herby, not your standard corn fritter. The salad was more than a handful of mesclun mix. It had radish, beetroot, carrot, and red onion - so it was more of a side salad than a garnish.

Hamish also ordered a piece of ginger slice, and of course, I pinched a bit, and it was very good.

Next time we come, I plan to take a stroll around the gardens to see what it's like. I may do a write-up so people know how accessible it is and what you can expect.

P.S. Noted café is closed Mon & Tues according to their Google Business Profile.

21/06/2026

Josh Anderson — creating art that’s yours to interpret 🎨

If you've wandered through the craft market at Reyburn House, chances are you've seen his work.

Maybe it was the watercolour landscapes. Maybe it was the gouache portrait of an animal that seemed to have a lot going on behind the eyes. Or maybe it was the T-shirt that made you tilt your head sideways and think, "What exactly am I looking at?"

That's Josh Anderson's work doing exactly what it's supposed to.

He creates across a wide range of styles and subject matter - tranquil landscapes sit alongside pieces layered with metaphor and symbolism. Sometimes the planning takes as long as the creation itself. Vibrant and experimental, with, as he puts it, "an edge of weird and surreal." Nature is a recurring thread, but sometimes, so is the macabre. Not everyone loves all of it, and he's genuinely fine with that.

The artists he admires most are the ones who just get stuck in - create freely, unconcerned with whether someone else will like it. "That's somewhere I want to be," he says.

His T-shirt illustrations are open to interpretation - what you take from them depends on where you are in your own life. I found that out firsthand. His piece titled "Balanced" stopped me because I'd recently moved home and was searching for exactly that.

"I don't believe everything needs to have a deep philosophical meaning. A lot of ideas are executed because I think it's fun - so hopefully people find something that is entertaining to them."

You'll find Josh's work at Deon’s Studio (Reyburn Art Studios), where his prints and T-shirts are available, and at his stall at the craft market. He's also working toward future exhibitions at Reyburn House.

Art is his full-time dream, and it hasn't been an easy road. Battling injury and chronic pain, he's pushed through to complete his Level 4, 5 and 6 diplomas. "Even if it takes a lot of time and tiger balm, it's very rewarding to create."

What keeps him going, beyond the work itself, is the people. Whangārei's creative community is, he says, full of very talented individuals willing to share their passion and knowledge.

And I think Josh is one of them. If you haven't found him yet, now you know where to look.

Josh Anderson | | Next market Sun 28 June

17/06/2026

Faces of Whangārei – Jesse Samu, he didn’t plan on staying 🎵

Jesse Samu was in high school when he first walked into ONEONESIX. He was in a band, too young to play the pubs, but Laurel Devenie (Creative Director) handed him a stage anyway.

He didn't plan to stay in Whangārei. But after leaving school, he went to work for his whānau at Tokotoko Solutions as a youth worker, and something happened. The work got under his skin. For seven years, he walked alongside young people through significant moments in their lives, supporting them in and out of school.

Fishing trips, surfing, music, hiking, abseiling. The support was real. The kind where you're still connected to those same people years later, watching them build families, careers, and a sense of who they are.

The longer he stayed, the more he realised there was meaningful work to be done here.

His parents shaped that instinct early. His father Samu has spent years in community development in Whangārei. His mother Ingrid was a visual artist - murals around the city, art classes at home, work through Te Kowhai Print Trust. Creativity, community and supporting others were just a way of life.

And that life led him to ONEONESIX. A community space where local creatives could come together and experience performing arts.

He first joined as a trustee, then came on as staff. Community and creativity - the two things he grew up with - remain at the heart of everything he does there. He's the one now inviting young musicians to play their first gig, making sure all-ages events exist, and helping Pacific stories find a wider audience. At ONEONESIX, Jesse helps create the same opportunities that had such an impact on him.

He still remembers. "It was one of the first places where I felt young people were trusted to be artists, not just audience members." Ten years later, he's the one making sure that's still true.

ONEONESIX is on Bank Street. Most weekends there's something on. Volunteer, play or just come to watch - everyone is welcome.

16/06/2026

✅ Thanks for all the great content ideas for this page.
And we have a winner [ Lyndsey Aspin] - please email me (see bio) to collect your $200 Pak'nSave vouchers.🥳

[ ]

Groceries on me — but first, a little help? 🍒

Hello Whangārei started because I needed somewhere to put my café reviews. Who knew that in just 11 weeks it would have grown into its own little engaged community.

People are discovering local cafés and businesses, reconnecting with old work colleagues, and the feedback so far has been rewarding.

Writing is something I cannot stop doing; even if it's only helping tweak a CV, or tart up a Trade Me listing for my family, writing has always been a thing. So, when I decided to do this, it wasn’t just because I wanted to keep doing café reviews; it was more than that.

Moving home after twelve years away, I felt things had shifted a little; I wasn’t sure the move was the right one after all. But rather than spiral into a dippy-downer, I decided to do something positive.

Working in marketing, I love social media because it gives you the power to reach people. And besides a few event pages, there wasn’t really anything local to read. Well, not the kind of positive stories I wanted to share.

It probably sounds corny, but I loved the idea of being in a café writing away - like Carrie Bradshaw, in S*x & The City. Though she wrote in her apartment, and instead of writing in cafés - I write about them.

I have lots of ideas for this page. I want to sell merch so I can maintain this pace long-term and support more local charities with a share of the proceeds. I already have a couple in mind - but open to suggestions. I plan to collaborate with local artists on the designs.

I am a big-picture kind of person. And one hope for this page is that others will stumble across my content in their feed and find something out about our city that encourages them to stop - rather than pass us by.

That's the big picture. This week, however, I have a confession. Some of you may be aware there’s usually a weekly local business spotlight, but I was a little swamped and didn’t get one sorted.

So, this week's treat is donated by my marketing business, Spread The Word. By the way, that's just me - no fancy office, just a remote worker dreaming about writing in a café, when the reality is much different. Working from home in her pjs when no one's looking.

💛 The page already covers art, café reviews, community legends, and local organisations. To enter the draw for two hundred dollars worth of Pak'nSave vouchers, tell me what else you'd love to read here.💛

NZ only. Closes midday Sat. Not sponsored by Meta.

15/06/2026

Out & About - Café review, Whangārei ☕

Kai Toi Café in the town basin boasts one of the best locations. Set back overlooking the water, it offers locals and visitors a beautiful setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner (though during the cooler months there's no dinner service).

This place is next level.

The FOH staff float effortlessly around the beautiful, likely architecturally designed interiors. The moment you step inside, you feel welcomed and taken care of, menus, specials board and table seating, all organised while you stand in line.

It makes for an efficient and very pleasant experience.

They offer a unique and carefully curated menu, both freshly cooked and cabinet food. Their baking is excellent, and they use quality ingredients; the portions are decent. They are also licensed.

Given the calibre of their offering, the pricing is what you'd expect, leaning towards the higher end. But I wouldn't say it is overpriced. And given how popular it is, I am not alone in this.

I've eaten here before, and I wasn't overly hungry, so I tried a chia pudding. They seem to be a thing now, and I'd always wanted to try one. It was light, fresh and loaded with fresh blueberries and apples. I found the texture a little unusual, but it was a scratch I've now itched.

Hamish, on the other hand, went full noise, with a steak sandwich which came with fries and a side sauce. OMG, the thing was a monster, and the steak was superbly cooked, big succulent pieces, it had me regretting my trendy choice.

I think their coffee is from Sabio, which is locally roasted and always a good wake-up call.

If you want a nice place to go for brekky or lunch, try Kai Toi at 197 Lower Dent St. It is beautiful, spacious, with plenty of seating for groups of all sizes, and a lounge area if you need to chill or feed bubs. Outside is undercover, so don't let the rain put you off.

Photos: Some professional photos courtesy of their website (Kelly Extance) because it was busy when we went.

☕ Café owners, if you are reading this and participating in the A Taste to Remember hospice campaign, I am considering a roundup of participating cafés. Good idea?

14/06/2026

Julia Tapp - a local artist colouring outside the lines 💋

Some artists like to stick to one thing - but not Julia. If you can create it, she can probably do it.

In fact, most of her jobs involve music, dance and the arts.

She thrives on being creative and keeping busy.

One thing she’s taken to is airbrushing. She picked it up over 16 years ago and now says it's one of the most versatile and practical art tools she owns. But mastering airbrushing wasn’t easy; it’s actually very technically demanding - especially perfecting that chrome look. Her tutor, Tony Vowels, got her through the hard part, and Julia stuck with it.

The results, she says, were worth it.

It is niche. She’ll admit that. But she loves it because it allows her to create images on any surface - as long as it stays still. Cars, cakes, clothing, planes and boats. Julia loves the challenge of painting on them all.

Some commissions stay with you. She’s been called upon to paint caskets, and that is meaningful work; she feels privileged to do it. For Julia, the memorial pieces are among the most significant work she does - portraits of people who are gone, made permanent.

She has painted loved ones. Each one is very personal, and she is honoured to translate their images. Her most treasured piece is a portrait of her own son, painted larger than life, with his ashes mixed into the ink.

Sometimes, work gets personal.

With few New Zealand airbrushing artists, her inspiration comes from overseas - Verrick Falcon, Mike Lavelle, Marissa Osterlee. But most of her ideas begin with her clients. They bring images they love, and Julia figures out how to make them work on whatever surface the project calls for.

The variety suits her.

It keeps her in paint and lippy - and when you ask what she'd paint just for herself? Tigers, goddesses, moons and dragons. And lucky for her, it's making a resurgence. The world is finally catching up, so maybe it’s not so niche after all.

11/06/2026

Laurie’s Lemon Slice — a taste to remember 🍋

If I said it was an old family recipe, I’d be lying. It was a new one from a popular food blogger, VJ Cooks. But Laurie loved my baking, he always had, and this old-fashioned no-bake lemon slice fast became his favourite.

Returning to Whangārei after twelve years away, we had reconnected, and with his failing health, I liked to make an effort for him. He was an old neighbour, but with little family left, I knew it made him feel special to have someone fuss over him and bring him treats.

And I do love to bake, so it was good for me too.

When he was moved into Cairnfield House, near the end, he was spoiled with attention from the staff there. He felt like he was amongst family, and he could finally relax and be taken care of, for a change.

He loved it when I brought him that lemon slice; oh, how his eyes would light up.

Now he has gone, it still makes me smile thinking of the ‘orders’ he used to give me about what slice he wanted next. He didn’t rate the home's baking - sorry, guys - he said mine was better, so I could hardly say no.

So, this month, to celebrate my friend, I will be making that no-bake lemon slice.

To be honest, I have had the ingredients sitting in my cupboard since he passed, unable to bring myself to make it. But with North Haven Hospice’s campaign, A Taste to Remember, I think the timing is right.

I can take a moment to remember all the good times we had, and all the food parcels I would hang on our adjoining fence - it was a thing I did. And it’s something that still makes me smile, so here’s to Laurie. A generous soul, an avid gardener and lover of anything lemony.

North Haven Hospice's Taste to Remember campaign invites our community to do exactly this — host a gathering, share a dish that means something, and turn that moment into support for local families. There are lots of ways you can support the campaign, even if it's only ducking into a participating café.

10/06/2026

Faces of Whangārei - Kathy Clueard-Petersen, Taimahi Fresh+🌿

This wasn't an interview. It was a chance meeting, someone I met while sticking my head in at Taimahi Fresh+. Her name was Kathy, and she is the team leader in charge of coordinating the trust's social enterprises.

She is quite the paradox.

Ask her about her trainees, the staff and what they achieve together every day at Taimahi, and she gushes. But when I asked her questions about herself, her replies, much like her, were short and sweet.

Kathy gave me real insight into what she and her team are doing here. Making a difference to the lives of those with intellectual and learning disabilities. People often overlooked, despite having so much to contribute. They just need the right opportunities - like everyone else. And she gives them that.

When you meet Kathy, you cannot help but notice her passion for what she does. You get a sense that her work is more than a job. It's a calling. She'll whisk you around, highlighting how the trainees and staff live and breathe their mission to be productive, repurpose everything and reduce waste.

From baking pies, breads and biscuits to making preserves and beeswax wraps, crafting herb products, pulling brilliant coffees and serving at the till - nothing here goes to waste, and no one goes unnoticed.

To think she found her way here while she was between jobs. She was looking for work that mattered to her and a place she wanted to be. Now, she has somewhere she belongs, and her trainees find that here too.

When I asked whether she'd ever had a moment of knowing this was exactly where she was meant to be, I’m sure she smiled. "I have that moment every day. When I see a Taimahi trainee who wouldn't look at you when they started and now makes speeches at our functions."

There are so many reasons to smile at Taimahi. One of them told her recently: "You may as well be my Aunty."

☕🥕You can find Kathy at Taimahi Fresh+ on the corner of Bank & Water St in Whangārei or online. Check them out for fresh veges, coffee and a whole lot more.🍞🍅

09/06/2026

Out & About - Café Review, Waipu ☕

After the Waipu Markets, we decided to grab a bite at McLeods Pizza Barn & Brewery, 2 Cove Road.

I think it's the best place to take kids, visitors or large groups because there's plenty of room, with several eating areas, including high tables with bar stools and long 'share' tables.

The interiors are pretty rustic, with a few sets of headgear on display, so if you are vegetarian or vegan, this is likely not for you. You can see there's also the perfect photo op, if you don't mind a few bemused stares.

Because there was an event on, the place was pumping, but there were plenty of FOH staff to handle the load. They were all pretty friendly, and we were quickly seated.

The only mishap we had here was inadvertently ordering two small pizzas for three adults and a side of chips. There were sizes on the wall, but we had missed them. For reference, I would say a small pizza is a pizza for one.

The coffee was good, and the chips were some of the best I've had. They did come well before the pizzas, which was not ideal, but we still managed to hoover them down anyway.

When the pizzas arrived, they were hot, tasty, loaded with quality ingredients, and had an exceptional base - not too thick, and just the right amount of crispiness. The only negative is for the size; the price point was a little up there at $19 each.

There is an award-winning brewery attached, with several ales to choose from. But sorry, as I am not a fan of craft beers, I cannot give you any feedback on that.

While there, I learned from Sarah, who is local, that the place closes down for a time over winter. So, maybe put it in your calendar to check it out when it's open again. It would be great for a special occasion.

It's normally open Wed-Sun from 11.30-9pm and closed on public holidays, except 1/1 + 2/1 of Jan, according to their website.

Hello Whangārei

23/06/2026

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