photo: Greg Treadwell

Transpacific Industries were nowhere to be seen on their first day of work at the waste/recycling center in Ostend as up to 70 Waiheke protesters locked the gates and held vigil outside bearing banners and illiciting honks from passing motorists.

The multinational waste giant was to face a Waiheke-style welcome when it turned up for its first day managing the island’s multi-million dollar waste stream today.

A group of up to 70 islanders of all ages furious that company has displaced community-owned Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd, a 10-year success story in recycling and other aspects of community waste management began forming at around 6am this morning.

John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, has at various times been public enemy number one, a musical genius and a sad self-aggrandising git. Although there is no question that the musical returns have considerably diminished over the years, in his prime Lydon wrote songs that changed the course of popular music and society itself. The Rise and Fall of Johnny Rotten will feature music from The Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd and beyond along with interviews from across his career. Sunday 5 July, 9.30pm, following comedy.

"The Waiheke Community Radio Trust has been better able to meet our objectives of educating, engaging and informing Waiheke people because of the support of our local Community Board and councilor. It is questionable whether we would have been able to establish our radio station without their assistance. We believe it is critical our community continues to have a governance body that can recognise and act to meet local needs in the way our current community board has."

The government have called for submissions to a special select committee convened to consider the proposal to change the local body governance structures for Auckland. Waiheke Radio has had extensive coverage of this issue, but we have also written a submission. The support of the Waiheke Community Board and the Hauraki Gulf Islands councilor have been critical in the establishment of Waiheke Radio. It's critical that the new governance structures include local bodies that can recognise local needs and act to support and fund these. We urge Waiheke people to make a submission. These have to be made by Friday 26 June. Details can be found at www.onewaiheke.co.nz/. You can read the Waiheke Radio submission here.

This Monday, the Campaign for Fare Ferry Fares will be presenting Nikki Kaye, our MP, with a petition calling for affordable and sustainable fares on the Waiheke to Auckland Central Route.  

Recognising the importance of sustainable and affordable public transport, she has agreed to present this petition to Parliament as part of the discussion on the Public Transport Management Act. 

Woolworths is on target to reopen next Monday, says Tony Hayes, area manager for Woolworths.   The shop will reopen in the 40% of the building where the roof is structurally sound.   There will be no deli section, or in store bakery, but packaged bread, dairy, frozen foods, vegetables and pre-packed deli foods will be available.  

The store plans to reopen with topselling lines but some things will be unavailable due to reduced space.   There will initially be 5 checkouts which can be used by trolleys or baskets.   Customers can also expect new shelves and changes in how items are organised in the space.  

At this stage it is unknown when the remaining 60% will be reopened as the fire damage was extensive, but it will be rebuilt to its previous capacity.  

Meanwhile the online service will be available until the 28th of June.  This has become increasingly popular with 55 orders a day coming through.  

Jim, at Fullers, also contacted Woolworths and they are offering a $20/return for people wanting to shop in town.  A free shuttle service can take you door to door. 

Local support for Woolworths has been tremendous - with Pukekoe Signs giving up space to manage the online shopping pickup,  and Sealink helping with freight. 

Crews are working 24 hours/day to reopen the shop.  All goods will be brought in new as all fire damaged goods were removed from site and either destroyed or repackaged in town.  

On another note, local businesses are thriving, with all reporting increased patronage.  Steve, the Oneroa Butcher, says new people are walking in every day. Te Mataku Oysters in Tahi Road,  are now stocking milk and are open to ideas of what else they could carry and Food Direct is seeing an increased interest in their online shopping.   The Four Square and top shop in Oneroa have a good range of fresh fruit and vegetables.  

It would be great to see a competitive range of staples on offer on the island - pasta, cheese, bread, sugar, where prices are significantly higher in the smaller shops than buying from Woolworths. 

Recorded interview with Tony Hayes, Area manager for Woolworths.

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