Mahurangi Matters, 16 September – Off the Record

Posts like this remind us that we do still live in the country. We hope this particular little piggy made his way home.

Mind-blowing

We understand it must be hard for city-dwelling Auckland Council staff, constantly copping flak for failing to understand our peculiar rural needs and juggling falling budgets, but sometimes they really don’t help themselves. If any proof were needed, it was to be found at the top of the cycle track from Matakana to Takatu Road last week, where a maintenance truck was parked next to the farm paddocks early one morning. What was the operative up to, we wondered – replacing a missing sign? Fixing a fence or gate? Nothing so practical, alas. He was diligently leaf-blowing the gravel pathway.