Helping new growers’ market take root

Plans for a growers’ market in South Hokianga are flourishing thanks to support from the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board.

At its meeting on 27 September, the board granted $1670 for advertising material for the South Hokianga Growers’ Market, which will run twice a month at Freese Park, Ōmāpere.

In their funding application, organisers Kara Dodson and Sandy-Lee Bell said the market will give the Hokianga community greater access to fresh produce and allow growers to sell their fruit and vegetables.

They pointed out that Hokianga is disadvantaged by not having the same access to supermarkets or fruit and vegetable suppliers that other areas have in the Far North. The market means people can buy directly from the grower, eliminating some mark-up costs from third parties.

It’s planned to run the market on the first and third Sunday of each month, starting on 19 November.

Another big winner was the Kaikohe-Hokianga Sanitarium WeetBix Kids TRY CHALLENGE, which was granted $5000 towards a three-week nationwide programme that encourages Kiwi kids aged 5-15 years to get active and have fun while earning a champions medal and TRYathalon t-shirt.

Rāwene School received $3500 from the community board to host a kapa haka festival for schools in South Hokianga. The event for primary and intermediate schools is on 27 October from 8am-3pm.

A community whānau day will take place in Hōreke in the run-up to Christmas after Ngā Mahi Toi o Hōreke Trust was granted $2967. The Hōreke Whānau Day is an annual event to bring the community together with a Christmas theme to enjoy food, entertainment, and artworks that the organisation has created during the past 12 months. This year’s event takes place on 1 December from 5pm-9pm.

The community board has granted $3000 to Te Kohanga Reo o Whirinaki to help the childcare facility celebrate its 40th anniversary. The organisation is hosting a community event on 13 October from 10am-5pm to mark the milestone, inviting local kura, kaumata, and past tamariki.

Photo: The South Hokianga Growers’ Market will run twice a month in Ōmapere.