Scott Homestead annual general afternoon tea Saturday

Balmy Prospects: As well as a litany of successes to report for 2016, including the decision to end the discharge of wastewater into the Mahurangi River, Mahurangi Action has balmy prospects for 2017, including progress with the Mahurangi Coastal Trail, and a car-free Te Muri forever. Less certain, is whether Watercare Services can be persuaded to take a good hard look at the potential synergy of combining the new wastewater main from Warkworth to Snells Beach with a broad, level path for walking and cycling. route and notation Mahurangi Action

Last year’s was the culmination of a Te Muri walk and a cross-harbour ferry ride.

This year’s annual general meeting will be somewhat more perfunctory, on account of it coinciding with the Mahurangi West Hall working bee and Pūhoi Fire Station Givealittle-athon.

Styling the annual general meeting as an afternoon tea is not hyperbole. It is the continuation of a practice begun in 2014, when Mahurangi Action celebrated its 40th anniversary, as part of a field day that included the Mahurangi Farm-Forestry Trail, a Mahurangi harbour and river tour on the Jane Gifford, and wine and canapés at the Riverview Café.

As the occasion simultaneously celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Mahurangi Action Plan, a mere 10 minutes were allowed for the annual general meeting, and, by dispensing with the reading of minutes and annual reports, and, with the Jane Gifford desperate to depart upstream against a falling tide, 10 minutes is all it took. Although no similar time constraints apply to this year’s meeting, by virtue of publishing the obligatory minutes and reports online, the face-to-face time can be better used for brainstorming on the future of the Mahurangi.

The main duty of the annual general meeting, of course, is to elect a committee. This can be a more off-putting aspect of such meetings even than listening to a litany of reports. Potential attendees need not fear ambush and coercion to accept nomination. Thanks to a new streamlined, online, nomination system, a minimum six committee members will already be lined up, and while it is always grand for more to volunteer, nobody should have it sprung on them, during the proceedings.

As is proper, all are welcome to attend the 2016 Mahurangi Action Incorporated annual general meeting—2.30 for 3 pm—but only financial members are entitled to vote.