Te Hiku Local

Proudly Local | Proudly Te Hiku

What is your name and where are you from?
Tēnā koutou katoa, He uri tenei nō Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu me Muriwhenua whānui. He raukura tenei o Te Aho Matua, he kaiako, he māmā hoki au. Ko Ngarimu Lewer tōku ingoa.

What do you love most about living in Te Hiku?
What I love most about living in Te Hiku o te Ika is the strong sense of whānau and hāpori. I love being surrounded by our whenua, and the beautiful taiao we are lucky to call home. I also value being able to raise our tamariki with a strong connection to their whakapapa, identity, and hāpori. You can’t get that anywhere else!.

If you’re grabbing a bite around Te Hiku, where are you heading?
It’s not a place, but my favourite kai to eat is from Rogers Catering. Hands down my sister & the whānau can make the yummiest spread or hakari 😉.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with my whānau and doing things that support my hauora. Whether it’s getting out in the taiao, kaupapa Māori, being active, having quiet time to reset, or simply enjoying time together with my whānau. I enjoy prioritising my hauora because it helps me feel balanced and ready to show up to be the best version of myself for my whānau, my hāpori and in my mahi.

What is one local gem or special place in Te Hiku that more people should know about, and why is it special to you?

The views along the west coast from Ahipara, all the way around to my whenua.

That whole coastline is special to me.

It’s where I feel most connected to te taiao, to my whānau, and to my tupuna. That is also where my mum & a lot of my whānau grew up.

Driving along the coast with my tamariki, with the moana on one side and the whenua on the other, it reminds me of who I am, as a uri o Te Rarawa. The wild horses, the sunsets are unreal, and it feels like home. It’s the raw beauty of home. Kahore he wahi tū atu i tōu whenua taurikura.

Interview conducted by Kamryn Puckey and photo supplied. Thank you both for your contribution.

Looking for mahi? 👀

Here are some of the latest job listings on the Te Hiku Local Job Board:

• District Nurse – Health NZ

• Orchard Kaimahi – Rākau Ora Orchards

• Duty Manager – MSD

• Farm Assistant – Farm Business

• Support Worker – Access

• Apparel Team Member – The Warehouse Group

• Maintenance & Grounds Worker – Taipa Beach Resort

• Housekeeping Attendant – Taipa Beach Resort

Know someone who might be a good fit? Share this post and help spread the word.

👉 Head to www.tehikulocal.co.nz/local-job-board to view all current vacancies or add a job opportunity you have available.

Beautiful mahi BJ

Proudly Local | Proudly Te Hiku

What is your name, and where are you from?
Kia ora, I’m Lennox Goodhue-Wikitera, and I’m from Ahipara in Te Hiku.

What do you love most about living in Te Hiku?
Without a doubt, it’s the people. Te Hiku has that real close-knit community feel where you can walk down Commerce Street and recognise half the people you pass. Everyone looks out for each other, and we’re all connected in one way or another, through whānau, friendships, or our communities.
Life’s also a bit more laid back here. People don’t take themselves too seriously, everyone’s up for a laugh, and there’s a real sense of community you don’t find everywhere.

If you’re grabbing a bite around Te Hiku, where are you heading?
For dinner, it’d have to be Bistro in Awanui. The food never disappoints, the atmosphere’s awesome, and it’s one of those places you can always count on for a good meal with friends or whānau.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love catching up with friends and whānau, heading to one of our beaches, going for hikes, taking photos, or just getting out and exploring. We’re pretty lucky in Te Hiku, you’ve got around 20 beaches within 20 minutes, so there’s always somewhere new to check out.

One of my favourite ways to switch off is a walk along Ninety Mile Beach. After a busy week, there’s nothing better than getting some fresh air, watching the waves, and taking in another unreal West Coast sunset.

What is one local gem or special place in Te Hiku that more people should know about, and why is it special to you?
For me, it’s Ahipara. It’s home, and it’ll always have a special place in my heart. Both sides of my whānau have strong connections here, and it’s the community that has helped shape who I am today.

Whether it’s the sunsets over the Tasman, the beaches, or the people who are always willing to lend a hand, Ahipara has a way of making you feel like you belong. No matter where life takes me, it’ll always be the place I come back to.

Interview conducted by Kamryn Puckey and photo supplied by Lennox. Ngā mihi to you both for your contribution.

Looking for mahi? 👀

Here are some of the latest job listings on the Te Hiku Local Job Board:

• Workshop Administrator – Archibalds

• Van Driver – MSD

• Dairy Farm 2IC or Dairy Farm Assistant – Cutler Farms

• Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Support – Taipa Area School

• Kaiako – Te Kura o Mātihetihe

• Registered Nurses – Health NZ

• Social Worker – Oranga Tamariki

• Operations Coordinator – AoCAN

• Farm Assistant Manager – OAD Farm

• Personal Trainer – Fit 4 Life NZ

• Leading Hand – Road Maintenance – Fulton Hogan

• Driver Operator – Road Maintenance – Fulton Hogan

• Restaurant Manager – Peekaboo Backyard Eatery

• Static Guard – First Security Guard Services

🔗 Link to the job board in the comments below

Are you looking for practical tools to strengthen your relationship with your tamariki, build their confidence, and navigate challenging behaviour in a positive way?

Join the next Ngā Tau Mīharo programme, beginning:
📅 Choose one group:
• Thursday, 20 August (10:00am–1:00pm)
OR
• Friday, 21 August (10:00am–1:00pm)

The programme runs over 14 weekly sessions.
📍 Toka Tūmoana, 26 Matthews Avenue, Kaitaia
✅ Kai provided each week
✅ Petrol subsidy available for whānau travelling from out of town
✅ Weekly $50 Bells voucher draw

To register, simply scan the QR code on the poster or register using the link below!
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/T8RCdzb1hi

Photo credit Te Rarawa Anga Mua
For further info click the registration link

Kia ora 👋

Welcome to all our new followers, and to everyone who has supported Te Hiku Local along the way, ngā mihi nui.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Sylvia (pictured), one of the peeps behind Te Hiku Local.

If you missed the memo, or you’re still not quite sure what we actually do, Te Hiku Local is an online platform serving our local community.

As well as shining a light on the positive things happening across our communities, you can use our platform to:

• List your local business, community organisation or club in the Te Hiku Local Directory.

• Advertise a local vacancy or browse the latest jobs on our Job Board.

• Share an upcoming workshop, course, training opportunity or wānanga.

• Tell us about a positive local story, kaupapa, event or initiative that more people should know about.

Everything listed above is free. All you need to do is complete one of our online forms, which takes about three minutes or send us a pm and we can help you out.

We also love collaborating with positive, like-minded people who want to celebrate Te Hiku. You might be a storyteller, photographer, content creator, local business, community group or simply someone with a great idea to share. Send us a PM if you’d like to collaborate.

This Week’s Jobs on Te Hiku Local 👀

• Senior Maths & Literacy Tutor - Impact Tutoring Far North

• Environmental Field Technicians - Te Rarawa

• Senior Cabinet Maker - Kaitaia Kitchen Centre Ltd

• Assistant Restaurant Manager - KFC Kaitaia

• Centre Manager - Busy Bees Aotearoa

• Technician - Smoke Alarm Testing Services

• Assistant Restaurant Manager - KFC Kaitaia

• Barista - MSD

• Senior Education Advisor - Ministry of Education

• Business Development Coach - Pop To It

• Additional Teacher - Te Kura

• Retail Pharmacy Assistant - Far North Pharmacy

👉 Check our website for all the jobs currently listed or list a job opportunity www.tehikulocal.co.nz/local-job-boar

Based in Kaitāia, D&E McMillan Hiab & Haulage is a family-run business providing reliable haulage and Hiab services throughout Northland and across the North Island.

With decades of driving and engineering experience, Donna and Ewan can help with:

⭐Hiab truck crane hire

⭐Haulage and transport

⭐Shipping containers

⭐Portable cabins and portacoms

⭐Scrap metal and car removal

Whether you need it carted, lifted or shifted, Donna and Ewan can help.

Find D&E McMillan Hiab & Haulage in the Te Hiku Local Directory.

📷 Photo credit: D&E McMillan Hiab & Haulage

Congratulations wāhine mā 🎉

Your 2026 Northland Womens Premier Champions
-Te Rarawa