Community Directory

BOI Gymnastics Club, 
Kane Street, Opua

Contact Ali Edwards

The aim of the Focus Paihia Community Charitable Trust, on behalf of the community, is to see Paihia become an exceptional place to live, work and visit. We want to see Paihia ‘blossom’ and thrive, while retaining its friendly, village like atmosphere. Already we are a great place, however, it is recognised that we could be doing a lot better, both in how we present ourselves and how we interact with each other and our environment.

We want to make ‘Paihia shine’, through:

• clear leadership and direction by inspiring and uniting our community and celebrating our successes;
• supporting and facilitating our community’s ideas for future public developments;
• commenting and providing submissions on future developments;
• having strong relationships and open communication practices;
• encouraging local sustainable employment opportunities;
• promoting and maintaining a rich, versatile and sustainable volunteer base; and
• a sustainable charitable entity while remaining impartial and focused on the bigger picture.

Friends of the Williams House, Paihia Library Incorporated

The Friends of the Williams House, Paihia Library Incorporated are a voluntary group who support the development of the Paihia Library, including the upstairs gallery, and the historic Williams House. The Friends enjoy an excellent working arrangement with the Far North District Council and the Williams family who support the many projects the Friends undertake.

The Friends are an active group who have completed many projects and have more under way:

• Restoration of the Old Stone Shed: The Friends organised the restoration of this historic shed. Used as the first school house in Paihia, this shed is steeped in history.
• Restoration of the garage: A local resident donated a sum of money to the Friends for the restoration of the garage. The Friends now use the garage as a venue to sell second hand books. This is their main source of funds. The books are sold at bi-monthly book stalls, (first and third Saturdays of each month). The money raised from the book stalls is used to provide facilities for community use in Williams House, books and equipment for the Library and also the projects undertaken by the Friends. The Friends welcome the donation of used books, which they will collect if necessary. Contact the Garage Book Sale co-ordinator Margaret Rasmussen at margras@gmail.com.
• A book, PROTECTING PARADISE IN PAIHIA – The Story of Williams House and Gardens by Fiona Craig, was commissioned to record the living memories of those associated with the House and gardens. This has now been published and the official launch of the book was held in the Williams House grounds with current members of the Williams family as guests. Copies of the book are available from the Friends book sales at the garage. Or please contact Margaret Rasmussen at margras@gmail.com.
• A history trail, to allow visitors to understand the various features of the gardens and their historical significance to Williams House, has been completed. The Friends commissioned Visual Solutions to provide interpretive signs that we hope will enhance the experience of Williams House for our visitors. There will be some enhancements to the signs to include QR codes so that visitors can access our website for more detailed information. To view our website please go to the following URL: http://www.williamshousepaihia.com/index
• Following the completion of our history trail, the next large project we undertook was the restoration of the pump house in the grounds of Williams House. As well as the shed itself needing to be completely rebuilt, the pump required a complete overhaul. The pump was restored to working condition and we now to use the water provided for watering the gardens, enabling us to become more self-sufficient. As a further enhancement, we added a secure viewing door to enable public viewing of the pump inside.
• The Stone Shed Museum is now completed. As Paihia’s oldest still standing building, we felt that it would be an ideal place for a museum. We have endeavoured to show how the shed has been used throughout its long history with interpretive panels and a large, sealed display cabinet. The museum complements our history trail through the gardens.
• Brochure: A brochure had been published some years ago explaining the history of the House, gardens and site. The supply of these brochures has run out and a new brochure is in the planning stages. It will also contain information and a map about our history trail and information about the Stone Shed Museum. It is proposed that this will available, as before, from the Paihia Library, Paihia i-Site office or at the Williams House garage, (during book sales days).
• In conjunction with the Far North District Council we are currently collaborating to form history displays in the upstairs area of Williams House. The Auckland Museum has broached the subject of displaying some of their Williams family documents and the display of these is being investigated.

Some more of our achievements:

The lights in the library in the children’s room, non-fiction and workroom were organised and paid for by the fund raising of the Friends.

Have you checked the back flap of the book you are reading? Is it one that was bought with donations to the library by the Friends? These have been purchased using proceeds from garage sales of second hand books. Do you have any second hand books we can have? We always need more and we can collect, so please let us know.

The Friends also have volunteer gardeners for most flower beds but we have paid to get a lot of the heavier work done – that’s why the gardens look tidier and better. The vegetable garden is now tended by the Bay of Islands Community Foodbank as a community project.

We have lots of fun and spread our tasks so would you like to join us? Or do you want to hear more about what we do – how we support the house, the grounds and the library? Please come and join us, ask us, assist us – at our meetings, or on the committee. Anyone who would like to become a member of the Friends is welcome. Please contact any of the Friends listed below.

For more information:

Contact Name:    President – Margaret Civil   Ph: 402 7711 or

Secretary – Anne Corbett   Ph: 402 7882

Address:             2 Williams Road, Paihia

Email:                 contact@williamshousepaihia.com

Postal Address:  Friends of the Williams House, Paihia Library Incorporated,

c/o Anne Corbett,

P.O.Box 15,

Paihia 0247

Web Page:          http://www.williamshousepaihia.com

Meets 3rd Tuesday of month at Baptist Church Centre, Williams Rd 10.30am

A parent-run playgroup for children aged 0-5. Currently runs Tuesdays & Thursdays 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Opua Community Playgroup has been running for many years and offers a fun and relaxed environment for pre-schoolers to play, learn and socialise in.
With an outdoor play area, lots of great indoor toys, (including a bouncy castle), and informal parent-led activities, children always enjoy themselves.  For parents, it is a great way to meet other parents, have a cup of tea and contribute to your child’s learning and development through play.

You will find us at Opua Community Hall, Beechy Street, Opua.

Our postal address is Po Box 53, Opua

Paihia Bridge Club meets at the Paihia Memorial Hall several time a week

Tuesday Evening 7pm for a 7.15pm start and in summer months, 15 minutes later
Friday afternoon at 1.15pm
All welcome!

Elizabeth Killen

Welcome to PAIHIA PONY CLUB, a branch of Northland Pony Club.  We are a relatively  small club, having about 10 active members aged under 17yrs, ranging from beginners to C cert, working towards their C+ certificates.

We would love to encourage more children to ride and enjoy our facilities.  Even if you do not have a pony, you are welcome to join the club and learn all about riding and caring for ponies.  We might even be able to get you riding on borrowed ponies.  Do contact us if you are interested.

DIRECTIONS:  We are situated on Haruru Falls Road.  This is off the main road from Puketona Junction towards Paihia.  Turn left at ITM, just before the speed sign of 70.  You will cross over the bridge over the waterfall, negotiate a tight bend in the road and once you see the straight stretch ahead of you look out to the left for the corral in the paddock with cross country jumps.

The current school roll of approximately 180 is comprised 56% Maori, 33% NZ European, 3% Pasifica, 2% Asian, and 6% other ethnicity. Paihia School is a Decile 4 school.

Children attending the school come from a wide variety of social and economic backgrounds, due to the unique nature of the population in the Paihia School area. This in turn provides for a wide range in pupil achievement and readiness for school entry.  Our children come from the Paihia, Waitangi, Te Haumi, Opua and Haruru Falls areas.  We are located on School Rd in Paihia,

There are 9 teaching positions to begin with in 2016. As a result of exploring research around quality teaching and visible learning in 2015 teachers at Paihia School are now most often referred to as Change Agents (CA’s). There are a large number of junior students currently enrolled. The school has a SENCO to plan, support and co-ordinate children with special education needs. Paihia School has several staff in teacher support roles with a range of responsibilities from managing the school office, leading kapa haka and running the library. The school has a Library, Wharenui, Wharekai, Solar heated swimming pool, a corner of dreams, adventure playgrounds, pump track and large playing field. Paihia School Mission statement is: To cater for the whole child by respecting cultural differences and providing the best learning environment in partnership with parents and whānau so every child achieves to their highest ability and is prepared for their future. Paihia School Vision statement is: Kia hui ako tahi tātou hei kawenga atu mo ngā ra e tu mai nei – Together we learn and prepare for the future.

Paihia School Values: 

Manaakitanga – Respect 

Kaha – Doing our best

Whanaungatanga – Helping others

Tu maia – Resilience

The Waitangi Course not only provides an exciting and ever changing challenge to the golfer but also the most tremendous panorama of sea and island views over the Bay of Islands and Russell, river and estuary views over Waitangi and Opua and rolling bush and forest views inland over Mount Bledisloe and Puketona.

These views are complemented by well groomed greens and fairways surrounded by areas of flowering native trees which provide sanctuary for many varieties of native birds. 
As many visiting golfers, particularly those from overseas, claim Waitangi is truly millionaires country for all to enjoy.

In 1932 the then Governor General of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe and his wife Lady Bledisloe purchased just over one thousand acres of land on the Waitangi Peninsular and donated it to the inhabitants of New Zealand as a place of historic interest and recreational enjoyment for their benefit and use in perpetuity.

 Physical address is Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi, Paihia, Bay of Islands.

Where the sea meets the tee