Well known identity, especially in farming circles, John Walshe has thrown down a challenge to anyone wanting to join him on his campaign to raise funds for child cancer patients in the Dannevirke district.

"Thank you for helping raise money for my cool bike," writes 10-year-old Carl to the Feilding Kowhai Lions. "Mum says I have to unload the dishwasher before I ride my bike and I have fallen off it twice and I got back on it and went around the turn again and then put it away and come inside and had tea. I love my bike and I can go really fast on it now."

A bush railway at Kaikohe’s Pioneer Village could soon be back in service for the first time in 12 years.

Heritage Kaikohe has finished restoring rail tracks and rolling stock at the open-air museum and hopes to reopen the popular railway before the end of the month.

The wine flowed freely at Okurukuru Winery on Saturday.

Busloads of revellers descended on the picturesque venue for the annual Taranaki Wine and Food Festival, this year featuring new tipples from 12 small boutique wineries.

Papatoetoe Lions hit the streets to spread the word recently as they launched a programme to start a new Lions Club in Mangere. Their story was reported in the Manukau Courier and is reproduced here with their permission. A good example of  IP Eberhard Wirfs' theme "Lions in Sight, Move to Grow."