The local primary schools in and around Franklin, today held their Triathlon at Clarks Beach.
This is an event supported by local schools, Fulton Swim School, the Auckland Council, Surf Life Saving NZ, local police and many more and helps to encourage the kids from our local schools to enjoy taking part in a sport that is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing!! It also gives the kids a chance to challenge themselves in something that gets them moving and helps to create competitiveness in this area.
The event takes up to 400 school aged competitors as well as having the help and support of 500 + parents and supporters from the community.
A volunteer committee to organize and run the event is set up with all proceeds from the Triathlon being reinvested in sports in the Franklin Area.
Every child who participates is awarded with a medal, a certificate and a goodie bag for completing.
The morning proved to be fantastic weather wise and support wise. although I think that the kids may have found the sea water a wee bit cool!
All of the children did a fantastic job and it is kudos to them and their families efforts to make this such a great event!! 🙂
Kaye Maxwell, from Maxwell’s Golf, is just one of those who will try new things to add some interest, along with another local golfing facility, Pukekohe Golf.
Franklin – our wee patch of NZ, like many others I guess, is ever changing, as the years move on…….
Pokeno of yesteryear
Just one instance is –
Pokeno, our neighbour down the road in the Northern Waikato part of Franklin, has been through many changes over the years – going from a fairly busy village as per our photo, to an area by-passed by the modernisation of the highway/motorway and now back again towards being a busy town with it’s new and increasing housing areas.
The town also has Yasihili, the new Infant Formula Factory, being built. It will be interesting to see how this helps to build the region with employment, visitors and growth in general!
Yashili is part of a major group that leads the dairy market in China. To help us achieve our preeminent position there, we have been a longstanding importer of New Zealand milk powder. Now we are taking that one step further – we are not just sourcing our milk powder here; we are producing our finished goods here. Our $200 million investment in Pokeno focuses on the development and construction of a 30,000m2 manufacturing plant. Our annual production capacity of around 52,000 tonnes of infant formula products will supply the rapidly growing and increasingly demanding Chinese market.
To help us achieve our potential in New Zealand we are looking for the brightest and best people in dairy manufacturing to come on board with us. We have job opportunities in manufacturing, supply chain and quality management. Come and join us and be part of our team that is putting Kiwi expertise on the world’s stage.
Yashili is one of the “big three” producers of infant milk formula for the domestic market in China. Our two leading brands, Yashily and Scient, and the more recently introduced Merla brand account for more than 80 per cent of Yashili Group’s total business. Yashili is also one of the leading suppliers of soymilk powder, cereal, rice flour and milk powder for adults and teenager to the Chinese market. Our products are sold in just over 105,000 retail outlets in China. In July 2012, we were named among the top 500 Most Valuable Brands in China for the ninth consecutive year. Yashili Group employs over 5000 people and reported an annual turnover in 2011 of NZ$566 million. We are publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In June 2013, China Mengniu Diary Company announced plans to acquire Yashili Group. Mengniu, China’s largest producer of liquid milk products, is part owned by China’s state-backed agricultural and food industry supplier COFCO.
Building Future Capacity
China’s infant formula market is expected to grow to NZ$32 billion by 2017, according to Euromonitor data. The increasing demand for infant milk formula is being driven by families shifting from rural locations to the cities, a stable birth rate, more mothers going out to work, and increases in disposable income. The challenge for Yashili and other manufacturers is to keep pace with demand while maintaining a high level of quality control. That’s why we have looked to New Zealand and its internationally recognised expertise in the manufacture of quality milk powder to build our newest dairy processing. Yashili already promotes the high quality of New Zealand-sourced milk content in our premium brands. We have imported milk powder from New Zealand for over 10 years and we have used New Zealand milk powder exclusively in our infant milk formula since August 2010. Now we are adding further value to our product with Kiwi manufacturing expertise, and the support of the country’s skilled labour force.
A news report in one of our local Franklin papers, states that we can expect around 200 cyclists to arrive in Pukekohe for the conclusion of this years BDO cycle challenge and will see corporate teams vying for a $100,000 prize!!
The Wellington to Auckland Cycle Challenge is a revival of the Dulux – the ultimate cycle race back in the 1960-1980s that used to attract cyclists from around New Zealand and overseas.
The event, organised by Dynamo Events, was born out of a love of cycling by former Olympic and Commonwealth cyclist and former Dulux competitor, Stephen Cox.
Cycle through the heartland of New Zealand in the seventh annual BDO Wellington to Auckland Cycle Challenge, Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 February 2015.
2015 Official Event Charity
Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand
Take the simple pleasure of riding a bike, multiply it by seven days, 110km per day, 13 stages, big hills, good times and personal accomplishments, and you have a recipe for an awesome experience.
Our paper states –
The event is generating a whole new category of competitors as corporate teams line up to take on each other, the seven days and 13 stages of riding through heartland New Zealand.
Introduced for the first time in 2014 and attracting 11 teams, the corporate category already has 10 signed up to be on the start line on February 15th, with more in the mail …… and expecting plenty of good natured rivalry on and off the bikes during the week.
“The BDO Wellington to Auckland Challenge has established itself within the cycling community as an experience like few other events can offer, a genuine stage tour on some amazing roads.
Entries remain open online with a variety of price categories.
If you are into cycling, seeing NZ and creating new friends then this could be the thing for you…and ending up in our great little town is a bonus!!
The beginning of a new year with new plans and prospects. Franklin is no different in that respect as we have such a lot on the agenda again this year! BUT we do have such awesome events.
If you are a racing fan, then the end of this month at Hampton Downs (officially in the North Waikato, but we still call that area our southern Franklin!!) is the Fifty Plus Formula 5000 lineup
An unprecedented turnout of Formula 5000 cars looks set to secure the 2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley Formula 5000 Festival’s place in motorsport history as one of the largest ever gatherings of the iconic race cars.
The organisers are confident fans will see 50 plus of the V8, 10 and V12 powered machines, with cars covering all years of the F5000 formula’s life, and most if not all of the manufacturers who built cars for the series which ran in various guises in the USA, Europe and Australasia between 1968 and 1982.
The 2015 event – which stretches over the weekends of January 16-18 and 23-25 at the Hampton Downs circuit in the North Waikato – is a celebration of both the Formula 5000 type of racing car and driver Howden Ganley. Unheralded Kiwi Ganley’s story is a fascinating one that took the former team mechanic to sports cars, F5000 and the dizzy heights of Formula One.
It also marks the first ‘Formula 5000 World Series’ – the champion of which will be crowned after the last race of the second weekend of the Festival. At least one full grid of Formula 5000s will race during the Festival, and that could mean as many as 35 of the earth-shaking single seaters roaring around the Hampton Downs track almost five seconds a lap quicker than the best ‘V8 taxi’ is capable of
..and while you’re over this way, why not stay awhile and head to Waiuku for the Movies in Parks Rocky Horror Picture show on the 16th Jan?
Simply put Splore is a boutique music and arts festival like no other.
In March we have some celebrations of the area and our own Taste Festival…so keep an eye out for more info here AND get your accommodation booked (if you can!!) and come stay a while !!
Well now…another brekky meeting and more info about our patch here inFranklincountry!
The speakers at this months business breakfast that I went along to (after being a bit held up by peak hour traffic!! Can that ever be remedied?) came from our own Happy Valley Honey. Another awesome business that we have in Franklin. Did you know….
Happy Valley Honey was founded in 1975 by the late Ben Rawnsley and his wife Dot.
What started off as a hobby quickly grew into a shop and office based on their farm in Mill Rd in Alfiston, South Auckland. Many of our current customers still recall visiting the farm and filled their containers with their favourite honey.
In 1990 Happy Valley commenced production of Fresh Royal Jelly; and to this day Happy Valley remain the only commercial producers of NZ Royal Jelly. Investment has been made to ensure we stay at the cutting edge of Royal Jelly production. Royal Jelly
In 2003, Happy Valley honey was relocated to its current address in Drury when the Lipscombe family took full ownership. Happy Valley focused on setting up our honey production facility with state of the art manufacturing equipment. Production at our facilities focuses on converting bulk honey into packed honey, either for third parties or under the Happy Valley range of honey & beauty products. All Happy Valley honey products are displayed at the retail store based at 520 Great South Rd.
In 2011 the business changed shareholdings, and to this day is run by two families, the Lipscombe’s and the Harvey’s. The Lipscombes focus on Bee Enterprises, a separately run entity focusing on bee keeping and procurement of bulk honey and Bee related products for Happy Valley.
Happy Valley has a range of Honey related products including Energy bars, Lollies, Lozenges and toothpaste- have a look for yourself.
Happy Valley is the #1 producer of New Zealand Fresh Royal Jelly, believed to be the purest Royal Jelly in the world, giving unsurpassed wellbeing to everyone.
Our Fresh NZ Royal Jelly has the highest levels of 10HDA known: 3.1% – these high levels determine the quality of the product you get when buying from Happy Valley.
Royal Jelly benefits can help to assist with several health conditions:
Anemia, Arthritis, Broken or weak bones, Bladder infections, Coronary Artery disease, Depression, Diabetes, Eye Cataracts, Hormonal imbalances, High cholesterol levels, High blood pressure, Impotency, Infertility, Inflammation, Impaired memory, Immune system problems, Liver ailments, Mental exhaustion, Menopause, Panic or anxiety attacks, Parkinson’s disease, Skin blemishes, Viral & bacterial infection, Weight control, Wound healing, Weak or tired eyes, Wrinkles.
Happy Valley Honey have purchased another property locally to continue their growth into the food arena, so watch out for their next news…..
We are so lucky to have such a range of fantastic businesses in our patch, so come along and check out what we have here.
29 year old SBW had his first training session with the Counties Manukau team in Drury on Monday.
It was Steelers coach, Tana Umaga who coached Sonny Bill when he first made the switch to rugby union back in 2008 in Toulon, France.
SBW will begin his bid to feature at next year’s World Cup when the Steelers host Auckland in Pukekohe on Wednesday.
Auckland coach Paul Feeney has named his side to face Counties Manukau in their mid-week clash on Wednedsay at ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe.
Captain Tom McCartney and Liaki Moli are expected to return from injury to the starting line up while Hadleigh Parkes and Francis Saili will combine in the midfield for the first time since Round Two.
“Hadleigh wants an opportunity at second five-eighths and we haven’t given him too many this season. He started there against Manawatu with Francis outside him and we had a good win that day.
“We also think it’s the right time to give Francis a start again, he’ll be very motivated and we look forward to see how he and Hadleigh go,” said Feeney.
The mid-week match holds huge ramifications in the race to play offs.
“In essence it’s a quarter final,” said Feeney, with the winner of this encounter likely to take fourth spot on the premiership table.
“On top of that, it’s a local derby and all the boys know each other. We want to make sure we have the momentum heading into the semi-finals, should we get there.”
While Auckland has had the edge over their southern neighbours in recent years, no more than five points have separated the two teams in their last three matches.
“They’re very dangerous with good players across the park and on their day can beat anyone. We know they are a huge threat, especially playing at home and against us.”
The likely inclusion of Sonny Bill Williams in the Counties Manukau team adds an extra edge.
I recently had an email from a very kind lady offering to write about Franklin,and here it is – I think that she has covered it very well, so a big thanks to contributor, Suzanne Dear A Guide on What to Do in Franklin Country
Few places in New Zealand can match Franklin for the diversity of activities it offers its locals and visitors. Whether it’s enjoying some motor sport or horse racing, shopping for antiques or fresh produce, or wandering in the countryside or city, Franklin has a little bit of everything to ensure every visitor finds something to do. The area consists of a number of towns, including Pukekohe, Tuakau, Pokeno, and Manukau City, amongst many others, which means that the exploring never has to end whether you’re a local or visiting.
Getting here
Visitors to Franklin Country can reach the region by flying in to Auckland Airport and making the 50 kilometre journey south by car or public transport. Travelling to the region by public transport may not be as straightforward as one would hope during weekend and Public holidays, at present, however reaching the various towns of Franklin Country will be much more straightforward if traveling by car, and so it’s worth looking at rental cars before your trip. Before signing the agreement to rent a car, be sure to check what the rental does and doesn’t include – extras, such as navigation systems, are likely to be extra but will make getting around much easier. Also ensure that the car is properly covered against accidents or breakdown; driving in a foreign country can take some getting used to, especially when driving through busy cities, and it’s equally important to be properly protected in case of breakdown in more rural areas where help might not be instantly available.
Things to Do Racing
Pukekohe Park Raceway (located in Pukekohe) offer both motor and horse racing throughout the year. There are a total of 14 horse race meetings from October to July, each tied to a particular theme that turns the race into a real social event. Car lovers can attend V8 Supercar and Supertourer events to see their favourite fast cars up close and personal, whilst those that wish to get behind the wheel and try the track for themselves can attend track days or take the advanced driving courses offered by Pukekohe Park Raceway. Franklin Markets
Get a taste of local Franklin life – literally and figuratively – at the Franklin Markets, which take place on Saturday morning in Pukekohe and on Sunday morning in Pokeno. The selection of offerings range from the usual excellent, locally produced fresh produce, jams and preservatives, hot food and drinks, clothes, jewellery, flowers, and arts and crafts. If you only buy one thing, make it some fresh hot food – it’s excellent, and was even voted by the NZ Herald as number 14 of must try foods before you die. But whatever you’re looking to buy, a weekend stroll around the markets is what Franklin is all about, and shouldn’t be missed. Get Active Franklin Country’s beautiful rural location may it an ideal place to into nature and get active. Visitors to the town of Waiuku can choose from a couple of kayaking trails for their adventure that both take several hours to complete. The kayaking isn’t strenuous, but always be careful when on the water and remember to wear life jackets at all times. However, the water is calm, and there are several stopping points along the routes to take a break and enjoy lunch. Alternatively, stay dry by enjoying one of the many pleasant walks available in Franklin; visitors can choose from light bush walks or scenic walks around lakes. For a taste of Franklin’s beauty and for more activities (including hiking and cycling), visit the Hunua Parkland, which features thousands of acres of open land and even camp sites. Franklin Arts
Franklin has a rich artistic community that produces a host of excellent work throughout the year. These are showcased – along with national artists – at the Franklin Arts Centre. Located in Pukekohe, the Arts Centre is Franklin’s cultural hub, and visitors can easily spend an afternoon feeling thrived in the modern building that was built in 2007; the site has two exhibition rooms, an art shop, and a workshop space.
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