| The light in the tunnel is getting brighter! This time it’s not a train The announcement from the government yesterday will have a lot of businesses including hospitality and event organisers smiling as the restrictions ease and they can welcome more customers and patrons back! While most of us will welcome these new Protection Framework changes, they do come with a word of gentle caution. Remember to respect those among us who are immunocompromised and still wearing masks when indoors. Gently goes it, keep in mind not everyone has the same health privileges. Remember too that businesses that required vaccine passes previous to April 4th were only following legal requirements laid down by the government. They’ve been doing it tough so keep that in mind when you see them start to relax into their new (again) normal. They need your support, not necessarily your views on mandates. Remember your community spirit of Stronger Together. Now that we have a more hopeful understanding of the next few months ahead, planning has begun for the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights 2022. There is now confirmation that the Parade of Lights will be on the 9th of July and the big finale with the Laser Light Show will be on the 23rd of July. We will also be running a free seminar closer to July for businesses who want some advice on lighting up their business for the winter festival. You’ll be able to get some free advice from a couple of local experts and make your business premises really stand out. Lights not only make people smile and feel good, they also attract customers. On the 11th May One Mahurangi will be hosting the Emergency Services Thank You Dinner to celebrate and thank our local heroes from the Fire Service, Police, St John, Coastguard, and Surf Life Saving. If you are keen to help or you would like to donate money to help with the dinner, please click the link to our Facebook Event HERE> This event will be a great opportunity for the community to show our appreciation not only for all the hours our local heroes put in but also for the service and empathy they show. I have been blown away by the generosity of our local businesses who have donated products, equipment, and money towards the evening already! We look forward to publically acknowledging their generous support as we get closer to the event. The list of local businesses involved grows each day and can currently be seen on our Facebook Event details. Like most of the country, Warkworth township has been very quiet over the last month as people were either isolating or remaining cautiously away while the Omicron variant surged. Experts are now saying the peak in Auckland has passed and when you feel that you can get out again, please make sure that you shop and support local. Our businesses have been challenged to the point of breaking and they deserve all the support we can give them. As I have said the light is getting brighter now as we near the end of a long, dark tunnel. This time we know that it is sunlight, not a train. So get your starting blocks out and get ready for the starter’s gun because we are about to start putting the past behind us. Are you ready? Get set…!  Murray Chapman Manager, One Mahurangi Business Association murray@onemahurangi.co.nz www.onemahurangi.co.nz Support Local, Buy Local, Employ Local, Love Local! |
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