52 minute read
Carmel College
Graduate named Young New Zealander of the Year
Georgia Hale, Long Bay College’s former student and staff member, has earned the coveted title of Young New Zealander of the Year.
Her significant efforts in the community, supporting people with intellectual disabilities through her work with the New Zealand Warriors, has been acknowledged. “I am absolutely blown away by all of this. To be recognised was definitely a moment I will forever remember,” says Georgia.
Now a Kiwi Ferns rugby league star and Community Coordinator with the New Zealand Warriors, the 2013 Long Bay College graduate says she remembers her time at the school like it was yesterday. Georgia Hale receiving her award. Photo: NZ Awards.
“There were so many people around who supported not just me but everyone. It’s a great school to be a part of.”
After school finished, Georgia turned down two scholarships and chose to return to the college to work as a teacher aide, assisting students in learning support. The role kick-started her interest in making rugby league accessible to everyone, including those with intellectual disabilities, which is still a big part of her work today.
“The students I worked with at Long Bay College made such a difference to me. It was just so rewarding seeing someone with an intellectual disability working so hard and then to see them ‘get it’.” Georgia Hale. Photo: NZ Awards.
National champion in athletics
Nadia Evans – medals earned at NZ Track & Field Champs.
Nadia, 200m final, Auckland Champs.
It’s been a fantastic athletics season for year 11 student Nadia Evans who has become a National Sprint Champion.
She won the U18 100 metre and 200 metre events at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Christchurch last month where she sliced almost a full second off her 200m time, achieving a new personal best. She also anchored the Auckland U18 4 x 100m relay team to win gold and set a new Auckland Athletics record. In addition, while representing Long Bay College, Nadia set a new College Sport Auckland record at the Northern Zone Athletics Day for the 200m. Her incredible success comes on the back of a difficult 2019 season when Nadia suffered growth related injuries that forced her out of training and off the track. “I can’t really believe it. But I do feel really proud,” says Nadia of her newly achieved records.
Known fondly by family and friends as the ‘Ginger flash” (thanks to her hair colour and speed), Nadia has an absolute passion for her sport and says she finds competing ‘exhilarating’.
“I am quite competitive and I like to do well. I’m really excited to get out there. I don’t really get nervous. I just try to do the best I can and whatever happens, happens.”
Nadia was just five years old when she joined Torbay Athletics Club before moving to Bays Athletics. She has always had an enormous passion for her sport and was delighted at age eight to meet her idol, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt. She is focussed on one day competing at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Nadia largely credits her success to her sprint coach Steve Erkkila who has guided her through the last eight seasons. She was selected to represent Long Bay College and New Zealand in the secondary schools’ team competing in Sydney at the Australian Championships but this event has now been cancelled due to COVID-19. Nadia is excited to see what next season will bring.
New facilities enhance student wellbeing
“We have a culture of care at Long Bay and we want to ensure our students feel comfortable in their school environment,” says College Principal CJ Healey.
Major renovation work has been completed at the school with a full upgrade of one of the oldest buildings, M Block, and every student toilet facility has received a complete makeover. In addition, the Wood Technology room is in the process of an exciting new, modern rebuild and there are plans to upgrade one of the school’s last original buildings, O Block .“Our students provided feedback about the facilities and we have listened,” says Mr Healey. “It’s been great to receive a lot of positive feedback about our newly created spaces from our students.” Board of Trustees Student Representative and Prefect Kyle Sowry says the property developments have been significant and students feel respected and acknowledged with the changes. “It’s incredible how much of a difference the renovations have made to the overall feel of the school.”
Richard Hills We will get through this together
It seems like forever ago that everything changed. But, it was only last week the Prime Minister announced a nationwide lockdown to protect us from a virus that is infecting the world.
As I write this, we are nearing 1,000,000 cases worldwide and over 700 cases in New Zealand. We thankfully seem to be ahead of it, just. It is clear in countries without forced lockdowns we are seeing a rapid rise in cases and deaths. For instance, USA now has double the cases that China has; and China has four times the population. I can’t imagine how terrifying it is for the USA and other countries where it is now seemingly out of control.
I first want to acknowledge our nurses, doctors, midwives, other health workers, police, supermarket workers, bus drivers, cleaners, council and government staff and the thousands of essential workers - and of course Dr Ashely Bloomfield, the Prime Minister and her team - who are all doing their bit to keep New Zealand safe, healthy and well fed.
Many essential workers won’t see their families properly for weeks or months and are choosing to take the risk of exposure on themselves to help others. Giving up our freedom to save others is the least we can do right now.
Many of you might find staying home overwhelming. For some, working from home may feel like a blessing that we can still secure an income. But for many people, they will be giving up much more: losing income or work, great local business could close, some will miss the birth of grandchildren or in my case I won’t be able to see my newborn nephew, there will be people who lose loved ones and cannot attend a funeral or tangi or say their last goodbyes. This is not easy or simple for most.
Our communities survive hardship by working together and being honest when it’s tough. This is hard, but I am seeing our community reach out to each other more than ever, which is great. We also need to share what we’re feeling, share what we’re going through, reach out when we’re not okay, and check in on each other, especially check in on friends and family living alone.
I’m fortunate to have work and to have a role that allows me to help others, though the nature of my role has changed. I chair the Environment and Climate Change Committee - the work is now on hold for emergency decisions only - and a lot of my work is now helping join people up with the assistance they need: Work and Income, the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; or helping people apply for their wage subsidy. I am also spreading information far and wide on all issues to make sure people understand the ever changing nature of this crisis.
However this ends, whenever this ends, our rebuild needs to take on all the lessons learnt through this. I want to help rebuild our local economy and environment to be resilient and safe so our community can focus on their families, friends, livelihoods, wealth, health, hope, and happiness.
For now, please focus on getting through. The emotions we put aside through difficult times can hit without warning and I want to stress that services such as texting or calling 1737 are there for you at any time. We need to normalise reaching out. We all feel these things.
Take Care and Stay Home. We will get through this together.
It's never too late to learn - Malcolm S Forbes
Jayne de la Haye
One key characteristic that is increasingly required of people to succeed in today’s world is the ability to keep on learning. Cognitive agility allows us to continually upskill and develop our abilities in a world where the rate of change is increasing exponentially.
Learning how to learn or creating learners with the skills and attitudes to successfully lead their own learning journey, is a core focus of all schools at Kristin. From our earliest learners in Little Doves who are growing the confidence to literally take their first steps, right through to our Senior School students preparing to take their next steps into the world of adult education. In ageappropriate ways, our students are regularly learning how to manage their time, set and monitor goals, organise their thinking and, perhaps most important of all, foster and maintain a growth mindset.
The importance of continued growth is also modelled by our teachers who appreciate the strong programme of professional learning at Kristin. Every teacher is involved in a process of reflection, goal-setting and professional development which in turn directly impacts on what happens in and beyond the classroom.
At Kristin, new learning opportunities are extended to parents also. We have a tradition of providing opportunities for adults to gain an understanding of some of the challenges faced by their children. A great way to do this is by learning a language. The benefits of learning a second or even a third language are well documented. All Kristin students have this opportunity and for some years we have also offered classes for parents interested in developing their linguistic skills.
But learning a new language is no easy task as I’ve recently been reminded. Te reo Māori is our latest adult language course and I’m one of the new learners. As I mumble along trying to remember new words, pronunciation and grammar structures; I am reminded that knowledge is so often constructed in social situations and that feeling comfortable in the learning environment is such an important part of optimising the experience of learning new ideas and skills.
Apart from the cognitive benefits and making deeper cultural connections, learning te reo Māori or any other language demonstrates to our children that learning is a journey that can take us to many different and fascinating places. Continual learning also underpins one of Kristin’s core values: progress. No matter how old you are we all benefit from, and have the capacity for, new learning!
Have your book produced and published right here on the Shore!
Benefitz, publishers of Channel Magazine, is one of New Zealand’s most diverse manufacturing businesses in the communications space. At their base, on Constellation Drive, they have a team of 85 people and a range of machinery and technology capable of producing items for communication of all shapes and sizes.
The printing of books is proving to be a growth area for the company.
“With our range of digital and conventional printing and finishing equipment we have everything that is needed to produce these books efficiently and cost-effectively,” says Benefitz Managing Director Aidan Bennett. “Having 15 designers on staff means we can also design the book if that is what is required.
“While big books with significant print runs are often printed offshore, it is just as economical and more convenient to print shorter run books right here in New Zealand. So we are a great option for people self-publishing and we also print here for publishers.”
Benefitz have three digital presses that books can be printed on as well as a number of finishing machine options. They produce both soft cover and hard cover books on their inhouse machinery.
“I have considerable experience in book printing and publishing and have members on my team who come from strong book production and publishing backgrounds,” adds Aidan Bennett. “So we can work with customers and guide them through the process, irrespective of their own knowledge of the process.
“In addition, we also work with off-shore businesses if we have projects that are quite clearly better suited to being printed in other countries due to their size and the quantities required.”
An extension of this book publishing capability has been the development of the ‘My Life Story Book’ system by the Benefitz team over the past 18 months. This is an online system for the publishing of life story books. Benefitz developers have created the online system which makes the whole process very easy and smooth for those wanting to publish their own life stories, or those of loved ones.
If you are self-publishing or looking for someone to produce your book, then contact Aidan Bennett and his team at Benefitz.
Aidan Bennett, Phone 09-477-4701 or 021-500-997
THE FACTS Total solution for small or larger print-runs. It is now economical to print just 50 or 100 books. All done in-house at Benefitz – Print PUR or Hard Case Bind. Great service for self-publishers. Book publishing expertise. We can help get books printed off-shore as well.
Book
My Life Story Book is an online system that simplifies the process for those wishing to tell and record their life stories. You can build your book online easily and then the system enables the easy and cost-effective production of an actual printed book – hard or soft cover – and the life-story will also be preserved online for generations to come. The system has been developed right here on the North Shore by the team at Benefitz.
Visit: www.mylifestorybook.co.nz Or contact Aidan Bennett. Phone 021-500-997 or email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz “I am passionate about helping people tell their stories, so we will make the process very easy for you - promise.”
Sonia Thursby
Shore Junction - WOW By Sonia Thursby, CEO, Shore Junction
Wooooow. That’s the first thing I said as I gazed up into what can only be a dream in the real world. It did have some scaffolding still around it, broken up pavement where the grass will be and a couple of builders eating lunch. It was still everything I hoped it would be. With the windows in and the Shore Junction sign up I knew this would really be the place for me and many other of my friends and classmates.
I joined this journey with Shore Junction two years ago in youth week when they were giving out free Krispy Kreme donuts. We all went for the donuts because they were new, hard to get and we wanted that good good photo for the gram (Instagram). But after learning about what Shore Junction was going to be, I and two of my friends joined up and became members that day – we got tons of information and updates and even got a voice on what we wanted Shore Junction to be and look like – guess it wasn’t just about those Krispy Kreme’s after all! Members of Younite at Shore Junction.
There were points when I thought it was all too good to be true, points where I thought it might not happen mainly 'cause lots of adults didn’t think us Shore kids needed it. But they are wrong we need the space to be us! Whether that is building something, playing music, using all the cool tec or practicing the latest Tikitok moves, this is the place to do it. We are safe, we are supported and on a level playing field and our voice matters
So as I look at the massive TV screens and the carpet we chose in a room ready to be filled with so much potential I think wooooow.
Take care and share a smile! Cam Calkoen is an inspirational speaker who is bending perceptions to inspire change and an attitude of awesomeness through simple, lasting human truths. Passionate about the Shore, this column reflects the awesomeness that surrounds us and the potential we all have to achieve a personal best.
Cam Calkoen
Waking up in the world sure is interesting and at the best of times. Every day we have perceptions that can get in the way of our dreams and today we have the reality of Coronavirus. We don’t yet know how this is going to play out and what’s really important right now is our attitude and our gratitude, deciding who we’re going to be!
I often ask my mum and dad what decision they made when they heard I’d been born with Cerebral Palsy, something they had NO warning of, could not control, and something which was presented to them with a pretty bleak outlook. They respond every time with the words “to stay true to the dreams that inspired us to be parents”. Together and through those dreams we exceeded expectations and turned my two biggest perceived weaknesses into my two biggest strengths.
That’s not to underestimate the reality of this challenge that we all have, we HAVE TO and MUST adhere to the advice we’re receiving. However, through choosing a positive mindset we can pass that mindset on and if that’s the minimum that we achieve, it could lead to a lot for someone else, where the head goes the body follows.
Right now people in our communities are faced with uncertainty and so are we. We’re on a rollercoaster and we can get to the other side stronger and even more awesome through choosing our mindset and deciding who we’re going to be.
Inspirational Speaker Book Cam and inspire new levels of awesomeness with your team.
www.camcalkoen.com Contact Cam 021 11 26 598
Stephanie Reddy is an Associate in Davenports Harbour Lawyers commercial and property teams. Stephanie has worked in both New Zealand and London. She has extensive experience in commercial property including advising on sale and purchase of property and leasing, licensing and assignments of commercial shopping centres, taverns and sports organisations.
Stephanie Reddy The Importance of Conditions in a Sale Contract
Anna and Ted had been house hunting for over a year when they found their perfect property. The only downside was the large tree in the front yard but it would be easy to remove it. The estate agent said there were other interested parties and to put forward their best offer. Any conditions to the contract could affect their chances of being successful. They put forward an offer with no conditions. They were confident the bank would lend to them as they had a good credit history.
It was Sunday and their lawyer’s office was closed so they didn’t show the contract to their lawyer. The real estate agent said an offer needed to be made soon or the property would be sold. Anna and Ted signed the sale and purchase agreement with their offer and no conditions. They were overjoyed when it was accepted.
On Monday morning they sent the already signed contract to their lawyer.
The lawyer said they always recommend a finance, building report, LIM and/or a general due diligence condition be added to a sale and purchase agreement before signing. Their lawyer also said they should have obtained a letter of approval from their bank before committing to the purchase.
On further investigations it was discovered there was no Code Compliance Certificate from Council for the extension to the house. The bank said they would not lend on the property without a Code Compliance Certificate.
In addition the tree was protected and they could not remove it from the property.
All of a sudden the property did not seem so perfect after all. They asked their lawyer if they could cancel the contract. Their lawyer said no. If they’d had a due diligence, finance or LIM clause it would have been easy to cancel the contract but their offer had been unconditional.
Luckily for Anna and Ted, the Vendor was in breach of their warranties because they had not did have a Code Compliance Certificate. Their lawyer managed to get an agreement from the Vendors lawyer that the Code Compliance Certificate would be obtained before settlement. The bank were satisfied and agreed to lend on the property. Anna and Ted still needed to proceed with the sale despite the fact they could not remove the tree.
In future, Anna and Ted would definitely have the agreement to buy a house reviewed by their lawyer first and include conditions in any contract they signed.
www.dhlawyers.co.nz
Tammy McLeod (BA LLB) is a director at Davenports Harbour and a trust and asset structuring specialist. Tammy leads the Davenports Harbour Trust Team and enjoys providing clients with advice and assistance on a broad range of issues involving the structuring and establishment of asset plans, interpretation of trust deeds, the management and administration of trust funds and trust disputes. An important part of Tammy’s practice is reviewing existing asset holding structures to ensure they achieve the needs and requirements they were established to meet. She is also experienced in Property (Relationships) Act issues and advises clients on both contracting out agreements and separation. Tammy is a past president of the Auckland Woman Lawyers’ Association and is the current vicepresident of the North Harbour Club. Tammy McLeod Ted & Maria
Ted and Maria had a trust which owned their family home, a commercial property and their share portfolio. Their lawyer had been their independent trustee for some time, but they had recently received a letter from him, saying that he was no longer taking on trusteeships and so wished to retire as trustee of their trust. Even though they had enjoyed working with their lawyer for a number of years, Ted and Maria thought that they would take the opportunity to look for a new lawyer who specialised in trusts and who could also be their independent trustee.
They were recommended a lawyer who specialised in trusts and went to meet with her. She told them about the upcoming changes to the Trusts Act and how important it would be that the administration of their trust was handled well going forward. She said that where her firm acted as trustee, they required their trust clients to have an annual meeting. Ted and Maria had never had an annual meeting before for their trust and asked what that involved. The lawyer said that they would be sent an agenda for the meeting and that the firm would prepare minutes of the meeting for their records. The things that would be discussed would include a review of their wills, memorandum of wishes for the trust and their enduring powers of attorney. At each meeting they would also review the reasons for the trust and talk about beneficiaries’ needs and possible distributions. Any improvements to trust property would be minuted and any money that Ted and Maria had put into the trust would be documented either by way of loan or gift. The trustees would consider the insurance in place for the trust assets to make sure it was adequate and also discuss any further insurance requirements such as life insurance over Ted and Maria’s lives. With the introduction of the new Trusts Act, the trustees would consider what information had been requested by beneficiaries and what information they should be volunteering to beneficiaries. They would also talk about the retention of trust documents and whose role it was to keep what. This sounded a lot more thorough than Ted and Maria had ever been before, but they could see the benefits in having a trustee who would really help them keep their trust as a separate entity and help them comply with the requirements under the new Act.
Tammy McLeod, 09 915 4386 tammy@dhlawyers.co.nz www.dhlawyers.co.nz
davenports HARBOUR LAWYERS
Navigating Your Business Through Uncertain Times
Mike Atkinson
As we venture through these uncertain times, businesses will be faced with many challenges. Being prepared for this journey will be key to ensure you come out the other end in a stronger position before you started. We believe that there are some critical issues that all business owners should be considering at this time, some of these include, but are not limited to:
Know your break-even point One of the key considerations is knowing how much revenue you need to generate in order for your company to break even and start becoming cash flow negative. This is one of the most critical calculations that businesses should be completing. It vital to understand what measures your company can take to reduce costs, while not sacrificing the future growth opportunities when the economy starts to become buoyant again. This may include implementing a four-day working week for staff which would allow for the retention of staff and being able to adapt capacity according to customer needs.
Cash is king! As the saying goes, profit is like food and cash is like oxygen. We can survive without some food for a while, but we cannot survive long without oxygen. Cash flow management will be critical. Knowing how much cash you have and the headroom available will assist with the company’s decision making and the length of time it can survive if the company is not reaching its break-even point.
Short Term Strategies The company’s existing strategies will need to be revisited as the business environment changes. Any sound risk management strategy would include continually reviewing your short-term strategies and adapting them will mean your company will be able to respond swiftly and accordingly. The company’s strategy should be set by taking into account ‘What if’ scenarios, the break-even analysis you completed earlier, and the amount of cash you have available.
Banking Relationships Liaising with your bank manager is vital to making sure you can effectively manage your banking requirements through these uncertain times. Having a strategy in place backed up with a sound financial forecast, along with your hard work you have done above, before approaching your bank will demonstrate to them that you have a considered approach moving forwards. Demonstrating this will provide your bank with confidence and it will be able to assist you accordingly. This assistance may be in the form of a principal payment holiday on your term loans, or changing banking loan or facility terms which result in you having more cash at your disposal.
Balance Sheet Strength Reviewing your balance sheet has never been more important than now. By managing your balance sheet you can unlock additional cash. Practical steps in managing your working capital includes chasing debtors to ensure they are collected on time and do not become bad debts, inventory management, or even considering renegotiating terms with your existing suppliers. An example may be to move from a 30-day payment term to a 60- day payment term. Such a move though would tend to result in additional costs being incurred. These costs may be in the form of price increases or reduction in (or even loss of) rebates and/or discounts. An alternative approach may to be negotiate shorter payment terms with the flip side being the receipt of some form of early payment discount. Other ways of managing your balance sheet include reviewing your capital expenditure requirements, debt restructuring as noted above, managing your tax liability responsibilities (either through agreed instalment plans with the IRD or using tax intermediaries), and reviewing whether any cash returns to the shareholders would still be appropriate. There are three things that organisations can use net profit after tax on, that is to reinvest in the business, pay down debt or pay a return to the shareholders (i.e. a dividend). So where will your focus be?
As with any of the above considerations, there will be costs and benefits which will be distinct to your situation. When cash flow starts becoming your number one issue in your company, it would be best to reach out to your trusted advisor as they will be able to assist you and steer you in the right direction; one which will best suit your needs.
Written by Mike Atkinson, Director, and Kelvin Sam, Associate. Phone: 09 309 7851 Visit: www.bellinghamwallace.co.nz
Lester de Vere
Lester de Vere is probably the Shore’s leading Business Broker. Born and bred on the Shore he represents ABC Business Sales in his home patch. He spent many years in business himself before taking on the role at ABC – which he just loves. His passion for 'helping vendors transition through the sale process and creating a winwin for both seller and purchaser' has resulted in him being ABC’s No.1 Auckland Sales Person in 2018 and being named ABC’s Trusted Advisor of the Year 2018. ABC Business Sales was awarded Business Sales Agency of the Year 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 by REINZ.
Buying a business goes from logical to emotional
Whether you're interested in selling your business or buying one, odds are you'll want to engage a business broker to help you through the process.
If you’re a buyer, an experienced broker can help you narrow your search to the kinds of businesses that meet your search criteria. As a seller, I can help you streamline everything from pricing your business to marketing it to buyers.
Given that buying or selling a business may well be the most important decision you ever make, its most important you have a good working relationship with your business broker as that relationship needs to work from start to finish, especially when the deal gets emotional. You may wonder why a business deal gets emotional, its quite simple really… it starts out logically with a buyer and maybe their accountant/professional advisers doing the diligence around the numbers and accounts of the business to ensure it’s doing what we say it does.
Once a buyer puts pen to paper, as in putting in an offer via a Sales & Purchase Agreement, they can now envisage themselves running the business and more importantly they understand its potential and how they intend growing the business.
No-one ever buys a business to maintain the status quo, they buy a business based on its potential growth… but more often than not, its not something they are prepared to pay for.
Back to the main point… once pen hits paper, it becomes emotional for both parties… the Vendor believes they can now pass the business onto a safe pair of hands and are more often than not willing to offer a good transition period for this to happen, while they are thinking about how those funds are going to be used.
My job is to assist in this process by understanding the motives and personal circumstances for both parties to ensure we get to the end result, that being a win win for both parties.
In general, the process can take on average 3 to 4 months, sometimes quicker, sometimes slower, having a Business Broker with a high EQ can be a huge advantage.
Happy to listen, you get the picture. Cheers for now, Lester.
Contact: Lester de Vere 0274 599 773 or email: Lesterd@abcbusiness.co.nz or visit: www.abcbusiness.co.nz
Legally Speaking with Johnathan Kwing,
Schnauer & Co.
How to increase your property value without lifting a finger… Johnathan Kwing.
With the DIY season coming to an end we need to find alternative ways to increase the value of our property without having to do the hard yakka in the midst of a cold winter or COVID-19.
One way of doing this is converting your property title plan to freehold.
Why should you do this? Freehold are the most attractive titles to a buyer. They are the Marilyn Monroes and Frank Sinartas of titles. By converting your title you can make a quick easy increase in the value of your property without having to lift a finger.
A freehold title allows you or a potential buyer to have complete ownership over that piece of land. As the owner of a freehold property you will have freedom to build and renovate like you were on TV3's The Block (as long as you are still following Council regulations). You’ll never have to pay ground rent, service charges or admin fees, because you will be your own boss! Lastly, you can end that relationship you never really wanted with your needy neighbour.
For selling purposes freehold title is far more attractive to a potential buyer because they know exactly what they are buying i.e. everything on that land plus they’ll have all the perks listed above.
This is compared to leasehold land which allows you to own the property but not the land underneath it. With leaseholds if you want to make any structural changes you’ll most likely need to get your neighbour(s) consent, which they can reasonably withhold.
Likewise with a body corporate title: with a body corporate title, you need to get approval from everyone in the body corporate before you can make changes to your house. It’s virtually impossible.
To change your title to freehold, certain conditions have to be met, such as: • flats are independent buildings; • there is little common property, particularly if existing restrictive use areas; and • collective agreement by neighbour(s).
If you have any queries, or would like more information feel free to pop in and chat to me or anyone else at Schnauer and Co Lawyers to see if your property is eligible for an easy (insert $$$) increase.
Schnauer & Co, 1 Shea Terrace, Takapuna 09 486 0177 www.schnauer.com
Loving my beautiful bubble of Devonport
I knew that one day, the Chinese scientists would have a remedy for the problems we have been having on Lake Road for many years.
I have spent a lot of time walking around my beautiful bubble of Devonport recently, and it has been an opportunity to take the time to see what has been happening around and about, things that you don’t generally take too much notice of when you’re driving.
One thing that has struck me, and I would like an explanation from the Council for this, is one of the worst pieces of vandalism seen in a public reserve for some years.This is the construction of a grotesque children’s playground at Windsor Reserve.I think the ratepayers have a right to know the budget for this playground, the public should know why it has taken so long to construct, and why the foundations that have been put in are larger and stronger than many of the three level homes I’ve ever been involved in the construction of.It is absolute madness.
Also, I took the time to have a look through Auckland Transport’s plans for improving the flow of traffic on Lake Road and Esmonde Road, between Takapuna and the Devonport Peninsula.I would urge you to have a look at this, as I see that feedback can be given until April 26, 2020. Here is the site, at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/lakeroad-improvements/
It seems to me, looking at their diagrams and pictures, that their solution is to turn one lane into a T2 lane at Lake and Esmonde Road, Lake Road at Hauraki intersection and down Lake Road towards Devonport.Then to add to this, raised kerb cycle lanes on each side of the road.Although, I noticed after the intersection of Lake and Seabreeze Roads, they are contemplating a double cycle lane on one side, for two way cycle traffic.There are more “modifications” as well, along Bayswater Avenue and for the bottleneck that is the Belmont intersection.
I wonder how anyone in their right mind could think these “improvements” will reduce congestion on Lake Road.It is all part of the plan to get us out of our cars and onto bikes and public transport. When do you think the powers that be will realise that these options are not always practical.We already have the streets of Devonport taken up by commuter cars every weekday, and anyone who says they are locals’ cars hasn’t seen the stream of traffic heading towards Devonport early in the morning, or leaving Devonport around 5.30- 6.00pm – straight up Lake Road.Not everyone works in the CBD, and after this lockdown period, we may well see that working from home can be an option for some, but many people travel all over the city to reach their workplaces and public transport just isn’t practical. Once the wet and cold weather arrives, I can’t imagine too many people would be keen to get on a bike either.
Some of you will remember my mother, Pat Gundry, was the Editor of the North Shore Times Advertiser, back in the day when it was a newspaper worthy of the name.She wrote of the Halcyon Days, when local children converged on Duders’ Beach in the summer to play cricket.
“Compared with Cheltenham or Narrow Neck, Duders is an inconsequential and insignificant scrap of sand at the foot of Church St, Devonport, hardly worth being classified by the term “beach”.
It’s a touch longer than a cricket pitch, and indeed back in the 1960’s many a doughty test match was played there with the square leg and silly mid on fieldsmen standing in the road, point and extra cover shin deep in the sea.
Duders is bound at the western end by the Sea Scouts’ Den and at the eastern by the bulge of the miniscule lookout point that has a couple of seats, grass, a flowerbed and the tall column of the Watson clock.
Duders has no trees spreading welcome shade on a summer day and no grassy embankment on which to relax.
The only amenities are a basic shower and tap at the Sea Scouts’ end with wide concrete steps running its entire length, for sitting on while watching the moored yachts, passing craft and the harbour.
Until the middle of July 1991 Duders Beach had a unique amenity, unparalleled on the North Shore.It had The Piles, which have now been removed, much to the chagrin of people to whom the weather beaten old piles were a vital part of childhood’s halcyon days.These boys and girls of the 60’s and early 70’s, scattered now, married with families of their own, look back fondly to their carefree summer days and they remember…
Duders Beach bunch arrive on foot, on bikes, on trolley, the little kids with mums at their favourite swimming spot.They arrive shouting and laughing, wearing their togs, waving their towels, bare feet dancing on the summer scorched footpaths – the Parlanes and the Willis boys, the Nevilles, the Wyatts, the Priestleys and the Richards, the Taylor boys and the Kneebones; Karen, Liz, Ann; Butchie and Murray, Rex, Garry, David, Stephen, the Ferryman twins and the bunch who live on the side of Mt Vic; the Burnetts whose parents own the dairy over the road from the beach. Mrs B is a trained nurse, and bandaged up many a cut foot or graunched leg.
The mums and an occasional dad spread out on the wide concrete steps, arranging their towels and cushions and suntan lotion, their magazines and bottles of orange, preparing for an hour or two of watching the smallest ones learn to swim.
Learning to swim is quite structured and disciplined.The little kids splash up and down in the shallows until they’ve got the hang of it and then one blissful day a mum decrees that her particular swimmer is competent enough to swim to The Skids.
The Skids is the name given to a ramp at the back of the Sea Scout den where the newly promoted swimmers can practice the belly flops that will one day become genuine dives off The Piles.
This process may take half a summer, but eventually a swimmer is given parental permission for the swim from the Skids to The Piles.
It’s pretty scary stuff the first time.The distance looks as wide as the Pacific Ocean as you surface from your improved belly flop and strike out towards your goal.You know she’s sitting on the steps watching so you try to do your best style but by the time you’re nearly at The Piles, your arms think they’re going to drop off and your head is beginning to thrash from side to side.
And you know that when you reach The Piles, the most daunting, the most intimidating test still lies ahead.Getting up The Piles to the top beam is easy enough because there are pieces of iron to clamber up by.But once you are there, you face maybe a dozen larger, stronger kids ranged along the beam and standing, king of the castle, atop The Piles. They can be your friends, foes, neighbours, cousins even your brothers and sisters, the kids you play with every day but when you meet them on The Piles, they have one aim and that is to stop you joining them.
They shove and push you, stamp on your fingers as you’re climbing up.They laugh and shout and chiack until you fall back in the water, but you swim around and you try again, and again.
Then one day, when there are not many of the big kids there, you’ll get to the beam unchallenged and you’ll stand on the outermost pile and you’ll be king of the castle.You’ll dive into the deep water time after time until you can do it clean and straight.
You’ll be one of the big kids some summer doing your utmost to stop some little kid who has just swum from The Skids from making first time up The Piles.
The big kids and the little kids, many today approaching middle age look back and remember their beach, Duders, as being the world’s best – even better than Waikiki.
See you soon, at the end of the tunnel. Simon Gundry.
Accelerating success. Reach more people - better results faster.
with Lindsay Knight
Milika Nathan, or Millie as she is better known, has two attributes which make it easy to understand why in just three years in the sport she has become one of North Harbour bowls’ hottest prospects.
One is that having started the game in her 20s she has the advantage of youth. And the other is her considerable background in other sports, in her case basketball especially.
“I played a lot of sports at school but only took basketball seriously,” she says. She represented North Harbour from various age groups through to the senior representatives, Harbour Breeze, and made national under 16 and under 19 teams and played for the Junior Tall Ferns.
A family tragedy, the death of her beloved mum soon after she had returned from an OE stint in the United Kingdom, helped lead her into bowls. At the time she and her rugby-playing brother Chad spent a lot of the time with their dad, Peter, and started accompanying him to mid-week rollups at the Birkenhead club.
She took to the game almost instantly and says: “Bowls gave me a competitive outlet I haven’t been able to fulfil since I stopped playing basketball. I enjoy being able to play in the same tournaments with my dad and brother. This is something we can share.”
The influence of Peter, a centre singles champion in 2014 and an accomplished player in his own right, has been another beneficial factor in her rise. So, too, has been the maturity she has gained in other aspects of her life.
As well as teaching at Northcote Intermediate School for the past three years she has been responsible for assuming a role in running the Nathan family household.
Her bowling CV for such a short span in the game has been remarkable. She has amassed a stack of club titles, both at junior and open levels, was a key figure in Birkenhead winning Harbour’s one-to-fiveyear inter-club title. She has already represented Harbour in the open grade and was to have been travelling reserve in the cancelled inter-centre championship in Wellington.
And she has a centre open title to her credit, winning last season’s Harbour 2-4-2 mixed championship with Peter, beating two redoubtable players in Black Jack Wendy Jensen and Adam Haywood. “That would be one of the most memorable games I’ve had,” she says.
Though she has a modest, likeable demeanour, Millie has set herself some lofty goals in the sport. “It wasn’t until recently I started considering a future in bowls,” she says. “Now with more opportunities in a competitive environment with experienced bowlers my goals have become more ambitious. I want to focus on improving my skills sets and consistency and cementing a position in the North Harbour women’s open team. My ultimate goal is to eventually represent New Zealand.”
Many a sound bowling judge within North Harbour and beyond might agree given her natural talent and calm temperament that the latter goal is not unrealistic. www.bowlsnorthharbour.com Her bowling CV for such a short span in the game has been remarkable. She has amassed a stack of club titles, both at junior and open levels, was a key figure in Birkenhead winning Harbour’s oneto-five-year inter-club title. Milika Nathan on the right with her dad Peter.
Landmark Post Office building goes up for sale
Part of Devonport’s history which was the seaside suburb’s Post Office for over 50 years is up for sale offering options for both investors and owner occupiers.
Encompassing 712 sqm of character retail and office space at 10 Victoria Rd, the offering will provide the next owner with initial net annual rental income from 11 tenancies of $294,488 plus GST and outgoings.
The property, which has a Category 2 Historic Place classification, was Devonport’s main post office from 1938 until 1991. It was purchased in a vacant and rundown state in 2007 by Devonport residents Eddie and Sharon de Heer, who undertook an award-winning restoration of the building.
They have now appointed Bayleys Commercial North Shore to sell the ground floor retail and upper level office components of the building by deadline private treaty closing on April 21, unless sold prior. One of the trophy listings in Bayleys’ latest Total Property portfolio, the offering is being marketed by Michael Nees, Adam Watton and Adam Curtis.
“This is an opportunity to purchase a piece of Devonport’s history which has been painstakingly refurbished back to much of its former glory,” says Nees. “Exposed kauri flooring, ornate ceiling details and a glazed atrium and stairwell at the rear of the building are among its outstanding character features.
“The property also has a high seismic rating which is not always the case for a heritage building like this.”
Adam Watton says there are a diverse mix of tenancies spanning service retail, food and beverage, retail, office and residential uses. The building has recently taken on more of a French flavour. So French Home is a new homeware store that stocks a wide range of authentic French home and personal products. This store is complemented by the Le Poste Bistro and the French Garden Café which are extensions of the So French Café that has proven very popular in Takapuna, says Watton.
Other tenants on the fully leased ground floor include Japanese eatery Makoto Sushi and Donburi, Clean Green Computer which offers sales and repair services, Main Street Barbers and the Honey Beauty salon.
A legal firm has recently vacated a 158 sqm upper level office tenancy and another 71 sqm office suite is also vacant. “These have been left unoccupied because they may be of interest to an owner occupier who could utilise this floor and use the considerable income generated by the ground floor tenancies to service mortgage payments on the property,” says Adam Curtis.
“The vendor will provide a rental underwrite over this space for six months from settlement to provide flexibility for the purchaser to consider their options for this area.”
There is also a 77 sqm two-bedroom apartment on this floor which currently has a periodic tenancy. Two larger apartments in the building are not part of the sales process.. However a first right of refusal will be formally available to the purchaser of the commercial component of the property, says Curtis.
This industrial property in Arrenway Drive, Albany sold at a 3.93% yield at Bayleys’ first Total Property auction for 2020.
Big bidding at Bayleys auction
Over two thirds of the commercial and industrial properties offered for sale in Auckland last month in Bayleys’ first Total Property portfolio auction for the year found buyers despite the massive upheaval occurring in investment markets as a result of Covid-19.
A total of 17 out of 25 properties auctioned on March 11 sold at a total value of just over $27 million, with four out of five North Shore offerings selling under the hammer.
“We went into the auction with a certain amount of trepidation given the turmoil in equity and bond markets,” said Bayleys’ Auckland commercial director Lloyd Budd. “But we ended up with a great result for our vendors which once again reinforced the attraction for investors of bricks and mortar as a defensive asset class in turbulent times.
“We had one of our biggest crowds in recent years for the auction, with bidding on all but two of the offerings and a sizable number of observers who came along to check out what the market was doing.”
Budd said six of 13 fully leased tenanted properties sold at yields of less than five per cent. “This was a clear indication that the market had already factored in further interest rate drops which was confirmed by the Reserve Bank’s three quarters of a percentage point cut to the OCR (Official Cash Rate) the following week.”
The lowest yield at the auction was 3.93% for two adjoining industrial units at 36 Arrenway Drive in Albany. The units built in 2004 were sold by Laurie Burt and Matt Mimmack as one lot for $3.26 million at $4598 per sqm on their combined floor area of 709sqm.
Burt said the offering was in a sought-after location adjacent to Interplex business park and was a standalone two-unit development with its own underlying land holding which increased its attractiveness to investors. One of the units also has a rent increase in May which will increase the net income return to 3.99 per cent.
Other North Shore properties to sell at the auction were: • A 178sqm purpose-built childcare centre on a 716sqm site at 21 Park Hill Road, Birkenhead, ,which sold for $1.968 million at a 4.86% yield by Michael Nees, Jarrod Qin and Nicolas Ching.
Licensed for 35 children, it has a new 15-year lease. • A 244sqm unit at 21 Corinthian Drive, Albany, in a corner position in the Orchard Park retail hub, marketed by Eddie Zhong and Steven Liu, which sold for $1.92 million at a 5.8% yield. It is occupied by Black Rice restaurant on a new 10-year lease. • A 90sqm unit in the 39-unit Rosedale Retail Centre at 96
Rosedale Road, Albany which sold for $955,000 at a 5.76% yield by Steven Liu and Eddie Zhong. The unit’s tenant has been in occupation since the centre opened in 2014. • A 470sqm two-level food and entertainment unit at 16H Link
Drive, Wairau Valley, which sold for $1.24 million at a 6.29% yield by Eddie Zhong, Millie Liang and Trevor Duffin. Occupied by the Gogo Music Café on a long-term lease, it comprises a restaurant and karaoke music rooms plus eight parking spaces.
The only North Shore property to be passed in at the auction, a 771sqm office and warehouse building at 19F Orbit Drive, Albany in the Interplex business park, also attracted good bidding. With a new four-year lease to NZ Merchants Ltd, it was passed in at $3.05 million, at a yield of 4.85%, and negotiations are continuing with interested partie, says Matt Mimmack.
Bayleys undertakes eight national Total Property portfolio marketing initiatives a year, in which a large selection of good quality commercial and industrial properties are presented for sale. The first Total Property portfolio for 2020 featured 114 properties.
Bayleys’ Commercial North Shore general manager Daniel Henderson says Total Property magazine which showcases offerings from Bayleys’ offices around the country, and also has complementary editorial articles, is New Zealand’s most widely circulated commercial and industrial property publication. A total of 15,000 copies are mailed, personally addressed, to a database of active purchasers which is constantly qualified and updated.
The portfolios and their properties also receive extensive promotion through a range of digital electronic direct mail communications, print media and online display advertising, all commercial property websites, Google AdWords search engine marketing and targeted advertising on social media. “Total Property’s database encompasses the Who’s Who of the New Zealand commercial property investment market as well as offshore investors who are interested in our market,” says Daniel Henderson. “It is the most cost effective and successful way of reaching a big pool of potential purchasers in the market.”
Bayleys Commercial North Shore is currently sourcing properties for the fourth Total Property portfolio for 2020 which closes on May 8.
This underutilised site in Mokoia Rd, Birkenhead is ripe for redevelopment.
Land ahoy!
Two substantial North Shore land holdings in Birkenhead and Barrys Point Rd are for sale in Bayleys’ latest Total Property portfolio offering future add value and development opportunities.
A 1,796sqm land area with only around 25 percent site coverage at 14-20 Mokoia Rd in the heart of Birkenhead’s town centre is available for the first time in nearly 40 years.
“Located atop the Highbury ridgeline, this is undoubtedly one of the best commercial and/or residential development opportunities to come to the market in Birkenhead,” says Adam Curtis who is marketing the property with Adam Watton and Ranjan Unka.
The site’s Town Centre zoning allows for mixed use buildings up to a height limit of 27m. An elevated, sizeable block of vacant land at the rear, currently used for casual carparking and overlooking a council carpark, is ripe for a multi-level development which would provide panoramic harbour and harbour bridge views from the upper levels, says Adam Curtis.
“Three longstanding tenants occupy a 450sqm character building located at the front of the site, including Yarntons clothing store which is something of a Birkenhead institution and stocks the popular R.M. Williams clothing brand as well as local school uniforms.
“Flexibility is embedded in each of the leases to allow the purchaser to add value while benefiting from the $120,000 of net rental income the tenancies are currently generating.”
A 1,647sqm site encompassing three separate fee simple titles and currently occupied by associated auto servicing and panel beating businesses is also for sale at 41-45 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to secure a property with huge potential in a high-profile position on this busy arterial road,” says Matt Mimmack who is marketing the property with Daniel Henderson and Ranjan Unka. “Barrys Point Road’s Mixed Use zoning under the unitary plan allows for greater intensification of this site incorporating a variety of commercial and residential uses.”
The property is currently returning net annual rental income of $101,990pa plus GST from leases to two long-established tenants, Causeway Panelbeaters and Causeway Motors which have been in occupation since 1959 and 1966 respectively. Their current leases run until October 2021, with one further three-year right of renewal, but they have 12-month redevelopment clauses which could be exercised at the new owner’s discretion.
“The property’s future growth potential should appeal to developers, add value investors or land bankers,” says Ranjan Unka. “A good holding income offers time for the next owner to consider and plan their options for this valuable land holding which is strategically located near State Highway 1 motorway interchanges and is only a few minutes from Takapuna's CBD.”
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