Devonport News

By Katherine Downs Devonport Business Improvement District Manager

When things get ugly!

Katherine Downs. Split ends and creeping cuticles should never get in the way of a good time…

Just a few days after retail opened during Level 3 in mid-Nov, I was visiting our treasure trove of rare and secondhand books, BookMark on Victoria Rd. A little voice beside me said, “Excuse me. Are we actually allowed inside this shop?”

A mask-clad boy and his equally wide-eyed sister eagerly awaited my reply. “Yes, you are!” I said with glee, and off they galloped into the depths of the store to escape into a world of fantasy and facts.

It was a stark reminder of just how odd our lives had been, and how exciting it was to have these moments of normality slowly returning to us. While I was desperate for our nail spas, barbers and hairdressers to open, I also had visions of a swarm of hairy, long nailed locals filling the streets at the first sound of keys turning in shop doors.

As much as our split ends and creeping cuticles annoyed us, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that what we missed the most was each other. “See you at New World” is often the joke in Devonport – you know that it is never long before you’ll see each other again. Devonport’s shops are as much a village by feel as by name. Our tight-knit community was utterly grim in the days leading up to Halloween, with comments from kids like, “Has Jacinda said we can have Halloween yet?”

But where there’s a will there’s a way! With only a few days’ notice, our village rallied around the Devonport Business Association’s plan to hold a Great Lockdown Pumpkin Hunt. In a moment of inspiration, we realised that a walk with your bubble buddies to find hidden pumpkins in our shop windows was a Covid-safe alternative to door knocking. Spread through the whole day, more than 500 kids plus parents came out to enjoy being a community. The lack of haircuts and bad home dye jobs just added to the costumes, and the contactless delivery of lollies down a chute was the most excitement some of these kids and their parents had had in three long months!

Now, with summer showing its face in the many gently blooming pohutukawa, we can look forward to brighter days of meeting up with friends in our local cafés and restaurants. Having a summer staycation? Pop down the peninsula for a Segway ride with www. magicbroomsticktours.co.nz or hire an e-bike or go-kart from www. bikesandbeyond.co.nz, then catch a movie at www.thevic.co.nz.

We look forward to seeing you at the ‘Friday After Five’ celebration in Devonport Village on Friday, 18th February 5pm-10pm for a vibrant street party of live music, entertainment, face painters, food vendors, family fun and more. Until then enjoy summer, enjoy time with friends and whanāu and please support local to ensure our businesses STAY open. Check out www.lifeaspicnic.co.nz for picnic food options in Devonport.

With only a few days’ notice, our village rallied around the Devonport Business Association’s plan to hold a Great Lockdown Pumpkin Hunt.

Visit: www.devonport.co.nz Devonport Community News for this month with Maria Teape, Community Programme Manager, Devonport Peninsula Trust December in Devonport

Maria Teape.

The ongoing lockdown has meant that many of the activities and events the community had hoped to provide have had to be postponed or cancelled.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel, with the new Covid-19 Protection Framework hopefully coming into force early December. Until then, we will continue to deliver services online and would like to thank everyone who has supported our online offerings.

The latest advice received from Auckland Council has helped us determine that most of our events and activities can resume or occur at the Orange Alert Level. While the usual Devonport Santa Parade and Christmas Festival can’t go ahead, Santa will instead take a tour on his sleigh to bring some Christmas cheer, around the streets of Devonport and up to Belmont/Bayswater!

The tour is planned for Sunday 5th December, departing from outside Devonport Community House at 11am. Remember to look out for him in a street near you! More details of the tour route will be available at www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz. Also if it’s red alert level, Santa will be at the Devonport Christmas Market on Devonport Wharf after his tour.

Make sure you pop along to the Devonport Christmas Market for Christmas goodies and gifts – 11am-3pm at Devonport Wharf – only if the Covid-19 Protection Framework is in place.

We are keeping fingers and toes crossed that our Raumati/Summer Fun Tamariki (0-5) Play mornings can start up when the programme resumes after the Christmas break from 11th January. Please follow Devonport Peninsula Trust on Facebook and Instagram to receive up to date information on this and other activities.

Other activities we look forward to bringing to you in the New Year, working with our community partners, are Folk in the Park on Sunday 13th February 2022, from 1pm-4pm at Windsor Reserve Band Rotunda. Also Kids Athletics starting 15th February at 4pm at Vauxhall Sports Reserve.

This month’s spotlight is on Ngataringa Organic Garden (NOG), a community garden located in the heart of Devonport, at 27 Lake Rd, Devonport (opposite the Recycling Centre). NOG is operated on a plot allotment system, with plot custodians responsible for the care of their plot and the garden as a whole. The NOG Committee oversees the running of the garden, and organises regular working bees, social events, and workshops. Contact NOG Committee Chair: Kerry Chamberlain chamberlainkp@gmail.com, or NOG Committee Secretary: Murray Vaile murray.vaile@xtra.co.nz, or through Facebook: @NgataringaOrganicGarden.

Mā te wā,

Maria

The latest advice received from Auckland Council has helped us determine that most of our events and activities can resume or occur at the Orange Alert Level.