DEVONPORT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: NEWS
By Katherine Downs Devonport Business Improvement District Manager
If music be the food of love, play on
Devonport Community News for this month with Maria Teape, Community Programme Manager, Devonport Peninsula Trust Katherine Downs.
So we did! Live music in the heart of Devonport beat the blues. Over February and March, we have had buskers playing in Devonport on Saturday evenings and it has been fantastic. Set up on the green outside the old ANZ building (now Flagstaff Gallery), diners in the nearby restaurants and pubs have been treated to blues, jazz, pop and indie vibes from a plethora of super talented locals. Many of us didn’t realise just how much we’d missed hearing live music, and the performers have been in their element. This came about rather organically, as a community driven Covidsafe alternative to the cancelled Feb 18th/19th Devonport Street Festival. It’s been enjoyed so much that we are planning to do it next summer. Covid does have the odd silver lining! For our shops, cafés and restaurants, however, the past month has been very tough with fewer customers because of isolation, and staff shortages necessitating temporary closures. But with case numbers dropping and Easter approaching, we’re looking forward to our village coming back to life. Over Easter and the April school holidays, we’re holding a prize-packed Easter Hunt. Pick up an entry form from any Devonport village shop that has this bunny in the window. Find a dozen bunnies in shop windows, return the completed entry form, and be in to win. The prize draw will happen at the end of the April school holidays. More details at www.devonport.co.nz And of course, we are also hopeful of holding our ANZAC parade this year. It is an event that defines Devonport and is significant to young and old, with many local schools and community groups standing proud and humbled alongside our Navy community. No doubt, if we are able, coming together on this day of remembrance will be all the more meaningful this year. Has your mum done a good job this year? Shop for Mothers’ Day in Devonport – go to www.devonport.co.nz for a huge choice of online vouchers – from Perfume Workshops at Miller Rd to Magic Broomstick Segway tours and, of course, you can never go wrong with Devonport Chocolates – easily the most delectable and delicious chocolates and truffles you could imagine! Devonport is YOUR seaside escape www.devonport.co.nz
DEVONPORT NEWS
Devonport in April
Maria Teape.
Devonport Peninsula Trust’s Raumati/Summer Fun Tamariki Play mornings and Kids Athletics Series are finished for the season, but there is still plenty coming up in the community in April. Restoring Takarunga Hauraki weekly eco-restoration activities continue. Their schedule as follows: Monday, 9am – Paddy's Bush or Philomel Reserve, Bayswater Monday, 1pm – Takararo Plant Nursery, Devonport Wednesday, 5pm – Wakakura/Polly’s Park, Devonport Friday, 9am – Ngau-te-ringaringa eco-corridor* For more information on these activities, contact Lance: lance@rth.org.nz or Anne for Ngau-te-ringaringa eco-corridor activities. Intergenerational meet-ups for students and seniors are held fortnightly on Mondays, 3:30pm until 5pm-ish. The meet-ups are a fun and informal opportunity for young and young at heart to share skills and develop communication and understanding between different generations. For more information and upcoming meeting dates, please contact Wendy: proco@xtra.co.nz There are a variety of school holiday programmes to chose from. There are two drama school programmes running at The Rose Centre – Tim Bray Youth Theatre in the first week and National Youth Theatre in the second. More information and bookings can be made via The Rose Centre: www.rosecentre. co.nz or phone: 09 445 9900. Devonport Library has Alice in Wonderland themed school holiday activities planned – drop into the library to find out more. Devonport Community House will have a holiday programme packed full of activities including excursions around town and beyond. More info and bookings at www.devonportcomhouse.com. ANZAC Day commemorations in Devonport will be taking a different approach this year. The usual parade and service at the cenotaph which the public are invited to will not be taking place. Groups will be able to come and lay wreaths at the cenotaph earlier in the day by arrangement. There will be live streaming from the comemorations for the public to follow. Watch out for more information being made available soon on how to tune into the live stream. Or visit: www.devonportrsa. co.nz/ or www.facebook.com/RSADevonport Are you thinking of organising a get-together with your neighbours before colder, wetter weather sets in? Devonport Peninsula Trust has some funding available to encourage people living in the neighbourhoods from Devonport to Hauraki Corner to get together with their neighbours to develop neighbourhood connections. For further info please contact Maria on ph: 445 9533 or email maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz Ngā mihi mahana, Maria
www.channelmag.co.nz Issue 129 - April 2022
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