11 minute read
Devonport News
By Katherine Downs Devonport Business Improvement District Manager
A small win for Devonport
Katherine Downs.
One of the few downsides of living on a peninsula is our dependency on a single road in and out, and the Fullers ferry service. It’s a price we locals are willing to pay for more than our fair share of beaches. However, when the petrol prices shot up in March, life was not looking so pretty - particularly given our desperate need to attract visitors.
While the rest of Auckland breathed a sigh of relief when the government announced half-price public transport, Devonport was dealt a blow. Unbeknownst to many, the Devonport, Rakino and Waiheke ferry runs are not part of the public transport network – due to a 2013 agreement between Fullers and the government to commercialise the services.
With this ugly truth rising to the surface, Devonport was set to face yet another barrier to visitation. Not on Chris Darby and Richard Hill’s watch!
We are very grateful that our councillors lobbied hard for the Devonport ferry to be included and won! The change saw immediate results. On the first weekend of the deal there was a 44% increase in passengers on the ferry to Devonport and, consequently, a lift in sales in our shops, cafes and restaurants.
Accessibility to Devonport is not only important to us as a business community. It should be every Aucklander’s right to be able to share in the natural and historic beauty of our area. Fullers have a ‘kids travel free at weekends’ deal that is popular amongst those who know about it, but it is not widely advertised. We’d like to shout it from the rooftops! Come on over kids, and enjoy YOUR home city!
Several years ago, AT held an Auckland-wide free public transport day and Aucklanders flocked to Devonport. It was our businesses’ busiest day on record. We would love to share our beautiful part of Tāmaki Makaurau with more Aucklanders every day of the year. It is very sad that the biggest barrier to this is quite clearly the cost of transport.
We were disappointed not to be able to hold our much-loved ANZAC service. However, there is a wonderful new children’s book on sale at Paradox Books. Called “ANZAC Day Parade”, it is written by local Devonport author Glenda Kane, based on her experience of spotting an elderly man and a young boy deep in conversation at an ANZAC Day service.
Stand by for news of an exciting Matariki event in Devonport on Saturday 25th June. The lantern hikoi and hākari held in the past is set to become bigger and brighter than ever, driven by a collaboration between many community groups across our wonderful peninsula.
Devonport is YOUR seaside escape www.devonport.co.nz Devonport Community News for this month with Maria Teape, Community Programme Manager, Devonport Peninsula Trust Devonport in May
Maria Teape.
On Sunday 22nd May, Pedal to the Pump Track is taking place. You are invited to dress-up your bike and yourself (autumn theme), bring a picnic and join one of two bike convoys – one departing from Hauraki and another from Devonport to Woodall Park for an introduction to the new pump track and some family fun!
To join the Devonport bike convoy, meet at Windsor Reserve at 10:15am.
To join the Hauraki bike convoy, meet at Lake Town Green at 10:15am. The Hauraki bike convoy will stop at Bayswater Park at 10:40am to pick-up Bayswater cyclists and head off again at 10:45am. Then join in the family fun at the pump track from 11am to 1pm. Family fun includes spot prizes, have-a-go on the pump track, preschool play zone, family games, sausage sizzle, bike info and service stalls. For more information find us on Facebook or Instagram: @devonportpeninsulatrust or visit our website: www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
Our next quarterly Community Network meeting is taking place on Thursday 12th May, 10am at Devonport Yacht Club, 25 King Edward Parade, Devonport. It’s a great opportunity for community organisations and residents alike to promote their activities, hear about what others are doing and find out about possibilities for collaboration. The session commences with complimentary morning tea and a chance to network informally, followed by guest speakers. Street parking is available and the building is wheel chair accessible. For more info, contact Maria ph: 445 9533 or email: maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz. Remember to bring your face mask and we look forward to seeing you there!
Country music concert, ‘Denver and Beyond – the songs and life of John Denver’ is happening in Devonport on Sunday 15th May, 7:30pm at Harmony Hall. Featuring Bevan Gardiner and James Davy, lovers of country music will not want to miss this special event. Bookings: johndavynz@gmail.com
The Devonport Senior Forum is for people interested in identifying local senior issues, working towards solutions and assisting the older community where appropriate. Meetings are held monthly, starting with afternoon tea at 3pm, at A12 The Barracks, Fort Takapuna Reserve, 170 Vauxhall Rd, Narrow Neck. The meeting day is changing, so for more information on the date of the next meeting, contact Maria: maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz or 027 924 3494.
Our free Hōtoke/Winter Fun Tamariki (0-5) Play programme will be starting on Tuesday 7th June, 9:30am11:30am, and continuing every Tuesday until 25th October at Bayswater School Hall. Look out for more information coming soon: Facebook or Instagram: @devonportpeninsulatrust or visit our website: www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz.
Mā te wā,
Maria
Local Life
In Channel Magazine we love highlighting people in our community who make a difference. Two local Devonport peninsula people, Kate and Lauren, have created ‘Local Life NZ’ a social media entity doing similar online. We love what they do, so we’re now collaborating with them to include content in Channel Mag. This month they profile Jessica and Tracy, Treena, and Nicky.
Jessica and Tracy
"We opened the spa three weeks before the first lockdown, so yes, it’s been a struggle. But the sense of support we’ve had from the community has been incredibly rewarding.
“We love the Devonport community and especially our elderly customers – we're very lucky to have two who are over 100. "Some of our older customers were very lonely during Jessica and Tracy. lockdown, being cut off from their family and friends. As soon as we opened up again, they came in for a manicure or a massage, and we could see that they really needed help and comfort. It means a lot to us to be able to be here for them.
“It’s all about the power of human touch.”
Jessica and Tracy, sisters and co-owners, Arcade Day Spa
Treena
"I never intended Miller Road to become a business when I first started out – I just wanted to make candles for friends as I’ve always loved fragrance and struggled to find a scent I really liked.
“I studied perfumery in Grasse in the South of France which was an amazing experience. Perfumery training is a never-ending rabbit hole which I love, and I'm lucky to have trained with some of the best perfumers in the world. A group of us from all around the world have weekly Zoom meet-ups which we started in lockdown and have just carried on with. It’s great to connect to discuss different materials and methods. I'm looking forward to heading back out into the world soon to continue my perfume journey.
“Smells have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of our other senses, so we can immediately be transported to a time and place when we have an emotional response to a fragrance. They’re incredibly evocative, but also calming.
“I've created a Devonport fragrance which evokes memories of breezy summer days in our seaside village – it has sea salt, orris, bergamot and a hint of leather which is homage to the horse and cart that used to offer rides around the village.”
Treena Nixon, founder and CEO, Miller Road Fragrances. Treena has retail outlets in Devonport and Queenstown and runs popular perfume workshops at both stores.
Treena Nixon.
Nicky
"Every Mother’s Day, I feel so blessed to be the mother of my two gorgeous girls (young women now, when did that happen?) Amelia and Samara, and to live in this beautiful little pocket on the planet, Devonport. My ideal Mother’s Day would start with a coffee made by my husband, Stuart, (with Chiasso beans of course!) followed by a wander along Cheltenham Beach, up Maungauika, and along King Edward Parade into the Village. There we would have brunch at either Lily’s or Devon on the Wharf, facing back out to the sea and the sun. After a potter around the shops, (especially Paradox Books) bumping into friends along the way, we would finish the day with a casual dinner at Vondel, Vic Road Kitchen or Signal Hill, and maybe cap it all off with a movie and an ice-cream at The Vic. As I said, blessed. " - Nicky Whitham-Blackwell, school deputy principal and Devonport local
My ideal Mother’s Day would start with a coffee made by my husband, Stuart…followed by a wander along Cheltenham Beach…
If you have a story you would like to share or know of a local hero, contact Kate Dobbin & Lauren Lulu Taylor at hello@localifenz.com Follow Local Life NZ on Facebook and Instagram – @LocalLifeNZ
Foodie Finds is a monthly column by Kate Dobbin and Lauren Lulu Taylor which profiles local food producers and their products in the Devonport area. If you have suggestions of products or producers for us to consider, please email Kate on kdobbin7@gmail.com or Lulu at Lulu@secretkiwikitchen.com
For the Love of Plants
The Living Room in Devonport is testament that healthy food and incredible taste can go hand-in-hand. Totally vegan and mostly gluten-free, this enchanting café boasts delicious, fresh-tasting plant-based food prepared and served by super-friendly staff. Vegan carrot cake at
The vibe is laid-back ease and The Living Room. comfort, and the Living Room’s decor of retro tables and chairs, comfortable sofas and colourful rugs spills out onto the sunfilled terrace. Head chef and owner Lucy Chapman-Jones has been vegetarian since she was 12 years old. She loves preparing plant-based food and is a great advocate of eating well and compassionately without scrimping Rice paper rolls at The Living Room. on taste or flavour. Her rice paper rolls are legendary as well as her salads, especially the miso roasted cauliflower. the moroccan Cauliflower and Chickpea soup is perfect for the cooler days and the tradie burrito bean wrap is delicious and satisfyingly filling. The slices and keto bars are sensational. The Black Forest vegan slice and raw ‘Snickers’ slices are decadent, delicious and healthy – a winning combination!
Their buzzy beverages include sprout, zest and root juices, leaf, seed and bean smoothies, and nut, palm and hulk super smoothies. They offer specialty hot drinks like matcha, beetroot, and turmeric lattes, and have Kombucha on tap. If you’re wanting dinner to go, The Living Room has a takeaway freezer filled with plant-based, gluten-free and refined sugar-free frozen dinners, including a delicious kale and broccoli gnocchi, creamy mushroom pie (made with cashew cream), and cauliflower and chickpea green curry, featuring a house-made curry paste.
Other show-stopper vegan dishes around town include Vondel’s crispy Korean BBQ jackfruit taco and tofu tangsu with lemon sauce and hazelnut dukkah; Lily Eatery’s sesame soba noodle salad with a colourful medley of veggies, and pumpkin, wild rice and broccoli farro corn salads; and Signal Hill’s mushrooms with fregola, hazelnuts, rocket and truffle snow.
Newly-opened Indian restaurant Khana – further up on Victoria Road – has an utterly delectable vegan platter with samosa, onion bhajis and vege koftas served with fresh salad and tamarind sauce. They also offer a wonderful array of tasty vegan curries and dahl.
The Living Room, 8 Victoria Road, Devonport, tel +64-94461010, open 7 days from 9am-4pm Vondel, 8 Victoria Road, Devonport, tel 09-446 6444, open Tues-Fri 4pm till late, Sat and Sun 10am till late, closed Monday. Lily Eatery, 12 Wynyard Street, Devonport, tel 09-445 0243, open 7 days from 8am -3:30 pm Signal Hill, 24 Victoria Road, Devonport, tel 09-445 0193, open 7 days from 11.30am till late Khana, 161 Victoria Rd, Devonport, tel 09 445 1546, open Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs 4-9pm, Fri, Sat 4-10pm, closed Tuesday.
By Justine Kinsella
Devonport Community House
Justine Kinsella.
Beginner Ukulele Workshop Series LEARN
We're so excited for UKULELE! our Beginner Ukulele BEGINNER UKULELE Workshop Series for WORKSHOP SERIES ALL AGES! These four workshops will happen 4:00pm 4th, 11th - 5:00pm , 18th and on the 25th of May every Wednesday in Devonport Community House May from 4-5pm at the $12 per workshop EMAIL US FOR MORE INFO: Devonport Community BYO Uke! events@devonportcomhouse.co.nz House for anyone wanting to learn the Uke! You can come along to as many of these sessions as you like, it's just $12 per workshop per person. Thank you to Creative Communities for supporting us with this project. Head to our website to find the link for tickets - www.devonportcomhouse.com/events
Devonport Swap Shop
Our first Devonport Swap Shop is done and dusted! We had an amazing turnout, some beautiful clothes on offer and very happy swappers/shoppers! Massive thank you to all our volunteers (including four wonderful IB students from TGS) who helped us run this event and to Stanley Bay School for putting on an awesome sausage sizzle. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for an announcement on the date for our next one!
Devonport Community House Creative Series
Announcing the NEW Devonport Community House Creative Series starting term 2! We want to support our creative community by giving them a space to connect with others and express their creativity. We look forward to seeing you all there!
