39 minute read
AGE School
Building Learner Wellbeing
At AGE we believe that wellbeing is vital for a child to flourish. Without a solid foundation of wellbeing a child will struggle to reach their true potential but, once established, can feed their academic needs and encourage creative expression.
By putting wellbeing first, we are enabling our learners to become the best versions of themselves and in turn produce outcomes that truly reflect our motto of ‘Dare to Dream’. Most mainstream schools have a 90/10 split when it comes to academics and wellbeing; we’re more like 50/50.
WHAT WELLBEING LOOKS LIKE At AGE, we foster an environment that builds on this crucial wellbeing foundation through these initiatives:
EQ
In a technology-based future, it’s never been more important for students to develop their EQ as much as their IQ. At AGE, learners participate in EQ sessions each week to help them to understand and manage their emotions in a positive way, and to enable them to better communicate and empathize with others.
Buddy Programme
Our Buddy programme helps to build a great school community. Making sure that our new students feel welcome and included is a top priority, so we partner them with a suitable buddy who introduces them to their peers, learning coaches, and their new learning environment.
Pause, Breath, Smile
Our team at AGE also completed Pause Breathe Smile training. The Mindfulness-based interventions benefit the learning environment, classroom climate, and wellbeing for all ages and stages.
Resilience Project
At AGE, our learners Hauora; physical, spiritual, social, and emotional well-being, are supported by programmes such as the Resilience Project,
which focuses on three key pillars proven to cultivate positive emotions; Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM). We are the first school in New Zealand to have invested in this project from Yr 1-12. With its strong focus on Connection, Purpose, Kindness, Emotional Literacy and Physical Health, the programme’s wrap-around approach supports the growth of mental health in the classroom, staffroom, and family home.
Sky Lounge
AGE Outdoors
Environmental preferences
Our learning spaces have been designed so children Takapuna Beach can find their perfect place to complete their learning. This may be out on our Sky Lounge, in our Discovery Hub, or even under a table! Wherever they choose, it allows them to feel comfortable and safe whilst they learn.
AGE Outdoors/Local Beach
This year, we launched AGE Outdoors to focus on learner’s outdoor wellness by engaging with the natural environment at our 80-acre farm on the Mahurangi River. This purposeful day in nature will see learners working on real-world, hands-on projects in sustainability, seed to forest regeneration, a seed to table programme to feed our community, and riparian planting to regenerate our waterways. You can also find our learners out and about in our local community, at the beach, reconnecting with nature.
Nourish to Flourish
Alongside these incredible learning offerings our
Nourish 2 Flourish plant-based meals cause a flurry of great excitement at lunchtimes. Our families know that 3-days a week our wonders will enjoy fresh ‘home cooked’ meals made in our fully equipped kitchen. Plates are more often than not licked clean with students queuing up for more. Harvey Support Dog
We even have our very own support dog in training at AGE – Harvey!
Harvey comes to AGE twice a week and is learning to be a support dog for those who may need comfort or assistance with transitions or throughout the day. Learning spaces can be a fun and busy space which can be overwhelming for some, so having a support dog that our students can cuddle or spend one on one time with helps to settle and ground our kids.
The research is clear; the more positive
emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. Wellbeing at AGE is the fundamental focus of the school to ensure a strong platform from which to learn and grow.
For more information contact us at AGE School
Time to review your pricing (again)
Mike Atkinson.
Without sounding like a broken record, this is a topic that is often discussed and debated time and time again. It all stems from your pricing strategy and the importance of a robust pricing strategy cannot be underestimated! When should I put my price up, how often should I put my price up, and can my market sustain continual price increases?
In our current business environment, we are seeing businesses face growing costs for compliance with legislation, staffing pressure and subsequent wage increases, freight costs increasing on the back of fuel costs and congestion issues, increasing funding costs, supply chain challenges leading to businesses holding more stock than they traditionally would have, and underlying material cost increasing. Are you facing rising costs that haven’t been passed on to the customer? Are jobs being priced correctly? Have you put your price up in the last 3 months? All these elements create an environment that is putting pressure on our margins.
Going hand in hand with the pricing discussion, is businesses having access to the right labour resource. Too often I hear about businesses that have significant projects in the pipeline, but with no staff to do the work. Whilst stock and the other factors mentioned above are sucking cash from businesses, the challenge of labour supply also cannot be understated.
Consequently, when considering pricing strategies, you need to know what your business is competing on, that is, what do you want to be famous for? What’s your competitive advantage and why do you beat your competitors? We often refer to a model called the market positioning star to assist business owners and management to consider what strategy best suits their business. Essentially you have three choices from which you must beat the market in one and meet the market in at least one other. The options are to compete on 1) Product / Service offering – your offer, 2) Price or 3) Customer Intimacy / Experience.
So, if your business is competing on price, then you are probably a low price, low margin, high volume business. If price isn’t a competitive strategy, and instead you are competing on differentiation, then you are probably a high price, high margin, low volume business. It’s vital that pricing strategies match your target market. It’s okay to be priced higher than your competitors, as long as you meet your customers’ expectations of quality and value, and you can clearly articulate that message to your customers.
To build on this concept we link value, cost and quality. It’s important to remember that Value = to the client, Cost = to the business. Below are a handful of questions to test how well you apply this in your business. • How do you ascertain value to your customers? • How do you package what you do and create value in the eyes of your customers? • What is your value proposition, can you capture the essence of the value you add? • How do you price your offer? • Which one is most important? How would you prioritise them? • What will you win on?
To round out the pricing discussion, we need to understand what some of the common pricing mistakes are. Below is a summary of the seven more common mistakes. 1. Going in too low and undercutting all the time - For some businesses, this isn't a mistake, it's an entire strategy. Going in too low all the time might be great for your top-line revenue number, but it can wreak havoc on your bottom-line profit if it doesn’t align with your strategy. 2. Using the same margin for all products - There's no rule or requirement that says all products that you sell needs the same margin.
Your business might be able to afford smaller margins based on high sales volume, however even then you should find ways to add value and increase those margins.
3. Not understanding the difference between margin and markup -
Margin is the % of the selling price that is profit, whereas Markup is the % of the total costs that is profit. Making this mistake can lead to profit erosion. For example, if you operate with a 100% mark up, and then offered a 50% discount off your sales price, you would be selling your product at cost. 4. Forgetting to take ALL costs into account - In order to price correctly every cost needs to be identified. Even small costs like credit card processing fees, which typically add 1% to 2% on every transaction can add up over time. Seek out costs, and know what is driving them, i.e., are they driven by activity and volume or are they fixed. 5. Finding out what you competition charges and doing the same -
Instead of being sheep and following your competition, do a bit more homework and start to discover and uncover the value you truly offer your customers. Then price for value. Try to compete on the value quality points from above, rather than just another supplier to your customers.
6. Setting sales commissions based on revenue not a percentage of
profit – If you are using a commission-based sales team, then paying commission based on the top-line vs commission based on gross profit or even the bottom line directly impacts profitability. The more you sell the more you reduce your profit. Sales commissions are a cost of sale and need to be factored into your pricing matrix. 7. Discounting instead of adding value - At just a 10% discount, a typical business with a GP% of 30% would need to sell 50% more units to keep the same profit on the bottom-line, this number increases to needing to sell 100% more units if your GP% is 20%. Instead of relying on discounting, consider if there is there a way you can add value to your product or service, again linking back to our quality and value points from above.
Avoiding pricing mistakes and being strong in your pricing proposition go hand-in-hand in building a profitable business. Pricing problems might be a symptom of other weaknesses in the business or your offering, such as poor quality, poor marketing of benefits, wrong match of service/ product to customer needs etc.
Reviewing pricing is a discussion that often comes up, but how well do you actually do this? Are you good at providing desire or articulating the consequences of a course of action? Do you make it easy for a customer to buy from you? Do you understand the relationship between Cost, Quality and Value? When you’re reviewing your pricing strategies, just remember that pricing right is the fastest and most effective way to increase profits.
For any help with all your pricing strategies and to assess the impact of discounting on your business, contact Mike Atkinson from Bellingham Wallace.
Visit: www.bellinghamwallace.co.nz
By Lesley Harper, Associate – Senior Registered Legal Executive (Fellow) at Schnauer and Co. Lesley is a conveyancing practitioner experienced in property law who loves building connections with clients. For expert advice on subdivisions contact Lesley who is available to assist anyone who has any queries. Subdivisions
Lesley Harper.
– the crucial role of your lawyer
At the end of 2021 an amendment to the Resource Management Act (RMA) was passed. This allows Councils in New Zealand’s larger cities to change their density planning rules so that more medium density homes can be built. Medium density housing includes terraced housing or apartments within a building of four storeys or less.
These changes should make it easier for property owners to subdivide their land – whether you are a homeowner wanting to sell off part of your backyard or a property developer carrying out small or large scale multi-lot subdivisions.
The subdivision process can still be daunting especially for those new to the process. A subdivision involves many professional including planners, surveyors, engineers, builders, architects, accountants and lawyers all of which have their part to play. Often the lawyer is not consulted until the subdivision is well underway but it is highly recommended that you seek legal advice early on.
So when should your lawyer be involved?
Initial concept plan and applying for Resource Consent: Once a concept plan has been drawn up by your surveyor and resource consent applied for, your lawyer should review the head title for any notations which may impede the subdivision such as restrictive covenants and easements.
Gaining Resource consent: Your lawyer will now liaise with you on the conditions of the resource consent and the scheme plan with respect to legal requirements of the subdivision. Work now starts on implementing the conditions of the consent, including completing all physical works on site and payment of development contributions.
Section 223: Your surveyor will submit a draft survey plan to Council for approval under Section 223 of the RMA. From the survey plan, the lawyer will start working on easement documentation such as rights of way and water supply. Your lawyer may also need to contact Chorus and Vector to enable the registration of telecommunications, gas and electricity supply easements.
Often your lawyer will be required to prepare complex land covenants, perhaps a height restriction to protect sea views or building covenants to ensure a high standard is maintained in a multi lot subdivision.
Section 224c: Once all subdivision conditions have been met and the survey plan approved, Council will issue a certificate under Section 224c of the RMA which will be lodged at LINZ together with the Section 223.
Final stage: Your lawyer and surveyor will work closely together to lodge their subdivision documentation with LINZ. Often the preferred option is to lodge survey and new title documentation via Fast–track which aims to reduce the processing time. Timeframes for issue of new titles varies depending on the complexity but a simple subdivision should take between 10 to 15 working days.
Selling the new lots: Many agreements are entered into before the new titles issue. You should seek advice from your lawyer in drafting the agreement to ensure that any necessary conditions and clauses are inserted.
Schnauer & Co, 1 Shea Terrace, Takapuna 09 486 0177, www.schnauer.com
The importance of balance
Jayne de la Haye
The idea of balance is one which is very much at the heart of our approach to learning in Kristin’s Junior School. It’s increasingly common for adults to reflect on the importance of balance in their lives; often relating to work-life balance, but less discussed is how this same concept applies to the wellbeing of children.
As educators of young children, we are keenly aware of the benefits a balanced approach to learning has on their wellbeing. One way we achieve balance is through the curriculum, which for us, is underpinned by the IB Primary Years programme. This unique international curriculum enhances the essential educational elements: physical, social and personal education, language, social studies, mathematics, science and arts.
Language includes not only a structured approach to literacy in English, but also acknowledges the significant benefits of speaking more than one language. Exposure to Mandarin Chinese and te reo Māori ensures our students develop their linguistic skills while also opening a window into understanding of other cultures.
The contribution that a strong arts education makes to wellbeing has long been recognised and we are fortunate to have a passionate team of specialist teachers whose expertise ensures learners also become confident at expressing themselves through a variety of creative and performing arts: music - vocal and instrumental, drama and visual arts.
Knowing that physical development supports personal, social and emotional development, our specialist PE classes enable our students to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to participate in a whole variety of games and sports. This starts a journey that includes finding the spark for exercise that will keep them literally “moving” for life.
Our commitment to explicitly teaching social and personal development as a core curriculum area, rounds out the programme. We are focussed on ensuring that the essential skills of social interactions are broken down, practised and reinforced. Taking time to equip children with the fundamental skills of self-awareness, self-management and emotional literacy also enhances their personal development which allows them to reach their potential. Our values based approach, reinforced through Chapel, assemblies and student leadership opportunities sets the tone for a positive, supportive and healthy culture that is fundamental to supporting wellbeing for all our students.
However, it is through the outdoor education, co-curricular clubs, music and sport opportunities, outside of the regular programme that we are able to elevate the experience of our students to ensure the element of balance in their lives. Being able to stimulate intellectual curiosity during the school day and then participate in choir, sports, or a fun club such as cooking, art or technology, gives everyone the balance in their lives that is such an important protective factor to life’s stresses and strains.
The focus of our children’s Junior School experience is to embrace the diverse opportunities available, be open-minded to new ideas and skills and have multiple opportunities to shine. As a result, we see well-balanced individuals prepared to take their next steps.
Tackling pest plants to protect nature and our health
JUNE PEST PLANT OF THE MONTH: Wild Ginger
Pest plants, such as wild ginger and moth plant, are invading Auckland’s North Shore – your gardens and your nearby bush reserves. Controlling them when they are small is easy and cheap. If they are left to grow, they can spread across your property onto your neighbours’ gardens and to nearby reserves.
Auckland Council has recently introduced new rules that require people in some areas to remove some pest plants from their property, in order to protect our native biodiversity.
Wild ginger, also known as Kahili ginger, grows up to two metres tall with large wax-covered leaves. It forms dense, longlived clumps that shade out the understorey and prevent growth of native seedlings and forest regeneration. It has red and yellow flowers that can produce hundreds of seeds.
There are several environmental networks across Auckland’s North Shore that support communities to recognise, report and remove pest plants and restore our native wildlife.
East Coast Bays and Hibiscus Coast, Restore Hibiscus & Bays info@restorehb.org.nz, restorehb.org.nz/resources-pest-plants/ Facebook.com/RestoreHB
Kaipātiki, Pest Free Kaipātiki (PFK), enquiries@pestfreekaipatiki.org.nz https://www.pestfreekaipatiki.org.nz/myrtle-rust Facebook.com/pestfreekaipatiki/
Takapuna, Pupuke Birdsong Project, enviro@takapunatrust.org.nz Facebook.com/pupukebirdsongproject
Devonport Peninsula, Restoring Takarunga Hauraki pestfreedevonport@gmail.com, Facebook.com/restoringtakarungahauraki/
Upper Harbour, Upper Waitematā Ecology Network (UWEN) info@upperharbourecologynetwork.org Facebook.com/ @upperwaitemataecologynetwork
Take action as soon as possible:
• Hand pull small seedlings, but only if you can remove all root fragments, as they will regrow if left. • For medium to large plants, use a pruning saw to cut the stem close to the ground. Aim to make the cut level (so that the herbicide can have the best contact with the freshly cut stump).
Apply a thin film of MetGel onto the stump immediately after cutting. A thin film is all you need to prevent regrowth. • Follow up in three months to ensure all wild ginger plants have died. • Dispose of any seeds, rhizomes and roots in your rubbish bin to go to landfill, securely tied inside a plastic bag - to stop it spreading to other areas. Alternatively, they can be put inside a barrel of water (lid on) and will rot down within 1-2 years. Leaves and stems make a good mulch and can be left to rot down on site. • Stop pest plants invading again by replanting with non-pest plants (preferably native plants) once regrowth is no longer a problem. • Talk to your neighbours and encourage them to take action too! For advice on chemical-free alternatives, Kaipātiki Project community@kaipatiki.org.nz kaipatiki.org.nz Facebook.com/kaipatikiproject
This monthly feature is a collaborative initiative between Restore Hibiscus & Bays, Pest Free Kaipātiki Restoration Society, Pupuke Birdsong Project, Restoring Takarunga Hauraki, the Upper Waitematā Ecology Network and Kaipātiki Project. Building on Te Ao Māori principles of kaitiakitanga and whanaungatanga, these environmental networks bring our communities together to foster guardianship, care and respect towards our whenua, natural world and indigenous wildlife.
with Lindsay Knight
Champion of champion events a focus
Through the month of May the chief focus for Bowls North Harbour has been in deciding its champion of champion events and who will represent the centre in the respective national play-offs.
The disciplines for either gender are singles, pairs, two-bowl triples and fours and their importance is that for many who are not quite in the elite bracket it is their best, and in some cases only, pathway to winning a national title.
Some purists might question the ranking they enjoy by giving the chance of winning a prized national competition when the reality is that the centre open championships almost without exception contain much bigger and more competitive fields.
The centre champion of champions event, of course, is limited to just one entry per discipline from a club, the winners of its respective championships. In some instances that may mean no more than three or four teams or players in a particular event.
Some might wonder, too, that both centre and national titles are decided on carpet greens when most club championships will have been won on natural, grass greens.
However, of necessity centre and national champion of champion events have to be played on artificial surfaces because the congested programmes affecting all levels of the game mean the late autumn and winter are the only times of the year when they can be staged. At those times of the year virtually all grass greens have been closed.
Yet there are many praiseworthy aspects to the champion of champions format as it tracks from club, centre and onto a national play-off.
It brings together a centre’s range of clubs, big and small, urban and rural and North Harbour is an excellent illustration of this, offering a reminder that the region is not confined to urban North Shore and big clubs like Birkenhead, Takapuna, Mairangi Bay and Browns Bay.
Orewa's Elaine McClintock and Bart Robertson of the Helensville club.
For one of the best performed clubs in this season’s Harbour champion of championships has been Helensville, which has a relatively small but competitive membership, but has excelled through the deeds of one of Harbour’s best bowlers, Bart Robertson. Adding to the centre singles title won earlier in the year Bart has won his second singles title, the champion of champion The centre champion of pairs with Ricky Howe and the triples with Howe and Kyle Clark. And while he didn’t win a title Northcote’s David Pierce provided champions event, of course, is limited to just one entry per another example of the value of the concept. He made two finals in the pairs and the triples and the notable feature of that is that because of his work as a Television New Zealand camera-man, and discipline from a club, the winners husband of presenter Melissa Stokes, he is very much a part-time of its respective championships. bowler. Continuing the Helensville rural theme, Riverhead’s Steve Cox, Grant Goodwin, Duane McDonald and Lindsay Gilmore won the men’s four, beating a strong Browns Bay line-up in the final. The women’s four title went to Takapuna’s Lisa Dickson, Lauren Mills, Robyne Walker and Anne Dorreen, continuing a fine record in the past few seasons by that club’s lady players. They and Riverhead will be Harbour’s representatives in the national play-offs late next month in Hastings while the others from the centre to go onto the other New Zealand finals come from Orewa and Birkenhead. Elaine McClintock, a much-decorated bowler, will be Harbour’s women’s singles representative, and her Orewa club-mates Christeen Dalzell, Maureen Howden and Jan Harrison will carry the triples flag and Birkenhead’s Trish Croot and Kirsty Hill the pairs.
Visit: www.bowlsnorthharbour.com
By Shore Junction’s Youth Development Specialist Josh Martin
Celebrating Shore Junction
Josh Martin.
Every month I sit down to write about Shore Junction, I am filled with a sense of gratitude that our organisation has been given the responsibility to care for and support the young people of the North Shore. This past month we celebrated Youth week with the theme, “Our voices matter and we deserve to be heard”, and in a world where many adults make big decisions which affect rangatahi (youth), we believe that their voices are pivotal in shaping what Aotearoa looks like in the future.
Here at Shore Junction we believe one of our core purposes is amplifying the voices of the young people in the community. Whether it’s through sharing their stories on social media, hosting a political debate at the centre, creating a youth-led steering committee for Shore Junction, or by supporting initiatives from Auckland Council to gather youth opinions on important topics like climate change, public transport, sustainability, and more.
We have spent a lot of time in discussions with young people around further initiatives we can implement to support their voices being heard. These conversations led to one overarching and important question: how do we amplify young peoples’ voices and allow them to share their stories in the ways they want to?
I am so excited to share that in Youth Week 2022, we officially launched Shore Junction Records. It’s a way for us to record, produce and distribute music from Shore Junction youth to the world through all streaming platforms. We have also released our first three songs on an EP called “Our voices”, with the first three songs based around the theme of identity. These songs are called “Moving on up”, “Dear us” and “To my younger self”.
This is only the beginning of the journey for the youth and Shore Junction Records, but we’re proud that we get to support these amazing young people in sharing their voices and their messages with the world. If you’d like to listen to these songs, simply search “Shore Junction” on Spotify, Apple music or anywhere you can stream music.
By Younite co-chairs Tsenate (she/her) and Henry (he/ him), the 2022 co-chairs of Younite and are Year 13 students at Takapuna Grammar School and Kristin School.
Your local Youth Council
Henry Pinder and Tsente Akebergne.
Younite is the youth council for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and we are one of many youth boards across Auckland.
Our focus is on ensuring the youth voice is considered and included in the decisions made by the local board in decisions made in each local board area. We are specifically focused on young people aged between 12-24 from Devonport all the way up to Sunnynook and Forrest Hill and everywhere else in-between!
Essentially, we are representing youth voices within in this community and surround ourselves with matters concerning youth. Younite members raise issues they and their communities are facing, as well as encourage other youth to get involved and voice their opinions.
We make an appraisal of this information and present it to our local board several times a year, so that they can consider youth concerns when they make decisions that impact young people.
We spend time keeping up our social media presence, using both Facebook and Instagram as ways to connect with youth. We are passionate in wanting to increase youth connectivity to their community by creating and promoting events in our local board area which would interest youth.
This year, we plan to target te reo Māori integration within the local community, promote more engagement with the local iwi and tangata whenua. Check out our Facebook page for a few videos we have produced featuring the common words and local suburbs in te reo Māori.
We also want to elevate youth queer voices and will be focussing on increasing opportunities for young creatives within our community, as well as increasing youth involvement in the upcoming local board elections.
We often collaborate with other youth groups, such as the Auckland Youth Voice Network and other Youth Councils within the Devonport-Takapuna local board region. At this time, many of our members are involved in Auckland Youth Voice’s projects which involve youth mental health and augmenting youth involvement in local politics.
And these are just some of the things we do... but we are always seeking new ideas and new people to further explore our reach and vision!
If you have a question, are interested in being a member or would like to contact us, please email younitechair@gmail.com. Also check out our social pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Accelerating success.
For Lease
7A William Pickering Drive, Rosedale
Quality Albany office available now
If you’re looking for quality, modern offices with excellent profile, this outstanding opportunity located on the corner of William Pickering Drive and Te Kea Place should not be overlooked.
Comprising 325 sqm (approximately), allocated parking plus good street parking, this modern, sophisticated office space offers an A-grade fit out that would suit a range business uses.
Boasting corner profile with excellent signage visibility, the property is ideally positioned close to nearby amenities, minutes to Albany Westfield, Massey University, Albany Mega Centre and easy motorway access.
Don’t delay, offerings of this calibre are a rare find.
Contact the Sole Agents for more information or to view.
colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67019021
100% NBS seismic rating 325 sqm first floor office
Kerry Cook 021 194 3949 kerry.cook@colliers.com
A-Grade fit out - flexibility to modify to suit new tenant
Corner Profile - excellent singage visibility
Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com
Colliers NZ Limited Licensed REAA 2008
Accelerating success.
For Lease
55 Corinthian Drive, Albany
Albany Office - 5 Star Green Building
Highly visible to the surrounding road network, the development harnesses the site’s visual prominence, meeting the tenants’ expectations while positively enhancing the commercial hub within the Albany gateway.
Included in the complex is a five-level car parking building with a circular access ramp located on the eastern end of the building.
Sustainable strategies include maximisation of natural light and external views, passive ventilation, sustainably certified materials and construction methods, electric vehicle charging stations, end-of-trip facilities and rainwater harvesting.
One floor available, from 400 sqm to 1,650 sqm.
Please call Janet Marshall on 021 684 775 to view.
colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67002672
Suit professional office tenants High car park to office ratio 400 - 1,650 sqm
Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com
Colliers NZ Limited Licensed REAA 2008
Simon Gundry is a Devonport and North Shore identity, and character, who is known for calling a spade a spade. He is a director of contracting company Gill & Gundry, is an enthusiastic sailor (past crew-member of Ceramco New Zealand, Lion New Zealand and Shockwave) and is a life member of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. He has been writing this thought-provoking column for Channel ever since the very first issue (well over a decade ago!).
Simon Gundry.
Waiting on my invite…
What a beautiful autumn we are having, after a magnificent summer, the best I can remember in many, many years, it might even have been the best ever.
I’ve been writing a column for this two bit magazine for some ten years now with little to no recognition from the management of Channel Magazine. I must say how greatly disappointed I was, yet again, to not get an invitation to their annual soiree at the Bruce Mason Centre. Obviously they don’t think I could run to a ‘black tie’ outfit. I’m not really offended, I’d as soon have a couple of beers with my mates at the North Shore Rugby Club. Mind you as soon as the Henry Luce of the North Harbour reads this, he’ll invite me to the next one, but after 10 years of not inviting me I will gladly turn down the invitation.
I can’t understand, after countless hundreds of millions of dollars and many years of construction, that the road going north from Huntly to Rangiriri is closed for some 10 kilometers after just being opened a year or so ago. There are 10 kilometers of concrete barriers closing the road to one way at a grossly reduced speed. I would like to know why this has happened and how long it is going to be closed for. Is there a source of information online somewhere that we can search and ask these questions? It would be interesting to know.
I also can’t understand why the 40 seat Metro buses continue to pour out of Devonport every half hour, heading to Cheltenham, Narrow Neck, Stanley Bay and Takapuna with virtually nobody on board for these trips. The other day I was out
I also can’t understand why the 40 seat Metro buses continue to pour out of Devonport every half hour, heading to Cheltenham, Narrow Neck, Stanley Bay and Takapuna with virtually nobody on board for these trips. The other day I was out for a walk and counted just 12 people getting on buses at 5pm in the evening…
for a walk and counted just 12 people getting on buses at 5pm in the evening, surely to God somebody should realise this just isn’t working and there must be a better way. These huge diesel guzzling dinosaurs should be phased out and a more efficient means of transport established. It is nonsensical what is happening presently.
With regard to Public Transport, a mate of mine didn’t have his car one day and decided to take public transport from his home in Takapuna to Albany and then on into the City, and back home again. The whole day cost him four hours of combined waiting and travelling on various transport modes and he swore he would never do it again. Until Public Transport is overhauled and changed to suit commuters, we just won’t get people using it.
Talking about Transport, this makes me think of NZTA’s Road to Zero campaign, which we all know is a total impossibility. Why would they continue to spend some $80 million on advertising on a nonsensical and impossible dream? It will never happen and why would we think it would happen, unless we get everyone out of their cars, trucks, buses, work vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks. Get every vehicle off the roads and park them on big field somewhere outside Taumarunui, close down all the petrol stations and the motor mechanics so nobody can drive a vehicle, refuel it or get it fixed. We’d need to get people off their bikes, scooters and motor bikes, skateboards - any wheeled mode of transport would have to be removed. That’s the only way this absurd goal can be realised. While we are about it, the next achievement they’ll be thinking about it is a Road to Zero for drownings. Last year we had around 80 drownings, so we will need to get rid of all boats, full stop. All recreational and commercial boats and ships, maybe they could all be put in that very large paddock, just outside Taumarunui, alongside all the vehicles in the country. This is how stupid this Waka Kotahi project is, with their Road to Zero campaign. The whole country would just grind to a halt.
I was really disappointed on Anzac Day to see the traditional 10am gathering at the Memorial of the Soldier in Devonport didn’t happen. Apparently the RSA, in their wisdom, decided to hold a gathering at 7.30am and their reason being was this:
“Due to the timing of the changing Covid levels and the need to protect our veterans and the time needed for Council to process a permit and a traffic management plan to allow the normal Anzac Day event to proceed, it was cancelled for 10am”.
What a load of crap. Devonport has had a traditional Anzac Day Parade every Anzac Day at 10am. Even after the Mosque shootings, and during the first lockdown of Covid, the residents organised their own service, very very successfully. This secretive Anzac Day service must never be allowed to happen again.
And a final thing is, I would like to know what the Defence Force plans are for all the ghost Navy housing along Calliope Road. That is a good question, isn’t it? Enjoy the rest of your month.
From the Publisher: I think you’ve been writing for 12 years Mr G. The invite's in the mail for 2023. We love your work.
News from Co Chairperson Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor
The Life Education Trust North Shore ambassador, Harold the Giraffe, is getting out and about in the local community. Last weekend Harold paid a visit to the team at Albany Toyota, a long term partner and sponsor of the Life Education Trust North Shore.
He got to check out the new range of Toyota EV's, see how the Albany Toyota team engage with the local community and even had a chance to roll up his sleeves and help out with customer support!
Harold and Life Education Trust North Shore are focussed on building strong relationships with the local community, and partnerships like this support the ongoing delivery of quality programmes to tamariki across the North Shore.
Keep an eye on our social channels (@lifeeducation_northshore) to follow Harold’s latest adventures and see how our educators are inspiring our tamariki to make positive life choices.
Contact us: secretary@lifeeducationnorthshore.nz Visit: www.lifeeducationnorthshore.nz
By Kathryn Robertson, Takapuna Residential Bayleys Real Estate Ltd
Buy first, or sell first?
Kathryn Robertson.
In any market, one of the most common questions I get asked by buyers who have a house to sell is whether they should buy first and then sell, or vice versa.
A year ago, it was a safe bet to buy unconditionally and have confidence that in the rising market we were enjoying, an unconditional sale would be imminent, with house prices outperforming previous weeks and capital gains growing faster than we could have ever predicted. The market we are currently experiencing is obviously very different, and therefore, my advice is to sell first. As a vendor, you get to dictate your preferred settlement, so consider pushing that date right out to give your purchasers ample time. This gives risk takers who want to buy before selling, time to do so, and it will give you time to find something to buy. It will provide certainty around how much you can afford, and it will put you in a dominant position when competing against conditional buyers, particularly at auctions (yes, many vendors still want to sell via auction). It’s a double-win if the market is tracking downward – gains can be made in the period between selling and buying. The worst thing that could happen is you have to rent or Airbnb while you wait for the perfect home, which in my opinion is a far better option than bridging and losing sleep due to financial stress.
Kathryn works at Bayleys in Takapuna, lives in Hauraki with her family, and is a proud member and supporter of her local community. She has been selling real estate on the North Shore for over 10 years. She's happy to talk real estate any time. Call Kathryn on 021 490 480 or email kathryn.robertson@bayleys.co.nz
Kathryn Robertson, Residential Sales M +64 21 490 480 Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under the REA Act 2008 28 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
Entire Building In Prestigious Office Park
Multi tenanted investment in 4 titles offered in one opportunity!
3/331 Rosedale Road, Albany
Bryan Western 0274 757 000
bryan@prestigerealty.co.nz
prestigerealty.co.nz
Rare chance to own an entire building within the exclusive Rosedale Office Park. On offer is a fully occupied, road frontage building with superior fit-out and longterm tenants providing an exceptional investment. Nestled within a mature native woodland setting this office park established in 2004, has gated security and an on-site café. – Features: Total net income $273,467 pa. + gst • Long term tenants • 4 unit titles • 6 tenants providing consistent income • Lease guarantees • Secure basement parking • Unique woodland setting • Handy to transport links • For sale by negotiation. Contact me for more details on this unique investment.
Prestige Real Estate International Ltd Licenced Real Estate Agent REAA 2008
The One You’ve Been Waiting For!
451A Beach Road, Mairangi Bay
4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Garage
Sarah Showler 021 135 6254
sarah@prestigerealty.co.nz
This stunning four bedroom, 3 bathroom home is simply irresistible, only a short stroll to Mairangi Bay Village and the beach. The versatility of the space on the ground floor is ideal as an air bnb, home office, home gym or even for use as a flexible rumpus/guest space. The first floor evokes relaxation and easy living with gorgeous open-plan living. Located on this floor are 3 substantial bedrooms. Home’s of this standard and location are a rare find. Give Sarah a call on 0211 356 254 • ID 8050
1 Level Beauty Walking Distance To Shops
2/4 Sylvan Park, Milford
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Garage
prestigerealty.co.nz
Calling all downsizers, small families or executive couples, this is the location and lifestyle you’ve been waiting for. This lovely one level free standing home with it’s own separate driveway offers 3 bedrooms, with open plan living to a large private northfacing deck and garden; perfect for entertaining and enjoying relaxing afternoons in the sun. Shopping, restaurants and cafes are on your doorstep, the stunning Milford beach beckons for morning walks, or take your coffee and enjoy the beautiful surroundings at Sylvan Park which overlooks Lake Pupuke. This location also secures excellent schooling choices, and the convenience of being close to transport hubs and motorways. This is your chance to secure prime real estate in an enviable North Shore location, with the opportunity to add further value. Call now to view or for more information • ID 8055
Prestige Real Estate International Ltd Licenced Real Estate Agent REAA 2008
Call us for a friendly approach to real estate
PLUMBING
Plumbing, Drainlaying & Gasfitting
0800 369 832
BUILDING AND RENOVATION
Bespoke Architecturally Designed Homes
www.qpcbuilders.co.nz • 0800 772 266 • @qpcbuildgroup
CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
Part of the Shore community Part of the Shore community Part of the Shore community for over 40 years for over 40 years for over 40 years
ALL COMPONENTRY IN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION:-
Foundations Blockwork Retaining Walls Excavations Pre-Stressed Floors
A Secure Future for our Community
Shanan Halbert.
We’ve just released this year’s Budget, which sets out the next steps in our plan to build a secure future for our community. I wanted to make sure that you’d heard about a couple of key Budget initiatives, including a cost of living package to support local people here on the North Shore.
Right now, the fundamentals of our economy are strong. We have record low unemployment, economic activity that is higher than it was before COVID-19, and debt lower than most countries we compare ourselves to. Our strong health response protected our economy through the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’ve pulled through better than almost anywhere else in the world.
But we know that, despite these positive indicators, things are tough right now for many, as global inflation affects prices here at home. That’s why with Budget 2022, we’re taking further steps to ease the financial pressure on Kiwis, with a new cost of living package.
This package includes a new temporary payment to help people with higher food and power bills. This will benefit more than two million people earning up to $70,000 a year who don’t already receive the Winter Energy Payment, including many here on the North Shore. This means that up to 60% of people in my electorate benefit from this Government’s changes since April 1st.
Alongside this payment, we’re tackling transport costs, by extending our fuel tax cut, reduced road user charges and half price public transport for a further two months, and making half price public transport permanent for people on low incomes. We’re also taking action on supermarkets to make sure Kiwis are paying a fair price at the checkout.
I’m proud of this cost of living package, but it’s not the only part of the Budget that will benefit the people on the North Shore. To secure our future, we’re making our largest ever investment in the health system and Pharmac, ensuring more people can access lifesaving medicines and treatments. We’re also delivering more paramedics and ambulances, to ensure urgent care is on hand when needed, and improving support for people with serious and acute conditions, as part of our work to build a new mental health and addiction system. The changes that we will see with the establishment of Health NZ and the Māori Health Authority will ensure everyone one in our community will have equitable access to quality healthcare.
There’s a lot more in the Budget that will benefit our community including investment that helps us transition into low-emission transport, increased support through the Business Growth Fund, Digital and Apprenticeship Boosts, increased community policing capacity on our streets and investment in a crime prevention programme to help Police protect local small businesses affected by a spike in ram raids.
Look out for one of my local meetings to hear more.
Email: Shanan.Halbert@parliament.govt.nz Call my office on 0800 222 007
facebook shananhalbertMP instagram @shanan_halbert
