Channel Magazine May 2023

Featured Listings & Recent Transactions

Matt Prentice & Shoneet Chand

We are pleased to confirm the sale of three premium grade, freehold industrial investments over the past month. 16 David McCathie Place, a 965m² building on a 2,372m² site was sold for $3.9m, and 6 Te Kea Place, a 940m² building on a 1,654m² site sold for $3.62m. 21 Arrenway Drive has also sold off market, with vacant possession, for $7.15m.

Multiple unconditional offers were presented supporting the strength of the North Auckland industrial market. Record low vacancy rates, and strong rental growth have underpinned value for well located, quality assets.

Feel free to contact either Matt or Shoneet on their details below if you have any questions, or would like to discuss an upcoming requirement.

Interested in taking part in a clinical research study?

Clinical research on the North Shore

Waitemata Clinical Research is a Birkenhead based independent, private research clinic committed to high quality clinical research. The clinic has operated on the North Shore for 10 years.

They specialise in clinical research in such areas as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes; dermatology, as well as vaccines for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Covid19 and currently a vaccine to prevent complications from urinary tract infections (UTI).

The Waitemata Clinical Research team is a small team of health professionals – including Principal Investigator Dr Susan Smith, also a local GP, research nurses including Clinical Manager Rachel Harris, and administrative personnel. They provide a safe and comfortable environment for those who volunteer to be in clinical research studies. Many of these volunteers have come back to participate in different studies over the last 10 years.

Not only do people get to support new medication advances, they often get access to diagnostics, such as ECG, lung function spirometry, cardiac checks, chest x-rays, and blood tests, at no cost.

We are currently looking for volunteers for these two studies:

Embrace UTI study

This clinical research study will involve people aged 60 years and over with a history of Urinary Tract Infection.

The Embrace UTI study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of an investigational vaccine for the prevention of a bloodstream infection. You will be eligible to take part if you are 60 years or over and have had UTI in the past two years.

Resolute COPD study

This study is looking for volunteers with a diagnosis of COPD and who are currently using ongoing inhaler medication. You must have experienced a worsening of your COPD in the past 12 months that required treatment.

To participate in our Embrace or Resolute Clinical Research Studies

Please contact Waitemata Clinical Research team on 0800 48 74 25 or info@wcresearch.co.nz. Our site staff will discuss the study and assess initial suitability with you. Following this discussion, we will send you written information about the study and what is involved. If you are suitable for the study, a screening visit will be booked with the study doctor, at a time that suits you. The study doctor will ask you questions about your health and any medicines you are taking. They will explain the study very clearly to you, review the written informed consent form and answer any questions you may have. Study visits vary in length of time and frequency. Travel compensation is provided for all clinic visits.

Interested? Phone 0800 48 74 25 or email info@wcresearch.co.nz detailing your interest in our E.mbrace UTI or Resolute COPD Study. Visit: wcresearch.co.nz

To learn more about this clinical research study and see if it’s right for you, please contact the site at:

Proudly situated on the Milford beachfront, this home has been renovated to a very high standard and now can only be described as an edgy, ideal lock-up and leave beach house.

The ground floor, oriented to maximise sun and flow, comprises a kitchen, dining and lounge which flows from the beachfront to the rear courtyard offering great afternoon sun. The home offers two double bedrooms on the mid-floor including a fantastic master suite with spectacular views and ensuite. The third double bedroom is on the top floor creating a great teenage or guest retreat.

Boundary lines are indicative only

The opportunity is perfect for downsizers who want to be on Milford beach and within walking distance of the local shops.

Double beachfront opportunity. Purchase together or separate

15B CRAIG ROAD - MAGNIFICENT BEACHFRONT OPPORTUNITY

Proudly situated on the Milford Beachfront this home offers five double bedrooms plus a separate study, three-car garaging, plus a large pool with a generously extended section to do laps in and a large patio that faces out to the west which benefits from excellent afternoon sun.

On entry-level, you have the main living comprised of an open-plan formal dining leading you into a formal lounge area with doors leading to the front yard and the beach. Adjacent to this is a more casual lounge meaning a lovely choice of living spaces. At the heart of the property is an outstanding modern kitchen with informal dining.

On the top floor are two double bedrooms both with amazing ocean views. There are three double bedrooms on the mid-floor including the master suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. Enjoy this privileged location right on Milford Beach and just a short stroll to the shops and mall. For families wanting to get into this exclusive area offering excellent accommodation, this one will not last.

Tender closes 11 May at 4.00pm (unless sold prior)

www.precision.net.nz/ID #554982

Andrew specialises in marketing homes on the Golden Mile between Milford and Takapuna and around the waterfront. In the last six consecutive calendar years, Andrew has sold over $100 million each year, at an average of over $5,000,000 per property - one of the highest (in volume and average sale price) residentially in the Country. Whilst he is renowned for dealing with higher value properties, Andrew has also carved a niche within the seaward side streets in and around Milford and Takapuna, especially with the lock up and leave market. He sees a strong correlation between larger homes and the downsizer market assisting those vendors with their next purchase. If you are thinking of selling your home or purchasing a new one, please contact Andrew for a confidential discussion.

image by Gareth Cooke / Subzero Images

Factoring in the fun

Human endurance endeavours are fascinating, especially ones that people choose to take on. What motivates someone to tackle an extreme challenge? How do they overcome physical and mental hurdles to achieve seemingly unrealistic aims? Our cover star Jono Ridler answered these questions for me early one Sunday morning at Narrow Neck Café.

The reasons behind the 33 year-old’s New Zealand distance swim record attempt from Great Barrier Island to Narrow Neck Beach left me in awe of what humans are willing to try, never mind achieve. Jono’s quest isn’t fuelled by ego, but by the platform he is able to achieve by trying to swim 100km across the Hauraki Gulf. His passion to highlight the need for urgent action to keep our waters clean and preserve precious marine life is his ‘why’. So, too, is another factor – fun, he says. “I’ve learned that, like most things, it is so much more sustainable if you’re having fun!”

Words to live by.

Our focus, with this monthly publication, is to shine a light on Shore people, organisations and events. When Channel was established by Aidan Bennett QSM back in 2010, his aim was to celebrate all good things on the Shore, support local business and organisations, provide positive stories and connect people

to their communities. He is also someone who knows the importance of enjoying life and spending time with family and friends. This spirit has always shone through the pages of this magazine, which I know has helped many local businesses and residents. These businesses need your support perhaps now more than they ever have in the past 13 years. We hope this monthly read continues to lift local spirits, inform and connect readers and, importantly, encourage you to support the businesses and organisations that make this region thrive.

We do shift our eyes away from the Shore this month briefly, however, as we take stock of what the world of travel looks like for locals in 2023. For those fortunate to be planning overseas trips, where are the far-flung places we’re favouring this year? How has the travel experience altered, post-pandemic? And what are some of our most loved travel spots? Start dreaming of your next adventure with inspiration from fellow Channel readers in this issue.

Start planning now to inject more fun into your own winter, wherever you’ll spend it.

Heather Barker Vermeer, Editor

Publisher/Advertising Aidan Bennett 021 500 997 aidan@benefitz.co.nz

Editor Heather Barker Vermeer 022 399 3175 heather@channelmag.co.nz

Advertising/Content Liz Cannon 021 204 3395 liz@channelmag.co.nz

Advertising/Content Kim McIntosh 021 419 468 kim@channelmag.co.nz

Designer Crystal Sharp crystal@benefitz.co.nz

Online and Social Media Leanika Starbuck leanika@benefitz.co.nz

owner. Colour transparencies & manuscripts submitted are sent at the owner’s risk; neither the publisher nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may occur.

MAGAZINE is published monthly (on the first Friday of the month) by Benefitz, PO Box 33-1630, Takapuna. 09 477 4700, benefitz.co.nz. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers. For further details on the magazine visit channelmag.co.nz or contact one of our team detailed above.

Liz Cannon, Kim McIntosh, Heather Barker Vermeer, Leanika Starbuck, Crystal Sharp

An environment to open minds that open doors.

Kristin School in Albany offers a:

• Modern, multicultural, co-educational, non-denominational environment with traditional values.

• Focus on student wellbeing and developing Future Ready citizens.

• Team of high quality teaching staff.

• Choice between NCEA or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma curriculum options for senior students.

• Nationally acclaimed performing arts programme and a wide choice of cocurricular and sporting opportunities.

• Proud record of high academic results and scholarships being awarded locally and internationally.

For all admission and scholarship enquiries, visit kristin.school.nz or call our Admissions Manager on 09 415 9566 ext 2324.

• Vast range of community service and leadership opportunities, and a wide array of trips and exchanges for experiential learning.

• Park-like campus, state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated bus service travelling 20 routes across Auckland.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available to enable new students to join Kristin from Year 9.

Applications are invited from aspiring individuals who demonstrate excellent character, school involvement, sporting, performing arts and/or academic strengths.

Optimists set sail for nationals at Narrow Neck

Hundreds flocked to Wakatere Boating Club over Easter Weekend as the club hosted the 2023 Toyota Optimist National Championships at Narrow Neck Beach. Over 200 competitors came from all over the North Shore, across New Zealand and beyond, with sailors also travelling to the event from Australia and several Pacific Islands. Officially accredited as a platinum Sailors of the Sea Clean Regatta, the showcase had a focus on sustainability and education, as well as sailing. Local Wakatere Boating Club member and Takapuna Grammar student William Mason took gold. The 14 year-old was named national champion in the event that ran from 6-10 April and was supported by a team of over 100 volunteers.

Alicia Simpson, Ciara and Brian Boyle Dean Coleman, Simon Probert

Gus and Carey Gilles

Matthew Carran, Jenson and Leigh Huynh

Vivienne Gubani, Juliet White

Josh Shon, Delayne Salthouse, Luc Gladwell

Isaac Bollen, Braedyn Denney, Harry Strang

Wakatere Boating Club over Easter Weekend

All aboard for The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch

Kids and their caregivers flocked to the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna over the April Easter holidays to enjoy the live show extravaganza that was 'The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch', presented by Tim Bray Theatre Company. The audience loved the fun and adventurous cast and the clever puppeteers who created the naughty seagulls and beautiful whales. Look out for their next show, 'The Magic Faraway Tree' in June and July at the PumpHouse Theatre – fantastic school holiday entertainment for the whole family.

Big Bike Film Night 2023

Monday8May,7.30pm. The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission to bring the best cycling short films from around the world together for you, showcasing the 2023 collection that has everything a cyclecentric audience could wants: action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration.

Film festivals at The Vic

This May, The Vic is proud to host various film festival screenings! On Sun 7 May, we will close The Dutch Film Festival with Pink Moon. We have two screenings as part of the South African Film Festival on Thu 4 May with MusicisMyLife, and Sun 7 May with Mission: Joy. Plus, Cinema Italiano returns for its eighth edition, with daily screenings between 9-21 May

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday 19 May, 8.30pm. Hot & Flustered Shadowcast present The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They perform the cult classic live on stage while the movie plays behind them onscreen. Get dressed up and enjoy this immersive theatrical experience!

Katie Vincent, Nathanael Sing

Nathan, Melanie and Asher Asplet-Tagg, Linda Tagg

Vettinia Ross, Christine Ball

Freya, Finn, April and Rory Garton

Nick Mosby, Ben Schertenleib, Michelle Mosby

Joshua, Michelle and Sophie Jennings Luna and Melanie Kingston

Terryn and Riley Choat, Shirley Robinson

Acoustic folk with Dave Walker at The Vic

A wet and wild Friday night on 21 April at The Vic was the perfect setting for an intimate evening spent listening to the dulcet tones of Dave Walker and his acoustic guitar. More than 20 appreciative guests sat back and relaxed in the chill comfort of The Vic's versatile performance space, enjoying nibbles, fine wines and cool beers. Dave Walker's set included excellent covers of an eclectic mix of modern folk as well as traditional folk offerings, covering artists as diverse as The Band, Iron and Wine, and Richard Thompson. To have such depth of musical artistry plus such entertaining anecdotal wit and wisdom right on our doorstep, offered free of charge, is a pure joy.

TAKAPUNA

021 375 248

North Shore Squash Club

seasonsartclass-takapuna.com

EAST COAST BAYS

022 011 6131

Pupuke Golf Club

seasonsartclass-eastcoastbays.com

Dave Walker

Philipp Jaser, Nichola Jones, William Nicoll

Nick and Sasha Buxeda

Celine Kim, Esther Chung

Jenni and Murray Vaile

James Carrick, Kathryn Delaney, Dilini Walisundara

Glenda Kane, Chris Swift

Style in store for TBBA at Shore City

New fashion was modelled between networking at April’s monthly Takapuna Beach Business Association meeting, held on Wednesday 26 April at Shore City. Stylist, Kerry Finlay was there to share inspiration on winter style as members caught up on matters affecting local business. Kerry specialises in simplifying styles for everyday wear, helping people take the confusion out of their wardrobes and giving them the confidence to dress authentically to express themselves. Good conversation, great company and fashion tips flowed in the shopping centre’s spacious ground floor event area with quality food and drink, as always, enjoyed by all.

Rochelle Scoones, Jacey Cropp, Mat Lindsay, Alex Thornton

Julia Emblen, Monique McCarty, Maritza McGuinness, Lucy Smitham

Irina Pegler, Bev McAlpine, Vikki Warr, Louise Dwen

Simon O'Connor, Philippa Riddell, Teresa George

David Rogers, Alister Wishart

Amanda Chegwidden, Taylor James, Warren Fernandes

Dave and Lesley Lane, Alan Hartless

Paria Ataie, Natasha Allen, Hannah Blewden

Hannah Stoddard, Allan Myers, Terence Harpur

Stephanie Slyfield, Mary Brown, Sue Joe

Busy time for all

From the DTLB Chair – Toni van Tonder

Kia ora,

In the three and a half years that I’ve been on the Local Board, I’ve never been so busy. Your Local Board members fill a parttime governance role and balance that with other work and family commitments. The Chair position, which I fill, is the only full-time position and it is non-stop. We couldn’t do what we do, without the incredible team behind us. I want to start this post by sharing my gratitude to our Local Board services staff who are so under the pump right now, supporting us through the flood and cyclone response, the annual budget, the formation of the new Local Board Plan, and every little daily matter that raises its head. We would be lost without them.

The floods and cyclone that began our year are still very much front of mind for us. While life moves on for most, the abandoned and empty homes along Sunnynook’s slip lanes and down the side streets off Shakespeare Road act as a reminder that there’s work to be done. Auckland Council has appointed a Recovery Manager who met the Local Board to visit our areas that were most impacted: Sunnynook, Milford and Castor Bay. We discussed the gravity of the problem and the need for certainty for homeowners who were most impacted.

The biggest problem to address is Wairau Valley itself. When the water builds up there, it creates a backlog of flooding through the open streams and culverts. Pretty much every home identified as sitting in the flood plain on GEOMaps is a home near those streams and a home that got flooded. Historic poor planning has led to this outcome, so we need to ensure we don’t continue on this trajectory. I don’t know what a ‘fix’ will look like; I’m not an engineer. What I do know is that it’ll be big and expensive and will need to be prioritised. We can be part of that solution by advocating for the continuance of the Water Quality Targeted Rate and Natural Environment Targeted Rate, which should be used to fund these future infrastructure projects.

Of major concern has been the environmental impacts of the pump station failures. Watercare is working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen again. In the case of the Wairau pump station, a roller door that allows access was pushed inwards by the weight of water and a large

volume of water was able to ingress, thus damaging the electronics. Surprisingly, it won’t take much to shore up the station, and Watercare will be establishing a waterproof seal around the doors and swapping out the roller door with something more robust. It’s worth noting that the failure of the pump station did not contribute to the flooding. When the pumps stop pumping, the wastewater overflows from an engineered overflow point – in this case it’s a 6500 cubic metre Silverfield storage tank located three quarters of a kilometre downstream, underneath the carpark of North Shore Events Centre. Watercare has plans to upgrade the pump station and to increase the capacity in this part of the sewer network by building a large sewer pipe up to Rosedale. This will add more capacity to both allow for growth and make the network more resilient.

Another part of our ongoing work is addressing the Auckland Emergency Management process. I’ll be honest, we felt that the system didn’t work the way it should have, and we were left floundering, leaning heavily on community groups to meet the needs of neighbourhoods. We recently invited all those groups to speak to the Local Board to find out what went on for them, what their needs were and what could be done better. The strong message we heard was that it wasn’t fair to rely on residents’ associations to fill the gap. They stepped into it, naturally, and for that we thank them, but it was incredibly stressful. The centralisation of emergency management simply doesn’t work, and we need a more sub-regional approach that responds to local needs.

When the Mayor asked us for our ‘Five Big Ideas’ in response to the extreme weather events, this was one of them: a better co-ordinated emergency management response. We also made recommendations for additional water retention sites in the Wairau catchment, increased frequency in cleaning and maintenance of our open streams and culverts, improved stormwater infrastructure in the Wairau Valley, such as widening and naturalisation of those open streams, and the establishment of a regional grants programme that supports property owners to retrospectively install retention and detention tanks.

We’re doing everything we can to advocate for a resilient city, we can promise you that. No one could have predicted the amount of rain we received. I understand it was a freak occurrence. The point is, if it can happen once, it can happen again ̶ time to get prepared.

Toni van Tonder, Chair, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Email: toni.vantonder@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Of major concern has been the environmental impacts of the pumpstation failures. Watercare is working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

News from The PumpHouse from James Bell

Double the drama: Two must-see theatre shows in May

Two brilliant shows take the stage at The PumpHouse Theatre this month! These must-see shows include Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking, and Neil LaBute’s The Way We Get By.

Tadpole Productions brings to the stage Ayckbourn's classic comedy Relatively Speaking, starring a talented cast including Louise Wallace, Edwin Wright, Benjamin Murray, and Michelle Blundell. Prepare for a merrygo-round of secrets, lies, and mistaken identities as two couples navigate the complexities of their relationships. With Ayckbourn's signature wit and charm, Relatively Speaking is a must-see show running from 4–14 May.

Masked Productions presents an audacious tale of modern romance with The Way We Get By. In the aftermath of a drunken hookup, Beth and Doug find themselves in uncharted territory as they navigate their feelings for each other. Full of fast-paced banter, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected emotional depth, The Way We Get By is a captivating theatrical experience running from 19–27 May.

But that's not all! Rosmini Academy of Performing Arts will be back at the end of the month with a thriller-comedy, A Tale of Two Counts, from 30 May to 1 June.

Sneak peek into June

Enjoy some June tunes at The PumpHouse with an array of music including Hits of the Crooners, classical violin and piano concerts, an acoustic instrumental of Taylor Swift’s hits, and the annual Becroft Aria competition.

Psst: Tickets for Shoreside's Agatha Christie have just gone on sale – it’s always a sellout, grab yours now!

See you at the theatre soon!

Ngā manaakitanga, James Bell

BOOKINGS: 09 489 8360 or pumphouse.co.nz

Depot,

DEPOT with Amy Saunders

Te Whare Toi, Devonport

We love the month of May and this one is shaping up to be an exciting one at Depot. We have two stunning shows in our gallery spaces, we have welcomed a fresh cohort onto our Wayfind Creative programme, and we’re super excited to be participating in New Zealand Music Month again with our annual schools songwriting competition.

Depot Artspace

Max Thomson: The Walk

This month our Street Front gallery hosts Max Thomson who has lived in Te Hau Kapua for the last decade. Thomson’s landscapes are of scenes that captured his imagination on account of the lighting – or lack of it – at a particular moment while walking around the neighbourhood.

Full Circle: Young Contemporary Asian New Zealand Art

Our main gallery features works by contemporary artist Weilun Ha and his students. Weilun first showed his own work at Depot over ten years ago. ‘Full Circle’ showcases paintings, screens, and sculptures created by young artists who were encouraged to embrace ancient painting techniques alongside modern materials and pop cultural references. This is a show that the whole family will enjoy!

Depot Sound

New Zealand Music Month:

May 2023

Depot Sound is excited to be running our third North Shore Schools' Songwriting Competition as part of New Zealand Music Month 2023. North Shore intermediate and secondary school musicians and bands are encouraged to enter to win a chance to get their songs professionally produced by Depot Sound’s incredibly talented team. Head to depot.org.nz/sound for more info and keep an eye on our socials!

Visit our website and sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Depot! depot.org.nz

Max Thomson, Evening Golf Course

Weilun Ha, Full Circle

Lessons and laughter with The History Boys

Company Theatre brings The History Boys, an Olivier and Tony award winning play by Alan Bennett, to The Rose Centre

Set in the 1980s, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at one of the top two English universities. Their maverick general studies/history teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher brought in to teach history, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning.

Suzy Sampson, the play’s director, said when choosing a play to direct for Company Theatre that this play was an easy choice. "As a drama tutor, it’s very rewarding working with young people and this play is a great vehicle for these eight talented young actors and a wonderful opportunity for them to practise their craft alongside seasoned professionals.” Bennett used his own school experiences to help shape this play and the truth behind the storyline makes the play all the richer. The character of Posner, the younger gay student with a crush on one of his classmates, was based on Bennett himself. As well as The History Boys, Bennett has also given the theatre world such gems as The Madness of King George, The Lady in the Van and Talking Heads, and the 88-year-old Bennett can easily be considered one of the greatest playwrights of the last century.

The History Boys delves into the works of famous poets, classic films and historical events and in order for the boys to understand the references better, background information on the authors and poets referred to in the play have adorned the rehearsal room walls to ensure the young actors had every opportunity to become familiar with the quotations in the script and their context. Called ‘one of the finest plays Alan Bennett has ever written’ by The Telegraph, The History Boys made its debut at the National Theatre in May 2004 and was a sell-out success, with the original run continually being extended to meet demand. It transferred to Broadway and also embarked on a world tour before opening in the West End in 2007. The proud owner of an Olivier and Tony Award for Best Play, it is a certified global hit. A film adaption was released in 2006 and attracted similar acclaim.

Company Theatre has gathered an amazing cast for this production with Duncan Prescott playing the lead role of Hector. Audiences will have seen Duncan in the Company productions Peninsula, Neville’s Island and Jerusalem. Chris Smith is cast as the headmaster, Chloe Smith (not related) plays the history teacher Dorothy, and Walt Bowers Fleming (a past student of Suzy’s at Tim Bray Youth Theatre) takes on the challenging role of the young newly recruited teacher Irwin. The all-important ‘boys’ whose characters differ immensely, are played by local Takapuna Grammar students Aidan Allen, Aedan Ward, Emré Logan-Erdi, Lucus Laurent and Raine Gilchrist, Auckland Grammar student Jesse Parks, and Nick Curry who as an Auckland graduate in music and law is waiting to start his MA in Musical Theatre at Guildford University in the UK. A very talented musician and singer, he brings these additional qualities to the play and the rest, as they say, is history.

The History Boys is on at the Rose Centre, School Road, Belmont from 6-20 May, Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Bookings ($29/$25 concessions) can be made at iticket.co.nz or 09 361 1000

Michael Hill International Violin Competition

Budding violinists and music lovers are in for an unmissable treat on Friday 9 June. World-renowned violinist Ning Feng joins NZTrio and acclaimed pianist Sarah Watkins in an intimate recital of solo and chamber works at the Westlake Girls High School Event Centre.

The concert marks his only performance in New Zealand during his visit as a member of the adjudicating panel for the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, an event commonly referred to on world music stages as the “Olympics of violin competitions”.

NZTrio, featuring Westlake Girls past pupil Somi Kim (piano), will open the performance and Ning Feng will headline the second half, presenting solo Bach and favourite chamber music repertoire. A highlight will surely be the Piazzola Piano Trio in which he reunites with Michael Hill collaborating artists, Sarah Watkins (piano) and NZTrio’s own Ashley Brown (cello), both of whom first performed with Feng 18 years ago when he won the 2005 Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

The recital is part of the wider Auckland String Sessions, a new mini-festival that sits alongside the final rounds of the competition with the purpose of helping to raise awareness for fine music and to inspire the highest standard of musical performance in Aotearoa.

“We set up the Auckland Strings Sessions as a series of free masterclasses and ticketed recitals to make the most of the incredible talent the Michael Hill Competition draws to New Zealand,” explains the competition’s executive director Anne Rodda.

“The Michael Hill attracts the next generation of world-class soloists and likewise our judging panel is also made up of the very best international violinists.

"Having an artist of Ning Feng’s standing here in New Zealand as a judge; it’s too good an opportunity to miss. We want to ensure as

many of our own New Zealand violin students and music lovers can benefit from his expertise up close.”

In addition to this ticketed recital performance on Friday 9 June, Ning will also conduct a free public masterclass at the same venue from 4 – 6pm. Invited student violinists from The Chiron Academy will perform and then work directly with Ning in a supportive public ‘coaching’ format.

“Masterclasses are incredibly valuable learning opportunities, for the students and for the audience,” explains Anne Rodda.

“Regardless of your chosen instrument, attending a masterclass led by a musician like Ning Feng will leave you with fascinating new perspectives.”

Tickets for Ning Feng’s only New Zealand performance are on sale now through Ticketmaster. For further information about the Auckland String Sessions and the final rounds of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition visit michaelhillviolincompetition.co.nz/auckland-string-sessions.

Superstar violinist

Ning Feng gives his only 2023 NZ performance

FRIDAY 9 JUNE 7:30pm

WESTLAKE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL EVENT CENTRE also appearing NZTRIO and SARAH WATKINS violincompetition.co.nz

NZTrio, Amalia Hall, Ashley Brown and Somi Kim

Sarah Watkins, Piano Credit: Lydia Sewell

Ingredients

4 lamb shanks, Frenchboned

¼ cup Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, sliced 1 cm thick

2 carrots, peeled and trimmed

2 cups mushrooms, sliced

1 head garlic

4 sprigs rosemary

¼ cup chicken broth

2 cups red table wine

Red wine braised lamb shanks

Looking for a mouth-watering main dish to grace your table this winter? These red wine braised lamb shanks feature tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and a rich, decadent sauce. The slow-cooking process of braising, especially in cast iron, breaks down the sometimes tougher connective tissue of shanks into a particularly flavourful cut of meat. Cook with the Lodge Blacklock 5.2L Dutch Oven ($429) or the Lodge Cast Iron 4.7L Double Dutch Oven ($214.50). Both are triple seasoned cast iron, but the Blacklock range from Lodge is 25% lighter.

Method

1. Preheat Lodge Dutch Oven over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes

2. Brush lamb shanks with Dijon mustard, and season with salt and pepper

3. Over medium-high heat, add olive oil and sear lamb on all sides, about 5-7 minutes

4. Remove lamb and add onions. Sauté onions for 5 minutes. Add carrots, mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, chicken broth, and red wine

5. Bring contents to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add lamb and cover for 2½ hours, turning lamb twice during the braising process

6. Remove lamb from the braiser, and reduce liquid until thickened, about 10 minutes

7. Plate shanks, pour over thickened liquid and serve with garlic mashed potatoes topped with crispy shallots.

Recipe created by Lodge

Cast Iron

Shore ON THE Eating Out

Here at Channel we're proud to support our local hospo businesses in our monthly eating out guide. Try somewhere new this month.

Devonport

Akdeniz Bar Cafe Restaurant

Offering Persian and Mediterranean cuisine in Devonport. 5/15 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 600 2125 akdenizdevonport.co.nz

Buona Sera Restaurant

Serving autentic Italian food since 2005 in the heart of Devonport. Great food comes from great ingredients. Mangiama - let's eat!

99 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 8133 buonasera.co.nz

Cafe Hung Viet

Traditional flavours of Vietnamese cuisine brings authentic Hanoi meals to the North Shore.

101 Victoria Rd, Devonport. 09 446 3368 cafehungviet.co.nz

Calimero

Extensive authentic pizza range open seven days a week. Real pizza, great taste!

163 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 2232 calimerodevonport.booknorder.co.nz

Corellis

Great tasting home-style fare at a great price. 46 Victoria Road Devonport. 09 445 4151 corelliscafe.co.nz

DEVONPORT

Calimero Devonport

Located in the heart of Devonport on Victoria Road, Calimero serves fresh, authentic pizzas seven nights a week.

A far cry from your average pizzeria, Calimero boasts an extensive menu of both authentic and more unconventional pizza options, taking flavours from cities around the world. Great taste, great value - check out the regular Tuesday specials. Order online at calimero.co.nz for your favourite pizza or try something new. Pickup and delivery options available.

163 Victoria Road, Devonport 09 445 2232 calimero.co.nz

facebook CalimeroPizza instagram calimero_nz

Devonport Indian Hub - The Asian Eatery

The best of Indian and Asian fusion cuisine. 71 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 4263 devonportindianhub.co.nz

Devon on the Wharf

A little slice of heaven for tastes of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine.

1 Queen's Parade, Devonport. 09 445 7012 devononthewharf.nz

Flying Rickshaw

Honest and simple authentic Indian cuisine. 97 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 7721 flyingrickshaw.co.nz

Khana on the Shore

Fresh, authentic Indian cuisine using the best fresh and natural ingredients.

161 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 1546 / 021 689 216. khana.co.nz

Manuka Cafe and Restaurant

Mediterranean inspired cuisine and friendly customer service. 49 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 7732 manukarestaurant.co.nz

Portofino Devonport

Very popular Italian Restaurant in the heart of Devonport. 26 Victoria Rd, Devonport. 09 445 3777 portofinodevonport.co.nz

DEVONPORT

Khana

Khana serves fresh, authentic Indian food for the local community and visitors. Our menu offers a wide range of Indian specialties such as Butter Chicken, Goat Curry, Lamb Rogan Josh, Paneer Saag, Dal Tadka and many more. We use free range chicken, fresh hapuka, fresh vegetables and fresh spices. Curry bases and gravies are made in-house from natural ingredients and spices. Order easily through our online system for takeaways and delivery. We look forward to serving you.

161 Victoria Road, Devonport khana.devenport@gmail.com 09 445 1546 / 021 689 216 khana.co.nz

Signal Hill Restaurant

Serves classic NZ fare with an extensive drinks list in Devonport’s most iconic homestead. 24 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 0193 signalhill.co.nz

The Kestrel

Devonport's newest bar/eatery with extensive tap beer range, great NZ wines & cocktails and modern NZ pub food. Great outdoor seating and views.

1/1 Queens Parade, Devonport Wharf. 09 445 1777 thekestrel.co.nz

The Patriot

Your Devonport Pub - owned by locals, for locals. 14 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 3010 thepatriot.co.nz

Vic Road Kitchen

Serving up fresh, seasonal NZ produce in a rustic Mediterranean style. 57-59 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 9797 vicroadkitchen.co.nz

Vic Road Wine Bar and Cellar

Enjoy a glass of wine from the ever-changing wine list, chosen from a selection of interesting New Zealand and international wines. 53/55 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 445 0194 vicroadkitchen.co.nz

Vondel

Serving vegan and omni eats alongside small batch wine, beers and spirit drinks. 8 Victoria Road, Devonport. 09 446 6444 vondel.co.nz

DEVONPORT

Vondel

Owner-operated eatery in Devonport. Serving vegan and omni eats alongside small batch wine, beer and spirit drinks. We hold weekly specials, along with wine makers' dinners, makers' markets and private events.

Sign up to our mailing list on our website to keep up to date with all goings on at Vondel.

Open Hours: Tues-Fri 12pm - late, Sat 10am - late, Sun 10am - 6pm 09 446 6444

hello@vondel.co.nz

vondel.co.nz

instagram Instagram @vondel_akl facebook facebook.com/vondelakl

Belmont/Bayswater

Daily Bread

Freshly baked loaves and perfect pastries made fresh every day. Available in store and for deliveries.

43 Eversleigh Road, Belmont. dailybread.co.nz

Toni's Italian Pizzeria

Traditional, handmade, authentic and fresh. We love making pizza and especially love making people happy with our pizza!

167 Lake Road, Belmont. 09 962 6693 tonispizzeria.co.nz

XO Takapuna

Asian skewers and street style food, tasty cocktails and boutique liqueurs, all with impeccable service and style.

333 Lake Road, Bayswater. 09 486 0003 xotakapuna.com

Takapuna

8848 Restaurant & Bar

Authentic Nepalese and Indian cuisine in the heart of Takapuna. 17 Huron Street, Takapuna. 09 489 9911 8848indiancuisine.co.nz

Alforno Italian Restaurant

Delicious Italian and Mediterranean food cooked with passion. 34 Anzac Street, Takapuna. 09 488-0179 alforno.co.nz

Aubergine Restaurant

Premium European and Mediterranean style dining

129 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 489 3104 aubergine.co.nz

Big Tikka

Indian cuisine… using bold flavours & reinterpreting classic dishes in a contemporary way.

458 Lake Road, Takapuna. 09 974 2241 bigtikka.co.nz

Botticelli Restaurant & Wine Bar

A popular Italian eatery, serving Takapuna for over 27 years Anzac Street, Takapuna. 021 910 999 botticelli.co.nz

Burger Burger

Eat Street, 40 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 390 5348. burgerburger.co.nz

Catch 21 Eatery

The crew are all hands on deck to serve exceptional coffee, staple café offerings and a selection of fine seafood. 33 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 484 0005 catch21.co.nz

Catnapper Arms

A favourite local with great food with great daily specials 136 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 486 6330 catnapperarms.co.nz

Dantes Pizza & Casa Pasta

Wood Fired Pizzas & sensational Pasta in the heart of Taka! Eat Street, 40 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 486 3668. dantes.co.nz

El Humero

Traditional Colombian-style barbecue restaurant - yum! Eat Street, 40 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 489 9973. elhumero.co.nz

Florrie McGreals Irish Pub

The best place in Takapuna to have a beer, meet some old friends or make some new ones. Great food as well! 138 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 486 6330 florriemcgreals.co.nz

Flourish Café

Coffee with a conscience, service with a smile! Help Project Employ trainees fulfil their goal of gaining employment. 19 Como Street, BDO Towers, Takapuna. 09 489 2266 projectemploy.nz

Francs Bar & Diner

Beachside diner smacks of fresh fish, crisp lager, flopping jandals and easy service from sunrise to sunset. Main Beach, The Strand, Takapuna. 09 488 0016 joylab.co.nz/francs

French Rendez-Vous

French bistro-creperie serving delicious traditional French favourites, glkuten free galettes and sweet crêpes. 2a Maurere Ave, Takapuna (next to The PumpHouse). 09 487 0009 french-rendez-vous-caferestaurant.business.site

Nanam

Nanam welcomes you to a relaxed and warm dining experience that showcases their humble Filipino flavours. 178 Hurtsmere Road, Takapuna. 09 488 9976 nanam.co.nz

DEVONPORT

Devonport Indian Hub

Classic Indian and Asian fusion cuisine. Be welcomed by owner Kushal and chef Bikram when you arrive at this friendly new restaurant. As a service-orientated establishment, we love meeting and getting to know our guests and are happy to answer any questions. With over 20 years' experience providing authentic Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine, we love sharing our exquisite meals - allow yourself to be enveloped by aromatic spices, pure meats, and homemade naan and lassi.

Open 7 days a week, 11am-9.30pm

71 Victoria Road, Devonport devonportindianhubnz@gmail.com devonportindianhub.co.nz

09 445 4263

Daily Bread

Daily Bread's freshly baked loaves and perfect pastries are made every morning at this Belmont outpost where the sitdown menu, petanque court and kids' playground give locals even more reason to visit.

If you don't feel like venturing out, try the delivery option where you can have baked goods delivered the next day.

dailybread.co.nz

43 Eversleigh Road, Belmont 7am - 3pm daily hello@dailybread.co.nz instagram.com/ dailybreadnz/

Regatta Bar & Eatery

Your slice of Ibiza, right here on the Shore. Stunning sea views, premium beer, bloody good wine and fresh seafood.

Main Beach, The Strand, Takapuna. 09 488 0040 joylab.co.nz/regatta

Sakebar Nippon

Traditional Japanese (Isakaya style) cuisine in a lively fun setting to experience the sites and sounds of busy Japan!

32 Anzac Street, Takapuna. 09 486 2249 sakebar.co.nz

Taylors on Hurstmere

Takapuna's friendliest little wine and tapas bar.

168 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 489 9510 taylorsonhurstmere.co.nz

The Elephant Wrestler

Your larger than life local in the heart of Taka with an outdoor courtyard to boot. Selection of crafty beverages and food that’s undeniably Kiwi.

138 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 489 8030 joylab.co.nz/elephant-wrestler

Tok Tok Kitchen

Always busy, a unique restaurant with Asian fusion cuisine near the beach.

129 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. 09 489 3988 toktok.co.nz

Tokyo Bay

Modern Japanese cuisine from kitchen run by experienced sushi master Mr Chikara Sato, a ‘fugu’ blowfish licensed sushi chef. Main Beach, The Strand, Takapuna. 09 390 7188 tokyobay.co.nz

Winner Winner Takapuna

Healthy, fast, fresh dinners or lunches with yummy chicken a focus! 16 Anzac Street, Takapuna. 09 486 0755 winnerwinner.co.nz

Smales Farm, Takapuna

Fantail & Turtle

A popular bar and eatery with alfresco vibe and great food! Goodside at Smales Farm. 09 486 0644 fantailandturtle.co.nz

Shake Out

Serving up a highly addictive menu of burgers, sides, shakes and sundaes – fast. Goodside at Smales Farm. 09 489 8223 shakeout.co

French Rendez-Vous

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (to be booked 24 hours in advance) with traditional French dishes like beef bourguignon and also lots of gluten free galettes and sweet crêpes. Located at the heart of Takapuna. Book at www.french-rendez-vouscaferestaurant.business.site

Or via our Facebook and Instagram accounts: facebook: FrenchRendezvousTakapuna instagram: @frenchrendezvoustakapuna

2a Manurere Avenue

Next to The PumpHouse, Takapuna 09 487 0009

Soho Thai

The art of traditional Thai cooking giving a modern twist. Goodside at Smales Farm. 09 972 2711 sohothaikitchen.com

The Grange Bar & Bistro

A favourite all-day bar and bistro. Making the most of the best, fresh NZ produce.

Goodside at Smales Farm. 09 972 9060 thegrangetakapuna.co.nz

Northcote Point

The Engine Room

Since 2006, a neighbourhood bistro that is simply one of the best in NZ!

115 Queen Street, Northcote Point. 09 480 9502 engineroom.net.nz

Clarence Rd Eatery

An all day cafe/restaurant in the historic building that includes Bridgeway Cinema. You’ll love it!

124 Queen Street, Northcote Point. 09 480 9600 clarencerdeatery.nz

Northcote Tavern

We reckon one of the best places for pub food on the Shore!

37 Queen Street, Northcote Point. 09 480 7707 northcotetavern.co.nz

Birkenhead

Abruzzo Ristorante Italiano

Authentic Italian cuisine as warm as the Mediterranean sun.

13 Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead. 09 418 4202 abruzzi.co.nz

Birkenhead Brewing Company

Classic 100 year old kauri villa with a tavern atmosphere for true Kiwi hospitality.

17 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 320 5055 bbc.kiwi

Blitza Pizza

Authentic Italian pizzas and mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine.

9 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 480 5006 blitzapizza.co.nz

TAKAPUNA

Catch 21 Eatery

Takapuna’s latest eatery has just dropped anchor with plenty of sunny outdoor seating overlooking Hurstmere Green. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and coffee for dining in or taking away, the friendly 'crew' are all hands-on-deck to serve exceptional coffee, delicious staple café offerings and a number of seafood options, as well as a beautiful range of freshly made cabinet food. Top picks include their signature Open Lobster Burger, Seafood Chowder, and tasty Eggs Benedict. Catch 21 is fully licensed and provides a range of beer, bubbles and wine.

Open Tues-Sun, weekdays 7.30am-3pm, weekends 8am-3pm.

Shop 8/33 Hurstmere Road

09 484 0005

catch21.co.nz/menu

Burrito House

Passionate about providing delicious, high-quality Mexican food.

17 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead. 09 418 2095 burritohouse.co.nz

Chef Rasa Sayang

Finest authentic Malaysian food.

25 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead. 09 419 9788

China Hong Kong Cuisine

Tasty Chinese and Asian food.

64 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead. 09 480 1168 hongkongchinesecuisine.co.nz

Dutch Delight

A bite of Holland right here in Auckland - the only Dutch restaurant in NZ.

3 Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead. 09 418 1390 dutchdelight.co.nz

Fika With Me

Cosy café serving funky,and flavourful Findian-inspired food.

5 Birkenhead Avenue, 09 418 5508, @fikawithme

Jose's Cantina

Jose's Mexican food is compulsive and the margaritas are addictive.

12-14 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 218 6162 josescantina.co.nz

Moxie Restaurant

A much-loved restaurant serving modern cuisine and setting high standards at Birkenhead Point. 82 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead Point. 09 419 9082 moxierestaurant.co.nz

Mulan Malaysian Restaurant

Authentic flavours of South East Asia, home-style Malaysian cuisine.

243 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead. 09 480 2806 mulan.co.nz

Primerose Thai Cuisine

Traditional Thai dishes with excellent aroma, flavour and taste.

6 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead. 09 418 0555 primerosethaicuisine.co.nz

Real Burger

NEW! Best burgers on the Shore, plus fries and chicken options too. Tasty, good, real. 30 Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead. 021 085 95485 realburger.site

Tasty Tiny Thai Restaurant

Unique Thai experience with authentic dishes bursting with flavour.

52d Mokoia Road, Birkenhead. 09 418 4999 tastytinythai.co.nz

Thai Yum Food Hut

Authentic Thai food in Birkenhead. 23 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 480 6799 thaiyum.net.nz

The Curry Master

Experience Indian food at it’s finest. 18 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 480 7211 thecurrymaster.co.nz/birkenhead

The Good Home

Honest homestyle cooking at its best. 83 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead. 09 480 0066 thegoodhomebirkenhead.co.nz

Milford

Anokha Indian Restaurant

Long been a destination choice for Indian food lovers, specialising in North Indian Cuisine – authentic curry, tandoori dishes and freshly baked breads.

140 Kitchener Rd, Milford. 09 489 1499 anokha.co.nz

Bunty's Burgers

NEW! Gourmet burger bar specialising in smash, chicken and veggie burgers. 89 Kitchener Road, Milford. 09 486 5711

Cave À Vin

Natural wines and food to share – locals love this place! 146 Kitchener Rd, Milford caveavin.co.nz

Don Japanese Restaurant

Local Japanese that offers great service, a variety of authentic dishes with good drinks list to match. 1 Milford Rd, Milford. 09 379 2834

Jazzy’s Cafe & Pizzeria

Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Cafe style brekkie, Fresh homemade pizzas, delicious Sri Lankan meals and more! 5 Milford Rd, Auckland. 09 486 1582 jazzys.net

Flourish Café

Flourish Café provides training and work experience for young adults with learning differences. When you order your favourite coffee and choose from our delicious, fresh cabinet food, you will always be served with a smile. Support our trainee’s by coming into Flourish Café. Catering available.

19 Como Street, BDO Towers, Takapuna

7am–3pm, Monday – Friday

09 489 2266

instagram flourish.takapuna /projectemploynz

Taylors on Hurstmere

CATCH 21

EATERY

facebook Flourish Café

/Project Employ projectemploy.nz

Yellow Hour

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV

Takapuna's friendliest little wine and tapas bar and everyone's favourite local just around the corner from the Bruce Mason Theatre. Perfect for private parties, no venue hire!

$85 per bottle between 5-7pm daily

Veuve Clicquot happy hour 5pm to 7pm

$85 per bottle.

Book now for Mother's Day 14 May

Also come celebrate Taylors 6 birthday Thursday 1 June with live music!

Palliser Estate wine tasting Wednesday

17 May.

168 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna

taylorsonhurstmere@gmail.com

taylorsonhurstmere.co.nz

09 489 9510

Licenced Eatery

SHOREWIDE

Your Catering

Owner/operator Paul has been catering for hospitality events across the North Shore and beyond for 25 years. A wide range of menus and options are available to suit all occasions, events, functions, dietary requirements and budgets. Set menus or bespoke packages available. All menus are handpicked, sourcing the best, freshest local ingredients. Full service provided: preparation, cooking, presentation, serving and clearing away, leaving you and your guests to enjoy your event!

Call Paul on 021 214 2095 or email yourcatering.nz@gmail.com yourcatering.co.nz for full range of menus.

Langkawi Restaurant

Popular Malaysian local that has been here for around 25 years. BYO restaurant and also offers a range of well-priced wines.

122 Kitchener Road, Milford. 09 486 2700

Monthien Thai Restaurant

Popular Thai eatery in the heart of Milford. Real Thai real taste and best service!

142 Kitchener Rd, Milford. 09 488 0409 monthien.co.nz

Musashi Japanese Cuisine Milford

Serves everything you expect from your authentic Japanese restaurants but with a twist. Menu of Japanese cuisine, built around local taste and ingredients.

212 Kitchener Road, Milford. Phone 489 5977 musashirestaurant.co.nz

PYM's of Milford

The popular neighbourhood Milford Village bar & eatery. Excellent drinks selection with simple but great food.

154 Kitchener Road, Milford pymsofmilford.com

Stanley Avenue

Stanley Avenue is a relaxed, smart, wine bar and bistro where people can come and enjoy a light snack or sophisticated meal paired with an interesting wine offering.

52 East Coast Road, Milford, 09 410 0066 stanleyavenue.co.nz

Talay Thai Restaurant

Delicious authentic Thai cuisine. Using only the freshest ingredients with vegetarian, vegan options and gluten free dishes.

83-85 Kitchener Rd, Milford, 09 489 9568 talaythai.co.nz

Tokki

Modern Korean restaurant in the heart of Milford, inviting customers to enjoy a Korean taste palette adventure like no other.

87 Kitchener Road, Milford. 09 488 0888 tokki.co.nz

The Milford Cafe, Bar & Restaurant

For brunch, lunch & dinner. Classics, re-imagined and modernised –the best in fine coffee, wine and delicious food.

7 Milford Road, Milford. 09 488 9388 themilford.co.nz

Venice Italian Restaurant

A friendly local of Italian cuisine lovers passionate about cooking Italian food combined with a splendid collection of fine wines.

91 Kitchener Road, Milford, 09 486 4157 venicerestaurant.net

East Coast Bays

21 Days Bar & Brasserie

Named after the process of aging beef 21-28 days. Great food, some say best meat on the Shore!

37 Clyde Road Browns Bay. 0800 21 3297 21days.co.nz

El Greco Greek and Italian Eatery

A touch of the Mediterranean in the Bays! – the locals try to keep it a secret, it’s good!

1 The Esplanade, Campbells Bay. 09 475 5772 elgreco.co.nz

Montrose Cafe, Bistro & Bar

A Mairangi Bay local known for consistently good food and hospitality!

1 Montrose Terrace, Mairangi Bay. 09 478 9610 montrose.org.nz

Paper Moon

One of the Bay's favourite dining and drinking spots – for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks into the evening. 437 Beach Road, Mairangi Bay. 09 479 8872 papermoon.org.nz

Ristorante La Spiaggia

One of the best Italian restaurants on the Shore – Maria and Emilio never disappoint! 470 Beach Road, Murrays Bay. 09 475 5643 laspiaggia.co.nz

Shore Wide

Your Catering

Catering for all occasions and all requirements across the Shore. Call Paul on 021 214 2095 yourcatering.co.nz

BIRKENHEAD

Fantail & Turtle

A bar & eatery founded on friendship, with an offering that acknowledges our independence and our appreciation of quality. Expect fresh & local craft beer, real ale & cider flowing from 15 taps, an on-site microbrewery, a wine list covering local and far away regions that are synonymous with varietal excellence, an extensive gin list enhanced with botanics fresh from our gardens, bespoke modern cocktails to sip late into the evening, and modern sharing dishes by chef James Wheeler, with a focus on showcasing sustainable & locally sourced seasonal produce.

hello@fantailandturtle.co.nz fantailandturtle.co.nz instagram fantailandturtle

Fika with Me

If you need a reason to visit Birkenhead, you’ve found it! This cosy café, located at 5 Birkenhead Ave has a funky menu serving Altura coffee. Chef-owner Deepak, originally from Fiji, has designed the dishes to include flavours inspired from his own heritage. If you’re in the mood to try something unique, this is the place to be. Open six days a week with plenty of parking. Call 094185508 to book a table.

Opening Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8.00am-2.30pm Sat, Sun 8.30am-2.30pm

5 Birkenhead Avenue instagram fika_with_me facebook fikawithmebirkenhead

@fikawithme

Bunty's Burgers

Bunty’s specialises in smash burgers, in-house smoked pork and beef brisket burgers, and fried chicken. Pair your burger with a delicious range of sides, bites & salads, including plenty of gluten free & vegetarian options. We focus on using the freshest ingredients and make as much as we can in-house. There is a modern and adventurous wine list and Behemoth beers on tap. This ain’t your ordinary burger joint!

Open Tuesdays from 5pm, Wednesday – Friday from 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from midday 89 Kitchener Rd, Milford buntys.co.nz

Meet the team behind the award winning video agency that calls Takapuna home

Tucked down a driveway at the top of Barrys Point Road is a boutique video agency run by North Shore residents, husband and wife team, Steve and Jackie Gulik.

Steve is well regarded in the advertising industry. He spent 20 years working in agencies on campaigns and TV commercials for brands including Toyota, McDonald's, The Warehouse, Lotto, Cadbury, Volkswagen, Westpac and Sky TV. He started The Post Office six years ago when he saw an opportunity to work directly with clients to develop and produce video content.

“Video is one of the easiest ways to communicate a message, showcase a product or engage with any audience. We still make TV commercials but the focus has definitely shifted to social media and other digital platforms. Our clients range from manufacturing, marine, food and beverage, tourism and financial services. They all see the value in good content,” Steve explained.

Jackie joined the agency a couple of years ago as executive producer and studio manager. Her experience as a marketing and communications manager complements Steve’s creativity. “Steve and I have always worked well together. He is a technical genius and I enjoy the planning side of things. Our combined experience means we can offer the full package to our clients; from developing ideas, story boarding and scripting right through to completion,” says Jackie.

Last year, the agency celebrated two exciting milestones: winning

Production Company of the Year (Asia Pacific) at the One Show Awards for their work on the Motor Neuron Disease campaign, featuring Suzanne Paul, and their dream to have a studio space in Takapuna came to fruition.

The studio has a large open plan area for filming and a great space for clients to come in and view their videos on the big screen. They have a funky kitchen/bar area and a seriously good coffee machine, which comes in handy for entertaining and food shoots. Up on the mezzanine is where their team of editors and animators work from. They share the space with Pinky, a 6ft elephant by local artist Christian Nicholson, and Izzy, the Jack Russell.

“Before we found this place, we were working out of a shared office but it just wasn’t the right fit. We wanted parking for our clients and a space that everyone would enjoy coming to. Last year, just as we were logging off for Christmas, an opportunity came up on Barrys Point Road and we jumped at it. We have spent the last 12 months transforming this once industrial building into a studio and we absolutely love it here.”

The Post Office is a full service video agency that specialises in creating engaging videos. If you want to tell your brand story or advertise your business, contact Jackie on 021 495 777 jackie@thepostoffice.co.nz thepostoffice.co.nz

Steve & Jackie - The Post Office

By Claire Bellingham, Personal Trainer and Nutritionist

Healthy habits

The most common reason people give for not exercising is time. Yet it’s often the busiest people who are the most regular exercisers. Hours spent exercising are balanced against efficiencies created by being in good health. Exercising makes sense, but many people are discouraged by the lag time between beginning the regime and enjoying the benefits. It can be challenging to make a start.

The key to exercise success is consistency of habit. Habit involves a three step loop in the brain – trigger, then routine, then reward. If you regularly attend a class every Monday and Friday you’ll come to expect the sense of feeling prepared for the weekend and re-set after the weekend. You’ll start to feel short-changed on the sense of achievement if you miss your class. The brain loves consistency and fixed patterns are a way to save effort. Regular gym-goers don’t debate whether they should go to the gym any more than they debate whether they should clean their teeth each morning. Workouts are just a fact of life. Regular exercisers don’t use up emotional energy summoning willpower to get to the gym, they attend on autopilot and use mental capacity for other tasks.

There are many ways to convert activities into robust habits. Be practical about the number of times you can realistically put aside responsibilities to get to the gym. Try to exercise at the time of day that suits your energy levels and temperament. Some people like to go in the morning so the day can’t get in the way, others find early morning exercise exhausting. Many people find it easier to attend the gym straight from work rather than stopping in at home first and risking being swallowed up by the couch. Observe the triggers that consistently derail your routine and try to create habits that dodge them.

The best starting point for creating strong habits is to choose exercise you enjoy. An optimal plan is useless if you can’t force yourself to adhere, it’s more difficult to create a habit loop where you can’t seem to get to the reward. It’s natural to enjoy some types of exercise more than others and you might need to choose the path of least difficulty to start with. There’s usually an initial barrier of discomfort to overcome when starting a new regime. Select the type of exercise you find easiest, put it on the weekly schedule and consider involving a friend or PT as an accountabilibuddy.

Routines are easier to transition to habits if they’re convenient. Regular gym-goers tend to own comfortable gym clothing and practical gym accessories. Their gym bag is well stocked, their shoes are fit for purpose and their drink bottle doesn’t leak. Things you do irregularly continue to be difficult and things you do regularly become easy. Consistent healthy habits make your life simpler and better.

The last few months have contained many obstacles to habit formation. It’s not easy to form reliable routines if you’ve been struggling to recover from some combination of Covid, flood, cyclone, daylight savings, Easter and school holidays. Perhaps May is the new January this year.

Choose your healthy habits wisely and tend them carefully until they become seamlessly automatic. Planning and discipline will get you started, momentum will carry you forwards.

Les Mills Takapuna, Rooftop Level, Shore City, Takapuna

0800 LES MILLS lesmills.co.nz clairebellingham.co.nz claire@clairebellingham.co.nz

By Jane and Jeremy Bain, franchisees at Pack & Send Takapuna

Sending Art somewhere?

PACK & SEND Takapuna is your "one stop shop" when you need to send artwork, sculptures, ceramics and antiques - anywhere. No matter how large, awkward, valuable or fragile the item is, you can rely on PACK & SEND's experienced operators to package it and get it delivered, safely.

Jane and Jeremy Bain, the local franchisees at PACK & SEND Takapuna have a "No Limits" approach when helping customers solve packaging and freight problems around art and antiques. "Many of the items we have dealt with are valuable" says Jeremy.

"Not only in the monetary sense but because the pieces may have been handed down through the family for generations. It's irreplaceable on so many levels"

It doesn't matter where it's going. New York, London, Sydney, Dunedinthe same care and attention is given to every consignment.

We'll collect it, package it, take care of the documentation, track it right through to the destination and get it signed for" says Jane.

As well, PACK & SEND customers can use their Freight Plus Warranty cover against loss or damage to secure that extra peace of mindsomething not generally available when freighting artworks.

For those really delicate items like fine antiques or ceramics, Pack & Send can use its state of the art "Foam in Place" packaging system, which forms a protective mould around the item, for safe transport.

"We also produce custom made boxes to any size or shape" adds Jeremy.

"Because we treat each consignment as unique, designing packaging and the freight solutions to suit, we're finding that more and more people benefit from our services.

PACK & SEND provides service, systems and packaging to make your freight experience as simple and smooth as possible. You don't need to open an account; they send anything, anywhere and take care of the hassles.

PACK & SEND Takapuna are supporting our client Flagstaff Gallery Devonport at the Art in the Park Exhibition again this year September 7-10th. Held at Eden Park, Art In The Park is a world-class contemporary art show in Auckland's cultural calendar. Over 100 NZ best artists and 1000 pieces of art will be on display. At this year's show, go behind the scenes with the artists, hear them talk, watch them create, and be inspired. Tickets start from $15 and can be purchased from artinthepark.co.nz

Pack & Send Takapuna open Mon – Sat, located at 77 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna with exclusive and convenient parking outside. 09 486 3355 takapuna@packsend.co.nz and let them make sending easy.

(09) 486 3355

Belloro marks golden return for ‘Platina pair’

Making many memories as a jewel in the crown of Milford Mall, Jo and Tony Fryer were much-loved by locals for their high-end jewellery business on the Shore for over a decade. Two years ago, the couple decided to merge Platina Jewellery with their sister store, Belloro Fine Jewellery, in Newmarket.

Now, they’re back! And this time, they are bringing their gems and jewellery to a boutique in the heart of Takapuna.

“We’re coming back home to the beautiful North Shore!” Jo says, ahead of their Hurstmere Road store opening in April.

Located at number 24 Hurstmere Road - between Lululemon and Paper Plus – Belloro Fine Jewellery brings with it an exclusive, brandnew range of Nanis Italian jewels, Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen, Thomas Sabo, Dora wedding rings and much more to Takapuna’s main street.

Belloro Fine Jewellery can repair any broken jewellery as well as remodel your old jewellery…

Jo says: “Belloro Fine Jewellery can repair any broken jewellery as well as remodel your old jewellery and hand make you a unique, one-off-piece of jewellery, especially for you. We can also change your watch batteries while you are there!”

The Fryers are looking forward to catching up with customers from their previous Platina Jewellery days in Milford, as well as welcoming new faces from near and far to Belloro – meaning ‘beautiful gold’.

“Pop in and say ‘hello’,” says Jo. “We’d absolutely love to see some of our long-standing customers walk through the doors of our new boutique and look forward to building relationships with new North Shore locals too.”

Welcome back Jo and Tony! The Channel Magazine and Benefitz team are stoked to see you back on the Shore and know you and your business will again be a huge asset to the area.

Belloro Fine Jewellery, 24 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna 09 489 3883 belloro.co.nz

Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm

Jo and Tony Fryer

Managing Director - Monty Fryer

What’s hot for hair in 2023

And where to get those sweet styles on the North Shore!

Feel like a refresh or want to switch up your look? Well, there’s nothing more dramatically different than a new hairstyle, and I Love Takapuna has the gen on all the latest hair trends. Many of Auckland’s most talented stylists are situated here on the North Shore, so you’re spoilt for choice on the best places to get a snappy new do.

Cuts

Short hair is so hot in 2023. If you want to rock a short style this autumn, start with the classic pixie cut – it’s a cute look that never goes out of fashion. Short blunt cut bobs are big this year too. And if you can’t decide between a bob and a pixie, go for the bixie – a combination of the two!

If you like a lived-in and textured look, choppy layers are on point right now, like the ’70s-inspired shag cut with a wispy curtain fringe. There are so many ways you can wear layers, and one on-trend style for longer hair is the butterfly cut.

The butterfly blends shorter hair on top with fluttery layers and face-framing pieces.

Whatever cut takes your fancy, the teams at Servilles Takapuna and Hair Division will set you on the right path. And if long hair is your longing, the rise of hair extensions makes long tresses easy to attain. See the extension experts at Oscar&Co

Colour

For a vibrant autumn colour, take on the red trend – copper is especially hot this year. Or if you don’t want anything too drastic, try golden brown for a subtle shift that suits all skin tones. And brunettes, why not add some rich chocolate brown for a bit of warmth in your hair? Head down to see the colour experts at Morgan & Morgan and Rodney Wayne Shore City.

If you rock lighter locks, add some depth to your blonde with warm creamy, caramel or honey tones. Rose blonde hues are on-trend too for a fun fashion statement. Or for something daring, pastel blue hair is the bomb. Whatever shade of blonde you fancy, the team at Forever Blonde will have you covered.

Styling

For 2023, gloss is good.

Think ultra-shiny, wet-looking strands, either slicked-back or styled sleek and straight. And big hair is back too! Whether you have super-tight curls or looser waves, embrace the bounce and go for a full, luscious look. If you want to create some curls or go for the straight look, the team at Bella Figura have all your perm and straightening options. And if it’s more than just a new hairdo you’re after, head to Frenchie & Co for the whole shebang of hair and beauty treatments.

Gents, cleaner styles are in vogue this year for men's hair, and the tight fade is one of those looks.

We have three of Auckland’s best barbers in Takapuna, so hit up Azizi

SPONSORS: The Takapuna Beach Business Association appreciates the support of our Gold sponsors…

Barbers, BarberShopCo Takapuna and Takapuna Barber & Hair Salon.

Get your home interiors looking ‘so 2023’

We’re well into the year and let’s face it, it’s probably been a while since you gave your home a spruce-up. If you just fancy some funky new accessories for a bright new look, we have heaps of excellent stores right here in Takapuna, catering to all styles and budgets. Check out our suggestions of neat home furniture stores on the North Shore to complete your home refresh…

BoConcept

For sophisticated, modern and minimalist furniture, it’s got to be BoConcept – Denmark’s most global furniture brand. Synonymous with Danish creativity and craftsmanship, and with a focus on sleek designs, natural timbers and neutral colours, BoConcept’s furniture is elegant and functional.

Style: Scandi modern Location: 21 Hurstmere Road

Creative & Brave

Creative & Brave supports local artists and designers, curating the best of their creations with the customer in mind. The Takapuna store is jam-packed with an exceptional range of art, ceramics and pottery, woodware, kitchen goodies and homeware.

Style: Art and colour

Location: Shore City Shopping Centre, Shop 8

Città

If you’re after a stunning range of modern, high-quality furniture, lighting, textiles and homeware, head to local design company Città. With beauty and functionality at the core of their design ethos, from kitchen and living to bedroom and bathroom – they’ll ensure you find something for every room, perfectly suited to your personal style.

Style: Luxe Kiwi Location: 6/8 Como Street

Shut the Front Door

Shut the Front Door is rocking a contemporary and eclectic range of homewares for your home restyle. You’ll find an inviting array, including décor, kitchenware, bathroom and bedroom essentials, with everything from mirrors, cushions and rugs to linen, vases and wall art.

Style: Contemporary colour Location: 464 Lake Road

Bed Bath N’ Table

Experts in the home living category, Bed Bath N’ Table specialises in home décor and decorator accessories, with designer bed linen, luxury quilt covers, and colourful cushions in store. With a passion for providing beautiful products and modern decorating ideas, Bed Bath N’ Table is a great stop for inspiration as well as shopping.

Style: Contemporary Kiwi Location: Shore City Shopping Centre, Shop SU38

Farmers

For an extensive array of furniture, kitchenware, home décor and decorative items to transform your space, head to department store Farmers – a local institution for almost 100 years. With great products at all prices, Farmers is a one-stop shop for home furniture and décor.

Style: Everything – it’s Farmers!

Location: Shore City Shopping Centre, Store S104

PLATINUM SPONSORS: The Takapuna Beach Business Association appreciates the support of our Platinum sponsors…

the

#supportlocal

BEAR BROTHERS

Bear Brothers' final clearance sale on now in store and online. The Devonport store will close on 14 May - enjoy big savings on amazing denim dresses, aprons and dungarees. As the bears go into retirement, we'd like to thank all our customers for their loyal support over the years.

61 Victoria Rd, Devonport 022 541 3554 bearbrothersdenim.com

CITY HALL

Full range of Ferm Living Ripple glassware available in store and online including their gorgeous Long Drink Glasses (set of four). 406 Lake Rd, Takapuna 09 394 2954

@cityhall.store cityhall.store

YARNTONS

Brighten up your wardrobe with Orientique.

Birkenhead, 18 Mokoia Rd, 09 418 4011

Devonport, 9 Victoria Rd, 09 445 3479 yarntons.co.nz

CREATIVE SHOTZ

What mum would really like is some unique wall art capturing memories of your family to enjoy for a lifetime. International awardwinning photography by Judy Reinen.

022 302 8070 creativeshotz.com

COSI FAN TUTTE

New season's Eribe is now in store and online.

73 Victoria Road, Devonport, 021 247 2469 cosifantutte.co.nz instagram @cosifantutte_devonport

SILVERMOON - GLENFIELD MALL

It’s Taurus month; why not celebrate with these beautiful new pieces available at Silvermoon in Glenfield Mall. For the ones who are reliable, patient and devoted. Glenfield Mall, Level 3 09 218 9609

silvermoon.co.nz

MILA SOLEIL

Local artist service available for commissions: oil paintings, custom painted furniture, or personalised gifts. Small hand painted gifts available for sale via online shop.

18a Ballymore Drive, Pinehill 027 777 4048

Hello.MilaSoleil@gmail.com milasoleil.com

facebook Mila Soleil, instagram @millasoleil

WALLACE COTTON

Create cosy cocoons for restful slumber this winter with soft and snuggly flannel bedding. Made from brushed cotton flannel in a range of colours and patterns designed with love to suit everyone in your home. Discover our Akaroa collection of duvet cover sets, sheets and pillowcases in-store at 156 Hurstmere Road. 156 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, 09 551 7767 wallacecotton.com

THE SHEEPSKIN FACTORY

10% off* all products.

Use code: SAVE10

*Discount applicable to full priced items only. 9-5pm Mon - Sat,

10-5pm Sundays

34 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna 09 486 2679

thesheepskinfactory.co.nz

FLORIENNE

All about mum in May, Mother’s Day is Sunday May 14. 60A Hurstmere Road, Takapuna 09 486 6438 florienne.co.nz

the

#supportlocal

FIESTA BALLOONS

Mum is the word this Mother’s Day. Let us help you surprise her this with one of our beautiful baskets or add one of our balloons to your gift. We will be delivering our beautiful balloons all around Auckland. Check out our Mother’s Day collection online.

09 214 9745 info@fiestadesign.co.nz

G1/10 Auburn Street, Takapuna fiestadesign.co.nz

facebook @FiestaDesignNZ instagram @fiestaballoonsnz

SHORE PHOTO GIFTS

Perfect gifts for friends and family. Use code SHOREMUM at checkout to receive 35% discount. Check out our other amazing photo gift ideas at: shorephotogifts.co.nz

SPERO CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

Unknown Depths - new collection from Wilson Trollope

19 Mokoia Rd, Birkenhead 09 419 9781 spero.co.nz

RESENE COLORSHOP

Dare to go dark! New Resene Blackest Black is Resene’s darkest colour yet, made using super fine black pigments for the ultimate in blackness. Resene Blackest Black is available in durable Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and is ideal for interior features and media rooms. Available from your local Resene ColorShop.

1 Auburn St, Takapuna, 09 489 1540

2 Tawa Drive, Albany, 09 414 6500

8 Croftfield Lane, Wairau Park, 09 444 4387

CRAVEHOME

We’re all about beautiful giving and fabulous service at cravehome so pop in and see us to select something special for mum, nana or your other mother. We’re your go-to-gift-store on the Shore.

30 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead 09 419 9535 cravehome.co.nz

FITZGERALD TAYLOR

Boutique stationer, home of a thoughtfully curated selection of fine stationery. Shop 2, 2 Queens Parade, Devonport fitzgeraldtaylor.co.nz

Send some love this Mother’s Day

Explore our newly curated 2023 Mother’s Day floral and giftware collection online or visit us in store so we can create your mother something truly bespoke and special.

Our approach is simple; beautiful flowers created for you by our floral artisans who have a real passion for flowers, a passion we love to share. We offer a personalised service to make sure that your order is just right. Whether you have a specific colour scheme in mind or want to include a special message with your flowers, we will work with you to create the perfect arrangement that will make your recipient smile.

Flowers and giftwares

Looking for a way to add some colour and beauty to your home or workplace?

At Devonport Flowers we use only the best, market fresh, seasonal flowers and foliage, selected by us at Auckland’s flower markets, to create beautiful bouquets, quaint posies and contemporary arrangements to deliver Auckland-wide. Whether you need a bouquet for a special someone, a centrepiece for a dinner party, some flowers for the office or just want to brighten up your own space, we have the perfect arrangement for you.

We also have a range of floral-inspired gifts, gift vouchers, plants, bespoke hampers, vases, candles and chocolates to impress the most discerning shopper.

Devonport Flowers is pleased to deliver flowers Auckland-wide, from Whangaparaoa in the north, to Papakura in the south and every suburb in between, including the whole of the North Shore and the CBD.

Weddings and events

Devonport Flowers offers stylish wedding flowers for your special day, from brides' bouquets, corsages and buttonholes to table centrepieces, pedestal arrangements and striking decorative displays. We provide an Auckland-wide service for every occasion, from small, cosy gatherings to grand, extravagant celebrations.

Whether you know exactly what you want or have no idea at all, we will work with you to ensure the result is simply perfect. Please contact us to arrange a personal consultation.

Devonport Flowers

63 Victoria Rd, Devonport 09 445 8350 devonportflowers.co.nz

At Devonport Flowers we use only the best, market fresh, seasonal flowers and foliage, selected by us at Auckland’s flower markets, to create beautiful bouquets, quaint posies and contemporary arrangements…

What’s Trending

Shop up a storm with awesome deals happening at Glenfield Mall!

The Freddie Puffer Jacket is big on warmth and even bigger on style. A regular fit featuring a turtle neck for extra warmth, it’s a must-have addition to their cool weather wardrobe. Choose from neutrals, colour pops and flannel options.

$69.99 from Cotton On Kids

This silicone bear night light is a cute night time guardian for your little ones. It’s squishy and has seven beautiful LED light colours to choose from! You can choose the mode by patting the bear; turn it on for warm white, pat the bear to change to the colourchanging mode, and pat the bear again to stay on your favourite colour.

$27.00 from The Warehouse.

The perfect gift everytime! With great shopping hours, 25 eateries and cafes as well as over 100 different retail stores and no expiry date, they will be spoiled for choice !

This contemporary ankle boot sits on a flattering 8.5cm block heel with a pointed toe silhouette. The Kaesha boot is crafted in a buttery leather-look material available in tan, black, almond, and black suede styles. Available from Novo $104.90.

These Nero Leather Shoes from Hush Puppies feature genuine leather uppers and Bounce Plus (TM) insoles for ultimate comfort. Lace up and enjoy the support in these sophisticated dress shoes for Men. $199.99 from Hannahs.

Transform your bedroom into a serene oasis with the Laguna Duvet Cover Set by Logan & Mason! Featuring beautiful greenery in gold and charcoal designs against a natural background, this duvet cover adds a touch of tranquility to your bedding ensemble. $229.90 from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Get organised in style with Noted Planner Sticker Packs! These classic black and gold stickers are the perfect addition to your bullet journal or diary.

These cute felt coasters are handmade by the talented women of Nepal under Fair Trade conditions.

Your purchase helps to give them hope for the future, especially after the devastating earthquake of April 2015. $39.99 from Gecko In The Village.

This blazer will be your next go to. Made from a beautiful houndstooth fabric, it will keep you comfortable and warm all season. You can pair with your go-to denim at any time of year for an effortless chic look. $139.99 from Just Jeans.

This Chisel sweater is crafted from a blend of acrylic and wool fibres, boasting a textured knit that feels as good as it looks. It has a metallic quarter-length zip below the neckline and a small branded badge on the front. $79.99 from Farmers.

A Glenfield Mall gift card is the perfect present for every occasion!

With our great opening hours, including late nights every Thursday and Friday, twenty-six eateries and cafes, and over 100 retail stores, your special someone won't know where to start!

Our round-up of posts from local businesses on IG that we’ve double tapped (liked) and a Q&A with Michelle from @fiestaballoonsnz

Michelle Cantor is the ‘Balloon Boss’ running Fiesta Designs. Her company is well known in the local area for the amazing balloon decorations that she creates, and which are further brought to life by vibrant photos on Instagram. Michelle, who has a teenage son and a golden retriever, is originally from Honduras and has been living in New Zealand for seven years, first working as an architecture graduate then beginning this business during the pandemic. She talks to Channel about her business, the importance of social media and her passion for crafting and creating.

Channel Mag: Tell me a little bit about your business and how it came about…

Michelle Cantor: I’ve always been a creative person. When the first Covid lockdown happened, I decided to start this business as side hustle. I was working full time as an architecture graduate and my hours were reduced, I had two days off due to most projects going on hold. I decided to seek training and start this amazing journey that ultimately became a full time job and a dream come true.

Is Instagram a source of inspiration for you? Who do you recommend following and why?

I love @luxeballoonssydney, a company that offers balloon gifts, helium balloons and event styling in Sydney, and @confettimyparty in Canada is a another lovely balloon party shop. They do personalised helium balloons and luxe party decorations and make it look so good on the gram.

Which other local businesses do social media well?

I honestly love so many local businesses. I am a big fan of Devonport Flowers, Devonport Chocolates and Just Jess Bougee Bakery.

What’s next for Fiesta?

We want to expand our delivery area to Hamilton, Tauranga and all of Auckland. I would also like to become the preferred supplier of helium balloons and balloon gifts on the Shore. At the moment, our range includes chocolates, sweets, teddy bears, baby items, candles, teas, drinkware, flowers and more. We are also growing our prop hire range to include marquee light numbers, backdrop rentals and bouncy castles.

Favourite event to style?

I love working on themed events. Children’s parties are always fun events to work on.

@fiestaballoonsnz • fiestadesign.co.nz

We love Duck Island and the fact it’s in Takapuna now! Grab their ice cream before winter truly hits or buy a pint to take home to enjoy with your homemade winter pudding!

@duckislandicecream

We're long-time fans of Marlo around here and we’re pretty keen on their new lace-up boots. The perfect addition to our functional winter wardrobe. And a brand by local Devonport mums!

@Marlo_nz

Get the kids geared up for the cooler months with local Rosedale brand Crywolf’s new season range of all weather gear!

@crywolfchild

Michelle Cantor

Autumnal fashion reflects the art of French style

Introducing the latest sumptuous seasonal offerings from Blue Illusion...

Parisian glamour

This season's latest collections are ignited by the sophistication of Parisian glamour. Think silky fabrics, superfeminine silhouettes, and supreme elegance. You'll feel très chic and will radiate as beautifully as the enchanted streets of the City of Lights herself. Indulge in pieces from one of our new 'artistique' collaborations - the stunning ‘Boulevard Saint-Germain’ collection.

Wearable art

C’est magnifique! This May we’ve teamed up with French artist, Nathalie Lété and Australian First Nations artist, Shanai Kellett; two creatives who meld the beauty of their cultural heritage into artistic genius.

Nathalie Lété brings a whimsical sense of joy to a collection that features sleepwear, homewares and gifts. Our collaboration with Australian First Nations artist Shanai Kellett showcases her vibrant work ’Colours of Country'. Goodwill Ambassador and First Nations top model, Samantha Harris models the collection, as seen in Harper's Bazaar Australia, and raises money for Australian First Nations communities through World Vision.

Winter warmers - Mother's Day knitwear

Keep mum cosy this Mother’s Day with our softest-ever knitwear. Crafted from 100% cashmere, these 'beautés' are the perfect way to say ‘je t’aime!’ Our multi-floral woollen jumpers will add joyful colour to her wardrobe in a mélange of brights, florals and neutrals. Ooh la la!

Blue Illusion's French-inspired boutiques can be discovered on the North Shore in both Devonport and Milford, and across five other locations across New Zealand. Shop our latest collections online today at blueillusion.com

As the local weather gets colder, many Channel Mag readers will be starting to think about planning overseas holidays to warmer climates for this year and beyond. When it comes to everything travel, local Milford travel specialist Mary Buckley of Shore Travel is one of the most knowledgeable – with 25 years of experience in the industry. She has been a regular contributor to Channel Mag. Aidan Bennett caught up with Mary in mid-April in her Milford store to get her take on all things travel for 2023 and 2024.

Busy times return for the travel business

Aidan Bennett: I guess for you the pandemic is now firmly in the rear vision mirror. Is business now back to something like 2018 and 2019 levels?

Mary Buckley: Since the borders opened in March 2022 we have been very busy. Customers have been making up for lost travel time.

What lessons have you learned about the travel business in that period?

We had to consolidate our business from four Auckland locations to the one Milford store. Unfortunately, we couldn’t retain all our staff so many left the industry. We’ve learned to run a more efficient business out of the one location. We have the fabulous few consultants that hung in there during the pandemic years, and we are grateful to the rest of the team who returned to the business post-Covid.

Channel Mag readers will be starting to think about future travel, some still pondering a break for the cold months of 2023, and some planning for 2024. What parts of the world are you seeing as popular for Kiwi travellers in 2023 and beyond?

We are experiencing a massive uptick in travel to Europe. Many exciting itineraries to various parts of Europe with interesting stopovers. Cruising is as popular as pre-Covid levels. The cruise companies invested heavily in their fleet during the Covid years bringing new and improved ships to the market. Auckland to Auckland itineraries suit those who don’t want to fly, but most people are heading to interesting destinations, such as Scandinavia, or river cruising through central Europe, Antarctica, USA and the Caribbean. The South Pacific is already full for July school holidays, so people are looking to August onwards for a winter getaway.

If there were one or two emerging destinations for Kiwi travellers – maybe newish places – what would those be?

There is a growing demand for Japan and Central America. Japan demand started pre-Covid but they were one of the last countries to open up to tourism since then, so we are seeing a big interest from customers now. Central America, such as Mexico and Caribbean is becoming very popular, especially with more flights opening to different parts of the US offering more transit points for travel to this part of the world.

In the post-pandemic world travel appears to be a little different. What are the key pieces of advice you pass on to your customers about travel in 2023?

Expect delays and interruptions with airline schedules; due to cabin crew shortages, flights are more than often delayed. Pack your hand luggage with this in mind.

Avoid tight or short transit connections, particularly through main hub airports and within Europe.

Allow ample time to navigate airport checking and security checkpoints as these processes are taking much longer, again due to staff shortages post-Covid.

Check all aspects of your travel insurance, what’s covered and at what value, whether Covid-related disrupts are covered, and most importantly, who is covered on the policy.

Book ahead, the world is travelling and we find that availability is the biggest challenge. Pricing specials are not as they were prior to 2020; if you have travel plans in for 2023 or early 2024, it will be more relevant whether there is a seat available than what the price will be.

Mary Buckley outside her travel store in Milford

Mary at the Grand Canyon, USA

I do feel that post-Covid the part we (travel agents) play in many aspects of travel is more valuable than ever with things that can go wrong. Using our knowledge and experience is money well spent!

What is the most interesting place you’ve travelled to in recent times?

In March I travelled to Antarctica. This was a bucket list travel destination for me and the most amazing place I’ve ever visited. We felt like guests in nature and with fewer than 100 people allowed on any one point of Antarctica at a time, we were outnumbered by the local wild life at all times. Walking amongst gentoo penguins, cruising in zodiac boats as humpback whales swam past – absolutely incredible and breath-taking moments I will never forget. I wrote about this experience for last month’s Channel magazine for those who want to learn more (you can read it online) – or drop by the store if you would like to chat in person.

… most people are heading to interesting destinations, such as Scandinavia, river cruising through central Europe, Antarctica, USA and the Caribbean.

Anything in the local travel market (inbound) that is exciting you at the moment?

Having recently spent time in the South Island it was pleasing to see that tourists have returned, which helps the local economy, albeit the large tourist coaches don’t appear to have returned to the levels they were in pre-2020. So, at the moment it is a great time to see the country without the overcrowded 'touris' atmosphere. The beauty of the Catlins and Stewart Island for example, appear to have a well-balanced level of tourist numbers at the moment. I used the closed border time to explore

Silversea O ers: Enjoy a two-category suite upgrade on select ocean voyages, or a one-category suite upgrade on select expedition cruises

Plus: Receive a US$1,000 shipboard credit per suite and a 15% reduced deposit when you book by 31 May 2023

The o er applies to 130 voyages from September 2023 to June 2024

Plus: Single supplement of only 25% valid for 101 di erent voyages

Shore Travel

Cnr Kitchener & Milford Roads, Milford

(09) 489 2597

hello@shoretravel.co.nz

www.shoretravel.co.nz

these destinations myself and appreciate how lucky we are to have the most unique bird and marine life on our own doorstep.

Give our readers three interesting travel options that Shore Travel is offering at the moment.

Silversea Antarctica – expedition cruising at its finest. You feel like a true explorer during the day with different places to venture through each day, while returning to enjoy your luxury, all-inclusive cruise experience, and share your stories with fellow passengers. See our advert in this Channel edition for Silversea’s May deals.

River Cruise Europe – relaxed luxury cruising with a difference. This is still one of my favourite ways to travel through Europe. It truly is like a floating hotel, unpack only once and visit multiple destinations without the stress of navigating yourself. There are a number of May savings for 2023 and 2024 departures.

The Ghan – one of the world’s great train journeys. The Ghan will take you from Darwin to Adelaide through the incredible red centre of Australia. 2023 is already sold out and 2024 itineraries are selling fast so this is a trip you need to plan ahead for.

Visit shoretravel.co.nz

Mary on her trip on The Ghan in Australia …and on Danco Island in Antarctica

Travelling further afield this winter

This month, with our focus on travel, we allow our gaze to wander off the Shore. Here, we get some travel inspiration from speaking to four locals who tell us about their overseas trips, post-Covid. With Brazil, New Caledonia, Dunedin and California covered, these North Shore folk share their experiences of a diverse range of destinations and reasons for travel. They also provide insights into where they’re headed next and their favourite winter escape.

Tass and Molly take Brazil

Tassanee Puklowski and her nearly two-year-old daughter, Molly, recently travelled from Glenfield to Brazil for a family wedding. With Tass’s partner - Molly’s dad, Alex - back home in Auckland working, Tass’s mum instead accompanied them on Molly’s first long-haul trip. Tass grew up in blended families and moved between her parents across the North Island throughout her childhood. She says that she and her sister had the privilege of different family trips to various countries, so she’s no stranger to travel. Now, with a young family of her own, she wants her children to experience travelling from an early age. She gave Channel Mag an insight into travelling to Brazil with a child and why Samoa or the Gold Coast are next on her list.

Channel Mag: Where was your last overseas or domestic holiday?

Tassanee Puklowski: We went to Brazil primarily, but via America, as that was the only route available. Why did you decide to go there and how was it?

It was my cousin’s wedding. His wife is Brazilian and they both live and work there now. It was a really great family holiday, where we were able to travel like locals and had our own personal tour guides.

What was the highlight of your trip?

My cousin’s wedding was definitely the highlight. My sister and her new husband also joined us, as well as other family, so it was a special celebration.

What’s the next destination on your list and why?

Samoa or the Gold Coast. Going somewhere warm for a week in winter and somewhere close to travel to more easily with a two-year-old would be great.

Is there anything about travelling post-Covid that feels different to before?

In Brazil we still had to wear masks on planes and through customs. It was strange to be following different rules during different parts of our journey as we left New Zealand, travelled through America and finally made it to Brazil.

Your favourite winter destination locally and why?

Can’t beat Queenstown! The skiing and the sights are amazing.

Mixing business and pleasure in San Fran with Stephanie

Stephanie Ray loves travel and when she’s at home she leads a busy life as the director of Clean for Good, Devonport’s experts in eco-friendly home cleaning. She is also runs Limitless M4ths, a maths booster programme inspiring mathematics success for all students through growth mindsets and innovative teaching. She has a multicultural background (including both Chilean and German) but says that she feels 100% Chilean! Stephanie is married to her high school sweetheart and is a loving mum to her three children, Pedro, Laura, and Olivia. Stephanie talks about her recent American combined business/work trip and her upcoming family holiday plans

Channel Mag: Where was your last overseas or domestic holiday?

Stephanie Ray: My last holiday was a blast! My husband and I travelled to San Francisco, California, in March 2023.

Why did you decide to go there and how was it?

We went for both work and pleasure! I finished a maths programme at Stanford University, as well as participating in the Climate, Business & Innovation summit. We had a wonderful time exploring San Fran; we attended stand-up comedy shows and concerts, enjoyed delicious meals and spent quality time together.

The highlight of your trip?

The highlight of our trip was the band American Authors’ concert at a small bar. What an experience!

What’s your next destination and why?

Our next destination on the list is Hawaii! We are taking our kids in June.

Is there anything different about travel, post-Covid?

Post-Covid, travelling feels different. People are more aware of their surroundings and more considerate of others, which is a good thing.

Favourite winter destination locally and why?

When it comes to our favourite winter destination, we're team Taupō all the way! The landscape is similar to Chilean Patagonia, which feels like home. It's an amazing place to unwind and relax while enjoying the stunning scenery.

Tassanee and Molly Puklowski

Stephanie Ray

Exploring Dunedin with Sharon and Nick

Sharon Boyd and Nick Farrelly live in the heart of Takapuna and own a family-run construction company called Edge City Builders, based in Wairau Valley. The family is very invested in the Shore, with one of their daughters being a dean at Westlake Girls’ High School. Aside from enjoying travel, Sharon and Nick are both members of the North Harbour Club and Nick is the Chair of New Zealand Certified Builders, a trade association for qualified builders. Their miniature schnauzer, Chisel, is the self-appointed head of all things security, according to the couple. Sharon tells Channel Mag about their recent trip to Dunedin and the reason why they’re Fiji-bound next.

Channel Mag: Where was your last overseas or domestic holiday?

Sharon Boyd: We went to Dunedin in the South Island of our beautiful country.

Why did you decide to go there and how was it?

We travelled for a friend’s 60th birthday. We spent several days in Dunedin and booked a selfcontained apartment. While we were there, we attended the historic Ireland versus All Blacks rugby match that Ireland won. It’s not very often we see the ABs defeated!

And the highlight of your trip?

We booked an additional surprise accommodation and meals package for our friend’s 60th at Larnach Castle. Dinner in the Castle was incredible, a definite highlight!

What’s the next destination on your list and why?

Fiji for a family member’s 65th birthday celebration with a group of 20 others.

Is there anything, post-Covid, that feels different about travelling?

I feel that there has been a heightened general awareness by travellers of Covid, but it is not restricting many travelling, at least not us. We follow the advice and factor in a little more allowance for check-ins and transit travel time in our planning now.

Your favourite winter destination locally and why?

Locally, we love a couple of food destinations, specifically The Grange in Smales Farm for an outdoor fire! You can’t go past a coffee and a chance to network with other locals at Joe’s Café in Takapuna.

Nick and Sharon Farrelly

Authorised by Simon Watts, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.

Josh takes it easy in New Caledonia

Josh Martin is the Youth Development and Community Director at Shore Junction based in Takapuna. He says he’s really passionate about supporting rangatahi alongside the amazing Shore Junction team. In his free time, he loves to travel and explore new places with his family and friends and has travelled to a range of places. Josh explains to Channel Mag about his latest trip to New Caledonia and where he’s off to next.

Channel Mag: Where was your last overseas or domestic holiday?

Josh Martin: I went to New Caledonia in October; it was an incredible experience. The beaches were stunning and the local people were incredibly warm and friendly.

Why did you decide to go there and were there any highlights?

One of the highlights was being able to sit in the sunshine and read during a cold October back home in Auckland. Plus, I even ran into two of my dear friends who were staying at the same hotel by chance!

What’s your next destination on your list and why?

I'm really excited to visit Barcelona next! I've never been there before and I can't wait to explore the art, architecture, and local cuisine. I've heard so many great things about the city, I'm sure it's going to be an amazing adventure.

Is there anything different about travelling, for you, post-Covid?

Traveling post-Covid definitely feels different. I'm more aware of health and safety concerns. I make sure to research the guidelines and protocols for each destination I'm considering. I'm still excited to travel and see new places, and I'm confident that we can do so safely and responsibly.

Your favourite winter destination locally and why?

Queenstown is hands-down my favourite winter destination in this country. I love the wineries, skiing (even though I'm not very good at it), and just being able to hang out with friends and sip coffee up on the mountain. The scenery there is just stunning and it's the perfect place to escape to during the colder months.

I'm really excited to visit Barcelona next! I've never been there before and I can't wait to explore the art, architecture, and local cuisine. I've heard so many great things about the city…

Josh Martin

Live Breathe Travel: That's what we do

Introducing the bespoke, boutique travel agency bringing bucket list dreams to life…

My 'addiction' in life has been travel. It’s been this way for as long as I can remember.

The first memory I have of travel was taking a ferry between Ireland and England as a very young nipper. I can still remember that first experience of riding the rough seas!

My parents are adventurers who emigrated from Ireland to New Zealand for a brighter future.

Moving to a new country, while not knowing a soul, certainly requires a gutsy attitude – especially with three young daughters in tow. I will always be grateful to them for making that move and giving me the experience of new horizons.

Spending 35 years in this wonderful travel industry has allowed me to travel the globe and live on both sides of the Equator. I have only one continent left to tick off my list – Antarctica, which I plan to visit in 2025.

Through the decades, I've managed travel agencies, worked in corporate travel – in both NZ and the UK – created incentive and group itineraries, and escorted many travellers to amazing corners of the globe. And, yes, still love it, regardless of what the world conjures up.

Travel will always be in my blood.

I’m super excited to be sending clients, current and new, on travel adventures around the world again - it's exhilarating!

The Covid pandemic was a particularly difficult time for our industry, as we all know, and this required diversifying our skillsets to use in other roles. That time certainly required patience and resilience, along with a large dose of humour whenever possible!

Due to the pandemic, the world of travel has certainly changed over recent years. This means finding the right travel partner to help you navigate your way and look after your travel arrangements is vital.

Live Breathe Travel is not your 'cookie cutter' type of travel agent; creating bespoke, hand-crafted itineraries that excite our clients are what we’re all about.

Perhaps you are ready to tick off that 'bucket list' destination you have long been yearning to visit? Well, let's get that ticked off for you! One of the many things the pandemic has taught us is that time and freedom are precious – get out and enjoy what you can, while you can!

From boutique hotels to the best cruises and tours, we’re here to create a unique travel experience you will remember for years to come.

Love Cruising? So do we! It is a fabulous way to see the world,

but knowing where to start or what will suit you isn’t easy. With the range of large and small ships, expedition cruises, luxury sailing, destinations, countless deals and benefits on offer, finding a cruise that suits your needs can certainly be overwhelming. That's where we come in.

We've been cruising for over 25 years and know the ins and outs of what to look for in your next cruise holiday. From the far north of the Arctic on a small luxury expedition ship, through to megaship sailing in the Caribbean, we have experienced ships of all shapes and sizes. We're passionate about getting the right ship and destination to ensure you have an amazing, tailored cruising experience.

We're a Cruise Master Accredited Travel Agent and we are delighted to announce we were recently named Winner of Best Cruise Broker of the Year - New Zealand at the CLIA Cruise Industry Awards Australasia held in Sydney in March this year.

Always wanted to try cruising but don't want to travel solo? We have some great group departures on award winning cruise lines in 2023-24 and beyond. And there are land itineraries too if cruising is not your thing!

At Live Breathe Travel, we believe life is not about possessions but experiences. Our goal is to achieve ‘passport heavy’ status: a passport full of rich adventures and life experiences, only the travelled world can bring.

We can't wait for you to come along on this adventure with us. Live Breathe Travel - Making our world, your world.

Sharon O’Brien, Director

hello@livebreathetravel.nz livebreathetravel.nz

09 2421966

Virtuoso luxury experiential travel specialist

CLIA CRUISE MASTER Accredited Travel agent

Sharon O’Brien

Endurance goal for the good of the gulf

By Heather Barker Vermeer

Jono Ridler is attempting to swim from Great Barrier Island to Narrow Neck Beach. It is an eye-watering 100km, due to take around 35 hours. This swim has never been done – in terms of length or location.

Why? To prove to himself and others that the seemingly impossible is achievable with enough willpower and preparation, and to help preserve the health of the channel of water he loves.

“I want to help preserve the beauty and the health of the Hauraki Gulf. I want to make sure I do what I can, from a guardianship perspective, and this challenge will hopefully help lead to more action.”

When we meet, Jono has just finished a casual three-kilometre swim off Takapuna Beach. He’s reached the tapering stage of his preparation for the planned early May 100km record attempt.

“The idea for a good taper is that your fitness has peaked but you’re likely to be fatigued, so there’s more of a focus on reducing fatigue and improving body feel. I’ve done all I can, in terms of preparation.

“You can’t look at it like you are aiming to swim 100km, though. You’re trying to do a series of 25km swims. If you look at it as the distance in total, you can get overwhelmed.”

Ironically, the 33 year-old used to be a terrible swimmer. He hated swimming lessons and excelled at land-based sports, particularly football. “I did the ‘Learn to Swim’ lessons and I really wasn’t very good. I didn’t enjoy swimming at all when I was younger. I remember petitioning my parents to get me out of swimming lessons as soon as I could."

It was a few days after his twenty-first birthday, back in 2011, when he injured his shoulder while snowboarding in Canada, amd resulted in him changing course. “It was a pretty bad injury; a grade three AC separation,” says Jono. “As part of the rehab, I returned to pool swimming to rebuild my shoulder.”

His dad and brother had taken up ocean swimming, so Jono tagged along. “My dad and my brother had signed up for the 2.8km harbour crossing from Bayswater to the city later that year, so I decided to challenge myself and sign up with them.”

The challenge was bigger than Jono had anticipated; his first ocean swim attempt nearly ended in disaster. “I had a full-on panic attack within the first 100 metres and almost pulled out. I had to dig so deep to even just keep going. But managing to overcome that, and finish the swim, opened up some options in my mind.”

I would still say I’m very much an average swimmer, to be honest. I’m just an average swimmer with a decent mindset!

That he now stands on the brink – albeit a lengthy brink – of a never-before-achieved feat is testament to a gruelling programme of training and competing in the intervening years. He began gradually increasing the challenges, in both distance and conditions.

His next milestone was a 10km swim from Glendowie to St Heliers in 2016. “I was swimming 15km a week in the lead-up to that, which I thought was massive at the time,” he smiles.

“I couldn’t help thinking what was next and I went looking for bigger challenges.”

Jono has since gone on to conquer several marathon swims and is one of an elite group of Kiwis to tick off the ‘Triple Crown’ of New Zealand open-water swims: Cook Strait, Lake Taupō, and Foveaux Strait.

“It was after I’d done the Cook Strait that I felt the possibilities open up in a big way,” he says.

The idea to swim from Great Barrier Island – from Karaka Bay beach where his parents Gordon and Helen first met – to the North Shore, formed in 2019. “It wasn’t about doing a 100km swim, back then; it was more that I wanted to be the first person to swim from the Barrier back to Auckland.”

Jono lived in Torbay with his parents and three brothers, after being born at North Shore Hospital. His parents moved to the Shore from Great Barrier Island, where they lived pre-children. Growing up around the Hauraki Gulf has given the body of water a special place in Jono’s heart. And he hopes his swim will help keep it special. He has teamed up with Live Ocean, an ocean conservation charity founded by Olympians Blair Tuke and Peter Burling, to use his record-breaking attempt as fuel for change.

“The idea was floating around on the surface for a while,” says Jono. “A few of us Kiwi ocean swimmers had been talking about what we could do in terms of supporting marine protection through ocean swimming. When I connected with Live Ocean, they were fully behind the idea for the swim.”

The hours spent in the water have let Jono witness first-hand the effects of pollution on the gulf. “Even on a relatively good day, there’s not a lot of marine life out there on the coast,” he says. “We want to get more action to revitalise the Gulf as a result of this event.”

One of the major problems affecting local waters is an explosion of kina, says Jono. “Kina barrens are taking over because the kina’s natural predators are dying out. Crayfish are functionally extinct in the Hauraki Gulf.

“There are floors of kina all over the rocks and the ocean bed. Kina eat kelp, which is a vital part of our eco-system, not just in the ocean, but for us and for animals living out of the water.” He explains how every other breath we take is thanks to oxygen created in our oceans.

“The ocean is a massive carbon sink. This is a call to action for urgent action for the Hauraki Gulf. We need to create a sustainable gulf, and that includes banning unsustainable practices such as dredging and bottom trawling, which do huge damage.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the Government to act, and I hope this adds to that. While 30% of this country’s land is made up of reserves, which means they’re protected, our ocean areas aren’t anywhere near as protected. We want to change that.”

Alongside his punishing training regime, Jono has little time for rest, often working 50 hours per week as a general manager. Gym visits begin at 5am and often continue after work, with ice baths, massage and focused nutrition part of his programme. In the lead-up to the so-named #Swim4TheGulf record attempt, he has been spending entire weekends in the water.

“Saturday and Sunday have been basically swimming all day, both days. Sometimes I’d start at 8pm and swim through the night or start at 2am and swim until midday, so I got the hours in and got used to swimming in the ocean at night.”

A support crew of 20 will be on hand when the ultra-marathon swim gets the green flag. “We are basically looking at the longrange forecast now and trying to find a window of 24 hours of less than 10 knot winds. If we get some sun as well, then that would be ideal,” he smiles.

There will be 16 people out on the water with Jono, split between a large launch and a small rigid inflatable. These include medics, ‘feeders’ (who will administer liquids, gels and other food while swimming), observers and morale-boosting supporters.

“My dad gets seasick, funnily enough, so he won’t be on the boats, but he’ll be supporting from land,” says Jono.

A key part of the process is mental preparation, he says. “I visualise specific aspects of the swim. You need to have that mental part of the preparation.

“One thing that I have a pretty strong visualisation of is the finish: crawling out of the ocean onto Narrow Neck Beach. Every night I go through that scenario in my head.”

Does he think he’ll enjoy the experience? “Yes, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it! You can’t go into this sort of thing and just torture yourself by doing it. There are parts when you think ‘this isn’t fun’, and I’ll have to remind myself to enjoy it at some moments, I’m sure.

“With these big swims, I remind myself that it’s probably not going to happen again. You just have to get as much out of it as you can. You can feel yourself changing and growing as you go, not just in a theoretical sense but in a tangible physical sense as well.

“But I’ve learned that, like most things, it is so much more sustainable if you’re having fun!”

Beyond this autumn’s attempt, Jono has signed up to tackle a treacherous North Channel swim between Ireland and Scotland. “That one’s only 40km, but it’s going to be cold – only around 12 degrees. And that sea is full of Lion’s Mane jellyfish, which will be covering the course like landmines!”

For that, as with the Great Barrier to Shore swim, the same universal marathon swimming rules apply: no wetsuits, standard togs, only one swimming cap (no double ups for extra warmth) and a pair of standard goggles, no touching any support boat or stopping, beyond treading water to feed.

The focus for now, however, is closer to home – in the water and out. Jono’s wife Sarah, a business studies teacher at Kristin School, is pregnant with their first child due in August. Jono had originally planned to complete the swim earlier, in the warmer month of March but injury pushed this back.

“I had to stop training for two months from December and I wasn’t sure if it would happen or not, to be honest. We took a leap of faith, hoping I’d recover by the end of this month. My body has mostly come right and now I’m itching to go!”

Check out liveocean.org.nz to find out how Jono gets on and learn more about marine protection.

Images by Gareth Cooke / Subzero Images

Jono Ridler, centre, with Live Ocean founders - Olympic gold medal and America's Cup winning sailors - Blair Tuke and Peter Burling

Preparing your electrical system for winter

Winter is coming - it's the perfect time to check your home electrical systems are in perfect nick.

Hand in hand with falling temperatures comes greater stress on systems that are suddenly asked to work harder. Your home probably stays nice and warm during the colder months due to your heating system and a variety of other electrical systems, but what if it were to fail?

Channel Mag's Liz Cannon talks to Lewis Rudall, Master Electrician and Director at Lake Road Electrical on how to ensure you're all set for winter.

Liz Cannon: How do you know if your electrical system isn't up to scratch?

Lewis Rudall: If your lights flicker when an appliance is turned on or if your circuit breaker keeps tripping, if you notice melted fuses in your switchboard or humming sounds, you are overworking your electrical system. The fact is that it simply can’t keep up with your household’s demand for energy. Now might be a good time for an honest review of your current electrical system.

When is it time for a switchboard upgrade?

Any time is good, but it's especially wise to upgrade before winter kicks in. Plus you can make use of our special offer for switchboard

upgrades this winter! Upgrading your switchboard is not only an excellent investment to safeguard your property and ensure your family or business is safe, but it will also help save money in the long run by extending the lifespan of the equipment used on it. It is not wise to run your modern appliances on an antiquainted switchboard. Not forgetting that an emergency breakdown can end up costing you more. Besides causing annoying blackouts, degraded wiring, faulty fuses and overloaded electrical circuits can also be a fire and a shock hazard. The sooner your old switchboard is replaced by a new one, the better it is for your personal safety and the security of your property.

What is a switchboard?

Your switchboard is the 'central hub' for all the electrical circuits in your home. It receives electricity from the street and distributes it through various circuits in and around your home. It is important that your home is electrically safe and it all starts here – at your switchboard! If you live in an old house, chances are that your switchboard is not just overloaded but outdated, highly unsafe, and most probably doesn’t meet current New Zealand electrical safety standards. The problem with outdated switchboards is they have both aging components and increased demand – a potentially hazardous combination.

Lake Road Electrical, a family-owned local business based on the North Shore, offers a comprehensive range of electrical services from small jobs at home to full renovations and large-scale commercial projects, with an emphasis on cost-effective and energy-saving solutions. One of our specialties is electrical switchboard upgrades for older homes and renovations.

Lewis Rudall, Master Electrician and Director of Lake Road Electrical Ltd is both a UK and NZ fully qualified electrician with over 16 years' experience in the industry.

"We're different from the average sparky company," says Lewis. "We take time to listen to our customers and provide the highest-quality, professional and personalised services and advice, while making the experience with us an enjoyable one. We aim to be your family electrician of choice who can be called upon for any electrical work or advice at any time."

"There is no substitute for quality. Reliability, honesty and integrity are our key performance indicators with customer satisfaction at the forefront – always!"

Lake Road Electrical is located in Takapuna, servicing all North Shore communities. Lewis and his team will be delighted to hear from you any time you need a service, or simply if you just have a question. The Lake Road Electrical team are Master Electrician members with a $20,000 workmanship guarantee.

Before After

Lewis Rudall

What is RCD and why is it important?

RCD stands for residual current device. RCD is a device that provides protection from electric shock by shutting down the system if electrical leakage is detected. Did you know that old switchboards don’t have RCD protection? This fact alone is reason enough for an urgent upgrade, especially if you have young kids and pets.

How can we lower the risk of electrical fires?

Your trusty electric blankets and space heaters come out of storage every winter to keep you warm and happy, then get tucked away until next year. After many years, your winter electrical equipment might be outdated and worn. Worn and fraying cords are a risk for both shock and house fires. Outdated devices are also incompatible with modern homes and can put stress on your electrical system. Check the manufacturer’s warranty and replace these devices once out of date to keep your home safe and your electrical system happy.

How do we get winter-ready?

Check your heating systems and thermostats in good time. Ensure that the electrical aspects of your heating system, like thermostats or stand-alone electrical heaters, are ready for the cold so you don’t have to scramble when the time comes.

Is static electricity an issue?

While static electricity may seem like a minor inconvenience, it can be a real headache if you and your family are getting zapped constantly. Static electricity is more prevalent during the winter when the air in your home is dry from running the heater. To combat this problem, invest in a humidifier to add moisture to your home’s air and reduce the occurrence of static shocks.

How can we optimise energy use and reduce electricity bills this winter?

At Lake Road Electrical, we’re big on sustainability and we believe it’s our responsibility to introduce our customers to efficient electrical solutions that are climate-friendly, energy-efficient, and help save on your power bills. Call us for lots of friendly, no-obligation advice!

Why is winter a good time to upgrade?

Winter is a great time to get those niggly maintenance or small home improvement and renovation projects done, especially if you make the most of our special winter offers, which will save you a whole heap of money in the long run.

Do you offer both indoor and outdoor lighting upgrades?

Absolutely. With shorter days and less sunlight, it’s a perfect time of year to upgrade lighting both indoors and out to enjoy dusky winter evenings. Lighting can make a significant difference to your home and lifestyle, with modern lighting options much more affordable than you may think. We particularly advise our customers to consider upgrading outdoor and garden lighting in winter so they can continue to enjoy their outdoor spaces. Importantly, outdoor lighting also boosts your safety and security for when you get back home during the darker winter afternoons and evenings.

You mentioned you are running special offers this winter season? Indeed we are! You are very welcome to make use of these great offers, exclusive to your Channel Mag readers!

Lewis Rudall, Lake Road Electrical 09 242 2204, lewis@lakeroadelectrical.co.nz lakeroadelectrical.co.nz

Winter 2023 Special Offers* exclusive to Channel Mag readers

1. $250 off your switchboard upgrade

2. 10% off your total bill for all new customers (for electrical work not included in the special offers, and up to a value of $500)

It starts with stone

The starting point for the look and feel of a new kitchen often revolves around the choice of benchtop material. There are seemingly endless options available, making it a bewildering task, not only in terms of which material will suit your needs, but also for finding the perfect pattern and colour to suit your taste.

For the kitchen illustrated on these pages, Phil and Yolanda engaged the experience of multi-award-winning Kitchens By Design to help them with the journey to their new kitchen. The brief was to open up the kitchen of their large modern home on the North Shore, to the sea views. The couple also wanted to provide a bar area for entertaining, along with spacious benchtops and plenty of storage. But what about the colour and material palette?

For inspiration, Richard Cripps from Kitchens By Design reached out to his stone supplier and asked them for something special for Yolanda and Phil. And they certainly delivered, he says. “We managed to secure the last two slabs of Patagonia Quartzite – a stunning and unique stone from Brazil. It’s hard, strong, and incredibly resistant to

scratches and stains, making it a good choice for a kitchen benchtop.

“Phil and Yolanda immediately fell in love with it – and what’s not to love," says Richard. “We wanted the stone to be the hero, so we complemented its earthy, natural tones and patterns with subtle fluted battens made from American white oak. These battens follow the soft curves at the end of the island. The rest of the kitchen was kept white – not to compete with the island, but to highlight it.”

Richard says Phil and Yolanda's new kitchen gets good airtime with their friends and visitors. “The highlight for us is hearing how pleased they are with their new kitchen – and that it's a topic of conversation at social occasions.”

The experienced team at Kitchens By Design offers an integrated designto-completion service. If you're looking for a new kitchen, please call 09 379 3084 to make an appointment with one of their designers.

Kitchens By Design's showroom is located at 3, Byron Ave in Takapuna. For inspiration, take a look at some fabulous projects at kitchensbydesign.co.nz

Care Suites available now, at Lady Allum

You’ll feel right at home in a premium Care Suite at Lady Allum. Providing Rest Home and Hospital level care with all the comforts of home, you can relax knowing that you won’t have to move again, even if your needs increase.

Enjoy the privacy of your own kitchenette and ensuite, plus the peace of mind that comes with exceptional care tailored to you.

Some of our Care Suites can even accommodate couples, which means you can stay together while receiving the care you both need.

To find out more call Jodi on 0800 333 688. No referral required.

5 Brook Street, Milford, Auckland oceaniahealthcare.co.nz

For residents 65 years and above.

Warm your home for winter with bespoke window treatments

Susannah Matheson, principle interior designer from Island Interiors talks to Channel Mag's Liz Cannon on how bespoke, insulating window treatments can help keep your home warm this winter.

With autumn well and truly here, we start preparing our homes for the cooler months of the year. One of the best ways to insulate your home is through bespoke window treatments. Not all window treatments are created equally, however. With the wide range of treatments available, it can be a daunting task for any homeowner to understand the benefits of each type available. Not all window treatments will be able to provide the insulating properties that we need for our cold (and often damp) winters here in Auckland.

Drapes and Curtains

Bespoke, professionally sewn drapes are often the best solution for our customers. With a wide variety of finishes available, we can help you navigate to make sure you purchase exactly what you need.

The fabric chosen for the front facing fabric can really be a fashion choice for what works best with your room. The range is endless, with polyester options for longevity, stunning linens that provide a natural, elegant finish to your home, or a blend of the two to get the best of both worlds.

What really makes the difference is the lining you choose. We offer a broad range of linings from fully insulating, black-out, mould resistant to a lighter, softer finish that gives the drapes the softness that you require.

The fit of the drape is also very important, and this is where bespoke drapes can really make all the difference. Floor to ceiling, properly fitted drapes can act as an insulating barrier for your home. Not only will they keep out the cold, but this will also create privacy in the darker months, really making your home feel cosy and warm.

Thermacell Blinds

These blinds go within your window frame and, with their advanced technology, create a barrier within your window to keep the cool air out. They are measured and fitted to be inside your frame right up to the edges, so there are no gaps to let any cold air into your room. Again, a wide range of finishes are available, including colour and pattern choices, to work with your home's design.

Island Interiors has showrooms in both Devonport and Waiheke, a unique location combination from which to help clients achieve the best solution for their homes. Our free in-home measure and quote service is available throughout Auckland and is the best way for clients to find out which window treatment would work best for them.

Please call us on 021 343 299, visit our website at islandinteriors.co.nz to view some of our previous work, or pop into our showroom at 67 Victoria Road, Devonport to see samples and make an appointment.

We would love to hear from you soon.

Susannah, Island Interiors

Island Interiors, 67 Victoria Road, Devonport 021 343 299 islandinteriors.co.nz

Build it like Beckham

Introducing the new face of So Renovate, Brett Beckham…

Renovations and rugby ensure North Shore builder Brett Beckham is heavily involved in his local community.

So Renovate is delighted to introduce Brett, a respected builder with more than 20 years’ experience, to its team. With his strong reputation for delivering high quality residential projects for his clients, Brett will lead both the project management and business development for the So Renovate team.

“I have a real passion for building and ensuring clients have the best experience throughout their build process; from design through to construction, as well as project management and client communication,” says Brett.

“I moved to the Shore in my late teens and became involved with East Coast Bays Rugby Club. Early on, I realised the importance of community and I’m stoked to

be part of an organisation like So, that places a strong sense of importance on giving back.

“We’re committed to building strong relationships in the community as well as supporting local organisations and initiatives – you’ll see our brand supporting many local businesses and sports teams in the coming months.”

If it’s exceptional service you’re after, So Renovate will deliver. Brett and the team understand that every project is unique, and work closely with clients to ensure that their vision is realised in every detail.

Whether you are looking to update your existing home, undertake a complete renovation, or build a new home from scratch, the team at So can help.

Brett adds, “We provide high quality workmanship, using only the best materials, equipment and sub trades, to ensure that every project is completed to the highest standard, on time and within budget.”

If you are looking for a reliable, experienced construction company here on the North Shore, contact Brett Beckham today on 021 861 794 or visit sorenovate.co.nz

For more about us or our latest projects visit our website www.sorenovate.co.nz or follow and interact with us on social media instagram @so_renovate facebook @sorenovate

Brett Beckham

in the property industry for over 13 years, Kathryn is experienced and well-networked. A straight talker, she applies her in-depth knowledge of the Real Estate Act practically and clearly, enjoying an open communication style and ethical business model. Kathryn works hard for her clients and customers, driven by a sense of duty to provide a high level of service.

By Simon Watts, North Shore MP

This is a pivotal year for parents and their children

Most parents would have heard discussion in the media about how educational achievement has been in decline for the last 30 years. Some of the detail behind that shocking revelation includes the worrying news that two thirds of secondary school students failed to meet minimum standards in reading, writing and maths, and 98% of decile one Year 10 students failed a basic writing test.

There will be many reasons for this calamitous decline in education standards, but here’s one startling reason that currently defies belief: the first national test for numeracy and literacy is not until NCEA –we are almost completely blind as to the standards our children are achieving until it’s too late!

This is utterly unacceptable and it’s a situation I feel very passionate about, both as a father and as someone who fortunately benefitted from a good education.

I went to a small rural school with fewer facilities than the big urban schools, but I had the support of both my parents and a committed team of teachers. With their help, I got to university and that education was the springboard to a fulfilling career and exciting opportunities. The education I had changed my life, so I know it has the power to change lives for others too. Providing children with a pathway to further education opens a door to opportunity that’s too often closed to them because the current system failed them.

This is why a National government will ensure every child gets a world-class education. We want them to leave school appropriately skilled, so they can lead the life they want.

National has a comprehensive strategy to lift education to the standard we should expect for all Kiwi children, it’s called Teaching the Basics Brilliantly:

All primary and intermediate schools will teach an hour of reading, an hour of writing and an hour of maths, on average, every day. This is because children need the time to acquire knowledge, practise skills and master the basics.

The curriculum will be re-written, stating what must be taught each year in reading, writing, maths and science to every year group in primary and intermediate schools. Currently the curriculum is far too loose and fails to provide teachers with clear guidance.

The two to three-year bands that currently govern curriculum subjects will be replaced with explicit expectations of what should be taught for each year group and the achievement expected.

Schools will assess student progress in reading, writing and maths at least twice a year every year from Year 3 to Year 8, with clear reporting to parents. After all, if a parent doesn’t know their child is struggling, how are they supposed to help?

These changes will lift education out of the laissez-faire approach that’s failing our children. I’ve met dedicated and skilled teachers in Shore schools who are struggling to deliver within a system that doesn’t support excellence. This is the year to change that, by voting for the futures our children deserve.

Simon Watts, spokesperson for Climate Change, Local Government, Regional Development, Statistics, Assoc for Infrastructure, and Finance. Email: simon.watts@parliament.govt.nz

09 486 0005

facebook: @simonwattsmp instagram: @simonwattsmp

By Teresa Burns, Doctor of Audiology, Director and owner of Teresa Burns Hearing Ltd.

Independent hearing care

Did you know more than 75% of audiology clinics in New Zealand are now owned by overseas chains or hearing aid manufacturers? These clinics can have limited access to hearing aid models and choices or may recommend own brand/‘locked’ models that can’t be adjusted by other clinics. What happens if you move or your favourite clinician leaves the practice?

My clinic is independent and 100% locally owned. Being independently owned means I can prescribe all brands of hearing aids and am free to select the absolute best hearing instrument to suit your personal needs and your budget. You’ll work directly with me so if something doesn’t suit, I’ll make sure we get it right for you. My reputation as a local provider is paramount; my best referrals come from happy clients. I’m proud to say I’ve been operating for over eight years now, and my clinic is growing every year.

There’s an old adage that a hearing aid is only as good as the audiologist who programmes it. At Teresa Burns Hearing, you’ll see me at every appointment. I have over 25 years experience, with a Doctorate and a Master’s degree in audiology.

It’s never too early or too late to get your hearing on track. Whether it’s a baseline hearing test or you need advice on hearing devices, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Call today to book with me so you can see all the options available to you, with no hidden agendas. You’re worth it.

Call now to book in on 09 475 9849 or email admin@teresaburnshearing.co.nz

Teresa Burns Hearing Ltd, Inside the Health - I Care Medical Centre 215 Wairau Road, Glenfield, North Shore teresaburnshearing.co.nz

Being independently owned means I can prescribe all brands of hearing aids and am free to select the absolute best hearing instrument to suit your personal needs and your budget.

HOBSONVILLE | 22 TAI CRESCENT Stunning Waterfront Residence

Located in one of Hobsonville Points best streets, this newly completed five-bedroom home has been crafted with harmonious family living in mind. Set on a 572sqm (approx) freehold title, this absolutely stunning family home offers a designer Hamptons kitchen with two sculleries and open plan living and dining areas that showcase an oversized gas fireplace, all of which enjoy superb sea views and mesmerising sunsets. Comprising of five double bedrooms plus a study, four bathrooms (including two ensuites) plus a separate guest toilet. A stunning outdoor entertaining area with sun-drenched decking, an automated louvre roof and a heated swimming pool complex overlooking the harbour.

By Stephanie Ray, director at Clean for Good

Clean for Good - the North Shore's experts in eco-friendly home cleaning

Dear readers,

As a small business that started in a local garage, we've been overwhelmed by the support we've received from the Devonport community. We've recently moved to a new office in the heart of the Devonport village, 17 Clarence Street to accommodate our growing team of 16 cleaners and serve our clients, spanning from Devonport to Castor Bay. You may have seen us in the morning loading our branded cars with cleaning products and vacuums as we prepare to provide the best cleaning service possible for our clients!

In this Q&A, we hope to answer some of your questions about our services and what sets us apart from other cleaning companies.

What services do you offer?

We offer top-quality eco-friendly home cleaning services, including regular weekly or fortnightly cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-in/ move-out cleaning, all at a competitive flat rate.

What kind of products do you use?

We pride ourselves on using only high-quality eco-friendly products and state-of-the-art HEPA filtered vacuums.

Do you have insurance?

Yes, we are fully insured, and we stand behind our work. If we make a mistake, we'll happily compensate our clients.

Who are your cleaners?

Our team consists of experienced employees who are police-vetted, and fully trained. They arrive in branded cars and wear uniforms, ready to provide a professional service.

Are you pet and family-friendly?

Absolutely! We love pets and children and always work with care and respect for your family and home.

What makes Clean For Good stand out?

Our team genuinely cares about our clients, their families, and their needs. We are the highest-rated local cleaning company, and our loyal customer base of over 170 local clients are proof of this.

Stephanie Ray, Director 020 4010 2470

info@cleanforgood.co.nz

www.cleanforgood.co.nz

Look for our next column and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for even more hacks and a lot of freebies: instagram www.instagram.com/cleanforgoodnz facebook www.facebook.com/cleanforgoodnz

Time to reinvigorate your soil

After the very tough summer our gardens have suffered, now is a great time to reinvigorate your soil. You can add compost and sheep pellets or aged manures into the soil to add in nutrients.

Adding these materials in autumn gives them time to break down for use when plants need them in the spring. Then you can cover with fallen leaves (just make sure you run them over with a lawn mower first to chop up), lawn clippings, or bought mulches, to help improve the soil and suppress weeds.

Compost is best at adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure. Mulch is best at limiting weed growth, preventing erosion and retaining soil moisture. Compost is made up of decomposed, organic materials; whereas, mulch can be inorganic or organic materials that, in most cases, have not yet decomposed: grass clippings, leaves, bark and arborists' mulch.

Arborists mulch is my favourite type of mulch because it feeds the soil as it breaks down, it also does a great job of suppressing weeds.

At home I like to add homemade compost and worm castings or store-bought sheep pellets to my soil, watering them in and then adding a layer of arborists' mulch on top.

Arborists mulch is my favourite type of mulch because it feeds the soil as it breaks down, it also does a great job of suppressing weeds. Bark nuggets also suppress weeds well and will feed the soil too, but as they take longer to break down they are not quite as fast at improving soil structure. Bark does have a more formal, neater look than the arborists' mulch though. For vege beds I prefer pea straw which breaks down faster but is still great for weed suppression and moisture retention.

Amanda Graham Newhaven Gardens Ltd 021 378969 instagram.com/newhavengardens/ amanda@newhavengardens.co.nz newhavengardens.co.nz

Top tips from Amanda Graham, Newhaven Gardens. North Shore hedge trimming, garden tidy ups, planting, pruning and garden maintenance.

Healthier waters for Takapuna Beach

Good news for last-minute beachgoers wanting to dip their toes in before the colder months truly set in.

The waters along Takapuna Beach are on their way to becoming healthier thanks to the $5.44m recent relining and rehabilitation works undertaken by Watercare along the Takapuna Foreshore Beach Pipeline.

Watercare and Healthy Waters have been working together to sample stormwater outlets and complete drainage inspections to help improve water quality of Takapuna Beach since 2019.

Watercare project manager Johan Gerritsen says work to reline the 81-year-old pipeline – which runs the entire length of Takapuna Beach – began in May last year and was completed in March.

“We achieved the relining work using trenchless technology that allowed our construction partner March Cato to rehabilitate the pipeline, reducing the amount of groundwater getting into and leaking out of the pipe as well as increasing its life expectancy.

“Using this trenchless technique, we were able to complete the relining work and rehabilitate the 36 manholes along the pipeline with minimal impact on the community and without taking the pipe out of service.

Healthy Waters principal environmental scientist Patricia Burford says to test water quality we collect samples from the stormwater discharge points along the beach.

From these samples, we test for the presence of E. coli, enterococci, and some samples are also tested to determine the source(s) of faecal contamination like human, avian or dog.

"Since the sewer pipe relining was completed, preliminary results of stormwater sampling are encouraging, however, it is too early to make any strong conclusions about changes in water quality.

"More data needs to be collected and analysed over an extended time to confirm any stormwater or beach water quality trends.

Auckland councillor Richard Hills supports the work Watercare and Healthy Waters are doing to build resiliency in the wastewater network and improve the water quality in North Shore.

“The approach Watercare took to renew rather than replace the pipeline strikes the right balance by delivering projects that benefit the community, are cost effective and have good environmental outcomes, it was far less disruptive than digging up the original pipes as well.

“Watercare estimates they have managed to save about 780T CO2e by relining the pipeline instead of replacing it – and in doing so they’ve extended the pipe’s life by another 50 years.

“This is another significant project which will help improve water quality of one of our most popular beaches, this is in addition to projects such as the Safe Networks inspections and upgrades and the Hurstmere Road upgrade which completely upgraded stormwater and wastewater infrastructure there too."

Watercare project manager Johan Gerritsen and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills kneel next to one of the manholes that was rehabilitated as part of the Takapuna Foreshore Beach Pipeline relining works

Ear Health, Devonport

82 Lake Road, Narrow Neck

Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat & Sun: Closed

| 09 242 0866

Let's be Frank!

Liz Cannon: Why Pilates over other types of exercise?

Jeneal Rohrback: Think of Pilates as futureproofing yourself against decline and injury. It uses all your muscles; not just the ones that dominate when you do gym exercises but all the muscles you didn’t think you had (or the ones that have gone on holiday). Most importantly, Pilates focuses on making deep abdominal connections. Like a sturdy girdle, your ‘core’ is what literally holds up your body, inside and out, especially as your birthdays start piling up. So it helps support you in any other exercises you take on, not just your golf and tennis swings, but everyday manoeuvres like doing the weeding, loading the washer, and squirming out of the backseat of a car. A Pilates bonus is that you also have to use your brain – a lot! Coordinating your breath with your movement, while focusing on the control and precision not only exercises your body, it pushes you mentally.

Why is Romana’s Pilates and training better?

There’s no such thing as ‘Man-Lates’, ‘Yoga-Lates’, ‘Power-Lates’ or any other word mash-up you might have heard of. It’s just Pilates, named after Joseph Pilates, or Romana’s Pilates, after Joe’s protégé, Romana Kryzanowska. And not all Pilates instructors are created equal, either. Prior to applying for an apprenticeship, Romana’s instructors have to complete at least 75 hours of lessons

17 Wynyard St, Devonport • 09 445 6001

Upstairs in the Devonport Arcade 5-15 Victoria Rd, Devonport • 021 6578 21 frankpilates@xtra.co.nz • www.frankpilates.co.nz

Channel Mag's Liz Cannon chats to Jeneal Rohrback, owner of Frank Pilates, about the importance and benefits of Pilates.

as a client. Certification comes after 800+ gruelling hours of practice, observation and teaching on the mat, Reformer, chairs, barrels, Cadillac, and more. This is followed by practical tests on real bodies at every level and on every piece of apparatus, and many written tests. Plus, instructors have to maintain their certification by attending annual Continuing Pilates Education (CPE) courses. So, unlike some Pilates courses shortcut down to few months, or even a weekend, Romana’s training is not for the faint-hearted. This rigour keeps us on our toes so we can keep you on your toes.

What is the advantage of going to Frank Pilates?

We’re a fully equipped and certified boutique studio in the seaside village of Devonport, open from 6am to 8pm, six days a week. We’re surrounded by cafés and shops – everything you need to wind down after your one-on-one lesson or small mat class. It’s great for people in Devonport, but also, once you’ve mastered the mysteries of Lake Road, we’re just 10 minutes from Takapuna, and it’s only a short ferry ride if you’re on the city side.

devonportglass@gmail.com

www.devonportglass.co.nz 021 148 1804

Jeneal Rohrback, Eva Tu

WHY CHOOSE US FOR

Independently rated as #1 in Auckland

Certified members of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association

Multiple Obedience Champion Puppy Trainer

Westpac Auckland Business Awards

Finalists: 2021 People’s Choice; 2022 Excellence in Customer Service

Scoot in to see the local e-scooter experts...

... and receive a *FREE smart helmet with all scooter purchases

The e-scooter landscape can be a confusing one. Questions arise such as, 'Are they the right choice for my travel needs?', 'What are the drawbacks?', 'Will it stop on me halfway home?', 'What do I do if I get a flat tyre?', 'What are the riding rules and regs?'

Luckily Auckland's e-scooter experts are also Takapuna locals, and the answers to your questions can all be found at the Electric Scooter Shop on Barrys Point Road. Channel Mag's Liz Cannon chats with chief e-scooter enthusiast Jonno Leonard, to find out more.

Liz Cannon: What do people use e-scooters for?

Jonno Leonard: Scooter riders are a diverse group. There are a great many who just value the convenience of saving their legs for short trips around the local area; zipping to the dairy or the beach, grabbing a coffee from the office, kids riding to school, and so on. Then there are the 'getting to work' crew, some of whom use their scooter for part of the journey, such as the ride to the bus station or the ferry, folding it down to take with them on public transport. Others will make the whole journey by scooter, from a couple of kilometres to 20kms or more – those distances require two very different scooters. And some just like to hoon around at the weekend, or adventure into the bush and explore some trails. Endless options abound!

Open

54A BARRYS POINT ROAD

Sounds... diverse! What are the options?

A local commuter scooter will be around 15kg, easy to fold, get up to around 25-30km per hour, and take you around 20km. At the other end of the spectrum, a 'hyperscooter' will see you in the $4,000$6,000 bracket, have motorcycle-grade componentry, cover up to 100km, and blur your vision with its acceleration! Most people end up with a happy medium, and with over 20 models to choose from, Electric Scooter Shop will discuss your needs and recommend the ideal scooter solution, while helping you with test rides on their extensive demonstration fleet.

Do you also sell moped-type scooters?

Yes, electric moped scooters are a recent addition to the growing products offering at Electric Scooter Shop. All you need is a learner license and you are away. There are no licensing requirements for stand-up style e-scooters.

poor experience for the owner. A quality scooter will give you years of use, and quickly pay for itself in the savings on using a car.

How do Channel Mag readers choose the right scooter for them?

How about spares and repairs?

Keeping you riding is what Electric Scooter Shop are all about, and as the only e-scooter business in the country with both sales staff and workshop facilities available seven days a week, you are in very safe hands. We can handle all jobs from fixing a flat to a full overhaul, with specialist diagnostic equipment to ensure your scooter receives professional care. We are the New Zealand distributors for several major scooter brands, and have all the spares you need readily on hand.

Shouldn't I just buy something cheap off TradeMe? I've seen some great prices on there!

Typically, unbranded 'cheapie' scooters, like all generic products, will perform poorly, even dangerously, and be hard or nigh impossible to repair when they inevitably break down. No spares, no support, and a

While you can learn plenty from YouTube videos and online reviews, nothing beats having a personal consultation with someone who knows the products and the market. Approach our friendly team and you will be asked questions like 'How far are you travelling?', 'What is the terrain like on your typical journey?', 'What sort of weight are those who will be riding the scooter?', 'What level of experience do you have in powered small vehicles?' and more. Your consultant will build up a picture of what will suit you, and select a shortlist for you to test ride yourself. It's very hard not to leave with something you love.

OK, I'm keen! Do us local Channel Mag readers get a good deal? Of course! Just reference this Channel Mag article when you come to see us, and Electric Scooter Shop will include a *FREE smart helmet featuring built-in lights and SOS function with any scooter you purchase. Getting you riding safely is what we are all about!

Jonno Leonard, Chief Scooter Enthusiast Electric Scooter Shop

74 Barry's Point Road, Takapuna 09 445 6969, 021 548 344 electricscootershop.co.nz

…as the only e-scooter business in the country with both sales staff and workshop facilities available seven days a week, you are in very safe hands.

Milford After Dark

Some of the very best bars and eateries are right here in Milford

As we approach the cooler months of the year, our hospitality businesses are turning it on at night – and many during the day. We’ve got 22 amazing hospitality businesses to provide you with a relaxing night out, with no dishes to wash afterwards!

Across our three precincts – Uptown Milford, Central Milford and Downtown Milford – you will find a restaurant to satisfy virtually every tastebud. This includes bars and restaurants, degustation dining, Auckland’s best burgers, plus Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Indian restaurants, great sushi, tasty kebabs and yummy dumplings. There is also carvery options and some great bars, including sensational cocktail and wine bars. To finish off, we reckon we have the Shore’s best ice cream shop as well!

I’ve provided a list of these bars and eateries on this page. Simply Google them and make a booking or pop in. Most of them offer dine in or takeaway.

Come down to ‘Milford After Dark’ – we’ve got award-winning restaurants and so many good places for a good night out!

Downtown Milford

La Mexicana – Taco Tuesday nights

Scrunchy Millers Ice Cream

Fortune Fountain

Tae Hwa Ru

Central Milford

Anokha Indian

Monthien Thai

Arigato

Cave À Vin

Pym’s Bar

Gelata & Grill Kebabs

Kebab Serai/Country Fried Chicken

The Carvery

Barilla Dumplings

Musashi Japanese

The Hub Milford - Bar & Grill

Uptown Milford

Bunty’s Burgers

Tokki

Talay Thai

Soy & Ginger

On the Rocks

The Don

The Milford

from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.

Anokha Indian

The Milford

Bunty's Burgers

Monthien Thai Pym's Bar

Barilla Dumplings

SPONSORSHIP

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AND CHARITABLE TRUST

As most will know, I have had a close involvement with the North Harbour Club for over 25 years. One role I have never taken on is judging the annual AIMES Awards. That is, until 2023. Recently I worked with six other judges to find around 20 AIMES winners for 2023 from close to 200 applications. The chair of that judging panel for the past two years has been Andrew MacDonald. Andrew was a winner of AIMES Awards himself (2008, 2010, 2012) and has gone to a career in medicine and is now giving back to the North Harbour Club by judging the awards.

Andrew MacDonald grew up in Mairangi Bay, just across the road from Murrays Bay Intermediate School. He attended Murrays Bay Primary, Murrays Bay Intermediate and Rangitoto College, all in very close proximity. Andrew’s father Colin was in the New Zealand Police for over 30 years, and most recently worked as a police prosecutor. His mum Janine is still working as a teacher at Murrays Bay Intermediate School. Andrew is the middle of three boys. Older brother David works in high-end computing/technology systems, currently for Amazon, while younger brother Michael finished a PhD in Engineering Science and currently works for the University of Auckland following a stint with NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, USA. They are a family of high achievers.

In fact, all three have won North Harbour Club AIMES Awards. In 2010 the brothers managed to score a North Harbour Club ‘trifecta’ by winning an AIMES Award each: Andrew was the AIMES Education winner, David the AIMES IT, Innovation & Science winner, and Michael

A chat with ANDREW MACDONALD

North Harbour Club AIMES Awards Alumnus and 2023 Judging Chair

By Aidan Bennett

an Emerging Talent winner – he went on to win the AIMES Education Award in 2013.

“I really thrived in my years at Rangitoto College, where I developed my academic strengths and thirst for knowledge,” explains Andrew. “I was fortunate to have been taught by the excellent teachers that we have here on the North Shore, who inspired me to work harder and achieve more than I thought was possible. My science teacher Dr Catherine Salmons (now at Westlake Boys High School) really had a huge impact on my life, as a brilliant science teacher and coach for the extra-curricular programme Future Problem Solving (FPS).”

Andrew graduated as Dux of Rangitoto College in 2006 and won top NZQA Scholarships awards including New Zealand Premier Scholar (top 10 in the country's Scholarship exams) and Top New Zealand Scholar in Science (top grade in the Scholarship Science exam).

I was fortunate to have been taught by the excellent teachers that we have here on the North Shore, who inspired me to work harder and achieve more than I thought was possible.

Andrew MacDonald speaking at the 2022 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner

He then attended medical school at the University of Auckland, graduating with distinction in 2012 and being recognised with several academic awards including the Sir Carrick Robertson Prize for Surgery. Since then, he has worked as a junior doctor across different wards and specialties in Auckland, mostly at North Shore Hospital, as well as some time at Auckland City Hospital and a one-year stint as a registrar in neurosurgery at Waikato Hospital. He has also published medical research and presented at conferences over the years, most recently publishing a paper in the international medical journal ‘Skeletal Radiology’ last year.

Andrew now specialises in radiology.

“My initial career plan was to pursue a career in surgery, so I worked for several years as a registrar (a junior trainee in a specialty) in orthopedic surgery (bones and joints) and neurosurgery (brain). I have since switched courses and am now specialising in diagnostic radiology and have almost completed my five years of specialty training to become a radiologist.”

A radiologist is a medical specialist who oversees all diagnostic imaging studies in the hospital and reports the findings of CAT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound scans, X-rays etc. Andrew explains that this is a medical field which combines the latest in technology and scientific knowledge to determine a diagnosis for almost any medical problem, usually rapidly, accurately and without the need for risky surgery. He says it is also a field which has seen exceptional growth, with new technologies and recently the incorporation of AI.

Andrew is in the process of completing his final examinations for his specialty radiology training. He sat three written exams, eight hours total, during this year’s judging process and he has another seven oral exams in Melbourne in June. Once that is all over he starts working towards his next challenge: deciding on a subspecialty field to focus on and applying for overseas fellowships (post-specialisation training positions) in North America, Europe, and/or Australia.

“I am considering subspecialities in interventional neuroradiology,

which involves treating brain pathologies (such as aneurysms) via catheters threaded up the blood vessels in an operating theatre style environment, or musculoskeletal radiology, which involves imaging (mainly MRI scans) and procedures (such as injections and biopsies) of bones, joints and spine.”

Outside work, Andrew has continued his involvement in the extracurricular school programme Future Problem Solving (FPS). He is on the national board for that organisation and is a senior evaluator for the New Zealand programme. He also evaluates for the international competition each year in the United States, which takes him to US college campuses all over the country in June each year.

Other passions for Andrew are running, scuba diving and travel. During his medical training he did a two-month working medical elective (placement) in a small Artic town called Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. He has also journeyed across Eurasia on the Trans-Siberian railway from Beijing to St Petersburg, visited the Chernobyl power plant and exclusion zone in Ukraine, and survived a highly orchestrated tourist visit to North Korea.

So how did Andrew MacDonald end up winning North Harbour Club AIMES Awards?

“I knew of the AIMES Awards since high school, as a number of ‘big name’ achievers at Rangitoto College during my time had won AIMES Awards,” explained Andrew. “These included Terenzo Bozzone (2001/2002), Matthew Flinn (2007) and Rebecca Spence (2006). I never really felt I was in their league, but I believe my parents encouraged me to apply regardless, saying ‘you’ve got to be in it, to win’. It helped that the Emerging Talent Awards were introduced at the time, opening the field to young people still on the way up.

“Winning AIMES Awards, and the recognition that comes with them from the Club, certainly gave me a big boost to my determination to carry on being the best I could be with my medical studies and then my work as a junior doctor. Of course, the money in the bank from the financial grant was also a huge help. Medical school is intense, and although I did some part-time work, the extra money helped to reduce the burden and allowed me to do more of the extra work and projects that got me ahead.”

Andrew has been on the other side since 2016 – judging the AIMES Awards for the past seven years. He was the first AIMES Awards alumnus to become a judge.

“I was invited to join the judges panel and there was no question in my mind that I would accept,” adds Andrew about becoming a judge. “I care a lot about the North Shore, given it is where I grew up and owe much of what I have achieved, as well as the North Harbour Club for supporting me so much. Being a judge is a phenomenal opportunity for me to give some small measure of service back to the community and the club.

Andrew MacDonald (right) with the 2022 AIMES Award winners

Andrew MacDonald (second from right) with 2022 AIMES Supreme Award Winner Zoe White (holding trophy) and North Harbour Club Patron Liz Blackwell and Phil Brosnan, club President (2019-2022)

“AIMES Awards judging is a challenge that requires intellectual engagement, determination and care. It also requires working together with other incredibly smart and talented – not to mention opinionated –judges. While all of this is hard work and never easy, the whole process is pretty special to be a part of, and it is amazing seeing the end result – our winners up on stage.

“Getting to know all the AIMES Award winners personally is also rewarding. I think it helps to build community on the North Shore as well as expanding our growing AIMES alumni network. Working with the judges panel, with the input and chat, and strong opinions, has also always made it a really satisfying and enjoyable experience.

“The AIMES Awards have attained the distinguished status as what I consider the ‘premier’ awards for young people on the North Shore. The awards recognise excellence above all else: people who have achieved peak performance whatever their field. The awards have preserved this focus steadfastly since their inception almost 30 years ago. I think it’s fair to say that awards or scholarships with this uncompromising emphasis on excellence are increasingly scarce, so I believe the AIMES Awards stand out and are respected for this.”

Andrew adds that he thinks a lot of recognition and popularity of the AIMES Awards also comes down to the distinguished record of Award winners who are well known. “The likes of Lydia Ko (2012), Lorde/Ella Yellich-O’Connor (2013), and more recently Eliza McCartney (2016). This reflects both the exceptional talent that we have developing on the North Shore, and that the North Harbour Club and our wonderful judges are getting everything right with the vision of the AIMES Awards and how the award winners are selected.

“The generous monetary grants are important. Some of the endeavours that our young people are pursuing, especially where they have to go offshore to achieve to the best of their abilities, are incredibly expensive and are not well funded from other sources.”

Chair Andrew and his fellow judges had a big challenge with the 2023 AIMES Awards. There were just under 200 applications.

“All the judges put in huge numbers of hours and sacrifice their own time,” says Andrew. “The role of the Chair also involves a lot of additional organisation and work behind the scenes with the staff and Board of the Club to make sure the whole applications process and judging happens smoothly and effectively. As Chair I need to be familiar with all the applications across all categories, ensure questions of eligibility and category applicability are sorted, and lead the panel in their shared tasks such as shortlisting applications and interviews. I feel responsible for

ensuring the judging process is fair and robust to select winners that all of us, the Club and broader North Shore community included, can be sure are the absolute top performers in their category and are deserving of these awards.”

Andrew says that finally selecting the top winners in each AIMES Category is the most challenging task. The categories are The Arts; Innovation; Music; Education; Sport; Service to the Community.

“Our job as judges is to determine who is the absolute best in each category for that year’s applicants. The talent and level of achievement of the applicants is always outstanding; honestly sometimes unbelievable. The most challenging part is coming to a rational decision about who to select out of these applicants, when so many are so performing at similarly high levels. I guess the hardest part of that is that the process results in a number of strong applicants missing out. These can be people who may have competed at the Olympics or Commonwealth Games or be attending Ivy League universities, because in that year’s cohort they didn’t quite come out on top.”

The AIMES Awards judging panel for 2023 was: Andrew MacDonald (Chair); Aidan Bennett; Courtney Davies; Dean Flyger; Shane Cortese; Sue Kohn-Taylor and Tom Ashley. Courtney Davies (2019) and Tom Ashley (2008) are also previous AIMES Award recipients – both winning the AIMES Supreme Award.

The 2023 AIMES Awards are being presented at the North Harbour Club’s AIMES Awards Gala Dinner being held on 10 June at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna.

For more information visit: northharbourclub.co.nz

About the North Harbour Club & AIMES Awards

For more information visit: northharbourclub.co.nz

Established in 1995, the North Harbour Club is made up of over 200 members, all leaders in local affairs, business, education, sport and social development. These members, who are all residents or have their businesses in the North Harbour region, have, among other stated aims, the desire to promote excellence by encouraging and providing financial assistance to the young people of the region who are achieving excellence in their chosen field. This support is provided through the annual AIMES Awards programme which has resulted in close to $3 million worth of grants being made to rangatahi of the region since 1995. To qualify for the AIMES Awards, recipients must have shown excellence in the areas of The Arts; Innovation; Music; Education; Sport; and Service to the Community.

The AIMES Awards have attained the distinguished status as what I consider the ‘premier’ awards for young people on the North Shore.

Andrew MacDonald

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. Simon was awarded a QSM for services to the community in 2013. More recently, he was inducted into the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame. He has been writing this thought-provoking column for Channel from the very first issue (over a dozen years ago!).

Wonderful Easter in Devo!

What a wonderful Easter weekend it was in Devonport, both for the 150th celebrations at the North Shore Rugby Club and the National Optimist Championships taking place at Wakatere Boating Club.

Let’s start with the rugby club celebration, which started with 180 golfers – past players, administrators, coaches, current players and assorted others – congregating at Waitemata Golf Club in Devonport. This was followed by a meet and greet at the rugby club on Friday evening, with a couple of hundred people attending. The next day was extraordinary, starting off with an Old Boys’ Luncheon at the club, with guest speakers Brad Johnstone (an exAll Black from Shore), and Chris Kennings (who should have been an All Black) from Takapuna. The luncheon attracted a good 250 people.

Then we had North Shore playing Takapuna in the U21s, the Premier 1 Grade and the Premier Grade. This was preceded by Takapuna Grammar School playing Howick College. By the time the main game started, there would have been at least 3000 people in the grandstand and surrounding the field on a very balmy afternoon and drifting into the evening.

People came from all over the country, and some from overseas, for the reunion. There were some I hadn’t seen for 40 years and, of course, nobody had changed at all. The humour, the stories, the camaraderie was still there, the same as it was so many decades ago.

Saturday was a day of rest, for most, but then in the evening, we had a sit-down dinner in Westlake Boys’ Auditorium. Around 350 past and present members of the club danced the night away to a wonderful live band. Again, it was a superbly organised event. Sunday morning dawned, and the afternoon fixture was a North Shore past players’ invitation XV playing against a North Harbour Barbarian invitation XV. The players came off very sore and tired. The after-match function was superb, with farewell speeches and a wonderful hangi to feed everyone. It was such a well-organised weekend, but I’m glad it only comes around every 150 years.

To thank people in this article would be impossible, as so much was done by so many. It’s a true measure of the club and the community that everyone pulled together to make the weekend so memorable. Three cheers for the old green and white, as they say in the club song!

Just down the road, on exactly the same days over Easter weekend, Wakatere Boating Club was holding the National Optimist Championships, with participants coming from all over the Pacific including Tahiti, Rarotonga, and New Caledonia. Unfortunately, there was a lack of boats from the South Island due to the unreliable ferry services across the Cook Strait, but that’s another topic for another day.

Competitors raced the full ten out of the proposed ten races, in all sorts of weather from the light to the very stiff n ortherlies – there was absolutely a true gamut of all sailing conditions out of Narrow Neck Beach. Again, the organisation and running of

the regatta was first class and, again, done by a huge volunteer base, both on and off the water. There would have been at least 30 inflatable RIBs on the courses for marshall boats, start boats, rescue boats and, again, a huge volunteer base enabled success. The national title was finally won by William Mason, a student at Takapuna Grammar School.

It gives me a lot of heart to know that our community on the North Shore is so invested in the welfare of our youth participating in sport. As Judge Mick Brown used to say, “Keep the youth in sport and they will stay out of court!”

Well, here’s another road repair story. I live in a very small, narrow lane where, six months ago, a water main ruptured and flowed unattended for at least two weeks. After that time, Watercare finally came to repair it. They duly did so, putting a lovely tar seal patch of 1.5 x 1m over the excavation. A very tidy and precise job.

Two weeks ago, three trucks appeared up the street, with eight people, and duly tar sealed over the tar sealed patch that Watercare had done some months before. At least six of them sat on the side of the road and played on their phones while this was going on, and two of them unloaded some tar seal, spread and compacted it. What an absolute joke it was, seeing all this unfold!

And here’s another one… Down in Devonport, much to the annoyance of business owners, residents and the general population, there is a plan to spend (I’ve heard from my sources at the coalface) some $5 million to uplift perfectly good pedestrian crossings and replace them with humped crossings to slow down the traffic, and also place a path to the northern side of the band stand at Windsor Reserve, going towards the library. I asked some workmen at the construction site what was the finish of the path going to be, and they replied, “Concrete.” I said that concrete shouldn’t be placed under the dripline of the 150 year-old Moreton Bay fig tree that dominates the reserve. I got hold of a member of the Local Board, expressing my concern about this proposed project. So, on April 5 I got a text from this Local Board person,

“I have stopped the project. Local Board approved the project for funding last term, but they never saw a design or asked about materials. It is now going to be a shell or hoggin mix path. Thank you for alerting me.”

On replying to the community board member, I said, “That’s great and well done. I would love to see the budget for this as it is madness what is going on around this Parish. We so need to keep an eye on things.”

The reply was, “I’m not sure I can get that information right now, I will ask when the project is complete now that there will be variations. I will come back to you down the track.“

It will be interesting to hear the feedback about this.

These are the people who are crying out about the budget cuts, when a $5 million spend is forced on a community that doesn’t want or need it. Surely this money could be better spent on the needy people at Muriwai, Karekare or Bethells Beach?

There’s plenty of scope there.

By Natasha Geo, Takapuna North Community Trust Manager

Winter Fun Pre-School Play Join us for an upcoming session

Thanks for coming to Lunchtime Wellness Takapuna over the last few weeks; our free sessions have been a huge success!

From yoga to fitness training, our sessions have allowed participants to take a break from their busy workdays and focus on their wellbeing. We’ve been thrilled to see the positive impact these sessions have had on our community, and we hope to be able to offer them in the future.

Pre School Play is fun for all

Our outdoor Summer Fun Preschool Play series ended on a high with an Easter egg hunt, a special Easterthemed Playball session as well as the Babywearing Downunder event at Kangatraining. We hope you and your preschoolers enjoyed spending time outdoors in our local parks. As autumn sets in, Preschool Play will head indoors for our Winter Fun series. For mums/caregivers, we have Postnatal Yoga by Emma from Flourish Yoga and Kangatraining (a postnatal workout class for mums/caregivers and bubs) by Sarah from Kangatraining North Shore. Keep a look out for the schedule on our website and on our Summer Fun Preschool Play Facebook page.

Get involved with our ecological halo programme

Pupuke Birdsong Project focuses on establishing and maintaining ecological halos around Takapuna. If you’re interested in finding out more, reach out via our contact details below.

Thank you to Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

These free initiatives would not be possible without generous support from Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

We’d love to hear from you!

If you have any feedback on how we serve you or would like to share some ideas, please get in touch with us.

takapunatrust.org.nz

Facebook/Instagram: @TakapunaNorthCommunityTrust office@takapunatrust.org.nz 09 486 2098

Supported by:

By Simon Ritchie, Marketing & Communications Lead

ANCAD’s brand new quarterly magazine, Community Voices, is out now!

This e-magazine aims to tell the story of our community groups and leaders. Find within free resources and reflective articles contributing to leadership development and more besides.

Community Voices autumn issue is now out!

Get your FREE copy now by heading to ANCAD’s website page at ancad.org.nz and downloading from the Resources section. Or, email Simon at simon@ancad.org.nz and request a copy.

LiiFT Aotearoa professional development

There are some fantastic professional development and training sessions happening in the month of May including:

4 May: Volunteer Management (How to attract and access the volunteers you need)

9 May: Governance Matters #4 (The Board’s role in financial oversight)

11 May: Besides applying for money, how else can you raise money?

17 May: Telling your organisation’s legacy story

25 May: Become funder-ready. A practical approach to planning and funding for community organisations in Aotearoa

31 May: Board reviews for good governance.

To find out more information about each of these sessions and to register, head to ANCAD’s dedicated training website at LiiFT.nz

Community resilience public meeting

Date: Thursday 25 May, 6pm-8pm. Community Emergency Preparedness Hui. Hear from first responders and community agencies about the recent flood and cyclone events. Venue: Mary Thomas Centre, 3 Gibbons Road, Takapuna (St Anne’s Room). RSVP to madison@ancad.org.nz

ANCAD Community Network Meeting

You are invited along to this network meeting for all, happening on Thursday 18 May from 12pm-2pm. Venue: TBC. Lunch will be provided. There will be a guest speaker at this event. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to share any announcements. Find out more and register at ancad.org.nz/events/

ancad.org.nz facebook @ancad.org.nz instagram ancadinc

LiiFT Aotearoa LiiFT.nz

0800 426 223 or info@ancad.org.nz

Kristin celebrates 50 years of 'Progress with Vision, Integrity and Love'

Thousands of current and former students, parents, staff as well as founders came together to celebrate Kristin’s 50th Jubilee in March. Kristin marked the significant milestone with a weekend of events in the spirit of our values to 'Progress with Vision, Integrity and Love'.

The Jubilee started with a cocktail evening for our alumni that was attended by former students and staff who came from as far away as the USA.

Among the highlights was a breakfast to honour special members of our community including past and present school principals, board chairs, and head prefects. This was followed by a high tea for our grandparent community and a whole school Summer Carnival featuring food, music, rides, arts and craft stalls and more.

On Saturday 25 March, we hosted our flagship Gala Dinner event. This was a wonderful evening, which included performances from students and our staff band, where our Kristin community was able to reconnect, reminisce and dance the night away. It was also an opportunity for us to raise funds through live and silent auctions for our Dove Scholarships, which provide financial support for students to attend Kristin.

Throughout the weekend, we also welcomed our alumni back into the sporting arena to take on Kristin’s top cricket, basketball, football, hockey and touch rugby teams.

On Sunday 26 March, we gathered at the Kristin Chapel for a special service to commemorate, and give thanks for 50 years of dedication and commitment to education and service at Kristin.

Our service started with the lighting of the Foundation Candle by Head Prefects Una Dennehy and Caspar McGavin, with Leo Ingram and Xanthe Todd representing two of Kristin's youngest students. The lighting of the Foundation Candle allows us to pause and reflect on our past, to remember where we have come from and ensure we are future ready for the pathways ahead.

This was followed in the evening by Stars of Gold, a dazzling concert showcasing Kristin’s performing arts legacy. Combining past stars of the Kristin stage with talent from our current student body, Stars of Gold celebrated our internationally renowned performing arts department, and 50 years of high quality choral, classical and musical theatre programmes.

Our Jubilee was wrapped up with a whole school assembly for our Foundation Day, where we honour our history and its origins. To commemorate the special milestone, we also took a whole school photo showing a '50' to represent the 50 years of Kristin.

Kristin would like to thank all members of our community who joined us at our 50th Jubilee to honour all of the people who have been part of Kristin’s unique story and rich history.

Current and former Principals and Board of Governors Chairs gathered at a special breakfast event

Kristin’s Treble Clefs Choir perform at the Grandparents’ High Tea

Executive Principal Mark Wilson addresses guests at the Gala Dinner

Students, staff and guests celebrated 50 years of Progress with Vision, Integrity and Love with a whole school photo

Year 12 students India Skinner, Lily Richardson, Tova Maddock and Chloe Mackay-Booth sing at the Foundation Day Assembly

Kristin’s Head Prefects Caspar McGavin and Una Dennehy with two of Kristin’s youngest students, Xanthe Todd and Leo Ingram, light the candle on Foundation Day to mark 50 years of Kristin

The grand finale of the 50th Jubilee was ‘Stars of Gold’, a dazzling celebration of Kristin’s renowned performing arts legacy

Kristin Alumni took on Kristin's top sports teams in games including football

Te Wiki Ahurea – Culture Week

Te Wiki Ahurea – Culture Week brought some extra colour to campus, casting a spotlight on the richness of Westlake’s wonderfully diverse community.

The kapa haka group kicked off the 20-24 March event, performing a Tūtū Ngārahu in assembly. We were then treated to a salsa party in the quad led by Mr Dudley Young with students and staff learning dance moves and the African Jerusalema dance challenge. The Middle Eastern kebabs on sale were also a hit.

On Tuesday we enjoyed cuisines from India and the Philippines and two of our Filipino students serenaded the quad with a love song from their home country. Students were introduced to Chinese calligraphy, Chinese chess, Wuziqi (Chinese style tic tac toe), San Guo Sha - a popular Chinese strategy game and the popular Chinese board game – Go. Our Camerata (string group) also gave an impromptu performance outside the Auditorium at lunch time.

Wednesday was a busy day with the opportunity to get involved in TheatreSports and more Chinese games. There were plenty of food choices on offer with treats from China, Japan and Mexico. In the evening, we had our annual Equinox concert with many of our music groups performing pieces they have been rehearsing all term.

Korean food was the highlight on Thursday and there were a few tears as students tried the super spicy noodles. The taekwondo demonstration was entertaining as were the traditional Korean games; Gong gi nol i, Ddjak ji and Jegi Chagi.

Year 10 student, Tyler Bennett taught a special effects makeup workshop and students were amused to leave the drama studio covered in fake but believable gory wounds and cuts.

Te Wiki Ahurea – Culture Week wrapped up with a group performing a spectacular Chinese lion dance and another performing taekwondo in assembly.

Headmaster David Ferguson also featured in a taekwondo demonstration on stage. There was South African food for sale in the quad, along with mau rākau (a traditional Māori weaponry demonstration) and a "Haka Off".

It was a wonderful week of cultural celebration.

Mr Warwick Robinson, who organised the event, hailed its success. “Judging from the reaction of the boys this week (as audiences, customers, vendors and performers) this has been a highlight of the term and a worthwhile thing to do.

“Thanks again to everyone who has worked to organise and motivate students to get involved.”

Equinox concert

A highlight on our musical calendar was our annual Equinox evening concert held on Wednesday 22 March. The much-loved event saw each music group perform one high-impact item giving audience members a taste of what’s to come from these talented musicians and directors in the year ahead. It was an incredibly entertaining (and sunny) spectacle.

Warwick Robinson

Term One sports recap

It’s been an incredibly busy Term One for Westlake Sport. Our annual House events and traditional exchanges were once again features of the term, as were the competitions so many of our summer codes competed in.

A highlight was our Ki-o-Rahi team winning the secondary schools title on their first attempt. The sport has always been a strength of the Māori Immersion schools, so to gain qualification and ultimately win the Rotorua competition was hugely significant.

Headmaster David Ferguson praised the combined Westlake Boys and Girls team for their outstanding effort. “This is the first time we’ve ever won this competition. Congratulations on a terrific performance and thank you to Matua Johnny and Whaea Clare.”

A big thank you should go to all our students who took part in teams and events during the term, whatever the sport or level of competition. We should also acknowledge the massive shift our teachers and coaches put in, to ensure all these opportunities for our students to participate and compete over the last 10 weeks.

We’re all very much looking forward to the start-up of Term Two and the amount of exciting winter sport that promises to bring.

Polyfest 2023

Tēnā koutou e te hāpori mātauranga o Te Kura Tuarua o Ngā Tamatāne o Ururoto, tēnā koutou katoa.

Westlake Boys High School made a triumphant return to Polyfest. This year Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Tama o Ururoto along with Te Wharekura o Manurewa and Westlake Girls High School were promoted to Division 2. This was a new division and a new beginning for Māori performing arts at Westlake Boys.

After nine weeks of practice and a day fine-tuning the performance bracket at Te KāmakaMarae, Hāto Petera, the students were ready.

On Tuesday 4th April, Ngā Tama Toa o Ururoto gave it their all and left everything on the stage. The performance was powerful, energetic and entertaining. Needless to say we were all proud of the boys and their performance. Mihi also to Aden and Alan Angelo who led the kapa and Kaawyn Patterson and Ariki Nootai who delivered the oral protocols during the performance.

An awesome day was had by all; whānau and kaiako were very proud. Our boys were outstanding and the results prove it.

Thank you to school staff for their support and to tutors Kauwiti Selwyn, Zane Eramiha. Mihi also Gary Parata and Grenville Gregory who were our guitarists – ngā mihi marika ki a koutou katoa. Next is Ahurea in October and we will be more than ready.

Mauri ora nui!

Ngā Kaiako o Te Puna

A big thank you should go to all our students who took part in teams and events during the term…

Westlake's Premier Tennis team are National Champions for the first time

Westlake’s Premier Touch team are Auckland champions after an unbeaten season

The Ki-O-Rahi team are National Champions on their first attempt

Westlake Sailing teams on the water

Westlake Boys at Polyfest 2023

Best female haka for Te Rerenga Wāna

Last month our Te Rerenga Wāna kapa haka group of 18 students took to the stage at the ASB Polyfest Māori & Pacific Islands Cultural Festival. The team placed third overall in the second division which means a promotion to the first division next year. They won the haka taparahi for best female haka and placed second for moteatea and mita (pronunciation). Caitlin Jenkins was named third as the best female leader.

Matua Eddie Hudson said, “Wow! What a performance from Te Rerenga Wāna! Competing in Division Two made up of 11 groups, an original and creative bracket was performed which allowed for a fresh and vibrant performance for the judges and audience to view. Special mention must be made of our two Year 13 leaders Caitlin Jenkins the ‘kaitātaki’ of the group performing with mana and Isabella Drummond providing support and experience to the group.”

Head Prefect Isabella Drummond and House Prefect Caitlin Jenkins have been part of the kapa haka group since they started at Westlake Girls. While this Polyfest campaign will be their last, they both felt this was one of the best campaigns they have been involved in and a fitting finish to the amazing group that has played such a big part of their high school journeys.

Isabella Drummond said, “This Polyfest campaign has been nothing short of rewarding. At the start of the campaign, I, and I am sure some of the other girls as well,

were a bit intimidated by the number of trainings that awaited us. We were in for a long eight weeks. Learning a performance bracket for the Polyfest stage is not easy task –it takes hours of commitment and dedication.

"Our bracket consisted of six items, a whakaeke, mōteatea, waiata-ā-ringa, poi, haka taparahi, and whakawātea. Each item involved choreography, actions and words that needed to be learned and perfected. All the girls in our rōpū practised hard and developed their own personal skills. Throughout the campaign, we had amazing support from teachers and whānau. They helped make this campaign possible.”

Caitlin Jenkins said, “We practised and practised then came the big day and we got incredible results that I could have never imagined. Placing third overall in division two in our first time competing in this division is a massive accomplishment for Westlake Girls.

"This campaign has been a challenge and the rōpū pushed through and left it all on the stage, I could not be any prouder! I’m sure the girls found it just as challenging as I did, especially the new Year 9s moving from an intermediate group up to a high school group, and they all did an amazing job.”

The team was led by tutors Maddison Gerbes (alumna) and Tirakahurangi Takuira-Leaf and accompanied by guitarists were Natana Herewini and Murray Hawke.

Avishi Jain wins 2023 Radio Tarana Idol

Congratulations to our Year 9 student Avishi Jain who won New Zealand’s Radio Tarana Idol singing competition for 2023. Avishi is the youngest ever contestant in the competition that has been running for 14 years. Along with a cash prize, Avishi will have the opportunity to perform in Australia with an esteemed singer along with a movie playback contract.

Summer sports success

Westlake Girls had some incredible podium finishes during Summer Tournament Week at national competitions in the last two weeks of Term 1.

Rowing

At the Aon Maadi Rowing Regatta our under-15 coxed four won gold and a National title and our under 18 novice four won silver.

Ki-O-Rahi

Our combined Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys team won the National Ki-O-Rahi championships winning eight of eight games. This was the first time we entered the competition with a combined team. Ariana Hebden made the NZSS Ki-O-Rahi tournament team alongside Westlake Boys student Isaac Murray-Macgregor who was also MVP male.

Softball

Our softball team came second at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Softball Championships - our first time at the Premier Championship.

Basketball

Our top basketballers performed strongly at the New Zealand Secondary Schools 3×3 Championships with three podium finishes (Senior Elite – division 1 silver, Junior Elite – division 1 silver).

Avishi Jain

Girls U15 1st (Gold): Maeve Lockett, Sacha Van Der Net, Charlotte Mawston, Talia Chatfield, Tessa Guthrie

Girls U18N 2nd (Silver): Annabel Drew Ross, Annabel Savage, Sacha Van Der Net, Charlotte Mawston, Tayla Coplestone, with Ella Campbell

Ki-O-Rahi

Softball champs with their silver award

Senior Elite Team: Lily Fotu, Amy Pateman, Rebecca Moors, Emma Schroeder

Junior Elite Team: Katie Moors, Brydie McMillan, Honor Coates, Imani Rasmussen

Sensational Cancer Society fundraising efforts

Relay for Life 2023 was even more amazing than in previous years. This year, Rangitoto College had over 200 students and staff fundraising for the Cancer Society by running, walking, skipping, and even cartwheeling around the AUT Millennium Track for 12 consecutive hours.

The theme for the event was 'Remarkable Together', which was reflected in the spirit of our team who kept up their energy and determination throughout a day of unpredictable weather. Participants were entertained with various activities such as a tug of war, meditation, Zumba, a talent show, and many games. Dodging the rain and pushing on through strong winds, it was fantastic to see ākonga vibrantly serving their community and demonstrating our school's values.

Rangitoto College successfully raised over $37,000—more than ever before. We will be back again next year and encourage all students to consider joining our team in 2024, as we continue to support the Cancer Society in the fight against cancer.

Rangitoto College successfully raised a record total — over $37,000

Educate to Liberate enlightens students at Rangitoto College

Rangitoto College was privileged to host the University of Auckland's Educate to Liberate team who shared their knowledge and personal history of the Dawn Raids and the formation of the Polynesian Panthers with our ākonga.

Dr Melani Anae, Tigilau Ness, and Reverend Alec Toleafoa facilitated an hour-long talk with our Year 9 cohort and 80 minutes with selected Pasifika students across Years 10 to 13. The original Polynesian Panther trio shared their knowledge and personal experience of the Dawn Raids, a time in Aotearoa’s history when Pasifika were targeted by police for overstaying their visas. They also talked about the formation of the Polynesian Panthers and the 2021 government apology.

This talk was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9s to consolidate their learnings in Junior Social Science and for our Pasifika students to connect to their shared histories.

A double national championship for Rangitoto’s top volleyball teams

Rangitoto College Premier Girls and Boys Volleyball teams recently made history, with both top teams placing first in Division 1 of the New Zealand Secondary School Volleyball Championships.

These wins came on the back of a number of local and regional wins. After both our Premier Boys and Girls teams won the Harbour Super League and the Auckland-wide Premier League, they travelled to Takanini to contest the Auckland Championships.

The boys’ team won the Auckland title, beating Rosmini College in the semifinal and arch-rivals Manurewa in the final. The girls’ team

won silver. They beat Westlake 3-0 in the semi-final but were defeated by Orewa in the final.

The teams then travelled to Palmerston North in the Summer Sports Tournament Week to compete at the New Zealand Secondary School Volleyball Championships. These talented teams made history by both placing first in Division 1 of the competition.

Our girls’ team won 3-0 against Orewa. Our boys’ team won 3-1 against Waimea.

Tino pai to all the players, whānau, and staff involved!

Dr Melani Anae Tigilau Ness Reverend Alex Toleafoa

Both our Premier Girls and Boys Volleyball teams placed first in the New Zealand Secondary School Volleyball Championships

Carmel students experience Learning Outside the Classroom

The Level 2 biology class recently spent the day collecting data at Smith’s Bush using the skills previously practised at Year 12 camp. This trip was planned for Arataki Visitors’ Centre in the Waitākere ranges but due to road damage caused by cyclone Gabrielle, it has become inaccessible to large vehicles.

Smith’s Bush in Northcote Road is a great substitute as it is one of the only forest remnants of its type remaining on Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland's North Shore. As such, it is unique and of high ecological importance. Students were specifically looking at the different species and where they existed in the different layers of the forest. The students were very interested in identifying the trees and their adaptations with the help of staff from Arataki who accompanied us on the trip.

Year 11 geography students have been learning how to conduct accurate geographic research

Students and their teachers ventured to Smales Farm, Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, and Kitchener Road in Milford, to collect data that will be used for their upcoming geography internal. At each site, students in their groups were required to use the apps Simple Logger and GeogIT. As part of the upcoming internal, students are required to pick a shop as well as the best location to place their shop, backing up their research with the data that was collected. This trip was a great learning experience for the students to explore and start thinking about how location and the environment surrounding it play a major role when owning your own shop.

An instructor from Dance Curriculum recently visited to teach Year 8 students different styles of dance

Skills like rhythm, counts and musicality were learned. After two weeks of hard work and practice, students came together to show the dances to parents, students and teachers.

Year 11 visit Christian Churches of significance in Auckland as part of our unit about the Council of Trent in religious education

Students visited Holy Trinity Cathedral (Anglican), St Andrew’s (Presbyterian), and St Patrick's Cathedral (Catholic) where we were welcomed and spoken to by Father Ivika, David Williamson, and Father Chris. They explained some key beliefs of their faith and the significance of the sacred buildings visited. It was an ecumenical day that helped the students learn that although there are some differences, our faiths have much more in common.

The Level 2 sport science class recently attended a session at Vero Whitewater Park

The goal for the day was to challenge themselves in a new activity and to have fun! Participation was also focused around an internal assessment where students are required to reflect on safe practices in an outdoor activity.

The Level 3 sport science class recently spent the day in Omaha, surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding

This was a new activity this year and one we are sure to continue as it was great fun. As part of an internal assessment students will reflect on the impact of their participation on their wellbeing and whether any of the activities will become part of their future participation.

Successful art design students' work goes New Zealand wide

Four Takapuna Grammar art students who took Level 3 Design last year had their exam folios selected to go on a national art tour called The NZQA Top Art Show. They were Joel Potter, Zlata Denisenko, Evan Herwandi and Gaby Dellabarca. Top Art is an annual touring exhibition featuring approx 100 top secondary school art folios.

The exhibition is a selection of the portfolios that gained Excellence in NCEA the year prior. It provides an opportunity for secondary students and teachers to view the high standard of art produced in schools and gain an understanding of what is required to achieve Excellence. It is also an opportunity for members of the public to see the quality art being created in schools.

Year 12 geographers tackle the Tongariro Crossing

Bright and early late last month, just under 100 Year 12 geographers headed down the country to National Park to learn more about the Tongariro volcanic centre and carry out some geographic research. After not being able to make the trek down here in 2022 due to Covid protocols, it was great to have this trip underway again.

The weather on Sunday was fantastic and perfect Tongariro Crossing conditions. Ninety-four students traversed the full distance of 19.4km from Mangatepopo Valley to beyond Ketetahi Springs in about seven hours with minimal complaint! Year 12 geography students have been learning about the natural processes here all Term 1 so it was helpful to then be able to physically experience the environment we had discussed in depth in class.

On Sunday, students rallied their tired feet to go out to collect some primary data for a 5-credit geographic research project. They were broken into groups and were each tasked with investigating differences in stream velocity, stream cross section and vegetation characteristics between an upper and lower site on the flanks of Mt Ruapehu. We then headed back to our accommodation where the afternoon was spent presenting their data. After two days of great weather, it finally turned on Monday as we departed back for TGS.

Overall, this was a fantastic and highly educational trip to a unique landscape and it was a wonderful reminder about how lucky we are to live and study in this stunning country.

William Mason

New Zealand Optimist and Starling double champion

Huge congratulations to Year 10 William Mason who over five days earlier this month won two national sailing regattas. First, the New Zealand Optimist title down at his home base of Wakatere Boating Club off Narrow Neck beach. Then, changing boat class, he won the Starling New Zealand title at Manly, Whangaparoa. This makes him the #1 Optimist and Starling sailor in New Zealand and Australasia.

From everyone here at TGS, well done Will!

Ralph Roberts 1935 - 2023

Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tane

On Sunday 19 March the school lost one of its most famous alumni, Ralph Roberts who passed away peacefully at the age of 87.

Ralph was one of New Zealand’s most celebrated sailing figures, competing in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympic Games. Upon retirement from sailing, he was the 1984 Olympic Games sailing manager and Chef de Mission for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

Ralph was a wonderful man who was a loyal and passionate supporter of our school. Along with his family, he helped shape the school as it is today. In 1951, his mother Zella fought to keep our playing fields when the government wanted to fill these with housing. The achievements of Ralph and his family were honoured in 2009 with the naming of our student services building the Ralph Roberts Student Services Centre.

Ralph was a regular visitor to the school, always with a smile, and often sharing memorabilia from his time either in the sailing world or while at school. Most recently at our 2022 Sports and Co-Curricular awards, Ralph presented our sailors with a starting watch after their performance in winning the New Zealand 420 teams National championship and the Interdominion championship sailing regatta. A treasured moment for all.

Our thoughts are with Ralph’s wife Penny and his family and friends.

Moe mai ra Ralph.

The exhibition visits many cities throughout New Zealand and also has a Facebook page: facebook.com/NZQATopArt

Ralph Roberts

William Mason

Joel Potter in Wellington at the 'Top Art Show' Illustration by Gaby Dellabarca

Rosmini College's 60th Jubilee

Rosmini College recently celebrated its 60th Jubilee beginning with a ‘Beers and Bites’ function at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Friday 31 March which reunited over 130 Old Boys from around New Zealand and Australia.

This convivial evening saw Old Boys from every decade, including several from the original class of 1962, reminiscing alongside former and current staff members of the school.

Saturday 1 April began with a karakia and mass at the College and then current students proudly showed Old Boys and their families around the school. There were live music items throughout the afternoon along with a series of Old Boys versus current student sports matches. The science department performed interactive experiments and let off rockets and the food technology department hosted a MasterChef competition.

Rosmini College’s Headmaster Nixon Cooper concludes, “The weekend was a huge success. It was wonderful to welcome back so many Old Boys to the school and share the new buildings and resources we have at the College. A big thank you to our member of the Rosmini Board of Trustees and Jubilee event organiser, Sarah Porter. I was very proud to see the showcase of talent on display across the school community. It was a great way to reflect on 60 years of Rosmini College and look ahead to the school’s future.”

National 3x3 basketball title

Over 1,100 games were played at Takanini’s Pulman Arena from 29 March to 1 April as part of the 2023 Secondary Schools 3×3 Basketball National Championships. Rosmini College’s Senior Red team consisting of Year 13 students Zion Anderson and Harlan Roudon alongside Year 12 brothers Chris and Josh Wyllie won the Boys Senior Elite Championships by taking out the grand final winning 16 – 14 against St John’s College. Zion Anderson made the winning shot and was named Most Valuable Player.

Chris Wyllie, Zion Anderson, Josh Wyllie, Harlan Roudon

There were live music items throughout the afternoon along with a series of Old Boys versus current student sports matches.

Past students and staff at Beer and Bites

Head Boy, Reuben Paul in action with his band

with Lindsay Knight

Takapuna women continue their success

Takapuna’s outstanding women’s bowlers maintained their excellent record at the national sevens inter-club competition with another podium finish when the 2023 championship was held in Wellington in mid-April.

However, they couldn’t quite match the feats of 2020-21, when they finished a close runner-up to Nelson, or that of last November at Browns Bay when they won the 2021-22 version.

This season they had to be content with finishing third equal, with a loss in the semi-final to Nelson, who, as in 2020-21, had two of New Zealand’s greatest ever bowlers in Jo Edwards and Val Smith as the mainstays.

While it was disappointing not to be able to repeat November’s triumph at Browns Bay it was still a worthy effort from Takapuna and until her loss in the semi-final to Edwards, another superb display in what has been a vintage season for Selina Goddard.

Until the semi-final, Selina had been in superb touch as the team’s singles specialist. She won six out of six, all five in the qualifying play and then in the quarter-final. That followed her epic singles win in the national championships in the New Year, her second place in the national mixed pairs in March and a gold and bronze in the pairs and fours at the recent multi-nations championship in Australia.

Takapuna was without two accomplished bowlers in Lisa Parlane and Anne Dorreen from the team which won the event last season, but had good replacements in Keiko Kurohara and Trish Hardy, and former Black Jack Wendy Jensen remained to again expertly skip the four.

Adele Ineson, Lauren Mills and Robyne Walker also survived from 2022 and in what was tough competition all contributed to the team effort.

There was also disappointment for North Harbour’s men’s representative in Wellington, Browns Bay’s Colin Rogan (singles), Brian Wilson and John Feast (pairs) and Neil Fisher, John Walker, David McMurchy and Mike Garton (fours).

By finishing fourth in their section they failed to qualify. But they were

in tough group which included the eventual champion, Southland’s Gore, and the runner-up, Nelson’s Stoke. And Browns Bay could boast that in the opening round it did have a 2-1 win over Stoke.

Meanwhile, at centre level the main focus in April was on the junior levels, or those bowlers who, no matter their age whether it be in their teens or 70s, have been members of clubs for under five years.

These various tournaments offered reassurance that the playing standard within North Harbour should continue to be high.

Takapuna’s Skye Renes achieved the remarkable feat for a fifth year player of winning the centre’s open singles title.

Skye, with Shaun Goldsbury, who plays his Harbour bowls with Takapuna, made the national mixed pairs semi-finals in March, and Shaun then won the Harbour one-to-five years men’s singles title.

However, Skye couldn’t join him in making it a personal double, for Helensville’s Sharon Parker won the centre’s one-to-five women’s title. She clearly has good bowling genes as her father is Ron Cowper, who with 10 centre titles has a bar to his gold star.

Helensville, a club much admired by its peers for consistently boxing above its weight, won the junior inter-club title played at Easter weekend and Orewa was another club to show considerable depth among its newer bowlers.

It provided three of the semi-finalists in the any combination pairs one-to-five championship, with Wayne Harris and Alan McQuoid beating Paul and Carol Hollows in the final.

bowlsnorthharbour.com

Takapuna’s Skye Renes achieved the remarkable feat for a fifth year of winning the centre’s open singles title

Sharon Parker won the one-to five women's title

Takapuna women's sevens team, bronze medalists at national interclub finals in Wellington

Tax considerations when gifting, loaning or owning

George and his partner Sam wanted to buy a house. As it was their first home, they could use their KiwiSaver and they had each saved enough to have a reasonable deposit, especially now that prices had come down a bit. George’s parents always said that they would help him out when he was looking to buy his first home in the same way they had helped his older sister, Eve, a few years previously.

George knew his parents had a trust and that the help to Eve had come via the trust. His parents’ lawyer was a trustee together with both his parents. George knew his parents owned their home and business through the trust and that the business had been doing well over the past few years. He also knew that he was able to ask for more exact financial information under the new Trusts Act. But he also respected his parents and didn’t like to ask too many questions – even though Sam thought he should be asking more questions.

George’s parents said they had talked to their co-trustee and the trust was prepared to invest in the property with George and Sam. They said that their co-trustee had recommended against making a gift directly to George as they wanted to ensure that any funds would ultimately be for the benefit of George only, if he and Sam split. But they said that while the business was doing well, there wasn’t a lot of spare cash, and they did expect to get a return on investment. They couldn’t afford to simply give some cash to George in any event.

The last option would be for the trust to own a share in the property. This came with its own complications. Firstly, the bank would require the trust to be a co-borrower on George and Sam’s lending. The banking rules had changed over time, and it wasn’t like the “old days” when banks could lend to only one owner without the other owner having to be a borrower too. Secondly their trustee said that as the house wasn’t the trust’s primary place of residence, the trust’s share would be exposed to tax under the bright-line rules if the property was sold for a profit within ten years of the purchase.

It seemed that unless the trust was prepared to lend the funds without any interest payable, there was a possibility that tax would need to be paid on the increase in value.

The trustees decided to help on the basis that the title to the property would be in George and Sam’s names only, but there would be a separate document stating that George and Sam would be holding a percentage of the property “on trust” for the trust. The trustees knew that this wouldn’t get around any bright-line tax, but it would mean that they wouldn’t need to be co-borrowers with the bank, and it would more accurately reflect the situation.

Even something as simple as helping a child into a property can have unintended tax consequences and it is always important to obtain tax advice.

Tammy McLeod, Managing Director, Davenports Law

09 883 3282

Tammy McLeod (BA LLB) is the managing director at Davenports Law and a trust and asset structuring specialist. Tammy leads the Davenports 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 MCLEOD, DAVENPORTS LAW

Trusts, Assets and Tax Implications.

Trusts are invaluable asset protection mechanisms, which allow a person to hold property and assets on behalf of another for the good of the beneficiaries. However, when you’re dealing with transferring assets in or out of a trust, it is important to consider the tax consequences. There needs to be careful planning and structuring, often with your accountant and lawyer working together.

To get specialty advice for your situation contact Tammy McLeod or one of her team.

Fringe Benefits Tax Returns

Providing fringe benefits can be a great way to attract and retain talented employees in your business. However, employers need to be mindful of tax implications associated with providing these benefits. Employers who provide fringe benefits need to start preparing the March 2023 final quarter, or annual, Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) returns, which are due to be filed by 31 May 2023.

In this brief article, we discuss what are fringe benefits, the exemptions from FBT, and some of the most common issues that arise when providing fringe benefits in New Zealand.

What are Fringe Benefits and who pays FBT?

Fringe benefits are non-cash benefits given to employees. These can include benefits like use of company cars for personal use, health insurance, gym memberships, free or discounted products or services, low interest loan, and gift vouchers.

Employers are responsible for paying FBT on the value of fringe benefits provided to their employees. The highest rate of FBT is currently 63.93%, and this is applied to the gross taxable value of the fringe benefit when calculating FBT using single rate method. However, the alternate rate method, which applies the marginal rate based on an employee’s gross annual pay, may be used to reduce the final FBT liability.

2. Inadequate record-keeping. Quite often we have seen that employers do not retain sufficient and accurate records of the fringe benefit provided. This can lead to FBT not being returned or returned incorrectly. Employers must keep accurate records of all fringe benefits provided to employees, including the value of the benefits, the date they were provided, and the employee who received them. Failure to keep adequate records can result in penalties and fines.

3. Is it FBT or PAYE or entertainment? Deciding whether a payment or benefit is subject to FBT, PAYE, or entertainment has implications for its tax treatment. Getting this wrong could lead to additional compliance costs.

What are the exemptions to FBT?

There are certain exemptions to FBT in New Zealand, including:

• low-value benefits: unclassified benefits valued at less than $300 per employee per quarter

• work-related items: Items provided to employees that are necessary for their work, such as tools or safety equipment

• business-related travel: expenses related to business-related travel, such as flights and accommodation.

Common issues associated with providing fringe benefits in New Zealand

1. Failure to pay FBT. One of the most common issues with providing fringe benefits is that employers sometimes are not aware that the benefit they are providing is subject to FBT. Often this can be corrected by filing voluntary disclosures which can minimise exposure to penalties and interest. Where IRD investigation commences before voluntary disclosures are filed, this can result in penalties, interest charges, and legal action.

4. Claiming deduction for income tax purposes. Deducting FBT paid during the year is an allowable expense for income tax purposes. Employers may overlook claiming a deduction for FBT paid, or they may only include the FBT component and overlook the GST paid on FBT. The deductible amount for income tax purposes comprises both the FBT component and the GST paid on FBT.

The above are just some very basic tax issues associated with providing FBT. There can be other complexities associated with the actual FBT calculations such as attribution of benefits, determining whether the benefits are classified or unclassified, correctly applying the exemptions available, which calculation method to use, etc.

If you require assistance with your FBT returns or if you have been providing fringe benefits to your employees but have not been compliant with return filing, please contact the tax team at Bellingham Wallace for assistance.

Visit: bellinghamwallace.co.nz

Accountancy with Mike Atkinson of Bellingham Wallace.

These can include benefits like use of company cars for personal use, health insurance, gym memberships, free or discounted products or services, low interest loan, and gift vouchers.

Anna Graham joined the Schnauer and Co team in January 2022. Having spent five years down in Dunedin studying Law and Arts majoring in Sociology, she returned home to Auckland ready to begin her legal career in family and employment law. Anna enjoys working in these areas of the law where she is able to provide care and support for our clients going through what can be particularly stressful times.

Legality of the Teacher Strikes

On Thursday 16 March of this year, approximately 50,000 teachers went on strike in an effort to gain improved working conditions, pay and resources. This record breaking event can be used to better understand the legality of striking in New Zealand.

To comprehend the ability to strike, we must first understand the role of unions and collective bargaining. A union is a group of workers who act in their collective employment interests. Unions must work to strike a balance between their two key roles, the first being individual representation for employees in employment disputes and the second is the advancing of collective issues by bringing about bargaining and agreements through campaigns, strikes etc.

A collective employment agreement differs to an individual employment agreement, it involves one or more unions and one or more employers and covers the union members in a workplace. Unions often engage in collective bargaining. This is the process used for negotiating collective employment agreements, these negotiations are a key job for unions. This is also the process teachers in New Zealand have recently been engaged in.

Where negotiations have come to a standstill, some workers are forced to resort to striking to make progress. Striking is where a group of workers refuse to work, either wholly or partially. This approach involves breaching the employment agreement in some way e.g. working at a reduced rate or refusing elements of work such as overtime etc. as a tactical manoeuvre to bring negotiations closer.

Striking in New Zealand is limited. It is important to understand the information above relating to collective bargaining, as you can only go on strike if you are bargaining for a collective employment agreement that has expired and bargaining has been in process for at least 40 days. The only other situation in which striking is lawful in New Zealand is where workers have reasonable grounds for believing health or safety is being compromised.

If a strike is not legal, a party, such as an employer, is able to apply to the Employment Court for an injunction to stop the strike. A party would also be able to sue those striking for loss caused by the strike. These pathways equip employers with legal remedies to unlawful striking and mean it is important that those striking ensure their striking is legal and the correct processes have been followed. On the other side of things, it is important to remember that employers may not employ new staff to replace striking workers and may not discriminate against workers taking part in a strike.

Returning to the recent teacher strikes, this action was lawful as the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement has expired and collective agreement negotiations have been going on since May of 2022 between the Post Primary Teachers’ Association and the Ministry of Education.

If you have any questions or concerns about the legality of strike action, or employment queries generally, the employment team at Schnauer and Co is always available for a call or meeting.

Schnauer & Co,

1 Shea Terrace, Takapuna

09 486 0177

schnauer.com

How will AI impact education?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising various sectors, including education. With the advent of AI, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in the way education is delivered and received. AI can enhance the learning experience by making it more personalised, efficient, and effective. In this essay, we will discuss how AI will influence education.

One of the significant advantages of AI in education is personalised learning. Every student has their learning pace and style, and AI can help identify it. AI-powered learning platforms can use data such as previous test scores, homework, and quizzes to create a personalised learning plan for each student. This approach helps students to learn at their own pace and style, leading to better learning outcomes.

AI can also help teachers to customise their teaching methods. AI can analyse data from students' responses, including their strengths and weaknesses, to identify areas where students need help. Teachers can use this data to create lesson plans that are tailored to students' specific needs. By personalising the learning experience, AI can help improve student engagement and motivation.

AI can also improve the efficiency of education. AI-powered tools such as chatbots and virtual assistants can assist teachers in grading assignments and providing feedback to students. This approach can save teachers' time and reduce the workload, allowing them to focus on other aspects of teaching. For example, chatbots can answer frequently asked questions, allowing teachers to spend more time on complex queries.

Moreover, AI can provide students with immediate feedback, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to their learning strategy. Students can also access educational content at any time using AI-powered platforms, making education more accessible and flexible.

Another significant advantage of AI in education is its ability to make learning more engaging and interactive. AI can create immersive and interactive learning experiences, such as gamification, simulations, and virtual reality. These experiences can help students to understand complex concepts and theories better. For example, simulations can help students to understand scientific concepts such as the human body or natural phenomena.

However, the integration of AI in education comes with some challenges. One of the major concerns is the ethical implications of using AI in education. For example, there is a risk of AI reinforcing bias in the education system. To mitigate these risks, there needs to be a clear ethical framework for the use of AI in education.

Another concern is the impact of AI on the role of teachers. AI can assist teachers in various aspects of teaching, but it cannot replace the human element of teaching. Teachers will still be required to provide guidance, mentorship, and emotional support to students. Therefore, it is essential to train teachers in the use of AI and ensure that they can adapt to the changing landscape of education.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionise education by making it more personalised, efficient, and effective. AI can create personalised learning experiences, improve the efficiency of education, and make learning more engaging and interactive.

This editorial was written entirely by AI (Chat GPT) and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of David Boardman, or Kristin School.

Brass bands across the North Shore

By David Verran

Brass bands started in the 1820s in Britain and Europe and it wasn't too long before band players and their brass instruments made their way to Aotearoa New Zealand. The first band, called the Devonport Brass Band, dates from around January 1886, but a separate Devonport Naval Band pre-dates this, being formed in 1885. Other brass bands, including that of the 58th Regiment, also performed in Devonport, while being based elsewhere.

Another example of brass band activity in the area in the 19 century was a band contest that was held at Quick and Stark's strawberry gardens in Devonport, in 1882, with around 3,000 people in attendance. Those gardens were in the block surrounded by Queens Parade, Anne Street, Clarence Street and Garden Road. The contest was won by the Thames Scottish Band, with other places awarded to the Auckland Engineers, Auckland Artillery and Irish Rifles bands.

The first Devonport Brass Band appears to have only lasted until around May 1888, or at least it no longer featured in newspaper reports after that date. Over that relatively brief period, the band played around the Devonport area, and on Devonport Steam Ferry Company ferries.

The second Devonport Brass Band was formed around 26 May 1900, with newspaper advertisements urging prospective members to join. By 17 August 1900, there were 30 bandsmen, and the band had the strong support of the Mayor of Devonport at the time, J C Mackay. As with the first Devonport Brass Band, they played across the Devonport area, including on the Triangle Reserve, and on the ferries. They also gave concerts, including a fundraiser at the Foresters' Hall and they even had a rugby team.

In March 1904, the Devonport Brass Band won second place at the brass band championships held at the Rotorua Carnival. In the same month, they became the regimental band of the First Regiment of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. A number of band members didn't live in Devonport and the transition from being a local to an army band wasn't an issue. The band formally renamed as the Regimental Band, First Auckland Mounted Rifles, in April 1905. Captain Whalley Stewart became the band conductor in 1907 and, in 1908, while described as the First Battalion Band of the Auckland Regiment, they won the A Grade National Championship in New Plymouth, after previously coming fifth in 1905. The Auckland Mounted Rifles

The third Devonport brass band started as the Devonport Boys' Band in 1919. From October 1922, the Devonport Borough Council enabled them to have their own band room on Mount Victoria, built by voluntary labour. They became the Devonport United Band in 1924. They retained a number of youth members, with 14 in September 1932. Alfred Widden Tatton (18761942) was their long-time bandmaster from at least 1924 to 1935. However, the band had financial difficulties during the economic depression of the 1930s and, in July 1935, asked the Devonport Borough Council for support, as a municipal band. This was unsuccessful and the Devonport band went into liquidation on 25 November 1936. It returned in 1957 as the Devonport Citizen's Silver Band, which lasted until 2 July 2009. There was also an East Coast Bays Citizen’s Band from 4 August 1959 to 18 February 1992. Auckland City's Municipal Band lasted from 1924 to 1938.

Elsewhere across the North Shore, around July 1899, 16 members formed the Northcote Brass Band, and this played in both Birkenhead and Northcote. Around March 1901 the band was renamed the Northcote and Birkenhead Brass Band and, as well as playing locally, it also played at Sugar Works Company picnics and on the local ferries. The bandmaster was A R Hunter, who was also the bandmaster in Devonport for a time. However, that band disappears from newspaper reports after October 1906.

The Birkenhead Municipal Band was formed in 1917 and, in 1925, was renamed the Birkenhead Borough Band. H C Strong was the bandmaster from 1917 to 1925 and was followed by J T Lighton and Greg Smith. In 1933, the band reformed as the Birkenhead and Northcote Borough Band. However, as with the Devonport band, this band went into liquidation in 1936. One of the mainstays of this band was performing at the bandstand in Hinemoa Park on Sunday afternoons, as well as at Highbury corner.

The Takapuna Municipal Band was formed in 1923 and, from 1930, had its own band room in Taharoto Park. It was renamed the Takapuna Citizen's Band in 1933, the Takapuna Municipal Band from 6thSeptember 1951, and the Takapuna City Silver Band from 11th June 1964. Since 8th December 1993, it has been known as North Shore Brass, and is the only surviving brass band on the Shore. North Shore Brass celebrates its centenary later this year.

Photo at top: Devonport District Band. NZG-19020802-0294-01 courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection. From the 'New Zealand Graphic and Ladies Journal' of 2 August 1902

By Bronwyn Bound, Sunnynook Community Centre Manager

Greetings from Sunnynook Community Centre

As the new term starts we are looking forward to seeing all of our groups back after the school holidays.

Sunnynook CMA currently has spaces at its sessions on Monday mornings. Come along and make new friends, share stories, play games, listen to visiting speakers, try strength and balance exercise class, enjoy an outing to a local attraction and so much more.

Sunnynook CMA is located in the Sunnynook Community Centre on Mondays during the school term from 10am to 12.30pm. $6 per visit, first visit free. Morning tea and lunch are served and transport can be provided for a small fee. For more information on this and other CMA centres in your area call 09 489 8954, cmans.org.nz

By Sonia Thursby, CEO, Yes Disability

Yes and I.Lead reaching out to our young people

Kia ora! The Yes and I.Lead team hope you all had a great and safe Easter weekend and ANZAC Day. Great new things are happening at Yes and with the I.Lead team.

Exploring new ways of reaching out to our young people, one of the ways t is through Discord. I.Lead is creating a new programme called I.Connect which supports young people who are gaming fanatics and experience anxiety meeting people face to face. I.Lead will be using Discord to connect young people with like-minded people. The goal of I.Connect is to provide a safe space for young people to meet online and game together in the hope of creating face to face events for them to meet one another and form new friendships. I.Connect will be a weekly meet-up on Discord for our young people starting from Tuesday 2 May. There will be two sessions: one for ages between 16-19 and the other from 20-24. If this is something you are interested in, reach out to I.Lead on Facebook and Instagram.

I.Style is an awesome workshop that’s been designed by young people with disabilities for young people with disabilities! The aim of this workshop is to help you enhance your natural looks and give you some great tips and tricks for looking and feeling your best. We’ll be focusing on the challenges that you’ve identified and providing you with tools and tips that you can use on your own for any occasion. At I.Style, we’ll have a range of workstations for you to check out, including hairdressers/barbers, makeup artists, cologne experts, and clothes stylists. You’ll learn from some amazing professionals who will help you find your own unique style. If you’re interested in participating, just drop an email to Kathleen at kathleen@yesdisability.org.nz. We can’t wait to see you at I.Style!

Our Yuanji Kung Fu Dance group has just celebrated 20 years. They invite new people to join them to keep both body and mind healthy with Qi Gong exercise. They meet at the Sunnynook Community Centre in the Tawa Room (main Hall) on Mondays and Thursdays (during the school term), 10am to 11.45am, $7 per session. Contact: Kian, 021 051 8128.

Sunnynook Toastmasters, Thursdays (fortnightly), 7.15pm to 9.15pm, Sycamore Room, Sunnynook Community Centre: 4 and 18 May, 1, 15, 29 June. 021 667 946.

We have a Prostate Cancer Support Group, Sunnynook Community Centre, Sycamore Room, Thursdays, 7pm to 9pm, 25 May, 22 June, 20 July 2023. Contact Raewyn, 027 293 9920.

We have a new support group that meets monthly on Thursday evenings – ‘Heartbeats’ Cardiac Education and Support Group, Contact: Trent Lash, 022 0606 199, Dates: Thursday 25 May, 29 June, 27 July - 7pm to 8.30pm in the Kauri Room (external room by the Food Pantry).

sunnynookcomcentre.co.nz

office@sunnynookcomcentre.co.nz.

I.Lead was given the opportunity to be a part of the Women’s Health Strategy which is led by the Ministry of Health. Women’s Health Strategy is based around the health and wellbeing of women in New Zealand, to ensure women have access to the highest attainable standard of health and be free from discrimination. I.Lead added to this strategy through the lens of disability and the impacts disability has on a woman’s health and wellbeing. The consultation was thoughtprovoking and provided the sense that the women were being heard. The strategy report will be published in July 2023.

yesdisability.org.nz

ilead.org.nz

Facebook- facebook.com/ileadconferencenz Instagram- instagram.com/i.leadnz/

They invite new people to join them to keep both body and mind healthy…

Rangatahi feedback for Local Board

On March 31 we held our first event of the year, the Local Board Plan Rangatahi Feedback Night. The aim was for rangatahi to express their opinions and provide suggestions on the

Devonport-Takapuna Board’s priorities for the next three years. It was a huge success with over 200 postcards completed! Feedback provided will ensure that rangatahi voices will be accounted for in the draft for the Local Board Plan. We also had the privilege of having several friendly faces, board members Melissa Powell, Peter Allen, and George Bush in attendance, who chatted with our board members as well as attendees.

Special thank you to Anahita Oei (Engagement Advisor D-T Local Board) who provided us with the opportunity to host this event, and for her consistent support and help. Thank you as well to Shore Junction for their amazing venue as well as their contributions, and to the board members in attendance. Congratulations to the winners from the draw, with Ephraim Abenes winning the top prize of Beats Studio3 wireless headphones.

Myself and Lisa (co-chair of Younite) also had the exciting opportunity to meet with Toni van Tonder (chairperson of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board), as well as Melissa Powell (Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member). We spoke about the goals and direction of both of our boards, as well as what has been done so far and what we hoped to achieve. Toni and Melissa also gave us a tour of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board office and introduced us to some of the people who ensure the success of the board. It was wonderful to sit down and chat about a range of topics relating to our community.

Younite is currently in the process of rebranding and changing the structure of our board. We want to ensure that Younite has efficient systems which will allow us to fulfil our responsibility as representatives of the rangatahi in our community. To help get started, we caught up with the wonderful chairs of the Howick Youth Council, Mila Veljkovic and Thomas Donnell. They explained how their board is structured and the different systems they have in place. We also spoke about the different events our boards organised, and they provided us with tips and tricks which helped them grow their membership. The meeting provided us with insight and helped stimulate ideas on how we could further develop Younite.

Please continue to keep an eye out for our upcoming events, and feel free to reach us at younitechair@gmail.com.

Written by Adriana Tobin, Co-chair of Younite

By Shore Junction’s Youth Development Specialist Josh Martin

Celebrating our rangatahi

It's an exciting time to be a young person on the North Shore, and National Youth Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our rangatahi and the amazing things they're doing. This year's theme, "Rangatira mō āpōpō? Rangatira i tēnei rā!", which means "Leaders of tomorrow? Leaders for today!", is especially relevant to Shore Junction, where every day we focus on building the future leaders of our community.

We believe that by providing a safe and supportive space for rangatahi, we can empower them to reach their full potential. Whether it's through our after-school programmes, community events, or simply a listening ear and a kind word, we are committed to being there for our young people every step of the way.

As part of our National Youth Week celebrations, we're thrilled to be partnering with Youth Arts New Zealand to present an incredible event on Saturday 20 May. Leaders from inside the national arts community will be sharing their whakaaro or "thoughts" on how young people can grow and achieve their dreams in their given fields of passions. This is an amazing opportunity for our rangatahi to learn from some of the best and brightest in the industry, and we can't wait to see where their talents take them in the future.

And, of course, we'll be capping off the day with "Stage Two", a live performance featuring youth bands from all over the Shore. This is always one of our favorite events of the year, as we get to see our rangatahi showcase their talents and shine in front of their friends, families, and the wider community.

As we come together to celebrate National Youth Week, we're reminded of the Māori whakatauki "Whiria te tāngata", or "Weave the people together". At Shore Junction, we believe that by weaving our community together, we can create a brighter future for our rangatahi. So let's come together, celebrate our young leaders, and work towards a better tomorrow.

Don't forget to check out @shorejunction on Instagram for more information about our National Youth Week events and all the amazing things happening at Shore Junction.

shorejunction.nz

Lisa Yuan and Adriana Tobin

Devonport Community News for this month with Nigel Bioletti, Trust Manager, Devonport Peninsula Trust

Greetings to Channel readers from the Devonport/ Te Hau Kapua Peninsula Trust

I am enjoying my two pōtae – my dual roles – managing the Devonport Peninsula Trust and Devonport Community House. Together, the two organisations provide many opportunities for this community.

There are lots of great things happening at the House, including a fun ‘SwapShop’ event on 13 May. View at devonportcomhouse.co.nz.

New website for the trust. We were delighted to launch a new website for the Trust at the end of April. To visit, please go to dpt.nz.

After I posted on the excellent ‘Volunteering Auckland’ website, we were approached by Urs Steck, a generous Bays resident, who has kindly built our new site, working with us closely to make sure that the site will do what we want it to do. We hope that the site will help our community to access the opportunities our local organisations offer, and also hope that there may be people in our community who can help us to provide those opportunities.

By Richard Thorne, Devonport Business Improvement District Manager

Devonport Village – information needed

In the few years since Devonport’s visitor information caravan made its debut, it has become a fun and colourful feature of the Devonport ferry building, as artful as it is helpful.

With the 2021 America’s Cup racing imminent, the lovingly refurbished retro information caravan was launched for use in late 2020. Named Moana Belle, it has been staffed by a team of volunteers under the generous direction of Judy Birkett.

With the support of Auckland Transport, the caravan found a suitably safe and visible home inside the ferry terminal building. After three years of Covid-interrupted service, it seems that AT now deems our Moana Belle to be a permanent fixture, and it is getting some additions to meet insurance requirements. In the coming months, AT will fit a semipermanent water sprinkler plus a smoke detector into the caravan’s skylight – meaning that wheel clamps will also be needed to ensure it isn’t inadvertently moved!

As noted in the April issue of Channel, AT is also planning a schedule of safety improvement roadworks on or near Victoria Rd, from just north of Calliope Rd to the ferry terminal end of Devonport’s main business strip. This is scheduled to begin in May and run through the less-busy winter period.

Emergency management support. I am continuing to support the development of emergency support across the peninsula. With the support of ANCAD and other members of the Devonport group, a meeting was held April 26 at The Rose Centre, to help the Belmont/ Bayswater community set up guidelines and structures like those set up for the Devonport area itself.

Restoring Takarunga Hauraki. This group has reached such a size that it has decided to set up its own Trust. The process is well under way, but there are many matters to address as they establish their own structures. An enormous amount of support from those with a passion for environmental restoration is helping the group to address these. Visit the group at rth.org.nz.

Devonport Senior Forum. Two meetings in April – Members enjoyed a great discussion with Northcote M.P. Shanan Halbert on 20 April, and at the time of writing, were looking forward to a forthcoming discussion with Professor Vanessa Burholt on the topic of dementia. Mid-winter dip. Set for the morning of June 25. Let’s see if we can get 350 dippers!!

Please contact me at nigelbioletti@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz with any questions or suggestions.

Please contact me at nigelbioletti@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz with any questions or suggestions.

Aspects of the announced safe speed project have met with strong resistance from some DBA member business operators and landlords, particularly among those with premises in the central shopping strip.

Covid again plays a strong hand in this debate. Most, if not all, of the retail and hospitality outlets in Devonport central have had a very tough time since lockdowns were first introduced in February 2021. This year has seen greatly improved turnover from the two years prior, but a return to business stability and profit remains challenging for many.

Among the several new raised pedestrian crossings that are part of AT’s schedule of works, the central Victoria Rd one is clearly the most contentious. If the planned installation proceeds, that crossing would require 10 working days of full road closure.

The DBA is working to arrange a Special General Meeting to provide an opportunity for more direct discussions between stakeholders and determine the Association’s position.

Information and time seem key words here. Public consultation on this safe speed project began in 2021, but the economics of 2023 are very different – for small businesses in particular.

AT has made considerable time-saving adjustments to the plans that stemmed from those consultations plus discussions among the local representatives’ working group. Information about the scale of disruption and likely time duration of each aspect of that work seems to have been missed, at least by those most directly affected.

Which brings us back to Moana Belle and those volunteers who give of their time. Where would all our tourist visitors be without them? Thank you all for representing Devonport so well.

Devonport is YOUR seaside escape devonport.co.nz

We hope that the site will help our community to access the opportunities our local organisations offer…

LARGE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BAYLEYS COMMERCIAL OFFICE OF THE YEAR 5 YEARS RUNNING

AS AWARDED AT THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE.

FEATURED SALES BY YOUR LOCAL BAYLEYS COMMERCIAL OFFICE

Takapuna/Auckland 9 Huron Street

Following an on-market campaign for a similar property, a logical purchaser was identified for 9 Huron Street which was available on an off-market basis. The successful purchaser intends to make significant upgrades to modernise the building and establish their first co-working/flexi space office product in the New Zealand market.

Sold by Dean Gilbert-Smith, Peta Laery and Michael Nees

Takapuna/Auckland 105-111 Hurstmere Road

Taken to the market via a public Tender campaign following the overseas based vendor receiving a range of off market offers from several agencies in the preceding 12 months, the property ultimately sold to an add-value investor at a premium cap rate of 4.04%.

Sold by Peta Laery and Michael Nees

If you are looking for an awarded real estate brand that delivers Altogether Better results, time after time, no matter the market, contact us today.

Sprawling parkland site a rare commodity on Albany’s urban fringe

One of the last underdeveloped landholdings on the fringe of Albany’s commercial precinct has been placed on the market for sale amid interest in significant land assets with development upside.

Comprising 7.62ha at 14 Mills Lane, the campus and retreat centre occupies a private yet accessible setting, elevated above the periphery of one of the country’s largest commercial retail precincts.

Bayleys North Shore Commercial associate director Michael Nees says the property is offered to the market at a time of demand for prime land sites, underpinning purchaser interests in large, well-located properties, particularly those able to generate a holding income.

“Current market dynamics are seeing multifaceted assets with quality credentials receive competitive interest, with anecdotal evidence suggesting well-capitalised investors have applied a longer-term lens to their acquisitions with a view to development capacity through the cycle.

“Purchasers are looking to underutilised land sites, while natural attributes fit with growing private investor interest in environmental, social and governance principles.

“Sustainability is now a key factor in property acquisition decision-making, and the Mills Lane premises provides a unique opportunity to achieve both environmental and social objectives while maximising development potential.”

Mr Nees is marketing the Mills Lane property for sale with Bayleys colleagues Layne Harwood and Jayson Hayde.

Expressions of Interest are sought for the property, closing at 4:00pm on Thursday, 18 May 2023.

Currently operating as Kāwai Purapura, the base of operations for several diverse businesses, the property features accommodation for 120 people, with significant improvements comprising more than 4,819sq m (more or less) of gross floor area across 60 unique structures.

Income is currently generated from residents’ rent, casual accommodation, an on-site café and venue hire.

Bayleys Auckland Capital markets director Layne Harwood says the sheer scale and position of the property presents a swathe of potential use options for organisations with needs outside the traditional scope of commercial property.

“There is scope for the new purchaser to work with current business interests to unlock additional value and the potential for long-term redevelopment.

“Redevelopment options include low-to-medium density housing, for instance, aged-care, or student accommodation to support nearby education institutions.

“Strong locational attributes offer scope for future zoning, consistent with government objectives, while a new purchaser may choose to apply a range of uses relevant to education, religious, community or health-focused organisations,” he says.

The property is within walking distance of the Albany bus station, Westfield Albany, supermarkets, bulk retail, and a range of hospitality outlets, providing attractive intensification fundamentals.

Bayleys North Shore Commercial general manager Jayson Hayde says in addition to immediate income and an opportunity for commercial occupation and intensification, purchasers with an eye to the future will appreciate the value of a large landholding on the edge of an urban area and its potential role in supporting Government objectives under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD).

“Proposed changes as part of new Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) will require local councils to enable intensification in most residential areas, particularly those located proximate to key transit links, creating significant value uplift for a new owner.

“We expect the property will attract broad interest from a variety of investors and organisations given its unique profile and position within one of the region’s fastest-growing commercial investment hubs,” he says.

The current owners, the Prema Charitable Trust, purchased the land and shifted its business interest from Grey Lynn in 2017.

Extolling the virtues of the gently undulating property, flanked by native bush and established fauna, Prema Charitable Trust Chairperson Phillip Cottingham says those associated with the organisation view the land as taonga – a treasured possession – and a jewel in the midst of surrounding urban development.

To find out more about 14 Mills Lane, Albany, scan the QR code or contact Bayleys North Shore.

09 489 0999

northshorecommercial@bayleys.co.nz

Commercial North Shore Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed under the REA Act 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Sunday Club Days.

Courses - learn to paddle, sail, or drive a rigid inflatable boat (for on-the-water volunteers).

Fun Racing - from beginners to advanced.

Social - Paddle & Pinot evenings, and destination sails. Use of club boats, boards, kayaks & equipment. Use of storage facilities available.

Many affordable membership options.

The Channel Crossword

Across

7 Eustace lopped off part of retreating mammal (7)

8 Banks of the Zambezi held back by dancer's pole? That's weird (7)

10 31 across's trainer's greeting to prosecutor (4)

11 What's the difference between gamma and epsilon? (5)

12 Jerry Lee Lewis, for example, or one of his 'Great Balls of Fire' ? (4)

13 Actor Herbert accepting space station is supple (6)

15 Satisfy court, or falsify? (6)

17 Slippery customer appearing in Jerry Lee Lewis retrospective (3)

19 The globe used to rotate rapidly, they tell me (5)

20 Separator from someone beginning to walk (5)

22 Old priest is 8 (3)

25 12 28's Pavel - revolutionary, initially very cool revolutionary (6)

27 Playground equipment observed in present tense first? (6)

28 12 seeks regular employment for long journey (4)

30 12 dropping article around midweek? Bull (5)

31 Saint is high above globetrotter in 12 5? (4)

32 The Cosmic Balance is on the lines of "A Quiet Place" (7)

33 Plant fibre holding constant to right a craft lost in 20 (number 2) (7)

Down

1 Mythical bird holds childish backside, say - like one of those lost in 20 (7)

2 12, say, in Virginia (4)

3 Force with sacred sound those fond of, for example, 12 28 (6)

4 12 28 Captain, initially, has 12 points, by the way (6)

5 Conflict as 12 28 drive son to usurp prince (4)

6 Betrayal destroyed Star One (7)

9 Double 50 in ice cream container (5)

14 12 28 second-in-command, initially, parking in buffet (5)

16 Agency clerk could provide a vehicle (5)

17 Japanese period during which poem was written up? (3)

18 Closed without 22 parts - could be mind-blowing (3)

21 Start giving woman's family pickled cucumber (7)

23 Enemy of the 15 elevating boy with second part of 28 (5)

24 Hidden net where the dubious surf? (4,3)

26 Knights' protection thing dropped by guests (6)

27 The brightest 12 of knight, myself, me and you (6)

29 Potassium to irritate 12 28 captain, initially (4)

31 12 5 princess brought up Spanish article written by AI (4)

Solution to last month's crossword

This month's crossword will also be uploaded to the creator’s blog at: channelcrossword.wordpress.com There, Mãyã will kindly attempt to answer any questions or comments that may arise from the crosswords each month.

Victoria Bidwell

Luxury Property and Waterfront Specialist

021 947 080 | victoria.bidwell@bayleys.co.nz

Top agent Bayleys Takapuna since 2006

International Property Awards, London - Winner Best Property Marketing

Winner Bayleys National Waterfront Marketing Award - Best Property Marketing Bayleys

National Top Achiever since 2007

Specialising in Milford, Takapuna and Devonport Peninsula

Beachfront Four Bedroom Villa, Two Bedroom Cottage, Stunning Views View at bayleys.co.nz/1451475

Cheltenham Beach - A Choice of Three Properties View at bayleys.co.nz/1451492, 1451467 or 1451487

Affordable Charm and City Views in Devonport Village View at bayleys.co.nz/1451490