18 November 2022 Devonport Flagstaff

The number of residential units proposed for the Bayswater marina reclamation de velopment has been substantially reduced in revised plans lodged last week.

Original plans for 119 dwellings (27 apartments and 92 terraced houses) have been cut back to a proposal for 78 homes

(18 apartments and 60 terraced houses).

Building coverage over the land has consequently reduced – from 7534 sqm (22 per cent) to 4866 sqm (14.5 per cent).

The original Bayswater Marina Hold ings Limited (BMHL) consent application was stymied when Auckland Council

Jumping Jack Flax

officers withdrew support at the end of a week-long hearing in September, citing evidence regarding a lack of marina and marine-related activities, as required in the marine-precinct zoning.

An area of 4981 sqm has now been set aside for these activities.

Flight of fancy... Restoring Takarunga Hauraki coordinator Lance Cablk couldn’t resist trying on a section of a woven sculpture by Katie Isla Middleton at the Return of the Godwits event at Bayswater last weekend. Story and photos, pages 12-13.

TGS show ‘city’s best’

Takapuna Grammar School’s Mamma Mia was named the year’s best school production in Auckland at this month’s Auckland Live Showdown Awards.

Best and Fairest

North Shore’s Oscar Koller was named Best and Fairest Senior Club Player (as chosen by referees) at the recent North Harbour Rugby Awards.

Dr Heidi MacRae dies

Dr Heidi MacRae, who campaigned for better access to cancer treatments, died at Harbour Hospice last week with family at her side. The Medplus founding partner and GP made a recent call in the Flagstaff urging donations to Hospice.

King’s birthday marked

A 21-gun salute sounded by the Royal New Zealand Navy in Devonport on Monday was in honour of King Charles III’s birthday.

Concerns over flow onto beach

‘not from toilets’ says Council

Water flowing from a grille and ponding on Takapuna Beach at the end of Hauraki Rd is unrelated to renovations at the public toilets above, Auckland Council says.

It is caused by formation of a sand bar downstream of the outlet, said council’s Healthy Waters customer engagement man ager, Susan Mitchell.

Locals have expressed concern at the flow of water, and the accumulation of scum and debris in the pond on the beach.

They wondered if the issue might relate to work on the nearby toilet block, which began in late October.

Mitchell said water backlogs frequent ly occur at streams and drain outlets on beaches.

“We do not dig channels through the sand bars to release the ponding water unless ab solutely necessary – one of the reasons being that the channel will normally be backfilled by the next tides.”

Meanwhile, the council’s area operations manager, Sarah Jones, said the toilets were

scheduled to reopen in mid-December. Two temporary toilets have been provided.

Jones said the run-down block was having its roof and guttering replaced, asbestos boards removed, and an electrical and plumbing upgrade. The floor and partitions were also being replaced and both the inte rior and exterior would be painted, with the outside seats refurbished.

New lease coming for former bowls site

Auckland Council is drawing up a new draft agreement for the North Shore cricket and rugby clubs to lease the former Devonport Bowling Club land and buildings.

The clubs’ plans for the site were upset when the Devonport Museum was granted a lease on a storage unit at the site.

But the museum recently relinquished the lease in the face of public opposition, and a pledge by the new A Fresh Approach-con trolled Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to rescind it.

“Welcome news indeed,” North Shore Cricket Club chair Hayden Smith said of the

museum’s lease decision.

“The clubs are very excited that we now seem to be moving forward.”

Once the clubs receive a draft lease for the entire site “we can seek to finalise it with council; then I understand the matter will go back to the local board for a final decision,” Smith said.

“There is still a lot of detail to work through before we can progress any funding or actually undertake any works on the site (structure, lease terms, design, consents, etc).

“I’m afraid we won’t have any changing rooms ready this summer,” Smith said.

Dip on line decides rivals’ Cheltenham Swim battle

Ocean swimmers Alex Dunkley and Larn Hamblyn-Ough had two photo finishes in races during the same week.

Hamblyn-Ough pipped Dunkley in the sea son-opening 2 km race at the Takapuna Beach Series on Tuesday. But on Saturday, Dunkley dipped on the finish line to beat his rival by the narrowest of margins in the 2.4 km Cheltenham Swim.

Asked if they were swimming mates, Dunkley said: “It’s more like we are battling partners... there’s nothing between us.”

The pair matched each other stroke for stroke on a course that started at Narrow Neck and ended with two lengths of Cheltenham Beach and a dash up the sand to the finish line. Dunkley clocked 23min 27sec.

Lena Hamblyn-Ough was first female home and third overall in a time of 25.40.

Devonport Swim Club organised the race, which was completed by 123 competitors.

Keeping it close... (clockwise from right) Cheltenham Swim winner

Alex Dunkley (right) with runnerup Larn Hamblyn-Ough; their tight finish; and women’s winner

Lena Hamblyn-Ough

linda

Eights campaigns beckon for rowers on the rise

Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club is looking to push on with its rise up the national ranks, with the addition of an eight crew into competition next year.

A new boat for the purpose was named in a special ceremony at Lake Pupuke when the first two regattas of the season were held, attracting schools and clubs from across Auckland.

The Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) club placed fourth overall in the Bennett Shield Regatta, held on 5 November, and fifth in the Eric Verdonk Regatta, which it hosted the following day.

Olympic bronze medallist Verdonk, who coached the school for several years before his death in 2020, was instrumental in revitalising rowing at TGS, alongside the club president Paula Halliday and husband Neil.

Membership had fallen to just seven by mid-2017, but after Paula recruited Verdonk as coach it steadily grew. Now the club has a record number of nearly 90 rowers in its programme.

Members of Verdonk’s family were present for the naming of three club boats, including the eight christened the Halliday.

“The dream was to get a competitive eight; that was our vision,” Paula said.

Steps towards this will be taken in early January at a training camp at Lake Karapiro, where crews for the schools competition next year will be finalised. An under-18 male and female eight is the aim.

“Paula and Neil have created a massive foundation for us rowers and we are beyond grateful for what they have done,” club male captain Nabeel Khan said. “From all of Neil’s regatta organising to all of Paula’s administra tion and committee work, they have brought the club up from zero to hero.”

The two other new boats christened at the Verdonk regatta were: the Coote, named for James Coote, a former TGS student and coach

of New Zealand’s silver-medal-winning wom en’s double-sculls team at the Tokyo Olympics; and the Glanfield, named in honour of club life members Mary and Chris Glanfield.

As well as the usual strong turnout of Auckland crews, Adrian Riepen, a former TGS teacher in charge of rowing, had brought up a group from Cashmere High School in Christchurch.

The Hallidays became involved in rowing at TGS when their daughter Katie signed up for the sport in the 2013-14 season.

From being parent helpers, Paula was roped in as secretary two years later and the following year Neil took charge of regattas. But with membership at a low, the club was in danger of being wound up.

It gained a lifeline when Verdonk asked to store his boats in the club’s shed at Bayswater and Paula asked if he might be interested in coaching. Although he was a Westlake High School old boy, Verdonk was attracted by the TGS approach of making rowing accessible,

Hold the banks accountable

We are seeing record bank profits from the madness of record low interest rates as they poured money out to “stimulate” the economy during Covid and now rates have reverted, to mean there are a lot of borrowers facing financial hardship If that is the case, we suggest you read the Responsible Lending Code, which outlines lenders’ responsibilities to ensure borrowers can afford the debt Here are a few excerpts the the code:

“Where a borrower or guarantor has requested that the lender work directly with their representative, a lender should do so in good faith This includes working constructively and collaboratively with the representative In the case of repayment difficulties, this also includes attempting to reach a mutually agreeable solution for both the borrower or guarantor, and the lender”

“A lender must, in relation to an agreement with a borrower, make reasonable inquiries, before entering into the agreement, and before making a material change referred to in subsection (8), so as to be satisfied that it is likely that the borrower will make the payments under the agreement without suffering substantial hardship (see section 9C(3)(a)(ii) of the Act)” So don’t despair make the banks accountable!

rather than an elite sport. “We are one of the only schools who do this, Paula said. “Anyone who wants to row, can row.”

The club went on to have its most successful season in 2019-20 and, despite Covid hiccups, backed this up last season at the premier schools event, the Maadi Cup. TGS was the top co-ed school that competed. The Hallidays were named joint administrators of the year at the Auckland Rowing Awards for 2021-22.

Paula predicts a successful season ahead. She said students had worked hard over win ter, a development squad had been set up and retention was the best to date.

Current female captain Skye Lang is in the under-18 New Zealand squad. Her Maadi Cup pairs-winning partner, Annabelle Knowles, is even further along the high-performance pathway, but as a school-leaver is no longer rowing for TGS, having moved onto the North Shore Club. Former TGS students Evan Wil liams and Connor Bacchus have also rowed for their country.

We give mortgage advice through our company Trounson Financial Services Ltd Disclosure Statements are on our website: simpsontrounson.co.nz

Namesake... Neil and Paula Halliday christen the new TGS Rowing Club eight, named for them in honour of their key role the club’s rise over recent seasons

By Rob Drent

Devonport, but for those on electric bikes or scooters it would be an easy five-minute ride away. Why not have a local adaptation of the motorbike ferries seen in Vietnam and other parts of Asia?

Get your skates on is the message from Full ers to its passengers. No longer will generous skippers wait briefly for late arrivals to dash down the wharf.

alongside the main building. The space could have easily been converted into a garden bar like the Sawmill’s. What a tourist attraction and meeting point that would have been.

Ferry customers continue to be frustrated at the failure of Fullers and Auckland Transport (AT) to meet the needs of commuters from Devonport and Bayswater.

Half a dozen cyclists were refused entry to a Fullers 9am sailing from the Devonport terminal last week as they couldn’t be accommodated on the boat. Cyclists were also turned away later in the week.

The angry bikers might have compared AT’s mantra-like messages of encouragement for cycling with the reality of insufficient capacity.

It is another example of Auckland’s pub lic-transport provision seeming to always be out of sync with a rapidly growing city.

A new age may be dawning, with electric ferries on the horizon in the next couple of years, which will include more space for bikes. But will it be enough to meet increasing demand?

One idea could be to provide a dedicated bike-ferry service at peak times, with seats stripped out of a vessel for the purpose.

Who knows, maybe one could run from the Stanley Bay wharf, which was refurbished a few years ago only for the ferry service to be cut. It might be a short trip from the centre of

Fullers announced over its intercom system last week that AT had ruled that it could not wait for passengers. Timekeeping was the number-one priority.

This is an excellent objective, but would seem to remove the skipper’s discretion when judging which latecomer might be afforded a few seconds’ grace. Other passengers might also miss the entertainment of seeing a latecomer break into a sprint.

In the wake of Covid lockdowns, I’ve had a bit of a thirst for live music. I headed up to the Leigh Sawmill early this month to see Don McGlashan and his touring band, the Others, which included Shayne Carter, of Dimmer and Straightjacket Fits. McGlashan and Carter on stage together were not to be missed.

After taking a massive hit through the pan demic, the Sawmill seems to be humming: it’s a superb music venue with a magical garden bar.

It made me think of what we lost when the Masonic – for decades one of Auckland’s pre-eminent music venues – was converted to waterfront apartments. For those who remem ber, a shabby little bottle shop was located

I was breath-tested (with a negative result) at a roadblock on Memorial Drive at around 1pm one midweek day earlier this month. The Flag staff has been contacted by a number of residents astounded by the timing of the testing. “It’s a complete waste of money and police time,” one said. “Wouldn’t the police be better doing this in the evening or at night when potentially higher numbers would be caught?” she wondered. A good point, I thought, but wondered if there might be an innocent explanation – perhaps they were training new recruits.

This is how the police responded to a Flagstaff inquiry: “Sadly, impairment is a fre quent contributor to serious or fatal incidents on our roads, including those in Devonport. Breath-testing is one of the many prevention activities our Police staff conduct every day, irrespective of time.”

I tend to agree with residents that police time would have been better spent elsewhere.

Evidence of Devonport’s rat problem and the need for the Restoring Takarunga Hauraki volunteers’ trapping efforts has been provid ed by a new 58-trap line around Ngataringa and Dacre Parks. In just over a month, 57 rats have been caught.

Rat-trapping is expanding all over the Devon port peninsula. For further information contact Nigel at nigel@rth.org.nz.

D e v o n p o r t W a t e r f r o n t R e t i r e m e n t V i l l a g e

R a r e O p p o r t u n i t y - O u r V i l l a s u s u a l l y s e l l d i r e c t l y t o r e s i d e n t s o n o u r w a i t i n g l i s t !

F o r 3 5 y e a r s D e v o n p o r t V i l l a g e h a s b e e n a h o m e f o r t h e a d v e n t u ro u s e l d e r l y re s i d e n t s . Wa l k t o t h e s h o p s , s w i m a t To r p e d o B a y o r e n j o y d e v e l o p i n g y o u r o w n g a rd e n o n t h e l a r g e s e c t i o n o f l a n d N o R e s t H o m e o r H o s p i t a l f a c i l i t i e s o n s i t e b u t w e a i m t o p ro v i d e a l l t h e c a re n e e d e d t o a l l o w re s i d e n t s t o re m a i n s u p p o r t e d i n t h e i r o w n h o m e s re g a rd l e s s o f i l l n e s s o r d i s a b i l i t y

Commissioners weigh new plan for reclamation:

Car and boat trailer parks have increased in size, to 3m wide and 20m long, for im proved manoeuvring; the turnaround area for the public boat ramp has expanded; and public open space has increased by two percentage points to 8081 sqm (24.2 per cent of the BMHL land).

As the amended application decreases the scale of the development, a new resource consent was not needed, Kit Littlejohn, Lawyer for BMHL submitted.

“All these changes are fairly and rea sonably within the scope of the original notified application. There are no new activities proposed; residential activities have decreased; public open space, rec reational access and provision for future marine activities have increased, there is no change to the number of car and boat trailer parks; and the overall ratio of vis itor parks is maintained,” Littlejohn said.

With the removal of residential build

ings from the development’s central precinct “and the area now being set aside for future marina and maritime activities, this modification responds directly to concerns raised by submitters and council experts as to the over-provision of resi dential activity,” he said.

The hearing into the application re sumed as the Flagstaff went to press (on 15 November). But commissioners will only be taking in the amended application presented by BMHL.

Commissioners chairperson Greg Hill said BMHL’s changes were within the scope of the originally notified proposal.

The changes “all respond to matters raised during the hearing by submitters and council officers,” he said.

Having reviewed the “revised proposal, we confirm that the reconvened hearing will only be to hear the applicant’s reply,” Hill said. Commissioners will then decide whether to grant or refuse the consent in a written decision.

Concerns linger for submitters on previous plan

The changes introduced for the Bayswater reclamation reduce bulk and scale. However, a number of issues are believed to remain of concern to submitters against the original proposal, including:

• Whether the provision of 20 boattrailer parks is enough to meet demand.

• If the development’s ‘South Park’ is essentially a private space for apartment and terrace-house owners, rather than public space.

• The lack of public vesting of roads and parks.

• Retention in the revised plan of a 10year consent period for residential development.

• The absence in the amended application of a detailed analysis of future marine and marine-servicing land-space requirements.

• The lack of public analysis of the best future location for the ferry terminal, or any proposal for a bus stop and terminal integrated into a ferry terminal.

Bayswater Community Committee chairperson Brianna Parkinson said the group would make a full comment after BMHL lawyers had lodged the amended application at the hearing on Tuesday.

issues remain for critics of initial proposal

Devonport Family Medicine welcomes new doctor, Dr Kosar Kheirabi

Staff and patients are delighted to have welcomed Dr Kosar, who joined the family friendly general practice team in the heart of Devonport village in mid August

Dr Kosar has been practicing medicine in New Zealand since 2018 and has experience in surgery, paediatrics, women’s health (obstetrics and gynaecology) and also supporting the health of older people. She speaks English, Farsi, and Turkish and lives locally with her young son and husband, who is an Ophthalmology specialist

“I'm really enjoying meeting our patients and supporting their health needs The North Shore is such a beautiful place, and I am very grateful to be working and living in this gorgeous seaside community," said Dr Kosar

Dr Kosar is running a special Women's Health Clinic during the months of November and December to encourage women to prioritise their health before the end of the year

Dr Kosar is working alongside Dr Pieter Veenhuijsen, who has been a GP in Devonport for over 10 years.

Downscaled… the new plan for the Bayswater reclamation, including land set aside in the central precinct for marine and maritime activities

Helen

BAYLEYS

Hills lands major role while Darby’s reduces

North Shore’s ward councillors are adjust ing to new roles at Auckland Council after a post-election shake-up.

The younger of the pair, Richard Hills, has been put in charge of a super-committee, with responsibilities including those held last term by fellow Shore councillor Chris Darby.

Hills, who last term chaired the environment and climate-change committee, said he was honoured to take on what was a “pretty signif icant” new job.

He will chair a merged planning, environ ment and parks committee, one of two that all councillors sit on.

The other is transport and infrastructure, cov ering issues on which former planning supremo Darby had been keen to take a lead role. New mayor Wayne Brown has instead made Darby co-lead of the smaller performance-and-ap pointments committee.

Darby is also lead councillor in dealing with council-controlled organisation (CCO) Eke Panuku, the council’s property arm, and Ports of Auckland. Both are in line for an overhaul as promised by Brown during his campaign.

The changes to the way the council will oper ate were put in place last week. Brown said he wanted to find useful work for all councillors, whatever their political leanings.

Among issues facing the council is a $270 million budget shortfall and rising costs.

How this will affect the amount of discretion ary spending made available to local boards, is yet to be determined.

Darby has previously worked closely with Hills on issues such as the retention of funds for a Lake Rd upgrade and championing the Hurstmere Rd overhaul.

He expressed concern about the workload of the new committee chaired by Hills.

“I told the mayor that the super-committee is unrealistic.”

After being left “pretty exhausted” after his own two terms as planning committee chair –

which included leading the response to housing intensification plans – Darby said he had asked Brown for a new challenge.

He said he had reiterated his interest in transport, having spent time as the councillor on Auckland Transport’s (AT’s) board and work ing to bring Fullers’ Devonport ferry service more directly under AT’s control.

Darby said advancing town-centre improve ment plans would be a new focus for him. Sunnynook was an area ripe for improvement,

and Takapuna had more work to do, he said.

In an indication of his continuing interest in transport, Darby was at Smales Farm in Takapuna last Sunday for Transport Minister Michael Wood’s announcement the govern ment would firm up its plans for a second har bour crossing – bridge or tunnel – after public consultation to begin this year, with the aim of work starting this decade.

The project would have a cycle connection in the mix, Wood said.

Budget shortfall focuses council on ‘efficiencies’

Huge challenges lie ahead for Auckland, said North Shore councillor Richard Hills.

“There’s a big gap to fill to protect services,” he said, referring to the council’s $270 million budget shortfall.

Options would be investigated before Mayor Wayne Brown proposes a budget to go out for public consultation in February.

“There will be things we will push back on,” Hills told the Flagstaff. These included any plans to cut library hours or community facilities.

Public transport and continuing climate ac tion were important. He had been encouraged by Brown’s response on climate change.

But the council would have to look for more efficiencies across the board, Hills said, with the aim of keeping rate rises in check. “The mayor has said everyone has to look for savings, across CCOs, and all departments and local boards.”

He says he will be pushing hard for all the

water-quality work to continue, including in the Wairau catchment. The water-quality targeted rate was ring-fenced and had not been raised for review. Major works already underway in Milford and Castor Bay would continue.

Having pushed hard for Lake Rd upgrades, Hills would be reluctant to see them delayed. “But we haven’t seen what AT will put for ward.”

Darby said the potential loss of talented council staff was a concern. “It’s not good to be suggesting a lot of people are going before you know what they do.”

He had highlighted this to Brown as a par ticular risk in the transport sector.

He cautioned the council against making too many cuts to works programmes that would jeopardise available transport subsidies.

The port and the airport were “two big le vers” that needed looking at to release money for the council, Darby said.

He had repeated to Brown ideas he had put to former Mayor Phil Goff. “You don’t need to sell down either of them fully, but we do need to look at objectives [for the strategic assets].

Darby was previously involved in a port review led by Brown. “He’s a very different operator.”

The mayor had put out press statements leaving Darby wondering if he had received a good briefing.

But he brought an energy for change, Darby said. He wanted to hear more from the mayor about his vision for the city, as this would inform budget settings.

Brown is taking a more direct hand steering council finances, having disestablished the finance committee.

He has set up a separate expenditure control and procurement committee, chaired by former National Party MP Maurice Williamson, to look at where savings can be made.

Changing places... North Shore councillors Chris Darby (left) and Richard Hills at an event during the last council term, when Darby was chair of Auckland Council’s planning committee. Under new mayor Wayne Brown, Hills now holds a more influential position than Darby.

Summer visitors touch down in Shoal Bay

Dozens of well-wishers gathered at Shoal Bay on Sunday to cel ebrate the arrival of more than 200 bar-tailed godwits, which had flown some 12,000 km from their breeding grounds in Alaska. The birds are based in the Shoal Bay and Ngataringa Bay estu

aries over the summer months, feeding on worms and crustaceans, before leaving in March. They complete the cycle by returning to Alaska for breeding, via a stopover in China. Their round trip is nearly 30,000 km.

after marathon annual flight from Alaska

Welcome return... (clockwise from top left) Some of the bar-tailed godwits that have returned to feed on the Shoal Bay and Ngataringa Bay estuaries; Devonport Druid Chris Mullane (in robe) and Restoring Takarunga Hauraki’s Zane Caterall (in shorts) helped lead a welcoming ceremony; Devonport residents Alan and Adrienne Marshall; Bayswater School pupils (from left) Elizabeth Renall (7), Marne Shapiro (6) and Willa Shapiro (8), with Lee Shapiro; Navy Warrant Officer Ngahiwi Walker with Shaquille Kahurangi Kelly-Puki; Chris Eagles, wife of shorebirds advocate the late Jim Eagles, with a plaque commemorating her husband, which is proposed for installation at Sandy Bay Reserve; local conservationist Philip Moll checks up on the recent arrivals.

Busy in Bayswater: Pocket park’s inaugural

St Leo’s fair offers chance to see Santa, dunk a teacher... and more

Visits by Father Christmas and a fire truck will be highlights of the St Leo’s School Christmas Fair next weekend.

A dunk-the-teacher event is always popular, while a giant obstacle course and face-painting will also keep children occupied.

The school choir will entertain, with a Christmas sing-along planned at noon.

The annual fair also has a silent auction, with big-ticket items including trips, scoot ers and art-and-experience vouchers to bid on. The usual attractions will be found on stalls: pre-loved items, cakes, plants, pre serves and lucky dips.

Food choices range from traditional sau sage sizzles to tacos and dumplings, with a cafe area for those wanting to rest awhile.

One of the organisers, Sarah Albrecht, said the fair contributed greatly to general fundraising for the small Catholic school.

Community involvement included the Devonport Fire Brigade and local business Bikes & Barbers running activities.

• The fair takes place from 11am to 3pm on Sunday 27 November, in the school grounds, Owens Rd, Devonport.

Pop-up on Patuone hosts artisan makers

A group of creatives is staging a meet-themakers mini market in Devonport next week end. Artisan items available at the pop-up event range from clothing and homewares to ceramics and flowers.

Among those involved are Merani Clay, new flax-linen bedware brand Alfie, ethical clothing maker Thistlebird Threads, and florist Ivy & Birch.

The pop-up shop is open on Saturday 26 November, from 2.30pm to 6pm, at 16 Patuone Ave, Devonport.

Fun in the sun... (clockwise from above) Melissa Grainger with Sofia (left) and Mila; Locals Sam and Sarah Wallace with twins Cosette (left) and Sienna; and young market-goers enjoying an ice-cream

market attracts supportive crowds

After hundreds of people turned out for a boutique Bayswater market, its founder and local resident Roma Pinkham plans a special Christmas version next month.

“It was such a vibe,” she said of the turnout for the market of around 20 stalls at O’Neill’s Park, at the end of Bayswater Ave. “The locals loved it and the feedback was great,”

Living behind the small park, Pinkham and husband Hamish decided it was underutilised, sparking the idea of the market. “I used to look at the park every day and think there’s nowhere to just get a coffee or anything down here.”

Events manager Pinkham and her husband, a music promoter who co-founded the Rhythm and Vines festival near Gisborne, set about gaining council permits to hold a market.

She said she wanted to see how the mar ket would build. After footing the bill for a marquee, generators and toilets, the aim was breaking even rather than making money. “It’s more a hobby for now,” she admitted.

It had been a challenge attracting stallhold ers, with many unfamiliar with the location, and competition from more-established mar kets. But Pinkham said she had “hustled”, and stallholders were enthused at the turnout, which included many families who came on foot, with dogs and children.

The relaxed atmosphere also brought com munity members together, she said, pointing to the example of two Beresford St residents who had not known each other previously, but ended up having coffee together.

Pinkham said some people dropped in on the way to sport to grab a coffee or a bite to eat, while others lingered. Among those there were local broadcasters Sam Wallace and Toni Street, with Dominic Bowden doing a live cross for his Saturday morning show on doggy- treat business. For the Christmas market, which will be

She is keen to cook up other ideas for the park and to bring the area to life. “At the moment, it’s such a nice thing for the neigh bourhood.”

After a holiday break, the intention is for the market to resume in March.

Narrow Neck 21 Hamana Street

Family Living by the Beach

On the market for the first time in 20 years, this family masterpiece presents the ultimate in luxur y living and is just a five-minute walk from Narrow Neck beach. Offering four bedrooms, four bathrooms and two living areas, the four-level layout maximises optimum light and sun, as well as showcases spectacular sea views. There’s off-street parking out front, as well as a separate boat park Classic, stylish interior design creates a warm and inviting vibe, with timber floors and joiner y complemented by vibrant tropical gardens outside. The open plan lounge, dining and entertainer ’ s kitchen flows out poolside, where mature hedges enhance privacy and kids can run around on the fenced flat lawn.

The ground floor has internal access to the double garage and the fourth bathroom, ideal for coming inside from the pool.

Narrow Neck is a short stroll away, along with Wakatere Boating Club and Waitemata Golf Club It’s also in zone for Belmont Primar y, Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar

Spend this summer in the pool and at the beach!

Devonport 1C/2 Queens Parade

Safe, Secure, Superior.

1C/2 Queens Parade rests in one of the most sought after and ideally placed executive style apartment blocks in Devonport This spacious residence, one of only three apartments with private street access in addition to the communal entrance and lift, has a generous floor area of approximately 120m2. The sunny west facing aspect takes full advantage of glorious afternoon sun from a well-designed and private expansive outer courtyard The open plan lounge and kitchen flow out to your wonderful ‘alfresco’ entertaining area and the three double bedrooms (one with courtyard access and ensuite), give you plenty of space for family or guests. Two bathrooms are provided and there is secure off street covered parking for one car, plus a ground floor allocated storage area, exclusive to your apartment

The whole complex is immaculately presented and totally secure with tastefully furnished communal areas, and a huge outdoor courtyard for owners to congregate and enjoy This lovely apartment represents an opportunity for you to reside in an idyllic Inner Waitemata Harbour residence with a surrounding location, second to none.

OPEN DAYS

LATEST STAGE OF APARTMENTS RELEASED!

S U N DAY 2 0 & M O N DAY 2 1 N OV E M B E R , 1 0 A M - 3 P M

TA K E A LO O K I N S I D E

Be amongst the first to view our brand new stage of apartments located alongside Ngataringa Road. These apartments have been designed to maximise space and include double glazing, modern kitchens, private patios or balconies and stunning views!

F E E L AT H O M E

Our William Sanders village community is growing and now ’ s your chance to be part of it . Feeling at home doesn’t just mean the house you live in it’s also the supportive community around you.

Village tours will be available on the day, come and experience it for yourself.

This will be a Covid-safe event and RSVP is essential. Call Scott on 0800 555 104 or Dell on 0800 555 106 to make an appointment.

DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD

Wednesday 23 November, 10am

Join us for a morning with Dr Ashley Bloomfield as he shares insight into his career and the challenges he faced during uncertain times. Ashley’s vast career experiences over the last 25 years in public policy and health leadership include being based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, working on non-communicable disease prevention and control with a global focus. He has held leadership positions across multiple District Health Boards including Capital & Coast , Wairarapa and Hutt Valley where he held the role of Chief Executive. Followed by morning tea this event is not to be missed!

This will be a Covid-safe event and RSVP is essential. Call Dell on 0800 555 106 or Scott on 0800 555 104 by Monday 21 November to secure your place.

WILLIAM SANDERS RETIREMENT VILLAGE

7 Ngataringa Road, Devonport rymanhealthcare.co.nz

RY M A N H E A LT H CA R E P R E S E N TS A M O R N I N G W I T H

Private security guards will patrol reserves

A plan to crack down on rule-breakers on pub lic reserves and beaches this summer is being drawn up by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport (AT).

It is understood private security guards may be contracted to police reserves over the Christ mas-New Year period, alerting rostered council staff if infringement notices have to be issued.

The stranding of a car that was driven onto Narrow Neck Beach this month, and a handful of cases of parking on the lower grassy slopes of Fort Takapuna on the Saturday of Labour Day weekend, were a reminder of issues that flared last summer holidays, raising safety concerns among other reserve users.

Illegal camping was also a problem at other North Shore beaches, including Castor Bay and Browns Bay, where groups set up for multiple nights at a time of year when few council staff were available to intervene.

Police were reluctant to get involved in matters relating to council bylaws rather than being criminal offences.

Asked about arrangements for this summer, an AT spokesman that a meeting had been held last week between AT and council staff.

“Council will be the lead on dealing with any parking on beaches and reserves. They are currently developing a plan for this,” the spokesman said.

A response on what the plans were, had not been received from the council by deadline.

When asked about the case of the car towed from Narrow Neck Beach on 4 November, police referred the Flagstaff to the council, which in turn referred the paper to AT, which

said it was not involved.

It is understood the vehicle became stuck in soft sand the evening before, and by morning it was a talking point among beach users. A tow truck extracted it around lunchtime.

Vehicles are not permitted on Narrow Neck Beach, other than with trailers to launch or retrieve boats.

Driving along the beach is prohibited and can attract fines if compliance officers are available to issue these.

Issues around parking and camping on beaches were raised by the Castor Bay Ratepayers and Residents at its recent annual meeting. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board members Terence Harpur and George Wood, who were at the meeting, said they would follow up with council staff.

Harpur told the Flagstaff he had heard back that private patrols would be used to help this year. The council was also looking at ways to make it easier to issue breach notices, he said.

“At the end of the day it’s really hard to make people move along,” he said. But it was necessary.

Police might need to become involved with determined campers, he said, pointing to a case in Browns Bay last year when parties hooked into power boxes to set up camp.

Signage had been put up at Castor Bay making it clear driving on the beach was not allowed, he said.

Meanwhile, Flagstaff queries about why there was no signage at Fort Takapuna, a Department of Conservation reserve, went unanswered.

Stranded... A car that became stuck in sand on Narrow Neck Beach this month. Auckland Council is reportedly developing a plan to deal with parking on beaches and reserves.

Barfoot & Thompson Limited Licensed REAA 2008 Devonport 09 445 2010 Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club

Barfoot & Thompson Limited Licensed REAA 2008 Devonport 09 445 2010 Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club

Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681 Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452

Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452 Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681

for the North Shore Cricket Club

Takapuna Grammar names top sportspeople

Commonwealth Games diver Maggie Squire has been named Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) sportswoman of the year, while Taine Kearney, who made his mark in both hockey and rugby, is sportsman of the year.

Maggie won gold in six events at the Auckland diving championships, two events at the national championships, competed at the World Championships in Budapest and, at just 16 years old, was New Zealand’s youngest athlete at the Birmingham Com monwealth Games, where she placed tenth in the Women’s 1m Springboard and ninth with diving partner Frazer Tavaner in the Mixed Synchronised 3m Springboard.

Maggie aims to compete in the world junior championships in Montreal, Canada later this month, with the aim of making the world championships next year.

Taine captained the school’s First XI hockey team and won selection for the U18 North Harbour Premier team for the national U18 tournament.

He also played first-five for the First XV rugby team, though he now plans to put rugby aside so he can focus on developing his hockey skills.

“I want to make the prem 1 team for my club (ABC) and the national hockey cham pionship team for North Harbour, putting me in a good place to make the Black Sticks under-21s in the coming years,” he said.

At the top of their games... Maggie Squire and Taine Kearney both tasted sporting success during 2022, having their achievements recognised in Takapuna Grammar School’s prizegiving

New Shore coach plots return to Northern League

North Shore United needed a boost fol lowing last year’s disappointing football season and they think they’ve found it with the appointment of new first team coach, Dylan Burns.

Burns, who has a stint as a junior player at English club Nottingham Forest on his CV, joined North Shore last season as a player.

When the coaching position became avail able, the 25-year-old saw an opportunity to help bring the club back to where it wants to be. He is hanging up his playing boots to take on the role.

The 2023 season starting in April will be about trying to win promotion back to the Northern League following last year’s rele gation to Division 1.

Burns says a combination of bringing in quality experienced players and introducing talented youth to the squad will provide the mix to achieve that goal.

“We want to get back into that Northern Prem, so that’s why there’s a huge emphasis on the good up-and-coming youth players we have. But then we’ve got a lot of big names that are coming to North Shore.”

Burns acknowledges the situation at the club is “not a quick fix” and will require a focus beyond the first team.

He wants to implement quality coaching throughout the youth and reserve ranks to build a consistent style of play and culture at the club.

On the pitch, Burns wants to bring in a simple “goals win games, stopping goals wins games” approach. He aims to recruit attacking and defensive players who can perform their respective roles and not “overcomplicate things”.

And although his job with the first team is to get results, he aims to ensure North Shore United still has a place for players who want to have fun.

“If players don’t want to go down that route of making it in football, we also have that

New gaffer... Dylan Burns (right) and in action for North Shore last season (above), wants to help build a consistent style and culture at United

family, social aspect where we just want them to be happy and play football.”

Burns was born in Auckland and grew up on the North Shore, moving to England when he was 15, after being scouted by the Nike Acad emy, which aimed to help unsigned under-20 players find professional clubs.

After two weeks with the academy he signed an under-18s and reserve-team contract with now English Premier League club Nottingham Forest. He had two-and-a-half years at Forest, and signed briefly for a Swedish club, before meeting his fiancé and moving back home.

He has played for several other Auckland clubs.

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We’ll never know how many manuscripts were toiled on during those long lockdown days, or how many unpublished novels have been lurking in bottom drawers.

But Devonport’s Simon Lendrum is one author already reaping the benefit of his pandemic writing project.

He’s now on to his second book after his efforts during the autumn of 2020 caught the interest of a publisher.

Lendrum is the author of The Slow Roll, a fast-paced yarn about gambling, crime, life and love, which became one of New Zealand’s top three new releases earlier this year.

The positive reviews for his debut novel have been so encouraging as to have him now well into a sequel, tapping away in weekends at home in Huia St.

His publishers launched him to New Zealand readers as “an exciting new voice in commercial crime”.

And on the front cover, one of the coun try’s top crime writers, Paul Cleave, offers an emphatic endorsement: “One hell of a de but – Lendrum is a writer to keep an eye on.”

As a Cleave fan, Lendrum says he couldn’t have hoped for better.

The Slow Roll is a story that Lendrum says had been shaping up in the back of his mind for many years. But until he found himself with weeks of spare time on his hands, he’d never managed to knuckle down and start putting it into words.

A couple of false starts were quickly deleted, he says.

The story is set in the sleazier parts of Auckland and the main character, O’Mal ley is a good-looking Irish-Polynesian poker player and self-appointed private investigator.

A missing girl, a murder, gambling and a cast of characters and their mysterious dealings all form part of the backdrop.

And O’Malley’s girlfriend, Claire, who between bloody noses, the odd beating and

other skirmishes, keeps him coming out of his many scrapes the right side up, often on the edge of daybreak.

Readers who have already discovered O’Malley and Claire are likely to hear more of them soon.

But the pair may never have made it onto the page without the restrictions of the pandemic.

Lendrum was between jobs when lock down struck. After decades managing advertising agencies and herding teams of

creatives, he’d decided to take a break.

And since he’d often wondered whether he had a novel in him, he saw lockdown as demanding a serious effort from him to produce one.

“I didn’t have work or young kids under foot to keep me busy at home, like so many other people. I really didn’t have anything useful that I had to do, so I knew this was my chance.”

Lendrum says he told his family the plan, and went upstairs to his desk, to get started.

Showing his hand... former adman Simon Lendrum has published one novel and has a sequel in the offing

Later he’d dedicate the book to his wife, Claire, and son and daughter, Jack and Chloe, thanking them for not laughing at him at the beginning of his writing journey.

“One bad word,’ he chuckles, “and I would probably have folded. That would have been the end of it.”

But after a few days at the desk and a bit of “mucking around”, he was soon meeting a target of 2000 words a day and O’Malley and Claire were starting to have lives of their own.

Lendrum is no stranger to the world of gambling and had seen a bit of action at tables and casinos around many cities before he came to Auckland from the UK nearly 20 years ago.

He recognised rich characters, intrigue, thrills and the sort of daily drama from which he could make up some ripper yarns… once he got into it.

He is also an avid reader of many crime writers be they British, American or home grown – like Cleave and Paul Thomas.

But taking the first steps to follow in their footsteps was a big learning curve for Lendrum, who’d started writing about O’Malley and Claire without much idea of where they were going after the opening pages of his manuscript.

Lendrum says he found making the story up as he went along worked well for him. So did figuring out what they would do next, what would or could happen and if it was time for more characters to be brought into the story.

“By the time I got up from my desk most days, I left it with some idea of what they would be doing, tomorrow.”

Lendrum made sure early in his story he’d created plenty of action and characters –enough for all sorts of scenarios to evolve.

He’d set the story up with enough possi bilities that each morning, when he got to his keyboard, he could race on at pace with

O’Malley and company, gathering impetus and picking up the action.

The Slow Roll title is a reference to what’s considered a breach in poker etiquette, when players with the winning hand vex the others around the table with a provocatively slow reveal of that hand.

When Lendrum emerged after weeks of almost daily writing, and announced he’d finished his novel, he had a very important card up his sleeve – the UK Crime Writ ers’Association (CWA).

In the silence that followed, Lendrum got on with life and tried to forget about getting The Slow Roll published and onto the bookshop shelves.

Luckily for him, after some months had passed, his CWA contact with the expert eye asked what was happening with the book, endorsing its quality and prospects.

Lendrum tried again and once more luck was on his side, when his work reached the pile of unsolicited manuscripts sitting with a local publisher, and finally got the big tick.

It is already in its second print run.

“There is so much luck in getting your book published,’ says Lendrum.

“I’m sure there are so many great drafts out there that never get into print.

“When you think about it, what are the odds of your book landing on the desk of a publisher when they are in the perfect headspace for it to resonate? Any other day, they might just pass it by.”

While Lendrum is still on a roll as a fledgling crime writer, he has a new day job.

Instead of running an agency he is now chief executive of the Commercial Com munications Council, the industry body for New Zealand advertising agencies.

British-born and Cambridge-educated, Lendrum and Claire discovered Auckland and Devonport when they first came from London to check the country out.

They were ready for a change from life in the UK and they loved what they found here.

The association promotes and supports crime-and-thriller writers, running the ‘Dagger’ awards to celebrate the cream of the crop. The CWA also has a service pro viding feedback and professional criticism for new manuscripts.

Lendrum’s book was well received. He took on board the encouragement, and the critical feedback he got from a CWA mentor, and then sent his work off to a selection of publishers.

Says Lendrum simply, “We found a nice place to live and there was no going back.”

He is now at the time of life when making a living in his day job still takes precedence.

With just weekends to get back to the go ings-on of the likeable O’Malley and Claire, this sequel will be longer in the writing.

“I just love doing it, and I always look forward to sitting down to it again. But for the foreseeable future, crime-writing is my side hustle.”

“I

FROM THE PENINSULA

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Narrow Neck – Short term furnished 2 bed room unit with carpark. Close to the beach. All inclusive including Netflix etc. Available now. Contact Jane –021 735 263.

SERVICES OFFERED

Section Services All tree work & section tidy ups. Insured. 027 222 1223.

WANTED

I attended the blessing of the Woodall Park Pump Track carried out by Kaumatua Ngahiwi Walker, Zane Catterall of Restoring Takarunga Hauraki, with Bob McGuigan of Devonport Rotary Another really nice ceremony, which simply wanted to acknowledge the efforts of Rotary and the generous support of the community, especially Simon Gundry and team, that went into creating the track And from a Te Ão Maori perspective, to acknowledge the placing of the pump track features in amongst the surrounding ngahere and on this whenua, and also, to trust that the track will bring a safe and happy experience for users and families Here we are, gathered, after the ceremony Well done everyone COMMUNITY NETWORK MEETING

Held Thursday Melissa Powell, newly elected to the Devonport Takapuna Local Board attended the meeting, telling attendees of her background, her ongoing work role with Nga Rangatahi Toa, the constraints the whole council and local body structure is facing, and suggesting that communities may still be able to help achieve objectives through the collaborative effort the Network meetings engender Melissa is the local board rep for Devonport Peninsula Trust, so the trust board and staff look forward to working with her, as we have done with Trish Deans in recent years THE JETS RUN RESUMES

Wed 2nd November through to Wed 14th December 6pm at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Options of 3km, 5km, and occasional 10km routes More information from jetsrun@xtra co nz

RAUMATI SUMMER PLAY

Has started Tuesdays 9:30 am at Windsor Reserve, and Thursdays at 9:30 am at Belmont Rose Gardens, with a break for Christmas/New Year

SERVICES OFFERED

Complete home main tenance by perfectionist boat builder/builders. In cluding rotten windows, doors, weather boards. Exterior/interior. We also do shingles and shake replacement. Call Duane 027 488 5478.

FixIT Handyman - ex cellent work, practi cal budget, most jobs welcome, interior/ exterior free quote. Josh 021 261 8322.

Painting and decorat ing - reasonable rates. Ph Bernard 445 8816 or 021 0255 5456.

Cleaner / Housekeeper wanted - One or two days per week (prefer Monday & Friday) for 3 hours in tidy Devonport home. Must be reliable and have a high attention to detail. Phone or txt James on 0274-340-300 to arrange a meeting. Gardener wanted - who is able to look after a good sized garden in volving sweeping paths, removing or spraying weeds, trimming hedges & trees, watering & car ing for plants, using leaf blower, water blasting, general maintenance etc etc. All tools needed and garden bin are onsite. Must be fit, have some garden knowledge, be re liable & honest and able to work 3-5 hours each week in central Devon port (day of the week flexible). Phone or txt James on 0274-340-300.

Night Carer Wanted. This is a wake-over posi tion, permanent - Fri, Sat and Sunday nights 10pm - 6am. Pay $28 per hour. Ph 09 445 4693.

Live local. Work local. ShoreJobs.co.nz

Lead Landscape Gardener

Grouse Landscapes is looking for an ex perienced Lead Landscape Gardener We specialise in high end residential garden maintenance We’re looking for someone to join as a lead for a two person team

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• Proven experience is essential.

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• A full NZ driver’s license.

• A good level of physical fitness. We’re a locally owned business based in Devonport known for our attention to detail and the great care we take in our work. We believe in forming long standing relation ships with our clients, by providing the best possible care for their gardens. Email admin@grouselandscapes.co.nz www.grouselandscapes.co.nz

Fitness Trainers Wanted

North Shore-based Functional Fitness Studio is searching for passionate, Experienced and/or Qualified Specialist Instructors to join the team

1. Personal Trainer, Functional Strength Coach to teach small-group classes and 1-to-1. Will take-over an existing client base, no PT rental agreements. Hours/week depend on applicant. Job-growth opportunities for the right person.

Instructors

Spin, Boxing, TRX, Kettlebell, Barre, HIIT Classes, and Kid’s/Teen Kick-Boxing Classes.

Assisted-Stretch Specialists for 1-to-1 sessions.

Pay up to $65/hr.

SoulSprite Fitness Studios has been in operation for 9 years and is big growth mode We’re located in the heart of Devonport Village, have a strong committed community of members and (for now) have only 5-star ratings online.

If you’re interested in the possibility of joining our amazing team of specialists, we’d love to hear from you. Please email your CV and cover letter to: info@ soulsprite.co.nz or contact Ben on 022 059 9605.

Check us out online here: http://www.soulsprite.co.nz

Olivia Wilson

Maggie Squire

John Perkinson

Carrie Guo

Taine Kearney

Skye Lang & Anabelle Knowles

Maria Clarke & Michael Tillett

Oliver Ng

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engine in the Barrule – washed up on the Devonport foreshore last week in a storm – has been wrecked before. Barrule was owned for many years by Devonport Yacht club members Gary and Jo Wallace. Following the wrecking of Chris Leech’s boat Monarch in December 1998, the engine was removed and purchased by the Wallace’s from the insurance company and installed in Barrule.

Franklin G ardens and Maintenance

Hand-made plaques identify school’s native plants

Bayswater School’s students, parents and staff, along with members of environmental group Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH), have installed plaques to identify native plants at the school.

The plaques, carrying the names of various native species, were hand-made by enviro group pupils two years ago, with the help of John Cambridge, who made the wooden posts and frames, and Natanahira Te Pona, who provided the templates of the clay plaques and taught the children how to carve designs in them.

Each student put their personality into their design.

Bayswater School deputy principal, Claire Edwards says the planting is a great way for the children to be educated about native flora.

The placing of the plaques is a part of an ongoing collaboration project between RTH and Bayswater School, involving further native planting on the Roberts Ave bank.

The ongoing project to bring native plants to the bank started in 2019 when RTH ap plied for a council grant to plant the trees after the four macrocarpa that used to pop ulate the site were cut down due to damage from poor weather.

The grant was approved and, along with money the group raised via sponsorships from local organisations, RTH obtained a few thousand dollars to start the project.

More than 400 native plants were planted on the bank in 2019, RTH lead coordinator and educator, Lance Cablk says. The “whole school got involved, like every single person, and most of the parents put a tree in, which was really fun.”

RestoringTakarunga Hauraki and Bayswa ter School plan to continue planting native trees along the bank

Signs of the times... Each plaque installed in the Bayswater School grounds carries a design by the child who made it

Remembrance Day commemorated on Memorial Drive

Crosses and poppies have been installed along Memorial Drive in honour of fallen veterans, to mark Remembrance Day.

Ten volunteers from the William Sanders Village laid out the symbols of remem brance across 63 memorial plaques.

The poppies were donated to the De

vonport RSA by former local MP, Maggie Barry.

They are made of permanent material so can be reused each year.

The act of remembrance was organised by village resident and Devonport RSA member, Clive Sinclair.

Sinclair served in the Army for 29 years and has been a member of the RSA for 25 years.

Remembrance Day on 11 November was also commemorated with a parade to the World War I memorial outside Devonport Library last Sunday.

Lest we forget... (from left) volunteers Mike Ness, Robert Tudman, Eric Cockerton, Glynne Cockerton, Sherilyn Hurman, Allan Eriksen, John Mitchell, Jock Austin, Brian Watson and Kate Sinclair, placed the poppies and crosses at Memorial Drive early this month

Pipes and prayers mark sacrifice of yesteryear

The skirl of bagpipes and beating of drums reverberated through the streets of central Devonport in a parade commemorating Remembrance Day last Sunday morning.

Led by a police car and the Royal New Zealand Navy pipe band, Navy, veterans, Devonport Volunteer Fire Service and local Scout groups marched down Victoria Rd to the World War I memorial outside Devonport Library, where a ceremony was held.

Led by Devonport RSA president Muzz Kennet, it began with the singing of God Save the King by Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) student Milla Rodreguez-Birch, followed by a prayer from Navy Chaplain Glen Popata.

RSA speech-competition winner Gavin Wu gave a Remembrance Address, the TGS Choir Quartet performed a waiata and the flag was lowered to the strains of The Last Post, played by Sergeant Bill Rimmer.

The Ode was recited in both te reo Māori and English and the pipes played again as wreaths were laid by Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Toni Van Tonder, North Shore MP Simon Watts and representatives from the RSA, Volunteer Fire Service, Navy, TGS and 1st Devonport Scout Group.

The ceremony closed with the singing of God Defend New Zealand by Milla Rodreg uez-Birch and a final prayer, after which members of the community placed personal tributes at the memorial.

North Shore

United Football Club

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2022 Tuesday 22nd November start 7.00pm at Allen Hill Clubrooms, Lake Road Devonport www.nsu.org.nz

Rituals of remembrance... The Last Post is played and flags lowered during the ceremony at Devonport’s World War I memorial

Stirring... The Navy pipe band led the parade into Victoria Rd

By the left... Navy servicepeople were among groups who marched in the parade

20 years ago from the Flagstaff files

• Another ferry-berthing facility is planned for Devonport Wharf, theat ening Fullers’ monopoly of the Auck land-Devonport route. Auckland Re gional Transport Network says a new pontoon should be built within 12 months.

• A ‘Travelwise to School’ project is launched at Vauxhall School. It aims to reduce traffic congestion outside the school, encourage healthy alternatives to car transport and increase road safety and awareness among students.

• The Auckland Harbourmaster will in vestigate ways to reduce the large wash hitting the shore at Devonport from high-powered vessels on the harbour.

• St Leo’s school has consulted police and North Shore City Council in an ef fort to resolve safety concerns over the Albert Rd pedestrian crossing outside its grounds.

• The upmarket Deanery alcoholic treat ment centre on the corner of Albert and Vauxhall Rds closes its doors. The villa returns to operating as Villa Cambria B & B.

• Takapuna Community Constable Julie Paranihi will be based in Devonport half a day a week each Wednesday and is available to see the public from 11am to 2.30pm.

• The Belmont Intermediate School board makes a formal complaint to police after one of its students brings a BB gun to school.

• The Department of Conservation says removing 21 buildings on the Tamaki Reserve land above Narrow Neck beach is not a priority.

• From Head to Toe is the title of an exhi bition by the Devonport Life Drawing Group to be held at the Depot.

• Devonport Library Associates patron and founding member Mary Haines celebrates turning 90, with library staff and other members of the associates.

• A dangerous-building notice slapped on the Stanley Pt high-rise Devon Park, due to fire safety concerns two years previously, remains in place.

• Devonport firefighters extinguish five blazes on Takarunga and Maungauika due to fireworks during November.

• Devonport veteran triathletes, Joe McCallum (67) and Alec Hill (69) are profiled, revealing they have a pint of Guinness after each race.

• Mike Drummond, the longest-serving Team New Zealand member and its principal yacht designer, is profiled in the Flagstaff interview.

THE NAVY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER SAILOR OF THE YEAR

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Sailor of the Year 2022 is Leading Youth Development Specialist James Faleofa, from Kelston in Auckland

His citation describes him as having “an exemplary work ethic and the highest of professional and personal standards” since joining the Youth Development Unit (North), based at Whenuapai He attended Kelston Boys’ High School and its in house service academy before joining the Navy in 2009 He volunteers his personal time to the academy, as well as opening his and his wife’s home to Kelston Boys’ students for physical training sessions, mentoring and advice, in an initiative called Fahi On The Youth Development Unit’s (YDU) courses include the six week Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) courses for unemployed 18 24 year olds who are not in study or training The focus is on motivation, self

confidence, teamwork, resilience and life skills

“Giving back is something I had always wanted to do I just didn’t know when I would get to do it When I saw this, I thought, this is me, this is the time The Navy has given me a lot of tools, and I can put those tools to good use ”

With Fahi On, LYDS Faleofa takes his YDU training to help youngsters who are struggling to find their way, or getting into bad habits

As a direct result of Fahi On, three former Kelston Boys’ students are currently in Navy Basic Common Training, due to graduate in December

Get out and about on the shore this summer

Our Out and About teams are hosting a range of fun, free events designed to get children of all ages active over the summer break

The events help connect residents to nature and focus on keeping more Aucklanders living healthy and active lives through play, recreation and sport.

There are activities across the city, ranging from treasure hunts to sea kayaking, all hosted at parks and reserves. The Out and About Activation programme is funded by your local board That keeps it free, but some events do require you to register, and it is best to do so as early as you can to avoid disappointment You don’t have to restrict yourself to your local area and are more than welcome to attend

events in other areas

Activities from the Devonport Takapuna Local Board include Junk Play, Hungerball and the Wild Families Nature Network

Our Out and About team post information on where they are and what they are up to on facebook com/OutandAboutAKL You can also access detailed programme lists at aucklandleisure co nz by searching for Out and About, which will take you to a page with activities by Board area.

And if you’re still stuck for ideas, check out your local library Auckland’s extensive network of libraries also offers school holiday fun, catering from the littlest citizen to older youngsters and increasingly for adults too, with lectures, events,

courses, help with family research and dozens of other activities

For updates follow Auckland Libraries at facebook com/aucklandlibraries or a library in your area, for instance, facebook com/devonportlibrarynz or facebook com/devonportlibrarynz

You can also head to aucklandlibraries. govt nz and the events tab will take you to a page listing activities all over the city, and just like Out and About, you are welcome to attend those outside your immediate area

But the beauty of the site is that you can search for events in your particular area, perhaps where a friend you’d like to catch up with lives, or just neighbouring areas

Find out more about your Local Board initiatives at facebook com/ devonporttakapuna

CONTACT US: aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/devonporttakapuna

FOLLOW US: Facebook.com/devonporttakapuna

Changing of the Tides

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Duo ready to rock Friday after Five

‘Friday after Five’ in Clarence St is looking to return with a musical bang early next month after being canned due to Covid restrictions last year.

The street party organised by The De vonport Business Association (DBA) will also feature a range of food stalls, children’s entertainment, street theatre and circus acts as well as activities such as a photo booth and a mini tennis court.

DBA chair Dianne Hale promises an evening of family fun, showcasing “the breadth of talent we have here on the peninsula”.

Clarence St will be closed to traffic from midday for the 2 December event.

Live-music lovers can look forward to Tiny Triumphs hosting free performances by dynamic rock duo Typhoon Sonics, and fellow local music acts King Horse Empire and Aprea.

Drummer Martin Thomas and guitarist and vocalist Matt Meikle formed Typhoon Sonics after both left their previous bands.

After unsuccessfully trying out six different drummers, they have opted to remain as a duo.

Meikle says working as a two-piece means

they have to get creative with the way they write and produce their songs.

“From a playing perspective, we’re always thinking of the percussive element and try to think typically where would the lead guitar be, where would the bass be and what do we have to do to substitute in for that.”

The pair say they are excited for the oppor tunity to play at Friday After Five, which will be their fifth gig as a band.

“It’s really special to play. I feel very for tunate to play at a local venue surrounded by family and friends” says Meikle.

Women’s choir performs at ferry terminal

A ‘Beautiful Noise’ will emanate from the Devonport ferry terminal next Thursday evening, when the local community choir of that name entertains with an hour of contemporary songs.

The all-female group will perform in a roped-off space beneath the terminal mural, where Fashion on the Wharf was held last month.

Choir co-director Maria Cantrell said Auckland Transport had been “wonderful” in accommodating the group, which will collect

koha for Women’s Refuge. Seating will be provided.

The choir, originally known as Lips, was set up around a dozen years ago. Cantrell, a Devonport resident, came on board a few years later and, in 2019, the new name was adopted.

Membership has grown steadily from a core of 12-18 singers to the current 40 members, and a waitlist of other women wanting to join.

The choir practises once a week at the Whare Toi on Takarunga, and performs occasionally.

Cantrell says its membership, while varied,

is mostly concentrated among women aged in their 40s and 50s, looking for an enjoyable musical outlet as they navigate life changes.

Many are locals, but some travel to join in. “Yes we love to sing, but it’s a strong group of supportive women,” she says.

The repertoire, which Cantrell and co-di rector Caz Kelly accompany on guitars, is heavy on pop songs, but includes Celtic and rock tunes.

• Beautiful Noise sings on Thursday 24 November at 7.30pm.

Drumroll... Typhoon Sonics guitarist and vocalist Matt Meikle and drummer Martin Thomas during practice at Thomas’ Two Dogs Sound Studio in Spring St. Their band is among the entertainment scheduled for Friday after Five on 2 December.

Final DCO show for 2022

The final Devonport Chamber Orchestra (DCO) concert for the year will feature the largest ensemble of string players the group has gathered to date.

This is to enable a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, which DCO co-ordinator Roger Booth says is a sublime work for two string orchestras. Normally 25 to 35 string players would be involved, but for this event 43 will perform.

Fantasia will be conducted by Joshua Kirk, along with two other works on the programme: Mozart’s popular Horn Concerto No. 4 in E Flat, with soloist Anita Austin, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 14 in A

The concert is at Holy Trinity Church, 20 Church St, this Sunday, 20 November, 2pm.

De Wit at library

Recently published author Willy de Wit is in conversation with David Downs at the Devonport Library this Sunday, 20 November, 2–3pm.

De Wit’s autobiography Drink, Smoke, Snort, Stroke... is a no-holds-barred reflection on the highs and lows of his career as a comedian and broadcaster, and his descent into alcoholism and drug addiction, which culminated in an almost life-ending stroke.

Festive as brass

North Shore Brass will be sounding Christmas cheer again this year, with public performances on Takapuna’s Hurstmere Green each Saturday at 10am, from 26 November.

Artist taps into family history

Devonport artist Kristiana Trayes retraced her father’s wartime journeys in the Pa cific for her latest exhibition, A Dissolving Memory, an inter-generational exploration of themes both personal and universal.

Conflict and power are ideas she focuses on in the show, opening in a pop-up gallery space on Victoria Rd next week.

“I hope it will be a dis cussion point,” she says. “It covers a topic when things are not normal, a state of anxiety and intense experiences.”

Trayes worked with her equally creative daughter, Steph Brown – better known as Silver Scroll winning key boardist and singer Lips – on a soundscape for the exhibition.

Memory exhbition

It will feature a giant paper-mache music box as a centrepiece, amid smaller sculp tures. The works also include collage and incorporate military, mathematical, Pacific and local symbolism.

Mother and daughter have collaborated on and off for more than a decade, with Trayes responsible for making the original set of the giant lips her daughter dons on stage. Now, Brown performs as a duo with her American partner, Fen Ikner, a multi-instrumentalist and producer.

Brown and Ikner were musical directors and provided the score for the tuneful New Zealand movie Daffodils, released in 2019.

Trayes is anxiously awaiting her daugh ter’s return from the United States and says: “She is due back two days before the show, hopefully with the music for the music box.”

Old-favourite wartime songs were a jumping-off point for the exhibition.

But Trayes says they have been extrap olated electronically into entirely different sounds, more akin to plane noises. This is similar to the way she has taken the wartime experiences of her father, and two other veterans, into allegorical new territory.

Beyond musing on loss and dislocation, she tackles ideas society is grappling with now, including climate, security and control. “Every generation has something to worry about,” she says.

One of the sculptures shows hands ex tending into syringes and bullets, referenc ing Covid-19 and the threat of pathogens.

Another features the Tainui taonga Ko rotangi, a bird said to have been carried in statue form from Hawaiki on the Tainui waka to its landing place in Aotearoa, at Devonport’s Te Hau Kapua /Torpedo Bay.

This story, and the way it connects the Pacific with the home of her family for

generations, resonates for Trayes.

The landing spot is marked by a commemora tive monument designed and built by her grandfather, Ernest Trayes, a respected local stonemason.

Sitting on top of it is a Korotangi sculpture cast in bronze and gifted by the Maori King for the memo rial, which was erected in 1959 by the then Devonport Borough Council mayor, Clement Woodall.

Trayes, her father Vic (Ernest’s son) and her daughter all enjoyed a De vonport childhood and at tended Takapuna Grammar School. “From the minute she [Brown] could sit up, Dad put her on his knee and put her hands on his on the piano.”

Typical of his generation, Vic, who died in 2008, spoke little about his wartime experiences.

But from typing his memoirs and further research over the years, his daughter’s cu riosity grew. “The only thing Dad ever told me about the Solomons was it was a very lovely place,” she says. His plane was shot in Rabaul and he flew out of trouble on one engine, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross. “I’ve got the medal now; it’s very special,” she says.

He wanted to return to the Solomans and she promised to take him, but he got Alzheimer’s, ruling out such a trip.

Trayes finally visited herself in 2018.

She goes by her maiden name for her work as an artist, and uses a variation of her first name that her father used to call her by.

Creating art from the ideas and emotions unleashed from her trip into his past has been a slow process.

Trayes first created and illustrated a con cept story, then made models for the show’s sculptures.

“I’m basically exhibiting the visual for a book in live 3D,” she says.

Her meticulous approach reflects her early training as an accountant, like her father.

With a second degree in visual arts and despite decades of developing her craft, she admits this conceptual show is testing her nerves as she waits to get into the venue to set it up.

“At the minute I’m terrified because I’m not sure how it’s going to work.”

• A Dissolving Memory runs from 25 November to 1 December, in the former Westpac bank building, on the corner of Victoria Rd and Clarence St.

One of the works from Kristiana Trayes’ A Dissolving

Trayes (above) pores over a map of the Solomons, where her father Vic (with Trayes at left) served in World War II. Her exhibition’s visual references range from Covid to military themes. They include meaningful local imagery, such as the Korotangi (above, right) to be seen on the monument in Devonport marking the landing place of the Tainui waka.

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