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Ukrainian-film fundraiser at the Vic... p5
A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R
16 dwellings planned for two Alamein Ave sites... p12
Interview: Doctor Heidi MacRae… p14-15
Local tree cover worst on North Shore The lowest tree coverage on the North Shore is in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (DTLB) area, according to an Auckland Council report. Trees cover just 16 per cent of the DTLB zone, compared with 30.3 per cent coverage
in the Kaipātiki Local Board area, 27.3 per cent for Upper Harbour and 25.2 per cent for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area. Half of DTLB has what is rated as ‘low’ tree coverage – 10 to 15 per cent – while the other half has ‘moderate’ coverage, of
15 to 20 per cent The number of parks, sports grounds, open spaces and golf courses in the DTLB area could possibly be a contributing factor to the low tree coverage. To page 2
Pooches on parade
Doggy day fair… Narrow Neck residents Jasmine Molloy, 15, with Ollie (left), and Jessica Rice, also 15, with Indie, took part in the Dog Day Out at Hurstmere Green in Takapuna last weekend
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Briefs Rugby rivals top tables The local derby between top rugby sides North Shore and Takapuna on 28 May is shaping up to be a classic. Takapuna is undefeated at the top of the premiers comp, with Shore in second place. In the Premier 2 division, the positions are reversed. All four sides were in good form last weekend, with Shore premiers beating Kumeu 69-13 and its premier 2 side defeating Kumeu 68-5. Takapuna premiers beat Silverdale 31-10, while its premier 2 side thrashed Glenfield 66-0. A crowd of more than 1000 is expected at Shore’s Vauxhall Rd ground for the 28 May showdown.
Shore players picked Eight North Shore premier rugby players have been selected for North Harbour’s high-performance programme. They are: Donald Coleman, Steve Dempsey, James Fiebig, Cameron Howell, Trent Luka, Zach Martin, Brad McNaughten and Sam Toa. Some are likely to make the North Harbour squad (still to be named).
Ladies Day raises $6K A Ladies Day at North Shore Rugby Club last weekend raised around $6000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. The Albany Barbarians women’s team beat Grammar TEC 55-5.
No news on 3 Victoria Rd Plans for the proposed sale of 3 Victoria Rd, the former Devonport Borough Council offices, have yet to be finalised, Auckland Council property arm Panuku said.
May 20, 2022
Online sculpture show still raises $80K NZ Sculpture OnShore has donated $80,000 to Women’s Refuge, despite being forced online last year rather than staging its usual biennial event at Fort Takapuna. Board chair and local resident Sally Dewar confirmed the donation amount last week, following the completion of commissioned artwork sales from last year. The well-established fundraiser will be back on the clifftops next year. Postponing the multi-day exhibition due to Covid in 2020, then moving it online last year, had been a tough decision and new territory for the Friends of Women’s Refuges Trust, said Dewar.
“We could not have imagined the public’s support and generosity with this terrific result,” she said. The money, raised from both sales and a Givealittle campaign, will be used to create welcoming spaces for children in Refuge NZ’s 40 safe houses. In 2018, the event raised $219,000. Although the latest tally was well down on that, Dewar said last year’s online initiative offered for food for thought for the future. “At the same time, with the tremendous level of public support for the physical exhibition, we are delighted to confirm we will be back at O Peretu Fort Takapuna in October 2023.”
Not so leafy in Devonport-Takapuna From page 1 Across the entire Auckland region, DTLB stands ninth of the 21 local boards on tree coverage. Auckland Council is proposing to raise $574 million from a targeted climate-change rate over the next 10 years to fund a climate package, which includes investing in public transport and urban tree cover aimed at offsetting temperature rises. In a submission to council, the DTLB supported using the climate rate for tree-planting and looking at new rules to give council
more power to protect trees. The council goal is for Auckland to have 30 per cent tree coverage by 2050. One of the barriers to achieving that goal is that trees are being felled on private land to make way for development, the DTLB said. The climate rate was supported by 66 per cent of public submitters from Devonport-Takapuna who gave feedback on council’s 2022-23 budget. The board also wanted to make public transport more attractive to encourage people out of private cars.
Power line planned for rotunda Electricity will be supplied to the Windsor Reserve bandstand and the area around the facility upgraded by Auckland Council. In addition to the bandstand work, council has submitted a resource consent application to: • Formalise a “well-trodden informal
track” between the library and Flagstaff Tce. Part of the track will be concrete, but with protective material where it runs over the historic Moreton Bay fig tree roots and those of another tree. • Construct a soak pit outside the library in a new courtyard area.
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Brewer’s trip to the dark side earns retail release The car will be parked out of the garage for a while longer at Mark Whatmough’s place in Empire Rd, Devonport, after his converted home-brewery set-up proved its worth. “I’m saving money making my own,” is a line he has been trotting out to his wife for years, but now he also has bona fide bragging rights to back up his garage takeover. One of his home brews is being released nationally from this month. “It’s the dream for every home brewer to get your name on a can,” Whatmough told the Flagstaff. The limited-edition commercial releasecame about after a stout he entered last year was chosen for production as the official brew of the Auckland Craft Beer and Food Festival scheduled for March this year. The festival was postponed due to Covid uncertainties, so he will have that honour to look forward to in 2023. However, competition backer Behemoth Brewery Company decided to offer the beer for sale early through its Auckland bar and national distribution network of selected supermarkets and liquor stores. Locally, Takapuna New World Metro is the first retail stockist. Whatmough backgrounded his double-delight in an interview at local bar Tiny Triumphs. He brought along a sample – for photographic purposes – of his winning stout, Imperial Empire, ahead of receiving his own slab of the stuff. Now he’s hoping curious beer drinkers will buy a pack to support Behemoth having taken a punt on the old-school type of beer that isn’t as popular in New Zealand as the hazy ales he usually sups on. The Mt Eden-based brewery has up to 5000 litres of the stout to shift – at half a litre per can that’s 10,000 cans. “Normally I make 20 litres at home,” says Whatmough. He’ll be urging friends to buy some – mates who have enjoyed free samples of his earlier less-assured efforts. The stout packs a punch, at nine per cent alcohol. He reckoned it pairs well with brisket or pulled pork. “You don’t want it to be cold-cold. It’s not an Australian lager, you want it to be 4-5 degrees in a glass.” Whatmough began home-brewing five years ago, having moved to Devonport from Whangarei in 2014. “One of my friends started and we were quite competitive. I liked the idea of making a better beer than him,” he said. Through a process of trial and error, the results improved. “If you make a bad beer, you just have to give away a lot to your friends,” he said, laughing. “I make pretty good beers now.” His wife suggested he specialise, rather than trying to make lots of different types all at once. “She said stick with one until you’re good and then branch out.” He found the key lay in balancing selected grains and malts and working out
In the can... Mark Whatmough’s stout is being distributed through selected supermarkets and liquor stores how long to condition each brew prior to learning curve, he said, with the difference bottling. between a home brewer and commercial His stout is an example of what can operation akin to that between a boutique come of quietly mastering the challenges butchery and a high-tech abattoir. of the craft. “Home brew is little packets of yeast, Its festival success surprised What- small bags of hops and you can be specific mough, however. He had the stout and a on types of malts. When you go into scale, pale ale he made both named first in class. those little bags they turn into 25kg bags.” Stout is not that popular commercially, Adjustments had to be made for the but Whatmough said Behemoth’s decision scale-up. But he was proud the beer used to release it was in tune with the trend to New Zealand yeast, and malt from a offer drinkers a wider selection of options. Christchurch-based malter, using Canter“Stout has a lot of malt, not a lot of hops. bury grains. “The only foreign thing in it It’s about roasted and toasted and chocolate is a nice spicy Czech hop.” flavours, rather than tropical and fruits.” Nelson hops were justly renowned for The roasted malts – barley that has germi- new-world styles of beer, but the old-world nated and been toasted – give its traditional ones worked better for stout. dark colour. It also ages well. A project manager for Genesis Energy, Whatmough had earlier competition Whatmough said he’s not about to leave success with an orange-flavoured stout. his day job, which involves working on the As to the packaging of Imperial Empire, transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Whatmough admits he is a bit of Star Wars But he has enjoyed seeing a hobby profan, but insists the beer’s name is a nod to ject picked up and delivered on a much his Empire Rd address. “It’s just being a larger scale. “It’s quite cool to see this big bit cheeky.” stainless steel beer fermenter and you think Teaming up with a brewery was a big that’s the beer that I made.”
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May 20, 2022
Mental-health work inspired switch to church career
Reluctance overcome... As a boy growing up in Tonga, Alipate Uhila had no intention of following in the footsteps of his minister father The new minister of the small Devonport Methodist parish was a pastor’s son, certain he wouldn’t pursue a career in the church. But time spent as a mental-health worker for the Auckland District Health Board changed Alipate Uhila’s mind about entering the ministry. Working as a Pacific Island cultural consultant for a community mental-health service for three years, he came to see churches as places that could offer “top of the cliff” intervention for people who might otherwise end up in the health system. That led him to resign from his job and begin training for the Methodist Church ministry. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Theology in 2007, he has served at churches in Mangere/Otahuhu, West Auckland, Lower Hutt and Pukekohe. After spells at those much larger churches, he was happy to be appointed to Devonport, which has a smaller congregation of only around 24 parishioners. Uhila started at the parish in February, but in-person services at the Owens Rd church
have only resumed more recently, following the lifting of gathering restrictions. Twenty or so people attend in person each Sunday, though the church continues to livestream for those who prefer not to be there physically. Traditional church services are conducted on the first three Sundays of each month, with the fourth set aside for a more contemporary and creative worship format. Uhila said the church planned to build its profile. It already connected well to the community through its Childcare Centre and Mainly Music group. Other programmes are also open to the community, such as Messy Church on a Sunday afternoon, a Saturday morning men’s breakfast at 9am, and a half-hour midweek service on a Wednesday morning at 11.30am for those unable to make it to church on a Sunday morning. Uhila grew up in Tonga, where his father’s church work meant multiple moves from island to island, helping – temporarily, it transpired – to turn him off the idea of going into the
ministry himself. He attended a Methodist school in Tonga, where he met his wife-to-be, Sini. She moved to New Zealand first, and after he arrived, they married and settled here in 1987. They have three married children and a oneyear-old granddaughter. Moving to Devonport has meant Sini can catch the ferry to her bank job on the Auckland waterfront. Uhila enjoys walking, swimming, gardening, reading and meeting new people. He’s also into his NRL and rugby. He said he likes to empower people to develop their own gifts. “Even when we have a mission to grow the church, we don’t focus on growing the numbers.” The focus was instead on nurturing something within the church that people would come and connect with. “It’s all motivated by the understanding that the church is not the people who come here on Sunday. The ministry of the church includes the whole community. It is there for the community.”
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May 20, 2022
Ukrainian Kiwi brings film fundraiser to The Vic Four Ukrainian charities will benefit from a film festival to be held at the Victoria Theatre and organised by long-time Devonport resident Elena Stejko. Stejko, an actor, director and teacher, grew up in Kiev, leaving aged 22 when the Soviet Union was disintegrating. After five years in Brazil, she shifted to Devonport, making it her home for 27 years, and being joined in New Zealand by her parents and sister. Stejko, whose screen roles have included parts in Russian Snark, What We Do in the Shadows and The Gulf, is delighted the Ukrainian Film Festival will be held in Devonport. “Devonport defined me… I did not speak a word of English when I got here.” The Devonport community had been supportive to Stejko, her daughter Sasha, and her mother Olga Danilova, who still lives in the suburb. “I’d especially like to thank Philipp [Jaser] and Dorothee [Basel] at the Vic for welcoming the project with open arms.” The complex geopolitical situation in Ukraine is best summed up by Stejko: “My first language was Russian, the second Ukrainian… my father was Russian and my mother Ukrainian.” Stejko planned to return to Ukraine this year – for the first time in 32 years – to hold classes for actors and directors. “I booked a ticket to travel in June, and then the war started.” Putin’s attack on Ukraine after ongoing threats was a brutal shock to Ukrainians both within the country and around the world, Stejko said. “It shattered me for so long.” Actors and directors she trained with are now fighting “on the front line”. One friend she had reconnected with was now not replying to emails. Stejko suspects she may have been captured. Stejko is working on the festival with Ukrainian filmmaker Dasha Volga. It will run over three Sundays at the Vic,
Local ties... Elena Stejko, a long-time Devonport resident, is organising a film-festival fundraiser for charities in war-torn Ukraine presenting two feature films, Bad Roads (screening 29 May) and The Inglorious Serfs (12 June), and a collection of contemporary short films (5 June). Stejko and Volga hope to take the
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festival to other parts of the country. Proceeds will be split between the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, Voices of Children, Ukrainian Women’s Guard and the Support for Ukrainian Filmmakers charities.
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May 20, 2022
Local mum launches ball-dress library A free ball-dress library will be available for Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) students this year. Devonport resident Anna Yallop is putting a call out to any women happy to lend dresses to students attending the TGS ball in July. Girls can make an appointment to try on dresses then borrow them – along with shoes and accessories – at no cost. So far, she has around 40 dresses available. Yallop decided to set up the initiative after being disappointed at the options available when shopping with her daughter last year. “I’m not a fan of buying clothes online, only to find they don’t look good as you imagined. So last year, my youngest daughter and I went to literally dozens of shops around Auckland trying to find a ball dress,” she said. They eventually found a dress but, due to lockdowns, few shops had much in stock. Yallop thinks that families have had a rough couple of years and shelling out for ball dresses is likely to be another expense they can do without. “It occurred to me that there may well be girls who went to previous balls who may like to lend their last year’s dress in exchange for borrowing someone else’s – that way, everyone wins.” “I was telling this to a friend, who has three daughters. As we talked, we came up with the idea of expanding the offer to make it available more widely.” Other friends offered to lend ball dresses and the initiative quickly snowballed. Yallop plans to spend the next few weeks gathering ball dresses, shoes and jewellery. Once the items have been collected, girls can start booking times to come and try them on. Yallop has decided to limit the scheme to girls attending the TGS ball. “It will be first come, first served. Even if I just get one girl who wants to borrow a ball dress or shoes, I will be delighted if it
Dressy options... Anna Yallop already has 40 dresses available for her library of ball attire and accessories means that girl can attend the ball and feel great,” she said. “Our teens have had two frustrating years with practically no socialising because of Covid, and balls are a really important part of teenagers’ lives.
“They deserve to have some fun and if this initiative helps them do that, then that’s awesome as far as I’m concerned.” Anyone wishing to lend items to the ball dress library can contact Yallop on 021 799 314 or anna@rmltd.co.nz.
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May 20, 2022
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RYMAN HEALTHCARE PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON WITH
PETA MATHIAS Wednesday 25 May, 2pm Join us for an afternoon with the delightfully entertaining Peta as she shares insight into her career and travels. She has a zest for life you can almost taste! In her words, ‘it ain’t over till it’s over’. Peta’s passion for food, travel and writing is the perfect mix, Her latest book ‘Shed Couture’ is about fashion and clothing. Fashion is mysterious, irrestible and alluring. Clothes are never just clothes – they are beauty, art, history, emotion, memory, identity and above all, joy. Followed by afternoon tea this event is not to be missed! RSVP is essential, call Dell or Scott on 445 0909 by Monday 23 May to secure your place at this event. As a precaution, to ensure a Covid-safe event, we also ask that guests please complete a RAT test at home before visiting the village.
WILLIAM SANDERS RETIREMENT VILLAGE 7 Ngataringa Road, Devonport rymanhealthcare.co.nz
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May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022
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May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022
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NEW LISTING
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Located just one back from Devonport's waterfront Queens Parade, this quaint three-storey character home has been freshly updated with contemporary style, and has a unique layout with a double bedroom, bathroom and a living area on each level, making it a home that will appeal to families with teens, empty nesters, or those that enjoy having family and friends coming to stay for extended periods. It also boasts harbour views, a beautiful west facing back garden and a garage. Character-filled and showcasing a captivating maritime feel that wouldn't look out of place in San Francisco's Sausalito, the white weatherboard residence savours its position by the water. Enjoy the very best of village life in this stylish updated, harbourside heritage home.
Auction (unless soldback prior) from Devonport's waterfront Queen Located just one character been freshly updated with contempora 1.30pm, Thuhome 2 Junhas 2022 double bedroom, bathroom and a living area on each level, 28 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland families with teens, empty nesters, or those that enjoy havin View Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm extended periods. It also boasts harbour views, a beautiful w Linda Simmons 027 0957 Character-filled and459 showcasing a captivating maritime fee linda.simmons@bayleys.co.nz Francisco's Sausalito, the white weatherboard residence sa BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, DEVONPORT, very best of village life in this stylish updated, harbourside h
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May 20, 2022
Sixteen units planned for two Belmont sites
Greater density... An illustration of the housing blocks proposed for two sections on Alamein Ave, now occupied by just three dwellings Sixteen new dwellings are proposed for two residential sites in Belmont. An application to develop 28 and 30 Alamein Ave – which have a combined area of 1743 sqm – has been submitted to Auckland Council by Sentinel Planning. Currently, 28 Alamein Ave comprises one house and number 30 two flats. The proposed development – four buildings of three storeys in two separate blocks – breaches planning rules for earthworks and building coverage. All vegetation will be cleared from the site and 3478 cubic metres of earth taken away,
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requiring a 3.5m high retaining wall at the northern boundary. The proposed building coverage is 51.5 per cent, which is more than the 50 per cent allowed. Across the whole site this is 25.4 sqm over the allowable limits, the resource consent application says. If restrictions on height-to-boundary limits and a volcanic view shaft overlay were not in place, the building height could have been up to 16 metres – five to seven storeys, the application says. No public notification is requested as the effects on the neighbourhood are considered less than minor.
More than $25,000 from poppys The Devonport RSA’s Poppy Day appeal raised $27,000. The money was collected over three days by volunteers in the community and through schools and businesses.
RSA president Muzz Kennett said the Anzac Day memorial live stream from its clubrooms – held instead of the traditional street parade – was watched my more than 1200 people.
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May 20, 2022
Heritage advisers given no say on key panel The independent hearings panel to consider Auckland Council’s proposed intensification has been appointed – to the surprise of the council’s own Heritage Advisory Panel, whose members last week expressed their disappointment at not being approached for advice over the appointments. Panel members, who brainstormed advice for council on plans in response to central government’s push for greater housing density, were surprised to hear membership of the independent hearings panel – that will assess submissions and make recommendations on plan changes – had already been decided. Chair Sally Hughes said she thought council would want the heritage panel’s advice on the issue. Council heritage manager Noel Reardon, who presented to the panel, said council had not sought his advice on the appointments either.
“There is very little in this process that is ideal,” he said. Reardon said councillors had their heads in their hands trying to navigate the contentious issue. “We have been criticised by those who want more special character included, and those who want it gone,” Reardon said. Reardon said council was not obliged to consult the public on the issue, and suggested its transparency should be supported by the panel. Greg Hill, Kitt Littlejohn, Karyn Kurzeja, Sheena Tepania, Gavin Lister and Richard Knott were appointed to the hearings panel. Heritage panel co-deputy chair Nicola Short asked Reardon if the methodology used to assess Special Character Areas had been applied elsewhere. “All we have done is looked at the existing special character, but we have not looked at
future special-character areas. Is there an appetite for that?” Short asked. Reardon responded that areas outside of Special Character were not assessed and said there were “reservations about adding more special character in”. Hughes said that the process would be completely reductive without consideration for the future. “Areas over the years may have been missed that have special character,” Hughes said. The Heritage Advisory Panel is drafting advice to council around methodology, consideration for historical significance of natural features and expressing its disappointment with not being approached about the hearings panel. by Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council Reporter, funded by New Zealand on Air
Seismic assessment underway at Bayswater wharf
Work has been done at Bayswater wharf to allow computer modelling of the structure and the loads it can hold, Auckland Transport (AT) says. Earlier this month, access to the wharf, a popular spot for fishing and taking photos against the Auckland CBD skyline, was
restricted temporarily while its condition was investigated. AT said this will be followed by a detailed seismic-assessment process. This may take up to four months to complete. Depending on what is found, more investigations may be required.
THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY BAND Sunday 29 May, 2pm
We invite you to join us for a special performance by the Royal New Zealand Artillery Band.
WILLIAM SANDERS RETIREMENT VILLAGE
Afternoon tea will be provided.
RSVP is essential, call Scott or Dell on 445 0909 by Thursday 26 May to secure your place at this event.
As a precaution, to ensure a Covidsafe event, we also ask that guests please complete a RAT test at home before visiting the village.
7 Ngataringa Road, Devonport
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Interview
May 20, 2022
Cancer diagnosis opens GP’s eyes to funding shortfall Doctor Heidi MacRae could afford to pay for the drug needed to treat her aggressive cancer, but many aren’t so fortunate. She tells Helen Vause about facing serious illness – and speaking out for change.
Tough truths... Heidi MacRae was told the funded treatment options for her aggressive breast cancer were obsolete Devonport GP Heidi MacRae headed into lockdown last August after many months immersed in all things Covid. Alongside seeing her patients, as a board member of a primary health organisation (PHO), she was also flat out with the establishment of swabbing clinics, getting vaccinations to front-line staff, dealing with issues around PPE supplies and much more. Her thoughts were far from her own well-being. As the long months of lockdown began, it was nowhere near business as usual for doctors anywhere. Many regular procedures were being postponed, including MacRae’s mammogram due that month. It was rescheduled for December, just a couple of months away. In the intervening weeks, her life was turned upside down by her own serious health event. Detection began with a routine staff temperature check at the Medplus surgery, which showed she had a fever. In September, the hitherto healthy, vibrant 50-year-old was diagnosed with an uncommon form of breast cancer – known as triple
negative – that is even more challenging to treat than other variants of the disease. The course of action put to MacRae by her surgeon was blunt but clear: “My breast surgeon told me I did not have time to wait for public chemotherapy as I had such aggressive breast cancer. “She also told me I needed to stop work immediately.” Almost right away, MacRae also found herself facing some tough truths from her straight-shooting oncologist. She was told that the treatment options funded in New Zealand are obsolete; if she wanted the gold-standard treatment for the best chance of survival, she’d have to fund it herself. MacRae and her husband Tom were able to pay an eye-watering $7,800 every three weeks for the drug commonly known as Keytruda – a cost capped at around $69,000. She holed up at home in Stanley Point, and worked through treatment with the support of friends and family. Along the way, she reported via emails
to her community and patients that she was very tired and had lost her hair, but she was handling treatment well. Part of the many adjustments for her husband and children Hamish, Lachlan and Skye, were the household logistics that would keep her safe from Covid. The boys, who were out of Auckland, couldn’t get back to be with their family anyway. It would have been a rough time for anyone. But as a working GP, rendered a patient almost overnight, MacRae started to feel that her own cancer journey had some key aspects of luck to it. For others diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, the story could be very different. Some wouldn’t be able to get the best treatment urgently – or before it was too late. She realised that she’d been fortunate to be able to access help fast and to be able to fund herself where needed. She wanted to be an advocate and she needed to start right now.
Interview
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at all, and that the waiting list to fund prioritised modern medicines, which are already recommended for funding by Pharmac’s own clinical advisory panel, is growing. The average time an approved medicine stays on the waitlist is 4.7 years. MacRae is not alone in her efforts to raise the alarm. Her thoughts aren’t news to the many bearing the consequences. She says she’s not criticising government drug-funding agency Pharmac, who she says are buying the best and safest drugs they can with a very small budget.
my life to working for, is not moving forward as fast as science produces life-saving solutions. We are being left behind and it is very frustrating to see what is happening and what’s available overseas.” Her advocacy work has been a big part of her own road to recovery and, says MacRae, has brought her many new networks and friends who are on the same journey as her and trying to fight for change. Of late, she’s been out and about much more, and was very happy to be able to make it to a Pink Ribbon breakfast in Parliament last week. British-born MacRae came here with her New Zealand husband in 2001, and has become widely known by families all over the peninsula who have entrusted her with their healthcare. But beyond the medical practice that she co-owns, she has also chaired the Comprehensive Care PHO and is still on its board. She remembers feeling fit, healthy and near bulletproof just over a year ago when she’d received her first Covid vaccination. Instead, MacRae found herself at home writing to her patients to provide a gentle version of what she was going through and how she was progressing. More recently, she’s been able to tell them that she’s expecting to be back on deck around the middle of the year. She has had a large volume of correspondence from her patients. “That has been really, really lovely. But it’s also been pretty humbling too. As a doctor, I didn’t think about how people see you or what you mean to them.” Not surprisingly, her cancer story has been a life-changer: “My experience has made me appreciate the little things in life far more. I have always valued time with my family and friends, but now I treasure it even more. It remains to be seen how it changes me as a doctor.”
May 20, 2022 “And I guess I’m lucky that I’ve been able to do that. I’ve had a purpose beyond thinking about myself.” Eight months after her diagnosis, and still receiving treatment, MacRae has spoken to media regularly, raising awareness of the grim realities of funding shortfalls and treatment options. She also took to the keyboard, wanting to heighten public awareness that drug funding in New Zealand is “abysmal”. She wrote, “I am upset about this injustice in New Zealand. All our people deserve healthcare that meets international standards, and all deserve equity of outcomes, not just the wealthy.” She sat down to talk to the Flagstaff, a little reluctant to put herself back in the public eye, but keen to continue her advocacy work. “The reality of our treatment here has been an eye-opener to me, and it’s difficult to know that other women in New Zealand aren’t getting the same chance that I have been able to get,” says MacRae. “I’m now very aware that all over the country there are people begging and borrowing and doing anything they can to fund cancer treatments. They’re in desperate situations, running garage sales, turning to GiveaLittle pages to find large amounts of money and relying on the charity of others.” Today, the GiveaLittle pages are one of the main funders for Kiwis of what is standard care overseas, MacRae says. Although she has been unable to obtain data about patients seeking their own funding in New Zealand, MacRae fears it’s a high figure. MacRae says New Zealand is “shamefully placed” for per-capita spend on modern medicines, and that many modern drugs, long available in other countries, are still sitting on the waiting lists for approval here. She says Keytruda may not get approval for use in New Zealand for many years, if
“I’m now very aware that all over the country there are people begging and borrowing and doing anything they can to fund cancer treatments.” “The problem is a political one.” She dryly points out that her own letters to senior politicians have gone unanswered. Successive governments have underfunded cancer treatments as the country has slipped down to 20th in OECD rankings. On the campaign trail, Labour promised access to new cancer medicines, but has so far failed to deliver, MacRae says. “Our health system, which I have devoted
Shop online - www.mikkoshoes.nz
MILFORD
121 Kitchener Road
09 972 2354
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 16
May 20, 2022
Letters
Maunga Authority should take care and consult more
Bodyline with Guy Body
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority was taken to court in a private action over its cutting down of exotic trees and other actions. There seemed to be no public consultation before this happened. The court decision highlights the importance and interest these treasured maunga have to the people who inhabit the local environment. In an urban area, they are places of sanctuary. When one has the power to drastically alter things, this should be done with care. Instead of challenging the decision, the authority would be better to consult more. The time and finance could be better used. Alec Hill "LOVE YOUR CLOTHES LONGER"
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Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 17
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 18
May 20, 2022
Devonport 09 445 2010
Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club
TO BE UPDATED
May 20, 2022
Devonport 09 445 2010
Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club
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May 20, 2022
Devonport 09 445 2010
Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club
NEW LISTING
Devonport 11 Vauxhall Road COSY & CHARMING COTTAGE Brimming with history in a prime location, totally renovated and it's completely freehold. This beautiful home has never been so move-in ready! Three double bedrooms, plus a single that could be a nursery, guest room, home office or playroom. How versatile! Our vendor's family have sadly outgrown this residence for all the right reasons and are very motivated to sell! Call me today!
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May 20, 2022
Devonport 09 445 2010
Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 21
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May 20, 2022
Dinner’s on Poppy after bunny-hunt success Six-year-old Poppy Boyd will be shouting her family dinner at Signal Hill restaurant, after winning an Easter competition organised by the Devonport Business Association. Poppy was one of the prizewinners in Devonport’s Easter Rabbit Hunt, in which entrants had to spot the bunnies in the windows of 12 local businesses. She won a $250 voucher to Signal Hill restaurant, along with a soft-toy bunny from the Easter Pop-up Shop on Victoria Rd. Local cousins Greer Swan-Ingham (9) and Hazel Hewitt (2) won prize packages that included winter tights from Yarntons and vouchers from Buona Sera restaurant and BookMark Secondhand Books. Other businesses that supported the Easter Rabbit Hunt included Bikes & Beyond, the Hospice Shop, Devonport Chocolates, Devonport Flowers, Echo Designer Boutique, Firefly, Cafe Hung Viet, Paradox Books, Aotearoa.co.nz, and Vondel. In a Mother’s Day giveaway offering prizes worth more than $1500, Sasha Gillies, Emily Dickson and Ramari Katene-Rei won pamper packs. “We’re very grateful for the support of our local businesses for both competitions,” Devonport Business Association’s Katherine Downs said. “The Easter competition drove scores of people to Victoria Rd as they hunted for the bunnies in the windows, while Mother’s Day encouraged great community connectedness and gratitude as friends and families called out the special mum figures in their lives.” The next Devonport Business Association event is the Pūanga Matariki Celebrations festival on 25 June.
Easter winners... Poppy Boyd (right) won a $250 Signal Hill voucher in the Devonport Business Association’s Easter Rabbit Hunt. Two year-old Hazel Hewitt (above, with four-year-old sister Isabella) won another of the prize packages.
Torpedo Bay Café Great food, sea view! On site playground Kids menu Ice cream & yummy coffee Navy Museum - free admission
Opening Hours Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm Weekends 8am - 5pm Bookings 09 445 4670 64 King Edward Parade, Devonport
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 23
May 20, 2022
Milford Shops The birds are chirping, and the sun is shining! Milford town will keep you smiling! Feel like your hair needs a cut or a bit
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of styling? Sharing Shed's friendly and seriously talented team welcomes everyone to walk in without an appointment! How about a bite? Bakers Delight's freshly baked croissants and danishes might be what you need! If you're extra hungry, head over to The Carvery where you can enjoy a toasty roast meal that'll melt in your mouth! Tummy full? Stop by Moochi and browse their luxurious women's clothing, jewellery and accessories, all designed in New Zealand. Bloom Hearing Specialists are open right here in Milford if you are looking at getting hearing aids for yourself or a loved one. Before you leave Milford, don't forget to stop by Well Hung to get you and your family one of their delicious Gourmet Meat Bags! Want to learn more about the fantastic shops in Milford? Scan the QR code to download our app or sign up to our newsletter at the footer of our website, so you never miss out on all things happening/business in Milford! 1. The Carvery - Roast meal 2. Moochi - Session skirt Black 3. Bakers Delight - Fresh bakery 4. Bloom - Hearing Aids 5. Well Hung - Gourmet meat bags 6. Sharing Shed - Haircut service for all ages.
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By Rob Drent
The Flagstaff Notes of the Waitemata Golf Course, due to the government’s housing-enabling law passed last December. It allows three, three-storey town houses per site Now, the picture seems to have changed again, with the government signalling it wants a $5-billion rail tunnel under theWaitemata Harbour a decade before any further road link. Rail or light rail to the Shore seems more than a twinkle in the eye of North Shore Councillor Chris Darby, who has advocated and lobbied for that for decades. Surely this has implications for Lake Rd? I have a copy of a 1904 plan that shows a tramline running around Lake Pupuke through Milford and Takapuna down to Devonport with a spur to the Bayswater ferry terminal. Ten years ago, buying a new petrol car may have been a good option. Now that lump sum would possibly be better put towards an electric vehicle. Likewise, would the $51 million earmarked for Lake Rd be better invested in a future-proofed solution, including trams or their equivalent connecting Devonport to rail links? Is it time for forward-looking improvements that will actually provide better transport options in the decades ahead, rather than tinkering around with what we have – a congested arterial road?
Millions have been spent on plans, consultations, consultants’ reports and business-case studies for the planned upgrade to Lake Rd. It took decades to secure $51 million for the project. It’s moving through the corridors of city hall, but with no set start date. Get-things-moving protagonists like Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Aidan Bennett are keen to see the money spent. And to some degree he is right – the project has spent far too long on the drawing board. And that is the nub of the problem. While kinks needed to be ironed out and the public consulted, by the time a project like Lake Rd comes to fruition it is way out of date. The sands are shifting on the Devonport Peninsula as quickly as the ink dries on engineers’ plans for the carriageway. Approvals for multi-unit developments are proceeding at a rapid rate, which will see a huge growth in population and car movements on Lake Rd. I spent a few enjoyable hours this month goAnd this is only set to accelerate, with the ing through old Flagstaff file photos, sourcing increased intensity about to mushroom north some pics for the North Shore Rugby Club’s
May 20, 2022 150-year anniversary book, due for publication next year. It’s interesting comparing the size of today’s players with those of 25 years ago. The 2022 vintage must be 5-10 kg heavier per player. Many of the current squad’s backs would not have been out of place in the forwards earlier this century. In addition to strength and power, today’s senior footballers are likely to be more rugby-fit as well. It makes it hard to compare players and teams from generation to generation. It’s good to see Luke Hamilton, who must be in his late 30s, still turning out every week playing senior footy. He’s the regular halfback for the North Shore senior reserves and has spent time on the bench for the premiers this season. Hamilton was the star player in Shore’s triumph over Takapuna in last season’s North Harbour championship grand final. Will he become the Pride’s secret weapon again this year? With Takapuna and Shore top of the North Harbour competition, the local derby between the two rugby sides on 28 May at Vauxhall is sure to be a cracker. Shore has been drawing good crowds to its home games and the top teams in North Harbour have been playing quality football. More than 1000 people would be expected at this match.
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 25
May 20, 2022
Local jobs for people living on the Shore Live local. Work local. ShoreJobs.co.nz
Join our Team In Devonport Are you a passionate about beautiful clothes? We are looking for someone to join our retail team in our lovely Devonport Store Wed-Thurs Fri 9.30-5.00 Sat 10-4 Excellent customer Care Experienced Retail Background Please apply within the store or email janeanne@sillsandco.com
Community Events Manager/ Kaiwhakahaere Hapori Devonport Peninsula Trust, an independent Charitable Trust, is seeking a Community Events Manager/ Kaiwhakahaere Hapori. This permanent part time role will manage, deliver, and report on the Trust’s Events and Activities. We are looking for a warm, confident person who has a natural flair for engaging with and building relationships with a diverse range of people on the Devonport Peninsula. An ability to work effectively with the Peninsula’s whãnau and hapori whãnui (families and wider community) would be an advantage; but most importantly, an enjoyment of working with people, and a respect for their views. For a full job description and/or to submit a job application please email: nigelbioletti@ devonportpeninsulatrust.nz, General and Fundraising Manager or call 027 4456211. Applicants will be asked to supply three referees including at least one employer or manager. Applications close June 3
Experienced relievers for Belmont and Takapuna We are looking to add to our pool of relievers to utilise when our early learning teachers are sick, on annual leave or attending professional development. The right person might be someone unqualified who has worked in NZ with children in a group setting, someone in training or someone qualified and registered. Someone who has worked with all age groups, preschooler’s, infants and toddlers. It is important to us to have someone who aligns to our values and philosophy when working alongside our tamarikisomeone flexible, kind, and willing to learn how we do things in our Space. We are passionate about what we do and love sharing our way of being with like-minded people. Email your interest to yvonne.groot@thelearningspace.co.nz or phone for chat 027 487 9116.
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May 20, 2022
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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 27
Have you found your best home yet? What do you reckon is your best home so far? No, not the best sale you’ve ever made or the happiest customers you’ve ever had. What about the office and the brand that works best for you? An office where people genuinely get on with each other, support one another and like hanging out together. An agency where the Principal has heaps of experience, is honestly always accessible, and genuinely loves helping you grow your business. A place where your ‘team brand’ is supported and enhanced by the overall brand, not suffocated by it. A place, in fact, where the level of support you get is almost certainly beyond anything you’ve experienced so far. We’re talking totally full admin support that includes a top notch, in-house graphic designer and marketing manager who provides you with complimentary in-house production of all your personal and property marketing material.
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(Although to be honest, wherever you’re based, we can help you succeed.) If you like the sound of what we’re talking about, maybe we should have a confidential chat. Because if you have the experience, we have the experience you’re looking for. The best way to find out is to call Matthew Smith on 021 924 435 or email him at matthew.smith@raywhite.com.
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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 28
May 20, 2022
20 years ago from the Flagstaff files • A Devonport family escapes injury after half a dozen shots are fired at a Cambridge Tce house. • Devonport firefighter Allen Bestwick receives a Gold Star Award for 25 years of service as a volunteer firefighter. • Bayswater School names its new hall after old boy and foundation pupil Sir Peter Blake, who was killed by pirates in the Amazon six months earlier. • Former New Zealand reps Gary Cunningham (rugby) and Danny Morrison (cricket) speak to students at Takapuna Grammar School. • The Navy aims to put forward a plan to redevelop its housing on the Devonport peninsula. • Devonport Business Association members
attend an expo to promote the town to the world’s leading tourism companies. • Devonport B & B Villa Cambria is to be leased out as an upmarket retreat for alcoholics. • McHugh’s restaurant on Cheltenham Beach withdraws plans to open a cafe, following opposition from neighbours. • Long-time cycling advocate Linda Blincko has her bike stolen from outside The Depot. • Pyrenees, a French charcuterie, opens in Cheltenham. • Torpedo Bay residents debate legal action to curtail the new wharf at the bay from being used for commercial ventures. • Research reveals that limited early Maori occupation of Maungauika, with abandoned pa found at the time of European
arrival in Devonport, was due to the difficulty of defending the site. • A commercial shop building on Victoria Rd is on the market for $350,000. • A three-bedroom bungalow in Narrow Neck is on the market for $349,000. • Vauxhall aims to become a zero-waste school. • Poet Sonja Yelich has 20 poems in a New Poets anthology published by Auckland University Press. She gives readings at The Depot Artspace. • A girls team is launched at the North Shore Albions Rugby League Club at Bayswater. • Star flanker Craig Newby returns to add steel to the North Shore rugby side. • The Flagstaff interview subject is musician Rikki Morris.
Waste plan rubbished by residents A plan for a targeted rate for Auckland’s waste collection has been criticised by North Shore residents and opposed by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. The proposed system, set to come in under Auckland Council’s 2022-23 budget, will bring in an annual charge for a weekly rubbish collection. Currently, the North Shore has a pay-asyou-throw (PAYT) method in place – where a user is only charged per pick-up, be that weekly, monthly or less often. A cheaper, private bag-collection service run by EnviroWaste is also an option. A meeting of the local board last week heard 56 per cent of public submitters from the board area opposed a region-wide, rates-funded refuse collection. Members also voiced their support for remaining with the PAYT system. George Wood said rubbish-collection costs would be far greater with the rates system, but he was not
optimistic that PAYT would remain in place. Member Jan O’Connor said when PAYT was first introduced in 1992, the rubbish sent to landfill dropped significantly. “Some of us only put our bins out once a month. So why are we intending to pay $150 a year [in targeted rate] to support people who can’t cut their rubbish down?” Prior to the meeting, local-board chair Ruth Jackson said the board had already unanimously given its support for the status quo, with many local residents reducing their waste and, subsequently, the amount of times they put their bin out. “A lot of people in our area have very successfully managed their waste and they don’t want to have to pay $150 a year, or whatever it is, through their rates, for a service that they don’t often use. “On the North Shore, one of the problems with the wheelie bin service is a lot of people are choosing to use the yellow bags because they’re cheaper.
“Why can’t a huge organisation like council be [price] competitive?” At Countdown Takapuna, the yellow rubbish bags are $2.50 each, or 5 cents cheaper in a pack of five. A council tag for an 80-litre bin pick-up is $2.85. The tag for a 120-litre bin is $4.25 and for a 240-litre bin, $6.15. Across Auckland, more submitters were in favour of the rates-funded approach than against it. Most of the region is not currently on the PAYT system. A revised budget will now be presented to Auckland Council, taking into account the public feedback. The local board submitted its opposition to the rates system, but it has no decision-making power. A decision will ultimately be made by the Auckland Council Governing Body prior to 1 July, when the new budget comes into force.
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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 29
May 20, 2022
Takapuna SCHOOL NEWS
Grammar MAY 20, 2022
Past and Present Students Recognised at AIMES Awards
The school would like to congratulate the following 2021/22 AIMES award winners, who are either past or present students from Takapuna Grammar School, excelling in their chosen fields of work and study. AIMES Judges Special Award David Paligora (22) - Musician David received the Judges Special Award and a cash grant of $5,000 towards buying his own bass trombone.
David Paligora
AIMES Emerging Talent Awards Oliver Cain (25) – The Arts, Artist Lauren Towns (18) – Music, Singer-Opera Joshua Kirk (23) – Music, Conductor Janayah Wadsworth (16) – Music, Singer-Pop Alice Jones (17) – Music, Singer-Folk
Maggie Squire off to the World Diving Champs Year 12 student Maggie Squire recently competed in the North Island Diving Championships, winning four gold medals in the Senior Open events. Maggie has officially been selected to attend the FINA World Diving Championships in Budapest (Hungary) in July and a FINA Grand Prix Diving event in Bolzano (Italy), along with a training camp in Edinburgh (Scotland).
Liam Vogel Wins Three NZ Titles at Swimming Nationals
Year 10 student Liam Vogel competed in 12 events at the New Zealand National Age Group Swimming Championships held in Wellington. Liam won two national titles in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke, and three silver medals in the 200m backstroke, 4 x 100m U15 relay and U15 medley relay. He also broke the 50m backstroke Auckland record. The old record was 27.99s and Liam swam it in 27.94s.
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 30
May 20, 2022
Woman charged after alleged arson on Queens Pde
Alleged arson… police attend the call-out to the blue house at the left of the picture Police, fire-service and ambulance staff converged on Queens Pde earlier this month after an alleged arson in a large house divided into flats.
Cyclist injured in collision A cyclist received moderate injuries in a collision with a car in Belmont. The accident occured at the intersection of Roberts Ave and Lake Rd, just before 4pm on 4 May, police said. The cyclist was treated at the scene by St John Ambulance staff.
The incident occurred around 1 pm on 3 May at 15 Queens Pde. A 45-year-old woman has been charged in relation to wilfully setting fire to a property.
She is next due to appear in the North Shore District Court on 19 May, police said. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
Shore up against it in premier soccer North Shore United’s premier football side has a tough match against second-placed Melville in the Northern League this Saturday, as it struggles to save its season. Shore currently sits 11th out of the 12 teams on the table, after losing 4-2 to Auckland United last weekend. Shore has won one and drawn one of its
nine games so far this season, while Melville has won six and lost three. Melville has won four out of its last five matches, while Shore has drawn one and lost four. • North Shore United plays Melville at Allen Hill Stadium, 21 May, 3pm.
RESTORING TAKARUNGA HAURAKI UPCOMING EVENTS
Rongoa- Healing Medicines Ra-ranga Harakeke Sundays May 22, 29, Weaving, Bayswater, 10am - 1pm Saturday 28 May, 10am - 3pm Ecological Plan Launch
and Hikoi, Jutland Reserve Tree Planting Saturday 21 May, Seabreeze Road channel 1-2:30pm Sunday 29 May, 10 am - 12 pm Tree Planting, Jutland Reserve, Saturday 21 May, 3 - 4:30pm
Navy volunteers OSCS Chloe O’Neill (left) and OMT Chloe Tearikimana (right) removed this large moth plant weed. Two large Navy teams worked for two days removing pest plants along Ngau-te-ringaringa Bay. Many thanks to all who contributed!
Also regular volunteer weeding and planting events Wednesday 4pm and Fridays 9am To register or for more details: lance@rth.org.nz or visit us on Facebook or www.rth.org.nz Look for more details of these and other events soon.
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 31
May 20, 2022
Fondly remembered... The nursing work of obstetrics matron Eliza (Elvie) Cargo (above left) was honoured with the unveiling of a plaque at North Shore Hospital, attended by her grandson Steven Bell and former colleagues, including June Orrell (left) and Brenda Vujcich
Plaque honouring first matron restored and moved A World War II nurse who was in charge of the Devonport Obstetric Hospital for seven years, was remembered last month after a dedication plaque honouring her was rediscovered. The late Eliza Cargo’s service to nursing was recognised when the plaque was unveiled in a new location at North Shore Hospital last month. Cargo, who was known as Elvie, completed her nursing training at Auckland Hospital around 1937. She served with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service in Italy, Egypt and New Caledonia during World War II and with J Force in Japan after the war. After her military service, she ran the Devonport Obstetric Hospital, known locally as Pentlands maternity hospital, until becoming matron of the new North Shore Obstetric
Hospital when it opened in 1958. She held that role until 1964, overseeing many young nurses in the process. Brenda Vujcich was among them. “She influenced us greatly in our early training and was a very efficient and gracious sister who we all admired,” she said. “I remember her so well because she had a big influence on us. “She was very very lovely with us.” The hospital at that time had a grand total of 44 beds, including six casualty beds, with more complex cases sent to Greenhithe. This was before the Auckland Harbour Bridge opened. The original block Cargo worked in at North Shore was demolished last year to make way for construction of Tōtara Haumaru – a new four-storey building due to open in 2023. Cargo’s plaque was first put up almost 60
years ago, but appeared to be grown over by vegetation until it was rediscovered during demolition work as part of the hospital upgrade. It now sits in the public garden outside the Whenua Pupuke Building. Cargo’s grandson, Steven Bell, and two former colleagues, June Orrell and Vujcich, were on hand for the ceremony. “I think [it's] really awesome that the contractor who discovered it thought to care for it,” Bell said, after unveiling the plaque. He said the best part about it was that the plaque had been produced by her colleagues. “It wasn’t put up by a political decision. It was put up because of the level of respect held for her by her colleagues.” Late in life, Cargo lived in Howick, where she died in 1976.
Public Meeting – Revitalising the Hauraki Gulf Hosted by Simon Watts – MP for North Shore Tuesday 24 May 2022, 7pm – 8:30pm Wakatere Boating Club, Narrow Neck Beach Hear from: • Alex Rogers Hauraki Gulf Forum
• Dr Peter Longdill Sanford
• Dr Andrew Jeffs University of Auckland
• Sam Woolford LegaSea
• Moana Tamaariki-Pohe MNZM Te Puni Kōkiri RSVP at simonwatts.national.org.nz/events 09 486 0005 • northshore@parliament.govt.nz • Authorised by Simon Watts, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
simonwattsmp
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 32
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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 33
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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 34
RECOVER YOUR
LOUNGE SUITE
May 20, 2022
Devonport RSA Poppy Day Appeal
Maria Teape Community Coordinator 445 9533 | maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
PEDAL TO THE PUMP TRACK
Sunday 22 May, 10:15am–1:00pm, Cycle convoys departing Windsor Reserve & Lake Town Green at 10:30, event at the Pump Track, Woodall Park, Narrow Neck, 11am-1pm Dress up your bike and yourself (autumn theme), bring a picnic and join one of two bike convoys for a relaxed whãnau bike ride to Woodall Park for an introduction to the new pump track and some whãnau fun! Including spot prizes, have-a-go on the pump track, preschool play zone, whãnau games, sausage sizzle, bike info and service stalls. For more information find us on Facebook or Instagram: @devonportpeninsulatrust or visit our website: www. devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
PŪANGA-MATARIKI ON THE PENINSULA
Various times, now until August More info at: www.rth.org.nz Our community has a great variety of accessible activities planned to celebrate Pu-anga-Matariki, happening during May, June, July and August. Learn about te ao Mãori, mãtauranga Mãori and tikanga Mãori (Mãori world view, knowledge and customs) through wãnanga/workshops, kõrero/talks, fun activities and festivities. Visit: www.rth.org.nz for details on events, times and locations.
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With special thanks to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board for funding the Devonport Peninsula Trust.
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Anzac Day
While Anzac Day was not the normal parade through the streets of Devonport, the day was celebrated by the local community. A small service was held at the Anzac Memorial and an indoor service at the Devonport RSA was live-streamed and watched by over 1200 people.
LOCAL DEVONPORT BUILDER
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Every Tuesday starting 7th June – 25th October, 9:30am – 11:30am Bayswater School Hall, Roberts Ave, Bayswater Tamariki time to play with big toys, be active and make new friends. Every Tuesday morning, including the school holidays. These free, casual attendance sessions are the perfect way to keep little ones active and socialised during the colder, wetter months. Caregiver supervision is required. For more information visit: www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
Thank you to all the RSA members, local businesses, community volunteers, Royal New Zealand Navy, Takapuna Grammar and Belmont Intermediate Schools and local-board members who volunteered to support Devonport RSA Poppy Day appeal. It was much appreciated, with $27,000 raised over the three days of collection.
15 yeaRs expeRience royaldesign.gk@gmail.com www.royaldesign.nz Gabrielle 021 050 4961
Members of the public and Devonport Scouts and Sea Scouts lay wreaths on Anzac Day.
Join the Devonport RSA
Have you thought of joining the Devonport RSA? Membership is open to citizens and residents of New Zealand and member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. Types of Membership: Returned, service, associate and youth membership are available. Full description of each category is available on the Devonport RSA website. The RSA provides an opportunity to be involved in a voluntary organisation that organises and plans commemorative activities such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Purple Poppy Day, and other community events. The club also provides welfare support services to veterans, military personnel, police and dependants. You don’t always need to reach for your wallet to donate to the RSA, your time is just as valuable. If you want to volunteer to help with supporting our veterans, contact the support advisor Gail Kennett on 021 446-011. We hold a lunch with housie and raffles every second Monday. Club nights are held the first Thursday of each month. Joining forms and information on the RSA history, events, hall hire and news are available on the RSA website (www.devonportrsa.co.nz) or by contacting the manager. RNZN personnel (Brodys and Sonic) enjoy a game of chess on club night.
Devonport RSA
PO Box 32-187, Devonport 0744 Phone 445 8938 devonportrsa@xtra.co.nz
Classifieds
May 20, 2022
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 35
ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
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TUITION
Central Devonport – Self-contained, private 1 large dble bdrm apartment, own entrance, fully furn & equipped in shared family home, suit single person or couple, handy for all amenities, incl. bus, ferry, shops. Short term rental available from 4 to 26 weeks by mutual agreement Contact Joan 446 6640 or balgray@xtra.co.nz
Room in Devonport available for a female tenant. Close to beaches and public transport. Amenities, power, broadband included. $300p/w. Call Fay 022-684-2620 or 445-3256.
New Footcare service in Devonport from Wednesday 27th April, then every Wednesday. Qualified Footcarer BHSc. (NZ) Venue : Devonport 7 Day Pharmacy near New World For bookings please phone 027 245 5191.
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THE NAVY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER BRINGING THE FEMININE TOUCH
HMNZS Canterbury’s newest Commanding Officer says she brings a ‘feminine touch’ and old-fashioned Navy standards to her role. Commander Bronwyn Heslop took command of Canterbury on 8 April at Devonport Naval Base. She was one of the first women to join the Navy as a midshipman in 1990 and the first female officer in charge of a vessel in 1998. Her career includes specialisations in navigation, hydrography and meteorology, in between growing a family with her husband, also an officer in the Navy. She had been determined to join the Navy. “I was a stubborn person. I remember being rung by the recruiter when I was at Rotorua Girls High, and being told if I was a man, I’d be in immediately. I waited six months, then the Navy started taking female officers in support ships.” In her long career she has been Executive Officer (second in command) twice in HMNZS Endeavour and the
Commander of the Maritime Operations Evaluation Team, charged with ensuring ships and crews are rigorously ‘worked up’ to the required standards. “Canterbury is the pinnacle of seamanship,” she says. “It’s the perfect platform and I love how she is the only
true ‘joint’ ship. She pulls air force and army in with Navy to make a whole force for good. The ship already runs very well, she’s a very happy ship. It’s not about changing anything. I’m just bringing those old-fashioned Navy standards but delivered with a feminine touch.”
Devonport Naval Base security reminder – for the safety of the community please take care and remain outside the 60-metre perimeter of the Naval Base at all times. This includes when swimming, diving, kayaking, fishing and sailing.
Congratulations? Thanks? Problems? Complaints?
DEVONPORT NAVAL BASE TEL 445 5002
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 36
May 20, 2022
Protect yourself and your whānau this winter With Aotearoa’s borders re-open, there’s a much bigger chance of catching the flu this winter. Getting a flu jab is your best defence and it’s FREE if you’re: • Aged 65 and over • Māori or Pasifika aged 55 and over • Pregnant Talk to your doctor or local pharmacy 0800 611 116 | health.govt.nz/flu
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 37
May 20, 2022
Board wants council money for Bayswater ferry facilities Ferry facilities at Bayswater Marina should be an Auckland Council priority says the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. Asked along with other local boards to advocate for important projects for consideration in the 2022-23 budget, Devonport-Takapuna sought urgent action on investigating and funding new ferry facilities at the marina. The lease on current facilities expires in 2031. Board chair Ruth Jackson said the landowner had indicated in its application to develop the area that it did not intend to renew the ferry facilities agreement. She said losing the public transport node would be devastating. However, this statement was removed from the board’s submission to council after other members raised concerns. “I’m not interested in... creating tension between us and the property owner there,” member Toni van Tonder said. The board added that with intensification would come increased demand for the Bayswater ferry. Auckland Council’s governing body will decide by the end of June what is included in the final budget.
Hold on: no new toilets soon Gaps exist in the provision of public toilets on the Devonport peninsula, but any new facilities could be a long way off, a Devonport-Takapuna Local Board workshop was told. Auckland Council parks and places specialist John McKellar said the Devonport peninsula (from Hauraki south) had three main gaps without convenient public toilets: Lake Rd from Belmont to Mt Victoria; Stanley Bay to central Devonport; and around Eversleigh Rd. To provide better service, future toilets could be installed at Northboro Reserve, Kings Store Reserve, Ngataringa Park and Melrose Reserve. Upgrading an existing facility at the Claystore was an alternative to a new toilet at Ngataringa Park. A total of 19 of the 29 publicly owned
toilets in the local board area were considered in ‘good’ condition while the remaining 10 needed upgrading, McKeller’s review found. Seven of the ten toilets that need work are at the southern end of the peninsula. Facilities at the Belmont shops, Hauraki shops, Maungauika (which is governed by of the Maunga Authority), Devonport Domain and the end of Hauraki Rd are classed as ‘average’. The toilet at the Claystore on Lake Rd is classed as ‘poor’, but has the potential to be improved to serve a larger area. The Bath St Reserve toilet is also classed as poor, due to an accessibility barrier posed by a step. Feedback from the board, who had asked for an assessment of the toilets, will be added into a final report, which will be used to set priorities for future work programmes.
Extra funding sought for Belmont upgrade An enhanced Belmont centre option should be paid for by Auckland Council as part of the Lake Rd upgrade, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board says. At a meeting to provide feedback on the council’s draft 2022-23 budget, the board asked for extra funding not included in the current upgrade. The current option will see widened
footpaths and public spaces, safer cycling pathways and shorter crossing distances for pedestrians. The enhanced version would include removing a slip road to create more space for pedestrians, relocating a bus stop, and an extra crossing at the School Rd junction with Lake Rd. Auckland Council’s governing body will finalise the budget in June.
Devonport dancer lands Aimes Supreme Award A Devonport dancer was the supreme winner at the annual Aimes awards earlier this month. The awards and cash grants are given by the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust to recipients aged 25 and under, for excellence in art, innovation, music, education, sport and community service. Devonport resident Zoe White won the Arts Award as well as the Supreme title, receiving a total grant of $30,000. She also received a $7,500 grant in 2017, which allowed her to attend the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London. Her latest grant helped cover the cost of a pre-professional year with the Sydney Dance Company, following which White is back in New Zealand, teaching ballet and contemporary dance and reconnecting with family and the local dance scene. It’s also time to process what she’s learned. “I’ve had a crazy few years of training and have all this information coursing through me,” she said. White, 21, has a secondment lined up with the New Zealand Dance Company and is hoping to also get one at the Sydney
Dance Company. Next year, she wants to head back to Europe – especially Germany. Berlin is a hub for dance festivals and freelance dancers, she said. “I want to be immersing myself as much in the arts over there as I can.” White is also discovering the link between art and psychology and mental health. “I think I can see myself being some sort of educator further on.” Other Aimes winners included musician David Paligora, 22, who received the Judges’ Special Award and a cash grant of $5000, enabling him to buy his own trombone. While attending Takapuna Grammar School, Paligora received the prize for outstanding contribution to musical ensembles and another for best woodwind/brass player. He has played in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and won national competitions. Along with buying his own instrument, he will use the grant to take the first steps towards a career as an orchestral musician. He plans to audition in Europe for a place at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music.
Dancing away... Supreme Aimes award winner Zoe White is eyeing a return to Europe
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 38
Arts / Entertainment
MAY 20, 2022
Instant instruments used in Depot show
WHAT’S ON @
Maria Teape Community Coordinator
Devonport Library 445 9533 | maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz
Kia ora tatou,
Even though it is Mid-May (at the time of writing) we are having the most glorious of days; crisp, clear days, blue unfettered skies… Whatever the weather, we welcome all people into Devonport Library. Come into the warm and relax in our many comfy spaces. Enjoy the view into the harbour or sit back and gaze into the flames from our two fireplaces. We have the daily newspaper and magazines upstairs to browse through as you do. And we have our own Devonport Writers’ Collection discernibly curated for your pleasure and interest, with works by writers who have written while in Devonport, or are our own local authors. For parents of preschoolers, each week there is the online Rhymetime. These are delivered by some of our North Shore Childrens’ Librarians, rostered, so you meet a different one each time without even having to leave your house. These are ‘live’ and happen every Wednesday. Check out our Facebook page for further details. By the time this has gone to print we will have trialled a ‘pop-up’ Storytime on Monday 16th and our Adult Book Club on Wednesday 18th May. If you are interested, they both start at 10am. Masks will be required. Ask our friendly staff if you want to know more. Hopefully this is a sign of more things to come as we are able to introduce more of our regular programming you all enjoyed and supported in times past. And talking of times past, the Devonport Library building celebrated its 7th Birthday. No longer the ‘newbie’ on the block, now. Have a walk down memory lane, to remember the library in some of its various forms.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
Lynda Betts Experience does make a difference
Ph 021 278 3024 / 09 487 0711 E: lynda.betts@bayleys.co.nz LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
History was made at the Depot Artspace with a New Zealand-first public performance using all 3D-printed musical instruments . The gallery resounded last Friday night to the music produced by special-guest musicians playing 3D guitars and drums created at the University of Auckland’s Creative Design and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory. The printed instruments will be on display, and to play, until 28 May, along with a 3D printer. Visiting primary school groups will get the added chance of a look inside the Depot’s sound studios. Depot Artspace’s creative-careers and employment manager Siemone Rawson told the Flagstaff ahead of the performance that although the 3D versions were a bit lighter than normal instruments, their sound quality
was superb. Having them available during New Zealand Music Month and for Techweek (16-22 May) was a boon for the Depot. The show, Synthesis, was a great opportunity for North Shore locals to experience how design, art and music were converging through technology. Professor Olaf Diegel, who leads the university’s additive-manufacturing (AM) laboratory, was at the performance. His small team has printed more than 90 instruments, although a few are not playable. For instance, a keyboard on display at the Depot is a casing rather than a complete instrument. The laboratory’s work focuses on showing that AM can become a high-value manufacturing method rather than being used primarily for prototyping.
BOOK
sporty.co.nz/dsc
ONLINE
69 Wairoa Road, Devonport
Come and play the
‘World’s Healthiest Sport’* at Auckland’s friendliest club FOR FREE!!
Devonport Squash Club (69 Wairoa Rd) holds an open ‘Club Night’ every Thursday from 7pm. Sessions open to all. Newbies/non members of all levels welcome. Rackets and balls provided. Lounge open for refreshments throughout the evening. Come down, have a go and meet some new people. Or get back into the great sport of squash – the perfect indoor all-weather game. Can’t make Club Night, or just want to get on court and have a hit with a friend? Devonport Squash offers causal court hire via ‘Pay2Play’ on our website. Book and pay online. No need to be a member – book a court at any time – $15 per hour. Secure facility, plenty of parking. Loan rackets and balls always available.
In addition to squash there’s plenty going on at the club. • Great gym. • Trainers/Pilates. • Judo & BJJ/ • On-site physio and sports massage PLUS excellent free options around the club: the tennis/ basketball courts and new public bike pump track.
Call Dave 021 331 971 for any enquiries/info *as rated by Forbes Magazine
Support your paper for the price of a cup of coffee. Go to devonportflagstaff.co.nz and click on ‘Become a supporter’ at the top of the page.
MAY 20, 2022
Arts / Entertainment
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 39
Tale of two couples might resonate locally Two Devonport women about to face off in the latest Company Theatre production don’t have to try too hard to imagine aspects of the black comedy unfolding for real in their own neighbourhood. Marissa Willson and Rebecca Wright are relishing the chance to take leading roles in God of Carnage which opens at the Rose Theatre this weekend. Both are rekindling a love of acting from decades ago, in what is an award-winning play with a relatable story arc. They play the mothers of two 11-year-olds who get into a playground fight, leaving one boy with broken teeth. Along with their husbands, the women meet the next evening for a “civil” conversation about how to settle the matter. But alcohol, ego, strong opinions and suppressed relationship issues soon hold sway. The play, by French writer Yasmina Reza, has won both a Tony and a Laurence Olivier award since its premiere in English in 2008. It appealed to both Willson and Wright, who each have two children of similar age to the boys discussed on stage. “There’s not many roles for women in their 40s,” notes Wright, 48, who was just happy to get a callback after steeling herself to audition. She hadn’t acted since university days. “I just sort of felt there was that time and space in my life and with my kids getting a bit older. It’s right out of my comfort zone but in a good way.” It is a first major role for Willson, although she has previously helped backstage at Company Theatre. She loved acting as a schoolgirl in the UK, but it was only after adult acting classes in Auckland that she began trying for parts around three years ago “for a bit of fun”. “I’m 50 now, so it’s nice to have this new lease of life,” she says. Both women believe the play is one that will strike a chord with many people. Willson tentatively admits she has drawn on an amalgam of people for her portrayal of Veronica, who begins the play just wanting the other couple to get their son to apologise, but becomes angry as the evening evolves, partly at her own husband’s offhand attitude. “I think a lot of people can relate to that in a relationship, when they’re inclined to sort things out and their partner is blasé,” she says. Wright, in playing Annette, saddled with an aggressive corporate husband, also starts out in a conciliatory mood but after a few drinks starts speaking out. “It definitely makes you think about how you would react,” says Wright. “If someone accused my child, I’d stand up for my child, put my point of view.” Their husbands are played by local Dion Hunt and Oliver Roberts, actors with more extensive recent experience. However, the ensemble quickly gelled under the direction of Bayswater’s Kate Birch. Wright and Willson say while it has been nerve-wracking and hard work, the Company
Close to home... Marrissa Willson (left) and Rebecca Wright play mothers of 11-year-olds in Company Theatre’s God of Carnage Theatre team has made them welcome and eager to do more acting. Each has lived in Devonport for more than 10 years. Wright, who has worked in television production, has been juggling a house sale along with rehearsals. Willson was a chartered surveyor, but is retraining in HR. “You can keep growing and changing,” she says.
Acting is part of that for her. She is eager for her ”quite proud” daughters, 13 and 10, to see her get up on the stage. Wright says her 10-year-old son is “super proud” although her 12-year-old daughter is more worried people will spot her mother on a poster near her school. • God of Carnage by Company Theatre is on at the Rose Centre, Belmont, from 21 May to 4 June. See iticket.co.nz for details.
NOW SHOWING
Haute Couture (M) 101min NEW Nobody Has to Know (M) 99min NEW The Northman (R16) 137min NEW To Olivia (M) 94min NEW The Jonsson Gang (PG) 122min NEW Operation Mincemeat (M) 128min NEW Chaplin’s The Gold Rush (1942) (G) 72min Rerelease NEW Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness (M) 126min NEW Top Gun: Maverick (M) 130min Previews 25 MAY
SPECIAL EVENT
COMING SOON
The Bob’s Burgers Movie (PG13) 102min 26 MAY How to Please a Woman (TBA) 107min 26 MAY Top Gun: Maverick (M) 130min 26 MAY The Vic Open Mic Night 26 MAY Mothering Sunday (M) 105min Previews 27 MAY The Ukrainian Film Festival NZ 29 MAY
SPECIALS CHEAP TUESDAY ALL TICKETS $10
*EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
events@thevic.co.nz
We are operating under the Covid Protection Framework. For more information please visit our website.
48 Victoria Road | (09) 446 0100 | www.thevic.co.nz
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 40
May 20, 2022
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VIEW | SUN 11 - 11.45PM OR BY APPT PREMIUM.CO.NZ/80236 EOI | WED 25 MAY 2022 4PM UNLESS SOLD PRIOR LEWIS GUY 021 867 355 | 916 6000 HARRY RICHARDS 021 0814 4513 | 916 6000
TAKAPUNA | 1 EWEN STREET | THE ULTIMATE HOME & INCOME
Set on a sunny 613 sqm (approx) freehold title within walking distance of Takapuna beach, shops and cafes is this superb residence. Featuring 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (incl the one-bedroom residential unit on the second level which has separate access). This location provides the ultimate lifestyle for your family/extended family and offers the potential to generate income.
VIEW | SUN 3 - 3.30 PM OR BY APPT PREMIUM.CO.NZ/80276 EOI | THU 2 JUNE 2022 AT 4 PM UNLESS SOLD PRIOR ROBERT MILNE 022 011 24 94 | 916 6000 RICHARD MILNE 021 770 611 | 916 6000
BELMONT | 2/31 ALAMEIN AVENUE | A DELIGHTFULLY AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOME
It is not often that an opportunity like this arises in this up and coming street in such a sought after coastal area. Warm and inviting from the moment you walk in. Low maintenance, offering an open plan layout with a lovely kitchen and 3 double bedrooms. Extra large deck ideal for your bbq parties, a generous lawn for the kids to kick a ball and a double garage with loads of storage. Handy to all local amenities with excellent schools abound.
VIEW | SAT/SUN 12 - 12.30 PM OR BY APPT PREMIUM.CO.NZ/60596 PRICE | $1.375M PETER VOLLEBREGT 027 451 5188 | 445 3414
WANAKA | 20 BRIAR BANK DRIVE | “TROPHY HOME”
Perfectly placed to be elevated over the beautiful Lake Wanaka, this 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom home brings all your entertaining dreams to life. Set over two floors, an open-plan living and dining zone meets you upon entry with a sweeping vista of snow-capped mountains and the Wanaka lake. Experience the staggering beauty of the natural landscape and incredible panoramic views over the renowned Lake Wanaka region.
VIEW | PLEASE PHONE FOR VIEWING TIMES PREMIUM.CO.NZ/50004 DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY | 23 MAY 2022 AT 12 PM USP HAMISH WALKER 027 298 4123
p re m iu m.co.n z | Fin e Homes | Fin e A pa rt m e n t s | Fin e L if e s t y le s PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008 | 916 6000
