Ex-TGS students off to Commonwealth Games

Local snapper, cartoonist in awards contention

Devonport’s Brett Phibbs is a finalist for Photographer of the Year at the 2022 Voyager Media Awards. Phibbs, a previous winner, is also a finalist for best sports photography. Flagstaff cartoonist Guy Body is a finalist in the Cartoonist of the Year category, for his work in the New Zealand Herald.

Cool midwinter fun

Free soup will be the reward for those brave enough to jump into the Waitemata Harbour later this month. The Midwinter Dip is back on at Windsor Reserve, with the dash into the water at noon on 19 June. Registrations open at the reserve from 11.15am. Last year, 168 swimmers took the plunge.

Sickness hits library

Devonport Library closed its doors to the public last week, cutting back services due to staff shortages caused by Covid 19, colds and flu. Entry into the library interior was closed, but a “click and collect” option was offered from the main entrance. Staff from around the city were called in to help plug gaps. Takapuna Library continued to offer a full service. It was hoped the reduction of services at Devonport was only temporary, an Auckland Council spokesperson said.

Blues selections

Three rising North Shore Rugby Club players have been named in the Blues under-20 programme. They are front rower Sam Davies, back Cameron Howell and Ricky Michelini, included as a trainer.

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Two former Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) students, shot-putter Jacko Gill and pole-vaulter Imogen Ayris, have been named in the 18-strong New Zealand athletics team for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in late July and early August. Twenty-seven-year-old Gill, who has previously been to two Olympic Games and one Commonwealth Games, will compete alongside two-time Olympic medallist Tom Walsh.

Ayris, 21, the school’s 2018 Sportswoman of the Year, follows in the pole-vaulting footsteps of TGS’s 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney, with whom she has trained over the years.

McCartney, who has been plagued by injuries for several years, is not in the Commonwealth Games team. Ayris has been selected alongside fellow North Shore resident and training partner, Olivia McTaggart.

With a personal-best vault of 4.5m, Ayris ranks behind McTaggart, 22, who has cleared 4.65, with both well back on McCartney’s 4.94m. Both vaulters will represent New Zealand in warm-up events overseas before travelling to Birmingham.

BMW burglars return for second helping

Burglars who took jewellery and valuables from a Stanley Bay property returned two days later to steal the occupier’s BMW.

The thefts were understood to have occurred initially on 21 May and then between 9pm on 23 May and 7am on 24 May, a police spokesperson said.

“Police have conducted a scene examination and are following lines of enquiry, including a review of available CCTV footage,” the spokesperson said.

The owners of the property declined to comment when approached by the Devonport Flagstaff.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 and quote file number 220521/6387 or call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.

Public’s pix to power sea-rise project

From page 1

The monitoring programme is being established by King Tides Auckland – which already encourages Aucklanders to photograph kingtide events – in collaboration with CoastSnap, a global citizen-science project.

King Tides’ first Auckland cradle was installed at Muriwai in 2020.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board is contributing $5000 towards the $31,960 cost of the North Shore beach installation, including signage. The use of a phone cradle will control the position and angle of photographs, meaning uploaded images can be used to measure changes to the beach and movement of the shoreline.

Alhough the cradle site hasn’t yet been decided, and landowner permission will have to be negotiated, it is due to be in operation by July next year.

King Tides Auckland founder Ben Sheeran said the Muriwai project had proven popular with the public.

“It’s one part coastal science and one part public engagement around awareness-raising and highlighting the issues around sea-level rising and climate change,” he said.

Simon Watts

MP forNorth Shore

National Party Spokespersonfor LocalGovernment and Associate Finance&Associate Infrastructure

Your localMP, supporting youand our community

1Earnoch Avenue,Takapuna northshore@parliament.govt.nz 09 4860005

North Shore’s hopes of defending its North Harbour premiers rugby championship were given a major reality check last Saturday, with a 31-17 drubbing at the hands of arch-rivals Takapuna.

Takapuna’s dominance was such that it led 26-3 deep into the second half, and only two late converted tries saved some face for Shore.

It was a generally poor performance by the green and whites, until the last 15 minutes.

Missed first-up tackles and losing the ball in mauls and on Shore’s own lineout throws put the home side under all sorts of pressure.

Skills that had been strengths in the early part of the season became weaknesses.

Shore also kicked far too much ball away in the first half, into the welcoming arms of Takapuna’s lively backs.

But it was up front that Takapuna really won the match in front of a crowd of around 1000.

Its pack didn’t give an inch – from veteran lock Shane Neville, who played a full 80 minutes, to tearaway flanker Talimoni Finau – and the blue and golds out-muscled Shore across the park. It meant lots of scrappy ball for Shore first five Connor Hill, who struggled to put his usual controlling stamp on the match.

Shore forwards James Fiebig, Adam Batt and Stephen Dempsey couldn’t dominate as they had over lesser teams. Confronted with Takapuna’s swarming defence they struggled to carry the ball over the advantage line.

The side badly missed the explosive running of flanker/hooker Donald Coleman, who may be out for several weeks with a knee injury.

Takapuna – who are missing a number of experienced players to Moana Pasifika and the Blues – looked like a hungry young team on the up.

Halves Aisea Halo and Jackson Rainsford outplayed their more experienced opposites Brad McNaughten and Hill.

Down 13-3 at half-time, Shore needed to score first after the break. But Takapuna struck with a penalty and a converted try and repelled Shore attacks until the game was effectively beyond the home side’s reach.

On the evidence of this top-of-the-table clash, Takapuna is very much the team to beat this season. • In another battle between the two top sides, Shore Premier Reserves beat Takapuna 25-21 in the curtain-raiser.

Crunch time… Shore wing Reid Cooke about to be tackled by Takapuna’s Aisea Halo. Below left: Replacement Shore winger Manahi Tipoki runs in a late try; with (below, right) Shore hooker Tom Hardy making a determined burst

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Trust mainstay stepping down but sticking around

Time out... Maria Teape is taking a break before deciding what will follow her 10 years at the Devonport Peninsula Trust

Maria Teape may be leaving her job at the Devonport Peninsula Trust, but she’s glad to be staying in Devonport.

Teape is stepping down, having managed the trust’s community programme for 10 years.

Asked what she’ll miss the most, she says she’s met “amazing people” in the role.

“Because I’m not actually going away, it’s so nice that I’m still seeing people.”

Looking back, she says she’s proud of the trust developing the Halloween Trail event.

“Probably the one I enjoyed most, which is one we actually don’t do anymore, [is] the family-fun trail. It was just a lovely little event that had its day, basically.”

Teape, a home-grown Devonport local who is married to Nigel and mum to Michaela and Max, is now taking a couple of months’ ‘sabbatical’.

She has family from overseas coming to stay and will have a think about what comes next.

“We live in a really great community and the work of the trust is an important part of that equation.

“But a lot of what we do is only possible by collaborating with all our amazing community groups and organisations, so I just want to say a huge thanks to all of them.”

Softly,softly

Property sales, prices and mortgage activity all continue to soften as interestrates rise and the higher cost of living begins to bite –with moretocome! TheReserveBank seems determined to go hard early,todampen inflation expectations. But thatmay come at the cost of apotential hardlanding and even recession (twonegativeGDP-growth quarters)– only then to have to loosen the reins, and we will be back to the boom, bustcycles of the past. Forthose wanting to borrow forahome loan thereare five key requirements from the banks: 1. A20% deposit forowner-occupied and 40% forinvestment property –thereare exceptions so speak to us 2. Sufficient “sustainable” income to service the loan –think loan amount of around six times your grossincome 3. Good credit history –some arelessstrict 4. Good account conduct –some arelessstrict 5. Acceptanceofthe property security being provided It sounds easybut alot aremissing out. So speak to us first, we can invariably help!

Mortgage advice. Check with us first.

Contact Mike Simpson on 021 283 8040 or mike.simpson@mortgagesupply.co.nz or contact Richard Trounson on 027 580 1004 or richard.trounson@mortgagesupply.co.nz