21 April 2023 Devonport Flagstaff

Former Borough Council building remains unsold

The old Devonport Borough Council building is still on the market after it failed to sell last week.

It was for sale by deadline private treaty, which closed on Friday 14 April.

Auckland Council’s property arm Eke Panuku “will now work through the next part

of this commercial sales process, and further details will be released in due course,” a spokesperson said.

Panuku refused to state how many offers had been received, if any. The former council building was vacated on 9 July 2018 and has been unoccupied for 1748 days. The structure,

which needs earthquake-strengthening, was first offered to Maori interests as part of the sale, but a purchaser was not forthcoming. Community groups had wanted to take over the propetry but this proposal was rejected by Auckland Council.

Cartoonist’s take, page 7.

Will wins spectacular sailing double

Green award for Wakatere Boating Club... p4

$1.2m upgrade for Claystore planned... p2

Interview: Navy historian Michael Wynd... p16-17

Champion style… TGS student Will Mason (14) is the first young sailor to win the national Optimist and Starling championships in the same year. Story, page 5.

Major improvements recommended for

The Claystore community workshop in Devonport could be in for a $1.2 million upgrade.

Auckland Council staff have recommended topping up a budget of $983,842 by an extra $200,000, to enable more work to be done on the heritage-listed building. The extra money would ensure that as well as fixing weather-tightness, seismic and other issues, the Claystore’s mezzanine floor could be restored, providing more options for its leasing and use.

The Claystore, at 25 Lake Rd, was in poor condition when assessed in late 2019, Auckland Council staff told a Devonport-Takapuna Local Board workshop this month.

The previous board approved a refurbishment in June 2022. A more detailed site assessment has now been done, along with a concept plan by heritage architects.

Options presented to local-board members this month ranged from doing nothing, to fixing the lower level along with seismic work and roof repairs, or extending the scope of the project. The third option was the pick of staff who said the building needed work to preserve its heritage value and offer more use options.

Upgrade planned… the heritage Claystore building at 25 Lake Rd

Business group reviews road tweaks

Potential changes to Auckland Transport’s road safety designs for Victoria Rd will be discussed at a special meeting of the Devonport Business Association (DBA).

A date has yet to be set, but DBA president Dianne Hale said hopefully representatives from AT, Auckland councillors and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board would be there.

The $3.3 million Devonport ‘Safe Speeds’ project aims to improve the Calliope Rd intersection and will create raised pedestrian crossings on Victoria Rd. The latter plan, for construction this winter, will require town centre closures and has prompted some businesses

to seek changes. Key points of contention include: raised crossings to the Victoria Theatre and just south of The Patriot, a section of 2m-wide cycleway curving north on Victoria Rd towards Calliope Rd; and changes to the bus stop near Fleet St, including lengthening the stop, widening the footpath and a concrete island in the middle of the road. At a recent information meeting for DBA members, many wanted modifications to the final phase of the Safe Speeds project.

• Meanwhile, a residents’ petition opposed to the changes in the commercial area has gathered more than 1000 signatures.

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Shore rugby celebrates 150th with win over old foe

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Champagne rugby... North Shore Rugby Club first-five Oscar Koller put on a showcase performance in Shore’s 41-33 win over archrival Takapuna on Good Friday in a game played as part of the club’s 150-year anniversary celebrations. Last weekend, North Shore went on to beat Marist 57-19. Anniversary story and more pictures, pages 22-26.

Wakatere alumnus contributes to club’s green award

A local man and his sustainable clothing business have helped the Wakatere Boating Club win a platinum environmental award for its hosting of the 2023 Optimist Nationals.

Garth Ellingham’s company, Lucke, made 300 racing bibs using 3000 plastic bottles to help with the club’s environmental goals.

This year’s Optimist nationals at Narrow

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Neck Beach at Easter had a particular focus on sustainability, featuring ocean-conservation education, a beach clean-up and other sustainability practices and activities.

Wakatere – where former professional sailor Ellingham learned to sail himself – contacted Lucke about supplying bibs for the event and he was happy to oblige.

“It’s really cool to finally see events moving in that direction,” he said.

The 36-year-old said events often advertise as green but only focus on one aspect. So, it was good to see Wakatere taking a “holistic approach”.

The bibs are made out of a mix of 80 per cent recycled polyester and 20 per cent long-life lycra. They have no regatta-specific branding, which Ellingham said allows them to be used at multiple events.

“Recycling is great. But you want to be able to use something as many times as possible before you have to recycle it.”

Along with other sustainability practices, the bibs contributed to a ‘clean regatta’ certification by ocean-conservation organisation Sailors for The Sea, with the event receiving the group’s highest ‘platinum’ endorsement.

Ellingham puts his background growing up by the sea as a reason that led him towards sustainability. His father, John, is a former commodore at Wakatere, who along with his wife

Pauline was made a life member of the club.

When he is not working, Ellingham still loves to be on the water, with kitesurfing a particular passion.

He told the Flagstaff that when he sailed at Narrow Neck as a boy, he was often the only Optimist sailor the club would send to regattas.

“Definitely seeing how far it’s grown in my lifetime is pretty cool,” he said.

Lucke produces and sells a range of casual clothing made out of recycled and sustainable materials. Ellingham started the business as a side project while he was sailing professionally overseas, mostly in Europe.

He started working on the company full-time with co-founder Wilfried Weber when he came back to Narrow Neck in 2019.

The Takapuna Grammar School old boy said he had always had a “strong connection with the ocean”.

He says he started Lucke to do something about the negative environmental changes he was seeing.

“I saw that the playground I grew up on had changed.”

His time overseas also led to a desire to do something about climate change.

After doing some research, Ellingham found that fashion was a major polluter, and he decided it was an industry he could make a difference in.

Red and green on the blue... Garth Ellingham with junior sailors (from left) Sofia Darragh, Scarlett Westgate and Indi and Milla Holland, wearing sustainable bibs made by his company, Lucke

Will joins yatching elite with Starling champs win

Wakatare Boating Club member Will Mason has become the first sailor to win the national Optimist and Starling championships in the same season.

The 14-year-old Takapuna Grammar School student took out the Starling champs at Manly last weekend, five days after lifting the Optimist trophy, which was raced at Narrow Neck where his home club is located.

Some big names of New Zealand sailing have previously won the Starling championships, including Russell Coutts, David Barnes, Craig Monk, Dan Slater and Peter Burling.

But Mason was the first to have stepped up to success in the bigger boat after winning the Optimist title in the same year, Yachting New Zealand confirmed.

Will won the Starling champs comfortably, with fellow Wakatere member Tom Pilkington coming third.

“It feels pretty amazing [winning both titles],” Will told the Flagstaff.

Many of the Starling field were older than Will, some aged 17. “It is a little intimidating, especially because they have more experience on the water,” he said.

Compared with the Optimist, the Starling “is a lot quicker, and goes through the water so much smoother”, which made for a different competition, he said.

Will’s dad Matthew is a well-known yachtsman, who has sailed in seven America’s Cup campaigns. But Will said: “I don’t think it’s daunting; he really inspires me with all he’s achieved and it’s great that he’s out there helping the younger generation.”

After Will’s double victory, he was straight back on the water for the secondary school yachting champs, which were due to finish after the Flagstaff’s deadline.

In the Opti nationals, it was a close battle with his friend and club mate Nelsen Meacham. Over four days of competitive and tight racing, Will finally came out on top in the open gold fleet, with Nelsen second placed.

Will said it was great to get a win in the Optimists, and the location made it even better.

“It felt pretty special, especially racing for my home club on known waters.”

The Year 10 student said the close pursuit of competitors helped keep the pressure on.

“It was super tight behind me, which gave me the extra push for sure.”

Finally getting out of the cramped Optimist after his last race was a memorable moment, Will said, because he was now “a little oversized” for it. He was happy to be moving into the bigger and more comfortable Starling-class boats.

In the Starling nationals, Nelsen, also aged 14, started the event strongly with four second-place finishes and one win in the qualifying races. But the event turned sour for him when, in the first finals race, his tiller snapped. Without a replacement part, he was unable to carry on racing, ending up sliding to 27th place.

“It was definitely pretty gutting and I know the people who were doing work on my boat were gutted too. But I just kept the attitude of,

it’s alright, we’ll try again next time”.

Nelsen hopes to get involved in the 29er class and compete at the Youth World Championships “as soon as possible”.

Once there, he hopes to finish in the top three so he can get into the Yachting New

Zealand fast-track development programme. Will is taking a more relaxed approach to his bright sailing future.

He told the Flagstaff he is keen to take all the opportunities he can get, without yet focusing on any specific goals.

On the podium... (from left) third-placegetter Charlie Bridger, winner Will Mason and runner-up Nelsen Meacham with international yachtsman and former Wakatere member Chris Steele at the Optimist nationals prizegiving. Below: Will in action on the water off Narrow Neck Beach.

Stepping up... National Optimist champ Will Mason moved up to the Starling class and immediately became national champion

Briefs

Flagstaff among New Zealand’s best papers

The Devonport Flagstaff is a finalist in the best community newspaper cagegory at this year’s Voyager national media awards. Flagstaff editor Rob Drent is also a finalist in the best community journalist section of the awards. Drent’s entry included an exclusive on parts of Cheltenham being earmarked for intensification; a profile on Jackson Rice’s recovery to play premier rugby; the about-turn on plans to close the Milford-Takapuna walkway; and a feature on Don McKay, one of New Zealand’s oldest living All Blacks. Winners will be announced on 27 May.

Readers rate local author

Devonport author Simon Lendrum has won the New Zealand Booklovers adult fiction award for his first novel, The Slow Roll. Lendrum was the subject of a Flagstaff profile in November 2022. The crime thriller, set in Auckland, has sold well and been reprinted. The awards are voted for by readers on the NZ Booklovers online books hub.

Burglar may have scored own goal

A burglar who stole more than $3000 worth of drinks, food and cash from North Shore United Football Club on Sunday morning, was caught on camera and left numerous fingerprints. The thief broke into the clubrooms at around 4am, causing significant damage to doors and the club bar, before making off with its safe containing takings from Shore’s home game with Ellerslie earlier in the day.

Bodyline by Guy Body

TGS athletes win gold at school champs

Two Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) students won double gold medals at the Auckland Secondary School Athletics Championships held before the term break.

Sascha Letica was first in the senior girls 800m and 1500m races, with the 16-year-old backing up from collecting a pair of bronze medals for North Harbour in the same events just days before at the North Island Secondary School Athletics Championships, where athletes compete for their zones.

Thrower Kate Hallie, aged 15, won both the intermediate shot-put and discus at the Auckland event, held at Trusts stadium in Henderson on 5 April. She earlier came first in shot-put and third in discus at the North Island champs in Palmerston North.

Seventeen-year-old Devonport resident James Ford, who runs for Kings College, set a record in the 400m senior boys race of 48.61.

TGS had a squad of 16 athletes at the Auckland event. Other medal winners included Jodie Nash, who was second to Sasha in the senior 1500m and collected another silver medal in the 3000m.

TGS girl runners finished just out of the relay medals, taking fourth place in the senior 4x100m, the open 4x400m and the junior 4x100m.

Jess Lathwood was second in the junior girls triple jump and third in the junior girls 70m hurdles. Connor Brady was third in the junior boys 300m hurdles.

Connor also did well at the North Island champs, winning the junior boys 300m race, coming second in the junior shot-put and being in Harbour’s boys teams that came third in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Jodie Nash was second in the senior girls 3000m race.

Spinning off in a new direction: Tendai retires on a high

North Shore spin bowler Tendai Chitongo has won the Auckland Club Cricketer of the Year title for the second time – in a star turn, which helped his premier side win the Auckland twoday championship for the first time in 35 years.

Chitongo, who is also North Shore club manager, picked up four five-wicket bags and 41 wickets over the season.

He also won club cricketer of the year in 2018-19 – the season North Shore won promotion to the first division after seven years in the second division.

Chitongo arrived at the club in 2017 as an overseas professional. He has been among the top three Auckland club wicket-takers every season since.

He became Shore’s cricket development officer in 2019, a role which evolved into the club manager position.

Receiving the Auckland club cricketer award was a special moment, said Chitongo. All the more so because his North Shore teammates were all there too, to formally receive the Hedley Howarth two-day trophy at the Auckland Cricket Awards.

“Everyone was pretty excited,” he said.

For Chitongo, 33, it was possibly more emotional than for the rest of his team, as he has decided to finish his cricket career. He has retired from playing and finishes the North Shore Cricket Club manager’s job at the end of the month.

“I got my [New Zealand] residency in February and decided it was time to move into other areas,” said Chitongo, who plans to get a job in management.

“If I was Christian Ronaldo, earning £250,000 a week, I would probably have the motivation to keep playing. But I didn’t want to carry on until I was injured or broken,” said Chitongo, who took up cricket aged 10 in Zimbabwe and represented the country in various age-group sides.

While giving up his full-time involvement in cricket, Chitongo will still offer some oneon-one coaching and mentoring to up-andcoming players.

And he won’t be leaving Devonport any time soon.

“Its a great place to live,” he said.

Oustanding performer... Tendai Chitongo (right) receives the 2022-23 Club Cricketer of the Year trophy from Auckland cricket chair Brendon Gibson. Below: Chitongo in action against Papatoetoe in March, when he took a five-wicket bag.

ANZAC DAY SERVICE 2023

APRIL 25th

Anzac Day promotes a sense of unity and is a time for a nation to pay respects to and acknowledge the many thousands of our military personnel who are serving or have served, and are called upon to support New Zealand in times of war, conflict or disaster.

The Devonport RSA invites the people of Devonport to attend the Anzac Day Service at the memorial of the Untidy Soldier at 11am, Tuesday 25 April 23.

Parade participants

muster at Fleet St: 10.30

Parade march-off: 10.45

Commemoration Service: 11.00

Traffic management will be in place from 10.00–12.00

Axed bike lane ‘missed opportunity’

The shelving of the Bayswater cycle lane project has disappointed Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Toni van Tonder, who says it is a missed opportunity to make cycling to school safer for local children.

The wider benefits of connecting up cycleways across the peninsula were also being lost, she said.

“I’m really unhappy. It’s part of our green route.” Van Tonder said the project, recently deferred by Auckland Transport (AT), was not just a ‘nice to have’ for e-bike riders and recreational cyclists.

It had won backing from local schools, including Bayswater Primary and Takapuna Grammar, and designated funding as a safety initiative under AT’s ‘Vibrant Streets’ programme.

She wanted AT to explain why it was not able to proceed. “Where has the funding gone?”

AT had told the board community consultation would go ahead early this year. She wanted to know why this had not happened.

Board member George Wood, who previously raised concerns about the loss of parking due to the cycle lane, said he did not believe the cycleway project was credible in its current form.

If reactivated, it would need a lot more consultation with the local community before it went ahead, he said.

A memo from AT told board members this month the project was on hold, citing budget cuts.

OPEN DAY!

SATURDAY 22ND APRIL 10am–3pm

Where is the RSA?

It’s upstairs through the big red doors (beside Devonport Flowers).

Let us show you around our beautiful historic building where you will get a sense of our history, but also who we are and how we help support our veterans and the community.

There will also be an activity station for children. We will be serving coffee, tea and, of course, our favourite Anzac biscuits. If you cannot make it on the day or wish to find out more, call us on 09 445 8938.

Van Tonder accepted that some projects needed to be cut to meet budget and to fund repairs to roads damaged by floods

But she said it was frustrating that a funded project had been put on the backburner.

Auckland Council had declared a climate-change emergency and set policy direction, but council-controlled organisation AT was walking back on commitments to achieve this.

“Projects like this never get full buy-in,” she said. “Some people get angry and they pull the plug.”

She said criticism of the project’s possible impact on parking outside the shops at Belmont was premature. “We don't know how it impacts on parking yet; the design is not finished.”

Initial designs for a bi-directional cycle lane on the south side of Bayswater Ave take it past Bayswater School, but how it integrates at the Lake Rd intersection has not been determined. Parking would have been lost along the length of Bayswater Ave, however.

Concerns have been raised about this by residents and users of sporting facilities at Bayswater Park.

• Waka Kotahi says the Lake Rd project remains in the National Land Transport Plan for implementation. Lake Rd decisions were not delayed pending the choice of harbour crossing, it told the Flagstaff. AT had not responded by deadline to questions about Bayswater Ave funding.

Concrete dropped from new-path plan

A controversial concrete path planned next to “Old Albert” – a historic Moreton Bay fig tree in Windsor Reserve next to Devonport Library – has been scrapped in favour of a more environmentally friendly material. Work started two weeks ago on the path, sparking widespread concern about concrete construction over tree roots.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and Devonport Heritage both lodged concerns with Auckland Council.

Auckland Council area operations manager Sarah Jones said that after a request from the local board, the path material had been changed to a mix like that used on the Queens

Pde and King Edward Pde seaside paths. The mix is shell and hoggin, a limestone-based aggregate

The path was designed and consented in consultation with heritage experts, mana whenua and arborists.

“It will be built raised above the roots of the tree, which has been the plan from the beginning.

“Currently, when people walk across the reserve to access the library, they often track mud into the library. The new path uses an all-weather surface, which will minimise this while also being a great asset for the community,” Jones said.

Bomb found at Narrow Neck Beach

The Defence Force is not planning to look for further munitions after a member of the public found an old explosive on Narrow Neck Beach last Wednesday.

It was a six pound solid-shot projectile. While its origins had not been confirmed, it was of World War II era.

Recent stormy weather could be the reason the item was uncovered last week, a Defence Force spokesman told the Flagstaff.

A section of the beach was cordoned off around 4.30pm t as police called in the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to safely dispose of the item, which was

found to be inert.

“NZDF has not found evidence to warrant checking the area for further munitions.”

The explosive was found at the south end of the beach, below Fort Takapuna, former Defence land, where weapons-testing historically occurred. Cliffs slips likely dislodged it.

Anyone finding potentially dangerous items should stay clear and contact the police as soon as possible, the spokesperson said.

“Until items are deemed safe by a subject matter expert, caution should be applied.”

Smashing time for all after Community House

Sweet as holiday activity a highlight

A ‘fiesta day’ holiday programme at the Devonport Community House culminated in a pinata-smashing session, when participants took turns trying to knock the lollies out of a paper donkey.

Eighteen youngsters attended the day, which started with indoor football,then moved on to crafts and the opportunity for attendees to make their own pinatas to take home.

Fun of the fiesta... (from top) Mila Hinds (left, 8) and Florence Tumelty (8) with their handiwork; Zoe Lopez (left, 9) and Violet Evetts-Perry (8);

Smashed ‘em bro…Opposite page: Jack Clelland (top, 7) and Thomas Robinson (7) take to the pinata at the end of the day.

Please note: seating will not be provided. If wet the performance will be cancelled.

fiesta-day programme

House News

What's New?

Active Ageing on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Term

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Experienced instructor Sarah Ostergaard s passion in life has always been to help people Her Active Ageing classes have been so popular, we have added a Thursday class from Term Two Email sarah@mumsquadfitness com for more info

Blokes Boot Camp

Mondays 9-9 45am Starts May 1st

John Talbot is one of our wonderful volunteer drivers at the Devonport Community House However he is also a very skilled and passionate personal trainer with extensive experience!

No Booking is required $5 koha donation Newcomers Meet-Up

Events

BABYSITTING WORKSHOP

Saturday 6 May 9.30am-3pm babysittingworkshop2023 eventbrite co nz to book now!

SWAP SHOP

Saturday 13 May 1-4pm

Receive a token for each item you bring in prior to the event and shop the pre-loved racks using your tokens as payment on the day For more information head to our website for more details

By Rob Drent

The overwhelming success of the 150-year anniversary North Shore rugby celebrations over Easter weekend surprised possibly even the most diehard stalwarts at the club.

Shore’s top four match-up against archrivals Takapuna on Good Friday was the springboard for an almost gala-like atmosphere during the weekend.

The weather played its part as well, with Shore’s Vauxhall Rd ground bathed in sun late in the afternoon. (Not quite so lucky the day before though, when its anniversary golf day was partially washed out.)

The premiers put the icing on the cake with a 41-33 win over the blue-and-golds. After the games against Takapuna the club rooms were packed to overflowing. Apparently the bar almost ran out of beer.

Grant Simpkins received his life-member jacket and the building shook with a spontaneous haka for Tyler Beary, who collected his blazer for playing his 25th premier grade match. Under-21 players kicking rugby balls with the kids outside added to the feel-good vibe.

SELLING YOUR HOME

A gala dinner was held on Saturday night and a Shore vs Barbarians match on Sunday capped off the weekend.

I went to several of the events held in 1998 to mark Shore’s 125th anniversary and can say the 2023 functions were next-level in comparision. They displayed a great mixture of fun and formality, celebrating one of the oldest rugby clubs in New Zealand in style.

Given the bonhomie and good cheer that surrounded the weekend it was disappointing to see an officer from Auckland Transport (AT) moving along Vauxhall Rd on Good Friday, ticketing cars likely belonging to rugby supporters.

One car the Flagstaff observed being ticketed was parked across an unused driveway at the Devonport Kindergarten. Technically, it was in breach of parking laws. But the kindergarten was closed on Good Friday, so the vehicle was doing no harm and not impeding traffic.

Parking officers have no cause to regularly police Vauxhall Rd, so for the warden to be out on Good Friday he must have been responding to a public complaint. Fair enough that motorists should abide by road rules. But on a festival-style day, AT’s fine-collecting left a sour note.

Made the Flagstaff, made history... Former North Shore captain Phil Weedon (right), who led the side to the North Harbour 2001 premiership, turned up to Vauxhall Rd with an old Devonport Flagstaff that ran a spread on the win. He’s pictured with mate Derrick Travers.

Bad Friday... This car parked across a closed kindergarten’s driveway was among those targeted by an AT parking officer as crowds flocked to the rugby

A free Ryman seminar

Wednesday 26 April, 10am

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• How to list and market your property

• How property auctions work

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Flights of fancy at fairy garden’s opening

Clarence St became a realm of fantasy and colour for the opening of its fairy garden. The Devonport Community House and the Depot Artspace combined this month to celebrate the work of local artist Judy Rogers. Children gathered to check out the fairy houses and other ceramic creations she has attached to trees, which the venues have lit with fairy lights.

Magical gathering... (top left) Gold Fairy Gemma Dickinson from the community house, with Terehia Walker who helps at the Depot (left) and artist Judy Rogers at the event; (top right) Lily Parkes and Frida Kirkcaldy (in purple wings) and (at right) Kaiāwhina and mum Lily Kaukau.

Explore our newly curated 2023 Mother’s Day Floral and Giftware collection online or visit us instore so we can create your Mother something truly bespoke and special.

Devonport Flowers

63 Victoria Rd, Devonport Phone 445 8350

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www.devonportflowers.co.nz

Historian helps fills gaps and debunk myriad

As a military historian and researcher at the Navy Museum in Devonport, Michael Wynd has helped put a focus on New Zealand’s rich naval history.

These days, he’s also helping members of the wider community start their own inquiries into the roles family members played in the military.

In more than 15 years at the museum, Wynd has sought out stories of people and events from more than a century of New Zealand’s naval history, and worked with the organisation’s growing collection of information and artefacts.

His research has been in response to inquiries from the public, government agencies and the defence forces, and reflects a passion for filling some of the blank spaces in our military history.

Recently, Wynd decided he’d share some of his researching skills and knowledge with interested members of the public.

He’s begun a regular hourly stint on Sunday afternoons at the Devonport Library, and the response has confirmed his belief that people are interested to know more about the past military service of family members, or want to know how to start finding out.

“I had been looking for a way to become

more connected and bring this work to the community. And I’m pleased there is a level of interest,” he says.

Wynd loves his job and feels lucky to be in a position to build on his academic background studying history to become a “passionate” First World War, military and naval historian.

Melville High School, he too became a public servant, working for the Customs Service, before stints in advertising at Radio Hauraki in Auckland and a job with a toy company.

But as a boy he’d dreamed about being a soldier. Though he was turned down for officer training as a young man, he was always interested in military history.

When he was 35 years old, he finally enrolled at Massey University’s Albany campus to begin studying history.

Over his seven years on the campus as an adult student, Wynd was active in student affairs and in his last full-time student year was president of the students association at Albany.

He chuckles to recall the military’s reason for declining his application years before. “They told me they’d turned me down because I was too independent. And yet now, here I am working very comfortably within the system.”

Aged 57, Wynd can look back at a career that may not have seemed likely in his highschool years.

He grew up in Hamilton, where his father was a salesman and his mother worked for The Department of Social Welfare. From

For his master’s thesis at Massey, Wynd had already started working on a little-discussed aspect of military history – demobilisation, and what happened to all the servicepeople from New Zealand who were in Europe after the Armistice in November 2018.

Working at the Navy Museum, Michael Wynd is among those filling in the gaps in our nation’s military history. He tells Helen Vause about building databases – and helping families embark on their own journeys of historical discovery.

Building the record... Michael Wynd spends his days immersed in New Zealand’s naval past

“With Anzac Day, everyone has a special day of remembrance.

But for me in this job, every day is a day of remembrance.

military myths

More than 50,000 veterans needed to be repatriated, and were very anxious about getting home. Shipping them back to New Zealand – and occupying them while they waited sometimes months for transport – was a massive exercise. That demobilisation remains one of his ongoing research interests.

When the Navy advertised for a historian in 2007, Wynd felt the job was made for him. He was hired and had his feet under his new desk in Devonport while still winding up his other life as a student president.

He couldn’t wait to get started with the museum’s collections team and photo archivists, helping fill the many gaps in our First World War history.

Wynd is one of the historians critical of our country’s recording of our part in that war. In stark contrast to the Second World War, which has been the subject of dedicated volumes of history, New Zealand didn’t produce an official history of its participation in the ‘Great War’.

As a result, Wynd says, the history is poorly recorded and misunderstood.

Nobody picked up the challenge of producing an official history of the country’s involvement.

One of the projects he’s worked on at the museum has been maintaining and building a database of New Zealanders sites, graves and battlefields to visit. Rel-

the Second World War, he has 60 individuals and their stories now on record. From the First World War, he has just three names.

He spends his days immersed in a subject that most of us only focus on once a year.

“With Anzac Day, everyone has a special day of remembrance. But for me in this job, every day is a day of remembrance.

“I am always thinking and talking about events, ships, and individuals and their stories.”

The job has a lighter and a few myths to be debunked too, when people seek answers from Wynd about their relatives and wartime tales.

“Naturally enough, some of the stories that have been handed down have been embellished on the way,” he says.

Recently he was approached by a family wanting to know more about the overseas service of one of their relatives to round out the stories they’d heard. “I had to tell them that he hadn’t been sent anywhere. He’d spent the whole time in Auckland Harbour.”

He chuckles at one story he has dispelled about a German U-boat that made its way down the east coast in 1945.

It was said to have surfaced off Napier, where the crew had reportedly gone ashore and milked a cow. “A lovely story, but no, they weren’t ashore milking a local cow.”

Nor is the story of the scuttled U-boat off

Blown away... Michael Wynd with one of his favourite exhibits at the Navy Museum – a hefty chunk of armour blasted by German guns from HMS New Zealand when she joined the British Grand Fleet in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916

TGS basketballers win place in top schools comp

The top Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) girls basketball team has won its way into the Auckland premier competition, which starts on 5 May.

The team, which last year won the Auckland Senior A competition, defeated Carmel College in a promotion-relegation game before Easter, winning the right to play in the country’s most competitive schools’ competition.

Coach Katelin Noyer said the girls faced a significant step-up to a grade where every game would be tough. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge.”

But winning the crunch promotion-relegation game – the week after some team members won silver in the senior open grade at the national secondary three-a-side ‘3x3’ championship – was a confidence boost.

In the 3x3 event held in Auckland over four days, TGS went through pool play with just one loss, to Hamilton school, Te Kura o Te Koutu, which it lost to again in the final. To make the final, TGS beat old foe Westlake Girls High School in a tough semi that went to extra time. TGS prevailed when Amy McKenzie was fouled and landed the free throw.

The 3x3 team comprised Amy, Mackenzie (Mac) Mackereth, Manaia Watson and Carmen Selby, but had to do without Carmen for the last two games, due to a hand injury.

TGS also took a junior girls team and boys teams to the 3x3 championships, but none made their final rounds.

For what Noyer called an “ugly” promotion-relegation, game, two TGS players were away at volleyball and those who had been at the 3x3 were coming off a tiring week.

“I did age by about 20 years,” joked the coach, who watched a good early lead fall away. In the end, the team won by 7 points, and Bailey Flavell top-scored with 40 points.

Noyer expects Bailey, who was last year selected in the New Zealand U16 side, to face heavy marking this season, with other schools now well aware of her talent. “We will have to change how we play.”

The team has lost three players from last year, including its tall post player Qaizden Stephano, who has finished school.

This season’s squad ranges from two Year 9s, through to one Year 13 in Mac

Big season ahead...

The top TGS girls basketball side: (back row, from left) Mackenzie Mackereth, Anna Dyachenko, coach Katelin Noyer, Bailey Flavell, Bella Nevile, Manaia Watson, Mariah Parker and (front) Amelia Glenn, Carmen Selby, Amy McKenzie, Natalja Burton, Leleia Parker and Emily Marcondes

Mackereth, who Noyer says will bring a lot of leadership. The bulk of players are Year 11s and 12s.

Noyer, a former Westlake student who played college basketball in the United States, said she was not sure if and when TGS had played at premier level before. But when it qualified for nationals last year, it was for the first time in at least 20 years.

She has been coaching at the school for three years, during which time the top girls team has gone up three grades, from North Harbour open to Auckland Senior A, and now Auckland premiers. All of the school’s other teams play in the Harbour competition.

Three-up... The TGS girls team that came second in the national 3x3 event: (from left) Carmen Selby, Manaia Watson, coach Katelin Noyer, Amy McKenzie and Mackenzie Mackereth

Devonport to Bucharest: Eliza and Jacko off to world champs

Devonport athletes Jacko Gill and Eliza McCartney are among the 12 New Zealanders named as going to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.

Fellow former Takapuna Grammar School student Imogen Ayris may join them – subject to meeting additional performance conditions – with the Commonweath Games bronze medallist being one of 12 further athletes named provisionally.

For McCartney, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, the selection follows a strong comeback this season from prolonged injuries.

“After such a long time away from international competition, I’m over the moon to be back competing and heading to my second World Athletics Championships.”

McCartney said it had taken her a while to find her rhythm competing again. “At times it felt like slow progress, so it was a relief to hit the entry standard before the season was out.”

It will be her first trip to the world champs in six years. After domestic competition, she jumped back ahead of fellow vaulters and North Shore training mates Ayris and Olivia McTaggart.

McTaggart recently met the qualifying standard height of 4.71m to go to the world champs, while Ayris, who set a personal-best of 4.51m this year, has until the end of July to reach the mark.

Gill, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games last year, has also had a standout season. He pulled ahead of his gold-medal winning rival Tom Walsh, to claim his first national senior shot-put title.

Athletics New Zealand says its team this year shows strong depth and opportunity, a year out from the Paris Olympics.

Grab your crowns and gowns because it’s time for the

St Leos Ladies High Tea

with a Coronation twist!

We've got an all-star lineup of wellness and health panel experts, fun games, fundraising auctions and delicious treats fit for a Queen!

Sunday 7 May 2PM – 5PM Devonport Yacht Club

LOCATION:

Cost: $69 lower level $79 upper level

DRESS CODE: Crown, jewels, & majestic attire highly encouraged!

BOOK HERE: HTTPS://EVENTS.HUMANITIX.COM/ST-LEOS-HIGH-TEA

Don't be a commoner, be a Queen for a day and join us for a royal good time!

SPONSORED BY

Dr Helen Smith Hormones & Holistic Health

Kirsten Taylor Sleep Drops

Megan Dempsey Ultimate Block & The Clinic

NEW

DEVONPORT

36 TAINUI ROAD

Sitting in this high-profile position so close to the beach is this lovely 1920's double bay villa. It has a gorgeous street frontage and is sitting on 582m².

barfoot.co.nz/846848

DEVONPORT

30C WILLIAM BOND STREET

AUCTION 12:00pm 3 May 2023

Devonport Branch Office (unless sold prior)

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 1:00-1:30pm

Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452

Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681

Stanley Bay Secret! Located at the quiet end of the driveway come and discover this character transitional 1920's home.

barfoot.co.nz/847071

TENDER 4:00pm 4 May 2023

Devonport Branch Office (unless sold prior)

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 12:00-12:30pm

Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681

Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452

DEVONPORT 3/17 CHURCH STREET

CALL TO ACTION

Time to make your move on this superbly located home. Get your offer ready!!

barfoot.co.nz/841691

DEADLINE SALE Closing 4pm May 2 2023 (unless sold prior)

VIEWING Saturday 11:00-11:30am

Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681

Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452

Prime corner site in the heart of Takapuna, close to beach & shops is the perfect landbank or development opportunity in the THAB zone.

barfoot.co.nz/846943

NEW

AUCTION 10:00am 11 May 2023 The Promenade, Takapuna. (unless sold prior)

VIEWING Sat/Sun 1:00-1:30pm

Ron Sadler 021 613 546

Devonport 09 445 2010

Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club

Barfoot & Thompson Limited

Licensed REAA 2008

Barfoot & Thompson Limited

DEVONPORT

71 NGATARINGA ROAD

Arts and Crafts coastal charmer overlooking Ngataringa Bay with views of Auckland City sited on over ¼ acre with your very own boat-shed.

barfoot.co.nz/845408

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

By Negotiation

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 2:00-2:45pm or By Appointment

Sue Evans 021 448 977

Youyou Yu 021 868 273

DEVONPORT

12A HANDLEY AVENUE

Dreaming of getting a foothold in this popular location? Plenty of scope here to renovate, develop or build to create an enviable beach lifestyle.

barfoot.co.nz/845855

Devonport 09 445 2010

PRICE REDUCED

DEVONPORT 18 CAUTLEY STREET

Vendor will consider all offers, don't be shy! Are you looking for an outstanding entry level home in Devonport? Big 519m² Motivated vendors!

barfoot.co.nz/844330

FOR SALE

By Negotiation

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 12:00-12:45pm

Lance Richardson 021 796 660

Suzy Wang 022 199 7808

BAYSWATER

178 BAYSWATER AVENUE

What an amazing package! Large 5 bedrm 1960's home, 2+lounges, large private patio and large deck + RC issued for multi unit development.

barfoot.co.nz/843220

AUCTION

AUCTION

12:00pm 19 April 2023

Devonport Branch Office (unless sold prior)

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 1:00-1:30pm

Sue Evans 021 448 977

OPEN HOME

FOR SALE

By Negotiation

VIEWING

Sat/Sun 1:00-1:45pm

Lance Richardson 021 796 660

Suzy Wang 022 199 7808

Major sponsor for the North Shore Cricket Club

Team joins roll call of history for proud club

The North Shore 150th-anniversary celebration premier team:

15 Hunter Rice, 14 Reid Cooke, 13 Jerico Asi, 12 Tyler Beary, 11 Rory Taylor, 10 Oscar Koller, 9 Brad McNaughten, 8 Edgar Tu’Inukuafe, 7 Donald Coleman, 6 Rob Harris, 5 Adam Batt, 4 Rex Pollock, 3 Trent Luka, 2 Lockie McNair, 1 Alex Woonton.

Reserves: Josh Third, Sam Wilkinson, Tristan Reid, Leigh Thompson, Morgan Reedy, Cam Howell, Manahi Tipoki.

Coach: Rua Tipoki; assistant coach: Chris Davies; managers: Mike Simpson and Mike Warmington; assistant manager:, Dean Rice; Physios: Sophie Rhodes and Natalie Parlane; Gear: Spy Kelly and Ray Yeung.

Referee: Brendon Pickerill; assistant referees: Donald Pickerill and Cameron Read. Ball kids: Oliver Eagles, Max McKenzie, Jett Steel, Jonty Waddams, Liam Furlong and Poppy Porter.

Blast from the past…evergreen half-back Luke Hamilton (with ball), the hero of many premier victories, came off the bench for the premier reserves and was almost a match-winner in their 23-21 loss to Takapuna

Appreciative audience... A bumper crowd of more than 1500 packed the sidelines at Vauxhall Rd on Good Friday for the start of a long weekend of club celebrations

A moment in history… North Shore and Takapuna premiers line up for official photos prior to the match between the two archrivals to mark Shore’s 150-year anniversary

Shore toasts big weekend with win over Takapuna

Star turn… Oscar Koller on one of his many bursts, with Donald Coleman (right)

Oscar Koller scored three tries, four conversions and a penalty goal for 26 points in an almost personal demolition of Takapuna at Vauxhall Rd to mark North Shore Rugby Club’s 150-year anniversary celebrations over Easter.

To say Koller single-handedly steamrolled Takapuna is perhaps an overstatement, as Shore’s forwards provided a muscular platform. But it was a dominant performance.

Every now and again, a Super Rugby player hits the pitch at Vauxhall Rd, with a class slightly ahead of others on the field. Former All Black Luke McAlister scored

all Silverdale’s points against North Shore on the ground around 15 years ago.

Koller had similar time on the ball, poise and decisiveness.

In addition to his try-scoring and goal-kicking, Koller’s positional play, line-kicking and touch-finding were pinpoint.

With first-half tries to the industrious number 6 Rob Harris, and bullocking number 8 Edgar Tu’Inukuafe, and two to Koller, Shore were looking pretty at half-time, up 27-14.

Further tries to Koller and Tyler Beary (in his 25th and blazer game) saw Shore leap out to a 41-14 lead with 20 minutes to play.

in support

But then Koller was taken off and Shore appeared to lose its general – and its focus.

Takapuna scored three tries in the next 10 minutes to bring the score to 41-33, with bright attacking rugby.

From a comfortable position Shore had to cling on, which it did, much to the delight of supporters who had descended on the club from around Devonport, New Zealand and the world.

The celebration weekend included a golf tournament, four matches against Takapuna sides, a gala dinner and a Barbarians Golden Oldies match.

Leading from the front… Shore captain Alex Woonton (left) in one of many strong carries and (above) the game’s first try was scored after 10 minutes by loosie Rob Harris (in headgear), who is congratulated by number 8 Edgar Tu’Inukuafe

Try whistling this: refereeing Pickerills on the ball

Referees Don and Brendon Pickerill notched a rare achievement at the North Shore celebration game – a father and son officiating in the same premier match.

Brendon, who has blown the whistle at both Super Rugby and test-match level, was the match referee. Dad, Don (66), was one of the assistant referees on the touchline.

Brendon grew up in Devonport, played through the junior grades at Shore and then returned after his Takapuna Grammar School years, before deciding his best rugby pathway was refereeing.

Don, meanwhile, is a long-time North Shore club man, who coached Brendon and younger son Tim’s teams and was the club’s junior convenor for a few years.

He refereed as a young man for a couple of years, but got back into it at 60, after Brendon began officiating and encouraged his dad to pick up the whistle again.

The pair were officials together once before – several years ago when Brendon reffed a first XV game between Rosmini and Orewa College and Don was on the touchline.

How did his Dad perform on the big day at North Shore? “He did a pretty good job – his main focus was keeping up with the play!” Brendon said.

“Someone in the crowd asked if he was celebrating his 150th (rather than the rugby club).”

Brendon said it was “great being back at the club” and being part of a special occasion. “It is great to see the club thriving.”

As is the nature of refereeing, Brendon was involved in a curly judgement only two minutes into the match – sin-binning Shore lock Adam Batt for a leg trip.

“That was me,” Brendon said when asked if he needed to confer with Don over the decision.

“I had a beer with Adam after the match and he said he took a step when he was trying to get his shoulder across – but it was pretty bad.”

On the positive side, “it kept [Batt] on his best behaviour for the rest of the match”.

Last week, Brendon was in Samoa refereeing a Moana Pacific match against the Queensland Reds. For the next 10 weeks, he is officiating in Super Rugby matches.

The referees for the Rugby World Cup starting in September are due to be announced in May, and Brendon hopes he may get a TMO or assistant-referee slot.

Don, who with wife Robyn moved to a lifestyle block north of Tauranga a couple of years ago and now officiates under Bay of Plenty colours, said the Pickerills came within a whisker of having three referees on

the field. Son Tim, a pilot, referees to first XV level in Wellington. “The plan was to have Brendon in the middle and Tim and I running the lines, but he had a previous commitment of a wedding in Melbourne.”

Refereeing runs in the Pickerill family. Don’s father, Ernie, was a life member of the Whangarei Rugby Referees Association.

Don was delighted to be part of North Shore’s celebrations.

“The after-match functions at the club are second to none... It reflects the great community support the club gets.”

Whistling the same tune… Brendon (left) and Don Pickerill after the 150th anniversary celebration match

Passing the torch to the next generations

Family connections... The Eagles and Webb names litter the club’s history books. Six-year-old Oliver Eagles (front left, with his father Steven Eagles) and nine-year-old Max McKenzie (right front, with his grandfather, North Shore life member Max Webb) were ball boys at the celebration match. In the centre is Oliver’s sister Maddie Eagles, with grandfather Pip Eagles.

True colours... A specially made North Shore 150th flag flew above the clubrooms to mark the occasion.

North Shore life member Simon Gundry (right) catches up with his old mate Bruce Cameron, a top junior rugby player who later won two bronze medals in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games.

Right:

Roasted… Shore All Black Brad Johnstone (left) and Chris Kennings from Takapuna, at the Hairy Goats lunch prior to the 150th-celebration matches

If the jacket fits... Former North Shore coach and player Grant Simpkins received his life-member blazer

Golden oldies in green and white… former North Shore Rugby Club luminaries get set for a match against a Barbarians team on Easter Sunday

Feedback floods in over council budget cuts

Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget is well up on usual response rates, with 1599 submissions received from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (DTLB) area.

Across the city, a record 34,922 people and groups replied to the Have Your Say process, with a late rush before the 28 March cut-off date.

More than three times as many submissions were received as were lodged on the previous year’s draft budget. Record numbers came from those who identified as Maori or Pasifika.

Council staff will now collate the feedback, which will go to local boards in May, to help members decide how to allocate reduced funding to support local activities.

With more than 60 per cent, or $810,000, proposed to be lopped from discretionary funding for the DTLB area, the board is already “looking at all the options”, its chair, Toni van Tonder, told the Flagstaff.

20 years ago in the Flagstaff

• A dispute between North Shore City Council and Bayswater Marina Ltd threatens to delay construction of a multimillion-dollar ferry terminal at Bayswater. Drawings have been completed and work is due to start at the end of 2003.

• The Depot takes over the running of Spiral gallery in the Auckland CBD, giving a massive boost to emerging artists.

• Neighbours of Stanley Bay School are outraged the board of trustees failed to consult them before revealing plans to build a large school hall.

• The Devonport anti-spray group, which hacked holes in the Devonport Domain cricket pitch, remains at large.

• Doctor Benni Bonnin, who paints to relieve job stress, exhibits at the Depot.

• Fullers reveals it dumps thousands of litres of sewage from the ferry Kea into the harbour each day. Bylaws allow Fullers to dump waste 500 metres from the shorelines of Devonport and Auckland City. Councillors are furious that dumping is happening when North Shore City is doing its best to clean up sewage

outflows. Discharge facilities, so waste can be unloaded in Auckland, are being investigated.

• Amateur historian Harry Bioletti (89) publishes his 10th book, Devonport New Zealand Book 2

• A cliff at the end of Ngataringa Bay collapses after heavy rain.

• The Navy chops down seven pōhutukawa on Calliope Rd to stabilise a 40-metre cliff in danger of collapsing.

• The 2003 Devonport Arts Festival is declared a success, with a bigger event planned for 2004.

• Allegations that North Shore Rugby Club is poaching young players from the Navy are denied by Shore chairman John Sarah.

• A poor batting performance by North Shore against Papatoetoe all but ends its chances of winning the Auckland two-day championship.

• Team New Zealand public relations man Murray Taylor is the Flagstaff interview subject.

THE NAVY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FEMALE STUDENTS EMBRACE ‘SCHOOL TO SEAS’ EXPERIENCE

More than 30 students, from Kerikeri to Invercargill, attended the Royal New Zealand Navy School to Seas camp at Auckland’s Devonport Naval Base from 10–17 April.

The camp is about empowering young women with confidence and curiosity about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers in the marine industry.

Recruiting a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents all New Zealanders is critically important for the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor.

“I’m pleased that the percentage of wāhine serving in our Navy is currently at 27.5 percent and growing. Even so, we recognise that we have to work hard to ensure women see an exciting career path with us,” says RADM Proctor.

The year 12 and 13 school students get hands-on experience with machinery, robotics and electronics, planning and executing a real naval navigation exercise, using a bridge simulator and developing resilience and leadership skills with specialist workshops from women in leadership.

Throughout the camp, the students are shown how the subjects they are currently studying at school can be practically applied to careers in the Navy and the wider maritime industry.

Project Lead, Lieutenant Commander Emily Kutarski, says the camp aims to introduce what life is like on our Navy ships, as well as break down stereotypes and barriers that may prevent women from enlisting in the Navy.

“The participants met many of our young servicepeople, who not long ago were in their shoes, trying to decide what to do after school.” This is the first time the programme has been available since 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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.

Devonport artist and educator

lake Boys High School.

He later taught at teacher training colleges on the North Shore and Auckland, and at Whitecliffe School of Art.

In the 1990s he returned to Westlake Boys. To celebrate the school’s 50-year anniversary, Westlake had Page design eight large stainedglass windows for the school auditorium.

Page looked back on his long arts career in a 2014 exhibition at the Depot: A Retrospective of an Arts Educator

Letter

Not too late to call off AT’s upgrade

tractors are overcommitted, as is evident by the Tamaki Drive “upgrade” shambles.

required or beneficial.

I believe that it is not too late to halt it, as has been done by the new administration with two projects in Auckland recently.

Business owners have endured three years of disruption and will not welcome more for zero benefit. The expense is not warranted, as council is unable to even maintain existing infrastructure, which is the priority. Its con-

Their assurance to reduce the duration of the construction period is indicative of a poorly developed plan. The only certainties with these vanity projects are: they under-deliver; they run way over budget; they are never delivered within their predicted timetable.

Does the Devonport Business Association still have any appetite to revisit and oppose this project?

If so, count me in.

David Learmouth

Hauraki power out for over 12 hours

Hauraki residents and the BP on Lake Rd lost power for more than 12 hours on Friday, 14 April. Vector workers coned off a section of the main road to fix a transformer fault, near the Northboro Rd corner.

Power was lost shortly after 9am and

restored before 11pm for homes in the immediate vicinity of the fault.

Vector told an affected Flagstaff worker that no-one had reported the fault until after 1pm, however, several affected householders said they had done so soon after losing power.

Year 12 Geographers Tackle the Tongariro Crossing

Bright and early late last month, just under 100 Year 12 geographers headed down the country to National Park to learn more about the Tongariro Volcanic Centre and carry out some geographic research. After not being able to make the trek down here in 2022, due to Covid protocols, it was great to have this trip underway again.

The weather for the crossing was fantastic and 94 students traversed the full distance of 19.4km, from Mangatepopo Valley to Ketetahi Springs, in about seven hours, with minimal complaint!

Year 12 geography students have been learning about the natural processes in Term 1. So it was helpful to then be able to physically experience the environment we had discussed in depth in class.

After the crossing, students rallied their tired feet to go out to collect some primary data for a 5-credit geographic research project. They were broken into groups and were each tasked with investigating differences in stream velocity, stream cross-section and vegetation characteristics between an upper and lower site on the flanks of Mt Ruapehu. We then headed back to our accommodation where the afternoon was spent presenting their data.

After two days of great weather, it finally turned on Monday, as we departed back for TGS. Overall, this was a fantastic and highly educational trip to a unique landscape and it was a wonderful reminder about how lucky we are to live and study in this stunning country.

William Mason – NZ Optimist & Starling Double Champion

Huge congratulations to Year 10 William Mason who over five days earlier this month won two national sailing regattas. Firstly the NZ Optimist title down at his home base of Wakatere Boating Club off Narrow Neck beach. Then, changing boat class, he won the Starling NZ title up at Manly, Whangaparaoa. This makes him the #1 Optimist and Starling sailor in New Zealand and Australasia.From everyone here at TGS, well done Will!

Tuakana Teina Mentoring Programme with Bayswater School

The Tuakana Teina Mentoring Programme between students in Year 9 at Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) and students in Years 5 and 6 at Bayswater primary school started this year with a session at Bayswater. We were welcomed onto Bayswater School (BS) with a haka performed by some of the Year 6 boys. The Year 9 students had prepared some activities to do with the primary-aged students with the aim to develop relationships and to get to know each other.

A group of TGS students led everyone in two different outdoor activities; they rose to the occasion and their leadership was exemplary. The Year 9s, 6s and 5s participated together and were observed by the primary-school teachers, who are now working on pairing the students so that they can work together during sessions for the rest of the year. The aim is for the teina (BS students) to be mentored in some aspects of their learning by the tuakana (TGS) this year. The programme was established through the Ka–hui Ako in 2018 and continues to thrive in its sixth year.

SERVICES OFFERED

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

FixIT Handymanexcellent work, practical budget, most jobs welcome, interior/ exterior free quote. Josh 021 261 8322. Garden maintenance. Organically. Professional, experienced. All services: Clearing, installing, food and/or ornamental, tree and hedge trimming and small tree removal. Soil and plant health improvement. Pre-sale and relet cleanup specialists. Contact Leah and team at Earthling 021 0262 4286 info@earthling.nz

SERVICES OFFERED

Need someone to feed your cat and other pets at your home while you’re away? I love animals and would love to help you! I am 11 years old and live in Devonport. I charge $5 per visit. Each visit I feed your pet and can play with them for about 10-15 minutes each visit if they are comfortable with me. I also send you pics of them so you don’t miss them too much! I always visit with one of my parents. Devonport only please! Text/call: 021-270-7677. Signs. Street signs, house signs, parking signs, warning signs, Rent/ Lease signs, magnetic signs, door signs, etc. Order on-line devonport.signs@gmail.com. Free delivery within the Flagstaff circulation area

WANTED

CASH PAID FOR CARS * VANS * UTES

* 4x4S x FORKLIFTS

*TRUCKS & MOTORHOMES 0800 20 30 60 24/7.

HOUSE-WASHING SERVICES

• SOFT HOUSE WASH

• PATHS, DRIVEWAYS

• SPIDER TREATMENTS

• ROOF WASH

• GUTTER WASH

• PRE-PAINT WASH

• MOSS MOULD TREATMENTS

Bioletti General & Fundraising Manager

SPONSORSHIP OF THE TRUST

Would you be willing to support the work we do across the Peninsula – events, meetings, forums, collaborations? If you might be willing to support us as we face the prospect of reduced Local Board funding, please contact me. We are about to launch a new website, and our sponsors will be well acknowledged on our new home page.

EMERGENCY MANAGMENT SUPPORT FOR BAYSWATER AND BELMONT COMMUNITIES

Are you willing to get involved? In an emergency, do you have skills or resources that could help your community?

We have scheduled a meeting at The Rose Centre at 7 pm Wednesday 26th April. Please attend if you can offer support, skills, or resources.

Please RSVP nigelbioletti@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz

Devonport Emergency Support Guidelines are available at www.devonportpeninsulatrust.nz

DEVONPORT SENIOR FORUM

Live local. Work local. ShoreJobs.co.nz

Assistant Tennis Coach

Tennis Plus is seeking an experienced, professional, and personable Assistant Tennis Coach to work alongside the coaching team at Ngataringa Tennis Club, Stanley Bay, Devonport, Auckland. You will coach Tots, Minis, Juniors and Adult programmes individually and in small groups including some offsite programmes (e.g. at schools and local event days) and be actively involved in our Club’s Tournaments & events.

Ngataringa Tennis Club is a mid-sized club (200 minis and juniors and 150 adults), with a true club feeling and is an active part of the Devonport community.  Located in Stanley Bay Park, which overlooks Auckland city, the club has a very social and friendly vibe.

This is a contracted role so open to NZ citizens and residents (work visa holders cannot be considered).

Experienced and qualified applicants please email Lucien at admin@tennisplus.co.nz with your C.V. and references.

Primary Care Nurse

We have a vacancy for an experienced, clinically excellent Registered Nurse working across both our Hauraki and Devonport clinics. We can be negotiable and flexible on working hours across the week.

We are looking for someone with an ability to work with GPs in acute situations, who has a high standard of clinical performance and compassionate caring values. You need to be tech savvy and accurate with documentation. Reliability, initiative and dependability a must.

In return you will be encouraged to work at the top of your scope, be part of a supportive fun team and a practice that embraces innovation and positive change. If you choose to join us, we will offer you competitive remuneration to fit your excellent skills and experience.

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to our Nurse Lead, Emma Faircloth at nurselead@medplus.co.nz or phone for a confidential discussion.

We had a great meeting on April 13th, with a number of new attendees. Shanan Halbert, MP for Northcote, spoke with the group about infrastructure, emergency management, the Auckland Council budget proposal. It was a really good discussion. If you would like to join this enthusiastic group, email me. ‘WASTE

MINIMISATION’ OR ‘REDUCE – REUSE – RECYCLE’

Please email me if you are interested in joining with others who have expressed interest already.

HOLIDAY FUN

I am working from the Devonport Community House. This week, the house holiday programme has been running. The children have had a great time, with lots of fun activities. Full credit to Mana Harknett, who manages the programme.

For information about the events and activities happening on the Peninsula, don’t forget that you can go to www.devonportpeninsulatrust. nz, and view (and possibly subscribe to) our E-News.

shorejobs

FOR SALE

Milford Villas | Final Developer Release

REGISTER HERE: www.milfordvillas.com

4 units left in the final developer release (upgraded specifications), you'll need to act fast to secure your spot in one of the North Shore's most sought-after suburbs. Only months away from completion, and you can be in your new home by Q3 2023.

• Unit 17 - 2 Bedroom townhouse priced at $969,000

• Unit 29 - 3 Bedroom townhouse priced at $1,279,000

• Unit 9 - 3 Bedroom townhouse priced at $1,389,000

• Unit 31 - 3 Bedroom townhouse priced at $1,389,000

Another quality development by Gibbons Co. in collaboration with Novak+ Middleton Architects.

rwremuera.co.nz/RMU37014

For Sale

Prices from $969,000

2-3A1-2B1L1C

Alex Smith 027 772 5552

alex.smith@raywhite.com

View Register online: www.milfordvillas.com

Ryan Dixon 027 632 3285

ryan.dixon@raywhite.com

Jade Dynasty

This bold kitchen design forms the centrepiece of a new-build home with an expansive floor plan for a family with two pre-schoolers. The clients’ brief for their new kitchen was precise, says Kitchens By Design designer Marianne Gailer, an Elite Designer of the NKBA.

“Primarily, they wanted a warm and inviting feel, with lots of practical storage solutions, plus dedicated seating for family breakfasts. They also requested a scullery for Chinese cooking,” says Marianne. “They also wanted a wow factor ‘feature’ of some sort, and their preference was for an island, but were concerned about being seen while prepping food and cleaning up.”

Armed with this long list of requests, Marianne came up with a clever design, where the cooking, cleaning and preparation stations are located at one side of the kitchen space, creating an excellent work triangle for the ‘cook’ and at the other side, a space dedicated to casual seating and a ‘hang out’ for the kids, with toy storage underneath. The low built-in seating is a great spot for homework and snacking, and a double bi-fold door swings back to reveal the perfect breakfast and baking station.

The star of the show, however, is the island, with its hand-picked slab of jade marble framed in American oak and highlighted by LED lighting. This raised ‘block’ of marble hides the benchtop behind it, giving separation from the open-plan dining/living area. As a finishing touch, the designer specified mirrored toe-kicks to give the island a floating look.

The primary cooking area has been placed along the back wall to avoid onlookers. A matching jade marble splashback, along with integrating the fridge into the full-height cabinetry, gives the kitchen a seamless look, says the designer. The scullery behind the ‘secret door’ is where the Chinese cooking takes place. It has a second fridge, ample storage, with cooking and cleaning station, and a second bin next to the sink.

The experienced team at Kitchens By Design offers an integrated design-tocompletion service. If you’re looking for a new kitchen, please call (09) 379 3084 to make an appointment with one of their designers. Kitchens By Design’s showroom is located at 3 Byron Ave in Takapuna. For inspiration, take a look at some fabulous projects at www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz

Make an appointment our hours are Thursday-Saturday 10am-2pm by appointment

3 Byron Avenue, Takapuna (09) 379 3084

kitchensbydesign.co.nz

Grand homes require grand design – particularly when it comes to the kitchen, which sets the scene for the rest of the home’s décor.

FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDERS

FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDERS

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ‘THE ROAR’AND GAME BIRD SEASON

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ‘THE ROAR’AND GAME BIRD SEASON

Information

from Te Tari Pūreke the Firearms Safety Authority

If you’re a firearms licence holder, you’ll need to know about changes to the storage and transport rules for firearms and ammunition, and changes to the seven rules of firearms safety.

If you’re a firearms licence holder, you’ll need to know about changes to the storage and transport rules for firearms and ammunition, and changes to the seven rules of firearms safety.

Regulations were updated in February 2022, and to help Kiwis make sense of those changes, Te Tari Pūreke, the new firearms regulator, published a Secure Storage and Transport Guide.

Regulations were updated in February 2022, and to help Kiwis make sense of those changes, Te Tari Pūreke, the new firearms regulator, published a Secure Storage and Transport Guide.

You can download a copy of the Secure Storage and Transport Guide from www.firearmssafetyauthority. govt.nz/firearms-safety

You can download a copy of the Secure Storage and Transport Guide from www.firearmssafetyauthority. govt.nz/firearms-safety

Storage and transport for firearms and ammunition, key points

Storage and transport for firearms and ammunition, key points

Transportation Ammunition

Transportation Ammunition

If you’re driving to a hunting location, your firearm needs to be inoperable during your travel and, ideally, concealed from view. This means removing the bolt or an essential part (or if that’s not possible, applying a trigger or cable lock), or transporting the firearm in a locked carry case.

If you’re driving to a hunting location, your firearm needs to be inoperable during your travel and, ideally, concealed from view. This means removing the bolt or an essential part (or if that’s not possible, applying a trigger or cable lock), or transporting the firearm in a locked carry case.

The ammunition needs to be separately and securely stored in a locked glove box or similar storage area, if practical.

The ammunition needs to be separately and securely stored in a locked glove box or similar storage area, if practical.

And please, whatever you do, once you’ve finished using your firearm, lock it away. Never leave any firearms in your ute, shed, home or vehicle unsecured at any time. The only exceptions to the firearms and ammunition transport rules are if you’re using the firearm on a farm for farm-related activities, or you’re doing legallyauthorised hunting or pest control (such as a regional council employed pest controller) and the licence holder is in the vehicle or the immediately vicinity of the vehicle with the firearms in it.

And please, whatever you do, once you’ve finished using your firearm, lock it away. Never leave any firearms in your ute, shed, home or vehicle unsecured at any time. The only exceptions to the firearms and ammunition transport rules are if you’re using the firearm on a farm for farm-related activities, or you’re doing legallyauthorised hunting or pest control (such as a regional council employed pest controller) and the licence holder is in the vehicle or the immediately vicinity of the vehicle with the firearms in it.

Make sure you read or download a free copy of the storage and transport guide to keep up to date with the details of the changes: www. firearmssafetyauthority. govt.nz/firearms-safety/ storage-transportation

Make sure you read or download a free copy of the storage and transport guide to keep up to date with the details of the changes: www. firearmssafetyauthority. govt.nz/firearms-safety/ storage-transportation

All ammunition must now be stored in a locked container. You can now only store ammunition with firearms in a gun safe that has a separate lockable compartment with a different key than the key for the gun safe. You must keep these keys separate.

All ammunition must now be stored in a locked container. You can now only store ammunition with firearms in a gun safe that has a separate lockable compartment with a different key than the key for the gun safe. You must keep these keys separate.

If your safe doesn’t have a separate lockable compartment, you need to store ammunition in its own secure storage container with a key, combination, or padlock, or in a stout locked cupboard.

If your safe doesn’t have a separate lockable compartment, you need to store ammunition in its own secure storage container with a key, combination, or padlock, or in a stout locked cupboard.

Taking a break when you’re travelling with firearms

Taking a break when you’re travelling with firearms

For those who travel with firearms to hunt locations, your inoperable and secured firearm can be left in your vehicle unattended, for example during a break in a journey, for up to 60 minutes. But you need to lock your vehicle and stay within the immediate area or vicinity of the vehicle and meet other conditions.

For those who travel with firearms to hunt locations, your inoperable and secured firearm can be left in your vehicle unattended, for example during a break in a journey, for up to 60 minutes. But you need to lock your vehicle and stay within the immediate area or vicinity of the vehicle and meet other conditions.

Read the storage and transport guide for full details: www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/ firearms-safety/storage-transportation.

Read the storage and transport guide for full details: www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/ firearms-safety/storage-transportation.

Under no circumstances can firearms, ammunition or other arms items be left in a vehicle overnight.

Under no circumstances can firearms, ammunition or other arms items be left in a vehicle overnight.

Information from Te Tari Pūreke the Firearms Safety Authority

The seven rules of firearm safety have changed.

The seven rules of firearm safety have changed.

Get ahead of the changes to firearms safety rules with the Firearms Safety Code. Buy the book from www. firearmssafetyauthority.govt. nz/firearms-safety and have it shipped to your door or download a PDF copy for free.

Get ahead of the changes to firearms safety rules with the Firearms Safety Code.

Buy the book from www. firearmssafetyauthority.govt. nz/firearms-safety and have it shipped to your door or download a PDF copy for free.

The 7 rules of firearm safety

The 7 rules of firearm safety

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Treat every firearm as loaded

Treat every firearm as loaded

Always point firearms in a safe direction

Always point firearms in a safe direction

Chamber a cartridge only when ready to fire

Chamber a cartridge only when ready to fire

Identify your target beyond all doubt

Identify your target beyond all doubt

Check your firing zone

Check your firing zone

Store and transport firearms and ammunition safely

Store and transport firearms and ammunition safely

Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms

Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms

Firearms licences online

Firearms licences online

Apply for a firearms licence and update your contact details online using MyFirearms: a secure, online portal available at www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz

Apply for a firearms licence and update your contact details online using MyFirearms: a secure, online portal available at www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz

There will be no charge to registering your firearms.

There will be no charge to registering your firearms.

Te Tari Pūreke and the firearms registry

Te Tari Pūreke and the firearms registry

Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority is responsible for managing firearms in New Zealand. We want to enable the legitimate use of firearms for feeding our whanau, conservation, farming and recreation while keeping our communities safe. This involves making sure firearms licence holders are fit and proper to possess firearms and are meeting the obligations of their licence.

Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority is responsible for managing firearms in New Zealand.

We want to enable the legitimate use of firearms for feeding our whanau, conservation, farming and recreation while keeping our communities safe. This involves making sure firearms licence holders are fit and proper to possess firearms and are meeting the obligations of their licence.

New Zealand will have a firearms registry from 24 June 2023. The Registry is one of the ways Te Tari Pūreke is strengthening how firearms are managed in New Zealand.

New Zealand will have a firearms registry from 24 June 2023. The Registry is one of the ways Te Tari Pūreke is strengthening how firearms are managed in New Zealand.

Devonport artist

Max Thomson depicts Devonport in landscapes that are at once familiar, but conjure up moody vistas through the use of heavily textured brush strokes.

“These things are all there, but I’ve reimagined them,” is how the artist puts it.

The evocative imagery and play of light and shadow make extra sense when Thomson talks of his transition from a long and noteworthy career in photography to painting. From the the 1970s on, he focused on fashion shoots and advertising work; now, it’s his beloved neighbourhood.

His latest exhibition – titled The Walk, because it includes scenes he spotted when out with his dog Barley – will open at Depot Artspace next week. It is the first he has held locally. Included in around 18 paintings Thomson will hang are impressionistic views of parks and pathways, homes and gardens.

It is not easy to guess that one menacingly dark treescape is on the Waitemata Golf Course.

“I start with something that’s appealing for some reason, the landscape, and then stay fairly true to it and move it around and make it my own.”

There’s Cambridge Tce reframed and a sunnier Arts and Crafts house on King Edward Pde, glimpsed between cypress trees. Cypress are also planted at the side of the hillside home Thomson has lived in for 10 years.

The owner of another character villa with a topiary garden may not immediately recognise the home, given Thomson has exercised his artistic licence to expand the front yard into Renaissance-style proportions. A side view of the Art Deco apartments on the corner above the Victoria Theatre proves simpler for a viewer to locate.

Thomson says he did not set out to do a Devonport exhibition. It evolved over several years. His studio – in a front room filled with art and books and with canvases propped against walls – is on the opposite side of the home’s

23rd APRIL, 3pm

Family Fun Magic & Illusion Show

24th APRIL, 6pm

Rock n Magic Show

24th APRIL, 8:30pm

All For Peace, ANZAC Brass Band Tribute

25th APRIL, 4pm

The Sound of Music Movie Sing-Along!

27th APRIL, 7pm

A Night of Beautiful Music with Soprano Moonyoung

Jang & Pianist Sandy Lynch

28th APRIL, 7:30pm

Studio scene... A painting inspired by a view of the corner of Kerr St and Victoria Rd. Artist Max Thomson works in his busy home studio on scenes that inspire him when out walking.

finds inspiration in streetscapes close to home

distractingly good harbour views. He and wife Chrissie insist the outlook is not what drew them to buy the place, but they are content they made the move from the city. “We’ve been well settled – since we first arrived,” says Max.

They recall driving up the street by chance and spotting an open home. What sealed the deal was when they wandered down Victoria Rd for a cup of coffee to realise “it was all here… a movie theatre, a supermarket… everything you need.”

Originally from Whanganui, Thomson moved to Auckland in his teens and after a few years as a rock’n’roll musician found a longer-term creative calling as a professional photographer. “When I was at school they always said I would be an artist.”

Although he always sketched, it wasn’t until he was well into his 50s that the now 77-yearold took up the brushes.

“My son’s paints from when he was at school were always sitting down in the basement. I said I would pick them up one day”

After he heard an item on the radio about trying something rather than waiting for inspiration to strike, he says: “I started and never stopped. I think I should have been painting all the time.”

But he enjoyed his 35 years behind the lens, including shoots on the first issues of Fashion Quarterly magazine and being a co-founder of Cha Cha magazine, with Rip It Up editor Murray Cammick. After two years of juggling working on that influential independent magazine, he focused more on paying gigs, leaving Cha Cha with Cammick and stylist and editor Ngila Dickson, who went on to win an Academy Award for costume design.

“It was such a great time,” Thomson recalls of the 1980s. Auckland was finding its fashion feet, with independent designer labels able to operate at a smaller scale than is now possible. He remembers going to Japan for a shoot on the same flight as Elisabeth and Neville Findlay, who founded Zambesi, and with future international top model Angela Dunn.

A retrospective exhibition of Thomson’s fashion photography was held at Whitespace gallery in 2009, and his shots feature in New Zealand fashion history book The Dress Circle

Since embracing painting full-time, Thomson has had a series of solo shows at city galleries. He has painted portraits, but it is the natural world to which he remains most drawn. He uses acrylics and prefers his work to explain itself, but he thinks it appeals to a range of ages, adding “it’s not modern and hip”.

Watching visitors to the village do as he does – snap photos on their phones – underlines for him how unique Devonport is.

“It shouldn’t be mucked around with,” he says. He believes the heritage character – a ready-made tourist attraction – needs safeguarding. “Any suggestion of putting up three-storeys is criminal.”

• The Walk exhibition runs from 29 April to 30 May at Depot Artspace, 28 Clarence St.

Portrait of the artist’s dog... Max Thomson’s terrier Barley with some of his master’s canvases

DEVONPORT | 40 ARAMOANA AVENUE

Quintessential Modern Residence

This modern immaculately presented weatherboard home with double glazing offers an abundance of space, sun and is set on a freehold 371sqm (approx) section. Featuring 4 spacious bedrooms, 2 stylish bathrooms (incl ensuite) plus guest wc, multiple living areas, stunning open plan kitchen, garage with internal access. In close proximity to all that Devonport and Takapuna has to offer.

premium.co.nz/80400

VIEW | BY APPOINTMENT

PRICE | BY NEGOTIATION

ROBERT MILNE 022 011 2494

RICHARD MILNE 021 770 611 | OFFICE 916 6000

TAKAPUNA | PD/7

THE PROMENADE

Affordable Tranquil Beachfront Penthouse

Enjoy morning coffees on your expansive balcony with intimate views of iconic Takapuna Beach, framed by Pohutukawa trees. Only the sounds of the sea can be heard from this private, elevated position. This apartment offers a lift and a single-level floor plan with two bedrooms, one of which can be used as a separate lounge if desired, plus one study and two bathrooms.

premium.co.nz/80415

VIEW | BY APPT OR MEET AT GATE SUN 11.30 AM

PRICE | $2.995M

PRUDENCE FOSTER 027 486 7783

EMMERSEN FOSTER 021 261 8231 | OFFICE 916 6000

TAKAPUNA | 12/12 BURNS AVENUE

Boutique New Penthouse

Brand new ready to move in! Positioned on the northern corner of this boutique project. Two stories, two bedrooms, fab master bedroom suite, walk in wardrobe, opening to its own private deck. 92m internal plus outdoors. The spacious living opens to sunny deck as well, the kitchen is generous and excellent quality with laundry adjacent. 92sqm internal space plus two decks. Unique and modern design. One carpark included. BC Fee $4,775 approx.

premium.co.nz/80397

VIEW | SUN 2.30 - 3 PM OR BY APPT

AUCTION | ON SITE 11 MAY 2023 AT 4 PM UNLESS SOLD PRIOR

ALISON PARKER 021 983 533

GERRY PETRIE 021 923 352 | OFFICE 916 6000