25 November 2022 Rangitoto Observer

Blood Service desperate for North Shore donors... p6 IRD considers alternatives to Takapuna offices... p3

School sports aces take aim at next goals... p11

Coastal track access threatened by council stance

A section of the popular Takapuna-to-Mil ford coastal walkway seems at risk of closure following the failure of negotiations over private land crossed by the path.

Following the collapse of a bridge on the walkway in 2011, the public has had informal access through a coastal property at Black Rock.

This was allowed by owner Paul Firth, who died in 2021, and the multiple beneficiaries who have inherited the property.

Now, after years of negotiation, Auckland Council officers have backed away from pro posals for council to preserve public access by buying the property, or at least an easement over

Here comes summer!

the strip the path crosses.

They say the path through the Firth property will instead be “fenced off” from the adjacent council reserve.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2018 on how the property might be

Just chillin’... Carmel College students (from left) Libby Clinton with Isla and Alice Gillies enjoyed the sunshine – and treats – at the school’s Christmas Market last weekend

Private security guards will patrol reserves

A plan to crack down on rule-breakers on public reserves and beaches this summer has been drawn up by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.

Private security guards will be contracted to patrol reserves over the Christmas-New Year period, alerting rostered council staff if infringement notices have to be issued.

“A security officer is a bit more of a serious-looking face [compared] to a nice person with a clipboard,” said North Shore councillor Richard Hills.

Hills told the Observer problems last year had convinced the council team to look at beefing up its response. Armourguard had been contracted for a time when council staffing was stretched and most staff were on annual leave.

“We can’t force staff to work over Christ mas periods,” he said. Council had a backlog of staff leave.

The move follows cases of camping on North Shore reserves during the last summer holiday period, including at Castor Bay and Browns Bay, where groups set up for multi ple nights at a time. Other issues were with people driving onto grass areas and beaches.

Council staff were unavailable to attend and police reluctant to get involved in mat ters relating to council bylaws rather than being criminal offences.

This upset residents seeking action and prompted the Castor Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association to call for better monitoring and enforcement this year.

A neighbour of Castor Bay reserve, for mer MP Ian Revell, took his concerns about a repeat of problems to the Devonport-Taka puna Local Board’s monthly meeting last week, saying residents needed to be given a clear steer on how to contact council staff with any concerns.

Cases of camping had been building up over several years as groups realised they could get away with it, he said. “These

groups do not respond to polite requests.” Residents asking people to move on had been abused.

Revell said he had left up to a dozen mes sages last year and later found out only one female staff member was on duty.

Revell and board member George Wood said they wanted an assurance that council staff would be available as needed. Wood said the previous board chair, Ruth Jack son, had been at the beach with four police officers last summer, waiting for someone to turn up from council.

Board chair Toni van Tonder said the allocation of more resources this year should help. Board senior adviser Maureen Buchanan said the approach would still be to educate people first, before taking action.

Board member Terence Harpur told the Observer that it was “really hard to make people move along” and that police might need to become involved with determined campers.

He told of a case in Browns Bay last year when campers even hooked into a power supply.

Signage has been put up at Castor Bay making it clear driving on the beach is not allowed.

Hills said the cost of taking prosecutions was an issue for the council. Changes to the Reserves Act had made it easier for councils to fine people, but in some areas this was constrained by legislation with, for instance, fines for some parking breaches being less than the cost of paying for parking itself.

People also had to be careful not to jump to conclusions about what others were doing, he said.

“We can’t stop people putting up a gazebo for the day, but we can stop them from doing it overnight.”

Hills urged people to complain through the council’s website rather than just on social media. Police and the council could then have a record of issues.

Wheelie good fun

Sunnynook is counting down to its Christmas Family Bike Ride in Sunnynook Park on Thursday 8 December from 5pm to 6.30pm. Locals are invited to wear Christmas costumes and bring a picnic.

Takapuna wins big

Takapuna Rugby Club scored some of the top awards at the North Harbour prize giving. These included: premier club player of the year – Kade Banks; club coaches of the year – Aaron Katipa, Cory Aporo and Paul Feeney; most successful club in the union; Maori senior player of the year – Scott Houston. In NPC awards, Takapuna’s Bryn Gatland won the North Harbour Supporters Club Player of the Year; Players’ Player of the Year and Coaches’ Player of the Year.

IRD mulls alternatives to big Takapuna premises

Takapuna is at risk of losing another big em ployer, with the Inland Revenue Department reviewing its local premises.

The lease on the department’s North Shore offices in a Byron Ave building is up for renew al in 2024, prompting it to consider its options.

More than 350 staff are based at the Takapuna premises (pictured).

The review has sparked concern the opera tion might move north.

“I’d love them to stay in central Takapuna, obviously,” said Takapuna Beach Business Association chief executive Terence Harpur. “I don’t want them to move to Albany.”

He noted that some businesses preferred new purpose-designed accommodation.

An IRD spokesperson said reviewing office space and considering other options was “stand ard process” when a lease ended.

“That is what is happening with the Taka puna office right now and no decisions have been made.”

The department has also responded to an inquiry from North Shore MP Simon Watts,

telling him that as leases expired and buildings aged, it would “consider opportunities to relo cate into more modern office accommodation”.

Operationally, it had no plans to adjust the services it offered on the North Shore.

The highest-profile public service to move out of Takapuna was the police, these days based in Constellation Dr.

Insurance companies moved to new prem ises at Smales Farm, while the BNZ commis sioned purpose-designed space in Corinthian Dr, Albany.

Harpur said that in the office sector, Taka puna was competing against a surplus of space now available in Auckland CBD, particularly mid-town, and that its prices were also gener ally higher than in Parnell and Albany.

But good spaces in central Takapuna were still sought after, he said.

The area lacked enough large A-grade office space for some tenants, but its attractiveness and positioning near the city and motorway were drawcards. Add in its bus links, 4000 car-parks and intensifying local housing and he was optimistic.

The former council buildings on the Strand had recently been refitted, with Partners Life moving into offices there.

Future transport upgrades would only add to the appeal, he said. A second harbour crossing was desperately needed.

Harpur said Takapuna was in line for some big developments, with work going on behind the scenes for consenting on several high-pro file vacant sites. Retail had its challenges, but sales data was now trending upwards.

Council cans plan to preserve walkway access

From page 1

transferred into public ownership.

Council this year conducted a review of the financial implications of the proposal, and the viability and cost of securing a permanent rightof-way easement over the property.

“That review has confirmed that the council is unable to progress the Memorandum of Understanding, nor does it now intend to seek a right-of-way easement over the property,” council specialist technical statutory adviser for community facilities Wendy Morrice said in an email seen by the Observer.

“All current informal access over the prop erty via the council reserve will be fenced off.

“Officers will seek ratification of this review and these recommendations from the Govern ing Body in due course,” Morrice said.

Alex Witten-Hannah, lawyer for the estate of the Firth families, was shocked at the talk of closure.

“Notwithstanding that Auckland Council does not own the land over which the foreshore walkway crosses the Firth Estate property, it has advised that it intends to fence the access off.

“The loss of the walkway would be a loss to thousands of people who walk between Milford and Takapuna along the foreshore.

“The intention of Auckland Council to uni laterally close it is incredible,” Witten-Hannah said.

With an apparent end to negotiations with council, Witten-Hannah said the estates of the Firth families would “be delighted if a philan thropist would be prepared to purchase the property on the basis that the walkway would be retained for public use in perpetuity and for the Firth cottage to be restored and maintained, perhaps for ‘Writers in Residence’.”

The move to end negotiations is a surprise as,

Closure looms... Auckland Council officers plan to fence off the informal public access in front of the Firth house (at left).

A remaining wooden pile from the former bridge can be seen at right.

in June, council still appeared open to acquiring access via an easement.

An email from Morrice on 28 June tells of a recommendation to council’s finance and performance committee that council decline to purchase the property. “The alternative recom mended option is that council pursues negoti ations to only acquire a formal easement over the public walkway that currently encroaches over a portion of the property.”

It is understood half of the Firth beneficiaries want to donate the property to the council, for public use, while the other half want to sub divide it, with council purchasing the coastal edge for public use at a discount – half its market value.

Members of the previous Devonport-Taka puna Local Board had suggested the property could be purchased with funds from any sale of Takapuna community assets. The former library at No 2 The Strand is being readied for sale by Panuku.

A decision is also pending on what to do with the Takapuna Library, the neighbouring community sevices building and the Mary Thomas Centre.

The new board, elected last month, is ex pected to consider four options from Panuku in the New Year. These range from retaining some or all of these ageing buildings to using funds from selling them to build a new library and services hub in the Takapuna town square.

Hills lands major role while Darby’s reduces

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

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

Hills, who last term chaired the environ ment and climate-change committee, said he was honoured to take on what was a “pretty significant” new job. He will chair a merged planning, environment and parks committee, one of two that all councillors sit on.

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

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

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

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

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

The two North Shore councillors have worked closely on issues such as champion ing the Hurstmere Rd overhaul, water-quality drives, and fighting to retain funds for a Lake Rd upgrade.

But Darby expressed concern about the workload of the new committee chaired by Hills. “I told the mayor that the super-commit tee is unrealistic.” On top of existing work

loads, resource-management changes loomed.

After being left “pretty exhausted” after two terms as planning committee chair – which included leading the response to housing in tensification plans – Darby said he had asked Brown for a new challenge.

He said he had reiterated his interest in transport, having spent time as the councillor on Auckland Transport’s (AT’s) board.

Darby said advancing smaller town-centre improvement plans would be a new focus for

him. Sunnynook was an area ripe for improve ment. The metropolitan centre upgrade of Taka puna had more work to be done also, he said.

In an indication of his continuing interest in transport, Darby was at Smales Farm for Transport Minister Michael Wood’s recent an nouncement the government would firm up its plans for a second harbour crossing – bridge or tunnel – after public consultation, with the aim of work starting this decade. The project would have a cycle connection in the mix, Wood said.

Budget shortfall focuses council on ‘efficiencies’

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

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

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

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

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

But the council would have to look for more efficiencies across the board, Hills said, with the aim of keeping rates rises in check.

“The mayor has said everyone has to look for savings, across CCOs, and all departments and local boards.”

Hills says he will push hard for water-qual ity work to continue, including in the Wairau

catchment. The water-quality targeted rate was ring-fenced and had not been raised for review. Major works already under way in Milford and Castor Bay would continue.

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

He had highlighted this to Brown as a particular risk in the transport sector, where a shortage of bus drivers has forced the cancel lation of services, including on the Northern Busway.

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

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

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

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

The mayor had put out press statements leaving Darby wondering if he had received a good briefing. But he brought an energy for change, Darby said. He wanted to hear more from the mayor about his vision for the city, as this would inform budget settings.

Brown is taking a more direct hand steering council finances, having disestablished the finance committee. He has set up a separate ex penditure control and procurement committee, chaired by former National Party MP Maurice Williamson, to look for savings.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Toni van Tonder said the budget outlook was “pretty grim”. How this impacted on boards was yet to be spelled out. She hoped for more decision-making powers over local assets.

Staff shortages were challenging the flow of advice and delivery times. “We won’t be delivering any fancy new facilities,” she added.

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

Briefs

Long-time member’s service acknowledged

New local board rattles through business in double-quick time

The newly elected Devonport-Takapuna

Local Board sped through its first monthly meeting last week, skirting one tricky issue and keeping submitters on a stopwatch.

The meeting took less than two hours, albeit with a slimmer agenda than is often the case.

Local-body veteran Jan O’Connor’s many years of service were recognised at the first meeting of the new DevonportTakapuna Local Board.

The Hauraki resident (pictured) was first elected to the Takapuna City Council in 1986, going on to serve on the North Shore City Council before being elected four times to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. She stood unsuccessfully in last month’s board election.

Member George Wood, who has known O’Connor for decades, described her as “a wonderful servant of the North Shore and a wonderful character”.

Chair Toni van Tonder said she was a real champion of the people she represented.

O’Connor, who has also served as a patron and trustee of community and sports organisations, was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2019.

Last term, meetings often took more than twice as long, sometimes stretching from 2pm into the evening, pushing council staff into out-of-hours attendance. This term, meetings are starting at 10am.

Acknowledgments were made to former board member Jan O’Connor for her 36 years of local-body service and to outgoing board-area manager Eric Perry, who is mov ing to a new council role. Asked how many meetings he had attended in his decade or so working on the Shore, Perry joked:” “I’m trying to forget a lot of them.”

New board member and events organiser Peter Allen declared a financial conflict of interest when the board dealt with a recom mendation from council staff that an $8000 grant approved by the board in 2021 for Allen’s Seven Events company be transferred from one community event to another.

After the Christmas by the Lake event was postponed then cancelled, the proposal was to repurpose the money for use on the Milford Christmas Festival this year. But the meeting heard that the festival was no longer being run by Seven Events so it could not be supported.

Board chair Toni van Tonder recommended that the application be declined.

All five members who voted on the issue supported her recommendation. Allen took no part.

The Milford Business Association (MBA) is staging the Christmas event and has already received board funding for the purpose.

“In effect, it would be like double dipping,” van Tonder said.

When member Terence Harpur asked if the Christmas event would go ahead without the extra money, council staff said it would.

Member George Wood said the MBA received quite a substantial amount from the board and he would like to see grants and applications better spread.

In its community forum, two members of the public were given short slots to raise their concerns about campers and illegal parking on public reserves.North Shore Grey Power president Bill Rayner spoke to welcome the board and to call for the retention of more council housing in the area.

North Shore councillor Richard Hills also made an appearance, saying he and fellow councillor Chris Darby were keen to hear from the board.

“There’s going to be a lot of difficult choic es,” he said of budget pressures on the council.

Hills agreed to meet and brief board members.

Beach drain flow ‘not from toilets’

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

It is caused by formation of a sand bar down stream of the outlet, said council’s Healthy Waters customer engagement manager, Susan Mitchell.

Locals have expressed concern at the flow of water, and the accumulation of scum and debris in the pond on the beach. They wondered if the issue might relate to work on the nearby toilet block, which began in late October.

Mitchell said water backlogs frequently occur at streams and beach drain outlets.

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

Meanwhile, the council’s area operations manager, Sarah Jones, said the toilets were scheduled to reopen in mid-December. Two temporary toilets have been provided.

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

Blood service urgently seeks more North Shore donors

The New Zealand Blood Service’s North Shore Donor Centre is desperately look ing for more donors to help catch up with demand.

The centre on Lake Rd, Takapuna, wants 700 new plasma donors and a 10 per cent rise in blood donors.

Although the number of donors has dropped slightly – down to 3 per cent of the population from nearer to 4 per cent a year ago – the service says the main reason it is urgently seeking new donors is to meet increasing medical demand.

Plasma demand is increasing by over 12 per cent annually.

Blood can only be stored for 35 days once donated, which means a consistent flow of donations is needed.

The service’s donor-relations team leader, Scott Sinclair, said it needed people to move donating up their priority list.

Doing so could directly save people’s lives. “There’s not many opportunities to jump in front of a bus to save someone. This is something that is tangible, it’s lifesaving and it’s meaningful.”

If people cannot commit to regular dona

tions, even doing so twice a year can help take pressure off regular donors.

New Zealand imports 12 per cent of its plasma products from the United States. If it were fully self-sufficient, this would guarantee security of supply.

“We’re almost self-sufficient... but there’s a real risk for small-fish New Zealand that America shuts off the door because they’ve got to supply their own population.”

The blood service is looking at removing an existing donor ban on anyone who lived in the UK, Ireland and France from 1980-96 due to the “mad cow disease” outbreak in those countries.

This is so more potential donors can become eligible, following in the footsteps of other nations such as Australia and the United States, which have lifted their re spective bans.

“We’re pretty confident it’s going happen and it’s just a matter of time, and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair said calling 0800 448 325, vis iting the Blood Services website or down loading its app are the best ways to access information and begin donating.

Hospice rebuild project comes in early

Harbour Hospice is set to finish a $20 million redevelopment of its North Shore base in Taka puna’s Shea Tce by Christmas – four months earlier than expected.

“It’s the best early Christmas present for our community and everyone involved,” said Harbour Hospice chief executive Jan Nichols.

Demand has continued to grow for free palliative care, prompting the 18-month ren ovation project, which successfully navigated two Covid-19 lockdowns.

Nichols said $400,000 of the original $10

million fundraising target was still needed. “We’re almost there thanks to the enormous generosity of donors, supporters, trusts and organisations, as well as individuals.”

The inpatient unit reopened in January. Sup port services, including outpatient and therapy clinics, and more whanau space, will open in the new building early next year.

Meanwhile, Hospice’s Christmas bauble and ‘Trees of Remembrance’ appeal is under way in North Shore Farmers stores, running until 24 December.

Firm’s founder finds many share her love of chocolate

The sweet taste of success is an early Christmas present for House of Choco late founder and owner Dianne Sussex (pictured). Having her business named winner of the Best Sweet Treat in the Taste of Takapuna People’s Choice Awards is also confirmation she made the right decision opening her dessert café in the suburb nearly a decade ago.

“This really is our flagship café,” she says. To have its popularity confirmed by public vote was especially pleasing for what was a second time after several tough years. It was also a nice lead into what is the busiest time of year in sales for the specialty chocolate retailer and wholesaler.

Sussex was among a big gathering of hospitality business owners and staff at the awards announcement this month.

The Takapuna Beach Business Associa tion received more than 6000 votes across the six categories of the annual awards it organises. Its chief executive, Terence Harpur, told the Observer: “The takeaway for me is the love of our community for our hospitality in Takapuna.”

Voting in many of the categories, espe cially for best coffee, was very close.

No stranger to winning industry awards over the years, Sussex said she thought Taste of Takapuna provided a good way for members of the public to have a say. “It’s a really nice community thing. And it’s of

value to us in the community as well.”

Other delighted winners included the family team behind Flying Horse, with the long-established Chinese eatery named Best Takeaway for a second award in a row. Best Restaurant went to Tok Tok; Best Café, Honey; Best Drinks, Regatta Bar & Eatery; and Best Coffee, Takapuna Beach Café and Store.

With around 15 per cent of Takapuna’s business coming from the hospitality sector, which has been hard hit by Covid disrup tions, many are hoping the busy lead-in to Christmas is the start of an ongoing upturn.

Sussex is optimistic, although she says securing staff is a challenge for everyone. Locally, student workers have been a good

help in her café but the House of Chocolate also has a factory and store in Beach Haven to staff and it distrib utes and services clients across New Zealand and a few export accounts.

English-born Sussex has lived in New Zealand since 1990 and began her business 22 years ago. “I’ve always had a love of chocolate,” she says. Despite early food training, she followed a corporate path, doing a little catering on the side. When her children were older she followed her passion.

“We saw that Takapuna was a good fit for us,” she says of expanding with the dessert café. Workers and a growing pool of residents who visit the store down an arcade off Hurstmere Rd will find it well stocked with seasonal treats.

New in are boxed white chocolate trees, with Sussex saying: “The caramel-gold has been huge this year.” Ruby chocolate, a coloured version of white chocolate, is also attracting interest. Despite the greater presence of vegan and dark chocolate on shelves, Sussex says old favourites remain the most popular, such as Christmas crack ers with chocolate tokens inside. Advent calendars are also being snapped up.

“I don’t think over the years tastes have changed very much. The majority of the market is still after dairy milk-style choco late,” she says.

Students get botanical with herbs and tiles

Wairau Intermediate School students have been busy beautifying their school and working on an art project for the community.

Student volunteers have planted a kitchen garden in a large concrete planter to learn to harvest and dry herbs.

These will be used to make toppings for food technology classes, to be sprinkled on the likes of pizzas.

Year 7 and 8 students are also in the pro cess of finishing around a dozen tiles with botanical designs that match local street names. These will be fixed to a map of the suburb, on the back of the colourful mural outside the main entrance to the Sunnynook Community Centre.

The mural shows noted early New Zea land botanist Dr Leonard Cockayne, who has a street named for him in the suburb, which has other streets named after trees and plants.

The contribution of Cockayne became better known locally several years ago, when some residents unsuccessfully called for Cockayne Ave to be renamed or named in full to avoid jibes about a connection to the drug cocaine.

The noted academic researcher, who died in Wellington in 1934, championed native plants and national parks.

Teacher Fiona Scott said some of the stu dents were making tiles for streets they lived on. Working from drawings, they traced designs onto templates, then transfered them to tiles using carbon paper. After painting the tiles, they were to be fired and glazed.

“I thought it was a really lovely idea,” she said.

Championed by local resident Peter Mc Nee, it was a way of getting the school more involved in the community.

Digging in...

Jennifer Albrecht and Anna Marie Morris planting herbs

Rock steady... Students (from left) Ezabel Ajish, Chelsy Sharma and Meila Kopua by the kitchen garden at Wairau Intermediate

Making their mark (from left)... Emily Greenwood works on a juniper design, Flora Zou picks out rosemary leaves and Bell Misipati, who lives on Sycamore Dr, enjoys focusing on a project close to home

Classroom collaboration... Students (from left) Eshaan Naidu, Brooke Taylor and Zoey Bates-Wellington use botanical drawings to guide their creation of botanical designs

Step by step... (from left) Kayla Cepe paints a tile, while Ami Em-Ream and Mia Gu work on their designs

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High-school sports achievers reveal new goals Sport

High schools in the area have named their sports people of the year for 2022, recognising a line-up of rising talent. The Observer asked them what comes next.

Rosmini’s Sportsman of the Year, waterpolo gun Cole Johns, plans to head across the ditch next year to further both academic and sporting ambitions.

“Next year I am looking to attend the Uni versity of Sydney to further my waterpolo career and academic ventures. I also want to maintain my involvement in the New Zealand Water Polo programme, such as making the New Zealand Junior men’s (under 20) team to travel to the world championships next year.”

Deputy Head Boy Johns captained Rosmini’s senior premier water-polo team and competed at the national under-18 water-polo nationals with the North Harbour Maroons, captaining the team to a gold medal and winning the competition’s MVP award.

The year 13 student also found success internationally. He captained the New Zealand youth men’s team which competed at the world men’s water polo championships in Serbia in September, and won selection in the national men’s side, debuting in October.

Next year, he wants to make the New Zea land University team for the world university games and to maintain involvement in the na tional senior team.

Carmel canoe racer and Sportswoman of the Year, Greer Morley, says her main goal is to again make the under-18 Canoe Racing New Zealand team to compete in the world junior championships in Italy.

“I would love to get the K1 500m spot again and try and better my placing from this year,” says Morley.

The year 13 student won six medals at this year’s canoe sprint national championships, including gold in the K1 200m, K1 500m and senior mixed K2 200m events.

Her performances won her selection to represent New Zealand at the 2022 under-18 championships in Hungary, where she came fourth in the K1 500m final and was a member of the championship-winning K4 500m crew.

Westlake Boys High School

Westlake Sportsman of the Year, sailor George Lee Rush, has ambitions to race internationally in the 49er class next year, following his suc cess in the 29er and 49erFX classes.

“It’s an incredibly competitive class, so our expectations for next year are going to be relatively low but we’re excited to get into the class and start improving” he says.

The sailor enjoyed numerous international successes this year, winning the 29er title at the Kiel Week regatta in Germany and the European Championships in Copenhagen with his teammate Seb Menzies.

The super duo also competed at the Youth Sailing World Championships in the Nether lands, coming third in the 29er class.

The pair also enjoyed success in the 49erFX class, winning the Junior World Championships at lake Como, Italy.

Lee Rush regards the victory as one of his favourite moments of the year. “It was perfect conditions, an awesome venue and it was such a cool moment.”

Before their European tour the pair won the 29er nationals in the Bay of Islands.

Westlake Girls High School

Swimmer, surf lifesaver and Westlake Girls High Sportswoman of the Year Zoe Crawford is looking to focus her efforts on surf lifesaving, in the hope of making the national team for the top-level German Cup pool-rescue competition in Germany.

“New Zealand only takes an open team, and I will still be a junior next year,” she says.

“My effort will be going into putting some good times down at every event I can this year in Aussie and New Zealand so I have a good chance to make the team.”

Crawford also aims to trial for the Inter national Surf Rescue Challenge which will

be held in the United States.

This year, Crawford was selected for the New Zealand youth surf lifesaving team and competed at the 2022 world championships in Italy as well as swimming for New Zea land in the Junior Pan-Pacific Swimming Championships.

The North Shore teenager joined Austral ian surf lifesaving club BMD Northcliffe as a warmup for the world championships and competed in the Australian pool-rescue nationals.

She picked up three Australian titles, two Australian records and two New Zealand records, while equalling a third.

Cole Johns Rosmini College

George Lee Rush

Greer Morley Carmel College

Zoe Crawford

Croquet club helped bowls medallist hone her skills

Tucked-away Takapuna Croquet Club was the secret weapon in the Commonwealth Games success of a top performer in another sport.

Selina Goddard, the 27-year-old bowler who brought home two bronze medals from fours and pairs at the Birmingham games in August, said she owed the croquet club a big debt of gratitude.

Its slower lawns were better suited for her to practise on than her home greens at Takapuna Bowling Club, being more like the English bowling surfaces than New Zealand’s faster surfaces. The croquet club quietly allowed Goddard to regularly roll up ahead of the games.

Word of its role in her success came not from the club, but from a grateful Goddard herself, at a recent open day at the bowls club, designed to encourage more people to give bowls a try.

Croquet is similarly keen to attract new players.

Takapuna president Doug Cowie said getting the message out that younger people can enjoy the game of skill and strategy is crucial to the club’s future.

With a new slogan – “Clever game, great people” – the club wants to boost member ship from 55 to nearer 80.

Elected with some other 50-something club officers, Cowie is keen to lead a gen erational shift in attitude and ensure people know about what is on offer at the club in Auburn Reserve.

With many high-rise apartments nearby – one of which Cowie and his wife moved into three years ago – he believes the demand for recreational facilities like the club’s will become more important.

The club is more than 100 years old and hopes to be around well into the future. It operates on Auckland Council land held

on a long-term lease. Council staff have floated ideas about its future, as part of discussions about the wider management and connection to the community of Auburn Reserve, including the possibility of putting a path through it to connect with Anzac St, but these have not progressed to formal recommendations.

Cowie said the club’s four lawns provided a welcome green swathe, and the clubrooms are available for hire. This was popular with companies, particularly in the lead-in to Christmas.

A golfer as well, Cowie says croquet can

be played much more time-efficiently, in a 40-minute session. “I’ve got very hooked, it’s relaxing,” he says.

Life member Merle Pash said croquet had been saved by the introduction of quicker ‘golf croquet’ about 15 years ago. She and some of the other older members still pre fer the traditional version of the game, but Cowie said golf croquet was more forgiving.

Takapuna recently hosted inter-club play with some of the dozen or so other Auckland clubs. It runs two weekday and two weekend sessions for members, who can come along solo

and team up with others.

Hoop dreams... Takapuna Croquet Club member John Redwood lines up a shot. He and his wife Anna like to play with their son Tane Pamatatau and his partner Zali McMahon, who are developing their croquet skills. Inset: Selina Goddard with her medals.

Hitchcock adaptation tells juicy tale in Mandarin

Hitchcock, as you’ve never seen it before, is coming to the PumpHouse Theatre, as I-start Chinese Theatre adapts Rear Window for the stage – entirely in Mandarin.

I-start Chinese Theatre, which was launched in 2014, is New Zealand’s first Chinese theatre.

It puts on a production annually, settling this year on the Alfred Hitchcock movie classic.

Rear Window will be its eighth produc tion, and second Hitchcock adaptation, after a previous production of Dial M for Murder.

I-start president, producer and playwright Yabing Liu has adapted the story to be set in modern-day Auckland.

Three on-stage buildings have their own interconnecting stories happening simul taneously.

Liu’s love for Hitchcock began during her time at Shanghai University, when she studied the legendary director’s films as part of her course.

Lui says the support the previous Hitch cock production received combined with her passion for the director’s work led her to the latest adaptation for a Chinese audience.

The Milford resident also promises an exciting new ending to the classic story.

“I changed the ending, because even if it’s a classic now you can see it’s too simple. So I gave the story another twist.”

Liu moved to New Zealand in 2004.

After a decade here, she decided to pursue her passion and start the Chinese theatre with the goal of providing a stage on which amateur Chinese performers could show case their talents.

The cast have a diverse range of careers, from jobs in construction to real estate sales, while some are still at high school.

I-start holds auditions for each produc tion, with some actors returning and new talent emerging.

I-Start’s regular audience is comprised of Chinese Auckland residents, mainly from the North Shore but also from other parts of Auckland.

The play runs from the 24-27 November at the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna with one show this Thursday, Friday and Sunday and two shows on the Saturday.

Tickets are available from pumphouse. co.nz.

Interconnections... Actor Zhou Fang (pictured both left and at far right) rehearses with Forrest Hill resident Xiaomeng Wang (second left) and Bohan Jin, with whom he stars in Rear Window

Master mind... Yabing Liu is producing the play she adapted

Beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

It’s time to get in the mood for Christmas, with the rousing sound of seasonal tunes resounding from Hurstmere Green in Taka puna each Saturday morning.

Starting on 26 November, from 10am, North Shore Brass will offer free festive fun with a weekly session of old favourites played by its Academy Band. With Takapu na’s Christmas tree and decorations up, the music will add to the seasonal spirit.

Takapuna is also laying on its annual Christmas Carnival all day along Hurstmere Rd on Saturday 3 December, complete with a visit from Father Christmas.

The Academy Band plays again that evening, at 6.30pm, before the top North Shore Brass band teams up with Westlake Girls High School’s 100-voice Cantare Choir for Christmas@Holy Trinity at the Anglican cathedral in Parnell from 7.30pm.

Band president Owen Melhuish (pictured) says the performances double as fundraisers.

“We want to send both bands away to represent the North Shore at the New Zea land brass band nationals in Dunedin next July, so these events will assist us with this endeavour.”

Melhuish says North Shore Brass is known for innovative concerts.

“And this one will be no different, with music from many genres as we celebrate Christmas and also an amazing year of growth and competition success across our

four bands,” says Melhuish.

With more than 100 musicians in its or ganisation, based at clubrooms on Taharoto Rd, it can claim to be largest brass band in the country and one of the biggest musical organisations in Auckland.

To keep up its programme, it is launching a Seat Sponsor programme where anyone can donate $500 or more to sponsor a seat in the main band.

“We enjoy great support from North Shore locals so we hope they can come along to our carolling at Hurstmere Green,” says Melhuish.

For tickets to the joint concert with West lake, see eventfinda.co.nz.

Takapuna Library

TAKAPUNA LIBRARY PRESENTS: A SIZZLIN’ SUMMER CHRISTMAS!

We’re off to a flying start (just like those reindeer!) on December 10th with the Tim Bray Theatre Company’s ‘Santa Claus Show 2022’! They’ll be performing in Takapuna Library at 11am

Do not miss another visit from Graham Judd of Inkiana Press and his amazing printing press! If you’ve been attending all of Graham’s sessions with us, you’ll have amassed quite the collection of posters! This time, we’ll be using the 200 year old printing press to make special Christmas wrapping paper, starting at 12 noon on December 18th, and finishing up at 3 30pm

Join us for chalk art outside on Monday December 19th, beginning at 10.30am and finishing up at 11 30am Let’s decorate in the sun!

Finally, we have a really special Christmas storytime in the works

TBC make sure to check out our Facebook page for full details

Activities will continue from Sunday the 8th of January, with scavenger hunts, art days, movies, a science session and more! Please keep an eye on our Facebook page @ TakapunaLibrary for more details as we approach January, it’s sure to be a big Summer!

Conductor Harmen Vanhoorne

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