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Hands off... Terry O’Connell hopes his light-hearted message will discourage petty thieves who have been nabbing the footwear of ocean swimmers at Takapuna Beach. Story, page 6 A council boardwalk project has removed more than 75 square metres of mangroves from an important environmental area in Takapuna – more than double what was first permitted.
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opens ... p23 Issue 89 – September 2, 2022 Authorised by TerenceHarpur VOTE for Local Board NewZealand OPERATED OWNED&
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Forest & Bird’s regional conservation manager Carl Morgan said the council’s late application for consent made a mockery of the consenting process and put local flora and fauna at greater risk. The area where the boardwalk is being built is a Conservation Zone and Coastal Transition Zone under the Auckland Unitary Plan. Over the last three years, members of the environmental group have expressed their concern about the removal during the upgrade page 2 Stumps and rocks appear on Takapuna Beach... p3 Jewellery store raided again... Campervan comedy play finally
Issue 1 – 15 March 2019DELIVERED FORTNIGHTLY AN INDEPENDENT VOICEIssue 1 – 15 March 2019DELIVERED FORTNIGHTLY AN INDEPENDENT VOICE Issue 1 – 15 March 2019DELIVERED FORTNIGHTLY AN INDEPENDENT VOICE Takapuna, Milford, Castor Bay, Forrest Hill and Sunnynook Issue 1 – 15 March 2019FORTNIGHTLY AN INDEPENDENT VOICE
Keeping a handle on their jandals mangroves slashed without consent
Auckland Council, which has been upgrading the Patuone Walkway, a link between Auburn St and Esmonde Rd, has been criticised for exceeding its resource consent and seeking permission retrospectively.
“Ecologists supervised the additional mangrove removal and trimming that was required.” They would produce options for extra buffering for the habitat favoured by banded rail. The cost of the walkway project was forecast at $1.9 million in February. Work is done, bar a non-slip surface, from Auburn St to Greydene Pl, with the rest on hold during breeding season.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 2 September 2, 2022 From page 1 Simon Watts MP forNorth Shore Authorised by Simon Watts Parliament Buildings, Wgtn. 1Earnoch Avenue,Takapuna northshore@parliament.govt.nz 09 4860005 Your localMP, supporting youand our community National Party Spokespersonfor LocalGovernment and Associate Finance&Associate Infrastructure Call Steve Gustafsson on 021345 694 steve@naturalgardens.co.nz www.naturalgardens.co.nz Garden design and construction Whether you are planning agarden refresh or afull renovation, we believe in creating gardens that are personal, purposeful and beautiful Consent ‘being amended’ after mangroves chopped NEXT ISSUE: September 16 ADVERTISING DEADLINE: September 9 Telephone: 09 445 0060 Email: sales@rangitoto-observer.co.nz news@rangitoto-observer.co.nz Website: www.rangitoto-observer.co.nz Information in the Rangitoto Observer is copyright and cannot be published or broadcast without the permission of Devonport Publishing Ltd NZ COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARDS Best Community Involvement: 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2005 Best Special Project/Supplement: 2016, 2020 VOYAGER/CANON MEDIA AWARDS Community Reporter of the Year: Winner 2018 Community Newspaper of the Year: Finalist 2017 MANAGING EDITOR: Rob Drent PUBLISHER: Peter Wilson CHIEF REPORTER: Janetta Mackay SENIOR REPORTER: Christina Persico WRITE TO US: Noms de plume or unnamed submissions will not be printed Email news@rangitoto observer co nz of mangroves and many mature karaka trees, along with disruption to wildlife – specifically the moho pererū or banded rail, which is con sidered an at-risk species. Work on the boardwalk (right) began in 2021 and has continued in stages this year. Philip Moll, from the North Shore branch of Forest & Bird, said the upgrade work was “slipped through” by council, even though a senior council ecologist had been adamant a boardwalk across an inlet should not be built.
Takapuna jewellery store raided for a third time Ram raiders have again targeted the Takapuna branch of Michael Hill.
The latest raid – the third on the Hurstmere Rd jeweller since June –was in the early hours of Wednesday 24 August. Police are looking at whether other break-ins in Glenfield soon after were linked. The Observer understands nothing was taken from the Takapuna store in the latest attempt, with jewellery being kept locked securely away after hours. Police said a vehicle was used to gain entry to the store by a group of offenders who fled around 1.20am. Around 15 minutes later, a Glenfield retail complex was broken into and items taken from two stores. The offenders fled in vehicles. A further store burglary was reported on Glenfield Rd five minutes later. The Takapuna ram raid came three weeks after a break-in at the premises on 5 August, during which a large window was smashed about 3.30am. Five offenders fled with an unknown number of items. On June 15 the store was the target of an aggravated daylight robbery. An arrest was made in connection with that incident and another aggra vated robbery at nearby Fifth Avenue jewellers on 20 April. A 17-year-old male faces charges.
“Although we have always supported upgrading this walkway sensitively to blend with this environment, our particular concern was the boardwalk across that inlet on the Patuone Reserve.” he said. “Our concern has always been to keep structures out of the coastal marine space.” Auckland Council said that during the boardwalk design, it was thought that 20 ‘float pads’ would be needed for piles, but once work started, the ground was softer than expected, meaning an extra 23 float pads were required. This required additional mangrove removal of 45.5 sqm, beyond the consented allowance of 30sqm, a council spokesperson said. In addition to the 75.5sqm removed, another 44.5sqm had been trimmed and pruned.
ASB bank was also robbed on 18 March. Michael Hill has been approached for comment on whether it is consid ering installing bollards or reviewing the viability of its Takapuna store. The chain has been subject to a spate of raids across Auckland. A response had not been received by deadline. The store reopened the morning after the robbery and has a security guard routinely at the door. After the raid North Shore MP Simon Watts called on the government to consider using funds seized as proceeds of crime to help with retail store security measures.
“The council’s Community Facilities staff are working with our Licensing and Regu latory Compliance department to amend the resource consent for the additional work that was required,” a spokesperson said. The compliance department was notified as soon as the need for extra mangrove removal was discovered in June.
“We expect the sand will migrate back onshore to Takapuna Beach during calmer conditions,” she said.
The state of Takapuna Beach has become a local talking point after seasonal storms washed away sand to reveal an ancient pet rified forest. Views vary from fascination about the previously buried tree stumps to concern about lack of sand with summer approaching.
But Auckland Council says the state of the beach is simply part of its “dynamic nature”. Marion O’Kane, who has lived in Takapuna all her life, says its condition is dangerous, slippery and “sad to see”, with sand banked up in places, and washed away in others, leaving white mud and papa rock exposed. This is due to winter storms and will right itself in time, said Auckland Council’s operations manager, Sarah Jones. The council has no plans to re-sand the beach, as has been done at other Auck land beaches in the past, or to restrict access to the section of the beach, between Park Ave and Rewiti Ave, where the remnants of a petrified forest can be seen.
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“These features are periodically exposed on Takapuna Beach when sand levels are low, and will be covered again when the beach recovers from the recent storm events,” Jones said. With less sand, the underlying sediments and rocks could also poke through.
Revealed... Storms have hollowed out sections of Takapuna Beach, exposing rocks and mud (above) at low tide, and remnants of an ancient petrified forest (left)
Resident and yachtie Chris Dickson said the extensive buried forest of black stumps was located about three metres under water at high tide, which showed how much the North Shore coastline hadAlthoughrisen. the petrified forest has been seen from time to time over the years, the sight is new to many people.
Stumps and rocks left exposed as summer looms
“A lot of cleaning up and painting and we’ll be back up and going,” a spokesperson for the business said.
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The Professional Firefighters’ Union is fighting FENZ on several employment issues, seeking more reliable equipment and more recruitment to ease the staffing burden which has grown with firefighters increasingly being first responders for medicalIndustrialemergencies.action,including pickets over the last two Fridays, has followed failed attempts at mediation.
“Takapuna firefighters had to wait longer for back-up to arrive from further afield,” the union claimed..
“The closest jaws-of-life for North Shore residents would need to respond from Auckland City.”
Two trucks had broken down after the Barrys Point Rd fire, the union said. A video shared on social media showed the first truck on the scene displaying a warning message that read “malfunction engine ctrl unit”. “There is no available rescue tender on Auckland’s North Shore,” the union said on Saturday afternoon.
Fire trucks conk out after Takapuna blaze – union
Hosing it down... Fire-fighters train water on an electrical fire in a rear premises off Barrys Point Rd
Shirley Wilson, who lives in the Shoalhaven apartments which overlook the site, said bursts of flame could be seen, as if it was a gas fire.
A Devonport crew would have been the second unit to arrive on-scene, but FENZ did not have enough paid firefighters on duty that morning to staff the local truck, the union said. Volunteer crew had to be rallied to respond, which they did, but with a slight time delay on what would have occurred using station-based career staff.
Two of the fire trucks at a building fire in Takapuna broke down immediately following the blaze, the firefighters’ union says. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) was alerted to a well-involved fire in Takapuna at 9.38am on Saturday, 20 August, a spokesperson said. Black smoke and flames could be seen at a door of Brugar Engineering’s red warehouse behind the PetStock store on Barrys Point Rd. Seven trucks attended and the busy road was closed for several hours, blocking access to shops for customers in vehicles, Brugar Engineering said a meter caught fire and would be replaced. The building had also been smoke damaged.
The youngster, who one day wants to be famous for making something – he’s just not sure what yet – was one of dozens of children who converged on the market held at the Devonport Community House last month. From primary to secondary school age, they sold homemade baking, art work and jewellery, although re-homing good pre-loved toys and books was the most common offering.
Sunnynook pair take toys to kids’ marketBriefs Paint by numbers
The A Fresh Approach ticket is running six weeks of online sessions introducing its candidates and answering questions, while Heart of the Shore team members are spending Sunday mornings at Takapuna market. Public meet-thecandidate evenings are also being held this month, with the next in Sunnynook on Monday 12 September, 6.30pm, at the Commiunity Centre. www.shorecare.co.nz
Sunnynook brothers Saleem Youssef, aged 5, and brother Sayf, 8 (above), rounded up some toys they had outgrown to take to a Kids and Teens Market in Devonport. Sayf, encouraged by his mother, also made bead bracelets to sell, saying: “I just really wanted to make some money.” Soon he will be able to show his entrepre neurial spirit closer to home, with something similar planned in Sunnynook.
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Following complaints from businesses, low-pressure steam was used to remove the paint from some pavements recently. Shop and drop Countdown supermarkets in Takapuna, Milford, Sunnynook and Hauraki are among those accepting local body election ballots. Voters can also either post their voting forms (by October 3) or drop them to libraries and council services centres. For those already enrolled all voting papers should be delivered by mid-month, with results announced on 8 October.
Campaign ramps up Devonport-Takapuna Local Board candidates are stepping up their campaigning for next month’s election.
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Removing painted markings on pavements in Takapuna and Devonport has cost Auckland Transport $9000 –but some of the eyesores still remain. The markings show the position of underground services for roading design work. AT said in March the paint would wear off in weeks, but it did not.
The Sunnynook Community Centre manager, Bronwyn Bound, said she was looking to organise a similar market at the centre one Sunday afternoon in November.
• Stop three waters and no congestion charges (tax).
Kevin BRETT Cherie KEILLER Kurt KEILLER Sam WELCH
• Takapuna carpark sold out with theboard’sapproval. It’s time forthe present boardto be sentintoretirement.
“Women need to feel they can get home safely.”
Among those affected were older school students and workers getting off buses at the bus station who had to walk past dark spots along Sunnynook Rd between shops and in the park.
From page 1 Heels target swimmers’ footwear
A board senior adviser said a crossing was being investigated for the area. Auckland Transport had funds in this year’s capital works programme.
Ocean swimmers have put “please don’t steal” signs on their jandals after a series of footwear thefts at Takapuna Beach.
From afresh approach to the heart of the shoreyou arebeing sold out. Thesame old tired people areattempting to get their snouts back intothe public trough. Your rate billsare through the roof.Your open spaces arenot safefrombeing sold out.
Sunnynook Community Association chair Melissa Powell said feedback to the group had underlined the concern.
AUTHORISED CANDIDATE FOR SOSSAVEOUR SHORE
“I find it hard to believe jandals are being stolen,” he said. “They can’t be worth much.”
Board members were sympathetic to the need for bus station access improvements, saying they too had called for these. Chair Ruth Jackson noted that the narrow footpath meant people might step onto the busy road if faced with oncoming mobility scooters.
Powell took the call for more lighting, along with improved pedestrian-safety measures, to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board com munity forum. She told board members that an incident several months ago in which a woman was followed from Smales Farm bus station had prompted others to share their concerns about feeling unsafe. Increased opportunistic crime, including car break-ins, was also a worry. Once the big floodlights at the park were turned off after early evening sports practice, she said, even the main part of the park became much dimmer. Few lights were sited to the north and none on the eastern path by the old Scout den leading to Tonkin Dr. Member George Wood, who lives nearby, agreed the area had dark patches. He noted that council officers, however, had not supported having more lights in the park. Aidan Bennett said the area had a lot of pedestrians.
The Forrest Hill resident has written “We are swim ming – thanks for not stealing” on his jandals in the hope of dissuading would-be thieves. But yet another pair of jandals was stolen from the group on Monday morning.
SOSSAVEOUR SHORE SOSSaveour Shoreisstanding forthe Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. Theteam is led by Kevin Brett aformer researcher forthe late Sir PeterWiliams QC Sunnynook residents want better street and park lighting for greater public safety.
Rape,homeinvasion,bashings, intimidation, cartheft,defacingofpublic property areall on thelist.
Don’t sell us down the tube
BayswaterMarinafor example-The unitary planisdestroying anddefacing your area Heritage houses areunderthreat. Traffic problems areonlygetting worse.Sewage is spewing onto your beaches. Crime is out of control.
Powell also urged board members to keep up pressure for better bus station access. It has stairs and a narrow footpath across the motorway. “It’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Another area of concern raised by Powell was on Sycamore Dr, where she said a pedes trian crossing was needed for people crossing from the supermarket car park and bus stop to the park and community centre. While trafficslowing measures and lights were being con sidered at its Sunnynook Rd corner, pedestrians wanted to cross higher up. This put them near exiting cars and vehicles coming downhill.
Regular Takapuna ocean swimmer Terry O’Connell said that of seven pairs of jandals left near the boat ramp at the northern end of the beach one recent morning, five had been taken when the swimmers returned.
• People who commit crime and violence in our area should not be allowed in our area.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 6 September 2, 2022
SOS Save Our Shore
Sunnynook locals lobby for better lighting
• Thegovernmentwants to put 501criminals from Australia intoa40unitblock in Belmont. This mustbe stopped.
Authorised by Founder of SOSSaveOur Shore. KevinBrett, kevinwb300@gmail.com. Tel: 021-168-5165.
Member Trish Deans asked Powell if she had considered trying to encourage women’s self-defence courses at the community centre, to which Powell replied: “There needs to be better lighting.”
Over the last few months, swimmers have had shoes stolen while they were in the water in the early morn ing. Recently, even jandals have been taken – a further contravention of the Kiwi convention that swimmers should be able to leave belongings safely unattended on the beach.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 7September 2, 2022 Ideation/Ryman WILLIAM SANDERS VILLAGE 7 Ngataringa Road, Devonport A NEW WAY OF LIVING We invite you to come and learn more about our William Sanders Retirement Village in Devonport Tuesday 6 September, 10.30am Presented by Sco� Bremner and Dell Smythe, Sales Advisors The bonus of moving to a Ryman apartment is freedom from the responsibility of home maintenance. It’s all taken care of for you as part of a base weekly fee which is fixed for life*. Join us for a presentation to find out more about our full range of independent living, assisted living and care options, as well as our Ryman peace of mind guarantees. The presentation will be followed by a tour of our beautiful show apartments. *Conditions apply This will be a Covid-safe event and RSVP is essential, call Sco� or Dell on 445 0909 by Friday 2 September to secure your place. rymanhealthcare.co.nz
Council accused of undermining its own tree-coverage policy Heart of the Shore
The council is revising its Auckland Uni tary Plan to permit more building, yet its 2019 Urban Forest policy is about increasing tree coverage, which already sits below in ternational best-practice targets, association member Peter Carter said.
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“The importance of the ‘urban forest’, the ‘greening’ of suburban areas and public open spaces, and the requirement for quality apartment buildings with adequate boundary setbacks to retain mature trees cannot be overstated, as they inevitably contribute to the visual amenity of place, and the well-be ing of residents and visitors,” the letter said.
“This conflicts with the Auckland Council knowledge and aspirations for a tree-cover
Carter said the MRA had asked the council to explain how it meant to balance its policies.
Wilson’s wife and fellow Sky television broadcaster and former Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson is also on the guest list.
Members of the community are invited to join them to try the game on Sunday, 25 September, from 1pm. All are welcome, but the day is aimed at those aged 30 to 50, says Simon Poppleton, the club’s new development manager – “Those people who are still very competitive but their bodies aren’t quite what they used to be”.
“You go to the doctor and the doctor will tell you they love bowls because people are moving every muscle in their body when they play,” he says. “Anyone can ring up the bowling club at any stage and have a chat.”
The club has around 230 members. It hosts activities like housie and social bowls, corporate bowls and the twice-yearly, six-week ‘Krak a Jack’ Business House Bowls League for casual bowlers. A junior open day for secondary school students is also planned for November.
Ex-All Blacks hit the bowls green
While perceived as an old person’s sport, bowls is a game for all ages, he says.
More parks and open space would be needed as the suburbs intensified and these would help reduce flood risk and heat-sink issues due to climate change, the association observed.Innovative council thinking was need ed around planning and housing design practices, along with more checking of the compliance of development projects, it said. New building standards would see more trees lost due to the minimal requirements for front and rear yards and the loss of permeable land.
“Auckland has suffered from a continual loss of mature tree canopy cover due to in tensification and little apparent quality urban and building design standards for new apart ment boxes,” the association said in its letter to councillors and local-board members.
STANDI NG ST RO NG FOR OU R CO MMU NITY Authorised by TrishDeans,deans.trish@gmail.com, M021 0862 6675 RUTH JACKSON TRISH DEANS JOHN MAIDMENT JAN O’CONNOR BRIDGET THRUSSELL he ar to ft he sh or e.c o. nz VOTE FOR DEVONPORT-TAK APUNA LO CA LB OARD
Loss of the city’s tree canopy through housing intensification is contrary to Auck land Council climate-change goals, says the Milford Residents Association, which has called on council to explain its conflicting policies.
In the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area total tree coverage is around 16 per cent.
protection of 30 per cent, which is still below the 40 per cent recommended by internation al standards, for a 5 per cent lowering of heat island temperature.”
Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson, Ian Jones and Troy Flavell will be trading their oval balls for bowling balls at a community event at the Takapuna Bowling Club.
Carter said more tree planting in public parks, reserves and along streets was one part of the equation, but tree loss from privately owned sections being cleared for development in the suburbs was a growing concern. The suburbs also needed a bigger share of the city’s spending on infrastructure to encourage greener living and transport choices, he said.
Following on from the Commonwealth Games success of club member Selina Goddard, it is holding a “have a go” day with the 27-yearold bronze medallist in attendance.
The matters raised would also affect the Government’s new Spatial Planning Act to be finalised in late 2023, he said.
And the bottom line benefits, too, with growyour-own helping offset what Wheeler calls the “massive costs” of ingredients such as herbs, at up to $70 a kilogram. Cutting out the middle man brings food costs down considerably, he says.
Foraging chef champions sustainable approach
Westlake Girls student wins national speech contest
The Year 12 student won a $2500 prize in the Lions competition, which was open to speakers aged 16 to 21. It is designed to encourage confident orators to test their public-speaking abilities with a five- to six-minute-long prepared speech and a two-minute impromptu speech. Isabella first won an Auckland-wide district competition, in which she was sponsored by the Hillcrest Lions Club, to progress to the national final. Her prepared topic, which she carried over to nationals, was “Let me be a young person today; I’ll be a leader tomorrow.”
“This topic is important to me because it discusses young people having the strength and belief in themselves to grow into confi dent and determined individuals,” she said later. “Us rangatahi (youth) need to be the change we want to see.”
Wheeler – who served in the military as a communications-systems operator before train ing as chef eight years ago – likes a well-ordered kitchen. But he’s no Gordon Ramsay-type, swearing and barking orders, instead aiming to lower the workplace temperature and create a calmer“I’veenvironment.alwaysbeen interested in food and the structure of a restaurant is not too disimilar to the military,” the 31-year-old says. “If you organise it, it can be stress-free.”
Chef James Wheeler has been counting down to spring, so he can harvest even more fresh produce for the Takapuna restaurant kitchen he oversees. He’s part of an international restaurant move ment towards growing as much as possible onsite – along with foraging for fresh ingredients elsewhere.
Wheeler says the demand for plant-based eating and whole foods will continue to grow to meet consumer demand and environmental needs.Another upside is taste.
Wheeler is a keen gardener and composter at home, and he likes to head for the hills of West Auckland to forage. With a young son who has special needs, he is also keen on work-life balance. He works four-and-a-half days a week and tries to roster staff on four-day weeks when he can.
His own eating preferences are healthy, cut ting back on meat, and loading up on all that is freshly plucked from the soil. But he will happily feature a good meat cut on his menu. He enjoys providing a modern take on old favourites, such as a pork boil-up in winter and a lamb roast that reminds him of his childhood, yet is made with ribs and served in deconstructed style.
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Wheeler already supplements raised herb beds on the restaurant deck with produce from a glasshouse and a kitchen garden around 10sq metres. Around the wider property, fruit is ob tained from citrus and feijoa trees. The local harvest finds its way onto menus that emphasise seasonal ingredients.
Serving sustainable New Zealand food is a shared aim with Fantail & Turtle owner Travis Field.
For those growing their own herbs, he says start with mint: “You can’t kill it.”
Sixteen-year-old Isabella Drummond’s persuasive prowess has been recognised nationally, with the Westlake Girls High School student being named winner of the Lions Young Speechmaker Competition.
Green fingers... Chef James Wheeler in his kitchen garden
The head chef at Fantail & Turtle restaurant and bar at Smales Farm has been bedding in the sustainable food approach since taking on the job in autumn. With the new season, he plans to expand on the concept. More garden beds are in develop ment in partnership with nearby business Ripe Deli, and a rooftop garden is on the wishlist.
“Herbs add a big flavour punch,” he says. Oregano and marjoram are favourites, though native kawakawa and horopito are among other herbs finding their way into the Smales Farm garden.
Speaking in support of young people as change leaders, Isabella won the national final held in Palmerston North last month. She was previously judged best female speaker and second overall at the Auckland Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition in July, a competition for young Maori orators which she won in 2021.
Wheeler’s last role was as head chef at Major Sprout in the city. Previously, he was at Crave and Kind cafes in Morningside, after working his way up at other pubs and eateries.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 10 September 2, 2022 Reduce the Cost of Living Stop wasteful spending at Council Tackle Crime Moore funding for safe and secure commmunities. Ease Congestion Common sense pllans to geet the North Shorre moving Promote Goood Urban Design Ensure addequate infrasstructure for new developmments annd protect ouur heritage areas Your vote counts. Youur vote can secure prudent financial management, grreater resouurces for crime preventioon, substantive action to relieve congestioonn, annd protection of our speecial character areas and our natural and cultural heritagee. for Coun cil Caption...
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Zane Catterall
VO TE FOR DEV ON PORT-TA KAP UN AB OA RD LO CAL LEADERS FUTURE FOC US ED www.afreshapproach.co.nz
Harpur
Action stations... Zoe Crawford is taking time off school to swim and do surf lifesaving for her country
Melissa
TERENCE HARPUR
Peter Allen
Terence
A North Shore 17-year-old has just head ed overseas to represent her country in two different sports.
In her limited spare time, the Mairangi Bay teenager likes to be as social as she can with her friends and also spend time with her mum and her grandparents. Long-term, she is thinking of studying occupational therapy, and wants to carry on with both swimming and surf lifesaving “and just see where that takes me”.
Powell
At the surf lifesaving championships, starting in Italy on 18 September, her Junior Black Fins squad will compete in a range of pool rescue, ocean and beach events. “I’m just so stoked to be representing New Zealand because it’s such an amazing country,” Zoe says. “It’s big – the whole world’s going to be there,” Zoe says. “I’m probably more excited rather than nervous. It’s exciting to get the opportunity to race for the Junior Black Fins. It’s been a dream for so long.”
Shore teen off to represent NZ in two water sports
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 11September 2, 2022 Sport
Zoe’s mother has fundraised through an auction to contribute to her daughter’s travel costs. Zoe says her school is also very sup portive of her sport. She is in her second to last year at school, juggling her study with around 20 hours of training a week.
Zoe Crawford, a student at Westlake Girls’ High School, is competing in both the Junior Pan-Pacific Swimming Champi onships and as a member of the Junior Black Fins contesting the under-19 surf lifesaving world championships. As a warm-up, she joined a surf lifesaving club in Australia, BMD Northcliffe, and competed in the Australian Pool Rescue Nationals, picking up three Australian titles, two Australian records and two New Zea land records, and equalling a third. “I was massively surprised to do that well,” she says. “We haven’t raced in so long so I was just seeing what I could do.” Zoe was off first to Hawaii to compete in the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 50m and 100m freestyle at the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships held at the end of last month. (Results coverage came too late for this edition’s print deadline.)
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Westlake Girls High School has won the Auckland secondary schools premier basketball title for the second year in a row. A delayed start to the final against Mt Albert Grammar only unsettled the team for the first quarter, restricting its lead to 17-16, before it pulled away to lead 44-26 at half time. With a successful press in the third quarter, Westlake Girls extended its lead to 28 points (73-45), before wrapping up the championship 87-54 at the close. Westlake is blessed with a bounty of talent including New Zealand representatives Mackenzie Chatfield (under-18), Amy Pateman (under-17) and Emma-Kaye Schroeder (under-15). The team’s next challenge is readying themselves for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship in Palmerston North from 3-8 October.
WGHS rugby team takes Harbour championship
Ditto that... Westlake Girls High School’s premier basketball team is again the Auckland title holder.
Two in a row... Westlake Girls High School’s top rugby team is the North Harbour champion again. It beat Birkenhead College 51-19 in the final last week to retain the title it also claimed in 2021.
Front row: (from left) Kahlia Hawkins (manager), Amaya Fotu, Emma-Kaye Schroeder, Jaelah Clayton, Mackenzie Chatfield, Elin Vincent. Back row: Bronwyn Davidson (head coach), Lily Fotu, Amy Pateman, Rebecca Moores, Sarah Moores, Hannah Richardson, Zoe Richardson, Nella Fotu (assistant coach)
Standing tall: Basketballers win Auckland title
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 12 September 2, 2022 Centre Sport
Unbeaten Westlake Boys win Harbour rugby title
Forwards coach Rob Mildenhall was delight ed for his players.
It ran out 38-24 winners over Manurewa at North Harbour Stadium in the Harbour 1A final on 21 August.
Having won the Harbour competition, the team will play the Auckland champions, Kel ston Boys, on Saturday, 3 September. At stake is a place in the National Top 4 competition.
Westlake dominated possession and ter ritory for much of the first half and went to the break leading 21-0. Tries were scored by Elijah Rasmussen, Taiga Kato and JD Van Der Westhuizen, with Issac Murray-Macgregor converting them all.
Westlake Boys High School’s 1st XV rugby side has had an unbeaten year, culminating in a North Harbour secondary school championship.
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“They’ve really been a great group this year,” he said. “They’ve trained hard, they’ve listened, and if ever there was a group that deserved this, it was them.” Manurewa was a physically intimidating side, and was well coached, he said, but the Westlake boys executed their skills well. This year was the first time a team from outside the area contested the Harbour 1A final. For Westlake it was the eighth title it has won of the last 10 finals held. The title rounds out an unbeaten season. Mildenhall said for the year 13s in the team, the result was sweet reward after Covid disrup tions in the last two seasons.
First-five eighth Blake Lidgard shapes to pass to half-back Taiga Kato. Both players scored tries for Westlake in its 38-24 win over Manurewa.
The second half started with Manurewa on attack, scoring from half-way. A pressured Westlake conceded two more tries, with the gap down to 21-17, before an intercept by Blake Lidgard inside his own 22. He ran 80 metres to touch down, the conversion and a penalty giving Westlake a 14-point lead with only four minutes to play.
The school’s under-15s had made their Auck land final and its academy programme was also running well. “I’m hugely positive,” he said.
A converted try from Manurewa again nar
“The victory would have been quite signifi cant for them.”
Captain fantastic... Tristyn Cook led from the front in his 50th game. The lock had the honour of converting the game’s final try. rowed the gap, but Westlake struck back at the last when Xieden Urlich picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and went over untouched. Captain and lock Tristyn Cook, playing his 50th game, slotted the conversion. The future is bright, Mildenhall says with 15 of this year’s extended squad of 26 returning next season.
Support lines...
Tennis clubs celebrate winners Teen aces Milford club champs
Junior results: 2022 Under 12 girls winner, Amber Fawkner; runner-up, Mana Sugiura; Plate winner, Nidia Singh; runner-up, Akemi Suzuki; Under 12 boys winner, Riley Neves; Runner Up, Shingo Edwards; Plate winner, Kento Sawata; runner up, Zabian Mead; Under 15 boys winner, Dillon Pinto; runner-up, Luke Angjelinovic; Plate winner, Harry Foy; runner-up, Cam Cairns; Under 18 boys Winner, Morgan Cairns; runner-up, Daniil Glumskov.
The club’s other senior results for 2022: Men’s Doubles, Grover Brick/Stephen Beale; Women’s Doubles, Toni Jones/Su zanne Jackson; Mixed Doubles, Deshma Weerapperuma/Lloyd Pinder. The Women’s Singles was not played.
Lake Pupuke Tennis Club championship results: Men’s Singles Champion, Morgan Cairns; Women’s Singles Champion, Jo Neves; Men’s Doubles Champions, TBA due to injuries; Men’s Doubles Plate Winners, Earl Cole and Andrew Park; Plate runners-up, David Washer and Roger Watson; Women’s Doubles Champions, Denise Gott and Tomoko Akiyama; runners up, Vanessa Cairns and Charlotte Joshi; Women’s Doubles Plate Winners, Jennie Stewart and Julie Washer; runners-up, Car oline Iles and Katie Bremner; Mixed Doubles Champions, Ryan Martin and Christine Pry; runners-up, Morgan Cairns and Vanessa Cairns; Plate winners, Andrew Park and Soyoung Park; runners-up, Roger Watson and Tomoko Akiyama. Veteran Doubles Winners, Steve Cosmann and Katie Bremner; Runners up, Roger Watson and Graham Holloway.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 14 September 2, 2022Sport
Lake Pupuke’s top seniors and juniors
Promising Milford tennis junior Nehal Naidoo (pictured) had a top season, winning the club’s senior title and debuting in the elite Chelsea Cup competition.
northshoreyoga.co.nz Classes forall levels Experienced teachers Check outour new Takapuna studio Support your paper for the price of a cup of coffee. Go to rangitoto-observer.co.nz and click on ‘Become a supporter’ at the top of the page. Make new friends Get to know your neighbours! Join us at Takapuna Methodist Church Hall on Saturday 10 September for a shared meal. 5.30pm - 7.30pm 427 Lake Road Takapuna (Cnr of Tennyson Avenue and Lake Road) Communit y Dinner
Junior results: Girls 10 and under, Sasha Rusova; Boys 10 and under, Henry Burrows; Girls 12s, Sophie Burrows; Boys 12s, Jay Hong; Girls 15s, Teja Kalacanovich; Boys 15s, Liam Bendall; Girls 18s, Ruby Skinner; Boys 18s, Luca Bakalich.
The 15-year-old Westlake Boys High School student also made the North Har bour under-16 team and lifted his nominal national junior ranking to within the top 50. This season, Nehal is likely to make Mil ford’s Chelsea Cup starting lineup.
Women’s Doubles winners, Denise Gott and Tomoko Akiyama
The most common New Zealand win dow colour is white, so the company’s standard product is white, with black and charcoal also readily available. Other co lours need to be custom made in Germa ny so these take longer for delivery.
UPVC is one of the world’s oldest plastics, has had more than 80 years of continuous development and is widely used in Europe, Canada, and America where window perfor mance is heavily regulated. Aluplast is one of the big three in the world and got their big start in the Middle East 40 years ago by investing heavily in R&D to meet the harsh climatic conditions We in New Zealand use Aluplast’s ‘tropical mix’ which was developed in those conditions As Roger says, “When PVC first came to New Zealand years ago, it got a bad rep because it wasn’t suited to our UV inten sity, but years of development mean that it is now made with titanium dioxide, which is es sentially a UV reflector.”
After years working in the Tech Indus try former Olympic and World cham pion rower Roger White Parsons now has his sights on a new challenge in the UPVC Window joinery market in Auck land through his company Eco Auck land UPVC frames are the joinery of choice in most of the rest of the world but relatively little known here.
Unfortunately, the world beating crew missed out on a medal at the 1984 Olympics, at least partly due to unusual water conditions in their lane. “We had other crews come over to us and apologise for beating us,” Roger says He has given a lot back to the sport in var ious capacities over the years, including as rowing coach at Westlake Girls High school for 10 years while his daughters were there Two of Roger’s three daughters received rowing scholarships at American universities and his eldest daughter has continued living in North America working for Kiwi firm Xero.
Roger White-Parsons Ross McKitterick
Roger’s new challenge came about during a conversation in the surf at Langs Beach in 2019 with his friend Ross McKitterick, CEO of the Eco Group, a Wellington based UPVC win dow company “ I just casually asked about how busi ness was progressing and Ross said ‘not too bad but we need to be in Auckland’”, he re calls with a smile Three weeks later Eco Auckland was born as a partnership between Ross and Roger. On top of that an industry player from Tauranga contacted them and Eco Tauranga came into being at much the same time The group now covers Auckland, Waikato, Tauranga and Northland, as well as the original greater Wel lington area Ross and Roger have always seen the poten tial UPVC has for the New Zealand market.
“The UPVC and wood construction combi nation has been used extensively in Europe for the past 20 years and has about an 80 per cent market share, whereas in New Zealand it cur rently only has about 3 5 per cent market share,” says Roger The products are also stainless steel reinforced, so are strong and durable enough to suit all building types
Window replacement provides most of Eco Auckland’s business Consents are not needed for “replacing like for like”, so in most cases installation is relative ly straightforward Even converting a window into a door of the same height can be simply done Roger had an illustrious career in rowing, joining North Shore Rowing Club in his early 20s, and going on to win world champion ships with New Zealand eights crews in 1982 and 1983 Those teams are well remembered for their refinement of a new rowing style
Inserts into existing timber frames with true double glazing. No more painting, no more drafts, no more mold, and a warmer, drier house.
Eco Auckland is well placed with its UPVC joinery, which is BRANZ appraised across the whole range, to help builders, home owners and architects to meet the new regulations Customers love the fact their new windows are energy efficient, and never have to be painted
“In 81 we got smashed at the World Cham pionships and didn’t even make the finals But we were lucky to have so many smart people in the crew, and in the North Shore Club, and we developed a new rowing technique which helped leverage more power with every stroke ”
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 15September 2, 2022
Ross and Roger’s windows already meet this standard and the next generation of standards being introduced in November 2023!
“Back in the early 80s we would go to the world championships and you would meet the East Germans and Russians and they would ask you which steroids you were on They couldn’t believe we just rowed!” Roger re calls.
A significant proportion of Eco Auckland’s business derives from retro fitting existing houses with their UPVC frames and Euro pean standard double glazing Their profile has a simple bevel and with white as the pre dominant colour it fits equally well in a 1905 villa or a 2023 new build and everything in between The high quality UPVC frames are extrud ed in Karlsruhe, Germany, by Aluplast, the biggest UPVC supplier to the Australasian market. This is considered a real plus: as Ross often says, New Zealanders have a love af fair with high quality German cars, why not have the same quality in your windows? The extrusions are then fabricated into joinery in Auckland or Christchurch, made to measure for each window or door Aluplast is sponsoring the current series of “The Block, Australia”, which will be on our screens in November/ December.
Insulation has become the name of the game in recent years, and the Eco product is tailor made to provide high levels of insulation for both temperature and noise From 23 No vember they are introducing new building standards that require even more stringent insulation and energy efficiency certification
UPVC Windows open a new lane of opportunity for Ex-Olympic Rower
“Transformed” UPVC WindowsBEFORE AFTER
Talk to Roger, he , s local . Roger White-Parsons Ph: 021 277 0563 roger@ecoauckland.nz www ecoauckland.nz
To
successful
Journalist and feature writer for Waiheke newspaper D o e s yo u r p a s s i o n f o r p e o p l e a n d t h e i r s to r i e s r u n d e e p? D o e s h a rd n e w s ge t yo u r b l o o d p u m p i ng? D o yo u w a nt to m a ke a re a l d i f f e re n c e i n o u r c o m m u n it y o f p ro u d ‘a c t iv i s t s a n d l u n at i c s ’ ? T h i s i s a n o p p o r t u n it y to wo r k w it h a n aw a rd w i n n i ng te a m a n d m a ke yo u r m a r k i n t h e t h r iv i ng i n d e p e n d e nt
this role you will have: • A degree or equivalent experience in Journalism • At least two years’ experience working in a newsroom and a sound grounding and interest in feature writing • Local knowledge of Waiheke is desirable • Exceptional organisational skills and efficient working practices • E f f i c i e nt , c o n s c i e nt i o u s , ye t c o m m a n d i ng a b i l it i e s to d e a l w it h t h e p u b l i c , e m e rge n c y s e r v i c e s , j o u r n a l i s t s , c o l u m n i s t s a n d p h o to g ra p h e r s • Flexibility and enthusiasm, working to key performance indicators • The hard nose to get the stor y, and compassion to follow up on the outcomes. • The ability to juggle stories, meet deadlines and produce lively, accurate copy essential If you are looking for a fulfilling role in a positive, flexible and friendly environment, with the benefits of working with a locally owned company in one of the most beautiful places on earth, this could be the job for you. Send your CV and three copies of your published work, including a long read feature to: editor@waihekegulfnews.co.nz Applications close 9am Monday 3 October 2022 Office Assistant Eco Auckland based out of Devonport requires an office assistant This is a part time sales support and office admin role Preferably you will have had business experience Eco Auckland has been going 3 years and the enquiry load is getting too much for one person Hours and pay are negotiable You will need your own transport and the ability to travel to our East Tamaki base or customer sites from time to time The industry is UPVC Joinery, a rapidly growing product supplanting traditional aluminium and wooden joinery Send a CV to Ross@ecowindows.nz or phone him 021 635 813 for further information
Retail Manager
T h e s u c c e s s f u l a p p l i c a nt w i l l b e a b l e to wo r k to d e a d l i n e s , i d e nt i f y n e w s a n d f e at u re o p p o r t u n it i e s a n d p ro d u c e i nte re s t i ng a n d e ng a g i ng c o nte nt a c ro s s a l l o u r a u d i e n c e s . be in
Glengarry Wines are committed to training; extensive opportunities to learn about wine, retail and business management exist. With 14 stores in Auckland and a Corporate and Fine Wine Sales Team, progression through the company into various challenging and rewarding roles is possible. Contact hr@glengarry.co.nz c o m m u n it y n e w s p a p e r f i e l d G ulf News a n d s i s te r p u b l i c at i o n , Waiheke Weekender a re l o o k i ng f o r a j o u r n a l i s t / f e at u re w r ite r to j o i n o u r p ro f e s s i o n a l n e w s ro o m We a re l o o k i ng f o r a n e n e rge t i c , f l ex i b l e a n d k n ow l e dge a b l e j o u r n a l i s t w h o c a n a p p l y s k i l l s to n e w s s to r i e s , f e at u re s a n d p h o to s w it h p a s s i o n , c o m p a s s i o n a n d i nte l l i ge n c e .
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 16 September 2, 2022 Eco Doors and Windows -- advertorial Live Worklocal.local. ShoreJobs.co.nz
Prior team management would be an asset for this role, though a compassionate and practical approach to working with others would be an ideal base for this.
Glengarry Wines is the perfect place to start your career in the wine industry Established in 1950, Glengarry is a 100% New Zealand, family-owned company. We are currently lookingfor aRetail Manager for our Devonport store. This role will be suitable for someone with agenuine passion for fine wine and spirits, an interest in learningmore and passing this knowledge on to others through exceptional customer service.
Reporter (Junior through to Experienced) Expressions of interest to rob@devonportflagstaff co nz Live local. Work local. ShoreJobs.co.nz
communityTakapunagardentakesshape
Community effort... (from left) Andrew Mackenzie, Rodrigo Vidal and Rob High are among volunteers setting up a garden in Huron St.
As a part of their school’s community ser vice project, the girls are collecting chapter or picture books for primary-aged children. The books are to be donated to St Ther ese School in Mt Roskill, which Isabelle’s mother has a connection with. Their collection closes on Wednesday, 7 September. To donate books please email bookdonations@kristin.school.nz
Be part of an award winning team that prides itself on breaking stories while also covering community activities and identities. Daily news-gathering experience and good knowledge of the lower North Shore area would be a bonus for applicants. This is also an opportunity for a keen newcomer or someone returning to the workforce in the area to make a mark handling varied assignments in a small friendly newsroom
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 17September 2, 2022
Book hunt ... (from left) Eva Bellingham, Eden Grundy and Isabelle Walker are seeking books as part of a community-service project
A piano and seats are new additions to Taka puna’s community garden on Huron St. The garden is slowly changing the look of a vacant lot next to the concrete tower of the Toka Puia car park. The back bank is now planted, and multiple planter boxes dot the space. Two containers flank the garden on each side – one of which came with a piano that used to sit in the Hurstmere Rd car park. While winter hasn’t been ideal for planting, coordinator Andrew Mackenzie says volunteers wanted to set up as quickly as possible. “We want to make it a space where the com munity can come and hang out as well – it’s not just for the garden,” he says. The group doesn’t know how long it can use the site, which is owned by the Auckland Council development arm Eke Panuku.
A trio of North Shore schoolgirls are collecting children’s books to donate to a school in Mt Roskill. Eva Bellingham (age 15) from Takapuna, Isabelle Walker (14) from Devonport and their Kristin School classmate Eden Grundy (14) want to make a difference at a low er-decile school outside of their community.
An ability to cultivate contacts and sniff out exclusive stories is needed, along with taking simple pictures. Our two fortnightly newspapers publishing on alternate weeks are the Flagstaff focusing on the Devonport peninsula and the Rangitoto Observer on the wider Takapuna Milford area
The area’s combined population of around 75,000, offers ample scope to report on everything from council to crime, arts and the environment and local sport and schools. Mostly day work, with occasional night and weekend jobs. We offer some flexibility of working hours. Over Christmas/New Year we shut down for a good summer break.
Books sought for donation project
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 18 September 2, 2022 PROUDLYBROUGHT TO YOUBY ST ANLEY BA Y SC HO OL SUNDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 10AM STANLEY BAY SChool FUN FORTHE WHOLE FAMILY! 2022 Register at : stanleybaystampede.co.nz
Takapuna author Rose Caryle (pictured) was chuffed to speak at her local library – just metres away from the chair where she wrote part of her international bestseller. Carlyle, author of The Girl in the Mirror, spoke at Takapuna Library last month as part of Auckland Librar ies’ ‘We Read’ series. Carlyle was raised in west Auck land but has lived on the North Shore for around 20 years, and in Takapuna for around six years. “I actually live really near here,” the writer told an audience of about 60. “I wrote quite a lot of The Girl in the Mirror in that chair over there by the window. “It’s really amazing for me to be here. I wanted to hold my book launch here but I couldn’t because of Covid.” Writer and fellow author Sonya Wilson hosted the interview, asking about Carlyle’s own story and the writing journey. Carlyle enjoyed maths and science at school, but also creative writing. A teacher at primary school told her she’d be a writer “but I just took a while to get around to it”. “I remember when I was six I got a typewriter. My godfather bought it for“Asme.a middle child I hardly ever got anything I wanted, so I must have really nagged for it.”
Later in life, with four teenagers, including her nephew whose father was killed in a plane crash while doing humanitarian work in Sudan, Carlyle wasn’t sure she could handle the stress of law practice and thought she would retrain as a teacher.
September 2, 2022 The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 19Arts / Entertainment Pages
“I had to do a couple of English papers in order to do that and I thought the creative writing paper would be an easy one,” she laughs. “I just got the bug.”
Reading is still a more powerful medium for her than watching movies and TV. Carlyle ended up at law school, but has also lived a life of adventure, sailing across the Indian Ocean with her three children and her now ex-husband. Her novel reflects that journey to a point, with the main character spending a lot of time on a yacht, some of it in the Indian Ocean.
Local author returns to where
“I feel like the book chose me, I didn’t choose the book.”
“I certainly have ideas, put it this way,” she says. “I know what happens next.” she worked on bestseller
And readers’ imaginations make the stories come to life. “It’s not me – I’ve just put some marks on a page. I think I’m in love with that magic.” But the writing itself is far from easy. “It’s really hard to just keep going and keep going and there will come a time where you have no joy in it anymore.”
2 2 W y n y a r d S t , D e v o n p o r t | 0 9 4 4 6 0 9 3 4 O f f e r s va l i d 3 r d S e p t e m b e r 1 s t O c t o b e r 2 0 2 2 , o r w h i l e s t o c k s l a s t S H O P O N L I N E A T W W W . F I R E F L Y N Z . C O SM M U P T O 6 0 % O F F L I G H T I N G • F U R N I T U R E F A B R I C S • W A L L P A P E R S P R I N G S A L E Close to home... Author Rose Carlyle lives near Takapuna Library, where she spoke recently
Carlyle says reading the book I Am David – the story of a young boy who escaped a concentration camp – at age seven made her a lifelong reader. While all her friends went off to the beach, she needed to know what happened next.
The novel just came to her, “and I couldn’t do anything about it”, she says. One of the characters, Ben, has the same name as her son, but is nothing like him.
Carlyle is working on a second book, another thriller, set in Tasma nia, and more of an epic – the story takes place over 20 years. But she is also caring for her daughter, Florence, who has had long Covid since March. A movie adaptation of The Girl in the Mirror is still in the works, and a sequel seems likely.
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Over 300 creations by children and teenagers from local schools will be shown in the exhibition Our Matariki at the Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna.
Her current influences are American folkpop singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine and indie rock/indie pop singer Phoebe Bridgers.
When she’s not writing songs, Phoebe also plays hockey and rides horses near her home in rural Albany. In second place was Westlake Girls’ High School student Noelle Nayon.
Carmel College student Phoebe Webster won a songwriting competition for North Shore schools with a song about being stuck at home during Covid lockdowns. The 14-year-old won the opportunity to record her song in the Depot Sound studio in Devonport, which organised the contest. Her pop song, In My Room, was based on feeling trapped during the Covid-19 lockdowns, she says.
The exhibition, running until 8 September, includes artworks, stories, pho tography and video.
The show was coordinated by Takapuna Grammar School Art Department staff member and Devonport-Takapuna Kākui Ako leader Linda Sew Hoy.
Star power...
September 2, 2022 The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 21Arts / Entertainment Pagesff
Lockdown
The intermediate category was won by Maia Potter, a year 7 student at Albany Junior High.
The Our Matariki exhibition has hundreds of works by young artists from local schools
Entrants had to send in a video recording of their song, as well as the sheet music. Phoebe likes that songwriting is fluid.
“I really just write about what I feel in a certain moment,” the year 10 student says. “I do singing lessons on Monday nights and my singing teacher suggested I do it.”
inspires student’s contest-winning song
The exhibition is aimed at creating a space for schools and students to showcase how they celebrated the months of Matariki this year. Families gathered to mark the exhibition opening last Saturday.
Ten schools from across the Devonport peninsula are involved, including Taka puna Grammar School, Belmont Intermediate, primary schools and the Wilson School. Up to 40 works were submitted by each school. Seven of the schools belong to the same Kāhui Ako or Community of Learning.
Popular exhibition spills over
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“There’s not really a set thing you have to do,” she says. “I find sometimes I’ll just have a weird thought in my head and I’ll write it down.” She then considers what the words “feel like or sound like and what music goes withPhoebeit”. wrote her first song at the age of seven, while going through “a major Taylor Swift phase”. “I basically made up a song about an imaginary break-up.”
The exhibition is in the Lake House’s main gallery but with so many pieces it has also spilled over to its cafe, stairways and corridors.
“The pieces on display are labelled with students’ names and year groups, not their schools,” she said. “This is to reinforce the fact we are all a community and the exhibition is non-competitive.”
When the play was given a read through at The Vic Theatre in 2020, Burnett was en couraged by the positive audience response, including a kind note from theatrical elder statesman Sir Roger Hall, who said he loved it and offered to do anything to help.
• Campervan is on at the PumpHouse Theatre from 8-18 September. Tickets avail able from www.pumphouse.co.nz or Ph 09 489-8360.
Luckily, her television work largely “ticked over” through the pandemic, albeit with the difficulty of script meetings held over Zoom. She is aworking on two new plays and for Brokenwood Mysteries. With Campervan’s opening night finally looming for a relieved cast, Burnett say: “All of us are saying, just let’s make this a success.” As to whether she will then declutter and hit the road, she says firmly: “Oh god no. Fundamentally I’m just like everyone else and just like nice things.”
Unbeknownst to Burnett, Sir Roger, the patron of Tadpole, suggested the company pick up rights to stage Campervan as a full production. The company then got in touch with her, setting off its slow transition to the stage. “Covid trumps everything,” she says of the last two years. Burnett penned the play before Covid-in duced unease and restlessness took hold across the globe and she hopes it will resonate even more than it might have.
“A lot of people have thought, ‘What am I doing with my life’,” she says. Feedback suggests the pacy play gives people plenty to think about regarding sudden change, as well as being entertaining.
For Burnett, reuniting with Chappell who was in her first play, Mike and Virginia, over a decade ago is a boon. “I just love working with her,” she told the Observer.
The one-time star of much loved Austral ian television show McLeod’s Daughters – who settled back home to continue her screen and stage career – is a drawcard for theatregoers, in what is Tadpole Productions’ 10th anniversary show.
The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 22 September 2, 2022Arts / Entertainment Pages Sunday 18 Sep at 2.30pm PROGRAMME Ritchie, J Aquarius, Suite No 2 for String Orchestra Beethoven Violin Concerto Op 61 in D Sibelius Karelia Suite Op 11 Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No 1 Op 46 ST MATTHEW IN THE CITY Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Streets, Auckland City SOLOIST Helene Pohl CONDUCTOR Michael Joel Just a ferry trip to the Centre of Auckland Pandemic-disrupted comedy probes motorhome impulse PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY Kathryn Robertson Residential Sales 021 490 480 E: Kathryn.robertson@bayleys.co.nz W: kathrynrobertson.bayleys.co.nz LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 WHAT’S ON @ Takapuna Library ART EXHIBITION – SHELTER IN PLACE Until 29 September. Open daily. Angela Morton Room, Level 1 Printmaker Celia Walker’s exquisite unfolding books, zines and prints are inspired by the local environment, including Devonport where she lives BOOK LAUNCH SYLVIA AND THE BIRDS Thursday, 15th September 6pm 7.30pm Hear Joanna Emeney and Sarah Laing talk about their book Sylvia and the Birds, based on the life of the bird lady, Sylvia Durrant. Sylvia helped over 140,000 sick, injured and lost birds during her lifetime A book for all ages, it inspires a reverence for the natural world and is a call to action for all young ecologists and environmentalists TALK – HOW HEALTHY IS OUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY?
With the staging of Campervan having been delayed more than a year due to Cov id, retaining in-demand Chappell and her on-stage husband Andrew Grainger under the able direction of Simon Prast, has been a relief. One of the original cast is overseas and another has other work on, but the principals have stuck with the show which a year ago was all but sold out ahead of what was to be its world premiere in March 2021. Twice-delayed and with refunds paid out, Burnett is thrilled bookings are again looking strong for a season beginning on 8 September.
From the time Kath ryn Burnett (pictured) wrote her play, Camp ervan, to its delayed premiere at the PumpHouse this month, a lot has changed in the world – including any notion she might once have held about packing up and setting off in a mobileInstead,home.she just hopes her story of a couple who do just that, will resonate with audi ences for whom Covid disruptions have left many questioning how they live. Her comedy romp boasts a top-notch cast, including Lisa Chappell, who like Burnett grew up on the North Shore.
“It’s a very cool feeling, very exciting to have the premiere after such a long time to get where we are at.” Burnett – who grew up in Bayswater and attended Taka puna Grammar School before embarking on a career as a screen and script writer – wrote the play pre-pandemic. At the time she was musing about what her life might look like if pared back of possessions and packed into a big campervan. Later she developed the idea into drama on a writing course, thinking: “What if I put a fami ly through that process?” Campervan tells the tale of a multi-millionaire who subjects his younger wife to just that, all in a quest for something new for him to do.
Wednesday 21st September, 6pm-7 30pm Local government elections are fast approaching Associate Professor in politics at Massey, Grant Duncan, looks at how representation and governance is working in our super city 12 years on
“I really appreciated when he emailed me. That was so genuine,” she says.
Burnett, who is in her 50s, is used to jug gling an erratic career as a freelancer, mixing workshops and consulting with her writing.
September 2, 2022 The RangiToTo obseRveR Page 23Arts / Entertainment Pages TheDevonport Historical and Museum Society AGMwill be held on 11th September at 3pm TheGuestSpeaker will be RichardTong Afternoon teawill be served. All welcome. 48 Victoria Road | (09) 446 0100 | www.thevic.co.nz NOW SHOWING Lancaster (E) 110min NEW Spider Man: No Way Home The More Fun Stuff Version (M) 157min NEW Three Thousand Years of Longing (M) 108min NEW Beast (R13) 93min NEW The Invitation (R13) 105min NEW The Railway Children Return (PG) 95min NEW COMING SOON A Stitch in Time (TBA) 98min 8 SEP Everything Went Fine (R13) 113min 8 SEP Punch (R16) 99min 8 SEP Northspur (R16) 100min 8 SEP The Body Politic by Elspeth Sandys (Play Reading) 11 SEP Ticket to Paradise (M) 105min PREVIEW 14 SEP See How They Run (TBA) 98min PREVIEW 14 SEP events@thevic.co.nz SPECIALS CHEAP TUESDAY ALL TICKETS $10 *EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS SPECIAL EVENT We are operating under the Covid Protection Framework. For more information please visit our website. Take a hike... Lisa Chappell and Andrew Grainger play a married couple whose relationship is tested by his decision to downsize from a life of luxury in Campervan, a new play being staged by Tadpole Productions
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