Our Henderson Heights Community News, May 2018

HENDERSON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 2. Issue 1

Keeping everyone informed and up to date in our neighbourhood

October 2017

MOROCCAN MUM

SENSATIONAL! Moroccan Mum Amina from Sturges Road hosted a sensational night showing off her amazing culinary skills! If you were not there, you missed something very special.

Amina dazzled the crowd of 30 or so who attended with her skills, knowledge of food, and of course, her personality.

Dressed in her Moroccan head scarf, Amina showed us how to cook lamb like nothing you have ever tasted in New Zealand. I am a lover of lamb, and as a Kiwi have eaten a lot of lamb over three decades, but I have never tasted anything like lamb cooked Moroccan style by Amina! Words cannot describe the flavour and tenderness of the meat!

Using a myriad of herbs and spices, and commentating on each as she progressed, the crowd was spell-bound! Her four assistants: Hanan, Christine, Anjum (the owner of Mini Miracles Play Centre) and Sylvia Rivers (owner of Champers Party Shop), all HH locals, were never far from Amina’s side. They assisted her with this and that, scurrying around the kitchen fetching ingredients as the Moroccan master chef gave instruction.

Here are just some of the comments of some of the participants:

“What a wonderful night. What more can I say!?”

Ian and Lynette, Leafield Crescent.

“It was an absolutely fabulous night. I can’t wait for the next one!” Liz , Vintage Drive.

“It was fantastic to meet people from our local community, while sharing some delicious food. What a treat!”

Lisa, Waterstone Way.

“It was a great way to meet some of the neighbours, and all the while learning new ways to cook. I’ll definitely make the salads! Nice biscuits too” Lyn, Burgundy Park Ave.

“This was a great evening and the food was delicious. Amina gave a very relaxed demonstration and made us so welcome.” Annette, Sapperton Drive.

Everyone who attended would have had similar things to say but space limits how many quotes from those who attended the evening I can publish. Suffice to say, we all went home enriched for the experience, enthusiastic about what we’d tasted, and excited about new friendships.

Truly, this was a small slice of ‘community’ in action. The people who came were connecting with each other

via food, drink, and laughter. Cultural divides were being broken down.

Knowledge from the other side of the world was being imparted. Taste buds were on turbo!

The good news – Amina is having another cooking class with a brand new recipe.

Location: Mini Miracles Play Centre.

When: Monday 9th October.

Time: 6:30 -8:00pm Please RSVP Julian by October 7th Email: j.batchelor@barfoot.co.nz Text or phone: 0274764430 HELP! We are going to have various people of various cultures, one at a time, showcasing their recipes and culture once a month. The first 20 minutes of the 90 minute class will be spent making sandwiches for children at Ranui primary.

If you can think of a name for these monthly cooking classes (e.g. the HH Kindness Club), email Julian above and be in to win a $20 McDonalds voucher.

SCISSORHANDS HAIR DESIGN PH: 09 8360667

$20.00 VOUCHER Towards any Colour, Cut and Blow wave Service in October Valid until 31st October 2017 Bring your Henderson Heights Community News ad in to claim your discount.

Keeping everyone in our Henderson Heights community up to date with news.

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Page 1

Could Henderson Heights become Auckland’s Super Suburb?

Many of you will have received the first edition of our community paper in the last few weeks. I trust you enjoyed it!

A whole team of people were involved in delivering it to 3500 homes in Henderson Heights. We decided not to put it in letterboxes, where it would be mixed up with junk mail and binned.

Instead, we carefully walked up driveways, and then placed the paper on people’s front door steps. We wanted residents to get the message “Please don’t throw this away!

This is a special delivery, and precious, and we need you on board!”

As we delivered the papers, we bumped into locals when we found them at home – stay at home mums, working mums, stay at home dads, working dads, small business owners, retirees, widows, widowers, single people of all ages, and children. There is a HUGE variety of nationalities living in Henderson Heights!

What struck me was how nice people were and how they wanted to connect with me, a total stranger! And they were keen to connect with others in the community!

They just didn’t know how to do it.

Seriously, everyone I met was kind, fun, hospitable, and wanting to get involved.

After meeting people in person or meeting their family, I came away not feeling

Event styling & feature pieces

drained and exhausted (everyone knows what this is like) but energised and excited (yes, we all know what this is like too!)

What had happened to cause this feeling?

WE CONNECTED! I thought “Wow! What would it be like if everyone in Henderson Heights experienced what I experienced as a result of going around delivering the papers – meeting strangers, and genuinely connecting. We’d be Auckland’s super suburb! We’d create a suburb where everyone wants to live. A suburb that really is emotionally healthy and vibrant. A suburb literally fizzing with life and vitality.

A truly unique suburb in Auckland. A suburb where people of different cultures and ethnicity were mixing, relating, talking, sharing, laughing, caring, giving and receiving and doing life together in a deep, meaningful, and life giving way.”

Sure there were some houses with locked gates and fences all around. With these houses, we couldn’t even get to their front doors to deliver the paper! For this reason, we were not able to include some of the gated homes in our delivery, which is a great shame.

When I arrived home, I sat down and analysed why I had come alive and felt excited delivering the papers. There were at least five reasons.

1. I had taken the initiative. This is the big one. I was the one who took the first step. I had to get out of my house, get in my car, grab a bunch of papers, and start walking the streets. I got a buzz from taking a risk. What first steps could you take?

2. I had something to offer. I had the paper in my hand, an idea (to develop community at HH), a desire to make friends, and a smile. When we are positive and happy, and we have something to offer, people react to us positively as well. This made me feel

BUILDING C O M M U N I T Y HENDERSON HEIGHTS even better! What could you offer?

3. I was willing. In my heart, I was willing to have a go, to step out and say “Hello!” to strangers. When I said hello with a smile, so did they! I felt a lift when they were friendly and welcoming! Are you willing?

4. I had to take a risk. I had no idea who I was going to encounter when I went up someone’s path at their home to deliver their paper. But when someone appeared, the encounter was (99% of the time) life giving and so worth the risk! I’d made new friends! Will you take a risk? Even a small one to start with?

E.g. say “Hello” to your neighbour.

5. I was relating to people face to face. I wasn’t communicating through a phone, tablet, or computer. This was flesh to flesh, face to face. Oh how refreshing this was! It was like finding cool water in a desert oasis!

Together, these five factors combined made me feel truly alive!

The vision of Henderson Heights being a super suburb has been branded in my memory. I can’t get rid of it. It won’t go away. It’s hugely exciting, and hugely challenging, but the response from the locals so far made me think it was possible.

Someone once said that there are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say “what happened?!” Which are you? With everything within you, move up to be one of the first group!

Until next issue… take care!

Teneil Pillay 021 075 9783 tothetstyling@gmail.com Instagram: @tothet_styling Facebook: tothetstyling

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Our Henderson Heights Community News

Following on from my last column, I want to share some ideas on how we can build our Westie (Western Heights School) community. I also welcome yours.

staff member out in our drop off zone every day. On wet days I get out there and try to keep traffic flowing to ease congestion and keep children safe.

Before I do, I have to address the 'Elephant in the room’ - more accurately the SUV in the drop-off zone - parking and traffic congestion in and around our school. This is an emotive topic and one that is not easy to address.

I have asked for help from the Ministry but off-street parking is at the absolute bottom of their list of property spending priorities.

One thing we can do in the summer months is open our fields to parent parking when we have evening parent events. In the winter it’s not an option though as our fields are not even fit to stand on let alone drive over.

Manaakitanga: - caring for ourselves, others, and our world. Paying it Forward. Being a Bucket Filler.

- summed up as “Caring Always.”

So, to all of you who are inconvenienced by traffic issues around our school, I sincerely apologise. We will keep trying to educate parents. We will keep trying to ameliorate the situation as best we can, but we also have to acknowledge that often times it is going to get worse before it gets better. I wish there was more we could do to help.

Our school is one of the best - officially at teaching reading, writing and maths.

We are proud of this, but our children will need much more than this if they are to be successful, and if we are to have a world that is safe and sustainable to live in.

A little background to help you understand our challenges and then back to the main topic at hand.

Our school was built in 1974. We started with about 60 children and soon grew to around 100. Without being rude, I don’t think the Ministry really thought things through, or maybe they just didn’t have the funds to future proof our school properly.

We now have 650 children, but with the same amount of off road parking as when we had 60 children. We have over 200 new houses going up in our catchment area, so it is likely to get much worse before it gets better.

We are a school of choice in west Auckland and that adds to the challenge. We also live in challenging times, where tales of attempted abductions cause parents to be extra careful and extra keen to deliver and collect their children by vehicle.

I don’t have any answers to the issue as it stands. We regularly receive calls from the community complaining about parking on surrounding streets - especially on wet days - parking in the Palomino Shops carparks, and causing congestion on Sturges Road. It’s not passing the buck to say I don’t have any jurisdiction in these matters. We regularly remind parents in our newsletters, and we have at least one

To a happier topic. Recently we installed our Pōhatu Tumu - our Foundation Values Stones. There are five of these stones and they represent the foundation values our school stands upon. They define, inspire and guide us as learners, leaders and teachers.

Our Pōhatu Tumu are: Whanaungatanga - being a family. Living, learning and playing together as a family.

- summed up as “Family Always.”

Whakamana: - empowering us as learners and leaders to love learning and be the best we can be.

- summed up as “Our Best Always.”

Pono: - being honest with ourselves and others. Integrity. Doing the right thing always.

- summed up as “The Truth Always.”

Keeping everyone in our Henderson Heights community up to date with news.

Ash Maindonald in his teens

Turangawaewe: - our standing place, where we belong, where we stand tall.

- summed up as “Our Home Always.”

We are passionate about educating the whole child. Passionate about teaching them to Love, Learn and Lead.

- Love - ourselves - others - our world - Learn about - ourselves - others - our world - Lead - ourselves - others - in our world We Love to Learn so we can Learn to Lead so we can Lead with Love These values prepare our children to live in, care for, and contribute to a community.

With these values, our children, our community, our country, and our world have a much brighter future. I thank you all for your contributions to our community, and for your support going forward to raise a new generation of wonderful, caring, contributing citizens.

Ash Maindonald PRINCIPAL WESTERN HEIGHTS

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HENDERSON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY NEWS Page 4

Our community newspaper has already resulted in a lot of good being done and connecting people in the community.

One of those good things is the cooking classes. We are really excited to be running more cooking classes, featuring different nationalities from around our neighbourhood. These classes will give us the opportunity to give back to the community, because the first 20 minutes of each class will be spent making some delicious chicken sandwiches for our small friends down at Ranui Primary School. Full bellies for us, and for the kids! We already have Countdown on board to assist with the chicken. Any extra help or support will be gratefully received! If you want to be part of these evenings once a month, please call Julian on 027 476 4430 Lisa Walker, Waterstone Way.

VOUCHER

I am a resident in South Kensington Place, Henderson. Some months ago, Julian Batchelor mentioned the newsletter that he was putting out for the Henderson Heights Community, a tool that would inspire and motivate others.

I had the privilege of receiving a copy of the first edition on my door step last week!

I am overwhelmed. It’s so good to see how businesses and residents are reaching out to others through their services and finances. I have been in New Zealand for approximately 11 years and have yet to come across a Newsletter for our local area, so this is a great step forward for us all. It was eye opening to see what Henderson looked like many years ago and what significant change has taken place over that time (the Davenports West page and the picture of Lincoln Road in 1948).

I am of the opinion that we need to stand together as a tight knit community as we all have our strengths which we can use to inspire those that need a little push and lift in their lives.

This Newsletter gives personal testimonials and community support from local businesses which I believe is key, as they are well known residents. They have the common goal of improving, inspiring and growing the local business hub together with locals.

The Newsletter comes across with a positive vibe and showcases various businesses and the people that drive them, supported by the locals. I believe we should make every effort to stand behind this Newsletter to make sure it succeeds. We need to model a strong closeknit community. I for one am excited about this development.

Many Thanks Dass Pillay (South African) A proud Local!

3

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Email j.batchelor@barfoot.co.nz and send your letter to the Editor

Local printers, proudly supporting our community For your commercial print needs call Nina Stroeven 021 514 467

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125 Sturges Road, Western Heights Auckland 0612, New Zealand Telephone: (09) 281 2250 Email: info.wh@minimiracles.co.nz

Our Henderson Heights Community News

Open Monday to Saturday at 9 Moselle Avenue, Henderson (off Lincoln Rd) Ph 838 3919

HH COUPLE MAKE BIG CARS GO

FASTER AND BETTER!

Dave and Nicole Snook, who live in HH, have two children at Western Heights School. They also have a business in Paramount Drive, Henderson which specialises in ECU tuning and performance parts! (ECU stands for Engine Control Unit. It’s the computer that assists in running your vehicle).

Auckland roads don’t suit powerful cars.

They need to be set free, and let off the leash! So what did Dave and Nicole do?

They hired the International Track at Hampton Downs and gave some of their current and past customers the chance to put their vehicles to the test on the track.

The customers who attended included a BMW 335i, an Audi R8, and an Audi

S8. One of the highlights of the day was watching some of the team have a crack on the skid pan! (an area made slippery so that vehicle drivers can practise controlling skids). Special guests, Legend of Speed, Racing Ray Williams and Tom Alexander also attended, giving their customers tips and for how to get the most of their cars and the track. Everyone who attended loved it so much, its likely to become an annual event!

If you have any performance based needs for your vehicles, make sure you pop in and see Dave and Nicole. They can not only tune cars and 4wds, but also agricultural, truck, marine and even construction vehicles. Its not always about raw HP, its often about the over efficiency equation.

They also have a large international network of dealers (in NZ, Australia,

Your Vehicle Inspection Experts WOF, COF, Pre Purchase Inspections Compliance and Servicing

USA, Canada and South Africa) who deal with agricultural, truck, construction and mining equipment. As a HH based business, we ask you to support HH businesses. Let’s build a strong network, and help each other build our businesses, through connecting and doing life together.

Go Dave and Nicole! Congratulations on basing such a fabulous business in West Auckland and choosing to live in HH!

VOUCHER

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Keeping everyone in our Henderson Heights community up to date with news.

Page 5

GREAT REASONS TO JOIN THE GARDENING CLUB! There is a gardening club which residents in Henderson Heights can join and it’s called THE HENDERSON AND DISTRICTS GARDEN CLUB (HADGC for short) Having been in existence for 28 years or so, club members meet on the 3rd Monday of every month at the historic Methodist Church, corner of Lincoln and Swanson Roads, 7:30 – 9:30pm.

I had the privilege of interviewing Betty Adams, the current President. Betty explained that when she was younger, she was looking for a gardening club and can’t remember where she saw the notice about the HADGC but she’s glad she did.

Says Betty about the club today. “We have guest speakers from around the world visit our evenings, and they speak about different aspects of horticulture. We’ve also watched DVD’s of famous gardens in different countries. Sometimes we do ‘hands on’ creative activities with plants. It’s always fun, interesting, and stimulating. We are a very friendly group and make a point of making new visitors feel special and welcome.”

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HHCN: Betty, where did you get your passion from gardening from?

Betty: My Mum and Dad were both keen gardeners and from them I became very interested.

HHCN: What excites you about gardening?

Betty: I get a thrill seeing plants develop and then produce vegetables or flowers.

It’s very therapeutic. When one is in the garden gardening, you can lose yourself and hours go by without noticing. I guess this is because inside all people is a creative streak and we all love to create and look back on what we’ve created and go Wow! It gives a real sense of achievement.

HHCN: Betty, what advice do you have for our readers as they head into Spring?

Betty: • Add organic matter back to your soil, dig in compost and sheep pellets before planting.

• An application of Seasol plant tonic every 2-4 weeks will keep your fruit trees thriving - this seaweed based plant tonic promotes strong root growth, reduces transplant shock and increases fruiting and flowering capacity.

• Sprinkle slug & snail control throughout your garden to protect

BETTY ADAMS, Club President 09 832 0484 vulnerable new seedlings.

• If your lawn needs a revamp or you’re thinking of sowing a new one, first try applying a good lawn fertiliser.

• Spring is a fantastic time to grow plants from seed. Check the seed packets for specific instructions as some seeds are better sown straight into the garden like peas, beans and carrots.

• Remember to keep dead-heading flowers to prolong flowering.

• Get your strawberry plants in the ground if you haven’t already. A good rule of thumb is to plant five strawberry plants for each member of the household.

If you would like to know more about the club, call Betty on 09 832 0484 or email hdgardenclubnz@gmail.com.

VOUCHER

Want to become a great gardener? Learn from those with experience and passion? Have fun while you are doing it? Now you can!

Have a gardening story or tip to share?

The best one wins a $100 Lincoln Rd MITRE 10 voucher.

Email j.batchelor@barfoot.co.nz

Our Henderson Heights Community News

COMPETITION TIME! Draw on the photo the business location of any of our sponsors, cut out the photo, and drop it in to Barfoot and Thompson, 350 Great North Road, Henderson. You’ll be in to win the $50 Countdown food voucher!

Henderson Heights, 1947

MASSIVE CHANGES AT HENDERSON HEIGHTS! “Julian knocked on our door delivering

the first edition of OUR HENDERSON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY NEWS. I started to tell him that I have lived in the West all my life, and he encouraged me to write it down, so I did!

I spent a large part of my childhood in West Auckland and in particular around the

Western Heights area. I remember driving down Lincoln Rd with my family and staring out the window at orchards and vineyards, at this stage Waitakere Hospital consisted of one large vertical building and Kings orchard was next to it where I would go strawberry picking with my grandmother.

Sturges Road was the fruit bowl of West Auckland and I would often walk there with my grandmother from Buscomb Ave to get a box of apples. Babich Vineyard still covered most of Lake Panorama Drive and horses grazed on nearby paddocks. There were houses along Sturges Rd but for the most part it was made up of Corbans Vineyard and orchards. I remember on the way home from the orchards I was allowed to stop and feed a few of our apples to the horse.

It is hard to believe walking around Sturges Rd now with my children that it was once an agricultural hot spot known for producing wine and fruit and that there was more greenery than concrete. I wonder what it will look like 20 years from now. The picture in this story is of Henderson Heights in 1947.

OMG, what a change has occurred!”

VOUCHER

By Louise Zame, South Kensington Way, Henderson Heights.

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Based in Henderson, law firm Davenports West offers a full range of legal solutions including: Commercial Property Law • Residential Property Law • Wills and Estate Planning Powers of Attorney • Commercial and Business Law • Law for Community Groups & Charitable Trusts.

Keeping everyone in our Henderson Heights community up to date with news.

Page 7

COMMUNITY I first met Elaine Mullins of Waterstone Way on a train ride from the city back to Henderson.

I asked her if she could be one of the proof readers of our very first edition and she said yes! After the proof reading was completed, she and her husband Warren offered to deliver some of the papers in their area. Then (wait for it) they offered to be the co-ordinators of all the areas and oversee the delivery of all our papers in Henderson Heights! Wow! This couple are really committed to the concept of community and are going the extra mile to help. For this reason, they are one of our community heroes this month! Thank you so much Elaine and Warren!

Do you know a ‘Community Hero’?

HEROES

SIMONE WELTS of San Marino Drive is a busy mother with a husband and two high school age children to look after, run a home, and play a lead role in a whole lot of sports clubs and community groups. Yet in spite of her hectic lifestyle, Simone put her hand up to deliver Our Henderson Heights Community news to not just one area (HH has been broken up into 32 areas) but three! She has also offered to take over the management and oversight of the sports section in our paper. For these reasons, Simone is one of our community heroes this month! Well done Simone. We appreciate you so much!

Let us know and they might receive a $20 SuperValue Palomino voucher!

email j.batchelor@barfoot.co.nz

Another community initiative in Being August I am the owner operator ofcash SuperValue Palomino. part by of Henderson Heights Community News in my viewearned was a great way of sharing messages and Palomino SuperValue has Burgundy Park creating a moreaclose knit in Henderson Heightscentre! via this newspaper.

Pre-School host ofcommunity new goodies for their

SuperValue Palominoowner is your Local Alison Salanoa, of Convenient BurgundyGrocery Park supermarket.

Pre-School We share a similar vision to support our people in the community by wayalways of giving back to on Sturges Road is a popular personality who is the community, $200 every month as Community Cash.

This is given looking at ways of enhancing her early childhood learningto people or groups who contribute to the goodwill the community. centre.

Alison needed two mudof kitchens, a system for We take pride andfor interest in the diverse community Western Heights recycling water her garden, andcultural imitation turf toincreate as such endeavour to fulfil our locals needs.

You allat visit our shop and it’s a aand safer learning environment.

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What a SuperValue differencePalomino only fitting offer our support to the Wow! HHCN. Last year these enhancements havetowards made!theThe mud and kitchens contributed more than $8,000 community schools!in particular are atohighlight.

Says Alison “As our children We will continue help build and grow our community – this onlyuse being our these kitchens, they learn negotiate, and work payback to the community for alltotheshare, patronage over the years.

After all it's together. gaining skills more aboutThey what are you put in than communication what you get out. I see newthrough faces every day and conversations andwestorytelling.

There are Iso many you social once every so often end up creating a bonding. encourage to try and and benefits!

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Someone hasarea!” to take the first step! And as you get to Thank younew Sanjeet your team at Super Valuecompliment Palominothem. This know your friendsand in Henderson Heights, genuinely for looking out for needs in and thesafe. community willonce makeagain them feel good, more comfortable, Until nextand time - keep the willingly meeting community alive. them!

(In the photo are two parents and their children who attend Burgundy Sanjeet Kumar Park Pre-School. Left to right : Sandra, Stella, Ayaan, and Elizabeth). and the team at SuperValue Palomino.

Owned & operated

by locals Page 8

SuperValue Palomino: 4/138 Sturges Road, Auckland.

Ph 837 2504. Open 6:30am – 8:30pm, 7 days.

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Our Henderson Heights Community News

WIGHT OPTOMETRISTS

Did you KNOW ?

Sporting Scholarships to the USA are now possible for HH residents!

Custom College Recruiting (CCR) , based in Kentucky USA, regularly travel to New Zealand to hold various seminars nationwide, to scout out local talent.

The town and district of Henderson was named after Thomas Henderson.

By 1843 Henderson had come to own an 18-ton schooner known as the Lucidan valued at around £350.

CCR CEO, Shane Howard and his team of talent scouts have successfully assisted hundreds of New Zealand athletes to attain sporting scholarships in the USA. CCR are most known for their partnership with Basketball New Zealand and their success at attaining $10 million dollars (and growing) in scholarships for their athletes.

Shane commented “We are extremely excited to be hosting our first seminar in the Waitakere area. We’ve heard of the strong sporting community in various sport codes in Waitakere and are looking forward to providing in-depth & honest information on how to access the US university opportunities and potential scholarships!

Thank you to the Waitakere Bears Softball Club for hosting & making it available for all sporting families in Waitakere” It was a fantastic opportunity and the beginning of a partnership that can only grow and benefit not only those young people at Waitakere Bears but all young people in our HH community.

SHANE HOWARD If you are interested in finding out more visit www.waitakerebears.co.nz.

Preparations are underway for the 2017/2018 season which commences on October 20th with the Bears Classic Premiere Softball Tournament. The tournament is held over the duration of Labour Weekend and is a local favourite offering something for everyone in the community.

For those wishing to find out more about the services of Custom College Recruiting please contact Coaches Aaron and Brendan via www.customcollegerecruiting.com and be sure to follow the Waitakere Bears Facebook Page to look out for their next visit.

Competitive eye exam, glaucoma evaluation and cataract assessment, contact lens, on-site workshop. We shall tailor make your visual solutions to suit your individual needs Cut this out and receive a 10% discount 09 837 0657 www.wightoptometrists.co.nz

WIGHT OPTOMETRISTS

Ngati Whatua chiefs took a shine to the schooner, and wanted to exchange land they held in West Auckland for her. This they did in 1844. However, the deal kicked off a long, long process of claims and counter-claims between Henderson and the government, lasting right through to the 1870s, but in short Henderson had crown grant title by 1855, and permission to possess the land by around 1847.

This means that the tile sculpture with pride-of-place at the Great North Road entrance to Henderson Central, is not quite accurate with its date. The date should be 1847, since this was the date Henderson legally owned the land we now know as Henderson.

VOUCHER

Waitakere Bears Softball Club, located at Starling Park, just a few minutes from the heart of our Western Heights Community, recently proudly hosted the first seminar of its kind in West Auckland.

WIGHT

OPTOMETRISTS

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“Proud Western Heights School mum since 2012” Keeping everyone in our Henderson Heights community up to date with news.

Page 9

$100 of my fee will go direct to Western Heights Primary School

Inspire Support Strengthen

www.keriedley.co.nz Keri Edley celebrant

021 274 1411 keriedley@gmail.com

KIDS! Colour the picture in, cut it out and

take it to McDonalds Westfield Henderson.

THE WINNER gets a $20 McDonalds voucher.

For Your Unique Wedding Experience.

Page 10

PHONE NO: _______________________________

WEDDING CELEBRANT

I offer a couple my personal time and commitment, backed with practical insight and skill, making their day the best wedding ever.

NAME: ____________________________________

Keri Edley

I’m a well known dance teacher, examiner and celebrant based in Auckland. Having been in the dance scene for 30 years I find being a celebrant is an extension to my creative soul.

I approach being a celebrant with the same enthusiasm as my dancing career.

Our Henderson Heights Community News

OUR TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

By Annette and Phil Rice, Sapperton Drive

VOUCHER

Despite having to spend thirteen hours in Athens Airport due to a strike, our trip to the Dodecanese Islands was a trip of a lifetime. You might exclaim 'Where on earth are the Dodecanese Islands? I have never heard of them!’ The Dodecanese, in the South Eastern Aegean Sea, is a group of Greek islands known for their medieval castles, Byzantine churches, beaches and ancient archaeological sites.

From Athens, we flew to the Island of Rhodes, then took a ferry to Turkey. Here we boarded our gorgeous Turkish gulet (this is a traditional design of a two-masted or three-masted wooden sailing vessel). Following on from here was one special week. Our boat had a barefoot policy which suited us kiwis. There were 2 baskets at the top of the gangplank and our sandals were deposited in these every time we came aboard. Our meals were eaten on deck and we swam in those clear blue waters off the boat. We travelled in spring and there were no crowds on the little islands and certainly no other tourists.

The Dodecanese are a group of islands closer to Turkey than to Greece and are known as the Mediterranean Pearls.

For the next few days we sailed between these islands and cycled over and around them.

The first stop was Symi (look this up on a map) which has a history of sponge diving, and the gorgeous monastery of Panormitis.

Nissoris was the next stop. This island is a dormant volcano.

The bike to the top in 40deg heat was a bit much for some, so a stroll around the village on our own was a pretty good alternative. The mosaic courtyards and alley ways were like a dream.

The Island of Halki was next with little blue and white fishing boats all around the shoreline and octopus drying in the sun.

Rhodes Island was our last island and here the hardier cyclists cycled from Lindos to Old Rhodes town, while the wiser of us lazed on board and cruised azure waters to meet them there.

If you ever get a chance to go to the Dodecanese Islands, grab it with both hands! You’ll never regret it!

You can contact Phil and Annette on 027 292 30 69

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Henderson Westfield

• For dates for all other cooking classes with different nationalities cooking their traditional dishes, phone Julian on 0274764430. At the beginning of each of these classes, those who come will spend 20 minutes making sandwiches for the children at Ranui Primary.

• The Henderson and Districts Garden Club meets at the historic Methodist Church on the corner of Swanson and

Lincoln Road on the third Monday of every month, 7:30pm. All are most welcome. For more details, contact Betty on 09 832 0484 • CRAFT FEST (fundraiser for Hospice West Auckland) West Wave Recreation Centre 20 Alderman Drive, HENDERSON. Saturday the 11th of November,10am to 4pm. General admission $5. Children 12 and under free. EFTPOS available. Find us on facebook.com/craftfestnz.

• If you can help deliver OUR HENDERSON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY NEWS in your street, phone Elaine our delivery co-ordinator 09 836 3797

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• Cooking for the homeless with Amina the Moroccan. To join in, call Amina on 022 364 36 25.

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Henderson Heights” What is your home worth?

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Julian Batchelor Henderson Branch 027 476 4430 09 838 6059 email: j.batchelor@barfoot.co.nz www.julianwillsellit.today

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