The Fringe, April 2019 by Fringe Media

ISSUE 180, APRIL 2019

community news, issues, arts, people, events

The Fringe APRIL 2019

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contents

Our place: Hospice birthday, Ethkick results, New Lynn Tennis Club centenerary.......................................................................... 4 New development to bring opportunities to Village.................... 5 No waste here.............................................................................. 6 Exploring is in our nature............................................................. 7 Art and about with Naomi McCleary...................................... 8 – 9

Out and about: taking it to the city, Shaun Wallace visits Pinesong, Wheels out West........................................................ 10 Places to go: Events listing................................................. 12 – 13 At the libraries............................................................................ 14 Bandstanding: Peter Leenen....................................................... 15

Seaweek 2019 a huge success............................................ 16 – 17 Creating ‘airbrushed tattoos’...................................................... 18 Sustainable solutions: composting............................................. 19 Naturally West: the wētā; Weather by the Moon...................... 20 Walking West: Kitekite Falls Track; Cartoon Corner................... 21 Live @ the lounge...................................................................... 22 Advertisers Directory.................................................................. 23 On our cover: Te Karanga-ā-Hape, carved by Sunnah Thompson in 2003. Looking both ways at once, Hape was a revered ancestor of Te Kawerau ā Maki, the local iwi (tribe) of West Auckland. He is watchful, guarding his place at the harbour mouth with his allies, the taniwha that surround him. Te Karanga-ā-Hape, the Māori name for Cornwallis, means the call of Hape, a historical reference to Hape’s calls to his warriors to attack a rival taniwha. This pou (post or pillar) can be seen near the Pine Avenue entrance to Cornwallis Beach.

It’s Our Place! Community organisations, sports clubs, craft clubs and other non-commercial organisations are welcome to post their news and updates on The Fringe’s web site, FREE. Email your updates and information to info@fringemedia.co.nz See Our Place at www.fringemedia.co.nz

Every issue of The Fringe (and the Titirangi Tatler before it) since April 2011 is on-line at www.fringemedia.co.nz. Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ FringeWest) to hear when each issue is available and get other updates. please support our advertisers – they support us

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Published by: Fringe Media Ltd, PO Box 60-469, Titirangi, Auckland 0642

Editor: Bevis England 817 8024, 027 494 0700 bevis@fringemedia.co.nz

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Features: Moira Kennedy 021 723 153 moira@fringemedia.co.nz

Writers and contributors: Jade Reidy, David Thiele, Naomi McCleary, Susannah Bridges, Fiona Drummond and Mick Andrew.

Advertising deadline for May 2019: April 11 The Fringe APRIL 2019

our place

Very first shoppers say ‘cheers’

Hospice West Auckland’s Glen Eden store first opened two years ago. To celebrate, Hospice organised a birthday party early last month attracting an eager line of shoppers that extended down the road. The event brought a diverse crowd from all over West Auckland to celebrate the work that the store’s staff do. Councillor Linda Cooper, a past chair of Hospice, welcomed the shoppers and cut the birthday cake to celebrate all that Hospice stands for. The birthday party saw many new customers arrive, as well as the return of loyal customers, including Quentin and Brenda (pictured above with Maggie Roberts, Glen Eden’s store manager, left) who were the first customers of the store when it officially opened in March 2017. The party received great feedback from those who attended with one happy visitor commenting: “The atmosphere was awesome. All the staff were helpful and we really enjoyed the spread they put on! Overall it was a really good vibe and worth the waiting in line.”

Strength in diversity

Teams representing ethnic and cultural communities took part in last month’s Ethkick West seven-a-side football tournament, a clear affirmation that West Auckland diversity is a treasure to be celebrated, organisers say. The five women’s teams were New Zealand, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Globetrotters NZ and Pacific Nations. The 22 men’s teams were NZ Indian, Fiji Indian, Gurkha FC, Nepal, Fiji, Afghanistan, NZ Men, Kaurilands, NZKA (Kaw Thoo Lei), Myanmar Zo, Tamil, Cambodia, China, United Nations, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Maiwand, Brazil, D.R. Congo, Tuvalu, Malaysia and Korea. The Men’s Ethkick West 2019 Cup winners were Maiwand (pictured below with supporters) with Zimbabwe as runner-up. Globetrotters NZ won the women’s cup with New Zealand as runner-up and Myanmar Zo won the Social cup with Fiji as runner-up. The event was organised by Community Waitakere, with support from the Northern Football Federation, Waitakere City Football Club, Auckland Council, NZ Police, the Waitakere Ethnic Board, Sports Waitakere, the Human Rights Commission, West Auckland Local Boards, The Trusts Community Foundation and The Trusts.

For more information about Hospice and the work it does visit https://hwa.org.nz/.

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The Fringe APRIL 2019

Anyone for Tennis?

New Lynn Tennis Club will celebrate its centenary this month and invites all present and past members to participate. The New Lynn Tennis and Social Club was established in 1919 in New Lynn. It was originally located within the New Lynn township before moving to Rata Street and finally, in 1955, to Mason Park where it remains. The club rooms have been added to over the years but much remains the same today. The Sports Pavilion was erected by Council in 1955, the New Lynn Jaycees started work on the children’s playground in June 1970 and in November of that year the playground was handed over to Council. In July 1971 the upstairs floor was upgraded to accommodate indoor bowls and further extensions were completed in 1973 and 1975. In April 1984 the four existing courts were resurfaced with artificial grass and a public court was added. The last resurfacing of the courts was completed in April 1997. The 100 year jubilee celebration, Wimbledon Whites, is to take place on April 13 from 2pm. It will feature three hours of fun tennis (with Pimms, ice cream and berries) before an opportunity to mix and mingle, speeches and a special dinner at 6.30pm. The party will continue into the night. The club runs regular coaching sessions on Wednesdays from 4pm for 7-10 year olds and 5-6pm for 11 years and older and on Sundays from 9am for 7-10 year olds and 10am for 11 years and older. It will also be running a school holiday programme for children aged 7 to 15, 9am-12 noon, April 15-18 and 23-26. No experience needed and tennis rackets are provided. Contact Tracy McMurtrie, 021 806 992, for more information.

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our place

New development to bring opportunities to the Village Work has finally begun on the commercial development occupying the site on the corner of Titirangi and South Titirangi Roads. The developers, Broadway Property Group, believe the project will provide a building that future generations of locals will be proud of. Designed to reflect environmental values and to build on the unique character of Titirangi Village, the building will provide new retail and dining opportunities for the area and spaces for people to work. Visitors to the Village will have noticed the car park has already been closed allowing work to start on the new car parking platform which will provide space for additional works ahead of the main construction phase which starts in a couple of months. Broadway Property Group purchased the site in 2017 and spent some time working to understand the dynamics of Titirangi and the opportunity that existed to complement Lopdell House and existing businesses before designing the three-level building and applying for resource consent. Director Adrian Hughes says the building, featuring a green wall and natural materials, will wrap around the prominent but under-utilised corner site and will be sympathetic in scale to the rest of the Village, providing a visual link between Lopdell House, the Village shops, and the community hub in South Titirangi Road. “We placed a huge emphasis on integrating the building into the local environment by creating and enhancing the shopping centre in a way that the community can be proud of,” Adrian says. The design of ‘The Rise’ recognises feedback received from the Titirangi community in relation to a previous, four-level, proposal that would have over-shadowed Lopdell House. It will provide 42 car-parks for both public and tenant use. “We are excited to work in a location that has both natural beauty and a close Village community,” says Adrian. The Broadway Group prefers to retain long-term ownership and management of its projects. “We plan to be here a long time and this is reflected in our design and choice of materials and builders,” says Adrian. The design was created in consultation with Auckland Council’s Urban Design Panel and Te Kawerau ā Maki. A significant feature is a green wall which will extend down South Titirangi Road. A range of environmentally sustainable initiatives are also being explored including

the use of natural materials, and energy and water efficiency. At street level, The Rise will have six to eight retail units in a range of sizes that should appeal to a mix of tenants. Above this will be 650 square metres of commercial space. It is not possible to reveal who will be setting up shop as the leasing process has only just started but the flexible combination of customised interior designs, expansive views towards French Bay and the chance to occupy a new, environmentally sustainable building is expected to draw considerable interest. With the closure of the site’s 15 car-park spaces during the construction period, it is recommended that visitors to the Village consider car pooling or biking and walking. It is expected that the project will be completed in mid2020.

Work has started on the transformation of the site on the corner of Titirangi and South Titirangi Roads.

To register your interest in leasing any of the spaces, contact either James Kermode of Match Realty or Nilesh Patel of Jones Lang LaSalle. To be updated on the building’s progress by email, or if you have any questions, visit www.broadwaypropertygroup.co.nz/ therise.

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The Fringe APRIL 2019

our place

No waste here Kudos to the Manukau Sport Fishing Club (MSFC) for getting behind LegaSea’s Kai Ika project by donating significant amounts of food from their recent big fishing competition at Huia to a Manukau marae. It’s the second year the MSFC Marine Deals WestCoaster Fishing Tournament has donated food following its annual Huia event which saw 85 crews taking part this year. Long-time club member Jo Lynch of New Lynn says they’re all 100 per cent behind the Kai Ika project set up in 2016 by LegaSea’s project lead, Titirangi man Sam Woolford. (See the March 2019 issue of The Fringe.) Since then, and in conjunction with the Outdoor Boating club, the project has collected fish parts (mostly frames and heads) from fishers, and shared them with the community. Fish heads and frames are the most revered parts of fish for Maori and Pacifica peoples. “LegaSea is doing wonderful things and this is the second year we’ve supported Kai Ika. There’s nothing worse than seeing good food going in the rubbish,” Jo says. “While we’re not sure how much was collected at the Huia event, there were a lot of whole fish put into the bins for the marae so I’m confident plenty of people got a decent feed from the contribution.” The fishing event is the biggest annual fund raiser for the HuiaCornwallis Ratepayers and Residents Association. LegaSea is a not-for-profit organisation set up by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council to share information about a variety of processes important to the sustainable management of our fisheries. www.legasea.co.nz – Moira Kennedy

Jo Lynch (right) with some of the marae crew.

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The Fringe APRIL 2019

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places to go

Exploring is in our nature Living in the West, we are lucky to be surrounded by nature, which offers us an abundance of opportunities to get outdoors. There is much to explore, whether it’s in the bush, by our streams, or in urban nature pockets such as your local park. Whether you have lived here your whole life or you’re new to the area, there will always be something new to discover and the EcoWest Festival, running until April 14, offers many opportunities to explore our unique neighbourhoods. Which birds and insects are up and about at night? What can you find in our freshwater streams? What is the science behind Kauri dieback disease? Find the answers to these and other questions during the final two weeks of the festival. Highlights include: Stream and Bush Care In Laingholm, Sunday April 7, 1-3pm at 12a Western Road, Laingholm. Help care for Laing Stream and the surrounding bush area in Laingholm. Gain practical, hands-on weeding experience at this fun and informative event. Freshwater Frenzy, Saturday April 13, 10am-2pm at Moire Park, Granville Road, Massey. A fun-filled family day focusing on fresh water and the animals that live in it. Free BBQ.

Tour Tai Haruru Lodge and Garden, Saturday April 13, 11am-12.30pm at Tai Haruru, 92 Garden Road, Piha. Discover this secret native garden on a tour led by expert Chris Bindon. Open to the general public today only, with tea and scones available for sale afterwards. A Night In The Bufferzone, Saturday April 13, 6-8pm at Matuku Link, 111 Bethells Road, Bethells. Discover night life in the area around Ark in the Park,

Glen Eden Urban Nature Walk, Sunday April 14, 10am-12pm at 72 Savoy Road, Glen Eden. Explore the reserves, streams, and wetlands of Glen Eden. This nature walk is a great alternative to the presently closed tracks within the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area. Kauri Science Series, Sunday April 14, 10-11.30am at Arataki Visitors Centre, Scenic Drive, Oratia. Auckland Council invites you to the Kauri Science Series, a series of one hour talks focussing on the science around kauri dieback and some of the work going on around New Zealand to find out more about the disease, its impact and tools to fight it. Waikumete Stream Clean Up, Sunday April 14, 1-3pm at 72 Savoy Road, Glen Eden. Show the Waikumete Stream in Glen Eden some love by removing rubbish from the streamside areas to stop it getting into our waterways. To find out more and see full details of all EcoWest Festival events, visit www. ecowest.org.nz. EcoWest Festival is organised by EcoMatters Environment Trust and hosted by a range of West Auckland organisations, with generous support from Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Henderson-Massey Local Board, Whau Local Board and Panuku Development Auckland.

Get up close and personal with native geckos, explore a special native garden or explore the reserves of Glen Eden – EcoWest offers many opportunities to enjoy our environment.

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The Fringe APRIL 2019

IN THE WEST...

Geckos, Skinks and Lizards of Aotearoa, Saturday April 13, 10.30am-12pm at EcoMatters, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn. We have some very special animals indigenous to Aotearoa including these hard-to-spot beauties. At this event, EcoMatters will have plenty of live species on display and you will get the rare chance to get up close and personal.

our largest conservation project, this time in the bufferzone at Matuku Link. You could see rare pāteke, glow worms, giant moths and maybe even bats. This treasure hunt highlights the positive results of predator control.

art & about with naomi mccleary

The Power of Art to Heal Art, in the broadest sense, Jimmy Mullins, who served enriches our lives. It can as a front-line army doctor in connect us to our past, North Africa from mid 1941 challenge our beliefs until the end of 1942. By and perceptions, create the Grace of God catalogues moments of sheer joy, stop ‘letters home’, censored of us in our tracks or distract all identifying locations and us from the mundane. In a battle detail, yet curiously more particular way, it can revealing of this man. heal past hurts and create Punctuated by a dry sense insights into what may of humour, the letters contain have been mysterious or colourful descriptions misunderstood. of desert life, trips to the I have been guilty in Holy Land, ancient history, the past of dismissing an boredom, survival, the fine exhibition or body of work as art of ‘scrounging’ and ‘therapy’ – particularly if I’m the war itself. Chris has dubious about its aesthetic painstakingly annotated the worth. I’m more careful these letters, identifying places and days when so much creative dates and filling in relevant work deals with personal or Chris Mullins with his book By the Grace of God. Photo by Robin Kewell. war history. So when Jimmy cultural issues – and yes, the process may be healing for the creator writes that ‘Jerry has been a bit of a nuisance this week’, Chris can often and, if it succeeds in communicating, to the viewer. It is particularly correlate that to an horrific and bloody battle. powerful when it comes from an artist of a specific ethnicity as there is But here’s the rub: Chris is the gentle coffee roaster at the wonderful an immediate ‘conversation’ open to those of the same culture and a Sozo Coffee House in Shetland Street (off Glengarry Road) in Glen deepening of empathy available to others. Eden. One of Jimmy Mullins’ six children, he never knew the strong and I’ve been reminded of all this, not only by the recent exhibitions at confident soldier. The man who came back was physically uninjured Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery and the Corban Estate Arts but damaged emotionally and psychologically – the classic ‘removed Centre, (see the March 2019 issue of The Fringe) but by the modest father’ who lived out a career as a surgeon, propped up by alcohol and delightful book just published by local Chris Mullins, son of Captain and some unfathomable anguish. It is clear that finding his father through these letters has been a personal journey of forgiveness and reconciliation for Chris. What is perhaps unsurprising is the chord it has struck in many other people who have lived with the legacy of men (fathers and grandfathers) who came back to supposedly ‘normal life’ and were never able to find peace. By the Grace of God is available now from Sozo Coffee House, Titirangi Pharmacy and by contacting Chris on 027 278 8335 from mid-April. At the Corban Estate Arts Centre (CEAC), healing through the arts is direct and unapologetic. Much of the focus is on young people who have challenging backgrounds and life experiences. The following three programmes are examples of this work. It is worth going online at www.ceac.org.nz to see the bigger picture. Let’s Talk About It has been running since 2013. Through music, spoken word, raps and personal stories, young people speak out about their challenges with mental health. They share their anxieties, experiences of depression, and even their attempts to end their lives, along with what is helping them recover. While their experiences may be confronting, audiences invariably come away moved, uplifted and inspired by the openness and courage the young people display. The Kākano Youth Arts Collective rates a regular mention in this column for the inspired work it is doing. Young people on this

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art& about with naomi mccleary

For a world without walls

Members of the Kākano Youth Arts Collective at work on a heritage-themed mural for the West Auckland Historical Society.

programme learn a range of visual arts media through which to express their hopes and fears. More than this, they contribute to twice-yearly exhibitions where their work sells like proverbial hot cakes. More recently, supported by Panuku Holdings, they have been selling work from a container gallery shop in the Falls car park in Henderson. A very visible presence are the murals throughout Henderson which have reduced tagging to almost zero. This work has become a small collective business through which these young artists learn practical life skills around employment and budget management. Their most recent mural has recently been completed for the West Auckland Historical Society. Under the tutelage of Sue Haldane, Mind Over Manner works with teenagers who think, learn and work diﬀerently and tend to suffer from high levels of anxiety. They may be undiagnosed or diagnosed with labels such as Asperger’s and other learning or behavioural disorders. Using applied theatre techniques, professional theatre practitioners work to help these young people dissolve anxiety, discomfort and behavioural problems; and to help their whānau, caregivers, teachers and service providers to keep going when they just don’t know what to do next. The miracle and sheer hard graft of much of this work goes on unseen and unheralded and yet it powerfully changes, and sometimes saves, young lives.

Dividing walls are emerging to segregate people: concrete walls, barbed wire walls, or more invisible walls built by money and inequality – World Poetry Movement. Local World Poetry Movement member Saray Torres de Riddell recently organised a unique poetry event at Titirangi Library. The collective poetry reading was one of 928 events that took place in 395 cities across 149 countries around the world. WPM members wanted to use the events to move towards ‘a world without walls’ with participating poets standing for “a world free from all discrimination between people because of their colour, national identity, social status, gender or beliefs.” The Titirangi event was open to anyone who wanted to share a poem or a very brief reading on the theme of a world without walls. Some of the poets reading their original work at this event included environmental activist Dennys Trussel (pictured above), Janet Charman, Ila Selwyn, Piers Davies, Harry Cording, Amanda Eason, and Ron Riddell (left), who had just arrived home in Titirangi from the Third International Poetry Festival in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event closed with the participation of local peace activist Laurie Ross who sang Last night I had the strangest dream.

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out & about

Taking it to the city Local artist Anna Crichton has been working with residents from A Supported Life – a charity-based residential care facility for adults with disabilities – to develop a unique art installation in the Wynyard Quarter on Auckland’s waterfront. The project, Picasso would be Envious, involved residents from A Supported Life who have creative ways of visually interpreting the world moving about the waterfront using pencil and paper to record their impressions of buildings, fishing boats, cranes, structures, seagulls and more. These were then upscaled onto seven large preprepared wooden panels and the artists then painted their designs onto these boards. The panels were housed in a container, provided by Panuku Development, sited next to the foot bridge, with one whole side lifted up to form a canopy. Engagement between the public and the artists was encouraged and the area became a welcoming space for the public to come and watch, sit at tables and chat, and support the artists at work. The panels are now complete and weather-proofed and it is planned that they will be placed on display within Wynyard Quarter this month, before being auctioned with the proceeds going to charity. “Picasso Would be Envious will help the public gain a wider understanding of the unique abilities and vision that people with learning difficulties have,” says Anna. “It is hoped that this exhibition will create opportunities for the charity’s residents to work on further creative projects, or even be offered commissions.”

Artists from A Supported Life find creative outlets in many different media..

Shaun Wallace visits Pinesong

The ‘Dark Destroyer’ from TV’s The Chase visited Pinesong recently and spent time entertaining over 200 residents, staff and locals. In addition to being a ‘quizzer’ Shaun is also a barrister and part-time lecturer and often visits schools, colleges and other institutions to educate students on many aspects of law. In New Zealand to promote his book, Chasing the Dream, Shaun took questions from the audience before going head-tohead with some of the residents in a Chaser-style competition.

ANZAC Day is coming up on the Thursday after Easter. Look our for poppy sellers on local streets from April 16.

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places to go Event organisers: Do you have an upcoming event you’d like listed in The Fringe? Send the details, including a contact person and number, to info@fringemedia.co.nz. Readers: While we take care to ensure listings are correct, errors may occur. Check with the contact person wherever possible.

april w – April 7, Masi in my Blood, contemporary artworks

IN THE WEST...

featuring Masi designs by Fijian artist Rowena Rooney; Corban Estate Arts Centre. Phone 838 4455. w – April 7, The Ulumate Project, Daren Kamali and Inise Eremasi present the practice of indigenous Fijian wig making; Corban Estate Arts Centre. Phone 838 4455. w – April 7, Nakilamai Creations, Fijian barkcloth designs by Railala Gade; Corban Estate Arts Centre. w – 14, ECOWEST FESTIVAL, more than 120 events across Waitākere Ranges, Henderson-Massey and Whau Local Board areas. Visit www.ecowest.org.nz. w – April 22, Raranga by the sea, flax weaving by Jacqui Birch; West Coast Gallery, Piha. Phone 812 8028. www. westcoastgallery.co.nz. w – May 19, Blood Water Earth, the New Zealand première of an exhibition and performance series by artists Santee Smith and Louise Potiki Bryant; Te Uru, 420 Titirangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – May 19 Drop the Ball, a collaborative live performance project by local artist Mark Harvey with Woodlands Park Primary School students; Te Uru, 420 Titirangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – May 26, In The Rough, Parts 1, 2 & 3: Emma Fitts references the practices and biographies of three

modernist female artists Anni Albers, Romaine Brooks, and Eileen Gray; Te Uru, 420 Titirangi Road. w – June 2, The Homely II, an exhibition by Gavin Hipkins; Te Uru, 420 Titirangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w 5, West Auckland Men’s Rebus Club for retired or semi-retired men, guest speaker and morning tea; Kelston Community Centre; 9.30am. Phone Roger 834 7945. w 6, Wheels out West 2019; Glen Eden Village; 10am-2pm. w 7, Woodlands Park School Brick Show in conjunction with the All Blocks Lego User Group. Refreshments available; Woodlands Park School Hall; 10am-4pm; tickets from $5, eftpos/cash. Queries to 817 5140 or email woodlandsparkpta@gmail.com. w 7, 14 & 28 April, Edible Gardening, a three-week course with Katrina Wolff from Blue Borage; Green Bay Community House, 1 Barron Drive, Green Bay; 2-4pm; $15 per session or $40 for the full course. Email Katrina at katrinawolff@gmail.com to book. w 7, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732. w 9, West Auckland Historical Society Family History Group meeting; Henderson Central Library Research Centre; 10-11.30am. Phone Gary Snow 832 5098, 021 618 434 or email gary.snow@ihug.co.nz. w 12, Ladies’ Probus Club, fellowship, fun, speakers, and a monthly day trip; St John’s Hall, Te Atatū South; 9.45am-Noon. Phone Betty 09 832 0484. w 12, 5-9pm, Green Bay Street Food, international foodie fiesta. Bring a picnic mat and fold up chairs; Barron Green, Green Bay Community House, 1 Barron Drive, Green Bay. Contact: Marc Hershman,

greenbaystreetfood@gmail.com w 12, Flicks presents Cold War (M), Oscar nominated for Best Film; Lopdell House Theatre; 10.30am, 6pm and 8.15pm. www.flickscinema.weebly.com. w 12 – June 2, Shifting landscapes, works by Dieneke Jansen, Qiane Matata-Sipu, Jean Stewart and Emily Hartley-Skudder exploring social and political themes; Corban Estate Arts Centre. Phone 838 4455. w 12 – June 2 Attitude towards encountering nature, an insight into Sena Park’s recent residency in Mongolia; Corban Estate Arts Centre. Phone 838 4455. w 13, Mini Fair with toys, jigsaw puzzles, books, white elephant, electrical goods, and home-made cakes and biscuits; Iona Church, 38 Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay; 8am till noon. Contact Robert Findlay, 027 6259 342. w 13, Lions Club Book Sale; New Lynn Friendship Club Hall, 3063 Great North Road, New Lynn; 8am-4pm. Phone Mary 027 487 0639. w 14, Flicks presents It’s about time, films and talk by film-maker Robin Kewell; Lopdell House Theatre; 2-4.30pm; $15/$12, includes afternoon tea. Bookings essential, call or text 0210 222 5558. www.flickscinema. weebly.com. w 16, SeniorNet West Auckland, speaker, morning tea and chatting about computers; Kelston Community Centre; 10am. Phone June 021 179 3635. w 17, Flicks presents Making the grade (PG), an Irish film about piano teachers and their pupils, preceded by live performances by local pupils; Lopdell House Theatre; from 7pm; $14/$12/$7; tickets from eventfinda and on door. www.flickscinema.weebly.com. w 18, Waitakere Forest & Bird AGM and guest speaker Christine Rose from World Animal Protection a global

Linda Cooper

Councillor for Waitakere

Please feel free to contact me 021 629 533 linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 135 Albert Street, Auckland Private Bag 92 300, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142 www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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places to go w 28, Titirangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Titirangi War Memorial Hall; 10am-2pm. Contact Tess on tvm@gmail.com or phone 022 631 9436.

may w May 3, West Auckland Men’s Rebus Club for retired

or semi-retired men; Kelston Community Centre; 9.30am. Phone Roger 834 7945. w May 3, Flicks presents The Favourite (M), Oscar winner for Best Female Actress; Lopdell House Theatre; 10.30am, 5.30pm and 8.15pm. www.flickscinema.weebly. com. w May 4, Kids Arts Festival – ANIMALIA, Spend the day exploring, discovering and creating, with exhibitions, workshops and live performances inspired by how animals look, walk, talk, work, rest and play; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-4pm. Phone 838 4455. w May 5, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732. w May 10, Ladies’ Probus Club, fellowship, fun, speakers, and a monthly day trip; St John’s Hall, Te Atatū South; 9.45am-Noon. Phone Betty 09 832 0484. There is so much happening in and around our community, including many weekly events, that we can’t fit everything into these listings. To find out more about whatever you are interested in, from Air Scouts to yoga and almost everything in between, visit:

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l WHERE IT’S AT: • Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am–4.30pm daily. 838 4455. • EcoMatters Environment Trust, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn; Wednesday – Sunday 10am-2pm. 826 4276, info@ecomatters. org.nz. • Flicks cinema, Lopdell House Theatre. 818 2489, www.flickscinema.weebly.com. • Kelston Community Centre, corner of Awaroa and Great North Roads, Kelston. • McCahon House Museum, 67 Otitori Bay Rd; Wednesday – Sunday, 1-4pm, except public holidays. 817 6148, mccahon@ mccahonhouse.org.nz. • Playhouse Theatre, 15 Glendale Road, Glen Eden. 818 5751. • Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, 420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi; 10am–4.30pm daily. 817 8087, info@ teuru.org.nz. • Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell House Theatre; Titirangi. 817 5812, infoline 817 5951, www.titirangitheatre.co.nz. • Upstairs Gallery, Level 1, Lopdell House; 10am–4.30pm daily. 817 4278, www. upstairs.org.nz. • West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Wednesday – Sunday, 10am–4pm. 812 8029, www.westcoastgallery.co.nz.

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IN THE WEST...

animal welfare organisation, established more than 50 years ago, and working in more than 50 countries; Kelston Community Centre, corner of Awaroa and Great North Roads; 7.30pm; Koha appreciated to cover hall hire. For further information, phone Liz 027 476 2732 or email lizanstey@hotmail.com. w 23, Titirangi U3A with a range of activities including study groups, discussions, speakers and more; West Lynn Garden, 73 Parker Avenue, New Lynn; 1pm; gold coin. Contact 817 5519 or maggie.u3a.titirangi@gmail.com. w 24, West Auckland Historical Society talk: West Lynn Garden with Marguerite Durling; Waitākere Gardens Meeting Room, 15 Sel Peacock Drive, Henderson; 7pm. Phone 836 5917. w 25, Flicks presents They shall grow not old (R16), Peter Jackson’s remarkable film transforming footage from the First World War with the digital wizardry of the 21st Century; Lopdell House Theatre; 5pm and 7pm; Koha admission, with all proceeds going to the Titirangi RSA. www.flickscinema.weebly.com. w 26, The Combined Probus Club of Glen Eden, fellowship, speakers, monthly trips; Ceramco Park Function Centre, Glendale Road, Kaurilands; 10-11.30am. Phone Brian Holt 838 5857. w 26, Flicks presents Green Book (M), Oscar winner for Best Film; Lopdell House Theatre; 10.30am, 5.30pm and 8.15pm. www.flickscinema.weebly.com. w 27 Te Uru presents Erewhon (E), presented by the film-maker Gavin Hipkins; Lopdell House Theatre; 7.30pm. Tickets $10 from eventfinda. Phone 817 8087. w 27 – May 26, H-Art Attack, paintings by Ted Scott; West Coast Gallery, Piha. Phone 812 8028. www. westcoastgallery.co.nz.

places to go

At the libraries Titirangi Library

IN THE WEST...

ANZAC soldier craft and mini makers. Details and times are available on the library’s Facebook page Saturday April 6, 10.15-11.30am: ‘Titirangi Community Library’ or pick up a flyer. Local resident Craig Miller has been To contact the library or register for an event roasting coffee since 1988 and is the email titirangi.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. author of the definitive guide to early espresso culture in New Zealand. At this Glen Eden Library special Saturday morning presentation April 13 – 28, School Holiday Activities: The Craig will discuss his book, as well as library has a range of fun, free activities on serve you one of his famous blends in a offer to keep children engaged and entertained Crown Lynn cup. There will also be givethese April holidays. On Tuesday April 16, daring aways. Numbers are strictly limited so young actors will take part in a Three Billy Goats Titirangi Library’s deck is a great place to read, relax bookings are essential. or enjoy a morning coffee. Gruff-inspired reader’s theatre where they create Thursday April 11, 11am-12pm: wonderful masks and puppets, and perform this classic tale as a play “Who’s afraid of red, yellow and blue”. Many may know local artist for family and friends. On Wednesday April 17, children are invited to Neil Miller, creator of several public sculptures, including the waka celebrate Easter by creating designs on Easter eggs. (This activity is in New Lynn and the bridge at CEAC. Neil also paints in watercolour recommended for ages 8+). Then on Wednesday April 24, paper craft and will be discussing the technical aspects of colour mixing, as well enthusiasts will create paper poppies in remembrance of ANZAC Day. as how abstract paintings demand words to fill their structures. RSVP All these activities start at 10:30am and run for one hour. preferred for seating. The library’s regular programmes will continue this month, including Saturday April 13, 11am – 2pm: Recycle bag-making. Bring along an Toddler Time every Thursday at 10.30am, Wriggle and Rhyme every old t-shirt and learn how to make a no-sew reusable bag. Free drop-in Friday at 9.30am and 11am, Makerspace on Tuesday April 9 at 4 pm session, all ages welcome. and the Lego Club on Wednesday April 10 at 3.30pm. In May, the library will be celebrating New Zealand Music Month. If Glen Eden Library’s Book Chat group meets on Wednesday April 3 at you are a musician/band who needs an audience or know of anyone 10.30am, in the library’s meeting room. Everyone is welcome to come who is, please get in contact as we’d love to have music performances along and share what they’ve been reading. throughout the month. Any style or genre accepted but you’ll need Stitching Together is a monthly meet-up for knitters and other to be ‘unplugged’. Saturdays, weekdays or late nights – we can needlecraft enthusiasts. The next get-together is on Saturday April 13, accommodate you. 10am-12pm. Bring along your current knitting, crochet or needlework Kids are invited to participate in a variety of free fun events during project and get to know other crafters. the April school holidays, including Bunny craft, Egg-cellent adventures,

Focussed on the issues: ‘Streetscapes’ Big changes in how Auckland Council contracts the maintenance of our streets and open spaces are on their way.

Called ‘Project Streetscapes’, it’s an overhaul of outside maintenance jobs and involves the separation of these services (presently done by Auckland Transport and Waste Solutions) from the Full Facilities Contract and reassigned to council’s Community Facilities department. At present Auckland City’s infrastructure maintenance work is divided into four large geographic areas and, for the most part, one super-sized contract is allocated to a single super big contractor for each area. Council says Project Streetscapes will recognise collective responsibilities and collaboration across the road corridor and this is touted as bringing efficiencies. Sounds good, but the council’s Community Facilities department is not going to be the service provider, they will employ external contractors just as Auckland Transport and Waste Solutions does currently, and the maintenance jobs being transferred to Community Facilities are just a variation of the current Full Facilities contract. Moreover the same contractor is going to continue to provide the

The Fringe APRIL 2019

service with no tendering process taking place. So what’s the big change? I challenged Council staff presenting the information with this question. Well it turns out the big change is the price. These changes will result in the present contractor receiving huge increases in payment for the work they do. I repeatedly asked what percentage increase in payments the present contractors would receive under this new streetscapes project. The answer given was “we (the community) would receive 150% better service.” The entire region has been remapped according to new service levels and town centres (categorised as A, B and C) with ‘A’ centres having 150% more area cleaned. Project Streetscapes will deliver zero litter in town centres and zero overflowing rubbish bins. And there is a ‘service pledge’ stating “The Buck Stops Here” promising no person complaining of Council failing to maintain its promised service levels will have to ring more than twice. Project Streetscapes will be fully implemented by July 1. So hold Council accountable to their promised level of service folks, we’re certainly paying for it. Ring 301 0101.

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bandstanding: music in the west with susannah bridges

‘... just a regular guy who is grateful he gets to perform ...’ Like many of us, Peter Leenen first got into music left a while later and did a bunch of other things by hearing it on the radio and seeing it on telly as although kept in touch. About 4 years ago I was a self confessed teeny bopper fan. But it was a trip looking for a job again and here I am.” to The Netherlands at the age of 10 that cemented Of his musical influences Peter says they’re his musical ambition. “I saw two of my cousins many and varied. “I was a big pop music fan – play guitar and sing and thought that was for me. early Kiwi acts such as Mr Lee Grant and The I got an old guitar for St Nicholas Day and when Chicks and Simple Image. They all toured the we left, six months later, my sister and I were small town where I spent my younger years. performing items for the family.” Then The Monkees. And then came The Beatles’ Peter’s not looked back since and reckons he’s Sgt. Pepper’s album which changed my life playing better than ever now, with thanks, in part, forever. That led to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, to the advent of modern technology such as guitar Deep Purple. All the great guitar players of the playing apps, facebook groups, You-tube tutorials 70s. and other online resources. He’s in two bands and “The 80s were a bit quiet musically as I also performs solo. “I’m doing solo gigs playing had kids and a mortgage, so I got a haircut covers around town. I play songs from the 50s to and a real job. Then the 90s made guitar cool today. I also play lead guitar in a seven-piece rock Peter Leenen (and friend) again with the Grunge sound and bands like band called The Backbeats. We are doing well with our 70s show and Radiohead and I got back into it which has lead me to here. I am first playing everything from ABBA to Pink Floyd at various RSAs and private and foremost a rocker and I am into any genre mixed with that. Also a venues around town. And I have a garage band with my mates.” The bit of electronica and even a bit of hip hop. Jeff Beck is my fave electric garage band has no name yet, but you might catch them playing at any guitarist today. I like anything with guitars in!” one of our nearby open mic nights. Having played in covers bands most of his adult life Peter loves every Word has it that The Backbeats features some pretty well known moment. “When one is up on stage all of the world’s worries and cares local music industry folk. Peter’s not naming names, but their show fade away and magic happens. But the highlight of my musical career is slick and professional and guaranteed to get you on your feet. Ever so far on planet Earth would be when, back in June 2014, I was lucky modest about his musical endeavours, Peter says “I am just a regular enough to play with The Backbeats at A Strange Days Night, a special guy who is grateful that he gets to perform on stage both on my own event put on by the Play It Strange organisation. Play It Strange helps and with some very talented people, and get paid for it. And from the the youth of New Zealand in their musical endeavours and they put comments I get, people seem to enjoy it. I do put in the time to practice on a range of musical acts, including kids, doing two nights of Beatles and prepare and we all know that it does pay off.” songs at the Auckland Town Hall. It was 50 years to the day since The Peter’s day jobs have also landed him in musical circles. He’s done Beatles had played there in 1964. I stood on the left of the stage, which a stint at RadioWorks in an advertising role – “there were lots of is where John Lennon would have stood and they have not changed the musically minded and interesting characters there” – but you’ll now timber of the stage since then. I felt I was in his footsteps, so to speak!” find him at local audio store Axent Audio. Actually Peter and Axent go Peter is presently revelling in the joy of finding his voice again: along way back. with his guitar playing his singing is in top form. “I am really enjoying “Axent Audio is owned by Kelly and Penny Waterman. I played in a singing now. Working at Axent plus all the playing and gigs keeps me novelty band, Uncle Albert’s Orgasmic Orchestra, at University in the really busy – and there’s plenty more of it all coming up and I am loving early 70s. The drummer in that band was Penny’s younger brother so it”. that was the initial connection. Then in the early 80s the band I was in Peter has a solo gig on Saturday April 20 at Village Bar and got fired one Saturday night so with a mortgage and young children I Kitchen in Patumahoe. You can contact him on peterfjleenen@gmail. needed a job fast. I walked around New Lynn knocking on doors and com and check out The Backbeats at https://www.facebook.com/ Kelly was behind one of them. We got talking and he gave me a job. I TheBackbeatsNZ/ for bookings and upcoming gig info. Harcourts Blue Fern Realty Ltd, Licensed Agent REAA 2008

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out & about

Seaweek 2019 a huge success

The Smithies family from Laingholm are seen above with Saffron Toms (left), Linda Cooper and Shane Henderson (right). A detail of their ‘Shark’ sand sculpture is shown below.

Holly and Macy Rogers of Cornwallis signing on for the sand sculpture competition.

Seaweek 2019 was a great success with many events around the country, all recognising the week-long event’s theme of “Tiakina o Tātou Mōana – Care for our Seas”, highlighting the impact of plastic, litter and other pollutants on our coasts and seas. The week was launched by Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage in Auckland where she was opening a new exhibit celebrating the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s. Out west the events included Robin Kewell’s Ocean Oases film extravaganza which entertained 150 people at Lopdell House. Robin is planning an additional Seaweek event featuring the film Rolling Thunder to be shown in Piha and Titirangi soon – keep your eyes peeled for more details. Bronwen Turner organised a special sea bird event at Arataki featuring Department of Conservation expert Graeme Taylor who has been studying the grey faced petrels at Te Henga for 30 years and Dr James Russell from the University of Auckland who has been helping local communities, including Titirangi, to protect the petrels as they spread along the north Manukau coastline living literally in our backyards. However, the big event out West was the Cornwallis clean-up and sand sculpture competition which attracted an extremely high standard of entries this year and gave the judges (Saffron Toms, member of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board; Linda Cooper, councillor for Waitākere; and Shane Henderson, chair of the Henderson-Massey Local Board) a difficult task. In the end they all agreed the stand out winner of the Family competition was the Smithies family from Laingholm whose clever interpretation of the theme ticked all the necessary boxes. The look on their faces when they realised they’d won a kayak was priceless! The Family runner up was Sami and Stephen Muller for “Hector needs help”. The Peoples’ Choice award was shared by Team Downes for “Goddess of the sea” and Yvonne

The Fringe APRIL 2019

Pivac for “Dolphin pair”. The Junior winners were Emmie & Hazel (aged 9 & 10) for “Fish castle” with Lucian Ravenwood (aged 4) as the junior runner up with “Crab”. A major clean-up operation, both on the beach and along Huia and Cornwallis Roads, saw large amounts of rubbish collected and all the volunteers and sand sculptors were able to take advantage of a free sausage sizzle at Cornwallis Beach. There were a number of other events around the Manukau Harbour during Seaweek including large clean-ups by Mix Ltd, Sustainable Coastlines & Hirepool and guided walks of the Awhitu Peninsula and Puhinui.

The Mix Ltd clean-up crew on the Onehunga waterfront. Photo by Shannon Green.

The standout winner of the Seaweek 2019 Ocean Champion Senior Award, Lorella Doherty, took time out from picking up 1000 cigarette butts a day as her Seaweek Ocean Challenge to fly up from Taranaki to receive her award at the Bill Ballantine Memorial Lecture event in Auckland. The award, sponsored by the New Zealand Coastal Society, celebrates the many individuals, groups and organisations who work so hard to look after our seas and their diverse marine life. If you attended any Seaweek events or activities the organisers would like to know what you thought of them – and you could win a fantastic book about the New Zealand seashore from Harper Collins Publishers. Visit www.seaweek.org.nz and fill in one of the event reports to go in the draw. Seaweek is the flagship event of the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education. There were 249 registered events around the country this year with 59 in and round Auckland. Organisers are hugely grateful to the regional coordinators and the many groups and individuals who organised and coordinated events for Seaweek 2019. Without their huge and largely voluntary efforts, Seaweek simply would not happen. Major sponsors included Foundation North, Department of Conservation, Fisheries New Zealand, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre (Otago University), Environment Canterbury Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, The National Aquarium – Napier City Council, Kiwi North, Wild for Taranaki, New Zealand Coastal Society, Young Ocean Explorers, Experiencing Marine Reserves, Manukau Beautification

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out & about

Charitable Trust, Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari, Outboard Boating Club, Canoe and Kayak, Kilwell Sports, Fish4all, Harper Collins Publishers and Friends of Regional Parks. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board was a major sponsor of all the West Auckland events. Seaweek 2020 will run from Saturday February 29 to Sunday March 8. – Mels Barton, with additional information from Paul Stowers.

Rising sea levels, associated with climate change are already having a marked affect on our coastline. The land this information panel once stood in, complete with its concrete footings, has been extensively eroded in the last 12 months.

The Titirangi RSA saw a special birthday celebration last month as Alan Ainsworth turned 97. He is pictured above with friends and family. Born in the market town of Darwen in Lancashire, England in 1922, Alan started work as an apprentice painter at the age of 14. He joined the British Army at the age of 19 and, after spending two years in Chilwell, working at the largest mechanical transport depot in England, was posted to India. Two months in Calcutta was followed by a posting to the Ranchi vehicle depot in Bihar. After five years in the army, Alan returned to Darwen in late 1946 but despite owning his own home, and having all the work he could handle, he found it hard to settle down, eventually emigrating in 1955.

Celebrating our multicultural society Last Saturday I attended the Ethkick soccer tournament in West Auckland. The tournament has been going for a few years now. It is the brainchild of Heather Tanguay and organised and supported by Community Waitakere. The tournament invites communities to form teams representing an ethnicity or community they relate to or identify with and for these teams to play each other in ‘the beautiful game’. To the winner goes bragging rights. The main idea is for everyone to celebrate diversity and be proud of their individual ethnicity. The tournament this year was especially poignant because it was scheduled for the day after the senseless violence and killings that occurred in Christchurch. Teams were contacted and asked if they wanted to withdraw. All teams including two teams comprised of Muslims wanted to go ahead. I turned up to the official opening with MP Phil Twyford and Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Shane Henderson early on the Saturday morning. It was slightly disconcerting that there were three police officers there. But they wanted to show that the police were active throughout Auckland and

reassure people that things would be OK. Phil spoke passionately at the start. The events of the previous day clearly had an effect on everyone and all present were determined to show that we were not going to let the white supremacists affect our very strong belief in multiculturalism or the kiwi way of life. Taking part in the group photo was very reassuring. There were Europeans, UK citizens, Samoans, Fijians, people from the middle east, Afghanistan and different parts of Asia and a few Kiwi teams. Standing in that group and sharing our humanity and our support for each other was the most cathartic thing I could do after the atrocity of the day before. I hope everyone is OK. Be sure to look after each other and to enjoy this wonderful ethnic melting pot that is Auckland. Greg Presland, Chairperson Waitakere Ranges Local Board

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people

Creating ‘airbrushed tattoos’

Claire Lenaghan, with her three year old daughter, Kiana, top, and her ‘badarse’ partner William.

DAVID THIELE meets a young woman with a rare talent. A very sweet friend of mine once wisely advised, try to engage with 12 new people a day. With this in mind, I struck up a conversation with Claire Lenaghan, the very paintproficient young woman in Resenes, as she expertly tinted 10 litres of tablelands taupe. Due in part to Claire’s youthful tolerance of the aged (I’d tried to put in my pin number three times before realising it was the wrong card) or perhaps my overly gregarious personality, Claire kindly filled in the awkward silence by showing me some of her artwork on her smart phone. She called them ‘airbrushed tattoos’ and I’d never seen the likes. The moody ‘cowboy’ pictured left is Claire’s partner, William. Claire spoke about how William wore his newly airbrushed tattoo to a dress-up party they both went to recently. They are both normally very outgoing and Claire thought it odd that William had gone quiet. He then remarked to her under his breath that a few people were a bit intimidated by her art, and in-fact, assumed he was a bit of a bad-arse. I’ve been pondering this. I think, the neck especially, is very confrontational when inked. It is an often revered and a beautiful part of the anatomy, yet extremely vulnerable. The hangman’s noose is around the neck. ‘Jack the Ripper’ slashed the throat. Alfred Hitchcock’s spooky strangulations. To me, the upper arm or shoulder is far more benign. Everyone accepts an ‘anchor’ on the forearm of an old naval bloke.

This is an advantage of the work Claire creates. We can ‘road test’ a piece of body art for a few days before jumping in and getting the ‘devils horns’ tattooed on our forehead, or (what I’m considering) Jaguar, written across my heart. Claire uses water-based paints, especially on children, which washes off very easily but can also use solventbased paint which will stay on for up to five days. Before she starts work she wipes the area to be decorated with Medi-Clean to remove any grease or sweat. Hairy blokes are no problem. She has been creating airbrush art for about six years and would love to do it full-time. Festivals like Splore or the local markets would be perfect. “They’re the right vibe,” says Claire. “I love to decorate all sorts of folk. Of course, kids are way up for it, as are an ever-increasing wider range of older people. You’d be surprised who loves body art. “I’ve experimented with spraying over fishnet stockings on vehicles. I can move them around and create unusual depth perceptions. I even enhance op-shop clothing. Anything that will take paint. There’s a wonderful mix of science and art which still fascinates me. I’m looking at doing some house parties. Maybe even rock up to a corporate event to keep things interesting. Nothing says team building more than a tattoo of a rose on your hand.” If you’d like Claire to customise something of yours, you can reach her on her email, nyc.tatts@gmail.com. I’m thinking about an old guitar of mine that would look rather ‘sick’ with a few skulls on the finger board or maybe I should get some snake skin on my bell bottoms. Great to meet you Claire and Kiana. Now, only 10 new people to find.

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sustainable solutions

Composting – A simple solution for food waste FIONA DRUMMOND recently took a refresher course on composting at a Compost Collective workshop at Green Bay Community House. Aucklanders send over 120,000 tonnes of organic waste to landfill each year: the Compost Collective runs workshops to help reduce this waste through composting. They focus on three types of composting – the compost bin, the worm bin and the bokashi bucket – and provide the following key instructions on how to be successful with each.

The food waste at the top of the bucket should be removed every 10-14 days (when it smells like pickles). This can be added to your compost bin or dug into a trench with the trench soil being mixed with the food waste before being covered with 50-75mm of unmixed soil. After around a month, you can plant directly on top of the trench.

Plastic Compost Bin

Locate your bin in a sunny spot and place directly on the earth with a layer of twigs at the base for air flow. Add 70% brown matter and 30% green matter in layers (brown, green, brown, green, etc.) finishing with a brown layer on top to minimise odour and flies. Brown matter is carbon-rich waste which includes soaked cardboard, leaf matter, mulch, shredded paper, untreated sawdust and browned lawn clippings. Green matter is nitrogen-rich waste such as food waste, lawn clippings, coffee grounds and egg shells. Keep the compost moist, adding water if required and aerate the top layers with a garden fork. The compost should be ready to harvest (from the bottom of the bin) in six to eight months. It is good practice to take the bottom third for use in your garden, putting the other two thirds back in the bin to continue composting. It is a good idea to set a rat trap close to your compost bin.

Bokashi buckets can take all types of food waste.

The Compost Collective, an initiative of EcoMatters in New Lynn and the Kaipatiki Project on the North Shore (supported by Auckland Council), runs regular workshops. A full programme is available at https://compostcollective.org.nz/events-calendar/. On completion of a Compost Collective workshop, you will be sent a $40 voucher towards the purchase of one of the three systems discussed above. And if you would like to build your own compost or worm bin, you will find helpful suggestions at https://compostcollective.org.nz/d-iy/#MAKE-YOUR-OWN-COMPOST-BIN.

You can build your own composting system (as above) or purchase one of many options from local hardware suppliers.

Worm Bin

Locate your worm bin in a sheltered, shaded spot. Line your bin with a layer of coconut fibre, shredded cardboard or compost and then add worms and both green (30%) and brown (70%) matter. Keep a green scraps bucket in the kitchen for your worm bin. Avoid adding any citrus or spicy waste like onion, garlic, chilli etc. Meat, dairy products or cooked or processed food should not go in the worm bin. Match the amount of food to the worm population. Keep your worm bin moist, adding water if required and aerate with a fork. The worm castings are ready to use when they have formed a dark fine compost. This can be spread around your garden beds or diluted with water (1 part castings to 10 parts water) and used as a plant food. The worm tea should be drained off and kept in uncovered containers prior to use. Dilute the raw tea with water until it is the colour of weak black tea and then use it to feed both indoor and outdoor plants.

Bokashi Bucket

Keep your bokashi bucket handy to the kitchen. Unlike the other composting systems everything can be added to a bokashi bucket, including green waste and citrus, spicy waste and bones. For every 6cm layer added, spread one to two tablespoons of bokashi sprinkle, known as Zing Bokashi. After each layer of bokashi is added, squash down with a masher to push out the air and enable fermentation. The fermentation process creates a juice which can be collected every three to four days and diluted for use around the house and garden. Use two to three tablespoons of juice in five litres of water.

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GLEN GLEN EDEN EDEN The Fringe APRIL 2019

naturally west with fiona drummond

Wētā – A grasshopper with attitude

An Auckland cave wētā. Photo by Jacqui Geux.

A female tree wētā. Photo by Phil Bendle.

Most of us who live in the bush are familiar with the wētā, essentially a flightless nocturnal grasshopper. However, you may not be aware that there is more than one type of wētā in our neighbourhood. In fact there are over 100 species of wētā in New Zealand spread over five broad groups – tree wētā, ground wētā, cave wētā, giant wētā and tusked wētā. 70 species of wētā are endemic and 16 of these are threatened. This article focuses on the tree wētā and the cave wētā, neither of which are uncommon in the Auckland region. Wētā are predated by rats, mustelids, cats and hedgehogs, while humans and browsing animals can be responsible for the destruction of their habitat. The good news is that they have a high rate of productivity and can adapt well to modified habitat and thrive in captive breeding programmes. Before Exhibition Drive had gates put on either end of its tunnels, we were able to walk through the tunnels which are still home to the placid and harmless Auckland cave wētā (tokoriro). This is a spindly-legged critter up to 350mm in length, and more closely resembling a grasshopper than the tree wētā, which most of us are more familiar with. There is a ceiling colony of these a certain way in from each tunnel end, indicating the amount of light that they are comfortable with. When taking children through the tunnels we used to make sure they wore a hat as, with torch light, the wētā

tended to get a bit twitchy, which could be a bit scary for the kids if they dropped on their head. Without the direct light, however, they were perfectly well behaved. Without hearing or the ability to make sound, their antennae is their navigation device and they can quickly escape danger with giant leaps of two to three metres. Cave wētā are also found on the walls of damp caves or in tree holes in the bush, and sometimes in the basement of houses. They emerge at night to feed on fungi, leaves, plants, other insects, and animal remains. You are more likely to have encountered the tree or bush wētā (pūtangatanga), probably when a cat or dog has found one, in the firewood pile or when you wondered what was crawling down your neck while gardening. The tree wētā is a bulkier character than the cave wētā, with a preference for tree living. The putaputawētā (“many many wētā” ) tree (marbleleaf), is so named in recognition of the wētā’s preference for it. This tree is an idyllic wētā home, often with predrilled holes courtesy of the pūriri moth caterpillar. Tree wētā eat the leaves of many different plants but prefer the softer leaves of species such as māhoe or karamu and they also eat small insects. The males, which usually have much larger jaws than the females will hiss and bite when threatened. Like grasshoppers, they have ears on their front legs. Tree wētā have a life span of around two years. Unlike the silent cave wētā, tree wētā contribute to the sounds of the nocturnal world with a ‘chirruping’ made by rasping their spiny back legs over their bodies. If you have an insect-loving child or grandchild, you can direct them to https://www.doc.govt.nz/parksand-recreation/places-to-go/toyota-kiwi-guardians/ take-action/build-a-weta-motel/, a Department of Conservation site with instructions and hints on how to make an attractive and safe home for wētā. You may also like to take them to see the live wētā enclosures at the Arataki Visitor Centre on Scenic Drive.

weather by the moon

Ken Ring’s predictions for April April is expected to be dry at the start and finish, with a good dump of rain about the middle. There may be three phases of rain, the first at the end of the first week, then in the middle of the month and finally a week before the end of the month. Most of April’s rain should be over by the 24th. Then it is mostly dry and partly sunny for two weeks. Winds are mostly from the southerly quarter, making for a cool month overall. The windiest days may be the 14th, 17th and 18th. The average maximum temperatures may be 20-22°C and minimums should average 12-14°C. The warmest day may be around the 8th with up to 25°C max, and the coolest night may be the 20th at down to 10°C. Overall the barometer may average above 1015 mbs, which indicates drier, more settled weather. The highest barometer reading may be 1029mbs on or near the 19th, with the lowest of around 999mbs about five days later. The best intervals in April for outside activities may be the first and last weeks. Highest tides are on the 20th, being the third highest this year, with a lesser high tide around the 7th. For fishermen, the best fishing bite-times are around lunchtime from the 4th to the 7th and 18th-21st. Chances are also favourable for dusk on the 12th-14th and 25th-29th. For gardeners, the best sowing interval is 14th-18th, when the waxing moon is ascending. The best pruning periods are 1st-4th and 26th-30th, when the waning moon is descending. If harvesting for preservation and longer shelf-life, pick on lower water-table days, i.e. 1st, 13th and 29th. Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, visit www.predictweather.com. © Ken Ring 2019.

The Fringe APRIL 2019

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walking west with mick andrew

Kitekite Falls Track When you walk the Kitekite Falls Track, it’s obvious why it’s so popular. It’s also obvious why the council worked so hard to reopen it on Boxing Day, right before the summer stampede. Apart from the beauty, the swimming is wonderful, and on a sunny day there are literally columns of people traipsing through the bush with their towels. On the drizzly weekday when we return to this track however it seems deserted. At least the entrance is, where we walk through the newly installed hygiene station that resembles a multi-coloured metal detector. Stepping on the spray pads with extra vigour, we go through the turnstile and onto the fancy new wooden boardwalk which continues for some distance into the bush. As with other reopened tracks, the boardwalks have been constructed near vulnerable kauri stands in order to prevent the movement of soil and the spread of dieback. Where the boardwalks end however, the track has been refurbished with aggregate which has been densely packed into jack mat mesh. About five minutes into the walk we turn left onto a bridge and cross the stream to Byers Track where a giant gnarled rātā, its trunk twisting like a wrung towel up into the canopy, sits at an intersection. The left route leads quickly to a picnic area; the right continues along the stream’s true right bank. While the birdsong seems fairly quiet it would be impossible to hear anything over the chorus of cicadas, thundering away as if it’s the last day of summer. Gradually they start to fade out as we go further into the bush and cross the stream back to Kitekite Falls Track after 15 minutes. Here the surface changes once again to boardwalks and climbs up the valley on the true left bank of the stream. It’s evident just how much work has gone into the upgrades – 275 metres of boardwalk has been constructed on the track and this section extends uninterrupted for a long time before connecting with

Knutzen Track which forms the loop to the falls. We take the left direction and rock-hop across the stream, before ascending steeply up the eastern side of the valley. Larger kauri start appearing out of the forest and the path levels out at a particularly large one before reaching the intersection with Connect Track, which continues climbing for 15 minutes to the beautiful pools at the top of the falls. Swimming in a beautiful, kowhai glade is the reward for the short climb. But the views down over the valley make it even more worthwhile. We enjoy both for 20 minutes before heading back down to Knutzen Track and following it to the base of the Kitekite Falls. Like other falls in the Waitākere Ranges, this one is a true spectacle – you could sit and watch it for hours. The swimming in the pool is also just as enticing as the ones above, although considerably busier. The track continues on the far side of the stream and climbs above the clearing before turning back down towards the car park. As we walk, some sensational views start opening up back toward the falls through windows in the trees. It’s a postcard shot – the silvery, terraced falls framed perfectly by fern fronds and manuka branches. Yes. It’s very obvious why the council worked so hard to reopen this one. And I’m so grateful they did.

‘It’s a postcard shot.’ Piha’s Kitekite Falls framed by fern and manuka.

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live @ the lounge

Maternity, mortality and miracles Yeah gidday. All the leaves are brown, yep, and the skies are grey. Sorry, I couldn’t resist some Mamas and Papas. The year is going, to quote those Manchurian scallywags Oasis, faster than a cannon ball. It’s got me thinking about the miracle of life and how quickly the grains of time slip through the hourglass of this epoch. To refer to yet another musician, I think Ian Dury said it best when he crooned ‘I had a love affair with Nina, in the back of my Cortina’. Which, all things considered, makes more sense than being hit with a rhythm stick, it’s nice to be a lunatic. Obviously it’s nice to be a lunatic. Some of the sanest people bend over to moon. Lunatics. While on the subject of love affairs in the back of Cortinas, when Shaz was about to pop with our first-born, we cut it a bit fine and at the last minute called an ambulance. On the way to Auckland Women’s, they had to whip down Shaz’s pantihose, ply her with drugs, as they did back then, and say, ‘this shouldn’t hurt a bit’. It’s actually, thinking back, just how Shaz first got preggy. Ahhh, the sixties. As Spike Milligan once said, ‘after five days in hospital, I took a turn for the nurse.’ How childbirth has changed. Our second child was delivered in the comfort of mum’s outdoor jacuzzi with the amazing guidance of a travelling Sri Lankan midwife appropriately but awkwardly named Fathima Babba. Oddly reminding me of ‘whose ya Daddy’? Was that Bill Murray? Anyway, neither Shaz nor I can remember number three. It was probably indoors because the mother-in-law had moved back to Ranui by then so it was too far for Shaz on the bike.

Shaz definitely remembers Lizard Junior was born by caesarean because he had his Aunty Maude’s head. Not literally of course. It wasn’t some kind of strange, Frankenstein-like, multi-generational conjoined twins thing. That’s impossible. Isn’t it? Then again, I’ve always thought a certain Australian cricketer looked uncannily like a recent female prime minister. Just saying. Apparently, if you reduce us humans down to our base elements, minus all the water, we are about 18 grams of silvery dust. None of which, no matter how we remix these ingredients, comes back to life. Just think about that for a moment. Once again I quote a rock legend (because they always make sense of the obscure), this time the very sane Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart: ‘The stars are matter, we’re matter, but does it matter?’ And who hasn’t taken some comfort from McKinley Morganfield, Muddy Waters to you and me, when he so rightly said, ‘man,you don’t know how I felt that afternoon when I heard that voice and it was my own.’ You see? Something for everyone. How can we be down when we are a bloody miracle of all the gods of creation? I think I’ll leave the last word to our dear friend, Tom Waites, ‘It’s got to be a chocolate Jesus.’ An immaculate confection. Next time you’re out, go up and hug an old person or talk to a child. The only race to win in is the human race – Lisa Simpson. Later, Lizard.

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