The Fringe, December 2021/January 2022

ISSUE 210, DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

We wish you a merry festive season and happy holidays.

We will be taking a break in January but The Fringe will be back in February.

community news, issues, arts, people, events

WestWards Community Voice

Slogans do nothing!

Recycling is essential and we’re continuously getting

My New Year’s resolution is to keep sticking to the basics and calling out the issues. During the turbulence of the last year, it was easy to get blown off course, and I had to keep reminding myself to stay grounded in the practical.

better at it, but few things can be recycled endlessly. Waste exists, and for Auckland Council to use their proclamation of ‘Zero Waste’ to justify removing public rubbish bins from parks is ridiculous. This slogan invokes the pretence that landfills are not needed when nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s important to remember that despite another backon-back year of extraordinarily challenging circumstances we still wake each day to water flowing from our taps. Our toilets still flushed, our rubbish bins still got emptied and intersection lights still controlled traffic.

It’s easy to pick fault with our public infrastructure because there is much to

Vision Zero calls for zero road deaths. The rhetoric states “there will be no deaths or serious injuries on our transport system by 2050”. This will be delivered through an ethicsbased transport safety approach which puts people first by incorporating high-quality roads, safe vehicle technology and safe speeds.

Unrealistic aspirations

improve, but it’s the fact core services like

often lead to the

these exist that underpins our society’s

quickly obtainable,

ability to triumph over life’s big challenges.

It’s called a ‘first world standard of living’ and was built by generations of hard work driving improvements in small incremental steps.

small and simple improvements getting overlooked.

Putting people first is admirable.

So, what do people want? Footpaths, people want more footpaths, proven by the fact Auckland Transport receives 5 to 8 requests for new footpaths per month.

Footpaths are an ethical contribution to human safety. Auckland Transport presently has a list containing 800 requests for new footpaths, but at the

I worry that we elected members have lost touch with the

present funding levels ($4million per annum) this will take

basics, in exchange for the rhetoric of the super slogan. As

100+ years to deliver. That’s providing no more requests

admirable as the ultimate objective may be, if it’s conveyed

are added to the list. This is half a century beyond the

through an unrealistic slogan then in the long run this is

mission statement’s target.

counterproductive. Worse still, when unrealistic aspirations become the objectives and outcomes of council planning, it often leads to the quickly obtainable, small and simple improvements getting overlooked.

I’m talking about slogans like ‘Zero Waste’ and ‘Vision Zero’.

Meanwhile hundreds of millions are being spent on manufacturing traffic congestion.

Together politicians and public sector leaders would do better by sticking to the basics and delivering continuous improvement in small incremental steps, and I would start by doubling the footpath budget.

Zero Waste is a fantasy. Waste is a result of all life on earth no matter how sophisticated. Waste is so important personally, that after inception our anus is one of our first body parts, forming before our mouth.

At the other extreme of human existence NASA’s new generation of space shuttle called Dream Catcher boasts amongst its advancements the ability to bring a 3700kg module of garbage back to earth, releasing it on reentry to

I’m looking forward to some rest and relaxation with my family over Christmas and New Year. I wish everyone the same. We live in a great country and next year we must get back to keeping it like that.

– Ken Turner Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from the WestWards team.

be incinerated in the upper atmosphere.

WestWards

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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contents

Letters: Titirangi toilets, kauri dieback and beach life at Huia ..............4 Stay safe in and on the water this summer ...........................................5

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Keeping it local this Christmas ..............................................................6 Open Studios Waitākere: now scheduled for February 2022 ................7 Breaking news! Swimming is back on at Titirangi Beach.......................8 2021 Portage Ceramic Awards ..............................................................9 Art and about with Naomi McCleary ...........................................10 – 11

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Places to go: Events listing ..................................................................12 Bandstanding: ‘Singing in a choir just feels good’ ...............................14 Ranges track upgrades: an update ......................................................15 Kauri dieback: what the researchers think ..........................................16 Thoughts on the 26th UN Climate Summit, COP 26............................17

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‘Bit of a boy racer’ still putting pedal to the metal; Te Whau Pathway consultation opens .................................................18 Sustainable solutions: Gift yourself and the planet an EV ..................19 Naturally West: Hochstetter’s Frog: our special Waitākere native; Weather by the moon .........................................................................20 Coastal birds photo competition .........................................................21 Live @ the lounge ..............................................................................22 Advertisers’ Directory ..........................................................................23

On our cover:

The Portage Ceramic Awards have been a highlight of the West’s cultural life for more than 20 years and this year’s exhibition will be no different. Our cover features a detail from Encrusted (clay, underglaze, glaze) by Liz Sharek. The photo was by Haruhiko Sameshima/ Studio La Gonda. For more information see page 9.

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

www.fringemedia.co.nz 21,000 copies delivered free to letter boxes, post boxes, libraries and selected outlets throughout Titirangi, Glen Eden, Green Bay, New Lynn, Kelston, Konini, Wood Bay, French Bay, South Titirangi, Waima, Woodlands Park, Laingholm, Parau, Cornwallis, Huia and Oratia.

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

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Writers and contributors: David Thiele, Naomi McCleary, Susannah Bridges, Fiona Drummond, Jade Reidy, Zoe Hawkins, Rob Taylor.

Advertising deadline for February 2022: January 14.

The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

3

letters

Titirangi toilets, kauri dieback and beach life at Huia

Dear Editor, Over Labour Weekend I was given a copy of the June edition of The Fringe magazine. I was referred to the article concerning the proposed toilets under the notable rimu tree outside the building our family owns.

In the interest of balance you should be aware of our involvement in the process.

Council reluctantly followed our suggestion to reposition one door and our insistence that the stonework be genuine not just a fake finish.

Beyond that we were given no consideration.

In my opinion what is far more newsworthy is what we learned along the way from Council: 1. Council sold the site at the corner of South Titirangi Road and Titirangi Road for $600,000. With the sale the public toilets disappeared. The extremely low sale price was because the purchaser was obliged to retain the existing toilets in position until the new ones were built in a preallocated area on the same site. This is confirmed by the Sale and Purchase agreement.

2. Council claimed that investigating a new position for the toilets cost in excess of $300,000.

3. Council claimed that preparing for the hearing and planning for the new spot under the rimu cost in excess of a further $300,000.

4. The Council contingent at the hearing was 18 in total including staff members and consultants which gives some credence to items 2 and 3 above. In addition Council had the costs of the Commissioners.

5. The cost of the hearing and the building of new toilets is expected to exceed a further $500,000.

No credible explanation was offered to us as to why Council abandoned its rightful position with the existing toilets and embarked on the current saga to place the toilets under the most notable tree in Titirangi although I did hear a Council arborist state at the hearing that building under the drip line and cutting the roots wouldn’t affect this particular tree. It doesn’t seem that long ago that Council claimed that chooks could kill the same tree by eating under it.

Ratepayers may feel they have some razor sharp business acumen in charge of their rates money.

Yours faithfully, W F Titchener.

Ed: In the October Fringe we reported that Council had advised us that work on the new toilets would begin in March 2023. This has now been corrected. Work on the new toilets should be starting in February 2022.

Dear Editor, The kauri dieback issue has generated a lot of angst and conflicting information. I would like to offer some personal observations.

From 1966 to the present, I have tramped extensively throughout the Ranges, and was a Waitākere Ranges Regional Park ranger from 1975 to 2012. I have always had a keen interest in kauri.

I noticed large clumps of young kauri exhibiting high mortality due to competition for light and space from trees growing too close together.

I also noted many giant kauri which had died due to old age. In the Far North there is evidence of two or three layers of ancient kauri forests destroyed by natural cataclysm. Kauri weakens the surrounding soil by leaching nutrients making the trees susceptible to disease and pests.

I discovered that about 50% of kauri seed is infertile; that 90% of seed is eaten by wētā; and that for seed to germinate it needs to fall on ground that is exposed to sunlight.

I theorised that because of these factors, kauri could well be in decline in the Waitākere Ranges. And this has been confirmed by Alan Esler, the then DSIR botanist for Auckland and other observers.

So, given that the species is in a state of natural decline, is the battle to ‘save’ kauri from the ravages of PTA logical, let alone winnable?

I wonder whether Council’s aerial surveys distinguish between death from PTA or death from competition (i.e. trees growing too close together). The kauri dieback FAQ sheet doesn’t list old age as a cause of tree mortality, and ignores rain and pigs as vectors.

Compliance at footwear cleaning stations is far from ideal. Runners are roaming freely over large areas of the track network. Unless compliance can be guaranteed at 100% it is not going to be effective.

But feet are not the only vector of PTA spores.

I have seen PTA-affected kauri in parts of the Ranges where no human feet have been. On one very steep spur, a band of kauri trees grows from the top of the spur to the bottom: the lower trees are dead, and mortality diminishes as altitude increases, showing rain water is a prime vector, and that can’t be controlled; nor feral pigs or people travelling off-track. The 2016 survey found a lot of dieback on, and near tracks, so humans were presumed to be the cause. But in times of heavy rain, many tracks become waterways, and excess water spills into the surrounding forest. Spores could have been spread in this way.

The survey identifies streams and waterways as possible vectors, but not rain, the effects of which are more widespread.

– John Walsh, Green Bay.

Dear Fringe Media, Thank you for your informative and colourful publication that we receive in our letterboxes each month. It’s much appreciated.

I thought I would let you know some of the activities people have been up to in Huia.

During the last couple of months with storms and rain, a lot of driftwood, sticks and fibre have been washed up on the beach. During lockdown local youth, children and parents have been building small huts and displays of what life may be like if stranded on an island somewhere. It’s been exciting and interesting when going for a walk along the beach to find out what’s been made. One day there was even a bicycle made of sticks, it looked great!

Another activity, when the tide is out, is to go ‘mudwalking’ – we take our shoes off and go out into the muddy bay and walk out to the water’s edge. It’s invigorating and fun, feels good for your feet and it’s good exercise, especially in summer.

Thank you, Tuula Faire

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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out & about

Stay safe in and on the water this summer The five drownings in the Manukau in one week during October were tragic but largely preventable. There’s plenty we can do to help ourselves and others to play safe in the surf these holidays.

At the beach

Auckland’s West Coast beaches are going to be more crowded than we’ve ever seen them, with fewer rescue crews. Volunteer lifeguards are attracted to the role by the camaraderie but with social distancing, many are choosing to stay home, exacerbating already restrictive Covid rules. The Surf Life Saving Northern Region is appealing to Fringe readers to support those lifeguards who are on duty and help people to be responsible for their own safety.

“We really need to work together,” says chief executive Matt Williams. “Speak up if you see someone doing something dangerous, use your local knowledge to educate people in a friendly way and have a chat with the lifeguards if something’s different. There may be reasons for it during Covid.”

Men top the list in the drowning statistics. If you see someone fishing off the rocks where it’s notoriously wet and slippery, and they’re not wearing a life jacket, approach them. If someone’s in trouble in the water and you can’t locate a lifeguard, dial 111 and ask for Police.

Model good behaviour and stay within arm’s reach of your kids in the surf.

Before leaving home, check safeswim.org.nz for conditions at your local beach, and whether it’s being patrolled. Use the QR code tracer located outside the surf club or at the reserve.

Boating on the Manukau

Even some of the most experienced of boaties have been getting into trouble lately, says Coastguard head of operations Rob McCaw. Coastguard is also limited in rescue operations by the number of

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Lifesavers in action at North Piha beach.

volunteers it can muster. On peak days, well in excess of 200 boats are crossing the treacherous Manukau Bar, and Rob says they are unable to respond to widespread calls for a patrol boat to be stationed at the harbour entrance all day.

“Regrettably it’s simply not feasible for our entirely volunteer crews to be ‘on station’ at all times for such a large body of water.”

The onus is on everyone to wear a life jacket and report their trip by downloading the free Coastguard app. The bottom line is, when in doubt don’t go out.

When crossing the bar, log a Bar Crossing Report by calling *500 on your mobile or contacting Coastguard radio from your VHF radio. This puts you on a search and rescue watch. Keep to daylight hours, cross at high tide, check the swell, tide and wind conditions and ensure you have two forms of communication that work even when wet.

For sea kayakers, complete the sea kayak course online from the Coastguard’s Boaties Best Mate website (www.boatiesbestmate.nz).

– Jade Reidy

The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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keeping it local this christmas Hospice brings light to the community

If you would like to see one of the most special displays of Christmas lights in Auckland, head to Hospice House on Te Atatu Peninsula this December.

Hospice West Auckland lights up Hospice House every year, giving a special sparkle to the Peninsula while reminding everybody that Hospice is there for them. Each individual light on the building represents a life of someone the charity has cared for.

The lights are made possible by the generous support of local businesses. This year’s platinum sponsors are Morrisons Funeral Directors and High Wire Electrical, with the latter installing the lights.

“Hospice is doing a wonderful job in our community, and we are grateful to support them and bring sparkle to the community,” says Daniel Richardson from Morrisons Funeral Directors.

Perfect for a family outing in the evening, you will find the lights sparkling at 52 Beach Road, Te Atatu Peninsula, from December 10 onwards (8pm to midnight).

Hospice West Auckland has been providing end-of-life care to people with terminal illness and support to their families since 1987.

Susannah Bridges, maker of ceramics and porcelain lighting, wishes all Fringe readers an enjoyable and fun-filled summer. Heaven knows we deserve it! Should you be looking for something special for someone special, or to treat yourself (yes!), you can visit Susannah’s workshop sale, December 15 to 18 at unit F4, 29 Keeling Road, Henderson. Go to susannahbridges.co.nz for more info. Susannah’s work is also available at Te Uru. Kia Kaha Tāmaki Makaurau!

One step closer to a safe summer

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The arrival of the Covid-19 Delta variant presented us a difficult challenge this year. For those of us here in Auckland it’s been incredibly tough but together, we’ve pulled out all the stops to keep each other safe.

Our hard work has meant that we can enjoy summer and the new possibilities on the horizon while continuing to stick to the rules. Masking up, scanning in, staying distanced, and staying home and getting tested if you’re sick remain central pillars of our Covid response.

If you’re vaccinated, you’ll be able to visit bars and restaurants, reconnect with family and friends, and do the things you love. Businesses that require people to show they’re fully vaccinated before entry will be able to operate with fewer restrictions. This will help protect New Zealanders into the future, while ensuring that we have a pathway out of lockdowns.

The Government recently announced extra help for businesses to ensure they’re supported as we make the transition forward with the new Covid-19 Protection Framework. This includes doubling the Resurgence Support Payment, so businesses can access up to $43,000 every two weeks. You can find out more about the extra support at covid19.govt.nz.

We know everyone is looking forward to doing more here in the New Lynn and Kelston electorates. If you haven’t yet, get out and get your free Covid-19 vaccine as soon as you can – and make sure your friends and family know they’ll need to be fully vaccinated to enjoy the things they love this summer.

We wish you a wonderful, safe Christmas and New Year holiday and all the best for 2022.

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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things to do

Open Studios Waitãkere: now scheduled for February 2022 The Open Studios Waitākere event which was originally planned for November has been rescheduled for the weekend of February 12 and 13.

“It’s definitely among the events to look forward to in the new year,” says Renée Tanner of Lightbox Projects Ltd, the organiser of the event.

“With 20 new artists joining for the first time, there are nearly 90 artists in total and over 40 studios from across the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area which represents the biggest year yet.”

The 2022 programme is online and a printed brochure and map will be in distribution mid-December.

“It’s another chance to grab a picnic lunch and a map (even in an app) and set off exploring with a sneak peek into the wondrous studios of some of West Auckland’s most amazing artists. Or relax on one of our guided bus tours where snacks are provided. All you need to do is bring your curiosity and an appetite for art,” says Renée.

West Auckland has long been a haven for those with creativity in their DNA. Open Studio’s Waitākere brings opportunities to visit artists in their studios over a wide range of inspiring locations like Piha, Te Henga, Titirangi and Glen Eden.

“It’s a truly unique opportunity,” says Renée. “You can view and purchase artworks from a wide number of artistic disciplines with sculptors, painters, jewellers, illustrators, ceramic artists and photographers taking part. Many are also offering limited editions and one-off pieces. The artists put in an enormous amount of work to share

something special over the two days of the Open Studios Waitākere weekend.”

In the week prior to the weekend, from Tuesday February 8, a showcase exhibition will be held at Lopdell House in Titirangi, offering a taste of the treats in store and helping you to plan the studios to visit over the weekend.

Renée says she’s pleased to bring this event to life for another year, for the enjoyment of both the artists and visitors who participate.

“We’ve had over 1,000 people participate in this event over the past few years, and this time is shaping up to be no different.” The event enjoys the ongoing support of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.

Visit http://www.openstudioswaitakere.co.nz over the coming months. Open Studios will share stories about the artists and studios involved and updates on the weekend. If you have any queries about the event, contact Renée Tanner at openstudioswaitakere@gmail.com.

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Kim, Maree, Rosie, Nadia and Erin would like to thank you all for your support this year and wish you a very happy holiday season.

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our place

Breaking news! Swimming is back on at Titirangi Beach

This is a story that The Fringe is excited to share. Over the last couple of years, we have followed and reported on Auckland Council’s progress resolving issues contributing to major water quality issues at Titirangi Beach, writes ZOE HAWKINS. This month Auckland Council has advised that the permanent health warning that was placed on Titirangi Beach in 2016 will be removed in early December 2021.

“Following investigations and infrastructure fixes throughout the catchment, recent intensive water quality testing has revealed improved beach water quality,” says Auckland Council General Manager Healthy Waters Craig Mcilroy.

Twenty two network issues were identified in the area as potentially contributing to poor water quality and most of these are now resolved.

While in the past water monitoring at the beach indicated water quality issues even in dry weather, Craig says there have been no dry weather issues in sampling since January 2021.

However, there can still be issues in wet weather. This means that Titirangi Beach will, like numerous other beaches in the region, be added to the Safeswim programme.

From December 1, 2021, the water quality model for Titirangi will be live on the Safeswim website and will have the green Safeswim pin in dry weather or after low rainfall. As with other urban beaches, it will

display a ‘red pin’ after heavy rainfall to indicate periods of high risk.

Safeswim is a website that gives up to date information about water quality, swimming conditions and safety hazards at over 120 swimming spots across the region. It is a collaboration between Auckland Council, Watercare, Surf Lifesaving Northern Region and Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

If you are headed to Titirangi Beach, just like French Bay, Cornwallis and other local beaches, remember to check Safeswim for live information on water quality and swimming conditions first: www. safeswim.org.nz.

Safeswim will continue to monitor the water quality at the beach throughout the summer and the Safe Networks team will also continue its work in Titirangi investigating the public and private wastewater and stormwater networks, to ensure any further issues are resolved.

Titirangi Beach has bathrooms, a playground, great carparking, and even a small boat ramp. That it is reopening is great news arriving just in time for summer and it will be terrific to see more people making use of this gem now that it’s safe to do so. Thank you for your mahi, Auckland Council.

Update on Paturoa Stream

In spring and early summer the water is clear and flowing, but as the season progresses, Paturoa Stream – which flows into Titirangi Beach – often turns dark and odorous. Reassuringly, Healthy Waters has carried out water quality sampling in the stream and at the estuary. Results collected to date do not indicate human faecal contamination. The black colour and odour occurs naturally at the stream’s estuary when there has been a period of abnormally dry weather, resulting in lower river levels and tides. Lack of rain, tidal flushing and build-up of sandbanks at the mouth of the estuary exacerbates the problem The Healthy Waters operations team will continue to actively monitor the watercourse in Titirangi and surrounding areas throughout the summer.

XMAS SHORTBREAD My great aunt Anne’s shortbread recipe (Sydenham Shortbread) has been in my note book for over 50 years. It is a simple, tried and true recipe.

You will need 125 g of butter, 2 tblsp of sugar {adapt for your preference), 2 tblsp cornflour and 3/4 cup plain flour.

Rub the ingredients together, roll out the mixture (about 6mm thick), cut into shapes and cook on a cold tray in a hot oven for about 10 minutes. How simple is that?

– Lynnette Sollitt-Morris

SUPERCHARGE YOUR BUSINESS

New Lynn-based EcoMatters Trust received 966 entries from across Tāmaki Makaurau for its recent Bike Art Challenge.

The $800 bike shop gift voucher was won by Rez Mohammed, and the Judges’ Prize for Best Story ($250 bike shop voucher) was won by Max Barwell.

The Challenge was supported by Auckland Transport.

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art & about

2021 Portage Ceramic Awards

The finalists for the 2021 Portage Ceramic Awards have been had not anticipated quite how enriching announced, with a shortlist reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of the task would be. It was an education Aotearoa’s top artists working with clay. to have virtual access to studios across Over 33 works by 30 ceramicists are up for this year’s award, the length of Aotearoa and to see current showcasing the diversity of Aotearoa’s contemporary ceramic practice. trends,” said Raewyn.

Open to all New Zealand artists working with clay, the Portage The finalists embrace a wide range of Ceramic Awards, organised by Te Uru and now in its 21st year, is media, including clay, stoneware, and Aotearoa’s premier award recognising excellence in ceramic arts terracotta, with a range of glazes, stains practice. and firing techniques, as well as works that Once the winner is announced, Te Uru will open its annual Portage incorporate photography, videography, Ceramic Awards exhibition, with all works selected as finalists on show and mixed media elements, from shells to to the public for the first time. stones to electronics.

The competition was not able to be held in 2020, for the first time in “It was a challenge to be called on to the award’s history, due to Covid restrictions. In lieu of the awards, Te select from a wide range of divergent Uru held a retrospective exhibition of previous winners’ work. For the styles,” said Raewyn. “Despite this, I 2021 award, entries were open to artists for all works created during think it is a good thing that there are 2020 and 2021 that had not yet been exhibited. no categories, leaving the work free of Portage judge, Raewyn This year, the finalists and winner have been selected by two-time 'pigeon-holing.”

Atkinson: “It was a Premier Award winner Raewyn Atkinson, marking only the second The winners will be announced on challenge.” time in the award’s history that a New Zealander has been in the role December 3, with the exhibition of works open to the public from of judge.

December 4 until February 27, 2022, “It was very interesting subject to Covid alert levels. A postto be 'on the other awards talk with the judge will take side' as a judge. It was place on Saturday, December 4 at not something I ever 11am, either in the gallery or online. expected to do, but I saw Over the coming summer, art lovers it as a way to give back are welcome to visit Te Uru for the to the Portage, an award annual showcase and a chance to see that had benefited me the works of the finalists and winner. so much. I knew that it In the shadow of the forest, white clay, stains and glaze, by Louise Rive. Photo For more information, visit teuru.org. would be challenging but by Haruhiko Sameshima/Studio La Gonda. nz

Water issues continue to be prominent

The Government’s three waters proposal is meeting considerable opposition from Local Government, and to be frank some of the criticism is pretty overblown.

already provides restrictions on democratic control. And the good people of Waima who are facing the prospect of an industrial plant being constructed on the ridge of a valley full of Kauri would think that the concept of democratic control is somewhat illusory.

My personal view is that the proposal merits serious consideration.

In too many parts of the country With the targeted water the water infrastructure is The Waitākere Ranges Local Board Future West team are (left to right) Mark Allen, Saffron Toms, Sandra Coney and Greg Presland. quality rate there has been appalling. People have died from poisoning. Wellington having regular outflows of some good work happening. Locally the rate has funded sewerage from antiquated infrastructure that has not infrastructure investigation on Laingholm, Titirangi and been maintained properly is a further example of how Wood Bay beaches. Thanks to assistance from enthusiastic bad things can get. And historically Auckland is not locals in Laingholm the beach’s long term warning has much better. Too many of our beaches are polluted and been lifted. Testing has recently been conducted on closed. In too many areas Local Government has not Titirangi Beach and it should also be reopening soon. provided clean water or polluted the local environment.

Our country should have goals that water everywhere The proposal will unlock funding that is urgently needed is drinkable and beaches everywhere are swimmable. and I believe it should be given serious consideration.

Despite some commentary to the contrary these are not radical proposals.

There is concern at the loss of democratic control over water – Greg Presland assets. In Auckland Watercare Advertisement

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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art & about with naomi mccleary

Making a Difference

In the November Art and About column for kids in the future. These I waxed eloquent about a challenging children said they needed fun, but somehow hopeful session that was cosy, warm, interactive, relaxing, live-streamed as part of the Going West safe spaces to share with other Festival; two survivors of domestic abuse children. Things like pillows, and their fierce advocate, Jackie Clark cushions of differing sizes and under the baton of Carole Hirschfeld. That shapes, throws, blankets, shaggy confronting, no-holds-barred discussion; rugs, colourful mats, curtains, desperate stories, much swearing, yet so night lights, fairy lights, lamps, inspiring, is still available on the Going comfortable child-sized chairs West website and the book, Her Story, is and couches, snug beanbags, available in bookshops. tactile and sensory toys for I mention it again because I want to relaxation, and ‘stuff’ that can connect it to, and celebrate, an arts be used by groups of children event and an organisation that, for 25 together. years, does ‘give a damn’. NZ Sculpture The impact of the global OnShore, the country’s largest outdoor Paintings by Teuane Tibbo (left) and Salome Tanuvasa (right) in pandemic has burdened sculpture exhibition, has gone online and Stars Start Falling. Photo by Sam Hartnett, courtesy Te Uru. communities in so many ways. its organisers are committed to raising $100,000 for Women’s Refuges. More New Zealand women and children than ever before are fleeing As with so many loved and familiar events, lockdown has scuppered from dangerous situations. There are few things more important than plans to install at the exhibition’s well-known venue of O Peretu/Fort helping children feel safe and secure after experiencing trauma. Kids in Takapuna. So, in the spirit of these strange times, you are invited to the Middle says it all. visit their new, purpose-built online platform to view and/or purchase One of the surprises for me recently was that, despite the wider the more than 200 spectacular sculptural works. The price range is such confusion about mask-wearing, distancing and the possible future that there are affordable, as well as ‘investment,’ pieces. vaccine passports, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery grabbed In some ways the advent of an online exhibition makes geographic the moment and opened its doors. location of little importance. However, there are some Westie artists Talking to Director Andrew Clifford, I could hear the energy and to look out for: excitement in his voice. On page 9 you can read news of this years Julie Moselen: Continuum Amplus. A celebration of unity and the Portage Ceramics Awards but I am going to concentrate on another connection to all. important exhibition which will be open over Christmas and into the Rebecca Rose: Golden Orb. When the world seems beset with one New Year. crisis after another, this sculpture is a reminder that the sun will still Stars Start Falling brings together existing paintings by Teuane Tibbo, rise and fall. and newly commissioned works by Ani O’Neill and Salome Tanuvasa.

Keum Sun Lee and Sang-Sool Shim: The Garden of Heaven 1 and 2.

It is possibly a cliché, but irresistible, to say that Teuane Tibbo is the Referencing both 10th and 15th century techniques of Korean pottery Grandma Moses of the New Zealand art scene. She was born in Sāmoa layered with a contemporary New Zealand influence. in 1895. In 1926 she moved to Fiji with her husband, Edward Tibbo, Alongside the online exhibition, www.nzsculptureonshore.co.nz also and in 1945 they settled in Auckland with their children. Teuane began calls us to support women and children fleeing domestic violence painting at the age of 71 and quickly became a prominent figure in by donating to their Women’s Refuge Give-a-Little campaign. What I Auckland’s art scene. She was exhibited in galleries around Aotearoa particularly love is that donations this year will go towards ‘Kids in the and her work acquired into a number of public collections. Teuane died Middle’, an initiative to create safe, comforting and creative spaces for in 1984, aged 91. Since her death she has been included in a number children staying in each of the Refuge’s 40 safe houses. of significant surveys of Pacific art. A lovely connection to Stars Start Kids in the Middle was designed following a first of its kind Falling is that in 2001 she was the subject of a retrospective Keep it research report into what children need to feel safe and secure after in the Heart: The Paintings of Teuane Tibbo at Lopdell House Gallery experiencing family violence. As part of the research, Women’s Refuge (now Te Uru). family violence specialists talked to 19 children who had stayed at It was a dream that the stars were falling that prompted Teuane to safe houses and asked them what could be done to make it better begin painting. She worked prolifically through the 1960s and ’70s,

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art & about with naomi mccleary

painting scenes of her youth in Sāmoa from photographs and memories, and still life paintings of flowers plucked from her garden.

Her former dealer, Barry Lett, himself the stuff of legend because of his gallery, recalls how he first met Teuane through Pat Hanly.

“Away she went, without any training, this wonderful, intuitive, naive painter at the age of 71.

We arranged an exhibition and she had her first show – it was quite an event.”

Lett says because Teuane lacked any training, “her critical faculty for her own work was not developed so she could turn out three or four wonderful paintings and then something awful.

As her dealer, we used to sort them out and select the best ones.”

Stars Start Falling puts Teuane’s paintings from the ’60s and ’70s into conversation with work made by Ani O’Neill in 1999 and new commissions by Salome Tanuvasa.

Ani O’Neill was born in Auckland in 1971. She graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts in 1994 and has exhibited widely in Aotearoa and internationally since. Ani’s work often references skills and techniques passed down from her Cook Islands grandmother, drawing on the unique histories and forms of knowledge which are central to art forms like tivaevae, embroidery, sewing and crochet.

Salome Tanuvasa is a Sāmoan-Tongan artist based in Auckland. She completed her Masters in Fine Arts at Elam School of Fine Arts in 2014, followed by a Diploma in Secondary Teaching. Her work crosses a variety of media including moving image, drawing, photography and sculpture.

A space to dream, a space to remember, a space to work, a space to make connections. Stars Start Falling brings together work that examines processes of memory, learning, and knowledge as responses to the artists’ engagement with the everyday and the extraordinary. Made in the garden, around the kitchen table, in a moment stolen in the dark of night, or as the duties of domestic life continue to tick along in the background, the artworks in this exhibition examine the cultural, social, and political forces that shape our relationship to place.

This is an exhibition to sit with; to give it time and space to be absorbed; to see the connections between the artists, but also the connections to the Pacific imagery that is the background to our everyday lives in this, the largest Pacific city in the world.

Stars Start Falling is presented by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre and curated by Hanahiva Rose. It runs until February 20, 2022.

NEW DATE Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 February 10am–4pm Visit some of Waitākere’s most celebrated artists including sculptors, painters, jewellers, illustrators, ceramic artists and photographers.

With over 80 artists involved, and 40 studios from Piha to Glen Eden, Titirangi to Te Henga, it’s an inspiring weekend out and about.

Take a self-guided tour at your own pace with our Open Studios Map and mobile App, or jump on an Open Studios Bus Tour.

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11

places to go

who, what, where, when in the west...

As this issue goes to press, there is considerable uncertainty regarding what events can and will take place over the coming months, how many people will be able to attend events, and whether they will have to be outdoors or indoors.

Some of our art galleries and other venues will be open over the summer, but not all.

Many of our regular events and gatherings may be rescheduled or cancelled in response to Covid alert level changes.

Others could be postponed or in recess over the summer months.

Please contact the organisers or venues to confirm event details.

We will be restarting our monthly event listings service in our next issue, February 2022, and organisers are welcome to get in touch to confirm their event’s details before January 14, 2022.

l WHERE IT’S AT: • Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-4.30pm daily. 838 4455, www.ceac. org.nz.

• EcoMatters Environment Trust, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn; Wednesday – Sunday, 10am-2pm. 826 4276, info@ecomatters.org.nz.

• Flicks cinema, Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell House. 818 2489, www.flickscinema.weebly.com.

• Kelston Community Centre, corner of Awaroa and Great North Roads, Kelston.

• McCahon House Museum, 67 Otitori Bay Road, Titirangi; Wednesday – Sunday, 1-4pm, except public holidays. 817 6148, mccahon@ mccahonhouse.org.nz.

• Playhouse Theatre, 15 Glendale Road, Glen Eden. 818 5751.

• Te Toi Uku – Clay Works, 8 Ambrico Place, New Lynn; Wednesday – Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-3pm.

Phone 827 7349, www.portageceramicstrust.org.nz.

• Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, 420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi; Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-4.30pm. 817 8087, info@teuru.org.nz.

• Titirangi Theatre, Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell House; Titirangi. 817 5812, infoline 817 5951, www. titirangitheatre.co.nz.

• Upstairs Gallery, Level 1, Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Road; Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-4pm, except public holidays. 817 4278, www.upstairs.org.nz.

• West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Thursday/ Friday, 11am-3pm; Saturday/Sunday, 10am-4pm. 812 8029, www.westcoastgallery.co.nz.

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13

bandstanding: music in the west with susannah bridges

‘Singing in a choir just feels really good.’

Musician, composer, conductor and teacher Alex Alford first picked up a flute at Swanson Primary, added some other instruments at Henderson Intermediate and Henderson High School, and, at Auckland University, bagged a Bachelor of Music with honours and Master of Music Composition with first class honours.

“Community music is something I have been involved in for a long time. I play tuba in the West City Concert Band and run a few school choirs and ensembles, as well as being president of the Auckland Youth Symphonic Band and the Auckland Wind Orchestra, and playing in both groups. Additionally, I’m on the executive of the New Zealand Concert Bands Association.”

Alex is also the Music Director of the Waitākere Voices Choir.

“Waitākere Voices was formed in 1998, and started out as an evening class. Later on it morphed into a community choir. To the best of my knowledge there have been only a few conductors in the 23 years the choir has been running – Evelyn Hatfield, Barbara Bentham and myself. In high school I always wanted to be up the front of a group waving hands around, and my school friends enjoyed a good laugh at me for virtually conducting the classical music that plays through the Henderson train station and council building over-bridge.”

By the age of 19 Alex was indeed the conductor of the choir. “I was also the youngest member for a while, but now we have a young singer who is in high school. Conducting a community choir is 40% teaching, 50% administration, and 10% actual conducting, so there was a bit of a learning curve involved there”.

Typically the demographic of Waitākere Voices is older adults, people who enjoy singing but who aren’t trained in music, in general. “Our singers come from all parts of the community – we have teachers, accountants, a MOTAT tram driver, an architect, an electrician. Everyone gets on really well and we’re really welcoming to new singers”.

Under normal circumstances the choir would meet and rehearse once a week at Laidlaw College in Henderson. “We sing lots of different music.

Our midyear concert this year featured all New Zealand composers – I think we had three or four world premières in that concert. Previously we have sung songs from musicals, movies, shows, alongside choral works, pop songs, a couple of classical songs, and of course Christmas music. A couple of years ago we teamed up with some local artists from

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

West Auckland and put on a combined art and music show which was really exciting”.

Alex says the health and wellbeing benefits from singing in a choir are huge “To start with, there’s the sense of community – meeting people from all walks of life and interacting with people outside of one’s regular workspace and environment.

Singing in a choir is also really good for the brain. You’re learning a language, you’re co-ordinating lots of different parts of your brain, from speech, to emotions, diction, rhythm and listening. Added to that, the act of singing with other people releases dopamine and endorphins – chemicals associated with reward and positive experiences. Simply, singing in a choir just feels really good.”

The choir has not been immune to Covid. “Until last year’s initial lockdown we were on track to hit 40 regular members, but every lockdown has meant we have lost singers. It’s the same for many community groups – out of an abundance of caution, or newly developed habits, people are simply staying home more. We will have to drop down to Level 1 (or the traffic light equivalent) before we are able to rehearse safely. It’s hard to plan concerts with this uncertainty so we’re looking to make a clean start next year when we’re able.”

With his teacher’s hat on Alex says he’s looking forward to getting back to school and reconnecting with students and colleagues. And, he’s looking forward to resuming choir and band rehearsals. “The whole reason we make music is to share the enjoyment of doing so. In the meantime I’ll be live-streaming, filming, and recording a collection of school musical performances and end of year prizegiving assemblies – it’s a bit more technical than the choral direction but still lots of fun!”

Waitākere Voices are tentatively planning shows for 2022. “We’re looking forward to a concert in April with the West City Youth Concert Band, featuring a tonne of super-cool movie, TV and video game soundtracks. The choir’s Facebook page will have all of the details once we’ve locked them down (no pun intended).”

If you’d like to know more about, or join the choir, go to facebook. com/wvoiceschoir or the website waitakerevoices.nz. And you can contact Alex and the team at wvoiceschoir@gmail.com.

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our place

Ranges track upgrades: an update

without consulting with Aucklanders, who last time wanted that rate spent at the highest level.”

As the programme progresses, the proliferation of hard structures in the Ranges is becoming “quite extreme” she says. This comment is echoed by TrackShape principal Norm Judd, who has worked in the region’s parks for more than a decade.

“The benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing of re-accessing the tracks are being affected by walking on unending kilometres of hardened surfaces and boardwalks,” he says.

Lisa says the hard structures are required to protect kauri root systems and track design is a blend of considerations.

“Each track is assessed on a site-by-site basis,” says Lisa, “with the design methodology taking into account a number of different requirements and guidelines along with cultural and heritage considerations agreed with Te Kawerau ā Maki, and overall visitor experience.”

The Council’s precautionary approach that centres on track upgrades and cleaning stations is still being questioned by many, including Norm. “We are still no closer to understanding how to prevent kauri dieback or whether, in fact, we really need to. This joint approach was agreed in December 2018 with Te Kawerau ā Maki and promoted to an unsuspecting Auckland public in 2019 without robust science to inform us of the true behaviour of PTA.” To find which tracks are open, contact Arataki Visitor Centre and for a scientific viewpoint on track upgrades and progress with understanding kauri dieback, see page 16.

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SONGS FROM TWO CENTURIES

SONGS FROM TWO CENTURIES

The controversial track upgrade programme in the Waitākeres is having its ups and downs, writes JADE REIDY. Storm damage to already-open tracks and Covid delays have been balanced by a $1.9m injection from the government.

The Bill Haresnape Track in Titirangi (pictured, right) reopened in August 2021 and work is now under way on the Fenceline Track and Auckland City Walk. This has been happening alongside storm repairs that temporarily closed sections of the open track network. Affected tracks included Ahuahu, Winstone, Karamatura Loop and Karamatura Camp. There was also significant damage to the recently completed Muir and Gibbons Tracks.

Auckland Council’s kauri dieback manager Lisa Tolich says the repairs have been a priority and may delay start and completion dates for the planned upgrades for Kuataika, Houghton, Zion-Hill, Buck-Taylor, LongRoad, Fairy Falls and Whatatiri over the next seven months.

On the plus side, the government’s new $1.9 million Jobs for Nature funding has created 32 full-time jobs in the Auckland region for two years, with the result that some tracks in the five-year programme may open sooner than planned. New tracks in non-kauri forested areas will also be created.

Aucklanders have paid $11.6 million to date to re-open tracks in regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau, the bulk of them in the Waitākeres. At the end of the current track reopening programme in 2024 there will still be 46 closed tracks and nine permanently closed in the Ranges. The Council has signalled that its long-term operating expenditure will become unsustainable by then. Local Board chair Saffron Toms thinks that funding to upgrade more tracks is not at risk.

“The track work is funded by the Natural Environmental Targeted Rate and is ring fenced. The council can’t take it and spend it on anything else. The only point of negotiation is how the money is spent within that rate,” she explains. “They wouldn’t make the decision to scrap it

15

our place

Kauri dieback: what the researchers think

JADE REIDY discusses kauri dieback with Dr Richard Winkworth and seeks to answer some of the questions readers have raised. Richard is a plant geneticist at Massey University and Ampersand Technologies. He co-authored this year’s published study on the use of genome sequencing to conclude the kauri dieback pathogen has been here for at least 300 years, if not much longer.

upper North Island and no one wants to make things worse, so changing is not easy.

Are there comparisons with Covid?

Well, like Covid we are having to fight the disease and learn about it at the same time. And like Covid there’s concern that changing the plan too much will mean more disease and more people not sticking to the rules.

My gut reaction to what I’ve seen is that, again much like Covid, it’s a “here to stay” situation. We need to get used to the idea that interventions may be

Should we stop upgrading the tracks and open up the Ranges, if people are not the problem?

There’s not enough evidence to stop Richard Winkworth: ‘interventions may be needed long term.’ the current control measures, including track upgrades. We simply needed long term. don’t have enough answers to stop doing what we’re doing.

What’s the biggest problem?

I think we should be patient. Let me explain why. It is widely assumed People. It is a controversial space and maintaining relationships is that increases in the number of diseased sites are the result of humans more difficult. But the future of kauri depends on everybody being spreading the pathogen that causes kauri dieback. Over the last 10 able to put aside differences and agendas to do what is best for kauri – years or so we’ve done whatever we can to limit spread. But there is not just in the Waitākeres but throughout its range. If communication evidence that this narrative is not quite right. Instead, increases in the breaks down and groups aren’t working together then the chances of number of diseased sites could reflect environmental changes over the solving the problem are slim. last 175 years.

NOTE: Auckland Council’s baseline study of both healthy and diseased If the pathogen has been here longer than we thought then perhaps trees in the Ranges has been further delayed by Covid. We can expect it is already widespread and stopping the spread should not be the results in the second quarter of 2022. primary goal. Instead, we may need to be thinking about preventing disease expression. The pathogen has been found in forest with no Licensing petition falls short symptoms of the disease. Why? One possibility is that in those forests The Waitākere Licensing Trust will retain its right to the sale of the trees are less stressed. Some of the tools we currently use may liquor in off-license and tavern-license venues in parts of West reduce stress on trees and help reduce the chances that trees get sick.

Auckland following an unsuccessful community petition.

How long do we need to be patient?

Hundreds of charities, schools and local groups will continue That’s a really hard question. There’s quite a way to go before we to benefit from existing licensing model with the Trusts understand this disease. Take the Phytophthora species that caused redistributing millions of dollars in profits back into the West the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. Only now are we really making Auckland community each year. headway towards controlling this disease. We’re not talking about a Linda Cooper, President of the Waitākere Licensing Trust, says globally important crop here. Kauri are large forest trees, potentially despite the shortfall in petition signatures the Trusts have taken many hundreds of years old growing in a complex natural ecosystem. on board feedback from this sector of the community.

There isn’t a step-by-step guide on how to do it here. It is very “Changes to the current liquor licensing rules would almost challenging. certainly have led to a proliferation of liquor stores as we have Should the council have the courage to change direction, if necessary? seen in other parts of Auckland.

I understand the frustration. But the council is between a rock and a “Together with the Portage Licensing Trust, the Trust is taking hard place. No matter what they do, some people will be unhappy that steps to improve its offering,” she says. they didn’t go further and others will say they went too far. The council Both Trusts’ retail liquor stores and hospitality venues are 100% is trying to be science-based so you have to think that the courage is community owned, employing more than 300 people across there.

West Auckland, and returning profits to their communities.

There is a lot invested in the kauri dieback response across the entire

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opinion

Thoughts on the 26th UN Climate Summit, COP26 Humankind cannot bear very much reality -T.S. Eliot

The UN-sponsored Conference of Parties (COP) was conceived as the world’s best hope for reducing the impact of climate change, those hammer-blows of fire, flood and drought that are steadily increasing their prevalence and fury across the planet.

During the fortnight that COP26 was held in Glasgow, several billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) wafted skyward from power stations, vehicle exhausts, cleared forests, drained wetlands and the burping of a billion cows.

Meanwhile, more than 500 sharp-suited fossil fuel lobbyists stalked the conference halls, reassuring national delegates that things aren’t as bad as they seem, and not to forget about the economy (and their careers) before doing anything rash.

The billions of dollars invested in such lobbying paid off when India, supported by the medieval kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Russian mafia state, and the coalcrazed Australian government, threatened to tank the final resolution unless a goal of “phasing out coal” was changed to the meaningless “phasing down coal”.

Incredibly, this is the first time, in 26 years, that coal has even been referenced in a COP resolution; we’d best not hold our collective breath until oil and natural gas also rate a mention!

There was progress, however, at least on paper; wealthy countries such as New Zealand formed international alliances and pledged to reduce methane and deforestation, as well as to provide financial aid to those developing nations which are being hit hardest by climate change, notwithstanding their own minimal emissions of GHG. Unfortunately, Climate Change Minister James Shaw made it clear that New Zealand will take little real action to reduce our own emissions; the government will not revisit its desultory 2021 GHG budget, nor will it accelerate efforts to reduce methane emitted by agriculture. His post-conference press release continued to make the easily-debunked claim that we will halve our emissions by 2030, when, minus several misleading accounting tricks, the true figure is about 22%, much of which will be purchased overseas.

Our poor performance on the world stage was rewarded by a humiliating “Fossil” award at Glasgow, but it could have been worse.

At least we aren’t Australia, whose Prime Minister claimed that Australia’s emissions would drop 35% by 2030, despite offering zero Governmental intent or action to reduce one of the largest per capita carbon footprints of any nation. Australia also opposed a resolution to keep global warming below 1.5°C, which is essential to the survival of small island states such as the Maldives and the Marshall Islands, whose delegate expressed “profound disappointment” with the COP26 outcome.

One delegate, from a small island state, showed journalists photos of water bubbling up from the ground during king tides; another said that any global temperature increase over 1.5°C would be a death sentence for her people. Be that as it may, based on current pledges, we can expect about 2.4°C of global warming by 2050.

A recent survey of climate scientists, by the prestigious Nature magazine, found that a majority of them expect catastrophic climate impacts within their lifetimes, driven by an expected 3°C rise in the average global temperature. The survey also showed that many climate scientists are struggling with grief and anxiety.

Another recent survey, of 10,000 young people across the planet, found that they, too, are profoundly concerned. As the survey team leader told the BBC in September, “…the young feel abandoned and betrayed by governments.”

A significant number (40%) are hesitant to have children, and nearly half reported feeling distressed or anxious about the climate in a way that was affecting their daily functioning: eating, concentrating, going to work, sleeping, spending time in nature, relationships, playing and having fun.

So, how can we avoid a grim future? There are no magical solutions, no industrial technologies to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere at scale, and the fossil fuel companies are still manufacturing doubt, distraction and denial as we push our planetary life support systems toward potentially irrecoverable tipping points.

All we can do, is simply do everything we can, at whatever level we can, to promote community resilience and climate leadership.

Get active, join and support community and environmental groups, educate yourself on the solutions, talk to your neighbours and friends, take part in group action, reduce your own consumption of fossil fuels, eat locally, write submissions, and generally make as much of a nuisance of yourself as you can!

After all, what have you got to lose? A sustainable and equitable world is still possible, if we are willing to work for it. As New Zealand’s former PM Helen Clark wrote recently, in the introduction to Climate Aotearoa: “...as the Covid-19 crisis shows, when the ‘team of 5 million’ acknowledges the need to act, it does so, to great effect. That is the sense of urgency with which the climate crisis now needs to be addressed.”

– Rob Taylor

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17

people

‘Bit of a boy racer’ still putting pedal to the metal When local man Gary Wike retired from his mechanical engineering role at Auckland Airport last year, he thought it would be a great time to immerse himself in some of his ‘boy racer’ hobbies.

Gary’s father, Adam, was a motor mechanic back in the day and had a bit of a name successfully racing stock cars in the 1950s in a 1936 Ford Coupé.

It figured that his son might become a bit of a petrol head with a love of engines.

And so it was, and Gary thought retirement would be a great time to get on with some projects when lockdown came along.

“I’d had a 1994 Renault for about 18 years,” he says. “I hadn’t used it for a while so thought I’d take it out for drive.

“Nothing,” he says. “The fuel Gary and his restored 1980 Honda MB-5 pump had died so I ripped it out and ordered a new one from the UK. I’m still waiting.”

Checking around his garage for something else to do, Gary remembered the 1980 Honda MB-5 he’d bought eight years ago. At the height of its popularity, it had been considered ‘very tasty’ and this seemed like a good time for Gary to resurrect it. Only problem was it was in 1,000 pieces in boxes.

“I’d stripped it down for restoration but work on it stopped at the stripping and it had been in bits since.”

About “a couple of hundred hours” later, it was all pieced together again and with a new registration and a mighty fine paint job which included shiny sprinkles, Gary took it for a test drive last month.

“It went very, very well. It worked first pop and that felt pretty good.

I wasn’t going too far as it’s got its original tyres. New ones are coming from the Netherlands and when I get those on, I’ll be more confident with it.

“It’s got a six-speed gear box, so you’re always changing gears. Being so small and close to the ground, you feel as though you’re doing 100 miles an hour. You’re always busy on the gears.

“I do feel proud. The sense of accomplishment when you get it ticking over is great.”

But that wasn’t Gary’s first motorcycle restoration. He’s also done Yamaha SS50s and Honda 50s. “I used to frequent the Hamilton refuse tip and bring them to Auckland and restore them.”

Cars have been in the mix too and none more so than the Ford stockcar his famous dad had taken to Australia with the New Zealand team and raced in 1959.

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

“He stopped racing in about 1960 and I was keen to find that car so did a bit of ringing around,” says Gary. It was found at the back of Henderson in 1982, in a shed that had collapsed all around it.

“I got it home (cost me $30 for that.) I took two-and-a-half years to restore that stockcar. It was the oldest stockcar in New Zealand. I had it for about 30 years but it had to go when Val (his wife of 39 years) and I moved house.

“I did shed a bit of a tear to let it go but it’s in good care at Pukekohe with about 300 other cars.”

While “not much of a stockcar racer” himself, Gary still liked spending time at the stockcar club in Waikaraka Park in Onehunga – at least until Covid got in the way, and put the kibosh on everything.

With “no particular project” on the go at the moment, Gary admits that while putting 1,000 bits of motorcycle into a shape that makes a real motorbike, he’s no good at jigsaws.

“I leave that to Val. The secret to working with bits when you strip a car or bike down, is to put them in plastic bags, mark them, make a note of what they are and where they come from.”

Simple really.

– Moira Kennedy

Te Whau Pathway consultation open

Aucklanders are being invited to have their say on the design of Te Whau Pathway as the project takes its next steps following resource consent being granted in 2020.

The pathway, being built in stages, will link the Waitematā and Manukau harbours. When complete, it will improve access to the Whau River and create new off-road walking and cycling connections for commuting and recreation.

Consultation is open on the pathway design and the locations of play areas, access points and rest areas along the pathway.

Tony Miguel, Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust Chair says that this marks a real milestone in the process.

“For many people, seeing the completed pathway will be a dream come true,” he says. “There has been an enormous amount of hard work done to get it to this point, and it is fantastic to see how the path could potentially look.

“This project will be a generational transformation, opening the Whau River and connecting communities in a way that hasn’t been possible for generations. It is important that people get involved and have their say.

“Without doubt it will become one of the jewels in Auckland’s crown and when complete will attract people from all over New Zealand to visit and enjoy..

“The key to that enjoyment will be the places along the path for people to stop and enjoy the scenery, the places people are able to play and access points to the path from the existing transport network. This is why this consultation is so important.

“On behalf of the Trust, I want to thank the New Zealand Government, Auckland Council, the Whau and Henderson-Massey Local Boards, Auckland Transport and The Trusts Community Foundation (TTCF) whose funding has enabled the project to progress.”

The consultation is open until December 20, and you can provide feedback by adding comments to an online interactive map, using an online feedback form at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt. nz/te-whau-pathway ot emailing tewhaupathway@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz There is also a webinar taking place on December 2, 2021 from 5:45 to 7:15pm using the Microsoft Teams app. You will be able to hear more about the project and proposed designs and ask questions. Visit https://tewhaupathway.org.nz/ to find out more.

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sustainable solutions with fiona drummond

Gift yourself and the planet an EV this Christmas

It’ll soon be Christmas. Why not treat yourself or your partner to an you could get 20% off your electricity usage between 9pm and 7am electric vehicle and take advantage of the Clean Car Discount that every night. To find out if you’re eligible visit https://www.mercury. co.nz/e-transport/evs/why-an-ev/ev-fuel-package. We typically get up came into effect earlier this year?

A discount of up to $8,625 is available off the price of new and used to a $20 credit on our monthly bill.

When you’re out and about, top up while you’re doing something EV and plug-in hybrid imports (until March 31, 2022). And if you own an EV, you won’t need to pay road user charges until March 31, 2024, else. Slow charging is usually free but can take several hours. You a saving of around $800 per year. (Check out more details about the can find slow chargers at some shopping centres, hotels and tourist Clean Car Discount at .https://www.rightcar.co.nz/clean-car-discount.) attractions but you’ll need your own supply lead.

Fast Chargers can add around 100km of range to the battery in 20-30 An EV is a great investment. The first key fact is that you are helping the planet. Transport makes up around 48% of our energy-related minutes. They typically cost about $10 per 100km. If you’re in a hurry, greenhouse gas emissions. EVs emit 80% less CO2 than an equivalent use the 80% charge option which will take about 15 minutes. The last petrol vehicle when being driven in New Zealand because electricity 20% of the battery takes longer to charge.

Create an account online with ChargeNet or Chargemaster and once generated here is typically at least 80% renewable (mostly from hydro, signed up, you can access the fast charging geothermal and wind). network and enjoy easy billing and payment.

Battery-powered EVs are responsible for 60% EVs are responsible An essential app for the EV owner is Plugshare less climate-changing emissions over their full for 60% less climate which shows you where all the charge stations life cycle compared to petrol vehicles, even when changing emissions are. (It is not a good idea to use fast charging too you take into account raw material extraction, battery manufacture, vehicle manufacture and over their full life cycle often as it could reduce battery life.)

I always plan to recharge my vehicle after shipping. compared to petrol around 100km (range anxiety is a real thing!) so I can personally vouch that owning an electric you need to factor in your combined destination car is a game changer. I have owned a Nissan vehicles. and return distance if you are on a big day out.

Leaf Generation 2 for about 18 months, bought The Leaf is less ideal on longer trips, but all good if you have time to as a second hand Japanese import with a remaining battery life of kill. We once took ours to Ohakune for a weekend, but had to map out around 85%, and it’s been a sound decision.

I love that I’m not compromising our fragile environment and that the route to ensure we had sufficient charge stops. It took eight charger I’m not paying for petrol, especially with the latest increases. The stops each way (and a full charge at the destination), costing around $58 each way with substantially more time involved, meaning we broke electricity cost for EV charging equates to around 40c per litre.

I work close to home, so on the days that I’m not cycling to work, I up the trip by staying with friends en route both ways.

The upside is stopping every 100km or so allows you a regular pit take the EV. For short trips it is absolutely ideal as commuting is where it comes into its own, costing nothing in fuel and using minimal power stop and if you are like me and get sleepy after a few hours driving, an enforced stop is a good thing. You seldom have to wait to charge your when stuck in traffic jams.

And did I mention power! My Leaf is a gutsy little beast and in a 50km vehicle, even at holiday times, and if you do, it’s generally a short wait.

I hope you consider switching to electric. Since making my change to area it can be challenging to keep it below the speed limit. When you need speed it has incredible acceleration, just eating our Titirangi hills. an EV I wouldn’t go back although, if it was our only vehicle, I would probably invest in one with a higher range.

Regulating your speed in an EV is definitely a learning curve.

Newer and more expensive EVs have a much higher range. A PHEV Investing in an electric vehicle can be more expensive up front, but as the running costs are a lot lower, over time, it works out cheaper. (a plug-in hybrid) would also reduce the time taken on a long trip.

An EV might also save you $5000 a year in petrol, so in four years you Although the EV has lower running costs than a PHEV, the latter covers greater distances than its battery range and is a better option if you are could pay off your secondhand car in fuel savings.

In terms of maintenance, there have been no costs in the 18 months using your car regularly for a mix of long and short trips.

Wondering what type of EV to buy? Check out https://www.mercury.

I have owned my EV, compared to the annual service on my Honda Fit co.nz/e-transport/evs/buy-an-ev where Mercury compares different which cost around $700-$800 each time.

Charging my Leaf at home works well, as our carport is right by a shed brands with estimates of annual fuel savings.

To find out more about EVs and PHEVs visit https://genless.govt.nz/ where I can plug the charger in, getting about 10-15% charge per hour on a standard 240V socket. The charger is portable so you can take it for-everyone/on-the-move/consider-electric-vehicles/which-ev-is-forwith you if you go away overnight. If you're a Mercury power customer, me/.

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19

naturally west with fiona drummond

Hochstetter’s Frog; our special Waitãkere Ranges native frog

In the late 1980s Peter Maddison such as rats and cats. The Department of MNZM, then a West Auckland-based Conservation has purchased considerable conservationist and entomologist heard amounts of suitable land to prevent further that a Waiatarua resident, Isobel Beale, degradation of some of their habitat and had come across around 70 Hochstetter’s attempts are being made to better monitor frogs run over on the road. Peter was their populations. determined that this carnage would The frog is generally dark brown, grows not be repeated and in a short space of up to 50mm long, has partially webbed time organised for Humes NZ to install a feet and has more warts than the other concrete pipe as a safe frog thoroughfare native frogs. for the frogs, just beyond Brabant Road on Auckland Council has been working Scenic Drive. It remains today. to manage three distinct populations New Zealand’s native frogs (pepeketua) of Hochstetter frog on the mainland, in belong to the genus Leiopelma, an ancient the Hunua Ranges, Dome Valley and the group of frogs that have changed very little This Hochstetter’s frog was found by Roman Thomas in Waitākere Ranges. Monitoring by EcoQuest in the last 70 million years. These frogs a small drain on the side of the Upper Nihotupu dam in late 2020 showed that the Hunua Ranges are found only in New Zealand, and three access road this spring. population was stable, likely due to intense species are now extinct leaving only four native species including the predator control across the Hunua Ranges to protect the kōkako. most widespread species L. hochstetteri, the more aquatic of the four, Conversely the Waitākere Ranges population is steadily declining with which has a Declining and Vulnerable status throughout the North an estimated current number of around 1,000. No juvenile or sub adult Island. In the Waitākeres we have the sub-species L. hochstetteri frogs were detected at either site in this survey. The lack of young frogs ‘Waitākere’, and there are at least 10 other populations in the northern is indicative of a potentially declining population. half of the North Island.

Frogs are present in a number of streams in the Waitākere Ranges, Members of the Leiopelma genus have a number of primitive and with the largest numbers in the Upper Huia Dam catchment area. unique traits that separate them from most other species. Their ribs Although this used to be a stronghold it has been the colony with the are not fused to vertebrae, they don’t have external eardrums, and greatest decline in numbers in recent years. there is no tadpole stage – the eggs hatch directly into frogs. They also Auckland Council has partnered with Conservation Volunteers New don’t croak like most frogs.

Zealand and Mondelez International (owner of Cadbury) to set up a Hochstetter’s frogs are nocturnal and shelter by day in wet crevices predator control programme across a 309-hectare area in the Upper or under stones or logs close to the water’s edge in shaded streams in Huia Dam Catchment, including a grid of traps and bait stations native forest, emerging at night to feed on insects. installed within the riparian margin on each side of the streams. This The main threat to the species is the destruction and modification of will include a total of 900 bait stations and 45 traps across the 300its habitat including deforestation, gold mining, storm water discharge ha area, which will target both rats and mustelids (stoats, weasels and severe weather events, feral goats and pigs causing erosion and ferrets). Mondelez is sponsoring the programme for a minimum and stream siltation, and their vulnerability to introduced predators of three years with $180,000 funding, drawing on their Freddo Frog Cadbury brand, with Freddo “Helping to Save the Frogs” both in weather by the moon Australia and New Zealand.

The Mondelez funding will help the recovery of the Hochstetter’s Frog by increasing predator control at key sites, monitoring and Ken Ring’s predictions for December and January population studies, habitat restoration and education.

The fine periods this summer are the second and last weeks in Tracey Parsons, Auckland Council Senior Conservation Advisor says December, and the second and fourth weeks in January. December the first pest control round was in late 2019, the second was scheduled will be wetter than January. A mainly average season, there are for August this year and then postponed due to the Covid-19 lockdown. no heat waves, with the fine spells lasting no longer than about a She is hopeful that work will recommence soon. week. The hottest day is expected to be around January 22 (28°C).

It is heartening to think there may be an increasing population of The wettest week this summer is the first week of December.

Hochstetter’s frogs utilising the Scenic Drive tunnel constructed for There is heavy rain again at the end of the third week, and, them 30 years ago. after a changeable Christmas Day, the last week may be dry. The 11th/12th of December and 22nd/23rd of January should be the best weekends for outdoor activities.

Most rain in January will be in the last two days.

For fishermen, the highest tides in December and January are for Waitākere in the first week. December’s best fishing bite-times are noon on Councillor Councillor for Waitākere 1st-4th and 17th-20th, dusk on 9th-12th, and 25th-27th; and for Please feel free to January, noon on 2nd-4th and 16th-19th, and dusk on 9th-11th Please feel free to contact me with contact me with and 25th-27th. issues or ideas issues or ideas For gardeners, December planting is best on the 5th and pruning on the 20th. There is no day in January when planting is best, but 021 629 533 pruning is good on the 31st. For preserving and longer shelf-life, 021 629 533 linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz pick on the neap tide days of December 12th and 28th, and January linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 13th and 27th.

Linda Cooper Linda Cooper

Always allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, visit www.predictweather.com. © Ken Ring 2021.

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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naturally west Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance recently organised a Coastal Birds of New Zealand photo competition, with support from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.

The three judges were Simon Runting, Stefan Marks and Jeremy Painting.

The winner of the Best Photo award was Bruce Crossan for his image of a kāruhiruhi (pied shag) in fog at Cornwallis (right) while Alan Tunnell won the Out of the Blue award with his image of two tōrea (oystercatchers) at Huia (lower right). Bruce Crossan also won the People’s Choice award for his kōtare (kingfisher), also shot at Cornwallis, below.

Both winners received a pair of Konus Rex 8x42 WA binoculars.

Well we made it! This issue is the first one in our 20th year of publishing The Fringe. Just like you, we have faced and overcome many challenges and changes and now we are looking forward to another year of entertaining and informative magazines.

What do you enjoy reading? What would you like to see more of in the magazine? What would you like to see less of? Let us know by emailing info@fringemedia.co.nz.

One thing we won’t be changing is our commitment to supporting our community.

Please let us know how we can help you.

Have you ever thought you could be a good writer? The Fringe is always interested in hearing from those who have articles to share. Feel free to get in touch.

The booking deadline for advertising bookings for our February 2022 issue is January 14 with finished artwork due by January 18.

Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible.

Contact us at info@fringemedia.co.nz.

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21

live @ the lounge

But is there space for a tennis court?

Yeah gidday. Lizard here.

Merry Next Year and a happy ending to this one. Good riddance? I put it to you, “What sort of topsy-turvy circumstances could lead to a boom for builders and a bust for architects?” What are you on about Lizard, I hear you ask? Apartments!!! That’s what I’m on about.

Get this. Me and Shaz have been, she says encouraged, I say hounded, by a property expert friend of a friend of an idiot we know, that now is the perfect time to decrease our footprint(?).

According to this expert, we are woefully under-utilising our ‘investment’ by having a caravan plonked smack-bang in the middle of an acre of bush. This expert can put us in contact (already sounds infectious) with a property developer who could maximise our longterm outlook by minimising our short-term incomings(?). Tax purposes darling. Going forward?

Who speaks like that? Going forward to where? Did she just call me short?

I regretted it as soon as it came out of my gob, saying it couldn’t hurt to just have a goose at a few apartments to give us an idea of what we could do on our plot.

“Each apartment individually designed to meet every personal need”, the brochure said. “All apartments finished in gorgeous ‘sea foam’ white. We strongly encourage the use of neutral tones to heighten the appeal for future occupants.” I thought, who lives in their house for thirty years keeping it ‘finished’ to please the next bloke?

But wait. There’s more.. “We personally hand-select our kitchens from mainly locally-sourced hardware stores. Yes, that is synthetic extruded bamboo marbleene. It’s our most popular. You have a choice of 65 colours but it only comes in that particular size. Obviously. That way, it cleverly clicks together with the sink-pantry-laundry units to form a structural fire-resistant splashback. All to Council specifications and town planners eventual approval.

“We like to think that you could walk into any one of our ten thousand apartment dwellings and immediately feel right at home.”

Is that bread baking I can smell?

“Homely but not cluttered. That’s the secret. Let the future singlechild-family be free to imagine themselves living out their dreams in your unit.”

I thought, who decided that a bedroom should only be for sleeping.

That it should only ‘accommodate’ a queen sized bed and adequate storage? As Cat Stevens asked back in the 1970s, “Where do the children play?”

When I was a kid, I had a train set set up on the floor of my room. I’d have mates over after school and we’d hang out in my room. I had a stereo and a huge old couch. I was told to clean my room, not to keep the open flow alley to the dinette clear, to allow access to the benchtop air frier ice-maker. When I got under Mum’s feet, I was told to go to my room. Now kids are told to wait in the kitchen nook until their fathers get home through the internally accessed carport cavity slider.

It’s a bloody door in a garage. Twat. Which, by the way, only has room for either Mum’s electric scooter, Dad to hang his punching bag or the ride-on weed eater.

Designed off plan, these gottages come in flat packs at your local hardware retailer in the kit-set flooring, adhesive and soft furnishing aisle. (Assembly required.) What a bargain.

With easy access through the side-gated, artistically-partitioned fence, in either Black, Moody Grey or Jamaican Coffee Bean you can relax with the peace-of-mind you’ll find living under, not one but three Body Corps. Thus ensuring all-year-round maintenance of the shared patio lawn. The reassuring weekly tenants’ meetings will keep you up to date with all refuse recycling requirements, future car park strategies and swipe card allocations. All occupants being between the ages of 49 and 51 guarantees like-minded tranquillity. No budgies or tropical fish, please. Of course there’s a spa pool. Bottoms up.

All this is just a mobility scooter’s ride from the adjoining, awardwinning retirement estate, The Final Rest Aquatic Centre.

“Help!!!” I ran around screaming, eventually finding my way onto the street and there, lo and behold, was Shaz chatting to the agent next to Whitevan.

When I got back to the caravan, Mopey Jesus was sitting on the ground scratching Plumless behind the ear. I told him about my nightmarish tour and he said “I bet no subversive political ideals will be conceived or great poetry ever written over coffee in the food hall at 147B/72 Quietside Parade, Auckland, 0604. Am I right?”

“That’s for damn sure, Mopey. For damn sure” “On a cheery note,” he went on to say, “at least there’d be no room to swing a cat. Strange behaviour I’ve always thought.”

Happy distancing everyone.

Later, Lizard.

P.S. I know this is New Lynn, but what would Old Lynn think?

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Leave a gift to nature.

Bequests can be made to “Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc”. For more information on how to make a bequest contact: Fundraising Manager, Forest & Bird PO Box 631, Wellington Freephone: 0800 200 064

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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.

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Email your updates and information to info@fringemedia.co.nz See Our Place at www.fringemedia.co.nz

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The following advertisers support us and our community by making this publication possible. They deserve our gratitude and support.

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AUTOMOTIVE Ken Turner Automotive and Auto Electrical ...... 19

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BUSINESS, FINANCE, INSURANCE 09 Design ............................................................. 8 GSI Insurance ....................................................... 5

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Forest & Bird, bequests...................................... 22 Te Whau Walkway, consultation opens ............. 14 The Trusts: Your West Support Fund ................. 24

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Opinions expressed in the The Fringe are solely those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by the publication or its publisher. Fringe Media Ltd is not responsible in any way for the contents of any advertisement, article, photograph or illustration contained in this publication.

While every reasonable care will be taken by the Editor, no responsibility is assumed for the return of unsolicited material. © Copyright 2021 by Fringe Media Ltd. All content in this issue is the property of Fringe Media Ltd and may not be reproduced in any way or form whatsoever without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

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The Trusts support the schools in our community.

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The Fringe DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

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