Former Warehouse fun night

The old Warehouse building in Snells Beach will be transformed into party central for one night only this Friday, August 18, when a special community event is held. Live music, DJs, food stalls, games and entertainment will fill the former store off Mahurangi East Road between 4.30pm and 8.30pm, with displays by local groups, clubs and schools as well.

One of the organisers, Elodie Blanc, said the Snells Beach Community Night was the brainchild of local volunteers and members of the Snells Beach Ratepayers and Residents group, who wanted to bring the community together for a night of fun and positivity to celebrate all that is good in the area.

“Lots of businesses have closed in Snells Beach recently, so we wanted to get everyone together for a bit of action, to showcase all the good things we have here,” she said. There will be bouncy castles, lawn games, a rock climbing wall, face painting and music. Entry is free, with food and drink to purchase.

Info: https://snellsbeach.co.nz

Catwalk Arts given rethink

Fewer entries than normal have prompted Harbour Hospice to rethink the format and timing for its annual Catwalk Arts fundraiser.

The event was due to be held on August 26, but the decision has been made to cancel this year’s show and hold it biennially from now on. It’s understood that only about 20 entries were received, when normally there would be upwards of 30. Fundraising manager Amber West says a new date and theme for next year will be announced soon.

“We’ve done this to ensure that we can continue to deliver the high calibre event our community has come to expect, and we’re really excited about some of the ideas we have to refresh the show, making it bigger and better than ever,” she says.

“Catwalk Arts usually raises around $30,000 for Harbour Hospice and we’re incredibly grateful to the community, sponsors and all of those involved in putting the show together, for the fantastic and ongoing support they have shown over the years.”

West says all entrants have been advised and refunds to ticket holders are currently being arranged.

“We look forward to welcoming audiences and designers back to Catwalk Arts in 2024.”

Leigh crossing may be moved

Flat zebra crossings that are flush with the road surface are a thing of the past. That was the message from Auckland Transport (AT) to a Rodney Local Board workshop during a discussion on a proposed pedestrian crossing in Leigh on August 2. Project manager Rahul Gowtham said due to community objections (MM, Jul 17), AT was looking at moving the crossing from its proposed site outside Leigh General Store to nearer the school.

He said, ideally, it would be a raised zebra crossing with extra signage and road markings to improve poor visibility there, or if people didn’t want a raised crossing, pedestrian refuges in the middle of the road could be considered, though not with a striped crossing.

“Flush crossings are a thing of the past, we can’t be doing that, it doesn’t align with Waka Kotahi and AT safe system guidelines,” he said.

Gowtham said he would share AT’s revised suggestions with the local board and Leigh community in the next three to four weeks.