Hibiscus Matters_Issue 280_3 June 2020

June 3, 2020

localmatters.co.nz

Your locally-owned FREE Community Newspaper

Inside this issue Local board workshops go public

page 3

The Hibiscus Coast Photographic Club’s lockdown competition showed many creative interpretations of the lockdown theme. Among the winners was this image by Agatha Lambert, who used the panic buying of toilet paper as inspiration, calling it Toilet Roll Hysteria. See the rest on p22.

Cycle ride brings in $14k for charity page 5

Court allows Orewa seawall to be built A seawall can now be built on Orewa Beach, following a decision by the Environment Court released on May 27.

The original wall proposed by Auckland Council for the section of beach between Kohu Street and Marine View was designed to protect the reserve from further erosion and provide a walk and cycleway. It

combined a 600m-long grouted rock seawall with a section of engineered loose rocks and a 2m-wide walk and cycleway.

This design failed to get resource consent – a decision that was appealed

by Auckland Council.

During mediation, the design was amended and it is this version that has

been given resource consent by the court.

The changes include reducing the footprint of the structure and adding two access points. Sections that were loose rock are now grouted into a solid wall.

The wall is expected to take longer and be more costly to build than the

original proposal. The transfer of sand from the southern end of the beach to the north, is also likely to increase substantially because of stronger wave action against the solid structure as opposed to against loose rock.

Currently around 500-1000 cubic metres of sand is transferred each time. continued p2

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

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Orewa Seawall

from page 1

June 3, 2020 – Issue 280 Hibiscus Matters: 21 Florence Ave, Orewa, 0931 General enquiries ph 427 8188 Hibiscusmatters

localmatters.co.nz Next issues: June 17 & July 1 – Book your advertising now Editor: Terry Moore ph 427 8187 | terry@localmatters.co.nz Artist’s impression of the original seawall design

Graphic designer: Lorry McCarthy | hibiscus@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Angela Gallagher ph 022 029 1895 | sellit@localmatters.co.nz Janet Moses ph 022 096 8517 | sales@localmatters.co.nz A division of Local Matters. Hibiscus Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated to more than 24,000 homes and businesses twice a month: Puhoi • Waiwera • Hatfields • Orewa • Silverdale • Millwater • Dairy Flat • Red Beach • Whangaparaoa Peninsula Views expressed in Hibiscus Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. Reproduction without editor’s permission is prohibited.

However, at last year’s Environment Court hearing, it became apparent that the new design could mean around 10,000 cubic metres will need to be transferred initially, and 5000 each time thereafter. Transferring this volume of sand could mean closing the beach for 1-2 weeks (HM May 22, 2019).

Independent commissioners who declined the initial resource consent concluded that to build the structure would “generate adverse effects on coastal processes, public access, natural character, landscape and visual and amenity values”.

Objections from the community were principally about the loss of dry sand beach, as well as the wall’s visual dominance. Many were also of the view that a walk and cycleway was not needed.

Council and the community waited almost a year for the decision.

It is an interim decision, subject to agreement between the parties on a set of draft final conditions, which they must do by June 12. The court will review these and either issue its final decision or convene a conference to discuss how any issues still in dispute may be resolved.

The case pitted separate divisions of Council against each other as appellant and respondent – a process that cost ratepayers close to $1 million (HM September 19, 2018). The cost of building the seawall itself was estimated several years ago at around $6 million.

The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board strongly supports the project. Funding for the build was budgeted for by Council but this could be in doubt given current constraints.

The full Environment Court decision is linked to this story on our website, www. localmatters.co.nz

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Members deliver on open workshops Workshops held by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board are now open for the public and media to attend after member Leanne Willis succeeded in getting a notice of motion passed at a Skype meeting on May 21.

Closed-door workshops, which include presentations by Council staff and discussion of items, were introduced when Auckland Council formed.

It is six years since the first attempt to get the workshops open. Similar motions by Greg Sayers, David Cooper and Caitlin Watson were voted down in 2014, 2015 and 2018 respectively.

At times it was very close – in 2015 and 2018 the motion was only lost by former chair Julia Parfitt’s casting vote.

This time around it was a clear majority – the only member that did not vote for open workshops was Gary Holmes.

Leanne, along with Gary Brown and Andy Dunn, campaigned for open workshops when they stood for the local board last year. The other Hibiscus member, Janet Fitzgerald, along with the Bays’ Julia Parfitt, said during the campaign that their preference was to replace workshops with an additional business meeting.

This option, which Julia told members would allow for more urgent,

transparent and accountable decisionmaking (because decisions are made in business meetings) was also put forward at the May 21 meeting, but lost by chair Gary Brown’s casting vote.

Leanne says while she was confident that she had the numbers, there was “a lot of push-back and pressure from staff and Gary Holmes before the meeting”.

“I have learned a lot since I was elected, and knew that the notice of motion would be debated openly, at the meeting,” Leanne says. “But there were some who wanted a lot of prior discussion that wasn’t necessary.”

Deputy chair Victoria Short, who seconded the motion, said she did so for better transparency. “I think it’s important that the public are well informed on our decisions and know where their money is being spent,” she told the meeting. “This makes us more inclusive and accountable.”

In voting for open workshops, Julia said that she still does not believe it is the best way forward and if it is not effective, she will re-visit her alternative once again.

Leanne says that the decision to open workshops has caused a ripple among other local boards that may want to follow suit. “I’m hoping this will eventually become the default,” she says.

The decision means that as well as the local board’s monthly business meetings and community forums, details of the time and place of workshops will be advertised and anyone may attend to view the discussions. Currently all of these are still being held via Skype.

rates range from around $1000 per year for smaller premises to several thousand for larger places such as supermarkets.

This year, while 10 of Auckland’s 48 BIDs voted to reduce their levy by 2-8 percent, Destination Orewa increased its levy by 14.4 percent ($34,776), primarily to fund an America’s Cup fan-zone event in early 2021.

Destination Orewa’s operations manager Hellen Wilkins says the board chose not to decrease the levy “as so much business recovery work is needed to ensure Orewa can rebuild

itself after the Covid impacts”.

She says the board initially confirmed a 4.4 percent increase (amounting to $9000) but at a special general meeting last September, voted to increase the levy by a further 10 percent ($25,776) specifically to fund the America’s Cup local event.

“If this event doesn’t happen, for any reason, we need to advise all members how this $25,000 would be allocated,” Hellen says.

She says the America’s Cup event is an essential economic driver for Orewa and will provide a local platform for

Leanne Willis is relieved and happy to have got local board workshops opened to the public and media.

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Power in chair’s hands

Hibiscus Matters has strongly argued for open workshops, believing that closing them was an opportunity to discuss items that do not meet the criteria for confidentiality, away from the public eye. With this in mind, one cause for concern that remains is a proviso that allows an item to be held in closed session when the chair agrees with staff “that it is in the best interests of the local board and community to do so”. This effectively allows the chair to decide what is, and is not, confidential and we will be looking closely at how this power is exercised. This has already taken place – the chair advises that last week’s workshop was closed to the public “because members are receiving material that is under development and will be released to the public in June”. The next workshop is on June 11 and the chair will decide whether or not to open it. “My decision will be made at least a week before the workshop so that dates and times can be published on the council website and posted on the local board’s Facebook page,” chair Gary Brown says. Hibiscus Matters will attend as many workshops as we can and report on them whenever items of public interest come up.

Orewa business levy increased for America’s Cup event

Orewa’s business association, Destination Orewa Beach, has opted to increase the levy that its members pay annually by more than 14 percent, with Hibiscus & Bays Local Board approval.

As a Business Improvement District (BID), membership of Destination Orewa Beach is compulsory for all businesses within its area – from Estuary Arts Centre to Florence Ave and up to Westhoe Road. Auckland Council collects the levy as a targeted rate, based on the business’ property capital value, and returns it to the business association. In Orewa, these

the Cup, so there is no need to head into the city, as well as encouraging foot traffic into Orewa – including overseas visitors.

“The benefits of increasing the levy far outweigh the impact if we reduced it,” she says. “We anticipate that funding trusts, gaming funds and corporate sponsorship will all be harder to secure this year. So, if we reduced the levy it is unlikely we could recoup the money needed to deliver a full schedule of initiatives and events that generates significant dollars for the town each year.”

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

Feedback Still stinking after all these years Auckland Council’s response to the stink of Red Beach creek behind the Surf Club and up to the entrance to Pinewoods Motor Camp (HM May 20) was, in part: “Council is aware of the stagnant water in the creek near Red Beach Surf Club. This creek like many other waterways in Auckland has a pungent smell as there has not been significant rainfall in a while means the creek has not been flushed out by rain.” Council agrees this waterway has a pungent smell, but this area is tidal and tides of course rise and fall regardless of rain – rain just increases the rise. This section of the creek is never dry. The stink comes from the build up of silt over years of neglect. This silt needs dredging, as was pointed out by former Rodney Council Mayor Penny Webster, and build up of weed cleared to encourage a clear flow. Unfortunately Rodney District Council was amalgamated

localmatters.co.nz What’s on your mind? Readers are welcome to air their views. We do not publish abusive or unsigned letters. Letters may be abridged and full versions are at localmatters.co.nz/opinion. Address on p2 or e:terry@localmatters.co.nz

into Auckland Council which has clearly ignored this area, otherwise they would be aware it is tidal and not stagnant.

Arthur Amis, Red Beach (abridged)

swimming around happily.

Stephan Green, Manager, Red Beach TOP 10 (abridged)

Thanks to Council

Did anyone else feel a shiver down their spine when reading what Mayor Phil Goff had to say about water restrictions (HM May 20)? He said water restrictions rely on “1.7 million enforcers”. His comments suggest it’s a good thing to have “neighbours watching neighbours” and “1.7million unpaid enforcers” reporting those who flout the rules. This is of course a technique well used by totalitarian regimes throughout history to keep the public under control and in fear of others in their community. Rather than trying to turn neighbours against neighbours, I would prefer Goff to do what he’s paid to do, and that is to provide the basic infrastructure and services needed by the people of Auckland. And surely water should be number one on the list of priorities.

Fiona Mackenzie, Stanmore Bay

Regarding the letter to your paper ‘Creek causes a Stink’ (HM May 20). The Auckland Council has been monitoring the stream for many years.

We at Red Beach Top 10 (formerly Pinewoods) appreciate the effort they have put in, and only a couple of weeks ago they cleaned the bottom of the concrete section by our entrance.

Yes, it did smell for a couple of days – they have done a good job. Red Beach Top 10 has a pest eradication programme in place for rats and other vermin. Our operator comes in every month to lay bait stations around our stream areas and other places in the park and the indication so far is the bait remains around our stream area. The quality of the stream can’t be too bad, as there are eels and fish

Water watchers

The paper has had a lot of feedback about its return to print, with readers seeing it as a sign of things getting back on an even keel. All the comments were much appreciated, and thank you. Among them was John Davies’ shout-out on Facebook – “Normality returns ... my Hibiscus Matters arrived after the Covid19 furlough ... I was delighted Yes I know we have zoomed through an online lockdown, but there is nothing quite like a newspaper, specially a local one.

Welcome back in print HM team.”

Covid blamed for more business closures

Orewa and Whangaparaoa have again been hit by business closures, following the closure of three Orewa businesses and one each in Silverdale and Whangaparaoa last month (HM May 20). Flight Centre has permanently closed its Whangaparaoa and Orewa stores, which a spokesperson says is due to the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown. Its branch in Silverdale remains open. The company closed 58 of its more than 130 retail stores following the lockdown. Orewa’s Copper Spoon café in Orewa has also closed. Meanwhile, Westpac Bank in Whangaparaoa has begun consulting its staff on a proposal to close that branch.

“The proposed change is due to an increasing number of customers doing their banking on computers or mobile devices. This trend only increased during our recent lockdown,” a Westpac NZ spokesperson says. Its employees will be “relocated to nearby full-service branches”. This proposed closure would leave Silverdale as the only local Westpac branch.

Budget consultation online only

Public consultation on changes that Auckland Council has made to its original Annual Budget will be run remotely, following a decision by Council’s Emergency Committee on May 21. The consultation, which runs from May 29-June 19, will be made possible via written, telephone and digital channels including online webinar events. Council staff noted that the risks of this approach include confusion, limited chances to engage with those unable to access the internet, and public concern that the restrictions (which it says are due to Covid-19 constraints) are a chance to avoid thorough consultation. A summary of public feedback will be prepared and a summary of final decisions communicated with all submitters following adoption of the Annual Budget 2020/21 in July.

The impact of Auckland Council’s current water restrictions on small businesses such as house washers, was voiced in no uncertain terms via roadside signs placed in Whangaparaoa by the owner of Elite Property Wash, Brian Edwards. Mr Edwards says it is hard to keep his business afloat especially as the restrictions, which ban the use of outdoor hoses, water blasters and car washing, could go on for months. Companies are allowed to operate these services if they have access to non-potable water (not suitable for drinking). Cr John Watson says companies are exploring access to these sources and last week, Watercare opened a station offering a non-potable supply at Paul Matthews Road in Albany. The sites are manned by Watercare contractors and to access it you must fill in a contract on the ‘nonpotable water users section’ of Auckland Council’s website. It confirms water is to be used for non-potable purposes only.

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Lockdown cycle challenge delivers for youth charity Orewa accountant Merv Huxford decided that lockdown was the perfect time to take on a bike ride that would otherwise be too dangerous.

Initially, the ride was a personal challenge but along the way it turned into a fundraiser that has so far brought in more than $14,000 for the mental health support services of Youth In Transition Charitable Trust.

For some time Merv had wanted to cycle from his small farm east of Kaiwaka, almost 80km back to Orewa.

However, he says the route along SH1 was simply too dangerous for a cyclist, due to heavy traffic – until the country reached Alert Level 4 and the traffic dropped away.

“We had essential service farming status so we could drench the sheep and pick our olive crop during the lockdown,” Merv says. “The ride back was instead of driving, so I was waved through the two Police stops on the way.”

Although the 70-year-old is a competitive hockey player, and keeps himself fit and active, his last big cycle ride was in 2004 when he rode across New Zealand from Opunake to East Cape.

He chose to cycle back from Kaiwaka, rather than start in Orewa, because he thought it involved fewer hill climbs, but says this backfired.

“I discovered that the three hardest hills were at the Pohuehue Viaduct, Johnson’s Hill and then Waiwera Hill,” he says.

He left at dawn and the ride took sixand-a-half hours.

Along the way, the lack of traffic created some beautiful moments.

“At the start, I came up a hill alongside a paddock and kept hearing a pattering noise. I thought it was animals chasing me along the fenceline but then realised it was the sound of dewdrops dripping down from the leaves. Who would have thought it would ever be quiet enough to hear that on SH1?” he says.

Offers of donations from supporters along the way turned the ride into a fundraiser.

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to talk From top, Merv Huxford’s personal challenge turned into an epic fundraiser. Colin Roberts of Rodney Sports, pictured right, with Merv Huxford. Rodney Sports donated $500.

The amount ramped up when the Auckland Private Education Charitable Trust, which Merv is a trustee of, pledged $200 for every $10 donation that came in, capped at $10,000. As we go to print, the total raised is currently $14,028.

Merv is a founding Trustee of Youth in Transition and says the money will go towards paying counsellors.

He says more than 300 young people have already been assisted through the programme since it began on the Coast four years ago.

“People are still coming in and giving me money,” Merv says.

If you would like to contribute, visit www.youthintransition.org.nz

Pre-arrangement and pre-payment options available.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

localmatters.co.nz DE LA MER OREWA COMPLETION EXPECTED OCTOBER 2020

C11/388-392 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $569,000

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La Residence de la Mer is a boutique seaside apartment complex just a few minutes’ walk from Orewa Beach. Located on a stunning piece of land just north of the Town Centre and one block back from the beach, this attractive development defines modern coastal living.

Through a gated thoroughfare, La Residence de la Mer could be your new home by the sea. The one bedrooms apartments start from $599,000 including one secure carpark. Being so close to town, a block from the beach, private with a north aspect and functional highquality living. These apartments are in high demand.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

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DE LA MER OREWA OCEAN VIEWS, CLOSE TO TOWN! B12/388-392 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $799,000

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There are only a select few of two bedroom apartments available all with there own unique advantages, whether it be potential sea views, large courtyards, privacy or an excellent aspect there is plenty of variety.

In high demand, with the prices starting from $799,000 which includes 1 secure car park.

All apartments have timber flooring throughout the kitchen and living spaces, heat pumps in the main living space, underfloor heating to bathroom, wall heaters to bedrooms, double-glazing, and LED lights. It also features modern kitchen, stone benches, quality fittings and Fisher and Paykel appliances.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

Boulevard plan released The plans for the $1.4m Orewa Boulevard extension have finally been released for public consultation

by Auckland Transport, after they were initially presented behind closed doors to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board last October.

The extension of the Boulevard from Riverside Road to Empire Road continues the work completed by the former Rodney District Council that upgraded Hibiscus Coast Highway, from Moana Ave to Riverside Road, and slowed traffic.

The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board is funding the proposed work and there has been input from business association Destination Orewa Beach.

The local board asked Auckland Transport to add a 3.5m-wide shared pedestrian/cycle path through the reserve, at a cost of $100,000 (HM September 4, 2019).

The cost estimates do not include resource consent processing fees, redesigns and relocation of utility services.

The aim is to improve connections between the reserve, shops, and beach.

The proposal includes replacing the parallel carparking on the beach side of Hibiscus Coast Highway with angled parking and removing five carparks on the side of the road where

New angle in Silverdale

Auckland Transport’s traffic control committee recently approved a permanent change to angle parking, with a P120 time restriction on Silverdale Street.

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DE LA MER OREWA BIG ON SPACE! NORTH FACING! C13/388-392 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $799,000

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retail businesses are located. This will mean a gain of seven carparks.

Two pedestrian crossings on Hibiscus Coast Highway will be raised and made suitable for bikes as well as pedestrians.

The school bus stop outside the shops at 280 Hibiscus Coast Highway will be relocated to 6 Riverside Road and Intercity buses will be relocated to 288 Hibiscus Coast Highway.

The Intercity bus stop on the beach side will be relocated opposite 260 Hibiscus Coast Highway.

Orewa town centre safety work Speeds are to lower to 30kph on the Boulevard and within the town centre, along with proposed safety improvements funded by the Regional Fuel Tax. These include raised pedestrian crossings, speed bumps on Moana, Tamariki and Moenui Avenues and treatments at the entrance to the town centre designed to slow traffic.

Feedback is open until 22 June and can be submitted online at at.govt.nz/ projects-roadworks/orewa-boulevardand-town-centre-safety-improvements/ A report noting any changes made to the proposal will be prepared after analysis of the community feedback.

Construction is likely to take place late this year.

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La Residence De la Mer could be your new home by the sea. The two bedrooms, two bathroom apartments start from $799,000 including one secure car park. Close to town, a block from the beach, private with a north aspect and functional highquality living. These apartments are in high demand.

It is just a gentle stroll to the golden sands of Orewa Beach and all the amenities of Orewa Town Centre. If you need to travel further afield, it’s a 15-minute drive to Albany Mega Centre and a further 10 minutes to the CBD via the new Northern Motorway. There is also a bus stop beside this gated community on Hibiscus Coast Highway.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

YONA SMITH 027 951 0595 yona.smith@wallacestratton.co.nz

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

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Viewpoint

DE LA PLAGE OREWA

with Andy Dunn, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board

BRAND NEW UNBELIEVABLE VALUE 6/447 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $549,000

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A new door opens Unfortunately I can’t help but feel your local board has just been handed the poisoned challis!

No matter what we do in response to the damage caused by the lockdown, we can’t possibly make everyone happy and we can’t solve everyone’s problems.

Once we know exactly how our budgets will be affected there will be a lot of debate amongst us as to where to allocate those resources.

High on my personal agendas will be protecting local business as much as possible as that is the beating heart of a community’s survival. Also to invest in ensuring existing projects are not deprived of funding that could result in dramatically more expense in the future to recover the great work done in the past.

I believe we cannot allow our facilities to disappear or suffer too extensively, but ultimately this is a time when we as a community need to accept our own pet interests are just one part of that very big picture. We need to truly come together, understanding and supportive of each other!

All I can promise you is that everybody will be listened to. Decisions will be made in a responsible way with that very big picture in mind at all times. We are a team that has great love for our community and most of us have proven that through many years of previous unpaid works.

Personally, I’m a contributing artist to Estuary Arts, a Community Patroller and a member of the Hibiscus Coast Petanque Club. I established and coordinate my local Neighbourhood Watch, but I know none of these can be given any preferential treatment. In the mid 1990s I took a day a week off from my business to teach Graphic Design and Marketing at AUT. One of the thoughts I often shared with students was the idea that life is like a long hallway we all walk down, with numerous doors on either side. So many people will simply walk straight down that hallway, but I chose to open every door as I went. That philosophy has led me to an incredibly rich life of experiences. You quickly learn that every minute, of every day, we create both ourselves and our worlds by the decisions we make and the actions we take.

Let’s all show as much understanding as we can towards everyone else’s wants and needs so we can truly be a team that rises, not falls in adversity. Involve ourselves in the concept of – ‘this crisis has been an unpleasant experience but another door in our life’s hallway is just metres away’.

We are again moving forward.

COA S T M E N ’S B A R B ER

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Here’s your opportunity to secure a brand new 1 bedroom apartment PRICED TO SELL and a mere 50 meters walking distance to the beach.

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Orewa and the surrounding suburbs of Millwater, Silverdale, Milldale and Red Beach have seen significant growth in both residential and commercial development in the last decade because of its stunning beach, strong community and proximity to central Auckland. What was once a quaint seaside village is now a thriving coastal suburb.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

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DE LA PLAGE OREWA PRICE REDUCED! 7/447 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $999,000

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Here’s your opportunity to secure a brand new 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhouse.

This corner homes offers indoor outdoor flow onto your very own private courtyard and just 50 meters walking distance to the beach.

Orewa and the surrounding suburbs of Millwater, Silverdale, Milldale and Red Beach have seen significant growth in both residential and commercial development in the last decade because of its stunning beach, strong community and proximity to central Auckland.

What was once a quaint seaside village is now a thriving coastal suburb.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

MELANIE HARU 021 647 117 melanie.haru@wallacestratton.co.nz

DE LA PLAGE OREWA BRAND NEW PRICED TO SELL! 9/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Asking price $650,000

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Here’s your opportunity to secure a brand new 2 bedroom apartment 50 meters walking distance to the beach.

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All apartments have timber flooring throughout the kitchen and living spaces, heat pumps in the main living space, underfloor heating to bathroom, wall heaters to bedrooms, double-glazing, and LED lights. It also features modern kitchen, stone benches, quality fittings and Fisher and Paykel appliances.

Visit our show home: 7/445 Hibiscus Coast Highway Open 11am - 3pm daily

YONA SMITH 027 951 0595 yona.smith@wallacestratton.co.nz

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

localbusiness

This site in Red Beach could be developed into 33 new residential sites.

Whangaparāoa waterfront land sold for development

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A prime piece of rural waterfront land in Red Beach with the potential to be developed into 33 residential sites or a retirement village was recently sold.

It was marketed by Bayleys Real Estate as having “huge development potential”, including potential for an aged care facility.

Hibiscus Matters understands that the purchaser is a local developer.

The 6.67ha site on 1-9 Chenery Road (from the Red Beach Road/ Whangaparaoa Road intersection, down one side of Chenery Road) goes down to the Weiti River where it has a jetty and boathouse, and is zoned Residential Large Lot. At one time the land belonged to

former America’s Cup skipper Chris Dickson, however he was not the vendor in this most recent sale.

Mr Dickson had the allowable lot size on the site changed in October 2016 through the Unitary Plan process. The change enables subdivision with an average site size of 2000sqm. Generally, a minimum site size of 8000sqm would have applied to the site.

Currently the site is divided into six titles – five of around 4000sqm and one of 4.12ha.

Two development schemes were 8682 phone 09 425 prepared prior to the sale to whet the www.carltonpartyh appetite of potential purchasers. One uses 2000sqm lot averages to create 16 lots with reserves and another shows 33 lots with sizes from 600sqm to 1000sqm plus a larger lot and reserves.

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

localbusiness

Business with Samuel Mills samuel.mills@nzic.co.nz

Kia kaha business owners My column this month was meant to be on proposed changes to visa rules for businesses looking to hire migrants but even my articles and the Government’s proposed changes to immigration rules are not immune to Covid-19!

I would like to take a moment to thank all NZ businesses, especially the small to medium sized enterprises that often are backed by either a single owner or a tight group of shareholders. It is my personal opinion that these business owners do not get the recognition that they should for providing employment opportunities to our community, ensuring that we are able to pay the rent and put food on our tables.

These are troubling times for us all and the economic headwinds are in my opinion yet to be felt in earnest, notwithstanding the likes of Air New Zealand and Fletcher Building already announcing significant cuts to their workforce.

Some small to medium sized businesses will be holding on to the team members who they consider to be family for as long as they can – for many businesses this will mean until the end of the generous wage subsidy being provided by Government.

For those of us in industries directly affected by Covid-19 we must be ready and able to quickly pivot, although I do not like the phrase “new normal” this is the situation we have to accept until a vaccine is developed. Until then, companies will be liquidated and personal guarantees on commercial leases are likely to be called upon – this will inevitably result in significant mental and emotional anxiety for all involved.

To the business owners and the employees who will be affected by these headwinds I have one message: kia kaha. If there is one benefit from our extended period of lockdown I think we have all come away with a sense of what is really important to us and for myself personally this has meant my family and the local community.

To those who will be on the verge of experiencing business failure in the coming months I wish to leave you with the wise words of Rocky Balboa from the Rocky movies who stated “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.” For those of us suffering the aforementioned blows, I hope that we can all pivot together and keep moving forward to keep this economy chugging in the right direction for the benefit of the country as a whole.

Mark Mitchell MP for Rodney

The office is open with level 2 conditions, for appointments and assistance please get in touch: Orewa 09 426 6215 mp.rodney@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Mark Mitchell MP, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

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Coasties looking for some retail therapy in these unusual times will have a new place to shop from Easter Saturday, April 11.

Mandy Randall, the owner of the shoe shop Heavenly Soles in Matakana, is opening Island in Bakehouse Lane, Orewa. She describes the new shop as predominantly fashion-based, but it will also stock a range of gifts.

“There are a lot of new homes being built in Orewa and Millwater, so I think there is a market for a store offering modern gifts,” she says. “I take a lot of care in sourcing quality stock, often New Zealand or Australian made, which isn’t always available in other places.”

Originally from England, Mandy was a maternity nurse at St John Hospital in London for 25 years before emigrating to New Zealand. Initially, she worked in maternal health in Auckland, but then decided it was time for a change.

“I really just wanted a good night’s sleep!” she says.

It was while managing a shoe store in Ponsonby that she discovered a love for shoes.

At Heavenly Soles, she takes home one pair of every pair of shoes in her shop.

“It’s market research,” she explains.

“If I find the shoes comfortable, then I’m happy to sell them. After wearing them two or three times, I give them to charity.”

When Mandy and husband Adam

Mandy Randall

moved to Orewa, she shifted her interests to Matakana. She managed Heavenly Soles for a few years before buying the business in 2016.

“Although the Orewa store will be quite different from Heavenly Soles, it will have the same welcoming vibe – a place where women will feel comfortable to linger, browse and chat.”

Stock will include NZ fashion brands Kathryn Wilson and Briarwood, designer gifts by Father Rabbit, Robert Gordon ceramics and Tilley Australia home products.

Adam, a retail designer, has overseen the fit out of the store, which is in the former Dick Smith building.

“We love living in Orewa and over the last two years we’ve watched the town grow into an amazing hospitality destination. It’s now time to grow the retail options and Island will be part of that.”

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18 Bakehouse Lane | Orewa | 09 421 0084 Support the advertisers who support Hibiscus Matters

June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

localbusiness

n I N T R O D U C I N G

n C H A N G I N G FAC E S

If your image of a men’s barber shop is long queues and a sterile environment, then you are in for a surprise when you visit Drop Dead Handsome, which opened in Hillary Square Orewa, last month.

Business partners Andre Newlands and Huoy Ly have been meticulous in choosing not only well-trained and experienced barbers, but a shop fitout that is masculine, professional and relaxed.

“Drop Dead Handsome is a shop where men can book an appointment and feel confident that they will receive a premium experience,” Andre says. “We’re operating a high end establishment which, under Level 2, is just haircuts. But once we are in Level 1, customers will have a wide range of services to choose from including hot towel shaves and facials.”

While Houy is a barber who has a loyal following of customers from Auckland and on the Coast, Andre has a background in the motor industry, commercial finance and road transport.

He says that while owning a barbershop might seem an unusual choice, it came about because he found his perfect barber (Huoy), but couldn’t find everything he wanted in a barbershop.

“I decided the only solution was to set one up myself, one where I would love to be a customer.”

The shop is spacious with lots of natural light, and each of the four

Customers who think there is something familiar about the newly renovated hair salon at 278 Hibiscus Coast Highway, in Orewa, aren’t mistaken.

The Hair Studio, formerly Cut Loose, is the latest venture by salon owner Maria Blunden, along with stylists Debbie Buchanan and Alanna Pleasants.

All three women have been salon owners and, between them, have more than 90 years hairdressing experience.

“Alanna and I have worked together on and off for years, so we are good friends as well as colleagues,” Maria says. “We all believe customers are looking for good quality work at reasonable prices and that’s what we’re here to deliver. A good team builds good rapport, and I think customers can feel that when they’re in the salon.

“We’re keen to create a space that is relaxed and comfortable.”

Maria returned to the Coast eight months ago after four years at Whangamata where she was involved in a family venture owning and operating a food market.

“It was lots of fun, but then eventually the kids decided to go in a different direction, so my husband and I returned to the place we love – the Coast.”

Maria says the new salon reflects Orewa’s beachside lifestyle with Scandinavian beach cottage chic décor and lots of natural light. It also has ample off-street parking at the back.

“We’re directly opposite the beach

Drop Dead Handsome

11

The Hair Studio

Business partners Huoy Ly (left) and Andre Newlands.

chairs has its own basin for hair washing and wet shaves.

“While we happily accept walkins, booking appointments means customers can avoid being forced to sit in a queue to avoid ‘losing their spot’. Regardless of how busy we are, our customers will never feel like we’re rushing them through to get to the next cut. They can sit back, relax and enjoy the experience.”

The shop uses Triumph & Disaster hair and skin care products, which are made in NZ. “We chose a quality product to reflect our brand, and we are the only Triumph & Disaster stockist on the Coast.

“Men aren’t afraid to look after themselves, use product and try something other than ‘short back and sides’, and we’re catering for everyone, from children through to seniors.”

As well as Huoy, the other barbers are Molly Doodes and Joshua Mason, and a fourth barber will join the team in a few weeks.

Maria Blunden

with beautiful views, so it made sense to choose colours and a décor that suits the site.”

The salon also has a strong environmental ethos, with products that are organic, can be recycled and are animal cruelty free.

Maria, Debbie and Alanna agree that despite years of salon work, they never tire of interacting with customers and the creativity that comes with colouring and styling hair.

“Often, customers become friends and it’s such a good feeling when you see someone leave the salon with a smile on their face.”

With winter approaching, Maria says women need to keep up a good hair treatment regime.

She adds that if anyone is looking for a different look that isn’t permanent, then colour shampoos and conditioners are very popular at the moment.

“It’s an easy way to change the tone of the hair and experiment with new colours – great for special occasions.”

Cutloose is now ...

the hair studio Introducing Maria, Debbie and Alanna ...

New Owner • New name • New Hours • New range of products Mon-Wed 9am-6pm, Thurs-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun Closed | Hillary Square, Orewa Ph 09 212 9653 | www.dropdeadhandsome.com

Closed Mon • Late night Tues, Wed & Thurs • Fri 9am-5pm Open Saturday morning. Parking at the rear

278 Hibiscus Coast Highway • Ph 426 1612

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

Winter Warmers feature

winterwarmers

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F E AT URE

In case you didn’t get enough time to read during lockdown, winter is the perfect opportunity to spend time in the company of books.

Children’s series to become movie Karen McMillan

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Author Karen McMillan already had a mix of bestselling fiction and nonfiction books for adults behind her when she turned her attention to writing for children.

This was such a hit with both children and reviewers, that it turned into the Elastic Island Adventure series, with the movie rights optioned and the script writing for a feature film underway.

The Millwater resident says her husband’s granddaughter, Milla, is mad about books, and for years had been asking when Karen would write children’s books.

“When she turned 10, I thought I had better get on with it, or my window would be gone!” she says. “It started as a bit of family fun and I continue to involve Milla in these books, and she helps me develop ideas for the series. It’s a great project for us to enjoy together. If you come around to my house, you will experience mad conversations about the characters that feature, including completely made up creatures who we talk about as though they are real.”

Far from home, the illustrations for the series are created in Russia.

The fourth Elastic Island Adventure book, Alphabet Resort, was published on June 1.

Like the others, it is a fast-paced adventure, ideal for children aged 8-12.

“Before Covid-19, I did a lot of school and festival events around NZ and Australia, and the fantastic thing about Elastic Island Adventures is how much it encourages children with their own creativity. Children often write to me and share that after reading one of my books, they have started to write their own stories,” Karen says.

“In the latest story, each building in Alphabet Resort is named after a wellknown children’s author, which is a device to include information about other writers that are suitable for the age range. So I hope when children read Alphabet Resort, they can also find suggestions for other books they might like to read. The premise is that every two years a building gets renamed after an author, and people are asked to submit names of authors who might be suitable for this honour.

I have a fun segment in the book when it comes to renaming the ‘M’ building!”

Hibiscus Matters has two copies of Alphabet Resort, published by Duckling Publisher, to give away. To be in to win, ‘like’ Hibiscus Matters’ Facebook page and message us with your name and contact phone number. Alternatively, write your name, address and daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and post to Alphabet Resort Giveaway, Hibiscus Matters, 21 Florence Ave, Orewa. Entries close June 19.

The book will be available from Paper Plus in Orewa, or www.karenm.co.nz

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

Winter Warmers feature

13

Food Adventures with Calum Hodgson cheesy_curd_nerd@hotmail.com

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Some folks say I’m hardcore when it comes to apples! Feedback is that it’s because I’m one of those Dads that eats the whole apple, core included. I would have been in good company with Eve. No waste, they’re the perfect healthy convenience food. I think folks are paranoid about the alchemy of apple seeds in the gut turning into cyanide and killing them. A single apple’s worth of seeds can’t produce nearly enough cyanide in your belly to make you even a little bit sick. You’re not actually saving yourself from anything – you’re just wasting half an apple. Peaches, apricots, cherry pits, almonds and lima beans – all have got cyanogenic glycosides in them too. But you have to chew these seeds into a powder, so it’s harder to hardcore there. Anyway, we’ve already established apples do not have cores – they have a wasted and discarded area of misunderstanding!

Apples were one of my ‘School of Dad’ lessons to my Mr 5 and Miss 7 during Level 4 and Level 3. We were consuming apples every day, thanks to the 40 plus kilos of apples we had foraged before lockdown began. They became our talisman of the life we had food adventuring ‘on the outside’ – things like climbing trees with my kids picking ripe apples. We all longed to return to our secret orchard. And the fig trees! I found it so hard to think about all that food going to waste, with no one but the birds to pick it. We did our best on our beach and neighbourhood walks, and in fact they are really well served for the forager with a keen eye for food adventure. Thankfully my friendly neighbour Jenny obliged me with permission to pick her lone crab apple tree again. These are enchanting fruit, tart and tiny. I guess folks would have to be hardcore again to consider them – ‘tis a pity they’re not cultivated for Mr and Mrs Retail, so many applications for food adventure! Crab apple jelly used to be popular back in the day but now these trees seem to be a crop thriving on the periphery, or in the care of the best of neighbours. Level 4 and Level 3 restrictions prescribed the use of these crab apples, which were made into a simple crab apple syrup to have with ice cream for the kids and with gin for the big kids. No cyanide included.

Crab Apple Syrup Wash crab apples. Barely cover them with water in pot. Bring to the boil, then lower heat and simmer for 5 mins. I used a pillowcase in a colander over a large bowl to gravity drain out all liquid. Press if you want a cloudier liquid. You will need ¾ cup of sugar for every 1 cup of crab apple juice. Place the juice over medium-high heat, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Lower heat and cook, stirring, for 2 or 3 mins. Let cool and pour into containers. Keep in fridge or freeze. Pour on icecream or gin – or both.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

Winter Warmers feature

Ratepayers fund free flu jabs As New Zealanders line up in record numbers for flu vaccinations, ratepayers will be funding free flu injections for Councillors and staff across the whole Council group.

It is unclear exactly how long this has been offered, but it appears to have been several years.

Uptake of the offer is voluntary, and ranges from around one-quarter of Panuku Development Auckland’s 200 or so staff last year, to 45 percent, currently, of Auckland Transport’s 1809 employees.

Last year a total of 2695 Auckland Council employees were vaccinated at a cost of $67,375. This year Council has budgeted a similar amount, $65,000-$68,000, to provide free flu vaccinations, although it anticipates an increase in demand from staff.

Auckland Transport’s health and safety department expects to pay around $25,000 and Watercare $6320.

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The total cost could therefore be expected to be in the vicinity of $100,000 or more across Council and its CCOs annually.

In the past, the vaccinations have generally been provided via on-site clinics during flu season. However, given the Covid-19 restrictions, this year employees are getting their vaccinations from their local pharmacy or GP and then claim back the costs.

Time to move your butt

June is bowel cancer awareness month – and it’s also when Bowel Cancer NZ holds its annual Move your Butt fundraiser. This campaign encourages New Zealanders to get off their butts and move more. The challenge is going ahead, despite the pandemic. Bowel Cancer NZ general manager Rebekah Heal says it’s the perfect challenge to do at home or while socially distancing. However, she says the most critical reason for holding the fundraiser is that bowel cancer doesn’t wait in a crisis. The campaign runs from June 1-30. Anyone can take part and the challenge does not need to be extreme – it simply means challenging yourself to exercise more. “This June we aim to get all Kiwis off the couch and moving more – even if it’s just a 10-minute walk a day. Everyone who takes part will be helping themselves prevent bowel cancer– and by getting their friends and family to sponsor them, they’ll be raising funds to help us continue to support those affected by bowel cancer.” Info: bowelcancernz.org.nz/move-your-butt/

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Keeping it green feature

keepingitgreen



FE ATU R E

Waste charges cause recycling concerns The Government’s proposed increase to the waste levy are designed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, but metal recyclers, including Alexander Scrap Metals of Silverdale, say it could in fact lead to more dumping of items such as whiteware and car bodies.

The levy is charged for all waste sent to landfill. Disposal facility operators pay it based on the weight of material disposed of at their facility. However, they may pass this cost on to the waste producers such as households and businesses.

Government is proposing to increase the levy in stages from its current $10 per tonne, which it says is low by international standards, to $50 or $60 per tonne by 2023.

Strong calls to increase the levy came from local government, including Auckland Council.

The document outlining the proposals says that increasing the levy “will better reflect the full environmental, social and economic costs of waste disposal and encourage materials to be reused and recycled rather than sent to landfill”.

However, scrap metal recycling businesses have been quick to object, pointing out the negative impact that the increases could have on their bottom lines, as well as on the environment.

The NZ Association of Metal Recyclers has been in discussions with Environment Associate Minister Eugenie Sage regarding the issue.

Co-owner of Alexander Scrap Metals, Hugh Milliken, says the industry hopes for an exemption to any increase in the waste levy for what it calls “floc” – the materials within items such as car bodies and whiteware that cannot be recycled, such as plastics, upholstery, insulation foam and rubber.

Hugh says metals for recycling are put through a shredder based in Onehunga, which extracts the metals. The resulting waste, or ‘floc’ has to be landfilled and the charges for ‘floc’, which is passed onto the metal recycling companies, have also recently gone up, from $3.75 per tonne to $18.70 per tonne.

Hugh says if the Government’s proposed increases come into force, these charges will increase again, significantly.

“We are keeping tonnes of waste out of landfill and we think that should be reflected in what we are charged for the floc that does have to be dumped,” he says.

Regardless of the impact of these costs, Hugh says his biggest concern is a likely increase in dumping.

“If the levy goes up, we will have to start charging people to take things such as whiteware for recycling, which

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at the moment is free of charge,” he says. “When this happens, people can resort to dumping. I am worried that dumping could increase massively and when it does, as well as the effect on the environment, often it’s the Council that has to clean it up, with

Hugh Milliken

ratepayers footing the bill.”

Before lockdown, the Government was summarising the submissions it received to its proposals. Final policy decisions were to be made by the middle of this year, with any new charges taking effect after that.

Ambitious goals set for ailing Gulf

On May 25, the Hauraki Gulf Forum adopted an updated set of ambitious goals for the Gulf. They include at least 30 percent marine protection – up from last year’s 20 percent goal; 1000sqkm of shellfish-bed and reef restoration; and two new goals – riparian planting of the Gulf ’s catchment and an end to marine dumping in or near the Gulf. The Forum’s four big goals are reflected in its 2020-2022 work plan, which was adopted last week. Also adopted was a 202021 budget which delivers savings of around 25 percent for the year ahead – reflecting the difficult financial situation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Hauraki Gulf Forum is a statutory body charged with the promotion and facilitation of integrated management and the protection and enhancement of the Hauraki Gulf. It includes representatives of tangata whenua, central Government, Auckland Council, Waikato Regional Council, and the Waikato, Hauraki, Thames-Coromandel and Matamata-Piako District Councils.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

Keeping it green feature

New option for doggie dos

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An enterprising 20-year-old recently added home compostable dog poo bags to her company’s range of ecofriendly products.

Brie Downey, who also works at Peak Pilates, started her own business two years ago – soon after graduating from Orewa College. She says her awareness of environmental problems came from her love of the ocean – she is a keen surf lifesaver and surfer.

“I noticed more and more plastic on the beaches and when out in the water and I wanted to do more to help,” she says.

“It’s been a personal environmental journey as well as a business. My bathroom and kitchen are now almost entirely single use plastic free. What worked for me was just cutting out one plastic product at a time and replacing it with something reusable – rather than trying to do all of it at once.”

Brie’s Cavoodle dog, Ruba, and the banning of single use plastic bags, was the inspiration for her latest product.

“We were using imported biodegrable plastic bags to pick up the dog poo. As these bags break down, they produce methane, which contributes to global warming, and can leave tiny pieces of plastic (microplastics) behind,” Brie says.

Also, they took a very long time to break down in compost, so most of the poo-filled bags ended up in landfill.

Brie’s solution was to develop a thin bag made of 100 percent plant based materials – mainly corn starch and plant starch.

Although her company is based in

Brie’s eco-friendly dog poo bags get the seal of approval from Cavoodle Ruba.

Red Beach, she had to have the bags manufactured in China. “Once I found I couldn’t afford to get them made in NZ, I worked hard to find an overseas company with sustainable practices,” Brie says. “I would rather have had them made here, but as a small buisiness owner those cost savings were very important.”

The bags look and feel like plastic.

Getting the right thickness was key – so they were easy to handle and strong but would break down quickly.

Brie says they take around six months to break down in home compost, without producing any methane or microplastics. As they contain animal faeces, a separate compost bin is needed – you cannot risk putting compost that has had dog poo in it on any edible garden plants.

If you don’t have a compost, Brie says the bags will still break down in landfill but take longer because of the temperatures.

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

Keeping it green feature

Daffodils recycled in sculpture Last September, Orewa College student Alice Watkins asked for Hibiscus Matters’ help in her mission to save a big bunch of Daffodil Day flowers from landfill.

The flowers, which are handed out annually in return for donations to the NZ Cancer Society on Daffodil Day are synthetic and cannot be composted or recycled. Alice wanted to use them to create an artwork, then auction her piece and donate the proceeds to the Cancer Society.

Readers responded in their droves, and more than 70 of the daffodils were collected for Alice’s project. All of them were used in the 35cm tall paper mache work, with the leaves and pins saved for another project. The work will be auctioned on Trade Me.

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This artwork, made using recycled Daffodil Day flowers, was created by a local student.

Clean air temporary

The seven-week lockdown provided evidence of how pollution can vanish almost overnight benefitting the environment, according to NIWA air quality scientist Dr Ian Longley. Dr Longley began monitoring air quality in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch when Level 4 restrictions were implemented and says working from home cut emissions with associated benefits for human health. “Lockdown provided confirmation of how in NZ cities, isolated from each other and international neighbours, and where heavy industry is largely absent, many pollutants can be made to almost disappear overnight,” Dr Longley says. He estimates that while pollution was down by three-quarters on average, at least a third of Aucklanders reduced their exposure to traffic pollution by 90 percent during lockdown. “This gain could have been extended to a few hundred thousand more people if diesel trucks and buses had been removed from the city centres. This is due to the disproportionately high influence diesel vehicles can have on air pollution,” he says. Unless the way we work and travel changes, it is likely that it will be at least 15-20 years before New Zealanders experience the same levels of clean air as those achieved during lockdown. Dr Longley says previous analysis showed that ‘business as usual’ improvements in vehicle emissions technology means that we may achieve similar air quality as during lockdown sometime in the late 2030s, “if at all”.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

health&family

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Health with Richard Bruce, functional fitness coach rich@richardbrucefitness

Adapting to change Life has changed so much - and will continue to change. As humans are creatures of habit we don’t always like change, because adapting our minds and bodies to new ways is hard work. That’s why starting a new eating plan or sticking with a new exercise routine can be difficult, and is one reason why life in lockdown was harder for some. I use the term ‘life fit’. This means being resilient and able to quickly adapt to change. It’s being physically and emotionally healthy and having a good community around you.

We all experienced the lockdown differently and when it comes to health and fitness it seems we are emerging from our lockdown lives at polar opposites from where we started. Some were able to start great new habits, others shifted to less healthy ones.

Personally, and ironically, I am in the less healthy camp! I found myself moving much less than usual and eating more comfort food. My ‘new normal’ worklife shifted from active sessions with clients to mostly online sessions and this meant more sitting and less active time for me. This was compounded by a significant rise in emotional stress. It became hard to fit in downtime or personal time. To adapt, I shifted focus to my mental health and finding small pockets of time for head space in readiness to deal with stress – a 10 min walk by myself or deep breathing exercises.

I also focused on getting into activities with the family such as gardening, games like dodgeball and getting outside to calm the nervous system. It certainly hasn’t been the time to overwhelm ourselves with too strict a regime, so I focused on fun, and wasn’t too hard on myself. And so what do we keep from life in lockdown and what do we go back to? I’m going to keep the extra time for family fun and a lighter schedule but I’m going back to being more aware of maintaining a healthy strong body. We’re going to change our digital life to more disconnected lives and even turn off our phones and Wifi every evening. And I am going back to my restorative movement plan, which is essential to staying on top of old injuries – this is something I let slide a bit over the last two months, and I’m certainly feeling it!

Here’s my starting plan: I’m measuring my blood glucose daily, because blood sugars tell you a lot more about your health than bathroom scales do. Prolonged elevated blood sugars can create chronic inflammation that can exacerbate existing conditions or lead to chronic health issues, so proactively monitoring these means I can work on preventative plans. Stress, poor sleep, inactivity and less than ideal food choices can all raise blood sugars. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you want to try this – most devices can be bought over the counter. • The return of restorative exercises to improve function. The lack of movement means I now feel pain and restrictions. While it is tempting to go out and do a higher intensity exercise plan, I know this will end badly as my body needs to be restored to what it was pre-lockdown before I attempt any exercises that are too dynamic or with heavy loads. So kicking off with gentle restorative exercises, foam rolling and stretching is key. • Looking at my new working set up. It seems living life more online will continue, so I’m adding variety to my screen set up to keep the body moving, including a standing workstation, and Swiss ball, using my coffee table for more floor sitting and lying on the floor on my belly for casual chats. Ensuring we reduce prolonged poor posture at the screen with movement variety will ensure tight muscles don’t set in that may create pathways to injury. Regular variety of positions is a must, not to mention regular breaks.

Your body is forever changing – so are you. Avoid feeling guilty about any good habits you let slip during these highly stressful times. When things settle down for you then you can get back on the track you want. For now, focus on getting the basics back – eat as well as you can, get as good a sleep as you can and get regular movement, in nature ideally, as much as you can. This ticks a lot of good boxes but most importantly, try to do something daily that you find fun.

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localmatters.co.nz/whatson

19

Silverdale Market 7 Silverdale Street Saturday 8am~1pm Ph 021 030 3273

Orewa artist Linley Quinlan captured the daily beach walks of local people during lockdown using pencil and paint on the daily newspaper, where you can still faintly make out the Covid-19 headlines. Linley says she used the newspaper partly because she was caught out by lockdown and ran short of materials, but also saw the potential of letting the headlines show through.

Covid creativity on show

Covid Collective – creative life under lockdown is a community exhibition being held at Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa from June 17.

It features works made by local artists and Estuary Arts Centre members who were asked by centre manager Kim Boyd to post images of their lockdown artworks online.

More than 50 works were posted in three weeks.

Kim says art was a great gift during Alert Level 4.

“People have asked me how I coped

in lockdown and my reply was, “really well because I am a creative,” she says.

“It was a gift of time to spend with my family and time to create.”

The exhibition has everything from drawing to painting, crochet, ceramics, knitting and more.

“It will be a real celebration of coming together now that we are out of our bubbles, with a bit of social distancing thrown in,” Kim says.

The Covid Collective group show is on at Estuary Arts from June 17-July 12.

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20

| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

localsport

Injured Fern looks forward

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Silver Fern Michaela SokolichBeatson of Arkles Bay has experienced the highs and lows of professional sport since she was selected for the Mystics in 2016 and went on to join the Silver Ferns.

She is taking her most recent setback – a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon – with her trademark stoicism although it was obviously a huge shock.

It was during the preparation for the Nations Cup, in January in the UK, that the defender went to change direction and felt as though someone had kicked her in the Achilles.

“I turned to see who was there and there was no one. Straight away I knew I had ruptured it,” Michaela says. “I limped off and you could see this big hole in my right leg where the tendon was no longer attached. I knew my season was over.”

Michaela says she had seen the Nations Cup, which took place six months after the Silver Ferns’ World Cup win, as a chance to cement her place in the team.

“The timing could not have been worse,” she says.

An operation followed, and she is now in the midst of recovery, which involves regular bike riding to strengthen the legs, rehab three-four times a week and a half-hour daily walk.

Even that short walk is still difficult.

Michaela also says she has effectively been living a life of lockdown for months, as she was only able to drive again a few weeks ago.

“You have to almost learn how to walk

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Michaela SokolichBeatson Photo, Michael Bradley Photography

again. I was in a moon boot and on crutches for so long and couldn’t weight bear, so I lost calf muscle strength.”

She says her physio is pleased with her progress. She remains contracted to the Mystics, but says it will be towards the end of the year before she can begin training again.

Netball training recently recommenced, with NZ Netball guidelines stating that competitive play can resume from June 19, including the ANZ Championship.

“I’m a couch cheerleader because there are strict rules about how many people can be in the space with the players, coach and physio.”

Never has she been so grateful to have a backup – Michaela is currently in her final year of PE study.

“I’m so thankful I have my study because this showed me my career can be over at any time and if I can’t do netball I have something else. But netball is definitely my single most important goal and I want to be back playing next year. Fingers crossed it’s all good from here.”

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Auckland Area Sea Watch Hibiscus Matters Seawatch – Top Catch, Whangaparaoa

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4:34am 3.3 5:31am 3.3 12:08am 0.6 1:02am 0.6 1:53am 0.5 2:44am 0.6 3:35am 0.6 4:25am 0.7 5:16am 0.8 12:03am 3.2 12:52am 3.1 1:42am 3.0 2:33am 2.9 3:23am 2.9 4:11am 2.9 4:59am 2.9 5:45am 2.9 10:45am 0.6 11:42am 0.5 6:27am 3.4 7:22am 3.4 8:15am 3.4 9:07am 3.3 9:57am 3.2 10:46am 3.1 11:33am 3.0 6:06am 0.9 6:57am 1.0 7:47am 1.0 8:38am 1.0 9:29am 1.0 10:18am 1.0 11:06am 0.9 11:51am 0.9

Tide 5:15pm 3.2 6:12pm 3.4 12:36pm 0.4 1:28pm 0.4 2:18pm 0.4 3:07pm 0.5 3:54pm 0.5 4:40pm 0.7 5:28pm 0.8 12:21pm 2.9 1:10pm 2.9 2:01pm 2.8 2:55pm 2.8 3:50pm 2.8 4:44pm 2.8 5:33pm 2.9 6:19pm 3.0 6:17pm 0.9 7:10pm 1.0 8:06pm 1.1 9:03pm 1.2 9:57pm 1.2 10:46pm 1.1 11:31pm 1.1 7:07pm 3.5 7:58pm 3.5 8:48pm 3.5 9:37pm 3.5 10:25pm 3.4 11:14pm 3.3 Times 11:13pm 0.7 7:25am 5:13pm

Sun Fishing Guide Moon

7:26am 5:13pm

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Full Last Moon Quarter Set 3:53am Set 5:05am Set 6:17am Set 7:28am Set 8:35am Set 9:36am Set 10:28am Set 11:13am Set 11:50am Set 12:22pm Set 12:51pm Rise 12:26am Rise 1:22am Rise 2:17am Rise 3:14am Rise 4:11am Rise 5:10am Rise 3:28pm Rise 4:05pm Rise 4:47pm Rise 5:34pm Rise 6:28pm Rise 7:26pm Rise 8:28pm Rise 9:29pm Rise 10:30pm Rise 11:29pm Set 1:18pm Set 1:43pm Set 2:09pm Set 2:36pm Set 3:05pm Set 3:39pm *Not for navigational purposes.

G

Good Fishing

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

localsport

21

Tackle-free hockey a hit with five-a-side players Covid-19 requirements have led to the introduction of a new sport – Tackle Free Hockey, which is played 5-a-side and combines elements of netball and basketball.

The game was designed by Hibiscus Hockey Trust chair and Masters player Merv Huxford.

The game introduces player zones (like netball) to avoid tackles, and time restrictions on scoring (like basketball).

The game debuted with youth players at the Hibiscus Hockey turfs in Millwater on May 17 and Merv says it was a way to keep things contact-free under Alert Level 2.

The young players came back for more the following weekend and when the Takapuna Premier Men’s team Men tried it, Merv says all of them, including Blackstick George Muir found it very effective.

The game begins with the goalie kicking the ball to one of their two midfielders, without opposing strikers intercepting it – midfielders can only operate between halfway and their own 25.

The midfielders work with each other, always 2m apart, to get a pass to one

of their strikers – opposing midfielders attempt to intercept that pass.

Strikers can combine to try and score but have just 10 seconds to do so and must not come within 2m of the goalie.

Merv says virtually no umpiring is required because there is no tackling, obstruction or dangerous play. The only infringements are if the ball contacts a foot, or a player moves outside their zone.

Because of the rebound walls, there are no ‘outs’ and the game just continues until a goal is scored.

“Under Level 2, we are the only turf in North Harbour that has a satisfactory set up for team trainings and 5-a-side games,” he says. “Three premier clubs from the North Shore have booked for training too.”

He says the keenness of the kids to play this modified game, indicates that Hockey Hibiscus could programme it in as a new regular competition for the next couple of months, regardless of the Alert Level.

“Some parents watching from the sidelines have already asked for that.”

Gateway treatment at Hatfields

Auckland Transport will consult on a new ‘gateway treatment’ that it wishes to place on Hibiscus Coast Highway on both approaches to Hatfields Beach.

A pedestrian refuge with side islands will also be installed. The timing of the consultation is yet to be confirmed.

ToTalspan Rodney pRoud sponsoRs of

THE scorEBoArD

a Roundup of spoRTs acTiviTies in THe disTRicT Netball Centre Based on the information released by Netball NZ, Hibiscus Coast Netball Centre has put together tentative return to play dates for the 2020 season. These are subject to Government regulations around numbers, hygiene and any other protocols as they become available. The proposed dates are July 22/23 for Juniors and July 25 for Club and Intermediate, with the season proposed to finish on September 23-26. All schools and clubs that have registered need to re-register their teams by June 30.

All teams must have a manager and umpire. A managers/coaches and delegates meeting will be held the week before July school holidays. Training at the Centre allowed from May 29, teams must book court space – email melissa.bryham1@ gmail.com – as numbers could be limited. Hygiene procedures apply and teams are responsible for this. All equipment must be provided by teams (no sharing).

Bathrooms currently not available. Drinking fountains currently not available.

Contact tracing required. Info: HBC Netball Facebook page

Rugby Silverdale United Rugby Football Club senior trainings were to commence on May 25 and Juniors on June 1. The indicative date for the start of the Senior rugby competition is June 20, and June 27 for Juniors. Under the guidance of NZ Rugby, the club developed Public Health Protocols for the clubrooms, playing fields and training rooms, all of which require approval by North Harbour Rugby before training and use of the lounge areas commences.

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| Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

localmatters.co.nz

Through the lockdown lens Members of the Hibiscus Coast Photographic Club put their lenses to good use during lockdown.

The club ran a Lockdown Competition with three themes – ‘In My Space’, ‘Something Arty’ and ‘Stir Crazy’. All the images had to be taken and created from within the member’s ‘bubble’.

Members voted for the best shots in each category, and the best overall.

Many of the winners went on display on large LED advertising screens around Auckland.

Here are some of the standout photographs, as chosen by members.

From left, Fourth equal overall were Vivienne Rowell’s ‘Morning Mood’ and Daniel Oosthuyssen’s ‘Late Night Scrabble’.

Above, Peter Boot won first place overall for this image, called ‘Light Reading’. Third equal overall were Agatha Lambert’s interpretation of the Toilet Roll Hysteria (see p1) and ‘Smashing It’ by Val Davies, right. Both were in the Stir Crazy section.

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‘And you think you’ve had it bad’, by Paul Conroy came second overall.

Sudoku 4 8 5 2 7 9 3 1 6

2 3 7 1 5 6 8 4 9

9 6 1 3 4 8 5 7 2

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5 1 9 8 6 7 2 3 4

6 2 3 4 9 1 7 5 8

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June 3, 2020 | Hibiscusmatters |

localmatters.co.nz

In Loving Memory of ...

Dad, Dennis Hosty Dennis Hosty, of Gulf Harbour, passed away suddenly in hospital on April 23 a few days before his 90th birthday. He was the kindest, most caring, loving and funniest Dad anyone could ever wish for. He lived life to the full and enjoyed every single day with a smile. He had been married to my Mum, Carol, for 55 years this year; she will miss him terribly.

I’d like to say a special thank you to a few local people who helped us through this really difficult time: Manly First Responders, St John Ambulance, Hibiscus Funerals (the wonderful Mark who was so kind and supportive when we needed him) and the staff at North Shore Hospital. We will never forget the kindness we have been shown during this dreadful time.

It’s been harder than ever with no funeral, but to our friends, neighbours and everyone who knew Dennis, we will celebrate his wonderful life when we can.

23

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Pharmacy Talk with Tania Adams

Pharmacist at Unichem Manly

Lockdownitis and Sore Eyes Maybe it was staring at our screens during lock down or perhaps it is the change in weather? Whatever it is, there are loads of people turning up with sore, gritty and/or watery eyes.

Although irritated eyes can be a symptom of many different eye conditions, you may be suffering from dry eyes. Healthy eyes are continuously covered by a tear film. The tear film protects your eyes and lubricates them. Dry eyes do not have this lubrication.

Symptoms of dry eyes may include one or all of the following: • A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes • A sense of a foreign substance in your eyes • Eye redness or watery eyes • Eye fatigue after short periods of reading • Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Contributed by Denise and Mark Hailes, daughter and son-in-law; Carol Hosty, wife; and Ian and Fiona Hosty, son and daughter-in-law.

It seems counter intuitive to think that watery eyes could be a symptom of a dry eye... but it is. Medications, aging and other causes, such as environmental factors can lead to dry eyes. Another cause is not blinking, such as when you’re staring at that screen all day.

We invite anyone who lost a loved one during the Covid 19 crisis to write a small tribute, which Hibiscus Matters will publish at no charge. Send to: hibiscus@localmatters.co.nz (don’t forget to include a good quality photo)

Treatment for dry eyes first involves getting the diagnosis right.

There are many other conditions that exhibit the same symptoms as dry eyes. Myself or my pharmacist colleagues can run through a set of questions to help you exclude other causes, some of which can be quite serious. Make sure you take this important step. You’ve only got two eyes, so best look after them!

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There are two main ways to restore your eyes’ moisture • Minimize drying – eg. wear wraparound sunglasses outside to reduce the drying effects of wind, remembering to blink.

• Add lubrication – ie. Using eye drops Be sure to check with us before buying an over-the-counter eye drop as to which one will best suit you. We can advise you on which formula will suit you, whether it be frequent use or a longer lasting formulation, to be used with contacts, etc. Selecting an incorrect eye drop can lead to problems. Sometimes people use the eye drops that “get the red out” to treat their dry eyes. This won’t work for dry eyes (unless the eye drops also contain artificial tears). These drops can reduce or eliminate the redness temporarily, but they don’t treat the cause of the redness. With frequent use these types of drops actually become ineffective.

While “lockdownitis” isnt really a thing, there were still many health issues that popped out of the woodwork during that time. If sore eyes or watery eyes or any other health issues are bothering you, come and see us at the pharmacy, we can help.

53B Rawhiti Road, Manly Village Whangaparaoa Ph (09) 424 7708 Fax (09) 424 7427 www.unichemmanly.co.nz

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24 | Hibiscusmatters | June 3, 2020

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Covid-19 crushes USA crossfit dream Court surface Orewa College student Kaea Taurua put in an intense physical effort to win his ticket to compete in the 2020 Crossfit Games, which were to take place in America in August.

The Crossfit Games is seen as the Olympics of the sport, with only a small percentage of athletes getting to the level required to compete.

The 15-year-old undertook a gruelling series of six Crossfit workouts over four days in early March to qualify for the games. For this international competition, his workouts took place in his parents’ gym, Crossfit Hibiscus Coast, and were recorded, judged and verified. Kaea’s effort placed him 7th in the world out of thousands of others in his age group – the top 10 competitors qualified for the games.

However, Kaea heard recently that, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, if the games take place at all it will be on a much smaller scale, with only the top 20 adults in the world (aged 18 plus) able to take part.

This means Kaea will have to requalify for next year’s games, this time competing in the 16 and 17-year-old category.

Although he is now re-focused on this goal, it was devastating news.

“We are so very proud of him,” his mother Quanita says. “While we knew this was coming due to the state of the world, it was hard to take after watching Kaea work his butt off for two years. We feel he deserves

‘hazardous’

Kaea Taurua gets under 95kg – six Crossfit workouts in four days earned him a top 10 international placing.

recognition for the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices he made to get to this point.”

During lockdown, Kaea, his parents and members of Crossfit Hibiscus Coast were able to continue their workouts via an online programme,

using equipment they signed out of the gym on the last day of Level 3.

“Crossfit kept us sane,” Quanita says.

She says several members got creative with what they had at home, using chairs and benches for step-ups and making their own pull up bars.

Repairs to the surface of Orewa Reserve’s popular basketball court are urgently needed, along with other improvements, according to members of the Coast Streetball Community facebook group.

The group currently has 96 members who enjoy playing together on the public court. Its representatives Caitlin Watson and Sam Mills told the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board last month that resurfacing work, which had originally been due to take place early last year, was now urgently required.

“The current surface is hazardous.

Defects have led to injuries among players, including rolled ankles and snapped Achilles tendons,” the local board was told.

The group has proposed a package of improvements including the immediate provision of a safe surface, simple bench seating for spectators and users waiting to play, and lighting which would allow for evening use of the court.

“In the past we’ve had motorcycles parked nearby with their lights on to make it playable in the dark,” Sam said.

“The court is well overdue for an upgrade and there is no excuse to defer it any further as health and safety for the community takes precedence,” Caitlin said.