GREY LYNN AND AROUND

GREY LYNN & AROUND: IT’S CHRISTMAS AND WE’RE HEADING INTO SUMMER!

Season’s Greetings to everyone from Grey Lynn & Around - your local business and community organisation.

Looking backwards on 2020 to look forward. What a year it’s been. A whirlwind of change, uncertainty, transformation and for Grey Lynn & Around, a time to make a difference. At our November AGM Chair Paul Stephenson noted just a few of our achievements. First, leading three major projects – always with the purpose to support and promote our local members’ business, and embrace our values: Sustainable. Creative. Diverse. Niche.

AUCKLAND ARTWEEK – Papatu anuku - Urban Flora and Fauna Trails as part of the 2020 Festival, now in its 10th year. There were 34 venues participating and nearly 50 works by artists, shown on walls across shops, bars, restaurants, our favourite Grey Lynn Community Centre, and installations at Kelmarna Gardens. Metal Bird joined the theme with its birds in locations across our neighbourhood. Huge thanks to everyone involved.

Elemental Tamaki Makaurau AKL. Grey Lynn Eats and Beats October’s month-long ATEED-supported festival of arts, eats, and beats was a blast. We had 22 participating café/restaurants and afterwards welcomed 12 new members. Already known for our great hospo with our eclectic collection of cafes, restaurants and bars, now they are even more popular. Three cheers to the Elemental team!

Grey Lynn & Around Greening – Caring for and beautifying our local urban environment How fitting we kicked off our ongoing Greening project during Artweek. In Maori tradition, Papatu anuku is the land, the mother earth figure who gives birth to all things, including people. With colourful pots painted during Artweek, and planted and installed in Grey Lynn Village, watch the space for more local greening projects.

THEN THERE WERE LOTS OF OTHER INITIATIVES

Communications Revamped Thanks to our communications team for masterminding our new brand; for the Grey Lynn & Around updated strategic plan; for the new website and communications platforms; for better informing, advocating and promoting on behalf of members and our wider community.

Covid-19 support - Business networking events and Webinars Hosting networking events and webinar programmes promoting local businesses continues. We ran shop local campaigns, gave free legal advice and temporarily discounted membership by over 50%.

AGM Held at the fabulous Romulus and Remus Italian inspired restaurant our annual governance meeting ensures transparency, providing members an opportunity to be updated on activities over the year past.

We are grateful to have such a team on the Grey Lynn & Around Board, contributing to our vision ‘for thriving business to enable flourishing communities’ and ensuring we create a valuable local footprint! We are primarily a volunteer organisation and gifted time drives our activity.

Farewell and thank you to outgoing members Marty SteelBrown and Leanne Moore. for diversity and inclusion, financial maestro; there is not much more you would want from a key strategic coach and mentor at Prime Strategies.

Alix Abando - lighting design engineer extraordinaire, project manager, holder of a Masters degree in Management and resident pastry chef at Captain Crepes. Alix hails originally from France, but now joins our Board with the purpose of sharing food and food experiences from around the globe.

Jesse Neilson - the go-to owner of Neighbours Café, 2a Hakanoa Street. Starting in Viticulture focused on hospitality, with experience running multiple venues across Wellington and Melbourne, she then pivoted into education training and consulting while founding three successful online businesses focusing on recruitment, digital marketing, and FMCG.

Gineria Linton-Ozich - hailing from Kaitaia with over 25 years experience in the health, fitness and wellness industry. As owner of Vitality Health Solutions, Gineria creates movement and wellness experiences that guide and inspire people towards their lifestyle aspirations so they can LIVE ALIVE feeling happy, healthy and vital.

Big thanks to support we have received from the Waitamata Local Board and to our Coordinator Irene.

Why are we special? Grey Lynn & Around is an exciting place to be. With our shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, businesses of all sorts, public spaces... what a buzzy community to live in, do business in, welcome visitors to, be part of.  PN

Check out the latest on our social media and www.greylynn-around.com

Gineria Linton-Ozich

JOHN ELLIOTT: NEW PARK HYATT HOTEL IN WYNYARD QUARTER

We had the opportunity of a night’s stay at the brand new Park Hyatt, beautifully setup right next to the harbour overlooking the America’s Cup compounds. It was a superb way to celebrate my eighty second birthday.

This new addition to our accommodation destinations is beautifully and spaciously laid out. Our room was more like a suite with a large outdoor balcony overlooking the hospitality centre of the viaduct. The lights and the view were spectacular. The room plus deck was large enough for quite a party. Back inside it was deadly quiet. Triple glazing maybe!

A large, very well-appointed bathroom featured a huge bath with views out into the harbour. A separate toilet was a smart move.

There was a well-designed entry to the room, screened off from the bedroom behind them. The artwork and panels all featured contemporary Maori motifs.

The Living Room is a great concept. We dined there and enjoyed the great views over the water. A variety of intimate table settings to chose from allowed us to eat as little or much as we desired. And the lovely al-fresco swimming pool can not be ignored; again with all the views.

Staff were incredibly enthusiastic, charming and helpful, without being obsequious. I teased one young waitress at breakfast when she mentioned kawakawa tea. She had done her homework, and although not New Zealand born she told me all the virtues of kawakawa leaves.

I was surprised by the arrival of a little birthday cake for my birthday — a nice touch.

The Park Hyatt is well-situated for a day on the harbour. Enjoy a visit to Waiheke, before coming back for a sauna and a spa, dinner and a relaxing evening watching the passing parade right outside your window.

The bed was very comfortable, as I slept into the first day of my eighty third year.

Only two floors are open so far. Even though the hotel is somewhat in test mode, it’s already excellent and can only get better as little bugs are ironed out. I recommend all locals to have a staycation away from home at the Park Hyatt.

A change is as good as a rest — especially a rest at such a lovely location. Good work, Hyatt team. We loved it. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

CHRISTMAS Park Carolsin our

FREE EVENT

SAT 12 DEC

Carol singing in Western Park featuring the Auckland Gospel Choir Celebrate the spirit of Christmas under the stars. Bring your family, friends, a picnic and share some magic in Ponsonby with Carol singing from 6–8pm.

iloveponsonby.co.nz

iloveponsonby #onlyponsonby