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KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, SEPTEMBER 2021

September is likely to have average rain, sunshine, and temperatures.

The first week is the cloudiest but driest with highest average pressure, the second and third weeks are the wettest, the fourth week is the sunniest, and the last week is the warmest. Millibars may average around 1009. Most rain may be during the second week. The 4th/5th could be the best weekend for outdoor activities.

For fishers, the highest tides are around 9th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 5th-7th, and 19th22nd. Chances are also good for around noon of 12th-14th, and 27th-29th. For gardeners, pruning is best between 1st-2nd and 22nd29th (waning moon descending), and sowing is best between 8th-14th (waxing moon ascending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers on neap tide days of 2nd, 16th and 30th.

Always allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)

For future weather for any date, and the 2021 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

GAEL BALDOCK: Just another brick in the wall

I had an interesting conversation with New Zealand Herald opinion writer, Simon Wilson, about Auckland Transport's attempt to make Surrey Crescent safer for Grey Lynn Primary School students.

I said, "I think the 'best bit' is the 'SCHOOL' sign printed on red on the road. And the 'worst bits' are the hump hidden behind that sign, and the taking away of parent parking."

Simon said, "taking away parent parking is the 'best bit', as how else do we have social change?"

Then there's the NZTA conversation with Newstalk ZB, admitting that the traffic slowing down is intentional. The anti-car lobbyists agree it's going to cause more emissions, but they think that if motorists get pissed off enough, we will abandon our cars. These are the same lobbyists who advocate for cycleways on our arterial roads. Auckland Transport has bought into this dogma and even give them final sign off.

Confirmed! This "social change, intentional slowing of traffic, blocking of arterial roads and taking away parking" is about social engineering. Not a conspiracy theory! Hold on, when did New Zealanders buy into social engineering?

Call it 'tactical urbanism, play streets, innovating streets, people friendly streets' or whatever spin you like, if you really want Kiwis to decrease the number of cars on the roads, then work with us, not against us, NZTA and Auckland Transport.

Kiwis are world famous for our number 8 wire mentality of problem solving, rating highest in the world, per capita, for inventors when we 'boomers' were in our heyday. So we're more than capable of coming up with innovative solutions to our emissions quota, when offered the 'carrot', rather than the 'stick.

We can do this. Already parents are dropping kids off at school without stopping. Talking with them might result in more walking buses or even actual buses, as that bus route was removed some time ago. The reinstatement of the bus route would mean that the villages of Grey Lynn, West Lynn and Westmere were reconnected and people could move between them by public transport as we could previously.

It's bound to be more effective that trying to control us!

From studying Sociology, I remember this powerful statement, "successful societies must resist change, so only positive change occurs." (GAEL BALDOCK, Community Advocate)  PN

LOCAL NEWS PONSONBY U3A: AUGUST 2021

Life-long learning, change and stimulation...

The 27th AGM of Ponsonby U3A attracted a record membership attendance, not least due to the guest speaker, well-known and well-loved icon of the theatre and Kiwibank New Zealander of the year 2020, Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM.

President Philippa Tait, as part of her report, reminded members of the origin and meaning of U3A. Stemming from a movement in France called University of the Third Age, it has spread around the world. The aim is to enable people, once their work and family commitments allow them, to refocus on lifelong learning. As it has evolved in New Zealand, no qualifications or exams are required. The essence of the movement is to learn from and impart to others, knowledge and skills. In the process, new friendships are forged, and long-established friendships are maintained through a network of specialist interest groups.

From the age of seven, Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand knew she wanted to be an actor. Thankfully coming from a musician/lawyer family meant that this news was received well by her parents. As Jennifer says, 85 to 90 percent of actors around the world are unemployed at any one time and despite the perception that they are somewhat flaky, performers have to be thick skinned and practical in their careers as freelancers. Versatility is key and Jennifer talked about the many aspects of her impressive career.

For 40 years she has had major roles in theatre, film, television, musicals, and radio. She treated members to hilarious renditions of some of her voice overs and animated characters on radio and television, and talked about her many roles of both performer and director. She also shared how the actor must reflect back to the audience what it is to be human and demonstrated how ‘the inspiration of the breath’ keeps people engaged and the performance buoyant. Jennifer is also a trained intimacy coordinator for stage and screen, making sure best practice is observed in what can be vulnerable and exposing work for the actor.

Her impressive array of leadership roles in her industry and the string of national honours and awards are a testament to her stellar career. Yet a humbler person one could not meet. And just as Jennifer never stops learning as an actor, she has been on a life-changing journey of learning te reo Māori over the years, from evening classes at Unitec to a full immersion course at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

In 2017 she was gifted her Māori name, Te Atamira (the stage). In her beautiful voice she treated members to some equally beautiful Māori expressions. For Jennifer, te reo is a pathway to describe our own ‘Aotearoatanga” our New Zealandness.

Ponsonby U3A vice president, Kathy Walker, thanked her in te reo Māori and Jennifer was given a standing ovation and a waiata.

Ponsonby U3A membership continues to grow. If you are new to the area, in need of a stimulus or a bit lonely there is always a welcome. Guests are invited to attend monthly meetings held on the second Friday of each month but beforehand, please call President, Philippa Tait.

The meeting features a guest speaker drawn from every facet of life and a member gives a short presentation on their life and interests. Members are encouraged to join at least one of about 30 special interest groups held in people’s homes. This is where the shared learning and the friendships are made.

Guest speaker for the September meeting is Viv Beck, CE, Heart of the City. (CHRISTINE HART)  PN

NEXT MEETING: Friday, 10 September by Zoom at 10.30am

ENQUIRIES: Philippa Tait, President, Ponsonby U3A T: 027 452 3108, www.u3a.nz

JOHN ELLIOTT: List MP Helen White has new Ponsonby office

I recently attended the opening of Helen White’s new electorate office in Ponsonby Road. It was crowded with supporters and I spent some time talking to proud father, Peter White, local retired lawyer.

White will share the office with Camila Belich, list MP for Epsom. The offices are only partly funded by Parliamentary services.

Mayor Phil Goff gave a stirring speech extolling Helen White’s qualities, and wine and canapés were enjoyed by the crowd.

Helen is vastly experienced as a barrister, but has now firmly found her feet in the political world. She told me she was enjoying her two select committees - Finance and Expenditure and Transport. Her confidence has grown, and she is thoroughly enjoying being a local MP. White’s next challenge is to win the Auckland Seat at the next election, but she does not underrate Chlöe Swarbrick who is also on the Finance committee with Helen.

Covid has seriously limited political party get-to-gethers this year, but will hopefully soon be a thing of the past so we can enjoy things we like to attend, including political rallies. When that happens the public will see a more mature politician than the Helen White of last year - a woman with experience, maturity, a wonderful sense of humour, someone who is quick on her feet, and is a more than able debater. (JOHN ELLIOTT)

Kia ora Ponsonby, I hope you are all safe and well in your bubbles (if we are still in them at the time of publication!). I also hope that anyone who has the opportunity is getting vaccinated. Personally, I am counting down the days until my first appointment.

The importance and assurance of vaccination was certainly bought home to me this week. It turns out I have been to a “place of interest” – a wonderful night at the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s production of The Firebird. I attended this incredible production with my daughter and hundreds of other people. The notification that my daughter and I might have been exposed was unnerving.

The next weekend – without knowing about the COVID threat at the Aotea Centre – I started to feel sick. Like many of us I wasn’t immediately sure whether to get a test. Was I wasting their time? But I joined the queue of cars and got it done.

I recall thinking “thank goodness I went for that test!” While I still don’t have the results back on my first test as I write this and will now have to have a second and stay home as directed I have learned a big personal lesson: to adapt.

Aucklanders have been leaders in soldiering on through lockdowns, and we are continuing that example now. I recognise however that each time this happens it’s different for each of us. For some people, they will just feel over it and some will have businesses under particular pressure. Of course, the wage subsidy is available again and MSD is geared up to support you. But I appreciate that whatever your circumstances, the lockdown experience will cause stress and anxiety. Remember, if you need help or advice at all please do reach out. My team and I are available at helen.white@parliament.govt.nz.

But most importantly I think it’s a clear reminder of the importance of vaccination.

I know that some people are reticent, and perhaps have seen how successful New Zealand has been in managing Covid-19 and feel more confident than we should. I grew up myself in a somewhat stoic family. We just soldiered on, didn’t believe in pain killers and didn’t get vaccinated for some things we should have. But things are very different now.

A few months ago when the vaccinations became available to our elderly, I had to work hard to persuade an older relative to get a vaccination. I am very relieved they agreed, because I couldn’t stop worrying about them. I know many of you will have had these hard conversations.

Vaccinating our team of five million is our community’s way to adapt. Our individual decisions to vaccinate ourselves also protects all Kiwis – what could be more important? (HELEN WHITE)  PN

E: helen.white@parliament.govt.nz