Times Media Covid-19 Lockdown Flipbook - 07-09-2021

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

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SENSATIONAL SPRING SUNSET Beachlands resident Sarah Ellis captured this wonderful shot from her back garden on Thursday, the second day of spring, looking out to Pine Harbour with Sky City on the horizon.

More glorious sunset images, p28.

LONG COVID PAGES 2 & 3

VACCINE MIX-UP PAGE 8

GEMMA LOSES BATTLE PAGE 15

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LONG COVID: THE INVISIBLE ILLNESS, SUFFERER SPEAKS OUT

By Zoe Garden East Aucklander Kezia Jaffar was living in a flat of five in the UK when she and three of her roommates contracted Covid-19. “Part of me was relieved,” the Cockle Bay resident says. “I figured the sooner I get over it and done with the better.”

Seven months later, Jaffar is still suffering from the virus’s long-term effects. ‘Long Covid’ is described by the Ministry of Health (MoH) as “signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute Covid-19”. People experiencing symptoms are often referred to as “long-haulers”. As the MoH says, as of yet, “there is no official definition of long Covid or diagnostic criteria for the condition”.

While most New Zealanders are aware of the existence of long Covid, many may not know about the symptoms and life-changing long-term effects that continue after contracting the virus.

Dr Anna Brooks, a cellular immunologist and senior research fellow at the University of Auckland, says all that’s known of how many people in New Zealand suffer from long Covid is from a Facebook support group with more than 200 members.

However, due to support groups not being for everyone, there are likely more. The group continues to grow from

Kezia Jaffar and her partner both had Covid-19. recent media stories raising awareness.

Still, many long-haulers agree there’s a lack of general knowledge and awareness, including Jaffar.

look at most long haulers, we were fit, happy, functioning members of society,” she says. So ask yourself, why would we give that up?”

“For the most part it seems like an invisible illness that looks like someone is exaggerating themselves. Because we’re not walking around on ventilators it’s hard for people to empathise. If you

Jaffar, 26, used to bike consistently, play sport, and balance work while being on an adventurous OE. She has a degree in TESOL, Spanish and French from Auckland University.

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Now she naps daily and struggles to walk up stairs without stopping for a rest break. Her main symptoms of long Covid are debilitating fatigue, inability to exercise without consequences, blurred vision, brain fog and unwavering anxiety.

“No day is the same. Some days I can walk around the block and some days I can’t leave my bed. That’s the most difficult thing for myself and anyone watching me go through this, to comprehend,” she says.

Jaffar emphasises it isn’t simply fatigue.

She gets exhausted from “the smallest things, making my bed and brushing my teeth. I wake up from a night’s sleep and feel like I haven’t even slept at all”.

When she returned from the UK, Jaffar’s goal was to do her post graduate diploma in teaching to become a qualified teacher. But due to long Covid, she had to resign from her job, lose her independence and income, and move back into her parent’s home.

“I left behind everything I had worked for.” Long Covid has also severely affected her mental health. I don’t think I’ve cried so much as I have in the past seven months,” Jaffar says. “Covid has put me in the darkest place I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same”.

Due to the low rate of Covid cases in New Zealand, health professionals’ ability in assessing long Covid patients is limited, Brooks says.

“It’s been incredibly slow for information about the chronic condition to disseminate within New Zealand.

The patients are finding they need to self-advocate, and often educate their doctors if they are indeed heard at all.”

VACCINATE, VACCINATE Mayor Goff calls for Aucklanders to get vaccinated to beat COVID-19, with vaccinations now open for everyone over 12. “Take your kids with you to get vaccinated,” says Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.

“Everyone in New Zealand over 12 is eligible for vaccination against Covid-19. The latest community outbreak shows that people of every age including the young are affected, and the best protection against the disease and its spread is to be vaccinated,” the Mayor says.

“Auckland remains exceptionally vulnerable to the Delta strain. I am continuing to stress to the government the importance of keeping up the pace of vaccinations here as a priority.

“Stopping the spread of the virus through a swift and strong lockdown which will stay in place until we have suppressed community contagion is how we will get back to living safely and normally.

“But longer term, a high level of community vaccination is how we will beat the disease, prevent deaths and serious illness and eventually open our borders.

“More than 1.1 million doses of the vaccine have now been administered in Auckland and the city has one of the highest per capita rates of vaccination in the country.

Long-haulers have been calling for more research to be conducted. They’re launching fundraising efforts to do their own research in conjunction with Brooks.

“The first wave of people with long

“That’s a great result, but we need to see the rate of vaccination increase even further in Auckland. We are the gateway city for New Zealand and with more than twice as many Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities as the rest of the country combined, we are most vulnerable to further incursions.

“With the city on the front line of New Zealand’s Covid-19 defence it makes sense that it be prioritised as quickly as possible to reduce the likelihood of further outbreaks and damaging lockdowns, which then spread to the rest of the country.

“Continue to follow the rules of Alert Level 4. It’s encouraging that case numbers have now declined for two consecutive days. This shows that the lockdown and public health measures are having the intended effect and slowing the spread of the virus. But it’s important that we stay the course so that we can once again stamp out Covid-19 and return to life as normal.”

Covid is only being believed and treated more in depth now,” Jaffar says. “It’s something that’s flipped my world upside down and something I hold close to my heart. I think if people who are suffering don’t speak up then no one will know.”

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TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 3

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VACCINE STROLL-OUT BEHIND LOCKDOWN EXTENSION

New Zealand’s response to Covid-19 so far has been fairly good and certainly better than most of the rest of the world, but there have been key failings in recent months that have put that success at risk.

Chief among those failings is the obvious issue with vaccination rates across the country. While it is encouraging to see vaccinations being delivered in droves since Level 4 began, many are questioning whether this lockdown could have been avoided altogether if we’d been quicker to the punch.

This is an issue that has been at the forefront of the debates going on in Parliament all year, with National pushing for a fast and effective vaccine roll-out right from the start of the year.

Simeon Brown

hold the Government to account.

Last week the Prime Minister announced that Auckland would remain under Alert Level 4 restrictions for another two weeks, as the outbreak of the Covid-19 delta variant continues to spread.

Having already spent two weeks in lockdown, I know many of you are not looking forward to an extended period stuck at home. Lockdowns bring a lot of stress, whether it be for those worrying about their businesses or jobs, parents concerned for their children’s education or the many families dealing with Covid-19 or who are anxious they might have to.

MP for Pakuranga

One of the cornerstones of our democracy is the ability to question those in power and hold them to account for the decisions they make.

In a time of national crisis, this responsibility is paramount.

As it stands, the Government has chosen to allow questioning only at its own discretion, which is entirely at odds with the point of a democraticallyelected Parliament.

The Government knew how important it was to go hard and early on vaccinations just as they have on lockdowns, but the delivery has been woeful.

Throughout 2021 we have been near the bottom in the developed world when it comes to vaccination rates, and I pray no-one affected by the delta outbreak pays for it. The Government is fairly to blame for this slow vaccine rollout meaning the Government has little choice but to continue to lock down our biggest city.

Parliament is back in action now, despite the Government attempting to suspend our Parliament for an extended period of time without setting up the Epidemic Response Committee which was formed during the lockdown of 2020 and allowed the Opposition to

MP3652

The reality is that while the Government and country has enjoyed early success with our Covid response, is far from perfect, and it is up to the Opposition parties in Parliament to challenge the Government, offer ideas and solutions, and ultimately ensure our nation is working best for all.

As we head into this extended lockdown period across the country, in Level 3 and 4, National will support the Government where needed, hold the Government to account where it fails, and offer solutions to problems which need fixing.

My staff and I continue to work remotely. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if we can assist with anything. You can contact us on 572 0000 or email us at PakurangaMP@ Parliament.Govt.nz • Simeon Brown MP for Pakuranga

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TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 5

NZ’s first Over 40s Fitness Studio Reveals Their Proven Success Formula... k r a P d n a l h g i H Now in

They are known as the over 40’s #1 choice for getting back into shape, losing excess kilos, feeling better, boosting energy levels and regaining lost confidence.

Over 5 years they have already helped many Howick residents do what they thought was impossible… turn their health (...and life) around.

If you are looking for an effective solution specifically tailored for people between 40 and 70 to lose weight and keep it off long-term, get fit & healthy, boost muscle strength and energy levels and regain the lost confidence look no further than The Growing Younger Programme.

In fact when people join the Growing Younger Programme they also report a huge boost in self confidence because they feel 10 years younger than when they started.

If you feel that as the years go by your body is slowing down, getting weaker, joints are getting stiffer and it’s taking longer to get going in the morning, it’s probably not just in your head and it’s not your fault.

Getting the extra weight off now seems to take a lot more effort and careful food planning and painful discipline. Aches and pains become more common and take a lot longer to heal.

Have you caught yourself thinking: “I better do this now because 10 or so years down the track I might be too old?”

You might be looking at your own parents and thinking “I don’t want to end up like that”.

“What the future holds”

If you’re anything like most over-40 people today, realising that your body is not quite the same any more can be daunting.

Not being able to fit into your old pair of jeans is frustrating. You start to wonder what the future holds with a high degree of uncertainty. All of a sudden the prospect of

Left, Ian lost over 10 kilos in only 3 months; right, Cara lost over 23 kilos in 5 months and says “I couldn’t have done it without Growing Younger and the very kind and supportive community there.” getting older hits home hard.

The confidence you used to have as a youngster took a beating over the years and the subject of body image has become very uncomfortable.

The sad thing is that the fitness industry caters mostly for the younger demographic and blatantly ignores the very people who need their help the most.

On top of that with the weight of the world resting on your shoulders... so many expectations, chores, family responsibilities… it’s very hard to find time to attend to your own health.

“But the great news is…”

Luckily, thanks to the new initiative

6 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

pioneered by two local Howick health professionals, there is an answer: Alex Blazhevskyiy and Gavyn Berntsen have gone through tonnes of the latest medical and scientific research and say that aging doesn’t have to be a scary, miserable experience plagued by deteriorating quality of life, disability and fear.

“The ultimate solution”

That’s why back in 2016 Alex and Gavyn put together a comprehensive health programme with the main focus on helping you do exactly that… slow and reverse the illeffects of the aging process, feel great again, regain the lost confidence and be proud of your body.

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“Proof that it works”

The Growing Younger Programme has evolved over the last 5 years into a predictable, reliable system that delivers results over and over again.

Many, many Growing Younger members lost kilos of excess weight and not only that, they managed to keep it off long-term.

That’s right, no “yo-yo dieting”. You get to keep your weight off long-term.

And the best thing is that it doesn’t involve any hard dieting or harsh, extreme, bootcamp-style exercises.

To top it all off the Growing Younger Programme received a prestigious Innovation Award at the New Zealand Fitness Awards in November 2020. That just confirms their unique status. In fact, they are the only ones doing what they do in this country.

Gavyn says: “We take full personal responsibility for improving the health of our clients. We don’t just invite you to join and leave you to figure it all out for yourself. We “hold your hand” along the way and ensure that you get results.”

“Many people join a normal gym and after a couple of sessions never return while continuing to pay their gym membership fees and no one ever checks on them. This doesn’t happen with us. We will follow-up with you to ensure you are getting results”.

“We want to see you succeed because your success is our success”.

Just imagine what it would feel like having the energy to get things done again, the youthful vitality and being comfortable in your body...

“How it works”

To be clear, Growing Younger is not a traditional gym. The programme involves coordinated input in the areas of nutrition, personal training and accountability. On top of that Alex is a physiotherapist who is there to provide guidance with injuries if you have any.

And because the fitness studio is strictly 40+ only you are not going to have to put up with younger individuals playing loud music and making you feel uncomfortable.

The Growing Younger environment is 100% secure and supportive. The majority of the members are between 40 and 65.

All you need is to plug yourself into the well-tested system and watch the results materialise.

Alex insists on the “Diagnose first, then prescribe” approach. They listen and understand what your current situation and goals are and tailor-make the programme to suit.

That’s what makes them unique. Alex says that having a 3-level approach – personal training, nutrition and accountability – is what makes the programme work so well.

On top of that your personal trainer regularly reviews each client’s progress to adjust the programme if needed to achieve

The team at Growing Younger are happy to help you kick off your Growing Younger journey.

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the maximum result.

Gavyn says not only it will help you look and feel younger – it will help you get healthier and stronger on the inside. He says: “It’s our passion to work with people over 40 and watch their lives transform in front of our eyes”.

“We have many people who used to hate gyms but they love what we do” Growing Younger members also get full access to their group exercise classes which include Zumba Gold, Pilates, Kettlebell and Yoga.

Entering your golden years should all be about enjoying a well deserved break, spending quality time with your family, kids and grandkids and of course travel. And perhaps even setting an example for them.

You should not be limited by aches and pains and frequent health scares.

It makes sense to get in touch with the experts who have gone through book-shelves of medical research and have helped other people feel younger, stronger and fitter.

The Growing Younger facility has just moved from their old location at the Howick RSA to their new office in Highland Park.

Everything from the first enquiry to kickstarting the programme and getting real results the team at Growing Younger has made things as easy and straight-forward as possible. The programme does not involve any gruelling exercises so whatever your current level of fitness is it would make sense to talk to them… however, you do need to be serious about your health.

So if you’re concerned about the state of your declining health and fitness and where your health will be 5 or 10 years down the

track, if you want to lose some excess kilos, get stronger, healthier and live longer to be around for your family or simply want to feel more confident about yourself and your body look no further than the Growing Younger Programme.

Right now because of the COVID lockdown they are running an online 6-week “Lockdown Transformation Fitness Challenge”. The guys at Growing Younger are offering this lifechanging programme to you at less than half price. Take advantage of Growing Younger’s experience in transforming people’s lives and become the next success story.

Request a FREE no-obligation 20-minute Discovery phone call. During this phone consultation you will discuss your situation with Alex and whether the “Lockdown Transformation Fitness Challenge” is right for you.

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Staying on top of your health is easy when you have the best support in the fitness industry… someone who is specifically trained to help people over 40 stay functionally fit for years to come. So go ahead request your FREE 20-minute Discovery consultation now to get started.

It won’t be long before you start feeling stronger and positive about your future.

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 7

It took the Government more than a month to inform the public about possible incorrect vaccine doses being administered at the Highbrook vaccine centre.

Times photo Wayne Martin

QUESTIONS RAISED OVER VACCINE MIX-UP

By Chris Harrowell The Government is being criticised for waiting more than a month to reveal people may have been injected with incorrect Covid-19 vaccine doses in east Auckland.

As the Times reported on August 25, a Ministry of Health investigation is under way into people possibly receiving an incorrect dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Highbrook vaccination centre on July 12. The centre is temporarily closed.

Jo Gibbs, the national director for the Covid-19 vaccine and immunisation programme, says a situation arose at the Highbrook vaccination centre where the end-of-day reconciliation of doses didn’t match those administered.

“Although no patient harm would have resulted, at this stage we can’t rule out the possibility that five people may have received an incorrect vaccine dose. The situation that occurred relates to just five doses that were unaccounted for at the end of that day, during which 732 people were vaccinated.”

Gibbs says the error may have happened due to some vaccinators

getting more than the regular number of doses out of some vials and forgetting to record it. “An alternative we can’t rule out is the possibility some people didn’t receive the correct vaccine dose.”

The Ministry of Health has since written to people vaccinated at the Highbrook centre on July 12 to inform them of the situation.

Botany MP Christopher Luxon says he has a number of questions about the possible incorrect vaccine doses that need to be answered.

“The critical questions the Government needs to answer are why has it taken so long since July 12 for what happened to surface and why did it take a media enquiry for the issue to become public?

“I think for so people can be reassured, the solution should be for all 732 people vaccinated that day to be offered a serology test to ensure they have the antibodies in their system to fight Covid-19.”

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown says it’s concerning to hear a number of people who were vaccinated in Highbrook may have received saline instead of the Covid-19 vaccine.

8 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

“It’s critical the Ministry of Health figures out as soon as possible who these people are, provides them the opportunity to get vaccinated and also to ensure this doesn’t take place again to give New Zealanders assurances about the vaccination rollout.

“It’s also concerning the Highbrook vaccination centre has been closed ... with no notice as to when it will reopen.

“I’m aware of a number of constituents who turned up with bookings who were not told [beforehand] the centre was closed.”

Brown says he’s written to the Minister for Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins about these issues.

Hipkins was recently questioned about the July 12 incident at the Highbrook vaccination centre by MPs on Parliament’s health select committee.

He said: “At this point, it is impossible to conclude whether this was a data error, and simply that things weren’t recorded appropriately, or whether there is a real risk that potentially five people got a vaccine that was either diluted or didn’t have the active vaccine component in it.”

STEPPING UP TO STAMP OUT DELTA I want to thank everyone in east Auckland for all of your hard work over the past few weeks as we’ve stayed home to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Our job’s not done yet, but we’ve made a great start – and I know that, together, we’re stronger than the virus.

It’s been great to see so many people following the Alert Level 4 rules over the past weeks and to see some of the creative ways you have brightened up life in your bubbles.

I know life at Alert Level 4 can be tough.

It has required us all to make sacrifices, but together, we’ve stepped up and worked hard to keep everyone safe during outbreaks.

If we can keep up these key health measures a bit longer, we’ll be able to stamp out Covid once more and enjoy the freedoms we’ve worked so hard for.

To shift down an alert level in Auckland, we need to be totally confident that Covid – specifically, the more infectious Delta variant that we’re now dealing with – isn’t circulating undetected in the community.

When we made the decision to move into Alert Level 4, only one case had been detected. As we’ve seen, one case quickly became hundreds: it took just one week to spread across the city.

Delta is faster and more infectious than previous variants. That’s why we’re working hard to get this right – and what we’re doing is working.

This is why we’ll be staying at Alert Level 4 until at least Tuesday September 14. That will give experts time to get a clearer picture of the outbreak and to establish whether any transmission is occurring outside households.

Until that time, keep in mind that the simplest way for us to stop the

Labour List MP

Naisi Chen spread is to stay home. If you go out for essentials like groceries, mask-up and scan in. Stick to your bubble and get tested if you have symptoms or are considered a contact.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones, and our vaccination rollout is continuing safely at Alert Level 4. Everyone aged 12 and over is now able to book their vaccine, so head to bookmyvaccine. nz or call 0800 28 29 26 to make your appointment. So far, more than 1.1 million doses have been administered in the Auckland region, which is fantastic to see.

Thanks again for doing your bit.

By staying home and sticking to your bubble, you’re protecting your community as well as the rest of the country.

• Naisi Chen is a Labour List MP based in Botany ADVERTORIAL

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This is a great time to expose and fix any vulnerabilities you have in your business.

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TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 9

FEAR, PIES AND AWARDS: LOCKDOWN FOR LOCAL CAFES

By Zoe Garden

And for their creative idea, which received media coverage, they won a European fine dining Covid award.

When New Zealand was given three days to prepare for Level 4 lockdown in March of last year, Ted Waters — the coowner of local cafes and restaurants The Apothecary, Daisy Chang and Piggy Bar — thought the businesses were finished.

“Covid was like Armageddon,” he says. “It was frightening.”

He credits their survival to the wage subsidy. “It doesn’t cover everything,” Ted says. “But it kept us from falling under. We tried to distribute it as fairly as possible.”

They were able to open for takeaways during Level 3. However, Ted says, that was only about 20 per cent of their regular profits. “It was all we could do.”

While the New Zealand hospitality sector was given three days notice last year, Ted and the staff had six hours in this current lockdown. Additionally, with the Government announcing oneweek extensions with no guarantees of established time periods, businesses have less time to plan.

Another difficulty of lockdown has been the cutting off of customers’ interactions with staff. “The cafes are great for social interaction,” he says. “That’s lost for some of our regulars who rely on it.”

Ted Waters is the co-owner of local eateries The Apothecary, Daisy Chang and Piggy Bar.

had more time. It’s difficult to plan with seven-day notices. We’re more experienced as we’ve repeatedly been through lockdowns, but we have less time.”

One positive with the lockdowns last year was that the cafes launched their popular pies. “It took off,” he says. Along with the success of their pies, Ted says that opening for takeaways made it easier to prepare for customers. “Lots of people come in for a takeaway coffee or pie. It’s become more effective.”

During July 2020, Daisy Chang implemented innovative tent-type dividers between its booth seating.

“Last year we knew the lockdown would be a month,” Ted says. “We

Additionally, due to the border closure, this has caused issues with employment.

“The hospitability sector relies on immigration,” Ted says, “and people from overseas add a lot of flavour and bring something fresh.”

The cafe’s chefs are getting creative this lockdown. Ted told the Times that they’re doing online cook-offs to develop more dishes. Interestingly, Ted says, their local events — such as comedy nights — sell out quickly post-lockdown. “People can’t go overseas,” he says. “They’re looking for more things to do.”

A new global study showed that New Zealand small business had the most positive outlook during Covid-19. This is due, the study says, to the support from their communities.

“The community support has been great,” Ted says. “We’re a tight village.”

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TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 11

KEEPING SAFE DURING COVID

Let’s talk local

with Adele White

Kia ora! At the onset of Covid-19 level four lockdown starting last month, it was great to see our community fall straight back into the culture that became our way of life for weeks last year. We’ve seen local support groups kick back into action and a general reaching out to those requiring assistance.

KEEPING SAFE DURING COVID Within hours of a lockdown being announced, Auckland Council staff erected signage and taped-off playgrounds. It was disheartening in the following days to hear of members of the public removing signs and tape which had been put in place to ensure the safety of our residents young and old. It was reported runners and cyclists on shared paths were puffing and spitting in the vicinity of others. Please observe safe behaviour and maintain an appropriate distance around others so we can all enjoy these facilities together.

TIDY AND BEAUTIFUL

Ongoing works are underway at Barry Curtis Park to remove pest plants and encroachments across the walkways.

This is part of work across the Howick Local Board area to beautify our reserves and parks with flora and fauna.

New plantings have been completed at Fencible Walk and Stockade Hill.

These gardens are replanted quarterly to maintain the visual aspect of these popular sites and to tie in with annual events held in Howick. Our flower beds are appreciated by the public with the council receiving many compliments about their visual aesthetics and the lovely aromas they produce.

HIGHBROOK PARK

The council is now responsible for Highbrook Park’s management.

Throughout the first month of maintaining the park, contractors have worked hard to bring it up to a high standard, cutting 90 per cent of the turf twice in the first month and cutting back edges around the paths and outskirts.

This has allowed greater views across the Tamaki River and lessened encroachment across the paths, with

people commenting on how beautiful the park is looking.

MACLEANS PARK FOOTPATH RENEWAL Despite the uncertain weather over the past month or so, work has progressed steadily on the Macleans Park footpath renewal between Charles Dickens Drive and Macleans Road. The path renewal has been carried out to different specifications along the length depending on drainage requirements.

The total length of the path completed to date is approximately 500 metres.

Covid lockdown permitting, the final 70m section to Macleans Road, along with disestablishment of the contractor’s compound, is planned to be finished by mid-September.

CHILDREN’S PLAY SPACES

The playground at Caithness Reserve has undergone a revamp to some of

12 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

the play equipment. The new, modern design has brought life to the reserve with the topping up of mulch/cushion fall included for health and safety. At Armoy Park the playground has also had an upgrade. The new play equipment has been painted brightly and fits in with the existing equipment that didn’t require replacement. Both play spaces are well used by local families and it has been great to see them, up until lockdown, enjoying the new equipment.

MOON FESTIVAL EVENT CANCELLED Unfortunately, due to the Covid lockdown, we’ve had to cancel the mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebration which was planned for September.

Stay safe and well.

• Adele White, chairperson Howick Local Board

THE IMPACT OF COVID ON ANAESTHESIA

By Zoe Garden Carolyn Fowler always thought a pandemic was inevitable. “We had a SARs scare not long before that,” she says. “That was a lot scarier in some ways.”

Fowler, 59, lives in Beachlands and has been an anaesthetist for 35 years. She attended the University of Otago for a Bachelors of Science in biochemistry and physiology and then completed her degree in medicine.

“My brother burnt his feet badly when I was young,” she says. “We went to the hospital to visit him and I found it massively interesting.”

She previously found anaesthesia a struggle. However, when she was a senior house officer in anaesthetics, she woke up one morning and “everything fell into place”. “It was like — bang!” she says. “After that I was really in love with it.”

Fowler currently works at Middlemore Hospital. When Covid-19 struck New Zealand, she says her anxiety was less-centred around contracting it and more on the three central issues within healthcare. “In my opinion, there aren’t enough healthcare resources here for diseases like Covid,” she says.

“We don’t have enough ICU (intensive care) beds in normal time — so we definitely don’t have enough for a pandemic. We don’t have enough people trained to do that.”

At the beginning of the outbreak in March of last year, Fowler and her colleagues were worried about an outbreak in South Auckland. “We thought there’d be a lot of deaths if there was a significant cluster there.”

The third — and maybe the most significant to health care professionals — was that, if there were a lot of patients sick, the worry was “that we’d have to make decisions we’ve never made before. Like who gets care. Every

Carolyn Fowler is an experienced anaesthetist who works at Middlemore Hospital during lockdowns.

time you make that decision it scars you for life.”

Staff at hospitals had to learn a lot of new and complicated safety protocols in regard to treating suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases. Additionally, because the anaesthesia and critical care departments often work together during the pandemic, they share staff.

“I put my name down to work in intensive care if I was needed,” Fowler says. “We all have had training in the ICU.” In order to free up resources and reduce risk to patients and staff, a lot of elective surgeries were cancelled.

“There was a lot of anxiety. We lost a lot of staff due to them being a higher risk themselves or having family at risk.

Or they may have been at a location of interest.”

As recurrent lockdowns occurred, Fowler says that hospital staff were more prepared in safety protocols and training. “We are also fully vaccinated,” she says.

There is still a lingering sense of anxiety and fear. “We are still worried about South Auckland,” Fowler says.

If New Zealand had the same substantial more cases and severe outbreaks as other countries, the results would’ve been a significant strain on the health care system, Fowler told the Times.

“It would’ve been carnage,” she says.

“Personally, I believe we still don’t have enough resources”.

DISCLAIMER: Dr Carolyn Fowler is the mother of journalist Zoe Garden.

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK — SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 13

To get an essential box, go to www.themumsclique.org.nz and click “ask for help”.

ng an r team are providi he, centre, and he .

Inset, Abbey Fouc ed ne box for those in

essential

CHARITY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR MOTHERS

By Zoe Garden A not-for-profit charity is working hard to provide essentials to women and their families during lockdown.

Mums Clique Charity is an approved essential social service providing boxes of essentials to people around the country, including east Auckland, who are struggling through lockdown.

Mother-of-four Abbey Fouche, the founder and chief executive, established the charity in June 2019 and has been volunteering ever since. Fouche started the charity after facing numerous challenges.

“I had my child at [age] 18 and was in a domestic violence relationship,” she says. “I then met my now husband and had premature twins. My final child was born with a heart defect and an array of allergies.”

She quickly noticed the lack of support available for mums.

“Especially as a whole if you didn’t fit a specific box, i.e. mental health or domestic violence.”

She told the Times she was surprised there wasn’t a non-profit in New Zealand with a primary focus of creating communities for every mum. Fouche then decided to create one herself.

you can get a professional to refer you.”

“Mums Clique Charity is the first New Zealand charity to provide a holistic wrap-around support service,” she says.

“I strongly believe that if every mother is okay then her children and family will be too.”

The charity delivers the boxes nationwide. It’s been an essential social service since the first lockdown. As of March 2021, 716 families were helped at an estimated cost of $61,000.

The charity’s essential service box is individually packed according to what each mum and her family needs. Items can include nappies, wipes, formula, bottles, breastfeeding supplies such as nipple creams or pads, baby food, vitamins, pregnancy tests, vitamins, baby clothing and blankets.

The public has the ability to self-refer or be referred by a family member or friend. The charity asks for help covering the $16 cost of shipping and handling.

“If the family is not able to cover this cost, we do what we can to get the cost covered so we are able to provide the box free of charge,” Fouche says. “Or

14 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

This could be a social worker, doctor, maternal mental health nurse, a Plunket worker or a counsellor.

Outside of lockdown, the charity supports about 500 families a month with essential items via assistance boxes. It also provides a 24/7 support group on Facebook called “The Mums Clique Chat”.

The online community of mothers is now just shy of 40,000 women.

“We provide counselling and events to facilitate friendships across the country,” Fouche says. “We aim to offer an array of educational and informative blogs, CPR/infant first aid courses, women’s self defence courses and free downloadable resources for mums. The Mums Clique strongly believes every mother is entitled to help if and when they need it.”

GEMMA MALINS PASSES AWAY Zoe Garden Beachlands resident Gemma Malins has died after a two-year battle with skin cancer.

As reported by the Times (Times, May 4, June 15), Gemma was diagnosed with stage four melanoma in 2019. She’d previously had a job with the local after school care, studied early childhood education and worked in two daycare centres.

In late May she was given the devastating news that her treatments weren’t working.

She was given months to live. She died on August 29.

The Pohutukawa Coast community rallied together to help fund her bucket list, which included swimming with dolphins, horse riding and riding a ferris wheel.

She enjoyed going out for walks and to the beach, eating out, gardening and spending time with her family and friends. She was a member of the Beachlands Baptist Church — her faith and church continuously supported her. don.

Gemma Malins and her husband Bran

Gemma was much-loved by her family and her husband Brandon.

BURGLARY SUSPECTS ON THE LOOSE

By Chris Harrowell

the spokesperson told the Times.

Police are working to track down the people who carried out a burglary at an east Auckland residential property while its occupants were at home.

“The individuals are reported to have fled the property, having taken a number of items with them.

And investigators want to hear from anyone who may have information that helps them to solve the crime.

A Counties Manukau Police spokesperson says police are making enquiries following a “burglary incident” carried out in Flat Bush on August 28.

“At about 9.30pm police received a report from a member of the public who reported unknown individuals were inside their address on Carlos Drive,”

“Police arrived to the scene a short time later and carried out an area canvas, however no persons were located.”

Police are carrying out follow-up enquiries into the incident and anyone with information is asked to phone police on 105 and quote the file number 210829/7589.

Alternatively, phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK — SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 15

rs Abby Lombard, 30, with her daughte n Kare ent resid Park ly Shel ; left) (pictured Liam.

Brewer with her two sons, Jacob and

LOCAL MUMS SHARE LOCKDOWN EXPERIENCES

By Zoe Garden Two local mums have spoken on their experiences and difficulties of the recent lockdown.

Abby Lombard is a 30-year-old single mum who lives in Pakuranga with her two young daughters. She is studying full-time on a diploma in legal executive studies.

When Lombard heard of the announcement of the current lockdown, she was “extremely anxious and quite upset”.

“But I’ve come to terms with it a bit more now.”

She told the Times that the previous lockdowns were difficult but this one has been even more of a struggle. “I wasn’t studying then. I am now.”

“It has affected us quite a lot — broken routines and home-schooling.”

The lack of physical contact with friends and family has been a challenge. “It can get lonely being the only adult in the house. I try to keep contact through daily phone calls.”

“Having three assessments due while juggling home-schooling and keeping the girls entertained is quite hard, but we are doing the best we can and that’s all we can do.”

That is one of the most difficulty factors

of lockdown, Abby says, attempting to juggle everything — including housework, home-schooling and studying.

“The positives are we are healthy and realising how much we take it for granted!”

Karen Brewer, a Shelly Park resident, has two young sons with her husband Gavin.

They have been married for seven years.

Gavin is an essential worker — he works as a senior electronics technician in East Tamaki.

Brewer is a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland (UOA).

“I work part-time and can, in theory, do all my work from home,” she says.

“However, I can’t actually work from home while I have sole charge of two small children.”

During the first lockdown in March of last year, Brewer says the experience was very different to the current one. “I was finishing up my post-doctoral research fellowship, Jacob was 11 months old, and Gavin was on parental leave, so we were all home in our bubble.”

“When we were all home last time it felt like a safe and cosy bubble. I don’t get that feeling because Gavin is out every day”.

This is the second time she will

16 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK — SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

be celebrating her birthday during lockdown. She says her friend’s situation overseas has put the situation into perspective for her. “She recently spent her 40th birthday recovering from Covid-19, along with her husband and four young children.”

Due to working at home with children being unsustainable, the couple came to an arrangement to make their circumstances more flexible.

“Gavin takes two-and-a-half days of annual leave each week so I have two afternoons a week to do some work,” she says.

“I’m much happier now that I can separate work time and spend the rest playing with the kids.”

The most difficult part of lockdown, Karen says, is never having a break from the children. It’s made much harder when there isn’t a kindergarten or Sunday school open. “The boys miss going to playgrounds and they don’t get as much opportunity to run around so it’s hard for them to expend all their energy,” Brewer says.

On the other end, the most positive part of the experience is “not having to pack lunches every day”.

“It’s also nice having quiet, safe streets,” she says. “Liam had learned earlier this year to ride a pedal bike without training wheels — last weekend I took him riding on the road for the first time.”

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s revenue for the first four months was $583 million, with 74 per cent of revenue from the company’s Hospital product group and 26 per cent from its Homecare product group. Photo FPH

FPH PROVIDES FY22 TRADING UPDATE East Tamaki-based medical equipment manufacturer Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (FPH) has provided an update on the first four months of the 2022 financial year, which ended July 31, 2021.

The company held a virtual-only annual shareholders’ meeting recently. FPH is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and systems for use in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The company’s products are sold in more than 120 countries worldwide. It is listed on both the NZX and ASX. Revenue for the first four months was $583 million, with 74 per cent of revenue from the company’s Hospital product group and 26 per cent from its Homecare product group.

In constant currency, revenue for the four months was 2 per cent below the prior comparable period, which was a period of high demand during the initial surges of Covid-19 in North America and Europe.

Managing director and CEO Lewis Gradon said, “We would like to express our gratitude for the incredible efforts of healthcare professionals who are caring for patients during another difficult year.

“We would also like to acknowledge the people of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare working behind the scenes in our manufacturing facilities, warehouses, offices and at home to meet the ongoing global demand for respiratory products during the pandemic,” said Gradon.

FIRES ON FARMS? THINK BEFORE YOU BURN! Farmers and lifestylers could do well to take note and think carefully before lighting fires on farms during lockdowns.

“Our crews are committed to protecting our communities during lockdown and they will respond,” Fire and Emergency’s principal rural fire officer, Thomas Harre, says. “I ask the public to show firefighters kindness during lockdown by being considerate of their health and safety.”

Although farmers may take advantage of the lockdown to take care of projects around their properties, including clearing vegetation and burning greenwaste, Mr Harre suggests rural people ‘hold fire’ to reduce the need for firefighters to attend, breaching their bubbles.

Even controlled burning that may be permitted during normal times could lead to unwanted calls and unnecessary responses by brigades.

Emergency services will continue to answer 111 calls, however.

FPH shares on the NZX were on Thursday morning September 2 $32.79 a share (market cap $19.08 billion and 52-week high of $37.89) and on the ASX A$31.57 per share (market cap A$18.20b and 52-week high $A34.77).

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 17

Irra Lee is a digital journalist for One News.

Photo Aimee Mackenzie.

WHAT IT’S LIKE BEING A DIGITAL ESSENTIAL WORKER?

By Zoe Garden

more of a focus on the long-term now.

As the rest of Television New Zealand worked from home in Alert Level 4 of last year, digital journalist Irra Lee was in the office as an essential employee.

“So that questions about how we ─ whatever that may look like and whenever the ends up happening ultimately end up tackling the virus.”

“Life wasn’t too different for me,” Lee says. “The only thing that really changed was that I couldn’t go elsewhere after work.”

Lee transitioned from working at the office to working at home during the past two weeks of lockdown then she will be returning to the office this week.

Lee, 22, from Botany, graduated from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2019.

“We have a duty to get accurate information to our audience as fast as we can,” she says. “Nothing can beat how efficient you can be within the newsroom environment. It’s not quite the same at home.”

Her first job out of university was at One News.

At the start of 2020, she completed a two-month internship in Parliament with the Office of the Clerk and RNZ’s the House.

She told the Times that she was fortunate enough to be able to tag along with the press gallery as they went about their days. “I also witnessed the lead-up to last year’s first Alert Level 4 Lockdown from Parliament,” she says.

There were many stories that came out of the first lockdown, Lee says. “The first few weeks were all about trying to make sense of it all,” says Lee. “With each new lockdown, I think we’re increasingly getting used to it. There’s

One News has introduced a number of safety precautions to keep their staff safe at workplaces and in the field.

When they’re in the field, Lee says, they’re masked-up, their equipment is sanitised throughout the day and they keep their distance from anyone they speak to through the strategic use of their microphones, or turn to other communication means such as Zoom or a phone call.

“The risk of getting sick and then passing that onto your loved ones is a thought that is always in the back of my mind,” Lee says. “It’s not so much anxiety, it’s more caution.”

“I’m incredibly lucky to have a very

18 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

supportive family, friends and coworkers.”

The newsroom is split into two teams during Covid lockdowns ─ if, for some reason or the other some cannot work, the other half keeps things ticking.

“In pandemic times, more people are turning to the news for independent and reliable information,” she says. “But, at the same time, this is a time where trust in the news can be improved.

“I hope the news industry as a whole can continue to earn, build and maintain the trust of the audiences.”

Lee says that, unfortunately, she has heard from people and has written stories in the past year where essential workers haven’t been treated respectfully “…or cases where people have been told to go to work to do something that probably isn’t considered essential under Alert Level 4.

“If we say we recognise how valuable essential workers are, let’s hope that is reflected in their work conditions.”

“I hope we, as a community, remember how ‘essential’ these essential workers are once lockdown is over.”

• Irra Lee points out that these views are hers alone.

Serves 6-8 as a side

BEST FOODS POTA TO

& GRAVY RECIPE BY JO BRID GFORD

Mashed potatoes are standard in many a family meal but this recipe, using Best Foods Mayonnaise, takes the all-round favourite to a new level.

INGREDIENTS: Gravy • • • • • • •

1 chicken stock cube 1 beef stock cube ½ tsp onion powder 2 cup boiling water 75g butter 1/3 cup flour ¼ tsp black pepper

Mashed potato • • • •

1.5kg Agria potatoes 1 cup Best Foods mayonnaise 50g butter Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD: Peel and cut potatoes into cubes. Place in a pot and cover with cold, salted water. Bring

to the boil and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the potatoes are very soft and starting to fall apart.

Meanwhile, make your gravy.

Dissolve stock cubes and onion powder in boiling water. Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour, pour in the stock and whisk until smooth. Cook for a minute or two until thickened.

Remove from heat and cover.

When the potatoes are cooked, drain into a colander and cover with a clean, dry tea towel. Allow to steam dry for a few minutes before passing the potato through a potato ricer or fine masher. Stir through Best Foods mayonnaise and butter and season to taste.

Pour over gravy and serve immediately.

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 19

Feedback if the Tupuna Maunga Authority can remove thousands of non-native trees from the volcanoes, then nothing is protected.

Finally, for the report to suggest that it’s unethical to protect views, and that to undo the error of planting these heritage-destroying trees in front of Stockade Hill will set a precedent, is hugely wrong.

The young magnolias across from Stockade Hill have stirred some controversy due to placement.

Times photo Wayne Martin

OPEN LETTER TO HOWICK LOCAL BOARD Dear Board Members Without public consultation your predecessors planted 4 Magnolia Grandiflora directly in front of Stockade Hill, and of course they are already interfering in its priceless views. Recently we urged you again to remove them, so you asked Council officers for advice – and confirmed the trees will stay put.

Thanks for sending us that Council report, which you refused to give us until we threatened to use the Official Information Act. But now you are barring us from fully addressing your public meetings on the subject.

Having read the report, we understand why you didn’t want anyone to see it: it is a complete whitewash, going to laughable lengths to support your stance.

Its claims include: 1. The trees won’t damage the views because they grow to only 6m. Wrong: as juveniles they are already interfering, and our sources say they can grow to 12m. Remember: Stockade Hill only rises to max 8m above the road.

2. Once planted, no tree can be moved.

Patently wrong. Check Council’s own wholesale slaughter of Auckland’s Urban Forest, and the hundreds of other trees a week they allow to be removed.

3. It would cost $20K to move them!

Wrong: a scribbled sign saying “Free for Removal” would do it.

4. They are essential as “cooling shade” for Crawford Reserve visitors. Wrong: check the compass: their shadows fall towards the road.

5. This genus provides “pollution mitigation for pedestrians and park users”: Wrong again. They produce significant litter: irritant pollen; flowers, cones and seeds; and they moult big tough leaves year-round.

6. The trees are now too valuable to part with – an unsupported book value of $12,757.31. Wrong. Common sense, please: they have no realisable value.

7. The trees also have political value: they have acquired untouchable “Carbon Credits” against Global Warming! More: “as they grow” their Carbon Credits will increase “exponential(ly)”! But doesn’t that mean an equivalent exponential increase in size? These are the wrong trees.

Members of the Board: you are deliberately allowing these inappropriately planted trees to damage a heritage icon: this is the actual precedent. Reverse it and replace them.

For us, flowers beds or dainty shrubs would be lovely. We’ll help, and next week will be fine, thanks, before it gets even worse.

Howick Ratepayers and Residents Committee and its AGM 15/8/2

HARRYING SPEECH

Bringing out new legislation under current circumstances, where tempers are fraught, and people are anxious due to Covid, is possibly a foolish thing to do – particularly when it is legislation concerning “hate speech”.

One can imagine tempers flaring and words said in haste between people in support of vaccinations and those unvaccinated. Do we need ‘hate speech’ legislation that fails to consider context and is framed in the subjective? The legislation is framed according to what the target subjectively ‘believes’ was the aim of the communication.

All it takes is for one person to inspired to commit an act, or one person be abused or, worse still, assaulted, then those who supposedly promoted ‘hate’ by ‘inciting violence’ suffer legal consequences e.g., three years in jail, organisations fined or more.

8. In contradiction, the report also says the trees can be trimmed! They are already tall with long trunks, so it’s too late anyway, but if we did, the tortured things would be lollipops. Wrong tree again.

Kris Faafoi (Minister of Justice, Immigration, and Broadcasting & Media) assures us that this would not happen.

That may be so, but the matter is still subjective and a person on the receiving end of an abuse or violence may well cast around for someone to blame.

9. The Magnolias are “protected”. Big time wrong: if Council can sacrifice our local trees, including the 7 doomed Pohutukawa at 34 Moore Street, and

The word “harry”, according to Google means, “persistently carry out attacks on (an enemy or an enemy’s territory)”.

This word could easily be construed

20 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Feedback Macleans College who had volunteered to help people living in the Pakuranga Howick area checking that they were safe and had all that they required.

drought conditions, the ability to predict extreme weather events and to evacuate vulnerable populations, have protected lives worldwide.

It would be ironic if NZ’s premier newspaper was the first to be seen in court defending themselves against charges of promoting ‘hate speech’.

Dr Mike Schmidt, Sunnyhills

I didn’t catch the name of the group she was involved with and wonder if you have any knowledge of them. They certainly need recognition for the good work they are doing during the challenging times we share at present.

Margaret West, Sunnyhills

WAKE UP AND CHANGE

FREE SPEECH

The report accepts that adverse climate events are increasing and makes no comment on loss of property, wildlife etc these events have caused. It also makes no predictions about the effects of future climate change which, if the widely-available reports and statistics are true, is increasing at a rapid rate.

as an open incitement to violence. It is therefore of some concern that the Editor of the NZ Herald in their recent column, “We say”, alongside the “Letters to the Editor” section, titles the editorial, “How to Harry the Holdouts”.

Deane Smart proclaimed that Greta has “indoctrinated the youth and others with the belief that climate catastrophes will threaten our very existence (Times 17 August).

Rather than accusing her of being “wrong…again”, we would benefit from listening to her: “Some people say that I should study to become a climate scientist so that I can solve the climate crisis.

But the climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change.”

It might seem too late to wake up and change from boomer perspectives, but it’s not too late for our youth to force us into change to save future generations.

Unsurprisingly, deaths from climate catastrophes have dramatically decreased over the last 100 years.

Dr. Hannah Ritchie from OurWorldinData.com says, “Behind this improvement has been the improvement in living standards; access to and development of resilient infrastructure; and effective response systems.”

Numbers may be facts, but to avoid “blindly accepting the ideology that is fed to us”, we must take the time to understand the context and what the numbers really mean. As Greta famously said, “I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the scientists”.

Jon & Yoshimi Brett Howick Beacy/Waipaparoa

THANK YOU FOR CARING

Last Monday (August 30) I received a phone call from a young lady asking how I was, did I need any help in the way of shopping etc. She was a student from

Big tech in its ability to control our conversations is acting as censor of free speech. Free speech is at the core of liberty and democracy. We are under threat like never before. In a free democracy we must have to ability to criticise and disagree within our Government.

‘Hate’ speech has no place in a democracy but is always evident in totalitarian regimes like China. If China had its way in NZ, we would all have to conform to the Government dictates.

Dissidents would be locked up. There would be no freedom of discussion.

The Government knows best how we are supposed to live, not you the citizen.

So big tech is helping this surveillance with its public data collection; these in turn help the rising of totalitarian governments.

This is exactly what is happening under Joe Biden’s administration in the USA. Global communication and control is here, the rule by government for the people not by the people is here. Soon only those who accept the prison of totalitarianism will be able to buy and sell. Unless we take a stand and defend our democracy, we will lose it.

Ian George, Howick

BEWARE OF MISINFORMATION I write in response to Deane Smart (Times, August 17), who propounds the theory that climate change will have no impact on our future survival. A study by The Reason Foundation does indeed, show that climate-related deaths have reduced significantly since 1920. The explanations given in the study are that scientific developments, such as the ability to grow crops in

The writer wishes to “overturn the positions taken by the climate-changegroup-think victims of misinformation in the free world”. The statistics he gives are interesting and testament, perhaps, to human resilience, but to my mind, they overturn nothing and have the potential to themselves misinform.

Mary Kennedy, Cockle Bay

LABOUR MUST BE CONGRATULATED For all the criticism of the Labour Government for its slow vaccination rate statistics, and particularly the number of deaths from Covid-19 where it matters, New Zealand leads the world by a country mile recording only 27 deaths, making us the envy of all developed countries.

All of that can be attributed to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ability to goad New Zealanders into wearing masks and social distancing.

The Government’s slow vaccination rate has largely been a case of shortage of supply and the initial caution by the Government on choice of the safest vaccine at a time when rumours of side effects (some justification as it later turned out) were spreading and further proof of Ardern’s consistent assertions of keeping New Zealanders safe.

Chris Hipkins’ label by a journalist as the Minister of Covid excuses could equally be matched by Chris Bishop or Judith Collins (take your pick) as the Minister Of Covid sour grapes.

Polls of their dismal failure and support as leaders all point suggest they and a National government would have failed miserably.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 21

RESTAURATEUR AND AUCKLAND SAILS OWNER DIES

By Zoe Garden New Zealand restaurateur and Auckland’s Sails owner Barton Phillip Littlejohn – who early in his career worked at Bell House in Pakuranga – has died.

Barton Littlejohn was a much-loved and highlyrespected figure within the restaurant industry. NZ Herald

Simon Gault, a renowned NZ chef and entrepreneur, met Littlejohn at school. “He was a character,” Gault told the Times. “He was full of

life, full of beans and a great entertainer.” They have been life-long friends ever since.

Littlejohn, 57, was brought up in the restaurant industry, Gault says. His parents Valerie and Phillip Littlejohn were the co-owners of Wellington’s fine-dining restaurant Orisini during his childhood. When he was 12, they moved to Auckland and opened up a new branch of Orisini on Ponsonby Road.

Valerie told media group Stuff, “Bart was a restaurant baby. He used to sit in a little chair down in the kitchen and watch all the chefs prep”.

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2022

Out of Zone Applications

“He knew the industry inside and out,” Gault says. “He lived and breathed it growing up.”

When Littlejohn arrived back from his five years in London, he and Valerie opened Sails – the restaurant he would spend the rest of his life pouring his passion and knowledge into.

“He had fantastic wine and food knowledge,” Gault says.

“Wine was another passion of his that he excelled in.”

NOTIFICATION OF NEW TIMELINE Applications due at college office: 4pm Tuesday 28 September 2021

Gault says that, because of Littlejohn being brought up in fine-dining, he knew the exact way of doing things whether it was rolling a trolley up to the table and carving a duck or a rack of lamb, making cocktails, answering questions about the wines and guiding people down the path to having an experience that surpassed their expectations in the restaurant.

During Alert Level 4 please submit applications electronically to enrolments@bdsc.school.nz.

Please allow time for confirmation & processing of these enrolments.

Ballot takes place: Tuesday 5 October 2021 All families will be notified in writing

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For people visiting Sails looking to celebrate anniversaries or have an enjoyable dinner, “Bart was a consummate expert at giving them a good time and rolling them out the door with a huge smile on their face.”

He knew how his customers

22 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

were feeling and tailor the night to suit them”.

Littlejohn’s passion has extended to his son Zac who works at Sails. “He was also brought up with it,” Gault says.

“The tradition will live on with Zac who has all the style and expertise of his dad.”

When Gault was at school, he asked Littlejohn to organise a job for him at a restaurant. “He told me to get lost”.

Years later their paths crossed as they both worked together at the first restaurant Gault owned, Bell House in Pakuranga, Gault as a chef and Littlejohn front of house.

“It was a little bit of roles reversed.”

Littlejohn was highly-respected within the restaurant industry.

“He was an inspirational leader for just about everything he did in the industry and attracted a very high-calibre team to work with him,” Gault says.

What made him such an inspirational leader, Gault says, was his larger-than-life personality, positivity and ability to move past difficult hurdles quickly. “He always had time for people.”

Littlejohn’s passions extended to outside the industry. “He loved cars,” Gault says. “He had a rally car and was a very good driver. He scared the living daylights out of me every time I went into a car with him.”

His unexpected death on August 23 at age 57 has devastated his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Robyn and sons Zac and Tom. “Our hearts are broken into a million pieces,” his family wrote. “You are our Rockstar; the kindest, most incredible son, husband and father.”

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Applications for this ballot close on Wednesday 29 September 2021.

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Our umbrella organisation is FinCap and as such we have a major role in building financial capability, budgeting skills and assisting those facing financial hardship. This is a rewarding community position for those looking to further or commence a governance position.

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TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN - SEPTEMBER Letting Agent andFLIPBOOK Property Manager 7, 2021 – 23

LOCAL NURSE FEARS FOR FAMILY’S SAFETY

By Zoe Garden A Pakuranga nurse who takes Covid-19 swabs and vaccinations is concerned for her family’s safety.

Aizzell Floresca Manuyag, 35, is an experienced nurse who is currently working in a GP practice in Panmure, and is the site leader for their Covid vaccinations. She does both Covid-19 swabs and vaccine shots. She has been a nurse since 2007 and studied at the University of Auckland.

Manuyag secured a job as a practice nurse in Panmure on Queens Road.

They have been taking Covid-19 swabs throughout the year.

During the first lockdown, Manuyag and her fellow nurses shared the same feeling of fear, curiosity and eagerness.

“We were (and still are) scared of Covid but we were all eager to help,” she says.

When it came to their families, she says that they were concerned about them being at the front line. “We were also worried about them,” she says. “We were worried that if we get Covid, we will pass it onto our families.”

Many of them live with elderly and/ or someone with a chronic condition.

Some of her colleagues had to live separately from their families and children when they were working at the community testing station.

This fear – studies show the effect of Covid-19 on health care workers – is a common occurrence amongst those in the profession around the globe.

Health care workers are, even under usual conditions, at risk for anxiety, depression, burn-out and other conditions. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Manuyag and her colleagues share the same concerns with the ongoing lockdown.

“This lockdown is so much harder because we have both Covid tests and Covid vaccines,” she says. “The demand is enormous and ever increasing,” she says. “We are already short-staffed but have to send some of our staff to help out in community testing and vaccination centres.”

At the end of each day, Manuyag told the Times, they are exhausted and know that the next day will “be the same or worse. When I come home from work, I go straight to the shower and have to wash my hair,” she says. “I use a separate shower from the rest of my family.”

She puts her scrubs into a yellow waste bag and washes them separately. Her husband and in-laws have been fully vaccinated.

In terms of protection from the virus, Manuyag says their clinic’s PPE gear is

24 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

still an issue. “We ordered PPE prelockdown,” she says. “We only received four out of the eight items that we ordered.”

Stress and being overworked are the main issues she and her colleagues face during lockdowns. “We do check and support each other in every way we can,” she says.

“We do ask the public though to be kind and patient with us. We try to meet everyone’s needs with the limited resources we have”.

Manuyag says that she is happy with her work. “I do feel proud and thankful that I am in a position to help during the pandemic,” she says.

“There are times that I do wish I could work from home. I have two young kids and my husband is stuck in Australia.”

The nationwide 30,000 nurse strike that was scheduled on August 19 has been delayed due to the current Covid-19 lockdown. “We need more nurses, a better and safer work environment and better pay,” Manuyag says.

“These lockdowns have showed us how we nurses will always put our community first despite being overworked, underpaid and undervalued. I hope the government and health system recognises that and gives us what we fairly ask.”

Puzzle Page Cryptic Puzzle ACROSS

1. What the baby kangaroo is, of its mother? (6,7).

8. Put up lights, say (5).

9. Will have to come back to have something to eat (7).

10. Olive-complexioned from the sun, you grant (6).

11. Has double vision, we’re told, which one takes care of (4,2).

12. In the form of a bird: white (5).

14. Apart from a remark not audible to all (5).

18. They have sworn to throw out the Eastern interloper (6).

20. Sooner? Yes, indeed! (6).

23. Something other than a list of the famous (7).

24. An Army man: sharp (5).

25. Letters you can count on getting (5,8).

For solutions flick through to page 29

1

2

3

4

6

5

7

NO. 8026 9

8

DOWN

1. Read through and put into practice (6).

2. Child not well, having a slight cold (5).

3. Yes, ring before going round to see the atrocity (7).

4. Point to a street on the right of the map (4).

5. It’s taking the girl in that is stupid (5).

6. Put to work by the patents and not treated properly? (3-4).

7. The idea is to have it set back in time (6).

13. Must somehow and can possibly get into a private room (7).

15. Begin with the half mile, which does come as a surprise (7).

16. Kick, when you monopolise (6).

17. Calls, we’re told, and extracts from (6).

19. He hasn’t finished dressing (5).

21. A hard woman, but game (5).

22. One gives orders from it (4).

11

10

12

14

13

16

17

18

19

20

NO. 725

21

22 23

24

25

Quick Puzzle ACROSS 1.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

18.

20.

23.

24.

25.

Sudoku

15

NO. 8026

DOWN

Famous (13) Club (5) Pliable (7) Withdraw (6) Smother (6) Loathe (5) Fruit (5) Pure (6) Comfort (6) Educated (7) Follow (5) Smug (4-9)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

13.

15.

16.

17.

19.

21.

22.

Abandon (6) Incline (5) Hell (7) Delight (4) Unfitting (5) Odious (7) Haggle (6) Tool (7) Purport (7) Balance (6) Rely (6) Capital city (5) Italian composer (5) Revise (4)

EE

FR

September 2021

EASTLIFE

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| www.eastlife.co.nz

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CIVIL DEFENCE ON GUARD GOLD EN YEAR S

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1

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 25

LOCKDOWN IN PICTURES

26 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Award-winning Times photographer Wayne Martin has been capturing images in and around our area during lockdown.

View photos online to buy www.times.co.nz

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 27

Rita Graves

Janine Robinson

Donna Bourke

Sunset Sensation!

Some of our readers amazing sunset photos taken on Thursday, September 2.

Rachel Gilmer

Gavin Wong

Brenda Nortje

28 – TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Ro Harris

Mat McGillivray

Brenda Nortje

ALL BLACKS’ DEFENCE SHINES

Agnew’s Angle

with Ivan Agnew

Losing three of their best to pending fatherhood failed to stop the All Blacks’ dominance over Australia in Sunday’s Perth rugby test. In fact, it should have been more than the 38-21 result but for their failure to convert five of their six tries with the Wallabies scoring three of their own.

Most were stunning as both teams attempted to spin the ball wide but New Zealand’s defence was more resolute.

It was magnificent despite the absence of captain Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga who justifiably gave priority to the birth of their babies.

Coach Ian Foster was delighted at the All Blacks’ depth of talent and had special praise for first-five Beauden Barrett’s calmness under pressure and his early decision making, However the standout star was No 6 Akira Ioane who tackled vigorously and made scorching runs to win consecutive Man Of The Match honours.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8026 - SOLUTIONS Across - 1, Distinguished. 8, Staff. 9, Elastic.

10, Retire. 11, Stifle. 12, Abhor. 14, Apple. 18, Chaste. 20, Soothe. 23, Learned. 24, Ensue. 25, Self-satisfied.

Down - 1, Desert. 2, Slant. 3, Inferno. 4, Glee.

5, Inapt. 6, Hateful. 7, Dicker. 13, Bradawl. 15, Profess. 16, Scales. 17, Depend. 19, Tunis. 21, Tosti. 22, Edit.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8026 - SOLUTIONS Across - 1, Pocket edition. 8, Raise (rays). 9, Shall-ot. 10, S-allow. 11, Sees to (sees two). 12, As-hen. 14, Aside. 18, Own-E-rs. 20, Rather.

23, No-table. 24, TA-Lon. 25, Roman numerals .

Down - 1, Per-use. 2, Ch-ill. 3, E-yes-O-re. 4, E-a-St. 5, I-Nan-e. 6, Ill-used. 7, No-ti-on 13, S-anc-tum. 15, Start-(mi)le . 16, Corner. 17, Wrings (rings). 19, Robin(g). 21, H-Alma. 22, Menu.

No 6 Akira Ioane (centre of image) tackled vigorously and made scorching runs to win consecutive Man Of The Match honours.

Photo Rugby Pass Immensely gifted with speed and power, he has at last become an 80-minute player capable of becoming one of the game’s greats. It’s also been a wonderful test series for brother Rieko who has excelled at centre and wing.

However, the biggest mover this year has been second-five David Havili who displayed his full range of skills on attack and defence in Perth to best the formidable Samu Kerevi.

With Anton Lienert-Brown back to his best at centre and wings Rieko Ioane and Will Jordan dangerous attackers, the backline gave a complete performance despite the absence of the brilliant Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga.

The margin of victory should have been higher but for the failure to convert more than one of the six tries scored with Jordan’s double stretching his tally to 11 in eight tests.

Australia replied with three of their own but they couldn’t breach the All Blacks’ defence when Jordie Barrett was unfairly red-carded and his team was reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes before Damian McKenzie replaced him.

Although beaten, Australia were by no means disgraced. They enjoyed 60 per cent possession which was largely negated by New Zealand’s relentless defence and breakdown superiority.

Tate McDermott and Nic White maintain their tradition of producing great halfbacks and wing Marika

Koroibete is a powerful and dangerous attacker. However, Foster has every right to appeal Jordie Barrett’s ordering off in what appeared to be an accidental striking of the Aussie on the neck with his boot when attempting to catch an up-and-under.

Having lost to Argentina for the first time last year before avenging that result, the All Blacks can expect a tough forward challenge from them next weekend before tackling world champions South Africa.

Meanwhile we can take pride in another strong medal-winning performance

by New Zealand athletes at the Tokyo Paralympics with the amazing Sophie Pascoe leading the way with four to take her full tally to 19 including 11 gold.

In Tokyo it was gold in the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley, silver in 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m backstroke. “I gave it everything I had,” she said.

How much was evident immediately after just clinging to the lead in the tough medley, vomiting and falling unconscious. Not surprisingly, at 28, she promised that will be the last medley she will swim.

The strain of that race and the previous three events (including heats) took its toll when she finished fifth in the race that followed.

• Ivan Agnew is an award-winning sports writer

TIMES MEDIA LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK - SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 – 29