Times - 12 July 2023

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The Howick Local Board has granted landowner approval to a trust proposing to build a water sports facility in east Auckland.

The board voted on the item at its recent monthly business meeting.

A report provided to the board states the Highbrook Regional Watersports Centre Charitable Trust sought approval to construct a water sports centre in East Tamaki, as well as an agreement to lease the land from Auckland Council, which owns the Highbrook Drive site.

Specialist council staff members assessed the application and supported it.

Recommendations put to the board were that it grant landowner approval to the trust to construct the facility; a licence to occupy for the tenant-built car park and access ways, boat ramp, hardstands and pontoon areas; and an agreement-to-lease to the trust for five years on specified terms.

The terms include that funding be secured for the facility’s complete development on or before July 1, 2026, and prior to any works commencing.

“Construction of the proposed water

Excitement builds for FIFA

Women’s World Cup

sports facility will take approximately 12 months to complete however may be undertaken in stages over a five-year period,” the report says.

“The building will house clubrooms and storage facilities for the trust.

“The trust would also sub-lease parts of the building to schools and community organisations to operate rowing and waka ama, and other kindred activities from the site and buildings.”

Part of the trust’s purpose is to oversee delivery of programmes that encourage the growth of outrigger canoeing, rowing and other flat-water sports in Auckland.

The facility would be located at Highbrook Esplanade Reserve, which provides access to the Tamaki River.

The report states that as part of the resource consent process, the applicant sent a letter detailing the proposal to nine iwi groups.

Following mana whenua engagement, the trust has developed an ongoing relationship with local iwi Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, which has included discussions around the pre-works archaeological investigation and a site blessing.

The board went on to vote in favour of the recommendation.

QUICK CLUES

(11)

7. Just (4)

8. Emblem (8)

9. Happen (6)

10. Liqueur (6)

12. Hurtle (6)

15. Muscle (6)

17. Send (8)

19. Open (4)

20. Showiness (11)

Excitement builds for Women’s World Cup

The Spirit of Football and a very special ball have paid a visit t Fencibles United AFC.

Spirit of Football is a not-for-profit community interest company dedicated to promoting a very special ball as the “star of the beautiful game” in the run-up to each Football World Cup. It is simply known as The Ball.

The Ball is football’s equivalent to the Olympic Torch. Every four years, it kicks off from Battersea Park in London, where the very first game of modern rules football took place. Its destination is the Opening

Feedback

ARE WE REALLY IN A RECESSION?

Re: Recession a dark cloud [Christopher Luxon, Times, June 21]. When I bragged some silliness my father would retort, “You’ll do a fat lot!” Will Christopher Luxon “fix” the economy or “do a fat lot”?

Are we really in a recession?

LIBRARY SIGN FINALLY DONE

Driving home this afternoon [June 27], I noticed we finally have Council contractors replacing the entire signage for our library and lounge. They may finish today if the rain holds off. We’ve waited several years for this to happen.

Alan La Roche Howick

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

PUZZLE NO. 8118

GDP makes no distinction between “want” and “need”. Perhaps people are simply spending less on what they don’t need.

Some businesses will fail. Neoliberals tell us that is how the market is meant to work. If you make a profit, you are clever and helping society allocate resources correctly.

If you are making a loss, the government has mismanaged the economy, according to Christopher Luxon. Maybe what it really means

6. Do very little to indicate to the child it’s being naughty (4,1,6).

7. Sweet nothing! (4).

8. Decide that your present state could be improved on? (8).

9. Leave the man taken aback a bit (6).

10. How it engulfed a car really does disturb one (6).

12. The oarsman gather on board (6).

15. The household troops and how far back they date (6).

17. Be afraid about the awful rows should you renounce it (8).

19. The woman got the man on the bottle (4).

20. Quite lost on being exiled from Asia? (11).

1. Following everything in spite of that (5,3).

2. An official document: that’s obvious (6).

3. Polish, but it doesn’t sound like Polish! (6).

4. With the Danes he organised the reshuffle (4).

5. Leave and trot off into the cave (6).

DOWN

1. Weaken (8)

2. Animal (6)

3. Assail (6)

4. Couple (4)

5. Save (6)

6. Pursue (5)

11. Slipper (8)

13. Fish (6)

14. Garment (6)

15. Servant

6. Lax, don’t win a round in it (5).

11. The oven, tear out and modernise the whole thing (8).

13. For “Hordes,” there are many different words (6).

14. Hers goes off by railway, in bottles (6).

15. Catch the animal up: a small furry animal (6).

16. The “Key To Foreign Currency” is great (5).

18. Hence doubling it is only fair (4).

is some people are doing a job that doesn’t matter. That would certainly account for the shortage of people to do the work that needs to be done.

Dennis Horne, Howick

RAIL CLOSURES

I found it amusing that train delays and cancellations in Wellington recently made headline news.

Users of the Auckland Eastern Line have to put up with a total closure of the loop through the Eastern Bays area for nine months.

Why does it take so long to upgrade the base below the track?

The trip between Panmure and Britomart takes up to an hour in peak times, using the Express Rail Bus. The benefit to commuters is the free ride, as many of the rail

Ceremony of the World Cup. The Ball 2022-2023 was officially launched in London on July 10, 2022. For the first time ever, The Ball travelled to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand instead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. It promotes gender equality and sustainability. The ball went to the Fencibles on Thursday where players of all ages and skill levels signed The Ball and made pledges: “How am I going to make the world, my community, my club stronger?” FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 kicks off on July 20 at 7pm.

buses are not equipped with Hop Card readers, but no doubt ratepayers will be asked to make up the shortfall in revenue.

DaveRonson,PakurangaHeights

HIGH RISE

Creating high rise high density housing and vast suburbs without trees or gardens is akin to having birds without a sky.

In reality, this is precisely what these suburbs will end up having and that is not to mention, as a consequence, swarms of crickets, cicadas, ants, flies, mosquitos, cockroaches and wasps of biblical proportions making their destructive presence felt for the unfortunate residents given no other alternative by a heartless government.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay

A very special ball has paid a visit to Fencibles United AFC. Times photo Wayne Martin

ACT Party MPs say we need to nail inflation

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Two Opposition MPs have slammed the Labour Government’s economic record and its co-governance policies at a public meeting held less than three months out from this year’s general election.

ACT List MPs Damien Smith and Simon Court fronted the meeting at St Paul’s in the Park Anglican Church in Flat Bush on July 5.

Smith, who stood in the Botany electorate at the 2020 general election, began the meeting by saying the Labour Government has “blown its budget”.

“ACT’s philosophy is a lowtaxing Government, low-spending Government, and smaller Government.

“If anybody here can put their hand up and say the last six years services have improved and we’ve got value for money, I’d like to know if you have that opinion.

“Inflation is running rampant in people’s lifestyles. In terms of the cost of living, goods are getting more expensive in the supermarket and at the petrol station and we need to nail inflation. That’s one of our goals.”

Smith said ACT would bring back interest rate deductibility if

elected to Government.

It will not punish people for having a “little nest egg” for their retirement relating to property and it will encourage Kiwis to stay in New Zealand as well as create real jobs that keep young people here.

“Our concern is that [Finance Minister] Grant Robertson is loading people up with debt and future generations are going to have to pay for this legacy.”

Court asked why it is that when people raise an issue such as investing in water infrastructure, they end up talking about ethnicity and the Treaty of Waitangi.

“And why one group of people who are affiliated to an iwi, hapu or marae are given special rights to have a say as to how we use water, how we allocate

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resources, and decision-making over how other people use their land, in the case of the resource management reforms.

“As a civil engineer, and initially as an environmental scientist, I would say when we’re making decisions about water quality, you want to know is it safe for people and fish to swim in, is it safe to drink, and are the pipes that get it to my home or business in a fit state.

“Those are all things scientists and engineers and ecologists can tell you.

“But there is nothing people are born with that gives them a special power to look into the water, or the pipes, and tell you whether they’re working or whether the water is fit to drink.

“ACT believes that is just one example – co-governance and Three Waters – the concept this Labour Government introduced ... is an example of how wrong New Zealand has gone in the past 30 years.”

Smith and Court answered questions from the audience on subjects including crime, how ACT would work with National, housing intensification, and voting under the MMP electoral system, among others.

This year’s general election is on Saturday, October 14.

Approval granted to build water sports centre

h Continued from page 1 Chairperson Damian Light says it’s proud to support the water sports centre, “which will be a significant asset at both a local and regional level”.

“When complete, it will enable more people to be involved in outrigger canoeing, rowing and other flat-water sports,” he told the Times

“We’re fortunate to have amazing local sportspeople in the Howick Local Board area and facilities like this attract even more.

“The trust behind the project is well represented by both regional and local organisations.

“Not only will it be a fantastic

asset from sports, recreational and cultural perspectives, but it will also connect people with our amazing natural environment and help boost the local economy.”

Light says the landowner approval and lease marks a major milestone in the project’s journey, which has its roots in a 2007 study intended to find the best location for regional flat-water sports facilities.

“It’s great to see this project continue to make good progress and we’re grateful for the work the Highbrook Regional Watersports Centre Charitable Trust, and its predecessors, has been doing to drive this project forward.”

The Highbrook Esplanade Reserve in East Tamaki will serve as the site of a new water sports facility. Times file photo Wayne Martin

ACT List MPs Damien Smith, left, and Simon Court spoke at a public meeting in Flat Bush on July 5. Times photo Chris Harrowell

Pair charged over alleged mail thefts in east area

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Police have charged two people after receiving reports of mail allegedly being stolen from homes in parts of east Auckland.

Sergeant Brett Meale of Howick Police says the pair are before the courts in relation to such incidents in Bucklands Beach.

“Police responded to reports of two people believed to be going through mailboxes and taking the contents at about 4.15pm on June 25,” he says.

“Police monitored the pair and provided updates to responding officers who located them in Pakuranga and took both into cus-

tody without incident.”

Meale says a 25-year-old female and a 41-year-old male were to appear in the Manukau District Court charged with theft.

“This was an excellent demonstration of teamwork between different areas of policing and we’re pleased to have brought a resolution to those in the community who may have been impacted,” he says.

“We also thank the member of the public who reported the incident.

“We know this will have caused some concern, and we encourage anyone who notices any damage or suspicious activity outside their house or their neighbours’ prop-

erty at any time of day or night, to please contact police.”

The arrests follow incidents of members of the public finding mail that had been stolen from homes in Howick and handing it in to the Howick Police station in Cook Street.

Meale previously told the Times mail and courier parcels were being found dumped in various locations and he asked residents to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour.

“Each time it had been found at a bus stop around the area,” he said.

“The mail handed in to us has come from a number of houses in Cook Street, Rodney Street and Howe Street.

“The enquiries we’ve made are that the mail that was missing has been stolen, but the stuff that’s been handed in we’ve delivered to the owners with a letter saying their mail has been opened and handed in to us.”

Meale said residents should be aware of a thief potentially following a postie as they deliver the mail.

“We’ve had other incidents of where a courier drops off a parcel on a doorstep and people are following the courier around.

“Sometimes they’re wearing a high viz-vest and go in behind and steal the parcel.

“We want people to be aware, and also if they can try and secure

their letterbox so someone can’t steal the mail out of it.” h People with information on the theft of mail from homes in east Auckland can phone police on 105 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tipoff line on 0800 555 111.

Police nab youths after clothing store targeted

A security guard was struck by a thief who was part of a group that allegedly tried to steal items from an east Auckland shopping centre.

Police say the group was allegedly trying to steal clothing from a retailer in Botany on June 26 but was quickly apprehended.

The incident at a clothing retailer was reported just after

5pm, where the group attempted to take clothing from the store at Botany Town Centre.

Counties Manukau East Police prevention manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says security staff disturbed the group, who dropped what they’d picked up.

“One of the group has hit one of the security staff before they all fled on foot,” he says.

The security guard did not suf-

fer serious injuries and police were immediately contacted.

“Our staff soon located where the group had gone and caught up with them on Te Irirangi Drive,” Cook says.

“After some good footwork, the group were soon in police custody.”

The group of three females and two males were aged between 12 and 17.

“Police are considering appropriate enforcement action in this case,” Cook says.

“We’re continuing to take offending against retail businesses in our community seriously, identifying offenders and holding them to account.

“We are continuing to work alongside our partners to reduce harm on our town centres and retailers.”

A group of young people was apprehended by police after allegedly trying to steal items from a store at Botany Town Centre.

Howick Police sergeant Brett Meale says several people have been arrested in relation to the theft of mail in east Auckland. Times file photo Wayne Martin

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BBI Leos hit the beach

Bucklands Beach Intermediate’s [BBI] community service

Leos – linked to service group the Lions - took on a beach clean-up at Eastern Beach.

The student group went along with Leos lead teacher Nicola Reid, teacher aide Jayne Catford and student teacher Andrew Lee, last week walking from BBI to nearby Eastern Beach hunting for litter.

“We were all amazed at how very clean our nearest beach was,” said Reid.

“We had to scour the beach

for our rubbish finds. It was a fabulously sunny winter’s day and, as we enjoyed the weather, we all pondered on when we could return for another clean-up.

“We were all thinking about rubbish that is usually present at beaches in the summertime like iceblock wrappers and sticks.”

The group’s other initiatives include collecting books for Women’s Refuge, stationery collections for Pacific Island schools, crocheting blankets and projects for the SPCA.

East Auckland Art Trail is on

There is something really special under way in our region right now, and that’s the East Auckland Art Trail 2023.

“The Art Trail includes a range of activities and businesses where you can experience and appreciate art in all its forms,” East Auckland Tourism’s Annette Smart says.

“There is so much happening and you’d be crazy to miss it, like the Popn Birdz Hunt.

“Follow the mystery clues to find the 11 Popn Birdz hidden around east Auckland and be in to win some awesome prizes.

“On the entry form, you will have to add the name of the

business where each picture is found, as well as the name of the type of bird on that picture.”

The competition runs until

the help of our easy clues, and enter our competition,” Smart says.

Both Feed Your Eyes and Popn Birdz see a collaboration between local artists and local hospitality.

 For more details on the various activities through July, visit eastaucklandtourism.co.nz/ what-s-on/events.

POPN BIRDZ HUNT WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:

July 23.

“Our Popn Birdz Hunt is an invitation to families to get out and about, find the Popn Birdz around the region with

1st prize – An original artwork from local artist Joel Nicholls 2nd prize – 2 Popn Birdz Prints 3rd prize – 1 Popn Birdz Print

Police road-spike stolen vehicle

Four teenagers are facing charges after allegedly breaking into vehicles in east Auckland.

Counties Manukau East Police area commander, Inspector Rod Honan, says the incident happened in Flat Bush on July 4.

He says residents saw a group of offenders breaking into at least three vehicles around Amaretto Avenue at about 11pm.

The residents provided good information, including a description and registration of the vehicle the suspects had fled in.

“The police Eagle helicopter responded to the area and sighted the vehicle, which was stolen,” Honan says.

“Eagle directed our ground staff to the vehicle’s location, and it was successfully spiked.”

The vehicle the offenders were travelling in came to a stop shortly afterward.

Honan says four of its occupants, who are aged 14-16 years old, were taken into custody without further incident.

They’re facing multiple charges of unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle and will appear in the Manukau Youth Court.

“We know this sort of offending where people’s property is targeted can be incredibly invasive for our community,” Honan says.

“I would like to acknowledge residents who observed the offending occurring and called 111 straight away, meaning police could respond.”

Kylie Haack & Vicky

Plein air painting by talented local artist Elise de Silva. Image supplied

Bucklands Beach Intermediate students do their thing at Eastern Beach. Photo supplied

Murderer meets their match in Miss Marple

 A Murder is Announced

 Directed by Matthew Cousins

 Howick Little Theatre, 1 Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga

 Season: Until July 29, with shows at 8pm and a 2pm matinee on July 16.

 www.hlt.org.nz

By CHRIS HARROWELL

It’s a mystery that begins with a menacing advertisement placed in the local gazette and ends with chocolate cake, handcuffs, and at least one untimely death.

Howick Little Theatre’s riveting production of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery A Murder is Announced is directed by Matthew Cousins and plays until July 29.

The mystery stars the famous fictional amateur sleuth Jane Marple and is adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon. It’s the first ‘Miss Marple’ play the theatre has staged.

Christie, known as the ‘Queen of Crime’, wrote multi-layered stories that frequently featured characters who were pretending to be people they were not.

A Murder is Announced is in keeping with that practice and as such audience members need to have their wits about them to keep pace with the complex plot. The action takes place in the living room of a house owned by Letitia Blacklock, played with pizzazz by Carleena Walsh, in the quaint post-World War II town of Chipping Cleghorn in the UK.

With Blacklock is her companion Dora ‘Bunny’ Bunner, played by Jo Crichton, and bickering niece and nephew Julia and Patrick Simmons, played by Emily Briggs and James Calverley.

On hand also are Blacklock’s moody Hungarian maid Mitzi, played with hilarity by Lisa Inman, and mother and son Mrs Swettenham and Edmund Swettenham, played by Viktoria Jowers-Wilding and John Edwards.

Young widow Phillipa Haymes, played by

MP launches petition to raise speed limits

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Apetition has been launched calling for speed limits on three of east Auckland’s busiest roads to be raised.

Shelby Sparks, is Blacklock’s guest, while the sweet and inquisitive Miss Marple, played by Stephanie Liebert, is around as she’s staying at a nearby spa hotel for treatment.

Their mundane morning is derailed when Bunny reads an advertisement in the local gazette announcing the murder of an unidentified victim is set to take place in Blacklock’s home at 6pm that very day, October 13.

With rising tension, they debate who the victim of the forthcoming murder may be as well as who could be the killer.

When 6pm arrives and the lights go out, the murderous act is carried out.

The ghastly crime draws to the scene the characters of Inspector Craddock, played by Barrie Graham, and Sergeant Mellors, played by Stephen Moratti, who are tasked with the investigation.

As Craddock sets about questioning each witness to the crime, he discovers several of them have a prior connection to the alleged killer, and some possess secrets they had good reason to conceal.

While Craddock asks direct questions and expects straight answers in return, Miss Marple uses her charm and seeming innocence to probe further into each suspect’s motives.

This is a play with numerous and unexpected twists and turns and it will have audience members trying to stay two steps ahead as they attempt to keep up with the mercurial Miss Marple.

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown created the petition, which he’ll eventually hand to Auckland Transport (AT).

The agency announced last year it was reducing the speed limits on 1600 roads around the city as part of an effort to save lives and prevent serious injuries resulting from crashes. “Evidence shows speed is a factor in more than 70 per cent of injury crashes in New Zealand,” AT said.

“We need to do everything we can to create safe school neighbourhoods so parents feel confident their children can walk, bike, or scooter to school.”

Brown’s petition asks AT to reinstate the previous higher speed limits on Pakuranga Road, Ti Rakau Drive, and Te Irirangi Drive, all of which have had their limits reduced.

“These roads are the critical main arterials for east Auckland and they’re incredibly important to moving tens of thousands of people in and out of the area on a daily basis,” Brown told the Times

“It’s important they’re operating as efficiently as possible and that’s why the speed limits should be reinstated.

“Most of them have gone from 60kmh to 50kmh. Te Irirangi Drive has gone from 80kmh to 60kmh.”

As the Times previously

reported, the Howick Local Board voted earlier this year to ask AT to reinstate the higher speed limits on the three roads as “there’s been no satisfactory justification provided for the reduction”.

During a discussion at the board’s monthly business meeting in April, member Adele White said the council used to be more of a “reactive organisation”, responding to the needs of the community. “But now they’ve got this blanket approach, like ‘we’re going to lower the speed limit on 47 roads just because we can’.

“I feel that a traffic engineer should be looking seriously at every single road and the implications.”

Brown says statistics relating to safety on key local arterial roads “doesn’t necessarily translate to improvements with the lower speed limits”.

“We’ve tragically had a number of serious crashes this year.

“We need to make sure if there are people speeding, there’s enforcement.

He says the reduced

speed limits are probably the biggest issue raised with him this year.

“And the fact people don’t feel like they’ve been listened to as part of this process.It’s important this issue is considered as part of the upcoming Auckland Speed Management Plan AT will release in late July.

“This petition is to give the community the opportunity to express their views ahead of that plan being released.”

Brown says the Labour Government has effectively mandated local councils and road-controlling authorities across New Zealand to introduce blanket speed limit reductions on the roads.

“The National Party’s view is we need better and safer roads, not slower roads.

“We need to make sure we’re putting the investment in, not just reducing speed limits, which is effectively a Band-Aid solution to a much more complex problem.”

 The petition is online at simeonbrown.national. org.nz/60kmpetition.

National will build a new medical school to train more doctors

Last week, National announced that if elected to Government in October, we will build a new medical school at the University of Waikato.

This is great news not only for Hamilton, but all of New Zealand, with more doctors to be trained here in New Zealand as a result of this policy.

We will also increase the number of students in existing medical schools, creating more placements to ensure more doctors are trained locally every year.

East Auckland is not alone in suffering sick and injured New Zealanders stuck with long waiting hours in emergency departments, weeks to see a GP, and months on surgical wait lists.

New Zealand does not train enough doctors to meet the demands of our growing and aging popula-

tion, or to replace our retiring health workforce.

We need more doctors in our city and we need more doctors all over New Zealand.

So, on top of the new Waikato medical school, which will train 120 new doctors every year, we will increase the number of medical school placements at existing medical schools in Auckland and Otago by a total of 50 from 2025. This is on top of the 50 extra places announced earlier this year.

Together, this will see an additional 220 extra doctors graduating a year by 2030, compared to just 50 more under Labour’s plan.

The new medical school will have clinical training alliances with other universities and medical facilities around regional New Zealand - a model that will deliver more doctors

committed to serving in provincial and rural parts of the country too.

Increasing home-grown doctors is vital to delivering the public services that New Zealanders deserve and National sees this as an essential and long-term investment.

This medical school should have been started five years ago as the previous National Government planned. Labour cancelled it in 2018 and their shortsightedness means we will have to continue to rely heavily on immigration to increase our doctor numbers in the short term.

A responsible Government plans for the future, and that is exactly what a National Government will do.

Among the cast of Howick Little Theatre’s production of A Murder is Announced are actors, from left, Carleena Walsh, James Calverley, Jo Crichton, and Emily Briggs. Photo supplied Andrew Johnson

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is behind a petition asking Auckland Transport to reintroduce the previous speed limits on a group of major local roads. Times photo Chris Harrowell

MP

East Auckland Open Day, Thursday 27 July

Resort-style retirement

Dannemora Gardens offers a retirement like no other. Choose from a range of spacious high-end apartments with a variety of layouts. With a fantastic array of activities and amenities to enjoy, it’s perfect for those looking to remain active during retirement.

Join us for a village tour, enjoy light refreshments and discover independent living at its best in the heart of bustling Botany.

Retire to your garden oasis

Set across 12 acres, Highlands is a peaceful, quaint community nestled amongst established trees, flourishing roses and beautifully manicured gardens. With a variety of home options – from independent living units to serviced apartments – you can be assured the support is here should you need it.

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Wide range of activities available for active retirees

Enjoy our facilities including salt-water pool, spa and the resident-run bar

Café – open 7 days a week

Short walk to bustling Botany Town Centre

Dannemora Gardens Open Day

Thursday 27 July, 10am-2pm 30 Matarangi Road, Botany Downs

Call Sarah on 09 533 0610 sarahh@metlifecare.co.nz

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A well-established community of welcoming residents

Serviced apartments and tailored support services

Lloyd Elsmore Park on your doorstep

Close to shopping, eateries and entertainment

For the life you want to live

Contact your local Sales Executive or visit metlifecare.co.nz

Highlands Village Open Day

Thursday 27 July, 10am-2pm 49 Aberfeldy Avenue, Highland Park

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ST ANDREW’S CHILTON KINDERGARTEN

QUALITY CHRISTIAN CARE AND EDUCATION

11 Vincent St, Howick | Phone: 09 537 2282.

Website: www.chiltonkindy.co.nz

Why you should consider St Andrew’s Chilton Kindergarten

As a parent, you only want what is best for your child and choosing the correct childcare, preschool or kindergarten can be extremely challenging for parents. Understandably, families have the expectation their child will be optimally stimulated to learn, develop social skills and be loved.

St Andrew’s Chilton Kindergarten is a Christian-based kindergarten in Howick licenced for children aged 2 to 5 years. Because of our long-standing presence in the Howick area, several generations from multiple families have attended our kindergarten, which provides high-quality care and education for young children in our community. Offering part or full days, inclusive of school holidays, families have a choice of enrolment options (we only close for 3 weeks over the Christmas and New Year periods).

At St Andrew’s Chilton Kindergarten, we are committed to an equitable learning environment that acknowledges the role of Tiriti O Waitangi, is free of discrimination, and aims to foster an environment that is positive, fun and respectful. We pride ourselves on the dedication and passion of our team. Responsive and reciprocal relationships are at the heart of our pedagogy, and we work in partnership with whānau by communicating openly and developing positive connections. We are passionate about early childhood education and achieving the best learning outcomes for the children in our care.

We nurture the uniqueness of each child and provide an inspired learning setting for our children to learn collaboratively with other children. The children are developing the core social behaviours and understanding

of Manaakitanga (respect) when they are within a mixed age group.

Building critical thinking skills happens through day-to-day interactions as we talk with our children, ask open-ended questions, and allow our children to experiment and solve problems. Te Whāriki, the New Zealand curriculum, is included in and threaded throughout our programmes. We believe in the value of play and encourage inquiry-based learning. As a well-resourced kindergarten, we ensure our children have a wide range of options for creative and child-led learning. Helping children grow into confident, competent, independent individuals with a strong sense of curiosity and interest in the world around them is valued in our kindergarten.

“What you plant today, you will harvest tomorrow”. “Ko taau e whakato nei I tenei ra. Ka kokoti koe apopo”.

Feel free to pop in for a visit and see how we can help your children experience a wonderful start to their learning and development in preparation for both school and life. We look forward to welcoming you, and inviting you to view the family feedback we have received that supports our amazing kindergarten.

2023 EDUCATION

ADVERTORIAL MP287746A

Chasing a construction career

Future Skills Academy student

Mingmin Guo has been awarded a Bunckenburg Bursary to assist her with her bachelor’s studies.

The HH Bunckenburg Memorial Trust was established in honour of Henry Herbert Bunckenburg, who was a great influence on the quantity surveying profession.

Three Bunckenburg Bursaries are awarded to New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) members who have completed a diploma and are now studying towards a degree.

Mingmin decided to make a complete career change after having her second child. She had previously worked as an Early Childhood Teacher but decided it was time for something different.

“I wasn’t sure if at my age I could still do it, study, have kids, and look after the family, but

I wanted to give it a try,” she says.

Future Skills Academy’s class schedule and central location fitted in with her family commitments, so she enrolled in the NZ Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying). She finished the diploma last year and is now working towards her Bachelor of Construction, which she’ll be able to complete in just one year.

Mingmin will finish her degree this December and she’s already getting her CV and cover letter ready to enter the industry. She hopes to secure a job as a full-time Quantity Surveyor.

Mingmin says she’s thoroughly enjoying studying with Future Skills Academy. She is grateful to her lecturers who she says are very understanding of different students’ situations.

CLASSICAL

MEGANZ School of Visual Arts

Art Development courses

Learn drawing, painting & sculpture. For tweens, teens and adults. Create at your own pace. Choose the projects you want to explore.

8 x 1.5 hour lessons per

Only eight students per class

After school and Saturday morning times. Courses begin from 17th July Based in Cockle Bay

Text/Phone Megan – 021 108 5419

www.vizart.co.nz www.instagram.com/meganzsva/

SITUATIONS VACANT

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CARS?

Cascade for Mazdaparts is an industry leading Car Parts Company in Pakuranga. We are looking for full time, permanent employees to join our friendly team. Multiple positions available working in the Warehouse. Excellent pay and career opportunities for reliable, hard working car enthusiasts.

Please email CV to tom@cascadeformazda.co.nz or call 022 623 6778 DE287442

ADMINISTRATOR

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised administrator to work within our property management team. Must have accounts experience. This is a permanent, part-time position either Tuesday-Friday or WednesdayFriday, some flexibility required.

Applications to hradmin.eastern@raywhite.com F ve AM P oper y Management Ltd DE287942

SCHOOL LIBRARY MANAGER

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and flexible person to manage our school library for 25 hours per week. We are proud of our school library, it is well resourced and provides a wonderful learning environment for our students and our teachers alike.

This role requires you to monitor our library resources, train students, support e-learning and STEAM plus assist in other areas of the school. Your positive and cheerful nature will be appreciated as a valued part of our school. Please send your CV and covering letter to admin@mellonsbay.school.nz along with contact details of two referees.

Applications close Monday 17th July, 2023 at 3.00pm. Applicants should have NZ Residency or a NZ Work Visa

SUNNYHILLS SCHOOL PART TIME CARETAKER ROLE

We have a part-time fixed term position for a caretaker to work 8 hours every Friday of the term from 7.30am – 4pm. Work includes locking/unlocking buildings, leaf blowing, maintaining hygiene of bathrooms (if there is an accident), building maintenance (e.g. washing windows), retrieving balls out of gutters, pool testing, and gardening support to name a few duties.

We are looking for a practical, caring individual who displays pride in their work. We are a fun place to work. This is an hourly rate and while it is term time only, there could be an opportunity for extra work at other times if the main property manager is on leave.

As this is a school site with children, a tri-annual police vet will be undertaken.

Inquiries to: principal@sunnyhills.school.nz or call to inquire 0272526386

Closing date for applications (CV and cover letter): Monday 17th July 2023

DE287890-v2

“The best you can be”

CASHIER/ADMIN

This position involves handling/recording incoming cash, data entry, banking, facility hire organisation, staffroom/catering and fundraising as required. The hours will be 9.00am-2.30pm, Monday to Friday, during the school term. Start date to be negotiated.

The successful applicant will be:

• Experienced in cash handling and data entry

• Well organised, efficient and accurate

• An effective communicator

• Well presented

• Able to work well in a team environment

• Previous experience in a school environment would be advantageous

Application by email, including suitability for the position, the names of two referees, and CV to:

Mingmin Guo

LANDSCAPING

FOR all your Landscaping needs, decks, fencing, retaining walls, paving, concreting. Over 20yrs exp Ph 021 885676

Terry’s

LANDSCAPES Ph: 535

CHURCH SERVICES

PAINTING & DECORATING

Wayne’sPaintingLtd Wayne’sPaintingLtd

MP286262

SOLUTIONS

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a. That the advertisement complies in all ways with the Advertising Codes of Practice issued by the Advertising Standards Authority inc (ASA) and with every other code or industry standard relating to advertising in New Zealand b. The published advertisement will not give rise to any liability on our part or in a claim being made against us.

c. That the advertisement is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive or breaches the Fair Trading Act 1986 that is defamatory or indecent or which otherwise offends against generally accepted community standards that infringes a copyright or trademark or otherwise infringes any intellectual or industrial property rights that breaches any provision of any statute, regulation, by law or other rule or law

2. Where the advertiser utilises any aspect of our creative/design services in the production of an advertisement (including photographic work) the advertiser acknowledges that we own the copyright in such work and that such work is not work for which a commissioning payment has been made or agreed.

3. The advertiser agrees to indemnify us against all losses or costs arising directly or indirectly from any breach of those warranties by the advertiser and from any costs incurred in our making corrections or amendments in accordance with the terms that follow.

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Natasha brings home two medals

Special Olympics HowickPakuranga track and field athlete Natasha Chang returned triumphant from the experience of a lifetime after she represented New Zealand at 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin. She achieved a personal best in the 200m heat, coming third in the 200m final winning the bronze medal and second in the 50m race gaining a silver medal.

Special Olympics HowickPakuranga trust board chairperson Laurinne Laing said, “During the stay in Germany, she was awarded the Tenei Au which was the special team award that was given to an athlete who had earned this for a special moment, something

they did or by just being them.”

When the New Zealand team first arrived in Germany, they were hosted by the towns of Garching, Ismaning and Unterföhring near Munich. They were treated to sightseeing, cultural performances and amazing hospitality.

By the conclusion of the games, the New Zealand team of 39 athletes had plenty to celebrate after they earned themselves a record 34 medals, with five gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze medals.

“The Kiwis joined 7000 other athletes with an intellectual disability from 190 countries to mark the end of a memorable 10 days where the German hosts managed to elevate the Special Olympics World

Bitter end to PURC season, U21s’ faultless campaign

By BEN PLUMMER

For two consecutive seasons, the Pakuranga United Rugby Club’s (PURC) U21 men have finished their campaign at the top of the ladder.

This year was a bit more spectacular than last however, with their win on Saturday marking their 12th consecutive victory – a faultless, unbeaten season.

They will be confident as they gear up for the top trophy in U21 club rugby, competing for the Arthur Bayliss Cup, a cup that they fell agonizingly short of in 2022, going down to Marist 20-6.

The season didn’t end so sweet for the PURC premier men and premier development men however, both losing to strong Ponsonby sides.

Despite missing out on contention for their second Gallagher Shield victory, the PURC premier men will have a semifinal of their own this weekend as they are favourites for the Jubilee Trophy (silverware for fifth place).

After their fifth-place finish in regular season, the premier men will host Papatoetoe in the Jubilee Trophy semifinal and, should they win, will play either Suburbs or College Rifles in the final.

With the PURC premier development men also finishing in fifth place after their season, they will compete for the Peter Fatialofa Cup as they face College Rifles in their semi-final.

PURC WEEKEND RESULTS

JULY 8

PURC Premier Men vs Ponsonby

HT: PURC 3 – Ponsonby 14

FT: PURC 3 – Ponsonby 33

Other premier men results:

Marist 5 – University 47

College Rifles 5 – Manukau Rovers 31

Eden 24 – Papatoetoe 27

Otahuhu 12 – Suburbs 23

Waitakere City LBD – Grammar TEC WBD

PURC Premier Reserve Men vs Ponsonby

FT: PURC 25 – Ponsonby 36

PURC U21 Men vs Waitemata

FT: PURC 19 – Waitemata 12

Pakuranga rugby fixtures July 15:

Arthur Bayliss Cup Semi Final 1 – PURC U21 Men vs Manukau Underdogs U21 Men – 1pm (Bell Park).

Peter Fatialofa Cup Semi Final 1 – PURC Premier

Development Men vs College Rifles Premier

Development Men – 1pm (Lloyd Elsmore Park, Field 5).

Jubilee Trophy Semi Final 1 – PURC Premier Men vs Papatoetoe Premier Men – 2:45pm (Bell Park).

Summer Games to a new level,” Laing said.

“With hundreds of thousands of fans filling up world-class facilities to watch the 26 sports and with live broadcasts across the globe, Special Olympics has firmly moved into the mainstream consciousness, both in Germany and the rest of the world.”

During a recent session of Parliament, MP Grant Robertson paid tribute to the Special Olympics New Zealand team athletes for their achievements in Berlin mentioning individual PB’s and personal success stories.

Natasha appeared on Breakfast TV1 last Tuesday and presented a speech on her experiences to the Special

Olympics Howick-Pakuranga Board that evening.

“Our thanks go to Pak’nSave Glen Innes for their donation towards Natasha’s costs and the donations made through online fundraising platform Givealittle,” said Laing.

Saint Kentigern basketball head to co-coach Perth Wildcats

By BEN PLUMMER

Saint Kentigern College’s head of basketball has been named as the new assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats basketball team.

Aaron Young was just 24 when he arrived at Saint Kentigern College with the objective of developing his coaching career.

Now eight years on, he has caught his big break, being announced as the assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats in their 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) campaign.

Midweek tennis aids charities again

The Howick Tennis Club Midweek Ladies held their annual Jammies in June fun tournament on June 28.

Entry fee to the tournament was a pair of children’s pyjamas which are to be donated to the Middlemore Foundation’s

appeal. Midweek members from Cockle Bay and Pakuranga also supported the tournament and 60 pairs of pyjamas, slippers and dressing gowns were given by these very generous club members.

Each year at the Midweek AGM, the

Howick ladies vote to hold tournaments to fundraise for various charities in the Howick-Pakuranga area.

Leading up to Christmas, two more tournaments will be held with proceeds going to Foster Hope and the All Saints Food Bank.

SHAREBOATING OPEN DAY

Whitford-based ShareBoating – digital marketplace for marine charters – recently hosted an open day at the Viaduct, viewing some of Auckland’s high-profile charter vessels.

ShareBoating CEO Wayne Huang, who also acts as rear commodore power at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, said, “Auckland is a gateway to New Zealand, a gateway that deserves to be explored through sailing and motor boating experiences.”

The day sought to introduce new migrant members of the community to the world of boat

chartering, immersing them in Kiwi culture.

“Our traditional sport of sailing can accelerate the integration of new settlers into our community,” said Huang.

The group of guests visited a collection of vessels including Lion New Zealand, Steinlager 2, Sea Breeze’, Templar and Nirvana, all vessels

that regularly explore the Hauraki Gulf.

“I would like to thank the Howick and Pakuranga Times for helping to promote this community-orientated day and would like to thank the wider Pakuranga community for participating in and supporting this latest venture.”

Young says the level of coaching he’s going to be involved in is something he’s always looked forward to.

“It’s all really worked out well. I love the group that’s being assembled on and off the court. I’m just happy to be a part of it,” he says.

Young has played a major role in the basketball programme at St Kents over the past eight years, particularly in his role as the premier boys coach, which he led to win the National Premier Competition in 2019.

“It was never a matter of if, but when Aaron was going to be elevated and make it to the next level of basketball coaching,” says a Saint Kentigern spokesperson.

Alongside his commitments with the east Auckland College, Young was employed by the NZNBL franchise the Auckland Tuatara 2020 as head coach.

He took the side to three consecutive finals series in three seasons, including a grand final in 2022.

Perth Wildcats general manager of basketball operations, Danny Mills, says Young met a lot of the criteria sought for the club.

“As we went through a thorough search process to identify an assistant coach we could bring into our programme, we found Aaron ticked a lot of boxes in regard to his background and experience as a current head coach in the New Zealand NBL.

“His ability to connect with and develop players whilst having a modern and innovative mindset on how he views and teaches the game,” he says.

Meanwhile, Young is confident that he can help the Perth organisation and he is very passionate about the team.

“The Wildcats are a world-class organisation. I’ve always had great respect for Perth. I know they do things at a high level, so just being able to contribute to and complement what’s already been built over a couple of decades is pretty exciting,” he says.

Special Olympics HowickPakuranga track and field athlete Natasha Chang. Photo supplied

The Midweek ladies of Howick Tennis Club have once again supported the Jammies in June and we dropped off around 60 pairs of PJs to Crawford Medical Centre.

Photo supplied

ShareBoating CEO Wayne Huang, centre, at the Viaduct. Photo supplied

Aaron Young has been named as assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats in their 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) campaign.

Photo supplied

Pak prems fall to Ponies, Page 15

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Howick Sports Awards.

The annual awards will be held at the Pakuranga United Rugby Club on Thursday, September 14 from 7pm.

Organisers are keen to get as many nominations in for sportsmen and women as well as clubs and officials in the Howick, Pakuranga and surrounding districts.

“We would like you to consider nominating someone from your club,” organisers said.

“If you have never been to the Howick Sports Awards, it is one of the best nights in the community. The room is full of the best of the best, the best athletes, the best coaches, and the best volunteers.”

The achievement nomination period is April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Any junior nominations should be under 19 as of January 1, 2023. All finalists will receive two free tickets to the

awards evening. Nominations close on August 3 and finalists will be announced on August 15. Tickets for the awards evening will go on sale on August 17.

Last year’s Supreme Award winner was Lance Revill of Revills Boxing Gym.

 Visit www.sporty. co.nz/purc/howicksports-awards for more information and make a nomination.

I

t was a classic east vs west match-up last week for the Howick Hornets Rugby League Football Club as they found themselves on the road against the Glenora Bears.

Their win over the Bears adds to their late season run of four games in a row and retains their thirdplace spot on the ladder with just two rounds left in the regular season.

The Howick-Glenora rivalry has been healthy for a long time, with the west Auckland club being around for the Hornets’ entire 62-year history.They will be confident heading into their next fixture against the 11th place Bay Roskill Vikings as they find themselves on the road again.

The week kicked off for the Hornets premiers on the road in their second feature of Wednesday night league in front of the Sky Sport cameras.

It was a special occasion for the Fatialofa family with brothers Josiah and Kayliss and Uncle Manu Fatialofa all being named in the Hornets’ starting line-up.

The Fatialofas did not disappoint in front of the cameras, each picking up their own try as the Hornets stormed to a 20-4 win over Glenora.

The Fox Premier reserves completed the clean sweep at the weekend as they thumped Glenora 40-18 to find themselves also in third place on their ladder.

Meanwhile, the Hornets premier women (‘Nets) are back in action this Sunday in their antepenultimate fixture in front of a home crowd against bottom of the table Taniwharau.

With three weeks before finals, the ‘Nets are sitting pretty in second place with six out of a possible nine wins under their belt.

The Howick Hornets Fox Premiers have won four games in a row after a Fatialofa ‘try’fecta helped them prevail 20-4 over Glenora last week.

Fox Memorial Premiership Howick Hornets vs Glenora Bears

HT: Howick 4 – Glenora 4

FT: Howick 20 – Glenora 4

Tries: Josiah Fatialofa, Manu Fatialofa, Nukurua Ngere, Kayliss Fatialofa.

Conversion(s): Phranklyn Mano-LeMamea (2).

Other fixtures

Mangere East Hawks 0 – Otahuhu

Leopards 76 Richmond Rovers 14 – Point Chevalier

Pirates 14

Marist Saints 14 – Manukau Magpies 22 Mount Albert Lions 14 – Papakura Sea

Eagles 30 Bay Roskill Vikings 12 – Te Atatu

Roosters 28

Fox Memorial Premier Reserve Grade Howick Hornets vs Glenora Bears FT: Howick 40 – Glenora 18

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Photo supplied

Women’s Premiership Howick Hornets – BYE Other fixtures Otahuhu Leopards 10 – Otara Scorpions 12 Taniwharau 16 – Mount Albert Lions 22 Manurewa Marlins 4 – City 30

HOWICK HORNETS

UPCOMING FIXTURES:

Round 10 Fox Memorial Premier Reserve Grade – Howick Hornets Premier Reserve Men vs Bay Roskill Vikings Premier Reserve Men at Blockhouse Bay Reserve – Saturday July 15, 12.45pm.

Round 10 Fox Memorial Premiership – Howick Hornets Premier Men vs Bay Roskill Vikings Premier Men at Blockhouse Bay Reserve – Saturday July 15, 2.30pm

Round 10 Women’s Premiership –Howick Hornets Premier Women vs Taniwharau Premier Women at Paparoa Park – Sunday, July 16, 2pm.

“I always think you’ve got to look ahead and manage these things proactively,” says Alison, one of our residents. “HBH has always had a wonderful reputation for the quality of care it provides and that continues today.”

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If you’d like to live in a boutique reitrement village where you can age well and live fully – at every age – please call Robyn for a private viewing.

Lance Revill of Revills Boxing Gym was last year’s Supreme Award winner.

Photo Brad James

Sports nominations are being called for Hornets sting Bears for a clean sweep

HOWICK HORNETS RUGBY LEAGUE RESULTS