Times - 7 December 2022

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Auckland Transport (AT) will soon reveal whether or not it’s going ahead with a proposal to construct a $450,000 raised pedestrian crossing on a major local arterial road.

The agency announced earlier this year it’s considering installing the crossing with traffic signals

on Pakuranga Road immediately west of Grammar School Road and Johns Lane.

The work includes moving the existing bus stop from east of the Johns Lane intersection to west of it, removing bus bays and moving bus stops into traffic lanes.

A new pedestrian refuge crossing would be installed on Grammar School Road and the nearby kerb

ramps on that road and Johns Lane would be upgraded.

The whole project would cost about $450,000.

It’s been met by outspoken opposition from the community and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, who labelled it “crazy”.

AT says more than 21,000 vehicles drive along the relevant stretch of Pakuranga Road daily and the

proposed changes aim to make the road safer and easier to cross.

“The raised crossings would slow drivers to a safer speed near the crossing point and the intersection with Grammar School Road and Johns Lane. The traffic lights would help stop drivers so people can cross the road safely.

“The lights would only turn red to stop drivers when a pedestrian

has pushed the pedestrian crossing request button.”

AT officials fronted a public meeting Brown held on the proposal in August attended by several hundred locals. They said there were 12 recorded crashes at the location of the raised crossing between 2016 and 2020, one of which involved a pedestrian being seriously injured.

Times photographer Wayne Martin captured this spectacular shot of the Eastgate Christian Centre on Ben Lomond Crescent.

The longest day: Howick team leads the country

By BEN PLUMMER

A group of Howick golfers will be taking on the Longest Day Challenge next week, a golfing endurance event which tests skill and stamina over 72 holes in one day to raise funds for the Cancer Society.

The group is run by Howick’s Greg Holmes who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2010 and has undergone around 14 operations and five bouts of chemotherapy.

Holmes has played golf for 20 years and after being advised he was palliative in 2021, wants to play as much golf as he can with the time he has left. “It wasn’t the greatest news but you’re dealt these cards and you just have to make the most of it,” says Holmes.

Holmes is insistent on walking the 72 holes, which is between 20km-40km of walking and destined to take more than 12 hours.

Holmes’ team has raised the most amount of money across the coun-

try for the event, currently sitting at just under $12,000.

The team will take on the 72-hole challenge (four rounds of golf) at the Whitford Golf Club on Monday December 12, beginning at 6am.

Whitford Golf Club general manager Ricky Scammell says hosting the event is only a very small thing the club can do to raise money for such a worthy cause. “We have had

probably four or five members just recently who are going through cancer treatment and you get to know their stories. We want to help them out as much as we can.”

Around 25,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year and more than one million kilometres are driven to cancer treatments.

Every dollar raised through The Longest Day will go towards cancer care, education and awareness programmes and life-saving cancer research. “We’re going to make everyone aware of it on the day and hopefully they can raise some really good money,” Scammell says.

Donate to Holmes’ team at https://longestday.org.nz/t/ greg-holmes-team

5-year high for road deaths

By LAURA KVIGSTAD, Auckland Council reporter, Funded by New Zealand on Air

November had the highest number of road deaths for Auckland in the last five years with the majority happening outside the car.

At the Auckland Transport (AT) board meeting on December 1, acting chair Wayne Donnelly gave an impassioned speech asking what it would take for Aucklanders to drive responsibly after nine deaths on Auckland’s roads this past November.

“What is it going to take to cre-

ate intolerance for driving too fast or driving recklessly?” Donnelly asked.

He said all of the deaths were tragic and each death on Auckland’s roads had families grieving the loss of a loved one.

At the Transport and Infrastructure committee later in the day, Cr Angela Dalton asked for details from AT around the deaths.

“I just wanted to know if you had the analysis of if (road deaths) were due to speed, driver distraction or quality of the road and were they outside of the car accidents in terms of hitting a pedestrian or a cyclist?”

Dalton asked.

She also wanted to know if speed reductions had played a part in reducing harm.

Chief executive officer Mark Lambert said that the majority of deaths in November happened outside of cars but did not have details on other factors.

“We have seen a very positive improvement where we have had some speed reductions,” Lambert said.

Earlier in the meeting, Lambert reported that speed limit reductions on treated roads has reduced fatalities by 48 per cent and speed

reductions on rural roads reduced fatalities by 30 per cent.

Cr Richard Hills said AT was delaying projects that prioritised safety and thought of the recent passing of a 19-year-old cyclist, Levi James.

“It feels like we are delaying more projects that include cycle safety,” Hills said.

Lambert responded that safety was top of mind for AT but that safety projects required funding.

This year is currently tracking to be one of the deadliest years for road deaths in New Zealand in a decade with 351 deaths recorded so far.

Cleaner ‘verbally abused’ at work

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The ongoing friction over use of the Howick War Memorial Hall may be worsening with a cleaner allegedly hav ing been “verbally abused” while recently working at the building.

The unresolved man agement of the Auckland Council-owned facility in Picton Street has been a point of contention in the community since the coun cil first advised the Howick Local Board to appoint a group to manage it in December last year.

Numerous groups applied to become the hall’s man ager, including the Howick Village Association (HVA), Uxbridge Community Projects, Howick Tourism, the Pakuranga Chinese Association and Howick Community Hub, among others.

The council has repeat edly advised the board to approve the HVA as the pre ferred applicant to manage it but each time the subject arose during the board’s monthly business meet ings, it failed to receive suf ficient support to be passed.

The Times has been told a cleaner working at the war memorial hall on November 11 was allegedly “verbally abused” by some one, but it is unclear what

sparked the incident or who was involved.

Howick Local Board chairperson Damian Light says there’s no justification for abusive behaviour and it will not be tolerated, espe cially toward council staff “who are doing their job”.

The board is work ing through the potential options for the building’s management and remains focused on delivering the best outcome for the com munity, he says. “I’d like to reassure the public this will be completed as soon as practicably possible, without compromising the integrity of the decision.

“In the meantime, the facility remains available as a venue for hire at no cost and is actively being used by various community groups.”

Howick Community Hub chairman Las Akurugoda and member Peter Bankers addressed the board about the war memorial hall at its November business meeting.

Akurugoda said the group had received “overwhelm ing support” for the hall to be accessible to the whole community and it’s in the process of compiling sup port documentation.

“We have also been engaging with particu lar groups to see how we can collaborate and work

together toward this end.

“However, HCH is very concerned that [in the] meantime Auckland Council staff have suddenly stripped all documents, records, information and moveable fittings from the hall and bundled them into the back rooms or into rub bish bags.

“HCH is appalled at such a cavalier intervention and people are disgusted and angry at the total lack of consultation and sensitivity.”

Council head of commu nity delivery Kevin Marriott says the hall is operating as a venue for hire and old council property was removed from it to make it more usable for customers.

The council is aware of a recent “health and safety incident” at the building and it’s been processed accordingly, he says.

Howick Village Association chairman Ken Scott says he was unaware of the alleged incident of verbal abuse at the hall on November 11.

“We were aware of items being bagged up and stored in the offices at the back of the building as they were like that on the evening of October 26 when we held the HVA annual general meeting.

“We had wondered who had done the cleaning up.”

AT to reveal crossing plan

h From page 1

The audience heard that more than 1200 submis sions had been received on the plan during the public feedback period and about 90 per cent of submitters opposed to it.

Andrew Allen, the agen cy’s executive general man ager of service delivery, emphasised several times that no decision on the pro posal had been made and he and his colleagues were there to listen to people’s concerns and feedback.

He said analysis was nearly complete on sub missions with a feedback

report to be published.

AT is considering the feedback provided for a fea sible design solution, Allen said.

Brown is now holding a second public meeting to let AT update the community about whether or not it’s going ahead with the work.

“At the public meeting I held in August, AT said they would be listening to the overwhelming opposition of the Pakuranga community toward this proposal, and I hope this means they will be dropping their plans for a speed bump on Pakuranga Road.

“A speed bump on Pakuranga Road would be like putting a speed bump on the motorway.

“It is a stupid idea and one I will continue to oppose.”

An AT spokesperson says the agency is “still closing out the consultation and the team is preparing to present to the executive team [about the proposal].”

h Brown’s next public meeting on the raised pedestrian crossing proposal is at 7pm on Thursday, December 15, at Farm Cove Intermediate School in Butley Drive.

Emergency services responded when a vehicle rolled off an east Auckland cliff on Sunday afternoon.

Photos posted to social media show about six police officers speaking to some one on the beach below Musick Point in Bucklands Beach with the police’s boat on the shoreline.

Another photo, taken

from the cliff top, shows a vehicle lying on its side in the water below.

Police issued a statement on Sunday night stating they’d been notified of a vehicle that had gone off a cliff near Musick Point Road at about 5.30pm.

A police spokesperson said two people had been located on the beach and

did not appear to be injured.

The pair were taken to be assessed by ambulance staff. St John Ambulance told news media it was alerted to the incident just before 5.30pm on Sunday and took one patient to Middlemore Hospital with moderate injuries.

Fire and Emergency NZ attended the scene also.

HUDDLE CAFE: A place to come together

It may have been open for only a few short weeks but Huddle Cafe is already operating like an award-winning and well-established eatery.

Situated in a handy location at the attractive Park City development in St Johns, it’s a welcoming space to unwind and relax this summer in the heart of Auckland’s Eastern suburbs.

With a relaxing and tranquil ambience, Huddle is the perfect venue for a quick bite, family gettogether, coffee with friends or a meal after a sporting activity at the popular Colin Maiden Park over the road. It also caters to large groups so planning your next function is a breeze.

The high standards are a credit to Roger and Elaine, who are the founders of the Woozoo Hospitality Group, the driving force behind suc cessful Auckland eateries Fields Cafe, Percy, Filly and Spectra.

The Woozoo Hospitality Group is well known in the industry for cre ating venues that offer outstanding

food and a welcoming atmosphere and that continues with Huddle, which takes its name from the sporting theme used throughout the premises.

There are lines on the floor as on a running track and it makes clever use of materials including bold forms to mimic sports fields and ball courts, leather, tiles as in locker rooms, bright colours paired with neutral ones and stainless steel and mesh.

People can utilise the ample free roadside parking right outside the cafe’s front doors.

Walk inside and you’re immedi ately struck by the spacious interior.

With the clever use of styling, diners can sit in smaller or larger groups within the open-plan layout.

It’s a light and airy environment filled with warm and welcoming colours.

On a recent Wednesday morn ing there was happy chatter in the air as a diverse clientele talked over coffees and choices from the all-day menu.

People who fear paying cafe prices but not getting their money’s worth need not worry at Huddle. The servings are more than ample and no one will leave unsatisfied.

Huddle offers something for all tastes from traditional favourites to dishes such as smashed peas with mixed herbs on sourdough and whipped goat cheese, picked cour gette ribbons, and candied walnuts.

People can also choose the mushroom medley, Hong Kong French toast, miso pumpkin salad, and the popular Korean fried chicken tacos with gochujang sauce and pineapple and jalapeno salsa.

We tried the eggs on toast with

kumara sourdough, the grilled gar lic prawns and papaya salad, and the chocolate granola.

The two poached eggs were cooked perfectly and were a great match for the crunchy kumara sourdough toast, with the tangy relish the perfect accompaniment.

The grilled garlic prawns and papaya salad was just as delicious.

Some cafes may include just two prawns in a dish but not Huddle, with a handful of prawns and a light salad with chilli and lime dressing, mixed herbs, roasted peanuts and crispy shallots in the serving.

The hazelnut and chocolate granola continues the theme of desirable food served in a generous quantity, with the granola along side vanilla coconut yoghurt and seasonal fruits.

It’s the perfect pick-me-up for

anyone needing a quick burst of energy.

Roger says Park City is a new community-centred offering devel oped with a focus on innovation with a bold contemporary design.

It’s in the old University of Auckland Tamaki Campus and has been turned into the ‘campus of apartment living’, offering creative working spaces, boutique eateries and shopping destinations.

He says his goal was to create a space that feels slightly accidental, cosy and has oodles of personality.

“We want to bring happiness to the building and we’ve created a space where everyone is welcome – locals, sportspeople and specta tors, businesses, destination dropins and families on the weekend.”

Make Huddle Cafe your next place to visit this summer – you won’t be disappointed.

Mystery over missing mill man

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Jim Donnelly went missing on Monday, June 21, 2004. He hasn’t been seen since and his whereabouts are a mystery to his loved ones and the police.

Jim was 43 years old and liv ing with his wife Tracey and their two young children in Dannemora when he disappeared.

An inquest hearing was held on the matter by coroner Sam Herdson in Auckland in 2007.

Herdson’s subsequent report states when Jim vanished, he’d been working at Glenbrook Steel Mill in Waiuku in a supervisory engineering role for 19 years.

The coroner found what hap pened to him remains unex plained but “the presumption is Jim has died”.

The evidence in the inquest report was collated and presented by the officer then in charge of the case, detective senior sergeant Neil Grimstone, who’s since retired from the police.

JUNE 21, 2004

This is the last day Jim was seen alive. He got up at about 4.30am5am and woke Tracey to tell her about a computer game he’d bought for their son’s birthday.

Herdson’s report states Jim said he would sort it out later that night and left for work as normal. He

arrived at the steel mill and was seen at about 6am standing in the locker room for several minutes. About 15-20 minutes later he was seen heading up some stairs.

The shift supervisor said good morning to Jim, who didn’t reply and was described as “looking as if he was frozen on the spot”. He was then seen in a nearby area and described as looking like he couldn’t make up his mind where he was going.

At about 8am Tracey tried call ing Jim on his work phone num ber but couldn’t reach him. He didn’t have a mobile phone.

Jim was seen at about 8.30am by another worker from a distance of 10-15 metres wearing an orange fleece jacket, yellow hard hat, and glasses.

Tracey and others kept trying to reach him on the phone through out the morning without success.

“It became clear there was some concern about Jim and people at the Glenbrook Steel Mill had also begun looking for him,” the report says. “At about 6pm on June 21 Jim was officially reported to the police as a missing person.”

THE DAYS AFTER

Following Jim’s disappearance, extensive searches were made within the steel mill and sur rounding areas.

They involved police, search and

rescue teams, Air Force personnel, St John Ambulance, and steel mill staff.

JUNE 26, 2004

A steel mill worker found a yel low protective helmet with Jim’s surname on it behind a protective cage and next to an acid tank.

“The tank was drained and other items belonging to Jim were found, including things such as his personal electronic diary, glasses, money, credit cards and a library card,” the report says.

“Two other acid tanks were also drained and searched but nothing further was found.”

Jim had no known significant health problems but had been noted as being depressed follow

ing deaths in his family several years before his disappearance.

There was no evidence to sug gest he had any serious financial stress or debts or had the “obvi ous means to support himself to live, or re-establish himself, independently”.

Police inquiries and alerts show no financial transactions or legiti mate travel outside New Zealand by him. The report states Grimstone confirmed in late 2005 he reviewed the investigation into Jim’s dis appearance and concluded there were four possible scenarios.

They were an accident, suicide, staged disappearance or foul play.

Grimstone believed despite the steel mill being a workplace with potential risks and hazards,

it was unlikely Jim had suffered some sort of accident. According to Grimstone, if Jim had suffered an accident at work, the searches would have found his body.

The police officer considered suicide was a strong possibility, “based on Jim’s mental state and unusual behaviour prior to his disappearance”.

Grimstone considered the evi dence did not indicate Donnelly had any kind of secret life or engaged in forward planning. Nor was there a reason why he would take such a course of action, Herdson’s report states.

“He [Grimstone] noted Jim was considered a devoted father to his two children and, irrespective of any relationship difficulties, if Jim were alive it would be expected he would make contact with his children.”

The police file was reviewed with the consideration Jim had been the victim of foul play and Grimstone found nothing to indi cate that was the case.

Herdson’s report concludes by saying the weight of the evidence favours the possibilities Jim died as a result of suicide or accident. h This series continues in the New Year with stories based on interviews with Tracey Donnelly and Inspector Dave Glossop, who used to hold the file on Jim’s disappearance.

People who helped during supermarket incident acknowledged

By CHRIS HARROWELL

East Auckland’s top police officer is acknowledging members of the public who intervened during a recent disorder incident at a local supermarket.

Counties Manukau East Police area commander, Inspector Scott Gemmell, says police thank eve ryone who reported a distress ing incident that unfolded at Beachlands Countdown.

As the Times reported last week, several calls were made to police

about disorder and fighting at the supermarket just before 3.30pm on November 20. Police received information suggesting members of a group were attempting to steal items, a spokesperson said. There were reports of about four peo ple in the store who were injured, although not seriously.

Numerous locals commented on a Facebook post about the inci dent with an eyewitness saying the women involved “lost control and started throwing and breaking things”.

Other people said a man in the supermarket slipped on a drink that had been spilled on the floor after being thrown by one of the people involved, while another said an older man and a woman were injured during the melee and bystanders attempted to intervene.

Police initially said three people were taken into custody following the incident, but have now con firmed four were. A 20-year-old woman is due to appear in the Manukau District Court at a later date on a driving-related mat

ter, while three others would be referred to Youth Aid.

“When we get information as an incident unfolds, such as descrip tions of people and clothing and vehicle colours and registrations, it greatly assists our response,” Gemmell says. “I would also like to acknowledge those who put their personal safety aside to help in this situation.

“Police generally discourage people from taking matters into their own hands as it can put them at greater risk of harm and police

are trying to avoid escalation in these situations.

“We advise anyone with con cerns for their safety or who’s wit nessing suspicious behaviour, to report this as soon as they can.”

Gemmell says people can do that by phoning police on 105 if the crime has already happened or on 111 if they’re in a situation where their safety is at risk or the incident is ongoing.

Information can also be pro vided anonymously via the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

June 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of east Auckland man Jim Donnelly. The Times is looking back, through a series of stories, at one of the most baffling unsolved cases in recent New Zealand history. Part one of this series (Times, Nov 30) detailed Jim’s behaviour and movements in the days preceding his disappearance.

Jim Donnelly was working at the Glenbrook Steel Mill in Waiuku when he disappeared in 2004. Times file photo Wayne Martin

Hitting out for Bellyful

Two tennis clubs are playing the game and raising funds for a great charity.

Howick Tennis Club and Sunnyhills Tennis Club mid week ladies tennis players joined together on November 23 to sup port and raise funds for Bellyful, a charity all could identify with.

Bellyful supplies meals to Howick and Eastern parents who need a little help with new babies,

EDUCATION

multiple or early births, where someone in the family is unwell, or who are going through a tough patch and have no loved ones nearby.

Bellyful is there at those times, when cooking and preparing meals is the last thing on a par ent’s mind, to provide nourishing free meals for the family, delivered to the doorstep.

No judgements made, no ques

Howick College team shines at Evolocity regionals

Howick College Year 11 students have achieved outstanding results at the recent 2022 Evolocity regional finals.

The Evolocity team has been awarded another first place in the nationals for the “Make Your Marquee” CAD design competition.

The team came away with multiple awards including first place in earth care, second place in collection and display of performance data and third place in engi neering excellence and innovation.

“Well done everyone and special thanks to Clifford Slough [engineering teacher] for all his support,” Howick College said.

tions asked: just meals at a time when a bit of timely support makes all the difference

An average monthly Bellyful Cookathon results in around 160

meals ready to be delivered to recipients.

Twenty-five of these meals go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Middlemore Hospital for parents

ANNIVERSARY Dannemora Gardens celebrates 20 years

Dannemora Gardens Metlifecare Retirement Village celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a ‘Bubbles & Canapés’ event on November 24 with more than 150 in attendance.

The village was originally owned by Vision and officially opened by Barry Curtis, Mayor of Manuaku City in 2002. It then became part of the Metlifecare franchise about 10 years ago and now has more than 200 independent residents in lifestyle apartments. Invited guest Damian Light, Howick Local Board chair, had the honour of cutting the cake and enjoyed talk ing with the residents.

staying in with their babies.

The enthusiastic tennis players raised $474 through donations and a raffle, sufficient to supply at least 100 meals.

Changing the accounting game

Experienced businesswoman, Trudy Kinghan is the promising newest addition to Howick’s Louw & Co CPA team and is looking to develop the company’s technological utilisation.

With more than 30 years of experience as a tax and business advisor, Trudy stands out from the pack of average accountants.

“Being from a business back ground, I’m a little bit different than your average accountant… your average accountant leaves school, goes to university and becomes an accountant which means they haven’t worked in the real world and are lacking experi ence of so much,” she says.

Louw & Co has also recently been recognised as a platinum partner with Xero, a New Zea land-based technology com pany that provides cloud-based accounting software.

“We’re a platinum partner with Xero which is quite an accolade and something that we are very proud of,” Trudy says.

Previously, Trudy has worked as the General Manager of Thomas Cook, New Zealand’s foreign exchange business where she re-engineered the company’s pro cesses before being promoted to

work in their London headquarters.

For Trudy, customer service is of the utmost importance, and she is determined to keep up the com munity philosophy that Louw & Co

adhere to.

“We are only here to help the client. We’re there to make not just their life easier but their busi ness better,” she says.

“Our specialty is understanding our clients and knowing what they need. We know what they don’t know regarding their business.”

Trudy says that owning a busi ness is busy and that means peo ple don’t get a chance to look at the bigger picture.

“We know from experience that if we can have a more day-to-day knowledge of their activities, we can provide greater help.

“We have a very wide variety of clients, which gives us the oppor tunity to compare and judge busi nesses in the same field”.

Trudy says that Louw & Co is looking to incorporate a new social media app named Tim works which allows clients to get in touch with accountants by sending a text message instead of an email.

“We’re wanting to work more with the clients – we want to be talking to them about their busi ness on a more regular basis and that’s how technology will help us,” she says.

Louw & Co upholds an open-

door policy and has a high degree of tolerance for people just drop ping in without making a book ing which is something that most accounting firms don’t do.

“If they have a problem, we want solve it now so we encourage people walking through the door,” Trudy says.

Trudy is looking to change the social norm that a client is looked after by only one accountant, say ing it is outdated and isn’t favour able for the client if their accoun tant is sick or away.

“I believe if someone phones, any one of the accountants should be able to have a conversation with the client to the same level of knowledge… that’s what tech nology brings, the ability to have knowledge of any prior conversa tions and enhance customer expe rience.

“It doesn’t matter how small they think they are or how big they are, we can help them.

“We are always actively looking at how clients can improve what they do,” she says.

Trudy Kinghan

Right: Howick Local Board chair Damian Light with Dannemora Gardens – Metlifecare Retirement Village manager, Rebecca Mentor.

Celebrating, from left, are Liam Beintken, James Slough, Max Dowdall, Jake Kirby, Jack Want and Joe Thistlethwaite (aka The Loyal Engineers).

Members of the Howick and Sunnyhills tennis clubs’ mid-week ladies tennis squads. Photo supplied

Howick 175 pop-up classic car display

Pop-Up event for the 175 year will continue to celebrate Howick’s transport history and this month feature about 20 classic Jaguar cars, many of which are local east Auckland cars and featured in Richard Waugh’s recently published book Classic Jaguars in New Zealand. A wide array of rare cars will be displayed by their keen owners from 1930s SS/Jaguar cars to post-war favourites like the XK120 and Mark VII to a range of classics from more recent decades. The classic Jaguar owners will be available to talk about their cars and a special Christmas discount

offer of signed books of Classic Jaguars in New Zealand will be available.

Saturday, December 10, 8am to 12.30am, Fencible

Walk, 110 Picton Street, Howick. For more information phone Steve 021 656024 or Richard 022 5339400.

Christmas choices galore at popular Classy Crafts market

Christmas is racing towards us and after a year of challenges we are faced with seeking out authentic gifts for friends and family in time for the big day.

Why not enjoy the pleasant Classy Crafts Indoor Market vibe as you view the vast range of handcrafted products?

There you can find handmade scented candles, hemp oil natural products, Fay’s beaded jewellery, Fiona Clark’s art products, Craftykins crocheted toys, Ross’s creative wooden furniture, the Funky Elephants home decor, books by local author Marilyn J Bakker, Sandie’s beautifully sewn household products, Tina’s knitted-with-love children’s jumpers, Annette’s quality shawls and Bruce’s hand-crafted wooden toys and much more.

Inspirational convenors, Cathy and Mel, thank the many shoppers and visitors to the Classy Crafts Indoor Market at the Picton Centre on Saturday, and are pleased to confirm two further opportunities for pre-Christmas shopping for wonderful, unique handcrafted gifts on December 10 at Picton Centre and December 17 at

Bucklands Beach Community Hall, with both venues operating between 9am – 1pm.

Love local, shop local and support your local craftspeople. Merry Christmas to you all.

This Saturday’s pop-up will feature 20 classic Jaguars. Photo supplied

There’s a vast range of handcrafted products at the Classy Crafts Indoor Market. Photo supplied

Accolades for Eric and team in finals

Year 13 Pakuranga College student Eric Irani was named an individual of the year at the recent Young Enterprise Scheme East Auckland regional finals. It’s a heady title and one awarded to students who demon strate strong leadership qualities.

The skills to motivate team members, support peers’ growth and be accountable for the busi ness are essential, organisers said.

Eric is the CEO of Young Enterprise business HIP Cards, selling playing cards designed to promote cultural inclusivity by teaching players how to greet each other in different languages.

This year all precedents were bro ken, with the award going to three outstanding students in the east Auckland competition, includ ing Eric. “I’m very honoured to be recognised but the business was a team effort. We knew we had a good product and we worked hard to get it out there,” says Eric.

The idea for the product came after discovering that ethnic com munities make up around a fifth of New Zealand’s population, a statis tic derived from the 2018 census.

Year 13 business studies teacher

David Dunlop says, “Eric was com mitted to the business and his role within it from the outset. He reached out to everyone he could including politicians, media, local schools and the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, which resulted in the ministry filming the group and publicising their initiative.”

Thanks to the efforts of Eric and fellow team members Joshua Hall, Aman Kumar and Lucas Greenwood, HIP Cards secured a spot in the top eight businesses for the east Auckland region.

The team went on to present

at the regional finals, where they were awarded the Cultural Excellence Award and were named runners-up in the National Excellence Award for Best Social Enterprise.

“We have been pleased with the continued strong performance of Pakuranga College teams in the Young Enterprise Scheme, with two groups, HIP Cards and Prefix, being included in the top eight businesses for east Auckland this year. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our stu dents,” Dunlop says.

Top Chinese vocalists on song

Nine top Chinese singers pre sented an extraordinary con cert – the 2022 Solo Vocalists’ Concert – in Botany on November 25.

It featured a range of popular classics and contemporary songs in Chinese, Maori, Italian, French and German and met with enthusastic applause and praise.

The concert was organised by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) and Pakuranga Chinese Association, sponsored by Steven Wong, director of the federation, and Southern Alps Group.

Howick Local Board chair Damian Light, Local Board mem ber Peter Young and representa tives from the FCANZ attended the concert, with an audience of around 300 people who were

completely immersed in the music.

“It was a wonderful event, showcasing incredible talent,” Light said.

“It was a great afternoon, and it was a privilege to thank the performers at the end for shar ing their amazing voices with us. Thank you for organising it and inviting me to attend.”

“In the concert, nine top Chinese vocalists sang with out amplification, accompanied by piano and accordion, for the audience to listen to the acoustic music, find the beauty of sing ers’ voice and live performance,” organisers said.

Some audience members agreed. “We really enjoyed it! We look forward to the next concert of its kind,” one said.

Demand rises for ITC graduates

At International Travel College (ITC) and Study from Home, they teach students all about the trav el and tourism industry, all with the intent of helping students gain jobs and careers.

ITC has campuses in Botany Town Centre, Central Auckland, Whangarei, and also offers stu dents the option to Study From Home from anywhere in New Zealand. Many of their gradu ates are walking out the door at ITC and getting hired “practically immediately”.

“Right now, travel and tourism providers all over New Zealand and the world are pouncing on anyone with qualifications look

ing for work,” says ITC marketing manager Melissa Jenkins.

“We are constantly hearing from those in the industry about the shortage of workers and reading about it on the news as well.”

Jenkins says they’re also hear ing from past students about how quickly they are moving up the ranks.

One student, Sinead McDonnell, finished her ITC Diploma this year. In that time, she gained employ ment at a Sudima Hotel, was promoted to food and beverage supervisor, and has been promoted again to front office duty manager.

“So many of our students have been getting work recently, that

it’s hard to keep up,” says Jenkins. “Here are some of the amazing roles our graduates have filled over the past couple of months.”

• AJ Hackett bungy crew Air New Zealand cabin crew (four students)

• Qantas/Jet connect cabin crew (two students)

• Disneyworld Florida internship (four students) House of Travel travel consultant

• Flight Centre travel consultant

• The Broadmoor Resort (USA) horse wrangler and guide and reception (2 students)

• Orbit travel groups and events consultant

• Le Meridien Noumea Resort &

Spa reservations agent

• Camp America camp counsellor Grand Millennium Hotel reser vation supervisor

• Haka Tours tour consultant (two students)

• Go Holidays Wholesale Consultant and Cruise Consultant First Light Travel – Travel Designers (four students)

• Menzies Aviation – Passenger ambassadors six students)

• Menzies Aviation – Front of house check-in agents (four students)

“We are so proud to see so many of our students gain employ ment in such amazing travel and tourism businesses all over New

Zealand and the world,” Jenkins says.

“On top of all the roles our gradu ates have already filled, we also keep track of some of the best roles available in the industry right now.

“We are hearing about so many roles that at this point we are only selecting and sharing the best with our graduates,” says Jenkins.

“If you have ever thought about working in travel and tourism, there has truly never been such a great time to get qualified and enjoy your pick of some fantastic jobs.

Email college@itc.co.nz, phone 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or visit www.itc.co.nz/contact-us.

Celebrating success are, from left, Eric Irani, Lucas Greenwood, Joshua Hall and Aman Kumar who secured a spot in the top eight businesses for the east Auckland region for their business ‘HIP cards’.

CAREERS

Fang Binlin (Tenor) sang O Sole Mio, by Di Capua. Photo supplied

ANNIVERSARY

CAB Pakuranga –Eastern Manukau is 45 and counting!

How can I help you? Is the question a Citizens Advice Bureau Pakuranga volun teer asks anyone and eve ryone who gets in touch irrespective of their age, gender or colour.

Forty-five years of vol untary service to the com munity is a wonderful achievement of which we are very proud. Volunteers at the Bureau may change but the commitment, dedi cation and spirit of helpful ness remains unchanged.

When CAB Pakuranga came into being in 1977 there were 274 enquiries in the first four weeks itself. The enquiries continue to rise as do the visits to the CAB web site (www.cab.org.nz)

However, the enquir ies remain practically the same:

“How can I get custody of my children?”

“My landlord wants to increase the rent two months into the tenancy. Can he do that?”

“I am being bullied at work, who do I complain to?”

“Can you organise a food parcel for me?”

“Which form do I need to fill to sponsor my parents?”

“The TV stopped working

within 10 days of purchas ing it and the shop owner doesn’t want to do anything about it. What can I do?”

“How much time will it take to roast the chicken?”

No enquiry is trivialised and volunteers always strive to give the best pos sible advice, which is inde pendent, confidential and unbiased. Volunteers have access to a well-researched and up-to-date database.

There are many volun teers at CAB Pakuranga coming in week after week for years and years and yet finding it worth their time. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a smile on the face of a client

who came in stressed and frustrated. Our ‘brag book’ is evidence of satisfied cli ents. We do get an occa sional ‘difficult client’ who creates a stir but nothing that can’t be handled with a little empathy and tact.

CAB Pakuranga has come a long way since its incep tion. More ways are always being looked at for helping the community. Free legal clinics, immigration clin ics, counselling services, migrant and youth work shops etc. are constantly being hosted.

Hoping to be around for many more years to come!

h Louise Boswell, Manager

RSA clubrooms now open twice a week

Eighteen months after the closure of the Howick RSA Clubrooms in Wellington Street, newly co-opt ed executive member Margaret Hawkeswood is pleased members are able to use the old RSA for some activities while awaiting the building’s redevelopment.

The clubrooms will be open to members and friends on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 2pm.

“The executive com mittee wants to recon nect with members and do better in communicat ing the future redevelop ment and future options,” Margaret said.

“I have self-appointed myself the RSA Social Co-ordinator.

“There are some RSA groups e.g. snooker, indoor bowls, Women’s Section, which are in recess waiting for the rebuild.”

Margaret can be con tacted at 027 7238473. “Or come along on Tuesdays or Thursdays to the Wellington Street club rooms for a chat and free tea or coffee.”

Meanwhile, Margaret said the ukulele and majong groups are very happy with their home base at Bosun’s Bar at The Good Home in Howick –the RSA’s temporary base while rebuilding is going on at the RSA.

BEACHLANDS

Photo

CHRISTMAS CRUNCH:

The majority of Kiwis feel stressed about the cost of this year’s Christmas, according to the latest research from personal finance information website Banked.

A survey of 1020 New Zealanders found that 60 per cent of Kiwis describe themselves as either a ‘little stressed’ (46 per cent) or ‘very stressed’ (14 per cent) about the expenditure involved with this year’s festivities.

Women are feeling under more pressure than men, with 70 per cent reporting some level of stress, compared with 49 per cent of men.

Banked’s Christmas spending report found that Kiwis will spend an average of $623 on gifts this year. Women said they expect to spend $566 on average, while for men that figure climbs to $712.

“With rocketing inflation and a cost-of-living crisis to contend with, lots of New Zealanders are really feeling the pinch this Christmas,” says

“Many will be worrying about their personal finances when they should be able to wind down and appreciate some well-earned time off with friends and loved ones.”

Banked’s research also found that sustainability is an important consideration for Kiwis

when buying gifts. Almost twothirds (65 per cent) say they would be willing to pay more for a gift if it was sustainable, such as one that involved zero waste or was made from recyclable materials.

Younger people are even more interested in sustainable gift-giving, with 76 per cent of those aged 18-24 (falling into the Gen Z age group) stating that they would be willing to pay more for a sustainable gift.

Conversely, under half (49 per cent) of those aged 55 and older say they would be willing to pay extra for a gift if it was sustainable.

“Sustainability is a vital issue and it’s pleasing that so many Kiwis are willing to support it, even if it costs them a little extra at the checkout,” says McHugh.

TOP WAYS TO SAVE THIS CHRISTMAS

“Christmas is an expensive time and many feel pressure to spend money that they don’t have,” says McHugh. 

“Don’t feel an obligation to buy gifts you’ll struggle to afford or take part in every costly social event. Put your wallet and your wellbeing first.”



Secret Santa or group gifting – “Arranging a Secret Santa is a great way to cut costs. It can also be lots of fun and lets you focus on getting a great gift for one person. 



Don’t feel obligated to spend beyond your means –

“Chipping in with others for a group gift is another excellent way to save, plus it makes it possible to purchase an otherwise unaffordable present,” says McHugh.  Set a budget (and stick to it) – “It can be easy to overspend at Christmas. But by setting a budget and keeping track of your spending, you’ll make managing your finances over the festive period much easier,” advises McHugh.

Kevin McHugh, head of publishing at Banked.

Museum dates Digital story book ‘Nigel’s Christmas Wish’ free

WORKSHOP: EXPERIENCE A POLISH CHRISTMAS

Christmas story time has been made a little more wonderful with the launch of ‘Nigel’s Christmas Wish’ (Te tōmina kirihimete o Nigel), a free online story book created by The Warehouse in two languages, English and te reo Māori.

Nigel’s Christmas Wish is a continuation of The Warehouse’s Christmas story about a Nutcracker with a special wish –to be proudly atop the Christmas tree, a position traditionally reserved for an angel or star. As the story unfolds, we discover if Nigel’s wish finally comes true.

The digital book also has optional narration so people can sit back and listen to the audio recorded by media personality Kara Rickard.

The Warehouse Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Jonathan Waecker, said “With the holiday season upon us, we know Christmas books are being dusted off ready for story time. We wanted to make this Christmas a little more festive for all Kiwis

with an all-new, free digital Christmas book.

“Nigel’s Christmas Wish is a charming take on a classic Christmas wish story and leans into what we are all about at The Warehouse – making Christmas wishes big or small come true by having something for everyone, no matter the budget.”

Kiwis can also win a limited edition printed copy of Nigel’s Christmas Wish in both languages by entering online at the

end of the story.

“We hope that spending time together reading Nigel’s story as a family may just be the start of a new Christmas tradition in many Kiwi households,” adds Waecker.

Nigel’s Christmas Wish was written by Veronica Copestake and illustrated by Joseph Qiu and Pawel Zawislak from Watermark.

Friends and whānau can read the story in English and te reo Māori on nigel.thewarehouse. co.nz.

Enjoy family fun creating your own paper and wool Christmas decorations to take home after a presentation. For ages 7-adult. Cost is $8 per person and includes all materials provided (cash or internet banking is available, sorry no Eftpos). Held on December 4, 2pm-4pm and again on December 18, 2pm-4pm at Polish Museum, 125 Elliot St, Howick and available for groups to book their own time. Contact museum staff on 533 3530 or email phtmuseum@outlook.com.

HOWICK SANTA PARADE

We are pleased to take part, weather permitting, on December 11 from 1pm. Please note the museum will be closed for a period during the parade, so if you are out this way, please come down to the main street of Howick and wave us by. It is also the culmination of the Howick 175 Years commemoration and the Christmas Markets will be open. Click on https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2022/12/ howick-santa-parade/

POLISH CHRISTMAS COTTAGE

Sgt Barry’s cottage kitchen (across from the church) at Howick Historical Village has been decorated in traditional Polish style and is open for viewing at the Village on Bells Rd. We hope to take part in the Live Night Christmas celebration as costumed hosts on December 3 between 5pm9pm. The Village is planning a large night this year with extra food stalls and entertainment. Historical Village entry fees apply. Click on https:// www.historicalvillage.org.nz/ eventslivedays

ANNUAL CLOSING 2022

The Polish Museum will be shut for Christmas and New Year from Sunday, December 18 at 5pm and will reopen at 10am on Tuesday, January 17. If you are planning to visit from out of town during this period please phone or text the after-hours number 021 1070 169 in plenty of time, as the work email and answer phone may not be cleared during the break.

Kiwis can follow the tales of a loveable nutcracker and his heart-warming story in a new Christmas classic.

The story can be read in English or te reo Māori. Photo supplied

HBH Group on a mission to help

HBH Senior Living has estab lished HBH Group, a new brand that stands behind their group of aged care homes, vil lages and community services for seniors.

In the 45 years since Howick Baptist Healthcare was founded in 1977, the charitable organisa tion has grown significantly. From just one rest home and hospital in Howick’s Union Road, HBH now owns and manages several aged care homes, villages and commu nity outreach services.

“HBH Group sits at the heart of our care homes and services,”

CHRISTMAS

explains Bonnie Robinson, HBH Group CEO. “As we’ve expanded over the years, our offering has become more complex. The new name reflects this growth and allows us to realise our mission in a fuller way.”

“More than a name change, we have also refreshed HBH’s vision, mission and brand promise to bet ter reflect that our philosophy of care extends to all seniors in our community, not just those living in our care facilities,” she explains.

Now called HBH Senior Living Howick Views, the group’s flagship Howick facility in Union Road has

expanded in recent years. Today, it offers a state-of-the-art, 97-bed hospital and a 32-bed rest home, as well as independent apartments, a popular day programme for the wider community and respite care for families and caregivers.

Since 2020, HBH has also owned and managed Gulf Views, a bou tique, 45-bedroom rest home in Cockle Bay, now renamed HBH Senior Living Gulf Views.

One of the key tenets of HBH Group’s philosophy is a belief that all seniors should have a safe, healthy and age-friendly place to live, wherever they choose to call

home. Lack of social housing for older people in Auckland remains a growing problem, so in 2017 HBH purchased Stevenson Village in Howick to ensure a continued sup ply of affordable rental accommo dation for seniors.

With few other organisations specialising in affordable housing for older people, supply is becom ing more and more limited, while demand is increasing rapidly.

For the HBH Group team, ful filling their mission extends to all seniors in their community, not just those living in their rest homes, hospitals and independ

ent apartments. In 2019, the group established Virtual Village East, a social and support network for east Auckland seniors that offers a range of senior-friendly events, programmes and activities, both online and in-person.

“The concept of a virtual village to connect and support seniors has been very successful, particu larly during recent lockdowns, so we’re hoping to expand the net work to other regions as well,” says Robinson.

h Visit www.hbhgroup.org.nz or contact Bonnie Robinson, CEO, at Bonnie.Robinson@hbh.org.nz.

Nativity showcase uplifting

Parents, caregivers and family members were treated to a per formance from Trinity Kindy kids on Friday, November 25.

The annual nativity showcase is a highlight on the kindergarten calendar, having been in operation on stage for more than 20 years with hundreds of pre-schoolers having taken on the role of Mary, Joseph, the Three Wise Men, angels, barn animals and even Santa and his elves over the years.

This year 22 rising stars took the stage to perform in front of cheer ing family members and teaching staff.

Head teacher Engela Nel said the nativity performance is an important event for the early childcare centre because it offers children an opportunity to develop communication skills, be part of a collaborative learning environ ment and experience stories and symbols of their own and other cultures.

“Our nativity is linked to our philosophy and goals based on Christian faith. There is also a strong focus on building a sense of belonging for our rising stars,” Nel says.

“Performing on stage is a great

confidence booster. The applause and cheers the children hear from the audience is very uplifting and

Set in 30 acres of gardens, it’s a secure, friendly neighbourhood with all the facilities you could wish for. A bowling green, indoor pool, spa, sauna, library, snooker tables and much more.

These delightful, fully renovated stand-alone and duplex villas are fully modernised to a high standard and come with their own internal access garages.

It’s rare that we have such a selection available, so get in quick!

us to arrange a viewing on 09 576 5990 or Sylvie 027 314 5767, Kate 021 855 735.

Call Kate or Sylvie now on 09 576 5990 or 021855735 to arrange a viewing and village tour. *License to occupy

deeply encouraging to even the most nervous and uncertain little performer.”

The annual nativity showcase is a highlight on the kindergarten’s calendar. Photo supplied

RAY WHITE EASTERN GROUP

PRESENTS PASSION & PROPERTY

We are proud to promote our charity event in support of our partner - Ronald McDonald House of Charities. On October 19th the Ray White Eastern Group held a property event - Passion & Property that was aimed at educating and informing the public about current infl uences on the property market, mortgage rates, and when the best time to purchase property could be.

Held at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and open to all residents, this free event was a night full of exciting auctions and informed discussions. All proceeds were donated to RMHC which raised over $6,800, this impressive amount raised will provide 35 nights of meals & accommodation for the RMHC families. Special thank you to all of our generous donors.

We look forward to connecting more with our community at upcoming Ray White events. To stay up to date with our future events, see our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/raywhitehowick

Follow us on Instagram @RaywhiteEasternGroup

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8089

Across - 7, Disagreeable. 8, Hiatus. 9, Spinet 10, Animals. 12, Stage. 15, Adore. 16, Wizened. 18, Bridge. 20, Karate. 22, Newfoundland.

Down - 1, Pinioned. 2, Pant. 3, Bristle. 4, Feast. 5, Absinthe. 6, Mere. 11, Mark down 13, Greeting 14, Dickens. 17, Heron. 19, Rung. 21, Role.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8089

Across - 7, Ceiling price. 8, Spine-t. 9, Scored. 10, Her-bag-e. 12, Hippy. 15, St-one. 16, Reigned (reined). 18, Chisel 20, I-nmate. 22, Break-through. Down - 1, Help-meet. 2, P-L-an 3, On stag-e. 4, A-pi-sh. 5, Pi-lotin-g. 6, Peke (peek). 11, Ban-is-ter. 13, P-rest-ige. 14, De-light. 17, FL-ake. 19, Hob-O. 21, Room (rev.).

ADVERTISING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Advertising Codes of Practice issued by the Advertising

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 mislead ing 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 com missioning 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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9. To cancel an advertisement a cancella tion number must be obtained from us.

Times Newspaper Limited,

10 Central Terrace, Howick (behind Rice’s Mall) www.times.co.nz

SITUATIONS VACANT

Summer won’t be normal

The summer holidays are fast approaching, and, like many New Zealanders around the country, I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and enjoying the warmer weather.

However, summer this year won’t be back to ‘normal’ just yet, as New Zealand still faces one of the worst workforce shortages in 50 years.

country is experiencing worker shortages and the competition to be the most attractive destination is on.

However, New Zealand is barely competing.

While countries like Australia opened to all visa holders at the start of February, it took almost half a year longer for New Zealand to do the same.

Homestay Coordinator / Groups Administrator

We are looking for a Homestay Coordinator / Groups Administrator to join our International Students Department. This important role will include: ensuring a safe physical and emotional environment is provided for all international students, coordinating all homestay placements, providing administration assistance for short term group students, being the 24 hour emergency contact during some weeks of the term.

This position would suit someone who is a team player with a positive approach and a can-do attitude and is willing to learn. The position will be 20 hours per week. Term time only. Starting 23 January 2023.

Please send a cover letter, your CV and completed staff application form (available on the Howick College website) to jennifer.roshan@howick.school.nz

Applications close on Friday 16 December 2022 at 3pm DE285674

SITUATIONS VACANT

Venluree is NZ’s leading blind manufacturer and in the past 6 years we have expanded into the curtain industry. Due to the success of this venture and the ongoing demand we are looking for an experienced sewing machinist.

Our manufacturing facility is located in the Highbrook Industrial area of East Tamaki Auckland. All machinery, tools, and material will be supplied.

To be considered for the role you must have the following attributes:

• Able to work at speed while maintaining excellent quality and workmanship Keen to learn as we will show you all duties within the department

Applicants for this position should be entitled to work in NZ. If this sounds like you then please apply in the strictest of confidence by sending an up to date CV to: tarsis@venluree.co.nz Text or WhatsApp to 021 222 8847

FIXED TERM LEARNING ASSISTANT

We have a vacancy for a classroom-based Learning Assistant to support a Year 7 student with learning needs. The posi�on is fixed term (term �me only) commencing on Wednesday, 1 February 2023 with the likelihood of being extended term by term throughout the 2023 school year.

This role is for 21.5 hours per week. Remunera�on is in line the Support Staff Collec�ve Agreement 2022-2024.

Please forward your CV and covering le�er by 4.00pm, Wednesday, 14 December 2022 to The Principal, Farm Cove Intermediate, email: enquiries@farmcove.school.nz DE285678

You might notice that some food services will be slower; hotels might not be able to offer their full range of catering or cleaning; hospital wait times will be longer and retail shops you visit for your Christmas shopping might be operating with fewer staff than usual.

These shortages exist because the Labour Government was far too slow to open New Zealand’s borders to much-needed skilled workers and working holidaymakers.

Instead of preparing for life after Covid, the Government patted itself on the back, raised the drawbridge and made New Zealand a fortress for longer than it should have.

Right now, there is a global war for talent. Every

COMMUNITY

Worse still, New Zealand isn’t offering anywhere near the same benefits to offshore migrants as our overseas counterparts.

For example, New Zealand’s health sector is in crisis and needs all the frontline staff it can get. Currently, we are short of 4000 nurses, hundreds of midwives and desperately need a raft of medical specialists.

Despite this, Labour continues to force nurses and midwives to wait two years before they can even apply for residency, while Australia is granting them immediate residency. Why would a migrant nurse choose New Zealand over Australia when the cost of living here is higher and there is no certainty of immediate residency?

Yet Labour is granting immediate residency to food

MP for Botany Christopher Luxon

technologists and graduates with PhDs in art history, but not for desperately needed nurses.

To make matters worse, the day after the Reserve Bank announced the largest Official Cash Rate hike in New Zealand’s history, it also stated that the current immigration settings are a handbrake on the economy and that interest rates will continue to increase as a result.

Homeowners are in for a pummelling. Bigger mortgage payments will blow up household budgets, creating more financial stress and taking Kiwis backwards. The Government’s immigration policies have been a disaster and Kiwis are now paying the price with higher inflation and higher interest rates.

While Labour is asleep at the wheel, a National government would speed up visa processing times which are creating bottlenecks for businesses trying to hire workers, and immediately add the desperately needed nurses, midwives and health specialists to the straight-toresidency pathway.

 Christopher Luxon is Leader of the Opposition and MP for Botany

Freemasons help Down Syndrome kids

Howick Freemasons keep giving to local kids with Downs Syndrome.

With an association starting in 2017 between Howick Lodge and the UpsideDowns Education Trust, the Down Syndrome community in the greater Howick Pakuranga district has been regularly helped

SITUATIONS VACANT

with speech-training costs.

This year the lodge’s gift of more than $12,000 should provide for a year of professional speech-training therapy for up to 12 local families. “Communication is the key to a better life for these children and the assistance given by speech, reading and writ-

ing will raise the prospects for their education, social and employment futures,” a lodge spokesperson said.

“As usual fund-raising this year was begun with Howick Lodge members digging deep into their own pockets but supported by The Freemasons Charity, the national charity body.”

SITUATIONS VACANT

BUILDERS WANTED

LIBRARIAN

Are you a well organised person with great interpersonal skills? If so, we need you in our library team

Sancta Maria College is a Year 7-13 State Integrated Catholic Secondary School with over 1000 students in East Auckland. We seek an enthusiastic LIBRARIAN with communication and library skills. The successful person would need the ability to interact positively in a professional manner with staff and students.

LIVE LOCAL, WORK LOCAL

This is a fixed term position for 2023 reviewable at the end of 2023. Term time only, 15 hours per week (2 days) – Wednesday & Friday.

Applications close: 19 December 2022

Send your applications to m.littlejohn@sanctamaria. school.nz

Full details of job description and application form on our school website www.sanctamaria.school.nz/employment/ DE285695

SITUATIONS VACANT

Feedback What’s on

IS THIS REALLY DEMOCRACY?

When you appoint people who are totally unqualified for the portfo lios they are given at great cost to taxpayers, they set up bureaucra cies to do the work for them.

Because the ministers in charge of setting up each bureaucracy are unqualified as employers to choose the right person, as happened in education, we often end up with a mishmash of ideas from individu als pushing their own often-flawed ideology which have – as in read ing and maths – and ended up in disaster.

Proof of this incompetency can be found in debates and question time where those on one side of the house continually blame the others’ failings on the other and so forth and so on.

This often takes days and weeks to sort out when very little gets done. When it does get done, again at exorbitant taxpayer expense, the incoming government imme diately dismantles it all to fit their own ideology.

So we end up with what we have now – scores of unfinished projects awaiting parties to agree on – which they seldom do – and any progress, transport and climate change are examples, only occurs in fits and starts and sometimes not at all.

This has a greater resemblance to ‘lemonocracy’ than what is per ceived to be democracy.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay

Sometimes a phenomenon so uncannily manifests the under currents of the times from which it sprang that it becomes the vivid symbol of them.

Ram-raids: children running amok on behalf of a gang to smash through the façade of a shopfront with a stolen vehicle to snatch away the spoil, contemptuous of law that can do little to stop them. Why are these happening? Because politicians ran amok on behalf of their gang, smashed through the façade of our civilised society with the misused vehicle of parliamen tary authority and with lockdowns made spoil of our founding tradi tions, principles, freedoms and rights, in furtherance of a destruc tive, unwanted agenda.

When our ruler’s lack of integrity has so infiltrated our system that they are no longer held account able by it, even children realise, eve rything is up for grabs and when government thus vitiates its moral authority, all that’s left to rule by are spin, endless floods of legislation, media control, security services, threats of enforcement, economic mayhem and the inertia and fears of decent people.

Heedless of 88,000 submissions, political ideologues are prepared to tear our country apart to get what they want. Their Three Waters ramraid will devastate New Zealand.

Rees

BOOK SALE

Summer book sale now on at Pakuranga Library. Grab some bargains for reading at the beach or bach, three for $1 or fill a bag for $2, Pakuranga. library@aucklandcouncil.govt. nz, Ph 377 0209.

TOWARDS CHRISTMAS

The Howick Singers present Towards Christmas 2022, Friday, December 9, 7.30pm, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Vincent Street, Howick. Door sales, cash donation. Contact Cynthia 576 5124, Lynne 576 9084 or Hilary 021 780 083.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WITH PINECONES

Parents and children are invited to join Iris Cheng and her team to make Christmas decorations with pinecones. The production of your work will participate in a charity sale on the spot, with proceeds donated to Starship National Children’s Hospital (materials provided). Botany Library, Saturday, December 10, 10.15am- 12.30pm. To regis ter email botany.library@auck landcouncil.govt.nz.

EASTERN DISTRICT COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB

PAKURANGA STORIES EXHIBITION EXTENDED

Due to public request the Pakuranga Stories Exhibition, an audio/visual display by Karen Lawson on the his tory of the area, incorporating “Reflections on the Pakuranga Creek” by Marilyn Bakker at the Pakuranga Library, has been extended and will remain open to the general public until mid-December.

The Kākahu Tūrangawaewae (contemporary cloak) has

and sing or play an instru ment. Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall, Wharf Road, Bucklands Beach. Non-members $5. For more info phone Bev 021 11 56 866.

PAKURANGA CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT

at 5pm. Adults $25, seniors and tertiary students $20, school children $10. Door sales, cash only. Please note starting time.

RAFFLE DRAW

Kesh was thrilled to receive the honour at the glittering ceremony attended by hundreds of VIPs including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Party Leader Christopher Luxon. “It came as a big surprise but we’ve been working so hard and it’s pay ing off,” a delighted Kesh says. “This award is about our whole team. They’re all really excited and proud. I’ve got a great team who provide excellent customer service and that’s why we won. It’s all down to teamwork and our loyal customers.”

The major honour follows her having won the Retail Business of the Year Award in 2019 and caps off a successful year for Kesh,

Sutcliffe, East Tamaki Heights

On Wednesday, December 14, 7pm, is our final evening for 2022. Everyone is welcome to listen to our live music or come

Lessons For Our World. A pro gramme of music from the choir will support readings from different faiths and belief systems telling the Christmas story through modern and tra ditional music. The first perfor mance of a new work by David Gordon will also feature, along side international mezzo sopra no Andrea Creighton, organist Michael Bell and the Rainbow Ringers on handbells. Sunday, December 11, All Saints Church

POWERLIFTING Medal haul for Holmes

Local athlete Patrick Holmes came away with silver and three bronze medals in the 2022 Commonwealth Powerlifting competition.

It was a solid result since training was limited because of ligament dam age to his foot. He recorded two personal bests (PBs) and an equal PB in his events.

His father/coach Tim Holmes said, “It was a great result and I could not be

more proud of him. Patrick would like to thank his good friend James Wilson who picked up four golds of his own, Steve and Agnes Wilson, Polly Websdell and owner of Get Strength Gym John Strachan for their support.”

Patrick is away on Thursday for the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Hamilton where he will compete in four events at swimming.

Highland Parking Sewing Group and Friendly Bear Makers raffle draw result drawn December 1: No. 20 Blue Diamonds – Jill, 1; No. 87 Orange Spades – Yu Heng, 2; No. 69 Orange Squares – Kathy, 3; No. 3 Orange Squares – Sylvia, 4; No.21 Orange Spades – Cecilia, 5; No. 49 Pink Hearts – Colleen, 6; No. 19 Green Clubs – Daphne, 7; No. 63 Green Diamonds – Maria, 8; No. 79 Orange Diamonds –Colin, 9; No. 34 Blue Hearts –Amy, 10; No. 40 Green Squares – Lola, 11.

who’s seen her business grow from strength to strength since opening Xtreme Beauty clinic and spa at Ormiston Town Centre in early 2021.

She launched Xtreme Beauty in Botany Junction in 2015 and owns the busy Xtreme Beauty and Xtreme Barbers in Beachlands.

Xtreme Beauty provides a range of ser vices including waxing, threading, eye lash extensions, massages, facials, skin tag removal and skin needling. They’ll be open late each day until 7pm or 9pm from Decem ber 17 with their normal hours resuming on January 4.

Kesh encourages people to book in advance at this busy time of year. “It’s a busy and stressful time and we can help people who want to look their best for all their big occasions. We take walk-ins but clients who don’t have time to wait can pre-book.”

“Patrick would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for his support from the local community as it has been a tough year for a lot of fami lies and he hopes everyone has a good break and looks forward to 2023,” Tim said.

FUTSAL Farm Cove Intermediate school win Auckland Schools Futsal tournament

After an impressive AIMS Games performance, the Farm Cove Intermediate (FCI) year 8 boy’s Futsal team have been crowned the winners of the Auckland-wide schools Futsal Tournament.

FCI had been crowned champions on the South Eastern Zone Futsal tour nament earlier in the year, which qualified them for the Auckland-wide championship.

It has been a year of suc cess for FCI Futsal with the team making it to the final of the AIMS Games, falling short of the title, losing to Remuera Intermediate 8-2.

After an unbeaten run in

Intermediate (RI) .

FCI wouldn’t accept heartbreak twice in the year, prevailing over RI

4-2

8 boys.

“I am incredibly proud to be their coach this year. They are the most hard working boys,” says coach Darryl Hamilton.

The director of east Auckland’s Xtreme Beauty, Kesh Nand, has just been named Businesswoman of the Year at the 2022 Indian Newslink Business Awards.

THREE WATERS RAM RAID

been completed by local weaver Paia Swanson Terepo and was formally gifted to the Pakuranga Library on Sunday, November 27. In due course the cloak will be hung on the wall to symbolise the library as a place of belonging for our hapori/community.

the recent Auckland-wide schools tournament, FCI made it through to the final against AIMS Games rivals, Remuera

to be crowned the Auckland zone futsal champions for year

Patrick Holmes

The year 8 Farm Cove Intermediate Futsal team was crowned Auckland Zone champions last week. Photo supplied

Daniels named coach of the year

By BEN PLUMMER

akuranga College director of Sport, Clive Daniels has been named coach of the year at the 2022 Auckland hockey prize giving.

Daniels had a successful stint coaching the Auckland men’s hockey team at the National Hockey Championship in Dunedin this past September, just missing out on a 3rd place finish.

Alongside the Auckland men’s team, Daniels is also the head coach at the Howick Pakuranga hockey club, where he has been for 11 years, and runs the Pakuranga College 1st XI side.

“The award does mean a lot and shows that Auckland hockey val ues what I’m doing at the moment which is the most important thing,” says Daniels.

The Howick Pakuranga hockey club was also awarded the Men’s club of the year title, which can be attributed mostly to Daniels.

“When I started coaching at Howick Pakuranga, they were the bottom team… We put a plan together and within two years we won the competition,” he says.

In recognition of Daniels service to the Howick Pakuranga Hockey

Club, he was awarded a life mem bership this year.

“It means the world to me… I was quite surprised because all the other life members have been there for 25-30 years, but I’ve only been there for 10,” he says.

“To me however, I get more sat isfaction from building up a pro gramme and seeing people succeed than from any award”.

Throughout his coaching career, Daniels has rubbed shoulders with some of the best coaches and play ers in the world.

New Zealander, Shane McLeod, who has coached that national

Belgium hockey side to World Cup and Olympic games medals and is rated one of the best coaches in the world, is now mentoring Daniels at Auckland hockey.

“Coming from a background where I only picked up a hockey stick when I was 13, I’m very fortu nate to be in a situation now where I’m able to work with these highcalibre people,” Daniels says.

Daniels says his secret to success is his growth mindset as a coach and prioritising the importance of a good team culture.

“For me, anything I do in sport has got to do with building charac ter. Good people become good ath letes, that’s the secret,” he says.

Daniels says there are a few things that make a good culture –character, dedication, and talent.

“If you have those in the wrong order, people get big heads and they don’t gel together as a team.

“I enjoy what I’m doing now, coaching at this level. I don’t apply for positions because the minute you do that it becomes a job, it’s a chore, I think you lose enjoy ment when it becomes a job,” says Daniels. I’m still learning a lot, it’s a growth mindset. If you put the good processes in place, success will come.”

Young cricket fan inspired to try game

Flat Bush cricketer, 11-yearold Eliana Chanda, scored a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the superstars on the pitch at the Black Caps versus India match at Seddon Park on Sunday, November 27 when she won the chance to be an ANZ Coin Toss Kid.

Eliana, who attends Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School, won the opportunity to take part in the ANZ Coin Toss experience where she joined the captains Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan for the pre-match toss to determine who would bat or bowl first.

Eliana said, “I got to walk amongst the superstars, it was very exciting.”

New Zealand won the coin toss and Kane chose bowling. She got to see five strong overs before the rain came.

“I got to meet Tim Southee and Jimmy Neesham and they signed my bat. But, my favourite player is Kane WIlliamson, he’s a really good captain,” she said.

Eliana plays backyard cricket with her dad and sister and said watching the Black Caps game has inspired her to play cricket this season. She wants to try batting.

“I like the bit where they score, when a six happens. I like that because the ball goes super high and it’s so cool.”

ANZ Bank New Zealand head

of sponsorship Sarah Rogan said ANZ is proud to be able to give young fans like Eliana the chance to stand alongside their heroes and take part in the prematch custom.

“Sport is such an important part of a child’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically. We hope that by experiencing the magic of standing centre pitch, these kids feel inspired to give it their best at their own training and games.

”ANZ has been a sponsor of New Zealand Cricket for more than two decades, and the ANZ Coin Toss experience has been a key part of that. We hope this experience inspires the next generation of Black Caps and White Ferns to follow their dreams.”

Applications for the oppor tunity to take part in the ANZ Coin Toss experience are still open. Apply online via www. anzcricketworld.co.nz.

Clive Daniels with the cup awarded to the Auckland Hockey coach of the year.

ANZ coin toss winner Eliana Chanda with captains of India Shikhar Dhawan and New Zealand Kane Williamson. Photo supplied

Sunny Saturday full of runs

By BEN PLUMMER

At last, some good weather blessed Auckland at the weekend which saw all Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club (HPCC) games go ahead, with no shortage of runs.

HPCC’s premier men made the trip to Cornwall Park for the first round of the limited overs competition which proved to be a day for batting with almost 600 runs scored in the match.

Cornwall was dominant with the bat, setting HPCC a total of 312 thanks to opening batters Anil Nidamanuru (110) and Jack Cassidy (73). HPCC fell just short of the total, scoring 274 off their 50 overs, despite a 96 from opening batsman Bill Walsh and a 67 from Liam Winn.

There is no shortage of cricket planned for the premier men before the Christmas holiday break, beginning their T20 competition this week also. HPCC will host Papatoetoe in a local derby midweek on Wednesday before having another two T20 matches on Sunday at Lloyd Elsmore Park.

It was another high-scoring game for the Howick Pakuranga premier women’s side which saw the home

side come out on top with less than five overs to spare against Parnell.

Parnell notched up an impressive score of 202 off 50 overs on a day that proved to be difficult for bowling. Howick Pakuranga’s Saachi Shahri (44) and Holly Topp (40 not out) dug deep and steadied the ship with the bat despite some impressive bowling stats from Parnell’s Izzy Fox.

The HPCC women chased down the total in the 46th over with four wickets to spare and now sit second equal on the table after five rounds.

A special mention to Howick Pakuranga’s premier reserve men’s player Patrick Maher who scored 108 in the side’s impressive 200-run victory over Kumeu on Saturday.

RESULTS

Premier Men Jeff Crowe Cup Limited over Competition | Round 1

• Cornwall 312 (A Nidamanuru 110, J Cassidy 73; T Jolley 3-65) defeated Howick Pakuranga 274/8 (B Walsh 96, L Winn 67; M Gibson 2-32) by 38 runs.

• North Shore 197 (M Olsen 39; A Prasad 5-30) defeated Auckland University 123 (A Prasad 28; T Chitongo 5-28, W Clarke 4-57) by 74 runs.

• East Coast Bays 232 (M Ross 62; D James 3-31, J Sussex 3-34) defeated Takapuna District 164 (D James 70 not out; L Delport 5-31, B Smith 4-28) by 68 runs.

• Suburbs New Lynn 183 (N Fletcher 78; N Perera 3-32, J Plummer 2-7) lost to Parnell 184/8 (D Van Deventer 54 not out, N Perera 46 not out; A Patel 3-33) by two wickets.

Premier Men – Richard Jones Trophy Limited Over Competition | Round 1

• Eden Roskill 257 (H Chakraborty 107, M Abbas 65; N Bhana 2-39) lost to Grafton 259/5 (S Gunawardane 124 not out, D Taylor 59; H Johal 2-49) by five wickets.

• Birkenhead City 283/5 (A Jayampathi 83 not out, B Barnard 82; T Leggat 1-45) defeated

Ellerslie 258 (J Allan 78, A Alam 74; A Jayampathi 4-37) by 25 runs.

• Waitakere 286/3 (J Henderson 83, S Mirza 77; A Desai 2-45) defeated Hibiscus Coast 169 (D Kularathne 42; S Variath 4-26, P Pathiranage 3-24) by 117 runs.

• Kumeu 137 (R Jenner 40; N Deol 3-10, P Kumar 2-29) lost to Papatoetoe 139/2 (B Rowland 58 not out, R Gill 47; T Satti 1-25) by eight wickets.

Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition | Round 5

• Parnell 202/8 (Fill-in 73, M Way 37; J Penfold 2-31) lost to Howick Pakuranga 204/6 (S Shahri 44, H Topp 40 not out; I Fox 4-21) by four wickets.

• Cornwall 227/8 (K Perkins 82, A Ewart 35; N Matthews 2-37) defeated Auckland University 180 (K Gurrey 130; E Meachen 3-44, S Unka 2-23) by 47 runs.

• Takapuna District 194/4 (E Borcoski 65, S Borcoski 55; T Mataota 1-21) defeated Papatoetoe 116 (T Mataora 24; J Barnett 4-29) by 78 runs.

• <Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club Upcoming Fixtures

• Round 1, Premier Men T20 CompetitionHowick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Papatoetoe CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore Park- Wednesday December 7, 5.30pm.

• Round 2, Limited overs Jeff Crowe CupHowick Pakuranga Premier Men VS East Coast Bays Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore ParkSaturday December 10, 11am

• Round 6, Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Cornwall CC Premier Women at Lloyd Elsmore Park- Saturday December 10, 11am

• Round 2, Premier Men T20 CompetitionHowick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Cornwall CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore Park- Sunday December 11, 11am.

• Round 3, Premier Men T20 CompetitionHowick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Grafton United CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore ParkSunday December 11, 3pm.

Bronze at trampoline world champs

Former Macleans College student and the school’s trampoline coach Regan Langford (Upham House 2017-2021) won a bronze medal at the FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria, over the weekend of November 26-27.

After qualifying in third place, Regan and his partner James Dougal won bronze in the men’s synchronised trampoline, narrowly missing the silver medal by just 0.07 points. “Macleans College congratulates Regan on his result and looks forward to having him back coaching the school trampoline gymnasts in 2023,” the school said.

Our rest home and hospital in Union Road is now called HBH Senior Living Howick Views, and our Gulf Views rest home is now known as HBH Senior Living Gulf Views. We’ve also created a new brand that stands behind our growing ‘family’ of care homes and community services – HBH Group. Since HBH was founded back in 1977, our not-for-profit organisation has grown considerably. Today, we now own and manage several Auckland aged care homes, villages and community services for seniors, so this name reflects that.

These changes will not affect the excellent, responsive care for which HBH is well known. They’re simply another step towards fulfilling our mission of creating more opportunities for older people to age well and live fully. For

Introducing new names for HBH’s two Howick care facilities.

Two new names. One new brand behind them.

Regan Langford

Howick Pakuranga’s premier women are back to their winning ways after impressive batting performances from Saachi Shahri (Far left) and Holly Top (third from right).