Times - 16 November 2022

Armistice Day tribute

$20K IN FINES HANDED OUT

By CHRIS HARROWELL

More than $20,000 in fines has been issued to motorists unlawfully using a transit lane on a busy east Auckland road.

That’s among the information Auckland Transport (AT) released to Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown about enforcement of the controversial T2 lane on Pakuranga Road.

The lane extends from Dunrobin Place at the Highland Park Shopping Centre to Gossamer Drive and requires vehicles using the inside westbound lane to be occupied by at least two people between 6am-10am Monday to Friday.

Brown opposed the lane being established back in 2019 and started a petition that was signed by more than 1500 people calling

for it to be removed.

He previously said he’d had “hundreds” of local residents approach him with concerns about the lane.

Much of the worry was around the section between Cascades Road and Gossamer Drive and the 50 metre distance provided for traffic turning left out of Cascades Road and traffic turning left into Gossamer Drive.

Motorists with no passengers risk being fined should they enter the lane outside of the 50 metre zone depending on what time of day they do so.

An AT spokesperson said in May 2019 the T2 lane was a “temporary measure”.

Brown recently asked the agency for information about the lane’s enforcement, including when infringement officers moni-

tored it over the past 12 months.

He also asked how much money had been received in fines for people illegally using it since it was established.

AT replied infringements were issued on several days during the months of July, August, October, November and December last year, as well as in February and May this year.

Memorial

Armistice Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, typically held at 11am on the 11/11.

Times photo Wayne Martin

POLICE INVESTIGATING HIGHBROOK STABBING

Aperson has died and three others were injured during a violent incident in east Auckland.

He says three people with serious stab wounds and one person with a serious gunshot wound selfpresented at Middlemore Hospital at around 4.30am on Sunday.

Va’aelua says one of the three who presented with stab wounds subsequently died from their injuries.

The other three remain in a seri-

ous condition in hospital.

Early enquiries identified the incident took place in a carpark off Lady Fisher Place near Highbrook Drive.

Police are in the early stages of an investigation and the scene was cordoned off while an examination took place.

They’re seeking any witnesses to

come forward as they work to piece together the exact circumstances of the incident.

 Anyone who was in the area or has any information which may be relevant is asked to contact police on 105, or phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.

ENTERTAINMENT

Stockade Hill Christmas Lights all go

This weekend, Stockade Hill will be shining bright with spectacular Christmas lights to mark the start of the season’s festivities.

Lights come on and dazzle at 8.40pm (or sunset) on Friday November 18, so bring a blanket and cosy up under the stars for a great night of entertainment for all ages.

Look out for magical appearances by Justin Case the magician, the Singing Santa, spectacular local performers, yummy food stalls and lots more.

This is a free annual community event brought to you by Howick Local Board and is a smoke-free, zero-waste and alcohol-free event.

$20,000 for T2 lane fines



From page 1

For the period from July 1 last year to June 30 this year, $22,950 in revenue was generated through enforcement, it said.

Brown told the Times: “This is a significant amount of money AT has taken from motorists using Pakuranga Road, many of whom will have been caught short trying to get into a driveway of turning off Pakuranga Road into Cascades Road or Gossamer Drive.

“AT said this T2 lane would only be temporary

while they were undertaking construction on the Eastern Busway between Pakuranga and Panmure, but have kept it in place despite construction on this project finishing 12 months ago.

“AT should keep to their word, remove this T2 lane, and allow Pakuranga Road to go back to how it used to operate.”

An AT spokesperson says there’s about 48,000 vehicle movements in the area per day, “so we have a very strong rate of compliance”.

“Based on the data we only issued one of these infringements every couple of days.

“We consider this fantastic compliance and thank these Aucklanders for doing the right thing to help us keep the city moving.”

According to AT, T2 lanes are reserved for the use of private vehicles carrying two or more occupants, passenger service vehicles such as taxis, and bicycles, motorbikes and mopeds.

The penalty for using one unlawfully is a $150 fine.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Fa’amanuia Va’aelua of Counties Manukau Police’s criminal investigation branch says it happened in the early hours of Sunday morning in Highbrook.

The Christmas lights on Stockade Hill will be switched on this Friday.

Times photo Wayne Martin.

Hit-and-run still unsolved

No arrests have been made or charges laid over a hitand-run incident in east Auckland four months ago.

Police say the man who was struck by a vehicle was driving with his fam ily along Chapel Road in Flat Bush in the early hours of July 3.

At about 3am he pulled over to the side of the road to get something from under his seat.

“The road was not busy and well-lit where he had pulled over, believing it to be in a safe position,” police say.

“While kneeling to retrieve the item another vehicle travelling down Chapel Road has struck the victim and his vehicle.

“The impact folded the victim’s driver side door right back against the bonnet.

“The suspect vehicle has continued down the road.

“The victim’s shocked partner starts to run after it heading south on Chapel Road, but unfortunately it disappeared before she

can get the registration.”

Police say the woman returned to her injured partner, who was lying on the ground, and rendered first aid to him.

She was helped by peo ple from nearby houses and a person phoned emergency services on 111.

The victim was hospital ised for two weeks and had several surgeries to both of his legs.

He was looking at three months in a wheelchair before he could start learn ing to walk again using crutches.

“The physical, financial and psychological effect on the victim and his fam ily is huge,” police say.

“It’s clear from CCTV footage there may have been other factors on why

the driver didn’t stop, but this shouldn’t deter them from coming forward now and letting the victim and his family know why this happened.

“There are images of the suspect vehicle and police are appealing for anyone who recognises it or saw it was damaged after July 3 to get in touch.

“The victim’s vehicle sustained significant dam age, so the offending vehi cle will have damage too.”

Police say people may know who drives the offender’s vehicle, or worked on it, or seen it in the Botany area.

The incident was fea tured on the TV pro gramme Ten 7 Aotearoa on September 22 but despite the publicity it is still unsolved.

h People with information on the hit-and-in Chapel Road, Flat Bush, at about 3am on July 3 this year can phone police on 105 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.

MUSICAL Stage performers raise the roof with Mamma Mia!

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The sheer joy emanat ing from the performers’ faces in Harlequin Musical Theatre’s latest stage pro duction shows how much pleasure the timeless music of ABBA still brings to the world.

The community thea tre in Howick is staging an upbeat and energetic version of the hit show Mamma Mia! , featur ing the much-loved and well-known music of the Swedish supergroup.

It features music and lyrics by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and is based on the book written by Catherine Johnson.

Harlequin’s dynamic production is a credit to the talents of director Maryanne Rushton, musi cal director Oliver Gilmour, vocal coach Robyn Kennerly and choreogra pher Rebecca Ceballos, and each should be proud of what they’ve helped to create. The story centres on the character of Sophie, played by Abbie Parsons in her Harlequin debut, a young woman looking for ward to getting married to her fiancé Sky.

They live on a Greek

island and much of the action takes place at the villa Sophie’s mother Donna runs as a hotel.

Sophie is unsure who her father is so she invites three men her mother used to know to the wedding in an effort to learn more about her life.

Drama ensues as Sophie tries to get to know each of them while Donna reflects on her memories, happy and not-so-happy, with these men from her past.

Two of Donna’s best friends, Rosie and Tanya, arrive for the wedding and the trio quickly fall back into their routine as the ‘Dynamos’ band.

Their rollicking highjinks keeps the action mov ing along at a brisk pace, as does the dynamic between Donna and her three exes and Sophie’s angst at the

prospect of finally learning who her father is.

The vocal talents and stage presence of Parsons and Donna, played by the talented Bridget Chasemore, lift an excel lent show to even greater heights. This is a produc tion bursting at the seams with fun and frivolity and features numerous ABBA favourites.

Lovers of ABBA will not be disappointed and nor will anyone wanting to be entertained by two hours of high quality, upbeat, energetic and passionately delivered stage musical excellence.

Mamma Mia! is at Harlequin Musical Theatre, 563 Pakuranga Road, until November 26. h Go online to www. iticket.co.nz to book tickets.

Local councillors given leading roles

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has tasked the Howick ward’s councillors with leading two Auckland Council committees.

Maurice Williamson will lead a committee that has the goal of cutting waste from the city’s budget while Sharon Stewart will lead one focusing on civil defence and emergency management.

Brown has announced his governing body committee structure for the council to save money, keep rates low, protect the essential ser vices residents value and “improve the region’s natu ral and built environment”.

“As I said when I was elected, my goal was for every councillor to have meaningful roles, with genuine decision-making powers, in areas that would interest and challenge them,” he says.

“The committee structure is the result of dozens of hours of one-on-one meet ings and discussions, with councillors indicating how they best wished to serve the people of Auckland.

“I am indebted to deputy mayor Desley Simpson, transport and infrastructure

chairperson John Watson and planning, environment and parks chairperson Richard Hills for the extraor dinary effort they put into bringing it all together.

“My objective that every one has a meaningful role has already been achieved for 19 of the 20 councillors.

“Discussions are still underway to find a mean ingful role for one councillor who did not accept my ini tial suggestion.”

Williamson will lead the council’s new expenditure control and procurement committee.It’s been given until March 31 next year to identify savings for inclu sion in the 2023/24 council budget to help bridge the $270 million budget hole.

Brown says some peo ple call the committee a “razor gang” but he picked its members carefully to ensure it would also protect essential services.

Simpson welcomes the committee’s formation and says it will pick up her work as chairperson of the value for money committee.

“The low-hanging fruit has already been picked, and now it is time for a new set of eyes and a united

governing body to conduct a new line-by-line analy sis of expenditure across every part of the Auckland Council group to keep rates as low as possible and pro tect essential services,” she says.

Howick ward councillor Sharon Stewart will lead the council’s civil defence and emergency manage ment committee with councillor Kerrin Leoni.

The governing body will retain responsibility for the annual plan, budget, longterm plan and monitoring the financial performance of the Auckland Council group, including councilcontrolled organisations (CCOs) and the port. Brown and Simpson will lead it.

Howick ward councillor Sharon Stewart will lead the council’s civil defence and emergency management committee. Times file photo

Police continue to investigate a hit-and-run incident in Flat Bush in July. File photo supplied

The cast of Harlequin Musical Theatre’s production delivers an outstanding stage production. Photo supplied

Poor school attendance rates are shocking

New school attendance data shows that only 40 per cent of students attended school regularly in term two this year, a shocking number that suggests the majority of Kiwi kids are not getting a proper education.

With around 100,000 kids still chronically absent from school, meaning they are missing three out of every 10 days, it’s no wonder numeracy and literacy rates are falling too.

At decile 1 schools, the numbers are even worse, with more than three quarters of students not regularly at school.

There is a clear correlation between attendance and achievement; only 2 per cent of decile 1 high school students can pass a basic writing test.

Research shows that every day of school missed has a negative impact on learning, with kids that

don’t regularly attend five times more likely to fall behind in those key areas of reading, writing and maths.

The education system under Labour is failing our children and importantly it is failing our most disadvantaged children.

Instead of accepting a problem exists, and coming up with solutions to fix it, Labour continues to make excuses, blaming the most recent data on seasonal illness.

Sadly, this just doesn’t hold up, with comparable data from other developed nations showing higher attendance rates than ours, and higher achievement rates.

We are falling behind. Just five years ago New Zealand was renowned for its world-class education system, with parents from all over the world wanting their children to study here

MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown

to receive a better education. Education should be one of the Government’s top priorities and National strongly believes that this is key to dealing with just about every other challenge we face.

If elected next year, we will relentlessly target attendance and achievement rates and shift resources from back-office bureaucrats in Wellington to the frontline so schools have the support they need to give every child the opportunity to benefit from a world-class education.

This is not just a failure in education, this is a future economic crisis and it must be dealt with now.

Simeon Brown MPforPakuranga

What’s on

HOWICK COMBINED PROBUS

Why not join us on Tuesday, November 22 at the Howick Bowling Club 10am-12 noon to hear our speaker Captain Hayden Smith talking about The Sea Cleaners. New members and guests are most welcome. Morning tea will be provided. Phone Mary on 273-8804 to confirm or for more information regarding our speakers, trips and friendship groups.

TRAP LIBRARY EAST AUCKLAND

Trap handout and return every third Saturday of the month. Borrow or return a possum or stoat trap. Join our Mustelid Control Zone project. Register for a free rat trap with Pest Free Howick Ward. November 19, 9am to noon. Underground carpark below Pakuranga Library, Reeves Road side. Look for our flags.

HOWICK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY TALK

Join us at the Howick Library at 10.30am, Thursday, November 17 to hear a talk from the local Horticultural Society of Howick about its nearly 100-year history and its plans for the future of horticulture in Howick. This event is part of our 175-year celebration of the settlement of Howick and districts.

AUCKLAND JOBS AND SKILLS HUB

Looking for a job in construction and infrastructure? Come and meet representatives from Auckland Jobs and Skills Hub at Botany library, Thursday, November 17, 10am-4pm. “We help people get jobs… We offer opportunities to people from all walks of life, schools, training, and tertiary education providers and community; pro-

mote the opportunities and multitude of pathways within the building construction, civil & infrastructure industries”. To register email botany.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

THE MOONSTONE BOOK LAUNCH

Botany Library welcomes you to come along and meet local author Kay Mills, member of Botany Library Writers’ Group. Kay invites you to help celebrate the launch of her book The Moonstone , Sunday, November 20, 2pm. To register email botany.library@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz.

U3A ORMISTON

A club for retired and semi-retired citizens, offering the opportunity to learn and to socialise. General meeting, Thursday, November 24, Old Flat Bush School Hall, cnr Murphys Rd/Flat Bush School Rd, Flat Bush, 10am-12 noon. Guest speaker Dr Paul Moon (Professor of History at Auckland University) – Nostalgia and Utopia. Visitors welcome (no charge), morning tea provided. Contact: Dave 022 6449650.

IKEBANA / FLOWER DEMONSTRATION

Join Iris Cheng and her team demonstrating techniques of Ikebana flower arranging traditions using dry and fresh materials. Flowers provided. Botany Library, Tuesday November 22, 10.15am – 12.30pm. To register email botany.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

There is no guarantee your notice will run. Where publication of a notice is time-critical, groups should consider placing a classi ed advertisement to ensure placement.

Millions invested in emergency housing

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The Labour Government spent almost $3 million providing emergency housing to people in east Auckland in the six months from March to August this year.

Information Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni recently provided to Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown shows how much money has been spent on emergency housing special needs grants in the Howick Local Board area.

The grants are available to people “who cannot remain in their usual place of residence, if any, and will not have access to other accommodation which is adequate for their or their family’s needs”, according to the MSD website.

The data provided to Brown shows in March this year $608,254 was spent on such grants locally.

That was followed by $471,687 in April, $431,111 in May, $442,148 in June, $328,586 in July, and

$443,333.12 in August, for a total of just over $2.7 million in six months.

The Times reported in October the amount spent locally on the grants has exploded since 2017. Just $33,354 was spent on them in the Howick ward area in January 2017.

The figure shrank in January the following year before ballooning to $175,772 in January 2020.

It then exploded to $456,565 in January last year, with January this year recording a figure of $559,303.

Brown previously said the Labour Government came into office promising to fix

New Zealand’s housing crisis “but the reality is things have got much worse under their leadership”.

“What we’re seeing now is significant amounts of money being spent on emergency housing, which is money that’s not being put into building new houses.”

Botany-based Labour List MP Naisi Chen says the amount being spent on emergency housing grants locally is a sign of a “huge problem and it’s built over decades”.

“That’s why I believe in social housing and public housing and unfortunately that stock grows slower than our needs at the moment.

“People like the Salvation Army have come into the electorate to partner [with the Government] and the Ministry of Social Development is paying for those tenants.

“Build-to-rent housing programmes from non-governmental organisations, and all of that, I think is part of this multi-faceted solution.”

Chen is referring to the Salvation Army’s $18.6 million

‘Kaitiakitanga’ social housing complex in Chapel Road, Flat Bush. It includes 46 units and was opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2021.

Chen says the Government doesn’t want to see people end up living in motels, but it’s better than them living in a vehicle.

“The test is to make motels a transition rather than the end goal, so we need to move them into public housing. We’re building [public housing] at the fastest rate since the 1980s. All of that stuff will never happen overnight.

“People say, ‘you’ve had five years [in Government]’, but tens of thousands of houses don’t come back in five years’ time either. Throw in a pandemic and shortages of GIB board, and we had to build a workforce of drain layers, builders, carpenters. Then you throw in the actual housing crisis by itself.

“The commitment and the money have been invested into social and public housing and that’s what we need to keep doing.”

COUNCIL Local board moves to daytime meetings

People who want to address the new Howick Local Board during the public forum part of its business meetings are now able to do so during the day instead of at night.

The previous board held its business meetings at 6pm on Mondays once a month.

That suited local residents who wanted to discuss an issue with the board and were available at night, but posed problems for people who weren’t able to make it at that time of day due to family or other commitments.

When the new board was sworn in and inaugurated on October 31, it chose its new chairperson, Damian Light, and deputy chair, Bo Burns.

Its members also voted to change the day and time of their business meetings to 12pm on Thursdays each month.

The first business meeting of its new term will be held in its meeting room at the Pakuranga Library complex in Aylesbury Street at 12pm on November 17.

The board’s second business meeting will be held in the same location at 12pm on December 8.

That will also be its final business meeting for the year.

The new Howick Local Board has changed the day and time of its monthly business meetings.

Photo supplied Auckland Council

Botany-based Labour List MP Naisi Chen, left, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Photo supplied

Dance students bringing tale of Willy Wonka to life

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Hundreds of talented local dance students are set to showcase their skills in a stage retelling of a classic family story.

Expressions Dance is staging a pro duction of Wonka with two shows in one day on November 20.

The Pakuranga-based studio’s direc tor, Justine de Kock, says the produc tion is based on the well-known story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. “We’ve got about 250 dancers, aged from three years old to 18, involved. It follows the traditional story and it’s all portrayed through dance so we’ve got ballet, jazz, tap, lyri cal, preschool, and point.

“It’s a fun family show with great music and performances by our stu dents who have been working so hard since October.”

De Kock says members of the pub lic who don’t have a connection to any of the students in the production are more than welcome to attend the show. Two cast members with big roles on their hands are Lisa Scott, who plays the eccentric and myste rious Willy Wonka, and Jasmine de Kock, who plays the young Charlie Bucket.

Jasmine says it’s a challenge taking the story and turning it into a dance production. “It’s definitely a challenge trying to look at new ways to interpret the characters rather than speaking

and acting out their parts.

“You’ve got to figure out their under lying characteristics and try and add that in the dance.

“It’s always a challenge but it is fun once you figure it out and apply that and it’s really cool once you do.”

Lisa says she’s found the toughest part of preparing for the show to be getting into the character of Wonka.

“He has all these different manner isms so watching how he acts [in the film version] and trying to portray that through body language. It helps to watch the film because he walks in a funny way so seeing it and applying all his little quirks.”

Jasmine says the teenage cast members have to make sure all aspects of the storyline come together on stage.

“Especially with the main charac ters, because that’s definitely our job compared to the individual groups who just do their dance. We’re there to tell the story and make sure it’s all understood.”

Expressions Dance’s production of Wonka is staged at 2.30pm and 6pm on November 20 in the BNZ Theatre at Due Drop Events Centre, 770 Great South Rd, Manukau. To book, phone 0800 289 849 or go online to www. eventfinda.co.nz.

Young environmental leader recognised

East Auckland envi ronmental cam paigner Ethan McCormick has earned the AsureQuality Emerging Leader Award at this year’s NZ Biosecurity Awards.

His work with Pest Free Howick ward and Friends of Mangemangeroa was recognised at the awards ceremony held in Auckland on October 31.

The judges said McCormick shines as an emerging leader who’s totally dedicated to teach ing and inspiring youth to protect their local environment.

The awards’ organisers say he has a strong vision for a thriving predator-free New Zealand and works tirelessly with his com munity and teachers and students from 44 schools across the city to pass on his passion for biosecurity.

McCormick combines his environmental study as a university student with being a central member of the Pest Free Howick ward team and Friends of Mangemangeroa Trust.

He runs regular pest-free workshops for teachers and envirogroups, ‘Pestivals’, and community pest edu cation. He’s also piloting

a cadet programme at Somerville Intermediate School.

Through a structured and analytical approach, McCormick has expanded his environmental leader ship from a high school focus to contributing to environmental action in Mangemangeroa Reserve, Cockle Bay coastal bush, numerous Howick schools, and the wider community.

His leadership has nor malised predator-free activity for the people of Howick, creating an ethos of “this is what we do”.

Fluck family dishes out the love

HILDA’S YARD

Directed

Little Theatre, 1 Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga

Until December 3, shows at 8pm, with a 2pm matinee on November 20.

www.hlt.org.nz

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The couple at the centre of Howick Little Theatre’s final production for the year have hearts of gold and understand the true value of family.

Penel Keegan directs the play Hilda’s Yard at the east Auckland theatre until Decem ber 3. It’s written by Canadian playwright Norm Foster and is set in Auckland during the 1960s, a simpler time when houses were affordable and buying a television was a major family event.

It centres on middle-aged Auckland cou ple Sam and Hilda Fluck, played by Mark Bishop and Jo Crichton, who possess a ten der mixture of wit and endless kindness for their children.

They’re just starting to enjoy having their home to themselves when their adult chil dren Gary and Janey arrive unexpectedly.

Gary, played by Joshua Tanner, brings bad news in that he’s having problems keeping a job, but he’s got what he thinks is good news in the form of Bobbi, a sassy musician who may be the girl of his dreams and is played by Stephanie O’Connor.

Sam and Hilda are just getting to grips with Gary’s appearance when Janey, played by Georgina Malzard, turns up due to a fall ing out with her new husband and the fact she’s not the biggest fan of housework.

Gary reveals to his parents he’s being chased by the bookie Beverly Woytowich,

them with the revelation she wants to see the world and is smitten with a man who works at a travel agency.

As Sam and Hilda grapple with surprise after surprise another one arrives over the fence in the form of the dashing and elo quent crook Woytowich, to whom Gary owes a large sum of money.

The Flucks are down-to-earth, common sense people who solve problems by talking about them rather than running and hiding.

Sam is excited at the prospect of buying a new TV but worried at its cost and the pros pect of potentially losing his job.

He’s meek and what he seems to lack in strength he makes up for with his devo tion to Hilda, who’s clearly the head of the household, dishing out the witty one-liners with regularity.

Foster’s script contains a large amount of humour that has the audience in stitches at various points along the way but there are also gentle moments of melancholy due to the dramatic family dynamics.

This is a warm, humorous and lighthearted family story in which audience mem bers no matter their age will find something to relate to.

by Penel Keegan

played by Arthur Young, while Janey sur prises

Actors Georgina Malzard, left, and Mark Bishop are among the cast of Howick Little Theatre’s production of the play Hilda’s Yard.

Photo supplied Andrew Johnson

Ethan McCormick has earned a major award for his environmental work. Photo supplied

Starring in Expressions Dance’s production of the stage show Wonka are, from left, Lisa Scott, Jasmine de Kock, Emily Liu, Ashleigh Else and Angela Gao. Times photo Wayne Martin

175TH ANNIVERSARY PLAQUE UNVEILED

Uxbridge becomes charitable trust

You know it as Uxbridge – or Uxbridge Arts & Culture but it was registered in 1981 as Uxbridge Community Projects Incorporated.

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 means that community organisations will have to

consider whether they can comply with the new act or whether a different type of entity better suits their needs. The new act prompted Uxbridge to move to charitable trust status although the organisation continues to operate under the Uxbridge

trading name.

The change has not been entirely plain sailing says centre director, Vickie Bowers. “We made some mistakes which were avoidable – we’d not want other groups to do the same so we’d be happy to share what

we learnt with others going through a similar process.”

The Uxbridge Community Charitable Trust is now established and specifically seeking a trustee with financial expertise. Can you help? If so, contact director@uxbridge.org.nz.

Opposition leader and Botany MP Christopher Luxon, left, and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown unveiled the Howick 175th plaque at Fencible Walk Park on Picton Street on Saturday. Rev Dr Richard Waugh delivered a welcome and a prayer while Howick Brass were also on hand. More 175 event images on p18, 19. Times photos Wayne Martin

COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION

AT BRUCE MCLAREN RETIREMENT VILLAGE

Living in the wider community, fi nding opportunities to regularly connect with likeminded people can be tricky.

Located on Chapel Road, Bruce McLaren Village offers a lifestyle where residents are able to stay connected and active in a place where community thrives. They o en tell us how proud they are to live here – it’s evident in the camaraderie seen at the many village events and activities that are always on offer.

Residents are free to enjoy the lifestyle because the village provides them with a supportive and caring place to call home,

while offering the gateway to everything the local area has to offer. It’s certainly a place where life can be lived to the full.

Bruce McLaren Village offers choices to suit everyone - from independent apartments, to assisted living in a serviced apartment, as well as a 122-bed care centre with resthome, hospital and dementia care.

The freedom and fl exibility is empowering for residents and knowing care can be dialled up as needed means, quite simply, ‘no worries’ for them, and those close to them – it’s all part of the Ryman Difference.

APARTMENTS AVAILABLE

Don’t miss the opportunity to secure an apartment at Bruce McLaren Retirement Village. These apartments offer open-plan living and spacious modern interiors with:

A neutral colour palette to make it your own

Quality appliances, fixtures and fittings

A patio or balcony with views of the village gardens or native bush

One and two-bedroom layouts are available now priced from $895,000

Enquire today to book a private tour, call Rose on 09 535 0225.

BRUCE MCLAREN

795 Chapel Road, Howick

rymanhealthcare.co.nz

VILLAGE

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HowickHistoricalVillage

willbehosting‘working

Howick

HOWICK VILLAGE CHRISTMAS FAIR

is finally here

Howick Village is celebrating the start of the festive season with our ‘Christmas Fair’ on Friday, November 18. Our previous Fair in 2021 was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

The Village will be alive with themed music, entertainment, activities and preChristmas shopping bargains.

The Christmas Fair runs from 9am, through until 9.30pm, as a family and community occasion and to celebrate Howick’s 175th commemorations. Look out for the amazing in-store shopping deals and treats. Picton Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

As well as our superb retail stores, cafes and restaurants, our iconic markets will be open from 5.30pm, hosting a full contingent of stalls, street food vendors, artisan

foods, produce and an extensive array of arts and crafts.

There will be a huge range of entertainment, and a number of community stands in Fencible Park – and special working displays by Howick Historical Village inside the War Memorial building – so there is something for everyone!

Santa’s Grotto is planned in Cook Street Courtyard – by Rombus Café and Bar and The Flower Bar, so bring the children to meet the man himself. There will be music and entertainment in the courtyard for all to enjoy.

Lock Friday, November 18 into your calendars as a ‘must-do’ – we look forward to seeing you there.

Jane Newbury

Manager, Howick Village Association

The Howick Village Christmas Fair is back after being cancelled due to the pandemic last year. The turnout, see the picture above, was amazing. Photo supplied

Brown confirmed as general election candidate for 2023

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The National Party has re-selected incumbent Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown as its candidate for the electorate at next year’s general election.

Brown was first elected to Parliament in 2017 with a whopping 14,886 vote majority and retained the seat at the 2020 general election with a majority of 10,050 votes.

He’s National’s spokesperson for transport and public service and lives in Pakuranga with his wife Rebecca and their two daughters.

“It’s been an honour and privilege to serve the people of Pakuranga as their local Member of Parliament for the last five years and I hope to earn their trust at next year’s general election to continue representing them in Wellington,” Brown says.

“Pakuranga is an incredible part of New Zealand and one of the most diverse communities in the country, with people of many different cultures and backgrounds

choosing to call our suburbs home.

“It’s also one of our nation’s oldest communities, with Howick celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.

“Rebecca and I are proud to be

raising our two daughters here in what is undoubtedly one of the best places to raise a family.”

Brown developed a high public profile last year while serving as National’s police spokesperson.

We are making childcare more affordable for east Auckland families

For many working families here in east Auckland, childcare is one of the biggest household costs. That’s why, as part of our Government’s work to support New Zealanders with the cost of living, we’re making childcare more affordable for low and middle income families.

The Prime Minister recently announced that we’re significantly expanding childcare assistance, cutting costs for working parents and supporting more children into early education. On top of this, we’re further boosting Working for Families and the Best Start payment, providing more support to help ease the pressure.

These changes will kick in from April 1 next year. The exact amount families will save on childcare costs will depend on the number of hours they work, the wages they are on, the number of hours of childcare per day and the cost of their early childcare education centre.

For example, an east Auckland family with two parents both working 40 hours per week on $26 per hour with two children under five who will not have been eligible for childcare assistance, now will be eligible for $252 per week.

Childcare assistance has been neglected for more than a decade, since income thresholds were frozen by National in 2010. I’m really proud that the changes we’re making will see thousands of parents given back the choice to do what’s best for their family – I know what a difference this will make.

Naisi Chen

By reducing financial barriers and better supporting parents who want to enter work or further training, we’re also helping fill labour shortages, which is good news for east Auckland families, local businesses and our economy.

These next steps build on the work that our Government has already done to ease cost of living pressures on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation, including our cost of living package, which includes half price public transport, fuel tax cut and more.

We’re also taking action on supermarkets to make sure Kiwis are paying a fair price at the checkout because we’re fed up with supermarkets earning $1 million a day in excess profits while people are paying a premium for the basics.

At a time when families are feeling the cost-of-living spike, our Government is investing in what matters most. I’m really proud that we’re now taking the next step to make sure childcare is within reach for parents and that families here in east Auckland have more support to cover other costs.

 Naisi Chen is a Labour List MP based in Botany.

ARTS

He received several death threats from gang members.

Earlier this year he sponsored a bill in the Parliament which would have banned the Government and its agencies from providing funding to organisations run or administered by, or associated to, gangs.

His bill was voted down by the Labour Government.

In recent years Brown has spoken out publicly against the closure of the overnight medical service at East Care Accident and Medical in Botany.

He’s opposed the sale of Auckland Council-owned land occupied by the Howick Police station and of local public reserves.

Brown has also pushed for completion of the Eastern Busway and called on the Government to do more to tackle rising rates of crime nationwide.

He says the way of life in Pakuranga is “slowly being eroded by the current Labour Government, which has failed to respond to the many significant challenges we face here and around New Zealand.”

“Violent crime is on the rise in a community traditionally free from such worries.

“Our local transport network is no better than it was when Labour took power, and access to healthcare has taken a dive with the loss of our own overnight service.

“The people of Pakuranga are feeling the pinch with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, out-of-control inflation forcing official cash rate mortgage rate hikes and many simply struggling to get by each week.”

Brown says Pakuranga deserves a better deal.

“I’ve fought strongly on behalf of this community over the past five years and will continue to do so for as long as I’m asked to serve.

“At next year’s general election I will be asking the people of Pakuranga for their support as MP, but more importantly for their support for the National Party.

“Only National can deliver the change needed to solve the issues our community faces and put New Zealand back on the path to prosperity.”

Looking at Pakuranga’s past

On November 5, the exhibition Pakuranga Stories opened with a mihi whakatau (a formal speech of welcome) by Ranieri Kingi, Poukokiri Rangahau Maori for Auckland Libraries. The exhibition, in the Pakuranga Library, continues until November 30.

Pakuranga Stories invites you to “step back 60 years and discover the stories of a new and remote suburb, and of the river that wraps around it”.

It follows the timeline of the rapid growth experienced as farmland was transformed into suburban housing, with the population growing from 277 in 1947, to 34,977 in 1996 throughout the greater Pakuranga Ward.

The exhibition incorporates three aspects – a compiled audio-visual history of Pakuranga by Karen Lawson, Senior Librarian, (with support from other library staff), in part based on recorded interviews with local personalities

who recalled memories of earlier local times and places –Reflections on the Pakuranga Creek exhibited by Marilyn J Bakker as part of Pakuranga Stories ; and the weaving of Kākahu Tūrangawaewae with local weaver Paia Swanson Terepo (Nga Puhi).

Paia will be on site between 10am until midday each Saturday and Sunday throughout the exhibition. She invites you to share your stories and memories as she creates and weaves the kākahu (contemporary cloak). When completed, the cloak will hang in the library and symbolise this as a place of belonging for our hapori/community.

As visitors walk and view the exhibition, photographs evoke memories and exclamations of ‘I remember that’.

“What a timely initiative Pakuranga Library has with the Stories of Pakuranga Exhibition running through November,”

said Marin Burgess,

“With the very major changes ahead for Pakuranga, it is so timely this important junction remains aware of its history, how it developed into such a diverse area now home to so many cultures. From Pakuranga-rahihi to Cabbage Tree Swamp, the Granary of Auckland and even the notorious ‘Vim Valley’, Pakuranga has held its own during many changes.

“The weaving of a cloak as the stories are told is a clever initiative and Marilyn Bakker’s ReflectionsonPakurangaCreek illustrate clearly how quickly the environment can change if we ignore it.

“The wise saying quoted in her pamphlet that history is a great river flowing through this land is the connection bringing the exhibition together to provide a clear local focus.”

Simeon Brown has been re-selected as the National Party’s candidate in the Pakuranga electorate. Times le photo Wayne Martin

Labour List MP

Heritage Advisor for the Howick & Districts Historical Society.

Guests, exhibitors and sta at Pakuranga Library gathered together for the Mihi Whakatau to open Pakuranga Stories exhibition and weaving of the Te Kākahu o Tūrangawaewae.

Named after NZ’s native owl, featured on a 4 storey Flox mural in the atrium.

The Health Shuttle operation offers bi-lingual service

After witnessing first-hand the need for bi-lingual com panion drivers within east Auckland, Jessica Ma launched Health Shuttle earlier this year.

Health Shuttle is a companion driving service that provides safe transport to medical appointments, shopping locations, airport pickups and drop-offs and social activi ties for anyone who may need it.

Having worked previously for charitable organisation St John, Ma has more than five years’ experi ence working with elderly and disa bled Kiwis.

“Being able to help the most vul nerable people when they really need it is my great passion,” Ma says.

“I recognised there is a need (for companion drivers), particularly for our elderly Asian community who need more support and assistance going to their medical appoint ments where there are language barriers.

And quite often, when they go to hospitals, there isn’t always an interpreter available.

“So, I help them confirm the appointment, taking them there and providing support and interpreting as well if needed, also reporting back to their family members regarding patient follow-ups as well.”

Ma’s language skills, as she speaks both English and Mandarin, were a great asset of value to St John, who gifted her with a Certificate of Appreciation for her “fantastic atti tude and translation skills” in 2019.

A confident and secure driver, Ma says she always puts the safety of her customers first. She also has

a First Aid Certificate and Health Shuttle is a certified service supplier approved by NZ SuperGold Card.

Health Shuttle has been approved as a Total Mobility Operator will be able to accept total mobility cards from January 1, 2023.

“I enjoy driving around and help ing people,” Ma says. “There’s a great sense of accomplishment (in help ing people).”

h For more information, contact Ma at info@healthshuttleltd.co.nz, or on 020 4069 1390.

ENVIRONMENT

Local innovation on world stage

Three students from Ormiston Senior College (OSC) have won the Keep New Zealand Beautiful 2022 Young Reporters for the Environment – Litter Less competition for their project. Their project heads to the world competition in 2023.

Year 11 pupils Kaylee Ghezzi, Nishwitha Kappuluri and Stephanie Ly took first place for their Bokashi fer mentation station.

Within OSC’s English department, Year 11 students use issues from their stud ied literature to apply, inves tigate and problem-solve human-centred real-world issues within their Ormiston community.

Students use the Stanford University Design Thinking Challenge to frame prob lems and produce innovative solutions both in class and beyond.

Some of the issues the stu dents select are often com plex to encourage them to be innovative whilst learning empathy to make a change in the lives of New Zealanders.

Among the issues addressed were composting, safer roads for pedestrians, beautifying the community and the winning project, a

Bokashi fermentation sta tion to reduce litter waste in the community.

Nearly 150 Kiwi stu dents aged 11-25 entered the Young Reporters for the Environment – Litter Less Competition.

The annual competition empowers young people to take an educated stand on environmental issues they feel strongly about, giving them a platform to articu late these issues through the media of writing, photogra phy or video.

Now in its 28th year, there were 146 entries from stu dents across New Zealand this year, each involving researching, chronicling and reporting on an environmen tal issue close to the stu dents’ hearts.

Well-appointed villas in a well-established village.

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! Call Kate or Sylvie now on 09 576 5990 or 021855735

Jessica Ma launched Health Shuttle Limited in March of this year. Photo supplied.

Nishwitha Kappuluri, Priyesha Mendis (teacher), Stephanie Ly and Kaylee Ghezzi. Photo supplied

HOWICK 175 UPDATE

THE BRIG VICTORIA AND CAPTAIN BURGESS

Many people walking around Howick will have noticed the mosaic tile artwork of a ship on the wall of the Information Centre. My family have a particular relationship with this ship as my great great grandfather Captain Isaac James Burgess was Commander of this ship – the Government Brig Victoria. This is our family connection with the arrival of the Fencibles and their families in Howick late in 1847.

On October 8, 1847, the Fencibles, the Victoria and Captain Burgess came together with the arrival of the immigrant ship Minerva in Auckland Harbour with 80 Fencibles with their families, followed a few days later by the Sir Robert Sale with a further 74 Fencibles and their families. They moored in stream in the Auckland Harbour near Fort Britomart, where they remained until November 15 when they were transhipped to Howick Beach on the Victoria. The final leg of the immigration by the Victoria was necessary due to the shallow harbour depths around Howick and the Victoria only drew a depth of 12 feet (3.6m) and could get

close access down harbour to Howick Beach. Later on November 26, 1847, The George Seymour arrived in Auckland and on December 13 and 16, the Fencibles and their families were taken to Howick by the Victoria.

The Brig Victoria had returned to its home port Auckland from Wellington on September 28 and was lying in Auckland Harbour when Minerva arrived. As the most appropriate locations for

the Fencible settlements had still not been determined by the time the immigrant ships arrived and with the Surveyor General Felton Mathew in the Bay of Islands selecting possible sites for a Fencible settlement, the Victoria was despatched on October 11 to fetch him back to Auckland urgently.

His excellency Governor Grey, Bishop Selwyn and the Surveyor General visited the Tamaki District on October 18 and decided upon the location for the Panmure and Paparoa settlements.

On October 28, the Victoria took a group of carpenters from the Minerva and the Sir Robert Sale and Royal Engineers to Howick, together with a load of materials, to build temporary accommodation for the Fencibles and their families.

Two one-hundred-foot longhouses were built to house the Fencible’s families. The families would live in these longhouses for many months until their allotments and housing were finally available. The Fencibles themselves lived in tents on the beach.

The Victoria was launched on the Williams River in Sydney in

1839 intended for trade with New Zealand. She was purchased by Governor Hobson in December 1840 for £3200 to provide the new colony New Zealand with its own ship. The Victoria was a small two-masted brig 80 feet long with a beam of 19.2 feet and a draught of 12.25 feet. She was registered as 184 tonnage and 200 ton burthen. Ports of call around New Zealand for Victoria in the 1840s and 1850s were Auckland, Great Barrier, Tauranga, Mahurangi, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Taranaki, Wanganui, Kapiti, Porirua, Port Nicholson, Nelson, Cloudy Bay, Massacre Bay, Akaroa and Chatham Islands. Sailings were also made to Port Hobart and Sydney in Australia. The Victoria was regarded as the Governor’s flagship and was primarily used to transport him around the new colony and to provide communications and the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies around the isolated settlements. A typical sailing voyage from Auckland to Port Nicholson (Wellington) would average 12 days. In 1854, the Governor decided to dispose of the Victoria and she was sold for £850.

just love Howick’

Howick is a great place to live, do business and raise a family.

I am currently serving my fourth term as Rear Commodore (power) at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (BBYC) and am newly-elected to the Board of Trustees at Farm Cove Intermediate School where my son is studying.

I strongly believe that I made the right decision to migrate to New Zealand and choose Pakuranga as a place to settle 25 years ago.

After graduating with an MCom from the University of Auckland in 1998, I set up and ran my own successful education business for 20 years. This enabled me to provide overseas students with English and New Zealand Diploma courses. My current focus is on digital

marine charter and on- and off-water event management in Auckland. ShareBoating is the name of the company.

In addition to running my own businesses, I have been fortunate enough to have a few ‘firsts’ in Howick. I credit the openness, inclusiveness and friendliness of the people of Howick for this success.

For example, I was the first Asian migrant to serve (for two terms) as deputy chairman of the Botany Community Board, Manukau City Council (2007-2010). I also served the inaugural term of the Howick Local Board, Auckland Council, from 2010 to 2013. These positions allowed me to bring a unique perspective to local government. I initiated the first mooncake festival in Howick and created the first Eastern Auckland tourism map.

I was elected as the first Asian member of the Board of Trustees at Sunnyhills Primary School, Pakuranga, from 2013 to 2016, giving me experience in school governance, and I was able to initiate several successful projects for our local school.

In 2019, I became the first Asian Rear Commodore (power) at BBYC. I was reelected for a fourth term in July 2022. During this time I have been able to attract iconic New Zealand companies like Fisher & Paykel to support our local club and significantly raise younger Asian participation in junior learn to sail programmes.

In 2021, I won an excellence award from Yachting New Zealand. My son earned first place in the 2022 BBYC Open Skiff Fleet Autumn Series.

For our own local culture,

for 16 years I served voluntarily as vice chair of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce which is the largest local Asian business association in New Zealand. I am also the first president in New Zealand of Sun Yat-sen University Alumni Association and, currently, I chair the badminton club (through the Guangdong university alumni alliance).

In summary, I believe that proactive participation and better presentation are important and we need a more reflective demographic in our community – especially in Howick. Diversity can come in all forms and is not always visible. Innovative and imaginative thought is important – it’s very much about the experiences, energy, innovation, and progress that you can contribute to the community to which you belong.

Captain Isaac James Burgess was Commander of the Government Brig “Victoria” when the Fencibles arrived in Auckland in October 1847.

Captain Burgess had arrived in New Zealand as Chief Mate of the Barque Madras having sailed from London. On arriving in New Zealand, he joined the Government Brig Victoria in Auckland as Chief Officer in October 1846. Following the drowning of the Victoria’s Commander Captain Robert Richards at Wanganui in July 1847, Captain Burgess was appointed Commander of the Brig by Governor George Grey. Captain Burgess filled this role until 1850 when he was appointed acting Harbour Master and Chief Pilot for Auckland Province and subsequently Harbour Master in 1853. Captain Burgess was Auckland Harbour’s longest serving Harbour Master, finally retiring in 1894 having served as Harbour Master for 44 years.

This year marks the 175th anniversary of Howick and Pakuranga and districts which presents a wonderful opportunity to feature people in the area and their memories of their past. This is a story from John Osborne, president of The Howick & Districts Historical Society Inc.

Captain Isaac James Burgess. Photo by John Hanna [Alexander Turnbull Library, PA2-0804, Wellington]

Government Brig Victoria on the Waitemata Harbour (Painting by Keith Snow)

Wayne Huang sheeting in with his son and wife.

Perfect day for a picnic

The weather forecast did not bode well for Saturday but it turned out to be a perfect day for the Howick 175 picnic at Howick Beach – the same spot settlers landed at in 1847.

Youngsters took full advantage of the have-a-go day events which included sailing, kayaking and paddleboards. There were also bouncy castles for the young ones and food vendors as well while Howick Coastguard opened up its doors to the public. East FM provided music. Many made their way up to Howick for the Howick 175 plaque unveiling at Fencible Walk Park. It was followed by a civic church service at All Saint Anglican Church.

HOWICK INNER WHEEL CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY

The Inner Wheel Club of Howick celebrated its 30th birthday on Saturday, November 5.

The club was charted in 1991 with 55 members. Ethel Abercrombie was the first club president. We were blessed to have four charter members at our party who still belong to our club as active members. Margaret Drake flew from Christchurch to join us in celebrating as she, too, was an charter member. It was an evening of great celebration. The objectives of Inner Wheel are friendship, per sonal service and international understanding.

Each year the club honour’s a person from the community with the Dawn Johnson Koru Award. This award is in recognition of a resident from the Pakuranga, Howick or Botany area who has displayed perseverance in overcoming obstacles to realise significant achievements. It is awarded to someone who dem onstrated resilience, compassion, and a desire to assist others in their community. This year it was awarded to an outstanding lady, Martine Abel-Williamson, who resides in Pakuranga.

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown nominated Martine for this award and was present at the celebra tion and was able to present the award. Martine is totally blind and is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities all over the world. She serves on several boards and also works as a senior human rights advisor at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. Her life story is awe-inspiring and we had the privilege of having her

ALLOW ME TO CLARIFY

My last letter, published contempo raneously with that of Mr Palmer in the edition dated November 2, mostly answers his questions, but for the sake of further clarity – yes, the one true God is the God of the Bible, God of all who truly believe –Jewish or Gentile and of whatever nationality or gender. There is no other God.

I write of the One I know. It would be foolish of me to write otherwise. He is not of human construct as is suggested. Quite the reverse. He made everything that was made in the beginning. That includes man kind. Some, as is suggested, may ’prefer one of the other Gods’ but I can assure you that they ‘prefer’ in vain.

God is not willing that any should perish but have everlasting life, but the final choice lies with the individual. I write in the hope that some will not waste their lives, but receive the truth.

Harvey Rosieur, Howick

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Recently one of our growers has moved and the small planting unit she looked after has now been moved on to the reserve in the cat tle yards behind the container.

Until a permanent home is found for the plants, it is necessary to keep them watered and the Friends of Mangemangeroa need to establish a weekly volun teer roster for completing this task once a day over the drier weeks ahead.

So far we have two volunteers to cover Mondays and Fridays but if you have half an hour to spare on

any other day of the week at a time suit to yourself we would be grateful if you would be able to help us keep the plants watered.

It is very easy as the water is on hand from the tank at the con tainer and it is just a matter of refilling the watering can several times to complete the job. It is a small task that can be combined with a walk through the reserve if that is something you enjoy doing.

If you are able to help, could you please email Sally Barclay or myself, sallyannbarclay@gmail. com, debsgrant@outlook.co.nz or call Sally on 021 1743938.

We look forward to hearing from you if you are able to offer some assistance.

Deborah Grant Secretary, Friends of Mangemangeroa Society Inc

CLIMATE FEARMONGERING

Your correspondent Gary Hollis (Times, November 9) needs to expand his research beyond BBC nature documentaries.

And his “climate change solu tion” is appalling. ”Polar bears now struggle to survive in warmer waters” – no they don’t. Polar Bear populations are as healthy they’ve been in 50 years.

“Deforestation continues at pace” – the fact that there are envi ronmental vandals burning down forests has nothing to do with the amount of CO2 in the air.

What does though, is the overall “greening” of the earth as shown by NASA satellites. One good example is the Sahara Desert, which is shrinking faster than the vandals are burning the Amazon rainforest.

Simple high school biology

explains why. When there is more CO2 in the air, plants require less water to photosynthesise. This allows plants to grow on desert fringes, shrinking the desert. This then stabilises temperatures on the desert fringe, which can then hold more water, and makes it more hospitable to more plants, and the desert-shrinking cycle continues.

“Catastrophic climate events” –like the ice age we were promised in the 70s? Or the ice-free Arctic by 2014, where research vessels needed to be rescued by icebreak ers last year because there was more ice than their models told them to expect? Or the Maldives which were supposed to be under water by now, but have actually grown in size? Or the dangerous hurricanes and tornadoes that are now fewer and causing less damage?

I have yet to see an example of a fulfilled prophecy of climate catastrophe, but I have seen many failures and much of the complete opposite of what was predicted.

Before the industrial revolution, atmospheric CO2 concentration was at its lowest since the dawn of life on Earth, and a fraction of what it was when dinosaurs roamed the earth. To claim that increas ing atmospheric CO2 concentra tion is going to destroy all life on the planet is just irresponsible fearmongering that is now caus ing actual death on European and British roads following the actions of “climate protestors”.

“Consumerism and trade between nations is out of control” – I’m inclined to agree with this bit. We should not be dependent on other countries for our neces sities like food, water, energy and manufacturing resources.

“The only solution is lockdowns” – but not with this. I’m not inter ested in your tyranny. Nor am I interested in your desire to con demn my grandchildren to mis erable poverty, which is the main thing that your proposed lock downs will achieve.

Ryan Price, Half Moon Bay

COVERING UP OUR HERITAGE

At the edge of Howick’s shops, a hulking shroud of scaffolding and gleaming plastic recently stood so long ensconced in daily life that its intrusion, as an object and metaphor, came to barely elicit

attention.

Erected that remedial building work might be carried out beneath, only the odd tearing storm gust allowed passers-by to peek inside and guess at the building’s final manifestation.

One day, the scaffold was gone: the product of months of unseen labour finally stood revealed. Slowly, deliberately, our Christian heritage, which largely provided our society’s moral structure, is being covered over. Today, selfserving political co-option, hereti cal ideology, dissembling statute, historical revision, scientific cor ruption, cultural sentimental ity, technological dependency and ecumenism are building the framework upon which our worldly pretentions can be stretched to obscure reality.

Relentless digital manipula tion blocks open public scrutiny of this underhanded, unnecessary societal transformation. What will result if the good news of the com ing Kingdom of God is completely supplanted? What shall become of us when those diverting and misusing the power of our gov ernment, judiciary, corporations, foundations, academy and media for their own ends, define virtue?

This scaffold will soon come down; will we be shocked by what emerges?

Rees Sutcliffe East Tamaki Heights

ROAD SEALING IN HOWICK

Ai the beginning of October a letter from the council was put in my let terbox in Sale Street to notify the upcoming road resealing work.

The letter gave dates that came and went twice. Now it seems that the roadworks won’t be done at all.

Is the reason for this sudden patch up in the Howick Beach car park the Howick Beach picnic?

Some of these potholes were more than 15 cm deep so putting a temporary patch on is going to be an expensive exercise for a single day’s activity.

The entire parking area needs a complete resealing and is long overdue. The entrance itself shows that patches are not the answer as the patchwork pothole filling has been going on for over the 20 years I have lived in the area.

Come on council, do a proper job once and for all.

Glenys Smith, Howick

husband Gary and their guide dog Greg present with us too.

Inner Wheel members and Martine, from left – front row: Maureen Kearns, Kamani Gunawardena, Penelope SpencerMacKay(NZ291 District Chairman),Jeanette Roberts, Cathy Burn, Joan McKay-Guthrie. Middle row: Faye Marie (President IW Mt Roskill, Michelle Atkinson (Immediate Past National President), Joy Ward, Adrienne Davies(Immediate Past District Chair) ,Huibrie Keyser, Joan Swift,Margaret Drake, Brenda Worsley, Sue Skilton, Jillian Moran. Back row: Carmen StadlerHanekom(Club president),Martine Abel-Williamson(Guest),Sue Miller,Trevlynne Cowdry, Julia Castles, Bernadine Vester, Helen Davies, Julie Barnes, Lorraine Hammond, Cheryl Anderson, Glennis Pearson.

Photo supplied

BUILDERS WANTED

We require experienced builders to join our small energetic team of passionate tradespeople specialising in higher end renovations/alterations and the occasional new build. You must be experienced, have all your own tools and transport and enjoy the team atmosphere. Be time conscious, polite to clients and willing to go that extra step to impress.

Please call Keith on 021939253 or email your CV to keith@keithhunterbuilders.co.nz DE279387

Curtains/ Romans

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 & workmanship

• Be proactive and helpful to others in the team

• Reliable, honest and able to work unsupervised 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

CARETAKER

Howick Primary School is looking for a technically minded, self managing person to join our team. Previous experience in property management is advantageous.

Duties include:

• Maintaining school buildings and the immediate surroundings to the highest standard

• Ensuring that Building Compliance obligations are met

• Ensuring that the school building and site are clear of litter and cleaned to the highest standard

• Preparation for assemblies and school events

• Security – opening the school in the morning

• Responsible for site and buildings health and safety and comply with legislation

Hours are 7:30am-4:00pm during the term time and by negotiation during school holidays. These can be negotiated for the right applicant.

The position start date is negotiable. All applicants must be police vetted and hold a full drivers licence.

CVs should be emailed to m.earl@howickprimary.school.nz

DE275352-v4

SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNICIAN 25-30 hours per week

We are seeking a person suitably qualified and experienced to support teachers to deliver the Science curriculum.

An application form is available on the school web site www.mhjc.school.nz under the icon ‘about us/employment’.

Please send your CV and cover letter to csinclair@mhjc.school.nz. Start date by negotiation.

SITUATIONS VACANT

BOAT PERSON REQUIRED

To look after a Riveria 51ft located at HMB Marina.

Experience with boats is preferred.

Weekly wash downs, polishing, general upkeep both inside and out.

Basic mechanical and electrical knowledge required. Would suit a retired person 5-10 hours per week.

Please email to: hmbcraft2022@gmail.com

DE285469

LIVE LOCAL, WORK LOCAL

Pakuranga Park, is an evolving and growing village. With the village undergoing an extensive regeneration and our new Ruru apartments selling fast, we are looking to expand our team.

We are currently looking for the following positions, Registered Nurse, Care Givers, Maintenance Hand, House Keepers.

If you are interested in joining our team please email ursula.glynos@realliving.co.nz with your CV

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join a small team in our college café. This role reports to the Café Manager. Hours will be 32.5 per week, 7.30am-2.30pm, term time only. Basic knowledge of baking, lunch preparation, food hygiene and safety is a must. Previous experience in the food industry would be beneficial.

Applicants must have NZ residency and a clean drivers licence. Short listed applicants will be required to undergo a police vet.

Please send your cover letter, CV and BDSC Application Form (https://www.bdsc.school.nz/ our-college/job-vacancies/) to Yvonne de Graaf – y.degraaf@bdsc.school.nz before 4pm on Friday 25 November 2022.

DE285311

JOHN RUSSELL SCHOOLWEAR HAS AN EXCITING FULL TIME ROLE

Do you live locally and want to skip the city commute, be home in no time to still have your evenings to yourself. This is a customer focused role. You will be helping families purchase school uniforms for their children.

An ideal candidate will be...

• Local person committed to finding a secure income

• Approachable, honest and friendly

• Can help trouble shoot with a customer in front of you!

• Not afraid to give great customer service

• Have a positive with a can-do attitude, keen to learn

• Wears a smile even when it’s cloudy

• Has initiative when tasks require attention

• Well spoken, clear when phoning and emailing people to satisfy service where needed

• Not afraid to vacuum and clean glass mirrors or shop windows

Must be available for work during all school holidays, we’re busiest in January before school starts. We have a tight team of 4 full timers and in January 3 - 4 extra staff. You’ll have opportunity to learn several parts of a small business, so email Kerrie and see if we could be the job for you.

Hours, 6 days a week. Monday - Friday 9am -5.30pm

Saturday 9am - 4pm.

If this sounds like you please email Kerrie Evans kerrie@changeindirection.com and or drop your CV into our shop at 9 Moore Street, Howick. Only applicants who have been short listed will be contacted. DE281165

SERVICE ENGINEER

We are a leading NZ importer, manufacturer and distributor of commercial and industrial duty water blasting equipment, high pressure pumps and agricultural spraying equipment. Our office and workshop is located in East Tamaki.

We require an Engineer/Technician to service our electric, petrol and diesel powered water blasters, pumps and hot cleaners, to do P.D. checks of new equipment, assist with assembly work, and liaise with customers on service matters from time to time.

You should have experience servicing pumps, or hydraulics, be familiar with petrol and diesel engines. A NZ Electrical Service Technician certificate would be useful, but not essential.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are a requirement.

Full training will be given.

Position would suit a person who enjoys working in a small friendly team environment.

Please e-mail your application to:

The Director – AES Waterblasters alan@aesblasters.co.nz www.aesblasters.co.nz

DE283673

should be vigilant at always following standard operating procedures and safety rules. We do not take short cuts with safety

Any applications taken forward will be required to undertake a pre-employment health assessment through an external provider to confirm work fitness including Drug and Alcohol screening. You must be an NZ citizen, have NZ Permanent Resident status or a valid NZ work visa.

If you have the above attributes and are excited at the prospect of joining a progressive and dynamic company, then please apply!

Forward cover letter and CV to jobs@gleesoncox.co.nz.

DE285344

DE283536

MELLONS BAY SCHOOL

SCHOOL

LIBRARY MANAGER 2023

Applications close Wednesday, 30th November, 4pm DE273317-v3 DE285422

APPLICATIONS FOR THE ROLE OF PURC GENERAL MANAGER

NOW OPEN

With the retirement of our current General Manager John East, applications for the role of General Manager are now open.

PURC look to build on our position as one of the premier NZ community based sporting clubs with the appointment of a new General Manager early 2023. The role offers a sporting administrative professional all the management components; multiple sporting codes, facilities management, hospitality, an established high performing administrative team that is supported by a professional board of management.

With the creation of the Howick & Pakuranga Community Sports Centre as the central theme, we are poised to implement some aggressive capitol and operational plans that will evaluate the organisation to a premium position of sports delivery across multiple codes with one of the best community facilities in the country.

If you are interested in this role or know someone who fits bill, in the first instance have them send their CV to our Chairman at robn@safarigroup.co.nz

PAKURANGA COLLEGE Library Assistant

We are looking for an enthusiastic Library Assistant to work as part of the school library team. This is a permanent, part-time position of 28 hours per week, secondary term time only.

Start date in January 2023 (Term 1).

For more details about the position and how to apply, please refer to our website: www.pakuranga.school.nz.

Applications close 27 November 2022

Public Meeting & EGM

Friday, 18 November 2022

Howick Presbyterian Church 11 Vincent Street, Howick

9.30-9.40am – Welcome & EGM 9.40-10.00am – Jan Pentecost

10.50-11.05am

Grey Power

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8086

Across - 1, Consideration. 8, Otter. 9, Arsenic. 10, Cudgel. 11, Stable. 12, Ac rid. 14, Steer. 18, Advice. 20, Fillet. 23, Adamant. 24, Tulip. 25, Inexperienced. Down - 1, Choice. 2, Noted. 3, Israeli. 4, Elan. 5, Asset. 6, Ignoble. 7, Nickel. 13, Caviare. 15, Thistle. 16, Safari. 17, Stupid. 19, Champ. 21, Lilac. 22, Stir.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8086 Across - 1, Fail miserably. 8, Rider (anag.). 9, C-rims-on. 10, S-had-ow. 11, Re-MO-te. 12, Train. 14, Pa-I-nt. 18, A-FF-Ray. 20, H-on-our. 23, Smash er. 24, S-P-eed. 25, Lone star state.

Down - 1, For-est. 2, In-d’I-a 3, Mar-con-i. 4, Sock. 5, Ra-I’s-e. 6, B-ass-oon. 7, Yonder (anag.). 13, Refrain. 15, Aro-us-es . 16, Tas-seL (rev.). 17, Bridge. 19, As-he-s. 21, (h) Ome-Ga(lveston). 22, I-r-’m-a.

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Weather the winner in Premier Men’s and Women’s games

By BEN PLUMMER

Torrential weather around Auckland was the winner on Saturday with both Premier Men and Women’s cricket games being abandoned.

During the week, the pitch cov ers at Birkenhead War Memorial blew off which left the wicket soaking and in no state to play on for the Premier Men, resulting in a draw.

Howick Pakuranga’s Premier Women were meant to play against Papatoetoe but wet and soft runups meant that not a single ball was bowled.

Club cricket all across Auckland was called off due to rain, with only a few fixtures going ahead.

Howick Pakuranga’s Premier Men will get their first home game of the season this week on the first day of their two-day fixture against Kumeu Cricket Club and the pitches are in great condition.

Newly appointed premier men’s coach Diederick Kruger has high expectations for his side and is excited to increase the pool of tal ent throughout the club.

“We will again have a very strong white-ball squad for both the lim ited overs and T20 competitions. HPCC has won the T20 competi tion twice in the past four seasons and made the limited overs final in 2021. To achieve this again, a new and very innovative training pro gramme has been introduced that has certainly developed and chal lenged players through the off-sea son,” said Kruger.

Kruger has an extensive back ground in preparing players for high level performance, having worked with professional sports teams in NZ and South Africa for the past 20 years.

For the last five years he was head of physical performance for Auckland Cricket where he worked

with both the Auckland Aces and Auckland Hearts players.

“I look forward to a season with no Covid interruptions and the return of two-day cricket,” said Kruger.

Despite the two-day format not being played last season, HPCC was relegated to the minor compe tition in the 20/21 season.

“The premier men’s team is aim ing for a return to the two-day major competition,” said Kruger.

In secondary school cricket, Macleans College will have a chance this weekend to make the 1A schoolboys final.

Macleans will play second place Mount Roskill Grammar on Saturday in which the winner will play in the final against Takapuna Grammar School.

The winner of the 1A competition will be promoted to the schoolboy’s premier grade for the 2023 season

Premier Men Hedley Howarth Two-Day Competition | Round 2 Cornwall 290 (J Cassidy 70, A Edekar 40; J Kumar 6-82) drew with Eden Roskill 186/7 (M Abbas 59 not out, S Mujtaba 53; M Gibson 3-34, L Wheeler 2-32) after day two of two.

Parnell 363 (A Parikh 91, W Ormiston 90; K Mackenzie 3-84, J Todd 3-116) drew with Auckland University after day two of two. Papatoetoe 370/9 (B Rowland 203 not out,

R

Takapuna District 178 (F Goodley-Hollister 40; R Quinn 5-40, T Chitongo 3-26) and 267/6 declared (B Beecroft 92, T Van Ingen-Kal 56 not out; W Clarke 4-78) lost first innings against North Shore 205/2 declared (S Hinds 113 not out, J Moore 59; D James 2-23) and 208/7 (M Olsen 79; P Ruffell 2-17).

Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition | Round 2 Howick Pakuranga 200 (A Lambat 76, J McGregor 55; A Jayampathi 3-29) drew with Birkenhead City 32/1 (L Vimukthi 17 not out; J Brown 1-9) after day two of two.

Ellerslie 203 (H Drillien 92; C Groenink 4-37) and 106 (S Venville 35; L Delport 5-44, R Schierhout 3-10) lost outright to East Coast Bays 272/8 declared (L Delport 101,K Kieser 43; T Leggat 4-97) and 39/1 (L Watson 21 not out; S Edkins 1-14).

Hibiscus Coast 335/8 declared (R Lakmal 98, U Ranaraja 66, J Grobler 65; J Patel 2-28) drew with Kumeu 31/2 (V Azimi 15 not out; R Lakmal 2-1) after day two of two.

Waitakere 139 (S Variath 52; A Ridley 3-32, N Robinson 2-13) and 110 (M Suri 29; N Bhana 4-30, A Ridley 3-27) lost outright to Grafton United 164 (B Chamberlain 36, J Duffy 34; A Kaundal 3-30, P Whynn 3-41) and 86/5 (S Gunawardane 31; S Variath 2-20).

Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition | Round 3

Howick Pakuranga VS Papatoetoe was abandoned due to rain.

Cornwall VS Takapuna District was aban doned due to rain.

Auckland University VS Parnell was abandoned due to rain.

Fixtures 19/11/22

Round 3, Day 1 Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition – Howick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Kumeu CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore Park – 11am

Round 4 Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition – Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Takapuna CC Premier Women at Hobsonville Domain – 11am

Hill instrumental in R&D of FishPro range

h Continued from page 24

This big wakeup call made Hill appreciate life and what he had done previously to get him where he is now.

“It is nice that fishing is my job and I get to go out as much as I want but there is noth ing greater for me than seeing other people enjoying the expe riences that I got to have,” Hill said.

“If I can be making the most of life and getting as many peo ple started with the sport and enjoying what I love, that would

be an awesome legacy,” he said.

Every time Hill goes out fish ing, he is thinking about how things can be better and what more he can contribute to the sport.

“There are still a few other things on my wish list that might never come but you never know how things will happen,” said Hill.

“In a perfect scenario, I would like to launch my PWC on the beach, leave it sitting in water floating, push a button and then go park my car without it even

touching the beach”.

“One big thing that I have learnt is understanding that things take time and they have to be passed off… it is quite a thorough process and we don’t want to overcomplicate the models for customers,” he said.

Hill has notably recently featured in Sea-Doo’s newest instalment of the ‘Inspired By’ short film series which cap tures how his grassroot con cepts turned into the global phenomenon that is the SeaDoo FishPro.

Featuring

Gill 50; S Fernandes 3-50, V Gajjar 3-93) drew with Suburbs New Lynn after day two of two.

Howick Pakuranga’s Premier Men’s side will play their first home game of the season this weekend against Kumeu. Photo supplied

Arise, Ambassador Hill

By BEN PLUMMER

astern Beach local Andrew Hill is a name not known to most outside the fishing community in New Zealand.

Most are also unaware of the impact that Hill has had on the fishing and marine landscape globally.

He has been instrumental in the research and development of SeaDoo’s FishPro range, which has seen the growth of the phenomenon of jet ski fishing.

As a lead collaborator with the Global Product Strategy team, Hill has revolutionised the sport and stirred a passion of jet ski fishing for many.

Hill first purchased a jet ski with the intention of playing at the beach and towing a ski biscuit around for his kids.

“After just a couple of uses it got me thinking that there must be some more practical uses for this and it sort of brought me back to my childhood of fishing,” he said.

“Around 12, 13 years ago I would always think about what products would be really cool to have… it would drive me nuts.”

The innovative Hill went home that day and started designing a

range of fishing equipment that could be mounted onto PWCs (personal water craft), including rod holders and chilly bins.

Through many rounds of trial and error and multiple developments, the ‘ultimate rod holder’ was born.

Hill’s long-time friend Mark Greenfield says that at the start “there were probably about 10 of us in the whole country that were fishing off PWCs and now there would be over 1000”.

“Boaties hated us for a long time because the reputation for jet skis was that people would just speed around the harbour making a whole lot of noise, not that we are guys in our mid 30s and 40s going out there to catch fish and go back to our families. This is starting to change now,” said Greenfield.

“Everywhere I went and people saw the ultimate rod holder, they were saying ‘where do I get this thing’ so the idea popped into my head that this was something that

I could sell and make a business out of,” said Hill.

With so many people getting started with the sport, Hill established his own jet ski fishing tournament at Eastern Beach, which initially had 50-60 PWCs turn up.

The tournament has now been going for 10 years, with more than 120 anglers registered in 2019 before the wave of Covid-19.

“It is pretty spectacular to see all those people sharing a passion, seeing what they catch on the day, meeting people and having a great time,” said Hill.

With the fast-growing sport now having a platform, it didn’t take long for PWC manufacturers to recognise its potential, which is when Hill’s whole chapter changed.

“Sea-Doo approached me and asked if I could help them and get involved with setting up the first fishing platform, which is where the Sea-Doo FishPro series was born,” he said.

Andrew has been recognised as a Sea-Doo Global Brand Ambassador now for almost five years.

“I have the luxury of them [SeaDoo] coming to me and saying ‘write out your list and we will keep going through it’, and it is

really cool to see my ideas come to life. Much of what you see were the things I suggested to them,” said Hill.

Hill has designed roughly 25 products related to the evolving jet ski fishing sport.

“About 10 years ago one of my mates told me that I would eventually be helping one of the big manufacturers and I just said, ‘yeah whatever, they would never find me in little old New Zealand’,” he said.

Life hasn’t all been plain sailing for Hill. Hereditary heart disease he has already seen him undergo multiple operations as well as double by-pass surgery.

“It was pretty hard in hospital thinking that everything I have done could stop,” he said.  Turn to page 23

Moving into an independent apartment is a wonderful way to make new connections and create lifechanging friendships shows a recent survey by BH Senior Living.

“There are plenty of opportunities to make new friends and have a chat over various activities,” said apartment

resident, Margaret Street. “I have made several very dear friends.” “Without exception, everyone is approachable and friendly,” another resident enthused. “We always have a lovely natter.”

If you’d like to live in a close-knit community where your neighbours are also friends, come and view our independent apartments. You’re sure to see some friendly faces.

“I have made several very dear friends.”

‘Inspired by Andrew Hill’: The Eastern Beach fisherman who has changed the fishing game despite hereditary heart disease; top right, Andrew Hill. Photos supplied