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‘Weird’ city campaign raids Takapuna for shoppers

Takapuna shoppers are being enticed by CBD advocacy group Heart of the City to take a free ride to central Auckland.

“It’s a bit weird,” says Takapuna Beach Business Association chief executive Terence Harpur of the promotion using specially marked “Straight to the Heart” vehicles.

“We’ve seen them around Takapuna trying to get people into a cab,” Harpur said.

Heart of the City is also targeting people in Newmarket and Ponsonby, offering them free one-way rides to shop in downtown Auckland.

The bid to boost the inner city and its busi-

nesses by collecting shoppers from elsewhere follows a tough retail winter, with publicity about homelessness and crime in downtown Auckland and the city being difficult to nav igate due to City Rail Link construction and road works.

Generations game: Kindy celebrates 75th anniversary

Family tradition... Olivia and James Upton with daughter Coco (3) who is following in their footsteps by attending Milford Kindergarten. The family joined others at its 75th anniversary party. Pictures, pages 8-9.

Restaurants gaining access for tables on Takapuna town square

Work begins this week to enable “Eat Street” businesses at 40 Hurstmere Rd in Takapuna to provide al fresco dining on the town square.

Building owner Knight Crawford aims to have tenants offering outdoor tables by Christmas.

Hoardings were erected on Waiwharariki Anzac Square in readiness for work to create access through the building wall.

Company co-owner Elliot Knight told the Observer he was waiting for a “licence to occupy, allowing pavement tables, to come through from Auckland Council.

Knight, a local resident and long-term property investor, has also created a wellness hub above Eat Street businesses in the building also known as Fortieth & Hurstmere.

The hub of 10 studio units opened this month, with a hairdresser, pilates, massage, sauna, beauty, naturopath and appearance medicine practitioners and offices. Among the tenants is Glow by Pedja, opened by a former Servilles senior stylist launching his own businesses, and Studio Sweat, which has relocated from Northcroft St.

The arrangement, with shared reception, bathroom and kitchen facilities, worked well as an affordable option for smaller businesses, Knight said. It made sense too, in generating multiple rents, but had been a bit of a punt, so uptake was pleasing. Just one space is left to lease. “I could have been sitting there like an idiot waiting for tenants.”

A new business, Pie Rollas, was being added to the Eat Street roster of eateries.

Knight Crawford, which previously remodelled its building at the Hurstmere Rd roundabout occupied by Takapuna Surf Club, has also bought the former Takapuna Post Office property being vacated by retiring

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lawyer Alex Witten-Hannah on the corner of Hurstmere Rd and Earnoch Ave.

It earlier bought a separate former telephone exchange building to the rear, occupied by North Shore MP Simon Watts, and a section between the two heritage buildings.

Repainting and a spruce-up of the twostorey front building is planned over the summer. Knight intends to later develop the space between, with a low-lying boat shed to house amphibious craft. He said he enjoyed the challenge of working with heritage buildings and was looking at a low shed with a saw-tooth roofline .

“If you do an interesting thing in the middle it makes the heritage buildings pop.”

The company, which specialises in repurposing existing commercial buildings and has sourced money from long-term Asian investors, has also finalised its purchase of the old Aon building on Fred Thomas Dr, which is home to health and medical tenants.

“Offshore capital is still looking for a home, but a lot of this is self-funded and [from] locals,” he said.

Asked about the number of high-profile large apartment-building projects in the town centre which have been paused due to market conditions, he said his longer-term approach was unlike many property developers. “Long-term investment is different.”

He said he worked on a 10-year-plus model. He remains a Takapuna champion and pointed to an agreement signed several months ago by South Korean conglomerate Hyundai to build a 219-unit project on the former Colmar Brunton site overlooking Takapuna Beach for developer HND TS Ltd.

• Foodstuffs offloading former Jerry Clayton site; Co-operative Bank’s expands reach from former BNZ premises, page 11.

City’s heart seeks Takapuna infusion

From page 1

With latest retail statistics showing Takapuna is doing better than many other retail destinations, enjoying slight growth, Harpur was relaxed about competition for customers.

But he said some locals have been confused about what Heart of the City is offering. “I take it as a compliment they would try to lure people away.”

The promotion which began last month is due to wind up this weekend.

The taxis have operated on Thursdays and Fridays from 4-10pm, Saturdays from 10am10pm and Sundays from 10am-7pm.

Passengers can select an area they wish to be taken to, such as the Wynyard Quarter, Britomart or the arts and cultural quarter around Aotea Square.

The exercise is pitched as “an invitation to explore, rediscover and see the city in a new light”.

With the Government now considering legislation to enable homeless people to be moved on from central Auckland, it’s likely downtown will be sending people in the opposite direction over the next few months.

Takapuna’s popularity with rough sleepers during summer may be exacerbated by any policy change.

“We generally in the summer do get an influx,” said Harpur. Itinerant people are attracted by the beach environment. “They come to Takapuna for a bit of a break and because it’s less violent.”

Growing numbers need services and to be managed. “Pushing people into another location isn’t going to solve the problem.”

The police beat team in Takapuna from this month, was an assset, he said. It had already dealt with several homeless-related issues.

Boom mishap rules out racing for regatta chair

Catamaran-racing couple Danielle and David Haylock face different courses at the A-Class world champs taking place off Milford Beach this week.

David is out on the water for his third world champs in his boat Cytosine, aiming for a top-10 finish.

Danielle, meanwhile, had been entered for the event but was hit by the boom just below the helmet in a race at Lake Rotorua three weeks ago, suffering concussion which forced her withdrawal.

Last week, both the Milford Cruising Club sailors were at the club getting ready for racing: David preparing his boat and Danielle carrying on work as chair of the world champs planning committee, which has worked for the past 18 months setting up the event.

More than 55 sailors from eight countries will take part in the regatta.

David has raced A-Class boats for around 15 years and competed in the world champs at Takapuna in 2014 and Hervey Bay in Australia in 2018. He has owned his current second-hand boat for around a year. Its name is that of a compound found in DNA – a nod to David’s ownership of ICS Labs in Taranaki.

In the championships’ Open Foiling category – in which catamarans lift clear of the water – boats are capable of speeds of 35 knots. In the Classic category, speeds of more than 20 knots are possible. “It’s mostly fine, but when it gets quite fast it can get a bit hairy,” David admits. Yachting knowhow reduces any risk. “There is always a way to make the boats safer,” David said.

Well-known Devonport yachtsman and America’s Cup sailor Mike Drummond is also competing in the Classic class.

The aim is to complete 12 races in the regatta, with a five-race minimum. Each

On and off water... David and Danielle Haylock are playing different parts in a big week for

the Milford Cruising Club

takes between 45 minutes and an hour. Ten patrol boats are out on the water, along with a paramedic.

Racing takes place in winds of up to 22 knots – any higher is deemed too dangerous.

On land, the public will have a good view of the yachts being stored on Milford Reserve. Milford Cruising Club has set up live streaming of the beach and the on-water racing which can be viewed at its clubrooms and live on YouTube.

Event participants and spectators were expected to boost business in Milford and have an overflow to Takapuna, especially

for accommodation providers.

A fully-rigged foiling catamaran is on display in the Mercedes-Benz North Shore centre court in the Milford mall and a heritage exhibition has been installed in a store, with photos from the 102-year history of the Milford Cruising Club and from the Milford Residents Association.

Milford town centre manager Murray Hill said economic and community benefits will flow as the sailors, family and friends enjoy local culture.

• The world championships started on Tuesday and run until Sunday. A pre-worlds regatta was held last weekend.

Insurance but no skin check?

That's like a truck with no brakes.

Milford Cruising Club Displays

Milford Shops this November

Milford, located in the centre of our stunning North Shore, is a gem of a destination that truly comes alive in November. Whether you're a local looking for something new or an out-of-towner keen to explore, Milford Shopping Centre and the surrounding town centre offer a vibrant mix of community spirit, exciting events, and unique displays that make it well worth the visit.

Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.

One of the standout features this month is the eye-catching display inside the Milford Centre mall. Right in the centre court, you’ll find a fully rigged foiling catamaran - an impressive sailing vessel that’s as sleek as it is innovative. Weighing just 75kg and constructed entirely from carbon fibre, including its towering sail, this catamaran is a marvel of modern marine engineering. It’s part of a collaborative display with MercedesBenz North Shore, adding a touch of luxury and high-performance design to the mall’s atmosphere. Whether you're a sailing enthusiast or simply curious, this display is sure to spark interest and admiration.

Milford Shops this November

Things', a lively duo guaranteed to keep the kids entertained for hours with music, games and interactive fun. Santa himself will make a grand appearance on stage at midday, delighting children and adults alike. Around the town centre and inside the mall, you’ll find a variety of food trucks serving delicious bites, market stalls offering unique gifts and crafts, and cookie decorating sessions that are sure to be a hit with the little ones. It’s a festive, family-friendly day that showcases the warmth and creativity of the Milford community. For updates and more details, be sure to check out the Milford Shops Facebook page.

Milford Shops this November

Heritage Display

Black Friday – Friday 28 November

Yachting Action in Milford during October and November

This month the focus is on the major World Championship sailing event coming to our shores in late October and early November. Milford is becoming a bit of a yachting mecca as we have the Milford Cruising Club on the beachfront reserve and Yachting New Zealand has also recently relocated its national headquarters to premises in Inga Road. This facility also includes their high-performance centre.

Winner of Ski Tūroa promotion

Complementing the cutting-edge catamaran is a beautiful heritage display that connects Milford’s rich maritime past with its present. The Milford Cruising Club, which has been a cornerstone of the community for over a century, has teamed up with the Milford Residents Association to create a nostalgic and educational experience. Inside a dedicated shop space in the mall, you’ll find a collection of historic photographs showcasing Milford through the decades. One of the highlights is a lovingly restored clinker dinghy - a classic wooden boat that speaks to the craftsmanship and history of the area. Visitors are invited to browse the photos, reflect on the stories they tell, and even leave a note in the comments book to share memories or thoughts about the display. It’s a wonderful way to connect with Milford’s heritage and appreciate the enduring spirit of its community.

neighbourhood. Milford was severely impacted by the last emergency - the major floods of the Wairau Estuary.

Black Friday – Friday 28 November

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Milford Shops this November

Congratulations to Bridget Agnew who won this fantastic promotion! Thanks also to the businesses involved – Mercedes-Benz North Shore, Pure Tūroa, Powderhorn Chateau, The Roof Rack Shop and Ballistics Wake & Snow.

If you’re looking to get a head start on your Christmas shopping, Milford is the place to be on Black Friday 28 November. The town centre and Milford Shopping Centre will be buzzing with unbeatable deals and special offers from your favourite retailers. Whether you're hunting for fashion, tech, homewares, or gifts, you’ll find plenty of bargains to make your holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable. Keep an eye on the Milford Shops and Milford Shopping Centre social media pages for sneak peeks and announcements about participating stores and promotions. With so many great deals on offer, it’s the perfect excuse to spend the day in Milford.

We now have an Emergency Hub at the Milford Cruising Club, which is kitted out with all items needed in any emergency. This will be your first point of contact if you need assistance during any type of emergency. We understand there could be circumstances when this emergency hub is inaccessible so we are currently working on alternative site as a backup hub.

Milford Emergency Readiness Group News

Milford Cruising Club Displays

Christmas in Milford – Saturday 22 November, 10am to 3pm

Heritage Display

Milford – Top Sales Town Centre on the Shore

is a gem of a destination that truly comes alive in November. Whether out-of-towner keen to explore, Milford Shopping Centre and the surrounding town events, and unique displays that make it well worth the visit.

Black Friday – Friday 28 November

Christmas in Milford – Saturday 22 November, 10am to 3pm

Mark your calendars for one of Milford’s most beloved annual events - 'Christmas in Milford'. Taking place on Saturday 22 November from 10am to 3pm, this festive celebration is perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking to soak up some holiday cheer. The Milford Baptist Church will be filling the air with joyful Christmas carols, setting the tone for a day of festivities. Entertainment will be provided by 'A Couple of

A big thanks to all our loyal customers who once again supported us during the month of August as we were, yet again, the Top Sales Town Centre on the Shore. Checkout new stores, Bed Bath & Table plus Stella and Emma in the mall – and Toco Açaí & Froyo in the Main Street opposite New World.

Heritage Display

Milford Emergency Readiness Group

Milford in November is a celebration of community, history, innovation and festive fun. Whether you're drawn by the sailing displays, the heritage exhibits, the joyful Christmas event, or the excitement of Black Friday shopping, there’s something for everyone. Come and experience the charm and energy of Milford - you’ll be glad you did.

I'm pleased to advise the Milford community that we now have a group up and running for when an emergency occurs in our

The Milford Business Association has a database of around 10,000 locals and this together with the substantial databases of the Milford Cruising Club and the Milford Residents Association will be your sources of information about emergency readiness in Milford. If you are not already on the Milford Shops newsletter, go to milfordshops.co.nz and sign up in the panel at the bottom of the home page – ‘Subscribe to Newsletter’. Similarly you can sign up on the Milford Residents Association Newsletter and also on The Milford Cruising Club newsletter.

Christmas in Milford Facebook Banner

Have a great November.

Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV

Christmas in Milford – Saturday 22 November, 10am to 3pm

Black Friday – Friday 28 November

Christmas in Milford – Saturday 22 November, 10am to 3pm Mark your calendars for one of Milford’s most beloved annual events - 'Christmas in Milford'. Taking place on Saturday 22 November from 10am to 3pm, this festive celebration is perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking to soak up some holiday cheer. The Milford Baptist Church will be filling the air with joyful Christmas carols, setting the tone for a day of festivities. Entertainment will be provided by 'A Couple of

More information on what to do in an emergency can be found on the website: aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz

We want to keep Milford connected in the next community emergency, so look out for our joint communications.

Christmas in Milford Facebook Banner

Black Friday – Friday 28 November

Have a great October.

Have a great November.

Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV

Have a great November.

Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV

Christmas in Milford Facebook Banner

Have a great November.

Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV

Have a great November.

Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV

Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.

Top-polling pair sidelined in post-election machinations

Trish Deans faced a testing start as initial chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board after a bruising behind-the-scenes battle spilled over to the public arena.

The usually ceremonial inaugural meeting saw the two top-polling board members, George Wood and Gavin Busch, speak out against a move to have the role shared.

Two of their supporters observing at the PumpHouse Theatre interjected during nomination proceedings, unhappy the Communities and Residents duo had been shut out of the top jobs.

Instead, Deans – who ran as an independent and polled third – emerged through the middle after the local body elections last month failed to deliver a majority for any board grouping. She will share the chair’s role with Scott Macarthur, a newcomer on the A Fresh Approach (AFA) ticket, who will initially be deputy chair before a role switch at the end of April 2027.

In taking the chair, Deans, who served a term on a split board from 2019-22, said: “You, the voters, have asked six representatives to work together and that’s what we need to do.”

Wood claimed at the meeting he had not been aware of the final deal, which followed weeks of board members sounding each other out on workable arrangements. The veteran said experience on boards that had split roles led him to believe one chair for the full three-year term worked best. Busch said: “We are here to represent the community, we’re not here to play games or share the baubles.”

This prompted member Terence Harpur, who was the AFA deputy chair last term, to interject that Busch had earlier proposed to him that the two tickets split jobs. “We [now] need to be like a professional board and get on with it.”

Board games... The new Devonport-Takapuna Local Board at Killarney Park in Takapuna, shortly before they were sworn into office at the PumpHouse theatre. Chair Trish Deans is flanked (on her right) by deputy Scott Macarthur, with whom she will swap roles mid-term, and Terence Harpur. Back row (from left): George Wood, Gavin Busch and Garth Ellingham.

Deans said as late as the morning of the meeting she had been on the phone to see if she could encourage a “better mix”, but that did not come about. “Two new members [Macarthur and Garth Ellingham] want to do things differently.”

She pledged to sit in the centre and work with all members, urging them to do the same. “It will take strong commitment and goodwill to achieve that.” The job in hand was to focus on issues including how to deal with budget challenges.

Macarthur said he wanted to work on

building agreement around the table. The Observer understands some members trenchantly opposed 79-year-old Wood being chair. Choices were further narrowed by Busch and Harpur saying they did not want the top job. Busch was happy to be deputy. Deans was willing to work with Wood and Busch, but wanted to avoid a coin toss to decide roles if there was no clear majority, believing this was no way to signal that six members could function together effectively. • The board’s regular business began last week, with a closed workshop on budgets.

Shore franchise company wins awards

A family-owned business based in Takapuna, Harrisons Floorings, was a big winner at the 2025 Franchise Awards, being named Supreme Franchise System of the Year after nominations in nine categories.

“You could say we’re floored,” said chief executive Patrick Harrison, whose father, Des, founded the company in 1962.

Harrisons, which operates a mobile

retail model, has diversified from flooring into curtains, blinds and solar panels, and expanded into Australia. It has a total of 130 locations, with further growth on the agenda.

At an awards ceremony in Auckland this month it also won the home and lifestyle category winner. Staffer Bailee Mills was named Field Sales Manager of the Year.

Local hospo favourites still popular

021 281 0405

owen@mortgagesupply.co.nz

www.mortgagesupply.co.nz

Takapuna residents mostly backed their old favourite hospitality haunts in the annual Taste of Takapuna Awards, although newcomer Takapuna Surf Club took out the best drinks category after less than a year in business.

Tok Tok was named best restaurant for the fourth year in a row, and Duck Island was a three-in-a-row winner for best sweet treats.

Jam cafe won best coffee for the third year in a row and best cafe, a category it won in 2024. The best takeaway award went to Dodo Sushi for a second year in a row.

A total of 10,770 votes were lodged for individual businesses. The awards, organised by the Takapuna Beach Business Association, were presented at an event hosted at Regatta bar this month.

Police seize weapons, drugs in Takapuna

Weapons and drugs were seized during a police search of a Takapuna address on 6 November. A 20-year-old was arrested and will face charges.

The search in Karaka St followed an incident involving threatening behaviour, said Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams.

Residents were evacuated as a precaution when police found a stash, including what appeared to be a small IED (improvised

explosive device), among several prohibited items.

“During a search of the address, police located an antique pistol, BB gun, Class B controlled drug ketamine, scales, drug paraphernalia, a hunting knife, three other knives and a set of knuckle dusters,” Williams said.

The result of the search was pleasing, he said. “Taking weapons and drugs off our streets makes everyone safer.”

New sports operation opening soon

Three padel courts are on their way from Spain for a mid-December opening in Takapuna’s Waiwharariki Anzac Square.

The commercial operation will take around two weeks to set up, with pre-Christmas free padel, tryouts, coaching and other community events planned, Pacific Padel chief operating officer Alex Hersov said.

“We hope to catch everyone before Christmas and then in the New Year it will be business as usual,” he said. The courts will be bookable and will host leagues and business competitions.

Padel is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Pacific Padel already has four courts at Albany Tennis Centre, and in

addition to Takapuna is opening another four at Merton Rd Glen Innes and a set in Christchurch.

“Interclub” competitions are planned for 2026, possibly involving North Shore vs Auckland, Hersov said,

“We are very excited to be opening [in Takapuna] and hope everyone comes along to give padel a go.” The open-air courts are 10 by 20 metres, with an specialised astro-turf surface. They are built on a slight slope to be quick-draining.

Pacific Padel has a three-year council lease on a site next to the bus station that was part of the former central car park. It is earmarked for future development.

Kids sell used goods

The public is invited to a Kids Market at Milford Primary School on Saturday 22 November from 10am to 3pm. Organised by the PTA, the day’s aim is to encourage recycling among students at what is an “Enviro School”. Children will bring in their unwanted items and learn about renting a stall and selling from it, with the bonus of keeping any profit. Visitors get the chance to support their learning and snap up a bargain from a range of second-hand toys, books, clothes and more laid out for sale in the school hall. The event includes a fundraising sponsored sausage sizzle and performances by the school’s Year 6 rock band and the school choir.

Local bowls star is No 1 Takapuna Bowling Club member and Commonwealth Games medallist Selina Goddard has been named the world’s No 1 women’s player. She is the first New Zealander to hold the ranking. The 31-year-old these days splits her time between New Zealand and Sydney, where a recent string of tournament successes has elevated her from fifth place in the world rankings.

Retired Builder:

Tony spent 40 years crafting homes for others. When he retired at 62, he finally had time to build what he wanted - toys for his grandchildren, furniture for friends, whatever his hands desired.

“Building isn’t just what I did,” he says, running his hand along a playhouse. “It’s who I am.”

But his knees had other plans. The same joints that carried him up scaffolding for decades began protesting simple workshop tasks. Standing became endurance; kneeling meant calculating how to rise again.

“I started modifying everything,” Tony admits. “Sitting more, shorter sessions. I even thought about selling my larger tools. That felt like giving up part of myself.”

His wife worried. His daughter noticed too and one day left a bottle of Koru FX on his workbench. “Natural, made in New Zealand,” she’d said. “Just try it, Dad.”

Skeptical, Tony applied it one Saturday. The cream absorbed quickly with a pleasant peppermint scent, nothing like others he’d tried.

Six hours later, he realised he’d been

“It just kept working for ages...”

working all day without his usual breaks.

“I’d forgotten about my knees,” he says. “For the first time in months, I was just... building.”

The next test was his Saturday hill walk. “I kept up the whole way, even overtook a few people,” he grins.

Now, his morning routine includes Koru FX with his coffee. “Preventative maintenance,” he calls it.

“This cream gave me back my workshop, my walks, my craft,” Tony says. “It’s not magic but it lets me keep doing what I love. That’s close enough for me.”

Retired Builder: “It just kept working for ages...”

Court precinct... An artist’s image of the padel facility coming to Takapuna

North Shore Artists Exhibition of paintings

Milford Senior Citizens Hall (Behind New World) Saturday 15th &

Treat time... Auckland Kindergarten Association chair Bruce McLachlan and Milford kindy teacher Denise Ditchburn shortly before she unveiled towers of anniversary cupcakes made by parents. Below right: Teacher Alicia Wamby welcomes guests.

Cupcakes sweeten celebration of kindy’s 75th

Hundreds of cupcakes and a sunny day made for a happy 75th birthday celebration at Milford Kindergarten last week.

Nearly 100 people joined around 45 children in the garden over several hours. Former students and teachers and guests from the Auckland Kindergarten Association were among attendees.

After a welcoming haka from students (pictured above), short speeches backgrounded the history of the kindergarten, which first opened in a hall in 1950, before shifting to Pierce Rd in 1959, into a building designed as a home by Group Architects. It sits between Kitchener and Sylvan parks.

Head teacher Amanda Bowen said the grounds had been enhanced over the years, with tree-climbing and mud-play encouraged and garden beds helping with outdoor learning.

The roll sits at 40 children, aged three and over, with five fully qualified teachers and a support team of two.

YOUR LOCAL

North Shore FUNERALS

NELSON & SUSAN ELLIOTT

Special guests... Auckland Kindergarten Association’s deputy chair John Gillon (left) and its chair Bruce McLachlan with retired Milford Kindergarten teacher Janet Bruce (in blue) and association life member Robin Houlker. Gillon was last month elected an Auckland councillor for North Shore.

A life devoted to bringing golf to everyone

“Happiness comes not from having more, but from sharing more.”

That’s the philosophy guiding Simon Ha, who has spent the past 20 years transforming an almost bankrupt facility at Takapuna’s AF Thomas Park into New Zealand’s busiest golf course, welcoming more than 1,000 visitors every weekend across the course, driving range and clubhouse.

A passionate golfer and father of two, Simon immigrated to New Zealand from South Korea in 2002. At 40, he wasn’t ready for retirement — he was looking for a new challenge that would combine his love of golf with meaningful work.

It didn’t take him long to find one. Takapuna Golf Course was on the verge of collapse, burdened with debts to banks, private lenders, suppliers, and staff. Recognising the challenge and the community value of the course, Simon stepped in. Through careful negotiation and a structured repayment plan, he prevented its immediate closure and began the long process of restoring the business.

Working alongside Steve Dowd, an experienced greenkeeper with extensive knowledge of AF Thomas Park, Simon invested significant resources into rebuilding the course. Together they transformed it into a fully playable, all-season facility. He

We’re celebrating our 20th Anniversary and you are invited!

also oversaw a complete modernisation of the 35-year-old clubhouse, turning it into a much-loved community hub that complements the 18-hole course and a 48-bay driving range — the first in New Zealand to feature an automatic ball delivery system.

Recovery was slow but Simon never believed in putting corporate profits ahead of anything else.

“Improving the golf course has always been my top priority,” he says. “My philosophy is that continual reinvestment is essential to the course’s survival and to maintaining its place as New Zealand’s busiest, most popular golf course.”

Equally important to him is keeping golf accessible. Takapuna Golf Course remains one of only two public golf

let’s Partee at takaPuna Golf Course this sunday

courses in Auckland, meaning anyone can book a tee time — no membership required. With more than 200,000 visitors each year, the course welcomes everyone from complete beginners to seasoned players, including golf superstars Lydia Ko and Ryan Fox, who both honed their skills here.

Simon takes pride in seeing young children, novice adults, and long-time golfers sharing the fairways.

“It’s all part of what makes Takapuna special — everyone belongs here.”

Even when staff urged him to raise green fees, Simon believed it was his public duty to ensure that anyone could afford to come and play. With this strong sense of community commitment, he has continued to keep the green fees low so everyone can enjoy the game without financial pressure.

“We’ll continue to keep the cost down, so the course remains beloved by the wider community.”

Simon is committed to nurturing the course and the community it serves for many years to come — ensuring Takapuna Golf Course remains a place where golf is not a privilege, but a shared pleasure for all.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Simon’s involvement at Takapuna Golf Course, the community is invited to a free open day on Sunday, 16 November.

Play nine holes for free all day

• Try the golfing range for free • Mini-golf and colouring for the kids • Fab prizes to be won • Free sausage sizzle 11 am – 4 pm , s unday, 16 november

Simon Ha and Steve Dowd are celebrating 20 years of improving Takapuna Golf Course

Foodstuffs offloading unwanted central Takapuna site

A large central Takapuna site on the corner of Lake Rd and Bracken Ave (pictured) is being sold by Foodstuffs, owner of Pak’nSave and New World supermarkets.

The 3388 sqm site was long the home of the Jerry Clayton BMW car yard.

It also includes a number of streetfront shops with offices above.

The vacant site is being marketed by Colliers via deadline private treaty closing at 4pm on Wednesday 26 November, unless sold prior.

A Foodstuffs spokesperson said that as part of its regular planning process, it had identified the Lake Rd site as no longer needed.

“We’ve recently listed the site to allow

us to reinvest in areas that better support our focus on building a stronger network to deliver long-term value for our customers and communities,” the spokesperson said.

Foodstuffs plans to build a Pak’nSave

supermarket of more than 6000sqm on a corner site at 6 Fred Thomas Drive, opposite the Lake House arts centre.

“We have no other stores planned for the North Shore,” the spokesperson said.

New local bank branch provides national backup

Co-operative Bank has chosen Takapuna as the alternative site from which to run its national operations should a natural disaster or other crisis knock out its Wellington headquarters.

The bank has expanded in Takapuna rather than set up in Albany.

“We wanted to build resilience,” said its chief customer officer, Catherine Bateman.

The new branch on Lake Rd opened last month with 24 staff. Bateman said Takapuna’s more central location won out, but also its established community, which was diverse and growing.

The bank’s backroom staff run a national call centre and the bank’s specialised advice on dealing with matters such as powers of attorney and deceased estates. They can also be deployed to support other branches.

The branch has 19,000 local customers. “Being part of the community is really important,” Bateman said. That included rec-

ognising a customer preference for retaining some face-to-face services, along with helping people upskill on digital banking options.

Bateman said the branch was a national trial site for new ways to help with digital transition by offering in-person coaching. This allowed people to upskill on their own devices, while staff used bank screens to guide the process.

“One elderly person in his early 90s worked with one of our team and said after ‘I feel like a wizard’.”

The bank is exploring working locally with Digital Seniors, a volunteer organisation which provides community courses at locations including Takapuna Library.

But it wasn’t just seniors who still sometimes appreciated in-person attention, said Bateman. “First homes are a classic example.” For landmark events such as taking on a mortgage, some people liked to talk through options and sign documents in

person. “Younger people are totally digitally native, but some are not so financially literate,” she said.

The bank – this year named by Consumer as the nation’s most trusted for a fourth year in a row – runs on a co-operative model. Rather than return profits to shareholders, it reinvests them in the bank and also returns rebates to its customers – $23 million since 2013.

First-home buyers make up 60 per cent of its mortgage business. The bank, along with Westpac and Kiwbank, has an underwritten deal with Kāinga Ora whereby it can provide lower-deposit mortgages (as low as 5 per cent) for eligible people who meet an income cap.

Bateman, a Takapuna local, said the branch in the refitted former BNZ site was fielding more walk-in interest since moving from a temporary location a block south on the other side of Lake Rd.

New PumpHouse chair faces challenges

The PumpHouse Theatre Trust Board has farewelled its retiring chairperson Peter Burn, after a decade’s service.

Newly elected as chair – at what is a testing time for the arts and the Takapuna venue – is Fiona McMillan, a partner at legal firm Lane Neave, who has been deputy chair for two and a half years. “We’re all really excited about the year ahead,” she says. “We’ve got some challenges to overcome, but with new faces on the board and fresh energy, we’re confident about the future. Not to mention the fact our community support remains strong.”

McMillan and her board must grapple with the reduced income caused by the closing of

Bright idea

It is time the council took over fireworks each November 5th. They could be let off from a pontoon just off Takapuna Beach, with onlookers getting a great view from the beach

Roger Hall

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Tim Bray Theatre Company before Christmas last year, which left a shortfall of nearly $100,000 this year, despite the theatre rallying and filling most gaps in its programming.

During his term, Burn also had to deal with Covid closures and floods. He led a number of building upgrade projects,

Joining the board are Brendan Upson, a technology champion who lives in Hauraki, and Glenfield broadcaster Braydon Priest, who recently acted in the Phoenix Theatre show The Pink Hammer at the PumpHouse.

McMillan’s executive team comprises deputy chair Jilly Thomas, treasurer Brenda Magee and secretary Teresa Sokolich.

Handing over... incoming PumpHouse chair Fiona McMillan with Peter Burn, who is retiring from the board

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Going underground: Schools provide artworks for show

Rest awhile... Takapuna sculptor Merle Bishop’s favourite dog is back, enticing spectators at Narrow Neck and this year bearing flowers

North Shore schools and artists are among those showing at Sculpture OnShore, the country’s largest sculpture event on now at Fort Takapuna, above Narrow Neck Beach.

The stunning outdoor site and use of its old military bunkers makes for a unique event, drawing thousands of people to what is the major fundraiser for Women’s Refuge.

Participation is stronger than ever in 2025, with 21 schools showing works inside the former underground fort, including Westlake Girls High School, Takapuna Grammar, Milford Primary and six primary schools on the Devonport peninsula.

Westlake Girls art teacher Neil Seumanutafa said the school’s Year 10 students took inspiration from a trip to Maungauika / North Head for their installation made of papier mache. Its shapes were inspired by middens on the maunga, which was a historic pa site. Shells, bones and other traces of kaimoana from human occupation lent themselves to a project that also drew on the organic shapes and voids of sculptor Henri Matisse.

Around 120 students worked on the project for about a month, learning techniques relevant to a busy curriculum, he said. Smaller works were interwined together for display. “It’s a little push if they know it’s going to be out there in the public space,” Seumanutafa said.

Young talent... Westlake Girls High School students used papier mache to create sculptures inspired by Maungauika’s past and Henri Matisse

Milford Primary School teacher Ellen von Collas said seeing their work on display built children’s self-esteem. The school’s “Seeds for Life” contribution involved all students learning about the importance to the planet of seeds.

Some Year 1, 3 and 4 specialist art classes then made specific sculptures of seeds, plants and flowers, some realistic and others more whimsical.

A standout among works by professional artists this year is a steel and copper cloaked figure of a wahine made by Dan McKerrow from Hāwera. Called Whakaruruhau, it won the inaugural Women’s Refuge Sculpture of Strength (SOS) Award at the event’s gala opening, as the work that best aligned with that organisation’s values and mission.

SHOWING NOW

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (M) 113min

The Running Man (R16) 133min

Spinal Tap ll: The End Continues (M) 84min

Happyend (M) 133min

Predator: Badlands (R13) 108min

Bugonia (R16) 119min

Good Fortune (M) 98min

Pike River (M) 131min

Prime Minister (M) 101min

Saint-Ex (M) 100min

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (M) 120min

Mr. Burton (M) 124min SPECIAL EVENTS & NEW RELEASES

FIZZ - Live Comedy (E) 14 Nov Pike River (M) with Filmed Q&A 156min 14-16 & 19 Nov

Other sculptures on show and for sale range from tiny items to Blake Harnett’s 4.2m tall assemblage of a ballerina in the palm of a giant hand.

Takapuna’s Merle Bishop is back, with a new edition of her sculpted dog series, as is internationally recognised Devonport-based artist Helen Pollock, crafting terracotta heads. Newcomers include Debbie Barber from Hauraki and Brianna Parkinson, Bayswater, both working in ceramics.

• Sculpture OnShore runs until 23 November, excluding Mondays. Tickets $30.

Jack of two trades finds his place and people with Little Women

Actor-turned-builder Jack Powell is back treading the boards, kicking off his tradie boots for a season in support roles in Little Women

If he gets any cheek on the blokey building site, he says it’s good-natured.

“The irony of theatre is even if they want to tease me I can just remind them the woman-to-man ratio is quite favourable to me,” observes the Forrest Hill resident.

That’s especially so for Little Women , Louisa May Alcott’s perenially popular 19th century story of the four March sisters coming of age.

It is being staged by Foolish Wit company at the PumpHouse theatre next week.

Powell, a Forrest Hill resident for around five years, had seen a previous Foolish Wit production of A Doll’s House at the same venue.

“I liked the production and the space and the way the text was handled,” he recalls. So when he learned the local company was auditioning for its next show, the trained actor thought he would give it a go.

Other than a six-week stint on Shortland Street a couple of years ago, Powell hadn’t acted since Covid struck. Since returning to the stage, he says: “It’s hard to explain why, but I feel enmeshed in my tribe.”

It’s a feeling he first had at high school in the United States, where he was raised in a military family that moved around. Joining school shows made him feel at home. “That was my bunch, my social group.”

Powell went on to do an acting degree at university, and worked professionally in the craft for a while. Then he went travelling around 10 years ago, settling in New Zealand after a few years living in Australia.

After a spell in Wellington, he headed north and it was through a flatmate he found steady work as a builders labourer to help pay the rent.

At age 37, he is now aiming to finish his builder’s apprenticeship, knowing the trade will provide a good income and backup if he gets back into more acting.

Powell says the Little Women production is somewhere between full period drama in hoop skirts set soon after the American Civil War, to something rather more modern. He admits he came to the play not having read the book, but he had seen several film versions of the much-loved story.

He plays John Brooks, tutor to Teddy Lawrence, the hearthrob neighbour who the March family come to love. He also cameos as a publisher that heroine Jo must contend with.

The play is an adaptation by Kate Hamill, an American author who brings a feminist lens to classics, including Pride and Prej-

udice, which Foolish Wit staged last year.

In this version of Little Women, Jo tells Beth a “real story” which unfolds on the stage as it plays out in Jo’s imagination.

It’s a production that keeps its actors on stage nearly the entire time and has fewer tears and more laughs than the tear-jerker novel, written in 1868.

But the story of the battle for self-determination still remains.

Powell, who has a friend in the show playing the elder Mr Lawrence, has spent several months rehearsing with the wider cast, which has helped him feel even more at home on the North Shore than ever.

“I’m a classic suburban American,” he jokes, explaining that Forrest Hill with its easy access to the motorway and houses with a bit of space around them feels comfortably familiar.

He likes to ride off on a motorbike or do a bit of camping, but also to “head down to Takapuna and get a Dante’s pizza and finish with either the Movenpick or Duck Island [ice cream] and then go down to the beach.”

• Little Women, at the PumpHouse, from 19-23 November. Adult tickets, $30, through the theatre.

Tradie time out... Jack Powell at rehearsals in his work gear

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