High-viz... Michaela Bycroft (above left) and Kahlan Turner wear dark sports bras to more easily show the transparency of their school uniform blouse, which they say is worse if wet
A student-led petition calling for the ditching of “transparent” blouses worn by Westlake Girls High School seniors as part of the school’s compulsory uniform has gained hundreds of signatures.
Its launch followed a meeting two Year 12 students held with the principal over their concerns about the blouses.
Kahlan Turner from Milford told the Observer girls were uncomfortable wearing the blouse because their undergarments could be seen through its light white fabric. “We feel self-conscious and exposed.”
The effect was much worse when they got caught in the rain, or in summer when they perspired and the poly-cotton fabric stuck to their skin.
“Some of my friends have to cover up more because of their culture,” Kahlan said. This meant they were layering garments beneath the blouse or wearing their blazers, which was uncomfortably hot in warm weather.
The blouses also strained across the fronts of growing students, causing gaping that could show skin, due to what she considered inadequate fabric overlap and poor button placement. Junior blouses were better and made of a softer, thicker, darker fabric.
“We want privacy to be guaranteed,” said Michaela Bycroft, from Unsworth Heights. She said she had two Muslim friends who were “not allowed things that showed”.
The girls told of comments and whistling when students walked past groups of boys from nearby schools at crowded bus stops.
Westlake principal Jane Stanley said there were useful discussions on possible improvements to the blouse during the meeting with the girls on Friday 1 May.
But Kahlan – who has the backing of her father, Shane Turner, for her advocacy – said she left the meeting feeling discouraged and thinking only button placement might be looked at. This prompted her to raise her concerns in her classes and post on online petition platform Change.org.
“As we walk around the school we can see the back of students’ bras,” she said. “We feel this is very intrusive on their privacy that should never be invaded.”
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Hon Simon Watts
MP for North Shore northshore@parliament.govt.nz SimonWattsMP
Castor Bay residents urge further investigation of stairway options
A final push to have the Kennedy Park coastal stairs rebuilt is being made by the Castor Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association.
CBRRA president Hamish Anderson said community members had seen people trying to climb down the cliff, which underlined the demand for safe access to the beach below.
Anderson is seeking a speaking slot at the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board meeting in late May, hoping to persuade board members to have council staff look harder at alternative staircase sites.
One suggestion is to follow the route army stairs once took, south of those damaged and closed in 2023.
Staff reported to a board workshop in March that cliff stability concerns and rising costs meant stair repairs the previous board had budgeted for were not advised.
alternative solutions that may still restore public access in some form.”
Despite repeated requests the group had not been able to see expert background reports, used by staff to compile their options overview.
One route option appeared to have “effectively disappeared” from consideration despite updated technical findings suggesting the existing staircase footprint was a major contributor to the problem, he said.
Drawing on decades of local knowledge and recent site visits, life member and retired engineer Joe Barber thought relocation was possible to avoid the most slip-prone areas and reduce stormwater issues.
Anderson acknowledges the issues raised and risk of repeat failure with the existing staircase, but says CBBRA is concerned other options have not been fully explored.
“It is difficult for the community to understand why a widely used and historically significant public accessway appears to be approaching abandonment without fuller exploration of intermediate or staged alternatives,” he said in a recent letter to board chair Trish Deans.
“Our concern is that the [council] report appears heavily weighted toward identifying reasons why reinstatement cannot proceed, rather than actively exploring practical
Barber, who helped rebuild the former World War II stairs during the 1960s, has previously suggested this former site might offer the solution.
Anderson said, “whether ultimately feasible or not, we do not believe this concept has yet received the level of engineering consideration it deserves.”
Other issues were the weighting given to ecological impacts as a constraint on rebuilding, when much of the slope vegetation was pest species.
Financial constraints were valid, yet locals had witnessed substantial council spending on other coastal-access projects, such as costly stairs to the beach in Milford where more modest solutions may have sufficed.
Politicians to speak in Takapuna and Milford
Residents associations in Takapuna and Milford have attracted high-profile speakers for their upcoming annual meetings.
The Deputy Mayor of Auckland, Desley Simpson, who spearheads a cost-saving
drive within council, will speak at the Milford Baptist Church on 20 May at 7pm.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour will be in Takapuna on 11 June, with intensification looming as a hot topic.
Authorised by Hon Simon Watts, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
What’s so funny ’bout fleece, love and understanding?
Furry creatures... Brightly coloured sleepwear and hoodies were de rigueur at Milford Primary School’s Pyjama Day last week
Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.
Health matters in Milford
People matter in Milford
Yachting Action in Milford during October and November
certainly taken a turn for the worse since stopped. Rain, storms and a lot cooler. Luckily, Emergency Resilience Group (MERG), which was has kept an eye on conditions and been ready emergency hub at the Milford Cruising Club. haven’t needed to. Great communications went cyclone that was supposed to hit in early April, and see so many people preparing for the worstaway, checking on their neighbours and ensuring cleared. Remember, if you want to get MERG you are signed up to the newsletter of one organisations: Milford Business Association Milford Residents Association or the Milford
Health matters in Milford
Health matters in Milford
weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse since saving stopped. Rain, storms and a lot cooler. Luckily, Milford Emergency Resilience Group (MERG), which was last year, has kept an eye on conditions and been ready up the emergency hub at the Milford Cruising Club. Fortunately, we haven’t needed to. Great communications went the cyclone that was supposed to hit in early April, and pleasing to see so many people preparing for the worstthings away, checking on their neighbours and ensuring were cleared. Remember, if you want to get MERG make sure you are signed up to the newsletter of one local organisations: Milford Business Association Shops), Milford Residents Association or the Milford Club.
The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse since daylight saving stopped. Rain, storms and a lot cooler. Luckily, the Milford Emergency Resilience Group (MERG), which was started last year, has kept an eye on conditions and been ready to stand up the emergency hub at the Milford Cruising Club (MCC).
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.
Health matters in Milford
Winner of Ski Tūroa promotion
Fortunately, we haven’t needed to. Great communications went out for the cyclone that was supposed to hit in early April, and it was pleasing to see so many people preparing for the worststoring things away, checking on their neighbours and ensuring drains were cleared.
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.
Milford – Top Sales Town Centre on the Shore
We were so pleased how the communications were so widely read by locals - over 5000 contacted through the database we have at Milford Shops and approximately 250 each by the MCC and Milford Residents Association fb page announcement. This was an excellent test for us of how effective in time our communications would be in a situation where there was a need to stand up our Emergency Hub at the MCC.
Milford mums a wonderful Mother’s Day on you haven’t already got mum a present, I’m sure you need here in Milford. We hope you enjoyed we offered: A Weekend In Matakana with a for transport – thanks to Riverside Matakana & North Shore – and our social media promotion of a Milford for a mum and daughter.
wish all our Milford mums a wonderful Mother’s Day on May. If you haven’t already got mum a present, I’m sure find what you need here in Milford. We hope you enjoyed promotions we offered: A Weekend In Matakana with a Mercedes-Benz for transport – thanks to Riverside Matakana & Mercedes-Benz North Shore – and our social media promotion of a day in Milford for a mum and daughter. joined the Channel crew this month for their feature on Fitness and Sports. Milford has many businesses in these categories, which you will find on our website, milfordshops.co.nz. list of many of them:
The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse since daylight saving stopped. Rain, storms and a lot cooler. Luckily, the Milford Emergency Resilience Group (MERG), which was started last year, has kept an eye on conditions and been ready to stand up the emergency hub at the Milford Cruising Club. Fortunately, we haven’t needed to. Great communications went out for the cyclone that was supposed to hit in early April, and it was pleasing to see so many people preparing for the worststoring things away, checking on their neighbours and ensuring drains were cleared. Remember, if you want to get MERG notices, make sure you are signed up to the newsletter of one of these local organisations: Milford Business Association (Milford Shops), Milford Residents Association or the Milford Cruising Club.
The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse since daylight saving stopped. Rain, storms and a lot cooler. Luckily, the Milford Emergency Resilience Group (MERG), which was started last year, has kept an eye on conditions and been ready to stand up the emergency hub at the Milford Cruising Club. Fortunately, we haven’t needed to. Great communications went out for the cyclone that was supposed to hit in early April, and it was pleasing to see so many people preparing for the worststoring things away, checking on their neighbours and ensuring drains were cleared. Remember, if you want to get MERG notices, make sure you are signed up to the newsletter of one of these local organisations: Milford Business Association (Milford Shops), Milford Residents Association or the Milford Cruising Club.
So, if you want to get MERG notices, make sure you are signed up to the newsletters of one of these local organisations:
• Milford Business Association (Milford Shops) - www.milfordshops.co.nz
• Milford Cruising Club - milfordcruising.co.nz
We wish all our Milford mums a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday 10 May. If you haven’t already got mum a present, I’m sure you will find what you need here in Milford. We hope you enjoyed the two promotions we offered: A Weekend In Matakana with a new Mercedes-Benz for transport – thanks to Riverside Matakana & Mercedes-Benz North Shore – and our social media promotion of a special day in Milford for a mum and daughter.
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.
We wish all our Milford mums a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday 10 May. If you haven’t already got mum a present, I’m sure you will find what you need here in Milford. We hope you enjoyed the two promotions we offered: A Weekend In Matakana with a new Mercedes-Benz for transport – thanks to Riverside Matakana & Mercedes-Benz North Shore – and our social media promotion of a special day in Milford for a mum and daughter.
• Milford Residents Association - milford.org.nz
Milford Emergency Readiness Group
I'm pleased to advise the Milford community that we now have a group up and running for when an emergency occurs in our
Plus Physiotherapy, Milford, Audika, Bloom Hearing Specialists, Body Haven Massage, Chemist Warehouse, Chiropractic NZ, City Fitness Milford, Eyewear in Milford, Intuitive Hands, Medical Centre, Life Pharmacy, Marvel Wellness Massage, Acupuncture, Milford Dentists, Milford Family Dental, Milford Optometrists, Milford Nutritional Pharmacy, My Pilates Place, Shore Spine Clinic, OPSM, Resonate Health, Saensuk Thai Total Osteo, Unichem Milford, Wild & Well, and Vital Body
Osteopathy
Channel crew this month for their feature on Sports. Milford has many businesses in these you will find on our website, milfordshops.co.nz. of them: Physiotherapy, Milford, Audika, Bloom Hearing Haven Massage, Chemist Warehouse, Chiropractic Fitness Milford, Eyewear in Milford, Intuitive Hands, Centre, Life Pharmacy, Marvel Wellness Massage, Acupuncture, Milford Dentists, Milford Family Dental, Milford Milford Nutritional Pharmacy, My Pilates Place, Clinic, OPSM, Resonate Health, Saensuk Thai Osteo, Unichem Milford, Wild & Well, and Vital Body
We’ve joined the Channel crew this month for their feature on Health, Fitness and Sports. Milford has many businesses in these categories, which you will find on our website, milfordshops.co.nz. Here is a list of many of them:
Therapists
We’ve joined the Channel crew this month for their feature on Health, Fitness and Sports. Milford has many businesses in these categories, which you will find on our website, milfordshops.co.nz. Here is a list of many of them:
Mandy Crawford and Matt Wain
Established in Milford for 18 years
What’s On in Milford – May 2026:
What’s On in Milford – May 2026:
Milford Cruising Club
What’s On in Milford – May 2026:
Active Plus Physiotherapy, Milford, Audika, Bloom Hearing Specialists, Body Haven Massage, Chemist Warehouse, Chiropractic Alchemy NZ, City Fitness Milford, Eyewear in Milford, Intuitive Hands, Kitchener Medical Centre, Life Pharmacy, Marvel Wellness Massage, Milford Acupuncture, Milford Dentists, Milford Family Dental, Milford Optometrists, Milford Nutritional Pharmacy, My Pilates Place, North Shore Spine Clinic, OPSM, Resonate Health, Saensuk Thai Massage, Total Osteo, Unichem Milford, Wild & Well, and Vital Body Osteopathy
Active Plus Physiotherapy, Milford, Audika, Bloom Hearing Specialists, Body Haven Massage, Chemist Warehouse, Chiropractic Alchemy NZ, City Fitness Milford, Eyewear in Milford, Intuitive Hands, Kitchener Medical Centre, Life Pharmacy, Marvel Wellness Massage, Milford Acupuncture, Milford Dentists, Milford Family Dental, Milford Optometrists, Milford Nutritional Pharmacy, My Pilates Place, North Shore Spine Clinic, OPSM, Resonate Health, Saensuk Thai Massage, Total Osteo, Unichem Milford, Wild & Well, and Vital Body Osteopathy
Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners (like GPs and pharmacists), and are trained to provide evidencebased diagnosis, treatment and rehab for all musculoskeletal issues, not just bones!
What’s On in Milford – May 2026:
Milford Cruising Club
Milford Cruising Club
• Everyone is welcome to attend! Locals are welcome - you don't need a boat to join us!
Milford Cruising Club
• Free quiz nights every Thursday from 7.30pm
• Everyone is welcome to attend! Locals are welcome - you don't need a boat to join us!
• Everyone is welcome to attend! Locals are welcome - you don't need a boat to join us!
• Dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. Family-friendly atmosphere.
• Free quiz nights every Thursday from 7.30pm
• Free quiz every Thursday from 7.30pm
• Everyone is welcome to attend! Locals are welcome - you don't need a boat to join us!
• Friday 15 May, 7pm - Serene Bolton singing
• Free quiz nights every Thursday from 7.30pm
• Dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. Family-friendly atmosphere.
• Dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. Family-friendly atmosphere.
• Friday 15 May, 7pm - Serene Bolton singing
• Friday 15 May, 7pm - Serene Bolton singing
• Sunday 10 May, 10am-2pm - Mother's Day brunch. Bookings essential. Email manager@milfordcruising.co.nz
• Dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. Family-friendly atmosphere.
• Friday 15 May, 7pm - Serene Bolton singing
• Sunday 10 May, 10am-2pm - Mother's Day brunch. Bookings essential. Email manager@milfordcruising.co.nz
• Sunday 10 May, 10am-2pm - Mother's Day brunch. Bookings essential. Email manager@milfordcruising.co.nz
Pym’s of Milford Live Music
• Friday 15 May – Will Vogel
Pym’s of Milford Live Music
Pym’s of Milford Live Music
• Friday 22 May - Jake Pancho
• Sunday 10 May, 10am-2pm - Mother's Day brunch. Bookings essential. Email manager@milfordcruising.co.nz
• Friday 15 May – Will Vogel
• Friday 15 May – Will Vogel
• Friday 22 May - Jake Pancho
• Friday 22 May - Jake Pancho
Autumn Food Truck Series 2026
Pym’s of Milford Live Music
ACC accredited - no referral needed, and Southern Cross Easy Claim providers
• Friday 15 May – Will Vogel
• Friday 22 May, Milford Reserve, 5pm-8pm
Autumn Food Truck Series 2026
Autumn Food Truck Series 2026
• Friday 22 May, Milford Reserve, 5pm-8pm
• Friday 22 May, Milford Reserve, 5pm-8pm
• Friday 22 May - Jake Pancho
Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz
Recently moved to new premises above Shore Travel, entrance 107 Kitchener Rd • vitalbody.co.nz
Autumn Food Truck Series 2026
� milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV
• Friday 22 May, Milford Reserve, 5pm-8pm
Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association manager@milfordshops.co.nz • 021 950 463 • milfordshops.co.nz � milfordshops � milfordnz youtube MilfordshopsTV
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.
Emergency Hub at the Milford Cruising Club
Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.
MILFORD SHOPS NEWS
Murray Hill, Manager, Milford Business Association
Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association. MILFORD
Your monthly update from Murray Hill, Manager of Milford Business Association.
MILFORD SHOPS NEWS
School ‘disappointed’ at students’ blouse petition
From page 1
By Tuesday this week, more than 600 signatures were recorded online, some from overseas.
“My mum has shared it with her workplace,” Michaela said. Kahlan claims a teacher and counsellors were among those who backed the petition.
Her father said a shirt bought at Kmart for $12 would give better coverage than the uniform version at $60. “It is pretty transparent, even when you see it hanging in the wardrobe.” He wonders if corners might have been cut over time in the fabric used.
As to his daughter speaking out, he says: “No worries... if [the uniform] bothers her.”
Turner wonders if the senior blouse was designed with an eye to emulating more tailored work wear, or the sort of shaped school uniforms seen in some international schools.
“It’s not designed for comfort, but more for look.”
Stanley said the meeting with the two students was the first time she had heard such concerns expressed about the uniform.
“As the uniform is deliberately flexible, they [the supplier] have ideas about potential workarounds in the interim if the students would like to discuss the issue further.”
The supplier’s representative at the meeting made constructive suggestions for possible improvements to the shirt. This included offering to explore various options such as a more tightly woven fabric and an insert at the shirt front.
She and the associate principal felt that the mood and output of the meeting –also attended by the uniform supplier – had been extremely positive. They were “surprised and disappointed” to learn of the petition being launched while efforts to address the issue were still pending.
“Westlake Girls puts a great deal of emphasis on listening to our students and allowing them to express their views and always wants our students to feel heard and supported,” Stanley said.
“We never want our students to feel self-conscious or uncomfortable in any manner relating to the uniform and are always open to discussion on the subject.”
But Kahlan said she considered the responses at the meeting were dismissive, with one example being told to wear rain jackets to keep their shirts from getting wet, when the jackets did not keep them dry.
Stanley said the supplier had explained to the girls that while the rain jacket fabric was waterproof, the seams were not, meaning the jackets were water-resistant; enough to protect students between classes, but not completely waterproof.
Kahlan hopes the petition will prompt a uniform rethink. “I want to get as many signatures as I can, so I can show it to the school and see if I can get action.”
Tower developer pays deposit for prime Gasometer site
The Cedar Pacific and McConnell Property consortium has paid a deposit to Auckland Council for land earmarked for a rent-to-buy highrise development in Auburn St between Huron and Northcroft Sts.
“A deposit has been paid, and the consortium are working through the conditions of the agreement which should be completed at the end of this year,” said Kate Cumberpatch, Auckland Urban Development Office priority location director north.
Once finalised, the consortium would be applying for building
consent, and it was expected to take 12 months after that was granted before any works began on the old Gasometer site, she said.
The development, which will provide 358 rental apartments, was first announced in 2023.
No sale price would be released until after settlement of the land sale, Cumberpatch said.
In the meantime, council had a maintenance programme in place to ensure the site was cleared regularly.
A more personal approach to dentistry
At Takapuna Dentists, we focus on you not just your treatment.
No rushed appointments.
No unnecessary pressure.
Just thoughtful, experienced care delivered with clarity and respect.
Why patients choose us
Girl power... Michaela Bycroft (left) and Kahlan Turner hope the school will rethink its senior uniform blouse
Plans are advancing for a wooden boardwalk-style public footpath between the western side of Milford Marina and the car park along Inga Rd.
But fencing planned above the newly built marina seawall, as part of the $610,000 project, is to be reconsidered
Council staff had proposed a wooden handrail atop a paling fence, but Devonport-Takapuna Local Board members, at a workshop this month, asked for this to be reconsidered.
This followed a request from Milford Residents Association co-chair Debbie Dunsford for the fence to be more open “so the view is not obstructed”.
Continuing simple steel fencing used further down the Wairau estuary would provide
consistency, said board chair Trish Deans.
Detailed designs and cost estimates for the options will come back to the board for final approval, with construction due in the 2026-27 financial year.
The footpath will be just over 260m long and primarily a boardwalk, apart from a 70m concrete section on sloping terrain.
The aim is to provide a safer route for pedestrians than the grass berm by the busy car park, or walking behind parked cars.
Board member Terence Harpur asked what it would cost to extend the footpath around to the eastern side of the Inga Rd bridge. “It finishes in a car park in no man’s land.”
Gavin Busch asked if construction could be timed with work on a new bridge coming for Inga Rd, to minimise traffic disruption.
Takapuna pork belly and paua hit the spot
Two Takapuna restaurants have made the “Iconic Auckland Eats” Top 100 for 2026.
Nanam’s pork belly lechon and Fantail & Turtle’s paua and fry bread were among the dishes from across the city selected by judges from thousands of public nominations in the Auckland Council-run promotion.
Akdeniz in Devonport was also listed for its koobideh, a traditional Persian serving of
grilled minced meat and sides.
The North Shore had seven representatives on the list, which tends to favour central city outlets. The other four ‘iconic eats’ were: lamingtons at Sugar at the Chelsea Sugar Factory; mushroom pappardelle at Duo, Birkenhead Point; kaisen shio ramen at Ramen Takara, Browns Bay; and sticky pork ribs at Gao Asian Fusion, Albany.
Westlake Boys duo bound for Oxford’s dreaming spires
Two former Westlake Boys High students have been accepted to study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
Luke Ding will study music at the university’s Queen’s College, while Jason Tao will study physics at Brasenose College.
Ding was also among five Westlake Boys students recognised as leading scholars at Parliament this month.
Mason Drylie, Alex Zhao and Ethan Chong were named “Premier Scholars”, putting them in the first rank in their overall scholarship results. It was the second year in a row that WBHS had the most students in that category.
Three “Top in Subject” prizes went to Drylie for Art History, Shaun Ding-Hong Hsieh for geography and Ding for media studies.
Headmaster Paul Fordham said the achievements were a strong endorsement of educational standards and the academic pathways available through NCEA and boys’ schools. He said the Oxford-bound students had contributed widely to school life, reflecting the school’s emphasis on character, leadership and service.
Westlake Girls had two students named Top in Subject: Elaine Zhou, for sculpture, who is now studying engineering and physics in Sydney; and Diya Kansara, for psychology, achieved in Year 12, before she returned for Year 13. “We are very proud of them both,” said principal Jane Stanley.
Beach walks within reach
Beach walks within reach
Graham moved to the coast for the beach lifestyle. At 68, the retired builder had traded his suburban home for a beachfront property, dreaming of daily walks along the sand.
“I’d moved here for this,” Graham says. “But I was barely managing one short walk a week.”
His wife faced similar challenges. Their dream retirement was looking very different from what they’d imagined.
“We never talked about it,” he recalls. “Just accepted that this was becoming our life. Watching other people walk by with ease and enjoy what we couldn’t.”
The turning point came when Graham stumbled across an article about Koru FX, a New Zealand-made natural cream.
“I was sceptical that a cream could take the edge off a knee,” Graham admits. “I kept thinking about all the life I was missing while I debated trying it.”
What convinced him was learning it was made locally with natural ingredients.
“It absorbed quickly with this pleasant peppermint scent. Within minutes, there was this deep warming followed by cooling.”
Within a few weeks, Graham’s beach walks had become reality. His wife joined him on the same routine, and now they’re exploring stretches of coastline they’d only admired from afar.
“It was just enough to take the edge off. And once that happened, you start moving again.”
He’s become something of a local advocate, sharing Koru FX with neighbours and friends.
“I kick myself for waiting so long.”
First in class... Flanking Westlake Boys High School’s headmaster Paul Fordham are four of five of its top scholars (from left): Ethan Chong, Mason Drylie, Alex Zhao and Shaun Ding-Hong Hsieh
Oxford-bound... Luke Ding at the keyboard (above left) and Jason Tao at prizegiving
Student Diya Kansara with Westlake psychology teacher Grace Williams (left) and principal Jane Stanley
Festival brings
Carmel College student Carla Manlutaz and Rosmini boys Aldion Paloma (centre) and Meng Zheng talk about the Filipino evenings the schools jointly hold
Festival organiser Jade Ceres-Munoz is a Forrest Hill local
Takapuna friends Sorcha Millican and Sara Danesh
Friends Vanessa Alicea and Munir Abulaban from Forrest Hill
Renan Alaras and Joanna Valodoc came from Birkdale
Doggy day out... Ten-year-old Sybil is toted by owner Lucy Lee
Trixie Anglo, Remedios Gozum and Shakira Deguinion from the KGC Pinoy Dance Group
fun in the sun
The sights, sounds and enticing smells of the Philippines set Takapuna buzzing for the third annual Filipino Festival.
Waiwharariki Anzac Square was filled with crowds, food trucks and market stalls, with cultural performances also a feature on Saturday 2 May. People spilled out from the square, with Hurstmere Rd also busy throughout the sunny day.
The smell and smoke from sizzling street food made for an atmospheric occasion, drawing diverse peoples from across the city, but also many locals, including those from the North Shore’s sizeable Filipino community.
Festival organiser Jade Ceres-Munoz, who lives in Forrest Hill, is behind a series of Filipino markets held across Auckland.
This year’s Takapuna festival had a Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) theme and included group and school performances.
Student showcase... Boys and girls from the Westlake high schools’ Tinikling Group performed cultural dances
Fun in the sun... Friends (from left) Reign Isadoi and Rafabelle-Kathryn Bastida from Takapuna, and (above) Daisy Dunn from Coatesville with Claudia Rosewood from Forrest Hill
Sizzling... Food vendors were kept busy over the hot grill catering for good crowds throughout the day
Lazy Paws - A labour of love
Lazypaws was born from a very personal and genuine reason. I have a dog, and I also run a Maine Coon cattery. Through caring for them every day, I began to realize that while the pet market seems full of options, in reality, choices are quite limited. I didn’t want my pets to spend their lives eating the same food and using the same products day after day.
So I thought—why not personally source, test, and introduce a wider range of products, and create a boutique that truly puts pets first? In the beginning, this store was simply for my own pets — but over time, it has grown into something I hope can serve other pet families who value quality, experience, and a sense of freshness.
When it comes to product selection, we follow one simple rule: everything must be “tested and loved by pets.” One of our key products is Xucuihua cat litter, a premium cassava-based litter from China. As a Maine Coon breeder, I understand the challenges of large cats—heavy urination, edge peeing, and difficult cleanup. That’s why clumping performance is extremely important to me. This litter forms tight, solid clumps regardless of how the cat urinates, making cleaning quick and effortless.
We currently offer two functional variants that are also stocked in veterinary clinics. The healthmonitoring litter changes color (blue) to indicate potential urinary issues, with results visible for up to 7 days. The silverion antibacterial litter is ideal for multi-cat households or cats with soft stools, helping to reduce bacteria and maintain hygiene.
across four main series. Our chicken range includes bites, cubes, and whole chicken breast. The duck series features duck rolls combined with vegetables like pumpkin, purple sweet potato, carrot, pear, and Brussels sprouts—created because my own dog refuses vegetables, and duck is also a hypoallergenic protein suitable for sensitive dogs. We also offer pure duck options.
natural chewing, as well as more unique proteins from Australia such as camel, crocodile, and alpaca for adventurous pets. We also bring in high-quality international brands. Rosy Fresh from China produces dry food made entirely from fresh meat, which played a key role in helping my imported breeding cats regain strength and health. Our Korean treats are small, refined, and popular among Korean customers, offering both comfort and variety.
Beyond retail, we support wholesale partnerships and breeders by providing vouchers and discounts for new pet packs. We also offer our space for pet-friendly events and collaborations.
In addition, we provide daycare services starting from $20–$40 per day, including free treats, two daily walks, and dedicated human companionship. We limit capacity to ensure quality care—up to 6 small dogs or 4 large dogs per day—making us a convenient and reliable option for those spending time in Takapuna.
Food is another area we are deeply passionate about. Under our own Lazypaws brand, we offer freeze-dried products
Our seafood range highlights premium New Zealand fish such as salmon, ling, tuna, hoki, and gurnard. All are freezedried to retain high protein and low fat content. In addition, we stock Goodnoze, known for its rich red meat options like veal ribs and lamb ribs—my dog’s personal favorites. We also carry air-dried venison from New Zealand’s South Island for
You can find us at 447 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland. We are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–7pm. Visit us at www.lazypaws.co.nz or contact us at getintouch@lazypaws.co.nz. If you are interested in Maine Coons, feel free to visit our cattery at https:// osmanthuschu.co.nz/.
Lazypaws aims to be a trusted, high-quality connection between you and your pets.
NOW OPEN IN TAKAPUNA
We offer a small and personalised dog daycare experience. Daycare prices range from $20-$60, and customers who spend over $200 in-store can enjoy one free day of daycare. Dogs receive two daily walks as part of the experience.
Rosmini and Westlake unbeaten ahead of rugby derby
A standing-room-only crowd is expected for the local first XV rugby derby this Saturday, 16 May, between the undefeated Rosmini College and Westlake Boys High School. Kick-off at the Westlake ground is at noon.
Both teams enter the match with three victories this season. Westlake has defeated Mahurangi College (40-0), Whangārei Boys High School (40-5), and Orewa College (46-8). Rosmini has beaten Massey High School (82-0), Orewa (43-7) and Rangitoto College (43-7).
Rosmini coach Richard Mayhew noted that the team was building well, with 13 of the 22 squad members returning from 2025.
This experienced group included the entire front and back rows, as well as half-back Eli Wharepouri. Mayhew also highlighted promising new talent, such as first-five Kayden Godbold, who has impressed with his tactical play and kicking.
“Every year, Westlake is strong, and it’s a big challenge for us,” Mayhew said. While Rosmini led at half-time in both matches against Westlake last year, Mayhew emphasised, “this year we want to turn up and win.”
Having played in these derbies for Ros-
mini more than 20 years ago, Mayhew said the build-up, the game-day hakas and the match itself – broadcast on Sky TV – will provide the players with lasting memories.
Westlake is rebuilding its pack this year, having had its starting eight and three other forwards leave at the end of the 2025 season. Seven of last year’s team had amassed more than 50 caps for the school.
However, Westlake head coach Rob Mildenhall said many of the 2026 forwards had some first XV experience and the side had been on a tour of South Africa this year. “We’ve prepared for the season well... 19 boys are back that have first XV caps,” he said.
In the back division, half-back Levi Leith, first-five Luke Walter, star centre Matt Fleming, and wing Yisrael Tukania are all seasoned players returning for 2026.
Former All Black Luke McAlister is backs coach and another former All Black and Westlake player old boy, Dillon Hunt, has joined the coaching staff, specialising in defence.
“We are looking forward to a great game – it always is between the two schools,” said Mildenhall, who is in his eighth year as coach.
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Community swings in behind Forrest Hill playground
Forrest Hill residents have delivered a clear message that they want the William Souter Reserve swings retained, not removed as a council cost-saving measure.
Four community members – armed with a petition signed by more than 100 people – spelled out the playground’s value to an intensifying area, in a deputation to a Devonport-Takapuna Local Board business meeting.
Removing the swing set from the reserve had earlier been raised as a possible option for the board to consider by council staff, who said it wasn’t well used.
Edna Mackle, whose home backs onto the reserve, told board members that over Easter she had seen groups of families holding egg hunts in the reserve and using the swings. Her husband, Philip Mackle, who collected petition signatures, said: “There’s a little bit of anger from the parents from my walkaround.”
People of all demographics used the reserve and swings, from school children cutting through to get to the bus on East Coast Rd to adults on their walks.
The couple were accompanied by Max Whitehead and Frederich Boit. Boit lives in Morton Ave, where multi-storey apartment blocks are being built. Whitehead has terrace housing next to his William Souter Rd home and said he worried about children who congregated on a shared driveway to bounce a ball, which sometimes ran onto the road.
The residents told the Observer the paper’s report about a possible closing prompted them to speak on the need for the fenced and gated playground, which they said would only grow with time. Several board members had earlier spoken in support of keeping the facility, but they wanted to reinforce this.
The playground should, if anything, be enhanced, Whitehead told the meeting, perhaps with a basketball hoop.
Swing fans... Forrest Hill residents (from left) Edna and Philip Mackle, Max Whitehead and Frederich Boit want the small William Souter Reserve playground retained
PumpHouse show lays bare nanny’s brutal treatment
The star of a play about a devoted nanny who was ghosted by the Royal Family after 16 years of loyal service to the original Princess Lilibet, says she hopes audiences will be as moved by the story as she was.
“I don’t think you need to be a royalist to enjoy it – but if you have some knowledge of the time you’re going to find it particularly interesting,” says actor Anna Jullienne (pictured).
The well-known face of stage and screen plays Marion “Crawfie” Crawford in the New Zealand premiere of The Queen’s Nanny, being staged by Tadpole Productions at the PumpHouse theatre in Takapuna.
The plot is based on the sad real-life story of the loved nanny to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Crawfie saw the girls through the shock of the abdication of King Edward VIII and their father’s elevation to the throne, right up to Elizabeth’s marriage to Prince Philip in 1947.
Crawfie, who had studied psychology, served as nanny and governess for much of her 20s and 30s.
It was the memoir she wrote after retiring from the job that cut her adrift. The Little Princesses, published in 1950, was an affectionate account, but it had her thoroughly expunged from the Royal Christmas card list.
The soon-to-be Queen Mother was particularly unforgiving. “Keeping quiet was of the utmost importance,” notes Jullienne. But it seems initially official figures, and possibly even the Queen Mother herself, weren’t against an idea for stories giving a glimpse into Royal life, as initially pitched by the American publishers of the Ladies’
Home
Journal. By the time this morphed into a memoir, Crawfie became irretrievably persona non grata. “She was cut off from these girls she raised,” says Jullienne. “She wasn’t able to have a family of her own, she married late. So it was the ultimate empty nest.”
Jullienne, who many will recognise from television roles on Shortland Street and 800 Words, is relishing the novelty of playing a character who over 90 minutes transforms from a young woman to a lonely older one, living back in her native Scotland.
“I’m not doing that stooping and ageing on stage, but the story tells the change in lines,” she says.
The production, which acts as a commentary on class, also reunites her with Laura Hill, who plays the Queen Mother. “We were on Shorty at the same time so it’s lovely to be working with her again.”
The third cast member, who plays multiple roles, is Jack Buchanan, who Jullienne has got to know over rehearsals.
He plays six parts, including “Lilibet”, that help narrate and entertain the audience through the play by Australian Melanie Tait.
The PumpHouse is a familiar stage for Jullienne. She was in Tadpole’s production of Three Little Words last year, but the association goes back to her childhood.
Milford / Takapuna Tides
by Royal Family
“Once a year, I was there for the first week of school holidays,” she says, recounting her rounds of the city’s drama hotspots, with Takapuna home for North Shore Performing Arts Society competitions.
Another reunion is with director Simon Prast, who directed for Tadpole last year, and also played the part of Thomas Cromwell when Jullienne was Anne Boleyn for the Auckland Theatre Company 13 years ago.
“But the royals aren’t something that factor into my everyday life,” she says.
She does relate, however, to the benefits of a good nanny. “We used a nanny when I did 800 Words.” Her second son was young at the time.
“It’s the closest I’ll ever get to having a wife,” jokes the grateful mother of three.
These days, with her boys aged 12 and 9 both at school and a daughter who is nearly 5, she is managing the juggle with family support. As we speak, her mother-in-law arrives for a swimming lesson pick-up.
Then Jullienne is off to finesse The Queen’s Nanny in readiness for local audiences. “I hope the story of Marion and her sacrifice speaks to them in the way it touched me.”
Arts / Entertainment Pages
• The Queen’s Nanny , 13-24 May, 7.30pm and some matinees. Adult tickets $49 and some concessions. www.takapunamovies.co.nz Facebook
Briefs
Voting with his music
Local musician Tim Mahon, of Blam Blam Blam fame, has a second solo album out on Bandcamp. The Great Kerfuffle features some old muso mates and a debut single Vote, exhorting attention six months before the General Election. The Blams, who sprang from Westlake Boys High School in the 1980s, racked up hits, including There is No Depression in New Zealand.
Find your voice
A singing group that meets weekly at Takapuna Library is holding a small concert on Friday 22 May, at 11am, to celebrate New Zealand Music Month. For adults who enjoy music and connection, the event is an opportunity to check out whether the group’s style might be for you. No auditions needed, just enthusiasm.
Unleash your toddler
If you’re wanting to get your little one into the groove, then a reminder Takapuna Library runs Wriggle and Rhyme sessions for children aged two and under, on Mondays from 10am. On Wednesdays at 10am, Rhymetime caters for those aged 18 months up to five years. Children must be with a caregiver.
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Bridger
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View | please call for an appointment Price | Enquiries Over $35m (includes concept residence) Annie Jiang 027 968 1676 | Office 09 916 6000
