4 April 2025, Rangitoto Observer

Takapuna, Milford, Castor Bay, Forrest Hill and Sunnynook VERED FORTNIGHTLY AN INDEPENDENT VOICE Issue 1 – 15 March 2019

TNIGHTLY DELIVERED FORTNIGHTLY AN2019 INDEPENDENT VOICE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE – April 4 , 12025 Issue 1 – 15Issue March148 2019 Issue – 15 March

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AN INDEPENDENT VOICE Issue 1 – 15 March 2019 Shore writer’s story helps Lights or roundabout eyed Costume party! TPS for busy S’nook corner... p5 celebrates diversity... p11 showcase orchestra... p14

AT’s $170k safety upgrade ‘won’t fix big problem’ Major road safety work being undertaken near Milford School at a cost of around $170,000 won’t fix the main safety issue in the area, the school says.

While welcoming Auckland Transport (AT) plans for speed humps and a raised crossing on roads leading to the school’s

eastern entrance, school principal Lucy Naylor says congestion and a shortage of drop-off and pick-up parking bays on Otakau Rd and Shakespeare Rd remain the biggest safety problem close to the school, as they lead to parents parking in illegal and dangerous places.

AT’s safety work this year will include installation of a speed hump with side islands and removing a parking space on Otakau Rd, installing a speed hump on Fenwick Ave and putting in a raised crossing near the intersection of Otakau Rd and Fenwick Ave. To page 2

WBHS rowers break Maadi drought

On top... Westlake Boys High School’s under-18 rowing eight celebrate with the Maadi Cup after winning it for the first time in 41 years and the fourth time in the school’s history. Story, more pictures, pages 6-7.

The Rangitoto Observer Page 2

April 4, 2025

School wants safety issue addressed From page 1

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Temporary features were installed by AT as part of a trial in 2021 to see what changes could be made to improve safety for students walking, cycling and scootering to school. The interim changes, which were planned with the school, included speed humps and a raised crossing on Fenwick Ave, as well as road narrowing and speed cushions on Otakau Rd. Naylor said the temporary changes on Otakau Rd had helped slow traffic, which had made the area safer for children walking and cycling to and from school.

But they had not resolved the congestion and a lack of drop-off and pick-up bays. She did not see how the permanent measures would help fix those issues.

She said Shakespeare Rd – where traffic speed was always a concern – regularly had cars parked in the T2 lane because parking bays were full.

The school has attempted to tackle the issue by trying to educate parents on safe drop-off procedures.

For the past 18 months, teachers monitoring the pick-up and drop-off areas have been taking photos of illegally parked cars and sending them to the authorities, who fine the drivers.

Naylor said she was keen to work with AT on a long-term solution.

AT said responses to a survey on the interim changes had noted that they had little impact on illegal parking on Otakau Rd. It was looking at how the problem could be addressed in the permanent design.

• The speed limit on Shakespeare Rd near Milford School is 50km/h, dropping to 40km/h during school pick-up and dropoff times.

In 2023, AT looked at lowering the latter limit to 30km/h, but abandoned the idea when the government reversed a general programme of lowering speed limits.

Call to fully fund flood remediation plans Wairau catchment work needs to be planned and funded as one project if it is to deliver, say local representatives.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Mel Powell told the Observer – ahead of speaking to councillors determining how the project should proceed – that what is needed is “a solution to mitigate for all risk of life for future flooding events”.

If the staged project did not get locked- in funding beyond the initial planned use of AF Thomas Park on Takapuna as a giant detention pond, she feared vital other flood prevention work planned later in badly hit Milford might fall by the wayside. “There’s no point holding the water in a detention pond, if you don’t do the outlet,” she said.

Milford Residents Association and the Takapuna Golf Club also took their viewpoints to the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, which met after this paper’s deadline.

Managers of the public golf course, which is on park land leased from the council, want to work with council to find a way to stay, even though the plan is to create water detention and recreational wetlands there.

Time is against them, with the committee wanting to advance the business case for Auckland Council to secure government budget sign-off on promised co-funding by.

The first two stages of the project are estimated to cost $156.4 million, with work spread over seven years.

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The Rangitoto Observer Page 3

Sweet treats and a nap fuel schoolboy’s piano win Memorising 100 pages of music was just part of what it took for Westlake Boys High School student Shan Liu to win the National Concerto Competition.

Hundreds of hours of practice and intense focus for 40 minutes were necessary to deliver Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in the final last month. “I also ate a pack of lollies before I went on stage,” the 15-year-old tells the Observer.

He was able to shut out the pressure of competing by following his usual pre-performance routine. “I like to take a nap before I play.”

But what helped the most was having played the same piece before, just a week earlier, with the Manukau Orchestra.

“Once you’re in the flow state, every note flows; it’s a melody, it’s not like memorising an essay for an exam, you’re not really thinking.” Instinct and practice kick in.

Shan is the 57th and youngest winner of the prestigious competition for emerging musicians aged up to 25, which has helped launch the careers of previous winners including acclaimed pianist Michael Houstoun and violinist Amalia Hall.

It also carries a $10,000 prize, which Shan says he doesn’t have exact plans for. Putting it into his savings is the most likely option.

“I think morally half that should go to my musical education,” he says, before teasingly adding: “I might buy an electric skateboard.”

Shan is in no rush to decide his musical future. While being a concert pianist appeals, he knows it is a tough ask. He enjoys science subjects and English as well as being immersed in the strong Westlake music culture, playing in school bands and singing in school choirs. He used to fit in social basketball, but mostly now relaxes and unwinds by playing video games.

He credits his parents for their support and piano teacher Stephen De Pledge from Sweet result... Westlake Boys High School student Shan Liu won the recent the University of Auckland for helping de- National Concerto Competition after eating “a pack of lollies”. Below: Former velop his talent. He says the Westlake music Westlake student Henry Meng placed third, behind fellow teritiary music department has been amazing and he has student Otis Prescott-Mason from Wellington. learned much from his peers and teachers.

The concerto competition on meeting technical criteria.

“My view has broadened.” He has enjoyed While Shan doesn’t have a trying other instruments, including drums win and another in the International Piano Competifavourite composer, the great and glockenspiel.

Romantic Chopin rates highly He practices piano “less than you might tion for Young Musicians in and last year he was really into think” – around an hour or two on weekdays the Netherlands have been Russian Alexander Scriabin, a and three to four hours at the weekends. “I highlights in his career to date. During Covid, he enlate Romantic composer. just love it.”

“That kind of style is very Shan began lessons aged around seven, tered competitions by video, cool, but also very creative. encouraged by his musical father, who had but since then has travelled You think you know what’s golearned the violin. The family has a Yamaha internationally. At home, Shan ing to happen, but then it veers grand piano Shan says is “squeezed” into has performed with the New Zealand Symphony, National off. It’s technical and brilliant.” their home.

The appeal of performing is both personHis parents travelled with him to Youth Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Christchurch for the final. Immediately after and the St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, ally challenging but also satisfying, he says.

“I use the piano as a tool to connect with performing he says he feels relieved he is among others.

He says he picks music for competitions the audience.” finished. In this case, that was followed by the excitement of winning, beating two older based on what he enjoys playing and deems • A recording of Shan’s winning perforfinalists he knows from other competitions. “cool”, while De Pledge offers guidance mance will be broadcast on RNZ Concert.

The Rangitoto Observer Page 4

Briefs Mayor to speak Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown will be guest speaker at the Takapuna Residents Association (TRA) annual meeting on 30 April. The mayor has been invited to speak about his vision for the North Shore, particularly the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area. The TRA is inviting community members to attend the 7pm meeting at the Takapuna Senior Citizens Hall at 5 The Strand to hear Brown’s views and for discussion of key issues on which the TRA has advocated.

Boundary call rejected A push to have North Shore ward electoral boundaries pushed further north into the more populous Albany w a rd h a s b e e n k n o c k e d b a c k .

Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipataki local boards took a case to the Local Government Representation Commission for a rejig of the ward they occupy, having failed to get Auckland Council to support an adjustment.

Growth in the north means this will be required in future, but the commission backed the status quo, opting to tolerate existing population disparity and citing communities of interest.

April 4, 2025

Sunnynook Park on shortlist for long-awaited lighting upgrade Better lighting costing $165,000 is being investigated for the Sunnynook Park pathway running past the Scouts den.

Locals have long called for the well-used pedestrian path, which cuts through from Sunnynook Rd and later runs parallel to Trinidad Ave, to be better lit.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board board has $180,000 set aside for safer lighting projects and had hoped to get several under way this year.

But the cost estimates by council consultants are such that board members will likely have to choose between lighting the Sunnynook stretch to match the standards of other park paths or improving Windsor Reserve in Devonport.

Windsor Reserve was described as “dark and unsafe at night”.

The option of upgrading lighting at Stanley Bay wharf, which no longer has a ferry service, was discounted by the board.

The council’s project manager, Xavier Choi, said both of the favoured sites were well used. Testing had shown their lighting was below recommended standards.

Sunnynook Park would require up to 11 lights to be installed, he advised.

Costs could rise for either project if investigations found the distance between a power supply and new lights required extra work.

Board members suggested spotlighting trees in Windsor Reserve could be a more aesthetically pleasing approach and cheaper at the waterfront site than installing lampposts for $125,000.

They asked staff for more detail before they make a final decision.

Installation would be in the next financial year, after detailed design and consenting.

Deputy chair Terence Harpur repeated past criticisms of council costs and professional-services fees.

He said he could not understand why council parks and facilities staff or contractor Ventia could not do the work, rather than hiring lighting specialists.

But George Wood said expert advice was needed to ensure a good outcome.

Chair Mel Powell said as someone who used the dark Sunnynook path she favoured that project, which community members had called for.

It had been on the work programme for several years, she noted.

April 4, 2025

The Rangitoto Observer Page 5

Lights or a roundabout eyed for Sycamore corner Traffic lights or a roundabout are under investigation for the busy Sunset Rd and Sycamore Rd intersection in Sunnynook.

Works are also planned at nearby Ramp Rd, to add a separated merge lane for drivers turning right onto Sunset Rd. Auckland Transport (AT) outlined the pros and cons of the options to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board at a workshop last month and took feedback from members.

Board chair Mel Powell noted it was

currently difficult for students to cross at the intersection. The Sunnynook Community Association had told her it favoured lights.

An AT report said Sunset Rd was used by an average of 11,065 cars daily, Sycamore Dr by 5507 and Ramp Rd by 1871. Crash history over the last five years included one serious and a number of less serious accidents.

AT staff said traffic lights would be cheaper than a roundabout but would cause more of a traffic back-up. The worst-case scenario

Spend cash on coastal link – local board

A share of spare council funds for investing in cycling may come Takapuna’s way, but there is no guarantee this will be for the long-hoped-for Francis St-Esmonde Rd link.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board was quick to re-pitch the cycle and pedestrian project when recently briefed by Auckland Transport (AT) staff on around $10 million it has to disperse on cycle projects across the city. “We already have a project for you,” said deputy board chair Terence Harpur. “Going back asking the community what they want is just delay.”

The pathway had been a board priority for around 10 years, he said. Under budget cuts, the board had twice lost discretionary funding set aside for design work on the project.

Member Gavin Busch said building the link would get cyclists safely away from

Lake Rd traffic and connect paths from Devonport north to Takapuna. “It’s ready to go.”

But an AT official said the cost of a bridge between Hauraki and Esmonde Rd would exceed the total amount available. And obtaining resource consent for the coastal area might take too long for the project to be eligible for the funds.

“We’ll definitely not rule it out,” he said.

Harpur urged the team to look at forming the link with a coastal pathway, rather than bridge. This could run from the bottom of Harley Rd to Esmonde Rd. AT will return to the board soon with more details of intended public consultation. It did not specify project plans. It has previously suggested cycle lanes on Taharoto Rd and from Takapuna to Milford via Kitchener Rd.

was peak-hour morning queues of up to 20 cars on Sunset Rd. A downside of a roundabout would be the need for a pedestrian crossing or refuge island, which were not as safe as controlled crossings. Both options include the same work at Ramp Rd. AT said once it settled on an option it would return to the board and consult the community before locking in detailed designs.

AT putting up parking fees this month Auckland Transport is raising parking prices 50c an hour from 14 April. This includes Takapuna street parking and Toka Puia parking building prices.

A few areas of the city, including Devonport around the ferry terminal, are exempt due to having already had recent price changes.

AT says its annual operating costs have gone up 13 per cent and it is responding to about 30 per cent more requests from Aucklanders on issues such as blocked driveways, footpaths, and clearways. It is also investing in new technology infrastructure and compliance tools. Increasing charges spread part of its costs to users and meant less of a burden on ratepayers, it said.

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The Rangitoto Observer Page 6

Sport

April 4, 2025

Maadi magic! Westlake Boys rowers triumphant Springbok Shield for the first time in 22 years and the fifth time in the school’s history. Westlake previously won it in 1982, 1991, 1993 and 2002.

Success at the Maadi regatta has followed a winning season in general for the school, with the three winning crews at Maadi also claiming North Island titles in early March.

Westlake Boys High School’s under-18 The rowing programme has been rowing eight claimed the Maadi Cup training at a temporary facility in for the first time in 41 years last Hobsonville while awaiting a new base weekend, topping off a stellar national being built there. secondary schools regatta for the That has meant having to walk the school. boats to the water and later extending One of the most prestigious prizes a hose 250m to wash them. in secondary school sport didn’t come Having such a successful season easy. under such circumstances was “pretty After a false start in the final, awesome”, Shotter said.

Westlake surrendered an early lead The results were a credit to the to South Island champions St Bede’s programme’s coaching team, staff, College, who got out to a lead of half parent helpers and rowers themselves. a boat length.

“They’re good rowers and they’re Westlake dug deep to fight back and good fellas as well.” claim its fourth national title of the Only Sam Bird, Donovan Pivac and regatta at Lake Karapiro.

Quinn Oliver-Porter are returning to The eights win was the fourth in school next year, but the programme Westlake history, following victories had plenty of rowers keen to make the in 1976, 1983 and 1984. step up into the top boats, Shotter said.

Director of rowing Jo Shotter said Jack Buckley, George Langley the final was a “courageous race”, and cox Flynn Wigglesworth have during which the Westlake boys all been picked to trial for the New had been strong mentally as well as Zealand U19 World Championships physically. side in April.

The school’s U18 pair and U18 four Bird and Pivac are trialling for a also won their A finals to claim a treble Triple winners... Westlake Boys’ successful U18 North Island side to face the South of Maadi Regatta titles for the school. pair, Jack Buckley and George Langley, were Island in an annual regatta.

The pair crew of Jack Buckley and also in the winning Westlake four and eight Westlake Girls’s High School’s U18 George Langley were in all three titleand U17 pairs both came second in winning boats. their A finals. which also included Toby Cleghorn, Adam In the four they were joined by Westlake Boys made eight A finals in Sam Bird, Donovan Pivac and Flynn Leece, Otto Gartner and Quinn Olivertotal, while Westlake Girls made four and Wigglesworth (cox). Sam, Donovan and Porter.

With their win the four claimed the Takapuna Grammar School one.

Flynn (again as cox) were in the eight,

Some of the most coveted silverware in school sport is destined for the Westlake Boys High School trophy cabinet

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The Rangitoto Observer Page 7

Pride of the school... the Westlake Boys U18 eight with school headmaster Paul Fordham holding the Maadi Cup (from left, rear): Toby Cleghorn, George Langley, Jack Buckley, Adam Leece, Otto Gartner and Donovan Pivac. Front row: Quinn Oliver-Porter, Sam Bird and Flynn Wigglesworth (cox).

Left: Westlake’s victorious U18 coxed four – Donovan Pivac, Jack Buckley, Flynn Wigglesworth (cox), George Langley and Sam Bird – with the Springbok Shield, the trophy for their event.

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Sport

April 4, 2025

Greyhound girls... (from left) Keiana Harimate-Heard, Ella Sinisa and Tia Tonga were among young players who got the chance to meet Warriors players Sio Kali (left) and Marata Niukore

Greyhounds juniors get tips from Wahs Young rugby league players at a Glenfield Greyhounds skills and drills session got some tips – and autographs – from two Warriors players last week.

First-team second-rower Marata Niukore and under-21 outside back Sio Kali were at the session last Wednesday evening.

Greyhounds junior delegate Sam Wallace, who works for the company which does merchandising for the NRL side, organised the visit through her connection with the Warriors community foundation.

Warriors players have visited the Glenfield club twice before.

Outreach... Sio Kali (left) and Marata Niukore signed posters and handed out water bottles to young fans such as Lachlan Clarke (far right). Above: Kali does a passing drill with a young player while Niukore takes an older group.

April 4, 2025

The Rangitoto Observer Page 9

Sport

Westlake Boys runner breaks Auckland record for 400m Westlake Boys High School student Matt Fleming set an Auckland record at the regional secondary schools athletics championships last month.

One of six students from the school to claim titles, he won the intermediate 400m race in 50.01 seconds.

Other gold medals came in senior competition when Karabo Mosiane defended his senior 2000m steeplechase title, Oliver Chung won the hammer throw and Adam Leece the high jump.

Fleming also won the intermediate longjump title, and in the same age-grade Thomas Evitt won the 800m. In the junior bracket, Huw Robinson claimed the 1500m and 3000m double.

Rosmini College’s Declan Ford won the junior discus and shot-put double.

Doubling up... (from left) Intermediate 400m record-setter Matt Fleming also won the long jump, joining fellow Westlake students Karmen Maritz and Huw Robinson and Rosmini College’s Declan Ford in taking two individual titles Westlake Girls claimed four titles, two of them to nationally top-ranked throwing talent Karmen Maritz in senior discus and shot put.

April Peita won the junior high jump and stepped up to be part of the school’s winning

intermediate 4x100m relay team with Sadie Bishop, Dom Maltby, Elizabeth Plaistowe and April Peita.

Takapuna Grammar School students brought home six gold medals, all to students who train at Takapuna Athletics Club.

Takapuna Cricket Club pipped for title despite big win Takapuna Cricket Club’s premiers thrashed Grafton in their final match of the season but missed out on winning the Hedley Howarth two-day competition by less than a point.

Frontrunners Parnell beat Suburbs New Lynn last Saturday to remain unbeaten for the season and capture the trophy. But Takapuna, after a great run of form since New Year, was in with a chance right up until the last afternoon’s play.

Takapuna declared at 355 for 8 in its first innings before dismissing Grafton for 94 and enforcing the follow-on.

Wickets fell steadily on the second day last Saturday – including a brilliant run-out by Toby Douglas – with Grafton all out for 96.

Takapuna had a team photo taken, but it was a slightly subdued picture as they were still waiting on the Parnell result.

Captain Matt Jones, who set a club record of 77 wickets for the season, was philosophical about the championship outcome. “We are rebuilding with a young side,” he said. “We came second in two competitions (two-day and T20) and made the semi-finals in the other (the Jeff Crowe one-day competition), so it was a good season for us.”

Takapuna lost to Parnell in its first match, but it was probably a rain-affected game against North Shore that cost them the title.

Around 20 overs were lost to rain, rulling out the outright win that would have had them topping the table.

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April 4, 2025 ADVERTISING FEATURE

Fit20: the 20-minute strength training that changed Allie Mooney’s life Just over a year ago, international speaker and author Allie Mooney, faced an expensive and daunting prospect — a knee replacement surgery costing $40,000.

Having stopped her health insurance a few months earlier—rising medical premium costs made it unaffordable—she asked her specialist if there was another way. The answer was simple: “Lose weight and build strength in your legs.

Sceptical but determined, Allie – the ‘People Interpreter’ – started Fit20. The idea that just 20 minutes of strength training once a week could make a difference seemed too good to be true. But little more than a year later, the results speak for themselves—she no longer needed knee surgery, and her perennial back pain had disappeared.

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Allie has also struggled with lower-back pain since working in the airline industry 36 years ago. But since starting Fit20, she’s been free of pain. “I used to get up in the morning, and my body would literally ‘creak’. Now, I bend over with no issues. I haven’t had back pain since soon after I started Fit20.”

Even her headaches have significantly reduced. “Last year, I barely had any headaches. I think Fit20 has made a real difference.”

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She also loves the one-on-one coaching and the simplicity of the programme. “It suits my diary and my lifestyle. I can just walk in, work out, and go. No faff.”

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The Rangitoto Observer Page 11

Takapuna Primary celebrates diversity with culture week

Takapuna Primary School pupils (pictured above and below) celebrated their annual culture week last month, with more families than ever joining in to focus on the school vision – Proud to Be Different.

Principal Devika Tagg said: “We have over 50 different nationalities at Takapuna Primary and we love that.” The entire school participated in a parade in national costumes,

a shared cultural lunch and an assembly to wind up the week. Tagg said the event was getting bigger and better each year. An addition was an after-school performance by the Baiyun Beijing Opera Society. “We have had the most amazing feedback from families, who have shared how they feel valued and embraced by the school,” Tagg said.

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Letters

April 4, 2025

The Rangitoto Observer Page 13

Decision by ruling three a loss for all Last month the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board held its first-ever vote on whether to fill a vacated position.

The vote to not fill was ultimately won three-two, with the three members of the A Fresh Approach team outvoting George Wood and myself.

Prior to the vote a public forum was held.

A number of previous board members and candidates spoke in support of filling the seat and following the Kaipatiki, Waitematā, and Whau local boards’ lead in picking the next-highest-polling candidate.

It was disappointing that the board could not reach a consensus to fill the position, as the governance of the board, the decisionmaking and ability to liaise and work with the wider community would be much better for it over the next six to seven months.

We have six members for many reasons, including: • More not fewer members promote robust discussion, enabling varying views to be presented.

• With a large work programme to complete, having more members always provides for better outcomes.

• The number of representatives is calculated as a proportion of the population, thus there is less representation across the area.

• Six members provide flexibility for a quorum when people are away. Five reduces the flexibility to do this, as seen two weeks ago when we had only two members present during a workshop.

Presently, we have three members who live north of Takapuna (Powell, Wood and Allen), one outside the area (Harpur) and myself south of Takapuna, in Narrow Neck. The Devonport peninsula has a long history of local-board participation and representation, and this reduction will leave a significant gap in ability to engage and represent views.

Sadly, the decision by three people to choose to water down the opportunity for local representation and engagement makes all of us losers.

Gavin Busch, DTLB member

Democracy not served by board stance I attended last month’s meeting of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board – hoping to be among the first to personally congratulate Mike Single on being appointed as a member of the board. He would have brought great skills to the table and served the community very well. I was very disappointed when the three Fresh Approach members blocked Mike’s appointment and instead chose to leave the seat vacant for the seven months.

The accepted tradition is to offer the vacancy to the next-highest-polling candidate in the last election. The Whau and Kaipātiki local boards did exactly that at their February meetings, when they also had unexpected vacancies. Leaving the seat vacant is perfectly legal – but I do not believe the decision has served either democracy or the community well.

Ruth Jackson

Write to the Rangitoto Observer

Let the people choose Based on the emails that Mike Single sent me in my capacity as chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, it’s my view that the community has dodged a bullet.

Nominations open in July for candidates to stand in this year’s local government elections.

Let the public decide who they wish to represent the area.

We should let democracy be the winner on the day, and give the people the right to vote.

Toni van Tonder, former DTLB chair

Thanks, Toni I feel like our Devonport-Takapuna Local Board has been doing a great job over the past few years. Overall they have been working well together, have achieved a lot and have been a good functioning team even though at times they haven’t always agreed on things. George, Toni, Terrence, Mel, Gavin and Peter all deserve some praise for their time and efforts.

With the local elections coming up later this year, hopefully the new board will be made up of another good mix of people to represent our areas.

A big thanks to Toni van Tonder for all of her work on the local board and in our community over the past number of years.

With her move to Australia she will be a big loss to the peninsula and to New Zealand.

Adam Bennett

We welcome letters. Please limit to 300 words on local topics.

Noms de plume or unnamed letters will not be printed.

Email news@rangitoto-observer.co.nz or write to Letters, PO Box 32 275, Devonport.

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Arts / Entertainment Pages

The Rangitoto Observer Page 14

April 4, 2025

Shore composer’s tale helps showcase orchestra for An orchestrated children’s show coming to the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna next week owes much to the creativity of North Shore songwriter and composer Chris Sanders.

Hana the Glowworm, featuring the Auckland Philharmonia, brings Sanders’ original story to the stage, with a cast of 14 young people, including his two daughters.

Emerson D’Augiar-Sanders, just turned 14, has the lead role of Hana. She is joined in the show by sister Gabriella, aged 11.

Part of the Philharmonia’s ‘Tunes 4 Tamariki’ outreach, the show aims to introduce children to the orchestra, while also entertaining them with a story of discovery set in the New Zealand bush and featuring a variety of animal characters.

Bayswater teen Milla Rodriguez-Birch, who has performed in Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) and other productions, is another Shore talent in the show. She plays three quirky parts, including a ‘stoat-ette’ and two musical instruments.

Sanders – who went to TGS himself in the 1990s – says he approached the orchestra assignment with a desire to make it more than the sum of its parts. “I didn’t want it to be so obvious as, ‘Here’s an instrument and this is the sound it makes.’”

Instead, he came up with a story of a curious young glowworm who falls from her cave, becomes separated from her family, goes on a journey and encounters native animals, including a ruru and an eel.

Teamwork features as the creatures meet various instruments, follow the sound of music and evade danger.

Five songs by Sanders are interspersed in the 45-minute interactive show with orchestral interludes. Several familiar compositions, including the Peer Gynt Suite

All lit up... Glowworm Hana hitches a ride on an eel in a book illustration of the children’s story being used in an Auckland Philharmonia ‘Tunes for Tamariki’ show at the Bruce Mason Centre ILLUSTRATION: NATALIE CONATY and The Flight of the Bumblebee feature as well, along with a sing-along rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

The show is aimed at children aged under eight. Before it starts there is optional face-painting and other activities and at the end a walk-through of the orchestra is on offer.

Sanders, who has been a musician for 25 years, says he began writing children’s songs for his daughters when they were younger, leading to publishing deals.

He has recorded four albums and written seven children’s books. A song he wrote for Hato Hone St John is used in schools to teach children to dial 111 in case of a medical emergency. Another, about a cat, won an international song-writing award.

The family lives in Browns Bay and the girls got their start in drama with Tim Bray children’s theatre classes in Takapuna.

Sanders wrote the Hana story several years ago, but to turn it into a “semi-staged musical” he then composed the songs,

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April 4, 2025

Arts / Entertainment Pages

The Rangitoto Observer Page 15

junior audience

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Shore touch... Chris Sanders, the man behind the songs and story of Hana the Glowworm which the orchestra has arranged and recorded. Long-time singer-songwriter Rikki Morris was the recording engineer.

The story is Sanders’ latest to be published, with early copies available at the Tunes 4 Tamariki performance at the Aotea Centre this week, then at the Takapuna show.

• Hana the Glowworm at the Bruce Mason Centre, Saturday 12 April at 10am and again at 11.30am. Tickets $15, with under-twos free, or $50 for a family pass. Bookings at aucklandphil.nz

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The Rangitoto Observer Page 16

April 4, 2025

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