4 July 2025, Devonport Flagstaff

Tickets line up for local body elections... p2

July 4, 2025

Hairy goats roam the rugby sidelines... p7

Interview: Outdoorsman Geoff Mead ... p22-23

Parishioners quit over vicar’s style and direction

Dozens of parishioners have left Holy Trinity Anglican Church since the appointment of new Vicar Rev Chris Murphy, citing clashes with his style, theology and future plan.

Many have contacted the Flagstaff since our 20 June story, which revealed the church was $60,000 down on budget after donors

had departed and new contributions sluggish.

The change in approach from previous vicars, the popular Charmaine Braatvedt and her predecessor Murray Spackman, has proved too much for some.

The more vocal leavers say they have found Englishman Murphy’s personal leadership style to be “rigid, divisive and

exclusionary, as opposed to the collaborative, inclusive and flexible leadership styles of his predecessors at Holy Trinity”.

Some say he appears to be moving away from the pastoral care which is part of the usual workload for New Zealand vicars.

Former parish members Simon and Kate

To page 5

Stalwart Ship supporters saluted

Community effort... The contribution of locals (from left) Mike Ashmore, Simon Gundry and Barbara Cuthbert to the Calliope Sea Scouts hall upgrade was recognised at a party last Saturday. Story and pictures page 16

Rival tickets of candidates line up for local body elections

A Fresh Approach and Communities & Residents North Shore groupings both intend to field full tickets of six candidates for election to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

The two blocks hold all board seats this term, with a 3-2 split in favour of A Fresh Approach after it chose not to replace former leader Toni van Tonder when she resigned in February to move overseas.

A previous ticket, Heart of the Shore – whose three board members were not re-elected in 2022 – is not in the running, but former member and Devonport Heritage co-chair Trish Deans is standing as an independent.

Candidate registration opens today, 4 July, and closes on 1 August, with local body election voting by postal ballot from 9 September to 11 October.

Interest in places on the board is ramping up, with several would-be members attending recent meetings or commenting on public forums.

Undecided…

Long-time councillor Chris Darby has yet to make a decision on standing again

Positions on Auckland Council are also at stake, with two seats on the North Shore ward to be chosen by voters in the Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipatiki local board areas.

Sitting councillor Richard Hills is standing again, but Chris Darby, a councillor since 2013, told the Flagstaff he was yet to decide

First three Kerr St state houses for sale

On the market... A sign advertising one of the houses for sale in Kerr St

Three state houses in Kerr St have been put on the market by Kāinga Ora. Three other houses in the same cluster are still occupied by tenants but will be sold later. Kāinga Ora is trying to find new homes for the occupants.

The properties on the market are:

• a 70sqm two-bedroom duplex on 396 sqm of freehold land.

• a 50sqm one-bedroom duplex on 374sqm of freehold land.

• a 100sqm three-bedroom home on 426sqm of land.

The properties are being sold through Harcourts Cooper and Co.

Tenants – some of whom had lived in the houses for decades – were in April given 90 days’ notice to leave.

if he would seek another term.

If Stanley Point resident Darby does not stand, the peninsula area may not have the option of voting for a candidate to offer a direct local voice on the council.

Declared council ward candidates include the Kaipatiki Local Board chair, John Gillon, and that board’s deputy, Danielle Grant, who lives in Milford, both as independents.

C&R’s candidates for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board include current board members George Wood and Gavin Busch, along with Mike Single, who was the highest polling unsuccessful candidate in 2022, and Kaumosi Opie, Phillip McGivern and Neil Zent.

A Fresh Approach says it plans to launch its list within the next few weeks.

The Flagstaff will run profiles of candidates nearer to voting time and will be covering an election meeting being held at the Devonport Community House on 3 September at 7.15pm.

Ferry car park

EV

chargers

‘will be replaced’

New electric vehicle chargers will be installed in the car park outside the Devonport ferry terminal.

Auckland Transport told the Flagstaff it “plans to replace both EV chargers that were removed from the carpark”.

It added: “There is no confirmed timeline yet on their installation”.

Two free EV chargers were installed in the car park nine years ago as part of a $153,000 project, with $75,000 of that funded by a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. They were removed last year, having been plagued with problems .

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Listen and learn: Local voice gives visitors a tour

Local identity David Downs hopes a passion project he is launching to the world will help visitors to Devonport appreciate the place as much as he does.

Downs says his audio walking tour will give visitors more reason to linger, as they learn about the village and its maunga at their own pace.

“Even locals I think would get a lot out of it.”

The resident of 20-plus years and wife Katherine came up the idea after trying similar smartphone app-based audio tours in Europe.

Sold on Devonport’s charms themselves, the couple wanted to share them.

“We see boatloads of visitors get off the ferry and walk up and down the main street,” he says.

Downs has drawn on his professional expertise and presentation skills to script and voice content to add layers of understanding, including of the area’s early Māori settlement, its colonial heritage, geography and contemporary attractions.

As CEO of New Zealand Story Group, a government agency that promotes New Zealand internationally, Downs knows plenty about trying to pitch paradise.

Katherine, a former Devonport Business Association manager, who has recently completed museum curation studies, helped with research.

“It’s more of a weekend hobby than a business venture,” Downs says.

Their first audio tour, of central Devonport, covers a walk of about four and a half kilometres and takes an hour, though it can be paused for coffee, shopping or lunch breaks.

A second similar-length tour of Maungauika was loaded on the VoiceMap app platform last week. A third tour is planned

to follow this month, aimed specifically at providing a wheelchair- or pram-friendly walkabout, avoiding stairs. It has been developed in conjunction with a disabled friend.

Downs reckons there is scope to extend the project to other locations, given the couple’s love of storytelling about New Zealand. He says there is definitely a developing market for audio tours.

The overseas-based platform already has a tour uploaded by someone else for central Auckland. Phone GPS lets people with the app know about walks in the areas they visit.

Tours are charged in US dollars and the Devonport ones will cost around $5-$6,

with the platform clipping the ticket.

“We won’t make money out of it,” Downs says.

He recommends the best way to take the tour after downloading the app from Apple or Google stores is to walk about wearing earpods.

“Look up from your phone and just listen.”

He hopes to see more people stopping at locations around the village, rather than scurrying back to the ferry.

“We’re very proud locals and love to show off Devonport to people.”

• Find the first tour, which starts at the ferry terminal, at Voicemap.me/Devonport.

Tihi toadstools... David Downs and dog Chewie on the summit of Takarunga, one of the stops on his recently launched audio tour

Country in perilous spiritual state, vicar warns

From page 1

Forrest said in a letter to the Flagstaff (see page 24) that they saw the church being led towards a much more conservative position, “including restricting the role of women in leadership and reduced acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

Holy Trinity has previously been seen as offering a middle-of-the-road Anglican fellowship. “It had a culture of tolerance and acceptance,” said one former member.

In another letter to the Flagstaff, Emily Morrow says she resigned as a long-time vestry member and vicar’s warden in April 2024. She and husband Paul left “because it was clear to us that Holy Trinity is heading in a new direction under Rev Murphy’s leadership with which we were not comfortable. Some may support this new direction. Others may not. We simply hope people investigate the full picture.”

In a 22 June sermon posted online, Murphy said he was not an administrator, social worker, pastoral visitor or community organiser. He worked 40 hours a week and believed to “have the greatest impact is to preach and teach”.

He said he was the only person at Holy Trinity qualified to do this, having spent seven to nine years training at various Bible colleges. People would not let any person be a brain surgeon, he said. But what he did was more important than brain surgery: he saved lives for eternity.

Murphy wanted to create a training ground at the church for ministers who would end up at churches around New Zealand.

If sufficient money became available, he proposed setting up a programme for ministerial education. New Zealand was in a “perilous spiritual condition” with too few

people learning to be ministers and “none or one” currently training at St John’s Theological College in Auckland.

If New Zealand had enough ministers’ it would not have had to go to the United Kingdom in search of someone like himself to lead Holy Trinity, he said.

On his own theological approach, he was not aiming to push social change or party politics, but to let God’s word and the Bible speak for itself in the establishment of expository ministry, Murphy said in the sermon.

Murphy had not responded to Flagstaff requests for comment by press time.

Auckland Diocesan manager Sonia Maugham said: “We acknowledge your interest in this story. This is a local parish matter and so enquiries are best made to the Vicar, Chris Murphy.”

• See Letters, page 24.

Cash plea result still to come

The amount raised on the Holy Trinity generosity day on 22 June will not be known for several weeks.

The church launched an appeal among members after finding it would be some $60,000 down on its budget for 2025. Some of the shortfall was due to departing members cancelling regular payments, along with new members joining and not setting up donations. Vicar Chris Murphy said it took a while “for the dust to settle. People make pledges, some people give straight away, others delay, some leave a reference, some don’t.

“It will probably take a few weeks before we get a sense of what difference, if any, the generosity day made.”

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Style change... Critics of new Holy Trinity vicar Chris Murphy (left) say he is leading the church to a more conservative position than it held under previous vicars including his predecessor Charmaine Braatvedt

Top players back for Shore as knockout stage begins

North Shore Rugby Club’s premier side are at almost full strength for their North Harbour championship quarter-final against Mahurangi at Vauxhall Rd tomorrow – the first playoff hurdle in their campaign to win three titles in a row.

Regular first five-eighth Cam Howell and reliable midfielder Tyler Beary are both back from injury.

Both could have played in Shore’s unexpected 16-15 loss to Silverdale last weekend.

But as Shore was already top qualifier and guaranteed a home quarter-final “we decided to give them another week,” Shore Coach James Hinchco said.

Star fullback Hunter Rice was also rested and captain Donald Coleman was on the bench.

Oscar Koller, back from the Super Rugby Chiefs squad, played first five for Shore against Silverdale but will be shifted to second five for the quarter final, with Beary outside him at centre.

“With Hunter Rice at the back we have a backline with plenty of points in it,” Hinchco said. “We are keen to have all our best backs playing.”

On 25 April, Shore beat Mahurangi 9712. But on 14 June the difference closed markedly: Shore won 29-15.

In the June match, “they played well and we played not particularly well,” Hinchco said.

Mahurangi has been bolstered late in the season by a contingent of Fijian players and Kade Banks, back from the Hurricanes Super Rugby side. However it is unclear if Banks will be available for the quarter-final as he had been selected for the New Zealand Maori side.

“They’ve got a big forward pack so it will be tough upfront, but we hope to move them around and then use our backs,” Hinchco

More silverware beckons?... North Shore is hoping to carry on from its 2024 win (above) with a third championship title in 2025

played to its potential.

Shore has the extra motivation to win a third straight championship – a first for the premier side.

It compiled a 34-match winning streak, which ended on 7 June with a last-minute loss to Takapuna.

The end of the winning run was something of a reality check for some of the younger members of the side, who had never been in a losing premier team. “Winning three championships in a row is major from the club’s perspective,” said Hinchco. “We talk about it, but the coaches are probably more

Some players have been in all three teams; for others, a chance to win a first title was highly motivating in itself.

In reality, the team was taking one game at a time, developing appropriate game plans for each match.

If the season goes to plan, Shore, as the highest ranked team, will host a third consecutive championship final at home.

“Which would be awesome for the club,” Hinchco said.

• Vauxhall Rd will host three quarter-final matches tomorrow, 5 July. Its premier, development and U-21 sides are all top

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Hairy goats on the loose as club song comes alive

North Shore Rugby Club has developed a couple of secret weapons to psych out its opponents and instil pride in its teams – two hairy goats roaming the sidelines.

The hairy goats concept comes from the Shore club song Pride of the Union, which is sung by senior and junior teams alike.

The idea of a mascot was developed by the club’s junior committee to bring to life the hairy goats mentioned in the lyric as a bit of fun for the juniors.

Around $7000 was raised at a quiz night and the club’s junior chair, Matt Hunt, commissioned a “professional” version of the hairy goat, hand-made by a specialist company.

Meanwhile, the club’s senior players had latched onto the idea as well. Premiers coach James Hinchco talked to club member Jeff Vivian, who paid for a version found online.

The end result: the club now has two hairy goats. The seniors call theirs “the people’s goat”, while the junior version has been dubbed “Buck, Hairy Goat”, complete with a number 8 on its back in recognition of Buck Shelford, the former All Black and Shore captain.

“We had to get signoff from all the club stalwarts and Buck himself,” said Hunt. Everyone loves the end result, he says.

Buck the goat has been at junior matches as well as premiers games and North Harbour club days and is being used in all junior branding, such as on player of the day certificates and the like.

Both goat suits are life-size and are worn by players or keen mums and dads.

Sideline banter has emerged relating to the two hairy goats as well. “There’s bound to be a race between the two goats at some stage during the play-off matches,” Hunt said.

The Pride of the Union song had grown in prominence over recent years as a “kind of Devonport haka”, he said. Kids in its most junior teams knew the words and had taken to singing the song after games.

Selected teams are allowed into the premiers’ changing rooms after matches, to hear the elite players sing The Pride of the Union, often accompanied by Buck himself – and of course now the Hairy Goats.

• According to C’Mon Shore 150 years of the North Shore Rugby Football Club, written by Jim Eagles and Max Webb, Shore song The Pride of the Union was introduced to the club in 1982 by then club captain Paul Purvan, who by one account borrowed it from another rugby club and “tweaked the words”. Former president Pip Eagles was said to love singing it because, “it really got up the noses of the other North Harbour clubs”.

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Animal lovers… North Shore’s Buck the hairy goat on the sideline at Vauxhall Rd

By Rob Drent

A little bit of a flurry on the corner of Victoria and Albert Rds this week with the installation (pictured) of a new clock – a replica of the previous model – at one of three historic clock towers in Devonport. The other two are at Duder’s Beach on King Edward Pde at Church St and on Marine Sq near Victoria Wharf and the ferry terminal.

In the Super City shakedown, Auckland Council has ended up being responsible for the clocks and must be growing tired of their unreliability. But a Flagstaff check last Friday revealed they are now all keeping good time. I’m glad they are. In a historic suburb, it’s important to maintain the fabric of heritage and tradition: Memorial Drive, the flower garden beds – and the clocks – are all part of that.

You might have thought officials would have let us and the wider public know in advance that the Victoria Rd clock was returning. Then again, Auckland Council and

Auckland Council aren’t great with communications. We had cones arrive in force in our street last week, without warning.

They had tow-away zone signs attached and AT’s traffic-fine car was suddenly out patrolling our cul-de-sac. A chat to the road workers revealed footpath replacement was in order. Trouble was, the footpath replacement turned out to be in nearby Victoria Rd. Abbotsford Tce was untouched. A few days later the cones disappeared into the night from whence they came.

Off-and-on over the years, the Flagstaff has attempted to get the Auckland Council and AT to provide a list of public works happening around Devonport and their purpose. No go, it seems. A few hundred dollars to publish a schedule would surely mitigate the hours of local authority time spent on the phone with locals calling to ask what is going on.

Junior basketballer picked for China opportunity

First-year Takapuna Grammar School student Millie Ison is flying to China next week for a school holiday camp that brings with it serious bragging rights.

The 13-year-old was nominated by Harbour Basketball as one of two representatives from the region, when Basketball New Zealand put together a small group to go to a FIBA development camp for under-14 basketballers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Modest Millie says she was “quite surprised” to get the call-up, but her school coach Cain Nuttall says the hard-working sports allrounder shows plenty of promise.

The Year 9 student is in both her top age-group TGS girls’ basketball team and the school’s premier side, which plays in the top Auckland division. She is also into her second year as a Harbour representative player.

“Millie is a hard-working kid who takes on challenges with joy,” says Nuttall, who coaches both Millie’s school teams and is on the Harbour staff. “We are incredibly proud of her to get this opportunity to see what the international standard looks like – knowing her, she’ll learn, reflect and improve.”

Millie says she just loves playing basketball and is excited to be heading to the seven-day camp in Shenzen.

The national women’s team happens to be in the city for its Asia Cup campaign against China, Indonesia and Korea starting on 14 July. “We’re trying to get tickets,” Millie says.

Bailey Flavell, who finished at TGS last year and is bound for a US college scholarship at the University of Hawaii, is in the New Zealand side.

But Millie’s not getting ahead of herself in her own aspirations. “I just love sport and I just want to continue,” she says.

She also plays in TGS netball and rippa rugby teams and is looking at volleyball or touch for summer. It’s a juggle, but one she relishes, with basketball, which she began at Vauxhall School, now edging netball due to the greater freedom to play on the whole court.

“I just love what basketball is and how fun it is to play.”

Getting into the school premier side was a big shock this year. She and some other Year 9s trialled for the experience, with an unprecedented five selected to the top squad after a big senior player turnover last year.

Nuttall says Millie has earned a starting prem spot. She is coping with coming up against older players. “She holds her own quite well and defensively she’s solid, which is good for a younger player.”

Millie says: “When you first get on it’s a bit nerve racking. Westlake is really, really hard and another really hard game is Rangi.”

But older team members had been supportive and she was now in a position to take tips back to her Year 9 side. “It’s kind of good, because I get to lead a bit more.”

She gets help juggling her busy schedule from parents Phil and Lisa.

After she returns from China, Millie looks forward to what else she can bring to her school team. The TGS girls are sitting mid-table in the prems but have national qualifiers ahead and hope to be able to maintain a proud recent record of getting onto the national stage. Meanwhile, the captains of TGS two top teams, Year 13s Zen Lamb and Amy Mackenzie, played for Harbour’s U20 sides at regional nationals last month. The men placed third and the women fifth.

ALBANY HEAT PUMPS

Young gun... Millie Ison in action for Takapuna Grammar against Westlake Girls High School

Tasty treats help draw a big kiddy crowd as

Hanging out for the sprinkles… (Clockwise from top left) Madeline Rogers and daughter Eloise (2); Emelia Lake, one of the organisers; Helen Mowry with daughter Rylee (3) and Federico Rodes and Cecilia Laborde with two-month-old daughter Cleo

Devonport toy library seeks new members

Good times… (clockwise from above) Ari Nair with grandmum Sue Peters; Danielle Mennie with Oliver Cooper (2); Oliver shifts his attention to an ice cream

Free fluffies and ice creams were enthusiastically devoured by children at the Stone Oven last Sunday as part of a promotion to attract new members to the Devonport Toy Library. More than 100 pre-schoolers and their parents turned out, with many of the kids enjoying their treats before sampling the library’s toys in the playpen.

The Toy Library is a Devonport institution, which started around 30 years ago. It has some 300 toys. Based at the Devonport Community House, it operates on Saturday mornings from 9-11am. It costs $60 to join for six months or $110 for a year. For more details, see playawhile.org.

Briefs

Electric ferry due this year

The first of two 300-passenger electric-hybrid passenger ferries under construction for the city-to-Devonport route is expected to be handed over in late 2025. The first vessel is being built by Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui.“We should have a firm date once construction of the vessel is completed, and after comprehensive testing and commissioning,” Auckland Transport (AT) said.

Toy gun causes callout

A man with a realistic looking toy gun sparked a big police response which closed Eversleigh and Northboro Rds in Belmont on the Matariki public holiday after multiple alarmed members of the public rang 111. Police told the Flagstaff: “It was a toy, and it was seized and prevention advice given.”

Yellow lines for Hart Rd

Yellow lines to improve visibility for drivers and safety for pedestrians and cyclists at the top end of Hart Rd in Hauraki are coming in December. AT says it will paint the lines near the intersection with Francis St and on the curved section of the road by number 48 Hart Rd.

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Heritage building strengthened

Earthquake strengthening work is in progress on one of Devonport’s heritage mainstreet buildings.

The building at 69-71 Victoria Rd (pictured), designed by Auckland architect Edward Bartley, was built in 1912. It is seen as an example of Edwardian Baroque.

Seismic strengthening is being undertaken along with a general refurbishment including the replacement of aluminium windows with the original-style wooden sash windows.

Owned by the Moughan family, the building’s ground floor tenants are Yarntons womenswear store and the Devonport Indian Hub restaurant, which were closed for several days.

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Ngataringa Tennis Club serves up a winning formula

Ngataringa Tennis Club scooped three Tennis Northern awards for 2024-2025 – top club, a sportsperson award and Personality of the Year.

It is its second year in a row as best club, recognition it also won in 2021.

Julie Irving was one of three Tennis Northern Sportspeople of the Year while Gavin Brady was named Personality of the Year .

Irving said she joined the club around 2001 after moving to Devonport and had formed lifelong friendships which helped her through two separate bouts of cancer: melanoma and more recently lymphoma.

“I could not have done it [made a recovery] without the club... I had so much support and aroha from them.”

The Tennis Northern citation said: “While in the thick of treatment Irving was unable to play, but she continued to come and support her teams and participate in club events.

“As soon as she was able she returned to the court, and was an inspiration to other players.”

The Club of the Year citation said Ngataringa had another boom year in 2024-25, recording its highest membership in 12 years: 340. Innovations included a two-month tryout which converted players into full members; revamping its junior club champs so it had a 30-year high in participant numbers; and holding a successful inter-primary schools tournament.

Player Nev Upston became the New Zealand under-14 national boys’ champion and the club hosted the Devonport Open each December, which attracted players from across New Zealand and overseas. The clubrooms were also redecorated.

Brady was an enthusiastic member, bringing in around 20 new members with Sunday social sessions, buying two ball machines for his mates and other members to use.

Brady’s sessions, accompanied by music, were a great hit. He also recognised that beginners could be put off by serving and receiving serves so established sessions in other tennis formats, his citation noted.

He was on court every morning at 7 am with 4-8 new members hitting balls.

Club president Stuart Harrington said the top club award reflected that it was “a fun place which people can enjoy” across all generations. Half the club’s members were juniors aged between eight and 16, with numerous junior interclub teams. At the same time, the club had 41 veterans – players over 65, with three women over 80. “Some players have been at the club for more than 50 years.”

The club was looking forward to the 2025-2026 season and better access after five months of drainage and path work around the club’s grounds, Harrington said.

The introduction of pickleball was being considered as part of the future mix at the club.

Boom times... Ngataringa Tennis Club president Stuart Harrington and Julie Irving, a Tennis Northern Sportsperson of the Year, at the club, which has its highest membership in 12 years. Below: Members enjoy a midweek celebration of the club’s success

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Ship in shape thanks to leading supporters

Key contributors to the ongoing restoration of the Ship – the Calliope Sea Scouts den on King Edward Pde – were honoured at a party last Saturday, which also marked the scout group’s 104th year.

Recent projects have included a new asbestos-free roof and a boat ramp, which had been badly damaged in recent storms and was in need of repairs to make it safe for the sea scouts to set sail from.

Barbara Cuthbert, Mike Ashmore, Simon Gundry and Chris Leech were among those recognised for their work on the refurbishment campaign, as was scout leader Jeff Reddecliffe, who was standing down after 10 years.

Cuthbert, a town planner and a user of the hall for yoga, became aware of the building’s plight and tapped into local expertise; Ashmore provided free engineering advice and technical expertise and specifications for the new ramp; and Gundry and partner Walter Gill were behind the new concrete ramp, providing much of the labour and materials as a donation to the sea scouts.

Among other contributions, Jackie Gillies worked to obtain grants and Reddecliffe coordinated the project. The new roof was provided by Fyfe Plumbing and Roofing at a favourable rate.

Calliope Sea Scouts Group Leader Marguerite Spencer said work on the building

Celebration time… Departing Calliope Sea Scouts Leader Jeff Reddecliffe cuts the Ship’s birthday cake. Calliope is the oldest sea scout group in New Zealand.

was ongoing, with weatherboards, particularly on the eastern side of the Ship, in need of fairly urgent repairs, as were the sash windows. “The building is part of Devonport heritage and we are anxious and determined to keep it looking good and being used and

enjoyed for its intended purpose for many years to come, and hopeful that we can continue to rely on the amazing community support we have had with this and other projects in the past, for which we are extremely grateful,” she said.

Honoured… (Middle row, from left) Jeff Reddecliffe, Mike Ashmore, Barbara Cuthbert, Simon Gundry and Chris Leech with members and leaders of the Calliope Sea Scouts

Community pillar served in many roles on North Shore

The North Shore has farewelled a community champion in Marilyn Glover, whose service to many groups, notably those dealing with disability and education issues, spanned decades. Her contribution was remembered at her well-attended funeral last month.

Glover (pictured in 2023) was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2019. She was active in Rotary for 28 years.

The long-time Takapuna resident, who in later years moved to the Northbridge retirement village, was still on the board of Project Employ when she died, aged 80. She was Project Employ’s chair when it opened Flourish Cafe in Como St in 2022, as a training cafe for young people with disabilities.

Glover’s lifelong interest in disability issues sprang from having a sister with an intellectual disability and a mother who was an advocate for better support.

She was chair of the Wilson School

board of trustees for 17 years, and served for 15 years as chair of the disability group advising the North Shore City Council, as well as serving on the national committee for the Disabled Persons Assembly. She pitched in as a volunteer for groups including Age Concern, Adults in Motion and the forerunner of Ancad (Auckland North Community and Development), of which she was a life member.

Glover featured in Flagstaff sister paper the Rangitoto Observer two years ago, having organised a knitting group to make items for babies in hospitals and calming finger gloves for students at the Wilson School. Many years earlier, she got Rotary involved with the school when members fundraised for a playground and tended gardens.

She was described as the “Mother of Takapuna Rotary”, being its secretary for 12 years, treasurer for three years, fellowship director for seven years and an ardent supporter of member projects. At various times she was on the boards and committees of Takapuna Kindergarten, Hauraki Primary, Belmont Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar. She was treasurer of the Friends of Takapuna Library and also involved in Plunket, Girls Brigade and youth groups.

Glover is survived by her two sons, Aaron and Miles. Husband Lew predeceased her.

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Bev, John and Dawn Ryman residents

Fears raised over trees though arborists disagree

Wanted: one willing arborist, able to fell problematic tall trees as a charity job for a 98-year-old.

That’s the call put out by the deputy chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, Terence Harpur, when the board asked at its June meeting for trees on a private property on Northboro Rd be felled for safety reasons.

A tree on the property fell across the road onto a parked car on 17 April, wrecking it just before a 21-year-old childminder and her young charge were about to hop in. The road was closed for about three hours, to allow for the tree to be removed.

Tree branches have also previously fallen onto the footpath from the property, which is in a dip on the road close to the entrance to Northboro Reserve.

Board member Gavin Busch said he understood both Belmont Intermediate School and Hauraki Primary School principals had warned pupils not to walk beneath the trees.

Esme Barber, who lives over the road and is the mother of the child involved in the near miss, told the board by email there had been another big fall onto the road in 2022, plus the loss of electricity from branches falling onto power lines. She wanted action.

The trees’ history, complaints from residents and fears for pedestrians and road users led Busch to move that council staff

Crushed... A tree from a Northboro Rd property fell across the road and wrecked a car on 17 April

serve notice for removal of the remaining two grevillea trees. This was passed 4-1, with only board chair Mel Powell against.

Powell said she had spoken to the property’s elderly owner, who was upset about the risks but not in a financial position to remove the trees.

“She can’t afford to pay for it, it’s very high. But she said she doesn’t mind if council removes it.”

Harpur then called for someone in the community to cut down the trees as a goodwill gesture.

Busch’s motion also called for council to remove a macrocarpa tree on the bound-

ary. Board manager Trina Thompson said the macrocarpa was undergoing further assessment.

She said council could not require the removal of trees on private property, although Auckland Transport could do so if roads were being damaged, but the arborists’view was that no immediate action was needed.

Powell had asked Busch to consider withdrawing his motion, preferring a conversation with compassion.

Busch said public safety had to come first. The trees were growing and not being maintained. “It’s not a case of if another branch comes down, but when.”

THE NAVY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

SMALLEST FLEET VESSEL

MAKES BIG IMPACT

It’s not always our larger vessels that have the biggest reach.

Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Taupo has helped ensure fisheries compliance amongst the northern fishing fleet in a sustained boarding operation recently.

For three weeks, Taupo patrolled from North Cape to East Cape, hailing commercial fishing vessels and getting Fisheries New Zealand Fishery Officers on board to conduct checks.

Lieutenant Commander Toby Mara, Taupo’s Commanding Officer, estimated they covered the bulk of the northern fishing fleet, with 26 boardings undertaken.

The Fishery Officers were checking the fishing vessels’ electronic reporting, paperwork and fishing practices. Pleasingly, a high degree of compliance was found.

“It’s not always achievable for Fishery Officers to get to vessels off the coast, so this is where the Navy can help in getting them on board.”

“Working with our partners at NZDF in a joint operation provides us greater capacity to inspect commercial fishing vessel operations at sea,” Steve Ham says.

“This vital work enables us to gain a greater picture of fishing operations outside of territorial limits which we could not do with-

out our support from NZDF.”

As well as the three-week operation, LTCDR Mara says Taupo has training obligations for officers and sailors and is one of the fleet’s busiest ships.

“An Inshore Patrol Vessel’s programme can be pretty relentless, and we keep our bunks full with sailors and officers who need sea training. A lot of people don’t realise how busy we can be.”

Devonport Naval Base security reminder – for the safety of the community, please take care and remain outside the 60-metre perimeter of the Naval Base at all times. This includes when swimming, diving, kayaking, fishing and sailing.

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Outdoorsman finds his way to 900-plus huts

Hut-bagger, orienteer and volunteer in the back country and locally, Geoff Mead spoke to Rob Drent about his very active retirement.

Geoff Mead loves the mountains, but they almost killed him.

In 1981, in his 20s, he was climbing in the Andes in South America with Kiwi mates when he was struck down with altitude sickness. “I was rescued by the Chilean Military.”

As Mead recalls, it was all down to his own stupidity. His group had caught a bus 10 hours into the mountains and then walked into altitude for three days. The acclimatisation wasn’t enough. Mead was struck down so badly he was left unconscious, with vomit in his lungs.

His fellow climbers couldn’t move him. They rushed down the mountain and luckily ran into some Chilean mountaineers who, as Spanish speakers, contacted the authorities who sent a helicopter to bring Mead to the safety of a hospital in Santiago.

“I got very careful about altitude after that,” Mead says matter-of-factly.

The incident didn’t put him off the outdoors, though. Far from it: he’s spent much of his adult life running, tramping, orienteering and cycling.

He’s gone all over the world on adventures and “bagged” – visited – 902 backcountry huts, some in the remotest parts of New Zealand.

Mead (68) was born in Wellington but with his father a civil engineer with New Zealand Railways, the family moved around before settling in Mairangi Bay. Geoff went to Westlake Boys High School in his seventh form year, and has generally lived on the North Shore since then – for the last 36 years in Devonport.

He went to the University of Auckland, completed a Bachelor of Science and went on to a career in statistics.

He took up tramping with a vengeance while at university, going to the South Island in the summer holidays for four years and sometimes during other university breaks as well. He particularly enjoyed the more remote routes of the Southern Alps, completing many transalpine routes above the bush line, including the Garden of Eden and Garden of Allah ice-field tramps.

If all the routes he took were linked up, over time he effectively navigated from Nelson to Fiordland.

He became used to using crampons and an ice axe and “became a very good tramper”.

Mead’s idea of student heaven was a job in Fiordland as a geology field assistant. The team was flown into Dusky Sound with a month’s food and then walked week-long loops out into the wilds and back.

“As we ate our food we would replace it with the same weight [in geological samples] and carry them back.”

Tramping proved life-changing in other

ways as well. He met wife Lisa on a university tramping trip.

Going into the backcountry was completely different in the 1970s to what it is today.

“There was no real weather forecast, no GPS. We would sometimes take a mountain radio but there were no PLB [personal locator beacon].

“We had to learn to be self-sufficient – so in that respect were pretty lucky.”

It helped teach Mead a safety-first approach of careful planning and showing respect for the terrain and the weather, especially the way rainfall affects rivers in New Zealand. “I’ve had lots of experience with rivers.”

His tip: rivers go down as fast as they go up. Once rain stops they go down. Wait it out before crossing.

The wilds of New Zealand were in those days peppered with four-to-six-bunk huts established by the Forest Service in the 1960s and early 1970s for deer-stalkers.

They’d been made available to trampers.

“We’d hitchhike everywhere, so food was our only real expense.”

Mead worked for the Statistics Department for 30 years in a variety of jobs, eventually running IT projects.

He became increasingly focused on running and took up orienteering, taking part in his first event at One Tree Hill in 1979.

“We had friends who were orienteering.” Geoff and Lisa started casually, then “decided it was a really good sport”.

It offered beginners’ courses, longer courses for young athletes and shorter technical courses, which Geoff specialises in now.

It proved a great family sport for the Meads and their son, Nick, when he was younger.

A lot of Geoff’s tramping has involved the skills learned in orienteering.

“I love the challenge [of orienteering]. It’s a real test – half thinking, half physical. You have to study a map and terrain and concentrate on not getting lost and make decisions on the fly.”

And he was good at it. Mead won two New Zealand Mountain Marathon events – navigation courses held over two days; a world mixed veterans’ championship title with Lisa in 2000 as well as several mixed mountain titles, and several national age group orienteering titles – the most recent in the 65-plus age group at Christchurch in Easter.

Around 15 years ago Mead read an article in Wilderness magazine about someone who had bagged 500 huts. It piqued his interest and he decided to add a few to the hundreds he had visited in earlier years.

He retired aged around 56 so he could do more of what he loved.

By 2017 he had bagged 674; now he’s

Far from the madding crowd… Geoff Mead outside the rustic Jean Hut in the Whakaari Conservation Area near Glenorchy

up to 902. He visited Poutaki Hut, Ellis Hut (also known as Murderer’s Hut) and Smiths Stream Hut, all in Ruahine Forest Park in Hawke’s Bay, in January this year.

He’s ranked fourth-top hut bagger on the popular New Zealand Hut Baggers website.

“It’s really just an excuse to explore the remote parts of New Zealand... When we go on holiday we look around to see if there are any huts nearby to bag.”

Lisa has visited many with him and on the Hut Baggers site has logged 578.

“She sometimes gets a bit nervous when we start going down a remote country road – as we could be heading into the bush somewhere.”

He estimates New Zealand has around 1200 huts and doesn’t know how many more he will add to his total. Obviously the more remote ones are hard to get to; many would involve special expeditions to bag.

His first post-retirement trip was the South

“It’s really just an excuse to explore the remote parts of New Zealand... When we go on holiday we look around to see if there are any huts nearby to bag.”

Island section of Te Araroa, walking Picton to Bluff with Lisa.

In addition to his hut-bagging in New Zealand, overseas trips have beckoned too. The couple have completed a grand route trek in France over three months – from Lake Geneva to Nice through the French Alps; a high route through the Pyrenees between France and Spain over a month; and three or four long cycling tours in Europe.

“It helps that Lisa can speak French and German,” says Geoff.

He had one knee replaced in 2016 and the other in 2023. “I wore them out, basically.” The operations haven’t held him back, with cycling a key part of him being able to build leg strength and continue with his wider physical activities. He uses trekking poles when tramping and tries to do balance and strength exercises for his legs most days.

His ongoing fitness has allowed him to give back to the track network he has enjoyed so much. He did track cutting for the Kaimai Ridgeway Trust, which reopened old forest service tracks to the public. Likewise he’s also done track cutting for the Backcountry Trust. He also helped build part of the Old

Planning his next trip... Geoff Mead at home in Devonport, letting his mind wander into the back country

Ghost Roadtrack in the South Island, living in the Ghost Lake Hut and helping cut the track’s famous switchbacks.

Lisa, meanwhile, made the explosives used to break up rock to allow the track to go through.

In Devonport, Geoff volunteers for environmental group Restoring Takarunga Hauraki, doing planting, weed control and building work. “It’s close to home and about people doing good things.” He prefers practical outside jobs to administration tasks.

He’s looking to keep competing in orienteering events well into his 70s.

Modern tramping equipment makes it easier to keep bagging those huts, too. “It’s lowweight tramping now. It’s good physically.”

That allows him to go further over steep terrain. “We are carrying about half of the weight we used to carry.”

Dehydrated meals come in all shapes and sizes; packs, sleeping bags, mats and tents are all lighter. “Although these days you can spend $1000 on a tent.”

Accommodation in huts has also improved. With DoC foregoing the mainte-

nance on many remote huts, groups like the Backcountry Trust and Permolat in the South Island have effectively taken them over, often rebuilding them with insulation and wood burners.

“Most of them have been tidied up, which is really fantastic.”

While he’s lost some of his running speed, Mead has found a stamina in older age which is helped by cycling and tramping.

Geoff and Lisa have no trouble keeping fit around Auckland, are a familiar sight walking at a brisk pace in Devonport and often head south on the train then cycle back.

“It’s mostly on country roads with no traffic.”

A couple of weeks ago they got off in Huntly and cycled out to the Nikau Caves on the West Coast, through to Port Waikato and then home.

This summer Mead plans another South Island trip inland from the Molesworth area in Marlborough. He enthusiastically points out the route on a map – “near the Saxton River, there’s a rough tramping track”.

There may even be another hut or two to bag.

Path under new Holy Trinity vicar led to our departure

How much “transition and change” has there been at Holy Trinity?

In the 20 June 2025 Flagstaff article, “Holy Trinity Issues Cash Plea After Donors Depart”, Rev. Chris Murphy stated there had been “a period of transition and change” in which “[s]everal regular and committed church members” had left the church since his arrival. Consequently, Holy Trinity now has a $60,000 projected annual budget deficit.

Since November 2023, around 60 longtime members – including senior leaders across nearly every ministry – have left the church.

These individuals were not casual attendees but the heart of Holy Trinity’s life: leading, serving, and supporting the community over many years.

Their departures represent not only a significant organisational shift but also a deep spiritual and emotional loss.

Rev. Murphy’s comparison of the situation to a new CEO arriving in a business feels inappropriate.

Holy Trinity is not a corporation, it is a faith community. And while change is inevitable, the kind of change, and how it is carried out, matters deeply.

As a long-time vestry member and vic-

ar’s warden, I resigned from both roles in April 2024 when my husband and I left Holy Trinity.

We left because it was clear to us that Holy Trinity is heading in a new direction under Rev. Murphy’s leadership with which we were not comfortable.

Some may support this new direction. Others may not.

We simply hope people investigate the full picture — including the implications of the changes — before deciding whether and how to offer their support.

Emily Morrow

Paul Morrow

Conservative line lost support of long-term parishioners

In response to “Holy Trinity issues cash plea after donors depart” (Flagstaff, 20 June): As ex-members of Holy Trinity (HT), we felt compelled to respond to the article outlining the church’s financial issues.

We had been part of the HT community for over 25 years and were heavily involved in many activities, including youth group, children’s work, and mainly music.

With no family in Aotearoa, the people at HT became our whānau. So it is with great sadness that we no longer felt able to be part

Division and pain

at Holy Trinity

Regarding giving to Holy Trinity (Flagstaff, 20 June): sadly, as early as mid-2024, I saw unprecedented division and widespread pain in the parish. This and the unexpected, patronising attitude towards ordained women, meant that I could no longer contribute to the church I have loved for decades.

Name withheld by request. The writer is a current church member

Raised crossings boost safety

Raised crossings and better street lighting have improved safety around Devonport and elsewhere by encouraging safe speeds around children and adults crossing roads, a key example being outside St Leo’s School in Albert Road, where pedestrians don’t stand out because of background trees. Prior to the raised crossing being installed, drivers often approached at unsafe speeds, but no longer.

Whether Auckland Transport squandered money on such installations as claimed by Cam Calder is debatable, but safety improvement at this crossing is demonstrable Marshall Piercy

of this community and withdrew our financial and physical support. The Holy Trinity we were part of was a welcoming, all-inclusive, community-focused church. Now we see a church being led toward a much more conservative position, including restricting the role of women in leadership and reduced acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community. We know many people (not several as reported) who have similar concerns and have left Holy Trinity, and we would recommend others to take a good look before acting.

Simon and Kate Forrest

Government’s revised stance on housing intensification a huge relief

The government has finally acknowledged that the blanket housing intensification plans for Auckland will not work and has agreed to get rid of Plan Change 78 for Auckland.

For three years many Aucklanders havebeen subjected to the possibility of three dwellings of three storeys being built right next door (under what was called Medium Density Residential Standards – MDRS).

Devonport and other Special Character Areas were allowed a temporary reprieve until it could be decided what areas, if any, should remain protected.

Devonport Heritage and other city heritage groups have put a lot of work and resources into fighting for the retention of the rules controlling demolition and restoration of Auckland’s historic timber houses.

The terrible storms and flooding of 2023 also delayed the proposals as it showed how perilous allowing intensive housing in the wrong areas could be.

After negotiations with Auckland Council, Housing Minister Chris Bishop has agreed the three-by-three intensification is not suitable for Auckland.He has asked the council to come up with a new plan change which will allow for more intensification around City Rail Link stations.

This is a huge relief as essentially this means our Special Character Areas are safe – for now.

However Mr Bishop’s replacement to the RMA continues to be concerning as we are not at all confident that he will allow for the continuation of heritage or character areas.

So as a community we will need to carry on promoting Devonport as a unique historic place that is hugely worthy of protection.

We feel we have won round one, but the battle continues.

Margot McRae Chair, Devonport Heritage

Clogged streets hinder emergency response

Apart from the lack of infrastructure, the other major problem with high-density housing on Devonport and Takapuna peninsulas is the lack of provision for off-street parking.

With boats, caravans, vehicles, skips and

tractors already permanently occupying limited street parking, in the event of a disaster the chances of emergency vehicles getting through quickly will be impossible.

The only winners are the developers. Bruce Tubb

Tree roots thwart accessibility

I have been following the recent correspondence about the proposed removal of the trees in Anne St with, as I live in Burgess Rd, which also has extremely large street trees causing significant damage to the pavements.

I have some mobility issues and sometimes need a walking frame. I can assure everyone that damaged and uneven surfaces to pavements caused by tree roots is an extremely serious safety issue.

I would like to challenge any residents who think otherwise to attempt to safely navigate some of the damaged pavements while using a walking frame or wheelchair, and I imagine pushing a pram must also be quite difficult. If people have impaired sight, the surfaces must also present a safety issue.

Auckland Council has a policy to ensure our city is safely accessible to all, but from my experience it is proving to be far more difficult to walk safely in some parts of our local area.

I expect some readers might suggest that I choose other streets to walk along. But in my case, the pavements in both directions and on both sides of the street are badly affected, so if my disability gets worse, it may mean that I can’t go out at all.

Street trees can be beneficial to neighbourhoods, but need to be the right size and not damage pavements, which can cause serious safety issues to all pedestrians, especially those who have mobility issues.

Christine Rowe

20 years ago from the Flagstaff files

• Public pressure forces Auckland Regional Transport to drop its combined weekly MAXX transport pass from $40 to $33.

• More than 50 people attend the Devonport midwinter swim, including Devonport Druid Chris Mullane and Michael Yalland, who are pictured at the event.

• Jessica Baker, Calum Gunn, Toby McLennan and Hannah Camplin star in the TGS production of Oklahoma!

• The 10th annual Devonport Creche midwinter ball raises $9000.

• Wine, oysters, hot chickens, moisturisers and shampoos are identified as the mostshoplifted items taken from the New World supermarket. Four people a week are arrested on suspicion of shoplifting.

• Prince William’s New Zealand itinerary skips Devonport after New Idea magazine suggests he would visit the suburb and most likely the Patriot Bar.

• Brumby’s in Clarence St celebrates 10 years in Devonport with a two-for-one giveaway offer.

• The North Shore premier rugby side keeps its playoff hopes alive with a 40-6 win over Navy at Ngataringa sports fields.

• North Shore’s Dads Army will take on the Barmy Army from Britain during the Lions tour of New Zealand. The Patriot pub promotes itself to Lions fans with a “Sink some All Blacks” Guinness campaign.

• Devonport Gym owner Rod Enoka, who has moved into the rubbish recycling business Miltek, is the Flagstaff interview subject.

Bike bridge prospects look bleak

Cycling connections bridging Hauraki to Esmonde Rd seem likely to be missing from Auckland Transport’s latest plans, which centre more on links using Taharoto Rd.

AT wants to deliver at least 1km of new safe cycling routes in the wider Takapuna area, using money collected from a Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR).

While it continues to explore a better northern connection from the top end of Francis St to run all the way to Forrest Hill Rd, its staff told Devonport-Takapuna Local Board members at their June business meeting that it was unlikely to have money

to do the work,

The board had told AT at an earlier workshop that its number one priority remained a long-held aspiration to connect from the Devonport peninsula on the greenway route through Hauraki to Takapuna and northern routes.

Deputy chair Terence Harpur urged AT to talk to Watercare, which has a major project looming for water reticulation upgrades for the Devonport peninsula.

Where this would pass through Hauraki, he suggested a combined bridge and services pipeline build might be looked at.

• New builds and renovations

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Choirs hit the right note

The long-standing tradition of choral excellence at Takapuna Grammar School continues, with two top ensembles earning national recognition. The school’s premiere treble voices choir, Leonessa, directed by Elise Bradley, has once again been selected for the New Zealand Choral Federation’s Big Sing Finale. Out of

A Night in Olympus

Takapuna Grammar School’s senior students journeyed to ancient Greece for their much-anticipated School Ball on the final day of term. The Ellerslie Event Centre hosted the event, which embraced the theme “A Night in Olympus.” Arriving in style, students shone in flowing gowns and sharp suits, capturing the grandeur of classical mythology. Themed photo backdrops offered the perfect stage for photos. After dinner, students celebrated on the dance floor. A highlight was the announcement of Victor PetersDavidson and Maya Menon as King and Queen, with August Kwan-Hyland and Kyllah Iosua named Prince and Princess. Principal Mary Nixon was impressed with how students and teaching staff made everyone welcome: “It was such a lovely occasion and everyone put such effort into making sure each person was included and enjoyed the evening together.” The Ball Committee thanks local businesses, including Devonport Flowers, Cosi fan tutte Devonport, Sills and Co, Ball Clothing Library, and ProfessioNail Takapuna, whose generosity helped make the night so special.

To view all the photos from the event, scan the QR code.

more than 200 choirs that competed across the country, only 24 have been chosen to perform at this prestigious showcase, which will take place over three days in late August at the Dunedin Town Hall.

Adding to the accolades, the mixed voices choir, Takapuna Grammar Chorale, directed by Keani Taruia-Pora,

Principal Mary Nixon with Head Prefects Hugo Chapman, Harmony Wilson-Ngata, Claudia Pearce and Alex Berrux

has been invited to attend Cadenza in Rotorua. This Finale-style event offers choirs the opportunity to refine their performance skills through massed workshops led by internationally recognised choral specialists. Both invitations are a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of the school’s choristers.

Juniors bring home the Readers’ Cup

King and Queen: Victor PetersDavidson and Maya Menon

TGS juniors Heather Blackwell, Samantha Wang, Anya Dickinson and Filia Te have brought the Regional Readers' Cup back to TGS. Teams have to read six novels over the term and answer six questions on each as part of the live competition.

Prince and Princess: August Kwan-Hyland and Kyllah Iosua

TGS dominated and won back the cup for the first time in 9 years. This now elevates the team to compete at the nationals - but first, 6 more novels to read.

Designed with Intent

After purchasing a beautiful home on the shores of Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, the homeowners had a desire to personalise and step one was to reimagine the kitchen space. The home, architecturally designed by Leuschke Group and built in the mid-2000’s, was in an impressive location with high ceilings and gorgeous features. The open-plan lounge, dining and kitchen area flowed to the vast entertaining terraces, turfed lawn, structured landscaped garden with dazzling lake views.

The existing kitchen while quite functional was not built to the standard the homeowners desired so they engaged with Michelle Gillbanks of Kitchens By Design. The design brief was clear: ‘build a stunning kitchen, designed with them in mind, combining a scullery which was clean and functional with access integrated into the cabinetry.’

The homeowners wanted a modern symmetrical kitchen with clean lines and plenty of storage. The hidden scullery was the place where most food preparation would be done, so a sink and dishwasher were a must in this space. Open shelves for easy access to ingredients and large platters also helped make the room feel more spacious and not closed in.

The island needed to be large and have a presence in the room, serving as a feature and as seating for visiting family and guests. They also wanted a classic looking benchtop, so guided by Michelle decided on Dekton Morpheus. With its white base, it presents different shades, reflections, and flashes of colour in the form of veining, with the velvet finish softening the tonality.

For a touch of comfort and warmth Michelle used a custom stained Quarter Cut American Oak veneer. This brought in natural tone to the space, and by adding brass handles to the

timber doors, this gave it extra elegance. “Brass is one of the most timeless materials you can choose for your kitchen, this material brings warmth and that evolves beautifully” says Michelle. The rich, golden hues add a layer of sophistication and character that feels classic and contemporary.

The combination of textures and materials brings interest, making the whole kitchen a space for both cozy dinners and family gatherings. This created a retreat where the ambiance feels as inviting as the food itself!

The homeowners had a clear kitchen design brief, ideas to support the colour palette and a good sense of the materials they wanted to use. This made for a strong collaboration, fusing the homeowners’ ideas with design expertise, and delivering a truly designed with intent kitchen from the team at Kitchens by Design.

The experienced team at Kitchens By Design offer an integrated design-to-completion service. If you’re looking for a new kitchen, please call (09) 379 3084 to make an appointment with one of their designers. Kitchens By Design’s showroom is located at 9 Melrose Street, Newmarket. For inspiration, look at some fabulous projects at www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz

WHAT'S HAPPENING

at the Devonport Community House in July!

GET CREATIVE THIS WINTER AT THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

First Steps of Jewellery Making with Mahsa Thursdays 17th July- 14 Aug (5 weeks) 6pm-8pm

This is a 5-session course designed for beginners who want to start making jewellery with artist and jewellery maker Mahsa Kheirkhah. Learn to make a pair of earrings with brass wire, a necklace with beads and wire, ring making, work with air-dry clay to create a piece of jewellery and a brooch with resin.

To book events@devonportcomhouse.co.nz

Life Drawing with Sashsa Alba

Thursday 21 Aug-Sept 11th (4 weeks)

In this four week course, you will undertake a range of short and longer poses working directly with a life model. There will be a series of exercises in pencil, aimed at equipping you with the tools to develop a drawing from life. The course is suitable for all levels, from beginners through those with advanced drawing skills. Please note this workshop series is R18. For bookings www.humantix.com/ life-drawing-with-sasha-alba

FIRST THURSDAYS AT THE HOUSE!

Roll with it - Adult Rollerskating Classes Thursdays 5rd July & 7th August

HeyMacarena are coming in HOT to teach adults how to skate and we’d love to see you there. With two coaches and small class you will definitely see improvement before your first class is even finished. For bookings www.humanitix.com/ roll-with-it-adult-rollerskating-classes

Make sure to keep up to date with all our classes, workshops and events follow us on Facebook, Instagram or head to our website www.devonportcomhouse.com

Carving welcomed at native nursery

Gathering for the opening of Restoring Takarunga Hauraki’s new pare (lintel) above its Devonport nursery entrance were (from left) the environmental group’s board chair Anne McMillan and nursery manager Zane Catherall, Bayswater kaumatua Danny Watson, nursery build project manager and RTH board member Chris Lucas and RTH programme lead Lance Cablk. They were among around 40 people at a dawn ceremony held last month to bless the work carved by Natanahira Pona, who runs whakairo classes at the Lake House arts centre in Takapuna – where he has a Matariki exhibition on until 17 July.

The pare, named Te Haumanu o Tane, includes a traditional female figure at its centre, in this case based on the third wife of chief Eruera Patuone in one of several local references. It has been painted in contemporary colours, which McMillan said added a vibrant welcoming touch to the community nursery. The nursery has an upper level, which is increasingly being used as an education and workshop space, including for schools.

The nursery ran a successful plant giveaway through June and is keen to repeat the exercise. It grows seedlings for use in its peninsula environmental restoration work and provides plants to other groups, including the neighbouring Pupuke Birdsong Project. More than 10,000 seedlings are being nurtured. “Our goal is [to plant] 10,000 a year,” McMillan said.

Design

Design

Whether you are planning a garden refresh or a full renovation, let us work with you to define your vision so that you can proceed with a plan.

on

Matariki marked with market at Rose Centre

Hundreds of people visited the Matariki Market at the Rose Centre last Sunday, drawn by kai, crafts, art, clothing, waiata and raranga. Restoring Takarunga Hauraki offered free native plants for gardens.

Star power... Among those visiting the Rose Centre’ Matariki Market were (clockwise from top right) Lucia Tonge (5) and Frances Miller; Olivia Christie and Jack Ryan at the Restoring Takarunga Hauraki stand; Russell and Millie (3) Butchers; and (above) glass-earring makers Dina McLeod and Vivek Parmar

A drop-in centre for all current and former service personnel and their families will be held in the Takapuna Library every Wednesday 10am-12pm commencing 18th of June 2025.

If you or your family require support, we are here for you and those who depend on you.

We help by:

• Using Our Connections to provide information, mentoring and support.

• Providing Advice - accurate health, employment and well-being advice.

• Advocating on your behalf for Government recognition, assistance and redress.

• Financial Assistance

Phone 021 446 011

Supported by Birkenhead, Devonport and ECB RSAs

Support your paper for the price of a cup of coffee.

Go to devonportflagstaff.co.nz and click on ‘Become a supporter’ at the top of the page.

Second ‘Our Devonport’ evening helps boost The Vic’s coffers

A second sold-out Our Devonport fundraiser evening last week more than doubled the amount raised for the Victoria Theatre at the first night of presentations in April.

Together, the two evenings – featuring seven short illustrated talks about aspects of Devonport – raised $2700 and attracted more than 300 people.

“The popularity of the event shows there is a huge interest in Devonport from the people who live here,” said the theatre trust’s Margot McRae.

“The organisers are keen to do more.”

The first night was held at a packed RSA, with people turned away at the door, leading to the ticketed event at the Vic last Monday.

The occasion was rounded out by the screening of the short film The Vic: A Love

Story, which tells of community efforts to save the 1912 venue.

The money raised will be put towards buying new theatre seats.

So far, the trust has $11,600 in the kitty, but hopes for more contributions.

McRae said replacing all the theatre’s ageing seats would be done in stages as money was raised through grants and donations.

The first cinema to have all new seats will be in the small Benwell room (Cinema 2), at a cost of $40,000.

New seats upstairs in Cinema 3 will cost $110,000 and adding more red seats in the downstairs Cinema 1 will cost $80,000.

• Donations can be made directly into the trust’s bank account: 12 3015 0622113 00.

Big Takapuna Pak’nSave to open in 2029

The giant Pak’nSave supermarket planned for Takapuna will open in 2029, says owner Foodstuffs North Island.

Recently granted resource consent by Auckland Council, what will be Foodstuff’s largest supermarket is expected to create more than 200 jobs.

The 6461sqm store will be built on a 9826 sqm corner site on Fred Thomas Dr, opposite Lake House Arts.

“Large vacant sites in this area are rare,”said Foodstuffs North Island’s general manager of retail and property, Lindsay Rowles.

The site was well located to serve the growing Takapuna community and its wider North Shore catchment.

The development – on a flood plain – will have 197 car parks, with the shopping floor above.

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All New Grand Design

Barfoot

We gave away $900 worth of vouchers for local establishments to three Devonport families... So, who were the Ray White Devonport Team Members in the promotion?

Well, it was Natalie Denton – A Shore Girl and a Shore Thing, when it comes to all things property & Bruce Parkinson – An absolute consummate gentleman who brings over 20 years experience in real estate to the partnership and the marketing and sale of your property.

Bruce Parkinson 021 416 750 bruce.parkinson@raywhite.com

“Bruce, your enthusiasm, professionalism, diligence, integrity, guidance, and knowledge never faded. It was consistent. It was my only constant in this challenging market. Your kindness and hard work remained consistent. I couldn’t give a more glowing recommendation if I tried. I always felt important and listened to. You got me the result I wanted and supported me 100% of the way through.” Lee

Natalie Denton 021 956 793 natalie.denton@raywhite.com

Growing up on the beautiful North Shore, Natalie brings a lifetime of local knowledge and a genuine passion for the unique lifestyle the area offers. Her local knowledge coupled with a powerful set of skills, built upon a diverse and unique career serving her clients and customers, makes Natalie the logical choice when engaging the services of a local Devonport agent to represent you and the sale of your home.

Therapy-pet visits bring comfort and happiness

Graham and Karrin Byrnes are spreading the love at their retirement home – with a little help from their dog Maggie.

Not long after moving into the Ryman William Sanders Village in Devonport in 2021, the couple read about a therapy-pets programme run by St John. They thought Maggie, a now nine-year-old poodle-King Charles Cavalier cross, would be “perfect” for the job.

Once Maggie was assessed as being of suitable character and after a training course, the couple began a routine of taking heron visits three times a week to residents of the village’s care centre.

“We find it very rewarding,” says Graham. “It’s good for the residents and it’s good for us.”

Maggie goes on her appointments in a special purple harness and St John necktie, with the couple donning St John shirts.

They say Maggie knows when she’s off to work. “Maggie has always loved people,” says Karrin.

Pet visits are believed to benefit people’s emotional wellbeing. For those residents needing hospital, rest-home and dementia care, Maggie has been bringing happiness and comfort for four years.

“When we visit residents in the hospital who are very unwell, she will jump up on the bed and lie down next to them. It just gets you right here,” says Graham, tapping his chest.

“The hard thing is leaving because they often want her to stay.”

One of Maggie’s regular visits is to rest home resident Fleur Lindsay, who is a dog lover.

Says Lindsay: “I just enjoy the company, she’s friendly and takes notice of me and she just seems to know what we’re going to say... She’s lovely!”

Fellow resident Madeline Dennison also feels emotionally buoyed by the pet therapy visits, having been widowed in recent years.

“It’s something you can love, and dogs will love you back,” she says. “It’s a comfort.”

Both the Byrnes believe volunteering in the community is vital work. “I volunteered

as a teacher aide for seven years. It’s good to give back,” says Karrin, a former pharmacy manager.

Retired insurance underwriter Graham says: “It’s doing something for other people rather than just thinking me, me, me... that’s really important.”

Maggie’s visits have also helped the couple settle into village life. They sometimes take her to the communal lounge. “She’s a real focal point and people often stop and have a little chat,” says Karrin.

William Sanders residents dig out blankets for charity

Around 40 blankets, sheets and duvets were donated by Ryman residents to the Give a Kid a Blanket charity.

Donations were put in bins around the William Sanders retirement village over five days.

One blanket came with a message: “Our granddaughter loved this rug. I hope it goes to a little girl who will love it too.”

The gifts were collected by Roundabout, a local charity set up by Geraldine Anderson which has contacts across Auckland and Northland to distribute the goods to those in need.

Warm wishes... Ryman resident Maxilyn Tudman with Geraldine Anderson and some of the blankets donated by residents of Devonport’s William Sanders retirement village for distribution to people in need

Helping others… Graham and Karrin Byrnes with Maggie

WHAT’S ON @ Devonport Library

Tēnā Koutou Katoa

May your mid-winter days be blessed with fresh new reads, brilliant board games, cute puzzles, fun crafts, gripping stories and really good food. We can help with all that.. (so many cookbooks!)

New Besties coming soon. A fab new collection of the most-requested books.

Board Games have arrived at Auckland Libraries! Whether you’re into strategy, party games, or a bit of friendly competition, you can borrow a board game to play at home – for free. Place a hold for one to be delivered here to Devonport Library.

Beautiful new puzzles and furniture have arrived for the littlest library users.

School Holiday fun for our tamariki.

MATARIKI RISING CRAFT ACTIVITY

Tuesday 8th July 10am-11am

DIY SEED BOMBS

Celebrate Tupuānuku

Thursday 10th July 10am-11am

MINDFUL TEA CEREMONY

Sunday 13th July 10am -11:30am in English, 12:30pm-2:00pm in Mandarin. This gentle zen event was very popular so we are running it again. Book via Humantix or at the Library Desk to enter a mini oasis of peace, quiet and calm.

POLKINGHORNE

Wednesday July 23rd

Inside the trial of the century. Steve Braunias will be giving his remarkable account of the trial that gripped New Zealand. His fresh off the press book Polkinghorne will be on sale at the event. 6:30pm drinks and nibbles. 7pm talk. A Devonport Library Associates event. Koha appreciated. Digital Seniors, CAB, JP on Monday, Book Club, and the Library Bus Service continue too.

Ma Te Wa - See You Soon

Europe-bound... Members of the Medenki of Medena Ensemble, whose Devonport show is a fundraiser ahead of a trip to sing at a festival in Sofia

Bulgarian folk comes to Harmony Hall

Belmont woman Kate Bartlett (inset picture) is urging locals to check out an evening of renowned Bulgarian folk music sung without accompaniment at Harmony Hall on Thursday 3 July.

She is part of the Medenki of Medena Ensemble, which sings a capella.

“I’m just in love with it,” she says, explaining why she was drawn to perform with the group despite not having Bulgarian ancestry.

Bartlett has had plenty of experience with different vocal groups, and has always been drawn to world music.

“The stories are poetic and playful and at times raw and heartfelt. I always feel transported when I sing these songs.”

The Devonport evening, which features seven women performers, features songs in Bulgarian, with several waiata in the mix to celebrate Matariki.

“This love affair led me to Tui Mamaki, a Kiwi/French singer and musician who studied in Bulgaria for many years at the top folk-music school in Plovdiv,” she explains.

Through Mamaki, who has returned to Bulgaria, she learned more about the folkloric traditions of the eastern European country.

“The music is beautiful and complex, with stunning harmonies and asymmetrical rhythms.

It is a fundraiser for the ensemble, which is travelling to Sofia in August, where they will perform at a festival.

The trip is also a study tour for the group members, who Bartlett says will be honoured to be able to team up with a New York-based Bulgarian Choir, Yasna Voices. She describes the US choir as Medenki of Medena’s idols.

Bartlett has been a Devonport peninsula resident for 20 years. Along with singing, she is an actor, storyteller and presentation-skills coach.

The choir performance is part of the First Thursdays programme of arts events in Devonport. It begins at 7.30pm at Harmony Hall, 4 Wynyard St. Tickets $30, from Humanitix.com

Leonessa roar into Big Sing Finale

Takapuna Grammar School’s Leonessa choir is bound for the Big Sing Finale after being chosen as one of the nation’s top 24 secondary school choirs in regional qualifying.

The school will join five other choirs from the North Shore, which make up half the Auckland representation of 12 choirs heading to Dunedin to compete in late August.

They are: Cantare from Westlake Girls High School; Voicemale from Westlake Boys High School; the Westlake combined choir Choralation; Kristin School’s Euphony choir and Rangitoto College’s Serenata.

Leonessa has a strong track record of

reaching the national final of what is the largest choral festival in the Southern Hemisphere, involving 10,000 students through its regional stages.

A second TGS choir, Chorale, will compete in the Cadenza event for the 12 best upper North Island schools which missed out on Finale.

A feature of the Auckland regional event was the record number of Pasifika pieces performed this year – 26 – likely partly inspired by the film Tinā, about a Samoan choir teacher, which in itself took inspiration from a Westlake performance in Samoan at a previous Finale.

Hot time in the village as spicy sauces meet art

An artful collaboration launched this week will tempt local tastebuds for the next month.

Called ‘Combustible Condiments’, the scheme is part of the First Thursdays series of arts events in Devonport. It pairs chefs with artists to concoct and label a hot sauce to be used in a feature dish at six local restaurants. The public is being urged to head out and sample any or all of the six dishes as a fun way to boost hospitality businesses and celebrate creativity.

That’s the essence of First Thursdays, says Kirsten Newton, who is leading the project for Depot Artspace – to add an extra element to the ongoing monthly arts-based evening designed to enliven the village. She hopes the foodie event will grow and be held annually.

The restaurants involved are Manuka, Signal Hill, Stone Oven, The Kestrel, Vic Road Wine Bar and Cellar and Vondel. Artists include Devonport-based Jenni Stringleman and Katie Robinson, along with Carly Black, Patrick Qwesi, Philippa Bentley and Jacinta Naicker.

Bottles and jars of the Combustible Condiments with their fancy labels – ranging from clever graphic design to painted images – will be available for purchase. In some cases the artist’s work may be used as T-shirt designs. Voting is also planned for the best dish.

The dishes, on menus from Thursday 3 July, range from swept-up fish and chips with spiced persimmon sauce at The Kestrel, to Manuka going literal with mānuka, kiwifruit and pepper sauce for its pizza, and the Vic Road Wine Bar pairing cheese with tamarillo and pepper chutney.

Vondel owner Sam Bratton said he wanted to treat tastebuds with something different. He is serving tenderised Wairarapa paua, with sriracha sauce and kaffir lime leaves.

Stone Oven chef Brendan Kyle has reworked a best-seller from his food truck days, coming up with a barbecue sauce to enhance a venison smash burger with cheese, pickles, bacon and a hash brown. After opening the cafe, last year, he is enjoying being part of an initiative well-timed in quieter winter trading.

“I was surprised by the collaborative nature of Devonport business,” he told the Flagstaff. Kyle called on graphic designer Carly Black to come up with a smart bottle label.

The sauce contains Scotch bonnet chillies, but also vinegar, lending it a smoky not too sweet flavour to cut through the other ingredients. It works as a marinade for other meats.

Signal Hill chef James Wheeler-Gorringe, who bought into the restaurant and bar nearly three months ago, is also using a BBQ chilli sauce, his made with sticky with bush honey to drizzle over buttermilk fried chicken.

“All the stuff I love,” he says. The label by Philippa Bentley plays up the ingredients.

• People who try all the dishes and get a card stamped can go in a draw for a $100 voucher at their favourite participating restaurant.

SHOWING NOW

The Great Lillian Hall (M) 110min

Jurassic World Rebirth (M) 133min F1 The Movie (M) 155min

Karate Kid: Legends (PG) 94min

M3GAN 2.0 (M) 120min

28 Years Later (R16) 115min

Elio (PG) 98min

Kōkā (M) 100min

Merchant Ivory (M) 112min

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) 126min

Materialists (M) 117min

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (R16) 125min

The Surfer (R16) 101min

Lilo & Stitch (PG) 108min

SPECIAL EVENTS & NEW RELEASES

Smurfs (G) 90min Advance Screenings from 30 Jun

Potluck - Live Improvised

Art of sauce... Stone Oven’s Brendan Kyle (left) and Signal Hill’s James Wheeler-Gorringe are among chefs involved in ‘Combustible Condiments’

Commanding views, premier position!

Crafted in the 1970s from predominantly Hinuera stone and concrete block, this substantial fivebedroom residence, currently configured as a three-bedroom home with a separate-entrance twobedroom apartment, occupies a commanding position, showcasing panoramic harbour-to-city views and a highly adaptable floor plan. Enjoy the harbour activity by day and sparkling city lights by night. Located just a short stroll from Devonport village, you'll enjoy vibrant cafes, boutique shops, restaurants, a supermarket, and the ferry terminal providing easy access to the CBD. Don't miss out on this rare chance to secure a home with remarkable potential. bayleys.co.nz/1451762