3 June 2016 Devonport Flagstaff

June 3, 2016

TGS pre-ball breathalysing… p2

The great Mt Vic possum hunt continues… p9

Interview: Super Rugby ref Brendon Pickerill… p18

P contamination found in Devonport house

A Devonport property has been found to have methamphetamine contamination.

A Hazardous Substances Report for 187 Victoria Road says that in May this year a sample taken from the house’s front lounge

was found to have traces of methamphetamine above the Ministry of Health (MoH) baseline limit for safe living, which is set at 0.5 micrograms per 100 square centimetres.

The lounge had a level of 0.54 µg/100cm².

The room has since been decontaminated and the three-bedroom villa, which has a CV of $1,125,000, is deemed safe for occupation, the report says.

To page 3

Triple threat – Devonport’s Olympics contenders

Young Devonport sportspeople have mushroomed into Olympians… Paul Snow-Hansen (left), Eliza McCartney and Jacko Gill pictured on Mt Victoria in the lead-up to Rio. More pictures and story pages 4-5.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 2

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June 3, 2016

Pre-ball breath testing for TGS students Students arriving with alcohol on their breath won’t get through the door at this year’s Takapuna Grammar School Ball.

Acting Principal Brian Wynn says a breathalyser will be used on the night of the ball.

Students arriving under the influence of alcohol are also likely to be suspended from school, he says.

The ball will be held on July 9 at the Ellerslie Convention Centre, Greenlane.

Wynn has sent a letter to parents warning them about planning any pre-ball parties on the night.

He says: “Students arriving under the influence of alcohol will be refused entry and will be disciplined, within the school’s policies. If you are hosting a pre-ball, please be aware of the legal requirements.”

Wynn says he loves the school ball and its 25-year-long tradition at Takapuna Grammar School (TGS). “It’s the kids’ social school activity of the year and it’s a wonderful night.”

But it is also a big risk for the school.

Wynn says the disciplinary measures have been introduced in response to an “unusual occurrence” at last year’s TGS ball, when four students arrived drunk from a pre-ball party hosted by one of the parents.

“The school board’s primary concern is for student safety. They have said they don’t want any more disciplinary committee meetings like last year. So we are working hard on our side in making sure they won’t. But we will need the parents and students to do their part too,” he says.

“Breathalysing is not something I want to do, really. I would hope the parents and students got this year’s message and understand the importance of the occasion.”

Many schools don’t hold school balls any longer because of the risks they pose, he says.

“King’s has no ball now and lots of others don’t either,” he says. In 2011, King’s College student David Gaynor died after he was sent home from his school ball for being drunk.

After-balls are banned as well, Wynn told the Flagstaff.

Although they happen outside school hours and off school property, “they are still associated with the Takapuna Grammar School Ball. It all boils down to the ball being the main event of the night.

“My preference is that parents pick up their children at midnight and take them out to a nice place to have coffee, and be in a safe place,” he says.

June 3, 2016

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 3

from page 1

P-contaminated house in quiet Devonport street

The property is being marketed for sale by Barfoot & Thompson, who describe the villa as “ready for a new family to move in and create their own dream home”.

The owner of the property is Will Watson, director of Propertywise, a Titirangi company that buys houses directly from private owners, without the involvement of real estate agents.

Watson bought the house in January.

He says he wanted to move there with his family. “My two daughters and I were going to move in, but our plans changed,” he told the Flagstaff.

Watson painted the villa inside and out and put it up for sale in April. After a weekend of open homes, he took it off the market.

Watson says a rumour that P had possibly been smoked in the house in the past prompted the testing.

Meth Check NZ director Hayley Wilson says testing is “not unlike getting a building check these days”.

On April 28, Meth Check performed an initial test on the house and three out of five samples tested positive for methamphetamine, says Wilson. “The on-the-spot test just says that meth is present, but not how much. So I called Will and said he needed to do further testing.”

On May 5, Meth Check took indicative test samples in 11 locations around the house using a surface wipe. Wilson says because the house had recently been painted, they had to sand back a layer of paint before taking each sample.

Laboratory tests found methamphetamine levels above the MoH baseline level only in the sample from the front lounge.

Traces below the MoH baseline were found in the flat’s bathroom (0.39), cupboard (0.36), kitchen (0.2), entrance (0.13) and a bedroom (0.12). The rest of the house had levels at below 0.02µg/100cm².

No methamphetamine precursors (substances used to make a drug) were detected in any of the 11 samples, Wilson says. “And the results were just over the MoH level, so not very high, which means it is highly likely that P was only used recreationally and not manufactured at the house, she says.

Wilson says she advised Watson to hire an independent company to get the lounge

Meth found... the house at 187 Victoria Rd where traces of the drug were discovered

decontaminated. Once the decontamination was complete, Meth Tech retested the lounge on May 18 and found the lounge level reduced to below 0.02µg/100cm².

Testing documents seen by The Flagstaff don’t detail what was involved in the decontamination process.

“Will has done everything he morally should have done to clean up the place and it is now absolutely safe to live in or sell,” Wilson says.

Wilson says it is not possible to say when the methamphetamine contamination

Get out you dirty rat!

Rats days may be numbered in Devonport.

A public meeting has been called to set up a pest and rodent eradication programme for the Devonport Peninsula.

Residents are being asked to help work on an Ecological Restoration Framework for the Peninsula with pest control being a key focus.

One idea is to work out a strategy to get

rid of rats south of the golf course.

It is a well known ecological fact that as soon as rat and stoat numbers are reduced from an area bird numbers multiply.

The meeting, to be held on Thursday June 16, from 7.30pm to 9pm at the Waitemata Golf Club, Derby St, will include presentations and discussions with community members.

occurred, “because once it’s there it stays unless you clean it up. You can’t just paint over it. It will eventually seep through the paint,” she says.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 4

Keeping up with our Olympians

June 3, 2016

Devonport’s Olympic connection

Table talk... the three Olympians have a relaxed chat over coffee at Corelli’s

Devonport’s three 2016 Olympians meet up for an interview and photo shoot with Flagstaff reporter Maire Vieth.

Taking a balanced approach… Paul Snow-Hansen (left), Eliza McCartney and Jacko Gill on Mt Victoria

The connection between Devonport’s 2016 Olympians is not unexpected. They are three local kids comfortable with each other in the suburb they grew up in.

But now they are young adults about to represent their country at the most prestigious sporting event in the world.

Shot-putter Jacko Gill (21), 470 class second-time Olympic sailor Paul Snow-Hansen (25) and pole-vaulter Eliza McCartney (19) will compete – on the ground, on water and in the air – in Rio in August.

They are all ex-Takapuna Grammar School students. And while Snow-Hansen only meets the two athletes for the first time during our photo shoot, the trio chat like old friends.

They start talking about Rio, comparing event dates.

McCartney knows hers by heart. The qualifying round is on August 16, followed by two recovery days and then the finals on August 19. Her goal is to make the finals, she says.

That’s also Gill’s goal. “In shot-put the qualifier and finals are all on the same day. I think it’s the shortest event of all, no recovery necessary. It doesn’t really take any energy to throw,” he jokes.

Snow-Hansen says sailing is one of the longest Olympic events, running from August 10 – 18. “Sailing events are usually five to six days long. At the Olympics they add lay days in so it gets really long. London is just a blur, that’s how long it was,” he says. Snow-Hansen came fifth in London and is aiming for the podium this time around.

The discussion turns to how they are getting to Rio and back, when their parents are coming to cheer them on, where they are staying and what the place looks like.

Says McCartney: “Someone asked me the other day what

June 3, 2016

Keeping up with our Olympians

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 5

Doing Devonport Proud… Eliza McCartney, Jacko Gill and Paul Snow-Hansen (right) the stadium is like and I had no idea. I had to look it up.” Gill says he would be stoked to sit next to Valerie Adams on the plane. He remembers competing against her little brother Steven in school shot-put competitions.

Equipment talk follows. The poles McCartney uses and the mast on SnowHansen’s boat are the same length – five metres. But while poles fit into a bag and accompany McCartney on the plane, SnowHansen’s mast is already at sea, packed in a 40-foot container and on its way to Rio for a

series of pre-Olympic coached regattas this month. “We are all done with the official competitions before Rio,” he says.

For McCartney and Gill, competititon won’t start until July. Both head to Mannheim, Germany, for a pre-Olympic camp, and will compete in European events – Gill in Zurich, Paris and Gotha, and McCartney in Monaco.

For them it’s about getting used to competing in large-scale competitions. “To make sure the nerves won’t take over,” McCartney says.

Snow-Hansen says he is at the point where

he enjoys returning to Devonport from large overseas regattas. “It really helps my sailing, just all the things about being home get me in a good headspace, so I am fresh when it’s time to compete again,” he says.

Did Devonport shape their sporting success in any way? Snow-Hansen says the community spirit at Wakatere Boating Club definitely did, but McCartney and Gill are less certain. “We are like the only two from Devonport who even do athletics,” he says.

• Next issue: McCartney’s preparations.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 6

June 3, 2016

Flagstaff scoops national awards The Devonport Flagstaff team took out two prizes at the New Zealand Community Newspaper Awards held in Rotorua last Friday.

Flagstaff reporter Maire Vieth won best Senior Sports Reporter and the paper won the Community Involvement award.

Vieth’s portfolio included stories on Jacko Gill, Eliza McCartney, All Black Jerome Kaino at Rippa Rugby with son Kobe, and a marathon run of Antarctica.

Judge Armin Lindenburg said he’d read Vieth’s stories as a junior reporter in preceding years. “I have to admit I’m a sucker for her material. She knows how to hit the right buttons with her interviews and gets her subjects to really ‘give’ of themselves,” Lindenburg said.

The Flagstaff won the Community Involvement award for its campaign – Keeping the Bastards Honest – to raise money to help pay for Official Information Act requests and investigative-reporting costs.

Judge Greg Treadwell said: “In this case, the Flagstaff has not, as would be normal, set out Winners at Rotorua… Flagstaff reporter Maire Vieth (left), to involve itself in the community but set out to editor Rob Drent and copy editor Jo Hammer involve the community in what it does.”

In the best Feature Writing category, the “With the mainstream media increasingly level, said Treadwell.

In the best Senior News Journalist category Flagstaff was also commended with judges turning to the Kardashians for its copy in the race to the bottom, community newspapers – won by David Williams of Queenstown’s saying: “Maire Vieth and Rob Drent understand become even more our watchdogs in local Mountain Scene – Judge Jim Tully said the craft of storytelling and have an eye for Williams’ stories were hard-hitting and interesting topics.” politics.”

The awards are open to 88 member The campaign was a “fascinating demanded to be read. “The approach at the proposition” – philanthropic micro funding Devonport Flagstaff is more measured, but there newspapers across the country, with The Courier to keep democracy alive and kicking at a local is plenty of hard-nosed reporting going on here.” of Timaru, judged best paper for 2015.

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The Flagstaff Notes

June 3, 2016

By Rob Drent

Further to the trams on Lake Rd idea (Flagstaff Notes, May 20). A reader called in support, saying the council land next to Allen Hill soccer stadium would make a perfect hub for the trams to turn around at the Devonport end of the run. A shuttle bus could then operate from there to the ferry.

Other readers have also been in contact in general agreement that Auckland Transport needs to look at wider solutions other than its myopic obsession with getting more cars through Lake Rd.

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 7

been no possums sighted there in living memory. It seems the Maunga Authority is taking a precautionary approach across all the 14 mountains it now administers, making sure they are possum-free. But what a waste of time and money. What next – night surveillance to check for kiwi, just in case?

Pig hunting? How about moa? Council departments wonder why ratepayers get angry about wastage. Two residents have called saying they are considering putting possum cardboard cutouts on the mountain to get with the Maunga Authority programme.

We live in a big city, but really Devonport is a small town, with roughly 25,000 people on the peninsula south of Lake Rd. How amazing then that we have three Olympians – Jacko Gill, Eliza McCartney and Paul Snow-Hansen – going to Rio in August.

All will face tough competition for medals, Still no sign of any progress on the new but the very fact they have made the selection Devonport restaurant on the wharf. An criteria is a huge achievement in itself.

Auckland Transport (AT) announcement of the lease in April said the fit-out works would It’s ironic that a bequest of $10,000 from commence in May and the restaurant was due the late Kelvin Grant is being used to buy to open in July.

The lack of any progress on the works fuels a collection of New Zealand books for speculation that the new tenants have been Devonport Library. Grant, a well-regarded given a rent holiday by AT, who struggled to architect, designed the former Devonport rent the space. AT has refused to comment Library, which was built in 1956. It was in its era a much-praised local building. But it on the details of the lease. was demolished to make way for the larger Possums on Mt Victoria! Dame Edna library that opened in 2015.

Everage must be turning in her grave. The I quite liked the homeliness of the old library placement of possum traps on Mt Victoria and am pleased that Grant’s contribution will has amazed locals – especially as there have live on.

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How good were those Toyota slogans, which probably made perfect sense in native Japanese, but roughly translated to ‘For the best nature, the feeling of the world is free’ (or some nonsense like that). You still see a few around. Love those.

And bumper stickers. I think if you are American, they are compulsory. Most will indicate some potentially hazardous personality disorder (‘Keep tooting, I’m just loading my shotgun’) or dire financial predicament (‘I got lost on the road to riches’). Just don’t crash while trying to read one (‘If you can read this you’re too close’). Oh, I get it!

That leaves Wicked Campers, whipping boys of the establishment, and prime news fodder on a slow day (Let’s all be OUTRAGED! This HAS to STOP! My FACE is so RED!)…there are probably worse things to be upset about. I think they are actually trying to invent more outrageous slogans to keep in the news. Seems to be working.

Once, on a car I had neglected to clean for several months, someone wrote: ‘I wish my wife was this dirty’. I will reserve comment on that one!

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 8

June 3, 2016

Manaaki under watchful eye of TGS students and staff A student online petition to can Manaaki, the Takapuna Grammar School mentoring programme introduced mid-way through last year, gained more than 500 supporters within two days.

Year 12 students Robert Milne and Nick Young say that whereas many of their friends had been complaining about their Manaaki classes, they wanted to actually do something about students’ concerns.

“At first we wanted to get rid of it altogether.

But then we decided to help change it, because it’s a good concept, just badly executed. At the moment it’s just an awkward period where no one talks. Today was probably one of our best ones ever. We just threw paper balls into the bin and everyone started talking,” says Robert.

The worst class so far? “Probably when we were colouring in flags on a worksheet,” says Nick.

The programme is one of TGS’s own creations. Manaaki means ‘support’ or ‘taking care of’ and all teachers, staff and students take part in Manaaki classes.

The school says Manaaki is a work in progress and it is conducting its own evaluation of the programme this term. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) conducted an independent survey of students, staff and parents this month and is preparing a report with recommendations for improvements.

Earlier this year, the school made changes to Manaaki. Two “lead teachers”, Steve Smith and Toni Ferens, were assigned to give the programme a clearer direction.

Smith says Manaaki has both a pastoral and an academic focus. “To achieve personal excellence, we want to bring the two together.

Making links between younger and older students is basically good for personal and academic growth,” he says.

Smith welcomed Robert and Nick’s petition.

“Manaaki itself is all about helping the students fulfil their potential. So of course we want the

Organised a petition to air their concerns…

Robert Milne (left) and Nick Young (right) programme to fulfil its potential,” he says. Smith says he asked 18 petitioners to form a Manaaki focus group and he will meet regularly with them to hear their feedback.

Acting TGS Principal Brian Wynn says changes are likely to be made to the programme.

“The petition gave kids a say. Online is their medium now and if it gets them heard, that’s important. Some of the kids we talked to actually want more Manaaki. So, among other things, we are wondering whether once a fortnight is enough time for it to be successful,” he says.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 9

June 3, 2016

New recycling era opened in a container

New recycling hub launched… former Devonport Borough Councillor Mike Pritchard with current Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Dianne Hale (centre) The Devonport Community Recycling nuclear-free borough and the introduction of the Centre celebrated its official opening in a first recyling scheme in the country, partly to reduce the amount of rubbish going to the dump. shipping container last week.

A recycling revival is now being promoted Former Devonport Borough councillor Mike Pritchard launched the new centre and provided by the new Devonport Community Recycling a brief history of Ngataringa Bay and the lead- Centre. Angela Smith, who attended the launch, up to Devonport’s revolutionary recycling says she managed to buy furniture for an entire room for less than $50. “I got an oak dresser, initiatives in the 1970s.

“It all began the moment we closed off the a lovely single bed, an executive office chair, Narrow Neck in the 1830s, so that the water a dresser and a little cabinet here. The bed would no longer flow through. Then we turned needed a bit of work, so Andrew sent me to the salt flats into a motorbike course first, then the Claystore next door, where the gentlemen a race course and then filled that in a bit more were so helpful that I baked them chocolate brownies,” says Smith. for a golf course,” he says.

Devonport’s Waste Transfer Station The Navy had reclaimed land on the other side of Lake Rd; the Devonport dump was at 27 Lake Road was turned into a more located where Ngataringa Park is now; and the comprehensive recycling facility in March.

Devonport Borough Council passed a scheme It is part of an Auckland Council Resource in the early 70s that allowed a developer to fill Recovery Network to provide recycling hubs and significantly reduce waste going to landfill. in Ngataringa Bay for housing.

The new centre is run by Global Action But then came a changing of the guard at the council, which included Pritchard. This Plan Oceania, a non-profit organisation with led to the the housing scheme being thrown a focus on environmental sustainability and out, Devonport becoming New Zealand’s first waste education.

Traps are being installed on Mt Victoria so the Maunga Authority can monitor the presence of possums.

The Flagstaff (May 20) reported the possum hunt after signs were erected on the mountain alerting people to traps. However, a pest controller who has worked on the Devonport peninsula said there had been no sightings of possums since 2004. Other mountain users said there was no evidence of possums either.

But the Maunga Authority, which administers the mountain, has defended the trapping programme.

At a recent Devonport Environmental Network meeting, Malcolm Harrison, a biosecurity advisor to the authority, said the traps are being set on all 14 maunga across Auckland. “The programme is designed for us to see where we will put future resources

in terms of trapping,” he said.

A community group at the northern end of the Devonport peninsula had alerted Harrison to recent possum sightings and he wanted to know whether the animals had travelled south.

In winter months, possums are known to venture long distances in search of food.

Should possums be in the area, they would be drawn to Mt Vic, Harrison said. “The bush and adjacent parks offer an ideal habitat and potential food source. Male possums are drawn to high points where they call from to find a mate or to claim their territory.”

At the meeting, Harrison asked community volunteers to help with monitoring the traps.

But Roger Giles, Mt Victoria’s unofficial guardian, told him: “I have more important things to do than set traps for things that aren’t there.”

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 10

June 3, 2016

June 3, 2016

The Caretakers

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 11

From Darlington to Devonport – and from coffins to caretaking in paradise A change of lifestyle following a cancer scare brought Brian Dobson to New Zealand. Before that, Vauxhall School’s caretaker had learned to make coffins in the UK, worked on an oil rig off the coast of Norway and married his long-time partner in Las Vegas.

In his current job, Dobson has entered the world of Lego. “Last week, a mum came into my workshop and told me she overheard her children playing Lego and I was in it. There was a Lego figure that was me and her kids would walk me around and have me fix things,” he says.

Dobson lives for moments like these. “When I got this job, I had an offer for another one, doing shift work, with three times the wage. But the job satisfaction here is just amazing. What could be better than five-year-olds wishing you a good morning or saying hi to you in the shops,” he says.

Brian and Valerie Dobson first came to New Zealand in 2004, two years after Brian had been treated for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Their daughter Claire James and her young family were living in Bayswater. “We fell in love with the place,” he says.

Three years later the Dobsons sold their UK house and came to Devonport for good.

“We basically decided to be more selfish, work less and have more quality of life,” Brian says.

Dobson works 30 hours a week. “I cut the grass, do all the maintenance of the buildings, fix squeaky doors and leaky taps.”

He is a keen golfer at the Waitemata Golf Club, with a handicap of 11. “It’s where I have made a lot of friends,” he says. Valerie sometimes caddies for him. “It gets us around the countryside a bit,” he says.

Dobson left school at aged 15 and became a joiner making coffins for a funeral director in Darlington, in the north of England. “They were all tongue and groove, and still made by hand, until machine-made coffins came along,” he says.

Once, as a joke, the older workers locked him and other apprentices into a room with two dead bodies. “We were convinced they were alive,” he says.

Dobson worked as a forklift truck driver, before he got a job as a fire-watcher on a Shell oil rig in the North Sea in 1978.

He returned to land a year later and from

with Donna Gustafson

Taking care of Vauxhall School…

Brian Dobson

then on worked for engineering firms. “We were making swan necks for Nissan and Cummins engines. Then the cancer hit in late 2002,” he says.

Dobson had been ignoring a lump – by the time his cancerous spleen was removed it weighed 2.4 kg. “I had a little baby, basically,” he says.

Earlier in 2002, the Dobsons had tied the knot in Las Vegas. “We had been living together for 28 years, before we got married by a French minister who I think Valerie fell in love with because of his accent,” he laughs.

The Dobsons have two grandchildren, Finn (11) and Maisy (6), and enjoy watching them play soccer on weekends.

They have been New Zealand citizens for five years. But Brian’s connection to his UK friends remains strong. “I send them selfies of me cutting the grass, with the Sky Tower behind, saying ‘just another day at the office and in paradise.’”

• This is the first of a new Flagstaff series about caretakers on the Devonport peninsula.

Well the Indian summer appears to be over and we seem to have gone straight into winter.

The full range of winter thermals, sleepwear and hosiery are in – for adults and kids.

It was great to see a sea of pink at the Pink Ribbon Breakfast held last week at Dixie Browns. Fabulous food and service, and great live music. Most importantly, lots of much-needed funds were raised for breast cancer research.

The Devonport Lingerie team went in our pink hoody dressing gowns this year. When I dropped the kids off at school, there were a few smiles and odd looks – perhaps some thought I was heading back home for the day to avoid the rain and cold.

This year’s message was “make sure you get a mammogram”. A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer early, well before a lump can be seen or felt. It is so important you have your yearly screening.

Devonport Lingerie is one of the few specialist shops in Auckland that provides a full fitting service post-surgery for bras and prostheses.

We work with a number of suppliers to have the best product available and also nonwire bras for women who have undergone reconstruction. We are registered with the Ministry of Health to provide this service.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 12

Contributor to realestate.co.nz

June 3, 2016

harcourts.co.nz

June 3, 2016

Contributor to realestate.co.nz

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 13

harcourts.co.nz

Letters

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 14

June 3, 2016

Devonport Heritage determined to carry on in face of legal costs It was gratifying to see some of your readers’ responses to the threat of legal action to recover court costs from Devonport Heritage over the Masonic Environment Court case.

We certainly knew the risks involved when we pursued our attempts to save the historic hotel, but we believed then and now that it was a just cause. We do not resile from the consequences.

But we did not expect that after six years, and with the Masonic apartments almost completed, that Redback would bother to extract costs from an impoverished community group.

Tramway a good idea: more cars on Lake Rd just won’t work

We do not have the resources to organise fundraising events to pay Redback. Our small band is already too stretched on tasks such as defending Devonport in the Unitary Plan, making submissions to the Maunga Authority and organising Heritage Week events.

But we are determined to continue our efforts to protect Devonport’s historic character. Without our work over 21 years, Devonport would be far different from the beautiful, thriving and character-filled place that it is today.

Margot McRae and Trish Deans For Devonport Heritage Inc.

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with solutions to Lake Road traffic congestion.

There seem to be two schools of thought about it: 1. Make more roadways; e.g. add a new route or widen Lake Rd. 2. Remove cars and replace them with efficient transport modes like trams or bus services that are actually useful.

Number 1 seems like a good solution, but it is not. The more roadways there are, the more cars there will be to fill them.

Cars are just too inefficient in terms of people per square metre (and thus average velocity).

A tramway is a good idea, but buses can start operating without any new infrastructure. Bus services need to connect all the corners of Devonport with more destinations than just Takapuna.

E.g. Akoranga Busway Station, Wairau Park, Northcote, Albany, Ponsonby and Newmarket. This means multiple routes and they must be frequent; e.g. every five minutes.

Traffic will stop being a problem on Lake Rd as soon as there are better alternatives.

Let’s prioritise public transport over private vehicles.

Another interesting but futuristic option is the “Straddling Bus”. Google it.

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Letters

June 3, 2016

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 15

Don’t ruin Devonport’s spaces and views Bill Rayner’s letter (Flagstaff, May 6) is timely indeed. Windsor Reserve must be protected from the over-enthusiasm that has destroyed a large part of the beautiful foreshore in Takapuna. The peaceful haven of Gould Reserve, a jewel in Takapuna’s crown, with its picture-postcard views through the pohutukawas across the sandy beach to Rangitoto, has been completely obliterated by a monstrous construction akin to a small fairground on the whim of one couple.

Sure, the McDonald’s-style playground equipment on Windsor Reserve is not attrac-

tive, but it does not need large and multiple constructions to replace it. Children do not need to be over-catered for in an environment surrounded by beaches, hills and open spaces. Do not cut any trees, do not spoil the area. Adults need spaces too, spaces for quiet enjoyment and contemplation, places to watch children play and use their imaginations.

The local board has made a huge mistake in Takapuna – please don’t repeat it in Devonport.

J Leighton

Redback should get back every cent from busybodies I truly hope that Redback Develop gets its $21,000 from those interfering busybodies Devonport Heritage. Trish Deans’ “best practice for heritage” seems to be to inflict excessive costs onto a developer using his private property, for some misguided sense of heritage value.

Devonport Heritage is not the final arbiter of what is heritage and what is not. But somehow they believe that they are the one and only single source. It is a despicable situation that a community group can impose costs on a private-property owner then walk away by dissolving their group in order to avoid costs if a decision (justified in this case) goes against them.

Redback Develop should go after every

member of Devonport Heritage personally for the costs. If heritage campaigners seek to interfere against the fair use of private property, they should not be able to hide behind a group and should be personally liable if the matter goes to court. Then the community could see if it was a genuine heritage matter or a legal jihad against property developers by a misguided group who believe that they know better. I note that Devonport Heritage never suggested a better use of the Masonic site.

Can I also congratulate Liam Gerard for his Helen Clark portrait (Flagstaff, 6 May). This should go to our Parliament. He has captured the ugliness of her character beautifully.

Michael Wynd

More than mediocre needed for Devonport dining Apparently a lease has been signed for a hospitality venue on Devonport wharf.

This will be interesting as Auckland Transport is the landlord and there are zero utilities in place, so an expensive fit-out lies ahead.

Not saying this couldn’t be the Auckland equivalent to Doyles at Watsons Bay in Sydney, but the wharf has never attracted the mix of business to make the place sing.

The massive amount of money spent on the entry and Marine Square have certainly tidied the doorstep of Devonport and the ample P180 parking is so sensible you wonder when it will end.

To take Devonport to that next hospitality

level is going to take a big influence in dining as most of the options on offer are, at best, mediocre.

Pub and café food just doesn’t cut it when you experience the likes of Federal St and Ponsonby Rd. Yes they are central, but you queue for The Engine Room at Northcote Point and try to find a seat at Hallertau in Riverhead on any weekend.

This proves that great can be anywhere, although why hasn’t it come to Devo?

If only, is easy to say. But if more of the same is the reality, the money that circulates in our local economy will be limited.

Ian Ferguson

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ShoreSide TheaTre inc PreSenTS: Michelanne ForSTer’S daughTerS oF heaven Tuesday 31st May – Saturday 4th June, 7:30pm The rose centre, School rd, Belmont Michelanne Forster’s play, originally commissioned

by Christchurch’s Court Theatre, weaves imagined conversations with real court records and diary entries to create a compelling glimpse of one of New Zealand’s most notorious murders.

Tickets: $20 Adults, $18 Seniors/Students.

Book online at shoresidetheatre.com or phone 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).

Door sales 45 minutes before each performance.

devonPorT u3a MeeTing aliSon cleland: ‘YouTh and The law’ wednesday 8th June, 10:00am harmony hall, 4 wynyard Street, devonport Alison Cleland, Senior Lecturer in Law at Auckland University, is passionate about having children’s voices heard in all legal processes affecting them.

Her specialist areas of expertise cover Youth Justice, Child Protection, Lawyers for Children and Child Witnesses.

winTer Fun PreSchool PlaY MorningS *new venue!* Tuesdays 9:30am-11am, 14th June to 25th october rose centre, School road, Belmont Toddler time to play with big toys, be active and make new friends. Sessions are casual/free entry, caregiver supervision required. For more info, contact Moira or Maria ph: 445 9533 or email: maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz

You dirTY raT! Thursday 16th June, 7:30pm-9:00pm waitemata golf clubrooms, 15 derby St, devonport Help develop a pest control programme towards an Ecological Restoration Framework for the Devonport Peninsula.

Presentations and discussions with community members followed by a cuppa and ko-rero. devonport Peninsula community enewS To receive the Devonport Peninsula eNEWS, a monthly email listing of community events, and other community notices, please email us at maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz with special thanks to the devonport-Takapuna local Board for funding the devonport Peninsula Trust.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 16

June 3, 2016

Green cycle route (over)priced at $5m

The proposed Eastern cycleway An Eastern Green Route cycleway has been costed at $5 million by Auckland Transport, leaving cycle campaigners shocked at the price tag.

The route would pass alongside Waitemata Golf Course and then through Belmont Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar and the Wilson home – a safer alternative to Lake Rd. Bike Devonport organised a Bike to School Heroes Day to Belmont Intermediate

Bike to School Heroes and Takapuna Grammar schools to publicise the route.

Spokesman Chris Werry said the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board has $460,000 in its annual plan for “greenways” projects.

“We’ve presented our proposal for an Eastern Green Route to the board, and they were very positive. So we hope to get some of the funding from the greenways budget.

“We also presented the proposal to Auckland Transport (AT), and one of their engineers has ridden the route with us to survey it.

“He subsequently did a high-level design, but unfortunately it’s been costed at $5million.

“We have no idea how it can cost so much and have asked AT to provide more detail, but we have had no response to date,” Werry said.

New free service from Genesis Energy now on the North Shore I need a sparky to check the wiring in my house. I need a plumber because my hot water cylinder is leaking. I need a gas fitter to install an instant hot water system.

But I don’t know who to call or who to trust. I know there are websites that list trades, but there are so many listings and a recommendation of a reliable tradesperson would be really useful.

Does one of these scenarios sound familiar?

After talking to its customers, Genesis Energy realised it could use its skills to create a new free service called Trusted Trades that takes the stress out of finding a tradesperson.

Genesis Energy is connecting people with local electricians, plumbers and gas fitters, who have been checked out, inspected and

hand-picked for the service.

The Trusted Trades service invites tradespeople that have been checked over to join. Genesis Energy used its experience in managing and selecting quality partners throughout New Zealand to ensure the tradespeople selected are reliable, safe and focused on delivering high-quality services. To do that, a six-point quality check is carried out.

Trusted Trades matches your need with an appropriate tradesperson. Or if it is a bigger job, and you would prefer to get a couple of quotes first, then you can do that too. The tradesperson will then contact you to arrange a time to do the job and they will bill you directly.

Customer need and feedback is at the

heart of Trusted Trades. Just like a restaurant or travel website, you will have the option of giving Trusted Trades feedback on the job. If a trade partner consistently receives negative feedback, they will be removed from the programme.

Trusted Trades is starting first on the North Shore as a free service. It includes local electricians, plumbers and gas fitters who have reputations for being committed to giving the best service they can to their customers.

You can also let us know of a tradesperson you think might be a good fit for the Trusted Trades programme.

Check it out at this address and let us know how you got on: www.genesisenergy.co.nz/trustedtrades

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 17

June 3, 2016

Retirement Living: Take steps early to stay independent longer For many seniors, losing their independence is their greatest fear. Living in one’s own home for as long as possible has become synonymous with maintaining independence, but as an increasing number of seniors have discovered, moving out of the family home and taking charge of the next stage of their lives has enabled them to live independently for longer.

and her husband Tony, who are also Lady Allum residents.

“That was the best decision we have ever made.” What these residents also shared was the desire to be in the driver’s seat when it came to deciding on their future. “Much as I love my family, I am different to them and what would appeal to them would not necessarily appeal to me”, explains Ina. “It was vital that I was mentally fit enough to make that decision for myself.”

Getting older shouldn’t be a barrier to maintaining control over your life, but life is unpredictable and the longer we wait to make choices for our future, the greater the chance those decisions will be made by someone else on our behalf.

Ina Curtis is fiercely independent and continued to live in her own home for 20 years after her husband passed away before making the decision to move to Lady Allum Village.

“It was vital that I was mentally fit enough to make that decision for myself.”

– Ina Curtis

Having established care onsite is another plus, but look closely at what levels of care are available. When Margaret and Tony made their decision to move, they were both still able to live in their apartment.

Since then her husband’s health has deteriorated, but he’s just a short stroll away. “Tony has shifted to one of the care units here”, says Margaret. “He has been so well cared for by the nursing staff.”

“It was a very big decision, because I’d been independent for so long.”

– Ina Curtis

“It was a very big decision”, admits Ina, “because I’d been independent for so long. But my goodness, looking back now, I wonder why I was so worried.” That sense of relief is shared by Margaret Railton

like, some are mini-townships, bustling with group activities.

Ina wanted a place that wasn’t too big and where she could do her own thing. “If I want company I go down and get it. If I feel unsociable, as I often am, I go in and close the door and I’m at home on my own.

What more could you ask.”

Margaret and her husband knew right away that they’d made the right decision.

Choosing the sort of lifestyle you want to live is also important.

Retirement villages often present themselves as resort-

While her longer term health isn’t something Ina dwells on, it’s good to know that care is there when she needs it. “What scared me before I moved was that I was going to give up my independence”, says Ina, “but it’s not like that at all. It’s just better than I ever dared hope that it would be.”

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 18

Interview

June 3, 2016

Whistling while he works: Brendon Pickerill a true professional Brendon Pickerill is four games into his professional rugby refereeing career. This month he heads to Fiji and Japan to officiate at his first international matches. The former Takapuna Grammar and North Shore player spoke to Rob Drent.

Every young New Zealander playing rugby dreams of taking the field in a World Cup game.

Brendon Pickerill has similar aspirations.

And if the last couple of years are any guide he will make it – but as a referee rather than a player.

“The pinnacle for a referee is to go to a World Cup and that is definitely an aim of mine. I would absolutely love to referee in a World Cup. “At the moment all I want to do is keep refereeing well in every game I’m given, and give myself the best chance of being selected for whatever might be there in the future.”

This year Pickerill made a huge leap towards that goal, with his inclusion in the elite squad of referees who officiate in Super Rugby matches.

The toughest challenge for Pickerill has been keeping up with the pace of the game.

He reckons Super Rugby is 20 per cent faster than provincial rugby, both in the speed of the match and in the mental processing needed to make split-second decisions. The collisions are harder, the play more organised in professional sport, played by professional athletes.

“It all means I have to move around the field faster and make my decisions quicker.”

But Pickerell (26) has learned rapidly and has now been appointed to assistant referee international games following his four Super Rugby matches (Hurricanes vs Kings, Highlanders vs Force, Crusaders vs Reds and Hurricanes vs Reds).

He has already been to Australia as an assistant-referee.

And in June, he will travel to Fiji to be assistant referee when the national side plays Georgia, and then on to Japan again as assistant referee when the home side plays Scotland.

Pickerill has been a referee for nine years and progressed through the ranks of grade and schoolboy rugby to senior matches and then ITM Cup games.

When he was offered a professional rugby refereeing contract by SANZAR this year, he put his civil-engineering career on hold.

Pickerill grew up in Bayswater, with parents Don and Robyn and brother Tim, and attended

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Refereeing a no-brainer for a rugby lover... Super Rugby professional Brendon Pickerill on taking up the whistle Bayswater Primary, Belmont Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar Schools.

He played junior rugby for North Shore through the grades and then for Takapuna Grammar, making the First XV which won the North Harbour championship in 2007.

That team, which included current North Shore Premier players Leigh Thompson and captain Josh Blucher, drew the final with Massey 17-17 to share the title.

Pickerill then played two seasons for North Shore under-21s, mainly on the wing and at fullback. He also started refereeing.

While studying commerce and civil engineering at Auckland University, he had a part-time job at Yarnton’s menswear, where he met Karen Yarnton’s father Alan Thompson, who was a referee and life member of the North Harbour Rugby Referees Association.

“I’ve always been passionate about rugby as a sport. I got talking to him and he said I should try refereeing . I decided to give it a go and I enjoyed it.”

For three seasons Pickerill tried to combine officiating with turning out for Shore: refereeing in the morning and then playing in the afternoon. But as he became more sought after for under-21, reserve and premier matches, he had to choose between refereeing and playing.

It wasn’t an easy decision at the time, Pickering recalls. “I loved playing with my mates and the camaraderie and friendships rugby brings. It really came down to a decision

that I could take refereeing somewhere. So it was more a career-oriented decision.”

“All my mates I played with at juniors, school and now at North Shore, they are still doing it, playing and having a beer after the game. Now I’m off on my own doing something else. I did miss playing. I still miss playing – the competitive side of rugby and going out to compete with your mates is awesome.”

Pickerill has refereed North Shore premiers perhaps a dozen or so times. “When I started refereeing the North Shore players felt I went too hard on them, because I had played for the them in the past.

“But as a referee you do not pay attention to who is on the field – it’s just two teams.

“In one match I was refereeing when North Shore was playing Western which was in its Black strip. Josh Blucher said I was refereeing with a black jersey on.”

The biggest leap in Pickerill’s refereeing career was when he started ITM Cup matches.

Club rugby grounds were replaced by stadiums and the matches were televised, meaning “all my decisions could be scrutinised.”

Making the national referee squad for ITM Cup matches meant Pickerill got a small match payment. Added to the pressure was the SANZAAR referee scouts, who were also watching his performances.

Pickerill got the call-up to the Super Rugby referee squad after the ITM Cup last year. “I was not surprised exactly, as it was something

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 19

June 3, 2016 I had been working hards towards But I was extremely pleased and privileged to make the squad.”

Pickerill is relishing the chance to devote himself solely to refereeing, but the performance standards are no less taxing than in his engineering career. After his five years at Auckland University, he worked for three years as a civil engineer for Downer.

The projects he was deployed on included the Marine Square upgrade in Devonport, the Victoria Wharf replacement and the new deck at Devonport Wharf. His last job with the firm was in Taumaurauni, where he worked on railway bridges.

Professional referees have to complete periodic fitness tests during the year including a yoyo test. Commonly used by sports teams, this is a version of the beep test, which involves running shuttles until the point of exhaustion. Regular rugby-rules exams have to be completed as well to make sure referees are up to date with the latest law changes.

Refereeing full time, Pickerill has a lot more time to train, keep fit and recover. Being a professional he has access to a strength and conditioning coach, a physio and a referees coach. The New Zealand referees group can also tap into the knowledge of experienced referees such as Bryce Lawrence and Colin Hawke.

It was a milestone for Pickerill to get through his first Super Rugby match in charge “I blew the whistle and felt a sense of satisfaction and pride that I had finished my first Super Rugby game”.

He is looking forward to controlling a local derby between two New Zealand franchises.

“This is where some of the best rugby in the world is being played at the moment,” he says.

While a lot of attention in the media is paid to the preparation of the players, few realise the work referees put in. Prior to matches, referees analyse video footage of both teams to gauge playing styles and patterns that can influence the correct lines they need to run on the field.

For example, the Crusaders tend to spin the ball wide, others crunch it up the middle, and

the Highlanders tend to hoist a few up-andunders. In the lead-up to game day, Pickerill is also training to keep fit, developing a game plan and talking to his coach about what he aims to focus on during the game.

During his Super Rugby matches, Pickerill has run more than 7 km a game. In the professional environment, few things remain unmonitored. He wears a GPS-style tracking

“ People underestimate how mentally taxing it is.”

- Super Rugby referee Brendon Pickerill device, which logs distance travelled, records his heart rate, checks for any imbalances in the legs and calculates the amount of time spent accelerating and decelerating. All this information is used by Pickerill’s strength and conditioning coach to improve his performance and prevent injury.

While refereeing is physically taxing, Pickerill says it is the mental side of the game that is the most tiring.

“People underestimate how mentally taxing it is. There is so much going on in a game of rugby and the balance between allowing the game to flow but trying to pick up anything that matters is a very challenging task. I’m constantly asking ‘was that an infringement?’ and if it was do I need to rule on it.

“There have been games when I feel mentally tired coming off the field.”

Pickerill concedes refereeing is a pretty thankless task. “The public forgives players for making mistakes... but referees are not so easily excused.”

Post-match analysis is a key activity among the referees. Not only is his own match

scrutinised, Pickerill and the other referees also review all the Super Rugby matches played during the previous week. “This is mainly done to make sure decisions remain consistent and rules are being interpreted in the same way.”

After each match, referees also submit a report of their game. Performance assessments are made and referees are given ‘work-ons’.

At 26, Pickerill is in the infancy of his career.

Today’s professional referees start to retire in their early to mid-40s. Chris Pollock for example retired from international rugby after 200 first-class matches.

Pickerill, by comparison, has 35 firstclass games to his credit and will feel more comfortable after reaching 100 to 120 games.

“You can’t buy experience, and the ability to remain calm and composed comes through a lot of matches.”

There is gap in the Super Rugby season in June, when the Southern Hemisphere test matches take place, and the refereeing assignments for the rest of the competition have yet to be made. But Pickerill hopes to get some more starting referee or assistant referee jobs. Then he will return to officiate over the provincial rugby matches (in a competition now called the Mitre 10 Cup).

In the future though, his life could become very busy. Rugby is now a truly international sport, involving thousands of miles of international travel and play all year round.

Top Kiwi referee Glen Jackson, for example, is called on to referee Six Nations matches in the Southern Hemisphere off-season.

While he is clearly among the most promising referees in the country, Pickerill says he was helped immensely by the increase from 15 to 18 teams in the Super Rugby competition, meaning up to nine games per weekend.

To young people thinking about refereeing, Pickerill says : “I would encourage anyone who has a love of rugby to take it up.

“Willie Walker (a long-time North Shore, North Harbour and Super Rugby player) has taken up the whistle this year.”

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 20

June 3, 2016

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June 3, 2016

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 21

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 22

For local eyes only – Devonport writers collection A hyper-local Devonport writers collection is set to expand at Devonport Library.

The Devonport Library Associates project is being funded by a $10,000 bequest from Valerie and Kelvin Grant.

Devonport architect Kelvin Grant, who died in 2008, had designed the former library building that was demolished to make way for the new Athfield Architects’ project in 2015.

Jan Mason, Chair of Devonport Library Associates, says around 70 books are currently part of the collection, which is constantly growing and specifically created for the local community.

“The books will be available only for Devonport Library users, who can borrow from it and must return them. The books won’t be part of the wider Auckland Libraries collection,” she says.

The collection consists of new releases as well as out-of-print books and will be expanded indefinitely, Mason says.

The collection is on display upstairs in the local history section of the library.

“We are very excited about it and see it as a win-win-win for our local authors, our local library and our local readers,” she says.

June 3, 2016

TGS band Shed in Rockquest North Shore finals Takapuna Grammar band Shed has made the North Shore Smokefree Rockquest regional finals to be held on June 10.

Shed – Gabe Rea-Bucknall, Ben Jones, Volkan Ozyurteki, Bijoux Nortje, Kenny Liang and Fran Parrussini – was one of 12 bands that made it through to the finals to be held at Auckland Girls Grammar School.

More than 30 bands entered the heats of the rock-band competition.

Playing an original song entitled Clay & Bones composed by Ben and Bijoux, the band gave an energetic performance to progress to the next stage of the competition.

The judges’ comments were: “Good strong song structure, guitar parts were well thought out. Vocals were confident and strong.

Band played tightly, drums were strong and bass played well with drums. Good movement on stage and good to see the band communicating well together.”

Since the heats, the band has been busy writing new material for both the finals appearance and in preparation for their forthcoming gig at St Paul’s in Devonport.

Shed will perform alongside Slipstream and Distortion at the Rockjam #2 gig on Saturday 25 June at St Paul’s Church Hall. Powerful performance…

Doors open at 6.45pm, and tickets cost $5 Bijoux Nortje fronts local band Shed in the Rockquest heats at the door.

June 3, 2016

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 23

Smiles all round at Pink Ribbon breakfast

Happy to support a good cause‌ Maria Zivkovich (left), who won the prize for best pink outfit, and Patricia Hinchey at the Pink Ribbon Breakfast held at Dixie Browns last week. Organiser and breast cancer survivor Lynda Betts said the event raised more than $2,650 for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 24

Catching up with

June 3, 2016

A bright, shining light – Anton Montaut Anton Montaut prefers to shine the spotlight rather than appear in it.

The 33-year-old lighting designer recently finished working on the massive Chinese water-based production The Han Show and is about to head the lighting department at La Perle in Dubai. Both shows are created by Franco Dragone, the former artistic director of Cirque du Soleil. The Flagstaff caught up with Montaut while he was back in Devonport visiting his mother, Ngaire Saunders.

“My mum was a drama teacher and used to drag me along to her classes, but I always found what goes on behind the curtain much more interesting. Being on stage never worked for me,” he says.

While still at school, Montaut started volunteering at the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna and worked at an all-ages night club in the city.

These days, he works on large-scale theatrical circus spectaculars overseas, mostly in lighting. An artistic eye and a sound knowledge of electronics is needed for those. “But I can also do sound, video and special effects like fog, smoke and pyrotechnics,” he says.

The Han Show centres around a 10-million-litre pool. “There are jet skis, high diving from 26 metres up. It all looks crazy and wild on stage. My job is to light it well and make it safe and secure, every night,” he says.

The show’s home is a purpose-built theatre in Wuhan, a second-tier city west of Shanghai with a population of 12-million. “The government is making huge investments in shows and malls to bring it up to a first-tier city and we were part of that,” he says.

The show in Dubai will be similar in scale. “It has just been named La Perle, but the theatre for it is still being built,” Montaut says.

Montaut’s skills are home-grown. After leaving Takapuna Grammar 15 years ago, he completed a one-year course at MAINZ and started working on Aotea Centre productions, including The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia and The Lion King, as well as with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and New Zealand Opera.

At age 22, Montaut took off for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he landed a job within three days. A stint at London’s West End theatres followed, before he found work on cruise ships in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Montaut likes to visit Devonport but says he has outgrown New Zealand workwise. “I tried to settle down here before going to China. I worked on corporate events, earning good money with a lot of Powerpoint presentations, but it wasn’t for me. There simply isn’t the infrastructure for the work I love to do now,” he says.

Light, sound, video and special effects are all in a day’s work… Anton Montaut

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 28

June 3, 2016

Bayswater soccer clubrooms get upgrade North Shore United has completed a partial Council Facility Partnership funding. Two refurbishment of the clubrooms on Bayswa- new internal changing rooms, a new shower, ter Park with the help of $60,000 Auckland toilets and a referees’ room are ready for use.

Rat-baiting on Memorial Drive completed The number of rats feeding on branches of a Bait intake has been reduced to virtually zero Norfolk pine at the northern end of Memorial and no fresh signs of tree damage have been Drive has been significantly reduced following observed, Auckland Council parks officers rea council rat-baiting programme. ported to the Devonport -Takapuna Local Board.

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Work on Bartley Square car park layout to kick off, but the cost has risen Delays in an Auckland Transport project to improve Bartley Terrace have seen costs rise by $31,000 since it was first proposed.

The project has been on the council table since 2013 and its cost has now increased to an estimated $145,000.

The project was approved in 2013 but put on hold because of the extensive works taking place in Devonport, including the Marine Square and Devonport Library projects.

In 2015, the project was reinvestigated and new cost estimates were obtained due to “significant increases in market rates,” a report to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board states.

However, Auckland Transport Elected Member Relationship Manager Marilyn Nichols said a contractor was set to start work on the project immediately.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 29

June 3, 2016

Pressure to reveal final cost of Devonport Library continues A final cost wrap-up for Devonport Library is still being sought nearly a year and a half after it opened in January 2015.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Joe Bergin at the last local-board meeting asked Auckland Council officers again for a breadown of the library costs.

Bergin said he was still waiting for a final cost analysis.

Bergin first asked for the information in August 2015, when he passed a motion that “final project wrap-up and accountability reports for Devonport Library, Marine Square, Fort Takapuna and Greville Reserve projects be presented to the board as soon as practical.”

The Flagstaff has also been asking for the final costings for the library ever since it opened.

Backstage stars sought for theatre work Company Theatre needs backstage helpers in order to continue putting on quality plays, as it has done at the Rose Centre for the past 30 years.

Company Theatre committee member Kathy Gent said actors in amateur theatre in Auckland tend to travel to the show that suits them, and there are many drama groups in the city and on the North Shore.

But backstage crew tend to work for a local group and become familiar with their

resources and their needs. Company Theatre is on the lookout for local theatre enthusiasts who would like to help with set construction, lighting and sound, costumes, props, and stage management, to ensure it has a regular backstage crew.

“If you have experience, that’s fantastic.

If not, then please join our group anyway and lend a hand,” Gent said.

If you are interested, please contact Kathy Gent at kathygent@xtra.co.nz.

Devonport’s duck pond gets silt treatment A clean-up of the duck pond on the corner of Lake and Seaview Roads is removing approximately 750 cubic metres of sediment from the pond to the Redvale Landfill in Dairy Flat for disposal.

Andrew Chin, Auckland Council Stormwater Delivery and Development Manager, says the duck pond, officially named Allison Stormwater Pond, is having silt removed regularly.

“It collects stormwater run-off from properties and roads, as well as sediment, and the pond has a strong, unpleasant odour. At the request of the local community we de-silt the pond to combat this,” he says.

A truckload of the stinky silt ended up ankle deep across most of Lake Road near the Belmont shops last month, when a car pulled out in front of a truck carrying pond sediment. The driver had to brake hard and some of the silt spilled onto nearby cars and across the road.

Police diverted traffic for two hours until the Takapuna Fire Brigade hosed off the road surface.

THE NAVY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER RNZN CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF WOMEN AT SEA The women of the RNZN broke new ground in June1986 when they joined a seagoing ship as full members of the ship’s company. June marks the 30th anniversary of this milestone in Navy and New Zealand history, and Devonport will be the home of marking the contribution of Navy women over the last 30 years.

The cornerstone of celebrations will be an exhibition at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, presented in partnership with Westpac. The exhibition, which opens on 9 June, will offer visitors an unprecedented, fly on the wall perspective of the thoughts and experiences of the women who have been, and continue to be, a part of our Navy’s journey.

Each stage of the journey is documented through personal experiences depicted in photographs and stories. The exhibition will remain open for at least six weeks.

“During the month we will also be commemorating this milestone with events on and off the sea focusing not only on commemorating the ground our women have broken over the past 30 years, but also

on ensuring the Navy of today continues to evolve to be a workplace women can thrive in,” says Captain Corina Bruce.

On 18 June, veterans will join with women presently serving with the RNZN on HMNZS WELLINGTON to share stories and experiences and compare their memories with how Navy life is for currently serving women.

Later in the month, the RNZN Women’s Steering Group in partnership with Westpac will lead a two-day conference, where the men and women of the RNZN along with invited participants will discuss the next 30 years for women in the Navy.

“The Navy needs the talents of all New Zealanders and could not fulfil its duty to New Zealand without naval women,” says Captain Bruce.

What: RNZN & Westpac present 30 years of Women at Sea: Honouring the Journey Where: Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, 64 King Edward Parade, Devonport When: From 10 June 2016 Entry: Free

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 30

June 3, 2016

Development on Bayswater heritage church site Non-notified consent has been granted to relocate the former St Michael’s Church hall to the front of 159 Bayswater Ave in order to open up space for two relocated houses on the back of the site.

Extensive earth works are required and access to the site will be altered. In addition, the adjacent former church building will be repiled. Both the church and hall will remain open for public use.

Five AT investigations for a yellow line

Westwell steps reopening delayed yet again

Residents’ hopes for single-side parking on Kerr St have been dashed by Auckland Transport (AT) after multiple investigations of traffic issues.

Now only a short stretch of broken yellow lines will be installed outside 15a Kerr St, due to a pich point of less than 6.5 metres at that location. This is to to ensure emergency vehicles will not be obstructed by parked cars. The road marking will be in place by late July.

In its fifth investigation of the matter since September 2015, AT says that while parked cars on Kerr St can reduce traffic flow to a single lane, they also have the positive effect of encouraging drivers to slow down.

“Broken yellow lines the full length of the road are not considered to be appropriate given the local function of Kerr Street; the existing parking demand and parking restrictions; and the width of Kerr Street is greater than 6.5 metres,” an AT report says.

“If parking were banned from the length of one side of the road, there would be sufficient space for two lanes of traffic, which would likely result in an increase in traffic speed, and therefore an increased safety risk for pedestrians,” it says.

Additional work required on the main column supporting the steps from Westwell Reserve to the beach below is continuing to restrict public access to Westwell beach. The steps have been closed for nearly three years after a rockfall near the bottom of the steps in June 2013.

John McKellar, council’s senior manager on the project, says the integrity of the main column was investigated while the new steps were being built. Strengthening work costing $30,000 has been consented and was due to be completed by the end of last month.

Selwyn Foundation to run council’s social housing Auckland Council is working with the Selwyn Foundation – a national Christian charitable trust specialised in aged-care services – on a proposal for the non-profit ttrust to manage the council’s pensioner flats, including those on the Devonport peninsula.

Boot-camp trainers could hit end of free road A proliferation of boot camps on Devonport’s public reserves has prompted the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to look into regulating them. Operators of commercial events are required to obtain council permission, pay a fee and present health and safety plans in order to use a reserve. Council staff could ask the same from commercial boot-camp operators.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 31

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 33

Celebrating Trinity Sunday with rousing music A magical combination of music and song engulfed Holy Trinity Church on 22 May, when the the Devonport Chamber Orchestra (DCO) and the choir of Holy Trinity Church combined with a set to mark Trinity Sunday and the church’s patronal festival.

Conductor Beverley Brockelbank ensured choir and orchestra were very much a united team. Entries were coordinated cleanly and there was obvious attention to detail. Credit must be paid here to Sue Braatvedt, the choir’s musical director, and Brecon Carter for their roles in preparing choir and orchestra.

The first movement of Vivaldi’s Gloria and the chorale from Bach’s Cantata BWV 194 (which was composed for a Trinity Sunday service in Leipzig) opened the concert.

The orchestra has become known for its support of local musicians and, on this occasion, performed George Wang’s Explorations on a Handel Theme. The composer, still a student at Westlake Boys High School, is already a winner of several composition competitions. He played in the first violins at this concert – taking the role of leader for his composition, and playing one of the two solo violin lines. Opening with the Handel theme, before moving into new territory, there were interesting textures and the use of pizzicato and percussion, before returning to Handel. Congratulations, DCO for providing a platform for new works, and George Wang for his inspiration.

Pene Brawn-Douglas’s solo flute obbligato soared above the choir in Caccini’s setting of

Ave Maria. Beginning with gentle reverence, the piece grew in intensity with the entry of the orchestra. Brockelbank handled all three elements with assurance.

11 to 29 June Sue Braatvedt’s rich mezzo-soprano voice added a real lustre to the concert with her performance of The Holy City, accompanied by the orchestra. It was an authoritative performance and enthusiastically received.

The major work for the orchestra, capably led

by Joseph Chen, was Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite, written in 1884. The orchestra played confidently and in measured and stately style for the praeludium, sarabande and gavotte.

The rigaudon was full of jollity and fun, with excellent playing from the violins. This was not easy music, but was handled well.

The near-capacity audience was invited to join in the last verse of Handel’s See, George Chance & Anton Maurer: the Conquering Hero Comes from Judas Contemplations Of Place: Maccabaeus, written in 1746. This was indeed Eight Decades On a happy way to end what has become an annual Works by George Chance, who arrived collaboration of choir and orchestra. in NZ in 1909, and contemporary Rogan Falla works by Anton Maurer – as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography.

Shore needs 80-minute engine

North Shore premiers rugby coaches had one overriding goal this week: getting their players’ heads around playing for 80 minutes.

The side lost 23-22 to arch-rival Takapuna last weekend after it squandered a 22-9 halfw Tree Counselling time lead.

Shore coach Frano Botica said: “We did everything right in the first half and everything ie – Counsellor Emma Badeia: G Dip.Ed.(Dist.), B.A., RGON, MNZAC(Prov.) wrong in the second.”

Dust & Pinecones 278 1636 The loss means Shore slips down to fourth on @willowtreecounselling.co.nz the North Harbour championship table, in one of An intimate reminder of our individuality the closest competitions for years. Takapuna is as an island nation in the South Pacific – as part of the Auckland Festival of leading, with Northcote and Massey in the next Photography.

Supporting Exploring Strengthening two spots. But only four points separate the top four teams after nine games.

Botica said he was not overly concerned Counsellor about where Shore sat on the table. But he was worried about “why we are not performing for M.Couns., PG Dip.Ed.(Dist.), 80 minutes”.

B.A., RGON, MNZAC(Prov.)

“We’ll be having a chat with the players this Available to work with children, youth, week about it,” he told the Flagstaff last Monday. adults, couples and families on a wide He said the team appeared to have difficulties range of areas including: finishing off sides once it had built a lead.

• Improving relationships With five games left pre-finals, Shore has an •Counselling Coping with stress Willow ow illow illow Tree Tree Willow Tree Tree Counselling Counselling Counselling Tree Counselling easier run-in than some of the other top sides, Drew Hill: In Your Face • Managing wellbeing and mental health with matches against Mahurangi, Marist, West A photographic exhibition dealing with a • Grief and loss Pioneers and Silverdale – all teams it should fast food culture which has become an • Conflict resolution beat.

Davie ur eur urDavie Davie Davie – Counsellor Fleur –––Counsellor Counsellor Counsellor Davie – Counsellor epidemic in Aotearoa.

Fleur has extensive experience in the But Botica is taking nothing for granted. “It ouns., Couns., ,uns., PG Dip.Ed.(Dist.), PG PG PG Dip.Ed.(Dist.), Dip.Ed.(Dist.), M.Couns., Dip.Ed.(Dist.), B.A., PG B.A., RGON, Dip.Ed.(Dist.), B.A., RGON, RGON, RGON, MNZAC(Prov.)

MNZAC(Prov.)

MNZAC(Prov.)

MNZAC(Prov.)

B.A., RGON,Health MNZAC(Prov.) fields ofB.A., Human Development, and is a closer competition this year and the number Education, brings these perspectives www.depotartspace.co.nz ne: 027 ne: one: 027 278 027 027 278 1636 278 278 Phone: 1636 1636 1636 027 278and 1636 six or seven teams can easily knock over higher to her counselling practice.

Monday 12pm to 5pm teams.” mail: ail: il: eur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz fleur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz fleur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz fleur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz Email: fleur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz For an appointment contact Fleur on Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 5pm Shore should make the top four, but would Sunday and Public Holidays love to finish number one or two in pool play to 11am to 3pm have a bye through to the semi-finals. fleur@willowtreecounselling.co.nz • North Shore premiers play Mahurangi at 28 Clarence St, Devonport Supporting Supporting Supporting Supporting Exploring Supporting Exploring Exploring Exploring Strengthening Exploring Strengthening Strengthening Strengthening Strengthening Vauxhall Rd, this Saturday at 2.45 pm.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 34

June 3, 2016

Grammar SCHOOL NEWS

JUNE 3, 2016

Twice the competition Orienteering twins, Sofie Šafková and Sebastian Safka, competed in the New Zealand Orienteering National Championships recently.

After arriving in New Zealand from the Czech Republic in August last year, they started school at TGS and are now in Year 11.

The twins have been orienteering since the age of four, thanks to their grandmother and older brother who inspired them to try the sport.

“Our grandmother was a geography teacher and she wanted our older brother to get close to nature, so he chose orienteering,” says Sofie. “He really enjoyed orienteering and got our family to join, so we grew up on the sport from quite a young age.”

The pair recently represented North West Orienteering Club at the NZ Orienteering Champs in Nelson and ended up with

fantastic results. Sofie placed fifth in the sprint course as well as third in the middledistance course for her age group. Sebastian placed second in the sprint and long-distance courses and seventhth in the middle-distance course for his age group.

The siblings also competed in the North Island Secondary Schools Championships in Napier, representing our school, with the help of Year 13 student Max Griffiths. Sebastian placed fifth in sprint and third in middledistance; Max placed third in long distance; and Sofie placed first in long distance and second in the sprint course for her age group. The team also scored the second-best time in the three-person relay for the Senior Boys grade.

The dynamic duo train hard towards sporting events, often choosing to run in the Auckland Domain, and like to keep themselves fit with

orienteering around Nelson, and sailing.

Sir Peter Blake Trust CEO Shelly Campbell says: “We share the same backyard and the same environmental challenges. These young people with a passion for the environment will need to lead change in the environment and collaboration will be part of the solution.”

On day three, the group met Ministry for the Environment Chief Executive Vicky Robertson and Nelson City Councillor Mike Ward and visited the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary. Day four meant visiting the Abel Tasman National Park and taking part in environmental debates and workshops. Day five focused on the marine environment with a visit to the Cawthron Institute for a panel discussion on ocean acidification, a tour of the Port of Nelson and SPAT NZ mussel farms, environmental issues facing New Zealand and an afternoon of snorkelling. The last day and actions they could take in their own involved giving a presentation to the Minister communities. This year’s forum focus was for the Environment Hon. Dr Nick Smith as on pest eradication, biodiversity and ocean part of the official closing ceremony. health.

“Every single day was packed with exciting On day one, the delegates volunteered activities and opportunities for learning and as part of the Serve for NZ: Anzac Day networking. I met heaps of like-minded campaign by creating gardens and setting people and came away inspired to create up pest control traps, before taking part in even more environmental change. This was a Masterchef Challenge, with 2015 New definitely an incredible once-in-a-lifetime Zealand Master Chef Tim Read. Day two experience,” says Emilly. was spent kayaking at Cable Bay with orca,

BY ALICE WU AND EMILLY FAN

An experience of a lifetime A passion for the environment is what brought young leaders together from across the country for the annual Sir Peter Blake Youth EnviroLeaders’ Forum. Out of nearly 300 applicants, 57 youth representatives were flown to Nelson for this week-long forum from April 16 to 22. Emilly Fan, a year 12 student and school environmental group co-leader, was selected to represent the North Shore region.

Throughout the week delegates developed their leadership skills and learnt about

sports such as snowboarding, cross-country, adventure racing and athletics. They say that their training definitely shows in their results.

“Competing at nationals was great for us as we were able to experience new terrains while we were racing,” Sebastian says. “In orienteering, you don’t just race, you get to discover nature and have an adventure.”

BY NELLY FARMILOE

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 35

June 3, 2016

Takapuna SCHOOL NEWS

Grammar JUNE 3, 2016

For the sake of art New York, New York. After 21 hours in the air, 27 excited students emerged from JFK airport into the city that never sleeps. The 2016 TGS Art Tour to the USA set out to visit the major art galleries and museums in New York and Washington DC, which hold some of the greatest art treasures in the world.

Our time in New York was well spent, starting with a guided tour of the Manhattan area. The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Guggenheim and the Whitney gave students hours in art heaven, viewing some of the most famous work by artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and many, many more.

Students also were lucky enough to have a tour of some of the trendy private art galleries in the Chelsea District.

The art viewing was interspersed with visits to the Empire State Building and the 9/11 Memorial, walks through Central Park and along the High Line, seeing the show Matilda on Broadway, and enjoying Times Square and many other key New York experiences (especially the authentic New York pizza).

After a quick nap on the bus to Washington DC, we launched straight into a guided tour of the Capitol buildings. The White House and a night-time tour of the Monuments were the last stops on the journey for the day. The next jam-packed day included visits to the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum and National Gallery of Art. On the final leg of our journey, we hopped off the plane at LAX and checked out Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier before heading to Downtown Disney for our final group dinner. The next day everyone got to live out their childhood dreams in the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland. After an exhausting but exhilarating trip, we began our journey back to Auckland.

Although each day was flat out, we always returned to the comfort of our hostels and had plenty of time to socialise and, of

course, indulge ourselves eating some classic American food.

Elizabeth Ricketts, Year 13, said, “The trip was a once in a lifetime experience. I’ll have the memories with me forever and would do it all again in a heartbeat.” We are all incredible grateful to the Art department for

planning this trip and making sure it was a success. Special thanks to Mr and Mrs Sew Hoy, Mr Potter and Miss Stewart for coming along for the ride and making it the trip of a lifetime!

BY ANNEKA SCHOLTZ

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 36

June 3, 2016

Bullies given the Pink Shirt treatment

Devonport Primary School all dressed up for Pink Shirt Day OPEN OPEN HOME HOME

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Tibetan prayer flags hung at Devonport Primary School for this year’s New Zealand anti-bullying week.

Each student created their own colourful flag, filled with positive messages about being respectful towards one another.

On Friday 20 May, the whole school, including teachers, dressed in pink clothing to support Pink Shirt Day, a globally recognised stand against bullying.

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Devonport Devonport09 09445 4452010 2010

Thinking of managing Devonport Devonport 49A 49A Albert Albert RdRd Trying to beat the world record for the longest hug... your rental yourself?

Auction: Auction: 10:00am 10:00am 18 18 Sep Sep 2014 2014 at at Central, Central, Sunny Sunny and and OhOh SoSo Quiet!

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OPEN OPEN HOME HOME

Ben Pleciak (left) and Ollie Jeffrey

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- 2.45pm.

• Over 20exciting years’ propertyforfor www.barfoot.co.nz/527748 home. home.

AnAn exciting opportunity opportunity those those www.barfoot.co.nz/527748 management looking looking to to ‘step ‘step in in or experience or stay stay in’ in’ thethe Toni Toni Gregory Gregory Devonport Devonport market. market.

Warm Warm and and – we have seen and M 021 M 021 044 044 3663 3663 contemporary contemporary it offers it offers four four bedrooms, bedrooms, a a managed them all A/H A/H 0909 446 446 1023 1023 second second living living room room or or ‘work ‘work from from home’ home’ E t.gregory@barfoot.co.nz E t.gregory@barfoot.co.nz • A tax-deductible expense Devonport Devonport 0909 445 445 2010 2010 option. option.

A must A must seesee and and rare rare find find forfor those those • Find-a-tenant service lifestyle! looking looking to to livelive thethe Devonport Devonport lifestyle!

Trish Trish Fitzgerald Fitzgerald

Birkenhead Birkenhead55A 55A Tui Tui Glen Glen Road Road Lynette Ell

ForFor Sale: Sale: $999,000 $999,000 Hidden Hidden Gem Gem in Stunning in Stunning Location Location View: Sat/Sun Sat/Sun 12.00-12.45pm 12.00-12.45pm Devonport 09 445block 2012 This This spacious spacious four four bedroom bedroom block andand View: www.barfoot.co.nz/525323 www.barfoot.co.nz/525323 MOBILE 027 298 5049 cedar cedar home home is just is just perfect. perfect.

With With open open plan plan lounge lounge andand well-designed well-designed kitchen kitchen devonport.rental@barfoot.co.nz flowing flowing beautifully beautifully outout to to an an idyllic idyllic Carol Carol Wetzell Wetzell entertaining entertaining area. area.

A huge A huge lower lower ground ground M 027 M 027 245245 3392 3392 floor floor gives gives flexible flexible living living options, options, andand onon A/HA/H 09 09 488488 7559 7559 thethe upper upper level, level, a master a master bedroom, bedroom, E c.wetzell@barfoot.co.nz E c.wetzell@barfoot.co.nz Devonport Devonport 09 09 445445 2010 2010 en-suite en-suite andand extra extra lounge. lounge.

Adjacent Adjacent to to a a mature mature bush bush setting, setting, thethe peace peace andand quiet quiet IanIan Cunliffe Cunliffe

44

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Devonport Devonport 100 100 Victoria Victoria RdRd M 021 M 021 952952 452452

ForFor Sale: Sale: $2,499,000 $2,499,000 One One of of Devonport’s Devonport’s Finest Finest Homes Homes View:

By By Appointment Appointment This This grand grand historical historical home home is the is the perfect perfect View: www.barfoot.co.nz/511578 www.barfoot.co.nz/511578 E t.fitzgerald@barfoot.co.nz E t.fitzgerald@barfoot.co.nz combination combination of of charming charming villa villa andand Devonport Devonport 09 09 445 445 2010 2010 modern modern lifestyle. lifestyle.

SixSix bedrooms, bedrooms, six six bathrooms, bathrooms, thisthis home home hashas previously previously Carol Carol Wetzell Wetzell been been operated operated as as a Ba&BB. & The B. The gracious gracious M 027 M 027 245245 3392 3392 home home with with fabulous fabulous views views of of thethe Harbour Harbour A/HA/H 09 09 488488 7559 7559 andand Auckland Auckland City, City, hashas so so many many beautiful beautiful E c.wetzell@barfoot.co.nz E c.wetzell@barfoot.co.nz Devonport Devonport 09 09 445445 2010 2010 features, features, all all showcased showcased onon a 961m² a 961m² site. site.

Close Close to to toptop schools, schools, thethe village, village, ferry ferry IanIan Cunliffe Cunliffe

Colourful messages... Room 6 showing off their Tibetan prayer flags

Classifieds

June 3, 2016 ACCOMMODATION

SERVICES OFFERED

Cheltenham Beach Studio.

Stunning studio with new fit-out only metres from the beach. Available for short or long-term holiday accommodation. Self-contained with separate access and private garden. Wi-Fi included. Phone Mike 021 747 526.

10 YEARS’ experience. Home cleaning. Husband and wife. Honest, reliable, careful workers. All equipment supplied. References available.

Ph Joyce 022 073 1550.

Cheltenham: 2 dbl br. Private Beach access, daily or weekly rent. Fully furnished. ph 445 3008.

Classy 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, fully furnished Devonport house on Achilles Reserve near Narrow Neck. More information go to www. devonporttuihouse.weebly.com or www.sabbaticalhomes.com.

Ph: 445 7895.

Bookkeeping/Payroll Are you a small business located in the Devonport area? Do you need someone for a few hours each week to help you keep your accounts in order? I can do your bookkeeping/accounts/payroll and IRD returns so that everything is ready for your accountant at the end of the financial year! Contact Vicki on 021 845543.

Flatmate wanted: Professional person working close to city/Shore wanted for Devonport flat. Large room, nice view, good storage. Available now - $185pw ex. bills. Ring Jo 0276 276 276 anytime.

Builder available Small-job speHoliday Accommodation, Bayswa- cialist, repairs and maintenance. ter. Norwood studio. Private, well Skilled, reliable and local. Please presented. $95 per night. Ph 446 1203. phone Clive Melling. Hm 445 2485, Mob 027 29 222 84. flexmans@gmail.com Holiday Accommodation Cheltenham, absolute beachfront.

One double and two singles, shady setting, everything supplied. Ph 445 3008.

Relatives visiting? Spacious garden studio with en-suite and kitchenette; minutes to Narrow Neck beach. Reasonable rates.

Ph Pauline 445 6471.

Stunning Cheltenham Beach Cottage, metres from the beach. Available for short or long-term holiday accommodation. Beautifully refurbished, one bedroom, self-contained cottage with a private garden. Phone Rebekah 027 694 3933 or email devonportbeks@gmail.com REST HOMES Ascot House Retirement Home, quality care with dignity in a friendly, family atmosphere. Phone Shona, 445 2518.

Komatua Care Centre – We care for older people who have memory loss and behavioural difficulties.

Professional care is given in a nurturing environment. For all enquiries phone 445 1707.

SERVICES OFFERED

Devonport Window Repairs.

Sash and casement windows, wooden doors. Rotten sills and window components repaired or replaced. General carpentry.

For your local window speAt Your Request Home Cleaning. cialist.

Phone Hubert Strang Our local team is ready to deliver 5-Star services in your home for weekly 446 6174 or 021 274 4191. c l e a n i n g , s p r i n g , m o v i n g Diggadrain. Drain unblockers or open-home cleaning. Call and drainage experts. CCTV drain Yv o n n e f o r a f r e e q u o t e locating. Repairs. New drains.

415 0028.

0800 your drain.

D o g g ro o m i n g a v a i l a b l e .

Full groom, bath and blow dry, puppy introduction to grooming. Devonport-based.

Call Barbara 021 141 0331.

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 37 SERVICES OFFERED

Window Cleaning for houses and businesses. For a free quote call Ivan 473 6631.

TUITION Acoustic and classical guitar, music theory. Fun, comprehensive, tailored to you! Devonport-based.

Michelle Birch, BMus (Hons) michellebirch@zoho.com, www.michellebirch.com.TION Art Classes @ D’Port Community house: Wednesday night, life drawing; Friday morning, mastering art. Ph Lucy Bucknall – 446 0389.TUITION

Art Classes for Children 6- 16 yrs. Wednesdays 3.20 - 5.20 in artist’s home studio by the sea, Devonport. Term Two-Mixed Media, Painting, Drawing, screen-printing on oval stretched fabric board.

V. contemporary. V fun! Contact Erica Soman MFA Dip Tchg P G D i p A C , 0 2 1 1 2 7 9 6 7 1 Gardening. Do you need regu- erica_artist@xtra.co.nz lar help? No time for a tidy-up? Art Travel Sketching for beginLet me help. Experienced gar- ners. Learn to find your creative dener. Ph Carolyn on 446 6517 or side in a fun learning environment 027 292 8167 for a free on-site over 10 weeks. Kerr St Artspace consultation.C Tuesdays or Saturdays. Ph Tony Gardener Available Qualified and experienced landscape designer. Enjoys getting his hands dirty. Good plant knowledge. Hard-working, reliable and creative with plantings. Contact Paddy 022 502 2122 or 446 6188 paddyvogt@gmail.com

Reach your Devonport Peninsula customers cost-effectively.

Contact the Flagstaff for our rates and dates. devonportflagstaff@orcon.net.nz

A6 POSTCARD PROOF

.

Member of the Real Estate Institute of NZ Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

Caregiver. Do you need help at home either for yourself or your parents? Do you need someone to stay with you for security? With 12 years of caregiving   experience I can help you to remain Number: 179763 Handyman. Mature professional McNeight 021Job 925 031.   in your home in comfort. Shopping, $12,500 plus GST in Devonport, Bayswater area. Learn piano/keyboard.   Lesappointments, cooking, personal care Repairs, painting, those jobs you just We are a new Real Estate company offering a simple Includes Advertising! sons $19.00.

Private, costfrom effective alternative for selling your property.  andgeneral household management. don’t have time to do. Free quote. P r o f e s s i o n a l , A f f o r d a b l e ,   References & police check on request. References. Ph. Brian 021 150 • There are NO up-front fees 8898. Enjoyment   19 Years Selling Locally for all ages.

Compe• Extensive marketing coverage. Full signage, colour flyers - all included Ph Michelle 445-2525  Housekeeper. Home cleaning, titions, Exams.

• Flat feePractical, commissionTheory of $10,000 plus GST   Information Website Cars wanted dead or alive.

Top including windows, washing,   iron- NZWhich Modern of Music can saveSchool you thousands!! dollar paid $360 to $1700 for any ing, furniture polishing.   Experi- 0800-696-874.

• Personal service, you sell with the Agent you list with www.sellingsimply.co.nz  car, $800 to $15,000 for vans,  small enced.

References. $25 per hour.

• Joe Martin is an experienced agent, who has been selling

    Learning Support Specialist on the North Shore since 1995 including 10 years of

utes,    4WD and trucks. Free retrieval Ph 442 2273, 027 492 6220.

running his own successful company - Devonport Realty Ltd NZ qualified primary teacher and   0800 3333 98.

Housewashing. Get your house registered teacher of dyslexia.

Cleaning Maid Easy Use own clean for the holidays by contacting Offering tailored tuition during 0274 326 731 : 0274 326 731 cleaning products and gear. Bubble Boys house washing. We or after school. Ph 027 Mobile 391 3716 joe@sellingsimply.co.nz joe@sellingsimply.co.nz  Reliable/trustworthy/mature  lady. clean windows, doors, weather- www.squigglesdyslexia.co.nz Selling Simply www.sellingsimply.co.nz   References available Please contact boards, garages and outbuildings.  Mathematics and Statistics.

Sharon - 021 405 596.

Support local, hard-working and Individual lessons with a friendly,   boys Curtains & Roman Blinds reliable high-school Devonport   experienced tutor. NCEA 1 & 2, Free measure, quote and design by contacting us at seanslreeves@   school years 3-12. Weekdays and  advice.

20 years’ experience. Phone gmail.com or call 021 0621 750 to Saturdays, $40/hour. Phone GillianA simple cost   Sara 027 625 5844. get a free quote.

We are very reaeffective alternative   Steele BCom 488 7059 gillrsteele@ paint by hotmail.com  Devonport upholstery. Recover sonably priced. We protect  to selling your  can also using soft brushes only.

We Selling Tuition, Simply specialist.

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Physiotherapist Opportunity Are you a registered musculoskeletal physiotherapist and want to work locally?

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Specialists in preschoolers. Phone Mob 021 976 607.

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New barber shop located at 131 Lake Road, Belmont Shops. All Cuts $15! 021 042 4630.

TO RENT $625 P/W GRAND NORTH FACING NARROW NECK 2 BEDROOM FURNISHED APARTMENT PHONE BRAD JOHNSTONE 021 779 904

Tagbuster, graffiti looked after Devonport to Hauraki Corner.

Call the Tagbuster 0800antitag, 0800 2684 824.

PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

Real Estate

buying, selling, renting www.devonport.harcourts.co.nz licensed agent, REaa

CoopER & Co REal EstatE limitEd mREiNZ dEvoNpoRt

An opportunity has arisen to join an expanding Devonport practice located in a gym.

We see a wide range of patients and have a rapidly growing database with strong referrals.

We are located in the Devonport Health and Gym Club on Wairoa Road, next to the tennis courts.

EMAIL YOUR DETAILS TO:

Sarah Meale at Multi Sport Physiotherapy Ltd multisportphysio@gmail.com

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 38

June 3, 2016

Double victory for TGS and BIS cyclists Takapuna Grammar and Belmont Intermediate road cyclists took out a rare double victory at this year’s North Harbour Cycling Club Junior Tour.

The two Devonport peninsula schools won trophies for best intermediate and secondary schools, awarded to those schools with the fastest riders as well the most riders at the tour.

It is the second year Belmont Intermediate School (BIS) has won the title, but the first time for Takapuna Grammar School (TGS).

Ian Lochhead, President of North Harbour Cycling Club, President of BIS Cycling and Coach Coordinator at TGS Cycling, said: “Belmont Intermediate School did so well not only because they have high-achieving riders but because they work as a team and have a great camaraderie amongst all the kids.

“That the older TGS riders look after them and treat them a bit like younger siblings is helping as well,” he said.

Top TGS riders were: Oscar Elworthy who won the first of two U19 male road races

and finished third overall; Elle Wintle, who came third in an U19 female road race; Adam McPheat who finished second overall in the U17 Boys after winning the criterium; Jack McKinney who came second in the U17 Boys criterium; Callum Erskine who came third in the U17 road race; Renee Young who came second overall in the U17 Girls division after a road race, and claiming bronze in both the time trial and criterium; and up-and-coming Sam Dyne who placed third overall in the U15 Boys, after winning bronze in all of his races.

The BIS boys did well overall, with many riders placing in the top 10 across all events.

Alex Wright came third overall in the U13 Boys, after winning the road race and coming third in the criterium, while James OchtmanCorfe won bronze in both the road race and the time trial.

More than 360 junior cyclists from 32 schools from as far away as Kaitaia and Palmerston North competed in the junior Setting the scene… Oscar Elworthy tour, which is now in its sixth year. winner of the stage-one road race

PREMIUM.CO.NZ | FINE HOMES | DEVONPORT 445 3414

DEVONPORT | 61 H AN L O N C R E SC E N T Love At First Sight

AUCTION

Be prepared to fall in love with this stunningly renovated 1950’s bungalow overlooking the golf course and near Narrow Neck Beach. Four bedrooms and two living rooms (including office or rumpus) on two levels, with indoor/outdoor flow to private landscaped gardens and lawns, front and rear, perfect for entertaining or kids at play. Whether working from home, raising a family or thinking of Air B&B... everything is catered for here. There’s even potential to add value in the large basement/storage area with internal access. This is special and must be seen to appreciate all that is on offer. Long settlement available.

ROWAN RENOUF AREINZ 021 736 683 RowanRenouf@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT: 445 3414

VIEW | BY APPOINTMENT OR OPEN HOMES AUCTION | ON SITE SUNDAY 26 JUNE 2016 AT 2 PM PREMIUM.CO.NZ/60491

PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

GRANT SPEEDY 0274 511 800 GrantSpeedy@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT: 445 3414 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

UNLESS SOLD PRIOR

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 39

June 3, 2016

PREMIUM.CO.NZ | FINE HOMES

Share in our success just as Duncan and Cath have…

“Kim & Kurt’s enthusiasm for our home was evident from the first time they viewed it.

They were extremely proactive and kept on top of the process all through the campaign.

Their hard work clearly made all the difference as we sold our lovely home within 3 weeks of our first meeting with Kim & Kurt. I couldn’t have asked for a better result and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to anyone.”

For a dedicated property partner, call us today.

KURT PIPER 021 137 6450 KurtPiper@premium.co.nz KIM PAUSINA 021 201 7488 KimPausina@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT 09 445 3414 DEVONPORT | 23A ACHILLES CRESCENT Contemporary Living | Exceptional V iews • A fabulous family home or ideal lock up and leave in the heart of Narrow Neck • Recently transformed four bedroom home with multiple living options • This property is a must view to be truly appreciated.

VIEW | SUN 2 - 3 PM OR BY APPOINTMENT PRICE | BY NEGOTIATION PREMIUM.CO.NZ/60490 KURT PIPER 021 137 6450 KIM PAUSINA 021 201 7488 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD MREINZ LICENSED REAA 2008

PHOTO TAKEN FROM END OF STREET

DEVONPORT | 3/ 1 5 C H U R C H ST RE E T Golden Opportunity | Ultimate Location

S E T D AT E O F S A L E

3/15 Church Street presents an outstanding opportunity to add value in one of Auckland´s most desirable waterside locations. This charming, original condition 1970´s brick and tile unit/apartment offers three bedrooms, partial sea views, private courtyard and internal access double garage. Located down secluded Tudor Street and with Devonport´s waterfront promenade on your doorstep and minutes from idyllic Devonport Village and ferry to the heart of Auckland, this property offers it all. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Interest will be high, urgent viewing highly recommended!

KURT PIPER 021 137 6450

VIEW | SUN 12.30 - 1.30 PM OR BY APPOINTMENT SET DATE OF SALE | 22 JUNE 2016 AT 4 PM UNLESS SOLD PRIOR PREMIUM.CO.NZ/60487

KurtPiper@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT: 445 3414 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

KIM PAUSINA 021 201 7488 KimPausina@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT: 445 3414 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 40

June 3, 2016

PREMIUM.CO.NZ | FINE HOMES

BAY S WAT E R | 1 /17 1 B AY SWATE R AVEN U E A Pl a c e To C a ll Ho me Perfectly proportioned and ever so sweet, this three-bedroom bungalow will set your heart racing. Attractive to all buyer dynamics; entry-level, empty-nester, investors, professionals, small families and everyone in between. A sparkly new kitchen and upgraded bathroom mean no more renovating in your weekend, just quality time spent with the ones you love. Entertain them in the sunny front courtyard, or stay cosy and warm in the lounge with the gas fire ablaze. Low maintenance, one level, with a carport and shed at the rear. Just three doors down from Bayswater Primary, with Belmont Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar schools only a short walk away.

Bus route, shops, sports grounds and CBD ferry at the end of the peninsula - it’s all right here and it all makes for a truly great place to call home.

A U C T IO N KATHRYN ROBERTSON 021 490 480 KathrynRobertson@premium.co.nz DEVONPORT: 445 3414 PREMIUM REAL ESTATE LTD LICENSED REAA 2008

VIEW | SUN & WED 2.30 - 3 PM OR BY APPOINTMENT EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST | ON SITE SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2016 AT 3 PM UNLESS SOLD PRIOR PREMIUM.CO.NZ/60492

EVERY DEVONP ORT P ROP ERT Y M . C O . N Z IUM P ROP S E L L I N G ERT T H E F I NY EST HOMES I SP R EAM I UPREM