The Fringe, July 2022

ISSUE 216, JULY 2022

community news, issues, arts, people, events

Meet the Future West team For Waitakere Ranges Local Board Future West is a progressive coalition of Independents, Labour and Green Party.

Members of the team come from all parts of the Local Board’s geographic area, from the towns and villages to the rural areas and Coast. We combine experience with new fresh faces. We offer experience in community development, environment, emergency management, commerce, urban design, education, arts and heritage. We all volunteer in our communities and stand with our communities in bringing the best for the West.

Vote for us and we will work hard for you ●

Provide a strong voice for Waitakere and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area

●

Support value for rates and prudent Council spending

●

Support community action by local residents and environmental groups

●

Complete Climate Action Plan, develop Greenways, safe off-road walking and cycling

●

Foster arts, support Te Uru, launch Maurice Shadbolt Writers in Residence

●

Oppose shifting Auckland’s port to Manukau Harbour

●

Protect the wilderness of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa/Waitakere Ranges

●

Fight for better tree protection

●

Showcase our heritage, repair Titirangi War Memorial Hall

●

Oppose selling off council assets such as parks

www.futurewest.org To find out more and tell us what you think please go to Facebook www.facebook.com/futurewestnz Twitter https://twitter.com/futurewest Authorised by Greg Presland, 512 South Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Auckland Ph: 021 998 411

2

Mark The Fringe JULY 2022Roberts

Sandra Coney

Liz Manley

Mark Allen Fraser Presland AdvertiseJessamine with The Fringe – It’s Greg who we are.

Contents

Letter: Fighting for where we call home ............. 4 Make the connections during Matariki at EcoMatters .............................................................. 5 It’s all about the community ................................ 6 At the libraries......................................................... 7 Keeping it Local ..................................................... 8 Holiday entertainment with Peter Pan ................ 9 Art and about with Naomi McCleary ....... 10 – 11 Out and About in the West ........................ 12 – 13 Education – feature ........................................ 14-15 “It’s really a meditation” ..................................... 16 Local Government Elections – feature ............. 17 Sustainable solutions ............................................ 18

20

Naturally West: The great white shark ............... 19 Walk West with ‘The Rambler’ ............................ 20 Rebecca’s Reviews; Weather by the moon......................................... 21 Live @ the lounge ............................................... 22 Advertisers’ Directory........................................... 23

www.fringemedia.co.nz Delivered free to letter boxes, post boxes, libraries and selected outlets throughout Tītīrangi, Glen Eden, Green Bay, New Lynn, Konini, Wood Bay, French Bay, Waima, Woodlands Park, Laingholm, Parau, Cornwallis, Huia, Oratia, and beyond.

Published by: Fringe Media Ltd, PO Box 60-469, Titirangi, Auckland 0642

Editor: Bevis England 817 8024, 027 494 0700 bevis@fringemedia.co.nz

10

Advertising:

info@fringemedia.co.nz

On our cover: The Upstairs Gallery has a special Children’s

Exhibition coming up this month. Visit https://www.upstairs.org. nz/#/inspire-the-community/ to find out more.

Every issue of The Fringe (and the Titirangi Tatler before it) since April 2011 is on-line at www.fringemedia.co.nz.

Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FringeWest) to hear when each issue is available and get other updates.

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

Writers and contributors: Moira Kennedy, David Thiele, Naomi McCleary, Susannah Bridges, Fiona Drummond, Jade Reidy, Zoe Hawkins, , Jill Poulston, John Goudge.

Advertising deadline for August 2022: July 15.

The Fringe JULY 2022

3

Letter

Fighting for where we call home Dear Editor, In the last few issues of The Fringe local politicians have been talking about how much attention Glen Eden gets when it comes to the purse strings of Council.

I lived up from Glen Eden for over 26 years, and have watched a slow change, mainly in the number of road cones.

By contrast, walking through the CBD, Newmarket or nearby New Lynn, had you been around a decade earlier, you would have witnessed a dramatic change in appearance, amenities and outlook as parts of our cities modernised.

I do not think it takes anything away from the unique character of Glen Eden, its people, or its heritage, to say we should dream a little bigger and fight a little harder for a rejuvenated town centre.

Glen Eden is perfectly positioned between two major centres, Henderson and New Lynn, and services large parts of our Waitākere Ranges area especially now with large areas designated Medium Density Housing.

There are endless reports, plans and investigations going back to 2010 of what a vibrant and enlivened town centre could and should look like. One that stands to gain from money already spent on our railway, cycle paths and roads.

It can be frustrating, even depressing, looking at the lack of

progress when other parts of our city seem to find the money and the will to remake themselves for the 21st Century we’re living in.

In a recent radio interview I was asked whether I thought West Auckland was a dumping ground for the kinds of people the rest of the city didn’t want. I rejected that opinion; we welcome those fellow Kiwis and Aucklanders in the Westie tribe with open arms.

What we shouldn’t tolerate is a Town Hall that thinks Auckland City ends at Ponsonby. A Town Hall that has a huge financial blind spot to the areas that will become home to our growing population.

The story of underinvestment is what has been. That’s the past. But the future for Waitākere, and the Glen Eden Town Centre, doesn’t have to reflect that and I think every Westie, and every Glen Eden stalwart, should demand better from every political wannabe standing at this year’s local election, whether for Mayor, for Council or for the local board. We need to dream bigger and fight harder for those special little places we’ve called home for so many years.

Regards,

Rob Gore

FOR THE BEST IN THE WEST ADJUSTABLE BED PACKAGES!

Queen Refresh Adjustable Base with King Koil Tekapo Plush Pocket Spring Mattress! Value $4594

NORTH WEST

WESTGATE LIFESTYLE CENTER 57 MAKI STREET 09 837 7385

PACKAGE PRICE ONLY

$2895!

Super King Split Refresh PACKAGE PRICE Adjustable Bed with King Koil ONLY

$4990!

Tekapo Plush Mattresses!

Value $7498

HENDERSON

CORNER OF HENDERSON VALLEY RD 424 GREAT NORTH ROAD 09 837 0917

waitematabackcarebeds.co.nz

4

The Fringe JULY 2022

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Places to go – Things to do

Make the connections during Matariki at EcoMatters Visitors to the first Matariki at EcoMatters event, happening Sunday July 3, 10am-2pm, can connect with each other and te taiao (the environment), through a range of free and whānau-friendly activities designed to inspire kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and learn more about mātauranga māori (traditional learning).

In te ao Māori, Matariki is traditionally a time to celebrate, prepare for the year ahead, share ideas and learn. “We are looking forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces to this event, a new addition to our event calendar. It will be an opportunity to learn more about this uniquely Aotearoa celebration, as well as discover ways to be a kaitiaki for our beautiful local environment,” says Carla Gee, EcoMatters Environment Trust CEO. Bring the whānau to enjoy free fun activities, connect over kai and coffee or turn your hand to potting up a baby native plant to take home.

For the tamariki, there’ll be Matariki-themed face painting, the chance to fly a Matariki kite, learn about plant

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

identification and foraging, and make upcycled fabric Matariki stars.

In keeping with the idea of planting and new life, there’s the chance to take part in a no-dig garden experiment that will eventually become forageable spots for passers-by.

Guest tutor Drina Paratene (Ngāti Whātua ki te Kaipara, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Awa) will host two sessions.

The first will explain the signs and symbols leading up to the rise of Matariki, followed by a raranga weaving workshop (booking required), teaching both technique and the appropriate tikanga (process) when harvesting harakeke (flax).

Visitors can explore organic gardens and community nursery, try a bike or get cycling advice at the Bike Hub or browse sustainable living items at EcoMatters’ store.

Matariki at EcoMatters is part of the organisation’s wider Matariki programme, which also includes a range of community planting events and a Rongoā Māori Wānanga, an introduction to traditional Maori healing (booking required).

Visit ecomatters.org.nz/matariki/ to find out more.

The Fringe JULY 2022

5

Our place

It’s all about the community ...

On a rainy Thursday, JOHN GOUDGE dropped in on some local business people to see what they thought about working in Tītīrangi.

Lisa Breen, Head of Property Management, Barfoot & Thompson, Tītīrangi.

What’s the best thing about doing business in Tītīrangi?

“Probably the community.

There’s a great vibe that it is around the village. It’s just a delight – people are friendly.

It’s different to the other suburbs around Auckland.

There’s a real community feel.”

What is the most important improvement you’d like to see in Tītīrangi?

“Better weather?! I can’t say fewer chickens and fewer cats, can I? No, I can’t say that! I don’t know, I really like it here, I like the diversity, the location. I suppose I don’t want it to grow too big, you know, with the development on the corner, I don’t want it to lose that Village feel, because it is lovely. “ Where would go for a holiday this year and why?

“Somewhere warm – the islands are always amazing. I’m a Fiji girl – I like Fiji. It’s warm, great food, good beaches, and lots of local activities.”

Seong Chan, Pharmacist, Tītīrangi Pharmacy.

What’s the best thing about doing business in Tītīrangi?

“The best thing about Tītīrangi is the community.

I’ve worked many places, and there is nothing like it anywhere else in Auckland.

I’ve worked in Hastings, ai16475716681743_Mann-Kitchens_Advert.pdf 1 18/03/22 3:47 Waiheke, Masterton, I’ve

been around. It’s totally different here. People are much more supportive of each other. That’s the community spirit.”

What is the most important improvement you’d like to see in Tītīrangi?

“I think it’s pretty good – I mean, more parking would be great, and when the toilet has finally been started ... when that’s finished that will be great as well.”

Where would go for a holiday this year and why?

“Israel – to visit the Holy Land. Yeah, I’ve never been, see the birthplace of Jesus.”

Thomas Yadegary, owner Tītīrangi Village Kebab.

What’s the best thing about doing business in Tītīrangi?

“The community – it’s all about community. We are part of the community, and we do everything for each other.”

What is the most important improvement you’d like to see in Tītīrangi?

“Well, we need a public toilet.

We don’t have a public toilet in Tītīrangi. We are such a beautiful place here – and you won’t believe how many people come into my business and want to use the toilet.

“And probably some more security for our community – maybe more cameras around.”

Where would go for a holiday this year and why?

“Somewhere on a small island, nice and warm, probably Rarotonga, or Fiji or Samoa or somewhere like that.”

Got something to say?

Let The Fringe know: Email info@fringemedia.co.nz PM

Linda Cooper Linda Cooper

C

Councillor for Waitākere Councillor for Waitākere

M

Please feel free to

Y

Please feel free to contact me with contact me with issuesissues or ideas or ideas

CM

MY

021 629 533

CY

021 629 533 linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz linda.cooper@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

CMY

K

6

The Fringe JULY 2022

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Places to go – Things to do

At the libraries Tītīrangi Library is celebrating Matariki with some good kai by producing a community cookbook and wants your recipes. They’d also like the story behind your special recipe. Maybe it’s something Grandma used to make, or maybe it’s a dish your kids always want to eat at Christmas.

Email Titirangi.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information or check out the library’s Facebook page.

The library has a new Kids’ Book Club meeting Tuesday July 5, 3.30-4.30pm where you can discuss books, find new books, and play book games. Age 7+.

There will also be whānau friendly events for the school holidays including: Matariki Folded Candles, Tuesday July 12, 10-11am. Age 5+.

Matariki Juggling Balls, Wednesday July 13, 10-11am. Age 5+.

Whānau Disco, Thursday July 14, 6-7pm with family friendly music, dancing, and games.

Lego Challenge, Tuesday July 19, 10-11am. Age 5+.

Ururangi Paper Planes, Wednesday July 20, 10-11am. Age 5+.

Wriggle & Rhyme Holiday Session, Friday July 22, 9.3010.00am. Ideal for 3-24 months.

Drain maintenance There’s one simple reason why Auckland Council isn’t doing maintenance. Council is not allowed to use borrowed money to fund operational costs. So Council tries to categorise as much infrastructure spending as possible as new works. Council calls this ‘Sweating the Assets’; in layman’s terms “do nothing until it falls apart, then buy a new one”.

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

There will also be a school holiday programme this month including: Movie and Craft, Monday July 11, 2–4pm.

Science Workshop with Robert, Tuesday July 12 and 19, 10:30am–12pm. Age 7+. Booking required in the library or on the library’s Facebook messenger page.

Poi Making and Dance, Wednesday July 13, 2-4pm. Age 5+.

Titītōrea Short Sticks Session, Friday July 15, 10am–12pm.

Age 5+. Book your place through https://bit.ly/3xCg9CP. Matariki Rock Painting with Karen Kennedy, Monday July 18, 10am-12pm.

Badge Making Workshop – Wednesday 20 July, 10:00am – 12:00pm. Age 5+ Harakeke Stars and Flowers Flax Weaving, Thursday July 21, 10am–12pm. Age 5+. Book through https://bit.ly/3NzXlJY All the library’s regular programmes will continue including Wriggle and Rhyme, Rhymetime, Lego Club, Book chat and Job Café. Visit https://www.facebook.com/GlenEdenLibrary for more information. scope of staff/contractors’ focus to the location identified by the complainant when often the source of the problem is somewhere else and only visible to contractors if they’re present when the problem is occurring.

For example, Fulton Hogan recently cleared roadside drains on Huia Road, Tītīrangi. Within weeks these drains are getting blocked again with gravel because the source of the problem on this part of Huia Road is from Exhibition Drive, which Council and AT see as low priority because it only has a few residents.

The actual cause of most storm water complaints is some distance from the problem. Ratepayers often point this out to Council/AT only to find them uninterested. The affected residents of one ongoing flooding problem have kept flooding at bay for decades by maintaining drains (opposite their property) themselves but they’re now in their eighties.

All they’re asking is that Council/AT spend their rates on basic infrastructure maintenance so they can sleep without worrying about it when it next rains.

The problems with our drains is rooted in Council’s budgets and procurement practises. The increased centralisation Three Waters will bring, along with enlarged bureaucracy loaded with even more borrowing is not going to change this.

– Ken Turner, WestWards

Advertisement

Council says their maintenance operations are ‘outcomes-based’. This sounds promising but it is just a disguise for no maintenance at all. What Council means by outcomes-based is that they only carry out work in response to complaints. But that’s not maintenance, it’s ‘breakdown repairs’.

Breakdowns come with no planning. And no planning, along with staff and contractor turnover, erodes understanding of how things work. This is particularly true when components or locations are interconnected.

Relying on complaints to determine maintenance requirements further diminishes staff and contractor understanding of the problems, particularly ongoing and historic ones, because complaints usually relate to a single issue and come from one or two affected parties. This limits the

Glen Eden Library will host Plant Based Living, Saturday July 16, 11–12:30pm, with Amanda Sorrenson from the Vegan Society. All welcome.

The Fringe JULY 2022

7

Keeping it Local

Avoiding surprises

The Fringe makes space on these pages available for current advertisers and non-commercial organisations, at no charge.

To be included in our next issue, email info@fringemedia. co.nz before July 15.

You wouldn’t believe what’s in your drains “Seeing is believing,” they say. And yet, the team at Drain Ranger often can’t believe what their CCTV inspections of drains in the area reveal. We live in paradise but the same trees that make our sections so lush can be deadly for our drains. Add in the occasional crazy wind and wild rain, and you may start to get a picture of what these guys see.

Nature is not the only contributor to blocked drains, however. We are DIYers, but not always so good when it comes to tidying up. From scissors to nail guns, the team has seen it all.

“Our crew comes back to HQ with very colourful stories,” says Kelly Horan, Business Manager.

This is where CCTV drain exploration plays an important role. When you catch the problem early, you stop an emergency later. “We’ve had many stories of lawns overflowing with waste at this time of the year. It’s so easy to avoid,” says Kelly.

The team at Drain Ranger are fully equipped to detect anything in the way in your drains, and their Hydro-Jett is the best tool to clear it. Kelly is positive that the best way to approach drains is maintenance, not repairs. “Many people don’t see the value of ongoing drain maintenance but once they’re faced with a costly emergency, they wish they had stayed on top of it.”

Drain Ranger offers maintenance packages to suit all needs. Check what they can do for you by emailing hello@ drainranger.co.nz, calling 021 709 783 or visiting www. drainranger.co.nz.

You will never regret clean drains!

FRINGEADLTD.pdf 1 15/11/16 16:33

P R E S L A N D a n d C O LT D

Timeless design

Mann Kitchens and Bathrooms is a small local business based in Tītīrangi that specialises in designing, manufacturing and installing anything for the interior of your home.

From kitchens, bathrooms, mini bars, wardrobes and custom-made items, the company offers a project management service that removes any stress for the client.

Company director, Andrew Mann, has been lucky enough to be around excellent old school teachers and designers from day one of a very long career in building, designing and kitchen manufacturing.

“I have seen the excellent, bad and weird when it comes to design over the years,” says Andrew.

“My goal is to create something that is timeless.”

Mann Kitchens and Bathrooms offers a free consultation, listens to the client’s needs and focuses on the style of your home. Creating the floor design is important within the process and it must be practical and ‘on trend’ as a starting point. Once the floor plan works, Andrew works closely on the budget to add more or less expensive products.

“By keeping our overheads down, we can be very competitive, especially in the semicustom market,” says Andrew.

Right: a recently completed mini bar. The client’s brief was to create something cool out of American oak.

The customer and Mann Kitchens and Bathrooms were happy with the result.

Available now at Te Uru Gallery, Titirangi

C

B A R R I S T E R S

M

E S T

Y

&

S O L I C I T O R S

1 9 8 9

CM

0 9 8 1 8 1 0 71

MY

CY

m y l a w y e r . c o . n z

CMY

Presland and Co provide a variety of legal services including conveyancing, family law, criminal law, wills & estates.

K

8

The Fringe JULY 2022

Embossed Lights

susannahbridges.co.nz Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Places to go – Things to do

Holiday entertainment with Peter Pan Join Peter Pan, the Darling Family, the Lost Boys and Brave Girls and visit Neverland where you never grow up, with the Tael Solutions season of Peter Pan Jr. produced by Playhouse Theatre Inc. Wendy, Michael and John Darling meet and befriend Peter Pan when the mysterious boy and a fairy named Tinker Bell enter their nursery in search of Peter’s lost shadow.

With a sprinkle of pixie dust, Peter whisks his new friends away to Neverland where he introduces the Darling children to his fellow Lost Boys, children who – like Peter – never grow up. There is plenty of adventure and excitement as they encounter Brave Girls, led by the incredible Tiger Lily, and Pirates led by the villainous Captain Hook.

Peter Pan Jr. will be performed at the beautiful, historic Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre with a youth cast aged 18 years and under including Etoile Simard and Heidi Schuler as Peter Pan, Alice Lowndes as Wendy and Thoma Perin as Captain Hook.

Directed by Matt Billington, who has many years of

APARTMENTS

Available Now

experience with The Playhouse Theatre, most recently directing Beauty and the Beast Jr., and with choreography by Sophie Brown, this musical is a magical story filled with song and dance for the young and the young at heart.

Based on J.M. Barrie's enchanting play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, Peter Pan Jr. features music by Morris (Moose) Charlap and Jule Styne, and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show will be perfect entertainment for the school holidays.

Peter Pan Jr. runs July 16 – 23 and tickets are available at Eventfinda or playhousetheatreinc.com.

The Fringe has two double passes to Peter Pan Jr to give away. To go in the draw to win one write your name, address and phone number, on the back of an envelope and post it to Peter Pan, PO Box 60-469, Tītīrangi, 0624 or email your details to info@fringemedia.co.nz with Peter Pan in the subject line. Entries must be received by July 11.

WIN

Perfectly positioned in Lynfield, Murray Halberg Retirement Village offers modern and spacious apartments, surrounded by native bush.

Don’t miss the opportunity to secure a brand-new apartment now and still have plenty of time to sell your property.

Two-bedroom apartments priced from $770,000.

All offer modern and spacious open plan living.

For more information call Lucy on 09 627 2727

MURRAY HALBERG VILLAGE 11 Commodore Drive, Lynfield

3858

rymanhealthcare.co.nz

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

The Fringe JULY 2022

9

Art & About with Naomi McCleary

Three Extraordinary Wāhine I want to tell a story about Allie Eagle. Allie, who passed away on May 25th, was an artist and activist whose work in the 1970s was key to the development of feminist art practice in New Zealand. Although her influence was nation-wide, I knew her as a passionate west-Aucklander.

In 2006, in my role as the arts manager for Waitākere City Council, I was the lead person in commissioning Allie to produce a heritage painting to capture the essence of the history of the west. The choice of her as the artist for this was a no-brainer. She was a Westie and loved this corner of the motu; she was extraordinarily adept at representational painting and she would fulfil the brief by engaging other younger artists in an atelier-style workshop process.

Atelier: A workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer. Akin to the Māori and Polynesian experience where there is a master or mistress artist who teaches and instructs by way of example. This is a mutually supportive system and can be seen in the painting ateliers of the deep past, including that of Rembrandt and his students.

Allie Eagle in front of her historical masterpiece.

Allie’s style, while realistic, was not photo-realism. Her painting was always alive with feeling and verve and layers of meaning. The site, the Civic foyer of the new council building, begged for a larger than life work, which turned out eventually to be a seven by two metre masterpiece.

Allie wanted time for research, the freedom to produce cameo works along the way and space to create her atelier.

The eventual commission covered all her requests and the journey began. What I rapidly learned was that Allie's passion knew no bounds.

Weeks and months went by, and the stories accumulated, as did the dozens, maybe hundreds, of pre-drawings and paintings. Students came and went, tirelessly recording stories and cataloguing images.

Many descendants, young and old, of historical figures came in for sittings and endless and wonderful conversations.

Time and budget ran out and both were extended. There were moments when I wondered whether she could, or would, ever let go of diving into the rabbit-holes of family sagas.

Eventually, breathtakingly, it all came together. The result, an amazing and epic vision of the Henderson story. Painted

10

The Fringe JULY 2022

in watercolour and coated with encaustic wax (a very ancient methodology) it has the sense of having always been there.

Did I breath a sigh of relief? Indeed!

Encaustic: A Greek word meaning “to heat or burn in” (enkaustikos). Heat is used throughout the process, from melting the beeswax and varnish to fusing the layers of wax. [See page 16.]

Although the Civic Centre now has a new life, it is still a public space where Allie's monumental painting can be viewed.

Emily Karaka is another mana wahine; equally fierce and tender.

Emily has been a revered and respected senior artist over many decades. Each time our paths have crossed I have found her warmth and generosity totally engaging. I also know her to be a fighter; her work inseparable from her political stance; her gritty address of political issues related to Māori land rights and the Treaty of Waitangi. Travelling through her painted world is not for the faint of heart, but it is a nourishing and spiritual journey into a passionate universe lit by a rainbow of colour.

Last year I was lucky to be present at an evening at McCahon House (Parehuia), where she was completing a residency; again sharing her hospitality and gentle presence. As we tucked in to a winter meal by hāngī-master Rewi Spraggon, we were surrounded by paintings completed during her stay and propped against the studio walls.

My recall is of such richness of colour and depth and the word 'kauri' repeated over and over; a song or a cry? That uncertainty making them so much more powerful and unsettling.

Currently at Te Uru, Matariki Ring of Fire follows the aforesaid 2021 McCahon Emily Karaka at Parehuia, 16 April House residency. The 2021. Photograph by Sam Hartnett, exhibition centres on courtesy Te Uru. the festival of Matariki, which is being marked by a public holiday for the first time this year. It is a perfect opportunity to engage with Emily's work at a time when Matariki offers us all a moment of reflection and renewal. Whānau, hapū, and iwi come together to celebrate life and share stories of those who have passed on. Emily depicts the 14 official Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki as places of great significance, where ritual ahi (fires) were set during Matariki in times past.

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Art & About with Naomi McCleary

The Tūpuna Maunga hold a paramount place in the historical, spiritual, ancestral and cultural identity of the 13 iwi and hapū of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the mana whenua tribes of our city).

It has taken many years for Matariki, as our unique, bi-cultural, winter festive season, to slowly emerge. Along with celebrating with warm, sustaining food and time spent with family, it has allowed a burgeoning of arts and cultural expression in all its many forms. Start with Te Uru and Emily's exhibition and move out from there.

I had fleetingly met Ché Blomfield (right) in the past, almost always with her mother, my friend and colleague Diane Blomfield. So when I recently interviewed Ché by phone I had little to go on; a RNZ interview with Lynn Freeman, a press release and a copy of her recently published book The Composing Rooms 2010-2020.

Ché and I are generations apart and her story and her book tell of a life in Europe immersed in a world at the cutting edge of contemporary art; and yet we talked animatedly for over half an hour. I can only describe that conversation as joyful.

Ché grew up in semi-rural Laingholm in a family who worked professionally in the creative sector. I asked her if there was anything remarkable in that upbringing that might have triggered her particular direction. Her reply; that her father, as a set designer in the film industry, created 'temporary rooms', so the notion and feel of the temporary nature of exhibitions was familiar. With that background environment, at 19 she 'flew the nest' and travelled to London. In her words she 'jumped at every opportunity' and 'trusted her intuition'. That doesn't do justice to the extraordinary speed at which she became embedded in the contemporary London scene. Within months she was featured in an 'of the moment' magazine as one of the faces to watch in the arts world. She demures that this was luck; right place, right time; but I think not. Involved in the disco party scene, she rejected some of the less savoury aspects of this and started her own club night, hosting emerging European performers. Even at this stage she seems to have had an uncanny instinct for picking winners. Her love of artist books led to co-founding a publishing company and there seems to have been a fashion label as a by-line.

In the middle of all this came the Global Financial Crisis.

I think at this point I asked Ché if, in her breakneck engagement, she ever felt fear. The answer, 'yes – always'.

She quotes an interview with Rianna – 'be fearless and if you're not, pretend'.

In 2010, in the fallout from the GFC, she founded The Composing Rooms (TCR). I don't want to use the word 'gallery' because that carries a certain image. There was an element of challenging the status quo; the lie of open-mindedness, the conservatism, the cliqueyness. Driven to provide exposure for contemporary art that explored new digital mediums, Please support our advertisers – they support us.

TCR quickly became globally recognised, exhibiting more than 60 international artists in over 40 exhibitions. It became known as a contributor and commentator on Post Internet: a global art movement that sought to identify how the internet was changing culture.

Ché is more forthright in describing her intuitive selection of artists, many of whom had their first exhibitions at TCR, only to subsequently become cutting-edge names. She talks of these artists in such loving terms; her engagement, it seems to me, to be more of a collaborator than a curator.

Over the 10 years Ché took TCR to Berlin and Spain, co-founded a magazine, Baron, aimed at challenging sexism and sexual stereotypes and published a novel by an eminent art critic. With her intense emotional engagement, wonderfully critical eye and sharp intelligence, I doubt we would have seen Ché for some considerable time. Then, in 2020 Covid struck. She made a lightening decision to get home to Aotearoa before the borders closed. It felt surreal then and still does.

These last two years have given her the space and time to put together The Composing Rooms. The desire to record her experience pre-dates Covid. She thought it would mark the end of her art world career and the beginning of a journey into sustainability. But the process has reaffirmed that her love of art is as strong as ever. One senses that both loves will consume this remarkable young woman.

The book is dense with meaning; a meticulous record of exhibitions, essays, commentary. I am dipping in and out, getting an intimate view into the contemporary arts world in a way I haven't accessed before. It is beautifully illustrated and lovely in the hand, with a fold-out dust jacket that is a uniquely commissioned, limited edition artwork. It is available through the Te Uru shop.

Stop Press: In celebration of Matariki in Tāmaki Makaurau Kia Ora Shorts is screening at the Corban Estate Arts Centre (Gallery 3) on July 7 and 8 at 7pm. A brilliant way to experience Te Ao Mai Ngā Whatu Māori; the world through a Māori lens. Tickets $10 The Fringe JULY 2022

11

Places to go – Things to do

Out and About in the West July w – 16, Make a wish to Hiwa i te Rangi. Penny Howard invites you to write

your wish, hope, aspiration or karakia for Matariki on a wishbone and tie it to her whai (string game). At a dawn ceremony at the conclusion of Matariki (July 16) all the wishes will be burned and sent up to Hiwa for the new year; Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-4.30pm. Phone 838 4455. w – 24, Remembering Forward, photos by Russ Flatt present the vulnerability that comes with growing up against rich local landscapes from around Waitākere; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-4.30pm. Phone 838 4455. w – 24, Wa:Hine – Wai:Rua, referencing the twin stars in the Matariki cluster, Waitī and Waitā, representing the ocean and fresh waters, Ashlee Tawhiti acknowledges the vital role of water mixed with earthly ochres that bring alive local clays; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-4.30pm. Phone 838 4455. w – August 7, Against the tide, an exhibition celebrating the life and work of the late, self-taught ceramic artist, Robert Rapson, best known for his wonderfully wonky yet uncannily accurate sculptures of boats; Te Uru, 420 Titirangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – August 28, Counting frames for a transient era, Wanda Gillespie considers timelessness as a term of value given new meaning during the pandemic; the window space, Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – September 4, Otherwise-image-worlds brings together five newly commissioned artworks from artists working in animation. Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Juliet Carpenter, Tanu Gago, Ary Jansen and Sorawit Songsataya expand and reconfigure the conventions of image-making; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – September 11, Motutapu, the conclusion of a four-year journey by artist Benjamin Work and photographer Brendan Kitto, this exhibition looks at the shared history of motutapu (sacred islands) throughout Moana Oceania as places of santuary, reconnection and reconciliation; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w – September 18, Matariki Ring of Fire – Emily Karaka follows her 2021 McCahon House residency with an exhibition centring on the festival of Matariki, the Matariki star cluster, and the fourteen Tūpuna Maunga of the

Tāmaki Makaurau region; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087. w 2 – August 7, a mixed media exhibition by brother and sister Celeste and Rudi Strewe; West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Thu/Fri 10am-2pm, Sat/Sun 10am-4pm. Phone 812 8029. www.westcoastgallery.co.nz. w 3, West Lynn Garden Society Annual General Meeting. Guest Speaker and refreshments to follow; 73 Parker Avenue, New Lynn; 2pm. Phone 827 7045. w 3, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732. w 7 and 8, Kia Ora Shorts, a celebration of Matariki in Tāmaki Makaurau; Corban Estate Arts Centre (Gallery 3); 7pm. Tickets $10. Phone 838 4455 w 8, West Auckland Men’s Rebus Club, guest speaker and morning tea; Friendship Hall, 3063 Great North Road, New Lynn; 10am-12noon. Phone Laurie 820 2234. w 8, Ladies’ Probus Club, fellowship, fun, speakers, and a monthly day trip; St John’s Hall, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatū South; 9.45am-Noon. Phone Betty 09 832 0484. w 9, Titirangi Folk Music Club presents Fingal, Mike & Deb Harding with Lisa Dohig and Ken Kowalchuk, direct from their cave in Taranaki.

Floorsingers in first half; Titirangi Beach Hall, bottom of Titirangi Beach Road; 8pm; $12, members $8, under 18 free. www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz or text Cathy on 021 207 7289. Vaccination Pass and mask required. w 12, West Auckland Historical Society Family History Group meeting; Henderson Central Library West Auckland Research Centre; 10-11.30am.

Phone Gary Snow 832 5098, 021 618 434 or email gary@snofam.co.nz. w 17, Antiques, Vintage and Retro Fair, proceeds towards the upkeep of Armanesco House; Blockhouse Bay Community Centre, 524 Blockhouse Bay Road; 9.30am-2.00pm; Admission $2.00. Stall bookings and info: phone 445 1227. w 18, Henderson Falls Combined Friendship Club – fun, friendship and fellowship with monthly speakers and frequent outings; Henderson Bowling Clubrooms, 2/20 Alderman Drive, Henderson; 10am-noon. Contact Joy 837 4646 or 021 267 3544. w 19, Glen Eden Garden Club celebrates its 40-year anniversary. Past members very welcome; Glen Eden Community and Recreation Centre, 44 Glendale Rd, Glen Eden; 9am - 12 noon. Phone Lynn Brown, 021 193 4399 or 818 4348.

You Shop We Deliver

Shopping delivered to your door

Titirangi Supermarket 429 Titirangi Rd, Auckland, 0604

Owned & Operated by Locals

12

The Fringe JULY 2022

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Places to go – Things to do

w 19, SeniorNet West Auckland, speaker, morning tea and chatting about

computers; RSA Henderson, Poppy Restaurant, 66-70 Railside Avenue, Henderson; 10am. Phone June 021 179 3635. w 20, Combined Waitakere Rebus Club; St John’s Hall, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatu South; 10am-Noon. Contact Philis on 838 5361. w 21, Waitakere Forest & Bird Lecture Series: Casey Wills and Erin Grierson, Auckland Zoo Birdkeepers present the latest news on the Waitākere Ranges kōkako; meeting by Zoom; 7.30 pm. Visit https://www. forestandbird.org.nz/events/latest-waitakere-ranges-kokako for the link or email lizanstey@hotmail.com. w 22, Glen Eden Combined Probus Club: company and fellowship, interesting speakers, morning tea and monthly outings; Ceramco Park Function Centre, 120 Glendale Road, Kaurilands; 9.45am. Phone Brian Holt 838 5857. w 22, Titirangi Folk Music Club presents Friday Folk, an informal gathering of musicians and singers; Titirangi Beach Hall, bottom of Titirangi Beach Road; 8pm; $5. www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz or text Cathy on 021 207 7289.

Vaccination Pass and mask required. w 26, Tītīrangi U3A – informal learning for people 60-years plus, guest speakers, study groups; West Lynn Garden, 73 Parker Avenue, New Lynn; 1pm. Contact 818 8809, 027 699 5480 or heathertanguay@slingshot.co.nz. www.u3a.nz. w 31, Titirangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Titirangi War Memorial Hall; 10am-2pm. Contact Tess on tvm.manager@gmail.com or phone 022 631 9436.

Event organisers: Do you have an upcoming event you’d like

listed in The Fringe? Send the details, including a contact person and number, to info@fringemedia.co.nz.

Readers: While we take care to ensure listings are correct, errors may occur. Check with the contact person wherever possible.

Covid precautions: All events and gatherings in these listings will require full compliance with relevant Covid regulations.

There is so much happening in and around our community, including many weekly events, that we can’t fit everything into these listings.

If you can’t see the event you’re interested in, visit:

www.fringemedia.co.nz/ourplace PLAYHOUSE THEATRE INC PRESENTS THE

SEASON OF

August

w August 7, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm;

3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732. w August 9, West Auckland Historical Society Family History Group meeting; Henderson Central Library West Auckland Research Centre; 10-11.30am. Phone Gary Snow 832 5098, 021 618 434 or email gary@ snofam.co.nz. w August 12, West Auckland Men’s Rebus Club, guest speaker and morning tea; Friendship Hall, 3063 Great North Road, New Lynn; 10am-12noon.

Phone Laurie 820 2234.

16th-23rd July 2022 Playhouse Theatre, Glen Eden Book tickets at Eventfinda Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia).

All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

www.taelsolutions.nz - Ph:09-869-2200

MATARIKI AT ECOMATTERS Sunday 3 July, 10am – 2pm EcoMatters, Olympic Place, New Lynn ecomatters.org.nz/matariki

FREE Image by Joanne Hakaraia

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

The Fringe JULY 2022

13

Education – special feature

Kudos for talented local primary students “Learning never looked so “I thought it was a bit sad that our good.”

Tītīrangi director, kids were hearing only American producer, creative and mother, or British accents watching Michele Ang is bubbling with animated shows like Peppa Pig excitement at the input of New and Paw Patrol. A friend’s child Lynn Primary School students actually developed a British accent into her uniquely Kiwi animated watching Peppa Pig. TV series for children called “As a mother myself, I feel Riddle Me This. strongly that our tamariki can hear The programme is streaming their own voices amongst the tidal free on HEIHEI, TVNZ+’s children’s wave of content we receive from channel and features about 100 overseas. And I wanted to include voices of 7–9 year olds from eight local culture and make something primary schools around Tāmaki New Lynn Primary School students who took part in educational for our kids.”

Makaurau including New Lynn Riddle Me This, with their teacher Julie Mana’o Michelle is no stranger to the Primary, as they ask questions to solve a riddle. performing arts world in which she has performed since “It's great for young viewers to have fun and learn at childhood, both in New Zealand and abroad. She’s been the same time: developing their critical thinking skills as in Australian soap, Neighbours, Xena Warrior Princess, they make associations, form ideas, and draw their own Outrageous Fortune, Disney’s original animated series Star conclusions,” Michelle says.

Wars, The Bad Batch, American TV dramas and the web Michelle lived in America for 10 years and on returning series Fear the Walking Dead. to New Zealand wanted her four-year old boy to have kiwi Riddle Me This was Michelle’s first creative venture with childhood experiences. children and while thinking she originally wanted to work with gifted children, it soon became apparent that what she really wanted were kiwi kids who could use their powers of critical thinking and imagination to solve a mystery riddle in every episode.

She connected with Julie Mana’o at New Lynn Primary (as FINALIST well as people from other Auckland schools) and after being PRIME MINISTER’S EDUCATION EXCELLENCE granted NZ On Air Funding, the student recordings began.

AWARDS 2021!

“Julie is amazing and doing fantastic things at that school.

As we recorded the children, they asked questions, created hypotheses, and discovered solutions to the riddles through the process of critical thinking,” Michelle says.

Julie says that when Michelle was looking for creative, lateral thinkers, “I just knew who they were! And I was really excited for this different opportunity for the kids to engage in. The way their thinking went was very interesting.”

www.avcol.school.nz

WEDNESDAY 3rd AUGUST 4-7PM Michelle Ang during recording with New Lynn Primary students Ricky Buutveld and Hareem Zubair.

14

The Fringe JULY 2022

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Education – special feature

Michelle says every thought from their wild imaginations is illustrated with “morphing and fluid animation,that takes the viewers on a joyride of the kids' visualisations, including red herrings and missteps along the way.”

Each episode is five minutes long and animated by local designers, several of whom are young parents themselves.

“During lockdowns, screen time has been a bit of a stresspoint for parents. I wanted to make something that would fulfil the needs of imagination and critical thinking so parents would not have to feel guilty about putting it on,” Michelle says.

“I’m really proud of the real community effort and New Lynn Primary School was such an amazing participant with kids that are so special. They had so many playful ideas.

Children watching the shows will have so much fun solving the riddles, with their parents having just as much fun watching with them as well,” Michelle says.

As our interview ends Michelle notes that when she was editing the animation, she and her son discovered that turtles breathe out of their butts. “Did you know that?” she asks. Well, no, I didn’t, but it’s a useful fact to store just in case it comes up in conversation sometime.

Green Bay High School

Te Angitū Ngātahi Succeeding Together

Open Day Wednesday 27th July 3:30pm - 7:00pm

– Moira Kennedy

Serving families in Green Bay, Titirangi and the surrounding areas, our focus is on learning that is relevant, exciting and meets the needs of all our students. At Green Bay High School, teachers know their students, they make time to foster strong relationships and support all students to achieve their best throughout the five years they are with us.

Come along to our Open Evening and see the great range of opportunities available.

Tours are available from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

Our Principal, Fiona Barker, will talk in the Auditorium at 5pm and 6.30pm about what your child’s future could look like at Green Bay High School.

Fiona Barker Principal

www.greenbayhigh.school.nz

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

The Fringe JULY 2022

15

People

“It’s really a meditation – losing myself in the process” After retiring from her medical “The beauty of this process is career, Tītīrangi resident Linda that if you don’t like the colour Friend chose to follow an interest you’ve painted, you can wipe it off in the arts and elected to pursue if you haven’t fused it. Even if it photography. A camera-toting is fused you can scrape it off. You Linda hiked throughout local can never really make a mistake bush, parks and beaches and on as you can always change things.” overseas trips to capture sights Among the advantages of and scenes at far-flung exotic encaustic are amazing texture, places including the Himalayas, jewel-like and luminous colours, Turkey, India, Greece and and richly textured surfaces.

Linda Friend in her home studio in the Tītīrangi bush.

Serbia.

“Mainly I do encaustic just for But that was in the days of pre-Covid travel. During pleasure. The real joy for me is losing myself in the creative lockdown, Linda was drawn to a magazine article about an process. I sit down and two or three hours go by.” art form called encaustic painting, a process that has been But Linda does admit to occasional moments of exasperation. around for thousands of years and draws its name from the “It is hard. You just have to do a little at a time and learn as Greek word for ‘burning-in’ and referring to the process of you go along but I have had days ….. It is frustrating not fusing with heat. having anyone to talk to about it, but I take a little time out Linda was hooked but with no classes available in New and go back to it.

Zealand, she signed up for an online class in the United States “I have learned to do a couple at a time because you need to and a new kind of education began. let the paintings settle and you just don’t do the whole thing She admits it wasn’t easy and she’s been on an ongoing all at once. I might think I’ve finished but then maybe not. So steep learning curve that continues every day, starting with I do it partially, set it aside and look at it later. Even the next working with photos and now experimenting with abstracts. day, you can go back to it,” Linda says.

But what is encaustic painting? Linda starts with selecting “It is complicated but the process of all this learning has a few of her 6,000-plus photos and has them printed, usually expanded my interest and awareness in my surroundings in matte 8 x 10 format, which she then glues to a piece of and provides me with the absorbing pleasure of spending hardboard. That dries overnight and the next day the ‘hot sometimes hours in the creative process. stuff’ begins, using a heat gun (or blow torch) to melt clear Linda hopes to travel again soon to build on her encaustic beeswax before layering two or three coats of it onto the painting skills. “Then I can attend workshops with skilled photographs to give them depth and texture. artists who can tutor and inspire me. But in the meantime I “I’m OK with the heat gun but I’ve never bought a torch. I’m hope to share my work at the Tītīrangi Village market. not brave enough for that at the moment,” Linda says.

“The process of all this learning has expanded my “The wax dries almost immediately and you add whatever awareness of my surroundings and provided me with the texture you like at this point before painting with oils. absorbing pleasure of spending sometimes hours in the Acrylic paints won’t absorb into the wax. It’s very hands-on creative process. It’s really a meditation.”

– dab on the oil paint, work it in, fuse it, scrape it with a wax – Moira Kennedy scraper,” Linda says.

213 – 215 Woodlands Park Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604 Phone: 09 817 8495 or 09 817 6188 www.kenturnermotors.co.nz

16

The Fringe JULY 2022

European cuisine in the heart of Titirangi Village.

400 Titirangi Road. www.theambrosiabar.co.nz.

Phone 817 5252 for reservations.

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Local Government Elections - special feature

Standing up for the West: the Future West team The Future West team running Jessamine Fraser is an architect for the Waitākere Ranges Local with a passion for housing and Board know the area well and can urban form and lives in Glen provide a practical local voice, Eden. Believes in working with getting on and fixing problems, communities and environment. like repairs and maintenance, Mark Roberts is a pilot and as well as tackling big issues chartered accountant, lives in like climate change, planning Tītīrangi and is active in many Left to right: Mark Allen, Liz Manley, Sandra Coney, and protecting the Waitākere community environmental groups.

Mark Roberts, Jessamine Fraser and Greg Presland.

Ranges Heritage Area.

Mark Allen is completing his The team comprises three sitting members and three first term on the Board, hails from Te Henga, volunteers newcomers, bringing new skills. Greg Presland, Mark Roberts on the local fire service, has expert knowledge of Council and Liz Manley are Labour, Mark Allen and Jessamine Fraser workings. are Green Party and Sandra Coney is an Independent.

Greg Presland is a sitting member, has a legal firm in Glen The team’s policies support community action, greenways, Eden, lives in Tītīrangi, a strong advocate for protecting the resilient communities, environmental protection, locally Ranges. Currently deputy-chair of the Board. provided services, better public transport, arts focus, and Sandra Coney QSO is a current Board member, local working with tangata whenua. historian, health campaigner, proud member of Piha Liz Manley is a Tītīrangi resident, recent school community. Active volunteer in parks, environment and principal and ex-Piha lifeguard. Experienced in community heritage. development and change management. Stands for connected To find out more about Future West go to www.facebook. communities and protecting our unique environment. com/futurewestnz or https://twitter.com/futurewest.

The Fringe offers all election candidates free editorial space to complement their campaign advertising. Get in touch to find out more.

Thomas & Co: West Auckland’s Law Firm Founded in 1966, Thomas & Co Lawyers is West Auckland’s leading law firm, proudly serving our community for over 50 years.

Our experienced team of lawyers and legal executives deal with all areas of property and business, including buying and selling, trusts, financing, estates, and conveyancing.

We’re also specialists in litigation and can provide advice or representation for any employment, civil, or family law matter.

Over the last few years we’ve merged with two other trusted law firms in West Auckland (Ray Ganda and Titirangi Law Centre and David J Brown & Associates) to grow our team and expand the range of services we offer.

Our offices are in the main New Lynn township. Give us a call or pop in to have a chat. We’re always happy to assist.

INCORPORATING T I T I R A N G I L AW C E N T R E D AV I D J B R O W N & ASSOCIATES

TITIRANGI LAW CENTRE

thomas.co.nz Floor Two, 3 Totara Avenue, New Lynn (09) 827 5907

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

The Fringe JULY 2022

17

Sustainable solutions with Fiona Drummond

Climate Change: taking action Climate change is a major threat to our planet. Here are two things you can do: sign the Extinction Rebellion petition for fortnightly climate change updates from the government, and register for the Pachmama Alliance’s workshop on reversing climate change.

Tītīrangi local Bernard Schofield, a grandfather of five, is concerned about the state of the planet his grandchildren will inherit: “I saw a post on Facebook that mentioned how Extinction Rebellion in Finland had successfully petitioned their government to hold regular press conferences to inform the public about its policies regarding climate change. I immediately thought it was a bloody good idea. It really lit me up, so rather than sit on my backside I decided to do something about it. I jotted down a few ideas and got in touch with Extinction Rebellion Tāmaki Makaurau who were very supportive.

“We rarely hear of government policies on climate change.

In 2019 the Prime Minister said that the climate crisis is ‘this generation’s nuclear free moment’ and Government

22-PRO-1073

Auckland Council rubbish collections

We provide quality, value services for our customers. We’ve worked hard to keep the prices down, but due to the Government’s increase to the Waste Levy, from Monday 4 July, we will be introducing price increases for our rubbish bags and rubbish bin tags.

New prices are set out below: Product

New RRP*

80-litre bin tag

$3

120/140-litre bin tag

$4.50

240-litre bin tag

$6.50

40L rubbish bag - single

$1.80

60L rubbish bag - single

$2.60

60L rubbish bag - 5 pack

$13

*New RRP in place 4 July 2022.

Customers who use the Pay-As-You-Throw service do not pay rates for rubbish. Bin tags are the only way they pay for the service.

Thank you for your help minimising waste to landfill.

Visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information.

18

The Fringe JULY 2022

declared a climate emergency. Arguably, Government has failed to treat it as such.

I believe it is time to take action which makes a vital and lasting difference and to hold Government to account.

“Regular press conferences specifically about climate change will encourage reporters with specialised knowledge to attend and to question Government closely. They will also inform the public about our CO2 emissions, putting further pressure on Government.”

This campaign urges the government to provide updates in a similar format to that used for the Covid-19 updates.

Go to https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/action-onclimate-emergency to sign the petition and to make your own contribution to climate action, consider joining your local Extinction Rebellion group at https://actionnetwork.org/ forms/join-xr-waitakere/. The resources on this page show how you can start your own petition, event or fundraiser towards the cause.

During the April Ecofest West events organised by Ecomatters, I attended an online climate action event organised by the Pachamama Alliance. This helped me visualise how we can all make a contribution to climate action, just as Bernard has done in organising the petition.

It is the collective action of a critical number of us that will start the groundswell that is needed to address our carbon emissions. Our greatest impact can be made in our workplaces, as some of us have a large audience with whom we can share initiatives. It is crucial too that we engage young people in the process.

Introduction to Reversing Global Warming is a two-hour online workshop that presents the possibility of reversing global warming and the part individuals play in that process.

Participants will learn about Project Drawdown, a plan to reverse global warming by drawing down the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the 100 solutions that together could begin to reverse global warming by 2050.

The workshop also offers a chance to connect with others in the community to find inspiration and new possibilities for addressing global warming.

Project Drawdown released its inaugural body of work on climate solutions in April 2017, with the publication of the best-selling book Drawdown and a suite of open-source resources on Drawdown.org. A subsequent PDF, published in 2020, builds on the book and can be downloaded from the Drawdown.org web site.

To register for the next online workshop (July 7), visit https://www.pachamama-nz.org/. This workshop can be followed by a five-session Getting into Action series, to help you identify and launch your own contribution to reversing global warming.

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Naturally West with Fiona Drummond

The great white shark, cruising our coasts There were recent sightings of one or more great white sharks at Piha, with a photo posted on the Piha Community Facebook page of a shark silhouette, visible in the wave break.

Several people responded to the post saying they too had seen or encountered sharks in the water within recent days, with some unsure whether they were seeing a bronze whaler or a great white: “Surfing at caves I saw the top of its tail as it fed on kahawai 50m from the beach. Then later I saw it jump clear of the water about 200-300m offshore. Looked to be about eight foot long. I actually thought it was a bronzie but wasn't sure” ... “I was only wading in thigh deep and got cruised (it was fishing off the mouth of Marawhata Stream” ... “The kids came scrambling out of the water on Tuesday - with eyes popping out of their head, reckon it was 12ft but probably more like eight” ...

Further south, there were two great white shark encounters within two weeks in May off the Taranaki coast. One man was fishing in an inflatable boat when a three-metre great white snagged his catch, and another was kayak fishing when a four to five metre great white swam directly towards his kayak, and then circled it. Apparently there have been reports of one shark, nicknamed the “Taranaki Terror”, visiting the coastline almost every summer since 2004 and one local believes that at least one of the recent sightings may be this same shark.

According to shark scientist Riley Elliott, the sightings coincide with the start of the “great white migration”, when larger sharks start swimming north from Stewart Island towards warmer waters. This meant the recent shark activity was normal for May. “Sharks are warm-blooded and the seals they eat fuel the warm blood. When the seal pups disappear they head towards the tropics and start following the whale migration.

Sharks approaching humans on the water were not targeting them, but mistaking them for seals, “like a free café meal on a long highway trip.” Riley said the sightings were a reflection of a healthy ocean ecosystem.

Your local MP

“Sharks do spark fear for people, but we should be more worried if we don’t see them.”

Riley said seeing these sharks up close and personal was not uncommon.“They are a coastal species, so their food is in shallow water, and they will go where the food is.”

In New Zealand, it is illegal to hunt, catch or harm a great white shark. Fishermen, whether in a boat or kayak, are advised against bleeding or gutting their fish into the water.

Report details of sightings, captures or strandings of great white sharks to DOC at sharks@doc.govt.nz or to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) and to INaturalist https://inaturalist. nz/projects/new-zealand-great-white-sharks if you have captured the shark on camera.

Fun facts

Great whites are famous for being incredible hunters.

Their diet includes fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds. The only thing known to hunt them are orca and other sharks.

They have up to 300 serrated teeth in 5 rows and teeth are 4-6cm long. They can detect blood from 5km away, sensing concentrations as low as one drop in 100 litres of water. Great whites can also sense electrical fields, even one millionth of a volt, so they can sense the electrical fields of their prey and other marine animals.

Great whites average 4.5m in length, with the largest on record measuring a massive seven metres. They can swim at up to 57 km/h and can fly up to three metres out of the water.

While most sharks are cold blooded, great white sharks are warm blooded, allowing them to live in colder waters.

Their eyes glow in the dark: they have a layer of reflective cells behind the retina so they can see better in the dark.

Research has shown that the levels of arsenic and mercury in the blood of great whites are so high that it would kill most animals.

Great whites live for 70 years or more.

Great whites are not social animals, and when they meet other sharks they will happily make a meal out of them.

Dr Deborah Russell MP for New Lynn New Lynn Electorate Office 09 820 6245 newlynn.mp@parliament.govt.nz 1885 Great North Rd, Avondale, Auckland

Authorised by Deborah Russell MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

The Fringe JULY 2022

19

Walk West with ‘The Rambler’

Kitekite Falls – top to bottom Since contracting a rare form of habitual laziness I have become middle-aged and over-weight. In an effort to regain my mojo I am going to return to walking the Waitākere Ranges I love ...

The large map of the Waitākeres I have preserved since my youth is largely useless because my eyes can no longer see the small print. However, I was able to find the new entry to the Winstone Track on the north side of Piha Road, directly opposite the Karekare Road turn off. (The former entry point was closed due to kauri dieback.) There is no parking at the trail-head so it’s best to arrange someone to drop you off.

I could see the track upgrades immediately – a coating of gravel on a built-up track with drainage channels to the side. The track dropped steeply into bush dominated by mānuka and kauri, but was easy and wide.

On this grey Saturday afternoon, the green was vibrant. For the first half hour I was alone and thankful for it. I stopped to listen. The birdsong was almost non-existent, save for the occasional pīwakawaka (fantail) and tūī. At intervals pink ribbons marked where bait stations were hidden. I hoped the vermin control measures would help bring birdsong back.

As I descended, I passed three new bridges over small gullies. The Piha Stream flows through beautiful elbows here, dark and mossy with the smell of earth. The gurgle of the stream rose as I approached the top of the falls; the top swimming hole was turquoise blue, contrasting with the kauri clad valley ahead.

Things were as I remembered – a water slide in the rock we used to slip down to plunge into the icy pool; the square cuts in the rock that once held a logging dam in place. (Actually, the dam was only ever used once. When the kauri logs were released over the falls, they all smashed at the bottom.)

I moved closer to the edge, careful not to walk on moist rocks, and sat on the same rock I had as a kid, not too close to the drop-off. I recommend keeping well back – though I was grateful there were no fences or warning signs saying I would hurt myself if I fell.

A pīwakawaka began catching midges above the water, fanned tail flashing against the green, mesmerising me for 15 minutes. A woman came over to look at the view.

“Pīwakawaka,” I said, indicating the bird. “Wow,” she said, then whipped out her phone, wrote a few lines for her Instagram, and took a photo.

I relaxed a while, then crossed the stream (this place is known as Ussher Cross) and began the climb down. My recollection was of a dangerous, slippery cliff face, but it is

20

The Fringe JULY 2022

not like that anymore. The track is well formed, with many stairs and bits of boardwalk to protect kauri.

The kauri-clad ridge line revealed views down the valley. I noticed a few dead kauri, and some with lesions and white sap, a sign of kauri dieback. That made it real. I vowed to give my boots a thorough scrubbing when I got to the cleaning station at the end of the track.

After a short descent, a few tracks met at a large kauri adorned with carved love hearts and initials. The left track took me to the base of the falls about two minutes away. (The right turn goes down the valley and out to Glen Esk Road.)

The view of the falls was splendid. The beautiful pool can get quite crowded in summer, but being cold and grey, only two or three people came through and at times I was totally alone. After a time, a couple came with a dog on a lead; one of those rat-sized ones that cause otherwise mature adults to talk in high voices. They posed with the dog in his little jacket.

The path from Glen Esk Road to the base of the falls is a loop track, so that you can approach from the left or right. If you are coming up from the bottom, take the right-hand path if you don’t like stairs – it’s an easier walk, and it takes you past a lookout where you can see the falls in their entirety.

On the outward trail now, I quickly came to long snakes of boardwalks rising above swampy nīkau groves next to the stream.

It was lush and dark, and an information panel listed some of the creepy crawlies that come out at night there.

I strode on and was soon through the footwear-cleaning station at the carpark, and on to Glen Esk Road.

It was a short walk down to the Piha RSA and a cold beer on the deck with its view of Lion Rock. The fish and chips were excellent. I told the bar-lady I had been for a walk.

“Why?” was her response.

I smiled. I had traversed a 40m high waterfall, and the whole trip, including stops to relax, chat and take photos, had taken two hours 15 minutes. And I got to relax with refreshments and a great view.

“Why not,” I said.

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Rebecca’s Reviews

The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle I love a thriller with a good twist, and the final plot twist in this one does not disappoint – in fact it will probably leave you gasping!

Not to give too much away (I don’t want to spoil it for you!), the story unfolds with almost identical twins Iris and Summer, both beautiful on the outside, but quite literally the opposite underneath. They are mirror twins – and yes, it’s a real thing, look it up ... situs inversus! Iris’ simmering envy of her sister’s life is eating her away. Summer is kind, loving, has married well and lives a seemingly blessed life, with Iris always in her shadow.

During a sailing trip a chance presents itself for Iris to steal away Summer’s seemingly idyllic life for herself and step into the shoes of her adored sister. Summer’s life and love are all there for the taking, and would get Iris a step closer to inheriting their father’s $100 million fortune. This has been promised to the first married daughter to produce an heir.

But will the end justify the means? And is the “Happy Ever After” everything Iris thought it would be?

For a debut novel, this is a surprisingly gripping psychological thriller with pace and thoughtful characters.

The blurred shadows between right and wrong, good and bad are thoroughly explored, with money the catalyst for some very bad behaviour.

The book might start a little bit slow for some and you’ll have to be somewhat nautically minded to love the lengthy account of their yachting adventures. But please do stick with it as you will find the second half of the book is more breathtaking than a corkscrew roller coaster!

If you love a good psychological thriller, with a wee dash of Shades of Grey, then this is the perfect book to curl up with on these long winter nights.

“Hope is a demon. It toys with you, it flirts, and then when you start to trust it, it vanishes.” ― Rose Carlyle, The Girl in the Mirror

When Rose Carlyle was growing up in Te Atatū her plans were to become a doctor. The Girl in the Mirror is her debut novel, which she co-wrote with her sister Maddie. It was published in 2018.

The siblings came up with the idea for the book over lunch at their aunt’s house. Film rights have already been bought and Maddie is now helping Rose with her follow-up novel, set in Australia.

The Girl in the Mirror is available online or from the library.

An audio book is also available.

– Rebecca Manners

Ken Ring’s Weather by the Moon

July may receive less than the average rain total.

After an unsettled first week, the second week is expected to have the most rain. The fourth week looks the sunniest, driest and coolest. The best weekend for outdoor activities may be the 23rd/24th.

Highest tides are around the 15th. The best fishing bitetimes in the west are around noon on the 13th-15th and 28th-30th. Bite-chances are also good around dusk of the 6th-8th, and 20th-22nd.

For gardeners, planting is best between the 1st-11th, and 29th -31st, and pruning is best around the 14th-25th. For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers around the neap tides of the 8th and 23rd.

Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, visit www.predictweather.com. © Ken Ring 2022.

Property Lawyer For prompt and efficient advice...

• Conveyancing • Business Agreements • Subdivisions • Wills & Estates • Trusts • Public Works Land Compensation (16 years experience)

Contact Bill Korver LL.B.

Barrister & Solicitor

Ph: 816 8363 Fax: 816 8963

8 Judith Place, Green Bay Email: BillKorver@xtra.co.nz

Drain unblocking specialists

Your Local Drain Repair Experts, We Offer Solutions For All Your Drainage Needs

021 709 783 hello@drainranger.co.nz www.drainranger.co.nz

Hydro Jett & CCTV services available

Proud to be a Westie T-shirts

Now available from Corban Estate Arts Centre 426 Great North Rd, Henderson Ph 838 4455

Reach 50,000+ readers...

...for as little as 0.003c each.* Something to advertise?

Email info@fringemedia.co.nz

*based on the discount rate for a classified display ad

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

Leave a gift to nature.

Bequests can be made to “Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc”. For more information on how to make a bequest contact: Fundraising Manager, Forest & Bird PO Box 631, Wellington Freephone: 0800 200 064

www.forestandbird.org.nz

The Fringe JULY 2022

21

Live @ the lounge

Public convenience: an election manifesto Well hello fellow West Aucklanders.

The more astute among you will no doubt have already observed that I am indeed not Lizard but Mopey Jesus. That scallywag Lizard, and yes my closest confidant since school days, has departed to places unknown.

He left under a starlit night and a cloud of suspicion.

Supposition has it there was a dreadful misunderstanding with the local authorities involving the alleged sale of ‘paddock tobacco’ and gallons of ‘bathtub’ gin. This however, neatly brings us back to myself and the subject of this letter.

I, Mopey Bartholomew Jesus, am running for the not too distant local body elections. So it is now perhaps desirable to provide a little personal background.

My dear mother Mary only spoke Hebrew. She named me Tradukka which is Hebrew for listless. Apparently, I was a child that moped about the kitchen all summer. The surname Jesus came from my father whom I have never met: I was lovingly raised by my stepfather Joe. There have been many alleged sightings of my father over the years but to these I hold little testament. There has never been so much as a card at Christmas time.

My electoral platform will be one of public health. Why? Please, let me explain.

For years I have gleefully suckled on the bosom of security provided by my inner-city employ. Early each evening I depart in a westerly direction bound for home. In fact, Lizard's backyard. Regular as habit, I imbibe in a legal amount of ale to enhance the driving experience. To my chagrin, however, I often succumb to a full bladder before reaching my destination.

It can start to back up in Blockhouse Bay. A tight grip in Green Bay, then a downright tingle in Tītīrangi, where there is still no sign of the oft-promised public toilet block (despite the occasional sighting of large groups of Council personnel on the proposed site).

It's embarrassing to use the rest rooms of cafés or fast food joints – under false pretences as I have no intention of purchasing anything. (I always pack a home-cut sandwich and travel with a thermos of tea beside me in the Prius.)

“What’s to be done?” I hear you call.

Should you elect me, I propose the erection of Latrines Exterieures or outdoor latrines.

22

The Fringe JULY 2022

These will be situated every kilometre, beginning around Pt Chev. They will obviously be urinals not poo-in-alls. Surely a movement in the right direction.

Designed using Michelangelo’s ‘Golden Ratio’, these beautiful spirals will provide relief and privacy. While seated, women will only expose their ankles and footwear at the base and their heads from above. Men, traditionally employing the stand-up method, will only be seen from the chest upwards. The construction of these fabulous pissinalls is simplicity itself. The tradesperson only needs the most basic understanding of the golden ratio of 1:6, found when you divide a line into two so that the longer part divided by the smaller part is equal to the whole length divided by the longer part. Simple.

But who pays for hundreds of relief giving urinals?

Also simple. They are each privately owned then charged back to the council.

Advertising can be sold and placed around the gracefully curved sides. Rain water will be 'over-head' collected then trickle fed to flush. From there all liquids will go into a collection system that irrigates the proposed lemon and lime groves. Solar panels will provide adequate power for myriad add-ons. Coffee facilities. Bluetooth sound. Mood lighting. Flat screen H.D technology showing NZ short films or informative slides on bowel and prostate health.

No longer will we humiliate ourselves by squatting behind a dumpster or standing behind the car pretending to look at a tree. Never again will we fear that we might overfill the empty bottle while crawling along the North Western motorway.

Remember Proverb 31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak.

Vote for Jesus

A welcome relief Thank you.

As yet I don’t have an email address or indeed a physical address so please direct any comments or suggestions via the editor of this celebrated publication.

Drink plenty of water … now without dread.

Mopey B Jesus.

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.

Directory These advertisers support our community and make this publication possible. Please support them.

APPAREL ‘Proud to be a Westie’ t-shirts ...................................................... 21

TRANSPORT & AUTOMOTIVE

Ken Turner Automotive and Auto Electrical.......................... 16

BUILDING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Drain Ranger ........................................................................................ 21 Mann Kitchens & Bathrooms ........................................................... 6 Ray Percival & Son, painters and decorators ......................... 23 Turners Drainage & Contracting ................................................. 23 Watkins Plumbing Services ........................................................... 23

BUSINESS, FINANCE, INSURANCE

GSI Insurance .......................................................................................... 5

COMMUNITY

Auckland Council, rubbish collections ..................................... 18 Forest & Bird, bequests ................................................................... 21 The Trusts: Employment opportunities .................................. 24

EDUCATION & CHILDCARE

Avondale College ................................................................................ 14 Glen Eden Intermediate School ................................................... 15 Green Bay High School .................................................................... 15

FOOD & WINE

Super Value supermarket, Titirangi .......................................... 12

GARDENS & LANDSCAPE

Gordons Nurseries ............................................................................ 23

Stihl Shop............................................................................................... 22 Tree Culture.......................................................................................... 19

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Hunt & Gaunt Optometrists .......................................................... 23

HOSPITALITY

Ambrosia Bar & Restaurant .......................................................... 16

HOUSE & HOME

Susannah Bridges, ceramics and lighting................................... 8 Waitemata Backcare Beds ................................................................. 4

LEGAL & POLITICAL

Bill Korver, lawyer ............................................................................. 21 Deborah Russell, MP for New Lynn ........................................... 19 Future West ............................................................................................. 2 Linda Cooper, Councillor for Waitākere ...................................... 6 Presland & Co, barristers and solicitors ..................................... 8 Thomas & Co, lawyers ..................................................................... 17 WestWards ............................................................................................... 7

LEISURE & LIFESTYLE

Ryman Healthcare: Murray Halberg Retirement Village ..... 9

THEATRE & ENTERTAINMENT

Matariki at EcoMatters .................................................................... 13

Playhouse Theatre presents Peter Pan Jr. ............................... 13

Ray Percival and Son

Painters & Decorators

Specialists in all aspects of painting & decorating interior & exterior • domestic & commercial

mobile: 021 436 900 • a/hrs: 814 9124 email: Rayperci@xtra.co.nz

PO Box 60526 Titirangi, Auckland

Watkins Plumbing Services Ltd

‘your eyecare centre’

For all your plumbing and drainage requirements – big or small – give us a call.

All work guaranteed Free Quotes West: 818 4683

sales@watkinsplumbing.co.nz www.watkinsplumbing.co.nz

Eye examinations • Glaucoma Checks Contact Lenses & Solutions • On Site Repairs • Sunglasses Prescriptions • Drivers Licence Screening TITIRANGI VILLAGE 517 South Titirangi Road

Please support our advertisers – they support us.

Ph 817 4380 Fax 817 4383 MT EDEN 3 Walters Road Ph 630 3785 Fax 630 3746

Quality plants at reasonable prices Open 7days 159a Scenic Drive, Titirangi 817 3498 --- 021 113 0987 www.gordonsnurseries.co.nz Opinions expressed in the The Fringe are solely those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by the publication or its publisher. Fringe Media Ltd is not responsible in any way for the contents of any advertisement, article, photograph or illustration contained in this publication.

While every reasonable care will be taken by the Editor, no responsibility is assumed for the return of unsolicited material. © Copyright 2022 by Fringe Media Ltd. All content in this issue is the property of Fringe Media Ltd and may not be reproduced in any way or form whatsoever without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The Fringe JULY 2022

23

Earn a Living Wage with heaps of opportunities and work close to home.

Bar & Wait Staff

Kitchen Team

Retail Team

Join the best in The West at thetrusts.co.nz

24

The Fringe JULY 2022

Advertise with The Fringe – It’s who we are.