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The Fringe, Issue 251,
Confused?
As I write this our road verges are full of hoardings promoting the candidates who are standing for local government elections.
And it's all very confusing. Some candidates seem to be confused when the elections actually are! (For the record, voting takes place from September 9 to October 11, not August 25 to September 6 as one candidate's hoarding suggests.)
Amidst the plethora of simple three or four word slogans, the marketing hype, it's easy to lose sight of what our candidates are actually standing for. However, you can visit https://voteauckland.co.nz/en/information-for-voters/ candidates-2025-local-elections.html to find out more. Detailed candidate profiles are available on this site from September 1. Reading these profiles is important if you want to separate the hype from what candidates might actually believe.
Adding to the confusion is the tendency for candidates to misrepresent the problems that they believe they can solve. For example, there might not be many "bars" in West Auckland but there are at least five other places we can get a drink in Tītīrangi, another dozen or more in New Lynn, and many more across the West.
Editor:
The many millions needed for the construction of the Trusts Stadium in Henderson, the redevelopment of Lopdell House and construction of Te Uru, the Whau walkway project and the support given to the myriad of local community organisations every year all come from The Trusts. Maybe more could be contributed but without The Trusts, there would be no money at all for these important initiatives.
I am also a bit confused by the tendency for some candidates to continue fighting yesterday's battles, competing for an ideological high ground, when what we really need are candidates who are focussed on people, and what they need now and in the future. After almost three years, we still have blocked roads and unfinished repairs following just two major storms ... and no real action to prepare for the next ones. And plans to improve our Village centres (including Glen Eden) have been on the table for decades, with no action yet! (Just two examples: there are others.)
But, on another level, I am not that surprised by this lack of focus on West Auckland's problems: we have only two representatives on Auckland Council meaning that only 10% of Council is actually concerned with almost a quarter of Auckland's area. The 'SuperCity' was never a good idea.
Vote wisely these elections. We need representatives focussed on people, our communities, our future; representatives who care about Our Place and don't just want to exploit it – for their (or other's) interests.
– Bevis England.
Every issue of The Fringe (and the Tītīrangi 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.
It’s local body election time when those registered on electoral rolls vote to elect a mayor, councillors, local board members and licensing trustees.
Most Fringe readers are in the local board areas of the Waitākere Ranges and Whau boards. Boards are responsible for identifying local priorities, developing plans, and engaging with residents to ensure their voices are heard. Basically, they bridge the gap between the community and the larger council. This year the voting system is postal with voting papers sent between September 9 – 22 and voting closing on Saturday, October 11.
On a (rare) warm and sunny afternoon, MOIRA KENNEDY set out to ask locals what they thought about the elections. .
Wade: I know the elections are coming up soon. You can’t miss the road signs and posters going up. I will vote as they work with things like parks and funding services. If I have a problem I can take it to my local board and hope it will filter up to the council. They do matter.
Sandy: I’ve seen billboards and will vote because it matters to have an opinion about local matters. I didn’t know it was postal voting but good to hear that. Will make voting easier.
Shane (pictured, left): Yes, I’ll be voting. It’s important to have a local body in the borough, as a go-between from the community to the council. What do they do? They help with community groups, with grants and funding. I’d never consider running for election or standing myself. I’m too busy with family, business, other things.
Bronwyn: I know elections are coming up and it’s good it’s postal voting. I wouldn’t vote if it was by cell phone or computer. If you’re in a community, there’s no point in complaining about anything if you haven’t made an effort to vote and hope they do something about it.
Adam (pictured, top right): I always vote. I feel I can’t complain if I don’t vote. I do understand that local boards are
a link into council and that many MPs got into government by coming through local boards. Politicians all started somewhere.
Tom: I’m vaguely aware of local boards and the elections coming up. I didn’t know it was postal voting (until you told me). I really don’t know what they achieve ... community policy I guess. No, I’d never think about standing. I reckon there’d be too much dirt.
David: Of course, I’ll vote because it’s important to take part in democracy and have your say. What do boards do? That’s a good question, isn’t it? I really don’t know. No I don’t think about it but everything matters so I will definitely be voting. Have I thought about standing myself? No. I’m too honest to go into politics myself. I can’t lie convincingly. There are some good politicians and some that I would consider absolute muppets. I’d like to know more about who I’m voting for before I make my decision … but I will vote.
Roger: I’ve never heard of local boards. But I will probably vote; generally do because my wife says I have to. That’s not quite true. I vote but I don’t care deeply.
Merrill (pictured, right): I will be voting. If you don’t vote you can’t complain. We used to go up to the school to vote but postal voting is OK. I think the local bodies do a good deal of work behind the scenes and they’re a leadin to the council … things like health, welfare, schools, funding.
Esther nailed the whole idea of voting and was aware of the upcoming local body elections, what the boards are about and how they operate in the community. "Everyone should have an opinion about their local area, and take the time to vote on local issues." she says. "I’m looking forward to elections – national or local. But I can’t vote this time. I’m only 16."
Yay! We’ve done it!
Shouts of joy and loud cheering filled the home of Woodlands Park teenager Lexi Hedington when the New Zealand women's football team qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Morocco next year.
14-year old Lexi was part of the team who won the Oceania Football Championships Women’s U-16 qualifying event held in Apia, Samoa last month, beating Samoa 3–0 in the finals.
Lexi’s proud mother, Helen Anderson, says it’s an incredible achievement and a terrific honour for Lexi at her age.
“Her dream has always been to play professional football for New Zealand, Manchester United and England. Her love of the game and ability from a very early age has carved this pathway. From a little kid, Lexi’s always gone to bed with a football!”
Lexi is currently in Year 10 at Mt Albert Grammar but before that attended Woodlands Park School and Glen Eden Intermediate representing both schools in multiple sports, sports camps and AIMS (New Zealand’s largest sporting event for intermediate school-age games).
During those years she played for Glen Eden United and
Western Springs football clubs and travelled nationally for many tournaments. Last year saw Lexi moving to Auckland United FC and was playing in the U-13 and U-14 leagues.
In January this year Lexi and brother Oli Hedington travelled to Japan for a 15-day football tour playing against Yokohama F. Marinos, Tokyo FC and Reysol. Two months later she was invited to a selection process and in April was chosen to attend the national U-16 Camp. Lexi was named in the squad in July which led to her latest achievement at the Oceania championships.
Helen reckons her children have perhaps inherited nimble feet from her. She was a professional dancer with the New Zealand Ballet, and husband Rob Hedington played football to a high standard at school in England.
“It’s a pretty involved and hectic life,” says Helen who believes self-belief and resilience are key to success. And Lexi? “Her advice to any young players would be to never take your eye off your personal goal and practice, train, practice, train. Dedication pays off.”
– Moira Kennedy
Caring for the Ranges: local board invests in nature and community
A strong commitment to sustainability and community wellbeing has been underlined by Waitākere Ranges Local Board with an investment of almost $400,000.
The $389,990 investment through the board’s local environmental management work programme supports a wide range of community-led environmental projects.
These are aimed at protecting the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Waitākere Ranges, while encouraging sustainable lifestyles.
Local Board chair Greg Presland says the additional funding has allowed the board to deepen its commitment to both people and place.
“Thanks to Auckland Council’s new Fairer Funding model, we have more budget available for more projects this year,” says Presland.
“We are pleased to support community cycling initiatives for the first time. These new initiatives have been allocated $35,000, including a community-led e-bike library trial, kids’ learn-to-ride events, adult bike skills workshops, and guided rides.”
“Another new initiative is the phosphite treatment for kauri trees affected by dieback disease at Tītīrangi War Memorial Park. We’ve allocated $6,600 towards this project and hope it will help prolong the life of infected kauri.”
The Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance coordinator role received $95,000 in funding to continue supporting and connecting local ecological restoration efforts.
The ongoing Weed Action Project (Our Backyard) received $52,500. Funded by the board since 2014, this initiative focuses on controlling invasive weeds on privately owned properties in areas such as Huia, Anawhata, Karekare, Piha and Cornwallis.
Programmes delivered by EcoMatters Environment Trust were allocated $96,955, which includes support for EcoFest, community nurseries, and the Love Your Place environmental champion awards that celebrate local action within the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area.
The South Tītīrangi Restoration Project, which assists the South Tītīrangi Neighbourhood Network in managing pest plants on private properties, received $15,000.
As a member of the Manukau Harbour Forum, the board has contributed $10,435 to the forum’s regional co-funding.
Other initiatives in the programme include:
• $40,000 for a climate action activator to support and enable community climate action.
• $3,500 for kerbside recycling collections at communityuse buildings in Piha.
• $35,000 for additional animal management support on west coast beaches to improve dog bylaw compliance and protect native wildlife.
“The Waitākere Ranges, Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa, is a taonga with rich biodiversity and a strong community spirit. This investment helps us protect our natural environment while empowering locals to be part of the solution,” says Presland.
Lexi Hedington in action in Apia, Samoa.
Learning the ropes
During the last term break, two Green Bay High School students had a taste of life as a Member of Parliament.
The Youth Parliament is held every July at the Beehive in Wellington. MPs choose a young person aged between 16 and 18 to sit in their chair for three days, participate in working groups on proposed legislation, and either give a speech or ask a question in the House.
Gayle Bain’s successful application to Deborah Russell included a speech on pay equity. "I was impressed by her understanding of current issues, such as pay equity,” says Deborah. “Gayle is exactly the type of informed and insightful person we need in politics."
“My dad encouraged me to apply,” she says. (Gayle’s father has worked for Deborah.) “He’s been a huge influence on my political views. He and Mum made me empathetic… I believe in equity, not equality. I’m a feminist.”
Gayle’s two inspirations in politics are Jacinda Ardern and Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “I’ve met Jacinda a couple of times and those meetings still have an impact on me because she took the time to answer my questions,” Gayle says. “Chlöe does a great job representing how I see politics in the chamber. She reminds me of me.”
When New Lynn MP Paulo Garcia came to the school to speak about the Youth Parliament, Adi Shirlal was keen to apply. He doesn’t come from a political family but has developed his skills through the army cadet scheme and Whau Youth Board.
“I have a lot of ideas I want to pursue, to be a voice for other motivated rangatahi, to create opportunities for them to be heard,” he says. Paulo says Adi’s enthusiasm for volunteering in the community sealed the deal.
Adi's speech focussed on the faults he perceives in New Zealand’s education system. Despite his extensive public speaking experience, his two minutes in the spotlight were nerve-wracking.
Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland 0600 Phone: 09 826 2170 paulo.garciaMP@parliament.govt.nz
“My hands were shaking the entire time. It was really quite something.”
In his speech, Adi noted that barely half of students sitting the new NCEA benchmark are able to pass, which he sees as a systemic fault. Last month, the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, announced a proposal to abolish NCEA altogether. The problem with this approach, says Adi, is that politically driven change de-stabilises young people’s education.
“I don’t think we should be replacing NCEA or lowering the standard of high school education to compensate for primary school deficiencies in literacy and numeracy. We deserve consistency and certainty with our education. There should be a national, cross-party, long-term education plan.”
The recent Independent Electoral Review considered lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. Adi believes that without this change, the government is not forced to cater to youth in its decision-making.
At Parliament, Gayle asked a question of National MP Penny Simmonds, challenging the new requirements for young people who are unemployed, which could make some precarious situations even worse. All the questions and speeches were vetted by the Ministry of Youth Development to ensure they contained no opinions, facts or arguments.
“I was annoyed that they re-worded my question to be less critical of the government,” says Gayle. “It was no longer what I wanted to ask, so I worked with Deborah on a compromise.”
Was she satisfied with the answer? “The response Penny gave me is what Deborah calls 'running away'. It was lengthy but it didn’t say anything.”
Gayle is pleased her research continues to make an impact, and she continues to collaborate and share with fellow potential young parliamentarians through online chat groups. Youth Parliament has given her a boost to look at a career in politics and she is hoping to stand with her dad in the 2028 local board elections for Whau, as a dad and daughter team.
Adi Shirlal and Gayle Bain.
The tara of Whatipū E-waste recycling
E-waste is increasing three times faster than other household waste streams in New Zealand, with the average Kiwi generating more than 21kg of unwanted e-products each year, writes FIONA DRUMMOND.
It is estimated that only two per cent of e-waste is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills across the country.
The Warehouse Group which includes The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery and Noel Leeming have some recycling opportunities locals can take advantage of.
Noel Leeming, in partnership with Tech Collect NZ, is offering free e-waste collection at 27 stores nationwide, including St Lukes and Lincoln Road, (but not New Lynn). These stores can help you recycle personal and laptop computers and all cables, tablets, notebooks computer monitors, internal hard drives CD drives, computer peripherals and accessories, printers, scanners, and multi-function devices, and cameras.
Simply take it to the customer service desk, drop it off and they’ll take care of the rest.
Ink and toner cartridges can be recycled at Warehouse Stationery which has teamed up with Brother and e-waste specialists Recycling Group to provide a comprehensive recycling programme for ink and toner cartridges, drum cartridges and label printer tape cassettes.
Would you like to play a part in enhancing the heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau?
Applications for Council's 2025 Regional Historic Heritage Grant Programme are now open. Individuals, iwi or Māori groups, community groups and trusts can apply for up to $50,000 to kick-start or contribute to the preservation of an historic building or place, including initiatives which address the impacts of climate change.
Applications are open until September 15. To find out more, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ grants-community-support-housing/grants/regionalgrants/Pages/grant-details.aspx?itemID=46
SANDRA GORTER of Friends of Whatipū introduces the incredible hunter the tara, or white fronted tern.
Nature has fitted out the Tara with a special forked tail that enables it to manoeuvre with incredible agility in the air as it hunts down shoaling fish at sea or in Whatipū's sheltered lagoon. Tara visit Whatipū as a colony in the summer, all arriving at the same time and laying their eggs, usually one per couple, within a few days in small scrapes in the sand.
When they are about two years old they begin courtship. The male offers the female a fish mid-flight and if the female dives and catches the fish they mate for life.
Tara are found all around New Zealand but are seldom found far from the coast. They have relatives on Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in Tasmania and go to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria during winter.
Although they are surprisingly long-lived for a bird, at around 18 years, tara are endangered as cats, ferrets, stoats and rats eat their eggs and chicks.
Friends of Whatipū has been working to protect the Whatipū area and its special inhabitants like the tara for many years and their latest project is the Green Shed, an educational facility for those coming to explore the scientific reserve and its environment. The shed is a venue for talks by visiting experts and it is also a base for search and rescue operations, trapping, beach cleans, planting and weeding days, and bird monitoring exercises.
As part of the Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance Special Species Spotlight campaign, Friends of Whatipū will unveil a painting of a tara by Celeste Strewe during a public event at the Green Shed on September 6. All are welcome.
Photo by Imogen Warren.
Our place
A Village alive with sound, soul and cultural celebration
This Labour Weekend, Tītīrangi Village will burst into life with rhythm, creativity and community spirit as Tītīrangi Festival of Music (TFM) returns for its 20th anniversary celebration.
The re-established Tītīrangi Festival Trust reflects the diversity of West Auckland, with members from Māori, Pacific, and ethnic communities.
Founding members David Parker, Angus Ramsay, and Ian Oakes are joined by Dixon Nacey (Artistic Director, Cook Islands heritage), Janine Blakemore (Chairperson, Niuean heritage), Ra Toia-Booth (Treasurer, Māori heritage), Hayden Booth, Dinesh Dias (Sri Lankan Heritage) and Saylene Tanielu-Ulberg (Samoan heritage).
Over two music-filled days, TFM will unfold across two vibrant locations. On Saturday October 25, Tītīrangi Village will be transformed into a hub of live music, with six indoor venues and two outdoor stages presenting 26 free shows and four ticketed events.
One of the stand-out elements this year is the Cultural Stage, a new initiative spotlighting Māori, Pacific, and multicultural voices in West Auckland. Showcasing local schools (Green Bay High School, Kelston Boys High School, Avondale College and Lynfield College) and community groups, the stage will pulse with ancestral rhythm and contemporary pride.
The indoor venues include Deco Eatery, Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, Tītīrangi RSA, Street Feast, ITi, and Tītīrangi Theatre. The outdoor venues are the Cultural stage, and the Barfoot & Thompson stage.
Sunday October 26 kicks off with the buzz of an outdoor community stage, filling Avondale with free live performances and a neighbourhood vibe before the spotlight shifts indoors to the historic Hollywood Cinema in Avondale – a new home while the Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall is under renovation. The weekend culminates with a special ticketed event featuring award-winning saxophonist Thabani Gapara (left) and the genre-blending magic of Black Comet (below). Expect a night of sonic exploration where jazz, soul, funk create cinematic soundscapes. And there are more amazing artists to be announced! With its mix of heritage, innovation and deep community collaboration, TFM25 promises something for everyone – music lovers, families, culture seekers and curious wanderers.
TFM is powered by community spirit and local generosity. This year's event is supported by the Whau and Waitākere Ranges Local Boards and The Trusts, with many more sponsors yet to be announced. If you’d like to become a sponsor, make a contribution, or volunteer on the day, the festival would love to hear from you.
Email Angus.tfm@gmail.com
Guardians of the wild Waitākere Ranges
The Waitākere Ranges is the jewel in Auckland’s crown and the Waitākere Ranges Protection Society (WRPS), a voluntary organisation, is committed to protecting them.
The Society was inaugurated in 1973 when it took on its first legal fight to stop part of the Ranges becoming a rubbish tip. During the 1980s, many other potentially damaging developments were proposed in the Ranges and each initiative had to be fought separately, requiring immense time and money. The catch-phrase "death by a thousand cuts", coined by former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams, highlighted the potential for seemingly minor development decisions to erode the area's unique values.
in the Ranges and preventing unbridled development. However, the Act has not always been recognised, let alone implemented, by the Crown or local government. Ongoing monitoring of the state of the Ranges has been hampered by inadequate resourcing. And the Act's provision for a Deed of Acknowledgement with local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki to strengthen stewardship of public land within the area was not addressed until late 2024, nearly 17 years after the Act was passed.
Legislative protection for the Ranges became the Society’s objective and WRPS began to lobby local government leaders and members of parliament. When Waitākere City, led by Mayor Bob Harvey, became New Zealand’s first eco-city 1990s, Bob (himself a passionate Westie who loved the wild Waitākere coast), alongside conservation-minded councillors on the Waitākere City Council and Auckland Regional Council were persuaded to begin considering dedicated legislative protection for the Ranges. The result was the development of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Bill in the early 2000s.
Local Labour MP, Lynne Pillay relentlessly championed the bill, and persuaded Labour Party colleagues, some independent MPs, and the Green Party to support it. The Bill was introduced to parliament in 2006 and eventually became law on April 8, 2008.
The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act established the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area and promoted its protection and enhancement for the benefit of all New Zealanders. The Act has succeeded in enhancing environmental protection
PUNCTUATE
Auckland Council (with Te Kawerau ā Maki and the Department of Conservation (DOC)) finally formalised this Deed, along with the establishment of a joint advisory committee to support preservation the area for future generations, last month. WRPS submitted strongly in favour of the proposal.
The new committee will include five representatives from Te Kawerau ā Maki, two from council's governing body, three from local boards and one from DOC. It will be advising the governing body on decisions relating to the Waitākere Ranges. The committee will also develop a strategic plan for the Heritage Area, and support the ongoing monitoring and five-yearly reporting required by the Act.
WRPS is grateful to Te Kawerau ā Maki and the Waitākere Ranges and Whau Local Boards for their support in achieving this historic outcome.
“This place is a treasure that needs ever-vigilant guardians,” said ex-WRPS president, the late John Edgar, in 2006.
WRPS is proud to give the Waitākere Ranges a voice and that is never more important than now. The Society is always interested in welcoming anyone who would like to become involved.
https://waitakereranges.org.nz/
Art & About with Naomi McCLeary
Black Swan
I grew up with a white swan; the Crown Lynn vase ubiquitous throughout ‘middle class’ New Zealand.
I can see it still, stuffed with freesias in spring; sweet smelling on the oak sideboard. It was elegant and entirely unthreatening. I never knew a black swan. But Crown Lynn did do black swans, and as I look at the image on Te Toi Uku’s website. There it sits, gleaming, sensuous, somehow secretive. No freesias for this one; it calls out for blood red roses.
All this as preamble to the recently re-opened museum, following a significant upgrade. Te Toi Uku – Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum – has been a quiet treasure in New Lynn for some years. It had a rocky start; a small legacy building, intended to be a museum, but, like a pub with no beer, nothing happened! It dates from the 1980s when small local councils had a spend-up prior to the 1989 amalgamation into Waitākere City.
It sits beside the only remaining down-draft kiln from the clay industry days; and that kiln is a thing of absolute beauty; a cave, an arch of bricks, coated with the remnants of glaze from its firing life.
During the Waitākere City days it intersected with another story. It became the storage place for the Richard Quinn collection; a huge and random gathering up of the remnants of Crown Lynn after domestic tableware became the victim of parallel importing. There were some years of drama around the ownership of this treasure-trove of the history and evidence of the clay industry in the west.
As this played out the museum remained locked and its future looked perilous. (Developers were circling!) Renowned potter, Barry Brickell, made a trip from the Coromandel and begged to be allowed in; no details revealed but somehow that was achieved. I so remember him, clearly in seventh heaven, wrapping his arms around a very large, salt-glazed pipe, resting his head against it with his eyes closed and humming with happiness. I’m pretty sure it is the same pipe that is now exhibited in the industrial section of the museum.
Eventually good sense prevailed and the Portage Ceramics Trust was formed and became the trusted parent of the collection. My admiration for all the people who fought for this remains unabated. Te Toi Uku emerged from this as a small but perfectly formed celebration of all things clay in the west. Crown Lynn is the star turn; recognised, collected,
traded and an ongoing source of nostalgia and stories. (Last year Te Pou Theatre launched a new play, The Handlers, a lovely evocation of the Māori and Pacifica women who, literally, put the handles on the cups!)
But the clay industry was built on field tiles and bricks; beautiful bricks of all colours, with identifying marks and stamps. These are also collectors’ items, the rarer the more desirable.
To the present: after several months closed while essential upgrades were undertaken, Te Toi Uku has re-opened. Yes, it has a new roof and spruced up facilities; but the public face has been refreshed and renewed during the down time. And it shows.
At the opening, there it was, the black swan! What might my life have been if I had grown up with one of these?
Go at leisure; indulge in nostalgia; learn stuff; find a new obsession. (Mine is to acquire a black swan!)
Te Toi Uku – Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum is in Ambrico Place, New Lynn and is open Wednesday – Friday, 10am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-3pm. Entry is free; donations are welcomed.
Artist of the Month:
The work of Rebecca Steedman is relatively new to me, so I am indulging in the pleasure of discovery; searching out the background facts before launching into my response to her work.
She is a design educator, designer and artist with 19 years teaching experience at a tertiary level encompassing 13 years at Whitecliffe College. Passionate about education, she fosters a teaching approach that encourages experimentation, inspiring students to push boundaries and explore new possibilities alongside design fundamentals.
I first saw her work in 2024 at the Corban Estate Arts Centre.
Talking Earth was a contained but beautifully constructed exhibition using locally-sourced materials, primarily of volcanic origin. The irregularities inherent in these materials were reflected in vessels that quietly acknowledged their domestic origins while celebrating intentional imperfections. There were nods to the landscape and contemporary dinnerware. Rebecca had been inspired by a recent visit to Te Toi Uku and childhood memories associated with Crown
Lynn bowls and plates, the company we share meals with, and the places we choose for dining experiences.
Here’s the big ‘BUT’! I love the reflective quality of her work, but I have fallen ‘head over heels’ with her ceramic bricks. They are facsimiles of the bricks of yore; but hollow casts, fired and richly glazed. They have been reviewed and imbued with layers of meaning, and I don’t for a minute dispute that; in fact it adds a gravitas to them. But at face value they evoke an era, a simpler time, a nostalgia for a world seen through rosy-coloured spectacles, yet salutes the dirt, the sweat, the smoke, the fierce hard labour, the tiredness.
Te Toi Uku has a small range of ceramic works for sale; replicas of Crown Lynn classics, some jewellery and Rebecca’s work. It sits beautifully in the ambience of the museum.
Book of the Month:
1985 by Dominic Hoey. (Penguin Books New Zealand)
Reviewed by Mark Easterbrook
Some books take you away. Others bring you home. Laingholm-based Dominic Hoey’s third novel, 1985 is absolutely of the second kind. A coming-of-age story based mostly in mid-80s Grey Lynn (with some guest appearances from Tītīrangi), it centres on Obi, an 11-year-old obsessed with video games and finding a way for his family to escape their impoverished life. I was 10 in 1985 and Hoey’s prose dropped me right back into that time – of spacies, break dancing, the Rainbow Warrior bombing – as well as the feeling of being a boy working out how to become a young man. It felt real and textured and familiar. I know he researched extensively to capture the period, and it shows.
As a writer, I think Hoey’s great gift is in how he inhabits a character and their voice. By framing the story as Obi’s recollections, Hoey is able to speak as both 11-year-old and future Obi, sprinkling clues and emotional foreshadowing throughout the narrative. It’s a tough read at times, touching on damaged lives, but it has an energy and black comedy and momentum that I found irresistible. Highly recommended.
New Arrivals for Spring Quality Fashion
561 Blockhouse Bay Road
Blockhouse Bay Village (opposite the Library)
Tues – Fri: 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm
Closed Sun and Mon
Ph 09 626 5633
Places to go – Things to do
Out and About in the West
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 if possible, especially over the festive and holiday season
Exhibitions
w – 7, Ngā Ringa Whetū, an exhibition of whatui and rāranga (weaving) by students from Elam School of Fine Arts; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 20, Paintings by Jill Perrot; West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Thursday/Sunday. Phone 812 8029. www.westcoast.co.nz.
w – 21, Life Out Loud, a celebration of our emerging artists’ creativity, and bold expression; Upstairs Gallery, First floor, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 4278 or email gallery@upstairs.org.nz.
w – October 4, Specularium, Oil paintings exploring both personal and contemporary ideas by Giles Smtih; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w – October 4, Current Moods, Jean Stewart explores the interplay between painted landscapes and human emotion; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w – October 4, Places I have been, a dreamlike journey that interweaves the nostalgia of places already inhabited with the creation of new landscapes by Jesu Vásquez-Lesser Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
September
w 5, Adults Jewellery Workshop, a community craft workshop; Glen Eden Library, 12/32 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 10am-12pm. Phone 377 0209.
w 5, Flicks presents Mr Burton (M), the true story of a working-class boy who became one of the greatest actors of the 20th century; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 10.30am, 5.30pm and 8.15pm; $16 and $12. Text bookings 0210 222 5558. www.flickscinema.weebly.com
w 7, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732.
w 8, Better Banking: Frauds and Scams, a community workshop; Glen Eden Library, 12/32 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 1.00-2.30pm. Register by phone 09 377 0209 or email gleneden.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
w 8 – 12, Daily Digital Drop-In sessions to build confidence around digital competency, supported by ACE Aotearoa; Glen Eden Library, 12/32 Glendale Road, Glen Eden. Phone 377 0209.
w 9, Staying Safe: A refresher course for older drivers, in collaboration with Waka Kotahi/NZTA and Tītīrangi Library; Tītīrangi Community House, 500 South Tītīrangi Road; 9-11am; bookings required: phone 09 817 7448 or email admin@titirangihouse.co.nz
w 11, Create a memoir through art, crafting, recipes, etc. in collaboration with Tītīrangi Library; Tītīrangi Community House, 500 South Tītīrangi
Road; 1.30–3.30pm; free but bookings required at events.humanitix.com and search ‘memoir’. Phone 817 0011.
w 13, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club presents Sadie & Jay (and AGM), floorsingers in first half; Tītīrangi Beach Hall, bottom of Tītīrangi Beach Road; 8pm; free. www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz.
w 14, Waitematā Country Music Club Night; Glen Eden Community Centre, 44 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 7-10pm; $5. Phone Kathy 09 817 4994
w 15, Henderson Falls Combined Friendship Club; Henderson Bowling Clubrooms, 2/20 Alderman Drive, Henderson; 10am-12 noon. Contact Gwenda Elwood on 836 0445 or 027 664 7565.
w 17, Soup Day. Enjoy hot home-made soup; Green Bay Community House, 1 Barron Drive, Green Bay; 12-1pm; Free. https://www.facebook.com/ share/1GD6Lb663g/ Phone 827 3300.
w 23, Tītīrangi U3A – informal learning for people 50-years plus; West Lynn Garden, 73 Parker Avenue, New Lynn; 1pm. Contact Irene Pearcey ipearceyu3a@gmail.com. www.u3a.nz.
w 23, Tītīrangi Library presents Uproar, a Heritage Festival screening of a fun-filled coming-of-age New Zealand movie (PG13); Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; free. 2-4pm. Phone 817 0011
w 26, Bead Weaving Workshop, Glen Eden Library, 12/32 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 10.30-11.30am: Phone 377 0209 or 817 0011.
w 26, Flicks presents How to Make a Killing (M, France/English subtitles), a comedy/thriller with never a boring moment; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 10.30am, 6pm and 8.15pm; $16 and $12. Text bookings to 0210 222 5558. www.flickscinema.weebly.com
w 26, Flicks presents a special school holiday screening of Sketch (PG), a crayon-scribbled cross between Jurassic Park and Inside Out, suitable for 9+; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; $12, child under 14 $10; Text bookings to 0210 2225558. www,flickscinema.weebly.com
w 26, Waitākere Grey Power General Member's Meeting with guest speaker, Trish Fleming from West Auckland Hospice; Te Atatū South Community Centre, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatū; 12.30pm. Contact Mate Marinovich 836 5207.
w 26, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club presents Friday Folk, an informal gathering of musicians, singers and listeners; Tītīrangi Beach Hall, bottom of Tītīrangi Beach Road; 7:30pm; $5. www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz.
w 27, 60s Up Movement West Auckland. Monthly social meetings including speakers, shared lunch and monthly bus trips; New Lynn Friendship Club Hall, 3063 Great North Rd, New Lynn; 10.30am. Contact Marjorie 817 1079.
w 28, Tītīrangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall car park and the Titirangi RSA; 10am-2pm. Contact tvm. manager@gmail.com.
w 30, Drop-in Wonky Soft Toy Workshop a morning of creativity turning scraps of fabric into one-of-a-kind soft toys; Tītīrangi Theatre lobby, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 10am-12pm. Phone 817 0011.
w October 1, Teen Painting Workshop, a beginner-friendly painting session; Glen Eden Library, 12/32 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 2pm-3.30pm. Bookings required (after September 15) at https://events.humanitix.com/ teen-painting-workshop-sywxzlxx. Phone 377 0209 or 817 0011.
"I'm in it for Auckland"
Kerrin Leoni is standing for election as Mayor of Auckland. She stands for:
Affordable housing: Aucklanders deserve access to safe, affordable housing. Kerrin will prioritise policies that increase housing supply through smart urban development and support sustainable, well-planned growth that benefits all communities. She will also work with developers to ensure affordability remains a priority and improve rental conditions and tenant rights to ensure fair housing for all.
Smart transport and infrastructure: Building a city that moves efficiently is crucial for economic growth and quality of life. Kerrin’s transport plan includes expanding and improving public transport to reduce congestion, investing in smart technology to optimise traffic flow and reduce emissions, supporting cycling, walking, and alternative transport solutions, and upgrading and maintaining key infrastructure to future-proof Auckland’s growth.
A greener, more sustainable Auckland: Kerrin is dedicated to making Auckland a leader in environmental sustainability by expanding and protecting parks and green spaces, reducing waste and increasing recycling initiatives,
investing in renewable energy and carbon-neutral policies and implementing sustainable building and development standards.
Stronger communities: Auckland is strongest when its communities thrive. Kerrin will focus on safer streets and neighbourhoods, supporting local initiatives that promote inclusion and diversity, expanding access to quality education, healthcare, and social services, and strengthening community engagement and participation in decision-making.
Smart City innovation: Technology can make Auckland more efficient, sustainable, and responsive. Kerrin’s vision includes using data-driven solutions for better city planning, implementing smart traffic management systems, enhancing digital access and connectivity for all communities, supporting local tech innovation to create a smarter, futureready Auckland.
Economic growth and opportunity: Auckland’s economy should provide opportunities for everyone. Kerrin’s policies will support small businesses and local entrepreneurs, attract new investment to drive innovation and job creation, promote economic policies that ensure fair wages and employment security, and strengthen Auckland’s position as a hub for global business and tourism.
Authorised by D Blomfield, 13 Brownie Rd, Laingholm
Authorised by Derek Battersby, 56 Exler Place, Avondale.
for Whau
Local Government Elections
Transparent and accountable leadership: Kerrin is committed to a government that serves the people, with policies that promote open governance and transparency in decision-making, encourage public participation in key city decisions, hold city officials accountable for responsible financial management, and ensure every Aucklander has a voice in shaping the future.
Vote Kerrin Leoni for Mayor
Collaborative Leadership: Auckland Needs Team Players, Not Lone Wolves
Linda Cooper, MNZM, is a candidate for Waitākere Ward – Auckland Council and the Henderson-Massey Local Board. Linda believes leadership in local government isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about listening, building relationships, and getting things done together. In a city as diverse and complex as Auckland, the era of the “lone wolf” leader is well and truly over.
Councils, boards, and community organisations don’t function on ego. They thrive on collaboration. Real results come when leaders bring people together, work through differences respectfully, and focus on shared goals.
Communities don’t benefit from grandstanding, they benefit from practical, inclusive problem-solving.
When leaders choose to criticise or berate others, especially staff or colleagues, they often find themselves isolated and ineffective. In contrast, those who respect process, treat people with dignity, and know how to collaborate are the ones who deliver for their communities.
Aucklanders want solutions, not drama. They want parks maintained, footpaths fixed, community events supported, and housing progress made. None of that happens without teamwork across departments, agencies, and elected officials.
Effective leaders know their strengths but also know they can’t do it all alone. They draw on the knowledge of others, listen to local voices, and build trust. That’s what gets budgets passed, projects delivered, and progress made.
It’s not about being soft, it’s about being smart. Collaborative leadership means leading with humility, respect, and a focus on service, not spotlight.
As we head into another cycle of local body elections, let’s remember: strong communities need strong teams and that starts with leaders who are ready to roll up their sleeves and work together.
Vote Linda Cooper – Backing the West
Bringing experience and energy to our region
Diane Blomfield is standing for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and the Portage Licensing Trust.
Many of you will know me from my involvement with Laingholm Playcentre and local schools, and roles at Corban Estate Arts Centre, the Going West Festival, and McCahon House. After 37 years in this community, I am standing because I bring the experience and vision to help our region thrive now and into the future.
I bring decades of leadership across cultural and environmental projects – from managing public engagement at Te Papa and Auckland Museum to directing climatefocused programmes like °TEMP. I’ve turned around struggling organisations, secured major funding, and built award-winning initiatives that connect communities across Aotearoa and the world.
As a local board member, I’ll bring that same experience and energy to our region. I’ll champion inclusive, transparent governance with joined-up thinking and place-based project management. I advocate for well-designed housing, exemplary infrastructure, inter-connected walkways and shuttle buses
that connect rail with suburbs and that can carry bikes. I’ll support initiatives that create more local jobs, and urban villages that reflect our creative diverse identity. I’ll advocate for rainwater incentives, smarter flood management, and strong environmental protection grounded in science and action. We can have both environment and progress. We can be ambitious and prosperous.
This place is rich in talent, creativity, natural beauty, and strong community spirit. If museums and libraries are recognised as core business – and they are – then arts, culture, and literature are essential investments in our shared future. I’ll make sure our creative heritage is honoured in everything from toilet blocks to town centres.
I love this region, and I can see untapped opportunities everywhere. I know how to make things happen.
Vote Diane Blomfield for Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Portage Licensing Trust. Deep roots. Independent voice. Joining the Dots.
Supporting a referendum on the future of the Trusts
Unlike the rest of Auckland, our community is fortunate it can manage the proliferation of unsuitable liquor outlets, whilst gaining community benefit from the business profits of this problematic industry, writes Ross Clow, who is standing for the Portage Licensing Trust.
This is a result of the Trusts' community ownership model out West – and is a good thing.
However, hospitality is the weak link in our communityowned enterprise. Unquestionably private operators do it better than the Trusts. The last poll on the future of the Trusts in the Portage Trust area was 22 years ago.
Therefore, I pledge to support a referendum in order to decide if the community still wishes to retain licensing trust control out West.
Continued on page 18 >>
Vote for the Future West team
Local Government elections are approaching. The Future West team is seeking your vote for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and licensing trusts. Since our inception Future West has delivered on our pillars of more local decision making, stronger environmental protection, commitment to Te Tiriti and value for council spending. We’re glad to report that we’ve:
• provided funding to diverse and vibrant local groups through organisations such as EcoMatters, Community Waitākere, and Hoani Waititi Marae
• engaged directly with locals at community meetings and events to hear their issues first hand
• developed social and economic resilience, via both Tītīrangi and Glen Eden community houses
• supported and championed local arts and cultural groups, such as Te Uru, the McCahon House Trust, the Maurice Shadbolt writers’ residence, the Going West Writers’ Festival and the Playhouse Theatre
• completed our local Climate Action Plan and continued work on shoreline adaption and protection, for example the Huia seawall
• supported local environmental projects and funded a Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance Controller to coordinate local groups' activity
• regularly reviewed budgets to ensure Council’s spend is efficient
• worked to improve water quality and insisted that our beaches should all be swimmable. In the past few years Tītīrangi Beach, Laingholm Beach and Wood Bay have been designated as swimmable, at least some of the time.
We are proud of our efforts to keep people safe in a changing climate and our ongoing commitment to protect our unique local environment, which underpins our Westie identity.
With your continued support, we will push for further upgrades to Glen Eden town centre, complete the Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall and Library and ensure that solar panels are installed, better design standards in urban development, and deliver on the Climate Action Plan. We will keep up our strong support for the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area, and continue to support local community groups and activities. We will also seek special recognition of the unique fragility of our area and the need for infrastructure, including roads, walking tracks and power supply, to be able to resist increasingly frequent heavy weather events.
You should receive your voting papers from September 11 and we urge you to vote as soon as possible. Voting closes 12 noon on October 11. It’s super easy this year: in addition to free post, you can drop your papers off at the local library.
If you have any questions or comments please email us at futurewest.akl@ gmail.com.
The Future West team Who We Are
Future West is a coalition of Labour and Green Party members and communityminded independents, united in our commitment to protect and enhance the West. We're open about our political allegiances — they reflect our values — but we are not committed to any one party or ideology. Our focus is always on what’s best for the community.
What We Stand For Reliable, Resilient Infrastructure
Out West we all need everyday infrastructure to allow us to connect with our neighbours, our jobs and the greater Auckland Region. We will:
• Fight for localisation of maintenance contracts
• Advocate for safe, low-cost, and sensible transport options
• Push for better maintenance of our roads, footpaths, and drains Protecting Our Environment
The West is defined by its natural beauty, and we are committed to preserving and enhancing it. We will:
• Protect the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area / Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa
• Implement the Local Board's Climate Action Plan
• Improve community resilience to climate change
• Advance the establishment of a Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Waitākere Ranges
• Work to ensure our beaches are swimmable year-round
Supporting Our Communities
Stronger communities need strong local voices. We will:
• Support the construction of Te Henga Marae
• Deepen our partnership with Hoani Waititi Marae
• Amplify the voices of local residents, community groups, and environmental advocates
• Advocate for localised Council spending
• Oppose the sell-off of strategic Council assets
• Ensure value for money in the use of rates
Promoting Arts, Culture and Thriving Town Centres
The West’s identity is shaped by its diverse communities. We are committed to:
• Supporting local arts, culture, and heritage groups
• Funding community events and facilities
• Progressing the long-promised upgrade of the Glen Eden town centre
• Enhancing the design of growth areas such as Swanson and Glen Eden to reflect strong urban design and community values
For more information visit www.futurewest.co.nz
TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY: A
>> Supporting a referendum ... Continued from page 16
I am an experienced Independent candidate with a common sense approach. I am a strong community advocate with a proven track record of achievement in Waitākere community affairs. Community experience includes Finance Committee Chair on both Waitākere City and Auckland Councils, Whau Councillor and Portage Trust President.
I’ve lived in Tītīrangi for 60 years, co-raising the Pearl clan and love our close knit community.
"It's about planning for a future ..."
I’m running for the Whau Local Board because I care about this community, writes Warren Piper. The Whau has been my home for years, whether I’m walking my dog through our parks, enjoying our local cafés and eateries, or working alongside residents and businesses to make our area better, the Whau is where my roots are. Being an independent means I’m not tied to party politics, so I can focus on what truly matters: a safe, thriving, and connected Whau.
As a current Local Board member and past Chair of the New Lynn Business Association, I’ve worked to improve town centres, boost transport links, and enhance our green spaces. If re-elected, I’ll keep that momentum going, revitalising local centres with better maintenance and lighting, advocating for improved public transport reliability and frequency, and ensuring future growth respects our environment.
The Whau deserves leadership that listens and acts. I want to connect with residents, support local businesses, and make sure our community spaces are for everyone, including our four-legged friends, because a walk just isn’t the same without them. I believe small, practical improvements make a big difference, from safer streets to cleaner waterways and town centres buzzing with activity.
This is about more than today. It’s about planning for a future where the Whau continues to grow as a vibrant, welcoming place to live, work, and enjoy.
Let’s put the future of the Whau first.
Preserve our public green spaces!
Ross Clow is standing for Whau Local Board and is concerned that high rise towers and terraced housing are planned to blanket the AJC racecourse land when the racecourse closes in 2026.
While I support intensification around Avondale/New Lynn town centres, we also need public green spaces. We must fight to retain the sports fields for our children/grandchildren, and ensure Avondale Market’s survival. Please support me in our campaign to preserve our largest green space as our top Whau public park.
Other goals are to finish Te Whau Pathway and Avondale Community Centre and Library projects. Blockhouse Bay and Green Bay town centres need upgrading and New Lynn needs its Crown Lynn Park.
I am an experienced Independent candidate with a common sense approach. I am a strong community advocate with a proven track record of achievement in Whau community affairs. Community experience includes Finance Committee Chair on both Waitākere City and Auckland Councils, Whau Councillor and Portage Trust President. I’ve lived in Tītīrangi for 60 years.
The Whau Labour Team “Walks the Talk”.
In the Whau, every voice matters, and every corner of our diverse community is represented by someone on the Whau Labour Team. We’re on the ground, working with organisations like Vision West and Kai West, standing alongside our homeless and disabled residents, mentoring our youth, coaching sports teams, and welcoming people through the Citizens Advice Bureau. We build bridges of cultural and religious understanding through the Interfaith Council and bring creativity to life in the Arts.
Continued on page 20 >>
Authorised by Greg Presland 512 South Tītīrangi Road, Tītīrangi
LEND
I was elected by the Titirangi and Green Bay community at the last election, as a Trusts Action Group representative. Pushing for change.
I’d love your support for a further three years to advocate for more change within the Trusts operations. Progress is slower than I’d like, but we’ve had wins like changing to proper retail off licence brands, reducing costs, and The Beer Spot opens soon in New Lynn, which is a hospitality breakthrough in the West. This election we’re seeking a mandate for big change.
REFERENDUM
We will trigger a referendum as soon as possible, giving the community a say on whether the licensing monopoly should continue. Only a free market delivers real choice for our community.
MORE HOSPITALITY CHOICE
Push for better bars and more venues - now.
MORE FUNDING
Double Community Grants to $3 million per year. Fundamentally, structured differently, the Trusts could deliver more to the community, without gambling revenue.
FEWER POKIES IN TRUSTS
VENUES
Halve pokie machines immediately, reduce further over time.
TRANSPARENCY
More open meetings, livestreamed, with documents released. So the community is more aware of what’s going on and elected members don’t hide their opinions in closed meetings.
AMALGAMATE THE TRUSTS
Replace 3 boards and 26 seats with 1 board of around 10. Saves money, speeds up decision making.
Local Government Elections
>> The Whau Labour Team Continued from page 18
Our environmental work is both hands on and strategic, from serving on boards and committees, to rolling up our sleeves to clean waterways, weed reserves, and plant trees.
As the majority on the Whau Local Board for several years, Whau Labour is proud of what we’ve delivered. Even through funding cuts, we kept vital services running. Our network of community centres and hubs has thrived, for example Green Bay Community House buzzes with activities and events for all ages.
We’ve backed cultural festivals, supported groups like Whau Ethnic Collective and Whau Pasifika, funded our Youth Board and Seniors Providers’ Network, and strengthened our neighbourhoods’ resilience for emergencies. Environmental volunteer groups have had our support too, because caring for the Whau’s natural spaces is an investment in our shared future.
Every initiative is built on partnerships, making sure the projects and services we start today will still be here tomorrow.
Whau Labour is your progressive local voice: practical, proven, and passionate about our people and places. On election day, let’s keep the Whau moving forward. Vote Sarah Paterson Hamlin for Whau Ward Councillor, and the Labour Team for Whau Local Board, because together, we don’t just talk about change. We make it happen.
The Team West Auckland Needs
If you’ve lived in the West for a while, chances are you’ve heard of Shane Henderson or Jess Rose and that’s for a good reason.
Shane grew up and is raising his young family here. He has spent his life helping locals. First, as a lawyer giving free advice, and now as our councillor. He’s been working to keep public services strong, push for better transport, and take real climate action. From helping deliver the $50 monthly public transport cap to fighting for a trial bus to Piha and getting forest tracks reopened, Shane’s got the West’s back.
Jess first joined local government in 2016 and quickly built a reputation for listening and delivering for West Auckland (winning $300k additional investment into local community groups). Now she’s relocating to our area from Avondale. With qualifications in business, anthropology and project management, she’s smart and practical. Jess is a strong advocate for climate resilience and the environment, making sure our homes, green spaces, and waterways are protected for the future.
These two are running for the Waitākere Ranges Council seats; and frankly, we need them both on the job. What makes them such a great team is their complementary values and deep love for West Auckland. They know how Council works, they know how to get results, and they want to make sure the West gets its fair share.
Come election you get two ticks for Councillor, so you can vote for both to get an effective team for better Council service in West Auckland. Remember: you can’t spell #LovetheWest without “Shane” and “Jess.” (Well… you can, but you get the point.) Vote Rose and Henderson. We're on your side, and we're in it for your community.
G o t h e W h a u !
Dr Sarah PATERSONHAMLIN for Council
Valeria GASCOIGNE
Aadil BASHA
Fasitua AMOSA
RJ THOMSON
Fania KAPAO
Barrie-John PARTRIDGE
Kay THOMAS
Authorised by Fasitua Amosa , 022 170 2054, c/o
Gilmer Tce Wellington
Local Government Elections
"We need more ambition around hospitality"
Have you ever wondered why West Auckland has just eight bars for over 335,000 people, asks Ben Goodale. Frustrated you can’t grab wine or beer at the supermarket? Curious why the Trusts, who hold the monopoly, give back so little to the community?
I was too. That’s why I stood for election to Portage Licensing Trust in Tītīrangi and Green Bay, to push for change, and I got elected.
Now I’m standing again with the Trusts Action Group (WALTAG), and I’d love your vote.
What I’ve learned as a trustee is that the system is broken. The structure is dysfunctional, change is painfully slow, and the business is expensive to run, even with the best efforts of management to reduce costs. The Trusts aren’t built to be agile or entrepreneurial.
The change we’re seeking is simple and meaningful: Better bars. Fewer pokies. More giving back.
We want more ambition around hospitality, places locals actually want to go. But the real solution is to end the monopoly. Let local entrepreneurs – regular people who dream of opening a bar – do so, just like they can elsewhere in Auckland.
Our analysis shows that if the Trusts stepped away from running bars and adopted a leaner management structure, there’d be significantly more money to return to the community.
Other candidates will promise great things. But without real change to the business, there won’t be the funds to deliver on their dreams.
I’m not a politician. I’m a businessman and a local who believes we can do better. This election is our best opportunity for real change. Please lend me your vote.
Ben Goodale for Portage Licensing Trust, Titirangi & Green Bay Ward, Trusts Action Group.
ALLAN GEDDES
Community First
I am Michelle Clayton, your Independent candidate for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.
I have a background of nursing and social service management but for the last six years I have been a proud representative on the board working with many groups to help them achieve their aims and helping navigate the complexities of council.
I stand for Community First: Prioritising local voices in Council decisions.
• Action on basic maintenance
• Initiatives to make our town centres safer
• Protecting the natural environment
• Funding for community facilities, improving parks and walking tracks
• Community resilience – Champion our Volunteers
• Better public transport and infrastructure
• Parking solutions I believe in genuine representation and leadership from the grassroots that helps protect the unique character of our area whilst ensuring our community thrives.
If you want me in your corner, Vote Clayton
Authorised by Michelle Clayton, 37A Shetland Street, Glen Eden.
Live @ the lounge
If only it were just a game ...
Yeah gidday. Lizard here.
The other evening I dropped in to see Mopey Jesus. He’d moved in to new digs, quite literally, so I took a flagon of my home-distilled gorse gin as a house warming present. I eventually found a park for Whitevan in the Village and nipped across the road to the middle of the Tītīrangi roundabout. (Did you know the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society named the Tītīrangi roundabout the International Roundabout of 2017. The society, formed in 2003, is made up of people who are fascinated with ‘circular junctions’.)
Mopey Jesus had cleverly, and I guess a bit sneakily, dug under the famous fungus sculptures creating a very cosy bunker. If you look closely at the flowers, they’re actually tiny windmills providing electricity for Mopey. For his privacy, I won’t say which sculpture, but at the base of one, is a well camouflaged door. It has a small red doorbell with a sign saying, End-Of-The-World-Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH. I touched the door bell, entered, then slid down to Mopey's very cool pad.
"Kia Ora Lizard. Grab a pew mate. You’re just in time for a game of HomeLand Espionage."
I poured a couple of pints of gorse gin, sat down next to Mopey Jesus and grabbed my handset. To play the game each player chooses a team of four world leaders to be their characters. The first character to return to their HomeLand is the winner.
My first pick was Benjamin Netanyahu. Mopey Jesus countered strongly choosing Adolf Hitler. I then went with David Seymour so Mopey also stayed local and chose Te Kooti. Hmmm. Time for some big guns. I went with Donald Trump. Quick as, Mopey followed with Russel Norman. That just left, Jacinda Arden and Bishop Tamaki. I chose The Bishop.
Tradition dictates that the host goes first, so Mopey Jesus played Adolf Hitler. He pushed the dicey key and rolled a 5 and a 6. Moving Adolf 11 squares meant he crossed, unopposed, right through Europe landing in Palestine.
"Ah huh. Got ya," I said. "Benjamin Netanyahu already occupies that square so Adolf Hitler must go back 3." I chose not to play Benjamin, instead, I went with David Seymour. I pushed the dicey key and rolled a 3 and a 1. This landed David in Canada. A little cowboy then crossed the screen,
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pointed a little pistol at me and said "Foul". Apparently in a previous game, David Seymour had breached a deal with the Inuit people so he was arrested by the Canadian Mounted Police. Bugger.
Now, one player down, I was forced to use up Donald Trump. I threw a 4 and a 3 which Donald’s character said added up to 8 and he then moved forward 10 squares! This landed him in Scotland. Mopey immediately countered with his Russel Norman who said the Irish Green Party owned that square and had built a chain of Irish themed pubs called Murphy's Ock-Aye-Da-Nu Taprooms. This meant Donald Trump had to pay taxes which made him bankrupt and out of the game. Things were getting tense.
I had no choice but to play Bishop Tamaki. I pushed the dicey key and rolled double 5s. This moved the Bishop a third of the way around the board. All the way to the States. Mopey rolled a 9 and moved in Te Kooti. Unfortunately for Te Kooti, he also landed in America. Bishop Tamaki had wisely built two casinos and an Evangelist Dome on the square. Te Kooti paid the huge donation but this left him broke. He was then arrested for vagrancy and sent to prison. Not passing go.
I played my get out of jail free card and released Te Kooti. I then rolled a 3 which landed him on Community Chest. This card said 'Pay each player $100.00'. So that was the end of Te Kooti.
It all looked so strong for Mopey Jesus when he rolled Jacinda Ardern a double 6 which gave him another throw. He threw a 5 and miraculously landed at the New Zealand airport. Home sweet home.
Not quite Mopey, me old mate. Looking back several games, Jacinda Ardern had closed the New Zealand borders. Although they reopened, Jacinda had not declared her vaccination details and was refused entry back to Aotearoa until the paperwork was filled out.
"So what does this mean, Mopey? A world with no countries?"
“Imagine,” said Mopey Jesus. "It’s easy if you try."
We finished the gorse gin and I stayed the night. It felt a bit strange the next morning, climbing out of a roundabout, but hey.
Later, Lizard.
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