ISSUE 248, JUNE 2025
community news, issues, arts, people, events community news, issues, arts, people, events
Our place: Walking track updates; Classic fairy
The Ranges are not ‘Ours’
A few weeks ago, a leaflet was being circulated by an organisation that appeared to have strong connections to a Wellington-based, right wing lobby group.
They were concerned that a proposed deed of acknowledgement between a number of parties (legally required by the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act) was a threat to ‘Our Ranges’. But they have never been ‘Ours’.
No man has the right to own mountains, in the words of a Ewan McColl song, The Manchester Rambler. ‘Ownership’ of land was a Pākehā concept that changed the collective way Māori used to live and manage land. If the Waitākere Ranges ‘belong’ to anyone, they belong to Te Kawerau ā Maki who had their customary interests taken from them by the Crown and early settlers. (See https://www.whakatau.govt. nz/te-tira-kurapounamu-treaty-settlements/find-a-treatysettlement/te-kawerau-a-maki.)
The Ranges are not ‘ours’ to exploit for our own interests. Rather we have a joint responsibility to collectively care for and manage our wild life areas.
Quinn Hallas plays the determined and curious Little Red Riding Hood in Playhouse Theatre’s production of Into the Woods Jr. See page 12 for more.
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.
by Fringe Media Ltd, PO Box 60-469, Tītīrangi, Auckland 0642
Editor: Bevis England 817 8024, 027 494 0700 bevis@fringemedia.co.nz
Advertising: info@fringemedia.co.nz
Writers and contributors: Moira Kennedy, David Thiele, Naomi McCleary, Fiona Drummond, Jade Reidy, John Goudge, Karen McCarthy, Kerry Lee
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.
Te Kawerau ā Maki has always looked to work with others collaboratively: from the original Bethells family who settled Te Henga through to Simon Oosterman Beckers in Oratia who has nothing but praise for the iwi’s work and commitment (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BuqD4tqt4/).
But there are some who believe that working together is a bad idea, that co-operation and mutual understanding is dangerous and threatening, and that ‘co-governance’ must always be rooted out and stopped. This is unfortunate.
Council is considering the responses to its consultation on the proposed deed and decisions will be announced in July or August. It is to be hoped that the decision will be informed by what is best for all parties, and the Ranges, and not by inappropriate concepts of ‘ownership’.
– Bevis England
Letter
Bevis England is dead right about the increase in density not matching the community resources! (A Better Living Environment, page 3, The Fringe, May 2025.) I feel like it's not planned at all and so the roads get more choked with vehicles. The traffic is already terrible and ruins the environment for people trying to walk. I would love more gardens and parks not just natives flax and grasses. I guess this is a huge problem for an unplanned sprawling city. Also I wonder why there are no rubbish bins but random park benches looking out on traffic jams which absolutely no one uses.
– R. Taylor, Tītīrangi
Ed: Last month’s column asked Where is Council’s master plan for OUR communities? We have received no answers. But Council did announce a ‘Southern Rural Strategy’ to “cultivate industry, resilience and communities” in May. Perhaps it will start looking West soon or are we really just on the fringe?
Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall and Library to close
A major upgrade to the Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall and library is about to begin, writes JADE REIDY.
The upgrades begin on July 1 and are planned to take a year. Once completed, the 60-year-old building will have a new roof with solar panels and new exterior wall cladding. Seismic bracing, and timber and aluminium joinery work, are also on the plans, along with an upgrade of the storm water drainage. The mature tree at the front of the hall will be removed and replaced with a different one.
The hall will stay open through to, and including, Monday June 30 but the library will close two weeks earlier, on Monday, June 16 so all the books and furniture can be moved out and stored for the duration. A mobile book bus will then be parked in the first row of car parks from the entrance.
“The main objectives of the refurbishment are to create a weatherproof, stable and more sustainable building,” says
Greer Clark, the council’s area operations manager for parks and community facilities. “We understand that relocating the library and adjusting services will cause some disruption, and we’re committed to providing the best alternative service possible during this period.”
Book requests can be picked up from the mobile bus, and it will stock a limited range of books for loan. The programmes and activities run by the library will take place at other local community facilities. You’ll find most of the familiar librarians at the Glen Eden Library.
The monthly market is being re-negotiated as an outdooronly market for the 12-month period and the market manager was not available for further comment on details. Regular hall users have been informed about what other local community spaces are available to rent.
The car park will stay open, with 64 of the 88 car parks still available (see above plan).
Te Angitu Ngātahi
Succeeding Together
Open Evening Wednesday 16th July
3:30pm - 7:00pm
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
Special award for Nu2U team
A rare award has been granted by King Charles III, through New Zealand’s Governor-General, Dame Cindy Kiro, to a group of local women to acknowledge their fundraising work for St John West Auckland.
The Order of St John Priory Vote of Thanks has been awarded to Jean Piper and her team of volunteers at Green Bay’s Pinesong Village for their fundraising efforts through a weekly Nu2U pre-loved ladies fashion boutique. They’ve raised nearly $40,000 since 2019 to support two free health shuttles for St John West Auckland.
The Order of St John evolved from the Knights Hospitallers during the religious Crusades (circa 1099), and in 1888 Queen Victoria recognised and incorporated by royal charter what was to become the modern ‘Order of St John.’ Now operating as Hato Hone St John in New Zealand, it is the country’s largest ambulance service provider and this year celebrates 140 years’ service. Founded in Christchurch in 1885, its aim was to teach first aid training to deal with the increase in accidents occurring with the development of an industrialised and urbanised society. As reigning monarch King Charles III holds the position of Sovereign Head of the international Order of St John.
Contact Hato Hone St John through their website, phone number (0800 ST JOHN - 0800 785 646), or email (info@ stjohn.org.nz). Nu2U is open to the public every Wednesday, 9.30am–noon at the Seabreeze Lounge in Pinesong Village, Green Bay.
– Moira Kennedy
www.greenbayhigh.school.nz
South Tītīrangi Neighbourhood Network has decided to change its name to Tītīrangi Urban Sanctuary. The new name and logo was launched on Saturday May 24. However, the group still has the same goal, to create an Urban Sanctuary in Tītīrangi. Its trapping, weeding and habitat restoration work remains focussed in the South Tītīrangi area, with neighbours helping neighbours, in a community led approach. Visit the new website https://tus.nz to find out more.
Jean Piper (centre) with Ian Dunn, Knight of St John beside her and some of the Nu2U volunteer team receiving the Priory Vote of Thanks award.
Local ukulele group The Nukes has just released Say hello to Max the Musical Mosquito, a catchy, country-swinging, brain-tickling tune about an airplane-obsessed kid who is woken in the middle of the night by a ukulele-playing mosquito. The song has been released as part of the launch of the group’s new EP, Creature Feature, funded in part by NZ On Air’s Children’s Music Fund.
You’ll find it on all digital platforms with a video available on YouTube.
Now in their 15th year, The Nukes are frontman Dave Parker (pictured right), Ben Collier, and Dave’s son Josh (JayP) Parker (left), who officially joined the band in 2023.
Exciting News!
I’m thrilled to announce that in the upcoming local body election, I’ll be joined by Sunil Kaushal as we stand together for election as your Waitākere Ward Councillors.
We’re asking for your support and your vote as a team committed to keeping Council real and focused on the needs of our community.
Back in 2022, several people suggested that Sunil and I run together. At the time, we were just acquaintances, and I wasn’t comfortable asking someone I barely knew to take on such a challenging and costly journey. But since then, we’ve become great friends. We’ve come to understand each other well, and our thinking is very much aligned.
I’ve also learned that being a Councillor is a huge role – it covers a wide range of issues, and no one can cover all the issues alone. That’s why I’m proud to have Sunil by my side.
Sunil is a proud Kiwi Indian of 30 years. His heritage and professional background complement my own experience as a classic Kiwi tradie. Together, we bring a broader, stronger perspective to the table – one
that reflects our many people and maintains our West Auckland spirit and identity.
We’ll be a formidable team at the Auckland Council table – dedicated to keeping it real and advocating for what matters to Waitākere.
Ken Turner and Sunil Kaushal WestWards Keeping it Real!
Researchers visit the Manukau Harbour
American scientists recently visited New Zealand to study some of our smaller crustaceans. The threeperson team was led by Professor Sarah Gerken along with Undergraduate Victoria Vandersommen (both from the University of Alaska) and Associate Professor Kevin Kocot from the University of Alabama.
The object of their study is the tiny shrimp like crustaceans called cumaceans or comma shrimp.
When cumaceans were first discovered back in 1870 they were thought to be the larvae of something bigger and not itself a fully grown organism – they are only 1-10mm. Scientists now know much more about them and have identified 1500 species and counting.
Cumaceans live in many locations around the globe with most species of cumacea living only one year or less, reproducing
Plaque honours local hero
A local environmental star has been recognised with a commemorative plaque.
June Henderson, who passed away in February 2023, was a Tītīrangi resident whose life was dedicated to advocating for and protecting our local natural environment. Waitākere Ranges Local Board agreed to fund a plaque to honour June. It has now been installed at Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall, alongside another plaque commemorating her husband, Ian Henderson. It was unveiled in a small ceremony with members of the Henderson family and the local board. Both June and Ian were highly regarded members of the Waitākere community. “June dedicated her later years to protecting our local environment and unique ecosystems,” says Waitākere Ranges Local Board chair Greg Presland.
June was known locally as “The Possum Lady” for her work on eradicating possums, including distributing possum traps and educating locals on the threats possums present. Another nickname was “The Ginger Lady” for her efforts in raising awareness of the invasive pest plant wild ginger.
“June was also the main driver behind our new resident’s pack, which contains information about local community groups and important information about weeds and pests for newcomers to the Waitākere Ranges area,” Greg continues. “Her impact continues to be felt, and we are honoured to recognise June, alongside Ian, as legends of our community.”
twice in their lifetime. Cumaceans feed mainly on microorganisms and organic material from the sediment on the seafloor. Species that live in the mud filter their food, while species that live in sand browse individual grains of sand. Cumaceans in turn become food for other marine animals and play an important role in the food web. In New Zealand the Manukau Harbour was one of the places selected as part of the 2025 research locations.
But how to catch them?
The scientists use a unique but effective method, one person jogs backwards in the water kicking up the top layer of sand or sediment, a scientist towing a plankton net follows behind and scoops up the material that has been disturbed which hopefully contains cumacea and other invertebrates. The method is called Kick tow and is apparently very tiring! For the oldies, think jazzercise in waist deep water.
This visit to New Zealand comes at the tail end of a threemonth long research project, most of which was spent in Antarctic on a research vessel with ice breaking capability, not surprisingly the sampling in this phase of the research was done using a remote sampling device!
Once back in their USA laboratories the scientists will be completing genetic profiles and taxonomy on the specimens collected on this trip, aiming to determine the genetic diversity, population size and evolution using data collected from their many years of research into this tiny crustacean in Earth’s oceans and seas which now includes the Mighty Manukau.
–
D. Askew
Sustainable design in a local context
Kamermans Architects is a small, family-run practice with a home office on Rimutaka place. Having lived in Tītīrangi for many years, we have grown to deeply appreciate this very special whenua with its unique natural beauty and a remarkable sense of community. It’s a great privilege to be able to design dwellings here that preserve the essence of living in native bush.
Sustainability is at the very core of what we do. We use passive solar design techniques to create homes that embrace a meaningful dialogue with their landscape, creating efficient, comfortable, quality designs deeply anchored into their context.
We provide a full service from concept to completion for small to medium scale projects. Our projects are not selected based on size or cost, but where we feel we can add value. We work with each client and their unique brief to develop innovative solutions that capture their vision and respond to cultural + environmental site conditions.
Our studio collaborates very closely within our practice and the wider team of consultants that it takes to bring a vision to life.
Our recently completed Tītīrangi alteration turned a bach with a lifetime of memories into an elegant home nestled into the hills overlooking the majestic Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa Waitākeres Ranges. The elevated extension projects out from the bush, bathing the deck and living area in northern sunlight. Although the structure has doubled in size, it was key to retain the identity of its original form.
If you have a project in mind but are not sure how to get it off the ground, or perhaps you want to know a bit more about sustainable design, get in touch and we can guide you through the process for your specific situation with a no-obligation discussion.
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, Hand: Weaving and Fibre Craft Today presented by the Handweavers & Spinners Guild; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson; Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w – 22, Kokonga Ngākau, fabric works and quilts by Maungarongo Te Kawa (Ngāti Porou); Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 27, Life in forms, works by Pauline Yearbuiry (Ngaphui); Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 29, World of Wood – paintings and sculptures by Len Byles; West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Thursday/Friday, 10–3pm. Phone 812 8029. www.westcoast.co.nz.
w 1, Tītīrangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall; 10am-2pm. Contact tvm.manager@gmail.com or phone 022 631 9436.
w 1, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732.
w 3 – 14, Tītīrangi Theatre presents The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh, directed by Paul Roukchan. www.titirangitheatre.co.nz/.
w 7, West Lynn Garden Club. Learn new skills, meet new people, monthly speakers, day-trips; West Lynn Gardens, 73 Parker Ave, New Lynn; 9:3011:30am. Contact lynne.hunter@xtra.co.nz, 0210 245 5120.
w 14, Matariki Whānau Day. Free crafts, kai, face painting, and fun activities for the whole whānau; Green Bay Community House, Barron Green, Green Bay; 10am – 2pm. Phone 827 3300.
w 14, Tītīrangi Poets; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall, 500 South Tītīrangi Road; 2-4pm. Phone Ron Riddell 021 181 6698.
w 14, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club presents Chris Penman, floor singers in first half; Tītīrangi Beach Hall; 8pm; $15, members $10, under 18 free. www. titirangilivemusic.co.nz or text Cathy on 021 207 7289.
w 16, Tītīrangi Ladies Friendship Club, speakers, outings, afternoon tea and friendship; Green Bay Community Hall, Barron Drive, Green Bay; 1.30pm. Phone Diane 817 2239.
w 18, Tītīrangi Library presents Matariki Rhymetime – music, movement and Matariki story time for preschoolers; Rooftop, Lopdell House; 9.3010.00am. Phone 892 4103.
w 19, Waitākere Forest and Bird Talk: John Dyer on the role of Fish & Game's management of game birds; Ranui Community Centre, 474 Swanson Rd, Ranui; 7:30pm; Koha appreciated. Phone Liz 027 476 2732 or email lizanstey@hotmail.com.
w 21, New Lynn Lions Club $1 Book Sale; New Lynn Friendship Club Hall, 3063 Great North Road, New Lynn (down the driveway by the traffic lights); 8am-4pm. Contact Mary Hibberd on 027 487 0639.
w 24, 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 27, Waitākere Grey Power Annual General Meeting with guest speaker Kerrin Leoni, mayoral candidate for Auckland Council; Te Atatū South Community Centre, 247 Edmonton Rd; 12.30pm. Phone 838 5207.
w 27, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club presents Friday Folk, an informal gathering of musicians, singers and listeners; Tītīrangi Beach Hall; 7:30pm; $5. www. titirangilivemusic.co.nz or text Cathy on 021 207 7289.
w 28, New Lynn Repair Cafe; New Lynn Community Centre, Tōtara Avenue, New Lynn; 11am-2pm; Koha. Phone Surbhi Gupta 022 507 0905.
w 29, Tītīrangi Village Market; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall; 10am-2pm. Contact tvm.manager@gmail.com or phone 022 631 9436.
There is so much happening in and around our community, including many regular 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
Places to go – Things to do
Lopdell
Film Festival 2025
The annual Lopdell Film Festival is back for its ninth year and runs from June 25 – 28.
Opening the festival on Wednesday night at 8pm is British heartwarmer, The Penguin Lessons, a true story about a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976, starring Steve Coogan and a very good penguin, with pre-show entertainment from Mango Beach Band at 7pm.
Merchant Ivory, a fascinating documentary that intimately details the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant is on Thursday evening at 6pm. At 8pm, three women ignite the flames of curiosity and adventure which lie dormant within so many of us, through a voyage across the North Atlantic in Women & the Wind.
There’s something for everyone on Friday. Welsh drama Save the Cinema, 10.30am, is a real-life tale of community spirit and the power of grassroots activism. Then, bring the kids along for the after-school screening of musical adventure, Noah’s Ark at 4pm, about two mice who, with the help of an ingenious cockroach, sneak onto Noah’s Ark.
Irish drama Tarrac kicks off the Friday evening programme at 6pm, laced with humour, heartbreak and exciting action set against the stunning landscapes and seas of the Kerry Gaeltacht. At 6pm, Boléro graces the big screen. In the decadent, industrialised Paris of the 1920s, renowned composer Maurice Ravel, haunted by self-doubt and melancholy, must redeem his raw genius, or risk being consumed by it completely.
Fancy a late-night doco? Becoming Led Zeppelin at 10.15pm, is a hybrid docu-concert film that explores the origins of the iconic group and their meteoric rise in just one year against all odds.
Local filmmaker Robin Kewell has spent the last 14 years showing other people's films at Flicks. Every Picture Tells a Story, on Saturday at 10.30am is a chance to see some of his own films. He has worked on over 400 films during his 45 years as a cameraman and will share some special moments from his travels around the globe. Docos, dramas, action sports adverts, music, theatre and near-death experiences: all will be revealed at this morning of storytelling and film.
At 1pm, the Latvian animated adventure Flow will take the audience on a wondrous journey through realms natural and mystical. At 3pm is a moving coming-of-age story, Holy Cow; a "verité" look at the hard scrabble life of French agriculture and, above all, an ode to cheese.
Saturday evening takes a strange turn with the darkly hilarious French film Lucky Winners at 6pm. This roller-coaster of a black comedy explores themes of sudden fortune and its unexpected consequences.
To close the Festival, we present the new release arthouse film, La Cocina, at 8pm. Shot entirely in black and white, this is a masterpiece of cinematography where personal stories collide, and secrets are revealed in a bustling Times Square kitchen. This film is unashamedly heavy on the seasoning but a feast, nonetheless. The real flavour is found in the secondary characters; cooks of all nationalities whose stories reflect the pain, melancholy and sorrow of migrant life in America.
Tickets to the family film screenings are $5. All others are $12. Tickets are available at lopdellprecinct.org.nz and Tītīrangi Pharmacy.
Lopdell Film Festival 2025 is brought to you by Lopdell Trust, Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Flicks @ Lopdell.
Art & About with Naomi McCLeary
Did You Hear?
I am ‘thingy’ about gossip. Always have been.
Back in the ’80s, when selfimprovement was hot, many of us did one version or another of the Primal Scream. Remember Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice? An Oscar-nominated comedy about the explosive impact of emotional honesty after an ‘Esalenstyle’ retreat; we laughed a little uneasily. Back to gossip: somewhere during those years of navel-gazing, I heard an earnest speaker say ‘If you want to bring an organisation to its knees, just gossip’. It stuck; and I’ve quoted it many a time. While it may be a truism, it’s also glib and superficial.
So I’ve become interested in gossip; the part it plays in our lives for good and ill; its derivation and history; and the impact on us in an online world. I’m asking myself whether it has links to storytelling? More of that later.
I love the linguistic origins. At its root the word means ‘god-sibling’ and once signified any person, man or woman, connected by baptism rather than blood. In other words, a close friend. In Renaissance England, a woman approaching the birth of a child would invite female friends to be her godsiblings or ‘gossips’; to support her through her confinement. One can only imagine the intimacy, the talk, the sharing of stories; maybe some grizzling about the men in their lives. Exclusion bred suspicion, so it was not long before a gossip was one who indulged in idle talk, rumour, tittle-tattle, and it was firmly embedded as yet another sign of female inferiority. Religion (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) came in behind and it took on connotations of sinning.
But here’s the thing! We all do it; and, to some degree or other, enjoy it, perhaps drawing a line when it is vindictive or cruel.
A column in the New Yorker in March went into the psychology of gossip in some depth; landing eventually on it as a virtue. It quoted Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen with their particular takes on the art of sharing the details, sometime salacious, of the lives of their peers. So the take-out is that gossip is good, creates social cohesion, is a powerful means of connecting and reinforcing the mores of the time.
But in today’s global setting, gossip isn’t local, or community, or kind; it is universal, ubiquitous. Who hasn’t stood in a supermarket queue staring vacantly at the bank of gossip mags with their lurid teasers? Charles, caught with a snarl, apparently ‘he will never speak to Harry again!’ Camilla, equally grotesquely frozen in time, ‘the Windsor family’s monster!’ They have no redress. The late queen’s mantra, ‘never complain, never explain’, when broken, has had predictably disastrous results. Celebrities, politicians; no-one is safe. Gossip has been super-charged and contributes to the undermining of any baseline of accuracy in the media. Our young, our digital natives, have grown up with online ‘gossip’. We call it bullying.
But my other line of thinking is around the link between gossip and story-telling. In the ebb and flow of gossip are there good story lines? Because we do gossip and we live nurtured by stories.
I need to think about this more, and more deeply. Meanwhile, feel the love around some other stories ...
by Paulo Garcia, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
Shadbolt House: Creative non-fiction workshop with Richard Pamatatau.
Art & About with Naomi McCLeary
Lopdell Film Festival is back (see page 9 for the details). There is nothing like relaxing back in your own ’hood, in the lovely Lopdell theatre, while having a story delivered to you ‘on a plate’. It’s a stunning lineup; of documentaries, dramas and family fare. My personal choices must include Bolero, Becoming Led Zeppelin, Merchant Ivory, The Penguin Lessons Without delay, go to: https://lopdellprecinct.org.nz/filmfestval-2025. (Robin Kewell is NOT handling ticket sales.)
I’ve signalled previously that the Going West Trust is gently wooing Shadbolt House back into a place of storytelling. The first seminar on the art of creative non-fiction was fully booked and with a waiting list. Richard Pamatatau, at a date yet to be settled, (but soon) will run a repeat session. Conversations with other mentors and writers are underway.
The big news is that Dominic Hoey; poet, rapper, playwright, critic, performer, teacher and novelist, (his latest novel, 1985, has attracted rave reviews) will be holding a regular weekly writing workshop at Arapito Road. For more on this and other developments, contact Tracey Sharp: 021 069 4376.
Addendum: It is Sunday May 18. I want to pay tribute to a gentle man called Alan (top right). In June 2022, I wrote a story about how this, then 91-year-old, man had crafted the most beautiful piece of unconscious art over 60
years; a huge clipped hedge that lay between two houses in Glen Eden like a sleeping giant. Today, Alan, at 94, was working in his beloved garden, as he still did every day, and his heart simply stopped. It is a small but perfect story.
Walking track updates
Auckland Council is continuing its work to improve tracks in our area writes FIONA DRUMMOND.
Locals on Kohu Road and The Drive in Tītīrangi have been delighted with a brand new boardwalk track (right) from the bottom of The Drive up to Mt Atkinson, making access much easier than the gnarly, rootbound track of old. The upgrade was to repair degradation of the track where tree roots had become exposed and there was a deep channel in the main stretch of the track.
“Staff have no new funding to handle this and have been attempting to conduct repairs by reprioritising the existing capital programme,” says Greg. “The Board is seeking Council funding, so that this work can be completed. We believe that it is important that our much loved walking tracks are repaired and reinstated as soon as possible”.
Tītīrangi’s popular Zig Zag Track still awaits repair. Waitākere Local Board chair Greg Presland says repairing tracks out west, including the Zig Zag track, will cost around $9.8 million.
Classic fairy tales collide
Grace Kelly plays the wistful and resilient Cinderella.
Journey deep into the woods with some of your favourite fairy tale characters as Playhouse Theatre Inc. presents Into the Woods Jr. at the historic Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre July 5 – 12.
Perfect for families and audiences of all ages, this enchanting youth production promises magic, music, and a heartwarming adventure you won’t want to miss. Based on the book by James Lapine and with a score by legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods Jr. is a musical adaptation designed especially for younger performers and audiences. It intertwines the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk), and Rapunzel – all tied together by an original tale of a baker and his wife who long to have a child but must first break a witch’s curse.
Early booking is recommended as these July school holiday youth shows sell. Tickets are on Eventfinda.
213 – 215 Woodlands Park Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604
Phone: 09 817 8495 or 09 817 6188
www.kenturnermotors.co.nz
Work is continuing on many tracks around the Waitākere Ranges. Visit https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ media/yycnhnus/table-showing-track-status.pdf for more information.
Community brings streams back to life
Since 2018, Restoration Ruatuna has restored streambanks, removed pest plants and predators and engaged with the wider community.
“Over the years we’ve planted hundreds of natives to stabilise stream banks and stop erosion, which is having a huge impact on the water quality,” says committee member Len Gillman. “It made a real difference during Cyclone Gabrielle helping prevent sediment washing into the streams.” The group’s water quality testing led to a significant community win when Laingholm Beach was declared safe for swimming two years ago.
The improvements have also boosted the stream’s value as habitat for native species, including tuna (the longfin eel – New Zealand’s only endemic freshwater eel) which depends on healthy, well-vegetated waterways for shelter and survival.
For more information visit restorationruatuna.nz.
Jaco Grunding
Places to go – Things to do
Indoor bowls – ‘the focus is firmly on fun’
The Huia Indoor Bowling Club first met at the community’s new hall in the winter of 1958. The club has been a fixture ever since but the call is out for new members to keep it going, writes JADE REIDY.
Indoor bowls is a miniature, indoors version of lawn bowls. By 1938, there were 10,000 people playing the game in Auckland. Huia’s club became official in 1967. Local resident Ross Ardern’s parents Dorothy and Leo were club members in the 1970s and 80s and Ross remembers Leo having a stellar year in 1981.
“Dad won Huia, then the men’s singles at the West Auckland division competition, which qualified him to represent the West in the Auckland champs and he won that too!”
Peals of laughter and chatter could be heard around the bay on a Wednesday evening for decades as players attempted to roll their bowling ball closest to the small white ‘jack’.
These days, the focus is firmly on fun and the social side of getting down on your knees. Location and age are no impediment. People have come from as far away as Massey
and Blockhouse Bay. The oldest player has been 90 years old and one long-time member was almost blind.
“We can accommodate all sorts of physical challenges,” says member Annette Ashley, who herself has hip and knee issues. “We get innovative with chairs and standing positions.”
The Huia Hall is at 1253 Huia Road, adjacent to the Huia Settlers Museum. Play starts at 7.30pm on Wednesdays and there are three rounds followed by supper. There’s an annual competition with up to 16 cups up for grabs, and an honours board in the hall. Visits to other clubs add to the social aspect and family members are welcome to come along on a casual basis. The club is particularly looking for new players from Cornwallis, to help with transport for someone who can no longer drive at night.
There is a modest yearly fee of $25, plus $5 each night you attend. The first two weeks are free for people to try it out. You’ll be welcomed with open arms, no experience required. To find out more, contact Annette on 021 111 8643 or check out their Facebook page.
A positive vision for the future of Auckland
Kia ora.
I’m Kerrin Leoni, the elected Auckland Council member for Whau Ward, and now stepping up to stand as the next Mayor of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
I'm standing for the Mayoralty because I’ve been called by my community. My iwi, Ngāti Paoa, and Aucklanders from every walk of life have told me they want change.
They want a positive vision and real action, not fear and constant cuts to our services; and they see a younger woman with the expertise and values to bring fresh ideas to Auckland Council and our Super City.
Vision and values
So what are my values? I value building a better Auckland and a truly liveable city for Aucklanders, whether we are in city apartments or the rural reaches. I value the genuinely responsible use of ratepayers’ money – not turning a blind eye to shady deals, or funnelling our hardearned public assets into private hands. I believe in building quality infrastructure for the long term, and prioritising safety and sustainability in our environment.
For the past five years, I’ve been on both the Whau Local Board and the main Auckland Council, so I have all the essential knowledge and skills to lead from Day 1. I have a Master’s degree in economics from King’s College
London, ran my own business in the UK and also launched a property investment business here in New Zealand.
In policy, I’m dedicated to providing affordable housing, building smarter infrastructure and supporting stronger communities with the services we need to thrive. I will promote open governance and encourage far more active public input in key city decisions.
Setting the stage for change
I’m focused on getting out across the city and giving Aucklanders a real alternative to the incumbent – the first woman as Mayor of the Super City, and the first Māori woman as Mayor for Auckland overall. It’s important that we have a strong and credible progressive choice; looking around the world, we see that voting for the big money interests leads down a dangerous path.
Perhaps most importantly, I am a lifelong Aucklander who wants to see a refreshed style of leadership for this beautiful place we call home. Leadership that will encourage entrepreneurs and skilled young people to stay in Auckland and raise their families here. Leadership that unites Aucklanders and makes them feel proud and connected to their communities.
I’m happy to meet with anyone and everyone, to talk about our city's future and what we want to achieve. For more info or to make contact, please visit www.kerrinleoniformayor.com.
Nga mihi nui, Kerrin Leoni
Advertisement Authorised by Greg Presland
Leo Ardern with the trophies he won in 1981.
‘I
used to ask strangers for directions. Imagine that.’
Yeah gidday. Lizard here. How are ya?
When I opened the curtains this morning, it was raining. A grey, sooty drizzle that was little more than fog with a slight weight problem. Never mind. I popped the jug on and gave Plumless Walker a scratch behind the ear explaining that, although he loved the heated leather seats, there wasn’t room in the car today. I have another big day ahead and who can mind when they’re driving a Lexus IS 500 F. Yes, the one with the Dynamic Handling package!
“What?” I hear you cry.
Relax. I haven’t had my neck tattooed, or my teeth gold grilled, nor wearing knock-off Air Jordan’s about to meet a plane from Columbia. Truth is, I’m wearing comfy stretch pants with over-rider, knee-high pull-up rugby socks and Crocs.
I’m off to meet Mopey Jesus and do our rounds. As I slid into the car and pressed the start button it dawned on me that we’re the last generation to know a time before the Internet. Before GPS. I used to ask strangers for directions. Imagine that. Talking to a stranger.
I said, “Hey Lexus [which activates the Intelligent Assistant], put on Hunters and Collectors. Loud!”
Here’s what’s up. A couple of months back, me and Mopey Jesus dropped off a mate at the airport. He was off to Oz for a week or so. He said "Guys. It’ll cost heaps to leave my car here, why don’t you use it while I’m away and pick me up in a week? Can I trust you, Lizard?”
I said. “I wouldn’t trust me if I was you. But I would if I was me.”
“Fair enough. Look after it.”
All was cool and when he got back, he told a few mates, who told a few mates. Next minute, Mopey Jesus has ten of us dropping friends at the airport then doing the rounds in their cars while they’re out of the country. It’s great. We get folks safely to and from the Razza. Exhausted Pilates groups hanging for a well deserved liquid lunch back home
before school’s out. To the bowls. Mopey even tried to set up a hospital run but his 0800-need-a-medicinal-lift? phone number attracted some very odd requests.
It’s funny but I can always tell where the car has been. If it’s to the chemist then there’s a combination of cough lollies and eucalyptus. Yoga class pick-ups leave a lingering lavender/ Diptyque Fleur de Peau. From the RSA, the car has a whiff of slightly stale beer and old potatoes.
We get to meet all sorts. Last Friday night, I was hanging around behind Lopdell House in case a call came through. I was in a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, a sporty yet stylish option, when a figure in the shadow said “Pissed”.
“I suspect you mean Psst?” I said. It was our old school mate Brick. You remember Brick? As in thick as a… He was sleeping rough so I invited him into the Mitsi. I asked him why he was homeless. Surely he had a brother or sister he could crash with?
“Nuh, Lizard. I’m an only child. I was raised by my Dad. My Mum left us before I was born.” See what I mean about Brick? Anyway, he now drives the night shift.
Mopey Jesus is such a kind cool dude. He’ll be running for some kind of local council thing soon so give him your vote. I’ll keep you informed. Or he will. He’s so old school really. He's been dating Wendy Truehart for well over a decade. They came over for dinner last Thursday and Shaz being Shaz, always straight to her point, said. “When are you two going to get married. You’ve been going out for years.”
I said, “Easy Shaz”. And whispered that I didn’t think they’re even, you know, doing it. Wendy must have heard me (I have a loud whisper). She said, and this is so sweet, “I would certainly like some hanky and possibly panky, when we get to know each other better.” See, perfect together.
Well, I’d better carry on.
Give Mopey a call if you're stuck or just need some company. Or a lift. Of either kind.
Later, Lizard.
“We are fortunate enough to have a resident, and rather beautiful, leucistic kereru that frequents our cabbage tree for an evening meal. While discussing it with my neighbour recently, I have come to realise that this was a rather rare sighting.”
– Jacques Ellis, Oratia
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