The Fringe is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Tītīrangi Festival of Music 2025.
community news, issues, arts, people, events community news, issues, arts, people, events
Bupa Glenburn Retirement Village | New Lynn Enquiries from $462,000^
• One and two bedroom apartments available
• Fixed or variable weekly fees available (including power)
• Close to LynnMall and train station, bus stop at the gate
• Care Home on site (subject to availability)
Contact Matt on 09 636 3809 for more info. 79 Margan Avenue, New Lynn bupa.co.nz/glenburn
• One and two bedroom apartments available
• Fixed or variable weekly fees available
• Bright and spacious common areas
• Lively social calendar
• Care Home on site (subject to availability)
Contact Leanne on 09 636 3803 for more info. 117/123 Boundary Road, Blockhouse Bay bupa.co.nz/sunset
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
What do you want fixed?
"We need to fix Auckland Council together." So wrote a candidate for the Auckland mayoralty in 2022. He won the election and has been Mayor for the last three years.
A question: Have we fixed Auckland Council? Or is it still a distant monolithic bureaucracy that is out of touch with us, what we believe and what we need in West Auckland?
Three years on and the same candidate is campaigning to "Fix Auckland". I wonder whether this is something that is either possible or necessary.
Auckland is made up of many different communities and environments. We are not, and never have been, a single city even though successive Council's have tried to make us believe that we are. What is important in Remuera or Aotea or Warkworth or Ōtara is very different to what is important to us. Sure, we all need our rubbish collected and our roads maintained (wouldn't that be nice!) but beyond that, every part of this sprawling megalopolis has different objectives and needs.
How are we going to 'fix' a city when some people want cheaper rates while other areas need massive investment? Will the approaches we might use to fix a company work when we are dealing with people in a community?
Even if 'fixing' Auckland was possible, is it necessary? There are lots of things that we need to have 'fixed' before we should be trying to fix the rest of the city.
For almost all of the last three-year Council term, many of our roads have been disrupted and blocked. Glen Eden's traffic congestion (made so much worse by all the speed bumps) is becoming a major problem and the village needs civic and commercial investment. (Why didn't they put the railway underground as they did in New Lynn?) Our natural environment in Tītīrangi, Oratia and the Ranges is becoming seriously affected by weeds and pests. Street lighting, road drainage, parks, storm protection ... the list is endless.
These are the things we should be trying to fix. We should also be investing more in our people and our community. And I don't think 'fixing Auckland' will do it for us.
– Bevis England
On our Cover: Annie Crummer will be headlining the Tītīrangi Festival of Music 2025. See page 12 for more.
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.
Seen on Woodlands Park Road. Photo by Jade Reidy.
Confident kapa haka kids make ‘oldies’ cry
Mary said they were so talented and polite. Marion said they made her cry with joy. “I’ve never had much to do with other cultures beyond my own. These kids were lovely and I was overcome with emotion. Especially with the hugs afterwards. I cried.”
Mary and Marion are in their eighties and a group of young students doing kapa haka at their retirement village is the reason they –and many of their friends –were feeling overwhelmed.
The students from Waikowhai Intermediate School are 12 or 13 and come together in March each year after stiff competition from others to make it into the group. It originated from the school’s celebration of cultures, Wai Fest, held at the beginning of each year to recognise the range of ethnicities at the school including Maori, Pākehā, Indian, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islanders, Fijian, Irish, Chinese and African.
Deputy principal, Leanne Smith, says it’s a vigorous process to make it into kapa haka. “There’s a waiting list to join. And they need to be able to sing in tune, for sure. If a student misses out on selection, my emails go ping, ping, ping from parents wanting to know why!”
Kapa haka is the term for Māori action songs and the groups who perform them. The phrase translates to 'group' (kapa) 'dance' (haka) and has become known internationally with (mostly) Māori expressing and showcasing their heritage and cultural identity through song and dance. To some kapa haka is a living art form.
While the Waikowhai group has given performances to
some local retirement villages, Leanne says those kinds of outings are a bit of a treat. “We’re asked to do so many events but I can’t have our students away from their school lessons to meet the demand.” They do, however, perform at Auckland City Council’s Citizenship ceremonies.
“At the beginning of the year, they all jump in and have a go, then when we do go out, it’s for those who are committed, driven, who turn up to weekly practice and do it. It’s hard work for them, a big commitment. And it’s all for love. There’s no money involved apart from koha (donation) for citizenship ceremonies.
“Our kapa haka group is the showcase for who we are at our small school. If our groups are out in the community, they know they’re representing our school and they have to show our mana and values,” Leanne says.
Teacher aide Cyan Muna-Harawira started at the school in 2019 and has followed in her mother’s footsteps running kapa haka groups since then and it’s a role she loves.
“It’s great to see the kids, both Māori and non-Māori, enjoy themselves. They’re so amazing and it’s such a buzz seeing them take pride in what they do,” she says.
“Character building is definitely something we do in kapa haka. I want them to be amazing and I treat them honestly and openly. If their performance in practice is not good enough, I’ll tell them, but it’s done in a positive and encouraging way. And they need to do their homework too! They respect and respond to that.”
1 15/11/16 16:33
Leanne says Cyan works incredibly hard with the group
PRESLAND and CO LTD
and expects excellence from them. “She’s very good at team building and building their confidence. Some of the students may have challenges in life but this is an area in their lives where they can be there, just be themselves. It’s a way of fostering their inner well-being.”
It’s that confidence that Mary and Marion were charmed by with the kapa haka event at their village when at the end the students walked through the audience, hugging, shaking hands and smiling. No-one in the audience missed out.
Was that planned?
“No, no, no,” says Leanne. “The spontaneity was totally up to the kids. It wasn’t on the agenda. They just wanted to do it. They felt a connection with the (older) audience and it came off their own backs. I had to call some of the children back as
we needed to get back to school, but they were too busy hugging and chatting. That’s who our kids are.
“Kapa haka has taught them that confidence and respect. I was aware there were a lot of tears from the audience, that they were moved by it all. Great for the kids; great for everyone.”
– Moira Kennedy
Ask us for expert assistance with your investment property.
While it’s true residential investment properties can provide outstanding returns over time, it’s also true they can be time-consuming and stressful to manage. But you don’t have to worry about that, because as one of Barfoot & Thompson’s dedicated property management teams, we can take care of everything for you.
We’ll find you tenants, collect the income, arrange maintenance, conduct regular inspections - all for an agreed rate, and no charge when your property is vacant.
To find out more give one of us a call today.
Jesse Maio
j.maio@barfoot.co.nz 027 558 4130
Lilly Laban
l.laban@barfoot.co.nz 027 250 0747
New Lynn Sea Scouts – ‘Dancing with the Stars’
When Star Jam closed its doors at the end of 2024, it left a big hole for many families who relied on it to provide a creative outlet for their children with disabilities.
This led to a group of local parents reaching out to the New Lynn Sea Scouts to see if they could use one of their halls so they could continue to support their children. The Scouts quickly came on board and offered their facilities for free to enable the parents time to regroup.
so
the youth from Everybody Dance before offering them the warmth of a camp fire outside. Hannah and Charlotte who had just moved up from Keas to Cubs where buzzing by the end of the evening saying it was one of the best evenings they had had so far this term and they ‘had heaps of fun meeting new people’.
With spring underway, this is an ideal time to set your adventurous spirit free and boys and girls aged 5 to 19 are welcome to join the
Rebranding as Everybody Dance under the Glass Ceiling Arts Collective, they have now settled into the New Lynn Scouts' Kelston hall running their programme during term time.
Fast forward through the year to Scout Adventure week where the theme was ‘performance’ and the New Lynn Cub Scouts joined in for an evening of creative dance with
402a Titirangi Road, Titirangi Village Ph: 09 817-9937 www.tonicspa.co.nz
Are you ready for your summer wardrobe?
Receive a free underarm or brow wax when you book a leg and bikini wax in October. Premium quality hot and strip wax used to ensure your hygiene and comfort.
New Lynn Sea Scout group for a trial.
If you would like a slice of the action on the water, or to go camping and explore the awesome adventure playground that we are blessed with out West, give Andrew a ring on 027 6939 756 or visit www.newlynn.seascouts.org.nz for more details.
Cornwallis residents Shari Rhodes and Robert Newby have been working as health practitioners for over 30 years and have helped and supported many locals.
Over the last 16 years they have also been working on a book: Evolution of the Soul ~ The Path of Conscious Transformation The book explores the body/ mind/spirit connection, the underlying triggers of human behaviour, repetitive patterns and core emotions that reveal key universal themes.
Shari and Robert examine soul contracts, destiny blueprints, trauma, grief and healing, the afterlife, and much more. The book is also a personal story. "It is our mission on Earth to dig deeply into what drives us and shapes our choices as 'humans living with spirit'," says Shari. "We are all interconnected in this universe as awakening souls on our journey home."
The book is to be launched at French Bay Yacht Club on October 11 from 2pm. Copies are available directly from Shari (www.intuitivereadings.co.nz, sharirhodes@gmail.com, 027-629-5469) or Robert (www.titirangiherbaldispensary.com, robertnewbynz@ gmail.com).
Hannah Cox's t-shirt reads There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half
much worth doing as simply messing about in boats , a quote from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham.
A
story of love, acceptance and honour
Playhouse Theatre Inc. has announced its upcoming production: The Tael Solutions Ltd season of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It will run from October 11 – 25 at the Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre.
The show features songs from the Disney animated film, with a score by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, which draws its inspiration from Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
Set in 15th-century Paris, the story centres on Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of the famed Notre Dame Cathedral. Hidden away for much of his life, Quasimodo longs to connect with the world beyond the cathedral walls but is kept captive by his controlling guardian, Archdeacon Frollo. Esmeralda, is a free-spirited and compassionate Romani
woman who sees Quasimodo’s worth when others do not, sparking a friendship that brings him hope and strength. Esmeralda also captures the attention of both Frollo and Phoebus.
Frollo is a man torn between rigid devotion to the church and his own darker desires. Balancing this is Captain Phoebus, a soldier whose sense of honour is tested when he becomes entangled with both Esmeralda and Frollo.
The production is directed by Charlotte Harris and Jacob Harris and supported by a live orchestra and choir.
On Sunday October 19, the theatre will host a hearing accessible performance which will include interpretation in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Tickets are on sale now at Eventfinda.
45 Artists Celebrating 45 Years of Upstairs Gallery
Upstairs Gallery has produced a stunning anniversary book that takes readers on a journey through decades of creativity, connection, and community. Featuring a rich collection of past exhibitions and heartfelt stories, this book is a tribute to the legacy of the Tītīrangi Community Arts Council and the Upstairs Gallery. The book is available via OOAK (https://www.ooak.nz/art) and at the Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Tītīrangi.
Lead actors in The Hunchback of Notre Dame are (left to right) Sam Iosefo (Frollo), Daniel Wright (Quasimodo), Hyatt Al Joborry (Esmeralda), and Patrick Cunneen (Phoebus).
The Academy – A new 'STEM' school in Tītīrangi
The word is out on an exciting educational endeavour in our neighbourhood writes FIONA DRUMMOND.
Projected to open in 2027 with an initial Year 7 and Year 9 cohort, The Academy will in time provide middle and secondary school students through to Year 13 a world-class science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programme, catering for up to 140 students.
Planning for the The Academy's educational offerings is already well advanced. It will combine the best of international curricula with an evidence-based middle school programme and Cambridge A-Levels for senior students. This combination offers a rigorous academic pathway that will prepare students for further study and careers in engineering, medicine, research and technology anywhere in the world.
Breaking ground at the building site (70–74 Hilling St, Tītīrangi) with board members Sam Crookes, Lara Collier, Tristan O’Hanlon, Ben Himme, Ella Philp and Jonathan Rogers.
The curriculum will see students developing programming and data science skills, along with a foundation in mathematics, science and communication. Fridays will feature hands-on projects in robotics, science investigations, debating, field trips and other immersive experiences.
Although STEM subjects are at the heart of the school, students will also have opportunities to participate in sport, arts and music through a network of local providers. Individual learning plans, pastoral care and close teacher guidance will support the social and emotional growth of every student alongside their academic progress. The leadership team is made up of highly accomplished
educators and industry professionals. Founding Principal Tristan O’Hanlon, a Rutherford Trophy-winning educator with the New Zealand Institute of Physics and Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, has inspired students to international successes in science. Deputy Principal, Ben Himme, recently led his robotics team to represent New Zealand at the International First Global Challenge in Athens. Ben is also passionate about involving students in local environmental initiatives
The board includes Jonathan Rogers, the co-creator of the internationally successful and BAFTA award-winning video game Path of Exile, as well as engineers from Rocket Lab and McLaren Automotive and a former medical school instructor. These mentors will work directly with students, advise on projects and help guide career decisions.
Tuition fees are expected to be around $25,000 per year, and enrolment details will be released later this year. There will also be opportunities to visit the site, meet the team and learn more about what is planned.
Families can register their interest and receive updates through the contact form at theacademy.ac.nz.
Construction of the new campus is currently underway at the school site, at the end of Hilling Street in Tītīrangi.
Have you ever wondered about Auckland's air quality, wave or water levels at our beaches, contaminants in marine sediment, water quality, sand levels, greenhouse gas emissions or any other aspect of our regional environment? Chances are you will get the answers you want at a recently upgraded web portal provided by Auckland Council. Visit https://environmentauckland.org.nz/Data/ Dashboard/447 to find out more.
A concept sketch of the new STEM school being constructed in Tītīrangi.
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
This Creative Life!
We talk about a ‘Creative Economy’; and there are plenty of statistics (damned statistics?) to tell us what a huge contribution it makes to our lurching economy. In fact, creative endeavour only ever gets any political mention in that regard.
But it’s real and hard fought for; from the individual artist in a studio to our major arts companies; music, dance, performance and increasingly cultural events such as Matatini; and the unbelievable richness of everything in between. Some of it intersects with our government’s preoccupation with tourism; the arts add ‘colour’ to the face we turn to the world. The conversation about enhancing identity, meaning, connection? Not so much.
Change gears and look at Henderson Valley Road. As you head ‘up the valley’ towards Great North Road there is nothing to arrest you; just the usual grey, dusty looking industrial buildings, drab side streets that stretch away dismally, the odd shabby shop. What is entirely hidden is the magic of the film studios and all the movie-related creative businesses tucked away down anonymous driveways. But as you drive, things start to change: first a high school on your left, then a line of black saw-toothed sheds to your right, quickly followed by the old Waitākere City Council buildings, now the home of Laidlaw College. Corban Estate stretches away up the hill, hard to see from ‘Hendo’ but beautiful when you get there.
The saw-toothed sheds were for some years the home of Whoa! Studios; a child-centred creative hub that fell victim to Covid and other winds of change. But it did have a great restaurant, (The Grounds), and a very amazing playground.
To cut to the chase, the ex-Whoa! Studio is now the home of the Te Puna Creative Hub; and ‘creative innovation’ is the best over-arching descriptor of what goes on behind these doors. Some very impressive design has upgraded the interior for the perfect creative economy home for anchor tenant; Crescendo.
Crescendo is a purpose-driven social enterprise for youth who want to improve their song-writing, production, and audio engineering skills, or who want a career in the music industry as an artist, producer or engineer. But it also collaborates with clients on commercial music and audio projects. All commercial revenue goes towards funding the free youth music mentoring programmes. In a very recent announcement The Trusts have confirmed their sponsorship of Crescendo’s Paid Internship Programme.
The restaurant is still there, as is a medium-sized digital theatre and studio, fully kitted out for filming as well as music and performance events. There is capacity for other creatives to hire space for short-term and long-term digital
projects in Click Studios, also under the Te Puna umbrella in the saw-toothed sheds.
It would be great to say that Te Puna and Crescendo arrived fully formed; the perfect offspring of some creative sector maestro; but of course, this is not the case.
The Te Puna Creative Hub has had a long gestation and is probably the better for it. It started some years ago as a development concept generated by Tataki Auckland, then a Council CCO, (ex Auckland Unlimited, ex Auckland Regional Authority). But ‘a rose is a rose is a rose’ (Gertrude Stein) and the legacy of all that history came together in the notion that Henderson Valley Road held the genesis of a vibrant, film-based, creative precinct that simply required to be connected up and further developed.
But nothing on this scale is simple! Perhaps the new player in this game was Corban Estate and its clear role as a seedbed of creativity? Over several years, there was much talking, guided by a very small but passionate team of Tataki staff. There were many voices around the table and, believe me, robust dialogue ensued. That’s healthy! One critical end result was a real and active partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki, who gifted the name Te Puna to the project. That Robin Taua-Gordon and Penny Hulse co-chaired the Establishment Board is testament to that.
I cannot over-state the significance of getting one, absolutely bang on, creative economy project up and running. Te Puna, as a digital hub, provides resources, flexibility and technical expertise. Crescendo was not a new project; it had been quietly building capacity for some years. It had integrity and a sense of purpose. It was absolutely youth-focussed. Bringing it into the Te Puna fold opens up huge development possibilities and stands as a model of best practice.
Another youth-centred project currently resides in Railside Avenue. I know it as Kurawaka, but Director Stan Fong tells me that Kurawaka is their secondary programme, and AMA Digital, their tertiary programme. All up, here is an amazing academy of animation, engaging young talent, predominantly Māori and Pacifica students; and with the ability to grant qualifications.
A multi-platform video game based on a Te Kawerau ā Maki legend is close to completion and interest is building for a foray into the world of animated film-making. Watch this space!
What I find so inspiring about both these projects is that the focus is on young talent; the individuals who will collectively take us through into the new world of a creative economy. They will not replace the traditional art forms, but those disciplines will stand to benefit from the energy of these young entrepreneurs.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7mMGqtnXLM for more on the creativity in the West.
Artist of the Month:
James Littlewood
Is a poet
Also – a sailor, a cyclist, a musician, a DJ
Previously – a documentary maker, a theatre and opera director
More briefly – a radio announcer, a travel writer, an editor, a critic
But always a poet
More recently – a creative writing teacher, an archivist, an online literary producer
Thinks like a poet. Harbours poems.
And now – James Littlewood is about to ‘daylight’ his poetry. It is, as always, an act of courage. A mentorship awarded by the NZ Society of Authors under the tutelage of poets Anne Kennedy and Kiri Piahana-Wong has produced a weight of new works (and the harboured ones) ready for launching into the world.
Cut to – a band called Mono Watt. Poet James Littlewood; musician Ross Cunningham; producer John Pain. The aboutto-be-launched album is called fittingly Words + Noise. To extrapolate – James performs, Ross manipulates electric guitar and feedback loops to create a soundscape, John, well, produces and adds ‘electronic ambience’.
It's very ‘now’, pared back, authentic. A first performance at the Te Puna theatre captured the audience.
To find it – Words + Noise will be released in early November as a vinyl LP available through selected record stores, including Flying Out on Pitt Street, and streaming on Bandcamp.
And so – James Littlewood is a poet.
Book of the Month:
Time to ‘fess up! I was in the middle of packing up my home of 30 years, and shifting into a retirement village*, when I picked up Delirious by Damien Wilkins. Winner of this year’s Ockham Award for fiction, it seemed a necessary novel to check in on, only to find the narrative arc was that of an ageing couple facing – yes – moving into a retirement village! Once that was established, I seriously considered putting Delirious away, possibly for good. But the story had
hooked me and I continued with an occasional grimace of recognition. Witi Ihimaera has described it as a ‘novel of grace and humanity’ and so it is. Pete and Mary are selling their beloved house; watching each other as their bodies age; knowing that change is inevitable, but unsure of where decision lies. If this was just a story of relocation, it would be a depressing read. But it is so much more.
We are taken back into the loss of a child 40 years earlier and the events, never resolved, around that. It delves into recall of family history long put aside. It is richly layered and I ended up caring immensely about Pete and Mary; and that, for me, is the acid test of a novel; that I care about the characters.
Of course Delirious was full of ‘aha’ moments, but its fearless grip on the issue that faces us all (if we are lucky); that we will age, makes it a story with wide appeal.
This is the second time Damien Wilkins has won our major fiction award, among a slew of other literary prizes.
Published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, Wellington.
* Like most of my cohort, I swore I would never shift into a retirement village, until a few salutary issues made me face reality!
for Portage Trust
Authorised by Derek Battersby, 56 Exler Place, Avondale. Ph 021599672
Tītīrangi Festival of Music: Celebrating Community and Creativity
Nestled in the lush, bush-fringed slopes of West Auckland, Tītīrangi – a name meaning “hill reaching up to the sky” in te reo Māori – has long been a hub of artistic soul and community spirit. Since its relaunch, the Tītīrangi Festival of Music has become a beloved, community-focused annual celebration.
The festival spotlights both professional and emerging local artists, offering performance opportunities, engaging volunteers, and hosting free family-friendly events throughout the village.
With the generous support of The Trusts Community Foundation, The Trusts, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board, and the Whau Local Board, the festival is proudly brought to life by and for the community.
This year, the festival runs across Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October 2025, offering two days of music, community, and celebration.
On Saturday October 25, the heart of Tītīrangi Village comes alive with the TFM25 Cultural Stage, a new initiative spotlighting Māori, Pacific, and multicultural voices in West Auckland. The stage will pulse with ancestral rhythm and contemporary pride. It’s more than music – it’s cultural storytelling in motion. Local schools (Green Bay High School, Kelston Boys High School, Avondale College and Lynfield College) and community groups will also be performing on an outdoor stage in the Village. The day will be full of exciting performances and creative happenings around the Village, perfect for families and festival-goers alike. That evening, the much-loved Village restaurant Deco hosts a very special concert, where Annie Crummer will deliver an intimate stripped-back soulful set, supported by the genre-bending talent of Arjuna Oakes. With limited seating, this promises to be one of the festival’s most treasured events.
The celebration continues on Sunday 26 October in Avondale, where another free outdoor stage showcases local schools, music groups, and community ensembles. Later that night, the festival culminates with the Main Concert at the historic Hollywood Theatre, headlined by Anika Moa, Black Comet (fronted by Laughton Kora), and Thabani Gapara, fresh from his recent New Zealand tour.
Featured Events and Performers
Deco Concert Night (Saturday October 25)
Kick off the festival’s evening programme with an intimate concert at Deco, a much-loved restaurant in the heart of Tītīrangi Village. Feel the warmth of a stripped-back soulful set as Annie Crummer takes the stage, supported by the versatile Arjuna Oakes, a familiar face returning to the festival.
Annie Crummer is renowned for her powerhouse voice and Pacific heritage. Annie rose to prominence in the 1980s with the Netherworld Dancing Toys’ For Today” and as a member of When The Cat’s Away. Her acclaimed solo debut Language (1992) went platinum, followed by the gold-certified Seventh Wave (1996). In 2021, she was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. She has also been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards and appointed MNZM for her services to music.
Arjuna Oakes (pictured left) is an evolving, genredefying singer/song-writer, pianist, composer, and producer from Wellington. Following his debut EP The Watcher in 2019, he continued to release acclaimed works like Recovery, Pt. 1, First Nights, Recovery, Pt. 2, Final Days and Future Lullaby
Seats are limited for this special evening, so keep your senses tuned — ticket details will be announced soon.
Main Concert – Hollywood Theatre (Sunday October 26)
Anika Moa, Black Comet (fronted by Laughton Kora), and Thabani Gapara headline the festival’s main concert at the Hollywood Theatre in Avondale.
Anika Moa (pictured right) is a celebrated singer-songwriter and television presenter. Her debut album Thinking Room (2001) hit number one in New Zealand, landing top-five singles like Youthful and Falling in Love Again. With a career spanning early triumphs in Rockquest to television and children’s albums, her artistry is both deep and versatile.
Black Comet, led by Laughton Kora (of Kora, L.A.B.), brings magnetic energy and funk-infused sounds to the stage.
Thabani Gapara returns to the festival, bringing his infectious groove and saxophone-driven sound to the Hollywood Theatre stage.
Free Cultural Stages
Saturday October 25 – Tītīrangi Village: Local community bands, cultural groups, and creative performances throughout the day.
Sunday October 26 – Avondale: Outdoor stage featuring schools and community music groups leading up to the Main Concert.
A Legacy of Local Talent
Over the years, the Tītīrangi Festival of Music has blossomed, offering a platform for local artists to grow through performances and song-writer nights. It has nurtured “musical activity in the area” and contributed to the community’s creative flourishing. Past performers have included notable names like Bic Runga, Hollie Smith, and others who helped shape the festival’s reputation for quality and artistic breadth.
Note: Tickets for the Deco Concert and Hollywood Concert are available via Eventfinda.
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 – 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 – 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 – 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.
w – November 2, Pygmalion Touch, a group exhibition in mixed media; West Coast Gallery, Seaview Road, Piha; Thursday/Sunday. Phone 09 812 8029 www.westcoast.co.nz
w – November 9, Karaka, celebrating students from Green Bay Prinary School and their connection with the local environment; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – November 9, Campbell Patterson, a survey of video works over 20 years; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – November 23, Ifs, an exhibition of paintings and works on paper by Anoushka Akel; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – November 23, Fatma Bucak, an exhibition of new and existing work by this Turkish artist; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
October
w 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/teenpainting-workshop-sywxzlxx. Phone 377 0209 or 817 0011.
w 3, Flicks presents The Divine Sarah Bernhardt (M, France) Drama/ Romance. Sarah Bernhardt, an icon of her time and the world's first star, is also a passionate, free-spirited and modern woman who defies conventions; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 10.30am, 6pm and 8.15pm; $16 ($12 concessions). Text 0210 222 5558 for bookings.
w 4, 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 5, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732.
w 10, West Auckland Men’s Rebus Club, guest speaker and morning tea; Friendship Hall, 3063 Great North Road, New Lynn; 10am-12 noon. Phone Vince 021 189 6822.
w 10, Ladies’ Probus Club, fellowship, fun, speakers, and a monthly day trip; St John’s Hall, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatū South; 9:45am-12 noon. Phone Betty 09 832 0484.
w 10, Flicks presents The Count of Monte Cristo (M) Adventure/Drama/ Action, Based on Alexandre Dumas' classic book. Edmond Dantes becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 7pm; $16 ($12 concessions). Text 0210 222 5558 for bookings.
w 11, West Lynn Garden Spring Festival Fund-raiser, a fun day out for the whānau with crafts, activities, food, drink and market stalls; 73 Parker Ave, New Lynn; 10am to 2pm. Phone 09 827 7045 or email office@ westlynngarden.org.nz
w 11, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club 60th Birthday celebration; Tītīrangi Beach Hall, bottom of Tītīrangi Beach Road. Visit www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz for details.
w 11, Waitematā Country Music Club club night; Glen Eden Community and Recreation Centre, 44 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 7-10pm; $5. Phone Kathy 09 817 4994
w 11 – 19, 38th Trust Art Awards Exhibition, featuring a wide range of artworks, including both 2D and 3D pieces; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Visit www.waitakerearts.com for more information.
w 11– November 29, Te Taha Tū, Te-Kahu-O-Rangi, a display of kākāhu (costumes) celebrating and acknowledging those who helped to prepare, dress and design the many different kākāhu that have been worn on stage by the award-winning Te Taha Tū kapa haka rōpū (performing arts group); Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w 11– November 29, Past Visions, Tony Brown (Te Aupouri) is painting the Māori within coming out. Drawing from childhood memories, some stories leak out onto the board while others stay held in until another day; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w 15, Flicks presents Vertigo (M, 128 minutes) directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Introduced by Sir Bob Harvey; Tītīrangi Theatre, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 10.30am, 6pm and 8.15pm; $16 ($12 concessions). Text 0210 222 5558 for bookings.
w 15, Combined Waitākere Rebus Club; St John’s Hall, 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatū South; 10am-12 noon. Contact Philis on 838 5361.
w 16, Waitākere Forest and Bird presents John Dyer speaking about 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 17, Flicks presents a film to be confirmed visit www.flickscinema. weebly.com for updates.
w 17 and 18, The Public Stand 2025: An ode to the Avondale Racecourse, created by Molly Mullen and Becca Wood for the Whau Arts Festival 2025 with sound design by Peter Hobbs; Avondale Racecourse, 22 Elm Street, Avondale; Tickets at Eventbrite.
Places to go – Things to do
w 18, Tītīrangi Theatre presents an Open Stage Night; Lopdell House Theatre, 418 Tītīrangi Road; 7pm. Contact Karen Soulje to book a spot karensoulje@gmail.com
w 20, Henderson Falls Combined Friendship Club – fun, friendship and fellowship with monthly speakers and frequent outings; Henderson Bowling Clubrooms, 2/20 Alderman Drive, Henderson; 10am-12 noon. Contact Gwenda Elwood on 836 0445 or 027 664 7565.
w 28, Tītīrangi U3A – informal learning for people 50-years plus, guest speakers, study groups; West Lynn Garden, 73 Parker Avenue, New Lynn; 1pm. Contact Irene Pearcey ipearceyu3a@gmail.com. www.u3a.nz.
w 24, Glen Eden Combined Probus Club: company and fellowship, interesting speakers, morning tea and monthly outings; Glen Eden Recreation and Community Centre, 44 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; 9:45am. Phone Brian Holt 838 5857.
w 24, 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 25, 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 25, New Lynn Repair Cafe organised and run by DEANZ. Bring your broken items and work with skilled volunteers to fix them; New Lynn Community Centre, Tōtara Avenue, New Lynn; 11am-2pm; Koha. Contact Kabir on mehsanul.nz@gmail.com.
w 26, Tītīrangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall car park and the Tītīrangi RSA; 10am-2pm. Contact tvm. manager@gmail.com.
w 31, Flicks presents a film to be confirmed visit www.flickscinema. weebly.com for updates.
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
GLEN
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Peter Parnell Book at Eventfinda
Aucklanders really want to ride Our Place
As we enter ‘Biketober’*, EcoMatters Environment Trust, a New Lynn-based charity is celebrating seeing over 100,000 visitors at the nine bike hubs it now operates around Auckland.
The first bike hub was in a humble container at EcoMatters New Lynn premises. It opened eight years ago and was backed by the Whau Local Board and a Lotteries NZ grant.
Auckland Transport came onboard later and EcoMatters Bike Hubs are now found in Henderson, Grey Lynn, Glen Innes, Manukau, Pakuranga, Onehunga, Forrest Hill and Queens Wharf, in addition to the New Lynn hub. The network is now supported by the Henderson-Massey, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Waitematā and Whau local boards, Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku, Tāmaki Regeneration, and the NZ Lotteries Grants Board, along with a team
To honour your loved one beyond a lifetime
www.morrisons.co.nz
of volunteers, donors and visitors.
Reaching the 100,000 visitor mark is largely thanks to Aucklanders showing up week after week to buy or donate second-hand bikes, or to learn how to maintain the bikes they already have, says EcoMatters' bike manager Brent Bielby.
“We’re blown away by the support we’ve had from Tāmaki Makaurau, which truly shows Aucklanders want access to this type of community service in their lives. It’s all about making it easy for people to get on a bike,” says Brent.
In the 2024-2025 financial year alone, EcoMatters’ nine hubs have seen over 35,000 visitors, fixed 12,267 bikes and sold 2158 bikes that were donated for refurbishment and resale. Of that total, New Lynn Bike Hub saw 4659 visitors, fixed 1704 bikes, and sold 265 donated and refurbished bikes. In Henderson, the team saw 3620 visitors, fixed 1437 bikes and sold 307 donated and refurbished bikes
EcoMatters CEO Carla Gee says that reaching this milestone shows the demand is there, not just for individuals, but for the whole family.
“I’m particularly proud that this is a space for the whole whānau to enjoy. Making cycling accessible and affordable for more people of all ages is good for our community and our health. It’s also good for the health of the environment, which of course is the basis on which EcoMatters operates.”
Carla says that a key focuses is making cycling accessible for short journeys that people normally drive. “We know that carbon emissions can be significantly reduced by taking this ‘everyday’ approach to using a bike.”
Reaching the 100,000 mark adds weight to cycling statistics such as Auckland Transport’s monthly cycling monitor tool, showing a 4.5% YOY increase in cycling movements around the region. But Brent believes the influence of the hubs far exceeds 100,000, because those newly empowered visitors who visit them go back home and share their skills with whānau and friends.
“Cycling counters and other tools are great, but our hubs give us a much broader, deeper picture of cycling in Tāmaki Makaurau. Our figures indicate that there are more people interested in cycling than is reported in the media, and this is so encouraging. We hope to see even more out and about in October doing the Biketober activities on offer.”
* For more information about Biketober visit https:// biketober.nz/.
History
The night the Clancies didn't come
The Tītīrangi Folk Music Club was the first folk club formed in Auckland, and its formation was almost accidental.
Early in 1965 the NZ Herald presented an article by Harry Dansey entitled, “Thanks to University Extension – adults can now go to school.” Among much else it said: “If you are interested in folk song, there’s a fascinating course at Tītīrangi, beginning in June, on folk songs and singers of many lands. It is conducted by Mr and Mrs D Rainey, who studied the subject in Britain and the United States during four years abroad.”
And in the University Extension Prospectus for 1965 we find "Folk songs and singers of many lands – D Rainey, MA and Mrs J Rainey, ATCI: In recent years recordings of great folk singers have created a revival of interest in folk music. But folk songs are by definition songs for and about ordinary people, enjoyed most when sung and not merely listened to. In this course Mr and Mrs Rainey (Des and Juliet) will introduce students to folk songs and singers from many different places and teach them how to sing the songs themselves .... Mr Rainey plays the guitar and Mrs Rainey the autoharp, mountain dulcimer and mandolin."
There were about eight people in the folk song class. Des Rainey recalls. “Towards the close of the course one of the members claimed he could bring the touring Clancy Brothers to meet with us! Well – enthusiasm knew no bounds! With more and more people wanting to join in, the new Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall was booked and the event, in July 1965, was advertised in the Western Leader. We tried
to get a few singers to be present and be ready to take part. Hannah Tatana was one. The night came and there was a good turnout. The time for the arrival of the Clancies came – and went! They never arrived! "We never did learn what happened and we ended not caring because we had a fantastic time as we waited and waited. Did anyone have a Scottish song? An Irish song? A love song? A sea song? A song about birds? An animal song? A protest song? … Yes – and much else besides. By evening’s end the unexpected outcome was that we heard some great singing and had a lot of fun.
“The night the Clancies didn’t come was something very special. We wondered if such an informal evening of song could be repeated yet somehow retain spontaneity and decided to try.”
The first of what would become regular folk song evenings was on Saturday, September 28 in the Anglican Church Hall, Park Road, Tītīrangi. The meetings were run by Des and Juliet Rainey until they left for America the following year. They were very informal gatherings. Cushions and rugs replaced chairs. People brought children along if they wished – babies included. To help with spontaneity, instead of singers coming up and “doing two songs” as would become the norm later, several topics would be offered one by one and anyone, invited singers included, could stand and sing or talk to it until it died its natural death. Only the guest artist of the night sang his/her prepared selection.
Continued on page 19 >>
Recent club guests, Janet Thomson (left) and Helen Douglas perform as Pomahaka-Tyne, named after their home-town rivers.
Schools for the deaf – celebrating 83 years History
On October 1 this year, 83 years after the Tītīrangi School for the Deaf opened, a reunion and celebration took place at Lopdell House.
The reunion, for students at both the Tītīrangi and Mt Wellington Schools for the Deaf, was an opportunity to reconnect and reminisce with old friends but the organisers, Lynette Pivac MBE and Kevin Pivac ONZM, had a second objective. Not a lot of visual heritage of the two schools has survived so it was hoped that more stories and identities in photographs would be unearthed to capture the memories and memorabilia of those who attended.
Lynette and Kevin recently obtained a good photo and souvenir collection from the descendants of Cyril Allen, a headmaster at the Tītīrangi school and a “father” of the Deaf community. They have also rescued nine timeline displays (originally created by school archivist Susan Hamilton) which were discarded by Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo) when their old school building was demolished in 2015.
Speakers at the reunion included Lesley Goodey, the eldest daughter of Cyril Allen, and Terry Bates, the son of Jace Bates, who worked closely with Cyril Allen. Stories in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) were also shared by a few of the 45 ex-students who attended.
A photograph of ex-students was taken in front of the Treasure House (where they were usually photographed in the old school days) and the oldest students (in their late 80s) cut a commemorative cake.
Lynette and Kevin are compiling a booklet with a timeline, stories, photos, copies of articles, and photo collections they have gathered. This is now available for reunion attendees and by application.
The reunion was generously supported by Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Lopdell House Trust, SignDNA and Auckland Deaf Seniors Club.
The Tītīrangi School for the Deaf took over from the School for the Deaf that was originally in the Christchurch suburb of Sumner.
With Japan’s entry into the war in 1941, the army needed coastal sites from which to repel possible invasion attempts and in 1942 the army took over Sumner School for the Deaf for a coastal defence base.
Offered numerous sites, including the Château Tongariro, under government requisition orders the residential school finally settled for what an Education Department official described as “an extremely depressing hotel in Tītīrangi”.
The move to Hotel Tītīrangi was supposed to be a
temporary measure but the school was to stay nearly two decades until the building became Frank Lopdell House, an in-service education centre for teachers.
The move was made in September 1942, initially with the Sumner school headmaster Mr H. Pickering managing the site. Australian Dr Ernest Lund was appointed as headmaster in 1946.
Tītīrangi School for the Deaf catered for all hearing-impaired children between six and 16 years, whose homes were north of a line between New Plymouth and Gisborne. Deaf children from the rest of New Zealand went to new temporary premises in Christchurch for the duration of the war.
The Tītīrangi site, intended as a wartime expedient, was retained when deaf children moved back to Sumner at the war’s end in 1945.
An epidemic of rubella in 1941 affected children born to pregnant women who had contracted the disease. Many of the children suffered a measure of hearing loss and needed specialised education when they entered school in the late 1940s. The surge in enrolment meant the appointment of two new headmasters: Cyril Allen at Tītīrangi School for the Deaf and Jace Bates at a second school for the deaf in Mt Wellington. Classes were occasionally interchangeable based on the varying numbers of junior and senior students and their specific requirements.
A house staff member remembers when Helen Keller, an American author, disability rights activist and lecturer who had lost her sight and hearing due to illness when she was 19 months old, visited the school in 1948 with her friend Polly Thomson, her interpreter.
“I had just joined the house staff and didn't realise the importance of this deaf-blind lady who had written books," she says. "I remember how impressive Helen was; she put her hands on the piano to feel the music vibrations; something used later to get rhythm in speech,”
By the 1950s Tītīrangi's roll had increased to around 130 children and the accommodation, teachers and playground space were taxed to the limit. A 1950 newspaper article outlining a visit from Mrs G H Ross, the Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children, cited “congested dormitories, overcrowded bathrooms, cold concrete-floored playrooms, dangerously unprotected stairs and the general unsuitability of a three-storey building that was built as a hotel and never intended for occupation by children”.
At the start of 1952, 35 resident pupils from the Tītīrangi School for the Deaf shifted to a school at Mount Wellington in the buildings of the Wesley Preparatory School, which had closed the year before.
At Tītīrangi, pre-fabricated buildings from the ex-American army hospital in Cornwall Park lined both road frontages
Tītīrangi School for the Deaf 1944.
c. Carol Cotter
History
and the tar-seal area around Mr. F. Peats’ old Treasure House museum, behind the former hotel building. The Treasure House itself (now Tītīrangi Theatre's Costume Hire) was divided by partitions into several six-child classrooms. Teachers shared chalk and equipment by passing it over the partition when requested by the teacher on the other side.
Inside the main ‘hotel’ building, boys and girls occupied separate floors for living purposes. Teachers lived in rooms near doors and stairways to stop any unsupervised exploration of the outside world. This did not prevent two adventurous teenage boys sliding down drainpipes from the second floor late one night. Found the next day in a dinghy, they were happily fishing for their tea in the middle of the Manukau Harbour.
Weekend supervision tasks fell on the teaching staff who, in the 1950s, received an extra $100 a year for the duty. Mr J de Vere, teacher of the deaf for many years, remembers long walks, trips to Tītīrangi beach and journeys into the city, as weekend outings for the children.
The local community helped the school in many ways. Tītīrangi Primary gave over its school swimming pool to the deaf on summer afternoons and Mt Albert Gymnastic Club took classes for students on the Tītīrangi hotel’s former dance floor.
However, the cramped conditions, terrible acoustics and traffic noise led to requests for a new school site. The school’s application for a permanent site was eventually approved with the creation of a purpose-built facility in Kelston. Day classes began in Kelston with students being transported from Mt Wellington and Tītīrangi for two years. A new boarding school building was eventually constructed on Archibald Road, Kelston, integrating students from both schools which were officially closed at the end of 1959. This ended a 'temporary measure' that had lasted 18 years.
Compiled by Fiona Drummond and including extracts from an article in the Western Leader (November 22, 1986) by Peter Buffett.
213 – 215 Woodlands Park Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604
Phone: 09 817 8495 or 09 817 6188 www.kenturnermotors.co.nz
>> The night the Clancies didn't come, continued from page 17
Visiting singers at this first gathering included Dubliner Paddy Doody, Pat Bowley from Edinburgh, Englishman David James and American Debbie-Anne Blackbourn, with each performing four or five songs.
The second folk song evening was on November 6 and featured visiting singers Jack Robinson from Northumberland and John Sutherland from Aberdeen.
On December 11, the third gathering of the club took place in the Presbyterian Hall, South Tītīrangi Road, opposite the Toby Jug. The featured singers were Pat Bowley and David James along with other previous visiting singers.
Subsequent gatherings took place in the Presbyterian Hall in April, May, June and July 1966. Featured performers included Francis Kuipers, The Oddfellow (also known as the Offsiders), Peter Lumsden, Sandy Alletson, Joe Clifford, and Neil and Barbara Colquhoun.
The July folk song evening was the last one run by Des and Juliet Rainey before they left for the USA.
Tītīrangi Folk Music Club was formalised as a club on August 13, 1966, when a committee was elected and John Sutherland selected to be the first chairman. The club has met regularly ever since on the second Saturday and fourth Friday every month.
"On October 11, 2025, the Tītīrangi Folk Music Club will celebrate 60 years of song, fun and community," says Noel Armstrong, the club's present president. "We look forward to seeing old and current members alike to celebrate this milestone.
"Our vision for the following year is to feature family groups who have been part of the rich tapestry of the club through several generations."
https://www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz/
Regular attendees, Ian Bartlett and Jean Reid, perform as Celtic Ferret.
Tagging reveals success of Karekare’s dotterel protection Naturally West
Juvenile Northern New Zealand dotterels banded at Waitākere Ranges’ Karekare and neighbouring beaches are turning up at sites as far afield as Kāwhia Harbour and Taranaki, thanks to the ongoing efforts of independent dotterel researcher, Adrian Riegen, and local volunteer group Karekare Landcare.
Since 2018, 64 dotterels have been tagged on Auckland’s west coast, 58 of them as chicks. The latest data shows around two-thirds have later been re-sighted, with birds moving through the Manukau and Kaipara harbours, east to Ōmaha and Pūkorokoro Miranda and even south to Rahotu in Taranaki.
Adrian, who has been banding and studying shorebirds in various parts of the North Island since 1985, says the banding results highlight the wider impact of local care.
“It shows how a handful of chicks raised on one beach can contribute to the species’ recovery right across the country,” says Adrian. “Every bird that survives here has the chance to strengthen populations elsewhere, which is vital for a species that’s still at risk.”
Alongside banding and other conservation efforts, including predator control and weeding, local volunteers from Karekare Landcare have been fencing off fragile nests each summer to avoid trampling by beach-goers, dogs or cyclists heading to the surf break.
“The nests are little more than shallow scrapes in the sand and are almost impossible to see,” says Karekare Landcare member Kevin Ferguson.
“Most people don’t want to harm these birds; they just can’t spot the nests. A simple fence to protect the nest and
eggs makes all the difference. Walkers and riders naturally give the area a wide berth and the chicks get the peace they need to fledge.”
While dotterel numbers at Karekare remain low –usually only two or three pairs attempting to breed each year – the data shows that the chicks that survive are helping seed populations elsewhere.
“As soon as the effort stops, numbers go backwards,” Adrian says. “This species is only found in New Zealand, so if we lose them, they’re gone forever. Keeping up this work is the only way we’ll continue to see dotterel on our beaches in the future.”
Karekare Landcare is one of more than 30 groups across the region contributing to the Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance, a community-led network of around 4,000 volunteers committed to restoring native biodiversity.
How you can help:
• Stay out of roped-off areas around nesting zones, follow signs and stick to local bylaws, especially when it comes to dogs.
• Don’t approach birds faking an injury. If you see this behaviour, it means you’re too close. Instead, back away slowly and carefully.
• Keep dogs leashed on beaches.
• Don’t drive on beaches and sandspits.
• Keep cats indoors at night.
• Support predator control and habitat restoration, including vegetation planting.
• Get involved. Visit www.karekarelandcare.org or connect with other groups at pfwra.org.nz/find-yourpeople.
Climbing Asparagus is one of the worst weeds in the Waitākeres. It is a climbing plant with small, thin leaves, white flowers and green berries that ripen to orange/red. It might not look like much but once established it smothers the forest floor and stops native plants growing. Our native plants are an important protection against erosion and need all the help we can give them. For small amounts of Climbing Asparagus, dig out tubers, rhizomes and seeds and rot them in a water barrel or dispose in community weed bins. Seedlings (left) are very easy to pull out after wet weather and it is important to remove them before seeding occurs. Larger infestations (right) can still be removed but may require herbicide.
Photo by Adrian Riegen.
Photos by Deb Holdsworth.
Honouring the past, Celebrating the present, Looking to the future
The Tītīrangi RSA celebrated 90 years of service, remembrance, and community on September 27. Since its founding in 1935, the RSA has been a place where veterans, families, and locals have come together to honour those who served, to socialise, and to build a strong, connected Tītīrangi.
The club’s early days began at Reekies, known later as Toby’s, on the corner of Park and South Tītīrangi Roads. Back then, the RSA was part of the Western Suburbs RSA, and members met for monthly gatherings and indoor bowls.
In the post-war years, the lack of a community hall sparked a shared mission. A committee was formed –led by Alec Bishop, then Chair of the Waitematā County Council – with members from the RSA, Ratepayers' Association, Plunket, School Committee, and Library. Their goal was to secure land and funding to build a War Memorial Hall and RSA for Tītīrangi.
While that project was underway, the RSA acquired land on Rangiwai Road and built a temporary hall with volunteer labour – a building that still stands today as the local Catholic Church. Opened in 1948, it was a social hub for years, hosting popular dances and events.
In 1953, the hall was sold for £4,000, enabling the RSA to qualify for a government war memorial subsidy. They moved temporarily to the Treasure House behind Lopdell House, and later into two prefabricated dormitories previously used by the School for the Deaf.
By 1960, the dream of a permanent facility began to take shape. The five-acre War Memorial site on South Tītīrangi
Road was vested in the Waitematā County Council, and the current RSA building was constructed to shell stage, with internal finishing completed entirely by volunteers. The building opened in 1962, and served as a shared space until the main hall opened in 1965.
From 1944 to 1965, ANZAC Day services were held at the corner of Atkinson and Tītīrangi Roads, where the original war memorial monument once stood. In 1965, it was moved to its current site outside the War Memorial Hall – where it remains a place of reflection and pride.
From 1965 onwards, the club has seen the addition of the sports room, kitchen, dining area, and museum –each enhancing the club’s role as a vibrant community hub.
To mark its 90th birthday, the Tītīrangi RSA invited the community to a special day of celebration in late September; a day of great company, great stories, and a great atmosphere. This was more than just an anniversary – it was a chance to celebrate all of the RSA's members, past and present, and to welcome the wider community into the heart of the club.
As the RSA celebrates 90 years of history, it is also looking to the future. The club's vision is to continue growing as a hub of the community – a family-friendly, inclusive space where everyone feels welcome. Whether you're looking for a local spot to relax, celebrate an event, or connect with others, the Tītīrangi RSA aims to be your go-to place.
Here’s to 90 years – and many more to come.
Lest We Forget.
This space is being seen by up to 40,000 local residents. It could be yours for as little as $240 + GST, or 0.6 cents per reader.
Email info@fringemedia.co.nz to find out more.
(For all our rates, download our media kit from http://www.fringemedia.co.nz/Rates.html.)
... a hybrid blend wrapped in a native container ...
Yeah gidday. Lizard here.
I hope your spring season is perfectly sprongy. Speaking of springingly, my latest adventure began when I unexpectedly sprang a leak in my right Doc Martin boot. This was the second disappointment of the day. Earlier, my hero wife Shaz caught me rolling a joint. It was my ankle. So, limping with a soggy sock, I went off to find a shoe shop.
I fondly remembered Mum taking me to see Mr Greene at the Hannahs shoe shop we always went to. Mr Greene would measure my foot in the metal measuring thing I stood on, then he’d get a pair of school shoes for me to try on. He would lace them up and squeeze my foot saying ”there’s the end of his big toe. Plenty of room for him to grow.” In 1870, Robert Hannah actually made the shoes and employed over 250 people in factories all over the place. I was keen to buy Kiwi-made shoes. Or better still, boots.
On my way, I dropped in to see Mopey Jesus. You may recall he’s living in a self contained bunker under the Tītīrangi Roundabout sculptures. Mopey has taken up nude painting. His neighbours in the village are a bit upset but his front door looks great. Although painting it red for Anzac has made it a bit obvious where he lives. I pressed the doorbell, opened the door and slid down the entrance chute.
speak to each other. The pleasure of good manners and service.
Plus, I’m a bit clueless.
Mopey patiently explained that I was looking for an ’App’ that was platform specific, hopefully offering peak performance but perhaps requiring separate development for each OS. I was, obviously, needing it to be mobile-optimised via a browser offering broad compatibility but hopefully packing deep device integration or perhaps a hybrid blend wrapped in a native container for cross-platform development, which, he assured me, would be cost-
This was all a bit overwhelming. I’m also not very motivated. As a kid I had a lazy eye and over the years, that’s spread throughout my body. I suggested we go the Razza for a couple of handles. A couple turned in to a few but we were on foot so no worries. We had nearly walked all the way back up the hill to Mopey’s when I remember we hadn’t tipped the barmaid Mary. Mopey said. “It’s a long way to tip-a-Mary.”
It’s always great to see Mopey. I explained my blown out boot catastrophe and my desire to buy New Zealand, sorry, Aotearoa-made replacements. Mopey said that the shoe manufacturing industry is long gone and I’d be better off buying on-line.
“It’s easy Lizard. Yours is a smart phone? Right?”
The truth of the matter is, I have a few issues with phones. In fact, with on-line anything. We do so much through emails that no-one wants to see live people anymore. I think this is why we have security people outside everyday businesses. We’ve forgotten how to
Well, long story made a bit longer, I did order some boots from overseas. I scored a pair of Rick Owens boots that normally go for US$1800 but these had been worn once so I landed them for NZ$400. Delivered! Well, the American bloke that had only worn them once must have been a drug dealer. I don’t know what he laced them with but I've been tripping all day.
Hey, why not have a phone-free day once a week. Meet and chat to the people in your street. Smile at the folks stuck behind their computers all day at work reading emails. That’s gotta be a long day! Even go so far as to have a laugh with the security people. They’re probably nice.
Catch ya later, Lizard.
Watkins Plumbing Services Ltd
LYNFIELD’S BEST KEPT SECRET
Situated on the edge of Mt Roskill, Murray Halberg Village offers a relaxed yet convenient retirement lifestyle only 10km from central Auckland.
Bordered by native bush, the village enjoys a picturesque backdrop while being close to supermarkets, shops, and eateries.
You’ll find a vibrant and welcoming community in the area you love. With a strong sense of connection and the freedom to live life on your terms, you’ll always feel supported.
There are plenty of opportunities to stay active and social, with fantastic amenities including a swimming pool, spa, movie theatre, and café right on your doorstep.
Don’t miss out, call Lucy on 627 2727 for more details
We have two bedroom apartments available now, priced from $657,000*. MURRAY HALBERG VILLAGE 11 Commodore Drive, Lynfield
