ISSUE 253, NOVEMBER 2025
community news, issues, arts, people, events
community news, issues, arts, people, events
EMBRACE VILLAGE LIFE
Whatever age, whatever stage, life is for exploring. At Ryman, our villages offer the freedom to choose your ideal retirement lifestyle.
Murray Halberg Village in Lynfield offers a range of living options. Choose from independent living in an apartment or enjoy the added support of a serviced apartment. Our village care centre offers rest home, hospital and specialist dementia care.
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.
Discover a retirement filled with opportunity.
Ryman resident, Suellen, and her granddaughters
APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW
Enjoy the best of retirement living with two and three bedroom apartments available now. Apartments feature full-height windows, open plan living and stunning interiors, with seamless indoor-outdoor flow to a patio or balcony.
Apartments priced from $495,000*
SERVICED APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW
We have one bedroom serviced apartments available now which include a kitchenette, a bedroom with an ensuite, and a cosy living area. Serviced apartments are located in the main building, allowing easy access to all the village amenities.
Serviced apartments priced from $450,000*
To view our show homes call Lucy on 627 2727.
MURRAY HALBERG VILLAGE
11 Commodore Drive, Lynfield
*Reflects the lowest available price at time of publication. Availability and pricing subject to change.
The Fringe, Issue 253, November 2025
Twilight in the Village 2025
Mark your diaries! Tītīrangi, the little village with bright lights and a big heart, is staying open late to celebrate the festive season on Friday, December 5, 5-9pm.
Come along to Twilight in the Village to shop at a delightful array of stalls, support local businesses and enjoy an abundance of free activities for the whole whānau.
The Lopdell Twilight Market will feature wall-to-wall creativity with a variety of stalls, free face painting for tamariki and familyfriendly short films playing in the theatre. Sit down with local collage artist Naomi Azoulay to create your own cards and take advantage of our free gift-wrapping station.
The Mollymawks will entertain on the Lopdell rooftop with their acoustic melodies as the sun sets over the Waitākere Ranges, and the Greater Auckland Chorus will awaken your holiday spirit with carols throughout the evening.
You will also be able to peruse Upstairs Gallery’s Summer Show and visit the Tītīrangi Theatre bar for a refreshing cold drink or their irresistible holiday speciality, mulled wine. Indulge in the Italian gelato cart or snack at one of the many local eateries around the village.
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
The unique and fabulous gallery shop at Te Uru is staying open late too, so you can shop for one-of-a-kind gifts for yourself or loved ones. Stay awhile at Deco Eatery to enjoy their summer menu.
There will be a colouring competition to check out at Barfoot & Thompson and you can take a group shot at the spectacular photo frame. There will also be a scavenger hunt for the adventurous who want to explore the village.
Find the Christmas elves, meet Santa and stick around to see him switch on the Tītīrangi Village Christmas Lights at 8.30pm.
There’s so much to do in the Fringe of Heaven at Twilight in the Village 2025! Check out the full programme of festive offerings at lopdellprecinct.org.nz
Twilight in the Village is presented by Lopdell Precinct, Bright Lights Little Village and the newly-formed Tītīrangi Business Association. It is made possible with funding support from Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Lopdell Trust.
On our Cover: Angela Amerigo brings a bold, vibrant energy to the Open Studios Waitākere weekend, November 22-23. See page 5 for more information.
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.
A new future coming for landmark building
The building at 400 Tītīrangi Road has had its fair share of controversy. The restaurant space has seen allegations of underpaid staff, discriminatory hiring methods, and court cases, with what has seemed to be an endless stream of businesses and changes of hands writes AZZURRA SNELGROVE-DOUCH.
It’s become an arguably notorious part of Tītīrangi's landscape, known more commonly for its unpredictability than its various businesses. A decade on from the headlines which made it national news, uncertainty remains; has it managed to shrug off its past?
For months, the building has been hidden under construction and scaffolding, with only Gecko in the Village still open for business. The complete renovation was brought about by the closure of Ambrosia Kitchen & Bar following a major kitchen fire and then the closure of the Tītīrangi Post Shop due to an increasing crime rate.
Both these events took place in 2023 leading to uncertainty over the building's future, and the possible time line for its reopening.
Kerry Titchener, the building’s owner, sets this uncertainty aside, promising a bright future for the space and the introduction of a new asset to Tītīrangi's cultural scene.
Kerry says the building’s scaffolding and tarpaulin should be seen as a symbol of positive change rather than defeat. With regard to concerns around previous controversies, he claims that there is “no connection”, and that they are issues of the distant past with all ties to previous restaurants well and truly severed.
He frames the renovation as an opportunity for growth,
"getting the building to a good standard", and the establishment of a "bigger and better" space. The building has been extended, and will offer not only a new restaurant space but also a new retail space.
The renovation signals modernisation and an improvement on the previous design. (Issues with the earlier design were one of the influences behind the renovation.)
In terms of who we can expect to fill the space, Kerry says there’s "no rush" to find a tenant. Time will be spent finding the right fit to create a premium restaurant space that locals can enjoy going to. The goal is to create a new community hub akin to The Rise's Street Feast.
The restaurant construction can be expected to be completed around Christmas or into early 2026, while marketing for the post office’s retail space will begin within the next few weeks.
The importance of the building extends beyond the brick and mortar. For Kerry, it represents a well-loved family heirloom which he hopes will continue to be passed down through future generations. Owned by his family for the best part of three decades, it represents a rare combination of local history and continuity.
The reconstruction is also significant as the marker of a new chapter; it follows the passing of the Titchener family’s patriarch, Walter Titchener, in April of this year. Beloved by many, he will be commemorated in the building’s opening, adding further importance to the renovation as a representation of the building's renewed spirit and a commitment to the stability of Tītīrangi Village and its businesses.
Out & About
Discover the artists of Open Studios Waitākere
With the support of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Open Studios Waitākere returns for its ninth year later this month. This event is a highlight of the West Auckland creative calendar, celebrating the diversity of artists who live and work across the region.
More than 45 studios and 80 artists will open their doors, offering a rare chance to step inside their creative spaces, talk to the makers, and see artworks in progress. Visitors can enjoy painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, jewellery and tattoo. It’s a unique opportunity to explore the creative heart of the Waitākere Ranges.
The event is self-guided, and a map and brochure can be downloaded from the website, making it easy to plan your own art trail. Studios are spread across Glen Eden, Tītīrangi, Oratia, Laingholm and beyond, so whether you visit a handful or make a full weekend of it, there is plenty to inspire you.
Among the Tītīrangi artists to visit is Angela Amerigo, featured on the cover of this issue. Angela's paintings are characterised by saturated colours, dynamic gestures, and
a passion for exploring feminist ideas through visual art. Her studio will be a place to experience colour and movement up close.
Rachel Carter is a returning artist. Working on the wheel with porcelain and stoneware clays, Rachel produces elegant forms that are both functional and beautiful (pictured left). During the weekend, visitors will see her works at every stage of creation.
Just a short walk from Tītīrangi Village, you’ll find the studio of painter Peter Force. His works sit between the abstract and figurative, capturing fleeting moments that reflect emotional states, urgent, energetic, and always considered.
Open Studios Waitākere is more than an event. It’s a celebration of creativity, community, and connection. Whether you’re an art collector, a curious local, or simply looking for an inspiring way to spend a spring weekend, this is your chance to experience the talent in our own backyard. Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November 2025, 10am – 4pm. Find out more, view the map and download the brochure at www.openstudioswaitakere.co.nz.
Old Favs and New Curiosities
I think we undervalue the uniqueness, and the absolute privilege we share, of the Portage Ceramic Awards; hosted annually by Te Uru Contemporary Gallery.
It is the première claybased exhibition of all that is going on with contemporary ceramics nation-wide. It exposes work that is sophisticated and recognisable; crazily cutting edge and controversial; technically superb – and occasionally not; conceptual and often challenging.
The exhibition elicits strong responses and attracts an audience of wild diversity, from experts and collectors, practitioners, the curious and art lovers in general. It can be said that there is always something for everyone to admire, wonder, love and hate. That’s what makes it wonderful.
There is much that ties it to the west; the historic clay brick and tile industries; the Crown Lynn era of domestic ware; some great names in the emergence of a distinctive Aotearoa ceramic culture (Briar Gardner, Len Castle, John Parker).
The trajectory of the awards is its own story. Initially, it picked up the baton from the Fletcher Brownbuilt Awards, (subsequently the Fletcher Challenge Awards) held annually at the Auckland Museum. The early years are remembered for invitation-only, extravagant opening nights with wine, food and live performances in highly staged settings. The award announcements and the rush to the galleries was a sight to behold.
International judges were another part of the glamour surrounding the awards, and they did add a touch of frisson
to the night; although not all impressed. I recall a judge from Japan sharing quite openly the subjective nature of a single judge selector. It was, he said, a bit like whether you preferred marmite or vegemite. That was a reassuring moment! But prior to Covid, when judging shifted to professionals from the fields of design and ceramics in Aotearoa, there was a change of tone; and, I believe, for the better. Of course, Covid cemented that change, and year after year we have had judges of real merit who brilliantly share their processes and decision-making.
This year is no different. Fiona Jack is an artist and educator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is Head of School and Associate Professor at Elam School of Fine Arts, Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland, where she has taught since 2007. Fiona’s artistic practice ranges from large-scale public commissions to collaborative projects grounded in social exchange.
In her words: Clay is a compelling medium—ubiquitous across millennia, yet continually reshaped with new form and purpose through the hands of each generation. I am humbled and honoured to be the judge for the 2025 Portage Ceramic Awards, an annual event that holds a special place in Aotearoa’s cultural landscape. It is a privilege to contribute to a tradition that honours both the deep history of clay in West Auckland and the breadth of contemporary practice across the motu. I look forward to celebrating the vitality and innovation of ceramics today, and I thank Te Uru for entrusting me with this meaningful role.
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Scott Brough, Four-sided Bottle; Alex Jones, Club Branch Bottle; Peter Collis, Double Crystal Bowl; Janna van Hasselt, Stockpile.
So buckle up and get ready for one of the best, and most engaging, rides of the year. Opening and award event – November 20, 6pm. Judges talk – November 22, 2pm. Exhibition, Nov 21 – February 8, 2026
The Portage Ceramic Awards are made possible with the support of TTCF, The Trusts and the Te Uru Benefactors Collective (TBC)
Robin Hyde in her Auckland Circle, with Paula Morris.
Join the acclaimed novelist and Robin Hyde chronicler Paula Morris to delve into the Auckland city of this extraordinary, elusive and trailblazing writer.
For much of the 1930s, Robin Hyde (Iris Wilkinson) roamed Auckland, interviewing and reporting. Her circle included other journalists and writers, students, designers and printers, bohemians, rebellious society girls, larrikins and political figures. Some became well-known names; others blazed bright but faded in time. This salon explores the city in a volatile era, and some of its most distinctive personalities.
Following the publication of Shining Land: Looking for Robin Hyde, Paula Morris has conducted further research into the life of this remarkable writer, including an in depth-analysis of her personal correspondence. A book is in the making. This is the first in a series of Sunday evening salons to be hosted at Shadbolt House, home to Maurice Shadbolt for most of his writing life. A forest retreat with sweeping views of the Manukau, it’s a place of enormous cultural significance, layered with stories. Numbers are limited so booking is essential. Tickets become available on November 1.
Shadbolt House, 35 Arapito Rd, Titirangi; November 23, 4pm; $30 unwaged, $35 waged. Wine and refreshments included. Pre-register by emailing kiaora@goingwestfest.co.nz with your first and last names, the number of waged/unwaged tickets you would like, your phone number and a reply email address.
You will receive confirmation after November 1.
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To find out more give one of us a call today.
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l.laban@barfoot.co.nz
Titirangi
Paula Morris. Photo by Colleen Lenthan.
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 – 9, Karaka, celebrating students from Green Bay Primary School; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 9, Campbell Patterson, a survey of video works over 20 years; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 23, Ifs, an exhibition of paintings and works on paper by Anoushka Akel; Te Uru, 420 Tītīrangi Road. Phone 817 8087.
w – 29, Past Visions, Tony Brown (Te Aupouri) is painting the Māori within coming out. ; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w – 29, Te Taha Tū, Te-Kahu-O-Rangi, a display of kapa haka costumes; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
w 8 – 30, Moments in Clay, Tītīrangi Potters' annual exhibition; The Upstairs Gallery, Level 1, Lopdell House, 418 Tītīrangi Road.
November
w 1, 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 2, Pony Rides, Huia Road Horse Club; 436B Huia Road, Laingholm; 3-4pm; $5 per child per ride. Phone 027 499 1732.
w 8, Te Toi Uku presents Crown Lynn Collectors & NZ Pottery Market; New Lynn Community Centre, Totara Avenue, New Lynn; 9am-1pm.; $2 entry. Phone 09 827 7349
w 8, Quiz Night to raise funds for the Tītīrangi Village Christmas Lights display. Silent raffle, table sponsorship and more; Tītīrangi RSA, 502 South Tītīrangi Road; 7pm; Tickets $20 per seat or $160 for table available at the Tītīrangi RSA. Email mcfarlanescott@xtra.co.nz, or phone 021 238 1469.
w 8 and 9, Piha Garden Ramble to raise funds for Piha Library.
Visit six gardens around Piha from a sprawling farm orchard with over 100 fruit trees, to native gardens, creative colourful exotics, and organic community gardens. 10am-1pm; Tickets at $25 from Piha library. Email pihacommunitylibrary@gmail.com or call Claire on 027 405 3753.
w 8, Tītīrangi Folk Music Club presents The Slow Water Band, floorsingers in first half; Tītīrangi Beach Hall, bottom of Tītīrangi Beach Road; 8pm; $15, members $10, under 18 free. www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz.
Awards ceremony and opening 5pm, Saturday 8 November All welcome
Exhibition runs to 30 November
Places to go – Things to do
w 9, 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 15, New Lynn Lions Club $1 Book Sale: Books, Magazines, CDs, DVDs, LPs and jigsaw puzzles; 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 18 – 29, Tītīrangi Theatre presents The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde; Lopdell House Theatre. Bookings at https://www. titirangitheatre.co.nz/
w 20, Waitākere Forest and Bird Talk: Hui Zhen Tan, a PhD researcher from the University of Auckland, on the conservation and genetics of the hihi/ stitchbird; Ranui Community Centre 474 Swanson Rd, Ranui; 7:30pm; koha appreciated. Phone Liz 027 476 2732 or email lizanstey@hotmail.com.
w 22, Open Arts Day with art exhibitions, open artist studios, free arts activities and workshops and a selection of food options; Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson; 10am-3pm; free entry. Phone 838 4455, www.ceac.org.nz.
22 – 30, Open Week at Matuku Link to celebrate its Gold Star Award at the Wetland International Awards. Guided tours, displays, talks and more; 111 Bethells Road, Te Henga; 10am-3pm. www.matukulink.org.nz
w 23, Festive summer market with art, plants, flowers, gifts, jewellery,
honey, home baking and more; Pinesong, 66 Avonleigh Road, Green Bay; 10am-3pm. Phone 817 1800 or email Jacqui.raymond@metlifecare.co.nz.
w 25, 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 28, 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 29, New Lynn Repair Cafe. 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 30, Tītīrangi Village Market: art, craft, produce and music; Tītīrangi War Memorial Hall car park and the Titirangi RSA; 10am-2pm. Contact tvm. manager@gmail.com.
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
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 November 10am–4pm
Visit some of Waitākere’s most celebrated artists including sculptors, painters, jewellers, illustrators, ceramic artists and photographers. With over 60 artists involved, and 40 studios from Piha to Glen Eden, Titirangi to Te Henga, it’s an inspiring weekend out and about.
Friday 5 December, 5pm to 9pm Tītīrangi Village, Auckland | lopdellprecinct.org.nz
Visual feast of values celebrating who we are
“This book just wanted to be born. It wanted to have a life. I was just the facilitator.”
Huia-based editor, writer of numerous novels, researcher, poet, Zen Buddhist nun and someone with a true passion for her community, Jade Reidy is quietly sparkling with joy. She’s just released her first ‘cookbook’: How To Cook Your Life – stories and recipes to heal a lonely plant.
It was conceived during a period of ill-health for Jade during Covid and she says a big part of her recovery was starting to cook again and getting back into life.
“I think the book was subconsciously driven by my concerns about the continual erosion of community. l thought this cookbook could visually represent what has always been the best of us as Westies – our generosity, creativity, our care for one another, our sense of community and connection, our general sense of fairness and good humour,” Jade says.
“I wanted to show that, but through food. Food is the one thing that always connects people but there was no point in just doing recipes. You can get those on line.”
With writing skills honed over 30 years, Jade knew how stories connect people and it wasn’t long before the local community got involved. "People shared recipes that have been secrets forever and a day, or were given to them a long time ago. This is their first outing.”
A broad range of ethnicities and cultures from the community were important to Jade too. “Multi-ethnic communities are just part of me; contributors include Māori, Pasifika, Asian and Middle Eastern.”
With Jade being Zen Buddhist, the book’s not just aimed at vegetarians. “Zen is different to lot of Buddhists … they don’t have fixed ideas on food. So it’s flexitarian and yes, meat, chicken, kai moana, kai Māori and wild food feature.
“I haven’t trained as a cook but worked in London in an
organic bakery and cooked in Zen temples for up to 400 people, so cooking’s always been an essential part of who I am and is woven in with being a writer.” She is also a volunteer at Fair Food in Avondale.
Jade says a basic level of competency is needed to get the best from the recipes. “It’s minimalist, so I don’t tell you how to poach an egg or boil rice. You don’t need to be a good cook. These are everyday recipes, with simple instructions that are concise and easy to follow.”
Recipes (and stories) run the gamut of all food types including gluten-free and plant-based, and all courses from breakfast to dinners and desserts (think about rhubarb tiramisu!). There are curries, sauces and condiments, preserves, food as medicine, face creams and no-bake treats like frozen raspberry bounty bars. Jade also features feijoa wine and lemon champagne among other drinks.
The photographs are by Jean-Patrick Vinay and many are works of art in themselves with food displayed on plates and bowls by local ceramicists and potters.
Zen Buddhist philosophy and literature treasured by Jade over the years is peppered throughout and there are ideas to reduce the food bill and waste.
“I never thought I could do something like this, but I feel a balance of hope and inspiration with it… and there’s humour. I feel so happy. I feel as though I’m doing something with the book that adds value to life, and that makes me happy. All the people I invited to be in the book cook with love. They’re very generous people, warm people.”
Just released and a limited edition, How To Cook Your Life is available from the Fairy Flower Shop in Tītīrangi Village, Tītīrangi Pharmacy or from Jade directly (jadereidy.writer@ gmail.com, 021 046 4039) for $40. All proceeds will go to local charities. Don’t wait to get it. It’s scrumptious.
– Moira Kennedy
Club Night: 2nd Saturday every month Friday Folk (informal): 4th Friday every month
Paturoa Bay Hall
Tītīrangi Beach Road
www.titirangilivemusic.co.nz
Jade Reidy (left) and Pien Wise at Sozo in Glen Eden, sharing Pien's frozen rasberry bounty bars.
Our Place
Community weed bins return
Residents in the Waitākere Ranges Local Board area can once again make the most of the community weed bin programme, with weed bin weekends returning until June 2026.
Thanks to support from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Auckland Council, the community has ongoing access to free disposal of invasive pest plants at pop-up bin sites across the area.
Last season, locals removed over 65 tonnes of pest plants using the community bins – filling 55 bins in total. That’s a huge effort, which helps protect the health of our native bush and biodiversity, says Mel Ward from EcoMatters Environment Trust (pictured top right).
"Everyone we talk to loves the bush and cares about native biodiversity, but not everyone knows how to deal with invasive weeds.
"That's why we're here. We love having a chat with weeders about which pest plants or parts can be easily left to break down at home, and which are best disposed of in the weed bins," says Mel. "We've seen this really pay off, with weeders telling us that they are starting to compost weeds at home where they can."
Plants accepted at the bins include Chinese privet, climbing asparagus, moth plant, plectranthus, tradescantia, honeysuckle, woolly nightshade and the roots and seed heads of wild ginger. (Ginger stems and leaves can be composted at home or left on the ground in your own bush area.)
A series of pest plant roadshow events are planned throughout the season. These community events offer advice on composting and pest plant control and are a great chance to ask questions and get support.
To learn more, including which weeds are accepted and roadshow dates, visit: ecomatters.org.nz/weedbins
561 Blockhouse Bay Road Blockhouse Bay Village (opposite the Library) Tues – Fri: 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm
Sun and Mon Ph 09 626 5633
WEED BIN WEEKENDS
Got invasive weeds? Get rid of them at your local community weed bins.
2025
Oct 25-27
Huia Laingholm Waiatarua
Nov 15-16 Glen Eden Titirangi
Dec 6-7 Swanson* Te Henga
Jan 17-18 Laingholm Waiatarua
Feb 14-15
Glen Eden Huia Titirangi
Mar 7-8 Huia Swanson* Te Henga
Apr 11-12 Huia Laingholm Waiatarua
May 16-17 Glen Eden Titirangi
Jun 13-14 Swanson* Te Henga
*Central Landscape Supplies hours 9am – 4pm only
♥ Bins onsite from 8am Saturday
♥ Permanent weed bin at Piha Domain
Free launch event: 7pm, Thursday 4 Dec, Tītīrangi Theatre With live theatre production of How to Cook Your Life. Booking essential at Humanitix.com or tickets at Tītīrangi Pharmacy
Order copies $40 by text 021 046 4039
On sale at Fairy Flower Shop and Refill Nation in Tītīrangi and local markets.
Glen Eden Konini School, 44 Withers Rd
Huia Huia Domain, Huia Rd
Laingholm Laingholm Community Hall, 69 Victory Rd
Swanson Central Landscape Supplies, 598 Swanson Rd
Te Henga Pae o Te Rangi Regional Park, 114 Te Henga Rd
Titirangi Zig Zag Track, Park Rd
Waiatarua .... Waiatarua Community Hall, 911 West Coast Rd
Chat weeds with us at a Pest Plant Roadshow. For events and to check which weeds are accepted at the bins, visit ecomatters.org.nz/weedbins
♥ EcoMatters staff member onsite for weed advice Saturday 9am – 3pm
Waitākere residents
Our place
Western water supply programme update
The existing Huia Water Treatment plant provides around 20% of Auckland’s water supply but now needs to be replaced. This replacement project is only one component of a major upgrade of the western water supply network writes FIONA DRUMMOND.
The upgrade now includes six components:
• Huia Water Treatment Plant Replacement, scheduled to begin in 2029
• Huia raw water main
• Lower Nihotupu raw water pump station upgrade –planned for 2027/2028
• Upper Nihotupu raw water main
• Woodlands Park reservoirs
• North Harbour 2 water main
For the last few months geotechnical investigations have taken place in six locations for the Upper Nihotupu raw water main and these investigations will continue until early December, including the site of the proposed Woodlands Park reservoirs.
The Huia raw water main options have been narrowed down to four and the preferred option will be developed following community feedback and on completion of the geotechnical investigations.
The options include a gravity tunnel from Lower Nihotupu to Mackies Rest (at end of Exhibition Drive) to the new Huia Water Treatment Plant, including a new pump station; a pressurised pipeline within a tunnel from the dam to the new water treatment plant; or a tunnelled pipeline from the Lower Nihotupu pump station to both the old and the new water treatment plants. A fourth option is a pipeline along Huia Road from the Lower Nihotupu pump station to both water treatment plants.
Tunnelling minimises surface disruption. It requires building some launching and receiving pits or shafts to set up the equipment and support the drilling and installation of the pipe sections. The road option for the water main is less straightforward in this area of slips and steep terrain.
The options have been assessed by a range of experts including Te Kawerau ā Maki for factors such as heritage, operation, and cultural and community impact.
You can get more information on the Watercare website (https://promising-sparkle-d7f0c0cfc9.media. strapiapp.com/2096_Watercare_Western_water_supply_ options_1200x800_BD_30e26e8bd4.pdf) and get updates on progress at https://www.watercare.co.nz/home/ projects-and-updates/projects-around-auckland/huia-rawwatermain-upgrade.
Once you have considered the options, please complete the survey in the Share your Thoughts section provided at www. watercare.co.nz/westernwater by November 15.
A condition of the consent for the new Huia water treatment plant is that Watercare must restore the heritage Nihotupu filter station within five years of commencing construction of the water treatment plant. Plans are still being developed for this project but will be shared with the community once more detail is known.
Unclaimed ashes to be laid to rest
In a locked room at Morrisons Funerals in Henderson over 700 urns of human ashes have quietly remained unclaimed – some for decades.
Now, Morrisons Funerals is preparing a mass interment for these ashes at Mangere Lawn Cemetery to lay them to rest, unless families come forward before the end of November. The names will be recorded and a plaque with a QR code will be erected.
"This situation highlights the emotional weight of post-death decisions, and how even the simplest tasks, like picking up ashes, can be overwhelmed by grief, conflict, or not knowing what to do with them,” said Location Manager Natasha Plunkett.
If you or someone you know may have a loved one whose ashes were never collected, please reach out to Morrisons Funerals before the end of November. Email tributes@morrisons.co.nz or phone 09 836 0029.
Neighbourhood trapping takes off
A growing ‘buddy system’ in the Waima-Laingholm area is helping locals protect one of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable reptiles – the forest gecko –by turning backyard trapping into a shared neighbourhood effort.
Run by local conservation group, Waima to Laingholm Pest Free (W2L), the volunteer-led initiative pairs people new to trapping with experienced neighbours. It’s an approach that’s proving effective not just for pest control, but for building stronger, more connected communities.
“It’s really about neighbours helping neighbours,” says chairperson, Neil Dingle. “And by supporting each other, more people feel confident to start trapping. Every rat or possum we remove helps make our backyards safer for a whole range of important and at-risk species, including the forest gecko."
Since forming in 2017, W2L has established around 300 registered trappers across local properties along with public lines that create a ‘virtual fence ’ around the WaimaLaingholm area to keep pests from moving back in.
“We want to normalise trapping as something everyday people do, just like recycling or composting," says Neil. "Every trap set, every cat kept in at night, every neighbour who joins in makes a difference.”
Though trapping remains a key focus for W2L, Neil points out that you don’t have to trap to play a part in protecting wildlife. “Creating a safe, well-planted backyard can provide the perfect refuge for geckos, insects and birds,” he says.
W2L is one of more than 30 groups contributing to the Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance, a community-led network of around 4,000 volunteers restoring native biodiversity across West Auckland.
You can help by backyard trapping in your neighbourhood, keeping cats indoors at night and dogs under control near native bush, and planting native shrubs to create safe habitats for forest gecko.
To get involved visit w2l. nz or connect with other conservation groups at pfwra.org.nz/ find-your-people.
Te Whau Pathway takes another step
The government has confirmed funding for the full Rizal crossing section of Te Whau Pathway, a 400m section that will connect Wingate Street to Rata Street in New Lynn, including a channel crossing to Rizal Reserve with new concrete pathways and board walks.
The funding for this portion was originally agreed in August 2020, but it was removed due to budget constraints.
Sustained advocacy by the Whau Local Board and the mahi of the Te Whau Pathway Trust, has restored this funding and the construction team is now lining up materials and pre-cast piles. If all goes to plan, the section of the pathway from Olympic Park to Ken Maunder Park will be ready by November next year.
The forest gecko is returning to Waima and Laingholm. Photo by Carey Knox, Southern Scales.
Shine a light in these dark times
Yeah gidday. Lizard here.
I say these following words from my heart. From my worried and increasingly afraid heart.
I no longer believe it but I remember well, my love of God. The quiet secret pleasure to please and to serve.
How I wish it was true that a kind, magnificent father, all knowing, looked upon me. Listened to me. Loved me. Convinced that, if I asked, if I prayed, if I truly and purely deserved enough goodness and love, everlasting peace on earth would be granted.
That was always my secret wish I had with Mum when we joined our little fingers and silently made a wish. I couldn’t tell anyone or else the wish wouldn’t come true but here, I declare, I always wished for world peace because, even so many years ago, when I was young, it seems the world has been at war! Always at the cruel hand and dark heart of a crazed man.
It is now the time we took it upon ourselves, as loving individuals, to not only demonstrate goodness and mercy but truly be LOVE. Love of all things. Respect. Kindness. Thoughtful consideration to everyone. Put ourselves second before others. There may be no God but there surely is goodness and purity of heart?
Clarity of mind? Eternal rewards for the soul?
There is a dark cloud passing over that I have not felt before. An intolerant, fearful distrust. Yet, the loving light is so simple to realise.
I will not judge!
I will listen!
I will show love!
I will rejoice in nature!
I will share!
I will be me and you will be you. I love you. I am loved by you. Let us laugh and sing together. Lizard.
Lions help raise funds for Breast Cancer Foundation
New Lynn Lions Club members helped out at the recent Pink Ribbon Ride event which raised over $9,300 for the Breast Cancer Foundation.
There were over 300 bikes, trikes and scooters on the day and New Lynn Lions were happy to be a part of it. The club arranged the barbecue and sausages, provided bread, sauces and drinks, and helped set up and pack up afterwards.
Placemakers New Lynn provided the barbecue and trailer and Reubens –Aussie Butchers New Lynn supplied all the sausages. Their support was appreciated by the Lions and by the Pink Ribbon Ride committee. All funds raised on the day from the barbecue and drinks went directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
New Lynn Lions Club members are pictured (top left) waiting for the bikes to arrive at Eden Park and everyone (even the dog) was dressed for the occasion. Check out more photos on New Lynn Lions' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ lionsclubofnewlynn
Free
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• Fixed or variable weekly fees available (including power)
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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
