The Causeway Magazine - May 2024

THE CAU THE CAU THE CAU THE CAU THE CAU SEWA

www.thecauseway.co.nz

On March 17th, Herald Island residents gathered for their annual Local Regatta Day, a much-loved tradition that brings the community together for a day of water fun and friendly competition.

Don’t be caught by a scamming schemer

Most scams start when someone contacts you out of the blue. Scammers often try to sell you a fake product or service, or pretend to be from a legitimate organisation (like a telco) or a government agency. These scammers are trying to get payment or personal details . They work to gain your trust and then they want you to pay to fix the problem.

The people who operate scams often develop sophisticated ways to fool you into believing they are a legitimate organisation who is contacting you for legitimate reasons. This might include developing a fake website or organisational letterheads that look like the real thing.

Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it. You should be suspicious of:

• anyone calling, emailing or texting you on behalf of a Government agency, demanding payment or threatening deportation.

• anyone calling or emailing you to ask for your PIN or Internet banking password. Banks will never do this.

• any door to door salesperson or charity donations collector who is not wearing clothing or other items that identify them as such.

• anyone who calls you unexpectedly, claiming to be from Microsoft or your Internet provider and offering to fix your computer or internet problems – especially if this service requires you to give them access to your computer.

• any bargain that sounds too good to be true

• any person whom you have only met online, who starts talking about their problems and suggesting that only you can help them

• any correspondence that tells you you’ve won a lottery, if you never bought a lottery ticket in the first place If you’d like to help people in your community solve these and other problems, you may wish to be a volunteer at CAB Massey. Volunteering is incredibly rewarding and no session at Citizens Advice is the same as any other. For more information contact Barbara 09-833-557 massey@cab.org.nz or call in and see us at level 2 Te Manawa, Kohuhu Lane, Westgate, its right beside the North West Shopping Centre

Calendar

13 – 19 May, Hospice West Auckland Awareness Week Help needed to continue weaving a network of care around Westies facing end-of-life, donate at www.hwa.org.nz/donate.

Saturday, 18 May Hungerball – Whenuapai Settlement Playground – FREE Community activation. 10am – 1pm Have you tried Hungerball before? It’s your chance in to the fast-paced, high-energy games that combine football, hockey, and more thrilling ball games. Trust us; you won’t want to miss out on this! This event is proudly supported by the Upper Harbour Local Board. Suitable for all ages/abilities so be sure to bring the whole whanau! If you get lost or can’t find the activation, please call our delivery partner Andu on +64 021 073 9731 for assistance. This is a smokefree and alcohol-free event! and please remember to be kind and respectful .

Saturday, 25 May, Gently Loved Markets Flea Market, 10am1pm, Sunderland Lounge, Te Rere, Cinema Road, Hobsonville, Free Entry. Gently Loved Markets with a twist, it’s an indoor garage sale filled with preloved treasures with a range of stalls selling preloved clothing, accessories, books, games, homewares and more! Changing rooms at the venue. All vendors take cash, some might allow bank transfer. Don’t forget your fabric bag on the day and come have a preloved treasure hunt with us. Stall holder bookings will be opened soon for this market day, email gentlylovedmarkets@gmail.com to register your interest in having a stall.

Saturday, 1 June, Art Streeet Fair – Greenhithe, 9am – 2pm With a support from the Creative Communities NZ and Barfoot & Thompson - Greenhithe Art Street Fair is coming to Greenhithe! Inspired by art streets around the world, Art Street Fair is one of a kind festival celebrating creativity of the city and its people by creating a temporary outdoor gallery for artists, musicians and performers. Different art mediums, from paintings to sculptures and craft items are exhibited and available to purchase from the artists. It is a place for everyone to fit it, get inspired and moved by art! Meet artists in person and buy directly from them! Experience art and live performances, get to know locals, discover cafes nearby!

Saturday, 29 June, Herald Island Environmental Group Planting Day, Kingsway Reserve, Herald Island. 10 am to noon.Meet at Kingsway Reserve (south side). If driving, please park in The Terrace or Ferry Pde.BBQ to follow. All welcome. Contact: Jan Diprose 027 687 4157.

The Causeway

Email: news@thecauseway.co.nz or helensville@copyandprint.co.nz www.thecauseway.co.nz ~Copy Deadline, 10th of the month~ ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: Phone: Brian 412-8882 or email helensville@copyandprint.co.nz

This May we’re celebrating NZ Music Month with one of our favourite themed exhibition ‘Art on Record’. Our member artists have been asked to create LP album covers for real or imagined bands or musicians. We’ve also got an exhibition of abstract paintings by local artist Caitlyn Manning. Term two starts with numerous classes for adults and children in areas such as clay and painting. Also, a special wreath making workshop for Mother’s Day.

In June, we are holding two exhibitions as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. Local Photographer and chef Charlie Yang says… “I am fascinated by stairs. They seem to reflect my journey and my past. Variously designed, they hide stories containing the twists and turns of life”. Printed in his home country of Korea on handmade paper Charlie’s dramatic series will be displayed in our Pod Gallery for the AFOP. While in our main gallery members of Kumeu Arts will be showing a wide variety of approaches and subject matter alongside the Kumeu Photography group.

There is always a lot happening at Kumeu Arts so come and join the fun! Find us on Facebook or visit www.kumeuarts.org for more info.

“Life

is so fast” by Charlie Yang

Your Garden and Bees

Most readers probably have a garden or even a bit of land. It’s always a balance (or battle) between encouraging life and dissuading pests. We all like a tidy colourful garden with lots of fruit & vege but this often means that we have to kill weeds, pests and fungi. It can be tempting to use a strong, effective herbicide or insecticide and then not have to worry about it. However, this could kill many beneficial or harmless insects and reduce the quality and quantity of life in your garden. I’m not suggesting stopping using chemicals, but there are ways that you can reduce the damage done. When I was kid, we still used DDT and 2,4,5-T; they were very effective at killing things but came with side effects that were unknown at the time. There are now concerns about the use of neonicinotoids and their effects on bees. It appears the effects may be subtle and when combined with other chemicals could be quite harmful. Issues with flight and navigation, reduced taste sensitivity and slower learning ability have all been linked to neonics, which can have a cumulative effect on a bee colony’s ability to survive.

Some things that could mitigate your pest control in the garden

For insect pests, try more targeted insecticides rather than broad spectrum sprays, try insecticidal soaps, neem oil, Maverik or Pyrethrin based insecticides. Choose an insecticide that has a low residual so that it does the job and doesn’t hang around. Most importantly, follow instructions carefully.

When killing weeds, try to minimise the indiscriminate use of glycophosphate, neonicinotoids and other systemic weedkillers. Maybe use organic sprays, torching weeds, manual weeding or planned planting. Never ever spray flowers, this will definitely kill bees and may destroy a whole hive. Try to avoid sprays drifting onto flowers, beehives and areas that insects may live. Spray in the evening after bees that have been foraging have returned to their nest.

Top Tips for a Bee Friendly Garden -

Plant seasonally, there is usually lots of food available for bees later in spring and throughout the summer. Bees often need lots of food in early spring and autumn

Unattractive flowers, some flowers aren’t attractive to bees at all. There are several reasons why – colour (bees can’t see red, to them it’s black or grey), long flowers (bees’ tongues can’t reach into long tubular flowers), frilly or double flowers (they’re too difficult for bees to get to the nectar source), smell (some flowers have a scent that is a deterrent to bees, like geranium, citronella), some new flower varieties are bred solely for looks and are of no benefit to bees and other pollinators.

Wild areas, a neatly manicured garden looks awesome, but not much lives in it. Leave some areas to grow a bit wild. An area of meadow flowers can look attractive

Ground cover, weed matting and bark can deter ground nesting bees e.g. bumblebees and most native bees. Mulch may be a bit more friendly and still help with weed control. A bare bank is the perfect habitat for our native bees.

Water, all living things need water. Providing water will benefit bees, insects, arachnids, birds, and reptiles; it will encourage them into your garden. Bees can easily drown in a water bath, it’s a good idea to give them an escape ramp or steps e.g. pebbles, branch, moss etc. Note that rainwater is odourless, so bees will more easily find a swimming pool, dripping tap or washing on the line. To encourage bees, add a few drops of bleach, some crushed shells or allow the water to stagnate with some algae to help them find your watering station. Open feeding, never feed honey to bees, it could contain spores of American Foulbrood which is very harmful to bees. Avoid

feeding bees sugar water, this could help to spread contact bee diseases, and could incite robbing (this is a behaviour akin to a shark feeding frenzy, when a nearby hive could be raided and destroyed). Giving a drop of sugar water to a lone hungry bee is okay.

Get bees! - Getting your own bees will benefit your garden enormously. You’ll be surprised at how much more fruit you’ll get off your trees and vines and your plants will produce more flowers. You can learn how to keep bees or pay for someone to put a hive in your garden.

Some bee-friendly plants

Herbs - borage, rosemary, thyme, bee balm, sage, oregano, white clover

Trees –Pohutukawa, bottlebrush, eucalyptus, willow Fruit – berries; stone fruit, citrus, apple & pear trees

Vegetables –fennel, squashes, Perennials –lavender, dandelion, gorse (very good source of pollen), salvias

Annuals – phacelia, tansy, sunflowers (some varieties can be perennials), buckwheat, Natives – flax, cabbage tree nikau, manuka, kanuka, pittosporum, karo, Climbers – ivy, clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine, cucumbers Ken Brown

A passionate beekeeper who is a part-time Apiculture Tutor with Land Based Training in Kumeu.

Herald Island Garden Club

We had an awesome presentation on Moths in our Garden by Linda Gates, from the Butterfly and Moth Society. Not only was she extremely knowledgeable, but also so passionate about her fairly recent interest. It came about, when she decided to take up photography and then upgraded her camera, to capture better photos of small creatures in her garden. That in turn, inspired her to join the Butterfly and Moth Society and now she is hooked!

Did you know that New Zealand is a land of Moths not Butterflies? Some moth fossils may be 190 million years old. NZ has over 1750 species of moth compared to 24 of butterflies. 90% of our moths are endemic, the highest rate in the world. They range from brightly coloured, to drab in camouflage. The largest moth is the beautiful native Puriri Moth, with a wingspan of 150mm and the smallest the Pigmy

Moth, at just a few mm. The majority of caterpillars live 4-6 weeks, but most adult moths only live 1-2 weeks.

Some physical differences between Moths and Butterflies: A moth’s antennae are feathery or threadlike and taper to a point and a butterfly’s are club shaped, with a long shaft and a bulb at the end. Moths tend to hold their wings in a tent fashion, that hide their abdomen and butterflies tend to fold their wings up vertically over their back. Moths have bigger black eyes, due to being nocturnal. Moths can be stout and hairy, whereas butterflies are more delicate. Some benefits of Moths are; They are a great source of food for many other creatures. They play a key role in carbon cycling, as they feed on leaf litter. They play an important role in pollination.

We were amazed to see how many varieties Linda found in her own garden and she also showed us beautiful slides of other moths found in Auckland and across NZ. She gave us info on the pest moths and treatment to deal with them and she explained about the threats to moths and what we can plant to encourage them to our own gardens. What a great evening, thank you Linda!!

Lee Barry

Magpie moth

Puriri moth

Emperor moth

Compliance soars by 70 percent as developers get smarter with sediment control

Developer adherence to sediment control regulations on construction sites has rocketed up to 80 percent compliance from 10 percent since the introduction of Auckland Council’s Closing the Gap programme in 2019.

Since 1 July 2023, 80 percent of first site visits passed inspection (1519) while 20 percent were issued either abatement and/or infringement notices (383).

Auckland Council’s Compliance Manager Adrian Wilson says the programme focuses on proactive rather than reactive compliance, to prevent sediment from entering our waterways. A team of four programme officers is funded through the Water Quality Targeted Rate (WQTR) and visit over 1200 sites a month to ensure appropriate controls are in place.

“Excess sediment is one of Auckland Council’s major environmental concerns, and this initiative has targeted thousands of small development sites across the region, to ensure regulations are being followed,” says Wilson.

“The latest data shows our work to reduce the cumulative effect of widespread industry poor practice is paying dividends.” Auckland Council’s Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Councillor Richard Hills says that with between 10,000 and 12,000 new builds each year, the increasing risk of sediment discharge into Auckland’s waterways and coastal areas is significant.

“The success we’ve seen since the Closing the Gap project began is directly linked to the relationship our officers have built up with the building sector. It is pleasing to see the industry respond so positively to the programme,” adds Hills.

Auckland Council is also focused on combating sediment by using new innovative techniques and technologies to monitor sediment across the region. Turbidity sensors have been introduced into waterways to convey “live’ data to compliance officers, alerting them to sediment entering a stream and allowing them to prioritise their response.

“The Water Quality Targeted Rate allows the council to investigate these new ways of working to better protect waterways and beaches for future generations,” says Auckland Council’s Head of Sustainable Outcomes Tom Mansell.

Another new piece of technology that has been implemented is the installation of cameras focused on streams, curbs, and pipe outlets where images taken use artificial intelligence (AI), to detect changes in those images. The AI has been trained to identify what the discharge into a stream is, such as concrete, sediment or wastewater, allowing officers to keep on top of the issue.

Breaches of the Resource Management Act 1991 make up the largest number of prosecutions bought by Auckland Council (70 percent), and a large percentage of those relate to inadequate or ineffective erosion and sediment control.

HOBSONVILLEROAD

ANZAC Remembrance on the Island was as

Over sixty people gathered outside the Herald Island Museum to share in what has become known as, such a unique, family, event. It started with a reminder that everyone had come to Honour their Ancestors who had made sacrifices for us all, that we could live in peace.

The National Anthem was sung. Then Squadron Leader Shane McGregor spoke about the meaning of Anzac and that we should honour the memory of those who suffered or lost their lives. And….. be grateful and value our freedom.

Eleanor and Tori Woollett, read a very emotional poem written through the eyes of a young child. It was called “A poem for Remembrance Day” and Darell Anderson read “A Poppy” by Paul Hunter another moving reminder of why we wear a Poppy.

A small group then led the Waiata Hoea Ra Te Waka Nei, composed by Paraire Tomoana. Anita Butler explained, that in 1917 he took a concert group, to a sing this song at a wedding, to raise money for Maori Soldiers who were fighting and dying in the swamps of Passchendaele, during World War 1. The original song was heart breaking, as it was a fervent prayer that their men would make it home. Paddle this canoe, paddle to the horizon. May the beat of our poi, keep up our morale. How the heart cries out, “The fantail is here”, So the poi will be swung, to help our boys live on. It was accompanied by guitar and ukulele and the haunting sound of the harmonica, played by Sheryl Potter.

Our local Airforce boys included us in their flight path and we watched in appreciation, as they flew over in a Hercules. Then John Diprose pointed out the background of the crosses on display. They were from the original Auckland Museum Centennial Installation of Crosses, for each fallen New Zealander in WW1. He read out the names of relatives from the Barry, McElroy and Diprose families. Robert Charles Purkis, Wyman Coutts, Joseph Cowen James, Henry Arthur James, Martin Wattie Mulloy, Raymond John Ambury and Frank Daniell Diprose, We will remember them!

Each year, members of our community share about a family member who has served our country. This year Henry Meyrick, Grace Oldershaw, Hamish Brinkman, Matt Woollett

We will remember them poignant as ever!

and Jeanne-Marie Wylieall spoke. Henry, just 7yrs old, won the Herald Island Library Anzac Writing Competition, in which he wrote about his Great, Great, Great Uncle who was awarded the Victoria Cross. These are always heartfelt personal dedications to fathers, uncles and grandfathers, who will never be forgotten.

Then Helen Brinkman, her son Hamish and Mark Le Fevre played a composition “Minuet” By Christoph Gluck. It was a beautiful piece played on two cellos and flute and gave everyone time to listen and take a moment to contemplate. During this time, those who had made their own poppy or memorial stone, filed past and placed them in the garden. Tania Turner also provided extra knitted poppies for others to join in. It was a lovely scene, as groups and individuals made their silent dedications.

Several Herald Island groups had made their own wreaths and then laid them at the flagpole. Anne Johnson on behalf of the Garden Club, Etta Gillon and Dawn Elvidge on behalf of the Librarians, Angela Little on behalf of the Residents and Ratepayers (wreath made by the Craft Group) and Kyle Parkerand Sylvia Yang on behalf of the Upper Harbour Local Board.

Lee Barry brought the service to a close, with a minute’s silence to Remember all our loved ones, men and women, past and present, who have displayed such courage and self-sacrifice, while serving our country.

Mathew Butler then led everyone in the well known “Ode” and Philip Long finished the commemoration by playing the “Last Post” on his Saxophone.

Many of the crowd stayed for a chat over morning tea and enjoyed looking at the Anzac displays in the Fire Station and Library. Thank you so much to all the participants, who made this such a memorable occasion!!

Lee Barry

Morning has Broken

Morninghasbroken,likethefirstmorning, Blackbirdhasspoken,likethefirstbird. Praiseforthesinging,praiseforthemorning, Praiseforthemspringingfreshfromtheword.

Sweettherain’snewfall,sunlitfromheaven, Likethefirstdewfallonthefirstgrass. Praiseforthesweetnessofthewetgarden, Sprungincompletenesswherehisfeetpass.

Mineisthesunlight,mineisthemorning, BornoftheonelightEdensawplay. Praisewithelation,praiseeverymorning, God’srecreationofthenewday

EleanorFarjeon1881-1965

Amazing Grace

AmazingGrace,howsweetthesound, Thatsavedawretchlikeme! Ioncewaslost,butnowamfound, Wasblind,butnowIsee.

‘Twasgracethattaughtmyhearttofear, Andgracemyfearsrelieved. Howpreciousdidthatgraceappear ThehourIfirstbelieved!

Throughmanydangers,toilsandsnares Ihavealreadycome.

‘Tisgracehasbroughtmesafethusfar, Andgracewillleadmehome.

Whenwe’vebeentheretenthousandyears, Bright,shiningasthesun, We’venolessdaystosingGod’spraise Thanwhenwefirstbegun.

JohnNewton1725-1807

The inaugural Herald Island ANZAC Day Writing Competition, was proudly sponsored by local realtor Angela Little from Spiller & Spiller, Bayleys Northwest. This initiative encouraged our young ones to write a story or poem titled: “What Anzac Day Means to Me.” Thanks also to Sue McElroy and Julie Parker- Kinsey (PK) from our H.I. Writing Group for judging the Competition.

First Prize winner Henry Meyrick (7): “Henry John Laurent fought in World War One. He captured 112 enemy soldiers in a battle, and for this, he won the best medal you can get, the Victoria Cross. This means he was one of the best soldiers in New Zealand; he was very strong, brave and a good team-mate. I was named after him because he is in my family. We, are so lucky to have good people in our army in New Zealand.”

Second Prize winner: Ruby Gillon (7): “Anzac Day is on the 25th of April, and it is a special day of the year because the soldiers from New Zealand and Australia landed on that day in Gallipoli. They expected a flat beach, but instead, there were rocky cliffs. The wives sent Anzac biscuits to the men who fought in the war. Soldiers mixed water and Anzac biscuits to make porridge. Groups of soldiers were called troops. Poppys are very important on ANZAC Day because poppies grow where the war was held”.

Third Prize winner: Hudson Tupu (10): “Anzac Day is a day all about remembering the brave people across Australia and New Zealand who fought in the war. Each year, families gather to participate in dawn services and local parades, bake Anzac biscuits and wear red poppies as symbols of remembrance. Anzac Day is about remembering the people who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

Book Club Review for the month: “The Space Between” by Lauren Keenan. Historical fiction set in New Plymouth, 1860. The story has three main characters: Frances, an unmarried Londoner who is a settler with her mother and brother. Henry White betrothed Frances, yet he left her ten years earlier without any communication, and Mataria was shunned by her whanau from events in her past. The three characters meet unexpectedly in town. France’s brother George, who thinks he is better than most people, notably Henry White, who knows more about George’s past than Frances or her mother, is also present at this meeting, which does not turn out well for Henry and Mataria. Henry lives with Mataria, her whanau, and their two children. There are hardships, challenges, and courage for both women. A book hard to put down! – Review - Raewyn Brown

Thanks for the generous book donations: Tonia & Bill Dight, Jean-Marie Wylie, Ian & Shane McNeil, Paul Brinkman, Sally Haysom, Kim Ubels, Anne Johnson, Raewyn & Murray Brown, and Philippa Matheson. April was a busy month, and we thank Maree Peterson for organising a pop-up book sale and free magazine titles supplied monthly by the magazine distributors to all New Zealand libraries.

Wishing all our mums a happy day on Sunday!

Clare Kitt, Sue McElroy, Julie Parker-Kinsey, Darell Anderson, Etta Gillon and Anzac Day Organiser Lee Barry.

Hudson Tupu

Ruby Gillon

Angela Little, Lance and Helen Meyrick and Etta Gillon with winner Henry Meyrick

Ask Dr. Heather

I think about doing cosmetic treatments but feel guilty. I always put my family first, but my husband keeps telling me not to feel bad for wanting to put myself first for a change. How do people get around feeling guilty? Anon, Riverhead.

Parental guilt is real for parents, so it is entirely understandable you feel this way. We always put our family first and so naturally feel as if we don’t deserve the same. Interestingly this concept often stems from us suffering low self-worth. Taught to us by generations above, it is surprisingly common to feel as if we don’t deserve certain things because we feel we aren’t worthy.

Self-worth is a core belief we possess similarly to any other core belief such as religion. It is different from low self-esteem as it does not fluctuate easily (think good hair day versus bad hair day). It is instead a static mental space where one is so secure within themselves; they know they will be okay if they lost everything (a scary but very powerful space to be).

The seeds of low self-worth are often planted when we are children and continue to grow with dysfunctional adult relationships, where we suffer emotional abuse ranging from not feeling heard, through to being yelled at, severely criticised, or even physically abused. Identifying this is not to necessarily lay blame on our parents, partners, or friends, as they are a product of their own experience, but instead allows us to identify patterns of intergenerational and interpersonal trauma that lay the foundations of low self-worth, so toxic cycles can be broken.

Low self-worth is often developed alongside an inner critic who negates our decisions and tells us we shouldn’t do things because we aren’t worthy. It can also develop as a reflex of receiving criticism from influential figures in our lives and can be

hard to turn off. One of the most liberating things we can do to counteract our inner critic is to say DELETE every time it rears its ugly head. Saying it aloud, with conviction is an extremely effective way to diminish its power and allows us to instead turn up the volume on compliments. Sometimes naming our inner critic can further help disconnect from its influence.

When we shift our thinking in this way, we become more positive and allow ourselves to internalise positive feedback. We then start to really respect and love ourselves. We get to know ourselves. We become our own best friend. It then becomes okay to put ourselves first just as we are always told in flights to put our oxygen mask on first. This also allows us to build stronger boundaries and we become happier with more capacity for acts of kindness, as we are no longer stomped on by negativity.

Whether it be cosmetic treatments, going out for that lunch with a friend or eating that piece of cake, being kind to ourselves by silencing our inner critic and welcoming in positivity can be a life changing experience. The warm hug of grace we give ourselves can be just what the Doctor ordered.

Dr. Heather Anderson is a Cosmetic Medicine and Urgent Care/ Emergency Doctor who practises in her own clinic at ALLOR Cosmetic Medicine in Whenuapai. If you have a question for Dr Heather you’d like answered anonymously in the magazine, please email askdrheather@allor.co.nz

TOTARA WATERS

-HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION-

Private, two-bedroom, fully self-contained accommodation set amongst luxurious subtropical gardens.

89 Totara Road, Whenuapai

Phone: 416 8272 or 0274 926 134 www.totarawaters.co.nz

Herald Island Annual Community Cleanup

Kingsway Reserve & Christmas Beach

Sunday 21st April 2024

Two teams spent the morning weeding at Kingsway Reserve and Christmas Beach during Herald Island Environmental Group’s 2024 annual community clean-up.

The Kingsway Reserve team prepared the site for a winter planting by clearing away weeds that were loving the extra light after pines fell or were felled last year.

The Christmas Beach team finally pulled up the coffee sacks pinned down two years ago to kill agapanthus under pohutukawa without damaging the trees. If time is on your side and any gaps between coffee sacks are kept covered, this is an effective method of herbicide free agapanthus control that markedly reduces vegetation going to landfill. Kikuyu that had grown over the coffee sacks was the main weed needing removal!

A big thanks to both teams for a job well done! Special thanks to our Community Park Ranger, Theo Jaycox for arranging removal of the weeds.

Jan Diprose, Herald Island Environmental Group Chair

Weeding Christmas Beach

Weeding Kingsway Reserve

Upper Waitemata Ecology

Network Bird Monitoring

Workshop

Saturday 27 April 2024

Twenty five bird enthusiasts from different parts of Auckland were inspired by bird specialist Emma Gray to keep doing 5minute bird counts, or start doing them if never done before! Emma, who cares for hihi (stitchbird) on Tiritiri Matangi Island, loves doing 5-minute bird counts! She says it’s a great way to monitor the impact predator control and improved bird habitat is having on local birdlife. Indicator species such as kereru and tui will do well if they have a healthy habitat, plenty of food and predators are kept controlled.

While we were practising counts outside in the Herald Island Domain we saw or heard doves, mynas, tui, a kereru and groups of starlings and wax-eyes.

Jan Diprose presented the results of Herald Island Environmental Group’s monthly 5-minute bird counts over the past 6 years, since island wide predator control began at the end of 2017. She reported a general overall upward trend in bird numbers and that many factors have caused their ups and downs. Positive factors were predator control and the 2020/2021 lockdowns. Negative factors were bad weather (2023 floods and cyclone Gabrielle) and tree loss – in the last 3 years over 20 large reserve or roadside trees have reached the end of their life and either fallen or been felled.

Upper Waitemata Ecology Network groups are moving to biannual 5-minute bird counts in May and November (at least three per month) so that results are comparable across the harbour. If you are keen to be involved please contact your local group.

Special thanks to Rachael Pates for organising the workshop, Emma Gray for inspiring us, the Herald Island Residents and Ratepayers Association for the venue and Angela Little (Bayleys Real Estate) for flyer sponsorship.

Jan Diprose, Chair Herald Island Environmental Group

Alcoholics Anonymous Herald Island Meets Thurs from 7.30pm at Fire Station Andrew - 021-523-133

Alcoholics Anonymous Whenuapai Branch Meets Tues from 7.30pm at Whenuapai School Hall Andrew - 810-8521

Citizens Advice Bureau 833-5775

Civil Defence - Resident’s Response Team In emergencies meet at the Fire Station, 57 Ferry Pde

Herald Island Boat Club Paul Judd - 416-4194

Herald Island Environmental Group heraldislandenviro@gmail.com Jan Diprose 027-687-4157

Herald Island Garden Club Second Tuesday of each month. Lee Barry - 021-215-1639

Herald Island Hall For Hire bookings@heraldisland.co.nz

Herald Island Library Weds: & Sat: 10-12noon Etta Gillon - 416-7638

Herald Island Museum 57 Ferry Parade. Open by appointment Ph 027-416-0005

Herald Island Playgroup Tues 9.30-11.30am at the HI Hall. Gold coin donation per child. Contact: Victoria 027-258-3251

Herald Island R&R President Angela Little 021-421-967

Hobsonville R.S.A. 416-7227

Hobsonville Bowling Club Joe Chojnacki – 416-5993 Paul Thompson – 416-5422

Hobsonville Church & Settlers’ Cemetery Preservation Society Leanne Midgley 021-688-164 hobsonvillesettlerschurch@gmail.com

Karate Classes

Adults - Children - Teenagers

Herald Island Hall

Monday 7.00-8.00pm Thursday 7.00-8.00pm David Cox - 416-6620 Henry Lotter - 021-807-231

Living Whenuapai Contact: Annette – 027 2942601

NZ Society of Genealogists, Waitakere Branch Lani Rimington - 818-2161

U3A Hobsonville Meets 3rd Thursday of the Month (excl. Dec & Jan) 10am Hobsonville Bowling Club Carol Denton - 416-4860

Upper Harbour Boat Watch

Eddie Grassick - 416-8220 Neil Beken - 483-7323

Whenuapai Air Scout Group email:treasurer@whenuapaiscouts.org.nz

West Harbour Tennis 416-6886, email: westharbourtennis@xtra.co.nz

Open mornings Monday & Fridays 9.00-12pm $3 Wednesdays 9.00-12pm $5 ~ Non-members welcome Rae Hassett - 0274-923-129

Whenuapai Floral & Garden Circle

“Meets 1p.m. at the Whenuapai Community Hall, 41Waimarie Road, on the second Thursday of the month (except Jan, June,July, Aug [winter recess] & Dec) All welcome” Pat Hooper - 416-8403

Whenuapai Hall For Hire Vito Sestito bookings@whenuapai.org.nz

Whenuapai R&R Secretary: Dave Allen- 027-288-8371 secretary@whenuapai.org.nz

Trade/Professional & Services

Accommodation Totara Waters0274-926-134/416-8272

Automotive Keightley Motors416-8964

Building Contractor Doug Third021-411-137/416-7646

Cattery & Vet Catmandu, Dr Chris Laurenson0275-444-427/416-7039

Citizens Advice Bureau Massey CAB 833-5775

Computer Problems

Norwest IT Services 0274-388-603/416-5129

Computer Repairs Michael - Controlaltdelete021-251-4138

Cosmetic Medicine Allor - Dr. Heather Anderson022-262-6762

Dance Teacher

Classes in Jazz, Hip Hop & Lyrical Dance - Tania Foster027 -280-8857

Dentist Fraser Dental416-5050

Denture Services Denture Clinic416-5072

Desktop Publishing Huapai Copy & Print412-8882

Drain Layer Echo Drainage 021-416-420/ 416-6849

Drain Unblock Pipe Vision021-802-678

Electrician Level Up Electrical022-538-3587

Electrician Wired Electrical 416-6148

Garden Centre & Nursery Touch of the Tropics021-809-089

Garden design & maintenance BellHues Landscapes021-256-0516

Glass Services Nor-West & Kumeu Glass Services 412-9914

Ink and Toner Huapai Copy & Print412-8882

Lawns/Garden Maintenance Brian Stevens0273-441-552/416-7033

Lawyer Haydon Mattson - NZPL869-6873

MP Chris Penk412-2496

Pharmacy Hobsonville Pharmacy416 8277

Plumbing services Valet Plumbing 0800-80-60-20

Property Management Glenn Savery0274--998-415/832-0832

Real Estate Barfoot & Thompson - Leila Morris021-893-413/09-215-2849

Real Estate Bayleys - Chris Head 022-500-6293

Real Estate Glenn Savery0274-998-415/832-0832

Real Estate Angela Little 021-421-967 / Simon Spiller 021-968-068

RSA Hobsonville 416-7227

Waste Water Hydrovac 973-4866

DateHigh Water Auckland Sun RiseSun Set May‘24 11Sat09413.3220507081726 12Sun10313.2225407091725 13Mon11203.1234307101724 14Tue-3.0120907111723 15Wed00343.0130007121723 16Thu01272.9135207131722 17Fri02202.9144807131721 18Sat03122.9154407141720 19Sun04022.9163807151720 20Mon04492.9172807161719 21Tue05342.9181407161718 22Wed06172.9185707171718 23Thu07003.0193807181717 24Fri07443.0201807191716 25Sat08283.1210007201716 26Sun09133.1214307201715 27Mon09593.1222907211715 28Tue10473.1231807221714 29Wed11373.1-07221714 30Thu00103.2123007231714 31Fri01053.2132607241713 June‘24 1Sat02023.2142607241713 2Sun02593.2152807251712 3Mon03573.2163107261712 4Tue04533.2173107261712 5Wed05493.3182607271712 6Thu06443.3191907271711 7Fri07383.3200907281711 8Sat08303.2205707291711