PONSONBY NEWS - MAY '22 by Ponsonby News

Established: OCTOBER 1989

CELEBRATING 32 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

MAY 2022

IT'S BACK! 1–29 MAY Ponsonby's month-long restaurant & bar festival is back with a vengeance for the month of May. View the offers, book a table and Let's Eat Our Street! Photo: The Blue Breeze Inn

eatdrinkloveponsonby.co.nz ponsonbynews.co.nz

Auckland showroom, 299 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, sales@ligne.nz, 64 9 393 5636

4 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

INSIDE THIS MONTH

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LETTERS & EMAILS

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FROM THE EDITOR

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CHLÖE SWARBRICK: MP AUCKLAND CENTRAL

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DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

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PREDICT WEATHER.COM

048

ROSS THORBY: CRUISING ON LAND

049

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

050

HELEN WHITE, LABOUR LIST MP

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PONSONBY PARK

054

HELENE RAVLICH: CELEBRATING HOSPO HEROES

057

FASHION + STYLE

058

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

058

GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET

064

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

066

FUTURE GENERATION

070

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

072

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

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Advertising Sales: JO BARRETT M: 021 324 510 joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz

ARTS & CULTURE

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HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

Advertising Sales/Ad Designer: MELISSA PAYNTER M: 027 938 4111 melissapaynter@me.com

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STREAMING GUIDE MAY 2022

090

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

COVER PHOTO: Famous Steamed Buns of The Blue Breeze Inn. PHOTOGRAPHY: Southern Studios.

P45 - Do you enjoy a chic and sustainable shopping

experience? Also want to show your love for the animals? Ponsonby locals can now combine these two passions in the new SPCA Boutique located in the heart of Ponsonby.

Editor/Publisher: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz Distribution Manager: JAY PLATT M: 021 771 146 jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz Ad Sales & Contributing editor: ANDREA KAHUKIWA M: 021 689 688 andrea@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Operations Manager: GWYNNE DAVENPORT M: 021 150 4095 gwynne@ponsonbynews.co.nz Contributing Music Editor: Finn McLennan-Elliott M: 021 134 4101 finn.huia@gmail.com Contributing Editor: JOHN ELLIOTT M: 021 879 054 johnelliott38@outlook.com Graphic Designer: ARNA MARTIN M: 021 354 984 arna@cocodesign.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS is published monthly, excluding January by: ALCHEMY MEDIA LIMITED, P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144, T: 09 378 8553, www.ponsonbynews.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS is printed on paper sourced from sustainable, well managed forests and manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001.

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Annual Subscriptions: Within New Zealand $49. By cheque or credit card in NZ$. Please note: we do not hold back issues of Ponsonby News. Our archive is all online as pdfs. Please visit www.ponsonbynews.co.nz The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechaal, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Colour transparencies and manuscripts submitted are sent at the owner’s risk; neither the publisher nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may occur. PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BLAIR HADDOW LOVING, LIVING & SELLING GREATER PONSONBY Blair Haddow 021 544 555 blair.haddow@bayleys.co.nz bayleys.co.nz/blair-haddow BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Westmere 25 Tirotai Crescent For Sale from $2,100,000

Grey Lynn 121 Crummer Road Price by Negotiation

SOLD

Westmere 3A Hope Street Auction 2pm, Wed 6 April 22 (unless sold prior) Sold $5,850,000

Freemans Bay 3 Ryle Street Sold $3,275,000

ALTOGETHER BETTER

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

LETTERS & EMAILS

THE HAURAKI GULF MARINE PARK ACT

In the April edition of the Ponsonby News, Cr Pippa Coom comments on changes being proposed to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act, including the creation of a new cogovernance entity. In reality this would amount to a new ‘Authority’ with updated powers and funding, comprised of 50% mana whenua membership with a decreed leadership position, in effect guaranteeing control. What she didn’t mention in the article, however, was her own role in all of this as one of the current co-chairs of the Hauraki Gulf Forum in initiating without mandate the inclusion of 21 of Auckland’s 28 regional parks into the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park at the same time. This ‘transferral’ has been advanced under the vague guise of somehow restoring the health of the Gulf but there is absolutely no compelling rationale or explanation as to how this would happen since the regional parks’ land use is already well managed, in fact to international best practice with no negative impact on the Gulf. As a result this proposal has been vehemently opposed by groups associated with the development of Auckland’s regional park network over the last 40 years and literally thousands of individuals. In my view, both moves have more to do with power and control than they do with restoring the health of the Gulf or improving the management of Auckland’s regional park network. While it’s one thing to put forward proposals to address the parlous state of the Hauraki Gulf, which certainly needs addressing, it is quite something else to proceed in this furtive manner in pursuit of what are essentially unmandated and far-reaching political changes that have characterised these two parallel processes. Ambitions to exercise control over the Hauraki Gulf, well outside anything that could be achieved by the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process, are not exactly new. The view might well be that the time is opportune for these radical proposals that have the potential to significantly impact both the Gulf and our Regional Parks. The Hauraki Gulf and the Regional Park network are synonymous with what defines Auckland and its people, the jewels in the crown of our region. Both are too important to be compromised by proposals that have lacked transparency and adequate detail and which have been advanced to the point of approaches to government ministers with little or no public knowledge or debate. No amount of selective and self-serving commentary changes any of that. John Watson,

Auckland councillor and member of the Hauraki Gulf Forum THIS IS NOT A FAIRY TALE

You might think monsters are mythical beasts, but I'll tell you that they exist. Monsters are fierce creatures who live purely to prey on the weak, searching for a way to devour them, and they do it with tactics of fear and brute force. Even scarier is that monsters proliferate as they feast; they get bigger, bolder, and even more dangerous. They are often motivated by monetary greed, have self-serving agendas and live by their own selfish ideology. This Super City has such a behemoth, and it’s called ‘Auckland Transport’. Compounding the problem is that this monster is not a singular entity as we would traditionally think. This creature has multiple

limbs and numerous heads. Try to imagine bulk Medusas or even the mythological Lernaean Hydra. Us townsfolk are aware that this ugly, self-serving monster exists. We watch on powerless as it carves a path of destruction, feeding on the city’s flora, fauna and village precincts. It enjoys making your life as difficult as possible, it hovers over you, purposely creating congestion, restricting your freedom, and it spends your rates with reckless abandonment and no accountability. This monster is pure evil. Recently, a few people have been standing at the cave entrance, shouting wild threats while brandishing pitchforks and flaming torches. However, this monster is not only giant and all-consuming, it’s also highly intelligent and knows that the rhetoric toward it from a leaderless mob is the equivalent of flicking toothpicks at a tank. Thankfully there is a way to slay the monster, and whilst there is a throng who are happy to scream and willingly poke at it with a sharp stick, they are being led astray. It simply can’t be scared away or kicked out. The right strategy is needed and it’s important to understand this. This gambit requires guile, patience, and most of all, an ‘Order of Knights’ who understand how it thinks, knows its weak spots and the required tactics for battle, and are willing to work together for the ‘greater good’. Oddly enough, Auckland Council already has a weapon available. So why hasn’t it been used? Why has it remained sheathed while this monster continues to feast at leisure? Sadly, because the system allows it to feed, the current holders of the ‘sacred sword’ encourage it and whilst they happen to hold the weapon, they refuse to swing it because secretly - or not so - they are working with the beast, not against it. This sacred sword is called the ‘Appointments and Performance Review Committee', and it is a mighty weapon if used as intended. The mayor is the chairperson and appoints the members. This committee is in charge of the council controlled organisations (CCOs). It reviews the chief executive's performance, creates the boards, and sets the recommendations on the CCO accountability policy. When led correctly, this committee can wield this mighty sword. Together, using a patient and calculated approach, the beast of Auckland can be tamed. The first swing of the sword is in the form of a ‘Letter of Intent’ - the stipulations and requirements. It clearly states what the monster can and cannot do. The second swing lobs off the heads, as it removes the bulk of the board and chooses convivial replacements. The third swing is the review of the CEO and appointment of a replacement attuned to the new philosophy. Now the monster is under control. This is how we tame Auckland Transport and bring council ‘controlled’ organisations back into line. This engagement will take calm leadership and the need for a unified team, not an unruly mob led by a pitchfork-wielding maniac. This quest must be undertaken, but there is a right way and a wrong way of doing it. Craig Lord, Mayoral Candidate

CONTINUED ON P30

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FROM THE EDITOR

‘Eat Our Street’ at Ponsonby’s month long restaurant and bar festival: Diary Date: 1 - 29 May 2022. As the days become shorter and the nights colder and we all reflect on how much cooking we have done over the last few years as we hunkered down, now’s the time to break out of the home bubble and visit the hub of hospitality – Ponsonby! For the month of May all participating restaurants and bars will be celebrating the Eat-Drink-Love Ponsonby 2022. The super popular annual festival will showcase the finest of Ponsonby’s cuisine, from acclaimed restaurants to casual dining, from brunch to evening cocktails, and everything in between. Last month’s opening party for Crane Brothers, the new menswear store in Three Lamps, was the place to be. With their winter range on the rails we know this new store will be very popular with locals. Boh Runga has opened her new flagship store. Last month Boh Runga Jewellery opened the doors to their brand new Boutique at 287 Ponsonby Road, a short walk from the old store. At least now the cards are on the table says Grey Lynn and Around. The AT policy is to remove cars and car parks pretty much wherever they can. Good to push a clear agenda but the problem is we are by default leaving the future shape of business and residential environments to transportation planners and road constructors and disempowering those who live, work and do business in the area. Auckland’s iconic Ponsonby Toy Library, part of the Ponsonby community for nearly three decades, is appealing

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Jay Platt & Martin Leach

to everyone to help it find a new home. The Ponsonby Toy Library currently has a membership of about 200 families and offers nearly 3000 known and well-loved brands of toys for children aged six months to eight years, and services a growing local population. Don’t forget to have your say on proposals that might intensify our neighbourhoods. Auckland Council is consulting on how intensification should occur across Auckland. Taken to its extreme, the intensification envisaged in Central Government policy will result in irrevocable change to our local neighbourhoods, our way of life, and our city’s heritage. As residents it is imperative that you speak up loudly and let Auckland Council know how important the characteristics of PN your neighbourhoods are. (MARTIN LEACH) 

M AT T & RYA N N 1 I N G R E Y LY N N*

“Matt and Ryan were a dream to work with - honest, fair, reliable and hardworking. They went above and beyond to help sell my home. I trusted their advice and knew they were bringing the same level of authenticity to the buyers.” Rachel - Grey Lynn

Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909

Ryan Harding 021 621 580

m.orourke@barfoot.co.nz

r.harding@barfoot.co.nz

* G re y Ly n n b ra n c h - ye a r e n d i n g M a rc h 2 0 2 0

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

JASON TROWBRIDGE CONTINUOUSLY SETS THE STANDARD... A highly skilled negotiator working for you at all times. A confidential chat over a coffee is always a great starting point. Jason Trowbridge 021 358 888 jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljhooker.co.nz

JASON TROWBRIDGE in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

LJ Hooker Ponsonby Licensed Agent REAA 2008

TWO NEW AREA RECORD SALES

SOLD

BY JASON TROWBRIDGE

84 Islington Street, Ponsonby Urban Escapism… this is sublime sophistication

Sold prior auction

An immaculately renovated haven that certainly goes above and beyond. The kitchen is straight from Vogue, with its soft caramel tones enhancing rich textures and finishes. A wine cellar, off-street parking, and an internal workshop. This property has it all.

SOLD

Jason Trowbridge 021 358 888 jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljhooker.co.nz

BY JASON TROWBRIDGE

90 Clarence Street, Ponsonby Ponsonby... Casa

Sold - auction brought forward

From the moment you arrive, you feel it. Open light-filled spaces with high vaulted ceilings lure the senses, inviting you into a stunning lifestyle space. This property also boasts a one bedroom, two-level cottage, complete with a citrus garden.

Jason Trowbridge 021 358 888 jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljhooker.co.nz

JASON TROWBRIDGE in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

LJ Hooker Ponsonby Licensed Agent REAA 2008

LOCAL NEWS

CHLÖE SWARBRICK:

Auckland Central MP Just like that, autumn is easing us into rainier and chillier days and nights. Despite the weather, stabilising Covid-19 case numbers means we can continue supporting and enjoying our many incredible owner-operated small businesses in the neighbourhood and once again engage, politically, in person. As always, if you, your whānau, organisation or business, ever need a chat or assistance with anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Or just shout when you see me out and about; I must report I’ve had some of my best impromptu constituency clinics in the later hours at Ponsonby Pool Hall.

Chlöe and Principal Cindy Walsh

Site visits are also back on the agenda, meaning after months of liaising online I was able to directly check in with some of our local schools. This month we were hosted by incredible Principals Cindy Walsh of Freemans’ Bay Primary and Kerri McKay of Bayfield Primary, who’ve done incredible mahi with their teams under immense pressure of ever-changing rules and restrictions to keep our kids looked after and learning.

and other matters) Amendment Bill – making its way through Parliament, you may’ve seen some fireworks in the Committee of the whole House debate on Friday 14th April. As I noted in last month’s edition of Ponsonby News, as your local MP and as a Green, I’ve stood steadfast on three key issues: limits to proxy voting, workable disclosure regimes and professionalisation of body corporate managers.

It was also a privilege to get behind-the-scenes with owneroperator Steve Purton of New World Victoria Park. We had a fulsome discussion with valuable insight into supply-chain issues, the Commerce Commission’s report and potential solutions to escalating prices and “excess” profits. It was heartening to learn Steve and the team are open to the beginnings of systemic transformation with a sectoral code of conduct. I must also commend the connection they have with the likes of Auckland City Mission, diverting kai and essentials that may have otherwise gone to waste to supporting our community.

Liaising across the office of the Bill’s sponsor, Nicola Willis, and that of Minister Poto Williams, we were able to make some improvements on the law as reported back from Select Committee. These improvements have largely fallen in the realm of disclosure regimes, so that buyers and sellers can have confidence about getting the right information at the right time. Unfortunately, we were not so lucky on the issues of proxies nor BC managers.

All of this feels miles away from just a few months ago when I was sitting on a Zoom with representatives from numerous community services to pinpoint any holes in provision for our most structurally marginalised as Omicron landed on our shores. Since then, collaboration between Student Volunteer Army, Sunday Blessings and my office have helped coordinate more than 1,340 warm meals on Tuesdays and Sundays to those who may otherwise go without. We can, and do, achieve incredible things when our community mobilises to make it happen. It’s this attitude we’ve been taking to unpacking the many threads of disruption and concern in our city centre; working across Auckland Council, Business and Resident Associations, Police, NGOs, State Agencies and even directly with some Body Corps. For those following the Body Corporate-related law reform – the Unit Titles (strengthening body corporate governance

Both myself and Nicola put forward Supplementary Order Papers (SOPs; potential legal amendments) to give the government options on proxy voting limits (these prevent proxy ‘farming’, or the unfair aggregation of votes by one powerful entity in a dense building to sway decisions of budget, maintenance or otherwise). The Labour majority voted both of these down, noting they thought online participation (which I pointed out has no current standards for implementation) fixed the issue. My SOP to require body corp managers to belong to a professional body, like real estate agents and other professions must, also failed. Knowing this was a potential likely outcome, I still pressed ahead knowing the trail of legalistic breadcrumbs may be of use to future legislators. Although, I hope it takes less than the nearly 15 years it’s taken to now professionalise property managers (which a select committee report recommended in 2008, later rejected by the incoming National Government). PN (CHLÖE SWARBRICK) 

CHLÖE SWARBRICK, T: 09 378 4810, E: chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz www.greens.org.nz/chloe_swarbrick

Kia ora Ponsonby! Let’s talk about our community. Get in touch about any local issues or if you need support. I’m here to help and would love to hear from you.

Chlöe Swarbrick MP for Auckland Central

09 378 4810 chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz Funded by Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Chlöe Swarbrick, Green MP for Auckland Central, 76 Karangahape Rd, Auckland.

12 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JASON TROWBRIDGE

in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

29 Arthur Street, Freemans Bay

Where Eagles Soar... This iconic Freemans Bay property offers unrivalled views of

generous off-street parking.

the city. Vast city vistas lure the creative mind, the senses are

The location is standout. Mix urban with opportunity, add

teased, and magic is evoked; day or night, the light dances.

extensive views, bring creative energy, and fly high.

All the various levels offer enchanted escapism.

Vendors’ instructions are clear.

Fabulous indoor/outdoor flow to the private gardens.

To be sold!

The home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and

They are leaving on a Jet plane!

Auction Wednesday 25th May, 6:30pm In rooms, 53 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby (unless sold prior)

View Saturday & Sunday 12-12:30pm or view by appointment

Jason Trowbridge 021 358 888 jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljhooker.co.nz

All information contained herein is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee or give any warranty about the information provided. Interested parties must solely rely on their own enquiries.

LJ Hooker Ponsonby Licensed Agent REAA 2008

LOCAL NEWS

DAVID HARTNELL:

ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE SUN Several months ago Natalie Sun joined the lovely upbeat team at the Richmond Road Pharmacy in West Lynn. In a few words can you tell us what your job is?

I am a community pharmacist who enjoys helping our customers and community to improve their health and quality of life. What do you like the most about Ponsonby?

It's a sophisticated area with a diverse range of people, families and fancy restaurants. Dream to live there. How have you survived the pandemic and has it changed your life?

It was an extremely busy time. I worked continuously through the pandemic helping our patients and customers as much as possible. The whole experience profoundly changed my view on life and made me realise how precious every day is. It also made me appreciate even more the role of a community pharmacist. What was your childhood like?

Christian family. I was the beloved last child with three older siblings. Can you complete this sentence? I will die happy if...

My existence contributed to helping others and making them happy. Which TV series would you never miss?

Sorry! Not much time to watch regular TV, but I never miss listening to the news on the way to work and back home. Where would your dream holiday internationally be?

If you won a million dollars what is the first thing you would do?

America! Especially New York, where I used to live. Miss so many places there and the great variety of international food.

Invite all friends and family to Hawaii.

What is the most Kiwi thing about you?

Recognition of achievements and kind words from my customers.

I love steak and cheese pies. Aisle or window seat on a plane?

Aisle seat of course.

What motivates you?

What do you think happens when we die?

We get to see our deceased family and friends again. What is your favourite movie?

World famous pharmacist tour blogger.

I am Sam. The dad showed true and unconditional love to his daughter. It was an inspiring movie and a lesson for us all.

What job would you do other than your own and why?

Have you ever seen a ghost?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Work in cafe. I love to talk to people. Plus I love coffee!

No. And never want to!

If they were to make a movie about your life who would play you and why?

Give your teenaged self some advice.

Even though I am a girl, I would love Jim Carey to play me! I love his comedies. If you were reincarnated what would you be?

A famous male singer. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My height…. hoped to be taller, like over 170cm. How would you like to be remembered?

As a kind and energetic person.

Slow down Natalie! Relax and enjoy the moment! School grades are not everything! How do you chill out?

Walking. Which item of clothing can't you live without?

Training wear. What is your favorite time of the day?

5:30am in the morning. Lived to wake up another day! Tell us about your dream home.

What do you love most about your age?

Full gym downstairs, walk in wardrobe, and boyfriend.

I know now that I can give up things that I used to obsess about (like diets and crazy beauty therapies) and focus on the more important things in life.

What is your most treasured possession?

Your biggest disappointments?

What are you insecure about?

Missed my mom’s last moments when she passed away in 2010.

Relationships. (DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM)  PN

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My bubbly personality.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JASON TROWBRIDGE

in association with LJ Hooker Ponsonby

8 Pompallier Terrace, Ponsonby

French Blue... The essence of historic Ponsonby is captured in these walls,

a central home or office is what you are after.

one of the four original terraces built on these adjoining sites.

The bonus is the garden studio.

Today French Blue has a life of its own, having been used as

Generous parking.

consulting offices for the past 13 years. The property offers

Transport, cafes, wine bars, restaurants are within metres

diverse opportunities with many options.

of the property.

Indeed, this location offers a lifestyle of ease and connection if

Price by negotiation CV $2,325,000

View Saturday & Sunday 1-1:30pm or view by appointment

Jason Trowbridge 021 358 888 jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljhooker.co.nz

LJ Hooker Ponsonby Licensed Agent REAA 2008

S I N C E

D E S I G N E D

1 9 9 6

A N D

H A N D

C R A F T E D

I N

N E W

Z E A L A N D

email melissa.bowman@apartmento.co.nz web apartmento.co.nz 8 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

NEW

Monty Sofa Our new modular sofa, made in New Zealand. Available in a wide range of conﬁgurations and fabrics.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT... WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS CONNOR CRAWFORD I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM For the last 53 years I’ve been a freelance entertainment journalist and author. I’ve lived in the Grey Lynn area for nearly three decades; I have met and interviewed some amazing people.

FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT I work as a booker, promoter and festival programmer. Active in all areas of the music community; folk music is my specialty.

HONOUR MITCHELL I have lived in the Ponsonby area all of my life. I write the column ‘Teen Picks’ which explores everything on offer in the greater Ponsonby area.

HELENE RAVLICH A freelance writer and copywriter for almost 20 years, I have written for publications all over the world and couldn’t imagine myself in any other job.

JOHN APPLETON I have a keen interest in nutritional medicine and how it may be used to support people with chronic illnesses.

KEN RING My yearly NZ Weather Almanacs began in 1999. During the tragic 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my work created international interest. I currently live in Ponsonby.

KERRY LEE I’ve been a freelance writer for a year now, and what I love most are the wonderful people I’ve meet along the way. #best job.

LUCY KENNEDY I am a young local writer who loves to read! Each month you will find my reviews of new books for people who love to read as much as I do.

PHIL PARKER Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting boutique wine tours in the Auckland region.

PIPPA COOM

I am Councillor for Waitemat-a and Gulf Ward on Auckland Council. Formerly, Chair Waitemat-a Local Board.

ROSS THORBY I have had a wanderlust for travel ever since I was old enough to own a passport. Since I discovered cruising, I have become unstoppable.

JOHN ELLIOTT

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS

I am the founder of Ponsonby News and write for the magazine. My career has included politics, education and publishing. My interests include the environment, the economy and social justice.

A vegan for over a year and vegetarian for over seven years with a passion for writing. I am a local student reviewing some of Ponsonby’s best vegan eats.

Join us on Sundays at 2pm... for our weekly service including demonstrations of clairvoyance.

25 New North Road, Eden Terrace / www.goldenlight.org.nz

18 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

g n i z z i ! F e r We' 1–29 MAY 2022 Ponsonby's month-long restaurant & bar festival is back with a vengeance this May. Over fifty Ponsonby eateries and bars vie for your foodie heart with their standout dish or drink, across three fixed-price categories to keep everything simple.

$30 & UNDER | $30 TO $50 | $50 & OVER

Photo: INCA Ponsonby Credit: Babiche Martens

View offers & booking info at eatdrinkloveponsonby.co.nz

LOCAL NEWS

NEWS FROM GREY LYNN AND AROUND… At least now the cards are on the table. AT policy is to remove cars and car parks pretty much wherever they can. Good to push a clear agenda. But…the problem is we are by default leaving the future shape of business and residential environments to transportation planners and road constructors and disempowering those who live, work and do business in the area. Transport planners are trained in designing systems that move people around, but don’t have skills in creating places where people can thrive and enjoy life. Auckland Council has established zoning rules but reneged on any further responsibility for proactive leadership around urban design – no, that should be urban co-design – which is done in collaboration with communities and businesses. We are seeing this dynamic emerge right now with proposals from Karangahape Road to West Lynn village. AT in their parking strategy proposed to remove all curb side parking, effectively turning roads into people conduits devoid of life and ambience. The impact if this occurs will be massive on local communities and businesses alike. The plans for Great North Road create great corridors for moving people beyond the city but do little for the people of the city. It’s hard to see how retail can work when people can’t park or staff can't get to work in a timely manner when public transport modes are not linked up. Our understanding is that Auckland Council has been largely absent the entire Great North Road consultative process. The Waitematā Local Board is taking an interest but don’t seem able to engage the engine of the council to become proactively involved in the streetscape and placemaking of this critical entry corridor for New Zealand’s largest city. As the Grey Lynn Business Association, we are frustrated. AT presents an ever-revolving parade of coms and PR people who step in to manage the spin and operate through an opaque structure, with appalling responsiveness and unclear values. This is not the best way to form meaningful relationships with

key stakeholders like ourselves and the Grey Lynn Residents Association. We implore Auckland Council to become more involved. The Grey Lynn Residents Association has done some great work proposing how we can move forward balancing the requirements for movement (multi-modal transport) and place (residents and businesses), however Auckland Council has failed entirely to engage with this work. At present our system is sleepwalking towards concreting in a future for the Grey Lynn/Arch Hill ridge area without proper process. We will regret this for a generation. So, what are we doing? The business association is launching a campaign called ‘Voices of Grey Lynn’ in which we are encouraging local businesses to speak up about their concerns and we will amplify these via social media. We want to create a transparent community conversation about the future of our businesses and communities in Grey Lynn/ Arch Hill – not have narrow discussion with people whose main concerns are busway efficiency. We want to participate in consultation and have recently requested all of the submissions on the Great North Road consultation under the local government OIA process. It seems inconsistent that we can have widespread community engagement on the one part, yet AT claim submitters overwhelmingly support all of their proposals. This simply doesn’t ring true. Get in touch, get involved, let us know your view and get on board with having a greater influence on the local places we live and work.  PN Contact us info@greylynn-around.com.

HARVEST BY HUCKLEBERRY STORE MANAGER MOVES ON… After 11 years as store manager at Harvest by Huckleberry in West Lynn, it was time for store manager Somboon Khansuk to move on. Somboon is now the store manager at Scarecrow Grocer, which is an artisan food store nestled next to Wild Wheat on Mt Eden Road. Scarecrow Grocer stocks its extensive range of local New Zealand artisan goods, house-made deli items and ready meals, boutique wines and craft beers as well as its own dedicated florist. “Please pop in and say Hi to me and my friendly staff if you’re in the Mt Eden area, we would make you most welcome,” says Somboon.  PN

Somboon Khansuk and Scarecrow Director, Alison Dyson

SCARECROW GROCER, 811 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 377 1333, www.scarecrow.co.nz

20 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

Western Springs AFC

RICHARD NORTHEY:

WAITEMATĀ LOCAL BOARD CHAIR As you may have read in last month’s Ponsonby News, the council has committed to progressing stage one of the development of a park at 245 Ponsonby Road with work expected to start in July. This is exciting news for all of those involved – particularly the (volunteer) community-led design group. It’s hard to believe it has been just over two years since we approved the concept for this park and the local board is delighted to see all the hard work will soon pay off. Ponsonby Park is going to be a fantastic addition to the area, providing an urban oasis in central Auckland. This would be followed from 2024 by the restoration of the Leys Institute buildings according to a design that is being developed by a community-based project advisory group which has held several meetings for that purpose. Council, like many businesses, was impacted by the Omicron outbreak with temporary changes to many of our services due to temporary Covid-19 related staff shortages. But that hasn’t meant the work has stopped with dozens of local projects getting underway. The pavilion, paths and parking area at Victoria Park have improved the experience for players and other park users. Among these is a stormwater naturalisation project at Bayfield Park in Herne Bay, on the northern edge of Cox’s Creek to the northeast of Cox’s Bay Reserve. Started in March, the work involves daylighting a currently piped stream running through Bayfield Park. New plants and native trees and a new timber boardwalk will improve the existing pedestrian pathway, enhancing the amenity of the reserve and improve links to Cox’s Bay Reserve. Works are underway to renew the pathways at Point Erin Park. The scope includes renewal of the fence on the western boundary and asphalt pathways with timber edging and was due to be completed late April. We have been consulting on options for the development of the play equipment there and for a loop track to be provided in the Western Springs Forest Park. Decisions will be made on these and other possible projects for next year’s board programme in the next few months, taking into account the feedback that you have provided.

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Over the past few years, central government, and the National and Labour parties in Parliament, has taken a much stronger role in setting requirements for the growth of New Zealand’s largest cities. The government’s changes will require higher-density housing, such as apartments and townhouses, across our city particularly in areas close to public transport and urban centres with shops, jobs and community services, including our inner suburbs. Auckland Council is currently seeking feedback on several proposed changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan based on these new rules. Go to akhaveyoursay.co.nz to find out more and to have your say. Feedback closes Monday 9 May 2022. We have a round of grant applications currently open for community groups and projects. These applications, for up to $3000, can be made to the Waitematā Local Board, and are closing on 13 May. These grants are focussed on arts, environment, heritage, sport and recreation and events. More information can be found, and applications made, at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants. We are delighted that an international team coming for next year’s Women’s Football World Cup will be based and hold their training sessions at the Western Springs Association Football Club, Auckland’s biggest club. The local board has made a grant to the club specifically to enhance the facilities and experience for women and girls, which will be of lasting benefit. Following the resignation of board member Adriana Avendaño Christie to take up an important role with parks and community facilities for council, the Waitematā Local Board has appointed the next highest polling unsuccessful candidate from the last election, Genevieve Sage. We welcome her to the board and look forward to her contribution to the issues facing the Waitematā Local Board area. (RICHARD NORTHEY, Chair, Waitematā Local Board)  PN

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LOCAL NEWS

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY - SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK FOR LUXURY APARTMENTS IN EDEN TERRACE If you have recently driven down Newton Road from Ponsonby, just past the Golf Warehouse on the left, you would have noticed excavation and the laying of foundations by award-winning Kalmar Construction for the highly anticipated Proxima Residences. A better view of the action can be seen from Randolph Street, where the entrance will be located to this boutique building. The freehold apartments on the northern side will have spectacular views towards the Sky Tower, while the southern side will get stunning afternoon sun and views towards Mt Eden. The developer is serious about quality, with Matisse being the supplier of the contemporary European kitchens in Proxima Residences. If you are not familiar with Matisse, world-class chef Josh Emett of acclaimed Onslow Restaurant chose Matisse to create his dream kitchen for his Mt Eden home. Buyers will truly be impressed with the quality of their apartments in Proxima Residences. Each apartment has been designed with owner occupiers in mind, with generous sized floor plans and spacious balconies, many with the option to purchase car parking with electric charging options. Conveniently located and close to the city centre, Ponsonby, Mt Eden and Kingsland, Eden Terrace is a vibrant up and coming area. Proxima Residences is in a prime position with easy access to your favourite cafes, highly rated restaurants like French Cafe and Kazuya, boutique shops in Ponsonby, parks and motorways nearby. Proxima Residences has been popular amongst people downsizing, from family homes in the area to a more low maintenance lock & leave lifestyle, as well as first home buyers who all appreciate that it is pet friendly (subject to body corporate approval).

Aaron Cook says, "it's located near the upcoming City Rail Link and being a new-build, buyers can also get a much lower home loan interest rate with banks like ANZ through their 'Blueprint to Build' offering. If a unit will be used as an investment, rental income is fully tax deductible being a new build, and a 5-year instead of a 10-year bright line test applies." Apartment prices are fixed upon signing in Proxima Residences for peace of mind and start from only $749,000. If seeing is believing, experience for yourself what it would look like to stand in a finished apartment through the latest virtual reality technology in their sales suite at 53 Randolph Street, just a few doors down from the Proxima site. Give Aaron or Bianca a call on 0508 Proxima to arrange for a tour and overview, or visit the website for more information and register your interest today. www.proximaresidences.co.nz

There are a number of reasons people are buying in Proxima Residences, award-winning Barfoot and Thompson agent

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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A perfect day trip from Auckland. MATAKANA VILL AGE + BRICK BAY WINES AND SCULPTURE TRAIL

26 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

MATAKANA VILLAGE Village shopping unlike any other. What was once a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it rural service spot, lies a destination village with heart. Matakana Village, an intriguing selection of independent specialty shops, made famous by a farmers’ market that celebrates the natural bounty and creative, entrepreneurial spirit of the Matakana region. Start your day early to beat the crowds at the farmers’ markets. Founded on one simple premise: local people, selling locally-produced food, you know the person selling the produce had a hand in making it too. For breakfast, grab a famous bacon butty from Matakana Bacon and a warm coffee just next door at The Roastery. Food is a plenty at the markets, with fresh breads, fruits, porridge pots and more. Local musos play as the morning sun starts to warm your face. Follow the river to the waterfall and back again, continuing to explore the village shops, perhaps getting lost in the local bookstore, discovering new art and gifts in what each unique store has to offer. You won’t find chain stores in Matakana Village; our retailers are passionate about their carefully curated collections of art, homewares, fashion, jewellery and gifts. Discover Honest Chocolat, a working chocolate factory where you can see sweet treats being made by hand - all beautiful works of art that are equally as delicious. Try the many lunch options in the village or just 15 minutes away, you can indulge in a meal among the vines at Brick Bay and walk the famous sculpture trail. In the afternoon sun, take a seat at The Vintry, a bar boasting wine from all the local Matakana wineries, fresh and local craft beers and an amazing line-up of cocktails. Enjoy a meal from the kitchen and indulge in a wine tasting, while testing your wine knowledge. The surprise jewel is the spectacular arthouse cinema. Sit amongst a ceiling of 10,000 paper roses; romantic fabrics from ceiling to floor or an 800kg chandelier centrepiece while watching a movie. The perfect place to wind down at the end of the perfect day at Auckland’s most beautiful cinema. It’s an experience and it’s open every day. *The Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday 8am–1pm. 2 Matakana Valley road, Matakana www.matakanavillage.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Be charmed by nature W E LCOM E TO B RI CK B AY WINE S A N D SCU L P T U RE TR A I L

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Brick Bay Just an hour from Auckland, step into a whole other world as we welcome you to Brick Bay. As you enter the driveway, you’ll be met with olive trees, green pastures, native gardens, freeroaming sheep and an enormous sculpture. It’s one of the two Brick Bay Folly’s - Genealogy of the Pacific. This is just a taste of what’s to come. Keep travelling down toward the bay and with the ocean and vineyard in your sights, the hustle and bustle of the city noise is a distant memory… Park under the pecan trees, where rare Kaka parrots visit when the nuts are ripe and make your way to Brick Bay’s famous Sculpture Trail. True adventure begins when you step over the bridge from the foyer to the shimmering Glass House lake. Explore 2 kilometres of open-air gallery; a carefully curated exhibition of over 60 sculptures by New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists. Enjoy a journey of discovery through sculptures suspended in lakes, kinetic works moving in the wind, interactive sculpture which you can touch, and audio works, encouraging you to rest your eyes and listen to the soundscapes. Experience New Zealand native bush abundant with majestic towering trees: kahikatea, totara, puriri, nikau palms and a precious kauri forest. A world that comes alive with the song of native New Zealand birds. After you’ve worked up an appetite, The Glass House Restaurant is the perfect place for lunch, featuring the freshest seasonal cuisine inspired by our farm produce, orchards and gardens. Finish up your afternoon with a locally roasted coffee or a tasting of our highly acclaimed range of boutique wines, in a spectacular vineyard setting lovingly called The Row. The Row is a unique and enchanting outdoor space formed from 25-year-old Pinot Gris vines, creating a tunnel of grapevines to dine under. Built in the first row of vines that were planted at Brick Bay, the area is a place that has taken many years to establish and as far as we know, there’s no other spot quite like it in New Zealand. Picture sitting in an actual vineyard with a paddle of wine surrounded by friends or whānau while one of our expert staff takes you through a very special wine tasting experience perfectly matched with delectable cuisine. And with time to spare, return to Matakana Village to enjoy some shopping, dinner and a movie in the beautiful Matakana Cinemas.

17 Arabella Lane, Snells Beach, Auckland, New Zealand Open daily from 10am, year-round | 09 425 4690 brickbay.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LETTERS & EMAILS

CONTINUED FROM P8 AT EXCESSES AND CORPORATE AUCKLAND

Again I feel compelled to remark on the failures of AT in the area I live along with our single issue representative on the council, Pippa Coom. Since the imposition of the Super City in Auckland in 2008, I would like to remind my neighbours that the National Party pre-election platform stated the policy of the incoming Key government was to hold a referenda in Auckland regarding the corporatization of Auckland or the imposition of the Super City. Which everyone knows didn't happen. Since this time I have followed the direction the council and the 20 corporations with ever growing trepidation at the waste of rates in funding companies that have quite frankly failed to provide the necessary services our community needs. The simplest way to invite change at this level is to vote in change. And I encourage people to vote. At the last local body elections the president of our local board, Pippa Coom, chose to kick Westmere into touch by giving us to Mt Albert and I paraphrase, the strong community response with over 1000 submissions put paid to that. At the same election Pippa Coom proposed our local board need not take up its democratically allowed tenth member and possible tie breaker at votes to save $36k. I stated at the time our board was letting our rights slide. We now know that the Water Care CEO was happy to let 50 million litres of water leak from our reticulation system per day during a drought when Aucklanders were asked to save 40 million litres a day. This lost water had been treated and cost money. He was forced to resign from his $900,000 plus job. Changes at a national level have now been laid out and put into place to save our water. Corruption with roading contractors has reared its ugly head again at Auckland Transport, with a spate of recent convictions and coupled with the announcement that AT is, and I paraphrase, broke and needs money. These are massive failures of the two largest companies holding our $30 billion plus public asset pool. But our local councillor presses on regardless with her folly. Work will still begin on the roads in our neighbourhood in 2022 with the start of another round of bike tracks in our community that don't even connect to commuter infrastructure. The contentious parking review is under way, trying to cash in on the success achieved with the general acceptance of the speed limit restrictions on many streets. We can all witness the failure of the integration of bike tracks by wandering to West Lynn to check out the second set of remedial work to the original failed design of 250 metres of one track. I bought these issues up at the last election and will do so every election cycle. Instead of laying fixes on fixes on fixes, shouldn't we look at starting again. The same can be said about the council. Voting for someone to continue this decline is, as Einstein put it, just doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So in this year's local body election we need to vote in positive Aucklanders instead of the constant stream of self-selected politicians more interested in preserving their own platforms than improving the lot of all their constituents. Please make an informative vote this election. Adam Baines, Westmere

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

WHERE HAVE ALL THE AWNINGS GONE?

Your apartment special issue last month set us thinking about how the featured developments faired vs the published findings of the Community-led Vision Plan for Great North Road. This was released in March 2021 by the Grey Lynn Residents Assn. after extensive consultation with local residents, community groups, business owners, local politicians, AT, Auckland Council planners, residential architects and attempted dialogue with developers. The ridge along Great North Road between Ponsonby Road and the Grey Lynn village is ripe for residential intensification and particularly on the Northern side where building height has less amenity effect; the vision plan is broadly supportive. In consultation, it became clear that a number of good building design provisos were necessary to strengthen the amenity of residents and pedestrians and attract suitable business activity that is always the lifeblood of a thriving community. These are: Provision for ground-floor business activity. It is great to see the featured proposed developments in your April edition being the Covington Group’s ‘The Grey’ and Ockham Residential’s ‘The Feynman’, both being high quality designs incorporating ground-floor business opportunity. In contrast a good example of poor interface design widely panned at the time by urban designers is Ockham Residential’s Turing Building on the corner of Ariki Street and Great North Road which despite the pretty use of concrete form completely turns away from its prime location along the boulevard. Weather protections, otherwise known in layman terms as ‘awnings’ - neither of the proposed developments make meaningful provision for pedestrian weather protection. ‘The Feynman’ takes up the whole block where the Caltex Service station once resided, has ground floor business space yet only a token awning at the western end entrance. Why then does ‘The Greenhouse’, Ockham’s ground-breaking development currently being constructed on the corner of Williamson Avenue and Pollen Street, opposite the Ponsonby Countdown, have full-on awnings along the complete streetscape? Conversely, the planned ‘The Grey’, the already completed ‘The Crest’, The Dylan’, ‘The North’ and ‘217 North’, coincidentally all designed by Paul Brown and Associates but developed by multiple entities, have similarly token provision, yet a PB&A designed block at 428 Dominion Road is fully equipped to protect pedestrians against inclement weather. So, who to blame? Auckland Council planners have no guiding statue that mandates. Maybe consultation on the proposed RMA changes gives an opportunity for planners to place granular conditions on high rise developments? Architects and designers can suggest but ultimately are at the mercy of developer’s whim and budgets. That leaves the developers, who appear, given the perceived high quality of all the projects discussed, sinking funds into attracting suitable residential purchasers and ground-floor tenants. They pay little regard to the negative effect a lack of weather protection has on pedestrian access, and the type of business they will ultimately attract, plus their building’s relationship with the streetscape and the sense of place that good design will bring to the Great North Road Community as it develops over time. David Batten, Brandon Wilcox, Grey Lynn Residents Assn CONTINUED ON P32

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PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

KEN RING: WEATHER

BY THE MOON - AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, MAY 2022

May is expected to be a wetter and cloudier month than average, with nearly double the normal rainfall. May is expected to be a wetter and cloudier month than average, with nearly double the normal rainfall. The first week with the highest pressure may be driest, and the second week the wettest. The third week may be the sunniest. The best weekend for outdoor activities may be the 28th/29th. For fishers, highest tides are around 17th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 1st-2nd, 15th-18th

and 29th-31st. Bite-chances are also good around noon of 8th-10th, and 22nd-25th. For gardeners, planting is best (waxing moon ascending) between 7th-14th, and pruning is best 20th-28th, (waning moon descending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers around neap tide of 9th. Always allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)

For future weather for any date, and the 2022 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com.

LETTERS & EMAILS

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

CONTINUED FROM P30 THE STATE OF MEOLA CREEK

Looking at the state of Meola Creek from the bridge immediately behind Pasadena School is distressing. The lack of weed control by the Auckland Council's contractors has allowed many areas to become overgrown with invasive vegetation. This has restricted the flow of the stream allowing even more invasive plant growth. Most distressing is having had discussions with contractors while crossing this same bridge on two separate occasions. They were spraying the banks with the contents of their backpacks. Both times they verified it was "Roundup"! This is not the first time council contractors have been observed applying glyphosate in unsuitable conditions. In response to my official complaint to Auckland Council in October 2021, Mr Karl Beaufort, Community Facilities Manager wrote, "We have also instructed the contractor to provide us with a written plan on how they will address this issue and prevent it occurring again". However, it would appear the council’s instruction had little control or monitoring of the behaviour of contractors with regard to the use of glyphosate, as I again observed, and had confirmed, the use of Roundup in November 2021. Mr Beaufort’s reply acknowledged this second complaint by saying, "...they have since returned to the same location and undertaken the same activity in exactly the same conditions

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

reported in your first complaint. This is not acceptable behaviour from our contractor and the matter has been referred to the contract manager to address through performance management within the contract bounds". So my query is, why is the council contractor not fulfilling their contractual obligations by keeping the waterways around Western Springs clear of vegetation and importantly, why are they still using glyphosate when the Waitematā Local Board have assured this area would be free from this poison? Linda Hill, by email MAKE THEM WALK THE PLANK

Our city is a shipwreck, wind swept and abandoned, torn sails flapping in the wind, bankrupted by a bunch of drunken sailors asleep at the wheel. Political pirates high on power, their plan will see us run aground. Cannon balls of legislation are blasted indiscriminately across our bow, while bootleg barrels are smuggled secretly away. "Shiver me timbers," I say, "make 'em all walk the plank, vote this motley crew OUT come October"! Lisa Prager, Westmere Shipwright

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LOCAL NEWS

LIFE HACKS OF TRIBAL ELDERS: WHAT DO LAILA AND HEATHER HAVE IN COMMON? Laila has moved on. Because in the end she knows that’s all she can do. That and hope.(1) We are sitting in a lively Grey Lynn café one Saturday morning, drinking tea and coffee - a couple of local tribal elders intent on identifying a personal example of ‘elder wisdom’ that we can pass on to others via this series of Probus profiles. As I listen to Heather recounting stories of her life, I am struck by the similarities that come to mind between Heather’s way of responding to life and the experiences of Laila, one of the main characters in a novel I am currently reading. In the novel, Laila refuses to submit under the oppressive conditions to which she is subjected. Nor does she succumb to any bitterness either, as she strives to prove her own value and stand up for women in her society. While there is little similarity between the harsh conditions Laila faces in Afghanistan, compared to Heather’s lived experiences in Australia and New Zealand, what strikes me immediately, is how both women have responded over time to cumulative adversity and loss. Heather was born in Australia, grew up in Melbourne in what she candidly describes as a dysfunctional home environment. She left school at 15 and by age 17 had run away to get married. She had three sons by the time she was 23 but that early marriage did not survive as the young couple grew up and grew apart. Heather took on the responsibility for her young family as a solo mother, determined to make things work out well for her children. Years later, she had another child, a daughter. She describes how she always trusted her instincts about people and situations in which she found herself. As time went on, with growing confidence in her ability to manage life on her own terms, she taught herself the skills she needed and took on as much responsibility as she was offered. Determinedly, she worked her way into positions of responsibility to become one of the administrators of an agricultural college in Shepparton, Northern Victoria, overseeing the provision of the college’s technical and further education courses and serving as secretary to the chair of the Department of Conservation Committee. Much later, when she emigrated to New Zealand, she worked in a similar administrative role for the School of Architecture at the University of Auckland, a remarkable feat for a teenager who ran away from an unhappy home. Inevitably, life was very hard at times, but Heather trusted that everything would get better if she paid attention to those

Heather Lynch is President Elect of the Combined Probus Club of Ponsonby. Her previous role on the committee was the organisation of monthly speakers for club meetings.

factors within her control. She clearly had no tolerance for wallowing in self-pity when things got difficult. Each day that could be managed well enough was a step in the right direction. She made a point of determining that the glass would be half full, never empty! As you would expect, for someone whose outlook was cultivated optimism, Heather went on to find romance and marriage again. Later in life, when her second son died suddenly of an aneurism at age 38 she faced this tragedy with stoicism. No mother should ever have to bury her child, but Heather accepted it and knew that she had to move on, with hope, just like Laila in the novel. “When you’re at your worst, all you have to remember is that it will pass. Never give up, just move on because that’s all you can do. That and hope.” Heather Lynch With ever-present positivity, Heather tells me that she knows she has passed on her confidence and independence to her own daughter Kate, and life goes round again. (ALEXA LAWRENCE)  PN If you’re retired and think you might enjoy getting together with Heather and other like-minded retirees, do come along for a visit next month. It’s a good way to enjoy new experiences including regular speakers and social events. To find out more, contact Rosie Armstrong on 09 486 5181, or email her at rosiearm@xtra.co.nz (1) Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York, New York: Penguin Group , 2007.

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34 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

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LOCAL NEWS

WHAT VALUE IS OUR CITY’S HISTORY? …Not much it would seem. On Tuesday 19 April Auckland Council pulled back the covers on a preliminary proposal for amending Auckland’s Unitary Plan, to meet the government’s plans for housing intensification. The proposal amounts to a garroting of years of city planning and citizen participation, particularly the preservation of the character of our older residential areas. These areas contribute much to making our city interesting, livable, diverse and community focused. Council has been dealt a very limited hand by government in what it can or cannot do in responding to the NPS-UD (National Policy Statement – Urban Development). But it has shrunk from bringing the public into the process until the die has largely been cast. The response has been to thrust a ‘one size fits all’ plan on local communities: · There is insufficient regard or understanding of the practical realities of living in the older areas of Auckland or the character they bring to the city and it is not clear how zoning street after street for terrace housing and apartment building will meet the government’s goals of intensification and affordable housing in these older areas, except by DESTROYING irreplaceable parts of the city’s history. Auckland holds the world’s largest remaining stock of timber Victorian and Edwardian houses. For years council has controlled development in these older areas, to protect their character, and history. Local residents have accepted these restrictions because they recognize and value the preserved character. This proposal has blatantly disregarded the part these older areas have played in the very genesis of Auckland – it’s hard to imagine another city in the world where such actions would be contemplated.

of Auckland’s oldest residential areas, it faces a wholesale change to its character. It is not a large area, but it has a very high concentration of wooden buildings (workers’ cottages and turn of the 19th century villas) mainly on small lots of land; they are living history, even after being modernised for current times. Council’s proposal is to replace the single house residential zone (which applies to most of the area) with a terrace house and apartment building zone. On what analysis will this provide a better outcome for Auckland? The council has chosen to approach its task, and to develop a methodology to produce its preliminary proposal, without public engagement, preferring to work in a vacuum. The result is a proposal which is littered with inconsistencies. Again, using St Mary’s Bay as an example, the proposal is for most of St Mary’s Road, including blocks of flats on adjacent Caroline and London Streets, to be protected, while other completely intact streets like Percival, Hackett, Seymour and Vine (to name a few) have been abandoned. Even the oldest house in St Mary’s Bay – the Captain’s House in the SE corner of Selby Square – seems likely to be abandoned. When the prospect of change was promulgated in mid 2021, the St. Mary’s Bay Association led an approach to council by five residents’ associations on the western side of the city seeking early engagement on the way they might respond to government’s policy. Rather than engaging, council developed its methodology on its own. To make this radical change without engaging first on the values that should be supported and how that could be presented as a “qualifying matter” under the legislation, is unacceptable. Council needs to put this right – and we the citizens of Auckland need to make our views known (by 9 May). akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/housing

Nowhere is this more obvious than in St Mary’s Bay. As a small residential area to the west of the city centre, and one

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LOCAL NEWS

APPEAL TO HELP PONSONBY TOY LIBRARY FIND A NEW HOME! Auckland’s iconic Ponsonby Toy Library, part of the Ponsonby community for nearly three decades, is appealing to everyone to help it find a new home. Run as a not-for-profit by dedicated volunteers, the Ponsonby Toy Library must vacate the premises in which it currently operates. The move is triggered by Auckland Council’s decision to sell the existing premises in St Mary’s Bay to support renovation of one of the neighbouring buildings. Victoria Carpenter, Chair of the Ponsonby Toy Library and the volunteer team are gutted by the decision. “Born from a strong desire to support the families, the Ponsonby Toy Library opened nearly 30 years ago after months of planning and extensive fundraising efforts. Over the years we’ve grown to be an integral part of the Ponsonby community and we remain committed to providing for families in the area,” says Ms. Carpenter. “While this decision is difficult to accept, we respect Auckland Council’s decision and are focusing on searching for a new home”, she adds. Today, the Ponsonby Toy Library goes beyond just providing toys for children.

by a stroller. While they’d like exclusive access to the facility, they are open to sharing the premises with another large or small business if storage of the toys can be secured. “There’s a sense of urgency in finding the new home as the existing premises is expected to be sold before July this year. We’re looking for support from our community to help us find a happy and friendly home for the toys so we can continue to enable families to build important connections and enhance children’s learning through play,” says Ms. Carpenter. The Ponsonby Toy Library currently has a membership of about 200 families and offers nearly 3000 known and well-loved brands of toys for children aged six months to eight years, and services a growing local population. Please contact Victoria Carpenter if you have any leads or space available. About Ponsonby Toy Library

She adds, “We understand that not all parents have a lot of disposable income and as the cost of living continues to increase, by having a membership with our toy library, families can save money and equally cut waste.”

Ponsonby Toy Library is a well-established not-for-profit community-based toy library that has been serving the Ponsonby community since 1992. Operating just like a book library, the Ponsonby Toy Library offers toys to around 200 members to enable educational, physical, psychological, social, and cultural development of the children through play.

The Ponsonby Toy Library is looking for a lock and leave facility that’s 50 square meters and can be easily accessed

For further information and property leasing contact: Victoria Carpenter on victoria@redkey.nz or 021 383 099.

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE…

Ex-locals Janet Wilson and Bill Ralston with Ross Thorby, a visitor to the Hawkes Bay enjoying the latest issue and their new view.

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

DAVENPORTS LAW:

LESSON LEARNED

Despite a recent cooling of the market, New Zealand remains one of the most expensive places in the world to buy a home. Many young people can only get onto the property ladder with a leg up from Mum and Dad. For parents who can, a financial contribution is a wonderful way to secure their children’s future. However, there are a number of potential pitfalls, a tough lesson that John, Pam and their daughter Stacey learned the hard way. John and Pam were by no means wealthy, but they were in a comfortable financial position entering retirement. The family home had become too big, so they decided to downsize to a townhouse, using some of the difference in value to help their daughter and her new husband into their first property. They had been concerned for some time that the couple wouldn’t be able to save enough for a deposit without their support. Tammy McLeod

Stacey wanted to start a family, whereas Matt still liked the life he had at university – late nights out at the pub with his friends and not ready to be a family man. Eventually Stacey and Matt agreed to separate, sell the unit, and move on. The unit was sold for $1.2m, $200,000 more than what they paid for it. When Stacey went to see a lawyer, she explained that her parents had put $150,000 into the house. Her expectation (and John and Pam’s) was that the money would be repaid or at the very least, Stacey would take the $150,000 in priority to Matt. However, Matt’s lawyer advised him that when the money was gifted toward his and Stacey’s family home — a relationship property — it had become “intermingled” and he was legally entitled to half of it. John and Pam were shocked to say the least. They consulted Stacey’s lawyer to find out what, if anything, could be done and what they could have done differently to avoid this situation. She told them the truth - that they should have sought legal advice at the time of gifting the money.

Recently married, Stacey and Matt found a two-bedroom unit listed for $1m, perfect for their first home. Between their savings and Kiwisaver, they had enough for a 15% deposit. John and Pam offered to lend them $150,000 which would boost them to a 30% deposit, leaving them with a $700,000 mortgage.

She explained that banks will accept limited loan agreements rather than gift documents in these scenarios. By that she meant a loan agreement where it is agreed that the loan won’t be called up unless the property is sold and the lender won’t register any security (e.g a caveat) against the property. This agreement would have been signed by Stacey and Matt.

Stacey and Matt went to see a mortgage broker who said that the bank wouldn’t accept the money as a loan from John and Pam – it had to be a gift, otherwise it wouldn’t be included as part of their deposit. Stacey and Matt were eager to get their offer in quickly – even though the market had slowed, there were still very few properties in their price bracket. So, in the rush to make an offer, John and Pam made the mistake of not seeking legal advice. They simply signed a gifting document supplied by the broker and handed over the money. The offer was accepted and soon Stacey and Matt took ownership of the unit.

Alternatively, to gift the money (if there was no intention for it to be repaid) to Stacey, she and Matt would have entered into a “contracting out agreement” ensuring that the money gifted by John and Pam would remain Stacey’s separate property.

Initially, the couple were very happy in their home. However, about two years into their marriage, cracks started to appear. Finances were tight and they started arguing about money.

In the end, Stacey tried appealing to Matt’s better nature, but the relationship was so broken, and Matt was so angry and bitter, he refused to walk away with anything less than his legal entitlement. There are many ways of structuring loans and gifts from The Bank of Mum and Dad. Seeking sound legal advice is the essential first step in understanding your options and protecting your family investment.

DAVENPORTS LAW, 331 Rosedale Road, Level 1, Building 2, Albany, T: 09 883 3284, www.davenportslaw.co.nz

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

C RA FTED L EGAL ADV ICE FOR PE ACE OF MIN D.

First home buyers? Parents assisting children. There are a number of ways parents can assist their children onto the property ladder. A loan, gift contribution, or part ownership are common options. With changes to bank lending policies and the 10 year brightline test, it is important to get legal advice to establish the best way of structuring a contribution, which will protect both you and your children. Talk to our Trusts or Property experts about your best option before you commit to anything. DAV ENPORTSL AW.C O. N Z

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PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY U3A: MAY

2022 UKRAINE BEYOND THE NEWS

Presenting by Zoom did not deter the erudite Wayne Brittenden. Wayne, with a long career as a foreign correspondent, is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, an environmentalist, a philosopher, and a film buff. His guiding principle is akin to that of Omar Khayyam whom he quoted: “When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.” In unravelling the background history leading to the tragic events in Ukraine, Wayne contends the conflict needs to be grounded in history and context rather than the binary view presented in the news of 'good guys/bad guys'. Even though there is a clear aggressor and a clear victim, and no excuse for Russia’s behaviour, this is not the whole story. Contrary to popular impressions, Ukraine is not a shining light of democracy. For example, on a corruption index New Zealand is in the top five of 180 countries, Russia sits at 136 and Ukraine on 122. This shows how much closer Ukraine is to Russia than to democracy and may explain why the EU is not keen on admitting Ukraine. In Ukraine, the hundred richest oligarchs control 27% of Ukraine’s economy and hold as much sway as they do in Russia. While President Zelensky was elected on a platform of reducing oligarch corruption, they remain unencumbered. And although the president is elected, representatives are not, which is a long way from how a democracy should function. And the West’s actions in relation to Russia have not been entirely virtuous ever since the end of the Cold War. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the US promised Russia that NATO would not expand an inch eastward, but Clinton broke this promise leaving Gorbachev, because of the West’s duplicity, being seen as weak. Missing from mass media coverage is Russia’s fear of being surrounded by NATO countries, a fear which is now heightened as even more European countries apply for NATO. Putin has watched US activities in Cambodia, Vietnam, and the bogus invasion of Iraq and while nothing justifies the Russian invasion, the Russian bear has been somewhat baited. Of the future, Wayne posits, it is likely we are in for a non-aligned

Wayne Britttenden

movement as in the Cold War where the world sees the West as an unreliable friend and Russia as an aggressor and it is better to stay out of it altogether. Wayne bemoaned the mass media dynamic to get in first with the news and to use sound bites. It dumbs down the news so that we can only concentrate on one crisis at a time rather than make the connections and ask the big questions such as ‘is the economic growth model the right one given the conflict between growth and the environment?’ Ten-minute speaker, Ponsonby U3A member John Holmes traced his career as a lawyer starting in general practice to become a partner in a law firm specialising in trusts and estates. To this day he is still a member of jazz group, Lex Pistols that will feature at the August Jazz Festival in the Bay of Islands. Ponsonby U3A continues to welcome new members to its monthly meetings. If you are interested in attending as a visitor, call President Philippa Tait on M: 027 452 3108. The next meeting will be in May and for every month thereafter on the second Friday of the month at the Herne Bay Petanque Club. The May speaker will be Dame Silvia Cartwright, lawyer, jurist and Governor General of New Zealand and an advocate for women and their rights. (CHRISTINE HART)  PN NEXT MEETING:

Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street, Herne Bay10am, Friday 13 May, 2022

ENQUIRIES:

Philippa Tait, President, Ponsonby U3A. M: 027 452 3108, www.u3a.nz

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LOCAL NEWS

HAVE YOUR SAY ON PROPOSALS THAT MIGHT INTENSIFY OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS Auckland Council is consulting on how intensification should occur across Auckland. Taken to its extreme the intensification envisaged in Central Government policy will result in irrevocable change to our local neighbourhoods, our way of life, and our city’s heritage. As residents it is imperative that you speak up loudly and let Auckland Council know how important the characteristics of your neighbourhoods are.

Special Character overlay. This overlay would be a ‘qualifying matter’ under the Central Government regulations, which would provide a pathway to exempting such areas from intensification.

Central Government is focusing on intensification of urban areas through the instruments of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), and the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) contained in the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (Amendment Act).

The first stage of consultation closes on Monday 9 May 2022 and deals with the council’s preliminary response to the sixstorey intensification required around city and metropolitan centres and transport hubs. Currently this walkable catchment of 1,200 metres from the city centre, 800 metres around rapid transit stops (including the proposed Auckland Light Rail), and 400 metres from large town centres (Ponsonby Road) captures many properties in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, and Herne Bay. Feedback is also sought on council’s proposal to include identified special character areas as a qualifying matter.

The unique place of our neighbourhoods is recognised in the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP), with the zoning of Residential – Single House Zone supplemented by the Historic Heritage and Special Character Areas Overlays. These mechanisms were arrived at following a long and involved process with significant community engagement. The resulting provisions function to protect the beauty and uniqueness of these neighbourhoods as held dear by our people and communities. The Central Government instruments require Auckland Council to: Enable greater housing density by permitting buildings of six-storeys or more within at least a ‘walkable catchment’ of rapid transit stops and the edges of city centre and large town centres; and apply new MDRS to allow three dwellings of up to three-storeys on most residential properties without a resource consent, and non-notified resource consents for four or more dwellings or dwellings which do not comply with the standards set out. Taken at face value, and to their extreme, these intensification requirements could enable and encourage the rezoning and subsequent replacement of a majority of Ponsonby’s, Grey Lynn’s, and Herne Bay’s existing historic heritage villas. As is evidenced by a number of such developments to date such high levels of intensification can have a plethora of other effects, including increased traffic, increased noise, overload on local schools and infrastructure (including water services), and increased demand on local services which address current community needs but would be overwhelmed with unsupported population increase. The mechanism to ensure that a measured and proper approach to intensification is taken is to rely on the AUP

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

There are two stages of consultation underway.

The second stage of consultation runs from 18 August – 15 September 2022 and deals with the detailed intensification changes that will be proposed to the AUP in a plan change, including the MDRS in the Amendment Act and the proposed wide-spread three-storey intensification. To have your say on these important matters you can make submissions on both stages letting Council know: a. In relation to Stage 1 - your views on whether our neighbourhoods (or parts of our neighbourhoods) should be considered to be special character areas and therefore exempt from intensification; b. In relation to Stage 2 – your views on the details that need to be included in the plan change to ensure that any Special Character Overlay areas retain the protections currently afforded by the AUP to villas in the Single House zone with the Historic Heritage and Special Character protection. There is no doubt that Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, and Herne Bay are special and unique, and deserve our full consideration and protection from any proposal that would damage their uniqueness. (Nicole B, by email) More information on the consultation and the proposed intensification is available here: www.akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/housing

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT PLAN FOR PARKING REMOVAL FULL LIST OF AFFECTED ROADS “The design mistake began with choosing arterial roads for cycleways, instead of quiet side roads where cycling would be more pleasant, because it came from exclusion rather than inclusion. In its path, this juggernaut will destroy our shopping villages - Ponsonby, Mt Eden, Parnell, Remuera, Karangahape Road - these names create a picture of their unique character. Their demise would be devastating for Auckland.” Gael Baldock, Community Advocate. CENTRAL AUCKLAND Beaumont St, Fanshawe St, Market Pl, Customs St West, Lower Hobson St, Hobson St, Nelson St, Wellesley St West, Wellesley St East, The Strand, Tamaki Dr (from The Strand to Ngapipi Rd), Symonds St, Anzac Ave, Vincent St, Pitt St, Grafton Bridge, Park Rd, Khyber Pass (from Park Rd to Broadway), Broadway (from Khyber Pass to Alpers Ave), Manukau Rd (from Alpers Ave to Mount Albert Rd), College Hill, Ponsonby Rd, Great North Rd (from Ponsonby Rd to Crummer Rd), Surrey Cres, Richmond Rd (from Surrey Cres to Parawai Cres), Old Mill Rd (from Surrey Cres to West View Rd), Garnet Rd (from Old Mill Rd to West End Rd), Meola Rd, Point Chevalier Rd (from Meola Rd to Great North Rd), Carrington Rd, New North Rd (from Morningside Rd to Symonds St), New North Rd (from Blockhouse Bay Rd to St Lukes Rd), St Lukes Rd (from New North Rd to Morningside Rd), New Windsor Rd (from Tiverton Rd to Maioro St), Maioro St, Richardson Rd ( from Owairaka Ave to Maioro St), Stoddard Rd (from Maioro St to Sandringham Rd), Sandringham Rd, Owairaka Ave, Mount Albert Rd (from Owairaka Ave to Sandringham Rd), Mt Eden Rd, Mount Albert Rd (from Mt Eden Rd to Royal Oak Intersection), Hillsborough Rd (from Dominion Rd Extension to Mount Albert Rd)

NORTH AUCKLAND Hibiscus Coast Highway, Matakana Rd (from Sandspit Rd to Green Rd), Glenvar Rd, East Coast Road (from Carlisle Rd to Glenvar Rd), Medallion Dr, Rosedale Rd (from Bush Rd to Apollo Dr), Glenfield Rd (from Pupuke Rd to High Rd), Northcote Rd (from, Takapuna Golf Club to The Avenue), Onewa Rd, Esmonde Rd, Lake Rd (from Esmonde Rd to Albert Rd), Bayswater Ave. SOUTH/EAST AUCKLAND Coronation Rd (from Waterfront Rd to McIntyre Rd), Coronation Rd (from Taylor Rd to Walmsley Rd), McKenzie Rd, Bader Dr (from McKenzie Rd to George Bolt Memorial Dr), Kirkbridge Rd (from McKenzie Rd to Ascott Rd), Jordan Rd, Atkinson Ave (from Princes St to Great South Rd), Ellerslie-Panmure Highway, Lagoon Drive, Pakuranga Rd, Ridge Rd, Ti Rakau Drive, Te Iriangi Drive, Great South Rd (from Te Iriangi Drive to Ronwood Ave), Ronwood Ave, Davies Ave (from Ronwood Ave to Putney Way), Murphys Rd (from Stancombe Rd to Ormiston Rd), Redoubt Rd (from Hilltop Rd to Mill Rd), Mill Rd, Cosgrave Rd, East Tamaki Rd (from Spring Rd to Hills Rd), Preston Rd (from East Tamaki Rd to Ormiston Rd), Ormiston Rd (from Preston Rd to Jarvis Way), Allens Rd, Smales Rd (from Allens Rd to Sir William Ave), Waiuku Rd. Source: Bernard Orsman, www.nzherald.co.nz

@ LEYS LITTLE LIBRARY Kia ora koutou Ponsonby. The beginning of May often feels like quite a shock, the cooler weather has set in and we are almost halfway through the year. It is a month where we become more acquainted with our umbrellas and start to set aside our sunglasses. May also brings Mother’s Day and the beginning of the second term for schools. For our Waitematā libraries we are hoping May will bring the restart of our regular programmes. Here at Leys Institute Little Library that means we are planning to return to the Ponsonby Baptist Church Hall (corner of Jervois Road and Seymour Street) for Wriggle and Rhyme. All going to plan, we will be there on Wednesday May 4th at 10am and 11am with music and bubbles; there’s a chance we even remember a few rhymes too. The team are very much looking forward to seeing you and your little people and meeting some new little people and their grown ups too. Film Club will be making a return to the Grey Lynn Library Hall with the first screening being on Friday 20 May at 3pm; this season’s theme is black comedy. For further details about film club, pop into Grey Lynn or Leys Institute Little Library.

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Book Chat are very excited to be meeting in person rather than via zoom. They held their first meeting, kanohi ki te kanohi, at the Ponsonby Community Centre in April. It was great to see everyone getting together and connecting in person even if it was still socially distanced. While we are excited to see you at our programmes and events, facemasks are required for all attendees 12 years and over - just like for a regular library visit. As always check our Facebook page – Leys Institute Little Library for up-to-date information about our programmes and events. Book Chat Recommends:

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku. The remarkable life of 100 year old Eddie, who has a story to tell the world as a prisoner of war who went through absolute hell but came out the other side with love, resilience, kindness, joy, friendship and family - a story that will have you valuing the life we now live and that being kind and happy can make a big difference. A must read. LEYS LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

SPCA OPENS FIRST HIGH-END OP SHOP – ALL POOCHES WELCOME Do you enjoy a chic and sustainable shopping experience? Also want to show your love for the animals? Ponsonby locals can now combine these two passions in a new store located in the heart of Auckland’s trendiest suburb. SPCA is delighted to open its first designer boutique on Ponsonby Road, with the aim of providing shoppers with luxury second-hand items while raising crucial funds for New Zealand’s most vulnerable animals. ‘Boutique for SPCA’ is the charity’s first ever store that specialises in selling pre-loved designer and high-quality pieces including clothing, accessories, homewares and furniture. Customers who shop at the store will not only be able to snatch up something unique, but know that each purchase they make is helping animals in need. “We’re thrilled to have been able to open Boutique by SPCA right in the centre of Ponsonby, where we know locals care about animals as much as we do,” says SPCA National Op Shops and Retail Manager Cathy Crichton. “This store is all about connecting people with the perfect pre-loved luxury or designer piece for them, while also raising funds for our charity.” The boutique is the newest addition to SPCA’s 58 op shops around the country, which help raise necessary funds for the animal welfare charity. SPCA helps rescue, rehabilitate and rehome more than 35,000 animals each year and operates 33 animal Centres nationwide. It’s also the only charity with legal powers to enforce the Animal Welfare Act, but despite this, SPCA receives less than five percent Government funding. As a result, the organisation relies solely on donations from members of the public to operate its Centres and care for the thousands of animals that come through its doors. “We know there are many choices for people once they have had a wardrobe or house ‘clean-out’, and we would love to urge locals to support SPCA with their valuable donations. If you love animals as much as we do, please support our new boutique store. And of course, bring your furry family member in for a visit as well.” “At Boutique for SPCA, each piece has been lovingly handpicked by our team so that customers can ensure they’re getting quality second-hand pieces. Whether you’re on the hunt for a pre-loved designer handbag, something to wear for a special occasion, or even new linens for the home, our staff can help match you with the perfect purchase.”

Sustainability is a key focus of the new store, but not just through giving formerly owned items a second chance by keeping them out of the landfill. “Protecting the environment is important to us at SPCA so we’ve chosen to use recyclable card for our price tags so that they can be reused, and we’ve sourced recyclable paper bags for our customers. We’ve also made it a priority to support local by working with New Zealand suppliers for our shop’s fixtures and signage.” The new Ponsonby boutique also presents a chance for locals to become involved in the community, by volunteering their time to help out inside the store. “We are looking for people who are happy to spend a few hours each week sorting through donated goods, placing items out for display and helping customers,” says Ms Crichton. “Volunteering is a rewarding way for people to give back to a great cause, while also being a part of something special within the community.” Boutique for SPCA is located at 27 Ponsonby Road and it’s worth noting that furry customers are also welcome, if not encouraged. So next time you’re visiting, feel free to bring your beloved pooch in for a browse. If you’d like to drop off a donation, this can be done during store hours which are Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Those wishing to volunteer can apply online at

www.spca.nz/boutique-volunteers

BOUTIQUE FOR SPCA, 27 Ponsonby Road, www.spca.nz/boutique-volunteers PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

photography: Sharon Jones

LOCAL NEWS

Mixture of native and ‘exotic’ trees on Owairaka

HOW DOES THE OWAIRAKA APPEAL COURT DECISION AFFECT US ELSEWHERE IN AUCKLAND? A brave Herne Bay couple took the Tupuna Maunga Authority (TMA) and Auckland Council to the High Court for a ‘Judicial Review’ of Owairaka / Mt Albert, citing the lack of consultation. The manipulative, dishonest way the TMA presented removal of all 'exotic' trees was ‘sold’ to us as a ‘native restoration’ - slowly cloaking the maunga in natives without mentioning the felling of more than 2,500 mature trees across 14 volcanic cones.

Further examples of sparse consultation across the city -

Appeal Court decision by three judges, unanimously ruled in favour of the plaintiff -

· Grey Lynn / Westmere cycleway races ahead with urgent consultation during pandemic restrictions.

· The Tupuna Maunga Authority had acted unlawfully in failing to adequately consult as required by the Reserves Act.

· Pūtiki Bay, Waiheke penguin habitat against marina developers (represented by environmental lawyer, Paul Majuery).

· Auckland Council had acted unlawfully in granting a nonnotified resource consent.

· Central government’s ‘3 Waters Authority' confiscating council assets.

· The appeal was granted and the resource consent was overturned.

· Cross-party ‘Enabling Housing Supply Bill’ for housing intensification conflicts with well consulted ‘Unitary Plan’ and removes heritage protections.

After these findings, the logical decision for Auckland Council would be to withdraw the non-notified resource consents on the other maunga but arrogantly, council’s legal team decided NOT to do so, leaving that decision to the TMA. TMA’s unelected chair, Paul Majuery has applied to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision, choosing to spend more ratepayer funds rather than consulting. The blatant disregard from elected officials and public servants towards those who pay their wages is distasteful. Being more intent on increasing and wasting rates, their insufficient consultation has been used to push vanity projects, unused cycleways that destroy businesses, slowing down traffic to create congestion, felling trees, and condensing living arrangements without the amenities or infrastructure to accommodate this intensification. When did the people give local and central government the right to destroy our way of life and character of our city? Mismanagement of council funds has turned the ‘City of Sails’ into ‘City of Road Cones’. Logically these Appeal Court and Ombudsman decisions should be a wake-up call to council and ‘council controlled organisations’ and the failure of the TMA co-governance model, to change the consultation process. “The views presented to the local authority should be received by the local authority with an open mind and should be given by the authority in making decisions, due consideration” Local Government Act 2002

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

· Removal of street parking from most main roads by Auckland Transport.

· Reserves are being sold by Panuku, its un-elected chair Paul Majuery and ‘rubber stamped’ by local boards. · Suggestions of selling publicly owned golf courses for housing, losing much needed green spaces. · Marine reserves put into co-governance without public input. · 21 of our 28 regional parks into a co-governance under ‘consultation’. · Ombudsman finding a lack of consultation by Ministry of Culture and Heritage for the Erebus Memorial in Dove Myer Robinson Memorial Park, Parnell. It's overwhelming! How can anyone keep up? Who’s there to support us? During the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s consideration of changing the forum into a co-governance authority, comprised of 50% mana whenua membership, Councillor Pippa Coom stated, "We're not here to bring the public along or the 14,000 members of the Gulf Users Group, who've been wound up through a misinformation campaign". In contrast, former Councillor Mike Lee wrote in the Ponsonby News, “Those politicians fail to understand that the primary role of an elected representative is to represent the public to the council – not the other way round.”(GAEL BALDOCK, Community Advocate)  PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Melissa Lee:

CRIME, THE ECONOMY AND BUDGET 2022 It’s hard to imagine that we are still being directly impacted by Covid-19 more than two years after it hit our shores on February 28, 2020. For so many New Zealanders the pandemic has seen their livelihoods affected in ways we never could have imagined. From the damage the closure of shops and businesses has done to countless families’ economic futures to the on-andoff nature of learning in our education sector and the ability to travel, New Zealand has struggled valiantly and yet there seems to be no end in sight. Kiwis are facing a cost of living crisis across Auckland and that’s heart-breaking. Police response times are now at a shockingly high rate with our own Auckland City District going up 321 per cent and, in some cases, Police are taking almost two hours to respond to emergencies. That is appalling and not good enough for the citizens of our largest city where people want to sleep safely at night and want to feel safe running their diaries, hairdressers and cafes. For me in particular, I was deeply concerned at stories many shop keepers have been telling me during my rounds visiting as a Member of Parliament. The lack of support many local businesses are facing after ram-raids and local robberies threaten not only their finances but their lives and mental wellbeing. It is damning that local grocers, dairy owners and restauranteurs, some who have been in our community for decades, are now thinking of closing up shop not because of a lack of customers but because of a lack in confidence in community safety and commercial opportunity. Retail NZ recently released data showing that retailers, especially our local storefronts in Grey Lynn, Ponsonby and Westmere, expect prices to rise 7.5 per cent in the next three months should be a wake-up call. On almost every point New Zealanders, Covid-19 or not, are doing it tough and it’s time for this to stop. We are now in autumn and inching closer to a winter of discontent across New Zealand with inflation soaring as crime, mortgage rates and government wasteful spending grow alongside it. Bluntly, New Zealanders need better leadership than the team in charge right now as it is quickly becoming clear two years on

from Covid-19 and five years on since Labour took office they have no idea about the future of New Zealand and how to ensure we can all succeed and thrive in our amazing country. On 19 May 2022 the Finance Minister will deliver the Budget. We can only hope there will be some relief for the people of our city who are struggling under this Government, after all they are spending $6billion! It will be a lolly scramble, and yet we should be looking at how the Government manages our taxpayer dollars when all of us have to tighten our belts and budget to stretch our household incomes. Like most of my colleagues, I’m meeting with communities across New Zealand and engaging with industry leaders to ensure the issues affecting New Zealand are heard in our Parliament as we scrutinise the 2022 Budget. The National Team will be delivering a strong message of our plan for the future of New Zealand as an innovative, passionate and forwarding looking nation and I look forward to sharing this vision further with you over the coming months. Best wishes for the month ahead! (MELISSA LEE MP)  PN E: mplee@parliament.govt.nz

If you require any assistance I and my office are always happy and ready to provide advice and support Please get in touch on 09 520 0538 or at MPLee@parliament.govt.nz to make an appointment.

Melissa Lee National List MP based in Auckland MPLee@parliament.govt.nz • melissalee.co.nz •

mpmelissalee

Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Melissa Lee, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

ROSS THORBY: CRUISING

ON LAND

I guess you can take the boy out of Northland, but you can never fully take Northland out of the boy. I was awoken at dawn by the sun streaming through the windows of Car-lotta. The crash of the surf breaking on the beach just a few meters from my door was all the encouragement that I needed to see how my speedos were fitting after Covid-19 lockdown 2 - not very well to tell the truth. Pushing my embarrassment to one side, I donned said speedos nonetheless and joined the early morning swimmers who were splashing their way across the calm waters of Paihia and realised how relaxed I felt away from the rush of the Auckland traffic and lifestyle. Here, I seem to have organically morphed back into my natural state - a Northlander. Having forsaken my usual Auckland attire, I now only seem to be wearing Hawaiian shirts and shorts and the last time that I had a shave or worn shoes, was the day I left Auckland. I guess you can take the boy out of Northland, but you can never fully take Northland out of the boy. I usually feel this relaxed after a week on a ship - here I have felt it within a few days. As the sun rose across the bay my convoy of friends in their own campers began to arrive and assemble at the cafe over the road from the surf. I barely had time to don a lava lava and brush off the sand before we met to sort out our route for today’s short drive to Matauri Bay. While it is only 30 kilometres north, it would take 2 1/2 hours by the time we had meandered through hills and dales and stopped for photos with a side trip down to Kerikeri and its historic Stone Store - New Zealand's oldest stone building. Once the bastion of orange groves and retired army majors, we find Kerikeri is now full of ex-Aucklanders, hobby farms and a myriad of choices for cafes and muffins. Even the old Mission house, New Zealand's oldest building set behind Stone Store, has been converted into a cafe with diners sitting below a canopy of grapevines as they sip their lattes and double soy mocha expressos above the meandering river and gentle waterfall. The landscape and road from here slowly gives way from undulating remains of orchards to rolling grazing fields and vistas of the coast and ocean beyond. At the top of the hill and entrance to Matauri Bay is a magnificent view of the abundant fishing grounds that signal the entrance to Whangaroa County. It was here that Reverend Samuel Marsden first met with Hongi Hika before traveling south to the Bay of Islands to establish New Zealand’s first mission station and here also,

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that the serene coastline hides part of New Zealand’s more recent and explosive history. Many of us Aucklanders remember 10 July 1985 when a Greenpeace ship was bombed in Auckland harbour by French saboteurs. The boom of the underwater explosion reverberated through our consciousness and exploded our naive belief that our isolation offered us immunity to international terrorism and the darker political forces that we could not appreciate at the time. I had an apartment overlooking the harbour in those days and the next morning was confronted by the wreck of the vessel visible from my window, a sight that permanently awakened in me, a hitherto unacknowledged appreciation of what Greenpeace was trying to achieve. After her demise, she was brought up to Matauri Bay and scuttled just off Motukawanui Island, the largest island of the Cavalli group, and now serves as a marine reserve and popular diving attraction. There is a memorial at the top of the hill at the end of the camping ground and a brass arrow points towards her position where she slowly dissolves, providing peace and sanctuary to the very marine mammals and fish that in life the ship was hoping to save. After we set up our vans on the waterfront we opted for a swim; the women prepared cocktails and nibbles - for we men had more important things to worry about as a BBQ meant fire and, that is mens’ work. My job for some reason was dessert. Fortunately I had started on a pav the day before - it’s amazing what you can make in a campervan oven given some Nina Simone music and a whisk. As another glorious Northland sun set, I had no idea why it took a pandemic for me to rediscover New Zealand’s beautiful coastline and give me appreciation of how lucky we are to be living here in Godzone. (ROSS THORBY)  PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT – URBAN DESIGN AND THE RMA MEDIUM DENSITY

LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: THE

The National Policy Statement – Urban Design and the RMA Medium Density Residential Standards Amendments have forced upon the Auckland Council and city ratepayers another time consuming and expensive planning process, the results of which have been presented for the usual brisk late-in-the piece public consultation ending 9 May. Auckland’s response to the government directive to intensify housing in the walkable catchments around transport hubs has produced a draft plan revisiting many of the issues and much debated solutions to the city’s housing supply crisis that were painstakingly addressed during the birth of the Auckland Unitary Plan. The council has the discretion to decide what qualifying matters can be applied for exemption from the legislative requirement to provide intensified housing. The Draft Plan, revealed in April, indicates infrastructure limitations - remember unswimmable beaches due to sewage overflow, devastating floods in the north west suburbs in 2021 - and environmental protections as well as a reduced classification of historic heritage and special character will be among the considerations. To properly assess the 21,000 homes which had previously been considered of 'special character' across the city, many of which are in the oldest central city suburbs, council undertook a house-by-house survey, only fifty percent of which was conducted physically, the rest completed in a desktop exercise utilizing google street view images. A matrix of scoring criteria was developed to determine each property’s grade in terms of special character, which may then be used as a qualifying matter. But post pandemic the world has somewhat changed. Hybrid working means more businesses are accommodating flexi, family-friendly work-from-home options, fewer people are facing the daily commute to the city centre and corporates are deserting their large commercial leases in favour of cheaper suburban office space. This will surely change the complexion of urban living in Auckland. Large offices may well be converted to accommodation and with the return of international students and tourists the central city could become a vibrant playground. The suburban villages will come alive too as citizens live and work closer to home. Given that thousands of New Zealanders look likely to seek fatter fortunes in Australia and offshore, housing market demand may soften further, and

when there are reputedly already 900,000 sites earmarked for development in the AUP, and according to reports some 40,000 investment properties sitting unoccupied, the supply demand equation is set to recalibrate. A trip on the northern or north western motorways to witness the scale of development at the greenfield fringes of the city seems to give lie to the idea that there is a shortage of housing. So is it the right kind of foresight for the intensified housing prescription imposed upon Auckland to transform many parts of our city ignoring existing distinctive cultural and historic character? When multi-storey terrace housing and apartments spring up in Arthur Street and Wood Street in Freemans Bay, as proposals to rezone those streets will allow as of right, it will be too late to save Ponsonby’s heritage. And will this deliver the first homes that young New Zealanders can afford, or more luxury harbour-view high rises that developers love? Swanson village at the rural fringe, with its rich horticultural heritage steeped in the values of Croatian settlers is set to be rezoned terrace housing and apartment because it is all within walkable distance of the historic railway station, the terminus of the Norwestern line. Do we dare look at what is proposed for our vital food production soils of Pukekohe? Now is the time to have your say about the draft plan. Study the maps and see how your street will be affected by zoning changes. Is the risk of pepper-potting of high rise apartments in character suburbs too much to swallow? Stressed services and infrastructure already struggles to deliver city wide. Are we putting the cart before the horse? Auckland Transport complains it is now out of funds to deliver the public transport solutions the city desperately needs. The Auckland Council has a short window to satisfy the government directive to deliver a plan for more housing. Residents must inject their views to ensure that the amenity we value is retained and the city is not a one-size-fits-all model, but a nuanced response to our diverse 21st century lifestyles, where sustainability, quality of life and community spirit can thrive. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

HELEN WHITE:

Labour List MP based in Auckland Central Living and working in our biggest city is not always financially easy. But one thing that has made life in Auckland a little less challenging in recent weeks is the Government's three month, half price fare initiative. Auckland Transport says the one million trips per week mark was reached in the first full week of April. The busiest day of the year was Thursday 7 April, with 175,774 trips - up nearly 20 percent on a fortnight earlier. Public transport is critically important to people on low incomes and to the future of our environment. And this Government will continue its subsidies. The impact and far reaching support the current half-priced subsidies for public transport have allowed cannot be underestimated. Both the focused tax cuts on the cost of petrol alongside half price fares targets the people who need the price drop the most. Large cities around the globe with world class public transport systems with high usage often report happier citizens. Environmentalists and urban planners have it that public transport helps cities reduce traffic congestion and the overall level of pollution. This means that if we use public transport, we'll be reducing congestion as well as pollution within and around our city. The war in Ukraine has caused prices at the pump to spike, on top of global inflation increases caused by the pandemic. While the current cost pressures aren’t forecast to last forever, we know these shocks are causing real pain for families right now. As part of a package to ease financial pressure and as already mentioned, the cost of public transport fares have been halved from April through to the end of June. The Government is also future-proofing Auckland's public transport system by choosing a partially-tunnelled light rail option from Auckland’s CBD to the airport and moving forward with an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. This is part of a linked-up vision for Auckland’s future. Light rail will integrate with other major infrastructure projects across Auckland, like the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, rapid transit to the North-West, the Auckland Rapid Transit Plan and Kāinga Ora Large Scale Projects. Light rail will

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

support Auckland’s economic recovery by creating thousands of jobs and helping communities get to and from our biggest employment centre easily. Importantly it’ll help Auckland to grow by reducing congestion and emissions, as well as supporting housing and intensification, with up to 66,000 new homes along the corridor; as well as creating up to 97,000 new jobs. An affordable and efficient public transport is also a big draw card for international visitors, who I am delighted to see are returning. Welcoming back international tourists is the next step in our recovery plan - and the latest figures show this plan is working. Our strong health response means New Zealand’s economy is recovering faster than almost anywhere in the world. Unemployment is at a record low, exports are up, GDP is growing, and debt levels are much lower than many other countries. This puts us in a solid position as we continue to drive our recovery. We’re also making sure we have the skilled workers our industries need to continue this momentum by expanding border exemptions for workers in key sectors like agriculture and tourism. I’m really looking forward to welcoming international tourists back to Auckland Central, so as we can showcase the hospitality our city is famous for. This is just the next step in our plan, but I know it will make a huge difference for our local businesses and our economy, as together, we continue to secure a strong recovery for everyone. (HELEN WHITE)  PN This article was written with funding from Parliamentary Services. www.facebook.com/HelenWhiteLabour www.labour.org.nz/helenwhite

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

KERRY LEE: ST

STEPHEN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FIRE

On 5 December 2020, Fire and Emergency services were called out to a massive blaze at the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Herne Bay. While it's been confirmed as a case of deliberate arson, the investigation is still ongoing. Despite CCTV footage of someone in the area at the time of the fire, police have no suspects.

they respond, so a fire can really affect them." Estimates put repairing Steve at $250,000, but the Reverend hoped that eventually, St Stephen's would be able to restore him to his original working state.

Church leader Reverend Grant Ridout described a male in their 40s who seemed to be in an area where they had no business. He felt the attack was quite brazen, as it happened while a children's birthday party was going on nearby, in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.

Despite the tragedy, perhaps the best part of what's come out of this mess has been how the wider Herne Bay and Ponsonby area have come together in support of St Stephen's. Rev. Ridout explained that despite what's happened, it's made them closer.

Forensics showed that the fire had started in an air vent underneath the floor, underneath a hollow corner that acted like a chimney. This helped funnel the fire up into the roof, where it really took off. While thankfully no one was hurt, 'Steve the Organ,' the church's 112-year-old pipe organ, was damaged in the fire. It had recently undergone a restoration and had been given heritage one status. Unfortunately, Steve suffered water and heat damage which warped some of its pipes. "Some of the organ's pipes are quite delicate, and even slight fluctuations in the weather or temperature can change how

"Not that fires a good thing, but good things have come of it. There's a greater sense of unity and purpose; our congregation have been brilliant. We've had so much support from the wider community that we've raised almost $150,000 without even trying, thanks to them." As for when St Stephen's will be back up and running, I was told that while there was still a lot of work and fundraising to do before that could happen, they hoped that they could reopen by Christmas of 2023. (KERRY LEE)  PN Donations are greatly appreciated, and anyone interested can find their restoration account number on St Stephen's website, at www.ststephensponsonby.org.nz

CRANE BROTHERS COMES TO PONSONBY ROAD Last month’s opening of Crane Brothers, the new menswear store in Three Lamps. With their winter range on the racks we know this new store will be very popular with locals. Pictured: Robert Niwa (the store manager) and Murray Crane (the head honcho). Welcome back to Ponsonby.

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LOCAL NEWS

Ponsonby Park - MAY UPDATE Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, will soon take the next step towards its realisation of becoming an inclusive, multi-use and all-weather civic space, when design and planning work commences on 1 July 2022. This will involve the generation of detailed plans for the International award-winning Park+ concept design by LandLAB. Stage One of the development will then physically begin, with spades in the ground, on 1 July 2023. Brilliant!

the local businesses but both our national and international visitors too. Ponsonby Park will be a wonderful attractor to the area and will provide both the amenity that Ponsonby needs and the community heart it deserves.

It has been 22 years since the need for the civic space was first identified in 2000, and 16 years since the site at 254 Ponsonby Road (currently Liquor King) was purchased to remedy this open space shortfall. It was nine years ago in 2013 that a petition with over 1200 signatures (calling for the retention of the whole site for the civic space) was presented to the Waitematā Local Board, the result of which was the establishment of the volunteer Community-Led Design group that has been working hard to achieve this community amenity since then.

To this end, we will once again be seeking your input. In our next update we’ll start the process and provide ways for you to give us your insights and ideas for Ponsonby Park as the design stage progresses.

So we are delighted that the transformation of the neglected and shabby site at 254 Ponsonby Road into an energised and beautiful civic space for everyone to enjoy will soon be underway. This will benefit not only the local residents and

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

2022 is the year that Ponsonby Park (finally) commences and we now all look forward to the development of this much-needed and long-awaited community space being underway. Thank you again, for all of your ongoing and sustained support for Ponsonby Park. Bring it on! (JENNIFER WARD)  PN For further information please see our www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

Or our Facebook page: Ponsonby Park.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

THE BORDERS ARE OPENING – IS YOUR SPARE ROOM UP TO IT? At long last the angst of having offshore family and friends unable to visit and stay for a while is coming to an end. While you’re clearing a path through all the things you’ve managed to stow in the spare room over the last couple of years, now may be the perfect time to consider upgrading the spare bed. With that in mind we’d suggest you consider our Sleepmaker Sutton range. Available as a mattress only or complete Bedset (mattress and base) the Sutton offers the ‘no partner disturbance’ benefit of pocket springs and comfort edge support, along with selected comfort layers including Pure New Zealand Wool, all at a price that won’t break the bank. Manufactured in New Zealand by our largest bed producer the Sutton comes with a 10 year warranty and is available as a Queen Size mattress from $999.00 or Bedset from $1299.00. Other sizes are also available. With a choice of six colours for the upholstered base your Sutton Bedset can be co-ordinated with your room tones to give the best visual effect. If desired, your consultant at Bedpost can also offer a comprehensive range of New Zealand made and imported headboard designs with style, fabric, and colour options.

Giving your guests the benefit of a good night’s sleep may be just the tonic they need. Now is the perfect time to talk with us about the Sutton range and the various options available. Your guests will thank you for it.

BEDPOST NEWMARKET, 27 Crowhurst Street, T: 09 520 2221, E: newmarket@bedpost.co.nz

YOUR GUESTS WILL THANK YOU! Experience the comfort and sleep benefits of a Sleepmaker ‘SUTTON’ pocket spring bed. AVAILABLE NOW from Bedpost in Newmarket from $1299.00 Queen Bedset. MATTRESS ONLY from $999.00 Queen Size. Other sizes available. Offer for a limited time.

Bedpost Newmarket, 27 Crowhurst Street, Newmarket. P: 520-2221 E: newmarket@bedpost.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Sarita from Ayurveda New Zealand

HELENE RAVLICH:

CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL HOSPO HEROES

It’s been said before and it will most definitely be said again: the past two years have created a scenario that we could never have planned for—and the pandemic's impact on the local hospitality scene has been monumental. Favourite dining spots and bars have been forced to close, whilst others have pivoted (to use a well-worn cliché) to a whole new business model. In order to celebrate and highlight our own local hospitality heroes, we asked some of our favourite local people to name their top picks from around our inner central neighbourhood. Read on, take note, and get planning that next date now. Sarita Solvig Blankenburg is an Ayurvedic medicine

practitioner and yoga therapist, and the founder of Ayurveda New Zealand and the Sattva Botanicals brand. She works with private clients from her Freeman’s Bay clinic, and also recently hosted her first Panchakarma retreat on Kawau Island, which I was lucky enough to attend. Naturally, Little Bird in Summer Street is one of the glowingwith-health local’s favourite spots, “because the food is perfectly in line with my preferred diet; it's fresh, organic, locally sourced and super delicious. All the raw cakes

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

and treats are to die for and my fave hot drink is spicy hot chocolate with hazelnut milk and pinch of chilli”. She adds that “during lockdown we lived off all our favourite Little Bird dishes and ordered them in. It kept us afloat!” When it comes to family lunches and brunches, Sarita loves Foxtrot Parlour in Ponsonby Central, saying: “we all love sitting outside in the alley socialising with all the locals, having a chat to the owner and friendly staff. Our favourite dish is the Akaroa salmon on seeded bread. My husband enjoys his coffee and my kids their hot chocolate. All the bakery treats are pretty delicious too." Family dinners are often at Prego, where the “buzzing vibe, friendly staff and delicious food always makes for a special experience. When the weather is nice, we love sitting outside on their veranda. It has a bit of a European atmosphere which I personally enjoy coming originally from Germany”.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Sarah Lindsay is the woman behind the boutique fitness studio known as SALA on Brown Street, which offers everything from (what I believe to be) the city’s best barre classes to yoga, HIIT Pilates, strength training and more.

Lately Sarah has been loving trips to Beau, “where they’ve managed to cultivate an environment which feels intimate and unpretentious. It serves equally as cosy date night spot or your cool local for a catch up with friends. The food is also really, really good”. Her pick for after work drinks is The Cork Gin & Whiskey on Mackelvie Street, saying: “I love that it feels like it could be on an East London back alley, with a wide range of spirits and an eclectic clientele. It has a really good atmosphere.” When it comes to Italian, she and her husband’s go-to of choice is Ponsonby News favourite Gusto Italiano. “It’s super affordable, great Italian, with an unpretentious atmosphere and delicious pizza. Perfect!” Eddie Reid is the man at the helm of Reid Property Services, a leading property services company that works in the Ponsonby, Herne Bay, Grey Lynn and Central Auckland area. As a long-time local, his favourite dinner spot for over 20 years is Prego, which Eddie likens to going to a friend's place for dinner. "It’s friendly, welcoming and fun. The staff make you feel like they have just seen you the day before, and take a drinks order right away - my favourite part! The menu is to die for, and I love that some of the dishes have been on the menu since the beginning. I love the Filleto - chargrilled eye fillet, potato thyme gratin, café de Paris butter and port wine jus. Or when I'm feeling like seafood, I go for the linguine alla marinara with prawns, mussels, cockles, tuna, white wine, garlic and chilli.”

Sarah Lindsay

One of Eddie’s newest discoveries is Broken Lantern, which stripped away the decor of Little Easy that previously occupied the space. “It takes on dark tones, with exposed brick walls and chesterfield-type sofas being a mainstay in the seating areas, making it very cosy and welcoming. The menu has a Spanish influence with very creative sharing plates matched with bespoke cocktails. I also highly recommend the mac and cheese croquettes, cheeseburger springrolls and three cheese pizza.” One of the city fringe’s top real estate agents, Barfoot & Thompson Ponsonby’s Matt O’Brien knows the neighbourhood like the back of his hand. His favourite café is the always awesome Archie on Ponsonby Road, “where I go for my daily coffee and sensational bagels, and great service from the super friendly Archie crew! I also can’t go without a regular visit to my old tried and tested for 20 years, Dizengoff. I still can't go past the sausages and eggs or stevie scram! If it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

Eddie Reid

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Bella, Matt and Bobby O'Brien

Matt says that he’s not found in bars so much these days, “but I like Hoppers for the great mixture of people. There’s always a good crowd and it’s never a dull scene. And when the sun's out I still love a good cider at Chapel!” His favourite local restaurant is “Yuzu, which is always consistent and has great food, and a nice friendly atmosphere. I can't go past my Japanese obsession. I lived in Japan when I was in my twenties, so wasabi is in the blood! I still love Mekong Baby and Blue Breeze though; quality Asian fusion is another culinary obsession.” Jooles Clements is Head of Brand Experience and Business

Development at Auckland Zoo/Te Whare Kararehe o Tamaki Makaurau. Another long-time local, his favourite place for a special dinner or date night is “Ponsonby Bistro, and we’ve even got a favourite table (as long as Hamish Keith doesn’t beat us to it!). "I have it on good authority that the entire menu is delicious but I don’t seem to be able to order anything other than the eye fillet steak and chips. We don’t eat much red meat at home so this is a rare treat and they prepare it perfectly!” For family dinners he says, "it can be a bit more challenging as our son, Wolf, is coeliac. He does have a couple of favourite spots – Satya and Hidden Village – both of which do great gluten-free options. My uncle was born in Darjeeling and I grew up in the UK eating the most delicious curries that he would make, so Satya is definitely a favourite of mine for dining in or taking away.” In normal times he says he’d buy his coffees at “the Wetapunga café at work before the rush of visitors starts, but like most people I’ve been working from home a lot more in the past couple of years. As a result, Archie on Ponsonby Road has filled the void and they do make a fantastic cup of coffee!” (HELENE RAVLICH)  PN

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

Jooles Clements

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

FACES @ GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET Winnie Lenihan can be found shopping at Grey Lynn Farmers Market on most Sunday mornings. How long have you lived in Grey Lynn?

Decades! I flatted in Firth Street when I was a student nurse. Then, after living in different parts of the city, we moved to Cox’s Bay with our (then) young children and we’ve been here ever since. Did the lockdowns affect your view about the neighbourhood?

Absolutely. It made me appreciate where we live - how lucky we are to know and like our neighbours. We are so fortunate to have lots of parks and cycling routes. And nearby Kelmarna Gardens is an incredible resource right in the middle of the city. You have been very involved in the market. How did that happen?

At the start of Grey Lynn 2030, I joined the group that was keen to start a Farmers Market and we had many meetings at our place in the lead up to the market opening. What is Grey Lynn 2030?

Grey Lynn 2030 (GL2030) is an umbrella entity that enables community-led initiatives to reduce our environmental impact. The local business association and the monthly carboot market started as GL2030 projects. You were also involved in another GL2030 project.

Yes - Lynn Green started the Waste Away group to reduce waste in our community. We did some interesting things - we started a stall at the market where we offered ideas regarding reducing waste including; composting, worm farms, and bokashi bins which were a new concept at the time. Lynn still operates a table at the market encouraging people to think about low waste ways of living. Is that what led you to rejoin the market committee?

Partly. Zero-waste was always part of the market vision and a passion of mine. However, I was also keen to encourage people to cycle locally and to the market. During my second stint on the community, I organised some events to show people how easy and how fun it can be to cycle as transport. How did you get into cycling?

I grew up in Christchurch so my family always cycled. It gave me the independence to go where I wanted when I wanted.

When my Mum died, my sister and I bought our first electric bikes to honour her memory, and I have upgraded a few times since then. Is a bike really that practical for shopping?

Any bike is a great way to get around but I find an electric bike extremely practical. It smooths out the hills and I can usually park my bike right outside shops. It’s brilliant for parking at the market. The secret is to have good panniers. I have a pannier bag that unclips easily from my bike to become a roomy shopping bag and I just clip it back on my bike when I’m ready to leave - usually when it is overflowing with market goodies. Tell me about the next bike event at the market.

During May, Bike Auckland will provide bike valet parking at the market. Every Sunday in May, the first 50 people who bike to the market will get a $5 voucher to spend that day at any market stall. It will be a super easy and secure opportunity for people to try cycling to the market. We couldn’t do this without the support of the Auckland Transport Bike Fund thanks Auckland Transport. Have you got some good tips on nice places to cycle in Grey Lynn?

My partner, Gordon, and I will show people some of the best local bike routes when we lead a bike ride from the market at 11:00 am on Sunday 8 May - leaving from the bike valet tent. We have done that for previous bike events and it is always a fun way to meet some other locals and explore some local paths. Bike Grey Lynn is also leading some bike rides on Wednesdays and Saturdays during May.  PN

GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET @ the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road, www.greylynnfarmersmarket.co.nz

Ride your bike to the Farmers Market in May and grab a $5 voucher to spend at your favourite stall. 58 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

THE GOOD OLD SUNDAY ROAST AT DIDAS IS BACK AND JUST IN TIME FOR MOTHER’S DAY Family, a roaring fireplace, and fond memories are all things you’ll find in abundance at Didas on Jervois Road. And just in time for Mother’s Day Dida’s Sunday Roast is back. Looking at the overwhelming feedback on Lazy Susan last year it seems we are not alone in thinking that our Sunday roasts look and taste amazing. “Dida’s on Jervois Rd have started doing Sunday roasts! Beyond awesome, I would highly recommend!” “I love a top-notch roast. This look like it will rival Jervois steak house, and theirs is very decent too.” “I think I'm going to see how many roasts I can eat over winter.” “Very very impressive! Lovely take on a traditional roast amongst an overabundance of average “roast palaces”

scattered throughout Auckland. Can’t wait to come and try it out!” “Yeah, it’s Brussel sprouts cooked with bacon. Yum! You can’t see them well, but there’s also a pile of roast carrots and pumpkin in the middle of the board.” Sunday roasts or Sunday dinner form part of culture in many countries, including New Zealand. Whatever form it took or takes today, we all generally have a story about a Sunday roast; generally accompanied by fond memories. Booking is required so pop us a message via Facebook or Instagram, phone, or email. We will reserve your spot and look forward to seeing you soon.  PN

DIDA’S, 60 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2813, www.didaswinelounge.co.nz

Sunday r o as t s ar e b ack! 60 JERVOIS RD

(0 9) 376 2 813

DIDAS.CO.NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS:

VEGAN VIBE - BALI NIGHTS Back in 2020 pre-pandemic days, we had a trip to Bali planned, booked and paid for. We had researched all the best vegan places to eat and had even booked into a vegan cooking school to learn the tips and tricks of this delicious cuisine. Of course we all know what happened, and like so many, we have large credits with Air New Zealand and dreams of future travels that we await to go on. Bringing a bit of Bali to Auckland though is Bali Nights on Williamson Avenue, which makes you wish travelling to Bali itself was much easier. A fun, bright and welcoming atmosphere greets and encourages vegan friends to ‘come chill’ at Bali Nights assuring that they will not miss out. Serving Indonesian street food delicacies with a Balinese twist, almost half of their menu is vegan, making it ridiculously hard to pick what to order. We asked our waiter for help and he recommended Sayur Pacel, Gorengan Platter, Nasi Goreng Vegan and Nasi Campur Vegan to give us a good overview. First up was the Gorengan Platter which gave us a little taster of what was to come. The tempeh served on this dish was like no other I’d had before. It had umami flavours, the perfect texture and stood out without the sambal - although that was equally delicious as a pairing. I too rate the Nasi Campur highly - consisting mainly of jackfruit rendang, sayur urap (steamed salad with spiced grated coconut) and orek tempe with sambal bawang. The

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

elements on the dish were different to the others we had tried and packed with fresh flavour. The jackfruit rendang and sayur urap were able to impress me even as someone who is not an avid fan of dried coconut. While the Nasi Goreng was classic and well done, the Sayur Pecel was my personal favourite - a warm Javanese salad with an addictive pecel peanut sauce. Unlike many restaurants and their vegan offerings, Bali Nights does not use any fake meats - preferring to focus on tofu, tempeh and jackfruit. As someone who much prefers eating wholefoods and less processed foods, as a vegan this was something I was happy to see. Seeing places, especially those that are not solely vegan, celebrating vegetables and what Earth already has to offer in a way that brings such justice to the produce, is delightful. “You just gotta know how to work the earth, the world doesn’t need more machines making fake things.” We wanted to try a lot and ordered way too much knowing that the food would work well as takeaways. Other people seemed to know too, judging by the steady stream of Uber Eats pick-ups. And we were right - they made delicious lunch leftovers the next day. (SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS)  PN www.facebook.com/balinightsnz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

CELEBRATING NZ MUSIC MONTH AT GLENGARRY We're joining in the celebration of New Zealand's surging music scene, still alive and kicking despite everything the last two years have thrown at it. Two key partners behind all this, Framingham and Tito's, both of whom have a long association with MusicHelps. This year is no different, with both companies donating a portion of the sale of each bottle to the charity. Through their grants programme , MusicHelps have invested with partners in projects from Whangarei to Invercargill, all using the power of music to change the lives of tens of thousands of New Zealanders in need. They have provided emergency assistance to hundreds of Kiwi music people experiencing hardship and illness through their Backline suite of services, including a professional online, on-the-phone and face-to face counselling service tailored to people who make live and recorded music possible. Partnering with skilled clinicians, MusicHelps support projects in healthcare, including music therapy, and initiatives that engage with youth from troubled backgrounds.

They provide assistance through their benevolent fund and their professional wellbeing and counselling service to Kiwi music people from all parts of the music industry who are experiencing illness, distress and hardship. They need your support: musichelps.org.nz Make the choice and tune into New Zealand Music this month. All Glengarry stores will be listening.  PN www.glengarry.co.nz/nzmusicmonth

TITO'S - PROUD SPONSORS OF

NZ MUSIC MONTH

SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS

WW W. G LENG ARR Y.C O .N Z | P : 08 00 7 3 3 5 05 | E : SA LE S@GLE NGA RRY. CO. NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

PHIL PARKER:

SOME VERY INDIVIDUAL WINES THIS MONTH First up, a stunning rosé from Matakana’s Heron’s Flight family winery. Then three premium wines from North Canterbury’s Pegasus Bay. Finally, four hearty Australian reds from the Taylors Estate range, grown in Clare Valley and Limestone Coast cool climate regions of south-eastern Australia. Heron’s Flight Matakana Dolcetto Rosato 2020 - $28

Vibrant fuchsia pink colour. Aromas of red summer berries and a palate of sour cherry, pomegranate, watermelon and plum. Rich and vibrant with a hint of sweetness and a crisp slightly spritzy finish. Great match for antipasto and as an aperitif. Available: www.heronsflight.co.nz Pegasus Bay Virtuoso North Canterbury Chardonnay 2019 - $65

If you’re a fan of the ‘reductive’ style of chardonnay, this is the wine for you. It’s a funky as James Brown in a red velvet jumpsuit. The wine sat on yeast residue for 12 months in a 500 litre French barrel before bottling. On the nose, there’s a big hit of struck match. The palate is very dry with flavours of ripe grapefruit, lime zest and yeasty brioche. Good food match for a rich and creamy chicken, seafood, or pasta dish. Available: Fine Wine Delivery Co, www.pegasusbay.com Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Chardonnay 2019 - $45

Similarly in the funky style but not quite as punchy as the Virtuoso. Toasty oak, grapefruit marmalade and nectarine with a long tangy finish. Food matches – as for Virtuoso. Available: www.blackmarket.co.nz, www.pegasusbay.com Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Aged Release Riesling 375ml 2012 - $40

A lovely dessert style riesling made from late picked grapes

with a portion affected by ‘noble rot’. Sweetness is balanced with a complex palate of honey, beeswax, tinned pineapple, and lychee. 12.5% alcohol. Food match - cheese board with dried fruit. Available: Caro’s, www.pegasusbay.com Taylors Estate Merlot 2020 - $16

Coming from a cooler climate than adjacent South Australia regions such as the Barossa, these wines clock in at about 14.5% alcohol and are led by fruit flavours rather than the stonkingly high alcohol you would usually associate with Aussie reds. This merlot is soft and has medium tannins, with flavours of cassis, liquorice and blackberry and a hint of black olive. Would be a fab match for a venison casserole or spaghetti puttanesca. Available: widely. Taylors Estate Tempranillo 2020 - $16

Softer than the merlot. Spiced plum, black cherry, cassis, liquorice, fruitcake, red berry fruits and medium tannins. Match with beef dishes or spicy tomato-rich lasagne. Available: widely. Taylors Estate Clare Shiraz 2019 - $16

Spent 12 months in American oak, medium style with cigar box, mocha, cherry, black pepper and a hint of eucalyptus. Match with beef dishes or spicy ratatouille. Available: widely. Taylors Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 - $16

The biggest of the four wines, this has the typical cabernet minty palate, with boysenberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, and hint of dustiness. My food suggestion – lamb, or a rich tomato vege lasagne. Available: widely. (PHIL PARKER)  PN

FINE WINE & FOOD TOURS “No. 2 Auckland Wine Tour” – TripAdvisor Your host, Phil Parker wine writer. Affordable tours for small and large groups.

E: phil.parker@xtra.co.nz

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY Photography Kate Battersby

210 SYMONDS STREET T: 09 377 1911 www.sidatthefrenchcafe.co.nz sidatthefrenchcafe

SIDART, Level 1, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz

- Gusto Italiano GUSTO MEANING ‘TASTE AND ENJOYMENT’

Photography Greta Kenyon

When you dine with us, the focus is on freshly prepared classic dishes, featuring an excellent range of pasta, seafood, meats and our pizza classics.

We also offer our pasta dishes to takeaway, phone for details or check our website for the menu. 263 PONSONBY RD, THREE LAMPS, 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

TADHG STOPFORD:

MORE FAKE NEWS FROM MINISTRY OF HEALTH THC kills cancer, but MoH says THC can kill you. As Bill Murray says, “the most dangerous thing about cannabis is getting caught with it.” But, for the thirtieth year in a row, on Saturday 7 May, from‘‘high noon’ until 4:20pm, 00s-000s of Kiwis will publicly consume THC cannabis in Albert Park in an amiable atmosphere of music civil disobedience. It is the 30th such annual event; and unlike many booze fuelled events, it has never been marred by violence or injury. This suggests that cannabis is wrongly included in the Misuse of Drugs Act, which requires a “high to very high risk of harm” for inclusion. Most of us realise that cannabis prohibition is based on lies and if you haven't watched “Reefer Madness” google it! But few of us realise it’s maintained by an arguably criminal conspiracy of politicians, regulators, and academics. Misinformation from trusted sources is key, and the Ministry of Health has just published another doozy. The source documents are here: www.drive.google.com/ drive/folders/1XJwJiNzRcAWUB3IoG5sD8L9VKCaYbNd1 In a bizarre example of ‘evidence based medicine’, the Ministry of Health is telling doctors that 15 grams of THC is a “theoretical lethal dose”. The idea that THC can kill humans is ludicrous. But it’s one of several major errors of fact in MoHs recent “Overview of medicinal cannabis for health practitioners”.

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

The truth is this: When scientists tried to kill monkeys and dogs with oral doses of THC, they failed. They did manage to kill some rats and mice with large doses, but generally speaking rats and mice dosed with THC “lived longer than controls” …due to their lack of cancer. Even when giving them nine grams of THC per kilogram bodyweight, scientists could not kill monkeys. That suggests a 100kg human could SAFELY consume 300-900 grams (0.30.9 Kilograms) of THC. In support of this, the current world record for human THC consumption is 33 grams. That’s more than double MoHs "theoretical lethal dose". So why is MoH telling doctors that 15 grams THC is a theoretical lethal dose? Is it ignorance, incompetence, or what? Their ‘science’ makes no sense. When examined, it is clearly propaganda/misinformation. When they aren’t making stuff up, they misinterpret it. (Journalists, see the file above and email any Q’s) This is misinformation cloaked in the illusion of evidence. It is more fake news from government. Who benefits? Join us. Let’s improve things. PN (TADHG STOPFORD)  www.thehempfoundation.org.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

WINTER SELF-CARE As long as this last summer’s been, it’s inevitable; we’re coming up to winter, when the rainy season sets in. While the mercury rarely takes a dive into minus territory, having less sunshine – which regulates our circadian rhythm – can create metabolic changes that affect our mood and general wellbeing. As our bodies make less of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, and more melatonin, we can feel more sleepy, lethargic and a bit blue. It’s a time we need a little extra selflove and self-care.

Pamper properly

Keep a stock of pamper products, like scrubs, bath salts, masks, and lotions at the ready, to create an impromptu spa session at home. If you’re lucky enough to have a bath at home, try taking a long soak with magnesium-rich Epsom salts to soothe cold, tired muscles and joints.

Here are three super simple self-care tips to help you get through a rainy Auckland winter.

When you emerge, slather on nourishing body care like Ecostore’s Extra Moisturising Body Lotion and Hand Cream, applying Moisturising Body Butter to feet (and pop on a pair of thick socks). A Beeswax Lip Balm is great to keep winter lips smooth and cared for too.

Good day sunshine

Help yourself to hygge

With sunlight more limited, it’s important to absorb as much of it as possible – to get a regular, vital dose of Vitamin D, which boosts the mood, supports immune function and helps keep bones healthy.

Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian term that means creating a warm, convivial atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with people you love. Get cosy with woolly blankets and knitwear.

Try to get outdoors each day for some fresh air and sunlight (Auckland weather permitting). And simply moving, stretching, and walking can energise and soothe your body when it’s cold out. Naturally, some days you’ll want to hibernate, and that’s okay too. A big part of self-care is cutting ourselves some slack.

Try a new baking recipe that fills the house with the scent of vanilla, chocolate or spices. Create a playlist with music that makes you happy. Plan a pyjama party with old friends and old movies. Make art, journal or learn to play an instrument whatever helps you feel good.

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

FUTURE GENERATION

HONOUR MITCHELL: Autumn

Attire

Leaves are falling and the air is getting crisper. Tans are fading and, thankfully, so is the sunburn. Get ready folks… It's officially autumn and soon winter will be here. For some it is a sad realisation, but I love autumn. It is my favourite season. Perhaps the biggest reason I love the cool change so much is, well, the fashion! Long pants and warm jumpers are just my 'cup of Earl Grey'. I'm more than ready to bring out the winter woollies and pack away the bikinis. If you're feeling a bit unsure about how to augment your winter wardrobe, don’t fear, I'm here - guiding and providing you with excellent advice on three key trends: Fab Flares

I am going to be honest - I'm a jeans girl, always have been. And I will continue to adore jeans forevermore. Right now there are countless options and an extraordinary array of styles to choose from. My current obsession is flared jeans. I know some of the older readers will be cringing at this point… the 70s are back in style! Well believe it because I sure do. Rollas' Eastcoast Flares are a must have. They are so flattering, comfy and pretty groovy, if I do say so myself. I am thankful to own two pairs! Both are corduroy (I know, more cringing). I own the lavender cord and vanilla cord. The vanilla cord is a creamish colour (a key shade this season) and I literally wear them with everything because they are so versatile, spice up my outfits and add a bit of flair (ha, get it?). The lavender cord is more of a statement pant and coincidentally always draws compliments. If you feel that your jean game needs a boost, I encourage you to invest in a pair of Rollas Eastcoast Flares pronto. They have a generous selection of interesting colours, so take your pick! And if you are lucky you may be able to do some digging in the back of your mum's closet to find a ‘vintage pair’ of flares. This

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worked a like a charm for me - I uncovered a 20 year old pair purchased in Paris! Toasty Turtlenecks

My second “must-have" is a cosy, knit jumper, specifically turtlenecks. I used to always think this type of high-neck style was such a ‘grandma look’ but I have come to realise that a chunky turtleneck can turn a boring outfit into an admirable one. Plus it's bang on trend, especially if you choose a cropped design. Recently I purchased an electric blue version from Zara. It is so cosy and keeps my neck nice and toasty. Normally I go for paler colours in my jumpers, but bright, fun colours are making a splash right now and they bring a burst of happiness to the dull winters. Turtlenecks also provide a sense of elegance and make you appear more put-together and mature (think Audrey Hepburn or Lady Diana). Step out of your comfort zone and try out a snuggly and fashionable form of this classic. Sensational Scarves

Another neck warmer is the dependable scarf! Not only is it a practical accessory but a stylish one if you invest in a statement piece. They are so easy to quickly throw on if it's a bit chilly and they are the icing on the cake for a basic outfit. Personally, I think scarves are immensely underrated. Picture French and Italian chic in your head and you’ll be dashing out to commence your scarf hunt. Cotton On has $20 scarves that come in pretty, aesthetic, designs. I have a newly-purchased one proudly hanging in my wardrobe. Also, I am planning on knitting my own (here's hoping that turns out well). So if you aren’t quite ready to buy your own scarf you can DIY, just like me. (HONOUR MITCHELL)  PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

SUPPORT WHERE STUDENTS NEED IT MOST There has been a lot of publicity lately around the poor educational achievement of Kiwi children, particularly in maths, such that an expert panel has now been set up by the Ministry of Education to look at the problem. The latest report on children's literacy in New Zealand, ‘Now I Don’t Know My ABC’, reveals a current crisis in the level of children’s reading and writing. Parents who know their children can’t wait for things to improve nationally are looking at after-school tuition to ensure their children have all they need with the basics of maths and English. NumberWorks’nWords provides fun, confidencebuilding tuition that delivers great results. It is individually tailored to each child’s specific needs, and parents are kept updated on their child’s progress. “With maths, we give students individual help to better understand a strategy they are learning at school, so they are equipped to solve number problems,” says centre owner, Michelle Buckley. A comprehensive free initial assessment provides an opportunity for parents to meet the team, discover how their child is going, collaborate on learning goals, and see for themselves how effective and enjoyable tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords is. NumberWorks’nWords knows teachers work hard, and they look forward to some systemic changes that will increase the attainment of all New Zealand children. In the meantime, NumberWorks’nWords tutors provide encouraging, timely and clear instructions that re-engage children in a way that is inspiring, challenging and fun to help your child thrive. Phone NumberWorks’nWords on 09 360 0816 for an initial discussion, E: greylynn@numberworks.com, or visit numberworksnwords.com/nz to learn more about maths and English tuition with NumberWorks’nWords. NUMBERWORKS’NWORDS, 316 Richmond Road, T: 09 360 0816, www.NumberWorksnWords.com/nz PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

FUTURE GENERATION

I Love Lucy Book Review: The Secret History - Donna Tartt - 14+ “Death is the mother of beauty,” said Henry. “And what is beauty?” “Terror.” When Richard Papen joins an exclusive class of intelligent, wealthy and like-minded students at his 1980s New England college, he feels fantastic. He is learning classics, studying ancient Greek, and is finally becoming the person he aspires to be - but things quickly go south. The students he studies alongside include an eclectic and alluring bunch - Camilla and Charles MacCauley, blonde twins shouldering a harrowing secret; Henry Winter, a distant and detached genius; angular and elegant Francis Abernathy; and Bunny Corcoran, who is loud, bubbly and prone to borrowing copious amounts of cash, as well as annoying everyone around him. Under the influence of their elitist and highly selective teacher, Julian Morrow, the gang separate themselves from the rest of the college. As they cross moral boundaries their lives are changed forever as they embark on a dark voyage from children to adulthood. This book is my ideal novel. It's incredibly well researched, written with care and an air of sophistication, with characters so interesting that you miss them when you finish the book. Reading The Secret History takes over your life - I would hurry home from school to play classical music and read this book, dreaming of ivy-covered walls and battered textbooks - it’s fully captivating. When you read The Secret History, you begin to feel the same hunger for knowledge felt by the characters inspiring me to begin learning Latin. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves learning, is looking to rekindle a love of literature, or who feels that they are in a reading slump. The Secret History will not let you rest until you have turned the last page. (LUCY KENNEDY)  PN  out of 5! www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @lucykennedyreviews

LET PONSONBY NEWS READERS KNOW ABOUT YOUR BRAND… ADVERTISING RATES START AT $235+GST Email info@ponsonbynews.co.nz www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BE MORE THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED Riya Raniga Future Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage

How will your daughter make her mark? Every student deserves the chance to shine. Our Arts Centre offers a professional level experience, with purpose built spaces for music, dance, drama and a specialised recording studio. The addition of our 910 seat auditorium makes Dio the perfect place to take centre stage. Join us at our Open Day and experience the world-class opportunities awaiting your daughter at Dio.

Open Day 14 May, 1pm – 3pm

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

LOGAN GRANGER:

NEW DISCLOSURE RULES FOR TRUSTS As some readers may be aware, in December 2020 the government enacted new disclosure requirements for domestic trusts, effective from the 2022 tax year onwards. The purpose of this is so the government can gain insight into the effectiveness of the new highest individual tax rate, being 39% for individuals who earn $180,000 or more. As well as this, it will enable the government to better understand and monitor the use of structures and entities by trustees. Currently, income retained in a trust is taxed at 33%, with no further income tax imposed if this income is subsequently distributed to a beneficiary who might be on the new highest marginal tax rate of 39%. Under these new disclosure rules, Inland Revenue will have complete visibility over how trusts are being used to fund annual capital distributions from income taxed at the lower trust tax rate. The government will be using this information collected to decide on whether the trustee tax rate should also be increased to 39%. What are the implications of these new requirements?

For most trusts, there is now a legislative requirement to prepare financial statements for tax purposes to a minimum standard. It is also necessary to disclose a lot of detailed information about settlements, settlors, and distributions to Inland Revenue as part of filing the annual trust tax return. It sounds simple in theory, but there is no doubt these measures will increase compliance costs for most trusts. We note in the regulatory impact statement, officials admit they “have limited understanding of the compliance costs that trusts will face with the increased disclosure requirements and how large the costs will be”. After a period of public consultation there has been some improvements to the minimum financial statement proposals, but in our view this does not significantly reduce the amount of information that all trusts need to disclose when filing their tax returns. Currently, we are still waiting for Inland Revenue to release its final operational guidance on how to apply the rules. Is your trust excluded from the new rules?

First, it is important to note that not all trusts are caught by these rules. Trustees should first check if they qualify to be excluded from these rules as this will save considerably angst. The largest category that will be exempt are non-active trusts.

Logan Granger, Ponsonby Office

Typically trusts holding the family home, with no income and expenditure will be considered non-active. All trustees in this situation should review whether their trust is non-active and speak to their accounting advisor about filing an IR633 (nonactive) declaration if not already done. The other trusts that are excluded from these rules include foreign trusts, charitable trusts, trusts that choose to be a Maori Authority, trusts that are widely held superannuation funds and lines trusts. Filing the trust tax return and making disclosures. The next task for trustees is to file various disclosures of all settlements, settlors, distributions, and those with the power of appointment via the IR6 and IR6B forms, which we understand have been redesigned to collect all the new information now required. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, the final guidance on the specific information required has not been released. However, what we do know is that accountants will be asking for a lot more information from their trustee clients this year! (LOGAN GRANGER)  PN Disclaimer – While all care has been taken, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.

JOHNSTON ASSOCIATES, 14 St Marys Bay Road, T: 09 361 6701, www.jacal.co.nz

14 St Marys Bay Road, St Marys Bay

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

NEWS FROM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Kia ora koutou. We are excited to be back in business in our offices in the Grey Lynn Community Centre in Richmond Road. Our volunteers have been working remotely since the August 2021 lockdown and are very happy to be back. Full face to face service started this month, including most of our specialist clinics - Justices of the Peace, family law and budgeting. Our opening hours are still a little flexible, so give us a call first to see when we are open. At present we require a vaccination pass to come into CAB but we do have ways to assist if you are not vaccinated. I would like to introduce myself as the new manager of the Grey Lynn/Ponsonby Branch. My name is Lucette Hindin and I have transferred from Ōrākei-Remuera branch of CAB where I worked for two years. This branch is closer to my home in Morningside and I am enjoying the walk over and getting to know the West Lynn area. My background is quite diverse, including work in theatre, adult education, libraries, events, community development, and most recently, managing a retreat centre. Alongside my part time role at CAB, I make and sell meditation cushions and embroidery art. I was interested to read in the April issue of Ponsonby News the focus on the growth of apartment options in the central suburbs. It is certainly a big change in the way many people are living and it does bring up some issues. I noted the comment from a property management company executive that when buying an apartment it is essential to get specialist legal advice. This, she said, is because of the additional obligations that come with apartment, or “unit title” ownership. As an owner you become a member of the “body corporate” and subject to the body corporate rules. We often take calls from people who are part of a body corporate or cross lease and have never seen the relevant documents, so it’s hard for them to work out their rights and their responsibilities in their apartment block, especially when conflicts arise. I would encourage you to have a look at our website: www.cab.org.nz. We have a lot of articles and information. If you type in “What is a body corporate”, you will come up with this link www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00000884 and it will give you a plain English explanation and many links to other information and trusted websites to find out more about unit titles.

Lucette Hindin

If you are renting an apartment, you are also subject to the body corporate rules. We advise tenants to ask their landlord to supply a copy of the rules, as they may be unaware of how those affect their enjoyment of the property. Where tenants and landlords have a dispute, they can, after trying to work it through together, apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. This is a reasonably straightforward and low cost option for tenants, with mediation involved. We, at CAB, can support anyone who has tenancy issues to try and resolve these. In most cases, disputes are caused by a mistake or misunderstanding or by one party not knowing the law. We can help you understand what your rights are. From there, we help you work out your options to resolve the dispute. Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei. Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain. (LUCETTE HINDIN, Manager Citizens Advice Bureau, Grey Lynn/Ponsonby Branch)  PN

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, 510 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 0392, E: ponsonby@cab.org.nz

Your FIRST

CALL for a wide range of free,

up to date and confidential information about:

• • • • •

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Citizens Advice Bureau

0800 FOR CAB or 09 376 0392 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn www.cab.org.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

ABSORBING READING FOR COOLER EVENINGS FROM CAROLE BEU AT THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus - $37 Fantastically funny and feminist! Elizabeth Zott is one of the most original, stunning, forthright literary characters I have ever encountered. Being a scientist was a nightmare for a woman in the 1950s and 1960s. Zott is uncompromising, outspoken and subversive in this bitingly satirical novel. Brainier than her bosses, she makes the patriarchy look ridiculous and TV cooking shows extremely unusual and exciting! Brilliant! Booth - Karen Joy Fowler - $37 A fascinating, sweeping historical novel that focuses on the whole Booth family, not just the ninth child, John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Lincoln. A marvellously theatrical family (the father and three of the sons were famous for performing Shakespeare all over the USA), they were torn by different beliefs and values - very relevant to what is happening in our world today. The author is renowned for her earlier novel, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Love Marriage - Monica Ali - $35 This is an absorbing and hugely entertaining exploration of family dynamics and cultural differences. Yasmin and Joe,

an engaged couple, are junior doctors in the same London hospital. Yasmin is from a good Muslim family; Joe’s mother is a firebrand feminist. The delightful characters are vividly drawn and often very funny as they grow to new understandings about themselves and others. Nuku: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women -

Qiane Matata-Sipu - $65 This is a glorious book with stunning photographs created by and entirely about indigenous women - Maori, Moriori, Pasifika, Melanesian, Wiradjuri, Himalayan and Mexican. Recognising the power of storytelling and honouring the female essence, this book celebrates the wahine experience who these women really are, not who they’ve been told to be. Magnificent! Dip into it each evening and be inspired. 30 Queer Lives: Conversaions with LGBTQIA+ New Zealanders - Matt McEvoy - $40

This is a big-hearted book in which Matt McEvoy lets the thirty participants speak in their own voices. The result is a fascinating range of individuals, of different ages, ethnicities and sexual orientations who reveal the challenges and successes of their lives with candour and warmth - doctors, farmers, politicians, musicians, fa’afafine, businesspeople including Carole Beu from The Women’s Bookshop! Remote Sympathy - Catherine Chidgey - $35 This brilliant novel has just been longlisted for the international Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) - a huge and well-deserved honour. Set in a vividly created Nazi prison camp, Chidgey reveals the secrets, deceptions and wilful obliviousness that are necessary for survival - for those living in the town nearby and for those in power, as well as their victims. Engrossing and deeply moving, this is an extraordinary novel from one of New Zealand’s finest writers.

THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby Road, opposite Ponsonby Central. www.womensbookshop.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

104 Mt. Eden Road Mt. Eden, Auckland Phone: 09 638 8463 www.lahood.co.nz

New Zealand’s “most trusted” window furnishing company.

FREE

CURTAIN MAKING

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ Dawson & Co. Refined, luxurious wardrobesby Molteni&C. Gliss Master is an ecosystem designed by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni& C, which redefines the concept of the custom-made wardrobe. The Gliss Master Glass doors, made with 180° hinges built into the side – a Molteni&C exclusive – present an extruded aluminium frame with 4 mm thick crystal. Gliss Master Deep has a distinctive built-in handle and, like other models seen above, hinges with dampers, the Molteni Design Team has enriched the custom-made and designer wardrobe collection with Start doors, whose handles are affixed to the front. Gliss master wardrobe from RRP $29,000 available from Dawson & Co

DAWSON & CO., Northshore Showroom, 38 Constellation Drive, Rosedale T: 09 476 1121, Parnell Showroom, 115 The Strand, Parnell; info@dawsonandco.nz www.dawsonandco.nz

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

THE FAIRY LIGHT SHOP’S GARAGE SALE With winter nights closing in there is nothing better than feeling warm and cosy with the perfect lighting. The store has moved from the North Shore to a more convenient new central location, and not far from Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. If you can’t visit in person, you can shop online with fast delivery. The new store is magical, elegant with high quality products. As owner Belinda Gregg told Ponsonby News, “We will be running our garage sale on Saturday 14 May from 10am until 2pm at 20 Mt Eden Road. Please call in and see us - we’d love to help get you the lighting look you want.” Here is what some customers have said. "This shop is so fantastic, the lights are really good quality and the personal service is second to none. Highly recommended if you are looking for something special for any event - you should take a look at this place." "Quick and easy purchase. And when my lights arrived I appreciated their eco packaging."

THE FAIRY LIGHT SHOP, 20 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 218 5342, www.thefairylightshop.com PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Sanderson OneSixty Collection-Mauritius. 100% cotton satin curtains with blinds

WINTER WARMTH Lahood® will help you make your home warm and cosy with new insulating curtains or blinds. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been spending more time in our homes than ever before. As such, being able to control our home's heating naturally rather than relying on active heating is becoming increasingly important, both as a way of saving money and making the home as comfortable as possible all year round. Our window furnishings play a very important role in home heating. In fact, a huge 30% of our home's temperature is lost through uncovered windows. However, by making some smart choices, you can help prevent this situation from happening, and start to save money this winter – better for you and the planet!

To do so, it's important to: Choose “state-of-the-art” window furnishings.

While all Lahood window furnishings are designed with energy efficiency and thermal control in mind, our Luxaflex® Duette® Shades are very much a market leader in this area. These shades have a unique honeycomb 'cell' structure that traps air and acts as an insulation barrier for windows. The Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® range also features a unique cell-within-a-cell honeycomb construction which creates four fabric layers and three insulating pockets of air. Include “Protection Plus” curtain linings.

Lahood® have released into the New Zealand market a range of New Zealand made linings to complement your décor, keep your home warm and cosy and enhance the appearance of your curtains. This new range consists of Serenity, Insulpro and Armourguard. All are energy saving, adding insulation, are dry cleanable, hand washable and covered by a comprehensive guarantee. Be sun smart.

One of the smartest and easiest ways to keep your home warmer in winter is to open or close your window coverings at the right time of day. This means keeping your window coverings open during the day and allowing the sun to naturally heat up the interior spaces. Then closing blinds, shutters or curtains as soon as the sun starts to fade. This will help capture some radiant heat in your internal spaces.

Luxaflex® Duette® Shades keep your home warm in the winter

Lahood’s showroom has the largest range of window fabrics and blinds in Auckland. Our experienced and award-winning team are ready to guide you. From inspiration to installation, Lahood® Window Furnishings have it all.

Visit the stunning Lahood® showroom at 104 Mt Eden Road, or T: 0800 LAHOOD to book an in-home design consultation. www.lahood.co.nz

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

SEVEN PRACTICAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE TIPS As your home or commercial space is your biggest investment, maintaining it is a must. New Lease explains how to take care of your property. Many property owners fail to address home repairs and regret it when one little issue left can turn into several major property repair problems in the future. 1. First things first, - Plan. Owners should have a regular property maintenance schedule or ask their property manager to prepare and implement one. 2. Budget. New Lease advises landlords to set aside at least 2% of their rental income towards maintenance to be spent on repairs, preventive maintenance, or put towards a refresh or property upgrade overtime. 3. Keep the gutters clean in autumn. Clogged gutters have a risk of overflowing or breaking, which will result in costly repairs. In a storm, blocked gutters could cause water to flow inside a building, causing significant damage to the walls and floor coverings. Some owners may have learned this the hard way and faced a painful insurance claim. 4. Clean your heat pump filters or the wood fire before winter. Clean air filters can help save between 5% to 15% from the electricity bill. Likewise, if using a wood burner, inspecting

the fire and cleaning the chimney will ensure it burns cleanly and safely. 5. Wash the building exteriors every spring or summer. Dirt and grime on the facade may damage the exterior paint and masonry and cleaning the property regularly will give extra years towards the paintwork between repaints. 6. Inspect door and window seals. Landlords should make sure there are no gaps or cracks in the door and window seals, especially if the property has old wooden joinery. New Lease advises landlords to ask their property manager to check at routine inspections. Healthy Homes Standards require that a residential rental should be free from draughts and gaps. 7. Check smoke detectors are working. Landlords should make sure smoke detectors are in working order at the start of each tenancy and tenants are not removing or covering them. It is best to install long life photoelectric smoke detectors alarms that last 10 years for further peace of mind. Don’t delay and contact the team at New Lease, they will conduct a full review of your property maintenance needs. As J.F. Kennedy once said, "The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."

NEW LEASE LTD, Just moved, new address: 3 Glenside Crescent, Eden Terrace, E: sandie@newlease.co.nz, M: 021 352 670, www.newlease.co.nz

“inject new life into your property”

We are personable and passionate about property and people. We act professionally and proactively to bring out the best in your property and make your investment more profitable.

For a trusted partner, contact Sandie:

www.newlease.co.nz

021 352 670 sales@newlease.co.nz

Residential/ Commercial/ Air BnB

3 Glenside Crescent, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

NEW TO MELUKA Fresh and stylish, Melukas first modular sofa is here. Meet Anna make and create your dream lounge with Meluka today. Pair it perfectly with our Carmel collection or wide range of accessories.

Shop online or in stores today. www.meluka.co.nz

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78 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

STYLE AND STAGE YOUR HOME WHEN SELLING… Selling your family home can be one of the most stressful and emotionally draining times for a home owner. It can look a bit worn and tired from everyday living with marks on walls, worn carpets and fading furniture, making it harder to sell. But with Rigby & Co Home Staging it doesn’t have to be.

• sell your home faster • sell your home for greater value • make your home more appealing to more people • attract better buyers

Well executed home staging draws the eye away from these ‘sale inhibitors’ and allows buyers to focus on the positives. We ensure that it stands out from other properties on the market by making it look warm and inviting, modern and contemporary, and we have a range of home staging styles to best suit your property and help it sell more quickly and for a higher price.

And we do this by treating the property like it was our own and it was our property we were selling. In this way we ensure we don’t miss ’the little hidden things’ that can mean the difference between success and failure, a great sale, or no sale at all.

When working with Rigby & Co Home Staging, you will work directly with me, Vanessa. I am the owner of the company and a qualified interior designer so you can be assured of professional and personalised one-to-one service. I’ll help ensure we: • maximise the sale potential of your home

“Thank you Vanessa. Your amazing vision and wonderful sense of style most certainly helped us achieve a fantastic sale price for our property. Potential purchasers all made comments about how well the property was presented. Your easy manner and great communication made it so easy for us. We applaud you and could not recommend your services highly enough. Well done!” - ANNIE

For more information please contact Vanessa Rigby on 027 772 0606; vanessa@rigbyandco.nz; www.rigbyandco.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

48B Sunny Brae Crescent

BLAIR HADDOW:

High-end greater Ponsonby residential property market still active – as latest auction result testifies Who says the residential property marketing in Auckland is stagnating? Certainly not the Bayleys’ Ponsonby team and leading salesperson Blair Haddow who has just negotiated a high-end sale as good as anything you would expect to find when the market is fizzing. The auction room at Bayleys was buzzing this month when the gorgeous home at 3A Hope Street in Westmere came up for auction. The contemporary luxury four-bedroom/ three lounge/three-bathroom home features state-of-the-art design elements and fittings. Wrapped around an inground pool, the majestic two-storey residence with harbour vistas is an entertainer’s dream in any of the three living rooms. The master bedroom, replicating a luxury lodge style of living in its own ‘wing’, has a private balcony, walk-in wardrobe, and immaculately tiled en-suite. Bayleys’ auction room activity for the Hope Street stunner was frenetic with all five bidding parties in the room having a crack at the top offer. Bidding opened at $4million, and rose quickly in increments of $100,000, then increases of $50,000, and final in $25,000 portions until Bayleys’ auctioneer brought the hammer down for a price of $5.85million. Interestingly, the final, and highest, offer, which brought the auctioneer’s hammer down, was the only bid from the successful buyer who patiently sat on the side-lines until striking with clinical precision to nab the deal and bring about cheers and loud clapping in the auction room. "It was an amazing auction – one of the best I’ve seen in years,” confides Blair Haddow. “Having so many bidders participating in the event really underpins the rationale for choosing the auction process and achieving the best result for my client who was rapt that the marketing uncovered so much interest for their property." The Hope Street sale comes just months after Blair sold another architecturally stunning dwelling at 48B Sunny Brae Crescent in Westmere at auction for $6.2million. All of the unsuccessful underbidders on that property have remained on Blair’s

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exclusive database, and were personally contacted about the Hope Street listing. They all came through to view the home on Blair’s advice. "The $5million-plus residential property market in the Ponsonby/Herne Bay/Grey Lynn/Westmere locales is still very much alive and well. I have a private and very restricted database of buyers out there looking for homes in this price bracket but I simply don’t have the properties they are looking for," said Blair. "The buyers in this sector are very particular though, so they are prepared to patiently wait until the right home comes up. And when they do, well, the Hope Street and Sunny Brae Crescent sales say it all. The parties in my $5million-plus database are well-funded and fully pre-qualified to buy when the right home comes up." With listing stock still ticking over, Blair has three new listings lined up for auctions at Bayleys in May, featuring… 60 Ardmore Road in Herne Bay – a fully renovated and modernised four-bedroom/two-bathroom villa, with off street parking for two vehicles. The rear of the home features a private beautiful courtyard space with a landscaped water feature and spa pool. 11 John Street – a former three-bedroom/one-bedroom worker’s cottage on a flat sunny site just a few doors down from Jervois Road, which is perfect ‘as is’ and also has oodles of potential to modernise and expand out over the sizeable back yard lawn. 45 Clarence Street in Ponsonby – a three-bedroom/twobathroom villa opposite Ponsonby Intermediate School, with off-street parking for three vehicles and potential to add value by expanding the home’s size or potentially retaining it ‘as is’ for a rental investment. www.facebook.com/BlairHaddowResidential

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH @ OREXART The Limitless Horizon. 11 May to 4 June, Opening 6pm-8pm, Wed 11 May. Landscape painting in New Zealand is one of our most loved, and enduring subjects. From Van der Velden to Toss Woollaston, Peter McIntyre to Dick Frizzell, Rita Angus to Robin White, these names keep coming up at auction and achieving record prices for good reason. Their work is sublime, the vision extraordinary. But now we look to the future, the potential of the next generation. OREXART are proud to present works by Richard McWhannell, Tony Lane, Martin Ball, Peter James Smith and John Madden, names you may already be familiar with because their journey has begun, their horizons limitless.  PN

Pararaha, 400 x 1000mm by Richard McWhannell

Tokatea, 760 x 1010mm by John Madden

OREXART, 221 Ponsonby Road, E:rex@orexart.co.nz www.orexart.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

ARTS + CULTURE

@ ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is live again on Sunday 15 May 2.30pm. Conductor Michael Joel and Soloist Somi Kim @ St Matthew-in-the-City. Exotic Timbres

With Korean born New Zealand pianist Somi Kim and conductor Michael Joel home from the UK we are live – living again. Please join us to celebrate. Somi Kim has established herself as one of today's most highly regarded young pianists. With a string of music degrees, competition successes and extensive concert experience behind her she has recently been appointed as the pianist with the iconic NZTrio. Michael is currently music director of St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra and has worked on the music staff of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as duty conductor on productions of Tosca, La Bohème, La Traviata and Carmen, assisting big names like Placido Domingo. Programme

Respighi Botticelli Triptych P151 Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No 5 Op 103 in F “Egyptian” Mendelssohn Symphony No 3 Op 56 “Scottish” St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is an accomplished orchestra performing a wide repertoire of music and is dedicated to providing performance opportunities for New Zealand musicians, composers and conductors.

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TICKETS Eventfinda or Door sales. EFTPOS or Cash. Adults $30 Concessions $25 Children under 12 free. Student Rush on the day $15. Please note that attendees will need to comply with any Covid-19 protocols in place at the time of the concert.  PN

ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY, corner Wellesley & Hobson Streets. www.smco.org.nz

Sun 15 May at 2.30pm programme

Respighi Botticelli Triptych P151 Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto no 5 Op 103 in F Mendelssohn Symphony No 3 Op 56 “Scottish” soloist conductor

Somi Kim Michael Joel

st matthew-in-the-city Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

@ SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY Clare Brodie: The Soul of Solitude With her last two Australian shows selling out in hours, we’re very excited to announce a new show of work by Sydney based painter Clare Brodie. This beautiful solo show of new paintings is a breath of fresh air, an instant escape from the stress and tension of modern life. They offer the viewer an instant gateway to welcome solitude reflection. Those New Zealand collectors who are lucky enough to already have one in their collections tell us they are much loved works that can instantly set the tone of an entire room. At first glance, these paintings offer a soft and subtle connection to nature; with each colour exhaustively tested and mixed again and again until the abstracted forms resonate as a unified and powerful whole. But they are so much more.

Inspired by Op-art and the colour field painters, these gently abstracted works begin with careful studies of actual landscapes surrounding Clare’s Sydney home. These careful studies - often taken across the span of a few days in the same location - are then transposed from sketches to full works. We’re honoured to host Clare’s debut gallery exhibition, and it’s worth knowing that all of these beautiful paintings have been created especially for us here in New Zealand. The show opens on Saturday 7 May, and everyone is welcome to the opening event from 11-5pm. Car parking at the gallery.  PN SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY, Shed 10, 13 Coles Avenue, Mt Eden, www.scottlawrie.com

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

ARTS + CULTURE

HEAVEN ON EARTH The Garnet Station exhibition “Heaven on Earth” features new works by Lisa Prager. It’s a seriously diverse show that heralds a metamorphosis at Garnet Station with the opening of the George Prager Gallery on Friday 6 May. Lisa Prager first exhibited over 30 years ago after New Zealand artist Philippa Blair discovered her making wax pop art in the basement studio of the family home in Titirangi. Along life’s path Prager has experimented with different mediums, continuing to express her creative spirit in private, until now. With the sweeping change we have all encountered comes a call, back to the authentic self, and for Prager this means a long overdue engagement with her studio practice.

The paper and ink Lion Rock dazzles in west coast seering heat, a synthesis of lived experiences at Piha. Other works with no nonsense names like Nude, Baby, Pool Boys, are simultaneously confronting, amusing and bristling with energy. There is something for everyone, including dining room objects d’art curated by Verity George.  PN www.garnetstation.com/events/ george-prager-gallery-opening/

GEORGE PRAGER GALLERY, Garnet Station, 85 Garnet Road,

www.garnetstation.com

WAYNE BAIRD AND NEIL FINLAY PLAYING ACOUSTIC BLUES AT GUITARFEST Back in March local resident Wayne Baird made grown men cry at Guitarfest with the song he sang, “You Can’t Get Back”. The song was written by Bill Lake and Arthur Baysting, Arthur was a long time Grey Lynn resident and songwriter and author. Rick Bryant another local resident, latterly in the Jubilation choir, last sang the song in the Windy City Strugglers. Wayne played in Rick Bryant and the Jivebombers for 23 years. He sang this in memory of Rick and Arthur. Rick Bryant and Arthur Baysting died within three days of each other in December 2019. Most revered local artists.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE Sian Torrington at OREXART

UPTOWN ART SCENE Fabrics contain plenty of metaphor. For instance, the combination of many individual fibres coming together to make one cloth can represent the Fabric of Life. Clothes are a second skin we don that can express our inner self – “clothes maketh the (wo)man”. Two artists showing just a hundred metres apart on Ponsonby Road share a common fascination with fabric, patterns and paint, and use their skill to project very different personalities. Siân Torrington is a Wellington-based artist whose exhibition at OREXART is full of woven objects and collaged paintings, each a warm mesh of energetic lines in pinks, reds and egg yolk oranges. The sculptural works are a delightful exploration of haptic sensations: soft, warm wools threaded into and around hard, shiny structures, with paint spread as much as a film as a colourant. They seem to be bodily objects, the result of both struggle and joy, dense with the experience of making. Tiny moments of stitched colour join wider pieces of stained and spattered cloth; supple limbs of leather contrast with rigid bamboo bones. The temperature is cooler at {Suite} where Melbournebased Tia Ansell presents Red Light Horizon. These works form dappled patterns with blues, greens, and browns. Handloomed fabric grids in tight regularity are interfered with by blocks of painted colour that both float on and slide into the woven background.

Isaac by Tia Ansell at Suite

The colour relationships between fabric and paint are precise, almost close enough to conflate the space into an all-over effect, but just enough that the paint hovers slightly above the ground. The result is mesmerising, contemplative yet humming with a quiet dynamism. While woven canvas is the staple for many painters, cloth that is perhaps more prosaic lends a relatability to these artworks, reminding us of clothing, deckchairs, dropsheets and furnishings. Yet the everyday has been transformed into something PN remarkable by these artists, and that is a wonderful thing.  EVAN WOODRUFFE, Studio Art Supplies www.studioart.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

ARTS HOROSCOPES + CULTURE

HOROSCOPES:

MISS PEARL NECLIS – what your stars hold for May

Aquarius (the Water Carrier)

Pisces (the Fishes) 20 February - 20 March Just be yourself when you’re doing a presentation of any kind. Just being you is what will impress. If you’re acting in any way it will show. Don’t get caught up in the everyday dramas that follow some people around. Keep your mind clear and focus on you.

Aries (the Ram)

21 January - 19 February Appreciate what’s there in front of you instead of dreaming about something that’s not obtainable. You can stay grounded by focusing on real life. Advice around you is pretty sound. Take notice when you can.

Taurus (the Bull)

Gemini (the Twins)

21 April - 21 May If you have an opportunity to make waves or be noticed this month, then take it. Family members or someone very close will tell you the potential you have. Believe in yourself. Others do.

22 May - 21 June You’ve been keeping a secret for too long now and the thought of it is making you itch to tell someone. Let everyone know what’s been going on. This could involve you opening up to your feelings and just letting go.

Cancer (the Crab) 22 June - 22 July Listen to the voices around you. Close associates and friends might share some information with you this month. Take note and don’t dismiss anything. The knowledge you currently have will be enhanced, if you pay attention.

Leo (the Lion) 23 July - 21 August You have always had the chance to be great especially at what you do. You don’t have to always put yourself first though. You know that great leaders always have great support around them.

Virgo (the Virgin) 22 August - 23 September You know how easy it can be to get distracted. The trick you need to learn is not to get sidetracked when you’re doing something important. Try focusing on what’s in front of you first. Then you might be too exhausted to let your mind wander.

Libra (the Scales) 24 September - 23 October The help you’ve needed might be closer than you think so don’t dismiss anything on first inspection this month. The kind acts you receive will give you the opportunity to be the best version of yourself.

Scorpio (the Scorpion)

Sagittarius (the Archer) 23 November - 22 December If you feel like you’re just going through each day the same then it's time to change your habits. Try not to brush off anyone's feelings this month with the way you’ve become. To make any changes is with you.

Capricorn (the Goat) 23 December - 20 January It’s time to change up your routine. Variety is the spice of life as they say. Do something different that challenges you. If that doesn’t work continue until you find something that makes you happy. But remember, you can blossom any time of the year.

24 October - 22 November The people that you love want you to be happy, so it’s obvious when you meet up that they want to show you a good time. Just make sure you’re there for them when they need you.

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21 March - 20 April You have great intuition and so far it hasn’t let you down. Whatever you’re dealing with at the moment will see you relying on keeping your wits about you. Remember though you have a great network around you that you can always rely on.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE Centre III, hanging on the wall of Daniel Unverricht's studio, 2022

@ {SUITE} GALLERY Daniel Unverricht, Sleeping Village; 11 May – 4 June 2022 Daniel Unverricht’s upcoming exhibition at {Suite} wasn’t intended to be a comment on New Zealand’s Covid-19 lockdown, but like many artists he subconsciously found the idea seeping into his latest body of work. His painting practise is well known for its ‘dramatically lit realism’, the derelict buildings and moody nocturnal streetscapes providing an eerie sense of the uninhabited, but in some ways his practise has foreshadowed the reality of our local areas during New Zealand’s lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. As Daniel comments, "maybe my paintings have always had that isolational/locked down aspect, just distilled a bit more now." Taking inspiration from local buildings in the Wairarapa, where he resides, Daniel has always shone a light on the overlooked, undervalued and the disappearing, often painted at night with dramatic lighting and high contrast of light and shadow. In this series, a new aspect has entered his work; a daytime setting and a deliberate attempt to add in some cheer after a difficult few years. His painting Centre III (pictured) is a burnt out, boarded up building, but Unverricht can still see the beauty in in. Elevated to a grand scale (the painting measures 1.5 x 1.2m) with a focus on the plywood boards right in the centre of the work, Centre III envelopes the picture plane, filling the painted surface, but with a hint of brightness from the blue sky beyond. Daniel received a Master of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, graduating in 2003, and has exhibited regularly in both solo and group exhibitions since then. {Suite} GALLERY, 189 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 218 4399, www.suite.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2022

STREAMING ARTS + CULTURE GUIDE Dancing with the Stars, ThreeNow

STREAMING GUIDE MAY 2022 There is still so much local content to seek and enjoy this autumn. Three’s reputation for crowd pleasers, supporting great local comedy and entertainment continues with the latest season of 7 Days and the new season of Dancing with the Stars. TVNZ’s Sunday is probably already ‘must see viewing’ for many Ponsonby News readers but if you’ve missed any of the shows during April you’ll have some touching and thought provoking stories to catch up on. Amazon Prime launches its second season of the edgy and satisfying psychological teen thriller; The Wilds. Filmed here in Aotearoa there is a familiar vibe to the wild West Coast locations and it's ready to stream from 6 May. Netflix has unleashed the disconcertingly charming second season of Bridgerton for the hopeless romantics, while there is no known local link, everyone can appreciate a little escapist romanticism right? ThreeNow Dancing with the Stars

Sequins, sashaying steps and Lance Savali take Dancing with the Stars up a few more steps ramping the entertainment value to the next level. Who will win is anyone’s guess but even after just one episode it’s easy to develop your own favourite. Will it be comedian Eli Matthewson with Johnny, the first all male dancing partnership who the judges have already scored well? Or will there be a surprise? Someone who no one expects to be a captivating twinkle toes.

dancing for Outline, Jazz Thornton dancing for Youthline, David Letele, Just Move (BBM), Rhys Mattewson dancing for the Fred Hallows Foundation. You are literally doing good by watching. Easy entertainment on a Saturday night (though it’s on-demand via ThreeNow so you can really watch it whenever because even spoilers don’t ruin the fun).  7 Days

Former Bachelorette, Alex Vaz, is already head, shoulder and chest above the others giving a real boost to his charity Gumboot Friday. The resourceful Kerre Woodham must already have many fans across radio and print to support her and her charity, Starship Foundation. It's anyone’s guess and that is half the fun. No one needs to take it too seriously and everyone’s efforts support a worthy range of charities including: Eric Murray dancing for Autism NZ, Brodie Kane dancing for Assistant Dogs New Zealand, Eli Mathewson

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Faithfully funny and always quite clever 7 Days has a revolving feast of the country’s best comedic talent. Never boring and often full of insightful quips hidden in humour, this is a formula that has stood the test of time. Helmed by Jeremy Corbett, it has maintained its relevance for over a decade and has consistently drawn in younger audiences with new faces and diverse perspectives. 

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Season 2 of this successful young adult thriller continues the story with the reveal of the ‘control group’, a cohort of teen boys that tick all the stereotypical American high-school archetypes and have been selected by Gretchen Kline (played by the incredible Juliet Lewis) to prove that women are better. Better at surviving, better at creating social systems and just better at being human. While Gretchen’s motivation is compelling, even understandable - the patriarchal system is indeed flawed and corrupt. The problem is more complex. It is virtually impossible not to become invested in the emotional journey of these complex and nuanced teens. They may seem like adolescent cliches on the surface, but rarely is anyone that simple. Twists and turns with some high stakes thrills mean this modern day teen version of Lost loses none of its original appeal in season 2.  TVNZ ON DEMAND Sunday

While Sunday is probably still ‘must see’ viewing for those who still watch TV ONE on a traditional television set, there may still

STREAMING GUIDE

The Wilds, Season 2, Amazon Prime The Wilds, Season 2

be some who are yet to discover (or need to rediscover) this flagship current affairs show. Presented by a team of talented journalists, including Grey Lynn local Miriama Kamo, Sunday is a weekly dose of rich, diverse and well told stories that cover almost every aspect of life in Aotearoa. The big and the small, the joyful and the tragic, this is a team who never seems afraid to canvas the tough or gruelling stories.

Sunday enriches our lives in a way journalism should, with well researched long form investigative stories that keep us informed and shows an empathetic ear for what should matter to us.  NETFLIX Bridgerton

Shonda Rhimes's second season of Bridgerton is complete with scandal, steamy scenes, sensational soundtracks and luscious costuming. It won’t disappoint those who love this genre, but neither will it give you a profound understanding of anything specific. Not without controversy, Bridgerton again pushes boundaries rearranging history and cultural mores to enhance the story and shake things up in a way that still feels fresh. 

Bridgerton, Netflix

AMAZON PRIME

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MICHAEL OWEN SHEN® THERAPY

T: 09 376 9599 Email: mowenshens@gmail.com www.emotionalwellbeing.co.nz

Because we all deserve freedom SAFE helping animals out Help us fight cages

safe.org.nz

The Covert Theatre in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby is NZ’s home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

You can support all the good giggle’s by donation right here, www.coverttheatre.com/how-to-help Registered charity CC53421

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Working from home?

Glenys Lindsay

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We recently sold our home in Westmere with Caroline,

she was amazingly dedicated and so professional. Such a strong

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PONSONBY NEWS - MAY '22

Articles inside

ARTS & CULTURE

FUTURE GENERATION

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

STREAMING GUIDE MAY 2022

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: MP AUCKLAND CENTRAL

LETTERS & EMAILS

PREDICT WEATHER.COM

HELENE RAVLICH: CELEBRATING HOSPO HEROES

PONSONBY PARK

ROSS THORBY: CRUISING ON LAND

HELEN WHITE, LABOUR LIST MP