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The April Issue, No. 57

8

30

45

the editor’s letter

the plan

the sound

10 the columnists

Hamish Firth comes up with a new metric for sharing the load of the cost of infrastructure for new neighbourhoods

Once he scoffed but this time around, Andrew Dickens will be in the crowd when Elton comes to Auckland

13

31

46

the village

the investment

the magpie

Put your hand up to be Parnell’s champion, the final designs for the Erebus national memorial in the Rose Gardens, Rotary digs in for a good cause, College Rifles prepares for its Anzac parade, The Remuera Village Voice has some fresh finds, and more

He told you so — Warren Couillault on the capital gains tax

There’s no time like autumn to give the old nest a bit of a spruce up

32

48

the second act

the district diary

Where others dab their eyes, Sandy Burgham sees new opportunities with an empty nest

The important stuff going on in April

26 & 27 the councillors News from the Ōrākei ward Councillor, Desley Simpson, and Mike Lee, Councillor for Auckland for the Waitematā and Gulf ward

28 the politicians MPs David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith share their updates

50 the cryptic

34 the anzacs

Our puzzle, by Māyā

In a special feature to mark Anzac Day, Remuera Heritage chair Sue Cooper shares the remarkable stories of the medals for valour won by Remuera men and women in WWI

42 the paws Did you see those cute pound puppies in Remuera at Christmas? Happily, they’re all settled into new homes the hobson 6

Above: A view of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Alexander Turnbull library

Buying or Selling?

Entries always invited.

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Decorative Arts & Asian Art Preview Evening — 4 April, 6pm Decorative Arts — 10 April, 6pm Asian Art — 11 April, 6pm Fine & Rare Wines — 16 April, 6pm Chattels of the Chateau- A Prestigious Collection of European Furniture and Decorative Arts — 7 May, 6pm

W issue 57, april 2019 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz News Editor Mary Fitzgerald maryfitzgerald.thehobson@gmail.com

hat to say, when our world has so suddenly and dramatically changed? As I write this, it’s not even a week since 50 people lost their lives one afternoon in Christchurch. More than 30 are in hospital recovering; a little girl fights on in Starship, her tiny, four-yearold body battling grevious wounds.

Many everyday things suddenly seem frivolous. So other than saying “please help” by doing whatever you can to honour the 50, whether it’s by laying flowers, or giving to Victim Support or St John’s; I’m short on words right now, so I was pleased to come across this.

I needed to check a detail in our Men’s Shed story (page 22), so I went to their website. On the home page is a heartfelt message to the Muslim community, and to the wider community of Christchurch. “Men’s sheds,” it read in part, “are about all men whatever their abilities or disabilities, we do not have boundaries on age, culture or beliefs, we are one and stand together shoulder to shoulder. Please give someone that needs it a man hug from all of us.”

So metaphorically, I pass it on. A man hug from us, to you. And flowers too, from my mother’s garden.

Writers This Issue Kirsty Cameron, Gretchen Carroll, Sue Cooper, Mary Fitzgerald, Justine Williams Sub-editor Dawn Adams Columnists Sandy Burgham, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Hamish Firth, Paul Goldsmith, Tommy Honey, Mike Lee, Māyā, David Seymour, Desley Simpson Photographers Mary Fitzgerald, Stephen Penny Cover Poppies, to remember. Our special Anzac story begins on page 34. Photograph by Milos Tonchevski, Unsplash THE HOBSON is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine I: @TheHobson Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz

THE HOBSON is Remuera, Parnell and Ōrākei’s community magazine. We deliver into letterboxes in these neighbourhoods, and copies are also at local libraries, cafes, and at businesses including the Vicky Ave and White Heron dairies, and Paper Plus Parnell. For more about us, see TheHobsonMagazine on Facebook.

The content of THE HOBSON is copyright. Our words, our pictures.

Don’t steal, and don’t borrow without checking with us first.

We aim for accuracy but cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies that do occur. The views of our contributors are their own and not necessarily those of THE HOBSON. We don’t favour unsolicited contributions but do welcome you getting in touch via editor@thehobson.co.nz to discuss ideas.

The Hobson Ltd is a member of the Magazine Publishers Association This publication uses environmentally responsible papers.

To protect against Auckland’s weather, home delivered copies are bagged in food-grade film, which can be recycled in ‘soft plastics’ bins.

Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz 0275 326 424 Facebook: The Hobson magazine Instagram: TheHobson

The majority of content in this edition was written and edited prior to March 15.

We made the decision to continue with the issue as planned.

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Redefining Apartment Living LEP Group is bringing an exceptional new offering to Parnell, Auckland in the form of the effortlessly stylish Edition Apartments. Situated on Churton Street, a short walk from the bustle of Parnell Road, the bold glass-brick facade of the Edition building presents it’s striking form to the neighbourhood. The captivating exterior of the building plays host to 19 exclusive residences, each handsomely proportioned and finished with exquisite fixtures and fittings.

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The Columnists

Left to right from top row: Sandy Burgham (The Second Act) is a brand strategist and an executive coach with a special interest in midlife change and transformational behaviours. She runs a central Auckland practice. www.playclc.com Remuera resident Warren Couillault (The Investment) is an executive director and the major shareholder of Hobson Wealth Partners, a private wealth advisory group. He is a shareholder and director of Generate Investment Management Ltd; and manager of a registered Kiwisaver scheme.

Andrew Dickens (The Sound) is the host of the afternoon show on Newstalk ZB. For 13 years he was the breakfast host on Classic Hits. He grew up in Remuera.

Hamish Firth (The Plan) lives and works in Parnell and is principal of the Mt Hobson Group, a specialist urban planning consultancy. www.mthobsonproperties.co.nz Mary Fitzgerald is The Hobson’s News Editor. A Mainlander who transplanted to Remuera 14 years ago, she is passionate about hearing and telling our stories.

Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect. The Remuera resident is a regular guest on RNZ National, discussing the built environment.

Judi Paape (The Teacher) is a parent, grandparent and highly-experienced teacher and junior school principal.

A Parnell resident, her column appears bi-monthly.

Contributing writer Wayne Thompson is a former The New Zealand Herald journalist, covering Auckland news. He has been a resident of Parnell for 34 years.

Contributing editor Justine Williams is an interiors stylist, writer and fashion editor. The Remuera resident has been the editor of Simply You and Simply You Living.

the hobson 10

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the village

Town & Around HOLDING ON AT LITTLE RANGITOTO

Local businesses and the community groups are calling for a Parnell-based candidate to stand for the Waitematā Local Board at the upcoming local body elections. The currrent board of seven members has no-one resident in Parnell. There will definitely be three vacancies come election time, possibly four.

The Parnell Business Association and the Parnell Community Committee will jointly host a meeting next month to urge locals to consider standing for the board as a voice for Parnell.

“We’re reaching out to the electorate for suitable candidates to ensure we have a voice at this important local level of Council,” says Parnell Business Association general manager, Cheryl Adamson (pictured). “This board covers an expansive inner city area encompassing the central city and several fringe suburbs.

Inadequate representation this side of the city could result in our specific needs being overlooked. And so too for Grafton and Newmarket.”

Of the current Waitematā Local Board, chair Pippa Coom intends to stand for Auckland Council. Coom lives in Grey Lynn. Freeman’s Bay resident and deputy chair Shale Chambers is also stepping down after having served three terms, two as chair. CBD resident Vernon Tava is not standing for relection, recently launching the the new national political party, the Sustainable New Zealand Party. Of the other members, Richard Northey lives in Newmarket, Adriana Christie in the city, Denise Roche on Waiheke Is and Rob Thomas in St Marys Bay. Thomas, an independent, may also not stand for board relection, as he’s considering a run at Council.

Adamson and PCC chair Luke Niue are worried that without a “Parnell voice”, the work that has gone into the Parnell Plan — to be released this month — and other projects could languish.

“The local business and residential community have for the past eight months been working together with various groups to contribute to a Council-supported local area plan for Parnell,” says Adamson. “It’s intended that this plan will serve as a framework to guide Council and delivery partners to work together to improve accessibility and connections, upgrade community facilities and parklands, improve infrastructure and support businesses to thrive.

But without a Parnell voice advocating on the local board, we’re worried some of the recommendations will just drop off.”

A decision is also expected this month from the Electoral Commission on the redrawing of the ward boundaries as it applies to Council representation. With Waitematā’s burgeoning city-based population, the Parnell, Grafton and Newmarket parts of the ward are expected to come under the remit of the Councillor for Ōrākei, Desley Simpson. Local board representation will not change — those neighbourhoods will still be served by the Waitematā board.

Candidate nominations for local boards, Council and mayor open on July 19 and close on August 16. More information about the roles and process can be found at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections A public meeting for potential and interested candidates will be held in Parnell on Tuesday May 7 at the Parnell District School hall.

For more details see parnell.net.nz — Kirsty Cameron p

Little Rangitoto Reserve on Upland Rd in Remuera is a popular place for families with small children, with its grassy spaces, playground, flying fox and the skate bowl, all accessed easily from onstreet parking. However, according to some users there is one significant drawback – there are no toilets.

Remuera resident Anna Kydd, pictured with daughters Lola, 2, and Vienna, 5, has written to Ōrākei ward councillor Desley Simpson and Ōrākei Local Board Chair Kit Parkinson to request public toilets be installed at the reserve. “Not having public facilities in the park is a real impediment with small children on hand,” she says.

The Hobson canvassed the popularity of Kydd’s request with a poll on our Facebook page. Of the 89 people who chose to take part, 83 per cent were in favour of toilets in Little Rangitoto, several citing the unpleasantness of what was being left behind in the bushes.

“If there were toilets there, use of the park and playground would increase as it would be a perfect spot for outdoor kids’ birthday parties, after-school gatherings and other community events,” says Anna Kydd.

“Remuera is a brilliant suburb to live in and we are fortunate to have many young families in the area. Having high quality, safe public spaces available for families with young children and families in general helps to foster a strong sense of community. I know all Remuera residents view their suburb with pride and will want to ensure we keep improving our shared community spaces to maintain our suburb’s standing as a family-friendly one within the Auckland region.”

The Hobson has asked Local Board chair Kit Parkinson to respond on the possibility of loos in the reserve.

— Mary Fitzgerald p

Mary Fitzgerald

CHAMPIONING PARNELL

the hobson 13

the village

ROTARY DIGS IN The Remuera community is giving green-fingered, practical support to a family struck by a life-changing event. Long-time resident Carol Powell suffered an aneurysm in 2017, which left her largely paralysed and unable to speak. After 18 months of care in hospital and rehabilitation centres, Carol was able to return home in January, much to her and her family’s delight.

Catherine Holden, a fellow Remuera resident, wanted to help her in a tangible way. The two are friends from Playcentre days, when their children were young and they went along to Newmarket Playcentre in Hapua St together. “Carol was wonderful with all of the children, and has done so much for the community over the years, and people wanted to return that help,” says Catherine.

With real need to make her home and garden more wheelchair friendly, Catherine suggested the idea of a working bee to her fellow members of the Rotary Club of Remuera. A working bee on Waitangi Day followed (pictured), with Rotarians pitching in to clear Carol’s garden of two years of overgrowth, plus make the house’s verandah better suited to a wheelchair. Neighbours added plantings of colourful flowers, and even the front fence got the once-over.

“Remuera Rotary wants to get out and help where it can, and the turnout was fantastic. We had 23 people turn up, not just members, but also their families. The teamwork meant that we made a real difference while having a lot of fun,” says Catherine.

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the hobson 14

the car to the house. Her son, Tom, says his mother has always enjoyed gardening and being outdoors, so the family is delighted she can enjoy it once again. Future ideas for improvement include raising the vegetable beds so the former lawyer and mediator can work on them herself, and extending the paths.

The Rotary Club of Remuera welcomes new members. Rotary meets every Monday at 5.30pm at the Remuera Bowling Club.

For more information, visit rotaryremuera.club — Gretchen Carroll p

SEEKING PEDESTRIAN REFUGE Auckland Transport is following up a request from the Ōrākei Local Board that the potential for pedestrian refuge be investigated for the middle of Remuera Rd, opposite the Remuera Library. Any installation would require the removal of some parking spaces on both sides of Remuera Rd. The local board request to AT came via the Remuera Residents Association. Chair Iain Valentine says the association has received many requests for the refuge, and says it will allow a better connection directly to the library, to the shops and bus stops for pedestrians wanting to cross at that end of the village precinct.

Presently, there are pedestrian crossings both north-south and east-west at the Victoria Ave/Remuera Rd lights, and further east, at Orakei and Remuera roads.

Remuera Business Association chair, and Remuera New World owner/operator, Adrian Barkla, says he’s unware of the proposed refuge. “I can’t see how it would make a difference and increase foot traffic – there is a pedestrian walkway at the lights 200m away [on the corner of Vicky and Remuera Rd]. It’s much better for people’s health to do a little bit of walking before sitting down in the library.”

An AT spokesperson said follow-up investigations to the request will be reported back to the local board within the next three months. Any public consultation would follow those findings. — Mary Fitzgerald Do you think a pedestrian refuge in the middle of Remuera Rd opposite Remuera Library is a good idea? Join our community poll on Facebook: facebook.com/TheHobsonMagazine

SHORT CUTS There’s no ‘new news’ on the proposed $200 million development at Mission Bay. A spokesperson for development group Urban Partners has confirmed that there has been no further progress. In August, Urban Partners lodged a resource consent application with Auckland Council, which was publicly notified at the developer’s request. Submissions have since closed. The plan for the upgrade of the waterfront precinct includes a shopping centre revamp, cinema and hospitality centre, apartments and town houses. Ōrākei ward councillor Desley Simpson asked for an update from Council, after approaches from locals keen for news. She was advised a hearing on the application is likely to be two or three months away.

Councillor Simpson has also taken up the issue of car accidents around the bends on Ngapipi Rd. “A lot of oil from vehicles collects and sets on the road surface and makes it very dangerous,” she says. “Also, potentially the speed camera is in the wrong place, encouraging vehicles to slow down and then once past the camera, speed up again and on a windy and slippery part of the road.”

Simpson has asked AT to consider the addition of a non-slip surface on the hazard-prone bends.

the village

LOCAL BOARD NOTES Mary Fitzgerald

Congratulations to campaign leader Paul Baragwanath and all who worked and supported efforts to save St David’s Memorial Church on Khyber Pass from potential demolition. The campaign to save St David’s, known as ‘the soldier’s church’, has resulted in it being listed as a Category A Historic Heritage Place by Auckland Council’s Independent Hearings Panel. The listing recognises the church’s regional and national significance. As part of the campaign, artist Max Gimblett ONZM created ‘The Art of Remembrance’ brass quatrefoils, which were displayed on the church’s exterior before being sold. See stdavidsfriends.org.nz Happy 60th birthday to the Eastern Contract Bridge Club, which celebrates its diamond jubilee this year. The club plays out of the Auckland Bridge Club rooms on Remuera Rd. New members are always welcome to the club’s Tuesday morning sessions — call president Jean Caldwell on (09) 625 5200 for information. In our next issue, we’ll have more about the club and one of its playing jewels. — Mary Fitzgerald p

THE NEXT STAGE

Auckland Transport has released the proposed design layout for the fourth and final stage in the shared walk-bike pathway that winds from Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr. The AT/NZ Transport Authority initiative is due to be completed by 2021.

The NZ Transport Association and AT are creating the shared path that, when finished, will stretch 7km, from Glen Innes Train Station to Tamaki Dr. This will give people the option of safely walking or cycling from Auckland’s eastern suburbs to the Waitematā Harbour and into the city.

AT spokesperson Darryl Walker says that the route for section four will start at the Ōrākei Basin, near the Ōrākei Bay Village retail centre. From there, it follows the eastern edge of Hobson Bay on a boardwalk structure that will be separate to Ngapipi Rd. The pathway then joins Ngapipi Rd south of the boatsheds, in the area of Whakatakataka Bay, and will provide a safe connection to Tamaki Dr at the Ngapipi Rd intersection.

The route was been confirmed after the evaluation of eight different options in late 2017. Walker says that AT is preparing to lodge a notified resource application to build the path and is also talking to people who own properties and businesses likely to be affected.

Section one of the pathway from Merton Rd to St Johns Rd was completed in 2016. Section two, from St Johns to Ōrākei Basin is set to be started at the end of this year and to be completed in 2021, at the same time as stage four. Stage three is almost completed — the replacement of its controversial railings notwithstanding, linking Meadowbank with Orakei Rd, via Ōrākei Basin. — Mary Fitzgerald p

Remuera lost another of its historic trees when a 100-yearold elm was recently removed, due to Dutch Elm disease.

The tree, on Benson Rd between Lucerne and Upland roads, was notable for its position abutting the roadway — it was planted before Benson Rd was widened. “It’s genuinely sad each time we farewell one of our beautiful, character elms to this disease,” says Auckland Council arboriculture and eco

the hobson 16

the village

The Ōrākei Local Board has renewed a further 15 year ground lease to Palmers garden centre on Shore Rd. The 7200m2 leased to the garden centre is owned by the Crown and vested to Auckland Council, with responsibility for the lease sitting with the local board. The current 15-year lease was due to expire in June 2020.

“Panuku ran a public consultation to seek the views of our community,” says Kit Parkinson. “Overall, 196 submissions were received with 93 per cent of submitters favouring retaining the garden centre for a further 15 year term. Key themes that emerged from the consultation showed that our community really values the garden centre and its café as a social hub. Also acknowledged was the large contribution to community that Palmers make. Our board supports the views of our community and we were happy to approve the commercial lease extension to Palmers.” Owners of Palmers Remuera, Delma and Jonathan Harrison, are delighted the lease has been renewed and are grateful to their local supporters, Parkinson, the board and Panuku’s Lori Butterworth. “Jonathan and I would like to thank all the people who have supported us over this time,” says Delma Harrison. “It has been a difficult time not knowing if we would be able to stay here, being in limbo. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority has confirmed the pathway upgrades on Ōhinerau/Mt Hobson are now complete. “We’ve had positive feedback about the recent improvements made to tracks and stairways,” says Kit Parkinson. “They’ve done a fantastic job aesthetically and safety-wise, it’s a big improvement. Archaeologists were involved and the works were carried out in a very careful and environmentally friendly manner, with innovation in the techniques. Our residents are very fortunate that Ōhinerau was the first of our 15 maunga to have this work done.”

Footpath access to the Ōrākei Basin from Lucerne and Upland roads, and from the basin’s carpark, is currently closed while works are underway to improve and repair the tracks and paths.

The footpath renewal is being managed by Auckland Council. In places it will widen the path, constructing it away from the basin water’s edge to minimise effects of potential future erosion. The work was expected to be completed by the end of last month, with planting scheduled for this month. Signage has also gone up around the basin warning of karaka berries. While the cause of the sudden death of a local family’s dog after exercising at Ōrākei Basin is unknown, the seeds of karaka berries fruiting at this time of year are fatal to dogs if ingested. Warning signs will now be placed annually during karaka berry season, says Desley Simpson, who organised the signage to raise awareness with dog owners.

— Local board reporting by Mary Fitzgerald p

Mary Fitzgerald

specialist, Simon Cook. “However, while we have had a recent spike of diseased trees in the central Auckland area, each removal helps us to prevent further spread across the region.” The fungal disease, commonly spread by elm bark beetles, can spread quickly through a tree and is almost always fatal. Under the Biosecurity Act 1993, it is classified as an unwanted organism and infected trees must be removed. Ōrākei Local Board chair Kit Parkinson says it was heart-breaking to see the elm succumb to the disease. “The tree, unlike others on the street, sat in the formed carriageway and had asphalt applied to its base many times. This shows the incredible durability and resilience of elm as a species, except where Dutch Elm Disease is concerned.” The board will work with Council and AT to select another tree to be planted in the elm’s place. Signs of an affected elm include wilting, curling, or yellowing leaves, or dying or dead branches. An infected tree should be reported to Council immediately.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Hobson encourages responses to our articles. If you would like to comment on something in the magazine, please email editor@thehobson.co.nz. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

I look forward to The Hobson arriving in my mailbox and enjoy the articles presented, which are on the whole informative and helpful in knowing what goes on in the area.

However, I was not able to agree with many of the comments written by Hamish Firth in his article “Trust Me on This” [March 2019]. I would like to make the following points in response: 1) “ . . . is that levels of alcohol harm in both the far north of the country and in West Auckland are similar” – this statement does not take into account what the level of harm would be if the Trusts were not in the region and the density of outlets subsequently increased in a free open market. The counterfactual to the above statement is that the level of harm could be higher (or lower) in West Auckland without the Trusts; we simply cannot say. But what we do know is that there is strong, consistent evidence that the more alcohol outlets in a neighbourhood, the higher the level of harm. And that these harms spill-over to neighbouring areas, negatively impacting residents.

2) Saying you cannot choose where to drink in West Auckland is not entirely accurate. For many years the culture of drinking has been changing, and the traditional tavern has had to adapt to changing consumer preferences. Pubs are remodelling themselves more and more to be food-focused as patrons seek more of an ‘experience’ from spending their hard-earned dollars. We have already seen this happen in West Auckland. So ‘Westies’ can still choose to have a drink in a bistro-style premises that has a restaurant on-licence, for example. The Trusts only control tavern

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on-licences; there are other types of premises to have a drink.

3) Establishing a national trust system to distribute funds from alcohol sales would be highly problematic. It totally underestimates the power and influence of the large alcohol retailers in New Zealand. Any legislation that impacts on the profits of retailers would be challenged every step of the way, ‘Trust ME on this’. The alcohol industry in New Zealand has deep pockets, and would resist a national Trust approach vehemently. Their continual opposition to alcohol tax increases is strong.

4) As an example, almost four years down the track, Auckland Council still has no local alcohol policy after facing costly and lengthy legal challenges by alcohol retailers. There seems to be no end in sight for these appeals.

5) The highest quality international evidence shows that Government ownership of alcohol outlets is the most effective approach to reducing alcohol-related harm. This approach needs to be included in any evidence-based debate surrounding cannabis reform. — Dr Bobbi Laing, Parnell p

AUTUMN UPDATE

SWIM CHAMPS The market undoubtedly slowed in 2018, for a range of reasons, not the least of which was a sense of uncertainty on the back of some fundamental changes. However, it would seem things are literally now thawing out - activity is increasing. We are observing renewed competition for some properties.

We note buyers are encouraged by the unchanged OCR and with it indication that interest rates may hold to 2020. In short, we would expect an increase in sales activity in 2019. Why? - because it feels as though the market has now swallowed the pill on the change of government and there is a sense of ‘’let’s get on with it’’.

Similarly, there is now a general acceptance and consensus that values have plateaued, making the relationship between buyer and seller somewhat more conciliatory.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust is $140,000 better off after the fourth annual Chopper Swim Challenge. The 20km Waiheke to Mechanics Bay swim attracted 120 swimmers to the open waters, fundraising for the chopper service.

Two entrants — or legends, as their mates call them — managed to raise $24,634 of the grand total. For Parnell resident David Mitchell, there was a very personal reason for taking part in the swim with teammate Rick Wells (Mitchell is pictured, centre, post-swim with team kayak support man Richard Hart and Wells).

In July 2012, Mitchell fell from a tree while on Waiheke, and it was the Westpac helicopter that delivered him to Auckland Hospital, and surgery for a broken leg, seven fractured ribs and a punctured lung. His recovery took some time, but he credits Wells with helping him recover his health.

“After three months, I managed to get in the pool and Rick gave me a rehabilitation programme that slowly enabled me to get my leg working again,” Mitchell said. He became a regular at Wells’ squads at the Newmarket Olympic Pool, and in the March event, swam in 30-minute relays with Wells, a former Commonwealth Games swimmer and Commonwealth gold medallist for triathlon.

This year’s Chopper Swim entrants included former All Blacks John Kirwan and Ian Jones. The first swimmer home reached the mainland in four hours. p

In short every situation is different.

If you’re wondering what a property is worth please give me a call at any time.

Philip Oldham M 021 921 031 philip.oldham@uprealestate.co.nz

LICENSED AGENT REAA 2008

the village

EREBUS REMEMBERED As reported in our JanuaryFebruary issue, Parnell’s Sir Dove-Myer Robinson Park has been selected as the site of a new national memorial to those killed in the Erebus tragedy on November 28, 1979. NZ’s worst civil accident in terms of loss of life, 257 passengers and crew on an Air New Zealand sight-seeing flight were killed when the DC-10 aircraft crashed into Mt Erebus, on Ross Island, Antarctica.

To mark the upcoming 40th anniversary of the disaster, six anonymous design teams were invited to submit concept designs to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. “The designers were provided with comments from the families of the Erebus victims and given the opportunity to talk to some family members in this phase of the process,” said ministry chief executive, Bernadette Cavanagh. “Feedback from the families on the designs will be presented to the National Erebus Memorial Design Panel when they meet to evaluate the designs.”

The panel, which will include two Erebus family members, will be recommending the finalist to the Prime Minister this month.

The memorial is expected to be installed next year. p

The six submitted designs, from top to bottom: Entry 1, Te Paerangi Ataata — Sky Song; Entry 2; Entry 3, Way Point; Entry 4, Te Maunga Huka; Entry 5; Entry 6, Roimata Toroa — Tears of the Albatross.

All images courtesy Ministry for Heritage and Culture

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Sandwiches

Naked Meat

Served hot & fresh until sold out.

Lamb

S

L

125g

200g

GF

Lamb

New Zealand’s favourite, Kawakawa rubbed then smoked over native wood

Beef Brisket

Pastrami

GF *

With slaw, pickles, thick & fruity sauce

Beef Brisket

GF

Salt & pepper rubbed, smoked low & slow for 14 hours

125g

200g

GF *

With slaw, pickles, chipotle mayo GF *

Pastrami

With sauerkraut, pickles, yellow BBQ sauce

GF

New York style, house brined, spiced & smoked, deliciously tender & lean

125g

200g

Pulled Pork With slaw, pickles, thin & spicy sauce

Pulled Pork Smoked pork shoulder, pulled then seasoned in Juke’s spicy sauce

Sausage

Choose your Bread: Wild Wheat sourdough bun or gluten & dairy free wrap. Feel free to change up the sauce!

125g

200g

Sausage

GF *

With slaw, pickles, kimchi BBQ sauce

Smoked & Fried Chicken

GF

Smoked coarse ground pork sausage with fresh herbs & spices

125g

200g

Smoked & Fried Chicken

With slaw, pickles, buttermilk ranch sauce GF *

Jackfruit

With slaw, pickles, thin & spicy sauce Piece

Buttermilk soaked, smoked then southern fried boneless thigh

Smoked Tofu

Naked Vege

S

L

Pulled Jackfruit Vegan favourite, spiced & simmered in Juke’s sauce

125g

200g

*

V

*

GF *

With slaw, pickles, piquant BBQ mayo

Served hot & fresh until sold out.

Smoked Tofu

V

Spiced & smoked, with piquant BBQ mayo

Fresh Salads Southern Caeser

GF *

Cos, parmesan, croutons, egg, bacon, caeser dressing GF

Juke Slaw

Cabbage, carrot, red onion, fresh coriander, fresh mint, pumpkin seeds, pickled ginger, shallots

Piece

Smokehouse Salad

*

V

GF

AUTHENTIC SOUTHERN STYLE BARBEQUE

Mixed leaf lettuce, rocket, spinach, capers, smoked red onion, smoked almonds, pickles, buttermilk ranch dressing

Ribs ‘n’ Wings

Add Lamb, Beef Brisket, Pastrami, Pulled Pork or Jackfruit

Served hot & fresh until sold out.

S

L

Pork Ribs Seasoned with Juke’s house spice rub, hot smoked & glazed

1/2 kg

1 kg

Add Smoked & Fried Chicken

Piece

GF

Add Smoked Tofu

Piece

250g

400g

Gluten & Dairy Free Wrap

GF

Chicken Wings Rubbed in our Juke house spice blend then finished in the smoker

Hot Sides Tater Tots

Kids Meals come with a 200ml Charlie’s Kids Juice & Kids Activity Pack.

Served with your choice of Tater Tots or Mac ’n’ Cheese.

Chicken Tender Meal S

L

GF

Tiny, fluffy balls of fried potato

Mac ‘n’ Cheese

V

ALSO AT

Fish Bite Meal Vege Dumpling Meal

*

V

Vanilla Icecream Scoop

Classic macaroni with three cheese sauce

Collard Greens

228 Orākei Road Remuera

Kids Meals

5 wings 10 wings

V

With chocolate, berry or caramel sauce

MT. EDEN

GF

Braised green collards simmered with bacon hock

Burnt-End Beans

GF

Green Beans Sautéed with portobello mushrooms, sesame & soy

Tater Tot Poutine Gravy, cheese curds, with pulled pork or jackfruit GF

Crispy twice cooked potato skins with Juke’s spiced salt V Loaded Skins *

Served with herbed sour cream & your choice of: Burnt-End Beans, Pulled Pork or Pulled Jackfruit

V = Vegetarian = Vegan GF = Gluten Free * = Can be altered as such

We will make every effort to meet your allergen needs. Please note however, we cannot 100% guarantee that an allergen will not be present.

5 Akiraho Street

Jam Jar Desserts

Pinto beans, burnt brisket ends, tomato, spice

Naked Skins

FIND US AT

ORĀKEI BAY VILLAGE

Wild Wheat Sourdough Bun

Lamb Ribs 24hr marinated in herbs & spices, slow-smoked, fatty and sweet

100g

Banoffee

V

CITY WORKS DEPOT

Banana parfait & caramel

Blueberry Cheesecake

V

Shortbread, cream cheese & blueberries

Pecan Pie

Shed 3D City Works Depot 90 Wellesley Street West

V

Chocolate, pecans & cream

Cheese New Zealand Cheeseboard Kapiti Smoked Cheddar, Whitestone Brie & Over-The-Moon Goats Blue, served with fig compote & water crackers.

3 x 30g

3 x 60g

WWW.JUKEJOINT.CO.NZ

Photos: Stephen Penny

the village

HANDS ON COMMUNITY Men’s Shed Auckland East is going from strength to strength, with a new base and abundance of building projects for the local community.

The Shed, situated within the Waiatarua Reserve, is part of the wider MenzShed New Zealand network, a registered charity which has 126 affiliated sheds throughout the country.

Terry Moore, deputy chair of the Auckland East branch, says the sheds are based on the idea that men relate best to each other when working shoulder to shoulder. He says it’s a way of focusing on something to do, while creating connections, and helps people overcome social isolation that can be a part of city living, and being retired. Some members join up as they have downsized their homes and lost a much-enjoyed workshop. And while there are many positives for the members, they in turn benefit the local community through the work they do.

“It’s mental stimulation for retired guys, so we’re not just watching TV and thinking what am I going to do with myself?” says Auckland East member, Paul O’Dowd.

While most of the branch’s 92 members are men aged between 70 to 90-years-old, sheds are open to women and to all ages.

Auckland East currently has two female members.

Chair Bernie Ward says it’s a great bunch that come along. As

many as 40 members visit during any one session, including some who can no longer participate in the physical work and just come along for a cup of tea and good company.

Formed in March 2016, the branch struggled to find a venue and would meet in a local café twice a week to talk and make plans, and carry out projects at different sites. Last year, they finally found their own space, leasing a warehouse-like building in the reserve from Auckland Council.

“Originally we thought getting a building was the most important thing, but we have since found out it’s more about what we do,” says Moore.

Community projects are 90 per cent of what the members work on, and in the past three years, they have completed projects for 52 community partners. They include making rat traps for local residents associations and the Eastern Songbird Project (which is revitalising bird life around the Eastern Bays by making the area pest free); a children’s safety gate for St Heliers Church and Community Centre; a mud kitchen for Ellerslie Play Centre; water play walls for Mt Richmond School and Somerville Special School; and garden beds for Pt England School.

The members have also been assembling seedling racks as part of the Trees for Survival initiative, which involves young people in growing and planting native trees, with many schools having the seedling racks onsite. The branch also builds ‘wētā condos’,

the hobson 22

To our Loyal Supporters

- - condos.

Opposite page: The Men’s Shed in full swing, Keith Hanning and the weta This page, men happily at work. The Auckland East “Shedders” have taken a 20-year lease on the property, and have plans to make further improvements.

small wooden structures with a door and window that gives wētā shelter. There’s a relationship between rat and wētā populations – if there are rats around, they eat the wetas, whereas a healthy wētā population means the rats are under control. So far they have sold about 25 of these, including some to Auckland Council.

The branch has a process to assess the projects they’re asked to consider, to determine suitability. The Shed doesn’t compete with commercial businesses and it’s entirely voluntary, with no paid staff. Members pay a $50 annual sub, and the branch receives funding from Council’s community grants programme, and support from the Ōrākei Local Board. Any profits, such as from sales of wētā condos or traps, are sunk back into the Shed.

As well as their community work, the group also promote men’s health and has guest speakers, and there’s work to be done too in their own renovations to make the warehouse a better and fullyfunctioning workshop. Future plans include creating electronics, model and engineering areas, and a lounge and conference room.

The tools have mostly been donations, although the branch has had to buy a few specific ones. They still need tool donations, and any the group has too many of are passed onto other charities in need.

Men’s Shed Auckland East is open for four sessions a week at 98 Abbotts Way, Waiatarua Reserve. For more information, see menzshed.org.nz/auckland-east or email: mensshedaucklandeast@gmail.com — Gretchen Carroll p

We would like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who assisted us through the process of renewing our lease here at Palmers Remuera. We can now plan for the future of our family-owned business, thanks to you, our loyal customers who took the time to go onto the Auckland Council website and “have your say” about our renewal. We received overwhelming support from our local community.

We’d like to especially thank Orakei Local Board chair Kit Parkinson and his team, who supported and guided us through the lease renewal process.

To celebrate, we are offering you 25% off all our local and imported water features and statues, for the month of April.

We look forward to meeting you instore.

Cheers, Delma Harrison and Jonathan Harrison Mum & Son, owners/operators of Palmers Remuera Palmers Remuera, corner of Shore & Orakei Rds. Phone (09) 524 4038 remuera@palmers.co.nz Open 7 days from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Our award-winning Café Greenfingers is open from 7am to 5pm.

the hobson + the remuera village voice

Fresh Finds in Remuera Are you looking for something a little unique, perhaps a stylish fashion statement piece, or a fine place to dine or drink? Or perhaps a delicious, custom-curated treat especially for you or a friend?

Remuera is like an unexplored walk-in wardrobe — every time you enter, there is a fresh find to stimulate your senses.

Here is a selection of fresh finds in Remuera for everyone to enjoy, from fashion to fine edibles.

4&20 BAKERY 4&20 has everything you need to enjoy a take-home breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Try a goodie bag packed with cheeses, deli meats, sourdough and grain breads and house-made hummus; or select a sweet or savoury treat, dinner, or their own breakfast granola. 4&20 Bakery will also design and customise pantry provisions, hampers and picnics to order. A delicious fresh find, unique to Remuera.

3A Clonbern Rd, phone 529 0307 4and20.co.nz Tuesday-Friday, 8am-4pm, Saturday 8am-3pm, Sunday 8am-1pm HEDGEROW At Hedgerow, new season Rains jackets and coats have arrived with a palate of stunning new colours, including lavender (pictured). All the way from Denmark, these 100 per cent waterproof pieces are the most stylish way to navigate Auckland’s changing weather. Also new in stock are Rains wash bags and cosmetics bags, in pretty pastel hues. A stylish fresh find that will have you feeling and looking exceptional.

371 Remuera Rd, phone 524 0823 hedgerow.co.nz Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

the village THE RIFLES REMEMBER The College Rifles Club invites you to join this year’s Anzac Day service at its Haast St grounds. The ceremony, which is in its 15th year, has the theme of ‘Honouring our Heroic Riflemen’. It has two purposes, says service co-ordinator Kevin Reilly — both to recognise the Club’s military history, and involve the community. He says as the years go by, the Anzac commemorations are becoming more important to the Club’s younger members. “The Club wants the wider public involved,” says Reilly. “We’ve had good attendance in the past with big crowds of 300 to 400. We’re very much a community club.”

College Rifles is unique among modern sports clubs for its long military history. The College Rifles Volunteer Corps was formed in 1897 by King’s College Founder Charles Major.

Major wanted to establish an infantry corps for old boys of three Auckland schools: King’s College, St John’s College and Auckland Grammar School. All three are still represented in College Rifles’ coat of arms. As well as the military corps, a rugby team was formed in the club’s earliest days.

WWI saw 350 College Rifles members serve, with 54 losing their lives. Among the enlisted men, seven men were recognised and awarded for their bravery, which will be highlighted in this year’s Anzac service at the club. These seven are Cyril Bassett, who received the Victoria Cross; Robert Campbell, Military Medal; Thomas Culling, Distinguished Service Cross; Geoffrey Devereux, Military Cross; Charles Thomas Major, Distinguished Service Order; Gavin Alexander, Distinguished Conduct Medal; and Colin Dickeson, Military Cross (for more about the distinguished conduct medals won by men and women in Remuera, see the story on page 34). The club has an extensive display of memorabilia related to its military history, which is open to public viewing.

The Rifles’ special Anzac rugby game will also be played on Saturday April 27 — the game references ‘the interrupted game, when play stopped between 1914 and 1920. A commemorative jersey has been designed, and polo shirts are also for sale.

GABRIELLA Browse the fashion finds at Gabriella and unleash your animal instincts. Embrace the animal-print trend this winter with the Eliana dress from David Pond (pictured). Its on-trend leopard print in a wearable, flattering cut will make you the queen of the urban jungle. Gabriella’s fresh fashion and accessories are bound to meet with roars of approval!

357 Remuera Rd, phone 520 1156 identity.co.nz Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-3pm REMUERA LOCAL CAFÉ BISTRO & LANEWAY BAR Remuera is nothing if not hospitable, and Remuera Local is a favourite from breakfast through to late evening. From the Allpress coffee served with a smile, to delicious dinners prepared by the Local’s French chef, the service and food guarantees return customers. And then there’s the Local’s cool little bar, Laneway, tucked away in Clonbern Lane.

Offering Asahi beer on tap, a full winelist, cocktails, and a moreish bar menu, Laneway is a perfect after-work stop.

Local: 371 Remuera Rd, phone 520 2900 remueralocal.co.nz Monday-Friday 7am-9.30pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am-9.30pm Laneway Bar: 2a Clonbern Lane 4pm until late, 7 days

Today’s modern College Rifles facility offers 12 sports, including lacrosse, netball, badminton and tennis. Recently the club spent $1.8 million on upgrading its all-weather turf with help from Auckland Council and club contributions.

The College Rifles Anzac Day parade starts at 9am at Minto St on Thursday April 25, and finishes at the College Rifle grounds in Haast St for the service and morning tea. The Anzac rugby match is on Saturday 27, at 2.45pm collegerifles.co.nz — Gretchen Carroll p

the councillors

Mike Lee

I

recently watched a video, available on nzherald.co.nz, of an appalling accident on the Southern Motorway. Some idiot in a fast car drove up a bus lane, veered behind the bus, then ran into the back of a small SUV. Amazingly, no one was killed, but I was appalled at the driver’s behaviour.

According to Auckland Transport (AT), speeding is a major problem on our roads, which is why they intend to ‘dramatically’ lower the speed limit on 700km of roads all over Auckland, especially focusing on the central city, where 70km of roads, including major arterials, will be reduced to a speed of 30km/h.

But wait: would a lower speed limit have prevented this accident?

Almost certainly not. To idiots like the one I just watched on the video, speed limits are meaningless. You can lower the speed limit to anything you want, and they still behave like idiots.

There are many examples. In late 2017, taxi driver Abdul Syed was killed when a Mercedes driven by Farshad Esfehani, 21, ran a red light in central Auckland. Esfehani has been charged with driving with excess breath alcohol causing death (he has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the High Court). What difference would the lowered speed limit have made to this fatality? The sad answer is: none.

In May last year, 15-year-old Nathan Kraatskow was cycling on Oteha Valley Rd when he was knocked off his bike and killed by 18-year-old Rouxle Le Roux. Le Roux, who was on her learner’s licence, had been drinking and smoking marijuana before she hit Kraatskow. She and her friends then left Kraatskow dying at the scene. What difference would the lowered speed limit have made to this fatal accident? The sad answer is: none.

On January 28, 50-year-old Zhengwen Alan Hu was killed after his vehicle was rear-ended while waiting at the traffic lights at Tī Rākau Dr. What difference would a lowered speed limit have made to this fatal accident? Again, the sad answer is: none.

According to the government’s own studies, nationally, only about 15 per cent of fatal accidents occur above the speed limit. The vast majority of these fatal speeding accidents are caused by someone

who’s young, and often blotto. The only exceptions are motorcycle deaths, which tend to kill middle-aged men. Motorcylists are dying at a rate of about one a week.

Let’s be clear: if AT is simply going to lower the speed limit in tiny suburban streets where there are pedestrians everywhere, I have no problem. But when AT is proposing to reduce major traffic routes to a crawl without some pretty good evidence, I have a big problem.

Last October I asked AT to supply the crash data that justified lowering the speed limit. Their eventual response was cagey: AT officers said they could meet but would not provide anything in writing, saying “the database contains confidential information”.

In November I wrote again, repeating my request. In December they came back, saying my questions were difficult to answer, but they were working on them and would reply by mid-February. They didn’t. I have complained to the Ombudsman. Why is AT being so evasive? One can only conclude it’s because the facts do not support their agenda.

So what can we do to lower Auckland’s appalling road toll as more people crowd into the city? The first is to get people off the roads by making public transport fares much more affordable, and services more frequent and reliable. AT imposes some of the highest train and bus fares in the world and has just increased them again.

Evidently AT wants us all to ride a bike. Although it’s spending a fortune on cycleways, it won’t normally allow bikes on its buses. I am not making this up. Secondly, we need to change our roads so that bad behaviour doesn’t turn into road deaths. Unfortunately drunk and drugged drivers don’t read speed signs.

A study by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents concluded that lowering the speed limit was far less effective than changing the way that roads are built. Speed bumps and chicanes regulate traffic. So do properly designed pedestrian crossings.

Ironically for long suffering Auckland motorists, already frustrated by increasing congestion and lane closures, a significant portion of the regional fuel tax is to be spent on this multi-million dollar speed reduction plan.

The major social and economic problem in Auckland today is growing traffic congestion, matched with unreliable, increasingly costly public transport. Slowing traffic down even further is not the answer. Once again, profligate, strategically incoherent AT is in the wrong lane, travelling in the wrong direction.

Mike Lee is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Waitematā and Gulf ward

Yes, even Mahé needs a navigator.

J U S T N O T O N T H E W AT E R

GUIDING, GROWING, AND P R O T E C T I N G YO U R W E A LT H

H O B S O N W E A LT H .C O. N Z | 0 8 0 0 74 2 7 3 7 Hobson Wealth Partners Limited (FSP29782), is an NZX Advising Firm. The disclosure statement for Hobson Wealth Partners is available upon request, free of charge.

concern and I am pleased to see AT are willing to look at speed management options. Is this a problem you are experiencing?

Please contact me if it is: desley.simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

33,000

Desley Simpson

F

rom somebody who loves numbers, here are some important ones about our city that you need to know.

30km/h This is Auckland Transport’s proposed speed limit for vehicles travelling within the city centre, and parts of Mission Bay and St Heliers. Whilst public consultation has now closed, I will update you on the results. As yet, I am not 100 per cent convinced that the evidence is there for a 24/7 30km/h speed zone for all vehicles, in all streets, within the city centre (there are a couple being reduced to 10km/h), Mission Bay and St Heliers. I say that as: I have yet to receive the evidence of 50kms being wrong relative to these areas I don’t understand why it is acceptable for a higher speed of 40 kms to apply to school zones, yet not for the other areas flagged It was only halfway through the consultation period that AT revealed to me they would not just be changing signage, but would need ‘engineering solutions’ to physically slow traffic down. This would specifically include Mission Bay and St Heliers, with the suggestion of many extra raised pedestrian crossings, a roundabout and the loss of up to 47 carparks Many people have written to me asking that pedestrian behaviour be better managed. It is absolutely frightening to have someone step from the footpath in front of your vehicle, without looking. This is one of the drivers (pardon the pun) around the slower limits. AT want to ensure that even if people make mistakes, it shouldn’t cost them their life. There is no price on a life, but with money invested in the separation of cycle lanes from vehicles and pedestrians, the suggestion of a strong campaign targeting pedestrian behaviour seems sensible to me, before potentially adding to congestion.

On the other hand, in some suburban areas (such as Meadowbank), communities are requesting lower speed limits.

‘Rat running’ in some of our narrow residential streets is causing

• • •

This is the number we were given two years ago on the vehicle numbers travelling along the section of Tamaki Dr outside the Outdoor Boating Club, every weekday. No-one wants to give me an updated one, but it reflects the number of vehicles facing congestion chaos now Quay St has been reduced to one lane each way, which happened without notice in December.

The news on this isn’t good. The changes were needed to urgently undertake wharf strengthening works. I’m told the footprint of these works, and time needed for completion, does not allow a return to four lanes, even temporarily. There have been alterations to bus routes, but until the City Rail Link is completed in 2024, we lack a true public transport connection into and through the central city, to at least reduce some of these vehicles. AT suggests our east/west route should involve travelling via The Strand, onto the motorway, and back off again, with new off-ramps. The New Zealand Transport Authority, who manage motorways, are yet to prioritise the new ramps to allow this route to be an alternative. So it’s a nightmare in the short term. I’ve been promised regular updates from AT so please check my website: desleysimpson.co.nz

$13.5 million $13.5 million is the savings figure achieved by Auckland Council in six months, from our half year update. It’s a relatively small number on its own but is a key part of our overall plan to save $23m this year, $60m in the next three years and $560m over the next decade.

That half a billion is on top of the over $288m Auckland Council has cumulatively saved since amalgamation. It’s been identified in both cutting operational costs, and through cost avoidance and capital expenditure savings particularly identified through our Value for Money programme, which I have championed. These are ambitious targets, and savings can easily be wiped out by significant weather events or budget overruns. However I stand committed to do my part in trying to prioritise efficient and effective use of ratepayers’ funds.

Desley Simpson is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Ōrākei ward

the politicians

David Seymour

Paul Goldsmith

O

O

Paul Goldsmith is a National list MP based in Epsom

David Seymour is the MP for Epsom

ne of the benefits of living in a small country is that people can have ready access to our politicians (if that is what they desire!). To hear their message unfiltered by the media, and to give feedback direct.

We had that in spades at the first meeting of the Super Blues in Epsom last month, at the Remuera Club. We’ve designed it as a monthly forum for the 60+ age group of the Epsom electorate to get together mid-morning to discuss issues of the day with a National party politician. Simon Bridges came to town to kick it off, and more than 200 came along, from all walks of life and from the four corners of the electorate: Remuera, Mt Eden, Epsom and Parnell.

He was fresh from his morning media interviews, where the topic of the day had been Shane Jones and the Provincial Growth Fund.

A conflict of interest was declared, and yet he’d still taken part in discussions with Cabinet colleagues over the project in question.

Jones said he hadn’t been in any meetings, and then he was. It was all very confusing, and worrying, given the $3 billion of spending for which he’s responsible. Jones has usually been my quarry; but there’s room for everyone!

The topic on most people’s minds at the meeting was the proposed capital gains tax. One woman, who owns a bookshop, put it well when she asked how the Government thought it was fair that she should spend her career building up her business, out of tax-paid profits, with a view eventually to selling it to provide for her retirement, only to be taxed again. She also wondered how people who live above their shop would be dealt with – would their dwelling be exempt, like the private home? We couldn’t provide reassurance. These are the sorts of questions many are worried about.

Another man wondered how we were going to attract venture capital funding, which was already scarce, with more taxes. He referenced Rocket Lab, the brain-child of Peter Beck, but largely funded out of the US. It would be great if NZ savings could propel more such businesses – but it’s less likely if savings and investment is discouraged by a 33 per cent capital gains tax.

Questions also came thick and fast about potential coalition partners for National in 2020 – time will tell, Simon said.

Did we spend too much time talking about the economy, one gentleman asked? Not everything is about money. So true, of course there’s more to life than money. The conversation often does come back to money, Simon reminded people, because so many of the things we value – good health, quality educational opportunities for the next generation, support for those in need, and more – rely on a strong economy. In simple terms, Simon is motivated, as am I, by a desire for our kids to see opportunities here in this country – a strong, dynamic economy with a bright future. He didn’t want to be a leader like John Key was in 2008, standing in the Cake Tin in Wellington, saying that the equivalent of the capacity of the stadium left for Australia that year. Our country returned that flow for a couple of years, at the end of the Key/English era. Now the flow has returned across the Tasman. We don’t want it to get worse.

Hopefully everyone there had something to take away and discuss back home. We’ll be doing it monthly, so seniors are welcome to come along. Email paul.goldsmith@parliament.govt.nz if you want to attend, or call 524 4930.

n a Thursday evening last month, Holy Trinity Cathedral was home to the biggest local political public meeting in memory. The crowd numbered nearly 500 and there was good vigorous debate, to say the least. The topic was the Government’s proposed education reforms, which I covered in the March edition of The Hobson.

First up at the meeting was Bali Haque, educator and chair of the Tomorrow School’s Taskforce, which is proposing the reforms.

Haque was certainly at home in the cavernous Holy Trinity, reaching to the sky as if for manna from heaven. Nobody could doubt his sincerity, he is convinced that he is proposing what’s best for New Zealand and the children who grow up here. He ended with a plaintive cri de coeur — “When did this happen, how did it become ok to say I’m alright, and leave the rest behind?”.

His great difficulty was power, and specifically where it would lie under his new regime. He argued that he was a liberator of schools, the Ministry of Education, he said, currently oppresses innovation and creativity by imposing on schools whatever policy the government of the day demands, as is its statutory requirement.

The great difficulty is that he also argued that the new entities, proposed to assume the legal rights and responsibilities currently held by boards of trustees, would have the power to do things the ministry could not.

Up next was the soft-spoken economist Professor Gary Hawke, who spoke like he was admonishing a failed student. “The report is strangely ahistorical . . . it could have benefited from studying the original Tomorrow’s Schools proposal . . . Mr Haque said the hubs would be Crown entities but there are many sorts of Crown entitites, if he meant a Crown agency, he should know they are required to follow Government policy, just as the Minstry of Education is . . .”

Hoping to recover the Taskforce’s case from the professorial demolition, was the second Taskforce speaker, academic Dr Cathy Wylie. If she was miffed at the speech before her, she didn’t show it.

She said that boards have been unreliable at managing property, for which she was booed by the crowd, and that there would be more cooperation between different schools under the new proposals.

The most memorable speech came from the old tusker, former Auckland Central MP Richard Prebble. He regaled the crowd with stories about the days of education boards, not dissimilar from the now-proposed hubs. The Police removed more teachers from the classroom than the Education Board, he said, to one of several outbursts of applause. Prebble’s main message, though, is that if the goal is to help Māori and Pasifika students, the system needs to be more flexible and adaptable, like the charter schools the Government just abolished. Central control of education has served the majority, at the expense of the minority, for over a century. What’s more, he said, much of the education system is highly successful.

Sensible people would not mess with what is working, on the tenuous basis they will fix what is not, and this is a proposal worth fighting. It threatens to destroy local schools as we know them. I’d encourage you to join the resistance by signing up to keepourschoolslocal.act.org.nz. If you’d like to see the whole event, film is available to view at the same url.

the hobson 28

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the plan

Sharing the Infrastructure Load

L

ast month’s article certainty caused a stir, with many of you in disbelief that you could not buy beer and wine in a supermarket in West Auckland. Many went so far as to say I was making it up. Well, I would encourage you to drive towards the setting sun over the causeway, and tootle into a supermarket on Lincoln Rd and find out for yourselves. The place is ‘dry’ except for trust controlled premises.

On another hot topic, as predicted last year, John Tamihere has officially thrown his hat into the ring to be the Mayor of Auckland, with the local body election pencilled in for October.

It will be fun to watch this campaign and to see which way voters turn. Mr Tamihere talks a big game, but the size and power of the bureaucracy may blunt many of his propositions.

He has teamed up with former Mayor and current Albert-EdenRoskill ward councillor Christine Fletcher, who may appeal to a wider cohort.

Many of you will have noticed a change in real estate conditions. Prices are not skyrocketing, houses are taking longer to sell, and some are selling for CV or below. Auckland Council processed 21 per cent more building consents in 2018 than in 2017, and countrywide, we are producing twice as many houses now than we did in 2009. That has to be positive for the supply side of things and ultimately, affordability.

However there is another factor which could reduce house prices by at least $40,000 in Auckland and that is development contributions. Development contributions partially fund new infrastructure, without using rates for the entire cost. They ensure that all new households pay for their share of the cost of say a library, roads, storm or wastewater systems. It is about fairness and not overburdening existing ratepayers.

Typically a development contribution in Auckland is around $21,000+gst, and Watercare charge around $12,000+gst to connect to the water and wastewater systems. All of these are payable before any new house can be occupied.

The big issue being that it is paid upfront as a lump sum by the developer or builder, who then factors that into the cost of the final price of the dwelling when it is sold to the

homeowner. That line item in a budget also has a finance cost and then a profit margin, which adds to the overall price of the dwelling by a number greater than just the cost of the initial development contribution.

In my mind there is a better way, and that is a differential rate for each new house. If the rates for the new dwelling were say $1200 a year, paid annually for 30 years, then the cost of the dwelling could come down by say $40,000 or six per cent on a $650,000 first home, and the cost spread over time. Remember the new dwelling does not suddenly generate $40,000 worth of infrastructure on day one — it is spread over time as a new water supply or waste water treatment plant may not be needed for 20 years.

By bringing down the price of housing you will have more first home buyers meeting deposit thresholds and not having to take on so much debt. The ongoing extra rates payment is then also spread over multiple owners if the house sells, and at say $23 a week in additional rates it feels a much easier burden than an upfront payment of $40,000.

This would be an easy win for Council and government, and be great for first home buyers. While I know it will need the accountants to shuffle numbers and the PR people to get the message out, it has the opportunity of making a real difference to new houses and first home buyers.

Then there is the issue of balance sheets and funding infrastructure. Hypothetically, let’s say a new sewer pipe is needed to be built across the city. It has an expected cost of $1 billion and may not fit onto the Council balance sheet without consequences, or a large rate rise. How about the Super Fund pay for it, own it and lease it to the Council? Or do it by way of a private-public partnership. Spark Arena works this way and what a change it has brought as to concerts, events and the vibrancy of the CBD. While the disposal of waste and entertainment are not the same thing, funding them could be.

I wonder if these issues, which can make meaningful change to our lives, are something the incumbent mayor and those that want to be are prepared to tackle?— Hamish Firth

Councillor Desley Simpson To learn more about what’s happening around the Town Hall table, please join my newsletter at: desley.co.nz/newsletter Or join me on Facebook: desley.co.nz/facebook

I’m always available to discuss the issues that matter to you.

P: 021 971 786

E: Desley.Simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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the investment

About that Capital Gains Tax

S

ome of you may recall a column I wrote a few years ago, in which I outlined the errors in the thinking that a capital gains tax (CGT) would quell price rises in the – mainly Auckland – residential property market. Some quite considerable increases in Auckland house prices at the time were being driven by a combination of declining interest rates, strong immigration and a lack of growth in housing stock: i.e, demand outstripping supply.

These circumstances saw the left-leaners cry foul that some hard-working New Zealanders, and first-home buyers in particular, were being ‘unfairly’ shut out of the housing market because of greedy speculators and nasty foreigners. The left-leaners said we must tax people more and take a bite out of their capital gains, because it’s ‘not fair’ that property owners enjoyed tax-free gains.

Andrew Little was foolish enough to perpetuate the myth, the PM saw the political risk and kicked the can down the road to the Sir Michael Cullen-dominated Tax Working Group (TWG) to independently review the unfair tax system. And guess what the TWG recommended? A comprehensive tax at the marginal income tax rate on pretty much every asset, save for ‘the family home,’ whatever that is, art and, amazingly, off-shore investments.

Let’s get a few things straight: First, a CGT on property does NOT stop or stem price rises. Only the balance of demand and supply affects property prices. Capital gains taxes, stamp duties, etc have done little, if anything, to keep the lid on property prices rising for many years in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US, among most other developed countries. So don’t be fooled by that argument.

We’re already seeing a slowdown in residential prices with a combination of a moderate slowing in net immigration, restrictions on foreign buyers and the extension of the bright-line test to five years. Lo and behold, we’re seeing much smaller increases in property prices than those in previous years. The CGT as recommended is just an excuse for the left-leaners to tax you more and to spend/transfer more with the sole objective of buying votes.

Under the TWG proposals, the Wellingtonian lucky enough to have a $1 million house, and who inherited a bach in the Marlborough Sounds will pay tax, probably at 33c in the dollar, when she sells that bach or when it is inherited by her children.

She will also pay this CGT every year as the value of her KiwiSaver account increases, except for (incredulously) on those gains that

come from foreign investments, to which the CGT will not apply.

I am a director of a wealth advisory business and I can guarantee you that if there is a CGT implemented on NZ shares and other securities but not on, for example, US shares, we will be allocating a lot more of our client assets out of New Zealand. We’d have to.

Think of the effect of such nonsense on the $56 billion invested in KiwiSaver accounts. If our friend in Wellington were to see demand in the residential housing market and invest some of her tax-paid savings into a rental property (nasty, greedy landlord!), she would pay tax on any increase in the value of that property over time. That might have her reconsider making the investment.

If we were to suddenly think the proposed CGT is a great idea, then is it ‘fair’ that a person in Hamilton, with a $750k family home and a $350k investment property, pays CGT when selling the investment property, but a Parnell-based lawyer can pump cash in to the $5 million family home — and enjoy tax-free capital gains?

For all of these reasons and many, many more, the TWG recommendations will never be implemented. Hard-working New Zealanders are never going to vote for such left-leaning idealistic folly. Simon Bridges would do best by keeping quiet on the pitfalls of any CGT and let it self-destruct.

NZ is not a deep, layered, sophisticated economy. We are a young, developing, fragile economy, which financial commentator Brian Gaynor once eloquently described as a ‘frontier economy’.

Generally, NZ attracts tourists and migrants, builds residential properties and exports agricultural products, none of which generate particularly high incomes. You will often hear NZ described as a low-wage economy, and it’s for that reason. And that is not the type of economy where one should be advocating for a complex and sophisticated tax system, such as the one recommended by the TWG to include a comprehensive CGT. That comes in a few generations, when we have broadened and deepened our economy and raised real GDP per capita. In the meantime, the opposite should be happening: simple, low taxes and a system to encourage economic development, meet the demands (including housing) of a growing population and get the wheels of commerce spinning faster. That generates income, which generates tax revenue. Well anyway, I’m off to buy some art.

— Warren Couillault

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the second act

Go Ahead, Caller

S

o they left within three weeks of each other. Poof! Vanished, these human beings who took up so much of my oxygen during the last 23 years — one to Mexico, the other to Wellington. As they left on their respective adventures, they expressed concern. “Will you be ok Mum? I mean there is Dad, but . . .” i.e, they had low expectations for him helping me with what they thought would be crippling loneliness and a sense of redundancy, as they imagined their bereft mother wandering an empty home, crying into their pillows and smelling their old t-shirts.

A mother’s love is primal and indeed I remember the day each of them was born, those days when all I thought about was my babies, and when I started mourning the day they would leave me.

I loved them fiercely and they adored me so much that they would fight over who got to sleep facing me, breath to breath, when they crawled into our bed in the middle of the night, the other one relegated to spooning my back like a Klingon. But of course that was years ago, in the days when I hadn’t quite got back to being a fully formed human being, with an identity separate from being someone’s mother.

I still love my children deeply of course, but there are aspects of their characters I don’t like at all (the ones not from my side of the family). So forget what you’ve read about the sad echo of empty nesting. Au contraire, it’s fantastic! The food bill’s plunged, my husband has emerged from his cave, and life has already assumed a lovely, gentle pace which sees us spending a lot of time in our new spa pool at the bach, relaxed in the knowledge that no-one is stealing our booze back home.

The only thing that can ruin this new sense of freedom is the nagging concern that it’s become commonplace for young adults to boomerang back and forth from their parents’ home, during a prolonged state of adolescence that can run right up to their 30s.

While the housing market is thought to be fuelling this trend, I see it actually serving a lot of parents who consider their kids as friends, and love hanging out with them in an effort to prolong the delusion of their own youth.

I’m more inspired by the strategy adopted by our friends, who,

as parents of three 20-somethings, unceremoniously kicked each of them out for good soon after their 25th birthdays. They also employed the clever tactic of using the family spa pool naked, to really hurry things along.

Looking back on our collective parenting skills over the past couple of decades, I would probably award us a B- and occasionally a D+ if we take into account lapses of judgement when we’ve been a bit too absent. The kids would say that indeed there were moments of slackness, but these were balanced out by extreme bouts of both helicoptering and subversive U-boating, when I have tried to fix them up to talk with “someone I know”.

This has no doubt fed their concern that I would have debilitating separation anxiety, brought on by a mix of regret, guilt and what they call out as control freak tendencies. In fact, my son was quick to enact effective boundaries by telling me that I was only allowed to phone him at his hostel once a week, but other than that I should “feel free to text”! What a cheek — that’s the sort of line I use with people if I am going to be in a conference all week.

When I called him last week, feeling like a detainee using up their one phone credit, he announced all was well, except he really needed underwear and socks. He had no money to buy any, he said, due to his student loan not yet coming through (note that he had packed for this semester away only a few weeks prior). I was going to get him to wait it out, but I buckled on this one for health concerns. He’s never been big on doing laundry. Meanwhile, I started receiving messages from the daughter, professing she missed me. Cynically, I thought she wants me to send money. I wasn’t wrong. I suggested she lived on tacos rather than margaritas, and come up with another plan. I await the next phone call.

Possibly the worse thing about empty nesting is that you suddenly realise it was all a bit of blur. And now that you’ve come up for air, you’re aware you’re 55 and facing your own mortality.

Empty nesting is truly the start of the Second Act, and one in which, if you’re lucky, will mark the start of a new adventure.

So kids, I can’t make any promises your father and I will be somewhere with cell coverage, but do feel free to text.

— Sandy Burgham

the hobson 32

the anzacs

For

King & Country Remuera gave its share of men and women to World War I. Many of those who did not come home are remembered on plaques and dedications, notably on the obelisks at St Thomas’ Church and Auckland Grammar, at the gates to Remuera Primary and in the chapel at King’s College. More scattered are the records of awards and honours for service during the Great War. To mark Anzac Day, local historian and chair of Remuera Heritage, Sue Cooper, writes here of some of the acts of bravery and heroism recognised with official honours.

Many Remuera men and women received awards and honours for their war service in WWI — one was awarded the Victoria Cross, four won the Military Cross, three the Distinguished Conduct Medal, two the Military Medal, two the Distinguished Service Order, two the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, two the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and three nurses were awarded the Royal Red Cross. Nine were mentioned in despatches from the battle front. Of the recipients of awards, two were husband and wife; two were brothers; two were brother and sister; and three were nurses who all resided in Vicky Ave. photographs courtesy auckland libraries collections; state library of nsw; personal collections

Left: Hilda Steele and Elsie Cooke (right); above the “Chosen Twelve”, Elsie Cooke bottom right.

ELSIE COOKE

ELSIE GRIEG

Sister Elsie Cooke of Victoria Ave, and nurse Hilda Steele of Arney Rd were both part of the “Chosen Twelve” who were sent

by New Zealand at the request of the Australian government to support the Australian and British forces in Egypt in 1915. There they attended to the large number of casualties from Gallipoli with terrible wounds. In July 1915, the Australians called for volunteers to open an infectious diseases hospital. Elsie, Hilda and Winifred Scott were accepted and did pioneering work in this area. They were then closely involved in opening a large infectious diseases hospital at Choubra (Shoubra), on the outskirts of Cairo. Their work was stifling in the Egyptian heat. and they had to wear protective clothing as they ran a real risk of contracting typhoid, meningitis or dysentery. Elsie was awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class in 1919 “in recognition of valuable services with the British Forces in Egypt”.

Also from Vicky Ave were Sister Elsie Greig and Nurse Isobel MacLennan. Elsie Greig was born in Australia and qualified as a nurse at Sydney Hospital. She saw service at Gallipoli, Cairo, France and England. For two years, from May 1917 to June 1919, Elsie was with No. 3 Australian General Hospital near the front line in France and Flanders. Elsie was twice mentioned in despatches – the 1917 citation read: “This Sister has been in charge of the Acute Surgical Ward and also one room in the Operating Theatre. She has shown throughout, great devotion to duty, also skill and tact in her work and has always been ready and willing to undertake any extra work and strain which has come along. She has always set a constantly high example of conduct and of ready cheerfulness both in her work and in the daily life of the unit.” Elsie was again mentioned in 1919 for conspicuous and gallant services in the

the hobson 34

Top: Nurses and army officers at the No.1 NZ General Hospital in Cairo, 1915. Cora Anderson is in the third row, eighth from left. Inset her Royal Red Cross medal, 1st Class, with the words Faith, Hope, Charity.

field during the period February to September 26, 1917, and awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class, dated January 1, 1919, and then 1st Class RRC. By 1928 she had returned home and lived in Remuera, where she cared for her mother at 4 and then 8 Victoria Ave.

CORA ANDERSON Matron Cora Anderson was one of the first nurses selected for the contingent of 50 who were sent overseas for service under the direction of the British War Office. Cora served as matron of most of the major NZ forces hospitals in England, including the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital No. 3 at Codford on the Salisbury Plains, and the large Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital in Essex, known as Grey Towers. By the end of 1918 about 20,000 patients had been treated at Hornchurch, which had a well-equipped physiotherapy department as part of its rehabilitation treatments. Cora had been mentioned in despatches for her administration work in Egypt and received further decoration when she was made an Associate Royal Red Cross (2nd Class) in October 1917, in recognition of her valuable service while matron of Hornchurch. In July 1919 Cora was awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, again for her valuable nursing service. After the war, she married Eric Roberton and had two children, Elizabeth and Craig. On Cora’s death at the age of 81 in September, 1962, their address was 53 Upland Rd.

the hobson 35

Above, Cora Anderson as a young woman, undated.

the anzacs

ISOBEL MACLENNAN Staff Nurse Isobel MacLennan from ‘Cluanie’, 48 Victoria Ave, was mentioned in despatches in connection with the influenza epidemic amongst the men of the 40th Reinforcements onboard the troop ship Tahiti, which was returning to NZ in July 1918. Isobel had also been on the hospital ship Maheno on its fourth charter in 1917/18 with Sister Bessie Maxfield. Isobel went on to marry Silston Cory Wright of Parnell in 1924. Cory Wright joined Cedric Salmon, a fellow officer in the Engineers, in founding the engineering firm of Cory Wright and Salmon. They settled in Wadestown, Wellington, living in a historic crescent-shaped Wadestown residence known as ‘the Banana House’. Isobel died in 1970, aged 80.

BESSIE MAXFIELD Sister Bessie Maxfield was born November 12, 1886, one of seven daughters of Henry and Mary Maxfield of ‘Henley Grove’, 51 Market Rd, Remuera. As with Isobel MacLennan, Bessie was on the troop ship Tahiti on its way home in July 1918 when there was an early outbreak of the flu, which would become part of the global influenza pandemic. The illness had a very high mortality rate on the ship, with doctors, nurses and crew afflicted. Charge nurse Bessie ended up in an isolation hospital, after nursing dying men for whom very little could be done. She was mentioned in despatches in terms of the highest commendation for their splendid work and devotion to duty under the most trying circumstances.

A parliamentary committee said: “Too much praise cannot be allocated to Sister Maxfield and the nurses under her charge, as all worked most assiduously and effectively to cope with the epidemic. It is regretted that the same cannot be said about the medical orderlies, who were apparently ill-trained and did not show any marked capability or zeal.” It was recommended that she be given the Royal Red Cross, but there was a recentlyintroduced rule that this should only be awarded after a term of service which she had not yet reached. After the war, Bessie married Joseph West, a National Bank manager in Whangarei, and had three children.

COLIN DICKESON Qualified architect Captain Colin Dickeson also grew up in Victoria Ave. He had arrived on the Western Front in July 1916, and the following year participated in offensives at Messines and Passchendaele. In November 1916, he had transferred to New Zealand Cyclist Corps, which trained men to be mounted riflemen.

They were particularly involved with burying telegraph cables, and at times served in the trenches as infantrymen. On January 15, 1918, Colin was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry, the citation noting “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when cable burying operations were in danger of being stopped owing to difficulties, through the rain, mud, darkness, and enemy shelling, of getting materials forward to the work”. At the age of 30, Colin Dickeson was killed in action on April 26, 1918, near Ypres in Flanders, Belgium.

GEORGE HOLLAND Major George Holland was the older son of John and Emily Holland, who lived at 20 Station Rd, now known as Ohinerau St, Remuera.

He was posted to Gallipoli, and was awarded the Military Cross “for invaluable services rendered during the whole time between the landing and the evacuation, September - December 1915

Clockwise from top left: Major George Holland, Second Lieutenant William Henning, Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Saxby and Second Lieutenant Gavin Alexander.

Gallipoli Peninsula”. In a letter published in the New Zealand Herald, he wrote: “I landed on Gallipoli at Cape Helles on May 8, 1915, and took part in the charge when the New Zealand troops lost heavily. My next charge was at Quinn’s Post, on June 4, and was most exciting. We left our trenches at 11pm, and rushed the Turks’ trench. A number of our men carried bombs and drove a number of the Turks out. Then they got to work with the bayonet, and accounted for quite a number, besides taking 36 prisoners.

We then got to work with what little material there was and began to build bomb-proof shelters. At daybreak the Turks started bombing in real earnest, and where we were, was a veritable Hades. We were driven out of the trench at 8am, our casualties being 110 killed and wounded. Captain Algie, Captain Brown, a private from the l5th Company, and I were the last to leave the trench, and we carried out two men who were badly wounded. We took up a position in a blockhouse, and were relieved at 10am. My next charge was on the night of June 7, when we tried to take the same trench. But the Turks were prepared for us, and had plenty of machine-guns and bombs. Our casualties were 57 killed.”

After Gallipoli, George was posted to the Western Front, arriving in April 1916. Barely three months later, he was mentioned in despatches: For distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of General Sir Charles Munro’s command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 10 April, 1916. He did not survive the Somme, and was killed in action on May 15, 1918. He was 32.

the hobson 36

GAVIN ALEXANDER Second Lieutenant Gavin Alexander was part of the NZ Corps of Engineers. Gavin was at Gallipoli on April 12, 1915. He survived both the ill-fated attack and the appalling conditions as winter arrived. Sergeant Alexander came under the notice of his superior officers for his bravery. He was twice mentioned in despatches for distinguished and gallant services during the period of General Sir Charles Monro’s command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. In June 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal “For conspicuous good work and devotion to duty throughout the (Gallipoli) campaign.” After Gallipoli he was on the Western Front. On the day of the big push at the battle of the Somme, he was wounded in action in midSeptember 1916, and died a day later.

WILLIAM HENNING

Major Geoffrey de Bohun Devereux, above, was born on April 10, 1890, son of the Hon. Henry De Bohun, the second son of the 15th Viscount Hereford, and Maud Devereux of ‘Kundibar’, 72 Market Rd. Geoffrey was involved in the Gallipoli landing, as Transport Officer on H.M. Transport Lutzow, organising the delivery of men and the evacuation of the wounded. He was ashore in June 1915, serving with the 1st Auckland Battalion through the heat of the summer, but his health declined and he was declared unfit for service. In July 1917 he rejoined the battallion as 6th Company Commander, his battlefield leadership recognised with a Military Cross in November 1917, and again in March 1918 for acts of gallantry in the field at Passchendaele: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion, though he lost all his Company Officers early in the advance, he directed the attachment of his company in a most able manner and captured all his objectives. He did excellent work in securing the captured position and sent in most valuable reports. He set his company a splendid example of courage and their success was largely due to his efforts.”

Geoffery Devereux was killed in action at Le Cateau, France on October 1, 1918, at the age of 28.

Second Lieutenant William Henning of George St, Remuera (which later became part of Ohinerau St) was a self-employed car importer and pioneer in the fledgling New Zealand car industry.

He was attributed with importing the first motor vehicle into the country — a £100, European-made three-wheeler motorised tricycle that arrived in November 1895. William joined the NZEF in 1914, sailing for Egypt and leaving his second wife, Gladys, at home in Auckland (but not for long, see below). In May 1917, William was posted to France where he fought at Passchendaele.

He was sent to England for a four-month officer cadet course, at Trinity College, Cambridge, after which he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. The Kiwis were fighting in the area near Bapaume, as part of the Brits’ 100 day offensive against the Germans. William was wounded on August 2, 1918, but remained on duty. On August 15, 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross in the field for Conspicuous Gallantry and Resource: “When the enemy had retaken part of the line held by his company, he reorganised his platoon, and while holding the enemy in front personally led a party round the flank and bombed them out.

Not content with this, he captured some 250 yards of new trench and established blocks, holding the enemy at bay until relieved by permanent garrison.” The day after being awarded the MC, William was wounded again, and yet again on September 12. He was admitted to the No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance station with gunshot wounds, where he died the following day, aged 33.

CONRAD SAXBY

GLADYS COATES (HENNING, SANFORD)

Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Gordon Saxby was the fourth son of Gordon Harding and Katharine Saxby of ‘Quamby’, 23 Orakei Rd. He went to the South African War and volunteered his services for WWI. He was appointed Major and Lieut. Colonel of the Māori Battalion in France, and on November 13, 1916, was mentioned in despatches from General Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-inChief of the British armies in France. The following January, Conrad was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The citation read “For good work and devotion to duty during the period August 27th/October 2nd 1916. During this period Major Saxby commanded ‘A’ Company New Zealand Pioneers, and his coolness under fire and he set a splendid example, were an inspiration to the men working under fire. [sic] His company work was always laid off with sound judgement and well carried out.” He died in England of influenza during the 1918 pandemic.

William Henning’s wife Gladys was the first woman in the country to work as a car sales rep, and also to attain her pilot’s licence. Gladys Coates was born in Sydney in 1891, but her parents, Oswald and Valerie, relocated to Auckland, living in ‘Waimana’ at 14 Hastings Rd, now known as Haast St. At the age of 21, Gladys, a teacher, married widower and car importer William. She learned to drive and enjoyed tinkering with engines.

When her husband enlisted in the NZEF in 1914, Gladys offered her services as a driver, but was turned down. She instead joined the Volunteer Sisterhood under Ettie Rout. It cost £130 to equip, insure and finance a volunteer to Egypt for one year; £70 was raised while Gladys was living in the home she shared with William in George (Ohinerau) St. She chose to pay the remainder herself and sailed for Egypt — where William was stationed — on December 30, 1915, to be a hospital orderly and nursing helper. When her husband’s battalion moved to France, Gladys relocated to England, taking up a job as a cleaner in a

GEOFFERY DE BOHUN DEVEREUX

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the anzacs

military hospital. In May 1917, she persuaded the Sergeant Major in charge of the drivers to allow her to work as an ambulance driver with the Motor Transport Section of the NZEF, at the NZ forces’ Hornchurch and Walton-on-Thames hospitals. She rose to be head female driver and her efforts were recognised with a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1920. Because she had not attested in New Zealand and was employed in a civilian/voluntary role with the NZEF, Gladys found that when she applied for war medals, that she did not qualify for them. However, a ruling by General Richardson said she was to be treated as a special case and have all the privileges of a returned soldier granted. Based on her two years’ service abroad as a driver, she so became the first woman to receive full membership of the [then] Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association. Gladys didn’t stop pushing at the boundaries: in December 1925, despite strong opposition, she became the first woman in NZ to gain a pilot’s licence (No. 18), and later made many daring trips driving with female friends across the Australian outback. Gladys had remarried in 1920 to a friend of William’s, Squadron Leader Frederick Sandford, but the marriage did not last. After living in Auckland for some years, she moved permanently to Sydney in 1929, and died there in 1971.

RANDOLPH COATES Gladys’s older brother, Randolph Edward Oswald Coates, was born in Adelaide on May 19, 1888. He was at first offered a commission in an English regiment, but refused it, instead accepting a commission as a Lieutenant in the New Zealand Infantry. He saw action throughout the Gallipoli campaign, before becoming ill and under orders to go to Egypt for care. But leaving the Gallipoli peninsula was dangerous — he was wounded by shrapnel while embarking on a ship in December 1915.

Subsequently his name was mentioned in dispatches for devotion to duty, and for “continuous good work in charge of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade”. He passed the exams to join the Royal Flying Corps, but his transfer was refused, and he was ordered to the firing-line of the Western front in March 1917. He was in the 2nd Auckland Company when he met his death during the battle for Messines in Belgium on June 7, 1917. He was 29.

Clockwise from top left: Lieutenant Randolph Coates, Captain James (Jimmy) Dineen, Sergeant William Birnie and Sergeant-Major Robert Birnie.

WILLIAM & ROBERT BIRNIE The seven Birnie brothers were born across 15 years to John and Agnes Birnie of 11 O’Rorke Ave, Remuera. Today the street off St Marks Rd is is known as Mauranui Ave. The boys’ service saw six of them go to war, three die, three return and two awarded medals of gallantry. The eldest son, Sergeant William Birnie, was in a machine-gun section in Egypt. At Gallipoli he sustained shell-shock, and was invalided to England. Returning to Egypt, he joined the Field Artillery, with which he went on to France.

He was wounded at the Somme in 1916, and took part in the Messines battle. William was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry in the field.“On the 26th October 1917 near St Julien, this NCO was responsible for ammunition supply. He displayed great courage and initiative in getting ammunition forward on heavily shelled roads, and it was through his splendid example and untiring devotion to duty that this battery’s ammunition supply for the attack was maintained.” William returned home in February 1919 on the Hororata, and resumed his peacetime occupation as salesman with food importers, Brown Bros and Geddes.

His brother, Sergeant-Major Robert Birnie, born on April 27, 1889, was a member of the College Rifles. Serving throughout the whole of the Gallipoli campaign, he was wounded twice but was never away from duty. On one occasion a high explosive shell burst over his gun, killed one of his companions and slightly wounded him. He continued on duty until evacuation from the peninsula. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry in the field at Gallipoli.“On four occasions he has done fine work, servicing his gun and repairing emplacements under heavy fire.” He was also

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mentioned in Sir Charles Monro’s despatches for distinguished and gallant services at Gallipoli. He then left Egypt for France in April 1916 with the newly established New Zealand Division. He was 27 when he was killed in action in the field at the Somme on October 21, 1916.

JIMMY DINNEEN James (Jimmy) Dinneen was born on July 16 1883, the fourth of Michael and Mary Dinneen’s brood of six. The family home was ‘Unchinag’ in Mountain (now Upland) Rd, Remuera. After war broke out in 1914, James sought a year’s leave from Auckland Grammar School, where he was a teacher, so he could go to England to qualify for the Royal Flying Corps. He didn’t make the RFC due to his eyesight, so joined the NZEF instead, offering to resign his commission and serve in the ranks as a private. He was not allowed to do this and was attached to 1/Auckland as a Captain. He was mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig in his despatch of November 1, 1916. The citation read “For gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company brilliantly in the attack on Gird Trench on September 27th 1916. He was first hit by a machine gun bullet, but kept on till hit by a shell. Unfortunately he has since succumbed to his wound.” Jimmy Dinneen was 33 when he died on October 1, 1916.

SAMUEL CROWHURST Sergeant Samuel Alfred Crowhurst was the son of Samuel and Catherine Crowhurst, of 24 Eden St, Newmarket. Five of the 10 Crowhurst brothers served in WWI, three were killed in action a long way from home. Samuel fought in the Dardanelles campaign from June to the end of December, 1915. He survived that and was sent on to France, where on August 16, 1917, he received the Military Medal for devotion to duty. “This non-commissioned officer established a strong point when his platoon officer and sergeant had been put out of action.

Below left, Sergeant Samuel Crowhurst. Above, Private Thomas Charles Carr, left, and Captain Oliver Steele

When the post was established he kept the garrison together and hung on through heavy shellfire until relieved. The garrison was on several occasions buried by shell.” Samuel had been sent to England for three weeks instruction and training, only rejoining his unit on July 27, 1917. Five days after he was awarded his Military Medal he was killed in action, dying in the mud in Ypres, Belgium, on August 21,1917.

CHARLES CARR Private Charles Thomas Carr was born on March 17, 1888, the son of Ebeneezer and Jane Carr. The family lived in Halls (now Robert Hall) Ave, Remuera. He was a rifleman in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in the 3rd Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, F Company.

Brigadier-General W. G. Braithwaite mentioned the 28-year-old in despatches on July 17, 1916, for his bravery at the battle of the Somme: “For excellent services rendered during the past six weeks when on patrol duty at night in ‘no man’s land’.” Six days after this commendation, he was killed in action while on night patrol.

OLIVER STEELE Captain Oliver Steele of ‘Cricklewood’, Arney Rd, was the brother of nurse Hilda Steele and one of the original members of the College Rifles Rugby Football Club. After leaving school, he became a professional soldier, commissioned in the Royal Berkshire Regiment in England in 1901. On October 24, 1914, the regiment was exposed to the fire of some of the Germans’ big guns. Captain Steele, with a few of his men, rushed forward and succeeded in removing the sights from the guns, thus rendering them useless. He succeeded in regaining the trenches and was reorganising his men, when he was struck by a large shell and killed immediately, thus attaining the sad honour of becoming the first New Zealander killed in France in WWI. His name appeared in the Times of February 18, 1915, amongst those mentioned in despatches, and was commended by Field Marshall Sir John French “for gallant and distinguished service in the field”. There was a communication from the War Office which included a message from Earl Kitchener expressing deepest sympathy to the relatives of Captain Steel.

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the anzacs

Above: Colonel Sir Stephen Allen (at right) and his brother Lieutenant Colonel Robert Allen, disembarking at Auckland in 1918. Right: Major General Sir George Spafford Richardson.

STEPHEN ALLEN

CYRIL BASSETT

A professional soldier like Oliver Steel, Colonel Sir Stephen Allen was a courageous and inspirational leader who was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) and Bar for his efforts at Passchendaele, and later the Somme, during WWI. He had married Mary Foster, daughter of Alfred and Jessie Foster of ‘Coolangatta’, the gracious home that stood at 464 Remuera Rd. Allen enlisted in the NZEF in March 1915, and joined the Auckland Battalion at Gallipoli in September. Following the evacuation, he became second in command of 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, and proceeded with it to France.

He was slightly wounded on three occasions, and more seriously when an exploding shell broke his leg in October 1917. Evacuated for treatment to England, he rejoined his battalion in February.

He was appointed a DSO in January 1918 (and awarded a bar five months later) and a CMG in 1919. He was mentioned in despatches four times.

GEORGE RICHARDSON British-born Major General Sir George Spafford Richardson was a career non-commissioned officer with the British Army’s artillery regiment, when he was sent to NZ on what was to be a four-year term as a gunnery instructor. After several terms, he resigned from the British Army to join the NZ military as an officer. He was in London serving as NZ’s representative on the Imperial General Staff when war broke out. Richardson saw active service in Belgium, Gallipoli, France and Greece. After the Gallipoli campaign, his leadership was recognised with a CMG and promotion to deputy adjutant and quartermaster of XII Corps at Salonika, with the rank of brigadier-general. He received many awards — the CMG, a CBE and CB, and was knighted in 1925. He was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by the French president, one of only 14 members of the NZEF to receive the accolade during WWI. He was also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre. George Richardson lived at 20 Omahu Rd with his wife Caroline, and their five children. After the war, he worked assiduously for returned servicemen, especially the disabled, and was president of the Auckland RSA. In May 1935, he was voted onto the Auckland City Council; he was deputy mayor at the time of his sudden death, aged 70, on June 11, 1938.

The self-effacing Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett was born on January 3, 1892, and attended Grafton School and Grammar.

A bank clerk, Bassett was a member of the College Rifles Volunteers and on August 10, 1914, attested as a sapper with the NZ Divisional Signal Company. It was for his actions in August 1915 laying field telephone cable in broad daylight, and under continuous fire, at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, that he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first given to a New Zealander in WWI. While the VC cited his “most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty” and his “further excellent and most gallant work,” Bassett would later say he was “so short that the bullets passed over me”. He was modest about discussing the VC, saying that “all my mates ever got were wooden crosses”. A life member of College Rifles, Bassett returned to banking after the war, and served during WWII as Commander, Northern District Signals.

He died in Auckland on January 9, 1983, at 91. The Remuera side of Brighton Rd was renamed in his honour in 1916.

For more about Remuera’s servicemen and women, local memorials and monuments, see remueraheritage.org.nz

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the paws

Not Just for Christmas

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ne of the most popular attractions in Remuera for the past two Decembers has been the “Puppy Kissing Booth”.

The cuddling and snuggling station has sat beside Santa’s house in the Village Green on ‘Santa Paws’ pet photo days. For a gold coin donation, animal lovers pet and cuddle puppies looking for new homes.

The dogs are in the care of Auckland Puppy Rescue, a volunteer group which works with pounds and councils to foster, and then rehome, abandoned or dumped puppies, giving them all-important family socialisation before they are adopted.

“My family adores fostering puppies before they find their homes,” says Shelley McArthur-Dye, who works for the Remuera Business Association and suggested the Kissing Booth fundraiser would be a popular festive addition. “It’s hard to say goodbye, but they get a chance at living, a chance to have a life.”

To limit the number of unwanted pups, Puppy Rescue has launched a desexing project, Neuter Ninjas.

You can donate and read more about Puppy Rescue at www.aucklandpuppyrescue.com or on Facebook: Auckland Puppy Rescue, or search for Neuter Ninjas and Auckland Puppy Rescue on Givealittle.

Happily, seven of the puppies who visited Remuera in December were adopted as a result of the promotion, and are now happily ensconced in families across Auckland. Pups Quartz, Pearl and Sapphire were from a litter of four rescued from a farm in Northland, where they were unwanted. The Harry Potter-inspired siblings Hermione, Draco, Fleur and Cho came to Puppy Rescue from the Pukekohe Pound at six-weeksold, and as their new families report, have brought some magic into their new homes. — Kirsty Cameron

Mika (formerly Cho) “Mika has become the centre of our universe. We spent the summer holidays road-tripping with her, introducing her to swimming at the beach and training her to do tricks. Mika is still working out where she stands with our 17-year-old cat, who’s the only family member not impressed with our new addition.

We are so blessed to have her, and recommend Auckland Puppy Rescue to anyone considering getting a dog.”

Spotify (formerly Quartz, mostly known as Spot) “He settled in well from day one.

He stole a tea-towel for a comfort blanket on the first night, and now he has several, since if we ever forget to give him his ‘blanket’ or if he leaves it outside, he goes and gets a fresh one for the night. He’s good with other dogs, and other people.

Our boys enjoy having Spot around — we send them out for a few hours after school to play with him.”

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Summer (formerly Hermione) “She is settling well into her forever home with her two brothers, Easter the mini schnauzer, and Russell the Russian blue cat. They spend a lot of time together, and now they can’t be separated.”

Draco “Draco is a laidback, extremely smart, wellloved addition to our family. He has the power to remove teens from rooms and take them on adventures, and has cat friends who he has morning meetings with.

He also keeps his autistic big brother calm when out. We are all very much in love with him.”

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the paws

Fleur “Fleur has settled in great — she now gets along so well with our cat, Malinka, and they often sleep together, which is amazing. We love her to pieces.

She’s such a placid pup and approaches everyone and everything with the utmost joy. We’re stoked.”

Right: Kuki (formerly Pearl) “Kuki, pronounced ‘Cookie’, is doing well at her new family home. Our eight-year-old son loves her and they are building a very good bond.”

Left: Charli (formerly Sapphire) “Charli’s fitted into our family beautifully. We adopted her on Christmas Eve and have been in love with her ever since — we’re pretty sure the feeling is mutual! She is so sweet, funny and easy-going. We could not have asked for a better addition to our family.”

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the sound

Goodbye, Yellow Brick Tequila Sunrise The deaths of David Bowie, George Michael and Prince is the thing. Michael Jackson was a precursor, but to be honest, you didn’t need a four-hour documentary to already be ambivalent about the man-child, despite his obvious performing genius.

With the death of the trinity of pop/rock though, Gen X — the generation behind the industrialisation of music — shuddered a little and thought to themselves about who they still needed to see on stage.

So this summer has seen me at Bryan Ferry. That was a nobrainer. 73-years-old and still stone cold cool. It was fantastic.

The only concession to age was no video screens. Summer also saw an amazing number of young people invade the Eagles tour.

Not me though, and I already regret it.

I had a bad Eagles experience in my 40s, when I was invited to my first 50th birthday party. I walked through a Grey Lynn door to hear “Tequila Sunrise” and to see a lot of 50-somethings who hadn’t smoked a joint in 20 years somnambulantly eating the salad. The Eagles are the band the skipper of every boat plays when they break out the rum on the homeward run. The Eagles are the Mogadon of the soul, except for Joe Walsh, who is delightfully unwired.

This corporation of the country rock world came to New Zealand and, as I’ve since heard, got loose. I have stopped counting the number of people who said they were amazing. Why was I so snobby and didn’t go?

I don’t know.

So if they’re a legend, or a legend to be, I’m going to go. Screw the money. The thing about gigs is you remember them forever, but who remembers how much you paid for them?

On a whim, I bought tickets the other day for Kacey Musgraves, the country music superstar. I hate country music, but Kacey is something else, sort of an ambient country. Not only that, her album just won the Grammy award as the best album all year, across all genres. So when I learnt I could get a mosh pit ticket for the winner of the best album of the year, performing at the Auckland Town Hall in May for 80 bucks, I was in. (And I hate country.)

It also means I was happy to sell one of my children, and the dog, for two tickets to see Elton John, 38 years after I last did. I’m sure it will be amazing. — Andrew Dickens

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Photo: Terry O’Neill

W

ell, I’m off to Elton John’s farewell tour next February.

It’s amazing that I gave so much money to Reginald Dwight to look after for a whole year.

When Elton John announced his tour, I interviewed Michael Chugg. The 71-year-old Australian impresario was one of the founding fathers of Frontier Touring 30 years back, along with Michael Gudinski, the man behind Mushroom Records. Frontier are the company bringing Elton to town.

“What happens to all the millions we’ve already given you mate?” I asked. “You’ve got all that money for a year — I’m sure you’re going to make it work for you.”

“It’s held in trust,” he smiled. That’s the business, and it’s very big business indeed.

The reason I mention Elton is that this will be the first time I’ve seen him since 1982. It was at Western Springs, and was my second Springs concert.

The first was Rod Stewart in 1979, and that was my first stadium show. I went with a posse organised by my cousins from Green Bay. I was 16. That was an education, especially when a woman who was at least twice my size informed me that it was a man’s responsibility to hoist a girl on his shoulders so she could see. The longest two songs of my life.

Elton was great. Donald Duck suits, moving ceilings and the whole thing kicked off by “Funeral For a Friend”/”Love Lies Bleeding”. But that was the beginning and the end of my Elton John experience, because I increasingly found him to be overblown and ponderous as the 80s continued. Physically he ballooned while the voice deepened, and it just wasn’t doing it for me. The sham marriage and the awful songs.

Through the 90s, I felt he belonged to an older generation I did not connect with. It got so bad that when he came to play Vector Arena in 2008, the first time he’d played in 10 years, and I got free tickets, I GAVE THEM AWAY. Rob and Sue said he was amazing. I told them they’d turned into their parents. Looking up the reviews today it appears he was amazing. Three hours and a diverse playlist, and no 80s shockers.

But in 2019, I am a different beast. With intimations of my own mortality, I am aware we are slowly losing the foundation members of rock and pop royalty. While the loss of Elvis and John Lennon were traumatic at the time, they still died young.

It’s worth remembering that if John Lennon hadn’t met his fate at Mark Chapman’s hands, he’d be turning 80 next year.

the magpie

The Home Front The Magpie readies her autumn nest 1. The Magpie can’t fly past Kartell. These metallic Shanghai vases look fab even before you get your foliage in them. Currently available in gold or copper, they’re $630 from Kartell, 35 Teed St, or backhousenz.com

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2. Functional design with careful attention to detail is how Jens Fager describes his Tip table lamp for MUUTO. Offering direct as well as ambient light, the head and arm are adjustable, and there is a diffuser and dimming function. $701, from slowstore.co.nz 3. This collection of earthy and chic Japanese Hasami Porcelain bowls come in small ($48) and large ($109). Available at simonjamesdesign.com

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4. Pausing to admire your juniper bonsai tree will give you a Zen moment every day. Potted bonsai start from $129 at Bioattic, 62 Ponsonby Rd. bioattic.co.nz 5. Oh what fun! And so cool. If you usually shy away from boisterous colour, make an exception for Jardin Suspendu plant holders, designed by Concetta Giannangeli for Moroso. Available to order as a set of four, from $2030 at matisse.co.nz 6. The Magpie’s in love with these fun Anya Hindmarch Lollipop Diffusers. Move on from candles and those boring reed sticks with this diffuser, dressed up as a pencil cup. $219, meccabeauty.co.nz 7. The Magpie desperately requires this Nepalese hand-knotted, bamboo and silk rug to anchor everything beautiful in her life. Coloured in the most divine shade of moss green, it measures a respectable 2500 x 3000mm. $5900 from Artisan Collective, 31a Normanby Rd. artisancollective.co.nz

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8. Shelf life — an arrangement of conical, sculptural ceramic vases with contrast-glazed interiors by Ferm Living gives you a beautiful still life.

Priced from around $96 each, from slowstore.co.nz 9. The subtle (or not so subtle) art of sending a clear message is covered off nicely with this desk plate. This is the least rude one in the collection. And the one everyone could use from time to time. $45 from worldbrand.co.nz

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10. Not just a great game, but aesthetically a very pleasing addition to the home, the Gilles Caffier leather backgammon board comes with a box of accessories. $4766 at ecc.co.nz 11. If you install it they will come . . . this built-in Miele coffee machine has a fresh bean system too. Easy on the eye and to use, the coffee’s so good you will have everyone hanging at yours. Kouzina, 155 The Strand, Parnell. kouzina.co.nz

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the district diary

April 2019 1 Airpoints, Fly Buys, Smartfuel — loyalty points are ubiquitous, and this workshop has hints and tips to ensure you are making the most of yours. Part of the Online Experience and Tech Workshops for Non-Techy Adults, tickets $20 or if this is your first workshop, you can attend for free, thanks to the Ōrākei Local Board.

TenForward, 81 Green Lane East, 9-11am, bookings at tenforward. co.nz

Learn how a worm farm will benefit your garden. Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd, 9-11am, free 7 The Victoria Avenue School Easter Fair is on today! Games, entertainment, food trucks, preserves and of course a cake stall. Funds raised will go to the

of rare personal artefacts, film footage and documents, offering an insight into the life of one of the most influential men in modern history. Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition runs until August 4. Eden Park, Reimers Ave. Daily 10am-5pm, premier.ticketek.co.nz

4 All the world’s a stage, and local students will be showcasing their acting, directing and stagecraft skills in the SCGNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. See the Bard presented in many different lights in five and 15 minute scenes. Auckland Central event at the Dio theatre, Clyde St, Epsom, Today 1-5pm, Fri 3.305pm, Sat 9am-5pm. $10 and $5, door sales only

19-22 It’s a bit of a hike, but the littlies love you for it. Head out to the Amazing Maze N Maize Giant Easter Eggstravaganza where the Easter bunny has hidden 45,000 eggs in a 6ha maze. If the weather is good, take togs and towels for the giant water slide.

833 Kingseat Rd, Karaka, 11am2pm. Tickets from eventfinda. co.nz or at the door

5 ‘Love a Little — Help a Friend in Need’, a Remuera community fundraiser to help Nicky Bason with treatment for a blood cancer is on this evening. $60 a ticket, for information email kimrob@xtra.co.nz

6 It’s a green-fingered weekend: the Parnell Community Trust hosts a Sustainable Urban Living workshop with Worms R Us.

18-20 Just an Average Joe? Fancy a shot at the hoops? There’s now a tournament that caters to social ballers — no rep players allowed!

Be crowned ‘Champions of Basketball Social Leagues’ with prize money for the top three mens and womens teams. Get your team together and register at averagejoeballers.co.nz. Held at EGGS, Thursday 4-10pm, Fri and Sat 9am-9pm 19 Good Friday

St Joseph’s Catholic School in Ōrākei is holding an informal Open Day for parents and children. Visit any time between 9.30am-12pm, register at sjorakei.school.nz. 16 Brenton Pl, Ōrākei

The annual Ayrlies Garden and Wetlands Plant Fair is on today and Saturday. More than 20 specialist, quality plant growers will be showcasing their offerings — tickets and sales support both the charitable trust administering Ayrlies and the growers. 125 Potts Rd, Whitford, 9am-3pm. Entry $10, cash only at the gate, no children under 12 or dogs. See ayrlies.co.nz

spectator friendly. If you’re not quite up to the half, there’s the 10km, 5km and 2km run/ walk/dashes. Selwyn Reserve, 48 Tamaki Dr, 7.30-11am, see waterfronthalfmarathon.co.nz

22 Easter Monday

school’s innovative forest project, which will create outdoor play and learning areas. At the school, 282 Vicky Ave, 10am to 2pm Paws in Parnell is hosting the after-party for The Big Dog Walk* so head on down to Heard Park for doggy-friendly bubbles, canapes and treats! Heard Park, 170 Parnell Rd, 10am-1pm, free 12 Last day of Term 1 for most schools 13 The extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela, captured in a selection

Gather the whānau, pack a picnic, and head to the Native Arboretum and hill behind Acacia Cottage at Cornwall Park for an afternoon of classic Easter games. Egg and spoon races, egg rolling competitions and heaps of other egg-citing activities on offer. Free, 1-3pm 14 If Round the Bays was the entree, the Waterfront Half Marathon is the main course. This flat, traffic-free and spectacularly scenic course is the grand finale of the Mizuno Auckland Half Marathon series. On-course entertainment, live timing and

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25 Anzac Day Dawn and 11am services at the Museum cenotaph, 9am gathering at the Minto Rd/Upland Rd shops for a march to, and service at, College Rifles 27 The Auckland Museum is filled with examples of native birds, insects and plants. Now you can explore the living, natural world outside the museum with the Nature Quest trail. Domain Drive, free, 10am-5pm

*The Big Dog Walk, Saturday April 6, 10am, Waiatarua Reserve, Abbots Way

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the cryptic by mĀyĀ

Set by Māyā. Answers will appear in our next issue (May 2019). Can’t wait, or need help? Visit https://thehobsoncrossword.wordpress.com The answers to the clues marked * contain a baby name that the Department of Internal Affairs rejected in 2018 ACROSS 1 *Fat Cat was lost in space (5,3) 5 *God follows West Indian servant (6) 9 *Learned, say, to promote, and was shaken into a kitten (3,5) 10 *Is king deposed while superior to runners?

(6) 12 Perfect Trump’s art after one (5) 13 AA joining EU on March the 1st to form an association for the promotion of learning (9) 14 *They save balls up by line, to sighs of relief (8) 15 *Warning note from Kurt Vonnegut’s sweet singer? (5) 18 Retreat — right, not in bind again! (5) 20 Over-eggs attendant audibly and in a mean way (8)

23 Cut finger? Give job back! (9) 25 Reign over bodies diagnostic of rabies (5) 26 Leave — object to 23’s heads swelling (6) 27 *Lands (David Bowie’s?) roofing contract?

(8) 29 Fighter enters before he goes abroad (6) 30 *Told to surrender a regal distillate (5,3) DOWN 1 Magician upset rock band over nothing (6) 2 *Arbiter’s intended-to-be-heartless wisdom (9) 3 Money reduced difficulties! (7) 4 Japanese era’s ‘inverse’? (3) 6 *Questions how happy Robert Louis Stevenson was sure we should be (7) 7 Behold, anger in France! (5)

8 Two notes lost from cash put aside to reduce risk to authority (8) 11 *They say the ones I have aren’t the subject of Charteris’ work (3,5) 13 Nana and I sin indiscreetly with erotic writer (5,3) 16 Igor and I lose — monster played in a devotional manner (9) 17 *Adjourn for rascal (8) 19 *Caligula’s penguin? (7) 21 *Robert Louis Stevenson’s Ben’s age? Could be dinosaur food! (7) 22 *Long for what Paul Simon said Betty can call him — a prayer book? (6) 24 Excuse Baba’s sexual orientation (5) 28 Move middle of vehicle back one place to create employment (3)

MARCH CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across: 1 Louisiana, 6 Gasp, 8 Guy Fawkes Night, 10 Taste, 11 Narrative, 12 It’s a wrap, 14 Sicken, 16 Gyrate, 18 Castaway, 21 Onrushing, 22 Pay TV, 23 Abraham Lincoln, 24 Stud, 25 Minnesota Down: 1 Lightning rod, 2 Ulysses, 3 State, 4 Arkansas, 5 Assert, 6 Guitarist, 7 Schtick, 9 Pennsylvania, 13 Withstand, 15 Pangolin, 17 Rarebit, 19 Way to go, 20 Disarm, 22 Penne

the hobson 50

Supplying luxury outdoor furniture to architects, designers, landscapers, hotels, resorts, and private residences in New Zealand for over 25 years.

Everything has been carefully curated from Italy, Belgium, France, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

AMALFI A-GRADE TEAK MODULAR SOFA & CONCRETE CHESS ACCENT TABLES

RAW CONCRETE DINING

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AMALFI ALUMINUM MODULAR SOFA

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CONCRETE ROUND FIRE PIT

WASHINGTON DINING CHAIRS

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