The Hobson September 2018

september 2018

september 2013

september 2014

december 2013

march 2014

april 2014

MAY 2014

july/august 2014

summer on the basin • john key, neighbourhood guy shop local - christmas gift guide • news & views

100 years of the parnell baths • a summer wedding get fit on us • local news, views & informed opinions

college rifles remembers • a new landing at okahu bay local news, views & informed opinions

our mother’s day gallery • pink pixies local news, views & informed opinions

shore road’s social animals • southern escapes local news, views & informed opinions

january/february 2015

march 2015

september 2015

october 2015

march 2016

good sports • community action • nights out local news, views & informed opinions

creating art in remuera • orakei's next councillor? local news, views & informed opinions

december 2016

january/february 2017

foreshore plans p christmas cooking p gifts sorted local news, views & informed opinions

gong xi fa cai! it's the year of the rooster local news, views & informed opinions

win a

bmw

luxury weekend with

T ES B And Worst

and

the black swan rotorua

the father’s day gallery • a parnell wedding local news, views & informed opinions

rolling through the domain • school prize winners local news, views & informed opinions

april 2016

june 2016

the good, the great & the annoying: our first readers’ poll • hawaiian escape • school report local news, views & informed opinions

Fathers, Sons & Daughters Our Father’s Day portfolio

grammar cooks • enterprising locals • dad gifts community news, views & informed opinions

september 2016

october 2016

cross country season • meet the candidates local news, views & informed opinions

plans for queen vic school • remuera's anzac heroine local news, views & informed opinions

welcome to winter • cool locals • travel tales local news, views & informed opinions

fathers • friends • neighbours local news, views & informed opinions

march 2017

may 2017

september 2017

shakespeare's local hero p eggs turns 100 local news, views & informed opinions

the mother's day issue local news, views & informed opinions

restoring ōkahu bay p goodbye caughey preston p dads local news, views & informed opinions

january/february 2018

the year of the dog p saints march on p summer reading local news, views & informed opinions

july/august 2018

march 2018

hobson's legacy p shoreline strolls p the songbird project local news, views & informed opinions

remuera's got talent p dancing david local news, views & informed opinions

5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION future leaders p hobson bay back in the day local news, views & informed opinions

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The September Issue, No. 51 8

31

the editor’s letter

the plan

10

KiwiBuild is not a bad idea, but not as smart a solution as we’ve had before, observes Hamish Firth

the columnists

32 the advice

13 the village That damn fence, the Crown moves to grant Gladstone Park to the Marutūāhu collective, a new community centre for Ōrākei ward, big things in Mission Bay, and more

21

For some warm words this Fathers Day, Mary Fitzgerald went back to school

36 the future On our fifth birthday, Chantelle Murray looks forward with secondary school leaders, and five years on, catches up with the Class of 2013

the anniversary A thank you to some very special friends

42

22 & 23

the heritage

the councillors News from local ward councillors Mike Lee (Waitematā) and Desley Simpson (Ōrākei)

Bruce Chambers has observed many changes to Hobson Bay over his 80 years as a local

46

24

the magpie

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

Our fine feathered friend swoops in on some excellent ideas for Fathers Day

48

28

the sound

the investment

Andrew Dickens hears the echo of Citizen Band in Six60’s bold stadium play

He called it — Warren Couillault on Apple’s billion dollar market cap

49

29

the diary

the second act Sandy Burgham on reinvention in mid-life — it might not be what you think

What’s going on in September

30

the cryptic

50 Our puzzle, by Māyā. Hint: some answers are local

the suburbanist Tommy Honey on how we value parking, often at the expense of other, more civic, needs

Well hello, Huka Lodge To celebrate our fifth anniversary, our friends at Huka Lodge are hosting you for a night of total luxury. To win this getaway delight — the iconic Taupo retreat was recently voted Australasia’s No 1 resort by Travel + Leisure magazine — for you and your chosen one, email business@thehobson.co.nz by 5pm Friday Sept 21, with HUKA in the subject line, and tell us why you should win. We’ll choose the most appealing answer. For more about Huka Lodge, see hukalodge.co.nz The fine print: The night at Huka Lodge includes dinner and breakfast for two, and must be redeemed between March and September 2019. By entering this competition, you agree that your email details will be retained by The Hobson for our database (we may contact you for some reader research).

the hobson 6

“At Auckland Obstetric Centre we understand that pregnancy and childbirth is the most important time of your life and that you and baby should have the highest standard of care.”

– Jane Patten, Clinic Manager

Auckland Obstetric Centre is a unique practice in Parnell made up of six leading specialist obstetricians and support staff. Together we have many years of experience and feel privileged to be able to share in the care of women during their pregnancy.

To find out more about how we can care for you and your baby call our team on 09 3671200 or visit our website obstetrics.co.nz.

Lynda Batcheler | Astrid Budden | Eva Hochstein | Katherine McKenzie | Kirstie Peake | Martin Sowter

N

issue 51, september 2018 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 Writers This Issue Kirsty Cameron, Bruce Chambers, Mary Fitzgerald, Chantelle Murray, Wayne Thompson, Justine Williams Sub-editor Fiona Wilson Columnists Sandy Burgham, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Hamish Firth, Paul Goldsmith, Mike Lee, Māyā, David Seymour, Desley Simpson Photographers Vanita Andrews, Mary Fitzgerald, Stephen Penny, Stephen Tilley

ow We Are Five.

Five years ago, The Hobson arrived in Remuera and Parnell letterboxes. Having lived in this area since my return from Sydney 12 years ago, I was constantly bemused/annoyed by what I didn’t know was happening in my own neighbourhood. Under-resourced local papers covered such a broad swathe of the city there was rarely anything pertinent, and community websites were more about whinges over parking and datagathering than local news. So when the opportunity came up to launch my own project, there seemed to be room for The Hobson. Since then, we’ve extended our circulation into eastern Remuera, part of Meadowbank and Ōrākei too. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. Is there a lot more we can be doing? Yes to that too. Let’s see what the next five years brings.

On page 21, you’ll find a salute to the clients who have supported the magazine over the five years, many of whom continue to do so. Without them, we do not exist so their support, and yours, is our blood.

Between the covers are the work of some wonderful people, and news and stories that result from the advocacy and interest of others. So many, many thanks for their contributions (many from issue one to now) — Vanita Andrews, Sandy Burgham, Carolyn Cameron, Laura Carr, Gretchen Carroll, Mike Chunn, Precious Clark, Sarah-Jane Cooper, Sue Cooper, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Todd Eyre, Hamish Firth, Mary Fitzgerald,Sue Fleischl, Zac Fleming, Keith Giles, Paul Goldsmith, Alice Gormack,Eloise Grace, Jessica-Belle Greer, Stacy Gregg, Tommy Honey, Amrit Kaur, Mike Lee, Sarah Lynch, Lizzie Marvelly, Belinda Masfen, Māyā, Leigh Melville, Rendell McIntosh, Caitlin McKenna, Chantelle Murray, Luke Niue, Judi Paape, Lee Parore, Rex Pearce, Louise Richardson, David Seymour, Anil Sharma, Desley Simpson, Paul Thompson, Wayne Thompson, Nick Tresidder, Jenna Wee, Justine Williams, Melissa Williams-King, Fiona Wilson, Gail Woodward.

Enjoy our anniversary issue, and thank you for your support this far.

Cover Happy Birthday to us — some of our covers from the past five years 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

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

Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz

The Dog did his Homework . . .

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

Parnell District School principal Richard George missed the deadline to be part of our “Words from the Wise” feature (page 32), so we suggested writing out I must drop everything when The Hobson calls as a future reminder — a task he passed to his very able assistant, Chester.

ICG Logo CMYK.pdf 1 05/08/2015 6:19:01 AM

Distribution by

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

WHERE FASHION LIVES

Follow Nuffield Street on Facebook for the latest news. facebook.com/nuffieldstreet

@NUFFIELDSTREET

Featured artwork by guest artist, Elaine Law

ART SHOWCASE Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 September, 10am - 3pm Edmund Hillary Retirement Village 221 Abbotts Way, Remuera Edmund Hillary Retirement Village in association with the Bartizans Art Group warmly invite you to their

ART SHOWCASE

Free admission • Refreshments provided • Tours available

8536

Artwork from the talented group of artists will be available for sale.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information please call Becky on 09 570 6432 or Pauline on 09 570 0072

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of artwork will go to Stroke Foundation New Zealand and Bartizans A&P Youth Workshops

the village

Town & Around STATE ASSURES GLADSTONE PARK LEASES A Parnell childcare centre and the tennis club caught up in a disputed Treaty settlement offer have received Government assurances about their future leases of Gladstone Park sites.

Most of the 1ha park on Gladstone Rd, which is owned by the Crown but managed by Auckland Council, was offered to the Hauraki area Marutūāhu iwi collective as redress more than four years ago. But the deal bogged in the mire of a complex legal wrangle among tribes involving the Crown in having to defend its actions. However, despite a Supreme Court decision pending, the successors to the action instigated by the former government confirmed the offer to the collective late last month.

In a letter to the Parnell Trust, which operates the Gladstone Park Early Childhood Centre within the parkland, Treaty Negotiations minister Andrew Little says he has initialled the redress deed to vest part of Gladstone Park in Marutūāhu governance entity. The collective has to initial the deed before it is signed and passes into the hands of parliament for approval. Little says the offer is “cultural redress” and subject to the land remaining as community facilities’ reserve.

The Crown’s offer requires the lease to the Trust’s childcare centre to be extended for five years from when the collective sign the deed. “The five-year lease is good for us because we have been there on a month-to-month basis [while redress negotiations have continued],” says trust chief executive Lyn Fox. “We don’t have a date from when it applies because it’s still before the court, though the longer it plays the better it is for us.”

She says the Gladstone centre is licensed for 46 children and is popular with parents locally and from the eastern bays, because its entrance on Balfour Rd is close to the Quay St route to the CBD. “It’s a lovely centre and the kids use the park as well.” The building used by the centre is owned by Council, though it’s on Crown land, and the trust pays a “market rent” to the council. Under the offer, the rent goes to Marutūāhu.

Sharing the park and also paying rent to the Council is Gladstone Tennis Club’s modern clubrooms and five courts. Club president Geoff Hosking says the club has been patiently working towards a secure tenure and is delighted with the Crown’s offer. This requires the lease to the club to be renewed with a variation to include a perpetual right of renewal for five-year terms. “It’s certainly a good outcome for the club and the community.”

The group Friends of Gladstone Park was set up in July 2014, because of residents’ concerns about Marutūāhu’s submission to the then-proposed Auckland Unitary Plan to change the park’s zoning to a new Māori Purposes precinct. This bid was successfully opposed by the Friends of GP and the Council. Under the Unitary Plan, the park’s status is for local purposes (community facilities).

Friends of GP co-chairs Dennis Mahony and Luke Niue were informed by the minister that the park would always be reserve and would be administered by Marutūāhu.

Niue, who also chairs the Parnell Community Committee, says half of the area in the cultural redress is included in the vesting of 97 Gladstone Rd, which is the Fred Ambler Lookout on the seacliff across the road from the park. It also includes a small treed section at 110a Gladstone Rd, which is on the corner beside the fire station.

A SAMPLE FROM OUR NEW SPRING MENU L AMB CARPACCIO, S HAL LO T, PEA, MINT, PINE NUT GR IL L ED O CT O PUS , R O MES CO, PO TAT O, F ENNEL & APPL E O X TAIL CO NS O MME ENDIV E TAR T E TART IN, RO Q UEF O R T, WAL NUT, RO CKET RICO T TA GNO CCHI, S PINACH, MUS HR O O M, T R UF F L E CO NF IT DUCK L EG, PARS NIP PUREE, GINGER PEAR , PIS TACHIO CRUMB S PO T RO AS T ED CL AMS , T O MAT O, CHO RIZO, O NIO N, CHIL L I , B AS IL CUR ED MARKET F IS H, DAS HI CUS TARD, R O AS T CHICKEN B RO T H, ENO KI , YUZU L AMB LO IN, B RAIS ED L AMB NECK, PEARL B AR L EY, CHICKPEA AND CUMIN PUREE RHUB AR B AND S T EM GINGER B R UL EE, RHUB AR B S O R B ET S T ICKY DAT E PUDDING, CARAMEL IZED W HIT E CHO CO L AT E MO US S E

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RISING UP IN ŌRĀKEI AND MISSION BAY Equinox Group has gained planning consent to proceed with the construction of The Peninsula, a 31-unit apartment and townhouse complex adjacent to Orakei Bay Village and the Ōrākei Train Station. Designed by architect Brent Hulena, The Peninsula (pictured right, top) will be built on the location of the old Kings Plant Barn.

Equinox CEO Kerry Knight — who also operates Orakei Bay Village — says he is delighted to have resource consent.

“It genuinely will be New Zealand’s finest suburban apartment building and only five minutes to the central business district.” Ōrākei Local Board chair Kit Parkinson says that the board is supportive of developments that meet Unitary Plan guidelines. “This small, 31-apartment development on the site next to Ōrākei rail station, would be well received by commuters who work in the city as a beautiful

Urban Partners

Minister Little gave assurances that the Fred Ambler lookout will stay recreation reserve, and Council keeps the right to let cars park on it.

Niue says the transfer does not include the park’s popular playground, which will stay under Council administration, albeit with iwi input. Auckland Council endorsed the Crown’s offer in March 2014, and Niue says he is surprised that with Council being “short of money”, it did not insist on being compensated for relinquishing its valuable childcare building to iwi ownership. He noted that the minister said that the new iwi owners must “reinvest all revenue” from the building into reserves they govern, including Gladstone Park.

Dennis Mahony says the minister has offered a meeting with lead Crown Treaty settlements negotiator Rick Barker, and the Friends would seek more details in order to assess the impact of the transfer on community facilities. Mahony and Niue both acknowledged the efforts of Waitematā and Gulf Island ward member on the Council, Mike Lee, to keep the park out of any possible use for commercial purposes, such as apartment sites. “This [transfer] was slipping quietly under everyone’s radar and it was going to be commercial redress,” says Niue. “Mike raised the issues and we got involved and alerted the community, and put the heat on the politicians and it was reduced to cultural redress.”

Councillor Lee’s concerns about the redress offer were reported in The Hobson in May 2016. Commenting on the latest offer, Lee says: “My concerns are two-fold. First of all I question the validity of Treaty claims over this area by a Hauraki multi-tribal entity, Marutūāhu, when each of the constituent tribes, for example, Ngāti Maru, have their own separate tribal treaty claims.

“Secondly, it is odd that a Coromandel-led entity is granted land in the heartland of the recognised mana whenua, Ngāti Whatua. Parnell, after all, was part of the original block of land that Apihai Te Kawau of Ngāti Whatua transferred to Governor Hobson in 1841. His Ngāti Whatua descendants have proceedings before the court on determining recognition of their mana whenua in Auckland. So the Government’s action is at least premature.

“I believe pushing through this sort of settlement will only serve to create further historical injustices.”

— Wayne Thompson p

Equinox Group

the village

city-fringe location for living.” For further information on The Peninsula see obv.co.nz/the-peninsula After months of being the worst-kept secret in the east, it was also finally revealed in mid-August that a major redevelopment is on the table for Mission Bay (artist’s impression, above). The proposed $200m project will see much of Mission Bay’s tired, but pretty-in-parts early 20th century streetscape replaced with a new commercial and hospitality precinct and up to 100 apartments and townhouses. Developer Urban Partners has requested the plan be publicly notified to allow community input.

“We have put thought and care into a design that references elements of the art deco flavour of Mission Bay while providing a vibrant mix of hospitality, modern retail and recreational space for locals and visitors alike,” says Urban Partners project director Doug Osborne.

Under the Unitary Plan, Mission Bay’s Local Centre zoning allows for more intensive mixed-use development than has previously occurred in smaller centres. More about the development can be found at urbanpartners.co.nz — Mary Fitzgerald p

FENCING THE ISSUE There’s good news for users of the Ōrākei Basin shared pathway concerned by the installation of a metal railing fence. The fence will be replaced — but only after it’s fully installed. Yes, you read that right. Ōrākei ward councillor Desley Simpson has received NZTA/AT confirmation the current fence design will be changed. “Public consultation on the design for the remaining two stages of the pathway will go out the hobson 14

Mary Fitzgerald

SPRING HAS COME EARLY!

for feedback this month. That will include the opportunity for residents to have input into the shared path design for the final two stages. Whatever is agreed to, will apply to the Ōrākei Basin section”.

The $4.9 million project to widen the Ōrākei Basin boardwalk from 2.7m to 4.5m to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists, is one stage in the four-stage Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr shared pathway project partnership between NZTA and Auckland Transport. The two remaining stages are St Johns Rd to the Basin, and the final stage, the Ōrākei rail bridge to Tamaki Dr. In June 1.4m high metal railings installed on the pathway — apparently for the safety of cyclists — left residents and local authorities frustrated due to the impact on views across the basin.

The fence visually has the effect of appearing as a solid wall from some angles. As reported in the July-August issue of The Hobson, locals also raised concerns about the galvanised steel being used in a marine environment.

Simpson says although a halt of works was discussed, works have continued, because the project is six months behind schedule and completing this section is necessary, so access can occur for the next section of work.

Local resident Roy Champtaloup was one of many who were dismayed by the metal railings, which replaced a lower wooden balustrade. He had called on the NZTA and its partner in the project, Auckland Transport, to halt construction.“It’s heartening the fence line may ultimately be fixed to a standard allowing for a more environmentally sympathetic design,” he says. “But I still have concerns the final fence height will be retained at 1.4m, and that it may not change back to the lower height.”

Champtaloup also said that without a dedicated spokesperson on the project, there was a lack of “flow of available up-to-date material” for the community. “Also, there has been no NZTA/ AT assurance the existing northern timber handrail alongside the railway line will not be removed and replaced with a metal railing.”

“Ultimately I think NZTA and AT will do the right thing,” says Ōrākei Local Board chair Kit Parkinson. “But their slowness in communicating is more than just frustrating.”

At time of going to print, NZTA/AT responses to The Hobson’s request for information were not received. Our questions included: • final costs for the 1.4m metal railing fencing and costs for replacement with a new design along the shared pathway • NZTA/AT assurance the existing northern timber handrail alongside the railway line will not be removed • An up-to-date schedule of works providing works costs and timings for completion of the Ōrākei Basin shared pathway and commencement of the remaining two stages — Mary Fitzgerald p

The temperature is warming, the days are getting longer, it feels like spring has come early. There’s a no doubt home buyers have a whiff of it, they are out in force with renewed energy. In short, the housing market is just fine through central Auckland with little or no sign of values softening to any great degree. For us, July was another surprisingly strong month.

This particular period of time between now and October is a time when home owners looking to sell do very well: it’s just before the pre-Christmas rush and just after winter.

In short if you are thinking of making a move, now is a great time to be for sale.

Please ask me about our fantastic ‘no cost’ marketing offer to help you spring into action!

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LICENSED AGENT REA 2008

the village

GABRIELLE GRABS GOLD! Baradene College is cheering the success of Year 11 student Gabrielle Salmon, who is the reigning World Junior Champion after competing in rhythmic gymnastics in the World Down Syndrome Gymnastics Championships. The keen competitor travelled to Germany for the championships and came first in all her individual events — ball, clubs, ribbon and hoop. p

KING’S BACKS UP ON TRAFFIC King’s School is acting to reduce the traffic snarls around its Remuera Rd gates at peak times. In collaboration with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council, the school will install a drivethrough at its Portland Rd entrance, taking traffic off Remuera Rd, where cars outside the school can be seen stopping across yellow lines in the afternoons, often blocking access from Portland Rd. Construction will begin in the October school holidays.

“We have recently implemented many new initiatives to try to ease congestion,” says headmaster Tony Sissons, ”including encouraging our parents to park away from the school, adding several bus services for our students and staggering our school pick-up times”.

Sissons says that the new drive-through will enable parents to pull off Portland Rd into a designated drop-off and pick-up area. “This will not only ease congestion for all traffic, but will also increase the safety of our boys arriving at and leaving from school”. — Mary Fitzgerald p

LOCAL BOARD NEWS

Why not pop in at the Club and discover Remuera’s best kept secret? The Club has a lot to offer including snooker, 8-Ball, TAB, gaming machines and banqueting/conference facilities for up to 200 guests and best of all, ample parking and a great welcoming atmosphere.

27-33 Ohinerau Street, Remuera.

09 524 4094, anton@remueraclub.org.nz

Submissions are now open on the revising of several local electoral ward boundaries across the isthmus, including Waitematā and Ōrākei. As reported in the previous issue of The Hobson, proposals include Parnell and Newmarket moving out of the Waitematā and Gulf ward and into Ōrākei, driven by the central city population boom. St Johns and Ellerslie could also be on the move, from Ōrākei to Maungakiekie-Tāmaki. To learn more and comment on the proposals, see Our Auckland: aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/haveyour-say. Submissions close September 11.

New Zealand’s longest-functioning plant nursery is going hightech. The existing hodge-podge collection of buildings in The Domain supplies plants to the iconic Wintergardens, but are

unsuitable for growing the 20,000 plants a year needed. Most of the structures will be replaced over the coming year by two gasheated greenhouses with climate control, underground irrigation and water systems. Three original Victorian glasshouses, including “Colin”(pictured, above) named for a long-serving tropical plant expert, will be retained for plant storage.

“The Wintergarden is one of the jewels in our crown, with more than 500,000 visitors a year,” says Waitematā and Gulf ward councillor Mike Lee, who also chairs the Auckland Domain committee. “As staff have their jobs improved by modern spaces, we will be able to look across and see those Victorian structures as a symbol of where it all started.”

Nursery operations will relocate to Council’s Kari St, Grafton, centre during the build and renovation period.

The Ōrākei Local Board has a new HQ, opening up at 25 St Johns Rd, in what was a GP practice. The office replaces the temporary desk at the Ōrākei Community Centre and is open weekdays, 8.30am-5pm. The new office is a neighbour to the current Meadowbank Community Centre at 29 St Johns Rd, which is to be developed into a larger, modern community centre following the board-approved sale of two Council properties now offering community-based services: 4 Victoria Ave, Remuera, and 22 Tahapa Cres, Meadowbank.

Developed by Panuku Auckland, 29 St Johns Rd will become a mixed-use development with community facilities on the ground floor and space above for apartments, and will offer new and existing community services. The Citizens Advice Bureau at 4 Vicky Ave has already relocated its JP service to the Remuera Library (Tuesdays 10am-4pm, Fridays 2-4pm). The Plunket service also at Vicky Ave will move to the new community centre at a date to be announced.

“The redevelopment of the Meadowbank Community Centre will be the biggest and best thing to happen in Ōrākei Ward for a long time,” says OLB chair Kit Parkinson. He adds that getting the approval through for the redevelopment has been a complicated process that has taken many years to advance to this point.

Popular Little Rangitoto Reserve on Upland Rd is getting a facelift as part of Council’s Local Parks Walkways and Cycleways Renewals Programme. Included in the upgrades are $50k of resurfaced paths, plus six new benches, and four solar-powered compression rubbish bins. The playground itself is not being upgraded. “One of the objectives has been to complete the upgrade with minimal disruption, so there is a nine week contract period in place,” says Kit Parkinson. “As can be seen from the completed works so far, there is minimal damage to the surrounding grassed areas, which are very wet". — Reporting by Mary Fitzgerald p

Mary Fitzgerald

the village

THE STORY OF . . . THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL IN PARNELL Our neighbourhood is dotted with commemorative plaques, some historic, some more recent. Mary Fitzgerald visited the Korean War Memorial in Sir DoveMyer Robinson Park on July 27, the 65th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement The armistice which brought about an end to the hostilities of the Korean War, was signed 65 years ago, on 27 July, 1953. In 1992, on the 39th anniversary of the armistice, the Korean War Memorial in Parnell was unveiled, gifted from the people of South Korea to New Zealand. It was erected in collaboration with the New Zealand Korea Veterans’ Association. The memorial’s granite stone is from Korea’s Kapyong, where the NZ Battalion participated in the Battle of Kapyong in 1951.

National MP and Remuera resident Melissa Lee, New Zealand’s first Korean MP (and the first Korean woman to hold

legislative office outside of Korea) says, “These young men are our heroes – they left New Zealand shores on frigates seven days after the Korean War broke out”. NZ was one of the first states to answer the UN Security Council’s call with combat assistance. On June 29, 1950, the government offered up two frigates. The HMNZS Tutira and HMNZS Pukaki left Auckland four days later.

The memorial stone is inscribed with the Korean characters for “Lest We Forget”. The text on the plaque reads: “To commemorate those members of the New Zealand Services who served in Korea 1950-1953 in defence of the principles of the charter of the United Nations”. p

What you need to know about . . .

In this issue, we introduce a new feature spotlighting a local business or service. Our first profile is Remuera local Angela Clatworthy, head residential buyer’s agent at the newly formed buyer’s agent division of Match Realty Angela, what is a buyer’s agent, and how does this work?

In the NZ property market, a residential real estate agent traditionally works solely for the vendor, not the buyer. This leaves the buyer reliant on information the vendor, or vendor’s agent, provides about the property, and means the buyer needs to spend time and money to do the necessary research. The buying process has its own complexities, from researching the available properties, carrying out appropriate due diligence, knowing when to make an offer and what conditions to attach, and then negotiating the price and settlement. A buyer’s agent will do all of this, working solely with the buyer’s best interests at heart. Something else we can do is to approach owners about houses not currently on the market.

How did you become interested in this area?

A few of my friends in Sydney and London had used buyers’ agents to help find their family homes, and they all said it made the whole process reliable, stress-free and enjoyable. They were given a short list of properties that matched their brief and every part of the process was managed effectively. And they’re all still in their chosen family homes! To me, it makes financial sense to have a professional agent acting in your best interests.

Why would a client choose to use you in their property search?

As we all know, buying a house can be extremely stressful and time consuming and if anything goes wrong, it’s costly. I’m here to take the hard work out of the process, to pick up potential issues and temper the emotion in the decisionmaking. My client has someone who is thorough, patient and diligent by their side. It works like this: I take a brief of your ultimate wish-list. You go back to doing what you love and I start searching. I’ll come back to you with a short-list of potential properties. You pick the ones you like, we visit them and decide our strategy from there. the hobson 18

Do you have any special qualifications for this role?

I am licensed under the Real Estate Agent’s Authority (REAA 2008) and I hold a current real estate salesperson national certificate. I have a law degree and I’ve specialised in mediation and negotiation. I have extensive experience in client service and liaison through my career as a lawyer. I have also held roles in HR and event and conference managment.

What about outside of work?

I am interested in people, travel, architecture, design and I love houses, so this is the perfect job for me!

Angela Clatworthy can be contacted on 021 433 336, aclatworthy@matchrealty.co.nz

the village

Meet Your Reps Continuing with our series profiling local board members, this month Mary Fitzgerald meets with Waitematā Local Board member Rob Thomas Why did you stand for this role?

To do great community projects, inspire others to do the same and represent them to the best of my ability.

What board portfolios are you responsible for?

Environment and Infrastructure, Economic Development and I’m also on the Newmarket Business Association.

Since being elected what are the top two things you’ve achieved?

The eight ecological restoration projects in our community, driven by residents, have been rewarding. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome.

The Waipapa and Newmarket Stream restorations are joint funded by the Waitematā and Ōrākei boards, and we have great support from the Gecko Trust.

The second, helping raise $150,000 for the Grey Lynn Pump Track, was amazing, and I’d love to do the same for Newmarket, which has around 8000 school-age children in the area every day. A lack of things to do has caused anti-social behaviour.

I’ve been working to get a space in Newmarket that might include a pump track, basketball or football mini-courts. There’s land under the Viaduct I’ve asked Council staff to engage with NZTA on.

What top four things do you intend to achieve in the time remaining in your role, and why?

1. Push for the opening of the abandoned rail tunnel in Parnell as a walking and cycling connection to the city centre.

2. Keep going on the restoration of Waipapa Stream.

3. Continue to support the resident exempt parking scheme that promotes returning our streets to calm residential areas. Parnell is unique because there are so few on-street parks. There must be solutions that work for residents.

4. I’m not giving up on that site for Newmarket’s young people either.

Tell us something about yourself that will surprise your community.

Santa asked me to be his body-double in Remuera for two seasons when I was at Auckland University.

I visited Santa in Lapland too, when I spent five days cross-country skiing at minus 20C in the Arctic Circle.

If you were prime minister what would you do to improve Auckland?

Bring in the army to provide food, shelter and warmth for the homeless, and a wrap-around social care provision with St John. There are more than 400 homeless in the city centre and some will die this winter because of pneumonia and drug addiction

gained on the street. Homeless people are Aucklanders. I’m appalled at the way our city treats those in need.

What is your favourite escape in Auckland?

Sorry to contribute to the tourism surge that is troubling the infrastructure, but it’s Waiheke.

Tell us a little about your family.

In 2013 I met Val at a masked ball. I didn’t see her face all night but the next week we went on a date and recently I had the honour of presenting her with her NZ citizenship certificate, and the much bigger honour of marrying her. Soon we’ll be visiting her family in Pavlova — like the dessert — in Russia. I grew up between Newmarket, my mum Ethne still lives in Remuera, and Waiheke. My brother Fletcher and his wife Kelly live in St Heliers with their two daughters, and my sister Julie and her husband Brent live in Kohimarama with their two boys.

My father Phil and his husband Lek live between Onetangi and Pitsanulock in Thailand. We are an eclectic bunch of internationals at Christmas time!

If you want to continue the conversation you can contact Rob Thomas on rob@robthomas.co.nz or call 021 704423 the hobson 20

!

5

We are five! The Hobson exists because of the people we’re saluting here — the advertisers who support the magazine. It’s our only source of funding, so when you support them and their commitment to your local community, it’s good for all.

There are several regular clients who have been with us from the very earliest 2013 issues, so to them, an extra bouquet . . .

Flowers After Hours • Metrix Bathrooms • Philip Oldham (UP Real Estate) • Remuera Business Association • Remuera Real Estate Register (Terry & Diana King) • New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (Ross Hawkins) • Art + Object • Hedgerow And more thank yous, good health and cheers to all listed here for their support. In alphabetical order, we acknowledge and thank: Abbey Antiques • ACG Parnell College • Adrienne Winklemann • Airbnb •Akarana Marine Sports • Alexandra Park Apartments • Alfresco • Amanda Morrison • Andrew Cox Designed Interiors • Andrew McAlpine (Barfoot & Thompson Remuera) • Angela Clatworthy Boutique Buyer’s Agent • Dr Anil Sharna • Anna Caselberg The Closet Stylist • Antheas • Ararimu Lodge • Archibald & Shorter Jaguar • Aria Park • Artisan • Art + Object • Art in a Garden • Artusi Cucina • As You Like It • ASC Salon • Auckland Art Fair • Auckland Garden DesignFest • Auckland Grammar School • Auckland Obstetric • Au Pair Link • Baradene College of the Sacred Heart • Barfoot & Thompson Meadowbank Property Management • Barfoot & Thompson Projects • Barfoot & Thompson Remuera • Barry Boyden, Authorised Financial Adviser • Barry Coates MP • Bayleys Hawke’s Bay • Bayleys Remuera • Bloom Audiology Remuera • Blue Breeze Inn • Boathouse Bay • Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel • Briarwood • Bromhead Design • Brothers Beer • Burger Burger • Business World Travel • Cathy Roselli (Ray White Parnell) • Chamber Music New Zealand • Chant Architectual Hardware • Chorus • City Dental Lounge — Dr Karen Harris • City Dental at Quay Park – Dr Andrea Shepperson • Clinic 42 • Colliers International • Continental Cars Porsche • Crane Bros • Cruiseabout Parnell • David Seymour MP • Design Warehouse • Design Quarter • Desley Simpson • Dr Candida Hatherley • Eagles Nest • Edition Parnell • Edmund Hillary Village, Logan Park (Ryman Healthcare) • Fabric of Onehunga • Farro • Fleur Denning (Bayleys Remuera) • Frame by Frame • Giltrap Audi • G. J. Gardner • Gracious Living • Great Classics • Greenlane Veterinary Centre and Cattery • H M Nails • Hearing Life Remuera • Hobson Wealth Partners • Horizon Mission Bay • Identity Newmarket • Illumina Candles • Iuliia Daji (Barfoot & Thompson Mission Bay) • Jems of Remuera • Jerry Clayton (Continental Cars) BMW • Jill Tuck Soft Furnishings • Karen Walker Jewellery • Kellands • Kensington Park • King Living • King’s College • King’s School • Kitchen Things • Kokako • Kouzina • Libby Greenwood (Bayleys Remuera) • Lisa MacQueen (Barfoot & Thompson Remuera) • Lucy & The Powder Room • Lumino the Dentists • Luxe Body • Maman • Matakana Village • Matrix Security • Maude Loves Kaftans • Mid Century Design • Max + Beresford (Lumino Orthodontists) • Maya Crawley/Sustainable People Practices • Mt Hobson Middle School • Meadowbank Village (Oceania Healthcare) • Mike Pero Real Estate Remuera • Neo Design Kitchens • New World Remuera • Nuffield Residences • NZ Opera • NZ Sotheby’s International Realty (Jason Gaddes, Klara Pulceska) One Health Dental – Dr John McCabe, Dr Maron Clague • Oob • Ōrākei Bay Bistro • Orakei Bay Village • Ōrākei Local Board • Parnell Business Association • Paper Plus • Parnell Gallery • Pauanesia • Paul Goldsmith MP • PBF Painters • Pene Milne • Poppies Books • Premier Home Loans • Prescription Skin Care • Rawhiti Estate • Ray White Epsom (Heather Walton, Cheryl Whiting, Holly Cassidy, Kenneth Webb, Megan Thomson) • Ray White Mission Bay Rentals • Ray White Projects • Refresh Renovations (Remuera) • Remarkables Residences • RE/MAX Collection (Julian Whitehouse) • Remuera Club • Remuera Local Café Bistro • Remuera Rise (Lifecare Residences) • Remuera Veterinary Hospital • Rialto Cinemas Newmarket • Room 9 • Saint Kentigern • Salmond Reed Architects • Sanderson Contemporary • Sarsfield Brooke • Second Nature Landscapes • Servilles • Sibuns • Skin Centre — Dr Paul Salmon • Skin Institute • Soto • State of Grace Funerals • Stephen Marr • St Cuthbert’s College • St Cuthbert’s Swim School • St Marks • Sunhill Garden Centre • The CAB - Love & Co • The Corner • The International • Total Hair Care • Trenzseater • UP Real Estate/Bean Rock Terraces • Victoria Ave Butcher • Waitematā Local Board • Walker & Hall • Westfield Nuffield St • Wine Society • Wood Group • Woodpecker Hill • Working Style • Zlato Jewellers For the 2016 local body elections we also carried paid advertising authorised for/on behalf of: Auckland Future Waitematā Local Board candidates, Vic Crone, Phil Goff, Jackie Hui, Bill Ralston, Desley Simpson, Mark Thomas, Rob Thomas We are also proud to have supported the following organisations with either our give-back “community rate” for not-forprofits or community/sporting groups, or free space: Auckland Foundation • Auckland Swords • Big Buddies • Chamber Music NZ • Highwic • Kinder House • Lions Club of Remuera • Musyca Childrens Choir • Parnell Community Committee • Parnell Trust • St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra • Uplands Kindergarten the hobson 21

the councillors

MIKE LEE

I

t continues to be a winter of discontent when it comes to Auckland Council. Just one week after the imposition of the Council’s fuel tax and a bunch of new targeted rates, came the disclosure in the Herald that Mayor Phil Goff has been planning ways to impose a so-called ‘Toilet Tax’ on ratepayers.

The new tax would be used to repay the $1.2bn capital cost of the long-talked-about ‘Central Interceptor’, the planned sewer pipeline running deep beneath the city, 13km from Western Springs to the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new interceptor is needed to take the extra sewage and to reduce overflows resulting from Auckland’s continuing population growth. Subject to funding, construction is planned to start in late 2019.

Heavily redacted Treasury documents obtained by the National Party reveal that Goff has been talking to the Government since last November about ways to borrow the money for the project and yet keep the debt off Council’s books. Central to the plan is a ‘special purpose vehicle’ (SPV), which is jargon for an entity, separate from the Council, underwritten by the Government, which would be set up to borrow the $1.2bn and empowered to send ratepayers bills to repay the principal and interest.

Why would this SPV be needed, you may ask, with Council income (rates and charges) now $4.1bn per year? After all, sewerage provision is a basic local government responsibility, and in Auckland the job of Watercare Services, the water and wastewater agency established by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) in 1992. Over the past 26 years Watercare, the ‘quiet achiever’ in the Auckland Council family, has successfully delivered a number of major projects, including the $500m upgrade of the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant; the $100m, 37km pipeline and treatment facility bringing water to the city from the Waikato River; and more locally, the $114m tunnel from Parnell to Ōrākei which enabled the replacement of the old Hobson Bay sewer line.

Watercare says it could fund and build the Interceptor itself, and admits this approach would work out cheaper for ratepayers.

So why? The answer sadly is that the Super City, since its establishment in 2010, despite hundreds of millions of dollars in asset sales, has profligately run up an enormous debt — currently at $8.7bn and rising, with interest costs at $471m a year. Council finance managers fear that the cost of the Central Interceptor would push Council over its borrowing limits, endangering its credit rating with the international rating agencies, resulting in an increase in interest costs.

The SPV then is essentially a financial instrument, a bankable package if you like. But we are told it will come with ‘governance’ attached – that is people – directors, managers, consultants – in other words, the usual suspects.

So the SPV will also mean the establishment of a parallel local authority in Auckland. Except that it will be an undemocratic, unelected authority, and given its proposed legal stand-alone status, it is unclear to whom it would be accountable. It is supremely ironic, given the cost and disruption of abolishing the old legacy councils and ARC to form a single, unitary ‘Super City’, that the mayor and Council management are now attempting to persuade the government to establish another, non-democratic, authority to rate Aucklanders.

This is all very disingenuous. Sadly, as we are learning, Mayor Goff is proving to have form when it comes to concealing important information. He apparently hopes to claim he is not increasing rates to repay this loan; Auckland ratepayers being expected to take comfort that the ‘toilet tax’ bills they will be getting are from the SPV — not the Council. The Government would be mad to go near it.

In response to the disclosures, Goff is saying, quite correctly, that no formal decisions have yet been made. However he did tell the Herald that if the Council could move the cost of the Central Interceptor from its books to appear on the SPV books, that would free up $1bn to invest in other ‘areas of public need’.

However Mayor Goff’s ideas on spending for ‘public need’ presumably include the $2bn downtown national football stadium and a giant, 25-50m high ‘Earth Mother’ statue at Bastion Pt, which Goff believes could become a symbol of Auckland. They are not necessarily priorities for ratepayers. Auckland deserves better.

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.

DESLEY SIMPSON

A

fter some years of discussion, in 1951 the then-Auckland mayor championed a proposed harbour bridge that was five or six lanes across (the middle lane switching for morning and evening peaks) and included footpaths. When the cost estimates came in, the bridge was knocked back to four lanes, and without footpaths. We all know the story from there; from the day it opened in 1959, traffic expectations were exceeded and four clip-on lanes were added in 1969, a mere 10 years later — at a cost considerably more than if the bridge was built to the necessary size initially. This is a lesson that when it comes to Auckland's critical infrastructure, we should be building to the scale that is appropriate not just for today but for the future.

Council has been confronted with a similar issue with regards to the City Rail Link (CRL). Whilst I was not part of the decisionmaking to build the CRL, what I can influence is its capacity for growth. The scope of works agreed in the last Council term was a pared back version of the original proposal, with stations that would accommodate six-car carriages only. This naturally places constraints on the number of people carried. The current reality has rail patronage well above projections.

With the pared back option, capacity would be reached by 2035, meaning that, like the Harbour Bridge, just 10 years after a major piece of infrastructure opens it would need retrofitting to increase capacity. To go back and build stations that can accommodate nine-car trains at underground stations would mean the CRL would need to close for two years. After a decade of getting used to the improved service that will come from CRL, closing the line for two years would be a huge commuter disruption, and a huge additional cost in capital and lost productivity.

The CRL will greatly improve Auckland's rail network by tackling the major bottlenecks that are currently the limiting factors for the network. Once in place, all parts of the network can look forward

to improved services that are unimpeded with the bottlenecks and dead ends at Newmarket and Britomart. The mistakes made with the Auckland Harbour Bridge do not need to be repeated and I think our visionary forefathers would be proud that we have taken this step early and refused to fall victim to the short-termism that has limited us in the past.

Staying with transport, the new bus routes and timetables are in place for the central area including a new, frequent, bright blue Tamaki Dr Link bus service. This has proved positive for many but there are still some key issues, especially around school services for some. Please email through busreview@at.govt.nz if you have concerns. The routes and times will be reviewed at three, six and 12 months after the changes started in July. Feedback will be key if any changes are to be made.

Many of you will know Remuera’s Martyn Wilson Fields, named for John Martyn Wilson, who in 1949 gave three acres of land to the city to maintain for recreation purposes. Last year I was approached by a number of residents who live near the fields with the complaint that the stormwater pond created in 2011/12 produced an awful, rotting sewage smell, particularly over the summer months. I asked for this to be investigated by Council’s Environmental Health and Healthy Waters team. They established that the smell was due to anoxic sediment and initially took an interim measure of keeping a higher level of water than normal in the pond to reduce the amount that the sediments were being exposed. That didn’t work as well as anticipated. They then concluded that the long-term solution was to dredge the pond to remove this sediment. Fortunately, after much pestering and after some difficulty in finding a contractor with the capacity and ability to do this work, I am pleased to advise that the dredging has been done. Council will now keep this monitored in future and look to de-silt the pond at least every three years.

Finally, the July-August edition of The Hobson covered the Auckland Council Representation Review which would change the ward (but not Local Board) boundaries for the 2019 local body elections. This is now out for consultation until September 11. You can find out more and more importantly, have your say, at: www. akhaveyoursay.nz Desley Simpson is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Ōrākei ward

the politicians

DAVID SEYMOUR

B

eing a local MP quickly disabuses you of immigration myths.

Loads of low-skilled people are flooding in to exploit the taxpayer, and it is dead easy for them? Perhaps, somewhere, but not the ones who come to my office. Far more often, the injustice is an overzealous immigration department that keeps families apart and denies employers valuable skills, even when there is no risk to the taxpayer whatsoever.

Immigration frustration has been exacerbated by the previous Government’s rather political decision to put a moratorium on the parent category of immigrants. Before that, the parent of an immigrant could be nominated to come and join them as a resident, so long as said immigrant children undertook to fly them home if they demanded state healthcare or welfare within 10 years of arrival.

The two-year moratorium has seen a flood of cases coming through my office where people perfectly prepared to support their parents are unable to unite their family. To anonymise one example, the head of a well-known Auckland organisation would desperately like to bring her ailing mother from the UK. Without this option, she must choose between effectively abandoning her mother at a critical stage of life, or returning home to live.

Of course, immigration policy contemplated family unification in the first place to improve the quality of migrants. If you had a choice of two countries but one wanted to separate you from your family, odds are you’d choose the other. The inevitable corollary is that removing the parent category makes New Zealand less appealing as a destination and we lose quality immigrants.

If it was the previous Government’s fault for conceding an otherwise sensible policy to the populist winds of the time, it is the current Government’s fault for doing nothing to change it. If anything, they have only created more uncertainty for the families caught up in this saga.

I have written to the Minister of Immigration asking when the moratorium might be lifted and what the fate of those whose applications it cut off mid-stream might be. The answer is that he’s not sure, or at least won’t say on either count. A rather frustrating state of affairs.

The Minister of Immigration is a father. If he wanted to make positive change in the world this Father’s Day he could do a lot worse than giving some certainty on the Parent Category Residence Visa. I know half a dozen families in this electorate would certainly appreciate it, and those who have beat a path to my door are probably the tip of the iceberg.

If you are concerned about this or any other issue in our community, please don’t hesitate to be in touch: (09) 522 7464, mpepsom@parliament.govt.nz, or come by to 27 Gillies Ave. Meanwhile I have to congratulate Kirsty Cameron on her fifth anniversary edition of The Hobson. All the received wisdom, or chatter at least, tells us that print’s dead. Surely you’d have to be mad to launch a new print publication at a time when once mighty organs are reduced to giving away a free set of Ginsu knives with every subscription? Kirsty’s done it by sheer tenacity, getting out a very high-quality publication that knows its market and publishes engaging writers (and some politicians, too). It has become a part of the community in its own right. Well done Kirsty.

David Seymour is the MP for Epsom

PAUL GOLDSMITH

C

ongratulations to The Hobson for five years of great local stories. It’s a real achievement. I’ve enjoyed the journey, every step of the way. Five years ago, I was a new backbench government MP. John Key bestrode the corridors of Parliament like a colossus. I remember the first time he spoke to me in caucus. We were heading out of the room and he came up behind me: “Goldsmith.” My heart leapt. “Yes, Prime Minister,” I thought to myself, “I’m ready to serve in the ministry”. But he just growled, “Get out the way. Can’t you see I’ve got a country to run!”

Followed by a playful smirk.

Back then, we were still borrowing money, hand over fist, to pay for the Canterbury earthquakes, to maintain public services as we wound out of the Global Financial Crisis, and to address the backlog in infrastructure that stretched back decades. The path back to surplus from an $18 billion deficit in 2011 was incredibly hard, and took serious leadership from John Key and Bill English.

Now that we’re back to strong surpluses, that’s easily forgotten.

Five years on, many leading figures have left Parliament. I find myself on the front bench of the Opposition, part of the team led

by Simon Bridges, rebuilding, rethinking and reimagining the task ahead. We’re chastened by the experience of being in opposition, but confident and determined.

Jacinda Ardern dominates the media, particularly the pictures, but not yet the Parliament. Winston Peters gained seven per cent of the vote, but acts like he gained 70 per cent.

We’ll do our best to hold them to account. Shane Jones may call me a ‘fig-pecker bird’ for having the temerity to ask annoying questions about the spending decisions for his $1 billion-a-year Provincial Growth Fund, but we’ll do it all the same. That money could be spent on schools or hospitals, or left in the hands of Kiwis to decide their own priorities – so he has to demonstrate that he’s getting real value for investments, not just flinging money around.

But The Hobson has sailed through these changes serenely [glad it looks like that — ed]. Telling us what’s going on locally, profiling interesting characters, and doing its bit to strengthen the sense of community in this wonderful part of Auckland. So thank you.

On local matters, I recently surveyed a wide swathe of the community. The number one issue of concern was traffic congestion, looking for continued investment in public transport, and scepticism of cycle lanes. The cycle lanes are interesting. It seems to me there are four reasons why very few people cycle in Auckland. First it’s dangerous – and dedicated cycle lanes help with that. But unfortunately they do nothing to deal with the other three problems: it rains all the time, it’s hilly, and we’re one of the few places in the world where it’s compulsory to wear a helmet.

The number of people prepared to arrive at work wet, sweaty and with helmet-hair, will always be limited to a few hardy souls. So, by all means, create some cycle lanes, but not at the expense of other traffic. It would be good too if Auckland Transport was a bit more consultative about changing bus routes.

Number two issue is the economy. Falling business confidence reflects widespread uncertainty that threatens to become a major issue if the government doesn’t pull back on some of its antigrowth policies. Let’s hope we get the opportunity to write these columns for another five years at least.

Paul Goldsmith is a National list MP based in Epsom

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4 Tohunga Cres, Parnell Sitting on 944m² of virtually flat land, originally built in 1857 and recently rebuilt and modified for today’s family living, Emerald Lodge is an environment all its own in a key position above Hobson Bay. Our vendors are now downsizing, and as a result Tohunga Cres is seriously for sale. The main family living is designed to take full advantage of the sun, the pool and the wonderful garden beyond. There are three further living rooms on the ground floor, all with original French doors opening to outdoor living.

Lovely views of Hobson Bay, a sunny north/west aspect; a very special environment that once you have experienced it - you will not want to leave.

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Give Terry or Diana a call today, they would love to hear from you.

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Diana King 021 613 884 diana.king@remueraregister.co.nz

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the investment

This Changes Everything

I

n late July, Apple became the first listed company in history to achieve a market capitalisation, or equity value,in excess of US$1 trillion. That’s US$1,000,000,000,000!

The ongoing and nearly 10-year-old bull market has driven huge gains in the share prices of big-name tech behemoths — Apple, Amazon, Google etc — and Apple’s historic market cap feat can only be viewed as a changing of the guard of sorts with “big tech” rising over the American corporate icons of old: US Steel, General Electric, Exxon, Wal-Mart, AT&T and the like.

The history of market-cap distinctions, ie, the first company to $1 billion, $100 billion, $500 billion, and when it occurred, paints a historic portrait of America’s changing corporate landscape — from the dominance of industrials for most of the 20th century, to the dawn of the tech era in the latter decades of the last century, to today’s dominance of technology companies and “big tech” in particular.

US Steel became the first US listed company to reach a $1 billion market cap, way, way back in 1901. IBM is sometimes recognised as the first listed US company to reach the $100 billion milestone, doing so in August 1987. However, IBM shares never closed above that threshold, only trading there briefly intraday. Some believe AT&T (before it was acquired by SBC Communications in 2005) closed above $100 billion in November 1992, but Dow Jones market data cannot confirm this because of data anomalies. So officially, around halfway through the bull market of the 1990s — that ended with the dot-com bust of 2000 — General Electric (GE) became the first company to have crossed the $100 billion mark (14 September, 1995). Recently however, GE’s stock has fallen upon harder times. Its market cap is currently around $114 billion and just a few months ago in June, GE was sadly removed as a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average index, having been a component of the Dow Average at its 1896 inception and having been there for the past 111 years.

This surely signifies that the US economy has changed: consumer, finance, healthcare and technology companies are more prominent today, and the relative importance of industrial companies is less.

On 16 July, 1999, Microsoft became the first US company to reach a market cap of $500 billion. It stayed above $500 billion for only two trading sessions, before dipping back below that level. This was, remember, the height of the dot-com boom. Share prices were hitting record highs as solid quarterly reports and “hockey stick” earnings forecasts prevailed. Microsoft actually went on to reach $607 billion in market cap, in December 1999.

But in early 2000, the dot-com bubble burst and Microsoft finished that year with a market cap of a measly $231 billion.

Today though, the stock is experiencing something of a resurgence, and its market cap is around $818 billion, the fourth highest among US companies.

Apple’s $1 trillion milestone came after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results. The company also delivered an upbeat forecast for its September 2018 quarter, when it typically releases new iPhone models. In a steady and broad two-day push to the $1 trillion mark, Apple added $82 billion in market cap. When Amazon reported its earnings in early August, some financial commentators thought the company would beat Apple to one trillion dollars. But it was not to be and Amazon’s market capitalisation now sits at roughly $873 billion.

You might recall I boldly predicted way back in mid-2015 that Apple’s market cap would reach this level — by the end of 2015.

Well, I was a bit early but, as economists love to say, I was right in the long run! But spare a thought for little known third Apple co-founder, Ronald Wayne. According to CNBC’s The Filthy Rich Guide, Wayne joined Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, who were 21 and 25 at the time, to provide the company with “adult supervision” and to oversee mechanical engineering and documentation, in exchange for a 10 per cent shareholding.

Wayne rapidly lost heart in the arrangement, concerned that any debts incurred by the business would fall on him personally, as both Jobs and Wozniak were young and essentially broke. So after spending just 12 days with Wozniak and Jobs, Wayne sold his shares back to his co-founders for $800. Today those shares would be worth nearly US$100 billion.

— Warren Couillault

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the second act

How to Reinvent

Justin Luebke/Unsplash

T

he conversation goes like this.

Young person: “I don’t really know what I want to do with my life.”

Parent: “Do what you love.”

This is both helpful and unhelpful, but what usually kills any potential in this conversation is the chaser, thinly veiled as good “practical advice”, which is a lecture on financial earning forecasts.

This invariably points the young person to some options the parents have prepared for them earlier, conjured from the limits of the parental world view and imagination.

At this point, I’m less interested in the kids’ futures (they have years ahead to explore) and wouldn’t dream of giving parenting advice. What I’m more interested in is the parents themselves and the fears that underline their conversation.

Firstly, the fear that they have raised a no-hoper who will sponge off them at an embarrassingly inappropriate age. Secondly, the fear that because of the above, that they will not be able to use the capital gain on their property to travel because their annoying kid has failed to launch. Thirdly — and perhaps most importantly — because they themselves don’t really know what they want to do with their lives either.

While some mid-lifers are fortunate that their careers have meant they can slide into retirement without having to pose as relevant in a multigenerational, digitallyinclined, rapidly-changing work environment; most are faced with the prospect of continuing to work longer than they expected to. This means that like it or not, they have to reinvent themselves to stay both relevant and employed, let alone fulfilled. Its not just companies that are changing, whole sectors are disappearing.

It’s much easier lecturing the kids about having the courage to do what they love, than doing it yourself. Mid-lifers love the concept of reinventing oneself until it bumps up against their fears, assumptions and choices around money and status.

What if their new thing doesn’t pay as much and they have to sell their house and live in a grottier neighbourhood? What if they fail? Which really means, what if others think they are a failure?

My interest and personal experience in reinvention is why I was asked to write this column. Having worked in four completely different sectors, and after helping many adults in the process of personal and professional change, here’s a bit of what I know.

Reinvention is not about a new job, it’s about reframing how you look at your life. So it’s not about what you want to do, its about who you want to be.

When I work with mid-life reinventors, they often secretly want me to simply tell them what to do; to deliver their new career or decision about their marriage sealed in a golden envelope in session four. Because they are feeling uncomfortable they are in

a hurry to get into their comfort zone again. But the idea is to get used to feeling uncomfortable, not having the answers, and facing a blank sheet of paper called the rest of your life. Give the same importance to being interesting as you do to being financially secure. You’ll soon ask yourself – how much money do I really need to live anyway?

All of this might seem counter-intuitive, a little irresponsible, and a bit hippy-dippy. But the more I immerse myself in helping others reinvent, the more I agree with Joseph Campbell, who said, “We're so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about.”

So when I work with people who “don’t know what they want to do”, I always encourage them to play differently in another area of their life altogether. Do other things that interest you. Take up that idea you have been toying with, some extra-curricular activity that will take your mind off obsessing about your career. Commit to that thing. Completing it will open up some learnings for you, about you.

Yes, you might pick up some new skills — a new language, art form or otherwise —but that is not the point of the exercise.

The point is to disconnect you from over-thinking about your job. Get over yourself and do something to earn what looks like pocket money — don’t obsess about how much you earn over this phase.

I’m not just talking the talk here. I have stuck to this principle myself, and supported others through this, including my husband, who had a four-year career hiatus forced on him by a radically changing industry. He/we had fun with this, despite the discomfort of now knowing how it would all eventuate. Our household coffers reduced radically as he threw himself into one project after another and did the things he had always meant to do, including living in a retro campervan in LA for a while.

The reinvention bit kind of snuck up on him when he wasn’t looking. He has reframed how he looks at his career. Aside from being creatively recharged, he has plenty of options and is currently doing what I think is possibly his best work ever.

Moreover, it changed how we both looked at our lives. We sold the impressive family home. Reinvested into places both grittier and grottier. We live differently, and far more happily.

Reinvention is not a destination revealed over a two-day course.

The reinvention I am talking about comes from a far deeper place, one of awakening.

It’s not the reinvention on the outside that is important but the one on the inside. And to get that inner shift in consciousness that will lead to an outer reinvention takes courage, curiosity, and above all else, commitment to something else other than the bank balance. — Sandy Burgham

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the suburbanist

Park City

I

Help others be super warm this winter.

A new winter energy payment is being introduced by the NZ Government from 1 July as a supplement to the NZ Super.

It will total $450 for a single person, and $700 for a couple and aims to help older people stay warm and healthy throughout winter.

If you already live in a warm, well-insulated house and can afford to switch on a heater when you need it, you may be keen to join our supporters. Please donate your payment and we’ll get it to someone in Auckland who needs help to stay warm this winter.

Visit aucklandfoundation.org.nz/superwarm for more information about helping someone be #superwarm

How to donate to the Super Warm Fund Call us on (09) 366 1523 Email info@aucklandfoundation.org.nz Visit aucklandfoundation.org.nz/donate

aucklandfoundation.org.nz

#superwarm

n Los Angeles, the only thing worse than being homeless and sleeping in your car is getting a ticket in the middle of the night. Parking is restricted in most streets — including residential — 24 hours a day and a new ordinance also prohibits sleeping in cars, unless in approved spaces. The number of homeless living in cars is on the rise, reaching more than 4700 last year, and one of the barriers they face when trying to escape homelessness is the increasing burden of parking fines.

In 2017 the city tried to address this with a pilot programme that would let private companies and not-for-profits open their parking lots at night to vehicle dwellers. It made a lot of sense but not a lot of headway. One year on from the implementation of the “safe parking” programme and only two churches have opened up their carparks. In nearby Santa Barbara they have successfully, for more than a decade, used two dozen parking lots to park more than 100 vehicles; in LA you can sleep on the footpath next to your car, but not in it.

America is the land of the car and the land of the car is the car park. A recent study looked at how much land was given to parking in five different municipalities. There was considerable variance in the number and value of the parking spaces, from 0.6 spaces per household in New York, to an astounding 27 per household in Jackson, Wyoming — a small town of 10,000 people.

There they have two households and 50 parking spaces per acre.

The research quantified the value of land and established a replacement cost of the parking spaces and, despite New York’s high land values, the replacement cost per household there is $6570, whereas it is $118k in Seattle and $192k in Jackson.

There has been no similar study done in New Zealand yet, but that doesn’t mean that we are immune from providing better accommodation for our cars than for our poorer citizens. We need to be smarter about how we drive, where we park and how we use space in our cities.

There have been some innovations that make parking better and one of them is the AT parking app. Once you have downloaded the app to your phone, you can top up an account with money and start parking (be careful lest your enthusiasm get the better of you). The next time you park in a metered area, instead of putting money in the meter (if it will even let you), or texting a park, or paying by credit card (both of which attract a surcharge), you simply use the app to start parking. You enter into the app the six-digit code found on the meter or the parking sign, and press “start parking”. Walk away from the car — no slip on your dashboard — and go about your day. When you return, you press “stop parking” and it will calculate the exact amount of your parking based on the minutes you have used – you never pay for longer than your time there.

Another app that removes friction from parking is an Auckland start-up called “Parkable” that uses privately owned empty car parks. Owners list them on the website, including the hours that the park is available, and app users can use a map to find a park nearest to where they want to be. The rates are often cheaper than alternative parking and the ‘hosts’ get money for renting out an unused space. This can be anything from a driveway outside a house to an empty lot. Parkable is a great part of the collaborative economy where unused space is better utilised.

Next on the list: golf courses. According to Bloomberg, of the 1.9 billion acres that make up mainland America, 70 million acres are urban and 2 million are golf courses. We may not have reached that level of sporting saturation yet, but the first person to work out how to convert a carpark into a putting green could be onto something. — Tommy Honey

the plan

A Better KiwiBuild

T

he state building houses is not the answer, but an old solution which worked from the 1950s to the late 1970s could well be.

KiwiBuild has been lauded as the solution to the housing crisis.

In basic terms, KiwiBuild is a government initiative with the stated intention to build 100,000 “affordable” homes in New Zealand over the next ten years – 50 per cent of them in Auckland. The purpose of KiwiBuild is to increase home ownership of New Zealanders, which data suggests has dropped from 75 per cent to 63 per cent since 1991. Purchasers will need to meet eligibility criteria in order to be able to purchase KiwiBuild properties. And the criteria are pretty easy to meet. Purchasers must be Kiwi or permanent residents, first home buyers (or “second chancers” eligible through certain criteria) and have income thresholds of $120,000 or less for an individual, or $180,000 or less for a couple.

As such, this has got 20,000 people excited, who have all signed up for – a lottery. A ballot where your name may be drawn from the hat for one of the affordable houses, if and when they eventually get built.

I do not think you can build your home ownership plans around securing a KiwiBuild property. Your chances of getting one will be slim at best and provide no certainty. It is a lottery and if you beat the odds and win, you may have to move to a part of Auckland well away from where you live now. You also may be able to sell off the property and take advantage of any capital gain, tax free, if you hold on for five years. Or, you miss out and watch someone else get the house and the upside.

While the KiwiBuild concept has merit, it doesn’t change the essential dynamics of our residential construction sector, which has seen a major player go into receivership recently, the cost of materials, the lack of qualified skilled staff, and dealing with councils (my favourite topic) who seem increasingly terrified about getting anything wrong (and rightly so, as they are often the last man standing as we have recently seen in Tauranga).

In my mind the government should not be in the business of building and the only lottery they should be involved with should be Powerball. They should facilitate – find the points of demand being funding (lack of deposits), and the supply/demand equation,

Years 1–13

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Saturday 22 September 10.00am–1.30pm New Senior Campus opening 2019 2 Titoki Street, Parnell | 0800 222 877 parnellcollege.acgedu.com

being a suitable workforce, materials competition and council issues.

Providing the workforce — either imported or through a more incentivised apprenticeship scheme — must begin in earnest now.

The Government should address the consent issues and the time that it takes, and the risks. I spoke to my recently retired uncle, who built 60 houses in the 1970s and 80s. Mostly group houses, made from brick, block and an iron roof. A building consent took three weeks to approve. All of the houses are still in place today.

These were simple designs that met a demand and a need.

The last part of the puzzle is funding. The 1966 Encyclopaedia of NZ shows that in 1958, the government introduced a State Advances loan policy to lower income families, and thus home ownership opportunities, by providing suspensory loans at a much lower interest rate than the commercial market. This allowed families unable to save for a full deposit to bridge the gap, and get into home ownership much faster.

In 1959, this policy was further enhanced allowing people to capitalise their family benefit (today’s Working for Families) to provide the housing deposit. As a result, home ownership reached a new high of 69 per cent. This also bumped up government lending to over 30 per cent of all new home mortgages. But it got people into home ownership.

Today it is the lowest it has been since 1951, when the government recognised it had a problem and facilitated a positive change.

In the 1970s lending criteria was further widened, allowing for the improvement of housing near city centres. Many jumped at the opportunity to do up an old villa, thus gentrifying inner city neighbourhoods like Ponsonby in the process. In the late ‘70s the government believed the housing shortage was largely solved and our home ownership rate was one of the highest in the OECD. Fast forward to 2018, and we have a lottery as the solution to a growing problem. Based on what we do, and the inertia from local and central government departments, the 100,000 new builds is fantasy. The current crop of housing and urban regeneration Government ministers lived through the State Advances loan policy, a policy primarily based on facilitation, rather than being all things to a few lucky people. — Hamish Firth

the advice

Words from the Wise To mark Father’s Day on 2 September, Mary Fitzgerald asked the principals at our local schools to cast their minds back to the best and worst advice their own fathers gave them when they were growing up

“The best piece of advice my father gave me was, “Choose your partner wisely”. My parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2016 and are still arguing about who should drive. My father also said, “Be kind to your brothers”. Growing up in a family of four boys, we all supported each other, had very few arguments and respected the rule to treat everyone fairly.

The worst piece of advice he gave was “To eat your carrots and all your vegetables to make your hair grow”. Clearly this does not work as I am now losing my hair rapidly!”

- Tony Sissons, Headmaster, King’s School (with his father, Robin)

Photographs by Stephen Penny the hobson 32

“The best advice my dad gave me was, “Some things just need to be instinctive”.

The worst advice he gave me was that he forgot to mention just how much practice being instinctive takes!”

— Russell Brooke, Principal, ACG Parnell College

“My dad was very wise and supportive of my career and the opportunities I had, even if it took me away from my home town, and he always said, “Go for it”. His best advice to me was, “Never be afraid to do what’s right”, and, “To stop worrying – the sun will still shine in the morning.”

I can’t think of any bad advice he gave.”

— Sandy Pasley, Principal, Baradene College of the Sacred Heart (above)

“The best advice my father gave me was, “There is a lot of value in the journey” – that arriving may not always be the priority to aim for, especially if it’s around having the rightthis-and-that in material terms.

The worst advice my father gave me was when I was 11-yearsold. [As if] that the brand new sewing basket that he was beaming at was going to make the real difference in my being able to sew well!”

— Lorraine Pound, Principal, Epsom Girls Grammar School

the advice

“My father gave me more than one good piece of advice.

“Do your very best, and I’ll ask nothing of you”.

“Don’t be concerned with what your friends say is acceptable to their parents, because that won’t influence what is acceptable to yours”.

“Sound travels slowly. Some of the things I tell you today take 10 years to be heard”.

Ironically, the only bad piece of advice I remember receiving from my father was, “Don’t become a teacher”.”

— Tim O’Connor, Headmaster, Auckland Grammar School

“My father passed away more than six years ago, but there is not a day that passes where I don’t think of him. I am indeed a richer person for the many things he taught me.

The best advice he gave me was, “To seek to understand”. If you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, not only will you develop a stronger sense of empathy and humility, but you will also learn a great deal. My father was an incredible listener. He reflected deeply on what people said.

Never a judge, but always an empathetic ear.

The worst advice he gave me was, “There is no such thing as bad beer. There is only good beer and better beer”. I know that were my father still with us, he would review this quote in light of the wonderful choice in beer we have today.”

— Steve King, Principal, Remuera Primary School

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“My dad was a wonderful man and his best advice was, not to criticise or make judgements on people unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. This advice has helped me to get to know people’s stories, and to be more inclusive especially of those people whose life has been tough.

His worst advice was, “Children should be seen and not heard”. As a teacher I encourage children to share their ideas and to have an inquiring mind.”

— Ann McKeown, Principal, St Michael’s Catholic School

“My father is 95 and still full of sage advice. At the age of 20 he served in World War II and is now one of the few remaining soldiers from the 21st battalion. He is known to say, “Every day since 1945 has been a bonus”.

The best advice he gave me was, “To be kind, patient and keep reading”.

The worst advice he gave was, “Never drink cheap champagne”, which is of course, both good and bad advice, because it’s enjoyable but expensive!”

Photo supplied

— Justine Mahon, Principal, St Cuthbert’s College

the hobson 35

the future

Tomorrow Calling

the hobson 36

Photographed by Stephen Tilley at Studio 58, Ponsonby

the hobson 37

the future

Back row, left to right: Tiana Willis-Baker (St Cuth’s), Harriet Butt (King’s), Felix Marcon Swadel (Grammar), Lucas Dasent (St Peter’s), Ruby Murray (EGGS), Athan Ratnam (ACG Parnell), Kate Schellekens (Selwyn). Front row, from left: Emma Burggraaf (Baradene), Ben Staite (St Kents), Joshua Downey (Selwyn), Weropuna Witika (King’s), Harrison Dudley-Rode (Dilworth), Laura Porteous (St Kents), Cassidy Huang (ACG Parnell). Seated in front: Zoe Tinkler (Dio)

I

In our launch issue in September 2013, we photographed local school leaders and talked to them about their future plans.

For this 5th anniversary issue, we repeated the exercise with 2018’s crop of committed, passionate, service-driven peer leaders.

Chantelle Murray found out what's next for this great group of leaders, and over the page, catches up with the Class of 2013

CASSIDY HUANG

FELIX MARCON SWADEL

HEAD PREFECT, ACG PARNELL COLLEGE

HEAD PREFECT, AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Cassidy plans to study architecture at the University of Auckland. “As a kid I always built things and drew floor plans and stuff like that. I’m just hoping that going to uni won’t make me lose my passion.”

Before she settled on architecture, she did consider applying for the national drama school, Toi Whakaari. A keen drama student, she suspects “it’s just not as sustainable as architecture”.

ATHAN RATNAM HEAD PREFECT, ACG PARNELL COLLEGE

“I’m planning on going to Auckland uni to study a BCom. I guess business has always been my passion. I have my own business already — we get hired by after-school and holiday programmes.

Recently we did Nerf wars. I’ve got all this equipment and we run these big games, for kids six to 12, 13-years-old.

We get paid to do that.”

the hobson 38

Felix is heading to the University of Auckland to study maths, linguistics and Latin. “Maths is probably going to get me a job one day, but I really enjoy languages [he also studies Japanese] — I’m not willing to give them up!” But he has discovered a career that could fuse his passions. “The intersection of maths and language is artificial intelligence, which sounds really interesting to me. It’s the one way of combining things into a job that I would want to do. That would be the absolute pinnacle”.

EMMA BURGGRAAF HEAD GIRL, BARADENE COLLEGE OF THE SACRED HEART

“I’m interested in nutrition, health, fitness. I love that side of things. Netball is my main sport. I’m kind of undecided but I’m thinking a health pathway, whether that be health science or biomed. Anything to do with wellbeing.”

HARRISON DUDLEY-RODE HEAD PREFECT, DILWORTH

Harrison will take a gap year to work at Ireland’s Royal School Dungannon, the alma mater of school founder James Dilworth. One of three leavers selected for the honour, he will work in the school as an assistant “and hopefully play a bit of local club rugby”. Once he returns to NZ after Christmas 2019, he plans to study biomedical engineering and hopes to combine his love of sport with engineering, perhaps working on developing prosthetics for athletes. “My big passion is sport. Everyone goes and does a health science degree so this will be a point of difference. I’m quite into physics and that sort of stuff. I feel like it would be a pretty interesting career path.”

a surgeon and both older sisters are studying medicine — but “I love commerce and I definitely do see myself in the business world. I just really like the idea of law and I think there’s lots of room to move.” Ultimately, “I want to be able to have a positive impact.”

WEROPUNA WITIKA HEAD BOY, KING’S COLLEGE

“I want to go to Canterbury to study engineering. I always loved cars as a kid — I wanted to be a car designer, so when got a bit older I decided I should do engineering.” The opportunity to play rugby in Canterbury too is another drawcard. “I love my sport. Right now it’s sport, school, sport, sport and kapa haka too. We just finished nationals. It was good fun.”

ZOE TINKLER

TIANA WILLIS-BAKER

HEAD PREFECT, DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

HEAD GIRL, ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE

“I want to study law and commerce, or architecture, I’m kind of choosing between the two. One of my best friends does architecture and she loves it. It looks amazing and there’s a lot of creative freedom which is something you don’t get if you were doing law.” But then again with law, there’s a strong appeal too. “I’ve been studying history since Year 10 and there are a lot of studies in race relations in New Zealand. I’m part Māori and Pākehā as well, so anything to do with race relations I find really interesting.”

RUBY MURRAY HEAD GIRL, EPSOM GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

After considering law and medicine, Ruby is thinking of studying medicine at Otago. “My brother’s down there, in his first year. Vic’s actually stealing a lot of my friends!” A boarder at EGGS, Ruby is from Kerikeri and likes the idea of a career that could take her to small towns or cities. “I want to give back to communities health-wise. I want to go work somewhere rural — I like small towns and the city. My home town has a good feel.”

HARRIET BUTT HEAD GIRL, KING’S COLLEGE

“I’m planning to go to Otago to do law and commerce. I just think it opens a lot of pathways because I’m not set on a future career, so it adds some flexibility.”

Harriet’s family tilts to science — her mother is a science grad, her father

“I’m stuck between law and med,” says Tiana of her choice of faculty at the University of Auckland next year. “I like the idea of law. I want to end up in politics, be at the forefront of change.

I’m interested in climate change and sustainability, so I’d love to be able to contribute to making New Zealand more sustainable.”

LAURA PORTEOUS HEAD GIRL, SAINT KENTIGERN COLLEGE

“I’m looking at doing a Bachelor of Global Studies, it was a new degree last year [at the University of Auckland].

It’s kind of like international business, politics and human rights. From what I’ve seen I’m like, yup! That’s what I’m interested in!” Laura studies Spanish, and her degree, which requires a second language, will include a six-week programme in Spain.

LUCAS DASENT HEAD BOY, ST PETER’S COLLEGE

Lucas plans to head to Otago to undertake a BCom, with some sports papers too. A keen rugby player and cricketer, he’s hopeful of combining his sports interests with commerce. “My favourite subjects are PE and economics.

What will I be doing in five years? I guess working in the sports world, the business side of sports, like sports management.”

JOSHUA DOWNEY HEAD BOY, SELWYN COLLEGE

Sport, and service, motivates Joshua, who loves getting outside whether it’s for a hike, for a game of hockey, which he picked up this year, or to coach a Year 5-6 rugby team at a local primary school.

Next year, he plans to head to Otago and its first year Health Science course before specialising in sports medicine. “I don’t want to be too broad because I want to be involved in sports and I want to be doing something that I’m passionate about.”

KATE SCHELLEKENS HEAD GIRL, SELWYN COLLEGE

Kate will take a gap year to do some travelling, and then plans to settle in Amsterdam, where she has family. She will enrol in a university there with a view to ultimately working in politics. “I just want to meet tonnes of people, find out about their lives, and see if I can do something to help them.”

BENJAMIN STAITE DEPUTY HEAD BOY, SAINT KENTIGERN COLLEGE*

Scots-born Ben is looking to Auckland, Canterbury or Sydney universities to begin his biomedical engineering studies and head to a career in the design of medical devices. “I’ve always wanted to be an inventor. I love sciences, especially genetics and biology. This year I picked up biology — I was always a big chemistry and physics person, but this year my love for biology has really captured me.” *Ben attended in place of head boy George Shirtcliffe, who was unable to take part in our shoot

the hobson 39

Turn over to find out what our Graduating Class of 2013 is up to now . . .

the future

From left, the leaders of 2013: Wiremu Te Hiko (Dilworth), Arizona Leger (EGGS), Madison Little (Baradene), Ginny Dougherty (Dio), Olivia Mann (St Cuth’s), Louis Foot (St Peter’s), Jonty Morreau (Grammar) and Prajay Patel (ACG Parnell), photographed for The Hobson's September 2013 issue by Vanita Andrews

PRAJAY PATEL

JONTY MORREAU

MADISON LITTLE

HEAD BOY, ACG PARNELL COLLEGE

HEAD PREFECT, AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

HEAD GIRL, BARADENE COLLEGE OF THE SACRED HEART

Then: Wanted to be a doctor Now: Medical student, working at Rotorua and Waikato hospitals

Then: Intended to study law and arts, and work with an NGO or for the UN Now: Local Board Advisor at Auckland Council

Then: Wanted to be a doctor Now: Medical student at the University of Adelaide Prajay has seen many successes since leaving high school. He considers himself very fortunate to have been accepted into medical school at the University of Adelaide, where he is in his fifth year of study. “The leadership foundation built at a high school level really helped build my confidence to pursue future leadership opportunities,” Prajay says. He is the president of Lincoln College, as well as chair of the Adelaide University Surgical Society. Next year, Prajay plans on doing some volunteer medical work for third world countries in Africa – “something that has always been a dream of mine.”

Exactly as he had hoped, Jonty went to med school at the University of Auckland.

“My years studying medicine have been fascinating and I see it as a privilege to do what I do.” Although Jonty is enjoying his career path (and triathlons and cycling), he notes that “at school we are filled with youthful optimism and this contrasts with the realism, and occasional pessimism, I have experienced in the adult world.

The challenge I have, and a challenge to all school leavers, is to maintain the simple joy and enthusiasm for life that comes to us so easily in our youth.”

the hobson 40

“I left school with a strong desire to get out of my comfort zone and do something different,” Maddie says, “so I upped and moved to Malawi for seven months.” After volunteering at a rural high school, she returned to NZ and graduated with a BA in developmental studies and international relations at Victoria, which taught her “how much more useful volunteers would be if they had a qualification in practical fields before believing they can save the world.” Maddie says she now has a more relaxed attitude towards life. “Young adults are often ill-prepared for the feeling of leaving university. Watch this space!”

WIREMU TE HIKO HEAD BOY, DILWORTH SCHOOL

Then: Intended to become a pilot Now: Law and commerce student at the University of Auckland Venturing out into the world was a massive change for Wiremu, especially since he was leaving a boarding environment. “Fortunately, the blow was softened by the unique opportunity to be a tutor at the Royal School Dungannon in Northern Ireland, along with two of my close friends. The year was one of the best of my life, doing everything from coaching rugby teams at the school, playing for the local team and gallivanting around Europe on a Topdeck trip.” Wiremu returned home and began the lengthy application to be a pilot in the RNZAF. During this period, he also crossed the ditch to work and save some money in Australia, where he worked at his uncle’s scaffolding and rigging company. “Regrettably I didn’t make it into the Air Force, failing at the last hurdle due to red/green colour deficiency.” Eventually, Wiremu came back to Auckland again. “Now I’m one semester down studying law and commerce, and thoroughly enjoying it.”

VIRGINIA DOUGHERTY HEAD PREFECT, DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

in the baking category team, which involves brand management of bread.

Ginny herself is also a passionate baker.

She knew she wanted to work at the intersection of her two degrees, and is pleased to be doing just that in her new role. “I couldn’t be happier,” Ginny says.

“I am getting challenged on a daily basis and working in an industry that I am incredibly passionate about.”

ARIZONA LEGER HEAD GIRL, EPSOM GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

LOUIS FOOT HEAD BOY, ST PETER’S COLLEGE

Then: Planned to study communications Now: Engagement co-ordinator for the Office of Pacific Advancement at AUT Arizona received a Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies at AUT. Midway through her degree, she undertook a six-month cultural exchange internship to Walt Disney World in Florida. “It was honestly one of the best chapters of my life and was an opportunity that I continue to suggest to people today.” She returned to NZ to finish her studies, graduated in December 2018 with a communications degree majoring in radio, and is now working to support Pacifika students at university. “My main focus is to ensure that students who attend AUT feel a sense of belonging within the wide world of university.” Outside of work, she travels to support her brothers, who play rugby and baseball for national teams.

OLIVIA MANN HEAD GIRL, ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE

Then: Planned to study food science Now: Sales and marketing graduate at Goodman Fielder Ginny ventured south to Dunedin to study a BSc majoring in food science and a BCom majoring in finance. “I honestly think it was the best decision I ever made as it has given me the most amazing friends and taught me so many valuable life lessons.” After graduation, Ginny found her way back to Auckland where she is in the Dream Big Graduate Program for Goodman Fielder, a leading regional food company. She is working

and a Bachelor of Science in computer science. She is now working at Orion Health involving configuring, testing and implementing software to deliver healthcare solutions to clients. “It is very rewarding to know that our technology is helping people save lives around the world,” Olivia says. She believes that her success has been built in large part from her experience at St Cuthbert’s. “The relationships I built and skills I learnt as head girl have helped me grow both personally and professionally over the past five years. I will be forever grateful for that.”

Then: Intended to pursue accountancy and commercial law Now: Graduate Implementation Consultant at Orion Health Only slightly different from her original intentions, Olivia graduated from the University of Auckland at the beginning of this year with a BCom in economics, the hobson 41

Then: Planned on being a surveyor Now: Conservation Reserve Tour Guide at Penguin Place, Dunedin, and learning support worker Louis studied land surveying at the University of Otago, but a year and a half in, decided that it was not for him.

He switched to environmental and marketing management, which lead him to work in conservation. Since finishing his studies, Louis has been dedicated to saving the yellow-eyed penguins, which are the world’s most endangered of their kind. “It’s also a tourist attraction as they are very rare and hard to find, so in the summer I spend my days showing people around the reserve and educating them about conservation.”

During the winter, he focuses on habitat restoration and nesting options for the upcoming breeding seasons. He also does support work with boys who have learning disabilities. “It’s not totally what I expected to be doing five years ago, but it’s certainly putting a smile on my dial and makes me feel like I’m making a positive difference.”

Interviews by Chantelle Murray. Thanks to Prajay, Jonty, Maddie, Wiremu, Ginny, Arizona, Olivia & Louis for their photos.

the heritage

Gardens, Grazing & Gin Bruce Chambers ONZM has lived in Remuera for 80 years, only ever moving down the road or around the corner, and always close to Shore Rd. Inspired by our recent stories on changes to Hobson Bay, Bruce recorded his own memories of the area during the 1940s

Looking from Hobson Bay to Wilson's Beach at the bottom of Victoria Ave, 1931. Photo: J D Richardson, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-4497

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he recent articles on the early days at the bay, or at least early for me, together with a visit to Auckland Botanic Gardens reminded me of past matters. At the Gardens, there is a colonial garden, and on a sign is a picture of the catalogue for ‘Hay Nursery in Parnell’. Actually, this nursery was located on the corner of Seaview and Shore roads. There had been nurseries in Wrens Lane [Ridings Rd] and Orakei Rd [Montpellier].

Many of the overseas plant varieties in Remuera and Epsom gardens are supposed to come from these sources as they were big importers of such.

In the 1940s the nursery site was vacant. Left there were concrete tubs each as big as a door, and standing about 60cm high. They were full of water and frogs. We caught the frogs and sold them to the Grammar biology lab, for research!

Surrounding them and in the valley now called Hapua St was grass, and willow trees lined the stream that was later piped.

Much blackberry too.

In the weekend the delivery horses from J J Craig Ltd grazed there. A flat area on the valley floor was kept short by

the horses, and here giant bamboo goal posts were erected for rugby games between boys in Bassett Rd, Seaview Rd, Arney Rd, and Portland Rd areas. They all knew each other as they attended Parnell School together — Vicky Ave primary was yet to be built — travelling on the Portland Rd bus each day.

Being wartime, Parnell School’s only playing field was scythed every two months, so was useless for sport. There were tennis courts to play on but much of the land was covered in air raid shelters. The land now called Thomas Bloodworth Park grew fennel. Mr Bloodworth was on the city council and lived in Seaview Rd. Other than play rugby in the valley our only weekend sporting options were to ride bikes or toboggans on Mt Hobson, or steel wheeled trolleys on Seaview Rd. The area of land between Seaview Rd and Bassett Rd behind Shore Rd was a market garden. This was worked by a Chinese man who lived in a small hut behind tall bamboo on the Seaview and Shore corner. He ploughed the land with a horse and plough. The Chinese farmer gave up with a lost

the hobson 42

heart when his savings, which we were told were gold, were stolen from his little house. It was many years before this area was developed into housing, whereas the Hapua St development took place after the war, about 1948.

Along the edge of the bay was a rock wall on what was previously the beach, although now largely lost when the Civic carpark spoil was dumped in the bay for later use as reclaimed playing fields (the current Shore Rd reserve). The wall top can still be seen in dry weather. Another change was the creation of the canal along Portland Rd in 1978, together with a small bridge. That area flooded continuously as the outlet was previously under the small bridge west along Shore Rd. The house on the corner of Portland Rd and Shore Rd was moved along Shore Rd. In the 1960s, Fletchers wanted to fill the bay and construct sports grounds for the University of Auckland. The sports would be in the bay behind what is now Palmers Garden Centre. Public opposition and planning delays meant it was moved to the Tamaki campus site in the 1970s.

Petrol rationing limited car use and grass cutting machinery on parks. The Parnell Baths were too far away to walk to, so Wilson’s Beach was the only swimming place. Whilst the changing sheds have gone and so has the sewer, the jetty is still there and there is a better beach.

At this time many properties had a few sheep to help control the grass. With so many fathers away at war, it was the only way some families could keep the grass under control (there were only push hand mowers). Most of the valleys behind the bay had large sections with sheep.

Not all houses had a telephone. Those that did, had an upright model with a microphone at the top and an earphone on a cord. If you wanted to call the fire brigade you went to a round red box on a power pole, located in most streets, which had a glass front to break and a button inside. Then you waited.

A predominant feature of the bay was the sewer line, and this provided a walkway from the Parnell side to Victoria Ave and Ngapipi Rd. Some even rode it on their bikes. Beyond that was the rail line and where the Outboard Boating Club resides, the land was used during the war for defence purposes. Later, it was Leightons Driving School. In the distance Rangitoto was grey rock as the pohutukawa trees were still struggling to survive. During the war searchlights played from North Head and the Ōrākei headland.

Over the hill was the Ōrākei Train Station, where the rail sheds were the transfer point for island bananas from rail to truck. Above the station were three workmen’s houses, the foundation ruins are still there. Gin importers built a processing bulk shed, now converted to Orakei Bay Village.

Prior to sewer and rail across the bay, there had been a beach with manuka, rushes and mangroves where Palmers now stands. It was held by the Department of Education and in 1952 was leased to F M Winstone (Merchants) Ltd who established a nursery. It was vested in the Crown in 1970 for recreation purposes and the land area was expanded

in 1976 by covering the sea bed. A short distance along Shore Rd from there is a rock lava flow on the surface of the bay, originating from Little Rangitoto reserve in Upland Rd. What is now Martyn Wilson Fields has been expanded by adding the land from the three houses that stood on the corner of Shore Rd and Orakei Rd, all surrounded by very high hedges. In dry conditions the old pathway to one house can still be seen. The stream behind was, according to early literature, able to be navigated at high tide. This apparently allowed

- Hobson Bay and Orakei Basin in 1956: alongside the rail line in the foreground is the gin bulk shed, now Orakei Bay Village. To the right are railway cottages, the foundations of which remain today. Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library, WA-41672-F

the Collector of Customs, whose home was at the foot of Orakei Rd, to be rowed home from the city Customhouse. On a low tide he landed at Purewa Stream and would walk home from there. Nearby, the Kowhai Tennis courts were in the valley behind Tonks St. They were sold in the late 1950s, as were horticultural glasshouses alongside.

Only recently when Orakei Rd was widened for the bus stop was the concrete stock-watering trough under a large willow covered over. It was fed by a spring and let drovers water their stock before taking them up Orakei Rd to Market Rd rail station. They had been bought ashore on barges from the gulf islands and landed on the beach. There was no Tamaki Drive, rail line or sewer in those days.

Walk the Ōrākei Basin west reserve and you will find the old Māori protection trench, as well as settlement tracks that were used before Orakei Rd was constructed. Until 1920 there was a Māori whare on the flat site in Orakei Rd, opposite Palmers. There is a lot of history in Hobson Bay. p

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the hobson + stephen marr

Stephen Marr: Training for Success

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key part of the Stephen Marr family for almost 10 years, stylist Amanda Preston has her fingers in many pies, all of them related to COLOUR. Working as an educator for salon-only brand O&M Australasia and as a key trainer across both Stephen Marr salons, she can also be found on the floor at the Ponsonby salon on Fridays and soon to be also at Newmarket on Wednesdays. Recently returned from several years based in Queenstown, Amanda is passionate about her work and the brands that she aligns herself with, as well as being the best educator she can be.

Once a week Amanda (pictured, right) intensively trains the Stephen Marr staff for up to five hours at a time, but says that conversations go on throughout the week as she imparts her knowledge of great colour results to staff both freshly minted and members of the senior team. She says that key to her approach as an educator is the belief that “every person learns differently, and knowing that is such an important thing. If someone doesn’t understand what you are saying then repeating it over and over is not going to change that. You have to work out what works for that person and then things will start to become clear”.

Key to her teachings of late has been the freehand colour technique demonstrated in the salon’s latest creative images, which gives an easy, lived-in feel to hair for an effortless, naturally beautiful look.

“Freehand takes a really global look at the hair,” says Amanda, “it is super smooth and blended and really looks at each client’s style as a whole picture.” She says that although it’s a natural look, “you can push it, to create all kinds of effects within the hair. It’s a truly bespoke approach to colour – no two clients are the same”. This is the Stephen Marr philosophy in a nutshell — a truly customised approach for every client.

Progressive independent brands are starting to dominate the global colour market, and the product line used across both Stephen Marr salons is O&M, which stands for Original + Mineral. The Australian-founded, Italian-made and globally respected name also created CØR.colour, which took their original ammonia-free colour offering and dialled things up. Way up.

Super high performance and super clean, CØR was designed for salons “dedicated to giving their clients and stylists the cleanest, healthiest colour experience”. It is gluten and soy-free so more people can safely experience a hair colour session without the itching and tingling, and has no animal-derived ingredients. Free of PPD and Resorcinol, CØR.colour is kind on people and the planet. Amanda is a passionate fan of the brand, and will be travelling to New York next year to train with O&M’s colour educators there.

Upkeep is essential to keep your freehand colour looking its freshest, namely in the form of regular treatments, masks and most importantly, a suitable shampoo and conditioner duo. One of Amanda’s top picks for colour care is O&M’s Project Sukuroi Gold Smoothing Balm, an intensely reparative conditioning formula dedicated to smoothing and repairing damaged hair. When it comes to styling, she loves R+Co’s TROPHY Shine + Texture Spray, and using Olaplex at home, as well as in-salon, as a treatment is vital.

When asked if her work is influenced by international trends, Amanda says, “absolutely, and I believe that the growth of social media has taken colour to a whole new level. It has meant that great colourists get as much respect as great cutters, and the science behind the creation of great colour product has come right to the fore”. She says that consumers are increasingly demanding that brands remove harmful chemicals and the hobson 44

utilise ingredients sourced from nature. O&M has been a leader in the field from the get-go. “The rise in allergies will also determine what the next generation of clients ask for,” says Amanda. “When people need vegan, wheat-free formulas, O&M are giving them exactly that.”

Lastly, the team at Stephen Marr Newmarket are happy to announce that they now have more complimentary car parks reserved for clients. The new client parking initiative tackles the current state of flux in Newmarket head on.

Front of house staff are now able to assign and reserve you a park to use for your appointment. The additional parks are located between the salon’s Teed St neighbours Kitchen Things and Resene, with entry from nearby Crowhurst St. To book one of these super handy parks next time you’re heading to Stephen Marr Newmarket, call and speak to reception on (09) 524 6702, or email newmarket@stephenmarr.co.nz

Stephen Marr

the hobson + farro

A Taste of Spring As the days get longer, it’s time to put away the slow-cookers and casseroles, and inject some fresh thinking onto your table with these new spring picks from Farro. Come instore for more inspiration at our Lunn Ave and Orakei Bay Village stores – now with free parking and lift access from the lower carpark

Wild Kimchi Forage & Ferment specialise in wild fermentation to create enlivened food that is full of flavour and nourishment. Their wild kraut and kimchi are lacto-fermented foods that are probiotic and immune strengthening. Infused with wild edibles, healing herbs and punchy spices, this is real food at its best. $13.99

Hāhā Brut Rosé Pretty in pink! Say goodbye to wintry reds with this lovely elegant wine bursting with summer berries, and a refreshing dry finish. This is a beautiful blend of two classic champagne grapes, chardonnay and pinot noir. $17.99

Jess’ Underground Kitchen Fresh Meals Jess’ Underground Kitchen serves up an ever-changing menu of seasonal meals so you can enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal without having to do any of the leg work! Their single-serve fresh meals change daily and are vibrant, healthy and inspired by flavours from around the world. $17.99

Pepler’s Harissa Paste This deliciously spicy harissa paste will bring almost any dish to life. A traditional Tunisian product, Pepler’s Harissa Paste is a carefully blended mixture of spices and chillies and is a secret weapon in our pantry! $12.49

Farro Baby Veg So cute! The first young tender vegetables of spring are here. Try roasting them with a little olive oil and seasoning — the perfect side dish for large gatherings or an easy dinner for busy weeknights. $2.49/100g

Kapiti Extra Virgin Olive Oil Only the finest of olives from Te Horo on the Kapiti Coast are blended to make the award-winning Kapiti Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add a dash of this liquid gold over pasta or toss through a salad for a yummy spring meal. $17.49 (250ml)

Bread & Butter Organic Quinoa Sourdough The saying goes “Man does not live by bread alone” but you would definitely last a while on this new organic quinoa sourdough from Bread & Butter. No need to feel any guilt with a slice of this bread – the quinoa is packed with protein and minerals and is considered highly nutritious. Enjoy! $8.50

Visit your local Farro today: Mt Wellington, Constellation Drive, Grey Lynn, Epsom, Ōrākei, Mt Eden the hobson 45

the magpie

Pop Parade The Magpie gifts you good ideas for Father’s Day, September 2 1. Keep Dad on the right side of fashion with this perennially cool, and local, Workshop Denim cotton T-shirt, RRP $89. workshop.co.nz 2,3 The Aēsop Double-Edge Razor ($120) and Shaving Brush ($80) are hand-crafted in Sheffield, England, with exceptional materials. The feel of the badger-like fibre (Aēsop says no to animals) is soft and will lightly exfoliate skin, while the razor is perfectly balanced for an immaculate shave. Smooth as. aesop.com/nz 4. Briefly speaking, Deadly Ponies has him sorted. The Zorro Briefcase Croc is capacious enough for an overnight kit alongside his laptop for that red-eye to Wellington. $860, deadlyponies.co.nz 5. The KeepCup Cork is made in Portugal from tempered soda lime glass and waste product from wine cork manufacturing.

It looks smart, while doing right by the planet. 340ml, $35, from Father Rabbit. fatherrabbit.com 6. Nobody likes a dull daddy. Give him Grown Alchemist Enzyme Exfoliant for sloughing off the dead skin cells that cause ingrown hairs and a muted complexion. $77, from Mecca Maxima and meccabeauty.co.nz 7. For the father who has an eye for bespoke design, The Magpie alit on this unique and beautiful Flow Side Table by Ly Zadie. Handcrafted from rescued river rimu, it’s inlaid with a brass pattern inspired by the braided rivers of the South Is. $3100, to order at lyzadie.com 8. Always interesting, this is about as masculine as a Comme scent gets. In any case, a divine scent for the urbane man.

Comme des Garçons CDG 2 Man eau de toilette, $184 from Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima and meccabeauty.co.nz 9. You can trust The Magpie to find the good stuff. Paying tribute to the first Louis Vuitton watches, the Tambour Moon collection is a contemporary reinterpretation. Tambour Moon Blue Watch, $7900. louisvuitton.com 10. Is he Neil Young live, or Nirvana unplugged? Help Dad realise his boyhood dream with the Fender CP140SE Electric Acoustic Parlor Guitar, $749 from KBB Music. kbbmusic.co.nz 11. The story goes that mates Mitch, Glen and Denym created Woodbine candles based on the idea of “something primal that leads us to brave the elements, to be the first on the battlefield and last off”. Man candles in other words. Woodbine Candle Co Blackbeard Candle, $30. woodbinecandles.co.nz 12. This concoction from Tom Ford is as sexy as hell (are we surprised?). Ombré Leather, the new fragrance for men and women, is spicy and warmly floral all at once. $210 (50ml) from Smith and Caughey’s. smithandcaugheys.co.nz 13. The knowledge of three generations of Spanish cutlers has gone into the creation of the Pallares Solsona Chef’s Professional Knife, which will bring joy to any cooking Pop. $199 from Father Rabbit. fatherrabbit.com 14. The originators of the luxe minimalist sneakers, Common Projects has branched out with these equally luxe, minimalist (and uber cool) wallets. Common Projects Zipper Wallet Grain, $298 from Workshop. workshop.co.nz 15. Cool, courtesy of Karen. Karen Walker Monumental Burroughs Black sunglasses, $349. karenwalker.com

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the sound

We Feel Good, Good, Good

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t was a New Zealand music news announcement that many people could scarcely believe.

The band Six60, famously named after their Dunedin student flat at 660 Castle St, was going to play their only summer concert at Western Springs Stadium next February.

It was breath-taking audacity. No local band had ever tried to headline a stadium gig like this. The sort of thing reserved for the Rolling Stones, or AC/DC, or the Foo Fighters.

They were confident the risk was worth it. After all, they were one of the few New Zealand artists to sell out the 12,000 seat Vector (now Spark) Arena in Auckland. Off the top of my head, the only bands to do that have been Split Enz and Crowded House and Lorde, and Lorde’s concert was a free one, for the launch of an internet radio provider.

Last summer Six60 had played to 40,000 people across the country in their nationwide tour. They’re a guaranteed good time live, and they’ve got hits.

Their first song, “Rise Up” hit No.1, as did a later single, “Special”.

There’s “Don’t Forget Your Roots” and their EP Forever dominated the charts last summer.

But to headline a show at a stadium is to put a lot of money and your reputation on the line. It’s the sort of thing where if you don't get 20,000 people along, you start writing cheques out of your own pocket. So, blow me down, when the tickets came on sale in the first week of July, Six60 sold 27,000 tickets in just 20 minutes.

It’s fair to say the band were smart. They told everyone it was their only gig of the summer, and for many a Six60 gig is a summer ritual, so there will be people from all over New Zealand deciding to do a roadie this February. Then there was the pricing; with most tickets $50. It’s the cheapest stadium show in a long while. This will be a relatively cheap family night out.

Finally, they stacked the bill with some of the hottest NZ support acts of the moment, including The Drax Project, a band who have supported Ed Sheeran and have just been overseas with Camila Cabelo. They’re great. Check out their video for the song “Woke Up Late”. You'll know the song, it's been thrashed on the radio and the video is one of the most New Zealand things I’ve seen for ages. My eyes got sweaty thinking about lost youth and Wellington.

Then there’s SWIDT, a rap crew from Onehunga which they’ve renamed Stoneyhunga. Their hit is “Player Of The Day”! So Kiwi, but international quality. It’s going to be a great afternoon.

But the reason I’m writing about this show now is the feat of

breaking boundaries by this team — it has a beautiful ‘completion of the circle’ aspect to it.

The promoter is a bloke called Brent Eccles. He’s our biggest local promoter, and his own company is doing this show. He’s also the local rep for Frontier Touring, which does some of the biggest international tours. Along with Campbell Smith, he’s the guy behind the winery and church tours. But way back when, he was the drummer for Citizen Band.

Remember “Rust in My Car”? Citizen Band had its moment in the sun in the late 70s. Founded by the Chunn brothers, Mike and Geoff. You would have heard of Mike. He was a founding member of Split Enz, became the head of APRA and then retired and started Play It Strange, the charity bringing music and songwriting to the kids.

Citizen Band were a great Auckland band of the time and great innovators. They started high school lunchtime concerts.

They pioneered suburban gigs — I saw them with 500 other crazed teenagers at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall. As guitarist Greg Clark hit the high notes in their cover of Larry’s Rebels’ “I Feel Good” (which, by the way, is one of the greatest Kiwi songs of all time) the acoustic tile ceiling fell on his head. One of my most rock n’ roll moments ever!

So this ambitious local band, with Brent Eccles on drums, decided they’d have a crack at finishing a nationwide tour with a gig at the Auckland Town Hall. A 2000-seat venue. Dreamers, they said. It was unheard of. It’s an Auckland band. They had great albums but only two singles. It’ll never work.

But they priced it right and they were on a wave and what happened was legendary. 2000 crazed teens packed the hall. The screams were likened to the screams of Beatlemania. I was there.

It was out of control. We stood on seats. The Town Hall shook, and afterwards Mayor Robbie expressed concern and the venue was strengthened.

Brent Eccles was there when the paradigm moved and a local band did what few international bands did. Now Brent Eccles is there as it happens again — a New Zealand band fills a major stadium that many overseas bands have failed to do.

I’m sure that next February Brent will be sitting on the Western Springs hill looking at this ground-breaking New Zealand music event and his mind will flash back to 1979. In the words of one his old band’s concert favourites, he’ll feel good, good, good. — Andrew Dickens

Full circle — Brent Eccles on the drums for Citizen Band, Radio Hauraki concert, Cornwall Park, 1979. Photo: Stephen Penny

the hobson 48

the district diary

September 2018 1 Dust off your bike and head to Parnell for the free Sustainable Living bike maintenance workshop. When you’re done, load up the front basket with fresh produce from the Parnell Farmers’ Market. 545 Parnell Rd, market 8am-12pm, workshop 9-11am, free entry to both Today only, a women’s fitness pop-up market — active wear, accessories, yoga mats — is at the St Heliers Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Rd, 1-3pm Tonight, enjoy community voices in song at the Stonefields Choir concert, 7.30pm, Dorothy Winstone Centre, AGGS. Info and tickets at thechoir.co.nz 7 The first Friday of every month sees the Three Chord Ukelele social club meeting at Remuera Library. If you can play C, F and G7 chords, come and have a sing-along. BYO ukelele or call 520 2532 to borrow one. Tuning/ warm-up starts at 10.30am. Free 8 Just in time for spring-cleaning season comes the Parnell Community Jumble Sale.

Register a stall for $30 by contacting Lucy on 555 5154, or farmersmarket@parnell.org. nz. Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Road, 8-11.45am 9 An enchanted kingdom of fairies and pirates will be brought to life at the annual Ellerslie Fairy Festival and Pirate Party.

Entertainment, refreshments and the General Collective Kids Market. Market from 10am in the Arthur St carpark, festival 10.30am-12.30pm 10 Te Wiki o te Reo Māori — Māori Language Week — starts today 11 The Somervell Walking Group meets every Tuesday. Get fit, enjoy a cuppa afterwards and make new friends. Walks approx.

60 mins, rain or shine, gold coin donation. Somervell Presbyterian Church, 9.15-10.45am

12 Join Anne Batley Burton at the Pussy Galore Champagne Party, a night of frivolity to raise funds for the NZ Cat Foundation. There’s prizes for the best dressed pussy and tom.

Bluestone Room, Durham Lane, tickets from eventfinda.co.nz 15 Today and Sunday, enjoy the Art Showcase at Edmund Hillary Village. 10am-3pm, free entry, 221 Abbotts Way

PAUL GOLDSMITH

NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN EPSOM A

107 Great South Road, Greenlane PO Box 26 153 Epsom, Auckland 1344

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09 524 4930

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paul.goldsmith@parliament.govt.nz

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www.paulgoldsmith.co.nz facebook.com/PaulGoldsmithNZ

Discover more about urban beekeeping. With a hive in your backyard you’ll help the local ecosystem flourish and be rewarded with honey. Carol Downer presents this free workshop alongside the Parnell Farmers’ Market, 545 Parnell Rd, 9-11am St Aidans’s “world-famous in Remuera” garage sale is back.

At the church, 5 Ascot Ave, 8am-12pm 19 Celebrate Suffrage Day with the Sunrise Breakfast in Aotea Square, 7-8am. Female politicians and leaders will be there to honour the fight for gender equality. Free entry, breakfast can be bought from food trucks.

20 Parnell U3A meets 9.30am the third Wednesday of each month at the Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd. For guest speaker information and to join, email david@goldkorn.net 22 From 750 nationwide acts, it’s down to the final 10 in the Smokefreerockquest 2018 national final. Support young musicians at NZ’s original music youth event. Dorothy Winstone Centre, AGGS. Tickets from $10, eventfinda.co.nz 29 Today and Sunday, Rawhiti Estate retirement village welcomes you to its first open home days. 10am-3pm, 14 Rangitoto Ave, Remuera. See rawhitiestate.co.nz for info

Funded by Parliamentary Service and authorised by Paul Goldsmith 107 Great South Rd Auckland

Stonefields Choir SING INTO SPRING Directed by Kate Bell Saturday 1 September 2018 7.30 pm Dorothy Winstone Centre Auckland Girls Grammar School

Tickets available via: www.THECHOIR.co.nz Adults $25, Unwaged $20 Under 10's $10

the cryptic by mĀyĀ

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Shoot when finally caught and bound (6) 4 PM on committee, as played by 6 (8) 10 Material for Haydn organ recital (9) 11 Elvis rocking outrages (5) 12 Poles place listener between approaches (5) 13 Bananas amuse Holst - like Schubert’s 8th symphony - at a poor residence (9) 14 Mamma’s successor doubling as Aboriginal shelter (3,3) 16 Venerate one in brown study (7) 19 Bach regularly seen outside zone I dissolve in acid (7) 21 Nelly East, mysterious wand designer... (3,3) 23 . . . using streak and pickle to enchant (9) 25 Partial to taking it easy in a small town (5) 26 I make music heard as sugary cover (5) 27 Raising the subject at the palace (9) 28 Hail General Peg, getting back into Wagner’s work (8) 29 “Ocean Child” - one of twelve piano pieces by Tchaikovsky (6)

1 Command to dog to take in Len Carson’s 1 across (6) 2 Passing with heads swapped could lead to disgrace (9) 3 Cuts from cans (5) 5 One who unearths unknown drone forever buried (7) 6 Berry ordered 21 van’s follower to give in (9) 7 “You’ve been ’ad - bye!” (5) 8 Ravel disheartened, Ravel ends (8) 9 See 15 15/9 Has second job: on at one, to work by 6 (9,6) 17 Verdi, say, a Kink? (3,6) 18 It’s embarrassing, getting beaten up? (8) 20 Cowardly foreign dog imprisons cook after vacation (7) 21 So-called Judge and his accoutrement came before 6’s van (6) 22 Ring around after 6 for the 1 across from Bergman (6) 24 Send away magazine after team replaces first midfielder (5) 25 Companion in rock is yellowish-orange (5)

Set by Māyā. Answers will appear in our next issue (October 2018). Can’t wait, or need help? Visit https://thehobsoncrossword.wordpress.com/

JULY/AUGUST CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across: 5 Chainsaws, 10 Rue, 11 Irrationality, 12 Lawnmowers, 13 Eschew, 15 Get high, 17 Irritably, 19 Tiara, 21 Eilat, 22 Tramp, 24 Remainder, 25 Sausage, 27 Manger, 29 Brain coral, 32 Extravascular, 33 Dog, 34 Airedales, 35 Snidest Down: 1 Very light, 2 Overwet, 3 Idiom, 4 Screw threads, 5 Caterpillar tracks, 6 Ahoy, 7 Nears, 8 Apiphobia, 9 Shy away, 14 British Isles, 16 Iraqi, 18 Tatou, 20 Axminster, 23 Preflight, 23/1A Remuera violins, 26 Abridge, 28 Eland, 30 Corgi, 31 Ball

the hobson 50

Over 40% of all apartments are now sold.

Purchase now at pre construction pricing Edition brings together iconic architecture and superior design to each of it’s unique residences. Luxurious finishes and effortless style radiate throughout this premier apartment offering. Positioned at the heart of Auckland in the bustling neighbourhood of Parnell, Edition offers a chance to live in one of Auckland’s best homes.

Winner of The Chicago Athenaeum Architecture Award

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

1 Bedroom + Study Apartment from $1,650,000 (last available) 2 Bedroom Apartment from $1,995,000 (last available) 2 Bedroom + Study Apartments from $2,660,000 3 Bedroom + Media Apartments from $4,495,000

2 Churton Street Parnell Auckland Ross Hawkins ross.hawkins@nzsir.com +64 (0)27 472 0577 Jason Gaddes jason.gaddes@nzsir.com +64 (0)21 994 921

Phone for a private viewing Register your interest at editionparnell.co.nz

VALUE OF OUR TEAM At New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, Ross’ dedicated team has over 20 years experience marketing some of New Zealand’s most prestigious properties. Located at our Auckland Central office, Ross and his team specialise in quality residential and waterfront homes together with high quality apartment and land developments. Featured L to R; Klara Pulceska, Ross Hawkins, Kerryn Peters, Jason Gaddes.

Ross Hawkins M +64 274 720 577 ross.hawkins@nzsir.com

Ross Hawkins, National Top Performing Licensee 2013 - 2018 nzsothebysrealty.com Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.