Eastern Times April 10 2025

Photo supplied

A life-changing journey

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

Ethan McCormick experienced what he describes as a “paradigm shift” during a memorable month-long trip to one of the world’s most stunning places.

The respected east Auckland conservation educator and politics student will be known to many locals through his work for Pest Free Howick Ward.

McCormick, 22, successfully applied to take part in the recent True Young Explorer Scholarship trip to Antarctica run by Heritage Expeditions.

“They usually would go to the subantarctic, so the Auckland Islands, but for this trip they went down to the Ross Sea,” he told the Times

“The Ross Sea is very much untouched and as it was, so nothing has changed. It’s one of the very few places in the world you could say is pristine. It was an immense privilege to visit it.”

The voyage was made on a tourist ship which McCormick describes as a “big ice-strengthened boat kitted out with everything

Ethan McCormick had the rare chance to visit historic locations including Scott’s Hut during his trip to Antarctica. Photo supplied

you’d ever want”.

“We went down through the subantarctic islands. We visited the Snares Islands, which is down below Stewart Island.

“We got there and there’s seabirds and penguins everywhere. The Snares crested penguin is found on those islands. That was amazing and I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

The voyage took in the Auckland Islands and then Macquarie Island.

“It’s one of those islands very few people have heard of but it’s incredible,” McCormick says of Macquarie Island.

“There were thousands

of king penguins. They were just everywhere. We landed on the island and they walk right up to you.

“As soon as we crossed the convergence zone whales just started appearing everywhere.”

McCormick says the ship’s first attempt to land at Cape Adare on the northern tip of Antarctica was unsuccessful due to 80 knot winds.

“It’s a place of extremes. We made a dash down the iceshelf, hoping to get better weather, and we did.

“It was perfect weather all the way down across the iceshelf where you get to Ross Island. That’s where they’ve got the main bases

for the area, so McMurdo Station and Scott Base.

“We were very lucky in that we went in and there was no sea ice around Scott Base, which is pretty much unheard of.

“We had whales coming right into the shore. We got to go to Scott Base and had a look at Hillary’s Hut.

“We had a look around Scott Base for the evening and spent the next few days around Ross Island.

“Shackleton’s and Scott’s Huts are on the island and we got to see them.”

The trip was so incredible that it created a paradigm shift for him in terms of how he views the world and he’s thinking about what influence the trip will have on his future career plans.

“My plan is to do more post-graduate study, a master’s [degree] most likely.

“Something not specifically about Antarctica, but Antarctica will be a big part of it.

“I think the Southern Ocean, Southern Hemisphere and New Zealand are all areas connected in so many ways. Something around protecting what we’ve got in this part of the world.”

Johnstone & Kevin Kelleher

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Editor Chris Harrowell 027 404 1512 chrish@times.co.nz

PJ (Phil) Taylor 021 644 923 phil@times.co.nz

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Community Comments

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GREEN PARTY DEFENDS MP BENJAMIN DOYLE’S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS (Times, March 31):

Donna Leckie – This is a witch hunt by a group who want to find any way possible to discredit the Greens. They can’t do it on policy so they are going after their families instead. It’s disgusting behaviour that is exploiting people’s ignorance about the queer community to whip up moral outrage.

Alan Galley – People need to realise the Green Party is no longer an enviroment party but just a refuse bin for all the oddballs, misfits and minority groups to push their personal agen-

das. Most true Greens have pulled away and the void has been filled with people like this Doyle person.

BRIAN TAMAKI SAYS EAST AUCKLAND “FEELS LIKE CHINA TOWN” (Times, April 3):

Pragna Patel – It’s great to hear our [Howick] Local Board’s leadership embrace our diversity. Destiny Church leadership should take note of what good leadership looks like as it’s sadly attempting to polarise some people sitting on the fence. New Zealand is different to Australia. I choose NZ. I am an active community-spirited person who embraces the synergy between the val-

ues of Tangata Whenua and my own culture. Isn’t that what modern life should do? Stay true to self but adapt to the country you call home.

TASTY KIWI PIES IN HOT DEMAND (Times, April 4):

Kathryn Kelly – The bakery on Moore Street next to Bin Inn do the best steak and blue cheese pie.

Gary Raffaelli – Muzza’s Pies in Howick main street are pretty hard to beat.

Colette Kearins – Mobil Corner Bucklands Beach Bakery is the best!

Gayle Unkovich – The little lunch bar on the corner of Moore and Vincent Streets has good pies.

Suspects charged with thefts, assault

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

An east Auckland woman facing numerous theft charges is among the alleged offenders arrested by local police in recent weeks.

Howick Police community services supervisor, sergeant Brett Meale, says the 25-year-old woman, who lives in Howick, was arrested most recently on April 3 for allegedly breaching her bail.

“In the last few months she’s been targeting a lot of our retail stores around the Counties Manukau East area and further afield in Auckland as well,” Meale says. “We were able to identify her through CCTV.

“She was originally arrested on some charges

and she continued to offend. My staff recently charged her with another 19 shoplifting incidents and four trespassing incidents.

“She’s now before the courts on 30 theft charges and eight trespassing charges and one aggravated assault.

“She allegedly assaulted a staff member at one of the shops as she was leaving.”

The items the woman allegedly stole would vary but included a lot of cosmetic products. She’s currently on bail.

Meale says police also recently caught two men who had stolen items from the Beachlands Woolworths during the early evening of March 21.

“The males were seen shoplifting from the store. They left in a vehicle and

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police stopped it. Police recovered the stolen property.”

He says following the incident a 26-year-old male from Manurewa and a 27-year-old male from Papakura have been referred to the police’s Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panels.

In a third recent incident, Meale says a group of people travelling in a Subaru vehicle with a stolen registration licence plate attached to it were stopped in east Auckland on March 24. Three females who were in the vehicle were arrested and are facing various charges.

A 33-year-old woman from Kaitaia was charged with assaulting a security guard at a Botany supermarket two days prior as

well as several historic theft matters, Meale says.

“In the vehicle also was a 25-year-old female from Kaitaia who was arrested for breaching her bail conditions. The driver, a 35-year-old female from Manurewa, was arrested for driving while disqualified.”

The fourth recent incident involved what Meale describes as a spate of burglaries in the East Tamaki industrial area.

“Our tactical crime unit managed to identify the suspect, who was subsequently located in Whangarei. He was charged with 13 burglaries, a robbery, and receiving stolen property.

“A female, aged 30, was with him. She’s charged with burglary and receiving stolen property.”

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Buddha’s Birthday Celebration for World Peace

Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon was among the several thousand people who turned out to Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Buddhist Temple in Flat Bush last weekend for the annual Buddha’s Birthday Celebration for World Peace.

The ceremony on April 5 was led by Abbess Manshin, who guided the assembly in

chanting the Heart Sutra and reciting the Prayer for World Peace, and featured performances including of a lion dance, a Scottish pipe band, the Māori traditional dance Poi E and a Dunhuang Dance by the Temple’s Children’s Dharma Class.

Photos supplied by Doug Mitchell of Howick Photographic Society

Road warrior to run the length of New Zealand

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

Blake Schimanski has set out on a challenge so tough that few people would even contemplate it.

On April 1 the east Auckland local began his mission to run the length of New Zealand, starting at Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. He’ll cover about 110km per day, on foot, and hopes to reach Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island 18 days later.

Schimanski is undertaking the challenge with the goal of raising about $100,000 for the mental health charity I Am Hope, which provides services including free counselling for young Kiwis.

“It’s pretty important to me because in 2018 I lost my best mate to suicide,” he says. “Since then I’ve done a few different things. I started off doing half-marathons and raising money for I Am Hope.

“I did a 100km ultra-marathon and thought I’d take the next big step up and try

to do that 100km a day for 18 days.”

Schimanski plans to run beside State Highway 1 for most of his journey and he’ll be accompanied by his support crew in a campervan.

“One of them will be on a bike following me most of the way so on the dangerous parts I can be protected by the bike a bit,” he says.

He expects to begin each day at about 5am.

“I’ll just go until I complete the 110km, which will probably be between 13 and 16 hours depending on how many hills there are.”

Schimanski has created a Givealittle page to accept donations for his fundraising mission. He also raised $10,000 at a fundraising event at Action Indoor Sports Pakuranga.

He needs to raise a substantial amount of money to cover his costs during the run including for accommodation over the 18 days.

“I don’t want to sleep in the campervan the whole time as it will get pretty stuffy,” he says.

Petrol for his support crew is generously being sponsored by his employer, Dalton Electrical.

Among the people backing Schimanski’s efforts is east Auckland local, former Kiwis league representative and I Am Hope culture and well-being ambassador Richie Barnett.

“I think the purpose he’s doing it for hits a note with our organisation,” Barnett says. “Our mission is to drive positive societal attitude change to how people view mental health.

“How to open the door and normalise counselling – what everyone goes through, which is that overactive inner critic who doubts us.

“If we can be open enough and talk about it enough and get people like Blake to do what they’re doing, it’s going to help people to say ‘this is a normal way of thinking, but if it’s impacting you, counselling is an option’.

“We’re right behind it and I’m right behind what Blake is doing.”

To support Schimanski’s mission, go online to www. givealittle.co.nz and search for ‘Run Aotearoa for I Am Hope’.

I Am Hope culture and well-being ambassador Richie Barnett, left, with Blake Schimanski, who’s running the length of New Zealand to raise money for the mental health charity. Times photo

Working with the local community gets results

The old adage that police cannot do it alone and need the help of the community was never better exampled when the following local problem was encountered last month.

I was approached at the Howick Police station by a resident from a local street who was representing a number of residents in the street, some of whom had been victims of burglaries, and others who were quite rightly alarmed and fearful due to a sudden spate of crime in their street.

A check of our own data confirmed there’d been several burglaries in the street during the previous week or so.

Crime prevention advice around security of homes, installing CCTV, and ensuring residents were vigilant to any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area was communicated to the residents through their representative. Advice around reporting any suspicions via 111 or 105 or directly to myself was also given.

Over the following weeks our Community Patrol focused their patrolling in that area, providing an extra set of eyes and reassurance for residents.

Police patrolling and visibility was also prioritised into the street, to both

try and identify the offenders and reassure residents.

On one occasion I was patrolling when I was approached by many appreciative residents, several of whom had recorded suspicious vehicle registrations.

It was obvious they were determined to look out for each other.

One morning a week or so later a resident noticed several people using a crowbar to force open a door and window of his neighbour’s home. He immediately called 111 providing a description of the alleged offenders.

A short time later police were able to take into cus-

tody four people, who are all currently before the court facing a burglary charge.

Enquiries are continuing to establish whether they’re linked to the previous burglaries.

It’s good to see neighbours looking out for each other, and the community working together to deter criminals offending in our area.

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CCTV cameras catching illegal rubbish dumpers

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

It could be an ordinary scene in any street in the new and developing part of east Auckland, except someone’s dumped a broken fridge on the grass berm not far from a row of tidy two-storey houses.

Sadly, it’s the sort of thing Simon Wilkinson sees frequently.

His business, Wilkinson Environmental Ltd, is receiving funding from the Howick Local Board to help identify the people who discard their rubbish on footpaths, berms and empty sections in Flat Bush.

That funding has enabled the installation of CCTV cameras in rubbish dumping hot spots, which has led to Auckland Council issuing fines to dozens of people for illegal dumping, Wilkinson says.

“We’re out there and we’re catching people. We’ve caught about 40 people in Flat Bush so far since we’ve installed cameras and they’ve all been fined between $100 and $400

each. If it’s little, like a bag, it might be $100 or $150. If it’s a few bags or a trailer load it will go up to $400.

“Then if it’s a business or a really large load, they can be taken to court and the fines can go up to $30,000.”

One area that was an illegal dumping hot spot, off Flat Bush School Road, is now clean thanks to the CCTV camera that had been monitoring it.

But other locations, such as in Carrickdawson Drive, are still untidy.

At the front of an empty, privately-owned section lay discarded children’s

toys, a shoe, drink bottles, seven large plastic bags filled with green waste and two old and rusty gas bottles.

On the ground around the corner there’s several large pieces of timber, large cardboard boxes, and more general rubbish.

“They’re brazen,” Wilkinson says of the dumpers. “On some of the footage I’ve caught, I’ve seen them do it while other people are sitting in cars parked [nearby].

“It’s like those people don’t know to report them [the dumpers] and don’t

know it’s illegal and they can report them, or they just don’t care. It becomes difficult when it’s on private land that’s owned by a developer.

“The council won’t remove rubbish from private land, so it’s really frustrating, but the council can get quite serious and they do have fairly substantial fines up their sleeves.”

Wilkinson says what surprised him is that almost all the people caught dumping in the spot near Flat Bush School Road were locals.

“They lived quite close. I thought it would be people coming from outside the area and dumping, but actually they’re just lazy.”

The scale of the problem in Flat Bush is about the same as when the Times first reported on Wilkinson’s work in September last year.

“Where we’ve put the cameras, we’ve noticed a slow down because we’ve caught people,” he says.

People can report illegal dumping to the council on 0800 663 867.

Simon Wilkinson with a broken fridge someone has dumped in a street in Flat Bush. Times photo

Walking group seeking new members

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

There’s a friendly group of people who gather in east Auckland several times a week to exercise and socialise and they’re providing a vital community service.

The Pakuranga Joggers and Walkers Club meets at the Pakuranga Athletic Club building in Lloyd Elsmore Park every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30am, with their walks starting at 9am.

Co-ordinator Rosalea Dun says the group is after new members. When she took over the role she was surprised when one told her that if they didn’t have the group to go to, they wouldn’t see or talk to anyone.

“We like to think we’re a community,” Dun says. “The club is always open

regardless of the weather or what’s on. Sometimes when it’s really wet people will just come for a coffee.”

Members gather before breaking up into smaller groups and heading out.

Some may do a couple of laps of the nearby athletics track while others walk for up to 90 minutes around the local area, Dun says.

“An hour is the average. We have a fast group. They go at 8.45am and do 10km

or 12km. We only have three or four joggers now, so most are walkers.”

People don’t have to be fit or in great health to get involved as the group caters to everyone. Members also don’t have to participate in every walk, Dun says.

“We have a casual membership of $5 per time or they can join for $70 for 12 months and pay $3 each time they come. That covers our morning tea costs.”

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Among the group’s members is Terry Mitchell, who appreciates the regularity of the group’s sessions.

“You come down to meet up with everybody and you can go as far as you like.

“Then they come back for a coffee or a cup of tea and a biscuit.”

For details call Rosalea Dun on 021 041 4074 or email roseandjimdun@ icloud.com.

The enthusiastic members of the Pakuranga Joggers and Walkers Club encourage new members.

Williamson standing again

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

Maurice William-

son has promised his wife if he’s re-elected to Auckland Council at this year’s local elections it’ll be his final term.

That’s because when he said he was standing for the council in the Howick ward at the 2022 local elections, he said he’d only do a single term.

“That was my intention,” the former Pakuranga MP, Minister of Transport and Local Government Minister told the Times.

“I didn’t even really want to do the one term, but I thought if I can get in there and break the back of this spending monster … it’s been a lot harder and a lot

slower than I expected.”

Williamson serves on the council’s revenue and expenditure committee, audit and risk committee, and performance and appointments committee.

He’s also a director of Auckland Transport and serves on its board.

When he campaigned in 2022 he said he wanted to reduce council spending and get its debt under control.

He’s made progress on that as he revealed late last year the council had saved $332 million over the previ-

STEWART SURVEYING

ous three years.

Williamson says $332m is a “good saving” but he thinks more can be found. If re-elected he’ll continue to focus on cutting “wasteful spending”.

“There’s still a lot in there where money is being wasted and it’s quite clear.

“We’ve been able to go in and find things in the parks facilities area where

the numbers have gone skyrocketing, but no more delivery. We’ve found waste and duplication and quadruplication.”

He’s enjoying being a director of AT and says he’ll try to bring the agency back into the council.

“It’s not accountable to anybody. Under the legislation it’s separate and is not answerable to the mayor or the council and they aren’t elected. So they get on and do whatever the hell they like, and have been doing so, and I think anything of that nature has to be accountable to elected representation.”

• Candidate nominations for this year’s local elections open on July 4 with voting open from September 9 to October 11.

Maurice Williamson

We put the local in local government

As part of Auckland Council, local boards are responsible for your local assets and services like your parks, libraries and community centres.

We fund local environmental and safety programmes, as well as providing grants for community groups to deliver their own projects. If it’s regional (like rubbish, rates or regulations) it’s sits with the governing body (mayor and councillors).

The Howick Local Board is made up of nine elected members who represent and advocate for the 150,000+ residents of Howick, Pakūranga, Botany and Flat Bush.

Together we make decisions for our whole community, balancing priorities and a constrained budget.

Howick Local Board Chair

Damian Light

ENHANCING OPENESS IN DEMOCRACY

We make our decisions in our business meetings, held on the third Thursday of each month starting at 12pm at the Pakūranga Library building.

They’re open to the public and have bookable slots for people to present (online or in person). They’re recorded so you can watch them later.

In order to make good

decisions on your behalf, we need to receive and process a lot of information.

Workshops are informal sessions used to canvass issues, prepare for upcoming decisions, and enable discussion between elected members and staff.

We don’t make decisions in workshops, only at business meetings.

As of January, 2025, our workshops are open by default. We still need to close some sessions to protect sensitive information which isn’t ready for release yet.

Everyone is welcome to attend to observe our open items, although there’s no

opportunity at workshops for the public to speak or ask questions.

Our materials are published online for each workshop so you can see the same information we get.

Our workshops are held every non-business meeting Thursday, starting at 10am.

LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY

If you’d like to talk to us about an issue or idea, don’t hesitate to reach out. You may wish to talk to your local representative, the chairperson, or any member of the Howick Local Board – we’re here to help.

FIND OUT MORE & STAY IN TOUCH

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/howick Facebook: facebook.com/HowickLB eNewsletter: https://bit.ly/42kdAlK or scan QR

Challenging race-based policies

Most Kiwis believe in a fair go. It’s one of the reasons I chose to make New Zealand my home, and it’s what guides my work in Parliament.

Recently, I’ve heard from more and more people who are concerned about how some universities are using public money.

At some institutions, students are being offered certain opportunities based on their ethnicity. This includes access to special support or being allowed into spaces others are not. That doesn’t sit well with many students and parents. It’s raised questions about whether our universities are still treating people equally.

I’ve drafted a bill that aims to fix this. The Edu-

cation and Training (Equal Treatment) Amendment Bill would make sure public funding is handed out based on actual need, not racial background.

If a student is facing financial hardship or other barriers to success, they should be able to access help.

But race shouldn’t be the deciding factor when taxpayer money is involved.

To be clear, this bill doesn’t stop private organisations from offering targeted support.

If an iwi or community group wants to run a scholarship for a particular group, they’re welcome to do that. My focus is on fairness in how public institutions spend public money.

Since announcing the bill, I’ve had strong support from across the country, including here in east Auckland.

Many migrant families have shared how their children work hard and meet the standards but still miss out because of these policies.

Not everyone has welcomed the conversation.

After the bill was made public, AUT dean of law Khylee Quince responded by saying, “Immigrant forgets where she lives”.

It’s disappointing to see that kind of reaction from a senior academic. I’m proud of my background, and I believe people from all walks of life should feel comfortable speaking up about fairness in public policy.

We all want to lift students who are falling behind. But we should do it by looking at their circumstances, not by making assumptions based on ethnicity.

Every student deserves to be treated as an individual and given a fair chance to succeed.

ACT List MP Parmjeet Parmar

Speed limit reversal great news

If you’ve driven around Pakuranga in the last few weeks, you’ll have seen the speed limits on several of our major roads, including Pakuranga Road, have been restored to their previous limits of 60km/h.

In late March, Auckland Transport (AT) completed work to restore these local speed limits after they were lowered as part of the last Labour Government’s blanket speed limit reductions policy.

For several years now, these slower limits have been a point of contention for local Pakuranga residents, who have consistently raised it with me as a major issue that needed to be addressed.

It was also a key concern for those in other areas

MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown

around the country who had also seen unnecessary reductions to the speed limits on major roads in their towns and cities.

As a result, the National Government campaigned in 2023 on reversing these blanket speed limit reductions on local streets and key arterial roads.

When we were elected and I was asked to serve

as Minister of Transport, fulfilling this promise was one of my key priorities, and I’m proud to have been able to deliver for Pakuranga residents and commuters across the country.

Our sensible speed limit rule also strikes a balance by enforcing slower speed limits outside schools during pick-up and dropoff times only, rather than slowing everyone down during other times of the day.

The reality is that, in most cases, the reductions undertaken by Labour were made without any real evidence of a problem, Pakuranga Road included.

In fact, the data they initially used to justify the reductions in Auckland was taken at the height of

We’re making it easier to build

Making it easier and more affordable to build in New Zealand is part of our Government’s plan to deliver economic growth, which will create more jobs, higher wages, and help Kiwis deal with the cost of living.

New Zealand needs to build more of everything – houses, roads, hospitals, schools, and more.

However, red tape and bureaucracy has made it difficult and expensive to build.

This Government is focused on ways we can make it cheaper and easier to build, while removing unnecessary rules and regulations to ensure hard-working tradies can focus on what they do best.

Construction costs have risen 40 per cent since 2019, spurred by a lack of

competition in our building sector.

That’s why our Government is working on a raft of measures designed to make building quicker and cheaper.

We’ve passed legislation that’ll put up to 250,000 more building products on shelves this year, meaning you’ll have more options when building or renovating.

Bringing hundreds of thousands of new options into the market will put downward pressure on prices, improving competition and affordability.

Increasing options on the market is good not only for prices and competition but also for supply chain resilience.

To ensure the standard of new products, we’ll establish proper regula-

the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, hardly a reliable sample when many commuters were stuck at home and off the road.

Those of us who drive these local roads every day know they’re safe to drive at the higher limit of 60km/h and are able to accommodate such speeds.

The restoration of these speed limits, and the impending 2026 opening of the Reeves Road Flyover, will better enable Pakuranga residents to get where they need to go quickly and safely.

Thank you to the thousands of locals who signed my petition back in 2023 calling for this change to be made. Your support made this possible!

tions so only top-quality materials will enter the market. We’re also making changes to back our builders by cracking down on cowboys.

Our tradies are highly skilled and hardworking, but some high-profile examples of poor workmanship are tarring the good work of the majority of builders.

We’re going to remove regulations that choke productivity in our building system, while having checks and balances in the system to prevent shoddy work.

We’ll improve the complaints process, while strengthening disciplinary and transparency processes for builders to ensure the few cowboys who let the industry down face proper consequences.

Finally, you may have recently heard you won’t need consents to build 70 metre square granny flats, so more families can build without jumping through hoops.

These changes are expected to see 13,000 more granny flats built over the next decade, giving families more affordable, flexible housing options.

These changes are just the start. There’s more to come as we get on with fixing the consenting system.

From the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

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Radio station spins vinyl for 24 hours

„ By PJ TAYLOR

DJs on east Auckland’s popular community radio station are all in a spin as they get ready to drop the needle on vinyl records continuously for 24 hours this weekend.

East FM, with its studio in the town square in Howick Village, is participating in Vinylthon, joining other radio stations around the world to honour the magic of music on vinyl records.

“Yes, we’ll be playing nothing but vinyl, non-stop, for a full 24 hours,” says Beagle Everitt, East FM’s lead Vinylthon organsier.

“It’s all about the charm and passion of playing, collecting and appreciating both the history and the future of music on vinyl

East FM DJs Dave “Rambler” Agnew (right) and the writer during their 4am Vinylthon shift handover last year. Times photo

– your favourite singles and LPs from today and decades past.

“Join East FM for this special Vinylthon event from midday on Saturday, April 12, to midday on Sunday, April 13.”

East FM is encouraging music and vinyl record enthusiasts to listen in and there’s a chance for them to

win vinyl records.

Recording artists with strong connections to the east Auckland area have answered the station’s call for vinyl prizes to give away.

The musicians are Kiwi music legend John Hanlon, contributing his 1988 album Short Stories; drummer-composer Taylor Grif-

fin providing his brilliant modern-era jazz EP of last year In Green; Claudia Robin Gunn and her 2024 NZ Music Award-winning collaborative children’s music album Firefly; and the DIRT album Bloom of 2019 featuring Netherworld Dancing Toys’ Nick Sampson and the late Malcolm Black, and Barry Blackler, the former drummer of Jesus and the Mary Chain and of Blackout Music NZ.

Everitt says if any listener has a request for a song, the DJs will try their best to accommodate them, from the vinyl record library the DJs have created from their own collections.

“Do you have a favourite song or album side you’d like to hear? Send us your email request in advance, to studio@eastfm.nz.”

Contract signed

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare says it has signed a building construction contract with Dominion Constructors Ltd for the fifth building on its East Tāmaki campus.

says Niccol. “The building’s design will reflect the company’s culture of collaboration, with an open-plan work environment.”

The estimated total cost of the new building is expected to be approximately $250 million.

“We’re excited to add this new building to complete our East Tāmaki campus,” says Andy Niccol, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare chief operating officer.

“This project is a purposeful investment in infrastructure to ensure we have the necessary capacity and resources in New Zealand to progress our pipeline of innovative products and therapies.”

The 42-hectare East Tāmaki site has more than 3900 employees, and the new building will accommodate the company’s expected growth in Auckland over the next five years, Niccol says.

With a total gross floor area of about 28,000 square metres, the new building will showcase a cohesive blend of spaces for research and development, manufacturing and distribution,

Earthworks have been largely completed and construction will start later this month, with the facility expected to be operational in 2027. The company also recently submitted a private plan change application for its additional New Zealand campus at Karaka.

Transpower CommunityCare Fund

Get funding for your community project in the Whitford to Pakūranga area Tī Rākau Drive layout changes from 17 April between Gossamer Drive and Pakūranga Highway in Pakūranga.

Thank you for your patience while we build the Eastern Busway.

info@easternbusway.nz easternbusway.nz

0800 BUSWAY (0800 287 929)

The Transpower CommunityCare Fund is boosting community initiatives near Transpower’s Brownhill to Pakūranga cable repair project. One-off grants are available to projects that add real value and benefit to the local community.

Any registered charity, incorporated society, school or educational institution, regional or district council, iwi, non-profit organisation, or community group can apply for funding.

Applications open 1 April 2025.

For information on how to apply, visit www.transpower.co.nz, or email communitycare@transpower.co.nz

We look forward to hearing from you.

Public Opinion

Lana Stevenson, of Howick

“I’m more interested particularly as I get older and think it’s important to keep the community vibe and getting the best outcomes for the community with young families in mind.”

Simon Davies, of Cockle Bay

“I work in real estate and what would be good is if the council processes for property development could be fast-tracked, because the bureaucratic aspect of consenting takes far too long.”

It’s local election year with voting in October and PJ TAYLOR canvassed people at the Howick Village Market last Saturday about whether they’re enrolled and will vote, with the answers a unanimous yes from these six. He also asked them what issues they’re thinking about, on a morning obviously suited to hats and sunglasses.

Mary Staples, of Dannemora

“Support our police. They need it. Retain a police presence. I’d like to see a focus on stopping the cars driving at excessive speeds on domestic roads where children live and move about.”

Lorraine Jonson, of Howick

“Transport is always an issue. I’d like to see more effort go into the ferries. Every time we’ve gone down to get a ferry from Half Moon Bay the sailing has been cancelled. We don’t try anymore.”

Derek Cowley, of Howick

“You often don’t know who the candidates are. I’ll probably read up about them at the time. It’s worthless casting a vote if you have no idea what the candidate stands for.”

Dave Slessor, of Botany Downs

“Traffic and the prevalence of roadworks are always issues. Maintenance of our public parks and reserves needs to improve and returning the bins for people to put their rubbish in.”

House values stable

„ By PJ TAYLOR

Residential property values in east Auckland have largely stayed the same over the first quarter of 2025.

Quotable Value NZ (QV), the state-owned-enterprise, says the average home value across the Auckland region dipped slightly by 0.1 per cent to $1,244,605 in the first three months of the year. But valuations encompassing east Auckland areas experienced some marginal growth on average, in Manukau up 0.2 per cent, and Franklin up 1.1 per cent.

little to no prospect of sustained growth in the immediate future.

“We’re at the end of summer now and it has been a fairly quiet one. The market continues to plod along with not a lot happening.

“First-home buyers are the most active sector, but agents are reporting fairly low attendance at open homes across the board.

is bullish about the region’s housing market, describing that it has “responded aggressively to improved buying conditions with turnover hitting the highest number of sales in a month for more than three years”.

“The long-anticipated housing market recovery finally arrived in March,” says Peter Thompson, Barfoot & Thompson managing director.

with the median price rising by 4.3 per cent to $970,000 and the average price to $1,145,045.

“The momentum in the market has been slowly building since the start of the year, and with marginally better economic news in March confidence in the housing market lifted.

MOH 1092_Flu

Auckland QV registered valuer Hugh Robson says prices across the region look to have stabilised, with

“There is quite a lot of stock on the market at present, but there just isn’t a large amount of demand,” Robson says. “It seems many people are still understandably concerned about retaining their jobs and about dealing with the high cost of living.”

Meanwhile, one Auckland real estate company

“We sold 1213 properties in March, and you need to go back to July 2021, when the market was just off its peak, to find a month when we sold more homes.”

He says Barfoot & Thompson also saw a “marked increase” in Auckland residential property sales prices last month,

“Although both the median and average prices paid in March were at their highest this year, buyers continued to be cautious, and the prices being paid remain below where they were at this time last year,” Thompson says.

“Higher sales number at modestly higher prices is a positive sign that improved market activity is likely to be sustained over the next few months.”

Fun and adventure at Camp Motutapu!

What do you get when you mix outdoor adventures, friendship, and tons of fun activities? A school camp that I’ll never forget!

Somerville Intermediate School recently took us on a five-day exciting adventure to Camp Motutapu. Given there is so many kids in my school, the year 7’s were split into three batches and I was in the first one.

Motutapu Island is approximately 178 million years old. It was a military base during World War II.

Somerville Intermediate has been going to Camp Motutapu for 28 years now!

Motutapu is filled with lush greenery and is home to many native and exotic birds that are special to New Zealand.

We took a bus from school to the ferry terminal in the city. After a long ferry ride and a 6km hike to Motutapu, the real adventure began – starting with the Motutapu Challenge!

This challenge very much included mud, water and sand.

The first part of the challenge was at the beach. We had to bury someone in the sand and decorate them.

We also had to fill a kayak with sand and sing our favourite song with our mouth in the disgustingly salty water. Then, we had a teamwork obstacle course and had to walk through a mucky creek filled with mud.

After the Motutapu Challenge everyone was looking like sand monsters. We were so exhausted that we just wanted to go to sleep.

On the second day I woke up at 6.30am and by 7am we had breakfast.

This was the first out of three days filled with activities and growth.

My favourite activities were flying fox into the duck pond, which was initially scary to look at but when I tried it, I absolutely loved it, and the other one was survival challenge because I wasn’t scared to get muddy and dirty. I had such a great time.

There were many amazing activities and fun experiences.

We did the flying fox, which was scary and quite fast, archery required focus and skill, the historical walk where we learned about the history of Motutapu, and we experienced going into a tunnel where the soldiers worked; it was pitch black and frightening.

Some of the other activ-

ities included a confidence course, kayaking, where I felt like my arm was about to fall off after rowing the heavy oars, survival challenge where we learned about teamwork, orienteering, rock climbing and beach activities.

Within one week I grew tremendously in confidence, in being a team player, friendship and coming out of my comfort zone.

From the flying fox to funny fashion shows in our cabin, I enjoyed every moment at camp and these memories will stick with me for a very long time.

Through every challenge, I learned the value of pushing myself and supporting my friends.

I am so grateful to Somerville Intermediate for organising such an unforgettable adventure that will stay with me for years to come!

• Jianna Kapoor is in year 7 at Somerville Intermediate School

Somerville Intermediate School pupils had a great time at their recent camp on Motutapu Island. Photo supplied

JIANNA KAPOOR HOWICK

THE HUNT IS ON!

Guess where our bunnies are hidden around Eastern Bays and be into win an Easter treat

Share your guesses with us via the QR code

School farewells dedicated servant

Baverstock Oaks School said goodbye to a val ued member of its team recently.

principal, Genee Crowley, says as long-serving property assistant, Graham Yarrall retired after 16 years of “dedi cated service”.

played a vital role in maintain ing the school grounds, and tak ing care of tasks, such as mowing the lawns on the

Graham Yarrall with his specially created Baverstock Oaks School jacket and his goodbye cake.

“His reliability, punctuality, and friendly nature made him a much-loved figure among both staff and

The school gathered to farewell Yarrall last month at a function attended by staff, invited guests, past property team members, and former school leaders.

Yarrall’s four children were

to celebrate his “remarkable contribution” to the school, says Crowley.

“As a token of appreciation, Graham was presented with a custom Baverstock Oaks School jacket, embroidered with his name and the number 16, signifying his years of service.

“Students and staff also created handmade cards filled with well wishes for his retirement.

“Graham will be greatly missed, but his legacy of hard work and dedication will be remembered for years to come.

“The Baverstock Oaks School community wishes him all the best in his well-earned retirement,” says Crowley.

FIVE IDEAS FOR GENERATING A PASSIVE INCOME

Are you interested in passive income ideas that could help fund your retirement lifestyle?

Here’s five worth exploring further:

> Managed funds - A pool of money organised by fund managers on your behalf. It can offer uncomplicated diversification and includes your funds and the funds of other investors.

> Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) - A company that owns, operates, or finances income-generating real estate. A REIT is a type of managed fund and is publicly listed.

> Dividend shares - A share that pays dividends to their shareholders. As a company makes a profit, a por-

tion is fed back to investors as dividends.

> Rental income - The most popular passive income stream in New Zealand, rental income is funds that you, the landlord, receive from your tenants in exchange for the use of your real estate property.

> Peer to peer lending – A way of investing via a first mortgage loan, secured with property, managed by a non-bank institution. Passive income streams are potentially less demanding than other income streams, yet they still require set up and

monitoring to get the benefits.

Southern Cross Partners (SCP) offers first mortgage secured peerto-peer investments that are short term with attractive interest rates.

With a track record of more than 27 years’ experience, SCP investments are secured by a tangible security – property. A transparent and steady investment option, delivering enhanced monthly returns.

To learn more about SCP peer-to-peer investments, call 0800 00 58 73, visit southerncrosspartners.co.nz or visit us at 16 Selwyn Road, Howick.

Genuine value all year round at Sleep Space

Sleep Space is a family-owned and -operated bedding store based in Howick, offering a more ethical, transparent way to buy your next mattress, base, or upholstered headboard.

While many bed retailers rely on ‘sales’ and limited time offers to create a sense of urgency, we believe choosing the right bed takes time.

Therefore, we offer genuine value all year round through our Trade Pricing model – we offer the best price with no gimmicks.

No need to wait for that ‘May Clearance’ or ‘Black Friday Sale’.

We don’t charge extra for

credit card payments, including American Express and Paywave. We also offer 12 months interest-free terms through Q Card or GEM Visa and extend a five per cent discount to Gold Card holders.

To celebrate our launch, we’ve introduced our Linear Lifestyle Packages, a range specifically designed to meet the needs of those who are downsizing or living in smaller apartments, without compromising on comfort.

These stylish packages come complete with a mattress, base and matching headboard.

Each New Zealand-made

SPONSORED

bed is crafted to your specifications, with custom sizing, personalised firmness, built-in storage options for your base, and a stylish collection of Warwick fabrics to suit any space.

Choose from three elegant headboard designs, vertical panels, horizontal panels, or plain, and enjoy the superior comfort of plush New Zealand wool and 5-zone pocket springs, all backed by a full 10-year warranty.

Our white glove service

ensures an effortless experience from purchase to installation.

We offer complimentary on-site consultations to ensure the perfect fit. Our trusted two-person delivery team from Smart Express will deliver and set everything up for you with care.

For added convenience, we can remove your old mattress for a small fee, and arrange delivery outside of Auckland metro at cost price only.

De-risking your business for maximum value

DAREN LENG, Senior Business Broker at ABC Business Sales, shares how to protect your business by reducing risk and increasing its value.

Every business carries risk, but savvy owners take steps to minimise it. Whether you plan to sell or want longterm success, de-risking should be a priority. The less risk in your business, the higher the multiple buyers will apply when valuing it.

> Start by diversifying revenue streams. If your business relies too heavily on one customer, supplier, or product, it’s vulnerable. Expanding your customer base and offerings improves stability.

> Systemise operations. A business too dependent on the owner is harder to scale or sell. Implement clear processes and empower your team to run it without you. This is Number One in my book.

> Financial health is critical. Keep accurate records, manage debt wisely, and maintain strong profitability. Buyers seek businesses with solid financial foundations and predictable cash flow.

> Secure contracts and legal protections. Supplier agreements, customer contracts, and intellectual property rights reduce uncertainty and strengthen your position.

By reducing risk, you make your business more attractive to buyers. A well-structured, low-risk busi ness not only sells faster but also commands a premium price.

For expert advice, contact Daren Leng, Senior Business Broker at ABC Business Sales Ph 021 0278 6045 or email darenl@abcbusiness.co.nz

Values moving in local property market

TONI DAWSON, a fullyqualified Mortgage Adviser with more than 15 years’ industry experience, shares her expertise.

On April 9 we had another Official Cash Rate (OCR) review. As I write this on April 7, the expectation is the OCR will drop further as the Reserve Bank focuses on finding that sweet spot for interest rates.

Meanwhile this is what has been happening in local property markets - as released by CoreLogic on April 3.

> $1,521,622 is the current median value of houses in Bucklands Beach. The median value decreased by 0.3 per cent over one month and decreased by 7.7 per cent over 12 months.

> $1,449,683 is the current median value of houses in Cockle Bay. The median value decreased by 0.2 per cent over one month and decreased by 6.2 per cent over 12 months.

> $1,552,610 is the current median value of houses in  Beachlands. The median value increased by 0.3 per cent over one month and decreased by 1.3 per cent over 12 months.

> $1,563,890 is the current median value of houses in Clevedon. The median value increased by 0.5 per cent over one month and decreased by 3.2 per cent over 12 months.

Across New Zealand we saw property values increase by 0.5 per cent in March, after a 0.4 per cent lift in February, and a flat result for January. Having just said all that, while it’s worthwhile keeping up to date with what’s happening in the market, I think we can get too bogged down in the short-term statistics. This is because, for many of us, property ownership is a long-term gig.

Unless you’re a developer or a speculator, adopting a “buy and hold” strategy (being consistently in the market) will mean that those short-term ups and downs will get smoothed out over the longer term. The sooner you can get started, the better.

Toni Dawson

NZCFS Level 5, BBS, GradDipBusStuds (Personal Financial Planning) FSP1000506

027 646 9269

loanmarket.co.nz/toni-dawson ToniDawsonLM tonidawsonloanmarket

Credit Control On Call

18 YEARS IN BUSINESS WITH THE PERSONAL TOUCH THAT MATTERS

Leanne Powley, the owner of Credit Control On Call, is

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years since we started this

“Over the years, our focus has always been about more than just property management – it’s about the relationships we build and the

“We’re committed to being a business that genuinely cares about the people we work

Having personally owned rental properties,

Leanne knows how crucial it is to find the right tenants, keep owners in the loop, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

The debt collection and administration areas of her business are all designed with the same level of care and attention to detail.

Today she’s proud to say she’s built a small but dedicated team who share that same vision.

“We believe in doing business the personal way, with open communication and follow-up.

“Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here’s to another 18 years of trust, ser-

vice, and continued growth!”

> Ledger collection: We follow up your ledger on behalf of your company.

> Debt collection: The debt collector when they aren’t prompt with payment.

> Rental property management: Owning rental properties myself, I understand the importance of putting the right tenant into your investment, keeping you updated along the way and understand the importance of getting it right.

The property management side of the business operates in east, south and west Auckland as well as Franklin and Waikato.

Tired of the hassle of managing your rental properties? Credit Control On Call offers expert property management services to keep everything running smoothly.

 Tenant Management – Finding and vetting reliable tenants.

 Rent Collection – Ensuring on-time payments, so you don’t have to chase.

 Maintenance Coordination – Handling repairs and upkeep with trusted contractors.

 Compliance & Paperwork – Keeping you up to date with tenancy laws and documentation.

CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH AI AGENTS WHY PROMO PRODUCTS WORK!

Promotional products aren’t just freebies – they’re powerful tools that leave a lasting impression. According to the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), 94% of consumers love receiving branded merchandise, and 83% say it makes an experience more memorable.

Whether it’s a tote bag, pen, or branded mug, these items boost brand awareness and recognition without breaking the bank. In fact, they offer the lowest cost-per-impression of all advertising mediums – mak-

ing them a smart choice for businesses of any size.

Promo products help set your brand apart from competitors, build loyalty with existing customers, and create instant likeability. People appreciate a thoughtful, useful gift – and they remember where it came from.

Want to stand out? Make your mark with a branded giveaway from Promo Factory. It’s marketing that sticks – literally.

Visit www.promofactory. co.nz to start creating memorable experiences today.

In today’s fast-paced world, customer expectations are higher than ever. Businesses must find ways to respond quickly, effectively, and consistently.

At WeasWeb, we’re helping companies stay ahead with AI-powered customer service solutions, such as AI Agents and virtual assistants. These tools offer 24/7 support, ensuring customers can get assistance at any time, regardless of time zone.

With instant, automated responses, AI Agents reduce response times, allowing businesses to serve more customers in less time.

This also frees up human

agents to focus on more complex issues that require a personal touch.

By implementing AI into your customer service, you not only enhance efficiency but also improve customer satisfaction. These AI solutions are designed to learn and adapt, providing better interactions over time.

At WeasWeb, we’re committed to helping businesses streamline their customer service, ensuring a seamless experience that keeps customers coming back.

Tailored AI Solutions Stay One Step Ahead

WE’VE MOVED! SAME GREAT SERVICE, BUT NEW LOCATION!

At Kaleidoprint, we’re excited to announce we’ve moved to a new location, but rest assured, our commitment to delivering high-quality printing services remains the same!

Whether you’re in need of vibrant brochures, eye-catching business cards, high quality booklets, or labels and stickers, we continue to provide a broad range of printing solutions to meet your printing needs.

With cutting-edge technology and a passion for print, Kaleidoprint is proud to remain a trusted partner for businesses across New Zealand.

For over 10 years, Kaleidoprint has been delivering exceptional service, and with

this new chapter, we’re ready to take your projects to the next level.

Contact us today and experience the difference!

Contact Kaleidoprint on 09 320 4395 or visit our website at kaleidoprint.co.nz.

EAST AUCKLAND EATERIES: DON’T EXPECT FOOT TRAFFIC,

CREATE

You’ve perfected the flat white. Your burrata is a masterpiece. The ambiance? Just right. But are locals even seeing it?

Hoping for passersby is a recipe for empty tables. Potential customers are scrolling, tapping, deciding where to spend long before stepping out.

Amateur hour online equals missed bookings. Serving quality but showcasing it with low-grade visuals creates a disconnect costing you customers. You wouldn’t skimp on fresh ingredients, so why skimp on how you present them?

Your hard work deserves to be seen. Crisp photos, inviting videos, and channel consistency. High-quality content demonstrates the

IT

quality you deliver.

That perfect latte art, vibrant salads, cozy atmosphere should pop online as much as in person.

People need to see it, crave it, and be drawn in by it. That’s the difference between being another spot on the block and being a destination people travel to.

The best hospitality destinations aren’t just serving great food. They’re making sure people know about it.

At RUMBLE, we understand your delicious content needs to be discovered.

So, when someone is scrolling for their next meal out, will your eatery be the one to stop their thumb, or will they keep scrolling to one that actually cares? Presentation is everything!

Clint Edwards

Key changes in the Seventh Edition Deed of Lease

Why getting the right legal advice matters.

At ASCO LEGAL, we recognise the importance of staying updated on the latest developments in commercial leasing. The newly-released Seventh Edition Deed of Lease introduces important changes affecting both landlords and tenants.

KEY UPDATES INCLUDE:

> Emergency Access Provisions: Post-Covid rent adjustment clauses based on business impact.

> Alterations and upgrades: Landlords may refuse consent if upgrades are required – tenants cover costs.

> Security options: While there is more flexibility with rental bonds and guarantees, tenants should be aware of new issues related to lease assignments.

> Seismic ratings and digital signing: Supporting insurer requirements and modern leasing practices.

> Rent reviews and outgoings: Expanded options and clearer responsibilities.

> Insurance clauses: Greater transparency around excess and coverage limitations.

These changes have significant legal and financial implications for both landlords and tenants.

Our team at ASCO LEGAL can help you navigate them confidently.

Get in contact today at www.ascolegal.co.nz to protect your leasing interests.

09 308 8070 Get in touch now

Are you ready for NZ 4.0?

„ By CHARLES MILLER

There’s a new game in town and it’s fast becoming the latest business buzzword: ‘4.0’. Simply put, 4.0 is the evolution of productive systems driven by the confluence of digital transformation, interconnected technologies, cloud storage, AI and datadriven decision-making.

Agriculture ‘4.0’ transforms traditional practices by integrating advanced technologies such as data analytics, sensors, robotics, satellite imaging, and biotechnology.

The outcome is precise, real-time decision making about planting, irrigation, fertilisation, and harvesting, reducing waste and environmental impact generating improved yields.

The term originated in Germany about 10 years ago with ‘Industry 4.0’, a state-sponsored initiative to supercharge manufacturing through the integrated application of technology and data, the so-called fourth industrial revolution.

The first three were respectively, ‘1.0’, being mechanisation, using windmills and waterwheels in the 18th century.

‘2.0’ was mass production, harnessing electricity at the end of the 19th century and ‘3.0’ was automation, driven by computers at the close of the 20th century.

‘NZ 4.0’ is our opportunity to ride this latest wave. A recent report from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) urges New Zealand to concentrate its investment on areas where we have competitive advantage and global relevance – what they call industry ecosystems.

An ecosystem is a cluster of connected players working in the same field, often in the same place, sharing knowledge, talent, infrastructure, and opportunity.

BCG identifies five such strategic ecosystem opportunities for New Zealand.

Agriculture, Space, Green Tech, Medicine, and the Creative Industries.

In the case of agriculture, primary industry has underpinned our economy for generations, with New Zealand’s farming technology and productivity already admired around the world.

Compac, an Auckland firm founded over 30 years ago, began by developing fruit-sorting machines that combined mechanical, electrical, and optical technologies to enhance the accuracy and speed of fruit grading and packing.

That’s ecosystem thinking in action: specialise, collaborate, export and prosper.

How can your business prepare for, and be part of ‘4.0’? Understand where you’ll fit and where your unique attributes add value.

Identify who else is active in other aspects of this space, then connect and partner, going deep, not wide. Digitise and invest in R&D and your people.

As part of your strategy development, talk to your local university, industry association and incubators.

Organisations like Callaghan Innovation are set up to guide you through digital readiness, R&D support, and innovation pathways.

We’re Kiwis, we value innovation and research, we split the atom in 1917, let’s collaborate and innovate our way into ‘NZ 4.0’

HOWICK LTD Global innovation, local foundations

From Las Vegas to London, this east Auckland company is shaping the future of construction – and attracting international attention along the way.

Most east Aucklanders may not know it, but some of the world’s most advanced construction technology is being developed right here in our own backyard.

Howick Ltd, based in Howick since 1978, has quietly become a global leader in precision roll-forming machines – equipment that manufactures light gauge steel framing used in everything from homes and schools to resorts, arenas, and humanitarian shelters.

This Kiwi innovation has featured in some unexpected places:

> Super Nintendo World in California, where Howick machines helped shape the whimsical “bubble” sets on the Mario Kart ride.

> The Fountainebleau Las Vegas, where high-spec prefabricated facades were produced using Howick rollforming technology.

> The MSG Sphere, the jaw-

dropping concert venue in Las Vegas, with curved steel frames formed by Howick technology.

> British Offsite’s automated housing factory in the UK, delivering up to 4,000 homes per year.

> And even the US Navy Seabees, which use Howick machines to rapidly deploy buildings for disaster and humanitarian relief. Behind these projects is a bigger mission: to revolutionise the way the world builds, using faster, smarter, and more efficient methods that reduce waste and improve quality.

While over 95 per cent of Howick Ltd’s systems are exported to more than 80 countries, everything is still designed and built in New Zealand.

But global demand, and a growing team of engineers, technicians and apprentices, has led to plans for a new facility just a short drive from

the company’s original roots in Howick.

The new site will allow for expanded R&D, international training, and the hosting of Howick’s flagship industry event: STEEL HORIZONS.

Held previously in London, Boston, and Tampa in Florida, STEEL HORIZONS brings together global leaders in construction innovation.

It’s more than a showcase –it’s a thought-leadership event that brings together industry experts and leading minds from around the world to share fresh perspectives, inspire the industry and encourage more

collaboration.

The next STEEL HORIZONS is set to be hosted right here in New Zealand, drawing international attention, and opportunity, to our region.

So while you might not see many buildings in New Zealand framed with light gauge steel just yet, that could soon change.

Howick Ltd is driving that transformation globally, and it’s doing it from right here in east Auckland.

It’s a local story of quiet innovation – with a global impact – and it’s only just beginning.

Nick Coubray, CEO presents at Steel Horizons Tampa 2024.

Super Nintendo World in California, The MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, LA Museum under construction.

School pupils awarded prestigious scholarship

Amy Grinsted’s future academic plans have been given a significant boost.

The year 13 Pakuranga College pupil has been awarded a prestigious scholarship for the First Foundation, which will offer her mentoring, work experience and financial support for tertiary studies.

She’s one of several east Auckland school pupils to receive the scholarship in 2024 following a competitive application and interview process that saw 60 recipients selected from more than 700 applicants nationwide.

Amy interviewed with a scholarship selection panel three times over an intensive nine-month application process, after finding out about the scholarship from Pakuranga College’s careers department.

“I hadn’t heard of the scholarship until the careers department posted about it,” she says.

“But once I discovered it, I knew I wanted it. The applications started in

March last year, so it’s been quite a process to get here.”

Amy says the effort was worth it, with her being awarded a Dick and Diana Hubbard Foundation scholarship through the First Foundation in December.

It’s worth $12,000 and will see her also receive four weeks of paid relevant work experience and a personal mentor throughout her studies.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be given such an opportunity,” Amy says.

“I’m really excited for university next year, knowing that I’ve got such amazing support through the First Foundation.”

She plans to study a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Auckland, as she has a passion for justice.

SUPPORT NETWORK

Among the other school pupils to receive First Foundation scholarships in 2024 are Hanifa Salman Ali and Juliann Purea-Desai, who

attended Edgewater College.

The First Foundation says its programmes are more than a scholarship. Recipients receive financial support, a dedicated mentor and paid work experience.

First Foundation scholars get $2000 at the end of the final year of school (from 2025) and $4000 per year for the second, third, and fourth year of university ($14,000 over four years) towards their university costs.

Recipients are matched with their dedicated mentor who will help them settle into university life, overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

The work experience sees students paired with an organisation that offers paid work for at least four weeks each year.

“As a First Foundation scholar, you’ll be part of a wider whānau of driven young Kiwis, with a support network you can reach out to in years to come.”

For more information, check out the website www.firstfoundation.org.nz

Pakuranga College pupil Amy Grinsted has received a scholarship through the First Foundation.

Photo supplied

PRINCIPAL IN PERSON

With Sarah Baleicakau, Elm Park School

How long have you been an educator, and where did you train?

I’ve worked in education for 25 years. I completed my education degree at Otago University and my Masters in Educational Leadership at Auckland University.

When did you become principal of Elm Park Primary School?

In 2022. It’s a great privilege to be the principal of Elm Park School. The role is very varied, so every day it’s an interesting and challenging workplace. The opportunity to live and work in my community was important and attracted me to the position. I’ve led and taught extensively in the Howick and Pakuranga area for a long time, so becoming a principal in the area seemed a good next step!

What’s the best thing about being an educator and principal?

As a principal, you can lead and drive meaningful change that positively impacts both students and teachers. I’ve always been

passionate about curriculum design and building leadership capacity in others. Seeing student achievement progress as a result of careful strategic planning and developing the skills and qualities of leaders. To contribute and enable that progress is very rewarding. Our weekly assemblies are a favourite school activity for me. Here, we get to see students’ learning celebrated and recognised. The teachers always think of innovative ways to share their class’s learning journey with our whānau and community. Seeing students thrive is the best thing about being an educator.

What’s special about Elm Park School?

We’re a very diverse school, reflective of Auckland! Our staff are wonderfully committed to providing outstanding and quality education for a diverse range of needs. We have spacious grounds and a quality learning environment. Our staff and students are what make Elm Park special. We have outstanding staff in many and varied roles.

Our three “R’s” – Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience, are woven into all we do at Elm Park School. The students use the language of our values, which gives us a shared understanding of how we operate and what we expect from each other. As a school, we’re always looking for ways to provide our students with opportunities that have a point of difference from the classroom. For example, offering specialist classes and good relationships with sports providers that give exposure to activities, which for some students is a new experience. Best student outcomes drive all that we do both in and outside of the classroom.

Is there anything you’d like improved in the education/school management sector?

We need significant systemic change in the area of learning support. Learning support is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of diverse learners. A significant change would enhance the quality and equity of learning for our most vulnerable students.

I’d also like to see increased recognition of teachers. It’s a complex job and often understated by society. We need to ensure our teacher workforce is always valued and equipped to do their job which is becoming an ever increasingly challenging profession. In order to get best educational student outcomes, we must first ensure teacher and educational leader outcomes are enabled through continual investment into the profession.

• Read full interview at www.times.co.nz

CLAUDIA ROBIN GUNN

She’s one of the nicest people you’ll meet in east Auckland, and when you know she makes music for children, it makes sense that she’s positive because that arena can be full of joy. She’s also one of a very few with connections to this area who has won a coveted New Zealand Music Awards’ prize, the Tui, as she explains to PJ TAYLOR.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in Wellington but then grew up on the North Shore. Our family has been out east for the past 15 years.

MUSIC IS YOUR WORK NOW. HOW DID IT PLAY A PART IN YOUR LIFE ON THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A CAREER?

Our mum and dad had a solid record collection plus musician friends, and mum wrote songs, taught singing and performed in bands throughout the 1980s. My dad has a great singing voice. It was often accompanied by the sound of a hammer while he built our house! My sisters and I used to ask mum to play the guitar for us, so we could sing all the cover songs in her band songbooks. My granddad played sax and taught my mum and her five sisters to sing in harmony so at family events there was always singing.

I sang in high school musicals and at rock quest, but had my sights more set on acting. It was at a drama course, with June Renwick at Selwyn College, that I met a mentor of mine, Louise

Britzman (nee Hayward) who taught voice, and was the founder of an a cappella quartet. I got invited to join her troupe and sung a lot of professional shows, learning four-part harmonies of her original songs, arranged by Tony Backhouse.

So, performing was one of my first careers out of school alongside university study, but once I got my first proper day job, I was always juggling how to balance being in bands and having a career.

YOU WON A PRESTIGIOUS TUI PRIZE AT THE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARDS LAST YEAR FOR BEST CHILDREN’S MUSIC ARTIST. WHAT WAS IT FOR AND HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

Super grateful for that moment, recognising a collaborative album, Firefly, I created with Grammy-winning producer Dean Jones, founder of the band Dog on Fleas. We were introduced to via fellow kindie songwriters, and Skype calls and virtual recording sessions made it happen, with support from NZ on Air funding. The album features Anne Torralba from Chicago and Suzi Shelton from New York. They perform as the act Birds of a Feather.

Claudia Robin Gunn has worked hard at her craft and career and has enjoyed working with many other children’s music creators and entertainers.

It was such a surprise. I really feel like I’ve won a prize already when I get to record the music I love and get to collaborate. When you perform for little audiences and see their smiles, that’s a pretty big prize in terms of ‘I think this is a good pathway in life’ because it’s not really about you, it’s about them – the children.

And funding makes it possible so it would be hard to create any of this work without the untold support of organisations who believe Kiwi kids are better off with music and media made for them, about them and their unique lives. Shout out to NZ on Air and Creative New Zealand, of course.

YOU’VE HAD EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING GROWN-UPS’ MUSIC, IN BANDS, BUT WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BE A CHILDREN’S MUSIC CREATOR?

When we had kids, I didn’t think it would slow me down with music, but it was harder to do shows and find time to give it 100 per cent like I had before. Children’s music happened organically – being surrounded by Lego bricks and soft toys and diggers, right? In 2008, the late Arthur Baysting put out a call for children’s songs for a new APRA award. When I won that inaugural songwriting award, it was amazing, but it took eight years of starts and stops to get my first album recorded, so it wasn’t a quick thing. I didn’t pivot completely though, as even when the kids were little, I’d find ways to get to Substax recording sessions. We recently started releasing a bundle of new songs, such as the EP, Plastic, and Music is Revolution

YOU WORK WITH THE LEGENDARY CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINER SUZY CATO ON PRODUCTIONS. HOW IS SHE TO WORK WITH, AND WHO ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS YOU COLLABORATE WITH?

Suzy Cato has been a mentor for me. I’ve got to support her at The Auckland Folk Festival and The Baby Show and we co-wrote a new song recently, The Mountain Song, which is a mindfulness

adventure, to encourage families to connect with the great outdoors. Suzy is just like she sounds on the radio – warm, encouraging, smart and funny! So, great to work with. New Zealand artists I’ve written with include Itty Bitty Beats, Music with Michal, Levity Beet, Em and Me, Marshmallow, Little Ripples, Chris Lam Sam and Kath Bee. Plus, Australian songwriters Angie Who and Benny Time. I’ve also written with Marsha and the Positrons, Wendy and DB, Kelli Welli, Tallest Kid in The Room, Nick Davio, and My Friend Christopher.

YOU’VE GOT A NEW EP OUT THIS WEEK, PLAYFUL , AND NEW SINGLE, ROAD WORKS . HOW DID THE IDEAS FOR THEM COME TO YOU?

With Road Works – well, inspiration is all around, and we do have a lot of roads being built out this way! I wanted to find a little fun in everyday things that kids find entertaining (and maybe adults not so much?). The Playful EP is a little collection of songs inspired by life with my kids and some stretch back a long

time ago to when I’d go sing for their mat times at Somerville Kindergarten, or Cockle Bay School. They’re tunes that made me smile, and I hope they do the same for our families!

WHERE CAN PEOPLE ACCESS YOUR MUSIC CREATIONS?

Families can find all my music at https:// claudiarobingunn.com or by searching my name on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music etc.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES AND THINGS TO DO IN EAST AUCKLAND?

My fav spot is the Mangemangeroa walkway and reserve. It just feels like this magical portal between the city, the country and the ocean and we’re very lucky to have these wild spaces just in our backyard. I love a coffee at The Apothecary, and paddle boarding at Cockle Bay Beach.

• Read full interview at www.times.co.nz

Following on from the success with her last collaborative album, Claudia Robin Gunn is releasing a new EP this week, Playful, with new single Road Works . Photos supplied

EAST AUCKLAND ART KETE

APRIL-MAY 2025

This is a shared arts column space put together by Howick Historical Village, Te Tuhi, and Uxbridge Arts and Culture.

EVENTS:

Thursday, 10 April, 6pm and Thursday, 17 April, 11am: Uxbridge Theatre presents Teddy Show. Filmed in Howick, starring Kiwi actor Mark Hadlow and mixedheritage young actress Meiling. Enjoy an inspiring story of love and creativity. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Book online via www.uxbridge.org.nz. $5 per ticket.

Saturday 12 April, 1.30pm–3.30pm: Learn flower pressing at Howick Historical Village (HHV). Bells Road, Pakuranga. Book via historicalvillage. org.nz/eventslivedays/flowerpressing. $25-$40, includes admission.

Saturday, 12 April and 26 April, 11am: Make a beeswax candle at Howick Historical Village as part of EcoFest. Bells Road, Pakuranga. General admission + $5 per person.

Saturday, 12 April, 10am–2pm: Te Tuhi presents inter-migrational cooking, workshop facilitated by Soil of Cultures focused on exchange of culinary traditions shared by migrants and refugees. 21 William Roberts Road, Pakuranga. Limit: 20 participants (RSVP at info@tetuhi.art). Koha appreciated.

Sunday, 13 April, 10.30am–2.30pm: Join Auckland Regional Bindery at HHV for art of bookbinding workshop. Bells Road, Pakuranga. Places limited. Book via Eventfinda. $25.

Wednesday, 16 April, 10am–noon: Celebrate a Polish Easter with familyfriendly crafts and brief talk at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum! For Auckland World of Culture Festival. 125 Elliot Street, Howick. $10 per person.

Wednesday, 16 April, 11am: Uxbridge Theatre screens Disney film Aladdin. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Book via www. uxbridge.org.nz. $6 per ticket and free popcorn!

Thursday, 17 April to Thursday, 24 April: Kids Holiday Programme at Uxbridge. Fantastic range of creative workshops including clay, sewing, and no-bake goodies in a fun, supportive environment. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Book via www. uxbridge.org.nz.

Sunday, 20 April, 10am-4pm: Hop down to HHV’s family-friendly Easter Extravaganza 2025. Meet the Easter Bunny! Bells Road, Pakuranga. Book via Eventfinda. Limited door sales only. Adult $20, child $12.

Wednesday, 23 April, 11am: See Happy Feet at Uxbridge Theatre. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Book via www.uxbridge. org.nz. $6 per ticket and free popcorn!

Saturday, 3 May, 4pm-6pm: Te Tuhi opens new exhibitions with works by artists including Liu Chuang, Sean Hill, Pounamu Rurawhe and Whiro Walker, and Grant Priest. 21 William Roberts Road, Pakuranga. Free.

ONGOING:

Every Saturday, 10am–noon: Uxbridge hosts The Art Cupboard, a casual drop-in art space for families. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Gold coin donation.

From Saturday, 12 April to Sunday,

Jasmad, sketch of galleries (Pakuranga Arts Centre and Fisher Gallery), circa 1978.

Sunday 27 April: Take a break at HHV with our School Holiday fun. Learn cyanotype printing, explore the pollinator trail, and more! Bells Road, Pakuranga. Free with admission, beeswax candle making $5/ person.

Until Sunday, 13 April: Te Tuhi presents four exhibitions including work by artists such as Lee Yanghee, John Vea, Soil of Cultures, and Fa’amele Etuale. 21 Williams Roberts Road, Pakuranga. Free.

Until Saturday, 19 April: Uxbridge presents Estelle Ruijne’s collection of expressive paintings in Metamorphōsis The Wall Gallery, 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Free.

Until Saturday, 20 April: Uxbridge presents Take Five, a survey of paintings by Howick artist Peter Hall. The Malcolm Smith Gallery, 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Free.

Until Wednesday, 30 April: Set out on the Pollinator Discovery Trail at HHV. Bells Road, Pakuranga. Free with admission.

Until 21 December: Celebrating its Golden Anniversary, Te Tuhi presents 50 Years On, an exhibition sourced from the gallery’s archive. 21 William Roberts Road, Pakuranga. Free.

Until December: Polish Heritage Trust Museum showcases Olga Boznanska, a key painter of the Young Poland period. 125 Elliot Street, Howick. Casual entry by koha. Groups book via: phtmuseum@ outlook.com (small fee applies).

Photo supplied Te Tuhi

This week’s Community Hero is Adrienne Plowright

The latest recipient is Adrienne Plowright. She’s nominated by Farm Cove Intermediate School principal Tamara Jones, who says that after “an incredible 31 years of dedicated service at Farm Cove Intermediate, Adrienne is embarking on a well-deserved retirement”.

“Throughout her tenure, Adrienne has enriched our school community in numerous roles, including assistant principal, whānau leader, and specialist teacher.

“Adrienne’s passion for the visual arts is remarkable. She meticulously curated and championed the vibrant displays of student artwork on display in the Farm Cove Intermediate outdoor spaces.

These displays not only showcase the students’ remarkable talent but also create a welcoming and inspiring environment.

“Adrienne’s unwavering dedication to fostering creativity and appreciation for art has truly enriched our school culture. Beyond her artistic contributions, Adrienne provided invaluable leadership and guidance to both staff and students as an assistant principal and whānau leader.

“Her wisdom, support, and dedication have left an indelible mark on Farm Cove Intermediate.”

The Times is recognising the many wonderful people in our local east Auckland community who go out of their way to help others with our regular Community Hero award.

If you know someone who’s doing amazing things in our community please email 50 to 100 words describing why they deserves this recognition, highlighting specific actions they’ve taken to benefit our community, with your and their contact details and a highresolution photo of them if possible to chrish@times.co.nz.

Be sure to include details about what they’ve been doing, the impact they’ve made, and how long they’ve been involved in these efforts. The award is sponsored by New World Howick. Recipients will receive a $50 New World gift

Share your ideas with new community art project

„ By KATIE TRENEMAN, Village Manager, Howick Village Association

The fun Howick Village Easter Hunt runs from April 14 -21. Children aged five to 12 years old will need to find the six Easter Rabbits hidden in shop windows, and they’ll be in to win an exciting prize pack. Entry forms will be available from Howick Village Optometrists and Poppies Books.

Uxbridge Arts and Culture’s community art project ‘Lets Protect Our Environment’ has kicked off! Pop into Uxbridge between April 1-30 to share your ideas! No bookings required. Free and everyone is welcome! Many little contributors have been super excited to share their ideas and artistic skills already.

Congrats to Judith and team at Shamrock Cottage, making the list of favourite Auckland Café’s, by Dish magazine’s readers. A deserved accolade.

Angels Grooming Centre is celebrating

25 years in business! For a quarter of a century, they’ve dedicated themselves to more than just grooming – treating our pets like our own, with gentle, expert care. Whether it’s a simple tidy-up, a full transformation, or just a reassuring cuddle for a nervous pup, every groom is done with love. Angels Grooming it’s not just about looking good – it’s about feeling safe, happy, and cared for. Here’s to many more years of wags, wiggles, and wonderful memories!

Velvet Beauty has opened in The Laneway at 60 Picton Street. They’re located between 101 Design and the PO Boxes – opposite Majestic. Velvet is a boutique studio dedicated to the art of lashes and brows.

We welcome associate members to our Association. For those businesses that are not in the Village itself but which to be supported by like-minded business owners, and gain profile through our database, social media and newsletters,

email manager@howickvillage.co.nz.

Our newest associate member is Super Solid Automotive at 180 Moore Street, Howick. They have certified mechanics doing WoFs, general servicing and repairs. They provide a professional, efficient and affordable service and value honest communication and transparency.

Our boardroom is for hire for those needing a quiet, professional meeting space. Our board table can accommodate 10 people, we have tea and coffee making facilities, and are happy for anyone to pop in and see if it’ll meet your needs. Our office is situated behind the War Memorial Building at 6/1 Central Terrace.

Howick Village Optometrists is looking for a front-of-house person. This is an administrative and customer service role, four to five days, starting May, 2025. Send your CV to frith@hvo.co.nz.

WHAT’S ON

KIDS LEARN TO RIDE

Whether your children are starting on a balance bike or making the transition to pedals, this course will teach kids aged two to 13 years old how to ride a bike. All Kids Learn to Ride courses are free. Drop-in (no registrations required); led by highly qualified instructors; great way to increase confidence and skills; opportunity to learn tips and tricks to practise with your kids at home. Sessions are weather-dependent and run on a drop-in basis. Bring your own bike or try one on-site. Look out for

What’s On is a free community noticeboard for non-profit groups. Send notices of less than 50 words to chrish@times.co.nz. Due to space restrictions there is no guarantee your notice will run.

the Auckland Transport flags. Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre, Sir Lloyd Drive, 10am-12pm on Sunday, April 27 and Sunday, May 18.

FIBONACCI AND FUN WITH NUMBERS

Come along to hear John Malcomson, who’ll present a whimsical appreciation of the influence of the Italian mathematician Fibonacci from the Middle Ages in the worlds of finance, art, architecture and the natural sciences even in the present

day. This U3A Howick meeting is held on April 14 at Howick Bowling Club, Selwyn Rd. Meeting starts at 9.30am, guests welcome. Go online to www.u3ahowicknz.co.nz for more information.

LIFE AFTER STROKE

Do you need to learn about legal relationships and difficult conversations after having a stroke? Join others in the community who are affected by stroke in a series of small group education sessions that will support you to live well after stroke. This session will focus on legal/relationships and difficult conversations. If you’d like to attend this session email michelle.newburylee@stroke.org.nz. It’s at Highland Park Library, 16 Highland Park Drive, from 1.30pm-3pm on Tuesday, May 6.

BOOK LAUNCH

Well-known east Auckland children’s author Leonie Agnew launches her new picture book, entitled The Only Dinosaur in School, at Howick Library at 2.15pm on April 12. It’s published by Scholastic and illustrated by Julia Hegetusch. Agnew has won numerous accolades for her previous children’s books, including her manuscript for The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp, which won the 2022 Storylines Tessa Duder Award and saw her awarded a contract with Walker Books. Her 2024 book Take Me to Your Leader was named a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in the Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award category.

12th & 13th April

9 30am - 4pm | PIA Event Centre 57 Ward St, Pukekohe

Cartoonist Roger Smith provides his witty take on important local, national and global issues.

EVENTS UPCOMING

OUT EAST

EASTER TWILIGHT MARKET

Friday 11 April, 3-8pm, The Franklin Beachlands

Celebrate the end of school term and Easter just around the corner. Coastal Markets and The Franklin are joining forces to make this a great afternoon evening for kids and adults. Enjoy great food trucks, stalls and Easter Egg Hunts.

HIGH TEA-QUILA

Saturday 19 April, 3pm, Despensa Howick

Join Despensa for a bold twist on high tea – Mexican-style! Indulge in a delicious selection of savoury bites, such as jalapeño & chorizo mini scones, Camarones zarandeados and tequila adobo wagyu short rib – and of course a teaquila (either a shot or a frozen marg)! Book now!

TOGETHER IN THE PARK

Saturday 12 April, 1-3.30pm, Ormiston Activity Centre, Sir Barry Curtis Park

The Youth Project NZ are putting on a free fun family event at the Ormiston Activity Centre located next to the skate park at Sir Barry Curtis Park. Join in for face painting, games, a bake sale, races, arts and crafts, Easter egg hunt and more.

EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA 2025

Sunday 20 April, 10am-3pm, Howick Historical Village

Explore the Historical Village and gardens with an Easter trail! Find all the clues to win an egg. Meet the Easter bunny and discover how aspiring bunnies are trained by the Easter Fairy in a live show. With plenty of chocolate, crafts, facepainting, and outdoor games. Booking recommended.

NEW SEASON, NEW

Enjoy waterfront dining at Grangers, where fresh flavours, relaxed atmosphere and spectacular view come together perfectly. Check out their new menu today!

FUNCTIONS AT GRANGERS

Our spaces cater for small to large events, from team lunches, breakfast meetings and networking events; to birthday parties, reunions and weddings.

JOURNAL CAFE

NOURISHING TREATS

Journal Café is the place to go for delicious coffees, mouthwatering sweet treats, and hearty meals that will warm your spirit on a cold winter’s day. The café is open seven days a week and located at the entrance to Ormiston Town Centre.

Among the many scrumptious and well priced offerings on its substantial menu is eggs your way served on toasted chiabatta with either herbed mushroom, streaky bacon, grilled halloumi or cold smoked salmon.

The filling wild wheat bagels are available with a variety of combinations while the lemon meringue waffle (with vanilla mascarpone, lemon curd, meringue crumb and raspberry puree) will hit the spot for anyone craving something sweet.

If you’ve got a big hunger happening, look no further than the tasty Mexican omelette with its jalapeno, charred corn, black beans, cheddar, red pepper puree, pickled red onion, and sour cream.

People after something light and healthy can grab the brunch bowl, packed with quinoa, beetroot hummus, crispy kumara, pickled red onion, scrambled egg, charred corn, black beans and avocado.

The popular Journal breakfast serves up streaky bacon, breakfast sausage, tomato chutney, hash browns, eggs, herbed mushroom, hollandaise and toasted ciabatta, while the Korean chicken burger will leave you feeling satisfied from its delicious herb slaw, pickled red onion,

gochujang glaze, chipotle mayo, aioli, brioche bun, and fries.

The wide variety of dishes continues with the truffle mushroom french toast, fried chicken waffle, and smoked salmon and prawn pasta. For anyone wanting a quick bite on the run, Journal Café offers herb or cajun dusted fries with mustard aioli, kumara fries, crispy salt and pepper squid, and buttermilk fried chicken.

It’s also got a wide range of coffees, teas, juices, smoothies and bottled drinks.

Journal Café is perfect for locals looking for a comfortable spot to have coffee, chat with friends and read a book, and it’s a great place for business meetings for people working nearby.

Ormiston Town Centre has been master-planned as the vibrant heart of Ormiston

So much more than just a shopping centre, Ormiston Town Centre has been designed for community and convenience, relaxing and getting stuff done, entertainment and easy living.

Ormiston Town Centre has everything you need right on your doorstep – daily essentials or special treats, a coffee on the run or a relaxed meal out, a gym workout or some well-earned time out

At Ormiston Town Centre we’ve created a place that’s yours.

It’s your place to be

240 Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, Auckland

GOODBYE GRANGERS – END OF AN ERA FOR POPULAR EATERY

In just a few weeks Grangers Taphouse and Kitchen will be shutting its doors … but thankfully not for good. A huge renovation is planned to start in May and anticipated to take about three months to complete. It’ll reopen with a revamped look, new name, and fresh menu.

But before the tools come out and the transformation begins at the eatery located at the picturesque Half Moon Bay Marina, locals are encouraged to pop down and soak up the unbeatable ambience and sample the mouthwatering menu on offer.

The new owners are buzzing with anticipation for what’s ahead, blending a revitalised space with Grangers’ signature relaxed coastal charm. But while the décor may soon change, the culinary excellence has already stepped up a notch.

Recently, a member of the Times team dropped by to explore the revamped menu. Two dishes stood out: the Ika Mata Ruakākā Kingfish – fresh local kingfish, perfectly balanced with coconut, chilli, red onion, coriander and lime – and the handmade lamb spring rolls, which were crisp and full of flavour.

Located in the heart of the Half Moon Bay

Marina, Grangers offers a welcoming vibe that’s perfect for a casual pint and fries with friends, or a relaxed family dinner with something to suit every palate.

Before the exciting changes begin, make sure to pop down to Grangers and say goodbye to the team before the major revamp gets under way.

www.grangers.co.nz

www.casualfoodie.co.nz info@casualfoodie.co.nz

+64 480 6625

WHAT’S ON AT HOWICK CLUB

CLASSIC CAR SHOW

The club is pleased to be hosting its 2nd annual classic car show. The car show will be open to the public so come along with your family and enjoy all the club has to offer. Sunday 10am-1pm.

EASTER BREAKFAST

The Club restaurant is hosting an Easter Sunday buffet breakfast with a scavenger hunt and Easter treats for kids. Open to Howick Club members, affiliates, and guests. Tickets available at club reception.

KIDS DISCO IS BACK!

Dance music, games and prizes every 2nd Sunday from April to September, 2.30pm-5.30pm. Join us for our special Easter Sunday Disco. Free event, open to Howick Club members, affiliates, and guests.

DRAG BINGO

Looking for a night of fun?

JORDAN LUCK BAND

Don’t miss out, Jordon Luck Band 2025 Winter Tour is coming to the club. Playing all the classic Exponents hits and more. This event is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased online and at club reception.

Become A Member

Join the Howick Club for a vibrant community experience with exclusive access to dining, events, and recreational events for all ages!

Gather your friends and join us for Drag Bingo. Hosted by the famous Anita Wigl’it you will not be disappointed. Ticketed event, open to Howick Club members, affiliates, and guests. www.howickclub.co.nz/membership

MOVIE REVIEW BY JACK WATSON

NOVOCAINE

DIRECTORS: Dan Berk and Robert Olsen  STARRING: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, and Ray Nicholson GENRE: Action comedy RATING: 3.5 stars

In the landscape of every action movie trying to replicate John Wick, Novocaine is still that to an extent, but something I care a whole lot more about. What makes it work so well is the relatability Jack Quaid brings to the role. He’s not a former secret agent or bodyguard, he’s just a normal guy who can’t feel any pain.

In the first 30 minutes the movie is much more grounded and it’s cute. I like Quaid and Amber Midthunder’s dynamic. It’s a sweet relationship built off someone who’s felt pain and someone who’s never felt pain and is easily my favorite section.

But when the film switches gears into a bloody action film it’s still enjoyable. Each action set piece is unique and makes use of its surroundings. Whether it takes place in a kitchen, tattoo parlor or home interior, the film is able to use its environment greatly. The film unfortunately can run a bit generic.

Fellow nepo baby Ray Nicholson isn’t that interesting as a character – he’s just the bad guy. But besides that, Novocaine achieves its goals. It’s funny, violent and charming, which is all you could ask for.

> Jack Watson saw Novocaine at Monterey Howick

NOTEWORTHY PODCASTS

WATCH READ LISTEN

AVAILABLE FROM HOWICK PAPER PLUS

PETER ELLIS, THE CRECHE CASE AND ME PODCAST

This series from Newsroom’s investigations editor Melanie Reid tells the inside story of the prosecution of Christchurch creche worker Peter Ellis in the 1990s. He faced charges of child sexual abuse for which he was eventually imprisoned before having his convictions quashed after his death 2019. Reid interviewed Ellis in private during his trial and those recordings feature in this podcast series.

THE COMMUNE

Journalists Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham delve into the history of the infamous Centrepoint commune run by spiritual leader Bert Potter in Albany, Auckland, in this 12-part podcast series from Stuff. Dudding and Bingham spent almost two years investigating Centrepoint, which left many of its residents with trauma they’re still dealing with decades later. Potter and others faced various charges over child sex abuse and drug crimes.

FOCUS ON POLITICS

This weekly podcast from the Radio New Zealand press gallery team in Wellington delivers inside knowledge on what’s happening in Parliament and the Beehive. Recent episodes focus on a political poll showing the race between the centre-right and centre-left parties has tightened and on controversial comments made by Green Party MP Tamatha Paul that police beat patrols made some Kiwis feel less safe.

THE BOOKSHOP DETECTIVES 2: TEA AND CAKE AND DEATH

Paper Plus Howick Our Price $38 By Gareth and Louise Ward, another case to solve for the number-one bestselling Bookshop Detectives. When we opened Sherlock Tomes people warned us we’d made a terrible mistake, but the one thing they didn’t warn us about was the murders … The Bookshop Detectives are on the case! In this rollicking new adventure, Garth and Eloise (and Stevie) must sniff out a prolific poisoner ahead of a vital fundraising event, the Battle of the Book Clubs.

NO WORDS FOR THIS

Paper Plus Howick Our Price $39.99

The much-anticipated memoir by media personality Alison Mau. From the age of 12, Alison wanted to be a journalist just like her dad. A beer-swilling, straight-talking man who was rough around the edges but could quote passages of Hamlet at will, he taught Ali everything from rabbit-hunting to throwing a punch and crafting a sharp sentence. One day Ali’s sister called her out of the blue for a conversation 40 years in the making. In this book, Ali recounts what happened when she reckoned with flashbacks of a buried past.

Stock up on great reads &

ANZAC DAY SERVICES

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Howick Dawn Parade and Service:

Assemble 5.30am at Mellons Bay Rd. Service at Stockade Hill, Howick.

Contact: Auckland Council Customer Services Centre, 09 301 0101 or CivicEvents@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Howick Civic Parade and Service:

Assemble 10.30am at Mellons Bay Rd. Service at Stockade Hill, Howick.

Contact: Auckland Council Customer Services Centre, 09 301 0101 or CivicEvents@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Whitford Anzac Day Breakfast:

Service at Whitford Memorial Pavilion, Whitford Domain.

Contact: Phil Granger, 027 479 1646 or sherbrookfarm@gmail.com

Beachlands Anzac Day Dawn Service:

Assemble 5.45am outside Chartered Club, Wakelin Rd. Service at end of Wakelin Rd, near the memorial and flags. Contact: Fred Wilkings, 021 442 430 or fredwilkings@gmail.com

Beachlands-Maraetai Civic Anzac Day Service:

Assemble 8.30am at car park of the Chartered Club, Wakelin Rd. Service at Bucklands School Hall via the Wakelin Rd gate.

Contact: Stuart Rowe, 021 926 921 or stuartrowe83@gmail.com

Ōtara/East Tāmaki Civic Parade and Service:

Assemble 7am at Church of the Nazarene, East Tamaki Rd. Service at the Cenotaph, East Tamaki Rd.

Contact: Sipa Niutama, 021 0834 5257 or sipaniutama@cbnz.org

7.30am 7.45am

Updates are possible so for a full list of services, parking and road closure information please visit ourauckland.nz/anzacday or phone 09 301 0101.

Join Holly as she searches east Auckland for love and connection.

IN WHICH HOLLY CHATS WITH JO HAYES, FOUNDER OF GRANDFRIENDS

Our first lessons in love come from those who raise us. I’m lucky to have been close to my grandparents, in both emotion and proximity. Not every child is so fortunate.

That’s why I admire the work of Grandfriends – a small but mighty charity that matches families with local seniors they’d like to spend time with.

Holly: Jo, it’s been almost a decade since you created the Surrogate Grandparents Trust (now Grandfriends). What’s been the biggest surprise along the way?

Jo: Just how many families were in the same position that I was in before I started GrandFriends – felling isolated and without support or anyone to really just lean on in times of need. I was amazed at the outpouring of support right from the start.

Holly: Is it common for elders to experience sadness over never becoming a grandparent, or the inability to be an active grandparent because of distance?

Jo: The world is most definitely changing. More people can travel and live where they choose, which causes these longdistance families. I’m one of them! I think older people can definitely feel

that sense of grief, especially when they see many of their friends being with grandchildren. Although we do have technology to enable us to stay in touch with distant family, nothing quite beats the hug of a child or grandchild. GrandFriends is the perfect solution –those older people get the connection they wish for, and they can help a family that needs support at the same time. It truly is a win-win situation.

Holly: What are some of the outcomes you’ve seen in the kids?

Jo: I think that it’s great for kids to have a wider network of family (whether blood

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or not) around them. I think it always gives them a better grounding, the ability to interact with different trusted people, and the ability to see life from an elder’s perspective. There are skills to be learnt from both sides. Grandparents pass on their knowledge from their younger days with those skills that if we are not careful, we might lose. And kids can keep the older generation up with the rise in technology and how to do more things in this modern world. That shows children that they can help other people too.

Holly: The organisation turns 10 next year. What are your hopes for the future of Grandfriends?

Jo: Good grief, that has gone so fast! The charity was and will always be about helping people, and providing support, love, companionship and education to people. I hope that it continues that way, and we get to help many more people who need us.

To get involved, or support Grandfriends with a donation, visit www.grandfriends. nz.

Read Holly’s full column here

Email holly@times.co.nz

Yours in love,

HOWICK

House of Travel Howick is a team of three passionate consultants with 85 years of combined experience in the travel industry. We love travelling and sharing our experiences with you to ensure your dream holiday is a reality.

Jo Hayes

WHITFORD’S PEST PLANTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Whitford locals are being urged to play their part in ridding their community of nasty pest plants. Everyone is welcome at a public talk being staged by the group Predator Free Whitford on pest plants and the damage they can cause. It’s at the Whitford Community Hall from 10am to 12pm on April 13 and is supported by the Franklin Local Board and Auckland Council, among others.

Sarah Blong, who leads the group along with Gerry Whitehouse-Tedd, says Whitford locals and people who live in surrounding areas who are concerned about invasive weeds threatening local biodiversity have an opportunity to take action. Those who go along to the upcoming talk will hear from council conservation advisor Kelly Wootton, who’ll shed light on the hidden threats of pest plants in the region.

“A key focus of the talk will be Woolly Nightshade, an aggressive invader that’s increasingly spreading across the region,” Blong says. “This highly invasive weed grows quickly and forms dense stands, outcompetes native plants, and poses health risks. Its pollen and leaves can cause skin and respiratory irritation while its berries are poisonous to humans and livestock.”

Blong says the session aims to equip landowners and residents with practical knowledge and hands-on techniques for effective pest plant control. The audience will learn how to identify problem species, manage their spread and safely remove them before they take over local landscapes, she says.

“Bring your questions, and even samples! If you have pest plants on your property you’d like identified, this is your chance to get expert advice. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference in preserving Whitford and neighbouring regions’ natural environment. Spread the word, bring your neighbours, and join the movement toward a healthier, pest plant-free community.”

To RSVP, email whitford@predatorfreefranklin.nz.

The berries of the invasive pest species Woolly Nightshade can be poisonous to people and livestock.

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EXFOLIATION: THE SECRET TO RADIANT SKIN

Glowing, youthful skin isn’t just about using the most luxurious serums or high-end moisturisers – it all starts with exfoliation. Think of your skin as a canvas; if it’s rough and uneven, no product or make-up will sit as smoothly as it should.

someone who loves a spa-like ritual at home.

EXFOLIATING WITH A CLEANSER

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser –MECCA from $43. Gently polishes the skin while cleansing, making it a timesaving two-in-one solution.

Exfoliating regularly removes dead skin cells, allowing your skincare products to penetrate deeper, work more effectively, and deliver the glowing results they promise. But the benefits go beyond skincare. Exfoliation is the secret weapon for flawless make-up application, helping foundation glide on effortlessly and stay put all day.

Below, we break down the best exfoliating products for every skincare routine, whether you’re a busy professional, a skincare minimalist, or

EXFOLIATING WITH A TONER

REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow

Daily AHA Tonic – MECCA from $42. Brightens and smooths skin with lactic acid while keeping breakouts at bay.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum – MECCA $79. Targets congestion and uneven texture, promoting a glass-skin effect.

EXFOLIATING WITH A MOISTURISER

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Moisturiser – MECCA $135. Combines hydration with gentle exfoliation, making it ideal for those who want smoother skin without an extra step in their routine.

EXFOLIATING WITH A FACIAL OIL

Sunday Riley UFO Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil – MECCA from $75. Delivers deep exfoliation with salicylic acid while nourishing the skin with hydrating botanicals.

EXFOLIATING WITH A FACIAL MASK

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow

Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial –MECCA $75. Gently detoxifies while infusing skin with hydration, thanks to a unique blend of clay and hyaluronic acid.

Read the full column www.times.co.nz

Follow us on social media for more beauty tips @bonitartistry.

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Karen Walker X Blunt Umbrella $149 101 DESIGN 101home.co.nz

Daxton Felt Basket $49.95 LOUIS & MAX louiseandmax.co.nz

Forno Lamp Base $349 101 HOME – 101home.co.nz

MANGEMANGEROA RESERVE WALKWAY

„ By DAVID MALLOWES

Autumn is a perfect time to visit or revisit the deservedly very popular Mangemangeroa Reserve. Stroll through shaded groves of mature kanuka, puriri, nikau, taraire, pohutakawa and many other natives, then follow the estuary to Shelly Park Beach.

Its 5km, one to two hours return from the carpark at 108 Somerville Road, well-maintained wide tracks lead to the sandspit at Shelly Park Beach. You may also access from Sandspit Road, Pohutukawa Avenue, Hayley’s Lane, and Point View Drive.

Enjoy the forest and bush, superb views, and wander along excellent boardwalks across the tidal mudflats. It can make for great photos at low tide and at full tide the setting can be incredibly tranquil.

Within one to two hours of low tide you may continue 1km to Cockle Bay, or return up the steps at Shelly Park to Sandspit Road, then back by road.

Feeling energetic? Start at Hayley’s Lane off Point View Drive, (limited parking), head down the steep roadway, follow the track for 2km passing under the Whitford Bridge and onwards to join the main trail.

There’s lots of forest and estuarine birdlife so please keep dogs on-leash at all times. There are quite a few stairs, but the views are well worth the effort as the track drops down from the entrance to the estuary and back up and down again. Tracks may be a little muddy after rain. For a peaceful outing, consider walking early or late in the day or during the week, weekends can be very busy.

Toilets – a portaloo at the main entrance,

The Howick Picton Walkers meet Monday and Thursday mornings 9.15am in the carpark behind Wild Wheat, at the Picton Centre entrance. $2 includes use of the upstairs lounge and tea and coffee, 100+ routes.

no toilets at Shelly Park Beach or at Hayley’s Lane. Volunteers – visit the Mangemangeroa website or Facebook page. A great team organising and carrying out awesome maintenance, pest control, and extensive replanting.

Visit www.facebook.com/ walksouteastauckland for more photos or scan the QR code for a one-minute video

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MESSAGE FROM YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR

As the leaves turn and the air chills, it’s a stark reminder that winter is on its way. I’m Dr Eileen Sables, a GP at Tend Pakuranga, here to remind you that now is the time to prioritise your health.

Dr Eileen Stables

Every winter, GP clinics get busier and wait times grow longer. This year, take a proactive approach, come in early for your health checks and get your flu vaccine in one easy visit.

Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still with us, alongside other seasonal illnesses. Vaccines for Covid-19 remain available for everyone over the age of five years

old and for children over six months with underlying health conditions.

Many people delay care until symptoms get worse, but prevention is key. If you wait for flu season to arrive, it may be too late for the vaccine to protect you.

Here’s three simple ways to stay ahead:

> Schedule annual check-ups around birthdays to keep the whole whānau on track.

> Use the Tend app to book appointments, view results, order repeats, view test results and even see

a doctor online.

> Combine your visits by getting your flu shot during your health check-up.

Just book both through the Tend app. Tend also offers Online Now, our sameday online care service available seven days a week until 9pm via the app. This service is refreshed daily, offering a convenient and cost-effective alternative to after-hours clinics.

Don’t wait until it’s urgent. Download the Tend app and enrol today with Tend Pakuranga.

We’re welcoming new patients and here to keep you well this winter.

– Dr Eileen Sables, Tend Pakuranga

SELF-CARE

IT’S NOT ALL BUBBLE BATHS!

MICHELLE KEENAN empowers people and organisations to achieve optimal wellbeing by providing customised wellness coaching programmes tailored to their unique goals.

When you hear the word self-care, what comes to mind? A bubble bath, maybe with a fancy candle? A massage or trip to the nail bar? While those things can be lovely, self-care is about a lot more than pampering – it’s about taking care of your whole self in ways that help you thrive, not just survive.

True self-care is often more practical, and less glamorous (and costly), than you might think. It could be going for a brisk walk even when you don’t feel like it, because you know it clears your head and lifts your mood. Or finally tackling that overflowing junk drawer, because decluttering your space gives you more mental space, too.

Quality time with people who lift you up, sharing a laugh, or just having a conversation over a cuppa, is important for everyone, even those who enjoy being alone – us humans are wired to be part of a community. Taking time alone to relax, recharge, and just be is also a must, even if you absolutely love being around people!

Don’t forget the basics. Getting enough sleep, drinking water, moving your body regularly, preparing and eating a delicious, nutritious meal – all of these daily actions make a big difference to your wellbeing. Sometimes, self-care means doing the hard things: setting boundaries, saying no, or asking for help when you need it. Managing your time and energy is necessary, even if it’s not always comfortable.

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A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and refers to mild to moderate TBIs.

A concussion occurs when a force is transmitted to the brain either directly through a blow to the head or indirectly through the body or neck. It can cause a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, irritability, and slowed thinking.

Loss of consciousness is not required for a concussion to occur. While most people recover within a few weeks, 10-30 per cent of people may experience longer-lasting effects and require additional support.

EXPERT SUPPORT FOR SMOOTH RECOVERY

The Active+ Concussion Service is an ACC-funded programme designed to help individuals recover from a mild to moderate TBI. Delivered by an experienced interdisciplinary team, the service provides tailored interventions and education to help clients understand and manage their symptoms, reducing the risk of prolonged recovery times.

At Active+ Howick our team take a holistic, client-centred approach, with a focus on getting you back to your usual activities as quickly and safely as possible. Treatment typically lasts three to six months and is customised to meet individual needs. Our team works closely with clients, their families/whānau, and ACC to support longterm recovery.

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Referrals can be made by a general practitioner (GP), emergency department staff, or an ACC case manager. Once we receive a referral, we’ll arrange an assessment to develop a personalised treatment plan. Contact us today to learn about how we can help you on your recovery journey!

So next time you think about self-care, try broadening the picture. It’s not just about treats (although they’re nice!), it’s about actions that support your physical, mental, and emotional health, in sustainable ways every day, so you can show up for life as your best self.

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Elmarie Hope

New generation thrives in tennis tournament

Keen local tennis player Joy Charman established an annual competition for junior players between the clubs in the Howick area 40 years ago.

Requiring 20 players – 10 boys and 10 girls –meant lots of young people were able to experience the fun of playing in a team and representing their club in a prestigious competition, rather than limiting it only to top-ranked juniors.

Some 140 young players took part in the inaugural event in 1985, and apart from one year lost because of the pandemic, the competition has been held every season since.

“Despite tweaks to the format and the players now tending to start a bit younger than in the past, Joy’s vision of encouraging the club players of the future continues to shine through,” says Fiona Bates, of Bucklands Beach Tennis Club.

“Many of the participants of previous times still play regularly and have even seen their own children play in the Charman

Trophy. Of course, winning is fun, as Bucklands Beach TC know well, having won this year and 19 of the past 20 competitions under the experienced guidance of top coach Julia Sim, but the emphasis is on participation and building experience.”

An album of photographs, team lists and newspaper clippings provide a treasure trove of memorabilia across the four decades.

“Fashions for playing outfits haven’t changed as much as you might think, although we don’t see so many of the [John] McEn-

roe headbands and bright tracksuit tops since the 1990s,” says BBTC president and Charman Trophy co-ordinator Fiona Macleod, with a smile.

“In many ways it’s easier for kids to play nowadays.

“Racquet frames are much lighter – hi-tech metal composites – not laminated wood.

“Astroturf courts are more forgiving than the old asphalt, and trainers [shoes] far more supportive than the thin-soled canvas plimsolls that kids would have worn in the 1980s.

“But essentially it’s still all about a Sunday in March

when anyone driving past the local tennis clubs will see the courts full of kids out there playing and having fun,” says Macleod.

Tennis continues through the year nowadays, so parents who would like to get their kids into the sport are encouraged to approach their local club, says Bates.

“The participating clubs this year, Cockle Bay, Howick, Sunnyhills, and Bucklands Beach, all run junior programmes and welcome new joiners.

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2025 Bucklands Beach Tennis Club junior players and their coach Julia Sim, right. Photo supplied

Raiders top BMX club ranks

„ By PJ TAYLOR

East Auckland’s mighty Mountain Raiders are rated the best BMX club in the land.

At the recent BMX national championships held in Invercargill, the Mountain Raiders rode away with the coveted Larry Gardener Trophy as BMX Club of the Year for having the best performances over the whole competition season.

The Lloyd Elsmore Parkbased club also won and retained the Pocock Trophy for the best moto points at the national champs.

As well as the team honours, Mountain Raiders riders claimed seven NZ1 titles.

Selina Pfister and Addison Harrowfield each collected two, winning the 20-inch and cruiser titles in their age groups respectively, while Georjia Pou-Edwards, Evelyn Zhu, and Darcy McCusker picked up others.

There were also six second-place getters and six third places.

Mountain Raiders sent to Southland a large contingent of 56 competitors, who raced against 500 others from clubs across the

country, as well supporting parents and club officials.

The BMX national champs were held on the weekend of March 22-23, with four heats raced on the Saturday and a further two on the Sunday then semi-finals and finals.

“The race meet was held at the fairly new track in Elizabeth Park,” says club spokesperson Kimberley Hunter.

“Even though it was a longer and more challenging track than they were used to, the Raiders race team fought brilliantly through the showers of Saturday and fine but cold conditions on Sunday.

“The Mountain Raiders club is certainly on the rise with membership getting stronger with numbers growing and a new gate system coming soon, which is on its way from Europe.”

The Mountain Raiders will also be hosting the second-biggest BMX race meeting in New Zealand in October called Norths.

BMX competitors from around the country will be lining up, plus the best four boys and girls aged 11 from Australia and New Zealand riding in a Trans-Tasman battle.

Before that contest happens, the New Zealand Might 11s are heading over

to Australia and will be captained by the Mountain Raiders’ Jai Matene.

“The Norths meeting is a huge commitment by the club and its committee, but we’re looking forward to it and hope it will be as good if not better than the last one six years ago,” says Hunter.

The Mountain Raiders host the final BMX meet of the season this Saturday, April 12, with racing starting at 3pm.

The club invites everyone who is keen to see what BMX is about, and there will also be food trucks at the event that will run into the evening.

Some of the large team of Mountain Raiders BMX Club riders, officials and supporters at the national championships at Invercargill last month.

Photo supplied

Table tennis whizz kid blitzing her competition

East Auckland is home to a sporting “prodigy” who’s just taken out a major national award.

Young table tennis star Josephine Chong, who attends Macleans College, is proving she’s a force to be reckoned with as she racks up accolades and turns heads with her dynamic paddle skills.

The Auckland Table Tennis Association (ATTA) player enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, capped by stellar performances.

Her journey in the sport has been fuelled by passion and precision with her biggest triumph coming at the 2024 ITTF-Oceania Senior and Youth Championships.

Representing Table Tennis NZ, Josephine helped the New Zealand under-15 girls’ team secure first place in the team competition.

That victory punched their ticket to the 2024 ITTF World Youth Championships, held in Helsingborg, Sweden.

“Winning as a team was unreal,” Josephine says. “We pushed each other every step.”

In addition to that success, she also secured a silver medal in the under-15 girls’ singles competition, losing only to fellow New Zealand team member Ayumi Moriyama-Picard in the final.

Table Tennis NZ named Josephine its ‘Most Improved Girl 2024’, a testament to her rapid growth and relentless drive. Her coaches at ATTA, such as east Auckland stalwart Dinyar Irani, say they aren’t

surprised by her success.

“Josephine is a talented player and has a great attitude to go with it,” Irani says.

“She trains with the right mindset, always looking to improve, no matter who she’s playing against.

“Her hard work is paying off, and it shows in her results.”

Balancing her schooling with a packed table tennis training schedule, Josephine remains a well-bal-

anced east Auckland teenager. She credits her family, friends and the table tennis community for helping her stay grounded.

“I couldn’t do it without their support,” she says.

Her roots run deep in the local community, where she learned the ropes at the Pakuranga Table Tennis Club and Tune Table Tennis Club, which laid the building blocks for her success on the international stage.

Her achievements in 2024 signal she has a bright future in the sport and with her recent experience at the World Youth Championships, she’s set her eyes overseas.

“I want to test myself against the best and make east Auckland proud,” Josephine says.

Her success could spark a table tennis boom in the area, and she’s all in for it.

“I’d love more kids here to try table tennis. It’s fast, fun, and takes you placeslook where it’s taken me!”

Josephine is now preparing for the 2025 ITTF-Oceania Youth Championships to be held in Christchurch in June.

Macleans College pupil Josephine Chong is making a name for herself in the sport.

Photo supplied Table Tennis New Zealand

Big stink over sewage discharge into Tamaki Estuary

„ By CHRIS HARROWELL

The Howick Local Board has heard about the major challenges facing the Tamaki Estuary, including the discharge of sewage into it.

Tamaki Estuary Environmental Forum co-chairperson Dr Julie Chambers recently presented to the board about the “three big things” of concern.

She pointed to the climate, changes in the use of the estuary, increased boats on it and the number of people living around it.

“The next thing is there’s been a huge loss in biodiversity in the area. We’ve lost birds, we’ve lost plants,

we’ve lost marine life.

“It’s one of those situations where we seem to feel that what we see now is what was there before, but it isn’t.”

Chambers said pollution, such as pre-and post-production plastic as well as “unknown toxic substances”, is an issue.

“Suddenly Pakuranga Creek will turn into foam. We have to track those events better.

“These events wash through the streams and are often undetected by our current processes for looking at pollution.”

Chambers also raised the issue of sewage, which is human fecal waste, going

THE SUN AND THE TIDES

FRIDAY 11 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.41am Set 5.59pm

Tide: 6.01am 6.33pm SATURDAY 12 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.42am Set 5.58pm

High Tide: 6.45am 7.16pm

SUNDAY 13 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.43am Set 5.56pm

High Tide: 7.25am 7.55pm

MONDAY 14 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.44am Set 5.55pm

High Tide: 8.03am 8.31pm

TUESDAY 15 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.45am Set 5.54pm

High Tide: 8.40am 9.07pm WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.46am Set 5.52pm High Tide: 9.17am 9.43pm

THURSDAY 17 APRIL Sun: Rise 6.46am Set 5.51pm High Tide: 9.54m 10.20pm

FRIDAY 18 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.47am Set 5.50pm High Tide: 10.33am 11pm

SATURDAY 19 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.48am Set 5.48pm High Tide: 11.15am 11.45pm SUNDAY 20 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.49am Set 5.47pm High Tide: 12noon

MONDAY 21 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.50am Set 5.46pm High Tide: 12.35am 12.49pm

TUESDAY 22 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.51am Set 5.45pm High Tide: 1.30am 1.45pm

WEDNESDAY 23 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.52am Set 5.43pm High Tide: 2.29am 2.46pm

THURSDAY 24 APRIL

Sun: Rise 6.53am Set 5.42pm High Tide: 3.28am 3.50pm

Dr Julie Chambers is highlighting the areas of concern for the Tamaki Estuary. Times photo

into the estuary.

She said Auckland Council allows Watercare to discharge a certain amount of raw sewage into the estuary and local streams.

“The upper Tamaki catchment is the largest of 36 catchments.

“It’s a lot of your local board area and it has been one of the five worst

catchments for the last five years, every year.

“That means that in the upper Tamaki Estuary catchment, more sewage has flowed into your parks, your streets, and your footpaths than the majority of the other catchments and it hasn’t improved.”

• Read full story online at www.times.co.nz

PUZZLE TIME

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 8177

ACROSS

6. How the poor boxer is knocked? (4-3-3). 8. It’s part bread, we’re told (4). 9. “Run away,” you say. “It bites” (4). 10 Run out of, before the man returns (5). 11. Knowing one’s inside, we stay outside (4). 12.Thought me old-fashioned for concealing it (9). 16. So get the arbiter round again (9). 20. An item of luggage in the hold (4). 22. Up to: “From the punt I leaped out lightly” (5). 23. Taken aback myself, to a degree, by her (4). 24. Material that’s always green (4). 25. Leading men (10).

DOWN

1. Not friendly, I note, with the labourer (6). 2. Stay at, dressed like a nun? (7). 3. She’ll come within range later (6). 4. Hate seeing the hole drilled through the machine (6). 5. The hat shows up the defects (5). 7. A second item of news (5). 13. Join up to get even with (3). 14. Impressions created by possessions (7). 15. Outstanding? I’m delighted to hear it! (5). 17. Hang it up inside, though by no means fond of it (6). 18. Find the rooster on show when you arrive (4,2). 19. Say something about foreign currency (6). 21. Attack the man with the big nose (5).

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 8177

ACROSS

6. Smug (10)

8. Image (4)

9. Stone (4)

10. Bird (5)

11. Cut (4)

12. Weed (9)

16. Incredulous (9)

20. Shoot (4)

22. Coverlet (5)

23. Snatch (4)

DOWN

1. Metal (6)

2. Clap (7)

3. Detestation (6)

4. Stone (6)

5. Planned undercover operation (5)

7. Perch (5)

13. Observe (3)

14. Cloth (7)

15. Correct (5)

Easter Services

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA CATHOLIC CHURCH

9am - Good Friday Service

HOLY WEEK TIMETABLE 2025

Holy Thursday –Thursday, April 17

7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday – Friday, April 18

9am Outdoor Stations of the Cross followed by Confessions

3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday –Saturday, April 19 10-11am Confessions

7pm Easter Vigil – Blessing of Fire and First Mass of Easter Easter Sunday –Sunday, April 20

9am Mass - NO 5.30pm Mass

EASTER SERVICES

17 April – Maundy Thursday

7.00pm Foot Washing Service

18 April – Good Friday 9.30am Service

12.00pm–3.00pm

All Saints Anglican will be open to all for a time of reflective contemplation

20 April – Easter Sunday

7.30am Service

9.30am Intergenerational Service

Come As You Are! Cnr Picton St & Parkhill Rd

All Saints Anglican, Howick

Good Friday, 18 April

Morning vigil in the church beginning at 8.00am ending with communion and stripping of the altar at 11.30am – 12.00pm. All people are welcome to drop in for a moment of silence and reflection on the cross at any time throughout the morning.

Easter Sunday, 31 March

We will have Holy Communion at the 9.30am with hot cross buns in the lounge afterwards for morning tea.

Maundy Thursday April 17

7pm Washing of the Feet

Good Friday April 18

10am Journey to the Cross

Easter Sunday April 20 9.30am Holy Communion

Reverend Warner Wilder 021 548 407 warnerwilder30@gmail.com www.stpaulsinthepark.nz

ACCOUNTING

Business Owners

Admin Rescue can assist with all your bookkeeping needs:

• Accounts payable/receivable

• GST filing

• Invoicing

• Payroll management 021 616 909 michelle@adminrescue.co.nz

I will help you plan for a successful business exit

Ph: Murray 09 309 3222 thecashoutcatalyst.com

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Hassle Free Accounting Business Insights Business Planning Accounting Bookeeping

Murray 09 309 3222 support@insightca.nz www.insightca.nz

BLINDS

Specialists in Blinds, Awnings,

sales@nzblindsandawnings.com

BATHROOMS

Unit 2, 6 Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga Heights 022 399 6738 www.aquarays.co.nz

3997 Bathroom Design Bathroom Renovation Installation We are specialists in: 021726658

Best bathroom design & install Give us a call today mike.precisionbathrooms@gmail.com

HANDYMAN

An experienced gentleman with years of experience. All other work considered

DIGITAL

Howick Local Board Business Meeting

The meeting will be held on Thursday, 17 April 2025 at 12pm. The venue is the Howick Local Board meeting room, Pakuranga Library Complex, 7 Aylesbury St, Pakuranga.

Find out more: phone 09 301 0101 or visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

QUICK NO. 8177

Across - 6, Complacent. 8, Idol. 9, Opal 10, Robin. 11, Gash. 12, Groundsel 16, Sceptical. 20, Fire. 22, Quilt. 23, Grab. 24, Thou. 25, Improbable. Down - 1, Copper. 2, Applaud. 3, Hatred 4, Pebble. 5, Sting. 7, Roost. 13, See. 14, Gingham 15, Right. 17, Chirpy. 18, Petrol. 19, Arable. 21, Equip.

CRYPTIC NO. 8177

Across - 6, Down-and-out. 8, Role (roll). 9, Flea (flee). 10, Ex-trA. 11, W-I’s-e. 12, Me-d-it-ated. 16, Theref-O-re. 20, Grip. 22, (p)Unt-Il(eaped). 23, Em-MA. 24, Lawn. 25, Conductors. Down - 1, Cool-I-E. 2, In-habit. 3, (r)Ange-la(ter). 4, L-Oathe. 5, Straw (rev.). 7, Flash. 13, Tie. 14, Effects. 15, Great. 17, Ha-ti-ng. 18, Roll up. 19, Re-mark. 21, Punch.

SITUATIONS VACANT

We’re Hiring

CNC Setter Machinist – Full Time

Join Howick, proud makers of 100% NZ-made roll-forming machines. We seek an experienced CNC Setter Machinist to produce a wide range of steel components. 5+ years’ CNC milling experience required. FANUC and 4 Axis skills preferred. Apply with CV and one-pager.

Apprentice CNC Setter Machinist – Full Time

Join Howick, a growing NZ-owned company, as a 2nd or 3rd year Apprentice CNC Setter Machinist. Gain hands-on experience machining a wide range of steel components. FANUC knowledge preferred. Great culture, clean workshop, full-time hours. Apply with CV and a one-pager on why you’re a great fit.

Please email to wayne@howickltd.com www.howickltd.com

School Office/ Receptionist

Commencing 28 April 2025

We have a rare opportunity to join our highly successful school.

We are seeking a caring, dynamic person who can multi task in our busy school office.

Please refer our full advertisement on Seek for details. Please reply to Redoubt North School, 47 Diorella Drive, Clover Park, Auckland, 2019 or by email to office@redoubt.school.nz

www.times.co.nz/

Technology Technician

Howick College is looking for a friendly and practical team member to support our Technology Department. This role is for 25 hours per week during term time, with flexible days and times. Ideally, we are seeking someone available at least four days per week.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing and ordering resources fortechnologyclasses

• Maintaining tools and equipment

• Assisting in woodwork and general workshop activities

We are seeking someone with hands-on practical skills, preferably in woodwork, who is also open to learning how to operate specialist equipment. Most importantly, you’ll be a team player who is keen to contribute to our vision: “Inspiring a community of passionate learners.”

POLITICIANS

HOWICK LOCAL BOARD:

• Peter Young JP

– Board Member 027 587 4888

• Mike Turinsky

– Board Member 021 804 742

• Adele White

– Board Member 021 284 3843

• John Spiller

– Board Member 021 286 7666

• Bruce Kendall, MBE

– Board Member 021 198 1380

• David Collings

– Board Member 027 576 2350

• Katrina Bungard

– Board Member 0800 528 286

• Bo Burns – Deputy Chairperson 021 197 5849

• Damian Light

– Chairperson 027 276 3822

MPs:

• Parmjeet Parmar MP Parmjeet.Parmar@parliament.govt.nz

• Simeon Brown Pakuranga MP Simeon.Brown@parliament.govt.nz

• Christopher Luxon Botany MP Christopher.Luxon@parliament.govt.nz

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

• James Lee 021 682 262

• Garry Nicholls 021 371 370

• Gary Stone 027 478 6639

• Peter Sheerin 021 908 633

• Jenny Rowsell 021 721 123

• Sue Rossiter 027 451 8880

• Kevin Richards 027 341 9599

• Fazilat Rashid 021 708 7176

• Toni Osborne 027 533 9383

• Sue Mooy 021 488 749

• Brij Mathur 027 493 1211

• Alan Martin 021 944 681

• Desai Link 021 717 739

• Chris Kentsley 021 786 923

• Benifer Irani 021 037 7222

• Ausaga Imoa 022 426 5561

• Gloria Gardner 022 352 5144

• Jannette Brown 021 075 7687

• Kevin Berry 021 666 473

• Brian Stocking 0274 859 054

• Ian Gibson 0272 084 664

• Keith Ingram 0274 584 747

CHARITY SHOPS

• The Charity Boutique

- 65 Picton St, Howick

• Hospice Shop Howick

- 61 Picton St, Howick

• SPCA Op Shop Howick

- 6/15 Cook St, Howick

• Hato St John

- 7/219 Moore St, Howick

• Garage Op Shop - 96 Udys Rd, Pakuranga

• St Columba Op Shop - 480 Ti Rakau Dr, Botany

• The Hope Shop - 219 Burswood Dr, Burswood

• Salvation Army Family Store

- 287 Botany Rd, Golflands

• SPCA Op Shop Botany - Unit 43/277 Te Irirangi Dr, Flat Bush

• SPCA East Tāmaki ClearanceCnr Springs Rd & Kerwyn Ave, East Tāmaki

• Salvation Army Ti Rakau298 Ti Rakau Dr, East Tāmaki

• Luckys Book Shop - 27 Lady Ruby Dr, East Tāmaki

• Habitat for Humanity - 8 Ormiston Rd, Ōtara

• Twice Loved Op Shop - 102 Maraetai Drive Maraetai

• Coastal Treasures - 41 Third View Ave, Beachlands

• SPCA Op Shop Beachlands - 42 Kouka Rd, Beachlands

•

• Sealink

To apply, please email your CV, cover letter, and completed Support Sta Application form on our website: www.howickcollege. school.nz/career-opportunities to: employment@howick.school.nz

• Howick Presbyterian Church Op Shop - 11 Vincent St, Howick

• The Barn, 474 Pakuranga Rd, Half Moon Bay

• Hospice Op Shop - 42A Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga

• Eastgate Centre - 9 Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga

TRADING HOURS