Times - 29 March 2023

HOWICK RSA TO BE SOLD

By NICK KRAUSE

The Howick RSA’s largely-abandoned building and land on Wellington Street will be sold.

The building, home to the Howick Returned and Services Community for 40 years, shut its doors almost two years ago in anticipation of a major joint venture redevelopment on the site.

Members were ushered to take up temporary residence at the Prospect of Howick/Good Home’s Bosun’s Bar on Picton Street where the Eternal Flame and Ode of Remembrance Light were transferred on May 30, 2021.

The site’s redevelopment was to have taken up to two years however Covid lockdowns and the impact on supply chains and a subsequent massive increase in development costs saw a mutual scrapping of the joint venture plans, deemed to have become untenable. The Auckland Councilbacked height restriction of 9 metres was also a factor.

This left the RSA executive with no option but to consider its options given it was still paying out thousands of dollars a month for rates, insurances and other bills in a building that no longer met current building codes with estimates it could cost up to $1 million to bring it up to standard.

A vote at a recent extraordinary general meeting resulted in an almost unanimous decision to divest themselves of the property which will be sold by tender.

Howick RSA president Ray Sangster said the joint venture plan was the panacea to the executive who had seen the steady decline of not only its membership base but the hospitality component which was bleeding funds. The bar and restaurant has been running at a loss for many years. Continuing significant overheads and a building it could not occupy meant selling the property was the only viable option.

Sangster said in 2021 before the move to Bosuns that the RSA executive committee’s plan was to futureproof and build a base that would last another 100 years.

“We want to build a financial base with strong income streams. This includes bar and restaurant trading and potential income from apartments,” Sangster said at the time.

A concept plan had been developed, in consultation with council. The demolition and building works were due to start in late October, 2021. The redeveloped property was to include apartments, gym and car park, with the new RSA Clubrooms occupying the ground floor.

‘We must teach the basics brilliantly’

Education has been a big focus of mine ever since I became a politician, because the current state of education in New Zealand is alarming and it is only getting worse.

School achievement has been in decline for the last thirty years and a recent NCEA pilot exposed just how far it has fallen. Two thirds of secondary school students failed to meet minimum standards in reading, writing and maths, while 98 per cent of Decile One Year 10 students failed a basic writing test.

This is utterly unacceptable.

When I first became Leader of the National Party, I mentioned my aspirations to lift New Zealand’s education and bring it back to what it once was. New Zealand kids used to be among the top 10 in the world in maths, reading and science. This is no longer the case.

That is why last week I was proud to announce National’s ‘Teaching the Basics Brilliantly’ plan which will ensure every child has the skills they need in reading, writing, maths and science to set them up for further success.

Firstly, National will require all primary and intermediate schools to teach an hour of reading, an hour of writing and an hour on maths, on average, every day.

Children need the time to acquire knowledge, practice skills and

TIMESWORD

PUZZLE NO. 8103

master the basics so they stay with them for life.

Secondly, National will re-write the curriculum so it says what must be taught each year in reading, writing, maths and science to every year group in primary and intermediate schools.

Currently the curriculum is far too loose. It does not give teachers clear guidance about what to teach, when.

Instead of being divided by years, it is grouped in “bands” spanning two to three school years. National will get rid of the three-year bands, replacing them with explicit expectations of achievement and knowledge dissemination for each year group.

We will check children have learned what the curriculum says they should have learned, and we will keep parents informed about where their kids are up to.

Therefore, the third part of the plan requires schools to assess student progress in reading, writing and maths at least twice a year every year from Year 3 to Year 8, with clear reporting to parents

This will provide something we don’t have at the moment - a reliable, national picture of how New Zealand children are progressing at primary and intermediate school.

At the moment, the first national test for numeracy and literacy is

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1. Came back to find the swan swimming by the waving reed (8).

6. A cold and stormy sea in this instance (4).

8. Twice, myself, uttered her name (4).

9. The so-and-so is thriving (8).

10. She’s back in flat ten (5).

11. Pay the second man, Ray, off (6).

13. She’s again put in the wobbly seat (6).

15. What invading troops do to keep themselves busy? (6).

17. Tess I force to have a rest (6).

19. Aim to teach a lesson to (5).

22. What rhymes with “green,” boy? (8).

23. Said the keys will facilitate matters (4).

24. She’ll stop one entering (4).

25. Pet we found swimming in the water: a pretty little thing (8).

2. The sound one in front (5).

3. Seem surprised about the way you pass the time away (7).

4. Steal the key from the garment (4).

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1. Cooking pot (8)

6. Whip (4)

8. Singer (4)

9. Drink (8)

10. Starboard (5)

11. Contrivance (6)

13. Tower (6)

15. Goal (6)

17. Layers (6)

19. Declare (5)

22. Concise (8)

23. Dash (4)

24. Attempt (4)

25. Refutation (8)

DOWN

2. Excuse (5)

3. Hide (7)

4. Horse (4)

5. Steer (8)

6. Clear (5)

7. Thai (7)

12. Sieve (8)

14. Lie (7)

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18. Race-course (England (5)

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THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE TIDES

5. Is the tennis-player who muffs it butter-fingered? (4-4).

6. Got here and left by a primitive form of transport (5).

7. Turns out dad has retired to somewhere warm (3-4).

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14. The number that will roughly tide one over (7).

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18. Hang on a second! Shell out! (5).

20. Put out, as a result (5).

21. “Heavens!” you say. “An island!” (4).

SUDOKU

not until NCEA. Until then, we are flying almost completely blind.

Finally, National will ensure that teachers and trainee teachers spend more time learning how to teach the basics. We will also provide them with more classroom tools and lesson plans to help them teach reading, writing, maths and science.

We will set a target of 80 per cent of Year 8 students being at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing, maths and science, and also aim to have New Zealand back in the top 10 world rankings by 2030.

The day after I made our education announcement, I had the pleasure to visit my old schoolCockle Bay School right here in

MP for Botany Christopher Luxon

Botany. This school gave me a great grounding in writing, reading, maths and science. It got me off to a great start and made me feel positive about school and learning.

I am ambitious for New Zealand children.

School achievement has declined under successive governments, but a National Government I lead will stop that decline.

National’s plan will benefit the whole country, but the real winners will be the kids who one day have the chance to realise their potential and lead the life they want because, regardless of where they came from, or where they lived, their teachers taught the basics brilliantly.

ChristopherLuxonisLeaderofthe NationalPartyandMPforBotany

Fun day draws the crowds

The Howick Lions’ Water Safety Picnic was held on Sunday at Cockle Bay Beach on a sunny, calm day.

The picnic, an annual event, was attended by a large crowd happy to enjoy the lovely autumn weather. With the accent on water safety, there were a number of events from raft races competed by local Manukau area scout groups, kayak safety

activities run by Auckland Council Outdoor Activities, Howick Coastguard demonstrations, outdoor games sponsored by Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers and various other activities by Council Water Safety people. The Howick Lions also ran a beach dig for children and sold sausages and chips with the proceeds going back into the local community.

Peters urges voters to ‘take our country back’

By CHRIS HARROWELL

If New Zealand First is part of the next Government it will change the te reo Maori names of state agencies back to English and ensure offenders who assault members of the emergency services serve six months in prison.

Those are among the general election policies unveiled by party leader Winston Peters during his ‘real state of the nation’ address to several hundred people at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Howick on March 24.

The event was hosted by the Grey Power Howick Pakuranga and Districts Association and was a political homecoming for Peters, who worked as a lawyer in Howick before first standing for Parliament in 1975.

He used his speech to criticise the records of previous Labour and National Governments in policy areas including law and order, health, the cost of living, education, and the economy, among others.

Peters said Kiwis are facing the highest cost of living increases in the last 34 years, inflation is climbing, and the country is facing a recession.

“All costs are going skyward. Food, rates, power, petrol, rents,

mortgages, school fees, insurance, university fees, [and] health care.

“What’s the response from Wellington? No inquiry into banking charges, benefiting foreign banks.

“No inquiry into supermarket costs or energy costs. No action, just more promises, and more ‘borrow and spend’.

“The real crunch is coming for you the workers, middle-income earners, and the seniors who now have so little disposable income.”

He said every political party in Parliament wants to increase the retirement age. NZ First opposes such a change.

New Zealand was once a world leader in education, but literacy and numeracy rates continue to decline in core subjects, coupled with a “continued fall in student achievement over the past two decades”.

The education system would rather teach a young child “virtuous self-identity theory” than basic maths and English, Peters said.

“Our education system should be fundamentally focused on education, not using our children in some sort of woke social re-engineering programme for vulnerable undeveloped minds.

“With truancy levels running at

over 60 per cent in many schools it’s clear there’s no plan to fully train our young human capital.”

Peters criticised the current Labour Government for allowing 50,000 more Kiwis to depend on the jobseeker support benefit while employers are “crying out for workers”.

He said New Zealand once had a world-leading health system but “cracks are now emerging everywhere”.

Almost 70,000 Kiwis have been waiting more than four months for medical treatment or for a first specialist appointment, Peters said.

Hospital emergency departments are “under siege” with “big gaps in critical staff and for many patients the choice is dismal”.

“All the while hundreds of Kiwi nurses, doctors, and midwives have been unjustifiably and unconstitutionally mandated out of a job. Under NZ First these mandates will end.”

Peters used Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) as an example of a state agency with a name that he said most Kiwis do not understand.

NZ First will change the names of every Government department back to English.

His party will fund St John Ambulance, Plunket, and men-

tal well-being charity Gumboot Friday charity.

“We will ensure rescue helicopters and Surf Lifesaving NZ are properly funded.

“We will ensure Pharmac has more funds to get medication to the people that need it most, but the first thing we are going to do is sort Pharmac out.

“That’s what we should be investing in as a country, not Auckland bridge cycle ways, Auckland light rail, and countless other ‘cultural virtue-signalling’ madness.”

Turning to law and order, Peters said the Labour Government is soft on crime.

He said total crime is up 33 per cent, violent offending up 42 per cent, sexual offending up 16 per cent, theft up 49 per cent, and ramraid burglaries up 465 per cent last year.

“Under NZ First, if you commit a crime and [are] part of a gang, it will be law that it is an automatic aggravating factor in your sentencing.

“If you assault a first responder, [such as a] police officer, paramedic, fire fighter or corrections officer in the course of their duty, there will be an automatic sixmonth minimum mandatory prison sentence.

“We will no longer allow gangs to

run amok on our streets like they are doing, and have been allowed to do, these past few years.”

On the controversial issue of co-governance, Peters said the Labour Government was now trying to put it on the “back-burner”, but still believed in it. He ended by urging his audience to “take our country back”.

“With co-operation, conciliation, inclusivity and teamwork, our country can make it out of this crisis to a better future for every New Zealander. We can become again the envy of the world.”

Winston Peters arrives to address a Grey Power meeting at Howick’s St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Times photo Chris Harrowell

New art class born in Howick

The Village Art Classes offers lessons perfect for complete beginners but also for ‘beyond beginners’ who want to hone their skills or fill in the gaps in their knowledge.

Or maybe you just want to get re-inspired to pick up your brushes again.

Don’t let age be a barrier because it’s never too late to find your talent.

Lorraine Elliot formerly operated classes as a Seasons Art Class NZ franchise but sadly, with the death of the head franchisee, this New Zealand organisation ceased to exist toward the end of 2022.

Because she saw the great need and the demand for such beginner classes in our community, Lorraine chose to accept this as a challenge and immediately started working and planning a new way forward.

“More than three years of operating art classes in Howick has seen hundreds of people who have thoroughly enjoyed our classes,” she says.

“Many have discovered a skill in art that they never suspected they had. It’s so very rewarding to see the joy and pleasure on the faces of our students as they produce a piece of art that delights them.

“I’ve watched people come to life with joy and inspiration and find a

whole new unexpected pleasure in their life.

“Even just to leave all the cares of daily life behind them for three hours while focusing entirely on being creative is of tremendous value in these stressful times. And that’s not all.

“Science is recognising the incredible benefits for the brain

when we engage in creative art work.

“It can help to slow cognitive decline by building up a reserve of strong groups of brain cells.

“It can strengthen and reinforce motor skills, improve focus and greatly boost self confidence.

“Our students say the class time passes very quickly and just the

warm social interaction alone can be incredibly important.”

Now, The Village Art Classes is offering a more in-depth, comprehensive and exciting course of 15 lessons. The lessons are divided into three modules of Sketching, Watercolours and Acrylics, with five lessons in each.

“We’re very excited about our

new model and totally new curriculum, which is the result of extensive experience, research and knowledge,” Lorraine explains.

“Now we’re able to offer more options and people can register for the full course, or any one of the three modules.

“We recommend starting with the sketching module as it forms the basis for your paintings.

“We also run one-day workshops and school holiday classes for college-age students. All materials for the class are supplied so you just need to come along and enjoy.”

Morning and afternoon classes are available in Howick on Saturdays and Tuesdays at All Saints Community Centre, 30 Cook Street.

The Village Art Classes are also available in Kohimarama on Thursdays at the Kohimarama Tennis Club, 30 Melanesia Road. Next courses start end of April.

Is this the class you’ve been waiting for? You won’t know until you try it.

Phone Lorraine on 022 459 5457 or email lorraine@thevillageartclasses.co.nz to enrol in our new classes.

Don’t delay as spaces are limited. Applications can also been made via our website: www.thevillageartclasses.co.nz, and follow us on Facebook.

Lorraine Elliot, director.

Sonja Vivian, Howick tutor.

Residents are fed up with noisy neighbours

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Gill Court has been battling for more than a year to have loud nightly noise at a neighbouring property dealt with and she says it feels like she and other upset residents have no rights.

The resident of Howe Street in Howick has contacted Auckland Council, Counties Manukau East Police and Howick Police, and Pakuranga

MP Simeon Brown to try to get the problem solved.

It began when a family moved into a rental property that’s not in the same street, but is nearby, in January last year.

“They moved their billiard table in and they play billiards and laugh and carry on all the time. It’s also the screaming of the children until 1am or 2am and running around in the garden. We went through a lot of avenues [about the problem] last year,” Court says.

“Noise control has been a few times. We’re told that it’s people doing normal things, but it’s not normal for children to be screaming and yelling at 2am.”

Court has spoken to other neighbours who are frustrated

at the noise also. She’s contacted the rental property’s owner and its property manager but neither has been able to find a solution.

She says the noise died down during winter last year, but then sparked up again.

“The billiard table used to be in their living room but they moved it outside. All you can hear every night is billiard balls and laughing, and this is every night. They start up at about 10pm and this carries on until 1am or 2am and sometimes 3am, every night of the

week, all year round.”

Court and other residents met with Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown about the noise in the first half of 2022.

“He tried very hard for us and contacted people at the council,” she says.

“Every avenue we’ve been down, it’s like residents have no rights. Tenants have all the rights. I said to the [property’s] owner, ‘we just want peace and quiet at night’.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a decent night’s sleep.”

Brown says it’s “incredibly concerning residents in Howe Street are still suffering from disruptive neighbours”.

“Everyone deserves a safe and quiet enjoyment of their property. I encourage them to continue to make complaints when affected and I will also be raising their concerns with the appropriate authorities.”

Court has not visited the noisy property to talk to its occupants as she doesn’t want to be confrontational.

She and her husband have considered moving, but they’ve decided they aren’t going anywhere.

“We’ve been here for 39 years,” she says. “I love my

Howick RSA to be put on market

h From page 1

The Howick RSA Property Trust executive is engaging a property agent and Sangster said the proceeds of the sale will comfortably cover the mounting debt.

house and I’ve been here a long time. We’re not suggesting they [the noisy tenants] move. We just want peace and quiet.”

A council spokesperson says noise control officers attended to 18 complaints at the property between February 2022 and January this year.

Three complaints involved music playing and 15 complaints were of “people noise”, such as people talking and or yelling and children playing.

“All the complaints have been found to be either not excessive or there to be no noise when the noise control officer attended. The council can only intervene where the noise is clearly excessive, and continues sufficiently long for the noise control officer to attend and assess it.”

Normal residential activity, including children playing, is often accompanied by a level of noise, the spokesperson says.

“The council cannot require silence from a neighbouring property, only to require that noise is not excessive. Some noise can be lawfully heard over the boundary without it being considered excessive or being at risk of enforcement action.”

Howick RSA, like many throughout the country, said it needed to re-evaluate to its core function and purpose - the welfare of it returned and service members and their dependents [through its Poppy Trust] and supporting the welfare of its non-military members and local not-for-profit groups [Community Welfare Trust]. Its “purposes” also include its continuing focus on commemoration as well as its commitment to education within the Howick district.

Sangster reiterates that chief among its strategies is to protect the values of the RSA. “The RSA currently owns and [formerly occupied] a building that is no longer fit for purpose,” he said.

“The building is too big, requires significant funds to maintain it and does not meet current building standards.

“Therefore, rather than continuing to sink funds into the property, the property should be sold and the funds protected for the true purpose of the RSA.”

He said the Property Trust Constitution is very clear on the distribution of funds realised by the sale of the building under RSA rules. “All current debts and liabilities will be paid and a sound financial base created for the future.

“Any remaining funds are for the reestablishment of the founder Howick Returned and Services and Community Club Incorporated.”

The RSA will consider its position as to an alternative headquarters following the property’s sale. “It’s about keeping an institution alive,” Sangster said.

Howick resident Gill Court and her husband are fed up with what they say is excessive noise being made by people living at a nearby house. Times photo Chris Harrowell

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Estuary art award prize pool $10,000 in 17th year

Last year saw a record number of entries for the Estuary Art & Ecology Award which now enters its 17th year.

The competition is lauded as the only contemporary art prize in New Zealand with ecology at its core.

Artworks will be exhibited in the Uxbridge, Malcolm Smith Gallery. This year there is a new judge.

Benjamin Work will select 20-25 artworks based on their innovative and intelligent response to ecology and the Tāmaki Estuary.

Fun runners’ delight

Shelly Park School once again won the Primary School’s Cup in Sunday’s Howick Rotary Fun Walk & Run which started on Stockade Hill.

Somerville Intermediate won the Intermediate Cup taking it off Farm Cove Intermediate, the previous holders.

There were three courses – one for serious runners, one for primary school children and a third for the intermediates. Eight primary and four intermediate schools entered teams.

Some chose to run and make it a personal challenge and perhaps a training run

for a major event. Schools had their own races with the cup winner the first school to have four runners home.

There were a good number of dogs out with their owners. Quite a few chose to run or walk with a pushchair. One of the early runners back was racing with his pushchair.

There was great community spirit with Howick Rotarians setting up and witnessing a beautiful sunrise over Stockade Hill.

“It was wonderful to see Howick families participating and exercising together,” a Rotary spokesperson said.

Artists have been invited to research and respond to the Tamaki Estuary, to underscore the ecological value of this vital waterway, and to encourage action against its pollution.

“It’s always a difficult choice as to which works to include or exclude from the main competition so a number of other commended entries will be selected for display outside the main gallery and these entries will also be open for the People’s Award sponsored by the Rice Family Partnership,” organisers said.

Partners and sponsors this year include Howick Local Board, the Tāmaki Estuary

Environmental Forum, the Rice Family Partnership and Gordon Harris Art Supplies. The prize pool this year is $10,000. Entries are open now until midnight Saturday, May 27. The award ceremony is at 2.30pm on July 1. The exhibition runs from July 1 until August 26.

There was a great turnout for Howick Rotary’s Fun Walk & Run on Stockade Hill on Sunday. Photo Mike Stonex

Last year’s winning art work by Wesley John Fourie entitled Slow Ride (I followed you into the sea). Photo supplied

National Party vows to raise standards for school pupils

By CHRIS HARROWELL

The National Party will rewrite the curriculum to raise educational standards for school pupils should it be elected to Government at this year’s general election.

Party leader and Botany MP Christopher Luxon says the policy will ensure every Kiwi child has the basic skills they need in reading, writing, maths and science to set them up for further education and for life.

He announced the first part of National’s education policy, ‘Teaching the Basics Brilliantly’, on March 23.

The following day he was joined on a visit to Cockle Bay School to promote the policy by Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown and Emma Chatterton, the party’s general election candidate for the Remutaka electorate.

Luxon was full of praise for the school, which he attended as a child, but during a speech the same week he said the current state of New Zealand’s education system is “alarming”.

“National will not allow this to continue. National will make sure every child leaving primary and intermediate school can master the basics so they can succeed at high school and lead fulfilling lives.”

He said a recent pilot of NCEA reading, writing and maths assessment found twothirds of secondary school pupils failed to reach the minimum level the OECD says is necessary to succeed in further learning, life, and work.

“Worse, the school system’s ineffectiveness is most pronounced in low-income areas, with just two per cent of decile-one high school students able to pass a basic writing test, and just 10 per cent passing maths. “

Just over two decades ago New Zealand was in the top 10 countries for maths, reading and science, but is now outside the top 10 for all three subjects, Luxon said.

In maths it’s fallen from fourth to 27th.

“The results in education today are

more than disappointing. They are more than frustrating.

“They are unacceptable and a Government that I lead will make it a priority to turn them around.”

Luxon said National will target having 80 per cent of year 8 school pupils at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing, maths, and science by 2030.

And it will aim to return New Zealand school pupils to the top 10 in the world in maths, reading and science according to international rankings by 2033.

He said a National Government will require all primary and intermediate schools to provide at least one hour each on reading, writing, and maths, on average, daily.

It will also rewrite the curriculum to clearly state what must be taught each year in reading, writing, maths and science to every school year group.

National will require standardised “robust” assessment at least twice a year in reading, writing and maths for pupils in years 3-8 to check their progress, with detailed results being reported to parents.

Luxon said his Government will ensure teachers and trainee teachers spend more time learning how to teach the basics and “we’ll provide them with more classroom tools to help them teach reading, writing and maths brilliantly”.

National will also deliver a central resource bank of high-quality teaching resources that support the curriculum as well as scrap teacher registration fees.

“Excellent, professional service. Everything went smoothly and we were kept informed all the way through the process.”

“Kevin was great and kept in touch with us, finally getting the result we wanted.”

“Courteous, accurate, prompt, honest.”

National Party leader Christopher Luxon, second from left, visited Cockle Bay School with Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, left, and National’s Remutaka general election candidate Emma Chatterton, rear. Times photo Chris Harrowell

“The results in education today are more than disappointing. They are more than frustrating.”

Christopher Luxon

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FEATURES

MP labels raised crossings for Ti Rakau Drive ‘crazy’

By CHRIS HARROWELL

East Aucklanders are being asked to back a petition and attend a public meeting to voice their opposition to a plan to install raised safety platforms and pedestrian crossings on Ti Rakau Drive.

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is slamming the work which will be carried out by Auckland Transport (AT) as part of the Eastern Busway public transport project.

An AT update says as the project will change the road environment of Ti Rakau Drive and increase the number of pedestrians, cyclists, and “vulnerable users”, the priority is making sure everyone is safe.

“To help people cross Ti Rakau Drive to get to the new bus stations, raised safety platforms will be installed to calm the speed of traffic without causing significant delays.

“The platforms will be near [the] Gossamer and Pakuranga Stations, and a raised pedestrian crossing will be installed on Ti Rakau Drive at Edgewater Station.”

AT unveiled a controversial proposal, which was eventu-

ally scrapped, last year to install a raised pedestrian crossing on Pakuranga Road.

Brown opposed that crossing and now wants to stop the raised safety platforms and pedestrian crossings from being installed on Ti Rakau Drive.

“This is a crazy idea, to put three speed bumps on what is one of Auckland’s busiest roads,” he says.

“It’s a critical arterial connection

and it’s just as crazy as putting one on Pakuranga Road.

“The design of the Eastern Busway has been consulted multiple times with the east Auckland community.

“This was never part of the proposals despite the fact the stations were always going to be in the middle of Ti Rakau Drive.

“Now we have a late-stage change where speed bumps are

suddenly part of the proposal.”

Brown says he says he has “significant concerns” about the impact the crossings will have on congestion.

“Particularly for our emergency services, who will now have to go across three sets of speed bumps to get down Ti Rakau Drive.

“It’s completely unacceptable and this could potentially put people’s lives in danger, despite the

fact AT is saying it’s for a safety reason in the first place.

“They need to walk back from this dumb idea.”

Brown has launched a petition for people to sign if they oppose the plan, and he’s holding a public meeting to which he’s invited members of the Eastern Busway project team.

“They’ll be there to present why they believe this is a good idea and to listen to the community,” he says.

“If I didn’t hold this public meeting, they’d be going ahead without engaging with the community on this late-stage design change.

“We stopped them going ahead with the Pakuranga Road speed bump and if we speak up again I’m confident we can stop them going ahead with these ones as well.

“I encourage everyone to sign the petition and turn up to the public meeting and have their say.”

The meeting is at the Howick Pakuranga Community Sports Centre, 73 Bells Road, Pakuranga, at 7pm on Monday, April 3. h To sign the petition, go online to https://simeonbrown. national.org.nz/tirakaucrossings.

Almost 10 per cent of Auckland ferries cancelled

By LAURA KVIGSTAD, Auckland Council reporter

Funded by New Zealand on Air

Recent figures from Auckland Transport shows 9.9 per cent of ferries were cancelled in a single month. At the Transport and Infrastructure committee on March 16, Auckland Transport (AT) returned to the committee a month after a request for a report on the reliability of ferry services. Metro Services group manager Darek Koper looked at the positives of ferry patronage exceeding pre Covid-19 levels.

“Punctuality was at 88.6 per cent and reliability, as we measure through our contracts, at 94.3 per cent…with 9.9 per cent of sailing services cancelled during that last

month,” Koper said.

He suggested there were challenges with ageing ferry vessels and said 16 vessels were approaching retirement age.

Cr Chris Darby said he had not been able to board a ferry recently because it reached capacity.

“I knew if I boarded the boat there would be 50 behind me that would not be on the boat and I would prefer to be in that lot rather than being the councillor that got on board,” Darby said.

There are three ferry service operators currently contracted to Auckland Transport including Fullers, SeaLink and Belaire. Darby wanted to know if performance issues were among all three.

“Staffing issues, they reside with Fullers only and have only ever

resided with Fullers to my knowledge. Is that correct?”

Koper responded that smaller operations like SeaLink and Belaire are more punctual but operated on a smaller timetable while Fullers had a higher frequency and was operating across six contracts.

Koper disagreed with Darby’s perspective on staffing issues. “They are all competing for the same resources in a small industry.”

Darby then told Koper that he was concerned about the way AT communicated with the public when there were hiccups in ferry services. “I am troubled by getting messages that say due to infrastructure issues or due to mechanical issues [a ferry isn’t operating].

The passenger does not get a sense of what is actually going on here,” Darby said.

He said there was a “sense of frustration” about AT’s communication and they needed to improve a lot more. Koper responded that they were working to improve announcements and enhancements to the AT app to feed live information through it.

Chair John Watson said ferry services would be an ongoing issue with the Transport and Infrastructure committee.

Darek Koper, AT’s group manager in metro services, said to undergo stage two of the Rail Network Rebuild, the Eastern Line has been closed.

“Because of this, customers have chosen to use ferries from Half

Moon Bay,” he told the Times.

“Yesterday [March 21], the 7.30am sailing vessel had a capacity of 199 [passengers], but more than 200 arrived and we had reports of up to 35 people left behind.

“While we have requested our ferry operator to use vessels with higher capacity than normally used on this route, this is not always possible.

“This morning [March 22], the operator used a larger vessel, and all passengers were picked up with 230 on board. There were no passengers left behind.

“There are no planned timetable changes to increase service from Half Moon Bay, but we will be deploying new electric ferries from early 2025 with higher capacity and more reliability.”

Auckland Transport will install raised crossings on Ti Rakau Drive as part of the Eastern Busway project. File image supplied

Award-winning artist takes on new role

Internationally acclaimed photographer Edith Amituanai is joining east Auckland art gallery Te Tuhi’s new arts development programme, Papatunga.

Amituanai is a New Zealandborn Samoan photographer and arts educator whose series Dejeuner saw her nominated for the prestigious Walters Prize in 2008.

She will work as programme manager for Papatunga, which is funded by Auckland Council and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

It’s based at O Wairoa Marae in Howick and is a development programme focused on “delivering learning opportunities for a diverse range of practitioners”, according to Te Tuhi.

Amituanai will work alongside James Tapsell-Kururangi, the curator and facilitator of Papatunga, to lead its programme of activities and events.

“I’m excited by the potential of the Papatunga project and the impact it can make in the lives of artists, their whanau and wider communities,” Amituanai says.

“I’ve always been interested in the power of art. I’ll draw on my experience in both teaching and community development to serve the needs of Papatunga.”

Koreans shine light on lantern tradition

By BEN PLUMMER

The Korean Positive Ageing Charitable Trust has held a traditional Korean lantern workshop as part of Howick 175 celebrations.

Te Tuhi director Hiraani

Himona adds: “We are hugely proud to be launching Papatunga and very privileged to have Edith Amituanai bringing her experience to the leadership team. We are excited to see the outcomes.”

Amituanai became a member of the NZ Order of Merit in 2019 for her services to photography and community.

She’s exhibited her work in galleries and museums across New Zealand and overseas.

Her artworks are held in national collections including at the Auckland Art Gallery, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Christchurch Art Gallery and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. h For more information on Papatunga, go online to www. tetuhi.art.

The underlying purpose of the workshop last month, named Cheongsachorong, was to showcase how these lanterns are made and how they can be useful for any occasion that celebrates special milestones, events, and memories.

More than 40 people, including members of the Howick 175 anniversary committee and Howick Local Board member Adele White, attended the workshop at the Howick Historical Village where it was held on February 24.

White says the warmth and friendliness of the Korean volunteers made the event a lot of fun.

“I really enjoyed this event... participating in arts and craft is a wonderful way to learn about and celebrate the culture of other ethnicities,” she says.

In Korean culture, when Cheongsachorong (a blue and red lantern) is hung on a streetlamp today, it usually indicates the opening of a traditional festival or important event.

Blue and red lanterns are commonly associated with traditional weddings in Korea.

The silk used in the lanterns represents the harmony between the bride and groom’s families, with red symbolising yang (positive energy) and blue symbolising yin (negative energy).

Event organiser, YongRahn Park says the event was a great success.

“Through this Cheongsachorong workshop, more Kiwis learn about Korean culture and I’m hoping to see Cheongsachorong hanging in the local events,” she says.

Park has been active in New Zealand’s Korean community for more than 10 years and has worked on promoting Korean culture to the wider community and

assisting Korean families to settle and integrate.

She was one of two east Auckland women to have been recognised in the 2023 New Year Honours.

Park established the Korean Positive Aging Charitable Trust KPACT in 2012 which represents the Korean community, especially seniors, in engaging with government agencies and welfare organisations.

“I would like to thank Howick Historical Village for allowing us to use this beautiful venue for our workshop.”

Photographer Edith Amituanai has joined the new arts development programme run by Pakuranga art gallery Te Tuhi. Photo supplied

The Korean Positive Ageing Charitable Trust held a traditional Korean lantern workshop last month as part of Howick 175 celebrations; event organiser and 2023 New Years Honours recipient, YongRahn Park (right). Times photo Wayne Martin

Open Days

Fri 31st March & Sat 1st April. 10am to 2pm

Onc e you have made the decision that Pakuranga Park is the right retiremen t village for you, the only o ther decision is whether it w ill be one of our surprisingly aff ordable luxury apartments or a villa.

We’ve had amazing feedback about the Ruru Apartment sizes and spaciousness of the building. One of these beautiful homes could be yours, but you’ll have to be quick as we have only eight of these amazing apartments left.

Priced from $1,1 5 0,000 to $1,400,000. Here are just a few more reasons why viewing this exciting option of a lifestyle apartment is a must.

Ruru Apartments:

•Favourable price comparison to Villas.

•Luxury finish and fittings that will impr ess you.

•Well-positioned close to our r estaurant, reception & pool.

•An atrium lounge ar ea where daily morning teas take place.

•A weekly f ee that’s excellen t value and includes power, fibre and much more.

•Large balconies.

•An extra layer o f securit y.

•An electric car av ailable for Ruru residents’ use.

Named after NZ’s native owl, featured on a 4 storey Flox mural in the atrium.

SEED EXCHANGE

What’s on Bangers to Bluff back bigger and brighter

Come along and meet other local gardeners for a chat. Take home some free seeds or seedlings. Tea and coffee provided, Tuesday, April 4, 10.30am11.30am, Pakuranga Library, Phone 377-0209 or email pakuranga.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

GARAGE SALE

April’s sale will be held at the Barn, Trinity Methodist Church, 747 Pakuranga Rd, on Saturday, April 1, beginning at 8am. As well a big clear-out of summer stock, we will be selling all CDs at 20c each and all DVDs at 50c each. Lots of good quality bargains!

EASTERN DISTRICT COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB

Next Wednesday, April 5, 7pm. Everyone is welcome to listen to our live music or come and sing or play an instrument. Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall, Wharf Road, Bucklands Beach. Nonmembers $5. For more info phone Bev 021 11 56 866.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

April 22-May 6, Harlequin Musical Theatre. Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious school. Disinterested in academic work, Dewey creates his own curriculum, turning his class into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. You won’t want to miss this show at Harlequin Musical Theatre, with its sensational live kids’ rock band and loving testimony to the transforming power of music. Book now at iTicket.co.nz.

GENEALOGISTS

The next meeting of the Howick Branch of the NZSG will be a research afternoon on Saturday, April 8 at 1.30pm at the Family Research Centre, 159 Queens Road, Panmure. Visitors will be able to view the numerous records held there. Volunteers will be available to help. Door charge $5. Further information phone 576-4715 or 576-5400.

By BEN PLUMMER

They’re off once again!

After Covid-19 restrictions prevented the charity run from going ahead from 2020-2022, Bangers to Bluff is back bigger, better and brighter than ever.

Nineteen bangers have registered for the 2023 Half Moon Bay Rotary Club ‘Bangers to Bluff’ charity run, which got underway on Tuesday, March 21. The journey will take the travellers 12 days, ending on April 1.

In 2015, members and friends of the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay dreamt up the crazy idea of running a touring holiday through New Zealand, travelling on roads less travelled to see the sites and sights your average Kiwi doesn’t usually see when on holiday.

Five cars costing less than $1000 set out from Auckland to travel to Stirling Point, Bluff, which is more or less the southern extremity of New Zealand, whilst having a ton of fun along the way.

Refined over the past 8 years by a group of hardy Howick area individuals, the

principles have remained the same – buy a car (‘the Banger’) costing less than $2000 (originally $1000) and travel to Bluff over 11 days taking in some great New Zealand scenery and experiences.

The Bangers are then auctioned in Invercargill, with the auction proceeds, sponsorship raised for the journey, entry fees and donations through ‘GiveaLittle’ presented to the event’s masthead charities.

These charities are; Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Hopeworks (brain trauma trust) and charities associated with the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay Charitable Trust.

A support vehicle will be towing a large barbecue trailer, to provide fun, fellowship and fare for participants as and when appropriate (weather permitting).

To date, the Bangers have not travelled exactly the same route as any previous

journey.

Funds raised over the years for the various charities now exceed $300,000.

The Bangers to Bluff Givealittle page can be found via the link https:// givealittle.co.nz/cause/ bangers-to-bluff-2023. h For more information see www.bangerstobluff. co.nz or visit the Facebook Page “Bangers to Bluff” or contact David Jamieson via davidjam12003@yahoo. co.uk.

• Bin Inn, 219 Moore St, Howick

• Books N Brics Cafe, 83B Hattaway Ave, Bucklands Beach

• Chapel Road Dairy, cnr of Chapel Rd & Gracechurch Dr

• Cinnamon Café, 1 Ara-Tai Rd, Half Moon Bay

• Countdown, Pakuranga

• Countdown, Highland Park

• Countdown, Beachlands

• Farm Cove Shops, 190 Fisher Parade, Farm Cove

• Highland Park Library, 16 Highland Park Dr, Highland Park

• Howick Historical Village, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Bells Rd, Pakuranga

• Howick Library, 25 Uxbridge Rd, Howick

• Rices Mall, Picton St, Howick

• Meadowlands Shopping Centre, cnr Meadowlands Dr and Whitford Rd, Howick

• Mission Heights, cnr Murphys and Jeffs Rd

• New World, Botany Town Centre

• Texture Café, 1 Arranmore Dr, Flat Bush

• The Hub Mail Centre, 201 Te Koha Rd, East Tāmaki

• Times Media Office, 10 Central Tce, Howick

The team at Times work hard to produce a voice for our community.

While we endeavour to deliver the paper to your letterboxes, circumstances outside of our control can mean a delay or non-delivery of the Times. Copies of the Times are available from our drop boxes throughout the district. A digitial version can also be found on our website –

19 bangers have registered for the 2023 Half Moon Bay Rotary club ‘Bangers to Bluff’ charity run. Photo supplied

Council leaves LGNZ for $600,000 saving

By LAURA KVIGSTAD, Auckland Council reporter Funded by New Zealand on Air

Auckland Council has resigned mfrom Local Government New Zealand after Mayor Wayne Brown cited local board members getting “pissed” at conferences.

At the Governing Body meeting March 23, councillors were split down the middle in the vote to resign from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) with 10 voting in favour and 10 against. Mayor Wayne Brown cast the deciding vote to resign.

LGNZ advocates for local democracy, promotes networking across councils and facilitates mentorship for elected members.

Brown proposed the idea to resign with his sights set on saving the $640,000 annual costs associated with the membership. He said he had watched “800 members of local boards… all getting completely pissed, dancing all night long for no benefit whatsoever to the ratepayers”.

He also believed that Auckland would be better positioned for consultation with central government on its own rather than as a group.

“LGNZ fulfils the function of making it really easy for the

Minister of Local Government to dispense with consultation by going to a meeting of Mayors in Wellington and making a onehour speech.”

“The fact of the matter is that by staying on your own we force them to come and see us.”

Local boards were asked to provide feedback on the LGNZ membership and 15 of 18 supported continuing the membership.

Cr Andy Baker said, “Auckland is a very, very important cog in a very, very large machine that is local government New Zealand. If you take that cog out we actually expose ourselves and we expose other councils.”

Cr Mike Lee said he likely had the most experience with LGNZ at the table, being a member of LGNZ’s regional affairs committee for six years. “(LGNZ) has evolved to be another layer of the national bureaucracy. It has become a part of the elitist Wellington beltway power structure,” Lee said.

“Conferences for elected members and staff are all very nice but I do not think we can justify half a million dollars year on year for that privilege.”

Lee said it was time to cut out the “expensive bureaucratic middleman” when consulting with government.

Several councillors spoke of

their time at LGNZ conferences disputing Mayor Brown’s framing that they were just a chance for elected members to get drunk.

Cr Julie Fairey attended one conference and said she does not drink.

“I certainly was not one of the people getting drunk on the ratepayer dime, which seems to be the implication of all that happens at the conferences,” Fairey said.

Fairey said she had made enduring connections with elected members around the country.

A sub-committee of the National Council of LGNZ, Te Maruata, looks to enhance Maori participation in local government.

Cr Kerrin Leoni, who is the first wahine Maori councillor to be elected to the super city, said Te Maruata was a part of the reason she was sitting at the Governing Body table.

“I am the first wahine Maori here as a councillor. That has come through the support of Te Maruata…we do not have anything within Auckland Council that actually grows that leadership and grows that support,” Leoni said.

Cr Andy Baker voted against resigning from LGNZ while Cr Wayne Walker, John Watson, Mike Lee, Sharon Stewart, Maurice Williamson and Greg Sayers were among those who voted in favour.

Blooming marvellous

The annual Ayrlies plant fair attracted both garden enthusiasts and hundreds of firsttime visitors into one of New Zealand’s oldest and muchloved gardens.

The two-day fair was supported by 16 specialist plant growers selling their exciting array of plants and more than 1100 enthusiastic gardeners, dutiful partners and groups of friends and family. Considering the wet Friday, attendance was huge with most stopping into the pop-up café for refreshments and to soak up the live music.

Ayrlies, which includes 16 acres of garden and 36 acres of wetlands, is recognised as one of the world’s most significant

gardens, and often termed ‘a living work of art’,59 years in the making. Creator Bev McConnell, now 92 years old, is the archetypal sustainable gardener and kept busy on both days meeting old friends and making many anew.

The two-day fair was supported by 16 specialist plant growers selling their exciting array of plants. Times photo Wayne Martin

Thousands for cyclone damage

By BEN PLUMMER

The Howick Tennis Club came together on March 10 to run a highly successful tournament and raise funds for a Hawke’s Bay tennis club after Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged its facilities.

The Waipawa Lawn Tennis Club’s courts and facilities were severely damaged during last month’s extreme weather conditions of Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay.

In total, $3330 was raised to help aid the club.

Howick Tennis Club manager Kashmira Umrigar says, “Each club, while separated by distance, is a gem in their community and a place where love of the game, camaraderie and friendship come together.”

The Waipawa club was formed in 1885, making it one of the oldest in New Zealand and just slightly older than the Howick Tennis Club which is approaching its 125th anniversary.

Players from Howick, Koru and Pakuranga Clubs took to the courts on March 10 for the tournament.

The tournament was taken out by Howick’s Tom Gooddy, with runners-up being Ethan Ning and Di Butler. “Tennis is a game played at all ages at the Howick Club and the younger, older members, families and ‘friendly rivals’ all enjoyed the evening of fun and tennis,” says Umrigar.

The event was supported by Tennis NZ, who provided a $400 racquet for auction, won by Jim Beban from the Koru Tennis Club.Tennis clothing signed by world number 12 British tennis

professional and former Macleans College student, Cameron Norrie was also sold at auction. Raffles with items donated by Howick Tennis Club members contributed to the funds raised.

“The night was about capturing the spirit of the game and combining it with fellowship and support for all those who play it, not just locally, but right around the country,” says Umrigar.

Generous donations from local tennis supporters further swelled the amount that will be given directly to the Waipawa club.

Penfold bags five, men and women finish on podium

By BEN PLUMMER

And just like that, another Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club (HPCC) season has come to an end.

A season disrupted by Auckland’s adverse weather conditions for five months had a pleasing finish with both premier sides recording podium finishes in their respective competitions.

HPCC’s premier men made the long trip to Auckland City’s Victoria Park to close out their final two-day match of the season against Grafton.

After a strong statement last week from HP, they needed to take six wickets as Grafton trailed by 104 runs for a first innings win.

HP ripped through their rivals, dismissing them for 108 and carding a lead of 58 runs.

With not much left in the day, Howick Pakuranga wished to bat out the rest of the season, recording 99 runs for the loss of four wickets.

As he has done all season, Liam Winn top scored with 40 not out.

The premier men’s first innings win saw them take third place in

THAT’S NOT RIGHT

Re the letter you published by Arthur Moore [Times, March 22] which stated that New Zealand was contributing $14 billion to the United Nations.

This simply isn’t true. A quick Google search will show that our contributions are $53 million per year. Arthur’s figure is 264 times higher than the real one.

I know you can’t fact check everything, but the $14b figure is close to our total spend on education or health and should have been obviously wildly implausible.

Alan Johnstone, Mellons Bay Editor’s note: Quite right. It actually refers to the cost to the New Zealand economy to meet Paris Agreement targets at $1.4 billion everyyearforadecade.

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE

I hear that the newly-merged polytechnics organisation is telling their people not to use English words like “staff”, “student” and even “Treaty of Waitangi” but to use the Maori words instead, and there was me thinking that English was

the Tom Hellaby two-day competition and has left them with a strong platform for next season.

HPCC’s home ground of Lloyd Elsmore Park saw their final fixture of the season over the weekend as the club’s premier women (Llamas) faced Auckland University in a third and fourth play-off for their limited over competition.

After bowling first, the HPCC premier women’s bowling line-up ripped through their opposition as

it has so consistently this season.

Josie Penfold took five wickets and the rest were shared between Mansimran Kaur, Amberly Parr and Ayaan Lambat as Auckland University crumbled to just 120 runs.

The total was no obstacle for the Llamas, chasing it down with six wickets and almost half their innings remaining.

Auckland Hearts domestic player Skye Bowden scored an

PREMIER CRICKET RESULTS

Premier Men Hedley Howarth Two-Day Competition Round 7 Parnell 226/9 (R Clinton 77, J Plummer 68; W Clarke 7-85) won first innings against North Shore 161 (J Moore 50; A Parikh 4-23).

Eden Roskill 156 (S Desai 51; A Ashok 4-23) & 151/3 (A Bhardwaj 64; D Watson 2-43) lost first innings against Suburbs-New Lynn 330/9-declared (M Barry 169; D Ratra 4-102).

Takapuna 236/8-declared (Q Sunde 55, G Harley 51; S Dixit 4-42) won outright against Cornwall 52 (M Guptill-Bunce 22; M Jones 6-22) & 114 (U Patel 43; P Ruffell 3-11).

Premier Men Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition Round 7

Howick Pakuranga 166 (B Walsh 68; S Gunawardane 3-35) & 99/4 (L Winn 40 not out; A Ridley 3-29) won first innings against Grafton 108 (S Gunawardane 29; Fill-In 3-9, C Thompson 3-29).

Kumeu 316 (A Christian 152; S Edkins 5-57) won first innings against Ellerslie 201 (D Kharel 43; K Ahir 4-65).

Hibiscus Coast 245 (T Mcgladdery 83, U Ranaraja 60; A Jayampathi 3-65) won first innings against Birkenhead City 187 (A Jayampathi 59; U Ranaraja 3-26).

unbeaten 58 runs off 52 balls and the women secured third place of the Prichard Cup limited overs competition.

It was Lachie Stackpole however that had the best weekend for HPCC, scoring 150 for the club’s premier reserve side and steering them to a first innings win against Takapuna after chasing down 268.

Next week, the Times will take a look back at HPCC’S top 10 moments of the 2022/23 season.

East Coast Bays 363/7-declared (R Harrison 75, L Watson 72; Q Downie 4-87) won outright against Waitakere 153 (A Kaundal 36; L Delport 3-63) & 77 (A Kaundal 38; L Delport 3-38).

Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition FINALS

First & Second place playoff – Cornwall 153 (S Carnachan 40; T Hurley 3-33) lost to Takapuna 154/5 (L Down 63 not out; A Hucker 1-32) by five wickets.

Third & Fourth place playoff – Auckland University 120 (J Prasad 39 not out; J Penfold 5-28) lost to Howick Pakuranga 121/4 (S Bowden 58 not out; S Court 2-15) by six wickets.

Fifth & Sixth place playoff – Papatoetoe 95 (J Veale 20; R Jaswal 6-7) lost to Parnell 97/4 (C Pedersen 31; J Veale 2-19) by six wickets.

Your opinion matters to us. Email us at editor@times.co.nz; comment on our Facebook page, facebook.com/ timesonlinenz; or write to us at The Editor, Times Newspapers, PO Box 38232, Howick, Auckland 2145. Letters should not exceed 200 words and should carry the name, residential address and contact telephone number of the author.

still an official language in New Zealand. Although interestingly if you Google “Official languages of New Zealand” English only comes up second.

D Mitchell, Howick

WHAT DO YOU WELL KIDS BORN TODAY?

Re: Preparing for dangerous weather [Ryan Price, Times,March 1].

After dismissing man-made global warming, Ryan Price has moved on to arguing with himself about the consequence: climate change and the need to act. Because nobody has ever disputed the need for resilience and adaptation.

Oil companies knew in the 1960s about the problems of CO2 from burning fossil fuels – their own scientists told them. Politicians were certainly aware by 1988, when the World Meteorological Organisation initiated the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The present crisis is entirely due to politicians – predominantly ideologically conservative/neoliberal – not giving councils a lead and

the power to act.

So now we are up the creek without a paddle. Billions will be needed to simply undo the damage, and we are still left with the root cause – global warming.

Yes, we can adapt to the 1.1 degrees C since industrialisation. But emissions at the present rate could mean 4C with 5m of sea level rise. Nobody knows because permafrost melt and ice sheet disintegration are not completely understood or modelled.

Perhaps Mr Price could give the children born today some advice on how they might deal with that.

Addendum re his letter Alarming Conclusions, March 8. Ryan Price cannot explain why our adding CO2 to the atmosphere does not cause warming because it does – as predicted and explained by atmospheric physics and measured by satellites – and Earth cannot gain the ‘extra’ energy it has done unless the atmosphere changes to enhance the greenhouse effect – i.e. the level of gas molecules that interact with long wave radiation increases. This fact is also fundamental to Earth com-

ing out of an Ice Age – changes in insolation [the incident solar radiation onto some object] due to the Milankovitch cycles [three ways the Earth’s orbit around the Sun changes over the course of tens of thousands of years] are not sufficient.

Dennis Horne, Howick

REAPING WHAT WE SOW

Successive governing bodies have inadvertently destroyed 90 per cent of New Zealand’s wetlands since humans arrived here.

Between 1996 and 2018, 5400 hectares of freshwater wetlands and 140ha of saline wetland was destroyed for agriculture and urban expansion.

In the context of recent catastrophic climate events, their role as absorbing water from flooding is of enormous importance.

Wetlands temporarily store water allowing it to percolate into the ground and evaporate. This can reduce peak flooding and feed thousands of different plants and animals including many threatened with extinction.

Wetlands also protect water quality by trapping sediment and retaining excess nutrients and other pollutants such as heavy metals.

These functions are especially important when wetlands are connected to ground or surface water such as rivers and lakes and are used by humans for drinking.

Much of Wellington and Auckland’s polluted harbours can be traced to the destruction of its surrounding wetlands and the destruction wrought by cyclone Gabrielle on the North Island’s east coast would unquestionably have been less if the surrounding wetlands had been retained and is testimony to the government allowing so much of our wetlands destruction are now only reaping what they sowed.

The retention of the remaining 10 per cent of wetlands must be fought with tooth and nail and expanded at all costs otherwise the destruction wrought by cyclones and the poisoning of our drinking water rivers and polluted beaches can only get worse.

Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay

Howick Tennis Club flood-relief tournament raffle winners. Photo supplied

HPCC midgets enjoying their annual prizegiving after the end of their season on Friday night; HPCC premier women’s most successful bowler of the season, Josie Penfold (right) recorded another five-wicket haul in their third place play-off against Auckland University. Photos supplied

From doubt to trust

Thomas, a disciple or follower of Jesus, is an unlikely Easter hero. Doubting Thomas he is often called. But Thomas shows us something that the other disciples do not.

It’s easy to forget that Thomas’ experience was different. The disciples experienced the death of Jesus and what this meant - losing a friend, becoming targets for the authorities, and seeing the hope of Israel disappear. It was three days of great grief and despair for them. For Thomas it went on for longer than the 3 days endured by the others. He goes another whole week. But it was worse for Thomas. Not only has he lost Jesus, but his friends seem to be losing their grip on reality as well – they think they’ve seen Jesus. Imagine his thoughts – “it must be someone else who just looks like Jesus. Maybe he didn’t die on

the Cross – maybe it was someone else. Yeah right, I need to see the wounds to be sure. Maybe, they’re hallucinating, talking themselves into it.”

There’s nothing more isolating than being the one sane person in a room full of crazy people.

Thomas’ own community is at risk –not only is the heart of that community gone, but Thomas, alone is left carrying the burden of reality: Jesus is dead. And he loses even the support of his friends in his grief.

It’s worth asking with all the speculation about Thomas’ doubt: Was Thomas a sceptic or was he just deeply affected by the tragedy of the crucifixion? This was a massive let down for Thomas – was his unspoken question: “can I trust again?” His preoccupation with needing to see and touch the wounds of Christ

HOLY WEEK TIMETABLE 2023

suggests this, as much as it suggests a man needing cold, hard facts.

A week wrestling with disappointment, tragedy, loss, despair, betrayal. Thomas lost the ability to trust and with it his isolation deepens.

Until he saw Jesus. It changed everything. “My Lord and my God!”, he exclaims. Thomas learns to trust again. Thomas returns from isolation and is embraced by his community. It has become safe to trust again.

Easter is an opportunity for us to walk the journey from despair and loss to trust and hope. It’s an opportunity to see Jesus for ourselves. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge doubt and despair, but also to seek answers and reassurance. Thomas, the doubting disciple, shows us the way.

Easter Holy Week

HOLY WEEK

East Auckland Ministers Association

ODD JOBS

PAINTERS

A1 CHINESE PAINTERS

PAINTING & DECORATING

Terry’s

PLUMBER

SOLUTIONS

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9. To cancel an advertisement a cancellation number must be obtained from us. Times Newspaper Limited, 10 Central Terrace, Howick (behind Rice’s Mall) www.times.co.nz

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Ease (Es). 24, En-I-d. 25, S-weetp-ea.

- 2, No-I-se. 3, Whi-lad-I-es.

5, Drop-shot. 6, Came-L. 7, Sun-tr-ap. 12, Ma-lad-I-es. 14, Edit-Ion-. 16, Current. 18, S-pend. 20, Issue. 21, Skye (sky).

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

LEARNING ASSISTANT

Our warm, friendly and community-minded school has a vacancy for a Learning Assistant, 14 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9.00am-12.30pm. This position is fixed term, start date 26th April 2023 to December 15th 2023.

The successful applicant will preferably have experience working with students in the junior area of the school, students who have high learning needs and students with English as their second language. Please email your CV with a cover letter and names of two referees to: larak@mellonsbay.school.nz by 3pm Thursday 6th April 2023. Applicants should have NZ residency or NZ work visa. DE286810

SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR

Permanent Part Time

Sancta Maria College is a coeducational Y7–13 state integrated Catholic college in Flat Bush, East Auckland.

As a school of excellence, we pride ourselves on providing students with holistic opportunities to grow. It is a school that values inclusion, service and community.

We have an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about sports to join our Sports Department in the role of Sports Co-ordinator.

We are seeking applications from individuals with the following attributes:

· High quality communication and rapport with students, parents, coaches & staff

· Willingness to work as part of a team

· Strong administration, ICT, time management and organisational skills

This position is 40 hours/week; term time only. However, some hours will be required out of school time and holiday periods by negotiation.

Position to commence as soon as possible.

Please visit our website for the full role description and application form: www.sanctamaria.school.nz/employment/

Applications close on 31 March 2023.

Apply via email enclosing application form, CV and covering letter to: employment@sanctamaria.school.nz DE286691

PRINCIPAL’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Permanent Full Time

Sancta Maria College is a coeducational Y7-13 state integrated Catholic college in Flat Bush, East Auckland. We are seeking an enthusiastic, multi-tasker, professional person to provide administrative support to the Principal.

The successful candidate will have a high level of written and oral communication capabilities, be pro-active, flexible and committed to excellence.

Position to commence as soon as possible.

Please visit our website for the full role description and application form: www.sanctamaria.school.nz/employment/

Applications close on 31 March 2023.

Apply via email enclosing application form, CV and covering letter to: employment@sanctamaria.school.nz

SENIOR CUSTODIAN

Full Time, Permanent. Start 24 April 2023 (or earlier by negotiation)

Botany Downs Secondary College is looking for a reliable, motivated person to fill the Senior Custodian role. We require someone who is enthusiastic, hardworking and honest who has the following important attributes: Working in a team environment.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Practical skills for general maintenance. Good physical fitness.

• Safety consciousness. Procurement of contractor services and supplies.

• General knowledge of building warrant of fitness compliance.

• NZ Residency.

Clean drivers licence.

This role offers a sense of connection to our staff, a positive impact on our property, and working within a well-balanced environment. This is a full time, 52week position. Short listed applicants will be required to undergo a police vet.

Please send your cover letter, CV and BDSC Application Form (https://www.bdsc.school.nz/our-college/job-vacancies/) to Mrs Yvonne de Graaf (y.degraaf@bdsc.school.nz).

Applications close on Monday 3 April 2023 at 4pm.

SITUATIONS VACANT

CAFÉ ASSISTANT

Permanent, part-time

We are looking for a reliable, motivated person to join our team in the college café. This role will report to the Café Manager. Hours will be 32.5 per week, 7.30am-2.30pm, term time only.

Applicants must have NZ residency, a clean drivers licence and basic knowledge of baking, lunch preparation, food hygiene and safety. Previous experience in the food industry would be beneficial. Short listed applicants will be required to undergo a police vet.

Please send your cover letter, CV and BDSC Application Form (https://www.bdsc.school.nz/ our-college/job-vacancies/) to Mrs Yvonne de Graaf (y.degraaf@bdsc.school.nz).

Applications close: 14 April 2023 at 4pm.

STUDENT SERVICES RECEPTIONIST

Ormiston Senior College is a modern, open-plan senior secondary school in Flat Bush catering for Year 11-13 students.

We are seeking a student services receptionist to work on our busy front desk and provide efficient administrative student support services. Experience working in a school and knowledge of the student management system KAMAR an advantage.

The position entails:

● interacting with students and their families

● data entry

● office administration

● student payments

Strong interpersonal and communication skills essential in this position.

The position is permanent, 37.5 hours per week, term time only. Start date is Term 2, Monday April 24, 2023 or earlier by arrangement.

Please send your letter of application and CV to the Executive Officer: Lzimer@ormiston.school.nz

SITUATIONS VACANT

HOUSEKEEPING

Cleaning role at our Aged Care Hospital in Pakuranga.

Part time 15hrs/wk: Mon 8-11am, Thu & Sat 8am-2.30pm. Please email your CV to brian@ambridgerose.co.nz DE281574

CLUB

PAKURANGA UNITED RUGBY

We are looking for a bar manager that will take our hospitality to the next level.

Situated in the Stunning Lloyd Elsmore Park, the Howick & Pakuranga Community Sports Centre is one of NZ’s largest community-based sports clubs. We have a thriving Rugby Membership, a growing netball club and a touch rugby module that operates 3 nights a week over summer.

This appointment will head up a hospitality team that will build on traditional “club” offerings and take it to the next level.

You will develop and execute a plan that positions us as a main hospitality provider within the community. We have it all, a fantastic venue, car parks and three fit for purpose bars. All we need is a person with the skills and the will to make it happen!

THE RIGHT APPLICANT WILL:

• Have a currant duty managers certificate.

• Be able to think outside the box on innovative ways to develop our hospitality offering.

• Be comfortable recruiting, training, rostering and managing bar staff.

• Set a high standard for your team.

• Be Accurate with managing and ordering bar stock and supplies.

• A passion for serving customers with a positive attitude.

WE CAN OFFER:

• Pay, that will be commensurate with your experience.

• A supportive management team and infrastructure.

• The opportunity to advance your hospitality career.

• Immediate start

Any interested parties please send CV to Mike Bongiovanni by way of email to gm@purc.co.nz.

BAR MANAGER WANTED BAR STAFF WANTED

The Pakuranga United Rugby Club are on the lookout for some keen, energetic individuals who would like to work in a bar service role. Hours will be part time/ casual based on the need. Perfect for university student looking for work at nights and Saturdays.

• Must be 18.

• Saturday availability is preferable.

If interested, Please reach out to Kiri Kay via email on Functions@purc.co.nz

Service Coordinator

Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC)

• Training and ongoing support within a fun and dedicated team

• Flexibility for part-time hours (up to 32 hours per week

Mon-Fri)

• Great Botany location

POAC is a regional Auckland service supporting primary and secondary health care providers to access a range of community based health services for their patients.

The aim of the POAC service is to facilitate timely, flexible and coordinated services, meeting the healthcare needs of individual patients in a community setting.

We are a small team, looking for a part-time service coordinator superstar.

The role will involve:

• Utilising your exceptional people skills and experience to provide service and support to a range of healthcare providers. Assist with the navigation of the services and funding streams available to provide optimal service delivery, focusing on timeliness and best care options for patients

• Coordinating high volume referrals and scheduling of both urgent and routine patient appointments

Skills and experience you will bring to this role:

• Strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to use initiative

• A high level of personal integrity

• Ability to work well in a fast-paced pressure environment

• Strong customer service ethic

• Excellent time management and organisational skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and in plain language

• Strong data entry skills with a high level of accuracy

• Experience working in a customer service based role (experience within the healthcare sector may be beneficial but not essential).

• Willingness to learn and ability to adapt positively to changes

If this sounds like you we’d love to hear from you.

To apply please forward a current CV and covering letter to aimeew@easthealth.co.nz

A copy of the position description is available from aimeew@easthealth.co.nz.

Applications close Tuesday 11 April 2023

Please note, only applicants with the right to permanently live and work in NZ will be considered for this role.