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HOW WE COPED WITH COVID-19 A pictorial record from the Waiuku district of lockdown 2020, 25 May - 25 June.
B r e eze WEST
FRANKLIN
A breath of fresh air for West Franklin VOLUME 1, EDITION 5
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
PH: 09 235 7835
Glenbrook’s new fruit & vege
THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2020
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the grand opening of the Glenbrook Fresh Food Market on Monday. It was also fantastic to see they are not only supporting local growers but also sourcing other foods like locally produced honey to adorn their shelves. The new owners had this say: Kia ora Glenbrook and Waiuku . We are very pleased to announce the opening of our Glenbrook Fresh Food Market on 15 June. Our business is located on 7 Mission Bush Road, Glenbrook just a few minutes drive from Waiuku township. This business is owned and operated by locals for locals. Our vision is “by locals for locals”. And our mission is to provide Franklin grown products to our local community at very affordable prices. We are two Franklin based families who, after working for many years in the New Zealand retail and supermarket trades have decided to run a one stop shop for the community. Our aim is to sell local and seasonal products as much as possible. Most of our veggies such as cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, courgettes, leek, lettuce, eggplant and avocado are grown in Glenbrook, Waiuku or Pukekohe. We are growing our own cauliflower, broccoli and strawberries in Karaka. We look forward to meeting you sometime and serving our community.
Local Board update Kitchener slipstream
WWW.WAIUKUTOWN.CO.NZ
Firstly, I would like to extend a huge thank you to those in the community that are doing everything they can to support local. I have received a number of comments from local businesses absolutely blown away by the support they have received from the community. I know that the damage caused by Covid-19 isn’t going to be repaired overnight but if we all play our part and continue to support when and where we can, I know our community will come through this stronger and more resilient. We are getting a lot of enquiries from the public as to whether we are still going to be hosting the Blast to the Past again this year. Obviously due to Covid-19 we couldn’t confirm or cement any plans around our events but now that we are in level 1 we are assessing which we can run safely and within Ministry of Health guidelines. As many of you will have heard the Glenbrook Vintage Railway is in financial trouble due to Covid-19 and we are wondering if this year we rally the community and do an event with all proceeds going to that cause. We are
very lucky to have the GVR on our doorstep and they are very valuable to our tourism market in West Franklin. I believe as a community we need to step up and support them for the good of us all. Although nothing is confirmed as yet we would love to receive feedback on this or if you have any ideas to support them going forward. We also want to bring your attention to the new slipstream that has been installed at the Kitchener Road/Racecourse Road intersection. This is a well-known choke point especially in the height of the sport season and school drop-off times so hopefully people will learn to navigate this new slipstream safely.
WB&DA MEMBER PROFILE
Waiuku Laundry
Motorists have been slow to adopt slip stream markings designed to make it easier to turn out of Waiuku’s Racecourse Road and into Kitchener Road, the town’s main access route.
Franklin Local Board Waiuku subdivision member Sharlene Druyven says it could be that people are taking time to get used to the changes, but she is concerned about safety. The markings allow drivers to exit Racecourse Road into a “slip stream” in the middle of Kitchener, so drivers on that road must be aware and keep left to allow traffic to merge. “Some people may not realise how the lane works,” Sharlene says. “It’s a busy spot with tennis and golf clubs nearby. The netball courts can attract traffic from early morning to late afternoon, and host lots of practices.” She is urging people to slow down and be aware of the changes. “Not everyone is always as careful as they might be on that stretch of road. The speed limit is there for a reason, and no one wants anyone to get hurt.” The Board previously suggested trialling a roundabout, but last year allocated funding from Auckland Transport’s Community Safety Fund for the change, which does not preclude a major upgrade in the future. Auckland Transport staff will observe driver behaviour to monitor the success of the change. — David Kemeys (Auckland Council)
In November last year we took ownership of Waiuku Laundry. We offer both domestic and commercial laundry services, we also do clothing alterations and repairs onsite. We would like to thank all of our customers for their fabulous support since we have taken over. Our current hours are: Monday to Friday 8.00am-5.00pm and Saturday and Sunday 9.00am-3.00pm. We look forward to seeing you soon. Kind Regards The Team at Waiuku Laundry t/a So it Seams Ltd.
Waiuku Town Centre Manager Sharlene Druyven
Waiuku Wrap articles are prepared and supplied by the WAIUKU BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
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Nourish Holistic Rag Renos Nutrition
Hi, I’m John McKenzie. Together with my mum and dad and our experienced building team, we deliver quality renovations and architecturally designed new homes around the Franklin area.
Gautam(G) & Rama Narayan
We moved to Waiuku in 2017 to realise our dream to heal and nurture through food. At Nourish, we celebrate all dimensions of food – health, cuisine, cooking, culture andhospitality. G has worked as a professional chef in kitchens around the world and later trained and qualified as a Holistic Nutritionist from Bauman College, California. Rama is trained in nutrition and food science. We focus on evidence based nutrition, bringing to life the right mix of nutrients in every recipe and meal, making healthy food real, flavourful and practical. Our wellness kitchen is set in rural Waiuku, where we grow most of our produce.
What can we offer you? • Cooking classes for adults and families. Friday takeaway meals designed with optimal nutrition. • Weekly meals to help you achieve specific wellbeing goals. • Pre-booked dining at our place. • Individual consultations where we create a nutritional plan for specific health goals, setting you up for success over three months. • Cooking with kids at Otaua School as often as we can. We are fortunate to serve such a welcoming community. To learn more about us, contact us on info@nourishholisticnutrition.co.nz or follow us on Facebook @nourishholistic.
We started our company small in 2011 and it grew into the great team we have today. We understand that building or renovating your home is a big investment and a great commitment. My many years of hands-on experience will help you to achieve a building journey that is enjoyable and stress-free. With a combined total of over 50 years of building experience, we specialise in residential renovations, extensions and architecturally designed new builds. We offer full construction and project management service to deliver your project on time, within budget and with friendly service. Check out our team and past projects www.ragrenos.co.nz
Gibbons Civil Engineering
Gibbons Civil Engineering Limited is owned and operated since 2008 by Talitha Gibbons who is a Chartered Professional Civil Engineer. Over that time Talitha has been both consulting to other companies to provide specialised engineering requirements on a variety of projects as well as developing her business. In the past two years, Talitha has focused solely on building up her business which has grown to require its own office with seven employees who are all keen to provide services to the local area. Services: Gibbons Civil Engineering can provide wastewater and stormwater designs to meet council requirements and supervision of works. Their specialist engineers can undertake geotechnical investigations, flood or slope analysis of proposed building sites. They can also provide designs for driveways, roads, vehicle entrances and accesses as well as structural designs for foundations or retaining walls.
Gibbons Civil Engineering is working together with local surveying companies, architects, builders and drainlayers along with both the Auckland and Waikato District Councils. So, no matter what your project, whether it be a house extension, new shed, subdivision or a new building site, their mission is to lighten your load and find a cost-effective solution for you. A new website has been running from the end of March 2020. www.gcelimited.co.nz Otherwise, you can find them on Facebook search: Gibbons Civil Engineering Limited.
Landlord’s Assistant
This team works for you The WB&DA support and advocate for local businesses to help drive economic growth in our town and surrounding areas. Chairperson Julie Powell
Treasurer Sherilyn Fretton
09 235 9219
027 569 2235
Secretary Samara Edgecombe
Samantha Graham
027 666 2713
framedhair@gmail.com
Lisa-Marie Anderson
Matthew Murphy
021 280 0881
021 198 0424
Lynette Hunter
Pip Wells
027 945 3410
021 246 8738
Town Centre Manager Sharlene Druyven 021 0827 5763
Town Centre Manager Assistant Harriet Beaton 09 235 6231
SUNSET SURF & TURF sunset@ps.gen.nz
WAIUKU MITRE 10
MIKE PERO MORTGAGES & FINANCE sherilyn.fretton@mikepero.co.nz
FRAMED HAIR
021 105 3162
theedgecombes@hotmail.com
ST JOHN
lmanderson@xtra.co.nz
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lynette.hunter@patersonburn.co.nz
waiukutownmanager@gmail.com
WAIUKU WARD
matthew.murphy@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
BARFOOT & THOMPSON p.wells@barfoot.co.nz
waiukuatcma@gmail.com
Hi I am Zelda Thompson, I am the owner of LANDLORD’S ASSISTANT LTD. We offer pay as you GO and full service property management. See our advert on page 3. My husband Wayne and I emigrated from South Africa ten years ago. In South Africa I managed five star hotels and we always had a very strong customer services approach. When I arrived in 2010 I worked in boarding house management for a few years, my job was managing a 57 room boarding house in the heart of Kingsland, Auckland. I am proud to say we turned this establishment around from a drug invested pit to a haven for young professionals and international students. In 2013 I started off as a junior in a property manager in an Auckland based office. Over the eight years at the company I worked my way up to regional management and assisted to open their 13 branches. I realised through my professional journey that you are only as strong as the weakest link of staff and therefore ongoing training as well as rock solid systems and procedures are key if you want to get ahead and not drop the ball. In my spare time I furthered my studies to include a property investment course, my REAA sales certificate and NZQA level 4 property management. I dabble in property investment and to date have
managed to buy two investment properties. This has well and truly taught me that money doesn’t grow on trees. In 2019 I decided to open up my own company, and so Landlord’s Assistant was born. I focus on good quality management of under 80 properties. It is important to me to build trust with my owners and tenants alike. To do what I say I will do and do it well. I try to avoid the common complaint I saw over the years from owners on bad communication from various property managers and companies spending funds when it was not authorised. I want to be different to the masses. I strive to be the best in what we do and not to be the biggest company in the market. I promise you will not be just a number at Landlord’s Assistant.
Maximum Electrical
Maximum Electrical is a local electrical contracting and maintenance company, based in the Waiuku township, with a service team of 14, we can offer a full range of residential, commercial and industrial, electrical engineering and inspection services. Max Cossey and Simon Mitchell will work with you to develop value for money solutions, that are efficient and professional, with minimal disruption for your business, workplace, or home. The team have a wealth of experience in the electrical industry and between them have been working in the local Franklin area for over 30 plus years, we believe in ongoing training and as a member of Site Safe and Master Electricians you can be confident the work will be done to a high standard from minor repairs to complete new builds.
To discuss your electrical requirements give us a call on 09 235 2258.
Grace’s Garden
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B r e eze WEST
A community garden within Waiuku Grace van den Brink introduces the Hamilton Drive garden with a focus on organics and the community.
FRANKLIN
A breath of fresh air for West Franklin VOLUME 1, EDITION 5
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
Railway given a short reprieve
What’s the limit?
PH: 09 235 7835
THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2020
STORY BILL DEED /// bill@westfranklinbreeze.nz
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway has been successful in raising just over $100,000 which will allow them to continue operation until November. General Manager Tim Kerwin, acknowledged the Givealittle website, which attracted support for them, but he was also quick to acknowledge the generous support of the West Franklin community. “Not only is the money important, but the encouragement to continue operation has built our morale,” Tim said. Consequences of the Covid19 virus has hit the railway hard, with the cancellation of their mainline excursions and cruise ship trips which had been planned for this season. “This was to earn us the working capital to keep our four full time staff at the railway, but the virus restrictions toppled all of this for us,” Tim continued. Along with the paid staff, the railway has a large volunteer team. “Our staff work double the hours they are paid for,” Tim said.
Changes to speed limits came in to force on 68 roads in west Franklin on 30 June. The changes are empowered by a bylaw passed in October last year by Auckland Transport, and drew criticism from Franklin Local Board. The local community is also divided on the necessity for the reduced speed limits, with some insisting speeding drivers will break limits no matter what they are set at, and others believing the lowered limits will improve road safety and save lives.
Be locally loyal ... Let’s rebuild Waiuku and West Franklin
The railway is planning a series of local excursions to and from Auckland, day trip destinations and various attractions shortly. Details of these will be published in the Breeze so some enjoyable weekends are on the horizon. “These will give locals the opportunity to experience something unique, while it will be assisting us as well,” said Tim. “We are planning other special excursions which will include our dining car,” he said. Meanwhile donations to assist the railway would be most appreciated. There are details on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway website for bank transfers.
Railway workshop staff Tim Kerwin, Warwick Turner and Graham Marshall. Photo: Bill Deed.
Sergent Dean Borrell said, “the new speed limits come into effect on 1 July. Many open roads in the area will have reduced speed limits. Motorists will have a bit of a grace period where applicable. It’s going to require many of us, myself included, to reduce our speed. Whilst many of you may be grumpy about it, perhaps look at it this way, I’m sure you’d rather your loved one be in a crash with a car doing under 80km than one doing 100km if it prevents them receiving a serious injury or worse.” For a list of local roads affected, please see page 14.
Breeze
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WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
Westpac pulls ATM STORY TIFFANY BROWN /// tiffany@westfranklinbreeze.nz
with Sgt Dean Borrell
I’m the new guy in Waiuku. I started as the Sergeant in Charge here now that Sergeant Graeme Wood has transferred to road policing. On behalf of the team I take the chance to thank Graeme (aka Woody) for his several years’ service to Waiuku. I’m excited to start this new role with my team of Constables Jeff Kerr, Noel Patten and Warren Richards. I’ve previously worked at this station as a Constable from 2001 to around 2006 and used to sometimes fill in further back for Greg Mellsop in the nineties! So I feel like I know the town well plus I’ve lived in the community for almost 20 years. Every sergeant has different goals and aspirations when starting a new role and mine, for this station is to be more visible and to get stuck into prevention work so we can resolve issues rather than chase our tails. The town is now policed by the four of us. We are essentially a community policing team looking at the bigger picture rather than responding to 111 calls etc. Emergency calls are now attended by Pukekohe based teams who work 24/7. They start and finish their shifts in Pukekohe but work in the rural area the whole shift. Another change since I was last here is the public counter which, unfortunately, is now permanently closed. With health and safety rules the public counter must be manned by a constable not a volunteer or non-police person. With only four of us out and about we cannot justify taking someone off the street to be on the front desk so the front door stays shut. The good news is there are plenty of options to contact Police, they are to phone 105 for all non-emergency matters, use the online reporting tool police.govt.nz/105support or if you want to talk in person the Pukekohe police station is open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. I’ll talk more about our work in coming weeks. Keep safe, Dean
Waiuku Firebrigade Callouts
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Westpac Bank removed their ATM machine from Queen Street on 22 June, joining the ANZ Bank in reducing banking services for Waiuku. Earlier this year ANZ Bank announced it was reducing its open days to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The bank cited declining branch transactions as the reason for the reduction in hours, with the average ANZ customer using mobile banking once or twice a day but only visiting a branch once or twice a year. An ANZ spokesperson said, “Only 1% of transactions that involve the movement of funds (deposits, withdrawals, transfers and automatic payments) are now made in branches, compared to 43% in 2012.” The ANZ expressed it was pleased to be able to stay in town, and appreciated the community’s support. While Westpac Bank did not notify local customers directly that the ATM machine would be removed, digital and physical signage was placed on the machine in early June warning of its impending removal. A spokesperson said, “Following a review of our network, we decided to remove our Waiuku ATM. Westpac NZ customers can still use any of the four bank ATMs within 100 metres’ walk free of charge.”
Bollards installed The old New World carpark bollards have now been installed to stop through-traffic between Kitchener and Valley Roads.
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ACROSS 1 Flexible tree possibly includes one (6) DOWN 4 Delightful 1 Flexible tree possibly includes one prince (6) (8) 1 Optimistic for certain (8) measure (7) is? (2,5) 4 Delightful prince (8) 9 Spa got alternative power as 2temporary Working as a monk 11 Giving away nothing but obsolete vessel (7) 9 Spa got alternative power as temporary measure 3 Close for the evening mostly 12 Neat tequila is drunk initially – why, you say? (4) (7) 5 Run flower 13 Turner that can be viewed from bothon sides (5) power? (13) 11 Giving away nothing but14obsolete vessel 6 Gather some mature apricots Gave birth to dull(7) person (4) The Mudlarks had another productive year during 12 2019, Neatworking tequila is drunk initially you say?populated 7 by Sinful promises 17 Part –ofwhy, the Caribbean chasterascal women? (6,7) to pay 19 50 invest in city carelessly and 8 without Look, athinking goose! (13) (6) on the estuary behind the golf course. Their barge has(4)cradles for 22 Publicity fellows (4) 13 Turner that can be viewed from both sidesturned (5) up10firstSupply given to friend for the holding bundles mangroves for barging to14 wharf. 23(4) Surprisingly nitre is unreactive (5) Gave birth to dull person 15 Drunk gives gratuities at start 24 Most put up with him (4) Partarea of the by chaste 16 One accepting fine is unsuitab The workers were dwarfed by the size of the mangrove forest17 in the butCaribbean populated 27 Ilona staggered across road first perhaps (7) women? (6,7) 28 Some electricity is present18 (7) Python broadcast I see sounde have managed to clear a substantial area. 19 50 invest in city carelessly andawithout thinking (8) city in Africa (8) 29 Law yob broke outside university During the lockdown the Mudlarks had to suspend their work. Until March, (13) 19 old Unbeliever elected by Castro 30 Glamorous former lover with nervous habit(6) they had been working on the Hyland Place side of the estuary. During lockdown 22 Publicity fellows turnedDOWN up first (4) 20 Ask earnestly for new net rate levels 3 and 4, Council requested that all volunteers stay home 23 and Surprisingly the site wasnitre is unreactive 1 Optimistic (5) for certain (8) 21 Pal somehow gets round doct deserted for weeks with some bundles left sitting on the barge.24 Most put up with him (4) 2 Working as a monk is? (2,5) confidence (6) 3 Close for the evening mostly (4) Now, they have already got a couple of loads up to the wharf.27 ThisIlona is turned intoacross road staggered first perhaps (7) 25 Be aware of speaker’s refusal 5 Run on flower power? (13) garden mulch for locals. 28 Some electricity is present (7) some mature apricots 26(4)Vintage unknown – that’s the 6 Gather About a decade ago when the area around the wharf was largely mangrove 29 Law a yob broke outside7 Sinful university in to pay (7) rascalcity promises forest, trees were removed leaving stumps that had since become aAfrica hazard(8)for 8 Look, a goose! (6) Supply to friend Glamorous oldgiven nervous habitfor the time being (13) boating, swimming, and wading. Last year the mudlarks made30 a project of former lover10with 15 Drunk gives gratuities at start of year (5) (6) removing these, now the area is safe for use again. 16 One accepting fine is unsuitable (5) 18 Python broadcast I see sounded mesmerising(8) 19 Unbeliever elected by Castro (7) 20 Ask earnestly for new net rate (7) 21 Pal somehow gets round doctor, showing confidence (6) 25 Be aware of speaker’s refusal (4) 26 Vintage unknown – that’s the essential point (4)
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THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
Night owls on patrol
the streets with torches as street lamps did not stay on through the night. They had one rule and that was never to shine the light in a driver’s face. Through fundraising the group were able to purchase their first vehicle in 2010, and a second in 2016. The latter vehicle is a Toyota RAV4 which gives the patrol members height for visibility and better safety should they need to go off-road. The Waiuku Community Patrol currently has 20 active patrol volunteers. Their eldest member Leo May recently retired at the age of 83. WCP committee member Gaye Dickey said, “Thanks Leo for a job well done.” More information on the Waiuku Community Patrol is available at cpnz.org.nz
STORY KATHRYN MOORE
Kathryn Moore is a student at Waiuku College and has a career objective to be a journalist. Kathryn has joined the Breeze team on the College’s gateway work experience, and we look forward to her contributions over the next weeks. School days should be a happy time in a young person’s life, unfortunately, the newly sprung post-COVID world we are emerging into created many negative impacts on students leaving them and their possible career options limited. As a student myself I’m faced with uncertainty on what future career I want to pursue. Generously enough the Steel Mill happily agreed with Waiuku’s Principal Tom Vanderlaan’s request to allow several students who are interested in engineering to visit the Steel Mill. The students were met by several University Engineering Graduates to show them around in the hope of giving them a better understanding about what engineering is and what it has to offer. The students were able to catch a close-up look at the
steel-making process and got to view some things the engineers do for a day to day process. I talked to some of the students who attended the tour and with such positive feedback, it is easy to assume they were happy to be given an encouraging and helpful experience. “It was so much more than we were expecting; so much more went on there than we thought, it was a good time,” said one of the students. Students have been given further hopes of inspiring new career options and are now filled with a feeling of opportunity. Post-covid has given many kids a lot to worry about concerning their futures but thankfully with this opportunity, the Steel Mill has provided new possible career pathways they can look upon. Not such a gloomy uncertain future for us young adults after all.
Glenbrook Steel Mill University Engineering Graduate (second from right) accompanying L-R, Sebastion Webb, Beau Watson, Mitchell Hilton, Tara Lipscombe and Georgia Mcleish for their onsite tour.
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Now one of 150 affiliated community patrols in the country, the group is part of CPNZ, or Community Patrols New Zealand, which was formed in 2001 to act as an umbrella for community patrol groups. Although the volunteers are independent from the NZ Police, they regularly receive police guidance, training and tasking. The Waiuku Community Patrol’s aim is to work closely with police and other agencies to build safer communities and provide extra ‘eyes and ears’ to policing efforts. The patrol volunteers always work in pairs, patrolling around residential, business and industrial areas to discover and deter criminal activity and report any signs of suspicious activity. Patrol members also attend and assist accident and crime scenes, watch for stolen cars, report graffiti and help with crowd control and public assistance at community events. The group raises its annual operating costs through local grants, sponsorships and donations. The early patrol, set up by the late Jack Legge, Noel Parmenter and Bruce Glenny, walked
Zelda Thompson
STORY TIFFANY BROWN /// tiffany@westfranklinbreeze.nz
For more than 60 years the township of Waiuku has been protected by a night-patrol team of volunteers formerly known as the Waiuku Night Owls.
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People of our community
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Grace’s garden, our garden STORY TIFFANY BROWN /// tiffany@westfranklinbreeze.nz
Waiuku’s Grace van den Brink was studying a Diploma in Horticulture last year through Franklin Agritech when her teacher Dr Raj Saini told her he wanted to recommend her for a scholarship trip to India.
ollowing a successful application, Grace spent six weeks in southern India’s Tamil Nadu as one of a multi-disciplinary Kiwi team undertaking an inaugural health and entrepreneurship scholarship supported by the government’s Scholarships for Asia programme. The course focused on Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of science, health and medicine, and for Grace it brought a fresh perspective to the community garden her Te Marama Hou Ministries Trust oversees on Hamilton Drive, Waiuku. “The trip opened my eyes to Maori rongoa (Maori medicine),” she says. “Before, I was more into non-organic ways of gardening, you know, growing food for a wide population.” The non-organic style of food production requires a commitment to timeframes and volumes not found within an organic gardening setting. “With organics,” she says, “it’s all about taking the time.” For Grace, the Hamilton community garden is ‘a garden that gives’. She feels the sharing of food unites people, and as a result of engagement with the garden, people open up and connect with each other. “Food is a language everyone knows,” she smiles. While we talk beside the garden on a moody-grey Saturday afternoon, I meet volunteer Ken Reid, and two mums, Caram Kaur and Maria Dodd. The mothers’ daughters were still in utero when the pair first became involved with the community centre. Now they play together on the playground and chatter animatedly to me about the casual rugby league
play family activity Grace has recently organised on Friday nights. “It’s open to all children aged 12 and under,” said Grace. “The kids play for a few hours, then there’s a free meal afterwards, we put on food and harvest from the garden.” Dutch-born Sebastian wanders in for an evening stroll with his young son, and Grace extends a warm hospitality to everyone. “Community halls should be places of use,” she says, “and for that you need proactive boards. Some halls have no heart in them, no life in them. This is a place that has heart and life in it.” The daughter of Richard and Ari Taikato, Grace says her whanau upbringing was all about hospitality and making people feel welcome. A big part of that came from their faith. Her father Richard set up Te Marama Hou Ministries Trust in 1985, founded on Christian principles and with a strong focus on tikanga Maori, or Maori ways of life. Future plans for the Hamilton community garden include the erection of pou around the growing spaces, decorated and inscribed with words and symbols of cultural significance. Pou can be translated as poles or posts, with an imbued symbolism that may be likened to the planting of a flag in the ground when a summit is reached. Grace says the garden is good therapy, and everyone is welcome. “Come along, get your hands in there, grow food, it’s cheaper. If you don’t have a garden, this can be yours.”
The Percy Hamilton Trust owns most of the growing land and generously allows the community the use of it as a shared garden. A pile of dirt sits ready at the perimeter, donated by EnviroFert in Tuakau. Knight and Dickey cart it to the site free of charge. Rupex Group is a regular contributor of seedlings. “We want to keep the vibrancy going here,” says Grace, who plans to learn more about rongoa, and about growing and using plants from the bush and the land for healing. When asked if there are ever problems with people taking more than their share, she says, “No, there are no thieves here.” Then she shrugs. “And even if there were,” she laughs, “we’d just plant more. This is a garden that gives.”
Grace van den Brink (Photo: Tiffany Brown)
Visitor Guidance for
Counties Manukau Health Visitors are vital for patients’ recovery, but so is rest. To enable high quality care, and for the overall health of our patients, we must balance the needs of our patients and visitors. Visitors to Middlemore Hospital and other CM Health facilities are advised: • One key support person may visit between 8am – 8pm (Adults only) • Overnight visit (8pm – 8am) for key support person will be considered under compassionate grounds only • Visiting hours for family/whaanau are 2pm – 8pm • Two visitors per patient at any one time during visiting hours • No children under 16 years unless approved under compassionate grounds • Compassionate visiting must be approved in advance by the ward • Registration of visitors will occur at hospital entrances • For more information visit countiesmanukau.health.nz
Please help us keep our patients safe
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
Trading places
PAGE 5
STORY KYLIE HALL kylie@westfranklinbreeze.nz
One of the big wins that came out of the Covid-19 crisis, was recognition for trades. For several generations there appeared to be a push to get as many school leavers into university as possible when all and sundry were enrolled for academic style degrees, regardless of whether the fit was right. Teens were studying business, law, media and politics, and many who had no idea what they wanted to do, fell into “the arts�. In numerous cases, disillusioned and confused teens were the outcome. Part way through studying their chosen field, they realised it was definitely not for them and they dropped out, degreeless, carrying thousands of dollars’ worth of student debt and unable to get a job. A trade could have been the right pick for them from the very start. Somewhere along the line we have lost our way. We have forgottten that some of the most successful business people in our communities are “tradies�. People who have honed their craft in their chosen trade, where life’s necessities mean there will always be demand for their services. After all, you might be able to do without another business manager, but if your wiring’s up the whop and you can’t cook your dinner or turn on your washing machine, you’ll be needing a sparky! The recent introduction of the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) with free fees for apprenticeships, means there has never been a better time to consider gaining a trade, for both jobseekers and industry. Many trade industries are facing an ageing workforce and unless more people start training now, you could be waiting weeks before that plumber you so desperately need, can get to you. Motor Trade Association CE Craig Pomare notes the same problem within the automotive trade. “As the average age of workers and business owners in the automotive sector approaches 55, it is critical to ensure we are training new, skilled automotive technicians to replace this soon-to-retire segment of the industry.�
Call in to Waiuku Auto Services and you may be helped by one of the three apprentices that business owner Simon Collins usually has on his books. He says there’s always a shortage of good automotive tradespeople. “We work in with the local college, providing kids with work experience and we’ve hired some of them through that process too,� explains Simon. His apprentices generally pay $1400 annually in apprenticeship training costs and he provides support by paying 50% of that for them. With the new free fees model, that’s money that will be saved or spent in the economy. Brian Clark, sparky and owner of Waiuku business Progressive Electrics, says industry experts predict that in 15 years, there won’t be enough electricians to service demand. He’s been busier in level 1 than he was before Covid-19 ran amok and says tradespeople have come out of lockdown in a great position. “I hope the free fees will appeal to some young people who are thinking of uni and they’ll consider training for a trade instead,� Brian said. He noted that free fees can make a huge difference for apprentices, allowing them to use those funds towards buying a car to get them to their job, making them much more employable. It’s not just electrical and automotive trades that are on offer. Everything from horticulture, cookery and carpentry, right through to youth work and health and wellbeing training is available—free. Those who were unfortunate enough to lose their livelihoods due to the Covid-19 crisis, regardless of age, are also eligible too for the free fees training. The gates are now open and the fees are free for two years. So, if you’re a school leaver looking for a hands on future, or a Covid jobseeker on the hunt for a more stable career, why not a trade?
GRAB A TRADE! Horticulture / Dairy Farming / Forestry Operations /Carpentry / Plumbing / Civil Engineering / in Civil Infrastructure / Health and Wellbeing / Youth Work / Mental Health and Addiction Support / Mechanical Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Commercial Road Transport / Automotive engineering / Hairdressing / Cookery
Franklin funding roundup Franklin Local Board has awarded $32,511 of $296,493 worth of applications to support local projects through the first round of their 2020/2021 Local Grants scheme. The grants scheme invites funding applications of $2000 or more to support communities, events and environmental initiatives. Recipients in the region for this round included Waiuku Museum, who received a partial contribution for their project, $1884 towards the creation of a replica early 20th century street
Restaurant
Members’ Draw
New restaurant winter hours are: Monday – Sunday 8pm. Monday 11.30 - 3pm/5 - 8pm Tuesday 11.30 - 3pm/5 - 8pm Wednesday - Sunday 11 - 8pm Takeaways are still available. Pickup or delivery (within 5km from hotel) Check out our daily specials. Seniors lunch menu. Monday to Friday 11am - 2pm. (Must present Gold card.)
Every Friday night. Increases by $100 if not struck. You must be present in the bar to win. Jackpots @ $1000
Happy Hour Monday to Thursday 5pm - 7pm House wine, spirits and a selection of tap beer.
Meat Raffle Every Friday.
Courtesy Van Our van operates on Thursday 8pm until close. Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm until close. The van operates within a 10km radius from the Hotel, to book ring the Hotel number and select option 3.
Wednesday Night Quiz 7.30pm start. Booking essential.
THE BAR NOW CLOSES AT 9PM Phone: 09 235 8367
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Email: info@thekentishhotel.co.nz
www.thekentishhotel.co.nz
Winter
STORY TIFFANY BROWN tiffany@westfranklinbreeze.nz
at their King Street premises. The Manukau Heads Lighthouse Trust received $1725 towards maintenance of banksia and flax, and Waiuku Toy Library received $1000 towards the cost of promotional flyers. Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board received none of its $40,010 application towards railway extension costs. It is understood the railway put these plans on hold due to financial struggles as a result of the halt on operations during COVID-19 lockdown.
FREE MEASURE & QUOTE
Come and see us for all your Water Needs • Bore Pumps
WAIUKU MUSEUM SOCIETY INC Providing access to and assistance with family history enquiries. Contact 021 0544 727 for appointments and assistance.
• Water Pumps • Water Filters • Water Tanks • Water Testing • Electrical
40 Crosbie Road • Pukekohe •
Ph 09 237 0050
Let us warm up your house this winter, now is the time to replace old tired curtains with new blockout ones.
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Affordable Blinds Contact Bob or Margaret: 09 235 0121, 021 041 3434 E: solleygang@hotmail.com • 2 Tui Place Waiuku www.affordableblinds.net.nz
PAGE 6
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
STORY TIFFANY BROWN tiffany@westfranklinbreeze.nz
Playground plans progress
Following public consultation last year, three of Waiuku’s playgrounds are set for a revamp, but Auckland Council’s Emergency Budget may interrupt plans. The playgrounds at Kevan Lawrence, Massey and Centennial Parks are all due for an overhaul to replace end-of-life playground equipment. This will better align the facilities with Franklin Local Board’s community objectives including safety and accessibility improvements and enhancing informal recreational functions for Waiuku, and to reflect local desires as expressed during the six-week consultation period in 2019. Feedback showed overwhelming support for retaining the playgrounds, with a need for increased play opportunities at Kevan Lawrence and Massey Parks. The community also wanted to improve seating and shaded areas for family picnics. The proposed plan for Kevan Lawrence Park is a relocation of the playground further away from the adjacent retirement village,
Chip resurfacing the thrifty choice
ay d h t r i B y p p Ha Wishing a big Happy Birthday and Happy School Days to our 5 year olds for July. Limited spaces available, call for a visit.
82 Queen St • Waiuku • Ph: 09 235 7072
THURSDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - JULY
9th 16th 23rd 30th
RESTAURANT
RICK SHIRLEY from 5:30pm until close
ARMAND AND GERI BIG JOHN AIRWAVES
28
$
JULY - WHAT’S ON
4th 6th 7th 14th Tues
per person
Welcome Back party, 8pm -11pm Blood Donors, 12pm - 6pm Quiz night 7pm start Quiz night 7pm start Seniors Afternoon and Entertainment Tuesdays 1pm-3pm Members draw Entertainment - Mike Derecourt
SATURDAY 4th JULY
30
8PM - 11PM, SUPPER 9PM
When Auckland’s dry summer conditions led to an increase in road resurfacing activity, the choice of material used drew criticism, but Franklin Local Board Waiuku subdivision representative Sharlene Druyven said the choice of chip seal is not a downgrade from the smooth ‘hotmix’ resurfacing option. Roads suffer wear and tear and are resurfaced to keep them waterproof and to maintain skid resistance and improve safety. Surface bitumen breaks down over time, becomes brittle and cracks. A chip seal treatment costs $4-8 per square metre and lasts between 8-12 years, compared with a hotmix which costs $20-30 and lasts 10-14 years. “If you used hotmix everywhere, you wouldn’t be able to do anywhere near as much maintenance because of the cost,” said Sharlene. “Furthermore, chip seal is sometimes the only practical option,” she said. Resurfacing sites are assessed for individual surfacing and chip size needs, depending on factors such as volume of traffic, existing texture and turning stresses. Hotmix is generally only used to resurface roads carrying more than 10,000 vehicles a day, or in high-stress areas like intersections. Auckland Transport often receives complaints from residents in newer developments where original hotmix surfaces are resurfaced with chip seal, but Sharlene maintains the rougher material is the best choice. “Residents can be reassured chip sealing is the most cost-effective use of their money.”
Centennial Park on Kitchener Road is to be positioned along the existing pathway to improve visibility according to the proposed plan, with the majority of new play equipment being natural play such as rocks, logs and stumpery. Cultural elements of pou are suggested to tie in with the existing pou along the adjacent River Lane and provide a mixture of climbable and non-climbable elements. The playground will also feature a traditional timber swing set, native planting, an accessible picnic table and lawn space for picnicking and games. $710,000 was allocated to the playground renewals, but the progression of the project will depend on the outcome of the Emergency Budget 2020/2021, due to be adopted this month.
Road improvements may screech to a halt Earlier this year Auckland Transport and Franklin Local Board (FLB) began the process of reviewing a number of projects for road improvement in the Franklin area. In June/July, workshops had been planned to provide costs and feedback for prioritising the projects on the list. The board planned to approve design plans for projects costing more than $300,000 and to green-light design and construction for smaller projects costing under $300,000 in July. In May, FLB passed resolutions for the development of a scope and rough order of costs for the projects, which include roundabouts at King Street and the Victoria Avenue and Queen Street intersection and improvement to the intersection at Kitchener and Racecourse Roads. Road upgrades for McLarin Road outside Glenbrook Community Hall and Glenbrook Connection from subdivision to the beach, road resealing at Matakawau Store/Hall and road renewal of Sergeant Road, Awhitu are also in the mix. It is yet unclear whether these projects are now in jeopardy. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, Auckland Council moved to propose an Emergency Budget 2020/2021 that may see some formerly-approved projects put on hold, reduced or scrapped. “Council has lost revenue to the tune of $525 million as a result of lockdown inactivity,” said Auckland Mayor Phil Goff. “This means Council needs to cut its spending in all departments, with fewer staff, a reduction in services and deferral of some of our big construction projects.” The public feedback consultation period finished on 19 June with a record number of responses. At one point in the feedback process 150,000 responses had been received, compared to just 1200 over an equivalent timeframe during the previous year’s Council budget public consultation period. Auckland Council is expected to make final decisions by 8 July, with the new budget coming into play on 30 July.
$
per person
Saturday - Seafood special SUNDAY NIGHT IS:
WELCOME BACK POST-COVID19 PARTY
DOWNSTAIRS BAR
with the erection of partial fencing for improved safety, informal rope play, a soccer practise goal, cultural elements incorporating Te Reo Maori words, tree decks for storytelling and new equipment including a six-way swing set, junior springers, accessible basket swing and a play module with various challenging and imagination play options. At Massey Park it is proposed the playground be moved closer to the popular skate park where there will be access to the toilet. It is also proposed to develop a 3x3 basketball court, accessible picnic area with extra-long seating, partial fencing along Queen St and a bespoke play equipment module including monkey bars, a glider, slide, fire pole and viewing platform, as well as swing sets and a spinner.
Andrew Bayly MP for Hunua Hunua Electorate Office 7 Wesley St, Pukekohe 09 238 5977 AndrewBaylyMP andrew@baylymp.co.nz
Kids under the age of 11 eat free off the kids menu with a paying adult. Takeaway meals still available $8 each
Serving all districts in Franklin. Mark Graham and his caring team will guide your family. Funerals and Memorials
Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Andrew Bayly MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
Ph 235 8380 • www.grahamsfunerals.co.nz
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
PAGE 7
2nd July 2020
HOW WE COPED WITH COVID-19
Breeze WEST
FRANKLIN
A breath of fresh air for West Franklin
A WEST FRANKLIN BREEZE TIME CAPSULE PULLOUT Never again (fingers crossed) will we experience a global crisis like that of Covid-19. Here we document the images and words that reflected these unprecedented times. We encourage you all to keep this pullout as a physical keepsake for future years to share with generations to come. Pop it in a bottle and bury it in your backyard or slide it into your treasured family albums.
BIOLOGY OF THE BUG
BY KYLIE HALL kylie@westfranklinbreeze.nz
In December 2019, an outbreak of a new SARS type illness was identified in Wuhan, China. On 11 February 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) gives the raging virus a name and “COVID-19” becomes the headlining topic across the world.
In the year 2020, the world population is approximately 7,655,820,000 and by the end of June 2020, more than 9,000,000 people around the globe are diagnosed with COVID-19 with more than 120,000 new cases each day and more than 450,000 human lives lost. In New Zealand with a population of 5 million, 22 Kiwis die from Covid-19 after more than 1500 test positive (as at 17 June, 2020). Led by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern (Labour), and the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand “goes hard and goes early”, shutting down at international borders and locking down the nation within three weeks of reporting the first case. New Zealand’s approach to the pandemic is to identify, contain, treat and eliminate, Covid-19. In other parts of the world, leaders take different approaches, some aiming for herd immunity, others believing a loose lockdown will help save their economies. Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern (Labour) and Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield
•
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the 2019 novel coronavirus, a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans.
•
COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus.
•
Bats are considered natural hosts of the virus with several other species of animals also known to act as sources.
•
It is estimated that, on average, one infected person will infect between two and three other people.
•
The virus seems to be transmitted mainly via small respiratory droplets through sneezing, coughing, or when people interact with each other for some time in close proximity.
•
The virus enters the body via eyes, nose and/or mouth, so it is important to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
•
The incubation period for COVID-19 (i.e. the time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms) is estimated to be between one and 14 days.
•
Cold-causing coronaviruses replicate in the cells lining the upper respiratory tract and trigger symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 primarily infects cells — and does most of its replicating — deep within the lungs, making it far more dangerous.
•
Unlike influenza (flu), there is no vaccine and no specific treatment for Covid-19. It also appears to be more transmissible than seasonal influenza.
Going up? Going down? What the levels looked like: On 21 March 2020, New Zealand introduces a 4-level Alert System setting out the measures to be taken against COVID-19 at each level.
LEVEL FOUR
(Lockdown 25 March 2020 – 27 April 2020)
LEVEL THREE
(Restrict 27 April 2020 – 13 May 2020)
LEVEL TWO
(13 May 2020 – 8 June 2020)
Unless you have to get groceries or are an essential worker, you must stay home. You can exercise outside alone or in your “bubble” (those you live with), but there is no socialising with anyone else.
Most people are in their homes in their bubbles and mainly only essential workers are at their workplaces. Kids are doing school online at home and businesses are trying to sell online.
Most people can go back to work in level 2 and schools are open but 2 metre physical distancing rules mean doing business and socialising is restrictive.
• NZ enters a state of national emergency • People are told to stay at home to reduce the risk of community transmission • All public venues are closed • Only essential businesses remain open • Schools are closed • All sport is cancelled • People aged 70+ are considered highly vulnerable and told to stay at home • Healthcare services are re-prioritised • All gatherings are cancelled • You can exercise outside. No gyms/pools • Must stay 2 metres away from others • Health messages streamed on TV/radio • Everyone tunes in to the daily 1pm Covid-19 update on TV • People do a lot of baking • Supermarkets run out of flour • Mobile testing units set up across NZ • Borders are closed
• Stay home in your “bubble” other than essential movements • Physical distancing of 2 metres remains • You can now bring the grandparents into your bubble as long as no one else does • Children should learn at home (avoid going to school) if at all possible • People must work from home if possible • Businesses can open but must not physically interact with customers • Can still only exercise alone / with bubble • All public venues like museums, pools, cinemas, playgrounds etc remain closed • Gatherings of up to ten people only are allowed for special events like weddings and funerals must physical distance • Only essential workers should be at workplaces e.g. nurses, doctors, supermarket workers, police etc • Inter-regional travel is highly limited • Borders remain closed
• Must continue physical distancing by 2 metres from people you don’t know • Schools reopen • Workplaces can open if they can meet restrictions, but employees encouraged to work from home if possible • Restaurants reopen but must keep groups separated and seated • No more than 100 for weddings, funerals or any gatherings • Sport can restart, subject to physical distancing and gathering limits • Intensive testing is carried out • Contact tracing aps are developed • You must stay home if you’re sick • People with compromised immunity or older people are encouraged to be cautious and stay home where possible • Borders remain closed but talk begins of a possible Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
LEVEL ONE (8 June 2020)
Life in New Zealand feels largely normal except there are no tourists coming in and very few Kiwis going out of the country due to quarantining measures. • Intensive testing continues • Rapid contact tracing is developed • No restrictions on gathering sizes • Workplaces and schools are fully open • Use of contact tracing ap is promoted widely • Can travel freely within New Zealand • Can socialise with friends freely • Sport is back! • Anyone returning from overseas must quarantine for 14 days • As of mid-June, borders still remain closed
4 3 21
THURSDAY 2ND JULY 2020
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
TIMELINE
History of COVID-19 movement and detection globally and here in NZ
DEC 2019
JAN 2020
FEB 2020
MAR 2020
Global - Daily new cases n/a
Global - Daily new cases 400
Global - Daily new cases 2,000
Global - Daily new cases 13,000
1 December - an outbreak of a new SARS type illness is identified in Wuhan, China with strong links to the Huanan Seafood Market. 31 December – the WHO is notified of the outbreak.
1 January – Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan China is shut down
2 February – first person outside of China dies of the coronavirus.
2 March – global death toll reaches 3000.
12 January – WHO confirms a novel coronavirus was the cause of the respiratory illness in Wuhan China.
11 February - WHO names “COVID-19”. 1018 people around the world die.
19 March – All NZ borders close. Financial markets around the world in freefall.
23 January – the coronavirus spreads to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and the USA.
17 February – Hubei province, China goes into lockdown with 60 million people to stay at home.
21 March – Four tier alert level system implemented in NZ.
28 February - New Zealand announces first reported case of Covid-19.
Photos
///
Kylie Hall
22 March - community transmission occurs and cases in NZ rise to 100. 25 March - A state of emergency is declared in NZ. The country goes into Level 4 lockdown. 29 March – NZ suffers its first Covid-19 death - a woman in her 70s.
Businesses close their doors, parks are off limits, church services are cancelled and even the public loos are shut down. Grocery shopping becomes a full day task.
Lockdown lines form outside Waiuku New World. Flour sells out amid a lockdown baking bonanza and panic buying.
Thank you Breeze Waiuku from the
B r e eze WEST
FRANKLIN
With time on their hands and nowhere to go, people pump out baking delights, try their hands at MasterChef meals and let their green fingers go nuts in the garden.
Grateful thanks
People pop teddy bears in their windows, on their fences and on their sign posts, and a neighbourhood teddy bear hunt (on foot) to entertain bored littlies begins.
Balmy weather and loads of spare time sees whole families hit the streets for bike rides and virtual running events take off.
Your support made such a difference to our business during this challenging time.
A lone set of footprints at popular Karioitahi Beach. During lockdown all beach swimming, surfing and boating was prohibited.
THANK YOU WAIUKU! We would like to thank the Waiuku community for your patience during the covid period
Thank you Waiuku Thank you for supporting our business. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Cocky’s Corner
THANKS WAIUKU! Thank you for supporting our small business. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Thank you! Your support made a difference to our business during this challenging time.
FRANKLIN CARPET CLEANING LTD Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
www.gcelimited.co.nz
THURSDAY 2ND JULY 2020
New Zealand 25 June 2020
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
5
million. New Zealand’s approximate population as at June 2020.
1519
Total Covid-19 confirmed and probable cases
22
Total Covid-19 deaths
APR 2020
MAY 2020
JUN 2020
Global - Daily new cases 80,000
Global - Daily new cases 100,000
Global - Daily new cases 140,000
2 April – highest volume of new daily cases in NZ. 89 new cases reported.
3 May – NZ has a total of 1487 cases of Covid-19. The world has 3,502,126 cases. 247,107 have died.
5 April – NZs total cases surpass 1000. Testing reaches 40,000.
4 May – for the first time since 16 March, NZ has no new daily cases of Covid-19.
6 April – global cases top 1 million and more than 50,000 people have died.
13 May – NZ moves into Alert Level 2. Global death toll approaches 300,000.
8 June – NZ reports it has no remaining active cases of Covid-19 and becomes one of the only places in the world to become Covid-19 free. Meanwhile, cases worldwide continue to grow with the virus gripping countries such as Brazil and India. NZ moves into Alert Level 1.
10 April – returning Kiwis required to do 14 days of supervised quarantine.
14 May – government announces free apprenticeship training.
25 April – ANZAC Day. Kiwis stand at their letterboxes at dawn.
20 May – WHO director states 106,000 cases of Covid-19 reported in 24 hours – the most in a single day.
27 April – NZ moves out of lockdown into Level 3.
16 June – After 42 days of no new Covid-19 cases, NZ reports two new cases both of which originate from people returning from overseas. 17 June - The world has 8,257,535 cases and 445,986 people have died. 25 June - Three new cases confirmed in NZ, all returned from overseas.
With all Anzac commemorations cancelled nationwide in line with Level 4 lockdown rules, Kiwis make their own poppies and memorial gardens and stand at their driveways at dawn to remember the fallen. The Last Post is played on Spotify and we all listen in to the dawn radio service like days of old. They will not be forgotten.
The Easter Bunny, deemed an essential worker by the Prime Minister, delivers the goodies for the children on Easter Sunday in lockdown.
THANK YOU! Your support made such a difference to our business during this challenging time.
Celebrating greater freedoms in level three, surfers take to Karioitahi Beach and big and little fishermen snag a snapper or two.
CHEERS WAIUKU! Thank you for supporting our business. ACTION May arrives and flour is back! Sometimes at least… Shopkeepers set up physically distant storefronts to meet level three requirements and rejoice in being able to reopen.
CHEERS WAIKUKU!
As NZ celebrates reaching zero active cases (temporarily) and moves to level one, people escape to their baches, head off on long overdue weekend getaways and dine out!
THANK YOU WAIUKU!
Your support made such a difference to our business during this challenging time.
Thank you Waiuku from
WWW.CIFLOORING.CO.NZ
Wow - what a community! Thank you for supporting us during the crisis.
Waiuku Auto Electrical MTA AUTO ELECTRICIANS
CHEERS WAIUKU!
Thank you Waiuku
Thank you for supporting our PAINTING small business. We wouldn’t be here without you.
from
PAINTING
Tom Kane ElectricalLtd
PAINTING PAINTING
JEFF SAMUELS Jeff 027 200 446 Jeff 027 200 446
THURSDAY 2ND JULY 2020
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
These are unprecedented times
Wash your hands
Words of our times
This is a Covid-19 announcement
Clusters
Be kind
Go hard, go early
Bubble
Unite against Covid-19
Sgt Borrell talks of the Life in the bubble Police role during Covid-19 as a Volunteer Waiuku Police Sergeant-in-charge Dean Borrell explained what it was like being a Police officer during, before and after the Covid19 lockdown.
The Covid19 epidemic and lock down was a fascinating and crazy time from a Police perspective. Leading up to the crisis I was working in a management position within the Counties Manukau Police based at Papakura. The day the PM announced we were going to level three and had two days to go to level four was crazy. We had to form specialised police contingency workgroups almost overnight. These workgroup’s tasks were to enforce the lockdown rules, and to boost our frontline numbers. So, we had to pull staff from other teams to do this. At the time there was intel from overseas and predications that there would be increases in crimes in areas such as family violence, disorder and commercial burglary because businesses were shut. Police were getting a mass of information about new powers, new processes, instructions and it was new to everyone, we had a day of crisis meetings. Our Police staff were incredible, I had to ring around all afternoon and into the evening getting cops to change their shifts at the last minute and to come in early, cancel leave etc. Not one officer complained or questioned why they had to come and work a different shift or cancel their leave. My boss said something that stuck that day—this is why we join the police, we run towards the fire whilst everyone else runs from it. I was really proud to be a Police officer that day. We all were worried for our own families and situations too, trying to form bubbles. My mother was at Wellington airport wondering whether to still come to Auckland as planned or stay put for four weeks; did we have enough food and supplies at home for four weeks? My kids who work got sent home indefinitely and I wasn’t sure if there would be a job for them at the end of all this. It almost felt
Waiuku’s Sergeant-incharge Dean Borrell (Photo supplied)
IMPACTS
a bit like Armageddon—there were long queues outside supermarkets, hardware stores, bottle stores and queues at ATMs. I worked so much overtime those couple of days that I never got a chance to join the ques and get food at home and I lived off noodles and toast for a week! Once we got into level four, things settled down to a new normal. A lot of the extra crime and incidents we thought would result, didn’t start. In Papakura there were always hour-long queues at the supermarkets and some people lost their tempers with supermarket staff. There was a rise in domestics and believe it or not Police still attended out of control parties and disorder throughout. There was a portion of the population who almost totally ignored the lockdown rules. We avoided taking offenders into custody where possible to reduce contacts. But on the whole crime decreased. Within the station we had to wipe our desks down with disinfectant each time we left it, our meetings were limited to eight people, to maintain distancing. We washed our boots in a foot solution before entering a police station. Police cars had to be disinfected between drivers. We were not allowed to visit other Police stations or even go to other offices within the station, so if someone did get infected it would not take out an entire police station. We showered before and after work leaving our potentially contaminated uniforms at work reducing the risk of bringing the virus home. I maintained a list of staff off sick with symptoms of Covid and worked out who their close contacts were, and they too were told to stay at home and isolate. It took up to four-five days to get a Covid test result back so we often had several staff off work waiting for their results. Those gaps in the numbers had to be managed. We also sent police staff to several hotels to help guard overseas arrivals and still have several staff doing that. No one in our area caught the virus. At first anyone who coughed was sent home, but we soon learnt to manage the normal winter illnesses. On a personal level I worked right through leveI four and I was glad to get out of the house, keep busy and have the social contact. I loved the commute to Papakura; it took almost half the time without the traffic. It was worrying at first that I could be exposed to something at work and bring it home to my family. Some supermarkets allowed essential workers to have an hour to shop without queuing and that made a big difference because when you were working ten hours a day there was little time to queue for food as well. I think 99% of Franklin people stuck to the rules and let’s hope it has paid off.
The economic impact of closing borders and locking down the country for over a month is huge. Prior to Covid-19, tourism was NZ’s number one export earner. With borders closed, airlines, hotels, tourism operators and all related businesses undertake serious staff reductions and some businesses close for good. Further financial fallout is expected.
• A ir NZ, New Zealand’s national airline, sees its share price crash from $3.05 to a low of just 80 cents. • E conomists predict the unemployment rate will soar from pre Covid-19 rates of 4%, to 10% as jobs are slashed in the wake of the economic impacts on business in NZ.
Firefighter
STORY PHILIP DEE
Lockdown, isolation, social distancing and bubble are all words and practices that we are all too acquainted with now due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. But for some of the essential service providers these were all practices that were not only for the home front during level 4 and 3 lockdown, they needed to be extended to another bubble to ensure the community could still be protected in the event of an emergency. On the eve of Level 4 Lockdown Waiuku’s Volunteer Fire Brigade members held a meeting to finalise how it was that as an essential service we would be able to continue to provide an essential and critical service to the community in the midst of the Lockdown and the pandemic. Fire and Emergency New Zealand had set out guidelines and practices that required the brigade members, who felt comfortable to still respond, to be able to do so whilst reducing the likelihood of any members contracting COVID-19 or if the worst did occur, ensuring there was no further spread amongst the brigade members. As a brigade we were allotted into “Watches”, a 6 person team consisting of an Officer, Driver and four other firefighters some of which were able to also fulfill roles such as driver to ensure we were adequately resourced in what was to become our “second bubble”. Each watch was rostered onto twenty four hour shifts working over a three day shift cycle. This was set up to ensure each watch remained in their own bubble, which although sounds simple it added additional complexities to how we responded to emergencies when both of our fire appliances were required to attend, as we were required to socially distance ourselves from the other watches. During the Lockdown period Waiuku Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to sixty one calls for assistance to emergencies within our community. At each
call attended we were given information relating not only to the situation we were attending but also to the COVID-19 risk presented to our crews. This would range from information of no known COVID-19 risk to the real possibility of responding to a scene where there may have been known COVID-19 cases. Each response now required an additional layer of personal protective equipment for our firefighters to reduce any likelihood of contracting COVID-19, gloves, masks, goggles, aprons were all potentially required in addition to our normal protective equipment. Once back on station we were then required to decontaminate any equipment utilised and disinfect our fire appliances, again to protect the other bubbles within our brigade.
• T he government implements a wage subsidy which sees $15 billion of funds given to more than 500,000 NZ businesses in an effort to support job continuation.
• N ew Zealand’s GDP falls by 1.6% for the March 2020 quarter - the biggest single quarterly drop in nearly 30 years.
• Consumer confidence drops to levels last seen during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
Car Fire:
3
Vegetation Fire:
22
Motor Vehicle Accident: 11 Medical Response:
4
Controlled Burnoff:
8
Private Fire Alarm:
4
Other:
9
We would like to thank the community members we interacted with during the lockdown for respecting our bubbles and social distancing while we attended emergencies, we would also like to thank the community as a whole for your continued support for Waiuku Volunteer Fire Brigade, it is greatly appreciated.
• N ew Zealand Tourism industry is dramatically cut due to strict border controls. As of March 2020, tourism accounted for 20% of our export trade, the largest single export.
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
Olive Patricia Craig On 1 June 2020, West Franklin lost one of the area’s long-standing residents. Olive Patricia Craig (nee Bright) passed away just one week after her 100th birthday. Olive was known to everybody by the loving title of “Tot”. Her funeral was held on 6 June and the following is the eulogy given by her eldest son Graham telling of her long and full life. My mother’s parents machine sewing my May and Samuel school shirts and Bright were dairy trousers; of the copper farmers at Maioro. in the wash house Samuel had trained where the water was as a bootmaker in his boiled for the washing father’s business 47 and plum puddings Queen Street Waiuku. hanging from a broom With the onset of handle cooked at World War 1, he enlistChristmas time and of ed for the services and rinsing the sheets in leased the business cold water using the out. In December 1918 blue bag that always along with brother sat on the washhouse Ben and good friend window sill,” Graham George Goodwright continued. they purchased Mrs Other memories are Reid’s estate at Maioro the clothesline and and divided it three all the white underways. clothes: no colours My mother was the those days! Of boiling youngest of their three the kettle to fill the hot children, I guess that’s water bottles: of cupwhy she was known as boards removed in the Tot. Her brother Roy kitchen to make way was two years older for a refrigerator, and and sister Joan (Dethe treat when Mum nize) two years older made us homemade again. They must have ice cream. inherited some pretty good genes as they all have He recalled his family replacing the push mower lived to a great age. Mother was actually born in with a rotary one; bottling of fruit, they even preAuckland. When she was due, her mother, stopped served eggs and stored them in a four gallon can. with an aunt in Mt Albert; the reason being in the On the handle of the door between the kitchen winter the Maioro roads were muddy and difficult and the dining room hung a dog collar. Every year to traverse. I remember my grandmother telling when the relicensing fee for the farm dog was paid me that on occasions she had to tuck her dress in Franklin County Council issued a new collar with her bloomers and get out and push the car. the appropriate year stamped onto a brass tag on Tot attended the first Maioro school. A plaque the collar. Mum used this collar to discipline us. commemorates that site on the road just north of The family remembered getting under the table the forestry; she passed her proficiency at the age amongst the table and chair legs so their mother of 12 and left school to help on her parent’s farm. couldn’t get a good swing at them: a good tactic. There was no secondary education at that time: “In those days the slogan was ‘spare the rod and such a contrast with today’s thinking. spoil the child’. Yes, things have certainly changed As a child, she remembered the Waiuku fire but not all. I revere her wisdom telling us when of 1927, the smoke of which could be seen from rain was coming – she said she could feel it in her Maioro. This memory was engraved in her mind no joints,” he said. doubt because of the family shop being involved. Tot used to listen to the noise of the sea. The In her teenage years along with lifetime friend roar of the Manukau bar signified bad weather, the Winnie Goodwright, she Waikato bar good weather, played netball, tennis, and the dangers of swimRecently, I have been recalling enjoyed Scottish and Irish ming on the coast. memories of her earlier days at dancing and learnt the Mothers are still known piano achieving a high Tahurangatira Road; of the cot in to wet their handkerchief standard. the cowshed while she and dad with their lips to remove Tot married Wilfred dirt from a child’s face milked; of sitting on the carrier Craig in January 1941 and or when hurt they kiss it they lived at Tahurangatira while Mum biked to Whiriwhiri to better, something that has Road. When Wilfred was play tennis, my legs were so tired survived the test of time. posted on overseas service Tot’s grandchildren and holding them clear of the back Tot returned to her parents’ indeed great-grandchildren home at Maioro. Letters wheel. I remember her joy when have been fortunate to Wilfred wrote to Tot while the carpet sweeper was replaced share some of her life and overseas are still in the have many fond memoby an Electrolux vacuum cleaner; ries of the meals and what family. Tot’s son Graham said “I cringe to think of her sitting at the treadle sewing they would describe as how we modern-day New Nana’s funny ways of saying Zealanders complain about machine sewing my school shirts the enforced isolation we and trousers; of the copper in the and doing things. Her life revolved around her family have just gone through. wash house where the water was and home and they have all We complain about a few benefited greatly from her boiled for the washing. weeks when then, it was kindness. measured in years.” Graham finished his “Recently, I have been recalling memories of her eulogy for his mother by giving a closing quote earlier days at Tahurangatira Road; of the cot in appropriate for this time. “The catchline of these the cowshed while she and dad milked; of sitting days is ‘living in your bubble’. My mother found on the carrier while Mum biked to Whiriwhiri to her bubble at Franklin Memorial Hospital.” play tennis, my legs were so tired holding them Graham acknowledged the wonderful care she clear of the back wheel. I remember her joy when had received there. “She was in comfort until the the carpet sweeper was replaced by an Electrolux vacuum cleaner; of her sitting at the treadle sewing end,” he concluded.
PAGE 11
NOTICES HAIR Mervyn
WAIUKU COSMOPOLITAN CLUB
The family would like to thank those who sent cards and baking, for the phone calls and memories shared following the death of our much loved Father and Poppy.
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PAGE 12
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
Waiuku College Enrolments 2021 Waiuku College will be carrying out Principal’s visits to contributing schools in the Waiuku Kahui Ako Area during Term 3 of this year.
Sport is back!
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
STORY KYLIE HALL /// kylie@westfranklinbreeze.nz
Enrolment packs will be provided to students. An information evening and school tour for students and whanau will be held in the first week of Term 4 on Wednesday, October 14th at 5.45pm. We also welcome enrolment applications from students outside our Kahui Ako area. Please contact the school office on 09 235-8139 if you would like to visit the college and meet with a senior staff member to find out more about the school. See also our school website at www.waiuku-college.school.nz or check out our Facebook page. Constable Road, Waiuku, Auckland | 09 235 8139
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One of the first sports events to take place post lockdown, was the Counties Manukau Cycling Club Mass Start Race which took off from the Karaka Hall on Saturday 6 June, 2020. More than 100 riders turned up to hit the tarmac and spin their wheels on an early winter’s day. The event was split to work within the Level 2 restrictions which were still in place at the time and the
Meanwhile the sports prefects at Waiuku College have been chomping at the bit and are grateful sport is now finally back! Oscar Crane-Tualaveo (year 13) who captains the college’s 1st XV rugby team, can’t wait for competition to restart later this month after returning to training in June. “I’m also a life saver with Kariaotahi and our season ended abruptly thanks to Covid. We missed out on our IRB competitions and end of year Club Champs. During lockdown I was frustrated that all the things I wanted to do in my last year at college weren’t going to happen. Really looking forward to playing and captaining the 1st XV for Waiuku College and hopefully getting our team into the finals this year.”
The Waiuku U85s first competition game was up on the hill at Onewhero. Having played them pre-season, last Saturday the team knew they were in for a hard game.
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Running 5km every two or three days during lockdown has helped Year 13 student Nathan Lowe step back onto the hockey turf. Playing for both the Kohekohe men’s team and the Waiuku College 1st XI hockey team, Nathan was thankful that only a few competitions were cancelled. “I’m really looking forward to Club Intercity Hamilton and hopefully tournament week which this year could be in Pukekohe. I couldn’t wait to get back on the turf!”
STORY PHILIP FALKNER
PHONE 235 8522
PH: ROSS 027 286 2332 OR 238 3033 156B Manukau Rd, Pukekohe www.aqaumarinenz.com
Year 12 student Logan Kempthorne did a bit of training during lockdown but found it hard to get motivated and missed his team mates too. But now that sport is back he’s got his sights set on heading to Napier in October with the Waiuku AFC where his football skills will be put to the test. “School football started late last month and club pre-season is all underway. I was so excited to be getting back to sport when I thought there wasn’t going to be any this year and I’m really looking forward to the opening of the surf season later as well,” says Logan.
U85s vs Onewhero
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They weren’t wrong in their thinking, as Onewhero were committed and physical. Onewhero got the first points with an early penalty. Waiuku struck back, a line out drive and Cadin Gillett burst free and crashed over the try line. Next points came from the boot of Curtis Shuker who was having a very tidy game at first 5. Score 8-3 to Waiuku, Onewhero kept the pressure on with a nice drive, scoring and converting to take the lead 10-8. Oscar D’Agostino-Cassie, back from a long injury lay off, put his mark on the game. A great break from full back, chip through and regather to score an excellent try. Score Waiuku 13-10 at halftime. The second half was a lot like the
first, with two evenly matched teams putting everything into defence and attack. Curtis slotted another penalty 20 minutes in. Onewhero put together a nice backline move to score. Score then 16-15 to Waiuku. Five minutes from full-time Curtis threw the perfect dummy scoring untouched under the posts, adding the extra two points with the conversion, which were the last points for the day. Waiuku 23 Onewhero 15. Players to stand out included Curtis, Nathan Phillip, Matt Collins, Hayden Falkner, Cadin Gillett, Max Andrews and Javin Taupo. Hayden was given the POD honours for a mistake free game.
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PAGE 14
WESTFRANKLINBREEZE.NZ
THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020
Merv Hair
CAPTURED
22 May 2020, West Franklin lost another icon by the name of Mervyn Leonard Hair. His heritage has been longentrenched in Waiuku’s history, with Merv being the great grandson of Edward Constable who built the Kentish Hotel in 1851, and was known as the “father of Waiuku”. Just weeks before his sudden death, the Breeze had talked with Merv about publishing his life story, but sadly this has now come to print as his obituary.
M
erv was born 98 years ago at the old Barriball homestead, 63a King Street, Waiuku, the fifth child and fourth son of Thomas and Ivy Hair (nee Barriball). The family dairy farmed 52 acres of land from 55 King Street to the corner of Sandspit Road and all land to the Sandspit – which today is covered in houses. At the age of eight, while retrieving a tennis ball off the roof, he fell between power wires sitting on one and holding on to the other. At the time, with his mother away in hospital with a cut hand, his brothers Trevor and Vic heard his screams, turned off the power switch to the cowshed and he dropped to the ground. Luckily to live another day. All of his schooling was at the old George Street School. Along with his brothers Butt and Vern, he rode to school on a white pony called Ironie. Hence the saying around Waiuku ‘ever seen three Hairs on a horse’. Merv was good at all sports he turned his hand to: boxing, swimming, rugby and was beltman for the local lifesaving club. He was also keen on horse riding. Leaving school at the age of just 14, he took up an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery; however, that didn’t eventuate, so he went to work at the local butter factory (now the Knight & Dickey depot) for 18 months before receiving a building apprenticeship with Stein Hunter starting on the 16 March 1939. It was a fiveyear apprenticeship. The first year’s wage was £1-10p per week and with the first weeks’ pay he bought a saw which was on his coffin at his funeral. Stein’s business was eventually taken over by Buttimore & Millington on the site that is now Waiuku New World. Buttimore & Millington later became Waiuku Builders and in January 1972 sold the business to Coe and Lewer Builders. Merv worked for them until he retired at 68 after 53 years. Forty four of those years spent working in the joinery factory. He met his wife Phyllis Kayes when they were both sixteen, and went out dancing every Saturday night. They became engaged, but their lives were about to change as Merv heeded the call to serve his country and enlisted in the armed services. He joined the Waikato Mounted Rifles early in 1942 and went into Camp at Waiouru, taking his own horse. He reached the rank of sergeant and was a gunnery instructor. After serving at several locations in New Zealand, at the age of 21 he joined the 4th Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles went to Mardi Camp in Egypt on the boat they called the Queue ship. On arrival in camp he was posted to the Division Cavalry. When the war in the desert was over they were back on the boat bound for Italy landing at Bari. At Bari he was recommended to be a driver for Major Robin Bell who was the air liaison officer. Each morning he would take Major Robin Bell between General Freyberg’s headquarters and General Mark Clark of the American 5th Army to arrange the bombing of Casino. When Major Bell returned home, he became the driver for Major Geoffrey Cox the intelligence officer and former Rhodes Scholar who was later to become Sir Geoffrey Cox. When the war was over, he drove any officer that needed a driver including “Tiny” Freyberg himself. He was then asked to drive Freyberg’s number two car, a Humber 8, back to England travelling through France to Calais port where the General took the leave boat to England. He made his way back to Bari via Switzerland and arrived back in Wellington by boat in February 1946. He was President of the Kings Empire Veterans and was made a Life Member. This period of time at the war, would go on to influence his life greatly. On returning home that February, he bought his
section for £105 and went about building the house at 35 King Street. Phyllis and Merv were married on the 5 June 1946 at St James Presbyterian Church in Pukekohe and went on to have three children, Marilyn, Alan and Glenda. Except for two years living in Hulls Road he lived all his life in King Street being born at 63A and all his married life at 35 King Street. When the family were young, he served on the committee of the Otaua Amateur Athletic Club, and for many years the Waiuku Junior Boys Rugby Club and the South Auckland Junior Boys, becoming president of both. He was made a Life Member of the Waiuku Rugby Club in 1970. He was always on call to clubs when carpentry skills were required and the saying don’t marry a builder because you can’t get anything done, rang true in the Hair household. Tragically, in September 1971 Phyllis suffered a brain hemorrhage and a week later passed away at Auckland Hospital on 30 September at age 49. After some time, Merv started going to the Good Companions Club in Auckland and met and danced with Jean Davy. Jean was a city girl with two adult daughters. He was invited to a social function and asked Jean as his partner and the rest is history. They were married on the 26 July 1975. Once retired, sport continued to be his interest especially rugby and bowls. He took an active interest in his grandchildren’s sporting escapades, and supported them on the side-lines of many rugby and hockey games. He joined Waipipi Bowling Club almost 30 years ago, serving on the committee for 12 years and president for eight years and was made a Life Member in May 2012. Merv and Jean spent much of their time campervanning and enjoying the NZ countryside. After 41 years of marriage, Jean passed away on the 4 October 2016. After three falls at his home in King Street he went into care at CHT Waiuku in September 2019 aged 97. He still retained keen interest in rugby and keeping up with the news. He will be remembered as a loving father and grandfather, his work ethic has been passed down through his children and to his grandchildren. While his steady, supportive nature has influenced many lives in one way or another. He will be missed by his family as a figure of strength, loyalty, resilience and community spirit.
A humorous advertisement appeared in local publications. Merv Hair (‘Chips’) and his apprentice (‘Sawdust’) are anxious to supply the best joinery.
Three Hairs on a horse’s back. From left brothers Merv, Butt and Vic Hair.
Each month we showcase a photograph taken by a local photographer. This month’s photo was taken by Faye Bell who captured the stunning glow of sunset at Matakawau on the Awhitu Peninsula.
Adjusted local road speeds AWHITU: Brook Road, part 70km>40km Featon Ave, full length 70km>40km Matakawau Road, 70km>50km Poaka Road, full length 70km>50km GLENBROOK: Brookside Road, part 80km>60km, part 70km>60km Charisma Road (west and east end), full length, 100km>60km Collie Road, full length 100km>60km Conroy Road, full length 100km>60km Dunsmuir Road, full length 100km>60km Farm Park Road, full length 100km>60km Gearon Road (deferred), full length 100km>60km Gilmore Road, full length 100km>60km Glenbrook Beach Road, part 100km>80km, part 100km>60km Glenbrook Road, full length part 70, 80 and 100km>80km Glenbrook Station Road, part 100km>60km, parts 100km>80km Glenbrook-Waiuku Road, part 70km>60km, part 100km>80km Higgins Road, full length 100km>60km Klipsch Road, full length 100km>60km McKinney Road, full length 100km>60km McLarin Road, part 100km>60km, part 100km>50km Pakington Lane, full length 100km>60km Reg Bennett Road, full length 80km>60km Reid Road, full length 100km>60km Sanctuary Drive, full length 100km>60km Sherwood Drive, full length 100km>60km Smalley Road, full length 100km>60km Smeaton Road, full length 100km>60km Speedy Road, full length 100km>60km
Waitangi Falls Road (deferred,) full length 100km>60km Whitham Road, full length 80km>60km Williams Road, full length 80km>60km Wymer Road, full length 100km>760km MATAKAWAU: Awhitu Road, 70km>60km Matakawau Road, 70km>60km POLLOK: Awhitu Road, 70km>60km Pollok Wharf Road, 70km>60km WAIUKU: Awhitu Road, part 70km>60km Awhitu Road, part 70km>60km Bald Hill Road, parts 70km>60km Bald Hill Road, school zone 40km>40km Barriball Road, full length 100km>60km Cameron Road, full length 100km>60km Cemetery Road, full length 70km>50km Collingwood Road, part 70km>60km Cornwall Road, Part 80km>60km Gleaming Place, full length 70km>50km Glenbrook-Waiuku Road, part 70km>60km, part 100km>80km Hall Road, full length 100km>80km Hull Road, part 70km>50km Hyland Place, full length 70km>50km Hyland Place, full length 70km>40km Kitchener Road Cornwall to Colombo, 70km>60km Morley Road, full length 100km>60km Pukeoware Road, full length 100km>60km Sands Road, full length 100km>60km Shakespeare Road, full length 100km>60km Waiuku Road, parts 80km, 100km>80km Waiuku Road, parts 70km, 100km>60km Waiuku-Otaua Road, parts 50km, 70km>50km
For full details check out Auckland Council website www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Footnote: Where roads continue into Waikato District Council territorial boundaries, the original speed zones are being retained.