Holy Trinity AGM backs vicar in wake of parish schism
A vote of support for Holy Trinity vicar Chris Murphy was carried overwhelmingly at the church’s AGM last Sunday and will be conveyed to Anglican authorities.
Former Holy Trinity vicar Murray Spackman led the call of support for
Murphy, whose style and adherence to more traditional biblical teachings have been criticised by dozens who have left the church over the past year and some of those who have stayed.
Spackman said Murphy had fulfilled
all the duties required by Holy Trinity’s statutes.
In a show of hands of the more than 100 people who attended the AGM, the vast majority supported Spackman’s motion,
To page 8
Human canvases make their mark
Stamp duty... Steve Lovett and Joanna Cook printed words on each other as part of a performance launching their exhibition at the Depot Artspace last weekend. Story and performance photo, page 37.
Sunsetter festival delivers spending boost for hospitality outlets
The Sunsetter festival lifted Devonport Village spending by almost 19 per cent on 31 January compared with other Saturdays that month, transaction figures show.
Most of the increased spend centred on hospitality venues.
Electronic card transaction data analysed by Marketview shows spending across Devonport Village businesses rose 18.7 per cent above the January Saturday average on the day of the festival.
A total of $421,740 was spent across 9,092 transactions, $66,600 more than the January 2026 Saturday spending average and a 24.7 per cent increase in transactions.
Cafés, restaurants and takeaway outlets had a 41.3 per cent increase in spend and a 49.5 per cent increase in transactions compared with the average.
Hon Simon Watts
MP for North Shore northshore@parliament.govt.nz SimonWattsMP
when an international-standard event works in genuine partnership with the village.
“A 41 per cent lift in hospitality spending in a single day is remarkable. We’ve heard fantastic feedback from our cafés and restaurants, many of whom hosted after-parties and reported strong trade well into the evening. It’s exactly the kind of ripple effect you hope to see.”
Sunsetter organiser Adam Bennett said encouraging people to explore the village had always been part of the event’s design.
“From the beginning, we wanted Sunsetter to integrate with the village rather than operate alongside it. Devonport is an incredible host, and when an event of this scale works in partnership with local businesses, everyone benefits.
The upturn suggests visitors attending the event also spent time and money in the village before and after. Spending was 6.3 per cent higher than on the day of Sunsetter 2025, with transactions up 4 per cent.
Tabitha Coleman, General Manager of the Devonport Business Association, said the data helped quantify the commercial impact of major events.
“Devonport is an incredible place to host events, and Sunsetter shows what’s possible
Devonport Publishing Ltd First Floor, 9 Wynyard St Telephone: 09 445 0060
Best Community Involvement: 2021, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2005
Best Sports Reporter: 2024, 2016
Best Lifestyle/Feature Writer: 2024, 2023
VOYAGER/CANON MEDIA AWARDS
Community Reporter of the Year: Winner 2018
Community Newspaper of the Year: Finalist 2017
MANAGING EDITOR: Rob Drent
CHIEF REPORTER: Janetta Mackay
ADVERTISING: Candice Izzard
DESIGN: Brendon De Suza
NEXT ISSUE: March 27
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: March 20
“We see real potential for Sunsetter to keep evolving, and it’s encouraging to see the impact already reflected in the numbers. That gives us confidence to keep building something special here.”
The Devonport Business Association commissioned the analysis to better understand spending patterns within the BID area and to inform future event planning. The results provided a strong case study for how events could support the local economy, Coleman said.
TGS volleyballers win first prems title
Takapuna Grammar School’s top boys volleyball side bested arch rival Rangitoto College to win the Auckland premier grade for the first time.
In the final match of the season – won 3-2 by TGS at home last Friday night – the two sides were tied on 2-2 going into the crucial last game.
Both teams had dispatched Papaptoetoe, 3-0, earlier in the evening, before squaring off in the the TGS gym.
The result was a reversal of the North Harbour Super League competition, in which Rangitoto topped the table, with TGS second. The separate Wednesday
OPEN DAY
Sunday 15 March 1–3pm
Sausage sizzle and face painting for kids
Fun football activities
Ask our convenors about playing at NSU
All welcome.
Location Allen Hill Stadium, Lake Rd, Devonport. www.nsu.org.nz
evening league ended two days before the Auckland victory.
Both teams will be in back in action for Auckland Championships at Bruce Pullman Arena at Papukura this week, TGS as top seed. The champs determine which teams stay in the premier grade next season and determine rankings.
The school nationals will be held later in Palmerston North.
• After the Harbour league, four TGS students won Super 12 team selection: Premier boys players Caue Dornelas, Hosea Teasia and Theo Andrade. Nadia Letica made the girls team.
Authorised by Hon Simon Watts, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
Shore cricketers win promotion with game to spare
North Shore Cricket Club’s premier men made history last Saturday, as the first team to win promotion back to Auckland Cricket’s top tier just a season after being relegated.
Shore won the second-division Tom Hellaby two-day competition in style: a comprehensive win over Kumeu away gave it a six-from-six record for the season and locked up the title with one game to spare.
The side’s last match at home against second-placed Eden Roskill, starting this Saturday, now becomes something of a victory lap.
Shore really began to hit their straps after Christmas, with opener Max Clarke excelling with the bat. He hit 58 and 71 not out against Birkenhead, then back to back centuries against Ellerslie (129) and Kumeu (113 off 107 balls).
The club’s bowling attack fired as well, with Krissy Mistry taking five wicket bags against Ellerslie and Kumeu; and Brandon Mavuta also taking five against Kumeu.
North Shore coach Ben Wall was delighted with the result and promotion, the culmination of a season in which the side also reached the semi-finals of the Auckland one-day and T20 competitions.
In only his first season as coach, Wall said: “Going straight back was not expected.” But the promotion and other results were a testament to the attitude and commitment of the young Shore side.
Rory Bessell and Freddy Birch had been taking wickets around strike bowlers Mistry and Mavuta. Dan Middleton, who scored a century pre-Christmas, and young wicket-keeper Harry Marner, had developed strongly over the season.
Clarke who at 22, had been made captain when his brother Will went overseas, was an “integral part” of Wall’s three-year plan as coach.
“It’s not just about the premiers—it’s about the whole club. After three years I want it (North Shore) to be the top club in Auckland – the club everyone wants to come to,” Wall said. Integral to the plan was growing the juniors and women’s grades.
“We’ve also got a great cafe down at the club now – there’s a lot happening,” Wall said. A celebration day was likely to coincide with the final day of the final two-day match on 21 March.
Cricket club stalwart dies
North Shore cricket club life member Jeff Chapman has died.
After serving on the junior committee, from 2002 he spent the next nine years on the senior management committee, seven as chairperson.
In later years he helped with the club’s bar administration, preparing annual financial statements, and running its annual luncheon.
From 2016 to 2020, Chapman was club secretary. He was appointed a life member in 2014.
Top knock…Max Clarke, one of Shore’s best players this season, scored back to back centuries in February to spearhead the team’s promotion run
Takapuna Grammar School sailing mates Sam Kandziora and Zephyr Lane battled it out at the head of the Optimist fleet at the Auckland College Sport Secondary Schools Regatta raced in their home waters off Narrow Neck last Friday.
Calm conditions reduced racing to two rounds, with Sam (14) winning with third and first placings and Zephyr (13) runner up with a first and a fourth, only one point separating the two Wakatere Boating Club sailors.
They spent most of the race battling each other on the course.
Both are now setting their sights on the Optimist nationals in New Plymouth in April. Both finished in the top 20 last year and hope for top five finishes this year.
It will be Sam’s last year in Optimists before moving up, most likely to Starlings, but Zephyr has another season left in the Optis.
Other TGS successes included Vienna Campbell and Mia Meikle, who were first girls home in the RS Feva fleet.
TGS Rowing success
Two Takapuna Grammar rowing crews claimed A grade silver medals at the North Island Secondary School championships held on Lake Karapiro this month.
They were: the Girls Under-15 girls coxed octuple skulls (Amelia Moy, Mackenzie Wagon, Elsi Carryer, Chloe Moseley, Tassi Grenfell, Florence Beauchamp, Grace Cagney Potts, Isla Barrett and (cox) Hannah Skelton) and the Girls U15 double sculls (Carryer and Wagon).
Five other crews made A grade finals and others placed in B and C grades races, in the lead-up to the national Maadi Cup regatta.
Friendly rivals... Sam Kandziora (left) and Zephyr Lane finished first and second in the Optimist class at the secondary schools regatta at Narrow Neck last week. Below: Vienna Campbell (left) and Mia Meikle, first girls home in the RS Feva fleet.
Four golds for Connor Brady ahead of national duty
A standout performance claiming four gold medals at the national track and field championships this month, underscores why Takapuna Grammar School student Connor Brady will soon be representing New Zealand in events across the Tasman.
Allrounder Brady (pictured, right) will compete in the decathlon at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, in Brisbane in April, then in various events at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin in mid-May.
Brady’s naming in the New Zealand team for the Oceania champs, follows his success at the New Zealand champs held at Trusts Arena, West Auckland. He won the under 18 shotput and pole vault and was in winning Auckland relay teams in the U18 4x100m and 4x400m. A silver in the 100m hurdles rounded out his trips to the podium and he was finalist in discus.
Before heading overseas, Brady has the New Zealand Combined Events Championships this month, which features decathlon and heptathlon competitions at senior and age-group level.
Also competing at Trusts Arena were Devonport-raised Olympians and former TGS students Eliza McCartney, who won the senior national pole vault title, and shotputter Jacko Gill, who was kept in second place by Tom Walsh.
Brady was not the only current Takapuna Grammar School student to medal among the emerging teen athletes.
Under-18 competitor Jess Lathwood (lower right) claimed silver in the pole vault and then stepped up an age grade for a bronze in the U20 triple jump. Her older sister, Samantha, who has finished school, was second in the U20 200m.
In the U16 grade, Romey Jewell claimed silver in the 400m race and a bronze in 200m.
Paige Burrows was in the U16 4x100m relay team that placed second and also made the individual 100m final.
Asha Edwards made the U20 1500m final and Alex Hallie the U18 discus final. Devonport resident Emma Cowan won gold in the U20 4x400m relay and silvers in the individual 400m and the 4x100m relay.
The national results followed successful outings for the same TGS athletes and several others at the Auckland Track and Field Championships last month. The students competed for their clubs, mostly representing Takapuna Athletics Club.
Five TGS students medalled, with three becoming Auckland champions. They were: Finn Lazzari, who won the under 16 long jump and high jump; Connor Brady, who won the U18 shotput, and also claimed silvers in the 400m and high jump and bronzes in the 100m and discus; and Romey Jewell, who won the U16 400m, was 2nd in the 200m and third in the 100m.
Other medallists were: Jessica Lathwood, 2nd in U18 long jump and a 100m finalist; Sienna Rinaldi, third in the U16 long jump, triple jump and high jump; Alex Hallie, third in the U18 men’s shotput and fourth in discus.
Paige Burrows was a finalist in the U16 100m, which she also achieved at nationals.
Emma Lynskey
Residential Sales
021 803 873 emma.lynskey@bayleys.co.nz
Narrow Neck 9A North Avenue
Devonport 54 Calliope Road
Momentum in the Devonport market.
54 Calliope Road sold one day after auction following a high-interest campaign, while 9A North Avenue attracted 70+ buyer groups and secured a successful off-market sale.
Every home is different and every sale requires a bespoke approach. I will be with you every step of the way, always listening and working together to ensure your home achieves the best possible result.
Seagull deaths from suspected toxic water prompted council workers to clean out the heritage fountain near the Devonport Library last week.
A reader contacted the Flagstaff after seeing a dead bird near the library and hearing about other bird deaths. She sent a photo of the state of the fountain, which we forwarded to Auckland Council.
Council instructed its maintenance contractor to inspect the fountain, undertake any necessary cleaning, and investigate the matter further, said Eloi Fonseca, manager, of area operations.
“If any additional action is required following the inspection, this will be addressed
promptly... thanks to the community member for bringing this to our attention,” he said. Biosecurity New Zealand advises: If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, report it immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 so Biosecurity New Zealand can investigate the cause. Do not handle or move the birds. Provide as much detail as you can, including:
• A GPS reading or other precise location information.
• Photographs and videos of sick and dead birds.
• Species name and estimate of the numbers affected.
Retiree refuses to ‘sit it out’
Retiree refuses to ‘sit it out’
Annie has always been an active grandmother. Morning beach walks, pilates twice a week, and with seven grandchildren, she was always ready to play.
But at 71, that had changed.
When her four-year-old grandson asked her to play on the floor, Annie hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to, but because getting back up had become difficult.
“That moment broke something in me,” Annie recalls. “I’d been making excuses for months. But seeing his disappointed face, I realised I’d become a spectator in my own life.”
The decline had been gradual. First, skipping morning walks. Then the unopened pilates mat gathering dust.
“You don’t notice you’re shrinking your world until suddenly it’s tiny,” she says. Then a friend mentioned Koru FX over coffee.
“I almost didn’t bother,” Annie admits. “Another cream. But she’d been using it herself and lent me her bottle.”
Annie soon noticed changes. The real test came visiting her daughter’s newborn, her eighth grandchild.
“I looked at him lying there, so perfect,” Annie recalls. “And I thought, ‘I’m not missing this.’”
Without overthinking, Annie lowered herself to the floor beside him, letting his tiny hand wrap around her finger.
“My daughter found us like that,” she smiles. “She said she hadn’t seen me on the floor in such a long time.”
Three months later, Annie’s back to morning walks, gentle pilates, and being present.
“When my grandchildren need me on their level, I can get there. That’s everything.”
(left)
(above)
Nelson & Susan Elliott
All welcome but little follow up with church leavers
From page 1
which came from floor and was not included in the AGM agenda. The result was met with a standing ovation. However, dissenters were not asked to record any opposing votes.
The AGM addressed the church’s stance on welcoming the LGBTQ community.
“Vestry has invested considerable time in engaging with this question, including full meetings and inviting internal and external speakers who are affected by the issue to address vestry to inform our thinking,” the AGM agenda said.
Vestry also read a range of books on the subject. Its position could be summarised in the words of a clergyman from the UK, Rev Jago Wynne of Holy Trinity, Clapham: “Everybody is welcome at Holy Trinity [Devonport] whatever your past, your present or future. Everyone is welcome here, whatever your sexuality, whatever your theological beliefs...we will as a church keep recognising the profound heartache that this whole debate causes everyone.”
In answers to questions put to vestry by members of the congregation, Murphy reiterated that all were welcome at the church whatever their sexuality, but added that personally, after 25 years of study, he interpreted the bible to read that homosexual acts were not condoned.
However, this did not influence any welcome to all offered by the church. All views were tolerated and open debate over differing views was encouraged between church members, himself and vestry.
The church’s people’s warden, Terry Humphries, apologised on behalf of the church for a failed mediation process with those who had left the church.
No register of leavers had been kept and the church only communicated with eight people – “a central hub” of leavers – who it was thought would inform others of an offer of mediation.
Many, it seemed, did not know about the mediation opportunity. The church would offer another chance for leavers to engage, Humphries said
Five questions put by church members were answered at the AGM. A number of others would be addressed later by vestry, the AGM heard.
Backing received... Holy Trinity vicar Chris Murphy leads a prayer at the conclusion of the church
• A new vestry team will lead the church. Murphy has appointed Andy Lock, a strong supporter, as vicar’s warden. Humphries will continue as people’s warden. The newly elected members are: Janet Angelo, Ross Millikin, Sue Sandiford and Louis Couwenberg.
Four vestry members were among key officer holders who have stepped down, including acting vestry chair for most of 2025, Caroline Wishart, who was previously vestry secretary for three years. Vikashni Moore and Alistair Kirk have also left the vestry. Margaret Jull stepped down as vicar’s warden after one year.
Murphy said in his report: “Margaret has been an extraordinary servant at one of the most difficult times in the church’s life – and while working with a vicar who was not always at his best.”
Murphy: Holy Trinity is ‘family’
Holy Trinity minister Chris Murphy made an impassioned commitment to Devonport in his Vicar’s Report to the church’s AGM.
“The experiences of the past year have helped me to recognise that I am in the right place: New Zealand is my home, Devonport is my community and Holy Trinity is my family.
“There is important work to be done here with this wonderful church family, and so I fully intend to preach, pray, love and stay – for as long as I can,” Murphy says.
Church pays $210K towards hall loan
Holy Trinity paid $210,000 towards its parish hall loan in 2025, with $477,000 remaining, new treasurer Ross Millikin said in his report to the church AGM.
The Holy Trinity Op shop continued to be a major source of income, providing $65,000 in 2025.
No financial records were presented at the AGM, which vicar Chris Murphy attributed to a change in accounting practices.
The closure of Trust Management Ltd, “which provided our
parish accounting services was an unwelcome shock”, Murphy said in his Vicar’s Report.
However the “short-term pain” had led to the formation of a new accounting team at the church comprising of Millikin, Quintin Augustine and Paul Cornish. “Control of our financial affairs is now in our hands,” Murphy said.
A special meeting will be called, most likely in May, to receive the accounts and approve the budget, Murphy said.
AGM in the church hall last Sunday
Holy Trinity’s parish roll is down 46 percent on 2023 numbers, but vicar Chris Murphy says in his report to the church AGM that attendance “has not noticeably declined”.
The church annual report shows the parish roll sitting at 331, slightly up on 2025 (320) but well down on 2023 (621) and 2024 (585), with a 2024-25 fall of 43 per cent.
“We are aware that some people have left Holy Trinity,” said Murphy, who arrived in late 2023.
“Vestry engaged a mediator to help address this, but sadly many of those who left declined the opportunity.
“Despite these losses, weekly attendance has not noticeably declined, suggesting that new people are joining us.
“Both statistically and anecdotally, this appears to be the case.”
The annual report shows Church attendance declined slightly on 2024 figures, with 6791 attendances recorded in 2025 compared to 6988 the previous year.
However, the 2025 number was up on 2023 (6741) and 2022 (6237).
Attendance is well down on the pre-Covid era: in 2019, 9944 attendances were recorded.
Developments noted by Murphy included:
• A “Church Care” pastoral visiting programme progressing, with training sessions and the formation of a volunteers group which will soon begin going out into the community.
• A young adults group established after an increased attendance amongst those aged 18-30.
• A new support team set up, with Kelly Jans managing the church hall, Terence Fenton managing administration and Paul Cornish managing accounts.
• The Holy Trinity Christmas lunch having been revived by Ian Cunliffe, assisted by Margaret Judd.
Major maintenance work is needed on the historic Holy Trinity Church.
While its hall has recently been upgraded the church has received “limited attention in recent years”, according Vicar Chris Murphy’s property report to the church AGM.
Key maintenance projects included:
• Reroofing the church
• Repairing a leak in the chancel
• Organ repair
• Repainting the church exterior
• Continuing vicarage window replacements
• Replacing the church doors
• installing air conditioning in the hall.
“Due to financial constraints vestry was unable to engage an arborist to prune the five large trees on site. This should be a priority in 2026.” Murphy said.
However the vicarage had a new kitchen installed in 2025 and the parish “Friday gardeners” continued to an outstanding job, particularly in the Garden of remembrance.
Wakatere Boating Club celebrates 100th anniversary
Amanda Evans
Around 500 people attended the Wakatere Boating Club’s recent centenary regatta weekend.
Heritage Race Day was a highlight, an event largely run by members of the Salthouse and Brooke families, along with a few helpers.
Club Commodorre Greg Salthouse said: “Our founding members would have loved it — especially seeing some of their great-grandchildren out there running the racing.
“A pretty special reminder that while boats and sails may change, Wakatere’s family spirit hasn’t.”
Family affair… Judy Salthouse (Wakatere president and daughter of founder Jack Brooke) with brothers Robert and Don Brooke (WBC Patron) and Don’s wife, Elaine Brooke
Heritage on the water… Frostbites from around Auckland were among the fleet on the Wakatere Boating Club’s Heritage Race Day off Narrow Neck Beach. Below: Visiting sailors in heritage craft. PHOTOS:
- 2.30pm
RICHARD GLADWELL
Former bowls site clean-up cost rises to $220K
The cost to ratepayers of cleaning up the old bowling green area of Achilles Reserve has climbed to $220,000 since the job was authorised last September with a spending cap of $100,000.
Work required includes the removal of rubble from unfinished digger work that broke up bitumen at the site.
Auckland Council staff sought extra budget at a Devonport-Takapuna Local Board workshop last week, saying $78,000 was needed just for the project’s professional services, of which a large chunk had been spent already, leaving not enough for the physical works to be done as planned this financial year.
Work needed includes removing two piles of around 132 cubic metres of rubble and disposing of a contaminated bowling green surface where water pools, then renewing the surface.
“I don’t want to stump up the bill for someone else who came in and smashed it up,” said board member Terence Harpur. He was referring to the digger work by a contractor around three years ago, after the Restoring Takarunga Hauraki environmental group gained council permission in late 2023 for its volunteers to plant in the area.
In June 2024, after a resident complained about the rubble piles appearing, council told the group to stop breaking up the green and surrounding surface, an action that was due to a “bit of a misunderstanding”, in the words of a council staff member at the time.
Board chair Trish Deans said last week the group’s efforts in planting were well-meaning.
It was unclear who was responsible for the “cowboy effort” with the digger.
Board adviser Maureen Buchanan noted that the cost of remediating the old bowling green area would have been necessary
Work required... Piles of rubble and scoria need to be removed as part of a clean-up at Achilles Reserve
anyway, due to contamination, a decaying rubberised surface and the need to remove another pile of scoria. “We were going to have to look at it sometime.”
Harpur said the way the project had unfolded was the kind of spending council’s “war on waste” committee was targeting. He wanted to know how many people used the reserve and why staff had spent $50,000 on pre-contracted consultants. “When you realised that [overspend] was going to happen, you should have paused and come back to us,” he told the project manager, who agreed a previous team should have done this.
The professional services spend covered design, stakeholder consultation, consenting, tendering and construction management, along with internal costs and contingency
and delivery overheads.
Member Gavin Busch queried why the board’s wish to extend a pathway through the area and complete planting designed to help prevent run-off from the flat surface to properties below was not covered in the report. “Where’s that at?”
He said it made sense to tie the work into removing the bowling surface, rather than going back into the area twice. “Go back to RTH. They can plant it,” he added.
Board member George Wood said due to the state of the bowling green, the costs of its removal would come back on council’s books. “We can’t just walk away from it.”
Council’s area parks manager Eloi Fonseca said staff would review the reserve plans. Work could be deferred or funds reallocated.
Beautifully crafted cabinetry designed for comfort, style, and timeless appeal
Neo Design specialises in premium kitchens, bathrooms, and bespoke cabinetry, delivering expert craftsmanship, precision, and flawless finishes. Experience custom designs, superior workmanship, and a commitment to excellence—guaranteed.
Call us for a free consultation
CUSTOM
KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, AND CABINETRY TO FIT YOUR VISION
Boat club sets $5.5m target for clubhouse rebuild
Takapuna Boating Club is launching a massive fundraising drive to restore its landmark Bayswater clubhouse.
Club president Barry Ward is confident a successful campaign can be mounted to bring the heritage wooden building back to life as a community focal point.
“The place will be restored – we have to put together $5.5 million to do the job properly,” he told the Observer. “It should be a real addition to the neighbourhood and the whole North Shore.”
A campaign launch will be held on 26 March to detail the club’s plans to members, sponsors, stakeholders and supporters.
Asked what the prospects were of raising such a large sum, Ward said there had been a lot of interest in the building from community members and potential tenants who might set up a hospitality business.
After years of lobbying, the club secured a law change in July last year which allowed for the dilapidated building’s partial use for commercial purposes – vital to help generate revenue to make its future more sustainable. “We’ve been busy since,” Ward said.
With the major legislative hurdle finally cleared, it got two quotes for necessary work on the building, leading to the setting of the fundraising target.“Nothing is going to happen until we get some idea of what we can raise,” Ward cautioned.
The club had already put money into the building and needed to tread carefully because, like most sports organisations, its finances were limited. But it hoped the project would attract wide interest.
“People have been involved in Takapuna Boating Club for 106 years and the building has been there for 100 years – and it was 50 years old when it was moved to Bayswater.”
Originally a tannery, the building was
barged across the harbour to serve as the boating club’s headquarters until the club relocated most operations to Takapuna Beach. It is still remembered by older residents as the scene of community dances in the 1950s.
Ward said the clubhouse was in a better state than it might look from the exterior, which has flaking paint and rotten seaside decks. It is built with solid kauri planks and in 2011 was reroofed and work done on the foundations.
Plans first revealed to the Observer last year include opening up the west-facing building to new decks, extending decking across the old concrete saltwater pool so people can walk in front of the building and connect to
the public walkway to the marina. A jetty is envisaged as well.
Inside, a major hospitality tenant would be sought for the top floor, with a mix of existing boating use and further commercial use beneath, such as a coffee or ice-cream shop.
Details of current plans will be revealed at the launch event to be held at the Takapuna Boating Club. As the project progresses, public input and feedback will help shape the asset’s future.
Ward said a restored clubhouse could drive visitors to the area and provide Bayswater locals with a place to gather. “There’s nothing down there – you have to go up to Belmont to get a coffee.”
Work to do… A restored Bayswater boathouse would be well-placed for sunset views
Skatepark saga continues this month
More information about building a skatepark on Woodall Park will be presented to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board at its next meeting.
Council staff will also offer advice about setting up temporary skateboard jumps on one of the tennis courts near Wairoa Rd – a stopgap suggestion put to the board last month by local skatepark advocate Dave Casey.
Further debate is expected at the 23 March meeting on the viability of proceeding with a plan adopted by the board last term to build near the pump track – on an old dump site – or to reconsider the location.
The new board paused the project after concerns were raised about toxicity and costs.
Board member Scott Macarthur said skateboarding might be an option in the old cricket nets area.
No immediate infrastructure upgrades are needed at Devonport Wharf before two new hybrid ferries begin operating on the central Auckland to Devonport service later this year.
Both ferries will be charged while at the cityside berth.
Scaffolding going up for months-long restoration
A complicated canopy restoration on the heritage Princess Buildings in Devonport will leave five streetfront businesses at the top of Victoria Rd behind scaffolding for up to four months.
Work is due to start on 23 March on the building which houses Louise Simpson hair salon and restaurants Flying Rickshaw, Hung Viet, Buona Sera and Niccolino.
The project is being undertaken by architectural design and project management firm Function and Form on behalf of three landlords who have separate stakes in parts of the heritage-listed building.
“It’s going to look amazing,” said Function and Form owner James Cosslett.
The work was necessary after a vehicle hit the original wrought iron canopy posts several years ago.
The posts are also being restored.
Cosslett said the company has had to jump through Auckland Council heritage team hoops to ensure what it does matches early designs for the building.
The existing flat canopy over the footpath, which dates to the Art Deco era, will be replaced with a barrel-shaped canopy to match the original design on construction in 1912.
The barrel shape is shown in design sketches by architect T W May, whose name features on another Devonport building. In early photographs the barrel design is mostly obscured by store signage.
Cosslett said the project had been complex and challenging.
The three landlords, who live in Wellington, Tauranga and rurally were “super-motivated” to do it properly.
He was keen for the public to know the stores behind the scaffolding were still trading.
“We want to try to get the Devonport
community to support these businesses.”
Pedestrian access along the road would be maintained and lights and netting set up beneath the scaffolding.
The project had been put off over the busy summer hospitality season.
Cosslett said one of the trickiest parts of the restoration was the ornate wrought-iron posts. Council had said these had to be refurbished rather than replaced with replicas. Some adjustments were required, however, to meet modern building codes and to put finials back in place that had been removed in favour of Art Deco streamlining.
Crown moulding at the top of the posts had to be recreated, with the approval of
Narcissism, Gaslighting and Recovery
If you suspect you’ve had a narcissistic partner, you may have experienced the rages, the coercive control, the lack of empathy, the entitlement and exploitation, the disorienting gaslighting and the loss of your sense of self-worth and reality. You’ve wondered whether your partner is indeed a narcissist or whether there is something fundamentally wrong with you (something your partner frequently suggests). You’ve seen what it’s doing to your children, your extended family, your friendships and you. Maybe you have left the relationship or maybe you are still in the relationship but are considering your options.
What can you do? How can you rebuild your life, self-confidence, selfesteem and feeling of well-being? How can you best manage yourself even if you can’t change your partner’s behaviour?
I counsel clients who are now in or have been in a narcissistic relationship. They are often traumatised by the experience and counselling can help them heal. We focus first on emotional stabilisation, then active recovery and finally reintegrating clients into a more fulfilling life. Although the healing process can be challenging, you can rebuild your life after a narcissistic relationship, and you deserve to do so.
Let me know if I can help.
the council heritage team. Laser cutting was involved. “It’s taken a very long time.”
To avoid damage to the building, the existing canopy will have to be deconstructured rather than just knocked down.
For those interested in heritage restoration work, QR codes will be set up, so people can follow the project as it unfolds.
The Princess Building, which carries the address 95-103 Victoria Rd, was originally known as the Hardley’s Buildings.
It had an exposed facade of brickwork which was later plastered over. Removing the plaster is not considered viable.
The upper level is leased to businesses and used for accommodation.
As it was…Victoria Rd and the Princess Buildings (at top right) in a photograph taken more than 100 years ago
Peninsula pontoon proposal still in play despite concerns
A second swimmers’ pontoon might still installed on the Devonport peninsula, with choices narrowing to Narrow Neck, Duders Beach and Torpedo Bay.
Although Devonport-Takapuna Local Board members have raised concerns about all three locations, they have told council staff continue looking at the $53,000 project and report back.
The hope was to add two more pontoons to the water next summer, one in the northern half of the board’s area.
Staff had whittled down 12 possible sites to a top four, including Milford Beach. But the board has now asked that Lake Pupuke, off Killarney Park or Quarry Lake also be assessed.
The board was told the budget would be exceeded in providing two pontoons, with staff recommending only one or none at all be provided.
Of the peninsula site contenders an analysis found:
• Narrow Neck Beach was the best option on the east coast, but still susceptible to storms. A pontoon there would need to
sited at the northern end of the beach, well away from the boat ramp, but also be on the southern side of bedrock in the intertidal zone. The beach had good amenities but concerns included the number of water users, including the sailing club, and the risk of the pontoon mooring breaking.
• Duders Beach was a preferred location due to its sheltered location and water depth, but lack of parking and proximity to swing moorings was flagged. The Harbourmaster would require consulting about the moorings. Risks of the pontoon dislodging near the shipping channel and causing a shipping and navigation hazard were noted.
• Torpedo Bay was the least favoured due to its poor water depth, bedrock and tidal nature and the risks to the shipping channel if the pontoon dislodged.
Ruled out peninsula sites were: Windsor Reserve due to being in a cable protection area and close to the shipping channel; Bayswater because access would be from the main boat ramp and near cables; and the Hauraki end of Takapuna Beach for having high wave action and being used by surfers
and kiteboarders.
The previous board initiated the project for more pontoons, saying those installed at Cheltenham Beach and Castor Bay each summer were popular and extras would be a relatively inexpensive recreational drawcard. The new board voted unanimously to push on with the project, but there was no clear agreement on best peninsula sites.
Member Gavin Busch said Duders and Narrow Neck could be considered, but sailor Garth Ellingham thought wave action at Narrow Neck meant it wasn’t a great option and he didn’t think Torpedo Bay was suitable.
Chair Trish Deans was not at all keen on the harbourside locations. These were mostly used by adult swimmers who she said were not keen to see a pontoon at Torpedo Bay, while Duders was a small area between lava rocks. “We already have Cheltenham for the young ones. Stanley Point is where the [teens] go.” Narrow Neck might work, she said, if it was safe enough and away from the ramp. She also wanted the public to have a say. “I’m hugely concerned about safety – it’s not about being the fun police.”
12 Achilles Crescent
12
Charming bungalow and studio
Charming bungalow and studio
Charming bungalow and studio
Step into this 1940s brick bungalow, blending classic character with modern comfort. Set on a quiet street, this sunny and private home offers space, versatility and lifestyle for families. The open-plan modern kitchen, dining and lounge flow seamlessly to a sheltered deck, perfect for year-round entertaining. A separate garden studio provides flexible space for a second living area, studio or gym surrounded by established gardens. A heat pump ensures year-round comfort, there is attic storage and off-street parking situated. Close to Narrow Neck Beach, local cafés and zoned for excellent schools with easy ferry access to the CBD. Our vendor is relocating, this is your opportunity to secure a home in this coastal community. bayleys.co.nz/1470820
with
Auction (unless sold prior)
and
to the
Step into this 1940s brick bungalow, blending classic character with modern comfort. Set on a quiet street, this sunny and private home offers space, versatility and lifestyle for families. The open-plan modern kitchen, dining and lounge flow seamlessly to a sheltered deck, perfect for year-round entertaining. A separate garden studio provides flexible space for a second living
there is attic storage and off-street parking situated. Close to Narrow Neck Beach, local cafés and zoned for excellent schools with easy ferry access to the CBD. Our vendor is relocating, this is your opportunity to secure a home in this coastal community. bayleys.co.nz/1470820
Step into this 1940s brick bungalow, blending classic character with modern comfort. Set on a quiet street, this sunny and private home offers space, versatility and lifestyle for families. The open-plan modern kitchen, dining and lounge flow seamlessly to a sheltered deck, perfect for year-round entertaining. A separate garden studio provides flexible space for a second living area, studio or gym surrounded by established gardens. A heat pump ensures year-round comfort, there is attic storage and off-street parking situated. Close to Narrow Neck Beach, local cafés and zoned for excellent schools with easy ferry access to the CBD. Our vendor is relocating, this is your opportunity to secure a home in this coastal community. bayleys.co.nz/1470820
this is your opportunity to secure a home in this coastal community. bayleys.co.nz/1470820
A beautifully renovated character villa full of warmth, charm and flexible family living. In excellent condition, it blends classic villa features with thoughtful modern upgrades, including heat pumps and an HRV system throughout. The main level offers three generous double bedrooms and a family bathroom. A cosy lounge with fireplace provides a welcoming retreat, while the modern kitchen flows to the dining/family area, opening to a sheltered sunny deck, perfect for entertaining. Downstairs adds versatility with a second living area, separate study, bathroom, rumpus/games room with storage, and a small workshop. The fully fenced and gated section offers privacy, with a flat lawn and children’s play area. A rare opportunity, you must view now.
bayleys.co.nz/1470814
bayleys.co.nz
2 2 2
(unless sold prior) 1.30pm, Thu 26 Mar 2026
From the Museum
Simply Irresistible: Jazz Age tearooms’ bold claim
The name of Ernest Ford’s tearooms in Victoria Rd declared them ‘Irresistible’. Devonport Museum chair David Verran looks at a unique cup and saucer in the museum collection.
We are often offered historic items that have been mass-produced and are of relevance to a wider area than just Devonport. But for our collection, items must have some link to Devonport: that was certainly the case with the white porcelain cup-and-saucer set pictured here.
On the base is the stamp of “Gibsons and Paterson Ltd”, who were the importers. The cup and saucer were made by Grafton China, England (Grafton’s trademark is a shield with a rising sun and B A J initials). They have been specially branded to advertise the Irresistible tearooms.
Ernest Ford was the proprietor of the tearooms in the Mays building at 7 Victoria Road, from at least as early as 1922 to 1928.
In January 1922 the Irresistible tearooms were seeking a cook and in December 1923 they were described as “Devonport’s leading caterer”, with a specialty in wedding cakes and wedding breakfasts. They offered catering for balls, socials and picnics.
In January 1925, Ernest and a daughter
Freda were convicted of selling cigarettes and sweets on a Sunday, at that time an illegal activity.
From May to August 1927, the Irresistible ran a series of advertisements in the New Zealand Herald describing itself as “tea and luncheon rooms”. Everything was made “on the premises”, hot dinners were available between 12 and 2pm, and there was an
“excellent menu”. Wedding breakfasts were still a specialty, along with private parties.
The donor of the cup and saucer to the Devonport Museum in 2002 was Stella Annette Dixon (1912-2003). She was another daughter of Ernest (who died in 1956) and Lilian Maud Ford (who died in 1965). At the time of the 1925 and 1928 elections, the family lived on the tearooms premises.
Beach Days, Pizza Nights & Easy Living
With Cheltenham Beach just a hop, skip and a jump away, your days can be spent swimmingfollowed by a blissful rinse under the home's hot outdoor shower-strolling along the shoreline, or enjoying a game of croquet right on your doorstep. Golf enthusiasts need only wander a little further to reach the pristine greens of the Waitemata Golf Course. Built in the 1970's this spacious, single-level, easy-care home is beautifully designed and filled with charming quirks, making it a place you'll truly love coming home to. It's equally well suited to relaxed everyday living and effortless entertaining with family and friends. Flowing seamlessly from the main living area and kitchen is a covered courtyard complete with a pizza oven, perfect for memorable weekend evenings at home. A second lounge catches the sun and is a quiet spot to settle in and read a book. Three double bedrooms and two bathrooms complete the picture here. For Sale
Belmont Park Racquet Club’s Chelsea Cup tennis team lost narrowly to Silverdale at home last Friday and now sits fourth on the table, outside finals contention.
Silverdale won 4 matches to 2, leaving Belmont two points behind Beachaven in 3rd. Results: Dan Brown lost to Luca Brand 6-3 6-7 6-3; Chester Espie lost to Felix Littlejohn 6-2 6-3; Ayush Poojary beat Kevin Li 6-2 6-4; Liam Howes lost to Max Flanagan 6-2 6-4. In the doubles, Brown and Espie lost to Brand and Littlejohn 6-2 7-5; Euan Colley and Liam Howes beat Kevin Clapshaw and Jarryd Brits 7-6 2-6 10-3 in a super tie-break. Belmont’s next match is against Campbells Bay on 13 March, with a final match for the season at home against Milford, on 20 March at 6pm.
Premier Address Rare Opportunity
Thursday 19th March at 4.00pm (Unless Sold Prior)
Seriously for sale, the owners are extremely motivated and ready to hand over the keys of this much-loved family home to its next chapter. A truly rare offering in tightly held Stanley Point - a grand circa-1910 character villa set on an expansive 1,437sqm (more or less) west-facing freehold site, bathed in sun and elevated with a beautiful outlook, in a quiet cul-de-sac, potentially one of the last full freehold sites of this scale, aspect, and original blank-canvas potential to become available. Held by the same family for nearly 50 years, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure land, history, and future potential in one of the North Shore's most prestigious coastal locations. Although in largely original condition, the home has been extremely well maintained and is comfortable to move in and enjoy now, with scope to renovate or enhance over time. Get in touch to discuss the opportunities or arrange a private viewing. Deadline Sale
Michael Swarbrick 021 888 133 michael.swarbrick@harcourts.co.nz
Proud Sponsor Of North Shore Rugby Club
Cup competition... Belmont Park’s Euan Colley (left), who with Liam Howes won a doubles match against Silverdale, with team manager Rex Grey. Right: Dan Brown in action against Silverdale’s Luca Brand, who won 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
Devonport 09 445
CALLIOPE ROAD
Modern family properties like this are rare in central Devonport – don’t miss this opportunity.
barfoot.co.nz/929545
TENDER
2:00pm 24 Mar 2026 at 39
Victoria Road, Devonport (unless sold prior)
VIEWING Sat/Sun 11.00-11.30am
Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452
Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681
ALBERT ROAD
This is a unique and versatile home. A 2 bed with outstanding views, on the upper level & a fully self-contained legal income on the lower level.
barfoot.co.nz/928497
TENDER
12:00pm 17 Mar 2026 at 39
Victoria Road, Devonport (unless sold prior)
VIEWING
Phone For Viewing Times
Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681
Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452
Tucked away at the end of a quiet no-through road, this 1920s home offers a rare combination of timeless charm, tranquility and exciting potential.
barfoot.co.nz/929212
AUCTION
10:00am 19 Mar 2026 at 8-12 The Promenade (unless sold prior)
VIEWING
Phone For Viewing Times
Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681
Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452
DEVONPORT
EWEN ALISON AVENUE
AUCTION
10:00am 12 Mar 2026 at 8-12 The Promenade (unless sold prior)
VIEWING
Phone For Viewing Times
Have you always wanted a unique, architecturally designed, modern home in central Devonport!? Don't delay, call today to see this special hidden gem. AUCTION THIS WEEK
barfoot.co.nz/928972
Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681
Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452
DEVONPORT
Set within one of Cheltenham’s most exclusive and tightly held streets, this exceptional lifestyle offers a rare opportunity.
barfoot.co.nz/926410
DEADLINE SALE
2:00pm 25 Mar 2026 at 39 Victoria Rd (unless sold prior)
VIEWING Sat/Sun 1.00-1.30pm
Trish Fitzgerald 021 952 452
Tracey Lawrence 021 1720 681
This is a great opportunity to get onto the property ladder to pay off a mortgage rather than somebody else's!
barfoot.co.nz/928562
AUCTION
10:00am 19 Mar 2026 Takapuna (unless sold prior)
VIEWING Sat/Sun 2.00pm-2.30pm
Cathy Fiebig 021 383 149
Lisa Molloy 027 527 5020
Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, superb location between two beaches and spectacular views overlooking the Waitemata Golf Course.
barfoot.co.nz/925590
AUCTION
10:00am 11 Mar 2026 at 34 Shortland Street, City (unless sold prior)
VIEWING
Phone For Viewing Times
Toni Gregory 021 044 3663
Alexandra Corbin 021 643 673
SHAKESPEAR ROAD
Overlooking picturesque Okoromai Bay, this cozy, retro 1970's 2 bedroom home provides the perfect weekend escape or permanent abode.
barfoot.co.nz/928845
AUCTION
10:00am 26 Mar 2026 at 8-12 The Promenade (unless sold prior)
VIEWING
Phone For Viewing Times
Ron Sadler AREINZ 021 613 546
By Rob Drent
What to make of the latest developments at Holy Trinity church?
I attended the 9.30am service and AGM last Sunday. Eighty-odd people were at the service, including visitors acknowledged from Sydney and Belgium. To the guests it would have seemed business as usual, a service comparable with what might be expected at any similar church around the world. Vicar Chris Murphy gave a sermon, hymns were sung, communion was offered and vestry secretary Caroline Wishart went around with a collection bag.
AK Speech Therapy
ADULT SPEECH & SWALLOWING THERAPY
Mobile service - I come to you!
SUPPORT WITH:
• Swallowing
• Communication
• Stroke
• Brain conditions
e.g. Parkinson’s, dementia
Amy Keenan
022 318 5360
www.akspeechtherapy.co.nz
Verity Murphy, the vicar’s wife, spoke to the congregation of the need for peace and reconciliation in Iran and the Middle East. Afterwards, the AGM at the Holy Trinity Church, was more charged, following a year when ructions at Holy Trinity made the news.
The church position on LGBTQ issues was an agenda item and the subject of a question to the vestry. Vicar Murphy outlined his own position and interpretation of the bible.
I’m a layman on this, but feel the church may have painted itself into a corner. On one hand welcoming all, but on the other backing a minister who has, in modern society, a conservative view of homosexuality. Certainly it seems a significant shift of philosophy compared with the approach under previous vicar Charmaine Braatvedt. And it was perhaps a surprise to learn at the AGM that Holy Trinity kept no register
This edition is dedicated to Jacqui Hannah, a good friend and great supporter of the Flagstaff, who died recently from motor neurone disease.
Back in 2011, she wrote a moving letter to the paper after her son Jimmy, and a number of Devonport teenagers, got into strife with Kronic – the legal synthetic cannabis drug that was being sold in dairies.
A couple of pars read: “We suddenly have a problem in our community that is putting our young teenagers seriously at risk...
“The packaging is directly aimed at 13- to 16-year-olds, and that’s who are smoking it, in their droves!
“While we can do nothing to stop the lowlife scum manufacturing and supplying this drug, we can as a community do something
of people who left the church in the last few years. It indicates how hard it is for leavers to have any influence on current church policy.
From a wider perspective, the church has consolidated, albeit with fewer numbers, and is in no danger of the kind of collapse that has befallen some other churches on the peninsula over the last three decades. An institution with a cherished 150-year history will continue.
However, many of those who left had committed substantial effort and considerable donations to the parish over decades. With lower numbers – some who are no doubt casual attendees from outside the area – care will need to be taken around finances, especially considering the deferred maintenance of the church and grounds. Financially, much will depend on event bookings for the refurbished church hall.
about the local dairy owners who are selling it – most don’t even ask for ID.”
The letter got a huge response from readers, including other mothers who wrote in. We launched a campaign to name and shame dairies that continued to stock Kronic.
Within a couple of months, Kronic was gone from the shelves and out of Devonport. It was an amazing example of social change and community action and it wouldn’t have happened without Jacqui’s strength to put pen to paper.
She had a vibrant personality and strong community connections, working for many years at the Navy medical centre, other doctors surgeries around Devonport and latterly volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau and Plunket. She will be missed.
Saturday 14 March, 2026
Saturday 14 March, 2026
12.00-6.00pm
12.00-6.00pm
Replacement bench lacks charm of original Letters
First, Auckland Council has done a wonderful job of the pathway and rock wall at the southern end of Cheltenham beach.
Carole Long’s memorial seat positioned overlooking the beach close to the rock pathway, in a sheltered position, was a welcoming spot treasured by locals.
The bench that has been removed had beautiful cast iron ends; rather than being vandalised, as stated by Eloi Fonseca of Auckland Council (Flagstaff, 27 February) the wooden part of the bench, although aged, surely due to its popular use for decades, was in reasonable condition.
The replacement bench cannot hold a candle to the original. The new bench is
uninviting and looks like it belongs in a bus shelter. It is completely lacking in the old-world charm that characterises the other memorial seat benches along this charming stretch of beach in Devonport.
Carole Long’s family must have paid a substantial amount of money for the memorial bench many years ago.
To honour her and her family, the original bench should be restored and returned. It is incongruous to her memory, also to her family, and with the area – where some of Devonport’s most beautiful homes stand – that such a crude replacement has been installed.
Sharon Byron-McKay
Via Puhinui the best way to airport
Anyone wanting to get from Devonport to the airport via public transport does not need to trudge up to SkyCity to catch the Skybus. An Eastern Line train from Waitematā (Britomart) to the new Puhinui train station and a short (and very frequent) interchange to the public airport bus will get you dropped off outside the domestic or international terminals. The total fare is only $10.40, inclusive of bus, ferry and train journeys. Reliability will obviously improve once the CRL opens.
As for trams up Lake Rd, that would be an incredibly expensive solution to a problem that could be (at least partially) solved with some T3 and bus priority lanes at key choke points, as well as making the footpaths proper shared pedestrian/cycle paths like Northcote's Lake Road.
Russell Butchers
Editor Rob Drent replies: You are quite right about the train-bus option to Puhinui station and then on to the airport. That’s how I get out there now. But it is not ideal for older residents with multiple bags, for whom a bus pickup from the ferry terminal worked best. Yes, trams would be expensive, but they are the only real way to get cars off Lake Rd.
Bus shelter rebuild estimate excessive
I suggest that the cost to rebuild the bus shelter on Lake Rd near Clifton Rd (“Bus stop rebuild ‘could cost $100K’”, Flagstaff, 27 February) is exorbitant. It seems to me that it’s the sort of thing apprentices could do or a woodwork class at college could do under supervision. But it should definitely be reinstated. Perhaps the person who smashed into it should contribute. If it was alcohol-related, definitely they should pay. That could be a new form of punishment.
Diane Francis
Letters to the Editor
Letters are welcome. Please limit to 300 words on Devonport-related topics. Nomde-plumes or submissions without a name will not be printed. Email to news@devonportflagstaff.co.nz or post to Devonport Flagstaff, PO Box 32 275, Devonport.
Support your paper for the price of a cup of coffee. Go to devonportflagstaff.co.nz and click on ‘Become a supporter’
Teeth smashed, hip broken due to footpath hazard
In the past 16 months I have twice tripped over an uneven footpath in Devonport caused by the yellow strips on foothpaths not being flush. The first occasion resulted in smashed front teeth, the second resulted in a fractured hip, surgery and weeks of recovery.
On the upside, thank you to all the wonderful residents of Devonport who rushed to help. Thanks also to the excellent services at all levels I received in North Shore Hospital. Despite very heavy workloads the response to a patient’s needs never failed to impress. We are indeed most fortunate to live in Devonport and to have the services of St John’s Ambulance Service and the hospital.
Margaret Hallam
When will intensification lunacy stop?
I noted your recent article about the proposed 14-house development at 55 Merani Street, Belmont. Having lived next door at 51 Merani Street for over 35 years, it is interesting to note developments in this cul-de-sac since our family downsized about 14 years ago: a substantial family home at the entrance to the cul-de-sac was recently demolished to be replaced by four multistorey townhouses; a family home opposite ours was demolished to be replaced by six multistorey townhouses; the house next door looks ready to be replaced by probably another four townhouses.
In addition to the eight townhouses in Corella Rd, Belmont marketed for mortgagee sale, multistorey townhouse developments in Takapuna still remain unsold after recent mortgagee auctions. I also note that some of the occupants of the recent multistorey developments in Belmont can sit in their lounge and shake hands with walkers and their dogs on the footpath.
When will this lunacy finally be stopped? What is MP Simon Watts doing about it? That is one of the difficulties of having a safe National Party seat for life provided that one does not upset the National Party hierarchy. Surely someone should be asking Chris Bishop and the rest of this government some hard questions. Where are all these additional vehicles going to park? And where are their children going to play?
Bruce Tubb
Thank you for supporting choir – and charity
Thank you to the Devonport Community who have supported the women’s community choir Beautiful Noise and our fundraiser at the Holy Trinity Church Hall last year. The women in this choir have been singing together in various halls and spaces around Devonport for 15 years and for the last seven years we have held a concert with a koha entry to raise money for Women’s Refuge. Our last concert raised $3400, which means we were able to donate 170 “safe nights” to this amazing charity. This gift would not be possible without this fabulous community that turns up every year to donate so generously. Thank you for making our stage-fright so worth while.
Caz Kelly and Maria Cantrell
Interview
Flying fingers weave connection between
At a Bayswater marae, Jan Mason teaches a skill from a world she says has always knocked at her door. She tells Helen Vause about staying true to the weaving pathway.
When Jan Mason was a small girl, she went to a district school in Taupo. Most of the other kids at school and on the bus were Māori. Some rode their horses to school, where the playground was just dirt. She was the little Pākehā child among them but she doesn’t remember feeling like the odd one out.
“Back then the kids were not allowed to speak te reo at school but I suppose I started to pick it up from singing all those songs on the school bus along with everyone else,” she says.
“To me,” says Mason, “being around brown has always felt just fine. All of my life, for as long as I can remember, the Māori world has knocked at my door at one time or another.”
Now in her 70s, Mason looks back on a path that has brought her to teaching weaving at the little marae that’s been established in Bayswater Ave.
She tells the Flagstaff how, as a Pākehā woman, she has found a place in both worlds that feels right to her. As she talks, she guides a couple of keen adult weaving students, and her own hands work deftly to coax a little kite out of her strips of freshly prepared harakeke.
Coming onto He Manu Hopukia marae and into the weaving group has called for a formal welcome, complete with supportive prompts on how this will run and how to participate in line with custom.
For Mason, the welcome with kaumātua Danny Watson helps to illustrate her own journey with te reo and tikanga, over a lifetime. “I’ve watched and I’ve followed. And whenever I’ve been unsure or didn’t feel I understood, there always seemed to have been someone willing to say, ‘follow me’. Or to help me find my way.
“Now I feel I am a privileged Pākehā who can live in two worlds, or at least I have a window into the Māori world.”
Finding her way to this marae and finding
Knows her stuff... Mason gathers her flax from a harakeke plant she knows has ideal leaves for weaving
other people who wanted to learn and share her passion for traditional weaving with flaxes and other grasses, feels like a great fit for Mason.
“At the age of 75 it just came to me that I wanted to do that. When you think about it, the tikanga of being at the marae and of teaching the weaving line up in that they are each about coming together. Both in the process of weaving and in working on it together in a place that is all about gathering together.”
Kaumātua Watson is delighted to have Mason and her weaving group there for at
NAKED AESTHETICS
Anti Wrinkle | Dermal Filler | Facial Rejuvenation
Devonport local Claire Waterworth, Registered Cosmetic Nurse Injector, delivers natural, refined results in a boutique setting. She actively trains and educates fellow clinicians while creating personalised treatments that enhance what is naturally yours.
This puts you, your face and your results in very safe hands.
Book your complimentary consultation today www.nakedaesthetics.co.nz
least a day a week, in the former church building reborn over the last decade among the little collection of buildings that make up the marae.
“They bring life and warmth here,” says Watson over a cup of tea and a spread of sweet eats after the welcome. The fresh date scones are among the things Mason is known for at her te reo learning group.
As a child Mason moved often, and that pattern continued well into adulthood.
At the age of 32 she’d moved 37 times, a hard backdrop to finding her place in the world.
Interview people and worlds
She came to Devonport in the 1980s and became a mother. Local people would know her through that decade as “the kite lady”: she made, flew and sold memorable kites.
Her large, colourful kites and related events were a magnet for families of the era and she was a familiar sight in parks and on hillsides, flying kites and helping others fly theirs. Like the weaving, the kite venture had a community feel.
Mason has a simple philosophy for the directions she’s taken in work and life. “I put my feet at the beginning of a new path, and I follow it. Never knowing where it’s going.”
In 1998 she took a big step into learning to weave and studying more Māori language and culture.
She enrolled at Unitec for a full-time course, with her focus on weaving, which, she chuckles, developed strong hands and a strong back.
Later, it seemed further study of language and culture was the obvious next step, this time at the University of Auckland. In addition to the weaving, she has gradually improved her te reo skills, gaining more confidence to speak wherever she’s found encouragement.
“The tikanga of being at the marae and of teaching the weaving line up in that they are each about coming together.”
“Of course I speak, like a lot of people, with an accent. But now my phone does predictive text in te reo. I guess that’s AI for you. It has learned the patterns of what I say in my messages.”
At the same time, Mason has a love of the English language and has worked in the world of books. For 16 years she was the chair of the Devonport Library Associates.
Alongside Pākehā life, Mason has made stronger connections with the local Māori community in recent years and has held weaving workshops, notably as Devonport has stepped up its Matariki celebrations.
Danny Watson noted her work and still has a small kite she gave him years ago. Like Mason, he saw in the weaving a po tential for strong connection.
When her classes started nearly two years ago, Mason was pleased with the response from those wanting to learn, many Pākehā among them. She’s worked so far with about
60 beginners.
“You would be amazed how many people want to learn how to weave like this.”
For a demonstration, Mason has gathered a couple of willing students and has cut the harakeke leaves they will use, from a plant she knows grows leaves that are ideal for her purpose.
“I need to get it a couple of days before so it can give up some of its water over about two days before I work with it. Otherwise you could get shrinkage once you are working with it.”
Like a fisherman, she says, you don’t divulge the exact whereabouts of your flax bush when you have found a good source.
Test pattern... Weaving is hard work, Mason says, and takes a commitment to regular practice
and ideally you should practise every day or at least a couple of days a week.”
Once they are cut into the multiple strands the weavers will work with, they are laid on damp towels to prevent further drying.
And then the work begins, with head bent and fingers flying. The rhythm of the weaving, Mason says, is like a heartbeat.
Everyone is paying very careful attention to which of the many straps should move next. As the work grows, a line emerges of the little squares formed by folding the straps.
It is the ara or pathway, says Mason. You have to make sure you’re staying true to that pathway as you work or things will start to go awry.
“Weaving is hard work and it will really test you,” she says. “It takes a commitment
Her weavers are at various stages of skill. One weekend last month, some were gathered for hours working on the intricate task of making the many pieces of a piupiu (flax skirt) they’re planning to gift to Bayswater School.
“They will get there but it takes a lot to get even one of those bits good enough to go into the whole work.”
Mason has decided it’s time for the weavers to go public and show off their pieces. They’ve now working on weavings for an exhibition at Satellite2 gallery in Devonport this winter.
Mason is delighted with the uptake and dedication of the weavers she’s guiding towards their first show. “I’m not just teaching knitting here.”
Garden Design Devonport
Landscape Design Devonport
Whether you are planning a garden refresh or a full renovation, let us work with you to define your vision so that you can proceed with a plan.
0
Call Steve on 021 345 694
steve@naturalgardens.co.nz
Instagram @natural.gardens
Football club eyes extra $150K found in council numbers
Updates on long-sought upgrades to North Shore United’s home ground at Dacre Park in Devonport indicate planned work is tracking under its $800,500 budget.
If the work stays under budget, the club hopes any surplus might be used on other jobs that fell off the project’s priority list last year.
“The club has had a perpetual lease on the ground for 50 years and has had virtually nothing spent on it by council,” says board member Phil McGivern. Extra upgrades could include fencing around the car park, where McGivern says kids often retrieve balls.
The planned upgrade includes new concrete steps at the ground entrance, perimeter railing around the ground, fixing a retaining wall, pathway renewals and safety fencing. With consenting and tendering for contractors to come this year, physical works are scheduled for summer, ahead of the 2027 winter football season.
A council staff update to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board’s February meeting, reported a potential surplus of $154,634 after board members picked up a double-up in contingency costing.
Officers said the pathway cost could be reduced by $50,000 if an asphalt rather than
a permeable concrete surface was chosen, but most members favoured sticking with asphalt as more environmentally friendly.
Board member Terence Harpur suggested any savings from the Dacre Park project should be put towards fixing storm-damaged railing to stairs in Takapuna, running from Brett Ave to the coast. However he was not supported by other board members. The board approved the $800,500 budget. McGivern said North Shore United had been renovating two sideline stands at its own cost and wants to upgrade the larger sideline stand on the hill, which would require much greater funding.
Soccer ‘needs more pitches, greater recognition’
More football pitches are needed locally and more recognition should be given to the popularity of the sport, says Carl Fenton from Football Northern.
Although the code took up 60 per cent of sporting fields, it had more players than rugby, league and cricket combined, he told the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.
With youth player numbers growing strongly, particularly among girls, the lack of facilities was challenging, he said during a deputation to the board’s February meeting. Council booking systems were also clunky.
“The allocation of space and investment isn’t meeting this demand,” he stated. He urged the board to keep this in mind and consider reallocations of space.
A deficit in floodlit training hours was
problematic, he added, saying Dacre Park in Devonport, the homeground of North Shore United (NSU) was an example of where more training hours could be provided with better lights. Three sides of the park did not have houses on the park’s boundary.
NSU has been keen for improved lighting at the park for some years, but a previous bid to obtain it drew opposition from residents on the street above.
Board chair Trish Deans said: “Hours are tricky.” She pointed out the board was putting money into ground upgrades and acknowledged that North Shore Rugby had lights, but added: “We’ve got to consider the public view on it.”
Fenton also suggested the field adjacent to Dacre Park could be upgraded to provide extra playing space.
The board has two other football clubs in its area: Takapuna, based at Taharoto Park, which Fenton said needed an upgrade; and Northern Rovers at Becroft Reserve in Forrest Hill.
Fenton was asked by board member Terence Harpur if clubs would fundraise to help pay for lights, given their high cost. Fenton said clubs didn’t expect council to give them everything, but he asked board members to look more at sports usage in its decision-making. To a question from Harpur, he confirmed football had put in a submission on the future recreational use of AF Thomas Park in Takapuna for land not needed for flood remediation. This was a general call for council to provide more playing fields there. Fenton said the code was discussing joint use with cricket.
The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna is one of the North Shore’s key cultural facilities, providing a place for local groups, schools and community organisations to meet, rehearse and perform.
Like many other facilities and amenities, its ongoing ability to serve a growing community is supported by the Devonport Takapuna Local Board, which helps maintain the building and keep it accessible to the public.
Board funding allows The PumpHouse to focus on delivering programmes rather than covering major facility costs.
This means local groups can use the space for theatre, workshops, school projects, and community initiatives that might otherwise be difficult to host.
A recent example is the Golden Age Actors showcase, featuring residents from three local retirement and care homes: The Orchards Care Home, Lady Allum Care Home and Independent Living, and Northbridge Village. While the project was funded separately, access to The
CONTACT US: aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
FOLLOW US: Facebook.com/devonporttakapuna
PumpHouse gave participants the chance to rehearse and perform in a professional, communityfocused venue.
“My residents gained confidence, stepped out of their comfort zones, formed connections and had fun along the way.” - Sue Moxom, Activities Coordinator at The Orchards.
“Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to give our residents a real unique experience.” - Jacqui Thomas, Diversional Recreational Therapist Lady Allum Care Home.
The PumpHouse was originally saved from demolition in the 1960s by local volunteers and transformed into a performing
arts venue. Today it hosts theatre, music, educational programmes, and community events throughout the year. Its location in Killarney Park and adaptable spaces make it a practical and well-used facility for groups of all ages.
The Devonport Takapuna Local Board continues to invest in the venue, helping with maintenance, operations, and upgrades that keep the theatre safe, functional, and affordable for local users.
This support enables a wide range of programmes, including the Golden Age Actors showcase, youth theatre, creative workshops, and community events.
With board support and strong community engagement, The PumpHouse remains a hub where people can participate in arts and community activities, and it will continue to serve the North Shore for years to come.
Have your say on Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2026/2027!
This plan outlines what the Council proposes to deliver over the coming year and how it will spend public money. Your feedback matters and helps shape local services, facilities, and community projects. Consultation is open from 27 February to 29 March 2026. You can read the proposals and give your feedback online at akhaveyoursay. nz/ourplan. Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard—whether it’s about parks, transport, community services, or local events, your input helps Auckland Council plan for a better city for everyone.
Briefs
Post service valued
Dozens of Hauraki residents have asked New Zealand Post to keep the suburb’s postal agency open. Community members rallied to email submissions by closing date last Friday in support of the local mail centre, run by Valentine’s Stationers owner Andy Cai. His business of nine years was on a list of 142 urban retail partners which NZ Post announced in late January it was withdrawing from. It says it will review feedback before making final decisions.
Pole vaulting poser
Takapuna Athletics Club members Eliza McCartney and Imogen Ayris recently cleared the required 4.7m height to compete in the World Athletics Champs, as did North Harbour Bays vaulter Olivia McTaggart. Just two spots are available, meaning a tense few months as the athletes battle it out before selectors decide. Ayris has had her best season so far, setting a personal best.
Shore to Shore
The Harcourts Cooper and Co Shore to Shore 5km Fun Run is back on Sunday 29 March. The 5.9km course starts at Takapuna Grammar, following Lake Road, Takapuna Beach and Milford Beach, and finishing at Milford Reserve.
Plaques-on-seats campaign funds venue upgrades
Rose Centre supporter Sussan Patullo-Smith (right) and her Hauraki neighbours Rosemary and Rob Dowler at a function to celebrate a successful start to a fundraising campaign for the Belmont venue.
So far 29 of the theatre’s more than 112 seats have been “bought” in an ongoing fundraiser.
Donors nominate words for a plaque on the seat back.
Proceeds will go towards lighting and sound-system upgrades.
Patullo-Smith, aged 91, chose “dancing4years” as the words for a plaque – in reference to her memories of dancing at the Rose Centre.
This month she was among those at a morning tea get-together who shared their stories.
Attendees also saw the 26 plaques installed to date.
If every seat is sponsored, the ‘Take a Seat’ campaign will raise more than $8000.
Disused park building bowled
A concrete-block sports building on Bayswater Park was demolished last week, clearing the way for council to build a new sports facility on the site. It will sit next to the remaining wooden clubrooms, which will be given to North Shore United to renovate for its use as funds allow.
The plan – thrashed out over several years with the local board – should ensure improved sports changing facilities are in place for the 2027 football season. Consenting for the new building is underway.
The design will include public toilets accessible from the exterior.
NSU board member Phil McGivern said football and cricket, as the main sports using the park, would be the primary users of the new changing rooms. With separated shower cubicles and two changing spaces, it would be a vast improvement for players on changing rooms in the clubrooms, which
provide no privacy.
“It’s very female unfriendly at the moment and that’s one of the reasons we wanted to get it addressed,” he said. Women were having to use a referees room.
The concrete-block building’s replacement will be similar in style to a building used by footballers at Greville Reserve in Forrest Hill.
The club has put a $25 levy on its members for the separate clubroom upgrades. Grants and sponsors will also be sought to pay for the work.
The plan is to fix the exterior first, with work needed soon on its cladding, windows and roof.
The interior will be reconfigured in stages to provide office space and a team meeting area, along with storage and changing space, to provide added total capacity for teams using the park.
Designs proposed for new Bayswater Park playground
Two options... A design with a hut inside a frame of tubing (left) would cost $216,000, while the cheapest $196,425 design (right) features a fort-like tower
Two designs for a Bayswater Park playground renewal costing up to $250,000 will be put out for public feedback.
The consultation follows the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board reviewing eight possible designs from three suppliers, ranging in price from $196,425 up to $287,498. At a workshop last week board members told staff they preferred the cheapest option and another design costing $216,000,
which has a hut inside an elevated plastic sphere.
Member Terence Harpur said the spherical design would make the neighbourhood playground more of a destination. He liked that it was not a standard kitset.
The cheapest option includes reusing existing swings and features a wooden fort-like high tower.
Member Gavin Busch said he would like
the chosen playground to be fenced, given it was besides busy Bayswater Rd. Shade sails should be included.
Staff said the designs could be further tweaked in terms of equipment configuration following the public consultation, which they will set up soon.
The aim is to finalise designs this financial year, with the build to take place next summer.
Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer Call Matt
Landscaping Devonport
Garden design and construction
Whether you are planning a garden refresh or a full renovation, we can help with all the planning, construction and planting. Including decks, retaining, pergolas, paving and fencing. Everything outdoors! Call Steve on 021 345 694 www.naturalgardens.co.nz
• Electronic and mechanical lock installations
•
John Bisset LtD
TGS brings young international leaders together
Takapuna Grammar School recently hosted its second International Leaders Conference, bringing together 70 students from 13 schools across the region.
Grounded in the principles of Manaakitanga (hospitality/ kindness) and Whanaungatanga (connection), the annual event provides international students with a supportive space to connect and collaborate.
Participants shared common challenges such as homesickness and language barriers, and worked together to generate practical solutions to take back to their schools.
They also heard from recent TGS graduate and Dux, Daniel Wang, who recently achieved the top IB score of 45. Daniel delivered an inspiring talk on making the most of leadership opportunities, encouraging students to forge their own paths and make a meaningful difference.
Director of the TGS International Faculty, Grant Simpkins, said it was a highlight to see students from so many cultures working together with confidence.
“It was incredibly exciting to see these young leaders cross‑culturally collaborating to build a more inclusive future for all students.”
Out in the field - Y13 geographers explore the Muriwai coast
Level 3 Geography students spent a sunny day at Muriwai Beach investigating the coastal processes shaping this dynamic environment. They collected primary data on wave behaviour along Auckland’s rugged West Coast and will compare it with data from St Leonard’s Beach on the East Coast. This trip was also a chance to familiarise themselves with the different features and characteristics of the Muriwai environment which forms the case study for an external standard. They explored Māori Bay, experienced firsthand the difference between a cave and an arch, and encountered the strong odour of the gannet colony before spotting the birds on the Ōtakamiro Headland.
New and refurbished classrooms increase engagement
Four new science labs and 11 refurbished classrooms are enhancing student and teacher engagement, with the labs enabling increased hands‑on learning across more than 70 science classes.
Head of Science Faculty Mark Naidoo said the labs “enabled staff to perform practical experiments more frequently and allowed students to deepen their knowledge and understanding through hands on experiences.” With teachers moving less frequently between rooms, more time can be devoted to practical lessons.
The maths block prefabs have also been completely upgraded, with new roofs, ceilings, carpets, lighting, air conditioning, acoustic linings and bathrooms. Deputy Principal Moira Mallarkey said the refreshed rooms have transformed the teaching and learning experience.
“The oldest classrooms are now the
most beautiful and pleasant to be in, with big windows for fresh air and air conditioning when needed,” she said. “It is amazing what an improved environment can do for engagement.”
20 years ago from the Flagstaff files
• A CCTV camera is installed at Stanley Bay Wharf with a direct link back to North Shore City Council.
• Former Devonport Primary board of trustees chair Robyn Langwell jumps in the school pool at its opening.
• Best friends from kindergarten, Maddy Cayford and Rose Twaddle, are appointed head girls at Westlake Girls and Rangitoto College respectively.
• The 17th Devonport Food and Wine Festival attracts 10,000 people over two days.
• Monthly car boot sales are planned at the Devonport Community House.
• The Devonport scout group in Allenby Ave has been without a scout leader for a year.
• The “Sage of Sussex”, UK journalist Adam Trimingham, reviews the Devonport food and wine festival, especially enjoying the food on offer at the event.
• The unconsented signs on Subway in Victoria Rd are under investigation by North Shore City Council.
• The former Power Station in Church St has been repainted.
• Work is about to start on renovating the heritage starting tower outside the
The two electric-car chargers removed from the Devonport ferry terminal car park will not be replaced anytime soon.
In 2024 Auckland Transport (AT) removed the two free electric-vehicle charging stations it installed at the Devonport ferry terminal car park in 2016.
The chargers, touted as “smart pole” technology, were part of a $153,000 project, with $75,000 of that funded by a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. They were plagued
Wakatere Boating Club.
• Love is in the air at the duck pond next to Waitemata Golf Course, with the Flagstaff counting 200 birds loitering with intent.
• A memorial plaque is to be installed at Ngataringa skate park in remembrance of Scotty Brewer, who died from a heart condition aged 16 in 1999.
• Security patrols are to be stepped up at Torpedo Bay wharf to stop young people making a nuisance of themselves at night.
• Devonport actor Colin Moy is the Flagstaff feature subject.
with problems and often out of order.
AT told the Flagstaff last week it currently had “no firm plans to replace the trial devices previously located at the Devonport ferry building”.
“Any future EV chargers on [council] property are expected to be rolled out regionally in a consistent manner, ensuring all communities have comparable access. There is no confirmed timeline for such a roll out,” an AT spokesperson said.
CELEBRATE EASTER WEEK at your LOCAL CHURCH
G O O D F R I D A Y P R O C E S S I O N
Walk to the summit of Takarunga/Mt Victoria
3 April at 10:00 a.m. Starts at the Windsor Reserve Band Rotunda (behind the Devonport Library)
Friday 29th March - 10am. Start from Windsor Reserve Band Rotunda
Organised by the Combined Churches of Devonport & Belmont
Organised by the Combined Churches of Devonport and Belmont.
HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH
ST FRANCIS DE SALES AND ALL SOULS CATHOLIC PARISH
20 Church St, Devonport 445-0328
2a Albert Road, Devonport 445 0078 office@devonportcatholic.org.nz, devonportcatholic.org.nz
Palm Sunday - 24th March
8am Traditional Eucharist
Palm Sunday 29 March at 9:30am Mass
9 30am Contemporary Service
Holy Thursday 2 April at 7:00pm Mass
Maundy Thursday - 28th March
7pm Communion Service
Good Friday 3 April at 3:00pm Veneration of the Cross
DEVONPORT METHODIST CHURCH
HOLY TRINITY
DEVONPORT METHODIST
Cnr Lake Rd, & Owens Rd 445-6801
ANGLICAN CHURCH
Palm Sunday - 24th March
20 Church Street, Devonport 445 0328 htdevonport.org.nz
10.00am Worship Service
Palm Sunday 29 March
Cnr Lake and Owens Roads 445 6801 admin@devonportmethodist.org.nz
2A Albert Rd, Devonport 445-0078
Palm Sunday 29 March
10.00am Worship Service
Palm Sunday - 24th March
4 30pm Messy Church
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Family Communion
Maunday Thursday 2 April
Good Friday - 29th March
7 00pm Reconiciliation Rite 2
3.45pm Messy Church Easter Crafts and Easter Story followed by a shared meal. Please bring a plate of food to share.
Holy Thursday - 28th March
Good Friday - 29th March
Holy Saturday 4 April at 7:00pm Easter Vigil
2pm Devotions on the Cross
Easter Sunday 5 April at 9:30am Easter Mass
Easter Sunday - 31st March
6.30am Sunrise Service at Balmain Reserve
BELMONT BAPTIST
168 Lake Road, Belmont belmontbaptistnz.org
8 00am Traditional Eucharist
9 30am All Age Communion Service
Palm Sunday 29 March at 9:30am
Holy Thursday 2 April
8:00pm Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows
Easter Sunday 5 April
6.30am at Narrow Neck Beach
Sunrise Communion
9.30am at Belmont Baptist Celebration Service
Victoria Rd, Devonport 021 022 54586
Easter Sunday - 31st March
10 00am Easter Celebration
7:00pm Communion Service
9.00-9.30am Devotional Service
Good Friday 3 April
3:00pm Meditation on the Cross
Easter Sunday - 31st March
Easter Sunday 5 April
6.30am Sunrise Service at Balmain Reserve
10am Family Easter Celebration Easter Egg Hunt included
8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Family Communion
CONNECT CHURCH
Good Friday 3 April
7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
9.00-9.30am Devotional Service
Good Friday - 29th March
7 00pm Easter Vigil
2:00 till 4:00pm Good Friday Story and Reflection Stations for Families – an interactive event, all ages welcome. Join us anytime to remember Jesus’ story on Good Friday. Move around at your own speed.
Holy Saturday - 30th March
7.00pm Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday 5 April
BELMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
DEVONPORT
90a Victoria Road, Devonport connectchurchdevonport.co.nz
Easter Sunday 5 April
10.00am Easter Celebration & Communion Service
6:30am Sunrise Celebration Service on Mount Victoria For the fit and adventurouswe will be meeting at the lower carpark (Kerr St) and walking the circular track to a point overlooking Rangitoto for the Sunrise. Bring walking shoes, a torch and a jacket.
Easter Sunday - 31st March
9 30am Easter Mass
St MARGARET’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
10.00am Family Easter Celebration Easter egg hunt included
151 Lake Rd, Belmont 445-0018
Good Friday - 29th March
9 00 - 9 30am Devotional Service
Easter Sunday - 31st March
10 00am Easter Communion Service ST FRANCIS de SALES & ALL SOULS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Quartet back in the neighbourhood with mixed menu
Holy Trinity Church will host the Auckland Philharmonia Principal String Quartet in concert next week, as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.
The quartet will perform a varied selection of music by Beethoven, Ravel and internationally acclaimed New Zealand composer John Psathas on Tuesday 17 March at 6.30pm.
It is a return visit to Devonport for the quartet, which performed at the church last year as part of the council-supported In Your Neighbourhood series.
The special festival programme is part of the 2026 neighbourhood outreach, with other performances in Remuera (Monday) and St Heliers (Wednesday).
Auckland Philharmonia’s principal cellist Ashley Brown says: “I’m looking forward to getting the band back together for this – such a great group, so talented, so much fun. We’re discovering cool new things in this show.”
The ensemble includes fellow philharmonia players Andrew Beer (violin and concertmaster) Minglun Liu (second violin) and Robert Ashworth (viola).
The programme opens with Beethoven’s tumultuous Eighth String Quartet, which takes audiences on a musical rollercoaster through serene periods and stirring storms of sound. “This Beethoven Razumovsky is
Return visit... Last year’s performance in Devonport’s Holy Trinity, with Auckland Philharmonia players (from left) Andrew Beer (concertmaster), Minglun Liu (principal second violin) Robert Ashworth (principal viola) and Ashley Brown (principal cello). PHOTO
a monolith, an ancient classic that is totally relevant today,” says Brown.
This is followed by Abhisheka, an enchanting piece by Psathas. Inspired by the writings of Buddhist guru Chögyam Trungpa, the composer describes it as a “unique blend of tranquillity and complexity” that allows for introspection and self-discovery. Brown’s take on the homegrown classic sandwiched between iconic works is that it is full of exotic, organic and deeply affecting sounds.
Songs and stories look back
Songs, stories and slideshow from New Zealand’s past will feature in a performance by Chris Priestley at Devonport Library at 6pm on 15 March.
A couple of songs will feature a Devonport connection.
Entry is free but a Koha is appreciated. The image at right shows Priestly superimposed on a shot of Devonport from yesteryear
BY CARL AND PETER BLAND
The closing Ravel String Quartet is the epitome of French Impressionism, he says. It comes laden with the spirit of French countryside on a summer’s evening. Beloved by many, this work is commonly seen as this great French composer’s first masterpiece, marking a pivotal turning point in his career.
• Bookings for the Devonport concert (supported by Davis Funeral Homes) are available through aucklandphil.nz. Adult tickets, $30; students and children $15.
THOMAS HAMILL.
Ink meets human canvases for exhibition opening
An arresting live visual arts performance in which words were stamped on human bodies unfolded at the Depot in Devonport last Saturday, .
Dance artist and PhD candidate Joanna Cook and art academic Steve Lovett combined for the show at the opening of their exhibition (il)legible inkscription Each became a human canvas – the fabric tubes they wore imprinted using giant foam stamps drenched in ink.
Later in the session, the audience was invited to join the visual conversation.
“It’s literally wrestling with language,” explains Lovett. “We get blacker and blacker as the performance continues.”
The performance is designed to resonate with “anyone who has been called something, they don’t like, or has wrestled with words,” he says.
The opening’s results are displayed on the Depot’s walls and floor. A second performance is planned for 21 March.
Lovett, who grew up in Cheltenham, first became involved in Cook’s vision when she went into the print lab he runs at the University of Auckland’s School of Fine Arts. “She needed to transfer some language onto costumes.” The pair challenged each other conceptually as she talked further about wanting to work out a way to print live onto dancers and about the impact of words.
“Language is subtle, even when it’s direct.” says Lovett. “You might start to stamp on me first – you’re immediately labelling me.”
The performance plays around with this idea, and uses words as counterpunches. From Yes to No to much more tangential connections such as Inflect and Insect and Knowledge and Destruction.
When Lovett first suggested to Cook that he thought labelling was less an artistic
exploration and more just the reality of life –saying “men label women” – she challenged him to do the choreographed performance with her.
The show at the Depot is the latest iteration of their work together over 18 months, including a performance in Christchurch and as a review for Cook’s academic supervisor.
At 65, Lovett has found the whole process creatively energising. “She’s made a huge difference in my life.”
As has art generally. At Takapuna Grammar School he drifted, starting work at a bakery. “I got my master baker’s ticket which is hilarious because I’m a coeliac.”
After travelling he trained as a teacher
and at 30 went to art school. Combining education and art has led to a satisfying career and through his artistic collaboration with Cook he says he was introduced into a powerful sense of being in the moment.
He says he likes that Cook gets to apply language to him first in their performance, as a way of rebalancing how men are quick to label women.
He hopes the audience also experiences its own insights. “Being present is having that sense of agency to act – it’s incredibly powerful.”
• Joanna Cook + Steve Lovett: (il)legible inkscription, Depot Artspace, 28 Clarence St, until 28 March.
a
Print media... Art academic Steve Lovett (in fabric tube) and dance artist Joanna Cook during the performance launching their exhibition at the Depot
Tēnā koutou,
Our new Workshops & Classes programme is off to a great start! There are still a few places available in our Term One Saturday workshops including Robyn Gibson’s drawing and painting class (March 21) and Celia Walker’s Beginners (March 14) and Intermediate (March 28) Cyanotype class. So, get in quick before these to sell out!
Or if you ’ re wanting to invest in your creativity through longer classes, in Term Two we are offering two 5-week painting and drawing classes including Inside the Garden: Drawing and Painting from Nature with Verity Kindleysides and An Introduction to Painting and Colour with Katie Thornton Both begin in May, and at $220 for six classes offer great value whether you ’ re investing in your own creativity or looking for a thoughtful gift. Mother’s Day sorted!
DEPOT | 3 Vic Road
Opening on Friday 27 March are new works by Verity Kindleysides, who is also teaching classes with us in May Join us at 6pm for the opening night and an artist talk by Verity a great chance to meet the artist and hear about the inspiration behind her work.
DEPOT Artspace
Joanna Cook and Steve Lovett are showing (Il)legible Inscription with a powerful live performance on 21 March at 2pm, including audience Q&A and the chance for visitors to ink the artists and our walls.
Visit depot org nz for more info and stay up to date by subscribing to our e-news!
Ngā mihi nui, Amy Saunders
Director | Kaiwhakahaere, DEPOT amy saunders@depot org nz
Career in glass gives way to a
Leading stained-glass artist Holly Sanford chose to shatter her creative certainty with a move into a new medium.
“This is so different from what I’ve done for the last 50 years,” says the Narrow Neck resident of her switch to painting – soon to be exhibited in Devonport.
With the restrictions of working in fragile glass now in her past, she is relishing the freedom of needing only brush and paper.
Then there’s the bonus of having room to move in her home studio, which has been cleared of a precious rainbow of imported mouth- and hand-blown glass from Europe.
“When I first sold my glass it was a sort of loss of identity – I think a lot of people feel like that when they retire,” she says.
Two years on, she is ready to be seen in a new light.
Her legacy in glass remains, in work in a number of major public buildings, including the University of Auckland’s arts and commerce building, the District Court and Hamilton’s council chambers. Unfortunately, a piece in the Aotea Centre was removed, along with other artworks, during a remodelling.
As one of the pioneers of contemporary stained glass making in New Zealand, she won competitions to gain those public commissions.
Sanford and architect husband Peter Sturtevant emigrated from the United States in 1974. “We were two young graduates with the world as our oyster and hadn’t been to the South Pacific before,” she recalls.
At university, she had dabbled in painting, but her Fine Arts degree was in lithography.
Her rudimentary knowledge of glass developed further during the modern renaissance of stained glass in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Others involved included Peter Raos, who retains a shop in Devonport.
“It was a really heady time, a wonderful time,” she recalls.
“My small residential jobs with stained
glass turned into very large public works.”
Artist Pat Hanly’s venture into glass renditions of his paintings – made by his son Ben Hanly and partner Suzanne Johnson, who still work in glass – raised the profile further.
Sanford says her style was architectural, quite different from Hanly’s more painterly approach.
“I thought all of my thinking of structure and form would probably be the way I’d end up painting. It didn’t turn out that way.”
Instead of mapping things out, she found she began to paint without a concept.
She often works in just three colours, using big brushes, scribbling, smearing and scraping away. “It isn’t until three or four layers that I start thinking I like it,” she says.
“It’s random and surprising – like looking at clouds.”
Sanford is relishing the “ease of painting”, having over the decades grown tired of “jumping through the hoops” of contracts and health and safety regulations to make glass works.
Her retired husband also pointed out that he didn’t want to one day be left with a pile of glass to dispose of, from the home they built up Old Lake Rd from the beach in 1989.
A fellow glass artist bought the shedfull. “I was bereft and so relieved, all at the same time,” says Sanford.
Painting, which she took up again only a year ago, became a distraction. The couple also has an allotment at the Ngataringa Organic Garden.
Her husband “doesn’t know what to think of my painting,” she says.
Sanford says she deliberately chose to work on paper or fabric rather than canvas, so she could more easily pack up her work into the large filing tray in her now tidy studio. The prompt to put on her first show was, she says: “Because my drawers are full.”
• Holly Sanford’s Revealed: Beyond the Glass Horizon , Satellite2 gallery, 61a Victoria Rd, 7-25 March.
‘random and surprising’ new world of painting
Through with glass, colourfully...former stained-glass artist Holly Sanford often paints in just three colours, using big brushes. She compares painting to “looking at clouds”.
In Your Neıghourhood
6.30pm, Tuesday 17 March
Devonport Holy Trinity
Hear Auckland Philharmonia’s talented musicians perform works by Beethoven, Ravel and NZ composer John Psathas
BOOK
SHOWING NOW
Cold Storage (R16) 99min
Reminders of Him (M) 114min
The Revenant (R16) - 10th Anniversary Re-release 156min
Sinners (R16) 138min
The Bride! (R16) 126min
Midwinter Break (M) 91min
The Moment (R16) 103min
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (PG) 96min
Holy Days (PG) 101min
How to Make a Killing (M) 105min
The Testament of Ann Lee (M) 137min
SPECIAL EVENTS & NEW RELEASES
Project Hail Mary (M) Advance Screening 14 Mar
Ocean Film Festival 19 Mar
Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadowcast 20 Mar
No Tears on the Field (E) 93min - Director’s Q&A 20 Mar
I Swear 120min Advance Screenings 20-22 Mar
For more info on films & events go to thevic.co.nz Thanks to our partners and supporters
Bayswater 7 Beresford Street
Waterfront opportunity with consented plans
A rare and unique waterfront opportunity. This original 1920s colonial home has been stripped back to its framing, creating a remarkable blank canvas ready for transformation. Council-consented architectural plans by Sumich Architects envision a substantial three-level residence with expansive living opening to wraparound decks with generous accommodation, large recreation level connects directly to the pool and garden. Set on 1454sqm of north-facing park-like grounds with an inground pool and tranquil views of the bay, the property enjoys all-day sun in an exceptional waterfront setting. Just a short stroll to the marina and ferry to the CBD. An extraordinary opportunity to create a spectacular waterfront home tailored to your taste - or explore the potential of the site itself. bayleys.co.nz/1451886 bayleys.co.nz
1,454sqm 3
Auction (unless sold prior) 1.30pm, Thu 16 Apr 2026
28 Northcroft Street, Takapuna View by appointment
