devonportflagstaff.co.nz
August 15 2025
Hemlines fall at Takapuna Grammar... p2
Path cleared for landmark’s restoration... p10-11
Interview: Musician Alice Freya Jones... p18-19
Fright nights: Crowds flock to fearsome fundraiser More than 800 visitors went through Cheltenham’s “haunted house” last week, raising over $12,000 towards the fitout of changing rooms for female cricket and rugby players in the former Devonport Bowling Club premises. Co-organiser Matt Hunt said the sessions last Thursday and Friday nights were so popular that queues for a time extended sev-
eral hundred metres down Cheltenham Rd. Such was the success of the fundraiser, organisers are looking at running a Haunted House 2.0, possibly close to Halloween on 31 October – if another suitable house can be found, Hunt said. Last week’s sessions were held at 10 Cheltenham Rd, which was recently bought by the Newman family, who came up with
the idea of a charity event before work starts on a major renovation. Around 35 volunteers were involved in decorating the house and helping terrify the crowds. Students from Belmont Intermediate School donned ghoulish makeup for the occasion. Members of the Newman family helped To page 5
Look out behind you... Witches Jemma Glancy (left) and Diana Murray with student volunteers from Belmont Intermediate School outside the “haunted house” in Cheltenham Rd. More pictures, pages 4-5.