devonportflagstaff.co.nz
June 19, 2026
BIS footballers crowned Auckland champs... p5
Fifth op shop opening in village... p9
Interview: Money man turned poet Greg Hall... p12-13
Navy ‘will probably need to spend more’ on $4 million church The former St Augustine’s Church in Calliope Rd, bought by the Defence Force last year for $4.295 million, will likely need extra money spent on earthquake strengthening, according to documents released under the Official Information Act. The previous owners – Lesley Harris and Wayne Kelly – had preliminary plans drawn
up for potential earthquake strengthening but had not done the work, a valuation prepared for the Defence Force said. “The former church building of double brick wall construction with an unknown seismic rating... may be an area of concern for some potential purchasers,” the report by JLL valuers says. The market value at 20
March 2025 was $4,250,000. The 774 sqm property at 95A Calliope Rd – which included the church and church hall, both of which had been converted into homes – was bought by the Defence Force in June 2025. When the property was first placed on the To page 9
All lit up for Matariki
Lights, actions... Vauxhall School’s kapa haka group perform on the summit of Takarunga after the Matariki hikoi up the maunga. Story, pictures pages 2-3.