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March 22, 2019

Voyager Media Awards: Community Journalist of the Year Winner 2018 devonportflagstaff.co.nz

Exit stage left for Rufio the theatre cat... p5

North Shore cricketers in promotion huntâ€Ś p13

Chaos threatens the Devonport-Auckland ferry service with the Kea now taking up to five minutes longer for her journey. With its double-ended design, the Kea has

been able to enter the downtown terminus directly, but now the Auckland Harbourmaster says Kea has to follow the same circuitous route as other ferries.

Interview: Tourism NZ boss Stephen England-Hall... p24

Fullers ferries reach new crisis point This change is expected to add up to five minutes to her travel time, Fullers360 chief To page 12

Family fun trail around Devonport

A winning combinationâ€Ś cousins Jemima Johnston (left) and Olive Judson (both 6) were rapt to win Victoria Theatre movie tickets at the Devonport Community family fun trail on Sunday. More pictures pages 48-50.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 2

March 22, 2019

Movies in Parks cancelled after Christchurch massacre The Peter Rabbit Movies in the Park event planned for Woodall Park last Sunday was cancelled following the 15 March tragedy when a gunman killed 50 people in two mosques in Christchurch on Friday. The movie event was cancelled as a mark

of respect to those who had lost their lives. A large police contingent had also been deployed to Christchurch, Auckland Council said. In contrast, the Devonport Community family fun trail event went ahead as planned last Sunday.

Cost of free public transport put at $236 million

09 445 9800

Free public transport in Auckland would cost around $236 million per year, according to a council report. The figures were put this week to a meeting of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board who had requested the data. A fare-free public transport policy for Auckland would cost approximately $176 in revenue, and a minimum of $60 million in increased-services cost to meet additional demand, a report from Auckland Transport (AT) said. The estimated cost of the policy would be $236 million, without assessing potential savings from ticketing systems, the report said. “If this was subsidised through increased rates and taxes, it would represent a 15 per cent increase to Auckland ratepayers,” the report said. Auckland already has free travel for senior citizens through the SuperGold and Senior concession fare schemes, along with significant

child, secondary and tertiary discounts. Overseas, fare removal was only possible in small or mid-sized towns with less than 100,000 people, the report said. “Even with new ways of funding transport, it will not be a reality for major cities in the future. “The revenue from public transport is simply too great to remove,” the report said. “While it may revitalise a struggling smalltown transit network, bigger cities don’t need to incentive mass transit in the same way.” Local board member Grant Gillon had instigated the AT report. He felt the costs were important to line up against other figures – such as the potential $50 million bailout of Eden Park – when council was making budgetary decisions. The Auckland public transport system has 92 million trips per year: 1316 buses, serving 506 bus routes, a large fleet of ferries sailing to 15 ferry destinations, and four train lines.

How will a capital gains tax affect you? What do you need to do to retire comfortably? How can you diversify your portfolio? Property vs shares – which is best? How can you grow your net worth? NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AWARDS Best Community Involvement: 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2005 Best Special Project: 2016 Most Improved Newspaper: 2011, 2010 Best Young Journalist: 2014, 2012, 2013 Best Sports Journalist: 2018, 2017, 2016 Best Senior Feature/Lifestyle Writer: 2014,2017 Best Junior Feature/Lifestyle Writer: 2014 Best Headline: 2017, 2018 VOYAGER/CANON MEDIA AWARDS Community Reporter of the Year: Winner 2018 Community Newspaper of the Year: Finalist 2017 Devonport Publishing Ltd First Floor, 9 Wynyard St Telephone: 09 445 0060 Email: sales@devonportflagstaff.co.nz news@devonportflagstaff.co.nz Website: www.devonportflagstaff.co.nz MANAGING EDITOR: PUBLISHER: EDITOR: ADVERTISING: DESIGN: COPY EDITOR:

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 3

March 22, 2019

Devonport leads port-expansion protest

Community action… Devonport local Julie Stout stirs up the crowd at the protest About 300 people, including a number of Devonport locals, attended a rally on Queens Wharf to protest against a proposal to install two mooring dolphins that would effectively extend the wharf 90 metres into the harbour. The dolphins have been proposed to cater for increasingly large cruise ships to berth.

Urban Auckland chair Julie Stout, a Narrow Neck resident, addressed the crowd at the event, which was organised by advocacy group Stop Stealing our Harbour. Around 30 yachts did a ‘sail-by’ at the 10 March protest to demonstrate opposition from boating associations to losing more of

the harbour. Sailor Chris Dickson was among six speakers who addressed the crowd. A page has been set up to fundraise for the legal costs incurred by groups trying to fight the extension. • For more information go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/urbanauckland

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Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office. Applications for 15 out-of-zone places in year 1, 0 in year 2, 2 in year 3, 2 in year 4, 2 in year 5 and 2 in year 6 are now being invited for those students who will become eligible for enrolment during the period 29 April to 2 July 2019. The deadline for receipt of applications for outof-zone places is 29 April 2019. If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required, it will be held on 29 April 2019. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held. If you live in the home zone and have not yet signalled your intention to enrol your child later this year, please contact the school immediately to assist us to plan appropriately.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 4

March 22, 2019

DevonportProperty.nz Report â€” February 2019

The market is awash with property for sale As a buyer, what you most want to find is choice. The property market in Devonport is currently a haven of choice. As we enter autumn there are more properties for sale than we have seen for many years. A record 79 properties are currently on the market. Up a staggering 75% compared to this time last year. A fresh new selection of 71 properties was listed in the past three months, with 40 properties listed in February alone. This rich shopping list of options is certainly attracting buyers, who are noticeably active in the market. Evidenced by the number of people attending open homes, which have been incredibly busy during February. However, all this activity and abundance of stock is not leading to higher sales. A total of just 38 properties were sold in the three months to February. This was down 14% compared to last

BAYLEYS FULL PAGE

year, at a median price of $1.43m, which was down 10% compared to last year. This sluggish pace of the local property market is replicated across the rest of Auckland, as the pressure of bank-lending restrictions continues to bite and buyers become more cautious. Having said that, the fact is the right property, well-marketed, will continue to sell, with at least two properties in the

past month selling within the first seven days on the market. The key to success in this market is the right presentation of the property, matched to a smart marketing campaign and strong negotiation skills of the agent. Drilling deeper into the latest statistics sees that the somewhat unexpected spike in median house prices in January of $1.82m, was, as predicted an anomaly. The three months to February saw the median sale price of houses return to the December level of $1.6m, representing a 12% fall compared to this time last year. Additionally, that flush of life in the market for units, heralded last month, quickly petered out with sales and prices falling this month. For a more detailed analysis and commentary of the local property market, visit www.devonportproperty.nz

PROPERTIES 28 February

2019

Properties Properties on the market Listed at 28 Feb 2019 (Dec/Jan/Feb)

Properties Sold (Dec/Jan/Feb)

PRICES Variance in moving annual total sales

Median Sale Price ($M) 3 months to Feb

Variance compared to last year

All Properties

-14%

$1.429M

-10%

Houses

-14%

$1.600M

-12%

Units

-18%

$651,000

-17%

T/houses Apartments

-9%

The monthly DevonportProperty.nz Report is written and produced by Alistair Helm, Licensed real estate salesperson. Tel: 021 610 510 www.devonportproperty.nz www.alistairhelm.co.nz

Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under the REAA 2006

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 5

March 22, 2019

Fans will miss purr-fect theatre cat Rufio Rufio, the Rose Centre’s beloved theatre cat, will no longer “strut and fret his hour upon the stage”, after moving out of Belmont. The tabby cat has frequented the centre for many years and even made an appearance in a play a few years ago. “Rufio decided that the couch in the scene was a very nice place for him to have a little snooze,” says Rose Centre chairperson Raewyn Nevin, who was performing in the play. “Between acts, Rufio slipped in. So, when we started again, he was sitting there. We just ignored him.” Rufio didn’t like it when an actor sat on his couch and exited stage right. The audience was in hysterics, which was good, as the play, Off the Hook, was a comedy, put on by Phoenix Theatre, Nevin says. “Most of them would probably have known Rufio, because he’d been going there for so many years.” Rufio originally moved into then manager Richard Parmee’s office, but also enjoyed sitting on the theatre’s chairs near the heat pump in winter. His owner, Lynden Shanahan, said Rufio originally arrived through the cat door and settled in. No amount of advertising in the area uncovered his owners, so the lost cat stayed on with Shanahan and was named Rufio after the leader of the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. When the family moved across the Belmont Primary School fields from the Rose Centre,

Treading the boards outside Devonport… Thespian Rufio takes a breather while at the Rose Centre, prior to his shift to Pt Chevalier Rufio discovered the theatre, where there were Shanahan has now shifted to Takapuna and plenty of people, offering pats and snacks. Thespian Rufio has moved to Pt Chevalier with “He’d come home to eat, then he’d ‘go to family members, where he has happily settled work’ at the Rose Centre,” Shanahan says. in and bonded with toddler Louis.

Get used to tighter credit

I see property sales figures are down in Auckland, relative to the rest of the country. One of the reasons for this is the tighter credit and servicing requirements from the main banks (who are increasingly sensitive to the Responsible Lending Code and the Australian enquiry into bank lending practices), making Auckland prices least affordable so buyers are looking elsewhere.,

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Prospective borrowers must show a regular PAYE income or business/ contract income supported by definitive tax-paid earnings and an ability to service the debt. We are seeing more and more examples of difficulty in raising debt without absolute proof of sustainable income. Having said that, banks seem extremely busy (often understaffed) as borrowers check the market. But each bank has slightly different criteria and appetite for lending, so it is important to speak with us to see which is the best bank to approach for various circumstances. Astute customers know an independent advisor finds the best deal in the market and advisors are widely used in US, UK, Australia and NZ.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 6

March 22, 2019

Devonport 12 Mays Street

Je ne sais quoi

Superbly positioned in the heart of the village just back from the waterfront, a minutes stroll from dipping into the sea, catching the city ferry or walking your children to school. Traditional Georgian style double storey villa with four gracious living rooms down and four generous bedrooms up. Tastefully renovated with modern convenience whilst retaining the charming ambience of its turn of the century vintage. Indoor/outdoor flow to beautiful gardens is a strong feature of this home. Living rooms and bedrooms spill out onto covered verandahs on both levels.

Auction (unless sold prior) 1.30pm, Thu 4 Apr 2019 28 Northcroft St, Takapuna Phone for viewing times Victoria Bidwell 021 947 080 victoria.bidwell@bayleys.co.nz

This much admired home is one of Devonport's finest.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 7

March 22, 2019

Talks aim to reopen Polly’s Park

Moves have begun to reopen the coastal track at Ngataringa Bay, below Ryman’s retirement village development. The walkway, which runs through Mary Barrett Glade (known also as Polly’s Park, after its creator Mabel ‘Polly’ Pollock) has been closed during construction. While no date has been set for a reopening, the Department of Conservation (DoC) is in talks with Ryman about restoring public access. DoC senior ranger for statutory land management, Peter Smith, says a crane that was posing a risk has been moved and there’s a fence around Ryman’s works, so it should be safe to reopen the walkway. “Let’s get people walking along there,” Smith said. Under Ryman’s consent, it doesn’t need to

reopen the reserve until the development has finished, but Smith is keen to work with Ryman to get the fence down sooner. The first task is clearing two coastal slips that occurred in June last year. DoC administers the 20-metre marginal strip along the coast, which was created when the then Crown land was transferred to Ngati Whatua as part of a Treaty settlement. Any work on the strip needs DoC’s authorisation. The slips were not connected to Ryman’s works, Smith said, adding there had been numerous coastal slips in the past five years. It is possible the stability of the coast may have been affected by illegal reclamation and unconsented retaining walls. Smith said the slips have not reduced the

size of the marginal strip. They could be cleared away and the walkways reopened. While the slips may not be completely stable, the path would be as safe as any coastal track. DoC will discuss with Ryman getting the work done by its track contractors, which would cost far less than any building contractors Ryman might be considering, Smith said. Ryman confirmed members of its health and safety teams were due to meet with DoC to talk about a plan to work on the track. “Because it is a steep site, there are some challenges in terms of working safely – and that’s why our health and safety team is involved,” Ryman corporate affairs manager David King said. “It comes under DoC’s governance but Ryman wants to help find a solution.”

Wonderfish Collective with strings attached The Wonderfish Collective’s show at the Devonport Arts Festival will feature a 16-piece orchestra, with profits from the show donated to Harbour Hospice. Four songwriters from the band (Al Baxter, Robbie McKegg, Alex McKegg and Nick Edgar) will perform their original material along with some of the Collective and the orchestra. The first half of the show will be an intimate affair with Alex McKegg and Edgar on guitar, Baxter on banjo/guitar, Emily Allen on violin/ viola, Maxine Cunliffe on cello, Glenn Coldham on bass and Rusty Knox on drums. The

Crooked String Quartet of Helen Crook, Robyn Strange, Allen and Cuncliffe also makes a guest appearance. Things step up in the second half when more ‘strings are attached’. The singers and band will be joined by the 16-piece string orchestra, drawn largely from the Devonport Chamber Orchestra. It will be led by Helen Crook, with Ryan Youens conducting and writing the orchestral arrangements. • Songs from the Wonderfish Collective with Orchestra. 8pm, 6 April, Victoria Theatre.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 8

March 22, 2019

Devonport 15B King Edward Parade

Fund your mortgage on King Edward

Enviably located on prestigious King Edward Parade, this character-filled home has a separate large, self-contained and fully licensed B&B annexe that offers you the potential to generate in the region of $70,000 a year that you could put towards your mortgage! So maybe you can consider living here after all? The current owners need to sell as they are on the move, so they have now priced this offering at a very realistic $2,695,000, representing amazing value for such a well located and versatile home. Quietly tucked away from the street this charming home started life as a school house in Huntly in 1910, and was moved here and has since been fully renovated in keeping with its original character.

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March 22, 2019

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 9

NEW LISTING

Belmont 31 Seacliffe Avenue

Style and sophistication in a premium location

Distinctive, sophisticated and indulgent, this "smart" home is the absolute epitome of luxury living. Blending the timelessness of the 1950s with modern architectural design, a relentless commitment to the highest standards of quality and execution, and the wide stunning views afforded by this prized location, this unique property is beyond compare. Rebuilt from foundations to roof in 2017, this house is in immaculate condition. A superior property - one that was created to offer a truly exceptional lifestyle. If you have high expectations, you should view this fabulous family residence. Contact me today for further details or see you at the open home.

Auction (unless sold prior) 1.30pm, Thu 18 Apr 2019 28 Northcroft St, Takapuna View Sat/Sun 11-11.45am Lynda Betts 021 278 3024 lynda.betts@bayleys.co.nz

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 10

Catching up With

March 22, 2019

Writer Ian Rockel: daily literary stroll fosters poetry

Vict theatre column

Writer’s retreat... Bookmark provides a comfy chair and the inspiration of books, when Ian Rockel feels a poem coming on. (Photo: Elise Clark) Devonport’s friendly village culture has fostered poet Ian Rockel’s writing habit and nurtured a few of the poems in his soonto-be-launched memoir with poems, This was Then. Rockel, 80, stays up until the early hours of the morning, reading and thinking, sleeps until noon, then goes to Lily’s cafe for coffee, to Devonport Library to see whether any interesting books have come in, then on to Bookmark second-hand bookshop. “If I feel a poem coming on, I sit in a chair among the books and write. That’s the pleasure of living in Devonport,” Rockel says. On a fine day, he will write the first two

lines in Bookmark and then, en route, sit on a wall in Anne St and write some more, often finishing before he gets home. Rockel launched a book of 50 poems spanning 50 years, What Know You Stars?, at Depot Artspace in 2017. In his second collection, there are about 75 poems, including some that couldn’t be fitted into the earlier book. At the request of his publisher, Roger Steele, This Was Then includes a 60-page memoir. Steele describes the poetry as “cryptic” and says he wanted to give readers an insight into the man behind the collection.

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The memoir encompasses a traumatic surgery as a child in Blenheim, a difficult OE in London, including brushes with mental illness and a formative period living in a large flat on Webb St, Wellington, in the 1960s. Flatmates included a shady figure who seldom moved, known as “Petrified denims”, the late painter Barry Lett, who surreptitiously removed a wall to let light into his downstairs room, Rockel’s future brother-in-law Ian Mune and many others. One flatmate was so short of clothing, she doubled as a life model for the flat’s artists, when she did her laundry. Rockel even encountered a couple of ghosts in the Webb St flat and the paranormal guests make an appearance in this new collection. Other themes recur from the earlier collection, including English winters and climate change, which worries Rockel a great deal. This is Rockel’s third book. He wrote a historic work, Taking the Waters, while working as director of Rotorua Museum, a publication Steele says “made a terrific contribution, recording the history of the volcanic plateau and acknowledging Te Arawa”. Rockel also edited and wrote a chapter for a book on painter Charles Goldie. ● This Was Then launches at Depot Artspace on Sunday 31 March at 4pm.

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 11

March 22, 2019

Nau Mai Haere Mai

MAUNGAUIKA NORTH HEAD COMMUNITY DAY

9:30am Karakia and Introductions Health and Safety brief 10am-12pm Hands-on Ecological Restoration Releasing native trees from invasive honeysuckle Rare plant garden work Young people’s activity - DoC 12-1pm Sausage sizzle Tūpuna Maunga Authority stall Free rat traps All Welcome. Enquiries to: MaungaAuthority@aklc.govt.nz Made possible by Tūpuna Taonga ō Tāmaki Makaurau Trust

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 12 From page 1

March 22, 2019

More presssure on Devonport ferry services

executive Mike Horne said. “The impact of this is likely to be felt by Devonport customers travelling on Kea, causing additional commuting time and delays,” Horne said. “We’ll do our best to keep to the current timetable, and we thank customers for their patience.” The ferry service is already under intense pressure. The Flagstaff counted 43 Devonport ferry text alerts between 9 Feb and 9 March, many covering multiple services. Fullers concedes the Devonport service has been impacted by delays and cancellations in January and February, which Horne blames chiefly on Auckland’s biggest-ever cruise season. The twin factors of ferries having to wait for cruise ships arriving and departing in the harbour, and the extra numbers of cruise-ship passengers placed pressure on ferry services. “Even the Kea cannot keep to timetable with the combination of high-passenger volume and increasing congestion in the harbour,” Horne said. Other factors causing delays were speed restrictions imposed in January, which have now been reversed, and vessel breakdowns. One commuter, Devonport resident James Powell, described the service as “a disgrace”, citing the daily text alerts in February. “Not a day goes by when I don’t receive a notification through the MyFerry app or Fullers text service that a ferry service is either delayed,

not running due to a mechanical breakdown or the latest and greatest of excuses, ‘Traffic in the harbour’,” Powell said. Fullers is undergoing a full review of its service, including looking at whether the vessels are appropriate and considering changing the ferry journey times to 20 minutes rather than 15, Horne said. Despite the large number of alerts, Fullers’ data shows the majority of Devonport services ran on time, even in February. “The Devonport route has consistently aligned to our overall key performance indicators on punctuality” (98 per cent). However, for the months of January and February, the Devonport route dropped back to 93 per cent; meaning 93 per cent of Devonport services left within five minutes of the scheduled timetable, Horne said. Fullers also measured reliability, which was 99.3 per cent in January. This equates to 18

cancellations out of 2519 sailings on the Devonport service in January. In February, Fullers’ reliability rate was 98.4 per cent. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair George Wood says the real issue is Auckland Transport (AT) has limited jurisdiction over Fullers, as the company sits outside the Public Transport Operating Model, which gives AT legal powers to control fares and timetables. “It is a serious situation, which AT has got to do something about. In the meantime, the people of Devonport, Bayswater and Stanley Pt suffer because of these inadequacies,” Wood says. AT says it recognises there are ongoing customer concerns with the performance of the ferries, but the services are exempt and therefore not provided under a contract. AT will continue to work with operators to seek to address issues using available mechanisms under legislation.

Security threat sparks evacuations Just days after the mass shooting in Christchurch, Devonport ferry passengers faced delays because of a security alert. The ferry basin was closed for about 20 minutes on 18 March at approximately 6.40am, after crew spotted a suspicious passenger on the 6am ferry service arriving into Auckland from Waiheke. Witnesses said armed police arrived at

the scene. The Kea from Devonport waited in the harbour while the situation cleared. Pier 1 was evacuated, as a precaution, Fullers360 chief executive Mike Horne said. “Fullers360 crew alerted the police, and authorities met the vessel and took the passenger into custody as he disembarked the ferry.” All passengers, staff and crew were safe.

Belmont 1/235 Lake Road

Exceptional value, so close to excellent schools

Tucked privately well back from the main road, this classic, solidly built, fully fenced 1940’s weatherboard home on a large flat section with plenty of room for children to play and room to create a wonderful garden or even extend the home. Facing north the home is sun drenched and has a wrap around deck to make the most of this when you entertain. Polished Rimu floors and character features throughout, great storage with ample cupboards and an attic ladder to take advantage of the roof space. Fully insulated, HRV system and a wood burner, you will be warm and cosy in winter. A brilliant first home, across the road from Takapuna Grammar and Belmont Intermediate, just a couple of minutes’ walk for the children to get to school.

Auction (unless sold prior) 1.30pm, Thu 28 Mar 2019 28 Northcroft St, Takapuna View Sat/Sun 12.15-1pm Prue de Bie 021 521 242 prue.debie@bayleys.co.nz

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BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, DEVONPORT, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

March 22, 2019

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 13

North Shore cricketers in promotion hunt – with Beghin and Hira on board The North Shore Premiers go into the final match of club cricket this weekend with a narrow lead as they attempt to gain promotion to Auckland’s top division. After a draw last Saturday against Birkenhead in a rain-affected match, Shore has a five-point lead over Eden-Roskill. However, Shore’s two Auckland rep players – Graeme Beghin and Ronnie Hira – are back for the match, which will markedly bolster the side’s chances against Waitakere at Te Atatu. First-year coach Chris Reed said the team was in the “promotion zone – that’s about all I can commit to at this stage.” However, leading into the final two-day match of the season is better than being behind and Shore beat Waitakere outright in a previous match this season. The match against Waitakere plays out over the next two Saturdays. But Shore will have a clear indication this week if it will have an easy run into the final day. It is eight years since Shore played in Auckland’s top division. Back on the pitch for Shore this weekend… Auckland rep Graeme Beghin

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The Flagstaff Notes

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 14 By Rob Drent Some may have felt I’ve been a bit hard on councillor Chris Darby over his enthusiasm for Lime scooters. In contrast, I’m full of praise for his work – over many years – in progressing moves to get rail to the North Shore. Darby was instrumental in making sure that bus lanes on the Northern

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Motorway were future-proofed so they could accommodate trains. That time may be closer than all of us thought. The harbour bridge is rapidly reaching capacity, as are bus numbers on the Northern Busway. What seemed a lifetime away – rail to the Shore – may happen sooner. It will be costly – a tunnel under the harbour is the most likely option to allow extra traffic and a rail line. If this happens, a tram spur to Devonport and Takapuna/Milford would be a real possibility. A hundred years ago, trams ran from Bayswater ferry terminal to Milford. Darby’s scepticism over the benefits of building ‘dolphins’ on the city side of the harbour, to cater for big cruise ships, is also to be commended. A Devonport-Takapuna Open Space Network Plan made public this week contains some interesting statistics on recreation. Parks, reserves and public spaces in the local board area total 216 ha. I thought of Darby again when reading this figure. Both he and The Devonport Flagstaff were called racists (by a select few) for questioning the process that led to the Ngati Whatua Treaty Settlement, which allowed the tribe to purchase 28.7 ha of Defence land on the Devonport peninsula. If this land had been returned to the public as reserve, parks or sports grounds, it would have added more than 10 per cent to the total open space in our region. The settlement was worth debating a decade ago – open space in a developing city is paramount.

March 22, 2019 In one of the world’s most enduring sporting contests, Belmont squash club last week beat Devonport 24-14 in the B & D challenge. Importantly, more than $1300 was raised for the family of Devonport squash player Damon Lord, who died last month after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Last week marked the launch of our sister paper, the Rangitoto Observer, which serves Milford and Takapuna. While the gestation had the inevitable squeaks and wobbles, it came together without too much pain. Delivering the first issue around Milford, I was surprised at the number of people living up there who had moved out of Devonport. The warm welcome for the Observer (“It’s a little bit like the Flagstaff,” one said) showed there is a real desire for locally sourced news. It’s what we have done for 25 years in Devonport: local stories about local people. The Observer launch event was held in Takapuna, several hours after a gunman killed 50 people in Christchurch. Driving up Lake Rd, I was talking to my son, who had just landed at Christchurch Airport, to be confronted by, what seemed to him, a mass of armed police. We decided to go ahead with the launch anyway and paid tribute to those who died. I’m glad we continued with the event. Likewise, full marks to the Devonport Community family fun trail, which was held last Sunday. The sane way to react to the lunatic fringe is to carry on with normal life, and celebrate the good things we have.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 15

March 22, 2019

Thirteen street car parks to make way for bus stop

Stop right there... Angered by plans to move a Cheltenham bus stop, residents Ann Andrews and Yvonne Learmonth would like AT to maintain the status quo Residents in Cheltenham are up in arms over Auckland Transport’s plans to move a bus stop and install broken yellow lines, removing 13 car parks. Auckland Transport (AT) requested feedback from immediate neighbours, saying the intersection of Tainui and Cheltenham Roads was a “pinch point” and the changes would make it easier for buses to enter and exit safely, and avoid delays. “The location has been identified as problematic if vehicles are parked close to the intersection and large vehicles are waiting to turn right out of Tainui Rd and left from Cheltenham Rd,” the letter from AT said. However, Cheltenham Rd residents Yvonne and David Learmonth say the road is very wide, the buses bigger than necessary for the low number of passengers, and the stop on the opposite side of Cheltenham Rd serves only a school bus. Plus, there’s another bus stop 50 metres away. They are upset they will have a bus stop right outside their gate, if the existing bus stop is moved. “Our gate opens directly onto the footpath. It will make it hazardous to get in and out of our driveway. There’s then the aspects of noise and fumes. It’s a major intrusion,” said Yvonne Learmonth. The other concern is the loss of 13 car parks at the intersection of Tainui and Cheltenham Rds.

In AT’s letter to neighbours, which the Learmonths received a day after the feedback period closed on 4 March, AT’s Kevin Huang said, “There is widespread on-street parking available in the surrounding area.” However, Yvonne Learmonth said, “That’s simply not true.” On a summer’s day, Cheltenham Beach and North Head are popular destinations. If there’s a regatta, people flock to North Head for a view of the races. In addition, the North Shore Cricket Club nearby is very popular. “In summer, there are literally hordes of children going there, to the grounds, to train.” She said she had never seen two buses pass each other and queried whether the buses were ever full on the 807 route. She suggested AT could help the environment and maintain the status quo by simply using smaller buses. Changes are planned for mid-2019. AT media manager Mark Hannan said a standard small bus operated on this route. The corner needed to be suitable for use by a number of vehicles, including buses and delivery trucks. Local residents were sent letters for a two-week feedback period, which AT would extend to 22 March, Hannan said. “We know this service only carries an average of three passengers, but we are looking at ways to grow the service,” he added. It is particularly important the service

runs on time, because it serves the ferries, Hannan said. Ann Andrews, who lives on King Edward Parade, was disappointed not to be asked for feedback. “This impacts on the whole neighbourhood. To lose 13 valuable car parks in a popular area, close to two beaches and with large visitor numbers to North Head, puts pressure on all the surrounding houses,” Andrews said. Now management of Maungauika/North Head has been transferred to the Tupuna Maunga Authority, it is likely the volcanic cone will be closed to traffic, with the loss of around 40 car parks, Andrews wrote. The historic bus stop, should not be moved, Andrews said. Meanwhile, a Narrow Neck resident is asking when AT will finish the job after bus stops were closed in the service changes late last year. In some cases, berms have been concreted over and the disused bus stops have purple signs, stating they are no longer in use. “They [AT] have not cleaned up after themselves. How long will these signs stay up for?” asked Wicklow Rd resident Guy Robinson. AT said, following the introduction of the new bus network, there were bus stops right across Auckland that were now not used. “AT is working through an assessment of costs and the procurement of contractors to remove them, but this will take some time,” Hannan said.

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 16

Lake Rd improvements won’t happen this decade Structural improvements to Lake Rd are at least two to three years away, says Auckland Transport (AT). AT has appointed a project team to undertake the detailed business case for the Lake Rd improvements project. But “physical construction, of any viable project being developed, is likely to be at least 2–3 years away due to the design, approvals and procurement processes required,” AT said in a report to The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. In the meantime, AT will continue to use existing programmes, such as travel planning and network optimisation, to help ease Lake Rd congestion.

Fruit-fly restrictions extended The fruit-fly zones in Devonport have been left in place for another week as a precautionary measure. One male Queensland fruit fly was found in Rattray St, on February 13. While no other fruit flies have been found in Devonport, six have been been discovered in Northcote and three in Otara.

March 22, 2019

Last cash from heritage fund A fund that has supported heritage restorations in Devonport has dried up, after Auckland Council cut a $50,000 annual grant to the North Shore Heritage Trust. In the past 16 years, the trust has funded numerous large projects in Devonport, as well as giving many homeowners up to $5000 for work on their heritage-listed homes. “You can see how much pride people have taken in the restoration of their properties and to get it right, and that’s really what the grants were all about,” trust founding chair Paddy Stafford-Bush says. Stafford-Bush says the trust has made a difference to the fabric of Devonport heritage and she is saddened by the council’s decision.

Originally, the funding came from North Shore City Council and grants have all gone to projects within the old city boundaries. Two years ago, Auckland Council decided to stop the funding.. More than 45 grants went to Devonport projects over the years, including: restoring Narrow Neck Beach’s starting tower; the Vic Theatre’s conservation plan; the ‘Bear Garden Wall’ in Anne St and a restoration at the Wilson Home. The Devonport Museum and the Takapuna Boating Club’s Bayswater clubhouse also received grants. A pool of $30,000 remains for a community project that could become the trust’s swansong. To apply, email northshoreheritagetrust@gmail.com.

Solar panels stolen from school roof Thieves have stolen solar panels from a school roof. Around $15,000 worth of panels were taken from the roof of Bayswater School in the hours between the school closing on March 12 and it reopening on March 13. The panels were one of three arrays installed by the school as part of its commitment to green technologies.

Principal Lindsay Child said the theft was “highly annoying”. The panels would be replaced, but the time dealing with police and making claims to insurance companies would have been better spent in the classroom with children, Child said. The array was heavy and would have taken at least two men to lift it off the roof, she said.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 17

March 22, 2019

Agent’s spin earns him top spot out of 5300 riders Devonport real estate agent Ian Cunliffe topped the Auckland Bike Challenge, a contest aimed at getting more people cycling. Cunliffe gained the most points in the Auckland Transport-organised competition in February, through a combination of riding distance, number of days riding and number of people he inspired to ride. “The challenge was great fun and I encouraged some work colleagues plus a few Devonport Rotary friends to ride a bike,” Cunliffe says. The Barfoot and Thompson agent cycled more than 2000km during February. Achieving this feat, in a field of more than 5300 participants from workplaces across Auckland, involved getting up at 5am and cycling 50km before work, then doing another 50km after work, and adding some more kilometres on days off. Cunliffe, a past Devonport Rotary president, cycled the length of the UK, from Lands End to John O’Groats, three years ago. Last June, he did a UK charity ride, with two Devonport friends, from Newcastle to Exeter, which was about 800km and raised $20,000 for a dementia care unit in England. He’s hoping to do a similar ride in New Zealand to raise money for dementia care here, in honour of a friend who died. The Auckland Bike Challenge was free for organisations to enter and this year raised money for Variety – The Children’s Charity. Cunliffe’s prize was a $100 Bike Barn voucher and a $100 Lululemon voucher for sports apparel. In the saddle... Cyclist and Devonport real estate agent Ian Cunliffe put in the hours, kilometres and encouragement to win the Auckland Bike Challenge

ThE NAVy COmmuNiTy NEwSLETTER

Navy boosts recruit numbers A record number of new recruits arrived at Devonport Naval Base in February to begin training for a career in the Navy. The first step for the 130 recruits – 91 men and 39 women – is completion of a 16-week ‘Basic Common Training’ (BCT) course to introduce our new sailors to the Navy way of life. Personnel training numbers are being increased in preparation for the arrival of the Navy’s two new vessels, a dive and hydrographic ship, HMNZS Manawanui in June, and a support ship, HMNZS Aotearoa, in early 2020. “BCT intakes wax and wane all the time,” says Assistant Chief of Navy for Personnel and Training, Captain David Fairweather. “There were, for example, three intakes as recently as 2014.” “We’re getting some new capability

and the Navy has to grow in the total number of people,” he says. “It’s a good time to join the Navy with the new ships arriving and the ANZAC Frigates (HMNZS Te Mana and HMNZS Te Kaha) undertaking significant system upgrades.” “We’re not lowering our standards. You still need to be fit and if you have the requisites we need, life could be good in the Navy,” says Captain Fairweather. “The probability of doing deployments across the Asia-Pacific, Antarctica and around New Zealand is good,” he says. “The Navy is about going and doing stuff with people and having that shared bond. You are joining a family of people who spend a lot of time together. And like all families, that’s sometimes challenging, but mostly enjoyable,” says Captain Fairweather.

Congratulations? Thanks? Problems? Complaints? DEVONPORT NAVAL BASE TEL 445 5002

Navy Base hosts MPI team Devonport Naval Base continues to host members of the Ministry of Primary Industries diagnostic and field teams as a result of the recent Queensland fruit fly incursion. Two portable laboratories and several equipment storage containers have been sited on the Base. “We have had excellent support from the Naval Base team,” says Diagnostic Work Stream Manager for MPI, Sherly George. “I want to thank everyone for their hospitality – it’s great.” “We will be keeping a close eye on the fruit fly traps for another few weeks,” she says.

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 18

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 19

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 21

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Letters

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 22

March 22, 2019

Light rail a dream from green wonderland In response to Chris Werry, who responded to my email regarding light rail (Flagstaff, 8 March): Chris, you came out guns blazing – well done. I like your vision of supporting renewable energy. You have yet to tell me what happens when a cyclist transitions over these rails buried in the tar seal. You also did not elaborate on where the tram stops fit into this “middle of the road solution” you refer to. I take it that if light rail arrives, buses on these roads will be removed. So bus stops are removed and tram stops are erected in the middle of the road, together with the tram lines. This would push the car lanes further out and cycle lanes will be history. Bus stops are currently spaced every 800odd metres, sometimes more, sometimes less. To replace bus stops, patrons on the light rail will expect similar stop intervals. Who wants

to disembark from a tram only to have to walk kilometres to where they want to be? At every tram stop there will have to be a pedestrian crossing to enable people to safely cross to the side of the road, supposedly with traffic lights, further impacting normal traffic flow. To this, you might answer that tram users will cross via a tunnel under the traffic lane, exiting on the sidewalk. We only have an Auckland budget, not a Singapore budget. Now apply all the above to a light-rail system down a narrow Lake Rd on the Devonport peninsula, as Rob Drent suggested in the Flagstaff. Where is this light rail going to go to? Devonport to Takapuna? What a waste. Devonport to the city? Good luck. I honestly think you are living in your own little green wonderland Chris. But trust me, you are not alone. Ian Cunningham

No taste for 4x4s What’s the deal with all the ugly, enormous and inappropriate 4x4 mommy wagons that now thunder along the streets of Devonport? It is possible to have both wealth and taste, surely? Isaac Donaldson

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March 22, 2019

Letters

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 23

Internal wrangling hamstrings gulf forum The poster of the Hauraki Gulf distributed informative and should be on display on by the New Zealand Herald and produced classroom and bedroom walls. by the Hauraki Gulf Forum is colourful and Sadly, it appears to be one of the few tangible outputs last year from a largely dysfunctional Hauraki Gulf Forum, which is so preoccupied by internal wrangling that it is failing to deliver on its environmental responsibilities. When the new forum chair expressed his vision at the February meeting for future projects such as targets for water quality, re-establishing mussel beds and creating marine parks in the gulf, you would assume that there would have been unanimous support, at least in principle. But no, he was immediately strongly criticised by the tangata whenua members for not having consulted with them first. His report was not passed unanimously Dr Andrew Steele BDS OTAGO and his ideas look dead in the water. It would appear that this ‘co-governance’ NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? committee has devolved into a power strugBook your appointment now gle as tangata whenua collectively aim to gain the predominant influence on the activities and direction of the forum, instead of just getting on with meeting the responsibilities info@devonportdental.co.nz for which they were appointed. 8 VICTORIA RD Derek Stubbs

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Sunday 22nd November, 10am on SUMMER FUNRd, Devonport Plunket Rooms, 1/3 Wairoa PRESCHOOL PLAY Fun for all the family withMORNINGS a bouncy castle, Tuesdays (@ Windsor Reserve) & games, Thursdays dance instructor, facepainting, live (@ Bayswater Park) 9:30am–11:00am music, bbq, raffles, coffee van, icecream, baked A FREE fun time for preschoolers to play with big goodies and more! https://www.facebook. toys, be active and Visit to make new friends. Bring com/PlunketDevonportTakapuna/ for beautiful more info. your toddler and a coffee and enjoy our parks! Caregiver supervision is required and DEVONPORT sessionsWELCOME are weather TO dependent. For more info, contact Carolyn or Maria on ph: 445 9533 or Friday 27th November, 10:30am email: maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz

Corelli’s Café, 46 Victoria Rd, Devonport Devonport Peninsula CommunityineNEWS New to Devonport or interested meeting To receive the Peninsula eNEWS, others fromemail yourDevonport community? You are warmly a monthly listing of community events, invited to Welcome to notices, Devonport to find and other community please emailout more about what’s on and meet some new us at maria@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz faces. Contact ph: 445 WithRebecca special thanks to 3068 the or Maria ph: 445 9533. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board for funding the Devonport Peninsula Trust.

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The Devonport Flagstaff Page 24

Interview

March 22, 2019

Tourism boss shares ideas for Devonport Tourism New Zealand chief and Devonport resident Stephen England-Hall believes the area could make better use of its golf course as part of a push to get tourists spending more when they visit. He talks to Helen Vause about his tourism vision, telling the New Zealand story and suggestions for his local patch. The man leading the promotion of New Zealand as a tourist destination is a Devonport resident and has some ideas about how the area could attract more visitors. Stephen England-Hall has for nearly two years been chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, the agency responsible for promoting our country as a destination. Locally, he suggests there is an opportunity to “turn up the volume” on the marketing and utilisation of the Waitemata Golf Club course. “The golf course could be a city country club, with tourists and business people coming across for lunch and a game. It’s a lovely course in a very nice setting so it’s not difficult to see how much it could appeal. Probably it is the closest to the city and it seems a lot more could be made of its potential appeal to another market. “Devonport appeals to everyone and it’s a sure thing that the tourists, both New Zealanders and internationals, are going to keep coming over on the ferries in increasing numbers. It’s perceived as a quaint and cute place. No doubt they have a pleasant experience here, but currently much of that experience is absolutely free.” The idea, he reckons, is to get tourists spending more, and doing more while they are here, without upsetting the locals. “Obviously Devonport’s demographic is changing and that will keep on happening. We owe it to our community to stand for the future that we want. We can have ambition for an extraordinary future here. “Of course there needs to be a balance but holding on to some attitudes is not going to fix anything. If the thinking stays in the past, we

Lifelong yachtie... Sally Garrett first sailed the Hauraki Gulf as a baby Floating ideas... Ferry-riding tourism chief Stephen England-Hall at the Devonport ferry terminal stay in the past.” England-Hall also believes more people should be able to live in the heart of Devonport and that increasing the central population would support an increase in core services, open up more options and bring more things to do. He’s keen to see redevelopment of the New World car park and smarter use of space in the village centre. “This is a beautiful place with so much on offer and there is an exceptional community here full of warm, lovely people,” he says. On a national scale, the plan to get more money out of those who come to New Zealand is bearing fruit, England-Hall told a breakfast meeting in Devonport, where the Flagstaff caught up with him. Tourism contributes over $39 billion to our economy, with about $16.2 billion of that coming from international visitors. It’s our largest export earner and a significant employer, with about one in seven Kiwis directly or indirectly employed in tourism. Certainly, tourism is growing. By 2024,

visitor numbers are expected to reach more than five million a year and those people are expected to spend an additional $4.6 billion in hotels, cafes, shops and attractions. To many, the visitors may seem like a mass influx and, depending on who you ask, they can be a worrisome pest or an opportunity on legs. It’s not news to England-Hall and his team that we have mixed feelings about visitors, and the pressure they put on infrastructure in some places and communities, including Devonport. Increasingly, most Kiwis are coming round to feeling international tourism is good for New Zealand, he says. Tourism New Zealand’s latest survey of national sentiment showed that public concerns about visitor numbers had stabilised and around 95 per cent of Kiwis now agree that tourism is good for New Zealand. Visitor surveys show that around 94 per cent report that their visit to New Zealand either met or exceeded their expectations. Who comes here, what they do, where they go and what they spend is a complicated mix

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 25

March 22, 2019 44-year-old England-Hall is in the thick of – with the help of sophisticated technology, data analysis, and targeted marketing. A key part of the job, he says, is to keep targeting high-value visitors, who spend more here than their counterparts used to. And, to get more of them into the regions and coming here across all seasons. Telling the New Zealand story isn’t where England-Hall originally thought he would find himself, and the career pathway he was on didn’t obviously point to tourism. He was recruited for his job when he was chief executive of Loyalty New Zealand – a company best known for the Fly Buys programme – after returning home from working in the Northern Hemisphere. His international experience was in the world of digital marketing, with data and technology companies in the UK and North America. Earlier in his career he’d made a good enough impression to get into the University of Cambridge MBA course – without an undergraduate degree. Now he serves as a member of several Cambridge University advisory boards. Alongside the Tourism New Zealand job, England-Hall also sits on the New Zealand Screen Production Grant panel and is a founding member of the New Zealand Data Futures Partnership think tank. It’s no accident that England-Hall, his wife Suzie and their children, Hudson and Evie, are living in Devonport. When the family returned to New Zealand

six years ago, they were looking for the pick of the city’s locations and somewhere near the sea to make a home. England-Hall says Devonport was an easy choice and it’s the place he wants to stay. He’s a ferry commuter and away from work he pounds the pavements on regular runs or is

“No doubt they have a pleasant e x p e r i e n c e h e re [Devonport], but currently much of that experience is absolutely free.” out on his paddle board. In tourism, England-Hall says, we need to make sure it brings more to the country than it takes away. “There is the opportunity for tourism to enrich the country socially, environmentally and economically.” It’s no secret that some regions are feeling the pressure and will need support to get tourism working well for both local communities and the visitors, he says. “We’re using sophisticated targeting to attract visitors to contribute to New Zealand in the

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best way possible and to get better outcomes in many ways. “I see myself in this job very much as a guardian of this fantastic country and all we have to offer.” For many years we’ve been sold to the world as ‘100 per cent pure’, but in line with the latest promotional strategy, we can expect to hear more about ‘enrichment’ very soon, he says. Research shows as many as 140 million people are currently considering New Zealand as a holiday destination (along with many other places). They’re not all coming, says EnglandHall, but getting the attention of those we do want to come is a huge job. In fact, according to a saying in the business most of those travelling millions would be more likely to buy an Aston Martin than choose to come to New Zealand. And of the 2500 planes leaving the US every day, only a handful are bound for New Zealand. And just a fraction of the 115 million travelling Chinese pick New Zealand to visit. When they do come here, some just want an Instagram moment while others may want much more active outdoor experiences. Either way, there are many untapped opportunities for them, and for this country,England-Hall says. “Our story is by no means just about scenery. There are beautiful lakes, beaches and forests in many other places. The job is about selling the whole country and selling ourselves as people. We’re unique people and we have an incredible story here. Already we have a reputation for being generous, warm and welcoming.”

The Devonport Flagstaff Page 26

March 22, 2019

Devonport 09 445 2010