The Howick and Pakuranga Times is back! Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the long-standing local news provider has been brought back to life after its publisher, Times Newspapers, closed on April 17. Well-known east Auckland businesswoman Bo Burns has acquired the company’s digital assets. As she doesn’t plan at this stage to reintroduce the printed version of the newspaper its...

The police’s watchdog has issued a scathing report on “inadequate” efforts to protect a young woman before she was stabbed to death by her east Auckland stalker. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has investigated the work of police following a report filed by murder victim Farzana Yaqubi. The 21-year-old law student was fatally stabbed on December 19, 2022, by East...

Three youths are in trouble with the law after allegedly trying to break into cars in east Auckland. Counties Manukau East Police area prevention manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says officers were called to Flat Bush just before 7pm on April 17. A concerned member of the public reported suspicious activity around parked vehicles in Flat Bush School Road, he says. “There was...

Hydie Balle-Hands talks to FARIDA MASTER about her debut children’s story book that started off with babysitting her nephew. Even as the enchanting children’s picture book has Andy making three wishes that take him on a big adventure….the local author shares her story behind the adventures of publishing Andy & The Little Rimu Tree. “It is very soul-satisfying.” Oh, to have...

Retired civil engineer Robert Finley has analysed part of the design of the $1.3 billion Eastern Busway and he's concerned about what he sees. The Golflands resident has a particular interest in the area that encircles Pakuranga Plaza and includes the Reeves Road Flyover, the South Eastern Arterial Highway, Ti Rakau Drive, Pakuranga Road, Reeves Road and William Roberts Road. He...

June 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of east Auckland man Jim Donnelly. The Times is looking back, through a series of stories, at one of the most baffling unsolved cases in recent New Zealand history. The 43-year-old father-of-two was living with his wife Tracey Donnelly and their two young children in Dannemora when he disappeared on Monday, June...

Auckland Transport is planning to build a raised zebra crossing on Litten Road outside the Litten Road Shopping Centre. This proposal was put out for public feedback on December 19, 2023. Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association followed up in January, 2024, asking AT for more information. We received a reply advising how much the raised zebra crossing is going to...

I am writing in response to the Howick Residents and Ratepayers Association letter published in the Howick & Pakuranga Times on April 3, 2024. The Howick Local Board has been busy serving our diverse communities across Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, and Flat Bush. Recently we’ve delivered Celebrating Cultures and Music in Parks, in addition to funding for local community events like...

I was walking on the Farm Cove Walkway with my dog and found a large fish hook with bait attached lying on the grass by the Pakuranga Sailing Club. Presumably it was left behind by a rather careless fisher. This is the second time we have found a large fish hook. That first one was in our dog’s mouth. A...

The Mangemangeroa Reserve Community Garden has been demolished by Auckland Council for no reason other than a Farming Trust was given permission to take the stockyards away. You may have seen the tall bright orange sunflowers or the sweet pea flowers as you have been along Somerville Road. The garden grew many vegetables – sweetcorn, kumara, dwarf, runner and snake beans,...