There’s plenty of artistic activities on offer at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum. File photo supplied
Coming up in July the Polish Heritage Trust Museum at 125 Elliot Street has two family workshops during the school holidays and an exhibition linked to the East Auckland Art Trail and the Polish Parliament Year at the Polish Museum in Howick.
Exhibition: Polish Comics and their Creators. July 2-16 or book your own group time.
Comics were outlawed as a ‘demoralising Western influence’ from 1947-57 in Eastern Bloc Poland. Find out about the fight for publication freedom by graphic illustrators and authors as well as a survey of their works. Museum entry is by donation. Groups by prior booking (small fee). Also available as a presentation for booked groups on a date to suit.
Workshop: Polish Comics. July 6 from 10am-12pm or book your own group time.
An educational presentation and activity for the school holidays. Learn about the creators, stories and history of Polish comics. Make comic character craftwork to take home. For ages 5-adult. $10 per person, includes craft materials.
Workshop: Astronomer Copernicus. July 9 from 2pm-4pm or book your own group time.
An educational presentation and activity for the school holidays. Learn about the scientific work and discoveries of Copernicus in this 550th year of his birth anniversary. Create a model of the heliocentric solar system to take home. For ages 6-adult. $10 per person, includes craft materials.
To book, phone 533 3530 or email phtmuseum@outlook.com.
A boating association wants help from the Hauraki Gulf Forum regarding hardstands closing across Auckland. Photo Department of Conservation
Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
A boating association is calling for help from the Hauraki Gulf Forum as fears around hardstands closing across Auckland fall on deaf ears at Auckland Council.
In the past year, six hardstands have reduced their hull cleaning capacity, with three shutting their doors entirely.
Boats are a primary way for pests to spread in Auckland waters and, with cleaning capacity reduced, boats will need to travel further for cleaning. This could result in pests being dragged for longer distances.
At the Hauraki Gulf Forum on June 12, Auckland Yacht and Boating Association representative Andrew Barney asked for help from the forum.
“We are losing cleaning capacity and Auckland Council has not identified this death by a thousand cuts,” Barney said.
He said the association’s public input at a council committee and a meeting with Mayor Wayne Brown were both declined.
“We seem to be the only organisation aware of this risk.”
“As a not-for-profit we are out of cash and we are losing – we feel we are fighting on our own here.”
Cr Christine Fletcher asked if Barney believed that council staff had built its advice on the assumption that Auckland boaties were all wealthy.
Barney said while council appeared to believe boaties were all wealthy that was not the only issue.
“I believe Auckland Council has walked away from its role on biosecurity,” Barney said.
Fletcher replied that she did not believe council’s response was out of malice but the organisation had become too big.
Co-chair Toby Adams identified himself as a “non-wealthy boat owner”.
“There are not enough haul-outs now – even in winter I struggle to get an appointment,” Adams said.
Cr Wayne Walker said the association had “skin in the game” and could commission a report on the effects of closing hardstands.
Barney responded that the organisation could but the issue was whether anyone would listen.
Oral fluid drug tests are used overseas, including in states throughout Australia, and are the easiest way to screen drivers for drugs. Photo RSA
National will deliver where Labour has failed and roll out roadside drug testing to keep New Zealanders safer on our roads, National’s Transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says.
“Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road accidents in New Zealand, with 199 deaths on our roads in 2022 attributed to alcohol and drugs,” says Brown.
“Currently there is no roadside drug testing in New Zealand. Last year, Labour passed a law to introduce roadside drug testing in March of this year. However, three months later there is still no sign of it because Labour’s law failed to allow police to use oral fluid drug testing devices – leaving police with no way of screening drivers.
“Oral fluid drug tests are used overseas, including in states throughout Australia, and are the easiest way to screen drivers for drugs.
“These tests are accurate around 95 per cent of the time, but currently do not comply with New Zealand law which requires tests to be highly accurate to be used in evidence.”
Brown said National will change the law to allow oral fluid drug tests to be used to screen drivers’ at the roadside.
“If a driver fails two roadside tests, a sample from the second test will be sent to a laboratory to confirm the result. Laboratory testing is more accurate and will provide police with the evidence they need to charge the driver,” said Brown.
“This would bring New Zealand in line with overseas standards and remove unnecessary restrictions around the use of oral fluid testing.
“The oral fluid drug tests will be funded out of the New Zealand Transport Agency’s road safety partnership programme with police.
“Every single day that goes by without random roadside drug testing is another day that puts New Zealanders’ lives at risk. National will give police the tools they need to roll-out random roadside drug testing in New Zealand as soon as possible.
“This is yet another abject failure by Labour.”
It follows new figures out today that show Labour is failing to meet the alcohol breath testing target at a time when alcohol-related deaths have hit a new high.
“Police have a target of 3 million breath tests each year, but that target has not been achieved once in the last six years,” Brown said.
“New Zealanders deserve a government that delivers on what it says, especially when it comes to road safety.”
The New Zealand National Airways Corporation DC-3 that crashed in the Kaimai Range in 1963. Photo supplied Mannering and Associates via Richard Waugh
One of the organisers of events staged to mark the 60th anniversary of New Zealand’s worst internal air disaster is appealing for information on the relatives of a passenger killed in the crash.
The Kaimai Range air accident on July 3, 1963, claimed the lives of 23 people.
Flight 441 was a DC-3 Skyliner ZK-AYZ ‘Hastings’ aircraft piloted by Captain Len Enchmarch on a New Zealand National Airways Corporation trip from Auckland to Tauranga and then Gisborne, Napier and Wellington.
Flying in what’s describe as “shocking weather conditions”, the plane plunged into a rock ravine near the top of the Kaimai Range, between Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, causing the death of the three crew members and 20 passengers.
Among the people with a keen interest in the tragedy is east Auckland resident Rev Dr Richard Waugh, a leading aviation historian and Honorary Chaplain of the Company of Air Pilots.
He’s the author of a book on the disaster entitled Kaimai Crash – New Zealand’s Worst Internal Air Disaster.
Waugh says the plane’s wreckage was initially discovered 24 hours after the crash during a large search.
“It was the first time helicopters were used in a major aviation search and recovery operation in New Zealand.
“The tragic accident was a profound shock to the prosperity and optimism of a growing post-war nation.
“The accident was front-page news for days.”
Among the other locals with a connection to the disaster is Gary Johnstone, deputy principal at Elim Christian College in Botany.
He helped to rediscover the plane’s wreckage 20 years ago and helped Waugh write his book on the tragedy.
“I got involved when Richard heard I was planning to tramp the North-South Track in January 2003 with some mates,” Johnstone says.
“At that time he was planning for the 40th memorial of the DC3 crash.
“Richard asked me to see if I could discover the wreck, which over the years had been lost in dense bush.”
Johnstone says on the third day of his tramp, his small group descended a gully and climbed down a steep bank into a stream.
“It was there we started locating bits of debris and plane wreckage and finally we came across the [aircraft’s] port wing.”
Johnstone says sadly the location has become known and “souvenir hunters have come to scavenge”.
“The site has a particular feel about it and my thoughts are it should be treated with respect and dignity.”
Waugh wants to hear from any locals who have links to the disaster, or know of the current whereabouts of relatives of the late Bruce Gray, who was a passenger on the flight and died in the crash at the age of 35.
“He was married with two young daughters and lived in Evelyn Road, Cockle Bay, at the time of the accident,” Waugh says.
“He’d been born in Napier and later educated at the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture.
“For a number of years he practiced architecture as an associate of George Tole of Auckland.
“I’d very much like to contact his two daughters, who would be aged in their 60s now, to invite them to the anniversary events.”
Waugh says the 60th anniversary this year is likely to be the final time for relatives of the passengers, and others with direct involvement by way of search and recovery efforts, to gather to pay their respects.
“Already many family members have confirmed their attendance, including the support of 86-year-old Mrs Sandy Saussey, who 60 years ago was the young wife of Captain Len Enchmarch.
“Pastoral support for family members will be paramount and our organising group is grateful to have support from Air New Zealand, the Matamata-Piako District Council, and from many others for this special anniversary time.”
People with information on the whereabouts of the relatives of Bruce Gray can email richard.waugh.rev@gmail.com.
Jennifer Beck’s new book ‘Bits of String Too Short to Use’ is out on August 20.
A former teacher and psychologist, Jennifer Beck, has published a memoir, Bits of String Too Short to Use.
The book comes out on August 20.
Beck, from Howick, has written a large number of educational children’s books, translated and sold internationally.
She is also the author of many children’s picture books, most of which have won awards.
Her newest book looks at her life as a series of ‘bits’, memorable episodes which, when joined together, form a pattern both fascinating and thought-provoking.
From early life in an unusual rural community, she describes growing up in a large family with money troubles, limited educational opportunities, a lovable but somewhat eccentric father and a determination to follow dreams.
These led to early experiences as a teacher and extensive overseas travel.
As budget travel meant hitchhiking, risks were taken which led to being stranded north of the Arctic Circle, avoiding sunstroke on a lonely roadside in Greece and, later, travelling overland on an unreliable old bus from London to Sri Lanka.
So many adventures, followed by new experiences back home.
These include romance, weddings, a surprise pregnancy and establishing a successful transport business from a phone in the kitchen.
Not easy while breastfeeding a baby and trying to watch out for another young child while trucks reversed around the house.
Being housebound in the 1960s led to extramural study towards completing a university degree and a lifetime interest in collecting antiques and restoring furniture.
Restoration was also an interest of husband Peter, who dismantled a historic vintage plane and stored it in bits under the house before eventually restoring it.
After giving birth to another two children in the 1980s, a new career as a writer for children and adults began, with many years of involvement in New Zealand’s literary scene.
The memoir includes behind-the-scenes encounters with writers such as Margaret Mahy, Fiona Kidman and Dorothy Butler.
Despite the traumatic loss of several loved family members and the challenges of ageing, this love of writing has continued, culminating in this memoir.
Bits of String Too Short to Use by Jennifer Beck
Published by Mary Egan Publishing, August 20, 2023, RRP $40.
By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
Councillors fear the public’s lack of awareness about the Independent Māori Statutory Board could colour consultation of Māori seats at Auckland Council.
Auckland Council is going out for consultation to see if Aucklanders support designated Māori seats on council’s Governing Body.
At the Governing Body meeting on June 22, councillors approved the consultation document but several councillors raised concerns about mentioning the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) in the material.
The IMSB is an appointed body that is independent and legislatively required for council to have.
The board has voting rights with up to two seats on council committees however it does not have a seat on the Governing Body.
Cr Alf Filipaina put forward an amendment originally to remove any mention of the IMSB but later to note that council was not seeking feedback on the IMSB.
“When the IMSB was set up, they had nothing to do with Māori representation, it was to make Auckland Council accountable,” Filipaina said.
Mayor Wayne Brown was confused by Filipaina’s request.
“Basically you want people to know that it is separate but we are not allowed to tell anybody that it even exists,” Brown said.
Several councillors disagreed with excluding the IMSB from the consultation document.
Filipaina’s amendment was lost with nine votes in favour and 12 against.
Consultation on the matter is set to begin in August.
Wei Tian Teo is now studying at the University of Auckland as she undertakes a degree in biomedical science.
Wei Tian Teo, a former student of Macleans College, has won the prestigious Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award.
Teo won the east Auckland award for her extensive involvement in her school and community affairs, then the Zonta District 16 (28 clubs) award and was one of 36 recipients to be award the Zonta International award with a prize of US$5000 [$8107.65].
The Zonta Club of East Auckland’s Robyn Fox said Teo’s success was due to her extensive work with national and international charity organisations as the president of her school’s UNICEF and Interact clubs, leading more than 600 students each year in numerous service projects and raising around $30,000 over her years of leadership.
As head girl, elected Board of Trustees student representative, and Student Council president, she led the modernising of school policies and practices for intersectional inclusivity.
“Teo has also demonstrated international understanding through raising money towards helping migrants and refugees assimilate in New Zealand,” said Fox.
“Beyond school, Wei Tian advocated for a $1,045,000 city council budget towards reducing emissions and campaigned for increased youth involvement in civic affairs as a United Nations Youth ambassador.”
Wei Tian Teo.
She also founded her school’s UN chapter to enhance civics education, engagement in local politics and created spaces for students to develop debating, diplomacy and public-speaking skills. Teo has also led the coordination of the UNICEF Ball Committee; a national student-led initiative that raises money towards aid for Yemen children.
She co-founded and directed The Girl Empowerment Conference, an island-wide social case competition, aimed at empowering female students through critical-thinking as she engaged influential speakers and mentors. For her advocacy and initiative, she was named an international finalist in the Youth-To-The-Front-Fund and received several national accolades.
Teo is now studying at the University of Auckland as she undertakes a degree in biomedical science with a view to becoming a physician.
“Her time at university has enabled her to become increasingly aware of the inequities in the health system. This has now inspired her to think about the politics of medicine as she is aware that injustice seems to be to do with legislation,” said Fox.
“This will inform the choices she makes as she goes forward in her career. She acknowledged that her mother, sister, teachers and senior students also helped her realise that anything is possible. Wei Tian is an outstanding young woman and a very deserved winner.”
The Young Women in Public Affairs application packs will be in all secondary schools in the third term.
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, left, says a National Government will restore law and order. He’s pictured with National’s leader and Botany MP Christopher Luxon. Times file photo Wayne Martin
By Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga
Labour’s soft approach to crime has left too many Kiwis in fear within their own homes and communities, and National has made it a priority to restore law and order in New Zealand.
Since Labour took office in 2017, violent crime has increased by 33 per cent while gang numbers have increased by 66 per cent.
We saw this clearly illustrated when the town of Ōpōtiki was recently forced to close down because of a gang funeral.
National believes it is unacceptable that whole communities, like ours in Pakuranga, must bow to the illegal whims of criminals to the point where children are prevented from going to school.
Our message is clear – if you choose to engage in criminal activities or align yourself with a gang, you will face more severe consequences.
Over the weekend, National announced a raft of policies to ensure that there are real consequences for crime.
National will limit the ability of judges to reduce sentences by a maximum discount of 40 per cent.
We have seen too many serious offenders given light sentences, with some seeing more than half their potential sentence reduced, which simply isn’t fair to their victims.
National will restore the Three Strikes law to ensure the most serious offenders are kept behind bars.
National will stop taxpayers’ funding being used to pay for ‘cultural reports’ which are used to reduce offenders sentences and reprioritise that funding to support victims of crime instead.
National will prioritise rehabilitation within our prisons by ensuring remand prisoners have access to rehabilitation programmes in prison that they cannot currently take part in.
Around a quarter of all prisoners serve their entire sentence on remand, so it makes sense to use that time to address underlying causes of offending.
These policies come on top of other policies we have already announced to help restore law and order in New Zealand.
National will crack down on serious youth offenders by creating young offender military academies, to provide them with discipline, mentoring and intensive rehabilitation.
National will also take a tougher stance on gangs and gang violence by banning gang patches in public places and allowing police to issue dispersal notices when gang members come together in public to intimidate, threaten and sometimes assault members of the public.
Police will be given greater powers to prevent gangs from communicating and planning criminal activity as well as warrantless search powers to take guns out of the hands of the most violent gang members.
Finally, we will make membership of a gang an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing, so gang members convicted of an offence face tougher consequences for their crimes.
Under a National-led government, New Zealand will be a safer place to live and raise a family, and violent crime will not be tolerated.
You can read about our law and order policies in greater detail at our website, www.national.org.nz/plan.
Simon Austin says long and untidy grass berms make the area look uncared for. Times photo Wayne Martin
Grass berms are getting scruffy in parts of east Auckland and residents want something done about it.
Bucklands and Eastern Beaches Ratepayers and Residents Association committee member Simon Austin says the length of berms on public and private land makes the community look uncared for.
With some also overgrowing the edge of kerbs, there’s a risk they could cause stormwater drains to become blocked, leading to flooding during a heavy downpour.
“The issue is the general untidiness of the area,” Austin says.
“Auckland Council services aren’t keeping up their end in terms of maintaining areas that are council land around bus stops, power boxes, and roundabouts.
“I think there needs to be a joint effort between residents and the council and I don’t think the council is doing their part on a regular basis.
“They’re doing it intermittently but we’re getting this patchwork of untidiness around the area.”
The grass on council land near a pedestrian crossing on Bucklands Beach Road is almost knee-height, and there are numerous other spots in the suburb that are just as bad.
Austin says he’s spoken to former local residents who have returned to the area and were surprised at how untidy it’s become.
“People say they couldn’t get over how the area looks more rundown.
“The area that really concerns me is the corridor leading into Bucklands Beach and Eastern Beach, as it’s very untidy.
“That’s an important road as it gives you an impression of the area as you’re coming in.”
Austin says the association has raised the issue with the Howick Local Board.
“We’ve asked them to put together flyers to send around to residents to remind them it’s their responsibility to maintain their berms.
“When you think about how your local community is maintained it does strike a chord.
“Having pride in your surroundings is a very important part of well-being.
“Residents need to step up a bit more and take ownership of this problem.”
Council manager area operations Marcel Morgan says generally the responsibility for mowing grass berms adjacent to all other properties rests with the owners or occupiers.
He asks people to take pride in their streets and ensure berms in front or to the side of their properties are mowed regularly.
The council is responsible for mowing along rural roads and when there’s a stormwater asset within a berm.
It also mows berms adjacent to council-owned properties and in town centres.
There are some circumstances in which the council may also mow berms adjacent to properties, Morgan says.
“Mowing outcomes for berms adjacent to private properties in the road corridor is different to that expected at a neighbourhood park where we encourage recreational values that come with open space.
“The specification applied will be anything up to five times a year.
“Most of the grass in places such as on roundabouts, beside pedestrian crossings, and bus stops are council-owned green spaces. These spaces should have regular maintenance.”
Jill McArthur studied under local art tutor Tony Clarke for more than a decade. Photo supplied
The couple who died in a recent crash on a busy east Auckland road are being remembered as kind-hearted people who always had time for others.
David and Jill McArthur, who were in their 80s, died following a collision between the vehicle they were in and another car at about 2.42pm on May 31 in Botany.
One of their beloved pet dogs, Misty Rose, was killed in the crash on Botany Road also.
A second dog in their vehicle was taken to a local veterinary clinic.
The couple’s death notice in the NZ Herald newspaper describes them as dearly loved parents, devoted grandparents, and “amazing artists, gardeners and respected members of their Botany community”.
They’d been married for 54 years. A police investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The popular couple were well known in east Auckland.
Both had studied under accomplished local art tutor Tony Clarke, of TC Fine Art in Pakuranga.
“Jill did something like 15 years with me,” Clarke told the Times.
“I think she just walked in one day, looked around the class and said ‘I’d like to do this’, and that was it.
“David came for maybe three or four terms. He was an oil painter.
“He took on some of the techniques, modified them into the oils, and did his own thing, but Jill stayed on.”
Jill and David McArthur. Photo supplied
Clarke says David’s paintings were very luminous and had a lovely quality, while Jill enjoyed painting subjects such as animals and birds.
“She had a big love of those things but they could both paint anything,” he says.
“They were both very skilful. Both she and David won a lot of prizes.”
Clarke remembers Jill for being gracious toward newcomers in his classes.
“If I had a new student she would be the first to welcome them and talk to them.
“And if we had a cup of tea she’d be the first one getting to know them and showing them what she’s done.
“Jill would always reassure the person.
“She’d say, ‘Come along, you’ll enjoy it, we have a great crowd.
“She was really nice in that way, really open-hearted and warm. They were just lovely people, both of them.”
Clarke says David loved to laugh and would joke with the art students when he arrived to pick Jill up from class.
The couple’s beloved dogs were one of her favourite topics of conversation.
“She talked about their dogs all the time,” Clarke says.
“Jill loved her dogs. She belonged to the dog-walking club and the beagle club when they had beagles.
“She showed me her new dog and she would bring him in.
“There were four beagles at the funeral and they brought them into the church.
“Jill would have loved that and thought it was so cool.”
He says her presence will be missed at his art classes.
“She was a steadying influence, just quiet and thoughtful.
“The sort of person who sits quietly but is open to everybody and not closed off.
“We had a class the week after it [the crash] happened. It was markedly quiet.
“Everybody got on with their work and there was sort of a presence there. It was really nice.
“Jill was the sort of person who would just get on with her work.
“She wouldn’t talk while she was working, but when she had a cup of tea she would talk with everybody.”
Regarding the article on Bo Burns (Times, June 7) who took the photo of a thief who walked out of the Meadowlands Countdown with a trolley full of food which he had not paid for.
What a fantastic lady she is. If more people dared to stick up for a wrong they saw done in their environment, the world would be a better place. But usually, they ring up or talk about it on the computer.
I think a lot of people who say they have seen similar episodes and talk about it should feel embarrassed at not interfering.
Several months ago there was a letter from a visitor to Howick in which he or she commented on how scruffy some of the streets around Howick were and particularly the gutters around the Howick Domain.
Since then, nothing has been done to clean them out and since then they have gotten considerably worse with the leaves from the trees around the domain falling.
Surely, keeping the gutters clear will prevent excess rubbish going into the stormwater system and causing problems with the infrastructure.
Re: Recommendation from the Taxpayers Union re Resource Management Act.
We need to be aware of this Act as it could affect all of us.
While the Resource Management Act is in urgent need of reform, the proposed Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill are not the solution.
Rather than deliver a more efficient planning system, these reforms would simply serve to add additional layers of bureaucracy, heighten legal uncertainty, increase cost and dilute local decision-making and democratic accountability while failing to address the fundamental incentives problem faced by councils when considering developments.
Both bills have come under sustained and significant criticism from a great many parties who have expertise and a strong and relevant interest in resource management issues.
While the Environment Select Committee could recommend changes to improve the bills, such changes would be so extensive that it is very likely unachievable by the June reporting date.
Many parties have recommended that both bills be withdrawn and that a reappraisal of the approach to resource management be conducted.
In fact, even the Chair of the Environment Select Committee – albeit in her party capacity – has recently commented that the bills should be sent back for more public consultation.
Great to see our smart Councillor Maurice Williamson grilling Auckland Transport over the wasteful, planned Eastern Busway.
A pity more of his fellow councillors didn’t question the absurd waste of money.
If this stupid plan goes ahead, this will be the widest suburban road in New Zealand with seven lanes, two of which will carry empty buses most of the day.
