Newsletter 12 October 2016 (1/6)

www.milford.org.nz. [email protected] PO Box 31 067, Milford , Auckland 0741 Milford Beach. Auckland Weekly News, 27 March 1913. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries. Two great Milford community events organised by Milford Business Association Advance advice to MRA members It’s back in 2016! The Harcourts Cooper & Co Christmas By The Lake Symphony Concert Saturday, 26 November @ Sylvan Park, Lake Pupuke (raindate, Sunday, 27 November) Tickets available in Milford from Mon, 14 Nov – Be quick! Specific conditions below.

Harcourts Cooper & Co - Christmas by the Lake is the ultimate carol service, with the full Auckland Symphony Orchestra performing all your favourites, a talented 180 pupil choir, made up from Milford School, Carmel College, Westlake Boys & Girls, Glamorgan School, Takapuna Primary schools. Supporting them will be a giant screen with all the words in case you get stage fright!

There will be ample entertainment for the kids; face painting, balloon twisters, a giant slide and bouncy castle and Santa himself. This year photos can be taken with Santa and his cheeky elves, then you can take home your photos for FREE!! Food vendors on site or BYO picnic. Alcohol to be consumed responsibly and with care.

Tickets are free with any purchase from Milford businesses (excluding New World & Countdown). $10 spend = 1 ticket, $20 spend = 2 tickets, $30 spend = 3 tickets and so on. A maximum of 6 tickets can be collected at any one time. Tickets can be exchanged for receipts (receipts must be for purchases made after 14th November) at the following businesses; Harcourts Cooper & Co, helloworld, & Milford Centre Information Desk. So, some good reasons to get your Christmas shopping sorted early in Milford!

No tickets are required for children 5 & under. Two tickets per child in the choir have been reserved. Please contact you school choir manager to collect them. Gates open 5 pm. Live Music from 5-30 pm. Concert 6 till 8 pm.

Milford’s Pirate Market Day Saturday 12 Nov, 9-30am to 2pm All the usual fun including the Pirate Ship Bouncy Castle, live music, craft stalls & kids entertainers plus a new food space, the chess sets & games for kids. The Facebook page link is: https://www.facebook.com/events/1394202463924018/ Website is: http://www.milfordshops.co.nz/webpages/pirate-market-day/

Then join the competition excitement on Saturday 19 Nov at Lake Pupuke. The R F Bennett Memorial Shield rowing regatta always draws an exceptional crowd. Newsletter 12 October 2016 (2/6)

Standing room only Thanks to all for coming to Milford’s Heritage Festival event

What an amazing turnout to our photo exhibition and talk last Wednesday, 5 October. People were obviously intrigued to find out more about Milford’s early years as a place with a ‘reputation’. Debbie Dunsford took us back to an era when sunbathing was a new and rather risqué pastime. And Milford, with its propensity for good surf swimming and situated at the end of the steam tramline, found itself at the forefront of protests about this racy behaviour.

The steam tram (right) ran a route from the Bayswater wharf to Takapuna, then along Hurstmere and Kitchener Rds to Milford. It returned to Takapuna along Shakespeare Rd and around Lake Pupuke, then back to Bayswater. The tram ran from 1910 until it closed in 1927.

This photo shows the tram somewhere in Shakespeare Rd. On weekends, the tram had up to four carriages to handle the crowds. Note the ‘cowcatcher’ on the front.

Graham Stewart Collection.

The Auckland Weekly News photo (left) was published on 19 March 1914. It gives a good feel for the crowds, although no one’s dress seems to be especially revealing, as had been claimed. The day is a Sunday and the three gents on the left are clergymen holding a service, presumably with the hope of bringing some of the beach-going flock into Auckland Weekly News, 19 March 1914. Sir George Grey Special Collections, their fold. Auckland Libraries.

Our exhibition of around 100 photos included 20 new images from the collection of local resident, Mr Denys Marett. Since the late 1950s, Mr Marett has taken photos that show how Milford and Auckland have changed. About 90 people came to look at the photosbetween 3pm and 7pm. We counted130 at the talk itself.

Warmest thanks to Milford Senior Citizen’s Club for the use of their lovely hall and to the Milford Business Association for the loan of their projector and screen. Thanks also to Benefitz for their generous help with reproducing our photos and to our sound professional, Paul Johansen (Soundman), for providing and working the sound system.

Special thanks also to our committee members, Debbie, Norma and Adrianne, for setting up and minding the ‘gallery’ during the afternoon.

Summer Operating Hours for Wairau Bridge With daylight saving time starting from the end of September, the bridge opening hours are now 6am to 10pm. Newsletter 12 October 2016 (3/6)

2016 elections

After what seems like the longest election campaign in living memory (and thank goodness we don’t live in the USA!), almost 40% of the people have voted and the results are in. There are a few changes for us in the and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, mainly as a result of people vacating (or shifting) office.

North Shore Ward Councillors – Chris Darby and Richard Hills North Shore elects two Councillors to the governing body (council). The North Shore ward covers both the Devonport- Takapuna and the Kaipatiki Local Board areas.

With George Wood not standing for re-election as councillor, Chris Darby was the only sitting councillor on the ballot. Chris received a massive vote of 19,396. This was 7,000 ahead of the second and third ranked candidates. MRA has developed an excellent relationship with Chris since 2010. We know him to be very conscientious and well-briefed. And he works hard to balance local community interests and views with regional and ‘greater Auckland’ issues – not always the easiest thing to do. We think his re-election is well deserved and look forward to continuing the strong relationship MRA has with him.

Richard Hills is the second North Shore representative with 12,651 votes. He also topped the poll for the Kaipatiki Local Board which indicates the good impression he has made there since 2010. We think it is a good thing that each board area has a ward councillor who comes from and understands their local area well. We look forward to meeting Richard and briefing him on issues of importance to Milford.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board With three sitting members not standing again in 2016, the election was perhaps wide open. We were rather disappointed at the regular comments by some politicians that the D-T local was ‘dysfunctional’. Our feeling has always been that the board was split down the middle over the Takapuna campground issue but worked together well on everything else. Claiming it was ‘dysfunctional’ always appeared to us to be unfair and a way of undermining community faith in their local representatives. With the departure of the three members in favour of the Yachting NZ plans for the Takapuna Reserve, and with Team George Wood campaigning on a platform of retaining the caravan park, we hope to see this issue quickly resolved in line with the community’s overwhelming views. Then, we expect all board members to work together co-operatively for the good of the whole Devonport-Takapuna community.

The six confirmed Devonport-Takapuna local board members for this term are:

Mike Cohen - 8,687 votes George Wood - 8,099 votes Grant Gillon - 7,640 votes Jan O’Connor - 6,688 votes Mike Sheehy - 5,642 votes Jen McKenzie - 5,375 votes The local board has already met to discuss matters such as who will be chair. It will be interesting to see whether they decide to split the chairmanship into two 18 month terms or one entire term. We will keep you posted. Unitary Plan – Auckland 2040 challenge zoning decisions You have probably already heard that Auckland 2040 will appeal the Hearing Panel’s zoning decisions to the Environment Court. Other appeals on the Unitary Plan are also going ahead by the Character Coalition, Forest & Bird, and many others. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrategies/unitaryplan/Pages/paupappeals.aspx# appealupdates MRA decided not to appeal the increase in heights allowed on the Milford Mall site but our committee did decide unanimously to make a donation of $1,000 to Auckland 2040 for their appeal. They did all the heavy lifting during the Unitary Plan hearings and we believe we should support them in their appeal. Auckland 2040 report they have attended a preliminary hearing and a well regarded judge with extensive planning expertise has been appointed. The first substantive hearing is in late November. Auckland Council is to provide a summary of the Appeals and, until then, Council is working under both Plans. Once the summary is done, Council will advise which parts of the PAUP are operative .Meanwhile people are getting very frustrated as Council processing has slowed down . Newsletter 12 October 2016 (4/6)

Wairau Estuary Activities Brian Byrnes Reserve planting day report, Sunday, 25 October

On what was yet another Sunday of torrential rain, around 14 local residents still turned out to a planting day on the banks of the small stream at Brian Byrnes Reserve (between the Milford bowling club and Prospect Terrace). The plants were laid out and people were assisted by two Council contractors and Local Board Member Mike Cohen.

About the time Debbie and Norma set up MRA’s sausage sizzle on the bowling club verandah, the real downpour began. The planters soldiered on until the rapidly rising stream level brought the call to halt. At this point, most people sensibly headed straight home for a hot shower. However half a dozen of us stood around the BBQ and chatted, with plenty of North Shore memories flowing – from the days when Brian Byrnes Reserve was all mangroves, to the Surfside Things all look quite pleasant in this photo. Believe us, it was dance hall and St Joseph’s School. raining quite heavily even at this stage. Predator-Free Milford – a rat run along the Wairau

The Devonport-Takapuna Parks staff have been instigating systematic bait station lines along the Shoal and Ngataringa Bay bush edges. These are being maintained and checked by local people. Now it’s Milford’s turn. The Council will supply the stations, bait and training and we have already had plenty of volunteers to check these stations about once every 3-4 weeks. Small signs will be installed to indicate there are bait stations in the area and we hope they lower the numbers of rats moving up from the creek to neighbouring properties. Residents might like add to these efforts and set up their own bait stations. Stations and bait can be obtained from the RD1 store at 12 Oteha Valley Rd Extension, Albany. Debbie runs two stations on her property and finds a 3 kg pail of Pestoff rodent baits lasts about 2 years. Be very careful about how you handle bait and clean the bait station. Wear disposable rubber gloves, wrap any waste and place immediately into your rubbish bag or bin. Norma is managing the volunteer side of the project. Next Wairau Estuary Clean-Up

With so much wet weather recently and only one Sunday low-tide in November around the 9-11am mark, we think we will probably hold our next clean-up in February / March next year. We’ll keep you posted.

Summer flowers on the way for our square

Like many others, our committee member, Adrianne, really appreciates the colourful flower beds in the Milford village square and at the entrance to the mall. We spoke to Tua from Recreational Services who maintains the village square beds. She weeds monthly and tells us new plants will be put in for the summer months in the next couple of weeks. She has asked for impatiens and dahlias. Also of interest, she says that other contractors clean the square of rubbish daily but this doesn’t cover rubbish actually on the flower beds. So, if you notice a piece of rubbish in the gardens – and it’s not too grotty – you might like to pop it into one of the bins. Newsletter 12 October 2016 (5/6)

Enjoy events @ North Shore’s PumpHouse Theatre

Tadpole Productions present The Pink Hammer 13-23 October 2016 Warning: Women in the man-cave!

Buried in the dark depths of many homes, the man cave, that wonderful refuge, has long provided a space for men to be men while offering a momentary escape from the trials of family life.

But for Woody, this shrine to masculinity has been invaded in the most incomprehensible way possible… with the appearance of four women in his workshop.

Looking for empowerment and sisterhood, Amanda, Helen, Louise and Siobhan, turn up to The Pink Hammer – a women’s only woodworking course. But when Maggie the instructor disappears they find themselves left with a disgruntled Kiwi bloke, Woody, unwilling to let them play with his tools. Undeterred, the fearsome foursome meets immovable object with neither side giving in, and it’s not long before the woodchips fly.

“Against the odds unlikely friendships arise and together they learn to build a bridge and get over it. Thursday nights in West End will never be the same.” Copyright: D. L. Marett, 1960s. Stellar cast includes Lisa Chappell (McLeod’s Daughters), Annie Whittle (Outrageous Fortune), Louise Wallace (Real Photo of the PumpHouse before it was saved Housewives of Auckland), Darien Takle (Shortland Street) and from demolition to become our much-loved Paul Glover (800 Words) as Woody. theatre. The photographer, Mr Denys Marett, kindly allowed us to show this and other of his https://nz.patronbase.com/_PumpHouse/Productions/TPPH/P many photos as part of our recent exhibition. erformances Book your tickets$25 - $39.

North Shore History & Memories Facebook page The North Shore History and Memories Public Facebook page has over 2,000 members with daily posts of historic photos and comments by members. History keeps moving forward relentlessly; the 1960s and 1970s seem very quaint and nostalgic now! This is a public Facebook page but you need to become a member to comment. https://www.facebook.com/groups/northshorehistorymemoriesnz/ Newsletter 12 October 2016 (6/6)

Milford History Q&A: What’s the link between Craig, Inga, Ihumata and Omana Roads and Marjorie Lane? Answer: J.J. Craig Ltd Joseph James Craig was an Auckland entrepreneur and a dominant force in Auckland shipping and carrying for over 45 years. Inheriting his father’s general merchant and cartage business in 1885, he expanded his interests into the J.J. Craig shipping line and had interests in farming, property sales, the Avondale Brick and Pottery Company, quarrying, mining and much more. At some stage the company acquired the Milford sandspit (Craig Rd) and land around the estuary. Craig died in 1916 but the company continued trading as J.J. Craig until it was acquired by Winstones in the 1940s.

The Estate of J.J. Craig was selling ‘ideal beach sections’ at Milford from December 1921. In preparation for this, the company had contracted to metal and form five Milford roads, four of which still exist today. The eponymous Craig Rd was a high quality concrete road with the expectation (hope?) that the road would continue directly to a bridge across the estuary pretty much where our new footbridge is today. In the end, the Wairau was bridged from Inga Rd and via causeway to the new Beach Rd. J.J. Craig Ltd were selling sections in the 1920s.

Inga, Omana and Ihumata Rds were also the names of ships of the Craig Line.

Before AfterMaraetai Rd is unknown today. From a 1923 subdivision map (left), we can see it was the short piece of today’s Craig Rd that turns right in front of Milford Reserve and runs to the beach. Maraetai was not the name of a company ship but the Craig family farm was at Maraetai near Clevedon.

It seems likely Marjorie Lane was named Proposed bridge across after Marjorie Craig, who was both Joseph’s Wairau Estuary from Craig daughter and the name of another company Rd ship. That could upset quite a few families with girls called Marjorie who have claimed Maraetai Rd the Lane was named for them. (now Craig Rd) References: NZ Herald, 9 Dec 1920; Auckland Star, 24 Dec 1921; NZ Herald, 3 Oct 1925; ‘Joseph James Craig – entrepreneurial vision’, 14 March 2014, New Zealand Maritime Museum, http://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/joseph-After james-craig-entrepreneurial-vision.

Map: Auckland War Memorial Museum, G9081.G46M20. Last word: Milford Mall Apartments Update Prestige Real Estate has been appointed to market the development.