 Another Monterey pine has died and will be removed. There has been some debate on Facebook about these trees, especially after the recent case of a tree falling into a preschool. While safety is paramount, people still want a distinctive landmark on the skyline. Comments include: “…if these trees are in danger of also falling onto the school grounds and possibly injuring children, then they must be removed. But I do feel that they need to be replaced, not just removed.” Hayley “They’re the only BHB landmark that can be seen from outside the suburb and I've grown up seeing them as I come towards my home suburb.” Bryan “Gosh I remember playing hide and seek while at Primary around these trees. Mr Davies [used] to tell us off.” Phill
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 The Great Summer Read Auckland Libraries invites you to heat up your reading this summer with 15 fun challenges! Each challenge gets you an entry into one of our weekly prize draws. If you complete 5 different challenges, or all 15, we’ll enter you into our bonus draws. Win books and book vouchers; passes to Auckland attractions and shows, including a double pass to Auckland City Limits Music Festival; or one of two Kobo Aura Edition 2 eReaders! When: 1 Dec 2016 to 30 January 2017 Who can take part: all Auckland Libraries members aged 14 and over Cost: Free How: Pick up a challenge booklet at the library or visit our website to see all the challenges www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/GSR Lunar New Year Celebrations Help us celebrate the Lunar New Year, with wonderful activities from 28 January. Check with the library for details. Events for Kids Thu 08 Dec 2016: Christmas Pre-school Storytime, 10:30 -11am – Please join us. There will be Christmas stories and songs. Note: Regular Storytime and Wriggle end dates for 2016 are the 14th & 15th December. Kai Maia Te Whai - Dare to Explore: Auckland Libraries Summer Reading programme. From Monday 12th Dec 2016 to Sunday 22nd Jan 2017 it’s designed for children aged from 5-13yrs. Online registrations from 28 November and programme booklets available from Monday 12 Dec 2016. Library cards are a must, so make sure you have one! Blockhouse Bay Library’s summer reading programme party will be on Friday 20th January. To attend you must complete a minimum of four challenges from the booklet. The library will also be running events and challenges to support the programme, but bookings are essential. For more information please visit the library or phone us on (09) 8908683  The new Whau Local Board was inaugurated last month. Tracy Mulholland was elected as the new chair, and Susan Zhu was elected deputy chair. Other members are Derek Battersby, Catherine Farmer, Duncan MacDonald, Te’eva Matafai and David Whitley. “I am honored to be elected to the Whau Local Board and to be chosen as the chairperson. I am also very pleased that the board has very capable members to represent you, our community,” says Tracy. “Over this term the board will advance the regeneration of Avondale, including a new multi-purpose community facility. We will advocate for better transport options, such as pathways for walking and cycling, including the Te Whau Pathway, as we need to reduce congestion on our roads. “We’ll support more affordable housing, initiatives to improve our environment and to help the arts flourish. We also want to support and celebrate the diverse cultures in the Whau. “Early next year, we will be speaking with our community to develop the next Whau Local Board plan. It will be our community’s vision for the next three years. I look forward to the many conversations to come.” It's been a big year for the Green Bay Community House and we would like to thank everyone for the support. Here’s just a few of the many projects we have been involved in:
To find out more about what we do, go to www.greenbaycommunityhouse.co.nz As the end of the year is now approaching, and summer is at our door step, the Green Bay Community House and our team of volunteers are again enticing our taste buds by bringing food fiestas to the community throughout summer. Green Bay Street Food was introduced in late January 2016 with the aim of bringing the community together with quality street food options with a zero waste impact. Only compostable packaging is used, and the Bokashi system was recently introduced for disposing food scraps - diverting a significant amount of waste from our events away from landfill. Currently running on a weekly basis, with different street food vendors from near and far, Green Bay Street Food is on every Friday, 5 - 9pm, until 16 December, and back from 13 January 2017. Come and check it out! www.facebook.com/greenbaystreetfood  A valued member of the Roskill South Athletics coaching team is seeking a future in the AFL. Seventeen-year-old Alistair Maisey, a Year 13 Lynfield College student, is currently a New Zealand Under 18 representative in the AFL Rugby League. Ultimately Alistair wants to reach the senior side next year, in the meantime as he says “playing for the Under 18’s is my top achievement as representing New Zealand in any sort is always an honour”. Alistair came through the ranks as a junior athlete at the Roskill South club and enjoyed the fun atmosphere. He says “even though in the beginning I wasn’t the best athlete, I still came back every week because of the friends I made and all events we did encouraged good friendly competition”. That athletics is a base for all co-ordination sports is not lost on Alistair, “As I got older and started to get better, the club further helped me develop as an athlete which really helped me get to where I am today”. Alistair coaches a number of athletics disciplines but has mostly focussed on Shot Put, and last season one of his athletes, Sylvia Brunt achieved Auckland Championship medals and broke the long-standing Roskill South 11-year-old record by more than a metre. In Alistair’s words, “this is part of the reason I coach, it’s a way for me to give back to the club that helped build me into what I am today. If I can do the same for other athletes somewhere along the line, then that’s an added bonus. The other reason I coach is that every time I see someone I have coached get better and do well in an event, knowing I played a part feels amazing”. This year Alistair was voted in as Sports Captain for Lynfield College and was co-captain of the schools premiere Rugby League team. Apart from playing Rugby League for the school, he also played in the school’s Volleyball, Touch, 1st XV Rugby and Athletics teams. As Sports Captain, Alistair helped organise and run the house competitions. As a result of his contribution to the school Alistair was awarded Dux Ludorum (sports) which helped top off a successful sporting year. Peter Wyatt, President of Roskill South Athletics says “Alistair is a great role model for our young athletes and a genuinely nice young man with a big future. We are grateful to have him as part of our club and wish him well in his AFL ambitions”.  When the MV Westport/Fjordvik departed for the final time from the Manukau, we expected that the cement ship visits were over forever. Robert Bright, Supply & Operations Manager at Holcim commented, “The majority of messages about last ship visits to Onehunga were around the MV Westport rather than the MV Milburn Carrier II. There were also messages regarding both ships’ last visit to Westport, and the last time they were in Onehunga together. “On this trip (14-15 Nov) the MV Milburn Carrier II loaded bulk cement from the Timaru terminal and dropped off part of its load at Lyttelton and then travelled to Onehunga to fill up the Onehunga silos. Our cement bagging operation at Onehunga will be using the majority of this cement. “The port will no longer be able to receive the MV Milburn Carrier II into Onehunga from 30 November so there is little opportunity for another port call after this one. “The MV Milburn Carrier II will continue to operate around our cement depots in NZ until our new ship the MV Buffalo is commissioned and operational. This means the MV Milburn Carrier II may be in service right through until February/March 2017. After this she will be put up for sale.” Shipping expert Jeremy Ruane gave BEACON this update on these vessels: MV Milburn Carrier II MV Milburn Carrier II made her last-ever call at Onehunga, visit #946, on Monday 14 Nov at 1100, departing Tuesday 15 Nov at 1115. Captain Gareth Partington was at the helm. I was wharfside for the arrival. Ports of Auckland have requested that Holcim finish operating out of Onehunga by the end of November, so with trips to Dunedin, Lyttelton, Timaru and Napier in the pipeline for MC2 later in November, this visit was likely the very last shipping movement at our port. The only prospect of something different coming to pass, and a potential call to Onehunga, is if the Wellington leg of a Lyttelton-Wellington run is cancelled because of the problems Centreport (Wellington) are presently experiencing due to the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Highly unlikely, though. MV Westport/Fjordvik Update As I type, MV Westport/Fjordvik is powering through the Baltic Sea at a steady 12.5 knots, and should be alongside in Gdynia, Poland inside the next 24 hours, where she'll undergo dry-docking and a repaint before commencing work for her new owners in the new year. To make the trip with so few stops - she's only berthed at New Plymouth (for twelve hours) and Papeete (for seven hours) since leaving Onehunga - they filled two of her double bottom tanks with HFO (heavy fuel oil), and gave her a refill via bunker barge at the Balboa anchorage, before going through the Panama Canal. Methinks the new owners will be well pleased with the fuel economy figures of their new acquisition.  Tug Tika Ports of Auckland have the tug Tika up for sale at present, and she's available for delivery to new owners from 1 December, which really does make it a fait accompli - no more shipping at Onehunga after 30 November. Once the tug goes, that's definitely it. Prateek Malhotra Everest Financial Services With the recent announcement of the OCR being cut to 1.75%, there has been lot of speculation as to what the home loan interest rates would do. Previously, when there has been an OCR cut, the interest rates have fallen and the floating rate has been dropped to match the OCR cut. Not this time though. On the contrary, we have seen some upward movement in the interest rates with some banks increasing their rates for terms of 3 years and more. This is mainly due to rising borrowing costs for the banks, which is being passed on to the consumers. Chances are that these borrowing costs could rise if the overseas markets - especially the US market - starts to go into inflationary mode. This will make it more expensive for our banks to borrow offshore and hence more expensive for home loan borrowers here. The other reason is that we do not have enough deposits being made into our banks, as the rate of return is comparatively low. To counter that banks will push for higher deposit rates, and to offset this increase will have to increase our home loan rates as well. So, while all of us have gotten used to the rates that were around the 4s or mid 4s, it could be that this is the lowest they will go. In terms of borrowing strategy, a lot depends on what you intend to do with the property. This will be different for a first home borrower as opposed to an investor. It might not be a bad idea to look at the 3 years and above rates as they are still historically low and could give some comfort if the rates were to start rising. If you would like to discuss more about the home loan rates or discuss your personal risk insurance, please give us a call on 09 215 6912 or visit www.everesthomeloans.co.nz  At Glenavon Early Childhood Centre, it was a special event day for children and families on 27th October as they joined together to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights and Indian New Year. Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness. The interior of the preschool was adorned beautifully with sarees and ethnic Indian artefacts, and children made diyas (clay lamps), which decorated the banquet table. Tamariki and whanau were engaged in several ethnic experiences including henna, rangoli, block printing, singing, cooking and learning about the story of Diwali, and its significance. Parents and teachers provided a sumptuous feast for everyone to partake in traditional Indian food. It was a truly memorable day that brought our diverse families from different continents together! A happy event for all that marks the beginning of more upcoming festivities at the pre-school, as we head into the spirit of Christmas.  There’s always a ton of stuff happening at the Centre, and here is just a sample: Friday 2 December Age Concern technology problem solving Sunday 11 December Kaleidoscope Christmas Gems Concert Sunday 11 December Sargam School of Indian Music Concert Sunday 18 December Highland Dance School End of Year Concert 16 – 27 January 2017 OSCAR School Holiday Programme NEW CLASS: Children’s Art on Saturdays NEW IN DECEMBER: Pop-Up School Holiday Programme Monday 19th Christmas Craft Day Tuesday 20th Team Challenge Day Wednesday 21st BHB X Factor Thursday 22nd Superhero vs Villain Friday 23rd Trash2Fashion (See website for full programme and enrolment form) Make sure you visit our website www.blockhousebaycentre.co.nz where you will find all the information you need for our classes, room hire, holiday programmes and much more. The Centre office will close for the holidays on Wednesday 22 December at 1pm and re-open on Monday 9 January at 9am. Our thanks to all Centre hirers and users, and we look forward to welcoming you again for more interesting stuff in 2017.  If you are a senior and living in Blockhouse Bay, then help is at hand when you need it! Lesley Robbins is funded by the Selwyn Foundation to be an advocate for seniors facing challenges. Perhaps you have an issue with housing, health or benefits, or some other issue? Whatever it is, Lesley offers a free service, coming alongside you to listen, and then to help you through, every step of the way. Lesley has a background in social work and counselling, and has been running services in four of the rest homes around the Bay, so she is well known around the place. She is based at Church of the Saviour in Blockhouse Bay, and can be contacted on 627 7889 or seniors@cots.org.nz. |
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