North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Dragon boat vandalised
How long have you lived here and where are you from?
We’ve lived here for around 50 years. We are transplanted South Islanders.
Describe your neighbourhood.
A seaside bubble of mature trees in Hauraki. What is your earliest memory of the Shore? Parking for free outside the hardware store at Hall’s Corner which was our first opportunity to stop when driving up to Auckland.
What are the greatest advantages to living here?
Convenience and informality, the beachside ambience. It’s a complete contrast to the inner city but still close to urban shops and galleries. However I did locate my business here to avoid commuting.
Where is your favourite North Shore beach and why?
Takapuna Beach always. Still natural and changing with the tides and weather. People always seem happy walking to the water.
Who is the person you admire the most and why?
Community volunteers who provide the social glue in many suburbs.
What do you like least about the Shore and how can we fix it?
Traffic jams, particularly on Lake and Esmonde roads. Make ferries and bus connections work more reliably. Start on a harbour tunnel. Takapuna is a little island largely constricted by surrounding water. Planners need to grasp this and take their regional centre elsewhere. Where is the best place to have a meal? We’re spoiled for choice in Takapuna with great ethnic restaurants. For personal choices it’s Al Forno for Italian and Tokyo Bay for Japanese. What are you doing this weekend?
Staying near home to avoid the weekend traffic jams north and south. I’ll be enjoying the local beach instead, walking, perhaps going to a local movie, visiting family and friends. New Zealand’s biggest dragon boating association is desperately seeking a new storage spot after repeated damage to boats.
One of the newest boats in Auckland Dragon Boating Association’s fleet was pushed over a cliff in Takapuna this month. The boat, sourced from China, was stored in Shea Terrace close to Lake Pupuke, which is one of two training sites for the association that caters for more than 500 senior members and 30 secondary school teams each year.
This is not the first time the association’s equipment has been damaged or stolen. The 12 metre long boats are stored on trailers and can be targets for vandals says association committee member Sue Jenness.
‘‘Because we store our boats out in the open our equipment is vulnerable to those with busy hands and nothing to do but to destroy other people’s sport and pleasure,’’ Jenness says.
‘‘We are in desperate need of some kind person that has secure space to offer to store our boats and equipment.’’
Association chairman Chris Stone says flat water sports ‘‘get the short end of the deal’’ when it comes to sports facility funding in Auckland. If you can offer storage space or help the association fund a secure lockup contact aucklanddragonboats@gmail.com.
‘‘It's a complete contrast to the inner city but still close to urban shops and galleries.’’