The golden days are here again. It’s the time of year that we love the most here at Channel: longer days, lighter nights, warmer seas, ice-creams…it’s play time!
For our summer issue, we asked some of the Shore people who have been involved with Channel during 2017 to give us a brief insight into their past year and let us in on what they hope will be their highlights this summer season…
Philipp is the manager of 'The Vic', a jewel in the Shore’s crown as a live music and theatre venue, and the oldest operating cinema in the Southern Hemisphere. Bavarian-born Philipp has been at the helm of the 105 year-old Victoria Theatre in Devonport since 2012, and has been instrumental in its operating success as a fully digital cinema and thriving arts venue.
Sum up your 2017 in three words:
What a year!
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Sun, beach, gelato, movies and live shows.
Where is you summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Bay Of Islands.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Going travelling in Europe with my daughters.
John became passionate about health after battling a chronic illness for 30 years. This involved major surgery, many investigative procedures and countless prescriptions for drugs. He discovered there was only one person who could resolve the problem - himself. He has his own practice and has been writing about nutritional medicine and health in Channel Magazine for several years.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
A roller coaster.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Stand up paddleboarding on Takapuna Beach and a paddle up to Gulf Harbour.
Where is you summer “happy place” outside the Shore?
Matakana market on a Saturday morning and lunch at the Matakana Kitchen Café.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Some overseas travel during our winter to Singapore and Hawaii.
Dutch-born Franca is a designer with over 25 years of international design experience and “a serious passion for all things botanical”. She is owner of floral design studio Florienne, in the heart of the Takapuna shopping strip, which she opened in 2009.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Busy Creative Flowers.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Some chill out time at home with my family, the beach, eating out at the many delicious restaurants in Takapuna like Madam Woo, El Humero or Tokyo Bay, or House of Chocolate for some chocolate indulgence.
Where is your summer “happy place” outside the Shore?
I prefer to chill on the Shore and just enjoy Auckland over summer. Waiake beach is my fave beach place as I live there! Summer is a busy time so we don’t get a chance to get away too often and I like the quiet Auckland summer vibe. A holiday in winter when it is summer in France or Holland is my “happy place".
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
A long warm sunny summer with lots of R&R by the beach and some time out from my busy shop.
Shore dentist Andrew is the boss at The Tooth Company, a forward-thinking dentistry practice with two sites at Smales Farm in Takapuna. He works with his wife Emma Campbell in the family-run business and they share news from the practice with Channel readers each month, as well as from their groundbreaking dental service for young mouths, The Tooth Company Kids.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Taking my 2 year-old for her first swims down at Milford Beach and then having an ice-cream on the way home.
Where is you summer happy place outside of the Shore?
We love Tauranga Bay up in the far North. Its a special place with special memories. We are pretty spoilt being so close to wonderful beaches.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Hopefully a bit less work and more family time! But I always try and have fun and laugh every day I can!
Jane runs Takapuna based residential real estate business Premium Real Estate. Premium has offices in several locations in the Auckland and Northland regions and specialises in the high-value, luxury property market. She’s a passionate local.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Surprising, Enthralling, Satisfying.Surprising: Over the past 12 months we have seen a number of significant shifts particularly in politics, the economy and technology. It has been surprising how suddenly we feel we are on the tipping point of significant change.
Enthralling: As a proud New Zealander it is always wonderful to see how we continue to lead the way and perform on a global stage, whether it is sport, arts, sciences or business. Hopefully we will see the America’s Cup raced on the Hauraki Gulf!
Satisfying: It has been a challenging time locally. However the team at Premium Real Estate have continued to provide the highest level of service to clients, this was topped off by one of the largest individual residential sales for 2018 at over $28m.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
We are very fortunate to live in a special place here in New Zealand. It will be the first time in eight years that both my daughter and son will be back in New Zealand for Christmas and I am naturally looking forward to enjoying time with them both, their partners and my wider family.
Where is your summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Well, my happiest place is at home overlooking the wonderful Takapuna Beach but I also enjoy getting away to Pt Wells for some tranquillity and that special Matakana country environment, the local produce, the stunning beaches.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
I think that the next 12 months will be a special time for the North Shore…
The Northcote Point-based doctor has been a columnist for Channel for many years, offering readers advice on avoiding skin damage and maintaining good skin health. Grant and Haley Coe welcomed their second baby into the world this year.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Busy, life-changing and fun!
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Spending time with family at the beach and taking the kids out fishing from Bayswater.
Where is your summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Hawkes Bay or the Coromandel.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
A family trip to Hawaii with our extended family - my parents, four brothers and sister and their families – it probably won’t be particularly relaxing but it should be lots of fun!
Matt of accountancy firm Bellingham Wallace just loves the Shore. He’s been a long-time resident north of the bridge and plays a big part in the community. He’s a past president of the North Harbour Club, chairs the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame, was a trustee of North Harbour Stadium for many years and has also judged and chaired the Auckland North Business Awards. He’s a fan of summer!
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Family, Friends and Frantic.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
An end to all of this rain! Living in Coatesville on a few acres of land while also being so close to all of the beautiful North Shore beaches truly is a blessing, but when it rains like this past winter everything turns to mud so quickly and the animals destroy the paddocks! Now that the sun is returning and things are warming up, I am looking forward to getting stuck in to the projects around home, spending time with friends and family and getting out on the water for a bit of fishing and diving.
Where is your summer “happy place” outside the Shore?
We are very fortunate to have a beach house at Pauanui in the Coromandel which we bought a few years ago. This is definitely my happy place, and this summer I am looking forward to enjoying the sun on the new deck and getting out on the water in the boat.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Another great year! Seriously, we have a lot to be grateful for in this beautiful city, and especially on the North Shore. Where else can you have such a brilliant lifestyle, but also have all of the fantastic business opportunities? I reckon we live in the best place on earth.
Murray is one of the Shore’s real doers. In the past few years the born and bred Milford local has helped to guide the resurgence of local retail centres, most recently putting his energy into both Milford and Browns Bay. At a time when main street retailing is as challenging as ever, a person with Murray’s experience, expertise, drive and passion is invaluable.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Extremely satisfying year.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
The beautiful beaches, great eateries and great events that are on over the summer months plus quieter roads over the holiday period.
Where is your summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Out in my boat trout fishing on Lake Taupo on a dead calm day. We love escaping to our holiday home at Taupo.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Being involved in some really good community projects. We continue to think outside of the square to make our town centres interesting places to be and that is very satisfying. I love working with the progressive business people in our town centres. Look out for some great new projects in 2018 and we are also working on ensuring we get visitors to Auckland coming to our area and spending money!
Things have changed for North Shore MP Maggie Barry in 2017. While she polled very strongly once again in her local electorate, the change of government as a result of the national election will see her serving as an opposition MP for the first time, after having been a hard-working minister in the John Key/Bill English led National government. Personally, things are very exciting as she prepares to marry her long-time partner Grant Kerr at their home in Devonport this summer.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Could’ve ended better.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
Grant and I are really looking forward to getting married at home this summer and after a busy year it’ll be great to change down a few gears and relax with visiting family. It’ll be fun introducing our Southern Hemisphere friends to some North Shore Christmas Day traditions starting with the Stanley wharf jump followed by watching our world famous in Auckland and world class enactment of the Bruce Mason play ‘End of the Golden Weather’ on Takapuna Beach.
Where is your summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Exploring the country’s magnificent bush which we think of as our cathedrals of green is what we like to do and having now walked most of the nine Great Walks we’re looking forward to experiencing the 15 new Short and Day walks I announced a few months ago.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Our native birds are critically threatened because introduced pests are eating them to the brink of extinction which is why we launched the Predator Free 2050 goal last year. It’s a project that’s won the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of New Zealanders who’ve enthusiastically started rat and possum trapping, including communities in Devonport and on the wider North Shore that have set their own predator free targets. I’ll be doing my best as your local MP to ensure this government will make a commitment and keep up the momentum to rid the country of rats, stoats and possums by 2050.
Jenny is clothing brand Federation's founder and creative director. Her and partner Ben head up the fashion brand from its Takapuna base in Northcroft Street. We’re proud to showcase their gorgeous, young street vibe clothing in our pages each month. They love the Shore and we love what they do!
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Family, Fun, Busy.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
I love so much about Shore life. Some of the best things in summer are getting to the beaches and parks with the kids. Also there are loads of great restaurants now too, which have popped up over the last couple of years.
Where is you summer happy place outside of the Shore?
We love heading somewhere a bit more isolated, like up to the Far North. Queenstown is also a favourite spot anytime of the year.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
A new year is always a great time to dream and then put some plans in place to see some of them come to pass during the year, with the brand and staff, as well as personally. For the first time, the kids - Ryder, 12, Monte, 10 and Dusty, 8 - will be at different schools. It’s great watching them grown and their personalities develop more. I look forward to seeing what the year brings !
Mike is a real ‘doer' in the community, and has been for many years. The Bayswater resident is currently a hard-working member of the Devonport Takapuna Local Board and is focussed on improving his local community. Together with his brother Gerald, Mike manages iconic Takapuna store Home Fabrics. They have owned the business since 1986.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Family, Fun, Changeable.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
I can’t wait for summer! Bare feet, shorts and barbeques. Seems as though it has been a long winter. I’m really looking forward to the family coming home: Ella from university in Wellington and Kate from work in Wanaka. Good family time, hearing what they have been up to, their latest adventures and future plans. Being family, they will have no issues with honesty and undoubtedly will be telling me where I have gone wrong in life and where I need to improve, at which stage we will be looking forward to them leaving again. The Shore is a great place in summer, relaxed, the beaches, walking the dog at North Head, green ways cycle routes; there is so much to do. We are lucky to live in a great city.
Where is you summer “happy place” outside the Shore?
There are so many good places to holiday in New Zealand. Our favourite is the Bay of Islands. Great boating, beautiful beaches, fishing and incredibly encouraging people. It’s just great to refresh and best of all, no cell phone coverage!
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
2018 will be a huge year for Home Fabrics as our family business, which our father started, turns 60. An incredible achievement thanks to our many fantastic loyal customers and great staff. We will be planning the celebrations for later in the year. As a member of the Devonport Takapuna Local Board I will continue to make improvements that will make living on the Shore even better. I hope 2018 will be the best year ever. Stay healthy, achieve your goals and enjoy life.
At Channel Mag we love Louise. Her thriving business DogHQ has been a part of this magazine just about from the first issue. It’s no secret that she loves animals. She moved from marketing roles in the corporate world to set up DogHQ a few years back. There are now two DogHQ “Doggy Daycare” centres, at Glenfield and Albany. She’s into horses as well.
Sum up your 2017 in three words.
Busy, busy, busy.
What are you most looking forward to enjoying on the Shore this summer?
The sunshine! And although I may not make it, the Beach Polo on Takapuna Beach. I can’t think of anything more fun and exciting than polo right here on Takapuna Beach, so I hope this inaugural event is a great success so it keeps coming back. Make sure you check it out if you can, December 14th and 15th.
Where is your summer happy place outside of the Shore?
Kumeu is my happy place outside the Shore any time of the year. That’s where I keep my horses and that’s why it’s my happy place. And most definitely a happier place in the summer without the mud!
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
There is a lot to look forward to in 2018. I have many plans I am very excited about delivering on. There isn’t really one single thing, except the whole year of doing more of what I love doing and trying to do it even better.
