At Channel Mag, we love November – it’s a great month of the year when everything seems just a little more upbeat. The weather’s turning, daylight saving is in full swing, and there’s a summer feel about the North Shore.
This issue of Channel Magazine is a beauty - 116 pages full of FREE positive reading about the North Shore.
We see our role as supporting local businesses and not-for-profit entities, so it is appropriate in this issue that we highlight the very positive proposal put forward by market-leading local golf business, Golf Warehouse, around the future of A F Thomas Park and the Takapuna Golf Course. Auckland Council have made the decision to use part of this public reserve for much-needed flooding relief for businesses and homes in the Wairau Valley and nearby suburbs. That means changes are needed to the golf facility. Golf Warehouse and the Faesen Kloet family have stepped forward with a solution: a commercial proposal that relieves ratepayers of the cost of redeveloping the golf facility. Their proposal is multi-faceted and looks to be a 'win-win'. I enjoyed talking to Dane and Eric about their $20m proposal that features on the cover of this issue.
This magazine is all about supporting local, and we’re once again encouraging readers to 'spend local' and shop on the Shore this festive season. We’re celebrating the spirit of shopping local by speaking with some of the Shore’s best-loved stores and brands. From surf gear to homewares and gift-wrapping must-haves, you’ll find thoughtful ideas for everyone on your list, right here in your neighbourhood.
We constantly encourage readers to support our wonderful eateries on the Shore via our Eating Out features that have been part of the magazine right from issue one, over 15 years ago. As we head into summer, we have lots of options for readers in the magazine, including features on the new Gather eatery at Smales Farm; Dante’s in Takapuna celebrating 10 years; the new Strand Wine Bar on The Strand in Takapuna; and the ever-popular Stafford Road Wine Bar at Northcote Point. We also feature the return for summer 2025/26 of the ‘Fish and Chip Shop’ at Takapuna Beach Café.
Also included in this issue is: a feature on NZ Sculpture OnShore 2025, on this month (8 - 23 November) at Fort Takapuna, Narrowneck; Paula Arblaster chats to our friends at Sustainable Coastlines about their litter reduction and beach clean-up initiatives; we celebrate the 75th birthday of Fifth Avenue Diamond Jewellers in Takapuna; and I talk to new North Harbour Club president, Murray Lockwood.
There’s something for everyone in your November Channel Mag – all this above as well as education, sport, business, real estate, motoring, health and wellbeing, youth, theatre and the arts, and more!
Have a great November!
Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher, Channel Magazine
Founder and Managing Director, Benefitz
aidan@benefitz.co.nz
