It has been fantastic to see our community heading back to so many events, shows and hospitality in big numbers. It shows many of us are eager to spend time with each other and celebrate after a tough few years.
I attended the fantastic Puanga Matariki celebration in Devonport; a full day of community activities and lantern making, then later that night, thousands of us participated in a hīkoi up Takarunga/Mt Victoria. The community spirit was uplifting. It was inspiring to see everyone proudly celebrating this important occasion together. Congratulations to the Devonport Business Association, Devonport Peninsula Trust, Restoring Takarunga Hauraki and the many local leaders, volunteers and organisations who organised and took part, there are too many of you to name.
Bayswater Matariki at Bayswater School was another local favourite with hundreds of school kids, staff, parents and locals coming together to experience kapa haka, waiata and other performances, not to mention all the great food and stalls. It was awesome, and getting bigger every year.
A huge turnout for the Birkenhead Medieval Festival was wonderful to see. Kae Condon and the Birkenhead Town Centre Association put on a fantastic range of activities across the town centre which left the centre buzzing as locals filled cafés and shops all weekend.
Murray Hill and the team at Milford put on successful Alfresco Dining nights and Food Truck events, and despite the cold it was great to see so many local families out enjoying our local restaurants and trying something different.
The Queen’s Birthday markets and Matariki markets in Hurstmere Road were well attended and showed great use of the new public spaces we have invested in; stalls were spread across the new public spaces, people sat and enjoyed live entertainment, the local cafés and new outdoor dining areas.
This column was written before the Takapuna Winter Lights at the end of July but we are expecting more than 30,000 attendees. Terence Harpur and the TBBA team organised road closures and full use of the new spaces for four nights, and this massive event on the Shore was proudly sponsored and supported by Auckland Council’s event and economic development CCO, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
Congratulations to the Devonport Business Association and manager Katherine Downs, Devonport Peninsula Trust,
It has been tough once again with so many of us getting sick; staff illness and recruitment pressures are causing issues across all sectors. My thoughts go out to everyone currently getting through Covid and other illnesses. We’ve just had our first bout of Covid and it was not nice, especially with a sick eight month old, so a shout out to all the parents dealing with sick kids while being sick yourself; it can be a challenge on top of everything else.
Let’s hope spring brings more positivity, warmer weather and gives us the chance to continue to get out and support local businesses while catching up with our friends and neighbours. Thanks to everyone who puts in the time and energy to bring us together.
