VIEWS FROM THE BEACH with Peter White

Ireland’s call

An overview of what is happening in Takapuna Beach from Business Association General Manager Peter White.
What an exciting time – the Rugby World Cup has brought vibrancy to town centres the length and breadth of New Zealand.
I have taken annual leave to work with the Irish Rugby team as they travel throughout New Zealand participating in the world’s largest sporting event for 2011. It has been an absolute privilege to do so and in this months Views from the Beach I give an insight to life on tour with a team that is quickly establishing itself as New Zealand’s adopted second team
At the same time Auckland Council has released its draft Auckland Plan, and Takapuna has been recognised as one of eight metropolitan centres that will receive prioritised spending to ensure that it will play a vital role in Auckland’s future; accommodating population and employment growth. $290 million has been budgeted to be spent over the next 10 years with a total of $440million over 20 years. This is indeed outstanding news and will provide Takapuna with more parkland, better services and infrastructure and streetscape improvements.
I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of Channel and I look forward to seeing you in Takapuna Beach soon – from an Irish perspective, preferably after the 23rd October final! – Cheers, Pete White.

Ireland’s call

In November 2009, I received a call from the Irish manager to see if I could meet both he and the Irish Coach at an Auckland Hotel. I had worked with the team on three previous tours to New Zealand (as well as with many of the players during the 2005 Lions Tour) and looked forward to catching up with two men with whom I had shared many good times but little success – never having won a test match against New Zealand. Ireland was to tour New Zealand in 2010 and I was asked if I would work with them, both for that tour and also during the Rugby World Cup. They didn’t have to ask twice. However, with my tongue firmly in my cheek I did agree, based on one condition – that they took me to the final.
Well, we are now three weeks into the tournament (when I pen this article) and the dream is very much alive. A win against Italy next Sunday will see us advance to the quarter finals. A loss, and this time next week I will be back at my desk in Takapuna and the team winging their way to Ireland.
Ireland arrived in Queenstown on September 1st, on the back of an unsuccessful Six Nations campaign (the only highlight being a win against England in the last match to deny them the championship) and then losing four out of four of their pre World Cup matches. The adventure capital of New Zealand proved an inspired destination, allowing the players to get over their jetlag, get in some quality training in perfect weather and marvelous facilities and to enjoy the many activities for which Queenstown is renowned (Jet Boating, Bungee Jumps, Helicopter and Luge rides, Golf, Hunting etc.). However the highlight of Queenstown for me was meeting Sir Tipene O’Reagan as he briefed me about the official welcome and Powhiri that the team would receive. Sir Tipene personifies “Mana” and his welcome to the team was memorable in his wisdom, eloquence and humour.
A week later we arrived in New Plymouth in preparation for our game versus USA on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a match that we were expected to dominate. However we struggled to convert dominance into points against a passionate team coached by former Irish Coach Eddie O’Sullivan.
Consequently we arrived in Auckland for our second game against Australia with few outside the team giving us much chance of winning. One of the features of the tour to date has been the outstanding support we have received. Large crowds of face-painted supporters dressed in green have gathered at airports, training venues, hotels and games.
We thought the support at New Plymouth was strong, however the atmosphere at Eden Park was unbelievable. A sea of green, clapped, sang, chanted and cheered – becoming a 16th man to help a fired up Irish side bash the second-ranked team to an upset 15-6 win.
The boys thought that they were playing a home game and seasoned rugby followers agreed that they had never experienced anything like it before at Eden Park.
With an eight day break before its next game we headed to Taupo staying at the Hilton and once again enjoying a mix of whitewater rafting, bungee (the writer crossing another item of his bucket list) and golf, before travelling to Rotorua for our third game against Russia.
Ireland has committed to a number of community engagements, visiting fan zones, schools, attending mix and mingles and providing open training sessions for the public. One such visit to Selwyn Heights Primary in Rotorua provided special memories. We arrived to find students, parents and teachers dressed in green, some with mokos welcoming us onto the grounds with a haka, performing a stirring cultural performance, singing Irelands Call (for which the team stood and sang along) before showing us around the school decorated in Irish artwork. The joy in the childrens eyes – as well as a number of young Mums – as they collected autographs was a delight to see.
In addition to the numerous community engagements, the team train twice a day three days a week – two hours each morning in team training, weights in the afternoons, a captain’s run the day before the match and a recovery pool or spin session after. If there is a seven day turnaround between games the boys get a down day. They spend a great deal of their own time reviewing videos of the opposition, at kicking practice and receiving medical or massage treatments.
Diets are strictly controlled with vast selections of high protein, low fat meals served.
The Irish Team consists of a head coach, two assistant coaches (one of whom was assistant South African coach of the successful winning side in 2007, the other an ex-assistant Australian coach) a defensive coach (ex-Kangaroo Les Kiss), a kicking coach, a scrum coach (ex-All Black Greg Feek), a manager, an operations manager, a strength and conditioning coach, two analysts, a doctor, two physiotherapists, two masseurs, a nutritionalist, a chef, a baggage master and media manager.
The boys are professional in their approach, unpretentious, polite, friendly and a joy to work with. They are quick to help hotel staff, give their time to the endless fans that approach them at all times of the day and night for autographs and photos and start impromptu sing-a-longs at airports. They play the game to win, however realise that it is but a game. They are a credit to their families and country.
A 62-12 win over Russia, sees us go into our final game against Italy unbeaten and leading our pool. A loss, however, will see us eliminated. This would be a tragedy for some of the most professional men I have had the pleasure to work with. Whether we shed tears of joy or sorrow next week, the experience I have enjoyed of touring your own country with an overseas team are unforgettable. The most memorable is the camaraderie and shared emotions; the humour, the tragedy (two players were eliminated from the squad a week before departing and another after the first game due to a debilitating, and in one case a career ending, injury), the excitement, the joy, the passion and the pride. Not only shown by the squad in playing for a united Ireland – political biases are cast aside with the team playing for the four provinces under a united flag – but also the pride of hosting a team in our beautiful country. A country that has embraced the RWC with vibrant events, welcoming town centres, hospitable locals, 7000 volunteers and packed stadiums – a stadium of four million.
It has been fantastic and there is still more to come!

Takapuna Beach BNZ Night Market

The Takapuna Beach BNZ Night Market has quickly become the place to be on Thursday evenings.
The market is ticking all the boxes in creating vibrancy, attracting quality stalls and large crowds, providing good entertainment, and, as the days get longer, an opportunity to connect the mainstreet to the beach.
Retailers are opening late on a Thursday evening, leveraging off the crowds coming to the market.
What: Takapuna Beach BNZ Night Market
When: Thursday evenings – 5-9pm
Where: Hurstmere Green – Takapuna Beach
For further details visit www.takapunabeach.co.nz

Why should you
shop in Takapuna?

The Takapuna Beach Business Association are working hard to attract destination retail and quality commercial tenants to Takapuna to complement our existing high quality members. Each month we highlight a Takapuna business which we believe deserves the support of you, our reader. This month we bring to you…

BNZ Takapuna

Banking in Takapuna has changed in a big way following the six-week refurbishment of BNZ’s Takapuna store.
The new look store opened last month with the re-design leading the way when it comes to innovation in retail banking.
BNZ Store Manager Takapuna, Frank Cui says, “We are thrilled with our new look store and we are confident our customers are going to love the open, bright environment.”
For those who are used to banks where staff are hidden behind counter glass, the new design will be quite a surprise. The open plan layout of the store allows the staff to better interact with customers, offering a much more personal experience.
The bulky computers have been removed and replaced with the latest in slim line technology, such as flat screens and laptops, and traditional window displays have been replaced with digital signage.
Other features include a free internet kiosk, a dedicated kids’ zone with a flat screen television, and video conferencing facilities to link small business customers with specialists in the small business hub.
“What I really like is the fresh, bright and open feel. We used to be in pokey offices or stuck behind walls, now the whole team shares a spacious open plan area and we have great meeting spaces for both staff and customers,” says Frank.
The meeting areas are indeed quite special, and offer a welcome break from the traditional banking meeting. These spaces allow customers to sit side by side with the BNZ bank team members, plug in a laptop and have a relaxed chat.
“We are excited about the potential in Takapuna,” says Frank. “Takapuna is a rapidly growing and diverse retail and business community. We’re passionate about being here and are pleased to be offering something different.”

BNZ Takapuna, 491-493 Lake Road, Takapuna. Visit www.bnz.co.nz